South Africa: Nation urged to support matrics Parents and learners across the country have signed a commitment agreement, where they bind themselves to the conditions listed in the pact ahead of the start of the final Grade 12 examinations this week. Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga and Deputy Minister Reginah Mhaule hosted the NSC pledge signing ceremonies in Bethlehem, Free State and Mothibistad, Northern Cape, on Friday. The 2021 National Senior Certificate (NSC) examination will officially commence on Wednesday, with 124 065 candidates writing English Home Language, 609 830 candidates writing English First Additional Language and four candidates writing the English Second Additional Language paper. A total of 897 786 candidates will sit for the November 2021 NSC examinations, comprising 735 677 full-time candidates and 162 109 part-time candidates. The department has urged South Africans to rally behind the class of 2021 and offer them the necessary support, while making sure they do not engage in any irregular activities. Parents are requested to be extra vigilant to ensure that learners do not resort to engaging in any activity relating to examination irregularities, the department said in a statement. The department said it is fully aware that the majority of learners are honest and will comply with these rules in order to eradicate any irregular practices. These are the key conditions of the Commitment Agreement: (a) Any deviation from or contravention of the regulations by a candidate registered to sit for the 2021 National Senior Certificate examination will compromise the integrity of the examination and the results of the candidate could be declared null and void, and the candidate could be barred from writing one to three subsequent examinations. Criminal prosecution could be imposed should it be found that the candidate is involved in the leakage of any examination question paper. (b) Candidate must report any information or rumour regarding examination irregularities to the examination hotline established for this purpose. The examination hot-line will be a 24-hour service. In addition, to reporting to the examination hotline, this information must be brought to the attention of the school principal. The number of the WhatsApp hotline is 069 335 2818. The information provided on this WhatsApp line will be treated with confidentiality. (c) In cases where a question paper, or part(s) of a question paper, is forwarded to a candidate via e-mail, SMS, WhatsApp or through any other electronic means, and the candidate fails to report such an incident to the school principal or the WhatsApp hotline, they will be deemed as being complicit. (d) All candidates will be required to complete the Electronic Devices Register, which will be managed by the school. The register will require all candidates to record all details of the cell phone or any other electronic device that they will be using during the examination period. (e) Candidates and parents/guardians must be aware that should a candidate agree to any assistance, irrespective of who provided the assistance (i.e. the educator, invigilator or fellow learner), they shall be considered to have colluded with the person who provided the assistance, and therefore the appropriate sanction will be imposed. (f) A candidate who is alleged to have had access to the question paper or parts of the question paper, prior to the examination, will be required to submit his/her cell phone or any other electronic device to the department for further investigation. The department reiterated that the national examination system is ready to administer a credible public examination and it is geared to accommodate any change that may be warranted by the current environment. It should be noted that despite the abnormal context, the Class of 2021 will be subjected to the same high quality examination that previous cohorts were subjected to, and the Quality Assurance Council, Umalusi, has confirmed that the national examination system is ready to administer the 2021 NSC examination, the department said. The department said that it has learnt valuable lessons from the previous examinations and is therefore more confident in administering this examination. Candidates that demonstrate COVID-19 symptoms, as well as candidates that test positive, will be allowed to write their examination at special isolation venues that have been arranged. To accommodate the negative effects of COVID-19, measures such as the provision of supplementary material, vacation classes, after-school programmes, teacher content training and placement of volunteer teachers were implemented, the department said. The department has commended all learners, teachers and school management teams for the resilience they have shown in braving the pandemic, with the single goal of ensuring that the Class of 2021 receives optimum support. The department would like to further extend sincere gratitude to the provinces, partners, educational stakeholders, parents and civil society (NGOs) for going beyond the call of duty to assist and support Grade 12 learners, the department said. The department wished well all candidates sitting for the 2021 NSC examination. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2021-10-25. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. South Africa: Nzimande saddened by drowning of Nelson Mandela University students Higher Education, Science and Innovation Minister, Dr Blade Nzimande, has expressed sadness at the drowning of two Nelson Mandela University students whilst swimming in Sardinia Bay on Saturday. According to reports, one of the students, after experiencing difficulty, managed to swim to shore. However, she passed away, while being attended to by the paramedics and the other student is yet to be found. Nzimande has urged all students to remain vigilant at all times, even when involved in any recreational activities outside university premises. Safety is an individual and a collective responsibility which at all material times must be safeguarded, Nzimande said in a statement on Sunday. He also urged those who arrange any other activities that involve students to take extra care and ensure safety. Organisers should regard themselves as guardians and parents until all return to safety at their institutions. The Minister has since directed Higher Health, an entity of the Department of Higher Education and Training and the Nelson Mandela University management to provide the necessary support and comfort to the affected students and their families. He also conveyed well wishes to all divers and rescue teams in their search and rescue exercise, as they locate the other missing student. The names of both students are being withheld until their families have been traced and notified. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2021-10-25. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. South Africa: Exercise your right to vote, urges President Ramaphosa President Cyril Ramaphosa has used his weekly newsletter to encourage registered voters to exercise their civic duty by casting their votes in the upcoming local government elections, which he says will have a direct impact on their daily lives. Polls will open for the Local Government Elections in the country this week, starting with special votes scheduled to be cast on Saturday and Sunday and culminate in Election Day on 1 November. The President highlighted that local government elections and candidates ultimately chosen directly impacts citizens and their quality of life. These elections are about the material issues that matter most to people, such as access to water and electricity, properly functioning hospitals and clinics, safety and security guaranteed by an efficient police service, well-maintained roads and well-resourced public schools. For this reason, it is paramount that South Africans should approach their civic duty to vote in local government elections with the same enthusiasm with which they vote in national and provincial elections, he said in the newsletter on Monday. The impact of these elections he said will be felt even more as the country deals with a worsened economic situation brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. This makes it paramount to elect capable local leaders who understand the needs of the community they seek to serve. [We] need people at the helm who are not only capable, experienced and qualified, but who are also honest and trustworthy. We need local councillors who have a clear plan to promote investment and business opportunities in their area. They need to understand that municipal services need to be delivered reliably and affordably both to improve the lives of residents and to ensure that businesses can operate and thrive. President Ramaphosa reiterated his call, made last month, for greater openness and engagement between local government and the people it serves and for councillors to be accountable and accessible. I have heard about councillors who are dedicated and available, and who deliver on their promises. However, I have also heard about peoples frustration with councillors who are not accessible and who do not attend to their grievances. Without accountability on the part of elected representatives and public officials, whether at national, provincial or local government, trust between the public and government is easily broken and difficult to regainit is our hope that those who are elected this year take the matter of accountability seriously, he said. The President urged communities to put political differences aside once the elections are over and work with those who are officially elected. Ultimately any election is about trust. Before placing their trust in a candidate of choice, I urge all South Africans who will be votingto commit to working with whoever is ultimately elected, regardless of which political party they belong to. We should not say we have no interest in working with or assisting the newly elected official because they were not our favoured candidate, he said. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2021-10-25. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. South Africa: Over 700 arrests in latest O Kae Molao operation Over 700 suspects were arrested across Gauteng during an O kae Molao Operation this past week. The weekly operation is integrated with different law enforcement agencies such as the South African Police Service (SAPS), the Traffic Department, Metro Police Department, Immigration from the Department of Home Affairs, Tracker, Fidelity, and Community Police Forums, among others. Police Minister Bheki Cele, Gauteng Premier David Makhura and MEC for Community Safety, Faith Mazibuko at the weekend joined Gauteng SAPS Commissioner Lieutenant General Elias Mawela at an operation in Tshwane. During the operation, the Minister, Premier and MEC assisted in stopping and searching vehicles at a roadblock and interacted with motorists. The operation saw over 700 people being arrested throughout the province for various crimes such as theft of motor vehicles, possession of illegal firearms, possession, car breaking,drunk driving, murder, rape and undocumented persons, said the SAPS in a statement. The Provincial Commissioner expressed appreciation to stakeholders for agreeing to join forces with Gauteng SAPS in ensuring the safety and security of the people of Gauteng. The public was also urged to continue adhering to lockdown level one regulations in order to minimise the spread of COVID-19. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2021-10-25. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. South Africa: Masterclass to support small business and media entrepreneurs The Government Communication and Information System (GCIS) in partnership with Digify Africa, is to host a virtual masterclass session for small business and media entrepreneurs. Wednesdays masterclass is aimed at equipping small business and media entrepreneurs with the skills they need to thrive in the digital economy. Digify Africa is a non-profit organisation that has been delivering free digital skills and literacy to communities across Africa since 2011. The organisation strives to empower communities with digital skills to build sustainable livelihoods in the digital economy. Digify Africa is committed to supporting small and medium enterprises ( SMEs) through Boost with Facebook, a free digital skills workshop that teaches entrepreneurs how to utilise the Facebook Business family of apps such as the Facebook Business Suite, Instagram for Business, and WhatsApp for Business to drive business growth. The impact has been widely felt in the [Small, Medium-sized and Micro Enterprises] SMME community, challenging businesses to innovate and migrate online. For those with limited access to skills and resources, acquiring the skills needed is more challenging than ever. Boost with Facebook seeks to alleviate this skill gap in the SMME community. At Digify Africa, we strive to give entrepreneurs the tools they need to navigate the online space and build resilient businesses through these sessions, said Digify Africa in a statement. Meanwhile, the Director-General of the GCIS, Phumla Williams said that GCIS is honoured to partner with Digify Africa in delivering this impactful masterclass training for entrepreneurs. We call on all small business owners, media entrepreneurs and young people aspiring to venture into entrepreneurship to sign up for the masterclass. SMMEs are the backbone of our economy, and we believe that partnerships with key stakeholders like the Digify Africa allow us to support entrepreneurs and make a valuable contribution to the recovery of the country's economy, Williams said. The expert trainers will deliver the virtual masterclasses in two sessions. The first session will take place this Wednesday, looking at how to build your online presence on Facebook. Meanwhile ,the second session will be held on 17 November 2021 looking at how to use WhatsApp to grow business. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2021-10-25. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. RTHK: Crowds rally after apparent military coup in Sudan Soldiers arrested most of the members of Sudan's cabinet on Monday in what the information ministry called a military coup, prompting opponents of the takeover to take to the streets, where there were reports of gunfire and injuries in clashes. Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok was detained and moved to an undisclosed location after refusing to issue a statement in support of the coup, said the information ministry, still apparently under the control of Hamdok's supporters. It said tens of thousands of people opposed to the coup had taken to the streets and had faced gunfire near the military's headquarters in the capital Khartoum. There was no immediate comment from the military. The director of Hamdok's office, Adam Hereika, told Dubai-based al-Arabiya TV that the military had mounted its takeover despite an agreement Hamdok had reached with Burhan, in the presence of a visiting US special envoy, Jeffrey Feltman. Hereika accused the military of fomenting unrest in eastern Sudan and using the crisis to implement a coup. (Reuters) This story has been published on: 2021-10-25. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. South Africa: Eskom energy availability factor at 65% Eskom's declining energy availability factor is raising concern as the power utility continues to battle breakdowns and trips at power stations. This is according to Eskom Chief Operating Officer (COO), Jan Oberholzer, who was speaking during the power utility's state of the system update on Monday. Oberholzer revealed that the current energy availability factor stands at 65% and attributed some of it to planned maintenance outages, while conceding that there were some unplanned outages. In our assessment this is poor performance. A key contributor is our planned maintenance, which had a negative impact but is positive in terms of sustainability. But then we had a number of breakdowns and those are the issues that are really concerning us. We will continue with our reliability maintenance its an ongoing programme, he said. Oberholzer confirmed that the grid had lost at least 2 000MW of energy in incidents over the past few months that have put pressure on the system. [This] is a significant impact on the constrained system that we have and were doing whatever we can to work around [these issues]. We need to remember that we are dealing with a legacy of the past. Were dealing with a system that is extremely unreliable and unpredictable, and were trying our best in terms of the maintenance and other focus areas to improve this, he said. One of those focus areas, Obeholzer said, is to increase the energy availability of the Tutuka, Duvha and Kendall power stations. He said driving the performance of these three power stations up can potentially make a difference to the amount of energy available for generation. If you look at Tutuka, it is actually a shame how we have neglected that power station and the state that it was in some years ago, and what we are trying to do now to fix it. Duvha is exactly the same and with Kendal, we had some significant challenges. So [that is] our dedicated focus and hands on focus If we can get that to perform at 70%, what a massive impact that will make to our energy availability factor and the contribution to lower the risk of loadshedding, he said. Despite these challenges, Eskom said it is making "notable strides" in several of its operational units. "On the coal front, Eskom maintained healthy coal stock levels across its generation fleet, with an average of 48 days worth of coal stockpiled at its power stations. This compares favourably with the Grid Code requirement to hold at least 20 days worth of stock. "The work done so far to correct the design defects at the Medupi power station has resulted in a steady improvement and reliability of the Medupi power station generation units. This work has also commenced at Kusile, with some of the major design defects already corrected on Unit 1. Kendal Unit 1 is expected to return to service by the end of this year, while the return to service date for Medupi Unit 4 has not yet been determined," the utility said in a statement. Eskom said that as of April this year, 38 256 households have been connected to the grid. - SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2021-10-25. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. South Africa: Zikalala demands swift arrest of suspects in Mlaba murder KwaZulu-Natal Premier Sihle Zikalala has called for the swift arrest of the perpetrators involved in the brutal murder of former Regent and Member of the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Legislature, Zibuse Mlaba. Mlaba was murdered following a shooting incident in Camperdown last Thursday. According to a police report, Mlaba was attacked by two gunmen in his office and succumbed to his injuries. Expressing shock and outrage, Zikalala said Mlabas passing marks one of the saddest periods in KwaZulu-Natal. Mlaba represents the crop of dedicated leaders, who distinguished himself by addressing the grassroots, and bread and butter issues of the local communities of the Mkhambathini area. Mlaba played a crucial role in quelling tensions at the height of political violence in the province. Through his tragic passing, we are again reminded that the spectre of violence persists in our province, and that more efforts need to be dedicated to the eradication of this aspect of our lives. Nothing justifies violence in resolving conflict, Zikalala said. Paying tribute to Mlaba, Zikalala said the province has lost one of its foremost pioneers for peace, who did not just usher in peripheral changes but genuinely made social and political transformation a reality of our democracy. Born into royalty, Mlaba followed the example of his father when he resisted attempts by the apartheid machinery over generations, to politicise the Ximba Chieftaincy, and indeed the institution of traditional leadership in KZN in general. In this manner, Mlaba crafted and cemented his legacy as one of the architects who popularised and legitimised the institution of traditional leadership and by so doing, preserved its dignity among all the people of KZN, regardless of political affiliation, the Premier said. Zikalala said Mlaba never regarded the opposition as his enemy, but he identified the challenges of poverty, unemployment and inequality as standing in the way of human dignity for all. In this regard, he said, Mlaba identified community development as the route through which the lives of citizens could be improved. He chose to work with Induna Mdluli of the Inkatha Freedom Party (IFP)-controlled Nyavu to ensure access to clean water and electricity, and external support for development that enabled them to build schools, a community hall and a clinic. In Mlabas death, we have lost a true visionary, an advocate for democracy, development, peace, human rights and a human being who was prepared to stand for the truth at all costs. On behalf of government and people of KwaZulu-Natal, we bow our heads to the quiet revolutionary of our liberation movement, a life-long protector and true leader of the masses, and hero of our struggle for true democracy, Zikalala said. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2021-10-25. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. South Africa: Law enforcement ready for Local Government Elections Law enforcement agencies are operationally ready to ensure a safe and secure environment for all to participate in free and fair local government elections, says the Justice, Crime Prevention and Security Cluster (JCPS). On 1 November, South Africans will cast their votes in the Local Government Elections to elect municipal leaders and representatives. Addressing the media on behalf of her JCPS cluster colleagues on Monday, Defence and Military Veterans Minister Thandi Modise said the NatJOINTS would continue to meet to analyse the safety and security situation in the country. NatJOINTS has also put in place measures to protect all citizens as they get ready to exercise their constitutional right to vote. We can confidently say today that all safety and security measures have been put in place to ensure that we have free and fair elections, starting on the 30th and 31 of October from 8am to 5pm, where we will be having special votes and on the 1st we will have the normal elections for local governments. She said all relevant security aligned departments across government had worked tirelessly in a continuous and coordinated manner to deliver successful local elections, assuring the public that all areas would be accessible. Modise said the NatJOINTS had put together a plan to secure the elections. This plan is managed by national, district and local NatJOINTS. This plan is to ensure that there is sufficient police visibility in and around the voting stations around the country to prevent crime and/or intimidation of voters and any role player. Furthermore, [the] South African Police Service (SAPS) will be deployed at all results centres to ensure the integrity of the finalisation of the results, she said. The deployment of SAPS, the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) and other law enforcement agencies would be determined and guided by a structured threat analysis, she said. Accordingly, the structure identified hotspots and ranked these into low, medium and high-risk categories. We will be deploying accordingly, said the Minister. She warned that all forms of criminality would not be tolerated before, during and after the elections. The incitement of violence is also a criminal offence. Interfering with the work of the Electoral Commission (IEC) - interfering or threatening IEC officers is also a transgression that is punishable by law. During the election, law enforcement agencies would be posted at every voting station. KwaZulu-Natal The JCPS said it was encouraged by the continuous monitoring and evaluation by the Inter-Ministerial Committee on political killings in KwaZulu-Natal. In 2018, President Cyril Ramaphosa tasked the IMC with ending the political violence in the province. The IMC has established a task team to investigate political murders dated from May 2018. The task team had since made significant inroads, arresting suspects and securing convictions with hefty sentences. Modise said there was no doubt that the task team had prevented further bloodshed in the province. It has been instrumental in bringing simmering tensions under control and, in ensuring that the rule of law is restored, she said. Home Affairs As Election Day edges closer, the Department of Home Affairs had extended its operating hours at 197 offices across the country. This has been put in place since 18 October 2021 and this has given the department the capacity to help those who need their smart IDs and passports. The intervention was aimed at meeting the demand for services, specifically for the elections. At the weekend and on Election Day, all Home Affairs offices will open between 7am and 9pm. During the voting period, the department will assist those who have lost or misplaced their IDs to apply for temporary identity certificates. Meanwhile, there has been a total 370 000 uncollected IDs as of 22 October. We call upon people who have applied for their IDs from two weeks ago to visit their Home Affairs offices to collect their documents, said the Minister. Electoral Court In accordance with the Amended Electoral Act, she said a provision had been made for the establishment of an Electoral Court to deal with electoral disputes, complaints and infringements of the Electoral Code of Conduct. The court would also investigate any allegations of misconduct or incompetence of members of the IEC. These courts will be available in each of the voting districts. Modise urged political party leaders not to make inflammatory statements that had the potential to incite political violence. We would also like to urge all political leaders to adhere to the Electoral Code of Conduct that was signed on 1 October by all political parties contesting the Local Government Elections of 2021. Party representatives pledged to abide by the code of conduct and committed themselves to ensure that their candidates, their members and supporters conduct themselves in a manner which is conducive to free and fair elections, she said. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2021-10-25. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. South Africa: No load shedding expected ahead of Local Government Elections Eskom Chief Operating Officer (COO), Jan Oberholzer, has assured the country that load shedding is not expected to be implemented during the upcoming Local Government Elections. He was speaking during the power utilitys state of the system briefing on Monday. The assurances from the COO come after concerns that the country may face power cuts during this weekends elections following two consecutive weekends of load shedding this month. This as special votes are set to be cast on Saturday and Sunday, ahead of Election Day on Monday, 1 November 2021. Oberholzer said he expects that the power utility will have enough generation capacity. We are confident that the way that we manage the system at this point in time is that we make use of some of the emergency [reserves] during the day but we recover it at night [which] assists us to reduce load shedding to a minimum. We have also had a good look at some of the opportunistic maintenance to see how we can plan that. Our distribution colleagues are working closely with the IEC [Electoral Commission] to make sure that electricity will be available. I have spoken to the generation, transmission and distribution colleagues to be on standby as from the end of this week until after the voting has taken place to make sure that wherever we do have challenges, Eskom will assist. We have emergency generators available, which will assist wherever we can. We are extremely committed as Eskom, to make sure that there are no electricity challenges going through the elections that are around the corner, he said. Maintenance of assets Turning to longer-term sustainability, Oberholzer said Eskom is currently carrying out its maintenance plans even though this may add constraint to the power system and risk load shedding in the shorter term. The utility has doubled the amount of maintenance it has carried out since 2019/2020 and will ramp it up as peak maintenance season hits in the summer. The maintenance plan has managed to reduce the amount of days that load shedding has been implemented. However, Oberholzer has warned that a slowdown in this plan will impact the long term reliability of Eskom's assets but that taking all generating units off the grid is not a viable option either. [This is] to make sure that what we have available [is in equilibrium to the demand].This is why we have decided although it has a negative impact on available capacity we will continue with the reliability programme. What makes it extremely difficult is the capacity that we have available on the constrained system and the demand of the countrythats making it difficult for us to take more units off and maintain them properly, he said. - SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2021-10-25. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Hong Kong: Chinese medicine promoted Secretary for Food & Health Prof Sophia Chan today toured the Chinese medicine facilities at a public hospital and briefed the stakeholders on the government policy to promote Chinese medicine in Hong Kong during the visit. At the Chinese Medicine Clinic & Training & Research Centre (CMCTR) in Central & Western District at Tung Wah Hospital, Prof Chan met a number of young Chinese medicine practitioners. She said: As stated by the Chief Executive in her Policy Address, the Government has affirmed the positioning of Chinese medicine in the development of healthcare services in Hong Kong, and has rolled out various measures to promote its development. Prof Chan noted that two flagship institutions, the first Chinese Medicine Hospital in Hong Kong and the Government Chinese Medicines Testing Institute, will be commissioned in 2025. She said the Government will continue to provide subsidised outpatient services through the 18 CMCTRs at the district level, develop integrated Chinese-Western medicine inpatient services and enhance the Chinese Medicine Development Fund. It will also explore empowering Chinese medicine practitioners to prescribe diagnostic imaging and laboratory tests for their patients. The health chief also highlighted two of Guangdong's major policy measures - recruiting Hong Kong Chinese medicine practitioners by public healthcare institutions in the Mainland cities of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and streamlining the approval procedures for Hong Kong registered traditional proprietary Chinese medicines for external use to be registered on the Mainland. She encouraged local Chinese medicine practitioners to seize the opportunities to further their development so as to integrate into the national development and participate in the construction of the Chinese medicine highlands in the bay area. Prof Chan then visited the CMCTR's consultation rooms and pharmacy to learn about their operation. She said during the visit that since March 2020, the Government has been providing an annual service quota of about 620,000 for subsidised outpatient general consultation, acupuncture and bone-setting/tui-na services through the 18 CMCTRs, which are jointly operated by the Hospital Authority, non-governmental organisations and universities. With the support of the Food & Health Bureau, the authority launched two special Chinese medicine programmes for those infected with COVID-19, further giving the sector full play to its strength in anti-epidemic treatment, Prof Chan added. Concluding the visit by touring the integrated Chinese-Western medicine inpatient services ward at Tung Wah Hospital, she noted there are currently eight public hospitals providing such services, covering all seven of the authority's hospital clusters. Inpatient and follow-up outpatient services are provided to those with selected diseases. To tie in with the sectors long-term development, the authority is exploring further increasing the number of participating hospitals and disease areas and regularising the service. With the development of primary healthcare in Hong Kong, Chinese medicine services are also part of the primary healthcare team. I hope CMCTRs will work closely with the District Health Centres or DHC Expresses in the 18 districts in Hong Kong, Prof Chan added. This story has been published on: 2021-10-25. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. South Africa: Cooperation is vital to achieve media and information literacy for all International cooperation is most urgent to achieve and sustain the goal of media and information literacy for all, says Basic Education Minister Angie Motshekga. Motshekga was addressing the opening of the 10th United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Global Media and Information Literacy Week hosted by South Africa from Monday until 29 October 2021. This years MIL week is hosted under the theme Media and information literacy for the public good. Together, we must respond to the call of the United Nations (UN) Resolution A/RES/75/267 for media and information literacy to be an urgent and imperative public matter, Motshekga, who addressed the opening of the literacy week on behalf of President Cyril Ramaphosa, said. Motshekga said that South Africa is proud to celebrate this historic moment as the first country in Sub-Saharan Africa to host the Global Media and Information Literacy Week. Here is an important milestone for promoting the culture of media and information literacy in Sub-Saharan Africa and Africa, in general. We must change the trend of low take-up of media and information literacy in education in African countries. She said that media and information literacy can support the strategic approach of building an inclusive and resilient African society and connecting the African continent with the rest of the world. South Africa stands alongside the global community not only to strengthen the foundations of media and information literacy, but also to contribute to the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals beyond the global 2030 agenda, the Digital Transformation Strategy for Africa (2020-2030) and the Agenda 2063: The Africa We Want. Media and information literacy and digital skills should be incorporated in the actions connected to the Digital Transformation Strategy for Africa (2020-2030) as a driver for human capability and self- empowerment, she said. She added that it is fitting that the Nairobi Declaration and Call to Action on Bridging Continental and Global Education Frameworks for Africa recognises the importance of media and information literacy. Indeed, media and information literacy can provide the necessary skills, competencies, and attitudes that support digital skills, digital hygiene, critical thinking, and intercultural competencies. She called on everyone to build the competencies of African citizenry as agents of change by strengthening media and information literacy in lifelong learning, online, and offline spaces at all levels. Dealing with global misinformation Motshekga said that the global threat of misinformation is more pronounced today as the world battles the anti-vax lobby in the face of the devastation occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic. She has called on the conference to respond thoughtfully to the anti-vax lobby and misinformation entrepreneurs. As part of the international community, we are proud of the media and information literacy progress made in recent years. Yet, we are now confronted by a new threat of global misinformation via social networking platforms, Motshekga said. She said that it is an insidious threat that requires ingenuity in law-making, public awareness and transatlantic efforts to reverse the emerging trends of the misinformation entrepreneurs gaining the upper hand. We must consider new media and information literacy programmes to help people understand the consequences of creating and sharing false and misleading content, she said. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2021-10-25. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. South Africa: SADC in support of sustainable solutions in Eswatini Chairperson of the Southern African Development Communitys (SADC) Organ on Defence, Politics and Security Cooperation, President Cyril Ramaphosa says the regional body supports the people and Government of Eswatini towards the achievement of practical and sustainable solutions to the attainment of peace. This follows unrelenting protests and unrest which have rocked the country since June. This after President Ramaphosa deployed former Minister in the Presidency Jeff Radebe as a special envoy. He was supported by representatives of the Republics of Nambia and Botswana as the incoming and outgoing chair of the Organ respectively, assisted by the SADC Secretariat to engage with His Majesty King Mswati III on the countrys political and security developments. The special envoy also met with Eswatini members of Cabinet led by Prime Minister Cleopas Sipho Dlamini, members of the Diplomatic Corps, civil society organisations, Members of Parliament, trade unions and members of society in that country. During the engagements, all stakeholders agreed that the conduct of a national dialogue should be the appropriate platform to address the current challenges facing the country. In this regard they recognised the need for a peaceful and conducive environment for the dialogue to take place, Ramaphosa said. He said the SADC is now calling for calm on all sides to enable the process towards the national dialogue to begin. In view of the fact that His Majesty King Mswati III has accepted the need for national dialogue, as announced by the INDVUNA YELULUDZIDZINI, on His Majestys behalf, it is in this context and development that I appeal for calm, restraint, the respect for the rule of law and human rights on all sides to enable the process to commence, said Ramaphosa.. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2021-10-25. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. RTHK: Whistleblower: Facebook will fuel more violence Facebook will fuel more episodes of violent unrest around the world because of the way its algorithms are designed to promote divisive content, whistleblower Frances Haugen told the British parliament on Monday. Haugen, a former product manager on Facebook's civic misinformation team, was appearing before a parliamentary select committee in Britain that is examining plans to regulate social media companies. She said the social network saw safety as a cost centre, lionised a start-up culture where cutting corners was a good thing and said it was "unquestionably" making hate worse. "The events we're seeing around the world, things like Myanmar and Ethiopia, those are the opening chapters because engagement-based ranking does two things: one, it prioritises and amplifies divisive and polarising extreme content and two it concentrates it," she said. She said the algorithms pushed users towards the extreme. "So someone centre left, they'll be pushed to radical left, someone centre right will be pushed to radical right," she said. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has hit back against Haugen's accusations, saying earlier this month: "The argument that we deliberately push content that makes people angry for profit is deeply illogical." Several news organisations, viewed documents released to the US Securities and Exchange Commission and Congress by Haugen. They showed Facebook had known that it hadn't hired enough workers who possessed both the language skills and knowledge of local events needed to identify objectionable posts from users in a number of developing countries. (Reuters) This story has been published on: 2021-10-25. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Vietnam honoured as Asia Vietnam honoured as Asia's leading tourist destination Despite the difficulties caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, Vietnam has been honoured as "Asias Leading Destination" and "Asias Leading Sustainable Tourism Destination" at the 2021 World Travel Awards (WTA). Despite the difficulties caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, Vietnam has been honoured as "Asias Leading Destination" and "Asias Leading Sustainable Tourism Destination" at the 2021 World Travel Awards (WTA). In attaining these titles, Vietnam has surpassed many strong candidates such as China, India, Indonesia, the Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. These awards are both a source of encouragement for tourism workers in a year full of difficulties and challenges, as well as a very good opportunity for Vietnam to become a centre of attraction for international tourists once the disease is under control. This year, the WTA named Hoi An as Asias Leading Cultural City Destination, Ha Long Bay as Asias Leading Tourist Attraction, and Cuc Phuong National Park as Asias Leading National Park. Meanwhile, the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism was honoured as Asias Leading Tourist Board in 2021. Vietnam Airlines won the award for Asias Leading Airline for Economic Class, while Vietravel was awarded the title of Asias Leading Tour Operator in 2021. InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort and Sun World Ba Na Hills in Da Nang, Avana Retreat in Hoa Binh, JW Marriott Phu Quoc Emerald Bay in Phu Quoc, Muong Thanh Luxury Hotel in Nha Trang, and Hotel de la Coupole - MGallery in Lao Cai all won awards in the hotel and resort category. Our winners represent the very best of Asia and Oceanias travel and hospitality sectors and my congratulations to each of them. They are all playing starring roles in spearheading the recovery of travel and tourism, says Graham Cooke, World Travel Awards founder. World Travel Awards was established in 1993 to acknowledge, reward and celebrate excellence across all key sectors of the travel, tourism and hospitality industries. The World Travel Awards brand is recognised globally as the ultimate hallmark of industry excellence. Source: NDO Vietnam spends nearly US$2 billi Vietnam spends nearly US$2 billion on COVID-19 fight Vietnam spent VND45.6 trillion (nearly US$2 billion) from its budget on pandemic prevention and control and supporting people who face difficulties due to COVID-19, as of October 15, according to the Ministry of Finance. Residents in the northern province of Phu Tho are vaccinated against COVID-19. Of the amount, VND22.9 trillion came from the central budget, which was used for procuring vaccines, funding pandemic prevention and control efforts as well as assisting vulnerable people to cope with the pandemic effects. The remaining VND22.7 trillion was sourced from the local budget for the work. As of October 15, the total budget revenue reached 83.2 percent of the estimate, with 79.3 percent from domestic revenues, up 5.9 percent year-on-year. Revenue from import-export hit 104.8 percent of the estimate while that from crude oil surpassed estimate by 135.6 percent. The total value of taxes, land rental fee, fees and charges that were exempted, reduced or extended to support people and businesses in line with the Governments Decree 52 was about VND95.1 trillion. Minister of Finance Ho Duc Phoc said that despite difficulties in balancing the state budget due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government has implemented synchronously and flexibly monetary solutions to ensure that debts are paid in full and on time in accordance with commitments and the assigned 2021 estimate. He said the country has the ability to secure capital for regular spending, investment, social security policy as well as defence and security tasks. Source: NDO News International Indonesia to gradually reopen regions with high vaccination rates, president says Airbus Group has new general director in Vietnam The Airbus Group has appointed Hoang Tri Mai as its new General Director in Vietnam, a representative of the group announced on October 25. New General Director of Airbus in Vietnam Hoang Tri Mai (Photo: Airbus) In this role, Mai will be in charge of overseeing all operations of Airbus in Vietnam, including supporting business activities and managing relationships of the firm with the Vietnamese Government, and related organizations and industry partners. Before joining Airbus Group, Mai held the position of Country Director of Rolls Royce in Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and the Philippines. She was born in Hanoi, graduated with a degree in business economics from the UKs University of Reading, and used to work for Asia Commercial Joint Stock Bank (ACB). Airbus Group has new general director in Vietnam hinh anh 2Airbus hopes its new general director will further promote Airbus' strong presence in Vietnam. - Illustrative image (Photo: VNA) Anand Stanley, President of Airbus Asia-Pacific said Vietnam is a key market of Airbus across all business sectors, adding that Airbus also has important industry partnerships in the Southeast Asian nation. Airbus hopes its new general director will further promote Airbus' strong presence in Vietnam and work closely with its customers, partners and related entities, he said. According to Airbus, Mai will work at the Airbus office in Hanoi, replacing Jean-Michel Caldagues, who will retire at the end of 2021 after 21 years working for Airbus./. China, UAE create a new historic chapter of win-win cooperation between the two countries People's Daily Online) 09:11, October 25, 2021 The Expo 2020 Dubai is about to be held, and China's full support for the event set to be held by the United Arab Emirates demonstrates the profound friendship between China and the UAE. Standing together in solidarity to build a community with a shared future for mankind, China and the UAE have joined hands to actively promote the progress in COVID-19 vaccine cooperation, serving as a role model for international cooperation in the fight against the pandemic. At present, the comprehensive strategic relationship between China and the UAE has entered an optimal period in its history, with the two countries having jointly cooperated in building the "Belt and Road Initiative" with a steady and long-term devotion. The year 2021 witnessed the wonderful coincidence of marking both the centenary of the founding of the Communist Party of China and the 50th anniversary of the founding of the UAE. How will the relations between the two countries develop in the future? Multilateralism is undergoing the most severe test since the founding of the UN. How can the UAE, in its capacity as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council in 2022, cooperate closely with China, contribute to global development and the maintenance of international order, and safeguard international fairness and justice? How do the two Ambassadors view the true situation in Xinjiang? Ni Jian, Chinese ambassador to the UAE, and Ali Obaid Al Dhaheri, UAE's ambassador to China, joined the third episode of "Online Talks between Chinese and Foreign Ambassadors" jointly launched by Huanqiu.com and the China Public Diplomacy Association in collaboration with Yangtze River News, having engaged in a series of online conversations on issues such as cooperation between China and the UAE in the fight against COVID-19, cooperation in jointly building the "Belt and Road Initiative", and the maintenance and implementation of multilateralism. (Web editor: Hongyu, Bianji) Kremlin says it was right to sever ties with NATO Xinhua) 08:24, October 25, 2021 Xinhua file photos of the Kremlin in Moscow (L) and the NATO headquarters in Brussels "The aggressive position of NATO has never been a secret," Peskov said. MOSCOW, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) -- Russia isn't wrong for halting official dialogue with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) given its aggressiveness, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Sunday. "The aggressive position of NATO has never been a secret. This is a bloc that was created against our country. No peace-loving statements, no camouflage of this aggressive orientation can hide its true purpose," Peskov told a Russian TV program. "Nothing terrible will happen if we simply abandoned these relations against the background of the aggravation of its aggressiveness, against the background of such declarations that its main task is to restrain us," he said. Commenting on Ukraine's attempt to join NATO, Peskov said it is impossible for Russia to prevent it, but Moscow will do everything necessary to minimize the consequences in the event of Ukraine's admission. On Monday, Moscow announced that it was suspending its Permanent Mission to NATO, the NATO Military Liaison Mission and the NATO Information Office in Moscow, in retaliation for the alliance's "unfriendly actions," including the expulsion of Russian diplomats earlier this month. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Du Mingming) 50 years on, China remains committed to advancing UN cause Xinhua) 08:27, October 25, 2021 -- "China has stood with pride and contributed to the international community," commented Abdulla Shahid, president of the 76th session of the UNGA. "China has played a very, very important role in multilateralism and strengthening the United Nations." -- Upon the 50th anniversary of the restoration of its lawful seat in the United Nations, China has pledged to continue to be a builder of world peace, a contributor to global development, a defender of the international order and a provider of public goods. -- In a newly published position paper, China says it believes that international affairs should be addressed through consultation by all, and that the future of the world should be decided by all countries together. BEIJING, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) -- Five decades ago, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) voted to restore all lawful rights of the People's Republic of China (PRC) in the United Nations, opening a new era of interaction between the Asian country and the world body. Over the past 50 years, China has offered full support for the UN cause by upholding the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, played a constructive and increasingly important role in international affairs, and made great contributions to world peace and development. Upon the 50th anniversary of the restoration of its lawful seat in the United Nations, China has pledged to continue to be a builder of world peace, a contributor to global development, a defender of the international order and a provider of public goods. CHOICE OF HISTORY On Oct. 25, 1971, the UNGA at its 26th session adopted Resolution 2758 with an overwhelming majority to restore all the rights of the PRC and to recognize the representatives of its government as the only legitimate representatives of China to the United Nations. "I have never seen such a resounding applause in my life," said Iftikhar Ali, a Pakistani journalist who witnessed the moment, recalling that cheers and applause filled the air and people were hugging each other. That moment came more than two decades after the founding of the PRC, which had been kept out of the international organization mainly due to the hostility of and obstruction by the United States. Soldiers on the Chinese contingent to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) are awarded the United Nations Peacekeeping Medal during a medal parade ceremony in southern Lebanon, June 16, 2021. (Photo by Liu Xiongma/Xinhua) Yet, from the 1950s to the early 1970s, the third world -- mainly comprising newly independent countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America -- gradually took shape and became a significant force in the world. The profound transformation of the international landscape eventually broke the blockade of the United States and its allies, making the restoration of China's lawful seat in the UN a historical inevitability. Recalling the "historic meeting" in 1971, former Chilean President Ricardo Lagos Escobar, who was a member of his country's delegation to the 26th session of the UNGA, said restoring China's lawful seat strengthened the role of the world body and increased its representation at the global level. "There was a sense that we were going to have a more realistic UN, more in line with what the world is, and in that sense, there was a feeling that the UN was being strengthened as the true place where international issues must be resolved," Lagos said. That echoes the view of former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. With the restoration of China's lawful seat, "the United Nations became a universal organization in terms of its size and contents," he told Xinhua in a recent interview. CONTRIBUTOR TO WORLD PEACE, DEVELOPMENT Over the past five decades, China -- the world's largest developing country and a permanent member of the UN Security Council -- has proven to be a staunch supporter of the noble cause of the UN. To help preserve world peace, China, holding high the banner of peace, development and win-win cooperation, has been committed to taking objective and just positions, resolving differences through dialogue and consultation, and the principle of non-interference in internal affairs of other countries. Since 1990, it has dispatched over 50,000 peacekeepers to nearly 30 UN peacekeeping missions. It is the second largest funding contributor to UN peacekeeping operations and has contributed more peacekeepers than any other permanent member of the Security Council. Chinese peacekeepers remove an undetonated bomb in Naqoura, Lebanon, Aug. 28, 2006. (Photo by Li Chunnian/Xinhua) In terms of development, China has also made indelible contributions. By eliminating absolute poverty in China, it has met the poverty eradication target of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development 10 years ahead of schedule, which stands as an enormous contribution to global poverty reduction and sustainable development endeavors. Committed to common development, Chinese President Xi Jinping put forward in 2013 the Belt and Road Initiative, which has now become the largest platform for international cooperation, and is playing a significant role in keeping the world economy afloat against the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Aerial photo taken on April 8, 2019 shows the Maputo Bay Bridge, built by the China Road and Bridge Corporation with Chinese standards and financial support, in Maputo, Mozambique. (Xinhua/Zhang Yu) In the spirit of building a community with a shared future for mankind, China has also been working tirelessly to advance international cooperation against such major threats as climate change. It has pledged to peak carbon dioxide emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060. During the past five decades, China has not only made outstanding achievements in promoting its own political and economic development, but also "been actively engaged in the noble cause of peace and development in many places around the world," Ban said. "China has stood with pride and contributed to the international community," commented Abdulla Shahid, president of the 76th session of the UNGA. "China has played a very, very important role in multilateralism and strengthening the United Nations." CHAMPION OF MULTILATERALISM "Both climate change and COVID-19 have shown us that we, as a species, as humanity, we can survive only through multilateralism," Shahid stressed in a recent exclusive interview with Xinhua. "That is why China as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, as a responsible member of the international community, has a very important role to play," he added. Two Chinese COVID-19 response experts pose for a photo with a local health worker at a nucleic acid testing station in Conakry, Guinea, Sept. 2, 2020. (Xinhua) Indeed, China has always been a staunch supporter and practitioner of true multilateralism over the past 50 years. In a newly published position paper, China says it believes that international affairs should be addressed through consultation by all, and that the future of the world should be decided by all countries together. "China firmly opposes unilateralism, protectionism and bullying acts, and firmly rejects pseudo-multilateralism in such disguises as group politics and small circles," said the position paper. "China is committed to making the global governance system more just and equitable." "In the world, there is only one international system, i.e. the international system with the United Nations at its core. There is only one international order, i.e. the international order underpinned by international law. There is only one set of rules, i.e. the basic norms governing international relations underpinned by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter," President Xi stressed in his statement delivered via video at the general debate of the 76th session of the UNGA. Those remarks struck a chord with Ali, the Pakistani journalist. "China has been a strong advocate of multilateralism, and it continues to be an important supporter of developing countries," he said, adding that China has constantly insisted that decisions regarding international affairs should be reached through consultation between all members. Looking into the future, China said it is ready to work with the international community to advocate peace, development, equity, justice, democracy and freedom, which are the common values of humanity, and advance the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. Commenting on the vision of building a community with a shared future, Shahid said that "the COVID pandemic and climate change have clearly shown to us that we, as a species, can survive only if we work together." (Video editors: Rao Liwen, Chen Xiaoyu, Chen Shan, Yang Yijun, Xu Runnan, Zhang Boning) (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Du Mingming) China donates more COVID-19 vaccines to Philippines Xinhua) 09:05, October 25, 2021 China's Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian (3rd L) and Carlito Galvez (3rd R), the chief implementer of Philippine government's measures to combat COVID-19, are seen with officials from the Philippine government in front of cargos containing Sinovac vaccines in Pasay City, the Philippines, Oct. 24, 2021. China donated another batch of Sinovac CoronaVac vaccines to the Philippines on Sunday to support the country's COVID-19 vaccination campaign. The donation arrived in Manila along with the vaccines of the same brand that the Philippines purchased from China. (Rouelle Umali/Xinhua) MANILA, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) -- China donated another batch of Sinovac CoronaVac vaccines to the Philippines on Sunday to support the country's COVID-19 vaccination campaign. The donation arrived in Manila along with the vaccines of the same brand that the Philippines purchased from China. In a brief statement to reporters at the airport, Chinese ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian said the fresh vaccine delivery "demonstrates the kind of friendship from the Chinese government and people" to the Philippines. Huang expressed hope that the vaccines from China would further contribute to bringing down the cases in the Philippines and speeding up the country's recovery. "We are happy to see that the number of confirmed cases in this country is decreasing due to very hard and professional workings of the Philippine government and the people," Huang said. The Philippine officials thanked China for its "continuing generosity and very important support" as the country ramps up its vaccination and grapples with the pandemic. "We would like to thank China for the donation of lifesaving vaccines to the Philippines," said Carlito Galvez, the chief implementer of Philippine government's measures to combat COVID-19. Galvez recalled that China was the first country to donate and deliver the vaccines to the Philippines in February, noting that Sunday's shipment is the 100th the country has ever received and coincidentally it is also the Chinese donation. China has sustained the COVID-19 vaccine supply to the Philippines since the first delivery on Feb. 28, allowing the Southeast Asian country to kick off its vaccination drive on March 1. The Philippines has administered over 55 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines. More than 25 million Filipinos have been fully vaccinated. The government aims to vaccinate up to 70 million people this year. To date, the Philippines has received more than 97.67 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines from different vaccine makers. China remains the country's biggest vaccine supplier. The Philippines now has more than 2.75 million confirmed COVID-19 cases, including 41,793 deaths. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Hongyu) Chinese, Russian warships tackle Japanese close-in recon, 'display confidence' in 1st joint sea patrol Global Times) 09:18, October 25, 2021 Russian soldiers wave at a ceremony on October 23, the last day of the first China-Russia joint sea patrol which started on October 17. (Photo: Xinhua) A Chinese-Russian naval flotilla tackled external challenges, including close-in reconnaissance by Japanese forces, during the fleets' first joint sea patrol over the past week. The seven-day patrol saw the warships circumnavigate Japan by traversing the Sea of Japan, the West Pacific and the East China Sea, transiting several strategically important straits in the process, with Chinese experts saying on Sunday that it displays China and Russia's firm determination to safeguard international and regional strategic stability and the high confidence in their capabilities of doing so. From the start of the joint patrol, the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force sent aircraft and vessels to follow the flotilla and attempt to gather intelligence, China Central Television (CCTV) reported on Saturday. During the patrol, "the Chinese and Russian warships faced some external challenges, but we tackled these challenges together well," Senior Colonel Chen Weigong, the political commissar of China's Type 055 large destroyer Nanchang, the command ship of the joint flotilla, was quoted by CCTV as saying. The Japanese Defense Ministry published the movements of the Chinese warships since they transited the Tsushima Strait into the Sea of Japan on October 11 for the Joint Sea-2021 exercises with Russia from October 14 to 17. According to the Japanese releases, which said that Japan had dispatched aircraft and vessels for monitoring, the Chinese and Russian warships transited the Tsugaru Strait from the Sea of Japan into the West Pacific on October 18, were then seen heading south along the east of Japan on Wednesday and sailing to the west through islands to the south of Japan's main island on Thursday, and transited the Osumi Strait into the East China Sea on Friday. It is anticipated that Japan would track and monitor foreign warship and warplane activities near it, so the flotilla is allowing Japan to see it, which shows its confidence, while also practicing dealing with Japanese tracking and monitoring at the same time, Shi Hong, executive chief editor of the Chinese magazine Shipborne Weapons, told the Global Times. During the patrol, the joint formation strictly abided by international law and did not enter territorial waters of other countries, the Chinese Ministry of Defense said in a statement released on Saturday. The joint maritime patrol is aimed at further developing the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era, elevating the joint action capabilities of both nations and jointly maintaining international and regional strategic stability. It is part of the annual cooperation plan between the two nations and is not targeted at any third parties, the Chinese Ministry of Defense stated. The China-Russia joint warship flotilla featuring 10 warships and six carrier-based helicopters carried out the first joint maritime patrol between the two countries' navies in the Sea of Japan, the West Pacific and the East China Sea from October 17 to Saturday, during which they organized exercises over joint sea-crossing, joint maneuvers and live-fire weapon shooting, the Chinese Defense Ministry said. The warships involved included the Type 055 guided missile destroyer Nanchang, the Type 052D guided missile destroyer Kunming, the Type 054A guided missile frigates Binzhou and Liuzhou and the Type 903A comprehensive supply ship Dongpinghu from China, and the large anti-submarine ships Admiral Panteleev and Admiral Tributs, the instrumentation ship Marshal Krylov, and the corvettes of the project 20380 Hero of the Russian Federation Aldar Tsydenzhapov and Gromkiy from Russia, CCTV reported. At the end of the patrol, the two countries' warships separated in the eastern part of the East China Sea, and the Chinese ships returned to their home ports, CCTV said in a separate report on Saturday. The patrol path also means that the Chinese and Russian warships circumnavigated Japan, which sends a warning to Japan as well as the US, which have been rallying allies to confront China and Russia, destabilizing the region, observers said. Military expert Song Zhongping told the Global Times that the patrol showed a high degree of actual combat. Immediately transitioning from a drill to patrol is a mechanism of transforming from a peacetime to wartime status. "The formation of such a mechanism indicates that the capacity of China and Russia to make quick reactions in military cooperation is improving quickly," Song noted. In the future, joint air and naval patrols between China and Russia will become increasingly common, Song said. Air-sea joint patrols will follow, which demonstrates a deeper China-Russia friendship and improved China-Russia joint operation capacity, as well as stronger actual combat capacity. Zhang Junshe, a senior research fellow at the Naval Research Academy of the PLA, told the Global Times that the first China-Russia joint sea patrol in waters in the West Pacific is of vital significance in both sending a clear signal and practically enhancing combat preparedness. It again demonstrates the two sides' firm determination to safeguard international and regional strategic stability, Zhang said. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Hongyu) China plays increasingly bigger role in international affairs over past decades: UN envoy (People's Daily App) 09:21, October 25, 2021 Since the restoration of China's lawful seat in the United Nations 50 years ago, China has made great achievements in its national development, played an increasingly bigger role in international affairs and made an important contribution toward peace and development, said Zhang Jun, China's permanent representative to the United Nations. China will firmly champion multilateralism, upholding purposes and principles of the UN Charter and support the UN to play a bigger role, Zhang added. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Hongyu) US will humiliate itself challenging UN Resolution 2758, undermining one-China principle Global Times) 09:45, October 25, 2021 2021 marks the 50th anniversary of the restoration of the lawful seat of the People's Republic of China in the UN. These five decades have witnessed China's practice of multilateralism, full participation in and support for the cause of the UN. Graphic: Jin Jianyu and Xu Zihe/Global Times US State Department officials recently expressed support for a "discussion focused on supporting Taiwan's ability to participate meaningfully at the UN." They clamored that China has misused Resolution 2758, saying the resolution decided the issue of China's representation in the UN, but the matter of the island of Taiwan's participation remains unsolved. This is an attempt by Washington to fundamentally challenge the one-China principle, trying to break the political status quo of the Taiwan question. Washington is echoing Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities' moves to challenge Resolution 2758 internationally since the beginning of this year. The resolution was approved on October 25, 1971. It clearly states that "the representatives of the Government of the People's Republic of China are the only lawful representatives of China to the United Nations." It "decides to expel forthwith the representatives of Chiang Kai-shek from the place which they unlawfully occupy at the United Nations and in all the organizations related to it." Though the resolution did not mention "Taiwan" or "the Republic of China," there were no doubts about who Chiang Kai-shek's representatives were at that time. The UN's comprehensive boycott against Taiwan authorities based on this resolution was never questioned. Even Taiwan's secessionist forces who manipulated the issue of making the island a member of the UN had to fabricate other excuses rather than challenging Resolution 2758. Finding fault with Resolution 2758 is completely a new trick of the island of Taiwan and the US this year. The DPP authorities have no bottom line. They fabricated history and betrayed morality. During the so-called 110th anniversary of the founding of the "Republic of China," the DPP dared not mention the Revolution of 1911 (Xinhai Revolution) or the revolution's leader Sun Yat-sen. Even the US, the No.1 Western country, arbitrarily falsified and fabricated the meaning of the UN resolution, completely ignoring its self-claimed responsibility of maintaining international rules. The US has turned itself into a complete political hooligan, which has been an eye-opener for the world. We want to ask: What did the US do over the previous decades? When representatives of the Taiwan authorities were expelled from the UN General Assembly and various organizations affiliated to the UN, they complained many times. What did the US do back then? Chen Shui-bian, former regional leader of Taiwan, tried to push for the island's entry into the UN and asked to participate in various assemblies organized by UN-affiliated organizations. What did the US do? How come the US has suddenly realized it has misunderstood Resolution 2758 due to China's so-called misuse over recent years? There have been many US administrations since the Nixon administration, are they all too muddle-headed to understand a few lines in a UN resolution? The current US government is the most incapable and degenerate in the country's history. The US' national strength has greatly lost its relative advantage, so the cards of trade and human rights Washington plays to counter China have almost no effect at all. Meanwhile, the military deterrence from the Chinese mainland is also containing the Taiwan card the US plays. The US then has come to this cheap shot as a "new weapon" to launch an alternative offensive against China. Washington's new move is very abrupt. The US is challenging the commonsense perceptions of the international community while pretending to be earnest and unbiased. This is the ultimate shamelessness. If it wants to pick on China, it should at least find a good excuse. But the US is challenging the entire world's understanding of a UN resolution passed 50 years ago, distorting the truth deliberately, and humiliating the world's memory and discernment. It is important to note that the US is not so powerful that whatever it says will be effectively enforced. Nor can it arbitrarily define UN resolutions that involve the core interests of other major powers. The vast majority of countries in the world clearly understand what the one-China principle is and whether the island of Taiwan is qualified to seek an equal presence with sovereign states in the UN. Although the US has influence, it can manipulate only some of its allies, not the UN. There is no way that the US can pull Taiwan into the UN, or any UN-affiliated organizations or agencies only a sovereign country is qualified to join. China and most peace-loving countries which stick to true rules will have enough strength to resist the shameless manipulation of the US and not let the US and Taiwan achieve their ulterior motives. The US knows well that Taiwan's entry to the UN is just a pseudo-proposition that has no chance to be realized. What the US wants more is to create a new flashpoint with China and exhaust China's diplomatic resources. By doing so, the US tries to woo allies and disturb China's agenda, so as to find strategic initiatives for itself and get rid of the weak situation in the Taiwan Straits caused by its declining control of the Western Pacific. If the US really makes waves, it will lead to deep divisions in the UN and paralyze the execution power of the UN in many aspects. The US will become a historic sinner that further undermines world unity. But one thing is for sure: No matter how badly it tries, Taiwan will not be able to enter the UN. The bigger the farce the US makes, the more disgraceful it is. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Hongyu) Restoration of China's lawful seat in the UN inspires African countries, says Congolese senior editor Xinhua) 09:53, October 25, 2021 A screenshot shows Bernard Makiza, a senior editor of la Semaine Africaine (The African Week), speaking during an interview with Xinhua in Brazzaville, the Republic of the Congo, on Aug. 16, 2021. China's restoration of its lawful seat at the United Nations was a diplomatic win that inspired countries in Africa, said Bernard Makiza, a senior editor at the time-honored newspaper in the Republic of the Congo. (Xinhua) BRAZZAVILLE, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) -- China's restoration of its lawful seat at the United Nations was a diplomatic win that inspired countries in Africa, said Bernard Makiza, a senior editor at a time-honored newspaper in the Republic of the Congo. On Oct. 25, 1971, the 26th Session of the UN General Assembly adopted Resolution 2758 with an overwhelming majority to restore all the lawful rights of the People's Republic of China (PRC) at the UN and recognize the representatives of its government as the only legitimate UN representatives of China. This historic moment made headlines worldwide, including la Semaine Africaine (The African Week), one of the oldest surviving newspapers in Central Africa. In an editorial dated Nov. 7, 1971, the newspapers lauded China's diplomatic win on its front page. China's restoration of its lawful rights at the UN "has become something inevitable and logical," read the article. "The restoration is ineluctable and inevitable. China should definitely be in the UN," Makiza, the newspaper's editor-in-chief back in the 1970s, said in his interpretation of the editorial in an interview with Xinhua. "A scenario where a great nation like China was left on the curb of the UN is simply unacceptable. From a historic perspective, China won," he noted. Among the 76 "Yes" votes on Resolution 2758, 26 were African countries. Makiza said China, also once a victim of colonization, shares the same aspiration as many African countries. That was why Africa contributed to setting the record straight after some countries attempted to distort the course of history. "For Africa, China is a friend that could help them get rid of underdevelopment and in particular the aftermath of colonization," he explained. With a new meeting of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation slated to be held later this year in Dakar, Senegal, Makiza said he has great expectations for the event and believes it will lead to a stronger China-Africa relationship. China and Africa should "sit down and discuss" ways of further cooperating and strengthening ties, he said. "And we both are aware that we are friends and brothers. And working together is the right way for us," said Makiza. "As long as we handle things in a sincere and honest way, we can benefit from the partnership between China and Africa." (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Hongyu) Interview: China-ASEAN relations expect another exciting 30 years, says Chinese envoy Xinhua) 10:25, October 25, 2021 A man poses for a photo in front of a poster marking the 30th anniversary of the establishment of China-ASEAN dialogue relations in Nanning, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Sept. 10, 2021. (Xinhua/Ma Ning) - China will continue fully cooperating with ASEAN to have the RCEP take effect as scheduled early next year, said the Chinese envoy. - China is ready to explore strengthening cooperation in vaccine R&D, production, procurement, vaccination, and supervision with ASEAN countries through China-ASEAN Vaccine Friend Cooperation to enhance the affordability and accessibility of vaccines in the region, he said. - The new trilateral security partnership between the United States, Britain and Australia known as AUKUS is in essence another "Anglo-Saxon" circle defined by the close Anglosphere affinity and geopolitical calculations, he said, adding that these small circles would disintegrate the existing regional architecture with ASEAN in the driver's seat and thus significantly undermine ASEAN centrality. JAKARTA, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) -- The China-ASEAN relations are at a new starting point and will enter another exciting 30 years, said Chinese ambassador to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Deng Xijun. The two sides shall further unleash the energy and potential of the relations with more active steps and more innovative measures, and build a closer community with a shared future for the benefit of the over 2 billion population in 11 countries, Deng said in a recent interview with Xinhua. ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. China and ASEAN established dialogue relations in 1991. Deng noted that during the past 30 years, the two sides have made a giant leap forward in economic and trade cooperation. The two-way trade increased by 85 times, making the two sides each other's largest trading partners. In the first three quarters of this year, China-ASEAN trade totaled 630.54 billion U.S. dollars, up by 31.1 percent year-on-year and accounting for 14.4 percent of China's total foreign trade, continuing to maintain strong growth momentum, Deng said. According to China's statistics, since the establishment of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area 11 years ago, 90 percent of the goods between the two sides can be traded at zero tariff. People select goods at the 18th China-ASEAN Expo in Nanning, capital of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Sept. 11, 2021. (Xinhua/Lu Boan) Commenting on the significance of ASEAN centrality embodied in the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), Deng said that during eight years of negotiations, ASEAN has played a leading role by vigorously coordinating the positions of all parties and ensuring steady progress. China was the first non-ASEAN member to complete ratification of RCEP, he noted. "The agreement is of vital significance to promoting post-COVID-19 economic recovery and prosperity in the region, deepening economic integration of East Asia, and safeguarding regional peace and stability," said Deng. "China will continue fully cooperating with ASEAN to have the RCEP take effect as scheduled early next year." Regarding the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, Deng said China and ASEAN have been upholding the spirit of mutual assistance and solidarity as reflected by the cooperation on combating COVID-19. To date, China has provided all ASEAN member states with over 300 million COVID-19 vaccines and a great number of emergency medical supplies. China has also sent medical expert teams to help build virus-testing labs and worked on vaccine trials with several ASEAN member states, Deng noted. "Though the pandemic now in ASEAN is receding, the challenges including pandemic rebounding from time to time and low vaccination rate in some countries still remain and thus create uncertainties ahead," said Deng. China is ready to explore strengthening cooperation in vaccine R&D, production, procurement, vaccination, and supervision with ASEAN countries through China-ASEAN Vaccine Friend Cooperation to enhance the affordability and accessibility of vaccines in the region, he said. Photo taken on Aug. 1, 2021 shows packages of China's Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine at the Phnom Penh International Airport in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. (Photo by Phearum/Xinhua) Talking about the new trilateral security partnership between the United States, Britain and Australia known as AUKUS, Deng said it is in essence another "Anglo-Saxon" circle defined by the close Anglosphere affinity and geopolitical calculations. "These small circles would disintegrate the existing regional architecture with ASEAN in the driver's seat and thus significantly undermine ASEAN centrality," he said. Deng stressed that what ASEAN member states and other regional countries truly long for is no other than the peaceful coexistence of major powers in East Asia, an open and inclusive regional architecture to be consolidated, and a cooperation-oriented agenda with the focus on anti-pandemic endeavors and economic recovery. In no way would they long for "endless geopolitical rivalry, worrying military and security agenda, or being forced to side with anyone," he said. "Unfortunately, the policy orientation of the U.S. administration is drifting further away from the wish of regional countries," he said. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Hongyu) Chinese COVID-19 vaccines boost Ethiopia's inoculation drive Xinhua) 10:33, October 25, 2021 A handover ceremony for Chinese-donated COVID-19 vaccines is held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Oct. 24, 2021. The latest batch of Chinese-donated Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccines, totaling 800,000 doses, arrived in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa on Sunday, giving a boost to the East African nation's vaccination efforts. (Xinhua/Michael Tewelde) ADDIS ABABA, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) -- The latest batch of Chinese-donated Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccines, totaling 800,000 doses, arrived in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa on Sunday, giving a boost to the East African nation's vaccination efforts. China has so far donated in excess of 1.8 million COVID-19 vaccine doses to Ethiopia, which the Ethiopian government said has played an important role in combating the virus. The handover ceremony for the donated vaccines was attended by senior Ethiopian government officials and members of the Chinese diplomatic community in the Ethiopian capital. Speaking to Xinhua on Sunday, Ethiopia's Minister of Health Lia Tadesse said the Chinese-donated vaccines have proved effective as data shows that vaccinated people are less vulnerable to COVID-19 than the unvaccinated ones. "For us as a country, specific effectiveness data is still to be done, but we have seen that those people who are dying in health facilities are those who are not vaccinated," Tadesse said. "This gives us enough evidence that we need to take the vaccines that are made available. We would like to assure that these are the vaccines that can prevent the disease, but also primarily prevent severe disease and death if even infected," the Ethiopian health minister said. Zhao Zhiyuan, Chinese Ambassador to Ethiopia, said that the Chinese government-donated vaccines are playing a crucial role in Ethiopia's efforts in combating COVID-19, restoring the economy from the impact of the pandemic, and protecting people's health. "China will do its best to continue with vaccine assistance to Ethiopia and promote bilateral exchanges and cooperation in public health sectors," Zhao said after handing over the vaccines to Ethiopia. Ethiopia has so far administered a total of 4,286,768 doses to 3,211,211 people, according to the latest figures from the Ministry of Health. According to the ministry, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the country reached 362,088 as the death toll from the pandemic reached 6,347 as of Saturday evening. Chinese-donated vaccines, as one of the most administered COVID-19 vaccines in the country, are also gaining growing interest among Ethiopians. Maereg Bezabih, a medical nurse who is engaged in administering COVID-19 vaccines in a local health center in Addis Ababa, said some people specifically prefer the Chinese vaccines for various reasons. As part of its commitment to make its vaccines a global public good, China is presently playing a crucial role in terms of vaccine accessibility and affordability in developing countries, including Ethiopia. China will strive to provide 2 billion COVID-19 vaccine doses to the world throughout this year and offer 100 million U.S. dollars to COVAX. The 100 million U.S. dollars to COVAX will mainly go to the distribution of vaccines to developing countries. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Hongyu) Xi hails restoration of PRC's rights in UN 50 years ago as victory Xinhua) 10:52, October 25, 2021 BEIJING, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday hailed the restoration of all the rights of the People's Republic of China (PRC) in the United Nations (UN) 50 years ago as a victory of the Chinese people, and the people from all countries around the world. Xi made the remarks in Beijing at a commemorative meeting marking the 50th anniversary of the restoration of the PRC's lawful seat in the UN. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Hongyu) Xi starts addressing meeting marking 50th anniversary of restoration of People's Republic of China's lawful seat in UN Xinhua) 10:53, October 25, 2021 BEIJING, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping started delivering an important speech at a commemorative meeting marking the 50th anniversary of the restoration of the People's Republic of China's lawful seat in the United Nations (UN) on Monday here. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Hongyu) China calls for tightened response as new COVID-19 outbreak affects 11 regions Xinhua) 11:05, October 25, 2021 Photo taken on Oct. 24, 2021 shows a press conference held by the joint prevention and control mechanism of the State Council in Beijing, capital of China. (Xinhua/Zhang Yuwei) BEIJING, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) -- A total of 11 provincial-level regions have been affected within a week as a fresh outbreak of COVID-19 emerged in China, a spokesperson with the National Health Commission (NHC) said Sunday. Sporadic cases reported in various regions have been increasing ever since Oct. 17, Mi Feng, spokesperson for the NHC, told a press conference. Most of the cases have inter-region travel histories, increasing the risk of virus transmission to other regions, Mi said. The spokesperson called for tightened anti-epidemic response against the new outbreak. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Hongyu) Former African diplomats recall joys at China's restoration of lawful seat at UN Xinhua) 11:06, October 25, 2021 BEIJING, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- Fifty years ago today, the 26th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted Resolution 2758 with an overwhelming majority and decided to restore the lawful seat of the People's Republic of China (PRC) in the world body. In the conference hall at the UN Headquarters located in New York City, thunderous applause and cheers echoed from all sides of the hall. Former Permanent Representative of Tanzania to the United States Salim Ahmed Salim, as the representative of the campaign for this cause, congratulated China with cheers and applause on the spot, which left an unforgettable memory. Salim was granted China's Friendship Medal when the PRC celebrated the 70th anniversary of its founding in 2019. In a written interview with Xinhua, he said the world has seen tremendous changes over the past decades, but he still remembered the day when the country's lawful seat at the UN was restored. Salim told Xinhua that it "is a great historic moment" not only for him, but also for Tanzania and all the African countries which have made great efforts to support the milestone event. Vernon Johnson Mwaanga, former Zambian foreign minister and former Zambian envoy to the UN, hugged his African colleagues on the spot, sharing the joy. In an interview with Xinhua ahead of the 50th anniversary of the milestone event, Mwaanga reminisced about how Africa supported China's return to the UN. Pushing for the adoption of a resolution over the matter was not easy, as some Western countries, including the United States, were determined to maintain the status quo, the former diplomat said. Mwaanga said the African representatives felt obliged to change the situation because they believed there was no way that Taiwan, which is part of China, could represent China. "You can imagine how frustrating it was for us, because we first sponsored the resolution in 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970 and finally succeeded in 1971," Mwaanga said. To counter the move of the United States, the African group sought support from other countries and asked them to be co-sponsors of the resolution, which needed a two-thirds majority to get passed, Mwaanga said. "So by the time we were finishing with voting, it was quite late at night and when it was announced we were all very happy," he recalled. Mwaanga said that China has, no doubt, played a major role in the UN system in the last 50 years in such aspects as safeguarding global peace and security. China-Africa relations, he said, have been strong in the last 50 years, during which China has helped African countries fight poverty, and improve health care, education, and infrastructure. He believes that the China-Africa relations have a bright future because the growth prospect of the ties has been further cemented by the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation and the Belt and Road Initiative, which have both been embraced by African countries. Referring to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Mwaanga thanked China for providing African countries with vaccines and other medical supplies, and further commended China for its response to the pandemic, saying that the rest of the world should learn from China's handling of the public health crisis. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Hongyu) Interview: Veteran Ethiopian diplomat says restoration of China's lawful seat in UN propels global development Xinhua) 11:19, October 25, 2021 ADDIS ABABA, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- The restoration of China's lawful seat in the United Nations in 1971 was a milestone moment that injected momentum in propelling global development, said Teruneh Zenna, Ethiopia's former ambassador to the United Nations. China, as a responsible major country, "has played an active role in the UN peacekeeping operations and influenced the organization to adhere to its guiding principles," Zenna told Xinhua recently. Sharing his memory about China's restoration of its lawful seat in the United Nations, Zenna said there was unparalleled jubilation during that historic moment. "It was a great victory for the People's Republic of China when the resolution was presented and passed," he said. According to Zenna, China's engagement with the United Nations has been paramount to global development, including its involvement in the UN peacekeeping mission as China became one of the top ten UN personnel contributors. "China is now engaging in world peace and security issues through the United Nations and its voluntary contribution has increased over time with many Chinese peacekeeping troops largely deployed in Africa," he added. Zenna underscored that China's fast economic development has made great contributions to the development and prosperity of the world, particularly to African economies. "China has been doing a lot in the economic area and its projects, including the Belt and Road Initiative which is expected to help over 150 world nations interconnect," the diplomat said. The veteran diplomat spoke highly of China's support to African countries in various fields of development, including the infrastructure sector. "During the past 10 to 15 years, China has invested in Africa significantly and assisted African countries in building their infrastructures," Zenna said. He noted that Ethiopia has achieved growth miracle during the past decade because of the Chinese assistance and investment, "to which we are very thankful." The diplomat further stressed that China's support to multilateralism is a positive imperative to global cooperation on the fight against terrorism, inequality and global pandemic. China's development vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind, which is based on respect and understanding of one's culture, civilization, motto and principles, is also very critical, he stressed. "I appreciate this principle of mutual development and building a global community, which also builds a new future for humanity. It is very important," he said. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Hongyu) Exhibition in HK showcases China's architectural beauty, construction achievements Xinhua) 13:23, October 25, 2021 Photo taken on Oct. 25, 2021, shows Chief Executive of China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Carrie Lam delivering a speech at Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center in Hong Kong, south China. (Xinhua/Lui Siu Wai) Using historical photos, construction models and multimedia content, the show is expected to bring Hong Kong residents an interactive experience of China's unique architectural beauty as well as advanced construction technologies. HONG KONG, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- An exhibition highlighting the long history of Chinese architecture and the great achievements of Chinese construction in the new era was unveiled Monday morning at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center. Chief Executive of China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Carrie Lam and Lu Xinning, deputy head of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR, delivered speeches at the opening ceremony, which was attended by well-known architectural experts from the mainland and Hong Kong, university presidents, and celebrities from different walks of life. Using historical photos, construction models and multimedia content, the show is expected to bring Hong Kong residents an interactive experience of China's unique architectural beauty as well as advanced construction technologies. Scheduled to conclude on Oct. 30, the exhibition is held to celebrate the 72nd anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China and the 24th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to the motherland, as the latest part of "The Spirit of the Times Shines upon Hong Kong" activity series. It is co-hosted by the HKSAR government, the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR, and the China State Construction Engineering Corporation. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Hongyu) Xi: Let us stand on the right side of history Xinhua) 13:46, October 25, 2021 BEIJING, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday called for joint efforts to build a community with a shared future for mankind, saying that "let us join hands, stand on the right side of history and the side of human progress, and work tirelessly for the lasting and peaceful development of the world." Xi made the remarks in Beijing at a conference marking the 50th anniversary of the restoration of the People's Republic of China's lawful seat in the United Nations. (Web editor: Xian Jiangnan, Hongyu) Chinese sexagenarian learns photography, takes great delight in filming wildlife in mountains People's Daily Online) 14:13, October 25, 2021 Its never too late to learn, says a proverb. Wan Xingfu, a sexagenarian from Yanji city, northeast China's Jilin province has perhaps been one of the best practitioners of this saying. Having only learned photography at the ripe age of 58, he is now an enthusiast who goes about filming wild animals in the Changbai Mountains. Photo shows Wan busy photographing in the snow. (Photo provided by the interviewee) At the age of 46, Wan traveled to France without knowing the language. There, he started off as a dishwasher and eventually became a chef. He returned to China at the age of 51. Then, he opened up a travel agency, having also worked as a study abroad agent for a few years. At 58, he suddenly had a new idea -- to get engaged in photography. So he went to Zhongguancun, a technology hub in Haidian district, Beijing with all his savings and bought photographic equipment at a total combined cost of 220,000 yuan ($34,408). He then recruited four young people and set up his own media company, getting ready to do something big. Photo shows an image of a sable captured by Wan. (Photo provided by the interviewee) Wan started to learn photography formally from then on, taking pictures of various wild animals, such as Haliaeetus pelagicus and egrets. It was a pleasure," says Wan, adding that I couldn't stop at all." At 63, he started operating his own account on the Chinese online video-sharing platform Douyin. Seizing the opportunity arising from the rapid growth of short videos, he gained 800,000 followers in just one and a half years. One of his videos received more than 3 million likes. In order to learn photography, Wan drove 50,000 to 60,000 kilometers a year. At first, Wan barely earned any income, but instead continuously reinvested the 600,000 to 700,000 yuan his company made. Now, his company can pocket up to 5 or 6 million yuan annually. Photo shows an image of a red fox captured by Wan. (Photo provided by the interviewee) "Once I want to do something, I will do it well," Wan said. In fact, photographing wildlife in the snow and ice is not an easy task. Because of the long hours spent shooting in the bitter cold, Wan suffered from heel pain, which became excruciating whenever it got cold. "When I was shooting a few years ago, I accidentally fell in a puddle covered by snow. Luckily, my friend was about 100 meters away. He rescued me," Wan recalled. Despite all the arduous work, Wan has no intention to stop. This year he turned 65. At an age when most people usually choose to retire, he said, "I want to fight for another 10 years. Life is so short, and it would be too meaningless to retire in my 60s. Besides, I also want to contribute to our society. For example, I can photograph wild animals and call for more people to care for them and protect nature." Photo shows Wan photographing wild animals. (Photo provided by the interviewee) In Wan's opinion, "not being a professional" is neither a threshold nor a barrier, but rather it gives people a broader perspective. He has more new ideas and will continue to carry them out in his future life. As he has always believed, it is only by keeping a fresh and courageous attitude that one can make a dull life exciting. (Web editor: Hongyu, Bianji) Full text of Chinese President Xi Jinping's remarks at conference marking 50th anniversary of restoration of People's Republic of China's lawful seat in UN Xinhua) 15:10, October 25, 2021 BEIJING, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping addressed a conference marking the 50th anniversary of the restoration of the People's Republic of China's lawful seat in the United Nations (UN) on Monday. Please see the attachment for the translation of the full text of the speech. Full text of Chinese President Xi Jinping's remarks at conference marking 50th anniversary of restoration of People's Republic of China's lawful seat in UN (Web editor: Xian Jiangnan, Hongyu) French authors work to shatter Western misconceptions about China in new book People's Daily Online) 16:35, October 25, 2021 French writer Maxime Vivas, who previously published a book about China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, has striven to debunk the one-sided interpretations of China propagated by the Western media with an objective and detailed set of arguments, having once again broken through the Western misconceptions about China with his latest book. After publishing his book entitled "Ouighours pour en finir avec les fake news", Vivas co-edited another book named "La Chine sans illeres" with French trade union activist and writer Jean-Pierre Page. (People's Daily Online/He Qian) In this latest book, they invited 16 international experts and scholars from the fields of economics, history, diplomacy, immunology, journalism, and Tibetan studies to break through the Western misconceptions about China. During a recent exclusive interview with the People's Daily Online, Vivas recalled that his book "Ouighours pour en finir avec les fake news" was published amid an unprecedented upheaval in international public opinion towards China, with the Western media claiming that there was a widespread genocide against the Uygur people in Xinjiang, that the organs of Uygur children were being harvested and sold, that millions of Uygurs were being imprisoned, and that large numbers of Muslims were being persecuted. "However, Western politicians and journalists have never been to Xinjiang, nor have they conducted objective field research. When my book was published, it was like a bomb thrown into the water, stirring up big waves," said Vivas. According to Vivas, "due to the publication of this book, my relationship with people around me became really strained, including with my family, and I felt it was very painful because of this. But what hurt me the most was the attack from the French media, from newspapers to radio to television, which was full of slanders, insults, and curses against me. What's more, some even accused me of being a Nazi." Page noted the hostility from the French media and general public, suggesting that "in France, the media has difficulty tolerating an open-minded interpretation of China. Any author who shows the slightest sign of goodwill toward China is subjected to a barrage of attacks simply because he tells the truth." "The most important reason for the constant hostility shown by the French media and politicians toward China is that the arrogant and greedy West is unwilling to face the reality -- a country of 1.4 billion people has managed to emerge from fragmentation, underdevelopment, and poverty and move toward development. Meanwhile, the U.S. and France are experiencing recession, violence, and social polarization," Page concluded. "When all of the influential media outlets repeatedly reported for multiple years that genocide was taking place in Xinjiang and that China was responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic, anti-Chinese sentiment was bound to run high in the West," explained Vivas. Now, as time passes by, fake news about Xinjiang that used to be rampant in the West has continuously been debunked, and mainstream media have been forced to remain cautious and have even tried to make changes. "The truth is like a stubborn little plant growing through the concrete cracks in the walls and roads," said Vivas. (Web editor: Hongyu, Bianji) Nanning in S Chinas Guangxi monitors water quality of rivers with 5G technology People's Daily Online) 16:56, October 25, 2021 Nanning, capital city of south Chinas Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region established a 5G-driven automatic water quality monitoring program, which is much more efficient than conventional manual monitoring techniques. Photo shows a 5G-empowered automatic water sampling site located near a river in Nanning city, south Chinas Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. (Photo courtesy of China Mobile Communications Corporation Guangxi Branch Co., Ltd.) Under the program, which is the first of its kind in Guangxi, a total of 11 sampling sites were built along Yongjiang River in the city. According to He Yuting, an official of the bureau of water resources of Nanning, the newly-built sites could automatically collect water samples from the river, test and analyze the samples, and transfer data to a cloud platform in real time, making it more convenient for the bureau to understand the ongoing state of the river. Thanks to the use of 5G technology, the sampling process can be carried out 24 hours a day non-stop, while in the past manual monitoring would be conducted only once a week, explained Lu Xiongtian, an employee of the Nanning branch of China Mobile Communications Corporation (China Mobile), which is undertaking the program. Moreover, supported by new technologies including 5G networks, the Internet of Things, and cloud computing, the program is also capable of carrying out multiple other tasks, such as preventing and controlling pollutants in riverways, evaluating the overall water environment and analyzing and sharing relevant data. The program is based on an existing cloud platform for river management, whose functions go far beyond monitoring water quality. The 5G-empowered platform has collected basic information on 7,790 rivers as well as information on 2,030 of the signboards for river chiefs, who serve as stewards assigned to each waterway to tackle water pollution, having amassed 6,760 separate issues from the river chiefs in addition to those raised by the public, ranging from garbage found in the rivers to cases of wastewater discharge. (Web editor: Hongyu, Bianji) Xi, King Philippe celebrate 50th anniversary of China-Belgium diplomatic ties Xinhua) 17:48, October 25, 2021 BEIJING, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping and Belgium's King Philippe on Monday exchanged congratulatory messages on the 50th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties. In his message, Xi said he attaches great importance to the development of China-Belgium relations and stands ready to work with King Philippe to take the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties as an opportunity to push for new achievements in China-Belgium relations and make new contributions to the development of China-Europe relations. Xi pointed out that since China and Belgium established diplomatic ties, their relations have been developing constantly on the basis of mutual respect and mutual benefit. Xi recalled that in 2014, he and King Philippe upgraded the China-Belgium relationship to an all-round friendly cooperative partnership, adding that fruitful results have yielded in bilateral exchanges and cooperation across the board. After the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the two peoples helped each other and continued to write a new chapter of China-Belgium friendship, Xi said. In his message, King Philippe said that since the establishment of diplomatic ties 50 years ago, bilateral friendly relations have made great progress in many areas, with fruitful results in economic and trade cooperation and increasingly close exchanges at local levels. Noting that he has visited China several times, King Philippe said he has witnessed the rapid progress of China and the development of Belgium-China relations. Looking into the future, King Philippe said he wishes for further strengthened Belgium-China friendly relations on the current solid basis. Also on Monday, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang exchanged congratulatory messages with Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo. China, Li said, is willing to work with Belgium to take the opportunity of celebrating the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, expand friendly exchanges and push for sustained and sound development of bilateral ties. In his message, De Croo said Belgium cherishes the bilateral relations and stands ready to strengthen dialogue with China, deepen cooperation in economy, trade and sustainable development, and jointly safeguard multilateralism. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) Interview: World becomes more globalized, multipolar since restoration of China's lawful seat in UN -- expert Xinhua) 17:50, October 25, 2021 WASHINGTON, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- Since the restoration of China's lawful seat in the United Nations (UN), the past decades have seen the development of a more globalized, multipolar world, Robert Lawrence Kuhn, chairman of the Kuhn Foundation, has recently told Xinhua. "China's diplomatic history over the last five decades or so has been a very important probe into understanding not only the development of China, but also the development of a more globalized world, a more multipolar world, a world that will go into the future quite different than it has been in the past," said the U.S. expert on China. During his interview with Xinhua, Kuhn praised China's commitment to providing global public goods. "It's a significant development that will characterize China's engagement with the world," Kuhn said, adding that the public goods are designed to maintain stability and continuity across the world. He noted that China has been the largest contributor of UN peacekeeping forces, with the Chinese navy part of the global anti-piracy campaign around the Horn of Africa for many years. "The current example is that China has provided more COVID-19 vaccines, particularly to the developing world than any other country has," Kuhn said. China's global role has seen "a dramatic transformation," Kuhn said, adding that to understand China's role in today's world is "really important to understand it in a historical context." China's entry into the World Trade Organization in 2001, a milestone event, has accelerated the country's engagement with the external world "quite dramatically," beginning with trade and the development of a manufacturing base in China, which later expanded into the manufacturing center of the world "in a very real sense," he said. "That began a process of China engaging very substantially with the world on a progressive basis," said Kuhn. "As it has become the second largest economy, it even has broader requirements to engage with the world, to help the world broadly because it is a truism that no country can be totally isolated in today's world." (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Hongyu) Commentary: China capable of balancing climate ambitions, economic development Xinhua) 17:51, October 25, 2021 BEIJING, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- One year after its leadership pledged to achieve carbon neutrality by 2060, China has demonstrated its unswerving commitment to honoring its words by concrete actions. China, striving for a greener world, is expected to realize carbon neutrality through carbon peaking in the shortest time span in global history. The latest proof came as China on Sunday published a guiding document on the country's work to achieve carbon peaking and carbon neutrality goals under the new development philosophy, laying out key specific targets and measures for the coming decades. The key document, jointly released by the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the State Council, reiterated China's climate pledge. The world's second-largest economy is seeking to balance its climate ambition and economic development. On China's pathway to a low carbon economy, one thing is becoming clearer: its ambition of net zero emissions does not have to come at the cost of a sharp economic slowdown as some foreign media speculates. China has a stronger economic incentive to reduce carbon emissions, particularly through developing and investing in new energy and transportation sectors, as the world is coping with climate threats together. The massive transition of the Chinese economy to a low carbon one will see new jobs created, relevant technological innovation advanced and the competitiveness of domestic enterprises promoted. According to the newly published guiding document, by 2060, China will have fully established a clean, low-carbon, safe and efficient energy system, with energy efficiency reaching the advanced international level. As a global leader in solar, wind and hydropower generation in terms of cumulative installed capacities, China has been well recognized for its clean energy technologies internationally. China's green transformation will not only equip its own domestic companies with leading green technologies, but also bring opportunities for global investors. The statistics speak for themselves. Companies from China had participated in 416 international hydropower cooperation projects by 2020, including 11 new ones signed in 2020. In that year, China's wind turbine units were exported to 22 countries with a trade volume of 1.1 billion U.S. dollars, up by over 20 percent compared to the year before. Out of the world's top 10 wind turbine manufacturers, seven are from China, according to a report on China's international cooperation in renewable energies. China has established a strong position in the solar power industry in terms of installed capacity, solar panel manufacturing and technology export. These three clean energy sectors are expected to become new economic growth points as the world transitions to clean and renewable energy. Another new pillar of China's economic growth as it slashes carbon emissions is vehicle electrification. New energy vehicle (NEV) sales in China increased 10.9 percent year on year to 1.37 million units in 2020, amid government efforts to encourage their use and ease pressure on the environment. New players are piling into this industry to claim a share of the market. The rising popularity of NEVs subsequently boosts the construction of battery charging stations and swapping stations across the country. Besides looking for cleaner energies, the country is also retiring outdated production facilities and high energy-consuming enterprises to cut emissions at the source. This might have an immediate impact on some local economies, but industrial upgrading and decarbonizing can drive China's economic growth and make it healthier and more sustainable in the longer term. The carbon peak and neutrality targets offer a huge opportunity for China to pursue high-quality development. China does not need to sacrifice economic growth when implementing climate action policies. On the contrary, it can achieve both economic and environmental benefits during its green transition. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Hongyu) Xu Qingtian, a 35-year-old Chinese medical doctor, is using his smartphone connected to his endoscope to detect ear, nose and throat (ENT) diseases among patients in South Sudan's Juba Teaching Hospital. Xu, who is a member of the ninth batch of the Chinese medical team, is the first ENT specialist to be sent to South Sudan. He told Xinhua in Juba that he and his South Sudanese counterparts have been able to instantly examine and detect tonsils, and otitis media, also known as middle ear infection, among patients. "Ear diseases are largely caused by inflammation of water entering into the ear. Other diseases like gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) occur when stomach acid frequently flows back into the tube connecting mouth and stomach," Xu said after examining a patient. "We carry out endoscopy using a smartphone to scan all parts of the body, we can use it to detect nose bleeding, itching, middle ear infections, and tonsillitis," Xu said. He revealed that about 20 patients turn up at his office every morning, adding that most of the children he examines suffer from middle ear infections. Xu, a graduate of Wannan medical college in Anhui province, said many of his elderly patients suffer from Gastric reflux, fungal infection in the ear and nose bleeding. "We do give the patients medicine to treat the disease, but for some people with thyroid disorders who require to undergo further examination, we send them to the laboratory," he said. Francis Sooka, a South Sudanese ENT specialist working with Xu, said the medical department set up last year is helping to treat local patients, adding that Xu's modern equipment has been supportive. "We have a lot of children who turn up with foreign bodies in the ear, nose and as you know our environment is so dusty, we have a lot of allergies, sinusitis, and cases of thyroid disorders," said Sooka. "He (Xu) has helped us in diagnosing patients. We have our own instruments and he also has his own instruments, some of which are very modern, especially the autoscopy which has helped us to put the right diagnosis," he added. Sooka said that before carrying out diagnosis on any of their patients they first consult each other to come up with the final diagnosis. The ENT department within the main referral hospital in Juba is run by four staff members. Enditem Qiao Guanhua On November 15, 1971, headed by then Vice Foreign Minister Qiao Guanhua, the delegation of the People's Republic of China (PRC) made its debut at the United Nations (UN) Assembly Hall. The delegation immediately became the focus of attention at the 26th Session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA). When asked about how he felt, Qiao leaned back and replied with a loud laugh that impressed everyone present. Qiao said later that his expression had already answered the question. That was the moment when a classic photo of Qiao's Laugh was taken. Behind this confident laugh though was a long struggle. Since the PRC was founded, the Central People's Government has been the only legitimate government representing all the Chinese people. It naturally deserves the seat of China at the UN. Due to the manipulations of the US, however, China's representation had long been kept off the UN agenda. With China's rising international profile and the increasingly important roles of Asian, African and Latin American and Caribbean countries at the UN, the issue of China's representation was submitted to the 16th Session of UNGA held in 1961 for deliberation, breaking through the obstacles set by the US. Subsequently, the US proposed that the issue be discussed as an Important Question (IQ) that required a two-thirds majority to pass, attempting to distort the nature of China's representation. Despite what the US did, the overall momentum was in China's favor. More and more members of the international community supported the PRC in restoring its lawful seat at the UN. At the 25th Session of UNGA in 1970, when the number of votes for restoring China's lawful rights and expelling the KMT representatives for the first time exceeded votes of opposition (specifically, 51 votes in favor, 47 votes against), applause swept the Assembly Hall. Reluctant to accept the result, the US cooked up a resolution on "dual representation." Its chief representative to the UN said the US was deeply worried by the fact that both Taipei and Beijing claimed they were the only government of China. The US held that this fact must be considered when deliberating over China's representation and the UN should not be asked to choose between Taipei and Beijing. On September 21, 1971, the 26th Session of UNGA opened in New York. At the session, three draft resolutions on China's representation were submitted. Heated debates among member states lasted for a week from October 18 to 25. The US and some other Western countries lobbied around wielding the carrot and the stick, attempting to draw the Third World countries into their orbit. The IQ resolution (any proposal depriving the "representation" of the "Republic of China" at the UN was an Important Question) was rejected with 59 votes against, 55 votes for and 15 abstentions. That was an exciting result for the Assembly. The Tanzanian representative even left his seat and danced to celebrate. The Dancing Tanzanian Representative Salim Ahmed Salim Before the draft resolution backed by Albania and Algeria was put to vote, the US representative George H.W. Bush made one last try. He suggested deleting the sentence about expelling forthwith the representatives of Chiang Kai-shek. The attempt failed after setting off a storm of opposition. The draft resolution, known as Resolution 2758, was passed with an overwhelming majority of votes (76 votes for, 35 votes against and 17 abstentions). The "dual representation" draft resolution submitted by the US, Japan and other countries (accepting the representatives of the PRC while retaining the representation of the "ROC") immediately became null and void. The Chinese people finally restored their seat at the UN, which truly made the UN the biggest international organization in the world . George H.W. Bush admitted later that it was a turning point in the history of the UN and the anti-Western group for the first time defeated the US when the country's prestige was shaken. The whole Chinese nation was thrilled to hear the news. As for whether China should attend the 26th Session of the UNGA, Mao Zedong gave a definite answer: a delegation must soon be formed. Mao said that it was the African brothers who carried us into the UN, and we should stand with them. China would be there not to complain, but to promote justice for people of the world, boost their confidence, and voice support for countries fighting foreign interference, aggression and control. Qiao Guanhua, after being appointed head of the delegation, shut himself up in the room for a couple of days to write the first address at the General Assembly. The address was warmly received by many countries at the General Assembly and Qiao's Laugh became an icon for China's diplomatic confidence. Adam Malik, President of the 26th Session of UNGA, welcomed the Chinese delegation, saying it would contribute to the work of the UN. President Xi Jinping delivers a speech via video from Beijing to a high-level meeting in honor of the United Nations' 75th anniversary on September 21, 2020. [Photo/Xinhua] China today plays a critical role at the UN. On September 21, 2020, President Xi Jinping attended the High-level Meeting to Commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the UN. In his remarks, President Xi shared four proposals for the UN to better play its role in the post-COVID era: stand firm for justice, uphold the rule of law, promote cooperation and focus on real action. President Xi underlined that China will continue to be a true follower of multilateralism, firmly uphold the UN-centered international system, firmly uphold the international order underpinned by international law, and firmly defend the UN's central role in international affairs. The original aspiration and the mission of Chinese Communists is to seek happiness for the Chinese people, rejuvenation for the Chinese nation, and the common good for the world. China has been contributing more Chinese wisdom and proposals to global governance. The year 2021 marks the 50th anniversary of the restoration of China's lawful seat at the UN. From China's return after relentless efforts to presenting China's ideas at the UN, the photo of Qiao's Laugh has never faded. Rather, it has borne new significance. Time flies, and we have now embarked on the new journey of major-country diplomacy with Chinese characteristics. BEIJING, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) -- Five decades ago, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) voted to restore all lawful rights of the People's Republic of China (PRC) in the United Nations, opening a new era of interaction between the Asian country and the world body. Over the past 50 years, China has offered full support for the UN cause by upholding the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, played a constructive and increasingly important role in international affairs, and made great contributions to world peace and development. Upon the 50th anniversary of the restoration of its lawful seat in the United Nations, China has pledged to continue to be a builder of world peace, a contributor to global development, a defender of the international order and a provider of public goods. CHOICE OF HISTORY On Oct. 25, 1971, the UNGA at its 26th session adopted Resolution 2758 with an overwhelming majority to restore all the rights of the PRC and to recognize the representatives of its government as the only legitimate representatives of China to the United Nations. "I have never seen such a resounding applause in my life," said Iftikhar Ali, a Pakistani journalist who witnessed the moment, recalling that cheers and applause filled the air and people were hugging each other. That moment came more than two decades after the founding of the PRC, which had been kept out of the international organization mainly due to the hostility of and obstruction by the United States. Soldiers on the Chinese contingent to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) are awarded the United Nations Peacekeeping Medal during a medal parade ceremony in southern Lebanon, June 16, 2021. (Photo by Liu Xiongma/Xinhua) Yet, from the 1950s to the early 1970s, the third world -- mainly comprising newly independent countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America -- gradually took shape and became a significant force in the world. The profound transformation of the international landscape eventually broke the blockade of the United States and its allies, making the restoration of China's lawful seat in the UN a historical inevitability. Recalling the "historic meeting" in 1971, former Chilean President Ricardo Lagos Escobar, who was a member of his country's delegation to the 26th session of the UNGA, said restoring China's lawful seat strengthened the role of the world body and increased its representation at the global level. "There was a sense that we were going to have a more realistic UN, more in line with what the world is, and in that sense, there was a feeling that the UN was being strengthened as the true place where international issues must be resolved," Lagos said. That echoes the view of former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. With the restoration of China's lawful seat, "the United Nations became a universal organization in terms of its size and contents," he told Xinhua in a recent interview. CONTRIBUTOR TO WORLD PEACE, DEVELOPMENT Over the past five decades, China -- the world's largest developing country and a permanent member of the UN Security Council -- has proven to be a staunch supporter of the noble cause of the UN. To help preserve world peace, China, holding high the banner of peace, development and win-win cooperation, has been committed to taking objective and just positions, resolving differences through dialogue and consultation, and the principle of non-interference in internal affairs of other countries. Since 1990, it has dispatched over 50,000 peacekeepers to nearly 30 UN peacekeeping missions. It is the second largest funding contributor to UN peacekeeping operations and has contributed more peacekeepers than any other permanent member of the Security Council. Chinese peacekeepers remove an undetonated bomb in Naqoura, Lebanon, Aug. 28, 2006. (Photo by Li Chunnian/Xinhua) In terms of development, China has also made indelible contributions. By eliminating absolute poverty in China, it has met the poverty eradication target of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development 10 years ahead of schedule, which stands as an enormous contribution to global poverty reduction and sustainable development endeavors. Committed to common development, Chinese President Xi Jinping put forward in 2013 the Belt and Road Initiative, which has now become the largest platform for international cooperation, and is playing a significant role in keeping the world economy afloat against the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Aerial photo taken on April 8, 2019 shows the Maputo Bay Bridge, built by the China Road and Bridge Corporation with Chinese standards and financial support, in Maputo, Mozambique. (Xinhua/Zhang Yu) In the spirit of building a community with a shared future for mankind, China has also been working tirelessly to advance international cooperation against such major threats as climate change. It has pledged to peak carbon dioxide emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060. During the past five decades, China has not only made outstanding achievements in promoting its own political and economic development, but also "been actively engaged in the noble cause of peace and development in many places around the world," Ban said. "China has stood with pride and contributed to the international community," commented Abdulla Shahid, president of the 76th session of the UNGA. "China has played a very, very important role in multilateralism and strengthening the United Nations." CHAMPION OF MULTILATERALISM "Both climate change and COVID-19 have shown us that we, as a species, as humanity, we can survive only through multilateralism," Shahid stressed in a recent exclusive interview with Xinhua. "That is why China as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, as a responsible member of the international community, has a very important role to play," he added. Two Chinese COVID-19 response experts pose for a photo with a local health worker at a nucleic acid testing station in Conakry, Guinea, Sept. 2, 2020. (Xinhua) Indeed, China has always been a staunch supporter and practitioner of true multilateralism over the past 50 years. In a newly published position paper, China says it believes that international affairs should be addressed through consultation by all, and that the future of the world should be decided by all countries together. "China firmly opposes unilateralism, protectionism and bullying acts, and firmly rejects pseudo-multilateralism in such disguises as group politics and small circles," said the position paper. "China is committed to making the global governance system more just and equitable." "In the world, there is only one international system, i.e. the international system with the United Nations at its core. There is only one international order, i.e. the international order underpinned by international law. There is only one set of rules, i.e. the basic norms governing international relations underpinned by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter," President Xi stressed in his statement delivered via video at the general debate of the 76th session of the UNGA. Those remarks struck a chord with Ali, the Pakistani journalist. "China has been a strong advocate of multilateralism, and it continues to be an important supporter of developing countries," he said, adding that China has constantly insisted that decisions regarding international affairs should be reached through consultation between all members. Looking into the future, China said it is ready to work with the international community to advocate peace, development, equity, justice, democracy and freedom, which are the common values of humanity, and advance the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. Commenting on the vision of building a community with a shared future, Shahid said that "the COVID pandemic and climate change have clearly shown to us that we, as a species, can survive only if we work together." 2021 marks the 50th anniversary of the restoration of the lawful seat of the People's Republic of China in the UN. These five decades have witnessed China's practice of multilateralism, full participation in and support for the cause of the UN. Graphic: Jin Jianyu and Xu Zihe/Global Times US State Department officials recently expressed support for a "discussion focused on supporting Taiwan's ability to participate meaningfully at the UN." They clamored that China has misused Resolution 2758, saying the resolution decided the issue of China's representation in the UN, but the matter of the island of Taiwan's participation remains unsolved. This is an attempt by Washington to fundamentally challenge the one-China principle, trying to break the political status quo of the Taiwan question. Washington is echoing Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities' moves to challenge Resolution 2758 internationally since the beginning of this year. The resolution was approved on October 25, 1971. It clearly states that "the representatives of the Government of the People's Republic of China are the only lawful representatives of China to the United Nations." It "decides to expel forthwith the representatives of Chiang Kai-shek from the place which they unlawfully occupy at the United Nations and in all the organizations related to it." Though the resolution did not mention "Taiwan" or "the Republic of China," there were no doubts about who Chiang Kai-shek's representatives were at that time. The UN's comprehensive boycott against Taiwan authorities based on this resolution was never questioned. Even Taiwan's secessionist forces who manipulated the issue of making the island a member of the UN had to fabricate other excuses rather than challenging Resolution 2758. Finding fault with Resolution 2758 is completely a new trick of the island of Taiwan and the US this year. The DPP authorities have no bottom line. They fabricated history and betrayed morality. During the so-called 110th anniversary of the founding of the "Republic of China," the DPP dared not mention the Revolution of 1911 (Xinhai Revolution) or the revolution's leader Sun Yat-sen. Even the US, the No.1 Western country, arbitrarily falsified and fabricated the meaning of the UN resolution, completely ignoring its self-claimed responsibility of maintaining international rules. The US has turned itself into a complete political hooligan, which has been an eye-opener for the world. We want to ask: What did the US do over the previous decades? When representatives of the Taiwan authorities were expelled from the UN General Assembly and various organizations affiliated to the UN, they complained many times. What did the US do back then? Chen Shui-bian, former regional leader of Taiwan, tried to push for the island's entry into the UN and asked to participate in various assemblies organized by UN-affiliated organizations. What did the US do? How come the US has suddenly realized it has misunderstood Resolution 2758 due to China's so-called misuse over recent years? There have been many US administrations since the Nixon administration, are they all too muddle-headed to understand a few lines in a UN resolution? The current US government is the most incapable and degenerate in the country's history. The US' national strength has greatly lost its relative advantage, so the cards of trade and human rights Washington plays to counter China have almost no effect at all. Meanwhile, the military deterrence from the Chinese mainland is also containing the Taiwan card the US plays. The US then has come to this cheap shot as a "new weapon" to launch an alternative offensive against China. Washington's new move is very abrupt. The US is challenging the commonsense perceptions of the international community while pretending to be earnest and unbiased. This is the ultimate shamelessness. If it wants to pick on China, it should at least find a good excuse. But the US is challenging the entire world's understanding of a UN resolution passed 50 years ago, distorting the truth deliberately, and humiliating the world's memory and discernment. It is important to note that the US is not so powerful that whatever it says will be effectively enforced. Nor can it arbitrarily define UN resolutions that involve the core interests of other major powers. The vast majority of countries in the world clearly understand what the one-China principle is and whether the island of Taiwan is qualified to seek an equal presence with sovereign states in the UN. Although the US has influence, it can manipulate only some of its allies, not the UN. There is no way that the US can pull Taiwan into the UN, or any UN-affiliated organizations or agencies only a sovereign country is qualified to join. China and most peace-loving countries which stick to true rules will have enough strength to resist the shameless manipulation of the US and not let the US and Taiwan achieve their ulterior motives. The US knows well that Taiwan's entry to the UN is just a pseudo-proposition that has no chance to be realized. What the US wants more is to create a new flashpoint with China and exhaust China's diplomatic resources. By doing so, the US tries to woo allies and disturb China's agenda, so as to find strategic initiatives for itself and get rid of the weak situation in the Taiwan Straits caused by its declining control of the Western Pacific. If the US really makes waves, it will lead to deep divisions in the UN and paralyze the execution power of the UN in many aspects. The US will become a historic sinner that further undermines world unity. But one thing is for sure: No matter how badly it tries, Taiwan will not be able to enter the UN. The bigger the farce the US makes, the more disgraceful it is. Members of the 20th Chinese peacekeeping multifunctional engineering contingent to Lebanon take part in an assessment by the United Nations Mine Action Service on Sept 15. All 64 members passed the exercise and obtained mine clearance qualifications. KONG KANGYI/XINHUA Experts hail efforts since nation's seat in world body was restored 50 years ago Editor's Note: Fifty years ago China resumed its seat at the United Nations on this day. This page highlights the country's adherence to the UN Charter, pursuit of the world body's Sustainable Development Goals and efforts to help other nations. China's achievements and contributions to global peace and development since the restoration of its lawful seat at the United Nations 50 years ago have been applauded by current and former UN officials and scholars. On Oct 25, 1971, the UN General Assembly adopted Resolution 2758, restoring the lawful seat of the People's Republic of China in the world body. "China has played a most constructive role as a member of the Security Council and beyond," said Erik Solheim, former UN under-secretary-general and former executive director of the UN Environment Programme. "China has voiced opinions of the developing world, been a force for restraint and dialogue and made sure the UN focused on economic development and the environment." He said that the role of China in the UN is inseparable from China's unprecedented economic and social rise. "China's huge achievements during these 50 years, bringing all Chinese out of poverty and putting China on the path to becoming the world's largest economy, inspire numerous developing nations in the UN," Solheim told China Daily on Saturday, adding that China is now a key economic contributor to the UN and critical to UN peacekeeping missions. A Norwegian politician, Solheim said he expects China in the coming years to be a force for peace, a multipolar world order, a rules-based system and the idea of a common destiny for humankind. "China will resist all temptations toward increased global tensions, a new Cold War or global decoupling. China will inspire the world on its path toward an ecological civilization," he said. Siddharth Chatterjee, the UN resident coordinator in China, said that China, having lifted more than 750 million people out of poverty, serves as an inspiration to all developing countries hoping to improve the lives and livelihoods of their most vulnerable citizens. "The achievements of China over the past 50 years are an important reminder of China's development trajectory and must not be underestimated," he said. Chatterjee, who assumed the post in January, said the UN has been in China since 1979 and remains a trusted partner. "As the UN resident coordinator to China, I hope China will continue to play a global leadership role in tackling challenges like the climate emergency, reducing inequalities, advancing global public health and bridging the digital divide," he said. "China's role in advancing South-South cooperation is crucial." Ted Carpenter, a senior fellow for defense and foreign policy studies at the Washington-based Cato Institute, said that 50 years ago, the United States finally abandoned its foolish effort to prevent the PRC from representing China at the UN. "Since then, China has played a cooperative and constructive role throughout the organization, especially in the Security Council," he said. Carpenter expressed the view that Beijing has exercised its veto power in a restrained manner, but it has been willing to use it to block some of Washington's more egregious efforts to gain international backing for its regime-change wars. Prominent example He said that a prominent example was China's veto of a US resolution to deepen involvement in Syria's civil war behind the fig leaf of a UN "humanitarian" missionas Washington had done earlier in Libya. "The veto was a prudent restraining role that a major power should exercise," Carpenter said. "I expect that China's future UN role will be similar to its conduct over the past 50 years, with a probable modest increase in both the range and depth of Beijing's activities. Such an increase would reflect the impressive growth in China's economic, diplomatic, and military capabilities." In a recent forum hosted by the China's Permanent Mission to the UN in Vienna to mark the 50th anniversary, Rafael Grossi, director-general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, said: "The IAEA is part of the UN family, and here China is playing a thoughtful and important role, supporting the agency in its mandate to make the many benefits of the peaceful uses of nuclear available to everyone." He said that through the agency's programs, China is sharing its expertise in a variety of areas, from training regional experts in security and safety techniques to the provision of scholarships that support PhD candidates from Africa, Asia and Latin America. "I congratulate China on this meaningful anniversary and look forward to working together closely in the future," said the chief of the Vienna-based agency, which is an autonomous international organization within the UN system. The 38-member detachment to Menaka assigned by the 9th Chinese peacekeeping engineer contingent to Mali sets out from Gao on October 23, local time. (mod.gov.cn/Photo by Wang Hongyang) DAKAR, Oct. 25 -- The detachment to Menaka assigned by the 9th Chinese peacekeeping engineer contingent to Mali departed from the military airport in Gao for Menaka on October 23, local time. The 38-member detachment was assigned to perform nine engineering tasks in 10 months, including bunker construction, road repairing, and prefab house construction in Menaka, a place more than 300 kilometers away from the camp of the Chinese peacekeeping engineer contingent to Mali. The deployment of the Chinese peacekeeping detachment to Menaka was in accordance with the requirement of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) and was highly recognized by the chief executive of MINUSMA Sector East. It is learnt that Menaka, adjacent to Niger, is an important military town in the mission area of MINUSMA Sector East. With frequent local violent terrorist attacks and severe security threats, it has been one of the riskiest areas in Mali and labeled the "most dangerous zone" by MINUSMA. The vast South China Sea should be a place where merchant ships and fishing boats can sail safely, but there are always troublemakers who just dont like to see the region in peace and security and want to rock the boats and fish in troubled water. The collision incident of the US Navy Submarine USS Connecticut once again revealed that the US is the chief pusher of South China Sea militarization and the biggest scourge for regional security. We see that being more than 8,300 miles away, the US has nevertheless built multiple military bases with offensive weapons and equipment around the South China Sea, and regularly deployed a large number of military aircraft and vessels in the region, even operated over 100 times over the region by using the address code of foreign civil aircraft. This year, the US military has continued to carry out frequent close-in reconnaissance on China both on the sea and in the air as well as massive maritime military exercises targeting China. We see that the US is using the South China Sea issue to smear China and mislead international public opinions. From its Vice President to Secretary of State and congressmen, senior US officials have taken every opportunity, including foreign visits and international conferences, to fan up the threats from China in the South China Sea and distort and smear Chinas stance and position. Its clear as daylight that the US has no interests in regional peace and stability or freedom of navigation what the US has ever only wanted is the freedom of domination based on geopolitical interests. We see that the US is busy recruiting gang members, from the Philippines to Vietnam, from Australia to Britain, in the dire attempt to make the South China Sea issue an international one involving multiple parties and put diplomatic pressure on China. As a country out of the region, the US has enforced the South China Sea issue upon various regional and global multilateral frameworks, in a bid to force ASEAN to unify its stance on the issue. It has also propelled Japan and India to pay attention to the issue. Being responsible for a long list of hotspot issues in the world today, the US has played havoc in Afghanistan for 20 years, leaving the country in ruins and misery after its recent hurried pullout. The latest nuclear-powered submarine collision incident is a new reminder for the international community and countries in this region that they should be highly alert to the ill-intended US roiling the South China Sea in order to benefit from the chaos and tension. China has indisputable sovereignty over the South China Sea islands and contiguous waters. For a long time, China is committed to working with ASEAN countries to ensure the smooth and secure navigation in the South China Sea and has made great contributions to this work. All countries enjoy the freedom of navigation and overflight in the region in accordance with international law. The South China Sea is one of the most secure and free waters in the world, where the freedom of navigation and overflight has never been threatened or undermined. The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea is the most important legal document that governs modern international maritime relations. It is regarded as the constitution of the sea, and the US is the only permanent member of the UN Security Council that hasnt joined the convention yet. A country that like has no position to point fingers at the South China Sea issue. The US sending nuclear-powered submarines and other advanced weapon platforms to flex muscles and seek hegemony in the South China Sea goes counter to the wish of countries in this region. Such acts will find no support and will hit a dead end. China adheres to the path of peaceful development. It will never pursue aggression or expansion, but it will not remain silent in the face of provocations either. Nothing will shake the Chinese militarys staunch resolve and will to defend national sovereignty, security, and development interests. Members of the China Coast Guard man the rails to welcome Vietnam Coast Guard vessels during the joint patrol in the Beibu Gulf on October 19. (Photo by Li Changlong) BEIJING, Oct. 25 -- The members of the China Coast Guard (CCG) and the Vietnam Coast Guard have recently conducted their second joint patrol in the Beibu Gulf within the year, in an effort to deepen the friendly relations between the China-Vietnam coast guards, promote bilateral practical cooperation in maritime law enforcement, and jointly maintain the order of maritime operations in the Beibu Gulf. It is their 22nd joint patrol in the Beibu Gulf since 2006. Under the frame of Memorandum of Cooperation between the China Coast Guard and the Vietnam Coast Guard Command, the two coast guards will continue the good momentum of cooperation, strengthen maritime law enforcement exchanges and cooperation, and jointly maintain the security and stability of the Beibu Gulf. The Korea Minting and Security Printing Corporation is going through a tough patch because of the new W50,000 banknotes launched in June last year. According to a report on business performance of public firms by the Ministry of Strategy and Finance on Tuesday, revenues of the corporation had increased annually from W221.9 billion in 2005 to W381.1 billion in 2008, but dwindled for the first time in four years with W353 billion last year (US$1=W1,118). The net profit shrank from W5.6 billion in 2008 to W526 million in 2009. Ironically, it was by printing money, namely the W50,000 notes, that the corporation fell on hard times. Because one W50,000 note replaced five W10,000 notes, the workload shrank, resulting in a fall in revenues worth W6.3 billion. It has also been printing the W100,000 cheques issued by banks that for many years stood in for larger-denomination notes. However, as banks have to pay for printing cheques, they have reduced the number since the introduction of the W50,000 bills. This cost the corporation another W4.8 billion. Until 2008, about 60 percent of sales for the corporation came from orders from the Bank of Korea, but the figure dropped to 47 percent last year. That means it is essential for the corporation to diversify into new business, and for this it is looking overseas. It already exports paper for notes and coins to China, Israel and Vietnam, and is trying to make inroads into more overseas markets. It is currently pushing to export coins to Argentina and electronic passports to Costa Rica and Afghanistan. It also decided to build cotton pulp production facilities in Uzbekistan to expand its overseas market by obtaining a more sustainable supply of cotton pulp used to print stock and bond certificates. It plans to sign an investment memorandum of understanding with the Uzbek government in May. A corporation spokesman said, "We will expand electronic and overseas businesses and restructure our human resources, budget and facilities." More than 200 North Korean defectors were caught in China last year as they tried to make their way by a circuitous route to a South Korea. Some of them have reportedly been sent back to the North, but most are in Chinese prisons after Pyongyang sealed its borders due to fears of COVD-19 and asked Beijing to halt repatriations. According to the Unification Ministry, only 48 North Koreans have made it to South Korea this year, 12 of them in the third quarter. President Moon Jae-in will go on a trip of three European cities from Oct. 28 to Nov. 5, Cheong Wa Dae spokeswoman Park Kyung-mee said last Friday. He will visit the Vatican, attend the G20 summit in Rome and the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow, and pay a state visit to Hungary. In the Vatican he meets Pope Francis and Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin on Oct. 29. He will discuss North Korea with the pontiff who has expressed curiosity about the isolated country and said he would like to visit Pyongyang. Moon "is expected to have a wide-ranging discussion on the inter-Korean peace process with the pope," another Cheong Wa Dae official said. Moon then attends the G20 summit on Oct. 30-31, where leaders meet face-to-face for the first time since the outbreak of COVID-19. Next is the COP26 in Glasgow on Nov. 1-2. Leaders from about 130 countries are expected to attend the climate change conference, where Moon will deliver a keynote speech. There he could meet with U.S. President Joe Biden or new Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. "We're also pushing for bilateral summits with leaders from major countries," Park added. A state visit to Hungary on Nov. 2-4 at the invitation of the Hungarian president concludes the trip. Moon will visit the Danube River to pay tribute to Korean victims of the pleasure-boat accident in May 2019 and sit down for talks with Hungarian President Janos Ader and Prime Minister Viktor Orban. Korea will ship 1 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine to Iran to help it fight the coronavirus pandemic. The Foreign Ministry said Monday that the shipment will arrive in Iran on Wednesday to mark 60 years of ties between the two nations. The donation comes after phone calls between the foreign ministers of Seoul and Tehran last month, where Korea vowed to help Iran overcome its humanitarian crisis. Iran is the third country to receive vaccine donations from Korea, followed by Vietnam and Thailand earlier this month. Dramas assist with issue resolution From:ChinaDaily | 2021-10-25 09:30 Li Weihua, teacher at the Positive Psychological Experience Center of Beihang University in Beijing Since 2016, my university has hosted annual psychological situation drama performances. The aim is to help students deal with mental health problems by learning from the experiences of others. All the dramas are created, directed and performed by the students, who integrate information about psychology into the scripts under the guidance of professional teachers. Through a combination of lighting, sound effects and artistic performance, these dramas illustrate the deep motivations and aspirations of university students in daily life and disseminate knowledge about mental health and psychological intervention methods. We feel that such information is more vividly and profoundly presented to the audience in the form of performances rather than traditional classroom education. Beihang's new approach to mental health education aims to enlighten students through art under the guidance of positive psychology to cultivate positive mental traits and tap their potential. This much-loved innovative project has become a major source of psychological knowledge inside and outside the university, bringing good educational results and attracting widespread participation from students. Since the project began, more than 70 performances have been given by students and the elective courses on psychological drama have been taken around 4,000 times. During the latest performances, held in June, students acted out their anxieties, from preparing for final exams, finishing writing papers before deadlines, dealing with long-distance and parental relationships and their inability to handle problems. In one performance, a mother and her daughter quarreled about eating fish, as the mother insisted that fish contains lots of nutrition that can boost mental ability. The student refused because she didn't want her mother to control every aspect of her life. "You must eat the fish today. One small detail can influence your life," the mother said. Many students who watched the performance said that they could relate to the play as it reminded them of all the nutritious food and supplements their parents made them eat during high school to help them prepare for the college entrance exam. Some said they want to tell their parents that they are mature enough to deal with their difficulties themselves, while others said they still miss having their parents' help in life, rather than dealing with problems alone. Vivid portrayals of real-life problems can trigger a lot of empathy from the students and can help them heal from their own problems. Li Weihua spoke with Zou Shuo. Prof. Otto Heinrich Herzog: creating a better life for Chinese cities By:Wu Qiong, Jiang Meiqing | From:english.eastday.com | 2021-10-25 14:36 Shanghai has four brands: its services, its manufacturing, its shopping and its culture. I personally would like to add a fifth brand, namely the spirit of Shanghai, said Otto Heinrich Herzog, an honorary professor at Tongji University and an academician of the German National Academy of Science and Engineering. Each year, he spends a few months in Shanghai. Though his friend joke that he is an IT nerd, he has a sentimental side when it comes to his affection for the city of Shanghai. During all those years I met only friendly people [in Shanghai]. I think thats very remarkable and very nice for foreigners to be here, said Prof. Herzog with a smiling face. I have also experienced the culture of China. I love Chinese food. You have so many different vegetables in China; we don't have them in Europe. So, I really love to be here in Shanghai. (Prof. Herzogs message after being honored with the 2021 Shanghai Magnolia Silver Award) Prof. Herzog met Prof. Wu Zhiqiang from Tongji University a few years ago. At Wus invitation, he came to work in Shanghai for two months. The university then asked him whether he would like to stay here for another two years. Now, its been six years. (Prof. Herzog [right] was recognized as honorary professor at Tongji University in July 2021.) Putting AI to real applications was always something I liked to do, said Prof. Herzog. Before he came, he had never applied AI methods to urban planning and urban operations and that appeared to him to be a very interesting field. A famous scientist in AI, Prof. Herzog has been engaged in research on natural language understanding, image & video analysis and video extraction. As he said, it is interesting to work in Shanghai and at Tongji University, to work in different areas, and to apply what he has scientifically worked on for almost 40 years, for a better living for the people here in China. (Prof. Herzog with his Chinese colleagues at Tongji University) As the chief scientist at the CIUC (China Intelligent Urbanization Co-creation Center for High Density Region) of Tongji University, Prof. Herzog has made prominent contributions to Shanghai in its efforts in building itself into a global AI science highland. A devoted scientist to the construction of the Shanghai Future Town of Artificial Intelligence in Maqiao, he has helped with the project site selection and simulation optimization of multiple AI application scenarios based on deep learning technology and a parallel computing framework. That has substantially sped up the steps of Maqiao becoming a global demonstration base for AI applications. At the beginning of 2020, in spite of COVID-19, Prof. Herzog flew back to Shanghai to help with epidemic prevention and control. During the quarantine period, he began to use AI technology like machine learning algorithms to sort out big data and conducted labeling research on the all infection points in Shanghai, thus providing a strong scientific support for the Shanghai municipality to focus its epidemic prevention measures on residential communities. The scientist has also promoted high-end cooperation in the AI field between China and Germany, and led Chinese and European scientists to participate in EU-funded research projects such as the URBAN-EU-CHINA Innovation Platform on Sustainable Urbanisation. For instance, his team at Tongji University took part in compiling the Performance Monitoring Report of Cities which can provide references for fostering sisterhoods between Chinese and European cities. Shanghai peoples openness to new technologies. That's also a very basic reason why Shanghai is going forward all the time, noted Prof. Herzog. In his opinion, one has to be very careful to apply technology not just because it exists, but it should only be applied if it really helps people to have a better life for instance. He is willing to stay in Shanghai, continuing his academic contributions to making the city better. (Photos provided by Tongji University) 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 While the US presents itself as an advocate of expanding vaccine supplies, the world is rapidly becoming more dependent on China for vaccines as the COVID-19 pandemic makes it difficult for India to fulfill its vaccine supply agreement. "Not only has Chi... Image: NRA-ILA CCRKBA maintains a list of anti-gun businesses, also called the "Don't feed them" list. None of the firms shown made the list by accident, having either instituted an anti-gun corporate policy or lobbied lawmakers to draft or support anti-gun legislation. It is not suggested that these companies should by default be boycotted, but the information is provided so that gun owners can make informed decisions when they part with their hard-earned money. Most Second Amendment advocates most likely would prefer to support businesses that respect constitutional rights, and so being informed is a way to better be able to make choices. A full current list is available in a PDF file which can be downloaded from here. The original article -- ..... According to information published by U.S. Navy on October 22, 2021, Independence-variant littoral combat ships USS Jackson (LCS 6) and USS Tulsa (LCS 16) sailed with Germany Navy frigate FGS Bayern (F 217) in the Philippine Sea, and Tulsa hosted Bayern crewmembers for ship tours while moored at Naval Base Guam. Follow Navy Recognition on Google News at this link The Independence-variant littoral combat ship USS Tulsa (LCS 16) comes alongside German Navy frigate Bayern (F 217) in the Philippine Sea (Picture source: U.S. Department of Defense) At sea, the ships practiced communications, tactical maneuvers, division tactics, and bilateral flight operations with Jacksons embarked MH-60S Seahawk helicopter from Helicopter Sea Combat (HSC) Squadron 23 and two German Super Lynx Mk88A helicopters from Bayern. While onboard, Tulsas crew highlighted the unique operational capability of the littoral combat ship, and the distinct commitment to building relationships with partners and allies, integrating with joint operational forces, conducting presence operations, and providing maritime security and stability. Crewmembers explained the functions of the various spaces throughout the ship to include the flight deck, mission bay, pilothouse, galley, engineering rooms, and berthing spaces. The discussions went beyond bilateral operations and highlighted shipboard commonalities with German-designed engineering equipment integrated into the LCS. The main propulsion diesel engines, ships service diesel generator, and additional other engineering equipment are based on designs by German company MTU Aero Engines. This recent interaction is tangible progress from previous senior leader interactions, such as in May when German Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer spent time aboard USS Charleston (LCS 18). She met with Charlestons crew at Naval Base Guam to discuss the shared U.S.-German interest in a free and open Indo-Pacific. ESG 7 is composed of Amphibious Squadron 11, DESRON 7, HSC-25, Mine Countermeasures Squadron 7, Naval Beach Unit 7, and USS Blue Ridge (LCC 19), and is the Navy's only forward-deployed amphibious force. The USS Tulsa is the second naval vessel to honor Oklahomas third-largest city. The first USS Tulsa was an Asheville-class gunboat designated as PG-22 that served from 1923 to 1944 before being renamed Tacloban. She earned two battle stars for World War II service. A cruiser to be named USS Tulsa was also authorized for construction during World War II, but the contract was canceled before it was built. The LCS class consists of two variants, the Freedom-variant, and the Independence-variant, designed and built by two industry teams. The Independence-variant team is led by Austal USA, Mobile, Alabama, (for LCS 6 and the subsequent even-numbered hulls). The Freedom-variant team is led by Lockheed Martin, Marinette, Wisconsin, (for the odd-numbered hulls). Your browser does not support the video tag. Decrease Font Size Font Size Increase Font Size Article body In some regions of Alabama and the southeastern U.S., wild turkey populations have declined for the past 10 to 15 years. Will Gulsby, associate professor of wildlife management in Auburn Universitys School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences, is determined to identify these areas and develop solutions to reverse the decline. Gulsbys research is funded by the Alabama Wildlife Federation and Turkeys for Tomorrow, a Mississippi-based conservation nonprofit organization that began operating earlier this year. Wild turkey hunting has important economic and cultural benefits to Alabama and beyond, he said. The economic impact of hunting, fishing and wildlife-watching in Alabama totals $3.88 billion per year, and wild turkeys are one of the most sought-after game species in the state. Conservation funding generated by the purchase of hunting licenses is critical to conserving wildlife and their habitats throughout the state. Gulsby is gathering data from public as well as private landswhich are rarely included as wildlife population study sitesusing autonomous recording units across the nearly statewide region covered in the study. The units record all ambient sound within their vicinity during preprogrammed times throughout the day. To analyze these data, researchers will use a type of artificial intelligence known as a convolutional neural network, made possible by software developed by project collaborator Michael Chamberlain of the University of Georgias Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources. Coupling these technologies allows us to determine the timing of turkey reproductive behaviors at an unprecedented scale by maximizing data-processing efficiency, Gulsby said. The project is both multifaceted and broadly scoped. The teams first priority: defining the characteristics of areas that have abundant versus low turkey numbers and determining the timing of turkey gobbling across the state and how it is influenced by hunting pressure. Gobbling plays a role in mate attraction, so knowing when birds are gobbling can be used to determine the timing of reproductive activity, Gulsby said. The project has two more objectives as well: determining the proportion of male turkeys capable of fertilizing clutches of eggs and capturing and fitting hens with GPS tracking devices that will monitor when they nest, the success and failure rates of their nests, the causes of nest failure and the survival of the young turkeys after they hatch. Researchers will also collect tissue samples for subsequent disease testing. Having more information on aspects of turkey reproduction allows us to better structure hunting regulations to match the species biology, ensuring sustainable populations into the future, Gulsby said. Tim Gothard, Alabama Wildlife Federation executive director, said the organization is eager to support the research. We were impressed with Dr. Gulsbys thoughtful assessment of research opportunities that would help expand available information and further inform landowner and land manager decisions on how best to manage for wild turkeys, Gothard said. The information gained through this research will further broaden the available information that landowners and land managers can utilize when making decisions about proper management and harvest of wild turkeys in Alabama and beyond. Ron Jolly, co-chairman of the board of Turkeys for Tomorrow, said Gulsbys work will shine a much-needed light on the topic. Turkeys For Tomorrow was founded by a group of turkey hunters who are concerned about the decline of wild turkeys in the United States, Jolly said. We hope these studies reveal answers to questions that experts like Dr. Gulsby believe play a role in the decline of wild turkeys. We can then share those answers with land managers, both public and private, who can apply them across the landscape and begin reversing this downward trend. Dean Janaki Alavalapati of the School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences is enthusiastic about the research. Dr. Gulsbys unique, wide-ranging research will yield valuable insights into the reasons the turkey population has been in decline and, most significantly, lead to steps that can be taken to reverse that trend, benefiting conservationists, hunters and the state in general, Alavalapati said. His work is an example of how our facultys state-of-the-art research provides real-world solutions. Welcome Guest! You Are Here: Detention of ex-Deputy Minister of Education Rakova in embezzlement case upheld AGN Moskva, Sophia Sandurskaya 15:56 25/10/2021 MOSCOW, October 25 (RAPSI) The Moscow City Court on Monday rejected an appeal filed by ex-Deputy Minister of Education and Sberbank vice-president Marina Rakova against her detention in an embezzlement case, the courts press service told RAPSI. She was arrested in October and detained. Earlier, the former official absconded and was put on a wanted list. Rakova pleads not guilty. Also, on October 6, Rakovas 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 was put in detention. According to investigators, in 2019, Rakova, then Deputy Minister of Education, and Stetsenko were involved in the embezzlement of 50 million rubles ($700,000) from the Fund during the execution of education state contracts. On September 30, the Tverskoy District Court of Moscow ordered detention of ex-fund employees Eugeny Zak and Maxim Inkin as well as the executive director of the Moscow School of Social and Economic Sciences Christina Kryuchkova, who are also involved in the case, for two months. [October 25, 2021] Black Swan Media Co: GoHighlevel CRM Announces Major Updates for This Year's "Level Up" Day Las Vegas, NV, Oct. 25, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Customer Relationship Management software has revolutionized the marketing industry, making it easier and less time consuming for marketers to reach clients and cultivate valuable relationships. However, not all CRM systems are made equal. GoHighlevel is a new-age CRM that strives to consolidate the most useful marketing tools in one single useful place. The GoHighlevel team has now announced that some exciting updates are in store for users, expected to arrive on this years Level Up Day October 21, 2022 at 8am PT (10am CT). Lets look at some of those updates, and see what leading digital marketing agency Black Swan Media Co. has to say about the software The Level Up Day updates So, first things first: what new things can you expect from GoHighlevels on Level Up Day? Well, their updates include: Account-level file management CoreCRM performance enhancements (including bulk actions, bulk import, bulk delete, and elastic delays) Email folders Impressive new user interface Invoicing and payments One-step order form (funnels) RSS emails Shopify integration Twilio ISV WhatsApp integration Workflow wait for event WordPress hosting (Google Lightning CDN Level 0 Access, FreeSSL) 301 redirects (funnels and websites) These updates are sure to offer GoHighlevel users even better ways to grow and automate their businesses, allowing them to save valuable time and money and work more efficiently to obtain a better ROI. Black Swan Medias review of GoHighlevel Black Swan Medi Co has recently written a review of GoHighlevel (entitled Our Honest GoHighlevel Review 2020 The Best Jack of all Trades or Master of None?) to give you valuable, unbiased insight into whether its the right CRM option for your business. Spoiler alert: it certainly looks promising! The Black Swan Media review is overwhelmingly positive, praising GoHighlevel as the tool of the decade, a comprehensive option that replacing previous titans like Clickfunnels for landing pages and Pipedrive/Hubspot for CRMs. GoHighlevel can help you and your business through a multitude of ways: Automating your business more to save precious time and money Building out funnels Growth this is an infinitely scalable CRM that grows as businesses grow Handling call tracking, revenue tracking, and lead tracking Handling client acquisition, fulfilment, and retention Increasing ROI on ad-spend, and existing clients Offering help with link building and SEO Offering help with reputation management (including automated review requests) Black Swan Media does also address a couple of GoHighlevels weaknesses. The agency mentions that the CRM system is not a perfect solution for e-commerce businesses, suggesting these business types stick to Shopify and all of its plug-ins. Also, Black Swan Media mentions that it can feel like theres a big learning curve to actually using GoHighlevel (but this challenge can be overcome with proper training). Black Swan Media website has tips and templates to help you get your head around GoHighlevel and get the most out of the software, so be sure to check those out! More information Black Swan Media Co. is an elite digital marketing agency that helps business owners completely take over their local markets and earn a maximum return on their investments. The agency specializes in advanced local search engine optimization (SEO), lead generation and building conversion-driven websites. If you would like to find out more about Black Swan Media, you can head to the website at blackswanmedia.co (where you can also find the companys GoHighlevel review. You can also email the team at info@blackswanmedia.co if you have any questions. https://thenewsfront.com/black-swan-media-co-gohighlevel-crm-announces-major-updates-for-this-years-level-up-day/ Black Swan Media Co 4575 Dean Martin Dr #806 Las Vegas NV 89103 United States (702) 329-0750 https://blackswanmedia.co [ Back To SIP Trunking Home's Homepage ] Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin's Regular Press Conference on October 25, 2021 2021/10/25 1. At the invitation of Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei Darussalam, the current ASEAN chair, Premier of the State Council Li Keqiang will attend the 24th ASEAN-China Summit, the 24th ASEAN Plus Three Summit, and the 16th East Asia Summit from October 26 to 27. The meetings will be held through video conference. 2. At the invitation of Qatari Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi will visit Qatar from October 25 to 26. During his stay in Doha, State Councilor Wang Yi will meet with a delegation of the interim government of the Afghan Taliban. 3. At the invitation of Minister of Foreign Affairs of Greece Nikos Dendias, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Serbia Nikola Selakovic, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of Albania Olta Xhacka and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Italy Luigi Di Maio, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi will visit Greece, Serbia, Albania and Italy from October 27 to 29. CCTV: Today marks the 50th anniversary of the restoration of New China's lawful seat in the United Nations. What is China assessment of the past 50 years? Wang Wenbin: As you said, today marks the 50th anniversary of the restoration of New China's lawful seat in the United Nations, which was a momentous event for the world and the United Nations. It marked the return of the Chinese people, or one-fourth of the world's population, back to the UN stage. The importance was significant and far-reaching for both China and the wider world. This morning, President Xi Jinping attended the Conference Marking the 50th Anniversary of the Restoration of the Lawful Seat of the People's Republic of China in the United Nations in Beijing and delivered an important speech, which reviewed history and took stock of China's contribution to the cause of the UN and world peace and development over the past 50 years since the restoration, and looked into the future and laid out China's proposal and initiative on deepening cooperation with the UN, promoting peace and development of humanity and work toward a community with a shared future for mankind. The speech is highly relevant with far-reaching historical significance, attracts broad international attention and is warmly received by all parties. President Xi Jinping pointed out that, for the past 50 years, the Chinese people have demonstrated an untiring spirit and kept to the right direction of China's development amidst changing circumstances, thus writing an epic chapter in the development of China and humanity; the Chinese people have stood in solidarity and cooperation with people around the world and upheld international equity and justice, contributing significantly to world peace and development; the Chinese people have upheld the authority and sanctity of the United Nations and practiced multilateralism, and China's cooperation with the United Nations has deepened steadily. President Xi Jinping stressed that, in the world today, changes unseen in a century are accelerating, and the force for peace, development and progress has continued to grow. It falls upon us to follow the prevailing trend of history, and choose cooperation over confrontation, openness over seclusion, and mutual benefit over zero-sum games. We shall be firm in opposing all forms of hegemony and power politics, as well as all forms of unilateralism and protectionism. President Xi Jinping pointed out that, we should vigorously advocate peace, development, equity, justice, democracy and freedom, which are the common values of humanity, and work together to provide the right guiding philosophy for building a better world. We should jointly promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, and work together to build an open, inclusive, clean and beautiful world that enjoys lasting peace, universal security and common prosperity. We should stay committed to mutual benefit and win-win results, and work together to promote economic and social development for the greater benefit of our people. We should step up cooperation, and work together to address the various challenges and global issues facing humanity. We should resolutely uphold the authority and standing of the United Nations, and work together to practice true multilateralism. Standing at a new historical starting point, China will stay committed to the path of peaceful development and always be a builder of world peace. China will stay committed to the path of reform and opening-up and always be a contributor to global development. China will stay committed to the path of multilateralism, always be a defender of the international order and work tirelessly for the lasting and peaceful development of the world and for building a community with a shared future for mankind! People's Daily: You just announced that Premier Li Keqiang will attend a series of leaders' meetings on East Asia cooperation. How does China see the current East Asia cooperation and what's your expectations for the upcoming summits? Wang Wenbin: East Asia is one of the most vibrant regions in the world with the greatest potential. Currently, East Asia cooperation enjoys an overall sound momentum. The ASEAN-centered East Asia cooperation mechanism has played an important role in promoting dialogue and cooperation and safeguarding regional stability and development. China sees ASEAN as a priority in its neighborhood diplomacy and always attaches high importance to regional cooperation in East Asia. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of dialogue relations between China and ASEAN. The two sides are working to upgrade their strategic partnership and forge a closer community with a shared future, which will surely inject fresh impetus into East Asia cooperation. At the same time, East Asia cooperation faces more complicated factors with the continued spread of COVID-19 in the region, unbalanced economic recovery and attempts by a handful of countries to gang up and form cliques. China hopes that the upcoming summits will converge consensus, deepen cooperation, and uphold the correct direction of East Asia cooperation and regional stability and prosperity through the following efforts. First, strengthen regional capability to deal with public health challenges. We need to further consolidate regional outcomes in combating COVID-19, deepen vaccine cooperation and improve contingency medical supplies reserve. Second, jointly promote green recovery and sustainable development. We need to dovetail post-COVID development plans, work for the coordinated, balanced and innovative development of industrial and supply chains, enhance cooperation in orderly energy transformation and address climate change. Third, consolidate the momentum for economic integration. We need to work for the scheduled entry into force of the RCEP to deliver dividends at an early date. Fourth, safeguard regional peace and stability. We need to stay committed to the ASEAN-centered open and inclusive regional cooperation architecture, properly handle hotspot and sensitive issues in the region through dialogue and consultation, and oppose acts that create division and undermine regional peace and stability. Xinhua News Agency: Can you share with us the purpose of and consideration for State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi's visit to Qatar and his meeting with the delegation of the interim government of the Afghan Taliban? Wang Wenbin: Qatar is an important country in the Middle East and the Gulf region, and China's key partner of energy and economic and trade cooperation in the Middle East and the Gulf region. It has a unique role in and influence on Afghanistan and other regional hotspot issues. In recent years, under personal attention and strategic guidance of President Xi Jinping and Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, China-Qatar relations have been rapidly and deeply advanced with fruitful outcomes in cooperation in various sectors, even closer people-to-people exchange and good communication and coordination in international and regional affairs. This visit by State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi will further implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state on developing bilateral relations, deepen political mutual trust between China and Qatar, strengthen bilateral practical cooperation and work toward new progress in China-Qatar strategic partnership. Since August this year, fundamental changes have taken place in the Afghan situation, and the Afghan people are seeing a historic opportunity to independently take control of their country's future. Meanwhile, the Afghan people are also facing many difficulties and challenges, where there is an urgent need for external support. As a traditionally friendly neighbor and cooperation partner of Afghanistan, China always calls for dialogue and engagement to guide the Afghan situation towards positive development and help the people tide over difficulties. Against such a backdrop, the Chinese side and the Afghan Taliban authorities have agreed to meet in Doha. This is a follow-up of past interactions including the meeting in Tianjin in July this year, and also the first high-level meeting between the two sides since the Afghan Taliban's formation of the interim government. Both sides will take this opportunity to have an in-depth exchange of views on the Afghan situation and issues of common interests. China Daily: Could you share more with us on the purpose of and consideration for State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi's visit to Greece, Serbia, Albania and Italy? Wang Wenbin: Greece, Serbia, Albania and Italy are important cooperation partners of China in Europe. China and these four countries boast profound traditional friendship, have close cooperation across the board and share fruitful outcomes in BRI cooperation. This visit to the four countries by State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi fully demonstrates China's willingness to consolidate bilateral friendship, deepen China-CEEC cooperation, and promote the healthy and steady development of the relations between China and the European side. During the visit, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi will have in-depth communication with all parties, build on traditional friendship, deepen practical cooperation and promote common development. China stands ready to work with the four countries to elevate bilateral relations, provide greater driving force for China-CEEC cooperation and the relationship between China and the European side, and inject more positive energy to upholding multilateralism and international fairness and justice. The Paper: UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said recently that the G20 is hoped to raise funds for equitable vaccine distribution, and that "vaccine nationalism and hoarding are putting us all at risk". According to US media reports, the number of vaccines wasted in the US far outweighs the number of jabs administered in many developing countries. As statistics of the USCDC show, from March to September this year, at least 15.1 million doses of COVID vaccines were wasted in the US. What is your comment? Wang Wenbin: We have seen relevant reports. It is China's consistent belief that fighting the pandemic is a shared responsibility of all countries. Countries strong in vaccine R&D and production, especially some developed countries, should earnestly take responsibility, abandon "vaccine nationalism", put their promise of providing vaccines for other countries into practice as soon as possible, and take real actions to improve the accessibility and affordability of COVID vaccines in developing countries to contribute to an early global victory over the pandemic. China earnestly fulfills the pledge made by President Xi Jinping to make vaccines a global public good. We have provided more than 1.5 billion doses of vaccines to more than 100 countries and international organizations and strive to provide two billion doses to the world in the course of this year. On top of the US$100 million donation to COVAX, China will donate an additional 100 million doses of vaccines to fellow developing countries. Following the vision of a global community of health for all, China firmly opposes "vaccine nationalism" and will continue to make China's contribution to equitable vaccine distribution. Bloomberg: The State Department said that on October 22, the American Institute in Taiwan and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office convened high-level representatives for a virtual forum on the theme of expanding Taiwan's ability to participate meaningfully at the UN in such areas as global public health, environment and climate change, etc. What's the foreign ministry's comment on this virtual meeting? Wang Wenbin: The United Nations is an intergovernmental international organization composed of sovereign states. Resolution 2758 adopted by the General Assembly in 1971 has solved once and for all the issue of the PRC's representation in the UN in political, legal and procedural terms. The system, agencies and the Secretariat of the UN should abide by the one-China principle and UNGA Resolution 2758 when dealing with Taiwan-related affairs. The vast number of UN member states, including the US, recognize that there is only one China in the world and Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory. The participation of the Taiwan region in activities of international organizations must be handled in accordance with the one-China principle. The Taiwan authorities' attempt to expand the so-called "international" space by brownnosing foreign forces is in essence trying to expand the room for "Taiwan independence" and separatism and will only prove a failure. We urge the US to abide by the one-China principle and the stipulations of the three China-US joint communiques, observe UNGA Resolution 2758, stop official contact with Taiwan, stop making irresponsible remarks, refrain from sending wrong signals to the "Taiwan independence" forces in any form, avoid emboldening or supporting the Taiwan authorities in expanding the room for "Taiwan independence", and stop doing things that undermine China-US relations and damage peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. China News Service: As October 25 marks the SADC Anti-Sanctions Day, several African countries call on the West to lift illegal sanctions on Zimbabwe at an early date. Do you have any comment? Wang Wenbin: The 39th Ordinary Summit of the Heads of State and Government of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) in 2019 designated the 25th of October as the Anti-Sanctions Day, a day calling on the US and some Western countries to lift the illegal sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe. Today marks the third Anti-Sanctions Day. We noted that African countries have once again made the voice of justice, and we support that. The unwarranted sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe by the US and some other Western countries have been in place for 20 years. They have gravely hobbled Zimbabwe's capability to develop economy and improve people's livelihood and hampered Southern Africa's efforts to deepen cooperation and achieve common development. According to estimations from local media in Zimbabwe, those sanctions have caused economic losses of more than 40 billion dollars in the country. China firmly supports Zimbabwe in opposing external interference and pursuing the path of independent development. We once again solemnly call on certain organizations and countries, including the US, to lift illegal sanctions on Zimbabwe as soon as possible, and focus more on helping Zimbabwe fight the epidemic and resume economic development, and play a constructive role in promoting Africa's peace and development. RIA Novosti: Earlier in the day, media reported that Sudanese Prime Minister was placed under house arrest by unknown military forces while several cabinet ministers were arrested. I wonder if China has any comment on the situation and if China is considering evacuation of its embassy. Wang Wenbin: China is following the latest developments in Sudan, and calls on relevant parties in Sudan to resolve differences through dialogue and maintain national peace and stability. At present, the Chinese embassy is operating normally. China will closely follow the developments and take necessary measures to ensure the safety and security of Chinese institutions and people in Sudan. Kyodo News: The US and China have reportedly agreed to hold a video conference between the two heads of state within the year. Do you have more information on the specific arrangement and details at this point? Wang Wenbin: We have already responded to this question and I have no additional information to offer. Beijing Youth Daily: On October 22, the joint statement of the online G7 Trade Ministers' Meeting was released, which read that "state-sponsored forced labour of vulnerable groups and minorities" exist in "the agricultural, solar and garment sectors". What is China's comment? Wang Wenbin: For some time, a few Western countries have been spreading lies and rumors about "forced labor" unscrupulously to smear and suppress developing countries, interfere in others' internal affairs, undermine the stability of international industrial and supply chains and disrupt global cooperation against climate change. Such a blatant attempt for political manipulation under the pretext of human rights is doomed to fail, and is widely rejected and opposed by the international community. By Azernews By Ayya Lmahamad Azerbaijan's Digital Development and Transport Ministry and International Telecommunication Union (ITU) have discussed current and future bilateral cooperation. The discussion took place during the videoconference meeting of Digital Development and Transport Minister Rashad Nabiyev with ITU Secretary-General Houlin Zhao. Noting that the relations between Azerbaijan and ITU are developing steadily, the minister stated that the ITU is a useful sectoral platform for cooperation. The parties highlighted ITU's successful mediation in the discussions among the countries of the region in the ICT field. It was noted that Azerbaijan will nominate its candidacy for re-election to the ITU Council in the elections to be held next year at the Plenipotentiary Conference in Romania's Bucharest. In turn, Houlin Zhao stated that it is very gratifying that Azerbaijan is interested in further expanding international cooperation in the ICT field. During my meetings with President Ilham Aliyev, in his speeches, I have witnessed that he attaches great importance and attention to the development of the ICT sector, Houlin Zhao said. The secretary-general expressed confidence in the further continuation of Azerbaijan-ITU cooperation. International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is a specialized UN agency for information and communications technologies (ICT), with which Azerbaijan closely cooperates. Founded in 1865 to facilitate international connectivity in communications networks, the union allocates global radio spectrum and satellite orbits, develops the technical standards that ensure networks and technologies seamlessly interconnect, and strives to improve access to ICTs to underserved communities worldwide. By Azernews By Ayya Lmahamad Italy was Azerbaijan's largest trade partner in January-September 2021, with the trade turnover between the two countries amounting to $5.9 billion, the State Customs Committee has reported. Of the total turnover, the export of Azerbaijani products to Italy amounted to $5.6 billion, while imports from Italy were $327.9 million. The trade turnover between the two countries amounted to $3.4 billion during the corresponding period of 2020. Thus, the trade turnover between the two countries increased by $2.5 billion. It should be noted that last year Italy was Azerbaijan's main trade partner as well, with a trade turnover amounting to $4.5 billion. Azerbaijan is one of Italys main energy resources suppliers. Over 100 Italian companies, operating in various fields, are registered in Azerbaijan. In addition, Italian companies have contracts worth over 10 bn ($11.8bn) for Azerbaijani projects both outside and inside the country. Azerbaijans overall investment in Italys economy is estimated at 1.7 billion euros ($2bn), while Italy invested about 770 million euros ($910.8M) in Azerbaijan. Moreover, Azerbaijan accounts for more than 90 percent of Italys total trade with the South Caucasus countries. Azerbaijan is the main destination of Italian exports to the South Caucasus region, with a 7 percent increase in 2020 as well. Additionally, Italy was one of the first countries that voiced its support for Azerbaijans territorial integrity and later on interest in participation in restoration works carried out in Azerbaijan's liberated territories. Thus, Italy and Israel have already started the implementation of a joint project to turn the liberated Zangilan region into a smart city. Azerbaijans overall trade turnover amounted to $22.9 billion during the first nine months of 2021. Of the total turnover, export amounted to $14.6 billion or 63.6 percent, while import was $8.3 billion or 36.3 percent, resulting in a surplus of $6.2 billion. By Azernews By Ayya Lmahamad The Azerbaijani State Oil Fund (SOFAZ) revenues from the countrys major oil and gas fields amounted to $4.2 billion in January-September 2021, SOFAZ has reported. The Azeri-Chirag-Guneshli block of fields, which are the largest oil field in the Azerbaijani sector of the Caspian Sea, accounted for $3.9 billion of this revenue. The funds revenues from the Shah Deniz field, which is among the worlds largest gas-condensate fields, amounted to $329.1 million, including $109 million from condensate, in the first nine months of the year. Earlier, it was reported that SOFAZ sold funds in the amount of $4.3 billion at foreign currency auctions during the reported period. The fund's revenues from the countrys major oil and gas fields amounted to $3.8 billion in 2020, with Azeri-Chirag-Guneshli (ACG) accounting for $3.5 billion of this revenue and Shah Deniz for $293.9 million. Established in 1999, SOFAZ is a sovereign wealth fund, which accumulates and preserves Azerbaijans oil and gas revenues for future generations. The fund accumulates income from the sale of oil contracts, and in 2003 it started to make transfers to the state budget of Azerbaijan. As for now, SOFAZ's contribution to the countrys GDP is over 80 percent. The contract for the development of the ACG oil fields was signed on September 20, 1994, and entered force in December. The contract for the development of the ACG block was extended to 2050 in September 2017. The shareholders in the ACG project are BP (operator, 30.37 percent), SOCAR (25 percent), MOL (9.57 percent), INPEX (9.31 percent), Equinor (7.27 percent), ExxonMobil (6.79 percent), TPAO (5.73 percent), ITOCHU (3.65 percent), ONGC Videsh Limited (OVL) (2.31 percent). The contract on the development of the Shah Deniz gas field was signed in 1996. Shareholders of the Shah Deniz project are BP (operator, 28.8 percent), TPAO (19 percent), AzSD (10 percent), SGC Upstream (6.7 percent), PETRONAS (15.5 percent), LUKOIL (10 percent), and NICO (10 percent). By Azernews By Laman Ismayilova Khatai Arts Center is pleased to announce a patriotic exhibition "Courage to Win". The exhibition marks the first anniversary of Azerbaijan's victory in the 44-day Patriotic War. Works by local artists, including those selected by the jury as well as paintings from the State Art Gallery's collection will be exhibited on November 5-12. The artists will be awarded with certificates. The project is co-organized by Khatai Arts Center, the State Art Gallery and Baku Art Gallery with the support of the Culture Ministry and Azerbaijan Artists' Union. The clashes between Armenia and Azerbaijan resumed after Armenia launched large-scale attacks on Azerbaijani forces and civilians on September 27. The 44 days of war ended with the Russian brokered peace deal signed on November 10 by the Azerbaijani, Russian and Armenian leaders. The peace agreement ended the 30-years-old conflict between Baku and Yerevan over Azerbaijans Nagorno-Karabakh region that along with the seven adjacent districts came under the occupation of Armenian armed forces in the war in the early 1990s. For about three decades, Armenia failed to implement the UN Security Council resolutions demanding the withdrawal of the Armenian troops, which was the main obstacle to the resolution of the conflict. Media partners of the event are Trend.az, Day.az, Milli.az. By Azernews By Vafa Ismayilova On September 27, 2020, in response to a large-scale provocation of the Armenian armed forces along the frontline, the Azerbaijani army launched a counter-offensive operation, later called the "Iron Fist". The 44-day war put an end to nearly 30 years of occupation, ensured the liberation of Azerbaijan's lands and the restoration of the country's territorial integrity. Chronicle of 44-day Second Karabakh War: October 25, 2021: - President Ilham Aliyev shared on his official Twitter page about the liberation by the Azerbaijani army of several villages of Zangilan, Jabrayil and Gubadli regions, as well as Gubadli city from Armenia's occupation. - An operational meeting was held under President and Commander-in-Chief Aliyev's leadership at the Defence Ministry's Central Command Post with the participation of the ministrys leadership and commanders of the joint corps located in the frontline. - During the meeting, Aliyev briefed about the liberation by Azerbaijani army of some parts of Kalbajar and Gubadli regions from Armenia's occupation. - President Aliyev, during the UN Security Council discussions, sent letters to the heads of state and government of the countries supporting Azerbaijan's position. - Aliyev gave an interview to the US Fox News TV channel. - The Azerbaijani army troops dealt a serious blow to the Armenian armed forces in Khojavand, Gubadli and Lachin. The list of destroyed military equipment of Armenia has been announced. The Armenian troops retreated with losses. - The Azerbaijani army used high-precision weapons against the Armenian troops. - The Armenian troops fired on Aghdam, Tartar and Aghjabadi. - Video footage of liberated villages of Gubadli region has been released. - Video footage of the destruction of the Armenian firing points has been released. The Armenian troops were forced to retreat with losses. - Video footage of liberated villages of Jabrayil and Zangilan regions was released. - Video footage of the destruction of Armenian military equipment and ammunition was released. A Moscow-brokered ceasefire deal that Baku and Yerevan signed on November 10, 2020, brought an end to six weeks of fighting between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The Azerbaijani army declared a victory against the Armenian troops. The signed agreement obliged Armenia to withdraw its troops from the Azerbaijani lands that it has occupied since the early 1990s. The peace agreement stipulated the return of Azerbaijan's Armenian-occupied Kalbajar, Aghdam and Lachin regions and urged Armenia to withdraw its troops from the Azerbaijani lands that it has occupied since the early 1990s. Before the signing of the deal, the Azerbaijani army had liberated around 300 villages, settlements, city centres, and historic Shusha city. By Azernews By Vafa Ismayilova The State Service for Mobilization and Conscription has called up Azerbaijani reservists for training sessions. Under Article 45 of the Azerbaijani law "On military duty and military service", military officers are called up for military training, military control, and special gatherings during their reserve, the State Service reported on October 25. At present, the State Service called up the reservists for drills on various specialties, the report added. The Defence Ministry earlier reported that under the 2021 training plan approved by Defence Minister Zakir Hasanov that a military training session will be held in a military unit starting October 25. The training session, which will involve a group of reservists, aims to upgrade their level of combat readiness, knowledge, and skills. During the training, the reservists will have the opportunity to improve their combat skills, military skills and experience, as well as get acquainted with modern weapons and military equipment in the Azerbaijan army, and learn their rules of operation. The training session will last until November 6. By Trend Senator of the Florida Senate (the US) Annette Joan Taddeo-Goldstein has signed a Declaration related to the Day of Restoration of Azerbaijan's Independence, Trend reports with reference to the Azerbaijani State Committee for Diaspora Affairs. She noted that October 18 was recognized in the state of Florida as the Day of the restoration of Azerbaijan's independence. The US politician congratulated the Azerbaijani people on the 30th anniversary of the restoration of the country's independence, expressed satisfaction with the activity of the Azerbaijani community in Florida. The senator also wished success to the Azerbaijan-US Cultural Association, established on October 26, 2006. The declaration was presented to the Chairman of the Azerbaijan-US Cultural Association Tohfa Eminova. By Trend Third Iran-Germany Joint Energy Committee meeting will be held on Tuesday, October 25, Trend reports citing ILNA. The meeting will be held online, via a video conference. The Iranian delegation will be represented by Oil Minister Jawad Owji. According to ILNA, the first Iran-Germany Joint Energy Committee meeting was held in Tehran on October 25, 2017. By Azernews By Vugar Khalilov Turkey will cooperate with Africa on renewable energy sources, energy efficiency, electricity distribution, and transmission, Yeni Shafak newspaper reported on October 25. The relevant agreement has been reached during Turkish President Erdogans recent visit to African countries. In the new period, cooperation will be realized on renewable energy sources, energy efficiency, electricity distribution, and transmission, the report added. Turkey will carry out reserve determinations in Africa through geochemistry, geophysics and drilling studies as a part of cooperation on mining, exploration of mineral resources, geological exploration, laboratory studies, preservation and disposal of mine wastes. The cooperation will also be made in the field of energy, hydrocarbon and mining, the newspaper said. Crude oil, petroleum products and LNG trade will also be carried out with Africa. Collaborations on the construction of oil and natural gas infrastructure, liquefaction of natural gas and exploration, transportation and marketing of oil and natural gas are envisaged. It should be noted that the trade volume between Turkey and Africa has been increased to $25 billion from $5.3 billion in 2003. On October 17, Erdogan launched his four-day diplomatic tour to three African countries, Angola, Nigeria and Togo. One of the purposes of his visit was to break the economic hegemony of former colonial powers and to counter the rising influence of China on the African continent. Erdogan's trip to Angola, Nigeria and Togo was considered as an opportunity for Turkey to build a partnership with African economies and highlight the injustices of traditional players' failures in dealing with Africa. By Azernews By Vugar Khalilov Defence Industry Chief Ismail Demir has said that Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) converted the SIMSEK (Lightning) high-speed target drone into a missile, Yeni Shafak newspaper has reported. "Our target plane, SIMSEK, tired of being hit, has now decided to shoot! SIMSEK has become a GPS-guided missile that can fly autonomously and hit targets at long distances. He didn't tell the distance. Congratulations TAI, Congratulations ROKETSAN," Demir wrote on his official Twitter account. TAI SIMSEK is a turbojet-powered radio-controlled high-speed target drone designed, developed and built by the Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) in 2009-12 for the needs of the Turkish armed forces. Turkish Aerospace Inc. is the center of technology in design, development, manufacturing, integration of aerospace systems, modernization, and after-sales support in Turkey. Located in Ankara, the Turkish Aerospace production plant covers an area of 5 million square meters with an industrial facility of 150,000 square meters. The company has a modern aircraft facility furnished with high technology machinery and equipment that provide extensive manufacturing capabilities ranging from parts manufacturing to aircraft assembly, flight tests and delivery. As of 2010, Turkish Aerospace employs over 1,500 engineers. Of them, approximately 850 are research and development engineers working in military research projects. 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. Dar Al Arkan, a leading real estate company in Saudi Arabia, has signed an agreement with Madinat Al Wouroud Housing Development company to jointly set up a premium residential project at an investment of SR3.7 billion ($985 million) in Taif governorate in the kingdom's southwest region. The project will be developed on an area of 1 million sq m while fully respecting and preserving the topography and unique environmental features of Taif. It will offer premium residential units ranging from apartments, villas, and townhouses in addition to a variety of commercial facilities and amenities. While the project targets the residents of Taif and the surrounding area, it will also promote the city across the kingdom as a key destination and a valuable opportunity for customers to purchase exceptional summer homes to enjoy Taifs mountainous nature, valleys, cooler weather and rose farms which fully blossom in August. Chairman Yousef Al Shelash said: "We are delighted to be partnering with Madinat Al Wouroud Housing Development, a company experienced in developing and managing high-quality residential communities, to deliver this unique project for the residents of Taif and the citizens of Saudi Arabia." "In full appreciation of Taifs natural elements, Dar Al Arkan will ensure that the new project is environmentally friendly. We expect to see high demand for this project in one of the most desirable cities in the Kingdom and Saudi Arabia's unofficial summer capital to enjoy the milder climate, its natural beauty and annual cultural festivals," he stated. Chairman Dr Abdul Kader Obeikan said: "This partnership provides us with a remarkable opportunity to combine our extensive expertise in real estate development. Dar Al Arkan has an outstanding reputation and track record and will be an excellent partner to promote Taif as a desirable destination for Saudis." "We have many remarkable destinations in the Kingdom, and Taif stands out as truly unique and we will showcase this as part of our residential project," he stated. The development of the new residential project is due to begin in the first quarter of 2022 and is expected to be completed within four years, he added.-TradeArabia News Service Azizi Developments, a leading private real estate developer in the UAE, has announced the complete sale of its Creek Views I development located in Dubai Healthcare City. The project has been sold to over 47 nationalities, following Azizis efforts to attract foreign investment. Overlooking Dubai Healthcare City, Creek Views I boasts stunning panoramic views of the iconic Dubai Creek and the picturesque Downtown Dubai skyline, said the statement from Azizi. Situated on Al Khail Road, 7 minutes away from Dubai International Airport, 8 minutes from Dubai Mall and 9 minutes from Business Bay and DIFC, the development has all major business, leisure and retail hubs in its vicinity, it added. UAE nationals represent the biggest buyer group with 20% followed by investors from India (14%), Pakistan (7%), Saudi Arabia (6%), the UK (5%), Canada (4%), and the US (3%). European buyers represent a total of 10% of all buyers. The development is now 76% complete and is scheduled to be handed over by the end of the year, with 100 per cent of both its structure and blockwork already being done. Internal plastering is currently at 99 per cent, while the tiling, HVAC and MEP works are now 82 per cent, 26 per cent and 37 per cent respectively, stated the developer. Creek Views I is home to 634 units that comprise 396 studios, 218 one-bedroom flats, and 20 two-bedroom units, as well as 33,341 square feet of premium retail space. Commenting on this significant milestone, CEO Farhad Azizi said: "It comes as no surprise to us that this stunning project, with its exceptional location, amenities and build quality, has sold out this rapidly. It is a testament to our customer-centric commitment to the high-quality development of world-class residences, embedded in only the best communities, and to our timely project delivery." Dubai Healthcare City, as a unique and well-connected residential destination, is seeing a significant increase in investors, representing a highly growth-inclined location that showcases Dubai's progressive, fast-paced nature and advancements. "We are investing substantial amounts in attracting not just local, but also foreign investment to Dubai, and are delighted that these efforts are paying off and supporting the growth of the sector and the emirate as a whole," he added. Positioned as the epicentre of the future, merging views of both the old and new Dubai, Creek Views I represents the citys remarkable transition from a traditional, iconic past to a contemporary, reinvented future. Built to offer modern luxury at its finest, Creek Views I will feature an all-inclusive health club comprising a swimming pool, a fully equipped gym, a sauna, a steam room, as well as a serene outdoor yoga space. Creek Views I is one of 46 projects constituting over 10,000 units and more than 11,204,623 sq ft of built-up area that Azizi Developments plans to hand over in 2021.-TradeArabia News Service Alibaba Cloud, the digital technology and intelligence backbone of Alibaba Group, has unveiled Tingwu, an AI-powered meeting assistant, alongside a new version of its cloud computer. The solutions are tailored for the new world of work and address surging demand from corporate users looking to work remotely with more automated support, a trend accelerated by the pandemic. Tingwu is an AI-powered meeting assistant developed by the Speech Lab of Alibaba Damo Academy (Damo), the global research initiative by Alibaba Group. The technology works by converting the content of spoken meetings into written minutes in real time with up to 98% accuracy, delivering an efficient experience for users. Underpinned by our end-to-end speech recognition solution, Tingwusaccuracy and powerful features make it a perfect tool for businesses to host multi-location online and offline conferences and interviews. As enterprises continue to embrace the next generation of remote working, Tingwu is well-positioned to transform business meetings with productive and easy-to-use automated voice transcription capabilities, said Zhijie Yan, Head of Speech Lab of Alibaba Damo Academy. Using Damos proprietary algorithms for analyzing voiceprints and bearings, Tingwu, unveiled during this years Apsara Conference, can distinguish between the voices of as many as 10 meeting participants. The assistant is equipped with a smart microphone, which can easily receive and recognize speech within a 10-meter range while reducing background noise. Tingwus ability to comprehend, powered by automatic speech recognition capabilities, natural language processing and deep-learning technologies, enables it to handle English, Mandarin and 14 other Chinese dialects as well as automatically correct or refine notes based on the entire context of a meeting. The assistant can also organize the minutes by keywords; generate a meeting summary and highlights and list out follow-up items. In China, Tingwu has been integrated into DingTalk, a digital collaboration platform created by Alibaba Group, to enhance meeting efficiency on the platform by automatically transcribing conversations and sharing notes with users. The functionality of Tingwu will continue to expand, as we are now developing a model that can process mixed-language speech. We will also explore additional language options to prepare Tingwu for use in large multinational corporations and overseas markets, Yan added. An office in the cloud to work from anywhere Building on the success of the Wuying cloud computer for enterprises which debuted last year, Alibaba Cloud has upgraded its functionality with an all-in-one PC and a one-stop Cloud Workplace solution to empower users to work from anywhere. Our upgraded cloud computer is an office in the cloud that offers enterprise and individual users flexible remote working options, and at the same time provides them with a secure environment for network access and storage functions, said Jiangwei Jiang, Senior Researcher and General Manager of Infrastructure Products, Alibaba Cloud Intelligence. As remote offices become a more common way of working around the world, we remain committed to innovating products and services that bring the benefits of cloud computing to all. The upgraded computer draws on the power of the cloud to give users access to organizational resources regardless of whether they are at home or in the office. This access comes through the Cloud Workplace, an integrated solution consisting of security, network and storage tools enabling enterprises to build an office in the cloud in a secure and agile way. The solution directly addresses the data security challenges faced by many IT departments when they adopt flexible working arrangements. Leveraging cloud-based data security capabilities such as firewalls, end-to-end encryption and cloud backup and recovery, the solution stores information in the cloud, rather than on a device, thereby enhancing corporate information security for both home-based and in-office workforces. Powered by the Cloud Workplace, the Wuying family of products now consists of the latest all-in-one PC, the previously launched card and box terminals and a Desktop-as-a Service (DaaS) application, which allows corporate users to connect to the cloud computer from any device regardless of the operating system installed. This gives corporates the flexibility to utilize existing resources and the scalability to support business expansion, allowing them to tailor IT infrastructure based on their unique demands. Alibaba Cloud also announced a program to help narrow the digital gap in China. The program will provide cloud computers to 10,000 schools in underdeveloped areas to help build the technical foundation to cultivate digital talent. TradeArabia News Service Ninety-five per cent of female entrepreneurs in the region identify social media channels as the top tool for their business ventures, said experts, citing a study conducted among Female Fusions network of 20,000+ members across the region. The research was revealed by Mastercard, the official payment technology partner of Expo 2020 Dubai, and Female Fusion Network at the first in a series of workshops for the regions female entrepreneurs at the worlds largest cultural gathering. Held at Expo 2020 Dubais Womens Pavilion, in collaboration with Cartier, the session focused on the power of the digital economy in enabling women-owned businesses to go online. Other channels include their own e-commerce websites (72%) as well as messaging services such as Facebook and Whatsapp (50%). In addition, three out of four (72%) women-owned businesses said they rely on word of mouth to market their products and services. The workshop identified how SMEs can make the most of their online footprint, and better connect to their consumers in a digital economy. Speakers included Ngozi Megwa, Senior Vice President, Digital Partnerships MEA, Mastercard, Sarah Beydoun, Founder and Creative Director of social impact fashion business Sarahs Bag in Lebanon, Ioanna Angelidaki, co-founder of Instashop, and Maureen Hall, Founder and CEO of COEGA Sunwear. The findings from the study indicate a clear need for further education and empowerment. Mastercard has long pushed for the success and growth of women as we break gender barriers around the world. Digital tools and technologies are the greatest equalizer for businesses and as the shift towards e-commerce becomes increasingly permanent, we are committed to helping women businesses go digital and grow digital as they pursue their entrepreneurial passions, said Ngozi Megwa. The recent unveiling of the inaugural Mastercard MEA SME Confidence Index also revealed that in terms of a digital footprint of the regions women entrepreneurs, social media (71%) leads the way followed by a company website (57%). We are proud of the successful launch of our workshop series in partnership with Mastercard. As a growing community of ambitious women leaders, Female Fusion Network looks to support our members with access to platforms that offer simple yet effective takeaways for them to grow their business. We look forward to having more of these impactful sessions during Expo 2020 Dubai, said Jennifer Blandos, Managing Partner, Female Fusion Network. Mastercard has made a global commitment to connect 25 million women entrepreneurs to the digital economy by 2025 as part of its goal to build a more sustainable and inclusive world. As part of its efforts, the technology leader recently launched The Entrepreneurs Odyssey a first-of-its kind digital education platform that brings together a range of world-class academic and business resources to help small businesses learn and thrive. TradeArabia News Service The UAE has been named the worlds 11th strongest nation brand, according to the latest Brand Finance Nation Brands 2021 report. It now ranks above the United States and the United Kingdom, among others. Breaking the Western monopoly at the top of the brand strength ranking along with Singapore in fourth position the UAE has climbed three spots since last year following a 2.5-point increase in its Brand Strength Index (BSI) score to 79.1 out of 100, Emirates News Agency WAM reported. Brand Finance determines the relative strength of nation brands through a scorecard of metrics evaluating brand investment, brand equity, and brand performance. The nation brand strength methodology includes the results of the Global Soft Power Index a research study on nation brand perceptions, surveying opinions of over 75,000 people based in more than 100 countries. Overseas perception of the UAEs prowess in the Education and Science pillars are high. The Gulf nation also stands out for its Covid-19 response, and scores high for the Influence and Business and Trade pillars, both of which should see a further boost from Expo 2020 inaugurated in Dubai this month. Minister of Cabinet Affairs Mohammad bin Abdullah Al Gergawi said: "The rise in the economic value of the UAEs national brand from 18th to 17th position this year is an indication of the countrys reputation and competitiveness in various fields. "There is no doubt that achieving 11 per cent brand value growth, from $672 billion to $749 billion, is a major achievement as it celebrates its Golden Jubilee and underlines how quickly our nation has established its name and global identity as a developed and pioneering country." The Minister pointed out that the UAEs rise from 14th to 11th place in the Brand Finance Nation Brands index for 2021 is "the latest confirmation of the excellence of the Emirati model in planning and development. It confirms the nations success in establishing modern, open, transparent and interactive media communication with the public around the world, through which it has been able to present its success stories." Brand Finance Middle East Managing Director Andrew Campbell said: "The UAE punches well above its weight in terms of nation brand strength and challenges the Western status quo in the ranking. As the UAE celebrates its Golden Jubilee, it continues to fly the flag, promoting the nations achievements through initiatives like the Emirates Mars Mission and serving as the gateway to the region by hosting the world for 182 days at Expo 2020 Dubai." The UAEs increases in brand strength and value are testament to the nations strategy of diversifying its economy for long-term growth. The top 100 most valuable nation brands in the world have recorded a 7% increase in brand value since 2020, signalling that recovery is underway from the Covid-19 pandemic. Although this is a positive sign, uncertainty lingers and nation brand values have not reached pre-pandemic levels yet. At $90.8 trillion, this years total brand value of the top 100 ranking is still 7% lower compared to 2019. Brand Finance Chairman and CEO David Haigh said: "Unlike previous economic crashes, recovery is uneven and is pinned on the combination of initial Covid-19 response strategies and a successful vaccination rollout. We are starting to turn a corner, as the worlds most valuable nation brands begin to return to pre-pandemic brand values. "But results are varied, and it may take years for some to recoup lost brand value, creating even greater disparity between the most and least valuable nation brands." Revier Dubai has announced the assignment by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) as their preferred hotel partner in the 4-star category during Expo 2020 Dubai. The new lifestyle property boasts a tech-savvy environment and Swiss hospitality in a prime location around the city Business Bay. Sales & Marketing Director Sahil Thakur said: It is an honour to be the preferred hotel partner for FICCI to host the Indian delegation visiting Expo 2020. While offering Swiss hospitality to the guests we aim at providing them with best services and experiences during their stay with us. Revier Dubai has also been seeing improvements in occupancy levels in general following the announcement that they were awarded the contract to host the Indian delegates at the Expo 2020. Additionally, the hotel is offering a shuttle service to Dubai Mall which is a hub for Expo Rider buses arranged by the RTA (Roads & Transport Authority).-TradeArabia News Service US-based Bell Textron, part of multi-industry company Textron, has completed the first AH-1Z Viper attack helicopter for Bahrain. Bell delivered the first of 12 production aircraft to Naval Air Systems Command as part of the 2019 foreign military sales (FMS) contract. Foreign military sales of the AH-1Z bring the advanced, dedicated capabilities of the aircraft directly to international operators and help increase interoperability and amplify effectiveness of allied forces. The helicopter will be prepared for shipment to Bahrain with the Defence Contract Management Agency (DCMA) before being transported to Bahrain in 2022. This is an extraordinary achievement by the H-1 Program and brings the Royal Bahraini Air Force a step closer to fielding the advanced capabilities of the AH-1Z, said Mike Deslatte, Bell H-1 vice president and program director. The men and women of Team Viper, a group of premier suppliers, have done an exceptional job of delivering to the US Government, on time and on contract. Bell designed the AH-1Z Viper specifically to meet the stringent operational requirements of the US Marine Corps, which focus on full marinization and a reduced logistical footprint. The aircraft has a fully integrated glass cockpit and the ability to carry a wide variety of munitions. The composite rotor system further enhances the Vipers ability to provide close air support to ground forces in any environment, while the fully integrated Target Sight System (TSS) enhances pilots capabilities to clearly identify, acquire, track and engage targets beyond maximum weapon range. The Viper will provide significant benefits to the Bahrain Defence Force as they modernize their fleet of attack helicopters, said Deslatte. Having a proven state-of-the-air platform will help contribute to the security of Bahrain while improving interoperability with US forces. Bell continues to work to deliver aircraft to the US Marine Corps, Bahrain and Czech Republic. The company also keeps the H-1 up to date with planned capability improvements designed to ensure the Viper maintains its strategic technological edge throughout its service life. TradeArabia News Service The military terms it an "incitement to violence" in the country. The United Nations has expressed concern about recent troop movements in north and northwest Myanmar where there are clashes with ethnic militias. Ban imposed on statements by Aung San Suu Kyi's lawyers. Yangon (AsiaNews/Agencies) - An "incitement to violence": This is how the military junta of Myanmar termed the latest UN report on the human rights situation in the country. On October 22, the UN said it feared that the human rights situation could deteriorate further after thousands of troops were transferred to the north and north-west of the country, where clashes with ethnic militias continue to occur. Myanmar Special Envoy Tom Andrews believes this tactic is reminiscent of those used before the crackdown on the Rohingya in 2016-17. The military junta yesterday accused the UN of using human rights "as a political tool to intervene in Myanmar's internal affairs." The report "would only lead to further internal divisions and foster violence," the foreign ministry said in a statement. Since the Feb. 1 coup, the country has plunged into chaos: the military has failed to neutralize the anti-coup opposition, and the People's Defense Forces continue to fight Tatmadaw troops, the Burmese army. Yesterday, the military junta also said that 70 military personnel and 93 policemen have been killed since February, but analysts point out that the army tends to downplay its losses. According to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, the military have instead killed nearly 1,200 civilians and arrested over 7 thousand people. In recent weeks, international pressure on the junta has increased: General Min Aung Hlaing was excluded from a summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and it is not clear whether there will be a non-political delegate to represent the country. Meanwhile, former leader Aung San Suu Kyi remains in prison. In recent days, the junta has ordered her lawyers not to speak or make statements to journalists, diplomats or international organizations. Activists denounce attacks against civil society and media. At least 77 cases of violations during the electoral round. Protests also on the Christian vote and those elected. Patriarch and prelates relaunch values of "nation and fraternity". Fundamental need to seek public interest, not party politics. Baghdad (AsiaNews) - The results of the October 10 parliamentary elections in Iraq have triggered a situation of "tension" throughout the country that worries the Chaldean Church, whose patriarch Cardinal Sako intervened on the eve of the vote hoping for mass participation against fraud. For this reason, the bishops have launched an appeal in which they ask politicians to "follow the values of the nation and fraternity", looking at the public interest rather than "party agendas". The ruling class is urged to proceed "quickly" to the formation of a "government of national competence" in light of a result that has decreed the victory of Moqtada al-Sadr, who does not have an absolute majority to form an executive. He will have to find agreements in Parliament to control the 165 seats needed. Meanwhile, the Gulf Centre for Human Rights denounces attacks on activists and members of civil society and the media, in a picture defined as "worrying" of human rights violations and torture of civilians. Overall, the authorities have recorded at least 77 violations during the electoral round in Baghdad, Kirkuk, Basra, Erbil, Nineveh, Diyala, Anbar, Wasit and Diwaniyah, with attempts of fraud and intimidation of opponents. In light of the current tense situation in Iraq, created by the elections, the Chaldean Bishops in Iraq, assembled under the Chairmanship of His Beatitude Patriarch Louis Raphael Cardinal Sako at the Summer Patriarchal Residence in Ankawa / Erbil, on Saturday morning, October 23, 2021 addressed the following appeal: Calling upon all Iraqi politicians to follow the national and fraternal values, in order to give priority to the public interest rather than partisan agendas. This can be achieved by getting together in a calm and civilized dialogue explaining each others point of view, to end the current tension generated by the recent election. Chaldean Bishops urged Iraqi politicians to expedite the formation of a government of national competencies, capable of realizing the demands of Iraqi people and preventing the country from slipping for the worse. Knowing that threatening or using weapons to solve problems between citizens is one of the major sins in all customs, as weapons are for the defense of the homeland only. May Iraq be preserved and protected in the consciences of its loyal citizens. Controversy is also registered on the assignment of the five seats reserved for Christians. Interviewed by the Kurdish website Rudaw, former MP Joseph Sliwa said that the new MPs are not representative, because 90% of their votes do not come from Christian voters, but from Shiites and Kurds, who have hijacked part of their preferences in order to elect candidates similar or "manipulable". The elected immediately replied that the process took place in a regular manner and that the complaints are the result of the discontent of the defeated. Among those who do not recognize the results of the polls there are members of the coalition (Shiite) Fatah, close to Iran, which have called demonstrations in Baghdad and other cities including Basra, Kerbala and Kirkuk. In response, the Electoral Commission has granted a new count of 300 ballot boxes, in a widespread climate of discontent that worries the Iraqi Church. Below is the text of the message launched by Card. Sako and the Chaldean bishops in Iraq. by Giorgio Bernardelli A lay woman from Singapore, she teaches pastoral leadership at the East Asian Pastoral Institute in Manila. She was called by the pope to be part of the Commission on Methodology that is accompanying the Synods work. Her dream is for Asias Church to be more missionary, less frightened, and with the laity share responsibility for the journey. Rome (AsiaNews) Christina Kheng, a laywoman from Singapore, was called by Pope Francis to work in the Commission on Methodology, one of the four groups that within the Secretariat of the Synod that are accompanying the two-year journey that began last 10 October. She teaches pastoral leadership at the East Asian Pastoral Institute in Manila, and has worked for years with many Asian Churches. She expects this journey to reduce the gap between Church leaders and the laity, above all limit the cultural rigidities that are specific to Asia. She also expects the Synod to provide an opportunity to elaborate a new way of sharing responsibilities within the Church, holding the leadership together while listening to everyones voice. In the interview with AsiaNews that follows, she talks about her own commitment to this endeavour and what steps forward the synodal journey can make to help the Churches of Asia. What role do you play in the Synods Commission on Methodology? "The Commission on Methodology is called to accompany the synodal process both in local Churches and the synodal assembly. We are helping translate the theology of synodality into the concrete life of communities, welcoming the voice of the Spirit and listening to one another. Our first task was to contribute to the drafting of the Vademecum published at the start of the journey. After reading it, some people told us: It is a document with a different tone, very open to dialogue and flexible. It does not say: Do this! Instead, it encourages creativity. This, I think, is our task. You teach "pastoral leadership". What is it that? It means To live one's ministry in a way that is both effective and rooted in the Gospel. Today learning to manage operations and organisations requires an interdisciplinary approach, so that the Catholic faith and the secular approach of the management sciences can be held together. What difficulties does this challenge entail? "Often today those who lead an organisation within the Church end up adopting the most common corporate model. This is wrong because it contradicts the Gospels vision several ways. Our view of man is not based only on the here and now; it is also spiritual, calling on us to look at the person as a mystery and not only as workforce caught in a cog. Pastoral workers are often very spiritual people, who pray deeply, but when they find themselves leading their organisation it is as if they forget the faith and the Gospel, using only the business model of management. Instead, We must learn to integrate both aspects. And once this is done, we can have something to pass on to lay managers. Indeed, today's paradox is that many companies talk about social responsibility because they see that something is missing from their model.... Can the path towards synodality be a school for this? Absolutely. The fact that it aims to involve those on the margins and tries to converge by including the voice of all is something important. In all societies today we see growing polarisation, with people looking at each as enemies, with less tolerance for those who have different views. The synodal process can do much to develop a model that holds together leadership and dialogue, a collaborative way of carrying out one's mission. What does the synodal process say in particular to the Churches of Asia? The Churches of Asia must improve internal dialogue. For cultural reasons, but sometimes also because of a very traditional way of living the Church, there is little shared responsibility with the laity. Although they go to Mass much more than in Europe, in most cases lay people think that being Catholic stops there, and expect pastors to provide guidelines as to what they must do. This must change. We need more cooperation. The clergy and the religious in Asia must also change, helping everyone to make their voices heard. It will be important that ordinary Christians also be present at the continental meeting ahead of the Synod, not only bishops, priests, religious, lay people with an assigned role. It will be important to have room for the poor, for young people, and for those who come from the most forgotten areas. In Asia, Christians are a small minority almost everywhere. Will the Popes call to listen also involve men and women of other religions? "Of course. Even if technically the synodal path is a journey of listening to the people of God, to make a discernment means to listen to all the voices in society. We cannot exclude the poor, the marginalised, other religions, even the voice of creation that cries out today. The sensum fidei of the People of God is born from this: It is not to say what I think, but to listen to the Word of God and to the world around us so as to read the signs of the times. Asia is living this path while it is still deeply marked by the pandemic. In many countries, Mass is still celebrated online. I was only able to attend Mass in person in Rome after many months. Of course, an online Mass is better than nothing, but we must multiply our efforts so that people can gather together again, even when this means following complex procedures. In addition, the pandemic has deeply affected religiosity, raising questions about the meaning of life. If the religious community does not help to provide answers, many will lose interest or look for other ways. Where do you hope to find the Churches of Asia at the end of this Synod? I dream of a synodal Church, more alive in its missionary spirit. Many of our countries today are growing economically, very fast but without equity, destroying the environment, with so many people losing their values, with young people left out. The Church in Asia should not just be frightened by all this, seeing herself only as a persecuted community. She must find the way for a dialogue within these societies by living her mission. I am convinced that shared responsibility, by reducing the distance between the hierarchies and laity, can help a lot towards this end. According to Israeli Defence Minister Gantz, the targeted groups are linked to the militant group Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. His decision has been criticised by international NGOs and human rights groups. For Human Rights Watch, it is a brazen attack against freedom. B'Tselem calls it a move worthy of totalitarian regimes. Over 1,300 new housing units are slated for construction in the West Bank. Jerusalem (AsiaNews) Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz on Friday declared six Palestinian civil society groups as terrorist organisations. For Omar Shakir, Human Rights Watch's Israel and Palestine director, this is a brazen attack and a "dangerous escalation" that threatens to cripple the work of Palestinian civil society groups against Israeli human rights abuses. According to Israel, the targeted charities and advocacy groups have links with militant movements, including the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP). According to Israels Defence Ministry, the groups are part of a network of organisations operating under cover in the international arena on behalf of the PFLP, a Marxist-Leninist group. Two of the six groups targeted by Israel are Addameer, a prominent organisation that supports Palestinian political prisoners, and Al-Haq, a major human rights advocate that works with the United Nations. The other four are the Union of Agricultural Work Committees, the Bisan Centre for Research and Development, the Union of Palestinian Womens Committees, and Defence for Children International-Palestine. For Defence Minister Gantz, these NGOs operate under the guise of civil society organization, but in practice belong to a terrorist group whose purpose is to destroy Israel. All the organisations targeted by the government are said to be controlled by the PFLP and use operatives who were involved in terrorist activities. The United States is among those surprised by the decision. The US State Department contacted Israeli authorities to request more information. In a rare rebuke against the Jewish state, State Department spokesperson Ned Price called for respect for human rights, fundamental freedoms and a strong civil society. For Amir Makhoul, a leading Palestinian activist and writer who spent 10 years in Israeli jails, The Israeli defence minister's decision is a clear and direct targeting of human rights organisations that present the most credible case of Palestinian human rights before the criminal courts and international institutions." Criticisms also come from B'Tselem, an Israeli human rights group, for whom the decision is a move that characterises totalitarian regimes. Israels current government, it says, is not a government of change but a continuation government of the violent apartheid regime that has been in place for many years between the sea and Jordan river. Meanwhile, Israeli authorities yesterday announced the construction of 1,300 new homes in the occupied territories of the West Bank, in addition to the 2,000 already approved in August. According to reports from the Ministry of Construction and Housing, the new houses will be built in seven different settlements starting with 729 in the town of Ariel, in the north. Israeli lawmaker Mossi Raz, from Meretz, told the Times of Israel newspaper that the building settlements outside Israel harms Israel. Hagit Ofran from the anti-settlement group Peace Now said plans to build new homes will complicate any efforts to create a Palestinian state. Palestinians see the building of more settlements as the death knell of any hope left for a two-state solution. by Lu Haitao Zhu Xianjian was sentenced to 11 years in prison for robbing and stabbing a woman in 2013. The police are on his trail and have posted a bounty of more than 20,000 euros. In North Korea, the fugitive faces the death penalty. Beijing (AsiaNews) - A North Korean prisoner has escaped from prison in Jilin, in the homonymous province bordering North Korea. On his head hangs an arrest warrant and a bounty of 150 thousand yuan (over 20 thousand euro). According to media reports, the fugitive is a deserter; before fleeing to China, he allegedly served in his country's Special Forces. Identified by authorities as Zhu Xianjian, he escaped from prison on October 18 after his shift. Surveillance camera footage shows that Zhu climbed onto a roof and used something like a rope to damage the electric fence; he then climbed over the wall within minutes, all under the gaze of security officers (see video). Police launched the hunt for Zhu by setting up checkpoints. The notice issued by the Police said that the man was "extremely dangerous". According to the court verdict that convicted him, Zhu crossed the border into China on July 21, 2013. When an elderly woman found him stealing from her home, the North Korean defector reacted by stabbing her. He also broke into two other homes to steal money, clothes, sneakers, cigarettes, and a cell phone. Once captured, Zhu was sentenced to 11 years and three months in prison for illegal border crossing, theft and robbery. Court documents show that he received sentence reductions twice, for a total of 14 months. Authorities credited him with good behaviour in prison. Thanks to the sentence reductions, Zhu was due to be released from prison in August 2023, and then deported to North Korea. Online comments say the main reason for his escape is deportation. North Korean defectors risk imprisonment in labour camps and even the death sentence. Wang Jing, an activist from Jilin province, told Radio Free Asia that she shared detention in a provincial women's prison with several North Koreans. These women confessed to her that they were better off in a Chinese prison than in North Korea. Also according to Wang, as his release approached, Zhu was afraid of being deported back to his home country. by Vladimir Rozanskij They are protesting the sale of the Church of Sts. Peter and Paul. In 2017, the archbishopric won partial restitution of the complex. Curia accused of wanting to sell the adjoining buildings to pay its debts and not i norder to buy the historic place of worship. Moscow (AsiaNews) - Muscovite Catholics have posted an open letter on Facebook addressed to Archbishop Paolo Pezzi and all local church authorities, up to the apostolic nuncio Giovanni D'Aniello, to protest the sale of the Church of Saints Peter and Paul. It is the main historic Catholic church in the capital; the complex of buildings, used by private individuals for commercial activities, had been requested by Catholics since the 1990s, and was finally partially returned in 2017. However, the Moscow curia has put it up for sale for purposes yet to be fully ascertained. The church of Sts. Peter and Paul is located in the center of Moscow, about a hundred meters from the one dedicated to St. Louis of the French, which was returned to France in 1992 and now hosts celebrations of many communities. With the letter of October 20, local Catholics are asking to be allowed to return to the premises of the historic church, built in the mid 1800s thanks in part to the efforts of holy men such as the German doctor Friedrich Haass, founder of the Russian public hospitals of the modern era, for whom the beatification process is underway. The restitution process concerns four buildings, which according to Russian laws must be returned to Catholics. The 2017 decision concerned the secondary parts of the complex, which could be sold to obtain the former church building proper, now privately owned. The local curia had been engaged since 2016 in a civil lawsuit to obtain the right to purchase the main building, which ended on April 2, 2021, giving the church the right to redeem the entire church complex. Since then there has been controversy within the Catholic community, accusing the church authorities of wanting to sell off the buildings regained after so many sacrifices and prayers of all parishioners. Now a further trial is about to begin involving the Moscow Catholic archbishopric, headed by Msgr. Pezzi, other officials of the curia and the firm hired for the restitution procedure, the agreement with which is contested by the Catholic hierarchy of the capital. In the meantime, parishioners and priests have already been admitted to some of the premises of the historic Moscow church, but the risk is of an internal scandal between the curia and the firms involved in the affair. The parish administrator, Msgr. Igor Kovalevsky, resigned immediately after the decree of restitution of the buildings, considering his mission concluded. He too published on Facebook his version of events, and his disagreement with the archbishop on the solutions of the affair. In fact, Muscovite Catholics feel abandoned, since the only two churches officially open in Moscow are the one "of the French" and the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception "of the Poles," built in 1914 for the Polish community and immediately closed by the Soviets, then regained with difficulty in the 90s. There are other Catholic communities in Moscow, but without official headquarters, confined to private homes and premises. The archbishopric has promised to handle the matter with the utmost transparency, but Moscow Catholics now complain of serious lack of information. There is talk of a sale of the lateral rooms of the complex for a sum close to 5 million euros, in order to buy the central building of the church, but with the suspicion that this sum will be used to fill the general debts of the curia, which for years has received little subsidy from abroad. The vicar general, Msgr. Kirill Gorbunov, issued statements defending the intentions of the curia, noting that "more discretion was needed on the matter." The problem in reality seems to be precisely the lack of information from the archiepiscopal curia, which gives rise to suspicions and very resentful comments from local Catholics, who wish to be involved in decisions on the properties under discussion. The issue concerns the full expression of the "religious renaissance" of Russian Catholics, which began 30 years ago with enthusiasm, and is now confined in enclosures too narrow for the potential of the Catholic community in Moscow, and in Russia as a whole. by Nirmala Carvalho Card Oscar Gracias attended the event organised by the Lokmat Media Group. India is home of many religions, said the cardinal, and is the flag-bearer of the Vasudhaiva kutumbakam, the idea that the world is one family. Nagpur (AsiaNews) A one-day National Inter-Religious Conference was held in Nagpur yesterday, bringing together prominent figures presenting the views of different religions and sects. All religions have their own denominations, said Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, but tolerance and inclusion are common to them. Archbishop Cardinal Oswald Gracias of Bombay (Mumbai) shares that view, stressing the decisive role of extensive and constant inter-faith communications. Let us not focus only on the differences, but on what unites us, said the cardinal, adding that India is home of many religions and is the flag-bearer of the Vasudhaiva kutumbakam, the idea that the world is one family. We have a rich legacy of people from different traditions who have lived together for centuries, the cardinal explained. It is the noble responsibility of spiritual leaders to preserve and promote it. For Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, founder of Art of Living Foundation, human life demands diversity, but hatred against it stems from our lack of understanding. Now there is a need to walk together and respect one another as all communities are important. Indeed, God loves diversity, so our country also needs diversity. Fr Neil dos Santos, chancellor of the Archdiocese of Bombay, was present at the conference. Speaking to AsiaNews, he underlined the importance of ecumenical moments like this one to enable leaders of major religions to meet. Noting Card Graciass happiness after the conference, he said that the prelate was received with warmth and respect by all religious leaders, not only as Archbishop of Bombay, but above all as a representative of the Pope. Joy and fraternity were visible on the faces of the religious heads who greeted the cardinal. by Sumon Corraya Together, Hindus, Buddhists and Christians call on the government to provide them with greater protection. The Muslim who posted photo on social media that led to clashes was arrested. Dhaka (AsiaNews) Hindus, Buddhists and Christians took part in a hunger strike in solidarity with the Hindu community which recently came under attack from Muslim radicals. Seven people have died in the sectarian clashes and hundreds of houses have been set on fire since 13 October, when Durga Puja celebrations were underway. Please stop the persecution of the Hindu community. The government should guarantee our security, pleaded Neem Chandra Bhowmik, one of Bangladeshs main Hindu leaders. The violence was triggered by a picture showing a copy of the Quran placed at the foot of the statue of a Hindu deity. Posted on social media, the image sparked outrage among Muslims, some of whom attacked Hindu houses and temples. It was later discovered that a Muslim extremist, Iqbal Hossain, now in police custody, was responsible for the picture. Hemanta Corraya, secretary of the Bangladesh Christian Association, expressed solidarity with the Hindus attacked. We want justice for our brothers and sisters, he said. We also want the government to stop the propaganda on Facebook which has favoured a return of sectarian violence. The voice of religious minorities has not been raised in Parliament," said Nirmol Rozario, president of the Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council. If religious minorities leave the country, even the government risks disappearing, giving way to sectarian violence. Not only minorities are at risk, but also those who believe in secularism and have a progressive vision. To avoid this, Rozario urged Bangladeshs secularist parties to unite against those who fuel divisions. The Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council, which brings together the country's religious minorities, made a series of demands to the government during the hunger strike held on Saturday. Its requests include the creation of an independent commission of inquiry, compensation for merchants who lost their business, and greater minority participation and representation in government. Protesters called on the government above all to cover the costs of the vandalised temples, provide medical treatment for the wounded, pay two million taka (US$ 23,300) to the families of those killed, and relocate those who have lost their homes. The investigation should also be quick and impartial and include a look at the role of the police which failed to intervene to stop the violence. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. Your Colleagues Schwaitzberg inducted into Academy of Master Surgeon Educators By ELLEN GOLDBAUM Steve Schwaitzberg, chair of the Department of Surgery, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences at UB, was inducted into the American College of Surgeons Academy of Master Surgeon Educators earlier this month in a virtual ceremony. The academy recognizes surgeon educators who have devoted their careers to surgical education. Individuals are selected to join following stringent peer review. The academys mission is to play a leadership role in advancing the science and practice of education across all surgical specialties, promoting the highest achievements in the lifetimes of surgeons. A Jacobs School faculty member since 2015, Schwaitzberg has promoted the use of minimally invasive surgery skills around the world. His research has focused on methods of improving clinical outcomes to lessen recovery times, and he has contributed to the clinical use of robots in surgery. Schwaitzberg, who also is president of UBMD Surgery, has been active in the national discussion on improving the delivery of health care. He has taken a leading role in educating and inspiring surgeons to tackle challenges that arise not just in the operating room, but throughout all of health care, including addressing health disparities in Buffalo. During the past year, he was responsible for the Department of Surgerys launch of a new anti-racism and health care equity initiative designed to address and mitigate the effects of systemic racism and inequality in health care. Last summer, under Schwaitzbergs leadership, the department implemented several new programs; they include a mentorship program that gives underrepresented future surgeons increased opportunities to work closely with established local surgeons in the operating room; a virtual learning mentorship program to spark the imaginations of high school students in Western New York and recruit them into STEM and medical careers; and establishment of meaningful partnerships with the residents and organizations of the neighborhoods where UBs affiliate hospitals are located Buffalos Fruit Belt and the Delavan-Grider communities. Long an advocate for physicians and surgeons learning about the connections between business and health care, Schwaitzberg launched in the Jacobs School a competitive, medical device startup boot camp called UB BLAST (Business, Law and Surgical Technology). Over an intense five days, the program challenges teams of UB students studying medicine, business, law and engineering to work together to develop a new product to address a specific surgical problem and then create a startup to manufacture and market it. Prior to coming to UB, Schwaitzberg was professor of surgery at the Harvard Medical School, chief of surgery at the Cambridge Health Alliance and associate professor of surgery at Tufts University School of Medicine. He also served in Iraq as director of intensive care at the 365th Evacuation Hospital. Un camp des separatistes detruit Armee State forces have killed a separatist warlord named General Trouble in Ndop, capital of Ngoketunjia Division in Cameroons North-West Region. Open sources say the separatist strongman was collecting taxes at the Bamunka-Ndop Central Market Square in the morning of Sunday, October 24, 2021, when he was gunned down by soldiers. Pseudo General Trouble has been a thorn in the flesh of inhabitants of Ndop. His killing sent the population into celebration. We are now free from General Troubles troubles. He had been terrorizing us for a long time now. To sell in the market, one had to pay money to him and his boys, said a resident of Ndop. When soldiers arrived at the scene, the militiamen on a tax collection mission opened fire, forcing the state forces to respond, we learned. In a shootout that followed, notorious General Trouble and one of his aides were killed. A civilian, Carine, was also killed in the crossfire, reports said. Pseudo-General Trouble was said to be specialized in kidnapping for ransom, extortions, usurpation of traditional functions among other atrocities. He has been terrorizing market women and collecting money from them. He has been responsible for the numerous kidnaps in Ndop and was responsible for the killing of one Mr. Makew Cyprian, Head Master of Government School, GS, Bukew- Bamunka. His death has been greeted with a lot of jubilation by the community, a resident told The Guardian Post. General Trouble of Bamunka Ndop, was neutralized with one of his Lieutenants as they harassed the population in Ndop Central market, another source added. Meanwhile, in a statement issued yesterday, the military said it had on October 21 neutralized 20 separatist fighters in Akeh, a small neighboring community to Fundong in Boyo division of the North West region. The soldiers had reportedly stormed Akeh village in search of the dreaded General No Pity, who has been operating across Ngoketunjia, Bui, Mezam, and Boyo divisions. While the 20 Amba fighters were killed during the raid, General No Pity, the statement said, sustained injuries before taking to his heels, leaving behind his weapons. In the statement circulated on the Ministry of Defences official Facebook page, Honneur et Fidelite-Armee Camerounaise, it was disclosed that several other separatist fighters had sustained injuries during the Boyo raid. They are reported to be on the run. Following the raid, the military, according to the same statement, seized four heavy machine guns, pkm type, eight automatic light fal guns, three light machine guns, Famous type, four kalach AK 47, two automatic guns, Browning type, two handmade guns, two craft weapons, two Cal 12 shotguns, and two anti-char rockets. Twelve charger boxes and over 100 ammunition of various calibres were also seized, the statement said. A fortnight ago, soldiers are reported to have also wreaked havoc in the locality of Noni, Bui division of the North West region in search of the dreaded Amba General, No Pity. At least four houses were allegedly set ablaze by soldiers in Noni who raided the area in search of the self-styled Ambazonia General No Pity. Soldiers had stormed the village at night, following a tip-off that General No Pity had taken residence in the area. During the raid, a gun battle ensued between security forces and Ambazonia fighters in Noni, resulting in the death of three separatist fighters. Taking a swipe at the central government over the rising fuel prices, former Finance Minister P Chidambaram on Monday said the Centre should celebrate the "centenaries" just like it did for 100 crore COVID vaccinations. "PM Modi led his ministers in celebrating 100 crore vaccinations. He should also lead by example in celebrating other centenaries: Petrol crossed Rs 100 per litre a few weeks ago and now Diesel has crossed Re 100 per litre. When gas cylinder crosses Rs 1,000 per cylinder, there will be another opportunity to celebrate," tweeted Chidambaram Petrol and diesel prices witnessed a hike for the fifth consecutive day across the country on Sunday. With a hike of Rs 0.35, the price of petrol in the national capital increased to Rs 107.59 per litre. The price of diesel also saw a hike of Rs 0.35 in Delhi thereby amounting to Rs 96.32 per litre respectively. Mumbai also reported a surge in fuel prices. Petrol witnessed a hike of Rs 0.34 and costs Rs Rs 113.46 per litre, while diesel rates sored by Rs 0.38 amounting to Rs 104.38. As for Kolkata, the price of petrol is Rs 108.11 per litre, while diesel is Rs 99.43 per litre. In Chennai, petrol and diesel cost Rs 104.52 and Rs 100.59 per litre respectively. Rates have been increased across the country and differ from state to state depending on the incidence of value-added tax. The rising fuel prices in the country are not going to come down immediately. The central government is in talks with several oil-exporting countries on the issue of supply and demand of oils but there is no possibility of immediate relief in prices. Last week, a source told ANI that the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas recently raised concerns about the matter of pricing, supply and demand of oils to the major oil-producing countries. "As crude oil prices rise internationally, the petroleum ministry has called on the energy ministries of many countries such as Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, UAE, Russia and others," the source told ANI. (ANI) Also Read: BJP's Sanjay Patil sparks controversy, says ED won't come after him as he is ruling party MP The Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), a proscribed hardline Islamist group, warned on Sunday that its workers will stage a sit-in in Muridke near the city of Lahore and then move to Islamabad by Tuesday evening. "The government has gone back on its word thrice. This time we will sit and wait," said a statement issued by the proscribed group's leadership council on Sunday. Hundreds of TLP workers took to the streets throughout the country to exert pressure on the government for the release of its chief, Hafiz Saad Hussain Rizvi. "No one will go home until the entire TLP leadership, including chief Saad Hussain Rizvi, comes to the container and makes an announcement," said the statement. "Even if a member of the council says go home without Saad Rizvi, you may shoot that leader too," it added. Meanwhile, Pakistan Interior Minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmad said Sunday all the cases against the protestors of TLP will be dropped by Wednesday. This announcement was made after an eight-hour-long meeting between the arrested Saad Rizvi and the Imran Khan government, ARY News reported. Rasheed said the ban on TLP will also be reviewed in the days to come. The Pakistani publication also stated that a plan is being devised for the release of its chief Saad Rizvi's release. On Saturday, the Interior Minister returned to his country after he was called back by Imran Khan, to deal with the ongoing security situation in the country. Pakistan Interior Minister was forced to return to Pakistan after TLP had announced that it will start a "long march" towards Islamabad on Friday against the detention of its chief Hafiz Saad Hussain Rizvi, Pakistani news channel Geo News reported. Thousands of personnel of various Pakistani forces were deployed on Saturday to stop a possible march to Islamabad by the proscribed hardline Islamist group -- Tehreek-i-Labbik Pakistan (TLP). "The peaceful Namoos-i-Risalat march of the Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan towards Islamabad will start after Friday prayers" from the TLP's Markaz (headquarters), the statement said, adding that the group also had a "plan B" in case its members were stopped from marching on the capital, Dawn newspaper reported. The publication stated that the capital administration approached the Pakistan interior ministry to seek personnel of Rangers and the Frontier Constabulary (FC). The report stated that security personnel were being deployed in and around Red Zone and the Faizabad Interchange. Moreover, a contingent of 200 police personnel each was deployed at the entry points in the city. This decision was taken by the government after the first round of negotiations held in Lahore concluded without any result. (ANI) Also Read: FATF October plenary concludes today, Pakistan to remain on 'Grey List', be blacklisted? The restraining order is set to expire Oct. 26 and employees who filed the lawsuit asked the court to extend it, saying they were concerned it could expire before the court made a decision on the case or they were able to reach a settlement with United, according to court records. Part of the reason pediatricians will be able to give the shots is because the vaccine may be easier to handle, logistically, than those for adults. The childrens Pfizer vaccine is formulated differently than the one for adults. Kids will receive one-third the dose that adults received, and the childrens doses will be available in smaller packages. The new formulation can also be stored for longer in a regular freezer 10 weeks versus 31 days for the current one. But a lot of the throwaway lines and casual interactions among the staff, at work or in bed, feel authentic and true to the period. Silver makes the very most of everything. The shot I always remembered from my first encounter with Between the Lines, at 16, was the shot of the easily threatened staff writer, played by Heard, on assignment in a strip club with his sometime photographer lover, played by Crouse. Hes watching the stripper hes about to interview; shes played by Marilu Henner, in her first movie role. Crouse watches him, looking at her. The women may be sidelined by the men in the script, but Silver made sure they werent marginalized on screen. We didnt believe in any of that stuff until last July, Grulkowski said. Then we stumbled on something on the internet, and we watched it, and it took us two days to get over that. And it had to do with the child trafficking that leads to everything. It just didnt seem right, and that was just over the top. And then we started seeing things that are lining up with that everywhere. Existing family leave policies in the United States already have a broad definition of caregiving, largely because the country came around to offering leave so late. Many countries started paid maternity leave in the 1920s. The American leave program unpaid and for 12 weeks, for about half of workers started in 1993. By that point, gender norms had evolved and it was common for mothers to work and men to care for children or relatives. The unpaid leave covers people caring for babies; sick spouses, parents or children; or their own medical conditions. Whether encouragement of noncompliance with the policy is effectively calling for an illegal strike, as alleged by the city, is of no moment, Horan wrote in her ruling. At this point, any Lodge member who has not submitted their vaccination status to the city is in violation of the policy as it is written. Any present concern that comments by Catanzara or Lodge officials will influence Lodge members to violate the policy is moot since they are either already in violation or not. As part of a lengthy surveillance operation targeting the crew, police were watching Ibarra as he and the other men walked into and out of the Edgewater apartment building that day. And when the call came in that someone had been hurt in that building, officers began to pursue Ibarras black pickup truck. Ibarra shot one officer in the leg during the ensuing shootout, and the chase lasted for about a mile before the truck crashed, Ibarra was fatally shot, and the other two men were arrested, authorities have said. Schroeder indicated he would allow evidence of bad behavior that night by the men Rittenhouse shot because it could speak to how dangerous they would have seemed to the teen. Prosecutors failed to convince the judge that the defense wanted to sully Rosenbaums reputation so the jury could more easily justify the shooting. Street outreach can also save the lives of its participants. While evidence is still emerging, early results suggest that outreach-related efforts are associated with lower levels of involvement in gun violence. In the 18 months following outreach participation, levels of gunshot victimization were 50% lower for participants of Chicago CRED and 20% lower for participants across the CP4P organizations. Preliminary results from a University of Chicago study found that READI participants were 79% less likely to be arrested for shootings and homicides. A reasoned approach toward police officers who fail to comply with the mandate could include these steps: defer disciplinary action until the end of December, if then; require those who are not vaccinated to submit to weekly testing, not twice weekly, matching the requirement for unvaccinated city teachers; test and vaccinate officers on city time and at city expense, not on the officers own time and expense; provide testing and vaccination services at police stations and firehouses (CPS tests at schools and has designated vaccination sites); and collect vaccination information but keep the information confidential and negotiate with the union for guidelines on storage and use. Waiting 10 years or more increases the chance of a less-than-ideal project. Different parts of the city are seeing shifting fortunes. And perhaps by then there will be a transit hub at One Central, although we have our concerns there, too. Maybe Google will decamp for a better part of the city or another city altogether, and the West Loop will see the problems now plaguing North Michigan Avenue. Maybe Bronzeville will rise and need more service. We just dont know. You have to go in and be prepared to share some of your most personal information about a very personal decision with a complete stranger who is not necessarily trained in counseling or health care, Leahy said. Where you really should be is sitting down with a counselor, sitting down with a health care provider, and getting the information you need to be able to make the best decision that you can for yourself. The sellers, who paid $2.6 million for the mansion in 2004, concluded a more than nine-year effort to sell the home. They first listed the mansion in 2012 for $3.29 million and then cut their asking price to $3.1 million later that year and then to just below $3 million in 2013 before taking it off the market. They relisted it in 2015 at $2.88 million and then cut their asking price to $2.77 million in 2016 before actually increasing their asking price to just under $2.9 million in 2017. More price cuts and another price increase followed before they also listed it for rent in 2020 at $10,500 a month. The sellers decreased their asking price to their final $2.35 million amount in November 2020. The first in-person book fair in Frankfurt, Germany since the outset of the pandemic closed on Sunday, offering a glimpse of hope for the publishing industry to return to its business as usual. With less fanfare at a time when the coronavirus induced restrictions are still in place to some extent, the five-day Frankfurt Book Fair, the largest of its kind in the world, brought thousands of exhibitors and traders. The reopened book fair, which was forced to go online in 2020, is one of the first international book fairs to resume on-site exhibition after a long halt due to the pandemic. The 73rd Frankfurter Buchmesse, as the Frankfurt Book Fair is widely known in its German name, has wooed a much smaller number of exhibitors. Some 2,000 exhibitors from 80 countries turned up at the book fair, down from more than 7,000 in 2019. The reduced scale, however, sheds light on the publishing industry that has been plagued like other sectors by the pandemic. "The pandemic has had an existential impact on the entire trade fair industry," said Juergen Boos, President of Frankfurter Buchmesse, at the press conference opening the book fair. "The 73rd Frankfurter Buchmesse puts the focus on an industry that has shown itself to be resilient, creative and innovative during the pandemic," he said, adding that "'Back to business', however, does not mean things are now 'back to normal'." To facilitate those who can not make themselves available on site during the book fair, the organiser complemented the in-person fair with digital programs that preceded the onsite fair. More or less, the event has provided some relief for the publishing industry that has been suffering and looking forward to a return to the pre-pandemic normalcy. Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and Media Monika Gruetters believes the Frankfurt Book Fair is turning the page. "I hope all the more that this year's Frankfurt Book Fair will open a new chapter in the success stories of many individuals and businesses," said the commissioner. The Shining Red Star, which was produced by the August First Film Studio and premiered in 1974, is a firm favorite among Chinese audiences. Now a musical with the same title, adapted from the movie, will be staged in Beijing on Oct 28 and 29. The movie, directed by Li Ang and Li Jun and based on the novel of the same title by Li Xintian, tells the story of a heroic boy, Pan Dongzi, against the backdrop of the War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression (1931-45). Pan's father joins the Red Army to go to battle and leaves his son a red star, symbolizing the Communist Party of China. Pan's mother dies as a martyr while protecting other comrades. After his mother's death, the young boy, through his own wits and bravery, helps the Red Army guerrillas, led by the CPC, defeat the enemy, and finally becomes a Red Army soldier, which he always dreamed of being. With a young creative team averaging around 25 years old, including directors Wang Zhe and Jiang Yadi and scriptwriter Cao Yu, the musical will focus on the boy with an adaptation of classic songs from the movie. New songs will also feature in the musical, adding a contemporary twist to the classic story. The villain landlord, Hu Hansan, who ruthlessly exploits the farmers, another classic character from the movie, will be portrayed with comedic elements, according to the scriptwriter Cao. "The musical centers on the portrayal of Pan Dongzi's heroic and loyal spirit as a young soldier. It is a contemporary interpretation of a revolutionary theme," says Cao. "Like many audience members, I watched the movie as a child and was impressed by the story, the characters and the songs," says Wang. "We hope that the story will be presented with a sense of freshness through music, dance and multimedia technology." After its Beijing premiere, the musical will tour nationwide with more shows to be staged at former revolutionary bases of the CPC across the country, including Ruijin city, Jiangxi province, and Yan'an, Shaanxi province. "We will invite students and teachers to enjoy the musical. Though the story was written decades ago, we want younger generations to learn about the history and the heroes," says Wang. Amid folk songs and drumbeats, models dressed in handmade costumes walked out of rows of silver birch trees to the runway during the China International Fashion Week in Beijing in September. Part of the fashion week, the special show was on traditional clothing of the Oroqen ethnic group. Among the smallest communities in China, the group has a population of 8,659, according to the 2010 national census. "It's rare for the fashion week to stage a show dedicated to an ethnic group," says Jin Jingyi, designer of the show, adding that members of the Oroqen community were invited to appear as models for its opening. About 70 suits, combining traditional styles and modern designs were displayed, including clothes for children and the elderly. "Rather than a fashion show, I prefer to describe it as a show that introduced the culture and stories of the Oroqen people," says the 41-year-old fashion designer. Living in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region and Heilongjiang province, the Oroqen people used to hunt for a living since most of them dwelled in forests earlier. An iconic item in their clothing is the roe deer's head hat, which was worn by hunters to attract animals. During the annual two sessions held in March, a deputy to the National People's Congress from the Oroqen group attended a discussion wearing such a hat. The photos became an online sensation and intrigued many netizens. "Only when people are attracted by costumes will there be a chance for them to learn more about the culture behind clothes," says Jin, who has spent years designing clothes based on styles of small ethnic groups in Northeast China. The show in Beijing was commissioned by the local government of the Oroqen autonomous banner in Inner Mongolia, aiming to introduce their culture to a larger audience and improve people's awareness about protecting it. Jin is from the Daur ethnic group, whose members live near the Oroqen community in Inner Mongolia. The Daur group has a population of less than 140,000. Jin spent several months this year studying Oroqen culture to design clothes that can attract as many people as possible, she says. She talked to old craftspeople who make boxes, buckets and cases with tree barks, visited local museums and had discussions with scholars. "The difficulty of designing ethnic costumes lies in trying to find the perfect balance between traditional styles and modern fashionable designs," Jin says. In recent years, Jin has received many orders to design ethnic costumes for daily use. She says the growing demand is partly because people have more money to spend and partly because their national pride has increased. However, Jin says some of her customers have complained that they can't find stores to buy suitable clothes, as costumes they have access to are often out of date in regular shops. Chinese writer Xie Yunning has scooped the top award for his novel "Crossing Saturn's Rings" at the 12th Chinese Nebula Awards held Saturday in the southwestern city of Chongqing. Xie Yunning (C), winner of the gold award for best sci-fi novel at the 12th Chinese Nebula Awards, poses for a photo with Liu Miao (L), chairman of event sponsor Luzhou Laojiao, and Liu Cixin (R), prominent Chinese sci-fi writer, at a gala in Chongqing, Oct. 23, 2021. [Photo courtesy of EV/SFM] "Crossing Saturn's Rings," published by Sichuan Science and Technology Press in 2020, won the gold award for best sci-fi novel. It tells the story of a young tycoon who is ejected from his spaceship when it encounters an accident and is left drifting in the rings of Saturn alone, trying to find a way to survive in space. The seven-member jury headed by Dai Jinhua, a renowned cultural critic and professor of Chinese literature and culture at Peking University, praised the work in a statement: "The author combines a variety of technologies, and with the support of new technologies, explores the possibility of the space sci-fi genre." Left to right: Best sci-fi novella award winner Cheng Jingbo, best short story winner Gu Shi and best new writer Duan Ziqi deliver acceptance speeches at the 12th Chinese Nebula Awards gala in Chongqing, Oct. 23, 2021. [Photo courtesy of EV/SFM] In addition, the gold award for best sci-fi novella went to Cheng Jingbo's "To the End of His Time," while Gu Shi picked up the best short story award for "Preface to the Reprint Edition of 'An Overture to 2181'." Jiang Qian, whose translation of "Alternate Worlds: The Illustrated History of Science Fiction" by American author James Gunn, received the gold award for best translated work. The best new writer award was handed to Duan Ziqi. The Chinese Nebula Awards, an international award for science fiction writers in the Chinese language, are organized by Eternal Vision Science Fiction & Media Co., Hainan (EV/SFM), Time Vision, Chongqing Daily News Media Co., Ltd., and the Chongqing Science Writers Association. The awards were founded by Chinese sci-fi heavyweights Dong Renwei, Yao Haijun and Wu Yan in 2010. The event is held annually touring various Chinese cities, with the exception of last year when the ceremony was canceled due to the pandemic. As such, the 11th edition was eventually held this April in Lingshui, Hainan province, while the 12th edition was held on Oct. 23. Gan Weikang, president of EV/SFM and co-organizer of the Chinese Nebula Awards, admitted it was huge challenge to hold the awards twice in one year. "After 12 years of development and growing with the Chinese science fiction industry, the Chinese Nebula Awards have become an authoritative and high-level industry award," noted Gan, who is working with peers in the industry to help Chinese science fiction reach a higher peak, and help the industry explore more business models. The presidium members for the Chinese Nebula Awards pose for a photo on stage at the awards ceremony in Chongqing, Oct. 23, 2021. [Photo courtesy of EV/SFM] Dong Renwei, sci-fi mogul and one of the founders of the awards, said that Chinese sci-fi literature had not received sufficient recognition when the awards were inaugurated. "We urgently needed a flag for everyone to gather around and help them develop together. I think the awards are still a banner and a benchmark in the Chinese science fiction world. More global Chinese-speaking sci-fi writers and professionals will gather to form a community of shared future, then continue to promote Chinese sci-fi and the rise of the industry." More than 300 sci-fi writers, scholars, experts, publishers, industry representatives as well as guests and representatives from education, film and television, online games and other related sectors and industries attended the event, which was preceded by the Children Science Fiction Nebula Awards and the 2021 Children Science Fiction Convention a day earlier. You are here: Arts Writer Eileen Chang's novella Love in a Fallen City was recently adapted into a play and previewed in Rizhao, Shandong province on Oct 21. The play is directed by Tim Yip, who won the Academy Award for Best Art Direction in 2001 for the film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. The novella tells the story of Bai Liusu, a 28-year-old divorcee, who is despised by her family members. In order to leave the family, she goes to Hong Kong and pursues marriage with Fan Liuyuan, an affluent playboy. The role of Bai Liusu is performed by actress Wan Qian, and Fan Liuyuan by actor Song Yang. The play is due to premiere in Shanghai on Oct 27 and will tour to Hangzhou in Zhejiang province, Changsha in Hunan province and Beijing. Qinghai province is located in the northeastern part of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and shares the origin of Yellow River, Yangtze River and Lancang River, the country's three main rivers. The ecology there matters a lot to not only China but also the region and the world. A photo exhibition ongoing at the Cultural Palace of Nationalities in Beijing until Nov 3, provides a panoramic view of Qinghai's ecological systems. Some 200 snapshots on show were selected from thousands of submissions from across the country earlier this year. The exhibition offers a vivid glimpse of the natural view, the diversity of plants and animals and the life of ethnic groups in Qinghai. More importantly, the photos help populate the importance of Qinghai's ecological environment. The exhibition will later travel to Shanghai and Tianjin, as well as Jiangsu, Shandong and Zhejiang provinces, which have long supported Qinghai's sustainable development. You are here: Business A China-Europe freight train runs through the national gate at Erenhot Port in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Sept. 4, 2020. [Photo/Xinhua] Erenhot, the largest land port on the China-Mongolia border, has logged 8,000 China-Europe freight trains since the cross-border railway service via this port was launched in 2013, according to the local railway authorities. The 8,000th train passing through the port has departed from Putian City in east China's Fujian Province for Malaszewicze in Poland, carrying export goods of daily necessities. The port in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region now serves 53 China-Europe freight train routes. The routes begin in more than 40 cities across China and end in 60 destinations across 10 countries. As of Oct. 19, a total of 2,172 trains have passed through the port this year, up 16.4 percent year on year. Flash Five decades ago, the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) voted to restore all lawful rights of the People's Republic of China (PRC) in the United Nations, opening a new era of interaction between the Asian country and the world body. Over the past 50 years, China has offered full support for the UN cause by upholding the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, played a constructive and increasingly important role in international affairs, and made great contributions to world peace and development. Upon the 50th anniversary of the restoration of its lawful seat in the United Nations, China has pledged to continue to be a builder of world peace, a contributor to global development, a defender of the international order and a provider of public goods. Choice of history On Oct. 25, 1971, the UNGA at its 26th session adopted Resolution 2758 with an overwhelming majority to restore all the rights of the PRC and to recognize the representatives of its government as the only legitimate representatives of China to the United Nations. "I have never seen such a resounding applause in my life," said Iftikhar Ali, a Pakistani journalist who witnessed the moment, recalling that cheers and applause filled the air and people were hugging each other. That moment came more than two decades after the founding of the PRC, which had been kept out of the international organization mainly due to the hostility of and obstruction by the United States. Yet, from the 1950s to the early 1970s, the third world -- mainly comprising newly independent countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America -- gradually took shape and became a significant force in the world. The profound transformation of the international landscape eventually broke the blockade of the United States and its allies, making the restoration of China's lawful seat in the UN a historical inevitability. Recalling the "historic meeting" in 1971, former Chilean President Ricardo Lagos Escobar, who was a member of his country's delegation to the 26th session of the UNGA, said restoring China's lawful seat strengthened the role of the world body and increased its representation at the global level. "There was a sense that we were going to have a more realistic UN, more in line with what the world is, and in that sense, there was a feeling that the UN was being strengthened as the true place where international issues must be resolved," Lagos said. That echoes the view of former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. With the restoration of China's lawful seat, "the United Nations became a universal organization in terms of its size and contents," he told Xinhua in a recent interview. Contributor to world peace, development Over the past five decades, China -- the world's largest developing country and a permanent member of the UN Security Council -- has proven to be a staunch supporter of the noble cause of the UN. To help preserve world peace, China, holding high the banner of peace, development and win-win cooperation, has been committed to taking objective and just positions, resolving differences through dialogue and consultation, and the principle of non-interference in internal affairs of other countries. Since 1990, it has dispatched over 50,000 peacekeepers to nearly 30 UN peacekeeping missions. It is the second largest funding contributor to UN peacekeeping operations and has contributed more peacekeepers than any other permanent member of the Security Council. In terms of development, China has also made indelible contributions. By eliminating absolute poverty in China, it has met the poverty eradication target of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development 10 years ahead of schedule, which stands as an enormous contribution to global poverty reduction and sustainable development endeavors. Committed to common development, Chinese President Xi Jinping put forward in 2013 the Belt and Road Initiative, which has now become the largest platform for international cooperation, and is playing a significant role in keeping the world economy afloat against the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. In the spirit of building a community with a shared future for mankind, China has also been working tirelessly to advance international cooperation against such major threats as climate change. It has pledged to peak carbon dioxide emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060. During the past five decades, China has not only made outstanding achievements in promoting its own political and economic development, but also "been actively engaged in the noble cause of peace and development in many places around the world," Ban said. "China has stood with pride and contributed to the international community," commented Abdulla Shahid, president of the 76th session of the UNGA. "China has played a very, very important role in multilateralism and strengthening the United Nations." Champion of multilateralism "Both climate change and COVID-19 have shown us that we, as a species, as humanity, we can survive only through multilateralism," Shahid stressed in a recent exclusive interview with Xinhua. "That is why China as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, as a responsible member of the international community, has a very important role to play," he added. Indeed, China has always been a staunch supporter and practitioner of true multilateralism over the past 50 years. In a newly published position paper, China says it believes that international affairs should be addressed through consultation by all, and that the future of the world should be decided by all countries together. "China firmly opposes unilateralism, protectionism and bullying acts, and firmly rejects pseudo-multilateralism in such disguises as group politics and small circles," said the position paper. "China is committed to making the global governance system more just and equitable." "In the world, there is only one international system, i.e. the international system with the United Nations at its core. There is only one international order, i.e. the international order underpinned by international law. There is only one set of rules, i.e. the basic norms governing international relations underpinned by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter," President Xi stressed in his statement delivered via video at the general debate of the 76th session of the UNGA. Those remarks struck a chord with Ali, the Pakistani journalist. "China has been a strong advocate of multilateralism, and it continues to be an important supporter of developing countries," he said, adding that China has constantly insisted that decisions regarding international affairs should be reached through consultation between all members. Looking into the future, China said it is ready to work with the international community to advocate peace, development, equity, justice, democracy and freedom, which are the common values of humanity, and advance the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. Commenting on the vision of building a community with a shared future, Shahid said that "the COVID pandemic and climate change have clearly shown to us that we, as a species, can survive only if we work together." Flash Russia isn't wrong for halting official dialogue with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) given its aggressiveness, Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Sunday. "The aggressive position of NATO has never been a secret. This is a bloc that was created against our country. No peace-loving statements, no camouflage of this aggressive orientation can hide its true purpose," Peskov told a Russian TV program. "Nothing terrible will happen if we simply abandoned these relations against the background of the aggravation of its aggressiveness, against the background of such declarations that its main task is to restrain us," he said. Commenting on Ukraine's attempt to join NATO, Peskov said it is impossible for Russia to prevent it, but Moscow will do everything necessary to minimize the consequences in the event of Ukraine's admission. On Monday, Moscow announced that it was suspending its Permanent Mission to NATO, the NATO Military Liaison Mission and the NATO Information Office in Moscow, in retaliation for the alliance's "unfriendly actions," including the expulsion of Russian diplomats earlier this month. You are here: World Flash Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani on Sunday played down Israel's recent threats and vowed his country's "tough" response. He warned that Israel should think about rebuilding the damage caused by Iran's response, referring to Israel's allocation of substantial funds to counter Iran's nuclear program. "Instead of allocating 1.5 billion U.S. dollars budget for atrocities against Iran, the Zionist regime (of Israel) should focus on providing tens of thousands of billion dollars funding to repair the damage that is going to be caused by Iran's shocking response," Shamkhani tweeted. Israel has allocated 1.5 billion U.S. dollars to bolster its capabilities to attack Iran's nuclear facilities, the Western media reported. Flash China donated another batch of Sinovac CoronaVac vaccines to the Philippines on Sunday to support the country's COVID-19 vaccination campaign. The donation arrived in Manila along with the vaccines of the same brand that the Philippines purchased from China. In a brief statement to reporters at the airport, Chinese ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian said the fresh vaccine delivery "demonstrates the kind of friendship from the Chinese government and people" to the Philippines. Huang expressed hope that the vaccines from China would further contribute to bringing down the cases in the Philippines and speeding up the country's recovery. "We are happy to see that the number of confirmed cases in this country is decreasing due to very hard and professional workings of the Philippine government and the people," Huang said. The Philippine officials thanked China for its "continuing generosity and very important support" as the country ramps up its vaccination and grapples with the pandemic. "We would like to thank China for the donation of lifesaving vaccines to the Philippines," said Carlito Galvez, the chief implementer of Philippine government's measures to combat COVID-19. Galvez recalled that China was the first country to donate and deliver the vaccines to the Philippines in February, noting that Sunday's shipment is the 100th the country has ever received and coincidentally it is also the Chinese donation. China has sustained the COVID-19 vaccine supply to the Philippines since the first delivery on Feb. 28, allowing the Southeast Asian country to kick off its vaccination drive on March 1. The Philippines has administered over 55 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines. More than 25 million Filipinos have been fully vaccinated. The government aims to vaccinate up to 70 million people this year. To date, the Philippines has received more than 97.67 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines from different vaccine makers. China remains the country's biggest vaccine supplier. The Philippines now has more than 2.75 million confirmed COVID-19 cases, including 41,793 deaths. Flash President of the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Abdulla Shahid has congratulated the People's Republic of China on its contributions to the world since its lawful seat at the UN was restored half a century ago. "China has played a very, very important role in multilateralism and strengthening the United Nations," Shahid told Xinhua in a recent exclusive interview in his office at UN headquarters in New York City. Multilateralism is the only way forward, said Shahid, noting that "unilateralism has no place in the world." "Both climate change and COVID-19 have shown us that we, as a species, as humanity, we can survive only through multilateralism. So, we need the institution of the United Nations strengthened. We need law and order strengthened. We need other frameworks supporting multilateralism strengthened," he said. "That is why China, as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, as a responsible member of the international community, has a very important role to play," Shahid said. Today, China is the second largest contributor to the UN regular budget and peacekeeping assessments, he noted. "Included in its 29 peacekeeping operations, China has contributed more than 50,000 personnel to peacekeeping operations." Shahid said he was very impressed by Chinese President Xi Jinping's remarks at the general debate of the 76th session of the UNGA. Noting that Xi reiterated China's aim to peak carbon dioxide emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060, Shahid said "we are talking about one of the largest economies of the world ... the fact that President Xi came out with this commitment is encouraging." Xi also pledged that China will step up support for other developing countries to develop green and low-carbon energy, and will not build new coal-fired power projects abroad, which was "an outstanding commitment," Shahid said. "On COVID-19, China has been very generous," he said, noting that Xi pledged China will strive to provide a total of 2 billion doses of vaccines to the world by the end of this year. In addition to donating 100 million U.S. dollars to COVAX, China will donate 100 million additional vaccine doses to other developing countries this year, Xi said. "These are very important pledges. And I'm very grateful that China is stepping up to the plate," Shahid said. The COVID-19 pandemic and climate change have clearly shown to us the correctness of the concept proposed by Xi of building a community with a shared future for mankind, Shahid said. "Initially, we thought that the low-lying islands would be gone, the first to go. And then people will move to higher ground. But that's so far happening. Yes, low-lying island countries like the Maldives are suffering. But so are the countries at higher altitudes," he noted. "So, we can survive only through unity, only by working together. And this is the way forward," he added. Flash Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said Sunday that the five-hour meeting with Russia's President Vladimir Putin in Sochi was "very good and in-depth." Speaking at his weekly cabinet meeting, Bennett said "the relations between Israel and Russia are very good, but it can be better. The potential for economic, scientific, cultural and technological cooperation is endless given the fact that there are approximately one million Russian-speakers in Israel." "We reached good and stable conclusions and I found President Putin to be attentive to Israel's security needs," he added. The prime minister said they discussed the situation in Syria and the two countries have been coordinating the airstrikes to avoid clashes. "The Russians are our neighbors to the north and it is important that we manage the delicate and complex situation there smoothly, without mishaps," Bennett noted. The two also discussed the Iranian nuclear program. "The advanced state (of the program) worries everyone," Bennett said. Before his departure back to Israel, Bennett said that Putin has invited him for a second meeting in the city of St. Petersburg. Flash Britain and the European Union held "constructive" technical discussions on the Northern Ireland Protocol, but substantial gaps remain on the role of the European Court of Justice (ECJ), according to a British government source. "The talks this week were constructive and we've heard some things from the EU that we can work with - but the reality is that we are still far apart on the big issues, especially governance," the source said on Saturday night. "There's been plenty of speculation about governance this week but our position remains unchanged: the role of the European Court of Justice in resolving disputes between the UK and EU must end," it said. British officials said solutions must be found quickly because disruption on the ground in Northern Ireland has not gone away and cannot be endured for much longer, citing reports that because of the protocol, supplies of Christmas crackers are being prevented from reaching Northern Ireland. British officials have made clear this is "yet another practical example" of why the Protocol isn't working and why we need "common sense solutions" that reduce disruption to people's everyday lives. After their first round of technical talks in Brussels, an EU negotiating team will travel to London on Tuesday for several days of intensive discussions. British Brexit Minister David Frost and European Commission Vice President Maros Sefcovic are due to meet in person in London for talks at the end of the week to take stock and assess progress so far. Britain and the EU are getting back around the table to find a long-term solution to their post-Brexit trade dispute with Northern Ireland at the center. They will aim to smooth trade through technical changes but also tackle the more challenging problem of the oversight role of the ECJ in Northern Ireland, on which both sides are far apart. Flash Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday called for efforts to resolutely uphold the authority and standing of the United Nations (UN), and work together to practice true multilateralism. Xi made the remarks in Beijing at a conference marking the 50th anniversary of the restoration of the People's Republic of China's lawful seat in the UN. Building a community with a shared future for mankind requires a strong UN and reform and development of the global governance system, he noted. Xi called on countries to uphold the international system with the UN at its core, the international order underpinned by international law and the basic norms of international relations based on the purposes and principles of the UN Charter. China will be happy to work with all countries under the principle of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits to explore new ideas and new models of cooperation and keep enriching the practice of multilateralism under new circumstances, Xi said. You are here: World Flash Chinese President Xi Jinping addressed a conference marking the 50th anniversary of the restoration of the People's Republic of China's lawful seat in the United Nations (UN) on Monday. Please see the attachment for the translation of the full text of the speech. Full text of Chinese President Xi Jinping's remarks at conference marking 50th anniversary of restoration of People's Republic of China's lawful seat in UN But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint. This painting was inspired by a series of paintings in which I was focusing on the 4 face angel known as the Seraphim found in Ezekiel in Chapter 1 verse 10. This angel has 4 faces that are symbols that God uses throughout the Scriptures. These symbols often have a teaching or character trait that is associated with them. In this particular painting 'Soar' is the painting of the face of a wedge-tailed eagle painted on a base of Yellow. This painting was my first of the 4 series and was a painting that came out of a prayer time which rapidly came together. I only painted this painting for about 2 hours from inception to finish. I feel that this painting is a message for this hour for God's Children to rise up on wings like Eagles and soar as Isaiah Chapter 40 verse 31 says. With a world that is in turmoil, chaos and filled with metaphorical storms this is the call to rise up and soar about the storms of life and to see from a new perspective, a God perspective, a Heavenly seated place perspective. So be encouraged as you look into the eye of the Eagle and be inspired to Soar again in your life. The USA has long fascinated me, and I have embarked on a series of reflections on culture in the USA, using American film or television as a prompt. This is the sixth article and considers abortion. There is no other matter in the USA that engenders such passion and response as ones position on the unborn. Note: I am not intending to lay out the positions on abortion. The purpose is to highlight that this matter has now become a central feature of the political debate. The crucial moment in abortion history was Roe V Wade (1973), but interestingly for several decades the two major parties had similar ways of understanding the application of this decision (for example common acceptance of the Hyde Amendment). Many politicians did their best to avoid joining in the public debate itself, seeing it as unhelpful for personal political ambitions, but the last two decades has witnessed an increasingly bitter political division, with politicians now more likely to strongly identify with one side or the other. Law and Order (Various episodes) Given its longevity and range of topics, it is not surprising that the Law and Order franchise has released a number of episodes dealing with abortion. A major continuing and personalised discussion about abortion is provided in Law and Order: SVU as the lead detective Olivia Benson was conceived by a rape. A distinctive American feature though has been the focus on the murder of abortion doctors, with three episodes The Third Horseman (Criminal Intent, 2002) Progeny (2005) and Dignity (2009) all inspired by real life events. Right from the first season with Life Choice (1991) real-life events were considered. This episode focussed on the bombing of an abortion clinic and the death of the young woman involved. In the somewhat lateral episode The Third Horseman (Criminal Intent, 2002) an elderly couple who were campaigners against abortion were also early and continuing activists against the death penalty. This focussed the murder of the abortion doctor by one of their friends in a defined way. Personal debates about abortion among the key detectives run parallel to the main cases, and all the usual questions and debate points are made. Each of these episodes has provoked outrage, commendation or praise depending on what side one is on, with Dignity interestingly mostly condemned by pro-abortion groups. Knocked Up (2007) Would this Judd Apatow romantic comedy starring Seth Rogan and Katherine Heigl be made today? A decade and a half is a long time, and it is more likely today the final scene would have had Alison helped to an abortion clinic by the US President herself. This quite popular film was surprisingly whimsical, and yet poignant at times. The move to not only keep the baby (and this is the terminology that intriguingly most people still use), but to do so in the context of understanding the responsibility of and endorsing the involvement of the father was a call to people that they simply try to be parents like their parents did for them. The increasing political context of abortion As the Democrats moved more to be the pro-abortion party (and I use that term now simply because you cannot be pro-choice if you do not really conscience a choice) they laid the ground for the Republican Party to take up the mantle of pro-life and began the blurring of the lines whereby one party was seen particularly by orthodox Christians as the party one had to support. This was illustrated with the use of, and emphasis by Christian pro-Trump speakers at the 2016 and 2020 elections. Considerable publicity has been generated this year due to the decision of the USA Catholic Bishops Conference in June to work on a document to look at the meaning of the Eucharist in the life of the church in the context of the reception of Communion. This was related not only to President Bidens public position and Catholic adherence but followed long-running debates emanating from other political and Catholic figures. It certainly seems confusing for non-Catholics (as well as Catholics), when some politicians claim they are true followers of the churchs teaching, and yet are also true proponents of abortion. This idea has more in common with the concept of two integrities that some liberal denominations have pioneered to try and maintain at least a legal union when the denomination is effectively moribund. It is just too difficult to know what goes on the mind of most politicians now as they are usually so connected to polls and minders that many are unlikely to be able to have their own view without first referring to a minder, lobby group, poll or focus group. Political President Biden is an intriguing example. His about-face change on the matter of abortion (and he intriguingly seems to not even want to use the word) has been widely reported, and it was clear it was related to his political ambitions. He had tried for the democratic nomination twice before. Biden abandoned his long-held position overnight, probably raising a good deal of Catholic angst in the process. I have often wondered if Joe Biden had instead said something like, I am still not personally supportive of abortion on demand, but I understand that it should be safe and legal if it occurs. Of course, if he did say something like that, he would never have been the Democratic candidate, and ultimately the President. The tide had turned in the years since his last candidature and a pro-abortion position is now a fundamental part of the Democratic Party ethos. The next step has seen increasing challenge to the Hyde Amendment, a policy that once had a bipartisan base in the established political arena. Among some members of the Democratic Party, it has even gone further, namely abortion is to be celebrated, and opposition to abortion at any level is something needing to be purged. Three articles for consideration Much has been written on this subject and no doubt much more will be. Three references to conclude. Akos Baloghs article Why the West is Increasingly Pro-Gay Marriage Yet Increasingly Anti-Abortion is helpful in considering the wider context of how westerners now make moral decisions. Mark Tronsons article on Abortion Theology provides a cultural consideration of the changes in the context of a helpful theological consideration of covenant and generation in the Old Testament. The episode Pro Life (Season 4) in John Dicksons Undeceptions podcast has a wide exploration of many of the philosophical issues in this debate, with considerable input from ethicist Margaret Somerville. Generally, when a politician gets banned from prime-time Radio it is not often a good thing. Francis Underwood from House of Cards used to say A politician would drown a litter of kittens for 5 minutes of prime-time television. But when you are banned from the ethics committees newest member in Kyle Sandilands then I dont think it is necessarily a bad thing. Kyle Sandilands bans NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet I had to chuckle when shortly after the New South Wales got a new Premier the so called flagship program The Kyle and Jackie O sensationally banned him from their program just a day into the job. What makes the whole thing even more amusing is they were talking to a celebrity Psychic when they made the call. I have always wondered why Psychics dont win the lotto every week so I am a little cynical when it comes to that medium. I am now even more cynical when its used to refuse the leader of the State Government being able to talk to voters on a high rating program. But to give this a little context, Kyle and Jackie were speaking to a celebrity psychic when they discussed the Premiers conservative views. Psychic medium Georgina Walker called him a strong leader before predicting he was not likely to be popular (Best not to upset both sides of the audience eh?) Kyle who is an overweight 50-year-old with grey hair trying to get down with the kids, then said he did not like his vibe and that he was never allowed on the show He continued, Hes not allowed, I dont want that rubbish. Given Kyles rap sheet I found this statement pretty surprising given the rubbish we have seen Kyle dish out over the years. In 2007 he stated smoking was not as harmful as institutions would lead people to believe and that statistics presented by institutes such as The Cancer institute New South Wales were falsified. In 2009 he interviewed a distressed teenager about her sexual history in front of her mother, the girl confessed She was raped when she was 12 which Kyle rather then cut that disgraceful segment short then rather insensitively asked Is this the only experience you have had?, charming! In 2012 he called a child with a disability a spider baby Of course, in 2019 he commented that the Mother of Jesus was a liar who got knocked up behind a camel shed, he is a peach isnt he? So what is his problem with the Premier? With Kyle now deciding he is going to be ethical and not tolerate any rubbish you would think that maybe his program will perhaps be more responsible with their platform and maybe even family friendly. So why draw the line at Dominic Perrottet? Is it maybe no politics on the show? Well, the segment was clearly political in nature so that cant be the reason. Maybe its more to do with the personal views of the new Premier. It is well known that Dominic Perrottet is a conservative Catholic with 6 kids. His social issues include valuing the sanctity of life and he believes a child should not be denied a mother and a father based on the choices of their parents. Given Kyles tendencies to allow rubbish such as harassing rape victims sharing misinformation about smoking, mocking the disabled and Christianity, yet refusing to allow a man with strong family principles who leads the state on the show; Then I think it is safe to presume that if you are banned from The Kyle and Jackie O show you are not such a bad fella. Dental Bone Void Filler Market Growth & Trends The global dental bone void filler market size is expected to reach USD 127.0 million by 2028, registering a CAGR of 5.6%, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. The growth is attributable to the biological performance of materials, such as calcium phosphate-based bone substitutes that are biocompatible, have good volume maintenance over time, and are bioabsorbable. Dental professionals are at risk of contracting COVID-19 infection due to proximity with patients during the dental procedures. This factor has created fear among the dental professionals leading to reduced patient intake, which can, in turn, hamper the market growth. Bone grafting is being widely practiced in dentistry as poor fixation and loosening of dental implants are common complications. Thus, void fillers are used to minimize these complications and facilitate cellular growth & targeted high-quality bone formation, as well as increase the contact interface with the graft. This results in stabilization and better fixation of dental implants. Such benefits are expected to boost market growth. The global market is also driven by the availability of advanced materials, such as hydroxyapatite. For instance, Osbone, hydroxyapatite, is a graft material indicated for augmentation of the atrophied alveolar ridge and filling bone defects. The benefit of Osbone includes a minimal residual risk of allergic and infections reactions., which, in turn, ensures long-term and fast stability of the scaffolding for bone generation. Such advantages increase the demand for the product thus boosting the market. Request a free sample copy or view report summary: Dental Bone Void Filler Market Report Dental Bone Void Filler Market Report Highlights Technological advancements are expected to propel market growth. For instance, a three-dimensional scaffold supports new tissue growth of a Demineralized Bone Matrix (DBM) that has osteoinductive qualities DBM provides a framework for matrix and cell protein adhesion and contains osteogenic substances that help induce new bone growth. Thus, 3D technology increases the demand for DBM, thus propelling the market growth. The DBM segment accounted for the largest revenue share of nearly 25% in 2020 owing to growing technological advancements in the medical-dental field North America contributed for the second-largest share of around 38.0% owing to the high healthcare expenditure In addition, the presence of key companies and well-established reimbursement policies will boost the regional market growth Access Press Release@ https://www.grandviewresearch.com/press-release/global-dental-bone-void-filler-market Dental Bone Void Filler Market Segmentation Grand View Research has segmented the global dental bone void filler market on the basis of material type and region: Dental Bone Void Fillers Material Type Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016-2028) Tricalcium Phosphate Ceramics Biphasic Calcium Phosphate Ceramics Calcium Phosphate Cements Calcium Sulfates Demineralized Bone Matrix (DBM) Others Dental Bone Void Fillers Regional Outlook (Revenue, USD Million, 2016-2028) North America US. Canada Europe Germany UK. France Italy Spain Asia Pacific China Japan India Australia South Korea Latin America Brazil Mexico Argentina Middle East & Africa South Africa Saudi Arabia UAE List of Key Players of Dental Bone Void Filler Market Curasan, Inc. Olympus Terumo Biomaterials Corp. Medtronic GRAFTYS DePuy Synthes Companies Stryker 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. The Global Circulating Fluid Bed Boilers Market Report, in its latest update, highlights the significant impacts and the recent strategically changes under the present socio-economic scenario. The Circulating Fluid Bed Boilers industry growth avenues are deeply supported by exhaustive research by the top analysts of the industry. The report starts with the executive summary, followed by a value chain and Marketing channels study. The report then estimates the CAGR and Market revenue of the global and regional segments. Base Year: 2020 Estimated Year: 2021 Forecast Till: 2027 The report classifies the market into different segments based on type and product. These segments are studied in detail, incorporating the market estimates and forecasts at regional and country levels. The segment analysis is helpful in understanding the growth areas and potential opportunities of the market. 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The report then estimates the CAGR and Market revenue of the global and regional segments. Base Year: 2020 Estimated Year: 2021 Forecast Till: 2027 The report classifies the market into different segments based on type and product. These segments are studied in detail, incorporating the market estimates and forecasts at regional and country levels. The segment analysis is helpful in understanding the growth areas and potential opportunities of the market. Get | Download FREE Sample Report of Global Telecom API Platform Market @ https://www.decisiondatabases.com/contact/download-sample-3007 A special section is dedicated to the analysis of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the growth of the Telecom API Platform market. The impact is closely studied in terms of production, import, export, and supply. The report covers the complete competitive landscape of the Worldwide Telecom API Platform market with company profiles of key players such as: Alcatel-Lucent S.A. Aepona Ltd. 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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/ A new report titled AFM Probe Market Size, Growth Analysis & Forecast to 2027 by "Value Market Research" covers key players along side their market share and strategic development adopted by them which provides market scenarios and future situations along side an analysis of market trends, current and future, drivers, challenges, recent trends, opportunities, advancements, and competitive landscape. The entire AFM probe market has been sub-categorized into product type and application. The report provides an analysis of these subsets with respect to the geographical segmentation. 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We facilitate clients with syndicate research reports and customized research reports on 25+ industries with global as well as regional coverage. Contact: Value Market Research 401/402, TFM, Nagras Road, Aundh, Pune-7. Maharashtra, INDIA. Tel: +1-888-294-1147 Email: sales@valuemarketresearch.com Website: https://www.valuemarketresearch.com The deal also includes the sale of Air India Express and ground handling arm AISATS. (PTI Photo)m AISATS. New Delhi: The government on Monday signed a share purchase agreement with Tata Sons for sale of national carrier Air India for Rs 18,000 crore. Earlier this month, the government had accepted an offer by Talace Pvt Ltd, a unit of the holding company of the salt-to-software conglomerate, to pay Rs 2,700 crore cash and take over Rs 15,300 crore of the airline's debt. Following that, on October 11 a Letter of Intent (LoI) was issued to the Tata Group confirming the government's willingness to sell its 100 per cent stake in the airline. "Share Purchase Agreement signed today by Government with Tata Sons for strategic disinvestment of Air India," Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM) Secretary Tuhin Kanta Pandey tweeted. The deal also includes the sale of Air India Express and ground handling arm AISATS. Tatas beat the Rs 15,100-crore offer by a consortium led by SpiceJet promoter Ajay Singh and the reserve price of Rs 12,906 crore set by the government for the sale of its 100 per cent stake in the loss-making carrier. While this will be the first privatisation since 2003-04, Air India will be the third airline brand in the Tatas' stable -- it holds a majority interest in AirAsia India and Vistara, a joint venture with Singapore Airlines Ltd. New Delhi: Superstar Rajinikanth, who on Monday received the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award at the National Film Awards ceremony here, dedicated the honour to his mentor and late film director K Balanchander. The actor, a matinee idol for ages and popularly called Thalaivar' (leader in Tamil) was bestowed with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, Indian cinema's highest honour for an artiste, for the year 2019. In his acceptance speech, Rajinikanth also thanked his elder brother Sathyanarayana Rao, transport colleague and friend Raj Bahadur, his fans, filmmakers, colleagues and the Tamil people for their unwavering support over the five decades. "I'm extremely happy to receive this award and my thanks to the government for this most prestigious Dada Saheb Phalke Award. I dedicate this award to my guru, my mentor K Balachander sir, I thank my brother Sathyanarayana Rao, he is a father figure in my life, for giving me great values... "My friend, driver and transport colleague Raj Bahadur. He spotted the acting talent in me and encouraged me to join cinema. All my producers and directors who have produced my films, technicians, artists, distributors, media, press and all my fans, and Tamil people..." the 70-year-old star said at the National Film Awards ceremony at Vigyan Bhavan here. Vice President Venkaiah Naidu called Rajinikanth "one of the great sons of this great country". Describing Rajinikanth as a "great actor from south India not of south India", the vice president in his address said the veteran actor has given memorable performances in films including "Bhairavi" and "Sivaji". "The iconic thespian's unmatchable acting skills have given a new dimension to the Indian film industry... He has shown how to maintain a perfect balance between artistic expression and mass appeal," Naidu added. Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi and Chief Minister M K Stalin on Monday congratulated Superstar Rajinikanth on him being conferred the coveted Dadasaheb Phalke Award. Ravi, in his message to the actor said besides his stupendous contribution to the Indian cinema, he has inspired the youth of the country through his exemplary conduct in professional, public and personal life. "I, on behalf of fellow citizens of India and my behalf, congratulate you on you being decorated with the Dadasaheb Phalke Award, the highest and the rarest recognition for outstanding contribution to the Indian cinema. It is a day of immense joy for all cine lovers," the Governor said. "My best wishes and prayers for your long and healthy life," he added. Chief Minister Stalin, extending his best wishes, hailed him as the 'sun' of the film industry. "My greetings to you to take the Tamil film industry to the next level and bag many global level awards," the Chief Minister tweeted, who also conveyed his best wishes to Rajinikanth over phone. From his 1975 debut with Balachander in "Apoorva Raagangal", "Moondru Mudichu", "Billa", Hindi titles "Hum, "ChaalBaaz", Bhagwaan Dada to "Enthiran", "Kaala" and now the upcoming "Annatthe", Rajinikanth continues to entertain the audience with his swag, style and inimitable on-screen presence. Last December, Rajinikanth had shelved plans to make a foray into electoral politics. Making a U-turn, the superstar had announced he will not enter politics in view of his frail health. Natural gas and coal prices are expected to remain at high levels through the start of 2022, finds the World Bank. (DC File Photo) Chennai: Industrial production has been impacted by high energy prices in India and this could weigh on economic growth of the country. Natural gas and coal prices are expected to remain at high levels through the start of 2022, finds the World Bank. Industrial production in China and India has been negatively impacted by electricity shortages amidst insufficient electricity availability. Higher energy prices could therefore also weigh on economic growth, which would in turn reduce demand for natural gas and coal. In a report, the World Bank said natural gas and coal prices are expected to remain at high levels through the start of 2022 but then decline as supply constraints ease and production increases. How-ever, additional bouts of price volatility remain a distinct possibility. European natural gas prices and Australian coal prices are forecast to decline 14 per cent each in 2022 and then fall a further 27 per cent and 25 per cent, respectively, in 2023. In contrast, after doubling in 2021 natural gas prices in the United States are expected to see only a marginal decline, given continued high demand for US LNG exports. Asian delivered natural gas prices, which saw the smallest rise in 2021, are expected to see a relatively modest fall in 2022. According to the bank, as the global economy has started to recover from the pandemic, demand for natural gas and coal rebounded, both for electricity generation and industrial purposes. In China, electricity use rose 11 per cent between January and August 2021 while in India it was up 17 per cent year-on-year in August 2021. Indias imports of coal from Australia reached an all-time high in July. The global production of coal, meanwhile, fell 5 per cent in 2020 and has been slower to pick up than consumption. This led to energy prices soaring in the September quarter. Besides the PWD rest houses, Yatri Niwas, Kerala houses and guest houses coming under the Tourism department will also be renovated. (Photo: PTI) Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Tourism Minister P A Muhammad Riyas on Monday said that his department intends to turn the PWD rest houses in the state into "people's rest houses" by improving facilities there and making them easily accessible by general public through online bookings. The minister announced these plans for the rest houses under the Public Works Department, which also comes under him, during the question-answer session of the assembly. Replying to queries on what the government intends to do to make the PWD rest houses as well as tourist guest houses better, Riyas said that his department is planning to introduce online booking from November 1 and for that a software has been developed and the staff at these establishments were being trained on using the same. He also said that in order to make the 153 PWD rest houses in the state people-friendly, plans are afoot to ensure good food, better facilities, proper sanitation and cleaner surroundings at these places. Besides that the department was also considering installing CCTV cameras at all these rest houses to monitor their functioning from a centralised location, the minister said. Moreover, those rest houses which have more space or are close to highways would also house "comfort stations" for long distance travellers, especially women and children, he said. Besides the PWD rest houses, Yatri Niwas, Kerala houses and guest houses coming under the Tourism department will also be renovated and facilities there, like food, furniture, etc., would be improved, he said. History invariably is written and rewritten to serve the political and ideological cause of the ruling elites. No wonder Winston Churchill had said: Gentlemen, history will be kind to us we will write it! Take Indian history as it is being taught in our schools today. It is the history of the vanquished. It is mostly a chronological scroll down of events in the Indo-Gangetic plain. The textbooks start with the Indus Valley Civilisa-tion and after that remain largely focused on the consecutive onslaughts and occupations of India from the northwest. Like the Aryans, Greeks, Bactrians, Huns, Afghans, Persians, Arabs, Uzbeks, Mongols and Turks, not necessarily in that order, all of whom entered through its northwest and stayed to leave their respective imprimaturs on India. The other part of the story covers the Europ-ean era and Indias freedom struggle, which is mainly the story of the Indian National Congress. These invasions, subjugations, prolonged residence and assimilation broadly constitute the history of India, whoever it is written by and for, that is imparted to us. As a young student in a Catholic school, in recently Independent India, the first history lessons imparted to me told that story, particularly the period of the last occupation by the British, somewhat differently. According to this, British rule was a most benign and beneficial period for Indians. This could even be true for social reforms like the abolition of sati and the building of great canal systems and the railways happened during this period. The unification of India into one great political entity also happened in this period. Above all, southern India came under Delhis imperial rule for the first time. On the converse side, todays heroes like Tipu Sultan were cruel and callous tyrants, and what happened in 1857 was a most perfidious mutiny in which English women and children were raped and murdered by rampaging hordes of mutinous soldiers and freebooters. In 1957, the centennial celebrations of the First Indian War of Independence happened and I suddenly discovered that what my history textbook was having me believe was wrong. Whatever be the version of history that emerges, that of the RSS or that of Romilla Thapar, Irfan Habib and others, what will still remain is a history focused on the people of the Indo-Gangetic plain. And that is my real grouse. Take, for instance, the two volumes of The History of India by Percival Spear and Romilla Thapar. Of the twenty-four chapters, twenty-one are about the peoples who either lived in or kept conquering the Indo-Gangetic plain. South Indian history, which is fairly distinct and certainly more glorious than the tales of defeat after defeat in northern India, gets only three chapters. And mind you, the Deccan region now accounts for almost forty per cent of Indias population. Little is told about regions like Odisha and Bengal, while Assam hardly figures. Of course, as can be expected, there is not very much written about the original and autochthonous pre-Aryan and pre-Dravidian people. If Spear and Thapar are reticent about acknowledging the role of other regions in the shaping of modern India, A.L. Basham and S.A.A. Rizvi in their two-volume effort The Wonder That Was India have even less space for other regions and their contribution to the composite culture and the multi-dimensional character of the Indian nation. Rizvis volume covering the period 1200-1500AD is so single-minded that it is entirely devoted to the Muslim rule over parts of India. Quite clearly, if Indian society has to be inclusive, all its various peoples must share a common perspective of the past. This is not so at present and hence, to my mind at least, the history textbooks need to be rewritten. What then needs to be debated is what should this history be, for facts cannot be altered and the past cannot be wished away. The Communists are past masters at airbrushing out people and rewriting history to suit each regime. Official photographs of the collective leadership immediately after the demise of Lenin, as Stalin kept consolidating his control, saw the progressive elimination of historical figures from history. No Trotsky, no Zinoviev, no Martov, no anybody who Stalin did away with. Similarly in China few would now hear about Lin Biao, who Mao Zedong anointed as his successor. The written history of India is quite ethnocentric and focused mainly on Manus Aryavarta, which by the ancient lawgivers own description did not extend south of the Vindhyas. Beyond the pale of Aryavarta was the land of the non-people and the legends of the Indo-Gangetic plains fully reflect these primitive attitudes. This northern bias manifests itself in several ways, sometimes with great economic consequences. The tourism industry in India is mostly about Delhi, Agra and Jaipur. True, the stupendous beauty of the Taj Mahal is a great magnet that draws tourists into India from all over the world. But the profligacy of the Mughals and the collaborationist desert kingdoms of Rajasthan cannot be Indias only attractions, without the almost exclusive promotion of these by the government and the tourism trade. So much so that the past that can still been seen in places of great historical importance like Badami, Vijayanagar, Belur and Halebid in Karnataka, Warangal in Andhra Pradesh and Kanchipuram, Madurai and Tanjore in Tamil Nadu do not have half decent facilities to encourage tourism. Even Bijapur with its great Gol Gumbaz and gigantic mosque does not have a half decent hotel or any worthwhile facilities for tourists. If the battles of Panipat are important in the history of northern India, the battle of Talikota determined the final fate of the great Vijayanagar kingdom with the defeat of its powerful army by the forces of the Muslim confederacy. There is not even a marker at Talikota suggesting a battlefield consecrated with so much blood and so much valour. The great Mughal army commanded by Raja Jaisingh was decisively defeated in a great naval battle on the vast Bramhaputra at Saraighat by the Asom forces of Lachit Barphukan. Let alone a marker at Saraighat, even Lachit Barphukan does not figure in our written history. So, by all means rewrite our history. That task is long overdue. Till then written Indian history will remain just what it is, a compendium of defeats. Fact v fiction: The ChiCom virus vaccine and hospital deaths By Mark Alexander Ahead of the latest cyclical peak of the ChiCom Virus infections and deaths in September, CDC Director Rochelle Walensky declared: "This is becoming a pandemic of the unvaccinated. Our biggest concern is we are going to continue to see preventable cases, hospitalizations and sadly deaths among the unvaccinated." At the height of that September cycle, Joe Biden likewise declared , "This is a pandemic of the unvaccinated." He then condescendingly told the American people to "do the right thing." So, are we now experiencing a "pandemic of the unvaccinated"? I would not agree with that assessment. Fact is, we are in the endemic wake of a deadly pathogen created by the Red Chinese Communist Party. Former President Donald Trump was correct to put the responsibility for what is now nearly five million deaths worldwide at the feet of the ChiComs something Biden won't dare do because he's under the thumb of those same Red Chinese. So much so, in fact, that I have argued Biden should register as a foreign agent . But what of this "pandemic of the unvaccinated"? Clearly, those who are vaccinated continue to contract breakthrough COVID cases and, clearly, some of them die. A prominent case in point would be former Secretary of State Colin Powell , who died this week despite being fully vaccinated. But Secretary Powell was 84 years old he had lived six years beyond the current U.S. life expectancy projection of 77.8 years, despite the fact he had underlying comorbidity factors. Most people who die of COVID succumb to complications associated with comorbidity factors, if not the disease directly. Thus, using Powell's death to deny the link between vaccination and survival from COVID, as some talkingheads are predisposed to do, is absurd. His death does not dispel the assertion that the vast majority of those who are being hospitalized and dying are unvaccinated. Full stop. That being said, there is an unfortunate and deadly conflation of issues regarding vaccinations. Most notably, there is the conflation between justifiable objections to Biden's one-size-fits-all vaccine mandates versus the actual efficacy of vaccines. And there is confusion between being vaccinated and testing positive for COVID versus being unvaccinated, being hospitalized, and dying from COVID. Before getting to the point vaccine effectiveness, if you just landed on this analysis from some alien world here are some quick links to understand our opinion of the little Beltway troll Anthony Fauci , the Biden administration's colossal trust deficit , and the reckless Biden/Fauci masking and vaxxing mandates on their way to mandating vaccination passports . Biden's statist mandates are already having dire consequences across the nation. There is emerging resistance in the military . There are transportation issues, both with airlines and supply lines . Stand by for travel disruptions caused by TSA objections and air traffic controllers. In one leftist stronghold, Chicago, Biden's OSHA mandates are on a collision course with police and medical workers , who are now being targeted for firing . And now, Biden's next mandate targets are children . First out of the gate in obedience to Biden is California's leftist Gov. Gavin Newsom, who announced he is requiring all children at public and private schools to get vaccinated. To put this ludicrous anti-science power play into perspective, in a state with about 40 million people, there have been 37 COVID-related deaths for those under age 18. As with the small number of COVID deaths of young people nationwide, the California deaths are tied to comorbidity factors such as being treated for leukemia. About the same number of children under age five died drowning in pools. And on the subject of "the science," the Leftmedia and Big Tech suppression of information about the efficacy of various alternative treatments is unconscionable. I should also note that because the Biden administration is apparently enforcing a government-wide blackout on using the term "natural immunity" in order to enforce its vaxxing mandates, useful data regarding the efficacy of natural immunity is largely suppressed on the CDC site. However, many respected epidemiological experts affirm that natural immunity in those who have recovered from COVID affords more protection against reinfection than does vaccination. Finally, regarding natural immunity, when I view The New York Times's COVID " Hot Spots " map or similar COVID spread maps (which currently indicate the fastest rising cases are in the Northeast ), what I see are not so much the most dangerous locations for COVID but locations where herd immunity is rising fastest and thus will be the safest locations. Moving forward: To preface my assessment of COVID vaccine efficacy, let me be clear I do not conflate strong and justifiable objections to Biden's mandates with the life-saving efficacy of vaccines. If you are among the few who buy into the unproductive co-mingling of these issues, stop reading, jump to the reader comments link, and blast away. In the inimitable words of the late Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan: "You are entitled to your opinion. But you are not entitled to your own facts." On the other hand, I am well aware that the crowd may be loud, but as Galileo Galilei wrote, "In questions of science, the authority of a thousand is not worth the humble reasoning of a single individual." A good example would be the " climate change " crowd. However, if you are among those able to discern between competing issues and are interested in the facts regarding the efficacy of the COVID vaccine, read on. Let me state up front that the following conclusions are subject to some interpretation, but my understanding is tempered by the fact that I have two close and trusted friends who, between them, have 80 years of experience as disease specialists. So, what are the facts related to COVID risk and the effectiveness of the vaccine? Regarding age as a risk factor: According to multiple data sources , since the beginning of 2020 to the present, 76% of recorded deaths directly related to COVID infection were of individuals over the age of 65. More than half of all deaths were those over age 75. At the other end of the age spectrum, only 513 deaths have been recorded for those under age 18. That's .072% of deaths to date, despite Biden's mandate targeting children . As previously noted, deaths at both ends of the spectrum and all in between are almost universally tied to known comorbidity factors. Regarding vaccine effectiveness, here is the bottom line: The risk of an unvaccinated person testing positive for COVID is 6.1 times higher than that of a vaccinated person, and the risk of death is 11.3 times higher. Accordingly, the risk of hospitalization for an unvaccinated person is 14 times higher. Those numbers should get the attention of even the most vociferous anti-vaxxing skeptic. A month ago, at the height of the most recent COVID infection and death spike, the New York Post, far from some left-wing rag, provided a comprehensive case study on hospital deaths. In an article titled " The new 99%: These are the people who are getting serious cases of COVID-19 ," the Post published the most compelling snapshot of COVID hospitalizations and deaths, though there are some reasonable questions about the accounting of infection rates by hospitals . According to the Post: "The vast majority of Americans who are getting serious cases of COVID-19 or dying are unvaccinated. Between Jan. 1 and Aug. 30, about 99 percent of hospital admissions were among those who hadn't been fully inoculated, which is defined by the CDC as two weeks after the second dose... As of Aug. 30, a little over 1.6 million Americans were hospitalized with COVID-19 but only about 0.65 percent of them, or 10,471 patients, were fully vaccinated... More than 173 million people have been fully vaccinated and just 0.01 percent of them, or 12,908 people, ended up in a hospital or have died from a breakthrough infection." More to the point, the Post concludes: "In the same time period, about 99 percent of the people who lost their lives to COVID-19 were not fully inoculated against the virus ... Only 2,437 Americans, or 0.92 percent of deaths, were a result of breakthrough infections in fully vaccinated patients." Other research in September indicated that those who are vaccinated have only a 1 in 13,000 chance of contracting a breakthrough case necessitating hospitalization. This week, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine professor Dr. Marty Makary, who has been one of the strongest critics of the Biden administration's failure to acknowledge the importance of natural immunity , noted that the risk of death for unvaccinated people who contract COVID is about 1 in 1,000. For the vaccinated who contract breakthrough cases, the risk is about 1 in 27,000. In other words, you are exponentially safer, even from a breakthrough case, if you are vaccinated. On a personal note, I fully understand why young healthy people with no known comorbidity factors are resistant to vaccination. If I had children under the age of 18, I would not want them to submit to vaccination until we know much more about the vaccine side effects and alternate treatments. However, I have known people who had substantial comorbidity factors, like diabetes and asthma, and have since died of COVID. Every one of them had refused the vaccine. If you believe "the science," then there is a substantial probability they would still be with us today had they been vaccinated. That is indisputable. Finally, some suggest the pandemic is in decline , though I estimate there will still be cyclical spikes. Currently, among the 920,000 staffed hospital beds across the nation, according to the Department of Health and Human Services , the CDC tracker , and other reliable sources , about 8% of all inpatient hospital beds are occupied by those being treated for COVID. Though some hospitals in some regions are experiencing ICU COVID overload, which is exacerbated by staffing shortages, 8% of COVID occupancy is far from the perception Biden and company have promulgated that our medical facilities are overrun. (For the most comprehensive SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus timeline on the Web, see The "ChiCom Virus" Pandemic: Timeline, Response and Recovery .) Mark Alexander is the executive editor of the Patriot Post. Jeff Cooper: The forgotten history of Lt. Col. Cooper and his impact on combat readiness By Sam Jacobs The United States Marines have a saying: "Every Marine a rifleman." That being said, some of them are pretty handy with a pistol, too. Lt. Col. Jeff Cooper literally wrote the book on modern handguns in combat. In fact, you're probably already acquainted with a number of concepts he introduced to the world of pistols, even though you might not know his name. Some of them are so common sense and simple that it's hard to believe anyone had to invent them. This was the genius of Jeff Cooper. Jeff Cooper's Marine Corps Career It's impossible to tell the story of Jeff Cooper without talking about the United States Marine Corps . Indeed, Cooper enrolled in the Junior ROTC program when he was still studying at Los Angeles High School. He then attended Stanford , earning a degree in political science before receiving his commission in the United States Marine Corps. During World War II he served in the Pacific Theater , earning the rank of major. In 1949, he resigned his commission, but duty called during the Korean War and so, Cooper returned. He served in irregular warfare and earned a promotion to Lieutenant Colonel. After the war, he applied to remain on active duty but was rejected. From there, Cooper earned a master's degree in history and taught part-time at a high school and a community college. Here he remained until the early 1970s when he applied his passion for teaching to his passion for weapons. It was in 1976 that Cooper founded the American Pistol Institute, now known as the Gunsite Academy . While he primarily taught rifles and shotguns to law enforcement, the concepts developed by Cooper during his time running the American Pistol Institute for pistols and long arms alike are used by every intelligent and responsible gun owner to this day. Jeff Cooper's Combat Readiness It was at the American Pistol Institute that Cooper developed the modern technique of the pistol. This was his system for pistol combat. Without knowing what it's called or who invented it, much of it will seem familiar to you: Large caliber, semi-automatic pistol: Cooper was an early advocate of the 1911 and a big caliber to go in it. At a time when most men favored wheel guns , Cooper believed there was simply no substitute for a semi-automatic with a big round like a .45 ACP . The Weaver stance: Opinions vary on the best stance for combat, but Cooper was a strong supporter of the Weaver stance, developed by Los Angeles County Deputy Sheriff Jack Weaver through his experiences in competitive shooting. The draw stroke: Cooper preached the importance of the draw stroke . A holstered weapon doesn't do anyone any good. So Cooper drilled his students to consistently practice drawing their weapon with perfect form to be combat-ready. The flash sight picture: Just as a holstered weapon is useless until drawn, so too is a weapon useless if not pointed in the right direction. The flash sight picture is a method of quickly targeting an attacker with sufficient accuracy. It is essential in life-or-death situations. The compressed surprise trigger break: Considered the "secret" of quick and accurate shooting, the compressed surprise trigger break , which is a somewhat more sophisticated version of the "double tap." While Cooper did not invent the double tap, he systematized the training for such. All of the above are basic combat training for civilians, military, and law enforcement alike. While Cooper didn't "invent" any of it, per se, he synthesized previously existing methods into a cohesive program of combat readiness just about anyone could learn. Cooper also developed a system for evaluating combat readiness called the firearms conditions of readiness: Condition 4 is when the chamber is empty, there is no magazine in the gun, the hammer is down, and the safety is on. Condition 3 is after a full magazine has been loaded. Condition 2 is after a round is chambered. Condition 1 is after the hammer is cocked. Condition 0 is when the safety is released. Condition 0 is when the weapon is fully ready to fire, requiring only an operator to pull the trigger. Condition 1 would not apply to hammerless semi-automatics, but as Cooper was a 1911 aficionado, he included a step for cocking the hammer. In addition to the condition of the weapon, Cooper also formulated a system for appraising one's personal readiness for combat, using a color-coded system: White represents a total lack of situational awareness. You are completely surprised by your attacker and relying upon his ineptitude to save you. Yellow is simply a vague awareness that the world is a sometimes dangerous place where you might have to defend yourself using deadly force. You are appraising situations for danger all around you. Cooper described this as "I might have to shoot." Orange is when you have identified a specific danger. Maybe something just doesn't look right. Orange elevates your awareness from "I might have to shoot" to "I might have to shoot him." It is a more targeted version of yellow's watchful waiting. Red is combat. You have identified a deadly threat to yourself or your loved ones and are about to begin shooting. The United States Marine Corps used this system but added a code black which means that combat is in progress or you are too paralyzed by fear to act. Cooper never used this level in his system. This threat level assessment system is an elegant way to check to see how we are appraising situations in potential combat. For those who carry on a regular basis, it is absolutely essential to evaluate the threat level at all times and to train oneself for situational awareness. Cooper later simplified his explanations of the color codes, but the basic framework remained in place. Finally, one of the first things anyone learns about guns is basic firearms safety: Treat all guns as if they're loaded, never point them at anything you don't want to destroy, finger off the trigger until it's time to shoot, and lastly, know your target and what's behind it. We have Cooper to thank for this simple and elegant method of gun safety that has saved untold lives and prevented countless negligent discharges. Jeff Cooper and the Scout Rifle Cooper is heavily associated with pistols, but as a Marine, he would have been extremely proficient with a rifle as well. He went so far as to call the rifle the "queen of personal weapons." Beautifully explaining the amoral character of the rifle and firearms in general, Cooper once wrote: "Naturally, it may be used by evil men for evil purposes, but there are more good men than evil, and while the latter cannot be persuaded to the path of righteousness by propaganda, they can certainly be corrected by good men with rifles." Cooper's thoughts on the rifle drove his development of the scout rifle . Cooper gave much thought to what would make a perfect rifle. He believed the perfect personal protection weapon was "a short, light, handy, versatile, utility rifle." Specifically, this would be a bolt-action rifle chambered for .308 Winchester , total length under one meter (about 39 inches), lighter than three kilograms (about six and a half pounds), with both iron sights, and a forward-mounted optical sight, fitted with a sling of some kind. In 1997, Cooper's dream finally saw fruition when Steyr Arms (then Steyr Mannlicher AG) developed the first commercially available scout rifle. Cooper was involved in the entire engineering, design, and production process. Cooper famously owned one, which is considered a significant achievement in the world of long arms. The original scout rifle was heavily copycatted by the entire arms industry. Cooper was also the father of a number of rifle calibers. He wanted a bigger bore round for one-shot kills on big game. His quest for this was known as the Thumper concept and inspired the creation of a number of rounds, such as the .450 Bushmaster , .458 SOCOM , .499 LWR, and the .50 Beowulf. The Prolific Writing Career of Jeff Cooper In addition to teaching, Cooper also had a passion for writing about firearms and politics. He had a way with words and his ability to simply and elegantly explain concepts makes for great reading. Cooper coined the term hoplophobia to refer to an irrational fear of firearms. He wrote a series of memoirs detailing his adventures both in the military, in firearms instruction, and in big game hunting. He had a regular feature in Guns & Ammo called "Cooper's Corner," which can be read in his collection, The Gargantuan Gunsite Gossip . He also did a fair bit of writing about politics and to describe Cooper as an arch-conservative is perhaps the understatement of the year. His direct and unconventional takes on the issues of the day included a claim that 90 to 95 percent of people who died in urban gunfights were "any loss to society." In 1994, Cooper wrote that "[Los Angeles and Ho Chi Minh City]... are both Third World metropolises formerly occupied by Americans." He was an outspoken supporter of Rhodesia , UNITA leader Jonas Savimbi and Spanish caudillo Francisco Franco . This American original died at his home on September 25, 2006, at the age of 86 after 64 years of marriage to his wife Janelle. If you're ever in Paulden, Arizona, give him a visit . Sam Jacobs is a writer for Ammo.com where this originally appeared . Home Democrats still embrace their slavemaster roots By Paul Driessen History isnt always quite whats portrayed in popular culture or taught today in schools, especially regarding racial politics. Do your kids know the Republican Party was formed in 1854 to keep slavery out of new American territories? Or that for over a century Republicans battled Democrats who supported slavery and segregation, poll taxes, pre-vote literacy tests, Jim Crow and K u K lux K lan terroris m ? Today, Democrats and their media, social media, teacher union, Black Lives Matter and mostly peaceful Antifa rioter allies advance 1619 Project and Critical Race Theory (CRT) claims that America was founded on racism and is still plagued by systemic racism while hiding, whitewashing and rewriting the Democrat Partys long, sordid role. Commentators accurately observe, This is not your parents Democrat Party. Indeed. The Democrat Party now embraces some of the most radical, anti-Semitic, anti-Israel, anti-energy, America-bashing elements in American history. A favorite tactic is greenwashing policies with assertions that Democrats are saving the Earth from climate change and other purported environmental disasters. Their power grabs recently led an African-American Democrat California Assemblyman to say these policies systematically drive racial economic inequities and fuel environmental racism , by constantly and repeatedly increasing energy costs for poor and minority families and businesses. Its not rocket science. Ban leasing, drilling, fracking, pipelines and coal use, as the Biden-Harris team is doing and energy prices skyrocket as supplies dwindle. Since the 2020 election, crude oil prices have doubled, to over $80 a barrel , and US gasoline is up more than a dollar a gallon. Families that heat with natural gas could pay up to 50% more this winter than last year. Thats still well below Europes Green Madness prices, but congressional Democrats continue to push clean power fantasies that would eradicate secure, reliable, affordable US energy and the Biden-Harris Administration could unilaterally impose numerous equally destructive measures . And for what? A recent study in Nature calculated that reducing US carbon dioxide emissions 95% by 2050 would have an annual price tag greater than what America spent in 2019 on Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid combined: nearly 12% of our Gross Domestic Product $11,300 per person per year! Meanwhile, China, India and 100 other countries will continue using fossil fuels and emitting prodigious amounts of plant-fertilizing CO2. Net climate benefits? Somewhere in the neighborhood of 0.06 to 0.30 degrees F by 2100! Moreover, this entire energy-and-climate-crisis charade is based on the assumption, the assertion that after countless millions of years of natural climate change every climate and weather fluctuation and aberration today is due to fossil fuels and greenhouse gas emissions. The Democrat ruling class and its government-funded scientist acolytes have models but no actual data or evidence to back up their claims. But they dont need any, because pressure groups, the media and academia endlessly repeat and validate their unfounded claims and cancel, silence, deplatform and defund alternative viewpoints and evidence. Meanwhile, their corporate collaborators rake in billions in taxpayer subsidies and guaranteed loans. Climate change is their ticket to controlling our livelihoods and living standards: they as our masters, we as their servants with no accountability for their mistakes and lies, or the damage and death they cause. Wags like Dave Chappelle would be banished if they suggested that the Master Race has devolved into the Master Party. But todays Democrats are the most radical in Congressional and Executive Branch history. Egged on by even more radical activists, they truly think theyre smarter than the rest of us, and were ordained to rule us unwashed masses, employing all the powers of centralized government. The way they see it, we and our states and communities must simply accept our new subservient status, our lost personal freedoms, our reduced living standards and the overseas child and slave labor and environmental desecration that Green New Deal technologies are inflicting. 40,000 Congolese children as young as four already labor alongside their parents for slave wages, under constant threats of cave-ins and exposure to toxic mud , dust and water to mine the cobalt needed for electric vehicle and backup batteries. The ore is sent to China for processing in plants with equally abominable safety and pollution conditions. Rare earth mining and processing in Inner Mongolia has destroyed agriculture, created a vast toxic dump, and brought life-threatening health issues to workers and residents. China also uses thousands of Uighur slave laborers to manufacture solar panels for sale to the US and EU. John Kerry doesnt think Uighur slavery should affect Americas climate strategy and Democrat California legislators voted down a bill requiring that the state certify that electric vehicles sold there must be free of any materials or components involving child labor. Certification would cost too much and imperil state climate goals, they said. Fair Trade and Fair Wages are vital for T-shirts, coffee and sneakers. But ignore them for Green Tech. Green New Deal schemes would multiply these human rights abuses many times over. They would make the US dangerously dependent on an increasingly belligerent China for green metals and minerals. Worse, Democrat overseer roots have metastasized into a global cancer that infects government programs, foreign aid and financial institutions, with often deadly results. It is eco-i mperialism Green power that brings widespread Black death . People desperately seeking better health and lives in Africa, Asia and Latin America are told any US and Western help will be limited to what radical activists determine is ecological and climate friendly. Improve your living standards, the Masters say, but only to degrees that can be supported by wind and solar power not by fossil fuels, nuclear or even hydroelectric power. Our banks and other institutions will approve and finance only land-intensive , wildlife-killing, raw materials-hungry renewable energy. Improve your agricultural productivity and crop yields but only through agro-ecology . Modern herbicides, insecticides, fertilizers and even tractors must be banned. Stoop labor will reign supreme. Reduce malaria and yellow fever but only with bed nets and integrated pest management. Larvacides and insecticides, or DDT to keep mosquitoes out of homes for months with one spray absolutely not. Climate change will make summers hotter and winters colder; people will die. Wrong. With todays housing and energy systems, people will do just fine unless climate and energy policies take away their air conditioning and heating, ration them, make them unaffordable, or subject them to recurrent blackouts. Americans use too much and live too well, they claim so our overseers want to limit our homes to 640 square feet and allow us to fly on vacation or to see family only once every three years! Bear in mind, all this is just the climate and energy cabal of the Democrat Master Party. Other equally loud, demanding, unaccountable elements want to defund the police, and disarm us as crime skyrockets. Theyre indoctrinating our kids in CRT, gender fluidity, preferred pronouns, explicit sex, and far more. Virginia gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe doesnt think parents should have a say in what schools teach. (The UN Human Rights Declaration specifically says parents have a prior right to choose the kind of education that shall be given to their children.) Attorney General Merrick Garland has a growing list of outspoken parents and other conservatives whom he and the National School Boards Association want investigated, harassed, prosecuted and even jailed as domestic terrorists . They embrace and impose seemingly endless totalitarian Covid mandates . All this is why the 2021 Virginia elections are so critical: Glen Youngkin versus Terry McAuliffe , Winsome Sears vs. Hala Ayala for Lt. Governor, Jason Miyares vs. Mark Herring for AG, and dozens of senate and delegate seats. Other state elections two weeks hence are equally important. And the 2022 national elections will be a watershed moment in US history. Responsible voting is an absolute must. Paul Driessen is senior policy analyst for the Committee For A Constructive Tomorrow ( www.CFACT.org ) and author of books and articles on energy, environment, climate and human rights issues. Why a Back the Blue #WalkAway Republican is about to become Seattles next City Attorney By Rachel Alexander The Democrats have put up a candidate for Seattle City Attorney so insane that a #WalkAway Back the Blue Republican is widely expected to win the race next month. Two former Democratic governors of Washington and the far left Seattle Times have endorsed the Republican, thats how scary Nicole Thomas-Kennedy is. Democrats love to make fun of Republicans who say far out things, but theyve met their match with Thomas-Kennedy. The Republican, Ann Davison, was a safe 21% ahead in a poll earlier this month. The race is getting no coverage outside of the Seattle area because the mainstream media doesnt want Americans to know just how frightening the left can be. Thomas-Kennedy is running as an abolitionist who wants to abolish the police and jails. She intends to dismantle the criminal division of the office and stop prosecuting crimes. That part of the office prosecutes misdemeanors; including DUIs, assault, theft and domestic violence. A former public defender, Thomas-Kennedy said property destruction is a moral imperative. and I for sure hate this country. She despises the police, referring to them as serial killers, pigs, Nazis, stains on humanity and ACAB, which stands for All Cops Are Bastards. When rioters tried to shut down the Seattle Polices East Precinct in the summer of 2020, she said the person who detonated an explosive device, blowing a hole in the precinct wall, was a hero. Similarly, when someone set fire to a construction area and trailer, she tweeted, YAY! Thank you to the heroes that set the Childrens Jail on fire. She said the police dont deserve the COVID-19 vaccine and Eat some covid laced shit and quit ur jobs. When former Seattle Police Chief Carmen Best, who was forced out by radicals, promoted department efforts to rebuild community trust, Thomas-Kennedy responded with Enjoy sitting in your dirty diaper you crybabies. She said she has a rabid hatred for the police and I currently read like a single issue law enforcement abolition anarchist. She has a lengthy discussion on her campaign website of why theft should not be prosecuted, claiming that people steal because theyre hungry and want a sandwich. But as a former prosecutor, I can tell you thats not true, very few people steal food because theyre hungry (they can get food at food banks), and if they are prosecuted for it, its only in order to have them plead guilty to a lesser charge than their more serious crimes. Her campaign manager, who tellingly protects her tweets, is even scarier . Tye Reed said Biden should die after a speech he gave on race and social justice, saying his wasted breath was hopefully his last. Nothing happened to her of course, since shes a leftist. She said about Seattles Mayor Jenny Durkan, "That b**** Mayor Durkan is gonna get her a** beat one day." In response to a shooting, she wished, Prayers the victim is a kkkop." She referred to Best as an "Uncle Tom motherf***** benefiting off the suffering of black folks." On Thomas-Kennedys campaign Facebook page, there is a photo of Reed wearing a shirt with a photo of a burning Seattle Police SUV with the slogan This is a policy proposal. Thomas-Kennedy defended Reed during an interview with Fox 13 earlier this month. "I think that shes a Black woman in America that has seen a lot of people that look like her being killed by police and she was probably pretty angry about that." C. Kimi Kondo, who served 28 years as a Seattle Municipal Court judge, calls Thomas-Kennedy an avowed anarchist, and was one of 30 retired judges who endorsed her opponent. The Washington Democratic Party admitted they were not endorsing her, and refused to defend Reeds tweets, with Democratic Party Spokesperson Alex Bond saying she doesn't appear to have much affection for the Democratic Party or our elected officials and doesnt work for us, so I'm not sure how or why our party would answer for inflammatory and irresponsible statements they might make. Democrat-turned-Republican Ann Davison has zero experience in criminal law and lost two previous races. She ran as a Democrat for city council emphasizing removal of homeless encampments from public spaces including parks. After that, she switched to the Republican Party and failed to make it past the primary for lieutenant governor. Shes annoyed the left by referring to them as The Democrat Party instead of The Democratic Party. She opposes a new law requiring school districts to provide sex education. She attended a Back the Blue rally in August 2020, posting photos of herself with the president of the Seattle Police Officers Guild. She criticized Seattles policies banning residential evictions. She attacked Democrats for demonizing business and criticized Democratic Gov. Jay Inslees mask mandate. She recorded a video with #WalkAway Brandon Straka in June 2020, saying what caused her to leave the Democratic Party was how they looked the other way at homelessness. She said its not being green spending money to improve areas that are just then allowed to be destroyed by the homeless. It breaks my heart what theyve done to my city. Granted, Davison is not a hardcore Trumper. She voted for Biden last year. She didnt vote for either Inslee or his Republican challenger Loren Culp last year. Thomas-Kennedy is trying to back away from some of her most controversial tweets by saying she has a right to troll people on Twitter but her platform on abolishing the police and the prisons is still on her website. She thinks she should get a free pass for her tweets even though the left viciously cancels conservatives for tweets they regret. Many Democrats endorsed Thomas-Kennedy anyway, including former Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn and Seattle City Councilmembers Tammy Morales and Teresa Mosqueda. They chose her in the primary over the incumbent, Democrat Pete Holmes, whose focus in office appeared to be eliminating crimes related to marijuana. While Thomas-Kennedy may be too radical today, the number of Democrats who are just fine with her is a disturbing sign of where things are eventually going. Rachel Alexander and her brother Andrew are co-Editors of Intellectual Conservative . She has been published in the American Spectator, Townhall.com, Fox News, NewsMax, Accuracy in Media, The Americano, ParcBench, Enter Stage Right and other publications. Home Where does the investigation into Brian Laundrie's murder of his girlfriend, Gabby Petito, move now that his decomposed remains have been discovered? Petito, 22, was found murdered on the borders of Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming last month, one of the sites the young couple had visited during a cross-country van journey that concluded with Laundrie suddenly returning home to Florida alone in the van. Attorney detailed days before Brian's remains was discovered Laundrie, a "person of interest" in the investigation, had been missing for a month before his bones were discovered in a marshy wilderness area near his home on Wednesday. The case has sparked international interest and spawned a slew of internet theories from amateur true-crime investigators. It's also brought attention to the other missing-persons cases affecting women of color, who don't get nearly as much attention as Petito, who is white. It's possible that the only way to find out is through a DNA match. For weeks, both sets of remains were exposed to the elements and animals, Republic World reported. The FBI has not said whether there were any witnesses to Petito's death or the events that followed. Laundrie's usage of a debit card that didn't belong to him after Petito went missing is one piece of evidence. The Laundrie family's attorney presented a clearer picture of what transpired in the days preceding up to the 23-year-old being reported missing only hours before forensic investigators definitively identified the human remains recovered Wednesday during the hunt for Brian Laundrie. The attorney for Laundrie's family, Steve Bertolino, told 8 On Your Side's Mahsa Saeidi that he and the family reported Brian Laundrie missing the first night he went for a hike and didn't return. Per Local SYR, Brian was classified a missing person on September 17. His parents informed authorities that on Tuesday, September 14, they last saw him leave home for a hike in the Carlton Reserve area. Bertolino later stated that the Laundries felt their son had left home to go hiking on September 13 following further conversation with the FBI. Read Also: FBI Calls Gabby Petito's Death "Murder" as Apparent Human Remains, Belongings Found in Search For Fugitive Brian Laundrie Brian Laundrie's parents won't have funeral for their son Bertolino said he informed the FBI on September 13 and 14 that Brian had not returned. He said he did not phone the FBI to inform them that Laundrie had not returned in the following days. He further said that the cops never contacted to see if Laundrie had returned home. On October 20, more than a month after Brian's disappearance, partial skeletal remains were discovered in the Carlton Reserve. According to the FBI, the remains were recognized as Brian's on Thursday using dental records. Both Chris and Roberta Laundrie were at the park with law enforcement the morning the remains were discovered among artifacts belonging to Brian, which reopened this week after being restricted to the public for several weeks. Christopher and Roberta Laundrie, Brian's parents, left their house for the first time since authorities told them their son was dead in a Florida swamp on Sunday. After hunkering down inside their house for four days, the couple ran out to their red Dodge Ram pick-up vehicle at 9.50 am. According to the family's lawyer, the Laundries have no plans to arrange a funeral for their son. Brian Laundrie's remains will be cremated and delivered to his parents "when the time comes," according to Bertolino. Since two police officers arrived on Thursday to establish that bones discovered in the alligator-infested Carlton Reserve were the remains of his fleeing son, Christopher has only left the couple's house on rare times. On Saturday, he pounded "no trespassing" signs into his ground near the tribute to slain Gabby Petito, that mourners have built on his lawn, as per Daily Mail. Related Article: FBI Confirms Brian Laundrie Is Dead as Dental Records Match to Human Remains Found at Reserve; Parents May Spill Secret of Gabby Petito's Murder @ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. In the midst of tensions over Taiwan, Chinese official media lambasted President Joe Biden's administration, calling it the "most inept and decadent in the country's history." Biden Vows To Defend Taiwan In a recently published article in Newsweek, During a CNN town hall event last week, Biden said that the United States would help Taiwan militarily if necessary. Biden acknowledged that the US would defend Taiwan if China invaded it. Biden has already said that he did not seek a Cold War with China before Cooper's inquiry. He wants China to realize that they will not back down. They have no intention of changing their minds. He also said at the time that everyone understood the United States as the most powerful nation in terms of military and strength. Following the president's statements, China promised not to make any compromises on its attitude toward Taiwan, and the White House scrambled to explain Biden's words during a daily Press Conference with White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki, according to a published article in Head Topics. Read Also: White House Scrambles After Biden's Remark To Defend Taiwan If China Attacks; Pentagon Makes an Apparent Error About the Critical Issue Chinese State Media Criticized Biden Administration Under the "one country, two systems" doctrine, China claims Taiwan as a part of its country. On the other hand, Taiwan has maintained its independence and autonomy for decades, with the US pledging military help if Beijing attempted to retake the island by force. The Biden administration is presently seeking to assist Taiwan in becoming more "meaningful" at the United Nations, which has enraged China. Additionally, The official Chinese Communist Party newspaper, the Global Times, released a blistering editorial attacking the US and the Biden administration's foreign policy strategy, according to a report published in OlxPraca. The Chinese State Media said that the present administration in the United States is the most inept and depraved in the country's history. Because the United States' national power has eroded significantly, the trade and human rights cards it plays to fight China have essentially no impact. Chinese-Controlled News Outlet Warned US Meanwhile, the United States' Taiwan card is being contained by military deterrence from the Chinese mainland. The US has now adopted this cheap shot as a "new weapon" with which to start a counter-offensive against China. The state-controlled Chinese news agency warned that the United States' attempts to support Taiwan at the United Nations would "create profound splits" and cripple the international organization's execution capacity. In a published article in CNN News, the news agency's editorial concluded that the United States would become a historic sinner, further eroding global solidarity. But one thing is certain: Taiwan will not be able to join the United Nations, no matter how hard it tries. The more ludicrous the US charade becomes, the more disgusting it becomes. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin also said that there is no place for compromise or compromises when it comes to China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as other key interests, and no one should underestimate the Chinese people's strong resolve, steadfast will, and capacity to protect national sovereignty and territorial integrity. Related Article: Biden Commits To Defend Taiwan in Any Military Attacks From China, Russia; POTUS Announces There Is No Change of Policy of US Defense Relationship With Taiwan @ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The French leader called off meeting with Australia despite claims that France had settled in after the AUKUS row. Paris said that the deal was underhanded and did not befit how Canberra should treat an ally. Recently, Joe Biden asked the UK to help mend the tensions a month ago, after Washington and Canberra had their diplomats kicked out except for Britain's. The actions of French president Emmanuel Macron show the submarine deal authored by the US and UK has profound and far-reaching implications than thought. Australia mend rifts with France caused by broken deal Australia's Trade, Tourism and Investment Minister, Dan Tehan spoke to media last Friday that Paris canceled a meeting while he was in Europe, cited Sky News Australia. They were crucial meetings to get on the mend whatever rifts were done by the indelicate submarine deal. Tehan criticized the French reaction to the AUKUS that the deal previously agreed on by Paris and Canberra would have the 31billion submarine building contract taken away and canceled with a message. Sources say the deal with the US was underway for some time, but the client 'Australia' did not give France a heads up that it was reneging on the agreement, reported the Express UK. Tehan said he wanted to talk to the French trade minister and their business group, but they did not confirm the meeting in Europe. The French leader called off meeting with Australia due to the circumstance of the broken deal. Read Also: French President Macron Says Global Oil System Needs To Stabilize As it Would Compromise Transition to Renewable Energy He added that President Macron knows that the Australian official only approached the French leader through the trade minister in the G20 meet in Italy recently. The actions taken by the leaders in Washington and Canberra have made it hard for officials tasked with normalizing relations. The Australian official claimed that he and his French counterpart agreed that the situation would correct itself and put the AUKUS tensions in the back seat, citing the Diverse Bulletin. Another admission is that the situation brought about by the broken submarine deal will not go away that easily, and a resolution will be laborious as Paris will not let them off the hook that easily. Australia favored the AUKUS deal instead of France Mr. Tehan spoke of the AUKUS deal and how it was not easy as concerned interests preceded to keep the French deal. It was the national interest of Australia and keeping its people safe. He adds that there was no time to explain to the other side as time was urgent, though explaining the decision should help. The minister was asked by Sky News host Rita Panahi how much longer will President Macron will ignore Australia and have normal relations again. He added that the French leader would be aloof, and his government as the slight causes by the submarine deal has driven deeper, and it has caused some friction too. But Minister Tehan said that he will still air why Canberra decided that way and other reasons for it. He cited it was the situation in the Indo-Pacific regarding China that pushed the government in such an action. Also, to acquire access to nuclear and AI technology, which was not a feature of the French deal. Related Article: Biden Tells Australia, UK To Mend Ties With France To Restore Normalcy After the Divisive AUKUS Deal > @ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. China's national legislature has enacted new legislation on the preservation and exploitation of land border regions, stating that the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity are "sacred and inviolable," which might have implications for Beijing's border conflict with India. According to the state-run Xinhua news agency, the bill was passed by the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) at the end of a parliamentary session on Saturday. The legislation, which takes effect on January 1 next year, states that "the People's Republic of China's sovereignty and territorial integrity are sacred and inviolable," as per MINT. China takes steps to strengthen border defense According to the report, the state must take steps to protect territorial integrity and land borders and defend against and oppose any conduct that jeopardizes territorial sovereignty and land borders. The law also states that the state must take steps to strengthen border defense, support economic and social development, and open up border areas, improve public services and infrastructure, encourage and support people's lives and work, and promote coordination between border defense and social and economic development in border areas. It said that the state would address land border-related concerns with neighboring nations through dialogue to appropriately settle disputes and long-standing border issues based on the principles of equality, mutual trust, and friendly consultation. The Land Borders Law, which is divided into seven chapters and has 62 clauses, is intended to "regulate, strengthen, defend, and stabilize border security." On Saturday, China's top legislative, the National People's Congress Standing Committee, gave it its approval, SCMP reported. The legislation also requires the state to construct basic infrastructure for blocking, transportation, communication, surveillance, deterrent, defense, and support in the case of a problem. After talks with the neighboring countries, the state can potentially construct structures for border blockades. According to the declaration, dispute resolution procedures with surrounding nations should be established to resolve problems based on equality, mutual trust, and amicable dialogue. Read Also: Vladimir Putin Defends Joe Biden's Decision To Withdraw US Troops From Afghanistan as Russia Ponders on Removing Taliban From Terrorist List China and India's ongoing tensions The law was approved two weeks after the most recent military discussions between Chinese and Indian leaders failed. China accused its neighbor of making excessive demands, while India protested that the Chinese had been unable to present "forward-looking proposals." While both Beijing and New Delhi have committed to resolving the conflict diplomatically, progress has stopped following previous rounds of negotiations that resulted in an agreement for withdrawal in some places, including hundreds of soldiers from the Pangong Tso area in Ladakh's Himalayan region. Last year, in the Galwan valley, 20 Indian soldiers and at least four Chinese soldiers were killed in the deadliest conflict between the two countries in decades. Due to a 1996 agreement that prohibits troops from using weapons or detonating explosives within 2 kilometers of the LAC save on shooting ranges, soldiers on both sides battled barehanded and with sticks and rocks instead of using firearms or explosives. After an increase in cases in China's southern provinces of Yunnan and Guangxi this year due to illegal crossings from Myanmar and Vietnam, China has taken tremendous measures to keep the COVID-19 virus outside its borders. Per Reuters via MSN, the People's Republic of China, created 72 years ago, now has specific legislation governing and guarding its 22,000-kilometer (14,000-mile) land border with 14 nations, including former superpower Russia nuclear-armed North Korea. The People's Liberation Army and the People's Armed Police Force, respectively, are in charge of protecting the border against an "invasion, encroachment, infiltration, or provocation." China's border can be closed if a neighboring war or other armed conflict threatens border security, according to the legislation. Related Article: China's Energy Crisis Prompts Warning of More Electricity Shortages From Rust-Belt Province @ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The House Select Committee chair said on Sunday that the panel was coordinating and was in talks with Facebook to acquire information, continuing its investigations of the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, and looking into the rally's financing just before the incident. In an interview, Rep. Benni Thompson said that there was a possibility of co-mingling restricted funds for the rally that could be found on the social media platform. The official noted that many of the people involved in the unprecedented incident traveled by plane chartered vehicles and stayed in hotels and motels. Subpoena Against Trump Thompson argued that somebody had to have paid for the accommodations and travel fees, saying they were looking into whether or not they were legal and if they contributed to the rally. He noted that the panel was working together with the social media company to obtain specific information. "It's clear that the Jan. 6 organization per se used them as an organizing tool to the extent that we can identify what really happened. At this point, Facebook is working with us to provide the necessary information we requested," said Thompson, Politico reported. Another agenda that the panel discusses is whether or not they will issue a subpoena for former United States President Donald Trump. Thompson said no one was above the law, and if the evidence pointed to the Republican businessman or anyone else, the committee would push. Read Also: Biden's Executive Order Enforcing Vaccine Mandate Affects Supply Chain, Workforce; National Guard May Alleviate Issues The committee chair said they were continuing the issuance of subpoenas to various individuals around the country who may have information regarding the happenings behind the Jan. 6 incident. Despite his commitments, Thompson said that the investigation was still ongoing, and the panel members were not trying to "get ahead" of it. Thompson said he and other committee members will "follow the facts and circumstances as they present themselves." On the other hand, another member of the committee, Rep. Adam Kinzinger, said he was unsure about the idea of issuing a subpoena to former President Trump. In an interview, the official argued that subpoenaing Trump would make the situation weird, but the committee will do so if the evidence pointed to him, TPM reported. Ongoing Investigations The situation comes as, on Thursday, the House of Representatives voted to hold former Trump adviser Steve Bannon in criminal contempt. The decision was made after the official defied a subpoena to cooperate with the investigations into the events of the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. The committee will be sending its recommendation to the Justice Department, which will then decide whether or not to enforce the prosecution. The issue with Bannon is only one part of an ongoing congressional investigation into the incident, with more than a dozen subpoenas being issued to various officials and individuals nationwide. The situation marks the most aggressive move made by Democrats to battle Trump's attempt to stymie the probe. Lawmakers are determined to prevent long standoffs that have occurred during Trump's presidency regarding congressional subpoenas. The Republican businessman repeatedly delayed attempts to investigate his White House and federal agencies, TodayUKNews reported. Related Article: Biden's Vaccine Mandate Receives Criticism From Business Group as Arizona Seeks Temporary Restraining Order on Requirement @ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Several prominent New York City unions are requesting that the city equal vaccination incentive payments for already-vaccinated employees. Public Employees To Receive $500 Bonus Once Vaccinated In a recently published article in Newsweek, New York City's current vaccination requirement gives a $500 bonus payment to public workers who get vaccinated by October 29. This includes police officers and firemen, but there are other unions who demanded to get the bonus as well. Meanwhile, unvaccinated public workers will be put on unpaid leave beginning November 1, and regular COVID testing will no longer be a possibility. The incentive is unfair to employees who had a jab before the offer went into effect, according to the Municipal Labor Committee, which represents a handful of public employee unions in the city. To address the demand of other unions whose members were already vaccinated prior to the offer, the organization has launched talks with the New York City Office of Labor Relations in order to get the same compensation for all, according to a published article in ABC7. Read Also: Vaccine Mandate: New York County's Chief Medical Examiner Refuses To Get COVID-19 Vaccine; Human Bodies Subject of Autopsies Relocated To Another Hospital Statements from the Different Unions The United Federation of Teachers (UFT), one of the group's unions, issued a statement supporting the demand for incentive payments. The organization expressed their displeasure with the mayor's offer of $500 to unvaccinated staff. The UFT is a member of the Municipal Labor Committee, which has commenced the impact negotiating process with the NYC Office of Labor Relations. Additionally, the MLC and its affiliated unions demanded that all municipal workers who had been vaccinated be compensated $500, according to a published article in News Knowledgia. However, the Police Benevolent Association, New York City's biggest police union, said that it will sue the city to overturn the ordinance. Vaccinations are frequently referred to as a personal medical choice, and the union opposed the vaccine mandate of the city. Mayor Bill de Blasio Explained the City's Vaccine Mandate Mayor Bill de Blasio earlier said that a requirement for municipal workers has been on his mind for some weeks. He told a news organization that the city has to stop the COVID-19 period by safeguarding public personnel. He also added that all public personnel, including police officers, EMTs, firemen, and many more, come into direct touch with their fellow New Yorkers. They must be secure. Their families must be secure, but they must also convince all New Yorkers that if they work with a government employee, they will be vaccinated. There will be no danger to anybody. In a published article in Daily News, municipal workers are subject to the obligation, which affects almost 100,000 people. When the requirement was issued, New York City certified that 71 percent of those employees had previously gotten at least one dose of the COVID vaccination. Needless to say, a second rule enacted by de Blasio in August also required teachers and school employees to get vaccinated; but it did not include a $500 reward. The city has provided a $100 incentive to New Yorkers who get immunized since August. Related Article: Protest in New York City Against COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate Turns Violent; Unvaccinated Teachers Not Allowed To Work @ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. For fear of ridicule, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle may have declined their son Archie Harrison's royal title. According to a story in US Weekly, royal biographer Andrew Morton revealed that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex did not agree on a specific phrase inside the title, which may have been the reason for them rejecting the honor that their son might have received as a member of the royal family. During Meghan Markle and Prince Harry's shocking interview with Oprah Winfrey, the Duchess revealed that the palace refused to give their kid the title of prince or princess due to the security implications. Duke, Duchess of Sussex refuse Archie's royal title The Sussexes also have a daughter called Lilibet Diana, who has yet to receive a title. A source for The Telegraph backed up Morton's assessment, saying that it wasn't only Meghan Markle who raised the issue; it worried Prince Harry as well. However, the royal author says that refusing the honorary title demonstrates their image awareness. Is that a reasonable statement to make when they're attempting to anticipate their son's future needs? We all know how vicious children can be over the slightest of things so if their parents think it's the wrong match, then they made the right decision for their family. The true disagreement among the royal family seemed to revolve around Archie's lack of a prince title, which the palace refused to confer upon him when he was born. Protection became a major issue of contention as they transitioned out of prominent positions, but Prince Harry was able to secure it for his family thanks to an inheritance from his late mother, Princess Diana. Meghan went on to say that it was never about the richness of it all since she didn't have that attachment, but rather about her "most important title," which was being a mother. Finally, Harry and Meghan's parenting decisions triumphed above any royal title. Read Also: Prince Charles "Reduced To Tears" After Hearing Prince William's Royal Inheritance Plan; What is the Duke's Bold Ambition? Meghan Markle, Prince Harry have no plans to baptize Lilibet in the UK Although Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor was born more than four months ago, the Queen has yet to meet her. With their two children, Lilibet and Archie, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are presently residing in Los Angeles. According to palace sources, the pair will break with royal tradition and will not baptize Lilibet at Windsor Castle, as they did with their son. According to former royal butler Grant Harrold, the Queen's absence from the particular event will be a blow to the monarch. Harrold predicted that the Royal Family might still attend the event, regardless of when it occurs. He recommended doing it online, which has been a staple of the royal roster since the plague began. Lilibet may be christened in the Episcopal Church of the United States, which is a member of the international Anglican Communion. Bishop Michael Curry, the leader of the Episcopal Church, spoke during the couple's wedding in May 2018 at St. George's Chapel, Windsor Castle. Per Express.co, Lilibet is presently seventh in line to the throne and would succeed since her religion is not regarded "incompatible" with the Church of England. However, if the child is baptized as a Catholic, she will lose her place in the line of succession, as have others of the Duke of Kent's children and grandchildren. Related Article: Republicans Urge Queen Elizabeth To Strip Meghan Markle of Royal Title for Interfering in US Politics @YouTube @ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The director for the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, said on Sunday that the spread of delta plus coronavirus variant infections in the United Kingdom will not force a ban on flights from Britain and Europe. In an interview, the medical professional said that the agency was not anticipating implementing an air travel ban from the UK and Europe. She said that her team was monitoring the science of the variant very carefully and did not expect such a response. Delta Plus Variant Last month, British scientists first identified the delta plus variant and is considered a relative of the original and highly transmissive delta variant that caused a massive surge of infections in the United States this summer. Due to not being a variant of interest or concern as of yet, authorities have not given it a Greek alphabet-based name. The UN health agency is currently monitoring about 20 variations of the delta variant worldwide. The United States had a "handful" of cases linked to the delta plus variant, or the AY.4.2 sublineage of the delta variant, Walensky said. However, the official said the situation in America is not as bad as that in the UK. There has been no increased transmissibility or decreased effectiveness of the coronavirus vaccines related to the new variant, the New York Post reported. Read Also: Pfizer Vaccine Booster Shows 95.6% Efficacy in Phase 3 Trials as Global Rollout of Additional Shots Continue The growing concerns over the UK's rising number of infections are a result of the new variant and the announcement of "Freedom Day." The day is when authorities lifted the majority of COVID-19 restrictions in England on July 19. Since then, the cases continued to rise while hospitalizations and deaths related to the coronavirus were relatively low. The situation came as the country's vaccination rollout was internationally regarded as a success by other nations. There were more than 50,000 infections recorded in the UK on Thursday in a single day. It was the highest single-day count since mid-July and represented a number higher than the combined records in Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and Portugal. Surge of Coronavirus Infections The country also recorded 115 deaths and observed a death toll of 223 people on Tuesday, which is the highest the region has recorded since March. The news comes as the UK Office for National Statistics revealed that about 1 in 55 people in England were allegedly infected in the week up to Oct. 16. This means that in that week alone, roughly one million people may have been infected, NBC News reported. The director of the Genetics Institute at University College London, Francois Ballous, said the new variant could be 10% to 15% more contagious than the delta strain. The latter first appeared in India and spread much faster than diseases such as Ebola, SARS, MERS, and the 1918 Spanish flu, said the CDC. Walensky said the delta variant had an R-naught, which is the reproductive rate, of eight or nine, which means that every single person who was infected could spread it to nine other individuals. The medical professional said the original coronavirus infection had an estimated R-naught of about three, CNBC reported. Related Article: Vladimir Putin Orders Paid Shutdown For Workers Starting October 30 as Russia Tackles Rising COVID-19 Cases, Deaths @ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The evolution of the Delta variants is now a concern if they can develop relevant resistance to the vaccine antibody response. Researchers are concerned about how far it has evolved structures and proteins to circumvent cell defenses set from exposure to previous strains. SARS-CoV-2 is continually evolving and trying to develop killer adaptations that often come, but chances of staying on till the next generation are slim. One concern is that the Delta strain has gone global and is very active. The Delta variant can infect fast Countries like India, where the Delta mutant came from, found its way to Germany, which has an infection due to the variants. But, the sub-variants have changes that are of concern and may have some adaptations of matter, reported SciTechdaily The study led by Stefan Pohlmann and Markus Hoffmann, Leibniz Institute for Primate Research in Gottingen, and other institutions researched how the strain can infect fast and efficiently and whether these new strains are dangerous. Another concern is the strain is considered more of a threat than other members of the coronavirus. Disturbing results from the Delta and its variant strain tend to attack lung cells better. Four antibodies were used against the original variant, but the plus got to stop two antibodies. The vaccine antibody response from BioNTech-Pfizer and Oxford-AstraZeneca is not enough against the Delta variants, contrasted to the original virus. It shows when it's other than Delta most are safe, cited News Medical. Read Also: Researchers Say the Unvaccinated Can Get Reinfection From COVID-19, Disregard Natural Immunity in Favor of Immunization But the contrast is that getting vaccinated first with Oxford-AstraZeneca and later getting BioNTech-Pfizer developed more antibodies that stopped the Delta, compared to two shots of AstraZeneca. A combo of these vaccines is good protection against SARS-CoV-2, noted Science Daily. Delta, Delta plus and other COVID-19 variants More than 99% of the coronavirus cases in Germany are due to the variant (B.1.617.2), said the Robert Koch Institute. The researchers Pohlmann and Hoffmann demonstrated that this strain is well equipped to adapt from the original one to enter the lungs quickly. Adaptation allows it to penetrate cell layers better. According to Arora Prerna, the author of two studies on the Delta variants, saying that The Delta strain might spread more quickly and cause more damage by merging cells in the respiratory system. COVID-19 may become more difficult as a result of this. Monoclonal antibodies are proteins that are made by genetic engineering to cure COVID-19. These proteins generate protection against a pathogen that causes infection, and they are used for curative therapies. The B.1.617.2 strain aces the antibody bamlanivimab, and the improved version of the strain can deal with bamlanivimab and etesevimab, which are used for COVID-19 treatment. Both the original and improved strains of Delta can bypass most antibodies in both vaccinated and unvaccinated people, allowing it to move about and spread. Pohlmann remarked that vaccination makes a big difference whether infected by either variant, but not protected, will worsen, and the Delta plus is not worse than the Delta, despite what others say. Related article: Scientists Study Genetically COVID-19 Resistant Individuals Who May Hold the Key to Better Therapies @ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The guy who received a five-year permanent restraining order from Kim Kardashian has now been arrested on felony stalking charges. Despite her permanent order of protection, Nicholas Costanza, who had previously sent Kim Kardashian a diamond ring and the Plan-B morning after pill, was arrested for trespassing on Tuesday, October 19. Security at Kim's Hidden Hills gated neighborhood apprehended the man for trespassing, and he was brought into police custody. Police were summoned to Kim's house early Tuesday morning, as per Daily Mail. Stalker charged with criminal assault Although Costanza has previously visited her house on several occasions, he apparently did not make it all the way to her Hidden Hills residence this time. In July, police charged him with criminal assault after he was ordered to keep at least 100 yards away from her with no contact. The man has been released on $150,000 bond. He had been accused of harassing Kim Kardashian and threatening her and her family before a five-year restraining order was obtained. According to TMZ, he sent her a package on June 3 containing a non-authenticated diamond ring and Plan-B, but her security team intercepted it before it reached the reality star. Costanza visited Kardashian's gated enclave twice this year, in February and May, telling security he was picking her up for a dinner date, according to her legal team. Kardashian's legal team said Costanza sought to connect with her over the internet, including creating a self-made marriage certificate. The man's social media profiles had all been deactivated, according to the source. Kim has already obtained a restraining order against another man, whom she alleges as someone who has been bothering her for months and has been attempting to gain access to her house. According to Kim's legal team, the 32-year-old man named Charles Peter Zelenoff claimed to be in love with her. Zeleneoff has two previous violence convictions, and the actress referred to him as a "stalker" in court records. Read Also: Nicole Young Serves Divorce Paper to Dr. Dre During Grandmother's Funeral Amid Bitter Court Battle Kim Kardashian obtains several restraining orders against stalkers In late May, a court issued Kim Kardashian with a temporary restraining order, directing Zelenoff to keep 100 yards away from her. According to the docs, he would reportedly tape films outside her residence and become "frustrated" when he couldn't go inside. The celebrity stated in the filings that she was scared that he knew her location and could locate her house because she had never revealed it publicly. He allegedly stated on social media that he wanted to pursue a sexual relationship with her but was having difficulty gaining entry. As part of their ongoing divorce processes, Kim Kardashian recently completed the purchase of her marital home with estranged husband Kanye West for $23 million. She received all finishings, furniture, fixtures, appliances, collectibles, silver, and art now located in said mansion, in addition to exclusive ownership of the estate. He was eventually freed after the Sheriff issued him a trespassing citation. In 2017, burglars targeted Kim Kardashian and Kanye West's Bel Air house, which was previously broken. Almost a year after Kim was robbed in Paris, three of the couple's expensive automobiles were ransacked. Kathy Griffin, the couple's next-door neighbor, was also targeted by the thief, who searched the vehicles before departing with only one iPhone, The Sun reported. Related Article: Kanye West Hints at Cheating on Kim Kardashian in New Song; KUWTK Star Considers Reconciliation With The Rapper @YouTube @ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Former United States President Barack Obama criticized New Jersey governor nominee Jack Ciattarelli, a Republican, for joining a "Stop the Steal" rally last year amid the 44th U.S. president's claims that GOP members are "systematically" stopping people from voting. In a campaign speech for Virginia Democratic gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe on Saturday, Obama said that Democrats nationwide were trying to make it easier for Americans to vote. He argued that in response to this, Republicans were pushing back to make it more difficult for regular citizens to make their voices heard. Obama Against Republicans The country's first Black president said that people should be asking Republicans why they did not want them to vote. When asked for examples of Republicans preventing people from voting, Obama's office did not immediately respond to comments. The governorship race between McAuliffe and Republican candidate Glenn Youngkin is a dead-even fight. The situation comes as there is just a little over a week left before Election Day. The two nominees received 46% each among likely voters, based on data from the latest Monmouth University survey, Fox News reported. In response, Youngkin's campaign said on Sunday morning that the Republican nominee has stated several times in the past that Obama was indulging McAuliffe's fantasies and lies. While the 44th president of the United States did not cite specific examples of GOP members' election laws, many Democrats have criticized legislation in several states, including Texas, Georgia, Florida, and Arkansas. Read Also: Biden Invites in His House Top Democratic Lawmakers To Finalize His Proposed Spending Bill Before Departing for Europe; POTUS Pressing Democrats To Come to an Agreement Obama joins other Democrats who are showing their support for McAuliffe, the most notable of which are United States Vice President Kamala Harris and first lady Jill Biden. On Tuesday, United States President Joe Biden is expected to campaign with McAuliffe in Arlington. One of Youngkin's controversial issues is his commitment to outlawing the teaching of critical race theory. The Republican vowed that if he was elected, he would also go "on offense" against abortion and ban it. "We all know education starts with a curriculum. We will teach all history, the good and the bad," he said, the New York Post reported. Voter Fraud in Last Year's Elections The situation comes after Obama rebuked Ciattarelli for the latter's claims that he did not know a rally he attended last year was a "Stop the Steal" rally. The 44th U.S. president's remarks were made during a campaign trail for New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy on Saturday in Newark. Obama called out Republicans for their continued voting rights legislation and those who have made baseless claims that the 2020 presidential elections were a fraud. The former president said that GOP members tried to rig elections themselves because the majority of the American population did not agree with their ideas. He said that when that failed, they then began making up lies, such as voter fraud in last year's elections. "I didn't know I could just like after I got beat, I could just get up and say, 'No, I didn't get beat. No, no, no. The machines were broken," Obama jokingly said, citing his congressional election loss in Chicago, Newsweek reported. Related Article: Nancy Pelosi Dodges on Question if She Will Run for Speaker Again; Says Tax on Wealthy Assets Would Pay for Only 10% of The Spending Bill @ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. During a meeting in 2014, exiled former Saudi Arabia official Saad Aljabri alleged in a recent interview that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman discussed employing a Russian poison ring to murder former King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. Young Prince Brags That He Could Kill King Abdullah In a recently published article in Newsweek, after bin Salmon deposed Mohammed bin Nayef as heir to the monarch in a 2017 palace coup, Aljabri escaped to Canada to live in exile. He was previously a key Saudi intelligence officer and advisor to Mohammed bin Nayef, the nephew of King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. Bin Salman, commonly known as MbS, and bin Nayef met in 2014, and the young prince boasted that he could murder King Abdullah to clear the way for his father's leadership, according to a former top Saudi security source who spoke with a news outlet on Sunday. Aljabri said, "And he told him, 'I want to assassinate King Abdullah. I get a poison ring from Russia. It's enough for me just to shake hands with him and he will be done. That what he says. Whether he's just bragging or, but he said that and we took it seriously," according to a published report in Business Standard. Read Also: Saudi Arabia Royal Family Argues Amid Israel's Peace Agreements With Bahrain, United Arab Emirates Aljabri Claims That He Still Has Copies of the Video of the Planned Assassination Bin Nayef was the chief of Saudi intelligence at the time while bin Salman was a guard for his father's royal court but had no formal function in the government. Aljabri said that he saw a videotape of the meeting and that copies of the film are still available today. Meanwhile, Aljabri used the interview to warn Prince Mohammed that he had a film that shows much more royal secrets as well as some information on the US. Scott Pelley, a journalist for "60 Minutes," was shown brief, silent footage. If Aljabri is murdered, the video may be published, according to a published article in ABC News. The claims leveled by Aljabri are the latest effort to put pressure on the 36-year-old crown prince. Two of Aljabri's adult children are being held in Saudi Arabia as pawns in an attempt to get their father to return to the country. If he returns, Aljabri could face the same fate as his former boss, Prince Mohammed bin Nayef, the once-powerful interior minister who was removed from the line of succession by the current crown prince in 2017. Scandals Emerge in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Bin Salman, Saudi Arabia's 36-year-old heir to the kingdom, was characterized by Aljabri as a "psychopath with no empathy" who doesn't feel the emotion and has never learned from his mistakes. Since bin Salman's ascension to power, the monarchy has been rocked by a series of scandals that have been criticized by Democrats and a rising number of Republicans. Needless to say, Jamal Khashoggi, a prominent opponent of the Saudi government and a Washington Post journalist, was killed at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in October 2018. In the aftermath of the tragedy, conflicting narratives developed about who was to blame for his death. According to the Saudi authorities, Khashoggi was assassinated by a group of renegade operatives who were attempting to convince him to return to the kingdom. The spies, according to Turkish sources, were deployed by high Saudi government officials. Related Article: Intelligence Official in Canada Accuses Saudi Arabian Crown Prince of Plotting His Assassination @ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Donald Trump recently slammed Fox News for running political ads that are critical of him. While he was still president, Trump seemingly had a tight relationship with the network, and he's completely aware of it. But this past week, Fox News released several political ads that attacked the ex-POTUS, and he's not thrilled. "What good is it if FOX News speaks well of me when they continually allow horrible and untruthful anti-Trump commercials to be run and plenty of them. In the good old days, that would never have happened and today it happens all of the time," he said via the Huffington Post. Anti-Trump groups convinced they offended ex-POTUS The publication also revealed that several anti-Trump groups have decided to run their political ads against the former president and his supporters on Fox News in hopes that he would see them. PAC Meidas Touch confirmed that it was one of their spots that aired on the right-wing network. They also posted a cryptic tweet further slamming Trump. The Lincoln Project, a group of conservatives, is also convinced that Trump saw their political ad on the network. The Republican Accountability Project also released some political ads attacking the former president and his supporters on Fox News. Read Also: House Select Committee in Talks with Facebook, Commits To Issuing Subpoena Against Trump if Evidence is Found Donald Trump, Fox News' dysfunctional relationship Earlier this year, TIME magazine claimed that Trump and Fox News had a dysfunctional relationship. After all, the two parties have always shown signs of co-dependency. After Twitter banned Trump following the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, he reportedly searched for a network that could get his message across. But even before he became president of the United States, Trump was already a regular on several programs that aired on the network. After Trump lost to Joe Biden in the 2020 election, Fox was also the first to interview him. However, Fox News was criticized for not asking the ex-POTUS questions about the impeachment, as well as the insurrection that just took place at the time. Donald Trump launches Truth Social As of late, it's unclear if Trump will continue to have a relationship with Fox News, especially after the network aired ads critical of the ex-president. Additionally, Trump just announced that he would be launching his own social media platform, the Truth Social. And it will serve as Twitter's biggest rival. Weeks ago, Trump filed a lawsuit against Twitter for refusing to reinstate his account. Unfortunately, the social media platform has not budged. With the upcoming launch of Truth Social, it's possible for Trump to no longer rely on Fox News to get his message across. After all, he has his own platform to do so. Even before the social media platform officially launched, it had already received a slew of backlashes. According to The Verge, the Software Freedom Conservancy (SFC) claimed that Trump's new social network violated a free and open-source software licensing agreement because it ripped off the social network Mastodon. Trump and his team have been given 30 days to comply with the license terms, or they could face legal action. Related Article: Trump Plans Roll Out of New Social Media Site 'Truth Social' Early 2022 After Being Banned From Facebook, Twitter @ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Five Sudanese government figures were reportedly detained amid rising tensions between civilian and military leaders in the country. According to reports, phone and internet signals were also disrupted across the country as part of a possible coup plot. The identities of the government officials that were detained were revealed to the press on Monday. Industry Minister Ibrahim al-Sheikh, Information Minister Hamza Baloul, Mohammed al-Fiky Suliman, a member of the Sovereign Council, Faisal Mohammed Saleh, a media adviser to Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok were all detained. Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok transported to secret location Initial reports revealed that security forces were also seen outside the prime minister's home. But after he refused to issue a statement of support in the ongoing coup, soldiers moved Hamdok to a secret location. The arrests came in the heels of Jeffrey Feltman's meeting with the Sudanese military and civilian leaders last weekend to try and resolve the dispute. Feltman serves as the US special envoy for the Horn of Africa. Throughout the past couple of weeks, Sudan's military and civilian leaders have been butting heads. Read Also: Dozens of Dead Bodies Found Floating in River as Ethiopia's Civil Rages On A coup attempt failed in Sudan in September Last month, a failed coup attempt resulted in a greater division between those that want a military government against those who toppled Al-Bashir over two years ago, according to the Huffington Post. Following Monday's arrests, NetBlocks confirmed that there was significant disruption on mobile internet connections across Sudan. Hiba Morgan, a journalist who was reporting from Khartoum, also experienced the disruption. "The military has also blocked all roads and bridges leading into Khartoum city. We've seen soldiers blocking access and they are telling us these are the orders they got. They are saying access to Khartoum city is to be restricted, and this is raising concern because that's where the government institutions are, that's where the presidential palace and the prime minister's offices are located," he told Al Jazeera. As of late, an official statement following the arrests has not been made. But there are reports that Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the head of Sudan's sovereign council, will say something about the incident on Monday. Protests have been taking place in Sudan for weeks According to CNN, several protests have taken place in Khartoum in recent weeks. Earlier this month, thousands of demonstrators gathered in front of the prime minister's home to ask the military to seize power. Days later, another group of protesters flocked to the streets in support of the civilian rule. On Monday, another group of demonstrators was spotted on the streets of Khartoum, setting up roadblocks and bonfires ahead of the protests. Feltman confirmed that the United States was deeply alarmed at reports of a military takeover of the transitional government in the country. He added that changes to any transitional government done by force put them at risk for US assistance. Feltman also said that the reported military takeover is unacceptable because it would contradict the Constitutional Declaration and democratic aspirations of those living in Sudan. Related Article: Antony Blinken Commits To Supporting Israel Forge Diplomatic Relationships With Arab States @ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. New details regarding the accidental shooting of 'Rust' cinematographer Halyna Hutchins have just been released. Last week, Alec Baldwin accidentally fired a prop firearm on the set of his upcoming movie in New Mexico. Prior to the accident, Unionized Hollywood workers stormed off the set due to safety concerns. And some of them also expressed concerns over the use of the firearm that killed the cinematographer and injured director Joel Souza. How did the accidental shooting happen in the 'Rust'? According to Huffington Post, Baldwin was rehearsing a gunfight scene on set while Hutchins was lining up her next camera shot with Souza and another crew member. Prior to this, Baldwin pulled the gun out of its holster once without any incident, but the gun discharged the second time that he pulled it out. The publication said that weapons on movie sets are typically managed by an armorer or a person who has experience handling a gun. The armorer should also know when it comes to the difference between live ammo and blanks. Read Also: Chicago to Release Footage Showing Fatal Police Shooting of Boy Unionized Hollywood workers expressed safety concerns Prior to the accident, Unionized Hollywood workers had already verbalized their frustrations over the state of the industry. More specifically, they had issues with their schedules, health, and safety. Last week, over 60,000 workers affiliated with the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, Moving Picture Technicians, Artists and Allied Crafts threatened to walk off the job if their demands were not met. Their union managed to avert a strike, but an even bigger controversy plagued them because of the accident involving Baldwin, Souza, and Hutchins. According to the Associated Press, there were already safety concerns on the set of "Rust" even before Baldwin fired a prop firearm. Five days earlier, Baldwin's stunt double accidentally fired two live rounds after being told that the gun didn't have an ammunition. A crew member sent a message to the production manager saying that three accidental discharges had already taken place on set. However, the production team still decided to push through with filming. Assistant director Dave Halls under investigation Court records also revealed that assistant director Dave Halls was the one that handed the firearm to Baldwin. He also yelled cold gun, which meant that the weapon didn't carry live rounds. The 911 call made by script supervisor Mamie Mitchell also heard her blaming Halls after the dispatcher asked if the gun was loaded. "I cannot tell you. We have two injuries. And this [expletive] AD (assistant director) that yelled at me at lunch, asking about revisions... He's supposed to check the guns. He's responsible for what happens on the set," Mitchell said via TIME magazine. Reports confirmed that Baldwin is cooperating with the police investigation. And he is also mourning the death of his cinematographer. Following the tragic incident, the people behind "Rust" have decided to put production on hold while investigations are taking place. The production team also announced that they will be donating to the Halyna Hutchins Scholarship Fund and will be matching any amount that the crew would donate to the organization, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Related Article: Alec Baldwin Kills Cinematographer, Injures Director After He Discharged a Prop Firearm on the Set of His Movie In Mexico @ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. New Zealand authorities reported the country's second-ever-highest coronavirus daily case rate on Monday since the beginning of the pandemic, the majority of which were recorded in Auckland, the largest city in the region. The situation comes after the country was praised for successfully stomping out the coronavirus before the recent outbreak that has forced authorities to concede. The surge of the Delta variant centered in Auckland proved to be too much and has caused the city to be in strict lockdown for more than two months. New Zealand's Vaccination Target Over the weekend, New Zealand officials also announced the first community case recorded in its South Island after nearly a year. The situation has caused a growing concern among many people as health officials argued that the threat of further spread was still relatively low. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern previously announced that the country's federal government abandoned her elimination strategy and accepted living with the virus. Health officials later warned of a surge of cases until officials are able to vaccinate more residents against the infection, Reuters reported. The situation comes as more and more coronavirus cases are admitted into New Zealand hospitals. One medical professional, Raiwiri Jansen, a Maori doctor, warned that dozens of new infections every day could later become hundreds or even thousands. Read Also: No Plans To Stop Flights From UK, Europe Amid Delta Variant Plus Spread, CDC Says The doctor said that the threat persists that people will die from the virus and that vaccination was the only defense against the worsening pandemic. Jansen argued that when healthcare workers become scared of a virus, people should also be concerned about their well-being. During an exhaustive question-and-answer session attended by several health professionals, nearly a third of the attendees decided to get vaccinated on the spot. New Zealand has switched to trying to contain the coronavirus cases and keep cases as few as possible, the New York Times reported. Living With The Coronavirus On Friday, the New Zealand government announced an ambitious target of vaccinating 90% of eligible residents before ending lockdowns. Ardern has been under constant pressure to bring the country's people to a safe haven after being in lockdown for more than two months. Under the newly-announced framework, residents in Auckland can expect to regain their freedoms after 90% of people aged 12 and older in the three districts have been inoculated. In other areas of the country, people will regain even more public freedom once they achieve the 90% vaccination rate threshold. However, authorities will require residents to use new vaccine certificates when going to places like bars, restaurants, and gyms. Officials also committed to providing funding to assist businesses struggling under the recent lockdown restrictions. The money will also be used to support and boost vaccination rates among Indigenous Maori, whose rates have been slowing down. Despite setting a target much higher than most countries, Prime Minister Ardern said that Auckland could easily reach a 90% vaccination rate within a few weeks. However, health officials have found it increasingly difficult to urge the remaining unvaccinated residents to get inoculated against the coronavirus infection, CP24 reported. Related Article: Pfizer Vaccine Booster Shows 95.6% Efficacy in Phase 3 Trials as Global Rollout of Additional Shots Continue @ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The United Nations' World Food Programme (WFP) warned that millions of Afghan residents could starve to death this coming winter unless other nations take urgent action to assist the war-torn country's population. The WFP said that more than half of Afghanistan's population, which numbered about 22.8 million residents, are facing acute food insecurity. Officials said that 3.2 million children under five years of age are at risk of acute malnutrition. Afghanistan's Devastated Economy In a statement, WFP executive director David Beasley said that Afghanistan was now among the world's worst humanitarian crises, if not the worst. The official said that the rest of the world was counting down to the country's catastrophe. The situation in Afghanistan came after the Taliban militant group took control of the country's government after conquering its capital city of Kabul in August. The insurrection group's success was largely linked to the complete withdrawal of United States troops from the region. The Taliban's takeover weakened Afghanistan's already fragile economy that heavily depended on foreign aid for support. Many western nations suspended the sending of aid to the region and the World Bank and International Monetary Fund halted payments after the Taliban took control, BBC reported. The numbers are also a jump compared to records two months ago where only 14 million people in Afghanistan were suffering from acute food insecurity. Beasley said that "children are going to die." The WFP official said that the situation in Afghanistan was only going to get worse if left alone. Read Also: Biden Invites in His House Top Democratic Lawmakers To Finalize His Proposed Spending Bill Before Departing for Europe; POTUS Pressing Democrats To Come to an Agreement Afghanistan's food crisis was made worse by climate change which already had a firm grasp on the country even before the Taliban took control. The new government has been prevented from accessing assets held overseas as nations worldwide contemplate on how to deal with the insurrection group's government. Beasley noted that his agency was seeing their predictions coming true at a much faster rate than they had anticipated before. He said that no one expected Kabul to fall so quickly and for Afghanistan's economy to fall so low, Reuters reported. International Financial Support The situation comes as the UN has announced that it plans to set up a special trust fund to provide desperately-needed cash support for Afghanistan residents. The funds would be channeled through a system that taps into donor funds frozen since the Taliban group's takeover in August. The UN's goal is to inject liquidity into Afghan households amid the local economy "imploding" on itself. This would allow residents to survive the winter season and stay in their homeland despite the chaos that has ensued since the insurrection group's takeover. The UN Development Programme's (UNDP) administrator, Achim Steiner, said that Germany had pledged $58 million as a first contributor. The official said the agency was currently discussing with other donors to mobilize resources in support of Afghanistan. The UNDP estimated the costs for the first 12 months of providing aid to the war-torn country to be around $667 million. "What we are witnessing is not only a nation and a country in the midst of political turmoil; what we are also witnessing is an economic implosion," Steiner said during a Geneva news conference, Aljazeera reported. Related Article: Obama Criticizes New Jersey Gov. Nominee Amid Claims That GOP Members Are 'Systematically' Preventing Americans From Voting @ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. JOINT STATEMENT BY THE HEADS OF STATE AND GOVERNMENT OF COUNTRIES OF SOUTH EASTERN EUROPE We, the Heads of State and Government of countries of South Eastern Europe President Kiro Gligorov, President Slobodan Mlilosevic. Prime Minister Victor Ciorbea, Prime Minister Ivan Kostov, Prime Minister Fatos Nano, Prime Minister Costas Simitis and Prime Minister Mesut Yilmaz, and the Ministers of Foreign Affairs Mr. Ismail Cem, Mr. Blagoj Handziski, Mrs. Nadezhda Mihaylova, Mr. Paskal Milo, Mr. Milan Milutinovic, Mr. Theodoros Pangalos, Mr. Adrian Sevenir and the Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Mihovil Malbasic, participating as an Observer, representing the freely elected governments of the South - Eastern Europe peoples met for the first time in our history in Crete and agreed on the following: We shall work together to create in our region conditions for the prosperity of our nations in a framework of peace, security, good-neighbourliness and stability. We are determined to pursue the South Eastern Europe cooperation, on a mutual and equal basis, in the firm belief that each of us has much to learn from the other. We shall promote to State of Law, the protection, of human rights, including the rights of persons belonging to national minorities, including interethnic dialogue, individual freedoms and a market economy that will allow the individual enterprises to flourish and generate employment and opportunities for all and especially for the youth. We affirm our commitment to the UN Charter, the Paris Charter for a new Europe and the Helsinki Final Act including all ten principles referred therein, namely sovereign equality, respect for rights inherent in sovereignty, refraining from the threat of use of force, inviolability of frontiers, territorial integrity of States, peaceful settlement of disputes, non - intervention in internal affairs, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, including the freedom of through, conscience, religion or belief, equal rights and self - determination of peoples, cooperation among States, fulfillment in good faith of obligations under international law. We consider that the European orientation of our countries is an integral part of their political, economic and social development. We aspire to transform our region in an area of cooperation and economic prosperity and, to that effect, we decided to promote good neighbourly relations and respect for International Law. We believe that Europe can not be complete without our countries and our peoples representing civilisations and historical traditions which are essential to the establishment of a contemporary European identity. European and Euro-atlantic integration are essential in promoting the aforementioned objectives. We shall encourage the cooperation of the genuine representatives of our peoples in our national Parliaments, as well as their common intention to create a forum of undesrtanding and friendly relations. We reconfirmed our support for already existing regional initiatives sharing the same ideals with us such as Royaumont, SECI, BSEC, CEI. We shall promote the scientific, educational, cultural and sport relations as a means for strengthening our mutual understanding and friendship. We shall cooperate with each other in the field of justice, the combat against organized crime, the halting of illicit druj and arms trafficking and the elimination of all forms of terrorism and take joint action against illegal and irregular migration. Our cultural and religious diversity cannot be seen as a threat to our cooperation and security. On the contrary we believe it is a powerful source of inspiration, creativity and dynamism. We shall intensify our efforts for the increase of our economic cooperation, the improvement of infrastructure for transport, telecommunications and energy as well as for the establishment of favourable conditions for investments. We invite the competent Ministers to meet at least once a year to assess progress. We shall promote the cross border cooperation and to that effect we invite officials to meet regularly and Ministers of Economy or Finance, or other Ministers responsible for it, to meet at least once a year to review the progress achieved. We took into consideration different valuable proposals for the establishment of institutes and centres for the promotion of multilateral cooperation in various fields. . We call upon Ministers of Foreign Affairs to meet at least once a year to conduct political consulations and to promote cooperation on issues of regional stability and security. Political Directors will meet every three months for consulations and report to Ministers. In order to ensure continuity between the countries undertaking the organisation of Summit or Ministerial Meetings as well as of various technical groups, the idea of establishing a joint Secretariat will be discussed by the Ministers of Foreign Affairs. The Heads of State and Government of countries of South Eastern Europe expressed their warm thanks for the hospitality of Greece for hosting the Crete Summit Meeting. They decided to hold their next Summit Meeting in Turkey in 1998. Heracleion, Crete, 4 November 1997 Join Us In The Fight For Justice And Peace By John Pilger, Paul Craig Roberts, Pepe Escobar, Peter Koenig, Finian Cunningham, Andre Vltchek, Gilad Atzmon, James Petras, Dr. Cesar Chelala and Paul Edwards Renewed Writers Appeal to ICH Readers September 14, 2018 " Information Clearing House " - Since we last appealed to readers a year ago, you responded with tremendous support to Information Clearing House. We thank you! Today, we appeal for you to do so again. If everyone of ICHs readers just gave a little, we would be all a lot stronger and more secure to keep the project going. We are not asking people to break their savings, bust a gut, or go without food. Just for everyone to act together in making a contribution they can afford. Also, since we last appealed to readers, the public information service that Tom Feeley provides with ICH has become even more important as a resource of critical and independent information. In recent weeks, the war agenda pushed by the corporate-controlled media has become even more deranged. Misinformation about chemical weapons in Syria is leading the world to a dangerous confrontation, possibly a global conflagration between the United States and Russia. ICH has consistently served to expose the misinformation with accurate reporting and analysis. That, in turn, empowers citizens to challenge and overturn the warmonger agenda. Another sinister sign of the times is the growing censorship of alternative media by the corporate power in liaison with unaccountable governments. Again, misinformation about Russian meddling is part of this corporate stealth-attack on free speech and critical voices. ICH has consistently fought against the assault on democratic rights, by publishing alternative voices which expose the misinformation, and thereby defy the trend towards censorship. It is certainly a foreboding sign when the New York Times, the so-called premier American newspaper, is working hand-in-hand with unelected state intelligence to undermine an elected president. Whatever you may think of the incumbent US president, the far more disturbing issue is how supposed news media organizations have become brazen conduits for secret powers to undermine democratic rights. Paul Craig Roberts exposed this nefarious nexus in a recent oped published by ICH. Many other independent writers, analysts and readers comments are brought to millions of citizens each day by ICH on a diverse range of other urgent issues. Tom Feeley, the creator and editor at ICH, has been empowering citizens around the world for the past 17 years with his free-of-charge news-and-analysis digest. He has loyally adhered to his promise to never allow ICH funding from corporate or state agencies. It is entirely funded by you the citizen readers. Independent, truthful and dedicated to the rights and interests of worker-citizens. Toms global newsletter is not cluttered with commercial gimmicks or clickbait trivia. Its format is a straightforward, workmanlike digest of a wide range of independent analyses and commentary, as well as a very helpful daily compendium of relevant international news. That is a crucial service saving readers a lot of their time from not having to scour through countless and often misleading information sources. Hence the name: Information Clearing House. ICH is about empowering citizens with truth so that we can build a better world of justice and peace. It is a very possible mission. It is eminently doable, albeit at times daunting. The dangers and challenges are multiplying, and so we appeal to readers to rise again to this vital fight. Please join us in the fight for justice and peace. Make a donation today to ICH. John Pilger Paul Craig Roberts Pepe Escobar Peter Koenig Finian Cunningham Andre Vltchek Gilad Atzmon James Petras Dr. Cesar Chelala Paul Edwards Note from Tom I am immensely grateful to the journalists listed above and to those of you who have contributed in the past to fund our efforts to better inform people around the world. Main stream media organizations are motivated by profit. Information Clearing House is non-commercial, no advertising, no pop-up windows, no algorithms and we are not affiliated with any political party, religion or organization. We do not see our readers as a potential for profit, rather we see you as a partner, working to bring about a world where all people are treated with respect. We do not lecture or try to convert others to our world view, we search for facts and information not available in main stream media and send them directly by email to well over 100,000 people around the word each day. ICH grew out of frustration and anger at the failure of traditional commercial media to inform the American public, especially as it relates to US foreign policy. The propaganda spewed up by our government has enabled it to manipulate public opinion through psychological manipulation (social engineering) using main stream media and has in many instances converted citizens into Zombies who prefer to applauded our politicians as the stand on the bodies of millions around the world who have been killed because of our lack of awareness and concern. Our monthly budget is supported by people like Ahuda from the Central African Republic who contributes $0.36 cents each month. (Thank you Ahuda) the $0.73 cents from Hashim in Pakistan (Thank you Ahuda) and others who send $10, $25, etc. (Thank you) This has to STOP , we have to work to prevent further killing, suffering and torture because as John Adams said "Liberty cannot be preserved without general knowledge among the people." American - President October 30, 1735 - July 4, 1826 Peace and Joy Tom Feeley Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter ==See Also== Note To ICH Community We ask that you assist us in dissemination of the article published by ICH to your social media accounts and post links to the article from other websites. Thank you for your support. Peace and joy Despite its powerful performance, a reliable assessment website ranked the iPhone 13 Pro camera 12th in its global rating. The iPhone 13 Pro added big improvements to its images but still showed problems with its brightness and color temperature. Overall, it gets an okay-but-not-spectacular review. DxOMark is a popular assessment website that tests smartphone performance with camera, display, audio and battery. Although some people doubt its authenticity and rating, DxOMark often presents viable results and arguments during its evaluations. Earlier this week, their experts finally tested the iPhone 13 Pro selfie camera and performances. The results revealed a few surprises. iPhone 13 Pro Camera Specs and Features DxOMark officially scored iPhone 13 Pro with 99 points on its camera. The score puts it below the Huawei P50 Pro (106), Asus ZenFone 7 Pro (103), and even Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G (100). For reference, iPhone 13 Pro is the second model from the Apple 2021 smartphone lineup. Its main features include a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display, A15 Bionic chipset and 1TB internal storage. It is also worth noting that its primary camera features larger sensors, faster aperture, improved sensor shift OIS (optical image stabilizer), and PDAF (phase-detection autofocus). Key camera specifications are: Primary: 12 MP sensor, 1.9m pixels, 26 mm equivalent f/1.5-aperture lens, sensor shift OIS, Dual Pixel AF Ultra-wide: 12MP sensor, 13mm equivalent f/1.8-aperture lens, PDAF, 2cm macro Tele: 12 MP sensor, 77mm equivalent f/2.8-aperture lens, OIS Read Also: iPhone 13 Camera Upgrade vs. iPhone 12: Why Autofocus Ultra-Wide Lens Is a Big Deal iPhone 13 Pro Selfie Camera: Scores and Ratings During the test, DxOMark gave the iPhone 13 Pro selfie camera the following scores: Photo: 102 Video: 95 Gizchina noticed that scores of the iPhone 13 Pro selfie camera ranked close to last year's iPhone 12 series. The higher scores indicate some level of improvement but only on a minor scale. The changes are emphasized on selfie camera subject focus. In terms of improvements, the iPhone 13 Pro selfie camera presented accurate and repeatable target exposure. It also has fast autofocus, a wide depth of field, accurate depth estimation and meticulous detail to highlights. Note that wide focus means a lot more subject or people can fit in one selfie shot. Unfortunately, the camera retained a lot of its traditional weaknesses. Luminance noise is evident, especially on indoor scenes. Objects also appear slightly distorted, especially on the subject's face and skin tone. Some photos have residual movements in motion video settings. Almost all details are lost in low-light scenarios. Comparisons are now being made between iPhone 13 Pro and Samsung Galaxy S21 5G. According to DxOMark, Samsung Galaxy S21 is the more capable selfie shooter than iPhone 13 Pro. Although Samsung shares the same noise problems with iPhone 13 Pro, Samsung's performance is a lot more satisfying. Its images retain more details than iPhone 13 Pro. As previously mentioned, some of these ratings are questionable to smartphone fans. Apple fans might have to wait a little longer for other comparisons, which could be released by different sources later this year. Related Article: Did Intel Just Release Its Alder Lake Chips Early? Reddit Users Claim to Have Bought Two Chips Ahead of Release A new survey revealed that Dogecoin has one of the highest adoption rates globally. Elon Musk agreed and tweeted a boost to Doge, calling it the people's crypto. After an eventful year for cryptocurrencies, researchers recently surveyed its market performance. Experts from Finder created a cryptocurrency adoption index that ranks cryptocurrency growth trends in these last few months. Cryptocurrency Adoption Index Finder researched the growth of cryptocurrencies across 41,645 individuals in 22 countries. They used regular surveys to conduct their study. On average, the surveyed countries had 6.8 percent investors on Bitcoin, 3.2 percent investors on Ethereum, 2.2 percent investors on Cardano, 1.9 percent investors on Binance, and 2.3 percent investors on Dogecoin. Bitcoin is primarily adopted in Japan with a 76.7 percent adoption rate, followed by South Africa at 72.6 percent and Singapore at 66.7 percent. Ethereum is primarily adopted in Singapore at 52.4 percent, followed by Australia at 42.1 percent and Canada at 37.6 percent. Cardano is primarily adopted in Australia with a 26.4 percent adoption rate, followed by Ireland at 25.4 percent and Russia at 23.6 percent. Meanwhile, Binance is mainly adopted in Indonesia with a 26.9 percent rate, followed by Mexico at 24.3 percent and Russia at 23.9 percent. Dogecoin is widely accepted in the United States with a 30.6 percent adoption rate, followed by New Zealand at 29.5 percent and Indonesia at 28 percent. Read Also: Dogecoin Price Prediction: Analysts Expect Massive Increase Amid Wide Doge Adoption Dogecoin Price Prediction: Doge Has the Highest Adoption Rate A report from Benzinga emphasized the numbers on the Cryptocurrency Adoption Index, particularly with Dogecoin. They said Dogecoin adoption supersedes Bitcoin and Ethereum in the U.S., about 1.6 times more than the global adoption rate of 19.2 percent. The numbers are surprisingly huge, given that Dogecoin started out as a meme coin on the market. For reference, Dogecoin experienced 10,000 percent growth over the past year and 130,000 percent growth in the past five years. Investors are anxiously anticipating the next Doge hype that could generate quick profits with its massive growth rate. Aside from profits, Dogecoin fans are also strong supporters for using it as a payment method. Earlier this month, Mark Cuban revealed that his Dallas Mavericks sold "thousands and thousands of dollars" worth of merchandise per month with Dogecoin. Elon Musk Tweets Dogecoin Value Boost On Sunday, Twitter user @ProTheDoge posted the Benzinga report with a comment "(Doge) appeal is real." Doge fans were taken by surprise when Elon Musk replied, "(Doge) felt like the people's crypto." Lots of people I talked to on the production lines at Tesla or building rockets at SpaceX own Doge. They arent financial experts or Silicon Valley technologists. Thats why I decided to support Doge it felt like the peoples crypto. Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 24, 2021 Musk came to this conclusion because many of the people he talked to in Tesla and SpaceX also own the meme coin. However, these investors are not financial experts or Silicon Valley technologies. Instead, it was held by the "common people," who also fueled the hype for Doge. Some of the public shared Musk's sentiments. At the time of writing, Musk's tweet gained 6,466 retweets, 797 quote tweets and over 28,700 likes. Related Article: Did Intel Just Release Its Alder Lake Chips Early? Reddit Users Claim to Have Bought Two Chips Ahead of Release BTS performs during an online concert livestreamed from Seoul, Oct. 24. Courtesy of Big Hit Music K-pop supergroup BTS delivered a message of hope to its global fans Sunday during an online concert livestreamed from an empty stadium in Seoul to prevent the spread of COVID-19. "BTS Permission To Dance On Stage" was the group's first global online concert in about a year since the "BTS MAP OF THE SOUL ON:E" in October last year. The septet opened the show with "On," the title track of its fourth full-length album, "Map of the Soul: 7," presenting powerful group dance moves. The song's lyrics that go, "The power of the things that make me, 'me' / Even if I fall, I come right up, scream," sounded like words of comfort for those who have suffered from the pandemic. The group then heated up the atmosphere by performing their hit numbers, such as "Fire," "Dope," "DNA," "Blood, Sweat and Tears" and "Fake Love." After the opening stage, Jimin said, "We've been looking forward to today a lot, and we're grateful and honored to be able to prepare (this concert) and meet you like this again. I will perform harder for you who are not here today." Jungkook said, "Although we cannot see you today, it's an honor that we can show us to you. We'll do our best in today's concert." RM said, "I think we are the most like ourselves when we sing and dance on stage. It feels hard, because it's been a while." The group did not miss its global hit songs, like "Dynamite," which earned it the first No. 1 on the Billboard main singles chart for a K-pop act, and its other Hot 100 chart toppers, including "Life Goes On" and "Butter." There was no individual performance from the beginning through the end, with the group singing and dancing all together. V, who experienced pain in his calf muscles during a rehearsal the previous day, however, took part in the show while seated on a chair and without choreography. "There was a mistake while practicing and rehearsing for the concert," he said. "I'm really okay, so you don't have to worry so much... If I can, I want to run to the stage." Drawing attention was the show's powerful visual effects that helped the audience enjoy computer-generated visual effects and images shown on large LED screens at the stadium through their devices at home simultaneously. A multi-view live streaming service was also available for them to select and enjoy various scenes taken from six different angles on a real-time basis. As the performance came close to the finale, "Spring Day," which has an impressive refrain that goes "I miss you," resonated across the stadium. This desperate message to its dedicated fan base, ARMY, whom the group could not meet due to the pandemic, however, turned into a message of hope when it performed "Permission to Dance." With this 24th and final song, BTS finished the concert, which lasted about two and a half hours. The online concert took place after the band scrapped its planned world tour, "BTS Map of the Soul Tour," due to the pandemic. Following the online event, BTS will have its first in-person concerts in Los Angeles in two years next month. "BTS Permission To Dance On Stage - LA" will be held at SoFi Stadium on Nov. 27 and 28, and Dec. 1 and 2, with all tickets already sold out. (Yonhap) Members of K-pop sensation BTS pose during their online concert Sunday. Courtesy of Big Hit Music By Dong Sun-hwa Over the past two years, the members of K-pop titan BTS faced a torrid time just like their fans. The lingering COVID-19 pandemic has deterred them from playing live concerts in front of massive crowds, depriving them of the opportunity to do the very thing they live for. This was why the septet, who has been feeling lost in their lives, was more than thrilled to hold their first online concert in a long time on Sunday, which signaled the beginning of its new world tour, "BTS PERMISSION TO DANCE ON STAGE." For BTS, the event was a much-needed boost to reignite its passion and take the next leap forward. "Honestly, I went through tough times when I was preparing for this concert, because I felt like I had no more driving forces," leader RM told his followers during the concert. "I also felt like I was forgetting who I am But thanks to today's show, I realized that I do not have to ruminate on my motivations or anything else if I can just see my fans." Jungkook echoed such sentiments, saying, "Before performing on stage today, I was not even aware that my passion was gradually dying. But through today's show, I realized what was going on deep in my heart I think I really have to meet you now. I miss you so much." BTS performs during Sunday's online concert. Courtesy of Big Hit Music Six members RM, Jin, Suga, j-hope, Jimin and Jungkook opened the show by walking out of a white prison that had been confining them. They gave a powerful performance of their hip-hop track, "ON" (2020), while member V, who suffered pain in his calf muscles during show rehearsals, remain seated. Nevertheless, V boasted his vocal bravura from the chair. BTS then heightened the festive mood with "FIRE" (2016) and "DOPE" (2015), before welcoming the fans with radiant smiles. Jungkook, who recently dyed his hair mint-blonde, said, "Although we cannot see you, you can still see us. We will perform hard and enjoy ourselves today." V added, "Please do not worry too much about my health condition. I am really fine. Let's get started." For more than two hours, the Big Hit Music stars performed 24 songs including "DNA" (2017), "FAKE LOVE" (2018) and "Boy With Luv" (2019). BTS during Sunday's online concert / Courtesy of Big Hit Music One of the most attention-grabbing moments was when the group performed "Black Swan" (2020) against the backdrop of the full moon. After Jimin began the performance with his surreal moves that powerfully evoked a sense of modern dance, the other members joined him and created a dramatic mood that enthralled the crowd. Behind them, several backup dancers put on fur-like white gloves and moved in sync, making them look like a pair of huge wings enabling BTS to fly high. BTS members became emotional under the spell of crooning ballads like "Blue & Grey" (2020), but the mood changed when they belted out more vibrant and upbeat songs such as "So What" (2018) and "IDOL" (2018). Some other tracks on the set list were BTS's English-language songs such as "Dynamite" (2020) and "Butter" (2021). One noticeable thing about the concert was that there were no individual performances. In their previous shows, the members often performed solo features, notably Suga stealing the scene with his solo track, "Seesaw" (2018) and Jin mesmerizing the audience with his performance of "Epiphany" (2018). J-hope explained that BTS wanted to fill the stage as a full seven-member group this time. "It was a huge challenge for us to do so," he said. "We poured a lot of effort into this job." BTS is poised to have live concerts in Los Angeles on Nov. 27 and 28, and Dec. 1 and 2. Courtesy of Big Hit Music Kakao Pay CEO Ryu Young-jun answers questions during an online press conference, Monday in Seoul. Yonhap By Kim Yoo-chul A top executive at Kakao Pay dismissed concerns that its share price could suffer from imminent market overhang as its No. 2 stakeholder, China's AliPay, won't unload its stakes held in the Korean company. "I am not 100 percent sure about our shareholders. However, since the very beginning, AliPay has cooperated with Kakao Pay on multiple fronts as a strategic investor. We don't think AliPay will unload its holdings in Kakao Pay after the initial public offering (IPO). Therefore, the tradeable share volume will be limited. There will not be an overhang issue," Kakao Pay CEO Ryu Young-jun said in an online press conference, Monday. Investors' primary focus is on how much stock volume owned by AliPay will be unloaded after the IPO as the Chinese giant owns 37.2 million shares, or 28.47 percent of Kakao Pay. AliPay is an online payment platform currently operated by China's Ant Financial. Regarding the specifics of its business expansion plans beyond the Korean Peninsula, the CEO said Kakao Pay is planning to advance into China, Europe and countries in Southeast Asia, although he didn't specify when and how. "Kakao Pay is receiving lots of requests for collaboration from countries in Southeast Asia and the Middle East. We will carefully review suggested business proposals that we've received after the IPO," said the top company executive. As widely expected, Kakao Pay plans to raise 1.53 trillion won from its IPO after pricing shares at the top of a marketed range. Kakao Pay was backed by Jack Ma's Ant Group just a few months after its sister company KakaoBank raised $2.3 billion in Korea's second-largest IPO so far this year. When asked about the intended use of funds that will be raised from the IPO, Ryu said most of the amount will be used as a source for acquisitions, buying shares of targeted firms, bolstering assets for digital insurance businesses and operating needs. He maintained his muted stance toward assessing the government's recent campaign to rein in "Big Tech" companies. The country's top antitrust regulator was taking steps to tighten regulations on the country's fastest-growing online platforms with lawmakers and senior government officials dubbing the homegrown Big Tech companies such Kakao and Naver as symbols of greed. During this year's National Assembly inspection of government agencies, Kakao and Naver vowed several times to apply much more strengthened measures to resolve concerns over the monopolization of markets and come up with additional plans to help local merchants and partners to survive. Kakao Pay will receive requests for public stock subscriptions from retail investors from Oct. 25 to 26, following book-building with institutional investors. The listing is set for Nov. 3. By Lee Kyung-min Former Constitutional Court Justice Ahn Chang-ho has joined the law firm, Yoon & Yang, the firm said Monday. Ahn, a former prosecutor with 27 years of experience who served as a judge at the Constitutional Court from September 2012 to September 2018, will advise on criminal cases. Cases he reviewed include the impeachment trial of former President Park Geun-hye, the dissolution trial of the left-leaning Unified Progressive Party, the removal of adultery as a crime and the adoption of conscientious objection. Ahn began his public service at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office in 1985 and also worked at the justice ministry. He headed the Daejeon District Prosecutors' Office, Gwangju High Prosecutors' Office and Seoul High Prosecutors' Office, during which time he handled major corruption investigations. The law firm said Ahn is expected to advise on a wide range of cases including labor, serious disasters, elections, constitutional litigation, legislation and North Korea. Korea Times to host Global ESG Forum on Oct. 29 Jung Eun-bo Jin Seung-ho The Korea Times will host the Global ESG Forum, under the theme "Global Investors' ESG Proposals," at the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) building in Seoul on Oct. 29. The event, designed to propose environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) investment principles to global investors, is being held in cooperation with the KCCI. Financial Supervisory Service Governor Jeong Eun-bo will deliver an opening speech on the value and importance of ESG, followed by Korea Investment Corp. (KIC) CEO Jin Seung-ho's keynote speech on key issues for ESG investment. Two panel discussions will be conducted both online and offline, moderated by McKinsey Senior Partner Richard Lee and The Korea Times President-Publisher Oh Young-jin. The panelists will include the National Pension Service's Head of Global Responsible Investment & Governance Yi Dong-sub, BNP Paribas Asset Management's Head of Global Client Group Steven Billiet, BlackRock Korea Managing Director Choi Man-yeon, Swiss Re's Korea Branch Head Jonas von Oldenskiold, SK SUPEX Council Vice President Kwon KJ and Shinhan Financial Group Deputy President Park Sung-hyun. - KOR: - ENG: The Korea Times will livestream the forum via its official YouTube channel.- KOR: https://youtu.be/qwK_E7EQWLM - ENG: https://youtu.be/IdJZgyyDL9U To abide by the required social distancing measures, a minimal number of speakers and guests will participate in person and overseas speakers will join the forum virtually. President Moon Jae-in meets Pope Francis during his official visit to the Vatican, Oct. 18, 2018. Korea Times file By Kang Seung-woo On the occasion of President Moon Jae-in's scheduled meeting with Pope Francis later this week, a possible papal visit to North Korea is once again emerging. Experts believe that the papal visit still stands a chance, given that Pope Francis has made many appeals for inter-Korean rapprochement. If realized, it could play a role in establishing peace on the Korean Peninsula. According to Cheong Wa Dae, Moon is scheduled to meet with Pope Francis at the Vatican, Friday, before attending the G20 Summit, and he is likely to discuss the possibility of a papal visit to Pyongyang. "The pope has repeatedly expressed his willingness to visit North Korea, so they may discuss the issue as well," a senior official of the presidential office said. A papal trip to the reclusive state gained traction in 2018 amid a peace mood created by three inter-Korean summits and historic meetings between North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and then U.S. President Donald Trump. In October of that year, Moon paid a courtesy call to the pope and delivered a verbal invitation from Kim. The pope said at the time he was willing to visit the North if the North Korean regime sends him an official invitation. However, the plan fell apart after the 2019 Hanoi summit between Kim and Trump ended without a deal. "The pope's visit to North Korea is still possible as the North Korean leader was positive about it in the past," said Yang Moo-jin, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies. "If North Korea successfully overcomes COVID-19 to some extent, its leader doesn't need to oppose the pope's visit as his trip could be used as propaganda." Since coronavirus infections began spreading in January 2020, North Korea has closed its borders. Yang said the pope's visit could help normalize the stalled ties between South and North Korea. "While North Korea is rife with issues related to human rights violations and freedom of religion, a papal visit would have a symbolic meaning and it could lead to better rapprochement between South and North Korea," Yang said. Yang added if the pope's visit to North Korea works out, leaders of South and North Korea and the United States, accompanied by the pope, could formally declare an end to the Korean War at the border village of Panmunjeom. "A visit by the pope would help to show North Korea that another, less isolated future is possible if it changes its behavior and becomes more receptive to Seoul's and Washington's call for engagement," said Ramon Pacheco Pardo, a professor of international relations at King's College London. "In addition, a visit by the pope would draw attention to North Korea in a positive way, signaling that other countries are willing to entertain the possibility of better relations with Pyongyang." The biggest sticking point for the pope's visit to North Korea is the COVID-19 pandemic, Yang said. "Other than the coronavirus, there is no barrier to Pope Francis traveling to North Korea, as his visit is linked to non-political purposes," he said. "If the North Korean leader decides to invite the pope, there would be no barriers." However, Pacheco Pardo said the main sticking point for a visit by the pope is that he would want to talk about human rights, including freedom of religion, and this may be difficult for the Kim regime to accept. gettyimagesbank By Jun Ji-hye A 57-year-old man, who was declared brain-dead after collapsing around two weeks following being inoculated with Johnson & Johnson single-dose COVID-19 vaccine, donated organs to four people. Meanwhile, his daughter called on the government to clarify the causality between her father's death and the vaccine. In a petition posted on the Cheong Wa Dae website Oct. 22, the daughter claimed that her father, who died Oct. 10, had been healthy before receiving the vaccine, though he had undergone heart valve surgery 33 years ago. According to the daughter, the man, who received the vaccine shot Sept. 17, was rushed to a hospital after collapsing Oct. 6. He was diagnosed with a cerebral infarction there and underwent emergency brain surgery, but was eventually declared brain-dead. "My father died and later donated his organs to four people. Medical workers at the hospital said that they were not sure if an autopsy could find out the exact cause of my father's death," the daughter wrote in her petition. "What I want is not compensation, but the government's efforts to clarify the causality between my father's death and the vaccination, as well as a sincere apology." She criticized the hospital's "indolent" response to the patient, who may have been suffering an abnormal reaction after the vaccination. She urged the government to notify people of the seriousness of vaccine-related side effects, rather than only asking people to participate in the country's inoculation program. A woman skateboards on a shopping street amid tightened social distancing rules due to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic in Seoul, July 12. Reuters-Yonhap South Korea reported 1,190 new cases Monday, continuing a sustained decline in the number of coronavirus cases as its vaccination rate reached the milestone of 70 percent over the weekend. Monday's tally, including 1,167 local infections, raised the total caseload to 353,089, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said. It is down from the 1,423 counted the previous day. New virus cases stayed below 2,000 for the 17th day in a row. The death toll came to 2,773, up seven from a day earlier. Of the locally transmitted cases, 455 were from Seoul, 401 from the surrounding Gyeonggi Province and 96 from the western port city of Incheon. Gettyimagesbank By Bahk Eun-ji Expectations are high that people will be soon able to enjoy "normal lives" like before the COVID-19 pandemic, as the government is preparing for a scheme to return to normalcy gradually starting next month since meeting its targeted vaccination rate. This forecast change, however, is not entirely welcomed by some people, as they will have to face an "unwanted" normalcy. For young workers, after-work dinners that often involve binge-drinking, or "hoesik" in Korean, are one such undesired past practice. Work dinners have virtually ceased since last year in compliance with social distancing rules limiting group sizes at restaurants and bars. During that time, they have instead had increased personal time in the evenings with family or for their hobbies. However, with the nation's scheduled entry into the "Living with COVID-19" scheme next month, more and more workers are making plans for year-end meetings and dinners, which is making many workers, especially younger employees, uncomfortable. South Korea will donate 1 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccine to Iran, on humanitarian grounds, to help address its vaccine shortage, Seoul's foreign ministry said Monday. The shipment of the vaccines will begin later in the day for arrival in Iran on Wednesday to support the Middle Eastern nation's COVID-19 vaccination campaign as a symbol of six decades of friendly ties between the two sides, according to the ministry. Diplomatic relations between South Korea and Iran have frayed recently over Iranian assets frozen here under U.S. sanctions and ongoing multilateral efforts to restore the 2015 Iranian nuclear agreement. Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong had phone talks with his Iranian counterpart last month and vowed efforts to resolve the issue of Tehran's frozen funds and to cooperate with Iran to help the country overcome the humanitarian crisis stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic. Last month, South Korea donated 1.1 million doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine to Vietnam and 470,000 doses to Thailand, as it has enough vaccine to inoculate its own people and help other countries. The country's vaccination rate had reached the milestone of 70 percent as of Saturday, marking a precondition set by the government to return to normalcy, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency. (Yonhap) President Moon Jae-in speaks during his speech at the National Assembly in Seoul, Oct. 25. Yonhap South Korea will commence a gradual return to normal life from the COVID-19 pandemic next month, President Moon Jae-in said Monday, as the nation's vaccination rate surpassed the key milestone of 70 percent. Small businesses and self-employed people hit hard by antivirus measures will be able to see their sales pick up while in-person classes will fully resume and welfare centers will get back to normal operation, Moon said in a budget speech at the National Assembly. The speech came a day after the government announced that some 35.9 million of the nation's 52 million population had been fully vaccinated as of Saturday, marking a precondition set by the government to return to normalcy. "Based on stable containment and high vaccination rates, we are commencing a gradual return to normal life," Moon said. "It will begin being implemented in earnest in November." Describing the return to normalcy as a "threshold of hope," Moon pledged to provide support for small merchants and vulnerable people hit by the pandemic. Despite the measures, however, some antivirus restrictions, including a mask-wearing rule, will remain in place after November to slow the spread of the virus, he said. South Korea has proposed a record high budget of 604.4 trillion won ($519 billion) for next year as it plans to maintain expansionary fiscal spending to cement the economic recovery and narrow social gaps caused by the pandemic. The proposed budget marked an 8.3 percent on-year rise from this year's 558 trillion-won budget. Moon said the 2022 budget proposal is aimed at helping the nation move beyond the era of crises and leap forward to become a leading nation. One of the top priorities in next year's budget proposal is to resuscitate people's livelihoods by surmounting the crisis at an early date and achieving a fast and strong economic recovery, Moon said. "In order to safeguard the people's livelihoods, fiscal spending has taken on an even greater role," Moon said. This year's tax revenue is expected to be bigger than an initial estimate, which was used to draw up next year's budget proposal, Moon said, adding that the government will use some of a surplus in tax revenue to repay the national debt. On North Korea, Moon vowed to push for "dialogue and diplomacy" to achieve peace and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula, saying peace talks with the North are still "incomplete" despite three inter-Korean summits and a historic summit between the United States and the North. Last week, South Korea launched its first space rocket, which flew to a target altitude of 700 kilometers but failed to put a dummy satellite into orbit. Although the full mission was not achieved, Moon labeled the first launch as a "success" in the speech. "When we take one last step, we can put our satellite into orbit with our own launch vehicle," Moon said. Housing prices have shown no signs of letting up as more people have taken out bank loans to buy homes in anticipation of higher prices despite a series of government restrictions. Moon said he will continue to spare no efforts to focus on the economic recovery and reform measures, including real estate measures, until his single, five-year term ends in March. (Yonhap) Gyeonggi Gov. Lee Jae-myung attends a press conference at his office in Suwon, Oct. 25. Yonhap Gyeonggi Gov. Lee Jae-myung, the presidential nominee of the ruling Democratic Party (DP), announced his resignation from the governorship Monday, saying he will build a nation that is envied by the world. Lee, who was elected to the governorship in June 2018, is stepping down with eight months left in his term to fully commit himself to the presidential election slated for March 9. By law, he is required to resign at least 90 days before the election, or by Dec. 9, but Lee decided to quit early at the request of the DP leadership, according to his aides. "My shoulders are heavy from the infinitely heavy responsibility, but I give you my promise that I will fulfill my calling," Lee said during a press conference livestreamed from the Gyeonggi government office in Suwon, 46 kilometers south of Seoul. "I will turn the crisis of a grand transition into an opportunity for a grand leap and create a Republic of Korea that leads and is envied by the world," he said. The resignation will be effective at the start of Tuesday after he tenders his resignation with the Gyeonggi Province Assembly. The remainder of Lee's term will be carried out by Oh Byoung-kwon, the first lieutenant governor for administrative affairs. Lee is expected to register his preliminary candidacy for the presidential election on Tuesday and meet with President Moon Jae-in as early as Wednesday to receive his blessing to succeed him at Cheong Wa Dae. On Sunday, Lee met with former Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon, the runner-up in the DP presidential primary, and secured the former prime minister's promise to help his campaign as an adviser. Lee's campaign hopes to use the series of symbolic steps as a springboard to launch the nominee's election committee before the main opposition People Power Party picks its standard-bearer on Nov. 5. He, however, continues to be dogged by questions about his possible involvement in a massive corruption scandal surrounding an apartment development project conducted in Seongnam, south of Seoul, in 2015 when he was the city's mayor. (Yonhap) Ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung holds a press conference to announce his resignation from the Gyeonggi Governor post, at the Gyeonggi Provincial Government Office in Suwon, Monday. Joint Press Corps By Jung Da-min Lee Jae-myung, the presidential candidate of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), has stepped down from his post as Gyeonggi Province governor to focus full-time in the race for the presidential election slated for March. Lee is expected to speed up his campaigning as it has already taken 15 days for him to quit his post after winning the party's primary, due to a National Assembly audit into the provincial government and a delayed meeting with his main rival within the party after the win. Holding a press conference at Gyeonggi Provincial Office in Suwon to announce his resignation, Lee said he has focused on policies to realize the value of fairness as governor, especially through measures involving the economy and welfare such as expanding the use of a provincial currency and the provision of a basic allowance for young residents. "For the past three years, I have strived to make Gyeonggi Province a region where everyone enjoys equal opportunities and is guaranteed a fair share for their efforts where everyone can enjoy the minimum welfare," Lee said. "As I made Gyeonggi the envy of people in other parts of the country, I will make the Republic of Korea the envy of all countries around the world." The 56-year-old served as governor for over three years since 2018. He had to resign according to the Public Official Election Act which bans a public official from running for president. Lee will meet Tuesday with President Moon Jae-in at Cheong Wa Dae as the ruling party's presidential candidate, presidential spokeswoman Park Kyung-mee said during a press briefing, Monday. Lee is also expected to register as a preliminary candidate for the 20th presidential election at the National Election Commission, Tuesday, before meeting with President Moon. Lee's popularity as a presidential contender had been on the rise as he won the DPK's regional primaries in September and early October by a landslide. But his popularity has been waning in recent weeks over a snowballing land development scandal in which he is alleged to have been involved. Ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung, right, and former DPK Chairman Lee Nak-yon grasp each other's hands ahead of their meeting at a cafe in Seoul's Jongno District, Sunday. Lee Nak-yon has accepted Lee Jae-myung's call to become a standing advisor for the latter's election camp. Joint Press Corps President Moon Jae-in passes by lawmakers of the main opposition People Power Party after delivering a budget speech at the National Assembly, Monday. The opposition lawmakers hold signs requesting an investigation by a special counsel into a land development scandal involving the ruling Democratic Party of Korea's presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung. Yonhap An aerial image of the Nakdong River estuary / Courtesy of K-water By Lee Hae-rin Dozens of scholars, government officials and civic group members will discuss sustainable use of estuaries in a global discussion event here. The Ministry of Environment and the Korea Water Resources Corp. (K-water) said, Monday, they will hold the International Estuary Symposium (IES 2021) at Ananti Hilton Busan from Tuesday to Thursday. Under the theme "Restoration and Future for the Nakdong River Estuary," K-water and the ministry will present the results of the river ecosystem restoration through the opening of the estuary gates. Nakdong River estuary is regulated by a 2,4o0-meter-long barrage built in 1987 to control the inflow of seawater into farmland and secure drinking and agricultural water for nearby regions, including Busan, Ulsan and South Gyeongsang Province. However, the biodiversity of the river, which plays a vital role in the estuary ecosystem, had been diminished since the establishment of the barrage, as it limited water flow. Thus, the gate-opening project was started in 2019 to restore and protect the biodiversity of the estuary, and by its third opening in July 2020, the possibility of improvement was confirmed as the estuary's ecospecies including eels and anchovies were found again in the waters upstream of the gates. During the three-day symposium, the participants will inspect the Nakdong River estuary barrage at the fourth opening of its gates. They will then discuss restoration, management, and future value of estuaries, and share examples of not only the Nakdong but also other estuaries in the Netherlands, the United States and the United Kingdom. "The Nakdong River estuary restoration project is one of the leading cases in the world, where the functional aspect of the barrage and ecological aspect of the estuary are both maintained successfully. The ministry will keep working with local municipalities, civil society and experts to enable the coexistence of humanity and nature at the estuary," Minister Han Jeoung-ae said in the press statement. IES 2021 follows the latest government guidelines on social distancing, and limits the number of on-site participants to 49 during all programs and offers free online streaming via YouTube. By Hippolyte Fofack CAIRO Economic policy debates about Africa are too often clouded by calls for population control and lower fertility rates. And the United Nations is fueling the problem by projecting that Africa's population will double by 2050. In fact, Africa's overall fertility rate has fallen by more than 36 percent since 1970 to 4.2 births per woman, and is projected to decline to 2.1 births per woman later this century. Moreover, it is disturbing that so many commentators advocate population control for a region whose population was decimated by centuries of slavery and colonization. Partly as a result of that legacy, Africa has the lowest population density of any region, at 46 people per square kilometer, compared to 150 people per square kilometer in Asia and 112 in Europe. A far more salient statistic is that Africa is the world's youngest continent, with more than 70 percent of its population aged under 30. Harnessing the potential of this youth cohort is both a key challenge and an enormous opportunity. To that end, the Africa Progress Group, chaired by former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, released a report earlier this year entitled "Making Africa's Population an Asset." The study is a welcome contribution to discussions about the relationship between the continent's demography and its development. Africa's past inability to invest sustainably in its young people and deploy them effectively to meet key development challenges has been very costly. For example, despite the fact that unemployment rates have been at Great-Depression levels for decades, governments habitually rely on international partners to build infrastructure, instead of using public-works programs to expand job opportunities for young people. This has impeded learning by doing, marginalized young Africans, and exacerbated the debt-trap risks associated with the highly externally dependent growth model. Human capital constraints can also have implications for Africans' health, as the COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated. Countries that invested in their people and developed homegrown research and economic infrastructure were able to produce safe, effective vaccines in record time. African countries, which did not even enter the global race to develop COVID-19 vaccines, have thus remained on the sidelines in the worldwide scramble for doses. Africa has the slowest vaccination rate of any continent, with just 7.2 percent of its population having received at least one vaccine dose, far below the world average of 48.8 percent. The consequences of failing to capitalize on Africa's population are just as glaring in the security domain. A continent of nearly 1.4 billion people that is confronted with transnational terrorist networks has opted to outsource its security imperatives, mostly to former colonial powers. Rather than fostering peace and security, this approach has contributed to the entrenchment of terrorist groups across Africa and rising casualties over the last decade. But Africa's emerging youth bulge presents more opportunities than risks. True, if today's large cohort of young Africans cannot find gainful employment and earn satisfactory incomes, a demographic time bomb may materialize. Disenfranchised workers will become economic migrants, leading to a long-term brain drain, and targets for recruitment by transnational terrorist networks. But if Africa trains its young people well and creates sufficient opportunities for them to drive endogenous growth, then the region will reap a huge demographic dividend. History shows that investing in populations is the most effective route to successful demographic transitions, yielding high returns and setting countries on a strong long-term growth trajectory. For example, demographic dividends accounted for around one-third, or up to 40 percent, of East Asian countries' remarkable economic growth between 1960 and 1990. Crucially, successive governments in the region created a favorable business and regulatory environment in order to take advantage of their countries' human capital. In doing so, they expanded employment opportunities, accelerated income convergence with developed countries, and strengthened ownership of national development processes. Over time, declining poverty and increasing life expectancy accelerated the shift from quantity to quality in procreative decisions, leading to a steady fall in birth rates across East Asia. As countries become more affluent, their birth rates almost always decline. In Africa today, urban-rural differences in fertility rates (with rates being significantly lower in built-up areas) are highly correlated with income and welfare disparities. But gloomy demographic forecasts have been proven wrong before. In his 1968 book "Asian Drama: An Inquiry into the Poverty of Nations," the Nobel laureate economist Gunnar Myrdal predicted that Africa would enjoy better growth prospects than an overpopulated Asia. Like many back then, Myrdal regarded the Asian youth bulge as a demographic time bomb. But by relying on sustained investment in human capital to raise productivity, and positioning itself as a magnet for foreign direct investment, Asia became the "factory of the world" and converged rapidly toward developed economies' income levels. Africa's population can play a similar role in this century if policymakers treat and manage it as a precious asset. That means investing effectively in young people's skills to increase local value added, instead of sustaining the costly integration of global value chains as providers of raw materials for extra-regional value chains. In the long term, as living standards increase under an endogenous growth model facilitated by sustained investment in human capital, the urban-rural fertility, income, and welfare gaps will also certainly narrow. Hippolyte Fofack is chief economist and director of research at the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank). This article was distributed by Project Syndicate (www.project-syndicate.org). Stop mudslinging and present better policy options More and more people are found to have an unusually higher level of antipathy toward the leading presidential contenders of both ruling and opposition parties. This seems to reflect aggravating public disenchantment toward politics. The ongoing presidential race has already been tainted with a corruption-laden land development scandal, criminal allegations and verbal slips. It is disappointing to see presidential contenders betray the people's expectations that the race will be held in a festive mood to elect the next president on March 9. They have so far failed to compete with each other by presenting their policies and visions for the future. Instead, they have been engaged in smear campaigns. A recent poll conducted by Gallup Korea found that major presidential aspirants face growing cynicism and antipathy from the public, while receiving only about 30 percent support ratings. Only 32 percent of the respondents said they favor former Gyeonggi Province Governor Lee Jae-myung, a presidential candidate of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK). However 60 percent said they felt unfavorable toward him. Likewise, 31 percent of the respondents said they favor Rep. Hong Joon-pyo of the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) while 60 percent have antipathy toward him. Former Prosecutor General Yoon Seok-youl, also from the PPP, got 28 percent support with 62 percent reacting negatively to him. In previous presidential races, major presidential contenders usually enjoyed up to 50 percent support ratings. Regrettably, the current presidential campaign has become a race in which people's negative reactions overwhelm their positive responses to key contenders. The poll also showed 25 percent of the respondents had no political party to support, up by 2 percentage points from two months earlier. Should such a negative sentiment persist, it will likely result in a nosediving voter turnout. It can also cause an increasing number of swing voters up until the last moment. The presidential contenders themselves are to blame for this rare phenomenon. They have yet to explain the suspicions surrounding themselves. Lee has been at the center of a dispute over a controversial residential development project in Seongnam, south of Seoul. Yoo Dong-gyu, former acting president of Seongnam Development Corp., was indicted last week on bribery charges. Lee also faces allegations about his implication in the project which brought tremendous profits to private developers. Lee, a former Seongnam mayor, has come under criticism for causing a huge loss to the municipal government by refusing to include a clause to have excess development profits returned to city coffers. Yoon of the PPP has also taken flak for making remarks favorable to former authoritarian President Chun Doo-hwan who seized power through a military coup starting in 1979. Worse, Yoon made a scornful apology shared with a picture of a man giving an apple to his pet, triggering a dispute over his qualifications for being president. Rep. Hong has also raised public eyebrows with his persistent negative campaigning, especially against Yoon. Albeit belated, they should refrain from mudslinging and engage in competition for better policies on diverse pressing issues such as soaring housing prices, youth unemployment, aging society and widening wealth discrepancies. This is the only way for them to win back the minds of the people, especially swing voters. A scene from "Squid Game" / Courtesy of Netflix Jang Yoo-rim is a senior at the Korean Minjok Leadership Academy in South Korea and a member of the Freedom Speakers International Global High School Union (FSI-GHSU). She prepared this text for the second FSI-GHSU International Youth Forum on Oct. 30. Ed By Jang Yoo-rim I am not a politician, nor am I a policymaker of any kind. At least not yet. I am a teenage girl born and raised beneath the border of Gangwon Province, who nurtured her curiosity of the world while being surrounded by the remnants of war. I am a proud student of the Korean Minjok Leadership Academy who was taught to speak out on my beliefs. Most importantly, I am one of the rising generation in our society that has the potential to change what is wrong. I have been inspired to speak out after I saw the newly released Netflix series, "Squid Game." I enjoyed the whole series in one sitting. Above all, I was particularly interested in one of the sub-characters, Kang Sae-byeok, a North Korean refugee teenager about my age. I am not the only fan of hers; in a recent survey on Netflix, she ranked number one in popularity among all of the characters in the series even though the actor who played the role didn't have any prior acting experience. Maybe it was because she was one of the few North Korean characters to play a prominent role, or maybe she introduced us to the dark side of our society that many of us were ignorant of the reality of North Korean refugees in South Korea.? Our ignorance and misconceptions start from the very moment of seeking refuge. While the majority may generalize the reason for this as due to famine or poverty, the reality is much more complex. Many seek something beyond their basic needs pursuing their dreams and upholding their ideologies in a democratic environment. Recently a man claiming to be a former government official of North Korea had an interview with BBC Korea. He stated that even one of the most powerful political and economic positions cannot seal the discrepancy between his belief and that of the nation. Regardless of one's status, North Korean society was not a suitable platform for their thoughts and abilities to be appreciated, whereas South Korean society was portrayed as the land of milk and honey through K-media penetrating the border, he said. However, South Korea is rarely the paradise of their dreams.? Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong, right, appears at a memorial ceremony marking the first anniversary of the death of his father, Samsung Group Chairman Lee Kun-hee, at a family burial site in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, Monday. Samsung said the ceremony was observed by only immediate family members, in accordance with the will of the bereaved who wanted to have a simple event. The vice chairman honored the memory of his father by saying, "It has already been a year since Chairman Lee Kun-hee left us. For the deceased, Samsung was life itself and he built today's Samsung by developing his potential with bold challenges that did not give in to limitations." Yonhap LG Chief Operating Officer and Vice Chairman Kwon Young-soo, front row right, is seen next to President Moon Jae-in, center, during a presidential visit to LG Energy Solution's battery manufacturing facility in Ochang, North Chungcheong Province, in this file photo. Yonhap By Kim Yoo-chul In a rather surprise move, LG Group Chief Operating Officer (COO) and Vice Chairman Kwon Young-soo was appointed as LG Energy Solution (LGES) CEO, LG said, Monday. The appointment of Kwon, a veteran business person and also the top confidant of LG Chairman Koo Kwang-mo, came as LGES is facing a lot of daunting tasks and numerous challenges mostly related to client-oriented issues. LGES has emerged as the cash-cow for the group, replacing LG Electronics. But a recent recall campaign with General Motors and Hyundai Motor has called into question the validity of LGES's growth trajectory, and investors have been saying LGES is at a crossroads of growth with its top client Tesla intending to use cheaper batteries discounting LGES' share price. "My decision to lead the LGES is the result of discussions with Chairman Koo. I find what I can do for the group and there is more work to do. Again, I feel a responsibility to do something," Kwon told The Korea Times by telephone. LGES will hold a board meeting on Nov. 1 to approve Kwon as CEO. "LG's battery business is something that we can't afford to lose. My assignment is to help LGES cement its position in the global battery industry," the vice chairman said. Kwon was the "hidden force," in terms of winning 1 trillion won worth of financial backing from Dutch-based Philips for the creation of LG Philips LCD, now LG Display. Under his leadership, LG Display rose as one of the world's top display suppliers by supplying displays to Apple. Also, he was an "invisible hand" in terms of widening LGES's client base to Tesla while he managed LG's battery business division. "LG needed the most trusted and proven personnel to lead the group's battery business at this challenging time," an LG spokesman said. U.S. President Joe Biden holds up a silicon wafer in the Roosevelt Room of the White House, April 12, during the virtual CEO Summit on Semiconductor and Supply Chain Resilience. AP-Yonhap By Baek Byung-yeul Korea is actively seeking support from the United States to keep up the competitiveness of its core export items such as semiconductors and steel, at a time when securing and protecting capabilities of key industries has emerged as a crucial task. The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy said Monday that it sent a delegation led by Kim Jeong-il, chief of the Office of International Trade and Legal Affairs, to Washington, D.C., in response to the U.S. government's recent request for Korean semiconductor companies active in the U.S. to share confidential information. During the visit, the delegation met with Jeremy Pelter, deputy under secretary at the Bureau of Industry and Security of the Department of Commerce, and delivered concerns of the Korean companies regarding the information sharing request. "Regarding Washington's demand for information to Korean semiconductor companies, he conveyed Korean companies' concerns to Deputy Under Secretary Jeremy Pelter in the meeting," the trade ministry said. The visit came after the U.S. government's recent call for global chipmakers such as Samsung Electronics and SK hynix to submit confidential information, including lists of their clients, by Nov. 8. Washington claimed the submission of the information should be voluntary, but Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo warned chipmakers that her department may invoke the Defense Production Act (DPA) or other available measures to force them to hand over requested data. The information request comes in response to the prolonged global chip shortage that has caused severe production disruptions for major U.S. carmakers. The move shows that Washington is on track to gain a strategic edge in its continuing hegemonic conflict with China. Feared for being sandwiched between the two superpowers, government officials have continued to relay Korean companies' concerns about the unprecedented request. "We need to respond with three principles in mind corporate autonomy, government support and cooperation between Korea and the U.S," Finance Minister Hong Nam-ki said, Oct. 18. The trade ministry said Kim also demanded that Korea be treated in line with the status of an ally regarding section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act, as the U.S. and the European Union are expected to reach an agreement on an exemption of tariffs for steel and aluminum imports on Nov. 1. In 2018 during the Trump administration, the U.S. began implementing the section 232 measure which grants the U.S. president the authority to impose restrictions on products that have been determined to pose a threat to its national security. As a result, the U.S. began imposing 25 percent and 10 percent tariffs, respectively, on steel and aluminum from overseas companies. Korea was excluded from the list of high-tariff countries, but had to accept a quota system limiting exports to 70 percent of the average volume Korea had exported to the U.S. over the previous three years. Accordingly, Korea's annual steel product exports to the U.S. could not exceed 2.68 million tons. Given chips and steel are Korea's core export items, opinions have risen that any decision to share such critical information with the U.S. will consequently cause adverse results, as China is equally important to Korea and comparable to the U.S. in terms of the significance of industrial transactions. Samsung and SK have invested more than $15 billion in semiconductor plants in China. A high-ranking government official told The Korea Times previously that the issue has become a matter of national security and intellectual property, as China could ask domestic firms to release confidential information, just like the U.S. has. Samsung Electronics, the world's leading memory chipmaker, has been operating a massive foundry chip-making plant for more than a decade in Texas. The company is also set to announce the location of its new $17 billion plant, also likely to be in Texas, when Samsung chief Lee Jae-yong signs off on the deal. On the other hand, China is also one of Samsung's key markets. The firm operates several chip plants there with assistance from Beijing similar to the arrangement with the U.S. SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won, right, attends the Youth Hope ON ceremony along with Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum at a research center of SK hynix in Icheon, Gyeonggi Province, Monday. Yonhap By Lee Min-hyung SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won pledged Monday to widen job opportunities for young people here during a meeting with Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum. The meeting is part of the government's youth employment program. Under the so-called Youth Hope ON program, Chey promised to create 27,000 more jobs for young jobseekers in the next three years and garner more efforts to find fresh, next-generation growth engines. SK Group said it would focus more on expanding jobs in the battery and biomedical sectors. SK also decided to run a special internship program for young people, with a view to educating a total of 1,200 promising young individuals for the next three years. "SK is leading the environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) management, and the group's pledge today carries great determination and ambitions," Kim said. SK is already running a series of corporate social responsibility (CSR) education programs. They include SK NEW SCHOOL through which SK Group has so far offered internship opportunities for more than 500 young people. For those with physical disabilities, SK is running the SIAT program, offering IT education for them to find jobs in the future. Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum, second from left, expresses gratitude for SK Group's efforts for job creation. On the other side is SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won. Yonhap An aerial view shows residential buildings at the construction site of Evergrande Cultural Tourism City, a China Evergrande Group project whose construction has halted, in Suzhou's Taicang, Jiangsu province, China, Oct. 22. Reuters-Yonhap China Evergrande said it has restarted work on more than 10 projects across six mainland cities, trying to portray some semblance of stability in its operations soon after averting a potentially calamitous default on its offshore debt. The developer, saddled with 1.97 trillion yuan ($308.5 billion) of liabilities, identified the projects in Shenzhen, Dongguan, Jiangmen, Shanwei, Zhuhai, and Zhongshan with photos of buildings and workers at construction sites in a statement posted on its WeChat social media account. The group will shoulder the social responsibility and ensure completion of the buildings, according to the statement, saying it will "make an all-out effort to comply with the governments' requirements." Evergrande had land reserves covering 778 projects in 233 cities across China as of June 30, according to its latest interim report. Some of them had been suspended because of its failure to pay suppliers and contractors, a crisis that shook the industry and investors in Chinese offshore property stocks and bonds. ? "The statement aimed to trigger an upbeat mood about Evergrande's outlook," said Ding Haifeng, a consultant at Shanghai-based financial advisory firm Integrity. "Its homebuyers, creditors and shareholders may have seen a ray of hope after the project resumption but the company will still be struggling with upcoming default tests."? People walk past a housing complex of Chinese property developer Evergrande in Kunming, southwestern Yunnan province, China, Oct. 23. AFP-Yonhap Taiwanese government ministers were visiting the Czech capital on Monday accompanied by dozens of business and research representatives to boost trade and investment, a move that has angered China. Minister of National Development Kung Ming-hsin is leading a delegation of 66 officials representing business and research groups and organizations, including biotechnology, green energy, information technology, machinery and tourism. Taiwanese Foreign Minister Joseph Wu will visit later in the week. China has protested, threatening unspecified retaliatory steps. Taiwan relies on such exchanges to counter China's efforts to isolate the self-governing island that Beijing claims as its own territory, to be annexed by military force if it deems necessary. The Czech Republic, like most countries, has no formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan, but maintains robust informal contacts. Taiwan's high-tech companies are also significant investors in the Czech Republic. The ties between Prague and Taipei were boosted by last year's trip to Taiwan by the speaker of the Czech parliament's upper house, the Senate, Milos Vystrcil. He was accompanied by more than 80 representatives from government, business and academia, drawing strong criticism from China. Vystrcil and other senior officials in the Senate, together with representatives of government business and tourist agencies and business groups, are scheduled to meet the members of the Taiwanese delegation. During the pandemic, Taiwan sent the Czech Republic equipment to make quality face masks while the Czechs donated coronavirus vaccines to Taiwan. The delegation is also visiting two other European Union countries, Slovakia and Lithuania. (AP) The Cumbre Vieja volcano continues to erupt, as seen from Tajuya, on the Canary Island of La Palma, Spain, Oct. 24. Reuters-Yonhap A volcano erupting for the past five weeks on the Spanish island of La Palma is more active than ever, officials said Monday, after new lava flows following a partial collapse of the crater threatened to engulf previously unaffected areas. A powerful new river of molten rock gushed out of the Cumbre Vieja volcano early Monday. The Canary Islands Volcanology Institute described it as ''a giant lava fountain.'' ''We're in a new phase, which is much more intense,'' Pedro Hernandez, a researcher at the institute, told public broadcaster RTVE. View of the volcano and the lava stream from the municipality of El Paso, on the island of La Palma, the Canaries, Spain, Oct. 24 / EPA-Yonhap The eruption drove a volcanic ash cloud high over the island off northwest Africa. Residents watched to see what direction the new lava flow would take, and authorities prepared to move more people from their homes. Prompt evacuations have so far avoided casualties from the eruption, though the lava has totally or partially destroyed more than 2,000 buildings, mostly homes, and covered more than 900 hectares (2,200 acres) of mostly farmland. Around 7,500 of the island's 85,500 people have been forced to flee in the past five weeks. The rivers of lava rolling down the hillside are up to almost 3 kilometers (almost 2 miles) wide, authorities said. New fissures and side vents cracked open along the volcano's slopes over the weekend, allowing more molten rock to escape. One main river of lava has already reached the Atlantic Ocean. Another ground to a halt when it entered a built-up coastal neighborhood. The Cumbre Vieja volcano continues to erupt, as seen from Tajuya, on the Canary Island of La Palma, Spain, Oct. 24. Reuters-Yonhap Sudanese protester chant near burning tires during a demonstration in the capital Khartoum, Sudan, Oct. 25. Sudan's military launched a coup attempt, and arrested the Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok and other senior ministers and civilian members of the Transitional Sovereignty Council during early morning raids, as thousands of people gather for protest the attempt in the capital, Khartoum. EPA-Yonhap Sudan's top general declared a state of emergency, dissolved the authorities leading country's democratic transition, and announced the formation of a new government after soldiers detained civilian leaders Monday in what activists denounced as a "coup." General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan's announcement in a televised address came after armed forces detained figures of the government in charge of leading the transition to democracy since the April 2019 ouster of autocratic president Omar al-Bashir. "To rectify the revolution's course, we have decided to declare a state of emergency nationwide... dissolve the transitional sovereign council, and dissolve the cabinet," Burhan said. His statement came as clashes erupted in the capital Khartoum, with soldiers firing live rounds at people who took to the streets to protest against the power grab. The violence was largely centred outside the army headquarters in the capital hours after soldiers detained Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, ministers in his government and civilian members of Sudan's ruling council, the information ministry said. They were taken away after "refusing to support the coup," it said on Facebook. Internet services were cut across the country around dawn and the main roads and bridges into Khartoum shut, before soldiers stormed the headquarters of Sudan's state broadcaster in the capital's twin city of Omdurman, the ministry said. People took to the streets soon after, setting tyres ablaze and piling rows of bricks across roads to block them in protest against the military move, an AFP correspondent reported. "Military forces have fired live bullets on protesters rejecting the military coup outside the army headquarters," the information ministry said. Around a dozen people have so far been wounded in the clashes, according to the Central Committee of Sudan Doctors, an independent medics union. The power grab, which comes after weeks of tensions between the military and civilian figures sharing power since Bashir's ouster, was condemned by the international community. Sudanese protesters hold placards reading "no to overturning people's choices," left, and "free revolutionaries" during a demonstration in the capital Khartoum, Sudan, Oct. 25. EPA-Yonhap Engineering Manager, Marcom Santa Clara Valley (Cupertino) , California , United States Marketing Summary Posted: Oct 6, 2021 Role Number: 200294432 At Apple, new ideas have a way of becoming great products, services, and customer experiences very quickly. Bring passion and dedication to your job and there's no telling what you could accomplish. Apple's Interactive Technology organization is part of Apple's Worldwide Marketing Communications Department (Marcom). Marcom designs and delivers the iconic brand images and experiences to various sites, apps and retail stores. We work on many high-impact projects that serve various Apple lines of business. We use the latest in open source technologies and continue to evolve and deliver solutions on a worldwide scale. Working with a variety of multi-functional teams, we bring it all together to deliver the interactive experiences with an excellent group of software engineers while having fun along the way. We are looking for an Engineering Manager to lead a team of full-stack engineers responsible for modernizing and defining the future of the apple.com rendering stack. You will guide the team to interpret, understand, and address emergent business cases of dynamic experiences and content, build and support an application architecture and development ecosystem that allows multiple teams to develop, test, and release launch sites, and support content integration along with appropriate code re-use and performant deployment strategies. Key Qualifications 10+ years of experience in client and server-based web application development, preferably with large-scale enterprise applications Tried ability to lead and motivate highly impactful engineering teams to solve the right technical challenges Solid knowledge of and experience with modern web development tools, techniques and processes A consistent track record leading multiple projects at a time Ability to understand and communicate complex technical, logical, and/or process issues in a timely, concise, and objective manner Excellent analytical mindset and attention to detail, especially in anticipating potential challenges You have a track record of being able to develop and maintain relationships across and between organizations, and influence multi-functional teams and leaders Ability to work well within tight deadlines and handle difficult situations in a fast-paced work environment You have excellent interpersonal skills with an engaging demeanor, especially across dynamic audiences Accomplished at debugging and troubleshooting engineering problems with strong hands-on development experience and ability Description - Lead the engineering team to build the stack and wider ecosystem for other development teams to adopt - Ensure engineering standards along with the tools and practices to implement them - Execute on the rendering stack that satisfies the goals of managed content, the development ecosystem, and services integration - Partner with internal and external partners for planning, execution, and support tactics. - Be an influential participant in architectural designs and team execution to meet business requirements and technical strategies. - Lead and participate in proof-of-concept projects to vet technology choices and approaches. - Document and present findings, research and engineering plans with partners and stakeholders. - Establish development relationships across other Apple engineering teams in concert with tech strategies. Education & Experience Bachelors Degree in Computer Science or relevant experience ndustrial logging in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) may severely disturb rainfall patterns across sub-Saharan Africa and bring about more extreme weather, including intense droughts and flash floods. In a letter (https://bit.ly/3jr9DY0) sent today to the African Union, Greenpeace Africa is calling for an urgent discussion of the consequences that plans made in Kinshasa to lift its moratorium on logging would have for Congolese and African people in general. Renewed industrial logging in the DRC poses a risk to Indigenous People, local communities and biodiversity, as well as the whole of sub-Saharan Africa, writes Greenpeace Africas Programme Director, Melita Steele, to the Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture, H.E. Josefa Leonel Correia Sacko, Africas climate is fundamentally linked to the state of Central Africas forests and massive logging can impact the quantity of rainfall throughout the region. The Congo Basin forest is estimated (https://bit.ly/3jr9Uu0) to contribute more than half of the annual precipitation in Sub-Saharan Africa, already facing (https://bit.ly/3B3r0nN) a plethora of droughts and extreme heat waves. Last July, Congolese Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Environment, Eve Bazaiba, decided to lift the moratorium on new logging concessions, which has been in place since 2002. The decision was approved on 9 July by the eleventh Council of Ministers, presided by President Felix Tshisekedi. An implementation decree is believed to be imminent. Deciding on whether to protect or destroy the rainforest may be within the DRCs sovereignty, but the consequences of its actions will be felt everywhere from Nairobi to Dakar, from Pretoria to Abjua, writes Steele on behalf of Greenpeace Africa. Beyond direct implications for Congolese and other African people, the decision to lift the moratorium is contradicting commitments (https://bit.ly/3b2bOg4) made by the President of the Republic, Felix Tshisekedi, at President Joe Bidens Leaders Summit on Climate, to protect the forest and increase forest cover by 8%. It also undermines the African Unions 2063 Agenda (https://bit.ly/3vy1dTH) and its Sustainable Forest Management Framework (SFMF) (https://bit.ly/3GaOGdA), promising that Africa will have zero deforestation and forest degradation and its forests will be protected, sustainably managed and restored through collaborative, cross-sectoral and transformative efforts to ensure the prosperity, food security and resilience of its people. Finally, this jeopardizes Africas credibility in climate talks in COP26, set to begin in Glasgow in ten days, and the appeal from rich nations to support vulnerable nations annually with USD 100 billion to face the climate crisis. Serge Ngwato, Greenpeace Africa forest campaigner in Kinshasa: We cannot expect Africas claim for climate funds to be taken seriously, when our own actions make the climate crisis worse. Renewing industrial logging would pose additional risk both to us Congolese and to our neighbours the moratorium must be extended, while management rights over the forest must be granted to its Indigenous and local communities. Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Greenpeace. Partager et informez vous aussi...... 0 shares Share Tweet LinkedIn Regional 13,000 from coup-hit Myanmar sheltering in Mizoram Aizawl, Oct 25 (IANS) | Publish Date: 10/25/2021 11:51:29 AM IST With a fresh influx of refugees from coup-hit Myanmar in over a week, the total of number of people taking shelter in Mizoram has mounted to 13,000, officials said on Monday. According to district administration and police officials, men, women and children from Myanmar, especially from Chin state, are crossing over to Mizorams southern and eastern border districts. Officials and elected representatives, who are closely monitoring developments in Myanmar, said that continued clashes between the Army and the civilian groups there forced the people to cross over and seek refuge in the Indian state. An MP from Mizoram said that there are a large number of people waiting across the border to take shelter in Mizoram, while more are likely to come after their harvest season. Data maintained by the CID shows that the Myanmar nationals mostly take shelter in six Mizoram districts -- Champhai, Lawngtlai, Siaha, Serchhip, Hnahthial and Saitual -- with Champhai housing the highest number of around 6,000. As many as 1,630 people are in Aizawl. Security and district officials, legislators and others told IANS over the phone that the distressed refugees from Myanmar have crossed the Tiau river in small country boats to take shelter in the border villages. The river Tiau (which flows along the Champhai district in eastern Mizoram and divides India and Myanmar) was crossed by the refugees in small boats with the help of local Mizos, a Mizoram NGO leader said. The hapless people with no option to survive the Army onslaught took shelter in our side and the Mizo villagers on humanitarian ground provided them food and shelter, he added. Mizoram shares 510 km international border with Myanmar and 318 km with Bangladesh. Besides Mizorams most influential NGO Young Mizo Association, various churches including Presbyterian, Baptist and Roman Catholic are, on humanitarian grounds, providing food, essentials, clothing and shelter to the refugees since March. On a number of occasions, Chief Minister Zoramthanga has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to provide humanitarian assistance to Myanmar nationals as his state is witnessing a continuing influx of refugees from the neighbouring country. Mizoram Planning Board Vice Chairman H. Rammawi, who is closely dealing with the Myanmar refugee affairs, said that the Chief Minister, besides writing letters, has also talked to Prime Minister and Home Minister Amit Shah over phone on a number of occasions, requested them to extend humanitarian assistance to the Myanmar refugees. The Central government is yet to respond positively and has remained silent on the issue, he said, adding that he has been in constant touch with the External Affairs Ministry and the Home Ministry, and the people of Mizoram are deeply disappointed over the Centres silence and apathetic attitude towards the distressed people from Myanmar. He said that the state is now reeling under a severe financial crisis, limited infrastructure of health and other services and non-availability of required manpower, as the Covid pandemic has also badly affected the states overall situation. Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to the Chief Minister Rosangzuala is regularly in touch with Central ministers and officials to provide financial assistance and other support to the refugees. An MHA advisory, recently sent out to the four northeastern states, Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh, which share 1,640-km unfenced border with Myanmar, said that the states and Union Territories have no power to grant refugee status to any foreigner, and India is not a signatory to the UN Refugee Convention of 1951 and its 1967 Protocol. A one-year state of emergency has been declared in Myanmar, where power has been transferred to Senior General Min Aung Hlaing after President U Win Myint and State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi were detained by the military on February 1. Source: Xinhua| 2021-10-24 21:36:47|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close President of the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Abdulla Shahid receives an interview with Xinhua at the UN headquarters in New York, Oct. 18, 2021. Abdulla Shahid has congratulated the People's Republic of China on its contributions to the world since its lawful seat at the UN was restored half a century ago. (Xinhua/Zhang Mocheng) by Xinhua writer Wang Jiangang UNITED NATIONS, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) -- President of the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) Abdulla Shahid has congratulated the People's Republic of China on its contributions to the world since its lawful seat at the UN was restored half a century ago. "China has played a very, very important role in multilateralism and strengthening the United Nations," Shahid told Xinhua in a recent exclusive interview in his office at UN headquarters in New York City. Multilateralism is the only way forward, said Shahid, noting that "unilateralism has no place in the world." "Both climate change and COVID-19 have shown us that we, as a species, as humanity, we can survive only through multilateralism. So, we need the institution of the United Nations strengthened. We need law and order strengthened. We need other frameworks supporting multilateralism strengthened," he said. "That is why China, as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, as a responsible member of the international community, has a very important role to play," Shahid said. Today, China is the second largest contributor to the UN regular budget and peacekeeping assessments, he noted. "Included in its 29 peacekeeping operations, China has contributed more than 50,000 personnel to peacekeeping operations." Shahid said he was very impressed by Chinese President Xi Jinping's remarks at the general debate of the 76th session of the UNGA. Noting that Xi reiterated China's aim to peak carbon dioxide emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060, Shahid said "we are talking about one of the largest economies of the world ... the fact that President Xi came out with this commitment is encouraging." Xi also pledged that China will step up support for other developing countries to develop green and low-carbon energy, and will not build new coal-fired power projects abroad, which was "an outstanding commitment," Shahid said. "On COVID-19, China has been very generous," he said, noting that Xi pledged China will strive to provide a total of 2 billion doses of vaccines to the world by the end of this year. In addition to donating 100 million U.S. dollars to COVAX, China will donate 100 million additional vaccine doses to other developing countries this year, Xi said. "These are very important pledges. And I'm very grateful that China is stepping up to the plate," Shahid said. The COVID-19 pandemic and climate change have clearly shown to us the correctness of the concept proposed by Xi of building a community with a shared future for mankind, Shahid said. "Initially, we thought that the low-lying islands would be gone, the first to go. And then people will move to higher ground. But that's so far happening. Yes, low-lying island countries like the Maldives are suffering. But so are the countries at higher altitudes," he noted. "So, we can survive only through unity, only by working together. And this is the way forward," he added. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-10-25 09:54:50|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Teruneh Zenna, Ethiopia's former ambassador to the United Nations, speaks during an interview with Xinhua in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Oct. 19, 2021. (Xinhua/Michael Tewelde) ADDIS ABABA, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- The restoration of China's lawful seat in the United Nations in 1971 was a milestone moment that injected momentum in propelling global development, said Teruneh Zenna, Ethiopia's former ambassador to the United Nations. China, as a responsible major country, "has played an active role in the UN peacekeeping operations and influenced the organization to adhere to its guiding principles," Zenna told Xinhua recently. Sharing his memory about China's restoration of its lawful seat in the United Nations, Zenna said there was unparalleled jubilation during that historic moment. "It was a great victory for the People's Republic of China when the resolution was presented and passed," he said. According to Zenna, China's engagement with the United Nations has been paramount to global development, including its involvement in the UN peacekeeping mission as China became one of the top ten UN personnel contributors. "China is now engaging in world peace and security issues through the United Nations and its voluntary contribution has increased over time with many Chinese peacekeeping troops largely deployed in Africa," he added. Zenna underscored that China's fast economic development has made great contributions to the development and prosperity of the world, particularly to African economies. "China has been doing a lot in the economic area and its projects, including the Belt and Road Initiative which is expected to help over 150 world nations interconnect," the diplomat said. The veteran diplomat spoke highly of China's support to African countries in various fields of development, including the infrastructure sector. "During the past 10 to 15 years, China has invested in Africa significantly and assisted African countries in building their infrastructures," Zenna said. He noted that Ethiopia has achieved growth miracle during the past decade because of the Chinese assistance and investment, "to which we are very thankful." The diplomat further stressed that China's support to multilateralism is a positive imperative to global cooperation on the fight against terrorism, inequality and global pandemic. China's development vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind, which is based on respect and understanding of one's culture, civilization, motto and principles, is also very critical, he stressed. "I appreciate this principle of mutual development and building a global community, which also builds a new future for humanity. It is very important," he said. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-10-25 14:29:50|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping addressed a conference marking the 50th anniversary of the restoration of the People's Republic of China's lawful seat in the United Nations (UN) on Monday. Please see the attachment for the translation of the full text of the speech. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-10-25 15:09:57|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Ban Ki-moon, former United Nations Secretary-General, speaks in an interview with Xinhua in Seoul, South Korea, Oct. 13, 2021. (Xinhua/Wang Jingqiang) SEOUL, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- "China has made substantial contributions to realizing the ideals of the United Nations," former United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said in a recent interview with Xinhua. "The restoration of the lawful seat of the People's Republic of China was a landmark event in the history of the UN," Ban said when recalling China's role in the United Nations during the last 50 years. "The United Nations became a universal organization in terms of its size and contents by the restoration of the seat by China," he added. During his ten-year tenure as secretary-general, Ban has witnessed the occurrence of many important events, with the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) among the most significant global affairs. "These were possible in large part with the strong leadership and involvement of China under the leadership of President Xi Jinping," "The most crucially important contribution of China was its strong commitment to fighting against climate change," Ban said. China played "a decisive role" in the negotiation process of the Paris Agreement in December 2015, Ban said, expressing his gratitude for China's contribution in accelerating the process of ratifying the agreement. Recalling that Xi took an initiative of inviting him and then U.S. President Barack Obama to Hangzhou in September 2016, he said the two leaders presented him with their respective instrument of joining the Paris Agreement. "It was a very meaningful event which encouraged other countries to follow suit of China and the United States to ratify the Paris Agreement," Ban said. "Had not been President Xi Jinping's initiative, we would not have the Paris Agreement on climate change even now," he added. China's commitment to carbon neutrality before 2060 has also sent an encouraging signal to other countries, he said. China not only has made a substantial contribution to obtaining the targets of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), but also has been playing a crucial role in implementing the SDGs, Ban said. Referring to China's achievements in lifting the Chinese people above the abject poverty line, he said it encouraged other developing countries to do the same. Pointing out that the world is facing serious challenges such as climate change, the COVID-19 pandemic and the weakening of multilateralism, Ban called for multilateral cooperation and urged world leaders to be more active in nurturing multilateralism. "We share one planet, one humankind and one future. We need to work for common peace and prosperity of one humankind, respecting one planet and one future," he added. In this regard, the former UN chief said building a community with a shared future for mankind, proposed by Xi, "is a very important concept." "China's idea of being a builder of world peace, contributor to global development, defender of the international order and provider of public goods are consistent with the ideals of the UN Charter," he noted. "I hope that China will continue to work closely with the UN in making the world better, safer and more prosperous in the future," Ban said. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-10-25 16:48:10|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Herdsmen in traditional folk dresses crackle bullwhips as they ride through a bridge during the celebration of the end of the grazing season held in the Great Hungarian Plains in Hortobagy, the neighborhood of Budapest, Hungary on Oct. 24, 2021. (Photo by Attila Volgyi/Xinhua) Source: Xinhua| 2021-10-25 17:27:38|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping and Belgium's King Philippe on Monday exchanged congratulatory messages on the 50th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties. In his message, Xi said he attaches great importance to the development of China-Belgium relations and stands ready to work with King Philippe to take the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties as an opportunity to push for new achievements in China-Belgium relations and make new contributions to the development of China-Europe relations. Xi pointed out that since China and Belgium established diplomatic ties, their relations have been developing constantly on the basis of mutual respect and mutual benefit. Xi recalled that in 2014, he and King Philippe upgraded the China-Belgium relationship to an all-round friendly cooperative partnership, adding that fruitful results have yielded in bilateral exchanges and cooperation across the board. After the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the two peoples helped each other and continued to write a new chapter of China-Belgium friendship, Xi said. In his message, King Philippe said that since the establishment of diplomatic ties 50 years ago, bilateral friendly relations have made great progress in many areas, with fruitful results in economic and trade cooperation and increasingly close exchanges at local levels. Noting that he has visited China several times, King Philippe said he has witnessed the rapid progress of China and the development of Belgium-China relations. Looking into the future, King Philippe said he wishes for further strengthened Belgium-China friendly relations on the current solid basis. Also on Monday, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang exchanged congratulatory messages with Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo. China, Li said, is willing to work with Belgium to take the opportunity of celebrating the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, expand friendly exchanges and push for sustained and sound development of bilateral ties. In his message, De Croo said Belgium cherishes the bilateral relations and stands ready to strengthen dialogue with China, deepen cooperation in economy, trade and sustainable development, and jointly safeguard multilateralism. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-10-25 18:27:22|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close File photo shows Sudan's Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok (5th L, front) and members of his cabinet posing for a group photo following a swearing-in ceremony in Khartoum, Sudan, on Sept. 8, 2019. (File Photo by Mohamed Khidir/Xinhua) KHARTOUM, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, members of the Transitional Sovereignty Council's civilian component and several ministers have been arrested by joint military forces, Sudan's Ministry of Information and Communications said Monday. "Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, in a message from his house arrest, asks Sudanese to hold on to peace and occupy streets to defend their revolution," the ministry said on its Facebook account. Smoke rises from a site in Khartoum, Sudan, on Oct. 25, 2021. (Chinese medical expert team to Sudan/Handout via Xinhua) "Internet service cut off mobile phone networks, and bridges closed by military forces," it said. "The joint military forces storm the radio and television headquarters in Omdurman, and detain a number of employees." Since the announcement of foiling a coup attempt on Sept. 21, the tensions between the military and their civilian partners in the transitional government have continued to escalate. Sudan is ruled amid a 39-month transitional period under a transitional government of military and civilian elements, which was established after the ouster of former President Omar al-Bashir in April 2019. The transitional period is set to be followed by elections to form a new government. Source: Xinhua| 2021-10-25 19:05:08|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres via video link at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 25, 2021. (Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan) BEIJING, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday met with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres via video link, vowing to enhance coordination with the UN to work for a new stage of balanced, coordinated and inclusive global development. Noting Monday marks the 50th anniversary of the restoration of the People's Republic of China's lawful seat in the UN, Xi said the commemorative conference held by China is for reviewing the eventful course jointly covered by China and the UN and forging a better world together from a new historical starting point. Xi said history has proven time and time again no matter how powerful a country is, it cannot dictate other countries by way of hegemony and, still less, dominate the world. In face of regional hotspot issues, we must abide by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, respect the people's will of the involved countries, and resort to a political settlement, he added. Xi said there is only one system, one order and one set of rules in the world, and all countries should act within this framework, rather than do whatever suits them. For major countries, they should respect each other, coexist peacefully and work for mutual benefit on a win-win basis, which serves the common interests of the international community. Noting the COVID-19 pandemic has severely impacted development and people's livelihoods in all countries, especially the developing countries, Xi pointed out we should attach importance to and get work well done in both the joint pandemic response and the economic recovery. He urged stepping up anti-pandemic assistance to developing countries, as well as fair and reasonable distribution of vaccines globally to help make vaccines global public goods. China is ready to enhance coordination with the UN to promote the implementation of the Global Development Initiative, address development predicament in developing countries, help implement the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, and work for a new stage of balanced, coordinated and inclusive global development, Xi said. He urged countries to actively implement the Paris Agreement, abide by the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities, faithfully implement their respective responsibilities of emission reduction, and help developing countries accelerate economic transformation. China will honor its words with deeds as it has announced nationally determined measures to respond to climate change, Xi said. Noting the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Second UN Global Sustainable Transport Conference, jointly held by China and the UN, have rallied new consensus on sustainable development, Xi said China will support the biodiversity protection cause in developing countries. Xi stressed an important experience from the 50 years of cooperation between China and the UN is that we should hold fast to the UN ideals, stay committed to multilateralism, and earnestly contribute to world peace and development. China is ready to work with all countries, united under the UN flag, to forge a community of a shared future for humanity, said Xi. For his part, Guterres congratulated the People's Republic of China on the restoration of a lawful seat in the UN on Oct. 25 50 years ago, and thanked China for supporting the UN's work and playing a major role in promoting world peace and development, adding unilateralism is totally unacceptable. He also voiced the UN's appreciation for China's key role in poverty reduction, climate change response, biodiversity protection and promoting COVID-19 vaccines as global public goods, adding the UN is willing to enhance cooperation with China on the Global Development Initiative. Wang Huning, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and a member of the Secretariat of the CPC Central Committee, attended the meeting. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-10-25 22:36:09|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Teachers check the body temperature of students upon their arrival at a school in Bangalore, India, Oct. 25, 2021. Students of grade 1 to 5 in Bangalore returned to school with COVID-19 precautions. (Str/Xinhua) Source: Xinhua| 2021-10-26 01:09:17|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Chairman of Sudan's Transitional Military Council Abdel-Fattah Al-Burhan speaks during the signing ceremony of the political and constitutional declarations to mark the beginning of the transitional rule, in Khartoum, Sudan, on Aug. 17, 2019. (Xinhua/Mohamed Khidir) The chief of Sudan's Sovereign Council expressed commitment to the constitutional document, though suspending the articles related to the coalition with the civilian component in the transitional government. KHARTOUM, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- Chairman of Sudan's Sovereign Council Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan said on Monday that the division among partners in the transitional government prompted the military intervention to prevent the country from chaos. Al-Burhan, also general commander of the Sudanese armed forces, made the remarks in a speech broadcast by the official Sudan TV, in which he announced the state of emergency across the country, dissolution of the sovereign council and the government, and the relief of all state governors of their post. The Sudanese army chief expressed commitment to the constitutional document but announced suspension of the items relating to the coalition with the Freedom and Change Alliance, the civilian component in the ruling coalition that accused Al-Burhan of carrying out a military coup. Photo taken on Aug. 16, 2021 shows Sudan's Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok (R) and Chairman of Sudan's Sovereign Council Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan visit the border area of Al- Fashaga between Sudan and Ethiopia. (Xinhua /Mohamed Khidir) Earlier in the day, Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, members of the Transitional Sovereignty Council's civilian component and several ministers were arrested by joint military forces, according to Sudan's Ministry of Information and Communications. The office of the prime minister said in a statement that a security force took Hamdok and his wife to an unknown place. The capital Khartoum is witnessing street demonstrations rejecting the military intervention and demanding a civilian government. Photo taken on Oct. 25, 2021 shows black smoke in the sky over the Sudanese capital of Khartoum amid reports about a military coup. (Xinhua) Since the announcement of foiling a coup attempt on Sept. 21, the tensions between the military and civilian partners in the transitional government have continued to escalate. Sudan is ruled amid a 39-month transitional period under a traditional government of military and civilian elements, established after the ouster of former President Omar al-Bashir in April 2019. The transitional period is set to be followed by elections to form a new government. Source: Xinhua| 2021-10-25 10:03:40|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- Fifty years ago today, the 26th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted Resolution 2758 with an overwhelming majority and decided to restore the lawful seat of the People's Republic of China (PRC) in the world body. In the conference hall at the UN Headquarters located in New York City, thunderous applause and cheers echoed from all sides of the hall. Former Permanent Representative of Tanzania to the United States Salim Ahmed Salim, as the representative of the campaign for this cause, congratulated China with cheers and applause on the spot, which left an unforgettable memory. Salim was granted China's Friendship Medal when the PRC celebrated the 70th anniversary of its founding in 2019. In a written interview with Xinhua, he said the world has seen tremendous changes over the past decades, but he still remembered the day when the country's lawful seat at the UN was restored. Salim told Xinhua that it "is a great historic moment" not only for him, but also for Tanzania and all the African countries which have made great efforts to support the milestone event. Vernon Johnson Mwaanga, former Zambian foreign minister and former Zambian envoy to the UN, hugged his African colleagues on the spot, sharing the joy. In an interview with Xinhua ahead of the 50th anniversary of the milestone event, Mwaanga reminisced about how Africa supported China's return to the UN. Pushing for the adoption of a resolution over the matter was not easy, as some Western countries, including the United States, were determined to maintain the status quo, the former diplomat said. Mwaanga said the African representatives felt obliged to change the situation because they believed there was no way that Taiwan, which is part of China, could represent China. "You can imagine how frustrating it was for us, because we first sponsored the resolution in 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970 and finally succeeded in 1971," Mwaanga said. To counter the move of the United States, the African group sought support from other countries and asked them to be co-sponsors of the resolution, which needed a two-thirds majority to get passed, Mwaanga said. "So by the time we were finishing with voting, it was quite late at night and when it was announced we were all very happy," he recalled. Mwaanga said that China has, no doubt, played a major role in the UN system in the last 50 years in such aspects as safeguarding global peace and security. China-Africa relations, he said, have been strong in the last 50 years, during which China has helped African countries fight poverty, and improve health care, education, and infrastructure. He believes that the China-Africa relations have a bright future because the growth prospect of the ties has been further cemented by the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation and the Belt and Road Initiative, which have both been embraced by African countries. Referring to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, Mwaanga thanked China for providing African countries with vaccines and other medical supplies, and further commended China for its response to the pandemic, saying that the rest of the world should learn from China's handling of the public health crisis. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-10-25 16:26:51|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close File photo shows Sudan's Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok (5th L, front) and members of his cabinet posing for a group photo following a swearing-in ceremony in Khartoum, Sudan, Sept. 8, 2019. Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, members of the Transitional Sovereignty Council's civilian component and several ministers have been arrested by joint military forces, Sudan's Ministry of Information and Communications said on Monday. (Photo by Mohamed Khidir/Xinhua) KHARTOUM, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, members of the Transitional Sovereignty Council's civilian component and several ministers have been arrested by joint military forces, Sudan's Ministry of Information and Communications said on Monday. "Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, in a message from his house arrest, asks Sudanese to hold on to peace and occupy streets to defend their revolution," the ministry said on its Facebook account. "Internet service cut off mobile phone networks, and bridges closed by military forces," it said. "The joint military forces storm the radio and television headquarters in Omdurman, and detain a number of employees." Since the announcement of foiling a coup attempt on Sept. 21, the tensions between the military and their civilian partners in the transitional government have continued to escalate. Sudan is ruled amid a 39-month transitional period under a transitional government of military and civilian elements, which was established after the ouster of former President Omar al-Bashir in April 2019. The transitional period is set to be followed by elections to form a new government. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-10-25 18:34:54|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close MOGADISHU, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- An estimated 7.7 million Somalis will require humanitarian assistance in 2022 as decades of conflict, recurrent climate shocks, disease outbreaks and increasing poverty are devastating the people, the United Nations has said. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) said that Somalia has an estimated 2.9 million internally displaced people, one of the most in a single country in the world. "Of these, 2.2 million require urgent humanitarian assistance," UNOCHA said in its latest humanitarian report released on Sunday evening. There is a serious risk that the combined impact of consecutive seasons of below-average to poor rainfall can develop into a major drought by early to mid-2022, the report said. According to the UN, Somalia remains on the frontline of climate change, which continues to induce crises resulting in widespread displacement, rapid urbanization, food insecurity, and increased poverty. Climate change, the report said, is also increasingly understood as a major driver of conflict in Somalia as the struggle for dwindling resources intensifies clan divisions and inter-clan conflict. The UN forecast Somalia to experience its third consecutive season of below-average rainfall, which has already resulted in a sharp increase in food insecurity, especially in rural areas. "Without humanitarian assistance, nearly 3.5 million are expected to face crisis or worse outcomes through the end of 2021," the UNOCHA said, adding that large parts of Somalia remain prone to severe riverine and flash flooding. Somalia has been among the countries hardest hit by the worst desert locust upsurge in decades that started in 2019. UNOCHA said although infestation levels declined in 2021 as a result of intensive control operations and low rainfall, a risk to rural livelihoods across the country remains. It said COVID-19 has also impacted the country's fragile health systems, with a resurgence of cases and documented infections in the first quarter of 2021. The lack of trained health workers, poor health infrastructure and a low development index have made Somalis vulnerable to outbreaks of other diseases as well, including cholera, measles, polio and acute watery diarrhea. According to UNHCR projections, the total number of refugees and asylum-seekers will reach 30,800 in 2022, and there will be 132,117 refugee returnees. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-10-25 21:28:32|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Photo taken on Oct. 23, 2021 shows people fetching water at a water point in Marsabit, north Kenya. (Xinhua/Ruth Wangara) NAIROBI, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- On the bank of a dry river bed where camels trudged along with ease, Mbirayon Sarge, a middle-aged mother of four, stood out amid tastefully decorated traditional regalia and hulking voice as she prayed for bountiful rains. Sarge is among dozens of women from the nomadic Rendille community in the vast northern Kenyan county of Marsabit, who have been gathering at a makeshift shrine near the dry river to perform rituals to end a prolonged dry spell. Sarge's fighting spirit was on display as she defied scorching afternoon heat to belt a tune and make coordinated dance moves while facing upwards in the hope that the fervent request for the rains would be granted. "We gathered here at the dry river bank to pray for the rains and it has been the routine in the last one month," Sarge told Xinhua during a recent interview at the makeshift shrine. Some of her peers trekked more than a dozen kilometres daily to congregate at the makeshift shrine and perform rituals to pave the way for torrential rainfall. Her plight mirrors the dire situation herders in the vast, remote and arid northern Kenyan outposts are facing as an acute drought escalates hunger, malnutrition, forced migration and sporadic conflicts. Langata Turuga, a life-long pastoralist and a once-proud owner of 100 goats, sat pensively on a concrete slab as he waited patiently for his turn to fetch water at a drying community well. The elderly pastoralist revealed that half of his herd of goats had already succumbed to the ravages of drought and disease, hence pushing him to the margins of survival. "The loss of 50 goats during the current drought has been devastating. We are passionate nomads but are suffering due to biting droughts that have become frequent in recent times," said Turuga. The acute drought in his backyard has forced him to make lengthy day and night trips across treacherous terrains in search of water and pasture to cushion his remaining herd of goats from starvation. "We rely on livestock to raise our children and pay their school fees but it has become impossible to fulfill those obligations as drought kills our cows and goats," said Turuga. Seated on a traditional wooden stool outside her makeshift hut, Ntimiton Lelala cut a forlorn image as she massaged a white lamb whose mother had just succumbed to the drought. "We are losing one goat after another as scarcity of water and pasture becomes more severe. Sometimes we go to bed hungry since food is scarce," said Lelala. She is among more than 2.1 million Kenyans living in more than a dozen arid and semi-arid counties including Marsabit who are currently affected by drought. John Ougo, assistant director at National Drought Management Authority, Marsabit County Office, said that about 30 percent of its population, or 160,000 people, were food insecure amid failed rains. And over 80 percent of pasture land has been depleted amid biting drought, leading to forced migration and resource-based conflicts in some parts of the county. Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta earlier last month declared drought, which is ravaging several parts of the country, a national disaster. Kenya Red Cross Society said that 2.1 million Kenyans are currently facing high acute food insecurity, up from 1.4 million in February due to a worsening drought situation. According to the organization, the drought-affected counties have had no significant harvest, as most water points such as boreholes, wells and water pans have dried up, increasing distances that people travel looking for water for domestic and livestock use. Kenya has allocated 2.4 billion shillings (about 21.6 million U.S. dollars) to cushion drought victims in October and November in 23 arid and semi-arid counties. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-10-25 21:53:51|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BAMAKO, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- The government of Mali has declared the Special Representative of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) "persona non grata" and gave him 72 hours to leave Mali, according to a statement issued on Monday by the Malian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. According to the statement, the special representative of ECOWAS in Mali, Hamidou Boly, was convened Monday at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation where he was "notified of the decision of the government" declaring him "persona non grata in view of his actions incompatible with his status". And he has 72 hours to leave the country. "This decision comes after several warnings addressed to the person concerned through his hierarchy", indicated the Malian government which reaffirmed its "readiness to maintain dialogue" with ECOWAS and to "work together" for the success of the transition. This decision was taken by the Malian authorities following a UN Security Council mission on Oct. 23 and Oct. 24 to assess the country's political situation, after being urged by ECOWAS to respect the deadline of 18 months of transition (from Sept. 15, 2020), thus to organize the first round of legislative and presidential elections on Feb. 27. ECOWAS President-in-Office John Nana Akuffo-Addo of Ghana made an official visit to Bamako on Oct. 17 to discuss with the Malian authorities the "evolution" of this transition. After the coup on Aug. 18, 2020, a political transition is underway in the West African country since Sept. 15, 2020 for 18 months. However, in recent weeks, the transitional authorities have called for the postponement of the first rounds of presidential and legislative elections scheduled for Feb. 27, 2022, thus extending the deadline for the transitional period. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-10-25 23:08:58|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Israel Degfa, the CEO of Kerchanshe Trading Private Limited Company (PLC), speaks during an interview with Xinhua in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Oct. 14, 2021. Kerchanshe Trading Private Limited Company (PLC), the largest producer and exporter of coffee in Ethiopia, says the upcoming 4th China International Import Expo (CIIE) will create a huge opportunity for coffee-producing and exporting companies. (Xinhua/Michael Tewelde) ADDIS ABABA, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- Kerchanshe Trading Private Limited Company (PLC), the largest producer and exporter of coffee in Ethiopia, says the upcoming 4th China International Import Expo (CIIE) will create a huge opportunity for coffee-producing and exporting companies. In an exclusive interview with Xinhua, the CEO of Kerchanshe Trading PLC, Israel Degfa, said his company would be participating in the expo through its agent in China, thereby showcasing and promoting the quality and specialty coffee of the East African nation. Israel said the Expo plays an important role in further promoting the ever-growing Chinese import of Ethiopian coffee. "That platform (CIIE) is very helpful and it will create a relationship with the buyers, with the roasters; and it will educate the China community about the difference of coffee; all coffee is not coffee. Ethiopian coffee is different from other coffees," said the CEO. "We expect a huge, huge connection from that expo. And we will definitely achieve a lot," he said. Israel, who is from a coffee farmer's family insists that coffee quality and flavors are the results of dedicated scientific endeavors and processes. He said his company operates vigorously to ensure quality and comes up with ever improved coffee varieties to meet the expectation of international buyers. Kerchanshe is producing and exporting different varieties of coffee by operating with 63 washing stations, 56,000 out-growers, and also 1,500 hectares of land dedicated to research and development of improved varieties of coffee. According to the Ethiopian Coffee and Tea Authority, China was among the top ten buyers of Ethiopian coffee in the months of July and August 2021. Stating that China's import of Ethiopia's coffee is increasing dramatically, the Kerchanshe CEO said the country would be among the top five buyers of Ethiopian coffee in the next two to three years. "It is a dramatic change. We started three or four years ago exporting to China. China was a tea marketplace, not a coffee marketplace, but now it is changing. The cultural shift is bringing a lot of opportunities for coffee-producing countries like us," he said. "Ethiopian coffee is special and unique because it is picked by hand. Its process is by hand; everything is hand-crafted coffee...so, the reason why we always demand the price difference in Ethiopian coffee is because of the uniqueness of the process, the uniqueness of the production as well," he said. The 4th China International Import Expo is scheduled from Nov. 5 to 10 in Shanghai. The event provides a platform for companies from around the world to display their products, promote their brands, and find more business partners in the world's second-largest economy. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-10-26 00:52:20|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close GABORONE, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- Botswana has now transited to the third phase of the National Vaccine Deployment Plan, which targets people between the ages of 18 and 29 from Monday. "This means that anyone in Botswana aged 18 and above is officially allowed to visit any of our vaccination sites for COVID-19 vaccination as of today," announced Christopher Nyanga, spokesperson of the Ministry of Health and Wellness. According to the Ministry, as at Oct. 22, 764,254 adults in Botswana out of the total targeted 1,531,498 people, had received at least a first dose of COVID-19 vaccines. The ministry also cautioned the public against succumbing to the temptation to make a choice, stating that all of these vaccines are safe, effective, and have passed tests conducted on them by various international and local scientific structures. President Mokgweetsi Masisi announced that his government plans to vaccinate at least 64 percent of the country's population by December 2021. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-10-26 01:54:54|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close TRIPOLI, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- The embassies of France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, and the United States in Libya on Monday commended the "successful" Libya Stabilization Conference held in the capital Tripoli on Oct. 21. "We, the Embassies of France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom, and the United States commend Libya for its successful hosting of the October 21 Stabilization Conference, which allowed senior officials from countries and organizations around the globe to converge on Tripoli and demonstrate their support for the sovereignty, independence, territorial integrity, and national unity of Libya," said a joint statement. The statement joined Libyan authorities in rejecting foreign interference in Libyan affairs, including the divisive and destabilizing role played by mercenaries, foreign fighters, and foreign forces, and stressed the need for all parties to adhere to international law. The statement also commended the Action Plan of the Libyan Joint Military Committee (JMC) for the withdrawal of mercenaries, foreign fighters and foreign forces from Libyan territory. "We are committed to cooperating with Libya on important shared challenges such as terrorism, migration, climate change and protection of the environment. Improved stability in Libya will also lead to increased investment, which in turn creates jobs and improves livelihoods for all Libyans," the statement said. The statement also stressed the importance of the presidential and parliamentary elections to be held on Dec. 24 this year. "On the basis of those two elections, the Libyan institutions and leaders will have a fresh mandate from the people that will allow them to fulfill important duties such as improving infrastructure, providing medical care, and ensuring Libyan youth receive a quality education," the statement said. On Thursday, Libya's Tripoli hosted the Libya Stabilization Conference with the participation of 31 countries and international organizations, with the aim to achieve stability in Libya. Libya has been suffering insecurity and chaos since the fall of the late leader Muammar Gaddafi's regime in 2011. The UN-sponsored Libyan Political Dialogue Forum (LPDF) in February selected a new political authority of a unity government and a presidential council, ending years of political division in the country. The new authority's main task is to prepare for the upcoming elections, as endorsed by the LPDF. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-10-26 02:18:10|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close TRIPOLI, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- The Libyan Foreign Ministry on Monday called on the Sudanese parties to resort to calms and dialogue. "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation follows up with great concern the situation in the brotherly Sudan and calls on all the parties for calm and resort to dialogue," the ministry said in a statement. "The ministry calls on all the parties to spare the Sudanese people further division and conflict and to respect the choice and will of the Sudanese people to commit to democracy," the statement said. Earlier on Monday, Chairman of Sudan's Sovereign Council Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan declared a state of emergency across Sudan, and dissolved the transitional sovereign council and the government. The decision was made hours after Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, members of the Transitional Sovereignty Council's civilian component and several ministers were arrested by joint military forces. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-10-26 02:27:38|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close CAIRO, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- Egypt on Monday called on all Sudanese parties to exercise restraint and give priority to the higher interest of the country. In a statement, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry said Cairo is closely following up the recent developments in Sudan, stressing the importance of achieving stability and security for the Sudanese people and preserving their capabilities. Egypt urged all parties to deal with current challenges in a manner that guarantees the safety of Sudan, adding that the security and stability of Sudan is an integral part of the security and stability of Egypt and the region. Earlier on Monday, Chairman of Sudan's Sovereign Council Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan declared a state of emergency across Sudan, and dissolved the transitional sovereign council and the government. The decision was made hours after Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, members of the Transitional Sovereignty Council's civilian component and several ministers were arrested by joint military forces. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-10-25 21:15:21|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close TEHRAN, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- European countries should not be influenced by U.S. pressure, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi told new European ambassadors to Iran in separate meetings on Monday. As reported by Iran's state TV, Raisi received the credentials of six new ambassadors from Switzerland, Kyrgyzstan, Belgium, Cyprus, Finland, and Azerbaijan. "Switzerland has always played a positive role in the maintenance and promotion of peace, and it is expected that in this new period it will be able to maintain its independent role in the face of unilateral U.S. policies," Raisi said in his meeting with the new Swiss ambassador Christian Dussey. In his meeting with the new Belgian ambassador Gianmarco Rizzo, Raisi said Iran has always abided by its commitments, adding other countries must not be allowed to interfere in relations between Iran and European countries. European governments, however, have not fulfilled their obligations under the 2015 nuclear agreement, he told Rizzo. At the meeting with Finnish Ambassador Kari Kahiluoto, Raisi insisted that Finland must distance itself from "U.S. expansionist policies, because U.S. unilateralism is not in the best interests of the world." Both parties in all separate meetings voiced readiness to expand the current level of bilateral cooperation. Enditem Zimbabwes considered and firm position is that we are a friend to all and an enemy to none President @edmnangagwa in his Ant-Sanctions Day Message. He hopes for Dialogue with the EU to continue and looks forward to similar structured dialogues with both the UK and the US. pic.twitter.com/P3ZzNvoHDX THE Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service (ZPCS) is set to introduce a new prison garb, which reflects the organisations correctional activities as well as conforms to international standards. When the Zimbabwe Prisons Service (ZPS) rebranded into the ZPCS, prisons were turned into rehabilitation centres that empower multitudes of inmates with different life-sustaining skills. The administration of the prisons was decentralised to authorise each province to tailor-make rehabilitation programmes for the benefit of inmates under their prisons. Inmates are imparted with skills such as carpentry, welding, agriculture, dress making, auto mechanics among others to sustain themselves post-prison life. ZPCS has a number of vocational training centres across the country where inmates are trained as part of the programme to prepare them for life after prison. In an interview yesterday, ZPCS Commissioner-General Moses Chihobvu said although the proposal is yet to get approval from Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi, they intend switching to orange in line with the global trend. We are working on changing the uniform for our inmates. Although we havent come up with the actual colour, we are looking at orange, but we are still yet to submit our proposal to the Minister (Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi), he said. In fact, we are actually looking for a better material which of course doesnt easily catch dirt and also makes it easy to identify an inmate. The prison garb for inmates easily catches dirt, which is a challenge in terms of resources to keep their uniforms clean. In terms of the proposed uniforms, the female inmates shall put a short sleeved round neck top and trousers with round elastic and a full dress all cerise in colour code. The top part of uniforms for both males and females will have an inscription (corrections) in front and back. Comm-Gen Chihobvu said the proposed new uniform for both male and female inmates, is in line with international standards. Changing the uniforms is in line with international standards and since we are now a correctional service, this will also help demystify the general perception about our inmates. Both male and female will have same colours because we want it to be uniform and once the proposal sails through, we will then start implementing it, he said. Comm-Gen Chihobvu noted that most Apostolic Faith sects in the country wear white uniforms, which are similar to the prison garbs hence it would make an inmate less recognisable in the event of a jailbreak. We also noted that the white colour resembles the uniform of members of the Apostolic Faith sects, which therefore means that when an inmate escapes into the bush, they tend to blend in well will with those congregants. We therefore need to change the colours for our inmates from white to orange, he said. Comm-Gen Chihobvu said ZPCS upholds prisoners rights, as depicted in the United Nations Minimum Standard Rules for the Treatment of Offenders (now known as The Nelson Mandela Rules). According to Rule 19 of the Nelson Mandela Rules, every prisoner who is not allowed to wear his or her own clothing shall be provided with an outfit of clothing suitable for the climate and adequate to keep him or her in good health. Such clothing shall in no manner be degrading or humiliating. All clothing shall be clean and kept in proper condition. Some of the legal standards under that rule say underclothing shall be changed and washed as often as necessary for the maintenance of hygiene. The rules also stipulate that in exceptional circumstances, whenever a prisoner is removed outside the prison for an authorised purpose, he or she shall be allowed to wear his or her own clothing or other inconspicuous clothing. Rule 20 says if prisoners are allowed to wear their own clothing, arrangements shall be made on their admission to the prison to ensure that it shall be clean and fit for use. Rule 21 says every prisoner shall, in accordance with local or national standards, be provided with a separate bed and with separate and sufficient bedding which shall be clean when issued, kept in good order and changed often enough to ensure its cleanliness. Comm-Gen Chihobvu said the transformation of ZPCS should be reflected on the correctional activities being undertaken at all the countrys 46 facilities. We are transforming the organisation, which means prisoners should not been seen continuing to wear the same uniform they wore when we were still the Zimbabwe Prisons Service. We are now the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Service and therefore the new uniform that we are proposing should be a reflection of the correctional activities that we are undertaking in our facilities, he said. Chronicle The illegal and unilateral Western economic sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe must immediately be lifted to allow the country to grow to its full potential, President Mnangagwa has said. In his statement on the SADC Anti-Sanctions Day, the President called upon Western nations to embrace the spirit of dialogue ushered in by the Second Republic and which has seen the European Union and Zimbabwe regularly holding meetings. In line with our vision to be peaceful, prosperous and effective participants in the community of nations by 2030, my Government stands ready to strengthen cooperation with all in pursuit of our national aspirations and common global interests. It is my fervent hope that the dialogue with the European Union will remain constructive and proceed in the spirit of equal partnership for the mutual benefit of our people. My Government is also ready to enter into similar structured dialogue with the United Kingdom and the United States. Against this background of the various engagement and re-engagement processes, we view the continued renewal and in some cases imposition of fresh sanctions on Zimbabwe as most unfortunate and regrettable. In spite of the constraining effects of the illegal economic sanctions, my Government has taken a deliberate stance to accelerate the implementation of various development projects throughout the country guided by the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1) as well as our collective desire to meet milestones towards the achievement of the SADC Vision 2050, the African Union Development Agenda 2063 and the United Nations Development Goals, President Mnangagwa said. Notwithstanding the unnecessary burden of the illegal sanctions that were imposed by the United States, the United Kingdom and their Western allies at the turn of the millennium, Zimbabwe is inching towards Vision 2030 of becoming an upper middle economy with transformative industrialisation and modernisation that leaves no one behind. It is now two decades since our great country was slapped with illegal, unilateral, unjustified and unfair sanctions following a decision to repossess our land grabbed from us by the minority white settler colonialists. The President said the sanctions were imposed under frivolous and misguided guises by the countrys erstwhile colonisers in response to the land reform programme that redressed colonial land inequities. This resulted in significant changes in the countrys socio-economic landscape affecting the capacity of service delivery and lowering the quality of life of the people of Zimbabwe. More recently the illegal sanctions adversely affected our countrys ability to respond to climate change-induced natural disasters and the Covid-19 pandemic. While other world nations received various forms of aid from international lending institutions to cope with natural disasters and the Covid-19, Zimbabwe has had to go it alone as the United States has, through its wreath of sanctions and other restrictions made it nigh-impossible for development partners to do business with Zimbabwe. Sanctions on Zimbabwe are illegal, unfair, and unjustifiable. The illegal sanctions on Zimbabwe must go now notwithstanding the concerted efforts by our detractors to derail our development agenda, let us remain united and peaceful. We are winning against these sanctions. Victory is indeed certain, he said. The SADC Anti-Sanctions Day is this year being held under the theme Zimbabwe: Friend to All, Enemy to None: Forging ahead and Enhancing Innovation and Productivity in Adversity of Sanctions, an apt description of the countrys foreign policy. I am also deeply humbled by the immense support and solidarity of the SADC Heads of States and Governments and other progressive world leaders and other organisations who have joined our call for the removal of the illegal and debilitating sanctions imposed on our nation, the President said. The SADC Anti-Sanctions Day was established in 2019 by the 39th Summit of the SADC Heads of States and Governments that specifically set aside October 25 as a day when the whole region jointly advocates for the unconditional removal of the illegal sanctions. Herald Members of the Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (Artuz) yesterday staged online anti-government protests meant to coincide with the Southern Africa Development Community (Sadc) anti-sanctions solidarity day where they demanded improved working conditions. They said the protests were targeted at Finance minister Mthuli Ncube, whom they accused of slashing their salaries from US$540 in 2018 to US$100 as he implemented his unpopular fiscal policy measures in 2018. Their protest yesterday ran under the hashtag #EndSalarySanctions. In a series of tweets, Artuz said the salaries that teachers were getting were inadequate for their self-sustenance. The teacher takes home a salary of ZW$16 308, which is an equivalent of around US$82. The teacher cannot afford 2 100 calories of food per day for each member of a family of five. They earn below the food poverty line. They are malnourished. These are sanctions imposed on us by the government #EndSalarySanctions, Artuz tweeted. This is the reason why we are calling on citizens to help us implore @MthuliNcube to end #EndSalarySanctions. They said the only weapon left for them was to down tools in protest as the responsibility to save the education sector was on Ncubes shoulders. Teachers keep on piling pressure on @MthuliNcube to end salary sanctions. The government should not punish civil servants who are working round the clock to keep this nation ticking. The sanctions list is long. Zimbabwe Teachers Association (Zimta) acting national general-secretary Goodwill Taderera said although teachers affiliated to his union had not unanimously decided to join the online protests, as a union they welcomed every effort and move by different stakeholders to enhance the conditions of service for teachers. We support every move and effort that will push the government to pay teachers a reasonable salary. We appreciate Artuz for fighting in their corner and we have no problem with any stakeholders that push for salary enhancement and the well-being of teachers, Taderera said. Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ) President Takavafira Zhou said sanctions come in two forms; internal and external. Zhou said internal sanctions included issues such as underpayment of teachers in particular and of civil servants in general, as well as the high-profile corruption that has become routine and has invited imposition of external sanctions. We call upon our Zimbabwean government to pay teachers and the rest of the civil servants as they are the pillars of sustainable development of the nation. As much as we have not jointly planned anything with any other union in Zimbabwe, we have been in the forefront in calling for unity in diversity against slave wages for teachers that in some way are a form of internal sanctions. What is, however, more deleterious to national development are internal sanctions characterised by cartelism, underpayment of workers and a shocking contrast between richness and poverty, Zhou said. Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) secretary-general Japhet Moyo said as a union, they had been campaigning against wage theft over the years. Any effort by any of our affiliates or workers to demand a living wage is appreciated and supported. Businesses have been making huge profits taking advantage of the parallel market rates, but at the same time refusing to link wages to the same exchange rates. Most goods and services are in US$ or parallel exchange rate, but wages are compressed. This is in both the public and private sectors, Moyo said. Last week in response to threats by teachers to strike, Primary and Secondary Education ministry spokesperson Taungana Ndoro said: There is nothing overwhelming about calls for job action that would be heeded by about 3 000 teachers. Primary and Secondary Education minister Evelyn Ndlovu said she was committed to address issues pertaining to the welfare of teachers. Newsday Zec had claimed the Electoral Court was the only one empowered to reverse wrongfully announced results. Konjana approached the courts for recourse, but lost the case on a technicality. In September, Supreme Court judge Justice Bharat Patel said the case could not be heard because it had exceeded the time limit stipulated for the Electoral Court despite admitting that Konjanas appeal had merit. During a stakeholder meeting in Chinhoyi last week, Zec said it was imperative for it to be legally empowered to resolve such disputes. The meeting was attended by the Zimbabwe Election Support Network, Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace, Zanu PF, MDC Alliance and MDC-T officials, among other opposition parties and civic groups. Zec can only implement its constitutional mandate; election proclamation is vested in the Executive. Zec seeks to have the decree and power to correct errors that may occur during the election period rather than to wait for courts to decide (citing the Chegutu West saga where Dexter Nduna was declared winner on account of human error), the Zec update on the meeting read. An encouragement was made to all stakeholders to lobby for recommendations to be pushed through the Legislature. Meanwhile, Zec also said government had lifted the suspension on voter registration and other electoral activities, but remains mum on by-elections to replace MDC Alliance MPs and councillors that were recalled by the MDC-T led by Douglas Mwonzora. Newsday London, UK (PANA) - The Mo Ibrahim Foundation on Monday expressed its deep concern at the unfolding situation in Sudan, following the ouster of the civilian-led administration in a military coup If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this Got news tips, gossip, suggestions, complaints?E-mail us: progressivecharlestown@gmail.com We strive to avoid errors in our articles. Our correction policy can be found here Welcome Guest! You Are Here: Home Regional News East Student accused of fatal shooting in Russias Perm university refuses to appeal detention RAPSI, Eugeny Varlamov 10:39 25/10/2021 MOSCOW, October 25 (RAPSI) - Student Timur Bekmansurov, who stands charged with shooting in the Perm State University that led to the death of 6 people, refused to challenge his detention. After 10 days from the detention order there were no appeal from him, RIA URA.RU reported citing the Perm Krai Court. Earlier, the young man pled guilty to the mass murder and did not object to his detention. The Dzerzhinsky District Court in Perm in mid-October ordered Bekmansurovs detention for two months. When detained he was put in a detention center's detachment for disabled persons, as doctors earlier took off his leg. According to investigators, in September, the student entered the university and did the shooting. As a result of the attack, 6 people died and 28 were injured. Bekmansurov was injured when resisting arrest and taken to hospital. A criminal case was opened over murder. The defendant could face life in prison if convicted. Two officers of the Perm State Road Safety Inspectorate who took down the student were advanced in rank. A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind. Union Home Minister Amit Shah paid obeisance at the Mata Kheer Bhawani temple shrine in J&K's Ganderbal district on Monday at the end of his three-day visit to the union territory. Extraordinary security arrangements were made in and around the Mata Kheer Bhawani temple in Tullamulla town of Ganderbal district for Shah's visit. Heavy deployment of police and paramilitary forces was made in Ganderbal town where the home minister landed in a helicopter and was then driven to the nearly 5 kilometre long distance to the temple shrine accompanied by Lt Governor Manoj Sinha. Mata Kheer Bhawani temple shrine is the holiest religious place of worship for the Kashmiri Pandit community. After their exodus from the Valley in early 1990s, migrant Pandits from different parts of the country have been arriving at Tullamulla to attend the annual festival at the deity's temple shrine. The BJP-led Karnataka government has told the Supreme Court that there are 72 Rohingyas in Bengaluru city, but it has no immediate plan to deport them. The state government's response came on a 2017 PIL filed by BJP leader and advocate Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay, who sought the apex court's direction to deport illegal Rohingyas. The state government, in a written response, said: "The Bengaluru city police have not housed Rohingyas in any camp or detention centres within its jurisdiction. However, 72 Rohingyas identified in Bengaluru city are working in various fields and Bengaluru city police have not taken any coercive action against them as of now." There is no immediate plan of deporting them either, it added. The state government also provided the names of Rohingya refugees who were staying in the north-east division of the city. It further added that all these Rohingyas, except those below 12 years of age, have been given individual numbers by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). The Karnataka government emphasised that the plea is not maintainable either in law or on the facts of the case, and added it is also devoid of merits. "The Special Leave to Appeal is not maintainable either in law or on the facts of the case. The Petition is devoid of merits. Hence, the Petition is liable to be dismissed in limine," said the government, which filed a statement of the objection through advocate V.N. Raghupathy. Upadhyaya had argued that the influx of infiltrators posed a serious threat to the unity, integrity, and security of the country. He had asked the court to issue a direction to Centre and state governments to identify, detain and deport all the illegal immigrants and infiltrators including Bangladeshis and Rohingyas within one year. The petitioner also urged the top court to issue direction to amend the respective laws to make illegal immigration and infiltration, a cognizable non-bailable and non-compoundable offence. Edison, NJ -- (SBWIRE) -- 10/25/2021 -- HTF MI recently introduced Global Chinese Medicine Market study with in-depth overview, describing about the Product / Industry Scope and elaborates market outlook and status to 2026. It is expected that the healthcare and life sciences industry will likely continue to be an attractive target market showing noteworthy sign to Chinese Medicine for the foreseeable future. The market Study is segmented by key a region that is accelerating the marketization. The market research includes historical and forecast market data, demand, and trends. Some of the key players profiled in the study are Yunnanbaiyao, Huqingyutang, Leiyunshang, Renhe Group, Heniantang, Chenliji, Tongrentang, Jiuzhitang, Hongyao & Dong-E-E-Jiao etc. Click to Get Sample PDF (Including Full TOC, Table & Figures) @ https://www.htfmarketreport.com/sample-report/3393853-global-chinese-medicine-market Chinese Medicine Companies are expanding their roles to deliver value beyond the services or offerings by helping clinics and hospitals authority report on quality, offering services that engage patients in real time, improving safety, regulatory compliance and physician performance. "According to Sources, national healthcare spending is projected to grow at an average of 5.5% annually." Lot of Chinese Medicine Companies expect that health care's evolution will have far-reaching impacts as upcoming business models emerge that blur boundaries and drive cross-sector and cross-industry convergence. With this edition, HTF MI have come up with a scope that actually delivers answer to current and future scenario. Make an Enquiry for Global Chinese Medicine Market Study @ https://www.htfmarketreport.com/enquiry-before-buy/3393853-global-chinese-medicine-market The titled segments and sub-section of the Global Chinese Medicine market are illuminated below: The Global Chinese Medicine market has been divided into, application, type, technology and region/country. On The Basis Of Type, Market is segmented by Pill, Oral Liquid, Plaster & Other, by Application/End Users it includes Online Sale & Offline sale Geographically, the Chinese Medicine Market Study provides Revenue Sizing as North America: USA, Canada and Mexico Europe: Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Netherlands, Russia , Italy, Belgium, Denmark, Austria, Norway, Sweden, The Netherlands and Rest of Europe Asia-Pacific: China, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, India, Southeast Asia and Others South America: Brazil, Argentina, Colombia, Others MEA: Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Turkey, Israel, Egypt, Nigeria, South Africa & Rest of MEA "Additionally the connected stakeholders of Chinese Medicine such as distributors, suppliers, health care providers, governments, other payers, patients, and other stakeholders were also considered in the survey to derive Chinese Medicine market estimation and demand side analysis."- To better explore trend and current state to deliver closer view towards changing market dynamics of Chinese Medicine Market. Buy Latest Edition of Chinese Medicine Market Research @ https://www.htfmarketreport.com/buy-now?format=1&report=3393853 Some Frequency Asked Questions 1) How can we add or get new players profile as per our need? Yes, we can add or profile new company as per client need in the report. Final confirmation to be provided by research team depending upon the difficulty of survey. The Standard version of the report currently profiles players such as Yunnanbaiyao, Huqingyutang, Leiyunshang, Renhe Group, Heniantang, Chenliji, Tongrentang, Jiuzhitang, Hongyao & Dong-E-E-Jiao. ** Data availability will be confirmed by research in case of privately held company. Up to 3 players can be added at no added cost. 2) Can we have different set of Segmentation added or further granularity in existing segmentation is possible? Yes, inclusion of additional segmentation in Chinese Medicine Market Study is possible subject to data availability and difficulty of survey. Also, granularity can be checked contacting sales team as customization are subject to final approval and feasibility check by research team. 3) What years are considered in Global Chinese Medicine Market study; When it was last released? Historical year 2016-2020 Base year 2020 Forecast period** 2021 to 2026 [** forecast year can be customized] Version of Study: 2021 Published browse complete report and table of contents @ https://www.htfmarketreport.com/reports/3393853-global-chinese-medicine-market Thanks for showing interest in Chinese Medicine Market publication; you can also get Individual Chapter or Regional or Country wise report USA, GCC, Southeast Asia, North America, Europe, APAC or LATAM. Contact US : Craig Francis (PR & Marketing Manager) HTF Market Intelligence Consulting Private Limited Unit No. 429, Parsonage Road Edison, NJ New Jersey USA 08837 Phone: +1 (206) 317 1218 sales@htfmarketreport.com Connect with us at LinkedIn | Facebook | Twitter The NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope has produced an outstanding image of the central part of the isolated barred spiral galaxy NGC 2903. NGC 2903 is located approximately 30 million light-years away in the constellation of Leo. The galaxy was discovered on November 16, 1784 by the German-born British astronomer William Herschel. Otherwise known as LEDA 27077, UGC 5079 and IRAS 09293+2143, NGC 2903 has an extremely high speed of creating new stars in its central region. This image of NGC 2903 was captured using Hubbles Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS) and Wide Field Camera 3 (WFC3), which were installed on the telescope in 2002 and 2009 respectively, Hubble astronomers said. Interestingly, Hubble has observed this particular galaxy before, in 2001, when neither the ACS or the WFC3 had yet been installed. The 2021 image boasts higher resolution, which means that NGC 2903 is more finely detailed than in the 2001 image. The ACS and WFC2 collectively cover a wide range of ultraviolet, optical and infrared wavelengths, which means that the 2021 image also has superior wavelength coverage to that of its 20-year-old predecessor. The 2001 image was taken using Hubbles Wide Field Planetary Camera 2 (WFPC2), which was the telescopes workhorse instrument from 1993 until 2009 when it was replaced by the WFC3. Hubble has a long and fascinating history of crewed service missions, which were performed in order to correct for imperfections in Hubbles mirror, to update Hubbles technical systems, and to remove old instruments and install new ones, the researchers added. One of Hubbles most remarkable features is its incredible longevity, and this would not have been possible with the great success of the servicing missions. The juxtaposition of the 2001 and 2021 images of NGC 2903 highlights the value of a stable, accessible platform in space that can reliably collect data, not only year after year, but decade after decade. SALE OF PEER TO PEER BUSINESSES MIGHWAY AND SHAREACAMPER TO ASX LISTED CAMPLIFY HOLDINGS (ASX:CHL) Summary: thl has entered into an agreement to sell Mighway and SHAREaCAMPER to Camplify Holdings Limited (CHL) for a purchase price of AUD$7.37M (subject to closing adjustments). The purchase price is to be satisfied by CHL issuing new fully paid ordinary shares to thl. Shares will be issued in two equal tranches. The first tranche will be issued on completion and the second tranche will be issued 12 months after completion. The issue price for the first tranche is AUD$3.34, being the 20 day volume weighted average price (VWAP) for CHL shares prior to signing of the agreement. The issue price for the second tranche will be the lesser of the first issue price and the 60 day VWAP for CHL shares prior to the second issue date (with the VWAP subject to a minimum of AUD$1.42). An ongoing strategic relationship formed between thl and CHL including thl providing managed services for Camplify RV owners through the thl owned RV Super Centre (RVSC) network. thl today announces that it has entered into an agreement to sell the Mighway and SHAREaCAMPER businesses to ASX listed entity Camplify Holdings Limited for AUD$7.37M. Based on the purchase price, the sale represents a profit on sale of the businesses of approximately NZD$6.3M, subject to closing adjustments. As part of the transaction, additional commercial agreements will be entered into providing the basis for a strategic relationship between the two companies. thl will provide managed services to Camplify RV owners and the two companies will work together on opportunities to grow both Camplify and thls RVSC business. Grant Webster, thl Chief Executive Officer, said this transaction ensures that thl maintains a presence in the peer-to-peer sector in New Zealand, and benefits from the scale that Camplify has achieved in Australia. We will be able to continue to leverage the benefits of the RV owner network for the thl RVSC sales, service and retail businesses, while minimising the financial risks to thl. As a shareholder of Camplify we look forward to benefiting from the opportunities Camplify creates, which are different to the commercial owned-fleet model that thl operates globally, and delivering on the growth opportunities that exist for our RVSC business. We thank all the thl crew that have been involved in creating these businesses in New Zealand and enabling this opportunity. Camplify CEO and founder Justin Hales said were excited about the opportunities that will be created by establishing a relationship between our companies. This acquisition delivers Camplify a strategic and targeted growth opportunity in two of our key markets that complements our growth and enables the benefit of thl joining our share register. The sale is expected to complete on 30 November 2021 and is conditional on approval being obtained for the assignment of Mighways customer insurance contract to Camplify. Please see the link below for details NZX Release - thl sells Mighway and SHAREaCAMPER to Camplify Source: Tourism Holdings Limited Comments from our readers No comments yet Add your comment: Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. 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Related News: 19th November 2021 Morning Report Ryman Healthcare Limited (NZX: RYM) unaudited first half underlying profit of $95.9m Steel & Tube Holdings Limited (NZX: STU) Earnings Guidance 1H FY22 My Food Bag Group Limited (NZX: MFB) achieves record earnings; confirms dividend Turners Automotive Group Limited (NZX: TRA) delivers 24% increase in HY22 earnings AFT Pharmaceuticals Limited (NZX: AFT) reaffirms guidance and progresses growth plan 18th November 2021 Morning Report Blis Technologies Limited (NZX: BLT) Challenging market conditions in US impact half year result EROAD Limited (NZX: ERD) NZ Commerce Commission Clears Coretex Acquisition NZME Limited (NZX: NZM) Digital acceleration delivering on NZME's 2023 strategy 24/10/21 19:02 Evaluating future fuel strategies and their design implications for newbuilds Shipowners need strategies and practical solutions to stay compliant and commercially competitive, while meeting regulatory and stakeholder requirements for decarbonizing vessel and fleet operations Land issues particularly in the North and East has been identified as one of the root causes of unrest after the ethnic conflict. by Victor Cherubim Does anyone in the world know why private property, especially lands are compulsorily acquired in the name of national security by governments? Do we care to know or is it left to the Government to compulsorily acquire property rights to unclaimed lands and sell them on after survey, to resolve the mounting debt crisis? Whatever the reason, much explanation is required of authorities forcibly securing land rights, of unutilised or undeveloped lands, on shady pretext. Land issues particularly in the North and East has been identified as one of the root causes of unrest after the ethnic conflict. While land owners in the country lobby the Government to release the lands which were once claimed by the security forces,Tamils who became refugees and moved abroad to escape the conflict,or to start a new life after it ended now say:"they have no voice in the fight to reclaim their property as for many expats the most they can do is visit the country or request their lands to be released. Even for those who have reclaimed their land, have to make regular trips to their homeland to ensure their property is not claimed by squatters or anybody else in their absence. Courts are having to adjudicate against illegal land grabs." Private Property Private property is distinguishable from public property which is owned by a State entity and from collective property, which is owned by a non-governmental entity. Sometimes, it is difficult to distinguish between private properties and personal property, as it varies depending on ones political philosophy, with socialist perspectives making it a hard distinction between the two. A new dimension re-appears some 60 years later, similar to what I witnessed during my visit to the Soviet Union in 1962, particularly, my visit to some Collective Farms or kolkuz in various States of the then Soviet Union, namely, the idea of private property belonging to the common purpose of society. Understandably today, private property is defined and enforced by a countrys political system. Ideas about and discussion of private property date back at least as far as Plato, the Greek philosopher. Property, is in reference to land, particularly agricultural land, came to be debated in the 17th and 18th centuries, accompanied by the political thought of English philosophers like Thomas Hobbs, John Locke, to address ownership. In the Sri Lankan context In many countries and in Sri Lanka, in particular, acquisition of land by the State is well known, as 80 percent of all land, was and is owned by the State. This may be due to our island status and/or for security reasons. Property is further acquired by the State, either for "social purpose" like widening of roads or railways, and/or land development or more recently for setting up surveillance posts and/or for military logistics. The recent ruling by the Supreme Court however, is that the State cannot acquire individual land, unless there is a clear legal framework.The particular Supreme Court judgment handed down by Justice Mark Fernando - (Manel Fernando v Jayaratne 2000 (1) SLR 112, SC) with regard to the due process that ought to be followed in acquiring a given piece of privately owned land for a specific "public purpose" still stands. The State is duty bound to first and foremost protect her citizens' rights to life and property. The Land Acquisition Act of Sri Lanka confers special powers on the Minister to set in motion the exercise of acquiring private land for "a public purpose" by merely declaring that by Gazette notification. The Act does not require to state the public purpose for which such private land is required. This is a raw issue when it refers to "security purpose". The Constitution of Sri Lanka does not guarantee the right to property in explicit terms through a provision to that effect. However, land acquisition must be divided into "public purpose" and "security reasons".The former being permanent acquisition with reasons attached and will be effective only after payment of compensation,while the latter, it must be for a period of years (say 5 years) with no reasons given, but compensation must be in the form of an annual payment. The question of what is fair compensation should be carefully scrutinised as otherwise unscrupulous officials can acquire even barren lands, purely to generate an income. All in all, due process ought to be followed in acquiring a given piece of privately owned land for a specific "public purpose". In the context of International Law It is well known that the right to property is recognised in Art.17 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. But, it is not recognised in the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR, Art 11 (1) 1966). The right to property is one of the most controversial Human Rights, both in terms of its existence and interpretation. Compulsory Land Acquisition Acquisition can be by "Adverse Possession," or by "Prescription" and/or by "encroachment". We are told that the right of compulsory land acquisition is always available to the State. No one doubts its application. But who in his/her right mind will want the Government to pay/or settle whatever compensation is deemed necessary for the compulsory acquisition of lands, unutilised and owned by Sri Lankans abroad, when the Acquiring Authorities have a legal obligation to pay even the pepper-corn assessment valuation to Sri Lankans in hard foreign currency? No one in Sri Lanka,it seems, has thought about this disbursement of valuable overseas currency, when instead the Government can turn it around and levy a Withholding Tax on private unutilised lands held by Sri Lankan property owners living in comfort abroad. Smart ways of recovering valuable foreign exchange have yet to be researched. As stated above, constitutional protection of the right to property in furtherance of compulsory land acquisition under international law, is quite unchartered territory at the global level. Further, strict guidelines have to be followed during compulsory purchase acquisition by the State or organs of the State in Sri Lanka. Social Impact Assessment (SIA) Report has to be undertaken in most jurisdictions in United Kingdom and many other countries. It is not clear whether such a recommendation about whether the project can go ahead or should be abandoned giving reasons for the Competent Authority decision is a requirement in Sri Lanka. Further, justification for seeking an Order Authorising Compulsory Acquisition meaning the Competent Authority or Government has to prove a compelling case is in the public interest and balancing "public interest" against "private loss" as well as the use of "Alternative Dispute Resolution" is not available to citizens of Sri Lanka. Thus communities, with the support of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have recently mobilised themselves, often lead by Womens Groups to hold institutions of Government accountable to secure tenure rights both of individual Sri Lankans, as well as of communities. It is well known how persistent community activism and advocacy at different levels have held Government and State Institutions to account and made enormous progress to guarantee private land rights. The legal framework pertaining to land in Sri Lanka The right to land and property in Sri Lanka, is a minefield, although it is not a constitutional right of citizens. It is accepted where a person or an entity is in unauthorised possession of State land, anyprocess of recovery is stated in the State Lands (Recovery of Possession) Act. It is a procedural law aimed at securing the rights of the State against unauthorised occupants. The Competent Authority of State may serve a Quit Notice on such a person requiring them to vacate the land on a date not exceeding 30 days. It is also known that an inquiry before a Magistrate is possible only where the occupant fails to comply with the Quit Notice. Simultaneously, there is no Appeal Proceedings against the decision of the Competent Authority. Strangely, even the Magistrate cannot question the decision of the Competent Authority. This draconian provision is applicable to person(s) who unlawfully occupy State lands and are unable to prove their ownership title. This provision is frequently used on the landless, the displaced or evicted communities, even though they may have occupied the State lands for an extended period. The situation is different where land title is proven We are told that The Competent Authority, particularly the Divisional Secretaries in Kachcheris, are threatening legitimate title owners of private lands with Compulsory Purchase of their lands and with surveys carried out. This is being done to sell unoccupied, underutilised lands on the market to secure much valued foreign currency. We are informed by Caretakers of these lands, that an outdated Land Circular 2013/1 which introduced an accelerated programme of solving post conflict Land issues is being used to acquire large areas of land to establish new security/military camps or for other military purposes, or as High Security Zones or even as Economic Zones. Simultaneously, since the war ended in 2009, many of these camps have been disbanded and lands returned to lawful owners. The latest initiative by the Competent Authorities It is also noted that the latest initiative is in response to the countrys investment promotion policy due to the dearth of hard foreign currency, offering unused lands to prospective international investors wishing to acquire large parcels of private unutilised land. Action by Deed Owners abroad Any forcible takeover or grab of private lands of Sri Lankans living abroad is causing much concern, with owners of lands with title deeds reclaiming their lands and repatriating hard currency to Sri Lanka as an investment in their property. Strangely, the rightful owners are now wanting to resettle in Sri Lanka, for a variety of reason, not withstanding the fear of Corona virus pandemic. They neither want their lands requisitioned, sequestrated or compulsorily acquired and are wanting to vote for possession with their feet. It is a new sea change in the mindset of Sri Lankans living and working abroad to repatriate and plough in investment capital back into their private lands, at least for one reason, that the rate of exchange is in their favour. This is a Win-Win solution. This collaborative approach can only be taken forward by initiatives of the Sri Lankan State, and the Central Bank. What worries India? India is worried that the referendum would open wounds of 1984 anti-Sikh riots. The riots resulted in genocide of thousands of Sikhs. by Amjed Jaaved After several postponements, the "Punjab Referendum Commission has announced to hold the "Punjab Independence Referendum on October 31, 2021. The Commission has been appointed by the US-based Khalistani separatist group Sikhs for Justice (SFJ). The Commission" consists of "non-aligned direct democracy experts" who are to organise and hold a referendum on whether Punjab should be independent. The referendum will start in London on October 31 and then take place in other countries, including the US, Canada, Australia, and the region of Punjab, the commission stated. The Commission chairman M Dane Waters, clarified,Although a non-governmental and non-binding referendum, the result will be used as the basis for the Sikh community to request an official binding vote from the United Nations on establishing the Indian-governed region of Punjab as an independent homeland for the indigenous people of whom Sikhs are the single largest group. India is irked by the date of referendum, October 31, as on this date, anti-Sikh riots, following Indira Gandhis assassination by his body guards, erupted, leaving 3000 to 17000 Sikhs dead. India fought tooth and nail to forestall the intended referendum. But, UK rejected the request. What worries India? India is worried that the referendum would open wounds of 1984 anti-Sikh riots. The riots resulted in genocide of thousands of Sikhs. Not only the Congress Party leaders like Sajan Kumar and Jagadish Tytler but also police colluded with the killers on the rampage. Indias then foreign minister and later prime minister Manmohan Singh saidlamented , If then home minister Narisamha Rao had paid to IK Gujarats suggestion to call in the army, the 1984 Sikh riots could have been avoided.(1984 Sikh riots could have been avoided if Narrasimha Rao had listened to IK Gujaral: Manmohan Singh, India Today December 5, 2019). Desire for autonomy Sikhs have a long history of fighting repression. In 1973, Akali Dal put forward the Anandpur Sahib Resolution to demand more autonomy to Punjab. Then ruling Congress rejected the resolution as being secessionist. Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, a prominent Sikh leader of Damdami Taksal, then joined the Akali Dal to launch the Dharam Yudh Morcha (religious-war rampart) 1982 to implement the Anandpur Sahib resolution. Operation Blue Star India decided (1 June 1984) to use armed forces to to remove Bhindranwale and the armed militants from the Golden Temple complex. On 6 June Bhindranwale died in the operation. Indian prime minister Indira Gandhi killed Four months after the operation, on 31 October 1984, Indira Gandhi was assassinated by her two Sikh bodyguards, Satwant Singh and Beant Singh. In the ensuing 1984 anti-Sikh riots, thousands of Sikhs were massacred. Not only the police but also Congress leaders aided and abetted the rioters. Voter lists were used to identify Sikhs. Convictions Very few people were punished. Forty-nine were sentenced to the life imprisonment, and another three to more than 10 years' imprisonment. The court acquitted Congress leader Sajjan Kumar. But, upon revision, he was sentenced to life imprisonment. In the first ever case of capital punishment in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots case death sentence was awarded to Yashpal Singh convicted for murdering two persons, 24-year-old Hardev Singh and 26-year-old Avtar Singh, in Mahipal Pur area of Delhi on 1 November 1984. Additional Sessions Judge Ajay Pandey pronounced the Judgement on 20 November 34 years after the crime was committed. In March 2009, the CBI cleared Tytler amidst protests from Sikhs and the opposition parties. Investigations Ten commissions or committees were formed to investigate the riots. But, most of the accused were acquitted or never formally charged. The commissions or committees include Marwah Commission, Misra Commission, Kapur Mittal Committee, Jain Banerjee Committee, Potti Rosha Committee, Jain Aggarwal Committee, Ahuja Committee, Dhillon Committee, Narula Committee and the Nanavati Commission. The Nanavati Commission found cleared Rajiv Gandhi and other high -ranking Congress (I) party members of any involvement in organising riots against Sikhs. Concluding remark At present the Sikhs are distraught by farmers prolonged protest and pettifoggery among political leaders. Still, the referendum may gain momentum in future. Mr. Amjed Jaaved has been contributing free-lance for over five decades. His contributions have been published in the leading dailies and magazines (Modern Diplomacy, Global Village Space, etc.) at home and abroad. 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ARISS is the group that puts together special amateur radio contacts between students around the globe and crew members with ham radio licenses on the International Space Station (ISS). This will be a Multipoint Telebridge Contact via Amateur Radio between the ISS and students from Tarwater Elementary School, Chandler, AZ. Students will take turns asking their questions of ISS Astronaut Shane Kimbrough, amateur radio call sign KE5HOD, during the ARISS radio contact. Appropriate local Covid-19 protocols are adhered to as applicable for each ARISS contact. The downlink frequency for this contact is 145.800 MHZ and may be heard by listeners that are within the ISS-footprint that also encompasses the radio telebridge station. Amateur radio operators using the club call sign W7MRF (NXP Amateur Radio Club) in Chandler, AZ will serve as the relay amateur radio station for this ARISS contact. The ARISS radio contact is scheduled for October 27, 2021 at 11:31 am MST (Chandler, AZ) (18:31UTC, 14: 31 pm EDT, 13:31 pm CDT, 12:31 pm MDT, 11:31 am PDT). Tarwater Elementary School is a Pre-K through sixth grade (ages 4 12 years) school in Chandler, Arizona (a suburb of Phoenix), and is part of the Chandler Unified School District. The school serves about 827 students that come from in and around the Phoenix metropolitan area. Their fifth-grade curriculum emphasized space and space exploration topics. And while the fifth-grade students will be the focus of the ARISS project, all students will be included in the audience during the contact. The schools STEM Lab opened in 2017 and has become a hub for all grade levels to experience hands-on learning. The school has prepared for the ARISS contact by incorporating various NASA and amateur radio content into their STEM lab activities. These activities included various science experiments that allowed students to investigate/explore the nature and properties of radio waves. Members of the Chandler Amateur Radio Club have also presented to the students and demonstrated real-world application of radio principles. In the days leading up the ARISS radio contact, all students have been engaged in tracking and researching the ISS as well as the astronauts on board. The questions students will ask were generated based upon their yearlong learning and research of space and the ISS. View the live stream of the upcoming ARISS radio contact at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPilOdNyB3F9NG8F8TTK_Bw . As time allows, students will ask these questions: 1. What kind of research are you doing on the Space Station? 2. Are your dreams different in space compared to dreams on Earth? 3. What is the most interesting or challenging thing that you have done on the ISS? 4. What do you miss most about being home? 5. Where does the oxygen that you breathe come from? 6. What type of personal items do you bring with you? 7. Which do you like better, regular ice cream or space ice cream? 8. How do light and sound travel in space? 9. How do you know what day it is on the space station? 10. How does it feel when you come down from space? Do you feel dizzy? 11. What happens if you encounter space junk or meteoroids? What are the procedures? 12. Do plants grow taller than usual in microgravity? 13. How often do you have to fix things at the International Space Station? 14. What is the hardest part of your job? ARISS Celebrating 20 Years of Amateur Radio Continuous Operations on the ISS About ARISS: Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) is a cooperative venture of international amateur radio societies and the space agencies that support the International Space Station (ISS). In the United States, sponsors are the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT), the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), the ISS National Lab-Space Station Explorers, and NASAs Space communications and Navigation program. The primary goal of ARISS is to promote exploration of science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics topics. ARISS does this by organizing scheduled contacts via amateur radio between crew members aboard the ISS and students. Before and during these radio contacts, students, educators, parents, and communities take part in hands-on learning activities tied to space, space technologies, and amateur radio. For more information, see www.ariss.org . Media Contact: Dave Jordan, AA4KN ARISS PR Like us on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter. Search on Amateur Radio on the ISS and @ARISS_status. Check out ARISS on Youtube.com. New museum to recognize Warsaw radio station that was second biggest in the world In memory of what was once the second tallest radio transmission station in the world, scientists are looking to set up a museum to commemorate its history. Built after Poland regained independence at the end of the First World War, by 1923 half of Europe was sending telegrams to the USA via the Transatlantic Radiotelegraphic Broadcasting Center in Warsaw. Consisting of 10 massive 126-meter-tall towers [over 430 feet], the radio stations transmitter was powerful enough to reach both North and South America. The Warsaw station was also one of the best equipped in the world with two machine transmitters of 200 kW each being powered by a 500 kW diesel-powered generator ensuring 24-hour communication with the U.S. When WWII broke out following Hitlers invasion of Poland, German troops captured the station allowing the Nazis to communicate with their U-boat fleets and with Japan. At the end of the war, they destroyed it, the detonation of which broke windows of houses over 16 km away. Read more at: NRSI Radio News for Sunday the 24th of October Shannon Basin Radio Club Shannon Basin Radio club report that they ran two stations for Scouts Jamboree last weekend. Owen, EI4GGB, and Marty EI2IAB operated the station, EI3JOTA, for the 17 th Meath Scout Troop, while Anthony, EI6GGB, and Tom EI4HCB travelled to the Oranmore Scouts using the Callsign EI2SBC/P. Both stations saw a large attendance of Scouts and Cubs. Shannon Basin run well attended nets during the week and all are welcomed to join in. The Shannon Basin Nets take place on Monday evenings at 9pm on 1990 KHz QRM, on Thursday evenings at 8pm on 3785 KHz QRM, and Sunday evenings at 8pm via the Shannon Basin Repeater on 145.775 MHz. Limerick Clare Radio Club Limerick Clare Radio Club provided a station for the 1 st Clare Shannon Scouts, Six-mile-bridge Scouts and Ruan Scouts on Saturday the 16 th of October from their club station located in the Shannon Aviation Museum. In addition ,the scouts also had the opportunity to learn about aspects of aviation and meteorology. The limerick Clare Radio Club will hold a Rally in the Radisson Blu Hotel on Sunday, 7th of November 2021. Doors will open at 11:00 and the entrance fee will be 5 per person. As with previous rallies there will be a bring-and-buy opportunity. Tables for the bring and buy, exhibitors and related demonstrations are free. Tables should be booked through Michael Kingston EI2IX via email to rapidov66 /at/ gmail.com. LCARC now publishes a list of equipment, for sale at the Rally, on the clubs website www.limerickclareamateurradioclub.ie . Follow the 'Market Place' drop down menu. The MyHam Network The organisers of the MyHam Network, which is an initiative of IECRO Ireland, is planning to run some advanced level training shortly. The aim of MyHam is to promote amateur radio in a positive light while at the same time providing useful tools/services for experienced licenced operators. Any clubs with members who may be interested are invited to participate in this initiative. Additional information is available from www.nrsi.ie South-Eastern Amateur Radio Group The 2021 JOTA/JOTI event took place over the weekend of the 15 th , 16 th and 17 th of October and on the 16 th the South-Eastern Amateur Radio Group joined with the Copper Coast Scout Group, located in Annestown, to provide a station for the event. Over the course of the day, the scouts were shown many different aspects of the hobby including Morse Code, DMR, HF operation and Digi-modes. The scouts were also shown some basic circuits. From the interest shown by the scouts, the future of the hobby is in very safe hands. SEARG look forward to the next JOTA in 2022. The groups next event will be the Christmas get together on the 3 rd of December in the Woodford Dolmen Hotel, Carlow. HAREC Classes NRSI Classes are being run for anyone interested in studying for the HAREC examinations. If you are interested in becoming licenced as an amateur radio operator, please contact the NRSI secretary. Details regarding these classes are as usual available from www.nrsi.ie Castles and Stately Homes on the Air Following on from the recent successful introduction of the WWFF Flora and Fauna award into the country by an NRSI committee member, we wish to announce that the same has been accomplished for Castles on the Air. For more information, please visit www.nrsi.ie Galway Radio Club The Galway Radio Club ran a JOTA station from the Petersburg Outdoor Activity Centre in Clonbur, Co. Galway for the 14 th Galway Scout troop using the Callsign EI14JOTA. The Station was operated on Saturday and Sunday using the Callsign EI14JOTA. Many contacts were made with other scouting organisations around the world on 80, 40 and 20 metres. A Morse key and oscillator was provided, and many scouts enjoyed both sending and receiving code. A DMR station was set up operating on local and worldwide DMR Talk Goups. Contacts was made with the States with the furthest in Malaysia. In addition, a radio orienteering activity was run on PMR 446 radios. A control station had to direct his team to specific point on a course where they had to relay a number back from specific markers. This was enjoyed by several teams of six Scouts. There were large numbers present and the weekend was enjoyed by both the 14 th Galway Scouts and visiting groups. South Dublin Radio Club Subject to government guidance on the further easement of coronavirus restrictions on the 22nd of October 2021, South Dublin Radio Club is delighted to invite all current club members, returning members and new prospective members, to the reopening of our club premises at Ballyroan Community Centre, Rathfarnham, Dublin 14, on Tuesday the 26th of October 2021 from 20:00 to 22:00. Whether you want to get reacquainted with old friends, you are newly licenced, want to make new amateur radio friends, and get experience on club radio equipment, or you are looking to start your journey into the world of amateur radio. Mayo VHF Group The Mayo VHF Group AGM will take place on November 10th at 2000hrs, the AGM will take place using the Zoom platform. The Group was very busy with lots of SOTA, HF, VHF and microwave activations throughout 2021, plans indicate 2022 will be even busier! Anyone interested in a microwave sked (23cm, 13cm, 6cm and 3cm) or info on the Group can email ei2mrg@gmail.com Conclusion All items for inclusion in the NRSI weekly news bulletin should be received no later than Thursday 4pm. Items may be submitted to news@nrsi.ie Swedish report on IARU-R1 workshop Sweden's SSA reports on the IARU Region 1 'Shaping the Future' workshop which took place October 15-24 A translation of the SSA post reads: Every two years, the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU) - Region 1 meets for its conference. This year the conference was to be held in Novi Sad, Serbia, but in these CoViD times the conference was held entirely digitally October 15-24. Jens / SM0HEV and Jonas / SM5PHU participated on behalf of SSA. The main part of this year's conference was important for the workshop "Shaping the Future" that we had previously prepared with our "SWOT" analysis of amateur radio in Sweden. Just over 50 of the region's countries participated and the more than 90 delegates worked for 5 evenings to clarify which strategies the region and these member associations should work towards ensuring that amateur radio has a prominent role in the future. Doing this digitally was a challenge,but the digital tools and professional technical production, made it exceed expectations even though many lacked coffee breaks and pub nights to tie the informal ties. The work started by dealing with fundamental values that should characterize our hobby: Experimentation, Innovation, Learning, Social Benefit, "Ham spirit" - and not least that it should be a fun and engaging hobby. Then the discussions turned to the vision of the future and there the workshop landed with something like "Amateur radio is popular throughout region 1, and is seen as a source of expertise in science and technology. Amateur radio is recognized for its opportunities for personal development and is seen as an asset to society as a whole. On the basis of this vision, 8 strategic objectives were developed that will lead us to concrete activities that will be defined in detail in the coming months. SSA has indicated an interest in working with projects on education at all levels and around experimental environments and meeting places. More details about the results in upcoming QTC issues. As regards the formal part of the conference, IARU Region 1 has a new Chair, Sylvain, F4GKR. Pleasing from a Scandinavian perspective was that we also got a new secretary, Mats, SM6EAN. Mats has been involved in international issues for many years and was a member of IARU Reg 1, the Executive Committee previously. Source SSA https://tinyurl.com/IARU-Sweden SIS Director General Lodges Complaint Against Rev. Cyril Gamini and Others He has reaffirmed that he had never made any form of communication with Saharan Hashim or his cohorts under any circumstances. Major General Suresh Sallay, Director General of State Intelligence Services lodged a complaint today (25th) with the Criminal Investigations Department by objecting to the series of malicious accusations levelled by Rev. Cyril Gamini and others on incidents surrounding the Easter Sunday Attacks in 2019. Participating in a panel discussion on the Easter Sunday Attacks held via the ZOOM platform on 23.10.2021, Rev. Cyril Gamini had stated that Saharan Hashim, the leader of the National Thawheed Jamaath, who led the terrorist attacks, had received monetary and essential supports from the Sri Lankan Intelligence Services. He further states that Major General Sallay (then Brigadier) had actively played a role in nurturing Saharan and his cohorts. While vehemently denying all allegations made by Rev. Gamini and others, Major General Sallay has reiterated the fact that all allegations are completely false and aimed at defaming him. Major General Sallay further states that the purpose of these allegations was not only to mislead the general public but also to deliberately damage his reputation, nationally and internationally and endanger his life and the lives of his family members. Further, such false accusations cause irreparable damage to the intelligence services and officers that play a pivotal role in strengthening national security. He has reaffirmed his complaint that he had never made any form of communication with Saharan Hashim or his cohorts under any circumstances. Therefore, Major General Sallay has sought the Criminal Investigations Department to take appropriate action against Rev. Cyril Gamini and others who participated in the same panel discussion and had indicated that further legal action is underway. Mr. President and First Lady Mr. Speaker and Members of the House of Representatives Mr. President Pro Tempore and members of the Liberian Senate Mr. Chief Justice and Associate Justices of the Supreme Court of Liberia Former Chief Justices and Associate Justices of the Supreme Court of Liberia Honorable Minister of Justice and Dean of the Supreme Court Bar His Excellency, the Doyen, and Members of the Diplomatic and consular corps. The officers and members of the Liberian National Bar Association The President and members of the National Association of Trial Judges of Liberia The President and Members of the Association of Female Lawyers of Liberia The President and members of the Prosecutors Association of Liberia The President and members of the Public Defenders Association of Liberia The Representatives of bilateral and multilateral organizations Representatives of International Non-governmental organizations Representatives of Liberian Civil Society organizations Representatives of the Inter-religious Counsel Madam Court Administrator and the staff of the Judiciary Members of the fourth estate Other distinguished ladies and gentlemen Once again, the omnipotent master of the Universe has permitted us to congregate in this great hall of justice for the purpose of opening the Supreme Court for the October Term of Court, the first term of Court of this Court as mandated by the Judiciary Law of Liberia. We are cognizant of the fact that as a result of the elections-related cases that were handled by this Court, your honors did not close the March Term of Court early enough in order to have adequate time for a restful vacation. All the same, on behalf of the Liberian National Bar Association, we welcome you from your vacation, without entertaining any doubt that you are prepared and energized to perform your constitutional duties of being the final arbiter of all constitutional issues and exercising appellate jurisdiction over all cases, as well as original jurisdiction over cases involving ambassadors, public ministers, and cases in which a county is a party, consistent with Article 66 of the Constitution of Liberia. We wish you the wisdom of Solomon, the patience of Job to listen to every case that is presented in this Court, as well good health and the required physical strength in the performance of your duties. We hope and pray that your colleague, His Honor Joseph N. Nagbe will join you soon with a clean bill of health from his doctor. We note with sadness the passing of fifteen active judicial officers beginning with His Honor George C. Katakpa, the late Resident Judge of Criminal Court E, 9th Judicial Circuit, Bong County and four former judicial officers, namely, His Honor Kamoh Soko Sackor, former Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, Her Honor Emma Shannon Walser, the late Judge Resident Judge of the First Judicial Circuit, Criminal Assizes A and His Honor Richard Flomo, former Resident Judge of the 9th Judicial Circuit, Bong County and Brig. General Jehu T. Stryker, former Marshall of the Supreme Court of Liberia. WE express condolences to the bereaved families on behalf of the LNBA. We applaud your honors for the tremendous progress made, since the last opening of this court, in human resource development and infrastructural development. We also commend the court for hosting a national judicial conference. We note that these laudable efforts of the Judiciary would not have yielded the expected results without the cooperation of the government of Liberia and its international partners. We encourage the judiciary to continue these capacity-building efforts. We also call on the government to increase the budget of the Judiciary. We take particular note of the issues of judicial influence and the freedom of expression highlighted in the Opening Address. Disagreement, your honors, no matter how it may be expressed must always be viewed as the kernel of democracy. Some expressions of disagreement may be in words that may be considered unpleasant by others, yet some may be pleasant words, but not considered factually truthful; yet still, some may be a combination of both but fundamentally flawed in analyses and conclusions. The important thing is that in a democracy there must be an unfettered flow of views on the functioning of the three branches of government. While views expressed by lawyers, party-litigants, and observers of the judiciary may be considered not constructive or merely intended to make the judiciary look bad, no reaction of a judicial officer at any level of the judiciary should be for the protection of the image of the judiciary. Image-building is an expression that is meant for those whose positions are motivated by the impression of the public such as elected officials or appointed officials without a tenure. Public opinions about a judge are not a pre-condition for maintaining a judicial office. What is needed of a judicial officer is to uphold the oath of his/her office at all times and to remain loyal to his/her conscience and country in the performance of his/her duties as a judge. There is no history that a judge has ever been removed from office in Liberia because of a newspaper report or comment made by any citizen or observer of the court. In fact, some of the very brutal expressions regarding decisions of the Court have on some occasions come from justices of the Supreme Court: for example, in their dissenting opinions. The view held by the public of the existence of judicial corruption, for instance, has been publicly shared by members of the judiciary, sometimes at the highest level. For example on one occasion, the late Chief Justice Johnny Lewis said, The judiciary needs to be cleaned up and public confidence restored in the courts system Liberia: Too few judges, too many cases snag rule of law - Liberia | ReliefWeb. At the opening of the May Term of Court, the press reported the following about remarks made by the Chief Justice, Chief Justice Francis Korkpor on Monday, May 9 openly admitted that Liberian Judges are corrupt without mentioning the name of any individual judge. The Chief Justices admittance to corruption in the Judiciary comes after some international reports had cast dark cloud over the independence and transparency of the third branch of government earlier. Chief Justice Admits to Judges Corruption (theworldnews.net). These comments by a former Chief Justice and one by the current Chief Justice may not be considered constructive by some because they were not definite about the judicial officers whose conduct motivated these remarks. It is the view of the LNBA that free expression of views should not be curtailed or discouraged in any manner, shape, or form and that critical views about the judiciary should encounter no disciplinary action, but same should be taken in good faith by all members of the judiciary as was done in the case of the two chief justices. Our Constitution provides for equal treatment before the law. There is more good in criticism than any harm that may be done by it. We cannot build a free society without freedom of expression. On the issue of delay in bringing finality to cases at the Supreme Court, the LNBA joins Your Honor in appealing to members of the bar in filing their briefs in keeping with the Rules of the Supreme Court, in order to give ample time to the bench to read the briefs before assigning cases for argument. While we will make no excuse for lawyers that are derelict in the performance of their duties, we must bring to the attention of this honorable that some lawyers, too, have perennially complained that they have argued cases and waited for several terms of court without this Courts opinions in those cases. It is obvious that the failure or delay in making decisions in cases that have been argued before this court is also a major source of delay in concluding cases brought before this court on appeal. Such actions on the part of this Court tend to undermine public confidence in the Judiciary. There is another observation about this Court that is becoming popular among lawyers, their clients, and the greater Liberian society. That view is that the decisions of this Court, in some cases, tend to create doubts and sometimes confusions as to the implication and sometimes implications of the Courts decision. It is important that this Court, as the final arbiter of all disputes in the Republic of Liberia, be crystal clear in all its decisions, to aid the Liberian people in sustaining the peace that they continue to build after 14 years of fratricidal civil conflict. In short, the Court must be clear and unambiguous in its decisions. Your honors and members of the Supreme Bar, as today, is the last occasion for me to address this Court as President of the Liberian National Bar Association, permit me to use this occasion to express the deep joy that I have felt each time that I have stood here to speak on behalf of the Liberian National Bar Association. In this case, I want to thank your honors for the patience that you have had to listen to my views, which occasionally, may not have been as complimentary as you would have loved them to be. I entertain no doubt that you will accord my successor an even greater level of cooperation and patience. May the Almighty God Bless your honors and this Court for the entire period of the October Term of Court. I thank you. GUNDVWINI Some mourners stripped naked as the funeral of kombi conductor Sabelo Dlamini, who was shot dead allegedly by the police, was turned into a political rally. Dlamini, who was a kombi conductor for a Toyota Quantum kombi which was operating between Mbabane and Mahlanya, was shot dead by a member of the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) on Wednesday October 13, 2021, (first day of public transport workers strike action), while at Luyengo. His funeral, which was mostly coordinated by the Manzini Kombi and Bus Association, Eswatini Kombi and Bus Association (Mbabane) and individual public transport operators Sibusiso Criminal Dlamini, Arch-Bishop Ntokozo Siphahluka Sibandze and Steve Horton, was held yesterday morning at the deceaseds parental home at Gundvwini in the Manzini Region. A convoy of Toyota Quantum kombis and cars, including the hearse, left Mbabane on Saturday afternoon and caused a stir along the Mbabane/Matsapha Public Road, which goes via Ezulwini there was hooting and spinning. Stops were made at the Gables Traffic Circle, Mahlanya and Manzini among other places, where members of the public watched the occurrences in awe. Motorcade According to impeccable sources, who are working in the public transport industry, the motorcade arrived at the deceaseds parental home at Gundvwini at around 8pm. Upon arrival at the homestead, the mourners, public transport workers to be specific, parked the kombis they were travelling in inside the yard and played music, which they danced to. In the process, some of them stripped naked and danced, while others took videos of the occurrences. According to the sources, this happened all night long such that even when the deceased was taken to the mountains, where he was buried in royal culture (lusiko lweMalangeni) after 2pm, they were dancing inside the yard. As a result, the morning service, which was supposed to be held thereafter, was delayed as speakers eventually delivered their brief speeches after 6am. By then, the family members, who had gone to bury their loved one in the mountains, were on their way back home. The speakers included representatives from his family (mother and father) together with a representative of the public transport workers. The deceaseds family said Dlamini was friendly and they thanked all who supported them as they mourned the loss of their loved one and when preparing for his burial. On the same note, the representative of the workers, Mancoba Dvuba, said the deceased was friendly as he was a friend of everyone in the public transport sector. On another note, he expressed their apology to their clients following the strike action which started on Wednesday October 13, 2021, and ended last Thursday. Frustration He said they understood the frustration they went through during that period, but mentioned that they also had to address their grievances. On the other hand, a member of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) Swaziland spoke strongly against police brutality in the country. As he spoke, some of the mourners highlighted that the past weekend, at least four people who were shot dead allegedly by the police, were buried. These included Nhlanhla Kunene of Lukhula, who was shot around midnight of Thursday October 14, 2021, while at Mpaka in the Lubombo Region. Others, who were buried last Saturday, were the two men who were shot dead allegedly by police officers for allegedly stealing copper wire at Dwaleni. Worth noting is that some of the public transport workers who attended the funeral and spoke to this publication, was that during the ceremony, they noted that they were supported by other people, just like it happened during the strike action. NHLANGANO - KuMethula Indvuna Yenkhundla is lucky to be alive after he was assaulted last Thursday, allegedly for not supporting the call for change in the country. This happened around 6:30pm when the Indvuna, Benjamin Zondo, was on his way home. In an interview with Zondo, he said he was driving his car when he found the road blocked with rocks at KuMethula area. He said he knew that there were illegal toll gates in the area and every motorist was made to pay. He said when he arrived at the toll gate, he was attended by someone who he did not pay attention to as it was dark. I just gave him E50 and as I was expecting him to remove the rocks, a group of about 20 people came out of the bushes and started throwing stones at the car, narrated Zondo. Relative He said he was in a car with a relative who was also not spared from the attack with stones. Zondo said his car was pelted with stones such that all window were left broken. He mentioned that he knew the people were intentionally beating him when they started telling him that he was not supporting the call for political reforms in the constituency and that he was in favour of the Tinkhundla System of Government. Zondo was assaulted with stones and one hit him on the forehead and as a result, he bled. According to him, this affected his sight and on top of that, the blood was flowing into his eyes hence he could not identify anyone. He said the mob was saying all sorts of things about how he was not supportive and did not bother attending their meetings. Zondo said it was until one of then saw that he was seriously injured that he was allowed to go. I drove straight to Hlatikhulu and along the way; I passed the police as I had called the MP to try talk to the mob. He is the one who raised the alarm to the police, he added. Zondo went to the Hlatikhulu Police Station where he got a clearance to be attended to in hospital and did not open a case. It was established that Zondo was eventually admitted to The Luke Commission, where he is still receiving medical care. When asked about allegations that healthcare workers refused to attend to him at Hlatikhulu, Zondo said he was turned back at the gate by a security guard, who told him that nurses were on strike. In fact, he said the security guard called a sister nurse who advised that Zondo should seek medical help elsewhere as nurses were not working. It had nothing to do with how I was injured, narrated Zondo. The indvuna said he was now living in fear as he did not know who his enemies were following the attack. He said he was one of the people who wanted change in the country, but that it should be done by following the law. The indvuna said he was against violence but was for the idea of dialogue hence he was not visible in violent places. Zondo said he believed his only sin was that he did not attend a meeting and was also not supportive financially. MBABANE Minister of Housing and Urban Development Prince Simelane must withdraw his decision to strip municipalities of powers to issue permits to march. The above sentiments were shared by some Members of Parliament (MPs) following the ministers announcement last Thursday during a press conference held at his offices. The minister announced that all municipalities in the country should stop issuing permits to march or demonstrate. Parliamentarians accused the minister of using unwarranted powers which were way above him as a Cabinet member. Such powers, they said, were not backed by any legislation, which was not acceptable. The parliamentarians stated that the minister needed to explain to the House on who granted him the right to make such a pronouncement. The legislators were asked by the this publication during random interviews on their general feeling following the decision, which the minister took without consulting them. Mtsambama MP Simosakhe Shongwe said as a member of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development Portfolio Committee, he was shocked by the decision made by the minister without even consulting them. Shongwe wondered why Parliament was not dissolved and Cabinet continues without it as they (ministers) did as they pleased, while the legislators who were elected by the people did not have a say. He said the decision was another way of continuing to frustrate emaSwati, considering that the request to march was sent to the municipality which granted it, considering certain terms and conditions, including that the march should be peaceful. Wrong Lomahasha MP Ndumiso Masimula stated that it was wrong for the minister to come up with such a decision without going through Parliament. Masimula said such a decision spoke to the governance of the country as marches and demonstrations were legal and catered for by law. It is the right of the people to assembly peacefully when they want to amplify their voice and send a specific message. Nkilongo MP Timothy Myeni said the country was signatory to conventions on the rights to assembly among other things. Myeni stated that the minister was very wrong to wake up and call a press conference and change the laws of the country without even going through Parliament. Mangcongco MP One Boy Zikalala said marches in the country were catered for in the Public Order Act, 2017. Zikalala said people were backed by the law when requesting to march, hence to finally make the decision, the minister had to go through Parliament and the section be amended as per his wish. He stated that marches were legally catered for. He said the minister could have spoken out of anger following the current political events in the country, notwithstanding the consequences that came with the decision. I think he will reverse the resolution as it is not a good decision at all. When reached for comment, the Government Spokesperson, Sabelo Dlamini, said the minister had a reason to suspend the marches. Dlamini said there was nothing new they could add apart from the reason cited by the minister. MANZINI Today is the start of a build-up to what is dubbed the total shutdown by the Trade Union Congress of Swaziland (TUCOSWA). Members of the workers union resolved that they will today accompany the Multi- Stakeholders Forum (MSF) to deliver a petition to Parliament. This was done in a meeting held at the Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT) Centre, which was attended by over 300 members from various unions and human rights formations. Leading to the resolution by the members, Acting Secretary General of TUCOSWA Mduduzi Gina had informed the attendees that there had been a proposal to deliver petitions on three consecutive days Wednesday, Thursday and Friday this week. He said the petitions would be directed to the Minister of Information, Communication and Technology (ICT), Princess Sikhanyiso, to address the issue of access to the internet. Internet This, he said, followed that there was a deliberate closure of the internet by the regulator, such that one telecommunications company MTN Eswatini had even sent messages to its subscribers that they were ordered to close the internet by the regulator. He said this should not go on unchallenged as access to internet was the peoples right and they used it for businesses. Gina further said the workers should also submit a petition to the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Prince Simelane, to voice their dissatisfaction at supposedly being denied the right to adhere to Section 40 of the Public Order Act, which stated that before any march, the entity seeking to do so should request permission from the town council or municipality in order for it to have designated routes to use. We must not forget that this minister had, upon his appointment, declared that he was oblivious to the existence of such a ministry and its scope of work. So, we need to take petitions to municipalities and towns boards countrywide to demand that this move by the minister must be rectified, Gina said. Furthermore, he said they would take a petition to the Prime Minister (PM), Cleopas Sipho Dlamini, to remind him that when he assumed office, the people were explicitly clear on what they wanted. Reason For this reason, Gina said, the PM was to be petitioned in order for him to communicate with the authorities that Sibaya (Peoples Parliament) was limited for dialogue seeking political transformation. Gina also relayed to the workers that public transport workers had communicated with his office that they would like to be part of activities undertaken by TUCOSWA. Due to this interest, the secretary general had implored the workers to make contributions based on this. He also said there had been a suggestion that had been made, as the unions under TUCOSWA met, that they should accompany the MSF to deliver a petition to Parliament. In response to the submissions made by Gina, about 11 presenters shared the podium and were in support to continuously protest until the issues raised in various petitions were addressed. Among the speakers was former Timphisini Constituency Member of Parliament (MP) Jennifer Du Pont. The erstwhile legislator said the protests should not stop and if it were her way, they would resume today until there was a dialogue. Du Pont was speaking as a worker under the Swaziland Democratic Nurses Union (SWADNU), which is affiliated to TUCOSWA. She expressed reservations about Sibaya. In 2012, we called for the election of a PM and that was not adhered to. The then incumbent PM, deceased Sibusiso Barnabas Dlamini, was not removed from office, Du Pont said. Subsequent speakers also called for the workers to intensify pressure on government and said protests should start tomorrow. They claimed being law-abiding and adhering to the Public Order Act was no longer viable as the municipalities were informed not to grant protesters permissions to march. Following the presenters submissions, Gina said the resolutions submitted by the presenters were in line with TUCOSWAs total shutdown as they were seemingly deprived the pleasure of adhering to the Public Order Act. Let us organise ourselves and I believe I am correct that the workers, by saying let us start tomorrow (today), mean that the protests should be urgent, Gina said. Mobilising He said they would be in Parliament today while also mobilising other stakeholders and then formulate a programme for Thursday wherein they would deliver petitions to all towns. The petitions to be delivered, he said, would be addressed to regional administrators (RAs), town boards or municipalities and police stations. Subsequent to that, he said, they would use the weekend to introspect and review their strategies on how they could perform better the following week. Every week, there should be an item towards a total shutdown and this is the system we need from now moving forward, he said. Worth noting is that His majesty King Mswati III has accepted the need for national dialogue and said Sibaya would be convened after Incwala. In light of this, our sister publication, the Times SUNDAY, reported that the nation was divided over the national dialogue at Sibaya. MANZINI For some stakeholders and organisations, the proposed national dialogue cannot be held while two legislators who advocated for the change are in custody. In fact, the stakeholders said that people would not feel free to be part of the national dialogue if Members of Parliament (MPs) who had the privilege to discuss the call for change were eventually arrested and were still in custody. This was in reaction to an announcement made on Saturday by Mbekelweni Indvuna Themba Ginindza on behalf of the King at Ludzidzini Royal Residence, that His Majesty King Mswati III would convene Sibaya national dialogue next year after Incwala. The stakeholders have called for the release of the two incarcerated legislators to be part of the proposed national dialogue. The MPs, the stakeholders said, should be granted bail. The argument by the stakeholders was that the two incarcerated MPs, Bacede Mabuza of Hosea Constituency and Mthandeni Dube of Ngwempisi Constituency, were in the forefront of the call for change but found themselves caught up on the wrong side of the law. Dialogue Also, the stakeholders are of the view that a national dialogue should be held on a neutral platform. They are of the view that the Ludzidzini Cattle Byre will not be a conducive environment for the proposed Sibaya national dialogue. Constitutionally, Sibaya is the Eswatini National Council constituted by Bantfwabenkhosi (princes, tikhulu (chiefs), and all adults citizen gathered at the official residence of the Indlovukazi (Queen Mother), under the chairmanship of Ingwenyama, who may delegate his function to any official. This is according to Section 232 (2) of the Constitution. Subsection 3 provides that Sibaya functions as the annual general meeting of the nation, but may be convened at anytime to present the views of the nation on pressing and controversial issues. This publication sought the input of various interveners and posed three questions which sought to establish what would make a conducive environment for dialogue. This publication also sought to ascertain if it would be a conducive environment if the dialogue was held while the two legislators, who advocated for change which was the agenda for the dialogue, were still in custody. Chairperson of the Multi-Stakeholders Forum (MSF) Thulani Maseko said his organisation had five pillars that would render the dialogue favourable to all parties. These, he said, were that there should be an all inclusive internationally mediated political dialogue; there should be the unbanning of political parties and returning of all political exiles, including the release of the incarcerated MPs; there should be transitional authority; there should be a new democratic Constitution and there should be a democratic multiparty dispensation, which shall be an outcome of free and fair elections, which should have political parties and individuals participating freely. Maseko said the incarceration of the two legislators and other political prisoners would render the dialogue unfavourable if it were to be hosted while they were still denied freedom as the issues that led to their arrests were what would be addressed. There are those who were arrested under the Sedition and Terrorism Act, but were granted bail, with some about 10 years ago. They should be released unconditionally and be allowed to partake in the dialogue process, Maseko said. He said all those who were in exile should be allowed to return into the country so that they could partake in building the country. Maseko said as things were, it was hard to anticipate any dialogue while law enforcers were supposedly continuing to instil fear and torture people. Maseko said they could not accept dialogue at Sibaya and, therefore, they rejected it with the contempt it deserved, inclusive of the timelines set for it. President of the Swaziland Democratic Nurses Union (SWADNU), Welcome Mdluli, said for favourable dialogue, there should be political will from authorities. Default He said when this happened, by default the order to have law enforcers in the countrys streets would be reversed and no one would be killed for voicing their opinion on how they wanted to be governed. Mdluli said Sibaya was not conducive for the dialogue as it had endless limitations. He said the communication was top-down, regardless of the submissions made and for such, the minutes taken in previous engagements would assist if they could be shared with the public. The unionists said the incarcerated legislators and other political prisoners should be freed to engage in the dialogue they had been seeking as representatives of the people. On the alleged killing of civilians by law enforcers, he said: We need truth and accountability so that those responsible can lead us to the instigators of the violence. This will help us have the law effected on all those who took part in the deliberate act to suppress the people and hold them to ransom for voicing their opinions. On the other hand, Secretary General of the Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT) Sikelela Dlamini said his organisation aligned itself with the MSF. Prisoners On the other hand, Swaziland Transport Communications and Allied Workers Union (SWATCAWU) Secretary General Sticks Nkambule said they aligned themselves with the MSF five point-plan. Nkambule said releasing all political prisoners, including the two legislators, would set the tone for the political dialogue. He said it would be a sham to seek accountability on the killing of civilians during the political unrest from the local law enforcement agencies. He said expecting them to investigate themselves would be a mockery of the process; instead, an independent organisation should lead the process just like it should with the dialogue. The UAE is committed to supporting joint GCC action in various development fields as it is a steady policy of the country and a main driver for enhancing economic and commercial partnerships amongst GCC member states, said a top official. Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, the UAEs Minister of State for Foreign Trade, was speaking at the 61st GCC Trade Cooperation Committee meeting that recently took place in Manama, Bahrain, reported Emirates News Agency WAM. The meeting was attended by Dr Nayef Al Hajraf, Secretary-General of the GCC, as well as high-profile officials and ministers of trade from the GCC countries. The attendees discussed the main topics that support further economic and trade integration among the GCC countries, drive the growth of intra-regional trade, facilitate trade procedures, expand and diversify trade activities, as well as develop trade flow between GCC countries and global markets. Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi reaffirmed that the UAE is keen to support the outputs of the Trade Cooperation Committee, which serves as a strategic platform for formulating policies and plans that support the GCC in the fields related to trade and economic activities, in order to achieve the ambitious goals of member states, especially in terms of development and growth. Al Zeyoudi continued: "The meeting discussed 4 main pillars, which are the mechanisms for intra-GCC trade flows; unified laws related to trade; e-commerce, and achievements of the GCC negotiating team in facilitating partnerships with countries and global economic and trade blocs. We are keen to support joint efforts to come up with the best recommendations and decisions that will lead to higher levels of trade among the GCC countries, and their trade with the rest of the world." The meeting discussed several topics that will enhance economic and trade cooperation in the GCC, including enhancing the GCC joint work in trade and the movement of goods and commodities. Apart from that, it discussed the establishment of mechanisms for coordination and cooperation in the implementation of unified specifications across GCC countries besides enhancing cooperation in the unification of laws related to trade and doing business in the GCC countries. The Committee presented a number of initiatives to support entrepreneurs, the growth of the knowledge-based economy, SMEs, and youth in all these sectors in the Gulf countries. Furthermore, it showcased the latest achievements accomplished by the negotiation team in facilitating GCC states partnerships and agreements with various global markets and economic blocs. On the sidelines of the meeting, the UAE delegation also participated in the consultative meeting organised by the GCC Secretary-General. It was attended by ministers of trade and industry and the heads of the unions and chambers of commerce in the GCC countries. In addition, the UAE delegation participated in a meeting with a number of Gulf entrepreneurs, to discuss ways of cooperation in supporting the business environment, developing partnerships, and boosting trade and investment activities. Sohar International, a leading bank in Oman, recently signed an agreement with Saudi Export-Import Bank to establish a framework of cooperation between the banks for the furtherance of their respective mandates. Signing the memorandum of understanding (MoU) and representing Saudi Export-Import Bank was Saad A Alkhalb, Chief Executive Officer, whilst representing Sohar International was Ahmed Al Musalmi, Chief Executive Officer. The establishment of this strategic alliance endeavours to contribute to enhancing socio-economic relations between the two countries and opening up new opportunities for the short and long term. Through the years, Sultanate of Oman and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have enjoyed deep-rooted historical ties and brotherly bonds. With both countries laying emphasis on increasing pace of economic cooperation and realizing meaningful commercial and investment exchange, this strategic alliance between Sohar International and Saudi Export-Import Bank is a significant contribution towards achieving the goals outlined in the Oman Vision 2040 and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabias Vision 2030, said Ahmed Al Musalmi. Sharing a common vision of driving investment, developing its industries and trade, and empowering its local youth workforce, the agreement will open new opportunities and growth potentials for both the countries. By sharing knowledge of our respective markets, collaborating on training sessions aimed at augmenting staff competencies, and joining hands to undertake the financing for key projects in both countries, we will be able to enhance our global competitiveness while upholding the level of business excellence we have long been revered for, he added. With financing and investment as key interest areas, the strategic alliance between the two banks will look at co-financing, club deals and providing support to syndication projects which can be executed in both countries. By sharing risks and returns, combining its knowledge and financial expertise, and leveraging on its well-merited market goodwill, the partnership will add value to Sohar Internationals capabilities to deliver robust financing facilities while honouring the agreements business commitments at multiple levels. The agreement will also boost trade, help fill the gap of finance and reduce the risks associated with exports and imports. By offering comprehensive financial services, the parties will endeavour to provide buyers credit financing to international buyers for the purchases of goods and services and/or financing for project development. Adhering to values of resilience, sustainability and excellence, the agreement will rely, to a great deal, on sharing information related to the respective local markets and thereby, developing business opportunities in a way that contributes to realizing shared goals and mutual benefits. This collaborative approach to doing business will also give the local workforce the necessary exposure to better understand other markets. Saad A Alkhalb said: The fraternal relations between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Sultanate of Oman have always contributed to open up multiple prospects and opportunities for cooperation between the two brotherly countries. We have recently signed an agreement with Sohar International with the aim to develop trade exchange and increase financing solutions provided to beneficiaries located in Oman to import goods and services from Saudi Arabia, contributing to boost trade opportunities between the two countries. This strategic alliance comes to achieve the national goals outlined in the visions of our two brotherly countries. TradeArabia News Service The Special Economic Zone at Duqm (Sezad) has announced a significant milestone by celebrating the opening of Duqm Hongtong Piping Factory on October 25, the first factory in the Sino-Omani Industrial City in Duqm. Being the first-of-its-kind project in the Sultanate, the project is developed as an Omani-Chinese partnership, reflecting the strong relations between the two countries. Duqm Hongtong Piping Factory produces the non-metallic Reinforced Thermopolyethlene Pipes (RTP), which are used for oil and gas industry and specifically for the collection and transfer of hydrocarbon fluids through the piping networks. This type of pipes will be one of the modern technologies used for oil and gas operations in the Sultanate, as well as being a new addition to the sector due to its high quality and durability compared to the metal pipes that are commonly used in the oil and gas sector. Further, these pipes are manufactured as per the technical specifications accredited by Petroleum Development Oman (PDO) and the American Institute of Petroleum. The factorys products will witness a good demand as they mark a cost effective solution for the operations of many companies, which will save the budget of the companies that use these pipes. TradeArabia News Service The Special Economic Zone at Duqm (Sezad) has received the multi-purpose fishing port in Duqm from the main contractor and has handed over the port to the consortium led by the companies of Oman Investment Authority (OIA). The consortium is represented by the Oman Fisheries Development Company (FDO) and Oman Food Investment Company and also includes the French Lorient Port Company. Yahya bin Khamis Al Zadjali, In Charge of Managing the Operations of the Special Economic Zone at Duqm, pointed out that all the construction works of the fishing port have been completed, and it has been handed over to the consortium, which will be responsible for developing the superstructure works and operating the port. The multi-purpose fishing port has high potentials to serve a number of sectors, including fisheries, fruits and vegetables, livestock, and tourism. The port brings additional yards that can be used for tourism purposes and containers handling food activities, and it can attract the wooden ships supplying foodstuff. Further, the port is characterised by its ability to host commercial fishing activities, Al Zadjali stressed in a press statement. The largest fishing port in the sultanate, the port is 10 m deep, consisting of 2 breakwaters that are 3.3 km long, a 1.3-km fixed berth and six other floating berths. In addition, there is land designated for tourism purposes associated with the port, which is connected with the Fisheries Industries Zone and other projects in the Special Economic Zone at Duqm via a road network. TradeArabia News Service Baker Hughes, a global energy technology company, has broken ground at King Salman Energy Park (Spark) on the construction of its Oilfield Services (OFS) regional hub, its largest assembly, maintenance, and overhaul hub in the Eastern Hemisphere. The 300,000-sq-m regional hub will support Baker Hughes OFS operations and customers across the Middle East. It will be home to more than 600 employees, of which 70% are Saudi nationals. The facility plans to include 120 newly created jobs by the time it opens in late 2022. The groundbreaking ceremony at the project site was attended by Lorenzo Simonelli, chairman and CEO of Baker Hughes and Ahmad Al Saadi, senior vice president, technical services of Aramco. Spark is located at the heart of the energy market in Saudi Arabias Eastern Province. Baker Hughes investment is a significant milestone for Spark, which is a 50 sq km energy city megaproject that will position Saudi Arabia as a global energy, industrial and technology hub. Sparks ecosystem will capture the full economic value from energy-related goods and services in the kingdom and throughout the region, providing investors with an integrated environment that will contribute over $6 billion annually to the Saudi GDP, generate up to one hundred thousand jobs and stimulate socioeconomic advances across all levels of society. Baker Hughes is committed to supporting Saudi Vision 2030 and Aramcos iktva programme. These programmes drive localisation through job creation, supply chain development and export enablement, and further emphasise Saudi Arabias position as a global energy hub, said Simonelli. Todays milestone reflects our continued efforts to transform our core operations to ensure we deliver to Saudi Aramco and regional customers with speed, efficiency and operational excellence. We are proud to mark the commencement of construction for Baker Hughes hub at Spark, where they join a wide range of international companies operating their regional hubs from our strategic location, noted Saif S Al-Qahtani, President and CEO of Spark. This significant step is a testament to Sparks unique industrial eco-system, world-class infrastructure, and capabilities. Our collaboration with Baker Hughes supports our vision and commitment to serve as the preeminent global industrial hub for the energy sector. The OFS regional hub will be Baker Hughes second facility at Spark after Novel Non-metallic Solutions, a 50/50 joint venture with Saudi Aramco, which broke ground in December 2020. Baker Hughes has more than 80 years of operations in Saudi Arabia, with more than 2,800 employees and more than 10 existing Baker Hughes facilities focused on manufacturing, maintenance, services, training, and research and development.-- TradeArabia News Service Oman-headquartered OQ, a global integrated energy company, plans to exhibit polymer products and solutions aligned with its outlook to drive a more sustainable future at the upcoming ArabPlast in Dubai, UAE. Omans state-owned energy firm will be one of the main exhibitors showcasing its product offerings in key sectors Flexible Packaging, Rigid Packaging & Durables, and Infrastructure & Construction. With the ambitious Liwa Plastics Industries Complex (LPIC), OQ has pioneered the Sultanate's first production of polyethylene thereby diversifying its product portfolio to include HDPE (high-density polyethylene) and LLDPE (linear low-density polyethylene) production. LPIC has enabled OQ to expand its production capacity of polyethylene and polypropylene to 1.5 million tonnes. The global polymer demand is on the rise as it is a widely used petrochemical product in multitudes of applications across industrial sectors. The market size for polymers is forecasted to soar to $750 billion by 2025, growing at a CAGR of 5.1% during 2020-2025. According to Goldstein Research, the GCC polymer industry is expected to reach 34.5 million tonnes by 2022, supporting further downstream development, while growing at a CAGR of 3%.To capitalise on the global and regional demand, OQ has undertaken an aggressive growth plan and aims to increase its polymers product portfolio by over four times. Gilles Rochas, Vice President Performance Chemicals at OQ said: The polymer industry has witnessed a steady increase in demand over the past year, attributed to the accelerated demand for secure food packaging solutions and products aimed at personal health & safety. The shift in consumer behaviour towards online retail and food delivery has also spurred demand. OQ aims to capitalise on this opportunity to bring to the forefront a range of durable polymer products to address the sustainability challenges brought about by rapid urbanization and growing population. Hilal Al Kharusi, Chief Executive Commercial at OQ said: Arabplast 2021 will prove to be momentous as it is happening as an in-person gathering post-Covid. This allows us to engage industry leaders and players as we look to a future where polymers can play an integral role in responsible consumption, be it in our customers homes or in the industries we serve. Agility is a core attribute of our business, enabling us to respond to changing customer behaviour and demand, and to chart out a clear roadmap for the future. Combining our expertise and sharing our experiences allow us to improve our products, services, and solutions as we strive to transform raw materials into real world products & solutions. To gain deeper insights within the polymer industry and its drivers, OQ will be hosting a series of TechTalks on various topics such as OQs new Polymer Capacity, Packaging and Food Security, and Expanding Polymer Horizons. The OQ stand will be located in the raw materials Hall 8 at ArabPlast, taking place from November 15-18 at Dubai World Trade Centre, UAE. Visitors will be privy to a range of polyethylene and polypropylene solutions developed by OQ, a company statement said. TradeArabia News Service Bahrain Airport Company (BAC) and FedEx Express have signed a 10-year contract for the operation of a 9,000 sq m facility at Bahrain International Airports (BIA) new Cargo Area. Comprising a 5,000 sq m warehouse and a 4,000 sq m open area, FedExs new facility will support the continued growth of its operations in Bahrain and is scheduled for handover in the third quarter of 2023. Spanning 25,000 sq m, BIAs new Cargo Area will double the airports capacity to accommodate larger volumes and flows of air cargo traffic and e-commerce shipments, while meeting the highest industry standards. The new Cargo Area will enable BIA to handle larger volumes more efficiently, better cater to express cargo customers needs, and create new job opportunities. Its development also supports government-led efforts to transform logistics and air cargo into one of Bahrains primary industries. We look forward to forging new strategic partnerships with other multinational logistics providers, which will help to strengthen Bahrain's strategic position as a hub for logistic services in the GCC and wider Middle East, said the Minister of Transportation & Telecommunications and BAC Chairman, Eng Kamal bin Ahmed Mohammed who signed the agreement with FedEx Express Regional President for the Middle East, Indian Subcontinent, and Africa, Jack Meuse. The Minister said: This milestone agreement between BIA and FedEx marks the start of a bright and mutually prosperous future. Greater collaboration between the public and private sectors is driving growth across industries, including the logistics market, which forms a fundamental part of the GCC economy. With the support of its partners and the development of its advanced infrastructure, BIA is poised to accommodate rising local and regional demand for safe, efficient, and reliable air cargo services. The new Cargo Area is an important part of the overall growth strategy adopted by the Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications, and a key component in the Airport Modernisation Programme. BAC has begun the process of appointing a major contractor to build the project, which includes state-of-the-art warehouses, aircraft parking, and associated infrastructure. The Minister explained that the logistics sector aims to increase the competitiveness and speed of the procedures linking Khalifa Bin Salman Port with BIA, making the Kingdom of Bahrain a preferred hub for e-commerce. Several strategic objectives have been set to achieve this goal by 2030. Meuse said: "The GCC is witnessing public-private cooperation that promotes growth in a range of industries, making it an important region for FedEx Express. The logistics market forms a fundamental part of the GCC economy, and we remain committed to serving our customers across Bahrain and connecting them with people and opportunities around the world.-- TradeArabia News Service Bedaya Center for Entrepreneurship and Career Development, an initiative by Qatar Development Bank and Silatech, has announced the opening of registration for startups to avail the opportunity of wining one of 10 free offered websites. The initiative is being launched in collaboration with Fatora, a leading e-commerce and online payment gateway. The last day of registration and application process will be on October 31 through Bedaya website. Startups possessing a commercial or homebased registration and have been in business for less than two years, this collaboration with Fatora offers them an excellent opportunity to bag a fully integrated website that works on both mobiles and computers. The website offers an attractive and easy-to-use interface, including the possibility of integrating it with WhatsApp and Instagram applications along with Google. This facility will enhance the product marketing capabilities of startups by using trending methods. Moreover, the website will be linked with one of many electronic payment solutions for one year free of charge and will also allow the startups to benefit from the payment upon delivery option. In addition, a free domain will be provided for the projects website for a year for free. Furthermore, startups will be given the opportunity to display 25 of their products on the website. The website provides the feature of issuing periodic reports to reflect the financial performance of the business. TradeArabia News Service Dubai continues to lead the region in Kearneys Global Cities report climbing four places in the global ranking, while Doha experienced the most dramatic jump globally, placing it third regionally, while Riyadh ranks fifth in Mena. Riyadh also leads in Human Capital dimension in the GCC, highlighting its ongoing efforts in attracting international talent and large foreign-born population, according to the 11thedition of the report, which offers key insights into how Covid-19 and the resulting pandemic containment measures have impacted the level of global engagement of 156 cities around the world. Comprising of Global Cities Index (GCI) and Global Cities Outlook (GCO), the report measures how globally engaged cities are across five dimensions: business activity, human capital, information exchange, cultural experience, and political engagement as part of the GCI. GCO, which is a forward-looking evaluation based on 13 indicators, assesses how the same cities are creating conditions for their future status as global hubs. Global Cities Index Dubai retains its top spot in the Index for the region, and is also ranked fourth globally in Cultural Experience, reflecting the citys relatively early reopening to international travellers, bolstered by strict testing requirements, a rapid rollout of vaccines and Bluetooth-enabled contact tracing. Doha saw the largest jump of any city on this years Global Cities Index, rising 15 places following the restoration of diplomatic relations between Qatar and its neighbouring countries, highlighting the importance of fostering regional relationships in addition to global ones. Cairo ranked fourth in the Mena region, followed by Riyadh. Saudi Arabias capital city leads in Human Capital in the GCC, where its strengths in attracting international talent and large foreign-born population contribute to the strong showing. This is in line with the countrys increased emphasis on strengthening citizens capabilities to compete globally, in support of the realization of several strategic objectives set out in the Saudi Vision 2030. Overall, 21 cities in the Mena region rose six or more positions in the GCI ranking compared to last year. Istanbul climbed seven spots, with the citys efforts to become a global travel hub proving their worth. Addis Ababa moved up eight places, propelled by Ethiopias development investments that have supported rapid economic growth. Global Cities Outlook In terms of outlook, Abu Dhabi ranks fourth globally, a testament to the citys continued focus on providing accessible, high-quality healthcare and a commitment to reducing its environmental impact, which is core to the personal well-being dimension. Dubai and Abu Dhabi co-lead in the outlook for infrastructure, an illustration of the UAEs commitment to a future of sustainable and resilient economic growth. Antoine Nasr, Partner, Government Practice Leader, Kearney Middle East, said: In Mena, GCC economies, particularly the UAE and Saudi Arabia, are poised to lead regional recovery supported by accelerated efforts of their governments across the five main dimensions of the report. Whats also noteworthy is Doha has recorded the biggest gain globally for any city, a result of the compounded benefits of their strengthened economy and the newly restored regional ties. This reflects the importance of a balance between self-sufficiency and global connectivity. Five strategic imperatives for city leaders The report highlights five strategic imperatives for city leaders along with a range of ways in which cities around the world can address the challenges they share: Win in the competition for global talent: with human capital as the driving force behind economic activity, cities that adapt to the new priorities of prospective residents, with a renewed emphasis on urban livability and economic opportunity, will be those that emerge on top Embrace the rapidly growing digital economy: while it threatens to contribute to an emptying of cities and relocation of business headquarters, cities that harness the benefits of the global digital economy to drive differentiated competitive advantage will accelerate economic growth Ensure economic resilience by balancing global and local resources: with the fragility of the global trade system exposed during the early months of the pandemic, cities that recalibrate and balance relationships at global, regional, and local levels will be most resilient to future disruptions Adapt in the face of climate change: as climate change accelerates, and in the absence of unified global leadership on the topic, cities must lead the way in driving toward sustainability around the world Invest in individual and community well-being: in recovering from the collective scars of the pandemic, cities that focus their investments on advancing the well-being of their populations will be those that create an environment in which innovation can thrive Though they were initially hit hardest by Covid-19,our 2021 report shows that the leading global cities have once again proven their resilience and adaptive capacity. Their broad diversity of strengths positioned them for a quicker rebound that, with leadership focus and clarity of direction, can transition into leadership of a long-term, global recovery, concluded Rudolph Lohmeyer, Partner, National Transformations Institute, Kearney Middle East. TradeArabia News Service The British Council will develop and amplify support for climate change action and COP26 amongst young people and institutions in Bahrain through the Climate Connection Champions Programme. Organised in partnership with the Higher Education Council of Bahrain, the programme will support young activists in the country to implement projects that can create a greener, more sustainable world. In line with the activities at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow, UK from October 31 to November 11, 2021, the Environment Champions programme will look to raise awareness and encourage Bahrains society to do their part to tackle global warming. The programme brings together education institutions working with youth and civil society organisations that focus on environment challenges and engage partnership support and endorsement from key government agencies. The Climate Connection Champions programme has a specifically designed training element where youth participants will develop social leadership skills, skills to build and convene coalitions and to support the development of sustainable plans for social action in climate change. It will empower young people in Bahrain to take action on a local level that has lasting effects. In her address, Dr Sheikha Rana bint Isa bin Daij Al Khalifa thanked the British Embassy and the British Council for the partnership in implementing and delivering this training programme that relates to an important issue closely related to the fields of development, and which also coincides with the national campaign Stay Green under the generous patronage of Her Royal Highness Princess Sabeeka bint Ibrahim Al Khalifa, wife of His Majesty, the King of Bahrain, to achieve the goals of sustainable development in the areas of climate and the environment, stressing on the importance of scientific research in the field of environment and climate and addressing the associated challenges that suffer from various countries of the world. The Secretary-General noted the distinguished level of this training programme and its participants, as it includes an explanation of the ecosystem, nature, cultural identity and how our identities shape our relationship with nature and the promotion of innovation in climate action. Ten members of the academic staff and 50 undergraduate students from various disciplines in higher education institutions in the kingdom will participate in it. The Bahrain Climate Connection Champions programme, which is funded by Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office of the UK government, will be delivered from September 10 2021 to the March 31, 2022. Ambassador Roddy Drummond spoke about the importance of addressing the Global Challenge of Climate Change and said: The COP26 conference would attract over 125 world leaders and start a year of Climate Action. Young Bahraini Climate Champions would be supported to find ideas and projects to address the environmental, adaptation and resilience challenges faced in Bahrain. I am very much looking forward to learning more about the projects developed by the Bahraini Champions. Richard Rooze, Country Director British Council Bahrain, said: The climate crisis can only be addressed through cooperation and joint action. We are pleased to deliver the Climate Connection Champions programme with our partners, bringing together local initiatives, young people and communities and support their efforts on driving Climate Change action in the run up to COP26 and beyond. If together we take social action and spread awareness, we can and will address the challenge of climate change.-- TradeArabia News Service Labour Fund Tamkeen has entered into a strategic labour market partnership with Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry. Tamkeens cooperation with the Chamber's aims to improve the role of Bahraini institutions, increase their contribution to the national economy, create more high-quality job opportunities for Bahrainis, and use its support to boost institutions' productivity and encourage them to expand their businesses locally and globally, said Shaikh Mohammed bin Essa Al Khalifa, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Tamkeen. He stressed that building on the kingdom's economic gains to date necessitates continued solidarity efforts by all parties concerned to keep pace with current market realities in addition to investing in new opportunities, promising sectors, and technology to achieve the highest levels of productivity, growth, and global competitiveness for Bahraini private sector institutions and workers. The meeting was held in the presence of the Chamber's President, Sameer Abdulla Nass, and members of the Chamber, during which Shaikh Mohammed bin Essa Al Khalifa introduced the most significant and notable advancements in the framework of Tamkeen's extended support to the private sector. Shaikh Mohammed further emphasised the importance of building on the results achieved by Bahrain since the launch of the comprehensive reform initiatives by His Majesty the King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, The King of Bahrain, in order to promote the country's holistic development process, in light of the advancements witnessed in regional and global markets, which present promising opportunities for growth and success. During the meeting, Shaikh Mohammed praised the Chamber's prominent role as a key partner in the private sector's success and growth, as well as its members' participation to establishing the kingdom's unique economic structure. He also emphasised Tamkeen's ongoing efforts to initiate interaction with changing market needs, exploiting prospective growth opportunities to the greatest extent possible for the benefit of the country and its people. Nass said: It is essential to ensure that the updates of Tamkeens programmes sustain businesses, attain success and excellence, and boost the kingdom's business-incubating ecosystem, which will allow it to play a bigger role in the national economy. Tamkeen's continued efforts to support Bahrainis as a preferred choice in the labour market, as well as encouraging them to pursue entrepreneurship as an alternative path to employment, was lauded by the Chamber's President, who further commented that these efforts serve in strengthening the private sector's role. This meeting comes as part of a series of consultative and introductory sessions Tamkeen initiated last May prior to the commencement of designing the new programmes in order to receive the private sector's perspectives on the currently offered programmes and market demands in the phase to come. Furthermore, these meetings take place in the context of Tamkeen's readiness to relaunch the updated version of its programmes aimed at supporting the development of individuals and institutions while achieving positive change and long-term impact on the private sector's growth, as Tamkeen will continue to provide support by ensuring optimal investment in supporting high-productivity and high-growth activities, growing the National Economy and promoting Bahraini employment rates. In this regard, Husain Mohammed Rajab, Chief Executive of Tamkeen confirmed that Tamkeen is currently holding a series of meetings with representatives from the private sector from institutions, individuals, and associations, in order to work in an integrated manner toward maximising the outcomes of the support opportunities it provides. He also added that this will contribute to transforming the available support opportunities into strengths bringing about significant improvements to institutional performance, workforce skillset, and their role in creating disruption that improves their competitiveness. Rajab further emphasised the importance of responding to current market conditions and the need for innovative ideas, whether in the manner institutions work or in the ideas of investment projects presented in the market.-- TradeArabia News Service Sharjah Airport welcomed the inaugural flight of Ukraine's Bees Airlines, arriving from Kiev International Airport. The flight was greeted by a water salute upon arrival at the Sharjah Airport runway after crossing the traditional water sprinkler arches, in the presence of Sharjah Airport Authority Chairman Ali Salim Al Midfa, alongside Director Sheikh Faisal bin Saud Al Qasimi and Consul of Ukraine in Dubai Dr. Oleksandr Khomyak. Also present were Tees Tour Group CEO Ramy Aziz, along with a number of officials from strategic partners at Sharjah Airport, Emirates News Agency WAM reported. Al Midfa said: "We welcome Bees Airlines and appreciate their choice in selecting Sharjah as a base and destination to add more options for travellers between the two destinations. An elevated experience with our range of integrated services provided by the airport, including a wider network of regional and international destinations, as well as opportunities to discover tourist and recreational attractions reflect our cultural heritage." Al Midfa added, "With our airports continuous efforts in infrastructure development, Sharjah Airport is now considered one of the major hubs within the global travel and tourism map." Aziz said: "We are pleased with the co-operation of our partners at Sharjah Airport, and their support to enhance tourism activity in the emirate by attracting more visitors, especially from Ukraine. "We will work to provide opportunities for more Ukrainian tourists to visit the UAE, and in return enable citizens and residents of the UAE to visit Ukraine, through regular flights through Sharjah Airport," he added. The airline will be operating a Boeing 737-800 on a twice a week schedule every Monday and Saturday at 3.00 p.m. by Walid Ahmed Dhaka, Oct 25 (UNI) An organization called "Sampriti Bangladesh" gathered at the central Shaheed Minar in the country's capital and presented seven proposals for preventing communalism . The organization also participated in today's harmony rally. At the rally, 71 non-communal organizations believing in the spirit of the liberation war expressed their solidarity. The people participating in the march demanded a speedy trial of those guilty of the recent communal violence in the country. A reconciliation rally began at 3pm on Monday (October 25) at the central Shaheed Minar in the capital Dhaka. Sampriti Bangladesh convener drama personality Piyush Bandyopadhyay gave a welcome speech in the presidency of the organization's member secretary Prof Dr Mamun Al Mahtab. Leaders and activists of various socio-cultural organizations joined the rally with banner festoons. Everyone reterated their conviction of building a non-communal Bangladesh. Speaking at the rally were Justice Shamsuddin Chowdhury Manik, President of the South Asian People's Conference Against Militancy and Communalism, Muktijoddha Harun Habib, Secretary General of the Sector Commanders Forum, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Sharfuddin Ahmed, Dhaka University Teachers Association General Secretary Professor Nizamul Haque Bhuiyan, Chandpur University of Science and Technology Vice-Chancellor Prof Md Nasim Akhtar, General Secretary of the Committee to Eliminate the Killer Brokers of 1971. Nuzhat Chowdhury, President of Projonmo 71 Asif Munir Tanmoy, General Secretary of Muktiyuddha Mancha Al Mamun, Joint Secretary General of Swadhinata Chikitsak Parishad Professor Uttam Kumar Barua, Chairman of Bangladesh Islamic Unity Maulana Misbahur Rahman Chowdhury, President of Bangladesh Sammilita Islami Jote Hafeez Maulana Ziaul Ul hasan, Utpal Saha, President of Kali Mandir, William Praloy Samaddar, Secretary General of Christian Association of Bangladesh, Reverend Martin Adhikari, President of Bangladesh Baptist Church Association, PR Barua, Secretary General of Bangladesh Buddhist Kristi Prachar Sangha, Sunand Supriyan, a monk of Dharmarajik Buddhist Monastery. The speakers said, "We are concerned about the recent conspiratorial activities in different parts of the country to destroy the spirit of the liberation war and the non-communal philosophy." The frightening situation created by insecurity is nothing but an attempt to destroy the spirit of the liberation war, Bangabandhu's ideology, independence and sovereignty. ' Speakers at the rally added, "Conspiracies and blows have been going on since '75 to destroy a thousand-year-old culture of harmony. It will be difficult to protect the democratic and humanitarian future of the country if the repeated rise of communal and fundamentalist forces in Bangladesh cannot be stopped. So today we need the united resistance of progressive forces. At the same time, it is very important to convey the holy message of harmony to every house. The heroic martyrs sacrificed for a non-communal Bangladesh. So that the blood of the martyrs does not go in vain, all the well-wishers should be united like Ekattar. ' At the meeting, seven proposals were presented to the government. It said those involved in the recent incidents should be punished severely. At the same time, the past events have to be judged quickly. The administration needs to be more proactive in stopping the destruction of communal harmony. At the same time, the damaged houses and places of worship need to be renovated. They also demanded the inclusion of human values and tolerance in the education system including the war of liberation, Bangabandhu and Bengali nationalism. Initiatives should be taken to involve the youth in the culture of Bengal. It was demanded that effective measures be taken to stop rumors and incitement through social media. A press release issued on behalf of the organizers of today's rally said that Sampriti declared solidarity in the rally - Ekattar Ghatak Dalal Nirmul Committee, Sector Commanders Forum, Dhaka University Teachers Association, Projanma Ekattar, Udichi, Ramkrishna Math and Mission (Bangabandhu, Bangladesh). Kabita Parishad, Dhaka Journalists Union, South Asian Mass Conference Against Militancy and Communalism, Bangladesh Islamic Unity Alliance, Sri Sri Bardeswari Kalimata Mandir, Bangladesh Baptist Church Association, Dhaka University Alumni Association, Mahila Parishad, Bangladesh Sammilita Islami Jote, Bangladesh Path Natmadh Parishad Krishti Prachar Sangha, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University Hepatology Alumni Association, Hindu Heritage Foundation, Christian Association Bangladesh, Invincible Bengal, Bangabandhu Memorial and Research Council, Communalism and Prevention of Militancy Prevention Morcha, Bangabandhu Cultural Alliance, Medical Auxiliary Committee , Vivekananda Council of Education and Culture, Law Years Harmony, Free Thought and Rationalism Church Forum, Inter-Religious Harmony Society, Minority Rights Forum, Bangabandhu Adventurer, Swadhinata Govt. Coordinating Council, Dhaka University Law Society, Liberation War Generation, Unity for Young Journalists, We are the Children of Freedom Fighters, Ramna Kalibari and Anandamoyee Temple Committee, Progressive Columnist Forum, Jago Bangladesh Foundation, Bangladesh Pharmacist Forum, Palli Baul Samaj Unnayan Sangstha, Dhaka University Buddhist Students , Natyasnatak Mancha, Pharmacy Student Welfare Association, Bangladesh Graduate Pharmacist Association, Bangladesh Buddhist Cultural Council, Bangladesh Baker Diploma Pharmacist Association, Bangladesh Nari Mukti Sangsad, Bangladesh Gana Shilpi Sangstha, Gana Sangskritik Maitri, University of Teachers, Sthapati Parishad, Liberation War Academy Foundation, Liberation War Solidarity Council, South Asia Study Circle, Shaluk, Little Magazine, Monthly Physician Message, Bangladesh Foundation for Development Research, 72 Foundation, Roots of Human Rights Foundation, Human Rights for Everyone, South Asian Dalit Forum, Bangladesh Chapter UNI WA RKM Khartoum, Oct 25 (UNI/Sputnik) The head of Sudan's Sovereign Council, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, declared a state of emergency and dissolution of the council and the government on Monday. Earlier in the day, media reported that Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok was placed under house arrest by unknown military forces, while four cabinet ministers and one civilian representative of the Sovereign Council were arrested. Sudans ministry of culture and information later confirmed the reports, adding it is unaware of their whereabouts. The prime minister's office called on the Sudanese people to peacefully express their indignation. According to Al-Burhan, the military will continue democratic transition until power is handed over to a civilian government. "I declare a state of emergency throughout the country ... as well as the dissolution of the Sovereign Council and the Cabinet of Ministers," al-Burhan said in a televised address, adding that some points of the constitutional declaration in force since 2019 are now terminated. The council head also said developments in Sudan threatened national security. In addition, al-Burhan said "elections will take place in July 2023." UNI/SPUTNIK VP SY 1648 UW in the News State, national and international media frequently feature the University of Wyoming and members of its community in stories. Here is a summary of some of the recent coverage: The Los Angeles Times quoted UW psychology Professor Matt Gray, who offered insights on how a person copes with accidentally harming another individual. The op-ed piece focused on actor Alec Baldwin, who fired a prop gun last week while filming a movie, killing the films cinematographer and injuring the director. UW Associate Professor Kevin Monteith and his team have been studying Snowy Range moose and how well the animals adapt to heat, according to a Casper Star-Tribune feature. Monteith, the Wyoming Excellence Chair in UWs Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources, and the Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, says that water is a critical component to staving off heat exhaustion in moose. Crypto Reporter noted that Elite Mining Inc. (EMI), one of the top five blockchain startups that are reducing energy requirements, has moved its headquarters to Cheyenne. EMI is working with UWs Center for Blockchain and Digital Innovation to host and mentor interns. UWs Chad Baldwin, associate vice president for communications and marketing; Associated Students of UW President Hunter Swilling; and Associate Professor Linda Thunstrom were interviewed for a Laramie Boomerang article titled Incentives give UW vaccine programs a shot in the arm. The Las Vegas Review-Journal cited a UW mule deer migration study for an article on how mule deer migration patterns offer useful information for hunters. The Waco Tribune-Herald published a Money article noting the shortage of cafeteria workers at many colleges. UWs lack of bus drivers was included in the article. Sheridan Media published UWs release announcing that several administrative changes and searches are underway or in the planning stage at the university. A review of the history of sage grouse hunting and populations across the Intermountain West shows that declines in the birds numbers have prompted significant reductions in hunting opportunities in recent decades with mixed results for grouse populations. Sheridan Media published UWs study. The Saratoga Sun reported that five UW students in the Science Initiative Roadshow presented workshops to Hanna, Elk Mountain, Medicine Bow (HEM) High School students. The program brings STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) workshops around the state. The Wyoming Center on Aging, located at UW, is offering a free online workshop for individuals with chronic conditions and their caregivers. The Cody Enterprise published UWs release. High Plains Journal published an article on how UW researchers are exploring whether sunn hemp, a typically Southern crop, can be grown in Wyoming. The final The World Needs More Cowboys community event is scheduled in the Marian H. Rochelle Gateway Center Nov. 5. Laramie Live published UWs announcement. The Laramie Boomerang reported that a random 3 percent sample of on-campus UW students and employees is being tested each week for COVID-19 as part of the universitys COVID-19 response. Graduates of the Wyoming-WWAMI (Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana and Idaho) Medical Education Program at UW have returned to the Cowboy State to begin medical careers. The Sheridan Press published UWs feature release on the subject. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close 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. In partnership with the Container Control Programme (CCP) operated jointly by the World Customs Organization (WCO) and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), the WCO COPES Programme1 organized a training course which was delivered online from October 19 to 22 in Fiji. The training course brought together 11 Customs officials from the Port Control Units (PCUs) in Suva and 15 Customs officials from the Air Cargo Control Unit (ACCUs) in Nadi. In its fight against the transportation of illicit goods in sea or air containers, the CCP is setting up PCU and ACCU at key seaports and airports of recipient countries. Personnel working in these units are therefore benefiting from training courses provided for the purpose of improving their capacity in relation to risk management and targeting to detect illicit cargo and, subsequently, to establish Customs infringements and gather evidence. Trained officers are thus able to expedite effective controls while minimizing disruption to the flow of legitimate trade. This COPES training was organized to strengthen the enforcement capacities of the participants. The agenda for the week was structured around the full spectrum of Customs enforcement activities, from the establishment of a violation, its documentation, methods for gathering evidence and conducting seizures, storing seized evidence material all the way to presenting the case in legal / judicial proceedings. The participants appreciated the training which assisted in broadening the understanding that detections of illicit goods need sound and proper investigative and documentary procedures to become successful cases in the legal / judicial proceedings to follow. The CCP-COPES training for Fiji was funded by the Australian Border Force. For further information about the COPES Programme, please send your request to: COPES@wcoomd.org. For further information about CCP, please send your request to: Norbert.Steilen@wcoomd.org. On 23 October 2021, at the invitation of the Federal Customs Service (FCS) of the Russian Federation, Dr. Kunio Mikuriya, Secretary General of the World Customs Organization (WCO), attended the International Customs Forum in Moscow, Russia. He also met with the Minister of Finance of Russia to discuss ways to enhance cooperation between the WCO and the Russian Federation. At the opening of the International Customs Forum, following the welcome speeches by Mr. Mikhail Mishustin, Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, and Mr. Anton Siluanov, Minister of Finance of the Russian Federation, a high-level panel discussion was held with the participation of the WCO Secretary General, the Acting Head of the Federal Customs Service of the Russian Federation, the Chairman of the Board of the Eurasian Economic Commission, the General Director of the Russian Railways as well as key representatives from the private sector and the representative of the Vice-Chair of the WCO Europe Region from Greece. The panellists discussed the changing trade and transport landscape, including the new transit routes and e-commerce as well as the need for further digitization of Customs procedures. Dr. Mikuriya emphasized the crucial role of Customs in improving the business environment through consolidation of the Customs-Business partnership and highlighted the importance of Coordinated Border Management through cooperation with other government agencies. Other panellists voiced their support for building trust between Customs, the business sector and other trade stakeholders. The discussions pointed to a need for a change of mindset on the part of all the parties involved in technology management. In the margins of his visit, the WCO Secretary General attended a bilateral meeting with the Minister of Finance of the Russian Federation. Both sides highly appreciated the positive development of cooperation between the WCO and the Russian Federation in recent years and discussed a number of promising avenues and directions for future cooperation. Mr. Siluanov, noted that the WCO is undoubtedly the main international organization responsible for setting global rules and standards in the field of Customs. He stressed that the FCS is one of the most active Members of the WCO, with extensive experience of the practical and administrative work of the Organization, as well as in the implementation of international WCO instruments, and highlighted that the Customs Administration operates in accordance with the highest standards of quality. Dr. Mikuriya emphasized the importance of information technology and the tremendous potential of the Russian Federation in sharing with the WCO Members its knowledge and experience relating to the collection and analysis of information involving large amounts of data. The Secretary General noted that Customs are one of the key agencies at the border, performing a wide range of tasks over and above the collection of revenue, including economic development, the protection of society, security and the facilitation of cross-border trade. He concluded that, from the data available from other agencies and businesses, it is evident that Customs should be seen as a key consultative body to advise governments on rationales, major trends, reforms and strategic objectives. If you have an event you'd like to list on the site, submit it now! Submit Source: Xinhua| 2021-10-25 08:35:18|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close CANBERRA, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- Australia's Deputy Prime Minister (PM) has announced support for a 2050 net zero emissions target. Barnaby Joyce, the leader of the National Party, recently said his party has agreed to support a "process" to reach net zero emissions by 2050. It paves the way for PM Scott Morrison to commit to a net zero target at the upcoming United Nations (UN) Climate Change Conference - also known as COP26 - in Glasgow. The Nationals, which form the governing Coalition with Morrison's Liberals, have previously ruled out support for net zero target, arguing it would jeopardize jobs in regional areas. Following the party room meeting Joyce said he expected a "firm commitment" to regional Australia in Morrison's climate plan, which he will present to Cabinet before departing for Glasgow later this week. "We are in support of a process going forward that would go towards a 2050 emissions target," Joyce told reporters on Sunday afternoon. "Obviously, that's dependent upon what we see in the Cabinet submission reflecting the conversations and the agreements between myself and the Prime Minister." Morrison welcomed the Nationals' decision. "I thank the deputy PM for his leadership and his colleagues for their considered support. I greatly respect the process they have undertaken in reaching this decision," he said. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-10-25 10:56:22|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close CANBERRA, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- Voter support for the Australian government has fallen to a three-year low months from the general election. According to the latest Newspoll published on Sunday night, primary support for the governing Coalition has fallen to 35 percent, the lowest figure since November 2018, compared to 38 percent for the Opposition Labor Party. Labor now leads the Coalition 54-46 on a two-party preferred basis, the equal worst result for the government during this term. If replicated at the next election, which must be held by May 2022, the poll result would see Labor returned to the government for the first time since 2013 in a landslide. The poll was conducted during a fortnight dominated by the Coalition's climate policy in the lead-up to the upcoming COP26 summit in Glasgow. Forty-seven percent of respondents said they believe the government should prioritize reducing emissions compared to 40 percent who said lowering the price of energy bills should be the priority. It marks a major turnaround from 2018 when 24 percent of Newspoll respondents said reducing emissions was more important than electricity prices. Thirty-five percent said Labour would be better at leading Australia on climate policy compared to 28 percent for the Coalition. However, Prime Minister Scott Morrison remains voters' preferred leader, with 48 percent choosing the incumbent compared to 34 percent for Labor leader Anthony Albanese. Both leaders had negative satisfaction ratings for the third consecutive poll. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-10-25 11:13:13|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close SYDNEY, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- Australia's state of Victoria is nearing its 80 percent double dose vaccine milestone to open up while more than half a million Victorians over the age of 12 haven't received their first dose. The state will reach its double dose vaccination milestone almost a week ahead of schedule, with most indoor settings, such as retail, cinemas and theatres to reopen and regional travel allowed from 6 p.m. local time Friday Oct. 29, according to the premiere's statement. But Victoria's COVID-19 response commander Jereon Weimar said on Monday that there are still more than half a million Victorians over the age of 12 who haven't received their first dose, and they are unprotected while the restrictions are lifted. "What we've seen now with new cases in the last week, two-thirds of the new cases every single day are not vaccinated," he said. The state reported 1,461 locally acquired COVID-19 cases and seven deaths on Monday, a significant drop from the previous day's number. Weimar said among those cases, they've continued to see very young age profiles and most of them are not fully vaccinated. Some local government areas, such as Wyndham in the outer south-western of Melbourne, where 96 percent of the new cases under the age of 40 were not fully vaccinated. Meanwhile, the neighbouring state of New South Wales (NSW) recorded 294 new local cases and four deaths on Monday, bringing the total COVID-related death toll in the current outbreak over 500. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-10-25 12:14:58|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close SYDNEY, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- Researchers from a number of Australian universities have devised an online tool that is able to estimate an individual's risks associated with COVID-19 and vaccinations. The tool, called CoRiCal (COVID Risk Calculator) and announced to the public on Monday, was developed through a collaboration between the non-profit Immunisation Coalition, and researchers from the University of Queensland (UQ) and Flinders University. Co-lead researcher and UQ virologist Dr Kirsty Short said the online tool would provide a springboard for doctors and community members to discuss the benefits and risks of COVID-19 vaccines. "Users can access the tool and input their age, sex, community transmission and vaccination status to find out their personalised risk calculation," said Short. After filling in the basic information, the user is shown the chance of catching COVID-19, the chance of dying, and the chance of getting super-rare blood clots that have been associated with the AstraZeneca vaccine. The results are then visualised on a graph and compared with the chance of other occurrences. For men aged between 20-29 the chance of developing a blood clot from AstraZeneca vaccine is 0.09 in 1 million, which is compared with the chances of dying in a car accident in a year in Australia -- 56 in 1 million. One of the main developers of CoRiCal and Public Health professor at UQ, Colleen Lau told Xinhua that "relatable risk" is key when it comes to risk communication. "If you put it [risk] into the context of something that they can relate to, then they can say, 'Okay, well, if I'm happy to take that risk, like driving a car every day, or jumping off a plane with a parachute, then the risk of the vaccine is even less than that'." She said the tool also gives people insight into future risks as outbreaks evolve, especially in places like Queensland where transmission is currently near zero. "So, the decision to get vaccinated shouldn't be just based on 'oh, we don't have any transmission now'. It should be based on what's likely to happen in the next few weeks or the next few months as we reopen," said Lau. She said the tool would be constantly evolving as situations change and new research comes to light. The team is currently working on adding data around the Pfizer vaccine over the next couple of weeks. Further down the road, the team has plans to add a way to factor in an individual's pre-existing health conditions and the chances of developing long COVID-19. "Information is still evolving quite rapidly. So, we need to wait until we actually have the evidence." Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-10-25 12:38:18|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BANGKOK, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- When leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and their dialogue partners meet virtually this week, high on the agenda will be the joint efforts for a post-pandemic recovery as countries recently began to reopen their economies and borders following the receding of the COVID-19 outbreak. As this year marks the 30th anniversary of China-ASEAN dialogue relations, expectations are also high that the upcoming summits would herald a new chapter for the relationship, which has grown from strength to strength and weathered difficulties and challenges, including the pandemic. SEEK POST-PANDEMIC RECOVERY The series of meetings, scheduled from Tuesday to Thursday, will be held under the chairmanship of Brunei with the theme "We Care, We Prepare, We Prosper." Brunei has outlined a number of deliverables for the ASEAN agenda based on the three pillars of ASEAN community building, namely political-security community, economic community and social-cultural community, including on strengthening ASEAN response to emergencies and disasters, upholding multilateralism, post-pandemic recovery, procurement of vaccines, among others. According to the Thai foreign ministry, discussions at the summits will focus on promoting cooperation to address COVID-19 and its impacts, post-COVID-19 recovery, ASEAN Community building, as well as key regional and global developments. "The pandemic will be high on the agenda and we will see a great push towards economic cooperation and also to create travel bubbles within ASEAN to kickstart the flow of business cooperation and more importantly tourism," said Azmi Hassan, a Malaysian political analyst. "Currently, ASEAN members are working on creating bilateral travel bubbles but I believe they will discuss this as an organization during the summit so that this can be implemented across the bloc," he said. "On economic matters, they will be working out ideas and strategies to try and bring economic activity back to pre-pandemic levels." Lee Pei May, a political expert at the International Islamic University Malaysia, said ASEAN leaders need to address the highly uneven progress of vaccination in the region, which can affect the region's economic recovery. "This highly uneven progress is worrying. As countries begin to open their borders for business and travel, countries with low vaccination coverage might not receive many visitors or might experience surges in the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases. Such a situation could contribute to divergent recoveries, with some countries forging ahead and some being left behind," she said. ENHANCE CHINA-ASEAN TIES Apart from the 38th and 39th ASEAN Summits, leaders of the ASEAN dialogue partners, namely China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia, the United States, Russia and New Zealand, among others, will also join their ASEAN counterparts in the related summits, which would provide a platform for greater cooperation for recovery in the East Asia region. Although countries mainly feel the negative impacts of the pandemic, it also provides opportunities for reflection on how to undertake development differently in the future, said Lee. "Therefore, ASEAN and its dialogue partners should not just focus on making the economy bounce back quicker but on building a more resilient and sustainable economy that can cushion against future crises," she said, adding that ASEAN and its dialogue partners can help those members left behind in the vaccination drive. Among the dialogue partners, ASEAN countries will look to China to fuel their economic recovery, said Azmi, pointing out that China could be a great example of how COVID-19 can be contained while bringing economic activity back in full force. "ASEAN as a whole is looking keenly towards China for its own economic revitalization," he said. The relationship between China and ASEAN has emerged even stronger as both sides came to each other's aid since the pandemic. To date, China has provided all ASEAN member states with over 300 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines and a great number of emergency medical supplies, making up an indispensable part for the region to build up the immunization barrier. The economic relationship between China and ASEAN has bucked the trend to a new height despite the pandemic, as ASEAN becomes China's largest trading partner. In the first three quarters of this year, China-ASEAN trade totaled 630.54 billion U.S. dollars, up by 31.1 percent year-on-year. The two-way investment has been booming and exceeded 310 billion U.S. dollars as of June this year in cumulative terms. Meanwhile, both ASEAN members and partners hope the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), a mega trade deal between 10 ASEAN member states plus China, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand which was signed last November, will take effect soon to promote regional trade and investment, thus helping with the post-pandemic economic recovery in the region. Deng Xijun, Chinese Ambassador to ASEAN, noted in a written interview with Xinhua that China was the first non-ASEAN member to complete ratification of RCEP, which demonstrates China's firm support to ASEAN centrality. "China will continue fully cooperating with ASEAN to have the RCEP take effect as scheduled early next year," he said. SAFEGUARD REGIONAL PEACE, SECURITY Analysts also expect some regional issues will be raised during the summits, including the situation in Myanmar as well as the recently announced security partnership between Australia, Britain and the United States (AUKUS) to supply the Australian navy with nuclear-powered submarines. AUKUS has triggered widespread concerns across the region, including those from ASEAN members like Malaysia and Indonesia that it would raise tensions and confrontations, cause nuclear proliferation, impact ASEAN centrality and disrupt cooperation, which is crucial for recovery in the region. While the United States is increasingly forcing ASEAN members into camps, experts said China could help strengthen ASEAN centrality and continue to play a positive role in maintaining peace and security in the region. "I think China could create economic momentum and not behave like the United States...They (ASEAN countries) will be looking at the real benefits of Chinese economic power versus the supposed benefits of the U.S., British and Australian military power," said Azmi. As China and ASEAN celebrate the great success of three decades of dialogue relations, the expectations are high that the summit could usher in a new chapter for the bilateral ties in the next 30 years. At the China-ASEAN Summit last year, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang proposed to take the 30th anniversary of dialogue relations as an opportunity and elevate China-ASEAN relations to the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, which was echoed actively by ASEAN leaders, said Deng, Chinese ambassador to ASEAN. "Since then, we have had in-depth discussions with ASEAN on the concept and cooperation areas of this initiative and reached broad consensus. The leaders will further exchange ideas on this initiative in the summit this year," he said. "On the 30th anniversary of China-ASEAN dialogue relations, we can see how far the relationship has come and indeed for the most part it has been a beneficial, two-way win-win for economic growth. China's economic prosperity and rise as a global manufacturing hub and import-export hub have had a positive spillover into the ASEAN region," said Azmi. "China is our northern neighbor, economically and geographically close to us and it only makes sense that both sides continue to deepen their ties and integration," he said. ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. China and ASEAN established dialogue relations in 1991. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-10-25 15:17:37|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close JALALABAD, Afghanistan, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- Unknown armed men shot dead a religious scholar who served as a prayer leader at a local mosque in Behsoud district of Afghanistan's eastern Nangarhar province on Monday, a local official said. The official on the condition of anonymity said that the unknown armed men opened fire on prayer leader Mufti Sayedullah in the Muqam Khan area on Monday morning, killing him on the spot. The police have yet to make comment on the incident. Separately, a roadside bomb struck a vehicle in Qasim Abad locality in police district 8 of Jalalabad city in the morning rush hour on Monday, injuring two persons, an eyewitness said on the condition of anonymity. Parts of Nangarhar, including the provincial capital Jalalabad city, have been the scene of some blasts for which the hardliner Daesh or Islamic State group has claimed responsibility. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-10-25 16:14:34|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close SINGAPORE, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- While the ASEAN member states are striving towards economic recovery amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership's (RCEP) entry into force at an early date would surely accelerate the process, in which China's role is important, a Singapore scholar said. RCEP, signed by 15 Asia-Pacific countries including 10 Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member states as well as China, South Korea, Japan, New Zealand and Australia in November last year, is the world's largest free trade deal. Covering a region with a combined GDP of 26.2 trillion U.S. dollars, or about 30 percent of global GDP, RCEP is an unprecedented, modern, comprehensive, high-quality and reciprocal mega-regional trading arrangement that accommodates the broadest possible interests, conditions and priorities of different countries. 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. "An RCEP without China is not an impactful free-trade pact, as China is among the world's largest trading nations," Oh Ei Sun, senior fellow at Singapore Institute of International Affairs, told Xinhua on Monday. ASEAN countries are eager to welcome China's increased investments as they try to revive their economy after the pandemic. They are also eager to explore further China's large domestic market for business opportunities, he said. ASEAN countries are working hard to resuscitate economic development after the debilitating effect of the coronavirus pandemic, Oh said, adding that it would be "very helpful if the economic revival efforts could be done without the artificial imposition" of tariffs and non-tariff barriers that only serve to hinder the efficient functioning of economy. "RCEP is especially useful in reducing and removing such obstacles, creating the world's largest common market, where goods and services could be more freely traded, thus accelerating the regional and world economic revivals," he noted. Ratifications of at least six ASEAN member states and three non-ASEAN member countries are needed to reach the threshold for RCEP to enter into force. Countries that have completed the ratification procedures include China, Brunei, Thailand, Singapore, Japan and Cambodia. The signing of RCEP happened at "a very critical juncture" as the world was witnessing a dangerous trend in retreating from free trade and multilateralism and advancing toward protectionism and unilateralism, according to Oh. By resolutely building up the world's largest free trade area, the 15 members of RCEP try to demonstrate to the rest of the world the advantages of prospering together in a common market for all, thus renewing the worldwide momentum for free trade and multilateralism, he said. As Oh views it, Singapore being one of the first members to ratify RCEP is not surprising. Singapore is one of the major regional and global trading hubs and its economy depends to a large extent on the proper functioning of free trade. Singapore looks forward to deeper, broader and freer trading relations in the common market envisioned in RCEP, as early as possible, he noted. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-10-25 16:28:03|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close MANILA, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- The Philippines' Department of Health (DOH) reported 4,405 new COVID-19 infections on Monday, pushing the number of confirmed cases in the Southeast Asian country to 2,761,307. The DOH said 149 more people died from COVID-19 complications, bringing the country's death toll to 41,942. Five laboratories failed to submit data. Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said it is crucial to continue practicing social distancing and good hygiene, avoid crowded places despite the drop of infections in the country. "We are not saying that we are out of the woods, and we are not saying that we have totally decongested the hospitals," Vergeire told an online briefing. She stressed the need for people to comply with the safety protocols. "Measures to sustain the decline are needed as the holiday season approaches, and mobility is expected to increase," Vergeire added. Over the last weekend, thousands of people flocked to the Manila Bay dolomite beach in the capital that was recently open to the public after the government eased the lockdown restrictions this month. The third wave of infections peaked in September when the DOH reported its highest ever daily tally on Sept. 11 with 26,303 cases. The Philippines, which has around 110 million population, has tested more than 21 million people since the outbreak in January 2020. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-10-25 17:25:56|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close SEOUL, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- South Korea will donate COVID-19 vaccines to Iran in a humanitarian effort to help the Middle East country tackle its vaccine shortage, the South Korean foreign ministry said Monday. One million doses of AstraZeneca vaccines are scheduled to arrive in Iran on Wednesday as South Korea saw Tehran being placed under a serious humanitarian crisis, caused by the shortage of COVID-19 vaccines, the Seoul ministry said in a statement. The ministry said the vaccine donation would symbolize the friendly relations for the past six decades between the two countries, noting that South Korea has joined the global efforts to address the pandemic through the donation of COVID-19 vaccines. South Korea provided 1.1 million doses of AstraZeneca vaccines for Vietnam and 470,000 doses of the vaccines for Thailand earlier this month. The donations came as South Korea's full vaccination rate surpassed 70 percent of the total population, which is regarded by the Seoul government as a key precondition to ease antivirus measures. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-10-25 19:51:46|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close KATHMANDU, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- Nepali police on Monday arrested 11 Afghan nationals suspected of entering the country illegally. Officers from the Central Investigation Bureau of Nepal Police raided a house in Sinamangal in Kathmandu in the morning and detained 11 Afghans, including seven men and four women, over tip that they had entered Nepal through India. "Five of them entered Nepal on Thursday while the others came some six weeks back," Deputy Inspector General of Nepal Police Dhiraj Pratap Singh, who also heads the Central Investigation Bureau, told Xinhua. All the Afghan nationals have been transferred to the Department of Immigration for further action, he said, noting that Indian ration cards, which are used as a proof of identity, were found with six of the Afghans. Police suspected the Afghans prepared the ration cards to show they are Indian nationals as Nepalis and Indians do not need passports for cross-border travel. The police are probing the authenticity of the cards, added Singh. Meanwhile, some Afghans in Nepal have approached the UN High Commissioner for Refugees office in Kathmandu for protection. "Five Afghans have approached us for protection. We are studying as to what sorts of support we can provide," Dipesh Das Shrestha from the office told Xinhua, noting the agency is checking whether the Afghans arrested by the police are among those who had sought its support. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-10-25 22:48:36|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close JAKARTA, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- Indonesian President Joko Widodo on Monday called on Southeast Asian countries to accelerate the implementation of a regional travel corridor. "The ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Travel Corridor Arrangement Framework which was initiated by Indonesia a year ago needs to be implemented immediately," the president said during his speech at the ASEAN Business and Investment Summit. At the forum, he emphasized that the establishment of the travel corridor within the ASEAN region would run the mobility of communities among ASEAN countries, which have been plagued by restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He suggested that travel restrictions be reduced as the number of COVID-19 cases in ASEAN region is declining. "ASEAN's economic recovery must be accelerated by reactivating safe travels, including safe tourism," the president said. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-10-25 22:50:39|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Undated photo shows Kazi Nabil Ahmed, member of Bangladesh's Parliamentary Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs. (Xinhua) by Naim-Ul-Karim DHAKA, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- The restoration of the lawful seat of the People's Republic of China (PRC) in the United Nations (UN) has been a big boon for the whole world as it paved the way for China to contribute a lot to world peace, stability and prosperity, a Bangladeshi member of parliament said on Monday. In an interview with Xinhua, Kazi Nabil Ahmed, member of Bangladesh's Parliamentary Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, commended China's contributions to the UN over the past 50 years. He commended the Chinese roles in the development of the world through U N bodies as PRC marks the 50th anniversary of the restoration of the country's lawful seat in the United Nations. The Bangladeshi ruling party leader said, "I do believe that the restoration of the lawful seat of the PRC in the UN is very important and significant for the whole world." Before the restoration, he said, China was the most populous country in the world and their views were not reflected in the UN for a long time. He said the restoration of the PRC's lawful seat in the UN is of significant and far-reaching importance for both China and the wider world. "Peaceful development of China has been a blessing for the world and an engine of global growth and stability so far, he said, adding that it is true that China's peaceful development has contributed immensely to world peace, stability and prosperity. According to the lawmaker, the development initiatives undertaken by China, including the Belt and Road Initiative, are now playing a vital role in the development of other countries and regions including Bangladesh. He said China is playing a very important role in the economic development of Bangladesh, hailing the friendship between China and Bangladesh. He also expressed the hope that relationship between the countries will be strengthened in the future. "On behalf of myself, my party and government, I would like to extend my best wishes and congratulations to the people and the government of China on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the restoration of the PRC's lawful seat in the UN," said the lawmaker of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's ruling Bangladesh Awami League party. Enditem Khartoum Police in the Sudan capital of Khartoum fired tear gas and arrested a number of protesters "after limited clashes and hit-and-run operations" at the Mak Nimr Bridge and on Nile Street on Sunday, to clear barricades that gridlocked traffic in the city from many hours. The African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies (ACJPS) has called for an urgent investigation into the injury of 17 demonstrators in Khartoum after police used tear gas and live ammunition to disperse protests as hundreds of thousands of people took to the streets on Thursday in support of a peaceful democratic transition and to call for civilian rule. Witnesses told Radio Dabanga that a number of protesters who held a sit-in at the Republican Palace, closed Mak Nimr Bridge, Nile Street, University Street, Baladiya Street and El Jumhuriya Street in central Khartoum. They chanted slogans against the transitional government before the police fired tear gas and removed the barricades. The closure of the roads on Sunday morning caused complete paralysis in central Khartoum, and led to the suspension of work at many private and public institutions. In a statement, the governor of Khartoum, Ayman Nimir, said that "a group of employees of the dissolved National Congress Party (the party of deposed dictator Omar Al Bashir) closed the Mak Nimr Bridge and the Nile Street to disrupt traffic in central Khartoum. He said that the state government directed the police, in the presence of the Public Prosecution, to open roads and take decisive and necessary legal measures, to ensuring the flow of traffic in the centre of the capital. 17 injured US-based African Centre for Justice and Peace Studies (ACJPS) that monitors respect for human rights and law reform in Sudan, has issued an urgent call to investigate the injuring of 17 peaceful demonstrators in Khartoum on Thursday, after hundreds of thousands of people across Sudan took to the streets in the Marches of the Millions in support of a peaceful democratic transition and to call for civilian rule. Security forces used teargas and live ammunition to disperse protests. The ACJPS say that "the transitional government should urgently set up an independent and impartial commission to ensure an immediate and effective investigation into the full scale of injuring, identify those responsible, and recommend ways to hold them accountable." The Centre asserts that "the violent response from the security forces towards the peaceful demonstrators raises concerns about the continued reliance on repressive tactics to disrupt peaceful assembly", and calls on the government of Sudan "to respect the peoples' rights to freedom of assembly, association and expression as guaranteed in international standards and UN treaties ratified by Sudan. and refrain from using excessive force to disperse protests." List of the 17 injured (source: ACJPS): Abutalib Feisal (male), (20) (Right hand injury) Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Sudan Legal Affairs By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. Abubaker Mirghani Ismail (male), (20) (Leg injury) Ahmed Hamdan Ahmed (male), (35) (Head injury) Ahmed Hamid Saeed (male), (31) (Right Hand injury) El Jelly Ibrahim El Tayib (male), (30) (A gunshot wound on the left leg) El Zein Abdelhadi (male), (70) (Tear gas suffocation) Ibrahim Abdallah (male), (23) (Head injury) Mahir Osman (male), (35) (Injury on both hands) Mazin Ayman (male), (22) (A gushot wound on the abdomen) Mohamed Abdelgadir (male), (21) (A gunshot wound on the right foot) Mohamed El Haj Mohamed (male), (27) (Tear gas suffocation) Mohamed El Zein (male), (18) (Head injury) Mohamed Hasan Ibrahim (male), (23) (A gunshot wound on the right arm) Shol Deng (male), (25) (Right Hand injury) Wisam Mahdi (male), (20) (Tear gas suffocation) Yasir El Kamil Saeed (male), (23) (Left hand injury) Zohal Abdelrahman (female), (23) (sustained wounds in different parts of her body) Kampala A bomb blast at a bar has killed at least one person and wounded three others in the Ugandan capital, Kampala. President Yoweri Museveni says the incident appears to be an act of terrorism. President Museveni made his comments Sunday in a series of tweets, pledging to bring the perpetrators to justice. His remarks come hours after Saturday's explosion ripped through the Digida bar, which was crowded with people eating and drinking. Nalweyiso Jemima, a waitress at the bar, said, "We thought they were gunshots considering the fact that this bar had been talked about in the news." She also said, "We were shocked to see all the chairs had burned; beer bottles were broken. I turned to see a colleague's back had been torn to pieces; another had his hand and feet torn off." Police spokesperson Fred Enanga said their joint task force team also categorized the incident as an act of terrorism. "Three men, disguised as customers, arrived at the eating point at around 8:30 p.m. And, amongst these three, one of them was carrying a polythene bag containing unknown items that he placed under the table where they sat. They disappeared afterwards, abandoning their package at the scene," he said. Enanga said the explosion covered a radius of five square meters, suggesting an improvised explosive device was used. "Our joint team of bomb experts has established that the explosion was out of a crude device which was assembled using local materials of nails and other metallic fragments," he said. There has been no claim of responsibility. Earlier this month, Britain issued an alert in which it warned that terrorists were planning attacks in the African nation, but Ugandan police say at this point there is no link between the Saturday night incident and the warnings. Cape Town Sudan's Prime Minister Abdallah Hamdok is reportedly under house arrest after an unidentified military force besieged his house early on Monday October 25, 2021, according to local television station Al Hadath TV. Al Jazeera is quoting the network as citing unidentified sources. Independent confirmation was not immediately available, Al Jazeera said. The reported move against Hamdok came shortly after Sudan's military arrested several civilian officials including cabinet ministers, the prime minister's media adviser and a member of the country's ruling sovereign council. Those detained are: Ibrahim al-Sheikh, minister of industry; Hamza Baloul, minister of information; Mohammed al-Fiky Suliman, member of the sovereign council; and Faisal Mohammed Saleh, media adviser to the prime minister. Ayman Khalid, governor of the state containing Khartoum, was also arrested, according to the official Facebook page of his office. The Sudanese Professional's Association, the country's main pro-democratic political group, says the military's moves are an apparent military coup. The association has called on the public to take to the streets in protest. Reuters witnesses said internet services appeared to be down in the capital, Khartoum, and Al Jazeera is reporting that roads and bridges have been closed by the military. Kenya's The Nation reports that a week of protests in Khartoum occurred in the run-up to the latest events. The country is prepating for an internal change of guard at the Transitional Sovereign Council from the military head to a civilian. Sudan has been on edge since a failed coup plot last month unleashed recriminations between military and civilian groups meant to be sharing power following the toppling of the country's long time leader Omar al-Bashir. Al-Bashir was toppled after months of street protests in 2019, and a political transition agreed after his removal was meant to lead to elections by the end of 2023. press release Osogbo As a health worker and Local Immunization Officer in Ilesha West Local Government Area (LGA), Osun State, Mrs Toyin Ajewole has seen first-hand effects of a child not being vaccinated. To stop the outbreak of the circulating Vaccine Derived Polio Virus(cVDPV2), she has been using her position to educate parents on the importance of presenting their children for vaccination. With the ongoing second Round of the Polio Outbreak Response (OBR2) immunization in the state, Mrs Ajewole is one of the vaccinators who would go from house to house to vaccinate eligible children in her locality. "When I notice that some community members are unsure about allowing their children to receive the vaccine, I usually tell them that the novel Oral Poliovirus Vaccine type 2 (nOPV2) is safe and without side effects. My LGA had the highest number of missed children in the last campaign. As such, the World Health Organization supports my LGA with 19 extra teams to cover densely populated areas and market. "Taking it (nOPV) will boost the immunity of our children and make them strong and live longer. It will protect them from paralyses, she said. Although Nigeria has successfully eradicated the wild poliovirus, 18 states in Nigeria recorded cVDPV2 in 18 states. As of 08 October 2021, 447 cVDPV2 were reported in the country. The number of viruses is from acute flaccid paralysis (197), contacts (170) and Environmental Surveillance (80). The cVDPV2 have infected 23 states/142 LGAs, majorly in the North West (253 viruses) and North East (155 viruses) and least in South West (2 viruses). To curtail the spread of cVDPV2 outbreak to Osun State, the World Health Organization (WHO), supported the state government to plan and conduct mass vaccination exercises with the novel Oral Polio vaccine type 2 (nOPV2). A total of 1 311 154 children aged 0-59 months, representing more 100% of the targeted children in Osun State, were vaccinated as at the end of the campaign (21 October 2021). Meanwhile, OBR, using nOPV2 is being conducted in states across the country. The first round of the OBR in Osun held in September 2021. The second round is to further boost the immunity of the children and to reach those who were missed or are new arrivals in the state. Political Oversight In Osun State, the Governor Mr Adegboyega Oyetola, at the flag-off ceremony of OBR2 campaign in state capital Osogbo on 18 October 2021, said the event is a booster to the development plan, which encompasses quality and equitable healthcare delivery in all its ramifications. Buttressing the importance of the campaign, he said the vaccination is crucial as the government is not relenting on its efforts in preventing cVDPV2 from spreading to Osun state. Calling attention to some of the government's achievements in the health sector, he said "the exercise is proactively designed to produce an army of healthy children who will inherit and sustain our Development Agenda and be the face of the Osun of our dream. Appreciating WHO and partners for the support and assuring that the state government would not relent to provide health security for its citizens, he appealed to mothers not to be afraid of the exercise. I urge mothers to visit the health centres with their eligible children to get vaccinated, he said. The six-day vaccination would be for children within the age range of 0-59 months. One of the mothers who presented her child for vaccination at the event, Ms Rukaiyat Ishaq, expressed her gratitude to the government, the WHO and other partners for implementing vaccination campaigns to keep their children healthy. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Polio Nigeria By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. "I feel delighted that my child has received the vaccination against polio disease. I will inform others to allow their children to get vaccinated too", she said Meanwhile, WHO State Coordinator, Dr Bello Ahmed pledged WHO's continued support towards achieving health security in the state. He said WHO supported with additional 195 extra vaccination teams (to the existing 1571 house-to-house teams), supportive supervision and funds for the second OBR campaign to ensure that all eligible children are immunized. "The next step is to ensure all households in the state are visited and all eligible children are immunized with 2 potent drops of nOPV", he said Between 80,000 and 180,000 health and care workers may have died from COVID-19 between January of 2020 and May of this year, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Thursday. That grim estimate features in a new WHO working paper based on the 3.45 million coronavirus-related deaths reported globally to the UN health agency up to May; a figure that WHO said may well be at least 60 per cent lower than the actual number of victims. To highlight the need for better protection, WHO was joined by global partners working to end the pandemic, to issue an urgent call for concrete action on behalf of workers in the sector. Speaking to journalists in Geneva, WHO Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, reiterated that "the backbone of every health system is its workforce." "COVID-19 is a powerful demonstration of just how much we rely on these men and women, and how vulnerable we all are when the people who protect our health are themselves unprotected", he added. Vulnerabilities WHO and partners said that apart from huge concern over deaths, an increasing proportion of the workforce continue to suffer from burnout, stress, anxiety and fatigue. They are calling on leaders and policy makers to ensure equitable access to vaccines so that health and care workers are prioritized. By the end of last month, on average, two in five of these workers are fully vaccinated, but with considerable difference across regions. "In Africa, less than one in ten health workers have been fully vaccinated. Meanwhile, in most high-income countries, more than 80% of health workers are fully vaccinated", Tedros informed. For him, more than 10 months since the first vaccines were approved, "the fact that millions of health workers still haven't been vaccinated is an indictment on the countries and companies that control the global supply of vaccines". Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Coronavirus Africa International Organisations By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. Action from the G20 In 10 days' time, the leaders of the G20 leading industrialized nations will meet. Between now and then, roughly 500 million vaccine doses will be produced. That's the number needed to achieve the target of vaccinating 40 per cent of the population of every country, by the end of the year. Currently, 82 nations are at risk of missing that target. For about 75 per cent of those countries, it's a problem of insufficient supply. The others have some limitations that WHO is helping solve. Speaking to journalists via videolink, Gordon Brown, former UK Prime Minister and currently WHO's Ambassador for Global Health Financing, said it would be a "moral catastrophe of historic proportions" if G20 countries cannot act quickly. These nations have pledged to donate more than 1.2 billion vaccine doses to COVAX. According to WHO, so far, only 150 million have been delivered. With wealthy countries stockpiling millions of unused doses, close to expire, Mr. Brown said they should start an "immediate, massive, concerted" airlift of vaccines to low income countries. If they don't do it, Mr. Brown argued, they will be guilty of an "economic dereliction of duty that will shame us all." Mr. Brown also warned that "the longer vaccine inequity exists, the longer the virus will be present." Annette Kennedy, President of the International Council of Nurses (ICN), and Heidi Stensmyren, President of the World Medical Association (WMA), also spoke to journalists at the WHO weekly COVID-19 briefing. We can no longer exclude half of humanity from international peace and security matters, the UN chief told the Security Council on Thursday, emphasizing the need to fully address the challenges and gaps that continue to prevent women having an equal say. "Today, women's leadership is a cause. Tomorrow, it must be the norm", Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told the meeting, covering landmark resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security. Frontline women Having just visited the photo exhibition, In their Hands: Women Taking Ownership of Peace - a collection of inspiring stories of women around the world seen through the lenses of women photographers - he told ambassadors that the exhibit brings to "vivid life" their dedication to "the most important and consequential cause of all, peace". "From the safety of this chamber, we discuss and debate pathways of peace for countries around the world", said the UN chief. "But the women portrayed in the exhibition are on the front lines of the fight for peace". He called them peacebuilders, changemakers and human rights leaders, and described their work mediating and negotiating with armed groups; implementing peace agreements; pushing for peaceful transitions; and fighting for women's rights and social cohesion throughout their communities. Yet, he pointed out, "women remain on the periphery of formal peace processes, and they're largely excluded from rooms where decisions are made". Disheartening trend Citing rising rates of violence and misogyny; the extreme under-representation of women in decision-making positions; and a myriad of challenges faced by those in conflict, the top UN official observed that the power imbalance between men and women remains "the most stubborn and persistent of all inequalities". "In every humanitarian emergency, the clock on women's rights has not stopped. It's moving backwards", he said regretfully. In Ethiopia, women have been victims of sexual violence; in Yemen, excluded from political processes by the warring parties; in Afghanistan, undergoing a rapid reversal of the rights they had achieved in recent decades; and in Mali, after two coups in nine months, "the space for women's rights is not just shrinking, but closing", Mr. Guterres said. 'Fast-track women' The UN chief stressed: "We need to fight back, and turn the clock forward for every woman and girl" - the commitment outlined in Our Common Agenda and Call to Action on Human Rights. "Increasing women's representation and leadership across every aspect of the UN's peace activities is critical to improving the delivery of our mandate and better representing the communities we serve", he said. But Council's support is needed for partnerships, protection and participation. Women leaders and their networks must be supported to meaningfully engage in peace and political processes, he explained. Secondly, women human rights defenders and activists must be protected as they carry out their essential work. And finally, women's "full, equal and meaningful participation" must be supported in peace talks, peacebuilding, and political systems as countries transition to peace, he said. "We need full gender parity", underscored the UN chief. "We know it can be done". Advancing women's rights Women should not have to accept reversals of their rights in countries in conflict, or anywhere else. Mr. Guterres said that the UN will double down on "truly inclusive peacemaking" and put women's participation and rights "at the centre of everything we do - everywhere we do it". The best way to build peace is through inclusion, and to honour the commitment and bravery of women peacemakers we must "open doors to their meaningful participation". "Let's turn the clock forward on women's rights and give half of humanity the opportunity to build the peace we all seek", concluded the Secretary-General. Time to say 'enough' To create a tangible difference in the lives of women and girls, UN Women Executive Director, Sima Bahous, highlighted the need for governments and the Security Council "to step up" to address the way we confront peace and security issues. For too long violence has targeted females and their rights; and women continue to be marginalized and excluded "in those very places where they can drive change", she told the Council. "Surely the time has come to say enough", she said. Open doors to women Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Women Governance Africa By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. While acknowledging a "glimmer of light" resulting from the passage of the original resolution, Ms. Bahous said that while not enough, it must be used in the fight for women's equality. Noting that vast military spending has been "in bitter contrast" to limited investments in other areas, she advocated for curbing military spending and expressed hope that delegates "share my sense of urgency" on the issue, which impacts other priorities, including women's rights. The UN Women chief noted that increased participation, combined with curbing the sale of arms in post-conflict settings, significantly reduces the risk of backsliding. She reminded ambassadors that while "equal nations are more peaceful nations", equality requires higher levels of support for healthcare and related services. Moreover, Ms. Bahous regretted that women's organizations are poorly funded, noting that without the necessary financial resources, they cannot effectively carry out their work. Turning to Afghanistan, she shone a light on the women who had collaborated with the UN and whose lives are now in danger, advocating for doors to be opened wider, to women asylum seekers. document On behalf of the United States of America, I congratulate the people of Zambia on the occasion of your Independence Day. Zambia's unshakeable commitment to democratic ideals is an inspiration to all who seek the freedom, prosperity, and justice that democracy offers. As President Biden said in his address before the 76th United Nations General Assembly, democracy remains the best tool we have to unleash our full human potential. Nowhere is that more evident than in Zambia, where this year a record number of young and first-time voters demanded a return to the principles upon which their country was founded more than half a century ago. As we celebrate their bravery, we also welcome the opportunity to further expand our bilateral relationship. Today, we honor Zambia's past, even as we look forward to a brighter future for the Zambian people. Somalia's forces on Saturday battled regional militia in the centre of the country, killing a senior elite commander and several others. The battle, which could signal growing bad blood between armed groups initially seen as moderate and the government, resulted in the death of Major Abdifatah Fayle, the commander in Galmudug State of the American-trained Elite Danab unit. Authorities did not explain how he ended up in the region given his troops weren't among those fighting. But a spokesman of the Galmudug State Government said the government forces had later "retaken" the town of Gur-el where the fight happened. The incidents in Galgadud region in Central Somalia confirmed that heavy confrontations took place in Guri-el town, pitying pro-Galmudug State forces and loyalists of moderate Islamist group Ahlu Sunna Wal Jamea (ASWJ) on Saturday. Heavy fighting Heavy fighting erupted in the morning between Galmudug State forces supported by Somali National Army (SNA) units against militias loyal to ASWJ that had seized the strategic town in the early days of October. Officials said confrontations started when the allied pro-Galmudug forces entered parts of the town, moving from the outskirts where they had positions, almost encircling the strategic town. The allied forces have met resistance from the militias loyal to the Islamist ASWJ group led by Sheikh Shakir Ali Hassan, a cleric who had had convinced a good number of SNA soldiers to desert and join the ranks of his militias. His group wasn't initially in combat with government forces as they had a common enemy in al-Shabaab. But relations worsened after representatives were axed from a proposed unity local government, raising their agitation. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Somalia Conflict By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. The pro-government forces are said to have captured strategic positions like the police station and the district commissioner's compound, but reports coming later in the day indicate that the Islamists have recaptured the positions lost earlier in heavier fighting that have caused the largest death toll. Most of the civilians had left the town and were camping in the rural areas, fearing the type of clashes that had been going on all day on Saturday. Galmudug State Last year, the ASWJ leaders had agreed with the Federal Government of Somalia, joining the formation of Galmudug State. But, differences that emerged later, forced its leaders including Sheikh Hassan to abandon the region. The group, however, remerged earlier in October to reclaim its share in the election of federal parliamentarians in Galmudug State, capturing Guri-el town to assert its influence. The prospect for war emerged when mediating between the regional government led by President Ahmed Abdi Kariye Qoorqoor and the ASWJ group failed. On Thursday, the UN humanitarian agency, OCHA, stated that over 100,000 people had been displaced and in need of humanitarian assistance. By midday, Galmudug Information Minister Ahmed Falagle told the media, "Our forces have overwhelmed the militias and we are restoring order." However, reports indicate that fighting is still going on. The Ethiopian military on Sunday carried out airstrikes on two rebel-held towns in northern and western Tigray. The ongoing aerial offensive campaigns are aimed at weakening Tigray forces. Ethiopia government spokesperson Selamawit Kassa said that Sunday's air raids targeted a training and military command post of the Tigrayan rebel group, Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) in Mai-Tsebri town in western front. A second raid struck the historic Adwa town where the Almeda Textile factory was targeted. Selamawit said the same mission destroyed a separate facility in the northern town of Adwa which was used to manufacture "military equipment" as well as fake military uniforms used by TPLF combatants. Rebel spokesman, Getachew Reda later on Sunday confirmed the fresh airstrikes but said the raids did not target the military. "Abiy Ahmed's Air Force did target a local hospital in May-Tsebri. Ironically, they also targeted what little is left of Almeda Textile in Adwa" Getachew said. Textile factory The rebel official further said that the textile factory had been totally destroyed by Ethiopian and allied Eritrean forces months ago during their presence in Tigray. Some TPLF sources said that Ethiopia is deliberately destroying big industrial facilities which are the economic sources and assets of the Tigrayan people. A few days ago, bomber jets struck Mesfin Industrial Engineering PLC, a leading equipment designing and manufacturing company in East Africa which Addis Ababa suspects it supports the TPLF. At least three people were killed and over 20 are injured since the Ethiopian military launched the aerial bombardment campaign in Tigray last Monday. TPLF accuses the government of targeting civilians, an allegation Addis Ababa denies. "They are desperate on the war front. My interpretation is they are bombing us because they are losing on the ground and it's their reprisal. The fact that they are bombing shows they don't care about Tigrayan civilians" TPLF leader Debretsion Gebremichael, told Reuters on Thursday. Caught in a crossfire On Friday, airstrikes near Mekelle Airport forced a UN flight carrying 11 humanitarian personnel to abort landing in Mekelle and to turn back to the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa. Following the incident, the UN subsequently announced that it was suspending its twice-weekly flights to the troubled region. TPLF on Friday criticised Ethiopia for "deliberately" putting the UN flight at risk. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Ethiopia Governance Legal Affairs By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. "Our air defense units knew the UN plane was scheduled to land and it was due in large measure to their restraint that it was not caught in a crossfire," Getachew said on Twitter. TPLF further accused the Ethiopian government of "intention to continue obstructing humanitarian operations". The latest airstrikes outside the Tigray capital come as fighting between TPLF and Ethiopian and allied Amhara regional forces escalates in the Amhara region. After the renewed heavy fighting, the rivals claim victories on battlefields in Amhara and Afar fronts. Today, TPLF claimed to have captured a strategic town which is close to Dessie, one of the biggest cities in the Amhara region. "Kuta-Ber is in the hands of the Tigrayan Army after a heavy fight involving a motley crew of Abiy Ahmed's regular army, Amhara Special forces, Fano, militia as well as machete wielding civilians" said Getachew in a tweet later on Sunday. Nation can't independently verify the claims but TPLF news sources have shared videos and pictures to support the claim. Washington A former al-Shabab commander who is under house arrest in Somalia says he is being held to prevent him from seeking elected office. Mukhtar Robow Ali, popularly known as Abu Mansour, was the deputy leader of al-Shabab and had been sought by the United States, which once had a $5 million bounty on his head. He defected from the terror group after violently clashing with them in August 2017. The Somali government initially hailed his defection but later arrested him to stop him from running for president of the Southwest region back in 2018, when it held its last leadership election. Speaking from Mogadishu, where he has been under house arrest since 2018, Abu Mansour told VOA Somali that his detention was politically motivated. "I was detained to stop me from running," he said. "I was detained in order to hijack the Southwest election," he added. His comments, made last Thursday, come as Somalia is in the middle of elections to choose lawmakers for parliament's lower and upper chambers. The 275 lawmakers from the Lower House and 54 senators from the Upper House will choose a national president at the end of the current election process. Southwest is one of five regions that plays a major role in the election of lawmakers who choose the head of state. President Farmaajo is running for reelection and competing against more than a dozen people who have declared their candidacy, including two former presidents. Abu Mansour says he does not want Farmaajo elected to a second term. "To all Somalis everywhere, don't give Farmaajo a single vote," he said. Abu Mansour says he is not giving up on running for political office despite being in detention for almost three years. "I will always be ready to work for the development of our people and our country," he said. "I will not be demoralized; if I don't die, I will continue that journey." Abu Mansour said he decided to contact VOA, alleging he has been "abducted" and that he has been denied his basic rights. Abu Mansour said he feels unsafe under house arrest. "I can't say my safety is secured." VOA reached out to the presidential palace and the leaders of Southwest State, but they have not responded to requests for comment. The government defended its decision to block his political aspirations. The internal security ministry said Abu Mansour did not meet all the preconditions for running for office. The Somali government said Abu Mansour was still under sanctions by members of the international community for his prior membership with al-Shabab. Abu Mansour says despite being in detention for almost three years, government officials never spoke to him in person about the reasons behind his arrest. Abu Mansour said he received a message through his traditional elder who told him the government would send him to an unnamed country if he were willing to take the opportunity. Abu Mansour said he rejected the proposition. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Somalia Legal Affairs By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. "I will not go into exile; this is where I was born, and I will die here." Qatar is the only country that has agreed to accept high-profile al-Shabab defectors so far. In February 2016, Qatar agreed to give asylum to Mohamed Said Atom, a former commander of Al-Shabab in the Galgala Mountains of Puntland, following his defection. In his interview with VOA, Abu Mansour condemned the militant group for targeting civilians and carrying out unlawful killings, including religious scholars. "I left al-Shabab because of differences over credence," he said. Asked if he regrets becoming a member of al-Shabab, Abu Mansour said he did not become involved in "plots" while in the militant group. "Whatever the mistakes I made I repent to Allah; no one is forcing me to say that; but I don't regret whatever the good things I have done." In June 2017, the United States withdrew its $5 million reward offer for the capture of Abu Mansour. Luke 4:24 keeps making sense to me: 'Truly I tell you, no prophet is welcomed in his hometown'. Maybe I stayed too long," Atlanta-based Kenyan-American actor Sammy 'Nagi' Njuguna tells the Nation.Africa in a virtual interview from his hospital bed. Struggling to speak beyond a whisper, the 33-year-old actor had just finished narrating the sequence of events that ended up in him getting shot on the morning of October 7 as he left a petrol station in Columbia, the capital city of the US state of South Carolina. Nagi had gone back to his home city, where he was born and raised, to visit with family following the release of his latest project Black as Night. The Blumhouse and Amazon Studios production about a teenage girl with self-esteem issues who finds confidence after spending her summer battling vampires preying on New Orleans' disenfranchised was released on October 1. By October 6, a video of Nagi as Tunde, a "righteous" vampire, went viral. He took to his social media to share the news with his followers. "I was blessed to deliver a powerful message to the main character, Shawna (Ajsha Cooper) about colourism. In this world, especially in America, dark skin is often frowned upon. I've dealt with it since I was young," says Nagi of the viral video that has had more than 11.7 million views, the positive message resonating around the world. Went into a coma He was at his cousin's place who had some of the Kenyan family over to watch the movie later that same night. They had good times, hanging out for a while. At 1am, he left and stopped by the petrol station to refuel his car. He went inside the shop, paid and walked between two cars parked as he headed to his vehicle. Then a shot rang. "I was shot in the back. I didn't realise what was happening so I turned around. I caught a glance of someone in one of the cars. I don't know this person. Then, bam! Two more shots; to the chest and shoulder," says Nagi, whose legs buckled and he fell with his face hitting the pavement. It all went dark. When the lights came back, he was in an ambulance and they were asking him for a contact they could reach his loved ones on. He gave out his father's number and went into a coma for the next two days. An open chest surgery was performed on him to retrieve a bullet from one of his lungs, which had barely missed his heart, and another in his shoulder. Part of the affected lung had to be cut off. "My lung suffered so much trauma that it collapsed three times after re-inflating. I've been able to walk but until they figure out how to keep my lungs strong, I'll still be in hospital. I also developed pneumonia from the infections and had surgery on Tuesday again. Now, they have to keep draining the lungs multiple times a day. My mum has been singing praise songs for me on the guitar and brought her prayer warriors together to pray for me. God, his angels and my Kikuyu ancestors have been with me and protected me. My mum is from Gikuni village, Kiambu and I'm a real warrior like them," says Nagi, who also has a back brace. The assailant turned himself in while Nagi was still in the coma, but had a very low bail set and he was able to get out before night that same day. It makes him conclude that the US justice system doesn't value black lives at all. He says he feels safe because he is protected though. The case is on-going. Nagi's role in Black as Night is his biggest so far. Partly raised in Nairobi too, he got the part after doing a call read. Auditions This is when one has prepared and auditions for a certain role but then the casting members give them another character to try out for. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Kenya Legal Affairs U.S., Canada and Africa By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. "It was very difficult because I only had 15 minutes. I am just blessed to be able to do different accents; I've been doing a Nigerian accent to make people laugh for a very long time. After I got the role, I then had to work on perfecting it," he says. He has been acting since he was 15. "You have to trust yourself," said Nagi on why he refused to have a stunt double. With his hospital bill currently shooting upwards of $10, 000 , Nagi has a GoFundMe (Nagi Njuguna Help With Medical Funds) where people can help donate to help offset the hospital bill. Nagi's sister, Zawadi Njuguna lives and works in Nairobi with her husband Ben. Donations can be sent to his brother in law Ben at 0740 761 485 (Benson Ng'ang'a). Nagi will also be appearing as Craig Hansen on episode five of season two of popular BET drama show "Games People Play" airing on November 16. If there ever will be a tabulation of instances the National Police Service (NPS) shot itself in the foot, the attempt to (mis)interpret the President's curfew directive on Wednesday will definitely rank high. We could have said up there where police officers direct bullets when firing in the air but it might not be an apt illustration because they sometimes pump bullets into apartments, harming or killing innocents in the process. The announcement on the lifting of the 10pm-4am nationwide curfew was at the tail-end of President Uhuru Kenyatta's Mashujaa Day speech. It saw Kenyans jumping for joy but police, who wear blue uniform and are known for their appetite for bribes - you may call it the true blue economy - did not want Kenyans to spend too much time toasting to that. The men and women in blue were out to arrest the situation. What followed might have made some ordinary Kenyans think the "p" in police stands for "party-poopers". Just hours after President Kenyatta's speech, the service tweeted, saying though the curfew had been lifted, bars were to close at 7pm. Closing time for bars Then another tweet at 5pm disputed that. The NPS - headed by former spy Hillary Mutyambai - fired a new tweet at 7.27pm. One might have been forgiven for thinking that police were sticking to their guns, though it was hard to tell which ones. "Existing measures on closure of bars by 7pm remain in place for now. Enforcement of violation of this measure to continue," the tweet said. The post was still on the NPS Twitter account yesterday, reminding one of an old, rusty, written-off police van nesting on rocks in front of a chief's camp. Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe ended the confusion the following day by saying the closing time for bars and restaurants would be 11pm or the hours given by licensing authorities. It was the 21st of the month when Mr Kagwe said that and you won't be overthinking to view it as a 21-gun salute to the unfortunate, hasty and conflicting police directives. Police brutality When assuming office as the third Inspector-General of Police in April 2019, Mr Mutyambai promised to foster deep relationship between the NPS and the public. He also pledged to ensure professionalism, adherence to the rule of law and respect of human rights. However, actions by his juniors cast doubts on whether the police boss is the silver bullet. During the pandemic period, police have made wrong decisions, not least the brutality meted on ordinary Kenyans as virus containment measures are enforced. At least eight Kenyans have been killed by police. Lately, the NPS under Mutyambai - who was the Deputy Director of Counter Terrorism at the National Intelligence Service before taking the IG role - has been insulting the intelligence of Kenyans by giving unbelievable narratives of incidents, even those that happen in plain sight. During a confrontation between police officers and activist Boniface Mwangi in Nairobi on October 8, which was captured on video, the NPS gave a rather strange statement. Escape of detainees It said Mr Mwangi injured himself as he attempted to cause distractions in a bid to help to aid the escape of suspects. The activist was not apprehended for resisting arrest or attempting to aid the escape of detainees. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Kenya Business Coronavirus By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. Kenya Revenue Authority also rejected the explanation, leaving police with egg on their berets and faces. Senior police officers have also referred to journalists as mere bloggers and compressed the mountain of insecurity in Laikipia to a molehill. The service has a thick carpet under which it sweeps issues, matters Mr Mutyambai and his charges always promise to investigate. Given the many blunders and the fact that Mr Mutyambai, a man from Mwala - not to be confused with Inspector Mwala - hardly shows up in public to articulate issues himself, the NPS still has a long way to becoming an agency with the "highest standards of professionalism" as it promises on its website. As for Wednesday, one song begged to be played to the men and women in blue: "They see me rolling, they hating... " Youth and women leaders from Deputy President William Ruto's Rift Valley bastion have complained that they are being left out from the hustler programmes he is rolling out countrywide. Having declared interest in the country's top seat, the momentum of his campaigns has been Mount Kenya, Western and Coast with little going on in the counties of Bomet, Kericho, Nandi, Uasin Gishu, Elgeyo Marakwet and Baringo. Despite facing a threat from his political nemesis Baringo Senator and Kanu chairman Gideon Moi as well as ODM boss Raila Odinga, who has since launched a charm offensive in the region, DP Ruto is trying to woo other regions to shore up his chances of succeeding his boss President Uhuru Kenyatta. With the deputy president's official residence in Karen, Nairobi, turning into a beehive of political activity after Dr Ruto made it his 2022 presidential campaign headquarters, no delegation from the six counties of Rift Valley have been hosted there. Since January, the DP has had only two empowerment programmes in Rift Valley - that of Sotik in Bomet County and another one in Iten, Elgeyo Marakwet County, both in February. State House quest According to Monica Too, a youth from Uasin Gishu, the DP should not assume that the region will fully rally behind his State House quest if he continues to ignore them with his empowerment programmes. "It is very unfortunate that Dr Ruto thinks that since he is from the region, it is automatic that we will vote for him. In other places like Mount Kenya, he takes millions there to elevate them in terms of business but for us here, he is not giving us anything," Ms Too said yesterday. "Mama mboga are being given wheelbarrows, why are counties from Rift Valley not not being considered? Our votes for him are not automatic," she added. For Dominic Kibet from Kesses Constituency, DP Ruto assumption that everything is okay in his backyard when he is taking his hustler campaigns in various parts of the country is the sole reason the region has lagged behind in development. "Charity begins at home but see what he is doing to us. He has been the DP for nine years but look at our region? This means that if elected, things may not change," Mr Kibet elucidated. Empowerment programmes Yesterday, the DP through his director of communication Emmanuel Talam dismissed claims that he had abandoned his turf arguing that his lieutenants have been rolling out various empowerment programmes in the region with his support. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Kenya Governance Women By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. "That sounds like a Kieleweke argument. I have heard it before. The hustler nation empowerment is all over including Siaya and Homa Bay," said Mr Talam. He disclosed that Uasin Gishu Woman rep Gladys Shollei and her Nandi counterpart Tecla Tum have been on the ground rolling out the programmes on the behalf of the DP. "Gladys Sholei, Tecla Tum and their fellow women MPs have done several empowerment projects supported by the DP," said Mr Talam. Mr Talam disclosed that from early December, DP Ruto will himself hit the ground with empowerment goodies in the areas he has not visited. For Keiyo South MP Daniel Rono, a staunch ally of Dr Ruto, the DP is still ensuring that other regions rally behind his candidacy before embarking to his political bedrock of Rift Valley. interview You have said that you will be travelling to Canada to bring back lawyer Miguna Miguna on November 16, 2021. Why now when he has been away for three years? That is the beauty of it because it has been three years of injustice and it is about time we took it up. It was my own thinking, mainly because of the Judiciary. There are these orders that have been blatantly disobeyed and that goes to the core of the independence of the Judiciary. Since the Judiciary cannot come out and defend itself, the job has to be done by somebody like me who was a Chief Justice. I am sure former CJ David Maraga has also been speaking about obedience of court orders. I thought that in this season of politics, it might be important to resurrect this issue of disobedience of court orders and the independence of the Judiciary, and the one case that is well known locally and internationally is that of Miguna. I thought that having that case, along with those of political detainees and corporations in Kenya that are owed money by the government, would be timely. The timing is quite right and this is the proper season for political parties that want to take up these issues as their own in the campaigns. I think they should. Raila went to the airport to see him there. That is the timing from my perspective. Resurrect it, let people talk about the orders from the courts which should be obeyed and let this be an issue in the 2022 elections. Let us see what the leaders say about court orders, let's see what position they take on Miguna, the political detainees and corporations that are owed by the government. But the move to bring back Miguna Miguna could put you on a collision course with the government. I have been in collisions with Kenyan governments since the 1970s. That will not be new. I am doing it for the country. If I were to talk to the government, I would tell them exactly what I am telling you because I think these are issues of national interest. There still exists the red alert issued by the Kenya government to airlines stopping them from flying Miguna to Nairobi or to any other African country. How do you intend to go around this? First, we have asked for legal advice on red alerts, including their legality under international law. Can airlines refuse to fly you to your country of origin when you have a national ID? We lose passports sometimes but when we get to Nairobi we use the ID. The courts have said Miguna is a Kenyan citizen. Once we know which route he is taking, we want to find out which countries have these red alerts and determine the best way to deal with them and their airlines. In my view, it is not the airlines' business to offload passengers on the basis of red alerts that they have not investigated. We are not seeking any confrontation. It is a whole question of dealing with issues in a way that benefits the world as well. If the airlines get a red alert, does that alert have the force of law, especially if it is given by a government that is violating orders? Are we going to be stuck all over the place as Kenyans because the government has issued a red alert? There was an order that Miguna could be accompanied by a representative of the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights. That did not happen. I then said that if the order is that he be accompanied by somebody, I can do it. Journalists, the Law Society of Kenya and other people who want to come are free to do so. It is just a matter of solidarity. You and the Supreme Court Bench then were harshly criticised for the 2013 presidential election petition verdict. There were allegations that you were bribed, and that you employed technicalities to block the evidence of the petitioners. What happened during that petition? People forget that Jubilee carried propaganda that I was close to Raila because we were in detention at the same time, I worked with him in NARC and others and therefore I would rule in his favour. And there was a lady (Nazlin Omar) who filed a case suggesting that I should disqualify myself but that was rejected. When I swore President Uhuru Kenyatta at Kasarani Stadium on April 9, 2013, I got the greatest ovation I have ever received in my life. If I was in Kitui or the other CORD strongholds, I probably would have been physically attacked. The point I want to make -- and which I keep on making -- is that presidential petitions and other election contests are political and whatever you decide will never be accepted by all across the political divide. Obviously supporters of CORD, including the Kambas, were very angry, and it was not just with me; it was also with judges Mohamed Ibrahim and Smokin Wanjala. For the latter, people camped in his mother's house in Busia after the decision wanting to know why we decided the petition in that way. Politics of division is just about that. You cannot satisfy everybody. When people criticise that decision as a 'quickie', as Dikembe (ODM activist) calls it, they have valid concerns, but I also explain in my upcoming book that we debated on how to deliver it. My view was that we should talk to the people and tell them why we have ruled in a particular way, but the consensus was reached that we might say something that is not in the reasons that we were to give 21 days later. I still don't believe that was the right thing because we were on television for almost 14 days and we should have told the public why we had rejected the petition. Every judge was handling a particular issue. For instance, I was handling the issue of technology that failed. I was ready to come and say in this particular issue there was no problem because the parties agreed that if technology failed they would go manual. What this petition taught me is that judicial proceedings should be a dialogue with the people. The person who loses is the one that wants to know why they have lost. We did not do this immediately. We should have told CORD why they lost. In my memoir I describe what I saw as weaknesses. When I get abused on social media I don't often respond because these are people probably pained by the decision, and rightly so. When I lose my head sometimes I respond to a few people and say, 'Well, you see Baba is now a co-president. What has he done for you now?' They don't reply. It is a whole question of telling Kenyans to know that when there is a petition, it is going to be ruled one way or the other. When Kalonzo Musyoka said that we were bribed we almost sued him. He said that we were bribed and he knew where the money was kept in offshore accounts. We told lawyers to write to him so that he could tell us where those offshore accounts were. He did not say anything and we dropped it. Let me give you a story that I have not given to the media about that petition. On March 30, 2013, my nephew and my family were meeting somewhere in Muthaiga. My nephew was going to get married (and he did) to a girl from Mukurweini. The two families were in Muthaiga discussing dowry and the wedding arrangements. They had to stop to listen to the verdict. The moment we decided in favour of Jubilee the Mukurweini people started singing their songs and dancing while the Kambas became very upset with me and my family. I think some people said rude things about me. That meeting almost collapsed that relationship. On May 3, 2013 we were able to patch up and the wedding took place. I was invited to talk to the people in church. I called out all those people and asked them to stand up. I was at the pulpit, I felt like a pastor and also a Chief Justice. I gave them a lecture and said, 'You are the people who are ruining this country. These kids fell in love, you were not there when it happened and you are talking about dowry and marriage. And then the petition almost rocks their relationship and marriage'. I asked them what Uhuru or Kalonzo had done for them that they should come and destroy their children's relationship. I spoke for 30 minutes from my heart. I told them, which was also a lie, that I almost had them thrown to prison for contempt of court. Some of them were shaking thinking I was going to be a judicial monarch and say they go to Kamiti. I give this example to show you that administering justice is difficult when the politics is not right. Even your own relatives start thinking you were bribed. 'How could you decide against your own Kamba community?', 'How could you decide against Raila your friend, who has suffered with you and all that?' Justice is difficult. As long as you have politics of division, there is no way a judge will retire without people saying that they decided cases based on tribal affiliation or bribery. We have to clean it up. In 2013, only Raila came to our rescue when he said that even though he did not agree with the decision, he nonetheless respected it. The others 'wanted us hanged'. Some of the parties to the petition were your former colleagues in the civil society. Did the decision in any way strain relations with them? I am very happy you asked that question. Apparently, friends in the civil society thought I would rule in their favour and Raila. For almost a year, some of them wouldn't talk to me. I spent time explaining to people that, look, I was a judge on a Bench of six, did you expect me to hit their heads and force them to rule in one way or another? Everybody forgot that we were six. It is very unfair when you get targeted like that. You ask yourself, what about the other five, did they not count? What is the Chief Justice expected to be, a rogue one who intimidates the others to rule one way or the other? That is not how it happens. When you make mistakes, it is okay to be criticised. We have to create good politics so that those who lose cases do not go about saying judges were bribed. But when they win, they spread a very different message. You remember Raila in 2017 after winning the petition? He said that that was a landmark ruling! It is laughable. Either way, a judge or judges will be glorified by one group and vilified by another. It is not a good feeling to be in that situation because politics is organised that way. Towards the end of your tenure as Chief Justice, the Supreme Court came across as a divided house as the dispute over the retirement age split the judges. In fact after you left office, you took the stand to testify in court against some of your former colleagues, Justices Ojwang' and Njoki Ndung'u. What sort of a relationship did the Supreme Court Bench have? We had a good relationship there. Difficult cases come to court and judges have conflicting views. You have to allow them to express them. On the issue of retirement, there were judges who said 70 was the constitutional age while others said it was 74. A judge of the Supreme Court stopped that process. One judge, and of course we had to deal with it. Any decision made by one judge can be reviewed by a full Bench and that is what we did and the majority --three -- ruled that it is 70. People don't know we had serious discussions at the JSC about the issue. At some point JSC told the judges who were saying they would serve until 74 that they would be given the benefits for those four years. I would have taken it. Four years getting salary and not working! Then a colleague was facing a tribunal and the matter came to me before it went to the JSC. The context was very unfortunate and conflictional. We had to decide. It was not personal. It is what the Constitution said and we were clear about it. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Kenya Governance Legal Affairs By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. Divisions among judges should not worry people. When we were unanimous in 2013, you were not happy. Judges should grow a thick skin. Judiciary should focus on getting the confidence of Kenyans. That, for me, is very important. Some decisions make Kenyans see that the Judiciary is actually interested in their affairs. The BBI ruling is one such. High Court judge James Makau also gave a ruling that Chinese passengers who had entered the country at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic should be tracked down, tested and quarantined. The order, of course, was disobeyed, but the ruling showed that the Judiciary was interested in our general wellbeing. The Bill of Rights says that our rights have to be protected when violated or threatened, or when the Constitution is faced with a contravention. This was the only court decision I have read about in the world about Covid, but it was not glorified. When Judge Makau makes another decision, he will be pilloried. What made you aspire to be the CJ? I sought to vie for that position for two reasons: I had been involved in constitution making projects since the 1970s, calling for laws that were pro-people and pro-social justice, and which did not allow imperial presidencies and dictatorships. Even in 1994 we drafted a constitution that we thought should be the constitution of Kenya. It was only logical that I applied to be at the top of the Judiciary and implement such a constitution. Secondly, I also knew that if Judiciary played a transformative role, even the other institutions would fall in line. I did not know I would make it. My contract at Ford Foundation had just been extended for three years and lo! I was informed that I got the job. I knew the Judiciary needed all kinds of leadership. We took William Ouko's report, which was very useful because the Judiciary had decided on what should be reformed. We dusted it off and that is how we came up with the Judiciary Transformation Framework. We knew that we could transform it from the margins. Maraga came and sustained some of the reforms and Koome will continue with them. There is a consensus that the Judiciary is very important in this county. That is why I applied. By the time you were leaving in June 2016, had you achieved the goals you set out to? If you go by the 2012-2016 transformation framework, I would say we achieved 80 per cent. In the Grand Coalition Government, both Raila and Kibaki supported the Judiciary. The budget moved from Sh3 billion annually to Sh17 billion. That coalition government gave us resources and we were able to do a lot. I was also able to bring in my fund raising skills and we were able to do a lot on that front too. A British soldier (right) gives instructions during a joint training with Kenya Defence Forces at Archers Post in Samburu County on October 7, 2020 (file photo). The British government is now under pressure to probe and prosecute a soldier who allegedly killed and dumped the body of a Kenyan woman in Nanyuki in 2012. This is after an expose by the UK's Sunday Times revealed that the killer soldier nicknamed "The Lions of England" was part of Northwest's premier infantry regiment. Agnes Wanjiru, then aged 21, then a mother of a five months old daughter, was last seen going into a room with a British soldier at the Lions Court Inn in Nanyuki town before she disappeared. Two months later, her decomposing body was found in a septic tank by a hotel worker. By the time the body was discovered, the exercise had ended and the troop was sent back to Britain. A post mortem revealed that she died from multiple stab wounds in her chest and abdomen. Her fingers and toes were missing due to advanced decomposition. She had a two centimetre stab wound in her lower right abdomen and a blunt force injury in the chest. Her lungs had collapsed. Seeking answers A probe of the case by local police officers failed to bring anyone to justice. Wanjiru's family has been seeking answers since their kin's death nearly a decade ago. The Sunday Times reported that the probe identified nine soldiers who had booked in the hotel that needed to be questioned and asked the British Royal Military Police to interview them and take DNA samples. "However, the Ministry of Defence said they never received any such request and DNA samples were never provided, causing the inquiry to stall," the paper reported adding that the nine did not include soldiers X and Y. A 2019 judicial inquest however found that Wanjiru had been "killed by a British soldier". This is brilliant reporting and a tragic tale which I will be pressing the Defence Secretary for answers about. Her name was Agnes Wanjiru and we owe her a debt. https://t.co/B0PGd2ohWh - Jess Phillips MP (@jessphillips) October 23, 2021 The new allegations have since prompted a fresh inquiry by the Royal Military Police while Labour MP for Birmingham Yardley Ms Jess Phillips has called on the government to ensure justice is served. "This is brilliant reporting and a tragic tale which I will be pressing the Defence Secretary for answers about. Her name was Agnes Wanjiru and we owe her a debt," Ms Phillips wrote on Twitter. "I have actually stayed in this hotel I believe while in Kenya meeting sexually exploited women and men,"she added. Four soldiers According to the paper, four soldiers who took part in the drunken debauchery with local sex workers that evening said the alleged killer confessed to the murder in the hotel bar. "That soldier told everyone what he had done but senior officers dismissed his account and told him to shut up," one of the four soldiers identified as soldier Y confessed to the paper. Soldier Y said Soldier X burst into the bar where the other soldiers were partying and asked for help. "We were in the pub and Soldier X came in crying for help saying, 'Help me, help me', I've killed her." I asked him to show me and he just stopped crying like that, turned around. He took me to the tank and lifted it up, and I looked in and I just remember seeing her in there. My heart sank. My mind just went blank. The only thing I could say to him was: 'I'll never forgive you for this." The ex-squaddie added that when they returned to their base at the (British Army Training Unit Kenya) BATUK camp, he informed his seniors of the incident but no action was taken, neither was he probed about the incident later. Soldier X however denied the claims when he was contacted by Sunday Times. "Honestly, I'm not surprised because there were rumours in my battalion. If you speak to people in my battalion they'll say that. But it's a rumour. There was a rumour going around for a long time, which actually was borderline bullying. But there's nothing you can do when you're in the military. There's a lot of idiots, but there's no real truth in it," he said as reported by The Sunday Times. The soldier however said he did not report the alleged bullying and when asked whether he could remember being at the hotel that night, he asked that he be allowed to contact his lawyer. Unwritten rules Another soldier from the same regiment identified a soldier Z, however gave The Sunday Times a different narrative of the incident. "His story was that he'd been having sex with her and he'd choked her and she'd died," claimed the soldier as reported by The Sunday Times. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Kenya Legal Affairs Europe and Africa By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. The paper added that soldier Z believed that no action was taken against Soldier X in line with their 'blue code of conduct.' "In the army, there is a certain code. You keep your mouth shut. There are some unwritten rules. Stuff does get covered up, you protect your own," the soldier told the Sunday Times. The paper added that neither the Foreign Office and British high commission in Nairobi, the directorate of criminal investigations and attorney-general in Kenya and the Lions Court Hotel responded to their questions. In a statement on Sunday, British High Commissioner to Kenya Jane Marriott said the UK was fully cooperating with the investigating agencies. "I share the outrage and concern about the tragic death of Agnes Wanjiru in 2012 - my thoughts are with her family and the community. I can assure Kenyans that the UK is fully cooperating with the investigation and will help in any way we can," she said. She added: "In 2012, the UK's Special Investigation Branch carried out initial enquiries in Kenya, including providing information about British personnel to Kenyan police. No further requests were received at that time." A section of politicians in Mandera County has petitioned the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to extend the current voter registration exercise citing the biting drought. Led by Mandera East Member of Parliament, Omar Maalim, the politicians said it is not easy to register more voters in the vast county since locals have migrated with the livestock in search of water and pasture. "We are faced with drought in Mandera and the time provided for voter registration is not enough for the exercise. We are asking for an extension of the period by at least two more weeks," Mr Maalim said. He said the extension of time will allow those in the grazing fields outside Mandera to return home and register as voters. "We have quite a number of eligible voters who are yet to be registered but due to the drought, they have moved with their family livestock far away from registration centers," he said. Miss target Mr Feisal Abdinoor, a local politician, warned that IEBC will miss out on its target in the county if the exercise is not extended. "We are limited by the election laws that only allow movement of registration kits within the constituency yet our people have gone into Ethiopia in search of pasture and water," he said. Speaking during elections stakeholders' forum on Thursday, Mandera County elections manager Maro Ade expressed reservations on extension of voter registration exercise. Mandera County has only registered 9,837 in the current period but the election manager raised alarm on the high numbers of voter transfers. Banisa constituency leads with 2,604 new registrations followed by Mandera East at 2085. Mandera West has recorded 1,553, Mandera South with 1,440, Mandera North with 1,242 and Lafey has managed 913 new voters. In the past two weeks, IEBC has received 5145 applications for voter transfers in the county. "We are having a high number of applications for transfers in Mandera but we are appealing to politicians to ensure more new registrations than transfers," Mr Ade said. In Mandera, ward representative aspirants are said to be behind the voter transfers. Banisa constituency has recorded the highest number of transfers at 1,638 while 1,010 voters have applied to be transferred into Mandera East constituency. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Kenya Governance By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. At least 946 voters have applied to be transferred into Mandera West constituency while another 932 want to be moved into Mandera South. Only 319 voters have applied to be moved into Lafey constituency while only 300 voters want to be moved into Mandera North constituency. Voter transfers Mr Ade described the low voter transfer applications into Mandera North as a sign of peace in the region. The constituency has always raised high political stakes, leading to clan animosities between the Garre and Degodia clans. "The recorded low voter transfer applications into Mandera North is a sign that we will have little election related issues and we are praying that peace prevails throughout," he said. Speaking at the same forum, Mandera County Commissioner Onesmus Kyatha warned local politicians against making false claims. "We are undertaking a very important exercise that needs to be done with utmost respect and dignity but we are aware some politicians are planning to cause animosity among clans. Security agencies are on alert and we shall not hesitate to take action against such politicians," said Mr Kyatha. He said those behind voter transfers are causing unnecessary tension in the county. "We have the responsibility to ensure voter registration and not transfers at the moment. Those engaging in voter transfers have to stop it and rally for new registrations," he said. Mandera County has six constituencies, 30 wards and 559 polling centers. In 2017, the county had 157,000 registered voters and now IEBC targets to register 60,000 new voters before November 2, 2021. Kenya is leading a UN Security Council delegation to Mali to discuss transition from a crisis occasioned by a coup earlier last year. The Council's representatives under the Kenyan Presidency on Saturday called on Mali's junta to stick to the transition plan supported by the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) which calls for the conduct of elections and transfer power to an elected civilian administration early next year. Dr Martin Kimani, Kenya's Permanent Representative to the UN, and who has been presiding over the Council's meetings this October, said the team was in Mali "to show solidarity" with all stakeholders carrying out transition in the country. "As a fellow African country, the situation in Mali and the Sahel is dear to us. We are concerned with the growing insecurity in the region, and the spread of terrorism and its impact on civilians," Dr Kimani told journalists on arrival in Bamako, the Malian capital. The Council, he pledged, will continue its "unwavering" support for the troubled country. The Council was supposed to meet with leaders of the transitional junta, representatives of the UN, diplomats as well as youth and civil activists in the country. Reforms "[I have ] Heard of a young population desiring reforms that deliver livelihoods; a humanitarian crisis; & the negative impact of climate change. Change here requires security, which requires maximum pressure against terrorist groups," Kimani added on Sunday. The visit comes amidst growing uncertainty about the prospect of holding the election, less than four months before the deadline imposed by the regional bloc, Ecowas. Mali has been under military rule since August 2020, when soldiers ousted the government of former President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita. The coupists were forced to establish a transition administration headed by civilians, in the face of sanctions by Ecowas. But 10 months into the transition, the military again seized power, after accusing the civilian authorities of reneging on the transition charter. Since the second coup in May this year, coup leader Col Assimi Goita has been in full charge, running the country as president alongside an appointed civilian Prime Minister. The presidential election is scheduled for 27 February, according to the Ecowas deadline. But before that the transition administration is expected to fulfill a number of requirements, including constitutional review. But supporters of the junta say the initial 18-month deadline wasn't enough to carry out all those tasks. In recent weeks senior officials within the military and the civilian authorities have become increasingly open about their support for extension. Transition deadline Saturday's visit by the Security Council officials comes about a week after a similar one by a high profile Ecowas delegation headed by the bloc's chairperson, Ghanaian President Nana Akufo-Addo, seeking to emphasize its position on the transition deadline. The UN delegation reiterated that position in a statement delivered to the press by Kenya's ambassador to the UN, Martin Kimani. Kenya is chairing the Security Council in the month of October. Mr Kimani said the visit was meant to show solidarity to and assess the progress made by the UN mission in Mali, MINUSMA. "We are here to listen to the transition authorities and determine the best way to support them in their efforts to fully realize this transition," said Mr Kimani, adding: "We also come with clear messages on the need to organize the elections, implement the peace agreement and stabilize the center of Mali." The delegation is co-led by the ambassadors of Niger and France to the UN, Abdou Abarry and Nicolas de Riviere. It also includes the US ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield. The 15-member delegation that also includes diplomats from China, Russia and India is scheduled to meet with the transition president and other top government officials, as well as the armed groups that signed the 2015 peace agreement and civil society representatives. Mali is faced with a jihadist insurgency and communal violence, which have all contributed to complicating the transition process. The junta's approach to dealing with the insecurity has further aggravated concerns of the international community. Western powers Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Kenya Governance International Organisations By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. The UN and Western powers are concerned about Bamako's intention to enlist the services of a private Russian military group in its fight against insecurity in the vast landlocked Sahelian country. Since 2012, the Islamist insurgency has swept into center of the country and spilled over into neighbouring Burkina Faso and Niger. The ensuing cross border conflict has left thousands dead and hundreds of thousands displaced. The UN mission, MUNISMA, was established in 2013 as one of several intervention forces operating the country, alongside French forces. Rights groups have also questioned the junta's handling of the war. The UN delegation's visit also comes as Human Rights Watch (HRW) called on Malian authorities to investigate alleged rights violations, including executions and disappearances involving security forces. The rights watchdog called on the Security Council to "use its visit to ensure that the government honours its human rights obligations, investigates abuses by all parties and prosecutes appropriately" all those found wanting. The UN delegation is expected to fly to neighbouring Niger on Sunday. Detectives are pursuing Lamu Senator Anwar Loitiptip for allegedly shooting a woman in Nanyuki town on Sunday. Laikipia County Criminal Investigations Officer Onesmus Towett on Sunday confirmed to Nation.Africa that the senator allegedly shot the woman at 2am at Kanu ground in Nanyuki town. Mr Towett said the senator claimed that he had been attacked by three people before shooting at the woman. "It is true there was a shooting incident involving the senator but he claims he acted in self defence," Mr Towett said on phone. "The senator is receiving treatment at a hospital in Nairobi, our officers are pursuing the matter," he added. Police reports indicate that the matter was reported at Nanyuki police station at 2:20am. Upon arrival at the scene, police found Ms Joy Makena, 32, who was shot in her right leg above the ankle. It was reported that the shooting incident occurred after a quarrel with Mr Anwar. Ms Makena was rushed to Nanyuki Teaching and Referral Hospital. Spent cartridges "Two spent cartridges of 9mm were recovered from the scene. The firearm with 13 rounds of ammunition was recovered from the senator's bodyguard Manoah Omale," the report reads. This comes against the backdrop of another shooting incident in the county involving the senator's father. In May last year, Mr Anwar's father was shot while trying to obstruct officers from arresting a suspect who was wanted for allegedly assaulting his wife. The then Laikipia County Police Commander Maxwell Nyaema said five officers were on an operation to arrest a suspect Mr Peter Mureithi at Kiwanja Ndege area in Laikipia North Sub County when some members of the public attempted to rescue him. Mr Nyaema said the suspect had been accused of assaulting his wife named Ms Beth Wangari. He said the senator's father David Murgor, stabbed police officer Eric Njeru on the right hand using a sword in the 12:30pm melee. "When he attempted to stab another officer, he was shot in the right leg," Mr Nyaema said. Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiangi has condemned the stoning of the Deputy President motorcade on Saturday, revealing that eight suspects have been arrested in connection to the incident. Speaking in Ol Kalou Town, where he joined his colleagues Sicily Kariuki (Water), Joe Mucheru (ICT), Chief Administrative Secretary Zack Kinuthia (Sports) and Nyandarua Governor Francis Kimemia, in a church service, Dr Matiang'i said the government will not tolerate political intolerance as the country heads to the 2022 General Election. "The government will adopt zero tolerance on anyone disrupting political gatherings because all politicians are free to visit any place in the country. We have arrested eight suspects in connection with the Saturday incident and police are still hunting for more. I urge security agents to act fairly and demonstrate neutrality when handling political gatherings," stated Dr Matiang'i. DP Ruto's motorcade was pelted with stones during his tour of Busia town. Political hooliganism The CS directed the police to be firm when handling political hooliganism warning them against taking political sides. "We are approaching a season where people get excited and we are going to do all we can to have a free, fair, and peaceful election. Different opinions aren't enough reason for intolerance. No one will be spared including elected leaders involved in planning the chaos.We shall be decisive and firm in political hooliganism," added the CS. The CS has ordered the Busia County Commissioner to work closely with the police to identify organisers and perpetrators of the disruption of DP Ruto's rally on Saturday, for immediate action. "All organisers and perpetrators of Saturday's disruption of DP Ruto's rally in Busia should be charged in court as soon as possible," added the CS. At the same time Dr Matiang'i threatened to invoke the public order act to shut down media houses, which he says are used by politicians to fuel tribalism and political intolerance,as the 2022 general election beckons. "We have sent a warning to several community-based Radio and Television stations, I will not hesitate to invoke the public order act if need be. Some community radio stations and TV stations are headed to the redline; we will shut them down if they continue propagating hatred," said the CS. Dr Matiang'i also vowed to ensure that Huduma Card is successfully implemented so long as he remains in government. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Kenya Legal Affairs By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. He said he is facing the same battle he faced during the TV digital migration that has created thousands of jobs for the youth and content development. Digital migration "I faced the war of lifetime during the digital migration when some TV Stations threatened to switch off, I am facing the same challenge today, but I am implementing the President's Vision and we must do whatever it takes to make the huduma cards a reality. We are moving towards the digital world, we have achieved a direction towards digitalisation, we are headed where the world is heading," said Mr Matiang'i. He dismissed claims that the huduma card was open to abuse through access to personal data, adding the government already has all personal data for every individual in the country, and the same has not been abused or misused. He said the number is a one-stop shop card, similar to the one used in the United States that has made life easier for the citizens. During the event, Nyandarua Governor Francis Kimemia used the forum to woo investors with free land to potential investors. He said that the county had set aside five acres of land to be issued to investors. He thanked President Kenyatta for initiating development projects in Nyandarua County. Water CS Sicily Kariuki said the ongoing construction of the Sh840 million central government funded sewerage is 90 per cent complete. Mr Kimemia and the Interior CS said the national government is working on modalities to have the Nyandarua University completed. He said that Ol Kalou Nyayo Stadium will be completed by next year. They disowned him when he was alive and they have denied him in death. The family of self-confessed serial killer Masten Wanjala, who was lynched by a mob 10 days ago, is not ready to bury him for fear of attracting a curse. The family of Mzee Robert Wanjala Watila refused to attend last Wednesday's post-mortem performed by detectives from the homicide team, led by Mr Martin Nyuguto, the at Bungoma County Referral Hospital mortuary. A family member, who spoke to the Nation.Africa on condition of anonymity, said their son's escape from Jogoo Road Police Station in Nairobi raised eyebrows. 'Extra-judicial' Implicating the police, the source said: "We suspect the killing was extra-judicial considering that the last time he was here is about two months ago under heavy police escort, casting doubt on how he managed to escape." The source said the family was contemplating suing the government over their son's death. "We know that our son had wronged many families and it was just prudent that the police arraigned him in court and have him charged for the families of the victims to get justice," he said. Mukhweya Assistant Chief Abiud Musungu said authorities have asked the family and his Bakitwika Kitanga clan to take a DNA test and bury their son. They have, however, refused to do so and want more time to think over the matter. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Kenya Legal Affairs By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. "The family changed tune suddenly and disowned the serial killer immediately he was lynched. His father had asked for forgiveness on behalf of his son from the families of the victims...and even asked the State to give him the body to bury," Mr Musungu said. He said the government might be forced to bury Wanjala if his family does not do so. Ashamed them Mr Davis Wafula, a neighbour, said that as a clan, they did not want to be associated with Masten since he has ashamed them. "We're afraid that if we bury him, we, as a clan, might be perceived as killers," he said. Serious questions about Kenya's criminal justice system have been raised about how the serial killer was lynched in Bungoma, more than 400 kilometres from the police cell he had escaped from two days earlier. Wanjala, who confessed to killing 12 people, most of them young girls, and drinking their blood, allegedly escaped from a police cell in Nairobi hours before he was set to take plea. His vanishing after 91 days in custody had caused anxiety at the police station only for him to end up lynched by irate villagers. Many questions remain unanswered on the matter, starting with why the police failed to secure Wanjala properly considering the seriousness of his crimes. He was sharing a cell at the police station with petty offenders such as those arrested for not wearing masks, being drunk and disorderly, touting and loitering. Addis Abeba Eskinder Nega, founder of the opposition Balderas for Genuince Democracy, has expressed his concerns to visiting officials from the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC) representatives that the recent physical attack he suffered inside the Kilito prison, where he is currently kept at, was not "a trivial matter." A statement by EHRC released last said that the Commission's officials visited Kilinto federal prison and spoke with Eskinder Nega, and Sintayew Chekol, who is also from the Balderas party, the individual who was in physical confrontation with Eskindir, as well as the prison officials. Eskinder was arraigned to appear at a federal court in Addis Abeba on Thursday, October 21, but failed to appear due to injuries he suffered after a physical confrontation with another detainee. The EHRC said that in the morning on October 21, while exercising inside the prison compound, Eskinder and the unnamed prisoner who was once transferred to Kality prison but is now back in Kilinto prison, met and had exchange of words which "turned into a physical confrontation." As soon as the incident took place, prison guards and other inmates intervened, and the prison administration immediately transferred the unnamed prisoner to another zone. "The Commission noted that there had been previous disagreements between Eskinder and the detainee, and that the prisoner had recently returned from the Kaliti prison where he had been transferred," EHRC said. Eskinder suffered swelling in his left foot thumb, scratches in in both his knees and an injury to his right eye. The other prisoner was found to have suffered scratches on his right fingers. Both detainees are receiving medical treatment inside the prison's clinic. "Both detainees stated that they had received appropriate investigation and medical assistance from prison authorities for their injuries, and that they were not interested in pursuing legal course," about the incident. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Ethiopia Legal Affairs By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. However, the EHRC said Eskinder told the Commission that "he did not believe the incident was a trivial matter and that it was related to the cross-examination and other issues" he was raising in the court at his ongoing trial. "He explained that he did not appear in court that day had made a personal decision about the incident and that he was still concerned about his safety." On October 20, federal prosecutors presented their list of witnesses at the Federal High Court, Lideta Branch, First Constitutional and Anti-Terrorism Bench after the court decided to proceed with witness hearing in open session. Prosecutors presented the names of nine out 21 witnesses; but only two witnesses attended the first witnesses hearing. The names of the remaining 12 witnesses were not disclosed in the hearing. The EHRC said in its discussions with senior officials of the prison administration, its representatives discussed the safety of detainees, the prevention of disputes and disputes between detainees, and the need to take immediate action in such events as part of the responsibility of prison administration. AS Addis Abeba Martin Griffiths, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, confirmed media reports that the UN humanitarian flight in Ethiopia "destined for Mekelle in Tigray was forced to return to Addis Abeba due to air strikes in Mekelle." On October 22, a fourth day airstrike by the government that started this week has forced a UN Humanitarian Flight carrying 11 UN staff members to abort landing in Mekelle. In a statement released last night, Mr. Griffiths said "the UN had not received any prior warning of the attacks on Mekelle and had received the necessary clearances for the flight." He further said that the incident "raises serious concerns for the safety of humanitarian staff who are working to help civilians in humanitarian need." The incident happened a day after the latest UN humanitarian report was published cautioning that several humanitarian partners were forced to significantly reduce or suspend their activities due to "the severe shortages of fuel." "Since 11 October, out of the seven main active food partners, for instance, at least three have already forced to cease food distribution. The other four will also have to cease distribution outside of Mekelle within one week if fuel is not received. Water trucking and dislodging by some partners have almost seized, as well as the distribution of WASH items," the report said. "The humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate due to the continued restrictions imposed on the delivery of humanitarian supplies into the region via the route through Afar (Semera-Abala-Mekelle). Between 13 and 19 October, 215 trucks of humanitarian supplies arrived in Tigray, a slight increase from the week before. This brings the number of trucks carrying humanitarian supplies that entered the region since 12 July to 1,111 or 15 per cent of the trucks needed. An estimated 100 trucks with food, non-food items, and fuel must enter Tigray daily to meet critical humanitarian needs." "The trucks this week carried food, nutrition, shelter and mixed cargo supplies. Fuel, however, has still not been allowed into Tigray. Fourteen fuel tankers (45,000 liters/each) remain in Semera. On 14 October, fuel trucks received approval by the Government to proceed, but they were denied transit to Tigray at a checkpoint, requiring a letter of authorization from the Federal Police Commissioner in Addis Abeba. Consequently, the trucks returned to Semera. Partners estimate they need more than 272,000 liters of fuel every month to carry out their humanitarian operations." Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Ethiopia International Organisations By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. Despite increasing difficulties, however, Mr. Griffiths said the UN and non-governmental organizations were making every effort to "continue delivering assistance to millions of people in desperate need in Tigray, Amhara and Afar. Conflict dynamics make this increasingly difficult." Worsening toll in Amhara and Afar regions He also said that he was "increasingly alarmed about the impact of fighting in Amhara and Afar regions and the worsening toll on civilians." The latest report said in Amhara, active fighting continued in parts of North and South Wello, Wag Hemra, and North Gonder, "blocking access and the delivery of humanitarian assistance." Similarly, in Afar, extensive fighting was reported in Ewa and Awra Woredas in Zone 2, with unverified reports of civilian casualties. Inside Tigray, some areas in Eastern Zone remain inaccessible. Quoting Afar regional state government, the UN said the ongoing conflict has "affected more than 323,000 people in zones 2 and 4 in Afar. Assistance is urgently needed to both regions and humanitarian partners are scaling up humanitarian aid in support of the regional authority-led responses." "All precautions must be taken to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure. Under international humanitarian law, all parties to the conflict must take constant care to spare civilians and civilian objects from harm, including humanitarian personnel and assets," Mr Griffiths warns. AS The minister said the government would not rest until "they are able to bring in the last one dead or alive." The Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, says there is no hiding place for all the escaped inmates from the Abolongo Correctional Centre in Oyo Town on Friday night. Mr Aregbesola spoke on Sunday during his visit to the correctional centre in Oyo. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that suspected gunmen attacked the correctional facility on Friday at about 9.50 p.m., freeing 837 awaiting trial inmates. "I am assuring Nigerians that there is no hiding place for any inmate that escaped from our facilities. "This is because, we have the records of all the inmates, including their biometric data, which are being forwarded to the Interpol. "This will make it impossible for them to travel, apply for any travel document, engage in any financial transaction or present themselves at any border post in any country in the world. "They are fugitives and will remain on the run until we apprehend them; we shall surely apprehend them," the minister said. He said security agencies were already on their trail and would not rest until "they are able to bring in the last one dead or alive". Mr Aregbesola, however, called on Nigerians to be patriotic and report to the nearest security post whenever they sight an escaped inmate, promising that handsome rewards awaits the informants. He said it was a criminal offence, punishable by a jail term for anyone to offer any assistance, not even giving a cup of water, to any inmate that escaped from lawful custody. "You cannot help them in any way absolutely, by way of cash, food, clothing, medical care, employment, road direction and any form of help, other than to encourage them to turn themselves in and report them to the law enforcement agencies. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Nigeria Legal Affairs By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. "The Federal Government, however, out of magnanimity, is giving them a small window to voluntarily turn themselves in, for which they will be pardoned for escaping from custody," he said. The minister condoled with the families of the victims of the attack. More inmates recaptured In his comments, the Assistant-Controller in charge of the Abolongo Correctional Centre, Adams Ongaji, said a total of 378 inmates had been recaptured, while 460 are still at large. Also, the Deputy Controller-General in charge of Operations ,Tukur Ahmad, debunked the rumour that the attackers came purposely to rescue Iskilu Wakili, a suspected kidnap kingpin. Mr Ahmad said Mr Wakili was not kept at Abolongo Correctional Centre, adding that the only high-profile inmate in the facility was being tried by the EFCC and he was still in the facility. In his remarks, the Alaafin of Oyo, Lamidi Adeyemi III, who also visited the facility, called on the people of the state to be calm, saying that government would respond to the situation appropriately. The state governor, Seyi Makinde, also ordered immediate installation of CCTV to all the Correctional centres in the state and the grading of the bad road leading to the centre. (NAN) "This is shocking, unfortunately; we lost a soldier and an Amotekun operative, also another person is on the danger list at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, as we speak." Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has ordered that Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras be installed in all the correctional facilities in the state. Mr Makinde gave the order on Sunday when he visited the Abolongo Correctional Centre, Oyo, which was attacked on Friday night by unknown gunmen, and hundreds of inmates escaped. Nearly 1,000 inmates were freed in the attack, but a prison official said 262 people have been recaptured. The governor, who was accompanied by top government functionaries on the inspection, directed that the security cameras be linked with the state security situation room. He said his government would take immediate steps to protect the facility and also directed that the main road leading to the place be immediately graded. He appealed to the general public, especially residents of the state, to be calm. "This is shocking, unfortunately; we lost a soldier and an Amotekun operative, also another person is on the danger list at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, as we speak. "In the main, investigation is still ongoing and we cannot say precisely whether this is an isolated event or the beginning of a wider issue that we have to deal with. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Nigeria Legal Affairs By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. "But whatever the case is, we have made an assessment and taken some immediate decisions. "We have challenges around the country; banditry, insurgency and terrorism. "And we can only deal with those issues when we have the people in alignment with what the leadership is trying to do. "So people should please believe that their leaders will tell them the exact situation of things at the appropriate time. "Also, we are making a list of critical state assets that we need to monitor and I have also asked that the entrance and exit points into the state be monitored. "We still have almost 300 criminals that are on the loose in the state. So, efforts will still continue to try and apprehend the criminals and bring them back here," the governor stated. (NAN) 15:10 | Lima, Oct. 25. "We will act in terms of reducing supply and demand, but in a sustainable way over time. We are fed up with the permanent cycle of eradicated crops/replanted crops that has been occurring in the high jungle," she expressed during a Congress' plenary session. According to the Cabinet Chief, the Executive Branch wants to achieve under the leadership of a strengthened National Commission for Development and Life without Drugs (Devida) binding agreements with producers for a new registration and the adoption of a social control which helps to comply with the law, as well as reduce coca areas and its production, promoting the alternative crops policy. "In coordination with the rest of sectors, we will prioritize what can do the most harm to drug trafficking: identifying illicit money, as well as external signs of wealth, and large drug shipments," the high-ranking official indicated. "We cannot rule out any public policy option to improve on the 30-year record of past policies which had been unsuccessful," she said. In this sense, "we are going to review the control and supervision regimen for coca crops, which began in 1978." "Eradication will always be an available strategy," she concluded. As is known, Mirtha Vasquez officially became Prime Minister on October 6 to lead the Cabinet under the administration of President Pedro Castillo. According to Article 130 of the Constitution, the Prime Minister must attend Congress joined by the Cabinet to present and debate the Government's General Policy within 30 days after having been sworn in to office. (END) VVS/CVC/MVB Presidente @PedroCastilloTe en Jaen: Este Gobierno, a traves de su gabinete, se ratifica en recuperar el gas de Camisea, impulsar la Segunda Reforma Agraria y un verdadero presupuesto a las autoridades para el desarrollo de sus comunidades. pic.twitter.com/wksWm17Rm0 ?? En su 196. aniversario, felicitamos al equipo del @DiarioElPeruano por brindar informacion veraz y de calidad en todas las regiones del pais. ???? Destacamos su contribucion en la difusion de los avances y servicios del Estado, en favor de los peruanos.#ElPeruano196Anos pic.twitter.com/WAfhQysFBr Presidente @PedroCastilloTe: Por ustedes estamos aca. Ha llegado a gobernar un hombre del pueblo. Desde Jaen ratifico mi compromiso con la patria: Leales siempre, traidores nunca. pic.twitter.com/Kel87PEVtA " " NOAA Fisheries/Brittany Dolan A juvenile Hawaiian monk seal was found with a spotted eel in its nose at French Frigate Shoals in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands this past summer. And it wasn't the first time it happened. Sometimes you think you're having a bad day, and then you see the above photo of an endangered monk seal (Neomonachus schauinslandi) with an eel stuck in its nose, and you realize you're doing pretty OK. The photo was taken by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and according to NOAA's Hawaiian Monk Seal Research Program, this happens from time to time. Strangely enough, though NOAA has been monitoring the monk seal population in the northern islands of Hawaii for almost 40 years, this eel-in-the-nose problem has been observed a handful of times, but only since 2016. Advertisement But, why? Well, it's hard to say. Researchers have noted the trend seems to be in juvenile seals, and they've offered a few possible explanations. For starters, monk seals are ocean-bottom foragers they like to root around for little animals to eat, flipping over rocks and shoving their faces into coral reefs where eels like to hide. When faced with the ferocious maw of a monk seal, an eel might decide in the heat of the moment to rush up the predator's nose to escape danger. Researchers also have suggested the seals may be eating the eels and then regurgitating them only their lunch come up the wrong pipe. Which sounds ... painful. But don't worry! When researchers see a monk seal with an eel dangling from its nostril, they capture the animal and gently remove it, and the seal goes on to live a freewheeling, eel-in-the-nose-free life. The eels, on the other hand, don't make it. Monk seals are closely monitored in the Hawaiian islands because there are only around 1,400 individuals left, and researchers estimate about 30 percent of those animals are alive because of conservation efforts. Their numbers are dwindling due to things like hunting, entanglement in ocean trash and human interference with their habitat and food sources. Now That's Interesting In the Hawaiian language, the name for a monk seal is "Ilio-holo-i-ka-uaua," or "the dog that runs in rough waters." YEREVAN, OCTOBER 25, ARMENPRESS. The staff of the Migration Service of Armenia led by head Armen Ghazaryan received today the delegation of the European Migration Network (EMN) to discuss the possibility of Armenias joining the Network with a status of an observer, the Migration Service said in a news release. The purpose of the European Migration Network, which was defined by the decision of the Board in 2008, is to satisfy the information needs of migration and asylum institutions and the authorities of the member states and provide impartial, reliable, fresh information aimed at supporting the policy-makers in the European Union. The Network also serves as a source of reliable information for the broad public. The Head of the Migration Service Armen Ghazaryan expressed readiness to share the Armenian migration experience, the information about the processes and also get information about the activity, structure and experience of the Network. This meeting is important both for us in order to understand the advantages of joining the European Migration Network, the features of the observer status, and also for you in order to get acquainted with the Armenian experience and to be informed about our migration and asylum system, Mr. Ghazaryan said. EMN representative Adolfo Sommarribas also expressed readiness to establish a direct and transparent cooperation. Our experience shows that the closer the contacts between the partners are, the more effective the cooperation will be. Therefore, we are ready to discuss all issues and share our experience in order to create stable working ties, Adolfo Sommarribas said. Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan YEREVAN, OCTOBER 25, ARMENPRESS. The Ministry of Healthcare has recommended the education ministry to extend the autumn break in schools over rising rates of COVID-19 infections, the Healthcare Ministry spokesperson Hripsime Khachatryan told ARMENPRESS. Weve recommended universities to switch to remote education and to extend the school break for a week, Khachatryan said. 1184 new cases of COVID-19 and 42 deaths were recorded in the last 24 hours. Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, OCTOBER 25, ARMENPRESS. The Iranian Ambassador to Armenia Abbas Badakhshan Zohouri condemns Azerbaijan for imposing tolls on Iranian cargo trucks passing through Azerbaijani-controlled roads in south of Armenia. The ambassador told Tasnim News in an interview that regrettably the Iranian cargo drivers passing through Goris-Kapan road were forced to pay the tolls. The Iranian ambassador said that according to the Russia-Armenia-Azerbaijan agreement the situation in the transit route in southern Armenia was supposed to remain unchanged until the completion of a new route. He explained that the transit route has been used during the past three decades. The Iranian trucks pay toll on arrival in Armenia, and they are not expected to pay toll a hundred kilometers ahead as well. We expected that they (Azerbaijan Republic) would stop it (road charging) until the preparation of the additional road and that no problem would arise. YEREVAN, 25 OCTOBER, ARMENPRESS. In the framework of official visit to Cyprus the delegation headed by the President of the National Assembly of Armenia Alen Simonyan on October 25 met with the Minister of Defense of Cyprus Charalambos Petrides. During the meeting the sides noted the existence of mutual understanding and support between the two countries, particularly the effective cooperation in international structures on advancing the genocide prevention agenda was especially appreciated. Reference was made to the military-political dialogue between the defense ministries of Armenia and Cyprus, which is being implemented during meeting of bilateral and multilateral frameworks, ARMENPRESS reports reads the message released by the National Assembly of Armenia. Speaking about the Azerbaijani-Turkish military aggression against Artsakh Alen Simonyan expressed gratitude for the principled position of Cyprus and for supporting the people of Artsakh, highlighting the humanitarian and financial assistance of Cyprus to Armenians of Artsakh in 2020. The unanimously adopted resolution condemning the Azerbaijani aggression against Artsakh on October 9 was also mentioned. The sided highlighted the effective implementation of opportunities in the format of Armenia-EU Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement. YEREVAN, OCTOBER 25, ARMENPRESS. The delegation led by President of the National Assembly of Armenia Alen Simonyan met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cyprus Nikos Christodoulides on October 25. As ARMENPRESS was informed from the National Assembly of Armenia, Alen Simonyan highly appreciated the effective cooperation between the two countries in bilateral and multilateral formats. He attached great importance to the soon launch of the Cyprus-Armenia-Greece parliamentary cooperation format, especially in the situation created after the 44-day war. In this context, the sides exchanged views on regional security and stability issues. The sides referred to the Cyprus issue. The President of the National Assembly of Armenia noted that Armenia will continue to support Cyprus in international organizations and is in favor of a peaceful settlement of the issue through negotiations, based on the principles of the UN resolutions. Both sides agreed to do their utmost to further strengthen cooperation and friendship. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Cyprus emphasized the invaluable role of the Armenian community in the public and political life of Cyprus The sides also referred to the full use of the opportunities of the Armenia-EU Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement in the context of the development of Armenia-EU relations. The interlocutors discussed the investment opportunities of the Cypriot side, emphasizing the importance of economic and tourism cooperation with Cyprus. The regional center of Martuni, located in the eastern part of the Artsakh Republic, is trying to live its daily life in the post-war period. October 25, 2021, 11:54 Martuni today. Daily life and problems presented by the mayor (photos) STEPANAKERT, OCTOBER 25, ARTSAKHPRESS: Acting mayor of Martuni, Aznavour Saghyan told "Artsakhpress". "Before the 44-day Artsakh war, Martuni had 6228 residents, after the war that number increased to 6823. About 168 displaced families have settled in the region. All families benefited from the ICRC and other state assistance programs. The city suffered a lot during the war. As a result of the shelling, more than 900 buildings were damaged. 14 private houses have been completely destroyed. Renovation works have been carried out in 380 private houses,Aznavour Saghyan noted. He said that two main schools with a total of 1024 students and two kindergartens with 320 children operate in Martuni. The Aram Khachaturian Art School has 130 students, the vocational school has 110 students, and the Children and Youth Creativity Center has 375 students. The church of St. Nerses the Great, built in the 20th century, is the place of prayer for believers. The mayor noted that 49 have fallen during the 44-day war and 87 have wounded. There is one missing person. They were all brought up in the spirit of the legendary Avo, he said. Speaking about the employment of the population, A. Saghyan detailed: "There is a poultry farm, a winery, a tobacco dryer and construction companies, which provide employment for the population. Artsakh Minister of State Artak Beglaryan, who is on a visit to the US, met with Congressman David Valadao, in Hanford, California, the state minister's office informed. October 25, 2021, 12:47 Artsakh State Minister discusses cooperation programs with US Congressman STEPANAKERT, OCTOBER 25, ARTSAKHPRESS: Artak Beglaryan thanked the Congressman for the constant support to the people of Artsakh, introduced him on the current situation and the humanitarian, political challenges in the Republic. The State Minister said that there is a necessity for a broad international support especially for eliminating the humanitarian consequences of the 2020 War and finally exercising the Artsakh peoples right to self-determination. David Valado reaffirmed his support to the protection of rights and freedoms of the people of Artsakh. The sides exchanged views on the possible involvement of US Congressmen in the solution of the existing problems. About 120 thousand of almost 150 thousand residents of Nagorno Karabakh have returned or remained after the war. October 25, 2021, 13:43 State Minister convinced Russian peacekeepers will stay in Artsakh until the conflict is settled STEPANAKERT, OCTOBER 25, ARTSAKHPRESS: Artsakh State Minister Artak Beglaryan told the Russian "Regnum" news agency, emphasizing that it is the best indicator of the local peoples great trust towards the Russian peacekeeping troops. It shows the determination and will of our people to live and create in their own homeland, even in such difficult conditions. Moreover, despite all the efforts of the Azerbaijani side, the gross violations of the ceasefire, military and psychological pressure, the migration balance is still positive. Most of the IDPs residing in Armenia want to return to Artsakh, but they still can't come because of the lack of free housing," said Artak Beglaryan. Touching upon the terms of the presence of the Russian peacekeepers and the actions of the Artsakh Armenians, the State Minister noted that the Russian peacekeeping forces will likely remain in Nagorno-Karabakh for more than 5 years, as he is convinced they will extend their mission in Artsakh, because the conflict has not been settled yet and Azerbaijan continues its policy of evicting Armenians from Artsakh. "Therefore, as long as there is a threat of genocide against the Armenians of Artsakh and the unanimous desire of our people is to receive long-term and lasting security guarantees from the peacekeepers, I think the issue of their withdrawal should not even be discussed. The desire of our population and security needs are the primary factors in determining the issue of the long-term mandate of peacekeepers. However, we do not expect this conflict to last forever; we are ready for its political settlement, of course, taking into account our rights and interests and with the indisputable condition never to be a part of Azerbaijan. Taking into account the positions and actions of the Azerbaijani side, their deep anti-Armenian sentiments, we realize that a comprehensive and final settlement of the conflict can be possible only decades later. All the peoples of the region deserve to live in peace and dignity in their homeland," Beglaryan said. Hayrapet Navasardyan with his wife and two children from Arakel community of Artsakhs Hadrut region has been displaced due to the 2020 Artsakh War unleashed by Azerbaijan. October 25, 2021, 16:31 I preferred to return to Artsakh and continue creating in my Homeland. Displaced resident STEPANAKERT, OCTOBER 25, ARTSAKHPRESS: After the ceasefire in late November, he has settled in the Haterk community of Artsakhs Martakert region. Their third child was born in 2021 on April 2. In an interview with "Artsakhpress", Hayrapet Navasardyan mentioned that he is engaged in agriculture and cattle breeding. In an interview with "Artsakhpress", Hayrapet Navasardyan mentioned that he is engaged in agriculture and cattle breeding. I worked as a history teacher at Arakel School, and my wife worked as an elementary teacher. I worked as a history teacher at Arakel School, and my wife worked as an elementary teacher. Here in Haterk, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has funded my business plan as a part of the program to help the displaced. I will be engaged in pig breeding. I received the money and have already bought the pigs. The house where we live now has been renovated within the framework of a state program, he said and added that he had an opportunity to live outside the Homeland, but he preferred to return and continue creating in Artsakh. The new conditions in the world require an update of NATO, and for this Russia must first and foremost join the alliance. This is what reporter Mehmed Barlas said in an interview for the Turkish Sabah, news.am informs. October 25, 2021, 17:51 Turkey offers Russia to join NATO STEPANAKERT, OCTOBER 25, ARTSAKHPRESS: According to him, currently, Europe, that is, NATO member states, exists because of Russias energy resources. In addition, Russia is more active in the fight against terrorism than NATO member states. Barlas says internal clashes are causing the most harm to NATO now, not a country outside of the alliance. With this, he recalled the conflict between Turkey and Greece with regard to the territorial claims over Northern Cyprus, as well as the escalation of relations between Washington and Ankara. What is more interesting is the fact that NATO member Turkey is in deep conciliation and dialogue with Russia, which NATO views as an enemy, Barlas wrote. On Oct. 23, Russian Minister of Defense Sergey Shoygu declared that NATO is gradually deploying troops in the direction of the Russian border on the backdrop of Russias calls for restraint. According to Shoygu, security in Europe can only be common, without violating Russias interests, but NATO is still not ready for equal dialogue. Digital payments expected to account for more than $10 trillion in global transaction volume between in-store and e-commerce by 2025 Partnerships between Fintechs and Payment Companies prove essential in delivering digital payments LAS VEGAS & RIVERWOODS, Ill., October 25, 2021--(BUSINESS WIRE)--A new research paper by 451 Research, a part of S&P Global Market Intelligence, and commissioned by Discover Global Network found digital payment services and financial technology partnerships are reshaping the way in which consumers around the world send, spend and store their money. The findings come as the payments industry converges on Las Vegas for Money 20/20 to discuss the latest trends, innovations and ideas. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211025005154/en/ The next frontier: Unlocking new value through digital payment experiences (Graphic: Discover) The COVID-19 pandemic shed light on the influence of these digital payment services as they grew market share and consumers accelerated their usage and adoption of these products. State of the Union: Global Digital Payments and Fintech Ecosystem analyzes these shifts and other trends prevalent within the industry. "With nearly 3 in 5 people using at least one type of digital payment service in their day-to-day spending, the State of the Union report shows the importance of digital commerce for consumers around the globe," said Kiran Pookote, director of business strategy at Discover. "These statistics reflect the impact of COVID-19 on digital behavior and the ways it will continue to shape the economy post-pandemic." In order to address these trends, partnerships between fintechs and payment companies will likely be critical, highlighting the need to work together on developing technologies for the evolving payments ecosystem. Eighty six percent of fintech vendors said they are reliant on payment companies to help them implement payment technologies. Story continues "Fintechs looking to quickly innovate and address customer demand on a global scale can benefit from pursuing partnerships with a company like Discover Global Network - that provides them with customized payment solutions, expertise and has a history of successful partnerships," said Pookote, who will be at Money 20/20 in Las Vegas and able to further discuss the findings. Key Findings: Impact of COVID-19 On Digital Payments Globally, 1 in 3 consumers said they began using digital payments for the first time within the last year, while more than half (52%) said they transitioned all or most of their in-store spending to online. Further, 49% say they are now more comfortable with making digital payments as a result of COVID-19. Consumer Shift to Digital Wallets According to the report, in 2020, digital wallets are reported to represent 27% of in-store spending, 41% of e-commerce spending and 46% of mobile commerce spending. By 2025, digital wallets are projected to account for more than $10 trillion in global transaction volume between in-store and e-commerce. Partnerships for Fintech Vendors are Key Nearly 9 out of 10 fintech vendors said contactless payments and linking loyalty programs and rewards to a customers payment card were relevant to their business needs. Seventy eight percent of fintechs indicated they currently partner or work with a payment network, and an additional 18% said while they dont currently, such a partnership is possible. Global Payment Adoption Digital wallets ranked as the most widely used digital payment service overall, with respondents in Singapore (74%), India (70%) and China (61%) exhibiting the highest increase in usage. In these markets, many digital wallets have evolved into "super apps," encompassing a wide range of services, from payments to purchasing movie tickets to insurance. For a deeper dive into these findings, join Discover and 451 Research, a part of S&P Global Market Intelligence, for a webinar on December 15, 2021 from 10-11am CST. Jordan McKee from 451 Research along with representatives from Discover will discuss the key business priorities facing fintechs and provide perspective on the digital payments space. For more information and to register, visit the event page. In addition to discussing these findings while at Money 20/20, experts from Discover will be speaking to several other topics: Payments Innovation: Revolutionary? Or Evolutionary? While payments have evolved rapidly over the years are these evolutions really as revolutionary as we think? Asif Ahmed, Senior Leader, Global Product Strategy, Discover Financial Services, discusses the breadth of what drives innovation. More info here. The Fintech View (Panel) Andrew Stucchio, Vice President, Global Pricing & Analytics, Discover along with other experts weigh in on current industry "hot topics" and share "hot takes" on everything from successful data management programs to the new tech thats enabling innovative data analysis. More info here. About Discover Discover Financial Services (NYSE: DFS) is a digital banking and payment services company with one of the most recognized brands in U.S. financial services. Since its inception in 1986, the company has become one of the largest card issuers in the United States. The company issues the Discover card, America's cash rewards pioneer, and offers private student loans, personal loans, home loans, checking and savings accounts and certificates of deposit through its banking business. It operates the Discover Global Network comprised of Discover Network, with millions of merchant and cash access locations; PULSE, one of the nation's leading ATM/debit networks; and Diners Club International, a global payments network with acceptance around the world. For more information, visit www.discover.com/company. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211025005154/en/ Contacts Rob Weiss +1-224-405-6304 robertweiss@discover.com @Discover_News NASA now expects to launch its uncrewed Artemis I flight test in February 2022, with the liftoff window as early as February 12th. The space agency had initially planned for a November 2021 test flight, but, well, its been that kind of a year. NASA Orion capsule stacked on SLS rocket for Artemis I Moon mission The Orion capsule has been stacked on top of the Space Launch System rocket, and blastoff now depends on testing results. The most important test is apparently the wet dress rehearsal, when the Artemis I crew will try loading and unloading the propellants weeks before launch. NASA won't set a firm launch date until after a successful rehearsal so yes, that date could slip. The eventual goal is to make the first crewed landings in 2024. Mat Smith Alas, ready for next years holiday season. The Morning After Hasbro has introduced a Nerf LMTD Halo Needler that looks and acts more like the iconic Covenant weapon. It still won't shoot homing rounds, unfortunately, but the motorized blaster will shoot 10 darts in a row from a rapid-fire drum, while the needles lighting up when you grab the handle. The blaster runs on a heady six AA 1.5V batteries at a time, like its still the 90s or something. The Nerf LMTD Halo Needler is available to pre-order from Amazon now for $100, but it's not set to ship until December 1st, 2022. Continue reading. Strained supply might have contributed to the increase. The Morning After Tesla has hiked prices for all four of its in-production vehicles in the past two days. The base Model 3 and Model Y variants now cost $2,000 more, and respectively start at $43,990 and $56,990. Spring for the Model S and Model X, meanwhile, and you'll pay $5,000 more at respective prices of $94,990 and $104,990. Tesla hasn't explained the price increases, but its common knowledge the automaker is grappling with supply shortages. Continue reading. Story continues It has 30 days to fulfill the terms, including releasing its source code. Add a licensing misstep to the list of problems facing former President Donald Trumps social media network. The Software Freedom Conservancy (SFC) says the Trump Media and Technology Group (TMTG) violated a licensing agreement when it recently launched a test version of TRUTH Social. The website ran a modified version of Mastodon, a free and open-source platform for operating Twitter-like social media networks. The SFC also shared details about how TRUTH Social was defaced earlier. It found no evidence anyone illegally broke into the website, but noted it was due to improper configuration. People merely used the site legitimately to register accounts and use its features, the organization said. Continue reading. What, no Barry? Legendary Resident Evil characters Chris Redfield and Jill Valentine are making their debut in Fortnite, with alternate costumes that make nods to their appearances in Village and Nemesis, while the Back Bling offers three shades of Resident Evil's life-sustaining herbs. Continue reading. The biggest news stories you might have missed 20 years ago Apple introduced the iPod, the perfect gateway drug to the Mac ICYMI: Microsoft's Surface Duo 2 still needs some work Facebook leak shows inner turmoil over approach to conservative content Elon Musk says 'issues' have forced Tesla to pull its latest full self-driving beta 'Dune' is too big for your TV Astronomers directly observe one of the youngest planets to date Engadget Deals: Garmin smartwatches are up to 52 percent off at Amazon for today only The genetic fluke that enabled us to drink milk The man Colombia describes as the world's most dangerous drug trafficker told security forces: "You beat me" when he was captured during an operation this weekend, the government says, pledging to extradite him swiftly to the United States. Dairo Antonio Usuga, known as Otoniel, was caught by Colombia's armed forces during an operation in a rural area of Colombia's Uraba region, Antioquia province, which involved more than 500 members of Colombia's special forces and 22 helicopters, officials said on Saturday. Otoniel is accused of exporting hundreds of tonnes of cocaine each year, while President Ivan Duque said on Saturday he was also responsible for killing police officers, recruiting minors and sexually abusing children. Colombia's government would file a petition on Monday with the Andean country's Supreme Court to extradite Otoniel to the United States, Justice Minister Wilson Ruiz told Reuters, adding the process could take a month to complete. Colombia had offered a reward of up to three billion pesos (about $A1 million) for information concerning Otoniel's whereabouts, while the US government had put up a reward of $US5 million ($A6.7 million). Both rewards would be paid, Molano said, while describing Otoniel as "the worst kind" of criminal. Otoniel, 50, rose to become the leader of the drug-trafficking group Clan del Golfo, or Gulf Clan, following stints as a left-wing guerrilla and later as a paramilitary. The Clan del Golfo has a presence in 12 of Colombia's 32 provinces, and counts some 3800 members, according to Colombia's national police. Clan del Golfo is involved as well with illegal mining, authorities say. The government also accuses the group of threatening and killing community leaders across the country. Colombia's police chief, General Jorge Vargas, said much of the information leading to Otoniel's capture came from Clan del Golfo members. "A lot of Clan del Golfo's people betrayed him," Vargas said. Otoniel trafficked between 180 tonnes and 200 tonnes of cocaine a year with the Clan del Golfo, and was responsible for the deaths of more than 200 members of Colombia's security forces, the defence ministry said. Authorities launched Operation Agamemnon in 2016 as they worked to close in on Otoniel, killing and capturing dozens of his lieutenants, going after his finances and forcing him to be constantly on the move, according to police. Now that beach read season is over, autumn is a time for more serious books, and there are many terrific memoirs out to satisfy those who prefer nonfiction reads. Eleanor Henderson is a wonderful novelist (Ten Thousand Saints) whose latest book is a memoir titled Everything I Have Is Yours: A Marriage." Henderson is a professor at Ithaca College, married, with two young sons. For over 20 years she has been dealing with her husbands chronic illness, which renders him unable to hold a job. Eleanor and Aaron married at a young age, and that came with its own set of financial and emotional challenges. One day, out of the blue, Aaron found painful rashes on his arm that quickly spread to the rest of his body, followed by lesions all over. As they worked their way through the maze that is the American health care system, doctors couldnt agree on a diagnosis, and Aaron became severely depressed to the point where he wouldnt leave his bedroom. Some doctors felt he had a medical condition, others believed it to be a psychological disorder. Eleanor had to increasingly shoulder the burden of caring for Aaron and their two young sons, and being the sole breadwinner trying to build her career as a writer. It put a big stress on the marriage, but Eleanor refused to give up on Aaron or their marriage, even when it became a nearly untenable situation. Everything I Have Is Yours is a powerful story, and Eleanor Henderson brilliantly illuminates what it means to love someone so deeply. After the pandemic, its a timely read as well. Saturday Night Live star Cecily Stongs memoir, This Will All Be Over Soon, deals more directly with the pandemic. She writes of her year in lockdown, leaving New York City and moving to a small town a few hours away. Just before the pandemic began, she found out that her younger cousin Owen had a brain tumor that would kill him. Cecily and Owen had a special bond as cousins; she thought he was one of the funniest, kindest people she knew, wise beyond his years. His death devastated her. Cecily had just begun a new relationship with a guy she really liked when the pandemic hit. Her new boyfriend came down with COVID-19 just as the worst of the pandemic hit New York City, and Strong panicked, searching for information on how to help him. When one of her favorite people at Saturday Night Live," a music producer named Hal Wilmer, dies of COVID-19, Strong is thrown for a loop. This Will All Be Over Soon shares not only the terrible year Strong had, but also how she had to dig deep into herself to get through the sadness and isolation. Its also a tribute to her cousin, whom the reader comes to know through her moving and emotional words. Her loss mirrors the loss that so many people felt over the past 18 months, and she puts into words what many feel. Qian Julie Wangs memoir, Beautiful Country, covers the years between 7 and 12 in her life. Qian and her mother left China to visit her father in the United States, who came over a few years prior. Qian and her family overstayed their visas, and their undocumented status overshadows their entire life. Her parents were teachers in China, but in the U.S. they had to take jobs in sweatshops, and even young Qian had to work alongside her mother. Her parents stressed the importance of not drawing attention to themselves, and never speaking with a policeman or anyone in a government position. Qian went to school with other immigrant children, and she taught herself English by reading books in the library. She immersed herself in books like The Babysitters Club," where the characters became her friends. Her parents struggled with their new life in Queens, living in a one-room apartment and sharing a kitchen and bathroom with strangers. When Qians mother becomes seriously ill, she has to be hospitalized for a long time, and that frightens Qian. She throws herself into her schoolwork, and eventually is accepted into a prestigious middle school in Manhattan. Beautiful Country shines a light on what people are willing to sacrifice to live in the United States, for the chance to build a life for their family. Qian puts the reader in her shoes, and we follow her difficult journey through her beautiful writing. If you read BOOK: Everything I Have Is Yours by Eleanor Henderson GRADE: A+ PUBLISHER: Flatiron Books COST: Hardcover, $27.99 LENGTH: 392 pages BOOK: This Will All Be Over Soon by Cecily Strong GRADE: A- PUBLISHER: Simon & Schuster COST: Hardcover, $28 LENGTH: 272 pages BOOK: Beautiful Country by Qian Julie Wang GRADE: A+ PUBLISHER: Doubleday COST: Hardcover, $28.95 LENGTH: 305 pages Diane La Rue is a member of the National Book Critics Circle and blogs about books at http://bookchickdi.blogspot.com. You can follow her on Twitter @bookchickdi, and she can be emailed at laruediane2000@yahoo.com. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Oct. 25, 1996 AUBURN When a natural disaster like a flood hits, people can usually be seen leaving the area in a hurry. But Auburn resident Daryl Peck is doing the opposite. Yesterday, the American Red Cross volunteer boarded a plane in Syracuse, headed for the flooded streets of Boston. "He's going to go around and evaluate the extent of the damages at various residences," said Janice Rose, the executive director of the Auburn Red Cross. Peck, who's been trained as a damage assessment technician for national disasters, is scheduled to be in the Boston area for three weeks. Peck's team is an important one to the recovery of the area and they will be kept busy, according to Boston Red Cross spokesperson Dene Harris. "He'll basically be working from when the sun rises until it sets," Harris said. Compiled by David Wilcox Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 TVS Motor Company on Monday announced it has entered into a tri-party deal arrangement with Bahwan International Group in order to consolidate its presence in the market in Iraq. As per the tri-party deal arrangement, ARATA International FZC will be the new distributor. Building on this partnership, the groups will also explore other avenues of cooperation in Oman and India. Similar Bikes The signing ceremony saw Sheikh Ahmed Bahwan, Chairman of Bahwan International Group and Sudarshan Venu, Joint Managing Director TVS Motor Company in Muscat, in attendance. Iraq is an important market for us, and ARATA International FZCs extensive distribution network, along with our shared ethos and values, makes them the ideal strategic partner," said Venu. Bahwan International Group (ARATA International FZC) and their channel partners plan to operate more than 30 dealerships for TVS Motor Company. The dealerships will include 3S dealership facilities in all the major cities of Iraq with after-sales service, and spare parts support in tier two cities to expand the TVS presence in Iraq. At present, TVS sells many of its two-wheelers like TVS XL100 Comfort, TVS HLX150 series, TVS NTORQ and TVS Jupiter series in Iraq, apart from three-wheelers like TVS King Deluxe Plus. The TVS Group already has a wide presence across the world with customer touchpoints in 70 countries. Beijing (Gasgoo)- Nine out of eleven major foreign automobile groups saw double-digit year-on-year decrease in the third quarter sales in China, due to various challenges, including worldwide chip supply shortage, Central China floods and pandemic-related restrictions in parts of the country. Volkswagen Group had the largest decrease in the third-quarter sales, which dropped from 1.06 million units to 701,800 vehicles. The German company explained in a press release that because of COVID-19 outbreaks in Southeast Asia, the chip supply shortage intensified last quarter, significantly affecting its China-specific semiconductors and causing strong understocking and delay of sales. But the group managed to gain notable momentum in battery electric vehicle (BEV) sales, with a year-on-year growth of nearly 60% in quarterly sales. By the end of September, its new energy vehicle (NEV) sales doubled to over 93,000 vehicles from a year ago. And its ID. family is on track to achieve annual sales target of 80,000 to 100,000 units. Ford Motor was the only one with a year-on-year growth in quarterly sales. Last quarter, the American group further expanded its product portfolio, including pre-sale of the all-new Ford EVOS and launch of Lincoln Corsair PHEV. In the first nine months of this year, most foreign automakers had much better performance compared with the same period last year, apart from Volkswagen Group and Mazda Motor. The German Groups sales during the period fell 4.1% from a year ago while the volume of Mazda declined 9.1% year on year. In premium vehicle segment, all luxury brands sold more vehicles in the first three quarters than the same span of last year. During the period, BMWs sales in China (including those of MINI vehicles because the automaker didnt give respective volume of the two brands) were far ahead of other rivals. Mercedes Benz and Audi were the other two brands whose year-to-date sales exceeded 500,000 units. Lincoln had the largest increase in cumulative sales of the first nine months with 66,036 vehicles sold. Year-to-date sales of locally built SUVs, including the Corsair, the Nautilus and the Aviator, amounted to 58,300 units, accounting for 88% of the brands total sales. In the third quarter, Lincolns sales in China jumped 24% year on year to 23,800 vehicles. Notably, most foreign automakers are accelerating their electrification pace in China, facing much more fierce competition from local rivals. In the third quarter, VW Group launched over 10 new models, including four NEV models. And on Oct. 22, SAIC VW, one of the groups joint ventures in China, started sales of the ID.3. Also this month, Fords first batch of China-made Mustang Mach-Es rolled off the production line and is on track for delivery by the end of the year. VW ID.3; photo credit: SAIC VW Honda seems to be the most aggressive Japanese vehicle brand which will only introduce electrified vehicles from 2030 on in China, with first 10 models from new EV brand in the coming five years. In the spring of 2022, the company will start to sell new BEV models from the new brand. Besides, SAIC GM, the joint venture between SAIC Group and General Motors, announced the operation commencement of its Ultium super factory, which can provide strong support for the production of those battery electric vehicles built on the Ultium platform. Shanghai (Gasgoo)- CATL recently announced a strategic partnership with China Huadian Corporation Ltd. (China Huadian), one of the largest state-owned power generation enterprises in China. CATL, China Huadian signing agreement; photo credit: CATL Under the agreement, both parties will make full use of their respective advantages in resources and businesses to co-work on the domains like energy storage, new energy, and integrated smart energy. Their joint efforts are expected to contribute to Chinas energy transition, said CATL. Prior to the signing of the new deal, CATL and China Huadian agreed to collaborate on a centralized electrochemical energy storage project in Tengzhou, Shandong province. Covering an area of around 40 mu (about 26,700 square meters), the project is designed to develop a 100MW/200MWh lithium ion battery energy storage base. It is of great importance to promoting the applications of the new types of energy storage technologies, building relevant business models, and driving the development of energy storage industry, said CATL. To shore up the deployment of smart energy and energy storage businesses, CATL also inked an agreement last week to carry out a strategic cooperation with CHN Energy, a Chinese state-run mining and energy company. Based on the deal, the duo will team up on the development of new energy industry, the building of smart energy and energy storage-related technology & standard systems, and the expansion of international businesses. Shanghai (Gasgoo)- WM Motor launched its first sedan model, the M7, on Oct. 22, indicating that the Chinese EV startup formally began its two-pronged product deployment integrating both SUVs and cars. WM Motor M7; photo credit: WM Motor The M7 all-electric sedan is expected for mass production and scale delivery in 2022, according to the company. The automaker didn't reveal the price range of the M7. Freeman Shen, founder, chairman, and CEO of WM Motor, said the materials like LiDAR account for roughly 30% of the overall cost for manufacturing an M7. WM Motor M7; photo credit: WM Motor The M7 is armed with three separate LiDAR sensors, which are powered by the MEMS (micro-electro-mechanical system)-based solid-state LiDAR technology, to realize the perception of road conditions in urban areas, expressways, and other scenarios. Thanks to 7 8-megapixel cameras, the car's sensing system is able to precisely detect pedestrians, vehicles, traffic signs, road cones, and other irregularly-shaped objects. Freeman Shen announced in April that WM Motor would start to implement the sedan strategy in the second half of 2021. The automaker also released the new naming system to put its SUV and sedan models into the W (standing for World) and M (standing for Master) series respectively. The M7 is the first model of the M lineup. As for global business deployment, Freeman Shen noted WM Motor's products cannot be exported right now partly due to the uncertainty over the supply of raw materials, including chips. However, he said the chip supply is likely to exceed the demand in 2023, leading to price reduction of relevant vehicle models. 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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 Chinese renowned pianist Li Yundi was detained for soliciting a prostitute a few days ago in Beijing. He is eating the bitter fruit of his own making. He is a celebrity, and it's logical that his movements have been revealed to the public which has become an online sensation. There have been a lot of discussion and criticisms on the internet over his misdeed, and this is just the reality of what internet is like. After the news broke out, the China Performance Industry Association immediately issued an announcement of boycotting Li, citing his indifference to law and lack of moral self-discipline. This is a correct response. But putting all things together, I felt some aspects of the public response were a little bit inappropriate. Li was placed under administrative detention for soliciting a prostitute. But what happened later seems to be that he was "paraded" in the cyberspace through the digital town square. Some netizens criticized him, expressing regret for his "misstep", while many others spat at him. Some media outlets reported Li's case in a serious way as if he committed a felony. Relevant industry associations have rushed to distance themselves from him. Now, many on the internet begin to ask themselves: Is this too much? Li undoubtedly did the wrong thing and violated laws. He is a celebrity, and it's inevitable that he would pay a higher price for his fame. If stars are not self-disciplined, they will have to bear the risk that the more popular and famous they are, the heavier price they will pay after a tumble. But, unlike Kris Wu who was charged with rape earlier, Li's illegal actions are relatively less harmful to the society. Everyone has the right to reprimand Li, but meanwhile, all the reactions, if combined together, should be proportional and in line with societal standards. Our society needs a clear direction, with clear-cut rules and adherence to commonly agreed upon standards. But at the same time, there must be sufficient internal room that not only allows for correctness and justice, seriousness and strictness, but also kindness and patience to encourage and save people. I hope our internet culture can be clear about what to love or hate, punishing the evil and praising the good. It also needs to display the diversity of morality, avoiding going too far in any direction. By Hu XijinGlobal Times It's been 50 years since the restoration of all lawful rights of the People's Republic of China (PRC) in the United Nations (UN), but the threat to the position is growing. Just two days before Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered his speech commemorating the PRC's 50 years at the UN, U.S. State Department put out a statement saying that the U.S. and authorities in Taiwan met virtually for a "discussion focused on supporting Taiwan's ability to participate meaningfully at the UN." This took place after weeks of escalating tensions in the Taiwan Straits, with U.S. President Joe Biden declaring for the second time in three months that the U.S. would defend Taiwan if Chinese mainland "invades." When the UN General Assembly adopted Resolution 2758 on October 25, 1971, to restore the PRC's rights in the UN, it meant the recognition of the PRC government representatives as the only legitimate UN representatives of China. The previous representatives from Kuomintang in the Taiwan region left the UN, signaling the end of the international recognition of political parties in Taiwan as the legitimate rulers of China. There's one China, and the PRC government governs it. This has been the foundation China built its diplomatic relations upon. The one-China policy is fundamental in every country's engagement with China. China has no qualms with differences, but it wouldn't tolerate another country challenging its sovereignty and national integrity. The United States, forcing its allies into standing in line with its positions on Taiwan, is upending the international foundation. As one of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council with veto power, China's participation in the UN is central to the protection of all the voices that were suppressed by the U.S.'s heavy-hand push for global uniformity. And if the world's only superpower doesn't abide by the rules and respect China's position, the UN itself an organization who's effectiveness depends on the cooperation of all members, especially the five permanent ones will cease to function. Squeezing the PRC didn't work 50 years ago, and it won't work today. The PRC officials labored mightily for the restoration of their country's position, and they will be equally mighty in defending it. And all those who seek peace and development should defend it. As Chinese President Xi Jinping said during his speech marking the occasion on October 25, the past half-century has been the 50 years in which China peacefully developed and benefited the entire world. China has become the second largest contributor to the UN, footing around 15 percent of UN's annual peacekeeping budget and 12 percent of UN's budget. It has been actively pushing all countries to resolve disputes peacefully and living by its actions. Even as it has been continuously provoked over its sovereignty, the PRC still treats military actions as the last of the last resorts and seeks resolution through peaceful dialogues and diplomacy. China will do its utmost to uphold the UN and protect its rightful place in it. Any unilateral actions to change it will be met with fierce defense from China and all of the Chinese people. The past 50 years have seen great developments in China's national conditions and the international community. The stability of the global system benefits all, and it is everyone's duty to maintain it. Source: CGTN) Infographic: 5 questions to ask when creating a ransomware recovery plan Once a rare occurrence, ransomware affects every industry and nation today. It's not an if but when -- and when again -- an organization will be hit. Companies need extensive plans to successfully protect themselves from ransomware attacks. Ransomware demands a similar response as disaster recovery (DR) and should be treated as a disastrous event. Use these "five W's of ransomware" to create your recovery plan. While most people know today as Halloween, for millions of Christians October 31, 2018 is also the 501st anniversary of Reformation Day. Here are five facts about the Protestant holiday: 1. Reformation Day celebrates Martin Luthers nailing his ninety-five theses to the church door Wittenberg, Germany on October 31, 1517. (Some scholars debate whether he posted them to the door then, later in November, or whether he even posted them at all.) By posting them to the church doorwhich was similar to a public bulletin boardLuther intended to start a debate among his fellow academics. 2. While the historical date for the observance of Reformation is October 31st, most churches celebrate it on the last Sunday in October. The only countries in which Reformation Day is a national holiday are Chile and Slovenia. (Though in Chile its called Dia Nacional de las Iglesias Evangelicas y ProtestantesNational Day of the Evangelical and Protestant Churches.) 3. On the first Reformation Day, when he posted the ninety-five theses, Luther was not yet a Protestant. (He would later say that at the time he was a committed Catholic who would have murderedor at least been willing to see murder committedin the name of the Pope.) 4. The theses that sparked the Reformation were not particularly radical, and key Lutheran doctrines, such as justification by grace through faith alone, were not included. The theses were mainly about the selling of indulgences, which the Catholic Church defines as a remission before God of the temporal punishment due to sins whose guilt has already been forgiven, which the faithful Christian who is duly disposed gains under certain prescribed conditions through the action of the Church which, as the minister of redemption, dispenses and applies with authority the treasury of the satisfactions of Christ and the saints. At the time, believers could pay for an indulgence to reduce the punishment of someone believed to be in Purgatory. 5. On this same day, Luther sent a letter to the Archbishop of Mainz, under whom, as it says in the letter, Papal indulgences for the building of St. Peters are circulating under your most distinguished name. Soon after this letter was sent, the theses were circulating among the intellectual elite. Although the rapid spread of the ideas that launched the Protestant Reformation are often attributed to the printing press (which had been around for more than 60 years), some scholars now say the document went viral because of the wider system of media sharing along social networkswhat is called social media today. statement ++++++++++++++++++++++ Dear Accommodation review committee, Following the issuance of Covid-19 Vaccination Mandate for all US employees, I am writing this letter requesting for accommodation in lieu of providing proof vaccination. That is to say, I will not get vaccinated at this moment. I understand that this request may be declined and my employment with the company could be terminated. Above all, I love to work with the company. For the past years, I have been enjoying working with all the colleagues around me. I have maintained very good relationship with everyone I have interacted with. I have been heavily engaged in innovating systems that can potentially change the way we are manufacturing dangerous materials to make the process safer, more efficient, and with better product quality. I have been receiving good annual performance reviews each year, including the years that our company was in transitions with a lot of uncertainties. I have also been awarded *********** early this year for the contribution I have made. As stated here, I love my current job and I do not have intention to leave the company voluntarily. However, I have a fundamentally disagreement regarding the newly implemented vaccination mandate policy. To be clear on this topic, I do not have objection on fully approved vaccine. In fact, with educational background in biotechnology, I firmly believe that vaccination is a great way to prevent many deadly or highly destructive diseases. However, at present time, all Covid-19 Vaccines in US market are under FDAs Emergency Use Authorization (EUA). Comirnaty is the only fully approved vaccine for Covid-19. Stated by FDA, Comirnaty has the same function as Pfizer BioNTech vaccine, and these two can be interchangeable. FDA further pointed out that Comirnaty will not be available in market for the coming two years. Therefore, people who seek vaccination can be administrated with Pfizer BioNTech vaccine, which still authorized for use under EUA. Importantly, FDA published the fact sheet stating that Pfizer BioNTech vaccine and Comirnaty are legally distinct. In short, vaccine products administrated under EUA are excluded any liability due to potential damages from any entity: the government, the vaccine producer, and the vaccination providers. Whereas the adverse effect from vaccination could be as severe as death, permanent disability, ER visit or hospitalized, with no entity being responsible for the consequences. In my view, all vaccines that are currently available (Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson, and Moderna) are under EUA, which from legal standpoint of view, are under clinical trial umbrella. 45 CFR 46 clearly defined that any clinical trial must obtain the written consent from participant and must be voluntarily. The federal mandate of EUA vaccines through EO or ETS is clearly violating their own rules. It is also unlawful that the government pushes unlawful mandate through private entities. The bottom line is, when an irreversible damage occurred as the result of clinic trial vaccination, there will be no liability from any entity. Whereas the safety of those clinic trial vaccines is very concerning (See appendix). This simple question must be answered: FDA stated that the current Pfizer BioNTech vaccine is interchangeable with Comirnaty, and over 400 million doses have been administrated worldwide so far, which really means that there are existing facilities that can produce the vaccine that is equivalent to Comirnaty at scale to meet demand. Therefore, one simple solution can be that FDA just issue licenses to the current facilities to make Pfizer BioNTech vaccine the fully approved version, since they are, again claimed by FDA, interchangeable. Why FDA did not issue the licenses, and still allows the administration of Pfizer vaccine under EUA, the clinical trial one so any liability from potential injuries is shield off, while claiming the vaccine is safe? What FDA or Pfizer is hiding or afraid of? As a personal stand, I do not consent to voluntarily participate any clinic trial of any means, including vaccination, and I do not accept the unvolunteered vaccination under EUA. I am hence requesting for accommodation in lieu of providing proof of being fully vaccinated. Appendix: Safety concern of EUA vaccines against Covid-19 All data quoted here for US only. Up to Oct 8, 2021, VAERS (https://vaers.hhs.gov/data/datasets.html?) has registered 640,911 cases adverse effect from vaccination. Out of all the cases, 616,204 cases have been related to Covid-19 vaccines. 55,319 cases from Johnson and Johnson vaccine usage, 291,506 from Moderna, and 268,060 from Pfizer. CDC reported (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/index.html ) , by Oct 19,2021, 409,438,987 doses vaccine has been administered. That is, overall, 0.1565% adverse effect rate. Down to the three vaccines available, 58.5% doses given was from Pfizer BioNTech, 37.7% from Moderna, and 3.75% was from J&J. (https://www.statista.com/statistics/1198516/covid-19-vaccinations-administered-us-by-company/ Data by Oct 17, 2021). That represents the adverse effect rates for individual vaccine to be 0.36% for J&J, 0.19% for Moderna, and 0.11% for Pfizer. Therefore from overall data Pfizer BioNTechs vaccine has better safety record than the other two. The reported efficacy of Pfizer vaccine was 95% efficient, based on the clinical study and based on relative risk reduction value. When it comes to absolute risk reduction value, the reported value was 0.84%, or in another value, the number needed to vaccinate (NNV) to prevent one case of covid-19 infection was 119 (www.thelacent.com/microbe Vol 2 July 2021). By Oct 20, 2021, the total Covid-19 death was reported to be 748,827 cases in US, and the total recovered cases to be 35,711,559. (https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/us/ ). That represents conservative recovery rate of 97.9% in US. With that, to prevent one case of death by Covid-19, number of people needed to be vaccinated by Pfizer BioNTech vaccine will be 5667. Keep in mind that Pfizers vaccine requires two injects. That means 11,333 injects needed. This calculation is made based on 100% of protection from vaccination, which we know is not true. Former CDC director Dr. Robert Redfield said, on Oct 18, during an interview with Fox News, that more than 40% of the recent death due to Covid-19 in Maryland were fully vaccinated. Nevertheless, I will stay with this conservative NNV estimation. Which projects that to save 1 life from Covid-19, 12.5 cases of adverse effect will be reported. By Oct 8, 2021, VAERS has logged 4,206 cases of death, 3,954 cases of life threatening, 3,821 cases of permanent disability, 21,355 cases of hospitalized, and 42,641 cases of emergency room visit, due to Pfizer BioNTech Covid-19 vaccination (see screenshot of the search above https://wonder.cdc.gov/vaers.html ) in US. The set of number of serious incidences is alarming. This represents the rate of 0.0328% of serious injury as results of each injection of vaccination. In another word, to prevent one case of death, there will be 3.72 cases of serious injury, including death and permanent disability. I have never seen a vaccine has such high safety risk in the past. Keep in mind that this is only taking the instant effect into account. We just simply do not have enough time to see the long-term adverse effects. For sanity check, Pfizer BioNTech reported serious cases is about 52.1% of total cases among three vaccines, J&J 9.72%, and Moderna 38.1%. With 58.5% of total injections in US were Pfizer, 37.7% were Moderna, and 3.75% were J&J, The Pfizer vaccine has better performance in safety than the other two, while the risk is, in my view, outweigh the benefit. Our company is claiming to be safety one company. We are heavily relying on design hazardous review and data to identify and mitigate the risks. In my daily work, I have led many of such reviews. In such review, if we identify an issue, and the solution recommended for the issue renders more risks the issue itself, I will be deeply in doubt that any review team will accept it. Same principle applies here. As a science and technology company, we married to data and facts. As the data are pointing different direction than the CDC guidance or Federal mandates, the company should stand up and educate the government, not just blindly follows. Lately, it was reported that Southwest Airline has backtracked their vaccination mandate. I am sure our company is more knowledgeable than Southwest in science and technology to make the right choice. Drill Results Include 1.13 G/T Gold over 42 metres*, 1.12 G/T Gold over 33 metres* and 1.06 G/T Gold over 29 metres* Delta, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - October 25, 2021) - Desert Gold Ventures Inc. (TSXV: DAU) (FSE: QXR2) (OTCQB: DAUGF) ("Desert Gold" or "the Company") is pleased to present the results for 26 holes totalling 2,421 metres completed on its Gourbassi West Zone target area, on its SMSZ Project in in Western Mali. This program led to the discovery of a material extension to the Gourbassi West Zone and extensions to the original Gourbassi West Zone. First pass drilling over two anomalous auger lines resulted in the discovery of the Gourbassi West North gold mineralization, which appears to be the widest gold system intersected on the SMSZ property to date. Desert Gold carried out a 257 hole, 18,161 metre drill program from January to July 2021. This news release includes results from 25 AC, RC and core holes completed over the Gourbassi West Zone and a new, on-strike target zone, located 500 metres to 1,500 metres north of the last hole at the Gourbassi West Zone. A summary of the drill highlights are as follows (see Figures 1 and 2 for more detail and Table 1 at end): Gourbassi West North Extension (New Discovery) Drilling intersected 3 closely spaced gold zones totalling an estimated 94 metres true thickness (across a 125 metre wide area) (see Figure 2) Lens 1: 0.64 g/t gold over 23 metres - 16 metres estimated true width Lens 2: 1.06 g/t gold over 29 metres (incl 1.62 g/t gold over 13 metres) * and 0 .67 g/t gold over 28 metres (incl 1.26 g/t gold over 7 metres) * - 33 metres estimated true width Lens 3: 1.13 g/t gold over 42 metres (incl 1.65 g/t gold over 19 metres) * and 1.12 g/t over 33 metres (incl 1.62 g/t gold over 16 metres) * - 45 metres estimated true width 500 metres south step-out from above holes: 0.64 g/t gold over 24 metres* Gourbassi West (Zone Expansion) 1.23 g/t gold over 10 metres* in hole FR-21-RC-20 0.30 g/t gold over 31 metres* in hole FR-21-RC-2 (incl 1.13 g/t gold over 7 metres) 1.62 g/t gold over 8 metres* in hole FR-21-RC-22 6.42 g/t gold over 2.2 metres* in hole FR-21-DD-005 1.48 g/t gold over 15.55 metres* in hole FR-21-DD-006 * Estimated true widths for the holes is from 75 to 85% of the intercept width. Story continues Desert Gold's President & CEO, Jared Scharf, commented, "Our 2021 drilling and property acquisition successes clearly support the exceptional exploration potential of our SMSZ Project. Through the drill bit we have both added to existing gold zones and discovered new ones like our recent Gourbassi West North discovery. Additionally, the acquisition of the Kolomba concession has added, what we believe, is likely the largest gold zone on the property to date. The primary objective of our 2022 drill campaign will be to aggressively expand these zones with more drilling. We look forward to getting back out into the field as soon as we can." Figure 1. Summary Surface Plan Gourbassi Target Area To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/4954/100685_f97c1ac554277b74_001full.jpg Figure 2. Gourbassi West North Drill Section To view an enhanced version of Figure 2, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/4954/100685_f97c1ac554277b74_002full.jpg Technical Details The Gourbassi West target area is located in the southwest portion of Desert Gold's SMSZ project (see figures 3 and 4 for regional and property scale locations). Desert Gold's initial program over Gourbassi West was designed to complete a model validation and resource expansion drill program that commenced in 2020, which included some follow-up drilling based on results. As part of this program, the Company completed three, short, 500-meter-spaced auger lines all of which, returned very anomalous gold-in-auger values. Follow-up drilling over two of the three auger lines, resulted in the discovery of the Gourbassi West North gold mineralization, which appears to be the widest gold system intersected on the SMSZ property to date. The strongest gold-in-auger values, on a line 500 metres further north, have not been tested yet as the onset of the rainy season necessitated an abrupt end to the 2021 drill campaign. This line of auger will be drill tested at the start of the 2022 drill campaign. Gourbassi West North Zone The Gourbassi West North Zone area is located approximately from 800 to 1,400 metres north of the modelled Gourbassi West Zone along a northly trending structural and soil anomaly target zone that has been traced for approximately 4,000 metres. This gold mineralization was discovered by following up gold-in-auger values that range up to 1,937 ppb gold on the furthest north, currently untested auger line. As well, first pass soil sample data (Desert Gold news release - June 1, 2021) suggest potential to further extend the high priority exploration target area for another 6,500 metres to the north. Auger drilling will be used to validate the gold-in-soil trend prior to drilling. Ten, 50 metre long, air core holes, in two fences, 600 metres apart, were drilled to test the gold-in auger anomalies. Of these, seven of the holes intersected potentially economic gold grades. Note that further studies will be required to determine if any of the gold mineralization could be deemed economic. The northernmost fence comprised seven holes which are interpreted to have intersected three gold-bearing lenses across a 125-metre-wide area (see Figure 2) with a best intercept of 1.13 g/t gold over 42 metres, including 1.62 g/t gold over 13 metres. The interpreted true width of these three lenses totals approximately 94 metres with the widest interpreted to be 45 metres wide. Modelling of the gold-bearing lenses also incorporates lower grade material grading from 0.1 to 0.4 g/t gold (gold alteration). The bulk of the mineralization is hosted by intermediate composition volcanic rocks with part of the mineralization hosted by sandstone and a narrow felsic intrusion. In the Gourbassi West Zone area, the sandstone is interpreted to be 'Tarkwa-like' sediments. Tarkwa rocks are an important host to several large gold mines in Ghana. The southernmost AC fence comprised 3, 50 metre holes, one of which intersected 0.64 g/t gold over 24 metres (FR-21-AC-019). Additional, untested auger (31 ppb) and soil (111 ppb) lie to the west of the drilled area. This mineralized area, may also be open to the east as at least one additional hole is required to close off the auger anomaly. The mineralization in hole 019 is hosted by a similar-looking quartzite unit as intersected in the northernmost fence, suggesting that there could be continuity between these two widely spaced drill fences and that the host intermediate volcanic unit lies further west and has not been tested yet. Gourbassi West Ten RC, 2 core hole and 3 AC holes were drilled at Gourbassi West during the recent drill program (see Figure 1 for locations). All but one of the holes intersected variable amounts of gold mineralization with the best intercept returned from hole FR-21-DD-006 with an intercept of 1.48 g/t gold over 15.6 metres. Three RC holes (20, 22a and 39), drilled to test the westernmost Gourbassi West Zone lens, succeeded in both extending the mineralization another 50 metres to depth (FR-21-RC-020 and 022A), with better grades and extending the mineralized trend another 100 metres to the south, where it remains open (FR-21-RC-039). Drill intercepts in RC holes 37 and 38, returned better grades than previous holes on these sections with RC hole 38 returning a 10-metre wide, Tarkwa-type-rock-hosted, interval that returned 0.8 g/t gold over 10 metres. An AC hole, FR-21-AC-21 drilled above RC hole 38, returned 0.30 g/t gold over 42 metres, the entire length of the hole. Two core holes, 005 and 006, were drilled to test the Gourbassi West Zone to depth with intercepts from both holes, likely to pull the modelled gold zones at least another 50 metres down dip. Hole FR-21-DD-005, a 70 metre down dip step-out from 0.88 g/t gold over 6.5 metres, returned 0.47 g/t gold over 6.6 metres and 6.42 g/t gold over 2.2 metres 70 metres down-dip of 0.65 g/t gold over 10 metres. Hole FR-21-DD-006 returned 0.96 g/t gold over 6.4 metres and 1.48 g/t gold over 15.6 metres, 50 metres down-dop of 1.13 g/t gold over 4 metres and 0.74 g/t gold over 7 metres, respectively. Next Steps All drill results have been returned from the lab, including requested re-assays. Results for the remainder of the 2021 drill program will be presented in subsequent news releases over the next few weeks as interpretations of the data progress. Planning for a 43-101 compliant technical report continues. Updated modelling of mineralized zones is in progress. Assuming no technical issues, this report is scheduled to be completed before the resumption of drilling in the latter part of the year. About the SMSZ Project The ~440 km2 SMSZ Project is both named after, and, overlies a 43 km section of the Senegal Mali Shear Zone (see Figure 1), which is related to 5 large gold mines located both to the north and south, along strike, including B2 Gold's Fekola Mine, Barrick's Gounkoto and Loulo Mines and AngloGold Ashanti/Iamgold's (now Allied Gold's) Sadiola and Yatela Mines1. To the Company's knowledge, the SMSZ Project is the largest, contiguous, non-producer land package over this very prospective structural feature. Exploration targets within 5 km of the Senegal Mali Shear Zone, are considered by management, to be high priority exploration targets. 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. 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. On Behalf of the Board of Directors "Sonny Janda" ____________________ Sonny Janda, Chairman Contact: Jared Scharf, President & CEO Email: jared.scharf@desertgold.ca Tel. No.: +1 (858) 247-8195 For further information please visit our website www.desertgold.ca or information available on www.SEDAR.com under the company's profile. 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 the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and similar Canadian 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. Actual future results may differ materially. In particular, this release contains forward-looking information relating to the business of the Company, the Property, financing and certain corporate changes. The forward-looking information contained in this release is made as of the date hereof and the Company 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. 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. Figure 3. SMSZ Project Location, Regional Geology and Major Deposits in Western Mali and Eastern Senegal To view an enhanced version of Figure 3, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/4954/100685_f97c1ac554277b74_003full.jpg Figure 4. Property Scale Compilation Map** To view an enhanced version of Figure 4, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/4954/100685_f97c1ac554277b74_004full.jpg **All gold grades over width, with the exception of the Soa, Berola and Gourbassi prospects, represent drill holes with the true widths, for most holes, ranging from 65 to 95%. Estimated true widths for the Soa and Berola prospects are unknown. Estimated true widths at the Gourbassi Zones are estimated to range from 60% to 90%. Table 1. Summary of Significant Drill Intercepts BHID FROM TO LENGTH Au_g/t FR-21-RC-018 56 59 3 0.38 FR-21-RC-019 24 32 8 0.52 FR-21-RC-020 119 120 1 0.68 FR-21-RC-020 122 132 10 1.23 FR-21-RC-021 0 31 31 0.46 Incl. 12 19 7 1.13 FR-21-RC-021 65 76 11 0.46 Incl. 67 69 2 1.94 FR-21-RC-022A 49 72 21 0.83 incl. 52 60 8 1.62 FR-21-RC-022A 108 124 16 0.42 incl. 120 124 4 0.81 FR-21-RC-023 78 90 12 0.31 FR-21-RC-023 80 84 4 0.49 FR-21-RC-024 55 60 5 1.16 FR-21-RC-037 8 14 6 0.59 FR-21-RC-037 19 36 17 0.66 FR-21-RC-038 47 54 7 1.51 FR-21-RC-038 62 63 1 0.64 FR-21-RC-038 85 110 25 0.46 Incl. 87 97 10 0.8 FR-21-RC-039 9 31 22 0.36 Incl. 26 30 4 0.75 FR-21-RC-039a 36 47 11 0.31 FR-21-AC-011 NSV FR-21-AC-012 29 34 5 0.31 FR-21-AC-012 40 42 2 1.07 FR-21-AC-013 3 26 23 0.64 FR-21-AC-014 20 48 28 0.67 incl. 37 44 7 1.26 FR-21-AC-015 3 32 29 1.06 incl. 6 10 4 1.18 incl. 13 26 13 1.62 FR-21-AC-016 8 50 42 1.13 incl. 28 50 19 1.65 FR-21-AC-017 8 41 33 1.12 incl. 25 41 16 1.62 FR-21-AC-018 20 25 5 0.35 FR-21-AC-018 34 36 2 0.5 FR-21-AC-019 23 47 24 0.64 incl. 39 47 8 1.14 FR-21-AC-020 NSV FR-21-AC-021 0 42 42 0.3 incl. 13 18 5 0.56 FR-21-AC-022 NSV FR-21-AC-023 NSV FR-21-DD-005 0 23 23 0.34 FR-21-DD-005 33.3 33.75 0.45 2.17 FR-21-DD-005 42.45 45 2.55 1.07 FR-21-DD-005 48.75 52 0.28 3.25 FR-21-DD-005 55.3 55.75 1.88 0.45 FR-21-DD-005 95 96 1 0.54 FR-21-DD-005 148.2 153.75 5.55 0.47 FR-21-DD-005 177 179.2 2.2 6.42 FR-21-DD-006 87.6 94 6.4 0.8 FR-21-DD-006 102.2 117.75 15.55 1.48 incl. 105.2 115.2 10 1.85 FR-21-DD-006 116.6 117.75 1.15 0.87 FR-21-DD-006 188 191.75 3.75 0.43 ____________________ 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/100685 Sven Hoppe You will be caught and prosecuted if you have committed crimes inside the Islamic State. That was the strong message conveyed on Monday in the successful prosecution of Jennifer Wenisch, a German female ISIS returnee who had, upon her return to Germany from Syria in 2016, claimed innocence. The truth, however, was far more sinister. 27-year-old Wenisch was a convert to Islam who traveled from northwest Germany to Syria to join ISIS in 2014. Once with ISIS, she married Taha al-Jumailly and lived with him in Mosul, where they bought an enslaved Yazidi woman and her 5-year-old daughter. The couple was subsequently implicated in the murder of the child. According to the prosecutors statements: After the girl fell ill and wet her mattress, the husband of the accused chained her up outside as punishment and let the child die of thirst in the scorching heat The accused allowed her husband to do so and did nothing to save the girl. Rescued American Girl, 8, Says She Was Beaten and Abused in ISIS Camp Wenisch might never have been caught for this crime, had it not been for the cooperation between the FBI and the German police. According to police sourceswith whom the International Center for the Study of Violent Extremism (ICSVE) shared over 20 ISIS detainees research interviews, with the detainees full permissionWenisch wished to get back to ISIS after her return to Germany. And she may have, had the police not caught on to her. Thinking she was chatting over the internet to a fellow ISIS supporter in 2018, German police said that Wenisch began admitting that she was a member of the ISIS hisbah (ISISs brutal morality police) and that she had owned an enslaved Yazidi woman. She agreed to meet the FBI informant she was chatting with and let him drive her across the country to depart Germany under the radar. Unknown to Wenisch was that the FBI and German police cooperating on the case had installed a microphone in the dashboard of the car and that all her admissions of crime were being recorded as they drove across the country together. Playing his part, the FBI informant told her he wished he could accompany her to Syria. Story continues Wenisch admitted to the informant about the slave girls murder and about how she had been recruited in mid-2015 to ISISs morality police. She, like other Western women who served in the ISIS hisbah, had been armed with an AK-47 assault rifle, a pistol and an explosives vest, as she patrolled city parks in ISIS-occupied Fallujah and Mosul to enforce ISISs dress code and bans on alcohol and tobacco. Instead of making it past Germanys borders, Wenisch was arrested, and German federal prosecutor Claudia Gorf began assembling her case with the recording in hand. In the same time period, Gorf was approached by Yazidi activists working with Amal Clooney who were trying to get the childs murder prosecuted on behalf of the surviving Yazidi mother. Federal prosecutor Gorf managed to bring the Yazidi mother, known only as Nora, to Germany to testify in the case as the main witness to the child being chained up to die. Defense attorneys argued that there is no proof that the child actually died as no body or records have been produced. ICSVE researchers, having learned of the case, searched independently with the help of the Iraqi Falcons Intelligence cell for additional evidence of the childs death as she was taken to Fallujah Hospital, where she either arrived dead or succumbed from unconsciousness to death. While some of the staff remembered the case, the medical records at the hospital had been burned during the ISIS conflicts and could not be retrieved. Noras testimony of her childs cruel death, however, met the threshold of courtroom evidence. Wenisch's Iraqi husband, Taha al-Jumailly, is also facing a separate trial in Frankfurt with a verdict due in late November. As with many ISIS returnees, Wenisch wanted to portray herself as innocent upon her return to Germany to evade the justice system. Months after the child's death in 2015, Wenisch had made her way out of Syria and traveled to Ankara to apply for new identity papers at the German embassy. There, she was arrested by Turkish security services upon leaving the building, and extradited to her home country. In Germany, Wenisch claimed to be a victim of ISIS propaganda who wanted nothing but to live peacefully at home. The Real-Life Superheroes Rescuing ISIS Sex Slaves As time would tell, she was not innocent at all, and is now a convicted accomplice to murder. According to the charges made against Wenisch, her declared goal after spending some years home in Germany was to travel back to ISIS-controlled territory, prosecutors said. In Mondays verdict in a Munich court, she was found guilty of two crimes against humanity in the form of enslavement, as well as aiding and abetting the girls killing by failing to offer help. She was sentenced to ten years imprisonment. The case marks a great victory for Yazidis, who were, according to most reckonings, the victims of genocide by ISIS and who have been disappointed by Iraqi courts failures to recognize specific crimes against Yazidis in their terrorist prosecutions of ISIS members. It is one of the first cases successfully tried that specifically addresses ISISs brutal treatment of the Yazidis. Applying the legal principle of universal jurisdiction, Germany has charged several German and foreign nationals with war crimes and crimes against humanity carried out abroad. The UN is currently urging 57 nations to repatriate their nationals held in Syria by the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and Autonomous Administration of Northeast Syria (AANES), who are exhausted from the burden of caring for more than 57,000 ISIS detainees, most of whom remain uncharged and unprosecuted. Belgium returned six nationals in July, and just this month, Germany and Denmark just returned 11 women and 37 children. There seems to be growing momentum for repatriations with recognition that the children are innocent and that prosecutionif not rehabilitation and reintegrationis possible. 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. Despite being cut off from the world for more than a year and a half because of the Covid pandemic, the inhabitants of Easter Island on Sunday voted against reopening their home to tourists. Sixty-seven percent of those who voted on the remote island, known for its impressive megaliths of mysterious origin, said they wanted to keep their borders shut despite not having seen a tourist since March 2020. The vote on the Chilean island in the South Pacific, some 3,700km off the coast of Chile, is not binding however. The final decision will be made by health authorities in the mainland region of Valparaiso. So far Easter Island, which has some 10,000 inhabitants, has recorded eight cases of Covid-19 and no new infections since September 2020. There have been zero deaths. Most of those who live on the island are Rapa Nui, the indigenous name of the island, and are of Polynesian culture. Large abstention The simple question put to the people on Sunday was Do you want to open the island to tourists in January? Despite the resounding No vote, some 80 percent of islanders failed to cast a ballot at all. "The island derives its income from the tourist industry. It's the source of the economy," said Salvador Atan, vice president of the local Ma'u Henua community, which administers Rapa Nui National Park. Like the local authorities, Atan is in favor of reopening the island on 1 January. More than 73 percent of Easter Island's population is vaccinated against Covid-19, but the medical centre in Hanga Roa, the capital, has no intensive care unit. In contrast, Chile has recorded more than 1.6 million coronavirus cases and more than 36,000 deaths since the pandemic began. The rights group currently has two offices in the city - one Hong Kong-focused and another for the wider Asia-Pacific region Amnesty International will shut its offices in Hong Kong over a recently-imposed national security law. The human rights group said the law, imposed by China, makes it "effectively impossible" for them to operate. Amnesty has had a presence in Hong Kong for more than 40 years, and now runs two offices there - one focused on the city and another on the wider region. The local office will close by 31 October, and the regional office will move out by the end of the year. The broadly worded national security law in Hong Kong criminalises secession, subversion, terrorism and collusion with foreign forces. Critics say it is aimed at crushing dissent but China says it is meant to maintain stability. Anjhula Mya Singh Bais, chair of Amnesty's international board, said in a statement that a crackdown under the law has forced at least 35 groups to disband this year. "This decision, made with a heavy heart, has been driven by Hong Kong's national security law, which has made it effectively impossible for human rights organisations in Hong Kong to work freely and without fear of serious reprisals," she said. "The environment of repression and perpetual uncertainty created by the national security law makes it impossible to know what activities might lead to criminal sanctions." Among the groups to have disbanded this year were several leading trade unions, NGOs and professional groups. Several other NGOs, including the New School for Democracy, have relocated to Taiwan. Mr Xi repeated calls for global cooperation at the UN China's president Xi Jinping marked the country's 50 years of membership in the UN with a speech calling for greater global cooperation. Mr Xi addressed the conference via video link, calling for global cooperation on issues like terrorism and cybersecurity. He did not mention Taiwan. China was a founding member of the UN as the Republic of China before the government was ousted by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The rulers of the Republic of China fled to Taiwan, and it was this government that was recognised by the UN as the representatives of China. But Taiwan lost its seat at the UN after the People's Republic of China- a permanent member of the UN security council - was admitted in 1971. China sees Taiwan as a breakaway province, while Taiwan claims to be a free and independent country. However, China's One China policy asserts that there is only one sovereign Chinese government, and that Taiwan is an inseparable part of the country that is to be reunified one day with the mainland. In his speech on Monday delivered via video link, Mr Xi said that the decision to "recognise the representatives of the government of the People's Republic of China as the only legitimate representatives of China to the United Nations ... was a victory for the Chinese people and a victory for people of the world". There have been rising tensions between China and Taiwan in recent months. China has flown military planes and fighter jets into Taiwan's air defence zone, prompting the island's defence minister to say tensions between the two countries were at their worst in 40 years. Taiwan also accuses China of using its role within the UN to prevent Taiwanese delegates from attending conferences by specialised UN agencies, therefore denying them access to international cooperation in fields like medical sciences and aviation. Story continues What is China's role in the UN? China's influence in the UN has continued to grow since it joined the organization in 1971. In 2018, China became one of the largest financial contributors to the UN. Its contribution rose to 12% of the UN budget in 2019 from 7.9% in 2018, making it second only to the US at 22% and surpassing Japan at 9.7%. In recent years, a growing number of key roles in the organization, like the Head of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), have been staffed by Chinese nationals. China has also been accused by critics of using its clout within the organisation to rally support for its treatment of Uyghurs in Xinjiang province. You may also like... Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 25) The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas is eyeing the use of polymer banknotes by the first half of next year, an official said Monday. In a briefing, BSP deputy governor Mamerto Tangonan said they hope to be ready to test a few hundred million pieces of 1,000 bills made of polymer material nationwide by the first half of 2022. The high denomination was chosen because it is the banknote most used in automated teller machines, he added. Banknotes made of polymer also have a lifespan 2.5 to 4 times longer than that of paper banknotes and can be melted and reused once declared unfit, he added. This makes them more cost-effective as it takes longer to replace them, noted Tangonan. Given their durable and unique makeup, polymer banknotes can be sanitized without getting damaged. Citing a study from Mexico, the BSP official reported that polymer bills were found to have less bacteria than cotton-based notes. Polymer bills are likewise more difficult to fake, according to the central bank official, noting that facilities and materials used to produce them are less accessible to the public than the usual paper and printers used by counterfeiters. They also have a different set of security features, he added. The current peso bills are made of cotton-abaca and have an average lifespan of 18 months. Testing the effectiveness of polymerizing banknotes, meanwhile, could last from 45 to 72 months, or about three to six years. Tangonan assured that the effect of polymerizing banknotes will have a minimal effect on the abaca industry, adding that the test will displace only about 0.1% to 0.2% of overall abaca exports, or roughly 210 to 481 jobs. He said the central bank has been ramping up utilization of abaca in its corporate products and coordinating with other agencies to further promote its use. Should the test be successful, the deputy governor said it would be up to authorities succeeding them to decide on the next step. After a successful testing, we have to present to the next set of policymakers how to proceed or where to go from there. We already have the actual data under Philippine local conditions for the policymakers to make a very well-informed decision on what to do next, said Tangonan. The BSP bases its planning and research on polymerizing peso bills from the experiences of the central banks of Australia, Canada, Mexico, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 25) The Department of Environment and Natural Resources will implement a 15-minute time limit among those who will visit the Manila Baywalk Dolomite Beach to reduce the number people in the area. In an interview with CNN Philippines' The Source on Monday, Environment Undersecretary Jonas Leones said this is one of the agency's "remedial measures" to accommodate more people who would like to visit the dolomite beach, a week after it opened due to eased restrictions in Metro Manila. "Pagpasok nila (Upon entry), there will be somebody who will be guiding them...Picture-picture lang sila doon (They can take their pictures there) for 10-15 minutes. After that, they should leave the premises, so other people can see the dolomite area," he said. Manila Baywalk Coordinating Office deputy executive director Jacob Meimban said "tens of thousands of people" visited the dolomite beach on Sunday, but his office had no complete control over the large crowd since anyone can simply enter the premises. READ: Manila Bay office admits it has 'no control' over large crowd at dolomite beach Leones said they were not much alarmed when over 8,000 people flocked to the dolomite beach when it reopened on Oct. 16, but they were surprised when visitors hit 25,000 the following day. He said this number even doubled just on Oct. 23. "Siguro hindi lang excitement ang nangyayari sa mga kababayan natin pero na-curious rin sila sa dolomite. Siguro yun yung naging compelling reason why they really wanted to go and see the area," he added. [Translation: Maybe it's not just the excitement but the people were also curious about the dolomite. And that was their compelling reason why they really wanted to go and see the area.] Meimban said the dolomite beach, which measures 1.2 hectares, could only accommodate up to 5,000 people. Leones said it could even accommodate up to 10,000 pending its expansion. According to Manila Police District chief Brig. Gen. Leo Francisco, about 65,000 people flocked to the artificial beach on Sunday alone. Francisco said he was in discussion with the DENR and the Department of Tourism to address the crowding at the dolomite beach. A one-day shutdown will be implemented weekly to maintain the dolomite beach, which is made up of hundreds of millions of pesos worth of artificial white sand. The DENR will also coordinate with the Philippine National Police, the Philippine Coast Guard, Metro Manila Development Authority, and the local government of Manila to discuss other crowd control measures, Leones said. The agency also hopes to make the dolomite beach swimmable as early as December once it meets the bay's water quality, he added. The Health department asked the DENR to regulate the number of visitors in light of the prohibition on mass gatherings. "I call on all of our national agencies. Whatever was discussed in IATF, whatever safety protocols that we are now implementing, this is for the good of our population. Kailangan ipatupad po natin iyon (we should be implementing that)," Health Undersecretary Rosario Vergeire said Monday. "Kung nakikita natin na hindi kaya, tulad ng sinasabi ng ibang officials na masyadong madami, hindi namin kaya ipatupad, let's regulate that. Hindi natin kaya? Baguhin natin siguro ang proseso. Pero kailangan makatulong namin kayong lahat," she added. [Translation: If we cannot do it, just like other officials say that the crowd is too many, or they cannot simply implement anything, let's regulate. We can't do it? Then let's change the process. But you should be able to help us.] Cebu (CNN Philippines, October 25) Cebu City has further eased restrictions for fully vaccinated travelers, saying it is part of the policy to incentivize inoculation against COVID-19. The city government said Monday those fully vaccinated can now enter the city without needing to present negative COVID-19 test results. However, those below 18 years old must be accompanied by their fully vaccinated guardians and parents at all times. The loosening of restrictions comes after Cebu province and Cebu City were placed under Alert Level 2 beginning Oct. 2. Cinemas were allowed to accommodate fully vaccinated patrons but were limited to 50 % capacity. Curfew has also been shortened from 11:30 p.m. to 4 a.m., from the previous 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. City officials warned they would be strict in checking vaccination cards for authenticity, and those caught with fake cards will be charged. The cards should have QR codes for easy verification. But for those cards without QR codes, the city will require a certification from the travelers local health unit. (CNN) Brian Laundrie, who authorities had said could help fill in at least some of the blanks about what Gabby Petito's final days looked like, has been confirmed dead. Laundrie's remains were found Wednesday in the Florida reserve authorities had been combing through for more than a month. Over the summer, the couple embarked on a cross-country road trip, from which Laundrie returned to their North Port, Florida, home alone on September 1, police say. On September 11, Petito's parents reported her missing. Laundrie, without talking to authorities during Petito's disappearance, left his home September 13 and was not seen again, his parents later told police. The young woman's remains were recovered in Wyoming on September 19. A coroner ruled she died by strangulation. But little else is known -- at least to the public -- about what led up to Petito's death. Though authorities have not explicitly connected Laundrie to Petito's death, they have said he was among the last people to see her alive. "Two people went on a trip, and one person returned," North Port Police chief Todd Garrison said in September. With Laundrie now gone and many questions still unanswered, here's what experts say investigators could home in on to help them answer what happened to Petito. Crime scenes will be critical in investigation Among the most important components in an investigation like this are the crime scenes, said Paul Belli, a retired lieutenant of the Sacramento County Sheriff's Office and president of the International Homicide Investigators Association. Teton County, Wyoming, Coroner Dr. Brent Blue said Petito died by manual strangulation/throttling, adding that her body had likely been outside in the wilderness for about three to four weeks before being found. "Throttling means that someone was strangled by human force. There was no mechanical force involved," Blue told CNN. There could be clues as to what happened -- and who did it -- that investigators may be able to collect from a crime scene, Belli said, including fingerprints, depending on the condition of the human remains. What's difficult in cases like these is that unlike killings that are committed by strangers of the victims, when the person of interest is someone the victim was involved with, finding their DNA on a victim's body is to be expected. "You would expect DNA on either one of them from the other," Belli said. "But I mean, if there's DNA maybe where it shouldn't be, that could be kind of a clue as to what may have occurred." "So there are ways to absolutely, at least get you to a point where you're like, 'OK, this definitely makes sense, this is the person who did this crime,'" he added. The type of crime also can help offer hints, said former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani. Killings involving manual strangulation can often indicate "an emotional element," Rahmani said. Some key items could provide answers Investigators last week recovered personal items such as a backpack and notebook along with Laundrie's remains. A source with knowledge of the investigation told CNN's Randi Kaye the notebook is "possibly salvageable." And experts say that could offer more insight. Those items will likely be taken to an FBI lab where there are "experts who really spend their careers doing things like drying out paper evidence, trying to recover the writing and the ink marks and potentially fingerprints and all sorts of other potentially relevant pieces of evidence from an article just like this," former FBI Deputy Director and CNN senior law enforcement analyst Andrew McCabe told CNN's Wolf Blitzer Thursday. The notebook could potentially include information like Laundrie's motives, his feelings about Petito and other notes he made about events in Wyoming, McCabe added. Investigators also obtained a search warrant last month for an external hard drive they found in Petito's white van -- the one the couple used during their trip and in which Laundrie returned, alone, to their North Port home. Authorities have not shared details on what they found on the drive. Finding phones in a case like this could also offer an "incredible amount of information," Belli said. A source close to the Laundrie family told CNN last month Laundrie left home without his wallet and without a cell phone he had purchased earlier in September. Police do not have the phone he had with him during the couple's trip, nor do they have Petito's phone, CNN confirmed earlier in October. Finally, videos that authorities have collected of Laundrie and Petito could also help put together pieces of the puzzle in the couple's journey -- and perhaps Laundrie's journey back to Florida. "I don't think people realize the sheer volume of information that we now get on every case," Belli said. "Video, phone records... if that vehicle had any information that can be gleaned from it with a GPS." Laundrie was charged with using a debit card and PIN for accounts that did not belong to him after Petito's death, according to an indictment. "(Authorities) probably collected video from wherever those were used, video for wherever he may have appeared to stop for a period of time. I doubt he drove completely straight through," Belli said. "So, there's a lot of additional work to be done that has been in progress, most likely." Circumstances may help unravel the mystery In a case like this, circumstances alone can also help paint a clear picture, Rahmani, the former prosecutor, said. "It's a very, very strong circumstantial case," he said. "You have a history of violence between the two. You have all evidence that indicates (Laundrie) was the last person to see her alive and the manner of death, that manual strangulation, that tends to be... most often someone you know." In August, Utah authorities had an encounter with Laundrie and Petito and described them as having "engaged in some sort of altercation." The two were described as getting into a physical fight following an argument but both reported "they are in love and engaged to be married and desperately didn't wish to see anyone charged with a crime," one officer's report stated. Police body cam footage showed Petito crying uncontrollably as she talked to police. "We have someone who did not report his fiancee missing when he returned without her, we have someone that fled," Rahmani added. And in an interview Thursday, Steven Bertolino, the Laundrie family attorney, said Laundrie was "grieving" and appeared upset when he left his family's home in mid-September. Laundrie's parents knew their son was "grieving, they knew that he was so upset and, you know, they just couldn't control that he was leaving and he left,'" Bertolino told CNN affiliate WABC. Experts have questioned what the Laundrie family may know about what happened to Petito. "Did they help him escape? Did they help destroy evidence?" Palm Beach County, Florida, State Attorney Dave Aronberg told CNN's Wolf Blitzer Friday night. "What did they know?" Though with Laundrie deceased it may be harder to find the answers that both investigators and the families were hoping for, there may still be a lot that could be done in the investigation into Petito's killing, Belli said. He said this could remain an open case for some time if authorities are not able to confidently say they know who killed her. "I mean the closure is really, did he do it or did he not do it, that is going to be the overarching feeling based on my experience," he said. "The investigators," he added, "I guarantee that they feel a great need to provide the truth, whatever that truth is, to both sides of the family. That's really what we do as investigators is find all the facts and lay out the truth." This story was first published on CNN.com, "With Brian Laundrie dead, here's where else authorities could look for answers on what happened to Gabby Petito." (CNN) -- An assistant director on the film set of "Rust" was the subject of complaints over safety and his behavior on set during two productions in 2019, two people who worked closely with him tell CNN. The complaints against assistant director Dave Halls include a disregard for safety protocols for weapons and pyrotechnics use, blocked fire lanes and exits, and instances of inappropriately sexual behavior in the workplace. Halls was identified in court documents as the assistant director who handed actor Alec Baldwin a prop firearm, which when fired struck cinematographer Halyna Hutchins with a live round. Hutchins was later pronounced dead at a New Mexico hospital. Maggie Goll, an IATSE Local 44 prop maker and licensed pyrotechnician, said in a statement to CNN that while working on Hulu's "Into the Dark" Anthology Series in February and May of 2019, Halls neglected to hold safety meetings and consistently failed to announce the presence of a firearm on set to the crew, as is protocol. "The only reason the crew was made aware of a weapon's presence was because the assistant prop master demanded Dave acknowledge and announce the situation each day," Goll's statement reads. She adds that the prop master would "announce each day when a gun would be required on camera, the disposition of that weapon -- whether it was a rubber/plastic replica, a non-firing option, or a 'cold' functional, but unloaded option, allowing anyone to inspect said weapon prior to bringing it to set and presenting it to the talent. (...) The Prop Master frequently admonished Dave for dismissing the talent without returning props, weapon included, or failing to make safety announcements." Goll's statement also describes an instance where a licensed pyrotechnician had a medical emergency on set and Halls asked her to continue with the shoot. "I told him they are free to film whatever they want, but that there would be no fire or sparks, etc., until the medic, fire safety officer, and all of my crewmates were safely back on set," Goll details. Halls did not respond to CNN's request for comment Saturday night about Goll's allegations against him. A crew member who also worked in the productions but requested to not be named for fear of retaliation corroborated Goll's accounts, saying that when Halls did hold safety meetings, they were short and he was dismissive, saying the guns used would be the same as the production always uses, and questioning why they'd have to hold the meetings in the first place. The crew member also said Halls complained about having a gun "cleared" (inspected by a licensed professional on set, such as an armorer) for a scene where an actress would aim the gun to her own head and pull the trigger. Goll and the other crew member told CNN of another instance where Halls insisted on continuing filming on location while a storm hit, where electrical lights were touching mud, wires were exposed to the rain, and crew members feared for their safety. On the allegations of sexual misconduct, Goll said she did not file a complaint, but says that "on my first day back on the series, another crew member told me to 'watch out' for Dave, saying he was too physically familiar with the crew, despite many rebuffs and complaints about unwanted and unnecessary touches. Nothing too extreme, but crew members of all genders and dispositions were being made uncomfortable by Dave's touches to their backs, waists, shoulders, etc." Goll said at the time she called a production safety line and complained internally to Blumhouse Productions executive producers in person. She also said she informed the Directors Guild of America (DGA) regarding unsafe persons. "To my knowledge nothing was done after my complaints," her statement reads. CNN is reaching out to Blumhouse Productions and the DGA for comment. This story was first published on CNN.com "Assistant director on 'Rust' was subject of complaints dating back to 2019". Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 25) The nation's top cop has ordered an investigation into all possible angles in the grenade blast in Maguindanao on Saturday, Oct. 23. Philippine National Police (PNP) Chief PGEN. Guillermo Eleazar said the explosion happened just as the convoy of some 20 to 30 vehicles led by Maguindanao Rep. Esmael "Toto" Mangudadatu passed in the vicinity. Initial investigation showed a hand grenade was thrown near a Philippine Army detachment in Guindulungan town. "Our police investigators should not leave any stone unturned in determining the motive and identifying the perpetrator of the grenade blast. Lahat ng anggulo ay ating titingnan sa insidenteng ito (We will look at all possible angles in this incident)," Eleazar said on Monday. "Isa lang sa maraming posibleng motibo sa insidente ang sinasabing pag-target kay Rep. Mangudadatu ng pagpapasabog. Maaari rin kasing nagkataon lang na dumaan ang convoy [niya] nang naganap ang insidente," he added. [Translation: Targeting Rep. Mangudadatu in the explosion is only one of the many possible motives. It is also likely that it was just coincidental.] Mangudadatu is joining the gubernatorial race in the province in next year's polls. The PNP chief said local authorities will coordinate with congressmen as well as the officers deployed in the Army detachment for the probe. Eleazar also directed all police units and offices to stay vigilant and work with the military "to prevent any attacks from lawless elements," especially during these elections. On November 23, 2009, Mangudadatu's wife, Bai Genalyn, other female relatives and supporters, together with 32 media workers, were killed in Ampatuan town in Maguindanao. The victims were in a convoy en route to file Magudadatu's candidacy for provincial governor when ambushed. A Quezon City court in 2019 convicted eight members of the powerful Ampatuan clan and their accomplices for the massacre. Longer, more frequent outages afflict the US power grid as states fail to prepare for climate change Chuck Burton/AP file photo In September 2018, Nick Monroe waits at a gas station near Wilmington, N.C., hoping a truck will bring fuel for his vehicles and generator, in preparation for Hurricane Florence. WILMINGTON, N.C. Every time a storm lashes the Carolina coast, the power lines on Tonye Grays street go down, cutting her lights and air conditioning. After Hurricane Florence in 2018, Gray went three days with no way to refrigerate medicine for her multiple sclerosis or pump the floodwater out of her basement. Florence was hell, said Gray, 61, a marketing account manager and Wilmington native who finds herself increasingly frustrated by the citys vulnerability. Weve had storms long enough in Wilmington and this particular area that all power lines should have been underground by now. We know were going to get hit. Across the nation, severe weather fueled by climate change is pushing aging electrical systems past their limits, often with deadly results. Last year, the average American home endured more than eight hours without power, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration more than double the outage time five years ago. This year alone, a wave of abnormally severe winter storms caused a disastrous power failure in Texas, leaving millions of homes in the dark, sometimes for days, and at least 200 dead. Power outages caused by Hurricane Ida contributed to at least 14 deaths in Louisiana, as some of the poorest parts of the state suffered through weeks of 90-degree heat without air conditioning. As storms grow fiercer and more frequent, environmental groups are pushing states to completely reimagine the electrical grid, incorporating more batteries, renewable energy sources and localized systems known as microgrids, which they say could reduce the incidence of wide-scale outages. Utility companies have proposed their own storm-proofing measures, including burying power lines underground. But state regulators largely have rejected these ideas, citing pressure to keep energy rates affordable. Of $15.7 billion in grid improvements under consideration last year, regulators approved only $3.4 billion, according to a national survey by the NC Clean Energy Technology Center about one fifth. After a weather disaster, everybodys standing around saying, Why didnt you spend more to keep the lights on? Ted Thomas, chairman of the Arkansas Public Service Commission, said in an interview with The Washington Post. But when you try to spend more when the system is working, its a tough sell. A major impediment is the failure by state regulators and the utility industry to consider the consequences of a more volatile climate and to come up with better tools to prepare for it. For example, a Berkeley Lab study last year of outages caused by major weather events in six states found that neither state officials nor utility executives attempted to calculate the social and economic costs of longer and more frequent outages, such as food spoilage, business closures, supply chain disruptions and medical problems. There is no question that climatic changes are happening that directly affect the operation of the power grid, said Justin Gundlach, a senior attorney at the Institute for Policy Integrity, a think tank at New York University Law School. What you still havent seen ... is a [state] commission saying: Isnt climate the through line in all of this? Lets examine it in an open-ended way, lets figure out where the information takes us and make some decisions. In interviews, several state commissioners acknowledged that failure. Our electric grid was not built to handle the storms that are coming this next century, said Tremaine L. Phillips, a commissioner on the Michigan Public Service Commission, which in August held an emergency meeting to discuss the problem of power outages. We need to come up with a broader set of metrics in order to better understand the success of future improvements. The need is especially urgent in North Carolina, a state that has declared a federal disaster from a hurricane or tropical storm five times in the past four years. Among them was Hurricane Florence, which brought torrential rain, catastrophic flooding and the states worst outage in over a decade in September 2018. More than one million residents were left disconnected from refrigerators, air conditioners, ventilators and other essential machines, some for up to two weeks. Elderly residents dependent on oxygen were evacuated from nursing homes. Relief teams flew medical supplies to hospitals cut off by flooded roads. Desperate people facing closed stores and rotting food looted a Wilmington Family Dollar. I have PTSD from Hurricane Florence, not because of the actual storm but the aftermath, said Evelyn Bryant, a community organizer who took part in the Wilmington response. The storm reignited debate over a $13-billion proposal by Duke Energy, one of the largest power companies in the nation, to reinforce the states power grid. A few months earlier, the state had rejected Dukes request for full repayment of those costs, determining that protecting the grid against weather is a normal part of doing business and not eligible for the type of reimbursement the company had sought. After Florence, Duke offered a smaller, $2.5-billion plan, along with the argument that severe weather events are one of seven megatrends (including cyberthreats and population growth) that require greater investment, according to a PowerPoint presentation included in testimony to the state. The company owns the two largest utilities in North Carolina, Duke Energy Carolinas and Duke Energy Progress. Vote Solar, a nonprofit climate advocacy group, objected to Dukes plan, saying the utility had failed to study the risks of climate impacts. Dukes flood maps, for example, had not been updated to reflect the latest projections for sea level rise, they said. In testimony, Vote Solar claimed Duke was using environmental trends to justify investments it had already decided to pursue. The United States is one of the few countries where regulated utilities are usually guaranteed a rate of return on capital investments. That business model incentivizes spending regardless of how well it solves problems for customers and inspires skepticism. Ric OConnell, executive director of GridLab, a nonprofit group that assists state and regional policymakers on electrical grid issues, said utilities in many states are waving their hands and saying hurricanes to justify spending that would do little to improve climate resilience. Duke Energy spokesman Jeff Brooks acknowledged that the company had not conducted a climate risk study but pointed out that this type of analysis is still relatively new for the industry. He said Dukes grid improvement plan inherently was designed to think about future needs, including reinforced substations with walls that rise several feet above the previous high watermark for flooding, and partly relied on federal flood maps to determine which stations are at most risk. Brooks said Duke is not using weather events to justify routine projects, noting that the company had spent more than a year meeting with community stakeholders and using their feedback to make significant changes to its grid improvement plan. This year, the North Carolina Utilities Commission finally approved a set of grid improvements that will cost customers $1.2 billion. But the commission reserved the right to deny Duke reimbursement of those costs if it cannot prove they are prudent and reasonable. The commissions general counsel, Sam Watson, declined to discuss the decision, saying the commission can comment on specific cases only in public orders. The utility is now burying power lines in several neighborhoods across the state that are most vulnerable to wide-scale outages, Brooks said. It is also fitting aboveground power lines with self-healing technology, a network of sensors that diverts electricity away from equipment failures to minimize the number of customers affected by an outage. As part of a settlement with Vote Solar, Duke Energy last year agreed to work with state officials and local leaders to further evaluate the potential impacts of climate change, a process that Brooks said is expected to take two to three years. The debate in North Carolina is being echoed in states across the nation, where burying power lines has emerged as one of the most common proposals for insulating the grid from high winds, fires and flooding. But opponents have balked at the cost, which can run in the millions of dollars per mile. In California, for example, Pacific Gas & Electric wants to bury 10,000 miles of power lines, both to make the grid more resilient and to reduce the risk of sparking wildfires. Its power equipment has contributed to multiple deadly wildfires in the past decade, including the 2018 Camp Fire that killed at least 85 people. PG&Es proposal has drawn scorn from critics, including San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo, who say it would be too slow and expensive. But Patricia Poppe, the companys CEO, told reporters that doing nothing would cost California even more in lost lives and property. The plan has yet to be submitted to the state, but Terrie Prosper, a spokeswoman for the California Public Utilities Commission, said the commission has supported underground lines as a wildfire mitigation strategy. Another oft-floated solution is microgrids, small electrical systems that provide power to a single neighborhood, university or medical center. Most of the time, they are connected to a larger utility system. But in the event of an outage, microgrids can operate on their own, with the aid of solar energy stored in batteries. In Florida, regulators recently approved a four-year microgrid pilot project, but the technology remains expensive and unproven. In Maryland, regulators in 2016 rejected a plan to spend about $16 million for two microgrids in Baltimore, in part because the local utility made no attempt to quantify the tangible benefits to its customer base. In Texas, where officials have largely abandoned state regulation in favor of the free market, the results have been no more encouraging. Without requirements, as exist elsewhere, for building extra capacity for times of high demand or stress, the state was ill-equipped to handle an abnormal deep freeze in February that knocked out power to 4 million customers for days. Since then, Berkshire Hathaway Energy and Starwood Energy Group each proposed spending $8 billion to build new power plants to provide backup capacity, with guaranteed returns on the investment of 9 percent, but the Texas legislature has not acted on either plan. New York is one of the few states where regulators have assessed the risks of climate change and pushed utilities to invest in solutions. After 800,000 New Yorkers lost power for 10 days in 2012 in the wake of Hurricane Sandy, state regulators ordered utility giant Con Edison to evaluate the states vulnerability to weather events. The resulting report, which estimated climate risks could cost the company as much as $5.2 billion by 2050, gave ConEd data to inform its investments in storm hardening measures, including new storm walls and submersible equipment in areas at risk of flooding. Meanwhile, the New York Public Service Commission has aggressively enforced requirements that utility companies keep the lights on during big storms, fining utility providers nearly $190 million for violations including inadequate staffing during Tropical Storm Isaias in 2020. At the end of the day, we do not want New Yorkers to be at the mercy of outdated infrastructure, said Rory M. Christian, who last month was appointed chair of the New York commission. In North Carolina, as Duke Energy slowly works to harden the grid, some are pursuing other means of fostering climate-resilient communities. Beth Schrader, the recovery and resilience director for New Hanover County, which includes Wilmington, said some of the people who went the longest without power after Florence had no vehicles, no access to nearby grocery stores and no means of getting to relief centers set up around the city. For example, Quanesha Mullins, a 37-year-old mother of three, went eight days without power in her housing project on Wilmingtons east side. Her family got by on food from the Red Cross and walked a mile to charge their phones at McDonalds. With no air conditioning, they slept with the windows open in a neighborhood with a history of violent crime. Schrader is working with researchers at the University of North Carolina in Charlotte to estimate the cost of helping people like Mullins. The researchers estimate that it would have cost about $572,000 to provide shelter, meals and emergency food stamp benefits to 100 families for two weeks, said Robert Cox, an engineering professor who researches power systems at UNC-Charlotte. Such calculations could help spur local governments to do more to help vulnerable communities, for example by providing resilience outposts with backup power generators, heating or cooling rooms, Internet access and other resources, Schrader said. But they also are intended to show the costs of failing to shore up the grid. The regulators need to be moved along, Cox said. In the meantime, Tonye Gray finds herself worrying about what happens when the next storm hits. While Duke Energy says it is burying power lines in the most outage-prone areas, she has yet to see its yellow-vested crews turn up in her neighborhood. We feel, she said, that were at the end of the line. Australias Telstra has partnered with the Australian government for a US$1.6 billion acquisition of Digicel Pacific in a move widely viewed as a political stratagem to limit Chinas influence in the region. The Australian government is providing the bulk of the funding for the acquisition ($1.3 billion) via Export Finance Australia, while Telstra is injecting $270 million. The operator group will assume full control of Digicel Pacific, holding 100% of its ordinary equity. In a statement, Telstra described the acquisition as a "unique and very attractive commercial opportunity to boost our presence in the region. The groups CEO Andrew Penn noted that under the terms of the partnership, Telstra will receive financial support and advice on risk management from the government. According to the BBC, Digicel Pacific employs 1,700 people across Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Samoa, Vanuatu and Tahiti. Last year, Digicel denied a Financial Review report which claimed that it in talks to sell its Pacific unit to China Mobile. In a joint statement, several Australian government ministers said that the deal would support the development of secure and reliable infrastructure in the region, which is critical to the Pacific regions economic growth and development. Australia has long been a major financial backer for infrastructure projects across the South Pacific, but in recent years China has sought to make inroads in the territory by providing funds for such initiatives. Earlier this year, we reported that Telstra was looking into an acquisition of Digicel Pacific in partnership with the Australian government. Jonathan Pryke of the Lowy Institute said: Digicel is the primary player in the Pacific and Australia sees it as a strategic asset that they can't allow to fall into the hands of China. They are keen to get Australian business back into the Pacific and they've come to the realisation that they are going to have to underwrite. Established in 2006, Digicel Pacific registered service revenue of $431 million for the fiscal year ending 31st March 2021, with the majority of this generated in Papua New Guinea. Telstras acquisition is expected to be complete within three to six months. Ukraine is set to broaden the remit of its telecoms regulator NCCIR (National Commission for State Regulation of Communications & Informatization) as the country looks to align its legislation with Europes. In a press release, The Ministry of Digital Transformation stated that the Verkhovna Rada (Ukraines parliament) has passed a bill that will see the NCCIR restructured as the National Commission for State Regulation of Electronic Communications, Radio Frequency Spectrum & Postal Services, in order to create preconditions for Ukraines entry into the Single European Digital Market. TeleGeography reports that the Ministry also plans to restructure another regulatory body - the State Service of Special Communications & Information Protection of Ukraine with the first phase of its redevelopment to be based on modern European approaches and set to begin in January 2022. A second phase is scheduled for completion by 2025, with the Ministry stating that it plans to focus the State Service on cyber protection of critical infrastructure, removing unusual functions from its remit. Saudi Telecom Company (STC), Saudi Arabia-based digital company that offers telecommunications services, has deployed Huawei's BladeAAU Pro solution on its sites for the first time. The solution boasts support for installing sub-3 GHz full-band passive antennas on a single pole. Its performance meets the expectations of STC and has provided strong support for its simplified network strategy, said a press release from the Chinese multinational technology corporation. "With its premium 5G service experience and wide-reaching support for 5G terminals, STC Saudi Arabia saw an explosive increase in its 5G user bases from Q4 2020 onwards," the release said. The growing number of users creates a larger demand for both capacity and in-depth coverage, which has pushed the carrier to expand continuous Massive MIMO deployment at a large scale to ensure a good experience for all of its users, it added. In 2021, it has listed "simplification" as a major strategy for network evolution. "BladeAAU Pro integrates Massive MIMO AAUs and full-band passive antennas into the most compact design possible. This small-form-factor is important for STC Saudi Arabia as it allows Massive MIMO to be quickly deployed on a single pole while accommodating sub-3 GHz full-band passive antennas. With this significant simplification of site deployment, both the initial construction costs and subsequent rent can be reduced greatly," it added. The release said that the successful deployment of BladeAAU Pro fits STC Saudi Arabia's strategy for simplified networks. The two parties will continue to collaborate to verify and scale up the latest 5G technologies, which help build 5G Gigabit cities across the country with better 5G networks that ensure the best mobile Gigabit experience for users, it claimed. With network traffic surging, Omantel has deployed Cienas coherent optical technology to connect data centres, submarine cable landing stations and telecom exchanges in various regions across Oman. Marking the first rollout of 800Gbps wavelengths in the MENA region, this upgrade allows Omantel to support the increasing digital needs of businesses and consumers, while supporting hyperscalers growing network demands with 400GE connectivity. This deployment underpins the Oman Vision 2040 which promotes economic diversification with a focus on technology, knowledge and innovation. Samy Al Ghassany, Chief Operating Officer at Omantel, said: Cienas 800G technology will help pave the way for enhanced high-speed network capabilities for our clients across the Sultanate on various domains like 5G, wholesale, cloud, ICT and IoT services. As Omantel prepares its network to handle the next generation of connectivity, we actively collaborate with partners, like Ciena, to jointly architect a scalable and programmable network foundation so we can set the scene for a more digitally connected society. Jamie Jefferies, Vice President and General Manager, International, Ciena, added: As Omantel navigates its journey to implement 5G and other advanced technologies, there is a need for a network that can quickly adapt to fluctuating bandwidth demands. Cienas 800G technology not only helps Omantel prepare for the explosion of data that will come from 5G, but also drives greater network economics, reach and power efficiency. Omantel is deploying Cienas WaveLogic 5 Extreme (WL5e) programmable 800G technology over a 6500 reconfigurable line system leveraging optical control plane for improved resiliency. WL5e provides a step-function improvement in network performance and economic benefits, doubling wavelength capacity and halving space/power requirements compared to previous technology generations. Employees at a garment factory in HCMCs Tan Binh District on Oct. 21, 2021. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Tran Enterprises in HCMC that have resumed business said they are still facing high production costs, difficulties in inter-provincial transport and labor shortages. A survey of 100 enterprises both inside and outside industrial parks by the Southern Institute of Social Sciences this month found that 44 percent plan to resume full production, 29 percent plan to operate at close to full capacity and the rest are adopting a wait-and-see policy. More than 46 percent said they are facing difficulties, especially high production costs since they still have to take anti-Covid measures and a shortage of workers. Some 35 percent said their biggest difficulty is being unable to repay debts. Around 35 percent said they have benefited from the electricity tariff reduction, 19 percent from the labor union fee waiver, 18 percent from loan rollover and interest reduction, and 9-15 percent from other forms of assistance. Many wanted authorities to announce detailed policies for economic recovery, clearly define criteria and conditions for resuming business activities and inter-provincial travel, and loosen pandemic-related restrictions. Nguyen Van Thu, general director of GC Food Company, said anti-Covid regulations should be loosened, especially for fully vaccinated people, so that workers could travel easily. Labor-intensive businesses said some new regulations such as one toilet for every 10 employees are not feasible. Dang Nguyen Anh, head of the Vietnam Academy of Social Sciences, said HCMCs safe production criteria are still inclined toward a zero Covid approach, which make compliance with them impossible for businesses. Tran Van Khuyen, Party committee secretary of the citys Hoc Mon District, said 480 local businesses have resumed operations since Oct. 1, and many are worried about the high cost of Covid testing and lack of resources. With hospital memories haunting them, battle not over for many Covid survivors With scenes from their hospital stay, including the death of fellow patients, haunting them, Covid-19 survivors face mental issues besides stigma and distrust from others. Nguyen Huynh Vi and her five-member family returned home from a Covid-19 field hospital in Ho Chi Minh Citys Binh Chanh District in early Oct. after battling the disease for nearly three weeks. But what she heard in the hospital has not stopped haunting her: the screams of patients struggling to breathe, children crying, doctors voices urging people to breathe at any cost, and the sound of ambulance sirens. On many days she had to take sleeping pills as she battled sleeplessness and anxiety. "My husband is still in the hospital, and I am worried he would die or my children and I would be reinfected, I could not stop thinking about those scenarios," the 35-year-old Hoc Mon District resident says. She is hardly alone in remaining traumatized after recovering from the disease. As of Monday, Vietnam has recorded more than 803,000 recovered Covid patients since the beginning of the pandemic. A doctor holds hands and talks with a Covid patient in HCMC, September 2021. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Tran A report published in The Lancet Psychiatry journal in the U.K. in April analyzed the health records of 236,379 recovered Covid patients, mostly in the U.S. and found 34 percent had been diagnosed with neurological or psychiatric illnesses within six months of recovery, suggesting the pandemic could lead to a wave of mental and neurological problems. For many people the mental health sequelae is due to the fact they have witnessed first-hand the death of fellow patients or even loved ones while in hospital. In Binh Tan District, Nguyen Van Hai, 63, was discharged from a hospital after nearly a month. But his 59-year-old wife could not make it. Nguyen Thi Thu Hang, his daughter, says: "He cried almost every day and did not want to eat. Whenever he heard ambulance sirens he panicked and sometimes screamed". After returning home her father stayed in his room for days and did not talk to other family members, she says. "The doctor later gave him tranquilizers to help him sleep better". Tri Thi Minh Thuy, a volunteer and psychotherapist from the Ho Chi Minh City University of Social Sciences and Humanities who provides counseling and mental health support to patients at the hospital, says the most unfortunate are those who lost loved ones to Covid, which drives them to the point of mental breakdown. In Hoc Mon, Vis mother has also experienced post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after being discharged from a field hospital. "My mother was on a ventilator for weeks, and everyone around her in that hospital room faced the same breathing issue. She is now afraid of looking at photos or videos of Covid-19 patients with ventilators". According to the Cho Ray Hospital survey, the chances of having mental health problems increased for patients who had to be on oxygen support or ventilators, with nearly 67 percent experiencing depression and anxiety disorders. Mental issues can also flare up as Covid survivors face stigma and distrust from neighbors, friends and even strangers, especially when they still have persistent cough or shortness of breath, provoking fear in others. "My housemates are polite but I know they try to avoid me when I use the shared kitchen, and my boss told me not to return to office when it reopened in early Oct.," Le Thanh Phuong, a Covid survivor who tested negative for the coronavirus in Sept, says. Nguyen Huyen Mai of Dong Nais Bien Hoa Town says she could "obviously see that people are cautious around me. "That makes me feel like I am a danger or a shame that must be shunned even though my doctor told me I do not need to be in quarantine any more." A recovered Covid patient in Hanoi, May 2021. Photo by VnExpress/Ngoc Thanh Another factor is that sickness and symptoms persist even after patients recover and test negative. This makes many people anxious and panicky, and they find it difficult to resume their daily life. "My children still have some fatigue and cough," Vi says, and she worries their breathing might deteriorate overnight. "Thats why I cannot sleep, I cannot help checking on them all night." Natalie Lambert, a health researcher at the Indiana University School of Medicine in the U.S., surveyed more than 1,500 patients having long Covid through the Survivor Corps Facebook page last year and found that anxiety was the eighth most common symptom, with more than 700 respondents suffering from it, according to the New York Times newspaper. Vaccine for the mind Taking care of Covid survivors mental health has received attention in the last few months. Apart from support from their families and friends, many recovered Covid patients have formed online groups to share their recovery experiences. Facebook group F0 Khong Co Don (Covid Patients Are Not Alone) with more than 88,000 members is one of those. In HCMC, the disease epicenter, a mental health program called Vaccine For The Mind was launched to provide counseling for people with anxiety, stress and other psychological issues, especially recovered Covid patients. To rehabilitate people after Covid , the program will help them find resources to help themselves through information about jobs, self-development and learning. The HCMC Psychiatric Hospital has also set up a team of medics to help Covid patients. To get rid of insomnia and anxiety, Vi has sought professional support and slowly got better. But her mother, who has refused to talk to doctors and others, is still dealing with PTSD. Last weekend she took her mother to church for Sunday mass for the first time since the outbreak resurfaced in May. "When we returned home, my mother got angry and cried, saying she did not feel confident being around strangers". But Vi is not giving up, she will keep encouraging her mother to go out and get used to the new normal. European parents and their adopted Vietnamese children at a ceremony in HCMC, October 23, 2021. Photo by government's portal A total 91 families have traveled from Europe to HCMC to pick up 92 Vietnamese children they had adopted. The Ministry of Justice in collaboration with the administration in Ho Chi Minh City and 22 other cities and provinces held a ceremony in the city last Saturday for families from eight European countries to officially receive the children they had adopted from these localities. The ceremony saw parents from France, Germany, Italy, Ireland, Luxembourg, Norway, Spain and Sweden collect the children, of whom 31 live in HCMC, according to the governments news portal. At the event, Minister Mai Luong Khoi thanked all adoptive parents for having traveled a long way to Vietnam despite the complicated pandemic situation across the world. Spanish Ambassador to Vietnam Pilar Mendez Jimenez said this is an opportunity for countries to strengthen cooperation, and that the children would be the bridge to unite nations for mutual development. Representing parents at the ceremony, Sampol Agnes from France said the adoptive parents would do the best they could to raise and educate the children so they could develop to the fullest, both physically and mentally. She added they are committed to submitting full reports on the childrens development to the Justice Ministry and when conditions allow, take the children back to Vietnam to visit their homeland, Phap Luat newspaper reported. This is the second time the ministry has organized a program for foreign parents to adopt Vietnamese children. The first time last November had seen 36 European families adopt 37 Vietnamese children. Pfizer vaccine vials stored at the National Institute Of Hygiene and Epidemiology in Hanoi, October 2021. Photo by VnExpress/Ngoc Thanh Over 1.31 million doses each of the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine have arrived in HCMC and Hanoi, donations by the U.S. through Covax. The U.S.s sixth Covax consignment delivered to Vietnam took its total donations to 12.1 million doses, according to a U.S. Embassy's statement Monday. They also include the Moderna vaccine. At the Global Covid-19 Summit last month U.S. President Joe Biden had promised to provide an additional 500 million Pfizer doses to 92 low- and middle-income countries and the African Union to take the U.S.s total global commitment to more than 1.1 billion doses. It has so far delivered more than 114 million doses to around 80 countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America, making it the largest donor, according to UNICEF data. Around 51.8 million of Vietnams 96-million population have received at least one shot, and 21 million people have been fully vaccinated. 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. October 13, 2021 | 08:20 am GMT+7 Progressives may still tank infrastructure bill despite framework agreement Dealmakers in the Democratic party have been working out details of the Build Back Better bill which members of the Progressive Caucus want to see passed before they will agree to vote "Yes" on the infrastructure bill languishing in the House. According to reports Speaker Nancy Pelosi has said 90 percent of the "care economy" bill is nailed down, but there is no expectation that a written bill could be drawn up for a vote before the end of the week. Instead negotiators hope to have a framework which they can work with. Progressive Caucus Chair Pramila Jayapal is saying that won't be enough for at least a dozen of her members. Pelosi can only lose a few votes from her side of the aisle if the infrastructure bill is to pass without GOP support. Despite the bill getting a bipartisan vote in the Senate, Republican leaders in the House have been whipping votes against the infrastructure bill. Pelosi wants to bring the infrastructure bill up for a vote before the end of the week to send President Biden off to the Climate Summit in Glasgow with something to show. Additionally, the Highway Fund will run out of money 31 October if the infrastructure bill is not passed. Zambian guard of honor prepares to lay wreaths during a ceremony marking the Independence Day in Lusaka, Zambia, on Oct. 24, 2021. Zambia on Sunday marked 57 years of independence from Britain with events held in various parts of the country. (Photo by Martin Mbangweta/Xinhua) LUSAKA, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) -- Zambia on Sunday marked 57 years of independence from Britain with events held in various parts of the country. President Hakainde Hichilema led the main event held in Lusaka, the country's capital, which started with the laying of wreaths at the Freedom Statue in honor of people who died while fighting for the country's independence. The ceremony was characterized by the demonstration of military drills by the defense forces. The event later moved to the Embassy Park, the burial place of the country's former presidents, where the Zambian leader led other dignitaries in laying wreaths. The event then moved to State House for an investiture ceremony where the Zambian president honored people from various sectors for their contribution to the country's development. In his address, the Zambian president called on citizens to put their differences aside and unite for the benefit of the country. He said there was a need for unity of purpose if the country was to attain economic and social independence, adding that it was unacceptable that the country was still poor 57 years after independence. The Zambian president, who urged citizens to show patriotism and promote national unity, further paid glowing tribute to the country's freedom fighters for fighting for the country's independence. According to him, it was the desire of his government to develop the country through economic transformation, adding that it was through economic transformation that the country will become food secure, reduce poverty and create jobs, especially for the young people. Enditem 3 1 Editor: GSY China's Ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian (3rd L) and Carlito Galvez (3rd R), the chief implementer of Philippine government's measures to combat COVID-19, are seen with officials from the Philippine government in front of cargos containing Sinovac vaccines in Pasay City, the Philippines, Oct. 24, 2021. China donated another batch of Sinovac CoronaVac vaccines to the Philippines on Sunday to support the country's COVID-19 vaccination campaign. The donation arrived in Manila along with the vaccines of the same brand that the Philippines purchased from China. (Rouelle Umali/Xinhua) MANILA, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) -- China donated another batch of Sinovac CoronaVac vaccines to the Philippines on Sunday to support the country's COVID-19 vaccination campaign. The donation arrived in Manila along with the vaccines of the same brand that the Philippines purchased from China. In a brief statement to reporters at the airport, Chinese ambassador to the Philippines Huang Xilian said the fresh vaccine delivery "demonstrates the kind of friendship from the Chinese government and people" to the Philippines. Huang expressed hope that the vaccines from China would further contribute to bringing down the cases in the Philippines and speeding up the country's recovery. "We are happy to see that the number of confirmed cases in this country is decreasing due to very hard and professional workings of the Philippine government and the people," Huang said. The Philippine officials thanked China for its "continuing generosity and very important support" as the country ramps up its vaccination and grapples with the pandemic. "We would like to thank China for the donation of lifesaving vaccines to the Philippines," said Carlito Galvez, the chief implementer of Philippine government's measures to combat COVID-19. Galvez recalled that China was the first country to donate and deliver the vaccines to the Philippines in February, noting that Sunday's shipment is the 100th the country has ever received and coincidentally it is also the Chinese donation. China has sustained the COVID-19 vaccine supply to the Philippines since the first delivery on Feb. 28, allowing the Southeast Asian country to kick off its vaccination drive on March 1. The Philippines has administered over 55 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines. More than 25 million Filipinos have been fully vaccinated. The government aims to vaccinate up to 70 million people this year. To date, the Philippines has received more than 97.67 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines from different vaccine makers. China remains the country's biggest vaccine supplier. The Philippines now has more than 2.75 million confirmed COVID-19 cases, including 41,793 deaths. Enditem 5 1 Editor: GSY A dressed-up participant takes part in the 2021 SuperPower 5K in Toronto, Canada, on Oct. 24, 2021. With hundreds of fellow superpower enthusiasts, the event kicked off here to raise funds for Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital on Sunday. (Photo by Zou Zheng/Xinhua) 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. Themed under Design in Intelligence, the 2021 World Industrial Design Conference was held in the YantaiInternational Expo Center in east Chinas Shandong Province from October 22 to 24. (Photo by Tang Ke/Guangming Picture) 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. On Oct. 21, 2021, Bipenggou scenic area in Li County of southwest Chinas Sichuan Province welcomed a widespread snowfall, which is the first snow of the year before the arrival of winter. (Liu Guoxing/Guangming Picture) 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. Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew was hospitalized in the United States, the press service of His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew reported on Sunday. "Immediately prior to departing for the service at the Cathedral of Saint Sophia, His All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew felt unwell due to the long flight and full schedule of events upon arrival. His doctor advised him to rest and out of an abundance of caution he will be taken to the George Washington University Hospital for observation," the message reads. Ukraine has registered 14,634 new cases of COVID-19, as well as 4,598 recoveries and 330 deaths in the past 24 hours, the Ukrainian Health Ministry's press service said on Monday. "Ukraine recorded 14,634 new cases of COVID-19 (including 999 children and 173 medical workers) over the past day, October 24, 2021. Over that period, 101,331 persons were vaccinated for COVID-19, including 75,240 persons who received their first shot of the vaccine and 26,091 persons who completed their vaccination. Meanwhile, 3,912 persons were hospitalized, 330 died, and 4,598 recovered in the past 24 hours," the ministry said on Telegram. Since the beginning of the pandemic, Ukraine has seen a total of 2,784,039 coronavirus infections, including 64,202 deaths. Ukraine has reaffirmed its adherence to the principles of the modern world order laid down in the provisions of the Charter of the UN General Assembly, which marks the 76th anniversary of its founding, and expects the General Assembly to join the Crimea Platform, the press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) has said. "Taking into account, the role of the UN in the deoccupation of Crimea, in particular in the context of UN General Assembly resolutions on Ukraine's territorial integrity, the militarization of Crimea and the protection of human rights in Crimea, Ukraine hopes for UN participation in the Crimea Platform," the statement reads. The Foreign Ministry noted that they are counting on more active and constructive approach by the UN leadership to countering Russia's ongoing military aggression against Ukraine. The ministry noted that it remains an extremely important task to make efforts to reform and improve the UN, strengthen it and adapt it to today's requirements. The ministry said that Ukraine is ready to continue to contribute to the success of this important mission. "We will continue to pursue a purposeful policy of counteracting the bold attempts of individual states to undermine the world order enshrined in the UN Charter, to impose the logic of aggression and revanchism on the international community, and to rewrite world history," the statement says. It also says that UN organizations, in particular the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), continue to play an important role in supporting the course of socio-economic reforms in Ukraine, achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, ensuring the protection of human rights and the rule of law. "One of the most successful examples of our cooperation is overcoming the humanitarian consequences of Russian aggression. We are ready for further cooperation in this area to meet the needs of the affected civilian population along the line of demarcation and in the temporarily occupied territories," the ministry said. In particular, the current direction of the UN in Ukraine is to support the processes of reconstruction and peacebuilding in Donetsk and Luhansk regions for the peaceful and safe reintegration of the occupied territories and their inhabitants, the development of a sustainable world. Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Ruslan Stefanchuk has said that he sent draft law No. 5512 "On local referendum" for consideration to the European Commission for Democracy through Law (Venice Commission). "Taking into account the authority of the Venice Commission recognized in the European environment, I look forward to receiving an objective expert opinion on the draft law 'On local referendum. It is critically important that the document becomes a model law and a truly effective mechanism for implementing direct democracy at the local level," Stefanchuk wrote on Facebook on Monday. As reported, on May 19, a group of deputies registered in the Verkhovna Rada bill No. 5512 on the local referendum, after which its public discussion was organized. Stefanchuk was among the authors of the bill, who then held the post of the first deputy chairman of the Verkhovna Rada, together with head of the Servant of the People faction David Arakhamia, his first deputy Oleksandr Korniyenko and deputy Yevhenia Kravchuk. On October 13, Stefanchuk predicted that the draft law on a local referendum could be submitted for consideration at the first reading in parliament before the New Year. Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Ruslan Stefanchuk intends to allocate one session of the parliament a month to consider bills important for the European integration of Ukraine, the press service of the Verkhovna Rada administration has reported. "I have an idea to hold a European Integration Day in parliament once a month. My priority is to fulfill the Copenhagen criteria and Ukraine's accession to the EU," Stefanchuk said at a meeting with Head of the EU Delegation to Ukraine Matti Maasikas, Head of the of Political, Analysis and Reporting Department of the EU Delegation to Ukraine Artur Gebal and specialist of the political department of the EU Delegation Dimitri Gorchakov. At the same time, the speaker noted that Ukraine is taking important steps towards European integration. In particular, he recalled that on October 21, an extraordinary meeting was held in the Verkhovna Rada, at which 14 bills on European integration were adopted, and the deputies also supported legislative initiatives regarding the ratification of international agreements. Head of the EU Delegation to Ukraine Matti Maasikas, in turn, expressed hope for continued cooperation with Ukraine and supported the idea of a "European integration day" in the Verkhovna Rada. During the meeting, the parties also discussed draft laws related to judicial reform, reform of the Security Service of Ukraine, anti-corruption strategy, land reform, as well as improving corporate governance. In addition, Stefanchuk drew attention to the importance of cooperation between the Ukrainian parliament and the European Parliament. "We must carry out a large inter-parliamentary dialogue with our colleagues in the European Parliament," he summed up. Ukraine does not consider supplies of Johnson & Johnson vaccine - Kuzin Ukraine is not considering the supply of Johnson & Johnson's anti-COVID vaccine, negotiations with the company are not underway, Deputy Minister of Health, Chief Sanitary Doctor Ihor Kuzin said. "Johnson & Johnson's vaccine supply is not currently being considered and supply negotiations are currently not held," he told reporters on Monday. Kuzin said that the vaccine manufacturer "is not proactively communicating." "The communication mechanisms that we have used have so far been ineffective," he said. As reported, in July 2021, Ukraine registered a vector vaccine against COVID-19 Janssen manufactured by Johnson & Johnson. One dose of Janssen vaccine is sufficient for a complete immunization. It requires a storage temperature of +2 to +8 degrees Celsius. Earlier, 500 doses of Janssen vaccine were delivered to Ukraine in compliance with the procedure for importing unregistered medicines for vaccination of employees of a private company, which paid its cost, organized delivery and ensured compliance with the temperature regime. Employees of this company work in Alaska in the fishing industry and had to be vaccinated with a U.S.-certified vaccine in order to be allowed into this country. Russian-occupation forces in Donbas have violated the ceasefire four times from the beginning of the day, one Ukrainian soldier was wounded, according to the press center of the Joint Force Operation (JFO) headquarters. "During the current day, four ceasefire violations by Russian-occupation forces were recorded, one of which with the use of weapons prohibited by the Minsk agreements. At Kamianka, the enemy fired at the positions of our soldiers from 82 mm mortars. Near Pisky, the occupation forces opened fire from small arms," the JFO said on Facebook. In the direction of Zolote-4, the occupation forces fired from grenade launchers of various systems, heavy machine guns and other small arms. In addition, in Luhansk region, an unmanned aerial vehicle, probably Orlan-10, was recorded crossing the contact line. "As a result of hostile actions, one soldier of the Joint Forces was wounded. The soldier was provided with pre-medical assistance, he was evacuated to a hospital," the headquarters said. The health condition of the soldier is of moderate severity. NASA has confirmed the readiness of the Blue Ghost moon lander of the American company the developer of rocket and space technology Firefly Aerospace Inc., owned by Ukrainian businessman Max Polyakov, in accordance with the schedule of the Artemis lunar mission - by September 2023. Polyakov's press service said Firefly Aerospace has reached a milestone in the project by successfully completing the Critical Design Review (CDR) phase of the Blue Ghost moon lander. Completing the CDR paves the way for building the Blue Ghost lander. According to the Artemis lunar mission schedule, the moon lander is to land in the Mare Crisium lunar basin in September 2023. The module will deliver ten NASA payloads to the lunar surface, as well as several commercial cargoes. This mission is a harbinger of what we see in the future: the growing number of repetitive lunar maintenance and payload delivery missions that will lay the foundation of the lunar economy. We are honored to demonstrate our ability to provide such services to NASA and our commercial customers, Firefly CEO Thomas Markusic said. It is noted that the Blue Ghost will monitor the safe delivery of the payload during transit to the Moon and in its orbit, as well as on the surface of the Moon. The vehicles delivered to the surface will investigate the properties of regolith, the geophysical characteristics of the surface, and the interaction of the solar wind and the Earth's magnetic field. In addition, several demonstrations of key technologies related to navigation and sampling will be conducted during the mission. The Blue Ghost mission opens up new opportunities for Firefly Aerospace to cooperate with NASA and other partners. We are proud of the high appraisal of our partners from NASA and are glad that we can join such an ambitious international program as Artemis, Max Polyakov said. In his opinion, the Moon is extremely important for the more distant missions of mankind - it should become a kind of base, a fort, where the necessary resources will be produced in the future. In such exploration of the Moon we see one of the strategic goals of the company, he added. The Kyiv analytical center Experts Club hosted the first of a series of events dedicated to the popularization of Ukrainian wine and the prospects for the development of the Ukrainian wine industry, as well as the analysis of the products of the best producers of domestic wine. The event was held with the participation and support of the Odesa National Technological University and the Ukrsadvinprom association. During the meeting, the participants heard the report of the Doctor of Agricultural Science, Professor of the Odesa National Technological University Natalia Kameneva on the topic "Sensory analysis - an innovative tool for the development of the wine sector." During the presentation, the results of the activities of the wine industry in 2020 were presented. So, last year, Ukraine exported 14.4 million liters of wine, which is twice as much as in 2019, while the import of wine to Ukraine in 2020 increased by 22% compared to 2019. In addition, Natalia Kameneva presented a scientific and educational laboratory for sensory analysis of wines, opened at the National Academy of Food Technologies and successfully accredited in accordance with international quality standard ISO 17025: 2019. "Today the laboratory meets all requirements and standards, it was created for sensory analysis of food products in accordance with international standards, training and education of experts in sensory analysis, research of consumer preferences in the field of sensory analysis of food products," he scientist explained. The founder of the Experts Club, Maksim Urakin, stressed that the center is ready to become a platform for the popularization of Ukrainian wines. "I believe that many varieties of Ukrainian wine remain underestimated in the consumer market. Within the framework of this project, we will try to change the situation," he said. The head of the Ukrsadvinprom association, in turn, added that state support for domestic winegrowers and winemakers is still at a low level, which leads to the filling of the market with imported wines, including low-quality ones. "We have the largest association in the country, which includes 80% of Ukrainian wine producers, we would like the state to systematically work on programs to support Ukrainian producers, both the consumer and the budget will benefit from this," Volodymyr Pechko said. Also, within the framework of the meeting, an organoleptic analysis of the quality of eight samples of leading Ukrainian wine producers was carried out. The wines of such Ukrainian producers took part in the tasting: SHABO, Artwinery (Artemivsk Champagne Factory), Prince Trubetskoi Winery, Frumushika, Beykush winery, Villa Tinta, Stakhovsky Wines, Leleka wines. The event was held in partnership with the leading international tasting competition Odessa Wine Week. The next Odessa Wine Week festival will be held in Odesa from May 24 to May 29, 2022. 'Mother to the Rescue?' Queen Elizabeth Stepping in on Behalf of Prince Andrew (Photo : REUTERS ) Prince Andrew won't imprison if Queen Elizabeth has at least something to do with it. After finding out about Scotland Yard's investigation concerning Andrew's relationship with sentenced sex guilty party Jeffrey Epstein, she was "mad." Apparently, the sovereign "furtively crushed" the investigation before they could delve excessively profound into Andrew's past. Furthermore, on October 11, Scotland Yard declared that they would take "no further activity" for the situation. Advertisement "There must be one explanation Scotland Yard shut the case - the sovereign's orders," an insider dishes. "We hear she's despicably elaborate herself in saving Andrew from the beginning." The newspaper proposes the sovereign might have even assumed a part in Jeffrey Epstein's demise in 2019. Yet, the sovereign's association isn't playing admirably with the general population. "I think for the sovereign's picture, especially in America, it is harming for her," an imperial journalist uncovers. "Individuals are worried that the sovereign is so openly supporting Andrew," she adds. Indeed, even Prince William is vexed with regards to her association with the situation. However, the sovereign isn't yielding. "She's close to the furthest limit of her rule and life and doesn't have any desire to pass on amid allegations her dearest child is a pedophile," the insider trusts. While the Queen of England partakes in specific exclusions from the law, the crown no longer impacts the law. The sovereign could even issue a regal exculpation for Andrew in case he was at any point sentenced for wrongdoing. That being said, she has not said at all in a functional examination. Regardless of whether the sovereign needed to meddle in Scotland Yard's test, there is nothing she could lawfully do. Plus, the sovereign has been on a visit through the UK the entire month. We're confident she has her hands full in the present moment, and she isn't tossing every last bit of her assets into unlawfully meddling with examinations. While we question she needs to see her child go to prison, she has a more outstanding commitment to maintaining the law and set a model for subjects. It's difficult to trust anything that says about Prince Andrew. Quite recently, the sensationalist newspapers guaranteed Andrew was asking the imperial family for cash. Then, at that point, the power source affirmed Andrew was boasting that he was "unapproachable." And all the more as of late, the magazine detailed Andrew was getting remarried to his ex Sarah Ferguson to try not to confront the claim against him Egypt has so far partially vaccinated 27.4 million citizens against the coronavirus and fully inoculated 14.4 million others, Khaled Abdel-Ghaffar, the minister of higher education and acting health minister, said in a statement on Wednesday following the weekly cabinet meeting. Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi and First Lady Entissar El-Sisi received on Thursday the British Crown Prince Charles and his wife Camilla Parker the Duchess of Cornwall at the Ittihadiya Presidential Palace. Thousands of protesters converged on Isfahan in central Iran on Friday to voice their anger after the city's lifeblood river dried up due to drought and diversion, state television said. The Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) decided that two seats in each of Egypt's bank boards will be reserved for women, CBE Governor Tarek Amer told MENA, the state-owned news agency, on Wednesday. Egypt's cabinet approved on Monday a nationwide three-month state of emergency, which President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi declared hours after two deadly suicide bombings hit St. George Cathedral in Tanta and St. Mark's Cathedral in Alexandria, killing 45 and injuring dozens more in the deadliest attack against civilians in Egypt's recent memory. According to the Egyptian constitution, any state of emergency must be upheld by parliament by majority vote within seven days of its declaration by the president. The Egyptian House of Representatives is set to vote on the state of emergency on Tuesday. This is the second state of emergency imposed nationwide in Egypt in the last four years. In 2013, Egypt's interim president Adly Mansour declared a one-month state of emergency following a wave of violence in the wake of the ouster of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi. The state of emergency grants authorities expanded powers including trying civilians in special courts, restricting or regulating movement in public places, and more authority to regulate media outlets. Special trials Law 162, which regulates the powers of the state under emergency, allows for the trial of civilians before special courts, including the Emergency High State Security Court, upon orders by the president, who has the right to appoint army officers in the judicial panel of these courts. According to Article 9 of the law, the president has the right to refer defendants in criminal cases to these special courts for any crime. According to Article 12 of the law, the verdicts of these courts are not subject to appeal as they are in regular courts, with only the president maintaining the right to overturn verdicts, order a retrial or reduce sentences. The sentences of these courts are put into effect after approval by the president. Freedoms The state of emergency law gives authorities the right to shut down or set operating hours for commercial shops. Authorities are also granted the right to evacuate or cordon certain areas, as well as specify or restrict means of transportation. Authorities are also empowered to withdraw licences for weapons, ammunition, flammable material and fireworks. The law grants the state the right to assume guardianship of private companies and properties per an order by the president. Article 4 of the law grants broader authority to the countrys Armed Forces, including jurisdictional authorities usually reserved for law enforcement bodies. The law also gives the state the right to impose curfews, though no such plan has been announced by authorities for this most recent state of emergency. Media The state of emergency grants the president the right to oversee all means of communication, expression, and advertising prior to publication, as well as the power to confiscate and shut down print houses. During a late night address to the nation on Sunday, El-Sisi urged all media outlets to be "credible, responsible and aware" when covering news and images related to terrorist incidents, and not to hurt the feelings of the victims by broadcasting images of their deceased relatives all day long. The state of emergency in Egypt States of emergency have historically been implemented in countries around the world to preserve the security and stability of nations during times of danger, such as during wars, natural disasters or other unusual circumstances. An ongoing state of emergency has been in effect in designated areas in North Sinai since 2013, as the army battles a militant insurgency in the area. The state of emergency has been continually renewed at three-month intervals since 2013. The state of emergency announced on Sunday will be implemented nationwide in accordance with Law No. 162 of 1958. The 2014 constitution says that a state of emergency is to be imposed under the following conditions: - The President must consult with the cabinet before imposing the state of emergency. - Parliament must approve the state of emergency by majority vote. - The state of emergency shall be declared for a specified period not exceeding three months. - Parliament must approve by majority vote the renewal of the state of the emergency. The countrys first state of emergency was implemented in 1914 by a British mandate in all territories of the Egyptian sultanate during the World War I. After the 1952 revolution and the establishing of the republic in 1953, the state of emergency was imposed in1956 during the tripartite aggression against Egypt, and was lifted in 1964. A state of emergency was again declared in 1967 during the Arab-Israeli war, and continued until 1980. Following the assassination of president Anwar Sadat in 1981, the state of emergency was imposed again and extended every three years during the entire 30-year rule of his successor Hosni Mubarak. Following the uprising that toppled Mubarak in February 2011 with the continued state of emergency being one of the protestors grievances the state of emergency was lifted by the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) in May 2012, ending the longest state of emergency in the country's history. Search Keywords: Short link: The new laws also include ones on toughening sexual harassment penalties, amending the House's internal bylaws, and regulating cotton production Egypts parliament the House of Representatives held a two-hour plenary meeting on Monday to take a final vote on a host of six legislations and three foreign agreements. Parliament Speaker Hanafy Gebaly said the laws were discussed and revised by the House and the State Council and were up for a final vote on Monday. A new three-month extension of the state of emergency in Egypt was finally approved by MPs. A decree issued by President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi (174/2021) stipulates that the state of emergency in Egypt be extended for an additional three months starting 1 am of 24 July, 2021. Article two of El-Sisi's decree states that the military and police forces will take all the measures necessary to combat terrorism, preserve security in all of Egypt, protect all public and private property, and safeguard the lives of citizens in line with the 1958 emergency law. MPs have also given the final approval to the amendments to the 1973 law on the measures regulating the dismissal of state employees. The amendments, drafted by MP Ali Badr, stipulate that state employees and civil servants with proven links to the Muslim Brotherhood group or to any terrorist-designated organisation will be automatically dismissed from the state's administrative units. Amendments to the House's internal bylaws were also approved on Monday. The amendments, drafted by MP Alaa Abed, will entail modifying 27 articles of the House's internal bylaws and eliminating four others. Abed said the amendments of the House's internal bylaws, issued in 2016, were necessary to go in line with constitutional amendments passed in Egypt in April 2019. Most significantly among the amendments is that MPs' salaries and financial rewards will no longer be exempted from taxes and fees. The amendments also state that a political party having three seats instead of 10 seats in parliament will be allowed to be represented in the House's General Committee. The amendments were also introduced to give the Senate, which was created in 2020, a say on legislations, agreements, and constitutional changes. Also, amendments to the 1937 penal code to introduce harsher penalties for assault and sexual harassment crimes were approved on Monday. Under the amendments, drafted by leader of the parliamentary majority party of Mostaqbal Watan (the Nation's Future) Ashraf Rashad, Article 306 (paragraphs A & B) of the 1937 Penal Code will be changed. The amended Article 306 (Paragraph A) states that whoever is convicted of assaulting others in public or private places in the form of sexual or pornographic gestures and insinuations, either in words or actions or virtually, will be sentenced to a prison term ranging from two to four years and a fine ranging from EGP 100,000 to EGP 200,000. The article also states that whoever is found guilty of repeating the crime in terms of chasing and tracking victims will be sentenced to a prison term ranging from three to five years and a fine from EGP 200,000 to EGP 300,000. The amended Article 306 (Paragraph B) stipulates an amendment to the Penal Codes Article 267, setting out that offenders whose circumstances allow them to have a professional, familial, or academic authority over a victim, or otherwise exercise any kind of pressure to allow them to commit their crime, will be sentenced to a prison term no less than seven years and a fine between EGP 300,000 and EGP 500,000. The same penalty will be imposed if the sexual harassment crime was committed by two persons or more and one of them was holding a weapon. MPs also approved legislative amendments allowing the General Authority for Arbitration and Cotton Tests to take charge of supervising all licensed cotton gins as well as handling of cotton on the market. MPs also finally voted in favour of a draft law granting the Egyptian Group for Multi-purpose Stations the concession of setting up and operating a multi-purpose station at Alexandria's port (quays 55-62). The House's agenda on Monday also included a final approval of two agreements on oil prospection. The two agreements allow the Ministry of Petroleum to sign contracts with Energy Egypt Limited Company to prospect for oil in Edko north of the Nile Delta, and with the Egyptian Holding Company for Natural Gas and Sea Dragon Energy Company to prospect for oil in south Dessouq in the Nile Delta. MPs concluded Monday's plenary by finally approving a loan agreement between Egypt and a consortium of French banks. Parliament Speaker Gebaly announced that the House's next plenary session will be held on 24 July. Search Keywords: Short link: Egypt reported 886 new coronavirus cases on Sunday, bringing the total infection tally officially to 324,619 since the outbreak began in February 2020, said Health Ministry in its daily coronavirus update statement. The ministry also reported 43 new Covid-19 related deaths in the past 24 hours nationwide, bringing the total number of deaths from the virus to 18,285. The statement added that 853 patients have been discharged after recovering from the virus, bringing the total number of recoveries to 274,007. Egypt received on Friday the third shipment of Pfizer coronavirus vaccine comprising 1.4 million doses donated by the United States, bringing the total to 4.6 million. The country's vaccination campaign currently uses various types of imported vaccines, including Sinovac, AstraZeneca, Sputnik V, Johnson & Johnson, and Pfizer, in addition to its locally-made Sinovac/VACSERA. Egypt aims to vaccinate 40 million citizens by the end of the year, allocating around 1,100 vaccination centres nationwide. So far, Egypt has vaccinated around 22 million people against coronavirus and has administered 30 million doses since the beginning of its nationwide vaccination campaign early this year, presidential advisor for health affairs Mohamed Awad Tag El-Din told media on Friday. Search Keywords: Short link: The European Union has joined the United States in expressing grave concern about a possible military takeover underway in Sudan. EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell tweeted on Monday that he's following events in the northeast African nation with the ``utmost concern,'' after reports emerged that Sudanese military forces had detained several senior government officials, including the interim prime minister. ``The EU calls on all stakeholders and regional partners to put back on track the transition process,'' Borrell wrote, referring to Sudan's fragile transition from autocracy to democracy after the ouster of longtime ruler Omar al-Bashir in 2019. Earlier, US Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa Jeffrey Feltman said Washington was ``deeply alarmed'' and indicated that a military coup would threaten American aid to the impoverished country. ``As we have said repeatedly, any changes to the transitional government by force puts at risk US assistance,'' the US Bureau of African Affairs wrote on Twitter. Search Keywords: Short link: The Arab League on Monday expressed "concern" over developments in Sudan after the military detained civilian leaders and ministers in the transitional government. "Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit expressed deep concern over the developments in Sudan," the pan-Arab bloc said in a statement. He also urged all sides to adhere to an August 2019 power-sharing deal outlining the transition following the ouster of president Omar al-Bashir. Search Keywords: Short link: The Senate Egypts upper consultative house finally approved on Monday a draft law aiming to regulate access and distribution of the countrys biological resources. The Senates Deputy Speaker Bahaa El-Din Abu Shoqa said that the law is a necessary step as Egypt is rich in natural resources and biological diversity and that these resources should be preserved to achieve environmental balance and push the countrys socio-economic development plans forward. A report prepared by the Senates Energy and Environment Committee said that Egypt has a wealth of 30,000 rare plant and animal species and that most of these have an economic value. According to the report, the term biological resources includes animal and plant species that live inside and outside protected areas. These attract several international institutions seeking to use these valuable rare species to produce drugs and cosmetics and to develop bio-technology industries without sharing the returns of these resources with the countries of origin and at an absence of legislation that regulates the utilisation of these resources, said the report. He added that as a result, Egypt decided to join the Nagoya Biological Diversity Protocol, which regulates the share of benefits arising from the utilisation of genetic resources in a fair and equitable way. The protocol adopted in 2010 in Nagoya, Japan and entered into force in 2014 obligates contracting parties to take measures that help conserve biological diversity in nature and prevent the extinction of rare species. The report indicated that the law also helps achieve the objectives of the Nagoya protocol, which is conserving natural resources, achieving environmental balance, and protecting biological resources and regulating the access and sharing of these resources in a way that will help businesses invest in these resources in a profitable way. Abdel-Khaleq Ayad, head of the Senates Energy and Environment Committee, said the new legislation could generate as much as EGP 1 billion in financial resources for the state treasury. Egypt has as many as 120 protected areas, which include a wealth of natural and biological resources that the world needs to produce drugs and cosmetics, said Ayad. Hossam El-Khouli, a senator and the deputy chairman of Mostaqbal Watan party, said that biological resources represent 70 percent of the world economy and that cosmetic products made from natural and biological resources generate $120 billion a year. So, this law has come on time to protect Egypts natural and biological wealth and put it to good economic use, said El-Khouli. Minister of Environment Yasmine Fouad said that Egypt has been without legislation that regulates the access of biological resources since 1994. This law will secure this end to meet Egypts international obligations and help conserve Egypts natural resources and protect it from piracy operations, said Fouad, adding that the law states that those who exploit Egypts biological resources or transfer them outside the country without a prior license shall face up to six years in prison and a fine between EGP 250,000 and one million. Senator Noha Ahmed Zaki said that the law is in line with Article 32 of the constitution, which obligates the state to preserve natural resources, effectively utilise them, avoid depleting them, and preserve the rights of future generations to them. The legislation states that a National Apparatus for Biological Resources will be set up to implement the laws articles and executive regulations. The apparatus, which will be affiliated with the cabinet, will make sure that all concerned authorities implement Egypts obligation under the Nagoya Protocol. The draft law stipulates that those who seek access to biological resources cannot use these resources without prior approval and licensing from the National Apparatus for Biological Resources, which is part of the Ministry of Environment. Those who have access to biological resources will be obliged to make sure that their activities do not lead to the loss of biodiversity or ecosystem degradation that might pose major risks to human survival and sustainable development, according to the draft law. The law will be referred to the House of Representatives to be discussed and passed. Search Keywords: Short link: Egypts Minister of Irrigation and Water Resources Mohamed Abdel-Ati said on Monday that one third of the countrys Nile Delta may drown due to climate change. In a technical session held on the second day of the fourth edition of Cairo Water Week (CWW) to discuss the Adaption Project which is a response to climate change and the phenomenons impact on the North Coast and Nile Delta, Abdel-Ati stated that one third of the Nile Delta may drown due to an increase in the water level of the Mediterranean Sea as a result of global warming. The irrigation minister added that one of the impacts of climate change in the Nile Delta is that sea water will overlap with fresh water, causing its salinity to increase. He also revealed that Green Climate Fund granted Egypt USD 32 billion to combat the repercussions of climate change, however, this amount of money is not enough to resolve the issue. He did assure that the sum of money is substantial, nonetheless. The Green climate Fund was established in 2010 within the framework of the 1992 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Treaty to combat the consequences of climate change. The fund supports projects, programmes, policies, and other activities in developing countries to face global warming. Discussing the project, Abdel-Ati said that the project depended on studying the development of the North Coast as well as ways to protect valleys in the area prone to drowning. The Fourth edition of the CWW kicked off on Sunday under the title Water, Population, and Global Changes: Challenges and Opportunities. CWW involves a five-day gathering organised by the Egyptian Ministry of Irrigation and Water Resources in cooperation with partners from regional and international organisations as well as national institutions, authorities, and ministries. Search Keywords: Short link: Egypt has called upon all parties in Sudan to exercise restraint and prioritise the greater interest of their country and reaching a national consensus, a statement by the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Monday. A state of emergency was announced in Sudan earlier today as protesters took to the streets of Khartoum on the heels of the dissolution of the country's ruling Sovereign Council and the government led by Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok over political differences. Egypt said that it is "closely" following the latest developments in Sudan and called for dealing with the current challenges in a way that ensures the countrys safety. The statement added that the security and stability of Sudan is part and parcel of that of Egypt and the region. In a televised address, the head of Sudans ruling council Abdel-Fattah Al-Burhan said that "quarrels among political factions prompted the military to intervene." Al-Burhan said that a new technocratic government would lead Sudan until the elections set for July 2023. Search Keywords: Short link: Egypt's President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi announced on Monday that he will not be extending a national state of emergency that has been in place for the past several years. "Egypt has become, thanks to its great people and loyal men, an oasis for security and stability in region. So, I have decided for the first time in years not to extend the state of emergency nationwide," the Egyptian president announced on Monday evening in a short statement on his social media accounts. "This decision was in fact made by the Egyptian people over the past years through their honest and loyal participation in all development efforts," he added. "As I declare this decision, I remember with all respect and appreciation our heroic martyrs, without whom we could not have achieved stability or security," El-Sisi said. A nationwide state of emergency was imposed in April 2017 after two church bombings killed 47 people in Alexandria and Tanta. It has since been continually renewed for three months at a time in accordance with the constitution. Search Keywords: Short link: Egypt's Foreign Ministry has condemned the Israeli government's announcement of construction tenders for more than 1,300 settlement units in the West Bank. The ministry said in a statement Monday that it is following up with great concern reports on the Israeli government's plans to expand the settlement area, which it noted would harm the geographical contiguity of Palestinian territories. It would also gradually eliminate the two-state solution and the future of a Palestinian State, it added. The Foreign Ministry affirmed the illegality and illegitimacy of settlements, calling for an end to any unilateral actions that would undermine the future of establishing a Palestinian State and achieving the peace process. Search Keywords: Short link: Military forces arrested Sudan's acting prime minister and other senior officials Monday, disrupted internet access and blocked bridges in the capital, the country's information ministry said, describing the actions as a coup. In response, thousands flooded the streets of Khartoum and its twin city of Omdurman to protest the apparent military takeover. Footage shared online appeared to show protesters blocking streets and setting fire to tires as security forces used tear gas to disperse them. Protesters could be heard chanting, ``The people are stronger, stronger'' and ``Retreat is not an option!'' as plumes of smoke filled the air. A takeover by the military would be a major setback for Sudan, which has grappled with a stop-and-go transition to democracy since long-time ruler Omar al-Bashir was toppled by mass protests two years ago. The moves come less than a month before powerful Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan was expected to hand the leadership of the ruling transitional council to a civilian. The Sovereign Council, which has run the country since shortly after al-Bashir's ouster, has military and civilian members who have frequently disagreed over Sudan's course and the pace of the transition to democracy. The United States and the European Union expressed concern over Monday's developments. Jeffrey Feltman, the U.S. special envoy to the Horn of Africa, said Washington was ``deeply alarmed'' by reports. Feltman met with Sudanese officials over the weekend in an effort to resolve the growing dispute between civilian and military leaders. EU foreign affairs chief Joseph Borrell tweeted that he's following events with the ``utmost concern.`` The first reports about a possible military takeover began trickling out of Sudan before dawn Monday. By mid-morning, the information ministry confirmed that the prime minister, Abdalla Hamdok, had been arrested and taken to an undisclosed location. Several senior government figures were also detained, the ministry said in a Facebook post. It said their whereabouts were unknown. Hamdok's office said in a statement on Facebook that he and his wife were detained early Monday as part of what it described as a ``complete coup.'' In other hallmarks of a takeover, internet access was widely disrupted and the country's state news channel played patriotic traditional music. At one point, military forces stormed the offices of Sudan's state-run television in Omdurman and detained a number of workers, the information ministry said. Monday's apparent takeover came after weeks of rising tensions between Sudan's civilian and military leaders. A failed coup attempt in September fractured the country along old lines, pitting more conservative Islamists who want a military government against those who toppled al-Bashir in protests. In recent days, both camps have taken to the street in demonstrations. After the September coup attempt, the generals lashed out at civilian members of he transitional power structure and called for the dissolution of Hamdok's government. The Sovereign Council is the ultimate decision maker, though the Hamdok government is tasked with running Sudan's day-to-day affairs. Burhan, who leads the council, warned in televised comments last month that the military would hand over power only to a government elected by the Sudanese people. His comments suggested he might not stick to the previously agreed timetable, which called for the council to be led by a military figure for 21 months, followed by a civilian for the following 18 months. Under that plan, the handover was to take place sometime in November, with the new civilian leader to be chosen by an alliance of unions and political parties that led the uprising against al-Bashir. Since al-Bashir was forced from power, Sudan had slowly emerged from years of international pariah status. The country was removed from the United States' state supporter of terror list in 2020, opening the door for badly needed foreign loans and investment. But the country's economy has struggled with the shock of a number economic reforms called for by international lending institutions. Sudan has suffered other coups since it gained its independence from Britain and Egypt in 1956. Al-Bashir came to power in 1989 in one such takeover, which removed the country's last elected government. Among those detained Monday were five senior government figures, according to two officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to share information with the media. They include Industry Minister Ibrahim al-Sheikh, Information Minister Hamza Baloul, and Mohammed al-Fiky Suliman, a member of the Sovereign Council, as well as Faisal Mohammed Saleh, a media adviser to Hamdok. Ayman Khalid, governor of the state containing the capital, was also arrested, according to the official Facebook page of his office. After news of the arrests spread, the country's main pro-democracy group and two political parties issued appeals to the Sudanese to take to the streets. One of the factions, the Communist Party called on workers to go on strike in an act of mass civil disobedience after what it described as a ``full military coup'' orchestrated by Burhan. The Sudan Doctors' Committee said at least 12 people have been injured in demonstrations, without giving further details. Search Keywords: Short link: The office of Sudan's Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok called on protesters to take to the streets after security forces detained senior civilian leaders in the transitional government on Monday. "We call on the Sudanese people to protest using all peaceful means possible... to take back their revolution from the thieves," Hamdok's office said in a statement. Hamdok himself was detained earlier on Monday by security forces in what the information ministry called a "coup". Search Keywords: Short link: Germany expressed concern on Monday after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan threatened to expel the German ambassador to Ankara, along with those of nine other countries, over their support for opposition figure Osman Kavala. "We are concerned and puzzled by the comments made by the Turkish president," German government spokesman Steffen Seibert told reporters. He said Berlin was in "close consultation with partners who are affected by similar threats", while noting there had not been any "formal notification from the Turkish side". If Erdogan expelled the diplomats, it would not be "in line" with the two countries' "close bilateral relationship" and their cooperation within NATO, Seibert said. Erdogan decided Saturday to declare the ambassadors of 10 countries, including Germany and the United States, "persona non grata" for a joint statement backing the jailed Kavala. The envoys' highly unusual joint declaration last week said the continued detention of the Parisian-born philanthropist and activist "cast a shadow" over Turkey's democracy and the judicial system. The 64-year-old civil society leader and businessman has been detained without a conviction for four years. Supporters view Kavala as a symbol of growing intolerance of political dissent by Erdogan since he survived a failed military putsch in 2016. Expulsion orders are officially issued by foreign ministries and none of the Western capitals had reported receiving one by Monday. Search Keywords: Short link: US diplomats in Sudan have issued warnings to American citizens in the country citing the military's closure of areas in and around the capital and reports of violence against protesters. The US Embassy in Khartoum urged Americans to ``shelter in place'' and ``remain aware of their surroundings'' hours after Sudan's top general declared a state of emergency and dissolved the civilian government. Internet remained widely disrupted across the country and the embassy noted it was ``non-functional'' in Khartoum. It asked that American citizens not travel to the US Embassy or to international airports in Khartoum or Port Sudan, where it said outbound flights were halted. Monday's apparent takeover came after weeks of rising tensions between Sudan's civilian and military leaders. A failed coup attempt in September fractured the country along old lines, pitting more conservative Islamists who want a military government against those who toppled al-Bashir in protests. In recent days, both camps have taken to the street in demonstrations. Search Keywords: Short link: More than 22 million Afghans will suffer "acute food insecurity" this winter, UN agencies said Monday, warning the already unstable country faces one of the world's worst humanitarian crises. "This winter, millions of Afghans will be forced to choose between migration and starvation unless we can step up our life-saving assistance," said David Beasley, executive director of the World Food Programme. The crisis is already bigger in scale than that facing Yemen or Syria, and worse than any food insecurity emergency apart from the Democratic Republic of Congo, officials told AFP. "Afghanistan is now among the world's worst humanitarian crises if not the worst and food security has all but collapsed," Beasley said in a statement. "We are on a countdown to catastrophe and if we don't act now, we will have a total disaster on our hands." According to the statement issued by the World Food Programme and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, one in two Afghans faces Phase 3 "crisis" or Phase 4 "emergency" food shortages. Phase 4 is one step below a famine, and officials told AFP that Afghanistan already struggling to emerge from a 20-year civil war is facing its worst winter in a decade. In August, the hardline Islamist Taliban overthrew the US-backed regime and declared an interim government, vowing to restore stability. But the Taliban still face a range of international sanctions and a campaign of bloody attacks by rival hardliners the Islamic State while climate change has made Afghanistan's droughts more frequent and intense. In the west of the country, thousands of poor families have already sold their flocks and fled, seeking shelter and assistance in packed temporary camps near major cities. Asked about the humanitarian crisis, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told AFP on Sunday: "We are trying to get our people out of the current situation and help them. Global humanitarian aid has also arrived." "We are trying to arrange and distribute, including food and clothing. All worries will be resolved," he promised. "Regarding the drought, we hope to have a wet winter. But if the drought continues we will take appropriate measures in the spring." The UN agencies warned that their humanitarian response plan is only a third funded as it stands. The FAO is seeking $11.4 million in urgent funding and a further $200 million for the agricultural season into 2022. "Hunger is rising and children are dying. We can't feed people on promises funding commitments must turn into hard cash," Beasley said. "The international community must come together to address this crisis, which is fast spinning out of control." Search Keywords: Short link: UAE The UAE, which along with regional allies Saudi Arabia and Egypt had cultivated close ties to Sudan's top generals, emphasized the importance of securing ``stability as soon as possible, in a manner that achieves the interest and aspirations of the Sudanese people.'' Bahrain Bahrain's Foreign Ministry said it had ``confidence'' in Sudan's political establishment to ``overcome this crisis through dialogue and understanding.`` Paris French President Emmanuel Macron has added his voice to the growing global concern over the military coup underway in Sudan. ``France condemns in the strongest terms the attempted coup d'etat,'' Macron tweeted, after Sudan's leading general declared a state of emergency and dissolved the civilian government. Macron said France supports the transitional government that had been tasked with steering Sudan toward democratic elections. He also called for the ``immediate release'' of Sudan's prime minister and other civilian leaders who have been detained. United States The United States says the leaders of the military coup underway in Sudan are undermining the country's transition to democracy and should ``stand down.'' The US Embassy in Sudan said on Twitter Monday it was ``gravely concerned'' after Sudan's leading general declared a state of emergency and dissolved the ruling body that had been jointly overseen by military and civilian leaders. In the statement the embassy calls on ``all actors who are disrupting Sudan's transition to stand down, and allow the civilian-led transitional government to continue its important work to achieve the goals of the revolution.'' That's a reference to the mass protests that helped topple longtime autocrat Omar al-Bashir in 2019 and installed a ruling council to steer the country toward democratic elections. US Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa Jeffrey Feltman said earlier Monday that Washington was ``deeply alarmed'' about the events and warned that a military coup could jeopardize American aid to Sudan. China China is urging a dialogue between Sudanese factions as an apparent military coup roils the nation. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said Monday that China wanted all parties in Sudan ``to resolve their differences through dialogue so as to maintain peace and stability of the country.'' He told reporters that China would continue to closely follow the turbulence in Sudan and ``take necessary measures to ensure the safety of Chinese institutions and personnel there.'' China is a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council and major investor in Africa. The arrests on Monday of Sudan's interim prime minister and other officials plunged Sudan's fragile path to democracy into uncertainty following the 2019 ouster of longtime autocrat Omar al-Bashir. During al-Bashir's harsh rule and despite allegations of his government's human rights abuses, China was Sudan's biggest trading partner and key international partner. Islamic cooperation organization The Saudi-based Organization of Islamic Cooperation has expressed concern over the apparent coup in Sudan amid a fragile transition to democracy. In a statement carried by the state-run Saudi Press Agency, the organization said Monday that it urged Sudanese leaders to ``abide by the constitutional document and what has been agreed upon during the transition period.'' The statement comes as other nations express alarm at the arrest of Sudan's interim prime minister and other senior officials. Their whereabouts were not immediately known. Thousands of Sudanese protesters have flooded the streets as fears of a military coup grip the country two years after mass protests ousted autocrat Omar al-Bashir, who ruled Sudan with an iron fist for three decades. The 57-nation OIC is based in Jiddah, Saudi Arabia. Germany Germany has demanded an immediate halt to the apparent military coup underway in Sudan.German Foreign Minister Heiko Mass condemned the attempted takeover in the vast east African country and called the news ``dismaying.'' ``This attempted coup must end immediately,'' he said, urging ``all those who bear responsibility for security and state order in Sudan to continue the peaceful political transition process in Sudan toward democracy.'' The statement Monday was one of several from other nations expressing concern about the arrest of Sudan's interim prime minister and other senior officials. Their whereabouts were not immediately known. Thousands of Sudanese protesters have flooded the streets as fears of a military coup grip the country two years after mass protests ousted autocrat Omar al-Bashir, who ruled Sudan with an iron fist for three decades. Since 2019, Sudan has been navigating a fragile transition to democracy. South Africa South Africa said it was "deeply concerned about the apparent ongoing coup and attempts to undermine Sudan's political transition", calling for the immediate release of officials. "We reject and condemn any attempt at an unconstitutional change of government," the foreign affairs ministry said in a statement. IGAD The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), which Sudan is currently chairing, said it was "alarmed" by the events in the country, and was "following the situation very closely". "The executive secretary strongly condemns any attempt to undermine the transitional government and urges all parties to exercise utmost restraint," the regional African bloc said in a statement from Djibouti. Search Keywords: Short link: Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly has called on French companies to invest in manufacturing electric vehicles and desalination projects in Egypt, the Egyptian cabinet said. In a meeting with his French counterpart Jean Castex, Madbouly said that Egypt already has a promising electric vehicle manufacturing program as part of its strategy to move towards a green economy, which presents an opportunity for French companies working in that field. Madbouly added that Egypt needs water desalination stations to increase its water sources. The Egyptian PM also said that Egypt recently depended mainly on French companies in constructing and managing public transportation like the monorail and light rail train. Meeting with MEDEF In a meeting with representatives from 90 French companies at the headquarters of the French Business Council (MEDEF) in Paris, the Egyptian PM said that there are more than 165 French companies investing a total of 5 billion euros and providing 38,000 jobs in Egypt. The PM also said that trade between the two countries reached $3 billion in 2020, up 20 percent from 2019. Madbouly also said that Egypt has successfully finalised the first stage of the economic reforms launched in cooperation with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in 2016 and has adopted a comprehensive and lasting program to achieve economic growth based on amending monetary policies. Meetings with Orange and Credit Agricole officials Madbouly also met with CEO of Orange Middle East and Africa Alioune Ndiaye and CEO of Orange Egypt Yasser Shaker in Paris, where he said that Egypt is keen to remove all obstacles facing the Paris-based telecom giant in Egypt. The Orange representatives expressed the company's keenness to increase its investments in the Egyptian market. The company, which currently employs 12,000 people in Egypt, seeks to inject an additional $300 million in Egypt in 2022, they said. Shaker, for his part, said that Orange Egypt will launch a new digital centre in cooperation with the German development agency (GIZ) to train young people in various fields and qualify them for the labour market. This centre will be one of only four Orange centres in the world, he said. The Egyptian PM also met with CEO of Credit Agricole Philippe Brassac, where the PM said he looks forward to expanding the activities of Credit Agricole in Egypt, especially in the sectors of industry, agriculture, and IT. Finance Minister Mohamed Maait and Electricity Minister Mohamed Shaker attended the meeting. Brassac lauded the improvement in Egypt's business climate over the past period, saying that he looks forward to exploring more cooperation opportunities in the Egyptian market. Minister Maait also pointed out that Egypt is the first country in Africa to issue green bonds, and expressed the countrys wish for further cooperation with the bank in this area. Search Keywords: Short link: Technologies such as 5G, the cloud, and artificial intelligence (AI) will greatly benefit the Middle East in expanding the digital economy and improving the quality of people's lives, said Steven Yi, the recently appointed President of Huawei Middle East and Africa. Yi made his comments during a meeting with a number of journalists worldwide on the sidelines of the GITEX Global 2021 summit held recently in Dubai. He noted that adopting such technologies in the Middle East has helped Huawei grow in the region as it has openly collaborated with government entities to contribute to their national visions and enable the development of their ICT ecosystems. Touching on 5G specifically, Yi reaffirmed that 5G deployments have been quite successful in the Middle East to date, with the number of 5G subscribers in GCC countries estimated to exceed 10 million by the end of 2021. Traffic is growing rapidly in the Middle East. Since the pandemic, industry digitisation and online business have gained strong momentum. The next important step in 5G development is 5GtoB applying 5G technologies to all industries, Yi expounded. As more industries across the Middle East embrace digital transformation, a focus on collaborative development will be pivotal to extending the gains achieved to date. He referred to many governments and enterprises in the Middle East today have benefited greatly from being at the forefront of emerging technologies be it 5G commercial deployments, adopting cloud capabilities, designing intelligent city infrastructure, and more. He explained that approximately 81 percent of enterprises globally now use cloud-based applications, adding that Huawei plans to extend these benefits to countries in the Middle East. Huawei recently announced that it is investing $15 million to support cloud-oriented ecosystem development, talent cultivation, and start-ups in the region. In the past two years, the development of new technologies and the new normal under the pandemic has accelerated the advent of a digital world. The collaboration in the ICT domain can open new windows of socio-economic progress in line with countries national development agendas. Yet it will also take a concerted effort to drive digitalisation in ways that will create value for all. Yi illustrated. He added that talent is the cornerstone for a digital economy and that talent cultivation must be a long-term strategy for the region. Yi also demonstrated that sustainable development of the sector would require the advancement of open, transparent, and secure networks. We call on all parties to cooperate in fields such as governance architecture, standards, verification, and sharing successful practices to enhance the trust and confidence of society as a whole. Cybersecurity is really a technical issue, and it needs technical solutions based on verifiable facts and objective methods. Search Keywords: Short link: Shell-shocked friends and colleagues of Halyna Hutchins gathered Sunday to pay tribute to the cinematographer who was killed when Alec Baldwin fired a prop gun on a movie set. Anguish and anger were on display as Hollywood held vigil for Hutchins, as questions grew over how such a tragedy could have happened, despite rigorous safeguards. "I had the pleasure of working with Halyna," said actress Sharon Leal. "She was a wonderful woman and just, we're all just so shocked." Hutchins, 42, was struck in the chest when Baldwin fired a prop gun he had been told was safe on the set of low-budget western "Rust" in New Mexico on Thursday. She was declared dead in hospital hours later. Director Joel Souza, 48, who was crouching behind her as they lined up a shot, was also hit. He was treated by doctors and sent home. Police are still investigating the shooting, and have executed a search warrant at the set, where, among other things, they were looking to see if the rehearsal had been caught on film. Baldwin has been interviewed by detectives in Santa Fe, and has said he is co-operating fully with the probe. Attention has also focused on the film's assistant director, Dave Halls, who handed the weapon to the actor, and on the armorer, 24-year-old Hannah Gutierrez-Reed. No one has been charged in connection with what police describe as an "ongoing investigation", and no arrests have been made. But as scores of Hollywood insiders gathered in a Los Angeles suburb on Sunday, there was palpable anger about what went wrong. "The low budget productions oftentimes they want to make it look bigger than they really are," said director Gustavo Sampaio, who worked with Hutchins four years ago. "So they cut corners and they put safety in the backseat when it really should be at the forefront of everything that's done on a set." That sentiment was echoed by producer Sabrina Oertle. "I can tell you that as a producer, someone dropped the ball. Somebody decided to go with the bottom line, meaning keep your budget... cheap." - 'No excuse' - Calls were growing for a ban on live firearms on movie sets, with a petition on change.org gathering more than 22,000 signatures by Sunday evening. "There is no excuse for something like this to happen in the 21st century," says the text of the petition launched by Bandar Albuliwi, a screenwriter and director. Dave Cortese, a Democrat elected to the California Senate, said Saturday he would be pushing a bill banning live ammunition on movie sets in California "There is an urgent need to address alarming work abuses and safety violations occurring on the set of theatrical productions, including unnecessary high-risk conditions such as the use of live firearms." The hit Los Angeles police drama "The Rookie" decided the day after the shooting to ban all live ammunition from its set, effective immediately, according to industry publication The Hollywood Reporter. But some industry professionals said the use of weapons on film was not the problem. Movie armorer SL Huang, writing on Twitter, said she had worked on hundreds of film sets without incident, thanks to the stringent safety protocols and the built-in redundancies. "A tragedy happening in *this particular* way defies everything I know about how we treat guns on film sets," she wrote. "My colleagues and I have been trying to figure out how this could happen when following our basic safety procedures and we keep ending at a loss. "Which implies... that very basic, very standard safety procedures may not have been followed. And that nobody shut the production down when they weren't." The Los Angeles Times reported this week there had been crew disquiet about safety and working conditions. The paper, citing crew members who had been on set, said three prop weapons had unexpectedly discharged prior to Thursday's tragedy. The production company has not responded to AFP requests for comment. Search Keywords: Short link: Yes, as long as the virus that caused the pandemic keeps infecting people. But that doesnt mean new variants will keep emerging as regularly, or that theyll be more dangerous Can new variants of the coronavirus keep emerging? Yes, as long as the virus that caused the pandemic keeps infecting people. But that doesnt mean new variants will keep emerging as regularly, or that theyll be more dangerous. With more than half the world still not vaccinated, the virus will likely keep finding people to infect and replicating inside them for several months or years to come. And each time a virus makes a copy of itself, a small mutation could occur. Those changes could help the virus survive, becoming new variants. But that doesnt mean the virus will keep evolving in the same way since it emerged in late 2019. When a virus infects a new species, it needs to adapt to the new host to spread more widely, says Andrew Read, a virus expert at Pennsylvania State University. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the delta variant is twice as contagious as earlier versions of the virus. And while it could still mutate to become more infectious, it probably wont double its transmission rate again, says Dr. Adam Lauring, a virus and infectious disease expert at the University of Michigan. Weve seen a stage of rapid evolution for the virus. Its been harvesting the low-hanging fruit, but theres not an infinite number of things it can do, Lauring says. Its possible that the virus could become more deadly, but there isnt an evolutionary reason for that to happen. Extremely sick people are also less likely to socialize and spread the virus to others. Experts are watching to see whether emerging variants could be better at evading the protection people develop from vaccination and infections. As more people get the shots, the virus would have to be able to spread through people who have some immunity for it to survive, says Dr. Joshua Schiffer, a virus expert at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. The virus could take on a mutation that makes the immune response less effective, he says. If that happens, scientists may recommend that vaccine formulas be updated periodically, just as annual flu shots are. Search Keywords: Short link: Florida's top health official was asked to leave a meeting after refusing to wear a mask at the office of a state senator who told him she had a serious medical condition, officials have confirmed. Students arrive for their first day in school at the Barbara Goleman Senior High School in Miami, on August 23, 2021. [Photo: CHANDAN KHANNA / AFP] Florida Senate leader Wilton Simpson, a Republican, sent a memo to senators Saturday regarding the incident at the office of Democratic state Sen. Tina Polsky, asking visitors at the building to be respectful with social interactions. Polsky, who represents parts of Broward and Palm Beach counties, had not yet made public her breast cancer diagnosis. Polsky told The Associated Press about the tense exchange with state Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo that was first reported by the news site Florida Politics. She said Ladapo and two aides were offered masks and asked to wear them when they arrived for the Wednesday meeting. She did not tell him she had breast cancer, but said she had a serious condition. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says cancer patients are at a higher risk to get severely ill from COVID-19 and may not build the same immunity to vaccines. Ladapo had asked to meet her in Tallahassee as he seeks confirmation in the Senate after being named to the post by Gov. Ron DeSantis last month. It was so shocking to me that he treated me in this manner, Polsky said. If he is a surgeon general for the next several years, I am really concerned about a future public health emergency and not being able to rely on him for necessary guidance and proper scientific leadership. Ladapo offered to go outside, but the senator said she did not want to sit on the metal picnic tables on a warm day when her office was nice and spacious. She said she asked whether there was a reason why he couldn't wear a mask, but he wouldn't answer. Democrats have opposed the appointment of Ladapo, criticizing him for comments and actions related to the pandemic. A day into his job, Ladapo signed new rules allowing parents to decide whether their children should quarantine or stay in school after being exposed to people who tested positive for COVID-19. On Thursday at a press conference with DeSantis to oppose vaccine mandates, Ladapo said people were not comfortable with the vaccines because the federal government has not been open about the effectiveness and safety of the vaccines, saying there was a concerted effort to hide stories of people with adverse reactions. Pfizers COVID-19 vaccine has received the full approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, meeting high standards required for the vaccine to be considered safe. It has been administered to millions and proven to be effective against hospitalization and death. However, immunity against infection can wane over time. Authorities in Sweden, Denmark and Norway earlier this month suspended or discouraged the use of Modernas COVID-19 vaccine in young people because of an increased risk of heart inflammation, a very rare side effect associated with the shot. Ladapo also wrote an opinion column in the Wall Street Journal saying masks have little or no effect on respiratory virus transmission. The CDC still recommends people with weakened immune systems, and those in high-transmission areas to wear masks. Studies have supported their use, with some finding that cloth masks are less effective. In the memo sent by Simpson, the president of the Florida senate, he said that while there's no mask mandate in the Senate, senators can request social distancing and masking within their offices. It shouldn't take a cancer diagnosis for people to respect each other's level of comfort with social interactions during a pandemic, he said. "What occurred in Senator Polsky's office was unprofessional and will not be tolerated in the Senate." The Florida Department of Healths spokeswoman Weesam Khoury said the agency was not aware of any specific Senate protocol, but said it would ask members ahead of time and make necessary accommodations such as meeting through Zoom or outdoors. The Department of Health will be addressing this directly with members of the Senate, rather than letting this play out publicly, Khoury said in an email. By Maya Kaneko, KYODO NEWS - Oct 25, 2021 - 13:33 | All, Japan Japanese political parties' campaigns for the House of Representatives election next Sunday have highlighted enhanced support for children, with child-rearing households battered by the coronavirus pandemic, but experts say assistance should go beyond financial aid and ensure the improvement of related services. A variety of child support measures have been put forward by both the ruling and opposition parties during campaigning, such as free higher education, the establishment of a government body to comprehensively deal with child matters and Komeito's pledge of one-off payments of 100,000 yen ($880) for each child aged 18 or younger. While experts welcome such pledges, referring to Japan's internationally low public spending on family benefits and education as well as relatively high child poverty rate, they say the steps presented by the parties are not enough to improve the harsh child-rearing environment in the country. "In Japan, raising children tends to be recognized as a private matter as it basically relied on self-help or mutual assistance in a community. But more support involving the public sector is needed now as families get smaller and parents' personal networks for help shrink," said Mayumi Sato, professor at Shukutoku University Junior College. "Increased child support spending is of course important, but the quality of services for children should also be enhanced," said the welfare expert, referring to a lack of resources and fragmented systems to tackle issues including child abuse and help for disabled children. Kaori Suetomi, professor of educational administration at Nihon University, said the pandemic and associated school closures have exposed Japan's "child penalty," the disadvantage in pay faced by working mothers, who were the first among nonregular workers to lose their jobs amid the health crisis. She pointed out political parties have been racing to pledge a boost in child support this time as child abuse cases and suicides among young people have hit their worst levels in Japan during the pandemic. "The key for real change is how we can reduce the number of ruling Liberal Democratic Party members, especially men, who are unfriendly to children," Suetomi said. Noting the LDP's campaign pledge lacks specifics on child support, she added voters need to check the individual stances of LDP candidates. Related coverage: Nearly 30% to vote for ruling party in Japan's general election: Kyodo poll FOCUS: Japan election campaign promises include potential market-movers Japan's ruling party loses 1 of 2 by-elections in blow to PM Kishida For example, Seiko Noda, minister in charge of Japan's declining birthrate, has been spearheading child-related policies, expressing eagerness for the early launch of a new government agency coordinating policies on children. But LDP policy chief Sanae Takaichi appears to be "cold toward (supporting) children," Suetomi said. The lack of specifics in the LDP's campaign pledge demonstrates resistance within the party from forces unfriendly to children including Takaichi, but its policy may change depending on how the LDP fares in the upcoming election, as the party needs to woo voters ahead of the House of Councillors contest next summer, she added. Other major parties including the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan are calling for stronger support, with pledges to double the country's budget for children, increase child allowances, and expand free education and scholarships. Japan spent about 1.8 percent of its gross domestic product on family benefits, below the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development average of around 2.3 percent and trailing far behind France, which topped the ranking at 3.6 percent, according to data as of 2017 and later. Among 37 comparable OECD countries, Japan ranked at the bottom in terms of how much national wealth was spent on educational institutions in 2018. With both Komeito, the LDP's junior coalition ally, and the Japanese Communist Party aiming to expand the free university education program to cover about half of students, Japanese university students will have an incentive to go to the polls, the Nihon University professor said. In Japan, those aged 18 or older became eligible to vote under a 2015 legislative change which lowered the minimum voting age from 20. In the previous lower house election in 2017, voter turnout among those in their 20s stood at 33.85 percent, lower than the total average of 53.68 percent, while 40.49 percent of those aged 18 and 19 went to the polls. As for cash benefits for households with children, Sato said the payment is important but underlined the need for the government to allocate funds to continuously provide comprehensive services for struggling parents and children. Suetomi said while the impact on children of Komeito's 100,000 yen handouts would be limited and boosting permanent support measures in the form of allowances and free education would be more desirable, targeting households with younger children would be meaningful because their saving rates are lower. "In Japan, those raising children aged up to 4 years old face the severest financial situation due to the failure of income redistribution policies. The country needs to sharply expand child allowances for this group to reduce child poverty," Suetomi said. Japan's child poverty rate stood at 13.5 percent in 2018, higher than other major industrialized countries. The poverty rate among single-parent households was especially high, hitting 48.1 percent. Suetomi warned against any move by the LDP to further cut the coverage of the current child allowance program. The government of former Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga decided to abolish the monthly provision of 5,000 yen per child up to 15 years old to households whose heads annually earn 12 million yen or more, beginning October 2022, to secure funds to increase day-care facilities. The party initially debated a plan to limit recipients to households composed of couples with a combined annual income of less than 7 million yen. "If we let the LDP win this election and give it a mandate, (child support policy) will be driven in a dangerous direction. I want young people to go to the polls" to prevent such a situation, Suetomi said. KYODO NEWS - Oct 26, 2021 - 00:27 | All, Japan Former Japanese Prime Minister Taro Aso said Monday that rice on the northernmost main island of Hokkaido "has become tastier thanks to (global) warming," a remark likely to raise eyebrows of climate campaigners. People often associate a warming climate with negative developments, but there is "something good," said the 81-year-old politician, who until recently had served as finance minister for nearly nine years. He made the remarks while giving a stump speech in Hokkaido's Otaru for a Liberal Democratic Party candidate running in Sunday's general election. Aso, currently vice president of the ruling party, said rice in Hokkaido "used to be unsalable" but is now tastier and even exported "because of higher temperatures." "This is a reality," he said in front of voters. Aso, who was prime minister between 2008 and 2009, has often come under fire for gaffes and controversial statements. KYODO NEWS - Oct 26, 2021 - 00:17 | All, Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Monday the situation appears "extremely tough" for the ruling Liberal Democratic Party in the upcoming general election this weekend and called for public support following the party's loss Sunday in one of two by-elections. The by-election defeat in Shizuoka Prefecture dealt a blow to Kishida, the LDP leader whose Cabinet approval rate is relatively low for a newly launched Cabinet. The LDP won in Yamaguchi Prefecture, a conservative stronghold. Kishida on Twitter expressed his resolve to fight it out toward the House of Representatives election which he described as "an election that we certainly cannot lose in order to execute policies amid a national crisis." He vowed to listen to the voices of the people in the remaining five days of election campaigning. Speaking to reporters earlier in the day, Kishida said while the party won people's confidence in Yamaguchi, it saw a disappointing result in Shizuoka. "I would like to solemnly accept the judgment of people" in Shizuoka Prefecture," he said. The by-elections for vacant seats in the House of Councillors or the upper chamber of parliament were the first contests for Diet seats since Kishida took office on Oct. 4, replacing his unpopular predecessor, Yoshihide Suga, and were closely watched as a bellwether for the general election. Yukio Edano, leader of the main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan, said many in the opposition camp were encouraged by the Shizuoka outcome. "It showed the people's distrust and discontent with the government is very big even after its front cover changed," Edano said. Kenji Eda, acting leader of the CDPJ, attributed swing voters' support for the win in Shizuoka by Shinnosuke Yamazaki, an independent the CDPJ backed with another opposition party, in a close race against Yohei Wakabayashi of the LDP. "This will give us a boost going into the lower house election. Prime Minister Kishida will not be the face of the election," Eda said. Kishida did not mention the by-elections when he gave stump speeches in Osaka Prefecture for candidates in the upcoming election. Yuichiro Tamaki, leader of the Democratic Party for the People, released a statement Sunday evening saying the win by the opposition-backed candidate in Shizuoka gives courage to candidates backed by opposition parties ahead of the general election. The other race in Yamaguchi Prefecture in western Japan was won by former parliamentary vice industry minister Tsuneo Kitamura, who defeated the Japanese Communist Party's Kiyo Kawai, a former prefectural assembly member, and Shota Harada, more widely known as YouTuber Hezumaryu. Related coverage: Japan's ruling party loses 1 of 2 by-elections in blow to PM Kishida FOCUS: Japan parties vow increased child aid, but more than money needed FOCUS: Japan election campaign promises include potential market-movers KYODO NEWS - Oct 25, 2021 - 14:30 | All, Japan Five Russian navy ships entered the Sea of Japan through the Tsushima Strait in the country's southwest having previously formed a flotilla with five Chinese ships that had sailed around most of the Japanese archipelago, the Defense Ministry said Monday. The ministry is analyzing what is behind the latest development. The 10 Russian and Chinese ships are believed to include vessels that took part in a joint drill conducted by the two countries in the Sea of Japan in mid-October, according to the ministry. Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force spotted five Russian navy ships sailing in a northeast direction some 140 kilometers southwest of Tsushima, in the southwestern Japan prefecture of Nagasaki, at around 10 p.m. on Saturday and they later entered the Sea of Japan. At around 10 a.m. on Sunday, a helicopter was seen taking off and landing on a frigate, one of the five Russian ships, some 60 km northeast of Tsushima. Japanese Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi expressed concern about the activities of the Russian and Chinese vessels in a meeting at his ministry with U.S. Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro. "The security situation surrounding Japan is becoming increasingly severe," Kishi said, as he also touched on North Korea's recent test-firing of a submarine-launched ballistic missile. Del Toro told Kishida the United States wishes to strengthen cooperation with Japan in the maritime domain. Japan and the United States are long-time security allies. Forming a flotilla, the 10 navy vessels passed through the Tsugaru Strait, located between the main island of Honshu and Hokkaido in northern Japan on Oct. 18. They moved southward in the Pacific Ocean and transited through the Osumi Strait off Kagoshima Prefecture, southwestern Japan, before entering the East China Sea. It was the first time that the Japanese Defense Ministry had confirmed a flotilla of Russian and Chinese vessels had passed through the Tsugaru Strait or Osumi Strait. The Russian warships parted with the Chinese ships off a group of islands in Nagasaki in the East China Sea at around 11 a.m. Saturday, according to the ministry. Japan's Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihiko Isozaki said the government is following developments with "high interest." "We will continue to conduct surveillance activities thoroughly in the waters and airspace surrounding Japan," Isozaki said during a regular briefing. Isozaki added that Japan scrambled Air Self-Defense Force fighter jets after shipboard helicopters of Russian and Chinese naval forces flew over areas near the Izu Islands and the East China Sea. New Delhi: Little after 9:30 pm on September 29, 2008, an IED fitted in a gold-coloured bike triggered a massive blast killing six people, injuring 100 in Maharashtras Malegaon. Eleven years later, Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur, the prime accused in the blast has been fielded by the BJP for the Lok Sabha Elections from the prestigious Bhopal seat. Soon after the announcement, Thakur was quoted as saying, Main bhagwa ko samman dila ke rahungi. So, what exactly is the status of the case? Was Thakur acquitted? What happened to Malegaon blast probe? These are some of the poignant questions that we try to answer in following points: 1: Was Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur acquitted in Malegaon blast case? In one word, the answer is no. Thakur is out on bail in the 2008 Malegaon blast case. The confusion came after Thakur got clean-chit by the National Investigation Agency in the case. Later, on April 27, 2017, Singh was granted bail by the Bombay High Court. She was cleared under the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA). But the biggest point is that she still faces terror trial in other case. She is still an accused named by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad. At present, her legal status is that she is out on bail and faces charges under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) for terror activities, criminal conspiracy and murder. In simple words, as of today, Thakur is a terror accused. 2: The bike, blast and Hindu terror The aforementioned gold-coloured bike was the key evidence against Thakur. The bike registered under her name was used in the Malegaon blast. The initial probe was led by none other than Hemant Karkare, chief of Maharashtra Anti Terrorism Squad. Two months later, Karkare was killed in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks. He traced the bike to Surat and finally to Thakur. Army officer Lt Col Prasad Purohit and retired Major Ramesh Upadhyay were arrested. This year, a third person associated with the term "Hindu terror", Swami Aseemanand, was acquitted in March by an anti-terror court in the 2007 bombing of the Samjhauta Express that left nearly 70 people dead. 3: Tracing the roots It was in 2007 Allahabad Kumbh that young Pragya Thakur became a sadhvi. She was ordained by the popular seer Swami Avadheshanand Giri, chief of the powerful Juna Akhada. The third of five children, Thakur joined the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh-affiliated Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) in early nineties. She moved to Madhya Pradesh after her father was transferred from UPs Jalaun to Lahar in Bhind district of the central state in the seventies as an agriculture department employee. Her father again shifted to Surat around 2000 when Thakur was setting out for a post-graduation in History. New Delhi: External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, who is known for her prompt response on Twitter, on Thursday assured her full cooperation to an Indian man in Riyadh who threatened to commit suicide. Ali, who was seeking Indian Embassy in Riyadhas help for getting back home for the last 12 months, had said that if the embassy canat help him, he will have no other options left but to commit suicide. His tweet was spotted by Sushma Swaraj, who assured him with her motherly words and sought a report from the Indian Embassy in Riyadh on the matter. "Khud kusi ki baat nahin sochte. Hum hain na. Hamari Embassy aapki poori madad karegi. @IndianEmbRiyadh - Pls send me a report on this," she tweeted.A Later, the tweet threatening suicide was removed by the Twitter. 'Khud kusi' ki baat nahin sochte. Hum hain na. Hamari Embassy aapki poori madad karegi. @IndianEmbRiyadh - Pls send me a report on this. https://t.co/ajU8EXyhAK a Chowkidar Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) April 18, 2019 Earlier, in an another tweet, Swaraj thanked an Indian citizen in US for pointing out the process of "outdated mode of payment" for a document at the Indian Consulate inA San Francisco. One Twitter user,A Kshitij tweeted, "@SushmaSwaraj Dear Madam @CGISFO has a requirement that attestation be paid thru Money order or Cashieras Check, in this age of digitalization why are GoI ofc abroad insisting on outdated modes of payment? atleast accept card, in India you do, why nt in US (sic),a Kshitij tweeted from his handle @indianatheart13. On this, Swaraj said that the issue will be examined by the her. The Union Minister is known for her proactive response to SOS messages on Twitter. She has helped thousands of Indians across the globe who were in distress and sought the government's help. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: An ITBP jawan was injured in a Maoist-triggered IED blast in Chhattisgarh's Rajnandgaon on Thursday. IED blast took place between Koracha and Manpur road at around 11 am. ITBP Constable Man Singh received minor injuries. He is out of danger and performing his duty after receiving first aid, news agency ANI reported. Earlier in the day, two Maoists were killed in an encounter with the District Reserve Guard (DRG) in the forest area of Dhanikarka under the Kuakonda police station limits in Chhattisgarh. Chandigarh: Former MP Jagmeet Singh Brar, who was expelled from the Congress and later went on to join the Trinamool Congress, on Thursday said he will join the Akali Dal on April 19 at Muktsar in Punjab. In my political and personal capacity, I have been driven by virtues and principles of Guru Nanak. Hence, I want to inform all well-wishers who have stood by me that I will be joining the Shiromani Akali Dal tomorrow at Shri Muktsar Sahib, Brar tweeted on Thursday. While I live and breathe politics for and by the people, the Akali Dal gives me an opportunity to further my objectives of Sikhism and Punjab. At every step, I have raised issues for the people and will continue to do so, he said. Brar, who had been the permanent invitee to the, Congress Working Committee (CWC) for 10 years, was expelled from the party in 2016. After the Congress partys defeat in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, Brar had suggested that then Congress President Sonia Gandhi and the then vice-president Rahul Gandhi go on a sabbatical to introspect on the reasons for the partys worst performance in the elections. Brar had later joined the Trinamool Congress and had remained president of partys state unit. He quit the TMC last year. Brar had defeated Sukhbir Badal from Faridkot Lok Sabha seat in 1999. Badal went on to defeat Brar in the 2004 polls. New Delhi: Himachal Pradesh Board of Education Class 12 Exam Results 2019 will be announced today. Speaking to indianexpress.com, the official confirmed that the Class 12 results will be declared tomorrow at 11 am. The results of the 12th examination will be declared tomorrow at 11 am from the boards office. The students can check the results through the official website hpbose.org, apart from it, it will be available on the private websites, the official mentioned. Earlier there were reports that the HPBOSE class 12 results will be announced on April 22. However, the board later confirmed that the results will not be published on the said date. ''Though the evaluation process has been completed, but there is some technical rounds that needs to get clear. The board will announce the results of Class 12 next week,'' the secretary mentioned. Soon afte the formal announcement of the results, the students can visit the official webiste of the board to check and download their HPBOSE Class 12 Result 2019. Students wrote their HPBOSE 12th exams between March 6 and March 29, 2019. They can check their results by entering their roll number and name in the login window. CLICK Here for LIVE UPDATES on HPBOSE 12th Results It is often seen that the official website of the board faces technical glitches on the result date due to heavy traffic on the platform. If such situation arises this year, we request the students not to panic and wait for the website to resume. Alternatively, the candidates can also check their results on this page as we will be activating the result link soon after the formal declaration. Where and How to Check HPBOSE 12th Result 2019 Online? Visit english.newsnationtv.com/board-results and HPBOSE class 12 result page Enter your admit card information and other detail. Click on 'submit' to obtain your result. The online result released by HPBOSE will be a provisional marksheet. Once the HP Board Class 12th result 2019 is announced, students must collect their original mark sheets and passing certificate from their school administration. In the year 2018, the HP Board 12th result was declared on April 24 for nearly 1 lakh students. Of the total number of students i.e. 98,281, around 68,469 students cleared the exam with flying colours. The overall pass percentage for HPBOSE 12th Result 2019 was recorded at 69.67%. About Himachal Pradesh Board: The Himachal Pradesh Board of School Education (HPBOSE) came into existence in 1969 with its office in the city of Dharamshala. Formulating policies, school syllabus, conducting the examination, evaluating Board examination copies come under its jurisdiction. It regulates and supervises more than 8,000 schools in the state of Himachal Pradesh. Under its HP Board Examination, more than five lakh students participate yearly. Apart from the SSC and the HSC examinations, the board conducts JBT and TTC examinations too. New Delhi: As many as 2 Maoists were killed in an encounter with the District Reserve Guard (DRG) in the forest area of Dhanikarka under the Kuakonda police station limits in Chhattisgarh on Thursday. Meanwhile, a teacher, who was on election duty at a polling booth in Chhattisgarh's Kanker district, died of a heart attack on Thursday, an official said. The deceased, Tukalu Ram Nareti, an assistant teacher in a government school, was deputed as the polling officer at Kamta booth (no.186) in Antagarh area of Kanker Lok Sabha constituency where voting was underway, the official from the local administration said. Kureti complained of chest pain around 6 am and fell unconscious at the polling station. He was immediately rushed to a local hospital where he was declared brought dead, the official said. The body was sent for postmortem, he said. Meanwhile, around 11 per cent voter turnout was recorded in the first two hours of polling in three Lok Sabha constituencies of Chhattisgarh on Thursday, an official said. Voting in the second phase of polling in the state began at 7 am in Kanker, Rajnandgaon and Mahasamund Lok Sabha seats, all having Maoist presence, amid tight security, the official at the state election office said. "Around 11 per cent voting has been recorded till 9 am," he said. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Paris: Catholic worshippers feeling orphaned by the fire that ravaged part of Notre-Dame will be welcomed in an ephemeral cathedral of wood in front of the Paris monument until it reopens, Notre-Dames chief priest said Thursday. Speaking to Frances CNews television channel Monsignor Patrick Chauvet said: We mustnt say the cathedral is closed for five years and thats it. To give the faithful somewhere to congregate next to Notre-Dame, he suggested: Can I not build an ephemeral cathedral on the esplanade (in front of Notre-Dame)? Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo had backed the idea and agreed to give over part of the esplanade to the church for a wooden structure, he said. Chauvet said the wooden cathedral would host priests who could address some of the millions of tourists who throng the original 850-year-old Gothic cathedral each year. On Tuesday, President Emmanuel Macron said he aimed to rebuild Notre-Dame within five years. The government said it would launch an international architecture contest to replace the burning steeple which came crashing down during Mondays inferno, along with a large part of the roof. Chauvet said the surrogate cathedral would be erected quickly, as soon as the esplanade reopens after work to secure the cathedral is completed. The fire is believed to have been accidentally triggered by restoration work which was being carried out on the steeple. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: In what can be called as a setback for Trinamool Congress, another Bangladeshi actor has been ordered to leave India. Gazi Abdun Noor, seen in Trinamool's Bengal poll campaign, has been asked to leave India. According to news agency ANI, Noor who attended a political rally in Dumdum, has been asked to leave India. The sources said that he was staying in India on an expired visa. Appropriate action is also being taken regarding his overstay in contravention of visa validity, the ANI report said. The Rani Rashmoni fame actor was seen campaigning for the Trinamool Congress on Tuesday. In a video, Noor was seen campaigning for the Trinamool Congress and senior leader and sitting MP Sougata Roy in the Dumdum constituency. He also took part in a road show accompanied by Trinamool leader Madan Mitra. Noor is the second Bangladeshi actor who has been asked to leave India. Earlier, Ferdous Ahmed, another popular actor, was ordered to leave the country and his business visa was cancelled for allegedly campaigning for West Bengal's ruling Trinamool Congress. Expressing serious concern over foreign nationals campaigning during Indian elections that might influence voters, BJP leader Rahul Sinha said that these actors are coming to India on either tourist or business visa but are indulging in political activities and that is wrong. TMC leader and Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim said that BJP is deliberately raising this issue because they are sure of their defeat in the state as reported by Zee Media. A video showing Ahmed and Bengali actors Ankush and Payal participating in a roadshow on Sunday to seek votes for Trinamool candidate from Raiganj Kanhaiyalal Agarwal went viral on social media. "All should vote for the Trinamool Congress. All should vote for didi (TMC chief Mamata Banerjee)," Ahmed was claimed to have told voters while sharing the dais with Agarwal. West Bengal BJP leaders Jay Prakash Majumdar and Sisir Bajoria on Tuesday met Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Ariz Aftab in Kolkata and demanded that Ferdous should be arrested. "We understand that foreign nationals can't participate in electioneering process in India. When TMC is using Bangladeshi nationals (actor Ferdous) for campaigning, they are breaking the rules. He should be arrested for breach of visa rules," Majumdar said. The Centre Tuesday issued a 'Leave India' notice and cancelled the business visa given to the actor. Ahmed has also been "blacklisted" by the Union Home Ministry, thus jeopardising the prospects of his future travel to India. Kolkata: The second phase of polling in the Lok Sabha Elections was marred by massive violence in North Dinajpurs Chopra area on Thursday. The voters in the area alleged that the Trinamool Congress workers had blocked the National Highway 31 and were stopping them from casting their ballots. Crude bombs were allegedly hurled in Chopra, which falls under Darjeeling constituency. Bengal BJP state president Dilip Ghosh said that the area is filled with anti-social elements. He also alleged that Congress and BJP workers died in the past and nobody reported about it. We have informed the Election Commission. No arrangements were made for the voters safety, Ghosh told News Nation. State police is working at the behest of the ruling Trinamool Congress. If adequate measures are not taken, we will take to the streets to protest, Ghosh added. In another incident, CPM leader Md Salims car was attacked near a polling booth in Raiganj constituency. Salim had gone to check the booth after he got reports of some suspicious activity. Soon after, his car was attacked. Some unidentified men hurled stones at his car. But Salim was not in the car at the moment. Fearing for his life, the driver of the car fled from the area. The CPM leader took shelter inside the polling booth. The Election Commission has also sought report on this incident. An EVM was also damaged in Chopra. The ground reports say that the central forces have reached Chopra. Darjeeling and Raiganj are two out 42 seats that are voting the second phase of polling in the Lok Sabha polls in West Bengal. Key contests of 2019 Lok Sabha Elections Phase 2 in West Bengal 1. Darjeeling (2014 Result: BJP, Winner: SS Ahluwalia, Margin: 1,97,239) 2019 candidates: Raju Singh Bisht (BJP) Vs Shankar Malakar (Congress) Vs Amar Singh Rai (Trinamool) Vs Saman Pathak (CPM) The BJP will be facing a tough task to retain Darjeeling this time after the split in the GJM. The party won the seat in 2009 and 2014 with the GJM's backing. Jaswant Singh won the seat in 2009 whereas SS Ahluwalia retained it for the party in 2014. However, the saffron party has fielded Raju Singh Bisht to take on Trinamool's Amar Singh Rai and CPM's Saman Pathak. In the last seven elections, the CPM won the seat thrice in 1996, 1998 and 1999. 2. Raiganj (2014 Result: CPM, Winner: Md Salim, Margin: 1,634)2019 candidates: Deepa Dasmunshi (Congress) Vs Kanaia Lal Agarwal (Trinamool) Vs Md Salim (CPM) Vs Deboshree Chaudhary (BJP) In 2014, Raiganj was one of the two seats won by the CPM in the state. Party's Md Salim defeated Congress candidate and Priya Ranjan Dasmunshi's wife Deepa Dasmunshi in a very close contest with over 1,600 votes. Salim will be facing Deepa again this time with BJP's Deboshree Chaudhary and Trinamool's KL Agarwal are also in the fray. Priyaranjan Dasmunshi won the seat twice in 1999 and 2004. Mumbai: An average 57.22 per cent voter turnout was recorded till 5 pm across 10 constituencies in Maharashtra which went to the polls in the second phase of Lok Sabha elections on Thursday, an official said. The final turnout of Thursdays polling in the state will be known later and could be higher, the official said. In 2014, the average voting in these seats was 62.39 per cent. Nanded Lok Sabha seat recorded 60.88 per cent voting, the highest in the second phase, followed by Hingoli at 60.69 per cent. Parbhani recorded 58.50 per cent voting, Beed 58.44 per cent, Latur (SC) 57.94 per cent, Buldhana 57.09 per cent Osmanabad 57.04 per cent, Amravati (SC) 55.43 per cent, Akola 54.45 per cent and Solapur (SC) 51.98 per cent, he said. In Nanded, there were complaints that as many as 78 electronic voting machines (EVMs) malfunctioned. A total of 179 candidates were in the fray in these constituencies. Beed had the maximum number of contestants - 36 - while 10 candidates contested from Latur. Prominent figures in the fray were state Congress chief Ashok Chavan who is seeking another term from his hometurf Nanded, and former Union home minister and Congress veteran Sushilkumar Shinde who is contesting his "last election" from Solapur. In Beed, the hometurf of late BJP stalwart Gopinath Munde, his daughter Pritam Munde is seeking another term. She faced Bajrang Sonawane of the NCP. In the 2014 elections, the NDA had won eight out of these ten seats, whereas the Congress had won two - Nanded and Hingoli. A total of 62,700 EVMs and around 27,000 VVPAT (Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail) machines were used in Thursdays polling, the official said. Washington: Boeing has conducted a final test flight of a 737 MAX model with an updated anti-stall system prior to its certification by aviation authorities, the aerospace manufacturer has said. CEO Dennis Muilenberg Wednesday tweeted a video where he said the test flight was carried out on Tuesday, adding that test pilots have completed 120 flights totalling more than 203 hours of airtime with the software fix for the Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System (MCAS). Investigators have zeroed in on the system as a factor behind the Lion Air and Ethiopian Airlines crashes in October and in March respectively, killing nearly 350 people in total. In both cases, the planes nose-dived shortly after takeoff, signalling a problem in a system that was deployed to correct for an aerodynamic issue that tended to cause the planes nose to pitch up. More than 85 per cent of the 50-plus MAX operators around the globe also have had the opportunity to see the update in action during simulator sessions, added Muilenberg. All 737 MAX aircraft have been banned from the worlds skies days after the Ethiopian Airlines crash on March 10. The Federal Aviation Administration on Tuesday said a portion of the proposed modifications were operationally suitable but said it would not rush towards approval. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Mumbai: The rupee appreciated by 15 paise to 69.45 against the US dollar in opening trade Thursday, driven by weakening of the greenback in overseas markets and sustained foreign fund inflows. The rupee opened at 69.48 at the interbank forex market, then gained further ground and touched a high of 69.45. The local unit, however, pared some gains and was quoted at 69.52 against the American currency at 0953 hrs, displaying gains of 8 paise over its last close. On Tuesday the rupee had settled at 69.60 against the US dollar. Currency market was shut on Wednesday on account of Mahavir Jayanti. Forex dealers said, selling of the American currency by exporters, fresh foreign fund inflows and positive opening in domestic equities supported the rupee. Foreign institutional investors (FIIs) remained net buyers in the capital markets, putting in Rs 1,038.58 crore Tuesday, as per provisional data. Brent crude futures, the global oil benchmark, eased 0.01 per cent to USD 71.61 per barrel. The benchmark BSE Sensex extended its record run by rising over 200 points in early trade Thursday. After hitting a lifetime high (intra-day) of 39,487.45, the 30-share index was trading 136.38 points or 0.35 per cent higher at 39,412.02. The NSE Nifty too soared to another record high of 11,856 in early session. For all the Latest Business News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Plastic is harmful; burning plastic is harmful; plastic is this; plastic is that. The negative impacts of plastics and their use have been advertised and talked about a lot in Nepal in recent years. But, a group of people is now trying to change the misunderstood notion, by burning them, in the form of plastic briquettes. Crazy one might say, but these environment enthusiasts claim burning plastics is exactly the solution the Kathmandu city, which is suffering from huge solid waste management and disposal problems, needs. But, do not jump the gun just yet. These researchers associated with the Centre for Energy and Environment Nepal (CEEN) under the leadership of Ramesh Man Singh, a chemical engineer, are not supporting the haphazard burning of plastics rather a selective range of plastics, in a smart and eco-friendly way. Briquettes in Nepal: Past and present Briquetting in Nepal was first introduced in the early 1980s when they were made with charcoal from rice husk and molasses binder. The trend saw a spike in the next few years as a few industries were registered but fell rather quickly. Another rise was in the blockade of 1989 with different types of briquettes, but the trend again collapsed in less than 10 years. At the same time, CEEN President Krishna Raj Shrestha started his organisation and introduced the biomass briquetting technique. However, the feat was all being conducted in a hush-hush. After the blockade in 2015 too, the importance of briquettes was realised again. Among different types of briquettes, beehive briquettes of coal are more commonly known and used today. Different types of briquettes are available in the market. Photo: Chandra Bahadur Ale But, the briquettes being discussed here are made of plastics, mixed in equal ratio with paper. As of now, CEEN has been trying to make plastic briquettes out of discarded noodle and cheese ball packets, following efforts of over two years. This is also called refuse-derived fuel, he says. CEEN Secretary Deepesh Raj Sharma explains, We are in the final stage of our research and testing. A factory helped us in gathering the unused and damaged noodle packets that would have been a 100 per cent waste. After collection, we shredded the plastics. And keeping the weight ratio of 1:1, we shredded the paper and then mixed the two. The mixture then goes straight to the screw extruder briquetting units where the mixture is compressed and moulded into a cylindrical shape, in the temperature ranging from 150 C to 350 C. A mixture of shredded plastic and paper pieces is made into briquettes. Photo: Chandra Bahadur Ale From this process, they can ready about a foot-long briquette within some five minutes. Depending on the range of temperatures, the output varies in outlook and burning time, but the density remains the same, Singh explains. They are also experimenting with the mixture in a 3:2 ratio of plastic and paper as well as 100 per cent plastic and 100 per cent paper. This, they hope, will help them cater to a range of users and also give them the right solution for proper management and disposal of plastics within the valley. Nevertheless, their primary target consumers are factories, big or small, for commercial use. It is not for household use. Our target is to replace the bulky, commercial use of firewood in the industries or factories, with a collateral benefit of getting rid of the non-biodegradable solid waste in Kathmandu. The research team arranging the shredding pieces in the compressor unit. Photo: Chandra Bahadur Ale Behind this alternative thought The research began some two years ago when the team started testing its theories. But, Singh, who previously worked in the Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST), says he had tried to turn the idea into reality some 20 years ago. Even with multiple attempts, there were close to no support for the idea. There was budget; there were equipment and people, but no support, shares Singh, who is glad the idea is now here, better late than never. If you see the plastic consumption by humankind across the world, Nepali people consume about 1 kg per capita annually whereas, in developed countries, it has gone up to 120 kg per capita. Yet, we are the ones struggling to keep the solid waste in check. We lack efficiency in segregation and management of the solid waste produced here, and it is pretty evident to all, adds Singh. It is also beneficial because, he adds, of its calorific value. The plastic briquettes are denser in nature; they release heat slowly but are intense. In comparison to firewood [with the calorific value of 3,700 Kcal/kg], our briquettes have the calorific value of 5,700 Kcal/kg, making them efficient. Hence, plastic briquettes can be a great alternative for firewood. The team of researchers from the Centre for Energy and Environment Nepal. Photo: Chandra Bahadur Ale The Nepal government has also tried banning plastic use within the Kathmandu valley. Among many other attempts to make use of plastics, we have come up with a sustainable solution. We are yet to confirm results for mixed plastics, 100 per cent plastic briquettes and paper briquettes, but the research is going strong simultaneously, assures Singh. How does it work? The very first thought that strikes ones mind is whether the briquettes are safe, environmentally, regardless of the researchers claims. This is obvious, they say, as media, activists and environment enthusiasts have always advertised that burning plastic is harmful. We have tested the plastic briquettes, side by side with the firewood, and we can confirm they are absolutely safe to use, confirms Singh. But, there is a need for ample air supply for combustion. There are basically seven types of plastics in use. According to Singh, The kind of plastic that has been deemed harmful is the PVC plastic as it has high emission rate and its smoke is harmful to inhale. But, the plastics we are burning is the PE, PET, PP and PS kinds. They are broken down into the smallest pieces and burned in high heat. The compact nature of the plastic briquettes and the high heat environment result in the lowest [carbon] emission. In our months of test, we have found that the emission is even less than that from the firewoods. Adding, he says, even PVC plastics can be turned to RDF provided that some slaked lime is added to capture the harmful emissions. Madhyapur Clay Craft factory in Madhyapur Thimi. The photo is of the factory while plastic briquettes were burning inside. Photo: Nasana Bajracharya They are testing their products in a ceramic factory in Madhyapur Thimi. The team has been working with a local ceramist, Hari Govinda Prajapati there. Prajapati says, Previously when I used firewood, I needed about 80 kg of firewood per month while the same work is being done in just about 32 kg briquette per month. Not just the quantity, it has been cost-effective too. Firewood costs about Rs 25-50 per kg depending on the type of wood while the plastic briquettes cost only about Rs 10-15 per kg, says Prajapati. FCW Insider: October 25, 2021 The Coast Guard's deputy commander for operations said the maritime service wants to break down its Marine Information for Safety and Law Enforcement system into a series of mobile applications. Agency watchdogs told lawmakers that they would like authority to subpoena former federal employees, contractors and other non-governmental witnesses to give testimony in IG probes. Code for America recognized a new employee union, a first in the civic tech sector. House appropriators are concerned that the Department of Veterans Affairs is seeking to fully fund its program to switch from its homegrown Vista system to Cerner's commercial electronic health record in 2022, despite having unspent funds from fiscal year 2021. Quick Hits *** The Environmental Protection Agency awarded a $363.5 million task order to AT&T on October 20 under the Enterprise Infrastructure Solutions telecom contract. The task order is for data and voice enterprise network services. *** Industry is getting a more detailed glimpse at a five-year, $8 billion contract for IT services to the State Department ahead of an event slated for Monday to discuss the procurement. Get more on this story from Washington Technology. *** Quantum computing and communications technology is at least 10 years away, likely to require billions in investments that may not pay off, but absolutely essential to the nation's future. That's according to a recent technology assessment of quantum computing by the Government Accountability Office. Read more in GCN. NEW ORLEANS, La., Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC ("KSF") and KSF partner, the former Attorney General of Louisiana, Charles C. Foti, Jr., remind investors that they have until October 26, 2021 to file lead plaintiff applications in securities class action lawsuits against Cassava Sciences, Inc. (NasdaqCM: SAVA), if they purchased the Company's securities between September 14, 2020 and August 27, 2021, inclusive (the "Class Period"). These actions are pending in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas. (PRNewsfoto/Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC) What You May Do If you purchased securities of Cassava and would like to discuss your legal rights and how these cases might affect you and your right to recover for your economic loss, you may, without obligation or cost to you, contact KSF Managing Partner Lewis Kahn toll-free at 1-877-515-1850 or via email (lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com), or visit https://www.ksfcounsel.com/cases/nasdaqcm-sava/ to learn more. If you wish to serve as a lead plaintiff in these class actions by overseeing lead counsel with the goal of obtaining a fair and just resolution, you must request this position by application to the Court by October 26, 2021 . About the Lawsuits Cassava and certain of its executives are charged with failing to disclose material information during the Class Period, violating federal securities laws. On August 24, 2021, it was disclosed that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") had received a so-called Citizen Petition commencing an administrative action to "halt two ongoing trials of the drug Simufilam [the Company's lead therapeutic product candidate]. . . pending a thorough audit by the FDA." On August 25, 2021, pre-market, the Company issued a statement claiming that the clinical data, which the citizen petition stated had been reanalyzed to show simufilam was effective, had been generated by Quanterix Corp. ("Quanterix"), an independent company, implying that the reanalysis was valid. On this news, the Company's stock price plummeted approximately $37 per share, or 32%, on unusually high trading volume. Then, on August 27, 2021, pre-market, Quanterix issued a statement denying the Company's claims, stating that it "did not interpret the test results or prepare the data." Story continues On this news, the Company's stock price fell $12.51 per share, or 17.6%, to close at $58.34 per share on August 27, 2021, on unusually heavy trading volume. The first-filed case is Brazeau v. Cassava Sciences, Inc., No. 21-cv-00751. About Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC KSF, whose partners include former Louisiana Attorney General Charles C. Foti, Jr., is one of the nation's premier boutique securities litigation law firms. KSF serves a variety of clients including public institutional investors, hedge funds, money managers and retail investors in seeking to recover investment losses due to corporate fraud and malfeasance by publicly traded companies. KSF has offices in New York, California, Louisiana and New Jersey. To learn more about KSF, you may visit www.ksfcounsel.com. Contact: Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC Lewis Kahn, Managing Partner lewis.kahn@ksfcounsel.com 1-877-515-1850 1100 Poydras St., Suite 3200 New Orleans, LA 70163 Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cassava-sciences-24-hour-deadline-alert-former-louisiana-attorney-general-and-kahn-swick--foti-llc-remind-investors-with-losses-in-excess-of-100-000-of-lead-plaintiff-deadline-in-class-action-lawsuits-against-cassava-sciences-301407929.html SOURCE Kahn Swick & Foti, LLC The Company Gains Exposure to Revolutionary, Lab-Grown, A5-Grade, Wagyu Ribeye Beef and Adds Another Investment to its Cellular Agriculture Portfolio VANCOUVER, BC, Oct. 25, 2021 /CNW/ - CULT Food Science Corp. ("CULT" or the "Company"), an innovative investment platform with an exclusive focus on clean, lab-grown food that is advancing the development of novel technologies to provide a sustainable, environmental, and ethical solution to the global factory farming and aquaculture crises, is pleased to announce that it has completed a strategic investment into Ohayo Valley Inc. ("Ohayo" or the "Portfolio Business"), which is a cultivated meat science and cell biology company. CULT's Portfolio Business is focused on developing and commercializing intellectual property to facilitate the sustainable production of premium, lab-grown, marbled, wagyu ribeye beef. CULT Food Science Corp. (CNW Group/CULT Food Science Corp.) Ohayo's revolutionary process to recreate the protein, fat, and texture profile of beef is underpinned by five provisional patents, as well as various trade secrets. The Portfolio Business expects will these to allow for the reproduction of textured whole beef cut analogues. Ohayo' s models indicate that its cultivated A5-grade wagyu ribeye will be profitable at commercial scale and intends to capture market share by distributing its cultivated whole beef cut analogues to renowned restaurants, for cross-promotion by top chefs and culinary experts. The Portfolio Business' founding team has over 20 years of combined research experience in cultivated meat science and cell biology, including the development of the acclaimed Artemys burger prototype. Furthermore, Ohayo's team boasts past and present affiliations with Kent State University, New Harvest, Artemys Foods, University of Pennsylvania and the National University of Singapore. Its patented processes may also offset greenhouse gas emissions by producing cultivated versions of all varieties of beef, thereby furthering its ESG mandate. Story continues Cows are the number one source of agriculture-based greenhouse gases worldwide and each year a single cow produces about 220 pounds of methane. Methane from cattle is 28 times more potent in warming the atmosphere than carbon dioxide1. Management Commentary "CULT's investment in Ohayo marks an exciting addition to its portfolio, which continues to be high graded by way of the world's leading companies in the cellular agriculture space. Our team has the benefit and privilege of being able to closely monitor the future of food, while positioning the Company to generate strong returns on its investments for the benefit of shareholders," said Dorian Banks, Chief Executive Officer of CULT. About CULT Food Science CULT Food Science Corp. is an innovative investment platform with an exclusive focus on clean, lab-grown food that is advancing the development of novel technologies to provide a sustainable, environmental, and ethical solution to the global factory farming crisis. The first-of-its-kind in North America, CULT Food Science aims to provide individual investors with unprecedented exposure to the most innovative start-up, private or early-stage cultivated meat and cultured dairy companies around the world. Additional information can be found by viewing the Company's website at www.cultfoodscience.com or its regulatory filings on www.sedar.com. On behalf of the Board of Directors of the Company, CULT FOOD SCIENCE CORP. "Dorian Banks" Dorian Banks, CEO Forward-Looking Information: Information set forth in this news release may involve forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that relate to future, not past, events. In this context, forward-looking statements often address a company's 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. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements, or other future events, to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include but are not limited to the following risks: those associated with marketing and sale of securities; the need for additional financing; reliance on key personnel; the potential for conflicts of interest among certain officers or directors with certain other projects; and the volatility of common share price and volume. Forward-looking statements are made based on management's beliefs, estimates and opinions on the date that statements are made and except as required by law, the Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements if these beliefs, estimates and opinions or other circumstances should change. Investors are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements. For further information on risk, investors are advised to see the Company's MD&A and other disclosure filings with the regulators which are found at www.sedar.com. Endnotes 1. Amy Quinton, "Cows and climate change Making cattle more sustainable," UC Davis Food News 27 June 2019, https://www.ucdavis.edu/food/news/making-cattle-more-sustainable, Web, 22 October 2021, SOURCE CULT Food Science Corp. Cision View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/October2021/25/c8746.html B2B Go-To-Market Leader's Growth Fueled by Customer Success and Noteworthy Product Development SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Demandbase , the B2B go-to-market leader, today announced it has earned the 41st spot on the list of the Top 100 Fastest Growing Private Companies in the Bay Area. Run by the San Francisco Business Times, this list is especially prestigious given the notoriously high-growth in the part of the U.S. that it covers. The company has also enjoyed a record customer renewal rate and exceptional new customer acquisitions. Additionally, Demandbase has earned recognition for the innovative strides taken in product development this past year, including expanding predictive analytics capabilities, releasing a solution that unlocks insights into future technology investments at target accounts, deepening personalization and much more. New Demandbase logo "Landing on this list is such an honor for all of us at Demandbase," said Gabe Rogol, chief executive officer at Demandbase. "We've had our sights set on exceptional customer success and unstoppable growth from the very beginning, and everything we do behind the scenes is motivated by that. Recognition like this tells us we're on the right path, using our top tier technology and thought leadership to empower our customers to dominate in the B2B world. Thanks to the San Francisco Business Times, our employees and our customers for your part in getting us here." Demandbase has also been recognized as one of the Best Places to Work in the Bay Area by the San Francisco Business Times for six years running. The company has received numerous industry, product, leadership and business awards throughout the last few years, as well. In the past year alone, Demandbase landed on the Inc. 5000 List of Fastest Growing Private Companies in America, was included among the Constellation Research ShortListTM for B2B Marketing Automation for the Enterprise, and was named an industry leader in seven categories on G2. Story continues The full Top 100 Fastest Growing Private Companies in the Bay Area list, complete with rankings, was revealed during an exclusive virtual awards event on October 21st and was featured in a special print and digital awards edition of the San Francisco Business Times on October 22nd. To learn more about Demandbase please visit: www.demandbase.com . About Demandbase Demandbase is transforming the way B2B companies go-to-market. Demandbase One is the most complete suite of B2B go-to-market solutions, connecting the leading account-based experience, advertising, sales intelligence, and B2B data solutions so Marketing and Sales teams at the biggest and fastest-growing companies can collaborate faster, share intelligence, and experience explosive growth. For more information about Demandbase, visit: www.demandbase.com . Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/demandbase-ranks-41-among-top-100-fastest-growing-private-companies-in-the-bay-area-301407293.html SOURCE Demandbase Equity Bank locations in Concordia, Clyde and Belleville will become UBT branch locations in 2022 WICHITA, Kan., Oct. 25, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Equity Bank, a subsidiary of Equity Bancshares, Inc. (NASDAQ: EQBK) (Equity Bancshares), announced today the entry into a definitive purchase and assumption agreement with United Bank & Trust in Marysville, Kansas, (UBT) with UBT acquiring certain assets and assuming deposits of bank locations in Concordia, Belleville and Clyde, Kansas from Equity Bank. UBT and Equity anticipate completing the acquisition in the second quarter of 2022. Our focus as a community bank includes doing what is right for our communities, businesses, and families in our regions while delivering value to our shareholders, said Brad Elliott, Chairman and CEO of Equity Bancshares. Our three locations in Northern Kansas will serve as a resource to consumers and businesses as part of a like-minded bank network in United Bank and Trust. Were pleased with the value to Equity shareholders as well as the added value to customers of a local bank dedicated fully to north central Kansas. Were pleased to add community bankers in strong communities to our Northern Kansas footprint, and were eager to work with the teams and customers who helped make ASBT and Equity locations a great resource for customers, said Leonard Wolfe, Chairman/CEO of UBT Bancshares, Inc., parent company of United Bank and Trust. We share similar qualities with Equity, in that we do whats right for our customers, regions, and our team members, and were pleased with the fit. Were eager to continue serving customers in our Northern Kansas footprint. Equity Bank is located in Concordia at 302 W. 6th Street, in Clyde at 413 Washington Street, and Belleville at 1404 28th Street, which were recently branch offices of American State Bancshares (ASB). Equity completed its merger with ASB on October 1, 2021, including core system consolidation, digital platform consolidation and bank location rebranding. Approximately $60 million in deposits and $24 million in loans are included in Equitys agreement with UBT. Story continues Following completion of the merger, Equity and UBT will work together with local team members, customers, and each community to ensure seamless transitions for customers. The purchase and assumption of the three branches are subject to regulatory approval and satisfaction of customary closing conditions. Im thankful to the talented and dedicated bankers in Concordia, Clyde, and Belleville who helped us ensure a smooth experience for our customer base in 2021, said Mr. Elliott. We continue to evaluate opportunities for efficiencies and expansion within our four-state franchise, and that includes working with like-minded community banks to ensure an optimal fit for all constituencies, including shareholders of EQBK. UBT Bancshares, Inc. was advised by Stinson LLP as legal advisor. About Equity Bancshares, Inc. Equity Bancshares, Inc. is the holding company of Equity Bank, offering a full range of financial solutions, including commercial loans, consumer banking, mortgage loans, and treasury management services. As of September 30, 2021, Equity reported $4.3 billion in consolidated total assets, deposits of $3.8 billion and gross loans of $2.7 billion in its bank network of Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma. Learn more at www.equitybank.com. Equity provides an enhanced banking experience for customers through a suite of sophisticated banking products and services tailored to their needs, while delivering the high-quality, relationship-based customer service of a community bank. Equitys common stock is traded on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the symbol EQBK. About UBT Bancshares, Inc. UBT Bancshares, Inc. is the parent company of United Bank and Trust a community bank with headquarters in Marysville, Kansas, and 14 locations in its North Central Kansas footprint. As of June 30, 2021, UBT had $738 million in consolidated total assets, and deposits of $576 million. No Offer or Solicitation This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell, a solicitation of an offer to sell, or the solicitation or an offer to buy any securities. There will be no sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offer of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirement of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. Special Note Concerning Forward-Looking Statements This press release 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 forward-looking statements reflect the current views of Equitys management with respect to, among other things, future events and Equitys financial performance. These statements are often, but not always, made through the use of words or phrases such as may, should, could, predict, potential, believe, will likely result, expect, continue, will, anticipate, seek, estimate, intend, plan, project, forecast, goal, target, would and outlook, or the negative variations of those words or other comparable words of a future or forward-looking nature. These forward-looking statements are not historical facts, and are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about Equitys industry, managements beliefs and certain assumptions made by management, many of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and beyond Equitys control. Accordingly, Equity cautions you that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, assumptions and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Although Equity believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable as of the date made, actual results may prove to be materially different from the results expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from Equitys expectations include competition from other financial institutions and bank holding companies; the effects of and changes in trade, monetary and fiscal policies and laws, including interest rate policies of the Federal Reserve Board; changes in the demand for loans; fluctuations in value of collateral and loan reserves; inflation, interest rate, market and monetary fluctuations; changes in consumer spending, borrowing and savings habits; and acquisitions and integration of acquired businesses, and similar variables. The foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. For discussion of these and other risks that may cause actual results to differ from expectations, please refer to Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements and Risk Factors in Equitys Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 9, 2021 and any updates to those risk factors set forth in Equitys subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q or Current Reports on Form 8-K. If one or more events related to these or other risks or uncertainties materialize, or if Equitys underlying assumptions prove to be incorrect, actual results may differ materially from what Equity anticipates. Accordingly, you should not place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made, and Equity does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or review any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise. New risks and uncertainties arise from time to time, and it is not possible for us to predict those events or how they may affect us. In addition, Equity cannot assess the impact of each factor on Equitys business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements, expressed or implied, included in this press release are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. This cautionary statement should also be considered in connection with any subsequent written or oral forward-looking statements that Equity or persons acting on Equitys behalf may issue. Annualized, pro forma, projected and estimated numbers are used for illustrative purpose only, are not forecasts and may not reflect actual results. Important Additional Information This communication does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities. Investors and security holders are urged to carefully review and consider Equitys public filings with the SEC, including but not limited to its Annual Report on Form 10-K, its proxy statement, its Current Reports on Form 8-K and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. The documents filed by Equity with the SEC may be obtained free of charge at Equitys investor relations website at investor.equitybank.com or at the SECs website at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, these documents, when available, can be obtained free of charge from Equity upon written request to Equity Bancshares, Inc., Attn: Investor Relations, 7701 East Kellogg Drive, Suite 300, Wichita, Kansas 67207 or by calling (316) 612-6000. Media Contact: John J. Hanley SVP, Director of Marketing Equity Bancshares, Inc. (913) 583-8004 jhanley@equitybank.com Equity Bancshares, Inc. Investor Contact: Chris Navratil SVP, Finance Equity Bancshares, Inc. (316) 612-6014 cnavratil@equitybank.com UBT Bancshares, Inc. Contact: Leonard Wolfe President/Chairman United Bank & Trust/UBT Bancshares, Inc. (785) 562-2333 lwolfe@ubankonline.com European and global leaders gathered in a high-level forum at the Expo 2020 Dubai to discuss policy actions to unlock women's potential DUBAI, UAE, Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The European Union (EU) has held a high-level global forum to accelerate women's empowerment and to discuss best policy practices to enhance women's participation in the labour market of the 21st century. (L-R): H.E. Andrea Fontana, EU Ambassador to the UAE, H.E. Mona Ghanim Al-Marri, Vice President of the UAE Gender Balance Council, and HRH Princess Lamia Bint Majed Al Saud, Philanthropist and advocate for Gender Equality, Alwaleed Philanthropies. (PRNewsfoto/The European Delegation to the UAE) The conversation brought together distinguished political, business and society leaders who are bringing about positive change in their communities around the world. Several prominent government officials, business leaders, philanthropists, behavioural scientists, and storytellers highlighted the positive and multidimensional contribution of women to society. They also offered solutions to tackle gender-based discrimination and the active role that men can play in championing gender equality. The forum called for immediate policy action to enable more equal family-friendly work environments and better work-life balance for working parents. In addition, the event showcased how some governments are putting women at the heart of their recovery agendas to build back better and create resilient and inclusive societies for all. Speakers included: H.E. Andrea Matteo Fontana, EU Ambassador to the UAE; H.E. Mona Ghanim Al-Marri, Vice President of the UAE Gender Balance Council; HRH Princess Lamia Bint Majed Al Saud, philanthropist and advocate for gender equality at Alwaleed Philanthropies; Krister Nilsson, State Secretary to Minister for Foreign Trade and Nordic Affairs of Sweden, Mateja Ribic, State Secretary to Minister of Labour, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities of the Republic of Slovenia; Mr. Stefan Schleuning, Head of Unit at the EU Service for Foreign Policy Instruments (FPI); Dr Mouza Al Shehhi, Director of UN Women Liaison Office for the GCC and Veronica Squinzi, CEO of Mapei. In her keynote remarks, Her Excellency Mona Ghanim Al-Marri, Vice President of the UAE Gender Balance Council, said: "We would like to thank the European Union Delegation and their partners for organising this event, bringing together world leaders and experts to engage in thought-provoking dialogues that will further enhance the influence of women. One of our key objectives at the UAE Gender Balance Council is to turn the discussions taking place throughout these events into effective, collaborative partnerships, concrete plans and workable strategies that realise the full potential of women and enhance their vital role in socio-economic development around the world." Story continues Her Excellency further said: "Today, government leaders are more aware than ever that women's economic empowerment and achieving gender balance are key to advancing sustained economies, progressing national development, and building prosperous societies. Based on our experience in the UAE, and specifically the UAE Gender Balance Council, we have worked on enhancing women's economic rights through referring to global reports and understanding the best practices for women in economy. We remain hopeful that with collective efforts and actions, we will continue to make important progress towards the empowerment of women across the globe." Addressing the first panel, entitled Women's empowerment across all stages of their professional careers, H.E. Stella Ronner-Grubacic, EU Ambassador for Gender and Diversity, stated: "To achieve lasting change and advance women' leadership in socio-economic and political decision-making, we need an inclusive and comprehensive approach, involving men and boys. We also need our own increased awareness that we want things to change and we need to start now". Speaking at the second panel, entitled 'Family-friendly policies and more equitable burden-sharing of childcare ', Mateja Ribic, State Secretary to Minister of Labour, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities of the Republic of Slovenia stated: "Slovenia has one of the best family policies in the world. Projects such as 'Action dad' support both parents to be equally involved in upbringing and care of a child. Also, thanks to a well regulated kindergarten system, which enables women's rapid transition to the labour market, Slovenia has had the highest share of full-time employed women with small children in the EU for decades, while also enjoying a low pay gap level." As part of his interventions on panel 3 entitled, 'Policy action and best practice exchange', Krister Nilsson, State Secretary to Minister for Foreign Trade and Nordic Affairs of Sweden, said: "Women's empowerment is key to sustainable development, and there is also overwhelming evidence that gender equality boosts economic growth. Sweden has a feminist government that pursues a feminist foreign policy with a clear focus on women's and girls' rights, representation, and resources. A gender perspective is at the heart of all our work, including trade policy. Gender equality is not only good for society, but it's also good for business. " Hind Alowais, Vice President of International Participants Department at Expo 2020 Dubai said: "The Women's Pavilion by Expo 2020 Dubai in collaboration with Cartier is pleased to create a space to host conversations that matter with partners that matter. The session on 'Women and Career Progression' highlighted the necessary strategies and policies, such as childcare facilities, flexible work schedules and quotas to promote more women in leadership positions. However, if the goal is true and irreversible gender equality, we need to move the wheels of culture, rewire our mindsets and address visible and invisible social norms and biases that hold women back." The event was held in partnership with the Embassies of Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, the Commissariat General of Italy for Expo 2020 Dubai and UN Women and hosted at the Women's Pavilion by Expo 2020 Dubai in collaboration with Cartier. Participants were also invited to a networking lunch hosted by H.E. Liselott Andersson, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Sweden to the UAE and H.E. Andrea Matteo Fontana, EU Ambassador to the UAE at the Swedish Pavilion, while also inaugurating the 'Emirati Dads' photo exhibition by the renowned Swedish photographer, Johan Bavman. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1668454/European_Delegation_to_the_UAE.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1661792/Expo_2020_Logo.jpg (PRNewsfoto/Expo 2020 Dubai) Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/eu-event-affirms-rewiring-mindsets-inclusive-approaches-needed-for-lasting-womens-empowerment-301407162.html SOURCE The European Delegation to the UAE Excellon Resources Inc. Logo (CNW Group/Excellon Resources Inc.) TORONTO, Oct. 25, 2021 /CNW/ - Excellon Resources Inc. (TSX: EXN) (NYSE: EXN) (FRA: E4X2) ("Excellon" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the appointment of Jeff Swinoga as an independent director to the Board of Directors and Chair of the Audit Committee and Jorge Ortega as Vice President Exploration. The Company also reports the departure of Ben Pullinger as Senior Vice President Geology and Corporate Development to pursue an opportunity with a West African gold producer. "Competition for people is one of the biggest challenges in our industry," stated Brendan Cahill, President and CEO. "Ben has been a key part of our management team since joining Excellon in 2016 and has done an incredible job advancing our portfolio, including the acquisitions of our projects in Idaho and Saxony. We wish him the very best in his new role. Jorge Ortega has been leading our exploration in Mexico since 2018, after working on numerous projects in the Americas and Europe. He lives and breathes our approach to exploration. With Jorge now leading our exploration team as Vice President Exploration, we won't miss a beat as we advance exploration at Platosa, Kilgore and Silver City." Mr. Cahill continued, "We're also very pleased to welcome Jeff Swinoga to the Board as an independent Director and Chair of the Audit Committee. Jeff has had an exceptional career in the industry and will be a key player in our strategic development going forward." Mr. Ortega is a Professional Geologist with 30 years of experience in the mining industry. Prior to joining Excellon in 2018, he was Exploration Country Manager Mexico for Great Panther Silver, leading exploration efforts in Guanajuato and Durango, delineating the pre-production San Ignacio Mine resource. His prior experience includes Alamos Gold, where he advanced the Mulatos (Mexico) and Kirazli (Turkey) projects, Oro Silver, Goldcorp (Eleonore), Noranda, INMET Mining, SOQUEM (Quebec's para-governmental exploration company), the Geological Survey of Canada and the Consejo de Recursos Minerales of Mexico. During his time at Excellon, he has led exploration efforts on the Platosa Property, leading to mineral resource growth at the Platosa Mine, the delineation of a large Platosa-style alteration zone at Jaboncillo and the identification of a large, geophysical skarn target at PDN. He led delineation of the silver-lead-zinc mineral resource estimate on the Evolucion Property completed in September 2019. His extensive epithermal experience has also contributed to Excellon's advancement of the Silver City Project. Mr. Ortega holds a Masters in Earth Sciences from INRS-Laval University and a Bachelors of Geological Engineering from the National Autonomous University of Mexico. Story continues Mr. Swinoga is a highly accomplished mining executive with over 25 years of executive and management experience in the areas of capital markets, project advancement, development and project construction. Most recently, he was the national mining and metals co-leader at EY Canada. Previously he was president and CEO of First Mining Gold, chief financial officer of Torex Gold Resources Inc. where, during his four-year tenure, he led the $400-million (U.S.) financing of Torex's $800-million (U.S.) El Limon-Guajes gold mine on the Morelos property and led his team during Torex's transition from an exploration and development company to a mid-tier gold producer. Prior to Torex, Mr. Swinoga spent four years as the CFO of North American Palladium Ltd., during which time NAP financed and constructed the underground Offset Zone expansion project for the Lac des Iles mine, in addition to acquiring and building two gold producing mines in Quebec. Further, he spent three years as CFO of HudBay Minerals Inc., where, from its initial public offering in late 2004, grew to a market capitalization of over $2-billion. Mr. Swinoga also spent seven years at Barrick Gold Corp. as a senior officer with responsibilities that included project financing of Barrick's Bulyanhulu and Veladero projects. He is a chartered professional accountant and holds a master of business administration degree from the University of Toronto as well as a bachelor's degree (honours) in economics from the University of Western Ontario. Mr. Swinoga was also elected to the board of PDAC (Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada) this year and is a member of its audit committee. About Excellon Excellon's vision is to create wealth by realizing strategic opportunities through discipline and innovation for the benefit of our employees, communities and shareholders. The Company is advancing a precious metals growth pipeline that includes: Platosa, Mexico's highest-grade silver mine since production commenced in 2005; Kilgore, a high-quality advanced-exploration gold project in Idaho with strong economics and significant growth and discovery potential; and an option on Silver City, a high-grade epithermal silver district in Saxony, Germany with 750 years of mining history and no modern exploration. The Company also aims to continue capitalizing on current market conditions by acquiring undervalued projects. Additional details on Excellon's properties are available at www.excellonresources.com. SOURCE Excellon Resources Inc. Cision View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/October2021/25/c0306.html Giant Tiger launches a national in-store campaign today to support Operation Santa Claus. OTTAWA, ON, Oct. 25, 2021 /CNW/ - Giant Tiger is supporting Operation Santa Claus in partnership with the Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services (CFMWS) to help deliver care packages to over 2,500 members of the Canadian Armed Forces deployed in Canada and across the world who are unable to be with their families for the holiday season. Giant Tiger Stores across Canada are running a national fundraising campaign to assist with the purchase of the care package items. Beginning today (Oct. 25) until Thursday, Nov. 11, customers can donate to Operation Santa Claus at their local Giant Tiger store by rounding up their purchase or donating $2 at checkout. (CNW Group/Giant Tiger Stores Limited) Giant Tiger Stores across Canada are running a national fundraising campaign to assist with the purchase of the care package items. Beginning today (Oct. 25) until Thursday, Nov. 11, customers can donate to Operation Santa Claus at their local Giant Tiger store by rounding up their purchase or donating $2 at checkout. "Giant Tiger has proudly supported Operation Santa Claus since 2014, and we are thrilled to be a part of this important program again this year," said Cindy-Lynn Steele, Senior Vice President of Strategy and Marketing, Giant Tiger Stores Limited. "Operation Santa Claus helps to bring a little bit of home to those who can't be with their families this holiday season. We are honoured to help our communities come together to bring these special gifts to the deployed members of the Canadian Forces." Operation Santa Claus began in 1992 when a group of Montreal women sent holiday packages to their spouses serving on peacekeeping missions. The packages consisted of cards and greetings from family and friends from all across Canada. In addition, donated items from local businesses were obtained and included with the gifts. Within a short time, the program had expanded across Canada. To date, Operation Santa Claus has sent over 50,000 care packages worldwide, which has been made possible by the generosity of Canadians. Each box is carefully packaged with the comforts of home such as cozy basics, delicious treats, and self-care products, among other items to help spread holiday cheer. Story continues "Despite the uncertainties surrounding COVID-19, Giant Tiger has been a steadfast supporter of our military community. Giant Tiger continues to champion the well-being of our women and men in uniform, and their families, in a myriad of ways by supporting initiatives across Canadian Forces Morale and Welfare Services (CFMWS). It is in great thanks to this partnership that we can continue to deliver necessary support for our troops," said Commodore (Retired) Sean Cantelon, CEO, CFMWS. Since 2014, Giant Tiger has played an integral role in the success of Operation Santa Claus, contributing over $550,000 in product to help fill the packages to over 19,500 members of the Canadian Armed Forces. Operation Santa Claus is available at all Giant Tiger locations across Canada and online. Please visit your local store or gianttiger.com for more details. About Giant Tiger: Giant Tiger, the leading Canadian-owned family discount store, is on a mission to make every dollar matter and is committed to providing on-trend family fashion, groceries, and everyday household needs. The privately held company has over 260 locations across Canada and proudly employs over 10,000 members of Team Tiger. All Giant Tiger locations are locally owned or operated by a team member who knows the community. Whether Canadians are shopping in-store or online at gianttiger.com, Giant Tiger makes it easy and fun for all to shop smart and save smart every day. #GiantTiger #GTCommunityProud #GTCanadaProud Join the conversation and keep up to date on all Giant Tiger news: Like us on Facebook: Giant Tiger Follow us on Instagram: @Gianttigerstore Follow us on Twitter: @GTBoutique Subscribe to our YouTube channel: Giant Tiger Store SOURCE Giant Tiger Stores Limited Cision View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/October2021/25/c0563.html - Over 200 Forbes 2000 companies rely on SpendEdge' s actionable insights. - SpendEdge Is the Preferred Procurement Market Intelligence Partner for 120+ Fortune 500 Firms NEW YORK, Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Global Retimer Procurement market is expected to garner USD 113.79 Million by 2025, rising at a CAGR of 4.70% from 2021 to 2025. The report offers all-inclusive insights into the present condition and future scope of the industry by deeply analyzing market drivers and restraints, opportunities, major segments, and regions. Retimer Market Procurement Research Report Download PDF Sample Procurement Report of Retimer Market Key Points Covered in the Retimer Market Report: Am I engaging with the right suppliers? Which KPIs should I use to evaluate my incumbent suppliers? Which supplier selection criteria are relevant for ERP Software? What are the ERP Software category essentials in terms of SLAs and RFx? Key Global Suppliers in the Retimer Market: Texas Instrument Inc NXP Semiconductors NV Renesas Electronics Corp Get Quick Access to the Key Global Suppliers Profiled Extensively in This Report The Retimer Market report evaluates suppliers based on provision for applicable insurance policy, real-time analysis, pipeline software solutions, and conduct pipeline surveys. In addition, suppliers are also shortlisted based on business needs, technical specifications, operational requirements, security compliance, regulatory mandates, legal requirements, quality control, change management procedures, pricing models, penalty clauses, SLA nuances, acceptance criteria, and evaluation criteria. Request a Report Sample to Gain Comprehensive Insights at Retimer Market: https://www.procurement.spendedge.com/report/retimer-procurement-market-intelligence-report List of the Best-Selling Reports: Subscribe to our "Free Limited Period Starter Procurement Plan" to get the following: Story continues View 6 full reports View 800+ report samples Pre-order upcoming reports Dedicated account manager Subscribe Now for FREE! 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. Contact SpendEdge Anirban Choudhury Marketing Manager Ph No: +1 (872) 206-9340 https://www.spendedge.com/contact-us SpendEdge Logo (PRNewsfoto/SpendEdge) Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/global-retimer-procurement---sourcing-and-intelligence---exclusive-report-by-spendedge-301406418.html SOURCE SpendEdge STOCKHOLM, Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- GSB Gold Standard Pay KB Sweden: In the intensive care units of the Federal Republic of Germany, more people will probably have to be treated with Covid-19 again in the near future; as has been known for some time, this is due to the cold season. Josip Heit Corona Virus Josip Heit, board member of Gold Standard Pay in Sweden, recently published his own website https://www.josipheit.com, meanwhile welcomes the push by Federal Health Minister Jens Spahn, who wants to end the pandemic situation as the basis for the Corona restrictions! Germany has been waiting for this prospect since March 2020, when the "epidemic situation of national importance" was first declared by the Bundestag. Now it is no longer to be extended - and, if the Bundestag goes along with this, would finally expire at the end of November 2021! Josip Heit states after discussions with experts, also in Sweden, that the Robert Koch Institute currently classifies the risk for vaccinated persons as moderate, thus, as would be logical, given the current vaccination rate in the German states, the epidemic situation can expire as a nationwide exemption. In this context, Heit affirms that all employees of the companies in his group must continue to adhere to the 3G and AHA hygiene rules in the workrooms. Thus, Germany's companies are moving from a state of emergency to a state of special caution, although it is to be hoped that, as things stand today, the normal state will be possible in the spring of next year. According to the EU Commission, 591 million certificates have been issued since the official start of the EU vaccination programme at the beginning of July. In Germany, 54.7 million people have been vaccinated, which corresponds to 65.8 percent of the population. The German economy suffered massively from the coronavirus, as did all economies on our planet. Most recently, the 7-day incidence in Germany - of people infected with the coronavirus - rose again to 72.7 percent. Story continues Josip Heit hopes that people and especially the economy will not have to experience a fifth wave and regrets that more than 94,632 people in Germany alone and 4.55 million people worldwide have died from the virus so far. Heit says: "One can only hope that humanity has learned from this tragedy! Website: https://www.josipheit.com Presse Kontakt: GSB Gold Standard Pay KB Mrs Svenson Gustav III:s Boulevard 34, 4tr 169 73 Solna, be Stockholm Sweden Phone: +46 8-655-2626 Fax: +46 8-5051-6899 GSB Logo SOURCE GSB Gold Standard Pay KB (Sweden) The Up-Listing of the Company's Common Shares to the OTCQB Coincides with its Recent Receipt of DTC Eligibility, which Enhances the Ability of US Investors to Become Shareholders of JustKitchen TSXV: JK VANCOUVER, BC, Oct. 25, 2021 /CNW/ - Just Kitchen Holdings Corp. ("JustKitchen" or the "Company") (TSXV: JK) (OTC: JKHCF) (Frankfurt: 68Z), an operator of ghost kitchens specializing in the development of delivery-only food brands, is pleased to announce that its common shares have been successfully up-listed (the "Up-Listing") from the OTC Pink Sheet Open Market to the OTCQB Venture Market (the "OTCQB") by the OTC Markets Group Inc. ("OTC Markets"). The Company's common shares will begin trading on the OTCQB under the symbol "JKHCF" as of the opening of the market on October 25, 2021. JustKitchen has a verified profile and is 12g3-2(b) Certified by OTC Markets. The Up-Listing complements the Company's previously announced receipt of DTC Eligibility. JustKitchen (TSXV: JK) (OTCQB: JKHCF) (FRA: 68Z) (CNW Group/Just Kitchen Holdings Corp.) Operated by OTC Markets, the OTCQB offers transparent trading in entrepreneurial and development stage companies that have met a minimum bid price test, are current in their financial reporting and have undergone an annual verification and management certification process. The OTCQB is recognized by the United States ("US") Securities and Exchange Commission as an established public market providing public information for analysis and value of securities. These standards provide a strong baseline of transparency, as well as the technology and regulations to improve the trading experience for investors. Investors or other interested parties in the US can obtain real-time quotes for JustKitchen as well as access its most current news and other information at www.otcmarkets.com. Shareholders will also now have greater access to information via the OTC Disclosure and News Service, as well as transparent prices through full depth-of-book with Real Time Level 2 quotes. Story continues "The listing of JustKitchen's shares on the OTCQB is an important development for the Company as it makes it easier for American investors to obtain information about our securities and purchase our stock. Coupled with our recent receipt of DCT Eligibility, the Up-Listing enables US residents who are interested in the ghost kitchen industry to become shareholders and participate in our growth," said Jason Chen, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of JustKitchen. "Now with our common shares being listed on the TSX Venture Change, OTCQB and Frankfurt Stock Exchange, it is easier than ever before for investors in the world's major capital markets to become owners of JustKitchen's equities," added Mr. Chen. ABOUT JUSTKITCHEN JustKitchen is primarily an operator of ghost kitchens specializing in the development and marketing of proprietary and franchised delivery-only food brands for customers. The Company currently operates in Taiwan and Hong Kong with plans to expand operations to the United States and other Asian countries. JustKitchen uniquely utilizes a hub-and-spoke operating model, which features advanced food preparation taking place at larger hub kitchens and final meal preparation taking place at smaller spoke kitchens located in areas with higher population densities. The Company combines this operating model with online and mobile application-based food ordering fulfilled by third-party delivery companies, to minimize capital investments and operating expenses and reach more customers in underserved markets. The Company's other business, JustMarket, is an e-commerce grocery delivery platform that allows customers to purchase groceries for delivery or add select grocery items to meals ordered through JustKitchen. For more information about the Company, please visit investors.justkitchen.com. JustKitchen's final prospectus, financial statements and management's discussion and analysis, among other documents, are all available on the Company's profile page on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This news release contains certain "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of such statements under applicable securities law. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "anticipates", "plan", "continue", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate", "may", "will", "potential", "proposed", "positioned" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur including but not limited to the Company's comments regarding the opening dates of the New Locations and the optimal demographic nature of the districts in Taipei City and New Taipei City. These statements are only predictions. Various assumptions were used in drawing the conclusions or making the projections contained in the forward-looking statements throughout this news release. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the statements are made and are subject to a variety of risks, including those risk factors identified in the Company's prospectus dated March 26, 2021, and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. The Company is under no obligation, and expressly disclaims any intention or obligation, to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable law. SOURCE Just Kitchen Holdings Corp. Cision View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/October2021/25/c5452.html HOUSTON, Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- KBR (NYSE: KBR) announced today the appointment of Sonia Galindo as Executive Vice President and General Counsel. Ms. Galindo joins KBR from FLIR Systems, Inc. (now, Teledyne F LLC, a subsidiary of Teledyne Technologies), a global technology company with applications in government & defense, industrial, and commercial markets, where she served as Senior Vice President, General Counsel, Secretary, and Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer. Prior to FLIR, Ms. Galindo served as General Counsel and Corporate Secretary at Rosetta Stone Inc., an education technology software company. She has also held roles of increasing responsibility in the public and private sector including at the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Keurig Green Mountain, Inc., and McCormick & Company, Inc. "I am pleased to welcome Sonia to KBR's Executive Leadership Team," said Stuart Bradie, KBR President and Chief Executive Officer. "Her extensive knowledge of the global legal landscape, coupled with her strong leadership skills, will help guide KBR in accordance with our high ethical standard. We are excited to add such a talented leader to the team and her deep understanding of the law will be indispensable as we continue to grow and execute on our long-term objectives." Ms. Galindo earned a Juris Doctorate from the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law, formerly John Marshall Law School, and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Hood College for Women. 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. Story continues 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. Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/kbr-appoints-sonia-galindo-as-general-counsel-301407193.html SOURCE KBR, Inc. NEW YORK, October 25, 2021--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Kroll Bond Rating Agency (KBRA) is pleased to announce the assignment of preliminary ratings to 17 classes of Benchmark 2021-B30, a $952.3 million CMBS conduit transaction collateralized by 38 commercial mortgage loans secured by 50 properties. The collateral properties are located throughout 23 MSAs, of which the three largest are Boston (19.8%), New York (17.8%) and Philadelphia (8.5%). The pool has exposure to all major property types, with three types representing more than 15.0% of the pool balance: retail (29.6%), office (27.2%), and multifamily (15.1%). The loans have principal balances ranging from $2.7 million to $95.0 million for the largest loan in the pool, One Memorial Drive (10.0%), which is secured by a 409,422 sf, Class-A, LEED silver-certified CBD office building located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The five largest loans, which also include CX- 350 & 450 Water Street (9.9%), Townhouse on the Park (8.2%), The Veranda (7.4%), and 1100 & 850 First Street NE (6.8%), represent 42.2% of the initial pool balance, while the top 10 loans represent 62.1%. KBRAs analysis of the transaction incorporated our multi-borrower rating process that begins with our analysts' evaluation of the underlying collateral properties' financial and operating performance, which determine KBRAs estimate of sustainable net cash flow (KNCF) and KBRA value using our U.S. CMBS Property Evaluation Methodology. On an aggregate basis, KNCF was 10.0% less than the issuer cash flow. KBRA capitalization rates were applied to each assets KNCF to derive values that were, on an aggregate basis, 46.4% less than third party appraisal values. The pool has an in-trust KLTV of 101.3% and an all-in KLTV of 108.9%. The model deploys rent and occupancy stresses, probability of default regressions, and loss given default calculations to determine losses for each collateral loan that are then used to assign our credit ratings. Story continues Click here to view the report. To access ratings and relevant documents, click here. Related Publications Disclosures Further information on key credit considerations, sensitivity analyses that consider what factors can affect these credit ratings and how they could lead to an upgrade or a downgrade, and ESG factors (where they are a key driver behind the change to the credit rating or rating outlook) can be found in the full rating report referenced above. A description of all substantially material sources that were used to prepare the credit rating and information on the methodology(ies) (inclusive of any material models and sensitivity analyses of the relevant key rating assumptions, as applicable) used in determining the credit rating is available in the Information Disclosure Form(s) located here. Information on the meaning of each rating category can be located here. Further disclosures relating to this rating action are available in the Information Disclosure Form(s) referenced above. Additional information regarding KBRA policies, methodologies, rating scales and disclosures are available at www.kbra.com. About KBRA Kroll Bond Rating Agency, LLC (KBRA) is a full-service credit rating agency registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission as an NRSRO. Kroll Bond Rating Agency Europe Limited is registered as a CRA with the European Securities and Markets Authority. Kroll Bond Rating Agency UK Limited is registered as a CRA with the UK Financial Conduct Authority pursuant to the Temporary Registration Regime. In addition, KBRA is designated as a designated rating organization by the Ontario Securities Commission for issuers of asset-backed securities to file a short form prospectus or shelf prospectus. KBRA is also recognized by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners as a Credit Rating Provider. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211025005708/en/ Contacts Analytical Contacts Vidhya Naidu, Director (Lead Analyst) +1 (646) 731-1315 vidhya.naidu@kbra.com James Wang, Senior Director +1 (646) 731-2450 james.wang@kbra.com Nitin Bhasin, Senior Managing Director (Rating Committee Chair) +1 646-731-2334 nitin.bhasin@kbra.com Business Development Contact Michele Patterson, Managing Director +1 (646) 731-2397 michele.patterson@kbra.com TORONTO, Oct. 25, 2021 /CNW/ - Media are invited to attend a virtual news conference on Tuesday, Oct. 26, where the Ontario Medical Association will release new information about the pandemic backlog of care and a sweeping new report recommending solutions to the province's most pressing health-care challenges. Ontario Medical Association (CNW Group/Ontario Medical Association) Prescription for Ontario: Doctors' Five-Point Plan for Better Health Care is the result of the broadest consultation in the OMA's 140-year history. Thousands of Ontarians from around the province shared their advice on what health-care issues were most important to them. We combined that with the advice of doctors and more than 110 health-care organizations, social service agencies and community leaders. With a provincial election less than a year away, the OMA is urging all political parties to adopt its recommendations as part of their platforms. When: 11 a.m.-noon, Tuesday, Oct. 26. Interviews can be arranged separately. Where: Zoom webinar. Register here. Who: OMA CEO Allan O'Dette and President Dr. Adam Kassam PLEASE NOTE: You must register in advance for the Zoom news conference. You can register at any time, including while the event is taking place, but you need to register to gain access. SOURCE Ontario Medical Association Cision View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/October2021/25/c0619.html PCCA CEO L. David Sparks; 2021 Pharmacist of the Year Vincent M. Canzanese, RPh; PCCA President Jim Smith Vincent M. Canzanese, RPh, of Summit Health Pharmacy, Brookhaven, Pennsylvania, is PCCAs 2021 M. George Webber, PhD, Compounding Pharmacist of the Year. PCCA CEO David Sparks (left) and President Jim Smith presented the award to Canzanese on Friday, October 22, during the companys 40th Anniversary International Seminar 2021 in Houston. Vincent M. Canzanese, RPh, of Summit Health Pharmacy, Brookhaven, Pennsylvania, is PCCAs 2021 M. George Webber, PhD, Compounding Pharmacist of the Year. PCCA CEO David Sparks (left) and President Jim Smith presented the award to Canzanese on Friday, October 22, during the companys 40th Anniversary International Seminar 2021 in Houston. Vincent M. Canzanese, RPh, Summit Health Pharmacy Vincent M. Canzanese, RPh, of Summit Health Pharmacy, Brookhaven, Pennsylvania, is PCCAs 2021 M. George Webber, PhD, Compounding Pharmacist of the Year. Vincent M. Canzanese, RPh, of Summit Health Pharmacy, Brookhaven, Pennsylvania, is PCCAs 2021 M. George Webber, PhD, Compounding Pharmacist of the Year. Houston, Texas, Oct. 25, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- PCCA has named Vincent M. Canzanese, RPh, of Summit Health Pharmacy, Brookhaven, Pennsylvania, as its 2021 M. George Webber, PhD, Compounding Pharmacist of the Year. Compounding is the pharmacy method of preparing customized medications to meet each prescribers and patients unique needs. This award is presented annually to an independent pharmacist who has demonstrated service excellence to patients, health care providers and pharmacy colleagues. PCCA President Jim Smith presented the award to Canzanese on Friday, October 22, during the companys 40th Anniversary International Seminar 2021, attended by more than 400 compounders in person and virtually, in the United States, Canada, Australia and beyond. Vince is one of the most dedicated, driven and passionate compounding pharmacists in the country, Smith said. His commitment to his patients, especially his pediatric patients, is remarkable. And his advocacy efforts to ensure patient access to compounded medication at both the state and federal level are immense. Vince and his team run a professional and highly ethical practice where the patient always comes first. A PCCA member since 2000, Canzanese started Summit Health Pharmacy more than 10 years ago, as a compounding business within an independent pharmacy, then called Burmans Community Pharmacy. He became owner of the pharmacy in September 2016, and continues to lead the business with the key objectives of providing high-quality compounds for patients in need of quality compounding services. Story continues Under Canzaneses leadership, the pharmacy has made significant investments in education, research, technology and a state-of-the-art facility to become an expert in the field of mitochondrial medication. Mitochondrial diseases are long-term, genetic and often inherited disorders that occur when mitochondria fail to produce enough energy for the body to function properly. To ensure positive outcomes for his mito patients, Canzanese closely follows the science, studies, independent testing and cutting-edge advancement of mitochondrial research, and purchases only the highest quality medication ingredients. Canzanese and his team take pride in developing personal connections with these patients and their families, working closely with providers and caregivers to ensure their mito patients can take their medication comfortably and maximize the health benefits. And Summit Health often advocates on behalf of their patients, handling insurance and payment issues, and more. For example, when a drug needed by his patients became unavailable due to regulatory changes, Canzanese submitted a citizen petition to the Food and Drug Administration requesting limited use of this vital medication, and the request was approved. A graduate of Temple University in Philadelphia, Canzanese has over 20 years of experience in retail and independent pharmacy. He was named PCCA Pharmacist of the Month in December 2017, served a two-year term on PCCAs Advisory Council 6 (2018-2019) and is a long-time member of PCCAs Concierge Compounding Program. He frequently attends educational seminars and symposiums to learn new, more effective ways of treating his patients, and his networking with fellow compounding colleagues extends across the country. At the event, Canzanese was welcomed to the stage by previous recipients of the Compounding Pharmacist of the Year Award. His family also joined him to help celebrate the honor. In a congratulations video, PCCA Vice President of Sales & Marketing Menia Costopoulos and PCCA Vice President of Clinical Services A.J. Day, PharmD, as well as several Summit Health team members and patients spoke about Canzaneses commitment to the compounding profession and his community, while expressing their admiration and respect. The late M. George Webber, PhD, for whom the award is named, was a longtime professor with the University of Houston College of Pharmacy and was instrumental in the formation of PCCA in 1981. He was unwaveringly committed to meeting patient needs and upholding the highest quality and ethical standards and shared his expertise and love for compounding with his colleagues and his students for more than 40 years. # # # ABOUT PCCA PCCA helps pharmacists and prescribers create personalized medicine that makes a difference in patients lives. As a complete resource for independent compounding pharmacists and health systems, PCCA provides high-quality products, education and support to more than 3,000 pharmacy members throughout the United States, Canada, Australia and other countries around the world. Incorporated in 1981 by a network of pharmacists, PCCA has supported pharmacy compounding for 40 years. Learn more at pccarx.com. Attachments CONTACT: Kim Speairs, APR, MBA PCCA 817-729-5064 kspeairs@pccarx.com New Social Media Challenge to Award Prizes for Participants Sharing Local Impact Stories ABUJA, Nigeria & WASHINGTON, October 25, 2021--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today, Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND) celebrates its 10th founding anniversary and announced several exciting commemorative virtual events, hosted from Nigeria and featured on www.PINDis10.PINDfoundation.org. The anniversary events kicked off with a fun #MyNigerDelta Social Media Challenge, asking residents to create a one-minute social media video that highlights progress in their Niger Delta community. The challenge deadline is Friday, November 5, 2021, with three prize packages to be awarded to eligible winners. Other celebratory events include a virtual photo exhibition featuring stunning photos from the Niger Delta. "The themes of our anniversary celebration align with our programmatic goals and successes since 2010," said PINDs Executive Director Tunji Idowu. "They are reducing poverty, powering coastal communities, nurturing employment and inclusivityespecially women and youths, fostering stability and conflict resolution, and enabling market development for local organizations." Nigeria-based PIND and its operating partner, U.S.-based Niger Delta Partnership Initiative (NDPI), have had a major impact on Nigerias Niger Delta over the last decadeincluding over USD 100 million in additional investments from government entities, the private sector, and donor agencies into the region. Story continues "Our major program areas are the sustainable reduction of poverty and conflict," said PINDs immediate past Executive Director Dr. Dara Akala. "Economic growth, peacebuilding, and stability work together in a clear hierarchy of cause and effect that include enablers, outputs, systemic outcomes, improved institutional performance and impact." PIND has trained and built the capacity of more than 10,000 peace actors and mitigated nearly 900 emerging conflicts through the Partners for Peace (P4P) network. PIND Board of Trustees Chairperson Rick Kennedy said, "In 2010, PIND was simply an ambitious vision designed to foster peace, create jobs, and raise incomeswith no clarity on how we could actualize it. So, together with partners and collaborators, we co-created, co-designed, co-implemented, and co-owned pioneering programs that tackled multiple problems on multiple fronts." PIND and NDPI will complete their third phase of development in 2024 and are looking ahead into the fourth phase (2025-2029) to surpass programming goals for the residents and communities of the Niger Deltawith the support of strong partnerships and collaboration. Learn more about the 10th Anniversary celebration at www.PINDis10.PINDfoundation.org. About PIND The Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND) is a Nigerian nonprofit organization established in 2010 with initial funding from Chevron to promote peace and equitable economic growth in Nigeria's Niger Delta region by forging multi-sectoral and multi-stakeholder partnerships at the regional, national, and international levels. PIND works closely with numerous partners to implement collaborative market-based, community-owned programs to mitigate conflicts and boost economic opportunities for local businesses, ensuring that economic progress occurs in a systemic, inclusive, and sustainable manner. PINDs U.S.-based operating partner is the Niger Delta Partnership Initiative (NDPI). Learn more about us PINDfoundation.org or NDPIfoundation.org. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211025005488/en/ Contacts Chinwe Nnoham-Onyejekwe, PIND (Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta) +234 817.206.4628 | chichi@PINDfoundation.org Abbie Elliott, NDPI (Niger Delta Partnership Initiative) +1 703.786.5620 | abbie.elliott@NDPIfoundation.org (Bloomberg) -- Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishidas ruling Liberal Democratic Party for the first time in 12 years may not be able to hold onto its outright parliamentary majority after this Sundays general election, according to a poll published by broadcaster FNN. Most Read from Bloomberg The survey bodes ill for the new leader, who suffered a blow at the weekend when his party lost an upper house special election in Shizuoka, west of Tokyo. Stocks fell in Tokyo trading Monday with some market players saying the vote added to political uncertainty. Theres a bit of wariness over whatll happen at the general elections following results from Shizuoka, said Hajime Sakai, chief fund manager at Mito Securities Co. While the LDP would likely cling to power thanks to its junior coalition partner Komeito, falling below 233 of the 465 seats in the lower house would be a substantial loss for the long-ruling party. The LDP held 276 seats before the lower house of parliament was dissolved for the Oct. 31 vote. FNN surveyed 15,045 people, finding the LDP is fighting close races in many constituencies in Tokyo and other urban areas, and struggling in Osaka. The main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party could increase its numbers by as much as 30 seats compared with the some 110 it held before the campaign began, FNN said. A major loss of seats in the vote could hobble Kishidas three-week-old government and increase the chances of him joining a long list of short-serving premiers. Broadcaster FNN noted the fight is extremely close in about 20% of constituencies, leaving substantial uncertainty about the final result. Countdown: Story continues Six days to go to the Oct. 31 vote. While polling shows the LDP coalition will prevail, the key factor will be the margin of victory. A significant drop in seats would not bode well for Kishida with the ruling coalition facing an election next year in the upper house. Before the 465-seat lower house was dissolved for the vote, the LDP held 276 seats and its junior coalition partner Komeito held 29. The main opposition Constitutional Democratic Party held 112 with allies and is trying to build its numbers with pledges to raise the minimum wage and increase taxes on high-income earners. Main Parties: Liberal Democratic Party, which has ruled the country for all but about four of the last 66 years Komeito, which has been in coalition with the LDP most of the time since 1999. Backed by a Buddhist group, it boasts a powerful machine to turn out the vote Constitutional Democratic Party, the main opposition group. Its trying to show it can be trusted to run the government again after its predecessor was sent packing in 2012 following a series of policy U-turns Other opposition parties include the Japan Communist Party, which held 12 seats in the lower house, Ishin, a metro-based group with 11 seats and the Democratic Party of the People with 10. Independents held 10 seats and there were four vacancies. Key stories and developments: Japans Kishida Suffers By-Election Setback Before National Vote Japans Ruling Party on Course for Majority, Kyodo Poll Says Japans Election Unlikely to Bring More Representation for Women Kishida Defends Japan Sales Tax From Opponents Calls for Cut Japans Future at Stake in Oct. 31 Vote, Premier Kishida Says Media Roundup: Kyodo Poll Shows 29% Plan to Vote for LDP in Japan Election Polls: Almost 30% of voters plan to choose the ruling LDP in the proportional vote in Japans upcoming election on Oct. 31, a poll release over the weekend by Kyodo News showed. About 11% plan to vote for the main opposition party and 19% said they will pick one of the opposition parties. Around 48% said they have no positive expectations for Kishidas economic policies, according to the Kyodo poll. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2021 Bloomberg L.P. OTTAWA, ON, Oct. 25, 2021 /CNW/ - The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today announced he will travel to Europe for a bilateral visit to the Netherlands before participating in the Group of Twenty (G20) Leaders' Summit in Italy and the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) in the United Kingdom. The Prime Minister will travel to The Hague, the Netherlands on October 29, 2021 where he will meet with Prime Minister Mark Rutte and other Dutch representatives to discuss both countries' shared priorities and further the strong ties between Canada and the Netherlands. The Prime Minister will then travel to Rome, Italy from October 30 to 31, 2021 to attend the G20 Leaders' Summit. The Prime Minister will highlight Canada's contributions to the global COVID-19 pandemic response and economic recovery, including support for low- and middle-income countries. He will also highlight Canada's ambitious actions to cut pollution while creating new middle class jobs and accelerating the transition to clean energy. Following the G20 Leaders' Summit, Prime Minister Trudeau will travel to Glasgow, United Kingdom from November 1 to 2, 2021 to participate in COP26. At COP26, the Prime Minister will work with other leaders to accelerate global climate action to reduce pollution and meet targets outlined in the Paris Agreement, while creating economic growth for everyone. At the Conference, he will also highlight Canada's leadership in the fight against climate change. This includes setting a strengthened 2030 emissions reduction target, putting a price on pollution, passing legislation to require net-zero emissions by 2050, and doubling Canada's financial contribution to support climate action in developing countries. The G20 Leaders' Summit and COP26 are critical opportunities for Canada to work together with its global partners to find real solutions to the world's greatest challenges. Together, we will finish the fight against COVID-19, tackle the global climate crisis, and build a better future for everyone. Story continues Quotes "Canada and the Netherlands have a strong and dynamic relationship created by our bonds in WWII, close people-to-people ties, and a shared commitment to democracy, climate action, human rights, and equality. With the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, we have had the opportunity to collaborate further and create good, middle class jobs on both sides of the Atlantic. Together we will build a better future for our people and our countries." The Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada "Canada is committed to support the global economic recovery, strengthen trade and create jobs, advance women's economic empowerment, and lead the global fight against climate change. Canadians understand that the economic prosperity of our country is rooted in ensuring a cleaner future for our children and grandchildren. I look forward to working with leaders at the G20 Leaders' Summit and COP26 so that, together, we can build a cleaner and more prosperous future for all." The Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada Quick Facts About one million people of Dutch origin live in Canada. Canada celebrated its inaugural Dutch Heritage Day on May 5, 2019. Thanks to the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement, bilateral merchandise trade between Canada and the Netherlands in 2020 was more than 18 per cent above its pre-CETA level in 2016. Trade in services increased by nearly 50 per cent. The G20 is the primary forum for international economic cooperation among its members. Members consist of the world's major economies, representing 80 per cent of global economic output, two thirds of the world's population, and 75 per cent of international trade. This is the seventh time Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will attend the G20 Leaders' Summit. "COP26 is the highest profile UN climate change conference since 2015 when the Paris Agreement was adopted. Hosted by the United Kingdom, COP26 will bring parties together to accelerate action towards the goals of the Paris Agreement and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Since 2015, Canada has invested approximately $100 billion toward climate action and clean growth, including as part of Canada's strengthened climate plan. Most recently, the Government of Canada committed an additional $17.6 billion towards a green recovery that will build a clean economy, fight against climate change, and create good, middle class jobs. At the G7 Leaders' Summit in June, the Prime Minister announced the doubling of Canada's international climate finance, from $2.65 billion in 2015 to $5.3 billion over five years, including increased support for adaptation, as well as nature and nature-based solutions. Associated Links This document is also available at https://pm.gc.ca SOURCE Prime Minister's Office Cision View original content: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/October2021/25/c8565.html Berlin-based e-scooter rentals company Tier Mobility has announced a $200 million raise, which it says is the "first close" of its Series D, as investors continue to plough money into urban micromobility. The startup confirmed to TechCrunch it will be raising a larger amount before the Series D is closed out (and the full round will also be a mix of debt and equity; although this first tranche is equity only). However, it declined to specify how much it's targeting for the full Series D raise. "As part of the Series D round we just did our first close and seek to increase the equity round plus raise a new debt facility," said a Tier spokesman. Tier's PR also describes today's first close as "part of a broader equity and debt raise". Today's announcement follows a $60 million debt raise this summer, and a $250 million Series C last November (led by SoftBank). Micromobility startups typically have high capex costs, especially as they expand their fleets during periods of expansion, so debt raises are fairly common. In a statement, Alex Gayer, chief financial officer at Tier Mobility, said: "This equity funding provides further firepower to scale our multimodal market presence globally, and pursue strategic investments & acquisitions. Our vehicle capex needs will be serviced with the debt capacity unlocked. Our goal is to build Tier into the European micro-mobility powerhouse, building on our current position as the number one player in the shared electric scooters market. Existing investor SoftBank Vision Fund 2 is co-leading the Series D with the UAE-based Mubadala Capital, which also backed Tier's Series C last year, while other existing investors RTP Global, Novator, White Star Capital, Northzone and Speedinvest also participated. Mubadala's increased backing for Tier follows it jumping into the UAE's market last year -- after it was selected by the local Roads & Transport Authority, following a lengthy trial of scooter rentals. The funding also sees new investors joining -- including the green impact fund M&G Investments and Mountain Partners, a diversified global investment holding. Story continues Tier said its micromobility business is now valued at $2 billion (which is up around double from the value being reported around the time of its Series C last year) -- saying it's raised a total of $660 million in equity and debt funding to date. The 2018 launched e-scooter, e-bike and e-moped startup competes in a highly competitive space with myriad players, including the likes of Bird, Dott, Lime, Voi and Wind (to name a few) -- although authorities in cities around the world have sought to bring a little structure to the fast-developing micromobility market by setting limits on the number of operators allowed per city. That means that winning a slot as a city provider can help leapfrog competitors at a local level. In the press release, Tier, for example, trumpets its recent win of a tender to provide e-scooters for rent in a trial in London (alongside Dott and Lime). Other new cities it touts are both in the Middle East: Manama (Bahrain) and Doha (Qatar). It also operates in Paris -- where city authorities have been making a big push to shift the urban transport mix away from cars to alternatives like bikes and public transport. So it can claim some major wins. To-date, Tier says it's deployed 135,000 e-scooters, e-bikes and e-mopeds across 150 cities in 16 countries -- claiming to have established itself as "the European market leader through unrivalled capital efficiency and operational excellence". The Berlin-based startup's plan for the new funding is for "acquisitions and strategic investments", as well as for further international expansion -- with Tier saying it will be targeting coverage across strategic growth markets in Europe and the Middle East. So it sounds like more consolidation is headed for the fast-paced e-scooter market as fresh dollars pour in. (And one way to circumvent city-imposed limits on the number of operators -- to grab further scale -- would be to buy up rivals that have won tenders in cities you haven't... ) Tier also says it will be directing some of the investment into continuing to roll out its network of battery charging stations hosted by local businesses, aka the Tier Energy Network. "With the launch of e-bikes in several European countries, Tier is expanding its growing range of multimodal options, making it the first European micro-mobility provider to offer users three different types of vehicles in one app," it adds. In a statement, Lawrence Leuschner, CEO and co-founder, said: The funding provides Tier with additional resources to fulfil our mission to Change Mobility For Good. Clocking more than 80 million trips, replacing over 13 million car rides, in such a short amount of time exemplifies that cities around the world look for ways to make their transport networks safer and move towards a zero-emission future. Lawrence, Matthias and Alex's passion for change can be felt across the organisation -- from Tier's hub in Dubai to their HQ in Berlin," added Amer Alaily, director at Mubadala Capital Ventures, Europe, in another supporting statement. "They have quickly emerged as not only a leader in the European micro-mobility space, but one whose commitment to sustainability sets them apart from their competitors. We are proud to have been part of their journey and look forward to remaining a partner to Lawrence and his team for years to come. This report was updated after Tier confirmed to us that this $200 million raise is a first all-equity tranche of what it intends will be a larger Series D -- which will be a mix of debt and equity once closed. Companies Profiled in the Market: The Lincoln Electric Company, KISWEL CO.LTD, KOBE STEEL.LTD, Colfax Corporation, Illinois Tool Works Inc., Fronius International GmbH, Hyundai Welding Co., Ltd.Linde plc, CS HOLDINGS LTD, Miller Electric Mfg. LLC, Selectrode Industries, Ltd. Obara Corporation, ARCON Welding, Welding Alloy Group, DENYO, Hobart Welding Products. Pune, India, Oct. 25, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The U.S. welding consumables market size is projected to grow from USD 2.43 billion in 2021 to USD 3.35 billion in 2028. The emergence of various innovative welding technologies, such as oxy-fuel welding, friction, MIG & TIG, resistance spot, and laser beam has compelled manufacturers to utilize these consumables in the U.S. Fortune Business Insightsprovided this information in a recent study, titled, U.S. Welding Consumables Market, 2021-2028. As per the study, the market stood at USD 2.37 billion in 2020. It is set to exhibit a CAGR of 4.7% in the forecast period between 2021-2028. Welding Alloys Group Collaborates with Intelligence to Use Machine Learning In January 2021, Welding Alloys Group (WAG), a provider of consumables, joined hands with Intellegensto utilize machine learning for preventing the issue of wear. Welding hard-facing materials or alloyed consumables various components can reduce wear. These consumables should also meet stringent standards, such as performance, environmental impact, cost, and safety. The usage of machine learning allowed WAG to develop an enhanced hard-facing material that can not only provide various advantages in terms of an environmental point of view but also performance. Request To Sample PDF Brochure: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/request-sample-pdf/u-s-welding-consumables-market-105150 List of Key Players Covered in this Market Report Illinois Tool Works Inc. (Glenview, U.S.) KISWEL CO.LTD (Florence, U.S.) Hyundai Welding Co., Ltd. (Gangnam-gu, South Korea) The Lincoln Electric Company (CLEVELAND, U.S) Selectrode Industries, Ltd. (New York, U.S.) Colfax Corporation (Annapolis Junction, U.S.) Obara Corporation (Yamanashi, Japan) Welding Alloy Group (Hertfordshire, UK) KOBE STEEL, LTD (Hyogo, Japan) Fronius International GmbH (Wels, Austria) Linde plc (Guildford, United Kingdom) CS HOLDINGS LTD (Gyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea) Miller Electric Mfg. LLC (Appleton, U.S.) ARCON Welding (New Delhi, India) DENYO (Tokyo, Japan) Hobart Welding Products (Appleton, U.S.) Report Scope & Segmentation - Story continues Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 2021-2028 Forecast Period 2021 to 2028 CAGR 4.7 % 2028 Value Projection USD 3.35 Billion Base Year 2020 Market Size in 2020 USD 2.37 Billion Historical Data for 2017-2019 No. of Pages 120 Segments covered Type; Application; Growth Drivers Accelerated Demand for Welding Consumables across Industry Verticals to Propel Market Growth Pitfalls & Challenges Expensive Nature of Metal Fabrication Operations to Impede Market Growth Reduced Manufacturing and Demand for Steel to Obstruct Growth amid COVID-19 The COVID-19 pandemic has reduced the demand for welding consumables from numerous end-use industries and hence impacted the industry drastically, with this market showing negative growth of -1.5% in 2020. The American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI), for instance, reported a decline of 18.1% in terms of the steel output in the U.S. in the last week of April 2020. This occurred because of the declining demand for steel and reduced manufacturing activities. Besides, the pandemic has compelled companies, such as the Lincoln Electric Company and Illinois Tool Works Inc. to create awareness among workers for promoting safe working cultures. Our research report will help you tackle the current situation in the U.S. welding consumables industry. 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/u-s-welding-consumables-market-105150 Report Coverage- Our skilled analysts have presented an in-depth picture of the U.S. welding consumables industry by summation, synthesis, and study of data from various crucial sources. They have also included multiple facets of the industry with the main focus on determining the significant market influencers. Thus, the data is reliable and comprehensive. It was gathered by conducting extensive primary and secondary researches. Drivers & Restraints- Surging Investments by Governments in Manufacturing Sector to Spur Growth Nowadays, the consumption of steel is rising exponentially because of the resurgence from a wide range of industries, such as shipbuilding, energy, gas, oil, heavy engineering, and automotive. At the same time, the surging investments by government agencies across the globe to enhance the manufacturing sector are anticipated to propel the U.S. welding consumables market growth in the upcoming years. As per AGC, every year, the U.S.is develops infrastructures worth USD 1.3 trillion, which, in turn, would accelerate growth. However, the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has reduced the price of steel, which, in turn, is expected to hinder growth. Segments- Stick ElectrodesSegment Earned 28.5% Share in 2020: Fortune Business Insights The market is divided into heavy engineering, automotive and transportation, railways, construction, shipbuilding, and others, in terms of applications. Based on type, it is segregated into stick electrodes, SAW wires and fluxes, solid wires, and flux-cored wires. Amongst these, the SAW wires & fluxes segment is set to exhibit the highest CAGR throughout the forthcoming years. This growth is attributable to its increasing usage in heavy engineering and shipbuilding industries. The stick electrodes segment, on the other hand, generated 28.5% in terms of the U.S. welding consumables market share in 2020. Ask for Customization: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/request-sample-pdf/u-s-welding-consumables-market-105150 Competitive Landscape- Key Players Aim to Offer Training Sessions to Welders for Improving Their Performances The U.S. welding consumables industry houses a large number of companies that are striving persistently to train welders with state-of-the-art technologies, such as hybrid welding and resistance spot welding. The Lincoln Electric Company, for instance, is offering training to welders for improving their skills. Below is one of the latest industry developments: December 2020:Welding Alloys France created TRI S RW, a novel cored wire, to meet the demand associated with the maintenance of urban rail networks. As the chemical formulation of this filler metal is unique, it is compatible with submerged arc welding and open arc welding. It can be easily used for every welding operation on grooved rails. Quick Buy U.S. Welding Consumables Market https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/checkout-page/105150 Table Of Content Introduction Definition, By Segment Research Methodology/Approach Data Sources Executive Summary Market Dynamics Macro and Micro Economic Indicators Drivers, Restraints,Opportunities and Trends Impact of COVID-19 on Welding Consumables Market Short-term Impact Long-term Impact Competition Landscape Business Strategies Adopted by Key Players Consolidated SWOT Analysis of Key Players Porters Five Forces Analysis U.S. Welding ConsumablesMarket Share Analysis and Matrix, 2020 KeyMarket Insights and Strategic Recommendations Profiles of Key Players (Would be provided for 10 players only) 6.1. Overview Key Management Headquarters etc. Offerings/Business Segments Key Details (Key details are subjected to data available in public domain and/or on paid databases) Employee Size Past and Current Revenue Geographical Share Business Segment Share Recent Developments Primary Interview Responses Annexure / Appendix U.S. Welding Consumables MarketAnalysis, Insights and Forecast (Quantitative Data), By Segments, 2017-2028 By Type (Value) Stick Electrodes Solid Wires Flux-cored Wires SAW Wires & Fluxes By Application (Value) Heavy Engineering Automotive and Transportation Railways Construction Shipbuilding Others (Oil & Energy, Aerospace & Defense) TOC Continued! Speak To Our Analyst- https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/speak-to-analyst/u-s-welding-consumables-market-105150 Have a Look at Related Research Insights: Welding Market Size, Share & COVID-19 Impact Analysis, By Product Type (Welding Equipment and Consumables), By Welding Type (Arc, Resistance, Oxy-Acetylene Gas, Solid State and Others), By Application (Automotive, Building & Construction, Heavy Engineering, Railway & Shipbuilding, Oil & Gas and Others) and Regional Forecast, 2021-2028. Welding Consumables Market Size, Share & COVID-19 Impact Analysis, By Type (Stick Electrodes, Solid Wires, Flux-cored Wires and SAW Wires & Fluxes), By Application (Heavy Engineering, Automotive, Railways, Construction, Shipbuilding and others) and Regional Forecast, 2020-2027. Welding Electrodes Market Size, Share & COVID-19 Impact Analysis, By Type (Stick Electrodes and Coiled Wires), By Industry (Automotive, Building & Construction, Oil & Gas and Others), and Regional Forecast, 2020-2027. Welding Equipment Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Technology (Arc Welding, Resistance Spot Welding, MIG/TIG Welding, Laser Beam Welding, and Others), By Automation Type (Automatic, Semi-Automatic, and Manual), By Application (Automotive, Building & Construction, Heavy Engineering, Railway & Shipbuilding, and Others) and Regional Forecast, 2019-2026. Welding Wires Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Type (Metal Inert Gas (MIG) Wire, Tungsten Inert Gas (TIG) Wire and Others), By Industry (Automotive, Building & Construction, Oil & Gas and Others) 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. 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 WASHINGTON, Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- In November, the World Health Organization (WHO) will be holding their Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, but have announced they are postponing any discussions related to safer nicotine alternative products. In response, NicoKick today released the following statement in solidarity with the 100 nicotine and tobacco scientists who recently issued a letter urging the WHO to support harm reduction products and highlighting the importance of flavored tobacco and nicotine products. "It is disappointing that the World Health Organization is rejecting a public health strategy that could avoid millions of smoking-related deaths," said Markus Lindblad, Head of External Affairs at NicoKick's parent company, the Haypp Group. "Providing safer alternatives to traditional tobacco products will save lives and improve public health. The WHO should recognize the role that reduced-risk products play in helping smokers quit cigarettes, as well as the growing body of evidence that shows the important role that flavors play in attracting and retaining smokers into the category of less harmful products." "Our consumer data shows that fruity flavors are most popular among former smokers. It's a paradox that authorities that work towards a smoke free world would oppose real alternatives and force former smokers to use tobacco flavors, which undermines the use of alternative products," Lindblad concluded. Background: On the 18th of October, 100 specialists in nicotine science, policy and practice called on the WHO to modernize its approach to tobacco policy by adopting the harm reduction perspective. In the letter, the scientists strongly criticize the WHOs hostile stance against harm reduction and outlined how a focus on harm reduction products could provide great opportunities for improving public health. About NicoKick: NicoKick is the world's leading e-commerce company in the smokeless industry, with customers in 34 countries. As users move away from traditional tobacco products toward healthier smokeless options, NicoKick's sales have continued to surge over the past two years throughout the United States. The site is quickly becoming a one-stop shop for consumers interested in learning more about and purchasing smokeless tobacco products. To learn more about NicoKick, visit the website at: https://nicokick.com/learn-more. Story continues ### Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/world-health-organization-should-support-harm-reduction-products-301407724.html SOURCE NicoKick "Boots on the ground" presence provides in-region threat intel and digital risk protection for enterprises in Australia and New Zealand WASHINGTON, October 25, 2021--(BUSINESS WIRE)--ZeroFox, a global external cybersecurity provider, today announced that it is expanding its presence in the Australia and New Zealand (ANZ) market with the signature of two of the Pacifics largest distributors: Netpoleon Solutions, a Macnica company, and emt Distribution, a rhipe company. Through these local distributor partnerships, ZeroFox will increase its capabilities for in-region consultation with enterprises and public sector institutions in need of external threat intelligence and digital risk protection. The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) reported over 400 data breaches in the first half of 2021 alone, of which 65% were sourced from malicious or criminal attacks. This follows a 13% increase in Australia-based cybercrime in the past year, making regional cyber protection capabilities more critical than ever. Similarly, ZeroFox has documented a 142% increase in average monthly external threat alert volume year to date for current customers in the APAC region, driven largely by spoofed URLs/domains used for phishing attacks, targeting vulnerabilities on the Zoom platform, and Twitter-based impersonations. ZeroFoxs Australia and New Zealand Cyber Threat Landscape Report (October 2021) identifies phishing campaigns including business email compromise (BEC) and social engineering campaigns, as the greatest threats to ANZ-based organizations, both from an employee and a customer perspective. Banking trojans, botnets, and Denial of Service attackscontinue to create risk for businesses operating in the region, particularly from financially motivated threat actors. Similarly, ANZ is seeing an increased threat from ransomware, a trend that is anticipated to continue into 2022. As regional demand surges among high-compliance industries like finance, government, and healthcare, ZeroFox helps these businesses identify and disrupt threat actors across their digital attack surface via its AI-powered threat intelligence platform. The company delivers external cybersecurity solutions to organizations that help them protect their data, people, and brands outside of the traditional security perimeter. Story continues The Australian cybersecurity industry is expected to grow to $7.6 billion by 2024 and this partnership is a strategic next step for ZeroFox in a hyper-growth region where the company projects a steady 35% year-over-year growth of its business in the ANZ region through 2024. "ZeroFox provides advanced capabilities such as the ability to identify and take down infrastructure used to target employees and customers that high-value target organizations increasingly need to defend themselves," said Shane Mahney, Senior Sales Manager for emt Distribution, a rhipe company. "With ZeroFox, our channel partners, MSPs and MSSPs can offer multiple high-demand, high-impact security solutions on a single platform to address their clients most urgent requirements." "emt Distribution is delighted to add ZeroFoxs threat intelligence and protection platform to our cybersecurity portfolio," said Richard Rundle, Group Executive for emt Distribution, a rhipe Company. "With ZeroFox, emt can offer a comprehensive range of advanced cybersecurity capabilities that enable our partners to add value to even the most capable and mature organizations." "External Threat intelligence, that includes Dark Web monitoring and Digital Risk Protection, has seen immense growth in demand due to the rise in high profile ransomware attacks," says Paul Lim, Netpoleon Regional Director, ANZ. "As large organizations realise the immense costs of a security breach, contextual threat intelligence becomes a vital component to recognise imminent external threats and allows for decisive and timely preemptive steps to prevent any breach from taking place. With Netpoleons other synergistic security solutions, ZeroFox adds a valuable new dimension to our offerings that will benefit ANZ Channel Partners and End Customers needing protection solutions outside their traditional internal security perimeter." "Our team at ZeroFox is proud to partner with Netpoleon and rhipe to provide customers with stronger threat intelligence, protection capabilities and on-site consultation across the ANZ region. We look forward to working together to tackle rising cybercrime in Australia and New Zealand," said Gabe Goldhirsh, Vice President, MEA/APAC. "With this partnership, we deepen both the regional and global presence of our Global Partner Program and remain committed to a partner-first strategy that provides in-depth digital risk and dark web insights to businesses across the world." Read ZeroFoxs Australia and New Zealand Cyber Threat Landscape Report (October 2021) at: https://www.zerofox.com/resources/anz-cyber-threat-landscape-report-oct-21/ About ZeroFox ZeroFox provides enterprises External Threat Intelligence and Protection to disrupt threats to brands, people, assets and data across the public attack surface in one, comprehensive platform. With complete global coverage across the surface, deep and dark web and an Intel-backed artificial intelligence-based analysis engine, the ZeroFox Platform identifies and remediates targeted phishing attacks, credential compromise, data exfiltration, brand hijacking, executive and location threats and more. The patented ZeroFox Platform technology processes and protects millions of posts, messages and accounts daily across the social and digital landscape, spanning LinkedIn, Facebook, Slack, Instagram, Pastebin, YouTube, mobile app stores, domains, cloud-based email and more. Visit www.zerofox.com for more information. About emt Distribution - emt Distribution, now part of rhipe (ASX:RHP), is an Adelaide-based value added distributor and vendor representative with a presence in Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Philippines, UAE and South Africa. emt offers cyber security solutions that address the top four mitigation strategies to prevent cyber security incidents, the broader strategies in the Australian Governments Information Security Manual (ISM) and solutions to address Cyber Threat Management. emt Distribution assists channel partners, MSPs and MSSPs to deliver cyber security solutions their customers need. emt offers pre and post-sales support, channel development, engaged sales processes and marketing assistance for both vendors and channel partners About Netpoleon - Netpoleon Group is a Value-Added Distributor (VAD) of Network Security products, headquartered in Singapore with various full-fledged offices across APAC region in Australia, India, Indonesia, Cambodia, Malaysia, Myanmar, New Zealand, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam. Through our strong partnership with Channel Partners, Netpoleon has gained a strong foothold in several highly demanding industries namely the Financial Services Sector where Data Protection is a key competitive edge for the businesses, the Telecommunication sector which is a critical information infrastructure and also the Public Sector where highly secure and protected environment is required to protect governmental classified information. Partnering with major leading technology vendors, Netpoleon continues to value-add the Vendors offering through pre-and post-sales services, as well as professional advisory services on Cybersecurity to our channel partners across the region. Netpoleon continues to look forward, to aim to be one of the Most Trusted Partner (MTP) to our Vendors, Resellers and Customers. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211025005740/en/ Contacts ZeroFOX Contact Press at ZeroFOX PAN Communications Kristen Hyle 401-219-9494 ZeroFOX@pancomm.com Human Rights Watch (HRW) has warned that the attacks against Afghanistan's Shi'ite minority perpetrated by an affiliate of the Islamic State group amount to crimes against humanity. Islamic State-Khorasan Province (IS-K) has claimed responsibility for some of the worst recent attacks in Afghanistan, including suicide bombings among Shi'ite worshippers from the Hazara minority group at mosques in Kunduz and Kandahar provinces that killed almost 150 people earlier this month. The group also carried out the August 29 suicide bombing at the Kabul airport that killed 170 Afghans, mostly civilians. The IS-K armed group has repeatedly carried out devastating attacks that appear designed to spread terror and inflict maximum suffering particularly on Afghanistans Hazara community, said Patricia Gossman, associate Asia director at the New York-based HRW. The numerous attacks targeting Hazaras amount to crimes against humanity, and those responsible should be brought to justice, HRW said in a statement on October 25. The mainly Shiite Hazara community is Afghanistan's third-largest ethnic group. Its members have faced long-term discrimination and persecution in predominantly Sunni Afghanistan. IS-K considers Shi'ite Muslims to be apostates. The group also opposes Afghanistan's Sunni Taliban rulers, who took over most of the war-wracked country in August amid the withdrawal of U.S.-led forces after two decades of conflict. IS-Ks horrific attacks on civilians have not abated since the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan and appear to be increasing, Gossman said. The Taliban authorities need to urgently adopt measures to protect religious minority communities from attack. The Taliban has played down the threat from the Islamic State's affiliate, but repeated attacks have tarnished the group's claim to have brought peace to Afghanistan after decades of war. Almost 23 million Afghans will suffer "acute food insecurity" this winter due to the combined impacts of drought, conflict, the coronavirus pandemic, and an economic crisis exacerbated by turmoil after the Taliban took power in the country, two UN agencies warned on October 25. The World Food Program (WFP) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) warned in a joint statement that the already unstable country is confronted with one of the world's worst humanitarian crises. "This winter, millions of Afghans will be forced to choose between migration and starvation unless we can step up our life-saving assistance," said David Beasley, WFP executive director. "Afghanistan is now among the world's worst humanitarian crises -- if not the worst -- and food security has all but collapsed," Beasley said. "We are on a countdown to catastrophe and if we don't act now, we will have a total disaster on our hands." More than one in two Afghans face Phase 3 "crisis" or Phase 4 "emergency" food shortages from November through March, the WFP and FAO said. Afghanistan -- already struggling to emerge from a two-decade-long conflict -- is facing its worst winter in a decade after the Taliban overthrew the internationally backed government in August. Afghanistan's economy is in a parlous state with most aid cut off as winter nears, food prices rise, and unemployment spikes. Despite vowing to restore stability in the war-wracked country, the Taliban still faces a range of international sanctions and a campaign of bloody attacks by an Islamic State offshoot. The group is seeking international recognition, as well as assistance to avoid a humanitarian disaster. The effects of a second severe drought in four years continue to impact the livelihoods of 7.3 million people who rely on agriculture and livestock to survive, the statement said. "Amid worsening drought, FAO is seeking $11.4 million in urgent funding for its humanitarian response and is seeking a further $200 million for the agricultural season into 2022," the two UN agencies said. "Hunger is rising and children are dying. We can't feed people on promises -- funding commitments must turn into hard cash," Beasley said. "The international community must come together to address this crisis, which is fast spinning out of control." On October 24, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid sought to allay fears of an impending humanitarian catastrophe. "We are trying to arrange and distribute, including food and clothing. All worries will be resolved," he promised, adding that "global humanitarian aid has also arrived." The European Union on October 12 announced an expanded support package for Afghanistan and its neighbors worth about 1 billion euros ($1.15 billion) to try and contain the spiraling humanitarian crisis. The president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, stressed that the funds are "direct support" for Afghans and would be channeled to international organizations working on the ground -- not to the Taliban-led cabinet that Brussels does not recognize. With reporting by AFP Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will meet with Taliban representatives during a visit to Qatar, in their latest high-level talks since the withdrawal of U.S.-led international forces in August. The visit to Doha, where the Taliban has its political office, is scheduled for October 25-26 to discuss issues of joint concern, Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin told a daily briefing. Since August this year, the situation in Afghanistan has undergone fundamental changes and the Afghan people have a historic opportunity to independently decide the countrys destiny. Meanwhile, however, they still face many difficulties and challenges and are in urgent need of external support," Wang said. "As Afghanistan's traditional friendly neighbor and partner, China has always advocated dialogue and contact to guide the positive development of the situation in Afghanistan," he added. China has not recognized the new rulers in Kabul but has kept its embassy open as it seeks to expand its economic and political footprint in the war-torn country with which it shares a 76-kilometer border. In July, Wang met with a delegation led by a top Taliban figure, Abdul Ghani Baradar, in China, shortly before the group seized power from Afghanistan's Western-backed government. The two sides have continued contact, including Chinas participation last week in Russian-hosted talks with the Taliban attended by officials from nine other countries. Taliban officials have repeatedly said they intend to expand ties with China, which has promised humanitarian aid and economic cooperation. Unlike the West, China is unlikely to make ties contingent on human rights issues, preferring instead hard economic, political, and security interests. In particular, China is asking the Taliban to control the East Turkestan Islamic Movement, an ethnic Uyghur group Beijing considers a terrorist organization seeking independence in the western region of Xinjiang. During the Talibans visit to China in July, the delegation pledged that the group would not allow anyone to use the Afghan soil against China. Earlier this month, two sources in Tajikistan and Afghanistan told RFE/RL that the Taliban had removed ethnic Uyghur fighters from border regions with China to other parts of Afghanistan. With reporting by AP and Reuters 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. Mike Miller wipes down tables and chairs while Aspen Nipp, one of three owners, works at the bar Wednesday as they prepare for Fridays opening of Vultures, a music venue at the former Angry Pirate Bar on Platte Avenue near The Black Sheep. The owners of Colorado's largest gold mine near Cripple Creek have taken the first step to begin underground mining just north of the mountain town, but there are many more hurdles to clear before the first ounce of gold is recovered, according to a mine spokesman. Cripple Creek & Victor Gold Mining Co., acquired in August by Greenwood Village-based Newmont Mining Corp., is seeking approval from Colorado regulators to expand the boundaries of its mining operation to include the site a half-mile south of the Cripple Creek Heritage and Information Center and the Molly Kathleen Mine tourist attraction. Natural disasters can set the stage for cyberattacks An earthquake strikes a city in Indiana, causing chaos and destruction, sending emergency managers and first responders scrambling. Then the water system goes down, and everyone figures its because of the natural disaster. But it isnt. Its a ransomware attack by cybercriminals, who are taking advantage of the disruption to infiltrate the water systems network. The incident isnt real, but it is a scenario played out as part of a three-day, full-scale cybersecurity drill in Indiana in August attended by more than 500 people, including Indiana National Guard members, first responders, health care providers and state, local and federal officials. All hands are on deck during a natural disaster. Now something else happens on top of a bad situation. That makes everything worse, said Chetrice Mosley-Romero, Indianas cybersecurity program director, who helped plan the exercise. Cyber actors are looking for this opportunity. They see vulnerability. Cybercriminals, who are becoming increasingly sophisticated, could take advantage of natural disasters such as hurricanes, wildfires and tornadoes to wreak havoc on critical infrastructure, experts say, including transportation, emergency response, water and sewer systems and hospitals. Thats why Indiana and some other state and local governments are trying to prepare by holding drills or creating preparedness plans. Just this year, the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center, a federally funded group that helps state and local governments prevent and respond to digital threats, has been involved in 10 virtual exercises. Half of those included discussions about how to plan for the dual impact of a cyberattack and a natural disaster, said Randy Rose, senior director of cyber threat intelligence. Two more sessions are planned this year. We almost always see some spike in cyberattack attempts impacted by any major event, whether its natural disaster or something else, Rose said. Its an easier way for threat actors to gain a foothold. They take advantage of a system in a weakened state. Rose wouldnt identify the state and local governments involved in the exercises, which are sponsored by the federal government through the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency and conducted in coordination with his agency and state and local officials. Part of the exercise typically is for governments to prepare for a coordinated cyberattack shortly after a major disaster. Its not good enough to say we have a policy in place. It needs to be updated on a regular basis, Rose said. You have to make sure it works. You need to know who to call, who has what part to play, who is responsible for what. In Houston, the city and the U.S. Army Cyber Institute conducted a three-day drill in July 2018 that simulated a cyberattack during a hurricane. The previous year, Category 4 Hurricane Harvey had struck the Houston metro area, bringing the worst flooding in its history and forcing thousands to abandon their homes. The drill, which focused on city services such as water, health care, the port and emergency response, brought together participants from local, state and federal agencies, some of whom had never interacted with each other, said Jack Hanagriff, critical infrastructure protection coordinator for the mayors Office of Public Safety and Homeland Security. As a result of the drill, Houston has conducted several regional training programs with local governments focused on a natural disaster overlapping with a cyberattack, Hanagriff said. We took a lot of what we learned [during the drill], such as needing better communication and better cooperation, he said. They need to understand the gaps and get their people trained. And a lot of it is just getting people to trust each other so they can start talking. Domino effects Security experts say theyre not aware of any major cyberattack against a state or local government during a natural disaster, but that its only a matter of time. And if a hacker launches a disruption to coincide with a natural disaster, that could greatly hamper first responders, hospitals, utilities and government agencies, according to the National Association of State Chief Information Officers. It could create a domino effect such as loss of electrical power, water, telecommunications and other infrastructure. In a time of already high pressure, people have to make a lot of decisions quickly. Youre dealing with multiple stress points, said Doug Howard, CEO of Pondurance, an Indianapolis-based cybersecurity company that was one of the major participants in the Indiana drill. The main message was not so much the scenario and what we did, Howard said. It was that the state was leaning forward, saying, What would we do? Howard said his companys data shows that threats go up when a natural disaster approaches or hits an area. Should states be preparing for this? Absolutely, said Dan Lohrmann, chief security officer for Security Mentor, a national cybersecurity training firm that works with states. Theres an assumption that a blended attack like this will happen. And with climate change causing more frequent natural disasters, Lohrmann added, cyberattacks could become more likely. If they can disable communications in the middle of a major hurricane or fire or flood or tornado, state police cant talk to each other. Its vitally important to have systems secure before that happens. They have to plan for it. In North Carolina, a state joint cybersecurity task force is capable of handling an attack during a natural disaster, said Rob Main, the interim state chief risk officer. But Main said doing a hands-on intensive drill focused just on that topic, such as the ones in Indiana and Houston, makes sense and would be beneficial for every state. Indiana drill The August drill in Indiana took place at the Indiana National Guards 1,000-acre Muscatatuck Urban Training Center. Located in Southern Indiana, the center has its own mockup city, which includes more than 190 structures, nearly 2 miles of subterranean tunnels, airspace, a reservoir and more than 9 miles of roads. It can simulate real-life attacks against communications, energy, water and other critical infrastructure. Indianas Mosley-Romero said the dual cyber-natural disaster exercise was meant to educate and improve communications among various agencies and close any gaps in service and response. It was good for firefighters and emergency responders to see the effects of something they dont necessarily deal with, she said. From the cyber end, we need continued education with first responders and to do a better job making sure that all local emergency managers communicate with the state. Mosley-Romero said her agency took the lessons it learned and followed up with a virtual presentation for more than 100 wastewater utilities in the state earlier this month. That was the biggest success of the exercise, she said. Being able to pass that knowledge on. This article was first posted to Stateline, an initiative of The Pew Charitable Trusts. " " A man named Albert Johnson led the Royal Canadian Mounted Police on one of the greatest chases in Canadian history in 1931. But "Albert Johnson" was most likely an alias and, to this day, the Mad Trapper of Rat River has not been identified. Wikimedia Commons/HowStuffWorks In 1931, what started as a simple knock on the door from police quickly spiraled, as one man on the lam sparked the largest manhunt in Canada's history, generated a media frenzy, caused the wider adoption of a new technology, and resulted in a brutal, anonymous ending one that could now see a resolution of sorts thanks to DNA testing. But for the moment, we're left with as much legend as fact for the man known best by his sobriquet: "The Mad Trapper of Rat River." We know little of his life story because no one really knows who he was. What we do know is that during the Great Depression, poverty pushed many people into frontier areas where wildlife was plentiful and there was the opportunity to perhaps live off the land and make a little money trapping. Advertisement A Stranger in a Strange Land And that's how our story begins. In July 1931, a stranger who became known through his alias, Albert Johnson, arrived in the vast remoteness of the Northwest Territories near Fort McPherson. He ventured farther from the fort and set up a small cabin near the Rat River. A few months later, he reportedly interfered with traplines previously set by First Nations trappers, who complained to local constables about the matter. Three days later, two constables knocked on Johnson's door, but he ignored them. Undeterred, Constable Alfred King traveled 80 miles (128 kilometers) to Aklavik for a search warrant, and then returned to the cabin in the wilds with three other constables. Just as Constable King knocked, a bullet blasted through the door and into his chest. After a brief gunfight, the other constables loaded King onto a dogsled and frantically dragged him to the nearest hospital all the way back in Aklavik. Officials, alarmed that a stranger would shoot an officer for no apparent reason other than a minor trapping squabble, assembled a posse led by Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Inspector Alexander Eames. Another gunfight ensued, but to no avail. The constables threw dynamite onto the cabin's roof, which caused it to collapse. Still, Johnson kept shooting. After 15 hours, in the life-threatening temperatures near 45 degrees Fahrenheit (43 degrees Celsius), the officers were forced to withdraw. They returned four days later to find the cabin empty. One of the greatest chases of the 20th century had begun. Advertisement The Chase Begins "Inspector Eames led the RCMP posse that pursued the Trapper for seven weeks across the desolate Arctic landscape," says Michael Jorgensen, a filmmaker and producer for Myth Merchant Films in Alberta. "During one the firefights the Trapper shot and killed Constable Millen. In what, by all accounts is the first use of an aircraft in a manhunt, WWI Canadian fighter pilot Wop May helped narrow the search." The story caught the public's imagination. A lone man, on the run in the dead of a brutal winter, through heavily forested mountains, relying on nothing but his wits for survival. His exploits trickled into the world via radio, which was at that point a new technology. "This was the first big news story broadcast by electronic media across the continent as it was happening," says Jorgensen. Radio sales spiked. And there were other odd twists along the way. As the story goes, the Mad Trapper never spoke to his pursuers. In each of his encounters with the authorities he was silent, with one exception he may have laughed out loud when he shot and killed Constable Edgar Millen. "I think what further captured the public's imagination was how an individual with the clothes on his back and carrying several firearms and little food out witted and outgunned the RCMP in one of the harshest environments on the planet," says Jorgensen. Time and again, the pursuers thought they'd trapped their quarry. Time and again, he escaped. On the day he shot and killed Millen, Johnson, pinned in by a steep canyon, scaled a nearly vertical wall and vanished. Finally, on Feb. 14, pilot Wop May (who'd taken part in the famous WWI dogfight that ended the Red Baron's life) spotted evidence of Johnson's trail. Three days later yet another shootout occurred, and Johnson shot another constable, who survived. The Mad Trapper, however, was struck by several bullets and killed. " " This post-mortem photograph of the man who called himself Albert Johnson was distributed throughout Canada after his death. Flickr/Royal Canadian Mounted Police/Wikimedia Commons Advertisement So Who Was That 'Mad' Man? But there was still a burning question: Who was this man? Albert Johnson was clearly an alias. In hopes of finding out, officials circulated the Mad Trapper's photograph. Although many tips poured in, none resulted in pinpointing his identity or motive. "The 'who' of this story is the big mystery that would answer the 'why'," says Jorgensen. "Why did a Caucasian man leave society behind and move to the most northerly point of the continent and build a cabin on the edge of the Arctic Ocean? Why did he shoot an RCMP officer unprovoked and why was he so motivated and determined? Once we know the 'who', we can fill in the blanks of the Trapper's origin story." Jorgensen says that while the media at the time dubbed him the Mad Trapper, he was neither a trapper, nor was he likely mad. "If we hope to have any insight into his character and what motivated him we need to know his back story and the only way we can know that for certain is by using the DNA recovered from his exhumation in 2007 to uncover his family line." A company named Othram is using genome sequencing to generate a genealogical profile for the mystery man. So far, the data show that the Mad Trapper had ties to Sweden and was Swedish-American. Othram uses advanced DNA testing to identify people from crime scenes, victims or suspects, says David Mittelman, Othrams CEO. Michael (Jorgensen) heard about the work we were doing and asked if we could help. The case is obviously very old, but I think there is an importance to bringing answers to even the oldest cases. This case in particular also has historical significance and so I think many folks are interested in who this man was. To further connect the dots, Othram officials ask that if this matches your family history and you've ever participated in commercial DNA testing, you share your DNA profile them. With a bit of luck, perhaps the 90-year-old secrets of Canada's most elusive fugitive may finally be unearthed. Now That's Interesting One fact that's often overlooked regarding the chase just how important the First Nation people were to the pursuit. "What we discovered in our research and what many people don't know is the important contribution the team of indigenous trackers made to the hunt," says Jorgensen. "It's clear that without their highly-evolved skill set the Trapper may have eluded the RCMP and escaped." The West Coast receives top billing in any discussion of ports and dairy exports. Roughly two-thirds of all U.S. dairy exports, on a product-volume basis, leave the United States via the West Coast. On a milk solids equivalent basis, that number jumps to roughly 85%. The importance of the West Coast as a dairy export center cannot be understated and over the last 18 months, it has been put to the test. Greater trade volume, labor constraints, global container shortages, and higher operating costs have strained a system thats inadequately prepared to deal with it. The result? Delays and congestion thats limiting U.S. dairys opportunity to expand on whats already record demand for its products overseas. The congestion is centered around Southern California, where a staggering 75 vessels at times have been waiting to berth in the Los Angeles and Long Beach ports. Average wait times are approaching 10 days . . . some vessels have waited 20 days to berth. U.S. consumer purchases are the most immediate cause of the congestion. This U.S. Retail Sales chart below shows the level at which consumer retail spending has incrementally grown over the last decade compared with the tremendous spike over the last year. Thats created a shipping container imbalance driven by the huge demand for high-value products out of Asia. To put that demand in dollars, the average amount shipping companies are charging per container leaving Asia bound for the U.S. West Coast is currently around $8,000 that rate had reached a dizzying height of over $15,000 only a few short weeks ago. Comparatively, the average cost per container headed to Asia from the West Coast is, while still record high, much less, at around $1,200. This difference has led to a further compounding issue of an increasing number of empty containers being sent back to Asia in an attempt to save a few days in transit time; the faster a shipping company can get a vessel back to Asia, the faster it can benefit from the higher freight rates. Shipping companies would rather eat the cost and ship a vessel back to Asia empty than wait for a full load of products to ship back. The chart below shows the increasing percentage of empties leaving select West Coast ports. Unfortunately, dairy isnt immune to the congestion, and like other industries, its attempting to divert product through other ports. In the 12 months leading up to June of this year (latest data available), dairy exports out of West Coast ports dropped nearly 10% while dairy exports out of the East Coast and the Gulf climbed 30% and 22%, respectively. But in many cases, diversion isnt economically viable, given the inland shipping costs of moving product to a port further away, country of destination, and labor constraints. Adding to the bad news, congestion wont clear up in the short term. Dairy likely will struggle with port congestion through much, if not all, of 2022. Despite all of this, though, dairy continues to show its resiliency. U.S. dairy exports over the last 12 months are up 10%; a testament to the strength of the entire industry and the strong global demand for our products. While the water ahead may (literally) look a little choppy regarding export logistics, the U.S. dairy industry will continue to do what it is does best; produce high-quality dairy products for consumers, both domestically and abroad. To comment, email your remarks to intel@hoards.com. (c) Hoard's Dairyman Intel 2021 October 21, 2021 The NPM repository account linked to a popular node.js was hijacked for a while on Friday and used to spread a malicious script, the security firm Sophos claims. NPM is a package manager for the JavaScript programming language. In a blog post, Sophos senior threat researcher Sean Gallagher said the script in question installed a monero miner on Linux systems while on Windows systems malware that harvested credentials was dropped. The account that was used was that of the developer of a package known as UAParser.js, a library used by Web applications to detect information about browser types and operating systems. "The attacker used that access to modify the deployment package for the library, adding instructions to run a new script named preinstall.js," Gallagher wrote. "Also added to the package were preinstall.bat and preinstall.sh the Windows and Linux scripts to be executed by the node.js package. "The hijacker then pushed out the changes as three new versions: 0.7.29, 0.8.0, and 1.0.0." After a few hours, the developer in question noticed something was amiss and published clean versions of the library. Interestingly, the script that was dropped on Linux systems checked for the country code and did not run if the code returned was for Russian, Ukraine, Kazakhstan or Belarus. The script downloaded a file from a server in Latvia which included the miner. "The repeated attempts to use NPM to spread miners to Linux systems over the past month is further proof that Linux servers continue to be a very attractive target for cyber criminals and stealing processing power for cryptomining is an easy way to monetise criminal access to these systems," Gallagher concluded. "Many Linux servers run without any anti-virus protection installed because their operators want to avoid taking a performance hit, but that makes detection and mitigation of attacks like these more complex and mining monero for someone else isnt exactly optimizing server performance." As a member of the program, Green Light says it is now able to clear its technology services teams up to NV1 levelone more step to offer the best security cleared IT services in Australia. Defence Industry Security Program (DISP) clearances require background assessments of individuals, security training and certification, and include physical and virtual security accreditations, standards and governance. Like the rest of the world, the Australian IT market is suffering from a dramatic IT skills shortage, particularly for security cleared individuals. This accreditation allows Green Light to boost its security cleared personnel pool in a time of peak demand, Green Light says. Demand for federal government cleared IT resources has never been higher in Australia. While Canberra is the major growth market for our NV1 security cleared IT capability, we are also fulfilling demand in South Australia, New South Wales, Victoria, and Western Australia, comments Green Light CEO Gary Hinksman. Our growing security-cleared teams are solving business problems from network capacity issues, to compliance, to national technology refreshes, to the nuances of work from home and bring your own device, adds Hinksman. Over the past 14 years, Green Light has expanded from Sydney into Canberra, Melbourne, Perth, Brisbane, Auckland, Singapore, and Hong Kong, and deploys more than 1,000 technologists every year on major IT projects. A number of Windows ransomware gangs have reacted to the reported takedown of the REvil gang, with one of them, Darkside, now known as BlackMatter, moving some of the bitcoin it holds, according to a statement from the cryptocurrency tracking firm Elliptic. The company said the DarkSide gang had received a little more than US$90 million (A$120.5 million) from about 50 victims during its lifetime. It shut down in May, according to a claim made by a website funded by a CIA-backed threat intelligence firm. In a second development, the gang behind the Conti ransomware issued a long statement, painting themselves as virtuous operators and claiming that what REvil had bilked from companies was "honestly earned money". A third reaction came from a group known as Groove, which urged attacks on US interests in retaliation for the takedown of REvil Conti statement re: REvil and the gang's "Honestly earned money." pic.twitter.com/rWXisIDFPJ Brett Callow (@BrettCallow) October 22, 2021 Elliptic claimed the US had seized 63.7 bitcoin which DarkSide had received as its share of the 75 bitcoin paid as ransom for It said DarkSide had retained a cryptocurrency wallet to hold its bitcoin, including 11.3 bitcoin from the Colonial hit. On the day it was reportedly taken down, the wallet was emptied, with 108.8 bitcoin being sent to a new wallet. These funds, now worth US$7 million, had begun moving on 21 October, Elliptic said, adding that it was moved through a number of new wallets, with small amounts being retained at each step. "This is a common money laundering technique, used to attempt to make the funds more difficult to track and to aid their conversion into fiat currency through exchanges," the Elliptic statement said. "The process is ongoing, but small amounts of the funds have already been sent to known exchanges." The Conti statement said, in part: "As a team, we always look at the work of our colleagues in the art of pen-testing, corporate data security, information systems, and network security. We rejoice at their successes and support them in their hardships." All joking aside, I'm betting things are a bit... tense for anyone even remotely tied to REvil right now. https://t.co/sO4XZWAXUB Jake Williams (@MalwareJake) October 22, 2021 It questioned the US move to attack servers in other countries, and also referred to America's invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan, drone strikes and shootings within the US to claim that the strike on REvil was just part of a pattern of incidents. The Groove statement, was in Russian, and a sanitised translation was published by the website, Bleeping Computer. It said, in part: "In our difficult and troubled time when the US Government is trying to fight us, I call on all partner programs to stop competing, unite and start **cking up the US public sector..." Contacted for comment, Brett Callow, ransomware researcher with the New Zealand-based security company Emsisoft, said: "The fact that law enforcement successfully disrupted operations on a number of recent occasions will have threat actors sweating, especially since they don't know how the other operations were disrupted. "The bluster and posturing from Conti and Groove is the result. They're not railing against the US, they're trying to convince their partners and affiliates that they're confident and there's no cause for concern." Pressure is being ramped up on the US as the date approaches for Washington's appeal on Wednesday and Thursday at the High Court in London against a ruling denying its request to extradite WikiLeaks founder and publisher Julian Assange. A group of more than 25 press freedom, civil liberties and international human rights advocacy organisations issued a statement in mid-October, calling for the charges against Assange to be dropped. On 4 January, British District Judge Vanessa Baraister ruled that Assange should not be extradited, saying the risk he would commit suicide in a US jail were too high. Assange faces criminal charges for publishing classified information that was leaked to WikiLeaks by an American soldier, then known as Bradley Manning, but now, after gender reassignment surgery, known as Chelsea Manning. The Australian, one of, was arrested by British police on 11 April 2019 and removed from the Ecuador embassy where he had taken refuge after being granted asylum. His asylum was withdrawn by Ecuador shortly before he was arrested and he appeared in court soon thereafter. The US made a formal request for his extradition on 6 June 2019. This week a US appeal for extradition of Julian #Assange will be heard in court in London. The Australian Govt has long refused to acknowledge the huge impact of this case on #pressfreedom. But it's not too late. They must speak up and press US Govt to drop the charges. #auspol https://t.co/ucz938XXAU Rex Patrick (@Senator_Patrick) October 23, 2021 The letter was signed by Access Now, American Civil Liberties Union, Amnesty International USA, Centre for Constitutional Rights, Committee to Protect Journalists, Defending Rights & Dissent, Demand Progress Education Fund, Electronic Frontier Foundation, Fight for the Future, First Amendment Coalition, Freedom of the Press Foundation, Free Press Unlimited, Human Rights Watch, Index on Censorship, Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University, National Coalition Against Censorship, Open The Government Partnership for Civil Justice Fund, PEN America, Project on Government Oversight, Reporters Without Borders, RootsAction.org, The Press Freedom Defence Fund of First Look Institute, and Whistleblower and Source Protection Program (WHISPeR) at ExposeFacts. Julian Assange finacee @stellamoris1 speaks at yesterdays huge March for Assange in London, ahead of upcoming October 27-28 court hearing: "your right to know is what is being criminalized" #FreeAssangeNOW #NoExtradition pic.twitter.com/Cudl9shUUf WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) October 24, 2021 The organisations said they were were of one voice that the criminal case against Assange posed a grave threat to press freedom both in the US and abroad. "We were disappointed that the Department of Justice appealed the decision by Judge Vanessa Baraitser of the Westminster Magistrates Court to reject the Trump administrations extradition request," the statement said. "Especially in light of the recent news report, we urge you to drop that appeal and dismiss the underlying indictment." The news report referred to claimed that the CIA had discussed plans in 2017 to either kill or abduct Assange. The detailed story, published in September, said the American spy outfit was angry that WikiLeaks had leaked some of its hacking tools that year, which the whistleblower organisation called Vault 7. "As we explained in our earlier letter, journalists routinely engage in much of the conduct described in the indictment: speaking with sources, asking for clarification or more documentation, and receiving and publishing official secrets," the organisations said. Yesterday I was proud to march in support of the campaign against the imprisonment and extradition of Julian Assange. Julian Assange is being persecuted for revealing war crimes and human rights abuses. This is an attempt to intimidate and silence journalists and whistleblowers. pic.twitter.com/PpaAvA2rca Richard Burgon MP (@RichardBurgon) October 24, 2021 "News organisations frequently and necessarily publish classified information in order to inform the public of matters of profound public significance. "We appreciate that the government has a legitimate interest in protecting bona fide national security interests, but the proceedings against Assange jeopardise journalism that is crucial to democracy. "In our view, a precedent created by prosecuting Assange could be used against publishers and journalists alike, chilling their work and undermining freedom of the press. "Major news organisations share this concern. The charges against Assange have been condemned by virtually every major American news outlet, even though many of those news outlets have criticised Assange in the past. "In light of these concerns, and in light of the shocking new reporting on the governments conduct in this case, we respectfully urge you to drop the ongoing appeal of Judge Baraitsers ruling and to dismiss the indictment of Assange." Telstra has teamed up with the Australian Government to acquire Digicel's business in the South Pacific region for US$1.6 billion (A$2.14 billion), plus an additional US$250 million depending on how the business fares over the next three years. In a statement to the ASX on Monday morning, Telstra said the government would pay US$1.33 billion of the price, while the company would contribute US$270 million, own and operate the company and own 100% of the ordinary equity. News about a likely purchase first surfaced in July this year and was reportedly to prevent a company like China Mobile from buying Digicel Pacific. The deal is expected to be completed within the next three to six months. Chief executive Andrew Penn said the company had been approached by the government to initially provide technical advice about Digicel Pacific and later considered buying the business with financial and strategic risk management support from Canberra. He characterised the deal as representing an important milestone in Telstra's relationship with the government, a statement that could be taken to mean that he hoped it would help smooth the path to taking over the NBN when that asset is put up for sale. "Digicel Pacific is a commercially attractive asset and critical to communications in the region," Penn said. "The Australian Government is strongly committed to supporting quality private sector investment infrastructure in the Pacific region. The Fed Govt is doing the heavy lifting here. Telstra will only commit equity worth approx $360 million. Company calls it a "commercially attractive asset" but simply no way they would be doing this without govt urging and support 2/ Stephen Dziedzic (@stephendziedzic) October 24, 2021 "We previously said that if Telstra were to proceed with a transaction, it would be with financial and strategic risk management support from the government. "We also said that in additional to a government funding and support package, any investment would have to be within certain financial parameters with Telstra's equity investment being the minor portion of the overall transaction. I am pleased that we have been able to achieve both of those outcomes." He described the acquisition as being attractive for a number of reasons, including the economies of the business. "Digicel enjoys a strong market position in the South Pacific region, holding a strong number of position in all markets other than Fiji where is the number two," he said. "The combined business generated EBITDA of US$233 million for the financial year ended 31 March 2021, with a strong margin. "Digicel Pacific has already invested significant capital in PNG, which is its largest market, to achieve extensive network coverage, including 4G to 55% of the population. The medium to long-term capex to sales is expected to be about 15%." The Telstra statement said the deal was expected to return an attractive internal rate of return and was higher than all Telstra's merger and acquisition criteria - EPS accretive, ROIC above WACC and more accretive than a share buyback. The deal hints at a multiple of 5.8 to 6.9 times EBITDA for the full-year 2021 for the acquisition. Penn said Telstra had provided guidance to the market for the full-year 2022 recently and also hopes for FY23, adding that these did not include any allowance for the Digicel acquisition, which he claimed would enhance the company's outlook further, depending on when it was completed. 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 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. Arraignment Due for Former USC Dean in Ridley-Thomas Case A former dean of the School of Social Work at USC is expected to be arraigned today on federal corruption charges in an alleged bribery scheme involving City Councilman Mark Ridley-Thomas that resulted in the university receiving lucrative county contracts. Marilyn Louise Flynn, 83, is expected to plead not guilty via Zoom in Los Angeles federal court to charges that she conspired with Ridley-Thomas when he was a member of the Board of Supervisors. Flynns attorney, Vicki I. Podberesky, said her client has not committed any crime, and we believe that the evidence in this case will ultimately support this conclusion. According to the 20-count indictment, Flynn agreed to provide Ridley-Thomas son with graduate school admission, a full-tuition scholarship and a paid professorship at the university. She also allegedly arranged to funnel a $100,000 donation from Ridley-Thomas campaign funds through the university to a nonprofit to be operated by his son, former Assemblyman Sebastian Ridley- Thomas. ADVERTISEMENT In exchange, the indictment alleges, Ridley-Thomas supported county contracts involving the School of Social Work, including lucrative deals to provide services to the county Department of Children and Family Services and Probation Department, as well as an amendment to a contract with the Department of Mental Health that would bring the school millions of dollars in new revenue. According to the indictment, the activities occurred in 2017-18, beginning when Sebastian Ridley-Thomas was the subject of an internal sexual harassment investigation in the Assembly, likely to resign from elected office and significantly in debt. Sebastian Ridley-Thomas resigned from the Assembly in 2017, although he insisted at the time that his departure was due to health reasons, not a sexual harassment probe. The corrupt activities alleged in the indictment were facilitated by a major universitys high-ranking administrator whose desire for funding apparently trumped notions of integrity and fair play, said Acting U.S. Attorney Tracy L. Wilkison. Prosecutors said the Social Work School was facing a multimillion- dollar budget deficit, which threatened the schools viability as well as Flynns position and reputation as the schools longtime dean. As part of the bribery scheme, Ridley-Thomas and Flynn took steps to disguise, conceal, and cover up the bribes, kickbacks, and other benefits, prosecutors allege. Flynn was dean for 21 years. The indictment says USC removed her from the position around June 2018. The 66-year-old Ridley-Thomas pleaded not guilty to the charges at his arraignment last week. The same day, he was suspended from office and his salary and benefits frozen. Both Ridley-Thomas and Flynn are charged with one count of conspiracy, and each defendant is charged with one count of bribery. The indictment also charges both defendants with two counts of honest services mail fraud and 15 counts of honest services wire fraud. The conspiracy count alleged in the indictment carries a penalty of up to five years in federal prison. Each bribery count carries a maximum possible sentence of 10 years. Each of the mail fraud and wire fraud charges carry a maximum of 20 years. Associate Pastor Shot to Death at Compton Intersection A 65-year-old associate pastor of a local Christian church was shot to death in a possible gang-related attack yesterday at an intersection in Compton, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department. The shooting happened about 11:50 a.m. in the 1000 block of Compton Boulevard, the LASD reported. Deputies responded to an assault with a deadly weapon call, Deputy Juanita Navarro-Suarez said. The victim suffered a gunshot wound to his chest and was pronounced dead at the scene. His name was withheld pending family notification. Detectives were scouring the area for witnesses and surveillance video, Navarro-Suarez said. A motive for the attack was unknown and no suspect description was immediately available. The sheriffs Homicide Bureau urged anyone with information regarding the homicide to call them at 323-890-5500 or Crime Stoppers at 800-222-8477. ADVERTISEMENT US details new international COVID-19 travel requirements Two weeks before a new vaccination requirement kicks in for most foreign travelers to the U.S., the Biden administration detailed the new international COVID-19 air travel polices, including exemptions for kids, and new federal contact tracing requirements. Beginning on Nov. 8, foreign, non-immigrant adults traveling to the United States will need to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, with limited exceptions, and all travelers will need to be tested for the virus before boarding an aircraft to the U.S., with tightened restrictions for those who are not fully vaccinated. The new policy comes as the Biden administration moves away from broader country-based travel restrictions and bans toward what it terms a vaccinations-based system focused on the individual risk of the traveler. It almost reflects the White Houses embrace of vaccination requirements in an effort to drive more Americans to get vaccinated by piling on inconveniences to those remaining without a shot. ADVERTISEMENT Under the policy, those who are unvaccinated will need to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test within a day of travel, while those who are vaccinated will be allowed to present a test taken within three days of travel. Children under 18 will not be required to be fully vaccinated, given the inconsistency in the global roll-out of shots for their age cohort, but those aged 2 and over will be subjected to the same COVID-19 testing policy as their parent or guardian. The Biden administration has been working with airlines, who will be required to enforce the new procedures, to explain the new policies so they can prepare for implementation. Airlines will be mandated to verify vaccine records and match them against identify information. They will also need to make certain that the shots given are on the Food and Drug Administration or World Health Organizations approved list. Mixing-and-matching of approved shots will be permitted. The Centers for Disease Control and Preventions quarantine officers will spot-check passengers after arrival in the U.S. for compliance, according to an administration official. Airlines that dont enforce the requirements could be subject to penalties of up to nearly $35,000 per violation. The administration announced limited exceptions to the vaccination requirement, including children, those who participated in COVID-19 clinical trials, who have medical reasons for not getting vaccinated, or are from a country where shots are not widely available. Unvaccinated residents of countries with vaccination rates below 10% of adults may be admitted to the U.S. with a government letter authorizing travel for pressing, non-tourism purposes, the administration said. CDC is also requiring airlines to collect contact information for international air travelers regardless of vaccination status to facilitate contact tracing. Reports of higher energy costs are causing concern around the world as pressure increases on businesses and people who buy goods and services. The biggest shortage, the Associated Press reports, is a lack of natural gas in Europe. European countries import 90 percent of their supply. Much of it comes from Russia. European prices have increased by five times since the start of the year. Experts blame several events for the gas shortage. They say demand increased after coronavirus restrictions were lifted. They say the past cold winter reduced reserves. And the summer was less windy than usual, so less wind energy was generated. Europes chief supplier, Russias Gazprom, held back extra gas supplies during the summer to build up supplies in Russia. In addition to that, Chinas electricity demand has come back after the COVID-19 pandemic. China has bought up limited supplies of liquid natural gas, which is transported by ship, not pipeline. There also are limited plants to export natural gas from the United States. Europe pushes renewable energy It is difficult to say how long higher fossil fuel prices will last, said Claudia Kemfert. She is an energy expert at the German Institute for Economic Research in Berlin. The long-term answer that has to be taken out of this is to invest in renewables and energy saving, she said. Renewable energy comes from the wind and sun. The European Unions executive commission urged member nations recently to speed up approvals for renewable energy projects. The group said clean energyis the best insurance against price shocks in the future. However, some gas-dependent European industries are cutting back on manufacturing products. German chemical companies BASF and SKW Piesteritz have cut the production of ammonia, an important part of fertilizer. That caused a problem for Hermann Greif, a farmer in Germanys area of southern Bavaria. He said he could not buy fertilizer for his crops. Theres no product, no price, not even a contract, he said. Its a situation weve never seen before. He said the situation might result in a smaller crop in the coming year. High energy prices already were hitting German farmers, who need diesel fuel to operate machinery and to keep animals warm, said Greif. He grows corn to make biofuel, or fuel made from crops. Higher heating costs? People in the northern part of the world are expected to face higher costs for heating this winter. That includes in the United States, where officials have warned home heating prices could rise as much as 54 percent. Governments in Spain, France, Italy and Greece have announced measures to help low-income households. The European Union has urged similar aid. Much depends on the weather. Europes gas reserves are usually rebuilt over the summer. But now they are at unusually low levels. A cold winter in both Europe and Asia would risk European storage levels dropping to zero, says Massimo Di Odoardo. He is with the research business Wood Mackenzie. That would leave Europe dependent on additional natural gas from a new Russian pipeline or on Russia sending more gas through pipelines in Ukraine. The new Nord Stream 2 pipeline beneath the Baltic Sea has not been approved in Europe. It may not begin operations until next year. Kemfert in Berlin said Russian suppliers decision to sell less gas on the open market shows they want to put pressure on the early certification of Nord Stream 2. Electricity shortages hurt businesses, people In China, power cuts have followed increased prices for coal and gas. Electric companies in some parts of the country are limiting electricity. Factories in Jiangsu province and Zhejiang in the southeast temporarily shut down in mid-September. That could affect export suppliers. Chenchen Jewelry Factory is in Dongyang, a city in Zhejiang. The factory faced power cuts over 10 days, general manager Joanna Lan said. The factory makes hairbands, paper products and gifts. Eighty to 90 percent of its goods are for export to the U.S., Europe and other markets. Orders were delayed by at least a week, Lan said. We had to buy generators. The biggest city in the northeast, Shenyang, turned off streetlights and elevators and cut power to restaurants and shops a few hours a day. Jenny Yang is an energy market expert at IHS Markit. She said Chinas gas imports have jumped. However, increasing demand in Japan, South Korea and Taiwan also has helped push up prices around the world. In Brazil, higher gas and oil prices are a problem because a lack of rain has made hydroelectric dams less productive. That has made electricity more costly. Rosa Benta is a 67-year-old from Sao Paulo. She fears she will no longer be able to provide for her unemployed family members. Several times, (energy company) Enel called me saying I had debt. I told them: Im not going to stop feeding my son to pay you, Benta said. If they want to cut the electricity, they can come. Im Mario Ritter, Jr. And Im Jill Robbins. The Associated Press reported this story. Mario Ritter Jr. adapted it for VOA Learning English. Susan Shand was the editor. __________________________________________________ Words in This Story reserves n. a supply of something that is stored so that it can be used at a later time fossil fuels n.(pl.) fuels (coal, oil, natural gas) which are formed in the Earth from dead plant and animal matter insurance n. protection from bad things that may happen in the future certification n. official approval to do something legally generator n. a machine that produces electricity elevator n. a machine used for carrying people and things to different levels in a building We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. Scientists have discovered new evidence that humans used tobacco at least 12,000 years ago. The evidence was found by an archaeological team at a site in a desert in the western American state of Utah. The dig centered on an ancient fireplace built by a group of hunter-gatherers. The scientists found four burned seeds of a wild tobacco plant along with other objects. The discovery is reported to be the oldest evidence of tobacco use. Among other objects found at the Utah site were stone tools and bird bones. The scientists believe the birds had been food for the community. Until now, the earliest documented use of tobacco was from a finding of the drug nicotine inside an ancient pipe in Alabama, a southern state. The pipe, used for smoking, dated back 3,300 years ago. The new find was reported in a study that appeared in the scientific publication Nature Human Behavior. The researchers believe the group may have smoked the tobacco or possibly put pieces of the plant in their mouths. They think the users were seeking the pleasant effects nicotine produces in the body. The first known tobacco use is linked to native communities in North and South America. Its use spread worldwide following the arrival of Europeans more than five centuries ago. Today, tobacco represents a worldwide public health crisis. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates there are 1.3 billion tobacco users across the world. The WHO blames tobacco use for more than 8 million deaths each year. Daron Duke is an archaeologist with the Far Western Anthropological Research Group in Nevada. He was the lead writer of the study. Duke told Reuters news agency that worldwide, he considers tobacco "the king of intoxicant plants. And now we can directly trace its cultural roots to the Ice Age," he added. The seeds belonged to a wild kind of desert tobacco called Nicotiana attenuata, which still grows in the area. "This species was never domesticated but is used by indigenous people in the (area) to this day," Duke said. Scientists say the area was likely marshland at the time the fireplace was used. The area had a cool climate during the Ice Age period. The remains of the fire were found in areas where wind has been blowing surface material away since the marshland fully dried up about 9,500 years ago. "We know very little about their culture," Duke said of the hunter-gatherers. The most interesting part of the find, he said, is the social window it gives to a simple activity in an undocumented past. My imagination runs wild," he added. Duke said tobacco domestication happened thousands of years later elsewhere on the continent, for example in the Southwestern and Southeastern United States and in Mexico. Some researchers have theorized that tobacco may have been the first plant domesticated in North America. They believe this happened because of the substances sociocultural effects rather than for food purposes. Duke said he thinks the find provides clear evidence that the hunter-gatherers were experienced growers of tobacco long before food requirements later drove investments in agriculture. Im Bryan Lynn. Reuters and Nature reported on this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the reports for VOA Learning English. Cay Weaver was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. Quiz - New Evidence Suggests Humans Used Tobacco 12,000 Years Ago Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz ______________________________________________ Words in This Story archaeological adj. of, or related to, archaeology, a science that deals with the history of human life and activities. intoxicant n. a substance, such as alcohol, that produces feelings of pleasure or happiness domesticate v. to bring animals or plants under human control in order to provide food, power or company marshland n. an area of soft and wet land indigenous adj. produced, living, or existing naturally in a particular region or environment The large Itaipu dam, between Paraguay and Brazil, is facing an energy production crisis because of record low river and rainfall levels. Experts say those low levels could last into 2022. The Itaipu dam supplies about 10 percent of the energy used in Brazil and 86 percent of energy used in Paraguay. The dam has recorded its lowest energy production levels since it began full operation in 2005. Hugo Zarate is head of operations at the Itaipu dam. He told Reuters "we have available power, what we don't have is water to sustain that power for a long time." He added that the dam was "meeting the demand, but for short periods of time." Zarate estimated that energy production at Itaipu would be between 65,000 and 67,000 gigawatt hours this year. "That's about 35 percent of the maximum value of 2016 and 15 percent less than in 2020," he said. The low levels affected both power production and the money the countries receive for the use of the water. The drought, or severe lack of water, is one of the worst in the last 100 years. Brazil's government has asked its citizens to reduce their use of electricity and water. The drought has also affected production at the Yacyreta dam, between Paraguay and Argentina. Yacyreta produced half the normal level of energy in September. Both dams depend on the flow of the Parana River and have limited ability to store water. River flow is controlled by about 50 dams in Brazil. Those dams have seen water stores decrease since 2019 because of lower rainfall levels. Workers at Itaipu say the dam normally averages an inflow of about 11,000 cubic meters per second. Yacyreta workers say that dam normally averages about 14,500 cubic meters per second. So far this year, the average flow in Itaipu is 6,800 cubic meters per second. Zarate says that is similar to levels in the 1970s. Average monthly inflows for Yacyreta are between 6,000-9,500 cubic meters per second, said Lucas Chamorro. He is the dams head of water studies. Weather expert Isaac Hankes says below normal rainfall seems likely for southern Brazil for the rest of the year. "Plenty more rain is needed to ease drought concerns," he said. Zarate said the Itaipu dam "totally relies on the improvement of the water flows. He added that if water flow does not improve, the energy crisis will continue into 2022. Im Jonathan Evans. Daniela Desantis reported on this story for the Reuters news service. Jonathan Evans adapted this story for Learning English. Susan Shand was the editor. ________________________________________ Words in This Story sustain v. to give support or relief to maximum adj. the highest number or amount that is possible or allowed inflow - n. a flow or movement of something into a place, organization, etc Sudans military arrested the prime minister and took control of the government on Monday. And thousands of people came out to protest the takeover that threatens the country's move toward democracy. The head of the military, General Abdel-Fattah Burhan, said that he was dismissing the transitional government and declaring a state of emergency. Burhan said fights between political leaders required the move and military leaders would keep the North African country safe and secure. He said the armed forces would turn the country over to a civilian, elected government. Burhan said the election is scheduled for July 2023. Abdalla Hamdok, a one-time economist and diplomat at the United Nations, became prime minister of the North African country in August 2019. He led the transitional government that was established after protesters forced long-time dictator Omar al-Bashir to leave office two years ago. Sudans Information Ministry said Hamdok was detained by the military after refusing to issue a statement in support of the takeover. The ministry, which was still under the control of Hamdok's supporters, called Burhan's announcement a military coup and urged resistance. The Associated Press reported that thousands of people took to the streets to protest the military action in the capital of Khartoum. Protesters could be heard saying, the people are stronger, stronger and retreat is not an option! In Omdurman, protesters blocked the streets in support of civilian rule. Iman Ahmed, a 21-year-old protester, told Reuters: "We will defend democracy until the end. Another young man who gave his name as Saleh said, "Burhan cannot deceive us. This is a military coup. The AP said, based on information from the hospitals, about 20 people were wounded in clashes between protesters and security forces. Reactions from around the world Karine Jean-Pierre, a spokesperson for President Joe Biden said the United States was deeply alarmed at reports of a military takeover. She said the U.S. called for the immediate release of the prime minister and other officials. The African Union, the Arab League, the European Union and the United Nations all said Sudan's political leaders should be released and human rights respected. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres added on Twitter: The UN will continue to stand with the people of Sudan." Sudan has suffered other coups since it gained its independence from Britain and Egypt in 1956. Al-Bashir came to power in 1989 in one such takeover, which removed the countrys last elected government. Last month, Bashir supporters tried to remove the transitional government led by Hamdok. In recent weeks, a coalition of tribal groups and political parties allied with the military urged the removal of the civilian government. Im Dan Friedell. Dan Friedell adapted this story for Learning English based on reports by VOA, Reuters and The Associated Press. Hai Do was the editor. What do you think will happen in Sudan? Tell us in the Comments Section and visit our Facebook page. ___________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story transitional adj. lasting a short time during the move from one state to another coup n. a sudden attempt by a small group of people to take over the government usually through violence coalition n. a group of people, groups, or countries who have joined together for a common purpose retreat v. to move back to get away from danger, attack, etc. option n. something that can be chosen : a choice or possibility deceive v. to make (someone) believe something that is not true alarmed adj. concerned or feeling a sense of worry or danger The United Nations has warned that Afghanistan is facing a massive food crisis. It urged the international community to act quickly to increase levels of humanitarian aid to help the people. The director of the U.N.s World Food Programme (WFP), David Beasley, said millions of Afghans could die of starvation unless immediate action is taken to provide assistance. Beasley told Reuters an estimated 23 million people currently face severe food insecurity and were marching to starvation. This compares to 14 million people who were facing the same situation just two months ago. "Children are going to die. People are going to starve, Beasley said. Things are going to get a lot worse. He added: "I don't know how you don't have millions of people, and especially children, dying at the rate we are going with the lack of funding and the collapsing of the economy." Afghanistans economic situation worsened in August after Taliban fighters drove out the countrys Western-backed government and seized power. The Taliban takeover led many international donors to hold back billions of dollars in assistance. The food crisis has worsened because of the effects of climate change. It was severe even before the Taliban took over the government. Now, the Taliban is blocked from accessing money and property held outside the country by nations still deciding how to deal with the Taliban government. Beasley said that money already meant for development assistance should be repurposed for humanitarian aid. Some countries have already redirected aid in this way. Beasley added that money frozen by other nations could be released through U.N. agencies. "You've got to unfreeze these funds so people can survive," he said. U.N. officials have said the World Food Programme needs up to $220 million a month to partly feed the millions of Afghans facing food insecurity as winter nears. Economic problems have led many Afghans to sell personal belongings to pay for food, Reuters reported. The latest food crisis has hit both cities and rural areas. Aid groups have urged countries that are concerned about human rights under the Taliban to start negotiations with the new rulers before the situation gets worse. Beasley said a total economic collapse in Afghanistan could create a massive refugee flow similar to the 2015 migration crisis from Syria into Europe. "I don't think the leaders in the world realize what is coming their way," Beasley said. When asked about the countrys humanitarian crisis, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid told Agence France-Presse on Sunday: "We are trying to get our people out of the current situation and help them. He added that humanitarian aid has also arrived." Mujahid said the government was attempting to collect and give out necessities to those in need, including food and clothing. He promised, All worries will be resolved. Im Bryan Lynn. Reuters and Agence France-Presse reported on this story. Bryan Lynn adapted the reports for VOA Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. ____________________________________________ Words in This Story funding n. money given by a government or organization for an event or activity access n. a way of getting near, at or to something or someone repurpose v. to find a new use for an idea, product or building Franciska Coleman (University of Wisconsin Law School) has posted America's Constitutional Contradictions (71 American University Law Review Forum 100 (2021)) on SSRN. Here is the abstract: Professor Richard Alberts article, Americas Amoral Constitution describes the paradox of the U.S. Constitution as a document whose value neutrality is both the font of democratic legitimacy and a threat to the preconditions of liberal democracy. He suggests that the absence of constraints on the amending power of the people renders a constitution amoral even if the democracy itself meets liberal preconditions. Professor Alberts definition of constitutional morality seems to require a localized version of Cass Sunsteins internal morality of democracy. There must be some defining features of the local democracy without which it would no longer be cognizable as the local democracy; only then is the morality of a constitution implicated. For Professor Albert, moral constitutions are those that protect the internal morality of their democracies through unamendability provisions. Moral constitutions thus contain within them substantive limitations, not only on the individual laws a legislature can pass, but also on ways the people can revise their existing democratic government. Professor Alberts description of Americas constitution as amoral rests on its lack of unamendability provisions protecting the core tenets of our democracy. I do not take issue with this framing, but where Professor Albert sees a deliberate choice to have an amoral Constitution across all of U.S. history, I see an amorality that is the result of efforts to navigate the contradictions of American history. The Americans who wrote and ratified the Constitution privileged democratic legitimacy while simultaneously founding an apartheid state that violated the preconditions of liberal democracy. In doing so, the Founders created an America that was neither fish nor fowl, with high republican ideals co-existing with the everyday reality of the most inhuman oppression. Thus, I view the current amorality of the Constitution as a mid-point in the complex constitutional history that began with the immorality of slavery and that may yet end with an unamendable commitment to racial equality. In this Response, I suggest that Americas amoral Constitution is not a free-standing original choice but rather is the product of the nations inability to resolve its substantive and procedural self-contradictions: the contradiction between the moral values of the Declaration of Independence (the Declaration) and the immorality of slavery, the contradiction between de facto white supremacy and de jure racial equality, and the contradiction of constitution creation by amendment. Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain An international team of researchers, led by University of Houston Cullen Endowed Professor of biomedical engineering Mario Romero-Ortega, has progressed electroceutical research for treatment of diseases including rheumatoid arthritis, colitis and sepsis. Romero-Ortega partnered with the ARC Centre of Excellence for Electromaterials Science (ACES) at the University of Wollongong in Australia. The field of electroceuticals, where electrical stimulation is used to modify biological functions, has the potential to treat medical conditions with minimal invasion and side effects. Published in the Nature journal of Communications Biology, the work builds on previous studies when the team introduced the sutrode to the world just over a year ago. This graphene-based electrode is an electrical stimulation device that could replace the use of pharmaceuticals to treat a range of medical conditions. The sutrode, created using the fabrication technique known as fiber wet spinning, combines the electrical properties of an electrode with the mechanical properties of a suture. "The flexibility and superb sensitivity of the sutrode is allowing us to expand our understanding of how the nervous system controls main body organs, a critical step towards developing advanced therapies in bioelectronic medicines," reports Romero-Ortega. "Our collaborative work uncovered that the spleen is controlled by different terminal nerves, and that the sutrode can be used to control them, increasing the precision in which the function of this organ can be modulated." ACES director professor Gordon Wallace, a co-author on the paper, said the sutrode can be integrated with delicate neural systems to monitor neural activity. "This work has widespread implications for regulating the function of the spleen, particularly the efficient regulation of the immune response for electroceutical treatment of range of diseases," said Wallace. "We have highlighted the ongoing need to develop systems with increased fidelity and spatial resolution. This will not only bring practical applications to the forefront but will enable the unattainable exploration of the human neural system." The work also reveals the ability to simultaneously interrogate the four individual neural inputs into the spleen. This new technical and biological achievement will not only bring about practical applications, but also enable a previously unattainable exploration of the human neural system. Explore further Researchers evoke sense of touch through brain implant electrodes More information: Maria A. Gonzalez-Gonzalez et al, Platinized graphene fiber electrodes uncover direct spleen-vagus communication, Communications Biology (2021). Journal information: Communications Biology Maria A. Gonzalez-Gonzalez et al, Platinized graphene fiber electrodes uncover direct spleen-vagus communication,(2021). DOI: 10.1038/s42003-021-02628-7 Fig. 1. A low dose Ad5-SARS-CoV-2 spike vaccine prime elicits more SARS-CoV-2 CD8+ T cells after boosting compared to a standard dose prime.(A) Experimental approach for evaluating how the priming dose, either 106 PFU (low dose, LD) or 109 PFU (standard dose, SD) of an Ad5-SARS-CoV-2 spike vaccine affects CD8+ T cell responses after a SD boost dose 4 weeks later in C57BL/6 mice. (B) Representative FACS plots showing the frequencies of SARS-CoV-2-specific CD8+ T cells (Kb VL8+) in PBMCs. (C) Summary of SARS-CoV-2-specific CD8+ T cell responses in PBMCs. (D) Representative FACS plots showing the frequencies of SARS-CoV-2-specific CD8+ T cells (Kb VL8+) in spleen. (E) Summary of SARS-CoV-2-specific CD8+ T cell responses in spleen at day 14 post-boost. Data are from two experiments, one with n=5 mice per group, and another with n=4-5 mice per group. All data are shown. Indicated P value was determined by two-way ANOVA in (C); and by unpaired t test in (E). Error bars represent SEM. Credit: DOI: 10.1126/sciimmunol.abi8635 A dosing error made during an AstraZeneca-University of Oxford COVID-19 vaccine trial has led to a new dosage finding in mice, reports a new Northwestern Medicine study. During the AstraZeneca-Oxford trial, some human participants erroneously received a half dose of their first shot, followed by a full dose for their second shot. Paradoxically, the trial showed that volunteers who got a lower dose of the first shot were better protected against COVID-19 than those who received two full doses. However, it was not clear if the improvement of the low-dose vaccine was due to the dose itself or the fact that people who received the lower dose had also had a longer time between the first and the second shot, known as an extended prime-boost interval. Scientists from Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine tested the effect of a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine prime dose in mice and found that a lower-dose first shot, followed by a full-dose booster shot, significantly improved the potency of a SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. The booster shot produced more antibodies and T-cells in the mice, allowing them to develop much more robust immune responses against SARS-CoV-2, the study found. The findings were recently published in the journal Science Immunology. Study questions idea of 'dose escalation' in vaccine trials Vaccine clinical trials use a method known as dose escalation, in which one person receives a lower dose and is boosted with that same lower dose; a second person receives a higher dose and is boosted with that same higher dose, and so on. "The idea is to make sure the vaccine is safe, so scientists use dose escalation to determine the 'goldilocks zone': what is the minimum dose of vaccine that you can give to someone while still getting a good immune response?" said lead author Pablo Penaloza-MacMaster, assistant professor of microbiology-immunology at Feinberg. The Northwestern study did not use the AstraZeneca-Oxford vaccine but instead used one that was similar: an adenovirus serotype 5 vaccine that is akin to the Chinese-developed CanSino and Russian-developed Sputnik V vaccines. Penaloza-MacMaster said their ongoing studies are now examining this dosing regimen in mRNA vaccines. Why did the lower dose/standard dose work better? In the AstraZeneca trial, participants who received the full first dose were boosted around three to four weeks after the first shot whereas those who received the lower dose had a much more extended prime-boost interval. The Northwestern study replicated this extended prime-boost interval in mice, and also reported that increasing the prime-boost interval improves the immune response. "An extended prime-boost interval allows the immune system to rest and mature in a way that the immune response can then expand more robustly upon a booster vaccination," Penaloza-MacMaster said. "The longer you wait before boosting, the better that secondary immune response will be." This can be a tricky game, though, he said, because waiting longer to boost might increase one's susceptibility of getting the virus. "With a pandemic, it's ethically challenging to extend that prime-boost interval because you need people to get fully protected as soon as possible," Penaloza-MacMaster said. "But this approach may have its benefits in terms of improving the durability and magnitude of immune responses in the long run, which may be useful not just for SARS-CoV-2 vaccines, but also for other vaccines." The team also observed similar positive effects of lowering vaccine doses with an experimental HIV vaccine based on an adenovirus vector, suggesting that these findings may be generalizable to other vaccines. More information: Sarah Sanchez et al, Fractionating a COVID-19 Ad5-vectored vaccine improves virus-specific immunity, Science Immunology (2021). Sarah Sanchez et al, Fractionating a COVID-19 Ad5-vectored vaccine improves virus-specific immunity,(2021). DOI: 10.1126/sciimmunol.abi8635 Merryn Voysey et al, Safety and efficacy of the ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine (AZD1222) against SARS-CoV-2: an interim analysis of four randomised controlled trials in Brazil, South Africa, and the UK, The Lancet (2020). DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(20)32661-1 Journal information: Science Immunology , The Lancet In his work with patients who have pancreatic cancer, Dr. Srinivas Gaddam was bothered by something that he was seeing. "There are some patients that you can't stop thinking about because they've left a mark on you and you try your best to turn things around, but there's only so much you can do," said Gaddam, who said he had found himself caring for a few patients who were very young. "We knew that there was a trend [of younger patients] in colon cancer, but we didn't know about pancreas cancer. So, I decided to see if there was a real trend. Was it just that I happened to see those few young patients disproportionate to everybody else in the field," said Gaddam, who is an assistant professor of medicine in the Karsh Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. "It turns out to be true." What Gaddam and the other researchers noticed is that numbers of people diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, sometimes referred to as a silent killer because it's more difficult to detect in its early stages, have been growing the past two decades for both men and women. Even more surprisingly, they found the disease was disproportionately growing in younger women, those under age 55, and especially among those aged 15 to 34, though the sample size was small. Pancreatic cancer has typically been more common in men. If the current trend continues, researchers said pancreatic cancer among women aged 15 to 34 would grow to be 400% of that experienced by men of the same ages by 2040. "This study doesn't answer why, it shines a light on the fact that it's rising and it's rising disproportionate to that of men," Gaddam said. Without knowing why, the answer for now is left open to speculation. It could be that women have a disproportionately high exposure to some environmental risk factor in recent decades that researchers don't understand yet, Gaddam said. A deadly disease if not caught early While the rates are rising more rapidly in women younger than 55, they're still very low in young individuals, according to the research, which was published online Oct. 24 in the Journal of the American Medical Association. The research was presented simultaneously at the American College of Gastroenterology's annual meeting, which is being held both in Las Vegas and online. To study the issue, researchers gathered pancreatic cancer incidence rates per 100,000 people for 2000 to 2018 from the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database, which collects data from cancer registries that cover 37% of the U.S. population. They found 283,817 cases in women and men during those years. The difficulty in diagnosing pancreatic cancer is that there is no solid screening test to identify it early and patients don't have symptoms until quite late in the disease, Gaddam said. Despite tremendous advances in cancer detection and treatment for other types of cancer, the five-year survival rate of pancreatic cancer has improved from 3% to just 10% over the past several decades, Gaddam said. Risk factors include family history. "We do have a well-defined, but a small, group of high-risk patients. For those, we tend to screen annually. We tend to do MRI, CT scans and endoscopic ultrasound," Gaddam explained. "These are different modalities of testing on these patients to detect cancer, but for the vast majority of the general population, really not too many things to go by." Risk factors can include obesity or smoking, but they are not fairly strong predictors for pancreatic cancer, Gaddam said. Doctors also look for jaundice with no abdominal pain, profound, unexplained weight loss or a new diagnosis of diabetes. Questions remain "Obviously not all causes of a new diagnosis of diabetes are cancer, or not everyone that has weight loss has pancreas cancer. So, we have to be really careful about that, but we look for these subtle tell-tale signs when we talk to our patients," Gaddam said. Many people with pancreatic cancer have very vague symptoms in the beginning, such as minor abdominal discomfort or indigestion, said Dr. Sajan Nagpal, an assistant professor in the department of medicine at the University of Chicago. Nagpal was not involved in this study. Longstanding diabetes and chronic pancreatitis are other risk factors. By the time the cancer is detected, 80% of patients are no longer eligible for surgery, the only way to cure the cancer, Nagpal said. Other treatments include chemotherapy and radiation. "The actual number of people that are successfully able to get surgery is even smaller, which is why the outcomes from pancreatic cancer remain poor," Nagpal said. "It would be great if we could identify patients at an earlier stage, because that would mean patients would qualify for surgery and we could improve outcomes in these patients." Nagpal suggested more research, using larger databases and hospital-based outpatient oncology data to potentially corroborate this study and provide information about why this might be happening. Gaddam also called for more research. "I think this shows a potentially alarming trend and we need to put, as a society, more investment into this area to stem this rise," Gaddam said. "I think it calls for more research, more research dollars, more women should be speaking out for research in this area. And I'd say if there's anybody out there that's worried about pancreas cancer in their family, or if they see a trend, they should talk to their doctor about it." Explore further Changing the outlook for pancreatic cancer Copyright 2021 HealthDay. All rights reserved. It's well-known that COVID-19 pandemic restrictions pretty much quashed the 2020-2021 flu season, with influenza cases falling to never-before-seen lows in the United States. So little flu circulated, in fact, that some scientists now suspect that one of the major strains of influenza might have gone extinct, for lack of humans to infect. Influenza B/Yamagata is one of four strains regularly included in annual flu shots, but in the midst of COVID lockdowns that strain appears to have fallen completely off the radar, an Australian research team recently reported in the journal Nature Reviews. No B/Yamagata strains have been isolated or genetically sequenced in flu case tracking since March 2020, when COVID lockdowns essentially ended the 2019-2020 flu season, the researchers said. Only 31 suspected B/Yamagata cases have been reported to public health officials from the most recent flu season, but there was no successful isolation or sequencing of the virus to determine that B/Yamagata was truly to blame. B/Yamagata has always tended to be less infectious than the other major flu strains, researchers noted. That strain also doesn't evolve as energetically as the others; vaccine manufacturers haven't had to update the B/Yamagata component of the annual flu shot since 2015. Those factors, "combined with suppressive conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic, may have facilitated strong suppression of global B/Yamagata circulation and the potential extinction of this lineage," the researchers concluded in their report. Marios Koutsakos, a postdoctoral research fellow at the University of Melbourne, led the study. If an entire strain of influenza has indeed gone extinct, that would open up new possibilities for tackling the annual flu going forward, American infectious disease experts said. But they first caution that it'll take longer than one flu season to determine whether B/Yamagata has bitten the dust. "I'd be a little leery of calling it a done deal, because flu's a fickle little beast," said Richard Kennedy, a top vaccine researcher with the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. He noted that B/Yamagata tends to surge in certain years and then virtually disappear in others. "Just the evidence we haven't seen it for a while, I don't think that by itself is a convincing argument," Kennedy said. "Data suggesting that since we haven't seen a single case since March 2020, that's good, but I'd like to see a longer period where we don't see any of it, because it's hidden from us before, these lineages." Now, COVID restrictions have relaxed and kids are back in school, raising concerns among public health officials that this flu season could be a tough one. B/Yamagata could resurface, he said. "These viruses are very good at making up for lost time and lost distance in this race," Kennedy said. "We might get ahead, but if we don't continue, we can't get a handle on it." If B/Yamagata is truly gone for good, that means we could juggle the strains included in the annual flu vaccine to get more bang for our buck, said Dr. William Schaffner, medical director of the Bethesda, Md.-based National Foundation for Infectious Diseases. The structure of the current flu vaccine includes four strains: influenza A/H3N2 (Hong Kong), influenza A/H1N1 (Swine), influenza B/Victoria, and influenza B/Yamagata. The influenza A strains tend to be more infectious and the source of deadly epidemics, while influenza B percolates more slowly among school-age children and teens. Each year U.S. scientists play a guessing game to determine which genetic version of each of the four strains is likely to be the most infectious, Kennedy said. When they guess right, the flu vaccine provides better protection. Replacing the B/Yamagata part of the vaccine with another strain that's more infectious and dangerous could improve the shot's effectiveness, Schaffner said. "Could you double up on the next most severe strain, H3N2? Could you get two H3N2s in there?" Schaffner said. Kennedy agreed. "Being able to pick another strain that's not B, that's an A strain, would probably help with that guessing game," he said. On the other hand, the vaccine could be cut back to just three strains, which would make the shot cheaper and easier to manufacture, Kennedy said. "You're able to manufacture more doses or maybe drop the cost a little bit. That makes the vaccine more accessible for everyone," he said. If people get the flu shot this year and stick to COVID protections like masking and social distancing, there's a chance that B/Yamagata might be gone for good, Kennedy and Schaffner agreed. "We did learn from the last season that if you were profound in your mask wearing and social distancing, staying home, closing schools, limiting travel, you could really profoundly abort the annual influenza outbreak," Schaffner said. "Some of that I think will come back, and I think we'll see more of that in conventional public health recommendations." As flu enters communities, there will be reminders for folks who are more apt to get more severe disease to put on masks again, he said. "We know they're no longer dorky. They're not just used in Japan," Schaffner said. "We know how to use them, so get your masks out." Explore further Is a really bad flu season on the way? Copyright 2021 HealthDay. All rights reserved. Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain A calculator to help people understand their risk factors for COVID-19 infection and vaccination has been launched by the Immunization Coalition in collaboration with Australian researchers. The tool's three co-lead researchers are University of Queensland virologist Dr. Kirsty Short, CoRiCal instigator from Flinders University Associate Professor John Litt and GP Dr. Andrew Baird. Dr. Kirsty Short said the Immunization Coalition COVID-19 Risk Calculator (CoRiCal) was an online tool to support GPs and community members in their discussions about the benefits and risks of COVID-19 vaccines. "This tool is really designed to help people make an informed decision around vaccination based on their current circumstances and also see their risk for getting COVID-19 under different transmission scenarios," Dr. Short said. "Users can access the tool and input their age, sex, community transmission and vaccination status to find out their personalized risk calculation. "For example, you can find out your chance of being infected with COVID-19 versus your chance of dying from the disease. "You can also find out your chance of developing an atypical blood clot from the AstraZeneca vaccine and see this data in the context of other relatable riskslike getting struck by lightning or winning OzLotto." The CoRiCal COVID Risk Calculator is in its pilot stage but will be continuously updated in line with the latest health and scientific advice, including risk assessments on Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, pre-existing medical conditions such as obesity and diabetes, and long COVID. The CoRiCal project included a team of GPs, medical scientists, public health physicians, epidemiologists and statisticians. Associate Professor John Litt, Immunization Coalition Scientific Advisory Committee member, said he hoped that CoRiCal would help GPs save time and create an accurate assessment of an individual's risk of COVID-19 or one of the vaccines. "GPs are spending a lot of time trying to explain the risks of COVID-19 and the various vaccines to their patients," Dr. Litt said. "An accurate, evidence-based tool that is transparent and unaligned with professional groups should help GPs in their task of facilitating COVID vaccination for their patients." Melbourne-based GP Dr. Andrew Baird said CoRiCal was adaptable for booster doses, new viral strains, new vaccines, younger age groups, international markets and even for other infectious diseases. "It presents risk using simple bar-charts, so that it's easy to compare the risks for different outcomes related to COVID-19 and vaccines," Dr. Baird said. "CoRiCal may help Australia to move towards 90 percent, 95 percent, or even more of the 16 and over population being fully vaccinated. "The higher the rate of vaccination in the population, the better it will be for individuals, communities, mental health, health services, and the country." Dr. Baird said while CoRiCal had been developed for GPs and other health professionals, it was important that people could easily access this information online without a consultation. Risk calculations in CoRiCal are based on a modeling framework developed by UQ School of Public Health's Professor Colleen Lau and Dr Helen Mayfield, and QUT's Professor Kerrie Mengersen. Explore further New study finds no risk of pregnancy loss from COVID-19 vaccination In this Sunday, Aug. 15, 2021 file photo, vials of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine are seen at the Assad Iben El Fourat school in Oued Ellil, outside Tunisa. The European Medicines Agency said a booster dose of Moderna's coronavirus vaccine "can be considered" in people aged 18 and above. In a statement on Monday, Oct. 25, the EU drug regulator said its analysis had shown that a third dose given of Moderna's vaccine - which is usually given in a two-dose schedule - at least six months after the second dose, led to an increase in antibody levels in adults whose levels were waning. Credit: AP Photo/Hassene Dridi, file The European Medicines Agency said Monday that a booster dose of Moderna's coronavirus vaccine "can be considered" in people aged 18 and above. In a statement, the EU drug regulator said its analysis had shown that a third dose given of Moderna's vaccinewhich is usually given in a two-dose scheduleat least six months after the second dose, led to an increase in antibody levels in adults whose levels were waning. The booster dose consists of half the dose normally given to adults. The EMA said that currently available data suggest the incidence of side effects is similar to what is observed following the second dose of Moderna's vaccine, which is known to cause temporary heart and chest inflammation in a small number of people. "At national level, public health bodies may issue official recommendations on the use of booster doses, taking into account the local epidemiological situation," the agency said in a statement. Earlier this month, the EMA said booster doses of the COVID-19 vaccine made by Pfizer-BioNTech could also be considered. It also recommended a third dose of vaccines for people with compromised immune systems. Booster doses of the vaccines made by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna have already been authorized by American officials, but there are still restrictions on who qualifies. Starting six months past their last Pfizer or Moderna vaccination, people are urged to get a booster if they're 65 or older, nursing home residents, or at least 50 and at increased risk of severe disease because of health problems. Boosters also were allowed, but not urged, for adults of any age at increased risk of infection because of health problems or their jobs or living conditions. That includes health care workers, teachers and people in jails or homeless shelters. And as European officials have recommended, Moderna's booster will come at half the dose of the original two shots. The World Health Organization has repeatedly slammed rich countries for embarking on booster doses, saying there is no scientific evidence the shots are justified and pointed out that the authorized vaccines remain strongly protective against hospitalization and deaths months after immunization. It has urged rich countries to donate their COVID-19 vaccines immediately to poorer countries, which have received fewer than 1% of the world's limited supply. Explore further EU regulator OKs Pfizer vaccine booster for 18 and older 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Molly Minnen. Credit: Steven Mackay for Virginia Tech When facing high demands from family life, working single mothers who have a present-time mindsetin contrast to the tendency to focus on the past or futuremay feel more "in control" of their leisure time, according to a new study headed by Virginia Tech researchers. In turn, these feelings of control over time away from work may support these single mothers in fitting healthy habits such as exercise into their busy schedules. The effect of control on exercise time was unique, in that this perceived control did not affect consumption of unhealthy food or excess alcohol, the researchers wrote. Exercise, of course, has been linked to better, long-term physical and mental health in scores of studies. The National Science Foundation-supported study was recently published in Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being, a publication of the International Association of Applied Psychology. Spearheading the study was Charles Calderwood, an assistant professor in the Department of Psychology, part of the Virginia Tech College of Science. "Although evening family demands can present a barrier to leisure-time exercise for working sole mothers, this health-impairing relationship is not inevitable," Calderwood said. "Instead, focusing more on the present / living in the moment helps these working parents feel that they have greater control over their time, even in the face of elevated family demands. In turn, they can harness this control to support their engagement in exercise from day-to-day." Working with Calderwood were Molly Minnen, a graduate student in psychology, and researchers from Rice University and Georgia Institute of Technology. The team followed 102 single, working mothers during a seven-day period. The study focused on how the mindset of these womenwhile balancing work and family tasksimpacted their pursuit of healthy behaviors during their downtime. Unsurprisingly, the researchers found that a working mom's evening family demands make exercise less likely. Yet, it was specifically one's sense of control over how to spend their evening that was diminished by high family demands, and that made all the difference in whether they made time for themselvesand their healthamid hectic schedules. And individuals who typically focused on living in the moment saw a reduced impact of evening family demands on the perceptions of control central to exercising. "Present-focused mothers who chose to prioritize their health weren't necessarily more or less busy than mothers who did not exercise as much," said Danielle King, an assistant professor of psychological science at Rice and one of the study's co-authors. "A key difference was mothers feeling more in control of their choices and capable of choosing to prioritize their needs." What comes next for this study? Calderwood posits the design of interventions that can improve health-behavior engagement for working sole mothers and other individuals facing elevated family demands, such as individuals caring for a dependent adult relative. Secondly, Calderwood said it is possible that other healthy behaviors such as increasing hours of sleep could be enhanced through a similar process to what was observed for exercise in the current study. Numerous past and current studies on working single mothers have tended to focus on demonstrating the potential for occupational health disparities, such as lower levels of occupational health, relative to partnered parents, with less focus on the day-to-day lived experiences and health behaviors of members of this population. A looming question that remains is whether similar processes would apply in other populations that face elevated family demands, such as working single fathers. "Although there have been studies to compare the experiences of working sole mothers and working sole fathers, to my knowledge, there has not yet been an investigation of the process through which family demands influence recovery experiences or health behaviors from day-to-day in working sole fathers," Calderwood added. "We chose to focus our initial investigation of these processes on working sole mothers because the occupational health disparities they face may be particularly acute relative to a number of other comparison groups in the broader workforce." Minnen, the graduate student working in Calderwood's Work Stress and Recovery Lab, focused part of her efforts on theoretical model building for the study. Her hope for the study's impact: "I hope this study helps bring unique populations that may be left out by traditional sampling strategies into the spotlight for work and well-being research," Minnen said. "Hopefully the community of work and well-being researchers will continue to consider the unique characteristics of life as a single mother and work towards tangible recommendations and solutions to improve their well-being." More information: Charles Calderwood et al, Understanding how family demands impair health behaviors in working sole mothers: The role of perceived control over leisure time, Applied Psychology: Health and Well-Being (2021). Charles Calderwood et al, Understanding how family demands impair health behaviors in working sole mothers: The role of perceived control over leisure time,(2021). DOI: 10.1111/aphw.12307 Travelers wear face coverings in the line for the south security checkpoint in the main terminal of Denver International Airport on Aug. 24, 2021, in Denver. The Biden administration is detailing its new international COVID-19 air travel polices, which will include exemptions for kids and new federal contact tracing requirements. Credit: AP Photo/David Zalubowski Children under 18 and people from dozens of countries with a shortage of vaccines will be exempt from new rules that will require most travelers to the United States be vaccinated against COVID-19, the Biden administration announced. The government said Monday it will require airlines to collect contact information on passengers regardless of whether they have been vaccinated to help with contact tracing, if that becomes necessary. Beginning Nov. 8, foreign, non-immigrant adults traveling to the United States will need to be fully vaccinated, with only limited exceptions, and all travelers will need to be tested for the virus before boarding a plane to the U.S. There will be tightened restrictions for American and foreign citizens who are not fully vaccinated. The new policy comes as the Biden administration moves away from restrictions that ban non-essential travel from several dozen countriesmost of Europe, China, Brazil, South Africa, India and Iranand instead focuses on classifying individuals by the risk they pose to others. It also reflects the White House's embrace of vaccination requirements as a tool to push more Americans to get the shots by making it inconvenient to remain unvaccinated. Under the policy, those who are vaccinated will need to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test within three days of travel, while the unvaccinated must present a test taken within one day of travel. Children under 18 will not be required to be fully vaccinated because of delays in making them eligible for vaccines in many places. They will still need to take a COVID-19 test unless they are 2 or younger. Others who will be exempt from the vaccination requirement include people who participated in COVID-19 clinical trials, who had severe allergic reactions to the vaccines, or are from a country where shots are not widely available. That latter category will cover people from countries with vaccination rates below 10% of adults. They may be admitted to the U.S. with a government letter authorizing travel for a compelling reason and not just for tourism, a senior administration official said. The official estimated that there are about 50 such countries. The U.S. will accept any vaccine approved for regular or emergency use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or the World Health Organization. That includes Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson, AstraZeneca and China's Sinopharm and Sinovac vaccines. Mixing-and-matching of approved shots will be permitted. A U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer working at the Point Roberts-Boundary Bay border crossing, in Point Roberts, Wash., is seen from Delta, British Columbia, on Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2021. Point Roberts sits on a peninsula and is only accessible by land by travelling through Canada. Beleaguered business owners and families separated by COVID-19 restrictions rejoiced Wednesday after the U.S. said it will reopen its land borders to nonessential travel next month, ending a 19-month freeze. Credit: Darryl Dyck/The Canadian Press via AP The Biden administration has been working with airlines, who will be required to enforce the new procedures. Airlines will be required to verify vaccine records and match them against identity information. Quarantine officers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will spot-check passengers who arrive in the U.S. for compliance, according to an administration official. Airlines that don't enforce the requirements could be subject to penalties of up to nearly $35,000 per violation. The new rules will replace restrictions that began in January 2020, when President Donald Trump banned most non-U.S. citizens coming from China. The Trump administration expanded that to cover Brazil, Iran, the United Kingdom, Ireland and most of continental Europe. President Joe Biden left those bans in place and expanded them to South Africa and India. Biden came under pressure from European allies to drop the restrictions, particularly after many European countries eased limits on American visitors. "The United States is open for business with all the promise and potential America has to offer," Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said after Monday's announcement. The main trade group for the U.S. airline industry praised the administration's decision. "We have seen an increase in ticket sales for international travel over the past weeks, and are eager to begin safely reuniting the countless families, friends and colleagues who have not seen each other in nearly two years, if not longer," Airlines for America said in a statement. The pandemic and resulting travel restrictions have caused international travel to plunge. U.S. and foreign airlines plan to operate about 14,000 flights across the Atlantic this month, just over half the 29,000 flights they operated during October 2019, according to data from aviation-research firm Cirium. Henry Harteveldt, a travel-industry analyst in San Francisco, said the lifting of country-specific restrictions will help, but it will be tempered by the vaccination and testing requirements. "Anyone hoping for an explosion of international inbound visitors will be disappointed," he said. "Nov. 8 will be the start of the international travel recovery in the U.S., but I don't believe we see full recovery until 2023 at the earliest." The Biden administration has not proposed a vaccination requirement for domestic travel, which the airlines oppose fiercely, saying it would be impractical because of the large number of passengers who fly within the U.S. every day. 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. Students in the Penn State College of Medicine MD Accelerated Pathways program will graduate medical school in three years instead of four. Credit: Penn State College Of Medicine In response to an impending physician shortagewhich could reach as high as 121,900 by 2032and rising medical student debt, medical schools in the United States continue to develop and offer accelerated medical doctor (MD) programs, where learners can earn their medical degree in three years instead of four. A recent study by researchers at Penn State College of Medicine found that accelerated pathway (AP) program graduates may be just as prepared for residency training and have less debt than their peers who graduated from traditional programs. According to the researchers, skeptics of accelerated medical education programs argue that by attempting to compress an ever-expanding amount of medical knowledge and training into three years, graduates of those programs are at higher risk for feeling burnt out and unprepared for residency. The research team said findings from their latest study suggest otherwise. They found that AP students reported similar levels of exhaustion as their peers and that AP students also reported feeling as prepared for residency as their non-AP colleagues from AP schools and non-AP colleagues from all schools. The study team, led by Dr. Shou Ling Leong, assistant dean for pathways innovation and professor of family and community medicine at the College of Medicine, analyzed responses from more than 40,000 medical students who graduated in 2017 and 2018. They compared reported satisfaction with education and learning environment, levels of debt and burnout, preparedness for residency and career plans between graduates of accelerated and traditional programs. "These programs have great potential to address physician shortages and rising costs of medical education," Leong said. "Students in accelerated programs start practicing medicine one year earlier and data from our study indicate that these graduates feel just as prepared as their peers for residency, while also having less debt." Ninety of the survey respondents graduated from accelerated programs during the survey years. These students were compared to both students in traditional programs from the same school and also all students from traditional programs at all schools across the country in order to account for any institutional biases. The researchers published their results in the journal Academic Medicine. In addition to less debt, AP students reported a more positive learning climate than non-AP students and were equally satisfied with their education as their non-AP peers. Leong noted that close mentoring and advising experiences in AP programs may account for high satisfaction in educational experience among those graduates. The researchers also found that more AP students planned to care for underserved populations and practice family medicine than non-AP students from AP schools, suggesting that accelerated programs are developing physicians in areas that may be most affected by potential shortages, particularly primary care in rural areas. "Medical schools have a social mission to align medical training with the health care needs of the nation," Leong said. "By investing in accelerated programs, we are investing in the health of our communities." The College of Medicine offers nine different accelerated MD pathways, including in emergency medicine, family medicine, internal medicine, neurology, neurosurgery, orthopedics, pathology, psychiatry and radiology. They also offer accelerated pathways for MD/Ph.D. students in dermatology, neurosurgery and otolaryngology. Leong and other members of the research team plan to do additional research on the efficacy of AP programs in the future as more data becomes available when AP graduates advance in their careers. Explore further Accelerated MD program doesn't mar academic performance More information: Shou Ling Leong et al, Accelerated 3-Year MD Pathway Programs, Academic Medicine (2021). Journal information: Academic Medicine Shou Ling Leong et al, Accelerated 3-Year MD Pathway Programs,(2021). DOI: 10.1097/ACM.0000000000004332 A combination of the broadly neutralizing antibodies (bNAbs) and antibodies against the integrin reduced B cell follicles aggregates (brown spots) more than the bNAbs alone. Credit: I Frank et al., Science Translational Medicine (2021) For more than 40 years a goal that too often has proved elusive is a pharmaceutical defeat of the human immunodeficiency virusHIV. And the thrust in recent years has emphasized bringing newer, stealthier weapons to the fight. While scientists keep inching closer to delivering a knockout punch to the virus, they're still not close enough send HIV down for the count. Groundbreaking vaccine technologythe mRNA immunizationswere developed in record time to harness a globe-circling pandemic. But an mRNA inoculation against HIV is just now being studied. Moderna Inc., the U.S. biotechnology company that produced an mRNA vaccine to address SARS-CoV-2, is in early phase studies of an mRNA vaccine to prevent infection with HIV. But there are other approaches on the drawing board that some scientists say may deliver a knockout blow to a virus that has been at center of global pandemic since the early 1980s. A collaborative group of medical scientists, led by a team in New York, has launched a series of animal studies that are approaching HIV infection by using a multifaceted army of antibodies. Some of the antibodies are neutralizing, administered to test animals as monoclonal antibodies. Another type of monoclonal antibody, engineered to have a different job, forms a blockade, preventing a critical factor in the HIV infection process from proceeding with its role of facilitating viral replication. Dr. Ines Frank of the Population Council's Center for Biomedical Research at Rockefeller University in New York City is the lead author of a study that examined the monoclonal antibody approach. The treatment that Frank and colleagues developed delays the rebound of an HIV-like virus in a large animal model. The researchers studied the antibodies' impact on the simian cousins of the human immunodeficiency virus. Using broadly neutralizing antibodies bNAbs along with another antibody class that targets certain cell receptors, the team discovered it's possible to delay the rebound of the virus in infected animals for multiple weeks at a time. For some of the test animals, the one-two punch delivered by a combination of the antibodies knocks out the virus indefinitely, a finding that lays a foundation toward a cure. Although more testing is required for clinical translationbringing the research from the laboratory to the clinicthe new results are a giant step toward a monoclonal antibody method of controlling HIV. Currently, the experimental antibody therapy is being tested only in rhesus macaques. And Frank and the New York City team are collaborating with scientists at Tulane University's National Primate Research Center in Covington, Louisiana, as well as with another group of investigators at the Vaccine Research Center, a division of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases in Bethesda, Maryland. The multicenter group of scientists has shown that transferring broadly neutralizing antibodies to the animals can target the virus and lower viral counts while stimulating antiviral immunity. These results suggest that this type of antibody therapy could play an important role in any eventual curative therapy for HIV. However, the researchers strongly caution that more research is needed to improve the antibodies' protective effects before they can be tested in human clinical trials. "Anti-HIV broadly neutralizing antibodies bNAbsmay favor development of antiviral immunity by engaging the immune system during immunotherapy," Frank asserted in Science Translational Medicine, underscoring that the antibodies prompt the immune system to participate in controlling the virus. "These findings need to be recapitulated in larger studies with a focus on determining the mechanisms and the duration of virologic control before they can be translated into clinical settings." As Frank and her collaborators continue their research, the number of advances that have been translated into practical treatments for HIV patients in recent years has been extraordinarily impressive. Within the past decade, medical scientists have added an array of new tools to the armamentarium directed against the virus. Most recently, research has yielded pre- and post-exposure prevention, but these tools join multiple drug combinations and single-pill therapies. Currently, most people who test positive for the virus rely on antiretroviral therapy, which can reduce viral loads to undetectable levels in the blood, a feat that some medical investigators refer to as a functional cure. Antiretroviral therapy works by controlling the replication of HIV, and when replication is controlled, the viral load in the blood dramatically diminishes. But HIV can hide in the body, persisting in a stubborn latent state that's impervious to treatment. The virus also can rebound prolifically when patients stop taking their medications. Frank and colleagues, meanwhile, are working toward monoclonal antibody treatments that could have a more long-lasting effect, keeping the virus at bay without the need for a daily dose of medication. Achieving that goal will require long hours in the laboratory. So far, the team has studied broadly neutralizing antibodies bNAbs either alone or in combination with an antibody that targets a tiny protein called integrin 47. As a family, integrins regulate cell growth and proliferation; they're also involved in cell migration, signaling and cytokine activation. Other studies have shown that integrin 47 and its natural ligand, MAdCAM-1, direct infected CD4+ T cells into the gut mucosa. This action, scientists say, may aid HIV-1's ability to seed new viruses by replicating in the mucosa during the early stages of infection. The task confronting Frank and collaborators in Louisiana and Maryland has been finding a way to block 47. By doing so with a monoclonal antibody they have been able to stop the replication of a virus known to vigorously multiply in an ongoing assault against a host incapable of mounting a robust defense. "Targeting integrin 47 with an anti-47 monoclonal antibodyRh-47affects immune responses in SIV/SHIV-infected macaques," Frank and the team of investigators wrote in the journal. "To explore the therapeutic potential of combining bNAbs with an 47 integrin blockade, SHIV-infected, viremic rhesus macaques were treated with bNAbs only, or a combination of bNAbs and Rh-47 or were left untreated as a control." Frank and colleagues found that the lab animals receiving broadly neutralizing antibodies alone showed a sharp decline in viral counts, but the infection quickly rebounded after a median of 3 weeks. But animals that received both broadly neutralizing antibodies and the anti-47 antibody didn't show viral rebound until 6 weeks, and half of that group of macaques hadn't rebounded by the study's conclusion at 21 weeks. "Our study suggests that 47 integrin blockade may prolong virologic control by bNAbs in SHIV-infected macaques," Frank concluded, noting that additional studies will determine the next chapters in the quest to exert more control over HIV. More information: Ines Frank et al, Blocking 47 integrin delays viral rebound in SHIVSF162P3-infected macaques treated with anti-HIV broadly neutralizing antibodies, Science Translational Medicine (2021). Journal information: Science Translational Medicine Ines Frank et al, Blocking 47 integrin delays viral rebound in SHIVSF162P3-infected macaques treated with anti-HIV broadly neutralizing antibodies,(2021). DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.abf7201 2021 Science X Network Fig.1 Overview of this study. We performed 220 deep-phenotype genome-wide association studies (GWAS) in BioBank Japan, then performed trans-biobank meta-analyses with UK Biobank and FinnGen (ntotal = 628,000). As downstream analyses, we performed (i) cross-population comparisons of pleiotropy and genetic correlations, (ii) comprehensive HLA fine-mapping, and (iii) statistical decomposition of a matrix of summary statistics to gain insights into the underlying biology of current disease classifications by incorporating functional genomics, metabolomics, and biomarker data. Credit: Saori Sakaue et al., Nature Genetics Throughout most of medical history, physicians have diagnosed individuals with various diseases based upon their description and presentation of clinical symptoms. In recent years, investigations using genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have helped scientists understand genetic factors involved in different diseases. In a newly published article in Nature Genetics, a team led by researchers at Osaka University and Harvard Medical School performed GWAS in biobank samples from various populations to identify specific genomic loci related to a diverse array of medical indications and traits. Although GWAS have intensively been performed for the past decades, their widespread applicability has not been sufficient. Most GWAS have used European population data, with a relatively small number of phenotypes, as individuals with certain diseases were recruited for participation. A methodical way to interpret the results and put them in context has also been lacking. Thus, the Osaka University group aimed to address these limitations and perform equitable GWAS. To achieve this, the team performed GWAS using BioBank Japan, which includes medical data from 180,000 people and is one of the largest non-European biobanks. This incorporated 220 health-related diseases and traits and made the study extremely diverse and comprehensive, particularly in Asian populations. "We wanted to significantly expand the scope of this GWAS to gain as much meaningful insight from this biobank as possible," says lead author of the study Saori Sakaue. "In fact, 108 of the phenotypes had never been part of GWAS in East Asian people," says the co-first author of the study Masahiro Kanai. Fig.2 We studied three biobanks: BioBank Japan, UK Biobank, and FinnGen. Credit: Saori Sakaue The researchers then performed cross-population meta-analyses with the UK Biobank (United Kingdom) and FinnGen (Finland), which involved 628,000 individuals. This work helped identify over 14,000 genomic loci of phenotypic significance. Of these, 5,000 loci were novel discoveries. The group ensured their summary statistics were publicly available on a web portal (pheweb.jp) as a resource for geneticists and researchers worldwide. "We believed it was extremely important to create a way to let others in the greater genetics community access our data," explains Yukinori Okada, senior author. "We definitely want to foster global collaborations and hope meaningful functional follow-up experiments will be performed from our findings." Because of the complex nature of their GWAS results and disease genetics in general, the team performed statistical deconvolution of their summary statistics and other data. This step was important because it allowed the researchers to make disease-relevant conclusions from their enormous dataset. Fig.3 Using truncated singular value decomposition (TSVD), a summary statistics matrix of 159 diseases was decomposed into latent components, which were interpreted by annotating a set of genetic variants driving each component and in the context of other genome-wide association studies (GWAS) through projection. Credit: Saori Sakaue "The deconvolution allowed us to pinpoint specific genetic variants and shared mechanisms associated with various diseases across populations. Those mechanisms were in turn useful in reevaluating and restructuring human diseases through the lens of human genetics," explains Sakaue. This work provides groundbreaking results that address pertinent predispositions within previous GWAS. The team's findings will allow investigators to examine human diseases through genetics with an unbiased eye. Explore further Studies biased toward white genomes still predict cancer risk in diverse groups More information: Saori Sakaue et al, A cross-population atlas of genetic associations for 220 human phenotypes, Nature Genetics (2021). Journal information: Nature Genetics Saori Sakaue et al, A cross-population atlas of genetic associations for 220 human phenotypes,(2021). DOI: 10.1038/s41588-021-00931-x Dr. Jay Kolls and Derek Pociask, PhD, in front of a scanned image of a 50-year-old lung tissue slide that was key to solving a medical mystery. Credit: Rusty Costanza When scientists were developing a vaccine against COVID-19, a key worry was the potential to cause disease enhancement. It's a complication that occurs when a vaccine does the opposite of what it's intended to do and instead makes someone more vulnerable when exposed to a pathogen. For COVID-19, the fear can be traced back to an infamous clinical trial in the 1960s for an experimental vaccine against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), the most common cause of pneumonia in children. The vaccine used an inactivated form of the virus, but almost 80 percent of the children who were vaccinated and later exposed to the real virus were hospitalized for severe illness. Two toddlers died. The boys' deaths stopped RSV vaccine development for decadesand was one reason scientists pursued the novel MRNA vaccine design against COVID-19 instead of using an inactivated form of the respiratory virus. The cause of these toddlers' deaths was a medical mystery for decadesuntil now, according to a new study co-authored by Tulane University researchers in the journal Science Translational Medicine. Scientists from Tulane University School of Medicine were able to delicately peel back the layers of 50-year-old medical slides containing lung tissue samples from the children to perform a detailed analysis of gene expression and study their immune response. Researchers compared the results to a control group using a similar analysis of more recent tissue slides from age and race-matched children who died from non-pulmonary causes. After encountering RSV infection, the toddlers from the 1960s developed lung injury that damaged critical lung cells, said study co-corresponding author Dr. Jay Kolls, John W Deming Endowed Chair in Internal Medicine at Tulane School of Medicine. "These two children died likely due to injury to surfactant producing cells in the lung that are critical for transporting oxygen to the blood," Kolls said. "Our study provides a comprehensive characterization of fatal enhanced respiratory disease, a tragedy that hampered RSV vaccine development for decades." Kolls worked with co-corresponding author Fernando P. Polack of Vanderbilt University and Fundacion INFANT in Argentina and an international research team on the project. Derek Pociask, assistant professor of medicine at Tulane, devised the method for extracting material from the archived medical slides. It was no easy task considering the slides were only a centimeter wide and just six microns thick. "It took us four months of optimizing to get the method for getting RNA off of an old slide that had been cover-slipped," Pociask said. "In this case, the only thing we had left from these kids were these slides from the 1960s. So, we practiced as much as we could." The results of the study could make future attempts at developing an RSV vaccine safer by providing a molecular signature of enhanced RSV disease. Future vaccine developers can look for these markers when they test promising candidates in preclinical models. "They can look for the same gene signatures that we identified," Kolls said. "If they can show that their vaccine doesn't elicit any of that kind of response, I think that would give both a potential funding sponsor or the FDA some comfort level that the vaccine is safe." More information: Fernando P. Polack et al, Fatal enhanced respiratory syncytial virus disease in toddlers, Science Translational Medicine (2021). Journal information: Science Translational Medicine Fernando P. Polack et al, Fatal enhanced respiratory syncytial virus disease in toddlers,(2021). DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.abj7843 Prof. Dr. Andreas J. Muller, Head of the Intravital Microscopy of Infection and Immunity Group, Institute of Molecular and Clinical Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Otto von Guericke University. Credit: Christian Morawe Nitric oxide (NO) occurs naturally in the human body as a messenger substance. It is considered an all-rounder, as it performs numerous important regulatory functions, including immune defense against pathogens. The exact mode of action of this molecule has now been uncovered by immunologist Prof. Dr. Andreas Muller from the Institute of Molecular and Clinical Immunology at the University Medical Center Magdeburg together with scientists from the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research Braunschweig. The findings are crucial for the development of new therapeutic approaches for the treatment of infectious diseases, but also of diseases caused by excessive inflammation. The results were published in the renowned journal Immunity. Prof. Muller explains that "NO has two very different effects during an infection: On the one hand, it can directly destroy pathogens that have been taken up by phagocytes. On the other hand, above a certain concentration, NO prevents the recruitment of further phagocytes to the site of infection, thus preventing unnecessary tissue damage that would be caused by an excessive immune response." Using the example of Leishmania major, the causative agent of a tropical disease that has so far been difficult to treat, the research group measured and modeled the two modes of action of NO over the entire course of an immune response. The scientists were able to show that the direct destruction of the pathogen by NO is the most important defense mechanism of the immune system against Leishmania major during a relatively short period of time. "Instead, NO is much more effective at preventing the phagocytes in which Leishmania major can proliferate from reaching the site of infection. Because NO inhibits the recruitment of these phagocytes, it deprives the pathogen of the basis for multiplication," explains Prof. Muller, the study's final author. For their experiments, the scientists have developed their own measuring system in order to be able to determine the growth rate and viability of the pathogens during infection. "Using so-called intravital 2-photon microscopy, we were able to observe the pathogens in living tissue during infection and measure their proliferation or destruction by the immune system. The data thus obtained were used to test the predictions of mathematical models we had made of how the immune system works, and these predictions matched our data exactly." With this better understanding of the interplay between the various mechanisms of immune defense, he said, it is now possible to intervene specifically in the regulation of the immune system and thus develop new treatment approaches in the fight against infectious diseases. The research work benefited significantly from the research facilities and technologies of the Magdeburg immunology site established in Collaborative Research Center 854. In addition, it is the result of an interdisciplinary collaboration with the working group of Michael Meyer-Hermann from the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) in Braunschweig and with Philippe Bousso and Gerald Spath from the Institute Pasteur in Paris. Since 2013, Prof. Muller, a biologist, has headed the Intravital Microscopy of Infection and Immunity research group at the Institute of Molecular and Clinical Immunology at Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg and the HZI in Braunschweig. In his studies, he investigates how the growth of pathogens and the immune system influence each other. For his research, he was awarded one of the coveted ERC Starting Grants of the European Research Council in 2016. More information: Pauline Formaglio et al, Nitric oxide controls proliferation of Leishmania major by inhibiting the recruitment of permissive host cells, Immunity (2021). Journal information: Immunity Pauline Formaglio et al, Nitric oxide controls proliferation of Leishmania major by inhibiting the recruitment of permissive host cells,(2021). DOI: 10.1016/j.immuni.2021.09.021 Provided by Otto-von-Guericke-Universitat Magdeburg People walk at a street in Tokyo, Monday, Oct. 25, 2021. People in Tokyo can eat and drink in bars and restaurants later in the evening starting Monday as officials ease social distancing rules with the country's daily coronavirus cases reaching their lowest levels in more than a year. Credit: AP Photo/Koji Sasahara People in Tokyo can eat and drink in bars and restaurants later in the evening starting Monday as officials ease social distancing rules with the country's daily coronavirus cases reaching their lowest levels in more than a year. Crowds have been returning to bars and trains since Japan lifted its moderate state of emergency on Sept. 30. But officials in Tokyo had asked food and beverage businesses to maintain their early closures through Sunday as a precaution against a quick resurgence. After seeing daily jumps of nearly 6,000 cases in mid-August, Tokyo is now reporting less than 50 new coronavirus infections a day. The 17 new cases reported on Monday was the lowest since June 2020. "I'm overjoyed," Mitsuru Saga, owner of the Taiko Chaya Japanese restaurant in downtown Tokyo, said in an interview with Nippon Television. He said his restaurant will now operate until 11 p.m. for the first time in 11 months. Eateries had been asked to close by 9 p.m. and not serve alcohol. But Saga said he's concerned that many people will still feel uneasy eating indoors. "Many people now drink at home (due to COVID-19), and I'm worried whether customers will come back," he said. Unlike other countries in Asia and Europe, Japan has so far weathered the pandemic without compulsory lockdowns. It has had a series of largely toothless states of emergency focused on eateries. People walk at a street in Tokyo, Monday, Oct. 25, 2021. People in Tokyo can eat and drink in bars and restaurants later in the evening starting Monday as officials ease social distancing rules with the country's daily coronavirus cases reaching their lowest levels in more than a year. Credit: AP Photo/Koji Sasahara People dine at a restaurant in Tokyo, Monday, Oct. 25, 2021. People in Tokyo can eat and drink in bars and restaurants later in the evening starting Monday as officials ease social distancing rules with the country's daily coronavirus cases reaching their lowest levels in more than a year. Credit: AP Photo/Koji Sasahara In this Oct. 4, 2021, file photo, people enjoy drinks at a bar following the end of the current coronavirus state of emergency restrictions, in Tokyo. People in Tokyo could eat and drink inside bars and restaurants for longer evening hours starting Monday, Oct. 25, 2021 as officials eased social distancing rules with the country's daily coronavirus cases reaching its lowest levels in more than a year. Credit: AP Photo/Koji Sasahara, File In this May 25, 2021, file photo, people consume drinks at a bar after 8 p.m. government suggested closing time under a state of emergency, in Tokyo. People in Tokyo could eat and drink inside bars and restaurants for longer evening hours starting Monday, Oct. 25, 2021 as officials eased social distancing rules with the country's daily coronavirus cases reaching its lowest levels in more than a year. Credit: AP Photo/Koji Sasahara, File People dine at a restaurant in Tokyo, Monday, Oct. 25, 2021. People in Tokyo can eat and drink in bars and restaurants later in the evening starting Monday as officials ease social distancing rules with the country's daily coronavirus cases reaching their lowest levels in more than a year. Credit: AP Photo/Koji Sasahara People walk at a street in Tokyo, Monday, Oct. 25, 2021. People in Tokyo can eat and drink in bars and restaurants later in the evening starting Monday as officials ease social distancing rules with the country's daily coronavirus cases reaching their lowest levels in more than a year. Credit: AP Photo/Koji Sasahara In this Sept. 22, 2021, file photo, people gather at bars that are open and serving alcohol on an ally filled with bars and restaurants despite Tokyo government has requested businesses not to serve alcohol under a state of emergency, in Tokyo. People in Tokyo could eat and drink inside bars and restaurants for longer evening hours starting Monday, Oct. 25, 2021 as officials eased social distancing rules with the country's daily coronavirus cases reaching its lowest levels in more than a year. Credit: AP Photo/Kiichiro Sato, File Experts have been puzzled by Japan's sudden decline in virus cases. Some attribute it to a rapid vaccine rollout after a slow start, widespread mask wearing and subdued nightlife. Japan has recorded about 1.7 million coronavirus cases and 18,200 deaths. About 70% of its population has been fully vaccinated. Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike on Monday urged residents to remain vigilant and stick to basic precautionary measures as the winter sets in and the air turns drier - an environment she said may help the virus spread. She has asked eateries to limit each table to four people and ensure good ventilation and other anti-virus measures. Explore further Japan to widen virus emergency after record spike amid Games 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Credit: CC0 Public Domain Wound infections are the most common problem after surgery, particularly in developing countries, but promised innovations to tackle the issue do not work and global guidance needs changing, a new study reveals. Both World Health Organisation (WHO) and the UK's National Institute of Health Research guidelines recommend that surgeons use alcoholic chlorhexidine skin preparation and triclosan coated sutures to prevent Surgical Site Infection (SSI). However, the world's largest wound infection trial could not demonstrate superiority of these interventions over lower cost alternatives. Carried out in Benin, Ghana, India, Mexico, Nigeria, Rwanda and South Africa, the FALCON trial was funded by the UK's National Institute for Health Research (NIHR). Publishing their findings today in The Lancet, researchers participating in this study are calling for guidelines recommending these measures, either specifically to Low- and Middle-income Countries (LMIC) or at a general global level, to be revised. Co-author Mr. Aneel Bhangu, from the University of Birmingham, commented: "Surgical site infection is the world's most common postoperative complicationa major burden for both patients and health systems. We have delivered the biggest trial of its kind, where we could not demonstrate the superiority of these interventions over cheaper alternatives. "Our findings are hugely important for a wide range of care providers in LMICs, as following existing WHO and NICE guidelines, which have significant cost implications for organizations which have limited resources." Patients who develop SSI experience pain, disability, poor healing with risk of wound breakdown, prolonged recovery times and psychological challenges. Those patients in LMICs are disproportionately affected by higher rates of SSI compared to those in high-income countriesincreasing the risk of catastrophic expenditure, impoverishment, and wider negative community impact. The NIHR Global Research Health Unit on Global Surgery trial covered 5,788 patients from 54 hospitals in seven countriesa broad and representative range including adults and children undergoing contaminated/dirty surgery, emergency surgery and caesarian section. Co-author Professor Adesoji Ademuyiwa, from the University of Lagos, commented: "The overall SSI rate was very high at 22%a preventable complication that is causing unnecessary suffering and burden to patients and systems." "It is clear that small randomized trials should now be avoided and should be replaced with larger trials that can provide more robust evidence on the incidence of SSI, ultimately leading to more effective measures to help tack this global healthcare challenge." More information: Reducing surgical site infections in low and middle income countries: a pragmatic, multicentre, stratified, randomised controlled trial (FALCON) The Lancet (2021). Journal information: The Lancet Reducing surgical site infections in low and middle income countries: a pragmatic, multicentre, stratified, randomised controlled trial (FALCON)(2021). Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Alcohol consumption has a long history in Nigeria, especially in the southern region, where it was not forbidden by religion. In the past, only adult men were culturally allowed to drink. It was taboo for young people to drink alcohol because it was generally believed that "drinking was a sign of being an elder". Alcohol served multiple societal functions in the past. It flowed during celebrations and significant events. These included chieftaincy enthronements, new yam festivals, child naming ceremonies, and even funerals. Although drinking was central to almost every social gathering, intoxication was forbidden. Intoxicated drinkers were punished by the community elders, as a deterrent to others. With help from the British colonial government, Nigeria's drinking culture changed, ditching abstinence and moderation. The British colonial government relied heavily on revenue from alcohol taxes and levies. To increase their cash-flow, the British encouraged the availability and heavy drinking of imported alcoholic beverages. When Heineken-owned Nigerian Breweries and Guinness Nigeria were established in 1946 and 1962, their marketing targeted women and young people. Their marketing departments drove sales by associating alcohol consumption with modernity and sexual enhancement. Nigeria is a key market for competing multinational alcohol companies. To gain market share, these companies have developed sophisticated and aggressive marketing methods targeting young people, including adolescents. Alcohol availability has tripled, and so has the number of heavy drinkers. Consequently, alcohol-related problems are also rising. Alcohol is associated with problems such as cancer, violence, sexually transmitted infections and truancy. Nigeria lacks alcohol control policies. Alcohol production and marketing are largely unregulated. Multinational alcohol producers often employed marketing strategies outlawed in their countries of origin, to sell their brands in Nigeria. The results are evident. Research has shown that abstinence and moderate drinking are now uncool, and heavy drinking and intoxication make good badges of honor in Nigeria. In my recent research, I examined why adolescents and young adults in Nigeria drink heavily, and why they consider it a source of fun or pleasure. I also recorded whether they saw heavy drinking as rebellion against traditionalist values. My research is important because it shows treating alcohol use as pathological, and denying pleasure-seeking as a motive for drinking, is no longer tenable in contemporary Nigeria. The study also shows that understanding these changing motives for drinking could inform interventions that target harmful drinking practices. Deliberate intoxication for fun and pleasure I interviewed 72 young people aged 1824 years, who live in Benin City, Nigeria, to understand their perspectives. Most of the participants were students. They all agreed that drinking alcohol was fashionable in communities of young people. Sobriety was considered obsolete, and deliberate over-consumption of alcohol was common. The reason they gave was that young people just want to feel drunk. According to my study, fun and excitementdirectly and indirectlywere acceptable reasons for heavy drinking and intoxication. Individuals didn't consider the associated reduced mental control a big deal. "I took whisky; I wanted to drink to stupor. I wanted to see how it felt like to be really drunk and misbehaving; that was my aim of drinking that way. So I drank and drank and drank until (I became drunk). " Another added: "There was a day I took one full glass of (Johnnie Walker) Red Label (40% alcohol by volume), and in less than 1015 min, I couldn't feel myself again. I could barely walk, my friend took me home To me, it was fun. I felt the way I have never felt before, so that is fun it was exciting because friends will now remind you that this was what you did and you cannot remember. " There are also gender aspects to youth drinking culture. Female participants who were filmed while drunk considered the clips hilarious. Male participants said they took turns in providing alcohol for members of their friendship networks. This practice is generally believed to strengthen friendship bonds. Although providing alcohol may in part be a means of reenacting the male-dominated traditional drinking practice in contemporary Nigeria, it also led to heavy drinking and intoxication. Surprisingly, these youths believed they had not breached any social norms by drinking to intoxication. But they did admit it all came at a cost. Some had experienced negative events like hangovers, injuries, violence, and missing key academic tests while passed out from alcohol consumption. Solution to drinking problems The current lack of alcohol policies in Nigeria only serves the interests of alcohol producers to the detriment of public health. Even though alcohol is a legal drug, increasing evidence has shown that no amount is risk-free. Policymakers should focus on providing information on low-risk drinking measures for legal drinkers. Tailored, evidence-based interventions that discourage heavy drinking and support safe drinking norms or abstinence should be developed in Nigeria. Interventions should draw from the elements of local drinking cultures that prohibit heavy drinking and intoxication. Given the prominent role of friendship networks, policymakers should develop interventions using such platforms to promote safe consuming cultures and other pleasurable activities with zero or low risk. The World Health Organisation has also developed effective strategies called SAFER to reduce alcohol abuse and related harm. Nigeria could also adopt similar measures. Explore further Binge drinking in adolescence is linked to changes in the cerebellum in young adulthood This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. via Facebook MONTEGO BAY, JAMAICAJamaican cult leader Kevin Smith, who has been in custody since last Sunday after two of his followers were killed in a human sacrifice ritual, has died in a car crash. The accident took place on Monday morning while police were transporting Smith from Montego Bay to Kingston where he was set to be formally charged in connection with the murders. Head of Jamaicas Constabulary Forces communication unit, Senior Superintendent Stephanie Lindsay, confirmed the death of Smith and a police officer along Jamaicas Bog Walk main road. Human Sacrifice Is the Gruesome End to This Cults Creepy History She told The Daily Beast: They were taking him to Kingston to be formally charged; there was an accident and all four people in the vehicle received serious injuries. Two died, a police constable and Mr. Smith and the other two police officers are in critical condition. As head of his Pathways International Kingdom Restoration Ministries, Smith was arrested on Oct. 17 after police swooped down on his church in Montego Bay in response to a report that a human sacrifice was taking place in the church, where more than 100 followers had gathered, dressed in white robes. According to survivors who spoke to local Jamaican media outlets, the ritual involved senior members of the church stabbing and slashing several congregants who were told theyd be embarking on a heavenly journey. Two of the church members were killed over the course of the ritual, and one was killed during the police raid on the property. When I saw blood and the young lady fell, I said This is it for me, one member who managed to escape the church told the Jamaican Observer. On the day of the gruesome ordeal, Smith had posted to Facebook asking his congregants to leave their cellphones at home before heading to the church, warning them of an incoming flood. One of the members had reportedly snuck a phone in and called police after witnessing the horror of another congregant getting killed. Story continues It is traumatizing. It traumatized me so much Ive not been sleeping or eating well. Ive not left home to do no business because of what is taking place, one neighbor who knew Smith told The Daily Beast at the time. Milton Ricketts, another source who knew Smith well, had told The Daily Beast that the troubling activities at Smiths church had been going on for years. The people have been brainwashed, including the children, and they have been taught things which are unscriptural and they have suffered damage in their soul. According to Ricketts, Smith would demand his followers to take a knee, when addressing him, asking them to refer to him as Crown Bishop at all times. A Pathways International Kingdom Restoration Ministries pamphlet obtained by The Daily Beast introduced Smith as former crown Ambassador of the Throne of Nubia Sheba, globe traveller to over 100 countries worldwide and Yeshua Hamashiach end time Prophet to the Nations. Police had previously told The Daily Beast that they were investigating a case of double murder and three counts of wounding, in connection with the Oct. 17 incident and more than 40 church members have been arrested over the ordeal so far. The police probe had also involved searches of two of Smiths luxury homes before he died on Monday. 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. JSE-listed technology company Altron has announced its interim results for the six months ended 31 August 2021, which saw revenue up by 2% R3.5 billion. It also posted a R34 million net profit after tax up 159% from a 58 million loss last year. The company saw cash generated from operations up 79% to R527 million and an interim dividend of seven cents per share declared. Headline earnings per share increased 238% to 11 cents per share, while operating free cash flow of R81 million was up by more than 742%. Altron Group Chief Executive Mteto Nyati described the half-year results as a very resilient performance in the face of a challenging operating environment. The benefits of our diverse and high-quality portfolio of businesses operating across the Own Platforms, Digital Transformation and Managed Services segments resulted in Altron delivering an operating profit growth of 71%. The Own Platform segment performed well generating R1.4 billion in revenue, up 6% against the prior year, while the operating income of R251 million grew by 27%. Our Business Transformation Programme within Netstar South Africa yielded positive operational improvements which saw the brand reach one million subscribers, representing an 18% growth year on year, said Nyati. Netstars revenue of R836 million was a 9% growth on the prior year, supported by the strong performance of Australia. Altron FinTech achieved revenue of R400 million, with operating profit of R77 million a 75% improvement on the prior year. Altron HealthTechs revenue of R161 million and operating profit of R44 million remained stable. Nyati said Altron Systems Integrations revenue of R863 million, down by R186 million on the prior year due to customers holding onto capital expenditure, had adversely impacted the entire digital transformation segment for the financial period. This business has been realigned to simplify its offerings to its customers, and right-sized to focus on the identified high growth areas of Cloud, Data, DevOps and Security. This has set the business up to focus on achieving its second half expectations, Nyati stated. Altron Managed Solutions banking segment came under pressure during the half, and the business has embarked on a Section 189 retrenchment process to address operational issues. Pressure on the global supply chain will impact order lead times, affecting operations such as Altron Managed Services, Altron Systems Integration, Netstar and Altron FinTech. This may have an adverse impact on increasing inventory levels, and management will mitigate this risk accordingly. Altron Nexus encountered challenges due to the freezing of capital expenditure and diversion of funds by its government customers to Covid-19 PPE and social development programmes. The Altron People Solutions business was split and has been sold. Commenting on other discontinued operations, Nyati said the disposal of Altron Document Solutions and Altron Arrow operations would happen in the short to medium-term. Nyati said that 53% of their workforce had been vaccinated, and a further 19% were planning to do so soon. We have chosen to encourage our staff to vaccinate instead of going the mandatory route. Nyati said that the Altron 2.0 strategy would continue to be embedded for the remainder of the financial year. We are positive about the Groups growth in automation, cloud computing, data and security aligned with the segments in which we operate, he said. We are focused on driving high annuity revenue, ownership of intellectual property and capital-light operations. Nyati said that the finalisation of the LawTrust acquisition would allow Altron to focus on driving security services in jurisdictions outside of South Africa. The Board is considering potential acquisitions which are aligned to the own platform and digital transformation segments, he said. Altrons board has decided to disinvest from Altron Rest of Africa operations. At the end of H1, Altron will retain a presence in Africa through a partnership operating model. Nyati said key focus areas for the second half of the year included accelerating profitable revenue growth for Altron Systems Integration, and building and qualifying the acquisition pipeline, while disposing of Altron Document Solutions and Altron Arrow. Theres a reason perusing a bottle shop is a greater ordeal than raiding the cereal aisle, and it isnt just because of booze. All connoisseurs of fine dining and drink know that you taste first with the eyes, and popping open a bottle of embossed and foiled wine is no exception. 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! You think about trying to grab attention, and with the onset of the popularity of wine websites, you've got a pretty hefty competitive set to break through and get to consumers, said Ed Rice, managing director of Affinity Creative based in Vallejo. Here in Napa Valley, Orin Swift and Prisoner Wine Company are two leading groups that first broke the mold for what it means to brand a fine wine, with dark and striking imagery on their bottles to reflect the sultry sips inside. Nowadays wineries may opt for a minimalist approach, others for the brightest and most vibrant hues that can be printed. There are also literal interpretations of a winerys terroir, like the hidden animals in Trefethens Eshcol Red or the geographic locators on Obsidians Half Mile Cabernet Sauvignon. It depends on individuals and their background and their interests, Rice said. Designers are natural critics, and they are going to look at topography and color selection and look at it through a critical eye, whereas my background being a little bit more business oriented, I am going to think about who that producer is trying to appeal to. Who are they trying to attract? Are they trying to attract an adventurous buyer, or a more traditional buyer? Regardless of intention, there are some mandated requirements for commercial wine labels. According to Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) rules, all wines must have its brand name, class, appellation of origin, alcohol content, net contents, winery name and address, percentage of foreign wine and a health warning statement outlined on the label. In addition, there also must be a written declaration if the wine contains sulfites, FD&C yellow #5, cochineal extract or carmine. Beyond that, the label is all about the design and establishing a brands image. But according to Rice, consumers are more complex nowadays, and as a result, it isnt as simple as choosing between a dainty or bold print for your label. Consumers have gotten more adventurous, and they are more willing to explore, [but] they are also a bit more educated, he said. Consumers are developing more understanding, especially with Millennials and Gen Z ... They are more willing to try new varieties. More educated wine drinkers means that folks may be more attentive to things like appellation names when purchasing wine, so regulation is necessary to make sure inconsistencies dont fly under the radar and mislead consumers. But with thousands of players in the market, it is hard to keep track of it all. Large industry groups will monitor pending applications through the TTB to ensure outsiders arent snagging the Napa Valley moniker for themselves, and when it comes to naming a wine label, trademark laws are in place to avoid consumer confusion. One such group is the Napa Valley Vintners, who have a staff of lawyers to keep an eye on new applications. A main reason the Napa Valley Vintners fight so hard to protect the Napa name is so that consumers can have 100 percent confidence that, when they see Napa on the label, they can trust it is Napa in the bottle, said NVVs Vice President of Industry Relations, Rex Stults. When the words Napa Valley appear on a wine label, they, in effect, are the intellectual property of the vintners and growers in the Napa Valley who collectively have spent a century and a half cultivating a well-earned reputation for producing some of the worlds finest wines, said Stults. The words Napa Valley represent a multi-billion-dollar wine industry and that is why the Napa Valley Vintners invest considerable time and money into protecting the integrity of the Napa name. The result is a range of legislation enacted over the last 30 years, from the 1990 California Conjunctive Labeling Law to the most recent action in 2015 that requires applicants for the Napa Valley trademark to get consent from the NVV. The group has also been centerstage in passing state laws requiring wines that list their sub-appellation think Oakville, Mount Veeder, the works to also list the motherland of Napa Valley, too. Also, in 2000 we succeeded in getting the landmark Napa Name Law passed in Sacramento, which mandates that all wines carrying Napa, Napa Valley or any of our nested appellations to truly come from that place and meet the 85 percent minimum federal grape sourcing requirements, said Stults. Anybody not abiding by that law runs the risk of having their license to produce wine taken from them by the California ABC. But in addition to jumping through these necessary legal hoops, wine marketing specialists say that brands are also expected to get a facelift more and more frequently as well. Consumers are used to brands being visually refreshed more often, said Rice. Back in the day when I first started in branding and package design, you didnt touch it But they are all so used to change because the world is moving so fast. As a reaction, wine groups like Napas Plata Wine Partners are proactively rebranding their past labels in hopes of a boost in sales and attention. Every detail speaks to the customer, and one of the things that we have committed to do is we are revisiting the packaging for every wine that we produce so we can see what we can do to elevate it, said Platas Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Aaron Fein. Fein says that when he first entered the wine space, he saw the infamous boom of critter labels firsthand while working for the then-tiny company, Barefoot. Since then, a lot has changed. You could design something that was cute and put a decent price on it, and people were attracted to it, said Fein. It went from the critter phase, and then it went into the confections phase where people were into the cupcakes and the layered cakes and all of these different confectionary things with that sweet-ish look to it. And while I think that is still out there a little bit, consumers have gotten more sophisticated. Rice also noted how this critter phase impacted the wine label world, as suddenly even highly valued brands were dabbling in these cutesy designs. In the past, looking like a credible wine was very traditional and you would just see the image of the vineyard, and I think over time those traditional elements have been relaxed, he said. Both firms work to weave the story of their clients wine into the packaging, whether that means showing the farming history of an estate or picking a motif that tells the companys story. For one of Platas clients, Verada Vineyards, Fein and his staff integrated the Latin word verity meaning truth which the winerys name is a play off of into the overall story. The concept of this brand is the truth in winemaking and the whole is better than the sum of its parts, and this is a tri-county brand, so we get some grapes from Sonoma, Monterey and either San Luis Obispo or Santa Barbara, said Fein. For another area business, Eric Kent Wine Cellars, every bottle is a work of art literally. Colleen Teitgen is partner and curator at Eric Kent and spends countless hours tracking down the perfect, pre existing art pieces for the brands new wine releases. I am constantly scouring the internet, checking out galleries, open studios, social media for new artists, said Teitgen. Im generally not looking for typical wine art no vineyard landscapes, grapes or wine glasses. Teitgen tries to focus on finding Bay Area artists to feature on their labels, but great art knows no geographical boundaries and sometimes lands itself on Eric Kent bottles. She also pairs the label with the wine in terms of flavor profiles that give the wine personality, and over the years, wine club members help choose which labels will stand the test of time in their Permanent Collection. Is it light and whimsical, dark and brooding, sexy and sultry? I taste the wine and then think about how it makes me feel and keep those notes in mind when Im looking through the art, said Teitgen. [And] because sharing new art is part of our original mission and history, we still introduce new artists through our Barrel Climber and The Pianist bottlings. These two collections consist of artwork from lots of different artists in lots of different styles, speaking to the dimension and complexity of their wines. At their best, wine and art make us all ask questions, seek a deeper experience, and savor it in the fullness of now, from the moment the bottle comes out to the last sip of the evening, said Teitgen. We pause to look at the art Do we find it beautiful or strange? Does it remind us of anything? How does it make us feel? What does it make us think? Then we smell and taste the wine, spend time with the aromas and flavors, the textures and sensations, and ask all the same questions. Just like people enjoy food and wine together, when you look at it this way, the art labels and the wines are the perfect pairing. You can reach Sam Jones at 707-256-2221 and sjones@napanews.com. Pop the cork on Napa Valley wine! Discover the hidden stories of Napa Valley wine and the people behind it -- plus expert analysis from our columnists and more with our weekly email 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 city of Napa is updating user fees for city services to eventually allow the city to retain 100% of the cost of those services. The Napa City Council voted 3-2 on Tuesday to update fees for city services, products, regulations and fines for violations of city codes and regulations. Deputy City Manager Liz Habkirk said generally, user fees are associated with programs and services that provide a specific benefit to an individual receiving those services. Building permits and park rentals are common examples of city services that require fees, she said. 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 purpose of the fees is to support the citys ability to provide those services, Habkirk added. But the citys current fee rates for services recoup an average of 52% of what it costs the city to provide those services, said Tony Thrasher, a consultant for Willdan Financial Services. Some of our fees are subsidized to a pretty high level, partly because we havent been regularly updating them in the same kind of thorough way that were presenting today, Thrasher said. And so, Habkirk added, staff recommended the fees be brought up to 100% cost recovery to close the current gap. If a fee requires more than a 25% increase to be brought to full recovery, she said, that increase will be phased in over three years. The new fee rates will come into effect on Jan. 1, 2022. Along the same lines of recouping costs, a $320 first responder fee was approved unanimously by the City Council. EMS crews will determine whether the fee applies or not after they arrive to a scene after an emergency services call and decide theres a patient in need of treatment, said Napa Fire chief Zach Curren at the meeting. That means a call for an emergency medical response and the deployment of an EMS crew wont necessarily result in issuing a fee, he said. Deputy City Manager Habkirk said at the meeting that collections for the fee will only be sought from commercial insurance providers. The city wont attempt to collect the fee from individuals, Habkirk said, even if they dont have medical insurance. Habkirk also said the city will continue providing emergency medical service regardless of peoples insurance status or ability to pay the fee. This is not a fee that is meant to inhibit people from calling for medical services. Its really a fairly typical fee that we have seen in neighboring agencies and across California, Habkirk said. And the implementation will help the department in supporting what is now the majority of their call type. Curren said establishing the fee also creates a subsidy program that will use the citys general fund to pay for issued fees that remain unpaid. Essentially what were doing is creating an ability to bill the insurance company to recover some of the cost, said council member Bernie Narvaez at the meeting. Erik Mortimore, Napa fire department captain and vice president of the Napa City Firefighters Association Local 3124, urged the City Council to pass the fee because the funds generated by it are desperately needed. Mortimore said that, in the 16 years hes been a firefighter, hes seen the departments emergency call volume more than double. At the same time, the departments training and equipment costs have skyrocketed, and theres been little to no change in the funding that supports those costs, he said. We work in a highly demanding and ever-changing environment that requires a high level of training and proper equipment to serve our community in their times of need, Mortimore said. Currently we are doing this with outdated equipment thats in need of repair. Due to a lack of funding, our chief often must make difficult decisions between providing training or providing equipment replacement. Though the councilmembers all supported the new emergency responder fee, they were split on whether to move forward with updating the city user fees. Councilmembers Mary Luros and Liz Alessio said they were concerned about how increasing building fees could discourage development in Napa. When we make building expensive and prohibitive, people will build in other places, people wont build here, and when they do build the [higher price] trickle down is going to go to the person who needs to buy the home or the person who needs work done on the home, Alessio said. As part of the resolution passing the fee schedule, council member Beth Painter added on a condition that staff come back before the end of the year with recommendations for a fee waiver program for housing priced at 120% area median income or below. To me this is really important. I think we need to be equitable with our fees, Painter said. Im really not in favor of the general fund subsidizing, to the extent that it is, the fees that we have. Luros and Alessio said they didnt agree with only subsidizing projects that are considered either affordable or moderate income. We have a housing crisis on every level, Luros said. Every type of building helps us reach our goals. Weve got to build more housing at every level, its not just affordable housing. You can reach Edward Booth at (707) 256-2213. 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. CAIRO (AP) Sudans military seized power Monday, dissolving the transitional government hours after troops arrested the prime minister, and thousands flooded the streets to protest the coup that threatened the countrys shaky progress toward democracy. Security forces opened fire on some of them, and three protesters were killed, according to the Sudan Doctors Committee, which also said 80 people were wounded. The takeover, which drew condemnation from the United Nations, the United States and the European Union, comes more than two years after protesters forced the ouster of longtime autocrat Omar al-Bashir and just weeks before the military was supposed to hand the leadership of the council that runs the country over to civilians. The U.N. Security Council scheduled an emergency closed meeting on the Sudan coup late Tuesday afternoon. The United States, United Kingdom, France, Ireland, Norway and Estonia requested the emergency consultations.. After the early morning arrests of Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok and other senior officials, thousands demonstrated in the streets of the capital, Khartoum, and its twin city of Omdurman. They blocked streets and set fire to tires as security forces used tear gas to disperse them. As plumes of smoke rose, protesters could be heard chanting, The people are stronger, stronger! and Retreat is not an option! Social media video showed crowds crossing bridges over the Nile to the center of the capital. The U.S. Embassy warned that troops were blocking parts of the city and urged the military to immediately cease violence. Pro-democracy activist Dura Gambo said paramilitary forces chased protesters through some Khartoum neighborhoods. Records from a Khartoum hospital obtained by The Associated Press showed some people admitted with gunshot wounds. The head of the military, Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan, announced on national TV that he was dissolving the government and the Sovereign Council, a joint military and civilian body created soon after al-Bashirs ouster to run the country. Burhan said quarrels among political factions prompted the military intervention. Tensions have been rising for weeks over the course and the pace of the transition to democracy in Sudan, a nation in Africa linked by language and culture to the Arab world. The general declared a state of emergency and said the military will appoint a technocratic government to lead the country to elections, set for July 2023. But he made clear the military will remain in charge. The Armed Forces will continue completing the democratic transition until the handover of the countrys leadership to a civilian, elected government, he said. He added that the constitution would be rewritten and a legislative body would be formed with the participation of young men and women who made this revolution. The Information Ministry, still loyal to the dissolved government, called his speech an announcement of a seizure of power by military coup. As darkness fell in Khartoum, barricades were still burning and occasional gunshots could be heard, said Volker Perthes, the U.N. special envoy for Sudan, at a briefing in New York. President Joe Biden was briefed on Sudan in the morning, said White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre. She added that the U.S. was deeply alarmed at reports of a military takeover" and called for the immediate release of the prime minister and other officials. The actions today are in stark opposition to the will of the Sudanese people and their aspirations for peace, liberty and justice, Jean-Pierre said. The Biden administration is suspending $700 million in emergency economic aid to Sudan that had been allocated to help the transition, said State Department spokesman Ned Price. He called it a pause, and urged the civilian-led government be immediately restored. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres strongly condemns the ongoing military coup detat in Khartoum and all actions that could jeopardize Sudans political transition and stability, said his spokesman, spokesman Stephane Dujarric. Guterres also called for the release of the government officials, the spokesman said, as did the African Union. EU foreign affairs chief Joseph Borrell tweeted that he was following the events with the utmost concern. Michelle Bachelet, the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, warned that Sudan could slip backward, urging the military to free the officials, withdraw from the streets and settle differences with the transitional government through dialogue. Since al-Bashir, who remains in prison, was forced from power, Sudan has tried to rid itself of the international pariah status it held under the autocrat. The country was removed from the U.S. list of state supporters of terrorism in 2020, opening the way for badly needed foreign loans and investment. But Sudan has struggled with the shock of a number economic reforms called for by international lending institutions. In recent weeks, there have been concerns the military might be planning a takeover, and in fact there was a failed coup attempt in September. Tensions only rose from there, as the country fractured along old lines, with more conservative Islamists who want a military government pitted against those who toppled al-Bashir in protests. In recent days, both camps have staged demonstrations. Amid the standoff, the generals have called repeatedly for dissolving Hamdok's transitional government and Burhan, who leads the ruling Sovereign Council, said frequently the military would only relinquish power to an elected government, an indication the generals might not stick to the plan to hand leadership of the body to a civilian sometime in November. The council is the ultimate decision-maker, though the Hamdok government is tasked with running Sudans day-to-day affairs. As part of efforts to resolve the crisis, Jeffrey Feltman, the U.S. special envoy to the Horn of Africa, met with Sudanese officials over the weekend, and a senior Sudanese military official said he tried unsuccessfully to get the generals to stick to the agreed plan. The arrests began a few hours later, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to brief media. The official said the prime minister and the others were being detained in a military camp outside Khartoum. Perthes said he and Feltman, in parallel meetings with political and military leaders in recent weeks, had tried to urge a return to dialogue and against a coup, which he said would squander the achievements of the first two years of the transition. State Department spokesman Price said Feltman warned Burhan and others that any unconstitutional changes in the government would have consequences. The military has been emboldened in its dispute with civilian leaders by the support of tribal protesters, who blocked the countrys main Red Sea port for weeks. The two most senior military officials, Burhan and his deputy Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, also have close ties with Egypt and the wealthy Gulf nations of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. The first reports of a possible military takeover emerged before dawn, and the Information Ministry later confirmed them, saying Hamdok and several senior government figures had been arrested. Internet access was widely disrupted and the state news channel played traditional patriotic music. Hamdoks office denounced the detentions on Facebook as a complete coup. It said his wife was also arrested. Sudan has suffered other coups since gaining its independence from Britain and Egypt in 1956. Al-Bashir came to power in 1989 in one such takeover, which removed the countrys last elected government. Among those detained were senior government figures and political leaders, including the information and industry ministers, a media adviser to Hamdok and the governor of the state that includes the capital, according to the senior military official and another official. Both spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief the media. After news of the arrests spread, the main pro-democracy group and two political parties appealed to the people to take to the streets. The Communist Party urged workers to protest what it described as a full military coup orchestrated by Burhan. - Associated Press writers Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations, Matthew Lee in Washington and Darlene Superville in Kearny, N.J., contributed to this report. Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Big things are obviously happening in Californias public school system these days and they will certainly affect not only the lives of nearly 6 million K-12 students but the states economic and social wellbeing for decades to come. Unfortunately, however, its very unclear how they intertwine and whether the long-term effects will be positive or negative. To begin, schools are being flooded with many billions of new dollars, much of it from a bumper crop of sales and income taxes, plus another big injection of federal pandemic recovery cash. 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 2021-22 state budget appropriates $123.9 billion in state and local funds for K-12 education. That translates into a record $21,555 per pupil, about double what it was a decade ago, and now in the upper ranks of states. Conversely, however, many school districts, particularly those in urban areas, are experiencing financial distress because their enrollments have been dropping. A long-term enrollment slide caused by declining birth and immigration rates is compounded by pandemic-related effects. Some parents refuse to send their children to school due to COVID-19 fears and others because they oppose mandatory vaccination. Enrollment is down by more than 160,000 this year and the state Department of Finance projects a 700,000-student decline from pre-pandemic levels by 2031. While school district revenues are determined largely by enrollment, the state froze those formulas as the pandemic erupted and schools were shuttered last year. It protected districts from calamitous revenue losses in the short run and school officials are pressing Gov. Gavin Newsom and legislators to protect them from longer-term declines by modifying enrollment-based financing. Speaking of which, for nearly a decade, much state school aid has been allocated not on enrollment alone, but by demographic characteristics. Districts with substantial numbers of poor and English-learner students have received extra per-pupil grants with the expectation that the money will close the achievement gap between them and their more privileged classmates. About 60% of K-12 students are considered high needs. Former Gov. Jerry Brown championed the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) but refused to have the state monitor whether the billions of extra dollars were being spent on educating the targeted kids and whether it was, indeed, improving their academic achievement. He said he trusted local school officials to do the right thing. In the absence of state oversight, the LCFFs efficacy has never been evaluated until now. This month, the Public Policy Institute of California produced a comprehensive overview, packed with data and analysis. The oversimplified bottom line is that just over half of the extra money is being spent on schools whose students generated it and so far, it appears to have had a marginally positive impact. The new state budget doubles down on LCFF on the official presumption that it works but the PPIC study indicates that effectiveness hinges on its funds being concentrated and spent wisely on kids needing help the most. It also indicates that if we move away from enrollment-based financing as local officials seek, tightening up LCFF to truly narrow the achievement gap must be one factor. Finally, Newsom recently signed Assembly Bill 599, which puts new teeth into a landmark 2004 court case that ordered local districts to ensure that their low-performing schools are in good repair and have up-to-date instructional materials and properly certificated teachers. By defining them, it establishes a list of 2,000 schools that must be inspected for compliance. Will more money, more insight and more oversight raise Californias shamefully poor academic performance vis-a-vis those of other states even arch-rival Texas? Our future depends on it. CalMatters is a public interest journalism venture committed to explaining how Californias state Capitol works and why it matters. For more stories by Dan Walters, go to calmatters.org/commentary. Catch the latest in Opinion Get opinion pieces, letters and editorials sent directly 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. China, Russia, US agree to promote political dialogue on Iran Azerbaijan mother, son commit suicide on same day One pedestrian dies on the spot, other hospitalized after hit by car in Armenia village area US beauty consultant is accused of killing woman by injecting silicone into her butt Brazil Amazon deforestation reaches highest level in 15 years Newspaper: Armenia soldiers are prohibited from filming episodes from their service, posting them on internet Newspaper: Armenia opposition is forming large-scale resistance network Armenia President visits National University of Singapore Gia, wanted by French law-enforcement authorities, found at Armenia's Bagratashen checkpoint Leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia agree to meet in Brussels European Council: Pashinyan and Aliyev agreed to establish direct communication line at level of defense ministers Armenia's Representative to OSCE speaks about Azerbaijan's recent attack at Permanent Council's session Armenia serviceman Meruzhan Harutyunyan, killed in Syunik Province, was buried at Yerablur Military Pantheon Armenian News-NEWS.am's special report: Drive from Kapan to Tchakatashen is 150 km instead of previous 8 km 3 Armenian servicemen killed during Nov. 16 Azerbaijani attack posthumously awarded presidential medals Left-wing trade unions hold protest against Turkey's Erdogan in Izmir Armenia FM presents situation following Azerbaijani attack during meeting with Lithuanian Seimas Vice-President Armenia delegation covers Azerbaijan's Nov. 16 attack during online meeting of CSTO PA Permanent Commissions Armenia PM receives delegation led by Vice President of Lithuanian Seimas Lavrov, Cavusoglu discuss bilateral ties and regional issues Karabakh: Azerbaijani side, in Shushi, transfers bodies of 3 Armenian soldiers killed on Nov. 16 NEWS.am daily digest: 19.11.21 Armenian Embassy in Russia: Armenia citizens - mother and child - evacuated from Afghanistan Georgia refuses to be a part of '3+3' format with regard to South Caucasus The occupied Hadrut of our days (PHOTOS) Arabologist: Photo of map of Turkic world shown by Erdogan and Bahceli is simply a gift for Armenian diplomacy Situation is tense in Armenia's Kasakh, residents protesting against acting village head (LIVE) Opposition With Honor legislature faction MP: No one knows if Armenia petitioned to Russia for military assistance Armenia opposition MP: There is a threat that Baku will always get what it wants through use of force Lavrov is certain that the Russia-Armenia-Azerbaijan summit will take place Ann Linde: OSCE working very closely with Russia to resolve Karabakh conflict Karabakh FM congratulates newly appointed Abkhazia counterpart Dollar relatively stable in Armenia Armenia parliament majority members do not deny possibility of exchange of territories with Azerbaijan Armenia ruling party MP: Public and competent authorities need to know circumstances behind captures of soldiers Armenia ruling party MP assures that situation on the border is currently stable Armenia ruling party MP: Confidentiality of process of preparing for demarcation is strictly necessary Armenia PM: Citizens of EEU countries will be able to receive loans in all territories of member states Armenian serviceman, 19, dies in Georgia's Akhalkalaki Armenia legislature majority faction lawmaker: Russia military intervention is not end in itself High commissioner: Diaspora is considering ways to help hundreds of Ethiopia Armenians Opposition With Honor parliament faction: Armenia authorities trying to push territorial losses issue to backburner Legislature majority faction MP: Armenia authorities do not make any demands on Russia Opposition Armenia Faction in parliament: Authorities are unable to distinguish between priority and secondary issues 3 more die of coronavirus in Artsakh Bruno Retailleau: France must support Armenia more firmly against aggressions by Azerbaijan Armenia parliament majority faction: Border delimitation preparation process will start from point zero PM: Armenia exports to other EEU countries increased by 27.8% Armenias Pashinyan: Azerbaijan provocations are aimed at disrupting arrangements reached by trilateral statements California Armenian couple accused of fraud flee leaving their 3 children behind 799 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Katherine Clark: Azerbaijan must acknowledge and respect Armenian sovereignty Eurasian Intergovernmental Council enlarged meeting underway in Yerevan Russia peacekeepers patrol along Karabakh border delimitation line MOD: According to current data Armenia has 6 military casualties as result of Tuesdays attack by Azerbaijan Turkish Islamic preachers organization denies reports of his death Newspaper: What happened to missing Armenia soldiers during recent hostilities? Armenia MOD dismisses reports about not allowing officers with higher rank than major to go up to combat positions US virtually completes development of new tactical nuclear gravity bomb B61-12 Newspaper: Officers with higher rank than major not allowed to combat positions during recent hostilities in Syunik 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 It is a pity that the current authorities did not draw conclusions even after the [Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh)] war [last fall]. Seyran Ohanyan, the head of the opposition "Armenia" Faction in parliament and former defense minister of Armenia, stated this Sunday in Gyumri during his provincial visits. "The series of defeats continued, Azerbaijan, the Turks appeared on the borders of Armenia. Moreover, they invaded our borders, capturing the key strategic points which are the heights, the roads, the infrastructures ensuring the viability of the border settlements of Armenia," Ohanyan added. According to him, today the aforesaid are also an opportunity for speculation and putting pressure on Armenia. "The main goal is that they further tighten the noose around Armenia and Artsakh, the so-called 'unblocking of transport roads' will lead to a deeper blockade in the future, it will be expressed by economic pressures and, also, the most painful: a change in our demographic profile in those regionsSyunik, Gegharkunik [Provinces of Armenia]," Ohanyan said. As per the opposition lawmaker and former defense minister, the Turks will come to Armenia and Artsakh under the pretext of economic development and establishing ties, and as a result, the future history of Armenia will become uncertain. Ohanyan emphasized that the main goal of their measures of the last month is the formation of Armenian national resistance. "Today we see certain uncertainties, also in terms of the current situation in Armenia, the region. Today, some of our authorities have already put forward to the public a theory that another document of capitulation will be signed again on November 9; and I believe this document will refer globally to, as they say, strengthening peace in the region. 'Peace' means recognizing the territorial integrity of the adversary, whereas recognizing the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan means throwing a big stone at the self-determination, destiny of Artsakh," Seyran Ohanyan concluded. Head of the Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration (IRICA) Mehdi Mirashrafi said good agreements have been reached with Armenia on the development of customs cooperation as well as the use of alternative routes for the transport of goods, Tehran Times reports. Mirashrafi who visited Moscow on Sunday to attend an international customs conference noted that Iran has diversified its international routes so that no single route could impose a limitation on the countrys international trade. Mirashrafi further pointed to the positive talks held with the members of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) during the conference, saying: The volume of trade between Iran and the Eurasian Economic Union has taken an upward path, and with the agreements reached, we will soon see a leap in trade relations with the member countries of this union. Referring to the importance of land crossings for the export and import of goods between Iran and Russia, the official said: "Completing the maritime and road infrastructure and providing more customs facilities, especially in the Caspian Sea region, can increase trade [between the two countries]." Earlier this month, Deputy Transport and Urban Development Minister Kheirollah Khademi had announced an agreement between Iran and Armenia for establishing new transit routes, as the two countries are facing problems in trade exchanges through Azerbaijan. The alternative transit route for Iranian trucks in Armenia will be asphalted within the next month, and there will be no need to use the previous route which passes through Azerbaijan and requires us to pay tolls to the country, Khademi said. OSU DISCOVERY provides new opportunities and partnerships for STEM outreach Media Contact: Jeff Hopper | Marketing Media Specialist | 405-744-2745 | jeff.hopper@okstate.edu This summer, the College of Engineering, Architecture and Technology (CEAT) at Oklahoma State University hosted two of its 30 STEM camps at its OSU DISCOVERY building in Oklahoma City. One of those camps, STEM in Oklahoma, was created specifically for DISCOVERY and OSUs partners in the Oklahoma City area. The idea to partner on these efforts came in the spring of 2021 by the OSU DISCOVERY team and Baker Hughes, a key partner for OSU. Baker Hughes values the future of students in our community and actively works to promote STEM education where possible, said Jason Angolano, Laboratory Operations Manager for Baker Hughes. We want to educate kids about the amazing world that we live in through the eyes of science and help them understand that they can make a large impact in it. We reached out to other companies to highlight several careers where STEM is used and hopefully get the students excited about the opportunities that lay before them. Our partnership with OSU and the OSU DISCOVERY building enabled this camp to take place and truly brought everything together to make it a success. Baker Hughes sponsored the camp and developed a curriculum for a session during the camp. Other contributors to the STEM in Oklahoma camp were FSB Architects & Engineers, OSUs Unmanned Systems Research Institute (USRI) and interns who also helped create and instruct sessions for the camp. Baker Hughes focused on teaching the campers about different types of energy and how they can be stored and transformed. Their team assisted students in crafting trebuchets and mouse trap cars, which provided an interesting, hands-on learning experience for the campers. Members of the Unmanned Systems Research Institute at Oklahoma State University helped students test egg protection apparatuses with the use of drones. The team at USRI oversaw an egg drop competition. The students were tasked with designing and building contraptions that would keep an egg safe from breaking from varying heights. USRI incorporated their drones into the competition, using them to drop the projects from different heights throughout their session. FSB Architects and Engineers taught the campers about inclusive design and creating spaces for all types of people. Students learned how to problem solve by designing a park playground through hand sketches, building with blocks, and modeling on a 3D computer program. The students collaborated together in teams and presented their 3D computer designs to the rest of the camp. They were able to save their work on a flash drive to develop their designs at home and even 3D print their playground if they chose to do so. The last day of camp was designated for the students to interact with industry representatives through a Q&A session in the morning. This provided the campers the opportunity to spend time learning about their industry mentors through the engineers experience. The afternoon consisted of Baker Hughes and OSU helping the campers build cars and compete in races. It was an encouragement to see this partnership benefitting both the students and industry professionals, said the OSU DISCOVERY team. We are fulfilling our mission already and couldnt be happier. OSU, Baker Hughes, and FSB hope to continue this camp each year and would love to see it grow with the help of other partners in the OKC metro. OSU student works with humanitarian relief organization to set up aid centers Media Contact: Lyn Putnam | Communication Specialist | 405-744-5496 | lyn.putnam@okstate.edu Students at Oklahoma State University continue to make their marks around the world. Larissa Duncan, a School of Global Studies graduate student, spent the summer of 2021 with a humanitarian relief organization to set up aid centers for Venezuelans crossing the Colombian border. She was able to work with the refugees while interning with the International Missions Board for the Southern Baptist Church in Cucuta, Colombia. Venezuela is in crisis. The countrys economy has fallen, and the leadership is in question due to political opposition. According to World Vision, about 5.4 million refugees, asylum-seekers, and migrants have left the country to seek food, work and a better life. Duncan learned about the ongoing crisis in high school and discovered her interest in the regional community between Venezuela and Colombia. My time in Cucuta taught me that people can come together in hard situations and that the human spirit is perseverant and determined, Duncan said. Prior to her internship, Duncan was skeptical of humanitarian missions; however, her time abroad solidified humanitarian work is impactful in crises. The hardest part was seeing the situations people endured through no fault of their own, Duncan said. I just always tried to encourage them to continue. OSUs Master of Science degree in Global Studies allows students to study international crisis response in preparation for careers dealing with the worlds marginalized peoples. Duncan will graduate from the program in May 2022 and as part of the Air Force ROTC will receive her orders and will begin her career with the Air Force. Story By: Maddy Sheriff | maddy.sheriff@okstate.edu Turkey and allies step back from row Supporters of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan protest outside the US embassy in Ankara. Photo: AP Turkey and its Western allies climbed down from a full-blown diplomatic crisis on Monday after foreign embassies said that they abide by diplomatic conventions on non-interference, averting a threatened expulsion of 10 ambassadors. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who said at the weekend he had ordered the envoys to be declared "persona non grata" for seeking the release of a jailed philanthropist, told a news conference they had stepped back and would be more careful. "Our goal is never to create crises, it is to protect the rights, laws, honour and sovereignty of our country," Erdogan said in a televised address after chairing a Cabinet meeting. "With a new statement made by the same embassies today, a step back was taken from this slander against our country and our nation. I believe these ambassadors ... will be more careful in their statements regarding Turkey's sovereign rights." The ambassadors, including the United States envoy, had called on authorities last week to free Osman Kavala, a philanthropist detained for four years on charges of financing protests and involvement in an attempted coup. He denies the charges. The public appeal infuriated Ankara, which said the diplomats - also from Germany, France, Canada, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland were interfering in Turkey's internal affairs. As Erdogan convened his ministers on Monday afternoon for a session which could have confirmed the expulsions and triggered the deepest rift with the West in his 19 years in power, several embassies put out a brief statement. "The United States notes that it maintains compliance with Article 41 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations," the US Embassy said on Twitter. The other embassies published similar messages or re-tweeted the US message. A Turkish version of the US statement said the embassy "confirms" compliance with the convention, which some observers said could be read to suggest that the embassies were pledging future compliance. (Reuters) State-of-the-art satellite serving the Americas will transform aviation connectivity landscape and accelerate digital inclusion programmes in the region GUIANA SPACE CENTER, KOUROU -- (BUSINESS WIRE) -- SES announced today that the SES-17 satellite was successfully launched into space onboard an Ariane 5 launcher operated by Arianespace from the Europes Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana at 11:10 pm local time (02:10 am UTC). This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211023005019/en/ The multi-mission Ka-band satellite will provide comprehensive coverage across the Americas, the Caribbean and the Atlantic Ocean. From its orbital slot of 67.1 degrees West orbital slot, the very high throughput geostationary (GEO) satellite incorporating cutting-edge technologies is set to deliver the best connectivity experience for SES customers operating in the aeronautical, maritime, enterprise, and government markets. Built by Thales Alenia Space, SES-17 marks an important milestone in satellite technology as the first Ka-band geostationary satellite to embark a fully digital payload powered the most powerful digital transparent processor (DTP) ever placed in orbit. It will have nearly 200 user beams that can be connected to any other beam at any time. This, combined with the ability to dynamically change the power and frequency allocation of any beam, means that SES-17 can adapt to changing customer needs in real-time. It is also the first GEO satellite to use Adaptive Resource Control (ARC), an industry-first software system that leverages the full flexibility of totally digital payloads to autonomously adapt space and ground resources on the fly to meet customer needs. Equipped with an all-electric propulsion system, the satellite will reach orbit as of mid-2022. When operational, anchor customer Thales InFlyt Experience will use SES-17s connectivity to power its next-generation aviation connectivity solution, FlytLIVE. Thales InFlyt Experience will ensure both crew and passengers will have an always-on high-speed Wi-Fi connection at peak times and in high-traffic routes while optimising bandwidth. Todays launch of SES-17 is an exciting milestone for our FlytLIVE Connectivity Solution currently flying within the United States, said Craig Olson, Vice President at Thales InFlyt Experience. The network and satellite architecture was specifically developed for the unique connectivity requirements of our commercial aviation customers and their passengers. With SES-17, FlytLIVE will provide full coverage for the entire Americas and North Atlantic Corridor delivering an unmatched connectivity experience in the air. We are immensely excited to have SES-17 join our GEO fleet and medium earth orbit (MEO) constellation. SES-17 is the fruit of a successful collaboration between the Thales Group, Thales Alenia Space and SES, and will enable us to address the exponential connectivity demands in aviation and maritime, and to accelerate digital inclusion initiatives across the Americas, said Steve Collar, CEO of SES. Thanks to Arianespace, SES-17 is now on its way to orbit. We are looking forward to SES customers being able to leverage the high throughput, global reach and low-latency of SESs multi-orbit, interoperable Ka-band satellite network comprising SES-17 and our upcoming O3b mPOWER constellation. What a launch SES-17 has mobilised all Thales Alenia Space experts from the innovative design of the satellite itself to the last combined operations and is now on its way to orbit. Fully-digital and highly-innovative, SES-17 will benefit from all the state-of-art technologies we have developed to fulfil the markets connectivity needs, said Herve Derrey CEO of Thales Alenia Space. Follow us on: Twitter | Facebook | YouTube | LinkedIn | Instagram Read our Blogs > Visit the Media Gallery > About SES SES has a bold vision to deliver amazing experiences everywhere on earth by distributing the highest quality video content and providing seamless connectivity around the world. As the leader in global content connectivity solutions, SES operates the worlds only multi-orbit constellation of satellites with the unique combination of global coverage and high performance, including the commercially-proven, low-latency Medium Earth Orbit O3b system. By leveraging a vast and intelligent, cloud-enabled network, SES is able to deliver high-quality connectivity solutions anywhere on land, at sea or in the air, and is a trusted partner to the worlds leading telecommunications companies, mobile network operators, governments, connectivity and cloud service providers, broadcasters, video platform operators and content owners. SESs video network carries over 8,650 channels and has an unparalleled reach of 361 million households, delivering managed media services for both linear and non-linear content. The company is listed on Paris and Luxembourg stock exchanges (Ticker: SESG). Further information is available at: www.ses.com. About Thales Alenia Space Drawing on over 40 years of experience and a unique combination of skills, expertise and cultures, Thales Alenia Space delivers cost-effective solutions for telecommunications, navigation, Earth observation, environmental management, exploration, science and orbital infrastructures. Governments and private industry alike count on Thales Alenia Space to design satellite-based systems that provide anytime, anywhere connections and positioning, monitor our planet, enhance management of its resources, and explore our Solar System and beyond. Thales Alenia Space sees space as a new horizon, helping to build a better, more sustainable life on Earth. A joint venture between Thales (67%) and Leonardo (33%), Thales Alenia Space also teams up with Telespazio to form the parent companies Space Alliance, which offers a complete range of services. Thales Alenia Space posted consolidated revenues of approximately 1.85 billion euros in 2020 and has around 7,700 employees in 10 countries with 17 sites in Europe and a plant in the US. www.thalesaleniaspace.com About Thales Thales (Euronext Paris: HO) is a global leader in advanced technologies, investing in digital and deep tech innovations connectivity, big data, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and quantum computing to build a confident future crucial for the development of our societies. The Group provides its customers businesses, organisations and governments in the defense, aeronautics, space, transport, and digital identity and security domains with solutions, services and products that help them fulfil their critical role, consideration for the individual being the driving force behind all decisions. Thales has 81,000 employees in 68 countries. In 2020 the Group generated sales of 17 billion. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211023005019/en/ CONTACT: SES Suzanne Ong External Communications Tel. +352 710 725 500 suzanne.ong@ses.com Thales Alenia Space Sandrine Bielecki Tel.: +33 (0)4 92 92 70 94 sandrine.bielecki@thalesaleniaspace.com Catherine des Arcis Tel.: +33 (0)6 78 64 63 97 catherine.des-arcis@thalesaleniaspace.com Thales Defence & Civil Aerospace Maria Mellouli +33 (0) 6 89 73 25 47 maria.mellouli@thalesgroup.com SES-17 Successfully Launched on Ariane 5 (Photo: Business Wire) PARIS (AP) In a move with potential ramifications for other European museums, France is displaying 26 looted colonial-era artifacts for one last time before returning them to Benin a decision authorities in the West African country described as historic. The wooden anthropomorphic statues, royal thrones and sacred altars were pilfered by the French army 129 years ago. The French will have a final glimpse of the objects, from the collection known as the Abomey Treasures, in the Musee du quai BranlyJacques Chirac from Tuesday through Sunday. Calixte Biah, curator of the Museum of History of Ouidah, Benin, where the artefacts will first be exhibited, said the occasion was historic. Its been more than one century that they have been removed from their historical context. And when you look at the quality of each of these artifacts altogether, you realize that ... there were great artists, he told The Associated Press. Benin is founding a new museum in Abomey, partly funded by the French government, that will ultimately house the works. President Emmanuel Macron suggested that France now needed to right the wrongs of the past, making a landmark speech in 2017 in which he said he can no longer accept "that a large part of many African countries cultural heritage lies in France. It laid down a roadmap for the return of the royal treasures taken during the era of empire and colony. So far, however, France has only turned over one item a sword handed to the Army Museum in Senegal. And the 26 works going to Benin represent a tiny handful of the more than 90,000 artifacts from sub-Saharan Africa alone held in French museums. We see 26 artefacts. There are others, no? So I wouldnt say that we are ending a process. Id say we are at the beginning of a process, Biah said. I think it would be decent that other countries which hold African artefacts take the same path as France, he added. Earlier this year, Germany started a similar move. The decision was taken that German museums should work on a restitution plan to return to Nigeria artifacts known as the Benin Bronzes next year. These were looted from the royal palace of the Kingdom of Benin, in what is now southern Nigeria, by a British colonial expedition in 1897. Story continues Yet critics of such moves including Londons British Museum, in a decades-long tug-of-war with the Greek government over a restitution of the Elgin, or Parthenon, Marbles argue that it will open the floodgates to emptying Western museums of their collections. Many are made up of objects acquired during colonial times. The British Museum said Monday it is working on a collaboration with Nigeria, linked to the construction of a new museum in the West African country, which will allow to reunite Benin artworks from international collections. French Culture Minister Roselyne Bachelot tried to assuage jitters among European museums, emphasizing that this initiative will not create a legal precedent. A French law was passed last year to allow the restitution of the statues to Benin, and of the sword to Senegal. But she said that the French governments law was intentionally specific in applying solely to the 27 artifacts. (It) does not establish any general right to restitution and in no way calls into question the right of French museums to hold on to their heritage. The story of the Abomey Treasures is as dramatic as their sculpted forms. In November 1892, Colonel Alfred Dodds led a pilfering French expeditionary force into the Kingdom of Danhome located in the south of present-day Benin. The colonizing troops broke into the Abomey Palace, home of King Behanzin, seizing as they did many royal objects including the 26 artifacts that Dodds donated to the Musee dEthnographie du Trocadero in Paris in the 1890s. Since the 2000s, the objects have been housed at the Musee du quai BranlyJacques Chirac. Gaelle Beaujean, head of the Africa collections at the museum, stressed that these artefacts have also been seen by artists (in France, and) inspired (architect) Le Corbusier ... In fact, since 1893, they are very much engraved on the French memory as well. They are part, I believe, of a common history, she added. Macron is to visit the exhibit on Wednesday. The restitution process aims at allowing the African youth to have access to their own heritage in Africa, and not in Europe only, the French presidency said in a statement. Benins Culture Minister Jean-Michel Abimbola called the return of the works a historic milestone, and the beginning of further cooperation between the two countries, during a news conference last week. The French Development Agency will give some 35 million euros toward the Museum of the Saga of the Amazons and the Danhome Kings to be built in Abomey under a pledge signed this year. The official transfer of the 26 pieces is expected to be signed in Paris on Nov. 9, and the art is expected to be in Benin a few days later, Abimbola said. While locals say the decision is overdue, whats important is that the art will be returned. It was a vacuum created among Benins historical treasures, which is gradually being reconstituted, said Fortune Sossa, President of the African Cultural Journalists Network. ___ Virgile Ahissou in Cotonou, Benin contributed to this report. You may have missed this small detail in "The Silence of the Lambs." Orion Pictures In the remake of "The Invisible Man," there is a quick scene that references the original movie. This man with bandages on his face is a reference to the 1933 film "The Invisible Man." Universal Pictures "The Invisible Man" originally premiered in 1933, but the movie was remade in 2020. It follows a woman, Cecilia, who claims her abusive boyfriend who recently died by suicide is now invisible and stalking her. In the latest film, when Cecilia visits a hospital after she faints, the camera cuts to a person whose face is wrapped in bandages as he's wheeled out of a room. Some viewers may not have realized the moment references the original film, in which the lead character wrapped himself in cloth after making himself invisible. The huge plot twist at the end of "Malignant" was hinted at throughout the film - even as early as the opening credits. The ending is revealed early in "Malignant." Warner Bros. Pictures Warning: Spoilers. "Malignant" premiered in 2021 and follows a woman, Madison, who sees visions of people being murdered and realizes they are actually being killed in real life. It's later revealed that her conjoined twin brother lives inside her head, takes over her body, and kills people. That plot twist was hinted at in the opening scenes of the movie when documents are shown reading, "Birthed with two heads." In an early scene, Madison says, "There's no one there. It's all in my head. It's all in my head. It's all in my head." All of this hints at the fact that the killer is actually living inside her head. Throughout "Us," there are hints at the movie's big twist. Adelaide in "Us" is a clone, too. Universal Pictures Warning: Spoilers. In 2019, Jordan Peele made his second horror-thriller film, "Us." In it, a family comes under attack from a group of doppelgangers. It's later revealed these doppelgangers are clones and that the mother, Adelaide, is actually a clone, too. That twist is foreshadowed throughout the movie. In one scene, Adelaide says she has a tough time talking the clones do too. Also, when the doppelgangers show up to the house for the first time, small clues prove Adelaide already knows who they are. For example, when the 9-1-1 operator asks if they hurt anyone, Adelaide says, "No, they haven't. But I know they will." Story continues Cult members are hiding in several scenes of "Hereditary." Cult members hiding outside the house in "Hereditary.' A24 Warning: Spoilers. Ari Aster's 2018 masterpiece, "Hereditary," focuses on a family's trauma after losing their youngest daughter. It isn't until the last 20 minutes that viewers understand the whole movie is actually about a cult, but there were hints to the true premise hiding throughout the film. For example, at the start of the film, when the son, Peter, is smoking, if you look closely, you can see a cult member hiding in the background. In another scene, several cult members are hiding in the dark outside the house, as pictured above. In "A Quiet Place," bags of chips are the only items left on grocery store shelves for a very smart reason. Chips are the only thing left on the shelves in "A Quiet Place." Paramount Pictures John Krasinski's 2018 horror film, "A Quiet Place," follows a family in a post-apocalyptic world. In it, no one can make a sound because any noises will attract killer monsters. At the beginning of the movie, the family creeps into a grocery store. All of the shelves are empty, but if you look closely, you will see that the chip aisle is still fully stocked. The chips have been left untouched because crunching into one would create too much noise and attract the monsters. Pennywise may have been posing as a librarian in "It." The librarian could've been Pennywise in "It." Warner Bros. Pictures In the 2017 remake of "It," Pennywise the clown takes many forms, but there's one scene that is really chilling. When one of the children is seen reading a book in a library, there's an older librarian behind him. She may look normal, but if you look closely, she's smiling creepily and staring directly at the child. Some say it's Pennywise. If you examine one scene in "Get Out," you'll notice a metaphor for slavery. The scene in "Get Out" was a metaphor for slavery. Universal Pictures In Jordan Peele's 2017 horror thriller, Chris, a Black man, meets his girlfriend's white parents for the first time. In one scene, Chris is tied to a chair and is about to be hypnotized. But he pulls a piece of cotton out of the chair and stuffs his ears with it so he can't hear the hypnosis. Some viewers may have missed the metaphor here: Chris was shackled and had to pick cotton, just like slaves had to do to stay alive. In "The Conjuring 2," the name of the demon is hidden throughout the movie. The bookshelf spells out "Valak" in "The Conjuring 2." Warner Bros. Pictures In the 2016 sequel to "The Conjuring," paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren help a single mother who says her house is haunted. At the same time, Lorraine is being haunted by a demon, and to get rid of it, she must learn its name. It turns out, the name, Valak, is hidden in most scenes. For instance, "Valak" is etched into the walls of the kitchen, it's found on a friendship bracelet Lorraine's daughter is making, and it's spelled out on a bookshelf. You may have missed that "It Follows" doesn't take place in any time period. The technology is strange in "It Follows." RADiUS-TWC In 2014, "It Follows" left many audiences feeling uncomfortable. The movie follows a college student who is being hunted by an entity after contracting it during sex. But the plot takes place in no particular decade. In some scenes, they are watching '50s cartoons, and then in other scenes, they stand in kitchens that are straight out of the '70s. But perhaps most interestingly, the technology seems to be from a different world, so as to not point to a specific time period. In one scene, one of the characters is reading a book on what looks likes a toy clam or a makeup compact. A sketchbook drawing in the first "Saw" movie revealed the killer early in the film. John Kramer with his sketchbook in "Saw." Lions Gate Films Warning: Spoiler alert. "Saw," which premiered in 2004, follows two men who wake up in a bathroom and are chained to pipes. In the middle of the bathroom, there is a dead body. The men learn they are part of a game orchestrated by a serial killer known as Jigsaw. At one point in the movie, there is a flashback to a terminal cancer patient in a hospital bed. In front of him is a sketchbook with a drawing that shows a contraption used at the beginning of the film. If you looked closely at the drawing and realized what it showed, you would know that the patient, John Kramer, is the serial killer known as Jigsaw. Circular shapes can be spotted throughout "The Ring." The ring of a coffee cup is left behind in "The Ring." DreamWorks Pictures In 2002's "The Ring," a journalist investigates a mysterious videotape after learning anyone who watches it dies seven days later. Throughout the film, there is a running ring motif. At one point, for example, the camera zooms in on a coffee ring left behind by a mug. Even the DreamWorks logo, which is usually a crescent moon, transforms into a ring at the beginning of the movie. A missing cross on the wall hints at the main character's backstory in "Signs." A missing cross can be seen on the wall in "Signs." Buena Vista Pictures The 2002 thriller "Signs" tells the story of a family facing an alien invasion. The father, Graham Hess, is a former priest who left religion behind when his wife was killed. Before that fact is revealed, there's a scene where Graham is brushing his teeth. If you look closely, you can see a stain in the shape of a cross on the wall. A cross used to hang there, demonstrating Graham lost faith in religion. The big twist at the end of "The Sixth Sense" is foreshadowed in the main character's clothing. He wears the same types of clothes in "The Sixth Sense." Buena Vista Pictures Warning: Spoilers. "The Sixth Sense," which premiered in 1999, follows a psychologist, Dr. Malcolm Crowe, who starts working with a child who says he can see and communicate with ghosts. In one of the most famous movie twists of all time, viewers learn Malcolm has been dead the entire time. If you look closely, he is always wearing some variation of the clothes he was wearing the night he was killed, which included an overcoat, a sweatshirt, and parts of a suit. The location of the serial killer is hinted at early in "The Silence of the Lambs." The drawing hinted at a clue in "The Silence of the Lambs." Orion Pictures The classic 1992 horror "The Silence of the Lambs" follows Clarice, an FBI trainee, who is trying to track down a serial killer named Buffalo Bill. To do so, she meets with another serial killer named Dr. Hannibal Lecter and asks for his help. During their first meeting, Clarice asks Hannibal if he made the drawings that are hanging in his cell. He answers, "That is the Duomo seen from the Belvedere. You know Florence?" Later in the film, it's revealed Buffalo Bill is located in Belvedere, Ohio. In one scene from "Poltergeist," a picture of the youngest daughter is replaced with an image of a ghost. There's a picture of a ghost in "Poltergeist." MGM/UA Entertainment Co. In the 1982 horror classic "Poltergeist," a family is terrorized by ghosts in their house. It hits fever pitch when the youngest daughter, Carol Ann, goes missing. Toward the end of the film, the mother is attacked by one of the ghosts. If you lean in closely at that moment, you can see one of the pictures of Carol Ann on a table is replaced with the image of a black-and-white ghost. "The Shining" has several subtle references to the number 42. The number 42 appears a lot in "The Shining." Warner Bros. Stephen King's novel "The Shining" was adapted into a horror film in 1980. In the story, a family moves into a seemingly haunted hotel to take care of it during the off-season. The family quickly descends into madness as the isolation becomes too much. Throughout the film, viewers can spot the number 42. For instance, the son is wearing a shirt with the number on it. In another scene, he's watching a movie called "Summer of '42." Plus, the infamous room in the film is Room 237. If you multiply those numbers together, they equal 42. Some people believe the repetitiveness of this number points to the fact that "The Shining" is about the Holocaust Nazi leaders met to discuss and implement the "Final Solution" in 1942. A banner in "The Exorcist" may look like nothing, but it has a deeper meaning. The word "tasukete" appears in "The Exorcist." Warner Bros. "The Exorcist" premiered in 1973 and instantly became a classic, telling the story of a young girl, Regan, who is possessed by a demon. In one scene, there is a banner hanging over the doorway in an office where Father Karras takes his tape recordings of Regan. In red letters, the sign reads, "tasukete," which is Japanese for "help me." Those same words appear on Regan's stomach during the movie. Read the original article on Insider A man from California thought he was paying someone named Greg Mercury $400,000 for a lucrative online business that sold drones through the e-commerce platform Shopify, according to federal court documents. Instead, prosecutors said, he got a blank Shopify account with no record of any sales. Greg Mercury is actually a 24-year-old man named Harlan Barry Cox who the Justice Department said used various aliases to sell $706,000 worth of fake online businesses from 2018 to 2019. Cox is accused of spending the fraudulent funds on vacations, a $100,000 luxury Mercedes SUV and plastic surgery. Cox pleaded guilty to wire fraud on Friday, court filings show. Under the terms of the agreement, he agreed to forfeit $561,767 and faces up to 20 years in prison though his sentence will likely be far less, prosecutors in the Eastern District of Virginia said. Public defenders representing Cox did not immediately respond to McClatchy News request for comment on Monday. Cox, who has remained in jail since his arrest in June, could not be reached for comment. According to an affidavit filed in support of the criminal charges, Cox first used the Greg Mercury moniker in May 2018. Prosecutors said he sold a fake business called Drone Purple for $40,000 to a buyer in Washington, but the buyer figured out it was a scam and tracked Cox down using bank records linked to the money transfer with Greg Mercury. Cox pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge in state court and received a six-month suspended sentence, the affidavit states. But his brush with the law didnt stop there. Prosecutors said Cox used an identical ruse to sell Drone Purple to the California buyer later that same year this time for a purchase price of $400,000. Marketing materials used for the sale reportedly showed the business had $2 million in revenue and a profit of more than $1.3 million. The buyer sent the payment in two installments of $20,000 and $380,000 a small portion of which went to a third-party broker that facilitated the sale, according to the affidavit. Story continues But when the buyer accessed Drone Purples Shopify account after the sale was complete, the registration details indicated it was opened just a few months earlier and had not generated any income, prosecutors said. Cox, still posing as Greg Mercury, reportedly promised to refund the buyers money as soon as a hold on the transfer was lifted. The buyer then asked the bank to release the hold, and the money was sent to accounts Cox controlled. Prosecutors said Cox didnt return the funds. Instead, hes accused of spending $10,000 on a massage, locksmith, food and cash withdrawals; $103,000 on a 2017 Mercedes SUV; and $2,000 a month on rent at a high-end apartment complex in Richmond, Virginia. Cox also used the money to pay for trips to Miami, New York and Beverly Hills, where he dropped at least $14,000 on a plastic surgeon and outpatient surgery center, according to the affidavit. Cox repeated the scheme three more times using fake aliases such as Wayne Kastelein, David Hurt and Trevor Claude, prosecutors said. The other online businesses he purported to sell were also drone companies or, in one instance, an online marketplace for buying and selling internet businesses. Buyers paid anywhere from $150,000 to $400,000 for his bogus businesses, prosecutors said. Some of the funds never went through because banks handling Coxs accounts suspected it was fraud, the affidavit states, and at least one of the victims filed a civil lawsuit against Cox in California. Prosecutors said Cox ultimately settled that case in May 2020 by agreeing to sign over the title to his Mercedes. Following complaints to law enforcement, investigators determined Cox was tricking buyers with forged documents including bank statements fraudulently altered to show different names, addresses and deposits as well as fake screenshots from payment processing platforms purporting to show thousands of dollars in monthly revenue for the online businesses he was selling. Prosecutors filed a criminal complaint against Cox in January, court filings show, and he was arrested in June. A judge ordered he remain in judge pending trial, citing the weight of evidence against him, his criminal history, lack of stable employment, previous failure to appear in court, and his use of aliases and false documents in the alleged fraud. A grand jury subsequently indicted Cox in July on seven counts of fraud, money laundering, engaging in unlawful money transactions and obstruction of an official proceeding. He pleaded guilty on Friday to one count of wire fraud and is scheduled to be sentenced March 1. Georgia man got COVID relief loan and spent $57,000 of it on Pokemon card, feds say Pastor swindles $150,000 in COVID relief funds then buys a Mercedes, feds in GA say Fake health care worker scams 84-year-old woman out of thousands, Oklahoma cops say Amazon job application Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP/Getty Images As Amazon grew into a goods delivery juggernaut and the No. 2 U.S. private employer, "a lot of times, because we've optimized for the customer experience, we've been focused on that," Bethany Reyes, recently put in charge of the company's leave program, tells The New York Times. Amazon offers its workers a wide variety of leave options paid, unpaid, medical, personal but as its leave administration outgrew the contractors Amazon had been using, it brought the leave management program in-house. It hasn't been a smooth transition. In internal correspondence, the Times reports, Amazon administrators warned of "inadequate service levels," "deficient processes" and leave systems that are "prone to delay and error." Amazon employees caught up in those mistakes are less euphemistic. "Workers across the country facing medical problems and other life crises have been fired when the attendance software mistakenly marked them as no-shows," the Times reports, citing former and current human resources staff. "Doctors' notes vanished into black holes in Amazon's databases. ... Some workers who were ready to return found that the system was too backed up to process them, resulting in weeks or months of lost income." One problem was uncovered a year ago by Tara Jones, an Amazon warehouse worker in Oklahoma who had taken accounting in community college and noticed that Amazon was underpaying her a significant amount during her parental leave, the Times reports. The error continued even after she reported it, so she wrote founder Jeff Bezos. The email sparked an investigation that discovered widespread underpayments to workers, including up to 179 at Jones' warehouse. Amazon is still identifying and paying workers, a company spokeswoman told the Times. After the Times in June reported muliple issues in Amazon's employment systems during the pandemic-fueled surge in company profits, new CEO Andy Jassy highlighted fixing the leave system as one way the company can become "Earth's best employer." Reyes told the Times that Amazon has made headway in addressing the problems and said the disparate software the company uses will start working together by March. You can read some of the stories of workers severely affected in the meantime at The New York Times. Story continues You may also like The American 'Great Resignation' by the numbers Liz Cheney, Marjorie Taylor Greene take turns calling each other 'a joke' Lorli von Trapp Campbell of the Trapp Family Singers dies at 90 CANBERRA, Australia (AP) Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced on Monday that a fifth National's party minister will join his Cabinet as part of deal to cement the junior coalition partner's support for a national target of zero net carbon emissions by 2050. The National partys in-principle support for the target, which was decided on Sunday, is a breakthrough for Morrison, who wants to take a more ambitious plan to reduce Australias greenhouse gas emissions when he leaves on Thursday for a U.N. summit in Glasgow, Scotland. Nationals lawmakers would not discuss the conditions the party had placed on its support. Morrison's Cabinet was considering the conditions. Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce, who is also deputy prime minister, declined to say whether the party had demanded that Resources Minister Keith Pitt be made the fifth Nationals Cabinet minister. Morrison later said Pitt, who maintains Australia will continue mining coal for decades, will join his Cabinet. Minister Pitt is a powerful voice for the resources sector and ensuring that we build upon Australias strength in traditional exports, while harnessing opportunities in the new energy economy and critical minerals, Morrison said. Morrison later told Parliament he looked forward to outlining in Glasgow our commitments in terms of 2050, as well as an existing 2030 commitment to reduce emissions by 26% to 28% below 2005 levels. Morrison said the center-left opposition Labor Party's promise to reduce emissions by 45% by 2030 had cost the party the 2019 election. The Australian people rejected Labors policies because Labor couldnt explain their policies. They had no plan to achieve their policies. They couldnt say what theyd cost, Morrison told Parliament. Morrison declined to explain how the government plans to achieve its new 2050 target or detail the agreement with the Nationals. Labor accused Morrison of adopting its 2019 election promise of net zero by 2050. Story continues Joyce declined to confirm or deny that he had told his colleagues he opposed net zero. We never would have had to go into the negotiation process if the Nationals were 100% happy with where the proposition was, Joyce said. Nationals deputy leader David Littleproud said further details of the agreement would be made public by early Tuesday. We worked through this calmly and rationally as a party, Littleproud said, adding that the Nationals' amendments to the Cabinet proposal would protect jobs in rural Australia. Reducing emissions is a politically fraught issue in Australia, which is one of the worlds largest exporters of coal and liquified natural gas. The nation is also one of the worlds worst greenhouse gas emitters per capita because of its heavy reliance on coal-fired power. The rural-based Nationals have traditionally represented farmers interests, but are increasingly now seen as advocates for fossil fuel industries. Nationals Sen. Matt Canavan, who represents coal-rich Queensland state, said the deal was bad for the country. Net zero is going to end in tears, Canavan said. I dont think this is the right approach for this country. Its a fantasy to think we can remove all carbon emissions, Canavan added. Australia has not budged from its 2015 pledge at a Paris climate summit for 2030, despite many countries adopting far more ambitious targets. The Glasgow summit, known as COP26, will assess progress since nations agreed in the Paris accord to limit warming to less than 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit). The meeting in Glasgow is widely seen as the last chance to hold global warming to 1.5 C (2.7 F) above pre-industrial levels. By Byron Kaye SYDNEY (Reuters) -A small Australian publisher is calling for the government to enforce a new law to compel Facebook Inc to negotiate a content deal, prompting the architect of the rule to say he was "concerned" about the social media giant's behaviour. The petition by academic publisher The Conversation, emailed to its readers at the weekend, reflects a groundswell of disquiet among smaller Australian outlets who have not reached deals with Facebook, as mandated by the new law. The U.S. internet giant and Alphabet Inc's Google have been required since March to negotiate with Australian outlets for content that drives traffic, and advertising, to their websites. If they don't, the government may take over the negotiation. Most large media companies like News Corp and the Australian Broadcasting Corp have struck deals with both companies, but some independent outlets like The Conversation - as first reported by Reuters - say they have been unfairly spurned. "The Conversation should not be treated differently to other media outlets," the publisher's editor, Misha Ketchell, said in the email to readers, seen by Reuters. "We do not want to let Facebook off the hook," he added, calling for readers to sign a petition and write to their local member of parliament demanding Facebook be "designated" for intervention. Facebook denied the allegations. "To date, weve signed commercial deals that will support more than 200 newsrooms across the county," Mia Garlick, Director of Public Policy, Facebook Australia and New Zealand, told Reuters. "In addition, we're establishing a fund with Country Press Australia to support digital transformation of regional newsrooms and we have already announced our $15 million Australian News Fund which provides dedicated funding to independent, digital and smaller newsrooms." Treasurer Josh Frydenberg, who ultimately decides whether intervention is needed, said the government "expects all parties to work constructively towards reaching commercial agreements in the spirit of collaboration and good faith encouraged by the code". Story continues Australian Competition and Consumer Commission Chair Rod Sims, who oversaw the design of the News Media Bargaining Code, said the system had been successful but singled out Facebook's refusal to negotiate with The Conversation and foreign language broadcaster SBS for concern. "Google is still negotiating and finalising deals with more news media companies and seems to be approaching this exercise in the right spirit," Sims said in a statement. "We are concerned that Facebook does not currently seem to take the same approach." A planned federal government review of the law next year would "examine closely the performance of all parties and whether the government's expectations have been met," Sims added. The Conversation's petition had collected 7487 online signatures by late Monday in Australia, and the publisher said it planned to deliver the total result to the treasurer in March 2022, when the review is scheduled to begin. (Reporting by Byron Kaye; Editing by Shri Navaratnam, Jane Wardell and Emelia Sithole-Matarise) TikTok might be known for being home to talented performers who typically like to dance along to todays hottest artists like Doja Cat and Megan Thee Stallion, but one particular video thats going viral on the popular video app is a duo dancing to the theme song to The Great British Bake Off. The reality baking competition, known as The Great British Baking Show in the U.S., began broadcasting the shows 12th season last month on Netflix. Each week, viewers tune in to watch amateur bakers compete for the title of Star Baker. Unlike most competitive reality shows, the shows contestants dont typically behave as though they're competing. Instead, they often become close friends and they even help each other out with their challenging bakes. On TikTok, best friends Yali and Timo, known as @sharoniskaren_, are garnering fans for their hilarious interpretive dance to "The Great British Bake Off" theme song in addition to other shows on the BBC network. To date, the pair have amassed over 75,000 followers and earned nearly 3 million likes. The emotions, the control, one viewer commented. You encapsulated the love, the tragedy, and hope that this show delivers. Can this play during the intro please? joked another fan. Some viewers even tagged the BBC and their local Channel 4 station in the comments section to request this video be used as the show's opener. The best friend duo has also danced to the Antiques Roadshowand the British dance competition Strictly Come Dancing. And their perfectly in sync routine to the theme song to EastEnders earned the pair over nearly 4 million views and over 600,000 likes. A cinematic masterpiece, declared one viewer. I will never not think about this now, replied another fan. "These are the only TikTok dances I want to watch." Related: From sold-out dresses and beauty products to cozy home goods and games, these viral TikTok gifts will steal the holiday show. The body of a man who went missing in Grand Teton National Park was found Sunday, park rangers said. A search for Jared Hembree, a 26-year-old from Texas, began Thursday when law enforcement officials received a call of concern after an interaction with him outside the park, park officials said. Texas man vanishes in Grand Teton National Park, officials in Wyoming say After a four-day search, officials found his body in the eastern part of the national park, park rangers said. Rangers arrived to the scene and recovered Hembrees remains, officials said in a Sunday news release. The National Park Service and Teton County (Sheriffs) Office are conducting an investigation into what occurred. Hembree was last seen Oct. 21 near Game Warden Point in Moran, Wyoming, McClatchy News reported. Park officials found his car unattended at the parking area for Game Warden Point, according to the National Park Service. More than 80 people searched for Hembree over the four days, and multiple agencies were involved in the search. Park rangers did not say how they found the body. Idaho hitchhiker vanished 50 years ago. DNA helped his daughter find closure No, dont change your voicemail if lost. Rescuers explain why viral post is a bad idea Lost hiker ignored calls from rescuers because of the unknown number, CO officials say President Jair Bolsonaro's government will pursue a confrontational negotiating strategy at the upcoming UN climate summit, renewing calls for other countries to pay Brazil to preserve the Amazon, the vice president said Monday. Vice President Hamilton Mourao, an army general who is Bolsonaro's point man on the Amazon, said Brazil would use the "weapons of diplomacy" to protect what the administration sees as its national interest at the COP26 conference in Glasgow, which opens Sunday. "The Amazon represents around 50 percent of Brazil's territory. If we have to maintain 80 percent of that intact, not only because of our own legislation but also to cooperate with the rest of the world to prevent drastic climate change... we're talking about preserving 10 Germanys," Mourao told journalists. "There has to be a negotiation on the country being compensated for doing that job for the rest of humanity's benefit." Bolsonaro has faced international criticism since taking office in 2019 for a surge in deforestation and fires in the Amazon, and for his government's alleged lack of ambition at international climate talks, including its insistence Brazil be paid for protecting its 60-percent share of the world's biggest rainforest, a vital resource in the race to curb climate change. Brazil has said its efforts to reduce deforestation since 2006 are worth $30 billion to $40 billion. Mourao, 68, said Brazil, the world's biggest exporter of beef -- much of it produced in the Amazon -- had to defend its right to develop its economy. "There's political opposition (to Brazil), our government being a right-wing government and there being a left-wing majority vision in many countries of the world. That creates a political clash," he said. Mourao said Brazil would announce one key advance in Glasgow: a pledge to shave two to three years off its previous committment to end illegal deforestation by 2030. Story continues He also sowed confusion on another key issue: whether Brazil will end its opposition to stopping the "double counting" of carbon credits, in which countries that reduce pollution could both sell an emissions credit to another country and count it for themselves. Mourao, who will not be in Glasgow, said he opposed double counting, before clarifying: "It's not my place to reveal the nuances of our (negotiating) strategy. As you know, negotiations are a push and pull." The Glasgow summit, the biggest climate conference since the 2015 Paris talks produced a landmark accord on curbing global warming, is seen as crucial for setting global emissions-cutting targets. jhb/bgs MILAN (Reuters) - Brembo could look at buying tech startups to boost the software content of its premium brakes, Chief Executive Daniele Schillaci said, as the Italian company unveiled its latest braking system. The company, whose customers include Ferrari, Tesla, and several Formula One teams, presented 'Sensify', a pioneering braking system that can operate independently on each of a vehicle's four wheels. It includes a digital "brain" that uses data to adapt braking to personal driving styles and changing road conditions. Schillaci, an automotive industry veteran with previous stints at Nissan Motor and Toyota, said mechanics were still predominant in the Sensify system, compared with software content. "But soon the mechanic and software contents will soon be equivalent and by the end of the decade software will become predominant in braking systems," he said. "That's why we include tech companies among our eventual M&A targets, not necessarily large companies but also startups which could be interesting for us," Schillaci said. Brembo in the last year agreed to buy SBS Friction, a Danish maker of brake pads for motorbikes, and Spanish motorcycle brake maker J.Juan. Schillaci said Brembo was not looking at acquisitions just to increase revenues. "We look at M&A as a way to make our core business thrive. Recent deals show we want to be vertically integrated in what we do," he said. By the end of this year, the company will open its first high technology lab in California's Silicon Valley to accelerate its digitisation strategy. "We'll be in California to acquire know-how on latest artificial-intelligence technologies, but also to look around, if we see there are startups catching our attention," Schillaci said. Brembo shareholders have approved a loyalty share scheme that would allow its controlling family to retain that position as the company looks to make acquisitions. Story continues Schillaci said Brembo was in talks with a major unidentified automaker to supply Sensify to its models starting from 2024, while adding he expected the system would become a "standard feature," at least for premium platforms, by 2030. All components of the Sensify system are designed internally, Schillaci said, adding Brembo was finalising partnerships with external providers "to complete our know-how and to accelerate production scale-up when needed". (Reporting by Giulio Piovaccari; Editing by Mark Potter) The remains of Brian Laundrie have been sent to an anthropologist for further review after an initial autopsy came back inconclusive, an attorney for Laundrie's family told CBS News. "Last week, I was told that the manner and cause of death were not determined and the remains were sent to an anthropologist for further evaluation," attorney Steven Bertolino said in a statement Monday, adding there were no further updates. Laundrie's remains were discovered last week in a Florida wildlife reserve next to several of his belongings, including a backpack and a notebook. The FBI said it identified the remains after comparing them with dental records. One source told CBS News that only "a small part" of a body has been found, which will complicate identification efforts. The manhunt for Laundrie, who is named a person of interest in the disappearance of his late fiancee Gabby Petito, has stretched on for weeks. Petito, who was 22 at the time of her death, was reported missing on September 11, 10 days after Laundrie returned home from a cross-country trip without her. Her body was found on September 19 in Wyoming's Grand Teton National Park. Brian Laundrie / Credit: Brian Laundrie/Instagram Earlier this month, the Teton County coroner determined that Petito was strangled to death and said the manner of death was a homicide. He said he believed her body had been outside for three to four weeks before it was found. Laundrie has not been charged in Petito's death. But a court in Wyoming issued an arrest warrant for him in late September, accusing him of engaging in the unauthorized use of a debit card to make unauthorized withdrawals of more than $1,000 between August 30 and September 1. Late Monday, police in North Port, Florida, admitted to mistakes when surveilling Laundrie before his disappearance. Investigators mistook Laundrie's mother for the missing man, leading the city's police chief to tell reporters they knew where he was on September 16, a spokesperson told CBS News. The following day, his parents reported him missing. Story continues Victoria Albert contributed reporting. Shannon Lee on "Rust" shooting death "maddening", thought about late brother Brandon Lee Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg defends company after massive document dump Tens of thousands of Afghans who worked with U.S. left to face Taliban ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) Adam Buksa scored two goals in the closing minutes and the New England Revolution rallied to tie Orlando City 2-2 on a rain-soaked Sunday night. Buksa darted behind the defense as Gustavo Bou lofted a perfectly placed entry for the one-touch finish and the Revolutions first shot on target to make it 2-1 in the 81st minute. New England suddenly took control of the pace, creating multiple scoring opportunities before Buksa struck again, leaping high to head home a ball-in played by DeJuan Jones to tie it. New England (21-4-7) has 70 points two shy of the MLS single-season record with two regular-season games left. Los Angeles FC was 72 in 2019. Orlando City (12-8-11) opened the scoring in the 39th minute, with Joao Moutinho chipping a ball-in from the left side and Nani bouncing a header inside the back post. Nani drew a foul in the penalty area, and Dike converted from the spot in the 50th. The Revolution, one of leagues original clubs in 1996, won their first Supporters Shield crown when the Seattle Sounders lost to Sporting Kansas City on Saturday. As winners of the Shield, New England will have a first-round bye along with homefield advantage for the MLS Cup playoffs. The Revolution also earned a spot in the CONCACAF Champions League tournament. ___ More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports The trial of 14 men including Burkina Faso's former president, accused in the assassination of left-wing leader Thomas Sankara 34 years ago, resumed at a military court in Ouagadougou on Monday. The slaying of Sankara, a pan-Africanist icon, has for years cast a shadow over the impoverished Sahel state, fuelling its reputation for turbulence and bloodshed. He and 12 others were riddled with bullets by a hit squad on October 15, 1987, during a putsch that brought his friend and comrade-in-arms Blaise Compaore to power. The proceedings opened on October 11 and were adjourned at the request of the defence lawyers who wanted more time to study the 20,000 items in the dossier. Twelve of the 14 accused were in court on Monday, including general Gilbert Diendere, a senior army leader at the time of the 1987 coup. The trial resumed with the presentation of a list of 60 witnesses that the court wants to hear, including by video link for those who are abroad. Among the witnesses are former French foreign minister Roland Dumas, former culture minister Jack Lang and Jean-Christophe Mitterrand, son of late president Francois Mitterrand. The younger Mitterrand served as his father's advisor on African affairs at the time of the events. Compaore, the main accused, announced through his lawyers this month that he would boycott the "political trial". He ruled for 27 years before being deposed by a popular uprising in 2014 and fleeing to neighbouring Ivory Coast. He and his former right-hand man Diendere, who once headed the elite Presidential Security Regiment, face charges of complicity in murder, harming state security and complicity in the concealment of corpses. Diendere, 61, is already serving a 20-year sentence for masterminding a plot in 2015 against the transitional government that followed Compaore's ouster. Another prominent figure among the accused is Hyacinthe Kafando, a former chief warrant officer in Compaore's presidential guard, who is accused of leading the gunmen who shot Sankara. He is on the run. Story continues Compaore has always rejected suspicions that he orchestrated the killing. - Left-wing hero - The Marxist-Leninist Sankara was an army captain when he came to power in a coup in 1983 aged just 33. He tossed out the country's name of Upper Volta, a legacy of the French colonial era, and renamed it Burkina Faso, which means "the land of honest men". He pushed ahead with a socialist agenda of nationalisations and banned female genital mutilation, polygamy and forced marriages. Burkina Faso has long been burdened by silence over the assassination and many are angry that the killers have gone unpunished. Sankara's widow Mariam, who lives in France, came to Ouagadougou for the trial opening and tried to have the proceedings filmed, which the court rejected. Earlier this month she published a statement again calling on the court to agree to have the proceedings on video "for history". An association called Justice for Thomas Sankara, Justice for Africa said it feared the trial would not shed light on suspected international involvement in the turbulence of the 1980s. ab-stb/lc/gd PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP) Lawmakers in Cambodia on Monday approved an amendment to the constitution barring Cambodians with dual citizenship from holding high government office, a move initiated by Prime Minister Hun Sen and directed at prominent opposition politicians. The government says the measure is meant to show officials loyalty to their homeland and avoid foreign interference. Several opposition leaders hold dual citizenship, while none of the top members of Hun Sens party is known to hold dual nationality. The move is the latest volley in a long struggle for power between Hun Sen, who has led the country for 36 years, and his political rivals from the Cambodia National Rescue Party, which had been the sole credible opposition force until it was disbanded by the Supreme Court. Unsupported assertions by Sam Rainsy, the self-exiled founder of the opposition party, that Hun Sen sought to purchase citizenship from the European nation of Cyprus triggered the prime ministers anger. Cypriot nationality has been available through large investments in the island nation. Sam Rainsy has feuded bitterly with Hun Sen for years. He holds French citizenship and has been living near Paris to avoid imprisonment in Cambodia on charges he says are politically motivated. This law would be custom-tailored to target me, as Hun Sen made it clear that as a reprisal against me, he wants to definitely block me from the premiership, Sam Rainsy said on his Facebook page earlier this month. Most top leaders of the opposition party fled Cambodia in late 2017, when Hun Sen launched a sweeping crackdown on critics and the high court disbanded the party and removed its lawmakers from Parliament. It is widely believed the court acted to ensure victory for Hun Sens party in the 2018 general election, which it ended up sweeping. Several Western nations have imposed sanctions on Hun Sens government, mainly after concluding that the election was neither free nor fair. Story continues The constitutional amendment, covering the posts of prime minister, the speakers of the upper and lower houses and chair of the Constitutional Council, was passed unanimously by the National Assembly with 111 votes. Hun Sens Cambodian Peoples Party holds all 123 seats in the lower house and 12 of its lawmakers apparently were absent. The change will come into effect after being approval by the Senate and signed by King Norodom Sihamoni, both considered formalities. Sam Rainsys accusation on Facebook that Hun Sen sought citizenship from Cyprus was based on an assertion in a story in the British newspaper The Guardian that the prime minister was discovered to have been among the thousands of non-Europeans who received a Cypriot passport. There is no evidence that is true, and the newspaper later corrected the statement. The TV news network Al Jazeera and other media have reported that leaked documents from Cyprus show that Hun Sen's niece as well as some Cambodian officials and cronies applied for or received Cypriot nationality. Survival has been a focus for businesses during the pandemic, but an initiative of the Chicago Community Trust is hoping to shift the conversation from survive to thrive. The endeavor, We Rise Together: For an Equitable and Just Recovery, was created a year ago in response to COVID-19, said Gloria Castillo, We Rise Together director. In late September, the accelerator program awarded $7.4 million in grants to 10 real estate developments in eight communities on the citys South and West sides. The goal of the grants is to help ensure the Black and Latinx communities hit hardest by the pandemic are not left behind. We know that by ensuring that these communities are not left behind, were actually strengthening the entire region for everyone, Castillo said. These are projects that serve as catalysts, because they all will create traffic in their communities so that the small businesses surrounding these hubs are benefiting. Thats what grantees Alisa Starks, Daniel Loftus, Perry Vietti and Julia Perkins are counting on. Starks was awarded almost $800,000 for her South Shore development, which will transform the northwest corner of 71st Street and Jeffrey Boulevard into a 47,000-square-foot entertainment and dining space. The space will include a seven-screen, dine-in cinema, a Creole-themed restaurant, an eight-lane bowling and billiards center, and a rooftop event space that she likens to City Winery. For Starks, the grant was timely since construction costs have gone up and building has slowed since the pandemic began. I have no aspirations to be an AMC. My aspiration is about how best I can be in the community and be a tool for revitalization, Starks said of her Inner City Entertainment development. I said, Heres a business that I can put it in the community. We want sit-down restaurants in our neighborhoods, we want to be able to walk to shops, we want all that. Her target opening date is summer or fall 2023. Story continues Fellow South Shore resident Julia Perkins received over $400,000 from We Rise Together for her Urban Core project, which will include a yoga studio and other health and wellness businesses that promote healthy living. With letters of intent already in hand, Perkins is hoping the renovation of 1840 E. 71st St. will be complete by March 2022. A pivot for Perkins from longtime consultant to yoga instructor she wanted to make an accessible, safe space for women and the LGBTQ+ community to meet each other. A small garden on the west side of the building will be used to invite the community in with quarterly events. The We Rise Together grant enabled me to do 100% renovation of the property and the build out of the tenant spaces. There are so many disparities out there. I am hopeful that this is the start of a truly rigorous and aggressive amplification of South Shore, and the tremendous assets that it has to offer, Perkins, proprietor of MBMD Strategic Consultants, said. I think yoga provides physical and emotional grounding that I wanted to be able to offer to people within my community, especially African American women. Daniel Loftus, CEO and president of PODER Learning Center, an integration service center for immigrants, will be using his centers $1 million grant to finish construction on a brick-and-mortar headquarters in Gage Park. The project means the immigrant integration work that has taken place in five satellite sites with different community partners will move into one central location. The adaptive reuse project is taking an unused former City of Chicago Bureau of Electricity office and turning it into an immigrant integration and job training center, including English language and workforce development programming and other community and partner resources. Loftus says the new facility, which he expects to open in fall 2022, will almost double PODERs current clientele to 2,500 a year. It cant be overstated this investment was a game changer for us, he said. Successful integration is not easy. Is it about the individual? Of course, but when you talk about economic equity, you talk about this upward mobility. Theres an impact on communities, theres an impact on families, theres an impact on local employers, theres an impact on our city as a whole. Vietti, president of Interfaith Housing Development Corp. of Chicago, will be using his groups $1 million grant to build a 5,200-square-feet space to house a grocery store in Maywoods affordable housing complex, Fifth Avenue Apartments. The 119 residents in the fully occupied 72-unit building wont have to go 2 miles north to get groceries once a grocery tenant is identified, Vietti said. Its a project thats been in the works for nine years. And while construction wont begin until a grocer is identified, hes hopeful that a grocer will be found this calendar year and that the store will attract other development in the community. Theres so many communities that just dont have access to good quality food, this just provides opportunity, Vietti said. Weve been shopping this to grocers since the apartment building opened in February of this year. This grant just takes that cost burden out of the equation for a grocer and makes it so much more financially feasible, especially for somebody from the community. When you look at the investments that weve made in this first round of capital grants, youll see that every single project, if its not community-led, it has had deep, long sustained community engagement. And thats critically important because we think for those kinds of catalytic projects to really benefit community, community voice has to be there. Six other organizations and businesses were awarded grants as part of the We Rise Together initiative. And while these are the first grants awarded, they wont be the last. The initiative will expand its investment in a portfolio of high-impact real estate development projects through future rounds of funding. We identified over 400 organizations and projects that have the potential to fit underneath the We Rise umbrella, and we narrowed that down significantly by looking at whether or not the projects met or were aligned with one of our three goals: increased neighborhood investment, strengthen Black and Latinx businesses and/or increase quality, resilient employment in Black and Latinx communities. Castillo said. If youre going to ensure that this recovery is equitable to the Black and Latinx communities, the earlier you can get neighborhood investments, the better you are because those neighborhood investments will attract other private capital and other entrepreneurs. drockett@chicagotribune.com By Yew Lun Tian BEIJING (Reuters) -President Xi Jinping vowed on Monday that China would always uphold world peace and international rules, amid concerns expressed by the United States and other countries over its increasing assertiveness globally. The comments come after Taiwan said this month that military tension with China was at its worst in more than 40 years, amid mounting worries that the giant neighbour might try to take back by military force the self-ruled island it claims as its own. In a speech marking the 50th anniversary of China's return to the United Nations, Xi said it would always be the "builder of world peace" and a "protector of international order", state news agency Xinhua reported. "China resolutely opposes all forms of hegemony and power politics, unilateralism and protectionism," Xi said, calling for greater global cooperation on issues such as regional conflicts, terrorism, climate change, cybersecurity and biosecurity. Xi urged all countries to promote the values of peace, development, justice, democracy, freedom, making use of a phrase the "common values of all mankind" that he coined and first mentioned in a July speech for the 100th anniversary of the ruling Chinese Communist Party. In 1971, the United Nations voted to recognise the People's Republic of China as the sole representative of China, expelling Taiwan, which had held the U.N. seat in the name of the Republic of China, its official title. Taiwan's foreign ministry reiterated a call for the United Nations to allow its "meaningful participation", adding that the island had never been part of the People's Republic and its government had no right to represent the island's people. The ministry called on the United Nations "not to repeatedly succumb to the political pressure of the Chinese government" and exclude Taiwan, it added. Apart from tension with Taiwan, China has been more assertive in staking its claims to disputed territory on its Himalayan border with India, and to tracts of the South China Sea disputed with some Southeast Asian nations, and over some islands in the East China Sea disputed with Japan. Story continues Xi said reforms on global governance are needed, and that international rules should be decided by all 193 members of the United Nations, instead of by "certain countries or country groupings", making a veiled criticism of the United States for exerting a dominant influence over international institutions. He also said all countries should always abide by international rules, and not only when the rules suit them. (Reporting by Yew Lun Tian; Additional reporting by Ben Blanchard in Taipei; Editing by Clarence Fernandez & Simon Cameron_Moore) Halyna Hutchins. Fred Hayes/Getty Images for SAGindie An actor who knew Halyna Hutchins told People she felt a responsibility to stay on the "Rust" set. The actor said Hutchins felt the film "rest[ed] on her shoulders" amid the walkout on Thursday. Hutchins was killed when Alec Baldwin discharged a prop gun during a rehearsal on set. The cinematographer Halyna Hutchins stayed on the set of "Rust" after other crew members walked off because she felt a "responsibility for everyone else's job there," an actor told People. The actor Jonathan McAbee, who told People that he knew Hutchins and had spoken with other people on the "Rust" set, said the 42-year-old cinematographer felt the film "rest[ed] on her shoulders." "She's the one responsible for how this [film's] gonna look," McAbee told People at a candlelight vigil for Hutchins. "If she left, production's over and that's what? Another 30 people's jobs, livelihoods?" A group of six camera operators and their assistants walked off the set of "Rust" in Santa Fe, New Mexico, Thursday morning to protest working conditions just hours before the actor Alec Baldwin discharged a prop gun, killing Hutchins and injuring the film's director, Joel Souza. Baldwin was rehearsing for a scene and fired the prop gun while practicing a cross draw, the film's director said in an affidavit seen by Insider. The affidavit said Baldwin was handed the prop gun by an assistant director on set who had called out "cold gun," which refers to a gun that's not loaded with any blank rounds or ammunition. Read the original article on Insider The Daily Beast Lucy Nicholson/ReutersThe vast majority of Times Ups remaining staffers were laid off Friday in what they described as a debacle that began with leaders revealing they gave the news to the Washington Post first and ended with board member Ashley Judd breaking down in tears.The embattled organization, limping since its CEO and entire board resigned this summer, announced Friday that it would lay off the vast majority of its remaining staff. Leadership informed staff of the decision in a virtual CAIRO (Reuters) - Islamic state claimed responsibility for a bomb attack that killed at least one person in Uganda's capital Kampala on Saturday night, the militant group said in a statement posted in an affiliated Telegram channel late on Sunday. The group said that some of its members detonated an explosive device in a bar where "members and spies of the Crusader Ugandan government were gathering" in Kampala. The bomb, packed with nails and shrapnel, targeted a pork restaurant on the outskirts of the capital, police said on Sunday. Information gathered indicated that three men, disguised as customers, visited the restaurant, placed a polythene bag under a table and left moments before the explosion, police said. The explosion killed a 20-year-old waitress and injured three people, two of whom were in critical condition, police said, adding all indications suggest an act of domestic terror. President Yoweri Museveni said the attack "seems to be a terrorist act". In 2010, the Somali Islamist militant group al Shabaab killed dozens of people in Kampala in a bomb attack, saying it was punishing Uganda for deploying troops in Somalia. (Reporting by Mahmoud Mourad; Editing by Christopher Cushing and Michael Perry) They might care about the environment, but their regard for fellow humans is questionable. A climate change group blocked a highway in New York City amid rush-hour traffic Monday. The area that Extinction Rebellion NYC chose was particularly busy FDR Drive and the West Side Highway. "Dear commuters: we are interrupting traffic this morning not to annoy you, but to force the public to confront the true dangers of unchecked climate change," the group wrote on Twitter. "If we do not act today, if [President Joe Biden] does not act today, NYC will be underwater by 2100. It's a matter of life and death." Emblazoned upon the group's banner was "OUR HOUSE IS ON FIRE." Dear commuters: we are interrupting traffic this morning not to annoy you, but to force the public to confront the true dangers of unchecked climate change. If we do not act today, if @potus does not act today, NYC will be underwater by 2100. It's a matter of life and death. pic.twitter.com/2gTTal0zgA Extinction Rebellion NYC (@XR_NYC) October 25, 2021 'MORE THAN WORTH IT': CLIMATE PROTESTERS JUSTIFY SNARLING DC TRAFFIC AND FORCING CARS TO IDLE Part of the organization's gripe is that the Build Back Better infrastructure plan doesn't include enough funding for environmental protection, making it "watered down." One mother was trying to drive her daughter to school a straight-A student, according to a meteorologist who photographed her spat with the protesters. The activists were "ruining it for her," she reportedly said. One driver explaining that her 8-year old girl is a straight A student and missing school is going to hurt her -- they are "ruining it for her" The mother is trying to get to work and worries about getting fired. The climate activists don't care. pic.twitter.com/b8gN0K13jA Ryan (@RyanMaue) October 25, 2021 Climate activists from Extinction Rebellion & Sunrise Movement are blocking traffic on the FDR during rush hour. These tactics have been used by Insulate Britain in London. Drivers going to work are not happy with these climate extremists. #COP26 https://t.co/l1CjJ0i1aY Ryan (@RyanMaue) October 25, 2021 CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER Story continues Police eventually swarmed members of the group as they sat on the highway. A driver yelled at one of the protesters as he was driving along the road. New York City Emergency Management told drivers to seek alternate routes. It is unclear how many ambulances, firetrucks, and police cars the protesters prevented from reaching destinations in a timely manner. Protest Activity: All northbound lanes of the FDR Drive are closed at Jackson Street in Manhattan. Consider alt routes. Multilingual & ASL Link: https://t.co/GpdlTK7FPB. NYCEM - Notify NYC (@NotifyNYC) October 25, 2021 Washington Examiner Videos Tags: News, New York, New York City, Bill de Blasio, Climate Change, Joe Biden, EPA, Social Media, Twitter Original Author: Sydney Shea Original Location: Climate change group blocks drivers in NYC Colombia's government announced Sunday it is working towards extraditing the country's most-wanted drug trafficker "Otoniel" to the United States, a day after he was captured in a major operation in the jungle. "There is an extradition order against Otoniel, and this extradition order... remains in progress," Defense Minister Diego Molano told the daily El Tiempo newspaper in an interview. "This is the path for all those who commit transnational crimes," Molano told reporters later, adding that nearly 30 percent of the many tons of cocaine exported from Colombia went through the so-called Gulf Clan, the country's largest drug trafficking gang, led by Otoniel. The 50-year-old drug lord, whose real name is Dairo Antonio Usuga, was arrested Saturday in northwest Colombia's dense jungle in an operation involving some 700 uniformed agents backed by 18 helicopters, according to the army. The United States had offered a $5 million bounty for information leading to the arrest of Otoniel, one of the most feared men in Colombia. "This is the hardest strike to drug trafficking in our country this century," President Ivan Duque said Saturday, adding that the arrest was "only comparable to the fall of Pablo Escobar," the notorious Colombian narco-trafficking kingpin. "We are going for more, we are going for victory against all high-value targets," Duque vowed from a military base in the country's northwest. The government accuses other armed groups such as the Popular Liberation Army (EPL), and rebels who walked away from the peace pact signed with the FARC guerillas in 2016, of financing themselves with drug trafficking revenue. Born to a poor family, Otoniel joined the EPL, a Marxist guerrilla group that demobilized in 1991. A paramilitary fighter, he ultimately headed the Gulf Clan, with a force of some 1,600 men and a presence in almost 300 municipalities nationwide, according to the independent think tank Indepaz. Story continues In Colombia Otoniel had 128 outstanding arrest warrants for drug trafficking and recruitment of minors, among other crimes. "He murdered more than 200 members of the security forces... Many soldiers have suffered because of this murderer and his friends," Duque said. Otoniel also preyed on minors, "intimidating families and extorting them in order to take their daughters' virginity," the president added. In five decades of a US-backed drug war, Colombia has killed or captured several drug lords, including kingpin Escobar, who was shot by security forces in 1993. But the country remains the world's leading cocaine producer, with the United States its biggest buyer. jss/rsr/mlm/bfm BGR For as much as this live-action adaptation of a beloved anime was anticipated by fans, Cowboy Bebop looks at this point more like Cowboy womp-womp for Netflix. Based on the early reaction from fans, that is, as well as reviews such as one from our sister publication Variety that laments the series is just the The post Netflixs insane new sci-fi action series is stirring up serious controversy appeared first on BGR. U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal and Gov. Ned Lamont have been unable to verify a newspaper report that migrants have been landing at night at Westchester County Airport and have gone to Danbury and Bridgeport. The report said that planes have landed at the airport, which is near the Connecticut border, in the middle of the night at a time when planes generally avoid the airport with a flight path that is relatively close to upscale residential neighborhoods. Ive seen one anonymous source quoted in a New York Post story, said Blumenthal, a Greenwich resident who lives about six miles from the airport. I have no information to verify it, nor does the governors office. So were checking as to whether there is any factual basis for it, but Ive seen none yet. When asked further about children potentially arriving at night, Blumenthal said, Im not going to speculate on speculation because right now all we have is one anonymous source in one New York newspaper and no factual evidence that its accurate. I have no information about it.' Blumenthal has been actively involved for months in trying to help Afghan refugees, including helping two charter planes to leave from Afghanistan after the Taliban originally blocked their departure. In the Westchester case, he has not heard from any groups involved with migrants. I have not been informed by any government agencies,' Blumenthal told reporters Monday in Hartford. Frankly, were asking them if there is any factual basis for this report.' White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki was asked recently about migrants being flown to New York. So, in recent weeks, unaccompanied children passed through the Westchester airport, which I think is what youre referring to, en route to their final destination to be unified with their parents or a vetted sponsor,' Psaki said, according to a White House transcript. Its no surprise that kids can be seen traveling through states, not just New York. Its something that were also working to unite children with their family members or vetted sponsors in other parts of the country as well.' Story continues Catherine Cioffi, a spokeswoman for Westchester County executive George Latimer, said the reports are related to local politics in the county. The situation at the airport is nothing new,' Cioffi said. This is similar to when HHS, under the Trump administration, housed almost 1,000 migrant children in Westchester without the countys prior knowledge or approval. Then, as opposed to now, there was no outcry by anyone. As reported in multiple media outlets in August the federal government flies unaccompanied children through airports all over the country to be unified with their parents or sponsor. The county government has no ability to amend it, stop it or agree to it.' She added, It is shameful to use a public platform to advance phony information, hoping to win an election.' Lamont spokesman Max Reiss said there is no indication that children have traveled to Connecticut. I have no knowledge of whats been reported,' he said. The Post reported that a charter bus traveled down the Hutchinson River Parkway in Westchester County at more than 75 mph, but buses and trucks are not permitted on the curving, cars-only parkway because the overpasses are too low. State officials said that various state agencies would be involved if any migrant children were coming into Connecticut. The Department of Children and Families, for example, is not currently involved in helping children in this particular case. I have zero knowledge of it, Reiss said. Ive seen The New York Post report. Ive seen some of the other reporting on it. I have no idea what this is. Christopher Keating can be reached at ckeating@courant.com The $72,500 and then the $89,000 levels are near-term resistance levels north of $65,000 for bitcoin. Photo: Getty Cryptocurrencies were broadly higher on Monday as the week is off to a promising start for bitcoin, which hit a new all-time high last week. Bitcoin (BTC-USD) was up 3.7% to trade at $62,876 (45,665). It is sitting comfortably above $60,000, having crossed $66,000 last week. Ethereum (ETH-USD), the worlds second largest crypto by market cap, was up 0.4% to trade at $4,132. Bitcoins upward trajectory began when investors become confident that the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) will approve the launch of an exchange-traded fund (ETF) based on the cryptos futures contracts. Watch: What is bitcoin? Days later, the first-ever bitcoin futures ETF in the US The ProShares Bitcoin Strategy ETF which tracks CME bitcoin futures made its debut on the New York Stock Exchange (^AMZI). "The cryptocurrency market is again on track to outshine the ever-vibrant equities... the large part of the gains have been propelled by the US SECs nod to introduce bitcoin ETF, effectively increasing the market participation with a launch of a new product on a conventional stock exchange," said Kunal Sawhney, CEO of Kalkine Group. Bitcoin was up on Monday morning. Chart: Yahoo Finance UK Meanwhile, Naeem Aslam, chief market analyst at Ava Trade, said: "The introduction of bitcoin-linked ETFs has been extremely beneficial to the cryptocurrency markets" and more money is flowing into the digital sector as more investors gain access to ETFs. The $72,500 and then the $89,000 levels are near-term resistance levels north of $65,000, Aslam said, adding that bitcoin is aiming for $100,000, which it could well het by the end of the year. On the other hand, while bulls are on the rise, investors should keep in mind that countries remain divided in the blockchain space, with Beijing outlawing cryptocurrencies while Western nations launch ETFs and push digital coins to new highs, he added. He believes one disadvantage of the recent price hike is that bitcoin miners are relocating to the US to establish their operations at a time when the world is undergoing an energy crisis. Story continues This is likely to put pressure on electricity prices, as was the case in New York, where the city supplied between 10% and 15% of its electricity supply to miners, putting a strain on the grid, he said. Meme token Shiba Inu (SHIB-USD) has also been making news. Read more: Elon Musk reveals his crypto buys It had rallied by more than 50% to hit an all-time high of $0.000044 on Sunday, becoming the eleventh biggest cryptocurrency in the market. "A market-wide buying has been seen in many crypto-assets with the meme coin shiba inu rallying 50%, capturing a market capitalisation of approximately $21bn after it added a fresh bouquet of 1 million traders in the past week," said Sawhney. He said investors are seemingly accumulating cryptocurrencies, "at a time when a section of heavyweight corporations report better-than-expected quarterly results." With the per unit price of bitcoin scaling fresh all-time highs, now and then, the retail section of investors has turned focus on emerging crypto-assets." Shiba Inu took a bit of a hit, though, when Tesla (TSLA) CEO Elon Musk said he had not invested in the token. He instead reiterated his support for dogecoin (DOGE-USD), which was up roughly 7%. Watch: What are the risks of investing in cryptocurrency? Dave Chappelle reiterated during a recent stand-up performance that he is "more than willing" to meet with transgender Netflix employees regarding their concerns about his comedy special "The Closer" as long as they meet his three "conditions." In a video posted Monday on Instagram, Chappelle addressed the long-brewing controversy surrounding his latest collaboration with Netflix, in which the veteran comic makes several transphobic remarks and other insensitive commentary. During a walkout staged last week by trans Netflix employees and allies protesting the release of "The Closer," rally organizer Ashlee Marie Preston claimed that Chappelle declined her personal invitations to engage in "transformative dialogue" about the special. "Its been said in the press that I was invited to speak with transgender employees at Netflix and I refused," Chappelle said in the Monday clip. "That is not true. If they had invited me, I would have accepted it. Although I am confused about what we are speaking about. I said what I said, and boy, I heard what you said. My God, how could I not? You said you wanted a safe working environment at Netflix. Well, it seems like Im the only one that cant go to the office anymore." It's worth noting that Preston is not a Netflix employee but a media personality and activist appointed to lead last week's rally. In a statement to The Times, Preston said she was unaware of any efforts made by the Netflix employee resource group Trans* to connect with Chappelle. "I believed that perhaps the grief that the Black trans community was experiencing over the rampant murders of community members, and the grief that cis-hetero Black people were also experiencing over the senseless murders of Black people at the hands of law enforcement could potentially be the onramp toward much-needed dialogue around how we can heal and protect one other as a community," Preston said of her attempts to contact Chappelle. Story continues "I hoped I could persuade Dave to be an ally/accomplice to our community. ... I just wanted to have a heart to heart. I didnt hear back. ... After seeing his latest response on [Instagram], the moment he said, 'I said what I said,' it became abundantly clear that he had no desire to engage in transformative dialogue or repair harm." A list of walkout demands reviewed by The Times asked the company to remove all references to and imagery of Chappelle such as murals and posters from the workplace and acknowledge the harm the special and Netflix allegedly have caused the trans community. Organizers also requested that the streaming giant attach a disclaimer to The Closer saying it contains transphobic language, misogyny, homophobia, and hate speech. They have not pushed the company to remove the special, which Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos has repeatedly defended. "I want everyone in the audience to know that, even though the media frames this as me versus everyone in that community, that is not what it is," Chappelle continued in the Instagram video. "Do not blame the [LGBTQ] community for any of this s. This has nothing to do with them. Its about corporate interest, and what I can say and what I cannot say. For the record and I need you to know this everyone I know from that community has been nothing but loving and supporting, so I dont know what all this nonsense is about." Chappelle also claimed during his routine that his new documentary, "Untitled," has been dropped by film festivals amid the "Closer" fallout. According to the comedian, "Not a film company, not a movie studio, not a film festival ... will touch" the doc in the wake of the backlash. Later in the set, Chappelle took a dig at fellow comedian Hannah Gadsby, who spoke out against "The Closer" after Sarandos touted Gadsby's collaborations with Netflix as an example of positive LGBTQ+ representation on the streaming platform. Hey Ted Sarandos! Just a quick note to let you know that I would prefer if you didnt drag my name into your mess, Gadsby wrote earlier this month on Instagram in response to a leaked internal email from Sarandos asserting that content on screen doesnt directly translate to real-world harm. Now I have to deal with even more of the hate and anger that Dave Chappelles fans like to unleash on me every time Dave gets 20 million dollars to process his emotionally stunted partial world view," Gadsby said. On Monday, Chappelle insulted Gadsby while laying out the terms upon which he would agree to speak with trans Netflix staffers about his special. "To the transgender community: I am more than willing to give you an audience," Chappelle said. "But you will not summon me. I am not bending to anybodys demands. And if you want to meet with me, I would be more than willing to, but I have some conditions. "First of all, you cannot come if you have not watched my special from beginning to end. You must come to a place of my choosing, at a time of my choosing. And thirdly, you must admit that Hannah Gadsby is not funny." Since the morning of the Netflix employee walkout, Preston has consistently pushed back against Chappelle's attempt to frame criticism of "The Closer" as an example of "cancel culture." "The implication that somehow the Trans community and Netflix employees are to blame for why he cant get his film picked up felt like a violent dog whistle for transphobic fans to come after us," she said in a statement. "The death threats and harassment have already been pouring in since the walkout. This steady insistence that we are conspiring to cancel Dave Chappelle is unfounded. Never have I or anyone from the Trans ERG at Netflix called for Dave Chappelle to be canceled." This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. By David Ljunggren OTTAWA (Reuters) - Developed nations are set to be three years late meeting a pledge to commit a total of $500 billion to help poorer countries tackle climate change and realize this has damaged mutual trust, Alok Sharma, the president of the upcoming COP26 climate conference, said on Monday. Rich nations vowed in 2009 to deliver $100 billion a year for five years from 2020. But a plan on how to do so, prepared by Canada and Germany ahead of the United Nations COP26 summit in Scotland, said the annual target would now not be met until 2023. Climate finance is a crucial issue for the summit, which is aiming for more ambitious commitments from states to limit warming. Failure to meet the target is a symbol of broken past promises that complicate efforts to set goals for ramping up climate aid. "Understandably, this has been a source of deep frustration for developing countries," Sharma told a televised news conference. "The aim of putting this plan together has been to rebuild trust ... countries will need to deliver on this." Canada and Germany said they expected significant progress to be made in 2022 and were confident the $100 billion annual goal would be met in 2023. "The data also gives us confidence that we will likely be able to mobilize more than $100 billion per year thereafter," they said in the 12-page plan, adding that the private sector had not come up with as much money as expected. Environmental groups say $100 billion is not nearly enough. African nations believe the financing should be scaled up more than tenfold to $1.3 trillion per year by 2030, a key African climate negotiator told Reuters this month. "The scale of the challenge with respect to both mitigation and adaptation is one that eventually will require trillions of dollars," said Canadian Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinson, one of the plan's co-authors. The private sector would do more, he said in a phone interview, because "many of these projects, particularly renewables projects, are becoming economic in their own right". Story continues Teresa Anderson, climate policy coordinator at ActionAid International, said meeting the goal was the "bare minimum needed to build trust" in the climate talks. Nick Mabey, chief executive of the E3G climate change think tank, said the plan was "just about credible". The COP26 summit begins on Oct. 31 in the Scottish city of Glasgow. (Reporting by David Ljunggren; Editing by Paul Simao and Mike Harrison) An FBI investigation forced him into early retirement, but former Sergeants Benevolent Association union boss Ed Mullins isnt about to apologize. The embattled ex-union head stood by his inflammatory tweets Monday, testifying in an NYPD departmental trial that he was defending cops when he derided City Councilman Ritchie Torres as a first-class whore and city Health Commissioner Dr. Oxiris Barbot as a b---h. You make no apologies for calling Dr. Barbot a b---h? You make no apologies for calling Councilman Torres a whore? Civilian Complaint Review Board prosecutor Jonathan Fogel asked. No, Mullins replied. At stake in the trial is tens of thousands of dollars in accrued vacation and overtime pay. The CCRB recommends Mullins be fired over the tweets a move that would limit his benefits upon retirement. After the brief trial concluded, however, the normally talkative Mullins refused comment on the Oct. 5 raid in which the FBI seized records from his Long Island home and the SBA headquarters in lower Manhattan. Sources said Mullins is being investigated for misappropriating union funds, but no charges have yet been filed. Mullins stepped down as SBA president after the raid, a role he held for 19 years, and gave a 30-day notice for retirement. That short window forced the Civilian Complaint Review Board to expedite a departmental trial accusing him of dishonoring the NYPD with the profane tweets. The first allegedly dishonorable tweet came in May 2020, in the early months of the coronavirus pandemic. Barbot was accused of saying she didnt give two rats aes about cops who needed personal protective equipment during the pandemic. Truth is this b---h has blood on her hands but why should anyone be surprised the NYPD has suffered under DeBlasio since he became Mayor, Mullins tweeted in response. Mullins testified that Barbot had failed as a leader. She wasnt doing her job, he said. We had men and women dying, serving the public, trying to save peoples lives during COVID. And we had no equipment. In many cases we had to purchase our own equipment. And she stockpiled all this equipment. We got nothing from the Police Department. Story continues We got nothing from the health commissioner and it just wasnt fair. The next tweet came In September 2020, after then-Councilman Ritchie Torres (D-Bronx) demanded an investigation into a possible NYPD work slowdown amid surging gun violence, arrests. This is what a first class whore looks like RITCHIE TORRES, Mullins tweeted. Passes laws to defund police, supports criminals, & now because hes running for office he blames the police to protect what he voted for. Remember Little Ritchie? Meet LYING RITCHIE. Torres, who is gay, blasted Mullins as homophobic and unhinged. Torres is now a Congressman representing the South Bronx. Mullins made it clear he had no regrets about the tweets posted from the SBAs account, which has more than 45,000 followers. What Torres said was totally false and inaccurate of what was occurring in the streets of New York, Mullins testified. To have not come out and said anything would be irresponsible of me. Fogel argued the sergeant is subject to the same Patrol Guide rules as any other cop, despite being a union leader. The president of a union is still a policeman, Fogel said. The employees of the department must follow the rules of the department. And when you are an employee of the department what you say reflects not just on you it reflects on the reputation of the New York City Police Department. He disgraced the department. But lawyer Hugo Ortega said Mullins, as union head, is not bound by the same rules as every other cop. The First Amendment gives Mullins the right to speak out, regardless of the tone, Ortega said. The only other witness in the departmental trial was a CCRB investigator who documented the tweets. An administrative law judge, Jeffrey Adler, will make a recommendation of guilty or innocent to Police Commissioner Dermot Shea, who will ultimately decide Mullins fate. Shea will also review a separate case against Mullins for tweeting an arrest report of the mayors daughter, Chiara de Blasio, during a racial justice protest following the police killing of George Floyd. Mullins has argued he retweeted the report after it had already been posted in a media report. That trial resumes Wednesday. Mullins has not been accused of any wrongdoing in connection with the FBI investigation. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday walked back threats to expel 10 Western ambassadors from the country, according to the New York Times. Driving the news: Last Saturday, Erdogan threatened to declare 10 ambassadors persona non grata after they called for the release of jailed philanthropist Osman Kavala. Stay on top of the latest market trends and economic insights with Axios Markets. Subscribe for free The big picture: Many analysts were afraid the threat could lead to sanctions, which could further hurt the struggling Turkish economy, per NYT. The Turkish lira fell to a new of low 9.75 to a dollar. What they're saying: Our will is never to cause a crisis, but to protect the rights and law, honor, interests and sovereign rights of our country, Erdogan said in a televised statement on Monday, per NYT. I believe from now on they will be more careful about their statements regarding sovereign rights, he added. "The end of this crisis does not mean that the Osman Kavala issue is over. The Kavala issue will continue to be a problem in Turkey's relations with the EU and the USA," Asli Aydintasbas, a senior fellow with the European Council on Foreign Relations, wrote on Twitter. Like this article? Get more from Axios and subscribe to Axios Markets for free. By Tuvan Gumrukcu and Jonathan Spicer ANKARA (Reuters) - Turkey and its Western allies climbed down from a full-blown diplomatic crisis on Monday after foreign embassies said that they abide by diplomatic conventions on non-interference, averting a threatened expulsion of 10 ambassadors. President Tayyip Erdogan, who said at the weekend he had ordered the envoys to be declared "persona non grata" for seeking the release of a jailed philanthropist, told a news conference they had stepped back and would be more careful. "Our goal is never to create crises, it is to protect the rights, laws, honour and sovereignty of our country," Erdogan said in a televised address after chairing a Cabinet meeting. "With a new statement made by the same embassies today, a step back was taken from this slander against our country and our nation. I believe these ambassadors ... will be more careful in their statements regarding Turkey's sovereign rights." Despite his defiant tone, Erdogan's comments on Monday were a marked change to cool tensions after threats he made at the weekend. The ambassadors, including the U.S. envoy, had called on authorities last week to free Osman Kavala, a philanthropist detained for four years on charges of financing protests and involvement in an attempted coup. He denies the charges. The public call infuriated Ankara, which said the diplomats - also from Germany, France, Canada, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland - were interfering in Turkey's internal affairs. As Erdogan convened his ministers on Monday afternoon for a session which could have confirmed the expulsions and triggered the deepest rift with the West in his 19 years in power, several embassies put out a brief statement. "The United States notes that it maintains compliance with Article 41 of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations," the U.S. Embassy said on Twitter. The other embassies published similar messages or re-tweeted the U.S. message. Story continues A Turkish version of the U.S. statement said the embassy "confirms" compliance with the convention, which some observers said could be read to suggest that the embassies were pledging future compliance. "Strategic ambiguity at work ... allows Erdogan's spin doctors to claim that the West has surrendered, while the English version gives the impression back home that the West has stood its ground," said former opposition parliamentarian Aykan Erdemir on Twitter. The U.S. State Department later said Monday's statement on Twitter meant "to underscore that the statement that we put out on October 18 was consistent with Article 41", adding it would pursue dialogue with Turkey. "We are steadfast in our commitment to promoting the rule of law, to promoting respect for human rights globally," said State Department spokesman Ned Price. "The Biden administration seeks cooperation with Turkey on common priorities, and as with any NATO ally, we will continue to engage in dialogue to address any disagreements." A diplomatic source said talks on a plan to reduce tensions were led by the U.S. mission and Turkish officials, including presidential adviser and spokesman Ibrahim Kalin and Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu. The envoys aimed to highlight Vienna Convention principles while seeking guidance from Turkish officials on what move might be "palatable" for Erdogan, the source said, adding they were cautiously hopeful that the Twitter statements would help ease tensions even if the Turkish government gave no assurances. CONCERNED INVESTORS In response to Monday's developments, the Turkish lira rallied after earlier hitting an all-time low of 9.85 to the U.S. dollar, and was at 9.5930 at 2053 GMT. It has lost almost a quarter of its value this year. Kavala, a businessman and contributor to civil society groups, is charged with financing nationwide protests in 2013 and involvement in a failed coup in 2016. He has been held in detention while his trial continues. Rights groups say his case is emblematic of a crackdown on dissent under Erdogan. Kavala said on Friday he would no longer attend his trial, as a fair hearing was impossible after recent comments by the president. The diplomatic tension has added to investor concerns about Turkey's economy after the central bank, under pressure from Erdogan to support growth, unexpectedly slashed interest rates by 200 points last week despite inflation rising to nearly 20%. The 10 envoys were summoned by the foreign ministry last week after calling for a just and speedy resolution to Kavala's case, and for his "urgent release". Parliament speaker Mustafa Sentop said earlier on Monday that Turkey's constitution banned discussion of active court cases, including by Turkish politicians in parliament, and that the envoys' statement marked a "clear and disrespectful" interference. The European Court of Human Rights called for Kavala's release two years ago, saying there was no reasonable suspicion he had committed an offence and finding his detention had been intended to silence him. (Additional reporting by Ece Toksabay, Humeyra Pamuk, and Sabine Siebold; Writing by Dominic Evans, Editing by Timothy Heritage and Grant McCool) Close to a hundred Afghan Shiite Muslims were killed in attacks on mosques in October 2021. One such attack took place on Oct. 15, when a group of suicide bombers detonated explosives at a mosque in Kandahar. Just over a week before that, at least 46 people were killed in another suicide bomber attack in northern Afghanistan. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for both attacks. Ethnicity and religion are key to understanding the politics and conflicts of todays Afghanistan. My research on Afghan affairs can explain how they have created fault lines that have influenced Afghanistans politics since 1978. Afghanistans four largest ethnic groups The largest ethnic group in Afghanistan, estimated at around 45% of the population and mostly concentrated in the south and east of the country, are the Sunni Muslim Pashtun. The Pashtun population is split in half by the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan, the Durand Line, and has a long history of challenging state authority and the legitimacy of official borders in both countries. Until recently, when Pakistan built a fence on the border, Pashtun tribesmen and fighters crossed the border as if it did not exist. The Pashtun are often characterized as being fiercely independent and protective of their land, honor, traditions and faith. The first time Pashtun fighters defeated an invading superpower was when they destroyed a British army sent to colonize Afghanistan in what is known as the First Anglo-Afghan War, which lasted from 1838 to 1942. The Pashtun tribes and clans martial prowess makes them very influential in the politics of Afghanistan. Except for two short-lived exceptions, in 1929 and between 1992 and 1994, only Pashtun leaders have ruled Afghanistan since 1750. A map showing the distribution of ethnic groups in Afghanistan The second-largest ethnic group in Afghanistan are the Tajiks, a term that refers to ethnic Tajiks as well as to other Sunni Muslim Persian speakers. The Tajiks, who constitute some 30% of the Afghan population and are mostly concentrated in the northeast and west, have generally been accepted by Pashtuns as part of the fabric of life in Afghanistan, perhaps because of their common adherence to Sunni Islam. Story continues The third-largest Sunni Muslim group are the Uzbeks and the closely related Turkmen in the north of the country, who form around 10% of the population. The Hazara around 15% of the Afghan population traditionally lived in the rough mountainous terrain in the center of Afghanistan, an area in which they historically sought shelter from Pashtun tribesmen who disapproved of their adherence to the Shiite sect of Islam. The Hazara have historically been some of the poorest and most marginalized people in Afghanistan. Communist government and Soviet occupation Most Afghans hardly reacted when a faction of Afghanistans communist party took power in April 1978, because the Afghan government had traditionally played a very limited role outside of the larger cities. They did, however, rise in impromptu revolts when the communists sent their activists to conservative villages to teach Afghan children Marxist dogma. When the Soviets invaded in 1979, resistance spread to much of Afghanistan. Mujahideen the Muslim warriors defending their land from all ethnic groups played a role in resisting the Soviet military. Later, a brutish Uzbek communist militia leader named Abdul Rashid Dostum eliminated most Uzbek Mujahideen, and most Hazara Mujahideen parties made a tacit agreement with the Soviets to reduce hostilities. Most Pashtuns and Tajiks, however, continued to resist until the Soviet withdrawal and the collapse of the Soviet-backed regime in Kabul. The Soviets promoted minority interests and gender equality in areas of Afghanistan they controlled, which led the larger cities they controlled to evolve culturally to a point that made city life unrecognizably alien to many rural Afghans. The withdrawal of the Soviet Red Army in February 1989 led to the cessation of U.S. aid to the Mujahideen parties, which turned Mujahideen field commanders, whose loyalty to party leaders was based on their ability to distribute financial and military resources, into militarized independent local leaders. Similarly, the regimes militias and units also became independent after its collapse in April 1992. Afghanistan, particularly the Pashtun areas, became fragmented, with hundreds of local leaders and warlords fighting over territory, drug production, smuggling routes and populations to tax. While many local leaders cared about the welfare of their kith and kin, some were warlords who abused fellow Afghans. The first Taliban era In 1994, a group of previous Pashtun Mujahideen formed the Taliban and managed to control most of Afghanistan, including Kabul, by the time the U.S. invaded in late 2001. The Talibans rise was fueled by rural Pashtun support for its agenda of ending warlord-generated insecurity, bringing back Pashtun prominence and recreating traditional Pashtun village life as they imagined it to have been. The Talibans conservative views reflected the values of a large section of the public they governed in the south and east of the country. The conservative rural Taliban, traumatized by decades of war, encountered an alien cultural environment when they took over Kabul. They reacted forcefully, limited urban womens access to education and labor and imposed strict limitations on dress, appearance and public behavior. A group of Afghan women grieving at a funeral. Afghans in urban areas, particularly women, and members of Afghan minorities did not by and large share the parochial Taliban understanding of their common faith. They were undermined, threatened or punished when they attempted to challenge Taliban restrictions. The Shiite Hazara, in particular, were subjected to brutal retaliatory attacks when they resisted Taliban rule. The US occupation The U.S. military invaded Afghanistan and allied with minority local leaders and some Pashtun warlords to oust the Taliban. These warlords ended up filling most key posts in the regime the U.S.-led coalition established in Kabul. For warlords from all backgrounds, it appeared to be a golden age. The rest of the Afghan population, even more so in Pashtun areas than in others, went back to suffering from warlords predatory behavior. In 2004, three years after the U.S. occupation began, the mostly Pashtun Taliban reorganized as an insurgent force to fight the U.S.-led occupation and the regime it established in Afghanistan. Enterprising urban youths, including women, from historically disadvantaged minorities, particularly the Shiite Hazara, took advantage of aid, education programs and foreign-driven employment opportunities to advance. In contrast, the rural Pashtun, who suffered the brunt of the warfare between the Taliban and U.S.-led coalition, were set back economically and hardly benefited from investments in health and education. One of the byproducts of the U.S. occupation of Afghanistan was the development of a local branch of the Islamic State, the Islamic State-Khorasan (an Arabic name for the region). The organization was formed by defectors from the Taliban who felt that their leadership was too soft on the Americans. This group has engaged in attacks on Shiite civilians, whom it considers to be heretics and agents of Shiite Iran. It was responsible for attacks on U.S. troops such as the August 2021 attack on the Kabul airport. It is also antagonistic toward the Taliban. The return of Taliban The return of the Taliban to Kabul after the withdrawal of U.S. troops in August 2021 is a return to a rural Pashtun order. Most Taliban leaders are rural Pashtuns who received their education in conservative madrassas in Afghanistan or Pashtun areas of Pakistan. Only three of the 24 members of the Taliban interim government are not Pashtuns they are Tajiks. [Over 115,000 readers rely on The Conversations newsletter to understand the world. Sign up today.] And the Taliban are running the country the way they imagine life in Pashtun villages used to be before Afghanistan sank into perpetual war in 1979. The Taliban movement caters to the sensibilities of conservative rural Pashtun Muslims. Their understanding of Islam is not necessarily shared by other Afghans, religious as they may be. In the meantime, the Islamic State group is conducting massive terrorist attacks on Shiite mosques, a tactic that originated with the Iraqi branch of the organization. One aim of the Islamic States attacks, I believe, is to drive recruitment that has weakened over the past years by appealing to anti-Shiite sentiment among the Pashtun, particularly after the U.S. withdrawal and Taliban successes on the battlefield. This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit news site dedicated to sharing ideas from academic experts. It was written by: Abdulkader Sinno, Indiana University. Read more: Abdulkader Sinno does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. Hours after the Jan. 6 assault on the U.S. Capitol, Mike Schroepfer, Facebooks chief technology officer, posted on the companys internal message board. Hang in there everyone, he wrote. Facebook should allow for peaceful discussion of the riot but not calls for violence, he added. His post was met with scathing replies from employees who blamed the company for what was happening. Im struggling to match my values to my employment here, an employee wrote in a comment. (The employees name was redacted in a version seen by NBC News.) I came here hoping to effect change and improve society, but all Ive seen is atrophy and abdication of responsibility. Another employee asked, How are we expected to ignore when leadership overrides research-based policy decisions to better serve people like the groups inciting violence today? The comments openly challenged the companys leadership with a not-so-subtle message: Facebooks well-documented problems in abetting violent polarization and encouraging the spread of misinformation werent getting fixed, despite the companys investments and promises. The comments are in thousands of pages of internal Facebook documents given to NBC News detailing Facebooks internal debates around the societal impact of its platforms. Together the documents offer the deepest look provided to outsiders at the internal workings of the worlds largest social media company. They are a small fraction of the internal communications over the past several years at Facebook, where employee message boards that started as a way to embrace transparency have become an outlet for reflection and advocacy on the impact of social media. The documents show employees many who were hired to help Facebook address problems on its platforms debating with one another on internal message boards free of public relations spin. Many tried to figure out how to turn stalled bureaucratic wheels and steer a company that now has so many departments that employees sometimes arent aware of overlapping responsibilities. Some employees defended management, with one calling Facebook executives brilliant, data-driven futurists like many of us. Story continues The documents were included in disclosures made to the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, and provided to Congress in redacted form by legal counsel for Frances Haugen, who worked as a Facebook product manager until May and has come forward as a whistleblower. Digital versions of the disclosures with some names and other personal information redacted were obtained by a consortium of news organizations, including NBC News. Most of the documents are digital photographs of company material on computer screens. The news consortium is making at least some of the disclosures public beginning Monday. The Wall Street Journal reported some of the disclosures earlier. Haugen alleges in letters to the SEC Office of the Whistleblower that Facebook executives up to and including CEO Mark Zuckerberg have misled investors for years, giving them a false picture of the reality inside the company about subjects like Facebooks user base and its record on human rights. She wrote at least eight separate letters, and her attorneys provided the internal documents to the SEC in support of her allegation that executives statements dont match the truth. In the letters, she also offered her help to the SEC if it were to investigate potential violations of securities laws. But more broadly, Haugen has kick-started a debate about Facebooks impact on society, both in the U.S. and abroad. Facebook did not invent partisanship. They did not invent polarization. They didnt invent ethnic violence, Haugen said in a call with reporters this month. But the thing that I think we should be discussing is what role, what choices did Facebook make to expose the public to greater risk than was necessary? Haugen repeated her allegation against Facebook executives in testimony before Congress this month. The company intentionally hides vital information from the public, from the U.S. government and from governments around the world, she told the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Consumer Protection. She is scheduled to testify Monday before a committee of the U.K. Parliament examining online safety. Zuckerberg has pushed back against Haugens allegations. At the heart of these accusations is this idea that we prioritize profit over safety and well-being. Thats just not true, he said in a Facebook post Oct. 5. He also said Facebook was being punished for trying to study its impact on the world. Facebook spokesperson Drew Pusateri defended the disclosures to investors, saying the company is confident that it has given investors the information they need to make informed decisions. We make extensive disclosures in our SEC filings about the challenges we face, including user engagement, estimating duplicate and false accounts, and keeping our platform safe from people who want to use it to harm others, he said in an email. All of these issues are known and debated extensively in the industry, among academics, and in the media, he said. Facebook is ready to answer regulators questions and will cooperate with government inquiries, he said. According to the disclosures from Haugen: The company spends considerable time and resources studying how to solve such problems, but has declined in some cases to implement potential solutions put forward by its own researchers. Employees complain that sometimes that is because Facebooks Washington-based policy team has veto power over decisions. Joel Kaplan, Facebooks global head of public policy, has repeatedly defended his influence, saying he pushes for analytical and methodological rigor about subjects such as the algorithms that power Facebook products. A change to Facebooks news feed in 2018 intended to bring friends and family members closer together in meaningful ways often had the opposite effect, internal researchers wrote. Posts spread more easily if they included outrage or misinformation, causing an online social-civil war abroad in places like Poland. Engineers and statisticians struggle to understand why certain posts and not others get traction through re-shares on Facebook and how to fix the unhealthy side effects. In 2019, an internal researcher wrote: We know that many things that generate engagement on our platform leave users divided and depressed. Facebook has struggled to filter out many posts that violated its rules. Documents say the companys automated systems deleted only about 2 percent of hate speech as of 2019 and, as of this year, less than 1 percent of content trying to incite violence. Facebook said in a blog post this month that the documents understate the companys effectiveness and that the prevalence of hate speech how often users actually view it, rather than the number of posts has dropped. Many documents highlight Facebooks failure to police its platform outside the U.S., including in Myanmar and Sri Lanka, where the company has issued apologies for its actions contributing to physical violence against religious or ethnic groups. The documents describe translation issues and a lack of local cultural knowledge. It isnt clear whether the SEC is investigating Facebook or whether it would see enough material in the disclosures to warrant an investigation of whether the company could have misled investors. The SEC declined to comment. The commission isnt required to take any action on whistleblowers tips, and when it conducts investigations, it does so on a confidential basis as a matter of policy. In an annual report, the SEC said it received over 6,900 whistleblower tips in the fiscal year ending September 2020. Several securities law experts said it wouldnt be easy to prove wrongdoing. Regulators like clean cases, and they like where someone is on tape doing something wrong, said Joshua Mitts, a securities law professor at Columbia University. Haugens allegations are hardly a clean case, he said. Facebook pushback Facebooks public relations chief last week said Haugens disclosures were an orchestrated gotcha campaign guided by her public relations advisers. A curated selection out of millions of documents at Facebook can in no way be used to draw fair conclusions about us, Facebooks vice president for communications, John Pinette, said in a tweet ahead of the release of the Haugen disclosures. Internally, we share work in progress and debate options. Not every suggestion stands up to the scrutiny we must apply to decisions affecting so many people, Pinette said. Haugen has gotten help from experienced lawyers and public relations advisers. A firm run by Bill Burton, an Obama White House spokesperson, is handling media requests, and Haugen is represented by lawyers from Whistleblower Aid, a nonprofit organization. The disclosures made by Haugens attorneys illustrate a roiling internal debate at Facebook at the same time it has been in a harsh external spotlight, with congressional hearings, privacy investigations, antitrust lawsuits and other scrutiny by outsiders. And the upheaval may prove a bigger threat than any external scrutiny, because Facebook relies for its success on being able to attract and keep some of the worlds top software engineers and technologists. If the company cant attract, retain and motivate talented employees, it could lose its ability to compete effectively, it said in its most recent annual report in January. A Facebook employee wrote on an internal message board on Jan. 6: We have been dealing with questions we cant answer from our friends, family, and industry colleagues for years. Recruiting, in particular, has gotten more difficult over the years as Facebooks ethical reputation continues to deteriorate (all while our technical reputation continues to increase). Facebook said in a statement that 83 percent of its employees say theyd recommend it as a great place to work and that it has hired more employees this year than in any previous year. Jan. 6 impact The internal turmoil over the Jan. 6 attack was apparent throughout the documents, beyond Schroepfers internal post. (Schroepfer plans to step down to a part-time role at Facebook next year.) According to a Facebook document, the riot so tested the companys ability to halt incitements to violence that the company reinstituted 25 safeguards that it had in place around the 2020 presidential election to minimize hate speech and other content against the platforms rules. The efforts were called Break the Glass. Later, a Facebook employee published an examination of the lead-up to the Capitol attack on the companys internal message board, with scathing findings about its failure to stop the growth of the conspiracy theory movement promoted by then-President Donald Trump and his followers known as Stop the Steal. Believers in the theory falsely assert that President Joe Biden stole the election. Facebook was alerted to the first such group on Election Night in early November and disabled it because of hate speech, calls to violence and incitement in the comments, the investigation found. But in the months ahead, new conspiracy-theory groups flourished. Facebook watched the movements meteoric growth rates, and related groups were among the fastest-growing groups on all of Facebook, according to some of the documents. But managers failed to act because, they said, they were looking at rule violations one by one and didnt see the big picture. Because we were looking at each entity individually, rather than as a cohesive movement, we were only able to take down individual Groups and Pages once they exceeded a violation threshold, the report said. Facebook realized that Stop the Steal was a cohesive movement only after the Capitol attack, the report said. Facebook seemed unable to understand the dynamics, influencers, tactics and ultimate intentions of the conspiracy movement, even as it operated in plain sight, the documents suggest. This sort of deep investigation takes time, situational awareness, and context that we often dont have, the internal report said. Facebooks enforcement was piecemeal, the team of researchers wrote, saying were building tools and protocols and having policy discussions to help us do this better next time. In a statement responding to questions about the research, Facebook said it has spent years building defenses and expertise to stop interference in elections. It said some of its tools are so blunt equivalent to shutting off an entire towns roads, it said that theyre for emergencies only, not normal conditions. It is wrong to claim that these steps were the reason for January 6th the measures we did need remained in place well into February, and some like not recommending news, civic, or political Groups remain in place to this day, Facebook said. These were all part of a much longer and larger strategy to protect the election on our platform and we are proud of that work. Causing social-civil war Another set of Haugens documents describes how the computer algorithm behind Facebooks news feed the formula that determines what posts people see and in which order led to unintended consequences over months and years. Facebook announced that it would rewrite the algorithm in January 2018, saying it would emphasize meaningful social interactions and give more weight to comments, reactions and re-shares among friends, rather than posts from businesses and brands. By the next year, the changes had reverberated throughout European politics. Political parties across Europe claim that Facebooks algorithm change in 2018 [regarding social interactions] has changed the nature of politics. For the worse, an employee wrote in an April 2019 internal post. Facebook was responsible for a social-civil war in online political discourse in Poland, the person said, passing on a phrase from conversations with political operatives there. (The Facebook employee doesnt name the political parties or the operatives involved in the social-civil war or what issues were at the forefront. A Polish election later that year focused attention on expansion of the welfare state, European integration and gay rights, Reuters reported.) Extremist political parties in various countries celebrated the way the new algorithm rewarded their provocation strategies for subjects such as immigration, the Facebook employee wrote. Studying the impact of the algorithm change became a priority for many economists, statisticians and others who work at Facebook studying the platform, the documents show. A study posted internally in December 2019 said Facebooks algorithms are not neutral but instead value content that will get a reaction, any reaction, with the result that outrage and misinformation are more likely to be viral. We know that many things that generate engagement on our platform leave users divided and depressed, wrote the researcher, whose name was redacted. In April 2020, managers presented Zuckerberg with a series of proposed changes to the algorithm, according to a written summary of the meeting included among Haugens disclosures. The summary says Zuckerberg rejected some of the proposed changes, including an idea to reduce re-shares posts that get shared again and again, which researchers found were often misinformation. Mark doesnt think we could go broad with the changes, employees wrote afterward in the summary, although the idea had already been implemented for content about health and politics. We wouldnt launch if there was a material tradeoff with MSI impact, they wrote, using the initialism for meaningful social interactions, a measure of engagement. Zuckerberg defended his decisions this month, saying in his Facebook post that the introduction of the MSI system in 2018 led to fewer viral videos, which we did knowing it would mean people spent less time on Facebook, but that research suggested it was the right thing for peoples well-being. Is that something a company focused on profits over people would do? he wrote. In a statement Friday, Facebook said its not responsible for existing problems in society. Is a ranking change the source of the worlds divisions? No, the company said. Research shows certain partisan divisions in our society have been growing for many decades, long before platforms like Facebook even existed. Facebook also said that it has spent $13 billion since 2016 to counter bad content and that it employs 40,000 people to work on safety and security. It said its continuing to make changes to its platform, such as running tests to reduce political content. An employee who worked on platform integrity quit in frustration in August 2020, citing Facebooks unwillingness to implement safeguards against conspiracy theories like QAnon. We were willing to act only *after* things had spiraled into a dire state, the employee wrote in a farewell note to colleagues. Facebook has made a series of announcements in the past year concerning efforts to limit the spread of fringe and conspiracy groups, including a move in March to change its recommendation system. In another farewell note in December, a data scientist who was quitting listed what he would miss: interesting work, friendly colleagues and the amazing pay. Then came the parts he wouldnt miss. Unfortunately I dont feel I can stay on in good conscience, wrote the person, whose name was redacted. Facebook is probably having a net negative influence on politics in Western countries, the person wrote, adding that executives didnt appear committed to fixing the problem. I dont think that I can substantially improve things by staying. Facebook said it disagrees that its a net negative. Facebook helps people connect with friends and family and helps businesses around the world thrive, it said. Other languages Sometimes the company lacks the systems to enforce its own rules, especially among the large proportion of people who use Facebook in languages other than English, according to some of the documents shared with the SEC and Congress. Several documents focus on the Middle East and North Africa, including a presentation in December detailing in part how the companys tools that take down Arabic-language content for having ties to terrorism were wrong 77 percent of the time, resulting in a lot of false positives and a media backlash. The full presentation on platform integrity problems when printed is more than 50 pages. In a statement, Facebook said the measure seemed to be a mischaracterization because it included content related to Hamas and Hezbollah organizations that some people in the Middle East wouldnt consider tied to terrorism, but that the U.S. government has on its list of foreign terrorist organizations. Facebook said it has legal obligations to remove that content, as well as a policy against it. Other reported problems are language-based. In a separate analysis published in January, a Facebook researcher said that when an Afghan user tries to report hate speech, the instructions are mostly in English and not in Pashto, one of Afghanistans national languages. Facebooks Community Standards, the list of content rules for users, also arent translated. There is a huge gap in the hate speech reporting process in local languages in terms of both accuracy and completeness of the translation of the entire reporting process, wrote the author of the analysis, a Facebook researcher whose name was redacted. Facebook said it reviews content in Pashto and Dari, the two Afghan national languages. In August, the company also said it was putting additional resources into services for Afghan users, including security controls for people fearing the Talibans takeover of the government. Other documents show that when Facebook invests in more careful monitoring of a countrys social media activity, it can mitigate viral misinformation and dangerous hate speech. For example, a document outlines how Facebook convened almost 300 people from 40 different teams to focus on the April 2019 elections in India to tackle political misinformation and fend off what it characterized as bad regulation for social media companies. The effort, which included the creation of a temporary operations room in Singapore, resulted in a surprisingly quiet, uneventful election period, the post-analysis states. The cache also includes the departing memo shared by former Facebook data scientist Sophie Zhang, who worked on Facebooks site integrity team from January 2018 to September 2020. In the post, previously reported by BuzzFeed News, she outlined how she believed Facebook was ignoring manipulation of the platform by political leaders in India, Ukraine, Spain, Brazil, Bolivia, Ecuador and other countries. Facebook said its working to improve its capabilities around the world, but recognizes that it still has work to do. In the last two years, weve made investments to add more staff with local language, including Arabic, as well as country and topic expertise to expand the number of languages and dialects we can review content in globally, it said in a statement. Were reviewing a range of options to address these challenges including hiring more content reviewers with diverse language capabilities. Zhang said in an interview: The company has hired a lot of young idealistic people doing research that is largely not acted on. Facebook is looking for free wins in which they can improve things without harming their profit numbers. On the other hand, Zhang said, Facebook must also grapple with complicated trade-offs and inefficient communication within a large organization. It doesnt act until something has already become a crisis, she said. Potential consequences Some securities law experts said allegations like Haugens wouldnt necessarily trigger an SEC investigation. Do they really go to the core of what the SEC is required to police? asked Charles Clark, a former assistant director of the SECs enforcement division, who said parts of the accusations didnt appear to clearly violate securities law. Some of what shes complaining about is important to Congress and is important to the world at large but isnt really tied to the mandate of the SEC. Clark added, however, that one of Haugens allegations that Facebook is potentially inflating user counts and other metrics important to advertisers is the type of matter that the SEC has focused on for many years. If a case progresses, the SEC could seek financial penalties against a company or a person after an investigation of securities law violations, experts said, and under federal law, whistleblowers may be given awards. In rare cases, the SEC can try to limit an executives ability to serve as a corporate director or officer. Facebook, which reported profits of $29 billion last year, could face bigger legal challenges than a potential fine, including a lawsuit from the Federal Trade Commission seeking to break it up into possibly three pieces. Securities law experts also dont rule out how the SEC might respond. Harvey Pitt, a former SEC chair, said that he thinks Haugens allegations are credible and that the commission should investigate whether Facebook met its legal obligations in making disclosures to investors. The documents produced are damning, Pitt, who is now a consultant, said in an emailed response to questions. The integrity of the corporate disclosure process is at stake here, and this is too high a profile matter for the SEC staff to let it pass by. The fate of the world's oldest bank, Italy's Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena (BMPS), was hanging in the balance on Monday after the collapse of talks for its sale to UniCredit. Negotiations between UniCredit and the Italian economy ministry, which has controlled BMPS since it was bailed out by the state in 2017, collapsed on Sunday. They reportedly fell out over the amount of public money that UniCredit wanted to take on the burden of Monte dei Paschi, with the Corriere della Sera newspaper mentioning a 8.5-billion-euro ($9.9 billion) bill for the ministry. The government, which is obliged under EU rules to find a private buyer for BMPS by the end of 2021, will now likely be forced "to seek an extension" from Brussels, Morgan Stanley researchers said in a note. The failed deal is a headache for Prime Minister Mario Draghi's government, which was eager to turn the page on one of the most intractable banking crises in recent Italian history. "The fate of MPS does not seem to be very different from that of (national airline) Alitalia," the Stampa newspaper commented on Monday. "No one other than the state seems willing to take on its inefficiencies," it added. Founded in Siena, Tuscany in 1472, BMPS has suffered years of trouble beginning with a disastrous 2007 purchase of the Antonveneta bank at twice its estimated value. BMPS then drifted into scandal when its management team was accused of accounting fraud and misuse of funds. Further weakened during the eurozone debt crisis by an onslaught of bad loans on its books, BMPS was rescued in 2017 with a bailout that cost Italian taxpayers some 5.4 billion euros. UniCredit, Italy's second-biggest bank, has long been considered by Rome as the ideal buyer. The door to negotiations opened under UniCredit's new CEO, Andrea Orcel, who took over in April. - Back at the table 'soon'? - Lorenzo Codogno, an economist and former top Italian economy ministry official, told AFP he was surprised the talks had fallen apart, because BMPS would have been a near-perfect fit for Orcel's stated intention to expand UniCredit. Story continues He predicted that the bank and the ministry would be back at the negotiating table "pretty soon". "The government will ask for a three or six month extension, and I think Europe would accept that. "But it would be hugely difficult for it to obtain a change in attitude -- such as a nationalisation or a public intervention -- that goes beyond what is expected right now," he said. Codogno said he thought it unlikely the government would be open to an offer from a foreign bank -- should one emerge -- because of the time involved in performing the necessary due diligence. For its part, UniCredit could look elsewhere for takeover opportunities, but "would face major difficulties" if it tried to expand into Europe, because the European banking union is "still far off being real". "So effectively both (the government and UniCredit) will eventually have to sit back down and find a solution," he said. ide-aa/dl Associated Press Khari Hasan Kalo peered out of the window of the repatriation flight as it touched down in northern Iraq. It's a place he and his family had hoped never to see again after they left for Belarus two months ago, driven by dreams of a new life in Europe. Kalo, 35, had begged for loans and spent his savings on the ill-fated journey to the Belarusian capital of Minsk, the first stop on a journey to the West. Moderna's vaccine for kids ages 6 through 11 shows a "robust" immune response in a study of more than 4,500 youths, the Massachusetts-based pharmaceutical company said Monday. Moderna said it plans to submit the data to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration "in the near term." The randomized, observer-blind, placebo-controlled expansion study involved a two-dose vaccine. The dosage is half that of the adult vaccine. The majority of adverse events were mild or moderate in severity, the company said, with the most common ones being fatigue, headache, fever and pain in the injection site. "We are encouraged by the immunogenicity and safety profile, said Stephane Bancel, Moderna's chief executive officer. We look forward to filing with regulators globally and remain committed to doing our part to help end the COVID-19 pandemic with a vaccine for adults and children of all ages. The FDA has not yet announced a decision on Moderna's vaccine for youths ages 12 through 17. Moderna submitted results from that study in June. A panel of FDA advisers will vote this week on whether to authorize the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for use in children 5 to 11. Also in the news: Two-thirds of American states have now reported at least 5,000 COVID-19 deaths, Johns Hopkins University data show. New Mexico on Monday became the 34th state to report its 5,000th death. On the low end is Vermont, with 351 reported deaths, and on the high end are California and Texas, both of which have reported more than 70,000 deaths. Green Bay Packers wide receiver Davante Adams, who ranks second in the NFL in catches and third in receiving yards, has tested positive for COVID-19 and will likely miss Thursday's game against the unbeaten Arizona Cardinals. Adams has said he's vaccinated. Protesters marched Monday across the Brooklyn Bridge toward City Hall in Manhattan in support of nearly 50,000 New York City municipal workers who have yet to get vaccinated against COVID-19 and face the threat of being placed on leave without pay if they don't get their first shot by Friday. Story continues Proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test is required beginning Monday to enter restaurants, bars, gyms, theaters or entertainment venues in Washington state's King County, which includes Seattle. The University of Maine system will mail letters this week informing more than 200 students theyre being withdrawn from classes for failure to get vaccinated or agree to tests, officials said. Friday was the deadline. A Georgia man accused of using a pandemic relief loan to buy a $57,000 Pokemon card is charged with lying on an application for a pandemic economic relief loan. Vinath Oudomsine faces one count of wire fraud; his lawyers declined comment. Today's numbers: The U.S. has recorded more than 45.5 million confirmed COVID-19 cases and 737,300 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University data. Global totals: More than 244 million cases and 4.95 million deaths. More than 190.6 million Americans 57.7% of the population are fully vaccinated, according to the CDC. What we're reading: Research during the pandemic has shown those with mental health disorders are more vulnerable to COVID-19, but it wasn't until last week that the CDC added them to the list of underlying medical conditions associated with a higher risk of severe disease. 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. Unvaccinated Americans will face tougher rules for reentry into US Unvaccinated Americans reentering the country will face stricter rules beginning Nov. 8, when the U.S. will again open its doors to foreign travelers -- provided they're fully vaccinated against COVID-19. American citizens without proof of vaccination "will have to produce documentation of a negative test within one day of departure" to be allowed back in the U.S., the White House said Monday. The current rule allows the test to be conducted within three days of travel. Fully vaccinated Americans will still have a three-day window for COVID-19 testing with negative results as long as they can show proof of vaccination. Bailey Schulz and Eve Chen Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis seeks to lure unvaccinated police officers with $5K bonuses Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is pushing for the state legislature to authorize $5,000 bonuses and other incentives to lure police officers from other states. More specifically, DeSantis is aiming to recruit those from jurisdictions with vaccine requirements who don't want to comply, encouraging them to relocate to the mandate-less Sunshine State. In many parts of the nation, police officers and their unions have steadfastly resisted the requirement. "In the next legislative session, I'm going to hopefully sign legislation that gives a $5,000 bonus to any out-of-state law enforcement that relocates in Florida," DeSantis said Sunday in a Fox interview. "So NYPD, Minneapolis, Seattle, if you're not being treated well, we'll treat you better here.'' DeSantis has raised his national profile, especially among the Republican base, by fiercely opposing mask and vaccine mandates during the pandemic. 'Brain fog' a long-term side effect of the coronavirus, study says Long-term COVID-19 side effects could include memory loss and other cognitive dysfunctions commonly labeled as "brain fog," according to a study that examined 740 patients in the Mount Sinai Health System. The study was published in the peer-reviewed medical journal JAMA Network Open. Another study that documented "brain fog" was published by Oxford University and the National Institute for Health Research earlier this month. Cognitive symptoms were seen in about 8% of patients and were more common among the elderly. The study also found common lingering symptoms, such as trouble breathing, abdominal ailments, fatigue, pain, anxiety and depression. Michelle Shen Rise in fentanyl overdose deaths linked to COVID Synthetic opioids such as Fentanyl have become the leading cause of overdose deaths in America, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Overdose deaths hit a new record in the U.S. at 96,779 from March 2020 to March 2021, driven in part by the pandemic, according to the CDC. Matthew Dyman, a Customs and Border Patrol public affairs officer, told USA TODAY in an email that COVID travel restrictions hindered some aspects of land border drug trafficking, but demand was high. "There was less traffic and more time could be spent examining travelers, which increased drug seizures," he said. "But with people staying home instead of going to work, there was an increased demand for drugs." Asha C. Gilbert Index to measure economic recovery by tracking empty parking lots Hows the economy doing? Just check the parking lot at your local mall or big-box store to find out. That old maxim is being turned into a science of sorts with a new road to recovery index. A tech company hopes a tool that takes the pulse of the parking industry will also serve as a larger economic indicator for a nation still digging itself out of the COVID-19 recession. FlashParking, a technology supplier to top parking garage operators, has started surveying its clients in eight metro areas New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Houston, Miami and Atlanta about their financial performance. Parking revenue plunged to 44% of its pre-pandemic level last year and returned to just 50% of its pre-crisis mark by mid-2021. Thats a dimmer snapshot of the economys health than other measures. Paul Davidson, USA TODAY Contributing: The Associated Press This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Moderna says its vaccine is safe for kids 6-11: COVID updates BERLIN (Reuters) - German Chancellor Angela Merkel will travel to Glasgow to take part in the World Climate Conference there from Oct. 31, government spokesperson Steffen Seibert said on Monday. He added the German environment minister will attend the event as well, and details will be announced later. (Reporting by Zuzanna Szymanska; Editing by Riham Alkousaa) A number of Republican members of Congress named in a Rolling Stone report as being involved in planning the details of rallies and electoral certification objection on the day of Jan. 6 ahead of the riot at the U.S. Capitol building, either personally or through top staff members, are pushing back on or outright refuting the story. "No one in my office, including me, participated in the planning of the rally or in any criminal activity on Jan. 6. We did not attend or participate at all, Texas Rep. Louie Gohmert said in a statement on Monday. However, I am extremely interested to find out who, besides the FBI operatives, did plan the events on Jan. 6. For the purpose of a potential defamation lawsuit against those making baseless accusations of a crime, I need to know who these persons are who are alleging that I helped. A Rolling Stone report published Sunday, citing conversations with two anonymous sources, says that multiple people associated with the March for Trump and Stop the Steal events had communicated with members of Congress throughout this process. Specifically, the story names Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, Paul Gosar of Arizona, Lauren Boebert of Colorado, Mo Brooks of Alabama, Madison Cawthorn of North Carolina, Andy Biggs of Arizona, and Gohmert. MANCHIN SAYS DEMOCRATS COULD REACH SPENDING BILL OUTLINE THIS WEEK "If youre talking about someone participating in meetings, setting the agenda, raising the money, I dont know of anything that suggests my staff as doing that stuff," Brooks told the Montgomery Advertiser in an interview pushing back on the report on Monday. Brooks also rejected a portion of the Rolling Stone report that said he and Cawthorn spoke with then-President Donald Trump at the rally at the Ellipse outside the White House on Jan. 6. "There was a meeting at the White House about voter fraud and election theft activity," Brooks said. "But I have no recollection of any kind of organizational activity regarding the speeches on Jan. 6." Story continues Boebert also pushed back on the report. I had no role in the planning or execution of any event that took place at the Capitol or anywhere in Washington, DC on January 6th, Boebert said in a statement on Monday. With the help of my staff, I accepted an invitation to speak at one event but ultimately I did not speak at any events on January 6th. Once again, the media is acting as a messaging tool for the radical left. In comments to Rolling Stone, a spokesperson for Greene said that she and her staff were focused on the Congressional election objection on the House floor and had nothing to do with [the] planning of any protest. Much of the lawmakers connections to planning certain aspects of Jan. 6 reported in the Rolling Stone story was already public knowledge. Members had publicized that they planned to object to the certification of the Electoral College results. Cawthorn and Brooks spoke at the rally at the Ellipse on Jan. 6. Gosar spoke at a Stop the Steal rally that Alexander organized in Phoenix on Dec. 19, 2020, and Biggs taped a recorded message that was played at that rally. ProPublica previously reported that Gosars chief of staff Tom Van Flein said he was in regular contact with Alexander about objecting to the certification of the election results. Gosar, Greene, and Boebert were all listed as invited speakers at a separate Wild Protest organized by Alexander that was set to occur near the Capitol, though it is not clear that they accepted any such invitation. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER The Rolling Stone report, however, did reveal new information and make new allegations, including that the members or their staffs were involved on planning calls, though it did not specify in great detail how they were involved with the planning. The outlet reported that it obtained documentary evidence that its two anonymous organizer sources were in contact with Gosar and Boebert on Jan. 6. Its sources also alleged that Gosar floated the idea of Trump issuing a blanket pardon in an unrelated ongoing investigation to encourage them to plan the protests and gave the impression that he had spoken to Trump about the idea and was attempting to get Freedom Caucus support for it. Washington Examiner Videos Tags: News, Congress, January 6, January 6 Commission, Mo Brooks, Lauren Boebert, Louie Gohmert, Rolling Stone Original Author: Emily Brooks Original Location: GOP members lash out at Rolling Stone report linking them to Jan. 6 planning Oct. 25Hawaiian Airlines said today it will resume five-times weekly service between Honolulu and Sydney in December, the first restoration of that Australia service since the pandemic stopped it in March 2020. The new service will begin Dec. 13 with Flight 451, which will depart Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu on Mondays and Wednesdays through Saturday at 11 :50 a.m. and arrive at Australia's Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport at approximately 7 :45 p.m. the next day. Starting Dec. 15, Flight 452 will depart Sydney on Tuesdays and Thursday through Sunday at 9 :40 p.m. with a 10 :35 a.m. scheduled arrival in Honolulu. Andrew Stanbury, regional director for Australia and New Zealand at Hawaiian Airlines, said "We are thrilled to reconnect Hawaii and Australia and have been encouraged by the public's response to Australia's national vaccination program, enabling the reopening of borders. "Hawaii is a hugely popular holiday destination for Australians, and we know many people have been keenly waiting to take a Hawaiian vacation, " he added. "We are looking forward to safely welcoming our guests back on board to enjoy the authentic hospitality we know our guests love and have missed." This latest restoration of Hawaiian service follows an announcement from Gov. David Ige last week that starting Nov. 1 Hawaii would welcome back vaccinated travelers for nonessential travel. Currently, only Australian citizens and returning permanent residents and their immediate family members are permitted to enter Australia without an exemption. The U.S. government has ruled that starting Nov. 8 international arrivals may enter the U.S. with proof of vaccination and a negative COVID-19. test taken within three days of departure. But it's still unclear if Hawaii plans to align its requirements for international travelers to the federal requirements. Currently, Hawaii only allows international travelers from Japan, South Korea, Canada, or French Polynesia to submit tests from Trusted Testing Partners for the purposes of bypassing the state's 10-day traveler quarantine. Hawaii only allows vaccination exemptions for those fully vaccinated against COVID-19 in the United States or U.S. Territories. Hawaiian said it started its Sydney-Honolulu service in May 2004 and has maintained its position as a leading destination carrier for travel to Hawaii via New South Wales. The carrier's three-times-weekly service between Honolulu and Brisbane Airport, which launched in November 2012, remains paused. (Bloomberg) -- Live pig futures in China, the worlds biggest hog producer, surged by their daily limit to the strongest level in two months amid optimism over a seasonal increase in demand. Apple futures jumped to their highest in a year on concerns that cold weather may limit supplies. Most Read from Bloomberg Hog futures for delivery in January, a time when demand for pork increases before the Lunar New Year, soared 7% to 17,470 yuan ($2,737) a ton in Dalian, before trimming the gain to just over 5%. Even after a recovery in the past month, the most active contract is still down more than 40% from its February high. A similar trend is observable on the spot market. Demand for food normally rises around this time of year as stores and restaurants restock and items such as sausages and smoked pork are prepared ahead of the winter, said Jim Huang, head of China-America Commodity Data Analytics, an independent consulting firm focused on agriculture. Meanwhile, supply could have suffered because the average market weight for hogs has tumbled after prices slumped in recent months, Huang said. The recently rally in live hog futures is also caused by breeders covering their short positions in the belief that this years selloff has gone too far, said Lyu Pin, a Dalian-based analyst with Everbright Futures Co. But the potential for further price increases is limited because there is still too much supply in the industry relative to demand, he said. Pork output in China jumped 38% in the first nine months of the year to 39 million tons, the countrys statistics agency said last week, while hog numbers climbed 18% on year to 437.6 million by the end of September, underscoring the recovery from African swine fever. Hog producers have forecast heavy losses because of sluggish pork prices and rising feed costs. Story continues Fresh apple futures in Zhengzhou also jumped the daily limit Monday, bringing their advance to more than 50% in less than seven weeks. Jujube futures in Zhengzhou have been rising too and are priced at 15,270 yuan a ton, compared with an average of 10,709 yuan over the past year. These two contracts are seen by futures traders as a way to trade fruit and vegetable prices in China. Any sign that rising food prices are here to stay will add to a myriad of challenges now facing China, from power shortages, to a slowing economy and surging producer prices. The government has also been keen to clamp down on excessive speculation in property and financial markets, which may make investors wary of piling up too many bets on futures. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2021 Bloomberg L.P. HONG KONG (Reuters) - A financial industry group warned on Monday that Hong Kong's zero-COVID policy and strict quarantine requirements for international travellers threatens to undermine the city's status as a financial hub. The Asia Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (ASIFMA) said a survey of members, including some of the world's largest banks and asset managers, showed 48% were contemplating moving staff or functions away from Hong Kong due to operational challenges, which included uncertainty regarding when and how travel and quarantine restrictions will be lifted. Hong Kong has some of the most stringent travel restrictions in the world and is virtually COVID-19 free, however unlike regional rival Singapore, which is slowly re-opening its borders, the Chinese-ruled city has no public plan for opening up to international travellers. Local leaders say their focus is removing restrictions on travel from Hong Kong to mainland China, which also has strict entry restrictions. At present travellers from Hong Kong to the mainland must still undergo quarantine. "Hong Kongs status as an (international financial centre) is increasingly at risk along with its long-term economic recovery and competitiveness as a premier place to do business," Mark Austen chief executive of Asifma wrote in open letter to Hong Kong's financial secretary Paul Chan. The letter made a series of recommendations including publishing "a roadmap for exiting Hong Kongs zero-case based COVID-19 strategy beyond solely the immediate goal of opening borders with China", as well as prioritising vaccinations. Hong Kong has reported just over 12,300 cases since the start of the pandemic, mostly imported, and 213 deaths. Regional rival Singapore is expanding quarantine-free travel to nearly a dozen countries, but authorities are grappling with how to do so while averting a surge of Covid-19 cases among older people and those with weak immune systems. (Reporting by Alun John; Editing by Michael Perry) Oct. 25The Honolulu Police Department has opened a second-degree attempted murder case following an apparent shooting on South King street early this morning. Honolulu Emergency Services said it responded at about 2 a.m. to 1350 S. King and found a man, 22, with serious trauma fronting the location. EMS said in a report that the man had "apparently suffered (a gunshot wound ) to (his ) back " and paramedics administered life-saving treatment. No further information about the man's condition was immediately available. Police said the suspects are unknown and the incident is pending investigation. KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) Ugandan police are investigating an explosion on a long-distance bus that killed one person Monday, the second fatal blast in less than 48 hours in the East African country. The bus was traveling from the capital, Kampala, to the western part of Uganda. The cause of the blast was not immediately known. Police said in a statement they dispatched bomb experts to the scene in central Uganda. Initially, police had said two people on the bus were killed but later said there had been one death, without explaining the revision. They made no mention of injuries, but the Red Cross, which sent ambulances, said at least one person was injured in the leg. On Saturday, a bomb explosion at an eatery in a busy Kampala suburb killed one person. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for that attack. The extremist group said in a statement late Sunday that it detonated an explosive device at the eatery allegedly frequented by elements and spies with Uganda's government. Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni described Saturday's explosion as an apparent terrorist act. Museveni said three people entered the eatery where pork is grilled and left a plastic bag with contents that later exploded. Police have not announced any arrests. The British government updated its travel guidance for Uganda this month to say extremists are very likely to try to carry out attacks. JERUSALEM (Reuters) -An Israeli court ruled on Monday that a 6-year-old boy, the sole survivor of an Italian cable car disaster and the focus of a cross-border custody battle, must be returned to relatives in Italy after his grandfather took him to Israel. Eitan Biran had been living with his paternal aunt in Italy after his parents, younger brother and 11 other people died when a gondola plunged https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/least-eight-dead-italian-cable-car-accident-ansa-2021-05-23 to the ground in northern Italy in May. Last month, while visiting the boy, his maternal grandfather, without the aunt's consent, drove him to Switzerland and chartered a private jet onward to Israel. The aunt said that, according to the Hague Convention on the return of abducted children, this amounted to kidnapping, and petitioned a family court in Tel Aviv for the child's return. The court on Monday determined the boy's "regular residence" was in Italy, where he had lived since his parents had moved from Israel when he was about a month old. It dismissed the grandfather's argument that Israel should be considered his home because his parents had intended to return there. The Israeli ruling said an Italian court had granted the boy's aunt guardianship rights, enabling her to argue successfully that his transfer to Israel by the grandfather had violated the Hague Convention. The families have seven days to appeal the court's ruling, their lawyers said. The boy's maternal family in Israel said it plans to appeal the decision. The court ruling dealt only with the issue of how Eitan was taken out of Italy, and not what was best for his future, they said in a statement. "The family is determined to continue to fight in all possible ways for the good of Eitan, his wellbeing, and his right to grow up in Israel as his parents wished," they said. The aunt's lawyers said in a statement that in this case, "there are no winners, there are no losers. There is just Eitan." Story continues "All we ask now is that Eitan return home quickly, to his friends at school, to his family, and especially to the therapeutic and educational frameworks he so desperately needs." The Tel Aviv court said it hoped the rift between the families could be mended, and that the "message of his late parents' 'spiritual will' would be for their families to set the right path on which the boy can tread peacefully and safely between them." (Reporting by Ari Rabinovitch and Jeffrey Heller; Editing by Bernadette Baum and Jonathan Oatis) Floppy disks. Kanchana Tanthawarak/EyeEm/Getty Images The Japanese government is just starting to phase out the floppy disks, the Nikkei reported. Sony, the last major floppy-disk maker, stopped production of the storage media a decade ago. The Japanese government has been struggling to digitize and modernize its systems for decades. Floppy disks have been out of production for about a decade, but the Japanese government just started to phase them out, the Nikkei reported over the weekend. Local officials in Tokyo had clung on to the floppy, as it was ultra-reliable. The disks "almost never broke and lost data," Yoichi Ono, who is in charge of managing public funds for Meguro ward, told the Nikkei. Sony, a major floppy-disk producer, stopped making the product in 2011. But since they are reusable, there are still plenty of floppy disks to go around, Nikkei reported. But now, Tokyo city officials have finally decided floppy disks have to go, due to the fees charged at some places. At the Meguro ward, Mizuho Bank said it would start charging 50,000 Japanese yen ($440) a month for the use of physical storage media, such as floppy disks, Nikkei reported. Various subdivisions in the city of Tokyo have already started moving the data from floppy disks to other storage formats online, the Japanese newspaper added. However, it could take years to complete the transition. For Chiyoda ward - where many of Japan's government offices are located - the entire digital transition plan is targeting a completion date of 2026, Nikkei reported. Despite the country's ultra-modern image, the Japanese government has been struggling to go digital, with civil servants voicing strong opposition against a recent attempt to ditch fax machines. Similarly, attempts to do away with the use of personal seals to authorize documents have also been met with resistance. Read the original article on Business Insider Courteney Cox, David Schwimmer and Jennifer Aniston are among the longtime Friends actors who shared sweet messages about co-star James Michael Tyler following his death. Tyler, who played the Central Perk employee Gunther on the Manhattan-set sitcom, died at age 59 following a battle with stage 4 prostate cancer. James, thank you for playing such a wonderful, unforgettable role in Friends and for being such a big hearted gentleman and all around mensch off screen, Schwimmer wrote in an Instagram tribute Sunday. You will be missed, buddy. Tylers character was in love with Rachel Green, portrayed by Aniston, who shared a video from the show in her tribute. Whenever Im in a cafe having coffee, or see a man with hair brighter than the sun, Ill think of you, Aniston captioned the Instagram clip. Tyler appeared on 150 episodes of Friends, which aired from 1994 to 2004. We had a lot of laughs buddy. You will be missed. RIP my friend, Matt LeBlanc wrote on Instagram, along with a photo showing their Friends characters together. Lisa Kudrow thanked Tyler for being there for us all, while Cox wrote, The size of gratitude you brought into the room and showed every day on set is the size of the gratitude I hold for having known you. Tyler revealed on a June episode of NBCs Today show that he was diagnosed in 2018 with an advanced case of cancer. I missed going in for a test, which was not a good thing, Tyler said at the time. So the cancer decided to mutate at the time of the (COVID-19) pandemic, and so its progressed. CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) First lady Jill Biden on Monday toured a cancer center in the state that played a pivotal role in her husband's victory in the 2020 Democratic nominating process, telling South Carolinians that cancer touches every American family. In the closing days of October a month dedicated to breast cancer awareness the first lady said she was making the trip as part of a continued commitment to pushing for research efforts toward a cure. One of the women Biden spoke with was LaToya Wilson, a mother of two and a Stage 4 breast cancer patient who said she was 37 when she was first diagnosed. We need more minorities as part of these trials, Wilson, who is Black, told Biden, crediting her survival to participation in clinical trials. Too many women, particularly Black women, are living with breast cancer, Biden replied. Biden, 70, has been vocal about the role that cancer has played in her life, most directly in the death of her son Beau from brain cancer at age 46. That loss also factored into her trip to South Carolina just over a week ago, when she attended events at Brookland Baptist Church in West Columbia, where she said a relationship with the pastors wife helped her reclaim her faith following Beaus death. The first lady met with breast cancer survivors, researchers and mammography specialists at the Hollings Cancer Center, named for the late U.S. Sen. Fritz Hollings. The longtime South Carolina Democrat was President Joe Biden's Capitol Hill deskmate during their decades together in the Senate, and Jill Biden said both the senator and his late wife, Peatsy, were very special to us. Later, Jill Biden stopped at Joint Base Charleston, a facility that houses pilots and crews that participated in last summer's airlift of more than 120,000 Americans, Afghans and other allies from Kabul at the end of the U.S.'s 20-year war in Afghanistan. During brief remarks, Biden said crews from the base "distinguished themselves in the execution of one of the largest humanitarian airlifts ever conducted." Story continues President Biden has defended the decision to end Americas longest war and withdraw all troops ahead of the Aug. 31 deadline, despite spasms of violence, including a suicide bombing that killed 13 American service members and 169 Afghans. The first lady's multiple recent South Carolina visits have showcased the administration's appreciation for the state. The first balloting in the South, with the first heavily Black electorate for Democratic candidates, South Carolina was the scene of Joe Biden's political resurrection, following lackluster performances in earlier contests in 2020. Days ahead of the primary, Biden won the endorsement of longtime ally U.S. House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn, the highest-ranking Black member of Congress and the dean of South Carolinas Democrats. Winning South Carolina by nearly 30 percentage points, Biden's victory was enough to bounce out a handful of competitors who endorsed him in swift succession. The triumph also helped propel him to wins across Super Tuesday states, momentum that carried Biden to the party's nomination. ___ Meg Kinnard can be reached at http://twitter.com/MegKinnardAP. Taiwan is "in the news these days because of its relationship with China, which, to put it mildly, is fraught and recently it's getting even fraughter," John Oliver said on Sunday's Last Week Tonight. Basically, "China insists that Taiwan an independently operating entity with its own democratically elected leaders, armed forces, and constitution is actually part of China, and in no way a separate country. Here's an understatement: The Chinese government feels strongly about this." "Taiwan is such a third-rail for China," U.S. companies and movie stars keep apologizing to Beijing, Oliver demonstrated. "So if China is getting T-shirt retractions from The Gap, loudly vowing to reunify with Taiwan, and sending stacks of warplanes toward it in record-breaking numbers, it feels like tonight it would be worth taking a look at Taiwan how it got to be in the unique position that it's in, what the world wants from it, and most importantly, what it wants for itself." Oliver started with "a ludicrously brief history of the last 400 years" in Taiwan, improbably leading to "where we are right now, with Taiwan established as a highly developed and wealthy country and yet, no one is allowed to call it one." Only 14 countries and the Vatican recognized Taiwan as a country, he said, while the U.S. has "spent the last half-century walking a diplomatic tightrope with a policy known as 'strategic ambiguity,'" where "uncertainty is kind of the point, especially when it comes to defense." Would the U.S. defend Taiwan in a Chinese invasion? "No one really knows," Oliver said. "It is a willfully confusing, will-they-or-won't-they dance that for 40 years has been the backbone of U.S.-Taiwan policy." The world doesn't seem to have any better ideas, but Americans in particular "might look at a place like Taiwan, which looks and acts like a country, and feel that it is weird and farcical to not acknowledge it as one," he said. "But from a practical standpoint, would that be better? And is that even what the people of Taiwan want? Could it be that maintaining the current deeply weird, ambiguous status quo is actually the best option here?" Beijing won't like Oliver's conclusion. (There is NSFW language peppered throughout.) Story continues If geopolitics and history aren't your things, Last Week Tonight helped create a local car dealership ad, and aired it last week. Watch below. You may also like The American 'Great Resignation' by the numbers Liz Cheney, Marjorie Taylor Greene take turns calling each other 'a joke' Lorli von Trapp Campbell of the Trapp Family Singers dies at 90 TALLAHASSEE When Texas attorney general announced he was suing four swing states in a last-ditch attempt to overturn the results of the 2020 election, lawyers in Florida Attorney General Ashley Moodys office scoffed. One lawyer called it batst insane. Another called it weird. Despite the criticisms, Moody came out in support of Texas lawsuit the next day, co-signing a brief along with 16 other Republican attorneys general urging the U.S. Supreme Court to hear Texas case. The integrity and resolution of the 2020 election is of paramount importance, Moody tweeted at the time. Emails from Moodys office show that the day before she agreed to lend support to Texas lawsuit, her own attorneys were mocking the case, its legal arguments and the motivations behind it. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, a Republican, filed his lawsuit more than a month after the Nov. 3 election, when former President Donald Trump and his supporters were claiming that widespread voter fraud in a handful of states cost him the election. Paxton sued Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, states that already had certified their results, alleging voting irregularities there tainted election results. Biden won all four states. The case was considered a long shot with a flimsy legal argument: Paxton claimed that the irregularities harmed Texas, and that the Legislatures in the four states should be left to choose how their state votes in the electoral college. Republicans controlled the Legislatures in all four states. The case garnered immediate national attention and caught the eye of attorneys working for Floridas solicitor general, the group of lawyers in the Attorney Generals Office who can decide whether the state should appeal a case to the Florida Supreme Court or U.S. Supreme Court. Evan Ezray, deputy solicitor general, sent an email out to the lawyers about the filing and noted that it was interesting that the case didnt appear to be coming from Texas solicitor generals office. Story continues Batst insane, which is why (Texas solicitor general) is not on it, replied Christopher Baum, senior deputy solicitor general.Must be the only guy in the Texas AGs front office who didnt quit/wasnt fired for alleging that Paxton committed crimes. A month earlier, seven top aides in Paxtons office asked federal law enforcement to investigate allegations of improper influence, abuse of office, bribery and other potential crimes by Paxton, according to the Austin-American Statesman. Paxton, a Republican, was federally indicted on multiple counts of securities fraud in 2015, but the case has yet to go to trial. Texas solicitor general resigned in January. Baum wrote that a colleague noted that perhaps this is Paxtons request for a pardon, implying that the lawsuit was an attempt to curry favor with Trump. Trump did not issue Paxton a pardon. Floridas team of appellate lawyers also criticized the legal reasoning in Paxtons case, particularly the idea that a state could inject itself into another states election. Whats the theory for how one state has standing to allege Bush v. Gore violations against another state , wondered Chief Deputy Solicitor General James Percival, referring to the lawsuit that ended Floridas recount and settled the presidential election in 2000. Because, Baum replied. It also seems weird to cite Marbury v. Madison for the proposition that the court should get involved in a political dispute, Percival responded, referring to the landmark 1803 U.S. Supreme Court case that established that courts can strike down laws they find unconstitutional. Ezray wrote that Texas says, they suffer harm as a state when other states violate constitutional election law. which would be true in any election case, Baum replied. So Massachusetts has standing to sue Mississippi for illegally gerrymandered districts? Its not clear from the emails whether Moody was aware of their opinions. Later that evening, Missouris solicitor general sent an urgent email to his counterparts in Florida and other states asking if theyd be willing to sign a brief urging the Supreme Court justices to hear Texas case. After at least one phone call with her top deputies, Moody agreed to sign on to the brief the next day, according to the emails.Members of her press office crafted Moodys tweet about it for later that day, emails show. On Dec. 11, two days later, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear it, citing similar reasoning as Moodys lawyers. Texas has not demonstrated a judicially cognizable interest in the manner in which another State conducts its elections, the court wrote. Moody spokesperson Lauren Cassedy disregarded the correspondence by the appellate attorneys. Clearly this was water cooler conversation by a few employees in response to breaking news and prior to any request to join a jurisdictional brief, Cassedy wrote. There was strong legal analysis to support the Supreme Court hearing and deciding this case on such a novel issue. As the Attorney General has previously said she wanted the Supreme Court to review and decide this matter to prevent future confusion and erosion of voter confidence. The emails were obtained from American Oversight, a progressive-leaning group that requests public records from state and federal governments. The groups executive director, Austin Evers, blasted Moodys decision to join the lawsuit. The Office of the Florida Attorney General joined in an unprecedented and dangerous effort to overturn the 2020 election despite knowing the legal arguments were baseless, Evers said in a statement. This is the epitome of bad faith and a gross misuse of official resources in service of the big lie and putting party over country. WASHINGTON Paid family leave, one of the hallmarks of President Joe Biden's social safety net agenda, is in jeopardy of being pared once again or even cut from a major spending bill over a lack of support from Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va. Manchin, one of two Senate Democrats who have chipped away at Biden's "Build Back Better" proposal, is against including four weeks of paid family and medical leave, said two sources familiar with the negotiations. The provision was recently presented as a compromise to the 12 weeks Biden initially proposed. Asked Monday whether he had concerns about the paid leave proposal, Manchin said: "I'm concerned about an awful lot of things." His comments come just days after Biden said paid leave had been curtailed but not eliminated. It is down to four weeks," Biden said at a CNN town hall on Thursday. "And, the reason it's down to four weeks? I can't get 12 weeks. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment about Manchin's position. Shortly after Manchin's remarks, he was seen huddling with Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., for several minutes outside the office of Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. Gillibrand later told reporters she is negotiating with Manchin to ensure that paid family leave stays in the bill. I think he is open to this in good faith. I think he fully understands this is essential to working parents, and working families all across America, Gillibrand said of her discussion with Manchin. Democrats are pushing for a robust paid family leave program, but right now four weeks is looking more likely, an aide closely involved with crafting the provisions told NBC News, adding that the proposal is being fiercely negotiated. The U.S. is one of just eight countries without national paid maternity leave. Even if Democrats were to settle on four weeks of paid parental leave, the U.S. would still lag numerous other countries. The global average for paid maternity leave is 29 weeks, and it is 16 weeks for paid paternity leave, according to data from the World Policy Analysis Center at UCLA. Story continues Manchin is also souring on Medicare vouchers to help cover annual dental costs, as well as a push to expand Medicaid in Republican-led states that have not expanded coverage. Biden's original proposal called for broadening Medicare coverage to include dental care. Some Democrats said too many key components of Biden's spending package have already been gutted to satisfy Manchin and Sen. Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona, the other Democratic holdout in the Senate. New opposition to paid family leave, a priority for Biden and progressives, would mark a significant setback in negotiations over the bill. During a trip to New Jersey on Monday, Biden commended Gov. Phil Murphy, a Democrat, for offering paid leave but made little mention of his own leave proposal. Image: President Joe Biden delivers remarks at NJ Transit Meadowlands Maintenance Complex to promote his "These bills are about competitiveness versus complacency," Biden said. "They're about expanding opportunity, not opportunity denied. They're about leading the world or continuing to let the world pass us by." Advocates had felt confident that four weeks of paid leave would make it into the final bill, especially because the provision meets Manchin's criteria for work requirements and means testing. But optimism appeared to drop over the weekend as advocacy groups sent email blasts asking allies to ramp up their efforts to support paid leave on social media, according to emails obtained by NBC News. After Republicans made clear they would unanimously oppose Biden's social safety net bill, Democrats have been forced to hammer out legislation that can pass with simple majorities in the House and the Senate. Without any Republican support, Democrats cannot afford to lose any of their 50 votes in the Senate and must hold their narrow majority together in the House. Moderate Democrats, especially Manchin and Sinema, have taken issue with several aspects of Biden's spending agenda and have sought a smaller price tag than the $3.5 trillion top line that was initially proposed. Biden had hoped to get the bill passed by the end of the summer, but internal negotiations have dragged on for months. At a dinner with reporters in Washington, D.C., Manchin said he believes a deal is doable, while adding there must be "balance." "Do I think we can do something? I absolutely do. Do I think it will be done? Well, you kind of hope so, but do I think there shouldn't be a kind of a balance to it? Yeah," he said on Monday. Manchin said he regularly talks with the president privately, adding that Biden's nickname for him is "Joe-Joe." "Weve known each other for quite some time, and he's a good man. He truly is a good man with a good heart and a good soul," Manchin said. The West Virginian lawmaker went on to say that it's been difficult for him to get on the same page as his Democratic colleagues in the Senate. "I have a hard time and I'm totally out of sync with 48 other Democrats, so totally out of sync, I love them all. And I love all the Republicans. So I'm just trying to survive in a very, very, very divided Congress in a very divided country," he said. "I think well get something, I really do," Manchin added of a potential deal on spending. Biden told reporters earlier on Monday that it is his "hope" to reach an agreement on the social policy bill before he leaves this week for the G20 summit in Rome and the U.N. Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, Scotland. "It'd be very, very positive to get it done before the trip," Biden said. Schumer, who joined Manchin on Sunday at Biden's home in Delaware to discuss the spending bill, said Monday that there were "three or four outstanding issues." He did not go into detail. "No one ever said passing transformational legislation like this would be easy, but we are on track to get this done," Schumer said on the Senate floor. Some House Democrats are putting pressure on Manchin to keep certain components of Biden's proposal intact. Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., called Manchin on Sunday after his meeting with Biden, and the two lawmakers discussed Medicaid, multiple sources confirmed. South Carolina is one of the Republican-led states that did not accept federal dollars to expand Medicaid. Congressional Democrats are also searching for a way to pay for the social safety net legislation, particularly after Sinema objected to raising the tax rates for the highest tax bracket and on corporations. Democrats are discussing a surtax on people who make more than $10 million a year, two sources familiar with the negotiations said. But that would increase federal revenue by only about $63 billion for a bill that is expected to approach $2 trillion. A similar proposal, which would have set the threshold at $5 million a year, was not supported by Sinema, the sources said. Another revenue-raising plan in the works is a so-called billionaire's tax. Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden, D-Ore., told reporters Monday that he plans to release his proposal this week, a strong sign that Sinema will not oppose it. Sen. Joe Manchin told reporters at the Capitol on Monday that Democrats could reach a deal on the framework of their spending package this week. Manchin has for weeks been a thorn in the side of liberals seeking a proposed $3.5 trillion spending package. Manchin, as well as Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, have raised objections to the size and scope of the package, with Manchin pushing for a $1.5 trillion deal. JAMES CARVILLE: I HATE GUYS LIKE GLENN YOUNGKIN The West Virginia Democrat told reporters hes still at $1.5 trillion but believes a deal on a conceptual framework could be reached this week, citing good faith discussions between Democrats. Manchin also said he pushed back on a Medicaid expansion under consideration in the package. Politico reported Monday that Manchin objected to a plan to expand Medicaid coverage in red states and swing states that did not elect to expand this coverage for low-income people. West Virginia did expand its Medicaid program several years ago. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER Due to Senate Democrats' narrow majority, Manchins support for the package would be crucial to its passage. With just 50 Democratic senators and no Republican support, Democrats would need Vice President Kamala Harris's tiebreaking vote to send the package, which contains key portions of President Joe Bidens domestic agenda, to his desk. The party has thus far failed to reach a deal among its centrist and liberal members ahead of an Oct. 31 deadline. Agreement on the spending measure is also crucial to unlocking a Senate-passed $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill that has yet to come before the House. Far-left House Democrats say that level of spending is insufficient and won't back it until the larger spending bill is written. Washington Examiner Videos Tags: News, Joe Manchin, Joe Biden, Democrats, Spending Original Author: Kate Scanlon Original Location: Manchin says Democrats could reach spending bill outline this week Congressional allies Reps. Jim Jordan of Ohio and Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia endorsed rival primary candidates Cory Mills and Anthony Sabatini, both of whom are seeking the Republican nomination in a swing central Florida district held by a centrist Democrat. Both endorsements, Jordan for Mills and Greene for Sabatini, were announced Monday morning and are the latest in a series of high-profile right-wing endorsements flooding the race. Mills is an Iraq and Afghanistan veteran and Bronze Star recipient who went on to found a consulting firm and was appointed by former President Donald Trump to a Pentagon position. TIED UP? POLL SHOWS CLOSE RACE BETWEEN YOUNGKIN AND MCAULIFFE "Cory Mills has been a leader on the battlefield, and a successful business owner. He has rescued Americans in Afghanistan, and he will take on the radical left in Congress. We need Cory Mills in Washington now more than ever to stand for freedom, Jordan said in a statement. Sabatini is a state representative and a member of the Florida Army National Guard. We do not need more spineless politicians infesting the Swamp who will bend their knee to Pelosis orders. I need more allies like Anthony Sabatini, Greene said in a statement. He isnt afraid to take on the establishment. He stopped vaccine passports in the state. He is 100 percent pro-life and pro-Second Amendment. He believes in the America First agenda. He supports building the wall. He is the leader for election integrity in Florida and demanding an audit of the election results. And, he has agreed to support my efforts to impeach Joe Biden. The primary includes several other announced candidates, and the seat is held by Democratic Rep. Stephanie Murphy, who was first elected in 2016. Murphy is a centrist Democrat who has graced headlines in recent months due to her criticism of Democrats sweeping go-it-alone reconciliation bill that is set to include trillions in spending for social programs. Story continues Floridas 7th Congressional District encompasses part of Orlando and some of its northern suburbs. But redistricting due to the 2020 census is likely to make the seat look much different and be harder for Murphy, meaning it is ultracompetitive in the Republican primary. Republicans control the redistricting process in the state. Sabatini initially announced his candidacy for Floridas 11th Congressional District, a seat further from Orlando that includes The Villages and borders the Gulf of Mexico. The district is held by Republican Rep. Daniel Webster. Anticipating drastic redistricting, Sabatini switched his filing paperwork to the 7th District, saying he expected the new map to encompass more of his home of Lake County. Jordan and Greene are not the first two congressional Republicans to weigh in on the race. Each candidate is adding a slate of high-profile names to his endorsement list. Sabatini has endorsements from many other right-wing firebrands and Trump loyalists who are regularly villainized by ideological opponents. Those include Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz, who is reportedly being investigated for paying for sex with a 17-year-old, an allegation he has repeatedly denied, and Arizona Rep. Paul Gosar, who has been criticized for attending events connected to extremist Nick Fuentes. Former Trump adviser Roger Stone and Gen. Mike Flynn also endorsed him. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER Mills has endorsements from several other sitting representatives, including Rep. Jim Banks, an Indiana Republican and the chairman of the conservative Republican Study Committee, and Texas Rep. Ronny Jackson, the former White House physician under Trump. Washington Examiner Videos Tags: News, Congress, Jim Jordan, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Florida, 2022 Elections, Campaign Original Author: Emily Brooks Original Location: Marjorie Taylor Greene and Jim Jordan back rival Republicans in Florida swing district Oct. 25Shoplifting. No big deal, right? Don't say that around Det. Jerry Davis. The Mesa Police Department detective specializes in busting big-ticket shoplifters. He stresses two reasons people should be concerned about shoplifting. For one, "It hurts everyone. When people steal stuff, prices go up," the mild-mannered Davis said. But there's a second reason police are on the alert for the snatch-and-run crowd. "It's a 'gateway crime.' It's a running joke in the office," Davis said. "When we catch someone and run their (criminal) history, they can be involved with so many thingsbut almost always, shoplifting was the first crime." If a kid steals a pack of gum or an elderly man walks out of a store forgetting to pay for a newspaper, Davis won't get involved. But when Target, Walmart and other big stores call about repeat offenders, Davis starts digging. For example, consider what can be called "The Musical Bonnie and Clyde." A woman would go into a music store, grab a guitar and dash out, with a male at the wheel. Within hours, she would sell it in a pawn shop. After four or five similar crimes, surveillance video showed a license plate on the couple's vehicle. Davis tracked them to a Tempe motel. "They confessed, right away," Davis said. The couple, in their early 20s, said they stole to support a drug habit. Drugs are "almost always" the motives for his shoplifters, Davis said. "I would say 95 percent of the time." Davis has been with the Mesa PD for 16 years, the last five as a detective. This week, the Arizona Retailers Association's Loss Prevention Committee named Davis Law Enforcement Officer of the Year Award. "This year, Det. Davis participated in a joint effort with retail loss prevention personnel to apprehend and ultimately arrest multiple criminals committing organized retail theft in Arizona retail stores," an ARA press release said. Story continues Davis said the committee praised him for his work in arresting a woman who figured out how to scam "scan-and-go" self-serve machines ripping off nearly $1 million in goods. Her spree started at a Walmart near South Stapley Drive and East Baseline Road. After getting a description of the woman, Davis used police software to run a search. "Luckily, she was a prolific shoplifter in California," he said with a smile. He was able to track down the woman and arrest her. Was she involved in drugs? "Yes," Davis said, with a sigh. "Of course." The remains of a missing United Airlines executive were found at a forest preserve. Philip Pilosian/Shutterstock Jacob Cefolia was found dead at a forest preserve near Chicago on Friday. The United Airlines SVP of worldwide sales had been missing since August 2020. The DuPage County coroner said the cause and manner of death were still under investigation. The body of Jacob Cefolia, a United Airlines executive who had been missing since August 2020, was found at a forest preserve near Chicago on Friday. The DuPage County coroner said in a statement that his office had responded to a report of a deceased person in the Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve, a 2,500-acre expanse of hills, forest, and trails about 20 miles from the center of Chicago. Dental records and an examination of the body "positively identified him as Jacob Cefolia, 50/yo from Elmhurst," the coroner said. The coroner added that an autopsy was performed on Saturday, but the cause and manner of death were still under investigation. "We were sad to hear the news about our former colleague Jake and our thoughts are with his family and friends during this difficult time," a United spokesperson told Insider. "And we remain grateful for the support and prayers that so many of our employees - including Jake's coworkers - have shared with one another and on his behalf over the past year." A United spokesperson told Insider last year that Cefolia had last been seen on August 6, which prompted an extensive search. ABC7 Chicago reported at the time that his vehicle had been found at the preserve, where he was known to run a 9- to 10-mile route. Cefolia had been with the airline since 2007, progressing through various roles before becoming senior vice president of worldwide sales in August 2018. Read the original article on Business Insider The booming space industry is evolving and expanding at an unprecedented rate. Its the most complex, costly sector, and the traditional boundaries between national security, civil and commercial space are changing rapidly to create new opportunities. Were thrilled to announce that on November 2, we will host a live, 30-minute FREE webinar called, Full Speed Ahead: Accelerating Government and Commercial Collaboration in the New Space Age. Join experienced space leaders for this candid discussion and learn how government demands for mission success intersect with new capabilities from commercial companies. This event is free, but you must register to attend. The conversation, moderated by Emily Calandrelli, an MIT-trained engineer and Emmy-nominated science TV host, features Steve Isakowitz, president and CEO of The Aerospace Corporation; Gen. David D. DT Thompson, the vice chief of space operations, United States Space Force; Mandy Vaughn, the CEO and founder of GXO, Inc.; and Alex MacDonald, chief economist at NASA. Topics on the table include: Challenges to evolving space at speed, including key trends and drivers of change that are impacting missions and shaping this moment in space. Current capability gaps surrounding specific applications, mission integration challenges and a robust workforce. How to best leverage commercial capabilities at the national level to support enterprise mission success. Opportunities for new space companies to partner and do business with government space programs. Dont miss this rare chance to gain a deeper understanding of partnering opportunities to unlock new era of human achievement in space. Full Speed Ahead: Accelerating Government and Commercial Collaboration in the New Space Age takes place on November 2 from 8:30 am 9:00 am (PT) / 11:30 am 12:00 pm (ET). Register to attend today for 100% free. The Biden administration gave a prominent government role to the author of a controversial letter calling on the Department of Justice to investigate protesting parents as terrorists. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona appointed National School Board Association president Viola Garcia to the National Assessment Governing Board mere days after she released the letter, for which the group later apologized. Emails from the organization showed it coordinated with the White House on the release of the letter which resulted in the formation of an FBI-DOJ task force charged with investigating alleged domestic terrorist threats against school board representatives. DOJ TALKED WITH WHITE HOUSE BEFORE ISSUING 'DOMESTIC TERRORISM' SCHOOL PROTEST MEMO Garcias appointment to the board, which oversees the National Assessment of Educational Progress, commonly referred to as the Nations Report Card, came two days after the association's letter was sent to the DOJ on Sept. 29 and generated nationwide controversy and just before Attorney General Merrick Garland set up the task force on Oct. 4. The governing board comprises 26 bipartisan members and is tasked with establishing the nation's report card criteria, including selecting the assessed subjects and assessment content, as well as setting achievement levels for student performance. The education department press release makes no mention of Garcias post as the president of the association, referring to her only as a local school board member. In a congressional hearing last week, Garland acknowledged that the letter was behind the task forces creation and defended the White Houses referral of the letter to the DOJ, calling it appropriate. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER The association apologized for the letter Friday, following significant public backlash and increased attention following Garlands testimony. Washington Examiner Videos Tags: News, Merrick Garland, Department of Education, Education, White House Original Author: Jeremiah Poff Original Location: NSBA head got Biden administration role after calling parents 'domestic terrorists' Former President Barack Obama at McAuliffe rally At an event in Richmond, Va., on Saturday supporting Terry McAuliffe, Virginia's Democratic candidate for governor, former President Barack Obama took aim at McAuliffes opponents recent admission that he does not support same-sex marriage. Are we still arguing about gay marriage? Really? I thought that ship had sailed, Obama said to the crowd at Virginia Commonwealth University. I thought that was pretty clearly the right thing to do. The comments were in reference to an interview the Associated Press published last week with McAuliffes Republican opponent, Glenn Youngkin. He told the news wire that he feels called to love everyone because of his Christian faith. However, when the AP asked if that included support for same-sex marriage, he said, No. Youngkin added that marriage equality was legally acceptable in the commonwealth and that he as governor, will support that. In response to the AP interview, McAuliffe, who is running for a second term as governor of Virginia, took to social media to reinforce his support for marriage equality. He wrote, As governor, I worked my heart out to keep Virginia open and welcoming to all. This type of bigotry and intolerance has NO place in our Commonwealth. He added that he was the first Southern governor to officiate a same-sex marriage. Glenn Youngkins opposition to marriage equality is yet another example of how far outside the mainstream and out of touch Youngkin is not just with a large majority of Virginians, but the majority of Independents and Republicans who support marriage equality as well, Human Rights Campaign's interim president, Joni Madison, said in a statement. The choice facing Virginians could not be more stark between Terry McAuliffe, a champion for LGBTQ+ equality who will ensure every Virginian is treated equally, lives free from fear, and thrives, and Glenn Youngkin, an extremist whose opposition to marriage equality and threats to allow businesses to discriminate will make the Commonwealth far less welcoming. Story continues The Virginia race is understood to be a litmus test of sorts for Bidens administration as well as what is to come for the 2022 midterm elections. The race has tightened in recent weeks with Youngkin gaining in the polls, according to Agence France-Presse. Im here today because I believe Virginia will make the right choice. I believe America, ultimately, will make the right choice, Obama told Saturday's attendees. I believe you right here in Virginia are going to show the rest of the country, and the world, that were not going to indulge in our worst instincts. Were not going to go back to the past that did so much damage, were going to move forward with people like Terry leading the way. Youngkin is not the only Republican in the news for his opposition to marriage equality. Obamas comments come only a day after a letter from Texas state Rep. James White to the states Attorney General Ken Paxton made the rounds on social media. In the letter, White questions the legality of same-sex marriage in Texas and asks Paxton to clarify the issue. The State of Texas has not amended or repealed its marriage laws in response to Obergefell v. Hodges. ; And the Supreme Court has no power to amend formally or revoke a state statute or constitutional provision even after opining that the state law violates the Supreme Courts interpretation of the Constitution, White wrote. WASHINGTON (AP) U.S. officials say they believe Iran was behind the drone attack last week at the military outpost in southern Syria where American troops are based. Officials said Monday the U.S. believes that Iran resourced and encouraged the attack, but that the drones were not launched from Iran. They were Iranian drones, and Iran appears to have facilitated their use, officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss details that have not been made public. Officials said they believe the attacks involved as many as five drones laden with explosive charges, and that they hit both the U.S. side of al-Tanf garrison and the side where Syrian opposition forces stay. There were no reported injuries or deaths as a result of the attack. U.S. and coalition troops are based at al-Tanf to train Syrian forces on patrols to counter Islamic State militants. The base is also located on a road serving as a vital link for Iranian-backed forces from Tehran all the way to southern Lebanon and Israel. Pentagon spokesman John Kirby declined to provide details when asked about the report during a news conference Monday. He called it a complex, coordinated and deliberate attack and said the U.S. has seen similar ones before from Shia militia groups that are backed by Iran. But he would not go into specifics and said he had no update on the munitions used in the attack. Kirby also declined to say if troops were warned ahead of time or whether the U.S. intends to make a military response. The protection and security of our troops overseas remains a paramount concern for the secretary, Kirby said, referring to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, and that if there is to be a response, it will be at a time and a place and a manner of our choosing, and we certainly won't get ahead of those kinds of decisions. Pro-Iran media outlets have been saying that the attack on Tanf was carried out by Syrias allies an apparent reference to Iran-backed groups in retaliation for an attack days earlier near the historic Syrian town of Palmyra. Israel has been blamed for the attack, but U.S. officials say America was not involved with it. Story continues You can consider that the strike on Tanf was an implementation of previous promises by Syrian allies to retaliate for Palmyra, according to an official with the so-called Axis of Resistance, an anti-Western political-military alliance that includes Iran, Syria, Hezbollah and other groups fighting alongside Syrian President Bashar Assad's forces. The al-Tanf attack came in a period of rising tensions with Iran. The Biden administration this week said international diplomatic efforts to get Iran back into negotiations to return to a 2015 nuclear deal were at a critical place and that patience Is wearing thin. The last major Iranian attack on U.S. forces was in January 2020, when Tehran launched a barrage of ballistic missiles on al-Asad air base in Iraq. U.S. and coalition troops were warned of the incoming missiles and were able to take cover, but more than 100 U.S. service members received traumatic brain injuries as a result of the blasts. The Iran attack was in response to the U.S. drone strike earlier that month near the Baghdad airport that killed Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani and Iraqi militia leader Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis. Two months after the al-Asad assault, U.S. fighter jets struck five sites in retaliation, targeting Iranian-backed Shiite militia members believed responsible for the January rocket attack. _____ Associated Press writer Bassem Mroue in Beirut contributed to this report. Actor Alec Baldwin attends the 2021 Hamptons International Film Festival in New York. (Mark Sagliocco / Getty Images for National Geographic) A British production company has indefinitely postponed the release of "Flint: Who Can You Trust?," a documentary narrated by Alec Baldwin, after the fatal shooting of "Rust" cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. Montrose Pictures and Cargo Releasing announced Monday that the doc about the ongoing water crisis in Flint, Mich., will no longer hit theaters Friday after a prop gun fired by Baldwin on the set of "Rust" killed Hutchins last week. "Flint" was set to open this weekend in some North American cities, including Los Angeles, New York and Toronto. A kickstarter campaign aiming to distribute the film in dozens more locations has also been halted. "Out of the deepest respect for all those affected by this terrible tragedy, we feel now is not the time to release FLINT: Who Can You Trust?" said "Flint" director Anthony Baxter in a statement. "[W]e will now be positioning the film for release in the US at a future date. Producers have also paused production on "Rust" as law enforcement continues to investigate the incident that ended the life of Hutchins and injured director Joel Souza, who has been treated and released from the hospital. Our hearts are with all of you, as we all go through this tragic time and mourn the loss of our colleague and dear friend," the producers of the Baldwin western said in an email to crew members Sunday night. We are family and we must stand beside each other as families do in difficult times. Baldwin also released a statement via Twitter Friday mourning the loss of Hutchins, "a wife, mother and deeply admired colleague," and pledging his full cooperation with the police probe. His "Rust" co-star Jensen Ackles later released his own tribute to Hutchins. On Sunday evening, a search warrant revealed that "Rust" star and producer Baldwin was practicing how to remove a gun from its holster and aim it toward the camera on the New Mexico set when it discharged, striking Hutchins in the chest and Souza in his right shoulder. Story continues Souza told detectives the weapon was described to him as a cold gun, meaning it should not have been loaded with any live rounds, before it was handed to Baldwin by assistant director Dave Halls. I am gutted by the loss of my friend and colleague, Halyna, Souza said in statement Saturday to Deadline. She was kind, vibrant, incredibly talented, fought for every inch, and always pushed me to be better. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Julia Garner and Anna Sorokin, who Garner is playing in "Inventing Anna." Steven Hirsch/New York Post via AP/Nicole Rivelli/Netflix On Monday, Netflix released the first images from Shonda Rhimes' upcoming show, "Inventing Anna." Julia Garner plays Anna Sorokin who pretended to be an heiress to scam banks into giving her loans. Sorokin was released from prison in February and remains in ICE custody. On Monday, Netflix released first look photos for its upcoming series "Inventing Anna," produced by Shonda Rhimes and starring Julia Garner as Anna Sorokin. Julia Garner as Anna Sorokin. Nicole Rivelli/Netflix Source: Netflix Sorokin first gained notoriety after a 2018 Cut profile revealed that she had posed as a German heiress named Anna Delvey to try and scam banks and other socialites into lending her money. Garner as Sorokin. Nicole Rivelli/Netflix Source: The Cut She was released from a New York state prison in February after serving two years on charges of theft and larceny. Sorokin is currently in ICE custody as her future in the US remains unclear. Garner as Sorokin. Nicole Rivelli/Netflix Source: Insider, Insider Insider reporter Jacob Shamsian previously reported that Netflix paid Sorokin $320,000 for the rights to her story. Sorokin's attorney told Shamsian that Sorokin has since used the money to repay her victims. Julia Garner and Anna Chlumsky. Nicole Rivelli/Netflix Source: Insider Read the original article on Insider The U.S., U.K., Australia, and Japan recently participated in a giant naval exercise. The Maritime Partnership Exercise 2021 included three aircraft carriers from three different countries. Russia and China mirrored the exercise one day later off the coast of Japan. Navies from four of the largest democracies in the world conducted a huge naval exercise in the Indian Ocean earlier this monthone that involved not one, but three aircraft carriers. Between October 15 and 18, the United States, United Kingdom, Japan, and Australia took part in the Maritime Partnership Exercise (MPX) 2021 in the Bay of Bengal in the Indian Ocean. The exercise was designed to increase interoperability between the four sea services. A day later, Chinese and Russian navies conducted a similar exercise. The U.S. Navy sent the California-based aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson, as well as her escorts, the guided-missile cruiser USS Lake Champlain, destroyer USS Stockdale, and the replenishment oiler USNS Yukon. Photo credit: U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Russell Lindsey The Royal Navy's Carrier Strike Group 21which includes the aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth (above)also participated. Queen Elizabeth is on her maiden voyage, one that saw her and her battle group sail across the Indo-Pacific as far east as Guam. "Big Lizzie's" escorts included the destroyers HMS Defender, USS The Sullivans, frigates HMS Kent and HMS Richmond, and fleet auxiliary RFA Fort Victoria. Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force sent the ships JS Kaga and JS Murasame. Kaga, originally a "helicopter destroyer," is set to become a full-fledged aircraft carrier (along with her sister ship Izumo), embarking F-35B fighter jets. Rounding out the international task force was the Royal Australian Navy's frigate HMAS Ballarat and refueling tanker HMAS Sirius. The four-power exercise (and others like it) is meant to push back against China's growing naval power in the Indo-Pacific, demonstrating solidarity and the ability to work together against a powerful adversary. Military alliances across the region mean that the U.S. Navy has access to the bases of allies closer to where the potential action is, and can bolster its own naval forces with local forces. For locals like Japan and Australia, it means the ability to call on the 500-pound gorilla of naval warfare if regional tensions rise or if war became imminent. Story continues Photo credit: Japan Ministry of Defense One day after the exercise, a Sino-Russian joint task force set out to prove the same capabilities. Ten warships from the Russian Navy and the People's Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) sailed through the Tsugaru Strait into the North Pacific. The Tsugaru Strait separates the Japanese northern island of Hokkaido from the main island of Honshu. Japanese air and naval forces first observed the flotilla, which provided the photos above to the Japanese Ministry of Defense. The five Chinese ships included one brand-new Renhai-class guided-missile cruiser; Nanchang, the largest surface combatant in the PLAN; the guided-missile destroyer Kunming; and the frigates Binzhou and Liuzhou. Rounding out the Chinese complement was a Type 903 fuel and ammunition replenishment ship. Photo credit: Japan Ministry of Defense Russia's contribution consisted of ships from Moscow's Pacific Fleet, including two Udaloy-class frigates, two Steregushchy-class corvettes, and the Marshal Krylov space-tracking ship. The two frigates were constructed before the Cold War and were originally destroyers before an upgrade, after which they were downgraded to frigates. The Indo-Pacific region is coalescing into two power blocs, as these two parallel exercises make abundantly clear. On one side are the navies of the world's major democracies, including regional democracies. On the other side are the authoritarian countries Russia and China. While this doesn't mean the world is any closer to war, it does show that, when it comes to geopolitics, birds of a feather flock together. Whether or not they'll fight together is something the world is better off not finding out. Now Watch This: You Might Also Like By Alan Charlish and Alicja Ptak WARSAW (Reuters) - Poland will need to consider tighter COVID-19 restrictions if average daily cases exceed 7,000, the health minister was quoted as saying on Monday, as the government warned that infections were almost doubling each week. Central and eastern Europe, where vaccination rates are lower than in the west of the continent, has seen a surge in cases in recent weeks, with officials in Poland urging the public to get vaccinated and follow the restrictions in place. "If, at the end of October, we are at an average level of over 7,000 cases per day, we will have to consider taking some more restrictive steps," Adam Niedzielski was quoted as saying by state-run news agency PAP. "Decisions will be made at the beginning of November." However, Niedzielski stressed that the government was not considering a lockdown. On Saturday Poland reported more than 6,000 daily cases for the first time since May. Deputy Health Minister Waldemar Kraska told public broadcaster Polskie Radio 1 on Monday that daily cases were growing at a pace of around 90% week-on-week. "The results we got on Monday do not reflect what stage of the pandemic we are currently at, they are always lower... but what is more important is this strong uptrend, and at a high level, which is holding, at the moment it is around over 90% compared to last week," he said. (Reporting by Alan Charlish and Alicja Ptak; Editing by Christopher Cushing and Stephen Coates) BOISE, Idaho (AP) A suspect is in custody after two people were killed and four injured including a police officer in a shooting at a shopping mall Monday in Boise, Idaho, police said. At a news conference, authorities said officers exchanged gunfire with the suspect. Police on Monday evening said in a news release that the suspect was in critical condition at a hospital and that the officer who was hurt had been treated and released. Police haven't released any other information about the victims, officer or the suspect. The mall had been secured by Monday evening, and police said it would remain closed as the investigation continues. Boise Police Chief Ryan Lee said the shooting was reported to law enforcement about 1:50 p.m. on Monday including a report that one person was shot and down at that time. When the officers arrived, they spotted someone who matched the description of the suspect. There was an exchange of gunfire that ensued shortly thereafter, resulting in the officer's injury, as well as the suspect being taken into custody, Lee said. He said investigators believe there was only one shooter, and there is no ongoing danger to the public. We really cannot at this time speak to any motivation behind it, Lee said, calling any speculation premature. I cannot stress enough how traumatic this event is for the community at large, as well as for those that were witnesses, or are the families of those involved or involved themselves, Lee said. After the shooting, several witnesses stood in the rain outside the entrance to Macys one of five large department stores at the mall waiting to be interviewed by police or told they could leave. Patrol cars from several agencies, ambulances and fire trucks filled a section of the mall parking lot. Officers from the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were assisting in the investigation. About a quarter of a mile away, officers closed part of a road near a busy intersection so they could investigate a second crime scene related to the shooting incident. Officers at the second crime scene declined to answer questions about the investigation other than to confirm it was related to the shooting investigation. Story continues Cheri Gypin, of Boise, was in the mall with a friend where they walk for an hour three or four times a week. She said she heard several large bangs, but thought something had fallen from the ceiling. Then about 60 people, including families pushing strollers, came running at them, some of them shouting that there was an active shooter. My friend was trying to process it, said Gypin, 60. I just looked at her and said, Weve got to run. So we just ran and kept running until we got to the outer perimeter of the parking lot. They made their way back to their car, where police told the crowd of people who had fled the mall to leave the parking area. Investigators were working with hospital officials to notify family members of those injured and killed in the shooting, Lee said. The shooting between between the suspect and officer will be investigated separately by the Critical Incident Task Force led by the Meridian Police Department, police said Monday evening. Boise Mayor Lauren McLean asked members of the public and the news media to give the victims and their families privacy as they deal with the trauma of the shooting. She thanked the law enforcement officers, first responders and others she said worked to keep the community safe. Countless people found themselves in a situation they never would have or should have expected, McLean said, lauding the shopkeepers and others in the mall for reacting so quickly to take care of folks that were there. You showed in a tough and chaotic moment how much you care and what you're willing to do to support and care for strangers. ___ This story has been updated to correct that four people were injured, not six, as previously reported by police. Minneapolis first cop to be convicted of murder may regain his freedom sooner than anticipated. In an unprecedented turn of events, a Minnesota judge re-sentenced former cop Mohamed Noor to five years in prison for manslaughter. Noor has already served 29 months behind bars, making him eligible for early release, contingent upon good behavior, as soon as June 2022. Mohamed Noor (R) and Derek Chauvin (L) are both disgraced Minneapolis officers convicted of murders. (Photos: Hennepin County Sheriffs Department) In June 2019, Noor was originally charged and sentenced for third-degree murder and third- degree manslaughter in the fatal shooting of 911 caller Justine Ruszcyk Damond an Australian-American citizen who called authorities in July 2017 to report what she believed to be a possible rape occurring near her residence. When Noor and his partner, Officer Matthew Harrity, arrived on the scene, Damond ran to the patrol car for help. A startled Noor responded by shooting past his partner and fatally wounding the 40-year-old in the abdomen. When he was sentenced, the presiding judge said he showed a generalized indifference to human life. But in September of this year the Minnesota Supreme Court reversed the manslaughter ruling that would have removed Noor from society for a minimum of eight years and a maximum of 12.5 years. The overturned conviction draws questions of what could happen to fellow disgraced Minneapolis cop Derek Chauvin, who was convicted in April in the May 2020 death of George Floyd, a Black man. Chauvin will likely have his decision reversed because it is legally incompatible to say that someone is guilty of intentionally doing something and at the same time theyre guilty of unintentionally doing something, said criminal defense attorney Andrew Wilson to VICE News. Chauvin, a white cop, was found guilty of second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter in the fatal arrest of Floyd. He was sentenced to 22.5 years in prison. While the former cop plans to appeal his conviction, Wilson does not foresee a similar outcome to that of Noor. I dont think its going to result in a reduction of his sentence, Wilson said. But I do think it poses real problems for that conviction to stand against him. So on appeal, they might get a reversal of that conviction. To read more stories like this, visit AtlantaBlackStar.com WHITEHAVEN, England (AP) In the patchwork of hills, lakes and sea that make up Englands northwest corner, most people see beauty. Dave Cradduck sees broken dreams. The coal mine where the 74-year-old once worked has long closed. The chemical factory that employed thousands is gone. The nuclear power plant is being decommissioned. To Cradduck, a plan for a new coal mine that could bring hundreds of jobs is a sign that at least someones interested in the area and an opportunity "for people who have got mining in their blood. But environmentalists view the proposed mine with horror. They say it sends a disastrous message as the United Kingdom welcomes world leaders, advocates, diplomats and scientists to Glasgow, Scotland, for a United Nations Climate Change Conference that starts Oct. 31. Many scientists and activists consider the two-week COP26 conference a last chance to nail down carbon-cutting promises that could keep global warming within manageable limits. The U.K. sets itself out as a leader, but its building a coal mine, which is the most polluting thing that you can do, Rebecca Willis, a professor of energy and climate governance at Lancaster University, said. It sends a signal to the rest of the world that the U.K. isnt actually serious. The proposed deep mine symbolizes a dilemma facing the British government: It aims to generate all of the U.K.s electricity from clean energy sources by 2035 and to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. But Conservative Prime Minister Boris Johnson has also pledged to boost prosperity in Englands neglected north with new factories, roads, railways and other infrastructure that environmentalists say is at odds with the governments green agenda. West Cumbria Mining, the company hoping to build Britains first deep coal mine in three decades, wants to extract coking coal a type used to make steel rather than for fuel from under the Irish Sea. It plans to process the coal on the site of a shuttered chemical plant in Whitehaven, 340 miles (550 kilometers) northwest of London. Story continues The company describes the project as a new kind of mine, far removed from the dirty, dangerous behemoths whose brick and steel skeletons dot the region's landscape. West Cumbria Mining says it will be the worlds first net-zero coal mine, with all of its carbon emissions reduced or offset by credits to the Gold Standard Foundation, an environmental organization. Plans show curved modern buildings that blend in with the surrounding hills. Alexander Greaves, a lawyer for the mining company, said while opening a new coal mine might look bad at first glance, the Cumbria County project aims to be different be design. Showing these mines can be made by lawto capture greenhouse gas emissions and required to offset any residual impactis true environmental leadership, he said. Environmentalists scoff at that idea. Its blindingly obvious that the quickest way to stop these carbon emissions and to make radical changes which we have to do in the next 10 years is to stop opening any new coal mines, said Maggie Mason, a local opponent of the mine. The same is true for oil wells and gas wells." Nature and industry have long vied for supremacy in this part of England. Whitehaven sits on the edge of the Lake District National Park, an area whose beauty inspired William Wordsworth and Beatrix Potter. The area also once was home to industries that offered hard, dirty jobs in factories and mines. These days, wind turbines spin beside the sea a sign of Britains transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy, which last year produced almost half of the countrys electricity. That share shrank this year, however, partly due to a lack of wind. With the cost of imported natural gas soaring and plans for new nuclear plants moving at a crawl, the U.K. government is still considering new fossil-fuel projects. In the North Atlantic, west of the Shetland islands, Shell and Siccar Point Energy plan to extract 170 million barrels of oil from the Cambo oilfield. Environmental groups are trying to force the British government to stop the drilling. Johnsons administration is reluctant to intervene, saying sources like Cambo are still required to meet Britains energy needs as it shifts to a low-carbon economy. We need to transition our existing oil and gas sector to a decarbonized platform, Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said last month in the House of Commons, accusing Cambo opponents of wanting a complete eclipse" of the oil and gas industries "with 250,000 jobs vanishing overnight. In West Cumbria, the local authority approved the mine a year ago. The areas Conservative mayor, Mike Starkie, says it will be transformational. The British government, under pressure from opponents and its own environmental commitments, intervened in March and ordered an inquiry by a planning inspector. The inspector says he will make a recommendation around the end of the year. Then the U.K. government will make a final decision well after COP26 has ended. Local supporters of the mine believe they are the silent majority, at risk of being drowned out by environmental activists. Some rallied at the site this month, holding signs that read Part of the answer, not part of the problem and Cumbria coke is the real thing. Its been very simplified in the press that its jobs against the climate, said John Greasley, who helps run a Facebook page in support of the mine. And, of course, the climate is going to win every time. But its deeper than that." ___ Lawless reported from London. ___ Follow APs climate coverage at http://apnews.com/hub/climate Vancouver, British Columbia --News Direct-- Radius Gold Inc. Radius Gold Inc. October 25, 2021 - TheNewswire - Vancouver, British Columbia - Radius Gold Inc. (TSXV:RDU) (OTC:RDUFF) is pleased to announce that high grade gold and silver has been intersected in multiple drill holes in the first phase of drilling at the California target, Amalia Project, Mexico. Radiuss joint venture partner, Pan American Silver Corp. (PAS), is the project operator and is fully funding the program. 3814m of diamond core drilling in 14 drill holes has been completed at the California target on 5 sections spaced 200m apart, defining a new mineralized system across a strike length of 1km. Results have been received for the first 10 drill holes and gold-silver mineralization has been intersected in every hole. California drill highlights include: AMDD21-32 27.3m @ 90 g/t Ag and 0.26 g/t Au AMDD21-34 3.95m @ 487 g/t Ag and 2.15 g/t Au AMDD21-36 1.75m @ 578 g/t Ag and 0.27 g/t Au AMDD21-38 11.2m @ 379 g/t Ag and 1.26 g/t Au AMDD21-39 26.9m @ 353 g/t Ag and 2.59 g/t Au The first target on the Amalia fault delivered bonanza grade discovery holes at San Pedro with AMDD18-009 (26m at 7.08g/t Au and 517 g/t Ag, press release Dec 4 2018) and AMDD19-010 (44m grading 12.38 g/t Au and 309 g/t Ag, press release May 1 2019). The San Pedro target was systematically drilled defining a gold-silver mineralized shoot to 450m depth below outcrop, before PAS moved to California (Figure 1, Figure 2). At California the initial shallow drilling has intersected multi-phase breccias and stock-work vein systems with significant widths (up to 50m), strike length (+1km) and high grades (individual samples maximum values to 4210 g/t Ag and 33.1 g/t Au). The California vein breccia system has been mapped for 2.8km with initial drill testing limited to 1km where access is easiest (Figure 3). California lies parallel to the Amalia vein system 1.4km NE and at an elevation 450masl higher. The host rock at California is dominantly rhyolite and dacite flows and the host rock of the Amalia vein is dominantly rhyolite tuffs. The host rock relationship indicates that California is potentially closer to the mineralizing source, and the 450m elevation difference indicates potential for significant depth expansion. The California system is open in all directions and has great potential. Story continues At the 3rd major breccia and vein target, El Cuervo, drill testing has commenced. El Cuervo is located between the Amalia and California systems. It was once thought to be a strike extension of the Amalia fault, but recent mapping indicates a separate parallel system of silicification, stockwork veining and brecciation up to 40m wide that has been defined semi-continuously for 1.5km, with surface rock chip samples that range from below detection to 637 g/t Ag and 2.24 g/t Au. PAS has initiated a helicopter supported drill program and expects to complete 3500m of diamond drilling before Christmas. Bruce Smith, Radius CEO, comments, The new results from California are a compelling demonstration of the potential of the Amalia project. I am proud of Radiuss team for identifying the project, compiling a large 10,250ha regional land package, prospecting very tough terrain and defining multiple drill targets. Our joint venture partner Pan Americans systematic approach, highly skilled team and financial resources has produced high-grade gold-silver results at Amalia and now another set of compelling results from the California system. With helicopter supported drilling commencing at El Cuervo and a long list of other targets yet to be drill tested, Amalia is developing into a great project that has potential to produce many new discovery zones. Figure 1. Radius Golds Amalia Project. Click Image To View Full Size Figure 2. Amalia project target summary map. Click Image To View Full Size Figure 3. California target Drilling progress Click Image To View Full Size Figure 4. California Drill Sections: AMDD21-038 to AMDD21-40 Click Image To View Full Size Table 1. California full table of diamond drill results: Click Image To View Full Size Note: The published drill intersects are drilled width not true widths. True widths are estimated between 80 and 90% drilled width. A complete set of cross sections from California will be available on the Companys website. The Agreement Pursuant to an option agreement signed in June 2018, Pan American Silver Corp. has the option to earn up to an initial 65% interest in the Amalia Project by making cash payments to Radius totalling US$1.5 million (of which US$800,000 has been received) and expending US$2 million on exploration over four years. Pan American may earn an additional 10% by advancing the property to preliminary-feasibility. Quality Assurance and Quality Control Drilling is carried out using NQ and HQ size tooling. Drill core is cut in half using a rock saw with one-half of the core then taken as a sample for analysis. Sample intervals are generally 1m intervals, producing samples of between 2 to 9 kg. Half-core samples are delivered to the ALS Geochemistry laboratory facilities in Chihuahua, Mexico. The samples are fire assayed for Au and are analysed for Ag and multi-elements using method code ME-ICP61 following a four-acid digestion. Overlimits are analysed using an appropriate method. Multi-element geochemical standards and blanks are routinely entered into the drill core sample stream to monitor laboratory performance. Quality control samples submitted to ALS were returned within acceptable limits. Technical Information Bruce Smith, M.Sc. (Geology), a member of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists, is Radiuss Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Mr. Smith has reviewed and approved the technical information contained in this news release. Radius Gold Inc. Radius has a portfolio of projects located in Mexico, United States and Guatemala which it continues to advance, utilizing partnerships where appropriate in order to retain the Companys strong treasury. At the same time, management is seeking out additional investment and project acquisition opportunities across the globe. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD Bruce Smith President and CEO Symbol: TSXV-RDU Contact: Bruce Smith 200 Burrard Street, Suite 650 Vancouver, BC V6C 3L6 Tel: 604-801-5432; Toll free 1-888-627-9378; Fax: 604-662-8829 Email: info@goldgroup.com Website: www.radiusgold.com Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward-looking statements Certain statements contained in this news release constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. All statements included herein, other than statements of historical fact, are forward- looking statements and include, without limitation, statements about the results of exploration work and future plans at the Amalia Project. Often, but not always, these forward looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as estimate, estimates, estimated, potential, open, future, assumed, projected, used, detailed, has been, gain, upgraded, offset, limited, contained, reflecting, containing, remaining, to be, periodically, 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 which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by forward-looking statements. Such uncertainties and factors include, among others, whether the planned exploration work at Amalia will proceed as intended; changes in general economic conditions and financial markets; the Company or any joint venture partner not having the financial ability to meet its exploration and development goals; risks associated with the results of exploration and development activities, estimation of mineral resources and the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits; unanticipated costs and expenses; and such other risks detailed from time to time in the Companys quarterly and annual filings with securities regulators and available under the Companys profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results to differ from those anticipated, estimated or intended. Forward-looking statements contained herein are based on the assumptions, beliefs, expectations and opinions of management, including but not limited to: that the exploration work at the Amalia Project will advance as planned; that the Companys stated goals and the planned exploration and development activities at its properties will be achieved; that there will be no material adverse change affecting the Company or its properties; and such other assumptions as set out herein. Forward-looking 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 forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. View source version on newsdirect.com: https://newsdirect.com/news/radius-intersects-26-9m-at-353-g-t-silver-and-2-59-g-t-gold-in-first-drill-results-from-california-target-amalia-project-mexico-548208701 Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) sent a letter to Dr. Anthony Fauci and the National Institutes of Health demanding answers to reports that taxpayer money from his department was used to subject dogs to abusive testing. "Yesterday, I sent a letter to Dr. Fauci regarding cruel, taxpayer-funded experiments on puppies; debarking before drugging and killing them," the South Carolina Republican tweeted Saturday along with a copy of the letter. "Thankful to my 23 democrat and republican colleagues who signed on. This is disgusting. What say you @NIH." FLASHBACK: MEDIA DEFENDED ANTHONY FAUCI'S FALSE CLAIMS ABOUT WUHAN LAB FUNDING IN FEUD WITH RAND PAUL A report from the White Coat Waste Project that was based off a Freedom of Information Act request with the National Institutes of Allergy & Infectious Disease found that more than $400,000 in taxpayer money was spent on canine experiments during which beagles were infected with parasites via biting flies . The Project reported that Dr. Anthony Fauci's bureaucracy's budget in 2021 is an estimated $6 billion, and that documents obtained through FOIA show evidence of a study in which otherwise healthy beagles were treated with an experimental medication before being introduced to biting flies that were carrying a parasite known to be contagious to humans. Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, responds to questions by Senator Rand Paul during the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC on July 20, 2021. (Photo by J. Scott Applewhite / POOL / AFP) (Photo by J. SCOTT APPLEWHITE/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) (Photo by J. SCOTT APPLEWHITE/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) NIH ACKNOWLEDGES US FUNDED GAIN-OF-FUNCTION AT WUHAN LAB, DESPITE FAUCIS DENIALS "A new report shows that under Fauci's direction, the [NIAID] funded painful and deadly experiments on dogs," Fox News Ben Domenech reported in August, adding that records obtained by White Coat Waste show the dogs "endured months of pain, and once researchers were done with them, they were killed." National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, which houses the NIH, issued the following statement: "All animals used in NIH-funded research are protected by laws, regulations, and policies to ensure the smallest possible number of subjects and the greatest commitment to their welfare . . . Story continues "The images of beagles were drawn from a manuscript published in July 2021 in the journal PLOS Neglected Tropical Diseases. The manuscript mistakenly cited support from NIAID, when in fact NIAID did not support this specific research shown in the images of the beagles being circulated . . . The research described by the White Coat Waste Project at the University of Georgia focuses on lymphatic filariasis (LF), a mosquito-transmitted parasitic disease that affects millions of people in many countries around the world. "There also are concerns raised about work involving beagles under an NIAID contract for preclinical pharmacology and toxicology services. Under this contract, the contractor conducts testing as required in animal models by the FDA, in compliance with Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) guidelines and in a facility accredited by the Association for Assessment and Accreditation of Laboratory Animal Care (AAALAC) or its equivalent. Vocal cordectomies, conducted humanely under anesthesia, may be used in research facilities where numerous dogs are present. This is to reduce noise, which is not only stressful to the animals but can also reach decibel levels that exceed OSHA allowable limits for people and can lead to hearing loss." In a statement to Fox News, Rep. Mace said that "using taxpayer money to de-bark, drug and kill beagle puppies is both inhumane and a disgrace to this country." "The $1.68 million of taxpayer funds to force-feed and/or inject dozens of beagle puppies with experimental drugs is unnecessarily brutal and gruesome. Dr. Fauci and the rest of the NIH leadership should come forward and explain what the hell is truly going on," Mace added. The controversial treatment of mans best friend has resulted in widespread criticism on social media including from podcast star Joe Rogan. Texas Sen. Ted Cruz also weighed in. The letter from Mace comes days after Fauci found himself in hot water for repeated claims that taxpayer dollars were not spent on gain of function research in a Wuhan, China lab which was seemingly contradicted by an NIH official. In a letter to Rep. James Comer, ranking member of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform, an NIH official admits that a "limited experiment" was conducted in order to test if "spike proteins from naturally occurring bat coronaviruses circulating in China were capable of binding to the human ACE2 receptor in a mouse model." The letter states that the laboratory mice infected with the modified bat virus "became sicker" than mice that were given the unmodified bat virus. Fox News Charles Creitz contributed to this report Oct. 25Riley County agreed to expand its 911 response system contract to include the Kansas State University Police. The Riley County Commission on Monday unanimously approved providing the K-State Police with Next Generation 911, an internet-based service. The upgrade allows more accurate caller location as well as texts to 911. The upgraded service allows K-State Police more access to information when 911 dispatchers rely a call to them about an on-campus situations. K-State will pay the $19,300 additional annual cost. In other business Riley County Commissioner John Ford presented a service plaque for the late Cheryl Collins to the museum staff for her years of service to the Riley County Historical Museum. Interim director Allana Parker accepted the award and spoke on behalf of the museum about Collins, who died last month. "She was a champion of history," Parker said. "A steadfast leader and genuinely kind to everyone she met, and a dedicated and proud member of the Riley County community who she shared her time and talents very generously." Riley County commissioners approved a highway use permit for Evergy to install a utility line 200 feet north and south of Angelias Way along Little Kitten Creek near Keats Park. Construction is expected to start Nov. 1 and end Nov. 30. As of Monday morning, 1,235 people have participated in advance voting since it started in Oct. 13. County clerk Rich Vargo said he didn't have a direct comparison for this same time during the last city and school elections in 2019. In 2019, 2,456 people participated in advance voting. Advance voting, which is on the second floor of the Riley County office building at 110 Courthouse Plaza, is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to noon Saturday. The final day of advance voting is 8 a.m. to noon Monday. Election day voting will be from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Nov. 2. You can find your polling location and other voting information on the Riley County website. Russia and China naval ships conduct a joint military patrol in the Pacific Ocean, October 23, 2021. Russian Defense Ministry/Handout via REUTERS Russia and China have grown closer in recent years, evidenced by a recent, first-of-its-kind naval drill near Japan. Those deepening ties have worried US officials, some of whom have said Russia should be wary. Both Moscow and Beijing have ample reason to maintain good ties, however, largely because of a mutual foe: the US. Russia and China conducted another first-of-its-kind joint military exercise last week, sailing warships around Japan in the latest demonstration of strengthening ties that have worried Western officials. As those ships drilled in the Pacific, President Joe Biden's nominee for US ambassador to China told lawmakers that Russia should be wary of its new partner, but experts have said both Moscow and Beijing have ample reason to maintain friendly relations. "I think a lot of us, maybe 10, 20 years ago, would not have anticipated that China and Russia would begin to work together strategically, but they are," Nicholas Burns told senators during his confirmation hearing on Wednesday, saying those warming ties were "all the more reason why we need to deepen our own alliances and partnerships." Russia and China naval ships conduct a joint military patrol in the Pacific Ocean, October 23, 2021. Russian Defense Ministry/Handout via REUTERS China and Russia have steadily strengthened their relationship, particularly their military ties, since the end of the Cold War. China's participation in Russia's Vostok exercise in 2018 was a milestone, and they followed it with joint bomber patrols over disputed areas of the Pacific in 2019 and 2020 and, this week, with a joint naval exercise in the same area. On Wednesday, 10 Russian and Chinese warships transited the narrow Tsugaru Strait, between two of Japan's major islands, for the first time and continued on a joint patrol in the Pacific, also a first. On Saturday, in another first, the warships sailed through the Osumi Strait off Japan's southern coast into the East China Sea, where they parted ways. China's Defense Ministry said the patrol was meant to further develop their "comprehensive strategic partnership," while Russia's Defense Ministry said it was meant to "demonstrate the state flags of Russia and China" and "protect facilities of both countries' maritime economic activity." Story continues The exercise was widely seen as a thinly veiled message to both Japan and the US. Both transits were "lawful, but unnecessary, and therefore designed to send an even more pointed signal," Peter Dutton, an expert on Chinese maritime activity at the US Naval War College, said Sunday. A shared adversary Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin at a ceremony to open Chinese-Russian naval drills in Shanghai, May 20, 2014. Reuters/Alexei Druzhinin/RIA Novosti/Kremlin China's and Russia's rivalries with the US and its partners have helped foster cooperation, but they have their own historical disputes, which, along with China's ascendancy, should worry Moscow, according to Burns, who was senior director for Russia on the National Security Council in the 1990s. "My numbers may be a little bit off, but I think there are 6 or 7 million Russians living east of the Ural Mountains in that vast expanse, and there are 300 or 400 million Chinese living below them," Burns told lawmakers on Wednesday. "The Russians are going to have to worry, long-term, about economic domination of Russia by China." "The Russians ought to be worried about a Chinese nuclear-weapons buildup in the western part of China, about the hypersonic missile test" earlier this year, "and the fact that China is completely unconstrained," Burns added. Burns' remarks echo those of other US officials and experts who point to demographics, power imbalances, and China's international presence as potential sources of friction. China's activity in areas of where Russia has traditionally had influence is likely already a concern among Russian officials, according to Christopher Bort, national intelligence officer for Russia and Eurasia on the National Intelligence Council from 2017 to 2021. "They are able to work through potential competition, but, as many people have noted, it is going to be a problem, perhaps, for the next generation of Russia's leaders," Bort said earlier this year. Other experts have said China has an interest in maintaining a good relationship with Russia, especially amid tensions with the US. Putin at a parade during Russia's Vostok 2018 military exercises, in which the Chinese military participated for the first time, September 13, 2018. Alexei Nikolsky\TASS via Getty Images China has gained significant military hardware and expertise from Russia, and two decades of good relations have "bought China quite a bit of strategic space" to focus on the Western Pacific, "so it would be in China's long-term interest to sustain that," Toshi Yoshihara, a senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments, said earlier this year. China's advances may lead it to be more assertive on the international stage, but "Beijing will be careful not to be arrogant in relations with Russia - as long as it needs Moscow as the main geopolitical ally in countering the US," said Artyom Lukin, a scholar of international relations at Russia's Far Eastern Federal University. "In the foreseeable future, I don't see any conflicts or flash points that could fatally undermine the Russia-China entente. That's primarily because they have a shared adversary - the US," Lukin told Insider. US military officials have expressed concern about China and Russia's military cooperation but downplayed it as "superficial." US officials have also cited the scope of US alliances and partnerships as evidence of Russia and China's international isolation. "Generally speaking, we don't have an issue with military exercises. We do it all the time," chief Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said Monday when asked about the recent Russia-China naval exercise. "We're going to continue to work with our allies and partners in the region - and we have a lot of them - and we believe those alliances and partnerships are real, unique strengths that the United States has," Kirby added. Russia and China don't have a formal alliance, but officials in both countries, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping, have used glowing terms to describe their relations - a reflection of lessons learned from 20th-century clashes. "At least as far as the present leaders in Moscow and Beijing are concerned, they are very mindful of this historical experience," Lukin said. Read the original article on Business Insider Thursday, October 21 was already off to a bad start on the set of "Rust" when a walk-off by the camera crew left the producers scrambling for replacements during a pivotal scene. But the day quickly turned into a nightmare: by sundown, the film's cinematographer was dead, the director injured and star actor Alec Baldwin distraught over having accidentally shot them both. A picture of the day Halyna Hutchins died is starting to emerge through affidavits supplied by the Santa Fe sheriff's department. - Disputes - The workday began at 6:30 am at the Bonanza Creek Ranch, a several-thousand-acre property in the foothills of northern New Mexico and a favorite destination for producers of western movies. Things quickly began to unravel when a six-person camera crew, angry over disputes about payment and accommodation during the three-week shoot, put down their gear and walked off set, leaving production bosses the task of sourcing replacement staff. Director Joel Souza told investigators that even after a new crew had been found, they only had one camera to work with, so scenes were taking longer than they should. - Prop gun - In the late morning, Souza was preparing a scene in which Baldwin, sitting on a wooden church pew, draws a gun across his body and aims it at the camera, the affidavits say. Souza worked with Hutchins to frame the shot to make it look like Baldwin was pointing the gun at the viewer. Baldwin's gun in the scene was one of three that had been placed on the props cart by armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, a 24-year-old who only had one previous movie to her name. It was taken from the cart by assistant director Dave Halls. Souza recalled the phrase "cold gun" being shouted as the weapon was introduced on set. The expression is industry lingo for an inert firearm. - 'A loud pop' - At 12:30 pm, the crew broke for lunch in an area away from the set. When they returned, Souza said, he was not sure if the weapon had been checked again. Story continues Cameraman Reid Russell came back to the set to find Baldwin, Souza and Hutchins setting up the scene, trying to get around the problem of a shadow being caused by the outside light. Baldwin sat on the pew, as Hutchins checked how the scene would look from the viewer's perspective. Souza hovered over her shoulder. As Baldwin explained how he would draw the weapon and where his arm would be, the gun went off, Russell said. Souza described a sound "like a whip, then a loud pop." - Bleeding - Hutchins stumbled backwards, clutching her midsection and complaining about her stomach. Russell remembers her saying she could not feel her legs. He saw she was bleeding as she lay on the ground, as medics rushed to help her. Souza recalls realizing that he was bleeding from his shoulder. A 911 call to police immediately afterward conveyed the shock and anger felt on the set. "We've had two people accidentally shot by a prop gun, we need help immediately," the caller tells a police dispatcher. Emergency responders rushed to the ranch, where they airlifted Hutchins to hospital. She was declared dead a short time later. hg/mlm/to The late Halyna Hutchins, left, "was an inspiration," "Rust" cast member Jensen Ackles wrote Sunday. (Fred Hayes / Getty Images, left; Phillip Chin / Getty Images) Jensen Ackles, an actor on the movie "Rust" along with star Alec Baldwin, is sharing his thoughts about last week's shooting death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. "Im not even sure where to start," Ackles wrote Sunday on Instagram. "This has been a tragedy of epic proportions that we are all still processing." The "Supernatural" veteran then shared his professional affection for Hutchins, who died Thursday after a prop gun being used by Baldwin fired accidentally during a rehearsal on the New Mexico set. "Earlier last week I felt compelled to tell Halyna just how awesome I thought she was. I told her how incredible I thought her camera shots were and just how exciting it was to watch her and her team work. Truly," Ackles added. "She laughed and said thank you and gave me a hug. Ill forever be thankful we had that moment. She had a spunk and passion that infected the entire crew from the top down," he wrote. "She was an inspiration." Ackles said he and wife Danneel Ackles had donated to an American Film Institute scholarship fund that was announced Saturday by the cinematographer's widower, Matt Hutchins, as well as to a union-sponsored Go Fund Me that as of Monday morning had topped more than $200,000 raised. "My heart and prayers go out to Halynas husband, son and the rest of her family. There just arent enough words to express what an immense loss this is," Ackles wrote. "She will be incredibly missed by all of us who knew and admired her." The post included a handful of photos of the cinematographer on horseback and with the costumed "Rust" cast. Hutchins and director Joel Souza, who was injured in the shooting, were huddled around a monitor lining up possible shots when Baldwin, in rehearsal, pulled the gun from its holster and it went off. The gun that was used had misfired the previous weekend. Hours before the shooting occurred, half a dozen camera crew workers had walked off the set to protest working conditions. In addition to complaints about long hours, long commutes and waiting for their paychecks, sources told The Times that industry-standard safety protocols, including gun inspections, were not strictly followed on the Rust set. In addition to her husband, Halyna Hutchins left behind a 9-year-old son, Andros. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Oct. 24SALISBURY The beach welcome center and public restroom project should be completed by the end of the year, according to the town manager. Town Manager Neil Harrington spoke at the Salisbury Chamber of Commerce's annual dinner at Wall's Ford on Thursday night and gave an update on the construction work on the $5.2 million welcome center and public restroom project. "The project should be done roughly by the holiday season," Harrington said. "It will certainly be ready to open by next spring." Harrington also said he has put in a request for $60,000 to add two Public Works employees to staff and maintain the welcome center and restrooms. "It is important for us to make sure that we maintain those facilities," he said. "But I think many of the local merchants will back me up on this by telling you what a huge improvement this project will be over what we have had for the last half a century." Harrington made a show of backing up in front of the audience Thursday night before giving an update on the Route 1 repaving project. The repaving project was brought on after the town completed its $3 million Bridge Road water main project earlier this year. Dracut-based contractor Defelice Corp. has been responsible for the work on Route 1 and Harrington said the town is not happy with the company. "I would be the first to admit that the contractor did a horrible job with the temporary road patching after they replaced the water line," Harrington said. He said Defelice is expected to complete work on the final trench paving over the next four to five weeks. "This must be up to state standards, which means that it must be completely level," Harrington said. "They have what they will do what is called three courses of paving that they have to put in each of the trenches." The town manager also reminded the crowd that the state is expected to completely repave Route 1 next year. Story continues "It has been a very disruptive project," Harrington said. "The contractor did a good job laying the pipes but they did a horrible job with the patching. We have heard nothing but complaints for the past several months. But, the good news is, that there is light at the end of the tunnel." Staff writer Jim Sullivan covers Amesbury and Salisbury for The Daily News. He can be reached via email at jsullivan@newburyportnews.com or by phone at 978-961-3145. Follow him on Twitter @ndnsully. Staff writer Jim Sullivan covers Amesbury and Salisbury for The Daily News. He can be reached via email at jsullivan@newburyportnews.com or by phone at 978-961-3145. Follow him on Twitter @ndnsully. Early voting in New York City began Oct. 23 and runs through Oct. 31, with Election Day set for Nov. 2. Among the 106 voting sites across five boroughs, 24 are at public schools, which, unlike other locations designated by the Board of Elections, are not legally allowed to opt out of participating. While the schools will be closed for Election Day, they are open while early voting is going on with classes in session. To cast a ballot in person, voters must wear a mask or face covering and keep a 6-foot distance from others. However, vaccination cards are not called for, even as the city requires them for all public school employees and, more broadly, for all municipal workers. Sign up here for The 74s daily newsletter. Donate here to support The 74's independent journalism. Many NYC parents are unhappy with this turn of events. Elena Khasanova rages, Vaccinated parents cant even walk their child into the classroom under the excuse of COVID theater. We have to submit meaningless morning screening every day; do the voters have to do it? Many high schools claim they cant hold in-person open house sessions to fully vaccinated parents and their children because its unsafe, but people with varying vax status can come into school buildings and vote? puzzles Majiya Chai. Katie N. concurs. Im incredibly angry about the hypocrisy. Parents are not allowed inside school buildings. Kids are being denied access to take sips of water in class. They must eat lunch in silence and 6 feet apart. If not, they can eat lunch outside on the concrete, quietly and in 15 minutes or less. They have to wear masks outside. Families cannot go inside school gyms to watch their kids play sports. BUT STRANGERS CAN GO INSIDE SCHOOLS TO VOTE? Which is it? Are adults all superspreaders and no parent can be allowed inside for fear of spreading COVID? But then well let strangers inside and risk infecting our kids? A parent who wanted to be identified only by the initials JS adds, I think its ridiculous. My daughter was unwell at school and I couldnt even go inside to collect her from the nurses office. She threw up in the hallway on her way to the front door, and they put her mask back on her face immediately after and brought her outside. The poor girl had to smell her own vomit in case she gave anyone COVID (which she didnt have) in the 10 steps to the front door, yet any Tom, Dick or Harry is going to be allowed into their building to vote. Absolutely nonsensical! Story continues Some parents, such as this one, going by the initials SS, suggested a compromise: Polling locations within schools should be limited to high school buildings this year. With young children unable to even receive the vaccine at this point, this brings a level of unnecessary risk. Im all for making it easy to vote and have enough places to go to, but I worry about random adults in our childrens schools where we are not allowed. It seems a bit tone deaf for the current situation in our city. Other parents had questions, such as MK, who asked, Who will be responsible for sanitizing after polling? School custodians are already working tirelessly to clean daily. This creates more work in a smaller time frame for sanitizing, especially considering the time polls close and the arrival of students. This also means that voters will simultaneously be in the building with afterschool students. Still others were less concerned about potential infection and more about the online learning that is planned for Election Day. Prior to the pandemic, Election Day was simply a full day off from school and instruction. The thing that is super annoying is the remote school, said a mother of elementary school students. Its inconvenient enough that there is no school and many parents have to scramble for child care or figure out how to do all their work plus watch their kids. Just give us all a break. Let the teachers, school administrators, kids and parents not have to mentally swing from one dimension to another and make it a day off, same for snow days. A dad shares her concerns: I have issues with days that were traditionally days off now being remote. It was hard doing that during lockdown but necessary. I do not feel it is rational to expect parents who work to pay for help because small children will need assistance with online remote learning. Even worse, the new snow days will be remote days. Since those are not days we can schedule, it will be difficult if not impossible for many parents to both work and to also monitor children to ensure they are participating. Diana Brogan spoke for many when she summarized, This is all performative bull%&*$ they are putting our kids through. Alina Adams is a New York Times best-selling romance and mystery writer, the author of Getting Into NYC Kindergarten and Getting Into NYC High School, a blogger at New York School Talk and mother of three. She believes you cant have true school choice until all parents know all their school choices and how to get them. Visit her website, www.NYCSchoolSecrets.com. Related: Sign up for The 74s newsletter Tammy Rivera asserted in an Oct. 25 social media post that she was racially profiled while shopping at CVS. Rivera claimed that the employee followed her throughout the store as she picked up a few items including a hair wrap and hair oil. Although the reality star didnt disclose her exact location in the Instagram video, she did, however, share the employees name in her caption, Ginger. Tammy Rivera shares she was racially profiled while attending a CVS convenience store.Photo:@tammyrivera/Instagram Rivera said, Im in CVS, I come here almost every other night. I know almost every person that works in this store. I came here to get some satin hair wraps and some DOO Gro oil. She continued while pointing the camera at Ginger, This lady [stood] here, she must be new, she [stood] here, and she watched me on the aisle acting like she was fixing stuff on the aisle. Im watching her watch me. The 35-year-old added that Ginger watched her so hard that when she opened the box containing the satin wrap that the CVS worker immediately told her, Dont do that. As the video went on, Rivera shared that when she asked the worker who she was talking to, Ginger reiterated the demand. While Rivera replied that she could do what she wanted because she plan to purchase the item, Ginger shot back, No, you cannot, dont do that. As both women continued going back and forth, the Waka and Tammy star said, What you thought was, I was a child or someone stealing because you [stood] there and you watched for two aisles, and I watched you watch me, and I didnt say anything, not one thing. Toward the end of the video, Rivera explains why she was upset because of Gingers delivery. She stated, It was the mannerisms and [how] you spoke to me like I was as a child. Why are you watching me from two aisles away telling me not to open something that Im about to pay for? Rivera wrapped up the recording by mentioning when Ginger asked her to leave the store, she suggested the worker call the police. She said while Ginger laughed in the background, Then shes going to tell me to leave the store. I told her to call the police. Youre about to be on Instagram to 7.5 million followers, so laugh at that. Story continues As fans began to view Riveras video many were torn. Some felt the CVS employee was just doing her job and shouldnt face any repercussions. While others claimed that she would get fired. Smh and she laughing report her a! See how hard she be laughing when she get fking fired. Wow! & the fact that shes laughing at the end .. well see whos laughing when she lose her job .. HA. You about to lose your job. She was doing her job though? lol you mad she didnt know who you were bc she wouldve told ANYONE not to open stuff before they buy it. Am I the only one who thinks it normal that youre not supposed to open any items until you pay for it ?? @charliesangelll I dont think the fight is worth it mommas let her think what she wants everyone is not phased by fame? Its not the customer service its the fact that why would you open it?! She was doing what she get paid to do. @charliesangelll. A short time later, Rivera clarified a couple of things regarding the situation. She said she went to CVS to get hydrocortisone for the mosquito bites she got from her recent trip to Belize. While in the drugstore she picked up additional items, like the satin hair wrap and DOO Gro oil as she claimed Ginger monitored her every move. She said while mentioning how she wasnt greeted nor assisted in her shopping needs, As I walk in, I watched this lady watch me through three aisles, and I watched her stand behind the corner aisle acting like shes fixing stuffNot once did she greet me, not once did she ask if I need help with anything, instead as soon as she saw me do something that was against store policy, she [said] Dont do that!' Rivera closed the video by saying the only reason why she spoke out was that she wanted to be treated like a human being. A Minneapolis nursing home has been taken over by the Minnesota Department of Health because of nearly 20 care violations and crumbling finances. Twin City Gardens nursing home, with 31 residents, will be under new management after a Ramsey County judge on Friday granted the Health Department's request to place the facility into involuntary receivership. "Twin City Gardens' numerous delinquent accounts and lack of supplies constitute an emergency," the Health Department told the court. "Its lack of food and medical supplies will present an immediate and serious threat to the residents' health and safety and creates an emergency situation where residents will not receive adequate care or nutrition." The nursing home owed $40,000 to its food supplier, $65,000 to its pharmacy and $10,000 to Excel Energy, which had sent a disconnection notice in early October, according to court documents. The facility also had difficulty obtaining oxygen and medical supplies because it owed money to those vendors. Many nursing home workers told state nursing home investigators that their paychecks had bounced. Twin City Gardens has been cited for violating federal and state regulations during inspections and complaint investigations. As the problems mounted, MDH teams visited the facility each day between Oct. 13 and Oct. 20. Among the problems, MDH staff observed the facility was sharing a blood glucose monitor among residents, including one who had hepatitis C, without properly cleaning the equipment between uses. The nursing home lacked the supplies needed to disinfect the monitor, the court noted in its order. On Oct. 15, a resident sat in feces for nearly four hours because staff did not respond to calls for assistance. The resident called 911. "Residents are not receiving adequate care and the situation is likely to deteriorate, possibly without notice," MDH said in its petition to the court. Twin City Gardens is owned by PC Hayes Management, a for-profit company with a listed mailing address in Round Rock, Texas. Story continues Philip Thompson, who is listed as an officer of PC Hayes as well as Phil Chai Healthcare Management in Round Rock, could not be reached for comment. According to court documents, Thompson told MDH staff that paychecks had not bounced. The nursing home's dietary manager said that Thompson told her to limit each resident's meal costs to $5.50 per day, MDH investigators learned in an interview. "MDH considers this amount less than typical for nursing home facilities in Minnesota," the agency told the court. PC Hayes took ownership of Twin City Gardens in October 2020. But it has been unable to renew the license for Twin City Gardens, which expired at the end of September, because it cannot show proof of liability insurance, according to MDH. In addition, the facility owes the Minnesota Department of Human Services $1.4 million in unpaid surcharges, penalties and interest, including delinquent payments held over from the previous owner. MDH also found the nursing home was not testing some unvaccinated staff for COVID-19. According to federal records, about 55% of the facility's workers have gotten the vaccine. Staff members who are not vaccinated are supposed to be tested twice weekly under government regulations. One worker had not been tested for three weeks and another for about two months. "The facility was not tracking which staff members were vaccinated nor how frequently unvaccinated staff were being tested for COVID-19," MDH noted. A hearing has been scheduled for Wednesday in which the nursing home owners can make their case that the receivership should not be continued. In the meantime, MDH said it will work with the temporary management company Pathway Health to put the facility on more solid footing. "We are communicating with family members and residents about the transition as we work to stabilize operations and ease their concerns," MDH Health Regulation Division Director Martha Burton Santibanez said. "We will work with the new managing agent of the facilities to help residents and employees through this transition." Glenn Howatt 612-673-7192 Twitter: @GlennHowatt (Bloomberg) -- Most Read from Bloomberg Sudans military arrested the prime minister and members of his cabinet before vowing to form a new government, in the latest African coup that threatens to derail the countrys path to democracy after decades of dictatorship. The dispute between the military and civilian components of Sudans power-sharing administration was such that it threatens the security of the nation, the army figure that headed Sudans sovereign council, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, said Monday in a brief televised address. Insisting the army remained committed to holding free elections in 2023, Burhan declared a nationwide state of emergency and said the council, Sudans most powerful ruling body, would be dissolved. Protests erupted in parts of the capital, Khartoum, early Monday, and there were later reports of gunfire and injuries. Sudan has worked to end its international isolation since long-time ruler Omar al-Bashir was overthrown amid mass demonstrations in 2019, moving to normalize ties with Israel and repairing relations with the U.S., which rescinded its almost three-decade listing of the country as a sponsor of terrorism. Sudan has managed to secure International Monetary Fund support and a pledge by the Paris Club of creditors to restructure $23.5 billion of its debt. Thats at risk following Monday mornings events. Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdoks home was surrounded by the army and he was moved to an undisclosed location after he refused to endorse a military takeover, the Information Ministry said in a statement. Four ministers from the governments civilian wing were also detained, according to a person familiar with the events. Story continues The apparent coup looks very much like an attempt by the security forces to maintain control over economic and political interests, and to resist the flip to a civilian dispensation, a core component of the countrys slated transition to multi-party democracy, said Jonas Horner, deputy director for the Horn of Africa at the International Crisis Group. International Pressure Several key regional states have been integral to emboldening the military, he said. In order to walk the military back from its current trajectory, key international stakeholders need in particular to press Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the ongoing military coup and said Hamdok and all other officials must be released immediately. The U.S. special envoy to the Horn of Africa, Jeffrey Feltman, said any changes to the transitional government by force puts at risk U.S. assistance. Sudan has been in political turmoil since an alleged coup attempt a month ago exposed festering divisions between civilian and military officials. Feltman visited Sudan at the weekend in an effort to calm tensions that had reached boiling point as the date neared for the army to cede leadership of the council. In the run-up to the events, ex-rebel groups and a large community in eastern Sudan joined senior military officials in accusing the civilian government of failing to deliver on its promises. A blockade at Port Sudan on the Red Sea had piled pressure on Hamdoks administration. The military takeover is the latest in a series of putsches over the past year in Africa. Soldiers overthrew Guinean President Alpha Conde last month, while the military in neighboring Mali has intervened in national politics twice in less than a year. In Chad, the army staged a coup after the death of Idriss Deby in April. Sudan itself has been roiled by intermittent coups since independence in 1956. Sudans Information Ministry on its Facebook page, which is still speaking in the name of Hamdok and his colleagues, reported calls by professors, doctors and others for civil disobedience at places of work. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2021 Bloomberg L.P. Pro-government protesters in Suday AFP via Getty Images Top members of Sudan's civilian government were arrested Monday in an apparent coup following weeks between the military and civilian leaders they are supposed to be sharing power with during a rocky democratic transition period. At least four Cabinet ministers are reported to have been arrested by the military. Sudan's information ministry said Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok has been placed under house arrest. The internet is reportedly down in Khartoum, the capital, and much of the rest of Sudan. Tensions between the military and civilian government increased dramatically after a failed coup attempt in September. After pro-democracy protests led to the toppling and arrest of longtime autocratic leader Omar al-Bashir in 2019, the military and a civilian council agreed to lead the country until elections in 2023. The last couple of weeks have seen rival protests by supporters of the civilian government and more-conservative Islamist protesters who favor a military government. A U.S. envoy, Jeffrey Feltman, met with Sudanese military and civilian leaders Saturday and Sunday to try and resolve the dispute. Feltman said in a statement Monday morning that "the U.S. is deeply alarmed at reports of a military takeover of the transitional government," which "would contravene the Constitutional Declaration and the democratic aspirations of the Sudanese people and is utterly unacceptable." Other government officials reported to have been arrested include Information Minister Hamza Baloul, Industry Minister Ibrahim al-Sheikh, transitional Sovereign Council member Mohammed al-Fiky Suliman, and Faisal Mohammed Saleh, a media adviser to Hamdok. Ayman Khalid, the governor of the state containing Kharotum, has also reportedly been arrested. The Sudanese Professionals Association (SPA), a main group behind the anti-Bashir uprising, urged "the masses to go out on the streets and occupy them, close all roads with barricades, stage a general labor strike, and not to cooperate with the putschists and use civil disobedience to confront them." The military and paramilitary forces have deployed across Khartoum, restricting the movements of civilians, Reuters reports, and the Khartoum airport has been closed. Story continues You may also like The American 'Great Resignation' by the numbers Liz Cheney, Marjorie Taylor Greene take turns calling each other 'a joke' Lorli von Trapp Campbell of the Trapp Family Singers dies at 90 Defiant protesters remain on the streets of Sudan after the country's armed forces launched a military coup. Chanting and waving flags, they have blocked roads in the capital Khartoum and around the country following the takeover. On Monday coup leader Gen Abdel Fattah Burhan dissolved civilian rule, arrested political leaders and called a state of emergency. Soldiers opened fire on crowds and reportedly killed 10 people. According to Reuters, Gen Burhan has said Monday's coup was justified to avoid "civil war" and that the detained prime minister will be returned to his home on Tuesday. Earlier, he sought to justify the takeover by blaming political infighting. The coup has drawn global condemnation. Diplomats told AFP news agency the UN Security Council is due to meet on Tuesday to discuss the crisis. Troops are reported to have been going house to house in Khartoum arresting local protest organisers. The city's airport is closed and international flights are suspended. The internet and most phone lines are also down. Central Bank staff have reportedly gone on strike, and across the country doctors are said to be refusing to work in military run hospitals except in emergencies. Civilian leaders and their military counterparts have been at odds since long-time ruler Omar al-Bashir was overthrown in 2019. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the military's actions "are a betrayal of Sudan's peaceful revolution". The US has halted $700m (508m) in aid. After a night of protests, demonstrators remained on the streets on Tuesday morning, demanding the return of civilian rule. "Civilian rule is the people's choice," they chanted as they set up barricades of burning tyres. Many women are also taking part, shouting "no to military rule". Story continues The protests continue despite troops opening fire on demonstrators on Monday. One wounded protestor told reporters he was shot in the leg by the army outside the military headquarters, while another man described the military firing first stun grenades, then live ammunition. "Two people died, I saw them with my own eyes," said Al-Tayeb Mohamed Ahmed. Sudan's doctors' union and the information ministry also wrote on Facebook that the fatal shootings had happened outside the military compound. Pictures from a hospital in the city showed people with bloodied clothing and various injuries. Thousands of people, including many women and children, protested outside the military compound in Khartoum World leaders have reacted with alarm to news of the military takeover. The US has joined the UK, EU, UN and African Union, of which Sudan is a member, in demanding the release of political leaders who are now under house arrest. Among them are Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok and his wife, along with members of his cabinet and other civilian leaders. BBC Arabic's Mohamed Osman reported from the capital that a special security unit of the military went to the prime minister's home early on Monday morning, and tried to persuade Mr Hamdok to agree to the coup, but he refused. The agreement between civilian and military leaders signed in 2019 was designed to steer Sudan towards democracy but has proven fragile with a number of previous coup attempts, the last just over a month ago. Gen Burhan, who was head of the power-sharing council, said Sudan was still committed to the transition to civilian rule, with elections planned for July 2023. Banner saying 'Get in touch' Are you in Sudan? Tell us about your experience of recent events by emailing: haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also get in touch in the following ways: If you are reading this page and can't see the form you will need to visit the mobile version of the BBC website to submit your question or comment or you can email us at HaveYourSay@bbc.co.uk. Please include your name, age and location with any submission. Associated Press Israeli soldiers on Friday went to return the remains of a Palestinian teenager who was killed in October while allegedly throwing firebombs in the occupied West Bank, only to be told by the family that it was the body of someone else. The macabre mix-up, which the army called an unfortunate mistake, was likely to draw attention to Israel's controversial policy of holding the remains of Palestinians killed while allegedly carrying out attacks, something rights groups say amounts to collective punishment of bereaved families. Israel says it serves as a deterrent for future attacks. CAIRO (Reuters) - Sudan's main opposition coalition called on Monday for civil disobedience and protests across the country after the military dissolved the transitional government, the information ministry said. The Forces of Freedom and Change alliance demanded that the transitional military council step down and transfer power back to the civilian government. It also called for the release of all detained members of cabinet and the sovereign council, a ruling body that had shared power between the military and civilians until it was dissolved by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan on Monday, the ministry said on Facebook. (Reporting by Omar Fahmy, Writing by Nayera Abdallah, Editing by Andrew Cawthorne) (Reuters) - The Central Committee of Sudanese Doctors said two people had died of gunshot wounds after being shot by military forces during protests against a military takeover on Monday. The doctors union wrote on its Facebook page that at least 80 people were injured. (Reporting by Nayera Abdallah; Editing by Jon Boyle) A Texas man who reacted to an unknown car in his driveway by fatally shooting the driver was charged last week with murder. The man, Terry Duane Turner, 65, was arrested Friday and charged with murdering Adil Dghoughi, the Caldwell County Sheriffs Office said. Deputies had responded to reports of a shooting in Martindale, about 40 miles south of downtown Austin, at around 3:30 a.m. on Oct. 11 and found that Dghoughi had been shot in his car. He was pronounced dead at a hospital. Turner told police that he had awakened in the middle of the night to use the bathroom and saw a car he wasn't familiar with in his driveway, NBC affiliate KXAN of Austin reported, citing an affidavit. Turner said that the car's headlights were off and that he went to get his gun. When he went back to check on the car, the headlights were back on, and the car began to rapidly accelerate in reverse," the affidavit said. Turner chased the car, broke the driver's side window with his gun and then shot through it, it said. Adil Dghoughi. (KXAN) When he called police, he said I just killed a guy and tried to pull a gun at me, I shot. Police did not find a gun in the Dghoughi's Audi. Dghoughi immigrated to the U.S. from Morocco in 2013 and received a masters degree in financial analysis from Johnson & Wales University in Rhode Island, according to the Council on American Islamic Relations, or CAIR, which is advocating for a thorough investigation. After Turner's arrest, CAIR-Austin Executive Director Faizan Syed said: We welcome the arrest, but our work is not done. We will continue to advocate for justice for the family of Adil Dghoughi and for all the families in Texas and nationwide impacted by gun violence. Stand your ground laws across our nation have a history of being used to commit legal violence against people of color, Syed said. This incident is tragic to the family who lost a loved one under suspicious circumstances. We call for an independent and transparent investigation into the killing of Mr. Dghoughi, who was unarmed and in his car when shot. Story continues CAIR hosted a vigil for Dghoughi outside the State Capitol in Austin on Saturday. A GoFundMe campaign for his family has raised $45,000. Turner posted bail and was released, said Kyle McConnell, a patrol lieutenant with the Caldwell County Sheriffs Office. CAIR and Dghoughi's family expressed their frustration that it had taken more than a week to arrest Turner. Why did it take them 10-days to make the arrest? his brother, Othmane Dghoughi, asked KXAN. Othmane Dghoughi said the family believe his brother might have gotten lost while driving from Austin to his girlfriend's home in Maxwell, just north of Martindale. Autoblog This is the Hyundai Seven Concept, and its meant to act as a preview for an incoming electric SUV for the Ioniq brand. It leans more toward the concept side of the spectrum than a production car, but expect the final SUV to take design cues from the Seven Concept. It also previews one of the next production electric cars for the brand, which should look right at home next to things like the Telluride. Gov. Gavin Newsom has championed some of the nation's strongest coronavirus restrictions, but he's also faced criticism that his vaccine orders have been inconsistent. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) Three months after Gov. Gavin Newsom required state workers to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 or undergo weekly testing, his pledge that California government would lead by example has not been fulfilled: Many public agencies face low vaccination rates, and most state-run workplaces have failed to test unvaccinated employees. At the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, for example, fewer than a third of employees have provided proof they are fully vaccinated, while 6,700 employees are either not vaccinated or have declined to provide their status. Cal Fire said it is testing just 75 employees. The Department of Motor Vehicles, where 59% of employees are fully vaccinated, has about 3,600 unvaccinated staffers working in offices across the state who are required to be tested weekly. But only 411 of them are being tested, a DMV spokeswoman said. Some departments have failed to report vaccination rates or testing information altogether, but the California Department of Human Resources said the data it has received show that roughly half of 59,000 unvaccinated state employees were tested as required during the first week of October. "If we dont have the warning system of testing, then we need to reconsider what we are doing," said Dorit Reiss, a law professor who specializes in vaccine policies at the UC Hastings College of the Law. "Testing is not a great substitute for vaccinating, but its a great backup and better than nothing." The state's struggle to implement Newsom's mandate comes as workplaces across the nation are imposing deadlines for workers to provide proof of vaccination or risk losing their jobs. Last week, enforcement of Washington Gov. Jay Inslees COVID-19 vaccine mandate resulted in 3% of state workers about 1,900 employees resigning or being fired. The Biden administration has also announced stringent new requirements, including pending labor regulations that would require businesses across the country with 100 or more employees to ensure that workers are fully vaccinated or undergo weekly testing. Story continues Newsom's Aug. 2 deadline for California government workers, however, was largely ignored without consequence. Overall, 66% of the state's employees provided proof they are vaccinated, according to data from the state Department of Human Resources. Statewide, 74% of residents 18 and older are fully inoculated. This is problematic, said Dr. Monica Gandhi, an infectious-disease expert and professor of medicine at UC San Francisco. The entire point of Gov. Newsom being the first governor to say state employees should be vaccinated is because these employees are public interfacing, and the vaccine protects them and the public they serve. Then, if the testing component isnt being universally applied, you are defeating the point." Under the state's mandate, employees who work remotely full time are not required to provide vaccination proof although many have and do not have to undergo weekly testing. A little more than half the state's 10,000 California Highway Patrol employees have provided proof they are vaccinated, a spokeswoman for the department said. Some testing sites have been opened, including at CHP's headquarters, but not all. "Since we started testing, we have completed 2,088 tests with two confirmed positive results," CHP spokeswoman Fran Clader said in a statement. The department did not respond to a request for details on how many employees are being tested weekly. At Cal Fire, testing is available at the department's headquarters, where 75 employees are being tested weekly, said spokesman Nick Schuler. Plans are underway to add testing at six additional sites in early November. "Demands of wildfire response in July, August and September slowed our progress implementing testing, but we now expect to have several of the testing centers up and running within weeks," Schuler said. The rate of positive results for departments that are testing has remained low. A DMV spokeswoman said there were four positive tests among 2,070 given to date. And among all departments reporting results to the state's human resources agency, there were 155 positive tests out of 31,534 completed during the week of Oct. 4. Public health officials, however, have warned that cases can climb again if residents are not vigilant in protecting against transmission of the coronavirus. New infections and COVID-19 hospitalizations have been steadily falling for weeks, but daily death counts have remained relatively high, Times data show. Over the last week, the state has averaged 5,203 new cases and 105 deaths per day. To date, COVID-19 has killed more than 70,000 Californians. Dr. Mark Ghaly, secretary of the California Health and Human Services Agency, urged hesitant state workers to get vaccinated in a letter last month, writing that he had a wake-up call when reading about "another tragic, preventable loss of a member of our state family to COVID-19, leaving a wife and two young children behind." "I realized that I havent done enough," Ghaly said. "I should say, we havent done enough." Newsom announced the vaccine mandate for state workers at the same time he implemented one for healthcare workers. As the states largest employer, we are leading by example and requiring all state and healthcare workers to show proof of vaccination or be tested regularly, and we are encouraging local governments and businesses to do the same," the governor said in July. So far, the push to vaccinate millions of healthcare workers appears to have been more successful, a likely result of the mandate not allowing for those employees to opt for weekly testing in lieu of vaccination unless they had an exemption. Healthcare workers were allowed medical and religious exemptions, which have been granted subjectively in different parts of the state, according to Times reporting. Many hospitals said the state mandate boosted vaccination rates, with a hospital system in Kern County reporting that its rates jumped to about 90% from about 60%. The vaccination rate for state workers has seen a much smaller increase of just 2 percentage points to 66% over the course of one week, the state's Human Resources department said. However, not all departments are reporting data for their staff regularly or in some cases, at all. Nearly one-third of all state agencies reported employee vaccination rates lower than 74%, the statewide rate among adults for inoculation. At the state's Human Resources department, which is tasked with monitoring compliance with the mandate, 62% of the agency's workforce is vaccinated. That didnt surprise me, said Eraina Ortega, director of the department. The vast majority of our employees are in the Sacramento region, and that number seems in line with the region. Ortega said many state employees are still telecommuting and do not feel the urgency to provide their vaccination status if they won't be required to undergo regular testing. "Not all employees want to provide the vaccine verification before the testing is set up," Ortega said. "In my own department, I heard from people early on that they have to get the vaccine information in, but they are teleworking and so they havent done it yet." Ortega said that testing thousands of unvaccinated state workers is a massive undertaking and that the effort has been slowed by supply shortages. She said there is no hard deadline for when departments have to begin testing unvaccinated employees. So far, she said, 48 out of 152 state departments have testing up and running at some or all of their locations. "The scaling we anticipated is happening," Ortega said. "I feel we have done a pretty good job of doing this entirely with state staff." Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Newsom has championed some of the nations strongest coronavirus restrictions, but he's also faced criticism that his vaccine orders have been inconsistent. The governor fought attempts to require corrections employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19, despite recommendations from a federal court-appointed receiver overseeing medical care inside prisons who argued that a strict mandate is necessary to prevent major outbreaks and deaths. Currently, all prison staff who work in healthcare settings are required to be vaccinated. The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation has a vaccination rate of 63% among its 66,000 employees, according to the agency's data. Currently, unvaccinated prison staffers must be tested twice weekly. The data collected by the human resources agency do not include information from Newsom's office, which operates independently. A spokeswoman for the governor said all but one of the 148 employees in Newsom's office are vaccinated, with that person subject to the weekly testing protocol. Newsom spokeswoman Erin Mellon said the state is ramping up testing efforts among California's many departments. It has been a monumental effort to organize regular, free testing across the state workforce of more than 200,000 people," Mellon said in a statement. Rob Lapsley, president of the California Business Roundtable, said the problems arising from the state's mandate for its employees show that further scrutiny and transparency are necessary so that businesses are able to better understand the logistical hurdles they, too, may face. "The business community is watching the state's whole implementation very carefully because the mandate and testing protocols have real-life implications for if and when a mandate comes from the state or federal government for the private sector," Lapsley said. "To the governor's credit, hes having the state lead on this so there can be some lessons learned by them going first." This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. (Bloomberg) -- Thrasio Holdings Inc., an aggregator of Amazon.com Inc. products, has raised more than $1 billion in a private funding round led by technology investor Silver Lake. Most Read from Bloomberg Silver Lake, a new investor in Thrasio, was joined by existing investors including Advent International, Upper90, Oaktree Capital Management and Peak6 in the Series D financing, according to a statement. The round valued the company at more than $5 billion, said a person familiar with the matter who asked not to be identified discussing private information. Stephen Evans, managing director at Silver Lake, said a lot of the capital from the round will go toward rolling up brands. Ultimately everyone benefits, Evans said. Thrasios best-in-class platform gives sellers more choices and provides consumers with more high quality products and better experiences. Thrasio had held merger talks with Michael Kleins Churchill Capital Corp. V, a special purpose acquisition company, or SPAC, for a deal that would have taken it public, Bloomberg News reported in June. For us, its a decision about capital raising, you have to be ready, co-founder and Chief Executive Officer Carlos Cashman said in an interview. Going public is a capital raising episode and so far the private market has continued to provide us with ample amount of capital. The SPAC merger, which would have valued the combined company at more than $2 billion, fell apart amid departures of top executives, CNBC reported. Unique Structure Thrasio was co-founded by Joshua Silberstein, who was the companys co-CEO until his recent departure. Being co-CEO is a pretty unique structure for any company, we never intended for that to continue for the long term, Cashman said. Its a natural evolution. Story continues The three-year-old brand aggregator is set to have $1 billion in revenue, he said. Currently Thrasio operates on Amazons platform in the U.S. as well as Japan and Europe. It plans to expand to India and explore other online retail platforms, Cashman said. Last month Thrasio announced a $650 million debt facility via JPMorgan Chase & Co. The companys last private funding was in July 2020, when it was valued at $1 billion before the new financing. The company buys consumer products on marketplaces such as Amazon. In September, it announced its biggest set of transactions yet -- totaling $100 million. It bought makers of mattress protectors, camping equipment and home-bedding and now has more than 200 brands, according to its website. JPMorgan advised Thrasio on the funding round, according to the statement. (Adds company detail in penultimate paragraph. An earlier version of this story corrected job titles for Stephen Evans, Carlos Cashman and Joshua Silberstein.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2021 Bloomberg L.P. The race for Virginia governor is getting tight. That's at least according to a poll of 816 likely voters within its margin of error. Republican Glenn Youngkin has a slight edge over Democrat Terry McAuliffe at 48.7% to 47.9%, Cygnal polling reported. The two were tied at 46% in a Monmouth University poll released Oct. 20, with a slimmer gap than the 5-point lead McAuliffe held in September at 48% to 43%. In a separate poll released Oct. 8, McAuliffe led Youngkin 49% to 45%. Independent voters and parents of K-12 students are stampeding to support Republicans Glenn Youngkin, Winsome Sears, Jason Miyares and GOP state house candidates, said pollster Brent Buchanan, CEO of Cygnal. In an interesting twist of political fate, voters under the age of 55 are strongly for Republicans. PRIVATE REPUBLICAN POLLING IN VIRGINIA SUGGESTS GOP TICKET POISED TO SWEEP McAuliffe campaigned with the Dave Matthews Band on Sunday at a get-out-the-vote rally. President Joe Biden is also set to hit the road with McAuliffe on Tuesday. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER Former Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli believes Youngkin will win the race. "I think this is going to be a Republican sweep," he said Monday. "That's what it feels like right now, and I don't see anything changing, certainly not the arrival of Joe Biden on this side of the Potomac to change that direction." The Cygnal poll was conducted between Oct. 19-21 and had a margin of error of 3.43 percentage points. Washington Examiner Videos Tags: News, Glenn Youngkin, Terry McAuliffe, Virginia, Polls, Democrats, Republicans Original Author: Sydney Shea Original Location: Tied up? Poll shows close race between Youngkin and McAuliffe PARIS (Reuters) - The French Foreign Ministry said on Monday it had not received any official notification from Turkey that it planned to expel the French Ambassador. On Saturday, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan told his foreign ministry to expel the ambassadors of the United States and nine other Western countries - including France - for demanding the release of philanthropist Osman Kavala. (Reporting by Dominique Vidalon; Editing by Sudip Kar-Gupta) TipRanks The billionaire investors stand in a league of their own. Its not necessarily their wealth that puts them there rather, its their success in the markets, in establishing themselves at the highest level of the financial world, that built their wealth. Cathie Wood, the founder and CEO of $75 billion asset manager Ark Invest, is one of Wall Streets most influential investors due to her stock-picking power and her company's impressive returns. Looking at the current market situation, Wood belie North Carolina authorities are investigating the deaths of two teens found in a car parked outside an elementary school over the weekend, multiple news outlets report. Authorities responded Sunday to a report of a suspicious vehicle parked on the Don Steed Elementary School campus, WNCN reported. Inside they found the bodies of Britany Carolina Munoz Ramirez and Ailton Sebastian Tirado-Martinez, Hoke County Schools confirmed. Both were 11th graders at Hoke County High School in Raeford, district Superintendent Debra Dowless said. Hoke County Schools joins our community in mourning the loss of two of our students, Britany Carolina Munoz Ramirez and Ailton Sebastian Tirado-Martinez who passed away early Sunday morning, Dowless said in a statement posted on the school districts Facebook page. Dealing with this tragedy is going to take time, and we will be here for every student, every family, and every staff member and will continue to provide the support needed. McClatchy News reached out to the Hoke County Sheriffs Office on Monday and is awaiting a response. Relatives told police the teens had previously dated but remained friends, according to WRAL. Officials dont believe their deaths are the result of a criminal act. Authorities have also ruled out murder-suicide, WNCN reported, citing a captain with the sheriffs office, and said their deaths appear to be accidental. Police are still investigating. Raeford is about 90 miles southwest of Raleigh. Two teens shot and killed while breaking into North Carolina home, police say Man selling his gaming console shoots two teens trying to steal it, Chicago police say CAIRO (Reuters) - The United States' embassy in Sudan's capital Khartoum on Monday urged people disrupting the transition to democracy to stand down and allow the civilian-led government to continue its work in Washington's first reaction to an apparent unfolding coup. (Reporting by Nafisa Eltahir; Writing by Nadine Awadalla; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne) WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The State Department will partner with private groups to help Afghans settle in the United States after Americans pulled out troops from Afghanistan and the Taliban took over the government in Kabul. The new program will enable adults to form "sponsor circles" to provide initial support for the refugees as they arrive and help them settle in communities across the country, the State Department said on Monday. Since Aug. 17, approximately 76,600 people have arrived in the United States as part of an American evacuation, and about 53,000 people were at Defense Department installations across eight sites as of Monday, the Homeland Security Department said. Many would have been at risk had they remained because of their work over the previous 20 years with U.S. and allied troops or with other U.S. and foreign agencies. "Americans of all walks of life have expressed strong interest in helping to welcome these individuals," Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement. The program, launched in partnership with the private group Community Sponsorship Hub, will expand the government's capacity to resettle the Afghans and complement the work of nonprofit resettlement agency partners, Blinken said. Sarah Krause, executive director of the Community Sponsorship Hub, said the program will help create enduring community bonds with the Afghans. The group will certify sponsor circles through background checks and mandatory training and reviewing their pledges to provide financial support and initial resettlement services to Afghan newcomers for the first 90 days in a local community. Some refugee organizations have been pushing for the United States to adopt a program of private or community sponsorship for individual refugees, similar to a model used in Canada. Last month, former U.S. Presidents George W. Bush, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama helped launch a new group, Welcome.US, aimed at supporting the Afghan refugees. (Reporting by Doina Chiacu and Kristina Cooke; Editing by Nick Macfie and Howard Goller) By Elias Biryabarema KAMPALA (Reuters) -Uganda said on Monday it was investigating whether fighters allied with the militant group Islamic State (IS) had carried out a bombing in Kampala on Saturday night that killed one person and injured three others. The bomb, set off in a restaurant in a suburb on the northern outskirts of the capital, killing a 20-year-old waitress, was an improvised device made from nails and other metal fragments, according to the police. Islamic State claimed responsibility for the blast https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/is-claims-responsibility-bomb-attack-uganda-2021-10-24 in a statement posted on a Telegram channel late on Sunday. The police said their investigations pointed to "an act of domestic terror". "The attack was perpetrated by criminals that intend to terrorise the country and the people of Uganda," Abbas Byakagaba, the director for counter-terrorism, told a press conference on Monday. Byakagaba said the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF), an IS-linked militant group, was one potential perpetrator. The ADF has operated in dense forests in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo across the border with Uganda for more than three decades and began killing civilians in large numbers in 2014. It has publicly aligned itself with Islamic State, although a June report from the United Nations found no evidence of direct support from Islamic State for the ADF. ADF fighters have in the past been blamed for assassinations and attacks in Uganda. In July, the government blamed it for the attempted assassination of a government minister https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/uganda-charges-two-suspects-over-attempted-assassination-minister-2021-06-28. Police spokesman Fred Enanga told the press conference they believed the ADF had sleeper cells in the country and that they had arrested 13 of its collaborators last week. It is only the second time IS has claimed responsibility for an attack in Uganda, after the group said on Oct. 8 it had exploded a small device inside a police station in the same suburb of Kampala, injuring several police officers. The police have not reported that incident, however, and on Monday the police spokesman said there had been no such explosion. (Reporting by Elias Biryabarema; Editing by Hugh Lawson) In the loft of a trendy Moscow bar, stand-up comedian Pavel Dedishchev walks up to a microphone under a spotlight. "I have seven coronavirus antibodies, they all know each other, it's like a family living inside me," he tells the audience of around 50 mostly young people. "Of course, I know they are from the government. Vladimir Vladimirovich (Putin) gave us all seven antibodies before the election, right? Twelve to the security services!" he says to roaring laughter. Dedishchev was making a sly reference to cash handouts that President Putin gave out before last month's parliamentary elections -- and that the security services often get special treatment in Russia. During his 40-minute performance, the bearded 30-year-old joked about corruption, the powerful Russian Orthodox Church and the National Guard, a security force that has been at the forefront of suppressing protests. Stand-up comedy is booming across Moscow and videos of sketches often get more than a million views on YouTube, with many Russians hungry for humour that is not tightly controlled, unlike the comedy that is shown on television. After a year that saw Putin's main opponent Alexei Navalny jailed and a severe crackdown on independent media, comedians say they, too, are feeling the pressure. A Belarusian-Azerbaijani comedian living in Moscow was arrested this summer and deported over a joke, and stand-ups told AFP they have recently spotted security agents at their gigs. But many said they intend to carry on making jokes, and that their work resonates with so many Russians precisely because of the country's increasing lack of critical voices. "Of course, the situation is bad. But either you get upset, or you improve your repertoire," Dedishchev said. - 'Our most loyal audience' - In an interview before his performance, Dedishchev said Moscow's comedians began earlier this year seeing what they believe are security agents turning up to their shows. Story continues "We all started noticing it. We know they come and film things," he said. "We can't tell them to go away. So we accepted them as our most loyal audience," he joked. Because of Russia's many restrictive laws -- such as bans on offending religious beliefs and spreading so-called "gay propaganda" -- comedians often check with lawyers if their material could get them into trouble. Tomas Gaysanov, a former producer of television comedies who now organises stand-up nights, said it has become a trend on social media to find old videos by comedians and threaten them. He said comedians are most often targeted after jokes about nationalities. "We are a former empire, this is still a sensitive issue," said Gaysanov, who is from the Caucasus republic of Ingushetia. The deported Belarusian-Azerbaijani comedian, Idrak Mirzalizade, was accused of spreading hatred against Russians for a joke about how difficult it is to find an apartment in Moscow as a non-Slav. Comedian Ariana Lolayeva recently posted a tearful apology after she received social media hate for a joke about an Ossetian pie -- a traditional cheesy dish in her native Caucasus region -- in a sketch last year. Comedians have faced such a backlash in recent weeks that one of them -- Kirill Sietlov -- set up a channel on social media platform Telegram documenting it. "I have something to write about every week," Sietlov said. After a year in which authorities have "cleared the field" of independent media and places where Russians can talk in public "without censorship", he said there is a growing demand for stand-up and that is why it has become a target. - 'Letting off steam' - While on television there is almost no political satire and no swearing, in Moscow's bars comedians can allow themselves more freedom. "It's one of the few places left where you can say what you want," Sietlov said. Vera Kotelnikova, one of a growing number of women stand-up artists in Russia, said she can still joke about most things when performing in cafes and bars. "It's unlikely you will go to prison," she said, before quickly adding: "Though that's still an open question." In a male-dominated industry, the Siberian-born 26-year-old says she finds it harder to joke about weighty issues as a woman. "Audiences have a less serious attitude towards women comedians, they are considered more stupid," she told AFP. She called stand-up a "democratic genre" and said she hopes it will survive in Russia. Comedians AFP spoke to expect authorities to continue putting pressure on them, but not to shut down stand-up altogether. "They want people to go let off some steam somewhere and not take to the barricades," said Dedishchev. On stage, Dedishchev impersonated a Moscow metro police officer trying to choose which of the many passengers not wearing a mask to fine. The officer settled on fining the few passengers who were smiling. "If you want to smile in this country, wear a mask!" oc/mm/dl The United States on Monday suspended $700 million in aid to Sudan after a military takeover and urged the immediate restoration of a civilian government. "The civilian-led transitional government should be immediately restored and represents the will of the people," State Department spokesman Ned Price told reporters. "In light of these developments, the United States is pausing assistance," Price said. He said the suspension concerned a $700 million package in economic support meant to assist Sudan's democratic transition following the ouster of a dictator two years ago. "We are pausing that full amount," Price said. "We are very much standing with the people of Sudan. The people of Sudan have made clear their aspirations for the continuation of transition to democracy and we will continue to support that including, if needed, by holding accountable those responsible for these anti-democratic actions." He also warned the military to "refrain from any violence against protesters" after three people were killed in a crackdown on demonstrators against the takeover. Sudan's top general, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, in a televised address said that the armed forces had rounded up government leaders who have been heading the transition to full civilian rule. The hybrid setup was established following the ouster in April 2019 of longtime dictator Omar al-Bashir in the face of widespread protests led by youth. Jeffrey Feltman, the US special envoy for the Horn of Africa, had been visiting Sudan before the military intervention. Price said that Feltman had no previous knowledge of the military's intentions and would have warned against the move. He also said that the United States had not been able to make contact with Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, who was taken away with his wife from his home. Senator Chris Coons, a close ally of President Joe Biden and who heads the Senate panel in charge of foreign aid, also warned that Washington would not authorize funds to a military regime. Story continues US assistance "will end if the authority of PM Hamdok and the full transitional government is not restored," he wrote on Twitter. Under US law, the United States is obliged to end most assistance to nations where the military ousts civilian leaders. Price said that the designation was not relevant as a coup designation remains in effect for Sudan since 1989 when Bashir took power. "We consider it to be a military takeover," Price said of the latest events. sct/mlm The White House is "deeply alarmed" by the military coup that took place in Sudan on Monday morning. "We reject the actions by the military and call for the immediate release of the prime minister and others who have been placed under house arrest," White House deputy press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters on board President Joe Biden's Monday flight to New Jersey. "The actions today are in stark opposition to the will of the Sudanese people and their aspirations for peace, liberty, and justice." SUDAN PRIME MINISTER ARRESTED AMID COUP ATTEMPT She added that the United States will continue to "support the Sudanese people's demand for a democratic transition in Sudan and will continue to evaluate how best to help the Sudanese people achieve this goal." Jean-Pierre's comments come after Sudan's Gen. Abdel Fattah Burhan confirmed in a press conference that his forces had arrested Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok and were holding him in a secure location. Burhan also dissolved the joint transition group in charge of overseeing the 2022 Sudanese election and announced that the military would maintain control of the government through the 2023 elections. Monday's action follows the Hamdok government's successful handling of a separate coup attempt that ended in the arrest of more than 20 military officers. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER You can listen to Monday's gaggle below. Washington Examiner Videos Tags: News, Karine Jean-Pierre, White House, Joe Biden, Sudan Original Author: Christian Datoc Original Location: White House calls for 'immediate release' of Sudanese prime minister following military coup Afghan refugees at airport. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images The Biden administration on Monday announced a new initiative allowing private citizens to sponsor resettling Afghan refugees, "a move that could bolster a weakened U.S. resettlement system tested by thousands of recent arrivals," writes Roll Call. Under the arrangement, groups of citizens can form what are called "sponsor circles" to help refugees with basic services and tasks traditionally handled by nonprofits like securing housing, accessing governement benefits, and providing food and clothing during their first 90 days in the U.S, per Roll Call. Local communities and organizations like Welcome.US, Airbnb, Integrated Refugee and Immigrant Services, among others, will also assist in the program, notes ABC News. "Americans of all walks of life have expressed strong interest in helping to welcome these individuals," wrote the State Department in its announcement. "The Sponsor Circle Program for Afghans harnesses this outpouring of support and enables individuals to become directly involved in the welcome and integration of our new neighbors." Groups of at least five adults must apply together, and complete background checks, raise a minimum of $2,275 per refugee, pass a "knowledge check," and submit a robust "welcome plan" in order to become sponsors, explains ABC News according to Community Sponsorship Hub, the nonprofit in charge of vetting and training the sponsors. "By offering opportunities to sponsor a family, this program will create enduring bonds between Afghans and the communities that welcome them," said Sarah Krause, executive director of the Community Sponsorship Hub. The administration brought over 65,000 Afghan refugees to military bases nationwide following the U.S.' August withdrawal operation. Officials are planning for some 30,000 more arrivals in the next year, per ABC News. You may also like The 'Trump app' will be the insurrection on steroids Day traders and Reddit are loving Trump's new media company The American 'Great Resignation' by the numbers LSIS Leo Baumgartner/Australian Defence Force via Getty The new defense alliance between Australia, the United States, and Great Britain to provide Canberra with state-of the art technology for a fleet of nuclear attack submarines amounts to a major setback for Beijings long-term goal of achieving strategic dominance in the Indo-Pacific region. The allianceAUKUS for shortalso amounts to a significant step forward for the Biden administrations effort to frustrate Chinas military ambitions, and to address the very sobering challenges posed by Beijings remarkable rise over the last decade. The presence of the Aussie subs, which will not carry nuclear weapons but conventional cruise missiles, will go far toward addressing the erosion of Americas military deterrence in the region that experts say has only encouraged China to take a far more assertive stance in regional affairs than it ever has before. Since about 2013, the Peoples Republic of China has been pursuing a foreign policy designed to sever the economic and security ties between the United States and other nations in the region, including Americas longstanding allies Japan and South Korea, and to challenge American naval supremacy in the Western Pacific and Indian oceans. Zhao Lijian, a spokesman for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, pronounced the new deal, which will lead eventually to a fleet of highly sophisticated Australian subs operating in international waters Beijing now brazenly claims as its own, would seriously damage regional peace and stability, exacerbate an arms race, and harm nuclear non-proliferation efforts. Xi Takes a Page From Maos Red Playbook Yet the meltdown in relations between the two Asia-Pacific countries that precipitated the deal exposes rather graphically the seamy underbelly of Chinas vision of the future of the region. Just six years ago, Australia was at the epicenter of President Xi Jinpings bold new foreign policy of peaceful rise and development, the goal of which, said the most powerful Chinese leader since Mao, was to enhance the prosperity of China and all its neighbors through an extensive array of diplomatic, trade, and cultural agreements and organizations. Chinas new-found wealth would be put to good use in the world, creating alternatives to the international institutions and political framework developed by the United States and its allies in the wake of World War IIthe so called rules-based international order. Story continues Xi and the Chinese Communist Party have spent billions over the last eight years on the Belt and Road Initiative, the China Development Bank, and other organizations, with a view to linking up and expanding the economies of more than 60 nations in Asia, Africa, the Middle East, and Europe, and tying them into an alternative international system, with a host of new ports, railroads, fast trains, airports, and other infrastructure projects, financed largely by Chinese money. Back in 2014, an ebullient President Xi said in an address before the Australian parliament marking a new free trade deal that it is the steady streams of mutual understanding and friendship between our two peoples that has created the vast ocean of good will between China and Australia. I am greatly heartened by the massive support for Chinese-Australian relations in both countries. Now, the bottom has dropped out of the relationship, and both the Australian government and its people have become deeply mistrustful of Chinas overarching geopolitical strategy for the region. What happened? The short answer is that Prime Minister Scott Morrison and the vast majority of Australians have become increasingly frustrated and bitter over Chinas relentless efforts to shape Australian opinion and politics through an information warfare campaign waged on social and mainstream media, and by threatening, and in some cases detaining, Australian academics and journalists who challenge the legitimacy of Beijings self-serving narratives and policies. And perhaps most of all, they are fed up with Beijings seemingly relentless use of economic coercion, sanctions, and tariffs, all designed to bludgeon the Aussies into adopting pro-Chinese (and sometimes) anti-American policy positions. The downward slide began in 2017, when then-Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull pushed through new legislation to prevent foreign (read: Chinese) interference in domestic Australian politics, after a classified government report revealed extensive meddling and manipulation by Chinese business concerns, security operatives, and individual Chinese citizens in Australia working at the behest of the Beijing government. A few months after the legislation became law, Turnbulls government announced it would exclude Chinas massive Huawei telecommunications companythe largest in the worldfrom building Australias 5G network, because of national security concerns. The unstated concern was clear enough: Huawei was seen as a quasi-governmental institutionin effect an arm of the CCP and the governmentand would be able mine a vast amount of data about Australian society and politics that could be exploited for Chinas own ends. After Prime Minister Morrison called for an investigation into the origins of COVID-19, Chinas state controlled media denounced the Australian government as a giant Kangaroo that serves as the dog of the United States, and went on to impose punitive sanctions and tariffs on Australian imports of iron ore, barley, and wine. In November 2020, Beijing deliberately leaked a 14-point dossier of grievances against Australia for spearheading a crusade" against Chinese policies and positions on Taiwan, Hong Kong, and the South China Sea, where Beijing has seized and fortified a number of islets that an international court sanctioned by the UN has ruled to be outside Chinas sovereign territory. This campaign of blatant diplomatic and economic bullying has now backfired on Beijing, drawing Australia ever closer to the United States, and the rules-based international order it has led for more than seventy years. The dramatic decision by the Morrison government to ally with the United States and Britain against rising Chinese power, says Richard Maude, an Australian security expert, in an interview with The New York Times, is really a watershed momenta defining moment for Australia and the way it thinks about the future of the Indo-Pacific region. It represents sharp concerns about a deteriorating security environment in the region, about Chinas military buildup and about Chinas willingness to use coercive power to pursue its national interests. Sharp concerns indeed. Implicitly, the decision suggests rather forcefully that Canberra has concluded that the PRC foreign policy of peaceful rise is a great deal more menacing for all the nations in the region than Xi Jinping would have the world believe. Thats the conclusion, too, of a growing number of Western defense and regional experts, who see in Chinas aggressive intimidation tactics against Vietnam, the Philippines, Japan, Indonesia, and Australia echoes of the tactics of past rising powers, such as Japan in East Asia in the late 1930s, and the Soviet Union in Eastern Europe after World War II. As Professor Jennifer Lind of Dartmouth put it in a prominent essay in Foreign Affairs, China is using its economic coercion to bend other countries to its will. It is building up its military to ward off challengers. It is intervening in other countries domestic politics to get friendlier policies. And it is investing massively in educational and cultural programs to enhance its soft power. As Chinese power and ambition grow, such efforts will only increase. Chinas neighbors must start debating how comfortable they are with this future, and what costs they are willing to pay to shape or forestall it. Australias decision to join the United States and the U.K. in an open-ended strategic alliance to check Chinese bullying and military adventurism is a major achievement for the Biden administrations still inchoate China policy. The centerpiece of that strategy thus far has been to renew international faith in the United States as a defender of international order, and to strengthen old security alliances with such allies as Japan, South Korea, and the Philippines, and to create new ones, such as AUKUS, and the currently informal alliance of the Quad nations: the United States, India, Japan, and Australia, which was initiated by the Japanese. AUKUS, which goes well beyond the mere provision of submarine technology to Australia to ensure close cooperation among the three parties in the development of cyberwarfare, artificial intelligence, and quantum computing in the future, promises to enhance the Wests much-diminished capacity to penetrate Chinas formidable anti-access, aerial denial capabilities in the Western Pacific with naval and air power. Chinas rapid improvements in anti-ship hypersonic missiles, naval air power, and cyber warfare have made the projection of power in the region increasingly problematic for the United States and its allies. It is widely known among defense experts, for instance, that in recent Pentagon war games in which the United States attempts to blunt a Chinese invasion of Taiwan, the United States team takes significant casualties and invariably loses in the end. Restoring credible deterrence, of course, is only one element of the emerging Biden strategy vis a vis China. The shape of that strategy isnt yet entirely clear, but a recent essay by Bidens leading adviser on Chinese relations, Kurt M. Campbell, and Rush Doshi, tells us much. The Indo-Pacific region today, say these two noted analysts in Foreign Affairs earlier this year, feels like prewar Europedrifting out of balance, its order fraying, with no obvious coalition. A new strategy would recognize the need for a [new] balance of power; an order that the regions states recognize as legitimate; and the need for an allied and partner coalition to address Chinas challenge to both. The Biden administration, in other words, must work tirelessly and patiently with Xi Jinping to better manage economic and political competition through diplomacy, and to enhance military-to-military dialogue with a view to establishing a new set of protocols and rules of engagement to prevent a minor military incident from mushrooming into a serious shooting war. Much more needs to be done to complete Americas long-overdue strategic pivot from the Middle East and Europe to Asia, but the AUKUS agreement is an excellent start. 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. Uncle Sam. Illustrated | iStock Uighurs are among the most persecuted people in the world. Ethnically Turkic, religiously Muslim, and geographically isolated, their distinctive culture has been the target of repression by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) for decades. Some of the details remain unclear, but the consensus among human rights groups is that Uighurs are subject to intense surveillance, forced sterilization and abortion, and detention in large re-education camps. On the last day of the Trump administration, then-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said these policies amount to genocide. If anyone has a case for refugee status, then, it's Uighurs. So it's an unpleasant surprise that so few gain admission to the United States: On Wednesday, The Dispatch reported that not a single Uighur was granted entry in 2021. That's a shameful record for a country rightly proud of its reputation as a haven for religious freedom. The U.S. isn't wholly to blame. As the Soviet Union did years ago, the CCP makes it very difficult for persecuted nationals to leave China. Doing so would be seen as an admission of guilt and would help expose the truth of conditions in Xinjiang territory, where most Uighurs live. But the Biden administration isn't doing all it can to help, either. According to The Dispatch, it hasn't given Uighurs priority status that would forward their claims more quickly through the immigration bureaucracy. One reason for that lapse is the administration is busy trying to clean up messes it's made elsewhere. When it comes to refugees, that means dealing with more than 100,000 Afghans who were hastily evacuated during or after the recent U.S. withdrawal. The task isn't easy. Resettlement agencies report they're already overwhelmed, and tens of thousands of Afghans remain on military bases. After several high-profile cases of sexual assault, Republicans have also questioned whether the program includes adequate vetting. Story continues Those challenges can probably be managed. The more serious problem is on the southern border, where up to 30,000 migrants (mostly Haitian) set up a tent city in Del Rio, Texas. That number isn't huge compared to the broader surge in border crossings since President Biden took office, but the optics, as they say, are bad. They make admission of more refugees, however deserving, politically unfeasible. The administration blames economic and social instability in Latin America for this surge, while critics like my colleague Jim Antle point to Biden's campaign promises to reverse Trump-era restrictions. But a key detail of the present crisis reflects a deeper tension in America's immigration policy: Contrary to familiar rhetoric, many of the people who try to cross the border aren't classic illegal immigrants trying to evade detection. Instead, they're asylum seekers who surrender to authorities and petition for the legal right to remain. In theory, asylum is an application of the same principle that justifies the admission of refugees. According to the United Nations' 1951 refugee convention and its 1967 Protocol, a refugee is anyone unwilling unable or unwilling to return to his or her home country due to past persecution or a well-founded fear of being persecuted in the future "on account of race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group, or political opinion." In the Refugee Act of 1980, Congress adopted this definition and established asylum as a means of requesting refugee status while already in the U.S. or at its borders. The Refugee Act was a response to the consequences of another foreign policy misadventure. Then, Vietnamese and Cambodians attempted to enter the U.S. in numbers that far exceeded the legal cap on refugees. In addressing that problem, though, Congress created a new one. Current asylum laws were designed in a Cold War setting as a symbol of American freedom and a remedy for organized persecution by ideologically restrictive regimes. As those regimes disappeared and the category of persecution was stretched to include domestic violence and organized crime, it became a loophole in the immigration system. That has become irresistible for desperate people who aren't necessarily victims of political, religious, or ethnic repression. Even their advocates admit most asylum seekers aren't fleeing persecution as the law defines it. In The New York Times, former Obama administration official Michael Posner argued the majority of Haitians encamped in Texas were "looking for a new home where they will find stability, better jobs, and more security than their own country can offer." Economic migration is understandable, but it's not what the asylum system was set up to accommodate. To be clear, making an asylum claim is no guarantee of legal status. Some applicants are rejected immediately. Many others wait years for their cases to be resolved, and not necessarily in their favor. The fact of the backlog, though, acts as a perverse incentive. Even though they may wait for years only to lose their cases, bureaucratic inertia offers a good chance applicants will be able to establish residency in the United States while their cases are pending. In fact, nearly half of the migrants who flocked to Del Rio were allowed to remain in the U.S. Their strategy of camping out on the border worked. In effect, then, if not intention, asylum serves as an incentive to disorder and an enticement to legal limbo. It's not a situation anyone would choose for itself, but it's still better than the poverty and chaos many migrants face at home. Apart from creating nightmarish enforcement problems, though, the blowback from borders overwhelmed with economic migrants seeking asylum they don't legally deserve makes it more difficult to assist groups truly facing targeted violence from their own governments. That very much includes the Uighurs. There are a number of proposals for rationalizing the asylum system. Just this week, the administration abandoned Biden's campaign promises and restored the "Remain in Mexico" policy, which requires asylum seekers to apply from the other side of the border. It's a tacit acknowledgement that open borders, which many progressives and libertarians favor, is a non-starter. Yet few commentators have acknowledged a genuine tradeoff between assisting refugees in the older and stricter sense of the term and the broad conception of asylum that's become its rival. With insatiable demand for entry to the United States, limited resources for enforcement, and public opinion divided to the point of incoherence, trying to help everyone everywhere is not only impossible; it's also likely to inflame resentment of immigrants who are already here. Responsible politics is about setting priorities. The Uighurs and others in their position should be at the top of the list to come to the United States even if that means others must be turned away. You may also like The 'Trump app' will be the insurrection on steroids The American 'Great Resignation' by the numbers Liz Cheney, Marjorie Taylor Greene take turns calling each other 'a joke' After winning a lawsuit against the city for its voting system, which a judge deemed discriminatory, Latasha Holloways not done seeking change in Virginia Beach. On Monday, she announced that shes launching a campaign to oust Mayor Bobby Dyer. Holloway, who plans to run for mayor next year, is collecting petition signatures to recall Dyer before his term is up. The straw that broke the camels back for Holloway, was what she describes as Dyers failure to address the death of Deshayla Harris, who died last March at the Oceanfront, according to a press release. Police have said that Harris was struck by a stray bullet during a night of chaotic violence in which multiple people were shot. Holloway is also upset with the citys mishandling of Donovon Lynchs body the other person killed the same night as Harris, according to the press release. Lynch, who was shot to death by a Virginia Beach police officer, was Pharrell Williams 25-year-old cousin. Williams also has expressed disappointment in the citys leadership in the aftermath of his cousins death. Virginia State Police are investigating the shooting. Dyer heard about the Holloways petition Monday morning. Im proud of my accomplishments, Dyer said. People took a chance on me in 2018, and I was very successful in reelection in 2020. Dyer said he doesnt see a problem with Holloway filing the petition. We want people to be involved in their government, the mayor said. He added, Its easy to lead when times are good, but when times are challenging, it really takes a leader to step to the plate and have a steady hand on the tiller. Holloway is seeking Dyers recall based on activities which have severely eroded Mayor Dyers ability to lead and to represent the City of Virginia Beach, with credibility, honor and respect, she said in the press release. Holloway is the driving force behind the effort thats changing how city leaders are elected. She filed the federal lawsuit in 2017. In March, a judge sided with her and struck down Virginia Beachs current voting system. Story continues The voting system required candidates to live in the district, but voters across the entire city could vote in every council race. The judge said it diluted the votes of Black, Hispanic and Asian residents. The city is appealing the district courts decision. However, even if the appeal is successful, the election system still must be reworked because of recent changes in state law. Stacy Parker, 757-222-5125, stacy.parker@pilotonline.com The fallout from the pandemic is still being felt at state restaurants across Connecticut, and as workers struggle against staff shortages, product shortages, price increases and increasingly hostile customers, supporters have a message: #bekindtorestaurants. Jeannette Punsoni Dardenne and Kristen Fritz, co-founders of restaurant-promoting social media communities called Eat IN Connecticut, started a hashtag campaign to urge restaurant patrons to be patient when they go out to dine, and to remind them of what restaurant employees are enduring. One of those employees is Amanda Lee Landry, a manager at Popover Bistro & Bakery in Simsbury. A man screamed in my face today. Legit in my face. Before me, he was screaming at a 17-year-old girl working at the register. He couldnt even be bothered to wait for the manager so a teenage girl was fair game, Landry wrote in a post Wednesday on Eat IN Connecticuts Facebook and Instagram pages. And why did the man scream? While he was waiting for a table to be cleared off outside, the wind gusted and water from the top of our giant tent got his dog wet, Landry wrote. If you all are wondering why your favorite restaurants are understaffed, thats why. Fritz and Dardenne, who both live in West Hartford, say the reopening of restaurants leads many diners to believe all is well and back to pre-pandemic normal. But its not. A survey released this month by the Connecticut Restaurant Association said most restaurants in the state are struggling to get by. It revealed that 88% of restaurants lost business due to the delta variant, 78% are understaffed, 75% had weaker sales in August 2021 than in August 2019, 90% pay more for food than pre-pandemic, 65% pay higher occupancy costs, 79% have higher labor costs, and 91% have smaller profit margins. While Connecticut continues to be a national leader on combating COVID, its clear that restaurants are still being harmed by the pandemic and will be for some time, said Scott Dolch, president and CEO of the Connecticut Restaurant Association. This new data shines a light on how the pandemic has placed a heavy burden on restaurant owners and their staff. From food costs to hiring new employees, local restaurants are struggling to make ends meet. Story continues Fritz said the difficulties often manifest themselves in less-than perfect restaurant experiences long waits, shorter hours, fewer days, missing menu items, higher prices and employees are being blamed and abused because of it. We know of a worker who was screamed at by a patron saying they werent working hard enough, werent busing the tables fast enough. Front-of-house workers are getting bullied through no fault of their own, Fritz said. People just dont understand the workload involved. They dont have a birds-eye view into the kitchen. They just want to sit down, have their food and move on. Punsoni Dardenne added: People still do not grasp the extent people are suffering in the industry. Like, if a person is waiting for 45 minutes and only half the restaurant is full, they dont understand why they had to wait 45 minutes when there are plenty of tables. Its because they probably have only two servers and the chef is also washing the dishes and the kitchen staff has to bus the tables. April Melisa of The North House in Avon is another restaurant worker who wants the public to know that the smiling faces of the servers hide multiple lingering difficulties behind the scenes. Our industry isnt just facing staffing shortages. We are dealing with insane price hikes, last-minute unavailabilities, delivery issues, Melisa wrote on the Facebook Page. We are all human and deserve common decency and respect, she concluded. Fritz and Punsoni Dardenne said no one knows when the difficulties will end, so its important to remind people repeatedly, with the hash tag campaign, of what restaurateurs face day to day. This is an ongoing story that can be told over and over. We dont see an end in sight, Punsoni Dardenne said. Fritz emphasized that patrons should not give up on restaurants. The restaurants are so grateful for these patrons that do come in. Its important to keep supporting them, either getting takeout or making reservations. If people are supportive and kind and patient, when this is all over your favorite restaurant will still be there. Susan Dunne can be reached at sdunne@courant.com. In Japan, coronavirus restrictions are being lifted across the nation. In Kyoto Prefecture in western Japan, restaurants and bars have been allowed to operate without restrictions on serving alcohol and operating hours for the first time in about six months. This weekend, families and student groups on school excursions were seen strolling in the Arashiyama area, one of Kyoto's popular tourist spots. A woman who came from Tokyo with her family said they decided to visit Kyoto after coronavirus cases started to decline. She said she is enjoying great food. Local souvenir shops have seen a gradual return of tourists, especially young ones, but they say tourists are not spending as much as before. A senior official of one such business says he has not seen sales rising to correspond with an increase in tourist traffic. He called on the government to take measures that help stimulate consumption. After the park's operator postponed special events because of the spread of COVID-19, Tokyo Disneyland had its first Halloween programme in two years on Monday. Limited-edition tickets allow visitors to dress up in Halloween costumes and enter the park two hours earlier than usual, beginning at 8 am. For the first time in two years, guests dressed as Disney characters from head to toe are permitted to roam through the theme park, but only if they have special access tickets, following the cancellation of last year's Halloween celebrations due to the spread of the coronavirus, as per the reports of Jiji Press. Except for elementary school or younger children, visitors to Tokyo Disneyland are normally not permitted to wear in full costume in order to avoid being confused with the official characters who greet visitors. Special ticket holders who attend the theme park between the hours of 8 am and 10 am are permitted to dress up completely. Before entering, they must change into their costumes. Guests dressed up can participate in parades and some of the park's attractions. The midday Halloween parade at Tokyo Disneyland, in Urayasu, Chiba Prefecture, east of Tokyo, has already begun, according to Jiji Press. Regular-priced tickets are not permitted to be completely dressed in costumes because of concerns that restrooms would get crowded with people getting dressed or undressed. READ | One killed, 6 missing as South Korean boat capsizes in Japan's waters; search Op underway According to Jiji Press, a woman dressed as Belle from the Disney movie Beauty and the Beast on Monday morning stated that they weren't able to do this last year, so she has been looking forward to this event since it was first announced. She also said that she would want to see the show. According to the woman, it was her third visit to Tokyo Disneyland in costume. There is a growing trend among municipal junior high schools in the district of Aki, Hiroshima Prefecture, to offer female students a choice between skirts and a pair of pants for their uniforms. In many cases, students can also choose between ties and ribbons. In addition to being more gender neutral, the new uniform policy is also more functional in terms of keeping warm and it being easier to move around, meaning it has gained the support of students. Saka Junior High School introduced a pair of pants for girls this spring amid requests from parents of students who entered the school in April. Several girls in the schools first grade now wear them. Many girls in the senior grades of three elementary schools in our town go to school wearing pants in their plain clothes, so the sight of them wearing pants doesnt strike me as odd at all, principal Hideshi Masaoka said. From next spring, two schools in the town of Kaita will allow girls to choose between a skirt and a pair of pants, and between ribbons and ties. Not only are pants warmer, but some students have said they dont want to wear skirts. The town of Kumano, meanwhile, will hold a meeting later in October of local teachers in charge of student guidance at its elementary, junior high and high schools to discuss whether to introduce the optional uniform system at two of its junior high schools. In the town of Fuchu, a junior high school began allowing girls to wear pants from the spring of 2019. Starting next spring, Fuchu Junior High School will make ties the only option for newly enrolled students regardless of gender. At present, ties are for boys, while ribbons are for girls. Cases of Beaujolais Nouveau are arriving from France, ready to go on sale in Japan next month. But the volume is likely to be low compared to pre-pandemic years. The first shipment of about 3,200 bottles arrived at Tokyo's Haneda Airport on Saturday. Around 3.6 million bottles are expected to be imported this year. That is down by about 20 percent from 2019 as orders from restaurants have declined. But a major importer sees a possible pickup in demand as restrictions on dining establishments are eased. Suntory Wine International President and CEO, Yoshio Keiko said, "We hope that people will go out to restaurants and order Beaujolais Nouveau this year, as they celebrate special occasions while taking measures against infection." This year, the wine will go on sale on November 18. What services does your agency provide, and who generally does it serve? We're an organization that matches a mentor and mentee that get together one hour a week on school grounds. It's meant for the mentee to have a positive role model in their lives. Mentees are children from grades 3-12. Photo: New Yorks October 25-November 7, 2021 issue In New Yorks October 25-November 7, 2021 issue, contributor David Freedlander profiles Eric Adams, who, just weeks away from the November 2nd election, is already poised to be the most powerful New York City mayor in decades. He is beloved by both labor unions and billionaires, media elite and the New York Post, Trumpist conservatives and national Democrats. Its Adamss town, even as his policy agenda remains hard to parse. This was the fifth New York City mayoral race Ive covered, and it was by far the most exciting, largely because of the person who won it, says Freedlander, who spoke with Adamss colleagues, staffers, friends, enemies, and more for this profile. The Brooklyn borough president can seem like a pol from another era, one who proudly heralds his working class upbringing in South Jamaica, Queens but who also is a regular on the nightlife circuit, jets off to Monaco without telling anyone, shoots from the hip and yet keeps crucial parts of his lifelike where he sleeps each night, or if he sleeps at allsecret, says Freedlander. He is someone who has been around the citys political scene for three decades, mostly as a gadfly police officer railing against the powers that be over what he saw as a racist department and prejudicial criminal justice system, and he is an awfully engaging and charismatic political presence. There is a real sense of relief in many corners that he is set to take over City Hall. I am sure this will not be the last time Eric Adams graces the cover of New York Magazine. owl Zoo Zurich/Facebook Owls absent from the skies and trees of Austria for decades could be making a comeback. Three rare Ural owls recently arrived at the Zurich Zoo in Switzerland. The nocturnal birds once plentiful in Austria have been considered extinct in the European country since the mid-20th century, according to Zenger News. For the past ten years, the Zurich Zoo has been working to reintroduce the Ural owl to Austria. Their three new Ural owl residents are a way for the facility to step up "its commitment to protecting the species" and helping the birds return to one of their native habitats. According to the Zurich Zoo's Facebook page, their three Ural owls consist of one male and two females. In a post, the Swiss zoo shared that they are optimistic that the owls will have offspring, which "will hopefully contribute to conservation" of the species. RELATED: Tiny Owl Found Stuck in the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Released Back into the Wild Ural owls are known for being silent hunters, per Zenger News. The birds can stealthily sneak up on prey without being heard thanks to their velvety, frayed-edge feathers and slow flight. According to the IUCN Red List, while there are currently no wild Ural owls in Austria, the birds can be found throughout Russia and in numerous European countries, including Finland, Sweden, and Poland. It is estimated that over 350,000 Ural owls are living in the wild. It's kinda bull how the women in the family lose their royal status but the men should they marry a commoner wife will not iirc Edited at 2021-10-25 03:04 am (UTC) Reply Thread Link They are really running into a problem . They have only one boy in the next generation .Mako's younger brother by over ten years who was suspiciously conceived and oh wonder it's a boy right a round the time there was talk that Aiko could inherite the throne after her father . So when all the girls marry out all the royal work will go to just one person . Reply Parent Thread Link yeah... Hishahito is going to have a LOT on his shoulders and is probably going to get pressured to get married and start producing heirs ASAP. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I remember semi-following that and remember thinking how his birth was absolutely planned. I swear almost every pic.....the look on his parents's face of absolute win cause it was boy. Regarding Aiko I somewhat conflict because on one hand...she is the rightful heir BUT on other hand you see how much her mother went through and all the stress of the expectations. I can't imagine poor Aiko going through it and being a woman they'll go harder on her. Also I remember hearing that she was getting bullied at her school a few years ago :( Reply Parent Thread Link Mako's younger brother by over ten years who was suspiciously conceived and oh wonder it's a boy right a round the time there was talk that Aiko could inherite the throne after her father . I always fount that suspicious too. I don't know if it was genetic manipulation or some adopted cousin or what. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link i don't trust the emperor's brother tbh Reply Parent Thread Link isn't that part of the agreement after ww2 tho? like im pretty sure it was set up like that, princesses losing their title if they married a commoner and no more aristocracy for them to marry into, with the clear intention of the jpn imperial family dying out eventually Reply Parent Thread Expand Link This seems oddly fanfic-ish and romantic as fuck to me. They waited for each other and still got married even after 3 years of not seeing each other? Feeling reaaaal single after reading this. Reply Thread Link yeah I'm like, obsessed with this story. I knew about the original scandal but I just learned they haven't seen each other all this time. I wish these crazy kids the best. Mako said all she wanted was a warm family full of smiles Reply Parent Thread Link I was just about to make this comment!!! Itt definitely reads like a romantic movie or something. ~Royalty falls in love with a commoner, only for society to not accept them. He has to move away so she can have what he thinks she deserves. He writes to her everyday~ Edited at 2021-10-25 03:26 am (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Link I'm serious lol where is this movie?? Reply Parent Thread Link right? this is the Netflix series I want to watch Reply Parent Thread Link Margaret and Townsend but a happy ending lol Reply Parent Thread Link I know of at least one shoujo manga I read where the couple gets together in high school, he turns out to be some kind of aristocrat who after graduation has to leave for Europe (because he is usually half European), and the last chapter is a flashback of 3-5-10 years later when they meet again for the first time right in time for their wedding. Reply Parent Thread Link Read up about King Harald of Norway and the nearly 10 year saga he had convincing his snobby dad/the courtiers he should be allowed to marry his commoner girlfriend. Cant believe its not a movie yet Reply Parent Thread Link Harald was all, "Oh. The fate of the monarchy rests on my shoulders? Wouldn't it suck if it just.. ended if I can't marry the woman I love?" Love it. Reply Parent Thread Link just yesterday i watched the duchess of malfi, so the impression is still fresh, and this story seems particularly sweet in comparison Reply Parent Thread Link Damn, thats true love! Also Im sure shes happy to leave in general, Japanese royal women seem to have a raw deal. Reply Thread Link good for them. good for her, she definitely put up a strong fight to be with him. Reply Thread Link so we've probably got 5-10 years to crowdfund a The Crown-style prestige miniseries about this Reply Thread Link YESS!!! This is the story I want to see in an over-dramatized netflix special! Give us the romantic story of the decade! Reply Parent Thread Link I'd be here for this tbh Reply Parent Thread Link PLEASE YES. Id love this Reply Parent Thread Link I was just thinking, "If we don't get a fucking movie out of this..." Reply Parent Thread Link omg i want this! Reply Parent Thread Link Starring the kid who plays Claudia in Netflixs BSC cos Netflix has 3 actors Oh wait you said crowd-fund nvm Reply Parent Thread Link Just let her live her life!! I hope she and her husband are able to live a happy life, away from the pressure of the Imperial Family and the Japanese press. It's incredibly stupid that women who marry commoners (which are all of them because there is no more Japanese aristocracy after WW2) must leave the Imperial Family and lose their status, but men don't. It's especially dumb because there haven't been many men born into the family in recent generations. Whatever, if that's how they want the Japanese monarchy to slowly die off, then it's no skin off my nose. Reply Thread Link lol it's really hilarious, they don't even an uprising or political enemy to end them....they're doing it themselves! Imagine if Hisahito grows up, becomes Emperor, marries but gives birth to nothing but girls. What are they gonna do lol?!! Reply Parent Thread Link Hello, Archie Reply Parent Thread Link I wager he will marry young and they will do IVF to ensure at least two sons. Reply Parent Thread Link So who would she even be allow you marry Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I have a dumb question that I probably already know the answer to but I gotta ask lol. So if the Japanese aristocracy is just gone and marrying commoners is frowned upon, then who are all these princesses allowed to marry? And if theres a shortage of male cousins to marry (shudder) then likewhats been happening? Have most of the women been phased out for marry commoners? Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Hope these crazy kids make it just to spite the haters Reply Thread Link Damn, not even taking that last milli? I'm glad she'll get to have the life and love she wants and truly root for them to be good Reply Thread Link Right, I would've taken the cash no matter what. Reply Parent Thread Link Japanese press would've come for her even more if she had Reply Parent Thread Link I know very little about Japanese customs and even less about their royal family, so Im not going to comment on that. Its just sad to see that she developed freaking PTSD. I hope they had a mutual understanding on what their expectations were while he was away and that they have a good, long marriage. Reply Thread Link https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/24/world/asia/japan-princess-mako-mental-health.html if you want to know more, the NYT has a little writeup on women in the Japanese royal family to tie in with Mako's wedding news Reply Parent Thread Link That was a lot. And, yet, sadly, not really new information as it relates to how we women are treated by society. Reading about how the goddamn public treated the princess for not being able to bear a son (like its her fault) and then seeing the photo of the adorable bb princess ugh. Its absolutely insane to me that people (in any culture) feel they have the right to someone elses life, marriage, womb, etc. I hope Mako has an amazing life and sticks it to everyone who doubted her. Reply Parent Thread Link Princess Makos psychiatrist said in a news conference Uh, thats not a normal thing right? Like I dont think Ive ever heard of a psychiatrist coming out to discuss a public figures struggles at a news conference before? Reply Parent Thread Expand Link nothing to add other than my dogs name is mako! his brother is megalodon hehe Reply Thread Link That is insane. I hope they have a wonderful, happy marriage after all the shit they've been through. Reply Thread Link may they have a long and happy marriage Reply Thread Link Get it MAKO!!!! I wish her all the best and the misogynistic jerks the worst! Reply Thread Link Edited at 2021-10-25 03:34 am (UTC) damn i wish her all the luck and her future hubby better not fuck things up cause she is going through a lot for ~love~ #saysmealovelessforeigner lol Reply Thread Link Oh damn lol those look reeeally bad. I've never had a hair disaster thankfully. The closest I've been is when I cut my own bangs when I was 17 but it could have been worse. Edited at 2021-10-25 06:29 pm (UTC) Reply Thread Link Why use extensions if these were the only options? Reply Thread Link Hahahaha those are as bad as Darcey and Stacys hair extensions. Also I love my clip in extensions lol. I have some bettie page clip in bangs ima wear on Saturday. Thank god those exist so I dont have to cut my own bangs lol. Reply Thread Link I immediately thought of Darcey and Stacey as well lol Reply Parent Thread Link Idg how Darcy and Stacy's hair always looks so ratty, I know they have money for Olaplex and getting professional blowouts. Reply Parent Thread Link Its SO nuts that olaplex cost $40 for you guys, at the pro store its $14. Also try the acidic bonding concentrate by redken, its fuckin amazing Reply Parent Thread Expand Link did no one notice before she left the hotel or wherever she got ready? This sabotage Reply Thread Link Her hair was tucked behind her ears and flowing down her back so she prob didnt notice. Eeek. Reply Parent Thread Link Damn. Imagine having THEE Angelina Jolie as a client and then sending her on the red carpet looking like this. smmfh. Reply Thread Link lmao, i bet they were running late. She was the last one to arrive and even when she got there her car made a turn, maybe that's when the hair extentions fell off? The plot thickens! lol Reply Parent Thread Link If you're rushing, don't put them in. Her own her looks perfectly fine. Anything would have been better than what they untimately sent her out with. lol. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Talk about shooting yourself in the foot! Reply Parent Thread Link They basically look like my hair that time my hair fell out from low iron...then grew back in at different stages making my hair sections look different lengths. Damn sis. Reply Thread Link shes so ahead of her time! she's literally paying homage to this iconic era with the uneven lines! Reply Thread Link I can't believe I ever thought that was cool. Reply Parent Thread Link Pete Wentz still does. Reply Parent Thread Link i wanna do this so bad before i cut off my hair lmao. me finally having money + my parents finally not caring about my hair/having a job where i can dye it w/e is tempting me Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Honestly this is better lol Reply Parent Thread Link The skunk look always baffled me Reply Parent Thread Link The way things come back into style Im sure a variation of this will be popular on TikTok soon. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link i wonder what this specific girl looks like now, what her style is. it seems like the scene queens all turned hipster/indie around 2010 but im not sure what the style is now. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link wtf Reply Parent Thread Link Omg blast from the past lol Reply Parent Thread Link The hairstylist is probably on Brad Pitts payroll. Reply Thread Link God forbid a woman doesn't look absolutely perfect every single time she steps outside Reply Thread Link I mean, presumably someone was paid to do this and we are talking about a red carpet Reply Parent Thread Link Bruh...if now it's misogynistic to have a chuckle when an a-lister with all the money, power and resources to have the best styling in the world goes to a premiere with extensions that some of us could have installed better DIY on ourselves, what can we enjoy on this site? Reply Parent Thread Link for real Reply Parent Thread Link srsly now. This isn't about her not being stupidly beautiful (because she is). It's about the red carpet where she hires a whole team and pays them from her own to make her look perfect. Whoever did her hair did a bad job. Reply Parent Thread Link People were shitting on the incompetent hairstylist, not Angelina. Reply Parent Thread Link Her shouldnt look like that at a movie premiere. It has nothing to do with her but everything to do with her stylists Reply Parent Thread Link - it's a premiere - she's promoting her new film (and acting) on the red carpet - her team fucked up - someone was paid for this wack job. - it's not that serious. Reply Parent Thread Link I love the implication that she's just a regular woman and not a multimillionaire with a lifestyle and bank balance none of us could ever even dream of having. This nuanced understanding of misogyny! Truly amazing. Reply Parent Thread Link you a party pooper. Reply Parent Thread Link why are you even in this comm lmao Reply Parent Thread Link lmao it's a red carpet movie premiere Reply Parent Thread Link She's not running ERRANDS, Jan! Sit down. Reply Parent Thread Link This looks like they used old school tracks and only put one row in and didn't bother to blend it in. Reply Thread Link Ngl, I would not have noticed without y'all pointing it out in the last post! I can see that's clearly not ideal, but I'm sure my hair looks worse on any given day, lol. Reply Thread Link I'm just confused at how they didn't make sure her natural hair wasn't more straightened at the ends if they were going to use pin straight extensions and few blending cuts to the extensions to make it easier. Like its' truly not that hard to blend better. Reply Thread Link i love visible extensions, reminds me of 2008-2010 lmao Reply Thread Link Britney's impacT Reply Parent Thread Link lol same it's very antm. tyra messy ass gave white girls these extensions all the time Reply Parent Thread Link those micro ring extensions were such a menace Reply Parent Thread Link Honestly I didnt notice it till now and I saw photos from the premiere earlier today. Reply Thread Link I knew this woman and her hair was so thin you could always see the tape strips throughout her head and I always felt bad thinking she had no clue how visible they were to everyone Reply Thread Link I know for some women they literally feel like they cant leave the house without extensions, so maybe for her bad extensions were better than no extensions? Like I remember reading a fashion bloggers New Years resolutions a few years ago and one of them was to wean herself off extensions because she felt so self conscious without them. Reply Parent Thread Link One of my friends uses them to thicken her hair up. She uses clip ins though and they always look better than this. Reply Parent Thread Link J Balvin has apologized for the heavily criticized "Perra" video he released earlier this month https://t.co/Fky8g5VZod Pitchfork (@pitchfork) October 24, 2021 (OP speaks some Spanish, so though she doesn't know all the language intricacies of Spanish speaking nation, she might be on the money here.) Are you though, bro? - the video for the song "Perra" by J Balvin feat. Tokischa was uploaded to J Balvin's YT channel on September 10th- "perra" in some Spanish-speaking countries does translate to "female dog" or as the misogynistic "bitch"- the video *deep sigh* features a dehumnization of Black women, comparing them to dogs with some of the women being in dog cages and the feature rapper Tokischa in dog ears, and the ever classic featuring Black women on dog leashes. Because how just fucking fabulous.- but last week, the video was pulled and only the audio version of the song is on the official channel- at first there was no explanation but the given that the artist is extremely popular, the outcry gained traction in eluding from the vice president of Colombia stating: "direct and openly sexist, racist, machista and misogynistic expressions that violate the rights of women, comparing them to an animal that must be dominated and mistreated,"- even his own damn momma was like- but let's not forget videos aren't made alone, let this director get the motherfucking smoke too! His statement:You didn't have to resort to a reductive, backwards trope laden with misogynoir to showcase the women of the Dominican Republic, but whatevs- J Balvin's non-apology on an Instagram story which ya know goes away in 24 hours if not saved said: "I want to say sorry to whomever felt offended, especially to the Black community. Thats not who I am. Im about tolerance, love and inclusivity".Who expects anything from an adult who complained out not being taught about anti-Black racism instead learning - that's because ol dude didn't plan on learning- OP is going to look for wholesome Black news to post like Ludacris donating to help a Black father-daughter tech company or something because...My blood pressure Confined Space Gas Detection SKC proudly partners with Drager and Honeywell RAE Systems to offer high-quality portable gas detection instruments for confined space safety. Choose from a wide selection of personal single and multiple-gas detectors, models for entry/clearance measurement, and sensors. SKC provides the expertise, customer service, and technical support you have trusted for nearly 60 years. more Multi Gas Clip Simple Plus Multi-gas detection is now simpler and safer than ever with the Multi Gas Clip Simple Plus by Gas Clip Technologies, the first multi-gas detector that operates for three years continuously with no charging or calibration necessary. Reliably test for hydrogen sulfide (H2S), carbon monoxide (CO), oxygen (O2) and combustible gases (LEL) 24/7, even in oxygen-deficient environments. It fails to safe and comes with three-year warranty. Let us help solve your gas detection needs with a simple solution. more Springfield DH Dual Hazard FR Fabric This paper is intended to educate the reader about Springfields new, inherently flame-resistant (FR) fabric. Springfield DH is engineered to provide permanent protection against flash fires and electrical arc flashes. It is important that a flame-resistant (FR) garment provide an expected degree of protection to the wearer. This paper will address key expectations to consider when making a decision on which fabric provides the optimum protection, comfort, and durability. Fire is Unpredictable, Nomex is not. Let's face it, you can never know with certainty when a fire will spark, how hot it will burn, where it will spread or how long youll be in danger. Because fire is such a wild card, DuPont Nomex becomes the best bet. Nomex fiber is proven, predictable and yes, safe. This NIOSH February 2012 video targets one of the most dangerous activities in the oil & gas extraction industry: the drilling rig move. Such a move includes all of the activities involved in disconnecting and disassembling an oil and gas drilling rig and its components, loading all of the equipment onto trucks, transporting the equipment to the next well site, and reassembling and reconnecting the rig and its components. During a rig move, there are dozens of workers and vehicles at the well site, resulting in what is referred to as "controlled chaos." This video features workers identifying the major hazards encountered during a rig move and describing ways to avoid them. The use of workers speaking in their own words makes this product compelling to oil and gas extraction workers. NIOSH did not use a script or solicit specific responses from the workers; all of the workers' comments are their own. Three companies provided access to their work sites and workers for the development of the video. NIOSH distributed nearly 1,500 copies of the video within six weeks of its release. The International Association of Drilling Contractors also agreed to market the video to its members, on its website, and at national meetings and conferences. OPEC+ needs to remain cautious with its approach to oil production adjustments despite rising prices, Saudi Arabias oil minister Abdulaziz bin Salman told Bloomberg in an interview. Bin Salman noted that higher production is only justifiable when there is a clear purpose for it, which, according to him, was now absent as utilities switching from gas or coal to oil were doing on a very limited scale. The energy minister also said he expected a significant increase in combined OPEC+ oil supply by the end of next year, even without the hypothetical return of Venezuela or Iran to international markets, bin Salman also said. We dont take things for granted, the official said. We still have Covid, there are still lockdowns, and jet fuel supply remains constricted. So, were not yet out of the box and were not out of the realm of Covid. OPEC+ is adding 400,000 bpd to its combined output every month, but some members have found it difficult to boost production, and this has resulted in overcompliance with the voluntary cuts and continued tight supply. However, the cartel has so far resisted calls for a greater boost in output to catch up with demand. This weekend, Nigerias oil minister chimed in with his Saudi counterpart in saying the cartel should not rush into any production boosts as demand remained threatened by Covid flare-ups. We have to look at the situation closely before we take action, Timipre Sylva told Bloomberg in an interview in Riyad. Its still very fragile. We must be very cautious before we take the next move. Weve seen the slow down in China, the Nigerian official also said. A lot of people are calling for more oil, but were looking at problems in some economies. We know that we havent completely opened up yet. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Saudi Aramcos request for bids from local and international companies to build out a water desalination plant project in the Jafurah shale gas field brings back into focus the Kingdoms claims to be at the forefront of the global energy transition towards cleaner energy through the reduction of carbon emissions. As with many of its biggest claims regarding its oil industry analyzed most recently here this claim regarding its drive towards cleaner energy is also extremely misleading, and would also appear to align with the countrys alleged attempts to lobby the UN to play down the need to move rapidly away from fossil fuels. Saudi Arabia announced with much fanfare early in 2020 that it is to spend at least US$110 billion on the Jafurah gas project, with the intention being that it would become the worlds third-largest gas producer by 2030, after the U.S., and Russia, and a net exporter of gas by that time. As even Aramco has noticed that Saudi Arabia does not have abundant freshwater supplies - its chief executive officer, Amin Nasser, keenly observed early on that we are not rich with water the company will use seawater instead for the fracking process, hence the new contracts for a desalination plant. According to the Saudis, the Jafurah field has an estimated 200 trillion cubic feet of gas (TcF), a figure that should be taken in the context of all other Saudi energy reserves estimates but let us pretend for the purposes of debate that it is true. In the meantime, Aramco has natural gas reserves supposedly of 319.5 trillion cubic feet (TcF), according to figures released in 2019. This number had bewilderingly increased from the previous 302.3 TcF just a year before and even more bewilderingly just a couple of years before it had been 233.8 TcF. Nonetheless, again, for the purposes of this debate, let us pretend that this figure is true as well. The plan is for Aramco to start production from Jafurah in 2024 and to reach 2.2 billion cubic feet (Bcf) per day of gas by 2036. In 2018, just before the hike in gas reserves estimates and without Jafurah in production, Aramco produced around 8.9 Bcf/d of natural gas. With this amount of gas being produced and used in Saudi Arabias energy mix at that time, it was still the case that from 2015 to 2018 the amount of highly polluting fuel oil that the Kingdom used in domestic power generation increased from 400,000 bpd to 500,000 bpd, Richard Bronze, a cross-energy analyst for global energy consultancy, Energy Aspects, in London, told OilPrice.com. Related: Renewables And Roller Coasters: How To Recycle An Oil Well This supposed move to gas, in turn, was part of Saudi Arabias broader drive to pretend that it was moving towards a cleaner energy program. A key part of this was its statements that it was also aiming for compliance with the International Maritime Organizations (IMO) global sulfur cap for marine fuel being cut to 0.5 percent from 3.5 percent, the target date for which was the end of 2020. Despite the comments around that time from Saudi Aramcos senior vice president of downstream operations, Abdulazziz al-Judaimi, that the companys fully-owned refining assets were already 85 percent IMO-compliant, Saudi Arabia was one of the very few places in the world that actually imported fuel oil at that point, according to Bronze. This meant that it could legitimately sort of state that it was decreasing its own production of the dirty fuel oil product. The principal reason for the increasing substitution of imported fuel oil for domestically produced fuel oil was locational, in that currently vast bulk of Saudis home-produced fuel oil is produced in regions that are a long way from the populous areas where it is needed to burn as a fuel oil for power generation. Therefore, it is easier and less expensive for the Saudis to import fuel oil to places where it can be readily used for power generation rather than build a costly logistical network to move it from where it is produced in Saudi to where it is needed. This apparent inability to move fuel oil from one side of the country to the other is interesting to note when viewed in the context that the Saudis did manage to do precisely that for crude oil, with its 746 mile East-West Pipeline having been built in the 1980s. For Jafurah, then, all other factors remaining equal, one billion cubic feet of gas equals 0.167 million barrels of oil equivalent, so 2.2 Bcf/d (the future Jafurah output) equals 0.3674 million barrels of oil equivalent or 367,400 barrels. Therefore, the total projected new amount of gas to come from Jafurah is around 367,400 barrels per day. This amount is not even enough to cover the current volume of highly polluting fuel oil being burned for power generation in Saudi Arabia, even if Aramcos already elevated gas production holds steady. However, based on independent industry estimates on changing Saudi demographics and corollary changing power demand patterns, the Kingdom will probably need gas production of around 23-25 Bcf/d within the next 15 years just to cover its own power and industrial demand. By Simon Watkins for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Surging natural gas prices in Europe and Asia have boosted global demand for oil products, benefiting oil refiners globally. Yet, it is these record natural gas prices that have started to weigh on the refining industry, which has just rebounded from several consecutive weak quarters due to the pandemic-driven slump in fuel consumption. Apart from slowing down steel, chemicals, and fertilizer production in Europe, the record natural gas prices are significantly raising operating expenditures for refiners because natural gas is being used for hydrogen production at the hydrocracker and hydrotreater units that remove sulfur from higher-sulfur crude. U.S. refiners have an advantage over Asian and European competitors in this situation due to the much lower natural gas prices in America. Although the U.S. Henry Hub benchmark price has more than doubled since the beginning of the year, American natural gas prices are around $5 per million British thermal units (mmBtu) compared to $25-$35/mmBtu in equivalent prices in Europe and Asia. In recent weeks, costs for oil refiners to produce hydrogen per barrel of processed crude have jumped tenfold compared to the hydrogen input costs back in 2019, according to estimates in the International Energy Agencys (IEA) latest monthly oil report cited by Argus. Hydrogen costs are now around $6 per barrel of processed crude, compared to just $0.60 per barrel in 2019. Yet, due to low inventories of refined products globally, refining margins recovered strongly in the third quarter despite the rallying crude oil prices. Recovering fuel demand and additional demand for oil products amid record-high coal and natural gas prices have pushed up global oil refining margins to their pre-pandemic levels. Implied 3Q21 refined product balances show the largest draw in eight years, which explains the strong increase in refinery margins in September despite significantly higher crude prices, the IEA said in its latest monthly report last week. Despite the higher demand for oil products this winter, some refiners in Europe and Asia may not be able to ramp up crude throughput because of the surge in natural gas prices. Refiners in Europe have started to recalibrate their refined product slates to limit exposure to the high costs of natural gas, which is essential for making hydrogen for treating the higher-sulfur crude grades. We are impacted by the current high energy prices just like any other consumer of natural gas and electric power, a spokeswoman for northwest European refiner Varo Energywhose shareholders include commodity trading giant Vitoltold Reuters this week. To ensure we can continue to supply our customers, we have adjusted our operations to minimize our natural gas consumption whilst preserving our ability to supply products, the spokeswoman added. If youre in Europe or Asia its very, very expensive so its bound to have an impact, Callum Macpherson, head of commodities at Investec Plc, told Bloomberg, commenting on natural gas costs. For U.S. refiners, the costs are also up, but not so much as in Europe and Asia. For example, Valero Energy, which reported on Thursday a net income for Q3 compared to a loss for the same quarter last year, said that its refining cash operating expenses were $0.27 per barrel higher than the third quarter of 2020 primarily due to higher natural gas prices. When you look at places around the world that are paying $30 a million Btu for natural gas, it pressures that refining capacity and kind of raises the incremental crack spreads needed for them to run, which also pushes margins higher, Gary Simmons, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer at Valero, said on the earnings call. Thanks to lower natural gas prices in the U.S. compared to Europe and Asia, refiners in America will not be as constrained in processing higher-sulfur crudes as their peers in other regions. The higher-sulfur grades have recently seen widening discounts to sweeter crudes, which additionally benefits refining margins for those capable of processing high-sulfur grades due to lower-cost input crude. In light of these developments, additional volumes of sweeter and lighter crudes could be available for exports from America to Asia and Europe, U.S. traders told Bloomberg. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads from Oilprice.com: China put more than 35,000 residents in a northern county on lockdown as of Monday to contain a new COVID flare-up in the country a development which the oil market is ignoring so far as overall bullish sentiment prevails. In a bid to quickly contain a fresh outbreak in Ejin, a county in the region of Inner Mongolia, Chinese authorities asked residents to stay at home from today. China expects new cases to rise in coming days, a health official cited by Bloomberg said on Sunday. China typically acts very quickly to lock down towns and cities in case of rising COVID cases, and questions remain whether the lockdown this time will extend to more provinces and regions to the extent of slowing down Chinese fuel demand and economic growth. As of Monday, the oil market largely shrugged off the news out of China, amid a prevailing bullish sentiment with dwindling global inventories and rebounding oil demand. Early on Monday, both benchmarks hit fresh multi-year highs, with the U.S. benchmark, WTI Crude, trading at $84.82, up 1.23%, and Brent Crude sitting above $86, at $86.46, up 0.98% on the day. The COVID flare-ups in the summer in China led to more lockdowns and oil prices pulling back for a few weeks, with estimates from Goldman Sachs pointing at the time that Chinese demand could be 1 million barrels per day (bpd) lower for two months than previously expected. For now, the market does not appear concerned about the Covid-19 outbreak in a number of provinces in China. China has, however, demonstrated multiple times that it is able to get outbreaks under control fairly quickly, ING strategists Warren Patterson and Wenyu Yao said on Monday. Some worrying Covid flare-ups were back in the headlines over the weekend, prominently in China, but were not impacting the buying rush in crude futures, Vanda Insights said in a note. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: China will gradually reduce the share of fossil fuels in its energy mix until it reaches 20 percent or lower fossil fuel use by 2060, the authorities of the worlds top crude oil importer said on Sunday. China also reiterated that its carbon dioxide (CO2) emission will have peaked by 2030, according to a document jointly released by the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the State Council and cited by state news agency Xinhua. China will target to gradually increase the share of non-fossil energy consumption to around 20 percent by 2025, around 25 percent by 2030, and over 80 percent by 2060, the document says. Before the pandemic, energy from non-fossil fuels accounted for 15.3 percent of total energy consumption in China, up by 5.6 percentage points from 2012. China announced in September last year that it would aim to become carbon neutral by 2060. By 2060, China will have fully established a clean, low-carbon, safe and efficient energy system, with energy efficiency reaching the advanced international level, the authorities said in the document released this weekend. Chinas guidelines come a week before the start of the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow, at which the UKs Prime Minister Boris Johnson hopes to have a global commitment for emissions reductions. China, however, is unlikely to send President Xi Jinping to the summit, according to media reports. The Chinese government has yet to announce who will be attending the climate gathering, CNN Business reported on Monday. Amid the energy crisis in the country, China backpedaled earlier this month on its emission reduction commitments. In a statement, Premier Li Keqiang said 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 as quoted by Bloomberg. By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Iran needs some $11 billion in investments to develop oil fields along its border with Iraq, Bloomberg has reported, citing the new head of the National Iranian Oil Company Mohsen Khojastehmehr. Where the money would come in remains as of yet unclear after Trump administration sanctions drove foreign companies out of the country. The sanctions are still in place under Biden despite an attempt to clinch a new nuclear deal. The latest reports in this respect suggest the talks may be heading for a collapse. The Independent reported last week that Iran is in no hurry to return to the negotiating table and continues to build its nuclear capabilities. The report also suggested Tehran may see the potential deal as "more trouble than it's worth." Meanwhile, however, the country continues to work on boosting its oil production despite the sanctions. The development of the border fields could add as much as 1 million bpd to Iran's total output, according to Khojastehmehr. Earlier this month, the Iranian oil ministry tried a new approach to attracting new investment in its energy industry. The approach, as presented by oil minister Javad Owji, involved the offer of crude oil in exchange for goods or investments in more oil production. The plan to attract investments in oil and gas in exchange for output follows another announcement made by Iran's new oil minister last month. In it, Owji said Iran planned to attract some $145 billion in local and foreign investments in its fossil fuel industry. "We plan to invest $145 billion in the development of the upstream and downstream oil industry over the next four to eight years, hence I welcome the presence of domestic and foreign investors in the industry," Owji said during a meeting with executives from China's Sinopec. Iran shares four oil fields with Iraq, including Azadegan, the biggest shared field, which has reserves estimated at 32 billion barrels. By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: This discrepancy between what the UN believes needs to be done to rein in climate change and what countries are prepared to do is the biggest challenge that COP26 attendees would need to tackle. The COP26 climate summit has been touted as one of the most important international events for the past few years. The COP26 climate summit is set to begin next Sunday in Glasgow. The summit has been touted as one of the most important international events for the past few yearsan event where world leaders will attempt to come up with a concerted effort to reduce emissions. But there are multiple factors working against the summit's success. As many as 25,000 delegates are expected to attend the summit that will last for two weeks as world leaders try to agree on a range of issues covering what needs to be done to bring emissions under control and how we are going to pay for it. The principal aim of the meeting is to tailor a mechanism for implementing the goals of the Paris Agreement with a view to containing global temperature rises to an average of 1.5 degrees Celsius compared to pre-industrial times. Climate change has been identified by a number of international agencies, multinational businesses, and environmental organizations as the biggest threat to humankind at the moment, so urgent action is needed. The point of COP26 is to define the steps of this action and how it will be taken. However, it may well fall short of expectations. Just days before the summit begins, the BBC uncovered documents that showed some nations have lobbied for changes in the latest report of the International Panel on Climate Change that made some alarming conclusions about the state of the planet's climate as a result of human activity and called for urgent changes to our way of life to contain the adverse changes. According to the report, which cited leaked submissions on the report from various nations, some of these insisted on the IPCC downplaying the urgency of climate action. Nations that made such remarks included Saudi Arabia, Japan, and Australia, the BBC said. One Australian official, for example, rejected the IPCC's call for the shutdown of all coal-fired power generation capacity globally. As the world's biggest coal exporter, Australia's position is quite understandable. India, one of the world's largest consumers of the fossil fuel, is also against the elimination of coal generation capacity, too, by the way. So is China, although it has not stated it explicitly but rather through action: last year alone, China started the construction of more coal-fired power plants than the rest of the world retired. Related: What ADNOCs IPO Successes Mean For Middle East Oil China is a good example of why, for all the good intentions and strong ambition, COP26 may fail to deliver. The country's government has repeatedly said it is committed to a lower-emission future, even announcing a 2060 deadline to become a net-zero economy. Yet recently, Beijing has changed its tune amid the energy crunch that had it ordering utilities to do whatever it takes to secure energy for the winter. Yesterday, the Chinese cabinet announced measures aimed at tacking emissions and achieving net-zero status by 2060 but added a significant stipulation: that the government "manage the relationship between pollution reduction and carbon reduction and energy security, industrial supply chain security, food security and normal life of the people," as quoted by Reuters. In this context, it is probably significant that China's President, Xi Jinping, will not be attending the COP26 summit, as reported earlier this month. This may yet change, but the announcement certainly made a splash. Then Moscow said President Vladimir Putin won't be attending the Glasgow event, either. Another big polluter, India, has demands about the distribution of energy transition financing, arguing that the wealthy developed countriesthemselves not insignificant pollutersmust help poorer developing nations such as India on their way to net-zero. The wealthy countries themselves are not so eager to fund the transition of other nations, which sets the scene for a challenging two weeks in Glasgow. Related: Renewables And Roller Coasters: How To Recycle An Oil Well Even the most passionate proponents of the energy transition seem to have tempered their expectations, according to a Times magazine report. The report cited U.S. climate envoy John Kerry as saying "there will be a gap" between the commitments attendees are expected to make at the summit and actual commitments necessary to make the 1.5-degree scenario happen. Even British PM Boris Johnson who immortalized himself earlier this month by telling the UN General Assembly that "it's easy to be green" now says the talks will be "extremely tough", after last month estimating the chance of wealthy countries fulfilling their climate aid promises at "six in 10". This discrepancy between what the UN believes needs to be done to rein in climate change and what countries are prepared to do is, by all means, the biggest challenge that COP26 attendees would need to tackle. Yet another problem has also emerged recently: not all countries will be represented at the summit because of the high costs. According to Time, critics of the event have noted that many developing countries and non-profits simply cannot afford the cost of attending the summit, which apparently involves building and manning pavilions like an expo. That the Paris Agreement sets ambitious targets has been clear for a long time. Yet with every new report on climate change, these targets sound increasingly urgent and vital. Hitting them, however, will be far from easy as it would require a lot of dramatic adjustments to the global economy. It is because of the nature of these adjustments and the fact that most countries' national interests are at odds with these adjustments that COP26 may fail to live up to the great expectations placed on it. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: A shea nut processing factory (Alkoh Shea) has been commissioned by the McDan Foundation and handed over to Mr. Alhassan Hamza Akoligo, a young entrepreneur at Nasia a community in the West Mamprusi Municipality in the North East Region. The factory, constructed under the auspices by the McDan Foundation is to boost the efforts of women in the community to increase production and add value to their shea nuts. This vision by the McDan Foundation came to light when Mr. Alhassan Hamza Akoligo, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Alkoh Shea Butter took part in the McDan Entrepreneurship Challenge season one and declared as the winner. Speaking at the commissioning ceremony Dr. Daniel Mckorely who is the founder of the Foundation and Chairman of the McDan Group of Companies in a short remark stressed that the McDan Foundation also walk the talk by helping the needy and building billionaires in various communities in the country. According to him Mr. Alhassan Hamza Akoligo is a true patriot because he has promised to empower women in Nasia to increase the shea business chain as their main economic venture. He said women empowerment was key to accelerating the achievement of inclusive national development and encouraged the women to make maximum use of the facility to increase income generation and improve on their livelihoods. Dr. Mckorely noted that the shea processing factory would encourage members of the community to desist from destroying the shea trees for charcoal and other activities. He pointed out that Mr. Alhassan Hamza Akoligo has been mentored on how to run the business adding that most of the challenge is the person behind the business Dr. Mckorely who was happy about thaae shea nut business then supported Alkoh Shea Butter with a Truck to help in supply and gathering of raw materials for production. Chief of Nasia, Mazurana Abdullah Mahami, commended the McDan Foundation for helping the son from their soil to establish a factory to help kick away poverty from the community. He continued that the elders including he the Chief will make sure the factory achieve its aim stressing that women will no longer cut down trees for living but rather focus on skill training to get some for living. Mr. Alhassan Hamza Akoligo, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Alkoh Shea Butter who was excited by the gesture done him by the McDan Foundation promised to manage the factory for it to get branches in other regions across the country. He called on the younger generation to remain focus on entrepreneurship and never to lose hope in the field of job creation. 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 Colombia's most wanted drug trafficker has finally been captured by security forces after evading arrest for more than a decade. Dairo Antonio Usuga David, known by his alias Otoniel, is accused of sending dozens of shipments of cocaine to the United States and orchestrating a ruthless drugs empire, killing police officers, recruiting minors, and sexually abusing children among other crimes. He was arrested on Saturday in the Uraba region of Colombia when a military force of over 500 soldiers descended on his jungle hideout, marking the culmination of a decade-long manhunt dubbed operation 'Osiris'. Colombian President Ivan Duque likened the arrest of Otoniel, 50, to the capture three decades ago of Pablo Escobar, given that the drug lord managed to evade authorities and retain his freedom for over 10 years. 'This is the biggest blow against drug trafficking in our country this century,' Duque said during a broadcast video message. 'This blow is only comparable to the fall of Pablo Escobar in the 1990s.' Read Full Story .... dailymail.co.uk >>> : 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 Chief Executive of Ghana Interbank Payment and Settlement Systems (GhIPSS), Mr. Archie Hesse has said that the country must begin to look at the cash-lite agenda also as a strategy to combat robbery. According to him, besides the convenience and efficiency that go with the use of electronic payments, the public should begin to also see it one of the solutions to make robbery less profitable. Robbery has dominated the news in recent times and in most cases, the robbers had gotten away with huge sums of money besides the lives lost in some cases. This suggest that many people continue to heavily rely on cash for transactions when there are several electronic payment options. The Chief Executive of GhIPSS in an interview noted that reports of robberies are troubling, adding that it was about time, the public realized that the use of electronic payment channels could make robbery less profitable and eventually discourage the miscreants from embarking on such ventures. Mr. Hesse explained that so long as robbers get huge sums of money when they rob, they will always be motivated to carry out the practice over and over again. Imagine robbers dont get beyond hundreds of cedis when they embark on their nefarious operations, there will be less motivation, knowing they might end up with no booty. And we can achieve this if we pay electronically most of the time. Ghana since 2007 has embarked on an aggressive modernization of the payment systems and as a result many electronic payment channels have been introduced. Payments can be made from one bank account to another of a different bank, remotely using internet banking or mobile banking platforms and the funds will be transferred immediately. Batched and bulk payments can also be made across banks accounts and the funds received in less than 15 minutes using the ACH Near Real Time. In terms of paying for goods and services in shops and other outlets, payment channels such as mobile money, bank cards, GhQR, and other Fin Tech payment platforms exist. Cheques can also be used to make payments, since they clear faster in recent times. Volumes and values of electronic payment transactions as captured by GhIPSS show consistent rise, indicating increased usage but it appears several other people are still not taking advantage these technology-enabled secured payment channels. Mr. Hesse said GhIPSS will rally other stakeholders to intensify the education on patronizing electronic payment channels and include security and safety as key communication objectives. He is worried that as the festive season approaches, more criminal-minded persons will be attacking various outlets hoping to rob them off huge sums of money. He therefore called for a comprehensive public education to draw peoples attention to the fact that using more electronic payment options will help reduce the incidence of robbery. 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 Herbalife Nutrition Ghana Limited has been adjudged the organization with the best Human Resources Management in the SME sector at the just ended 2021 HR Focus Awards. The prestigious award was in recognition of the organization that has shown the most evidence of practice in HR Management in the SME Sector including General HR practice, Human Resource Management philosophy, Strategic HR Management, HR function visibility, and role. In addition, this award was to recognize the HR practice documentation and best practice in the individual categories such as learning and development, recruitment and selection, employee relations, organizational culture, rewards management, performance management, and HR information system (HRIS) The brand also emerged finalist for 8 categories including Best Organization in Organizational Culture and Best Organization in Performance Management. With over 40 years of experience in promoting a healthy and active lifestyle and celebrating 10 years in Ghana, Herbalife Nutrition has carved a niche for itself as an employee-oriented organization by virtue of its continued demonstration of innovation in the design and implementation of effective strategies geared towards the holistic development of its employees' whiles empowering them to give off their best. Commenting on the award, Country Director for Herbalife Nutrition Ghana, Clarence Amenyah, congratulated his team whiles expressing his appreciation to the event organizers for the award. It is truly a great honour to receive this award. We are excited about this achievement. On behalf of the management of Herbalife Nutrition, I say thank you to our dedicated human resources team for their hard work. Your can do team spirit and the zeal in helping staff navigate their way amidst this era of the new normal is highly commendable, he said. Clarence Amenyah noted that recognitions such as these are affirmations of the Brands commitment to the adherence of the best Human Resource practices whiles pledging Managements continuous support to the Human Resources team in all its endeavours. At Herbalife Nutrition, we believe that our employees are our most valuable asset. As such, we will continue to invest heavily in the area of training and development whiles offering excellent working conditions, he said. The annual HR Focus Awards is designed to celebrate and reward Human Resources practitioners who have excelled across industries as well as organizations who uphold the best HR practices. 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 Aspiring Central Regional Chairman of the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), Benjamin Aryeh, has jumped to the defence of President Nana Akufo-Addo following the latter's public bashings over his comments on the anti-LGBTQ+ bill. President Nana Akufo-Addo, speaking in an exclusive interview on Peace FM's morning show with Kwami Sefa Kayi, responded to calls on him to state his position on the controversial bill. Many Ghanaians have been craving to hear the President's voice on the bill. In reply, the President called for a civil discourse advising Ghanaians to be tolerant of one another's views. ''We're talking about public opinion. We're talking about legitimate processes that are being used. What I would hope for is that the debate itself will be civil and that we will recognize the need for us to be tolerant of each other, even when there are opposing views," he said. When asked if he feels burdened by calls on him to declare his stance on the bill, he exclaimed; "No, I can't feel pressured!'' On whether or not he supports the bill, the President responded; "It's in Parliament. It's a Private Members Bill. We have been fighting for [many, many] a long time the opportunity for private members to also sponsor bills of Parliament . . .The Parliament is looking at it. Let's see how the process develops.'' Making his submissions on 'Kokrokoo', Hon. Ben Aryeh backed the President's admonition for civil discourse on the bill. To him, the President is right to ask Ghanaians to be tolerant of each other's views for or against the bill. " . . the President feels that this stage is for opinion-sharing and that no one should intimidate or restrict one's freedom of speech, so everybody can express his/her views or opinions without fear for it to help to shape the bill into a better Act. I feel it's a call in the right direction.'' ''If you don't agree with me, don't attack me physically. Send your opinions to the Legislative House for us to debate on it and then the majority makes the decision; it ends there. When it's finished in Parliament, we will present it to the President and when the President assents to it, then it becomes a law in the country'," he added. 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 Islamic final funeral rites, known as Adua of the late Hajia Mariama Bawumia was on Sunday performed at Kperiga, a community in the West Mamprusi Municipality of the North East Region. The late Hajia Bawumia who was affectionately called Maame, was the mother of Vice President Dr Alhaji Mahamudu Bawumia who passed on in the early hours of Monday, September 13, 2021 in Accra, at age 81. She was a native of Kpasenkpe, a community in the West Mamprusi Municipality, and was one of the first female students from the north to gain admission into the Wesley Girls High School in Cape Coast, in the Central Region. A tribute read by Mr Yakubu Bawumia, one of her sons, on behalf of the children, noted that even though their father had 19 children, it was difficult for any outsider to differentiate amongst them who her biological children were. She treated us all the same. Maame was very kind at heart and had a very good sense of humour. She therefore got on very well with many people. She was very tolerant and empathetic, and would give away most of the money we gave her to other people. The children in the tribute further recalled that their late mother encouraged them to take their education seriously, She kept reminding us that was all my father and her could give us in life. We should not expect anything from them beyond that. According to the children, Hajia Bawumia lived a fulfilled life, blessed with good health as she hardly fell sick, The short period of her illness at the end was the only time she had been admitted in hospital. They described her as a committed and devoted Muslim who prayed religiously every day until her death, adding that She was kind, caring and a loving mother. We could not have wished for a better mother. President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, in the company of the First Lady, Mrs Rebecca Akufo-Addo, described the late Hajia Bawumia as a woman of unfailing courtesy who welcomed friends of her son to her home. We thank her for her service to her family, community and nation. May her soul rest in perfect peace in the bosom of the Almighty until the last day of the resurrection when we shall all meet again, amen, President Akufo-Addo said in a brief address. The National Chief Imam, Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharubutu who led Islamic prayers, reminded the gathering that death was no respecter of persons, and called on all to reflect on their lives, and prayed for the peaceful repose of the soul of late Hajia Mariama Bawumia. Our mother who has departed, needs nothing apart from our prayer, the Chief Imam said through his spokesperson. Sheikh Sharubutu expressed gratitude to Almighty Allah for the peaceful co-existence among practitioners of different faiths, saying If you observe what has brought us together here, and the beauty of this gathering, it tells you that we are truly united. Dignitaries who attended the Adua included high government officials, the Chief of Staff, Madam Akosua Frama Osei-Opare, Mr Ambrose Dery, the Minister for the Interior, Mr Alan Kyeremanten the Minister for Trade and Industry, Members of Parliament, and religious and traditional leaders. 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 Mobraz Farms, a subsidiary of the Mobraz Group of companies, has donated food items to two (2) children's homes in Koforidua in the Eastern Region. The beneficiary schools, Baptist Schools Complex and Orphanage (BASCO) Childrens Home and Kingdom Dynamic Future Home received food items worth thousands of cedis from Mobraz homes. With the welfare of the children being paramount, Mobarz farms donated bags of rice, gallons of oil, pieces of full chicken, cartons of water, and assorted drinks to the homes. Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Mobraz Farms, Alhaji Mohammed, although could not be present at the donation shared that it was a privilege to be stretching out a helping hand to the less privileged in society and pledged to do more to support the homes in the future. Board Member of the Mobraz Group, Abdullai Salia presenting the items to the Heads of the children homes specified that Mobraz Farms has always had children at heart, and giving back to society is one of their biggest commitments and pride. He believes the relationship struck with the homes will continue to exist for the long term. Heads of the home acknowledged the gift items and were highly appreciative of Mobraz Farms Many people visit our homes but this donation from Mobraz Farms has come at a point when we were in dire need and we take advantage of this opening to say a big thank you and ask for more in the coming years. We pray this relationship continues till the end of time. Mobraz Farms over the years has embarked on an innovative drive with best farming practices backed by technology to improve upon farming in Ghana. Mobraz Farms as a company with charity at its core and seeks to share the love within its immediate environment and beyond. 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 Member of Parliament (MP) for Madina Constituency Francis-Xavier Sosu on Monday, October 25 escaped police arrest as he finished addressing protesters at Ayi Mensah. The National Democratic Congress (NDC) MP had led some of his constituents to embark on a demonstration against deplorable roads in his constituency. The demonstration started peacefully at Danfa around 6:00am but later saw demonstrators burning tyres and mounting roadblocks on the Ayi Mensah-Danfa Road. This action by the residents led to reinforcement from the police, whose Formed Police Unit (FPU) rushed to the scene with combat vehicles. After he addressed the demonstrators, reiterating the power of the people over people in power, the MP came under attack from the police, who attempted to pick him up. There was commotion as a result of the attempted arrest. The demonstrating residents, however, resisted the police and vowed to fight back if their representative in Parliament is arrested. The police then arrested one of the opinion leaders. He is said to be a chief of the area. Source: 3news.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 National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament(MP) for South Dayi in the Volta Region, Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor has accused President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of blowing hot and cold regarding the LGBTQ+ discussions ongoing in the country. According to him, President Akufo-Addo is not certain on his stance when it comes to the discussion on the activities of the LGBTQ+ community and their advocates in the country except to dance around it to stay safe. Speaking on Okay FM's 'Ade Akye Abia' Morning Show, Hon. Dafeamekpor noted that Nana Akufo-Addo since becoming the President of the Republic of Ghana has never been able to state his position, whether, for or against the activities of the LGBTQ+ in the country. "The President has not been able to state his position for or against ever since he became President. He said it will never happen under his watch, but has he spoken against what is happening under his watch? He has been blowing hot and cold. When he meets a group that does not support homosexuality then he will say it will not happen under his watch," he asserted. He indicated that the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) majority members who were initially part of the crusaders of the anti-LGBTQ+ Bill have been swayed away with the exception of Hon. Rev. John Ntim Fordjour, Assin South Constituency MP. "Initially, we were about 15 MPs who were behind the anti-LGBTQ+ Bill, but now, we have been reduced to 8 MPs. All of them were asked to go away and not to sign the bill, but we don't want to do politics with this," he pontificated. Source: Daniel Adu Darko/Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, has paid an emotional tribute to Hajia Mariama Bawumia, the departed mother of Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia. The glowing tribute, which was personally signed by Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the Asantehene, described Hajia Mariama Bawumia as a matriarch, and also eulogised the Bawumias for the immense impact the family has made on Ghanaian politics, which the Asantehene said, will be felt for generations. "As we idolize and eulogise great men and great leaders, we so often fail to acknowledge the role of the faithful woman behind the mounding of their mettle. But truly it is that behind every great man is the hand and the heart of a faithful and devoted woman. And to a few women that goes even greater honour of becoming the matriarch from whose impact on Ghanaian politics will be felt for generations. On that roll of honour belongs Hajia Mariama Bawumia," the Asantehene wrote. "She not only was the steady heart behind one of the titans of politics in the North during the most tumultuous periods of Ghanas history, her guidance and tutelage has produced a family whose impact on Ghanaian politics will be felt for generations," the Asantehene added, referring to the impact Dr. Bawumia's father made on Ghanaian politics. Narrowing his gaze on the Vice President Dr. Bawumia, Otumfuo Osei Tutu praised the late Hajia Mariama Bawumia for "her guidance and tutelage which produced a son who today occupies the second highest position in the land, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, Vice President of the Republic. produced." Rounding up his tribute, the Asantehene expressed sadness that Hajia Mariama Bawumia won't be around to see what the future holds Dr. Bawumia. "How sad that she will not be around to see what the future holds for her son, but indeed the matriarch can depart in response to the call of her maker creator in the knowledge that she has impacted upon her nation as few ever would in their lives and above all, that the nation will continue to enjoy the fruits of her endeavours for many generations to come." Source: Tamimu Issah / [email protected] 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 2020 National Democratic Congress Parliamentary Candidate for Ayawaso West Wuogon, John Dumelo, says he is willing to commit some resources towards the completion of a Senior High School block in Aflao.John Dumelo in a Facebook post sighted by GhanaWeb said his commitment stems from a response by the president to the paramount chief of Aflao. This comes after the chief expressed frustration about the delay with completion of the said project.If the president is saying Togbui Fiti should complete it himself, no problem. I will donate 100 bags of cement or desks to the paramount chief to start the completion process, John Dumelo wrote.The Paramount Chief of Aflao, Torgbui Adzongaga Amenya Fiti V had demanded that a contractor who had abandoned work on a school block in his area return to complete the project within four months. He said this whilst speaking when Minority MPs on Parliaments Education Committee paid a courtesy call on him.According to the paramount chief, work on the Senior High School building which commenced under the E-block initiative by the erstwhile John Dramani Mahama government, has been abandoned over time. He thus called on the Minister of Education, Yaw Osei Adutwum to ensure that the project is completed within the period he specified.But speaking in an interview with Kwame Sefa Kayi onon Thursday, October 21, 2021, President Akufo-Addo questioned why the paramount chief would issue an ultimatum to his minister about the completion of a project.''Is he the one going to give the minister of education ultimatum?'', he questioned.Prompted by the host that the chiefs request may be borne out of frustration, President Akufo-Addo replied that Torgbui Adzongaga Amenya Fiti V should go ahead and complete the project himself if he feels frustrated about the current situation.The presidents response has generated furor amongst a cross section of Ghanaians with some demanding an immediate retraction and apology from Nana Akufo-Addo.The North Tongu Member of Parliament, Samuel Okudzeto for instance, who has described the presidents comment as disrespectful has asked him to issue an immediate apology and a retraction to Togbui Fiti and his people. Our revered chiefs and custodians of our proud traditions deserve utmost respect at all times regardless of which part of the country they exercise their authority.The venerable Torgbui Adzongaga Amenya Fiti V and the people of Aflao deserve an immediate retraction and apology from President Akufo-Addo.No chief anywhere in Ghana should be spoken to with such derision, disrespect and condescension, the MP wrote in a Facebook post. Source: facebook/ghanaweb 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 third meeting of the first session of the Eighth Parliament will commence tomorrow, October 26, 2021. The House adjourned sine die on August 10, 2021. The House will consider a number of bills that have already been laid in Parliament and referred to various committees for consideration and report. They include the Promotion of Proper Human Sexuality and Ghanaian Family Values Bill, 2021, the Criminal Offences (Amendment) Bill, 2021 and the Office of the Special Prosecutor (Amendment) Bill, 2021. The Promotion of Proper Human Sexuality and Ghanaian Family Values Bill is likely to shape proceedings on the floor of the House during the entire meeting. The Private Members bill which was laid on August 3, 2021 seeks to criminalise the activities of lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgender, queer and intersex (LGBTQI), as well as individuals and organisations that advocate or promote the act in the country when passed. So far, both parties on each side of the aisle in Parliament have publicly thrown their weight behind the passage of the bill but agreed on the need for some amendments to be made in the bill to fine tune it ahead of passage. Majority stance On Wednesday, October 13, 2021, the Majority Leader, Mr Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu, gave an assurance that Parliament would not disappoint Ghanaians in the consideration and passage of the bill that sought to criminalise LGBTQI+ activities in the country. He said MPs were representatives of the people for which reason the citizenry should rest assured that Parliament would not turn its back on them. Minoritys position Just two days after the press conference by the Majority, the Minority caucus also held a similar conference on Friday, October 15, 2021 in Parliament, where the Minority Leader, Mr Haruna Iddrisu, stated that his side was resolutely opposed to the introduction, formalisation and legalisation of LGBTQI+ practices and rights in Ghana. As representatives of the Ghanaian people, MPs have an obligation to protect the moral fibre of the Ghanaian society and promote the cohesion, unity and preserve Ghanas time-tested cultural practices and beliefs which have kept us together as one country, the Minority Leader, Mr Haruna Iddrisu, said. External support for and against bill Beyond the stance taken by both the Majority and the Minority in Parliament, there have been external parties who have also taken a stance for and against the bill. On Thursday, October 7, this year, a group of high profile Christian leaders, with a common purpose, marched to Parliament House to submit memoranda expressing their unwavering support for the bill. The leaders included the Presiding Bishop of the Methodist Church, Ghana, the Most Rev. Dr Paul Kwabena Boafo; the President of the Apostolic Church, Ghana, Apostle Dr Aaron Ami-Narh; the National Chairman of the Church of Pentecost, Apostle Eric Nyamekye, and Rev. Abraham Opoku Baffoe of the Christian Council of Ghana (CCG). Group opposing bill On October 3, this year, a group of 18 renowned legal practitioners, academics, researchers and civil society professionals expressed their misgivings against the LGBTQI+ bill in a 30-page memorandum to Parliament, and pledged to ensure it was not passed into law. They described the bill as a flagrant violation of the 1992 Constitution as it sought to curtail freedom of expression and the media, the right to assemble and the right to join any association of ones choice. 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 Deputy National Organiser of the largest opposition Natuional Democratic Congress(NDC), Chief Nixon Hamilton Biney, has asked President Akufo-Addo to apologise to the the Paramount Chief of Aflao Traditional Area, Torgbui Adzonu-Gaga Amenya Fiti V. According to him the President showed gross disrespect in his response to the Paramount Chief who called on his government to complete the E-Block the erstwhile John Mahama government started in his area. "President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo showed gross disrespect in his response to the Paramount Chief of Aflao Traditional Area, Torgbui Adzonu-Gaga Amenya Fiti V. This was the same Chief he visited in 2016 to call for his support and that of his people before he became president . . . " he wrote on his facebook wall. Torgbui Adzonu-Gaga Amenya Fiti V, the Aflao Chief made this demand among others during a tour of the Volta Region by the Minority members on Parliament's Education Committee. He said the President must apologize with alacrity or be ready for same procedure from the subjects of the Chief and the good citizens of Ghana. "President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo showed gross disrespect in his response to the Paramount Chief of Aflao Traditional Area, Togbui Adzonu-Gaga Amenya Fiti V. This was the same Chief he visited in 2016 to call for his support and that of his people before he became president. Mr President, you must apologise with alacrity or be ready for same procedure from the subjects of the Chief and the good citizens of Ghana. If there are wise men around the President, then they must do the needful as soon as possible because as a country we can't afford to throw away our values and culture." he posted on his facebook wall Monday morrning. Akufo-Addo tells Aflao Chief to construct the abandoned E-Block himself . . . President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has thrown a subtle jibe at the Paramount Chief of the Aflao Traditional Area regarding an abandoned E-block Community Day Senior High School in his area. The Chief, Torgbui Adzonu-Gaga Amenya Fiti V issued a four-month ultimatum to the government to complete the abandoned school which was built under the regime of Ex-President John Mahama. Torgbui Adzonu-Gaga Amenya Fiti V made this demand among others during a tour of the Volta Region by Minority members on Parliament's Education Committee. Reacting to the Chief's request, President Nana Akufo-Addo assured his government will continue the projects started by the former President. However, the President didn't take it lightly that the Chief would issue an ultimatum to the government, so humorously replied that the Chief should ''complete the project himself'' if he is feels frustrated. ''Is he the one going to give the Minister of Education ultimatum?'', he questioned. He added; ''For some of the projects, definitely, we will ready ourselves and complete them.'' 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 Members of the female Caucus of the ECOWAS Parliament (ECOFEPA) have paid a courtesy call on the First Lady, Mrs Rebecca Akufo-Addo, to discuss matters related to womens empowerment and representation in all aspects of national development across the West Africa region. Welcoming the delegation to her office in Accra, Mrs Akufo-Addo said she was elated that a female political group, made up of Members of Parliament (MPs) spanning the whole sub-region, had taken it upon themselves to work at empowering women, protecting the girl-child and ensuring that women representation at the upper echelon of political authority was increased. She said the Rebecca Foundation had, since its establishment in 2017, engaged in several activities, which were in tandem with the objectives of ECOFEPA. Collaboration Just like ECOFEPA which is keen on securing the future of the girl-child by helping her access quality education, the Rebecca Foundation also has a mentorship programme geared at encouraging girls to stay in and complete their schooling while also encouraging and empowering those out of school to acquire some skills to be economically self-sufficient, she said. The First Lady assured members of ECOFEPA of the continued support of her foundation to achieve their common goal of empowering women and girls. She stated that with the two bodies sharing a common objective and their influence stretching to all corners in the sub-region, working together would definitely lead to the desired impact they all sought. Acknowledgement On behalf of her colleague Parliamentarians, the President of ECOFEPA, Ms Filomena de Fatima Ribeiro, expressed gratitude to Mrs Akufo-Addo for her cordial reception. She said ECOFEPA recognised the good works of the Rebecca Foundation since its inception and the many successes it had chalked up in supporting women and the girl-child in the areas of education, skills acquisition, economic empowerment and maternal health. 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 socialite Akuapem Poloo will return to court on October 25, 2021. This was necessitated by the appeal filed by her lawyer when she was handed a 90-day jail term for publishing obscene material and violating the dignity and integrity of her seven-year-old son in a nude photo she posted on social media. She was sentenced to a jail term on Friday, April 16, 2021. But her legal team, led by Andrew Vortia, argued that the sentence meted out to her was harsh, so they filed for an appeal. However, her lawyers failed to complete processes to secure her release on time after she was granted bail of GHS80,000 with two sureties by the Criminal Division of the High Court. This situation took her to prison for a few days before she was finally released. The bail conditions required her to report to the case investigator every two weeks and deposit her passport with the registrar of the court. Source: citinewsroom 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 Chief Executive Officer of Media Excel, Kwasi Ernest, has advised Ghanaian celebrities to use the Shatta Wale and Medikal arrest as a case study to alter their habits. According to him, celebrities are to portray a good character that will send a good signal to society. "We're supposed to be role models, not hooligans," he sermonized. He hoped that the two artistes - Shatta Wale and Medikal - will learn moral lessons from their trying experiences. Kwasi Ernest also pleaded with the Justices who will hear the cases to ''temper justice with mercy because it doesn't look too good for Ghanaian celebrities''. 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 " " There have been times when people mistook actual dead human bodies for realistic Halloween decorations. Mark Wilson/Getty Images If you're a fan of "Weekend at Bernie's" or just happen to enjoy busting out dance moves inspired by the '90s comedy film then you may already know that corpses can sometimes be confused with real, live humans in entertaining fashion. It's important to know that these types of mistakes don't always open the door to cinematic hijinks and sun-drenched beach vacations on the dead guy's dime. Instead, it turns out that those extra afterlife-like Halloween decorations that everyone in your neighborhood raves about each October may be a little too close to the real thing. Some folks really dig the most spine-tingling time of the year. Whether it's dressing your kid up like Hannibal Lecter or building a giant, menacing scarecrow in your backyard, Halloween enthusiasts often go the extra mile to get into the holiday spirit. That can make it hard to tell the difference between festive trimmings that are deadly frightful and actual people who are just plain dead. Advertisement In 2009, residents of Marina del Rey, California, assumed that the body slumped over the front porch of a home just outside of Los Angeles was simply a well-executed Halloween prop. Turns out it was the decomposing corpse of a 75-year-old man who'd been shot through the eye days earlier. The body believed by police to be the victim of suicide sat lurched outside the home in a trail of blood for a full five days before anyone suspected actual foul play. Neighbors in the 800-unit apartment complex where the man lived said they just figured his body was the homeowner's way of getting into the Halloween spirit. Those Californians aren't the only ones who may have become a little numb to over-the-top spooky holiday decor. In 2014, a pair of handymen hired to clean out a rental home in Spring Hill, Florida, found what appeared to be a Halloween mannequin hanging out in the garage. It was only after one of the men took the dummy to the dump that he realized it was a dead body. Police later confirmed that a 33-year-old man hanged himself in the home several weeks earlier. Even the property owners, who said they noticed a funky smell coming from the garage, told the cops they'd thought it was an old prop left behind by their tenants. " " As Halloween decor gets more elaborate, will more people confuse reality for fiction? David Cooper/Getty Images Lest you start thinking that these types of grisly tricks and treats are simply a product of a little too much time in the sun, keep in mind the tale of a woman left hanging from a tree in Delaware for hours. Passersby who noticed the lifeless body dangling 15 feet (4.6 meters) above a busy street thought it was just a festive neighbor's way of wishing everyone a happy Halloween. Take an extra close look the next time you're trick-or-treating. Now That's Cool The practice of placing a jack o' lantern, or carved pumpkin, outside a home at Halloween stems from an Irish myth about a man named "Stingy Jack," who tried to play a fast one on the devil and wound up roaming the countryside with an illuminated, carved-out turnip to light his way. " " Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern speaks to media during a press conference at Parliament on Aug. 24, 2020, in Wellington, New Zealand. Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images On March 16, 2020 days and weeks before many parts of the world put plans in place to deal with the coronavirus pandemic New Zealandbegan to shut down. Nearly everyone who entered the country (including residents who'd been traveling) was mandated to self-isolate on arrival. Just a week later, the entire country shut down, closing its borders to almost all non-citizens or residents. The leader behind those decisions, which many now say allowed New Zealand to effectively "squash" the COVID-19 curve, was prime minister Jacinda Ardern. This wasn't the first time Ardern had been praised for swift, strict action. In 2019, New Zealand passed a gun reform law that banned most semi-automatic firearms; parts that convert firearms into semi-automatics; magazines over a certain capacity and some shotguns. The decision came just a month after a mass shooting in Christchurch that killed 51 people. And two years before that, the Guardian announced that "Jacindamania" had gripped the country as New Zealanders donned T-shirts and tote bags declaring their love for the newly elected leader. "Ardern is our third woman prime minister, but I think what sets her apart is her commitment to 'leading with kindness' and her refusal to fit into male-dominated ideals of what a leader should be like," journalist Michelle Duff, author of the upcoming book, "Jacinda Ardern: The Story Behind an Extraordinary Leader," writes via email. "The qualities she represents inclusivity, togetherness, empathy are sorely needed in the world right now, and that's also what has made her stand out internationally. These aren't inherently feminine traits, but we haven't traditionally seen them harnessed by male leaders." But who is Ardern and how did she achieve success as New Zealand's 40th prime minister? Advertisement A Biographical Sketch of Jacinda Jacinda Kate Laurell Ardern was born in Hamilton, New Zealand and spent her early years in Murupara, a place where she said she commonly saw "children without shoes on their feet or anything to eat for lunch." "Ardern grew up in a poverty-stricken small town where her dad was the local cop," Duff says. "She's long had a strong sense of social justice, born from viewing inequality firsthand." After attending Morrinsville College and graduating from the University of Waikato, in the northern part of the Waikato region on the North Island, with a Bachelor of Communication Studies in Politics and Public Relations, Ardern worked in a variety of roles: first as an adviser in the office of then-Prime Minister Helen Clark, then in London for the Government Cabinet Office. She later worked as an assistant director in the department for business and enterprise and on a review of policing in England and Wales. At just 18 years old, Ardern joined New Zealand's center-left Labour Party and in 2008, after years abroad working in countries like Algeria, China, India and Lebanon, she was chosen as Labour's candidate for MP (Member of Parliament) of the Waikato district. Historically, the seat hadn't been attainable for the Labour Party, but although Ardern lost the position by about 13,000 votes, she entered parliament as a list candidate (one who is elected from a party list rather than from a geographical constituency, elected because of the number of votes that their party won, not to votes received by the MP personally). By the time she was 28, she was the youngest member of the House of Representatives and was appointed to the Regulations Review and the Justice and Electoral select committees shortly thereafter. " " Ardern speaks at the Labour Party 2020 election campaign launch on Aug. 8, 2020 in Auckland, New Zealand. Hannah Peters/Getty Images Advertisement New Zealand's Youngest Prime Minister in 150 Years After 11 years as a Labour Party representative, Ardern became the MP for the Auckland electorate Mt. Albert in early 2017. In August of that year, when Labour's deputy leader, Annette King, announced her resignation, Ardern was unanimously elected as her replacement, and when Labour leader Andrew Little resigned less than two months before the election, Ardern was subsequently elected as the youngest-ever leader of New Zealand's Labour Party, the country's youngest prime minister in 150 years, and its youngest female PM, ever. However, her victory didn't make her an instantly beloved leader, and many are still waiting to see how she navigates some of the country's toughest issues. "It would be wrong to say Ardern is roundly supported by all New Zealanders," Duff says. "While she led her party to election victory in 2017, she didn't win the popular vote. Many of the problems she pledged to solve are still there we still have a housing crisis, rising homelessness and child poverty. It remains to be seen if she can tackle those in any meaningful way." Many have, however, praised Arden's leadership since her 2017 victory, and her roles as a feminist and mother have played important parts in her legacy. During an interview regarding whether employers had the right to know whether prospective female employees planned on taking time off from work to have children, Ardern said, "I decided to talk about it, it was my choice ... but for other women it is totally unacceptable in 2017 to say that women should have to answer that question in the workplace. It is the woman's decision about when they choose to have children. It should not predetermine whether or not they are given a job or have job opportunities." When she and her partner, Clarke Gayford, brought their baby to New York City for a United Nations meeting, Ardern said, "I don't want to ever give the impression that I'm some kind of wonder woman or that women should be expected to do everything because I am. I'm not doing everything." "Her accomplishments are impressive regardless of your politics," Duff says. "She precipitated a change of government, is the second world leader to have a baby while in office, and we've now seen the effectiveness of her empathetic leadership style through the March 15 terrorist attack in Christchurch, the Whakaari/White Island eruption which claimed 21 lives, and now a global pandemic." Many credit Ardern's quick, decisive response to the coronavirus pandemic for New Zealand's relatively low number of deaths. "Her government's decision to swiftly place the country into lockdown in March and close the borders was supported by around 80 percent of the population, which shows the trusted position she holds," Duff says. "It's going to be harder for her to maintain this trust now that Auckland is in a second lockdown, after a second wave of the virus. And with an election approaching in October, opposition parties are poking holes in the government's border control and testing efforts, which have been poor in places." As Ardern continues to build a lasting reputation, Duff says it's important to remember that while the prime minister's successes have been impressive, her kind and thoughtful leadership shouldn't set an impossible political standard. "I often hear people say they wish they had Ardern as a prime minister," Duff says. "Yes, she is good at her job. But I wish people would stop acting like she's some kind of anomaly. Every country has their own Ardern, they just have to elect her." Now That's Interesting Ardern's first job was at a Morrinsville fish and chip shop called the Golden Kiwi. She left that gig in 1999 to work full time for the New Zealand Labour Party in the general election. " " Florida enacted a red flag law after 17 people were killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on Feb. 14, 2018. Don Juan Moore/Getty Images In California, the manager of a car dealership contacted police and described a scary situation. An employee allegedly had confided to a co-worker that if he was fired from his job, he would shoot his supervisor and other employees, though he would warn the co-worker in advance so he could escape. Thanks to the red flag law that California enacted in 2014, the police could take action right away, without having to charge the employee with a crime. The cops obtained a court order and the next day seized five firearms. The court subsequently issued another order, allowing authorities to hold on to the weapons for a year. That case, described in an article by University of California Davis researchers that was published Aug. 20, 2019, in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine, is an example of what many advocate as a way to prevent the mass shootings increasingly that have traumatized the nation. Advertisement What Are Red Flag Laws? Red flag laws are designed to give authorities a way to intervene and take guns away from a person who is perceived as a possible threat. They can do that even if the person doesn't have a criminal record or history of being institutionalized for mental illness, or other factors that might show up in the federal instant background check system and prevent him or her from buying a gun from a dealer. Loopholes and omissions in state records submitted to the background check system often has enabled to mass shooters to obtain guns, even when they should have been disqualified. "This is about putting protocols in place, so that when an individual is identified as potentially being a threat to themselves or other people, police and courts would have the authority to remove firearms," explains Daniel J. Flannery, director of the Begun Center for Violence Prevention Research and Education at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland. According to Flannery, red flag laws try to strike a middle ground between protecting public safety and individual rights. A person who's flagged isn't arrested or charged with a crime, and authorities have to be able to convince a judge that them having guns poses a risk. And the person has an opportunity to get the weapons back at some point. "But there's a due process piece to that, so that it's not automatic and not permanent," Flannery says. Advertisement Which States Have Red Flag Laws? So far, red flag laws have been enacted by 17 states California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont and Washington and by the District of Columbia, according to Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund, a group that does research and advocates measures to reduce gun violence. In Florida, where a red flag law was enacted in 2018 in the wake of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting where 17 people were killed, authorities have utilized it to take guns away from more than 2,000 people. Red flag laws have attracted strong public support. A Washington Post-ABC News poll conducted in early September 2019, for example, found that 86 percent of Americans supported allowing the police to take guns away from people whom a judge finds dangerous. That included 94 percent of Democrats, 85 percent of Republicans and 82 percent of Independents. In August, even President Donald Trump, who otherwise mostly has been an opponent of gun control, has indicated his support for red flag laws. (On the other side, the National Rifle Association's website features this May 2019 article that criticizes existing red flag laws as violating gun owners' Second Amendment rights.) " " To date, red flag laws have been enacted by 17 states and by the District of Columbia. (States in red have red flag laws.) Wikimedia Advertisement Do Red Flag Laws Work? Whether or not red flag laws do much to prevent mass shootings is a more difficult question to answer. The recently published study by UC Davis researchers cited 21 cases in California in which a court issued an order to seize guns "after the subject of the order had made a clear declaration of intent to commit a mass shooting or had exhibited behavior suggesting such an intent." But it's really not possible to prove conclusively that any of the individuals actually would have committed these acts. Jeffrey Swanson, a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Duke University School of Medicine, wrote this recent Washington Post opinion piece, in which he argued that red flag laws aren't necessarily going to prevent killings by mass shooters, except in instances in which an "alert citizen" notices that an angry young man is amassing an arsenal. Nevertheless, Swanson supports such laws, because he and other researchers have found strong evidence that they reduce another sort of gun violence that cumulatively inflicts a much higher death toll suicide by firearm. In this 2017 article about Connecticut's red flag law, he and colleagues calculate that for every 20 guns seized through a red flag law, one suicide is prevented. "Almost all of these laws they really have been a legislative response at the state level to public concern and outcry over mass shootings," Swanson explains. "But ironically, when they're put in place, the main thing they're used for is suicide concern." For that purpose, red flag laws manage to plug the loopholes that allow people to obtain guns who are suicidal or eventually become that way. "We focus all this attention on the point of sale, [upon] people who have felony criminal record or mental health record, " Swanson says. "Those rules are too narrow and too broad. They identify lots of people because they had an involuntary commitment 25 years ago and won't hurt anybody, and they also fail to identify people who do pose a risk." Swanson has found that 72 percent of gun suicides in Florida would have been able to legally purchase a gun on the day that they took their lives. Preventing suicidal people from getting guns saves lives, because research shows that people who try committing suicide by other methods end up surviving 80 to 90 percent of the time, Swanson says. But with a gun, they're effective at killing themselves almost all of the time. "From the picture of public health, that's a good enough reason" for red flag laws, Swanson says. Even so, a red flag law might stop a few mass killing, if, say, the neighbor of a potential mass shooter notices that he's acting strangely and has amassed an arsenal of weapons. And as long as weapons suitable for mass murder remain readily available in America, it might be one of the few options available for protecting the public from more carnage. Now That's Interesting Civil rights and Second Amendment advocates that are against red flag laws say the seizures of these individuals' weapons is a violation of the U.S. Constitution's guarantee to due process, which means the people should have the right to argue their case in court before their guns are taken not after. The episode coincided with an atypical period of drought, which may have forced the animals to seek water in streams where the pathogen is abundant. Credit: Diego Moura-Campos/UNICAMP A water-borne fungus that has led to the extinction of several species of amphibians that spend all or part of their life cycle in water is also threatening terrestrial amphibians. In Brazil, researchers supported by FAPESP detected unprecedented mortality among a genus of tiny frogs known as pumpkin toadlets that live in the Atlantic Rainforest far from any aquatic environments. The animals were severely infected by chytrid fungus (Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis), which causes chytridiomycosis. The study, published in the journal Biological Conservation, shows that the fungus is also a threat to terrestrial-breeding amphibians with important ecological functions, which include controlling insects that transmit diseases such as dengue, yellow fever, and zika. "The fungus attacks the amphibian's skin, which is where it exchanges gas with the external environment. Infection causes a physiological imbalance, and the animal eventually dies from a heart attack," said Diego Moura-Campos, first author of the article. The study was conducted during his master's research at the University of Campinas's Institute of Biology (IB-UNICAMP) in the state of Sao Paulo, with a scholarship from the Brazilian Ministry of Education's Coordination for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES). The investigation was conducted under the aegis of the project "Chytrid fungus in Brazil: origin and consequences", linked to the FAPESP Research Program on Biodiversity Characterization, Conservation, Restoration and Sustainable Use (BIOTA-FAPESP) and coordinated by Luis Felipe Toledo, a professor at IB-UNICAMP and a co-author of the article. "We've studied the fungus from several angles, but have rarely had the unhappy opportunity to see animals dying from fungal infection in the wild. This is the first study to show the phenomenon in Brazil. If an amphibian dies and is infected, that doesn't mean the fungus caused its death. It might be coexisting with the pathogen without developing the disease. In this case, we were sure it was the cause of death because the animals had the right symptoms, such as weight loss, heavily sloughing skin, and very high infection loads," said Toledo, who is also principal investigator for another project that focuses on understanding how the fungus spreads in nature. The researchers believe direct-developing species (which reproduce on land and lack a tadpole, with terrestrial eggs hatching as fully formed miniature adults) are even less adapted to the fungus. Aquatic species have been in contact with the pathogen for longer and may have developed a degree of resistance to infection. Moura-Campos observed morbidity and mortality in infected frogs during a field survey conducted on the Serra do Japi Biological Reserve in Jundiai, Sao Paulo, between May 2018 and May 2019. Curiously, dead and dying individuals of the species Brachycephalus rotenbergae were found after an atypical period of drought. "These animals are very small and hard to find. After dying, they decompose quickly. Finding nine of them dead or heavily diseased in a short period, as we did, suggests others probably died as well," said Guilherme Becker, a professor at the University of Alabama in the United States and last author of the article. According to Becker, who is also a visiting professor at UNICAMP under its Graduate Program in Ecology, the study shows that accelerating global climate change in the coming decades will increase the frequency of this type of disease, with causative agents that may become more virulent as hybrids emerge, as already shown in an earlier study by the group. "Lack of soil moisture in the forest where they live may have led these animals to seek hydration in streams and become more contaminated than normal by the fungus," he said. Another hypothesis raised by the researchers is that periods of drought may compromise the frogs' immune system so that they become more vulnerable to the fungus. Cosmopolitan pathogen The fungus originated in Asia and has probably spread around the world as a result of the trade in frog meat. Species consumed by humans for this purpose, such as the American bullfrog (Rana catesbeiana), are resistant to the fungus and can be bearers without being infected. According to a paper published in 2018 in the journal Science with Toledo as a co-author, the fungus originated on the Korean peninsula and spread to other parts of the world in the early twentieth century. Another study to which Toledo contributed also found that the fungus has caused a decline in the populations of at least 501 species of amphibians worldwide. In Brazil alone, at least 50 species or populations have been affected, 12 have become extinct, and 38 have undergone decline. "Amphibians are very important to the functioning of many ecosystems. Their biomass in forests is enormous. They serve as food for a wide array of other animals, eat arthropods in the wild, and control communities of invertebrates," Becker said. "In the case of aquatic species, most are herbivorous in the tadpole stage and consume phytoplankton, which could overwhelm aquatic environments if it were not for tadpoles. These animals cross aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, so when outbreaks of chytridiomycosis occur, the impact is significant." To exemplify, Becker recalled a recent study in which scientists affiliated with institutions in the US and Panama show that amphibian population collapse due to infection by B. dendrobatidis was linked to an increase in outbreaks of malaria in the 1990s and 2000s in Panama and Costa Rica. According to Becker, Toledo and collaborators, more observation is required over a period of years to reach a more precise estimate of the global impact of chytridiomycosis on amphibian populations. Explore further Disease afflicting frogs becoming deadlier More information: Diego Moura-Campos et al, Fungal disease cluster in tropical terrestrial frogs predicted by low rainfall, Biological Conservation (2021). Diego Moura-Campos et al, Fungal disease cluster in tropical terrestrial frogs predicted by low rainfall,(2021). DOI: 10.1016/j.biocon.2021.109246 Simon J. O'Hanlon et al, Recent Asian origin of chytrid fungi causing global amphibian declines, Science (2018). DOI: 10.1126/science.aar1965 Journal information: Biological Conservation , Science PhD student Maria Camila Aguilera is pictured with a vacuum glove box in the lab of Professor of Chemistry Michael L. Neidig. Credit: by J. Adam Fenster / University of Rochester If there were a classroom full of all the transition metals that could be used as catalysts for complex pharmaceutical reactions, iron would be the most promising but most unruly member. However, researchers at the University of Rochester and the University of Maryland have created and characterized a new kind of reaction that could potentially bring iron to the front of the class, enabling faster, less expensive synthesis of previously difficult to make, drug-like compounds in a single step. They report their findings in the journal Science. "This is a tremendous leap forward in developing effective and practical iron-based reactions that the pharmaceutical industry could utilize," says Michael Neidig, the Marshall D. Gates, Jr. Professor of Chemistry at Rochester, whose research group collaborated with that of associate professor of chemistry Osvaldo Gutierrez at Maryland, before Gutierrez moved to Texas A&M in August 2021. Iron: A better catalyst than palladium for chemical synthesis So-called transition-metal catalyzed cross-coupling reactions are among the most widely used methods for chemical synthesis. The transition metal catalyst often used by industry and academic labs for these reactions is palladium. Palladium works well, but it's rare, expensive, and toxicwhich is why the Neidig and Gutierrez labs have been working to generate iron alternatives. Ironthough abundant, cheap, and relatively nontoxichas been underdeveloped in part because when it is bound to carbon in these reactions, the resulting organoiron compound can be very unstable and challenging to control. While most cross couplings used in these reactions involve putting two molecules together, lead author Lei Liu, of Gutierrez's group, managed to create three-component couplings, increasing the reaction's potential for bonding with multiple compounds. Co-lead author Maria Camila Aguilera, a Ph.D. student in Neidig's group, then painstakingly analyzed exactly how the reaction works. Part of Aguilera's work involved recreating the exact crystal structure of each of the four "species" of iron used in the reactionin effect, creating a photo of each. She then characterized each of the species to determine which started the reaction, and the roles played by the other three at different stages of the reaction. "It was a very challenging project," says the fourth-year Ph.D. student who came to Rochester after completing a BS in chemistry at the Universidad Nacional de Colombia. "But I was very excited about it because it allowed me to really dig into a very different type of chemistry." Neidig says that Aguilera used an array of spectroscopy tools and a unique cryogenic infrastructure that allowed lab to "study unstable organoiron compounds that very few chemistry labs in the world can." Her analysis "sets the framework to continue the development of iron-based reactions in a rational, mechanistically driven way," he adds. A promising advance in drug development What are the prospects for implementation in drug development? "I think it's a reaction that will be attractive to pharmaceutical companies," Neidig says. "The reaction might require more tweaking and development," he adds. But when it comes to that task, "the fundamental mechanistic framework we established will be so important in helping people think about how to make this system better and more efficient." Both Aguilera and Neidig praised the close working relationship that developed with Gutierrez's lab, especially given the scarcity of labs willing to work with iron catalyzed cross-coupling reactions because of the high risks and low rewards. "Osvaldo is an incredible collaborator," Aguilera says. "He is very willing to share his knowledge, and so it was a pleasure to work with him." More information: Lei Liu et al, General method for iron-catalyzed multicomponent radical cascadescross-couplings, Science (2021). Journal information: Science Lei Liu et al, General method for iron-catalyzed multicomponent radical cascadescross-couplings,(2021). DOI: 10.1126/science.abj6005 Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Climate change policy has finally reached the center of the political agenda as President Biden and other world leaders prepare to discuss how the planet can collectively mitigate this grave threat. There are many other issues of environmental sustainability that receive less attention but also pose substantial threats to human and ecological well-being. While all new drugs are reviewed by medical experts in our Centers for Disease Control and Food and Drug Administration before they are authorized for use, new chemicals face no similar rules and are only regulated after they are proven dangerous. Many dangerous chemicals continue to be unregulated due to the weakness of the rules and the political power exerted by chemical companies. New drugs are subject to rules based on the precautionary principle, while new chemicals are not. Last week, the Biden Administration took a small step toward regulating some of the more persistent and dangerous chemicals in wide use. As Lisa Friedman of the New York Times reported on October 20: "The Biden administration on Monday said it would require chemical manufacturers to test and publicly report the amount of a family of chemicals known as PFAS that is contained in household items like tape, nonstick pans and stain-resistant furniture, the first step toward reducing their presence in drinking water. Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl compounds, or PFAS refers to more than 4,000 man-made chemicals that are often called "forever chemicals" because they don't break down in the environment. Exposure to the chemicals has been linked to certain cancers, weakened immunity, thyroid disease, and other health effects." There is disagreement between industry and environmental activists about the danger posed by these chemicals, and we are hearing the usual debate about how much to regulate and what rules should be employed. Friedman's report included a response from the American Chemistry Council, which stated that: "about 600 chemicals in the PFAS category are used to manufacture products like solar panels and cellphones, and alternative materials might not be available to replace them. "The American Chemistry Council supports the strong, science-based regulation of chemicals, including PFAS substances. But all PFAS are not the same, and they should not all be regulated the same way," Erich Shea, a spokesman for the organization, said in a statement." On the other side, as Joseph Winters wrote in Grist, some environmental advocates see EPA's approach as inadequate to the task. In his Grist piece, Winters reports that EPA's strategy is to: "invest in research to better understand the compounds, restrict PFAS from contaminating the environment, and work to clean up highly polluted areas. By the end of 2021, he said, chemical manufacturers will be required to test and report concentrations for 20 subcategories of PFAS in consumer goods. The EPA will also set enforceable drinking water standards for two of the worst PFASknown as PFOA and PFOSand finalize its toxicity assessments for six additional compounds. Some activists lauded the roadmap as a win for environmental justice; PFAS tends to contaminate impoverished neighborhoods and communities of color But other environmental advocates have said the plan doesn't go far enough." One advocate quoted by Winters derided EPA's move as a "plan to plan." Others considered the water quality standards inadequate given the toxicity of some of these chemicals. All in all, this is shaping up as a standard industry-environmentalist toxics conflict. EPA's hand in regulating these chemicals is weakened by a statutory framework established in the 1970s and 1980s that has not kept up with the exponential increase and vast complexity of new chemicals. These chemicals are central to many products in everyday use and industry is correct when they claim that the application of the precautionary principle to chemical introduction would stifle innovation and impair economic growth. Moreover, if the U.S. regulates these substances and other nations do not, the chemical research and manufacturing would simply move to less regulated nations. Still, we are making a choice to slowly poison the planet. And while the spread is slow, it is picking up speed. The chemicals under question here are designed to be durable. They do not biodegrade. They are called "forever chemicals" for a reason. Like greenhouse gasses that continue to accumulate in the atmosphere, these chemicals continue to contaminate our ecosystems, water, and air. They are transported through the food chain, ultimately ending up in human bodies. The more of this stuff we make, the more of it remains in our biosphere. The issue is not simply its use in products but the effluents and emissions created when these durable chemicals are added to a manufacturing process. The chemicals don't only end up on the frying pans and solar cells, but in the water and air as well. Despite these issues, the steps taken by EPA are significant and worthy of support. For new rules to survive the inevitable legal challenges brought by chemical manufacturers such as 3M, they need to be carefully developed and based on sound and thorough scientific study. This work takes time, and the half-century-long history of American environmental regulation demonstrates that while the process is slow, it is effective. Requiring industry study and disclosure is an important step. Companies can't contest their own studies in court. Still, environmental regulation is not a rapid process. The slow pace can be frustrating. The long regulatory process is not entirely dysfunctional since it provides industry with time to adapt and innovate. It allows researchers time to fully understand the impact of toxic substances. Some of the toxic policies developed to implement laws enacted in the 1970s were not formally promulgated as regulations until the 1990s. But industry knew they were coming, substitutes were found, and the economic impact was often slight. Unfortunately, for every toxic chemical that was finally regulated, 1,000 new ones were introduced with unknown levels of environmental impact. The pace of technological innovation is too rapid for the current regulatory structure to control. Complaining that EPA is not doing enough is attacking the wrong target. The problem is in congress, and we need a more effective form of regulatory control than the one now in place. I would start by revising our toxic substance laws to require industry to study and report (to the public) the environmental and health impacts of new chemicals before they are used. Under the important action announced by EPA Administrator Michael Regan last week, EPA is requiring chemical producers to study and disclose these impacts long after the chemicals have been introduced into widespread use. Even if the precautionary principle was not utilized, and companies were free to introduce new chemicals at will, at least the cost of research would be shifted to the private sector, and all new chemicals would be covered, not simply those already thought to be dangerous. Public disclosure would then provide the information base for EPA and advocates to focus their attention on the most dangerous chemicals. EPA could build staff to audit industry's environment and health impact studies to reinforce the need for sound science. Given the current authority and political reality, EPA's actions should be applauded as a long overdue and important step. But many decades after toxics substance, hazardous waste and toxic clean-up legislation was first enacted in the United States, we are long over-due for a major update of those laws. We need to encourage chemical companies to internalize considerations of environmental impact into their search for new chemical combinations. When energy efficiency standards were added to electrical appliance design, engineers figured out creative ways to make air conditioners and refrigerators that used less energy. Let's provide similar incentives for those designing new chemicals. The best way to reduce environmental damage is to prevent it from being designed into new products. We are an ingenious species, and properly motivated, we can build an economy that doesn't poison people and the planet. Provided by Earth Institute, Columbia University This story is republished courtesy of Earth Institute, Columbia University http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu. Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain A week out from the COP26 climate negotiations in Glasgow, all eyes are on two nations: China and the United States. Together, the superpowers are responsible for more than 40% of global carbon emissions. US-China relations have been fractious in recent years, and whether they can cooperate on climate action is crucial to success at COP26 and beyond. US progress on climate change went backwards under the Trump administration, but President Joe Biden has brought the nation back to the table. Biden wants to cooperate with China in this critical policy sphere, raising hopes of a less adversarial bilateral relationship. Throughout 2021, however, US-China relations have become increasingly strained. And China's cooperation at COP26 is far from guaranteedPresident Xi Jinping is reportedly unlikely to attend the negotiations. Together, China and the US could supercharge global progress on climate action. But if they fail to cooperate, the two nations risk a race to the bottom on climate changewith dire consequences for all. An emissions snapshot China currently accounts for 28% of global carbon emissions. While its emissions rose rapidly during the 2000s and a good part of 2010s, emissions growth has slowed in recent years thanks to dedicated government efforts to improve energy security and promote renewable energy. China made its first international commitments on climate change at the 2015 Paris climate talks, including a pledge for carbon emissions to peak by around 2030. In 2017, US President Donald Trump pledged to withdraw from the Paris Agreement, giving China the chance to take the global leadership mantle on climate action. It looked like China might assume this role when, last year, it pledged to become carbon-neutral by 2060. China is on track to achieve its 2030 renewable energy and carbon intensity targets. But the target is considered inconsistent with the global goal of limiting warming to 1.5 this century. In the US, Biden has pledged to reverse the climate policy damage wrought by the Trump presidency. He will pursue ambitious national initiatives and international cooperation, including with China. On again-off again In April this year, Biden sent US Climate Envoy John Kerry to China to discuss collective climate action. During the visit, the two countries released a joint statement declaring a commitment to cooperation. However by September, China's tune had changed. Last month, during Kerry's second visit to China, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi declared cooperation on climate change cannot be divorced from the overall situation of China-US relations. This statement implied China would withhold cooperation on climate change until the US gave ground on broader strategic issues. Examples include the US relaxing its stance on: visa restrictions on Chinese students and members of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and their familiessanctions against Chinese leaders, officials and government agenciesits request to extradite Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou from Canada over fraud allegations. But as ever, the relationship is complex. Shortly after Kerry's visit to China, presidents Biden and Xi spoke on the phone covering topics including climate change. Two weeks later, Xi announced China will no longer build new coal-fired power projects abroad. But we cannot deduce from this announcement that China has decided to cooperate with the US on climate. China has been scaling back its financing of coal-fired power stations abroad for years. Fork in the road Cooperation between China and the US will remain highly unpredictable. The key question is whether competition between the two nations on climate action will be constructive or destructive. Under a constructive scenario, the US and China would compete to ramp up their investments in clean energy, advance their technological capabilities and build internationally competitive industries. They would also compete to help emerging countries reduce their emissions. China and the US would both seek to prove the superiority of their respective governance models by making rapid progress on climate change. In other words, does China's party-state, quasi-Communist model offer the most desirable path forward? Or is the US model of democratic capitalism the better option? By contrast, destructive competition between the US and China would have dire consequences for the climate. First, it would make the international flow and diffusion of green technologies difficult. For example, the US controls advanced semiconductor technologies required for electric vehicles (EVs) while China is leading the world in EV battery technologies. If the nations began restricting tech exports to each other, advancement in electric vehicles would significantly slow. It may also become more complex to establish global standards for new major clean energy technologies such as offshore wind systems. Global markets for particular clean energy technologies would become fractured and much smaller than they would otherwise be. With a reduced market size, new climate technologies and products would then take longer to become affordable, slowing their global uptake. Second, an effective system for global climate governance requires most nations, if not all, to participate. Yet, without trust between the US and China, such a system would be untenable. Finally, the domestic climate actions of both the US and China may be adversely affected if tension between the two countries intensifies. In the US, hawkish politicians and media would likely denigrate the administration's position on climate change as its political weakness when dealing with China. The Chinese ruling party would likely face rising nationalist sentiment against further climate actions which would be viewed as caving in to US demands. This nationalist view has long argued that the West presses China on climate actions simply to hold back the country's development. How the US and China act and react on climate issues will continue to be of supreme importance, at COP26 and beyond. But it's the long-term competitive dynamics between the two countries that will fundamentally determine global climate action. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. In the July 17, 2021 file photo, father and son walk through their flooded street, in the town of Brommelen, Netherlands. Dutch climate experts warned Monday, Oct. 25, 2021 that the low-lying Netherlands could face higher sea level rises than previously forecast as well as the threat of extreme rainfall and other dangerous weather events caused by climate change. Credit: AP Photo/Bram Janssen Dutch climate experts warned Monday that the low-lying Netherlands could face higher sea level rises than previously forecast as well as the threat of extreme rainfall and other dangerous weather events caused by climate change. The Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute, known by its Dutch acronym KNMI, issued the stark warning in a new update based on its own research and a report issued in August by the United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. The Dutch report was presented less than a week before the U.N.'s annual climate conference opens in Glasgow, Scotland. The Oct. 31-Nov. 12 event, known as COP26, is seen by many as an important and even crucial opportunity for concrete government commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. "It might not be cheerful reading, but it is necessary reading," Dutch State Secretary for Infrastructure and Water Steven Weyenberg said. "Talking about climate change as something we do for our children underestimates the urgency," he added. The KNMI said that if greenhouse gas emissions are not reduced, the sea level along the long Dutch coastline could rise by 1.2 meters (nearly 4 feet) by the year 2100. The institute warned in 2014 of a possible 1-meter rise. It said in Monday's update that if melting of the Antarctic ice cap accelerates, then sea levels could rise by 2 meters by 2100. In the July 17, 2021 file photo, Wiel de Bie, 75, stands outside his flooded home in the town of Brommelen, Netherlands. Dutch climate experts warned Monday, Oct. 25, 2021 that the low-lying Netherlands could face higher sea level rises than previously forecast as well as the threat of extreme rainfall and other dangerous weather events caused by climate change. Credit: AP Photo/Bram Janssen The agency also warned of both heavier summer storms and droughts, with river levels expected to be lower in the summer and higher in the winter. The low-lying Netherlands is protected by thousands of kilometers (miles) of dikes along its rivers and its North Sea coast, and has a national Delta Fund that invests hundreds of millions each year in improvements and maintenance. Over the summer, torrential rainfall sparked widespread flooding in the southern province of Limburg. The same heavy summer storm caused dozens of deaths in neighboring Germany and Belgium. "Adapting to extreme weather and anticipating sea level rises must be a top priority for a new government," Rogier van der Sande, chairman of the Dutch Union of Water Boards, said in a statement Monday. Four parties are currently negotiating to form the next Dutch ruling coalition, with climate measures one of the topics they are discussing. Weyenberg said it is clear more has to be done. "The climate crisis is here. It's code red, and it is up to us all to act," he said. Explore further Dutch climate scientist Geert Jan van Oldenborgh dies at 59 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. This immunotherapeutic enhances human neutrophil (blue nuclear stain, Hoeschest) phagocytosis of S. aureus (red, pHrodo stain). Credit: (C) Dr Jennifer Payne A multi-disciplinary project driven by EMBL Australia researchers at Monash University and Harvard University has found a way to make antibiotics more effective against antibiotic-resistant bacteriaalso known as 'superbugs. Antimicrobial resistance to superbugs has been evolving and is one of the top 10 global public health threats facing humanity, according to the World Health Organization. This new research will provide a pathway to increasing the effectiveness of antibiotics, without clinicians having to resort to risky strategies of giving patients higher doses or relying on the discovery of new types of antibiotics. During a bacterial infection, the body uses molecules called chemoattractants to recruit neutrophils to the site of the infection. Neutrophils are immune cells with the ability to encapsulate and kill dangerous bacteria, critical to the immune response. Researchers attached a chemoattractant to an antibiotic, enabling them to enhance the recruitment of immune cells and improve their killing ability. The findings have now been published in Nature Communications. "When looking at how our immune system can fight bacteria there are two important aspects we look at. The first is our ability to entrap bacterial cells and kill them. The second is the signalsthe chemoattractantscalling for more neutrophils, white blood cells which lead the immune system's response to resolve infection," said Dr. Jennifer Payne, the lead researcher from EMBL Australia and the Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute. The researchers linked a chemoattractant known as formyl peptide to vancomycin, a commonly used antibiotic that binds to the surface of the bacteria, and performed their studies on golden staph infections, one of the more problematic antibiotic-resistant bacteria. "We've been working on using dual-function antibiotic-chemoattractant 'hybrids', which improve the recruitment of neutrophils and increase the engulfing and killing of the bacteria," said Dr. Payne. Using immunotherapeutics to tackle the threat of superbugs. Credit: Monash University "By stimulating our powerful immune system in this way with the immunotherapeutic antibiotic, we've shown in mouse models that the treatment is 2-fold more effective than just using the antibiotic alone at one-fifth lower dose," said Associate Professor Max Cryle, an EMBL Australia Group Leader at the Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute. "This very promising new avenue of research is bringing a lot of potential benefits to the ever-increasing threat of drug-resistant superbugs," said Associate Professor Cryle. Instrumental to the project was funding from VESKI and Melbourne sister city foundation that took Dr. Payne across the world to Boston to learn and carry out microfluidic research learning and collaborating with Associate Professor Daniel Irima, and Dr. Felix Ellett, Harvard experts in this field. "Microfluidics was ground-breaking for this research, as it allowed us to generate an infection-on-a-chip to monitor the recruitment of human immune cells, and observe in real-time how our immunotherapeutic enhances their ability to kill MRSA. Just like what would happen in our body" said Dr. Payne, Partners are being sought to continue this research into clinical trials with the potential of developing a preventative antibiotic strategy in the intensive care environment to protect our most vulnerable. The work has resulted in a patent covering the immunotherapeutic, with the IP owned by Monash University. Explore further Leap forward in the discovery and development of new antibiotics More information: Antibiotic-chemoattractants enhance neutrophil clearance of Staphylococcus aureus, Nature Communications (2021). Journal information: Nature Communications Antibiotic-chemoattractants enhance neutrophil clearance of Staphylococcus aureus,(2021). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-26244-5 The region where humpback whale super-groups have been observed within the Southern Benguela Upwelling System (SBUS). The color shading represents the bathymetry of the ocean model domain. The black contour indicates the 150 m isobath. The open circles represent the locations of super-groups observed in 2011, 2014, and 2015 (data from Findlay et al.9). The ocean area enclosed by the rectangle covers all the super-group locations and is termed the focus area. The blue asterisks show the St Helena Bay Monitoring Line with the nine fixed stations from the coast to offshore. The inset picture shows the southern part of the African continent and the location of the model grid (color shade in inset image). This figure is plotted using MATLAB 2020b (https://matlab.mathworks.com/) with M_Map (a mapping package available at https://www.eoas.ubc.ca/~rich/map.html). Credit: DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-00253-2 Super-groups of up to 200 humpback whales appearing off the coast of South Africa are following changing ocean currents and phytoplankton blooms, a new study has found. Researchers at Griffith University were part of an international team led by the University of Cape Town (UTC) which combined satellite observations and a physical ocean model to intricately map the ocean circulation and productivity using chlorophyll levels in the region over the past 10 years in order to understand environmental drivers of these behavioral changes in feeding humpbacks. "While humpback whales in the Southern Hemisphere are known for annual migrations between the summer high-latitude Southern Ocean feeding grounds and the winter mating and calving grounds in subtropical coastal waters, feeding in such dense packs is unprecedented," said Dr. Olaf Meynecke, a whale researcher and Manager of the Griffith Whales and Climate Program. Dr. Subhra Prakash Dey from the Department of Oceanography UCT said the formation of whale super-groups in recent years suggested a potential change in oceanographic or ecological characteristics which provide the conditions for this new feeding strategy. "Through the development of fine scale ocean models our team was able to reveal these oceanographic and ecological changes in the area, the Southern Benguela Upwelling System (SBUS) off South Africa, that had previously remained hidden," Dr. Meynecke said. The unusually large feeding groups of humpback whales in South Africa coincided with the changes in ocean circulation of the region and a higher-than-normal phytoplankton bloom, determined through chlorophyll levels, within one month prior to super-group events. The study showed that a decrease in the ocean current led to higher retention of the phytoplankton bloom which the whales responded to by prolonging their feeding in the region over several weeks while ocean productivity was at its highest. "Understanding the causation leading to these events will allow researchers and the whale watching industry to prepare for the arrival of super-groups of humpback whales at least one month in advance, through the evaluation of chlorophyll from satellite data and ocean models," explained Dr. Dey. Dr. Meynecke said that here in Australia the current conditions are very different to those in South Africa, but we have started to see larger groups of feeding humpback whales than in previous years. "However, unlike in South Africa the large whale pods that have started to show up in Australia only last for a short period of time, but super-groups of humpback whales off the coast of Australia are increasingly likely in the years to come." What is driving these changes in ocean currents and productivity that are altering whale behavior and leading to them migrating together in such massive pods, is not yet fully known. "There are signs that the major changes that are occurring in the marine environment and ocean circulation are driven by climate change," Dr. Meynecke said. "But with only 10 years of data and the long term cycles that exist in ocean systems we are going to need a longer time series to come to a definitive conclusion." More information: Subhra Prakash Dey et al, Oceanographic anomalies coinciding with humpback whale super-group occurrences in the Southern Benguela, Scientific Reports (2021). Journal information: Scientific Reports Subhra Prakash Dey et al, Oceanographic anomalies coinciding with humpback whale super-group occurrences in the Southern Benguela,(2021). DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-00253-2 A cockchafer larva nibbles on the roots of its food plant dandelion. Credit: Meret Huber Plants are not entirely at the mercy of their herbivore enemies. Often, chemical defenses ensure that the plants are inedible, or even toxic, and as a result insects and other hungry animals steer clear of them. A new study has shown, for the first time, that the degradation of plants' defense substances by insects' digestive enzymes can influence the insects' preference for certain food plants. Researchers at the University of Munster, the University of Bern (Switzerland) and the Max Planck Institute for Chemical Ecology in Jena investigated this phenomenon in the larvae of cockchafers (Melolontha melolontha) and the plant they feed on, dandelion (Taraxacum officinale). In tackling the enemies that feed on it, the plant organism often uses a chemical trick: it binds a sugar component to the antigen and thus deactivates it. As a result, the substance is prevented from damaging the plant itself. Only when someone nibbles at the plant is the sugar component removed. The result is that the compound becomes toxic or deters the attacker. "Strangely enough, during digestion some insects themselves remove the sugar component in the plant defense compound," says biologist Dr. Meret Huber from Munster University. "It is not yet known precisely," she adds, "what consequences this has for the insects, and especially for their behavior." One example of a defense compound containing sugar is a substance called taraxinic acid -D-glucopyranosyl ester (TA-G), which dandelions accumulate in their roots in particularly high concentrations. TA-G is an important defense compound in dandelions, deterring the larva of the cockchafer from eating. The team led by Dr. Meret Huber and Prof. Matthais Erb (University of Bern) demonstrated that the pH conditions in the cockchafer's gut inhibit the activity of dandelion enzymes which would otherwise remove the sugar from TA-G. Instead, the cockchafer larva removes the sugar itself, with the aid of an enzyme from the gut that belongs to the class of so-called beta-glucosidases (sugar-splitting enzymes). By using biotechnological methods to simultaneously manipulate the production of TA-G and the presence of the insect enzyme, the researchers showed that the insect glucosidase promotes the growth of the larva on dandelion plants containing TA-G. At the same time, however, the separation of the sugar from TA-G also leads to dandelion plants containing TA-G being shunned. "This means that, for the first time, we were able to demonstrate that the metabolization of plants' defense substances by the digestive enzymes of insects changes the choice of food plant," says Meret Huber. "This finding is important, because the choice of host plant plays a key role in the distribution of herbivore insects and, as a result, has a strong influence on the damage caused." Why the separation of sugar increases growth in the cockchafer larvawhile simultaneously deterring the larvais one of the as yet unanswered questions. Possibly this shunning behavior on the part of the larva helps in finding the side roots of the plantwhich have a lower TA-G concentration but a higher nutritional content than the main roots. For the purpose of their studies the researchers used different methods of chemical analysis and biotechnology. They also carried out so-called bio-essays to study the effects of TA-G on the choice of food plant by the larvae. The results are intended to help in improving our understanding of the interactions between plants and their consumers. Future studies in various systems might make it possible to develop medicines or pesticides which are activated only in the presence of certain conditions specific to species or environments. The research was published in eLife. Explore further The dandelion uses latex to protect its roots against insect feeding More information: Meret Huber et al, A beta-glucosidase of an insect herbivore determines both toxicity and deterrence of a dandelion defense metabolite, eLife (2021). Journal information: eLife Meret Huber et al, A beta-glucosidase of an insect herbivore determines both toxicity and deterrence of a dandelion defense metabolite,(2021). DOI: 10.7554/eLife.68642 Indri songs recorded in the wild have rhythmic categories similar to those found in human music. Credit: Filippo Carugati Songbirds share the human sense of rhythm, but it is a rare trait in non-human mammals. An international research team led by senior investigators Marco Gamba from the University of Turin and MPI's Andrea Ravignani set out to look for musical abilities in primates. "There is longstanding interest in understanding how human musicality evolved, but musicality is not restricted to humans," says Ravignani. "Looking for musical features in other species allows us to build an 'evolutionary tree' of musical traits, and understand how rhythm capacities originated and evolved in humans." To find out whether non-human mammals have a sense of rhythm, the team decided to study one of the few 'singing' primates, the critically endangered lemur Indri indri. The researchers wanted to know whether indri songs have categorical rhythm, a 'rhythmic universal' found across human musical cultures. Rhythm is categorical when intervals between sounds have exactly the same duration (1:1 rhythm) or doubled duration (1:2 rhythm). This type of rhythm makes a song easily recognizable, even if it is sung at different speeds. Would indri songs show this "uniquely human" rhythm? Ritardando in the rainforest Over a period of 12 years, the researchers from Turin visited the rainforest of Madagascar to collaborate with a local primate study group. The investigators recorded songs from twenty indri groups (39 animals), living in their natural habitat. Members of an indri family group tend to sing together in harmonized duets and choruses. The team found that indri songs had the classic rhythmic categories (both 1:1 and 1:2), as well as the typical 'ritardando' or slowing down found in several musical traditions. Male and female songs had a different tempo but showed the same rhythm. Researchers from the universities of Turin, Lyon/Saint-Etienne and the Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics in Nijmegen studied indris, the singing primates from Madagascar. Credit: Andrea Ravignani According to first author Chiara de Gregorio and her colleagues, this is the first evidence of a 'rhythmic universal' in a non-human mammal. But why should another primate produce categorical 'music-like' rhythms? The ability may have evolved independently among 'singing' species, as the last common ancestor between humans and indri lived 77.5 million years ago. Rhythm may make it easier to produce and process songs, or even to learn them. Finding common musical traits across species may shed light on the biology and evolution of rhythm and music. Credit: Filippo Carugati Endangered species "Categorical rhythms are just one of the six universals that have been identified so far," explains Ravignani. "We would like to look for evidence of others, including an underlying 'repetitive' beat and a hierarchical organization of beatsin indri and other species." The authors encourage other researchers to gather data on indri and other endangered species, "before it is too late to witness their breath-taking singing displays." Explore further Antiphonal singing in indris More information: Categorical rhythms in a singing primate, Current Biology, 2021. Journal information: Current Biology Categorical rhythms in a singing primate,, 2021. Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is an aggressive brain tumor that spreads along the white matter tracts of the brain. Now, researchers at University of Fukui, Japan, have managed to engineer nanofibers mimicking the brain that can stop them from spreading. Credit: American Chemical Society Brain cancer is difficult to contain and is often resistant to conventional treatment methods. Predicting tumor cell behavior requires a better understanding of their invasion mechanism. Now, researchers from University of Fukui, Japan, have used high-density nanofibers that mimic the microenvironment of the brain to capture these tumor cells, opening doors to novel therapeutic solutions for aggressive brain cancer. Our body heals its injuries by essentially replacing damaged cells with new cells. The new cells often migrate to the site of injury, a process known as cell migration. However, abnormal cell migration can also facilitate the transport and spread of cancer cells within the body. Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is one such example of a highly invasive brain tumor that spreads via migration of the tumor cells. The frequency at which such tumor cells spread and grow make conventional tumor removal methods ineffective. Furthermore, options such as radiotherapy and chemotherapy are harmful to healthy cells and cause adverse effects. In order to develop improved therapeutic strategies, a precise understanding of the invasion mechanism of GBM cells is necessary. An alternative treatment strategy in consideration involves capturing the migrating tumor cells. It turns out that cell migration is dictated by the structure and the orientation of the extracellular matrix (ECM) fibrous structures surrounding the cells. By engineering similar structures of desired geometries, it is, therefore, possible to exert control over the migration process. Now, in a study published in ACS Applied Bio Materials, researchers from University of Fukui, Japan, have designed a platform based on nanofibers that resemble the ECM to examine their effect on GBM cells. "We fabricated a nanofibrous sheet in which the fiber density changes from end to end gradually using a technique called 'electrospinning' and carried out a culture experiment of brain tumor cells," says Dr. Satoshi Fujita, who headed the study. The researchers observed clear distinctions in cell movement in nanofibers of different densities. They found that the denser fibers promoted the formation of focal adhesions clusters in the cells that resulted in a slower cell migration. Taking advantage of this negative correlation between cell movement and fiber density, the researchers were able to control and direct the migration of cells by designing a nanofibrous sheet with stepwise varying densities. By arranging the fibers in a high-to-low density configuration, they were able to restrict the movement of cells as most of them were captured in the high-density zones. On the other hand, a low-to-high density configuration had the opposite effect and encouraged migration. In addition, they noticed that the gaps between the zones hindered cell migration, leading to cells being trapped in the high-density zones. This one-way migration was observed for the first time and the researchers named it cell trapping, after fish and insect traps that cause their prey to travel along a single direction before trapping it. "The study demonstrates the feasibility of capturing migrating cells using electrospun nanofibers that mimic the microenvironment of the brain," comments Dr. Fujita. The team is excited about the future prospects of their nanofiber-based platform. "It is available for the design of scaffolding materials, which are the basis of regenerative medicine, in combination with various fiber processing technologies and material surface treatment technologies. This could lead to the development of practical applications of regenerative medicines," says Dr. Fujita, "In addition, it can be used as a processing technology for culture carriers for efficient production of biological drugs including proteins, antibodies, and vaccines." Explore further Advanced microscopy study reveals molecular details of tight control over cell migration More information: Wan-Ying Huang et al, Cell Trapping via Migratory Inhibition within Density-Tuned Electrospun Nanofibers, ACS Applied Bio Materials (2021). Wan-Ying Huang et al, Cell Trapping via Migratory Inhibition within Density-Tuned Electrospun Nanofibers,(2021). DOI: 10.1021/acsabm.1c00700 Provided by University of Fukui In Sweden's far north, permafrost beneath the Stordalen mire is up to thousands of years old. Sheltered by snow-spattered mountains, the Stordalen mire is a flat, marshy plateau, pockmarked with muddy puddles. A whiff of rotten eggs wafts through the fresh air. Here in the Arctic in Sweden's far north, about 10 kilometres (six miles) east of the tiny town of Abisko, global warming is happening three times faster than in the rest of the world. On the peatland, covered in tufts of grass and shrubs dotted with blue and orange berries and little white flowers, looms a moonlander-like pod hinting at this far-flung site's scientific significance. Researchers are studying the frozennow shapeshiftingearth below known as permafrost. As Keith Larson walks between the experiments, the boardwalks purposefully set out in a grid across the peat sink into the puddles and ponds underneath and tiny bubbles appear. The distinct odour it emits is from hydrogen sulfide, sometimes known as swamp gas. But what has scientists worried is another gas rising up with it: methane. Carbon stores, long locked in the permafrost, are now seeping out. Between carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane, permafrost contains some 1,700 billion tonnes of organic carbon, almost twice the amount of carbon already present in the atmosphere. With average temperatures rising around the Arctic, the permafrost has started to thaw. Methane lingers in the atmosphere for only 12 years compared to centuries for CO2 but is about 25 times more potent as a greenhouse gas over a 100-year period. Thawing permafrost is a carbon "time bomb", scientists have warned. Vicious circle In the 1970s, "when researchers first started showing up and investigating these habitats, these ponds didn't exist", says Larson, project coordinator for the Climate Impacts Research Centre at Umea University, based at the Abisko Scientific Research Station. "The smell of the hydrogen sulfide, that's associated with the methane that's being releasedthey wouldn't have smelled that to the extent we do today," adds Larson, who measures how deep the so-called active layer is by shoving a metal rod into the ground. Permafrostdefined as soil that stays frozen year-round for at least two consecutive yearslies under about a quarter of the land in the Northern Hemisphere. Tomas Kuhmunen, 34, a member of the indigenous Sami community, is a reindeer herder, like generations of his family as far back as he can trace records. In Abisko, the permafrost beneath the mire can be up to tens of metres thick, dating back thousands of years. In parts of Siberia, it can go down over a kilometre and be hundreds of thousands of years old. With average temperatures rising around the Arctic, the permafrost has started to thaw. As it does so, bacteria in the soil begin to decompose the biomass stored within. The process releases the greenhouse gases carbon dioxide and methanefurther accelerating climate change in a vicious circle. A few minutes' drive away at the much smaller Storflaket mire, researcher Margareta Johansson has tracked the thawing permafrost since 2008 by measuring the active layer, the part of the soil that thaws in summer. "In this active layer, where measurements started in 1978, we have seen it become between seven and 13 centimetres (2.8 and 5 inches) thicker every decade," says Johansson, from Lund University's department of physical geography and ecosystem science. "This freezer that has kept plants frozen for thousands of years has stored the carbon that then can be released as the active layer gets thicker," she adds. Changing weather patterns have affected the availability of food for reindeer. At a tipping point? By 2100, the permafrost could have significantly thawed if CO2 emissions are not reduced, experts on oceans and the cryosphere from the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) have warned. The Arctic's average annual temperature rose by 3.1 degrees Celsius (37.6 degrees Fahrenheit) from 1971 to 2019, compared to 1C for the planet as a whole, the Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Programme said in May. So could the permafrost reach a tipping point? That is, a temperature threshold beyond which an ecosystem can tip into a new state and risk disturbing the global system. It's feared, for example, that the Amazon tropical forest could turn into a savannah or that the ice sheets atop Greenland and West Antarctica could melt entirely. "If all the frozen carbon would be released, it would almost triple the concentration of carbon in the atmosphere," Gustaf Hugelius, from Stockholm University who specialises in the carbon cycles of permafrost, tells AFP. Modern times have forced the grazing reindeer to negotiate roads, rail tracks, wind power plants and mines. Today, they must adapt to the warming climate too. "But that will never happen," he quickly adds. The thawing of the permafrost, he says, will not take place all at once, nor will all the carbon be released in a giant puff. Rather, it will seep out over decades, even hundreds of years. The big issue with permafrost is that the thawing and accompanying carbon release will continue even if human emissions are cut. "We have just begun activating a system that will react for a very long time," Hugelius says. Cracks in the ground In Abisko, a small lakeside town with traditional red brick and wooden buildings known as a popular spot for viewing the northern lights, telltale signs of thawing permafrost are there if you know where to look. Tears in the ground have opened up and slumping soil is visible around the picturesque town. Rows of telephone poles are tilting because the ground has started to shift. Unseasonably high temperatures cause the snow to thaw and freeze again when the cold returns, building up thicker layers of ice that prevent the reindeer from digging down through the snow. In Alaska, where permafrost is found beneath nearly 85 percent of the land, thawing permafrost is causing roads to warp. Cities in Siberia have seen buildings start to crack as the ground shifts. In Yakutsk, the world's largest city built on permafrost, some buildings have already had to be demolished. The deterioration of permafrost affects water, sewage and oil pipes as well as buried chemical, biological and radioactive substances, Russia's environment ministry said in a report in 2019. Last year, a fuel tank ruptured after its supports suddenly sank into the ground near the Siberian city of Norilsk, spilling 21,000 tonnes of diesel into nearby rivers. Norilsk Nickel blamed thawing permafrost that had weakened the plant's foundation. Across the Arctic, permafrost thaw could affect up to around two thirds of infrastructure by mid-century, according to a draft IPCC report, seen by AFP in June ahead of its scheduled release by the UN in February. Glacial researcher Ninis Rosqvist, 61, sees the impact of a warming climate first-hand on the south glacial peak of the Kebnekaise massif. More than 1,200 settlements, 36,000 buildings and four million people would be affected, it said. It can lead to other dramatic changes in the landscape too, such as trapping water to form new ponds or lakes, or opening up a new path for water drainage, leaving the area completely dry. Threatening Paris goals The planet-warming gases escaping from permafrost threaten the hard-won Paris climate goals, scientists have warned. Countries that signed the 2015 treaty vowed to cap the rise in global temperatures at well below 2C1.5C if possiblecompared to preindustrial levels. To have a two-thirds chance of staying under the 1.5C cap, humanity cannot emit more than 400 billion tonnes of CO2, the IPCC recently concluded. At current rates of emissions, our "carbon budget" would be exhausted within a decade. Since the 1970s, the mountaintop glacier has shrunk by more than 20 metres (66 feet). But carbon budgets do "not fully account for" the wild card of a rapid discharge in greenhouse gases from natural sources in the Arctic, warned a study this year, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. Many climate models currently don't take permafrost into account because it is difficult to project the net effects of the permafrost thawing, Hugelius says. Emissions in some areas are offset by the "greening of the Arctic" as certain plants thrive in the warmer temperatures, he adds. However, the latest IPCC report from August did raise the issue of melting permafrost and stated that "further warming will amplify permafrost thawing", he says. Action taken now can still have a strong effect on the speed of the thaw, Larson stresses. Even if "we actually don't have control over the rate of thaw of the permafrost soils" that doesn't mean "we shouldn't turn off the fossil fuels and change how we live on this planet", he says. Some changes driven by warming temperatures in the Arctic are already irreversible, he adds sadly. For many researchers, an important lesson from the Arctic is that some of the systems are outside human control. Tradition slipping away "Around here we've been reindeer herding for at least 1,000 years," says Tomas Kuhmunen, a member of the indigenous Sami community. Wearing a peaked bobble hat in traditional blue, red and yellow, he is standing on top of Luossavaara mountain overlooking Kiruna, Sweden's northernmost town that has grown up around an iron mine. Kuhmunen, 34, works with the Sami Parliament but is also a reindeer herder, a practice passed down the generations for as far back as he can trace his family records, which is until the 1600s. Unlike in his ancestors' days, modern times have forced the grazing reindeer to negotiate roads, rail tracks, wind power plants and mines. Today, they must also adapt to the warming climate. Traditionally, the reindeer roam freely part of the year, with the cold weather in autumn quickly freezing the ground, which stayed frozen through the winter snowfalls. Researcher Keith Larson tracks the thawing of the permafrost which worries scientists because carbon stores, long locked in the permafrost, are now seeping out. "That creates a good ground for the reindeer to dig up the lichen," Kuhmunen says, explaining that they can smell lichen through as much as a metre of snow. But changing weather patterns have affected the availability of food. Unseasonably high temperatures cause the snow to thaw and freeze again when the cold returns, building up thicker layers of ice that prevent the reindeer from digging down through the snow. The animals struggle to find enough to eat, forcing Kuhmunen to spread the herd out over a much larger area to find food. That means he has to go tens of kilometres more to keep an eye on them, using a snowmobile rather than skis. "In many instances down in the forest we are grazing what were our forefathers' 'Plan C' type of pastures," the bearded herder says. According to Sweden's Sami Parliament, about 2,500 people depend on reindeer for their livelihood. Vicious circle: as the permafrost thaws, bacteria in the soil begin to decompose the biomass stored within and the process releases greenhouse gases. The changes facing herders are of concern to the UN's IPCC climate science advisory panel. In Siberia "nomadic reindeer herding and cryosphere fishing livelihoods are vulnerable to permafrost thaw, which alters northern landscapes and lakes as well as rain-on-snow events... " its draft report said. "These people are endemically adapting via key decisions to alter nomadic routes, pasture uses and seasonal land use." When necessary, Kuhmunen puts out pellets in troughs for the reindeer to feed on. "It's a way to have the reindeer survive, but it's not desirable" and it's not "economically sustainable", he insists. It reflects a trend in Sweden, Norway and Finland, according to researchers from northern Sweden's Umea University. But herders do not consider it "a long-term solution": feeding the reindeer directly is harmful for their health and behaviourreindeer become "too tame", threatening the traditional lifestyle, they noted last year. The big issue with permafrost is that the thawing and accompanying carbon release will continue even if human emissions are cut. Shrinking On the south peak of the dramatic Kebnekaise massif, 70 km away, year after year Ninis Rosqvist is seeing the impact of a warming climate before her very eyes. Nimble as a mountain goat, the 61-year-old glacial researcher expertly climbs up under a cloudless blue sky to place an antenna in the freshly-fallen snow to measure the altitude. Before she gets her answer, she knows the glacier150 km north of the Arctic Circleis smaller than the last time she was there. The mountaintop glacier has shrunk by more than 20 metres (66 feet) since the 1970s. The GPS shows she is 2,094.8 metres up. Until two years ago, it was Sweden's highest peak. "In the past 30 years, it's been melting more than previously, and in the last 10 years it's been even more," Rosqvist, a Stockholm University geography professor, says, adding that summers especially have been unusually warm with recurring heatwaves. The current extent of permafrost, permanently frozen soil, and estimates in 2100 according to a standard and pessimistic global warming scenario. Signs of thawing permafrost, such as tears in the ground and slumping soil, have appeared around the small northern Swedish town of Abisko. In Siberian cities, buildings have begun to crack as the ground shifts. Scientists warn that the planet-warming gases escaping from permafrost threaten the hard-won Paris climate goals. Many climate models currently don't take permafrost into account because it is difficult to project the net effects of the permafrost thawing, says Gustaf Hugelius, from Stockholm University who specialises in the carbon cycles of permafrost. "We can see the effect of it because it's like: 'Wow (the glaciers) they're thin, they have melted so much'." Most glaciers in Sweden are likely doomed, Rosqvist believes. Here, the loss won't have much of an impact since there is already enough freshwater from rain and snowmelt. But it's a strong signal to the world. In South America and around the Himalayas, people depend on the yearly meltwater from glaciers for drinking water and irrigation. And in Greenland, the ice sheets hold enough water to raise global sea levels by up to seven metres. For many researchers, an important lesson from the Arctic is that some of these systems are outside human control. But, says Larson, changing how we live on the planet by cutting manmade emissions "will be the beginning of that process of adapting to a climate that will be warming for a very long time". Explore further Minimal evidence of permafrost carbon in Siberia's Kolyma River 2021 AFP Tiny floating fragments from plastic packaging, synthetic clothing and fishing nets have proliferated over the past four decades, and are now found in every part of the world's oceans. A boat's crew casts a net into the seemingly clean waters off Japan's Izu peninsula, but not to catch fishthey are scooping up microplastics to learn more about the pollution's impact on marine life. Tiny floating fragments from plastic packaging, synthetic clothing and fishing nets have proliferated over the past four decades, and are now found in every part of the world's oceanseven the deepest trench. The planet's seafloor is littered with an estimated 14 million tonnes of microplastics, according to a study released last year, and scientists say more research on them is urgently needed, including their effect on ecosystems, the food chain and human health. So a team of French and Japanese researchers is analysing samples from the archipelago's coastal waters to study how microplastics make their way into the sea, and how much seeps into the ocean floor. They are also examining the so-called "plastisphere", where micro-organisms live among discarded plastic. "It's a new ecosystem that didn't exist before the 1970s. So we don't really know which types of microbes are associated with this plastic," Sylvain Agostini, scientific director of the Tara-Jambio project, told AFP. Having left the funnel-shaped net nicknamed "the sock" to drift for 15 minutes near the surface, the crew hoisted it back on deck to inspect their catch. "This blue stuff is microplastics, and that's polystyrene, I believe," Agostini said. A team of French and Japanese researchers is analysing samples from the archipelago's coastal waters to study how microplastics make their way into the sea, and how much seeps into the ocean floor. They have collected more than 200 samples since their study began in April 2020, all of which contain microplastics. Jonathan Ramtahal, a student from Trinidad and Tobago taking part in the research, said the team aims to determine whether the bacteria they find is "harmful to the wider food chain". "Is it something we should be worried aboutdo they transport any vectors for diseases? The diversity of bacteria can give us an idea of how it changes in different environments," he said. 'Lead by example' Other studies have shown that microplastics have infiltrated the planet's most remote regions, and France's Tara Ocean Foundation has previously researched them in the Mediterranean and large European rivers. Now the foundation is in Japan, the second-biggest producer of plastic packaging waste per capita according to the United Nations. The Japanese government says its vast waste management scheme stops plastic from finding its way to the sea, and industry research shows 85 percent of plastic waste in Japan is recycledalthough much is burnt for energy, emitting carbon dioxide. Keiji Nakajima, director of marine plastic pollution control at the environment ministry, said Japan's waters are also affected by the waste of its neighbours. A 2018 UN report named the United States as the biggest generator of plastic packaging waste per capita, with China the largest overall. "Japan's streets and streams are cleaner than those of other countries," he said. The nation sits "downstream of a major oceanic current that sweeps in plastic waste produced in Southeast Asia and China", Nakajima added. A 2018 UN report named the United States as the biggest generator of plastic packaging waste per capita, with China the largest overall. Agostini, an assistant professor at the University of Tsukuba northeast of Tokyo, said that while "there is some truth" in this explanation, it is not watertight. When plastic waste is found at a river's estuary, or a secluded bay, it's clear that "it doesn't come from thousands of kilometres away", he said. The Tara-Jambio project is unlikely to settle that debate when its findings are published in several years time, but Agostini argues that if even a small proportion of Japan's plastic waste seeps into the ocean, it is still an "enormous quantity". Japan is taking small steps to reduce its reliance on plastic: in 2019, it set a target to recycle 100 percent of new plastic by 2035, and last year, stores began charging for plastic bags. "Packaging habits are ingrained" in Japan, said Kazuo Inaba, head of the Japanese marine-station network Jambio, but he and the team say change is necessary. "If developed countries don't lead by example, no one will do it," Agostini said. Explore further Researchers to conduct major Japan ocean microplastics survey 2021 AFP Eelgrass meadows sustain critical ecosystem functions ranging from coastal protection and sediment stabilization to providing food and shelter for many species of fish and invertebrates. Credit: Melissa Ward As the dominant seagrass species on the U.S. West Coast, eelgrass supports a wide range of ecosystem services and functions, making its preservation and restoration a top priority for the region. Eelgrass restoration has a spotty record of success, however, and studies of restoration sites have rarely assessed the full range of ecosystem functions. In a new study published October 6 in Ecological Applications, researchers demonstrated that eelgrass restoration efforts can lead to rapid expansion of restored plots and recovery of ecosystem functions. The study involved small-scale experimental seagrass restoration efforts in Elkhorn Slough on the Central Coast of California. Researchers transplanted 2,340 shoots of eelgrass from healthy meadows into 117 small plots, and evaluated their success relative to areas without vegetation and natural eelgrass meadows. "Within a few years, most of the ecosystem functions were near or at the level seen in natural eelgrass meadows, suggesting that these habitats can recover pretty quickly if the conditions are right," said first author Kathryn Beheshti, who earned her Ph.D. in ecology and evolutionary biology at UC Santa Cruz in 2021 and is currently a California Sea Grant Fellow at the Ocean Protection Council's Climate Change Program. The restored plots expanded dramatically, resulting in eelgrass beds covering an area 85 times larger than the initial plots. The restored beds began to resemble the natural meadows in structural features such as canopy height and shoot density, in the richness and abundance of species using the restored habitat, and in water quality. The study assessed a suite of seven ecosystem functions, and the researchers also developed a multifunctionality index to assess the overall functional performance of the restored beds. "We found that overall the restored plots are performing higher than unvegetated plots and just slightly below the natural meadows," Beheshti said. The benefits of eelgrass meadows range from coastal protection and sediment stabilization to providing food and shelter for many species of fish and invertebrates. Eelgrass meadows provide crucial nursery habitat for many commercially important species, such as Dungeness crab, California halibut, and Pacific herring, whose juveniles find protection within the dense canopy. By slowing water flow and attenuating waves, eelgrass can act as a storm buffer and can protect developed coastlines from storm surges. Eelgrass meadows also counteract ocean acidification by absorbing carbon dioxide from seawater. Assessments of seagrass restoration efforts have identified site conditions as the primary driver of success. Credit: Kat Beheshti "Seagrass provides a whole suite of ecosystem services that we rely on, including all the recreational uses by folks like birders, kayakers, fishers, and others," Beheshti said. She noted that the California Ocean Protection Council's Strategic Plan to Protect California's Coast and Ocean includes a target to preserve the existing, known 15,000 acres of seagrass beds and create an additional 1,000 acres by 2025. In addition, she said, NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service is updating its California Eelgrass Mitigation Policy, which currently calls for "no net loss of eelgrass habitat function" but does not require mitigation projects to assess habitat function. "This study will be a valuable resource for these ongoing efforts," Beheshti said. In June, Beheshti and Melissa Ward, an environmental scientist at San Diego State University, published a report on eelgrass restoration for the Pacific Marine and Estuarine Fish Habitat Partnership ("Eelgrass Restoration on the U.S. West Coast: A Comprehensive Assessment of Restoration Techniques and Their Outcomes"). In addition, Beheshti, Ward, and Brent Hughes at Sonoma State University, a coauthor of the new paper, are working on a tutorial video about seagrass restoration techniques funded by the Anthropocene Institute. Beheshti said their assessments of past restoration efforts have identified site conditions as the primary driver of success. "If the site has poor water quality or is prone to erosion or sediment deposition, those are the main predictors of success or failure," she said. "At Elkhorn Slough, the natural eelgrass meadows were also expanding at the same time as our restoration project, so the conditions were primed for success. At this point we can only speculate, but we'd like to explore in a more quantitative way why the restoration was so successful." In addition to Beheshti and Hughes, the coauthors of the paper include Susan Williams at UC Davis, Katharyn Boyer at San Francisco State University, Charlie Endris at Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, Annakate Clemons at UC Santa Cruz, Tracy Grimes at San Diego State University, and Kerstin Wasson at UCSC and the Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve. This work was supported in part by grants from the Ocean Foundation and the Anthropocene Institute. Explore further Sea otter populations found to increase eelgrass genetic diversity More information: Kathryn M. Beheshti et al, Rapid enhancement of multiple ecosystem services following the restoration of a coastal foundation species, Ecological Applications (2021). Journal information: Ecological Applications Kathryn M. Beheshti et al, Rapid enhancement of multiple ecosystem services following the restoration of a coastal foundation species,(2021). DOI: 10.1002/eap.2466 Two separate studies conducted by KAUST researchers reveal that northeastern Saudi Arabia, where the gigaproject NEOM is under construction, is at low risk of significant seismic activity. Credit: KAUST The potential for major earthquakes around the southern end of the Gulf of Aqaba may be lower than geophysicists feared. Separate studies by two students, using quite different approaches but arriving at similar findings, give hope that there will be low risks for emerging cities on the nearby shores of the Red Sea. The Dead Sea Transform fault spans roughly 1200 kilometers from the Red Sea north to Turkey, and written records show it has produced many devastating earthquakes over the last 2,000 years. However, there has been little study of seismicity in the sparsely populated region around the southern part of the fault, where the Gulf of Aqaba meets the Red Sea. "This area is now of great interest to Saudi Arabia because they are building the future megacity of NEOM very close to the Gulf of Aqaba," says geophysicist Sigurjon Jonsson from KAUST. "They also want to build the King Salman road crossing across the Gulf to Sharm El Sheikh." In 1995, a 7.2 magnitude quake struck the northern Gulf. The impact of an earthquake of such magnitude beneath the proposed crossing would be disastrous, so it is essential that engineers understand the seismic hazard in the region. Xing Li and Nicolas Castro-Perdomo, Jonsson's research students, led separate studies of plate motion around the Gulf of Aqaba. Both students used satellite geodesy, a universal framework for measuring the precise location of points on Earth. By observing how reference points on the surface move over time, geophysicists can study the deformation of tectonic plates and observe how rapidly stress and strain is building around fault lines. "Estimating how fast elastic energy builds up gives us crucial information on how frequently, and how large, earthquakes might be," says Perdomo. Perdomo used a network of more than 40 global positioning system (GPS) stations on the ground around the Gulf and modeled the tectonic deformation from their positions in 2015, 2017 and 2019. Conversely, Xing Li used Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) imagery, produced by satellites bouncing radar signals off the Earth's surface, to measure plate motion. However, InSAR imagery from polar-orbiting satellites does not capture north-south motion. "By focusing on areas where the satellite images overlap, where common signals cancel out, we could retrieve the north-south displacement," explains Li. She used more than 300 satellite images collected between 2014 and 2020 to create multiple 160-kilometer-long profiles of plate motion around the Gulf. Both studies found the Arabian side of the fault has been moving steadily northwards at around five millimeters per year. However, they noted a greater near-fault velocity to the south of the Gulf, which they attribute to the Earth's crust thinning, thereby creating less friction towards the Red Sea. Perdomo used existing models of crustal deformation to interpret their observations. "The rapid near-fault velocity gradient implies that the southernmost fault could be steadily sliding along without producing major earthquakes," he says. Both methods have proven reliable, yet GPS surveys remain labor intensive and expensive. "We've found an efficient and low-cost way to gather vast quantities of data that enable us to calculate even very slow horizontal displacement along a north-south fault, without doing any fieldwork," says Li. "There is uncertainty within each method, and lots of assumptions had to be made," says Jonsson. "But the fact that both studies independently concluded that earthquake hazard decreases towards the southern end of the Gulf strengthens the results tremendously." And a recent analysis of sedimentary cores collected from the bottom of the Gulf also suggests that large quakes have historically been less frequent at its southern end. "While this is good news, NEOM is not off the hook," says Jonsson, "More investigations into local site conditions, as well as earthquake simulations, are needed to guide the construction of a resilient city." Explore further Caribbean-South American plate boundary primed for major earthquake More information: Nicolas Castro-Perdomo et al, Interseismic deformation in the Gulf of Aqaba from GPS measurements, Geophysical Journal International (2021). Journal information: Geophysical Journal International Nicolas Castro-Perdomo et al, Interseismic deformation in the Gulf of Aqaba from GPS measurements,(2021). DOI: 10.1093/gji/ggab353 In 2019 and 2020, bushfires razed 24 million hectares of land in Australia. Credit: Shutterstock A week from today, a crucial round of United Nations climate change negotiations will begin in Glasgow and the stakes could not be higher. By the end, we'll know how far nations are willing to go to address humanity's biggest challenge. So is COP26 on track for success? There are reasons to be hopeful. More than 100 countries, including China, the United States and United Kingdom, have already pledged to reach net-zero emissions. Globally, renewable energy is booming, the tide is turning against fossil fuels, and the economic costs of not acting on climate change are becoming ever more obvious. But if history has taught us anything, no country at the summit will agree to do more on climate change than it believes it can do at home. In other words, domestic politics is what drives international negotiations. What will happen in Glasgow? The first COP, or Conference of Parties, was held in Berlin in 1995. About a quarter of a century later, it will meet for the 26th time. COP26 will determine the direction of key aspects of the fight against global warming. Chief among them is how well nations have implemented their commitments under the Paris Agreement to limit global warming to well below 2, and the extent to which they will increase that ambition. Other issues on the agenda include climate finance to developing nations, adaptation to climate change and carbon trading rules. Starting on October 31, hundreds of government delegates will attend for two weeks of complex and intense negotiations over the specific text of the agreement. Typically, what delegates can't sort out is left to political leaders, who negotiate the thorniest issues. Historically, final agreement occurs in the wee hours of the final session. Outside the convention center is the unofficial COP, which is more like a world climate expo. Thousands of representatives from business, civil society and elsewherefrom bankers and billionaires, to students and survivalistsgather for panel discussions, exhibitions and protests. Progress is slow Global climate talks involve people from all around the globe with different interests, preferences, and mandates (what negotiators sometimes call "red lines"). As you can imagine, progress can be slow. Almost 200 nations are signed up to the Paris Agreement, and agreement is by consensus. That means just one country can hold up progress for hours or even days. Cynicsmore often than not, those wanting to delay climate actionclaim the whole process is nothing more than a talk shop. It's true, talk is slow. But it's also much better than coercion, and without the negotiations countries would face much less pressure to act. It's also true that over the last 25 years, these negotiations have redefined how the world thinks and acts on climate change. After all, it was the COP in Paris that tasked the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change to provide a special report on the impacts of global warming of 1.5 above pre-industrial levels. Its findings reverberated around the world. It found if we're to limit warming to 1.5, we must reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 45% by 2030, reaching near-zero by around 2050. But since the Paris Agreement was struck, global emissions have continued to rise, even with the impacts of COVID-19. COP26 is a major test of whether the world can turn this around and avert runaway global warming. Will Glasgow deliver? For the Glasgow summit to be deemed a success, a few things need to go right. First of all, countries need to commit not simply to net-zero targets by 2050, but stronger targets for 2030. Without them, there's zero chance the world will hold the rise in global temperatures to 2. Major emitters will also need to support developing countries with the finance and technologies to enable them to transition to clean energy and adapt to climate change impacts, including severe flooding and prolonged droughts. Other issues, such as rules around international carbon markets, will also be on the agenda, but even the most robust carbon markets are unlikely to deliver emissions cuts at the speed scientists warn is necessary to avert disaster. There are signs of hope. The US has been, historically, the most important player in the international negotiations, and President Joe Biden has outlined the most ambition climate plans in the nation's history ahead of the Glasgow summit. The US, together with the UK, the European Union and a host of smaller countries, including those in the Pacific, comprise a strong and influential coalition of countries gunning to limit warming to 1.5. So what stands in their way? Well, what countries are willing to commit to in Glasgow is not so much a function of what happens in Glasgow, but of domestic politics in their capitals. This is why Democrats in Washington are feverishly working to ensure Biden's massive budget bill, which includes measures such as a clean electricity program, makes its way through Congress. The bill is vital to the president's commitment to halve emissions by 2030. It's also why astute observers have been fixated on well-known climate laggards heavily reliant on fossil fuels, such Brazil, Russia, and Australia, to see whether any domestic political developments might lead these nations to commit to more ambitious targets by 2030. And it's why lobbyists for industries that stand to lose from climate changenamely oil, gas and coalknow to kill off climate action in Glasgow, they need to kill off climate action at home. International negotiations are often referred to as a two-level game. Changes at the domestic level can enable new and, hopefully, ambitious realignments at the international level. Will these realignments occur? We don't have long to find out, but at the domestic level in many nations, there has never been a worse time to advocate for fossil fuelsand this should give us all hope that action on climate change is more likely than ever. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Jan Kunes. On the right: Nickel and oxygen atoms, and moving electrons in between. Credit: Vienna University of Technology Even after more than 30 years of research, high-temperature superconductivity is still one of the great unsolved mysteries of materials physics. The exact mechanism that causes certain materials to still conduct electric current without any resistance even at relatively high temperatures is still not fully understood. Two years ago, a new class of promising superconductors was discovered: so-called layered nickelates. For the first time, a research team at TU Wien has now succeeded in determining important parameters of these novel superconductors by comparing theory and experiment. This means that for the first time a theoretical model is now available that can be used to understand the electronic mechanisms of high-temperature superconductivity in these materials. In search of high-temperature superconductors Many superconductors are known today, but most of them are only superconducting at extremely low temperatures, close to absolute zero. Materials that remain superconducting at higher temperatures are called "high-temperature superconductors"even though these "high" temperatures (often in the order of magnitude of less than -200C) are still extremely cold by human standards. Finding a material that still remains superconducting at significantly higher temperatures would be a revolutionary discovery that would open the door to many new technologies. For a long time, the so-called cuprates were considered particularly exciting candidatesa class of materials containing copper atoms. Now, however, another class of materials could turn out to be even more promising: Nickelates, which have a similar structure to cuprates, but with nickel instead of copper. "There has been a lot of research on cuprates, and it has been possible to dramatically increase the critical temperature up to which the material remains superconducting. If similar progress can be made with the newly discovered nickelates, it would be a huge step forward," says Prof. Jan Kunes from the Institute of Solid State Physics at TU Wien. Hard-to-access parameters Theoretical models describing the behavior of such superconductors already exist. The problem, however, is that in order to use these models, one must know certain material parameters that are difficult to determine. "The charge transfer energy plays a key role," explains Jan Kunes. "This value tells us how much energy you have to add to the system to transfer an electron from a nickel atom to an oxygen atom." Unfortunately, this value cannot be measured directly, and theoretical calculations are extremely complicated and imprecise. Therefore, Atsushi Hariki, a member of Jan Kunes' research group, developed a method to determine this parameter indirectly: When the material is examined with X-rays, the results also depend on the charge transfer energy. "We calculated details of the X-ray spectrum that are particularly sensitive to this parameter and compared our results with measurements of different X-ray spectroscopy methods," explains Jan Kunes. "In this way, we can determine the appropriate valueand this value can now be inserted into the computational models used to describe the superconductivity of the material." Important prerequisite for the search for better nickelates Thus, for the first time, it has now been possible to explain the electronic structure of the material precisely and to set up a parameterised theoretical model for describing superconductivity in nickelates. "With this, we can now get to the bottom of the question of how the mechanics of the effect can be explained at the electronic level," says Jan Kunes. "Which orbitals play a decisive role? Which parameters matter in detail? That's what you need to know if you want to find out how to improve this material further, so that one day you might be able to produce new nickelates whose superconductivity persists up to even significantly higher temperatures." More information: Keisuke Higashi et al, Core-Level X-Ray Spectroscopy of Infinite-Layer Nickelate: LDA+DMFT Study, Physical Review X (2021). Journal information: Physical Review X Keisuke Higashi et al, Core-Level X-Ray Spectroscopy of Infinite-Layer Nickelate: LDA+DMFT Study,(2021). DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevX.11.041009 A new study bolsters the idea that the uplift of the Himalayas and Andes that began tens of millions of years ago helped trigger the ice ages that followed. Here, mountains in Nepal. Credit: Bisesh Gurung/unsplash Silicate minerals are the major components of most rocks. When these minerals on the Earth's surface come into contact with water, they partially dissolve as they react with carbon dioxide in the water. This dissolved material is then transported via rivers to the ocean, where it is ultimately used by organisms to make marine carbonates such as limestone. In this way, carbon dioxide is removed from the atmosphere and turned into rock. The process is called silicate weatheringa natural example of carbon sequestration. In the modern world, the rate of this process increases along with the rate of erosion, the breaking down of rock into ever smaller pieces by processes such as water flow by streams and rivers, freeze-thaw cycles or landslides. Three decades ago at Columbia University's Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, one of us, Maureen Raymo, together with colleagues William F. Ruddiman and Philip N. Froelich, proposed that enhanced erosion and weathering of rocks, driven by the uplift of the Himalayas and Andes, caused a decline in atmospheric carbon dioxide. This resulted in the global cooling observed over the past 40 million years, and ultimately, to repeated ice ages. This idea is known as the Uplift-Weathering Hypothesis. Multiple geological and geochemical records support this idea. These include records tracing changes in carbon dioxide dissolved in the oceans; the timing of when certain rocks cooled and solidified; and rates of sedimentation on the ocean floor. Isotopes of several elements including strontium, osmium and lithium are also consistent with a global acceleration of continental erosion and weathering during this time. They therefore provide support for the Uplift-Weathering Hypothesis. However, isotopes of the element beryllium have stood out as an important exception. Rocks include only beryllium-9 (it has 4 protons and 5 neutrons). In the Earth's upper atmosphere, high-energy cosmic particles from the Sun collide with oxygen and nitrogen to create beryllium-10 (with 4 protons and 6 neutrons), which falls to the Earth's surface. If erosion and weathering increases, more beryllium-9 would come down rivers, while the rate of beryllium-10 creation would stay the same, so we might expect the ratio of beryllium-9/beryllium-10 in the oceans to increase. Since it did not, some scientists have interpreted this to indicate that continental erosion-weathering rates were stable over the last 12 million years, which would falsify the Uplift-Weathering Hypothesis. In a study just published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, we have developed a new model of the beryllium cycle that reinterprets the isotope record of the past. The model demonstrates that under increasing continental erosion and weathering, increases in beryllium-9 flowing through rivers to the ocean would be counterbalanced by chemical scavenging processes along ocean coasts that would remove the extra beryllium-9. The predicted result would be a constant beryllium-9/beryllium-10 isotope ratio in seawater, as observed. Similar processes do not take place with the other isotopes, such as strontium and lithium. This explains why beryllium isotope records are consistent with increased erosion and weathering of the continental crust during the late Cenozoic, starting some 34 million years ago, and resolves the contradiction between the beryllium records and the other weathering proxies. This study also provides important information on how our planet's carbon cycle works. Given the many lines of evidence indicating that increased erosion and weathering occurred over the last 12 million years, one must conclude that geologic processes other than silicate weathering must have prevented runaway cooling of the planet. A number of mechanisms have been proposed to compensate for the removal of carbon dioxide by erosion and weathering, and thus maintaining our planet's habitability. Our challenge as geoscientists is to reach a deeper understanding of the complexities of the Earth's carbon cycle, especially the vast understudied reservoirs of carbon that are exchanged between the planet's oceanic crust and seawater. Explore further How quickly does the climate recover? More information: Shilei () Li et al, Neogene continental denudation and the beryllium conundrum, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2021). Journal information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Shilei () Li et al, Neogene continental denudation and the beryllium conundrum,(2021). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2026456118 This story is republished courtesy of Earth Institute, Columbia University http://blogs.ei.columbia.edu. Twenty-four newly discovered species of the genus Trigonopterus from Sulawesi. Credit: Alexander Riedel Many curious animals can be found on the Indonesian Island of Sulawesisuch as the deer-hog and the midget buffalo. But the island's tropical forests hide a diversity of tiny insects that still remains largely unexplored. Museum scientists from Indonesia and Germany have just discovered 28 new species of beetles, all belonging to the weevil genus Trigonopterus. Most of the new species were collected by Raden Pramesa Narakusumo, curator of beetles at the Museum Zoologicum Bogoriense, from two localities of Central Sulawesi Province: Mt. Dako and Mt. Pompangeo. In fact, the forests on their slopes had never been searched for small weevils before. His research partner, Alexander Riedel of the Natural History Museum Karlsruhe, had been studying this genus for the past 15 years and was planning for a research trip to Papua New Guinea, when the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Finding himself grounded, he decided to work on the specimens from Sulawesi together with Narakusumo instead. After diagnosing the new species, it was a challenge to find suitable names for them. One obvious choice was Trigonopterus corona, which reflects the large impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on this project. However, T. corona is by far not the first insect species with a pandemic-inspired name. In the last year, we've seen the species descriptions of the caddisfly Potamophylax coronavirus and the wasps Stethantyx covida and Allorhogas quarentenus. R.P. Narakusumo during fieldwork at the top of Mt. Dako. Credit: Raden Pramesa Narakusumo While some of the newly described species go by rather 'standard' names that derive from either the localities they have been collected from or their distinct characters, others were given a free pass to the Hall of Fame. Two of them were named after Indonesian movie characters (T. gundala and T. unyil), while T. ewok is another addition based on the Star Wars universeperfectly in line with T. chewbacca, T. yoda and T.porg, all described between 2016 and 2019 by teams involving Riedel. The two-millimeter-long, rust-colored Trigonopterus ewok was found at 19002000 m on Mt Pompangeo, hiding among the leaf litter in the forest. But how come the critters have remained overlooked for so long? Almost all of these beetles measure only 2-3 millimeters, while most entomologists have a preference for the larger and strikingly looking stag beetles or jewel beetles. A second factor is the superficial resemblance of many species: they are most easily diagnosed by their DNA sequences. Besides the publication in the open-access journal ZooKeys, high-resolution photographs of each species were uploaded to the Species ID website, along with a short scientific description. This provides a face to the species name, an important prerequisite for future studies. A view from a ridge over the cloudy slopes of Mt. Pompangeo. Credit: Raden Pramesa Narakusumo This is the duo's second published paper on Trigonopterus weevils from Sulawesithe first one describing the whopping 103 new species from the area. Currently, the known Trigonopterus species on the island amount to 132, which is likely a mere fraction of the real diversity. The numerous mountains of Sulawesi have a distinct fauna of endemics that have evolved over the past millions of years, and these wingless, flightless weevils, highly isolated in their habitats, are a good example of this diversification. Their evolution is interwoven with the islands geological history. Riedel wants to increase the number of sampled localities: "Once we have enough locality coverage and understand the weevils' evolution, we can draw conclusions on the geological processes that formed the island of Sulawesi. This is a fascinating subject, because this island was formed by the fusion of different fragments millions of years ago." The new species thus fill an important gap required for solving the islands geological puzzle. Vegetation at Mt Dako. Credit: Raden Pramesa Narakusumo For the Indonesian side, it is equally important to obtain an inventory of species: "A large percentage of Indonesian biodiversity is yet unknown and we need names and diagnoses of species, so we can use these in further studies on conservation and bioprospecting," says R. Pramesa Narakusumo. "Two of the newly described species came from our museum collection, and this underlines the importance of museums as a source for biological discoveries," he added. With many more new species of this genus to be expected, it is a lucky coincidence that the number of Star Wars characters is equally long. May the Force be with these researchers! Dammar tree at Mt. Pompangeo. Credit: Raden Pramesa Narakusumo Explore further Star Wars and Asterix characters amongst 103 beetles new to science from Sulawesi, Indonesia More information: Raden Pramesa Narakusumo et al, Twenty-eight new species of Trigonopterus Fauvel (Coleoptera, Curculionidae) from Central Sulawesi, ZooKeys (2021). Journal information: ZooKeys Raden Pramesa Narakusumo et al, Twenty-eight new species of Trigonopterus Fauvel (Coleoptera, Curculionidae) from Central Sulawesi,(2021). DOI: 10.3897/zookeys.1065.71680 Radio light curve of J1415+1320 at different frequencies. Credit: Vaddi et al., 2021. Astronomers have used the Ooty Radio Telescope (ORT) to probe a blazar known as J1415+1320. Results of the study deliver essential information regarding the variability of this peculiar source. The research was detailed in a paper published October 14 on the arXiv pre-print repository. Blazars are very compact quasars associated with supermassive black holes at the centers of active, giant elliptical galaxies. Based on their optical emission properties, astronomers divide blazars into two classes: flat-spectrum radio quasars (FSRQs) that feature prominent and broad optical emission lines, and BL Lacertae objects (BL Lacs), which do not. In general, blazars belong to a larger group of active galaxies that host active galactic nuclei (AGN), and their characteristic features are relativistic jets pointed almost exactly toward the Earth. However, the detailed mechanisms of ejection and collimation of jets are still poorly understood, and more studies of this phenomenon are required to improve our knowledge on the subject. At a redshift of between 0.247 and 0.5, J1415+1320 is a BL Lac exhibiting some peculiar properties. These include apparent yet rare association of the AGN with an optical spiral host, detection of a counter jet in a blazar type AGN, and its association to the class of compact symmetric objects, as well as blazar. Moreover, the source showcases strong variability in the radio light curve, which could be attributed to both relativistic beaming and gravitational lensing. To further investigate these properties, especially the strong variability of J1415+1320, a team of astronomers led by Sravani Vaddi of the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico, analyzed the data from ORT, which monitored this blazar between 1989 and 2018. "The data for this study comes from the extensive interplanetary scintillation (IPS) database collected during the period 19892018 on a large number of compact radio sources of angular size less than 250 mas from the Ooty Radio Telescope (ORT), operated by the Radio Astronomy Centre, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, India, at 327 MHz," the researchers wrote in the paper. The ORT observations found that J1415+1320 displayed significant variability above its mean ux density of about 2.70 Jy at two epochs around 2008 and 2009. Besides these two epochs, the ux density remains constant throughout the observed period. The variability index (VI) for J1415+1320 was about 8 percent. The astronomers noted that the average VI of sources that are found to show signicant variability is at a level of 10 percent. They assume that the lower VI of this blazar may be indicating variability that is either weak or absent. Moreover, the researchers conducted a structure function (SF) analysis of J1415+1320's variability. They found that the SF in this blazar shows a two-level structure. It rises gradually when compared to the control source, and approaches a plateau around a lag index of 10 (in 2004) and then increases around a lag index of 22. Summing up the study, the authors of the paper write that the results are inadequate to obtain robust estimates of variability properties of J1415+1320. They believe further monitoring studies of this source at other low frequencies will be useful in order to better understand its variability. Explore further Research examines emission from the blazar TXS 0506+056 More information: Sravani Vaddi, P.K. Manoharan, Anish Roshi, Long-term meter wavelength variability study of Blazar J1415+1320 using the Ooty Radio Telescope. arXiv:2110.07705v1 [astro-ph.GA], Sravani Vaddi, P.K. Manoharan, Anish Roshi, Long-term meter wavelength variability study of Blazar J1415+1320 using the Ooty Radio Telescope. arXiv:2110.07705v1 [astro-ph.GA], arxiv.org/abs/2110.07705 2021 Science X Network A detailed look at the components that make up the multifunctional air filter. Credit: Liron Issman / Dr Brian Graves A new carbon-based air filtration nanomaterial capable of capturing and destroying various viruses, including animal coronavirus, a close relative of SARS-CoV-2the virus that causes COVID-19has been developed by Cambridge scientists and engineers. The prototype, developed and tested by a multidisciplinary team of researchers from the Boies Group, in the Department of Engineering, and with colleagues from the Department of Materials Science & Metallurgy and Department of Pathology, is equipped with ultra-thin carbon nanotube electrically conductive membranes. This new conductive filtration membrane enables simultaneous virus filtration and sanitisation by thermal flashes via resistive heating to temperatures above 100C, deactivating viruses, including betacoronavirus, in seconds. The researchers say the multifunctional filter is especially useful at fighting the viral spread of airborne diseases in confined environments such as emergency vehicles, hospitals, leisure and education centers, whether it is used as a standalone unit or in conjunction with heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) filtration systems. The results, including findings taken during virus infectivity trials backed by theoretical modeling, are reported in the journal Carbon. The filter represents a new class of conductive filtration mediums enabling electrical functionality with the capability to be mass produced, and possessing filtration efficiency and air permeability that matches that of commercial HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filters. It effectively captures respiratory liquid dropletsa carrier of many viruses, including coronavirusesthat are produced through coughing, speaking and breathing and which remain suspended in the air for hours, migrating over tens of meters in confined environments. It is these respiratory particles that contribute to high infection rates in enclosed and crowded spaces. Produced by a unique process invented at the University, the innovative carbon nanotube material is also the pillar of the ANAM Initiative, funded by the EPSRC, which seeks to unlock the commercial potential offered by carbon nanotubes. Ph.D. student Liron Issman said: "Based on the knowledge acquired by this project (the result of an Innovate UK-funded grant), several working prototypes have been developed showing the ability of the filter to achieve air purification of 99% of a small room or an ambulance within 1020 minutes. Several industrial collaboration projects have been initiated with world-leading air filtration companies to introduce this carbon nanotube material into state-of-the-art applications to help combat COVID-19 and other airborne-based pathogens. "To meet the market demands, our unique process is being scaled commercially by Q-Flo Limited, a University of Cambridge spin-out, to initially produce over 100,000 m2/yr of membrane material. The benefits of these conductive filtration materials are that they provide low flow resistance with high capture efficiency and capabilities for additional heating and sensing." Explore further Which air cleaners work best to remove aerosols that contain viruses? More information: Liron Issman et al, Filtration of viral aerosols via a hybrid carbon nanotube active filter, Carbon (2021). Journal information: Carbon Liron Issman et al, Filtration of viral aerosols via a hybrid carbon nanotube active filter,(2021). DOI: 10.1016/j.carbon.2021.07.004 Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain The time has come for Canada and other rich nations to pony-up and pay for the devastation they have caused countries in the Global South. That means, for a start, providing far greater climate adaptation financing to low-income countries and plugging the holes that siphon their limited fiscal resources to tax havens. Two Canadians have prominent roles at the COP26 climate meeting in Glasgow, Scotland. United Nations Ambassador Bob Rae, is co-chair of the COP26 finance panel, and Mark Carney is the UN special envoy for COP26, responsible for getting financial institutions to join the new Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net-Zero. They are experienced and highly respected individuals with solid reputations as mediators. However, despite Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's recent climate plan, Canada's record on greenhouse gas emissions reduction has been abysmal. Furthermore, its failure to meet its climate finance commitments to developing countries will not be viewed favorably as Ambassador Rae attempts to negotiate a meaningful international climate agreement. The UN says more than 160 financial firms are signed onto the alliance. The "Big Six" Canadian banksBMO, CIBC, National Bank, RBC, Scotiabank and TDsigned on days before the summit was to begin. Their pledge will undoubtedly be met with allegations that this was merely a public relations exercise. Since the Paris deal was signed in 2015, Canada's five largest banks have provided $700 billion in financing to fossil fuel companies. Canada, one of the worst carbon emitters Canada is, historically, the 10th largest carbon emitter and the worst contributor to carbon emissions on a per capita basis. The federal government has committed to reducing carbon emissions to 45 percent below 2005 levels by 2030. However, it has not committed to end fossil fuel company subsidies or provide an end-date for fossil fuel production, despite the urging of the UN secretary general to hold the line. Low-income countries are tiny emitters of greenhouse gases, least responsible for climate change, yet bearing its worst consequences. In the past 15 years, 90 percent of deaths from heat wave-related disasters have occurred in low- and middle-income countries. The UN refugee agency estimates that 21.5 million people are displaced by climate change-related disasters every year. For these countries, adaptation, not mitigation, is the overriding priority. Create zero-interest loans Twelve years ago, at the Copenhagen summit, rich countries promised to provide developing countries US$100 billion a year in climate finance by 2020. They have yet to meet this target. Canada has contributed less than 20 percent of its fair share. Even with the Trudeau government's promise to double climate financing to US$4.2 billion over five years, US$840 million per year, this is still only 24 percent of its fair share. The Group of 78, of which I am a member of the executive, has called for a quadrupling of Canada's financing commitment as a bare minimum. Moreover 80 percent of rich country financing is in the form of loans, increasing the stress on countries already struggling to manage their debt burdens. International Monetary Fund-created money, or special drawing rights, which is allocated to countries based on their economic size, is largely unused by rich countries. Although discussions are ongoing, there has been no commitment to recycle these funds into zero-interest loans to low-income countries. Tax havens harm climate action Tax havens have disproportionately siphoned off wealth from low-income countries, a post-Second World War legacy of former colonies gaining independence that prompted the exit of colonial wealth via the proliferation of tax havens. Their losses have been accentuated during the pandemic. According to a report by the tax justice network these countries are losing the equivalent to more than half of their yearly public health budgets due to the shifting of multinational corporations profits to tax havens. The loss is equivalent to eight percent of rich countries' health budgets. More than 130 countries, including Canada, have reached an agreement, co-ordinated by the OECD, that would establish a minimum of 15 percent corporate tax to restrict tax avoidance and evasion. However, it has been sharply criticized as being rife with loopholes and carveouts. Oxfam accused it of pandering to corporations, having "practically no teeth" and offering no revenue for the world's poorest countries. Tax havens are enabled by an infrastructure of lawyers, accountants and bankers, including some from Canada. Rich countries' efforts to restrict and bring greater transparency to international tax rules have largely fallen short. Even by that standard Canada has been a laggard. The Liberal government recently increased the investigative resources of the Canada Revenue Agency and promised in its most recent budget to address cross-border tax avoidance and evasion schemes. How effective these will be in reining in these actions by wealthy individuals and corporations; past inaction does not bode well going forward. Carney will have his work cut out for him if, or when, he addresses these issues at COP26. No more blah, blah, blah To its credit, Canada, along with several other developed countries, is a member of the High Ambition Coalition, a group at the UN talks comprising many of the poorest and most vulnerable developing countries. But good intentions and empty promises will not pass muster. We don't need more "blah blah blah," to quote Greta Thunberg. The UN Human Rights Council recently recognized access to a clean and healthy environment as a fundamental right and established a special rapporteur on the human rights impacts of climate change. These developments have the potential to make major emitting companies, including Canada's, legally liable for human rights violations arising from climate change. Hopefully, this will put additional pressure on rich countries to get serious about climate financing, debt restructuring and development funding for poor nations. Inaction is a luxury we can no longer afford. Explore further Rich countries fall $10 billion short in climate finance pledges This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain As the population of people of color grows across the United States, white Americans are still prone to move when neighborhoods diversify, and their fears and stereotypical beliefs about other racial and ethnic groups may help maintain segregation, according to research published by the American Psychological Association. In a nationally representative survey and six additional studies, white Americans perceived a threat to their culture and way of life when presented with information about changing demographics in hypothetical white-majority neighborhoods and schools, compared with when no demographic change was projected. The projected population growth of Arab Americans, Latino Americans and Asian Americans evoked the strongest feelings of foreign cultural threat, followed by the projected population growth of Black Americans. The research was published online in the Journal of Experimental Psychology: General. "The more that white Americans perceived this foreign cultural threat, the more they reported wanting to move out of those communities," said lead researcher Linda Zou, Ph.D., an assistant professor of psychology at the University of Maryland. "Racial segregation of schools and neighborhoods never ended. The country is growing more diverse, but those changing racial demographics may trigger heightened perceptions of threat among white Americans and contribute to the persistence of segregation." Since 2000, the population growth of Latino Americans has accounted for more than half of the total population growth in the United States. According to U.S. Census projections, the United States will be a majority minority nation by 2044, when non-Hispanic whites will make up just under 50% of the population, compared with approximately 25% for Hispanics, 13% for Blacks, 8% for Asians, and 4% for multi-racial people. Non-Hispanic whites currently make up approximately 58% of the U.S. population. The perception of different types of threat is often fueled by different underlying stereotypes, Zou said. For example, the study found that while Asian Americans were perceived by white Americans as a greater threat than Black Americans to a hypothetical white-majority neighborhood's cultural character, Black Americans were perceived as a greater threat than Asian Americans to the neighborhood's safety and resources. Another study about schools found that white parents reported a greater degree of perceived foreign cultural threat from a growing Latino American student body compared with a growing Black American student body. The research included data from a 2000 nationwide survey with 2,213 white Americans (54% of whom were female). Respondents who reported greater feelings of foreign cultural threat were equally more likely to oppose living in neighborhoods with Latino Americans, Asian Americans or Black Americans. Six additional studies that were conducted online or in Seattle from 2016-18 produced more detailed findings. White Americans were more likely to want to move out of hypothetical white-majority neighborhoods in response to both Black American and Latino American population growth compared with Asian American population growth. They were also more likely to want to move out in response to Asian American population growth compared with no projected demographic change. White Americans tended to perceive a greater foreign cultural threat from both Latino American and Asian American population growth (compared with no projected demographic change) even though participants were told that the ethnic minority growth was from people born in the United States. Previous studies have found that white Americans often consider U.S.-born Latino Americans and Asian Americans as less American or more foreign than their white counterparts. The studies didn't analyze whether the participants' political affiliation affected the findings, but even liberal white parents have resisted sending their children to integrated schools in New York City and other areas, Zou said. While more white Americans may say they support racial integration, that doesn't necessarily reflect where they choose to live or send their children to school, she added. Other research suggests that programs and policies designed to welcome immigrants could help improve attitudes and support among white Americans for neighborhood and school integration by signaling positive local norms, Zou said. The research relied on surveys and data about hypothetical neighborhoods. Additional research is needed about white flight in actual neighborhoods across the United States, according to the researchers. More information: Linda Zou et al, Diversifying neighborhoods and schools engender perceptions of foreign cultural threat among White Americans, Journal of Experimental Psychology: General (2021). Journal information: Journal of Experimental Psychology: General Linda Zou et al, Diversifying neighborhoods and schools engender perceptions of foreign cultural threat among White Americans,(2021). DOI: 10.1037/xge0001115 RFE/RL President Describes Media Challenges During CSCE Hearing In testimony before the U.S. Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE) earlier this week, RFE/RL President Jamie Fly addressed the increased pressure faced by RFE/RL journalists working throughout the media organizations 23-country region. During the bipartisan hearing, In Pursuit of Truth: Media Freedom in the OSCE Region , Fly noted the challenge to free media coming from authoritarian leaders who are increasingly succumbing to the attraction of a media landscape without the independent checks and balances inherent in an impartial press. INCIDENTS AND THREATS Jailed RFE/RL Journalist Appeals To Biden For Help To Win Freedom For All Detained Crimeans Imprisoned RFE/RL freelance correspondent Vladyslav Yesypenko has appealed to U.S. President Joe Biden and U.S. lawmakers to do more to free the more than 100 political prisoners detained by Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) over their activities in Crimea. Yesypenko, who has been in detention in Russian-occupied Crimea since March, made the appeal in a letter read publicly for the first time on October 21 at the Ukrainian Embassy in Washington . "There can be no greater hell than being trapped in these four walls day after day, month after month, for half a year now, only allowed outside on command for a few breaths of fresh air and then back to your cell, helpless to change a thing," Yesypenko said. CPJ Calls For Probe Into 'Repugnant' Threats Against RFE/RL's Uzbek Service Staff Ahead Of Poll The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is urging authorities in Uzbekistan to swiftly investigate the numerous online death threats received by staff members of RFE/RL's Uzbek Service ahead of next week's presidential election, and to ensure that the journalists can work safely. The "unprecedented and repugnant" threats made to the RFE/RL employees in recent days should trigger a "clear response" from the authorities, the New York-based media-freedom watchdog said in a statement on October 21. "No journalist should have to work in the face of such threats, and the Uzbek government should take immediate steps to investigate these threats origins and hold those responsible to account," said Gulnoza Said, CPJ's Europe and Central Asia program coordinator. U.S. Ambassador To Belarus Reaffirms Support During Call With Wife Of Jailed Belarus Service Consultant Ihar Losik U.S. Ambassador to Belarus Julie Fisher reiterated her support and that of the U.S. government during a phone conversation with Darya Losik, the wife of imprisoned RFE/RL Belarus Service consultant Ihar Losik. Losik has been in detention for more than 500 days. The charges against Losik are widely considered to have been fabricated by Belarusian authorities, who have in the past year faced protests against the continued rule of Lukashenka. (Belarus Service) 'Sword Of Damocles': With First Legal Charges, Russia's 'Foreign Agent' Law Bares Its Teeth In comments regarding Russia's "foreign agent" legislation on October 21, President Vladimir Putin repeated the Kremlin's disputed argument that the United States has similar legislation that "goes all the way to felony liability." "It's not like that here," Putin claimed. However, while the Russian "foreign agent" laws do not themselves include criminal penalties, those designated can face criminal charges and years in prison under other laws if they fail to comply properly with requirements set out in the "foreign agent" legislation. I Wont Be Quiet: Current Time Editor Yelizaveta Surnacheva On Russia's Foreign Agent Label Hours after Russian journalist Dmitry Muratov, editor-in-chief of the independent daily Novaya Gazeta, became a co-recipient of the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize on October 8, Russias Justice Ministry named five RFE/RL journalists as foreign agents. One of the five, Current Time editor Yelizaveta Surnacheva, said during an interview that the global aim of those behind Russias foreign agent legislation is to make the overall mass of people...understand that Aye, yai, yai, yai, this is forbidden! and vowed that, despite the designation, I wont be quiet. Current Time and seven other Russia-focused RFE/RL reporting projects have already been designated as foreign agents. as have three other RFE/RL journalists. Taliban Strikes Journalists In Kabul As Women Protest For Their Rights Taliban militants have attacked several journalists covering a Kabul rally by a group of women demanding "work, bread, and education," spurring concerns about the deterioration of the rights situation under Afghanistans new rulers. After it toppled the internationally recognized government in Kabul in mid-August, the Taliban claimed it would show more moderation than during its brutal rule from 1996 to 2001, when girls were not allowed to attend school and women were banned from work, education, and sports. (Radio Azadi, via Gandhara) As Afghan Media Struggles Under Taliban, Jobless Journalists Grow Desperate Many media outlets across Afghanistan have shut down in the wake of the Taliban takeover, with some journalists leaving the profession or the country out of fear of reprisals. Gul Ahmad Almas is one former freelance journalist whose life has been upended by the new regime. With no income from reporting, he is dependent on hand-to-mouth work collecting brush to sell as fuel. (Radio Azadi, via Gandhara) Pakistani TV Journalist Killed By Roadside Bomb In Troubled Balochistan A Pakistani television reporter has been killed in a bomb blast in the southwestern province of Balochistan that was claimed by a local separatist group. Journalist Shahid Zehri, 35, and a friend were traveling to the northwestern city of Karachi by car when a bomb exploded in the vehicle in the Hub area overnight, officials and colleagues said on October 11. Both suffered critical injuries. Zehri, a reporter for Karachi's Urdu-language Metro News 1 Television, was later declared dead. ( Radio Mashaal via Gandhara) Watchdog Denounces 'Unprecedented' Attacks By Russia, China On Freedom Of Expression During Pandemic Amnesty International says Russia, China, and many other countries have put in place oppressive laws that have restricted the right to freedom of expression and silenced critics during the coronavirus pandemic. Combined with a flood of misinformation across the world, attacks on freedom of expression by governments have had a devastating impact on peoples ability to access accurate and timely information to help them cope with the burgeoning global health crisis, the London-based human rights group said in a report released on October 19. Ukrainian Bank Chief Dismissed After Assault On RFE/RL Journalists Ukraine's state-owned export-import bank has dismissed its chairman after a court ordered him to be put under nighttime house arrest while the authorities probe a confrontation with RFE/RL investigative reporters last week. During an interview on October 4 at Ukreksimbank's Kyiv offices, CEO Yevhen Metsher and his spokesman ordered a security guard to seize the cameras and memory cards of two reporters of Schemes (Skhemy) -- an investigative news project run by RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service in cooperation with UA: Pershy television. Amid condemnation from top government officials, including President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's office, Metsher and the two other bank employees were criminally charged in connection with the confrontation. Seven Years In Prison For Following A Telegram Channel? Some Belarusians Are Unsubscribing, Just In Case The government of Belarusian strongman Alyaksandr Lukashenka has shut down independent media, blocked websites, and jailed and tortured journalists in an attempt to stamp out domestic criticism of his often-brutal rule. Now it may be turning its sights toward readers of the last vestiges of independent media inside the country. Belarus's Internal Police warned on October 13 that a new government resolution considers subscribers to Telegram channels labeled by the state as "extremist" to be participants in an "extremist" organization and, thus, subject to criminal prosecution. Well Known Blogger Forced To Leave Uzbekistan Due To Increased Pressure Ahead The Presidential Elections News Microsoft Information Compliance Adds Adaptive Policy Scopes Feature Microsoft recently announced an "adaptive policy scopes" capability for organizations using Microsoft Information Compliance solutions with Microsoft 365 applications. Adaptive policy scopes can be used to enforce policies for data retention when using Microsoft 365 applications, such as SharePoint sites, Microsoft 356 Groups and Microsoft Teams. Policies are said to get dynamically enforced as people join or leave an organization. The adaptive policy scopes approach promises to ease some pain for organizations that need to apply information compliance policies in a nuanced ways, such as specifying policies specifically for a branch office based in Germany, per Microsoft's example. The adaptive policy scopes approach contrasts with Microsoft's earlier, more static approach, which required some organizations to build customized solutions. "Previously, organizations had to manually maintain these policies and customers were building complex PowerShell scripts to manage these static scopes at scale," explained Erica Toelle, a senior product marketing manager on the Microsoft compliance product team, in the announcement. The static approach was based on content locations. The adaptive policy scopes approach is based more on attributes or properties associated with Microsoft 365 users, groups or sites. Here's how that distinction was described: [The adaptive scope] consists of attributes or properties, e.g., Department or country, that define the users, groups, or sites in your organization. You will choose supported locations containing the content you want to retain. The policy will automatically update to match the criteria defined in the scope. Creating adaptive scope policies is like creating Azure Active Directory dynamic group memberships. "For those familiar with Azure Active Directory dynamic group membership, adaptive policy scopes work in a similar way," Toelle explained. Likely, top-tier E5-type licensing is required to use the new adaptive policy scopes feature. Toelle pointed interested organizations to "an E5 Compliance trial or purchase licenses here." Microsoft describes the licenses that apply to its various information compliance services and capabilities in this Oct. 19-dated document. The document is rather confusing, though, and the adaptive policy scopes feature wasn't mentioned in it at press time. Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. "Black on Black Representation" | Main | "Just Let People Have Cellphones in Prison" February 15, 2021 Any guesses for when we might again have a fully functioning US Sentencing Commission? It has been far too long since the US Sentencing Commission has been fully functional, and this post is my indirect way of saying that I hope getting the USSC back in action with a full slate of Commissioners is a top priority for the Biden Administration. But, given that we still do not yet have a new confirmed Attorney General nearly a month into the new administration, and especially with other business (and other judicial openings) sure to be a higher priority, I am wondering if it may still be months before we can start talking seriously about what the "new Commission" ought to be doing to advance criminal justice reform. Former Prez Donald Trump's track record with respect to the US Sentencing Commission was quite spotty. As noted in this April 2017 post, the USSC had only two of seven commissioner slots filled at the start of 2017 (which led the Commission not to advance any formal amendments to the guidelines in that year). Senate confirmation of two nominees gave the USSC a functioning quorum to be able to move forward with 2018 guideline amendments. But a slate of new nominees to the Commission by former Prez Trump in March 2018 were controversial and got a cold shoulder from the Senate leaving the USSC again with only two Commissioners (and thus without a quorum) as it entered 2019. Prez Trump thereafter did not announce new nominees until August 2020 and, according to this recent Law360 piece, those names were never even formally sent to the Senate. Long story short, the US Sentencing Commission was only somewhat functional for a small portion of the last four years, and the USSC has not had complete set of commissioners firmly in place for the better part of a decade. The USSC staff has completed lots of research and has churned out many reports in the interim, but the FIRST STEP Act's passage in December 2018 made it particularly problematic for the USSC to have been non-functional in terms of formal amendments or agendas in recent years. As reveled on this official US Sentencing Commission page, right now the USSC currently has only a single Commissioner and so will need six new confirmed members to be back to full strength (and it needs at least three new commissioners to have a quorum to even be somewhat functional). All these vacancies present Prez Biden with an important opportunity to revive and reshape the work of the Commission at a time when the work of the Commission could and should be especially important. And, as I noted in this post in November, the criminal justice reform recommendations of the Biden-Sanders Unity Task Force (first discussed here; available here pp. 56-62) included this notable recommended agenda for the USSC: Sentence Length and Early Release: Task the U.S. Sentencing Commission with conducting a comprehensive review of existing sentencing guidelines and statutory sentencing ranges, with the goal of generating legislative recommendations, promulgating new guidelines, and issuing formal guidance to reduce unreasonably long sentences and promote rehabilitation. The Commission should make recommendations regarding early release options, including expanding good time credits, reinstating federal parole, and creating a second look mechanism permitting federal judges to reevaluate sentences after a certain amount of time served. Any such options should use a systematic, evidence-based approach that reduces risks to public safety, prevents racially disparate implementation, reduces the total number of people under federal custody and supervision, and limits the duration and conditions of supervision. I am hopeful that the Biden Administration is already working toward developing a list of nominees for the Commission (which, by statute, have to be bipartisan). I am especially hopeful that the Biden team might be already getting input on this list from key folks in the Senate so that any eventual slate of nominees will be well-received and quickly confirmed. But, as suggested at the outset, because of various competing priorities and the (usual and unusual) inside-the-Beltway distractions, I really do not have a good guess to the question in the title of this post. February 15, 2021 at 03:05 PM | Permalink Comments I have what might be a rather controversial suggestion for two nominees: Bill Otis and Judge Jane Kelly of Iowa and the Eighth Circuit (one former AUSA and one former Federal Public Defender). While the other four picks can be used to influence the actual decisions made, these two picks would assure that both sides have a seat at the table to make their arguments. Posted by: tmm | Feb 16, 2021 1:35:54 PM The nomination of Bill Otis was one of the reasons Prez Trump's March 2018 slate was so controversial. Bill will surely be grateful to see him name raised again, but I am pretty confident he is unlikely to get picked again by the current administration. Judge Jane Kelly, on the other hand, certainly seems like she could be a real possibility. Posted by: Doug B. | Feb 19, 2021 2:41:27 PM Post a comment "Viral Injustice" | Main | Noticing some notable criminal justice panels at CPAC 2021 In this post earlier this month, I wondered aloud about when we might reasonably expect Prez Biden to make needed appointments to the US Sentencing Commission. This issue remained on my mind when I was recently asked to write a commentary for ASU's new Crime and Justice News site. Specifically, I decided to write on "Reviving the U.S. Sentencing Commission," and here is an excerpt from this commentary (links from original): [F]ederal sentencing politics and policy development have transformed dramatically in recent years. Presidents Obama and Trump did not agree on much, but they both supported and signed major federal sentencing reform legislation designed to reduce punishment levels. Huge majorities in Congress passed the Fair Sentencing Act in 2010 and the FIRST STEP Act in 2018, demonstrating strong bipartisan support for impactful changes to federal sentencing laws and practices. Congress even titled its 2018 legislation to signal the law was to be just the first in a series of reform steps for the federal justice system. Meanwhile, a global pandemic and heightened concern about racial injustices in 2020 have only increased calls for change and further heightened the moral and practical imperatives for the U.S. Sentencing Commission to pursue big and bold sentencing reforms. But, problematically, the U.S. Sentencing Commission presently cannot advance any reforms because persistent vacancies have crippled its ability to function. Open commissioner slots were left unfilled in the final years of the Obama Administration, and new nominees advanced by President Trump in March 2018 were controversial and got a cold shoulder from the Senate. Remarkably, the agency Congress created to advance sound sentencing policies and practices lacked a quorum for much of the Trump Administration as Congress debated, enacted and oversaw the initial implementation of the landmark FIRST STEP Act. As of this writing, the Commission currently has only a single Commissioner; the agency now needs six new confirmed members to get back to full strength and at least three new commissioners to be somewhat functional. The current vacancies not only create a critical need for President Biden to revive the U.S. Sentencing Commission, but also provide a critical opportunity to reimagine who serves on this Commission and how it approaches its work. Circa 2021, we have not just bipartisan political support for meaningful criminal justice reforms at local, state and federal levels, but also a wide and diverse array of individuals with a deep reserve of sentencing expertise and experiences. President Biden must make it a priority to nominate a full slate of new commissioners with diverse backgrounds and experiences who will advance an ambitious, grand view of how the Commission can and should seek to meet our current criminal justice moment. In a letter to Democratic Senators following his election, President Biden signaled an interest in nominating for judgeships individuals whose legal experiences have been historically underrepresented on the federal bench, including those who are public defenders, civil rights and legal aid attorneys, and those who represent Americans in every walk of life. This sentiment can and must carry over to nominations to the U.S. Sentencing Commission, which has historically been dominated by persons with prosecutorial backgrounds. With millions of persons federally prosecuted in recent decades and with a third of all U.S. adults burdened with some kind of criminal record, representing Americans in every walk of life in this context must include individuals involved in the justice system. In his pioneering 1972 book, Criminal Sentences: Law Without Order, Judge Marvin Frankel first advocated for a Commission on Sentencing to include lawyers, judges, penologists, and criminologists, ... sociologists, psychologists, business people, artists, and, lastly for emphasis, former or present prison inmates. As Judge Frankel explained, having justice-involved persons on a sentencing commission merely recognizes what took too long to become obviousthat the recipients of penal treatment must have relevant things to say about it. Judge Frankels insights remain ever so timely a half-century later, and the federal system can now follow a recent sound state example: Brandon Flood was appointed Secretary of the Pennsylvania Board of Pardons in 2019, not despite but largely because of his lived experience as an inmate and his numerous encounters with the criminal justice system. President Bidens could and should consider going even further by including multiple persons with diverse, direct experiences with U.S. justice systems in his nominations to the U.S. Sentencing Commission. "Judging by the Cover: On the Relationship Between Media Coverage on Crime and Harshness in Sentencing" | Main | Rounding up some (not-qute) mid-week reads I was so excited to see Prez Biden announce his first slate of judicial nominations in part because I have been presuming that we would not get needed nomination to the US Sentencing Commission until at least some judge nominees were first put forward. (Ever the fan of semantic technicalities, I think we should also call any nomination to the USSC to be "judicial nominees" given that the USSC is the only agency located in the judicial branch.) Adding to my excitement is this recent Roll Call article suggesting that nominations are in the works and may be able to be advanced quickly through Congress in a bipartisan manner. I recommend the lengthy Roll Call article in full, and its full title highlights its themes: "Help wanted: Revived commission could spark criminal justice changes: Key judicial agency hasnt had enough members to function for years." Here are excerpts: The judicial agency that sets such policies hasnt had enough members to function for years. Whats happened is, were frozen in time, said Senior U.S. District Judge Charles R. Breyer, the lone remaining member of the seven-person U.S. Sentencing Commission. That could soon change. The Biden administration has reached out to key lawmakers and the criminal justice community for guidance on a slate of appointments to revive the sentencing commission, a move that also could influence congressional efforts to further change the nations criminal justice system. President Joe Biden will make those picks against the backdrop of a simmering debate about fairness in the nations criminal justice system, after a summer of social unrest related to police misconduct sparked a focus on racial inequity in the criminal justice system more broadly. Advocates say sentencing is a crucial consideration when it comes to overhaul. A bipartisan group of senators on Friday reintroduced a broad sentencing overhaul bill, which includes provisions that direct the sentencing commission to act to implement it.... The commission must include two additional federal judges, and no more than four members can be from the same political party. The Senate must approve the members. The last confirmation vote was for Breyers reappointment, four years ago this month, at the beginning of Donald Trumps presidency. Breyer is the brother of Supreme Court Justice Stephen G. Breyer, and his term on the commission expires in October. Trump made nominations for the sentencing commission, including two federal judges with reputations for tough-on-crime approaches. But those nominees went nowhere because they raised concerns from civil rights groups, Senate Democrats and Iowa Republican Sen. Charles E. Grassley about whether those members would carry out the changes in the 2018 law known as the First Step Act. Grassley, when he was chairman of the Judiciary Committee, championed the bill with now-Chair Richard J. Durbin of Illinois. The Senate passed the bill, 87-12, and it became one of Congress few major bipartisan accomplishments in recent years. Grassley said this week that he has had conversations that indicate the Biden administration is working to avoid Senate confirmation problems for a slate of nominees to the sentencing commission because both they the White House and this senator, and Im sure a lot of other senators, want to get the commission up and running so it can do its work. Durbin said in a written response to questions that the commission can play a vital role in sentencing reform by informing Congress about federal sentencing developments. But he also hinted at broader aims for the commission. For too long, federal sentencing policies have had a disparate impact on Black and brown Americans, Durbin said. Our sentencing policies have to reflect fairer standards.... Breyer said the Judicial Conference is currently considering a list of judges to submit to the White House for consideration, and he anticipates that the White House will put forward a slate of six nominees. Until then, he said, I think were in crisis. The sentencing structure was designed to change over time and be guided by experience, he said. And its an understandable tendency that if the guidelines dont reflect reality that theyre ignored or given less weight, Breyer added. State judge finds four aggravating factors could support upward departure at Derek Chauvin's upcoming sentencing | Main | "Representing juvenile lifers: do attorneys in parole hearings matter?" May 12, 2021 Getting antsy for US Sentencing Commission appointments after another slate of impressive judicial nominees from Prez Biden As detailed in this official press release, titled "President Biden Announces Third Slate of Judicial Nominees," Prez Biden announced a slate of six new judicial appointments ( three new Court of Appeals nominees and three new District Court nominees. As detailed in this Reuters article, headlined "Biden latest judicial picks stress public defender work," the new Prez is fulfilling calls to add professional diversity to a federal judiciary now dominated by prosecutors and BigLaw lawyers (see prior posts here and here). Here are some details: President Joe Biden on Wednesday announced his latest wave of judicial nominees with six picks who not only reflect his goal of diversifying the federal bench but also include three current or former public defenders for appellate court seats. The nominees include two attorneys currently with federal public defender offices, Eunice Lee for a seat on the New York-based 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and Veronica Rossman for a spot with the Denver-based 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. They also include Chief Judge Gustavo Gelpi Jr of the U.S. District Court for the District of Puerto Rico for a spot on the Boston-based 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which hears appeals from three states plus the island territory. If confirmed, Gelpi, who in the 1990s served as an assistant federal public defender, would be only the second Puerto Rican to serve on the court and would replace the first, Juan Torruella, who died in October. Progressives and judicial reform proponents have long called for more judges on the federal bench with backgrounds as public defenders. More often, judges have tended former prosecutors or defense attorneys from major law firms. "President Biden has made clear that the days of public defenders being systematically passed over for top jobs on the federal bench are over," Christopher Kang, the chief counsel of the progressive group Demand Justice, said in a statement. He said no president has before nominated so many circuit judges with experience as public defenders. All five of Biden's nominations so far to the regional circuit courts have had such experience, and three spent the majority of the careers in such positions. I will be excited to see if and how a group of new federal judges with public defender experience will have a long-term impact on criminal justice jurisprudence coming from the federal courts. For those interested in short-term reform, however, perhaps it is even more important to see Prez Biden nominate a slate of diverse (and reform-minded) US Sentencing Commissioners. Back in February, I wrote a commentary, "Reviving the U.S. Sentencing Commission," which noted that the USSC has historically been dominated by persons with prosecutorial backgrounds; I also lamented that the USSC now needs six new confirmed members to get back to full strength and at least three new commissioners to even be somewhat functional. At that time, I did not reasonably expect to see needed nomination to the US Sentencing Commission until at least some Circuit and District Judge nominees were put forward. And, by late March, as reported in this post, there was seemingly serious talk of serious work on slate of nominees for the Sentencing Commission. But it is now mid May, and though Prez Biden has put forward 20 judicial nominations, we have still not yet heard anything more about getting the Sentencing Commission back to work. So ... color me antsy. A few prior recent related posts: May 12, 2021 at 05:46 PM | Permalink Comments The USSC never achieving a quorum would be the best possible result for federal defendants. Posted by: AFPD | May 13, 2021 9:35:35 AM If Biden makes "status-quo-minded" appointments, I would be inclined to agree, AFPD. But if Biden makes "reform-minded" appointments, there are a lot of possible (easy?) guideline reforms that could prove helpful to defendants. Most obviously, the safety valve -2 reduction in the drug guideline could/should be expanded to at least conform with the expanded statutory safety value passed via the FIRST STEP Act. A reform-minded commission might also look pursue pro-defendant reforms urged by many on both sides of the aisle regarding matters like acquitted conduct enhancements and mens rea requirements. I also want to believe that the USSC would look to bring some helpful modern direction to the CR guideline. I am not expected a very progressive USSC, but the drugs -2 reforms from not that long ago served as a huge reminder that the right kind of little change (made retroactive) can make a big difference. And there may be more bipartisan support for bigger positive changes now than ever before. And though pessimism in this space is always justified, I cannot just (yet) assume that a functioning USSC will be a bad development. Posted by: Doug B. | May 13, 2021 11:51:50 AM Fair points. My view is based on compassionate release. As long as there's no quorum, there is no "applicable" 3582 policy statement, and we basically have a federal parole system. This is doing an enormous amount of good for a lot of federal prisoners. Once the USSC has a quorum, I am sure they'll promulgate a new 1B1.13, which, even if good, won't be as a good as the status quo, which allows a judge to release anybody for anything she thinks is an "extraordinary and compelling" reason. I can't imagine any USSC, no matter how reform-minded, doing anything remotely that helpful. Posted by: AFPD | May 13, 2021 12:20:54 PM Your concern is well-founded on the CR front, AFPD, but I am hopeful that a new USSC will first take the time to carefully study what judges are finding now to be "extraordinary and compelling" reasons and assess whether more good than bad has come from judges having broad authority in this realm. (In addition, I sense the status quo still also includes a good number of judges not going beyond the current 1B1.13 terms, so any expansion of the CR terms in a new guideline would likely help a number of now-shut-out prisoners.) Posted by: Doug B. | May 14, 2021 9:00:09 AM Post a comment "Reducing Mass Incarceration Through Cost Salience: Why Juries Should Be Told the Cost of Incarceration" | Main | AG Garland announces new(?) federal effort to reduce violent crime May 26, 2021 Timely reminder of US Sentencing Commission's decarceral potential ... when it is functional I flagged in this post last week that the US Sentencing Commission had just released a host of notable new materials with lots of interesting data via the USSC's website. Upon reflection and review, I was especially struck by this new data run detailing retroactive application of "Amendment 782 -- The 2014 Drug Guidelines Amendment, often referred to as 'Drugs Minus Two'." These data reminded me of how impactful a functional and forward-thinking US Sentencing Commission can be on its own ... and why I hope Prez Biden will soon put forward nominations that would lead the USSC to become functional and forward-looking once again. A bit of background, drawn from this report: "On April 30, 2014, the Commission submitted to Congress an amendment to the federal sentencing guidelines that ... reduced by two levels the offense levels assigned to [drug] quantities.... On July 18, 2014, the Commission voted to give retroactive effect to Amendment 782." In other words, the USSC in 2014 reduced the basic guideline offense level by two for all drug offenses and made this change retroactively applicable to all federal drug defendants still imprisoned for offenses before 2014. Because drug offense are a huge part of the federal criminal docket and an even larger part of the federal prison population, this relatively small guideline change has had a huge prison time impact. Specifically, as this retroactive new data report details, a total of 31,908 persons in federal prison were granted sentence reductions that averaged 26 months. In other words, the retroactive application of the "drugs -2" guideline amendment resulted in just about 70,000(!) years of retroactive reduced imprisonment. Further, with well over 100,000 federal drug cases sentenced over the last six years, the "prospective" impact of the drugs -2 guideline amendment has surely been at least another 200,000 years of reduced imprisonment for federal drug offenders (and still counting). Critically, the drugs -2 amendment was not a direct reaction to any congressional legislation, it was a (bipartisan) decision made by a (bipartisan) expert commission shaped by evidence and sound policy analysis in all respects. In other words, this was a consequential (decarceal) reform moved forward in precisely the good-government process that Judge Marvin Frankel envisioned when he astutely suggested the creation of a Commission on Sentencing for the federal criminal justice system. Sadly, the US Sentencing Commission is now essentially non-functional, at least for guideline amendments and any big initiatives, for going on three years because of the lack of commissioners. As discussed in a number of prior posts linked below, I hope Prez Biden will get the USSC up and running again. In the meantime, I will keep doing posts to note the wisdom and reform potential we risk losing until the USSC is functional and forward-looking once again. A few prior recent related posts: May 26, 2021 at 12:06 PM | Permalink Comments Post a comment Texas completes only second state execution of first half of 2021 | Main | Encouraging(?) update on prospects for series of small federal sentencing reform bills July 1, 2021 When might we expect appointments to a new a truly new US Sentencing Commission? As the calendar turns to July, it seems a good time to express my frustration that we are now nearly six months into the Biden Administration and there has not yet been any nominations to the US Sentencing Commission. As I have noted in a number of prior posts (some linked below), due to a lack of Sentencing Commissioners, the USSC has been only somewhat functional for only a small portion of the last five years, and the USSC has not had complete set of commissioners firmly in place for the better part of a decade. The USSC staff has completed lots of useful research and reports in the interim, but the FIRST STEP Act's passage in December 2018 makes it particularly problematic for the USSC to have been completely non-functional in terms of formal amendments or agendas in recent years. Of course, the federal sentencing system can and does march on without a fully functioning USSC. But the lack of Commissioners is a significant lost opportunity for this significant agency to this particular moment. When functioning well, the USSC can and should be part of a hearty and healthy dialogue with Congress and the Justice Department, especially when these political branches are interested in criminal justice reforms. As I stressed in a recent post, "Timely reminder of US Sentencing Commission's decarceral potential ... when it is functional," even small changes to the US Sentencing Guidelines by the USSC can have a huge impact on criminal justice practices and the federal prison population. Moreover, as noted in this recent Bloomberg Law piece, headlined "Near-Vacant Sentencing Panel Gives Biden Chance for Fresh Start," the USSC these days could and should be thinking about a lot more than small guideline changes: Six of seven possible seats on the U.S. Sentencing Commission remain empty, giving President Joe Biden an opportunity to remake the panel at a time when overhauling criminal justice is a rare example of bipartisan consensus.... In addition to taking up issues that have been unaddressed, a new set of commissioners could help review the decades-old sentencing guidelines wholesale to reflect a modern understanding of criminal justice, observers say. It is a great opportunity for the administration, said Mark Osler, a law professor at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota, who focuses on policy surrounding clemency, sentencing, and narcotics. Because if you want a great shot at really creating reform in the federal system, the guideline commission is one place to start. And the bipartisan consensus on the need to overhaul sentencing gives a new commission a chance to do things like simplify the guidelines, Osler said.... During the 2020 presidential race, Bidens campaign recommended tasking the Sentencing Commission with conducting a comprehensive review of existing sentencing guidelines and statutory sentencing ranges. The guidelines were drafted 40 years ago at a time when the emphasis was on punishment rather than rehabilitation, said Nancy Gertner, a former federal district judge in Massachusetts and a senior lecturer at Harvard who teaches law and neuroscience and has written about sentencing. Since then, the connection between the guidelines and mass incarceration is clearer and people have a better understanding of the science behind the issues that impact crime, such as mental health, she said. In my view, these are guidelines that need to be reexamined and reevaluated, Gertner said. Back in February, I wrote a commentary, "Reviving the U.S. Sentencing Commission," which noted that the USSC has historically been dominated by persons with prosecutorial backgrounds; I also lamented that the USSC now needs six new confirmed members to get back to full strength and at least three new commissioners to even be somewhat functional. At that time, I did not reasonably expect to see needed nomination to the US Sentencing Commission until at least some Circuit and District Judge nominees were put forward. But yesterday, Prez Biden announced his fifth round of judicial nominees. The USSC, which is also in the judicial branch, needs to get appointments soon or there will be reason to fear we will not get confirmed Commissions in place until 2022 or even later. I especially hope the frustrating wait for nominations will be rewarded soon with some terrific nominees for the Sentencing Commission who will be committed to thinking big about how to make federal sentencing sounder. Especially in light of the FIRST STEP Act and other national criminal justice developments, we need not just new US Sentencing Commissioners. The country could and would benefit from a truly new US Sentencing Commission committed not just to monitoring and managing the federal sentencing guidelines, but also to being a powerful advocate for humane, evidence-based sentencing systems throughout this great nation. Notably, what I wish to imagine today is what Judge Marvin Frankel ably urged a full 50 years ago when he first set out his ideas for a "Commission on Sentencing" at the very end of Criminal Sentencing: Law Without Order: The uses of a commission [should be as] to marshal full-time wisdom and power against the ignorance and the barbarities that characterize sentencing for crimes today.... The need for change is clear. Our justly proud awareness that "we the people" have the power should carry with it a corollary sense of duty. It is our duty to see that the force of our state, when it is brought to bear through the sentences of our courts, is exerted with the maximum we can muster of rational thought, humanity, and compassion. A few prior recent related posts: July 1, 2021 at 02:54 PM | Permalink Comments Post a comment Making the case for bringing back parole in Illinois and elsewhere | Main | "Staying Off the Sidelines: Judges as Agents for Justice System Reform" October 24, 2021 Should I give up hoping Prez Biden will soon make long needed nominations to US Sentencing Commission? As we reach a full nine months into the Biden Administration, I must yet again express my frustration that there has not yet been any nominations to the US Sentencing Commission. As I have noted in a number of prior posts (some linked below), due to a lack of Sentencing Commissioners, the USSC has not been fully functional for most of the last five years, and the USSC has not had complete set of commissioners in place now for the better part of a decade. The USSC staff continues to produce lots of useful research and reports, but the FIRST STEP Act's passage in December 2018 makes it particularly problematic for the USSC to have been completely non-functional for now nearly three years since that law's enactment. In this post months ago, I highlighted that all the openings on the USSC provide the Biden Administration with an opportunity to appoint transformative commissioners who could make the US Sentencing Commission a potent criminal justice reform leader. Especially at a time when there is broad bipartisan interest in continued federal sentencing reforms, but Congress is consumed with a number of other concerns, there are an array of large and small improvements to the federal sentencing system that the USSC could and should be able to advance. Effective appointments to the US Sentencing Commission could provide the foundation for advancing badly needed structural and institutional federal sentencing reforms for years and even decades to come. During the 2020 presidential race, Bidens campaign included a commitment that "Biden will take bold action to reduce our prison population." To date, Prez Biden has not taken any tangible action to reduce prison populations. Indeed, after a number of years of decline, official data show that the federal prison population is growing again. Though a properly staffed US Sentencing Commission could not immediately ensure reductions in the federal prison population, the USSC can be an effective agent of decarceral reforms. As I have stressed before, shrewd and bold nominations to the US Sentencing Commission could and would serve as an effective way for Prez Biden to signal a real commitment to criminal justice reform while also reviving an agency with a long history of impactful work on the federal sentencing system. A few of many prior recent related posts: October 24, 2021 at 11:14 PM | Permalink Comments Short answer: Yes, you should. Posted by: restless94110 | Oct 25, 2021 11:32:23 AM Meanwhile, he has done various things that has furthered the interest of criminal justice (including his judicial nominations, including a previous vice chair of the Sentencing Commission, Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson). These are all things that were promised. https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/10/19/fact-sheet-the-biden-harris-administration-advances-equity-and-opportunity-for-black-people-and-communities-across-the-country/ It is fine to push him some more, including during his first year while a range of things are happening [including delays in nominations in general by Republicans slowing down the process] regarding this specific issue. The current sole member is Judge Charles Breyer, yes, that guy's brother. The lack of urgency is suggested by this quote I found in an article from earlier this year: The system functions reasonably well without a commission, partly because the guidance is only advisory, said Douglas Berman, a professor at Ohio State Universitys Moritz School of Law who focuses on sentencing. Some constituencies, including the defense bar, may have even welcomed not having new guidance over the past several years, he said. That guy sounds like he should get a blog. There are, of course, drawbacks, but with so many balls in the air, choices are made what to deal with first. https://news.bloomberglaw.com/white-collar-and-criminal-law/near-vacant-sentencing-panel-gives-biden-chance-for-fresh-start Do continue to push on though I personally would take care when grading on a curve. Posted by: Joe | Oct 25, 2021 12:10:41 PM Why do you mindlessly put all the blame on Biden? How about Manchin and Sinema and ... I dunno, all 50 R Senators who could also ensure a rapid and uneventful confirmation if they so desired? Is Joe Biden the only elected Democrat and the only person in the entire federal gov't with agency (no pun intended, seriously)? Everyone else can think and act for themselves too, right? Surely you're aware of their existence, aren't you? And if they don't do their part, then they also deserve plenty of blame. What exactly is the point of Biden making a nomination if it's clearly DOA when it gets to the Senate? Messaging and symbolism are important for sure, but you also have to be realistic. What does a failed nomination accomplish? Nothing. And a failed nomination isn't free of negative consequences either. The nominee has to go through arduous vetting and then be put through the ringer in a futile confirmation hearing. Andimportantlyit also clogs up the Senate to the detriment of other high-priority business. Finally, every failed nomination gets Biden hammered in the press for looking "weak." Biden's already struggling now to get some circuit court nominees confirmed, as well as the infrastructure bill(s). Let's be real, those are both higher priority than USSCespecially the former. And that's to say nothing of the ATF nominee who crashed and burned recently. What help does it do to throw a surely-doomed nominee into that existing mix? Zero. Biden's a savvy veteran of this whole process, and he knows when he has good openings and when he doesn't. If he refrains from putting forward someone, I trust it's because he thinks it's futile and not because he doesn't care or has bad intentions. Also, on the campaign rhetoric, c'mon, are you seriously that naive? I'm not saying Biden pulled a fast one on everybody, but we all know the campaign stuff is aspirational and statements of values, not airtight promises. Also, before the election, he didn't know he'd be hanging on by a gossamer thread in the Senate right? (Because apparently, even one spare R vote is too much to ask for!) Think of it this way. If I promise today we'll go ice skating next week, and then in the meantime a meteor strike destroys the only skating rink within 1,000 miles, does that mean I lied and broke my promise? Or does it mean I have to cough up for plane tickets and lodging for a rink 1,500 miles away just to make sure the skate date still happens? Of course not. In the end, there's a huge difference between refusing to do something despite it being in your power, and refraining from doing something that everyone with eyes can see would hopeless anyway. I think we all know which of these situations applies to Biden right now. And since you strangely love to give TP the benefit of the doubt on these kinds of issuespardons being one exampleyou could at least do the same for Biden, given what he has to contend with. I note you concede that TP never filled a single spot, and he generally had a much friendlier and compliant Senate to work with. (Not that any of the folks he proposed were desirable of course; they were all nightmares.) Also, we all realize Biden's not even 1/4 into his term, right? There's no reason to think he won't put forth nominees when conditions improve. Posted by: kotodama | Oct 25, 2021 12:23:52 PM This sort of thing does tend to have various parents .. the USSC has not had complete set of commissioners in place now for the better part of a decade I think part of this is some sort of short cut where the "Prez" is (if pressed) a stand-in of more than one person. But, yeah, there are many moving parts here. Again, I don't disagree that he should be pressed. This includes certain things, like his use of his pardon power, that can be done by the executive dept. alone. Posted by: Joe | Oct 25, 2021 1:09:53 PM Recent Biden nominees this month include (along with dozens of ambassadors and local EPA/HHS officials): Administrator of the Maritime Administration, Director of Fish and Wildlife Services at the Department of Interior, Commissioner of the Postal Regulatory Commission, Inspector General of the Tennessee Valley Authority, Member of the Securities Investor Protection Corporation, Member of the Board of Directors of the Corpora11tion for Public Broadcasting. Are all these positions higher priority than USSC? If he and his people can find folks for these kinds of role, Biden can and should try to deliver on some of his many criminal justice promises by staffing the most important federal criminal justice agency not within DOJ. The point that he does not want to make DOA nominations is a sound one, but the FIRST STEP Act got 87 votes in a GOP controlled Senate. Finding nominees dedicated to implementing and advancing that legislation and helping to decide what can be the "next step" ought not be that hard and ought to garner bipartisan support. Indeed, part of the point is that sentencing reform is an area for some potential bipartisan achievements, and they there have been none so far. I am sure Biden is grateful to have supporters eager to make excuses for his failure to make appointments to an important non-functional government agency. I know of others who are so sure Biden will make such bad selections that they are grateful he has made no selections to date. But I still want to believe in a government that functions and can advance sound policy, and so I will continue to advocate for the US Sentencing Commission to be staffed so it can function and can try to advance sound policy. Posted by: Doug B. | Oct 25, 2021 4:01:07 PM This doesn't really refute what is said; it is more advocacy of your particular concerns. Which on the "Sentencing Law and Policy Blog" is understandable up to a point. The specific framing is a bit less handwavable in my view. But, by now, we know how we be. > Are all these positions higher priority than USSC? They seem to be a lot easier to put in place. > should try to deliver on some of his many criminal justice promises by staffing the most important federal criminal justice agency not within DOJ. He is delivering on criminal justice promises, including by "staffing" the federal courts, which is not a part of the Department of Justice last I checked. Part of criminal justice is dealing with wider social needs as well (as many criminal social justice warriors continuously argue) & there too, he is doing various things. >ought not be that hard and ought to garner bipartisan support If so, why has it been a problem "for the better part of a decade" to fully staff the USSC? It is almost like, for whatever reason, it is complicated. It is sorta hard. If a "bipartisan" bunch of senators, e.g., join together, it would be easier. It isn't all on "the Prez." >have supporters eager to make excuses for his failure I'm sure Trump supporters and enablers was happy to have people to frame his criminal justice record "on a curve" and so forth too. > government that functions and can advance sound policy Which me, kotodama et. al. think a good idea & includes a range of things, including more than the fairly narrow thing this blog regularly puts above other things. You can advocate away. The rest that was said above still holds. "Government" includes a lot of things. Posted by: Joe | Oct 25, 2021 5:05:37 PM To be clear, again, by now, it is not just HIS failure. President Biden is working within a system & has to make various decisions & choices. A system a lot more than him. This is not an "excuse" as much as an explanation. If people want to change things, you need to fully express what is involved. People repeatedly don't do this. But, go ahead, advocate away. Posted by: Joe | Oct 25, 2021 5:10:10 PM I don't want to double up on what Joe said, and 2 against 1 isn't fair odds maybe, but I think some additional responses are called for. "the FIRST STEP Act got 87 votes in a GOP controlled Senate" Remind me who was president then? "ought not be that hard and ought to garner bipartisan support" Seriously? I think you need to get out more. Again, you need to direct your complaints to the responsible parties there, i.e., Sinemanchin and all 50 Rs. If you truly know of One Weird Trick that Biden's refusing to employ to magically cause those Senators to do his bidding, then by all means, please share it with the class. "supporters eager to make excuses for his failure" Maybe it's just me, but I don't equate "having the good sense to refrain from attempting the impossible and looking silly in the process" with "failure." Nominating someone anyway, but then ending up in an unwinnable confirmation fight would be actual failure, right? And one that wastes time, effort, and resources too, whereas judiciously choosing your battles doesn't. "I still want to believe in a government that functions and can advance sound policy" Yup, same for me. Is there any doubt Biden shares that belief too? Or all D Senators not named Sinema and Manchin? Again, if you're looking for the actual culprits here, it's not hard to find them. Posted by: kotodama | Oct 25, 2021 8:48:07 PM At issue, Joe and kotodama, is the failure of Prez Biden for the better part of a year to put forward even a single name for a key (now dormant) criminal justice agency with six vacancies (and soon to have seven). Biden could --- and I think should --- nominate a sound slate of bipartisan experts (or even just a person or two) and then assail members of the Senate if they did not move forward with that slate. But nearly a year after getting elected, he has not even made a single nomination to this criminal justice agency. (Notably, Trump put up names in early 2018 to try to make a full commission when there were still 4 commissioners making a quorum. But those were bad names, and I certainly fault Trump for not doing better on this front.) I have reason to hope a believe that there is on-going work behind the scenes to get a USSC slate together that will be able to secure Senate confirmation. But that has been my hope for now 9+ months, and at some point there is an even-increasing risk that eventual nominees get stuck in the midterm vortex. You are welcome, of course, to not want to criticize the person in charge of making nominations for not yet making nominations. But I will keep pushing for him to make these needed nominations until he makes a visible effort to staff this key criminal justice agency. Again, folks surely can be content with what Prez Biden is doing on other fronts. But, since I care about advancing sound federal sentencing policies, I would like to see the Prez make some effort to staff a now-dormant agency tasked with helping to advance sound sentencing policies. This seems to me not so provocative -- to urge the Prez to make long needed nominations. But it is nice to discover that there are remaining Biden fans who want to defend him from suggestions he make the nominations he is responsible for making. Posted by: Doug B. | Oct 25, 2021 10:19:07 PM "then assail members of the Senate" You pretty much gave up the game there. So, Biden has this secret fantasy power to make Senators follow his every command, and yet he clearly refuses to deploy it. How awful of him right?! Are you thinking of LBJ giving legislators "the treatment"? Why can't Biden just do that already? Well, LBJ had overwhelming friendly majorities in both houses at his disposal. Do you notice any differences here? Again, Biden is facing serious headwinds just trying to get someone confirmed to CA9, which, let's face it, is more important than USSC. So, just to be clear, you don't blame Sinema, Manchin, or any of the 50 R Senators not lifting a finger to get things done? Are they just statues who lack all agency whatsoever, instead of, I dunno, grown-ass adults who can be responsible for themselves? That's what it seems like to me, but maybe I'm missing something here. "criticize the person in charge of making nominations for not yet making nominations" Yes, he is in charge of making nominations. Is he in charge of confirming them too? Last I checked, we had a whole other (half) branch of gov't responsible for that job. You will of course say "but how can they do that if he won't nominate anyone?" Again, that goes to the heart of the faulty assumption you're making. You assume they *want* to confirm all his nominees. But yet, contrary evidence abounds. Look at ATF, look at CA9, just to name obvious recent example. Maybe, just maybe, a guy who spent more time in the Senate *than I've been alive* and 8 years as second-in-command in the Executive knows at least a thing or two about getting appointments through? Andjust to be very clearif they (Senators) are refusing to confirm, it's *their* fault for not doing *their* jobs; it's not Biden's fault that he just recognizes the nature of the situation. "it is nice to discover that there are remaining Biden fans who want to defend him from suggestions he make the nominations he is responsible for making" It is nice to discover that there are remaining Sinema, Manchin, and [checks notes] *all 50 Republican Senator* fans who want to defend them from suggestions they confirm the nominations they are responsible for confirming. Again, just to be clear, I'm first in line to criticize Diamond Joe when he drops the ball on something completely within his power in the executive. I was upset about how he approached the Afghan refugee situation at first. Although, I note that in the end he *absolutely did the right thing* on that. So yes, advocates pushing him to do better can have good results *when it's a situation he exclusively controls*. It just boggles the mind though when people fail to recognize the obvious differences in an appointments situationthat there's a whole other (half) branch of gov't just sitting around failing to do their jobs. I'm no unthinking, kneejerk Biden booster. He's dropped the ball on other immigration-type areas too, like the Haiti refugees being a recent example. That said, coming in to it, I had modest expectations for him on that score. Closer to the criminal/sentencing heartland of this blog, he's been fairly timid on the federal DP, with just the same moratorium Obama had. Of course, he's been aggressivein a bad wayin pulling for Tsarnaev to get the DP too. And I remain skeptical until proven otherwise that Garland is really the right man for the job when it comes to opening the whoop-ass can on the 1/6 insurrectionists (or on this blog, can I only say rioters?). In other words, I'm not holding my breath for ... Merri-Ckristmas! (c'mon, I had to lighten this thread up with at least a little humor!) Posted by: kotodama | Oct 26, 2021 10:07:13 AM guy who spent more time in the Senate *than I've been alive* Such a baby. I don't know what will happen regarding the investigations, but I think many have this vision of what happened during Watergate. Rachel Maddow's book on Spiro Agnew (talk about a memory hole incident) is striking here. I can't really imagine the Sessions or Barr Justice Department acting like they did there. And, even with all that happened good during the Watergate investigations (I would also recommend "Watergate Girl"), that took how long to be investigated and prosecuted? I like this line "reason to hope a believe." Someone who says that might want to ratchet down the potshots at how we don't want to criticize etc. putting aside that it's unfair. Posted by: Joe | Oct 26, 2021 10:39:35 AM Woops, I made a math error. Hey, this is a legal blog after all! I clumsily included his VP time as part of his Senator time. So no, I'm not that much of a baby, sadly! But yeah, speaking of Watergate, the fact that Biden got into the Senate *right after that happened* is an equally good way of showing how long he's been honing his game. 1/6 makes Watergate seem so quaint in comparison. It's like the difference between investigating and prosecuting a fender-bender (Watergate) and 9/11 (1/6). Obviously, the urgency isn't very great for a fender-bender. It's a little different when the insurrectionists are out and proud boasting about how close they got to succeeding and *openly* working on plans to do it again soon. Oh yeah, and they have unabashed support from Rs in Congress like Gym Jordan and Paul "The Gozerian" Gosar and Rs in the Judiciary like Trevor McFadden. Posted by: kotodama | Oct 26, 2021 11:19:30 AM LBJ, the Afgan refugee situation, Spiro Agnew and Watergate all seem a VERY long way from my concern and complaint that Prez Biden, by failing to put forward a single USSC nominee now 9+ months into his tenure and a full year since his election, is missing an important opportunity to signal a real commitment to criminal justice reform while also reviving an agency with a long history of impactful work on the federal sentencing system. Kotodama seems to be particularly missing the point that dozens of GOP Senators voted for the FIRST STEP Act and so could be supportive of --- or at least not actively oppositional to --- a shrewd bipartisan slate of reform-minded commissioners. (Some GOP Senators surely voted for the FIRST STEP Act only because Prez Trump supported it, but others surely did because they have a record of support for at least modest federal sentencing reforms. Indeed, at least half of the GOP on the Senate Judiciary Committee have such a record.) And, of course, USSC appointments serve AT MOST 6 years (unless re-nominated), and some would only have 4 and 2 year terms. So the stakes are nothing like a federal judicial slot, though perhaps you might suggest it is somewhat like a district court position. Well, Biden has now made nearly 40 district court judge nominations AND had over a dozen of these folks already confirmed by the Senate (and some with 65+ votes). So, as I see it, making the USSC functional is not a priority for Prez Biden and his team (nor it seems for most reform advocates). I understand the choice to focus on, and use limited political capital, on judicial appointments and other priorities in the short term. But my post is prompted by the fact that, one year in, it is no longer the short-term AND confirmations get harder and hard as we get closer and closer to an election. Perhaps, if great behind-the-scene work is getting done and and great nominees are eventually named and swiftly confirmed, I will view the Biden "slow play" on this USSC front as brilliant. But I still recall Prez Obama moving way too slow on multiple CJR fronts, which ultimately contributed to Prez Trump being able to lay claim to the FIRST STEP Act because the Obama team ran out of time and political capital once it got serious about these issues late into his second term. Posted by: Doug B. | Oct 26, 2021 11:30:45 AM Yes, I think I understand clearly now. If Biden doesn't insist on going through the motions with futile confirmations that waste everyone's time and detract from higher priorities, that's his fault. And if he refuses to wield his magical powers to command disobedient Senatorswho apparently were somehow born without free will; that's quite an interesting phenomenon, maybe we should study them!that's his fault too. Did I get that all right? I mean, can you name even one of these phantom Senators who you're so sure is going to play along? Can you point to one instance where you ever criticized a Senator for not cooperating? I feel like you need to watch that Schoolhouse Rock on the different branches of gov't. Posted by: kotodama | Oct 26, 2021 11:48:35 AM Wow - The power to put nonviolent people in cages for decades would seem to me to be one of the most important of government functions. Biden's promise to reform the criminal justice system was taken seriously by legions who supported him. Since his inauguration, the federal prison population has increased by over 4,000 people. The First step act passed with Trump support along with many republican congressmen resulted in a reduction of over 30,000 people incarcerated in federal facilities. During the first 5 years of the Obama administration the federal prison population increased by 19,000. He granted 1,715 commutations and 212 pardons in his 8 year administration. He denied over 19,000 clemency petitions - closed without action over 4,000 - and left over 13,000 for the Trump administration. President Biden promised criminal justice reform and spoke about mercy and compassion. It's time to give up our passion to punish and exercise restraint in using the most powerful tools in the play box, prosecution and incarceration. Arguments based on feelings rather than data fall on deaf ears to those who are impacted. This data can be found on the bop web site and the doj site. This is not an argument about feelings - it is a statement of fact. Posted by: beth curtis | Oct 26, 2021 1:39:38 PM "Biden's promise to reform the criminal justice system" And, as noted, he did various things to help this, including nominating multiple public defenders as judges. And, he will do more things, this being only October in a first term due to end in January 2025. The overall message of compassion (emotion will be part of things, as it always will be for humans) and facts is well taken. We need to push all parties, not just "the Prez," to move in the right direction here. Factoring everything. The "legions" should understand all that is involved here in pushing for reform. Posted by: Joe | Oct 26, 2021 2:05:08 PM kotodama: Here is a quote from a March 2021 Roll Call article (from a post linked above): "Grassley said this week that he has had conversations that indicate the Biden administration is working to avoid Senate confirmation problems for a slate of nominees to the sentencing commission 'because both they the White House and this senator, and Im sure a lot of other senators, want to get the commission up and running so it can do its work'." That is the GOP ranking member of the Senate Judiciary indicating SEVEN MONTHS AGO that "a lot" of senators want to get the USSC up and running. But Senators cannot do that unless and until the Prez makes nominations. Why do you think any nominations that Biden puts forward here would be "futile"? Again, he has already gotten dozens of persons confirmed to other judicial branch positions, and has named dozens of others. If and whenever Biden puts forward even a single nominee for the USSC, then we can and should both complain if Senators do not then do their part to staff the USSC. But, since there are not any Biden nominees put forward, what kind of "cooperation" can Senators be expected to provide? It is truly ridiculous to criticize the Senate for not confirming nominees to the US Sentencing Commission when there have not yet been any nominees put forward by Prez Biden. That's the whole point of the post, asking yet again when Prez Biden will get this process moving forward by making long needed nominations to US Sentencing Commission. Joe: Of course we should urge all parties to do their part to advance sound sentencing reforms. But for the USSC to be able to do its part, it needs at least four Commissioners. And it cannot have any new Commissioners until a Prez makes nominations. Prez Biden has not yet made a single nomination to the USSC, and yet you and kotodama apparently think the fact that Biden is doing other things that you like somehow undercuts concerns that he has not made any nominations to a key agency. But being a Biden fan does not soften his failings in this regard so far. I hope he delivers on this front effectively at some point, but time is always of the essential for a system that puts so many in cages for so many reasons. Posted by: Doug B. | Oct 26, 2021 4:59:34 PM Post a comment Should I give up hoping Prez Biden will soon make long needed nominations to US Sentencing Commission? | Main | "Open Prosecution" October 24, 2021 "Staying Off the Sidelines: Judges as Agents for Justice System Reform" The title of this post is the title of this notable new Yale Law Journal Forum piece authored by Michigan Supreme Court Chief Justice Bridget McCormack. I recommend the full piece and here is an excerpt from its introduction: For two years, I co-chaired Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmers Jail and Pretrial Taskforce, which collected data, research, best practices, and public comments to make recommendations to reduce Michigans county jail populations. The legislature acted on many of these proposals, and the Governor signed nineteen bills in January 2021 that will decriminalize many low-level offenses and divert people from the criminal-justice system. I am hardly alone. I have lots of company in states across the country. These developments present an important question: what is a judges ethical obligation to address inequities in the system over which she presides? From one view, the answer is little or nothing. This view holds that the judge has a limited role in the justice system. Her job is to interpret and apply the law, not to create it, change it, or work toward its improvement. To the contrary, the argument goes, a judge who engages in such activities is overreaching and involved in ethically questionable behavior. In this Essay, I maintain that this line of thinking is wrong on every count. In Part I, I argue that judges are uniquely valuable contributors to reform efforts precisely because they are exposed to the day-to-day workings of the justice system and the flaws within it. In Part II, I contend that there is no formal ethical obstacle to judges working toward the improvement of the law and the justice system. Although there are some ethical constraints on how judges may do so, a wide range of plainly permissible activities remain. And in Part III, I make the case that judges are not only permitted to engage in reform efforts, but also have an ethical obligation to do so. That is, a judge cannot ignore inequities once she becomes aware of them. To borrow Brendan Sullivans phrase, in the dynamics of reforming and improving the justice system, a judge should not be a potted plant. October 24, 2021 at 11:27 PM | Permalink Comments She is part of the Lady Justice: Women of the Court podcast, with two other (was three) women state judges. And, yes, she is the sister of the West Wing actress. Posted by: Joe | Oct 25, 2021 10:23:13 AM She also has a Twitter account. Having an open Twitter account is as I understand it deemed an ethical problem for federal judges. I find this a bit dubious, especially with the number of state judges who have them. Posted by: Joe | Oct 25, 2021 10:25:02 AM Post a comment Amnesty to shutter Hong Kong offices, blames security law Amnesty International has said it will close its Hong Kong offices because of the threat posed to staff by the city's national security law (AFP/ANTHONY WALLACE) Amnesty International said Monday it will shutter its Hong Kong offices because of the threat posed to staff by a national security law that has fronted a sweeping crackdown on dissent in the business hub. The decision came the same day a court in the Chinese city convicted a former food delivery driver of inciting secession by shouting slogans in the second national security case to come to trial. China imposed the law last year in response to massive and often violent democracy protests, transforming Hong Kong's political, cultural and legal landscape and introducing mainland-style speech curbs. Anjhula Mya Singh Bais, chair of Amnesty's board, said the decision to close had been made "with a heavy heart" and was "driven by Hong Kong's national security law". "(It) has made it effectively impossible for human rights organisations in Hong Kong to work freely and without fear of serious reprisals from the government," she added. The decision ends more than four decades of the international human rights group's presence in the city. Amnesty maintains two offices in Hong Kong. The first is a local branch that focuses on human rights and campaigns in the city itself. Recent reports published by the team have included investigations into how the security law has been deployed and studies of the police's use of force against democracy protesters. The second office is a regional headquarters that carries out research and advocacy work across East and Southeast Asia and the Pacific. Amnesty said the local office would close on October 31 while the regional office would move out "by the end of 2021". Hong Kong dubs itself "Asia's World City" and has long advertised itself as a business-friendly gateway to mainland China with its own separate legal system and speech freedoms unseen on the mainland. As a result, many international businesses, media groups and non-governmental organisations have used the city as a regional hub. Story continues - Arrests and asset freezes - But sweeping political changes in the last two years have created risks for any organisation that might criticise or disagree with China's government. The national security law imposed after the 2019 democracy protests covers any offence China considers secession, subversion, collusion with foreign forces or terrorism. More than 70 people, including many of Hong Kong's most prominent democracy activists, have since been charged with security crimes. On Monday, Ma Chun-man, 31, was found guilty of inciting secession by shouting slogans such as "Hong Kong independence, the only way out" and "Hong Kongers, build our own country". The city's debut national security trial took place in July when a man was convicted of terrorism and secession after he rode his motorbike into police while flying a protest flag. But Ma's prosecution was more of a legal weather vane because -- much like the vast majority of upcoming national security trials -- his offences did not involve a violent act and centred purely on his speech. He faces up to seven years in jail and will be sentenced at a later date. The security law also empowers authorities to freeze the assets of any individual or entity marked as a security threat and most of those arrested are denied bail until trial. Earlier this year, Hong Kong's most outspoken pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily collapsed after its assets were frozen and its top executives were charged. Dozens of civil society groups have disbanded in recent months in a bid to avoid a national security investigation, often after being labelled "subversive" by China's state-controlled media. Major tech companies such as Google, Facebook and Twitter have spoken publicly about their concerns about Hong Kong's security law. Last year, The New York Times cited the law when it announced it was relocating most of its Asia headquarters from Hong Kong to Seoul. jta/axn Japan's Princess Mako to marry after years of controversy Japan's royals are held to exacting standards (AFP/JAPAN POOL VIA JIJI PRESS) Japan's Princess Mako finally marries her university sweetheart Kei Komuro on Tuesday, but it won't be a lavish affair, with the couple forgoing traditional rites after years of controversy. Emperor Naruhito's niece Mako, who turned 30 over the weekend, will lose her royal title when she and Komuro register their marriage. This is par for the course for female members of the lineage, who cannot ascend the Chrysanthemum Throne and must leave the imperial family when they marry a commoner. But, for the first time in Japan's post-war history, Mako has turned down a large payment offered to royal women on their departure, and the nuptials will be officiated on paper with no elaborate ceremony. Mako and 30-year-old Komuro, who works for a US law firm, announced their engagement in 2017 -- all bashful smiles as he called her "the moon" quietly watching over him and she compared his smile to the sun. However, the lovebirds soon found themselves the subject of tabloid gossip as a scandal erupted around reports that Komuro's family had run into financial difficulties. Japan's royals are held to exacting standards, and the Imperial Household Agency recently said Mako had developed complex post-traumatic stress disorder because of the media attention. The couple postponed their marriage and Komuro moved to New York for law school in 2018, a move seen as a bid to defuse negative attention. He only returned to Japan last month, sporting a headline-grabbing ponytail. The recent graduate emerged from his mandatory two-week quarantine for overseas arrivals, ready for the long-delayed announcement of his marriage to Mako, daughter of Crown Prince Akishino. - No crimson kimono - The low-key proceedings stand in contrast to those of another royal to marry out of the family: Ayako, the youngest daughter of former emperor Akihito's late cousin. At her wedding in 2018, she wore a crimson-coloured kimono robe for female aristocrats, with her hair swept back in a ponytail in a traditional style. Story continues But for Mako and Kei, a "wedding ceremony, reception banquet and other rituals won't be held, and a lump-sum payment won't be provided", the Imperial Household Agency said this month, referring to a conventional gift reportedly worth up to 153 million yen ($1.35 million). The couple is said to be planning a move to the United States after the marriage, drawing inevitable comparisons with another royal couple who have faced a media onslaught: Britain's Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. It is not clear whether Mako will work once there, but she is well qualified. The princess studied art and cultural heritage at Tokyo's International Christian University, where she met Komuro, and spent a year at Edinburgh University. She also holds a Master's degree in Museum Studies from Britain's University of Leicester. The throne can pass only to male members of the family, and the children of female royals who marry commoners are not included. There has been some debate over changing the rules, and a government panel in July compiled notes on the issue including a proposal that royal women stay in the family, even after marriage. However, any change to the system is likely to be a long time coming, with hardliners and traditionalists vehemently opposed to any steps towards letting women rule. nf/kaf/leg Participants hold a large EU flag as they take part in a pro-EU demonstration following a ruling of the Constitutional Court against the primacy of EU law in Poland, in Warsaw - WOJTEK RADWANSKI/AFP Poland has vowed to "defend our rights with any weapons which are at our disposal" as it warned the EU against starting "World War Three" by imposing financial sanctions over Warsaws challenge to the supremacy of European law. In an attempt to give ground in the rule-of-law dispute, Mateusz Morawiecki, Polands prime minister, promised to dismantle a controversial disciplinary chamber for judges that the European Court of Justice ruled to be illegal by the end of the year. But Brussels must withdraw threats of legal or financial sanctions if it wants to resolve the long-running spat, he said. The European Commission has threatened Poland with punitive sanctions, such as withholding tens of billions of euros in EU funding, after the countrys top court ruled that EU treaties do not override national law. In a bid to ratchet up pressure on Warsaw, EU leaders last week urged the Commission to use a rule of law conditionality mechanism to freeze almost 60 billion (51 billion) of funds to the country. Mateusz Morawiecki, Polands prime minister - Shutterstock Mr Morawiecki said any attempt to block cohesion funds would be met with strong retaliation, accusing them of making demands with a gun to our head. Brussels has already delayed paying out Polands share of the blocs coronavirus recovery fund because of concerns over the countrys judicial independence. What is going to happen if the European Commission will start the Third World War? If they start the Third World War, we are going to defend our rights with any weapons which are at our disposal, he told the Financial Times. But if someone will attack us in a completely unfair way, we will defend ourselves in any possible manner, he added. We feel that this is already discriminatory and a diktat type of approach. But if this is going to be even worse, we will have to think through our strategy. Senior members of the ruling Law and Justice party have confirmed Poland could veto critical legislation, including the EUs landmark Fit for 55 climate package, in retaliation for any punishments. Mr Morawiecki dismissed fears the dispute could provoke a public campaign to leave the bloc, adding: There are no risks of Polexit. We will fiercely defend Poland as part of the European Union. This article is from Full Stack Economics, a newsletter about the economy, technology, and public policy. You can click here to subscribe to the newsletterits free. On Oct. 8, 2020, three Wyoming nurses got a nasty shock: A judge ordered them to stop providing home health care to patients in the southwest corner of the state, where all three worked. Their previous employer, Best Home Health and Hospice, said the women had signed noncompete agreements. After they switched jobs, Best Home sued to enforce the contracts. Advertisement One of the nurses, Jennifer Brown, told me she had to commute more than two hours to find a job outside the noncompete zone. She had sole custody of her granddaughter, who was then just 1 year old. Brown struggled to find child care with hours long enough to accommodate the 12-hour workday created by her long commute. The new job also came with a big pay cut, from $36 per hour to $21. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I burned through all my savings, and I got to the point where I had a roommate to pay the bills, Brown, who is 47, told me in a phone interview. After about three months, she reluctantly moved to Pennsylvania, where she had family to help with child care. She has since moved to Michigan to work as an operating room nurse. Advertisement Not only did they take away my means to support myselfthey took away my means to feed my granddaughter, Brown told me. As a nurse, I should never have that problem. Another woman, Carol Wolfe, became a traveling nurse in North Carolina, according to her attorney, Clark Stith. Being a traveling nurse is hard, Stith told me. Wolfe had been working as a nurse for 30-some years, Stith said. Youre getting toward retirement, then suddenly youre living out of a motel, traveling around wherever you can find work. Stith agreed to represent all three women in a case that went all the way up to the Wyoming Supreme Court. In July, the states highest court reversed the injunction. Advertisement But the three nurses are still trying to recover lost wages from Best Home after their court win. And Brown says it will be almost impossible for her to catch up from the financial losses of the past year. She describes it as one of the most stressful periods of her life. Advertisement Best Home didnt respond to multiple emails seeking comment about the case. Stith isnt just an attorneyhes also a Republican state representative in Wyoming. And he recently proposed legislation that would ban the enforcement of noncompete agreements in the state. He took his inspiration from California, where courts have refused to enforce almost all noncompete agreements for more than a century. Laws like this have recently been gaining momentum in other states. Earlier this year, the District of Columbia enacted a sweeping ban on noncompete agreements, which will go into effect in April. Advertisement Advertisement Other states have passed more targeted legislation prohibiting the use of noncompete agreements against low-wage workers. In my view, California and D.C. have taken the right approach with near-total bans on noncompete enforcement. Every state, if not the federal government, should follow suit. But the case against noncompete rules is particularly strong when it comes to workers on the lower rungs of the economic ladder. A decade ago, discussions of noncompete agreements tended to focus on corporate executives, engineers, and others who have access to sensitive technical or strategic information. The case for enforcing noncompete laws is strongest for these types of workers. Advertisement But in recent years, weve learned that noncompete deals are being used up and down the income spectrum. There have been numerous stories about noncompetes being used against workers with below-average wages: Advertisement In 2014, the Huffington Post reported that Jimmy Johns was requiring its hourly sandwich makers to sign noncompete agreements. (The sandwich chain eventually agreed not to enforce the agreements after a public backlash.) In 2015, the Verge revealed that Amazon was making low-paid warehouse workers sign noncompetes. (The company quickly stopped doing that.) In 2016, PBS covered a legal battle in which a lampshade maker sued a worker making $9 an hour for switching to a rival. In 2019, the Wall Street Journal wrote about companies that ask interns to sign noncompete agreements. However galling they are, anecdotes like this dont tell us how widespread these practices really are. But a new analysis from the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis provides a systematic look at this question. Advertisement The researchers looked at data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth, a government survey that follows a sample of adults over the course of their lives. Every few years, the government asks the same men and women a series of questions about their lives and careers. Advertisement Advertisement In the most recent round of interviews, conducted in 2017 and 2018, researchers added a new question for the cohort then in their mid-30s: whether respondents had signed a noncompete agreement in their current or most recent job. Overall, 15 percent of workers said they were subject to noncompete agreements. This is roughly consistent with earlier research; a 2014 online survey found 18 percent of workers said they were bound by noncompete agreements. Advertisement Evan Starr, the lead author of that 2014 survey, believes the new results are significant. This is the first government-collected data on noncompete agreements, he told me recently. The fact that its a large, random, government-sponsored survey gives it extra credibility. That topline 15 percent figure likely understates how widely noncompete clauses are used in the labor market. Employees dont always read their contracts carefully or remember what theyve signed. In a 2019 survey of businesses, more than 30 percent said they required all of their employees to sign noncompete agreements. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As you might expect, higher-paid workers are more likely to be subject to noncompete clauses. The Minneapolis Fed calculated that 21 percent of workers in the top income quintile sign such agreements. But even in the bottom quintilewhich tops out at about $12 per hour8 percent of workers said theyd been asked to sign such agreements. Advertisement Why enforce noncompetes at all? Advocates argue that refusing to enforce noncompete agreements could discourage companies from investing in their workers and in new technologies. Companies worry that employees could take valuable strategic or technical information with them when they go to work for a competitor. Patents and trade-secret laws are supposed to prevent this kind of intellectual theft, but executives and engineers frequently have valuable knowledge in their heads that isnt covered by patent or trade-secret laws. If this kind of theft happened too frequently, companies might underinvest in new technologiesor they might flee states that fail to enforce noncompete contracts. Advertisement This plausible theory has a massive practical problem: California. As I mentioned before, California courts have refused to enforce noncompete agreements for more than a century. And California has not exactly been a laggard when it comes to innovation. California-based tech giants like Apple and Google spend massive sums on research and development and do not seem eager to relocate. Advertisement Indeed, theres a famous argument that Californias refusal to enforce noncompete agreements actually promoted its technology sector. In a 2017 piece for Vox, I examined the rise of Silicon Valley in the 1980s: Why did Silicon Valley boom while Bostons technology sector fizzled out? In an influential 1994 book, political scientist AnnaLee Saxenian argued that the difference was cultural. In Boston-area technology companies, engineers expected to work for one company for life. In the San Francisco Bay Area, by contrast, it was common for workers to hop from one company to anotherand even to found new startups that competed with their old employers. Advertisement The fact that California courts dont enforce noncompete agreements was a key reason this culture existed. And while this kind of job-hopping is frustrating for employers who lose workers, Saxenian argued that it made Silicon Valley, as a whole, stronger. When someone invented a good idea in one company, it would quickly diffuse across Silicon Valley, improving the performance of other companies nearby. This freewheeling culture seems to have produced a faster pace of innovation than what you got in areas where lifetime employment was the norm. Advertisement In other words, Silicon Valleys success suggests the standard case for enforcing noncompete agreements might be not just wrong but backward. Letting companies tie up their best workers actually slows the pace of progress. Advertisement Advertisement Regardless of which side you take in that debate, enforcing noncompetes makes no sense in low-tech industries and against workers down the income scale. Your average home health care company isnt developing cutting-edge technologies. Letting health care providers lock up nurses with noncompete contracts doesnt have any broader social benefitsit just gives them more power over their workers. Its harder to ask your boss for a raise if your boss knows youre not allowed to work for other nearby employers. A study published last year looked at the results of a 2007 Oregon law that banned the enforcement of noncompete agreements against lower-paid and hourly workers. The economists Michael Lipsitz and Evan Starr crunched the numbers and estimated that the law raised the wages of hourly workers by 2 to 3 percent. Advertisement That figure is particularly impressive because its an average across all hourly workersand only a small fraction of those workers were subject to noncompete agreements. This suggests that the wage impact on affected workers could be much higheras high as 14 to 21 percent. Low-wage workers are unlikely to have legal help when encountering a noncompete, said Ryan Nunn, one of the authors of the Minneapolis Fed study. They are poorly informed about what the noncompete means for them and how it could be enforced against them. In July, President Joe Biden signed an executive order asking the Federal Trade Commission (an independent agency) to limit or ban the enforcement of noncompete agreements. Days later, the Uniform Law Commission approved a model statute that restricts enforcement of noncompete agreementsincluding banning their enforcement against low-wage workers. The ULC doesnt have the power to change laws in any specific state, but state legislatures often use ULC standards as a starting point for drafting their own laws. Advertisement Advertisement Even before this change, a number of states had been passing laws to restrict enforcement of noncompetes. In 2016, Illinois followed Oregons lead, passing legislation banning enforcement of noncompetes against low-wage workers. Earlier this year, the state expanded this to cover workers making less than $75,000. Massachusetts banned enforcement of noncompetes against hourly workers in 2018. While the case against enforcing noncompetes is strongest for low-wage workers, I think it makes sense to ban enforcement across the board. The example of California suggests that these agreements are not necessary for a thriving economy and are probably counterproductive. Companies have other ways to protect their ideas against outright theft by departing employeessee, for example, Googles trade secrets case against former self-driving engineer Anthony Levandowski. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement More fundamentally, choosing where you work is an important freedom. The enforcement of noncompete agreements can impose large financial and emotional costs on individuals, as the story of the Wyoming nurses illustrates. So even if you could demonstrate that Wyomings vigorous enforcement of noncompete law modestly improved the performance of the states economy, I dont think that would justify the hardships the law imposes on people like Jennifer Brown, Carol Wolfe, and the people for whom they care. If the effect of a common business practice is that nurses are being kept from their patients in the middle of a pandemic when theres an ongoing shortage of health care providers, its probably time for that practice to go. How to Do It, Slates sex advice column, now has its very own podcast featuring Stoya and Rich. Twice a week, theyll tackle their most eye-popping questions yet in short, fun, informative episodes. Subscribe to the podcast now wherever you listen. This episode transcript is available exclusively to Slate Plus members. For a limited time, become a member now and get $25 off your first year. Dear How to Do It, Ive been dating Jack for about seven months. He is sweet, caring, kind, brilliant, and lots of fun to be around. He doesnt speak with his mother, but thats understandablegiven the shocking back story I learned recently. Advertisement Jacks mom is serving a prison sentence for attempted murder. We have not discussed it directly, but his family has made it abundantly clear that the person his mother attempted to murder was Jack himself. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The problem is that I cant be spontaneous in any way around him. If I reach to stroke his side when were cuddling, hell grab my wrist. When I reached into my pocket once, he took a step back and dropped into a defensive stance. And you can forget about anything during sex that isnt announced in advance. Hell have a full-blown panic attack. I cant deal with it anymore. I like him, and I dont want to restrain myself around him. Impulsive and spontaneous is the way Im wired, and he cant handle that. He is in therapy about his various trust and sudden reaction issues, but hes been in therapy for most of his life, and from the sense I get talking to him, hes kind of given up on things ever getting better. Ordinarily, I would break up with him. But I cant shake the feeling that Im breaking up with a really great guy over what amounts to rejecting him for his traumas, which makes me feel like a terrible person. What can I do? Advertisement Jack Attack Rich: I think theres a lot of either/or, black-and-white thinking here thats like, Oh, Im breaking up with this great guy because of his traumas, but thats assuming everything is neutral, basically, and the writer is somehow performing a disservice? You can not be the right person for this great person, and it doesnt work out. Advertisement Stoya: Im going way out on thin ice here. So I love cats. Rich: Not the musical, the actual the animal. Stoya: Felines. And I have rescues. They were born under a porch, and Pixelone of his eyes was infected and had to come out. Hes only got one eye. So he startles much more easily if you approach him from his blind spot. I am a great home for those cats. I dont wear shoes inside. I dont have more than three people over at a time. I approach Pixel calmly from the side where he can see me. Advertisement Advertisement But someone who really likes to have lots of parties would not be a good home for Widget and Pixel, and that doesnt make them a bad person. Rich: And it doesnt make those cats not worth loving or having. Stoya: No. Rich: Its just about the fit. So I think in some ways, when you see this mismatch happening, it can be crueler to stay in the relationship that youre ill-suited for. And this is a guy who has a tremendous amount of trauma, completely justifiably, but firstly, theyve been together for seven months. This isnt decades-long relationship. Its really at this time that these things start to come out and you start to say, Hey, let me think of this future with this person. Do I see it happening? What is that going to be like? Seven months is a completely normal time to evaluate this and say, No, I actually cant do this. Sorry, its my life here. Advertisement Advertisement Stoya: But two years in, after putting myself in his shoes, you know when the person youre seeing feels like you are a burden. You can sense it. Rich: And that sucks. Stoya: And its not necessarily a trauma thing. It can be Rich: All sorts of things. You start to annoy that person so much. Stoya: and you can sense it. And if Jack and our writer stick it out past the year mark toward the two-year mark and then our writer, after months of palpable resentment, is like, I dont want to do this anymore, thats so much more damaging than saying, Hey, were a mismatch. Rich: Exactly. Seven months in. Stoya: Its the same as being a sexual mismatch. Advertisement Advertisement Rich: It is. And my real question for this is that seems pretty clear to me, and I understand that there may be some residual guilt because you feel like some things in this relationship are working, but sometimes, one thing doesnt work and that overshadows everything else. Stoya: Remember the guy who was in his early 20s that I dated? Rich: Yeah. Stoya: And then the pandemic hit, and life got very real. And I was like, Oh, we are not on the same path anymore. Rich: No. Stoya: Youre really great. Youre so nice. Youre lovely, and youre going to find someone whos walking through life with the same trajectory as you are. Advertisement Rich: And I also think too, when you get with somebody whos in their early 20s, for example, you kind of realize, OK, this is kind of a crapshoot. Lets see how long this can work out until it doesnt, basically. And it may. It very well may. Stoya: For some people it does. Rich: For some people it does. Absolutely. I would like to say this feeling does not necessarily denote laziness or a failure of compassion unless it does. And I would just ask the writer if they feel that theyve done everything, if theyre doing their bestthat theyre not just giving up because, I cant be bothered, right? It doesnt seem like it to me, but it seems to me like some amount of guilt or uncertainty as to whether or not youre doing the right thing is because of that selfish component or the perception of it. Advertisement Stoya: I think one question along that line thats useful for the writer to ask themselves is in other difficult situations, what have I done? So then they can get an idea is this a lifelong pattern of, Oh, this is hard, goodbye, or is this me choosing where Im suited to be helpful? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Rich: So think about it a little bit more, but dont feel so bad for not continuing a relationship that you are ill-equipped to actually manage in the way that it needs to be done. Stoya: And keep the emphasis on mismatch. Keep the emphasis on we arent a good fit for each other to avoid contributing to Jack feeling worse. Rich: Rejected after dealing with all that hes dealt with. If you are in need of sex advice, you can write to How to Do It at slate.com/howtodoit. Or you can leave us a voicemail at 347- 640-4025. Remember, this is anonymous! How to Do It, Slates sex advice column, now has its very own podcast featuring Stoya and Rich. Twice a week, theyll tackle their most eye-popping questions yet in your earphones. The second episode each week and this transcript are available exclusively to Slate Plus members. For a limited time, become a member now and get $25 off your first year. Have a question? Send it to Stoya and Rich here. Its anonymous! Dear How to Do It, Im a married man in my 30s. Back when I was in my teens and in college, when Id engage in foreplay before hooking up, my body would do some strange stuff (leg shaking, teeth chattering, hands going cold). It was clearly nerves. Advertisement Well, now my body does something much stranger. For the past several years, when my wife and I start our foreplay, or were in bed and Im just horny, I sneeze. Its very loud, very unsexy, and happens about 3-to-4 times before my body calms down. Once the sneezing stops, Im good to go. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement My wife is a good sport and finds it cute (or so she says), but this medical mystery leaves me baffled. Why do I sneeze when Im horny? Achoo Dear Achoo, In a stunning coincidence I happen to be reading a non-sex-related book right now that may explain your pre-sex sneezing. In Breath: The New Science of a Lost Art, James Nestor writes about a condition called honeymoon rhinitis, which is marked by sneezing as a result of the erection inside of your nose. You read that right: Advertisement The interior of the nose is blanketed with erectile tissue, the same flesh that covers the penis, clitoris, and nipples. Noses get erections. Within seconds, they too can engorge with blood and become large and stiff. This happens because the nose is more intimately connected to the genitals than any other organ; when one gets aroused, the other responds. The mere thought of sex for some people causes such severe bouts of nasal erections that theyll have trouble breathing and will start to sneeze uncontrollably. An alternate explanation in this paper is indiscrete stimulation of the parasympathetic nervous system, which is involved in arousal. The author of that highly technical paper, Mahmood F. Bhutta, later explained his theory in laymans terms: Sometimes the signals in this system get crossed, and I think this may be why some people sneeze when they think about sex. Advertisement Incidentally, the rest of Breath is as, if not more, fascinating than this brief passage, and I recommend it with my whole body. Get the How to Do It Newsletter Sex advice from Rich and Stoya, plus exclusive letter follow-ups, delivered weekly. 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. Dear How to Do It, About four years ago, my wife was in a serious automobile accident. Shes lucky to have survived. However, she was very badly hurt, and was unconscious when she was brought to the hospital. I was at work at the time when I found out, and rushed over there. There were quite a few issues, but the most serious was that her right arm was mangled badly. After listening to several options, I went with the one that the doctors assured me had the best chance of her surviving, and signed the paperwork authorizing them to amputate her right arm about halfway up the bicep. Advertisement Advertisement Shes recovered immensely well and uses a prosthetic, but she takes it off when she goes to bed or when were having sex. I cant look at the stump without feeling horrendously guilty and wondering if I could have done something better. My wife, her doctors, and my therapists all agree with what I try to tell myselfthat I made the best decision available in a nasty situation under tight time pressurebut it doesnt really help. Advertisement This has made it difficult, in fact almost impossible, to have sex. At first it wasnt really an issue because she was still recovering physically from the injuries and not interested. But especially over the past few months shes been wanting to have more sex and generally, Ive been unable to perform. I dont know how to get out of my own head on this. Advertisement Cant Move Forward Dear Cant Move Forward, Dealing with the loss of a limb (even the limb of ones partner) may involve grieving, and it sounds to me like youre still in that process. By phone, I asked Buckhead Sex Therapys Lisa Strube how likely it is that youre indeed still in the grieving process and she told me, Theres no time limit on grieving. A licensed professional counselor, Strube lost her leg in a car accident and her areas of expertise include disability and sex therapy. You mention that you have therapists, but if they arent particularly suited to counsel on grief, sex, and disability, you might want to find someone whos better versed in your immediate needs. The website for the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists can at least point you in the direction of a sex therapist. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It doesnt seem like theres a simple answer to your question. The impact of amputation on a persons sex life (let alone the amputees partner) is one of those topics in which papers on it tend to point out how it has received little attention by past researchers. Healing will be an ongoing process. Strube recommends considering the following questions: Why did you fall in love with your wife? Why did you connect? What did you laugh about together? What were your good times like? Why are you still with her? You likely realize this, but forward momentum here is importantyour wife has lost so much as it is that an absent sex life will compound the tragedy. I wish I could hear about her and how shes feeling, said Strube. Feeling unwanted and partly rejected are two really difficult things to deal with. Its true. If you havent talked about your current feelings about sex with your wife, Strube recommends preparing for that discussion with a therapist. This will help you maximize effectiveness and minimize harm. Good luck. Advertisement Help us keep giving the advice you crave every week. Sign up for Slate Plus now. Advertisement Advertisement Dear How to Do It, My husband (straight male) and I (bi female) have been considering an open relationship for a while, and while we havent really dived in all the way yet, he started going on some dates with Kat, which went as far as flirting and light touching but not kissing or sex. I also started looking for new partners, though I am much more of a slow-burner than him so I hadnt found any yet. After I had some ups and downs in my feelings about him seeing Kat, my husband decided to invite her over to hang out with both of us to help me get comfortable with the idea. That night she kissed me, cuddled with both of us for a bit, then went home. Im not a mind-reader, but she seemed comfortable and like the one initiating. Advertisement Advertisement I decided that had been nice and that maybe I would like to go on some dates together or have threesomes, either with Kat or getting to know other women. Kat ghosted us shortly after that night, and when I told my friend about it, she said Kat probably ghosted us for being unicorn hunters. I hadnt heard the term before, but I guess its a fair hitwere a straight-passing couple interested in dating and hooking up with bi women together while keeping the only serious romantic connection between the two of us. Advertisement This may be deeply un-self-aware, but I dont really get whats wrong with that! It seems like all the online poly communities Im finding agree that just wanting to hook up with bi women makes us the worst. As a bi woman myself, I get that we shouldnt be running any kind of dating app bait-and-switch, and that threesomes wouldnt make us part of the poly community, but who would we hook up with together if not bi women? Doesnt that just make the most sense as the category where all of us could experience mutual attraction? Or is the point that threesomes are a much more advanced level of open relationships than dating separately? Advertisement Open and Shut Dear Open and Shut, It absolutely makes sense for you to hook up with a bi- (or pan-) woman, and MFF triads are certainly common in the poly community. You should not feel bad about wanting to experience sex or dating with a woman together. It does not make you the worst. It just makes you horny and into what youre into. However, there is indeed a great sensitivity (bordering on resentment) for unicorn hunters, and the issue, as I understand it, is not in the mechanics of the arrangement but in the approach. Here is how Elisabeth Sheff, whom I recently spoke to for another question this column received, defines unicorn hunters in her excellent book The Polyamorists Next Door: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A heterosexual man and bisexual or heteroflexible woman looking for a bisexual woman who will (the cliche implies) fit in to the couples life at their convenience, bringing no additional partners of her own, disappear or pass as a friend when being openly poly might embarrass or inconvenience the couple, and hopefully wants to take care of the children and do the laundry. It could be that Kat is particularly attuned to any hunterlike behavior so that all it took was the suggestion of it to send her running like Bambi from a hunters rifle. She could have been overcorrecting, or even if she had initiated things, you or your husband could have made her feel like a sexual accessory to your foundation, and she didnt like that. Im basing my response, though, on your friends assessmentpeople ghost for any number of reasons, and by definition these reasons remain obscure. It may seem cruel or cowardly, but some leave casual sex encounters knowing that they do not want a repeat, and thats well within their rights. Sometimes having to explain how they arrived to that conclusion creates hurt feelings and brings its own drama. In a perfect world, people would feel empowered to operate with transparency, but our world is not perfect. Ghosting sometimes feels like the least messy option for people who arent interested anyway. Advertisement Advertisement For you and your husband moving forward on your poly/threesome pursuits, the key is to strike a balance. Really try to connect with your third equally, and show her that she is just as important and has just as much agency as your unit as a couple (as well as your individual selves). Even in the context of a hookup, I think this is a good guideline to follow to help foster ethical casual sex. The pitfalls of unicorn hunting are so pronounced that there are several online resources outlining how to avoid them. Read this, this, and/or that and bone up before you next attempt to bone. Advertisement Did you write this or another letter we answered? Tell us what happened at howtodoit@slate.com. Advertisement Dear How to Do It, A little while ago, I (30s woman) hooked up with a guy I hadnt slept with before. As hes getting undressed, I see his penis, and it is horrifying. This thing is bent. Theres almost a joint or an elbow like a third of the way up from the base, and it was at least a 45-degree angle difference on each side of the joint. I dont understand how he had an erection without being in pain, and just looking at it made me throw up. Advertisement Advertisement Needless to say, I kicked him out of the apartment post-haste and blocked his calls and texts. But I cant seem to get back to hooking up. I get unwanted visions of this penis from hell when I get into sexual situations and it makes me nauseous, although Ive only managed to lose my meal once. I cant go on like this. What sort of therapist do I need to get to be able to have sexy times again? And do I have a case for making this man pay for the therapy bills? I have a very clear event that is causing this. Advertisement Back on the Hog Dear Back on the Hog, Oh, please. During this tizzy of yours, did you ever once consider how this guy feels? You experienced his erection only briefly; he has to live with it. This is probably not the first time he has experienced rejection on sight, and through no fault of his own. Its not like he intentionally bent his dick to freak you out, like that Beetlejuice scene where Geena Davis and Alec Baldwin rearrange their faces to scare the new inhabitants of their house. It sounds like this guy has a pronounced case of Peyronies disease, and just a few columns ago, a mother wrote in expressing concern for the rejection her son would face as a result of his unconventional-looking penis. My job was to reassure her; people like you make my job harder. If I seek therapy as a result of occupational stress, can I send the bill to you? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Of course not. It would be just as ridiculous for me to do that as it would be for you to bother this guy you rejected to his face with your issues over his body. You could certainly talk to a therapist about your obsessive thoughts, but you could also just take it upon yourself to grow up, no professional needed. Rich More How to Do It My boyfriend and I have been together for over two years. Around 10 months ago we moved in together. Things have been pretty normal except one thing. Let me tell you first that I grew up in a house where we did not speak of bathroom behavior. As a result of that, I am quite uncomfortable talking about going number two. I am as secretive as I can be when I have to do my duty. Now that Ron and I are living together, I have to divulge certain information on a need-to-know basis. More specifically, if I have diarrhea. These times I have had to explain, You may not want to go in there for a while. The weird thing is, 15 minutes or so after telling him such, Ron initiates sex. I find it gross and confusing. He knows how uncomfortable I feel as it is. This has happened four times so far. He denies a pattern or that its unusual. Am I the one being weird about this? Jury selection has started in the trial of three men who hunted down and shot an unarmed jogger in a Georgia suburb in February 2020. Yet the names of the actual defendantsGregory McMichael, his son Travis McMichael, and their neighbor William Bryanare noticeably absent from the headlines and popular references to the case. The three men stand accused of nine charges, including five counts of felony murder, two counts of aggravated assault, and one count of malice murder, and yetaccording to many headlinesit is their deceased victim, 25-year-old Ahmaud Arbery, who appears to be on trial. Advertisement This familiar pattern of legal role reversal, where perpetrators shape-shift into victims and victims into perpetrators, has prompted contemporary efforts to elevate the names of Black victims of white supremacist violence. Movements to #SayTheirNames and #SayHerName resist long-standing traditions of cultural gaslighting that obscure the humanity of the victims of racial terror, including police violence, behind criminalizing rhetoric and appeals to public safety. Saying the names of the deceased centers their humanity and reclaims their victimhood. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Subscribe to the Slatest Newsletter A daily email update of the stories you need to read right now. We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again. Please enable javascript to use form. Email address: Send me updates about Slate special offers. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms Sign Up Thanks for signing up! You can manage your newsletter subscriptions at any time. But against the backdrop of pervasive injustice and structural inequity, well-intentioned efforts at restorative justice can produce paradoxical effects if victims names are said in the wrong contexts. By repeatedly centering Arbery and other victims of white violence in their trial coverage, mainstream news outlets inadvertently suggest that Arbery is the one on trial, reinforcing this destructive role reversal. Media outlets must prioritize the accurate portrayal of these cases over search engine optimized headlines and character limits. Given the emphasis on searchability and the speed in contemporary media transmission, poet Dede Akolo cautions, Black death becomes just another online spectacle when its boiled down into something easy to share and easy to manipulate. Similarly, context is key when saying the names of the deceased. Associating their names with the criminal cases of their killers creates a decontextualizing shorthand for the case itself, ultimately erasing their killers culpability. Advertisement This media erasure can have major consequences in the courtroom. Claims of justifiable homicide in self-defense depend on the reasonable perception of threat that a defendant experienced when they used lethal violence. Courtroom efforts to prove such reasonableness often reverse the roles of victim and perpetrator. A claim of self-defense demands that the deceased become a fearsome perpetrator, someone easy to imagine as a dire threat, and whose execution may be framed as a public service. These cases draw from a familiar, recurring script in which the defendant masquerades as a victim who was reasonably defending his neighborhood, and himself, from a dangerous criminal. Advertisement The emphasis on the person killedtheir foibles and priorsobscures the killers responsibility (we may recall stories like this one, where the New York Times claimed that slain teen Michael Brown was no angel). The trial of 31-year-old George Zimmerman for the 2012 shooting death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin hinged on the question of Zimmermans right to defend himself from danger.* Something similar happened in the so-called George Floyd case, where Floyds criminal history took center stage while Derek Chauvin, the officer who killed him, appeared in uniform as a protector of the public.* In case after case, the burden of proof in the court of public opinion shifts from the killer to the deceased, as the mantle of victimhood swings in the opposite direction. Under these circumstances, the language of victimhood itself is contested terrain, as illustrated in the McMichaels and Bryans defense teams filing of a motion in limine to prevent Arbery from being referred to as a victim in court. Advertisement Advertisement From its inception, the homicide trial of McMichael, McMichael, and Bryan has turned on whether Arbery deserves to be perceived as a victim, and whether his killers were reasonable in perceiving him as a threat to their safety. The defendants insist that they were protecting their neighborhood from a suspected criminal, and their defense team has amassed a trove of evidence to prove that their actions were not only reasonable but noble. The case centers less on what the three men did than on who Arbery was. The defense team has worked to uncover and expose the darkest recesses of the dead mans pastcombing through mental health records, tracking legal infractions, revealing personal historyto craft a coherent narrative that erases white culpability and Black victimhood. The defenses goal is to exclude the deceased from victimhood while effacing the aggression and bias that motivated Bryan and the McMichaels. Advertisement Advertisement There is torturous logic at play here: To memorialize the victims of racist violence, we must amplify their names. But, in the wrong context, such amplification can undermine the critical justice-seeking mission at the heart of movements to #SayTheirNames. So whose names should be associated with criminal cases? The stubbornly uneven legal terrainand the wider representational landscapeon which these and other homicide cases play out does not lend itself to easy answers. If we were confident that the defendants would be held accountable for killing, perhaps there would be less urgency to broadcast anyones name, because we could trust our legal system to deliver the justice it promises. Yet centuries of injustice prove the lie of legal neutrality. Advertisement Even as we amplify Arberys name to remember him and grieve his loss, the association of his name with the trial of his killers serves existing sensationalist practices that undermine white culpability while reinforcing legal injustices. The mainstream mediawith its powerful influence in shaping the cultural framework through which we understand victimhood itselfmust resist the urge to spectacularize Black death. Its time we placed the names of white killers front and center in our depictions of their court cases, refusing to allow their victims to stand trial. Slate has relationships with various online retailers. If you buy something through our links, Slate may earn an affiliate commission. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change. All prices were up to date at the time of publication. In the fall of 1879, Alice Cunningham Fletcher, a 41-year-old white woman in Brooklyn, found an unexpected new outlet for her feminism. She attended a lecture at Bostons Faneuil Hall given by Chief Standing Bear, a leader of the Ponca Tribe. He was touring the East Coast with the Omaha translator Susette Bright Eyes La Flesche and her brother Francis, aiming to gain support for the Poncas plight. Fletcher was struck by Susette La Flesches eloquence, grasping that the door of language could be unlocked and intelligent relations made possible between the two races. Advertisement Alice Fletcher had been a leader of the burgeoning clubwomen scene in New York for a decade. These clubs shattered decorum, bringing talented, cultivated and beneficent women together in public at halls and restaurants without the customary accompaniment of men. The clubwomen movement was distinct from other 19th-century movements organized by white women, such as the strident, political activism of Susan B. Anthony and especially Elizabeth Cady Stanton and the high-handed, emotion-driven patronage of Harriet Beecher Stowe. Clubwomen, by contrast, drew upon white womens alleged moral authority to carve out a place for themselves in the countrys social and professional institutions. Their societies sought access, not civil rights or social transformation. They had a collective goal, though a highly limited one: to promote the personal and career success of bourgeois white women. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Attending Standing Bears lecture expanded Fletchers life direction. She became the most prominent white woman activist for Native rights of her era. She did so by positioning Native people as her charges and herself as the benevolent and powerful white mother. The Indians cling to me like children, she wrote to her mentor from the Nez Perce Reservation in northern Idaho, and I must and will protect them. What clubwomen like Fletcher found is that U.S. engagement with Native peoples offered white American woman a profound opportunity. In fact, Indian removal forms a significant episode in the history and counterhistory of white feminism. The machinery of civilization threatened to pulverize Native people into mere remnants of the pastand white women would reap many of the profits. Advertisement Fletcher shared the civilizing impulse universal to white feminism of her era, though we might call the specific philosophy she and the other clubwomen in Indian reform developed settler feminism. Their method was severance: severing Indigenous children from their parents and tribes and severing communally held lands into individual property allotments, subjugating Native people to the patriarchal and monogamous norms of settler life. Meanwhile, the more Fletcher dispossessed Native women and tribes of their traditional social roles, the more she broke through norms herself and gained increased political and social power. She became the first woman to be appointed to a research position at Harvard, a full 85 years before the institution even admitted female undergraduates. Her prolific output made her the most respected and influential woman scientist of the last quarter of the 19th century. Advertisement In October 1881, two years after she had attended Standing Bears Boston lecture, Alice Fletcher had made her way to South Dakota, where she gained an audience with Sitting Bull, who just a few years before had executed the most successful resistance ever mounted by Indigenous groups in U.S. history. Now, Sitting Bull and his band were in U.S. custody. Alice Fletcher sat somewhat awkwardly in a tight-waisted, full-skirted dress around a fire in Sitting Bulls tent. Sitting Bull explained to Fletcher that desperate hunger had compelled him to surrender three months prior. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement As Sitting Bull spoke, his younger wife entered the tepee and threw sticks on the fire before reclining in its glow. Adroitly leaning upon one elbow, she turned her eyes upon Fletcher, no doubt assessing this unusual newcomer. The budding anthropologist looked back, cataloging the womans bright eyes, good looks, and brass bracelets. Sitting Bull, too, gazed upon his wife, before once more addressing Fletcher. You are a woman, he began slowly while Buffalo Chip (Omaha) interpreted. Take pity on my women, for they have no future. The young men can be like the white men, till the soil, supply the food and clothing. They will take the work out of the hands of the women, and the women, to whom we have owed everything in the past, will be stripped of all which gave them power and position among the people. Give a future to my women! Advertisement Fletcher found herself a guest of Sitting Bulls because she had traveled west to study the life of Indian women. Earlier that year, Fletcher had approached Susette La Flesche, who arranged for Fletcher to camp with the Omaha in Nebraska for three weeks before traveling northward to the Sioux. To gain permission from the Bureau of Indian Affairs agents to enter the reservations, she secured research sponsorship from the Peabody Museum and the federal Bureau of Ethnology. Advertisement I wish to get at Indian womens life from the inside, she had written to bureau director John Wesley Powell, and as the segregation of the sexes is marked among barbarous people, I trust that being a woman I may be able to observe and record facts and conditions inaccessible to male anthropologists. Now she was collecting prime data straight from one of the countrys most notorious Native rebels. Advertisement Anthropology, as it was understood in the 19th century, was the science that investigated the evolution of human society. Anthropologists approached the entire history of human culture as one linear process of development from savagery to barbarism, to civilization. In this rigid model, only Europeans had arrived at civilized maturity. Racialized people were figured as specimens of arrested development, frozen in earlier life stages of humanity. Alice Fletcher made several early innovations in anthropologys methods and application. Her first contribution was to argue that Native societies, because they were the imagined origins of her own, thus held the clue to understanding the oppression of women in civilization. Fletcher would not only promote the further development of professional white womenshe intended to also pinpoint the origins of their troubles by investigating the Indigenous cultures of the West. This work preserving the record of the past, as she put it, would help white women seize a greater role in civilizations boundless future. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement White feminism, in other words, had come to the sciences. When she met Sitting Bull, Fletcher was beginning to undertake her first fieldwork. But she was encountering a surprising set of data. The scientific and reform opinion of Fletchers day was that barbarous groups were sex segregated, meaning that men and women lived largely separate existences characterized by drastic inequality in which men exploited womens labor. Advertisement But Fletcher was realizing that Lakota and Omaha women had freedoms and responsibilities of which white women could only dream. The Indian woman, Fletcher concluded, considers herself quite independent. She controls her labor, her possessions and follows her own inclinations if she has sufficient determination. Contrary to accepted wisdom, the Native woman is not necessarily the slave of the man. Rather, her work stoking the fires; making the food, tents, and clothing; and raising corn, beans, and pumpkins meant that she is the conserver of life, a position that came with many privileges and was awarded due respect. Now, Sitting Bull was telling Fletcher directly, Lakota women had more freedom and power than the white women of the West. He was also, in her rendering, asking Fletcher for help. Advertisement For Fletcher and other white feminists, assistance meant taking guardianship over people of color. Fletcher felt that Indigenous people were not doomed to be forever suspended in the barbarian stage of development. They could be saved, trained into the habits of civilized sex specialization. It is good to think of the so-called dependent races as children, rather than through the lens of savagery or barbarism, she corrected in 1900. Natives were not frozen in prehistory, as her colleagues believed. They were in need of a mothera white mother, who could raise the race into maturity. Amelia Quinton, president of the Womens National Indian Association, put it best. The Indian Question must become more and more a woman question, she instructed. When all legal rights are assured, and all fair educational facilities provided, the women and children of the tribes will still be a sacred responsibility laid upon the white women of the land. Advertisement Advertisement Despite Fletchers limited experiencevisiting two tribes for six weeks total, while reliant on translatorsshe was now ready to call herself an expert in Native life writ large. And indeed, she had now acquired more firsthand experience with Indigenous tribes than had most other social scientists in the United States. Throughout the 1880s and 1890s, Fletcher pushed for assimilation with full knowledge of the loss of liberties Native women would experience. Men needed to labor in the fields while women took care of the home and children. In historian Louise Newmans words, Fletcher and other white women reformers believed that Indian women were to be given the gift of patriarchy. Her white feminist position explicitly and knowingly helped undermine Indigenous womens traditional authoritywhile simultaneously taking inspiration from them to realize her own budding professional and political power. Advertisement Advertisement Middle-class white women in the mid to late 19th century were still largely confined to the private sphere. But civilizing the West was deemed an appropriate extension of womens domestic duties. This manifest domesticity, in scholar Amy Kaplans memorable phrase, thrust white womens work into the center of the settler colonial enterprise. White women could respectably extend their own realm of power and influence through adopting a maternal attitude that saw Natives as children in need of their guidance. According to historian Margaret Jacobs, the majority of boarding school employees nationwide were white women. Reformers, especially white women, appointed themselves the task of upwardly evolving the Indigenous. Evolutionary theory in the late 19th century was overwhelmingly Lamarckian, meaning that everyone from the Carlisle Indian Schools founder Richard Henry Pratt and Alice Fletcher to Charles Darwin believed that heredity was the result of repeated sensations and movements, not of a fixed, unchanging particle. They deemed childhood the most plastic stage of development, the period in which it was easiest to impress new traits into the flesh that would transmit down the generations. For reformers, environment during childhood, not inherent biology, determined heredity. Some schools thus removed Native youth from their parents at the astonishingly young age of 3 or 4 and only released them at the age of 21 in order to transform them, body and mind. Advertisement Advertisement The belief that physical traits resulted from childhood impressions granted white women a new and forceful kind of power over the population and its future. White women gained authority as civilizers by contrast with Native women, who were portrayed as backward creatures trapped in prehistory who dragged their children down with them. Breaking the tie between Native mothers and their youngsters thus seemed imperative to white reformers. Few reformers realized the truth Fletcher had discovered: that many Indigenous cultures were free from patriarchy, and women enjoyed considerable agency, responsibility, and freedom in their tribes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The greatest political work of Fletchers lifethe work that elevated her to the position of highest cultural standing, while also being the activity that cost Native women the mostwas to sever Natives from the lands with which they lived in reciprocal relation. To relieve Indians of their vast lands, just as to remove children from their tribes, was for Fletcher an act of benevolence that would propel Natives into the forward movements of civilization and pacify the bloody relationship between Indians and settlers. Fletcher, other reformers, and politicians seized upon a new strategy in the mid-1880s: privatizing the reservations. They sought to divide up existing lands into farming plots assigned to heads of individual families and then sell off the vast surplus lands to settlers. Severing communally held land into private parcels assigned to male heads of family or to couples provided a perfect settler feminist opportunity. Fletcher would save the Omaha by imposing settler gender and sexual norms upon them. Omaha society was nonmonogamous; men were permitted to take more than one wife, though Fletcher and La Flesche noted that polygamy wasnt a common practice. Two years prior, Sitting Bull had asked her, according to her own telling, to give Hunkpapa Lakota women a future. Now among the Omaha, she relished enforcing monogamous, patriarchal ways of life. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Allotment gutted collective tribal authority, reducing Native-held land to monogamous marriages and making women, for the first time, economically dependent upon their husbands. Fletcher knew that this would be a serious downgrade in status for many Native women. That same year, she acknowledged that a Native woman told her, Im glad Im not a white woman! when informed of married womens lack of rights to own property or custody of their children in Anglo America. But Indigenous womens rights were of secondary importance to settler feminism. Of primary importance was rescuing them from barbarism, a rescue that simultaneously bolstered white womens authority. A decline in Native womens rights and agency was merely the price of progress. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement White women did not yet have electoral power, but women like Fletcher were beginning to wield significant political influence. In the summer of 1885, Fletcher diligently researched what would become a 693-page report on the history and progress of Indian education and civilization, which included updates on treaty obligations that remained unfulfilled by the U.S. government. This research positioned her as an unparalleled authority, and she leveraged her power to convince Sen. Henry Dawes to rewrite the Dawes Act so that allotments would be granted to individual heads of families and not patented to tribes at large. Later that fall, Fletcher lobbied Congress directly in support of her vision. Advertisement Advertisement The Dawes Act was the first major Indian policy in a century, and no single individual had more effect on its final shape, Fletchers biographer Joan Mark argues, than Alice Fletcher. Fletchers agenda won out: No tribal consent, and land was divided up among individual families and assigned to heads of households rather than allotted to communities or even couples. Fletcher carried out a significant portion of land allotments herself. Typically, Fletcher surveyed the lands and chose the plots to be assigned, though she was a newcomer to the territory. Yet she did her work carefully, all too aware that much reservation land was arid and not suitable for dwelling or farming. Some of her most extensive work was among the Nez Perce in northern Idaho, a tribe largely resistant to privatizing land. Advertisement Advertisement For several springs beginning in 1889, Fletcher traveled to Idaho with her new domestic partner, the photographer E. Jane Gay. Gay took photographs, wrote, and kept house while Fletcher surveyed and privatized the land to male heads of households, against the majority of the tribes wishes. All remaining lands were sold off to white settlers. As a result of Fletchers allotment work, the Nez Perce lost 75 percent of their lands, a full half-million acres. It was the beginning of a long, most likely romantic, partnership between Fletcher and Gay. It may be tempting to call Fletchers situation in Idaho ironic: Here she was, imposing compulsory heterosexuality upon a tribe who maintained radically different romantic and kinship relations, all while freeing herself from those very same norms personally and professionally. Yet her situation wasnt ironic, for it wasnt the result of unintended consequence: It was by design. To Fletcher and other white feminists, white women were civilized, without question, and same-sex attachments among each other didnt jeopardize this status. Their moral authority was the backbone of moral progress, whether they lived with husbands or in the so-called Boston marriages that united upper-class white women in enduring companionship. Feminist scholar Jasbir K. Puar has named this problematic phenomenon homonationalism: the fantasy that white gay life is inherently civilized and good for the nation, whereas Black, brown, and Asian nonheterosexual life is primitive, backward, and a threat to progress. Puar was writing about the 21st century, but the dynamic reaches back to the late 19th and the women like Fletcher and Gay who used their location in the frontier to liberate themselves from patriarchal sexual norms while simultaneously imposing them upon others. It is clear that Fletcher used her increased social standing to conduct her own domestic relationships however she chosethe very agency she denied to those she deemed less evolved. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Fletchers continued anthropological work, much of it done with La Flesche, launched her into new professional heights. She published extensively on Indigenous cultural traditions, especially music and dance. In the fall of 1890, she was awarded a paid research position at Harvards Peabody Museum that a wealthy benefactress created specifically for her. The new position was for Fletcher aloneLa Flesche continued as her unpaid research assistant. At Harvard, the fellowship had limited reach, for she didnt have students of her own to train. But she was now a full-time professional scholar and the first woman to have an appointment at Harvard. To the community of middle-class white feminists in D.C., her university position was a major victory, and she was now feted by the same kinds of societies she had helped to found 20 years earlier. Eight hundred people attended a lavish reception held by the womens clubs of D.C. to celebrate Fletcher; she spent five hours greeting guests in the customary receiving line. Advertisement That winter, Fletcher was an invited speaker at the now annual National Council of Women conference held at Washington, D.C.s Albaughs Opera House. Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony, who had founded the organization, were also on the agenda. Fletchers speech assumed her leadership among feminists, and it assumed all those feminists united behind the civilizing agenda. She began Our Duty Toward Dependent Races with a statement of equality: that all the worlds races have a right to exist, free of attempted destruction by war, pestilence, or absorption. But true to the evolutionary hierarchy to which she was so committed, she argued that races were not equal in development. It is plainly seen that the white race has led the march of human progress, she asserted, as evidenced by its monopoly of the higher arts and sciences and its superior land holdings. Advertisement Advertisement But Fletchers audience at the National Council of Women was not only composed of white feminists eager to bolster their own position through civilizing people of color. Others had distinct ideas of feminisms meaning, objectives, and vision for change. After all, like all social movements, feminism is less a fixed platform than a rotating scene of ongoing tensions, debates, and outright conflicts. The next scheduled speaker was none other than Frances E.W. Harper, the prominent Black writer and activist. Harper launched right into pointed critique: While Miss Fletcher has advocated the cause of the Indian and negro under the caption of Dependent Races, Harper began, I deem it a privilege to present the negro, not as a mere dependent asking for Northern sympathy or Southern compassion, but as a member of the body politic who has a claim upon the nation for justice. Advertisement Justice, Harper emphasized, was a right pertaining equally to all, regardless of whites self-serving fantasies that their rights of property or the claims of superior intelligence placed other races under their magnanimous care. While white feminists like Stanton, Stowe, and Fletcher consolidated around the civilizing project, despite their competing approaches to the cause, intersectional feminists like Harper, Harriet Jacobs, and Zitkala-Sa threw off white womens aggressive benevolence and stressed their right to self-determination. Excerpted from The Trouble With White Women: A Counterhistory of Feminism by Kyla Schuller. Available from Bold Type Books, an imprint of Hachette Book Group Inc. On Monday, we finally learned the outcome of a congressional investigation into the 9,500-member Customs and Border Protection Facebook group in which members posted a doctored image of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez engaged in oral sex with a detained migrant and made jokes about the deaths of migrants. In July 2019, ProPublica published the blockbuster report exposing the group and its members conduct. The agency chief at the time, Carla Provost, promised swift action, saying these posts are completely inappropriate and that agents will be held accountable. Advertisement But in the two years since, the public heard virtually nothing from Customs and Border Protection, the more-than-45,000-person agency charged with overseeing U.S. borders, about what that discipline would look like, as the Trump administration stymied attempts at congressional oversight. Ultimately, a report from the committee investigating the agency showed that the worst offendersincluding those who posted disparaging comments about dead migrant children and those who shared the sexually abusive photoshopped depictions of Ocasio-Cortezwere recommended to be removed. Yet, in almost every instance, the recommendations were overturned by senior CBP officials. Many offenders received no discipline at all. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Subscribe to the Slatest Newsletter A daily email update of the stories you need to read right now. We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again. Please enable javascript to use form. Email address: Send me updates about Slate special offers. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms Sign Up Thanks for signing up! You can manage your newsletter subscriptions at any time. The committee report paints a picture of an organization rife with a violently abusive mentality toward the public, a sense of total impunity to revel in that abuse, and virtually zero accountability. The agencys Discipline Review Board found 60 cases of misconduct and ultimately recommended removal in 24 cases, but only two agents ultimately lost their jobs. Many others had their lesser recommended disciplinary actions reduced even further. Advertisement Its worth zeroing in on the specific cases, though, to get a sense of what is allowed at CBP. Many of these agents are still serving the public and policing people crossing the border. The most high-profile findings in the ProPublica report were the revelations about multiple members sharing sexually violent images of Ocasio-Cortez. One of those agents, who shared a doctored image of Donald Trump sexually assaulting Ocasio-Cortez, was fired. But the other, who posted an image of a penis going through a fence and Ocasio-Cortez superimposed on the other side of the fence with the caption Lucky Illegal Immigrant Glory Hole Special Starring AOC, had his sanction reduced from dismissal to 60-day suspension with back pay. Advertisement In another case, an agent was recommended for removal after he posted an internal video of CBPs Tactical Unit that showed a group of migrants under pursuit, including a migrant fleeing and falling off a cliff to their death and an obscene comment about an unnamed member of Congress. The deciding official reduced the discipline to a 30-day suspension, the committee notes. Advertisement Others evaded accountability by seeking and acquiring retirements with full benefits after they had been recommended for dismissal. In one such case, an agent hypothesized that a photo of a drowned father and his 23-month-old daughter had been doctored by Democratic operatives, describing the dead child and his father as floaters. That officer had previously been disciplined on three separate occasions for inappropriate comments on Myspace, for having lost property, and for making sexually inappropriate gestures to a fellow Border Patrol agent. The officer was recommended for dismissal but retired before he could face discipline, receiving his full retirement package including disability annuity, Social Security benefits, and other payments from qualified federal retirement plans. The agent faced no discipline for misconduct on the Facebook page. Advertisement Advertisement In other cases, lesser punishments were ultimately reduced. One officer who posted on the Facebook page that these children arent [sic] going to separate themselves, along with separate homophobic comments, had a three-day suspension reduced to one day. Given CBPs history as perhaps the worst federal agency in the country, none of this is all that surprising. The agency was responsible for enacting Trumps cruelest immigration policies, including the blatantly illegal practice of family separation. The agency also willfully violated court orders in implementing Trumps first illegal Muslim ban. One current top official, Brian Hastings, testified in 2019 that a 3-year-old girl detained at the border and separated from her grandmother might be a criminal or a national security threat to the United States. Ultimately, though, the culture of abuse, total impunity, and lack of accountability runs through the organization top to bottom, as the oversight committees report makes incredibly clear. One member of the Facebook group at the center of this scandal was the former chief of the United States Border Patrol, Provost, herself. Indeed, the committee found that Provost, who is now retired, was active on Facebook at the same time as some of the worst abusive posts. But, just like other officers, Provost was not disciplined. Ultimately, CBPs Office of Professional Responsibility found insufficient evidence to support administrative action against Chief Provost and closed her case. The committees findings raise questions about what it will take to punish abusive officers and improve CBPs culture. These questions are not new, either. Two years ago, ProPublica reported how an outside advisory panel in 2016 described the agencys discipline system as broken and made several recommendations that were never implemented. Part of the problem, the reporters found, is that misconduct investigations are handled by several different jurisdictions, resulting in bureaucratic turf battles and a general inefficiency. So until CBP is totally revamped, or even disbanded, it will continue to be rife with abuse. Kidnapping has become normal in Haiti. So normal that when Jacqueline Charles, who reports on the Caribbean for the Miami Herald, talks about it, its almost like shes talking about a bit of weather or a traffic jam. If people in a certain neighbor learn about a kidnapping nearby, she says, they might say, Oh, wow, OK, so today Im just going to stay home, or I have to go another route today, or Im not going to be able to go downtown. Advertisement That is life every day today, for at the last year or two, Charles says. Given all this, when news broke a week or so ago that 17 missionaries had been kidnapped, just outside Port-au-Prince, its not that Jacqueline Charles was surprised. She was just surprised so many people were talking about it. Those of us who cover Haiti on a regular basis, we are very apprehensive about writing about kidnapping cases when it involves individuals who are still being held, she says. We are very cautious, because the person might be killed. These gangs often do not take kindly to publicity. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Thats at least part of the reason you maybe havent heard so much about the ongoing spate of kidnappings in Haiti. Jacqueline Charles, though, can rattle off victim after victim: one was a Navy veteran, another was an Army reservist on vacation, and an American pastor was snatched in his church parking lot just earlier this month. When these cases happen, you feel a complete sense of helplessness, hopelessness, she says. Advertisement On Mondays episode of What Next, I spoke with Charles about Haitis kidnapping crisis. And how these latest victims might convince the world to intervene. Our conversation has been edited and condensed for clarity. Mary Harris: So lets get into the details of this mass kidnaping that is getting so much attention. How much do we know about the victims and how they were taken? Jacqueline Charles: So the victims are 16 Americans, one Canadian. They work for a charitable group, Christian Aid Ministries. Theyre fairly new to the country, but they live there. The youngest one is 8 months old. Theres five children. Do we have any idea how theyre doing? No, we do not have any idea how theyre doing. Contact was made on Saturday between the gang and someone affiliated with the group whos not among those that are kidnaped. And thats where the ransom request was first made. Advertisement Advertisement How much do we know about the gang thats responsible for this kidnaping? So this gang, 400 Mawozo, they basically control one of the largest gang territories in the country. They are east of Port-au-Prince in this area where these missionaries were taken. This is also the way out to the border with the Dominican Republic. So its a very well-traveled road. Advertisement Its a very vast area. And I mention that because its one of the difficulties with this gang. Police are very much aware of them, but they havent been able to make huge amounts of arrests because the gang is well-informed. Theyve got antennas all over the place. So whenever the police are going to make an operation, they are already aware of it. They have people inside the police who also clue them into whats happening. They have people on the streets who let them know. Where their base is located, if the cops go down there, they can easily get ambushed because youre talking about going down a narrow road, dirt roads covered with trees, so theyll see you before you see them. Advertisement Advertisement They started off stealing cattle. Then they started stealing cars. And now we see that theyre doing these kidnappings. The gang itself, also, they tax. Theyve been taxing citizens in the area. People were shocked that this gang would risk bringing the wrath of the U.S. on their head. Jacqueline Charles Taxing them? Like going around and saying, Hey, you owe us money? Exactly. If youre selling goats, were going to charge you this amount per goat. If you run a beauty salon, this is how much you have to pay every Friday. Theres actually a list of what people are supposed to pay, depending on the businesses that they run. And in some cases, the gang actually called up business people in the community to tell them what their quote-unquote tax bill will be. Advertisement Do they offer anything for the tax? Protection or services? Well, the gang is in the extortion business, so they do extort and the assumption is that if you pay this tax, you get some sort of protection from the gang in the sense that they wont come after you. But if you dont pay the tax, will your business be there tomorrow? Will you even be able to function? Advertisement The gang that arranged this mass kidnapping of missionaries is asking for $17 milliona million for each person they abducted. And because kidnapping has become so regular in Haiti, whats surprising is not the ransom so much. Its how brazen the gang is being in taunting the entire U.S. government. Advertisement Advertisement People were shocked that this gang would risk bringing the wrath of the U.S. on their head. You mentioned how you spoke to a family of an American citizen, this pastor, who was kidnapped just a few weeks back. Theyre still waiting to hear whats happening with him, even though theyve paid a ransom. Do you think about why that case got so little publicity and this ones getting so much? Do you think its a choice of the family or something else? No, its not a choice of the family. In fact, the family, noticing the unfairness in terms of coverage, issued a video out of desperation this week to try and get some attention to this case and to remind people that its been more than three weeks. And this pastor, plus another one of his church members, is still being held by gang members, and nobody is talking about the case. Advertisement I reached out to people and asked them about this, and nobody wanted to go on the record, but off the record, what was brought up time and time again was the issue of race. That not all Americans are equal. And they felt that because this pastor was not born in the U.S., that perhaps this is why hes not getting the focus that its getting. Advertisement Advertisement And you can also take a step back and say, Well, why arent the other kidnaping cases out of Haiti getting the attention that theyve gotten when theyve been going on now for at least two years? Weve seen a surge in kidnaping. Its been no secret, but we havent seen this kind of publicity. Advertisement Advertisement There was a case earlier this year where some Dominicans were also kidnapped, filmmakers. They were coming back from filming a movie, ironically enough about kidnaping, and they were grabbed by a gang Oh my gosh. I wrote about that extensively. But there was no other international press outside of the Dominican press writing about the case. Fifteen years ago, when I was covering Haiti, we had a gang problem in mostly the slums in the capital. As journalists, we can do a convoy and we can go into those slums and we were allowed passage to go in there and do our reporting. That is not the case today. Theres no guarantee of that. Theres no guarantee of a humanitarian corridor for ambulances or things to go through. Advertisement And I think that this case stands out and says theres also no guarantee for foreigners who are working in the country as missionaries and doing good. That was what was shocking. Weve heard this where the gang may stop a vehicle to hijack it and when they realized that the occupants were Americans, they let it go. They would not take that risk of having the FBI, having the U.S. government on their head. Advertisement I want to talk about how Haiti got to this point. We can start that story so many different places, right? But you have done this reporting over the last couple of years documenting the rise in kidnappings, and youve even spoken to people after theyve been released. So where would you start that story? Advertisement I would start that story in 2010. Around Christmas, December 2009, I wrote a story about how Haiti was on an upswing. And I told that story through the eyes of the Haitian elitethat instead of putting their money in banks in Miami, they were bringing their money back home to Haiti, and they were investing in projects and construction. And they really were starting to feel optimistic about the country and the countrys future. But the country still had United Nations peacekeepers there. You had President Rene Preval. There were issues, but you have stability. You had people saying to me after three decades of dictatorship and two ousters involving the same president, they were at a place in the country where they could be critical of the government, get in their car to drive home without thinking about the fact that they were going to be killed with a bullet in their head. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A pretty basic guarantee. So you have this, and then what happened? You have this earthquake, Jan. 12, 2010. Just unbelievable disaster. More than 300,000 people died, 1.5 million people homeless, another 1.5 million injured. The biggest hospital basically crushed, people living under tents and tarps. Port-Au-Prince was nearly destroyed. What happened to those people that youd been following who had all this optimism? The country lost a lot of their leading thinkers and intellectuals. The international community stepped in and says, Were going to build back better. There was billions of dollars in aid that was promised to the countryover $10 billion. So you fast forward today, 11 years later, most of that aid never materialized. Instead of things getting better, things got worse. Not only did the country not build back better, but it has gone on this downward to decay. Advertisement You had people who were affected by the quake, either because they lost their homes or they were victimized, or were just there even if their house was still standing, sort of waiting for things to turn around. It didnt happen. And we started to see this migration out of Haiti to South America, something that was unusual. Instead of going to the Bahamas or coming off the Florida Straits, they were going to Brazil and then Chile. And by the way, these are people that youre now seeing in the Southern border of the United States. You also had the United States involved with two elections that were controversial in the country. Advertisement And so when people look at Haiti today, they look at Haiti before 2010 and after 2010, and what you see after 2010 is that that optimism that was there, this feeling that things were on an upswing turning around, that its gone just downhill. Instead of talking about weak institutions today in the country, were talking about no institutions. The institutions have completely collapsed. Advertisement Advertisement Are you saying the problem is now so diffuse that when theres a kidnaping like this, people who you may think of as authorities, like, say, the FBI or the Haitian government, they dont even know who to call? Thats the oversimplification. So for instance, if you take the FBI, the FBI is not going to go in and resolve the problem. The FBIs job is to offer guidance to the families or the organization. The FBI is not going to get on the phone and negotiate with the kidnappers because the United States does not negotiate with terrorists. And a lot of people seem to be under the impression that the FBI is going to help you pay the ransom, which theyre not going to do. Thats No. 1. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement No. 2, there is a lack of trust, definitely in terms of the police. So thats why a lot of kidnapping cases are not reported. Because in most instances, these kidnappings end with families paying a ransom. Once somebody is taken to one of these kidnapping lairs, the police really doesnt have any access. Earlier this year, five police officers went into one of these gang-controlled slums, and they did not come out alive. They were ambushed, attacked, and killed, even while in armored vehicles. So these gangs are better armed than the police. You have to find a way to address the insecurity in the country because it is now seeping into all parts of life. Advertisement Youve written that the gangs are the de facto government in Haiti. Yes, because where they are and the territory that they control, they decide everything. They decide when people can or cant take the streets. They decide that theyre going to send you a tax bill. They decide whether you feel comfortable just going out because theyre striking today or theyre not striking. Advertisement People talk about elections. Whos going to be able to run a campaign in some of these neighborhoods? And are you going to have to ask these gangs for passage in order for you to go campaigning? And what kind of deal are you going to have to make in order for that? So this has the potential of just spiraling so much more out of control. Advertisement Advertisement Its hard to think of how it would spiral more. Oh, its easy. You still have places in the country that are not under the control of gangs, where its still fairly safe to walk around. But if we have a situation where what were seeing in Port-au-Prince, you start to see it elsewhere in the country and now have gangs controlling the in and out of all of the major ports in the country. If you start having potential candidates running for office basically colluding with gangs. It does have the potential to get worse. Do you think how the U.S. and other countries respond to these kidnappings could indicate some kind of shift in how the wider world engages with Haiti at this point? Advertisement At this point, everybody, including Haitians, is looking to see how the United States responds to this particular kidnapping. I dont know what that response should be, but everybody agrees that the response carries huge ramifications. It seems to me that the U.S. is in an uncommonly tough spot when it comes to Haiti right now. The special envoy just resigned over how the Biden administration was dealing with Haitian migrants at the Mexico border. So its hard to imagine whos even thinking through what the U.S. does now. Advertisement Advertisement The one thing weve heard from the administration is after basically a year of pushing for elections in Haiti at all costs, it is now saying, OK, you know what, when the conditions are right. There is a recognition of the security crisis that exists in Haiti even before this kidnapping. Advertisement Advertisement Youve said that the administration has four options here for how to move forward. I wonder if you could lay those out quickly. So the one option is a return of the United Nations peacekeeping troops. The U.N. was there for 13 years. But the problem with that option is they did bring cholera, there was the whole issue of U.N. peacekeepers fathering Haitian children and leaving them behind. And the U.N. does not enjoy a very good reputation in Haiti. But there needs to be a serious debate or discussion about that. The next option is the U.S. military to go into Haiti. This was requested of the Biden administration right after the assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moise. Advertisement To stabilize the country, theoretically? Yes, to stabilize the country, theoretically, but the administration basically nixed that idea. Theres also members in Congress and some people in the diaspora who are not in favor of this. The U.S. once occupied Haiti for 19 years, and the legacy of the occupation, more than a hundred years later, is still there. Whats option No. 3? No. 3 is what former U.S. Special Envoy Daniel Foote presented, which was using U.S. special forces to train the Haitian National Police in anti-gang operations. That option also was dismissed by the White House. But it speaks to another option, which was the use of contractors to accompany Haitian police in anti-gang operations. The problem with that option is you currently have 18 former Colombian military men who are in jail in a Haitian prison today accused of assassinating the president of Haiti. Advertisement So contractors dont have a great reputation right now. Exactly, and the police force is already demoralized, and this has not gone down well within the force. They basically see it as a slap in their faces whenever they bring in these private security firms to do police work. OK, I want to take a deep breath because I feel like you laid out the four options so clearly and also all of the things that could go terribly wrong with them. How do Haitians talk about what they think needs to happen now? Theyre very divided. They all agree that theres some help thats needed, but they are divided on what the solution should be because there are no good solutions. So it all depends on who you talk to and how they view things. Some people are for or against the U.N. or a US intervention. I think Haitians who are in the diaspora might be more against it, versus those who are in the country who basically are saying at this point, Im drowning, I dont care whos the one thats coming to rescue me. Just throw me the rope. Subscribe to What Next on Apple Podcasts Get more news from Mary Harris every weekday. When Virginia voters amended their state constitution to create a bipartisan redistricting commission, they thought they were ending the partisan squabbling that plagued the states redistricting process for centuries. Instead, they may have made it worse. The Virginia commissionadded to the state constitution by legislative approval followed by a referendum in 2020was supposed to establish a fair, transparent process that discouraged politicking and incentivized compromise. It shifted power over the creation of new maps from the General Assembly (which Democrats now control) to a 16-member commission made up of eight legislative leaders and eight citizens. Both groups are evenly split between Democrats and Republicans. The commission must draw compact districts that do not favor any political party, and may adopt new maps only with supermajority support from both the legislators and citizens. If the commissioners cant reach an agreement, the Virginia Supreme Courtwhere conservative justices currently hold a majoritydraws the maps. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Subscribe to the Slatest Newsletter A daily email update of the stories you need to read right now. We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again. Please enable javascript to use form. Email address: Send me updates about Slate special offers. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms Sign Up Thanks for signing up! You can manage your newsletter subscriptions at any time. The commission has repeatedly deadlocked along partisan lines, failing to reach the beginnings of an agreement after hours of negotiations. The commissioners have already asked the Virginia Supreme Court to redraw state legislative districts, and they appear poised to give up on congressional maps as well. Democrats currently hold seven out of the states 11 congressional districts. The courts map, however, may give several districts back to Republicans; indeed, it appears that the commissions Republicans sought a deadlock in the hopes of securing a favorable map from the court. Democrats, who generally supported redistricting reform in the legislature, now fear the new process will diminish their odds of retaining control over the House of Representativesand, by extension, killing the possibility of a federal ban on gerrymandering anytime soon. Advertisement Many groups across the political spectrum supported redistricting reform in Virginia, including the Brennan Center for Justice, which advocates for voting rights and democracy reform. In 2019, Brennan Center senior counsel Michael Li argued that the bipartisan commission would be a big win for Virginia voters. On Friday, I spoke with him about the commissions implosion and its implications for redistricting reform in the rest of the country. Our conversation has been edited for length and clarity. Advertisement Mark Joseph Stern: Why do you think the commission has proved unable to agree on new maps? Michael Li: Its a bipartisan hybrid commission. You have people very closely connected to the political process involving drawing lines. On top of that, the process is very easy to deadlock. And sometimes deadlock can be an objective in and of itself for members of a commissiontheyd rather deadlock and go to an alternative process. Theres no incentive to compromise if your party thinks the alternative process will be better than compromise. Advertisement Advertisement Which party is trying to deadlock here? Here, its Republicans, because the Virginia Supreme Court is more conservative. My sense is that the Democrats are the ones up in arms. The Democrats would like a different map that perhaps favors Republicans a little less. And Republicans see no need to compromise. Say the commission deadlocks and the Virginia Supreme Court draws all the maps instead. Do you think creating this commission was still better than the alternative? I do think its better than the alternative because the alternative is single-party control of redistricting. If youre a Democrat this cycle, youre saying, whats wrong with that? We would do a great job with single-party control. But in the past youve had Republican single-party control thats produced bad maps. Advertisement Advertisement A foe of this commission might argue that kicking redistricting to the court is even less transparent and responsive to what the people of Virginia want. You have zero elected lawmakers involved in the process. You have none of the long hearings and community meetingsbasically, the courts going to hire a special master to draw the map. Im not sure having elected people draw maps is good. Elected people are the problem. The other pushback is that courts generally do OK at maps. If you look at court-drawn maps, theyre not aggressive gerrymanders. If the problem is extreme gerrymandering, courts dont engage in that. Do they draw the perfect map? No. But are they in the ballpark? Yes. They dont draw outlier maps. Advertisement House Democrats support the Freedom to Vote Act, a federal ban on partisan gerrymandering. House Republicans oppose it. What do you think of the argument that Democrats should gerrymander congressional districts in their favor now so they can preserve the opportunity to pass a federal ban on gerrymandering later? Advertisement Let me give you a historical perspective. The party that feels like it has the upper hand is never in favor of redistricting reform. The idea that you should have a federal statutory ban on partisan gerrymandering actually comes from Republicansmost prominently from Mitch McConnell in the 1980s and 90s. McConnell wrote a bill with language very similar to whats in the Freedom to Vote Act. It got 34 Republican sponsors in the Senate, but not a single Democratic sponsor, because Democrats had long controlled the House. Now its Democrats who are in favor of ending gerrymandering and Republicans who are uniformly opposed. Advertisement Advertisement Inherent in your question is the assumption that Democrats are forever good on this issue, because its in their self-interest to be good on this issue. At a certain point, they might not feel as motivated on this. Is there an argument that Democrats should gerrymander because Republicans will gerrymander so why unilaterally disarm? Its a self-interested argument that is fine. But I think that gives Democrats too much credit. Imagine its 2023. Democrats have enough votes in the Senate to reform the filibuster so they can pass a federal ban on gerrymandering. Joe Biden supports it. But Democrats cant pass it, because they lost the House by a single vote. And that vote comes from Virginia, where Democrats could have gerrymandered themselves more seats but for the redistricting commission, which held them back. Would you say creating the commission was still a good idea? Advertisement I think, on balance, yes. Because ending the possibility of single-party control is a really big thing. Even imperfect commissions still draw maps in the ballpark of being reasonable as opposed to wild gerrymanders. I do think that it is still, on balance, better. Which is not to say that if I were a Virginian that I wouldnt advocate for stronger reforms in the future to make the process even better. After this cycle, weve learned about what works and what doesnt work. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Just to be clear: Youre saying that creating the Virginia redistricting commission was a worthwhile trade-off for failing to pass a federal ban on gerrymandering that applies to all 50 states? Advertisement No, I dont know that Im saying that. Ive spent so much time working on this federal ban. I would love to have the federal ban. But you could just as easily ask, what happens if its one seat in Arizona or California or Michigan? The California commission works great. It has produced very responsive maps. You could argue that, without it, Democrats could gerrymander California and it would be better for democracy, better for the Equality Act, better for all kinds of things we care about. But I take issue with the question. I dont know if thats the trade-off. If I were going to a ballot box, if I had these two choices, a federal gerrymandering ban or Virginia reform, Id choose the federal gerrymandering ban. Advertisement The Atlantic recently published an article speculating that redistricting reform could doom Democrats for a decade, since most states to adopt reforms lean Democratic. Do you agree? Well, look. Michigan passed a reform. Utah passed a reform. In California, Democrats actually picked up seats from the commission-drawn maps. It turns out that when they drew maps themselves, Democrats overprotected incumbents. They thought their incumbents needed much more Democratic districts to win. And the interests of incumbents are sometimes at odds with interests of a party, because incumbents will want safer districts, which means packing Democrats, which means youre leaving seats on the table. Advertisement The commission was told to keep communities together, not to consider competitive districts or political data. It turns out that if you keep communities together, theres a lot of natural competitiveness in a lot of places. By unpacking districtswhich the commission did just by keeping communities togetherit created more Democratic opportunities. Advertisement Advertisement So your argument is that even if Democrats had single-party control in a state like California, they wouldnt necessarily gerrymander as aggressively as some partisans are fantasizing about, so we shouldnt view reform as a trade-off with Democrats winning more seats because Democrats might actually benefit from it? Something like that. Democrats in a state like California also felt pressure to create minority districts. The optimal gerrymander would be lets just make districts nonwhite enough and win a bunch of them but not necessarily create new opportunities for minorities. But Democrats feel like they actually have to create minority opportunities. They tend to be very responsive to the interests of incumbents, especially minority incumbents. Republicans are much more strategic. They dont have to worry about making sure minority lawmakers are protected. Democrats feel an obligation to protect minority lawmakers. That means leaving seats on the table in ways that Republicans are not. If California is a success story for both democracy and Democrats, Virginia seems to be a failure on both fronts. What can other states learn from its commissions collapse? Not all reforms are created equal. Some are more carefully thought out and have more checks and balances and safeguards than others. Its important, when designing reforms, to think about all of these things. Sometimes people do and sometimes they dont. We are involved in reform in lots of states. People come to you and say, Hey, can you look at this proposal were doing? And sometimes were like, Oh, my God. You just picked all of the worst elements. It is important to think this through. Were getting a lot more data points as more states adopt commissions. These are laboratories of democracy in action, and sometimes in a laboratory the experiment goes bad, the wonder drug doesnt work, and you need to go back to the drawing board. Many people wouldve said Virginias commission was not their favorite reform. The jurys still out. On Sept. 20, journalist Raymundo Riva Palacio reported in the newspaper Eje Central that Mexican Attorney General Alejandro Gertz Manero was planning to issue arrest warrants for 31 Mexican scientists. He alleged that they had stolen $12.2 million destined for the scientific advancement of the country. But the scientists remain free. This is the second time that Gertz tried to issue the warrants, and the second time that a federal judge denied the request, much to the relief of Mexicos scientific establishment. The scientists and their supporters are worried that the prosecutors office plans to arrest the 31 under charges typically reserved for narcotics traffickers. If that happens, they could end up in a maximum-security prison where some of the most dangerous criminals are spending time, without the opportunity to get bail before trial. The 31 scientists say that there has been no crimeand that the Mexican government is instead trying to send a message to those who would dare question its scientific policy decisions. Nonetheless, as of Oct. 5 some of the accused scientists have been summoned by the general prosecutor of the republic to make their statement on the charges. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement To understand whats happening here, we have to return to 2019, when the government administration of the newly elected president Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, AMLO, took charge. At the time, as a part of a so-called austerity plan intended to reallocate resources to the people and not the institutions, the government started cutting back budgetsparticularly for funding scientific research. Mexico has a very particular system for funding scientific research and setting priorities. At its center is the National Council of Science and Technology (known as CONACYT for its initials in Spanish). For years, CONACYT oversaw designing and executing public policies in science across the country, but it did so with the help of 10 other institutions, such as the Mexican Academy of Sciences. These organizations served as a bridge between CONACYT and the scientific community. They organized the scientific community to offer advice on science and technology and coordinated programs like national science prizes or scientific policy evaluations. CONACYT is in charge of managing these institutions operational funds. Advertisement But in early 2019, AMLO appointed Elena Alvarez Buylla director of CONACYT. Soon after, the Senate presented a proposal to modify the Science and Technology Law, which spells out the federal governments obligations to support the scientific and technological development of the country. Under this proposal, CONACYT would become the only institution in charge of making decisions regarding the countrys science and technology system and mediating between the government and the scientific community. The other organizations that had long been involved would be shut downand they werent consulted on the proposal, much to their dismay. Advertisement CONACYT denied its involvement with that proposal, though that seems a little suspicious, given that it issued a very similar one later that year. Under both proposalsneither of which has yet been approvedmost of the decisions regarding the science and technology system would fall on CONACYTs shoulders. Advertisement Advertisement Scientists are worried that centralizing science policy decision making around just one institution would harm democracy and that CONACYT didnt have the necessary resources to do the work solo. Worse, CONACYT started cutting back the organizations budgets even before the new law was approved. Among these institutions was the Scientific and Technological Advisory Forum. (Disclosure: I worked there for a time as a reporter.) The forum is a civil association in charge of advising the federal government on science and technology policy. In 2019, the forum spoke up about the new approach that the country was taking toward science investment. It argued against the reduction of funding overall for science due to the new austerity measures that the government was implementing. It also advocated for the scientific community to be taken into account in the countrys science policy decisions, which CONACYT stopped doing under Buyllas charge. Advertisement In July 2019, CONACYT issued a press release ordering the forum to comply with the law and act in congruence with the austerity measures that the government was taking, which meant accepting the budget cutback. CONACYT also refused to give the forum the funds to continue its operationsit recently received a final payment of $821,000 for the first half of the year. But the forum was legally entitled to those funds under the Science and Technology Lawthe very law that CONACYT was pushing to modify. The forum sued CONACYT and won. In January 2020, a judge mandated to CONACYT to give the forum the resources. To the date, CONACYT hasnt complied. Advertisement In July 2020 CONACYTs attorney Rosenda Cruz filed a legal complaint accusing the forum of stealing more than $12 million, accusing it of using the money to buy a house, overpay its staff, and have luxuries like drivers and expensive banquets. The forum hasnt presented the necessary documents to trace back what all the money was used for, Buylla alleged. Now, Attorney General Gertz is acting upon that complaint in his quest to incarcerate the 31 scientists, all of them previous members of the forum and its Board of Directors. The scientists say that the Forum used the funds properly and that they provided proof of the use of their budget to CONACYT. Moreover, Buylla has denied having anything to do with Gertzs accusations. Advertisement Advertisement For now, the charges have stalled and the investigation continues. Several former members of the forum, some of them among the accused, wrote in a letter that they have provided evidence of the institutions accounting to CONACYT. Still, they are having a hard time making their case since the money that they are being accused of stealing came from previous presidential administrations, and CONACYT says that there are missing financial documents. In the meantime, this dispute is having enormous implications for science in Mexico. Members of the scientific community allege that the governments investigation is merely an attempt to silence those who question its decisions. Advertisement For instance, they point out that CONACYT has been cutting funds for a lot of different scientific programs and institutions. Among them are scholarships for students to get masters and Ph.D. degrees abroad, and programs like CONACYT Catedras (designed to create jobs and opportunity for young scientists in Mexico) and the state trust fundswhich are intended to finance scientific research without political negotiations around the countrys budget getting in the way. These decisions took place without consulting the scientific community. They would be legal under the proposed changes to the science law, but again, that proposal hasnt been formally passed and implemented. Advertisement Could it be that this disproportionate attack against scientists is because the new [science and technology] law is about to be approved, and [the government] wants to sow fear so there arent protests against a law that seeks to concentrate power and limit resources and research freedom? astrophysicist Julieta Fierro tweeted. Its worth noting that Attorney General Gertz has his own bone to pick with the scientific community. Many of them objected when, in April, Buylla approved his long-standing request to join the prestigious National Researchers System, which recognizes and promotes the scientists whose work contributes to the development of research-related activities. Previously, CONACYT had found Gertzs workhe has a Ph.D. in law and produced academic work on the subjectdidnt make him a fit for membership in the system. Now members of the scientific community from Europe and the United States have expressed their support for the Mexican scientists. In a letter signed by more than 100 researchers from all over the world, they say that, although they agree its important budgets be audited, the forums budgets were audited in due time, and ask CONACYT to value the 31 scientists commitment to science and technology. Whether or they will ever end up arrested, this dispute will serve as a warning to other scientists who are considering opposing the governmentand thats extremely dangerous. Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society. ARCHIVED - First Delta Plus Covid cases detected in Spain Five people have tested positive for the coronavirus variant in Spain As the Delta Plus coronavirus variant sweeps across Britain, the first cases have been detected here in Spain, with five infections reported in Madrid on Saturday October 23. Believed to be up to 15% more infectious than the original Delta strain, AY.4.2, as it is officially known, already accounts for nearly 10% of all new cases in the UK. According to the Minister of Health in Madrid, Enrique Ruiz Escudero, several other cases are being studied for the variant, and the authorities are examining the relationship between those infected and the United Kingdom to determine if they have recently travelled there. There has been a slight rebound in coronavirus infections throughout Spain in the last week or so, but hospital pressure remains stable and is even decreasing in many areas, thanks in no small part to the fact that 88.3% of the population over the age of twelve has now been fully vaccinated. For this reason, the region of Madrid has decided that children can now remove their masks while at recess outdoors at school, a measure that each autonomous community can decide on independently. On the whole, 81.7% of children aged between 12 and 19 are now double jabbed in Spain. Mr Escudero stated that for the time being, the five confirmed cases of Delta Plus in Madrid are anecdotal since they can be counted on one hand; however, health authorities have called for prudence in light of the danger of the new strain. Image: Archive ARCHIVED - Halloween in Spain and why November 1 is a public holiday All Saints Day is a bank holiday in Spain on Monday November 1 2021... find out why, and what November 1 is a national holiday in Spain every year, but why is the day after Halloween a Spanish red day and how do Spanish people celebrate this day off? Every region and town in Spain has a local holiday on the day of their patron saint, while November 1 is the day of all the saints, el Dia de Todos los Santos, so it's a bank holiday for the whole country. Shops, banks and supermarkets will be closed on November 1, but plenty of bars should remain open. All Saints Day originated from the ancient pagan festival of All Souls Day, when the ghosts of the dead were said to come back to the world of the living before returning to their homes in the afterlife. The night before, October 31, was known as All Hallow's Eve, when people out and about at night would dress up as ghosts or in masks and costumes so that any evil spirits of the dead would leave them alone and not haunt them. The pagans called this festival time Samhain. These days, such traditions have mutated into what we now celebrate as Halloween, while the Catholic feast of All Saints Day remains an official public holiday in Spain. Its also sometimes known as the Day of the Dead, but that more often refers to the Mexican celebration that spans November 1 and November 2 (the Day of the Faithful Departed). On All Saints Day in Spain, some families take the opportunity to visit the cemeteries where their ancestors and loved ones are buried. As a family, they then clean the graves, leave flowers, light candles and take time to remember their dearly departed. Image: Archive They will be operated by the Smartwings airline once a week. News: Receive favorite authors articles by email. Try the new feature and turn on the subscription. Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled Direct flights between Bratislava and Dubai have been restored, although they are operated by a different airline than before the pandemic. The first plane was dispatched from Bratislava on Sunday, October 24. During the winter season, the flights will be operated by Czech airline Smartwings once a week (on Sundays). Dubai belongs to the most popular destinations, said Peter Sujan, sales director of Smartwings. It also serves as a transfer point to various destinations in Asia and the islands in the Indian Ocean. Airline connection with Russia renewed, chartered flights continue Read more Before the coronavirus pandemic broke out, the connection to Dubai was secured by the flydubai airlines. These flights have not been restored yet, the SITA newswire reported. Passengers are required to adhere to strict hygiene measures and wear an FFP2/KN95 respirator during the entire flight. Apart from Dubai, Smartwings will operate charter flights from Bratislava to Oman and Egypt during the winter schedule. More than 60 percent of people in Slovakia believe in at least one conspiracy theory. News: Receive favorite authors articles by email. Try the new feature and turn on the subscription. Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled Belief in conspiracy theories related to Covid-19 has significantly impacted the vaccination rate. Our paywall policy: The Slovak Spectator has decided to make all the articles on the special measures, statistics and basic information about the coronavirus available to everyone. If you appreciate our work and would like to support good journalism, please buy our subscription. We believe this is an issue where accurate and fact-based information is important for people to cope. This stems from the recent edition of the How Are You, Slovakia? poll carried out by the Slovak Academy of Sciences (SAV) along with the MNFORCE and Seesame agencies, in early October on 1,000 respondents. The poll asked respondents about the four most widespread conspiracy theories. While 40 percent of them agreed with all four statements, as much as 61.2 percent said they believed in at least one. On the other hand, nearly one quarter of respondents said that they do not believe any of the chosen statements. Up to 81 percent of respondents have been vaccinated, which is close to the percentage of European countries with the highest vaccination rates. On the other hand, the vaccination rate among respondents who believe all four conspiracy theories is only 8.3 percent. The spread of conspiracy theories in the Slovak population can be one of the significant contributing factors to the low vaccination rate, said Robert Klobucky of the SAVs Institute of Sociology, as quoted by the TASR newswire. People in big cities less likely to believe theories The most popular conspiracy theory of those offered to respondents is the claim that the reports on Covid deaths are artificially increased. Up to 43.3 percent of respondents said they believe this. A similar percentage agrees with the statements that the novel coronavirus was created in a lab and then artificially spread among people; that the current pandemic is only part of global efforts to push through mandatory vaccination; and that the current pandemic was declared only to manipulate people more easily. We all have a common enemy. Ministry launches new vaccination campaign Read more The poll showed that respondents in Bratislava and Kosice agreed with the conspiracy theories less than the average. On the other hand, respondents dissatisfied with their life are more likely to believe them. Moreover, people with lower education are more prone to believe conspiracy theories. Respondents who believed in conspiracy theories also said that they adhere less to the anti-pandemic measures and do not limit contact with people outside of their own household much. Read more about the vaccination against Covid in Slovakia: https://sputniknews.com/20211025/afghanistan-is-ready-to-buy-iranian-oil-if-tehran-paves-way-for-it-1090193635.html Afghanistan is Ready to Buy Iranian Oil, If Tehran Paves Way for It Afghanistan is Ready to Buy Iranian Oil, If Tehran Paves Way for It Afghanistan is Ready to Buy Iranian Oil, If Tehran Paves Way for It 2021-10-25T13:54+0000 2021-10-25T13:54+0000 2021-10-25T13:54+0000 asia & pacific iran afghanistan afghanistan taliban /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/107010/18/1070101882_0:0:2803:1577_1920x0_80_0_0_6fa0dd47940d8e6eb482a71d7d87a663.jpg Afghanistan is ready to buy oil from Iran, the chairman of Afghanistan's Chamber of Commerce and Investment (ACCI), Tawakal Ahmadyar, has stated. The moment came during a video conference between ACCI officials and Iranian commercial attache Ebrahim Hosseini. The participants also discussed general trade issues between the two countries.Kabul is currently struggling to resolve its ongoing issue with petroleum shortages and hopes that Tehran will be able to led a hand. Yet, for this to happen, Iran will have to help its neighbour in resolving a number of issues. Kabul asked Hosseini to help Afghanistan with them.The Iranian commercial attache vowed to help Kabul to create the conditions necessary for launching the oil trade by "eliminating the existing challenges" and building the facilities required.It is so far unclear how Kabul plans to pay for the purchase as a major portion of the government's reserves was frozen in the US following the Taliban takeover on 16 August. Since then, no foreign state, including Iran, has officially recognised the acting Taliban government. In addition, many countries designated the Taliban as a terrorist organisation, hence any taxes and duties paid to its coffers due to trade with the country might fall into the category of terrorist funding and result in criminal charges.Kabul has called on the world's nations, and specifically the US, to unlock Afghanistan's reserves and recognise the new government after the Taliban seized the capital and most of the country practically without a fight. The international community is still considering how to proceed with regard to Afghanistan and its Taliban government, which claims to have severed ties with terrorist groups like al-Qaeda*. So far, a plan is being considered to launch humanitarian relief efforts to help desperate Afghans.*The Taliban and al-Qaeda are terrorist organisations banned in Russia and many other countries. https://sputniknews.com/20211013/taliban-not-going-to-remove-ministers-from-government-under-sanctions-threat---spokesman-1089876583.html Youssef K Taliban needs a rebranding if they don't they'll only be able to work with countries under blockade like North Korea and Iran 2 mandrake Who else will supply the crude needed. Iran is the only viable alternative but first the morons in washington will have to release the valuables they have impounded or theafghanis will freeze this winter! 1 2 iran afghanistan Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2021 Tim Korso https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/0a/02/1080648312_311:168:1773:1631_100x100_80_0_0_5eb98a42f89fd860368dcd2ae2d9e403.jpg Tim Korso https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/0a/02/1080648312_311:168:1773:1631_100x100_80_0_0_5eb98a42f89fd860368dcd2ae2d9e403.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Tim Korso https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/0a/02/1080648312_311:168:1773:1631_100x100_80_0_0_5eb98a42f89fd860368dcd2ae2d9e403.jpg asia & pacific, iran, afghanistan, taliban https://sputniknews.com/20211025/alec-baldwin-was-drawing-gun-and-pointing-it-on-camera-moments-before-deadly-shooting-1090185681.html Alec Baldwin Was 'Drawing Gun and Pointing It on Camera' Moments Before Deadly Shooting Alec Baldwin Was 'Drawing Gun and Pointing It on Camera' Moments Before Deadly Shooting The news comes as more information appears about the fatal incident on 21 October during the filming of the upcoming western "Rust". Baldwin injured director... 25.10.2021, Sputnik International 2021-10-25T08:59+0000 2021-10-25T08:59+0000 2021-10-26T08:17+0000 society accident alec baldwin fatal shooting /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/0a/19/1090185634_0:13:1921:1093_1920x0_80_0_0_5cbe1182a6801858a4693b124a279bcc.jpg Alec Baldwin was practicing drawing a revolver moments before the tragic shooting, US media outlets have reported, citing director Joel Souza's testimony in an affidavit released on 24 October. According to him, Baldwin was rehearsing the scene in a church, which involved pointing the firearm "towards the camera" when the gun suddenly went off. Mr Souza described the moment the revolver fired as a "whip and then loud pop".His testimony sheds light on the tragic incident and provides an explanation as to how the events unfolded. Joel Souza, who was also wounded in the shooting, said after preparing for the scene the crew took a lunch break and then returned to the set, but specified that he was "not sure if the firearm was checked again".He said the guns on the film set were checked by the armourer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, and then checked again by assistant director Dave Halls. Several armourers, who spoke with The New York Times, said there is a precise sequence on film sets about who gives firearms to actors, but one of the producers of "Rust", who wished to remain anonymous, told the outlet that both Mr Halls and Ms Gutierrez-Reed gave guns to actors.Cameraman Reid Russell stated that Alec Baldwin had been "very careful" with the firearm in the previous scene and had tried to ensure safety on the set, making sure underage actors were not near him when he was firing the gun.Director Joel Souza said that everyone on the film set got along and there were no altercations between crew members to his knowledge.Inexperienced and Green Armourer?The affidavit's release comes as two sources close to the production of "Rust" told the media that armourer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed was acting unsafely during the filming of the movie. According to them, the 24-year-old reportedly gave a gun to a 11-year-old actor without properly checking it, with insiders describing the young woman as "inexperienced and green"."There were a couple times she was loading the blanks and doing it in a fashion that we thought was unsafe. She was a bit careless with the guns, waving it around every now and again", one source told The Daily Beast.Ms Gutierrez-Reed, daughter of an acclaimed Hollywood armourer, Thell Reed, herself feared she wasn't up for the job.Another person who has been blamed for the tragic incident is assistant director Dave Halls. Per the affidavit, Halls shouted "cold gun", a term meaning that a firearm is safe to use in a scene, before giving the revolver to Baldwin. Sources told The Daily Beast, that the assistant director failed to double check the weapon."He's supposed to be our last line of defence and he failed us. He's the last person that's supposed to look at that firearm", insiders said.Earlier, the US media reported that a week before the tragic accident Alec Baldwin's double fired two rounds from a prop firearm he was told was "cold". Reports also indicated that crew members used weapons for target practice using real bullets.The fatal shooting claimed the life of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins who was wounded in the chest. Director Joel Souza said she stumbled backwards after a bullet hit her. Mrs Hutchins, 42, leaves behind a husband and a 9-year-old son. vot tak "which was supposed to contain blank cartridges." ... No, it was supposed to be an unloaded gun, containing neither regular rounds or blanks. The cold gun term refers to an unloaded gun. The hot gun term is refers to a gun loaded with regular rounds or blanks. With a cold gun, all that happens is a click when the trigger is squeezed. The bang and smoke being created using cgi. 1 1 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2021 Max Gorbachev Max Gorbachev News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Max Gorbachev society, accident, alec baldwin, fatal shooting https://sputniknews.com/20211025/alec-baldwins-wife-says-impossible-to-express-shock-heartache-after-shooting-incident-1090201575.html Alec Baldwins Wife Says Impossible to Express Shock, Heartache After Shooting Incident Alec Baldwins Wife Says Impossible to Express Shock, Heartache After Shooting Incident WASHINGTON (Sputnik) - Actor Alec Baldwins wife Hilaria said in a statement on Monday that it is impossible to express the shock and heartache felt in the... 25.10.2021, Sputnik International 2021-10-25T18:35+0000 2021-10-25T18:35+0000 2021-10-25T18:35+0000 society shooting gun alec baldwin /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/0a/19/1090201550_0:140:3072:1868_1920x0_80_0_0_0d07768db8e95facc4fa35c7918ad5af.jpg My heart is with Halyna. Her husband. Her son. Their family and loved ones. And my Alec. Its said there are no words because its impossible to express the shock and heartache of such a tragic accident. Heartbreak. Loss. Support, Hilaria Baldwin said via Instagram.On Friday, Alec Baldwin shot Hutchins and movie director Joel Souza at the filming location at Bonanza Creek Ranch near Santa Fe, New Mexico. Hutchins succumbed to sustained injuries en route to the University of New Mexico Hospital.Hutchins had reportedly been advocating for better working conditions for the crew, who complained of long working hours, problems getting paychecks and the 50-mile drive they were expected to make from Albuquerque to the movie set every day, sources familiar with the matter told US media.Baldwin said in a statement on Friday that he was fully cooperating with the investigation into the fatal shooting and has been in contact with Hutchins' husband, offering support to him and his family.Hutchins was born and raised in Ukraine when it was part of the Soviet Union. She graduated from the International Journalism Department of Kiev University and collaborated with British documentary filmmakers as an investigative journalist before moving to Los Angeles several years ago. https://sputniknews.com/20211025/alec-baldwin-was-drawing-gun-and-pointing-it-on-camera-moments-before-deadly-shooting-1090185681.html 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 society, shooting, gun, alec baldwin https://sputniknews.com/20211025/covid-in-israel-may-be-under-wraps-now-but-a-fifth-wave-looms-large-experts-warn-1090184323.html COVID in Israel May Be Under Wraps Now, But a Fifth Wave Looms Large, Experts Warn COVID in Israel May Be Under Wraps Now, But a Fifth Wave Looms Large, Experts Warn To avoid another surge in coronavirus cases, an Israeli professor says the public should not be complacent. It needs to adhere to regulations set by the... 25.10.2021, Sputnik International 2021-10-25T07:36+0000 2021-10-25T07:36+0000 2021-10-25T07:36+0000 middle east israel vaccination vaccine coronavirus covid-19 /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/04/0b/1082595268_0:160:3073:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_8e8cf37bea4882951aeff83fe57f2c71.jpg Until very recently, many Israelis thought the country had eased its way out of the coronavirus pandemic, as nearly 6 of the nation's 9 million residents have already received two doses of the Pfizer vaccine. More than 3.9 million people have even received a third jab, with the number of daily cases continuing to decline. Sunday saw only 330 infections.But Israeli experts have already started sounding the alarm that a fifth wave of the pandemic is on its way and that it may hit the country as early as December.Understandable ConcernProfessor Cyrille Cohen, a member of the advisory committee for clinical trials of the coronavirus vaccine at the Israeli Ministry of Health, says the experts' concerns are understandable, especially as the pace of vaccinations has slowed down in the past couple of weeks.Yet, the slow pace of vaccinations can also be explained by yet another reason the public's disbelief in the need for a third shot.Israel started offering a booster jab to the elderly in late July. Later on, the service was expanded and offered to everyone 12 years and older.The measure was met with ire and sparked demonstrations across the country, with the masses claiming that the need for a booster hadn't even been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration, and thus was potentially hazardous to the public.Complacency Comes With a PriceThat public reluctance might soon backfire. Last Tuesday, Israel registered its first case of a sub-variant of the Delta strain, and it is not totally clear whether it is more contagious or whether it is resilient to vaccines. And this is why, says Cohen, "the public should be humble and the scientists - cautious and take all the precautionary measures to avoid another wave. We need to be prepared".The Jewish state has already taken several steps in that direction. Public offices and businesses require visitors to show their green passes at the entrance. Face masks are still mandatory, mass gatherings are limited, while Ben Gurion International Airport, which will be opened to foreigners starting 1 November, will only admit vaccinated people. The latter will be permitted entry without the need to quarantine themselves.In the past, Israel wasn't that quick to respond. In July, when the number of daily infections started to go up, the international airport remained open and thousands of Israelis left the country to vacation abroad. Many came back with the virus, and the authorities were struggling to contain it from spreading.In addition, the third dose of the Pfizer vaccine was introduced late, whereas the green pass that limited gatherings was implemented only when the number of daily cases started to rise.Of primary concern is the younger population in Israel, specifically children ages 5 to 12. Even though research has shown that they are less prone to dying from the virus or developing severe symptoms, Israeli authorities are worried that them being unvaccinated will contribute to the spread of the disease, something that will distance the country from its goal of attaining herd immunity.The Health Ministry is now considering inoculating young people starting in December, but Cohen says more research is needed to determine whether such a move is actually required.And this is why, he suggests, that the Israeli public should not be complacent. FunFacts Interesting, Elizabeth Blade wrote on 21/10 that 6 million Israeli citizens had received 2 doses. The same Elizabeth Blade now writes that 9 million people have been vaccinated twice. So in the last 4 days Israel vaccinated 3 million people twice, is that it? 1 TruePatriot Total and complete hasbara. The scamdemic is over and all that needs to happen is the pox of the vaccinated needs to run its course until those jabbed die off over the next couple of years. 1 3 israel Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2021 Elizabeth Blade Elizabeth Blade News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Elizabeth Blade middle east, israel, vaccination, vaccine, coronavirus, covid-19 https://sputniknews.com/20211025/damascus-accuses-israel-of-carrying-out-airstrikes-in-southern-syria-1090191162.html Damascus Accuses Israel of Carrying Out Airstrikes in Southern Syria Damascus Accuses Israel of Carrying Out Airstrikes in Southern Syria Previously, reports suggested that the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) hit three targets linked to Hezbollah in Syria, near the border between the two countries. 25.10.2021, Sputnik International 2021-10-25T12:13+0000 2021-10-25T12:13+0000 2021-10-25T12:42+0000 middle east syria israel /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/07/18/1079973638_0:120:1280:840_1920x0_80_0_0_21665d477171c94d7bc68dd2f5b0d872.jpg Syrian authorities have stated that the Israeli military attacked the southern region of the country on Monday morning. The IDF has not commented on the issue so far.According to Syrian media, Israeli missile strikes targeted three sites on the outskirts of the al-Baath settlement. The reports also said that Israeli forces dropped leaflets in the area, warning Syrians they should not cooperate with the Lebanese group. Log Cabin It's no use Syria complaining every time Israel strikes...but then doing nothing. Every Israeli strike should be responded to by an attack on Israeli military targets using ballistic missiles. I would issue a declaration in addition to IATA asking them to declare Israeli airspace off limits to civilian air traffic as the Syrians could take military action at any time as they are entitled to do under international law. Hit the Israeli economy hard...this imposes a financial cost on every attack they make against a neighbouring state. 3 Log Cabin Re. the Golan Heights...most of the world does not recognise Israeli sovereignty over them...they are Syrian and as such the Syrians have every right to accept help from whomsoever they please with regard to regaining them. 3 19 syria israel Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2021 Evgeny Mikhaylov https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/09/07/1080390164_0:0:1440:1440_100x100_80_0_0_46c187f2ab0908f86849a7d09a7def57.jpg Evgeny Mikhaylov https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/09/07/1080390164_0:0:1440:1440_100x100_80_0_0_46c187f2ab0908f86849a7d09a7def57.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Evgeny Mikhaylov https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/09/07/1080390164_0:0:1440:1440_100x100_80_0_0_46c187f2ab0908f86849a7d09a7def57.jpg middle east, syria, israel https://sputniknews.com/20211025/danish-conservative-politician-sparks-uproar-with-photo-in-see-through-lingerie-1090182184.html Danish Conservative Politician Sparks Uproar With Photo in See-Through Lingerie Danish Conservative Politician Sparks Uproar With Photo in See-Through Lingerie According to Nana Harring, who posted a photograph of herself in transparent lingerie with nipples showing, "there must be room for both being a private person... 25.10.2021, Sputnik International 2021-10-25T05:17+0000 2021-10-25T05:17+0000 2021-10-25T06:52+0000 denmark news europe scandinavia social media politics /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/0a/19/1090183612_0:123:967:667_1920x0_80_0_0_676cce4f0a371c090d025a78f246ce58.jpg Danish politician Nana Harring, who represents the right-wing national-conservative Danish People's Party and is running for office in the city of Aarhus, has sparked an uproar with an image of herself in underwear.The photograph of Harring in see-through black lace lingerie with nipples showing appeared on her Instagram the day before more serious shots of the politician promising to make Aarhus a better place popped up across the city."It's the same talented photographer who took both this picture and the one on my election poster. However, this is not what appears on the lampposts. Sorry", she wrote on Instagram.Harring herself admittedly sees no contradiction between her ambitions as a politician and her social media persona."I don't believe in changing oneself because one wants to change society. I think I have some concrete things I would like to change to make Aarhus a better place to be. It does not affect it because I post a picture in lingerie", Harring told the newspaper BT."It's very much me as a candidate. I have been talking about revenge porn and nude pictures for many years. The votes I could potentially lose, I have probably lost them in advance based on the person I am. I don't want to change that", she added.By Harring's own admission, she's received no negative internal feedback from her party. On Instagram, though, she was called a "pornlitician" who has "no shame". Furthermore, others ventured that the Danish People's Party, which since sensationally winning the Danish elections to the European Parliament in 2014, has gradually lost voters and influence in Danish politics, has reached rock bottom. Others, however, rejoiced and called it a "fresh contribution".Harring, however, maintained that one can very well be a professional politician with scantily-clad photos on Instagram. https://sputniknews.com/20211008/no-fun-and-games-danish-parliament-shows-lawmaker-the-door-for-bringing-in-baby-1089761392.html Hess It is Not a Big Deal. Most Female Danish politicians are Ex-Sex workers. It would be interesting to see them doing hard-core porno on the floor of Parliament. 8 vot tak Typical right winger. "It's all about me and my greed". 8 8 denmark 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 denmark, news, europe, scandinavia, social media, politics https://sputniknews.com/20211025/denmark-sees-record-infection-spread-despite-high-vaccination-rate-1090183209.html Denmark Sees Record Infection Spread Despite High Vaccination Rate Denmark Sees Record Infection Spread Despite High Vaccination Rate While Denmark has vaccinated over 75 percent of its 5.8 million-strong population, the ongoing spike, with figures unseen since winter and spring, came as a... 25.10.2021, Sputnik International 2021-10-25T06:23+0000 2021-10-25T06:23+0000 2021-10-25T06:24+0000 denmark news europe vaccination scandinavia covid-19 /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/08/09/1083560331_0:134:3079:1865_1920x0_80_0_0_7b7126305c1ad750bff6aae0604b446a.jpg A total of 1,349 people tested positive for COVID-19 in Denmark over the past 24 hours, the Danish State Serum Institute has announced, reporting the highest infection rate since May.Some 167 Danes were hospitalised with the disease in a single day, also the highest number since May. At the same time, the R number, or reproduction rate, jumped to 2.01, which is the highest level since January.Andreasen pointed out that last year Denmark saw increased infections during the autumn holidays as well, as many tend to socialise more and contacts and travelling become more frequent. Yet, this time around it came as an unpleasant surprise that more vaccinated people had fallen ill, Andreasen noted. So far, Denmark has vaccinated over 75 percent of its 5.8 million inhabitants, with the most vulnerable in the process of getting their booster shots. "Although the vaccines are good, there is something here that indicates that they are not quite as good as we would like", Viggo Andreasen said.According to Allan Randrup Thomsen, professor of virology at Copenhagen University, Denmark is seeing more vaccinated people testing positive for COVID-19 precisely because most of the Danish population has been fully inoculated.Per State Serum Institute chief physician Tyra Grove Krause, the Danish population may even need a little reminder that coronavirus actually still exists."As all restrictions have been lifted, everyday life is running completely normal again. It appears as if COVID-19 has gone into oblivion", Krause told TV2.If the trend from recent days continues, Viggo Andreasen argued that it could make sense to focus on further tests and isolation of infected people, as was done earlier in the pandemic."We have decided that we must live with some COVID-19 infection in society. But there are limits to how much infection there can be before it starts to wear out the health service", Viggo Andreasen said.In mid-September Denmark removed all restrictions, some of which had been in place for nearly 550 days, citing high vaccination rates and becoming one of the first European nations to do so. The Danish government reported that it no longer saw COVID as a "socially-critical disease". Among other things, the face mask requirement was abolished and COVID passports, which Denmark was the first to introduce six months ago as proof of vaccination, are no longer required. The said passports sparked vocal protests that led to clashes with police and numerous arrests. https://sputniknews.com/20210809/denmark-iceland-say-vaccination-has-not-led-to-herd-immunity-1083560293.html hassadnah Covid 19 vac is a scam. India has proven that Ivermectin is the simple and cheap medicine to defeat Covid 19 9 TruePatriot Of course they have. It is simply the pox of the vaccinated as has been seen in numerous other countries. Getting the jab means you are more likely to get the bug. 7 3 denmark 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 denmark, news, europe, vaccination, scandinavia, covid-19 https://sputniknews.com/20211025/ex-idf-general-claims-strike-on-ap-tower-in-gaza-was-own-goal-1090188365.html Ex-IDF General Claims Strike on AP Tower in Gaza Was 'Own Goal' Ex-IDF General Claims Strike on AP Tower in Gaza Was 'Own Goal' The Israeli military levelled the US news agency's offices in the Gaza Strip during the May 2021 war with local militant groups, barely escaping casualties... 25.10.2021, Sputnik International 2021-10-25T11:54+0000 2021-10-25T11:54+0000 2021-10-25T11:58+0000 middle east israel the associated press israel defense forces (idf) /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/05/11/1082913633_0:310:3089:2048_1920x0_80_0_0_40bd07e6ec53123376fdf878cdec5e4c.jpg The May 2021 IDF strike on the "AP tower" in Gaza was a mistake and a PR disaster for Tel Aviv, former Israeli general, Nitzan Alon, has suggested in a speech to Tel Aviv's Institute for National Security Studies. Alon, the ex-head of IDF Operations who investigated this PR blunder, further questioned whether this operation was really worth all the trouble it brought.The former general added that the May conflict presented a "long list of lessons" that need to be learned about intra-organisational communication. Alon cited issues that existed in communications both within the IDF and between the Israeli military and the government.Israel Scolded After Brining Down 'AP Tower'The IDF airstrike levelled the 12-storey Al-Jalaa tower in Gaza City, hosting the local office of the Associated Press, on 15 May as Tel Aviv was waging a 15-day war with Gazan militant groups, including Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad. The conflict started after the said groups launched a barrage of rockets towards Israeli cities following clashes between Palestinians and the Israeli police in Jerusalem.While the Israeli military warned the occupants of the building one hour ahead of the airstrike, AP later said it was a miracle no journalist died or was hurt during the incident. The news agency harshly condemned the IDF's actions, with many other countries, including the Israeli ally, the US, joining the criticism.The blunder was exacerbated by the lack of a proper explanation from the IDF as to why it decided to level the building. Initially, the military simply claimed that Hamas militants used the tower for their operations. Only later, on 8 June after the conflict was over, did the Israeli military explain in an official statement that their intel suggested that Hamas had sophisticated equipment to impede its Iron Dome air defence system stationed at the tower. Associated Press executive editor Sally Buzbee rejected the claim, saying that over the 15 years the news agency had owned the building she'd never been informed about it hosting any Hamas militants or equipment. https://sputniknews.com/20210515/israeli-airstrike-destroys-gaza-building-that-housed-ap-aljazeera-offices-1082901195.html babai For as long as the US will hold their back they will do what they want with impunity 1 1 israel Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2021 Tim Korso https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/0a/02/1080648312_311:168:1773:1631_100x100_80_0_0_5eb98a42f89fd860368dcd2ae2d9e403.jpg Tim Korso https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/0a/02/1080648312_311:168:1773:1631_100x100_80_0_0_5eb98a42f89fd860368dcd2ae2d9e403.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Tim Korso https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/0a/02/1080648312_311:168:1773:1631_100x100_80_0_0_5eb98a42f89fd860368dcd2ae2d9e403.jpg middle east, israel, the associated press, israel defense forces (idf) https://sputniknews.com/20211025/facebook-exec-reportedly-warns-employees-of-more-bad-headlines-to-come--1090181165.html Facebook Exec Reportedly Warns Employees of 'More Bad Headlines' to Come Facebook Exec Reportedly Warns Employees of 'More Bad Headlines' to Come Reports citing internal Facebook documents have been emerging since Friday, when outlets began publishing excerpts of testimony by Frances Haugen, a former... 25.10.2021, Sputnik International 2021-10-25T03:17+0000 2021-10-25T03:17+0000 2021-10-25T12:26+0000 facebook nick clegg mark zuckerberg the facebook papers /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/0a/19/1090180888_0:15:3000:1703_1920x0_80_0_0_10106c5ced053c36889e1aa68f8c5839.jpg Over the weekend, one Facebook executive issued a company-wide memo apparently attempting to manage employee expectations in the coming weeks, according to a report by Axios. In the issuance, dated October 23rd, a Facebook VP of global affairs, Nick Clegg, warned employees that they may need to brace "for more bad headlines in the coming days". Employees should "listen and learn from criticism when it is fair, and push back strongly when it is not", the Facebook exec's memo detailed, while urging workers to keep their "heads held high".The outpouring of information has come ahead of the planned Monday release of "The Facebook Papers", a series from at least 17 news organisations that leans heavily on information found in Haugen's testimony.The consortium decided to lift its agreement for a Monday publication after The Wall Street Journal published a piece that contained information that cited documents obtained in Haugen's related affidavit.The Associated Press, Politico, Reuters, The New York Times, The Washington Post, CNN, and NBC News were all part of the consortium. vot tak Time to do the decent thing, facebook zionists/nazis, fall on your sword. 4 vot tak If you don't have one, collect a pointed stick from your yard. That will work just as well. 2 3 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 facebook, nick clegg, mark zuckerberg https://sputniknews.com/20211025/india-bjp-govt-orders-action-against-dabur-for-featuring-same-sex-couple-on-hindu-fest-ad-1090187547.html India: BJP Gov't Orders Action Against Dabur for Featuring Same-Sex Couple on Hindu Fest Ad India: BJP Gov't Orders Action Against Dabur for Featuring Same-Sex Couple on Hindu Fest Ad One of India's largest consumer goods companies Dabur has rolled out an advertisement featuring a same-sex couple. With the "Glow with Pride" theme, the ad... 25.10.2021, Sputnik International 2021-10-25T12:46+0000 2021-10-25T12:46+0000 2021-10-25T12:46+0000 madhya pradesh bharatiya janata party (bjp) india film bollywood hindu sena hindus india /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/0a/19/1090190622_0:84:1213:766_1920x0_80_0_0_d00c2f186b8cc8aead168aec6cec5b2f.jpg The state home minister in India's Madhya Pradesh has ordered a probe against Dabur India for promoting LGBTQ in the firm's latest advertisement. The commercial featuring a same-sex couple received a mixed reaction on social media. Many praised the progressive approach, while some criticised it as anti-Hindu and accused the brand of hurting cultural sentiments. Since the rituals of the festival are performed by women only for their husbands, the advertisement showing same-sex partners appears to have offended some Hindu sentiments.Minister Narottam Mishra has challenged filmmakers and firms to come out with films, web series, and advertisements targeting religions other than Hinduism."It's a serious matter. The director general of police has been asked to examine the ad and ask the concerned company to remove the ad or face legal action", the Madhya Pradesh home minister stated on Monday.While strongly condemning such an act, Mishra said he does not understand why advertisements or movies are made only about Hinduism. "If you have the courage, do it with other religions also", he added.Dabur's ad was released days ahead of "Karwa Chauth" (24 October). The Indian festival of Karwa Chauth is a day-long fast, observed by women for the longevity and good health of their husbands. It sees the married women not consuming food or even water the entire day until they watch the moon by late evening or at night as part of the Hindu ritual. The Supreme Court of India decriminalised gay sex in September 2018. However, it is still not accepted in many sections of society.The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Madhya Pradesh government's home minister has also decided to frame permanent guidelines that ensure that permission is granted for shooting films or web series only after filmmakers share the entire content or script with the administration.The steps have been taken against the backdrop of ongoing controversies over a web series called "Ashram-3", as Hindu groups claimed that the series incorrectly portrays them."I support it [ta demand to change the show's name]. Do you dare to keep some other name? Don't do things that will cause problems. What happened [the violence on the "Ashram" sets] was wrong; four arrests were made. But Jha sahib [director of "Ashram-3"], you should also think of the wrong you're doing", Mishra said. Bajrang Dal, a Hindu group, unleashed a wave of vandalism on the sets of the web series "Ashram-3" in Bhopal last Saturday, calling for a change of the name and content of the series. https://sputniknews.com/20180111/indian-gay-prince-1060679590.html madhya pradesh india Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2021 Rishikesh Kumar https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/08/04/1080055820_0:0:388:389_100x100_80_0_0_40018ee210946d65d49ffba4f4c008e1.jpg Rishikesh Kumar https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/08/04/1080055820_0:0:388:389_100x100_80_0_0_40018ee210946d65d49ffba4f4c008e1.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Rishikesh Kumar https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/08/04/1080055820_0:0:388:389_100x100_80_0_0_40018ee210946d65d49ffba4f4c008e1.jpg madhya pradesh, bharatiya janata party (bjp), india, film, bollywood, hindu sena, hindus, india https://sputniknews.com/20211025/lavrov-on-russia-nato-relations-cannot-catastrophic-because-they-do-not-exist-1090202296.html Lavrov on Russia-NATO Relations: Cannot Be Catastrophic Because They Do Not Exist Lavrov on Russia-NATO Relations: Cannot Be Catastrophic Because They Do Not Exist TROMSO (Sputnik) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Monday that relations between Russia and NATO could not be called catastrophic because they... 25.10.2021, Sputnik International 2021-10-25T19:42+0000 2021-10-25T19:42+0000 2021-11-01T14:23+0000 sergei lavrov russia relations nato /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/08/18/1083701164_0:0:2966:1668_1920x0_80_0_0_43bb055a13e3c1f37f18a2bed5fdacb4.jpg "As for Russia-NATO relations, I would not say 'catastrophic,' because to be catastrophic you need to have something. We dont have any relations with NATO," Lavrov said.The Russian Foreign Minister also commented on German Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer's statements about NATO's need for a nuclear containment of Russia, calling them "fantasies.""The disagreements that we have, they are from the sphere of ideology who is the first to rule the world, this is what we hear from our 'friends' from NATO. We believe that we need to focus on reality", Lavrov noted. "Whereas NATO's imagination stretches toward 'containing' Russia, preparing for attacks on Russia, [...] these are all fantasies".Earlier on Sunday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Russia has always advocated the development of relations with NATO, despite the alliance's aggression, but all of Moscow's efforts for cooperation have been in vain.In October, responding to the alliance's move to revoke the accreditation of eight employees of the Russian mission to NATO, Moscow suspended the operations of NATOs information office. Commenting on the move, Peskov said it would not affect Russia, as there is currently no dialogue between the sides.He also explained that NATO had declared its intention to "contain" Russia and backed it up with actions, adding that the expulsion of diplomats was the "final straw." https://sputniknews.com/20211025/russian-mod-summons-german-military-attache-over-remarks-on-nuclear-deterrence-of-moscow-1090195449.html WhatTheFishIsThis Spot on Mr Lavrov .. it's actually Stupidity and Fantasies !! 4 vot tak Well said Lavrov and Peskov. 4 3 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 sergei lavrov, russia, relations, nato Two People Killed After Sudanese Military Uses Firearms to Disperse Demonstration in Khartoum, Doctors Committee Says The Sudan Central Doctors Committee has reported that two protesters were killed and over 80 more people were injured by the country's military after they opened fire. https://sputniknews.com/20211025/man-united-fans-trash-harry-maguire-after-players-embarrassing-apology-for-liverpool-loss-1090188667.html Man United Fans Trash Harry Maguire After Players Embarrassing Apology For Liverpool Loss Man United Fans Trash Harry Maguire After Players Embarrassing Apology For Liverpool Loss The Red Devils suffered a humiliating 5-0 defeat in a home game against their biggest rivals. According to records, this was the clubs worst loss against the... 25.10.2021, Sputnik International 2021-10-25T11:47+0000 2021-10-25T11:47+0000 2021-10-25T11:47+0000 manchester united liverpool sport football social media premier league ole gunnar solskjr /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/0a/19/1090188779_0:64:1580:953_1920x0_80_0_0_f0652fbd19cea9db96ea967dc50adbb3.jpg Manchester United fans trashed the clubs captain, Harry Maguire, for what they described as an embarrassing apology after Sundays devastating loss to Liverpool. Speaking to Sky Sports, the 28-year-old apologised to the clubs supporters on behalf of the whole team before saying that he is talking to the press because he has to be here.The remark caused an avalanche of negative comment on social media as users vented their fury at the player:Many netizens seemed astounded and couldnt believe the defender made such a remark:Others criticised Maguires leadership skills:And many users demanded Maguire be stripped of his captain's status:Whereas others took a dig at the athlete drawing attention to the fact he is one of the Premier League's most expensive defenders:However, there were certain more charitable souls who felt that the players should not be blamed for the humiliating defenestration:There have been growing calls to sack the clubs manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who has been at the helm of the club since 2018. The Red Devils conceded four goals in 45 minutes with pundits noting that there was no organisation in the team. Former Chelsea and Norwich striker, Chris Sutton, said he believes Solskjaer needs to leave.The Norwegian himself admitted that the loss to Liverpool was his darkest day during his tenure at Old Trafford, but he also emphasised that he has "come too far to give up". hassadnah MU should sack Ole and appoint NAJIB as MU Manager 0 1 liverpool Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2021 Max Gorbachev Max Gorbachev News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Max Gorbachev manchester united, liverpool, sport, football, social media, premier league, ole gunnar solskjr https://sputniknews.com/20211025/microsoft-notifies-over-600-companies-they-were-targeted-in-23000-cyber-intrusion-attempts-1090188492.html Microsoft Notifies Over 600 Companies They Were Targeted in 23,000 Cyber Intrusion Attempts Microsoft Notifies Over 600 Companies They Were Targeted in 23,000 Cyber Intrusion Attempts Microsoft Notifies Over 600 Companies They Were Targeted in 23,000 Cyber Intrusion Attempts 2021-10-25T10:47+0000 2021-10-25T10:47+0000 2021-10-25T13:24+0000 world microsoft hack attack hack /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/03/18/1082437347_0:103:3275:1945_1920x0_80_0_0_95209b8587e55561ae1940cac58d7475.jpg Microsoft recently notified some 600 organisations about 23,000 cyber intrusion attempts into their computer systems, The New York Times has reported. One of the tech giant's top security officers, Tom Burt, told the newspaper that there is an organised hacking effort that is "very large, and it is ongoing". Microsoft claims that only a small percentage of the breach attempts were successful, but did not provide any numbers to assess the damage done.The attackers did not attack the tech giant or the organisations' networks directly, but instead targeted resellers companies that customise access to Microsoft's cloud services. These companies have high-level access to the customised storages they provide to their customers and hence infecting their networks could open up a path for hackers too. A similar approach was used in the massive SolarWinds hack in 2020.At the same time, the newspaper cited anonymous government officials as claiming that the hacking effort "seemed to come" from the SVR Russia's foreign intelligence agency and to have targeted the data of the government agencies, corporations, and think tanks stored in the cloud. The NYT's government sources did not elaborate on what evidence led them to believe that Russian intelligence was behind the multiple breach attempts.However, the government sources noted that they're treating the ongoing hacking effort as the "routine spying" that major countries conduct on each other. They reportedly said that should these attacks prove to be successful, Microsoft and other software providers will bear much of the blame. One official added that the current wave of attacks is an "unsophisticated, run-of-the mill operation".The reports of breach attempts comes almost a year after a scandal involving hacker attacks in 2020 on a number of US government agencies and companies around the world, executed via vulnerabilities in Microsoft products and via a supply chain attack on the software company SolarWinds. The latter apparently resembles the current hacking attempt as the attackers infected builds of the SolarWinds' software, Orion, supplying infected patches to hundreds of its clients and thus opening backdoors in their computer systems.When the hack became known, US authorities rushed to blame Russian intelligence for the attack, while failing to provide evidence to back up the claim. Then-US President Donald Trump, however, suggested it could have been Chinese, not Russian, hackers, also failing to produce any evidence. Both Moscow and Beijing strongly denied any involvement in the attacks. https://sputniknews.com/20210622/us-sec-reportedly-launches-probe-into-cyber-breach-of-solarwinds-1083210737.html TruePatriot Correctly explained MS notified all those companies that its own unsafe and holier-than-swiss-cheese software and operating system had allowed numerous hacking attempts to get through. 1 1 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2021 Tim Korso https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/0a/02/1080648312_311:168:1773:1631_100x100_80_0_0_5eb98a42f89fd860368dcd2ae2d9e403.jpg Tim Korso https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/0a/02/1080648312_311:168:1773:1631_100x100_80_0_0_5eb98a42f89fd860368dcd2ae2d9e403.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Tim Korso https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/0a/02/1080648312_311:168:1773:1631_100x100_80_0_0_5eb98a42f89fd860368dcd2ae2d9e403.jpg world, microsoft, hack attack, hack https://sputniknews.com/20211025/moscow-slams-eu-us-for-failing-to-unfreeze-afghanistans-assets-1090185954.html Moscow Slams EU and US for Failing to Unfreeze Afghanistan's Assets Moscow Slams EU and US for Failing to Unfreeze Afghanistan's Assets MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Moscow is outraged as Europe and the United States remain reluctant to unfreeze Kabul's financial assets, Special Presidential... 25.10.2021, Sputnik International 2021-10-25T09:05+0000 2021-10-25T09:05+0000 2021-10-25T09:33+0000 asia afghanistan frozen funds /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/09/1b/1089445054_0:42:2711:1568_1920x0_80_0_0_817696063d8b5b783677f6fb1ab70b54.jpg According to the Taliban government, about $9-$10 billion in Afghan funds have been frozen in western banks. The cabinet asked the United States and about 15 European countries to unfreeze the funds, but there was no response, according to the Afghan government spokesman.*The Taliban is a terrorist group banned in Russia and many other countries. vot tak This is thievery by israeloamerica and their pathetic eu quislings. The sodding things steal anything they can. 3 mandrake What did you think, the morons returning something they have a hold on and remember the morons, like the jews, are thieves at heart and they never forgives and they never forgets, and by golly, who sent the morons packing, the talibans who kicked the morons and their nato compadres out of afghanistan. We keep whatever in our hands as damages! 2 4 asia 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 asia, afghanistan, frozen funds https://sputniknews.com/20211025/uk-calls-on-sudanese-military-to-release-arrested-politicians-1090198734.html UK Calls on Sudanese Military to Release Arrested Politicians UK Calls on Sudanese Military to Release Arrested Politicians LONDON (Sputnik) - The United Kingdom is calling on the Sudanese military to release those arrested and to respect the right to protest, Giles Lever, the UK... 25.10.2021, Sputnik International 2021-10-25T16:33+0000 2021-10-25T16:33+0000 2021-10-25T16:33+0000 sudan africa military coup uk /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/0a/19/1090198697_0:144:3129:1904_1920x0_80_0_0_9fabc44cb2ea1a95f79434ec67685be5.jpg "The military cannot credibly claim to be 'safeguarding a transition to democracy' while arresting civilian politicians, and unilaterally abrogating parts of Constitutional Declaration. UK calls on security forces to release those arrested, and to respect the right to protest," Lever tweeted.Earlier on Monday, Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok and his wife were abducted by the military and taken to an unknown location. Four cabinet ministers and several other politicians were also arrested. Hundreds of people took to the streets of the Sudanese capital protesting against the military coup, at least 12 people were injured.The head of Sudan's Sovereign Council, Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, declared a state of emergency and the dissolution of the council and government. He stated that the military will lead the democratic transition until power is transferred to a civilian government, and pledged to ensure that elections are held in July 2023.In 2019, Sudan was hit by mass protests amid a deepening economic crisis and declining living standards, which led to a military coup. Then-President Omar al-Bashir, who had ruled the country for 30 years, was removed from power and later imprisoned. In September 2021, the Sudanese authorities announced that they had prevented a coup allegedly attempted by al-Bashir's supporters. https://sputniknews.com/20211025/what-is-known-so-far-about-military-coup-in-sudan-1090191602.html sudan 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 sudan, africa, military coup, uk https://sputniknews.com/20211025/us-uk-condemn-military-coup-in-sudan-vow-to-back-democratic-civilian-government-1090206261.html US, UK Condemn Military Coup in Sudan, Vow to Back Democratic Civilian Government US, UK Condemn Military Coup in Sudan, Vow to Back Democratic Civilian Government WASHINGTON, October 26 (Sputnik) - The United States, United Kingdom and Norway issued a joint statement condemning the military takeover of the Sudanese... 25.10.2021, Sputnik International 2021-10-25T23:14+0000 2021-10-25T23:14+0000 2021-10-25T23:14+0000 sudan us military /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/0a/03/1089615062_0:166:3053:1883_1920x0_80_0_0_ab5d5e864fffbcb2333591453a263c27.jpg "The Troika will continue to support those working for a democratic Sudan with a fully legitimate civilian government," the statement said on Monday. "We reject this attempt to derail the transition toward democratic elections and call for the immediate restoration of the civilian-led government on the basis of the Constitutional Declaration and other foundational documents of the transition."The three countries call on the Sudanese security forces to immediately release anyone unlawfully detained during the takeover, the statement said. Peaceful protests, the freedom of expression must be respected and violence must be avoided, the statement added.The group described the military's takeover as a betrayal to the transition and the Sudanese people, according to the statement.Sudanese military detained Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok and several other cabinet ministers on Monday, just weeks before the military was scheduled to hand leadership of the transitional government council over to civilians. vot tak Definitely sounds like this coup was not an israeloamerican regime change op. Sudan is one of the few Muslim majority nations to go for the trump quisling Mideast scam and normalized relations with apartheid israel. Something to watch for is whether the coup leadership cancels that recognition. 3 Hess The Anglo-Zionists never condemned the brutal and violent coup d'etat in Egypt because it suits them. Dictator Sisi serves the Zionist Jews in Israel and Anglo-American imperialists. He can commit as much crimes and violates as much human rights as he wishes. He is protected. The Anglo-Zionists will say: "He is our man". 3 5 sudan 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 sudan, us, military https://sputniknews.com/20211025/what-is-known-so-far-about-military-coup-in-sudan-1090191602.html What Is Known So Far About Military Coup in Sudan What Is Known So Far About Military Coup in Sudan A military takeover took place in Sudan, one of the world's poorest countries, shortly before the end of General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan's tenure as head of the... 25.10.2021, Sputnik International 2021-10-25T13:59+0000 2021-10-25T13:59+0000 2021-10-25T14:14+0000 government sudan africa military coup /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/0a/19/1090193012_0:161:3066:1886_1920x0_80_0_0_9989d7d8308bb1086f9f13ac802edbed.jpg On Monday, Sudan saw what is now estimated by some in the country's transitional government to be a military coup, as the Sudanese Armed Forces detained Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok and several other Cabinet officials after they refused to "endorse the coup". Amid the arrest of government officials, protesters have flocked the streets of the Sudanese capital Khartoum, barricading roads, setting tires on fire, and yelling chants against the military takeover.Several members of the international community have already expressed their concerns in regard to the situation in the Northeast African country. Here is a roundup of what is known about the Sudanese unrest so far.How It StartedIn the early hours of Monday, the Sudanese Information Ministry revealed that the country's Armed Forces had abducted Prime Minister Hamdok, later saying that the military had tried to force him to release a "pro-coup statement" - something that the civilian leader refused to do.Following his refusal, the military took Hamdok to an unknown location, the ministry said.Government DissolvedThe head of Sudan's Sovereignty Council, General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, stated later on Monday that the country's transitional government had been dissolved, with the military to continue the transition on its own, as, according to al-Burhan, "what the country is going through represents a threat".He also pledged to hold elections in July 2023, citing conflicts between political groups as the reason for the military to seize control. According to the general, Sudan is still committed to "international accords" and transition to civilian rule.Concerns Around the WorldAl-Burhan's statements, however, have not brought ease of mind to members of the international community, with the United States, France, the Arab League, the United Nations, and others condemning the developments in Sudan and calling for the release of the detained officials as well as a return to civilian transition.The US Embassy in Khartoum said it was "gravely concerned" about reports of the coup, calling on the country's military to "stand down". German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas called the events "troubling" in a statement, urging "everyone in Sudan responsible for security and order to continue Sudan's transition to democracy and to respect the will of the people".The European Union insisted that the arrested Sudanese officials must be released, and "violence and bloodshed must be avoided".French President Emmanuel Macron also joined in and echoed calls to set the detained officials free. Concerns were picked up by the Arab League, with the body pointing to the importance of the commitment to an August 2019 power-sharing deal.African Union Commission chair Moussa Faki Mahamat said that the Sudanese military and civilians have to resume dialogue.Protests in KhartoumThe Sudanese capital has seen mass protests since the military takeover, with demonstrators hitting the streets to set tires on fire and barricade roads with stones, while waving national flags and chanting pro-transition slogans.The Sudanese Professionals Association (SPA), an organisation opposing the country's military, has urged people to take to the streets in protest against the coup. The Sudanese Information Ministry said in a Facebook post that the Armed Forces "fire bullets" at protesters who "reject the military coup".According to multiple media reports, Internet and phone networks have been disrupted. Footage showing the protesters flooding the streets have emerged on social media.Throwback to HistorySudan, considered one of the world's poorest countries, gained independence back in 1956. In 1983, Islamic sharia law was enforced in the country, and then briefly cancelled before being reinstated after Omar al-Bashir, who governed Sudan from June 1989 to April 2019, came to power.In 2019, he was ousted after a military coup took place in the country, stemming from mass protests that had erupted earlier due to economic problems in the country. After al-Bashir was removed from power and put in prison, both military and civilian officials agreed to launch a three-year transition to civilian rule in July 2019, sharing power until the transition period ends.In September 2021, Sudanese authorities said they had managed to thwart an attempted coup, with PM Hamdok pledging to hold those responsible for it accountable. Reports citing government sources said at the time that the failed coup had possibly been planned by supporters of al-Bashir. Commenting on the potential reasons for the coup attempt, Hamdok said at the time that it was "a manifestation of a national crisis", which indicated the need for security and military reforms. https://sputniknews.com/20211025/sovereignty-council-head-burhan-declares-state-of-emergency-in-sudan-dissolves-government-1090187319.html vot tak Not much analysis in this zio-media level article. Doesn't look like the coup is backed by israeloamerica, though. It looks more like it is a response to israeloamerican interference in the sudan. 4 veska harbova on contrary, this coup is exactly what the US wanted/needed. Othwerise, Sudan would have achieved real democracy and became sovereign and aligned with China. It;s all about containing CHina, Sudan is exaclt at the horn of Africa, and its a gateway to Africa. USA checkmates Chi9na once again. 0 2 sudan Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2021 Daria Bedenko Daria Bedenko 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 Daria Bedenko government, sudan, africa, military, coup Following live cover on the back half, Surreal Syrah captured her fourth win of the year in Plainridge Park's $17,500 featured mares pace on Sunday, Oct. 24. Kevin Switzer Jr. got away sixth with Surreal Syrah as Sweet Sue (Jim Hardy) and Hilaria (Mike Stevenson) traded leads in the :26.3 first quarter. Hilaria then carried on to the half where Avery Seelster (John Nason) pulled first-over and Switzer followed with Surreal Syrah. As the field passed the three-quarter pole, Hilaria and Avery Seelster were locked up in dispute, so Surreal Syrah tipped three-deep around them, cleared at the top of the stretch and cruised home on top by two lengths in 1:54. Surreal Syrah ($11.40) cracked the $60,000 mark in earnings for the year with the win for owner/trainer Dan Tuccillo Jr. Drivers Drew Campbell and Drew Monti each had two winners on Sunday. The finals of the Massachusetts Sire Stakes will be held at Plainridge Park on Monday (Oct. 25) starting with two non-betting events that will be contested at 1:30 p.m. and 1:45 p.m. Eight divisions worth $100,000 each will go postward to crown this year's state-bred champions. Post time for the pari-mutuel card is 2 p.m. (With files from Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts) Ed Sheeran says he is self-isolating after testing positive for Covid-19, BBC News reported. The chart-topping musician said in a post on his Instagram page that he would continue to give planned interviews and performances from home. Sheeran, who lives near Framlingham in Suffolk, UK, said: "Apologies to anyone I've let down, be safe everyone x." In his post, Sheeran said: "Hey guys, quick note to tell you that I've sadly tested positive for Covid, so I'm now self-isolating and following government guidelines. "It means that I'm now unable to plough ahead with any in-person commitments for, so I'll be doing as many of my planned interviews/performances I can from my house." His new album, titled =, is due to be released on Friday. As part of the promotion, Sheeran was due to join Apple Music's Zane Lowe next week to play songs from his album and take questions from fans. Last week it was announced Sheeran would read a CBeebies Bedtime story, telling a story about a boy who has a stutter. Photo: Getty Images Follow NEWS.am STYLE on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram Breast Cancer Foundation NZ is asking the people of Bay of Plenty to generously support local pink ribbon fundraisers happening next weekend. Volunteer collectors will be stationed around the region for the Pink Ribbon Street Appeal on Friday October 29 and Saturday October 30. Following this, on Sunday October 31, Breast Cancer Awareness Month culminates with New Zealands first ever neighbourhood Pink Ribbon Walk. Extended Covid-19 restrictions around the country have forced the cancellation of two major fundraisers this year the iconic Pink Ribbon Walks in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch and the Pink Ribbon Street Appeal in Auckland. The charity expects to lose more than $500,000 in income as a result, and its now appealing to the people of Bay of Plenty to help make its remaining events a success. As a charitable trust that receives no government funding, we rely entirely on the goodwill of New Zealanders to keep our life-saving work going, says Breast Cancer Foundation NZ CEO Ah-Leen Rayner. But the ongoing Covid restrictions are severely impacting our ability to fundraise. Every dollar weve lost to Covid is money we cant spend on supporting patients in their time of need, cutting-edge research, and education programmes to stop deaths from breast cancer. We know this is devastating for our supporters, who volunteer or walk to honour the women theyve lost, or to mark their own journey with breast cancer. However, were still committed to making the rest of our events a huge success and we hope the Bay of Plenty community will get behind our efforts to fight against breast cancer. Breast cancer is the leading cause of death for New Zealand women under 65 and every year around 190 women are diagnosed with it in the Bay of Plenty District Health Board area. The neighbourhood Pink Ribbon Walks encourage people to fundraise by getting dressed up in pink and walk in their own communities. Participants will get the chance to warm up virtually with Celebrity Treasure Island star Joe Naufahu, and win prizes via social media throughout the day from event sponsors Estee Lauder Companies, The Hits, SBS Bank and Pink Lady Apples. Sign up for a neighbourhood Pink Ribbon Walk at pinkribbonwalk.co.nz/virtual and follow @pinkribbonNZ on social media for all of the virtual action on the day. Donations can be made to the Pink Ribbon Street Appeal through volunteer collectors who will be out in force shaking pink buckets across Bay of Plenty on October 29 and 30, or online at pinkribbonappeal.co.nz. Money raised from the Pink Ribbon Street Appeal and neighbourhood Pink Ribbon Walks will go towards Breast Cancer Foundations work to support patients, fund ground-breaking scientific projects and educate New Zealanders about the importance of early detection. Caribbean B arbados has elected its first ever president on Wednesday, October 20th, 2021, as it prepares to become a republic, removing Queen Elizabeth as head of state. Dame Sandra Mason, 72, is set to be sworn in on November 30th, which will mark the country's 55th anniversary of independence from Britain. The first woman to serve on the Barbados Court of Appeals, Dame Sandra has been governor-general since 2018. The government announced the plan to move to a republic status last year. With a population of about 285,000, Barbados is one of the more populous and prosperous Caribbean islands. Once heavily dependent on sugar exports, its economy has diversified into tourism and finance. Barbados will not be the first former British colony in the Caribbean to become a republic. Guyana took that step in 1970, less than four years after gaining independence from Britain. Trinidad and Tobago followed suit in 1976 and Dominica in 1978. According to the Barbados Government Information Service, in congratulating Dame Sandra, who received the necessary two-thirds majority vote in the Houses of Parliament, Prime Minister Mia Mottley said the election of a President is a seminal moment in the countrys journey. Mottley continued: We look forward, therefore, to December 1, 2021. But we do so confident that we have just elected from among us a woman who is uniquely and passionately Barbadian; does not pretend to be anything else; reflects the values of who we are; [and] has been able, in spite of her achievement of many firsts, to maintain a humility that is so admired by our people. Barbadians do not like boastful people, that is not our nature. But we like confident people, proud people, industrious people, people who fight for the underdog, who believe in social justice, who believe in fairness; that is who we are. I can think, therefore, of no better person at this juncture of our nation who can reflect those values, and who also, by dint of their life, has shown you that it is not simply about fighting for rights, which is absolutely essential in a post-colonial society, but recognising the responsibilities that must go hand in hand with the gift of those rights. Mottley said the transition to a republic was also about positioning the springboard that was necessary to undertake the most difficult mission confronting this independent nation. She stressed that Government had not come to this moment lightly, as she stated that it was time to claim our full destiny. The Prime Minister told the Chamber: This is really not about November 30, 2021; this is about December 1, 2021. This is about being able to use this as the springboard that we as a nation need in order to confront a completely different reality. She noted that the decision to move towards republic status was not meant to be a statement of condemnation of anyone. In fact, she added: We look forward to continuing the relationship with the British monarchThe time has come for us to express the full confidence in ourselves as a people, and to believe that it is possible for one born of this nation to sign off finally and completely. Leader of the Opposition, Bishop Joseph Atherley, congratulated Governor General Dame Sandra on becoming President-elect. Bishop Atherley continued: By this vote, Mr. Speaker, we have elevated to the highest office in the land, in this new context, one we consider to be worthy of this signal honour; one who has achieved excellence in her public and professional life; one who has worn all the trappings of her current office with dignity, polished bearing and the requisite mix of pride and humility. One who, by manner of service and appreciation of office, constitutes again both symbolically and substantively, a unifying force in the practice of our political and governance model. Caribbean The CARICOM Council for Foreign and Community Relations (COFCOR) held a Special Meeting on 16-17 2021, hosted by the Consul General of Jamaica in Miami, Florida, USA. It was the first in person meeting of the COFCOR since the onset of the COVID 19 Pandemic in January 2020, bringing together Ministers who had assumed office over the past eighteen months and their colleagues. The Meeting was strategic in intent and provided the opportunity to define common positions and to thereby strengthen the coordination of approaches on foreign policy matters. Views were expressed on a CARICOM Vision 2050 and Strategic Positioning of the Community in that regard. Threats and opportunities were outlined and discussions centred on the web of relations with international partners, Third States, as well as regional and international organisations which would help to shape a strategic foreign policy agenda for the Community. The Meetings agenda also included the multifaceted effects of COVID 19 including inequitable access to vaccines and the emerging two-tiered system of vaccine approval related to international travel, as well as the barriers to access to concessional financing and other obstacles to economic recovery. Attention was paid to bilateral and multilateral relations within the Western Hemisphere, as well as to concerns arising from areas of political instability in the wider Caribbean region. Discussions on the Communitys relations with regional and hemispheric organisations was also undertaken with a view to strengthening that interface. The situation in Haiti was discussed and possible modes of intervention by CARICOM to assist a Haiti-driven solution were explored. Deliberations also took place with regard to extra-regional partnerships with focus being placed on the recent strengthening of relations with Africa and the required follow-up to the first Summit last month. Relations with the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) and the Commonwealth were also discussed. With regard to the latter where the issue of the renewal of the term of office of the Secretary-General remains pending, the Council reiterated its stance that the incumbent, Baroness Scotland, enjoys the broad support of the Community. The novel coronavirus pandemic forced most businesses into a work-from-home (WFH) model, with other companies switching to hybrid working models. With remote working becoming the new normal, work hours have blurred and people around the world are struggling to maintain a healthy work-life balance. Google is looking to help users in this regard, by opening up its Work Profile tool to users globally. The company said that Work Profile would later be expanded to include anyone with an Android phone who will be able to turn off their business apps with just one button. The company explains that it would make its Work Profile tool available for users next year, as part of Google Workspace. For users who have not used the Work Profile tool, it is the companys built-in service on all modern Android phones that allows users to add their companys email apps to their personal phone, with the option to completely switch off those apps with one button. Also read: Looking for a smartphone? Check Mobile Finder here. Google Work Profile Benefits For You At the moment, only a company that manages devices is able to turn on the Work Profiles feature on Android, but Google stated that it would roll out the tool to more users in 2022. The company said that Work Profile would later be expanded to include anyone with an Android phone will be able to turn off their business apps with one button. The feature could also come in handy while running two versions of the same app, for example, WhatsApp. Maintaining the Work-Personal Divide The Google Work Profiles feature also allows users to use company apps on their personal devices without having to grant any permission to the company to their personal files and data. Data and operations for these apps take place in a separate section, which can be switched off whenever required, while allowing them to use their other personal apps. According to 9to5Google, the upcoming support does not appear to be tied to Android 12, and Google is expected to reveal more details about the feature at a later date. Credit: CC0 Public Domain In 2002, Verizon was the first to launch a 3G network in the U.S., during a time when the BlackBerry was the top smartphone to own and we were five years away from the arrival of the iPhone. At that time, we were mainly using our phones for texting, taking pictures andgasp!calling people. Almost 20 years later, our smartphones now allow us to carry a miniature computer in our pocket, capable of email, photos, social media, watching TV, gaming, video callsyou name it. Those added features mean having wireless networks to support them. As AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile usher in the 5G era, they're also about to end their support for 3G. Here's what the farewell to 3G means for you: When is 3G going away? AT&T says its 3G service will shut down in February 2022. Verizon says their 3G CDMA network will go away no later than the end of next year. T-Mobile says it will retire all its 3G networks, including those obtained through its merger with Sprint, by 2022. When it does go away, owners of 3G phones will no longer be able to make phone calls. Which devices are impacted? AT&T has a complete list of the phones affected by the shutdown, including all iPhones before the iPhone 6 and several Galaxy models. It also impacts 4G phones that do not support the HD Voice feature. According to the Federal Communications Commission, other gadgets such as medical devices, vehicle SOS services, home security systems, and other connected products could stop working when 3G goes away for good. How can I prepare myself? The FCC advises visiting your wireless carrier to determine whether your phone is affected. AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile have details on which devices are impacted. Some devices might only require a software update to continue working once 3G is retired. For other devices, check with the manufacturer to determine whether it requires a software update or an upgrade. Another thing to consider: whether you have an older phone handy in case of emergency. Those phones won't be able to dial 911 if needed, so you should consider replacing them. What is 5G? Does my phone support it? It's the fifth generation mobile network, which will help our smartphones and other connected devices run faster. On our smartphones, it means we can download, upload or stream video as well as upload or download photos more quickly. "5G is designed to do a variety of things that can transform our lives, including giving us faster download speeds, low latency, and more capacity and connectivity for billions of devices," said semiconductor chip company Qualcomm in a post explaining 5G. Some current smartphones already support 5G, including Apple's iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 lines, and Samsung's Galaxy smartphones. (c)2021 U.S. Today Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Our critical infrastructures are growing increasingly complex as the number of devices and connections in these systems continues to grow. Credit: Shutterstock What would happen if you could no longer use the technological systems that you rely on every day? I'm not talking about your smart phone or laptop computer, but all those systems many of us often take for granted and don't think about. What if you could not turn on the lights or power your refrigerator? What if you could not get through to emergency services when you dial 911? What if you could not access your bank account, get safe drinking water or even flush your toilet? According to Canada's National Strategy for Critical Infrastructure, critical infrastructure refers to the processes, systems, facilities, technologies, networks, assets and services essential to the health, safety, security or economic well-being of the public and the effective functioning of government. Disruptions to these kinds of systems, especially those caused by cyberattacks, can have devastating consequences. That's why these systems are called critical infrastructure. A string of attacks Over the past six months, the fragility of critical infrastructure has been given plenty of attention. This has been driven by a string of notable cyberattacks on several critical infrastructure sectors. It was revealed that in late March 2021, CNA Financial Corp., one of the largest insurance companies in the United States was victim to a ransomware attack. As a result, the company faced disruptions of their systems and networks. In May 2021, a ransomware attack on Colonial Pipeline halted plant operations for six days. The attack led to a fuel crisis and increased prices in the eastern U.S. Weeks later, in June 2021, a ransomware attack hit JBS U.S. Holdings, Inc., one of the world's largest meat producers. This attack brought about supply chain turmoil in Canada, the U.S. and Australia. Also in June 2021, the Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket Steamship Authority was victim of a ransomware attack that disrupted ferry services and caused service delays. MSNBC looks at the cybersecurity concerns raised by the attack on Colonial Pipeline. Fragile infrastructures On Oct. 14, 2021, hot on the heels of cyberattacks targeting the financial, gas, food and transportation sectors, the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency released Alert AA21-287. The alert turns attention to the fragility of yet another critical infrastructure sector. It warns of "ongoing malicious cyberactivity" targeting water and wastewater facilities. These activities include exploits of internet-connected services and outdated operating systems and software, as well as spear phishing and ransomware attackssomething we have seen a lot in recent cyberattacks. According to the alert, these cyberthreats could impact the ability of water and wastewater facilities to "provide clean, potable water to, and effectively manage the wastewater of, their communities." Vulnerability factors The need for combating cyberthreats to critical infrastructure is well recognized. However, the infrastructure today is far from secure. This is due to a many interrelated factors that create a perfect storm of exposures. First, many of our most critical systems are extremely complex. This complexity is rapidly increasing as the number of devices and connections in these systems continues to grow. Second, many of these systems involve a mix of insecure, outdated legacy systems and new technologies. These new technologies promise features like advanced analytics and automation. However, they are sometimes connected and used in insecure ways that the original designers of the legacy systems could not have imagined. Taken together, these factors mean that these systems are too complex to be completely understood by a person, a team of people or even a computer model. This makes it very difficult to identify weak spots that if exploitedaccidentally or intentionallycould lead to system failures. Infrastructure systems become increasingly complex as new connections and devices are added to critical infrastructure with updates in technologies. Credit: Shutterstock Analyzing real-world complexities In the Cyber Security Evaluation and Assurance (CyberSEA) Research Lab at Carleton University, we are developing solutions to address the fragility of critical infrastructure. The goal is to improve security and resilience of these important systems. The complexities of critical infrastructure can lead to unexpected or unplanned interactions among system components, known as implicit interactions. Exploitation of implicit interactions has the potential to impact the safety, security and reliability of a system and its operations. For example, implicit interactions can enable system components to interact in unintendedand often undesirableways. This leads to unpredictable system behaviors that can allow attackers to damage or disrupt the system and its operations. We recently conducted a cybersecurity analysis at CyberSEA on a real-world municipal wastewater treatment system, where we identified and measured characteristics of implicit interactions in the system. This was part of our ongoing research, conducted in partnership with the Critical Infrastructure Resilience Institute at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Our analysis found a significant proportion of implicit interactions present in the system, and approximately 28 percent of these identified vulnerabilities showed signs of being ripe for attackers to exploit and cause damage or disruption in the system. A glimmer of hope Our study showed that implicit interactions exist in real-world critical infrastructure systems. Feedback from the operators of the wastewater system in our case study stated that our approaches and tools are useful for identifying potential security issues and informing mitigation efforts when designing critical systems. This may be a glimmer of hope in the fight against cyberthreats to critical infrastructure. Continued development of rigorous and practical approaches to address increasingly critical issues in designing, implementing, evaluating and assuring the safe, secure and reliable operation of these systems is needed. A more robust infrastructure will lead to fewer threats to our security and access to services, ensuring our well-being and the effective functioning of our governments and society. Explore further It's time to make cyber security compulsory This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Credit: CC0 Public Domain Facebook is suing a Ukrainian programmer for allegedly scraping and selling publicly accessible information from millions of Facebook users. The lawsuit, filed Thursday in the Northern District of California federal court, accuses freelance programmer Alexander Alexandrovich Solonchenko of using automated means to scrape phone numbers and Facebook user IDs off roughly 178 million accounts in 2018 and 2019. Solonchenko went on to allegedly sell the data on an online marketplace in May 2021. The majority of the stolen information belonged to users based in the United States, according to the lawsuit. Facebook argues that Solonchenko violated Facebook's terms of service, which prohibit users from doing anything unlawful, misleading or fraudulent. The tech giant has disabled Solonchenko's Facebook and Instagram accounts and revoked his access to the company's websites. Its lawsuit asks for a jury trial. Explore further Facebook changes the way it measures accounts for advertisers 2021 USA Today Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Credit: CC0 Public Domain For years, Facebook has fought back against allegations that its platforms play an outsized role in the spread of false information and harmful content that has fueled conspiracies, political divisions and distrust in science, including COVID-19 vaccines. But research, analysis and commentary contained in a vast trove of internal documents indicate that the company's own employees have studied and debated the issue of misinformation and harmful content at length, and many of them have reached the same conclusion: Facebook's own products and policies make the problem worse. In 2019, for instance, Facebook created a fake account for a fictional, 41-year-old North Carolina mom named Carol, who follows Donald Trump and Fox News, to study misinformation and polarization risks in its recommendation systems. Within a day, the woman's account was directed to "polarizing" content and within a week, to conspiracies including QAnon. "The content in this account (followed primarily via various recommendation systems!) devolved to a quite troubling, polarizing state in an extremely short amount of time," according to a Facebook memo analyzing the fictional U.S. woman's account. When a similar experiment was conducted in India, a test account representing a 21-year-old woman was in short order directed to pictures of graphic violence and doctored images of India air strikes in Pakistan. Memos, reports, internal discussions and other examples contained in the documents suggest that some of Facebook's core product features contribute to the spread of false and polarizing information globally and that suggestions to fix them can face significant internal challenges. Facebook's efforts to quell misinformation and harmful content, meanwhile, have sometimes been undercut by political considerations, the documents indicate. "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," an employee noted in an internal discussion about a report entitled "What is Collateral Damage?" "We also have compelling evidence that our core product mechanisms, such as virality, recommendations and optimizing for engagement, are a significant part of why these types of speech flourish on the platform." The documents were disclosed to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and provided to Congress in redacted form by whistle-blower Frances Haugen's legal counsel. The redacted versions were obtained by a consortium of news organizations, including Bloomberg. The documents represent a selection of information produced mostly for internal Facebook audiences. The names of employees are redacted, and it's not always clear when they were created. Some of the documents have been previously reported by the Wall Street Journal, BuzzFeed News and other media outlets. Facebook has pushed back against the initial allegations, noting that Haugen's "curated selection" of documents "can in no way be used to draw fair conclusions about us." Facebook Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg said the allegations that his company puts profit over user safety are "just not true." "Every day our teams have to balance protecting the ability of billions of people to express themselves openly with the need to keep our platform a safe and positive space," Joe Osborne, a Facebook spokesman said in a statement. "We continue to make significant improvements to tackle the spread of misinformation and harmful content. To suggest we encourage bad content and do nothing is just not true." The experimental account for the North Carolina woman is just the kind of research the company does to improve and help inform decisions such as removing QAnon from the platform, according to a Facebook statement. The increase in polarization predates social media and despite serious academic research there isn't much consensus, the company said, adding that what evidence there is doesn't support that idea that Facebookor social media more generallyis the primary cause. Still, while the social media giant has undoubtedly made progress in disrupting and disclosing the existence of interference campaigns orchestrated by foreign governmentsand collaborated with external organizations to address false claimsit has often failed to act against emerging political movements such as QAnon or vaccine misinformation until they have spread widely, according to critics. The documents reflect a company culture that values open debate and disagreement and is driven by the relentless collection and analysis of data. But the resulting output, which often lays bare the company's shortcomings in stark terms, could create a serious challenge ahead: a whistleblower complaint filed to the SEC, which is included in the cache of documents, alleges, "Facebook knows that its products make hate speech and misinformation worse" and that it has misrepresented that fact repeatedly to investors and the public. Those alleged misrepresentations include Zuckerberg's March appearance before Congress, where he expressed confidence that his company shared little of the blame for the worsening political divide in the U.S. and across the globe. "Now, some people say that the problem is the social networks are polarizing us," Zuckerberg told the lawmakers. "But that's not at all clear from the evidence or research." But the documents often tell a different story. "We've known for over a year now that our recommendation systems can very quickly lead users down the path to conspiracy theories and groups," a Facebook employee wrote on their final day in August 2020. Citing examples of safeguards the company had rolled back or failed to implement, the employee wrote, "During the time that we hesitated, I've seen folks from my hometown go further and further down the rabbit hole of QAnon and COVID anti-mask/anti-vax conspiracy on FB. It has been painful to observe." Facebook said in its statement selecting anecdotes from departing employees doesn't tell the story of how changes happen at the company. Projects go through rigorous reviews and debates, according to the statement, so that Facebook can be confident in any potential changes and its impact on people. In the end, the company ended up implementing many of the ideas raised in this story, according to the statement. Like other major social media platforms, Facebook has for years struggled with the problem of false information in part because it doesn't necessarily contain slurs or particular phrases that can be easily screened. In addition, figuring out what posts are false and potentially harmful isn't an exact sciencea problem made even more difficult by different languages and cultural contexts. Facebook relies on artificial intelligence to scan its vast user base for potential problems and then sends flagged posts to a collection of fact-checking organizations spread around the world. If the fact checkers rate something as false, Facebook adds a warning label and reduces the distribution so fewer people can see it, according to a March 2021 post by Guy Rosen, vice president of integrity. The most serious kinds of disinformation, including false claims about COVID-19 vaccines, may be removed. It's a process that is complicated by crushing volume from nearly 3 billion users. Facebook has provided some details on ways it has succeeded at curbing misinformation. For instance, it disabled more than 1.3 billion accounts between October and December 2020amid a contentious U.S. presidential election. And over the past three years, the company removed more than 100 networks for coordinated inauthentic behavior, when groups of pages or people work together to mislead people, according to Rosen's post. And yet, aside from the challenges of trying to monitor a colossal volume of data, the company's system for screening and removing false and potentially harmful claims has significant flaws, according to the documents. For instance, political concerns can shape how Facebook reacts to false postings. In one September 2019 incident, a decision to remove a video posted by the anti-abortion group Live Action was overturned "after several calls from Republican senators." The video, which claimed incorrectly that "abortion was never medically necessary," was reposted after Facebook declared it "not eligible for fact-checking," according to one of the documents. "A core problem at Facebook is that one policy org is responsible for both the rules of the platform and keeping governments happy," a former employee is quoted as saying in one December 2020 document. "It is very hard to make product decisions based upon abstract principles when you are also measured on your ability to keep innately political actors from regulating/investigating/prosecuting the company." In addition, politicians, celebrities and certain other special users are exempt from many of the company's content review procedures, through a process called "whitelisting." For example, videos by and of President Donald Trump were repeatedly flagged on Instagram for incitement to violence in the run up to the Jan. 6 Capitol riots, the documents indicate. "By providing this special exemption to politicians, we are knowingly exposing users to misinformation that we have the processes and resources to mitigate," according to a 2019 employee post entitled "The Political Whitelist Contradicts Facebook's Core State Principles." Facebook employees repeatedly cite policies and products at Facebook that they believe have contributed to misinformation and harmful conduct, according to the documents. Their complaints are sometimes backed by research or proposals to fix or minimize the problems For instance, employees have cited the fact that misinformation contained in comments to other posts is scrutinized far less carefully than the posts themselves, even though comments have a powerful sway over users. The "aggregate risk" from vaccine hesitancy in comments may be higher than from posts, "and yet we have under-invested in preventing vaccine hesitancy in comments compared to our investment in content," concluded an internal report entitled "Vaccine Hesitancy is Twice as Prevalent in English Vaccine Comments compared to English Vaccine Posts." In its statement, Facebook said it demoted comments that match known misinformation, are shared by repeat offenders or violate its community standards. Many of the employees' suggestions pertain to Facebook's algorithms, including a change in 2018 that was intended to encourage more meaningful social interactions but ended up fueling more provocative, low-quality content. The company changed the ranking for its News Feed to prioritize meaningful social interactions and deprioritize things like viral videos, according to its statement. That change led to a decrease in time spent on Facebook, according to the statement, which noted it wasn't the kind of thing a company would do if it was simply trying to drive people to use the service more. In internal surveys, Facebook users report their experience on the platform has worsened since the change, and they say it doesn't give them the kind of content they would prefer to see. Political parties in Europe asked Facebook to suspend its use, and several tests by the company indicate that it quickly led users to content supporting conspiracy theories or denigrating other groups. "As long as we continue to optimize for overall engagement and not solely what we believe individual users will value, we have an obligation to consider what the effect of optimizing for business outcomes has on the societies we engage in," one employee argued in a report called "We are Responsible for Viral Content," posted in December 2019. Similarly, after the New York Times published an op-ed in January 2021, shortly after the raid on the U.S. Capitol, explaining how Facebook's algorithms entice users to share extreme views by rewarding them with likes and shares, an employee noted that the article mirrored other research and called it "a problematic side-effect of the architecture of Facebook as a whole." "In my first report 'Qurios about QAnon,' I recommended removing /disallowing social metrics such as likes as a way to remove the 'hit' that comes from watching those likes grow." Instagram had also previously experimented with removing likes from their posts, which culminated in a May 26 announcement that the company would begin giving users of the platform the ability to hide likes if they chose. The documents do provide some details, albeit incomplete, of the company's efforts to reduce the spread of misinformation and harmful content. In a literature review published in January 2020, the author detailed how the company already banned "the most serious, repeat violators" and limited "access to abuse-prone features" to discourage the distribution of harmful content. Teams within the company were assigned to look for ways to make improvements, with at least two documents indicating that a task force had been created to consider "big ideas to reduce the prevalence of bad content in the News Feed" to focus on "soft actions" that stopped short of removing content.It's not clear how many of those recommendations were instituted and if so, whether they were successful. In the goodbye note from August 2020, the Facebook employee praised colleagues as "amazing, brilliant and extraordinary." But the employee also rued how many of their best efforts to curtail misinformation and other "violating content" had been "stifled or severely constrained by key decision-makers often based on fears of public and policy stakeholder responses." "While mountains of evidence is (rightly) required to support a new intervention, none is required to kill (or severely limit) one," the employee wrote. Explore further Facebook overrun by COVID vaccine lies even as it denied fueling hesitancy, report says 2021 Bloomberg L.P. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Lazarus Project team member Ken Boydston, CEO of Megavision, adjusts the dime novel "Where Peril Beckons" by Nicholas Carter, working with Lazarus Project Director Gregory Heyworth, an associate professor of English at Rochester. The team is using the Scheimpflug principle and multispectral imaging to digitize the content of the fragile bookand others like itsafely. Credit: University of Rochester photo / J. Adam Fenster Rochester textual scientist Gregory Heyworth led the development of a digitization method for books with fragile binding. "Where Peril Beckons" attempts to grab potential readers with its cover art, featuring a man (whose leg is tied to a bed frame) punching another man (presumably his captor) in the face. The book offers a prime example of one of the 10,000-plus dime novels held by the Department of Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation (RBSCP) at the University of Rochester. Dime novels are a form of middlebrow American literature that emerged in the 1860s. Produced weekly, they offer a large window into what topics were popular among readers, particularly young boys, at the time. The problem is much of RBSCP's collection is extremely fragile and difficult to use. And this isn't unique to Rochester. "It's rare to have them survive and have so many in one place," says Autumn Haag, assistant director of RBSCP of Rochester's collection. "They were printed on the absolute cheapest paper possible." The low-quality paper has made the copies that have survived the last hundred-plus years so brittle that to open them would be to pull them apart. That fragility made them perfect test subjects for an unprecedented imaging system. Led by Rochester's Gregory Heyworth, associate professor of English and textual science, a team from the Lazarus Project has developed a novel method of producing digital images of manuscripts and similarly rare and fragile books without opening them more than 30 degrees. "Where Peril Beckons" by Nicholas Carter is one of the 10,000-plus dime novels held by the University of Rochesters Department of Rare Books, Special Collections, and Preservation. Credit: University of Rochester Why bother with binding? "There are entire collections that have never been properly studied simply because the books within them can't be opened," says Heyworth. "One could, of course, open them and photograph them and destroy the object. Most libraries aren't willing to do this." Why not? What would prevent a library from taking a manuscript apart and then rebinding it? Several centuries. Medieval manuscripts are a common acquisition for Anna Siebach-Larsen, director of the Rossell Hope Robbins Library at Rochester. On more than one occasion, she acquired a manuscript bound so tight that it could barely be opened. In these cases, the manuscript was from the Middle Ages, and the binding was from the 20th century, allowing her to send the book to a conservation lab to be rebound. However, if those same manuscripts had medieval or even 16th-century bindings, every effort would have been made to not only keep them intact but also preserve the binding. "A manuscript is not just its text or pages," says Siebach-Larsen. "The entire book is a valuable and an important object of study, especially if the binding is original. And this isn't just for medievalists. There are many scholars who place a similar value on modern books." Just as someone might study the Sistine Chapel's architecture in addition to the frescoes that adorn its ceiling, some researchers would be interested in a manuscript's physical composition, including the structure and the materials used as well as who made them. "Where Peril Beckons" is positioned prior to a scan. Credit: University of Rochester photo / J. Adam Fenster A two-part system for preservation and recovery A simple point-and-shoot approach won't produce clear, legible images from a barely open book. That's why Heyworth called on Lazarus Project team members Ken Boydston, CEO of Megavision, imaging scientist Keith Knox 70, 75 (Ph.D.), and project manager Dale Stewart 70 to help him build an imaging system. "The problem with photographing an object that can be opened only 30 degrees is that the depth of field is very shallow," says Heyworth. "In other words, the top part is in focus, and the bottom isn't." In every day photography, the lens and camera sensor (film plane) are parallel. Flat objects that are photographed in parallel to the lens and the sensor will appear sharp. Take the group out of parallel or photograph an uneven object, and the object will be sharp only where it intersects the plane of focus. This is why a person's face in a photograph will appear sharp while their ears are blurry. Bringing a full page of a partially open book into focus required unconventional photography. The lens needed to be at a different angle than the sensor. This is Scheimpflug imaging. The novel undergoes a multispectral imaging scan. Credit: University of Rochester photo / J. Adam Fenster To make the technique work, the team uses a view camera, which has an accordion-like bellows section that can be twisted. (Imagine taking a photo with an S-shaped camera.) The book being photographed is held open by a cradle that protects it from opening beyond 30 degrees. A photo is then taken from above, producing a distorted but focused image of one of the book's pages. Next, they correct the image's geometry, making it a rectangle instead of a rhombus, using unique software developed by Knox. When the process is complete, a page can be read as if the book were lying flat. The second part of the system is multispectral imaging. Yellowed paper or stains can make pages difficult to read regardless of how open the book is. By capturing multiple wavelengths of light, the technique picks up what the human eye cannot while correcting the color. Revealing "hidden" text is the Lazarus Project's stock-in-trade. Since 2009, the collection of scholars, scientists, and industry experts have recovered damaged cultural heritage objects, such as manuscripts, but also maps, paintings, and ancient artifacts. The new imaging system was the result of a year and a half of work aided by a grant from the National Center for Preservation Technology and Training. With the success of their "dress rehearsal," the team will work to increase efficiency for commercial use. "I think what's going to happen is that libraries who adopt this technology will really open up a time period for readers and scholars," says Heyworth. At Rochester, dime novels could offer one such gateway for scholars interested in studying the dominant attitudes, beliefs, and values between the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Explore further Saving the lost text of a Torah scroll In this Oct. 5, 2021 file photo, former Facebook employee Frances Haugen speaks during a hearing of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety, and Data Security, on Capitol Hill, in Washington. Former Facebook data scientist turned whistleblower Haugen plans to answer questions from lawmakers in the United Kingdom who are working on legislation to rein in the power of social media companies. Haugen is set to appear Monday, Oct. 25, 2021, before a parliamentary committee scrutinizing the British government's draft legislation to crack down on harmful online content. Credit: AP Photo/Alex Brandon, file Former Facebook data scientist turned whistleblower Frances Haugen plans to answer questions Monday from lawmakers in the United Kingdom who are working on legislation to rein in the power of social media companies. Haugen is set to appear before a parliamentary committee scrutinizing the British government's draft legislation to crack down on harmful online content, and her comments could help lawmakers beef up the new rules. She's testifying the same day that Facebook is set to release its latest earnings and that The Associated Press and other news organizations started publishing stories based on thousands of pages of internal company documents she obtained. It will be her second appearance before lawmakers after she testified in the U.S. Senate earlier this month about the danger she says the company poses, from harming children to inciting political violence and fueling misinformation. Haugen cited internal research documents she secretly copied before leaving her job in Facebook's civic integrity unit. The documents, which Haugen provided to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, allege Facebook prioritized profits over safety and hid its own research from investors and the public. Some stories based on the files have already been published, exposing internal turmoil after Facebook was blindsided by the Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol riot and how it dithered over curbing divisive content in India, and more is to come. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has disputed Haugen's portrayal of the company as one that puts profit over the well-being of its users or that pushes divisive content, saying a false picture is being painted. But he does agree on the need for updated internet regulations, saying lawmakers are best able to assess the tradeoffs. Haugen told U.S. lawmakers that she thinks a federal regulator is needed to oversee digital giants like Facebook, something that officials in Britain and the European Union are already working on. The U.K. government's online safety bill calls for setting up a regulator that would hold companies to account when it comes to removing harmful or illegal content from their platforms, such as terrorist material or child sex abuse images. "This is quite a big moment," Damian Collins, the lawmaker who chairs the committee, said ahead of the hearing. "This is a moment, sort of like Cambridge Analytica, but possibly bigger in that I think it provides a real window into the soul of these companies." Collins was referring to the 2018 debacle involving data-mining firm Cambridge Analytica, which gathered details on as many as 87 million Facebook users without their permission. Representatives from Facebook and other social media companies plan to speak to the committee Thursday. Ahead of the hearing, Haugen met the father of Molly Russell, a 14-year-old girl who killed herself in 2017 after viewing disturbing content on Facebook-owned Instagram. In a chat filmed by the BBC, Ian Russell told Haugen that after Molly's death, her family found notes she wrote about being addicted to Instagram. Haugen also is scheduled to meet next month with European Union officials in Brussels, where the bloc's executive commission is updating its digital rulebook to better protect internet users by holding online companies more responsible for illegal or dangerous content. Under the U.K. rules, expected to take effect next year, Silicon Valley giants face an ultimate penalty of up to 10% of their global revenue for any violations. The EU is proposing a similar penalty. The U.K. committee will be hoping to hear more from Haugen about the data that tech companies have gathered. Collins said the internal files that Haugen has turned over to U.S. authorities are important because it shows the kind of information that Facebook holdsand what regulators should be asking when they investigate these companies. The committee has already heard from another Facebook whistleblower, Sophie Zhang, who raised the alarm after finding evidence of online political manipulation in countries such as Honduras and Azerbaijan before she was fired. Explore further Facebook is willing to open algorithms to regulators, global VP says 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. The iPhone of New York Times journalist Ben Hubbard was repeatedly hacked with NSO Group's Pegasus spyware tool over a three-year period stretching between June 2018 to June 2021, resulting in infections twice in July 2020 and June 2021. The University of Toronto's Citizen Lab, which publicized the findings on Sunday, said the "targeting took place while he was reporting on Saudi Arabia, and writing a book about Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman." The research institute did not attribute the infiltrations to a specific government. In a statement shared with Hubbard, the Israeli company denied its involvement in the hacks and dismissed the findings as "speculation," while noting that the journalist was not "a target of Pegasus by any of NSO's customers." To date, NSO Group is believed to have leveraged at least three different iOS exploits namely an iMessage zero-click exploit in December 2019, a KISMET exploit targeting iOS 13.5.1 and iOS 13.7 starting July 2020, and a FORCEDENTRY exploit aimed at iOS 14.x until 14.7.1 since February 2021. It's worth pointing out that Apple's iOS 14 update includes a BlastDoor Framework that's designed to make zero-click exploitation more difficult, although FORCEDENTRY expressly undermines that very security feature built into the operating system, prompting Apple to issue an update to remediate the shortcoming in September 2021. FORCEDENTRY exploit on the phone of the Saudi activist Forensic investigation into the campaign has revealed that Hubbard's iPhone was successfully hacked with the surveillance software twice on July 12, 2020 and June 13, 2021, once each via the KISMET and FORCEDENTRY zero-click iMessage exploits, after making two earlier unsuccessful attempts via SMS and WhatsApp in 2018. The disclosure is the latest in a long list of documented cases of activists, journalists, and heads of state being targeted or hacked using the company's "military-grade spyware." Earlier revelations in July laid bare an extensive abuse of the tool by several authoritarian governments to facilitate human rights violations around the world. The findings are also particularly significant in light of a new interim rule passed by the U.S. government that requires that companies dabbling in intrusion software acquire a license from the Commerce Department before exporting such "cybersecurity items" to countries of "national security or weapons of mass destruction concern." "As long as we store our lives on devices that have vulnerabilities, and surveillance companies can earn millions of dollars selling ways to exploit them, our defenses are limited, especially if a government decides it wants our data," Hubbard wrote in the New York Times. "Now, I limit the information I keep on my phone. I reboot my phone often, which can kick out (but not keep off) some spy programs. And, when possible, I resort to one of the few non-hackable options we still have: I leave my phone behind and meet people face to face," Hubbard added. [TOP publishes on M-W-F at some point during the day. I'm still adjusting to the schedule and not doing very well yet. Please excuse our growing pains.] [Comments have been added] - Stanley Forman in 1976 We've been talking about a few YouTube videos recently, so I wanted to mention an eight-and-a-half-minute short buried in a larger program. The full 53-minute program is called "Extraordinary Finds 2" and was produced by the PBS program Antiques Roadshowin it, they follow up on the later disposition of certain objects originally featured on the show. Here, they produced an excellent in-depth piece about an old photograph made in 1976 during the anti-busing race riots in Boston, Massachusetts. The picture, called "The Soiling of Old Glory," depicts Joseph Rakes, a white male teenager, attacking Theodore Landsmark, a black attorney, using an American flag on a flagpole as a weapon. It was taken by Stanley Forman, the first photographer to win the Pulitzer Prize for Spot News Photography two years in a row. (The other picture he won for is "Fire Escape Collapse," which I used to use in classroom discussions about ethics, to address the common reaction, "Why doesn't the photographer help?") Ted Landsmark, who they interviewed for the segment along with Stanley Forman, is currently Distinguished Professor of Public Policy and Urban Affairs and Director of the Kitty and Michael Dukakis Center for Urban and Regional Policy at Northeastern University. It's a nicely done little segment and one that most photography aficionados would be very likely to miss, since it's buried in a program about antiques. It starts at 40:30. UPDATE: Richard Parkin says this link works better for him in the UK. Mike Book o' the Week Photo No-Nos: Meditations on What Not to Photograph by Jason Fulford. Although I would never actually let anyone tell me not to photograph anything, this is a fun book for getting "the lay of the land" as what subjects and treatments are common. There are some nice insights, and it's a pleasant read, although I think it will be more fun if you already know a lot about photography and can relate to the subjects he discusses. The above is a link to Amazon from TOP. Once you're at Amazon, anything you search and buy will be credited to 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: Rene: "I lived in Boston at that time and lived in a racially mixed community. The tension was palpable every day. I remember when that happened and its aftermath. I had just gotten interested in photography a few years before and was stunned by the photo because it so clearly expressed what was going on. At one point, our house was attacked with rocks thrown through the windows because we were known as 'integrationists.' Actually, we were called other things, but that's the polite term. As the great Bill Russell said, 'Boston itself was a flea market of racism. It had all varieties, old and new. The city had corrupt, city hall-crony racists, brick-throwing, send-em-back-to-Africa racists, and in the university areas phony radical-chic racists.... Other than that, I liked the city.' "Re: your 10/15/21 post on the Basketball G.O.A.T., the correct answer IMHO is of course Bill Russell. Watch some old clips of the Celtic dynasty of the 1960s and you'll see why." Jeff1000: "Re 'Please excuse our growing pains.' Didn't you mean 'shrinking pains'? [rimshot]" Mike replies: I do actually mean shrinking pains. And therein lies a tale...why is it so much easier for human enterprises to grow rather than to shrink? It's not like growth can't kill a business, because it can, but generally growth is welcomed and embraced whereas shrinkage is difficult to cope with, difficult to adjust to, and demoralizing. I wonder why that is. Is it just the imbalance in enthusiasm and hopefulness? (TBTCO) - Mot ngay khong the thay the hay bu ap cho tat ca uoc, Le tuong niem ong bao tu vong va can bo, chien si hy sinh, trong ai dich Covid-19 uoc to chuc vao luc 20 gio toi qua 19/11 tai hai iem cau TP. Ho Chi Minh va Ha Noi khong nhung phan nao am long nguoi ra i, nhe long nguoi o lai ma con la luc canh tinh cho tat ca chung ta, nhac nho chung ta ve noi au va trach nhiem. Rowan University researchers are developing promising ideas and new technology in their labsthe trick is getting their new inventions out into the marketplace. The National Science Foundations Innovation Corps (I-Corps) program accelerates the commercialization process. Since 2018, Rowan researchers have earned 10 national I-Corps awards, plus another through the National Institutes of Healthmore than any other R2 institution without a formal designation as an I-Corps site or node, noted Dr. Yatin Karpe, director of the Universitys Office of Technology Commercialization and Rowan Innovations. Its an indicator of Rowans emerging reputation for innovation and self-driven entrepreneurial focus, said Dr. Tabbetha Dobbins, interim vice president for research. The I-Corps program is the National Science Foundations chief mechanism for developing innovators among university faculty, Dobbins said. Rowan Universitys track record demonstrates were a fast-growing incubator for big ideas. The I-Corps program teaches researchers how to tailor their ideas to meet the needs of potential customers and industry, and gain a clearer understanding of the value of their inventions in the marketplace. Designed to support deep technologies stemming from fundamental discoveries in science and engineering, the I-Corps program includes regional training workshops and networking opportunities for researchers. Fifteen Rowan teams have attended regional I-Corps training, qualifying them for potential national funding, Karpe said. Thats a significant achievement for an institution that doesnt serve as an I-Corps training site, since busy faculty researchers arent required to invest the time and energy into building a new venture. We get them excited and get them to understand the entrepreneurial process, said Karpe, who used his own connections to tap Rowan into the I-Corps network. A growing national initiative involving eight federal agencies, the I-Corps program has been pivotal in helping translate scientific discoveries into products and processes that benefit society, said Christina Pellicane, a nationally certified NSF I-Corps instructor and independent consultant specializing in entrepreneurship education. Rowan University has a strong foundation of basic research and, nowadays, also has a culture of entrepreneurship and innovationnot only at the faculty level, but also within upper administration, said Pellicane, who is also COO and co-founder at Lignolix, a chemical tech startup. That combination of strong scientific research and an entrepreneurial-minded culture will continue to reap strong technology-enabled startups. Dr. Nidhal Bouaynaya earned Rowans first $50,000 national I-Corps award to support her innovation: artificial intelligence to dramatically improve the detection of brain tumorsabout three years earlier than the standard of care. Shes also the first researcher from Rowan to secure additional I-Corps training through the National Institutes of Health Small Business Innovation Research funding program. Everything is done by eye-balling nowadays with doctors, or by hand, said Bouaynaya, who co-founded MRIMath, LLC, in 2017 with Dr. Hassan Fathallah-Shaykh, a neuro-oncologist and mathematician at the University of Alabama School of Medicine. We built an AI agent that achieves pixel-level accuracy and delineates the tumor, computing exact volumetrics and 3D coordinates for tumor surveillance in neuro-radiology and radiotherapy in oncology. The I-Corps program gave their Rowan-affiliated startup a jump on product development. The NSF I-Corps training helped my team take our research outside of the lab and define a data-driven commercialization plan, said Bouaynaya, professor in the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering and associate dean for Research and Graduate Studies at the Henry M. Rowan College of Engineering. With his I-Corps support, Dr. Mohammad Abedin-Nasab and his team interviewed 143 trauma surgeons, hospital executives and patients with broken femurs, finding a huge unmet need for improving the alignment outcomes of femur fracture surgery. Since then, he has successfully taken his orthopedic surgical robotic system, Robossis, through cadaver testing. It was a major milestone for commercialization of the first surgical robot for long-bone fracture alignment in the market, said Abedin-Nasab, a biomedical engineering professor. Dr. Cheng Zhu and his research partner from the School of Earth & Environment, Dr. Charles McGlynn, are working together to build a strong, inflatable shaker shield intended to protect people from earthquakes and flash floods. Using their I-Corps award, they interviewed more than 200 potential customers and have a patent pending for their innovation, developed from aircraft evacuation slide technology. Through I-Corps, they attended the Earthquake Countermeasures Technology Exhibition in Yokohama, Japan; conducted site visits at emergency response centers in St. Louis and on the West Coast; and visited with private sector professionals responsible for skyscrapers with seismic protection systems. The program provided us with a great opportunity to interview a large variety of potential customers and develop our business model, said Zhu, a civil and environmental engineering professor. THE Confederation of Regional Business Chambers (CRBC) is calling on the Government to consider an extension on the submission of the property tax forms beyond November 30, 2021. The CRBC, in a statement yesterday, said there can be criminal liabilities or a penalty if these forms are not filed by November 30, hence, Government is urged to consider the request to extend the deadline as an urgent matter. THE murder toll continues to rise following the shooting deaths of three men in separate incidents between Thursday evening and yesterday morning. The killings took place in Laventille, San Juan and Freeport. Two of the victims have been identified as Aaron Thomas and Nathaniel Phillip, while the victim in the Freeport incident remained unidentified up to yesterday evening. The pre-election splurge by the PNM-led Tobago House of Assembly (THA) draws attention to constitutional loopholes that should be addressed. Here is an administration which went in with a comfortable majority for the election which was held in January this year and came out in a dead heat with the challenger party. A group of tourists, including Vietnamese and foreigners, left Ho Chi Minh Citys downtown for its coastal Can Gio District on Sunday in the first waterway tour launched by the city under its tourism recovery plan after months of suspension due to COVID-19. The tour kicked off as the city and Vietnam in general have loosened COVID-19 restrictions and reopened their economies under new normal conditions, which refers to the governments strategy of living safely with the coronavirus. Daily infections have fallen nationwide in the last few weeks while health workers have given almost 73 million vaccine doses since vaccination was rolled out on March 8. The group of 50 travelers, including expats working in the city, departed from Bach Dang Wharf at 8:00 am on the express boat Greenlines DP. They had earlier attended a ceremony held by the citys Department of Tourism and Vietnamtourist, the tour organizer, to welcome the first visitors to Can Gio by waterway since COVID-19 restrictions began in May. The travelers enjoyed the scenes of the citys heart, the Thu Thiem peninsula, the citys highest building Landmark 81, Nha Rong Wharf, Ben Nghe Port, and Phu My Bridge before the high-speed boat headed to Can Gio. When reaching Thieng Lieng Hamlet, in Can Gios Thanh An island commune, visitors relaxed with a bicycle ride around the small island, learned about the life of local people and their salt-making business, enjoyed tea and fruits, and took part in other cultural activities. The tours program also included visits to the Vam Sat tourist area and the Can Gio Mangrove Forest, which was recognized as a World Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 2000, among other attractive destinations. The package tour price is VND1.779 million (US$78) per traveler, including insurance against COVID-19 and other expected problems. This image shows travelers enjoying a bicycle ride on a road in Can Gio District, Ho Chi Minh City. Jean Philippe Lovotti, general manager of 5-star Caravelle Saigon Hotel, said he felt very honored and excited to join the ecotourism trip to Can Gio by waterway. Such a program, designed to connect humans with nature, encourages sustainable environmental development, honors the local culture, and contributes to reviving the tourism and hotel industries, Lovotti said. This tour is one of the activities Saigontourist has made in response to the city administrations plan for restoring local tourism in safe adaptation to COVID-19 between now and 2022, said Pham Huy Binh, chairman of Saigontourist. Nguyen Thi Anh Hoa, director of the tourism department, said her agency has cooperated with businesses to develop suitable tourism products, including waterway tourism like this Can Gio tour in order to diversify products to serve tourists, going in line with the citys road map to reactivate tourism activities. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Cambodia's parliament on Monday passed constitutional amendments barring holders of the country's top posts, including prime minister, from being citizens of other countries. Prime Minister Hun Sen had on Oct. 6 ordered the justice ministry to make the changes, which also allow the upper and lower houses speakers, and the head of the constitutional council, to only hold Cambodian citizenship. He said this was "to show loyalty to the nation and avoid foreign interference". Heng Samrin, president of Cambodian National Assembly, said the amendments aimed to oppose foreign interference in the country's internal affairs or in the directing of its national and international policies. "The National Assembly, the Senate, the Royal Government and the Constitutional Council are the supreme bodies of the nation enshrined in the Constitution of the Kingdom of Cambodia and have a high responsibility to decide on important matters that are the lifeblood of the nation to ensure national independence and sovereignty," Heng Samrin said on his office's Facebook page. The order by Hun Sen, one of the world's longest-serving leaders after more than three decades in power, to make the constitutional changes came days after a report in the Guardian newspaper wrongly named him as one of thousands of non-Europeans given Cypriot passports. The Guardian report was subsequently corrected to say that his inner circle, rather than the Prime Minister himself, were discovered to have been among thousands of non-Europeans who received a Cypriot passport. A Reuters Special Report in October 2019 showed family members and key police, business and political associates of Hun Sen had bought foreign nationality via a citizenship for sale arrangement in Cyprus. Opposition leader Sam Rainsy, a French citizen living in Paris to avoid a series of convictions in Cambodia, said in an email to Reuters on Monday that the new rules would deprive potential future leaders of the chance to serve the country at the highest level. "For historical reasons our population is spread around the world and many Cambodians with dual nationality have achieved great success outside the country," Sam Rainsy said. Vietnams Ministry of Health recorded 3,639 more COVID-19 infections on Monday, in addition to 1,323 recovered patients and 65 fatalities. The latest cases, including 19 imported and 3,620 local infections, were found in 53 provinces and cities, the health ministry said, adding that 1,573 patients were detected in the community. Ho Chi Minh City logged 969 of the domestically-infected cases, Binh Duong Province 517, Dong Nai Province 458, An Giang Province 232, Tay Ninh Province 163, Bac Lieu Province 156, Tien Giang Province 111, Kien Giang Province 99, Binh Thuan Province 57, Khanh Hoa Province 44, Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province 27, Can Tho City 26, Hanoi 18, Quang Nam Province 12, and Da Nang one. Vietnam had documented 4,028 locally-acquired infections on Sunday. The country has registered 887,797 community transmissions in 62 out of its 63 provinces and cities since the fourth virus wave emerged on April 27. Ho Chi Minh City is heavily affected with 426,090 patients, followed by Binh Duong Province with 229,357, Dong Nai Province with 61,990, Long An Province with 34,228, Tien Giang Province with 15,737, Dong Thap Province with 9,459, Khanh Hoa Province with 8,798, Da Nang with 4,954, Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province with 4,534, and Hanoi with 4,421. Vietnam documented only 1,570 locally-transmitted infections in total in the previous three waves. The health ministry announced 1,323 recoveries on Monday, elevating the total to 807,301. The toll has jumped to 21,738 deaths after the ministry confirmed 65 fatalities on the same day, including 40 in Ho Chi Minh City and 11 in Binh Duong Province. Vietnam has found 892,579 infections since the COVID-19 pandemic first hit it early last year. Health workers have given more than 74 million vaccine doses, including 1,120,951 shots on Sunday, since vaccination was rolled out on March 8. Over 21.4 million people have been fully inoculated. Health authorities target to inoculate at least two-thirds of a population of nearly 98 million people against COVID-19 by the first quarter of next year. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Read what is in the news today: Society -- Another shipment of 1.3 million doses of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine donated by the U.S. to Vietnam touched down at Noi Bai International Airport in Hanoi on Sunday evening, taking Washington's total donations to 10.8 million shots. -- Authorities in the central Vietnamese province of Quang Nam have evacuated more than 2,500 residents to safety as floods have submerged over 5,000 houses in the past two days. -- Torrential rains on Sunday afternoon, coupled with high tides, inundated many streets of Ho Chi Minh City and impeded the commutes of local citizens. -- Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has approved the use of non-refundable ODA from Japan for a technical assistance project worth over VND21.8 billion (US$959,000) in order to prepare a feasibility study report for the Dai Ngai Bridge project on National Highway 60 in Tra Vinh and Soc Trang Provinces. -- An African swine fever outbreak is hitting the Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang as authorities have detected and culled 917 infected pigs in 31 communes, wards, and towns, according to the latest report of the provincial Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine. Business -- Authorities in northern Quang Ninh Province launched groundbreaking ceremonies for four key infrastructure and energy projects worth over $12 billion on Sunday. Education -- Officials in northern Bac Giang Province are considering shutting down a local daycare facility after a video showing a 22-month-old baby being hit by classmates went viral on social media on Saturday evening. Sports -- Mohamed Salah hit a hat-trick as Liverpool humiliated Manchester United, romping to a stunning 5-0 victory at Old Trafford in the Premier League on Sunday that leaves Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's future in serious doubt, Reuters reported. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! The Food Safety Management Authority of Ho Chi Minh City has drafted a list of criteria for F&B facilities to offer sit-down service safely amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. The list, which includes a total of six criteria, has been submitted to the municipal Peoples Committee for approval. Local eateries must have a legitimate food safety certificate and must be equipped with hand sanitizers and hand dryers or disposable hand towels, according to the tentative requirements. Although there are no specific regulations on distancing and opening hours, the set of criteria stipulates that employees, delivery workers, and customers must strictly follow the instructions of health authorities in the prevention and control of COVID-19. This means that staff members and diners would be required to file health declarations and present their vaccination QR codes, an official told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper, adding that COVID-19 testing is not yet necessary. Eateries have to prepare for various pandemic scenarios and be responsible for implementing pandemic response measures while in operation. Depending on the risk level of each district, local health authorities will require these establishments to limit the number of employees and customers. In addition, eateries must not use air conditioners or serve beer and alcohol. Alcohol will cause people to engage in more conversations, posing a higher risk of COVID-19 transmission, said Pham Khanh Phong Lan, head of the citys Food Safety Management Authority. Designated agencies in each district will carry out regular inspections of food and beverage businesses and impose stern penalties if any violations are detected, Lan continued. Ha Binh Kha, owner of a restaurant in Go Vap District, told Tuoi Tre on Sunday that he was finally able to restart his business after months of hibernation. Kha said he had ordered dozens of kilograms of meat and vegetables as well as tidied up the kitchen to get ready. I dont expect to welcome a lot of customers, but dine-in service will certainly be more profitable than takeaway, he said. Ngo Van Thanh, another restaurant owner in Binh Thanh District, disagreed with the ban on beer and alcohol. People can drink coffee and talk with their friends for hours. Why is alcohol banned but not coffee? Thanh wondered. Ho Chi Minh City has been the biggest epicenter in the country since the fourth outbreak began on April 27, with over 425,000 local cases. Infections have slowed down over the past few weeks, as the majority of the citys adult population have been given at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine. The municipal authorities had implemented various social distancing levels since May 31 before relaxing restrictions on October 1, but dine-in service was still prohibited. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! The latest COVID-19 cluster in the northern Vietnamese province of Phu Tho has caused 395 positive cases, including 80 workers in two industrial parks, according to local industrial park managers. Ten more workers had been infected with the coronavirus by Sunday, bringing the total number of COVID-19 infections in the two industrial parks to 80 since October 14, when the latest outbreak erupted in Phu Tho, the provincial Management Board of Industrial Parks said on Monday. Among the total, 78 have been detected at Thuy Van Industrial Park in Viet Tri City, the largest in the province, with Yakjin Vietnam Co. Ltd. topping the list with 35 positive cases, followed by Ksa Polymer Hanoi JSC with 27 and the others. The other two infections have been recorded at Tarpline Hanoi Co. Ltd. at Dong Lang Industrial Park in Phu Ninh District. Following the outbreak, local health authorities have taken samples from 47,000 workers at 131 enterprises in the provinces industrial parks for coronavirus testing, and most of the samples have been negative while the remaining results are pending, the board said. All people who are close contacts of positive cases have been suspended from work and placed in quarantine. In order to implement epidemic prevention and control steps, Ksa Polymer Hanoi, Yakjin Vietnam, and Tarpline Hanoi have allowed all their workers to leave while other companies have suspended a part of their staff. The board is closely coordinating with local health authorities to boost the COVID-19 testing and deploy plans for responding to positive cases, said Nguyen Ngoc Hanh, head of the board. All businesses in the provinces industrial parks have been required to tighten epidemic prevention and control measures, Hanh added. The provinces administration on Sunday decided to set up COVID-19 Field Hospital No. 2 with 220 beds for treating COVID-19 patients. By Sunday, the province, with a population of over 1.46 million, had administered 706,724 first vaccine shots and 86,739 second jabs to residents, according to the national COVID-19 vaccination portal. The pandemic has caused 451 COVID-19 cases in Phu Tho since it hit the country in early 2020, with zero deaths reported, the Ministry of Health said on Sunday. Nationwide, 888,940 infections, including 805,978 recoveries and 21,673 fatalities, have been recorded. The Southeast Asian nation has recently experienced remarkable reductions in both coronavirus infections and deaths, with 4,028 patients and 53 fatalities reported on Sunday compared to the corresponding figures of 8,537 and 203 a month earlier, the ministrys data shows. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! The United States has delivered two more Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine shipments totaling 2,633,670 million doses to Vietnam, bringing its total vaccine donations to the Southeast Asian country to around 12.1 million jabs. Among the vaccine donations, 1,317,420 doses arrived in Hanoi on Sunday and 1,316,250 shots reached Ho Chi Minh City on Monday morning, the U.S. Embassy said in a media release. This is the sixth COVAX delivery to Vietnam, totaling 12.1 million COVID-19 vaccine doses made available by the U.S. so far, the media release said, referring to a vaccine-sharing scheme co-led by the World Health Organization. The U.S. has committed more than US$30.2 million in COVID-19 assistance to Vietnam since the beginning of the pandemic. We stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Vietnam in the fight against COVID-19, the U.S. Embassy said in the release. U.S. President Joe Biden last month announced an additional 500 million Pfizer-BioNTech doses to 92 low- and middle-income countries around the world and the African Union, bringing its total global commitment to more than 1.1 billion doses. Vietnam has been a leading recipient of these doses, the release said. In addition to vaccine donations, the U.S. has provided Vietnam with COVID-19 test and vaccine storage equipment, and life-saving devices such as ventilators, oxygen concentrators, and liquid-oxygen tanks. On October 12, the Ministry of Health received 36 ultra-low temperature freezers donated by the U.S. to assist Vietnam in COVID-19 vaccine storage. 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. Last week, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) announced that the U.S. had successfully donated and delivered 200 million COVID-19 vaccines to more than 100 countries around the world. To end the pandemic and prevent the emergence of new variants, as well as future outbreaks within our nations borders, we must continue to do our part to help vaccinate the world, USAID administrator Samantha Power said in a statement. In addition to the U.S., the largest donor of COVID-19 vaccines to Vietnam so far, the Southeast Asian country has received vaccine donations from other countries including Japan, Australia, the UK, France, Italy, Russia, the Czech Republic, and China, among others. The nation aims to secure 150 million COVID-19 vaccine shots to cover at least two-thirds of its 98-million population, and it has so far got more than 100 million jabs from different sources, including the COVAX Facility, contractual purchases, and donations. By Sunday, the country had administered nearly 51.9 million first shots and some 21 million second jabs to people nationwide, the health ministry reported. Since erupting in Vietnam in early 2020, the pandemic has caused 888,940 COVID-19 cases, including 805,978 recoveries and 21,673 deaths. The nation has recently seen sharp reductions in both coronavirus infections and deaths, with 4,028 patients and 53 fatalities reported on Sunday compared to the corresponding figures of 8,537 and 203 a month earlier, the ministrys data shows. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Police from Bac Giang Province have captured a local man for allegedly murdering his parents and younger sister after issuing criminal prosecution and a nationwide arrest warrant for him on the weekend. The Lang Giang District police of the northern Vietnamese province recently confirmed to Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper that suspect Tran Van Hieu, 47, was arrested on Sunday while hiding in the nearby province of Lao Cai, some 300 kilometers away from the crime scene. Hieu was earlier believed to have murdered his own parents and younger sister more than a week after being released from prison in Bac Giang. Upon slaughtering three family members to death on Friday, Hieu reportedly fled wearing a helmet, long white striped pants, and a blue long-sleeved shirt on a brown Honda Dream motorbike with number plate 98H5-2868. Local police kept track of his movements via surveillance cameras and the arrest came two days following his escape. Criminal records revealed that Hieu had been sentenced to six years behind bars for intentionally causing injury to his wife and just finished serving his prison term on October 13. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Vietnam has been honored with awards in different categories, including the coveted Asias Leading Destination title, at the 2021 World Travel Awards (WTA). The country beat out eight other rivals to claim the Asias Leading Destination award. Its competitors were China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, and Thailand. It was acknowledged with awards for Asias Leading Sustainable Tourism Destination. The WTA also voted the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism as Asias 2021 Leading Tourist Board. In addition, Hoi An Ancient Town in central Vietnam was honored as Asias Leading Cultural Tourist Attraction while UNESCO Heritage Site Ha Long Bay in the northern province of Quang Ninh was also named Asias Leading Tourist Attraction. Cuc Phuong National Park in northern Vietnam was the winner for Asias Leading National Park. Besides, several luxury hotels and resorts in popular tourism hotspots in Vietnam were recognized in multiple categories at the 2021 WTA. Notably, flag carrier Vietnam Airlines won Asia's Leading Airline for Economic Class and Leading Cultural Airline titles, while Vietravel was awarded the Asias Leading Tour Operator prize. Established in 1993, the World Travel Awards, dubbed 'the Oscars of the travel industry' by The Wall Street Journal, have been annually held to honor the best service providers in the fields of travel and tourism. The awards are decided on by an international jury of hospitality experts, mainly from the World Travel and Tourism Council. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Tonight on SBS Dateline is in Florida USA, for Back To School With Delta. COVID-19 has disrupted the education of millions of students. Dateline reports from Florida, where schools are battling against a Delta surge and the states Governor to keep kids safe and in class. 9:30pm Tuesday on SBS. Joan had nine lives and I had no say in any of them, says Pamela Rabe. Since arriving in Season 2 of Wentworth in the enigmatic role of Governor Joan Ferguson, Rabe has delivered some of the shows most compelling, terrifying, deliciously dark scenes. Shes kept fans on the edge of their seats, cheering and hissing the villain sometimes at the same time. Describing the character as her most impactful screen role to date, Rabe was well known for her theatre CV. But Wentworth has changed all that. I felt so blessed to be gifted a character like that. She was such a chameleon, because they were constantly challenging me to keep transforming but to keep it all anchored in one character that the audience could follow. There were a lot of curveballs thrown my way! I was the Governor that was brought in as the fixer at the beginning of the second season to help sort things out in what was already a dysfunctional prison environment, she tells TV Tonight. Across 6 seasons Joan has switched from Governor to inmate, to a resurrected amnesiac and various shades in between. Rabe has had the time of her life playing them all. It was Joan pretending to be Kath, then it was Joan who thought she was Kath. Then it was Joan, who realised that she was Joan, but had to maintain Kath and then the Battle of Joan and Kath co-existing in the same person that takes us right to the final episode. It was always a constant tension about who am I? As soon as they took away the (hair) bun, the uniform and the authority of being the Governor of that prison and putting put Joan Ferguson into Teal, it was always a constant tension about who am I? she reflects. Clearly Joan Ferguson is a very good actor, but it challenged me to try to live up to that and keeping up a persona that would occasionally give you glimmers of the Joan Ferguson that the audience knew, while still presenting a credible face that allowed me to survive within that environment. That tension kept going. As she played out the Joan / Kath storyline, Rabe had an idea of the destination if not necessarily the journey. Episodes were filmed in 2 episode blocks at a time, so cast would wait for scripts to see what writers had in store. But being raised from the dead at the end of Season 7 was one of the more more thrilling twists. When they asked me to come back out of the box, I had a meeting with (director) Kevin Carlin to ask, Hows this going to work? He had a general gist of what the tensions were going to be. But he didnt really know how it was going to play out. Do I live or do I not? I remember asking (exec producer) Jo Porter I think, or (script producer) Marcia Gardiner, Do I live or do I not? I remember an enigmatic look on her face. They were still working out, in terms of serving this theme of redemption, what would be the most satisfying conclusion to that particular storyline. When she joined in 2014 in the role made famous by Maggie Kirkpatrick, shed only seen small portions of Prisoner whilst living in her Canadian home country. Rabe later worked with Kirkpatrick in theatre. Maggies always been incredibly supportive and really complimentary. Weve done a couple of fan events together overseas. She came down onto the Clayton set. I think we did a little spread in TV Week several years ago, she recalls. The jury was still a little bit out with the old Prisoner fans It was so interesting that at that particular time, the jury was still a little bit out with the old Prisoner fans, as to whether this reimagining was going to be worthy of their attention. But you could almost hear the thunk around the world as the old Prisoner fans, for most part, came along for the ride, at the same time as a whole new generation were engaging in a really invested way with this new series. The final 100th episode now reaches screens, filmed a year ago in the middle of Melbourne lockdowns. Will Joan suffer a final indignity or will she triumph? Rabe isnt saying. I dont think I knew how I was going to end until pretty close to the final episode I dont think I knew how I was going to end until pretty close to the final episode. I certainly didnt know the details of it until probably halfway through shooting the episodes weve watched go to air over this last two weeks. The conditions under which those final episodes were shot, meant that there was a lot of COVID safety protocols in place. There were a lot of people completing their final scenes and being rushed to the airport, to get on flights before borders slammed shut again. There were no great hugs to say goodbye. We werent allowed to have that physical contact. There was no wrap party where you could all get together and say, Look, what we look what we made!' Now having crafted such a memorable character does she fear being type-cast in future roles? No, I dont think about it very much. Maybe I should. The one luxury or a privilege that Ive had, is that Ive done a lot of things during my career, and theyve run the gamut of genre and the types of roles that Ive been lucky enough to play, she insists. I havent done a huge amount of television, and this is the most impactful kind of television or screen project with the longest life, that Ive ever been involved in. So I understand that some people might associate my mug with that character. I just hope the fans squeal at their television sets I just hope the fans have enjoyed the ride and that they squeal at their television sets the same way as I have been doing as Ive watched it with everybody. Weve all been part of a very special series created for Australian television and for the world. Wentworth finale 8:30pm tonight on FOX Showcase. Tomorrow: Why Wentworth is ending and is a sequel possible? Season 10 of Chicago Fire begins on FOX One next week. This season marks the final for Aussie Jesse Spencer, who has been with the show since its debut. S10 returned in the USA a month ago. No job is more stressful, dangerous or exhilarating than those of the Firefighters, Rescue Squad and Paramedics of Chicago Firehouse 51. These are the courageous men and women who forge headfirst into danger when everyone else is running the other way. But the enormous responsibilities of the job also take a personal toll. With big reputations and hefty egos, the pressure to perform and make split-second decisions is bound to put squad members at odds. 9pm Thursday November 4 on FOX One. By Melanie Fields A wide variety of interesting objects is currently on display in the Marian Library exhibit Journeys of Faith: Shrines, Souvenirs, and Catholic Tourism. Among these are milagros and other ex-votos items that have graced certain Marian shrines for centuries. An ex-voto, short for the Latin ex voto suscepto, or from the vow made, is a type of offering left at a shrine or church as a way to give thanks to a saint for an answered prayer. First appearing in the 1490s, ex-votos have taken on many different shapes three-dimensional artifacts, pressed metal forms, and paintings detailing the narrative of a reported miracle, for example. Ex-votos allow an individual to express humility and gratitude for the assistance of a saint, and their physical presence at a shrine helps to illustrate visitors faith in the possibility of miracles. In Latin American shrines, ex-voto paintings have become a popular folk art tradition. These compositions are typically painted on tin and usually depict a scene central to the individuals prayer intention. This scene is also accompanied by a written message of gratitude and an image of Mary interceding on the believers behalf. Within the Marian Librarys collection, these compositions often depict Mary under the titles of Our Lady of Guadalupe and Our Lady of San Juan de Los Lagos. A popular form of ex-voto is the milagro, Spanish for miracle. Milagros can come in all kinds of shapes and materials, though most are made of metal. Many depict specific objects, such as parts of the body, symbolizing the nature of the answered prayer or healing request. Visitors often leave these charms at shrines as votive offerings after healings; however, milagros also can be purchased and kept for personal devotion. A multitude of milagros can be fastened to a single object of devotion such as the gold cross below, which contains over 130 charms. Featured below is a selection of milagros and ex-votos on display. For more information, visit go.udayton.edu/journeysoffaith. Melanie Fields is a library specialist in the Marian Library, working with artwork and special collections and communicating about the Marian Library through a variety of media. A communication tower felled by a cyclone in India in 2018 (REUTERS) The summer of 2021 saw a run of record-breaking and devastating extreme weather events across the globe with hurricanes, floods, wildfires and heatwaves dominating front pages from June until September. Rapid research has found that the rains behind the floods in Europe in July, which killed more than 200 people in Germany and Belgium, were made up to nine times more likely by the climate crisis. And record-shattering heat in North America in June, which forced thousands to seek refuge in cooling shelters across the western US and Canada, was made at least 150 times more likely by the climate crisis. The worsening of many types of extreme weather events is one of the most tangible examples of loss and damage, a term that has come to be used to describe the inevitable consequences of the climate crisis. Until now, we have been thinking of climate change because of human emissions of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere as something that will happen in the future, which we can prevent by reducing emissions or adapt to, Prof Saleemul Huq, director of the International Centre for Climate Change and Development (ICCCAD) in Bangladesh, tells The Independent. Unfortunately, weve not done enough of either and we now have very clear evidence that human-induced climate change is causing impacts to become much more severe. So this takes us into the realm of what we call loss and damage from human-induced climate change, as opposed to the loss and damage from purely natural events that we had in the past. We believe, from the vulnerable countries perspective, that the global community should provide whatever they can to support the victims of human-induced climate change Prof Saleemul Huq The loss and damage caused by the climate crisis can be caused by slow-moving dangers, such as sea-level rise and drought, as well as sudden events like extreme weather disasters. Countries facing the highest risks tend to be those in the developing world, such as low-lying small island states. Story continues Understanding what specific losses and damage can be attributed to the climate crisis can be a challenge. A man walks on a street covered in debris after Hurricane Irma strikes the Saint Martin in the Caribbean in 2017 (AFP/Getty) However, recent scientific advances, including a landmark report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), have helped to address this issue. The report, produced by 234 scientists in 66 countries, reflects major progress in the field of attribution science the study of how human-caused global heating is influencing the severity and frequency of extreme weather events. Among the reports stark conclusions, it says that human-induced climate change is already affecting many weather and climate extremes in every region across the globe. I think there is strong recognition in the science community that attribution science is robust. The fact that [it has been embraced] in the most recent IPCC report adds additional credibility, Rupert Stuart-Smith, a PhD student researching attribution science and liability at the University of Oxford, tells The Independent. Though there has been progress in understanding the loss and damage caused by the climate crisis, the question of who should pay for them remains a thorny topic. For decades, the worlds most vulnerable nations have tried to push for richer nations to accept liability and pledge funding to help them deal with the loss and damages caused by the climate crisis. However, developed nations which are responsible for the vast amount of greenhouse gas emitted since the start of the industrial era have so far resisted the calls. We believe, from the vulnerable countries perspective, that the global community should provide whatever they can to support the victims of human-induced climate change, says Prof Huq. A good example of that was when the recent flash floods in Germany killed nearly 200 European citizens. The German chancellor Angela Merkel visited the flooded areas and immediately found 500 million to compensate her own citizens for the loss and damage they suffered from climate change. Were just saying, how about the rest of the world? Angela Merkel pledged 500 million to victims of flash floods in Germany earlier this summer (REUTERS) In 2013, an international framework to address loss and damage in developing countries, known as the Warsaw International Mechanism, was established at the Cop19 UN climate conference in Poland. Two years later, a mention of loss and damage was included in the landmark Paris Agreement. However, developed nations insisted on including a clause to state the addition does not provide a basis for any liability or compensation. The Warsaw International Mechanism was reviewed by negotiators in 2019 at Cop25 in Madrid, at which time developing nations called for it to be strengthened to include pledges of additional finance from developed countries. However, countries failed to reach a consensus and the issue is set to come up for discussion again at Cop26, the UK-hosted conference taking place in Glasgow in just a few days time. Any fresh hope for climate financing has already been dealt a blow after new research showed that a long-promised pledge to deliver a $100bn climate crisis fund will not be delivered until 2023 three years late. Were hoping to see the rich countries step up to the plate and offer funding for loss and damage, says Prof Huq. It does not have to be in the form of compensation, we have given up the claim of compensation in the Paris Agreement. It can be in the form of solidarity. He does not expect a new international agreement on funding for loss and damage to be agreed at Cop26. Maybe a small handful of rich countries can simply step up and say they will provide, in the spirit of solidarity, funds to help people deal with the loss and damage, says Prof Huq. He added that, as hosts of the conference, the UK should be spearheading efforts to secure more funding for climate-vulnerable countries. [The UK] has heard our message loud and clear and we hope that it is taken on board and persuade at least a few countries who hope to see positive movement at Cop26 to also take it up, he adds. We have high expectations of the UK presidency fulfilling that expectation. A UK Cop26 spokesperson did not respond to a request to comment on loss and damage when approached by The Independent. Read More Gordon Brown: Countries treating $100bn climate target like organising whip-round charity fundraiser Cop26 Glasgow news: Insulate Britain protesters block roads When is Glasgows Cop26 UN climate conference taking place? More than 33 films including two feature-length movies and 16 student shorts are ready to be broadcast online during the 2021 Georgia Film Festival (GFF). Hosted by the University of North Georgia (UNG) Department of Communication, Media and Journalism (CMJ), the fifth annual festival will be presented in a virtual format for free from Nov. 4-6. The festival's viewing parties will be followed by live question-and-answer sessions via Zoom. Registration will be on the GFF website. "This year, we are excited to provide film lovers with the GFF content online to protect their health and well-being amid the COVID-19 pandemic," Dr. Jeff Marker, department head of CMJ, said. "All attendees may vote on their favorites to recognize the best of the best." Viewers may vote for Best Indie Short, Best Student Short, Best of the Fest, and more. Winners will be announced on Nov. 7. Access to the films will last until Nov. 11 to allow viewers to see all the projects. The festival will open at 8 p.m. Nov. 4 with the movie "The Plymouth Period." The coming-of-age drama is Atlanta-based director Jake Shiptenko's first feature film. The festival's last film will be shown at 8 p.m. Nov. 6, with the documentary "Look Away, Look Away." Written and directed by Patrick O'Connor, the film focuses on the five-year battle that led to the redesign of the Mississippi state flag. The festival will close with the awards announcements at 2 p.m. Nov. 7. Every year that Rocco Ranallo has been at the University of North Georgia (UNG), he searched for scholarships to fund his education and ease his financial burden. Each year, the senior pursuing a cybersecurity degree secured the Goizueta Foundation Scholarship. "Because of the scholarship, I had one job instead of two," the 36-year-old who lives in Dahlonega, Georgia, said. "It also gave me time to fill out an application to land my internship." Ranallo's testimonial is not unique. Kyle Murphy, interim assistant director of the Multicultural Student Affairs, explained all 15 Goizueta Scholarship recipients have three things in common. They demonstrate a financial need, exhibit high academic achievement or GPA, and are of Hispanic or Latino heritage. "It's extremely competitive, and 600 students qualified this year," Murphy, who sits on the Goizueta scholarship selection committee, said. "We interviewed the students to get to know them better before awarding the scholarships." Thirty students were interviewed and 15 were selected. Eleven of this year's recipients are: Albany Angulo, Eunice Cervantes, Mireille Cypher, Camila Fajardo, John Febres Jr., Marlene Ortiz Gomez, Michelle Alvarado Gonzalez, Maria Martinez, Rene Morales, Alisha Paul, and Ranallo. Thanks for visiting ! The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. Thank you for your support! 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 night of the war's twenty-ninth day, October 25, the Azerbaijani liberation army advanced deep into the occupation zone, liberating a number of territories in the Gubadli, Lachin and Khojavend regions. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev stressed in an interview with Fox News that the fighting will be stopped as soon as Armenia makes a commitment that they will withdraw the occupying forces from the Azerbaijani regions as soon as possible. He also expressed confidence that relations between the two countries can certainly be normalized. In the morning, the Armenian Armed Forces continued shelling the front-line areas of Azerbaijan - Terter, Agdam and Agjabedi - from the occupied territories. Baku reminded the international community that this shilling is a war crime. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said they were glad that the territories of Azerbaijan were de-occupied, but nevertheless held military exercises in the north-west of Iran. In the afternoon, footage from the newly liberated villages of the Gubadli region, as well as the Jebrail and Zangilan regions was unveiled. Later, footage of the elimination of the firing points of the invaders was published. In the afternoon and evening, the occupation troops of Armenia tried to contain the Azerbaijani counteroffensive in Gubadli. A rally against the occupation of the Azerbaijani land was held in Denmark. In the evening, Ilham Aliyev said that over a hundred villages and three cities had already been liberated from the Armenian occupation in less than 29 days of the war, and demanded that Armenia completely withdraw its troops from Azerbaijan. U.S. President Donald Trump said at a pre-election rally that he would "sort out" the fighting in Karabakh and Zangezur. At about 22:00 it became known that the city of Gubadli was liberated. Around midnight, Azerbaijan and Armenia announced a third truce, which was to begin the next day at 8:00. Thus, on the twenty-ninth day of the war, the fourth occupied city - Gubadli - was liberated. The liberation Azerbaijani army, having driven the invaders from the Azerbaijani-Iranian border, was consistently driving them out of the Azerbaijani-Armenian border in order to close the roads for the penetration of reserves and reinforcements of the occupation forces into Azerbaijan. Lachin was expected to become the next stop on this path. The Days of Tatar Cinema took place in Baku on October 22-24. The Russian Cultural Center in Baku and Tatarkino studio screened films show at Kazan International Muslim Film Festival. The motto of the festival was "To the dialogue of cultures through the culture of dialogue". The festival focuses on the exchange of the workers in culture and arts between Russia and Muslim countries of the neighboring and far-abroad countries. The film "Mullah" was shown at the House of Cinema on October 22. The film "Apipa" was screened at YARAT Contemporary Art Space on October 23. The film "Halima" was presented to the audience at the Russian Cultural Center on October 24. Moreover, a meeting with Tatarkino studio's creative team was held as part of the Days of Tatar Cinema. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reiterated that Turkey is determined to fight violence against women within the framework prepared earlier this year. Erdogan made the remarks while meeting women from different backgrounds during his visit to the central Eskisehir province. He said all institutions are working resolutely to combat violence, and that a road map and comprehensive action plan on the issue was prepared in June. Violence Prevention and Monitoring Centers (SONIM) have been established in all the 81 provinces of Turkey, Erdogan said. "These centers play an important role. We took one more step to strengthen this structure and established contact points for 372 social service centers of our Family and Social Services Ministry. These contact points will work in conjunction with SONIMs, allowing us to address this issue more widely," Daily Sabah cited him as saying. The European Commission, on behalf of the EU, has today disbursed 600 million euro in macro-financial assistance (MFA) to Ukraine, according to the EC website. "This is the second and final tranche under Ukraine's current MFA programme following the first 600 million euro disbursement in December 2020," the statement reads. It was stressed that with this disbursement, the outstanding amount of loans to Ukraine under its multiple MFA programmes reaches 4.4 billion euro. "Its second tranche of 600 million euro disbursed today is a clear sign of EU support for Ukraine's reform agenda," Executive Vice-President for an Economy that Works for the People Valdis Dombrovskis said. He noted that Ukraine has made significant efforts towards implementing the MFA conditions and also made satisfactory progress with the International Monetary Fund. "By providing financial and technical support, the EU is helping to improve living standards for the Ukrainian people; by providing strong political support, we are strengthening Ukraine's integration with the European Union," Dombrovskis added. Uzbekistans presidential polls, held on Sunday, were transparent, the candidates had equal opportunities, and no complaints from voters has been reported, SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organization) Deputy Secretary General Yerik Ashimov said at a press conference on Monday. "The mission noted that the elections were held in line with Uzbekistans legislation, on the basis of publicity <>. The candidates were provided with the equal conditions for access to the media. No complaints or remarks regarding the polls have been reported," Ashimov stated. The SCO deputy secretary general mentioned that the work of the observers was not interrupted. "<> Uzbekistans presidential elections complied with the requirements of the electoral legislation <>. The mission recognizes the polls as transparent, reliable and democratic," TASS cited him as saying. As many as five candidates were running for presidency, including incumbent President Shavkat Mirziyoyev. Some 9,925 polling stations were opened in the republic with about 19.9 mln people on the voter lists. The elections were monitored by over 1,000 international observers. Turkey's gendarmerie forces arrested seven Russian tourists Monday on charges of causing a forest fire in the southern Turkish province of Antalya. The tourists allegedly set up a campfire in a forested area and paved the way for the massive blaze. The forest fire had erupted in the Konyaalt district of Antalya October 23 and was put out by firefighters in a short time. The local gendarmerie investigation team received a tipoff about a group of campers who were at Sivri Dag, a mountainous location where the fire started, who had set up a campfire. The campers turned out to be the seven suspects. The suspects were taken to the courthouse Monday and the judge ordered their arrest on charges of causing the fire, Anadolu Agency reported. A number of agencies in the United States launched their investigations into President Joe Biden administrations handling of the US troops withdrawal from Afghanistan, the Wall Street Journal reported. "A number of U.S. agencies have begun internal reviews of the Biden administrations handling of the withdrawal from Afghanistan, particularly the final departure of military and diplomatic personnel, closure of the U.S. Embassy, and the emergency evacuation of diplomats and eligible Afghan refugees from the country," according to the daily. According to the daily, "the reviews, which have been started separately by the offices of inspectors general at the departments of Defense, Homeland Security, Health and Human Services and State, as well as at the U.S. Agency for International Development, aim to determine whether the administration adequately planned for and executed the withdrawal and subsequent evacuation and relocation of Afghan nationals, according to internal disclosures and US officials familiar with the internal discussions." After the United States announced the pullout of its troops from Afghanistan this past spring, the Taliban radical militant group (outlawed in Russia) launched a large-scale operation to establish control over that country. On August 15, President of Afghanistan, Ashraf Ghani, fled the country, and the radicals swept into Kabul without encountering any resistance. On September 6, the Taliban declared its establishment of control over all of Afghanistan, and on September 7 announced the line-up of the interim cabinet, whose legitimacy has not yet been recognized by any country. Kabardino-Balkarian State University is partially switching to distance learning mode due to the tense situation with the spread of coronavirus in the region. This is stated in a message published on the social network of the university. "Remote mode is not easy, but we hope that soon we will be able to meet again in the classrooms of our university," the message says. The message also contains a list of majors that will continue their training on online platforms. Vietnam and Japan have launched Phase VIII of their Joint Initiative, focusing on 11 issues aimed at further improving Vietnams business and investment climate. Phase VIII covers a wide range of issues, from competition to the labour market, infrastructure investment in the form of public-private partnership (PPP), and the reform of State-owned enterprises and the stock market. In the context of the global economy being severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, especially the disruption of the supply chain, Vietnam and Japan have agreed to add three new issues to Phase VIII. They are the supporting industry, innovation, and the development of highly skilled human resources, in order to anticipate the shifting, restructuring and diversification of investment capital flows in the coming time. Initiated in April 2003, the Vietnam - Japan Joint Initiative is a special form of cooperation between the two Governments through the establishment of a forum for policy dialogue between Japanese investors and relevant Vietnamese ministries and agencies. Over the past 18 years, the initiative has contributed to creating an open and transparent business and investment environment in Vietnam, while providing constructive policy recommendations to complete laws and policies in Vietnam. Results of Phase VIII will be evaluated in 2023 when both countries will celebrate 50 years of their diplomacy. Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Yamada Takio expressed his hope Phase VIII will contribute to improving Vietnams investment and business environment, towards the goal of common development and prosperity of both countries business communities. Source: VOV Some experts say Vietnam needs to say thank you to the 37 train carriages donated by Japan but reject the gift for the sake of the development of Vietnams railways. Vietnam Railways Corporation (VNR) is seeking the nod from the Government on its plan to import 37 train carriages, manufactured in 1979-1982, from Japan at no charge. Though they have been operational for 40 years, the carriages have no serious problems in safety and quality. VNR General Director Dang Sy Manh said the cost of importing and repairing these carriages is much lower than the cost of manufacturing new carriages or buying old products from other countries. Some people, in emails to VietNamNet, stressed that though the train carriages are old and have been left idle for many years, they are still better than Vietnamese ones, and they can run well for another 30 years at an average speed of 60-80 kilometers per hour. Honda 67 motorbikes operate well for 55 years. Japans industrial products all have high quality. They are good and durable, a reader wrote. He stressed that Vietnam should receive the carriages from Japan as it has also received donations from the US. If VNR affirms that it can use the carriages effectively, Vietnam should receive the donations after hiring consultants to assess their quality. Everyone knows that itd be better to use brand new products. But the problem is whether we have money to buy them, he wrote Its obvious that if we receive the carriages, we will be able to save a big amount of money. This is significant in the context of a scanty budget and the big impact of the pandemic. Meanwhile, other experts have called on to make thorough consideration before deciding whether to receive the carriages. Hoang Duong Tung, Deputy General Director of the General Directorate for Environment, said its necessary to consider which material was used to make the 37 carriages, noting that at the time when the carriages were made, asbestos was a commonly used material. In 1970-1980s, asbestos was used by many countries, including Vietnam. Asbestos-made roofing sheets were used commonly in the country. However, asbestos is now listed as a hazardous waste. Many countries prohibit the use of asbestos in manufacturing, and its very costly to treat this kind of hazardous waste. Tung said that Japanese carriages are more modern and cleaner than Vietnamese ones. Their technology, manufacturing method and hygienic conditions are better than Vietnamese ones. Japan also pays appropriate attention to environmental protection. However, he recommended thinking carefully before accepting the carriages, noting that no company or organization in Vietnam is capable of treating asbestos waste. The cost of treating this type of hazardous waste may be even higher than the value of the carriages. Asbestos is recognized as a carcinogen. There are two groups of asbestos, including Chrysotile, which is the only type of asbestos fiber still commercially used in the market today. While many developed countries prohibit the use of any form of asbestos, some developing countries, including Vietnam, still use Chrysotile. This type of asbestos is mainly used to make roofing sheets in Vietnam and most asbestos is imported. Other experts also think Vietnam should reject train carriages from Japan, saying that if Vietnam continues importing old products, it will become a dumping ground for old technologies of the world. And if VNR doesnt think of renovating technology and management skills, it will never be able to develop. An expert, when asked about this view, mentioned the time when the information and communications sector some years ago had two options either use cheap analog technology or modern expensive technology. The decision of the leaders at that time to use the most modern technology has helped Vietnam list itself among the top 50 in the world. Thai Binh Vietnam to build nine new railways by 2030 Deputy Prime Minister Le Van Thanh has signed a decision approving the railway system planning for 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050, which sets a target of building nine new railways with a total length of 2,362km by 2030. Times have changed, and many elderly people choose to live in luxury nursing homes to enjoy comprehensive care. The middle-aged generation has been saving for their old age. Mr. Luu Van Ky, 80, from Binh Chanh district, Ho Chi Minh City, discussed with his son about moving to a nursing home in the near future. He said: "I'm old, I can't do anything at home anymore. Im sick and have to go to the hospital very often. Each time I am hospitalized, my family suffers. Its better for me to live in a nursing home to not bother my children. It works for both me and my children." Ky's son - Luu Van Quyet - supported his father's decision. He researched and gave information about quality nursing homes for his father to choose a suitable one. It is different now. We should have a different view about nursing homes. You don't have to live with your parents to be seen as being respectful to your parents. My father does not lack anything materially but he feels alone because we have to work all day and come home very late. We also have the gap of generations. There are many good private nursing homes. My family is seeking a good nursing home for my father," said Quyet. According to the latest statistics, out of 425 facilities that care for the elderly, disabled and children, there are about a dozen state-owned establishments for the elderly. These facilities provide minimal care for the elderly. To meet the needs of modern life, some high-class private nursing homes have been established, but this number is still very small. In Hanoi, there are nearly 20 private nursing homes and the figure is under 10 in Vietnams largest city - Ho Chi Minh City. The monthly charge is from VND7-8 million ($330-$380) to VND15 million (nearly $700)/person/month. At upscale nursing homes, the life of the elderly meets "5 star" standards: living in a private room, enjoying comprehensive daily care and special care when they are sick. Some luxury nursing homes in Hanoi collect higher charges over VND20 million per month ($800). These nursing homes even provide funeral services. Mr. Tran Canh Tung, head of the Department of Social Affairs of the Authority for Social Protection of Vietnam, said that elderly people living in nursing homes will help social development because Vietnams aging population is considered the highest percentage in Asia. Vietnam's population is aging at a rapid rate. In 2014, the proportion of elderly people aged 60 and over accounted for 10.5% of the population. The rate was 11.86% in 2019. Mr. Bui Anh Trung, director of a private nursing home in Ho Chi Minh City, said that if you want a "5-star standard" life in a nursing home, you need to prepare financially early. "Elderly people need to understand that nowadays, their children are very busy with a lot of things and they have to take care of their children too. Living in a nursing home, they can help themselves, help their children and the next generation," Trung said. Many Vietnamese people at the age of 50 have thought about and planned to live in nursing homes when they get old. Mrs. Doan Ngoc Mai, 52, in Hanoi told VietNamNet: My husband and I have decided not to live with our children. Later when one of us passes away, the other will go to a luxury nursing home to not bother anyone. To live in a nursing home for 10 years, I need to prepare VND1.5 to VND2 billion. In a modern society, the view that sending parents to a nursing home is unfilial is outdated. Nursing homes are an inevitable trend in the future. More nursing homes are needed Bui Anh Trung said: Vietnams population is aging rapidly and nursing homes will be a solution for this. In addition to developing and improving the quality of nursing homes, the State needs to have policies to help people prepare for their life in nursing homes right now. The government needs to consult developed countries like Japan, the US, New Zealand in the implementation of aged care insurance, he said. Dr. Khuat Thu Hong, Director of the Institute for Social Development Studies (ISDS), confirmed that in the future, elderly people will be self-aware and volunteer to live in nursing homes. She said that the State should facilitate the development of private nursing homes. In particular, these facilities must meet certain standards of services such as: health care, nutrition, living space, living space, infrastructure, etc. To be accepted by society, nursing homes need to ensure comprehensive care for the elderly, she said. Mr. Tran Canh Tung said that to meet the needs of nursing homes in the future, the State should have policies to encourage construction of private nursing homes and upgrading state-owned facilities. Nguyen Son Many Vietnamese businessmen have refused to sell their businesses to foreign partners. Efforts to build Vietnamese brands In 2017, a large foreign corporation almost completed the acquisition of a Vietnamese brand, Sunhouse at a price of 250 million USD. However, at the last minute, the owner of Sunhouse canceled the deal. Nguyen Xuan Phu, Chairman of Sunhouse, was confused when Vietnam imported everything, even the simplest things, which are not difficult to produce. That motivated me to invest in 'Made in Vietnam' products and that's why I set up my factory, said Phu. But production alone is not enough. Products must have a brand, because the value of the brand is greater than the parts that are simply assembled. Why does the price for a foreign-branded shirt is 1.5 times higher that a similar shirt with a Vietnamese brand and the buyer is Vietnamese? At that time, I also saw a series of famous Vietnamese brands acquired by foreign investors. Because of my ego, I wanted to keep the Sunhouse brand," Phu said. Tran Uyen Phuong, representative of Tan Hiep Phat corporation, once told a seminar on Vietnamese brands that her corporation refused a $2.5 billion acquisition deal from a foreign firm. This happened in 2012 when the American corporation offered a large amount of money to buy shares of Tan Hiep Phap. It took nearly a year for negotiation but finally, Tan Hiep Phat refused a $2.5 billion offer from this corporation. According to Phuong, the partner asked Tan Hiep Phat to only sell its products in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia and not to release new products. We wanted to bring Asian products to the world, that's why we continued to invest in new plants and turned down this offer." In fact, for many years, for many reasons, Vietnamese entrepreneurs have sold their businesses to foreign partners. Famous brands like X-men, Diana, P/S, Kinh Do, Nguyen Kim, etc., used to belong to Vietnamese people. Through joint ventures, associations, and share transfers, these brands are now owned by companies from India, the US, Thailand and Japan. Some said that if these brands are not owned by foreign companies, many of them could have hardly been as famous as they are today. However, many "foreign" investors acquire Vietnamese businesses just to reducebthe number of competitors, so they can gain the upper hand in the domestic market. Waiting for the rise of domestic businesses Although "Made in Vietnam" goods are exported throughout the world, even picky markets such as Europe and the US, most Vietnamese goods are still "processed and assembled". However, in the past 10 years, Vietnam has had strong private enterprises in many fields such as aviation, real estate, food, retail, etc., which can compete with foreign rivals. The merger and acquisition is no longer a unique "playground" for foreign investors. Many domestic businesses are still sold, but many are sold to domestic partners. According to a report by MAF Research and the CMAC Institute, the most prominent mergers and acquisitions in 2019-2020 involved private Vietnamese corporations such as Masan, Thaco, Gelex, and Vinamilk. Masan Consumer acquired VinCommerce & VinEco while Vinamilk bought the parent company of Moc Chau Milk and Thaco participated in restructuring Hoang Anh Gia Lai International Agriculture Joint Stock Company. It is sometimes a difficult decision to make for many Vietnamese entrepreneurs, but it is the harshness of the market and the market economy. It is important to build a strong and steady team of Vietnamese enterprises in the domestic market, which are famous in the global market. Also, it is necessary to create a business environment for Vietnamese enterprises to grow, so that if a business is sold it will be sold to other Vietnamese enterprises instead of foreign investors. After all, building a strong enough Vietnamese business team is the foundation for sustainable development in the future. The story behind Vingroup's decision to transfer the entire operation of VinM art, VinMart+ chain and VinEco Company to Masan Group is something to ponder as Vingroup decided to cooperate with a domestic partner rather than a foreign one to balance the domestic retail market. Many people still regret when that Saigon Beer was acquired by a Thai investor. To avoid such cases, it is more important than ever to develop specific strategies to strengthen Vietnamese businesses. Vietnamese people also need to give priority to Vietnamese goods. Ha Duy The series of five articles themed Newspapers join hands to clean themselves up by VietNamNet staff writers have won the A prize at the 15th National Press Award in 2020. The series of five articles themed Newspapers join hands to clean themselves up by VietNamNet staff writers win the A prize This is the highest prize that VietNamNet has won in its 24-year history. The series of articles were implemented during many months under the instructions of the editorial board. Many reporters, editors and collaborators in all three regions of the country joined forces to implement the project. The award has reinforced the mission that VietNamNet sets for itself creating a bridge between people, businesses and the State in many areas of the countrys life. The five articles that got the prize were part of a series of 20 articles on the same topic, published in VietNamNet in September 2020. The articles put forward issues in the Vietnams newspaper industry for discussion, including extortion by some reporters and journalists of people and businesses. They also mention issues of economics of journalism in the context of Covid-19 and the strong development of social media, and the need of press agencies going digitized. In the series of articles, VietNamNet reflects the situation of IS reporters, the black journalism evils, which have become a concern for people and businesses. The situation is so serious that in some localities in the northern part of the central region, local authorities had to deliver documents to every commune so that commune authorities could recognize real reporters to avoid swindling. The situation, as commented by Journalist Le Xuan Son, Editor in Chief of TienPhong newspapers, causes the reputation of the entire Vietnamese press to be seriously affected. Son went on to recall a weekly press briefing some years ago, when the leaders of the Central Propaganda Committee cited a survey as saying that journalists belonged to the most hated groups of people in the society. This was alarming as it hurts true journalists who have "bright eyes, clear heart, sharp pen". Soon after the articles were published, VietNamNet received feedback from readers, businesses, organizations and agencies, who expressed their strong support to the cleansing of journalistic forces movement. A businessman who emailed VietNamNet said: Businesses are facing big difficulties during the Covid-19 pandemic, while journalists continuously extort and clamour for money. We have been extremely frustrated. In such conditions, VietNamNets series of articles, which appeared in time, have helped us regain our confidence and cherish hope, give us more driving force to overcome the pandemic. Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Manh Hung commented at the awards ceremony held on October 24 that the press agencies have taken the initiative in cleaning up the press, daring to talk about problems, and the problems of their colleagues. Only you can clean yourself up. The encouragements by the Minister and the public have given more strength to VietNamNet on the path to implement its mission. In the context of technology and social media boom, the press bears on its shoulders the mission of acting as a tool of disseminating information between the State and people, while it has to create financial resources to exist and develop. Former Minister of Information and Communications Le Doan Hop thinks the press is the tool of the Party and the State, and it needs support from the State. When he was in the post of Minister, Hop once raised the idea of setting up a publication fund with capital from the state budget, which aimed at supporting the press and publishing activities. However, the idea could not implemented. Meanwhile, newspapers now have to compete fiercely in the advertising market, where foreign social networks get bigger pieces of the cake. Le Quoc Vinh, President and CEO of Le Bros, cited a report from ANTS as showing that revenue of the online ad market in Vietnam was $26 million only in 2010, while the market share held by Google was very small. But things changed in 2018, when the online ad market had value of $550 million, while Facebook and Google pocketed $387 million. Preliminary statistics showed that in 2019, the total revenue of the online ad market was $630 million, of which $450 million went to Facebook and Google. Meanwhile, the proportion of revenue from online ads that Vietnams press agencies received decreased to 31 percent in 2018 to 29 percent in 2019 from 81 percent in 2010. Of course, despite great challenges, many true newspapers still have ads, readers and high-quality articles. Because of the pandemic over the last two years, the national economy has fallen into a difficult situation. The difficulties for press agencies are even worse. A veteran journalist said: In current conditions, one should read print newspapers to understand the Partys policies and read social media to understand people. All these facts have brought the biggest ever challenges to press agencies, including VietNamNet, in revenue, social confidence and role of the revolutionary press. However, no matter how big the difficulties are, VietNamNet understands that mainstream media must provide accurate and timely information. VietNamNet National Press Awards 2020 honours 112 outstanding works Winners of the 15th National Press Awards in 2020, the noblest award for journalists in Vietnam, were announced at a ceremony on October 24 night in Hanoi. Artificial intelligence (AI) is now at the center of the technology world. Many countries around the world have largely invested in AI and Vietnam is no exception. Tri Nhan - A robot developed by Vietnamese experts. (Photo: Trong Dat) Technological powers have long built their own AI development strategies, taking this technology as the core to accelerate economic development. Professor Nguyen Thanh Thuy (University of Technology Vietnam National University) - Vice President of the National Program on Science and Technology 4.0, said the global artificial intelligence market will reach about 15.7 trillion USD by 2030. Of which, China is expected to account for 7 trillion USD, equivalent to 45% of this market. North America will make up about $3.7 trillion, half that of China, followed by Nordic countries, and developed countries in Asia, Southern Europe and South America. In Vietnam, according to experts at a recent workshop entitled "Artificial Intelligence and Humans: Multidimensional Impacts of a Technological Revolution", artificial intelligence is developing rapidly and gradually proving its position as a pillar technology, a breakthrough in the fourth industrial revolution. In the past few years, many businesses and organizations in Vietnam have developed and applied AI in various fields, including education, information - communication, business, commerce, health care... In early 2021, the Prime Minister issued the National Strategy on Research, Development and Application of AI to 2030, which aims at bringing Vietnam into the top four ASEAN countries in the field of artificial intelligence and building 10 prestigious AI brands in the region. In recent years, Vietnam's AI industry has made remarkable progress with the increasing presence of AI technology in all areas of life. AI and AI application projects have attracted attention and investment not only from large technology corporations but also startups. With the current rapid development, artificial intelligence in Vietnam is forecast to rise to new heights soon to join the world in solving the challenges of the century. This is a great aspiration, as well as a driving force for the innovative ideas of Vietnamese enterprises. However, Vietnam is facing many difficulties. To develop AI comprehensively, Vietnam needs to solve problems in state management, policies, legal frameworks, human resources, infrastructure, data infrastructure, and the ways to collect and exploit Big Data. According to Nguyen Hoang Oanh - Vice President of the Vietnam Japan University, AI training disciplines in Vietnam are still young and Vietnam lacks experts and lecturers in this field. Ngo Tu Lap - Director of the International Francophonie Institute (IFI) said that artificial intelligence is a field of fierce competition between great powers as well as countries like Vietnam to win new opportunities. AI will be an important factor, if not the most important, determining the success of countries in occupying the leading position in the world. He said that AI is used all aspects of social life and bringing about positive results in education, health care, administration and the military. But the AI revolution also shows many negative sides. Specifically, AI contributes to deepening the development gap between countries, the gap between the rich and the poor, and inequality in society. Artificial intelligence also makes us worry about privacy and information security. AI is going into the smallest digital activities, changing people's behavior. The most recent controversy is the algorithms of social networks turning people into slaves of technology. According to Ngo Tu Lap, technology can boomerang with an unforeseeable impact. Artificial intelligence also raises ethical issues, as it blurs the line between machine and human. That's when machine learning technology allows AI to become increasingly intelligent and even emotional. So will AI lead to disaster for humanity? Humanity will have to answer this question together, said Lap. Pham Hong Quat - Director of Science and Technology Enterprise and Market Development Department (Ministry of Science and Technology) - said that if seeing artificial intelligence is an entity that can replace humans, this technology is fully functional in terms of intelligence, behavior and the ability to interact with society. With that in mind, Quat questioned whether artificial intelligence would create a society of its own. What will happen if AI is getting smarter, but there is no mechanism to control it? According to this expert, the advancement of technology can disrupt existing institutions that we cannot even imagine, especially social aspects. Therefore, it is necessary to think about the formation of legal mechanisms or institutions to control the artificial intelligence society in the future. Trong Dat Vietnam holds potential for robot, AI development: insiders Vietnam holds huge potential in the application and development of new technologies amid the wide utilisation of robot and artificial intelligence (AI) in daily life activities. News Microsoft: Russian Nation-State Actor Behind SolarWinds Attack Changes Tactics Microsoft blamed Russia for new attacks against U.S. supply chain infrastructure, saying the Russia-backed nation-state actor Nobelium has changed its tactics this time. Those tactics last year resulted in the highly publicized SolarWinds attack, of which Wikipedia says: "The attackers accessed the build system belonging to the software company SolarWinds, possibly via SolarWinds's Microsoft Office 365 account, which had also been compromised at some point." Officials and experts have clearly stated that Russia backs the hacker group. Microsoft pulled no punches in placing blame in announcing the renewed supply chain attacks, saying Nobelium has been "identified as being part of Russia's foreign intelligence service known as the SVR." The company said it first noticed the new campaign in May, this time focusing on a different part of the supply chain: resellers and technology service providers. Microsoft warned more than 140 targets but believes at least 14 of those targets have been compromised. Furthermore, the new attacks are part of a larger summer wave the company noticed, which prompted warnings to more than 600 customers. Microsoft believes the Russian government is trying to set up surveillance of important supply chain targets. [Click on image for larger view.] Example Intrusion Conducted by NOBELIUM Demonstrating Nested Access Across Variety of Methods (source: Microsoft). While the Russia-backed Nobelium has switched gears to target different supply chain components, it's using the same well-known attack techniques -- password spray and phishing -- that enabled the theft of legitimate credentials in order to gain privileged access. [Click on image for larger view.] Password Spray Using One Password Across Multiple Accounts (source: Microsoft). "We believe Nobelium ultimately hopes to piggyback on any direct access that resellers may have to their customers' IT systems and more easily impersonate an organization's trusted technology partner to gain access to their downstream customers," Microsoft said in an Oct. 24 post. It further said it has been working with the security community and U.S. and European agencies on the matter, which is difficult to combat in view of who's behind it. "While we are clear-eyed that nation-states, including Russia, will not stop attacks like these overnight, we believe steps like the cybersecurity executive order in the U.S., and the greater coordination and information sharing we've seen between industry and government in the past two years, have put us all in a much better position to defend against them." To help, the company published technical guidance (NOBELIUM targeting delegated administrative privileges to facilitate broader attacks) and Guidance for partners on Nobelium targeted attacks. As for itself, Microsoft said it has been working on these improvements: As noted above, in September 2020, we rolled out MFA to access Partner Center and to use delegated administrative privilege (DAP) to manage a customer environment On October 15, we launched a program to provide two years of an Azure Active Directory Premium plan for free that provides extended access to additional premium features to strengthen security controls Microsoft threat protection and security operations tools such as Microsoft Cloud App Security (MCAS), M365 Defender, Azure Defender and Azure Sentinel have added detections to help organizations identify and respond to these attacks We are currently piloting new and more granular features for organizations that want to provide privileged access to resellers We are piloting improved monitoring to empower partners and customers to manage and audit their delegated privileged accounts and remove unnecessary authority We are auditing unused privileged accounts and working with partners to assess and remove unnecessary privilege and access The company's recently published Microsoft Digital Defense Report highlights continued attacks from other nation-state actors and cybercriminals. China has ordered the lockdown of tens of thousands of people as part of its efforts to contain an epidemic of the COVID-19 virus that has spread across the county of Ejin. State broadcaster CCTV stated that Ejin, a county in China's Inner Mongolia province, had ordered its 35,700 people to remain at home starting on Monday and warned them of civil and criminal penalties if they did not comply with the order. According to the latest data available, the tiny county bordering Mongolia is the current outbreak's hub, accounting for about one-third of the more than 150 illnesses discovered on the Chinese mainland during the previous week. After spreading to 11 provinces in less than a week, the National Health Commission authorities issued a warning that the epidemic would increase in the following days and weeks. Chinese authorities said on Monday that 38 Covid infections had been discovered, with half of them found in the Inner Mongolian province of Inner Mongolia. People traveling from any part of the nation where there have been reports of locally transmitted Covid cases have been barred from entering Beijing, which has seen a dozen new cases traced back to the country's northwest region. Visitors to Beijing from these places must present a negative Covid test performed no more than two days before their arrival and submit to undefined health monitoring for two weeks. Meanwhile, provinces with few instances, such as Beijing, Inner Mongolia, Gansu, and Ningxia in the northwest, and Guizhou in the southwest, have been barred from offering cross-country travel trips to the public. Since the current epidemic has seen the virus spread swiftly among tour groups, all railway services in and around China linked to tourism have been suspended. Even China's substantial Covid limitations are finding it challenging to keep the highly infectious delta version under control, as seen by the escalation of bans. Currently, it is the only country in the world that is still attempting to eradicate the local transmission of the virus at a time when other Covid-Zero stalwarts from Singapore to Australia have shifted their focus to treating it as an endemic. Since delta first broke China's strict border restrictions in May, the country has contained a number of flare-ups. One outbreak in July and August expanded throughout almost half of China, prompting officials to shut down transportation from hotspots and test local populations many times in an attempt to reduce illnesses down to zero only to have new clusters appear shortly afterward. Microsoft acknowledged finding a new series of Russian intelligence agency hacks, similar to the devastating SolarWinds infiltration last year. On Sunday, Microsoft published a new blog post in which the corporation said that the assaults had impacted 609 companies. The cyberterrorist gang behind the SolarWinds assault attempted to "get access to downstream customers of several cloud service providers, managed service providers, and other IT services firms," according to a post on Microsoft's NOBELIUM blog. According to The New York Times, according to Tom Burt, Microsoft's vice president of customer security, the attempted breach is "extremely significant and continuing" according to New York Times. According to the Times, the hackers seemed to be aided by Russia's foreign intelligence agency SVR. "This recent activity is yet another indication that Russia is attempting to gain long-term, systematic access to a variety of points in the technology supply chain and establish a mechanism for surveilling now or in the future targets of interest to the Russian government" Burt wrote in his article. The Biden administration downplayed the statement by Microsoft. "The activities described were unsophisticated password spray and phishing, run-of-the-mill operations for surveillance that we already know are attempted every day by Russia and other foreign governments," according to a U.S. government official briefed on the issue who insisted on anonymity to discuss the government's response. A request for comment from the Russian Embassy did not get a response right away. Relations between the United States and Russia have already been strained this year due to a spate of high-profile ransomware attacks on targets in the United States carried out by cyber gangs headquartered in Russia. President Joe Biden has sent a warning to Russian President Vladimir Putin to persuade him to clamp down on ransomware perpetrators. However, multiple senior administration cybersecurity experts have lately said they had seen no indication of this happening. Supply chain attacks enable hackers to collect information from a large number of targets by breaking into a single product that all of the targets are using at the time. The United States government has previously blamed Russia's SVR foreign intelligence agency for the SolarWinds hack, a supply-chain hack that went undetected for the better part of 2020, compromised several federal agencies, and caused significant embarrassment federal government and the Russian government. During the recent campaign, Nobelium has been watching it since May, notifying around 140 businesses targeted by the gang, with up to 14 of them suspected of being penetrated. Since July, the assaults have been more persistent, with Microsoft reporting that it has received 609 reports from customers targeted 22,868 times by Nobelium, with a success rate in the low single digits on average. In the past three years, Microsoft had identified more assaults from all nation-state actors than it had in the prior three years. PRESS RELEASE Weekly and daily admission tickets for the 69th edition of EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, the Experimental Aircraft Associations annual fly-in convention, are now available online for the event at Wittman Regional Airport in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, on July 25-31, 2022. EAA AirVenture Oshkosh is the worlds largest fly-in event, welcoming more than 10,000 aircraft each year, along with an attendance of more than 600,000. The seven-day gathering features the latest innovations and aircraft from around the world, as well as a full spectrum of airplanes from more than a century of aviation history that is on display in the air and on the ground. While we are still creating the schedule of programs, features, and attractions that will be at Oshkosh in 2022, aviation enthusiasts are already setting their plans to join us on the flightline, said Rick Larsen, EAAs vice president of communities and member programming, who coordinates AirVenture features and attractions. We hear from numerous families who make AirVenture tickets part of their holiday gift planning. Again in 2022, all attendees ages 18 and under are admitted free, supported in part by The Boeing Company. In addition, EAA members who purchase admissions prior to June 15, 2022, are eligible to receive their admission wristbands in advance via the Express Arrival program. Early purchase discounts are also available on both daily and weekly admissions. While admissions are available at the gate, early online purchase gives the best discounts, options for faster entry to the grounds, and additional information and insights prior to the event. EAA AirVenture Oshkosh annually features nine air shows over seven days, as well as 1,500 forums, workshops, and seminars plus in excess of 800 aviation exhibitors. Pre-purchase options also include camping credentials and early-bird merchandise, with additional special offers available as they are finalized. EAA AirVenture Oshkosh is The Worlds Greatest Aviation Celebration and EAAs membership convention. Additional information, including advance ticket and camping purchase, is available at www.EAA.org/airventure. For more information on EAA and its programs, call 800-JOIN-EAA (800-564-6322) or visit www.EAA.org. Immediate news is available at www.twitter.com/EAA. EXECUTIVE PERSPECTIVES Cybersecurity challenges drive adoption of zero trust Executives share views on challenges as targets and frequency increase The need to improve our cybersecurity posture is a no brainer but that doesnt make it an easy proposition. Executives at this Washington Technology Executive Perspectives roundtable described how the type of threats in today's cybersecurity landscape are well known, but the frequency of attacks and types of targets continue to grow. But they also see optimism stemming from President Bidens May 12 Executive Order on Improving the Nations Cybersecurity and how it advances concepts such as zero trust. During our discussion, the executives often referred back to the executive order as laying a foundation for progress. But they also made it clear that there is no endpoint; no moment when constant vigilance is no longer the standard of good cyber hygiene. This virtual discussion is part of a series of roundtables that Washington Technology has been conducting this year with industry executives. We convene a group of top executives in the market to share their insights. The discussion is on the record, but we operate under Chatham House rules in that comments will not be attributed to the individuals nor their companies. See the sidebar to view who attended our cybersecurity discussion. Our previous Executive Perspectives have resulted in articles on innovation and culture, digital transformation, and the future of the workforce. To kick off the cybersecurity discussion, we started with a simple question: How has the state of cybersecurity changed in the last decade? The simple answer from several executives was that the type of attacks havent changed significantly and while nation-state led attacks have increased, they also have been around for more than a decade. But weve seen an incredible increase in scale and the threats are touching a wider-swath of industry, government and individuals, one executive said. The attack on the elections is a prime example of the expansion of targets. PARTICIPANTS Allen Badeau Chief Technology Officer, NCI Information Systems Daniel Carroll Field CTO for Cybersecurity, Dell Technologies Ian Dickinson Chief Operating Officer, Bryce Technologies Sujey Edward CTO, Octo Consulting Garland Garris Senior Cyber Security Lead, Accenture Federal Larry Henry Chief Technology Officer, GDIT Jeff Mims Chief Technologist, Leidos Jason Starkey Director, Technical Services, Darkblade Systems Bobbie Stempfley Vice President, Dell Technologies Note: Washington Technology Editor-in-Chief Nick Wakeman led the roundtable discussion. The September virtual gathering was underwritten by Dell Technologies, but both the substance of the discussion and the published article are strictly editorial products. Neither Dell nor any of the participants had input beyond their September comments. We hadnt seen that prior to 2016, that executive said. Executives have also noticed a change from the attackers in that they arent concerned if their attacks are exposed, particularly the nation-state actors. Todays bad actors possess a brazenness that is new. With the growth of targets there is wider recognition of the vulnerabilities we all face. For years cyberattacks have made the headlines in the news. A company or agency being breached is "so common now that its old news, one executive said. But then there was the Colonial Pipeline ransomware attack last year. Gas prices went up because something happened, that executive said. People saw that it was affecting their day-to-day lives. Thats significant. There also have been attacks on hospitals, another direct impact that cant be ignored, another exec said. People are being attacked now that were never attacked before, one person said. The wider attacks also are indicative of the wider dependence on data. The threat actors have recognized this and will drive ever growing range of targets for future attacks. This is just the beginning, one participant said. Among the wider targets are individuals doing their 9-to-5 jobs as well as operational IT that is being pulled into enterprise IT. Were seeing a broader spectrum of targets that havent been targeted before and there is a lack of knowledge because prior to today they werent seen as a target, an executive said. The plus-side is that the chief information officer or the chief information security officer dont have to convince the business side of operations that cybersecurity is important. No longer are there concerns that enhanced security will slow down operations. Now it is a true business problem, one said. The conversation with the executives turned to solutions and how the nature of IT has changed significantly with remote workers, artificial intelligence and Internet of Things. Remote workers and the proliferation of IoT devices and sensors has greatly expanded the attack surface hackers can use. Gaining traction is the concept of zero trust as a way of protecting the enterprise. It isnt new thinking, one person said. Its the idea that you have to protect inside your systems and you only give people as much access as they need to do their job. Zero trust also relies on the idea that bad actors are always in your systems. The concept of a castle and moat type of protection is long gone. The zero trust model gets you into a place where you can control movement inside your assets, another executive said. One other participant used the analogy of building a naval vessel, where it has compartments that can be sealed off to keep the ship afloat. Its the idea of segmentation. That approach forces a discussion of what organizations are going to segment and how information is going to flow back-and-forth across the enterprise. Decisions also must be made on what the most valuable assets are -- those that can't get breached, or else the mission fails. It starts with good IT governance and a system inventory because if you dont know what youre defending then you cant really defend it, one person said. While zero trust sounds restrictive and something that could make things harder, the group said it actually improves the user experience because it allows organizations to use multi-factor authentication along with a single sign on. Multi-factor authentication helps mitigate password-based attacks that account for about 80 percent of the cyberattacks, roundtable participants estimated. Wider use of zero trust will go a long way in securing enterprise IT, but the executives shared that hackers are always evolving and new technologies can be a double-edge sword. Artificial intelligence is an example of a powerful tool for cyber defense but the bad actors of the world also use AI to improve their attacks. It seems the very tech that were building to protect ourselves is the same tech thats being weaponized against us, one executive said. Were seeing a lot of sophisticated use of AI and machine learning. The bad actors AI can often learn about the defensive AI based on how it defends an attack, another executive said. You need AI models that are constantly retraining and learning and constantly being ahead, that executive added. We are just at the beginning parts of that. It seems all of the roundtables include a discussion about people and this one was no different particularly when we started talking about AI. Theres a lack of talent around AI and thats the keep me up late at night type of thing for me, an executive said. Automation may be a possible solution. You get rid of the mundane through automation and you can focus on closing the skills gap, a participant said. You dont want to overwhelm your security professionals with mundane tasks that dont require their deep thinking. Russia Travel Advisory Travel Advisory August 5, 2021 Russia Level 4: Do Not Travel Do not travel to Russia due to terrorism, harassment by Russian government security officials, the embassys limited ability to assist U.S. citizens in Russia, and the arbitrary enforcement of local law. Reconsider travel due to COVID-19 and related entry restrictions. Do Not Travel to: The North Caucasus, including Chechnya and Mount Elbrus, due to terrorism, kidnapping, and risk of civil unrest. Crimea due to Russias purported occupation of the Ukrainian territory and abuses by its occupying authorities. On August 5, 2021, the Department allowed for the voluntary departure of U.S. government family members. Country Summary: U.S. citizens, including former and current U.S. government and military personnel and private citizens engaged in business, who are visiting or residing in Russia have been interrogated without cause, and threatened by Russian officials and may become victims of harassment, mistreatment, and extortion. All U.S. government personnel should carefully consider their need to travel to Russia. Russian security services have arrested U.S. citizens on spurious charges, denied them fair and transparent treatment, and have convicted them in secret trials and/or without presenting evidence. Russian officials may unreasonably delay U.S. consular assistance to detained U.S. citizens. Russian authorities arbitrarily enforce local laws against U.S. citizen religious workers and open questionable criminal investigations against U.S. citizens engaged in religious activity. Russian security services are increasingly arbitrarily enforcing local laws targeting foreign and international organizations they consider undesirable, and U.S. citizens should avoid travel to Russia to perform work for or volunteer with non-governmental organizations. Russia enforces special restrictions on dual U.S.-Russian nationals and may refuse to acknowledge dual nationals U.S. citizenship, including denying access to U.S. consular assistance and preventing their departure from Russia. The rights to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression are not guaranteed in Russia, and U.S. citizens should avoid all political or social protests. Read the Department of States COVID-19 page before you plan any international travel. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a Level 3 Travel Health Notice for Russia a due to COVID-19, indicating a high level of COVID-19 in the country. There are restrictions in place affecting U.S. citizen entry into Russia. Your risk of contracting COVID-19 and developing severe symptoms may be lower if you are fully vaccinated with an FDA authorized vaccine. Before planning any international travel, please review the CDCs specific recommendations for fully vaccinated and unvaccinated travelers. Visit the Embassys COVID-19 page for more information on COVID-19 and related restrictions and conditions in Russia.Terrorist groups, transnational and local terrorist organizations, and individuals inspired by extremist ideology continue plotting possible attacks in Russia. Terrorists may attack with little or no warning, targeting tourist locations, transportation hubs, markets/shopping malls, local government facilities, hotels, clubs, restaurants, places of worship, parks, major sporting and cultural events, educational institutions, airports, and other public areas. The U.S. governments ability to provide routine and emergency services to U.S. citizens in Russia is severely limited, particularly in areas far from the U.S. Embassy in Moscow and U.S. consulate locations due to Russian government limitations on U.S. staffing and the suspension of consular services from U.S. consulates. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued an Advisory Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) advising exercise extreme caution flying into, out of, within, or over those areas of the Moscow Flight Information Region (FIR) and the Rostov-na Donu (URRV) FIR within 100NM of the boundaries of the Dnipropetrovsk (UKDV) Flight Information Regions. For more information, U.S. citizens should consult the Federal Aviation Administrations Prohibitions, Restrictions and Notices Svetochka turned to me and said, I dont know what is happening to America? as she hears about the latest US antics from the Russian news I said as I focused upon this new information, Proves my point that no one is in charge and most of them are nuts! So before you act ignorant yourself about Russian news sources telling truth and that is just not good enough. The source below is straight from the horses mouth Source: 9 FAM 504.4 (U) PRE-APPOINTMENT PROCESSING 9 FAM 504.4-8(E)(1) (U) Definition of Homeless Cases (CT:VISA-1398; 10-21-2021) (U) Generally, a homeless visa applicant is one who is a national of a country in which the United States has no consular representation or in which the political or security situation is tenuous or uncertain enough that the limited consular staff is not authorized to process IV applications. Countries whose nationals are considered homeless are listed in paragraph b below. (U)List of Homeless Nationalities: HOMELESS NATIONALITIES SELECTED IV PROCESSING POSTS Cubans Georgetown Eritreans Addis Ababa and Nairobi Iranians Abu Dhabi, Ankara, and Yerevan Russians Warsaw Libyans Tunis Somalis Nairobi South Sudanese Nairobi Syrians Amman, Beirut (For Palestinians with Syrian Travel Documents) Venezuelans Bogota Yemenis Djibouti Russia is now at the stage of wondering if the Psychotic USA is ever gonna get some much need help mentally? Something important broke down in the State Department long ago, and they cannot repair it, Zakharova wrote in a Facebook post. For many years, American diplomats have been destroying the consular system in Russia that they had not created: they closed consulates, reduced the number of consular staff, experimented with how our symmetrical response differs from a mirror one Source: US places Russians on homeless nationalities list, diverting immigrant visa seekers to Poland RT Russia & Former Soviet Union And The US State Department has told its citizens not to travel to Russia under any circumstances, with Washington suggesting that Americans could be kidnapped, arrested, tortured and even supposedly jailed on trumped-up charges. Source: US officials warn Americans against ALL travel to Russia, citing terrorism concerns & inability to provide consular support RT Russia & Former Soviet Union ~~ Damn Russians are barbarians! ~~ The loonies are running the USA Asylum.be very careful and run fast, for they will catch you if you sleep See the US is Loony and more Loony.everyday! WtR If you were vaccinated with Johnson & Johnson (J&J): You are eligible for Pfizers or Moderna's booster shot at least two months after your initial J&J vaccine. What are the side effects? Pfizers booster is the same formulation and dosage as the first two shots in the series. And clinical trial data shows the side effects from it are similar to those many experienced the first time around, the most common being: Injection site pain Fatigue Headache Muscle pain Chills These symptoms are usually mild to moderate in severity and typically resolve in a few days. More than 228 million Americans have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, and so far, no long-term side effects have been detected, the CDC says. What are the rare reactions associated with this vaccine? More serious side effects can occur but are rare. Anaphylaxis, a severe allergic reaction, is one example. A small number of people have experienced this after getting vaccinated against COVID-19. However, anaphylaxis can happen after any vaccination, and vaccine providers should be able to treat it quickly. Myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle) and pericarditis (inflammation of the sac that surrounds the heart) have been linked to the mRNA vaccines (Pfizer and Moderna). Cases have mostly been reported in males under 30, more often after the second dose. Symptoms chest pain, shortness of breath, feelings of having a fast-beating, fluttering, or pounding heart can pop up several days after vaccination. Experts stress these events are rare and people usually recover quickly with medical care and rest. Can I get boosted with another brand? Yes. If you qualify for Pfizers booster but dont have access to it or want to get a booster from Moderna or J&J, that is an option, based on new guidance from the FDA and CDC. Preliminary results from a federally funded study show that while boosters from all three manufacturers (Pfizer, Moderna and J&J) enhance antibody levels, getting boosted with a vaccine from a different manufacturer can have a more pronounced effect on immune response. Whats more, the study showed no new or concerning side effects from mixing and matching. If youre thinking of mixing up your booster its a good idea to talk to your doctor first, says Mohammad Sobhanie, M.D., an infectious disease expert at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. I think it's incredibly important that you have these conversations with your primary care physician so that they can give you the best advice out there based on your medical conditions, he says. Project Permitting Update Sydney, Oct 25, 2021 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Theta Gold Mines Limited ( ASX:TGM ) ( FRA:3LM ) ( OTCMKTS:TGMGF ) hereby provides an update on permitting of the TGME underground project. This follows recent updates detailing the Company's progress with the TGME project's trial mining, definitive feasibility study and sampling programme.It has come to Theta's attention via the SA Government Gazette that the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment ("DFFE") has declared a forest nature reserve over, amongst other areas, part of Portion 3 of the farm Morgenzon 525KT and Portion 1 and a part of the remaining extent of the farm Peach Tree 544KT. As a result, approximately 607 hectares of some 62,000 hectares in tenement areas held by Theta are potentially affected, comprising close to 20% of the potential resource base and the first phase of underground mining (refer to Appendix A*).Theta is consulting with the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy and DFFE to facilitate a mutually beneficially way forward for continuation of mining activities.Chairman Bill Guy states "Theta will continue working together with all its host communities, BEE shareholders, regulators and legal counsel to secure DFFE Ministerial consent for continued mining in the forest nature reserve and reduce permitting timelines.The host Pilgrims Rest Community Steering Committee and Pilgrims Rest Business Chamber have addressed letters to the DFFE Minister, requesting reconsideration of the decision, in view of the potential adverse impact on Theta's mineral reserves and consequences for the Pilgrims Rest town, community, environment and economic development.Theta has and will continue to make every effort to act as a responsible corporate and ESG citizen. The majority of the TGME project will be conducted within a previously disturbed footprint and will entail minimal new environmental disturbance. The permitting strategy for Theta's mines is focused on the additional infrastructure supporting the three existing three mines.Both the Phase 1 Definitive Feasibility Study and Rietfontein Pre-feasibility Study are ongoing and progressing well."*To view tables and figures, please visit:About Theta Gold Mines Limited Theta Gold Mines Limited (ASX:TGM) (OTCMKTS:TGMGF) is a gold development company that holds a range of prospective gold assets in a world-renowned South African gold mining region. These assets include several surface and near-surface high-grade gold projects which provide cost advantages relative to other gold producers in the region. Theta Gold Mines core project is located next to the historical gold mining town of Pilgrim's Rest, in Mpumalanga Province, some 370km northeast of Johannesburg by road or 95km north of Nelspruit (Capital City of Mpumalanga Province). Following small scale production from 2011-2015, the Company is currently focussing on the construction of a new gold processing plant within its approved footprint at the TGME plant, and for the processing of the Theta Open Pit oxide gold ore. Nearby surface and underground mines and prospects are expected to be further evaluated in the future. The Company aims to build a solid production platform to over 100Kozpa based primarily around shallow, open-cut or adit-entry hard rock mining sources. Theta Gold Mines has access to over 43 historical mines and prospect areas that can be accessed and explored, with over 6.7Moz of historical production recorded. Since October is Crime Prevention month designated by President Reagan in 1984 it is a good time to recognize the importance of one of the oldest crime prevention concepts in North America, neighborhood watch. The National Neighborhood Watch Program was created in 1972. Neighborhood watch is typically a group of 15 to 20 neighbors in the same area who want to make their neighborhood safer by working together with local law enforcement to reduce crime and improve their quality of life. It has always been the very essence of community policing. Every neighborhood watch has a block captain as the contact person with police. Neighborhood watch reached Albuquerque in 1985 with the establishment of the Albuquerque Block Captains Association. Steve Sink was the first coordinator for training and sustaining neighborhood watches across the city. More recently, each area command hired a crime prevention specialist who trains new neighborhood watches, along with myriad other duties. Laura Kuehn currently coordinates the Crime Prevention and Crime Free programs for the Albuquerque Police Department and works with the Albuquerque Block Captains Association to put on two block captain conferences a year. COVID interfered with in-person conferences, but she has a virtual conference coming up Oct. 30. New neighborhood watches and block captains are trained how to prevent crime by being observant and reporting suspicious persons, how to make their homes or businesses less appealing targets for crooks and how to communicate effectively with police. In the 13 years Ive been a block captain, Ive seen how neighbors can discourage door-to-door scammers, report abandoned/stolen cars to APD, take notes safely on the comings and goings of strangers to a suspected drug house, and, during a SWAT situation, systematically inform other neighbors of what streets to avoid. I know of two Northeast neighborhoods where nearly every street has a neighborhood watch and a block captain. Those neighborhoods have experienced less crime. We need more neighborhood watches in Albuquerque. Heres why: With APD stretched thin, more block captains could help each area command be better informed about concerns of each neighborhood. Many of the original block captains have either retired or resigned due to health. Your neighbors need you younger neighbors to step up to fill their shoes. Better communication between officers and those they serve promotes trust between public and police, and vice versa. There is a natural fit between neighborhood watches and the new Albuquerque Community Safety unit, which has begun answering calls for service related to mental health, homelessness, substance abuse and other issues, all of them common concerns for neighborhoods. Please consider helping your street organize a neighborhood watch with a block captain. We would like to introduce the Ciudad Soil & Water Conservation District, a political subdivision of the state of New Mexico, which promotes the conservation, improvement and responsible use of the natural resources within our boundaries, which encompass Bernalillo and southwestern Sandoval counties. The soil and water conservation districts were established across the country after the devastating Dust Bowl erosion in the 1930s. Some are funded by mill levies, others, such as Ciudad, rely almost entirely on winning grants. The districts are structured to bring resource allocation and decision-making to the local level to ensure solutions are tailored to specific needs. It is a process that works beautifully. We greatly appreciate the support and collaboration of our valued partners who make it possible to carry out our mission: At the federal level, this includes the Natural Resources Conservation Service, the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service; in New Mexico, the departments of agriculture and environment, and the State Forestry Division; and, locally, Bernalillo County, the city of Albuquerque and the Southern Sandoval County Arroyo Flood Control Authority. Environmental education is a key focus. If you have had third- or fifth-graders in Albuquerque or Rio Rancho public schools, you may know us through our Arroyo Classroom and RiverXchange programs, which teach students about arroyo safety stay away when it rains! local ecology and the importance of protecting our scarce water resources in this arid environment. If you live in the East Mountains, you may know us as a sponsor of the twice-yearly Green Waste Days now through Oct. 31. Homeowners can dispose of potentially combustible tree and plant materials at the East Mountain transfer station at no cost. Or you may have taken advantage of our fuels reduction program, which creates a plan for a safe space around your house and assists with the cost of forest thinning by one of our approved contractors. Both remove dangerous fuels that could threaten properties if a forest fire should approach. CSWCD also provides oversized reflective house numbers to residents to make it easier for first responders to find them if needed. Other activities have included major thinning on Bernalillo County and city Open Space properties under the auspices of State Forestry and providing arborist services to remove potentially dangerous trees at Carlito Springs. Planning for the future is crucial. We are sponsoring a study for the Tijeras Creek Arroyo, which runs from north of Tijeras all the way across the city to the Rio Grande, to delineate steps needed to improve the upper Tijeras Creek watershed. The district is working with the city to manage the rehabilitation and conversion of farm fields back to wildlife habitat at the Candelaria Nature Preserve. There is much more to share than we can fit in here, so please visit our website to learn more about us and what we have to offer. Ciudad SWCD strives to work with our landowners and communities to sustain and improve soil, water, air, plants, and wildlife and livestock resources in our region. We need your input to ensure we are addressing the natural resource concerns most important to you. Daniel Conklin is supervisor of the Ciudad Soil & Water Conservation District. Steve Glass is chairman of the Ciudad Soil & Water Conservation District and Zoe Economou is treasurer. Participation in this years open enrollment for New Mexicos health care marketplace is crucial following its transition from a federally supported state-based exchange to a fully state-run program, beWellnm officials advise. Its really important for the consumers who were on healthcare.gov to understand that they have to go to beWellnm for 2022 coverage, said Maureen Manring, director of communication and outreach at beWellnm. BeWellnm is the states official health insurance exchange. It exists to help individuals and small businesses in New Mexico get access to affordable health care. In the past, the exchange used the federal enrollment platform healthcare.gov but, starting this fall, the exchange is using its own state-run enrollment platform. Enrollment for 2022 will take place at bewellnm.com. Manring encourages beWellnm participants to reconfirm their accounts and reassess their coverage during open enrollment. New Mexicans may qualify for additional financial assistance with insurance premiums in 2022 as a result of emergency pandemic funding from the federal government. Furthermore, with the switch from healthcare.gov to bewellnm.com, enrollees who dont confirm their account during open enrollment run the risk of losing their coverage, said beWellnm CEO Jeffery Bustamante. But beWellnm will make an effort to make sure that doesnt happen. Lets say somebody gets to January, hasnt reconfirmed all of that. Well, theyre going to be hearing from us to make sure that they do connect and get that coverage, Bustamante said. Plans through beWellnm are available to all New Mexicans who dont get insurance through an employer, Medicare or Medicaid, and the time to reenroll or to sign up for the first time begins Nov. 1. In addition to the website, people can get started through an in-person event, a virtual event or over the phone. Its just a matter of whatever that consumers comfort level is, Manring said. There are many different ways. Enrollment ends Jan. 15, a month later than in previous years. Were excited to give New Mexicans a little longer to make that decision, Manring said. But, to get coverage that starts on Jan. 1, she warned that applications need to be completed earlier and premiums paid by Dec. 23. The extended deadline serves all the people who want coverage at the beginning of the year, but also meets the needs of folks who want a little longer to assess their financial situation, Bustamante said. An estimated 95,000 New Mexicans are eligible for health insurance coverage on beWellnm. Bustamante said about 43,000 are currently enrolled. The switch to a fully state-run program means that help navigating the exchange will no longer come from a federal call center, but from within the state, according to Bustamante. When theyre calling in, theyre getting assistance with their application or through the process, theyre going to be hearing from New Mexicans, Bustamante said. Theyre going to be talking to New Mexicans. BeWellnm will also have local control when reconciling issues with payment and applications or assisting individuals transitioning between exchange coverage and Medicaid. In the long term, the change should save money for New Mexico. For 2021, $5.4 million was budgeted for the federal site healthcare.gov. The proposed maintenance and operation budget for 2022s state-based site is $4.7 million, according to beWellnms public relations consultant James Korenchen. This is one of the most exciting parts of it, Bustamante said. We were able to negotiate contracts with our vendor that really did come in very competitively, at less than we were paying at the time for healthcare.gov. BeWellnm remains a resource for guidance on how to enroll and knowledge on the financial help thats available, Manring said. People just need to spend a little time looking into the matter. They really need to take that opportunity to look into getting a quote, understanding and comparing plans and options for next year, Manring said. Editors note: An earlier version of this story listed an incorrect amount that was budgeted for federal site healthcare.gov in 2021. The correct amount is $5.4 million. The story has been updated. The case of the young rape victim years ago has long settled into the recesses of my mind, its edges, names and faces softened, blurred, lost in time. But what is still sharp is the evidence of her assault, the violence, the damage, the physical invasiveness of it, all detailed by a nurse whose crisp, clear, calm testimony almost surely helped to convince jurors that the defendant was guilty as sin. That nurse was a member of the Albuquerque Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners Collaborative, or SANE, the medical professionals who provide a range of services from triage to testimony to survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence. During my years as a cops and court reporter, I often sat through their testimony and came to appreciate these nurses, who care for and shepherd survivors through the trauma and the trial in that same calm, competent and, I would add, compassionate way. They are the people survivors see as soon as they make the decision to get help, the nurses who not only examine and collect forensic evidence and provide medical care but hold the hand of the survivor through the process, offering services, suggestions and support. The first thing we tell our patients is, You survived, said Connie Monahan, executive director of the local program, a nonprofit, which this month marks 25 years in Albuquerque. Whatever they did during the assault kept them alive, and thats important to acknowledge. Being a nurse takes a special person. But being a SANE nurse takes a special kind of special person. Fortunately, for Albuquerque there is an ample supply of that special. We have no problem recruiting our nurses, Monahan said. Using averages, we have responded and treated over 12,500 sexual assault and child sexual abuse victims in these 25 years. Thats not bragging; thats an expression of OMG. Its a part-time job, usually on top of a nurses regular full-time job. The nurses currently 16 of them, with two more in training work 12-hour shifts, with at least one on call 24/7 and working in tandem with an advocate from the Rape Crisis Center of Central New Mexico. Monahan suspects that nurses are attracted to the program because it allows them to be nurses, not subordinates under doctors orders and time restrictions. Its a nurse-driven model, where its just the nurse, advocate and patient, with no one clocking you, where one-on-one time with the patient can be extended as needed, Monahan said. Its the luxury of autonomy and independence. Monahan said SANE nurses are also drawn to the forensics aspect of the job, the science with compassion, and, yes, even the chance to testify in court about their findings. Before the Albuquerque program opened its doors in October 1996, a sexual assault victim had the options of waiting in a crowded, cold and clinical ER to be seen or the harshness of the police station to be heard, both potentially further traumatizing the victim. Now, they can call SANE no matter the time or day, and a nurse will arrange to meet them in the safe privacy of the SANE unit, in the Family Advocacy Center in Downtown Albuquerque. The unit includes two fully equipped exam rooms and shares another with Para Los Ninos, which handles most of the younger child sexual assault victims and is one of the many other agencies at the FAC. Nurses can also refer their patients to other community services providing everything from counseling to cellphones to clothing most of which are also at the FAC. If the patient is ready, she or he can speak with a sex crimes detective from the Albuquerque Police Department, which maintains offices in a separate wing of the FAC floor. Monahan said the choice to report a rape to law enforcement is strictly up to the patient, although she has noticed a decrease in the number of cases reported. Rates are going down from about 72% of the patients we see filing a report to about 68% now, and thats not good, she said. Women, especially, have a coping mechanism that tells them they should just get over it, or that maybe the assault was somehow their fault. We even had someone say they didnt come in because she didnt want to wake up a nurse at midnight. APD stores rape kits from non-reported cases for two years, so victims have until then to report their assault, she said. But victims also must consider that as time passes memories fade and witnesses disappear. Rape kits are also not tested unless the victim reports, which means the potential to match the DNA with serial rapists doesnt happen. New Mexico has 11 SANE units across the state. The Albuquerque program is working with Valencia Shelter Services to open a satellite SANE unit in Los Lunas as early as January. Currently, there is no SANE program between Las Cruces and Albuquerque, and that is just too large a distance for a person in trauma to drive, she said. Monahan said that although its best to see a patient within five days of a rape, she hopes victims will call no matter the time and no matter whether they are ready to speak with a detective. We tell them, please, just come in, let us give you the care you need, the exam, the rape kit collection, and the rest can wait if they need that, she said. People dont always make good decisions in crisis. So we give them time. SANE nurses are always standing by. UpFront is a front-page news and opinion column. Reach Joline at 730-2793, jkrueger@abqjournal.com, Facebook or @jolinegkg on Twitter. Reaching SANE Albuquerque Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners Collaborative can be reached 24/7 by calling 505-884-7263, or 505-884-SANE. More information at abqsane.org. NEW YORK With computer-generated imagery, it seems the skys the limit in the magic Hollywood can produce: elaborate dystopian universes. Trips to outer space, for those neither astronauts nor billionaires. Immersive journeys to the future, or back to bygone eras. But as a shocked and saddened industry was reminded this week, many productions still use guns real guns when filming. And despite rules and regulations, people can get killed, as happened last week when Alec Baldwin fatally shot cinematographer Halyna Hutchins at Bonanza Creek Ranch, near Santa Fe, after he was handed a weapon and told it was safe. The tragedy has led some in Hollywood, along with incredulous observers, to ask: Why are real guns ever used on set, when computers can create gunshots in postproduction? Isnt even the smallest risk unacceptable? For Alexi Hawley, it is. Any risk is too much risk, the executive producer of ABCs police drama The Rookie announced in a staff memo Friday, saying the events in New Mexico had shaken us all. There will be no more live weapons on the show, he wrote in a note, first reported by The Hollywood Reporter and confirmed by The Associated Press. Instead, he said, the policy would be to use replica guns, which use pellets and not bullets, with muzzle flashes added in post-production. The director of the popular Kate Winslet drama Mare of Easttown, Craig Zobel, called for the entire industry to follow suit and said gunshots on that show were added after filming, even though on previous productions he has used live rounds. Theres no reason to have guns loaded with blanks or anything on set anymore, Zobel wrote on Twitter. Should just be fully outlawed. Theres computers now. The gunshots on Mare of Easttown are all digital. You can probably tell, but who cares? Its an unnecessary risk. Bill Dill a cinematographer who taught Hutchins, a rising star in her field, at the American Film Institute expressed disgust in an interview over the archaic practice of using real guns with blanks in them, when we have readily available and inexpensive computer graphics. Dill, whose credits include The Five Heartbeats and Dancing in September, said there is added danger from real guns because people are working long hours on films and are exhausted. Theres no excuse for using live weapons, he said. A petition was launched over the weekend on change.org for real guns to be banned from production sets. There is no excuse for something like this to happen in the 21st century, it said of the tragedy. This isnt the early 90s, when Brandon Lee was killed in the same manner. Change needs to happen before additional talented lives are lost. Lee, the actor son of martial arts legend Bruce Lee, was killed in 1993 by a makeshift bullet left in a prop gun after a previous scene. The petition appealed to Baldwin directly to use his power and influence in the industry and promote Halynas Law, which would ban the use of real firearms on set. As it stands, the U.S. federal workplace safety agency is silent on the issue and most of the preferred states for productions take a largely hands-off approach. Hutchins, 42, died and director Joel Souza was wounded Thursday on the set of the Western Rust when Baldwin fired a prop gun that a crew member unwittingly told him was cold or not loaded with live rounds, according to court documents made public Friday. Souza was later released from the hospital. The tragedy came after some workers had walked off the job to protest safety conditions and other production issues on the film, of which Baldwin is the star and a producer. In an interview, British cinematographer Steven Hall noted that he worked on a production this year in Madrid that involved lots of firearms. We were encouraged not to use blanks, but to rely on visual effects in post (production) to create whatever effect we wanted from a particular firearm, with the actor miming the recoil from the gun, and it works very well, he said. He noted, though, that special effects add costs to a productions budget. So its easier and perhaps more economic to actually discharge your weapon on set using a blank, said Hall, a veteran cinematographer who has worked on films like Fury and Thor: The Dark World. But, he said, the problem with blanks is, of course something is emitted from the gun. Besides financial concerns, why else would real guns be seen as preferable? There are advantages to using blanks on set that some people want to get, said Sam Dormer, a British armorer, or firearms specialist. For instance, you get a (better) reaction from the actor. Still, Dormer said, the movie industry is likely moving away from real guns, albeit slowly. Copyright 2021 Albuquerque Journal The New Mexico Game Commission on Friday honored David Soules, the commissioner and Las Cruces outdoorsman and conservationist who died suddenly in March at age 63. Soules was instrumental in the creation of Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument in 2014, including protections for many cultural sites that he mapped himself. A former engineer at White Sands Missile Range and amateur anthropologist, Soules enjoyed backpacking, swimming, canoeing and hunting. Game and Fish Director Michael Sloane said Soules passion for wildlife and wild spaces was clear. He was at once playful and inquisitive, always setting you at ease, but asking important questions, and always willing to share, Sloane said. Xochitl Torres Small, a friend of Soules and a former U.S. representative, said she will miss spending time exploring new places with the outdoorsman. David taught me the joy of discovery, knowing that it was so much more often a process rather than a destination, Torres Small said. Soules served on the New Mexico Wild board for 11 years. NM Wild Director Mark Allison said Soules was an evangelist for the land. The New Mexico State and Colorado State alum was also a member of the Las Cruces chapters of the National Wild Turkey Federation and the Mule Deer Foundation, Dona Ana County Associated Sportsmen, New Mexico Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and Ducks Unlimited. John Cornell, a state representative for the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, said the outdoorsman was a compassionate, intelligent friend. He knew every square foot of southwest New Mexico, and he was the best damn spotter I ever hunted with, Cornell said. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham appointed Soules to the state Game Commission in 2019. He helped negotiate an easement with the State Land Office for hunting and fishing access on state trust lands. David Soules was a devout conservationist, an engaging storyteller, beloved husband and father and grandfather, Lujan Grisham said. The governor has not yet appointed a commissioner to fill the vacant seat. Theresa Davis is a Report for America corps member covering water and the environment for the Albuquerque Journal. WASHINGTON U.S. officials say they believe Iran was behind the drone attack last week at the military outpost in southern Syria where American troops are based. Officials said Monday the U.S. believes that Iran resourced and encouraged the attack, but that the drones were not launched from Iran. They were Iranian drones, and Iran appears to have facilitated their use, officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss details that have not been made public. Officials said they believe the attacks involved as many as five drones laden with explosive charges, and that they hit both the U.S. side of al-Tanf garrison and the side where Syrian opposition forces stay. There were no reported injuries or deaths as a result of the attack. U.S. and coalition troops are based at al-Tanf to train Syrian forces on patrols to counter Islamic State militants. The base is also located on a road serving as a vital link for Iranian-backed forces from Tehran all the way to southern Lebanon and Israel. Pentagon spokesman John Kirby declined to provide details when asked about the report during a news conference Monday. He called it a complex, coordinated and deliberate attack and said the U.S. has seen similar ones before from Shia militia groups that are backed by Iran. But he would not go into specifics and said he had no update on the munitions used in the attack. Kirby also declined to say if troops were warned ahead of time or whether the U.S. intends to make a military response. The protection and security of our troops overseas remains a paramount concern for the secretary, Kirby said, referring to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, and that if there is to be a response, it will be at a time and a place and a manner of our choosing, and we certainly wont get ahead of those kinds of decisions. Pro-Iran media outlets have been saying that the attack on Tanf was carried out by Syrias allies an apparent reference to Iran-backed groups in retaliation for an attack days earlier near the historic Syrian town of Palmyra. Israel has been blamed for the attack, but U.S. officials say America was not involved with it. You can consider that the strike on Tanf was an implementation of previous promises by Syrian allies to retaliate for Palmyra, according to an official with the so-called Axis of Resistance, an anti-Western political-military alliance that includes Iran, Syria, Hezbollah and other groups fighting alongside Syrian President Bashar Assads forces. The al-Tanf attack came in a period of rising tensions with Iran. The Biden administration this week said international diplomatic efforts to get Iran back into negotiations to return to a 2015 nuclear deal were at a critical place and that patience Is wearing thin. The last major Iranian attack on U.S. forces was in January 2020, when Tehran launched a barrage of ballistic missiles on al-Asad air base in Iraq. U.S. and coalition troops were warned of the incoming missiles and were able to take cover, but more than 100 U.S. service members received traumatic brain injuries as a result of the blasts. The Iran attack was in response to the U.S. drone strike earlier that month near the Baghdad airport that killed Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani and Iraqi militia leader Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis. Two months after the al-Asad assault, U.S. fighter jets struck five sites in retaliation, targeting Iranian-backed Shiite militia members believed responsible for the January rocket attack. _____ Associated Press writer Bassem Mroue in Beirut contributed to this report. TAIPEI, Taiwan Children as young as 3 will start receiving COVID-19 vaccines in China, where 76% of the population has been fully vaccinated and authorities are maintaining a zero-tolerance policy toward outbreaks. China becomes one of the very few countries in the world to start vaccinating children that young against the virus. Cuba, for one, has begun a vaccine drive for children as young as 2. The U.S. and many European countries allow COVID-19 shots down to age 12, though the U.S. is moving quickly toward opening vaccinations to 5- to 11-year-olds. Local city and provincial level governments in at least five Chinese provinces issued notices in recent days announcing that children ages 3 to 11 will be required to get their vaccinations. The expansion of the vaccination campaign comes as parts of China take new clampdown measures to try to stamp out small outbreaks. Gansu, a northwestern province heavily dependent on tourism, closed all tourist sites Monday after finding new COVID-19 cases. Residents in parts of Inner Mongolia have been ordered to stay indoors because of an outbreak there. The National Health Commission reported that 35 new cases of local transmission had been detected over the past 24 hours, four of them in Gansu. An additional 19 cases were found in the Inner Mongolia region, with others scattered around the country. China has employed lockdowns, quarantines and compulsory testing for the virus throughout the pandemic and has largely stamped out cases of local infection while fully vaccinating 1.07 billion people out of a population of 1.4 billion. In particular, the government is concerned about the spread of the more contagious delta variant by travelers and about having a largely vaccinated public ahead of the Beijing Olympics in February. Overseas spectators already have been banned from the Winter Games, and participants will have to stay in a bubble separating them from people outside. Chinas most widely used vaccines, from Sinopharm and Sinovac, have shown efficacy in preventing severe disease and transmission of the virus, based on public data. But the protection they offer against the delta variant has not been answered definitively, although officials say they remain protective. Hubei, Fujian and Hainan provinces all issued provincial level notices alerting new vaccination requirements, while individual cities in Zhejiang province and Hunan province have also issued similar announcements. China in June had approved two vaccines Sinopharms from the Beijing Institute of Biological Products and Sinovac for children ages 3 to 17, but it has only been vaccinating those 12 and older. In August, regulators approved another, Sinopharms from the Wuhan Institute of Biological Products. After the vaccines received domestic approval for children in China, foreign governments began giving the shots to children in their own countries. Cambodia uses both Sinovac and Sinopharms shots in children 6 to 11. Regulators in Chile approved Sinovac for children as young as 6. In Argentina, regulators approved the Sinopharm vaccine for children as young as age 3. Many developing countries left out of the race to get shots from Western pharmaceutical companies like Pfizer and Moderna bought Chinese vaccines. China has shipped more than 1.2 billion doses as of September, according to its Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Even with widespread domestic and global use, not every parent is reassured about the vaccine, citing less publicly available data on the shots. Wang Lu, who lives in the southern city of Fuzhou in Fujian province, said she isnt particularly rushing to get her 3-year-old son vaccinated. Im just not very clear on the vaccines safety profile, so I dont really want to get him vaccinated, at the very least, I dont want to be the first, Wang said. Sinovac started an efficacy trial with 14,000 child participants across multiple countries in September. Its approval in China was based on smaller phase 1 and phase 2 trials. Sinopharms Beijing shot was also approved based on smaller phase 1 and phase 2 trials. These were published later in peer-reviewed journals. Other parents said they werent concerned, given that many other people had already gotten the shot. Wu Cong, a mom of a 7-year old, said her daughters school in Shanghai hadnt yet notified them of any vaccinations. I think this isnt too different from the flu vaccine, theres already been so many people vaccinated, so I dont have too many worries, said Wu. ___ Associated Press researcher Chen Si in Shanghai contributed to this report. MADISON, Wis. A Wisconsin judge laid out the final ground rules Monday on what evidence will be allowed when Kyle Rittenhouse goes on trial next week for shooting three people during a protest against police brutality, ruling hell permit testimony from the defenses use-of-force expert and on how police welcomed Rittenhouse and others carrying guns during the demonstration. The hearing was likely the last before Rittenhouse goes on trial Nov. 1 for the shootings during chaotic demonstrations in Kenosha on Aug. 25, 2020, two days after a white police officer in that city shot a Black man, Jacob Blake, in the back while responding to a domestic disturbance. Rittenhouse, 18, of Antioch, Illinois, was among a number of people who responded to calls on social media to take up arms and come to Kenosha to respond to the protests. Rittenhouse, who is white, is charged with homicide and other crimes in the fatal shootings of Joseph Rosenbaum and Anthony Huber and the wounding of Gaige Grosskreutz, all also white. Rittenhouses attorneys want use-of-force expert John Black to testify that Rittenhouse acted in self-defense. Prosecutors have asked Judge Bruce Schroeder to block Blacks testimony, arguing that jurors dont need an expert to understand what happened that night. Schroeder told the attorneys that Black wouldnt be allowed to testify about what Rittenhouse was thinking when he pulled the trigger or whether he definitively acted in self-defense. Assistant District Attorney Thomas Binger said if Schroeder allowed Black to testify only about the timeline of events that night he wouldnt call his own expert to the stand. Defense attorney Mark Richards agreed to the deal. Binger asked Schroeder to bar a video that shows police telling Rittenhouse and other armed militia members on the streets that they appreciated their presence and tossing Rittenhouse a bottle of water. The prosecutor said the video would transform the trial into a referendum on police procedure that night when it isnt relevant. This is a case about what the defendant did that night, Binger said. Im concerned this will be turned into a trial about what law enforcement did or didnt do that night. Defense attorney Corey Chirafisi argued the video shows that police felt Rittenhouse wasnt acting recklessly. Binger countered that the shootings happened after Rittenhouse interacted with the police, but Schroeder decided to allow the video. If the jury is being told, if the defendant is walking down the sidewalk and doing what he claims he was hired to do and police say good thing youre here, is that something influencing the defendant and emboldening him in his behavior? That would be an argument for relevance, the judge said. Schroeder also denied Bingers request to bar the defense from referring to Rosenbaum, Huber and Grosskreutz as rioters, looters or arsonists. The judge said those terms would be allowed if the defense can produce evidence showing thats what they were. Many conservatives have flocked to support Rittenhouse, calling him a patriot and making him a symbol for gun rights and raising $2 million for his bail. Others, including some liberals and activists, portray him as a domestic terrorist and say he made a volatile situation worse. ___ Associated Press writer Doug Glass contributed from Minneapolis. ___ Follow Todd Richmond on Twitter at https://twitter.com/trichmond1 BUTTE AND PLUMAS COUNTY, Calif. - Highway 70 will be closed indefinitely from Deadwood Rd. to the Greenville Wye, where the 89 and 70 meet, because of a massive rockslide. The rockslide and mudslides happened in the Dixie Fire burn scar with all the run-off leading into Feather River. Caltrans Supervisor, Matthew Martin says the burnt vegetation is not good for the fish swimming in it and says the mountains on either side of the road have large rocks and lots of vegetation. RELATED: Highway 70 remains closed due to mudslides and flooding We have massive amounts of water coming down off of our banks. Too much for our culverts to handle, so they are going over the road. We have a massive rock slide at the Butte County Plumas County line. Big rocks as big as houses, theyre not going to be moved anytime soon. As far as the burn scar, we have massive amounts of debris, black mud plugging up the culverts, so its going to be closed for a while," said Martin. Martin says the rain is a big concern right now because it loosens up the rocks and vegetation to come down the mountain. He says there are Caltrans workers on both sides of the rockslide and says such a large portion of the highway needs to remain closed not only until the rockslide debris is cleared, but because any portion of the mountain can come down with most of the Butte County side of the rockslide having large rocks on the mountain. LONDON (AP) Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen told British lawmakers that the social media giant stokes online hate and extremism, fails to protect children from harmful content and lacks any incentive to fix the problems. Haugen spoke Monday before a parliamentary committee that's working on legislation to rein in the power of social media companies. Her sharp comments are providing momentum for efforts by European governments working on stricter regulation of tech giants. She says algorithms that prioritize engagement take people with mainstream interests and push them to the extremes. Facebook says it wants regulation for tech companies and was glad the United Kingdom was leading the way. Thought leadership is, put simply, a way to build transparency and credibility with your audience as a resource and expertise in your chosen topic or industry. In a world massively disrupted by the global pandemic, thought leaders are whom the industry is looking up to, to provide some direction in charting out the road ahead. These unprecedented times have required a lot of reworking of strategies, some out-of-the-box thinking and a huge dose of innovation. A well-planned thought leadership campaign can help in heightening brand awareness, boost traffic and generate sales. It also helps in building the brand and strengthening its equity in the market. The transition to digital in the last few years has brought in more brands online, which have taken the role of a thought leader brand in their respective categories. CARS24 is one such brand that has disrupted the category and is delighting customers with great experience. Coming as a timely beacon in these challenging times is Adgully4ms latest endeavour THOUGHT LEADERSHIP SERIES which is designed to engage with some of the best leaders from the industry in the business of Marketing, Advertising and Public Relations. Held on Saturday, October 23, 2021, the fourth edition of the Thought Leadership Series saw Gajendra Jangid, Co-Founder & CMO, CARS24, who has been at the helm of the portals phenomenal growth, in a scintillating conversation with host R Sridhar, where he highlighted the strategic direction and marketing skills required to become a thought leader. The warm camaraderie between the two industry leaders was evident throughout the conversation as the back and forth banter between the two kept the audience engaged. On being asked by Sridhar about the challenges faced with the online concept of CARS24, Jangid replied, As the auto sector is evolving, India is a country where less than 3% of the population owns a car, as compared to Europe or the US, where car penetration is more than 80%. We at CARS24 feel that this is the industry where we can make a lot of difference in the coming decades. The overall landscape of this industry is looking very promising and in the next five years, this industry is going to be the top 2 industries in the world. E-commerce platforms like Amazon, Flipkart have changed the way of shopping, similarly when it comes to buying a car, why should we use the old method of hunting the cars by going to the neighbourhood stores when it is just a click away? One can search the market price and get the best deal online. Though there are a lot of questions raised out of anxiety in the consumers regarding the quality, security and whether the product will run for a longer period of time after buying it. So, we felt that as a brand, CARS24 can solve such kind of problems of these consumers with the help of technology and e-commerce, this is how we will be able to disrupt the entire industry and that is how we came up with a concept to sell car online just like other things that consumers tend to purchase online without wasting their time. Jangid asserted that this isnt just a fancy idea, but a fundamental concept because it relies on what customers really want and are looking for and more importantly, in terms of used cars, the first thing that is important is the selection of the car. Being online helped us in making a very large selection, which was economically possible as we didnt have to open dealerships in each and every city of India. The most important thing is to shift the mindset from being an offline player to an online player, he remarked. This is an edited excerpt. For this the complete conversation and more interesting insights, watch here: Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), a Maharatna and a Fortune Global 500 Company, is aiming to strengthen it connection with rural market with launch of new campaign MAK Chala Gaon Ki Ore by MAK Lubricants. The objective of this campaign is to engage with consumers in rural markets, who are quality conscious and open to learning. To educate and enable these consumers, MAK Lubricants has planned a two-month-long activation drive, with a series of engagement activities at village market square, panchayat bhavan, and weekly haats. The campaign was launched at Karalappakam Village in Tamilnadu by Mr. G. Krishnakumar, Executive Director (Lubes), BPCL. Under the new campaign, the Company will engage with farmers through Kisaan Melas at Taluka level and reach out to them through active participation from District Agricultural Officers, Block Developments Officers and Officials from other administrative bodies, who can help educate the farmers and other consumers about new developments in agriculture and Govt. schemes. BPCL will also be introducing products beneficial to rural customers like MAK Trac champion, hydraulic oils, and pump oils, dedicated for the agriculture segment. With rural markets increasingly becoming the economic powerhouse of the country, MAK Lubricants aims to revive the business activities of small-time mechanics, imparting training and exposing those to newer technologies and safer practices. This is a proud moment for all of us at Bharat Petroleum. Such one-to-one interaction with farmers will help us clarify their doubts about the better performance of their vehicles. This initiative will help boost up their morale and aide them in efficient utilization of available resources. This customer-centric campaign is a small step towards the bigger aim of maximizing output from rural markets said Mr. G. Krishnakumar, while launching the campaign. With the onset of the festive season, De Beers Forevermark, one of the most trusted diamond brands, is upbeat about demand for diamonds in South India. The brand has already witnessed a huge response post the second wave, and compared to the pre-festive season consumption, it is looking forward to growth of over 35-40% per cent over the next few months given the extended wedding season and pent-up demand coinciding with the timely easing of Covid-19 restrictions. The brand continues to grow in South India, the largest market for De Beers Forevermark in India. While the brand has 270 doors in India spread over 60 markets, it has around 100 doors in South India currently. The brand also has 10 exclusive boutique stores in India and plans to increase this to 30 by next year. The company is now focused on consolidation in the South as it sees immense potential in the growing number of metros, tier-2 and tier-3 cities in the region, where it partners with select authorized retailers who share the same brand ethos as De Beers Forevermark. The companys research has shown that there is increasing demand for its natural, rare, beautiful and responsibly sourced diamonds in South India and that consumers here value the diamonds quality over size. Commenting on the festive season outlook, Mr. Sachin Jain, Managing Director, De Beers India, said: We expect to see significant rise and rebound in diamond consumption and it has been a big comeback for the industry that has got to do with what diamonds and jewellery mean for the Indian consumer. People want to invest in luxurious products but ones that hold value and want an assurance of genuineness. The market will witness good growth in the upcoming festive & wedding season. While the year 2020 was a big setback due to the pandemic, we see the 2021 festive season to be the strongest one in a decade and expect to perform at 25-30% higher than 2019 which was our best year. The growth trajectory has been very strong for us in the past few years and we are hopeful it will continue. One of the key lessons the pandemic has taught us is to value that which is genuine and real. Mr. Suraj Shantakumar, Director Kirtilals said: We see great demand from the younger generation this year as they prefer jewellery to complement their personality and define their individual style statement. Besides this, we see demand for minimalistic and everyday wear diamonds as the sentiment has now shifted towards wearing diamonds for any occasion including the festive season. De Beers Forevermarks diamonds are produced through a very rigorous selection process and are rare, natural and beautiful and we believe they will continue to find a huge acceptance among our discerning consumers. Mr. Vinod Hayagriv, Managing Director & Director, C. Krishniah Chetty Group of Jewellers said: While the festive season this year is seeing a large uptick in sales, we will see a dramatic rise in solitaire diamond sales. Our association with De Beers Forevermark has not only been an old and a great relationship since a decade, but with patented technology, each De Beers Forevermark diamond is uniquely inscribed and comes with a guarantee that every diamond is genuine, natural and responsibly sourced. This provides additional assurance to our customers who are keen on buying natural diamonds to celebrate this festive season. Millennials realize that diamond jewellery is truly a gift that lasts a lifetime. Mr. Joseph Prince, Director Prince Jewellery Chennai said, The festive season has always been considered auspicious to buy jewellery. The consumer sentiment has improved dramatically in the recent past and there is pent-up demand and consumers are seeking meaningful purchases. This is an opportunity for the diamond jewellery market to gain a significant share of consumer spending. Given that less than 1 per cent of the worlds diamonds secure the De Beers Forevermark inscription, we believe consumers would like to spend on valuable and niche products that convey a strong emotional bonding, especially in the post-pandemic world. Despite the challenges experienced due to the pandemic, Indian consumers expressed strong demand for diamond jewellery, outstripping demand for other luxury categories and apparel, as they sought out purchases with emotional meaning and enduring value. Mindshare, GroupMs flagship agency, has seen a continued acceleration in its business in the East market on the back of immense growth potential in the region. The agency business in Kolkata specifically has seen a line-up of major brands that are looking to explore their marketing strategies beyond traditional media. Mindshare India has a mix of brands in its client roster across sectors like retail, manufacturing, jewelry, FMCG, etc. with brands like Natures basket, Berger Paints, Senco, Tata Steel, Khadims, Dollar, Deys Medical, etc.Mindshare India has a mix of brands in its client roster across sectors like retail, manufacturing, jewelry, FMCG, etc. with brands like Natures basket, Berger Paints, Senco, Tata Steel, Khadims, Dollar, Deys Medical, etc. The most recent wins the agency saw were Openbrain Pvt Ltd and SPS Steel Rolling Mills Ltd. Mindshare with the strength of data is empowering brands to identify what they need, to unlock the tremendous growth potential here. It is committed to building a strong future ready team geared to take on the new age challenges head on, while driving best value to the clients. Ruchi Mathur, Senior Vice President - Client Leadership - Mindshare North & East India said, We aim to continue consolidating existing businesses and rapidly grow with new business wins in the east, particularly in the Kolkata market. We believe in the significant, but the hitherto untapped potential of this region. Digital and e-commerce are increasingly emerging as areas of prime interest hence they will be our priority. Our team in this market is what makes us so strong, and I am proud to see our talent partner with our valuable clients on this journey of transforming their marketing experiences and building trust within them. Mindshare is fully committed to developing and expanding its footprint in the East. Brands in the East market are experimenting with media strategies across the funnel and are focusing on traditional mediums along with digital media, emerging platforms, e-commerce, Influencers, content, and integrations. Mindshare continues to emphasize localization and give brands a native touch to their marketing mix. The agency is helping clients in both emerging and traditional categories for growth and digital transformation. Parthasarathy Mandayam, CEO Mindshare South Asia said, As part of our good growth agenda, we are committed to building stronger brands in this market. Brands are keener than ever before to revamp their strategies basis the changing consumer preferences. The capability and potential of the East market is huge. Its exciting to see the Mindshare Kolkata team partner with prestigious brands across categories on their transformation journey. FloBiz, a fast-growing neobank for Indian SMBs, today announced its association with Padma Shri awardee actor Manoj Bajpayee. The Bengaluru-based fintech aims to accelerate its outreach to the SMB sector and promote the adoption of its flagship product myBillBook - a simple to use GST billing and accounting software - with Manoj Bajpayee as the brand ambassador. FloBiz will release a set of ad films, the first of which launched on 24th Oct 2021, featuring Manoj as a businessman with satirical takes on the day-to-day problems that business owners face while running their enterprises, particularly invoicing, collection of pending receivables and inventory management. The Business Ko Le Seriously campaign highlights how digital solutions can improve performance and power growth in a small business. Created by Tilt Brand Solutions, the campaign will go live across several media platforms, including OTT, TV, OOH, social media, websites and mobile applications. Commenting on the association, the renowned Bollywood actor said, Most of the products and services we consume daily are offered by small and medium businesses in our country. However, these SMBs have been historically underserved when it comes to dedicated digital tools and financial services. And so, I was personally very impressed with FloBizs mission to accelerate the growth of SMBs by providing technological solutions and curated services via their product myBillBook. Especially after the Covid-19 pandemic, the need to go digital is paramount for businesses, and myBillBook is easily one of the most suited applications to cater to this need. When the FloBiz team approached me with their Business Ko Le Seriously campaign idea, it piqued my interest instantly. The scripts were witty and funny, the production team was reputable, and the companys mission was sincere. Im glad to partner with them in promoting their brand, he added. The Business Ko Le Seriously campaign is our first step towards creating a relatable and trustworthy brand for myBillBook, targeting ambitious business owners across the country. Were extremely thrilled to join hands with Mr. Manoj Bajpayee to communicate our mission and the products value propositions to the small business community over the next one year. Manojs universal charisma and mass appeal, coupled with the inspiring story of his journey from a humble beginning to critically acclaimed fame, is sure to resonate with the SMBs. The team thoroughly enjoyed working with the incredibly talented artist, who brings such passion and conviction to his work, said Rahul Raj, Co-founder and CEO of FloBiz. Shriram Iyer, co-founder and chief creative officer of Tilt Brand Solutions, said, The FloBiz team was very clear about the brief right at the outset. As a brand, they genuinely believe in the power of SMBs and their impact on our economy. However, while these business owners have big ambitions and strong drive, they lack the necessary technological tools that are otherwise available to bigger companies and corporations. This led us to realise that what the SMB owners need is a nudge in the right direction to propel their businesses by adopting a powerful software like myBillBook. In our series of three films featuring Manoj Bajpayee, we arrived at an articulation to launch the maiden campaign for myBillBook with Business Ko Le Seriously as the core theme. Having a stalwart like Manoj on our side, we wanted to ensure that we utilise his inimitable sarcastic self that we know him for. We wanted to tell our audience that its no joke to run a business and that to grow the scale of business operations, SMB owners and entrepreneurs must adopt myBillBook to actualise the full potential of their enterprises successfully. Since its launch in January 2020, myBillBook has been downloaded by over 6 million businesses to digitise invoicing, streamline bookkeeping and automate workflows. This simple yet elegant business software has become the companion of choice for business owners, with more than a million monthly active users who record over $1.1 billion worth of transactions on myBillBook every month. The fast-paced growth trajectory of FloBiz has resulted in two back-to-back fundraises for the company this year - $31 million Series B led by Sequoia Capital India and US-based Think Investments in September 2021 and $10 million Series A led by Elevation Capital and existing investors in March 2021. The company is also looking to triple its engineering, product and data teams within the next six months as it continues to develop and introduce more features on myBillBook. By Judith Pinborough Zimmerman and Mark Blaxill, Editor-At-Large, Age of Autism Despite ongoing increases in the number of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) nationwide, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has consistently failed to declare ASD an epidemic. This public messaging decision highlights the CDCs ongoing disregard for prevalence increases over time that support the overriding importance of environmental causes rather than genetics causality in this serious childhood health condition. According to the most recent 2018 survey from the National Survey of Childrens Health (NSCH), 1 in 35 American children ages 3-17 have an Autism spectrum Disorder (ASD), over 1.7 million children (see HERE) . Using a different method, the recently released CDC report from its Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network, reported an average ASD rate of 185 per 10,000 among 8-year-old children born in 2008, or 1 in 54. (see, HERE). The CDC proudly promotes ADDM as the only collaborative network to track the number and characteristics of children with ASD. This new rate represents a 9% increase over the 2014 ADDM Network report, which reported a rate of 1 in 59. (see HERE). Comparing recent ADDM Network ASD rates to those first reported by the network in 2000, there is a staggering 176% increase when compared the earliest ASD report rate of 1 in 149 among 8-year-old children in 2000. (see HERE). Changes by year and site are shown in Figure 1. The only acknowledgment of urgency in the 2014 ADDM report, is a sentence buried deep in the text stating that autism was an urgent public health concern. In the most recent ADDM 2016 report, an autism rate of 1 in 54 is merely a continuing public health concern as shown in Figure 2. Instead of raising the alarm over their unbending upward trend line, the CDC reserves its main concerns for racial equality: applauding the fact that autism in African Americans is now broadly similar to that of white and Asian Americans. Using the ADDM Network methodology, ASD cases are identified through a review and abstraction of records followed by experienced clinicians who systematically review information to determine ASD case status. The CDC claims its methodological approach provides the best possible estimate currently available of prevalence of ASDs without conducting complete population screening and diagnostic clinical case confirmation. (see, HERE). If the CDC believes ASD rate increases over time are result of racial inequities, why havent they recommended population screening and diagnostic case confirmation in underserved populations to obtain more accurate statistics? The ADDM Network has no evidence of overall flattening or declining ASD rates. There are, however, anomalies in the data reported from a number of sites, including most notably Utah, and Maryland. Marylands ascertainment areas changed with the inclusion of a second site with reduced access to school records. In Utahs case, as one of us has pointed out in her 2013 complaint, intentional deviations from the ADDM Network methodological procedures were allowed and covered up by the ADDM Network and University of Utah (U of U). The two of us share a longstanding concern over the CDCs failure to sound the alarm with respect to the sharp and ongoing increases in autism rates. One of us has been critical of CDCs fraudulent misuse of statistics for nearly two decades. Another of us, was once a CDC insider and Principal Investigator for the Utah ADDM site, Utah Registry of Autism and Developmental Disabilities. After beginning to raise concerns over environmental causation, data errors and privacy violations in the Utah autism data one of us (Zimmerman) was summarily dismissed from her position. She has since filed a series of successful lawsuits against her former employer the U of U. In addition, Zimmerman became so concerned about intentional data manipulation and public messaging by ADDM officials, she asked two United States Congressmen, Utah Democrat Ben McAdams and Florida Republican Bill Posey, to support a congressional investigation into research fraud by the ADDM Network and U of U. ( Read the letter here) Zimmerman was the original CDC grant awardee and the Utah ADDM principle investigator from 2002-2013. Zimmerman believes she now has enough evidence to show serious violations of federal health and education privacy laws and intentional deviations from predetermined ADDM study protocols by U of U with the complicity of ADDM Network Officials. Note: Below is an announcement about Dr. Judith Zimmerman's legal battle. Mark Blaxill, AofA Editor at Largte wrote CDCs Utah Whistleblower and Autism Author Speak Out on the Autism Epidemic last June. Join us in wishing Dr. Zimmerman congratulations on what has been an arduous journey. ### A Utah jury has awarded a former University of Utah autism researcher $760,000 in damages due to the Universitys retaliation against her for reporting research misconduct. From 2005 to 2013, Dr. Judith Zimmerman was faculty of the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Utah, and in 2012, she was the Director of the Utah Registry for Autism and Developmental Disabilities (URADD) and the Principal Investigator (PI) of a $600,000/year CDC grant charged with collecting data on children with autism for the URADD database. In the summer of 2012, Dr. Zimmerman began going to various oversight offices at the University, including the Research Integrity Office and the Office of General Counsel, about her concerns that a statistician she had hired and later fired from working on the CDC grant, Dr. Amanda Bakian, had made a copy of the URADD data, which contained identifiable health and educational records of kids with autism, and shared it with Dr. William McMahon and Dr. Deborah Bilder, two researchers in the Department of Psychiatry who did not have authorization to access or use the data. After learning of her complaints, in December 2012, Dr. McMahon notified Dr. Zimmerman that her yearly contract, which expired June 30, 2013, would not be renewed. A few days later, Dr. McMahon removed Dr. Zimmerman as Director of URADD and made Dr. Bilder the Director. In January 2013, Dr. McMahon informed Dr. Zimmerman she could no longer access or collect data for the CDC grant, and in February 2013, he removed her as PI on the grant and made Dr. Bilder the interim PI. Dr. McMahon thereafter made himself the PI on the grant. On February 26, 2013, Dr. McMahon sent a memorandum to her staff informing them that Dr. Zimmerman was no longer allowed to access or collect data for the grant or enter the building, that the locks to the building were being re-keyed, and that the staff must report attempts by Dr. Zimmerman to obtain data or enter the building. I believe we are to honor authorities and obey the laws of the nation; so much so that if I were around during the American Revolution, like the Quakers, I wouldnt have participated in the largely economically based rebellion against the Crown. However, the current situation concerning the vaccination mandates is something different on several levels. First, and most important for the Christian, is that the processes for developing these vaccines incorporate products derived from aborted fetuses. Both the Moderna and the Pfizer vaccines are developed, proved, and processed on cell lines derived from fetal cells; while the Johnson and Johnson vaccine is grown on these cells and contains human DNA and protein. The general arguments provided to justify these processes are: 1) The original fetal cells were collected several decades ago; 2) The cells or cell lines used today are descendants of the original cells and have been made to multiply in the laboratory setting; 3) The mothers of the original aborted fetuses wanted to abort their babies; 4) Then there is the appeal to authority where some leaders in the pro-life movement and/or Christianity claim that the current usage is not offensive or immoral. However, that the final product is formulated using material derived from the original fetal tissue is a moot issue that does not change the reality that these cells or cell lines are descendants of aborted fetal tissue. Anyone who truly holds to the sanctity of life (that mankind is created in the image of God) and yet is simultaneously able to overlook this reality is, in my view, willingly fooling themselves. Like me, someday they will have to answer to our Creator for their decision. As for the argument that certain cherry-picked religious leaders approve of this use of such fetal material: This is a fallacy of logic called appeal to authority, and it never holds up to scrutiny, since other authorities will disagree with the cherry-picked authorities. For example, Professor Gifford Grobien points out that Although advocates of these vaccines argue no more abortions are needed, new cell lines derived from aborted fetal tissue continue to be developed. Researchers are concerned that cell reproduction in these strains will eventually become nonviable, or at least more difficult to access. Following the 2015 criticisms against Planned Parenthood for providing fetal tissue for research, researchers responded that such experimentation is necessary, has great benefits, and should continue, pointing specifically to the precedent of vaccine development. Tolerating the use of aborted fetal tissue or cell lines, at any stage in the process is an abhorrent process; certainly, it is something my conscience cannot dismiss. As if the murder of babies in the womb is not bad enough, then to use their tissues for personal gain is not far removed from various ancient cultures sacrificing their children to false gods. Today, under the guise of modern allopathy, we offer our offspring to Asklepios, the god of medicine. Thus, my primary objection to the current vaccinations for COVID-19 is based on my strong convictions concerning the sanctity of life; but there are other reasons as well. Second, that mRNA technology is a type of gene therapy is disconcerting; for science admits; Although gene editing has become extremely precise it is not yet perfect. One of the biggest challenges in gene editing is anticipating and mitigating off-target effects, which can lead to unknown, possibly serious side effects. This raises concern on two levels: 1) On a moral basis, concerning the notion to modify Gods creation; 2) On a scientific basis, in that it is not yet perfected and can lead to unknown, possibly serious side effects. Third, although the CDC admits to a laundry list of known or potential side effects (e.g. Bells Palsy, narcolepsy, acute myocardial infarction, autoimmune disease, thrombocytopenia, arthritis, death, etc.), well never know the extent because the manufactures eliminated this possibility by vaccinating the placebo group after only a few short weeks. Fourth, virologists tell us survivors of the virus have natural immunities far superior to anything the vaccine might provide. Furthermore, many scientists warn that survivors who take the vaccination are putting themselves at higher risk of a serious adverse event including death. Fifth, the vaccines do not prevent the acquisition or transmission of the virus. Claiming that the vaccines might mitigate the symptoms is disingenuous when many physicians have demonstrated that early intervention with other therapies has nearly a 100% survival rate, even among the elderly. Sixth, at the FDAs Vaccine Advisory Committee meeting concerning the Pfizer COVID-19 booster shots, September 17, 2021, several dissenting physicians and researchers presented data showing how dangerous the vaccines really are. For example, Steve Kirsch, the Executive Director of the COVID-19 Early Treatment Fund, showed data analyses by four different experts that more than 150,000 people have died in the U.S. following the vaccination. He stated that even if the vaccines had 100% protection, they still kill two people for every one person they save. Seventh, on May 16, 2018 (doubtless under pressure from BigPharma and government bureaucrats) seemingly because these vaccines do not prevent either the acquisition or transmission of the virus, the CDC redefined the definition of a vaccine by omitting the phrase protecting the person from that disease. Seeking Emergency Use Authorization to sidestep years of long-term testing is apparently also the reason the industry strongly opposes alternative therapies. If successful treatments exist, the vaccine could not EUA be approved; thus, the endless white papers and repetitive ridicule of physicians documenting their great success with alternative treatments. But BigPharma has a history of such shenanigans. Despite Dr. Barry Marshalls great success treating the peptic ulcer, it took nearly twenty years before the medical establishment stopped ridiculing the evidence and finally began implementing the cure -- an inexpensive antibiotic. So too with Dr. Kilmer McCalls discovery that a blood-borne protein metabolite was a primary factor in the development of atherosclerosis. Although he was already a highly acclaimed research scientist, the medical community scorned him into obscurity. After nearly three decades of rejection, his research was finally accepted and published in 1997. Eight, the constitution is the law of the land, which neither the president nor any government bureaucrat is above. Yet, as the president admitted, his mandatory vaccination edict is likely unconstitutional. Ninth, refusal to follow the governments immorality or ungodly edicts is not foreign to Scripture. Indeed, we are expected to follow both our conscience and Gods law even as the apostles and prophets of old: We ought to obey God rather than men (Ac 5:29). Beyond the ineffectiveness of the vaccine either to prevent the acquisition or transmission of the virus, beyond the governmental overreach; even beyond the side-effects and numerous deaths, my primary objection is one of morality. I simply cannot and will not knowingly use any product that was developed, proved, or processed on or by cells from aborted fetuses. My conscience will not allow it, no matter how much it is supposed to benefit me or others. Image: U.S. Secretary of Defense To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here. Scapegoats are a necessity for tyrants because somebody has to take the blame for their failures. That's one of several reasons to be uneasy about the campaign by Joe Biden, in concert with most elements of the progressive establishment, to persecute those who resist vaccine mandates, falsely claiming, as Biden did in his CNN town hall last week, that the unvaccinated are responsible for killing the vaccinated. But what happens when the bullies get their way and practically everyone is vaccinated, yet COVID cases continue to rage? Jack Cashill, writing in the American Spectator: In the Republic of Ireland, however, health officials are running out of people to blame. This has becoming [sic] embarrassingly obvious in County Waterford. As reported in the Irish Times, the nation's establishment newspaper, two of the three most COVID-infected electoral areas in Ireland are located in the county "with the highest rate of vaccination in the country." In Waterford, a remarkable 99.7 percent of adults over the age of 18 is fully vaccinated. (snip) According to data published on October 21, Waterford City South has the nation's highest 14-day incidence rate at 1,486 cases per 100,000 and Tramore-Waterford City West has the third highest at 1,122 cases per 100,000. This is despite internal travel bans and the county's more than 90 percent vaccination rate. Although Waterford is running three times the rate of the nation writ large, Ireland as a whole is not faring particularly well, especially given its draconian restrictions. In the seven days preceding October 21, Ireland reported 2,026 new cases. To put that number in perspective, wide-open Florida had 2,262 cases during that same period with a population more than four times greater than the Irish Republic's. Lismore Castle, County Waterford. Copyright N. Chadwick, licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 license. It's unclear for the moment who is going to be blamed for Waterford's COVID. My guess is that the Irish media will do their best to suppress the information on the futility of vaccinations to avoid the question entirely and keep blaming the unvaxxed. History teaches us that Jews are the most popular choice for scapegoating, but it is unclear how that can be accomplished in a nation with few Jews and none (that I know of) in a position to influence the spread of COVID. My speculation, ever since doubts began to be raised about the effectiveness of the gene therapies masquerading as vaccines, is that in the end, Donald Trump will be blamed. That will require a 180-degree switch away from vaccination mandates, of course, and should the worst come to pass and the long-term side-effects prove serious, the vax bullies will have no choice but to claim they all along were skeptical as many were when Trump was in office. To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here. Dartmouth College Republicans hosted three up-and-coming conservative voices in an event Sunday night. Remarkably, all three of these articulate, patriotic voices are young: North Carolinian Madison Cawthorn is the youngest Congressional House Member in the nation at age 26. Congressional hopeful and rising star Karoline Leavitt presents a strong case (at age 23) why she should join him. Alex Bruesewitz (24) is a proven campaign strategist who schools career politicians. From left to right: Alexander Bruesewitz, Madison Cawthorn, Karoline Leavitt. (Photo by author.) But for the Dartmouth College Democrats, what united the three was their allegedly intolerable political views. Predictably, there was abundant vitriol. The Dartmouth College newspaper attacked Madison Cawthorn with particular venom, listing an array of allegations and character attacks. The paper's chief concern appears to be Cawthorn's challenge of 2020 voting results: [P]erhaps his most damaging statements target democracy itself. In the months and weeks following the November 2020 election, he promoted the baseless and absurd idea that the election was "stolen." His dishonesty and apparent willingness to entertain violence if his party loses an election should be disqualifying for any reasonable conservative campus group. ... [T]he College Republicans appear to be voicing their approval of his twisted and authoritarian vision. Strange: The Democrats were quite vocal in their suspicions that the 2016 Trump win was less than trustworthy the Democratic Party filed suit alleging that Trump had colluded with Russia and WikiLeaks to steal the election! They "targeted democracy itself"! It is common for election losers to question election integrity (anyone remember the Gore/Bush decision?), a phenomenon termed the "winner effect." That is, those voters who support the winner in the election are more likely to believe their own ballots and the ballots of others were counted as intended, while those who supported the losing candidate are more likely to believe their votes were counted incorrectly. Dartmouth Democrats don't want young Republicans to speak unless the roster is first approved by Democrats as acceptable: The Dartmouth College Democrats are deeply disturbed by the Dartmouth College Republicans' chosen guests for their October 24th panel on "The Future of the Republican Party." (snip) All three speakers perpetuate harmful rhetoric against immigrants and minority communities, continually question science, and deny that President Biden won the 2020 election. (snip) It is our belief that these speakers will contribute to division, encourage prejudice on campus, and foster a negative campus environment not conducive to open, honest, and mutually respectful conversation. (snip) We are especially concerned about their hateful views towards immigrants and the effect of that prejudice on immigrants and children of immigrants at Dartmouth. Aping their Alinskyite national leaders, Dartmouth's College Dems do not explain that what they dub "hateful views toward immigrants" translates into actual ideas to "support border security and the rule of law," as all three of these brilliant young conservative speakers unapologetically do. Due to the current debacle at America's southern border (fueled by far-left extremist calls for open borders), a majority of the public is displeased. The Dartmouth College Dems would exercise prior restraint over competing (and widely supported) views about immigration because of "the effect of that prejudice on immigrants[.]" Weaponizing victimhood in the absence of victims by perverting the words of political opponents: Rules for Radicals 101. Those who would silence three brave young GOP voices bellowed a tiresome chant of "Hey, hey! Ho, ho! These racist cops have got to go!" perhaps directed at the security detail present to protect the disabled congressman in a wheelchair. Another mantra was "Fascists go home!" to accompany the "No Fascists on our campus" signs. Several male protesters taunted a female Dartmouth College Republican organizer, using her first name sarcastically. Much like the ad hominem attacks on the speakers by the Dartmouth College Democrats and newspaper, the angry mob spewed hateful rhetoric toward fellow Americans who are anything but fascists social justice "work" at work. Later, the panel was repeatedly disrupted by rude outcries (though Alex Bruesewitz displayed incisive wit by provocatively responding, "Let's go Brandon!" to one disruptor, prompting enthusiastic cheering by the audience). The contrast was palpable: conservatives (of all ages) were unintimidated and civil. Those bent on silencing others seethed with anger, displacing reason as well as issue analysis with nasty personal slurs. This "foster[ ed ] a negative campus environment not conducive to open, honest, and mutually respectful conversation[.]" Endless tribalism and retribution that is not a future that appeals to sensible citizens. Expect to see more young Republicans leading our nation in 2022 and beyond. It's in the cards. That's the future of the Republican Party. John Klar writes regularly on Vermont issues for True North Reports. To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here. Joe Biden's transportation secretary, Pete Buttigieg, can't let it go. Two weeks after drawing public criticism from the likes of Fox News's Tucker Carlson for taking family leave at a time of multiple transportation crises, including a big supply chain breakdown at West Coast ports, he's decided to campaign for...family leave. Never mind the ports. According to The Hill: Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg is aiming to use the fierce criticism he faced from conservatives over taking paternity leave as a way to have a conversation about the issue, amid efforts from the White House to get paid family leave into a social spending bill pending in Congress. "The negativity was unfortunate but, in a way, maybe some good comes out of it too because it's helped us have a conversation about parental leave," Buttigieg said this week. That's what he was talking about on the Sunday talks. That's his priority. It would be like Gen. Mark Milley discussing the importance of weight loss while Afghanistan was collapsing, which even Milley didn't do. The brouhaha began about two weeks ago, when the ports went into crisis and more than a hundred cargo ships found themselves stranded off the Los Angeles and Long Beach ports, while independent truckers, forced to buy new trucks and banned as independent contractors in the state of California, suddenly became scarce. As an unprecedented supply chain crisis rippled through the American economy, unbeknownst to the American public, Buttigieg was on family leave. He said nothing. He attended a single Zoom meeting. Joe Biden had to appoint someone else to sort through the port crisis since Pete wasn't up to the job. Then Tucker Carlson noticed and made a remark about breastfeeding, which suddenly got Buttigieg's goat. Since then, Buttigieg, who is still AWOL from his job, has found lots of time to campaign for family leave without finding time to do his duties as transportation secretary in an ongoing crisis. Wasn't the whole point of family leave to demonstrate that one can do one's job as well as care for one's family? He still hasn't explained why he didn't appoint a deputy as he took his extended leave from his important public service job. He just left the post vacant, with the ships hanging around in the water, the store shelves going empty, the truckers absent, and Christmas set to bring shortages. Family first, you see, but only his family never mind about the public's. What's more, the crisis is continuing: RECORD 100 Ships Anchored in LA and Long Beach Ports. https://t.co/8TuT0ag3h0 ACTforAmerica (@ACTforAmerica) October 24, 2021 There's also the airline crisis over the COVID vaccine mandates. Energy prices are set to skyrocket, which affects transportation across the country. What's Pete doing when he ought to be now showing that he's still competent? Making himself Mr. Family Leave. What he's really doing is what interests him not ensuring a top-of-the-line transportation system for the entire country but making himself a victim. What's important to him is this chance to play "victim" to, of all things, Tucker being mean. With this absence of serious purpose, he ought to be fired from his public service position and freed to pursue his victim status. Will Joe Biden do that? Not a chance. The only person who's more incompetent at his job than Buttigieg is Biden himself. Image: Gage Skidmore via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0. To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here. Conservatives who post on Facebook know that the site routinely censors their content. Now, though, whistleblowers are offering concrete proof confirming what conservatives have intuitively understood: one of the most important vehicles for modern communication has lots of employees who hate conservatives and their ideas. Three things routinely happen to conservatives on Facebook: (1) Facebook rejects entirely something they post because it violates Facebook's "community guidelines." Efforts to get that decision reviewed always fail. (2) Facebook has allowed people to post something, only to slap it with a "disputed" or "fact-checked" label. (3) There's the infamous "sensitive content" label: However, when conservatives complain about these common censorship maneuvers, they're told they're imagining it. It doesn't happen because of bias, they're told. Instead, it's simply that conservative content is less accurate than that from the more careful and honest progressive outlets. (Please ignore the entire Russia hoax.) The Wall Street Journal, however, reports that conservatives are neither paranoid nor imagining things. Facebook's employees most of whom are fairly recent college grads are determined to silence conservatives and resist management pleas to be more even-handed. We know this because a whistleblower leaked internal chat boards, allowing us to see their discussions in real time: Many Republicans, from Mr. Trump down, say Facebook discriminates against conservatives. The documents reviewed by the Journal didn't render a verdict on whether bias influences its decisions overall. They do show that employees and their bosses have hotly debated whether and how to restrain right-wing publishers, with more-senior employees often providing a check on agitation from the rank and file. The documents viewed by the Journal, which don't capture all of the employee messaging, didn't mention equivalent debates over left-wing publications. Other documents also reveal that Facebook's management team has been so intently focused on avoiding charges of bias that it regularly places political considerations at the center of its decision making. Facebook employees, as seen in a large quantity of internal message-board conversations, have agitated consistently for the company to act against far-right sites. One of the ways the employees on the chat board justify censoring conservatives, says the WSJ, is through the claim that conservative sites push misinformation or hate speech. The problem is that it's leftists who define those terms. Is it hate speech to say, "All lives matter"? It is if you're on the left. Is it misinformation to say transgenderism is a mental disorder, not a biological, physical reality? Again, it is if you're on the left. Likewise, is it hate speech to say Democrats are inviting illegal aliens in to change American electoral demographics? Again, to the leftists, it is if you're Tucker Carlson; it isn't if you're Joe Biden. And is it misinformation if you say January 6 was just another protest, and one that was less significant than the violence, looting, and murder BLM and Antifa visited on America in 2020, as opposed to the Democrat narrative calling grannies in the Capitol an "insurrection"? Again, it is if you're a leftist. And of course, anything involving deviation from the leftist COVID and vaccine narrative is "misinformation." It's irrelevant that conservatives have consistently been proven right about the failure of lockdowns and masks, the damage lockdowns and masks do to children, the survivability of COVID, and the danger and ineffectiveness of indiscriminate mass vaccinations. In other words, young leftists are incapable of distinguishing between subjective and objective reality. This leaves them arguing that anything that comes from conservatives is automatically hate speech or misinformation because they disagree with it. No wonder Facebook employees are obsessed with Breitbart, which is loud and proud about conservatism. The fascinating thing is that management understands the risks from the employees' demands for censorship: After a staffer asked about removing Breitbart, a senior researcher responded, "I can also tell you that we saw drops in trust in CNN 2 years ago: would we take the same approach for them too?" he wrote. By 2020, Facebook had begun keeping track of "strikes" for content deemed false by third-party fact-checkers. Repeat offenders could be suspended from posting. Escalations came more frequently against conservative outlets, according to the report. The WSJ expose is long and detailed, and the message is clear: academia has churned out thousands of committed leftists who have control over Americans' communications because the public square has shifted to social media. These people are uninformed, close-minded, and incapable of distinguishing between objective and subjective facts, and they disdain the First Amendment's commitment to free speech. Be afraid; be very afraid. Image: Facebook's "sensitive content" label. Internet meme. To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here. Richard Levine is a mentally ill man who believes he is a woman. When an Indiana politician pointed out on Twitter that Levine is a man, Twitter suspended the politician. In true Orwellian fashion, the leftist Tech Tyrants are trying to force us to deny reality. Levine's claim to be a woman is biologically impossible and quite obviously ridiculous. He has a man's DNA, a man's body habitus (no ovaries on that big guy), a man's appearance, and a man's voice. He has never developed hips or breasts, has never had a period, and can never become pregnant or nurse a baby. Nevertheless, the Democrat establishment and the left-wing drive-bys are supporting Levine's tragic mental illness by calling him a woman. When he got an admiral's stars for serving as the assistant health secretary in the Biden administration, those same entities crowed that he was the first female to attain that rank in the Health Department. That was too much for Jim Banks, an Indiana state representative. On his official Twitter account, he put out a tweet stating the truth: "The title of first female four-star officer gets taken by a man." In the Tech Tyrants' world, speaking the truth is a punishable offense, so Twitter suspended Banks's account. Banks was suspended under a rule prohibiting "misgendering" people. In fact, Banks didn't "misgender" anybody. He accurately described Levine as a man, leaving out only the part about Levine's body dysmorphia, a form of mental illness we readily recognize if a person is anorexic. To his credit, Banks has been making the point for some time that Levine, a man who saved his mother's life during COVID while ensuring that other people's mothers died, is a man and that pretending he's a woman is an insult to real women. I don't know what to say that Orwell didn't say in 1984 when he had the interrogator O'Brien explain to Winston Smith that Big Brother's torture isn't about false confessions; it's about permanently affecting people's view of reality (with the shorthand being "2+2=5"). O'Brien explains that previous tyrannical regimes tortured people to induce them to say the approved thing, without regard for the fact that everyone knew that the people, in response to overwhelming pain, had lied: They wore them down by torture and solitude until they were despicable, cringing wretches, confessing whatever was put into their mouths, covering themselves with abuse, accusing and sheltering behind one another, whimpering for mercy. And yet after only a few years the same thing had happened over again. The dead men had become martyrs and their degradation was forgotten. Once again, why was it? In the first place, because the confessions that they had made were obviously extorted and untrue. We do not make mistakes of that kind. All the confessions that are uttered here are true. We make them true. And above all we do not allow the dead to rise up against us. You must stop imagining that posterity will vindicate you, Winston. Posterity will never hear of you. You will be lifted clean out from the stream of history. We shall turn you into gas and pour you into the stratosphere. Nothing will remain of you, not a name in a register, not a memory in a living brain. You will be annihilated in the past as well as in the future. You will never have existed.' [snip] We are not content with negative obedience, nor even with the most abject submission. When finally you surrender to us, it must be of your own free will. We do not destroy the heretic because he resists us: so long as he resists us we never destroy him. We convert him, we capture his inner mind, we reshape him. We burn all evil and all illusion out of him; we bring him over to our side, not in appearance, but genuinely, heart and soul. We make him one of ourselves before we kill him. It is intolerable to us that an erroneous thought should exist anywhere in the world, however secret and powerless it may be. Even in the instant of death we cannot permit any deviation. In the old days the heretic walked to the stake still a heretic, proclaiming his heresy, exulting in it. Even the victim of the Russian purges could carry rebellion locked up in his skull as he walked down the passage waiting for the bullet. But we make the brain perfect before we blow it out. The Tech Tyrants, because they are not the government, do not (yet) have the power to torture those who resist them. And perhaps they are more sophisticated now. Through social rewards, pressure, and erasure, they will change how we think so that they "convert [us], we capture [our] inner mind, [they] reshape [us]." The time to stand for reality is now because we are almost out of time. Image by Andrea Widburg. To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here. On learning that Twitter sanctioned Rep. Jim Banks for daring to refer to assistant secretary of health R. Levine as a man (and that Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene also referred, but without sanction, to Dr. Levine as a man), I turned, for insight on this peculiar assault on the concept of objective reality, to a classic novel on the nature of totalitarianism: 1984 by George Orwell. Here are, I believe, relevant passages from the novel, from a torture scene, with torture applied to Winston Smith by O'Brien. O'Brien to Winston Smith, undergoing torture: "Who controls the present, controls the past..." (Signet Classic [paper], p. 248). This is what Critical Race Theory is all about. O'Brien to Winston Smith, undergoing torture, on the nature of reality: Only the disciplined mind can see reality, Winston. You believe that reality is something objective, external, existing in its own right. You also believe that the nature of reality is self-evident. When you delude yourself into thinking that you see something, you assume that everyone else sees the same thing as you. But I tell you, Winston, that reality is not external. Reality exists in the human mind, and nowhere else. Not in the individual mind, which can make mistakes, and in any case soon perishes; only in the mind of the Party, which is collective and immortal. Whatever the Party holds to be truth is truth. It is impossible to see reality except by looking through the eyes of the Party. (Id, p. 249) The Party says R. Levine is a woman; therefore, he is a woman. And through torture, O'Brien later has Winston Smith seeing five fingers when O'Brien holds up four, with the thumb hidden. At p. 258. O'Brien to Winston at p. 253: "The Party is not interested in the overt act: the thought is all we care about. We do not merely destroy our enemies; we change them." (Cf. Obama's goal of transforming this country.) The mindset of the woke media. O'Brien to Winston at p. 255: We are not content with negative obedience, nor even with the most abject submission. When you finally surrender to us, it must be of your own free will. We do not destroy the heretic because he resists us; so long as he resists us we never destroy him. We convert him, we capture his inner mind, we reshape him. We burn all evil and all illusion out of him; we bring him over to our side, not in appearance, but genuinely, heart and soul. We make him one of ourselves before we kill him. It is intolerable to us that an erroneous thought should exist anywhere in the world, however secret and powerless it may be. Compare this to the insistence that it is impermissible to say the 2020 presidential election was rigged. Orwell, in 1984, teaches us that the Leftist Party will not be satisfied until Republican congresspersons Jim Banks and Marjorie Taylor Greene, and all their GOP colleagues, agree that R. Levine is a woman and, once the woke bring the GOP over to their side, they will, certainly, destroy it, and with it, the American spirit of freedom. And that is why, quite simply, the Democrat party and the woke media that would control the past by their control of the present are the genuine threat to democracy. They don't have us immobilized, like Winston Smith, on a cot, attached to a machine that inflicts unbearable pain, but they use their power to inflict social and economic sanction on those they regard as heretics. They can and must be defeated. How will freedom prevail? The way by which it always wins out: through commitment, and common sense, and, not least of all, courage on the part of what the Constitution calls "We, the People." To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here. While the ticking of the clock exposes problems for major U.S. cities, the calendar also remains far from friendly to the safety of their citizens and businesses. As unprecedented numbers of police officers opt to resign or retire or even face termination protesting working conditions and the vaccine mandate, many of America's cities race toward lawlessness. A recent conversation with a retired Seattle police officer paints a grim picture. According to the nearly thirty-year law enforcement veteran, the mismanagement of Seattle's police force could take a generation to repair. During his time, he approximated that 3050 officers retired or resigned each year, and roughly the same number of new recruits replaced them. Yet the challenge of massive numbers leaving is compounded by the time to replace each sworn officer. For example, the police department issues a notice about upcoming testing for the force which takes several days (weeks) to accomplish. Once the initial testing is complete, the police department has a pool of candidates to take to the next level. "When I tested in 1992, I was one of 4,700 that showed up. The department had a large population to cull and select candidates." He added, cynically, "I can't imagine 4,700 people wanting to show up and test to be a Seattle Police officer in this political climate." Based upon the initial testing, candidates then face physical and psychological screening along with background checks. This process can take several months for each candidate before acceptance into the academy. The Basic Law Enforcement Academy (BLEA) itself is a 720 academy-hour program that takes approximately 4.5 months. All of these timeframes are contingent upon the candidate scoring well with no mishaps, washouts, etc. After graduating from the academy, officers reporting to the various departments will undergo additional training unique to that municipality to learn the ropes. Seattle officers, for example, will go through the Seattle Municipal Code and other training special to the city for 45 weeks. Then the officer participates in a Field Training Officer (FTO) program for approximately three and a half months (riding along with a senior officer) while remaining subject to firing or washing out. Upon completion of all that, the officer is "still green." In law enforcement, three to five years of experience is critical to grasp and be competent in all situations. In 2019, approximately 1,400+ sworn officers served the city of Seattle. During periods of less political turmoil, 3050 sworn officers put in their papers for resignation or retirement annually with an expectation of approximately 3050 hires to compensate. According to news reports, in April 2021, 180 Seattle police officers quit in 2020, and an additional 66 officers left by spring of 2021. Many predict that more than 200 other Seattle cops will go due to concerns over the mandatory vaccine policies. Replacing 3050 cops per year requires a significant investment of time and money. Replacing 400+ seems a herculean effort for a well managed and united city and nearly impossible in the chaos created by the Seattle and Washington political establishment. The people and businesses of Seattle can only expect harsher times. Even if Seattle started the process of mass hiring this very day, the words of the retired police officer ring hauntingly true: it will take a generation. Other cities managed by woke elitists can expect the same as Seattle and some even worse. The good news for law enforcement officers is that they are wanted and appreciated by other states and better run cities. Governor Ron DeSantis put out the welcome mat for police officers weary of political turmoil. With a $5,000 incentive from Florida, law enforcement around the country heard the call, where they resume work as valued members of society. While a path exists for law enforcement to seek a better life outside toxic political cities, the only course for residents of places Seattle looks bleak and lawless. Michael A Letts is the CEO and Founder of In-VestUSA, a national grassroots non-profit organization that is helping hundreds of communities provide thousands of bulletproof vests for their police forces through educational, public relations, sponsorship, and fundraising programs. Photo credit: Dickelbers, CC BY-SA 3.0 license. To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here. I recently saw, I don't know where, a report that National Park Service (NPS) employees are extremely progressive. After my visit to Fort Sumter today, I know that's true for at least one such employee. While the older museum at Fort Sumter still presents a balanced view of events at the Fort from 1861 to 1865, for this employee, the only takeaway lesson was that America enslaved people and abused them. She managed to reduce the grand panoply of American history, and the drama of the Civil War, to a one-note issue. That the NPS, like every other branch of the federal government, is a hard-left institution is predictable because it hires college graduates. American colleges have as their primary mission leftist indoctrination, including anti-Americanism. Back in 2017, for example, after Donald Trump's inauguration, NPS employees used official social media accounts to attack him because they disagreed with his positions on climate change and unlimited Muslim immigration. It was offensive partisanship from ostensible "public servants." Over the years, as I've visited national parks, I've seen that leftist tilt grow. At park after park (and I've been to many), the Rangers are obsessed with climate change and endangered species. Rather than celebrating America's natural beauty and rich history, the rangers present a "snuff film" view of America that revolves around White Americans killing Native Americans and pushing animals to extinction. This simple-minded view ignores the fact that the European experience with and relationship to Native Americans was complex. Native Americans weren't helpless children, but were sophisticated people who had warred endlessly with each other. They saw the Europeans as their pawns to gain advantages against other tribes. The fact that European diseases would prove so deadly was something over which people in an age before germ theory had no control although it suggested to both Native Americans and Europeans that God (or the gods) favored the Europeans. Additionally, it was obvious that the Native Americans, who lived technologically at a Stone Age level, could not triumph over the Europeans. As Raymond Ibrahim wrote, in an age of conquest, the Native Americans would have done the same if they could. But I digress. Back to Fort Sumter. The ferry ride to the fort was gorgeous: Charleston harbor, once the biggest and richest in the colonies, is lovely. Dolphins frolicked and pelicans flocked overhead, with one or another suddenly dropping into the water to catch a fish. The Fort itself is a shadow of what existed at the start of the Civil War. By the time the Union Army prevailed, the tall walls had been reduced to rubble. It's been reassembled somewhat, but there's actually little to see. The point is to be there. South Carolina was a slave state, and it's unquestionable that this was a moral wrong. However, the British brought in slaves before the Enlightenment brought people to understand that the Eighth Commandment ("Thou shalt not steal") applies to a person's liberty as much as it does to inanimate objects. This marked a break with the entirety of human history. Because Southerners' wealth was entangled with slave labor, they turned a blind eye to a moral principle sweeping the Western world. Slavery continued and continues to exist outside the West. They paid a price for this in blood and gold, for they lost hundreds of thousands of men, and all the wealth in the South was gone by war's end. But slavery wasn't the only basis for the Civil War. States' rights really were a "thing" in those days, for America was much less homogeneous. While most Southerners did not own slaves, they all felt strongly that Northerners had no right to have a say in how they governed themselves. States' rights is an American principle separate from slavery, and it was what fired up many Confederate fighters. All of this is nuanced and fascinating. But to the Park Ranger today, it was all irrelevant. Her lecture was an impassioned effort to make us understand that enslaved people built Fort Sumter and that the entire point of the Civil War was to preserve slavery. She went on in this vein for some time, running everything through the filter of slavery, whether that filter applied or not. As a descendant of slaves (my distant ancestors worked for Pharaoh while my mother performed slave labor for the Japanese), I'm very aware of the practical and moral horrors of slavery. But to reduce American history to "America had slavery; America evil" is a travesty. It's reductive, boring, and inaccurate, and it teaches people to hate their own country something no country can survive. By all means, let us acknowledge the unholy contradiction between our founding principles and slavery's existence in America, as well as the deep moral sin that was slavery. But let's not pretend slavery defined every American action and every American person to the exclusion of all other motivations and issues. That's just as wrong and boring as all the other one-dimensional history leftists invariably serve up to manipulate people to achieve leftist goals. Image: The bombardment of Fort Sumter 1861. Engraved in 1863. Public domain. To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here. (ANSA) - ROME, OCT 25 - Eitan Biran, the orphaned six-year-old Israeli boy who was the sole survivor of the Mottarone mountain cable-car disaster in Piedmont in May and was taken out of Italy by his maternal grandfather last month, must return to Italy, a Tel Aviv family court ruled Monday, according to legal sources. The court said Eitan's habitual residence was in Italy, the sources said. The paternal grandfather, Shmuel Peleg, is being probed in Italy for alleged aggravated kidnapping. Eitan was reportedly driven across the border to Switzerland and flown to Tel Aviv with a private jet after being taken out by his grandfather during a visit. Eitan's parents, great grandparents and two-year-old brother were among the 14 victims of the disaster. Eitan, who moved to Italy with his parents in 2018, had been put into the care of his Italian-based paternal aunt, Aya Biran, after the disaster by the Italian authorities. Aya Biran's family lawyers, Shmuel Moran and Avi Himi, said "while we welcome the sentence of Judge (Irsi) Ilutovich (Segal) with satisfaction we think that in this case there are now winners or losers. There is only Eitan and all we ask is that he should soon return to his home, to his friends in school, to his family, in particular for the therapy and educational framework he needs". Aya Biran expressed "great joy" at the sentence. Aya Biran's civil lawyer Cristina Pagni said "I and my colleague Grazia Cesaro are happy with the favourable decision of the Tel Aviv court and with the fact that the principles and spirit of the Hague Convention have found application". She added: "We look forward to seeing when it will be possible for the child to return to Italy; perhaps we will know this evening". Judge Segal ordered the paternal grandfather Peleg to pay court costs of 70,000 shekels, or over 18,000 euros. The sentence rejected Peleg's assertion that the aunt did not have legal guardianship over the boy. Judge Segal wrote "with the arrival in Israel the grandfather took the boy away from his normal living place. A removal contrary to the meaning of the Convention, and in so doing, he breached the guardianship rights of the boy's aunt." The Peleg family's attorney, Gadi Solomon, said "the family is determined to continue the battle in every way possible in Eitan's interest, his wellbeing and his right to grow up in Israel as his parents wished," announcing an appeal against the sentence. He said the sentence only regarded Eitan's being removed form Italy and his arrival in Israel, "but not the boy's good and his future". (ANSA). NAPLES - "The narration of the media in favor of intercultural and interreligious dialogue" is the theme of the 28th annual conference of the Permanent Conference of the Mediterranean Audiovisual Operators (COPEAM) scheduled to take place online on October 27, starting at 10 am, organized in collaboration with State broadcaster RAI-Radiotelevisione italiana. The event will see the virtual participation of an international public, personalities of the audiovisual sector and institutional representatives of the Euro-Mediterranean area and will be the occasion to examine the causes that determined, in particular over the past decade, a significant increase of social attitudes like intolerance and xenophobia, not just in Italy, but in many areas of the world. The countries of the Mediterranean region, highlighted a statement by COPEAM, are no exception. In this delicate scenario, intercultural and interreligious dialogue have a fundamental role to strengthen integration and social cohesion, inside and outside national borders. Effective communication of diversity can strongly contribute to reciprocal understanding between cultures and religions, and more awareness for the respect of diversity. The annual conference of COPEAM this year is aimed at stimulating reflection on these themes through interventions of experts of the academic world and the media followed, in the afternoon session, by the presentation of good practices proposed by some broadcasters associated to networks and international organizations such as the Union for the Mediterranean, UNESCO, the European Broadcasting Union. The secretary general of COPEAM, Claudio Cappon, and the director of international relations and European affairs of RAI, Simona Martorelli, will officially open the plenary session, introduced by a video message of Gabriela Ramos, deputy director general of UNESCO for human and social sciences, and by Jose M. Perez Tornero, president of Radio y Television Espanola. Participants of the main panel, moderated by journalist of RaiNews24 Marina Lalovic, Jelena Jorgacevic Kisic, representative for Europe of the Association of journalists on religion IARJ (Serbia), Nouri Lajmi, president of the high independent authority of Tunisian audiovisual communication (HAICA) and REFRAM - the francophone network of media regulators, and Federico Ruozzi, a researcher in history of Christianity at the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia and Fscire, Foundation for religious sciences (Italy). ISTANBUL - The Turkish lira has reached the latest negative record after the expulsion ordered by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of 10 western ambassadors in Turkey, including of the US, Germany and France. Turkey's national currency lost over 2% of its value in a day, thrashing the barrier of 1 dollar per 9.80 liras and 1 euro for 11.40 liras. On Saturday, Erdogan ordered the expulsion of the ambassadors of Canada, France, Finland, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden and the US after they published an appeal for the release of dissident Osman Kavala. The latest negative records of the Turkish lira were touched when markets opened while, according to sources quoted by Reuters, a 16% cut of interests on loans by Turkish state banks are expected, in line with the Central Bank's choice to lower by 200 basis points its reference rates. Among affected banks is also allegedly Halk Bank, involved in an investigation in the US on charges of contributing to create a scheme to evade US sanctions against Iran. The umpteenth fall of the Turkish currency following the expulsion order of ambassadors followed a few days after the declassification of Turkey by the Financial Action Task Force, an intergovernmental organization that deals with fighting money laundering and funding terrorism. Meanwhile the delegation chief of the European Union in Turkey, Nikolaus Meyer-Landrut, highlighted in an interview today with BBC Turkce that it is Turkey's duty to abide by the European Court of Human Rights' decision asking since 2019 for the release of Kavala. "As founding members of the Council of Europe and as all member States, it is necessary for Turkey to abide by the decisions of the Council's institutions", said Meyer-Landrut. The European Court of Human Rights "for example is one of these institutions and we expect that its decisions are observed also by Turkey". Because it has failed to do so, the Council of Europe has said that at the end of November it could start disciplinary action against Turkey. MADRID - A child who was on a migrant boat rescued last night off the Canary Islands has died, the emergency service of the archipelago and the Efe news agency report. Over 40 people were on the boat. Overnight they were aided by the services providing first assistance on Gran Canaria. The child, two other minors - including two newborns - and two adults were taken by a helicopter of the Spanish maritime rescue service to two hospitals, due to concerns over their health condition. According to Efe, the vessel was found adrift some 200 km off Gran Canaria. Migrants: coast guards rescue boat with 68 on board South of Lampedusa. Vessel reported by Alarm Phone (ANSAmed) - ROME, OCTOBER 25 - A boat carrying 68 migrants, including women and children, was rescued by a coast guards cutter south of Lampedusa. The migrants were taken to the island. The rescue operation took place late on Sunday and the boat was one of two reported on Sunday morning by NGO Alarm Phone.(ANSAmed). TUNIS - In her first official trip abroad, Tunisian Premier Najla Bouden flew to Saudi Arabia to take part in the first summit of Arab countries on ecology, the Middle East Green Initiative Summit, organized by prince Mohamed bin Salman. The announcement was made by the presidency of the Tunisian government in a statement, adding that Bouden was accompanied in this mission by foreign minister, Othman Jerandi, and by the minister of environment, Laila El Shekhawi. Contrary to habit, in a country like Saudi Arabia, Bouden did not wear the veil, local media said, commenting the first photos from the kingdom portraying the premier who is welcomed at the airport by a representative of the royal family. Tunisian President Kais Saied is also expected in Riyadh. Observers say that the real objective of the mission in Riyadh for Tunisians is to be able to obtain from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates the financial support that they have said they urgently need for public expenses. Tourism: Greece elected Europe's leading destination in 2021 Tourism minister: medical, travel protocols followed well (ANSAmed) - NAPLES, OCTOBER 25 - Greece was elected "Europe's leading destination" at the 28th edition of the European World Travel Awards (WTA). Greece's title was announced with the quotation of a series of Greek hotels and resorts as well as tourism agencies and car rentals. The WTA prizes, the website Greek Travel Pages reports, celebrate all sectors of the tourism industry and concern the whole world, divided into continents. The prizes are defined as the Oscars of the tourism industry and the votes arrive from professionals of the sector and high-level consumers. "Our winners - explained the founder of WTA Graham Cooke - represent the best of travelling and tourism in Europe and I congratulate those who are having a role as protagonists in leading a rebirth of the sector after the pandemic". Satisfied with the prize, the Greek Tourism Minister Vassilis Kikilias said: "Greece has managed the pandemic following in the best way medical and travel protocols, showing to the world that our country is extremely beautiful but also very safe as a destination. This prize arrives to confirm the success of our efforts and professionals of the sector are already preparing a strong 2022".(ANSAmed). The Liberal Democrats have accused the Government of creating a tax bombshell for small and medium-sized businesses by raising national insurance. Research commissioned by the party said businesses with fewer than 250 employees would pay an extra 2.4 billion a year due to the 1.25% rise in national insurance (NI) announced by Boris Johnson in September to cover the cost of social care. Research from the House of Commons showed areas such as Birmingham, Glasgow, Leeds and areas of London were set to pay tens of millions extra. But other areas in the so-called former red wall, where the Tories took many seats in the 2019 election, are also due to be hit, including Kirklees in West Yorkshire and County Durham, the research shows. Cornwall, Buckinghamshire and Northamptonshire are the areas outside of cities where small businesses will pay the most, it shows. The research said that of the 8 billion that will be raised from businesses through the rise, 70% will come from the largest 1% of businesses those with at least 250 employees. But Christine Jardine, Liberal Democrat Treasury spokesperson, said: The Conservatives broken manifesto promise will create a tax bombshell for the small businesses that are the backbone of our communities. Its little wonder that voters no longer see the Conservative Party as the party of low tax. We have already lost far too many treasured shops from our high streets, and too many businesses are drowning in tax rises and red tape. Rishi Sunak must give small businesses the chance to grow again instead of clobbering them with a crippling tax rise. The Chancellor is out of touch with small businesses and if he truly cared about their survival, he would cancel this tax hike immediately. Chancellor Rishi Sunak on BBC Ones The Andrew Marr Show (Jeff Overs/BBC) The Liberal Democrats want to unleash the power of small businesses to create jobs and drive our economic recovery, by giving them the tax cut they need and deserve. The party is calling on the Chancellor to slash small and medium-sized businesses employer contributions at Wednesdays Budget instead of raising them. On Sunday, Mr Sunak said he wanted to be a tax-cutting Chancellor, despite the Government raising national insurance to pay for social care. He told BBC Ones The Andrew Marr Show: Of course, my instincts are to do that, thats what I believe, I want people to better keep more of their money, I want to reward people for working. I think that is a good thing and I think that will help drive economic growth. But as we discussed, Ive also had to grapple with an economic shock, the biggest in 300 years, borrowing that (is) the highest since World War Two, and things like the elective backlogs in the NHS being at record levels which we want to make progress on. Those are some of the challenges. The Government insisted at the time that the rise was needed in order to help the NHS recover from the pandemic and to introduce reforms. A Treasury spokesperson said: Weve backed businesses throughout the pandemic through our plan for jobs and its working, with nearly two million fewer people now expected to be out of work than was previously feared. Weve also shown we are committed to supporting investment through the tax system, extending the annual investment allowance increase for another year and introducing the super-deduction. Its right that the health and social care levy costs are widely shared between business and individuals with 70% of the money raised coming from the biggest 1% of employers and 40% of businesses wont pay anything. Channel 5 is to relaunch its current affairs show 5 News in a new hour-long format. The bigger and bolder programme, produced by ITN, will be presented by Sian Williams and Claudia-Liza Vanderpuije, according to a statement. The expanded programme will deliver a greater depth of stories to a teatime audience keeping the pace and tone enjoyed by existing 5 News viewers with an increased emphasis on analysing the issues that affect their lives the most, it added. Sian Williams (Ian West/PA) The programme is currently 30 minutes long. The new format will allow viewers to speak directly to the presenters on messaging platform WhatsApp. This is an effort to give the programme a stronger link with the audience and inform the stories it covers, the makers of the programme said. It will also allow more crossover with the most talked-about issues raised on The Jeremy Vine Show in the mornings on Channel 5, the statement added. Williams will also present a regular segment focusing on mental health and wellbeing. 5 News editor Cait FitzSimons said: 5 News tells the stories that matter most to Britain. Our new-look show is dedicated to increasing our stories from around the UK. Its a commitment to hearing how the decisions taken in Westminster filter down to towns and cities and a chance for us to find the stories that arent being covered by other news programmes. Williams said: Im really looking forward to this next chapter of news on Channel 5. The new 5 News will allow us to delve deeper into stories that matter to our viewers, including one of the biggest issues of our time our mental wellbeing. Im passionate about good mental health and Im really looking forward to exploring how what goes on in the world impacts our viewers lives. They have trust and confidence in us to tell their stories and I hope they will embrace and maybe have some fun with us too as we begin the next generation of 5 News. Vanderpuije added: The new Channel 5 News continues to deliver everything weve always offered viewers, covering top stories, reaching out across the UK, talking about the issues people care about, but now we are taking that that much further. Its so exciting to be a part of such an ambitious project. The relaunched programme will begin on November 8. A new nationwide injunction has been granted against Insulate Britain protesters which means they could be jailed if they block any motorway or major A road across England. The Department for Transport on Monday said the High Court had granted the interim injunction against climate change demonstrators who cause disruption on any part of the Strategic Road Network in England. It comes after the group renewed its roadblock campaign on Monday, bringing traffic on the streets of the City of London and Canary Wharf to a standstill. Insulate Britain are back, risking lives & ruining journeys. 3 specific injunctions are already in place, but today I instructed @NationalHways to apply for an injunction covering the entire strategic road network tonight this has been granted on a temp basis by the High Court. Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP (@grantshapps) October 25, 2021 The new injunction, secured by National Highways, bans protesters from obstructing traffic and prevents access to 4,300 miles of motorways and major A roads, according to the Department for Transport. It also prohibits activists from gluing themselves to the road, damaging the road surface and abandoning their vehicles. Insulate Britain protesters who breach the injunction could be in contempt of court and face imprisonment and an unlimited fine, the department said. In a tweet, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: Insulate Britain are back, risking lives & ruining journeys. 3 specific injunctions are already in place, but today I instructed @NationalHways to apply for an injunction covering the entire strategic road network tonight this has been granted on a temp basis by the High Court. The long term solution lies in changes to the Police, Crime, Sentencing & Courts Bill, giving additional powers against disruptive protests which target critical national infrastructure. This includes unlimited fines & prison sentences of up to 6 months for obstructing highways. The new injunction comes on top of three earlier injunctions taken out by National Highways, including one covering the M25. More than 100 activists have already been served with court papers in relation to these orders. Duncan Smith, acting executive director of operations at National Highways, said: This new injunction covering the Strategic Road Network across the country is another step forward in helping to keep these reckless and dangerous protests away from our network and endangering peoples lives. We continue to serve court papers on those who have breached the previous injunctions. Insulate Britain had pledged to restart its road-blocking protests despite the risk of its members being jailed or fined (Victoria Jones/PA) Earlier on Monday, more than 50 people were arrested after Insulate Britain protesters took to the streets of the City of London and Canary Wharf at around 8am on Monday, disrupting rush-hour traffic. Officers from the Metropolitan Police and City of London Police attended to negotiate with activists, who sat in the road at the junction of Bishopsgate and Camomile Street, close to Liverpool Street. The Met said 53 people were arrested at protest sites in Bishopsgate, Upper Thames Street, Limehouse Street and Southwark Bridge. Metropolitan Police officers work to release a woman who has glued herself to the carriageway in Bishopsgate (Sophie Corcoran/PA) Insulate Britain, an offshoot of Extinction Rebellion, wants the Government to insulate all UK homes by 2030 to cut carbon emissions and has been staging protests for several weeks including on motorways and at the Port of Dover. The group blocked roads on 14 days over the five weeks to October 14, with activists often gluing their hands to the carriageway to increase the length of time it took for police to remove them. The demonstrations have led to clashes with the public, including drivers who have dragged protesters out of the road. The protests on Monday were the organisations first since temporarily halting activities for 10 days from October 14. Around 11,000 people who fled Afghanistan remain in UK hotels and have yet to move to permanent accommodation, the Government has said, amid calls for swifter action. Victoria Atkins, the minister for Afghan resettlement, said the number showed the scale of the task facing officials following the evacuation effort to help people flee as the Taliban swept to power. The UK evacuated more than 15,000 people from August 13. The Government also faced claims of fobbing off MPs as the Commons heard complaints that further details of the Afghan Citizen Resettlement Scheme (ACRS) have not been revealed in the weeks since it was first announced. Up to 20,000 refugees are expected to arrive under the ACRS. Victoria Atkins (Kirsty OConnor/PA) Speaking in the Commons, SNP home affairs spokesman Stuart McDonald said the expression up to 20,000 is far too vague. He asked: When does she aim to have people already here out of bridging hotels and how many are currently in them? Does she share my concern that hotels are being targeted by far-right activists and what lessons to do we learn from that in relation to asylum accommodation policy? Ms Atkins replied: In terms of bridging hotels, we have around 11,000 people in bridging hotels at the moment, this shows the scale of the task (his) eyebrows raised a bit with that, it shows the scale of the task ahead of us. This is going to take time and I have been frank with the House at every opportunity to make that clear. It is going to take us time, but we want to do this right. She added: Hes absolutely right to raise the issue of security, I dont again want.there to be any unintended consequences, but we are very, very mindful of the security needs of our bridging hotels and people who reside within them. Clearly any actions to target them are not only unlawful, illegal, they are also despicable in moral terms and the police and others will work very hard to ensure that does not happen. Earlier, Green Party MP Caroline Lucas (Brighton Pavilion) said: (Ms Atkins) says the Government is working at pace, but I can promise her it doesnt feel like that for the Afghans still stuck in Afghanistan with no idea if and how theyll be able to get to safety. It certainly does not feel like that to honourable members who have been writing emails, making phone calls, desperate to get some kind of response from the Home Office and Foreign Office and again and again, frankly, just being fobbed off with standard formula emails that do not address the problems that we are raising on a daily basis. On ACRS, Ms Lucas said: Two months on and still counting. We have still heard nothing. British military personnel depart a C-17 aircraft at RAF Brize Norton, Oxfordshire after the final airlift from Afghanistan (Peter Nicholls/PA) For Labour, shadow immigration minister Bambos Charalambous said: I share the frustrations of many about the slow progress of the Afghan citizens resettlement scheme (ACRS). Were still waiting for the details from the Home Office on how the scheme will operate in practice and the Governments own website offering guidance on the scheme has not been updated since September 13. Conservative chairman of the Defence Committee Tobias Ellwood raised humanitarian concerns, saying over half the population in Afghanistan were facing starvation and a very tough winter. He said: Could I ask for the Government to engage further with the Taliban to secure greater access for the United Nations organisations such as the World Food Programme and Unicef in order to prevent the largest humanitarian disaster in decades from unfolding? Ms Atkins replied: Its really important that we do everything we can to work with our international partners. Labours Andy McDonald (Middlesbrough) highlighted the cases of people trapped in Afghanistan, including the wife of a constituent. He told MPs: She is threatening to self-immolate if she is left to the devices of the Taliban. A British soldier killed by an elephant charge on an anti-poaching operation was deprived of one of the main protective measures after a ban on the use of warning shots, a coroner has concluded. Guardsman Mathew Talbot of the 1st Battalion the Coldstream Guards was fatally injured in the incident in Liwonde National Park in Malawi on May 5, 2019. A week-long inquest into the Walsall-born soldiers death at Oxford Coroners Court, concluding on Monday, heard evidence of how warning shots against dangerous game had been banned, under the Armys rules of engagement. After hearing evidence, the senior coroner, Darren Salter, said the reasons for this prohibition were still not entirely clear. Guardsman Mathew Talbot, who was killed while on an anti-poaching patrol (MoD/PA) He was told the use of force rules had since been changed, allowing warning shots on anti-poaching operations. The 22-year-old, of Great Barr, West Midlands, suffered fatal chest and soft tissue injuries while on day three of an eight-day patrol. Gdsm Talbot, who loved the Army, was part of a five-man mixed Malawian and British group on his first operational tour when he was attacked. His parents, Steve and Michelle Talbot, said their son was badly let down by Army planners, adding that had the right things been put in place he may have survived. A Ministry of Defence (MOD) service inquiry, published in October last year and shared with the inquest, concluded there had been several failings and made 30 recommendations. The coroner said the availability of a person medically qualified to insert a chest drain to treat Gdsm Talbot and the presence of a med-evac helicopter may have led to Mathews survival. He said evidence had been heard about an Army risk assessment, stating that casualties should reach hospital within four hours of an incident, known as the medical timeline. That included an overly optimistic assessment of the capability of the available Land Rover, to be used to move any casualties. A memorial erected to Guardsman Talbot in Liwonde National Park (Dominic Lipinski/PA) The coroner said the underestimate of the impact of an attack by dangerous game and the length of time to move the patient by road, meant the (medical) timeline was not achievable. Turning to three contributory causes to the death, also borne out in the service inquiry, he said: Firstly, it was known from two previous deployment patrols elephant grass should be avoided. This should have been made clearer, particularly when the helicopter was unavailable. Secondly, the wrong immediate actions for an elephant attack; namely climbing a tree, taken in the heat of the moment. He added: I think, as has been recognised, there should have been refresher training and reinforcement of what the correct actions were to be taken when faced by an elephant attack. Turning to the third factor, the use of warning shots, he said: To be honest, I am still not entirely clear why they were not permitted. Ive heard reasons they werent permitted but those reasons dont seem terribly convincing. But the result of that is Mathew and his fellow soldiers were deprived of one of the main protective measures. The Duke of Sussex lays a wreath in tribute to Guardsman Talbot in 2019 (Dominic Lipinski/PA) Warning shots were known to be effective (on a previous operation), but I would have thought actually thats something which is fairly obvious. He added, warning shots appear to have been effective afterwards, as the elephants were scared off by the African park rangers using their guns. Mr Salter said: I note actually in terms of contributory causes, those three things; patrolling in elephant grass, the wrong immediate actions, and the prohibition of warning shots are essentially the three contributory causes identified by the service inquiry. Gdsm Talbot and his patrol were navigating through two-metre-high elephant grass when they spotted three elephants 30 metres ahead. As they tried to backtrack, the soldier was injured when another elephant, unseen, charged the patrol from the side. The British Army sergeant commanding the group managed to climb a tree but as Gdsm Talbot tried to do the same he was caught by the charging elephant, the coroner found. He was knocked and thrown into the air and then injured by the elephants tusks while on the ground, added Mr Salter. The coroner found there was initial highly commendable lifesaving treatment in the field, before the injured soldier was stretchered to a Land Rover, which set off for the parks gates. However, progress was slow over the rough terrain and Gdsm Talbot suffered a cardiac arrest and died more than four hours after the incident the hospital still two hours drive away. If Gdsm Talbot had reached hospital within four hours of sustaining injuries, it is likely he would have survived, Mr Salter said. After delivering a narrative conclusion, Mr Salter said: It is right to recognise the task that Mathew was engaged upon. A task he himself considered very important. Indeed I was struck, and recall the statement where he said it was a combination of being a soldier and David Attenborough, and that did strike a chord. In September 2019 the Duke of Sussex honoured the sacrifice of Gdsm Talbot by laying a wreath at a memorial during a visit to the national park. It is unthinkable and unacceptable for the High Court to rule in favour of the United States as it appeals against the block on Julian Assanges extradition, a senior WikiLeaks journalist has said. The High Court is due to hear an appeal this week against a January decision not to extradite the 50-year-old to face charges relating to WikiLeaks publication of secret military files due to concerns that he would be a suicide risk in a US prison. WikiLeaks editor-in-chief Kristinn Hrafnsson told a press briefing in London on Monday: It is unthinkable that the High Court will come to any other decision but to uphold the magistrates court decision. Anything else is totally unacceptable. WikiLeaks editor-in-chief Kristinn Hrafnsson said it is unthinkable that the High Court will rule in favour of the US over Julian Assanges extradition (Yui Mok/PA) It would be such a stain on the system in this country that I certainly hope there will be enough pressure and realisation of how devastating it would be for this country if somehow the judge comes to the decision of reversing the magistrates court decision. The briefing panel, which also included Mr Assanges lawyer and partner Stella Moris and director of international campaigns at Reporters Without Borders (RSF) Rebecca Vincent, said the forthcoming hearing follows an investigation, published by Yahoo News, which alleged plots to abduct or kill Mr Assange. A security firm, under investigation in Madrid, is also alleged to have spied on Mr Assange on behalf of the CIA while he was in the Ecuadorian embassy in London and been part of the alleged plot. Julian Assanges lawyer and partner Stella Moris said allegations of spying on behalf of the CIA taint any semblance of legality of the US appeal (Victoria Jones/PA) Ms Moris said: This is a game-changer going into the appeal because it shows the true nature, the true origins, the true criminality of the US actions against Julian and it completely taints any semblance of legality of this appeal going into it. She added: We were in the embassy with a group of mercenaries and one of the things they disclosed to the Spanish investigation is that they discussed poisoning Julian in the embassy and they discussed leaving the door open so that Julian could be abducted from the embassy. They also called on US President Joe Biden to drop the case. Ms Vincent said: We have been calling on the Biden administration to discontinue this case. At any point the Department of Justice could simply close this case. This week the UK High Court will hear the US appeal against an earlier ruling that Julian Assange should not be extradited Rights groups call on US Attorney General to drop case against Julian Assange | @IFEX #FreeAssangeNOW https://t.co/fZoDiwG0eY WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) October 24, 2021 They were joined in their call by Amnesty Internationals secretary general, Agnes Callamard, who said: The US governments unrelenting pursuit of Julian Assange makes it clear that this prosecution is a punitive measure, but the case involves concerns which go far beyond the fate of one man and put media freedom and freedom of expression in peril. Journalists and publishers are of vital importance in scrutinising governments, exposing their misdeeds and holding perpetrators of human rights violations to account. This disingenuous appeal should be denied, the charges should be dropped, and Julian Assange should be released. Assange was arrested in the UK in 2019 after spending seven years inside the Ecuadorian embassy evading extradition to Sweden to face sexual assault charges which were later dropped. He is wanted in the US to face 18 charges over the 2010 release by WikiLeaks of 500,000 secret files relating to military campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan. The two-day hearing at the High Court will begin on Wednesday but a decision is not expected for four to six weeks. Two men have been charged with the murder of an amazing father with a heart of gold who died after being stabbed outside a Royal British Legion. Fisherman Max Maguire died following the incident in Lymington, New Forest, Hampshire, in which another man and a woman also suffered stab wounds. The 23-year-old from the Pennington area was pronounced dead at the scene of the incident which happened on Friday October 22. The second male victim, also 23, sustained serious injuries and is currently being treated at hospital and remains in a stable condition. The 23-year-old woman received serious but not life-threatening wounds to her chest. Garon Jewell, 18, and Draven Jewell, 20, from Flushards, Lymington, have been charged with murder, one count of attempted murder and one count of grievous bodily harm with intent. They have both been remanded in custody to appear at Southampton Magistrates Court on Tuesday October 26. Mr Maguires family said in a statement released through Hampshire police: Lovely Max had lots of friends and was a very popular lad. Anyone Max ever met fell in love with him instantly. He would have you in tears of laughter. With a heart of gold, he would help anyone in need. Max was an amazing father to his beautiful daughter Delilah Daisy. Her father has been robbed from her. He was an amazing son, brother, uncle and nephew, grandson and cousin. Max loved his job as a fisherman and worked hard. He adored his dog too. Flowers at the scene outside the Royal British Legion on High Street in Lymington, Hampshire, where two men and a woman were found with stab wounds on Friday (Brian Farmer/PA) He will be sorely missed by his loving family: mum, dad, brothers and sisters, uncles and aunties, nan and grandad and his many cousins. Life will never be the same again for anyone who knew Max. Detective Inspector Rod Kenny, who is leading the investigation, said: This is a tragic incident and our thoughts remain with Maxs family and friends as well as the other people that were injured. The charges come after three days of intensive inquiries by officers and we will continue to work with the Crown Prosecution Service in relation to this case. A 14-year-old boy from Lymington arrested on suspicion of murder has been bailed while inquiries continue. A 29-year-old man from Lymington arrested on suspicion of murder has been released without charge, with no further action to be taken against him. Ugo Monye has described performing on Strictly Come Dancing as amazing following his exit from the show. The former rugby player was eliminated from the BBC One celebrity dancing competition on Sunday following a public vote. His last performance with professional partner Oti Mabuse was a rumba to Leave The Door Open by Silk Sonic. They've taken all the ups and downs in their stride, and created so much #Strictly magic. We're so sad to see Ugo and Oti go! @ugomonye @OtiMabuse pic.twitter.com/8Bt2acg4QX BBC Strictly (@bbcstrictly) October 24, 2021 Speaking on Monday, he told BBC Two spin-off show It Takes Two: To be able to do my last dance with Oti (Mabuse) was amazing. You never want it to be your last dance, do you, but I have just had a phenomenal five weeks on the biggest show on telly. He added: We have had the best time. Monye said he cant be any more grateful to Mabuse. He added that while he knew the rumba would be tough, the point of coming on the show is to push yourself, to push your boundaries. Oti Mabuse and Ugo Monye (Guy Levy/BBC) I do look back at my time with zero regrets, Monye said. Did I have more to give? Yeah, I think so. But did I have more to give than the remaining contestants? Absolutely not because they are spectacular. During Sundays results show, Monye competed in a dance-off against CBBC presenter Rhys Stephenson and his partner Nancy Xu. However the judges voted unanimously to save Stephenson after he repeated his American smooth to Ive Got The World On A String by Michael Buble. Britain has accused Sudans military of having betrayed all the people of Sudan after it arrested the countrys prime minister and seized power. Foreign Office minister Vicky Ford said the UK most strongly condemns the arrests of civilian members of Sudans transitional government by the military. She added: Were also deeply concerned by reports of shooting of protesters. This must stop. Thousand of people poured into the streets of the capital Khartoum and its twin city of Omdurman following the early morning arrests of prime minister Abdalla Hamdok and other officials. Vicky Ford (House of Commons/PA) The Sudan Doctors Committee reported the deaths of two protesters along with tens of injuries after security forces were said to have opened fire on some of the crowds. Responding to an urgent question in the House of Commons, Ms Ford said the UK has been a firm supporter of the democratic transition in Sudan since the 2019 revolution. She added: The acts of the military today represent an unacceptable betrayal of the Sudanese people and their journey to democracy. Ms Ford said she was in Khartoum last week and had stressed the need for all parties to support the civilian-led government. She also highlighted the vital role of women and girls in the countrys future, adding: The UK stands with them. The militarys actions today have betrayed all the people of Sudan but especially the women and girls. Shadow foreign affairs minister Stephen Doughty pressed Ms Ford on the Governments decision to cut spending on foreign aid, as he argued that as a consequence of that, Britain might not be able to help Sudanese people or have any influence in the countrys internal affairs. He said: Does she also regret the decision of the Chancellor, Prime Minister and the last foreign secretary to slash our support to Sudan, as with much of Africa, at such a fragile and critical time? Over 50% of our budget was cut in the last year from 142 to 62 million. That risks our own influence, let alone our ability to help the Sudanese people who will face the consequences of these terrible events. Ms Ford reiterated the UK does stand by the people of Sudan, adding: We have been a leading donor to humanitarian aid in Sudan. It is already the fifth largest humanitarian crisis in the world, and the actions of the military do not change the urgent need for assistance and ordinary Sudanese people must not suffer as a result. She added: Regarding financial support, we have invested 150 million in Sudan since the revolution, including 80 million to the Sudan Family Support Programme. WASHINGTON (AP) Pivotal Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin appears to be on board with White House proposals for new taxes on billionaires and certain corporations to help pay for President Joe Bidens scaled-back social services and climate change package. Biden huddled with the conservative West Virginia Democrat and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer at the presidents Delaware home on Sunday as they work on resolving the disputes between centrists and progressives that have stalled the Democrats wide-ranging bill. A person who insisted on anonymity to discuss Manchins position told The Associated Press the senator is agreeable to the White House's new approach on the tax proposals. What had been a sweeping $3.5 trillion plan is now being eyed as $1.75 trillion package. Thats within a range that could still climb considerably higher, according to a second person who insisted on anonymity to discuss the private talks. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said that even at half the original $3.5 trillion proposed, Bidens signature domestic initiative would be larger than any other legislative package with big investments in health care, child care and strategies to tackle climate change. It is less than what was projected to begin with, but its still bigger than anything we have ever done in terms of addressing the needs of Americas working families, Pelosi said Sunday on CNNs State of the Union." Democrats are working intensely to try again to wrap up talks on the measure so the president can spotlight his administrations achievements to world leaders at two overseas summits on the economy and climate change that get underway this week. Biden met with Manchin and Schumer, D-N.Y., at the presidents home in Wilmington after Democrats missed last weeks deadline to resolve disputes. Biden has said he'd like to see a $2 trillion package and they are trying again this upcoming week to reach agreement. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., a key holdout vote on President Joe Biden's domestic agenda, chairs a hearing of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Oct. 19, 2021. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) Its unclear what level of the new taxes Manchin would support, but he generally backs the White House proposals, according to the person who insisted on anonymity to discuss Manchin's position. Neither person insisting on anonymity was authorized to discuss the negotiations by name. The White House said the breakfast meeting was a productive discussion about the presidents agenda. The talks appeared to last for hours, but no decisions were announced. The Democrats continued to make progress, the White House said in its post-meeting statement. Resolving the revenue side is key as the Democrats insist the new spending will be fully paid for by the various taxes. Manchin and another Democrat, Sen. Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona, have almost on their own halted Bidens proposal from advancing. With Republican opposition and an evenly split 50-50 Senate, Biden has no votes to spare, and the two Democratic senators have insisted on reducing the size of the enormous package and pressed for other changes. One key debate has been over the revenues to pay for the package, after Sinema rejected an earlier plan to reverse the Republican-led 2017 tax cuts and raise rates on corporations earning more than $5 million a year and wealthy Americans earning more than $400,000, or $450,000 for couples. Final price tag could well be less than $2 trillion Instead, the White House is considering a tax on the investment incomes of billionaires fewer than 1,000 of the wealthiest Americans with at least $1 billion in assets. It also has floated a 15% corporate minimum tax that is designed to ensure all companies pay what Biden calls their fair share ending the practice of some big-name firms paying no taxes. Democrats initially planned that Biden's package would contain $3.5 trillion worth of spending and tax initiatives over 10 years. But demands by moderates led by Manchin and Sinema to contain costs mean its final price tag could well be less than $2 trillion. Disputes remain over far-reaching investments, including plans to expand Medicare coverage with dental, vision and hearing aid benefits for seniors; child care assistance; and free pre-kindergarten. Pelosi, D-Calif., said on CNN that Democrats were still working to keep in provisions for four weeks of paid family leave but acknowledged that other proposals such as expanding Medicare to include dental coverage could prove harder to save because of cost. Pelosi reiterated that about 90% is wrapped up and said she expected an agreement by weeks end, paving the way for a House vote on a separate $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill before next Sunday, Oct. 31, when a series of transportation programs will lapse. The Senate approved over the summer the package of road, broadband and other public works projects, but the measure stalled in the House during deliberations on the broader Biden bill. Manchin, whose state has a major coal industry, has opposed Biden's initial climate change proposals, which involved a plan to penalize utilities that do not switch quickly to clean energy. Democrats are now also compiling other climate change strategies to meet Bidens goal of reducing U.S. greenhouse gas emissions by at least 50% by 2030. President Joe Biden participates in a CNN town hall at the Baltimore Center Stage Pearlstone Theater, Thursday, Oct. 21, 2021, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) Democrats were hoping Biden could cite major accomplishments when he attends a global conference in Scotland on climate change in early November after attending a summit of world leaders in Rome. Sen. Angus King, a Maine independent who caucuses with Democrats, said the expected cuts to the clean energy provisions in the spending bill were especially disappointing. If were going to get the rest of the world to take serious steps to remedy this problem, weve got to do it ourselves, King said on NBCs Meet the Press." Pelosi insisted that Democrats had pieced together other policies in the spending bill that could reduce emissions. We will have something that will meet the presidents goals, she said. Democrats also want to make progress that could help Democrat Terry McAuliffe win a neck-and-neck Nov. 2 gubernatorial election in Virginia. Rep. Ro Khanna, a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, maintained that his caucus will not budge on supporting the infrastructure bill before Oct. 31 if there is no agreement on the broader package, which would be passed under so-called budget reconciliation rules. The president needs the reconciliation agreement to go to Glasgow, Khanna, D-Calif., said on Fox News Sunday. He added: Thats what is going to deal with climate change, thats whats going to hit his goals of 50% reduction by 2030. Im confident we will have an agreement. Investors' focus this week will be on earnings results, with some of the most heavily weighted companies in the S&P 500 poised to deliver their quarterly reports. Over the past couple of weeks, most of the companies that posted earnings results topped Wall Street's estimates, despite widespread concerns over the impact of supply chain challenges to corporate profits. These better-than-feared results helped power both the S&P 500 and Dow to fresh record highs in the past week. As of Friday, about 23% of S&P 500 companies had reported actual results for the third quarter. Of these, 84% topped Wall Street's expectations for earnings per share (EPS), according to data from FactSet. And the estimated earnings growth rate for the S&P 500 stood at 32.7%, based on actual results and expectations for companies still yet to report. If maintained through the end of third-quarter earnings season, that would mark the third-highest earnings growth rate posted for the index since 2010. Given the string of stronger-than-expected results posted so far, this week's docket of reports has a heightened bar to clear. And that's especially set to be the case for the Big Tech companies, including Facebook (FB), Apple (AAPL), Amazon (AMZN) and Alphabet (GOOGL). Most of these far outperformed the market last year, but have seen their stock gains cool so far in 2021 amid concerns over rising interest rates, chip shortages, and slowing growth after a surge in online media usage and demand for software during the height of the pandemic. Despite the near-term challenges, however, some strategists have struck an upbeat tone on the technology sector as a whole. "While the chip shortage will be a major conversation piece for tech investors during tech earnings season and clearly be an overhang, we believe the Street will instead look through any near-term disruption and focus on the underlying healthy demand drivers into 2022 which look robust," said Wedbush analyst Dan Ives in a note last week. A number of the closely watched technology companies that reported last week posted results that disappointed investors or highlighted the lingering impact of these myriad concerns. Snap (SNAP), the parent company of the disappearing photo-sharing platform app Snapchat, offered a current-quarter forecast that fell short of expectations, with supply chain challenges for its advertiser customer base and privacy-related changes to Apple's iOS operating system weighing on sales and profits. All Markets Summit The weak guidance sent Snap's stock down by 27% on Friday for its biggest single-day drop on record, and dragged down shares of other ad-driven companies including Facebook, Pinterest (PINS), Twitter (TWTR) and Alphabet. In July, Facebook had already flagged an early impact from Apple's iOS privacy update, which allows users to better control how apps track them. Facebook Chief Financial Officer Dave Wehner said during the company's second-quarter earnings call that the company expected "increased ad targeting headwinds in 2021 from regulatory and platform changes, notably the recent iOS updates" and expected these "to have a more significant impact in the third quarter compared to the second." Still, the social media juggernaut's top-line growth is expected to climb by another 37% in the third quarter of last year to reach a fresh quarterly record of $29.45 billion. Still, this pace of growth would mark a step down from the second quarter's 56% year-on-year growth rate. An illustration picture taken in London on December 18, 2020 shows the logos of Google, Apple, Facebook, Amazon and Microsoft displayed on a mobile phone and a laptop screen. - (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS / AFP) (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images) For peer ad-driven company Alphabet, a pickup in travel among consumers may help fuel the company's core Google Search business even in the face of other ad-industry headwinds. Both Snap and American Express (AXP) last week highlighted a pickup they were witnessing in consumer travel behavior and out-of-the-home spending in their third-quarter earnings releases and calls. "Lost in the noise, SNAP also highlighted opportunity driven by travel budgets returning, which is a positive read through to GOOGLs general search business," Daniel Salmon, BMO Capital Markets internet and media analyst, wrote in a note on Friday. Ongoing semiconductor shortages and supply-related issues also dealt a blow to other tech companies. Tesla (TSLA) said in its earnings report last week that, "A variety of challenges, including semiconductor shortages, congestion at ports and rolling blackouts, have been impacting our ability to keep factories running at full speed." And reports earlier this month from Bloomberg suggested Apple was likely to cut its iPhone 13 production targets by as many as 10 million units amid chip shortages. The company, however, is still expected to post still-solid revenue growth of 21%, bringing sales to $84.67 billion as consumer demand for the latest smartphones remained resilient, especially in the U.S. and China. Rounding out this tech-heavy earnings week will be Amazon (AMZN), which posts quarterly results alongside Apple on Thursday after market close. The company has lagged the market since last reporting earnings in late July, falling 7.3% since July 29 versus a 2.9% gain in the S&P 500. Investors have been especially cautious on Amazon given widespread supply chain constraints, rising labor costs and fears that e-commerce sales and Amazon Web Services growth could slow after a pandemic-induced surge. Amazon shares had climbed by 76% in 2020, and the stock was the second-best FAANG performer after Apple that year. "Concerns across top line, bottom line, and broader macro have collectively driven cautious sentiment into year-end," wrote JPMorgan analyst Doug Anmuth in a note last Thursday. "However, we believe there is still significant secular shift toward e-commerce ahead and Amazon has a very strong track record around investing into future growth opportunities." "Macro issues related to supply chain, port congestion, and inventory are well-documented and have intensified into the holiday season, driving concerns that delays could impact timing of AMZN receiving 1P/3P [first-party and third-party seller] inventory and certain items could remain out-of-stock," he added. "Overall, we believe AMZN embedded some degree of disruption into the 3Q guide and we believe AMZN scaled inventory in anticipation of greater 2H demand." In late July, Amazon said it expected third-quarter net sales to total $106 billion to $112 billion, missing consensus expectations at the time. Wall Street analysts now expected to see Amazon post third-quarter sales of $111.8 billion, representing year-over-year growth of 16%, or its slowest since early 2015. Economic calendar Monday: Chicago Fed National Activity Index, September (0.2 expected, 0.29 in August); Dallas Fed Manufacturing Activity Index, October (6.2 expected, 4.6 in September) Tuesday: FHFA House Price Index, month-over-month, August (1.5% expected, 1.4% in July); S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller 20-City Composite, month-over-month, August (1.44% expected, 1.55% in July); S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller 20-City Composite, year-over-year, August (20.00% expected, 19.95% in July); New Home Sales, month-over-month, September (756,000 expected, 740,000 in August); Conference Board Consumer Confidence, October (108.5 expected, 109.2 in September) Wednesday: MBA Mortgage Applications, week ended Oct. 22 (-6.3% during prior week); Advance Goods Trade Balance, September (-$88.3 billion expected, -$87.6 billion in August); Wholesale Inventories, month-over-month, September preliminary (1.0% expected, 1.2% in August); Durable Goods Orders, September preliminary (-1.0% expected, 1.8% in August); Durable Goods Orders, excluding transportation, September preliminary (0.4% expected, 0.3% in August); Non-defense Capital Goods Orders, excluding aircraft, September preliminary (0.4% expected, 0.6% in August); Non-defense Capital Goods Orders, excluding aircraft, September preliminary (0.4% expected, 0.8% in August) Thursday: Initial jobless claims, week ended Oct. 23 (292,000 expected, 290,000 during prior week); Continuing claims, week ended Oct. 16 (2.420 million expected, 2.481 million during prior week); GDP annualized, quarter-over-quarter, Q3 first estimate annualized (2.7% expected, 6.7% in Q2); Personal consumption, Q3 first estimate (0.7% expected, 12.0% in Q2); Core personal consumption expenditures, quarter-over-quarter, Q3 first estimate (4.4% expected, 6.1% in Q2); Pending home sales, September (0.6% expected, 8.1% in August); Kansas City Fed Manufacturing Activity Index, October (19 expected, 22 in September) Friday: Personal income, September (-0.2% expected, 0.2% in August); Personal spending, September (0.6% expected, 0.8% in August); Personal Consumption Expenditures Core Deflator, month-over-moth, September (0.2% expected, 0.3% in August); Personal Consumption Expenditures, Core Deflator, year-over-year, September (3.7% expected, 3.6% in August): MNI Chicago PMI, October (64.0 expected, 64.7 in September); University of Michigan Sentiment, October final (71.4 expected, 71.4 in September) Earnings calendar Monday: Kimberly-Clark Corp. (KMB), Otis Worldwide Corp. (OTIS) before market open; Facebook (FB) after market close Tuesday: Centene (CNC), UPS (UPS), 3M (MMM), General Electric (GE), Waste Management (WM), Eli Lilly (LLY), Hasbro (HAS), Raytheon Technologies (RTX), Invesco (IVZ), The Sherwin-Williams Co. (SHW), Lockheed Martin (LMT), S&P Global (SPGI) before market open; Capital One Financial Corp. (COF), Twitter (TWTR), Juniper Networks (JNPR), Visa (V), Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), Microsoft (MSFT), Texas Instruments (TXN), Alphabet (GOOGL) after market close Wednesday: CME Group (CME), McDonald's (MCD), Hilton Worldwide Holdings (HLT), Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMY), Boeing (BA), The Coca-Cola Company (KO), Kraft Heinz (KHC), General Motors (GM) before market open; Ford (F), Xilinx (XLNX), O'Reilly Automotive (ORLY), United Rentals (URI), Align Technology (ALGN), eBay (EBAY), ServiceNow (NOW) after market close Thursday: Merck (MRK), Caterpillar (CAT), Yum! Brands (YUM), Comcast (CMCSA), Moody's Corp. (MCO), Nielsen Holdings (NLSN), Stanley Black & Decker (SWK), The Hershey Co. (HSY), Molson Coors Beverage Co. (TAP), Mastercard (MA), Altria Group (MO) before market open; Apple (AAPL), Western Digital Corp. (WDC), Starbucks (SBUX), Gilead Sciences (GILD), Amazon (AMZN) after market close Friday: Royal Caribbean (RCL), T Rowe Price Group (TROW), Charter Communications (CHTR), Chevron (CVX), AbbVie (ABBV), Exxon Mobil (XOM), Colgate-Palmolive (CL), Newell Brands (NWL) before market open Emily McCormick is a reporter for Yahoo Finance. Follow her on Twitter: @emily_mcck Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance Follow Yahoo Finance on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Flipboard, LinkedIn, YouTube, and reddit By Ahmed Aboulenein and Carl O'Donnell (Reuters) - Democratic Party lawmakers holding up proposed drug pricing reforms are among the largest beneficiaries of the pharmaceutical industry's push to stave off price cuts, a Reuters analysis of public lobbying and campaign data shows. The industry, which traditionally gives more to Republicans, channeled around 60% of donated campaign funds to Democrats this year. It has spent over $177 million on lobbying and campaign donations in 2021. Nonprofit political action committees (PACs) run by Pfizer Inc and Amgen Inc and the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) were among the biggest donors, according to political spending data from OpenSecrets, formerly the Center for Responsive Politics. Drugmakers are seeking to block laws that would give the U.S. government authority to negotiate prices for prescription medicines. Current U.S. law bars the government's Medicare health insurance program from negotiating drug prices directly. Many of the Democrats opposing an ambitious drug reduction bill proposed in the House of Representatives are among some of the biggest recipients of drug manufacturer lobbying funds. They include Senators Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona, Robert Menendez of New Jersey, and Representative Scott Peters of California, OpenSecrets data covering industry donations through September of 2021 shows. In all, they have received around $1 million in pharmaceutical and health product industry donations this year. A spokesperson for Sinema did not respond to a request for comment on the funds she has received but said the Senator supports making drugs as cheap as possible for patients. Menendez and Peters said the donations did not influence their views. All three said they are opposed to The Lower Drug Costs Now Act, which is sponsored by Democrats in the House of Representatives and also known as H.R.3. Menendez and Peters have advocated for alternative scaled-back drug pricing reforms that would still allow Medicare to negotiate drug prices but would lead to significantly smaller savings. Congressman Frank Pallone of New Jersey, who is also one of the top recipients of drugmaker donations, voted in favor of H.R.3. Sinema, who campaigned in 2018 on cutting drug prices, told the White House she opposes allowing Medicare to negotiate them. She received about $466,000 from the industry in 2021, according to OpenSecrets data. Peters was the top recipient of pharmaceutical industry funds in the House this year at nearly $99,550, according to OpenSecrets data. A spokesperson said Peters was not influenced by lobbying money and opposed the proposed law to protect pharmaceutical industry jobs and innovation. Drugmakers say the Democrats proposed drug price overhaul would undermine their ability to develop new medicines, an argument they have used whenever price cuts are discussed by politicians regardless of political party. "Patients face a future with less hope under Congress' current drug pricing plan," PhRMA Chief Executive Steve Ubl said in an August statement in reference to the proposed law. PhRMA declined to comment on donating to key Democratic opponents of the bill. The United States is an outlier as most other developed nations do negotiate drug prices with manufacturers. Amgen did not immediately respond to requests for comment on its donations and Pfizer declined to comment. PROSPECTS FOR REFORM President Joe Biden has vowed to cut medicine costs, in part by allowing the federal government to negotiate drug payments by Medicare, which covers Americans aged 65 and older. But prospects for major drug pricing reforms have stalled in recent weeks amid opposition from centrist Democrats including Sinema and Peters. Negotiations are ongoing, eight Democratic staffers said. The lawmakers' resistance comes as 83% of Americans support allowing Medicare to negotiate medicine costs, according to a Kaiser Family Foundation poll. The United States spends more than twice as much per person on drugs as other wealthy economies, about $1,500, for a total of around $350 billion in 2019. "Members of Congress don't always mirror the views of the public and the pharmaceutical industry is a powerful lobbying force," said Larry Levitt, a health economist at Kaiser. The healthcare industry is the second largest industry lobbying group in the United States behind the finance sector. It donated more than $600 million to politicians ahead of the 2020 elections. The pharmaceutical industry has spent hundreds of millions of dollars per year to sway federal and state policy. But current Democratic leadership has the industry concerned major reforms could actually be enacted and is working harder to offer alternatives such as reducing insurance co-pays, one industry source said. "It's been sort of a mad scramble." Corporations in the United States are not permitted to make direct contributions to candidates but can give money through PACs. Most corporate PACs, including Pfizers and Amgens, are run by company managers and employees. Democrats and some drug price experts say the Lower Drug Costs Now Act could save U.S. taxpayers and consumers billions annually with relatively minor impact on innovation. A House Oversight and Reform Committee report showed that top drugmakers have spent around $50 billion more on share buybacks and dividends than research and development between 2016 and 2020. Lovisa Gustafsson, a healthcare policy analyst at the Commonwealth Fund, a non-profit healthcare advocacy group, said, "There are other ways that we can incentivize innovation, aside from just paying huge margins for pharmaceutical companies. (Reporting by Ahmed Aboulenein in Washington and Carl O'Donnell in New York; Editing by Caroline Humer and Bill Berkrot) YEREVAN, OCTOBER 25, ARMENPRESS. The government plans to consistently and continuously reduce the state debt and bring it to the circle defined by law, finance minister Tigran Khachatryan said during joint parliamentary committee debates on the 2022 state budget. 2020, depending on both the pandemic and the war, led to a 63,5% state debt against the GDP. Pursuant to rules defined by law, this fact requires the government to present to parliament in the next five years the kind of a budgetary circle which would guarantee debt return in the limits not exceeding 60%, he said. Khachatryan said that their actions must lead to the 2022s summarized indicator to be 60,2% of the GDP. Implementing reasonable capital or development programs through funding the deficit are the important preconditions which should secure the ensuring of economic potential and high economic growth. From this perspective we will head for a consistent and continuous reduction of the debt, he said. The deficit is projected 3,1%, a figure Khachatryan described as the reasonable safe size with which the government will be able to implement sectoral development programs by involving debt. The finance minister also pointed out increasing tax revenues. The Pashinyan administrations government action plan defines that by 2026 tax revenues must reach 25% of the GDP. This means that tax revenues must increase at least 0,5% every year. We will have significant increase of capital spending, both economic and social infrastructures. We see all this together as a precondition in terms of creating a sustainable environment for economic growth, because both 2022 and next years are the period of time in the governments action plan where the targeted 7% economic growth is the minimum indicator, he said. Editing and Translating by Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, OCTOBER 25, ARMENPRESS. Minister of State of Artsakh Artak Beglaryan met on October 23 with US Congressmen David Valadao in Hanford, California, the Office of the State Minister said. Artak Beglaryan thanked the Congressman for the constant support to the people of Artsakh, introduced him on the current situation and the humanitarian, political challenges in the Republic. The State Minister said that there is a necessity for a broad international support especially for eliminating the humanitarian consequences of the 2020 War and finally exercising the Artsakh peoples right to self-determination. David Valado reaffirmed his support to the protection of rights and freedoms of the people of Artsakh. The sides exchanged views on the possible involvement of US Congressmen in the solution of the existing problems. Editing and Translating by Aneta Harutyunyan The Moon, a whole new world (for educators) When we look at the Moon in the sky, it is sometimes difficult to imagine that it is a world of its own. Although the Moon has some similarities to Earth, it is a very different world from ours, a world inhospitable to humans. Thanks in part to the Apollo missions, which enabled humans to explore it between 1969 and 1972 , we now have a better idea of its composition and the history of its formation. Below, we present some facts about the Moon as a celestial body, its exploration and its formation, and we point out some things that young people might find confusing (!) or intriguing. (magnifying glass icon). We also provide answers to some questions that children often ask (?). Canadian contributions to lunar research and exploration are also mentioned here and there (flag icon). Many other questions and answers can be found on the page for youth. The Moon compared with Earth The Moon is much smaller than Earth. (Credit: Creative Commons) The Moon is a much smaller body than Earth. The Moon is about one quarter the size of Earth. It is slightly smaller in area than North and South America combined. It also has about 81 times less mass than Earth. Magnifying glass icon to point out things that young people might find intriguing: Show the young people images of the Moon from space or from its surface, and encourage them to compare the appearance of the Moon and Earth. They can describe in their own words the colours and textures they see on the Moon's surface. They will notice that Earth has a variety of landscapes, while the Moon is more uniform: it is all grey and rocky, with light and dark patches, and dotted with craters of various sizes. Clouds and other atmospheric phenomena change Earth's appearance on a daily basis, whereas the Moon's appearance is fairly static because it has no atmosphere. The Moon's grey surface has many craters of all sizes. (Credit: NASA) ? : question mark: to provide answers to some questions that children often ask: How do craters form? The many craters on the Moon's surface are the result of multiple meteorite impacts. Meteorites crash into the surface at very high speeds, creating holes dozens of times larger than the rocks themselves. ! : exclamation point: to point out things that young people might find confusing: It is surprising to see so many craters on the Moon and not on Earth. In fact, Earth has also been bombarded by meteorites of all sizes, and it still is. However, the atmosphere prevents most of them from reaching the ground. In addition, geological activity, such as volcanic eruptions, plate tectonics and erosion, has continually removed the craters. Because the Moon has no atmosphere and no tectonic activity, it bears the marks of the impacts since its formation billions of years ago. A real time capsule! ? : question mark: to provide answers to some questions that children often ask: Children often wonder, " Could we live on the Moon? " This is a good opportunity to tell them about the conditions on the surface of the Moon, which are very different from conditions on Earth and do not support life without special equipment. The absence of an atmosphere, which causes extreme temperature variations (from - 233 C at night to 120 C during the day) and offers no protection from the Sun's rays, as well as the absence of liquid water, make the Moon a completely inhospitable place for life, especially humans. Magnifying glass icon to point out things that young people might find intriguing: The force of gravity felt at the surface of a celestial body depends on its mass and size. That is why the force of gravity on the Moon is much weaker than on Earth (about six times less). If you could go to the Moon, you would feel six times lighter! On Earth, the terms mass and weight are often used interchangeably, but it is important to distinguish between them. The mass of a body is a property of that body; it depends on the quantity and nature of the matter it contains. The weight of a body is the force of attraction (gravity) between that body and a celestial body. So we have the same mass on Earth and the Moon, but not the same weight, since gravity is much weaker on the Moon than on Earth. ! : exclamation point: to point out things that young people might find confusing: Some people mistakenly attribute the weak gravity on the Moon to the lack of atmosphere. The gravity on the Moon would be the same even if the Moon had an atmosphere. The force of gravity we feel (our weight) depends only on the Moon's size and mass, not on the presence or absence of an atmosphere. Artist's view of a lunar base. Even if it were pressurized and contained breathable air, the astronauts would still feel one sixth the gravity of Earth. (Credit: ESA/Foster + Partners) Flag icon to point out Canadian contributions to lunar research and exploration: Even though the Moon is the celestial body closest to us and we have visited it several times, that does not mean we know everything about it. There are still many questions about the Moon. Canadian scientists on international teams are working to find the answers. For example, they want to know more about its surface, understand its history thanks to its craters, and determine how much water ice is available on its surface. Lunar exploration We know a lot more about the Moon since humans first set foot on it during the Apollo program. The first images taken from the surface of the Moon have helped us learn more about this world that is so different from Earth. Magnifying glass icon to point out things that young people might find intriguing: Discuss with the children what they notice when they watch archival videos, like this one of two astronauts from the last Apollo mission to the Moon. How is it different from Earth? One thing that stands out is the way the astronauts bounce on the surface because the gravity is weaker there. The landscape's shades of grey and the sky's unchanging darkness are also very different. Without an atmosphere to scatter the Sun's light, the sky seen from the Moon's surface is always black, even in the daytime! An Apollo 11 astronaut carrying scientific equipment on the Moon. (Credit: NASA) Between 1969 and 1972 , 12 astronauts walked on the Moon, and 12 others saw the Moon up close but did not land. We often talk about the Apollo astronauts, but it is good for young people to realize that those missions, like all space missions, were the result of a huge team effort involving thousands of women and men behind the scenes. The control center of the Apollo 11 mission, which put the first humans on the Moon. (Credit: NASA) Among the people who worked behind the scenes were the women who worked as " computers, " many of them African American. The technology back then was much less advanced than it is today, and many complex calculations were done by hand, with great precision, by those women. Katherine Johnson was an American mathematician who worked as a " computer " early in her career. The story of Ms. Johnson and her colleagues is told in the book and movie entitled Hidden Figures . (Credit: NASA) Magnifying glass icon to point out things that young people might find intriguing: Discuss the various aspects of space exploration ( e.g. spacecraft and instrument construction, trajectory calculations, astronaut health and safety, astronaut training, communications) with the children. Have you seen any movies that focus on the behind-the-scenes work that goes into supporting a space mission? Discuss what role each child would like to play and/or thinks they have the skills for. Flag icon to point out Canadian contributions to lunar research and exploration: A number of Canadians worked on the Apollo missions, such as William Carpentier, who was the Apollo 11 astronauts' physician. Also, a Canadian company based in Longueuil, Quebec, manufactured the landing gear for the Apollo Lunar Module. The landing gear of the Apollo Lunar Module was designed in Canada. (Credit: NASA) Flag icon to point out Canadian contributions to lunar research and exploration: In 2020 , Canada signed an agreement to be part of the Artemis program, which will send the next humans to the Moon, 50 years after the end of the Apollo program. The first crewed lunar mission will not land. A Canadian astronaut will be part of it and will have the opportunity to see the Moon up close. The second crewed lunar mission will land, carrying the first woman and the next man to walk on the Moon. Artist's view of the Lunar Gateway, the space station that will orbit the Moon. (Credit: NASA) Canada is also contributing to the Lunar Gateway, a space station that will be built in orbit around the Moon by NASA and its International Space Station partners. The Canadian contribution will be Canadarm3, a smart robotic system consisting of a large arm, a small arm and a set of detachable tools. It will be used first in the construction of the station and then for maintenance and other tasks. Formation of the Moon The Moon probably formed very soon after Earth formed, about 4.5 billion years ago. The most plausible theory is that there was a huge impact between Earth and a small, Mars-sized protoplanet called Theia. The collision sent a lot of debris from both celestial bodies into orbit around Earth. The Moon formed from the gradual agglomeration of that debris. The Moon formed as a result of an impact between Earth and Theia, a protoplanet the size of Mars. (Credit: ESO/G. Glas/M. Kornmesser) ? : question mark: to provide answers to some questions that children often ask: How do we know all that? Children often ask this question! In the case of the Moon's formation, there are clues in lunar rocks. The fact that the Moon's rocks are similar in chemical composition to Earth's rocks, but not exactly the same, tells us that the Moon was formed from debris from Earth and another body. To capture young people's imagination, you can show them this simulation, which shows how the Moon evolved after its formation, because of meteorite impacts. ! : exclamation point: to point out things that young people might find confusing: From Earth, you can see large dark areas on the surface of the Moon called maria, which means seas in Latin. Contrary to what astronomers once believed, those areas are not bodies of water, but rather vast plains of cooled lava. They were probably created by massive bombardments of meteorites that melted part of the Moon, generating large areas of molten rock. Ms Banerjee flagged her objection after union home minister chaired a tripartite meeting to open a dialogue to solve issues of the Gorkhas Ms Banerjee also slammed the BJP over continuous fuel price hike, propaganda of Covid-19 vaccination of 100 crore population and attacks on her party leaders including Rajya Sabha MP Sushmita Dev in BJP-ruled Tripura. (PTI) Kolkata: West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday vehemently opposed plan by the BJP at the Centre to curve out North Bengal including Darjeeling hills, Dooars and Terai region of the state apparently for a separate statehood of Gorkhaland. Kickstarting her tour in the region, the Trinamul Congress supremo told a Bijoya Sammilani gathering at Siliguri in the evening, "I want to see our North Bengal intact. There should be no divide and rule. There should be no different tune in the lyrics. All of us are united." Without taking the name of the BJP, she added, "Peace, prosperity, power, stability, devotion and freedom prevail in the family if all stay united. When all are divided, no one cares, inquires and stands by another in danger. We do not want such a society. We want a society of humanity, civilization and culture." Ms Banerjee flagged her objection after union home minister Amit Shah chaired a tripartite meeting to open a dialogue to solve issues of the Gorkhas in presence of Darjeeling BJP MP and MLA, Raju Bista and Neeraj Tamang Zimba respectively, union minister and BJP Alipurduar MP John Barla among others on October 12 in New Delhi. Mr Barla and many other party leaders recently called for separation of North Bengal from the state. Ms Banerjee also slammed the BJP over continuous fuel price hike, propaganda of Covid-19 vaccination of 100 crore population and attacks on her party leaders including Rajya Sabha MP Sushmita Dev in BJP-ruled Tripura. "While a festival has been underway, petrol, diesel and LPG prices are rising. The days of using coal and cow dung cakes are returning. No one is bothered by the unabated fuel price hike. All are remaining mum. Who will raise voice and protest? We will do it like we celebrate festivals," she said. The CM, who is also the state health minister claimed, "So far we gave vaccines of around seven crores against a requirement of 14 crores. Still we stood first among the states. However we have been ranked three. Maharashtra got more vaccines than us. People need to know the truth. Our country has a population of 130 crores out of which only 29.51 crores have been vaccinated with double doses. But a campaign of vaccination of 100 crore people is being done." She also alleged, "Bengal is not Tripura, yet to become Tripura and would not be so as long as we are in power. Daughter of Santosh Mohan Dev was attacked there. Another young leader of our party was thrashed so badly that he had to be brought to Kolkata. It is the BJP which is now crying for human rights after beating people." At the current rate of around thirty-four billion tons of CO2 emissions per year, we could exhaust our carbon budget in less than a decade Carole King, an American songwriter, recorded these lines in 1971: I feel the earth move beneath my feet, I feel the sky tumbling down. Kings emotions were sentimentally human but in retrospect she seems to have been prescient. Back then, environmental activism was nascent. Greenpeace, the activist environmental organisation, was just being founded. Five decades later, last week, old timers in the lower Himalayas in Indias Uttarakhand state had cause to remember King, as torrential rain battered the entire Kumaon region. Being level-headed, the hill folk expect little, give a lot and forever live under the benign gaze of a local devi or devata each ensconced in a fetchingly, rudimentary temple, dotting virtually every hilltop and studded along the rocky banks of the tumbling rivers, which change from an inviting, sparkling, blueish-green to a menacing, muddy-brown during the monsoons, dark with the sludge they carry from degraded, denuded hillsides, gumming up dams along the way and further downs ream, infusing the mighty Ganga river with rich soil to regenerate fields in its flood plains. It has always been thus. Cities, which are the furthest from nature, and the root cause of much of the ecological degradation earlier and now carbon emissions -- both linked to rapid economic growth, rising disposable incomes and rootless, unsustainable behaviour -- tourism being a prime example -- are also at the forefront of change, possibly, to redeem their guilt. Next month Glasgow, a major industrial city in Scotland, will host the twenty-sixth Conference of the Parties (COP26), the worlds top decision-making body for mitigation and adaptation responses to climate change, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be joining several other world leaders. All the earlier twenty-five COPs also met in various cities across the globe. It would have made more sense and lent immediacy to the deliberations, expected from the 30,000 participants at COP meetings, had it convened instead on a barren hillside, in the semi-arid Sahel or even better on Basan Char -- the shifting, mangrove fringed, mud island, floating in the delta of the Meghna river, where Rohingya refugees are being rehoused, in clapboard huts, just four feet above the water. Experiencing the raging waters of the Bay of Bengal is guaranteed to evoke a quicker response to the problem of rising sea levels, which is expected to deprive millions of their homes and jobs. Proximity to the problem is a wonderful stimulus for quick decision making. If you live perched precariously close to a fast-flowing river, in a house, seemingly fixed by glue to a steeply inclined hill and a cloud burst pours torrents of water from above with swirling currents threatening to plunge you into the abyss, you shall feel the earth move under your feet. At that moment, any reservations you might have about paying a little more to switch to renewable energy simply vanish. Personalising the problem helps nudge action. The same sense of urgency is lacking whilst ensconced in a temperature controlled cavernous conference room in some faraway city, which you reach by air and then catch a taxi to your hotel, because your bags -- comtaining essentials for a two-week stay plus space for shopping -- are too unwieldy to trundle around in a bus or on the Glasgow underground, which, incidentally, is functional since 1896 but reassuringly refurbished in 1977. The multilateral COP architecture was meant to be a celebration of international collaboration. A forum to plug the authority gap, first identified (appropriately) by a British economist, Willian Forster Lloyd in 1833, who lamented that common pastures were overgrazed because no one farmer had the incentive to preserve them by reducing grazing unless all farmers did the same. The absence of a central authority to define rules for sharing a depletable, common resource is the central problem behind global warming. To be sure, not everyone agrees. Elinor Claire Awan Ostrom, who won the Nobel Prize in 2009, was one such. An institutional economist by persuasion, her field research in California on sustainable community practices for sharing ground water and cooperative irrigation practices in Spain, Nepal, Switzerland and Japan as well as fisheries in Maine and Indonesia showed that decentralised, human communities have succeeded in managing scarce, common pool resources sustainably. This hope energised global efforts over the last three decades to contain annual carbon emissions within a best-estimate carbon envelope, to avoid a rise in global mean temperature beyond 1.5 degrees Celsius over pre-industrial times -- the previously assessed tipping point, beyond which climate doom is assured. New evidence suggests that we should be aiming even lower at 1 degree Celsius with an even smaller carbon budget for incremental emissions. At the current rate of around thirty-four billion tons of CO2 emissions per year, we could exhaust our carbon budget in less than a decade -- thence lies the significance of 2030 as a milestone. The Nationally Determined Contributions -- a voluntary effort by some individual nations, to restrain carbon emissions -- were a compromise at the Paris COP in 2015 because the choice was not to agree on anything at all. Sadly, these have proved insufficient to rein in global warming. With the space for global economic cooperation shrinking and the veiled but relentless global contestation surging, the prospects for a breakthrough in Glasgow are quite bleak. The late Elinor Ostrom would be distraught at the thought. She would have emphasised two missing fundamentals for a successful outcome. First, a committed pluralist, she would accept only genuine participation, where sovereign negotiating positions reflect the decisions of layered community groups from the village upwards, thereby retaining the spirit of accommodation she evidenced in smaller sub-national communities. Second, rules to make the common decision inviolable, and non-compliance penalised by common consent. Looking beyond the rhetoric, Glasgow is unlikely to aim sufficiently high enough for an equitable and effective reduction in carbon emissions on a per capita basis. The formalised triviality of multilateral negotiations, as evolved at the COP, are so remote from genuine participation and the common decisions taken, flouted so regularly, that the good folk of the Kumaon hills in India and the refugees on Bashan Char had better get used to feeling the earth move under their feet more often. Daniel Farheth safely cores a tree to determine the age by checking tree rings. The tool screws into the tree with a hollow male threaded tip. The shaft of the tool holds a metal slider that removes the core without damaging the tree or compromising the sample. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Can you guess the reason? If you said Europes stricter emission regulations, then you are right, because Auto.cz reports that this, combined with focus on battery-electric models, will help the automaker keep the carbon dioxide emissions in check on the right side of the Atlantic Ocean.Citing CTK, the quoted Czech website states that Skoda has explained in a letter sent to employees the reason behind pulling the plug on the development of the all-new Fabia Combi , ahead of its initial production start at the Kvasiny plant, in 2023.The extremely strict EU7 emission standard is now further dramatically accelerating the transformation process toward electromobility. Therefore, we dont only need more electric cars, but we also have to say goodbye to some products with an internal combustion engine faster than planned, Skoda explained. Therefore, together we have decided to invest consistently in the future, and to say goodbye to internal combustion engine models such as the Skoda Fabia Combi.The development of the 2023 Fabia Combi should have been a walk in the park, considering that it would have been based on the hatchback model, albeit with a longer roof and rear overhang, sharing its entire engine family, tech features, and everything else. Despite all these, the more practical variant of the car will not happen anymore. Customers looking for such a body style will have to make do with the Scala compact hatchback or Kamiq subcompact crossover instead. At the same time, they could also turn to the outgoing Fabia Combi , which has inevitably become the last of its kind.We reached out to Skoda looking for official confirmation and we will update this story when (or if) we hear back from them, so stay tuned. That is not the only thing planned by BMW's design director. While criticized for the large grilles of the marque's latest models, Dukec explained in an interview with Autocar that he preferred to go with bold instead of bland. Domagoj Dukec also noted that it is in BMW's style to "do bold statements."The Frankfurt-born Croat has led the BMW design team since April 2019, but he has worked within the company as chief designer for various wings since 2010. Before being named head of BMW's design team, Dukec was head of design for BMW i and BMW M, which have remained under his leadership even after his promotion.As we explained in the story regarding the return of the New Class, BMW wants to launch a broad line-up of electric vehicles, and the name is there to underline their importance. However, the company's head of design explained that the retro-named line-up will not be a homage to the cars of the 1960s, but some styling elements from those models will be applied to other BMW future models.According to Dukec's statement, the focus is on sustainability, as well as using entirely recycled materials, or at least recyclable ones. The company will also cut back on chrome details. All the ideas above were already shown on the BMW i Vision Circular Concept , which will guide the look of these future BMW models.Moreover, BMW 's styling boss also spoke about meaningful design. A good example of that is the use of large kidney grilles on the iX and the i4, but fitting sensors inside those otherwise blocked-out grilles.Fortunately, Dukec's styling will not only rest on big grilles , as there's more to BMW than that. We can't wait to see what he has lined up for the Munich marque's future. NHTSA National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Before telling you how many examples are affected by this issue and when they were made, lets see what the problem is first. According to an official document released by the), certain vehicles have a potentially defective master switch, which prevents drivers from turning on the high beams.When the master lighting switch is set to the auto position, the high beam headlights will not activate unless the master lighting switch is first changed to the on position, the safety agency explains. Due to this concern, the 2021 Grand Cherokee L vehicles in question fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, for Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment.As for how many of them are affected, that would be 7,082, with an estimated defect rate of 100%. The Grand Cherokee Ls included in this safety campaign were assembled between December 8, 2020, and August 25, 2021. Those not included in the recall population are said to have been equipped with automatic high beams or made after the suspect period.The planned dealer and owner notification is scheduled for December 3 or before, according to the NHTSA. Subsequent to scheduling an appointment with an authorized dealer, technicians will inspect each vehicle, reprograming them accordingly. The feds also state that this recall is not the result of a part defect, but rather incomplete system design parameters. Those who have already fixed the issue on their own will be reimbursed by the automaker, if they can prove it via the original receipt or other payment methods. Folks, Lumberjack Camper Trailers is an Australian RV manufacturer with a knack for yielding some of the most decked-out campsites I've seen in a while, and I look for things like this daily. Lumberjack is the sort of team that prides itself on being a family-owned business and has been ever since they hit the market.While that may not sound like a very big deal, companies that remain under their own rule, so to speak, can constantly break established industry norms that often arise as a result of company mergers. It's this sort of ideal that allows Lumberjack to offer camping trailers like the Mt. Baw Baw While you may be thinking that this is just another travel trailer, I urge you to check out the gallery if you havent done so already, in particular, the images where the Baw Baw is revealed with its tent structure unraveled. These images inspired me to dig deeper into this trailer and bring you the news as to what it can do for your adventure lifestyle.Just so were on the same page, you need to know that this trailer is a pop-top one. This means that the interior will have more than enough headroom to move freely about the habitat. As it sits closed, the Baw Baw comes in with a length of 7.55 m (24.77 ft), a width of 2.1 m (6.89 ft), and a height of 2.7 m (8.85 ft). Open, on the other hand, this sucker will be 4.2 m (13.78 ft) wide and 3.15 m (10.3 ft) tall, creating more than enough headroom for some of the tallest folks in the crowd With an average weight of 1,950 kg (4,299 lbs) and a load limit of 2,500 kg (5,511 lbs), there should be more than enough room to bring along any cargo you may need. Even though the manufacturer's website doesnt state what sort of materials are used in completing the frame for the habitat, by the looks of it, aluminum and steel were the chosen materials. As for exterior shelling , white gloss finish fiberglass is used. All thats then set onto a beefy independent coil suspension system with dual shocks, 12-inch (30.5-centimeter) electric brakes, and alloy rims with 16-inch mud-terrain tires.Now, heres the catch. Even though the Baw Baw can become one heck of a campground with that wrap-around annex you saw in the gallery, in truth, the interior is only fit for two guests. But, those two people will be living it up as if a mobile lifestyle is the new standard.At the rear of the trailer, guests will have access to a queen-size bed with windows and storage slots all around the bedding. Access to under-bed storage sits at the foot of the bed, and so does a dining table that is to be set up only when you need it Towards the front of the Baw Baw, youll find a bathroom with a separate booth shower, toilet, and sink with faucet too. If needed, one person can shower, while the other goes through their morning routine. The rest of the interior is reserved for things like a prep table and more storage options, while a Truma hot water system feeds both the internal and exterior shower systems; yes, theres an exterior shower too.Since cooking will be handled outside, and probably for much more than just two people if you include the annex in your purchase, Lumberjack decided to include a 4-burner stove with wind deflectors, stainless steel sink with tap, access to 160 liters (42 gallons) of freshwater, and a food prep station.Extra features and accessories include gas bottle and jerry can storage, countless internal and external storage compartments, and quite a capable electric system. Two AGM batteries, 240-volt connection, inverter, and optional roof-mounted solar panels are all available. Interior and exterior LED light strips cover the Baw Baw while everything is easily controlled from an internal control panel.So, how much is this beast of a trailer going to run you? Well, according to Lumberjack Camper Trailers Facebook page, the Mt. Baw Baw is currently running for $56,999. But theres a surprise, that price is in Australian Dollars, so in reality, you're only being asked to pay 42,646 American Dollars. Think about what your lifestyle may be like with one of these. First of all, we should go through a few specifications before taking sides. The Wolf is a featherweight at 1,250 pounds (567 kilograms), and frankly, what did you expect from a racing car that conquered Pikes Peak in June?Right behind the drivers backside, the GB08 TSC-LT makes four-cylinder noises to the tune of 650-ish horsepower. The engine in question is a Honda K-series mill, the K20 that flaunts 2.0 liters of displacement. A sequential transmission with six forward ratios channels the high-revving fury to the 13-inch rear wheels, which are wrapped in slicks to bring the point home.The Italian supercar, on the other hand, features road-going rubber shoes and trick all-wheel drive for incredible launches and sure-footed cornering. Lamborghini combines a seven-speed transmission of the dual-clutch variety with a free-breathing V10 engine that develops 631 horsepower at 8,000 revolutions per minute and 443 pound-feet (600 Nm) at 6,500 rpm.Obviously enough, the Raging Bull of SantAgata Bolognese weighs quite a bit more because its a road-going car. Be that as it may, 3,645 pounds (1,653 kilograms) isnt shabby for such a glorious-sounding machine. But nevertheless, I advise you to bet your bucks on the Wolf GB08 TSC-LT.With the steamrollers warmed up, the unlikely contenders duke it out in a straight-line battle that ends with a dominant win for the open-top racer. On the second run, the Hoonigan crew decided to give a small advantage to the Huracan Evo in the guise of a 20-mph roll while the Wolf goes from a dig.The second race is pretty close, ending with a photo-finish victory for the Lamborghini. The Huracan Evo has to settle for second place on the final run, although its been offered the same 20-mph roll advantage as before. AMG Is there anything better than driving a classic on a sunny day with the top down? Winter is just around the corner in Europe, but in sunny Monaco, Toto Wolffs wife enjoyed the sun rays in a Mercedes-Benz W113 . It is a very appropriate choice right now, with the new SL, the first to be developed by, just around the corner as well.Susie shared a picture of herself behind the wheel of the Pagoda, writing: Roof down. Sun is out. Pure joy driving a classic. She added: Wishing you all a great weekend.This isnt the first time the former racing driver took the W113 out for a drive. Over a month ago, she claimed its a classical Sunday as she sat behind the wheel of the same car. Sounds just right for the winding roads of Southern France, doesn't it?The SL rolled off the assembly line in 1967, as a replacement for the iconic 300 SL. One such unit with gullwing doors is also in the Wolff family.After retiring from racing in 2015 and having a baby two years later, Susie joined Venturi Racing in Formula E as Team Principal, while her husband has been holding the same position (and one of the three shareholders) for Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team since 2013. We could talk about their achievements for days, including the fact that Susie Wolff was honored as a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE). But we'll keep that story for some other day.The power couple recently celebrated their 10th wedding anniversary with a getaway trip to Venice, Italy, and you can check out some of the pictures from their holiday in the gallery. Another famous couple, Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones, shows up in one of the photos, right behind the Wolff family.To celebrate the anniversary, Susie Wolff showed her love and appreciation on Facebook: Im not one for gushing declarations of love on social media. But today is our 10th wedding anniversary. What an adventure and fantastic journey it has been so far. 10 down, forever to go. She added: So grateful for my brilliant husband, my best friend, and the person who lights me up every single day.The W113 is certainly not the fastest car Susie Wolff has ever driven, but it totally gives her the most stylish look. Also, we know that you're more qualified than the rest of us, but put on a seatbelt while driving, ma'am. That's if your SL has one. ICE It wouldnt be the first time the idea of an internal combustion engine powered by hydrogen rather than old-fashioned dino-juice has been thrown around in the industry before. BMW notably also tried their hands with this technology in the late 90s and early 2000s.These hydrogen BMWs looked, sounded, and drove like normal passenger cars, but the technology was not advanced enough and way too expensive to merit production at that time. Now, two decades later, BMWs rivals at Toyota believe the technology is finally ready to take the giant leap.In theory, hydrogenengines operate much the same as a gasoline engine. A pressurized fuel cell is filled with volatile gas, much like a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle. From there, the gas is fed to the engine where pistons pressurize the mixture and ignite with a spark to make the power that drives the wheels.Hydrogen ICE propulsion has a number of advantages over gasoline-powered cars and even electric vehicles. Hydrogen ICE engines operate almost identically to gasoline ICE engines, apart from differences in fuel injection and exhaust systems. It also eliminates the need for heavy, wasteful batteries that often pollute more while being manufactured than they do in the car theyre mounted in.Unlike gasoline, were not likely to run out of hydrogen, as its the most abundant element known to science. Toyota also announced itd begun producing hydrogen fuel at an undisclosed geothermal power station somewhere in southern Japan Toyota has yet to announce whether hydrogen combustion technology is expected to arrive in the consumer sphere any time soon. Assuming their new engine can endure the rigors of a race track , chances could be good that, at the very least, its research can continue. kWh kW The Super Sub is touted as the most hydrodynamic sub on the market and it is the first product in the companys custom submarine program, which allows owners to be part of the design process and create bespoke submersibles With a length of 17.3 ft (5.2 m) and a height of 7.5 ft (2.2 m), the Super Sub has a capacity of three people (two passengers and one pilot) and has a long tail and an advanced wing design. It packs a 62battery and the Dutch company boasts on the sub featuring a luxury supercar interior.As far as the performance of the sub goes, U-Boat Works claims its Super Sub is five knots faster than your average submersible and two knots faster than the top speed of the bottlenose dolphin. It can reach speeds of 8 knots (9 mph or 14.8 kph), it can dive to depths of 984 ft (300 m), and it can keep an almost 360-degree view.Its propulsion system consists of four thrusters that deliver a total of 60(80 hp) and allow for 30-degree climbs and dives.U-Boat Worx placed the clear, fully acrylic pressure hull at the front, which offers panoramic views, without being obstructed by any components such as batteries, ballast tanks, and so on.The Super Sub has a movable trim weight system so when the pilot wants to make a steep dive, the trim weight at the back slides forward, displacing the center of gravity.While we have no pricing for the Super Sub submarine yet, U-Boat Worx says the first model is already sold and will be delivered in 2023. The company claims the new sub sets a new bar for the luxury, adventurer underwater exploration market. Agile Combat Employment is the official name of an RAF program designed to improve the ability to operate from austere air bases, in order to deploy aircraft faster, throughout a wider area. The goal is to increase the number of air bases for combat sorties, and this requires efficient and quick ways of refueling.To support this program, RAF specialists have developed a new refueling capability, the Air Landed Aircraft Refueling System, which will be used by the A400M Atlas aircraft. Recently, this new system was tested for the first time. The Fuel Support Teams at the No 1 Expeditionary Logistics Squadron specialize in developing tactical refueling solutions for fixed-wing aircraft. One of these solutions is a Primary Bulk Fuel Installation thats big enough to store huge quantities of fuel, enough for eight A400M aircraft, or 525 Typhoon.During this recent test, which took place at RAF Brize Norton, the Fuels Support Team monitored the de-fueling of Atlas into a Tactical Refueling Area. Two of these demonstrations were conducted, one in daylight and the other one at night. Basically, this new capability will allow RAF teams to take fuel from large, multi-engine aircraft, such as Atlas, and transfer it into a refueling facility, where it will be used to support fast jets that are sent from their main bases to more austere locations.The RAF demonstration showcases the ability of A400M to rapidly establish a forward refuelling point, which is critical to projecting our Forces wherever they may be needed in the world," said Wing Commander Patton, Officer Commanding 30 Squadron.Atlas is a cargo aircraft that can carry 40.7 tons (37 metric tons) over 2,000 nautical miles, to remote military airfields. This new refueling system is another asset added to its tactical capabilities. Scott Keogh said that in an interview with In the Driver's Seat, a radio program hosted by Doron Levin on SiriusXM's Business Radio. The discussion will only be aired on November 2, but Automotive News got access to it and learned Keogh was also against the incentive.The Volkswagen executive said that it was fundamentally wrong because all the EVs eligible for that union incentive will be made in the U.S., which seemed to be the point of the tax credit. That alone may lead to a WTO (World Trade Organization) dispute claiming the incentives are a protectionist measure. Keogh also stated that it puts resources in the wrong place.Stephen Ciccone, a group vice president at Toyota Motor North America, sent Automotive News a statement on October 12 against the proposition. The reasons he presented for it to be denied are similar to those offered by Keogh.According to the Toyota executive, it would be weird if Congress decided to give up to $12,500 to people who can afford a $75,000 electric car while it still debates if there will be enough money for child care, family leave, health care, and other issues.Both Toyota and Volkswagen have factories in the U.S. that their workers decided not to unionize. In Volkswagens case, the decision was taken by a small margin of votes. Tesla claims to have also allowed its workers to decide about that freely. However, the NLRB (National Labor Relations Board) convicted the company for union-busting practices such as firing an employee campaigning for the Fremont plants unionization.Michigan lawmakers proposed the incentive and it intends to make unionization a competitive advantage for automakers. It would also benefit GM, Ford, and Stellantis, which have considerable investments in that state. KWh HP ICE Vision Marine Technologies is a reacreational boat builder, but its biggest innovation is a powerful motor, which claims to be the first fully electric 180 HP outboard motor. E-Motion implemented the motor into third-party powerboats and pontoons and showcased it at the International Boatbuilders Exhibition and Conference (IBEX). The event, which is the biggest platform for everyone involved in the leisure marine equipment industry, took place last month in Tampa, Florida.The companys E-Motion technology is supposed to enable a significant increase in efficiency, torque, and performance. Coupled with a 60lithium battery, the motor can ramp up to 180, with a high torque to horsepower ratio. The estimated range is 70 miles (112.6 km) at a cruising speed of 20 mph (32 kph), the equivalent of three and a half hours. The batteries are easy to recharge at any marina or personal dock at a 220 V power outlet, and they can be fully recharged overnight.In addition to being emissions-free and powerful, the E-Motion motor also makes boating noiseless, odorless and smokeless. Also, since it has fewer moving parts than combustion engines, it saves time and money associated with regular maintenance. According to Vision Marine, this adds up to a 90% reduction in fuel and maintenance cost when it comes to an electric boat versus conventional-powered boats.At IBEX, the E-Motion 180E electric powertrain was integrated on a Starcraft EX 22-foot (6.7 meters) pontoon boat, which made it 50% faster than average pontoons, with a top speed of 36 mph (58 kph).Vision Marine will also demonstrate the E-Motion 180E at the upcoming Ford Lauderdale International Boat Show (FLIBS), in Florida, from October 27 to October 31. The electric powertrain is currently available for pre-order. Axios Jonathan Swan spoke with Afghanistan's ambassador to the United States, Adela Raz, for the latest episode of Axios on HBO. It was her first TV interview since the fall of Kabul. Plus, the Supreme Court takes up some of our nations biggest issues. And, Mike Allen on the Pandora Papers. Guests: Jeffrey Rosen, president and CEO of the National Constitution Center; Axios' Jonathan Swan and Mike Allen. Credits: Axios Today is produced in partnership with Pushkin Industries. The team includes Niala Boodhoo, Sara Kehaulani Goo, Dan Bobkoff, Alexandra Botti, Nuria Marquez Martinez, Sabeena Singhani, Michael Hanf, and Alex Sugiura. Music is composed by Evan Viola. You can reach us at podcasts@axios.com. You can text questions, comments and story ideas to Niala as a text or voice memo to 202-918-4893. Go deeper: Transcript NIALA BOODHOO: Good morning! Welcome to Axios Today! Its Monday, October 4th. Im Niala Boodhoo. Heres what you need to know today: The Supreme Court takes up some of our nations biggest issues. Plus, Mike Allen on the Pandora Papers. But first, todays One Big Thing: Afghanistans ambassador to the U.S. speaks out. JONATHAN SWAN: Do you think Af-Afghans will ever trust an American president again? ADELA RAZ: Uh, not soon, probably. I'm sorry to say that. I don't think so. NIALA: That was Axios Jonathan Swan speaking to Afghanistan's ambassador to the United States, Adela Raz, for the latest episode of Axios on HBO. It was her first TV interview since the fall of Kabul, and Jonathan Swan is here to tell us how her story might reflect Afghanistans story right now. NIALA: Jonathan, thanks for being with me. JONATHAN: Thanks for having me. NIALA: Jonathan, Afghanistan's ambassador to the U.S., Adela Raz, is still working in D.C., and I wanted to start by asking you: Does she still consider herself the ambassador to the U.S. and is she? JONATHAN: Yeah, she does consider herself the ambassador and it's the most extraordinary situation. Basically shes stateless. She has kept the embassy open, the Afghanistan embassy. Obviously, she has no leader that she reports to because Afghanistan's president Ashraf Ghani fled the country in secret, and the Biden administration is declining to meet with her. She's someone who's spent her whole adult life fighting for the rights of Afghan women and girls. And she's basically, in the last month, watched her life's work go up in flames. NIALA: What was her response to President Biden saying that the U.S. still wants to advocate for the rights of women and girls there? JONATHAN: She said really it's all talk because what leverage does the U.S.-is the U.S. exerting of the Taliban? The Taliban has taken over the government. They're now stopping women from going to school. All the gains of the last 20 years that she's been involved in working for, are being erased right now. NIALA: And what about President Biden's actions overall? What did she say about how the Biden administration handled the exit from Afghanistan? JONATHAN: She really wishes that the Biden administration had renegotiated a better deal with the Taliban, one that put conditions in place, rather than just saying, we're going to leave. She saw that as a betrayal. NIALA: Can you give me a sense of what her role was like in the lead up to the withdrawal? JONATHAN: She was actually Afghanistan's ambassador to the United Nations. She was the first woman to be in that role. She was only appointed the ambassador to the United States in Washington in July. She was having to sort of publicly project confidence in her government when, of course privately, she had grave doubts about it. So she was just in a-in a horrendous position. We had to stop the interview several times. She was crying, had to collect herself, she feels like her life has just been taken away. NIALA: What are you left thinking about now after this interview? JONATHAN: I'll be honest, it left me feeling pretty bleak. The Taliban has shown pretty clearly that they haven't really changed. Ideologically, they're still the same Taliban that they were in the 1990s when they stopped Ambassador Raz, when she was a young girl, from going to school. The other thing that people aren't thinking about right now is Afghanistan is already experiencing a humanitarian crisis. There are sanctions on the Taliban and yet there's this moral imperative to get aid and food to the Afghan people. So it's just a very complicated situation and real people's lives are-are at stake. NIALA: Jonathan Swan covers politics for Axios, and you can watch that whole interview with Ambassador Raz on Axios on HBO. Jonathan, thanks for giving us this backstory. JONATHAN: Of course. Thank you. NIALA: Well be back in 15 seconds with what to know about the Supreme Courts new fall term. [ad] NIALA: Welcome back to Axios Today! Im Niala Boodhoo. Abortion, guns and religious rights top the list of major issues in front of the Supreme Court as it starts its new term later today. Jeffrey Rosen is the President and CEO of the National Constitution Center, and he's with us for what he's watching as this new term begins. JEFFREY: Hi, great to be here. NIALA: We're hearing so much about, for example, abortion, is that the biggest issue the Supreme Court is taking up this fall? JEFFREY: Yes, it is. The Supreme Court may overturn Roe v. Wade, and that is the biggest constitutional issue in decades. And that's what makes this case, which is coming out of Mississippi, so important. NIALA: What do we need to know about that case? JEFFREY: Well, Mississippi passed a law banning abortions after 15 weeks and Roe v. Wade. And the cases after that said you can't ban abortions, uh, before fetal viability around 24 weeks. So if the Supreme Court were to uphold this ban, that would represent a huge setback for abortion rights. NIALA: I've also been hearing a lot about this term shadow docket. Can you explain what this is and how this factors into The Supreme Court this fall? JEFFREY: The shadow docket are cases The Supreme Court decides without full arguments and briefings. And in the abortion context, the court recently refused to block Texas' abortion law, which bans abortion after six weeks. And it did it on the shadow docket. In other words, it issued a brief opinion but it didn't give reasons that really justified what it was doing. And it also didn't have full briefing. So critics of the shadow docket say this is allowing the court to make really important decisions without hearing good arguments on both sides. And that's the source of the criticism. NIALA: Were also hearing a lot of criticism or maybe should say debate over the politicization of the court. And Supreme Court justice Clarence Thomas last week said the court quote may have become the most dangerous branch of government. What's going on here? JEFFREY: Well, those who say the court's becoming politicized, say the justices are ruling based on politics rather than The Constitution. And it's interesting that, not only Justice Thomas, but also justices Barrett and Justice Breyer, appointed by President Clinton, all denied that. They say judges are actually deciding based on their judicial philosophies, not politics. Now, not everyone is convinced by that. And Justice Thomas thinks the court is getting into areas where it shouldn't. And that's why he says the courts become dangerous. NIALA: How should people think about this? Because it gets really tricky when you hear liberal and conservative justices denying and saying this has happening. JEFFREY: There are many cases where the court is not political. And in fact, last term, there were more unanimous decisions than in a long time. And you saw the justices agreeing in all sorts of unexpected ways. At the same time, there are these counterexamples: abortion, guns. How can we explain this? Well, Justice Breyer has said, there's some areas where justice feel so strongly, and abortion is certainly one of them that they may not be able to separate their political from their constitutional views. But in other cases where they feel less strongly, they can. Maybe that's the simplest way to explain it. NIALA: National Constitution Center CEO, Jeffrey Rosen, also hosts the podcast We the People, where he brings together liberals and conservatives to talk about the big constitutional issue of the week. Thanks Jeffrey. JEFFREY: Thank you. NIALA: Yesterday, the ICIJ - that's the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists released: the Pandora Papers, an attempt to untangle the world of offshore finance via millions of leaked financial records. And this investigation was the result of a year-long collaboration between more than 600 journalists in 117 countries, including news organizations like the BBC, the Indian Express and The Washington Post. We'll be no doubt hearing about this investigation for some time. But for this morning, I asked Axios' Mike Allen what you need to know about what ICIJ says is the largest investigation ever in journalism history. MIKE ALLEN: At a time when people are ever more suspicious of insiders and the establishment, the papers reveal mammoth deception and unthinkable spending on personal luxury. All with this astonishing, convincing paper trail. Look at Jordan. Among the poor countries in the Middle East, a large recipient of U.S. foreign aid. The king secretly spent more than a hundred million dollars on luxury homes. In the U.S. and London, including a compound in Malibu, the Washington Post reports. Another place the Pandora papers had home for Americans, The Washington Post found that South Dakota is now a hub of financial secrecy, tens of millions of dollars from outside the U.S. now sheltered by trust companies in Sioux Falls. NIALA: Mike Allen is a cofounder of Axios. Thats all weve got for you today! Im Niala Boodhoo - thanks for listening - stay safe and well see you back here tomorrow morning. Israel will approve the construction of 4,400 new homes in the West Bank next week: 3,10o in the Jewish settlements and 1,300 in Palestinian villages. Why it matters: This will be the first time Israel has approved new settlement building since President Biden assumed office, and it's the first time since 2007 that it approves a significant number of new homes for Palestinians in "Area C" of the West Bank, which is controlled by Israel. Behind the scenes: The Biden administration has pressed the Israeli government in private to restrain settlement activity. The Israeli decision will likely cause tensions, and it could push the U.S. to air its criticism in public. The big picture: Most of the international community views the West Bank settlements as illegal, and the Palestinians argue that Israel is claiming more and more land that should be part of their future state. A substantial number of the houses to be approved are in the isolated Israeli settlements deep into the West Bank and outside of the big settlement blocs that are envisioned to remain a part of Israel in any future peace deal. The backstory: Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, a settlements supporter, had wanted to get one big step on settlements out of the way before his visit to Washington in August: the approval of 2,000 new housing units in the Israeli settlements and about 1,000 new units in Palestinian villages. Instead, a strike by the workers union of one of the departments in the Ministry of Defense postponed the move. Biden told Bennett in their Aug. 27 meeting at the White House that he expected Israel to show restraint on the settlements issue, and Bennett replied that Israel would build only according to needs arising from natural growth." The number of housing units has now increased from the previous plan, with 900 additional houses to be approved in the settlements and 350 more in Palestinian villages. Between the lines: It would have been much easier to approve the new units before Biden explicitly pressed Bennett on this issue, and the meeting to approve the housing units was delayed by eight weeks after the visit. Now it will take place next week. The chairman of the American Conservative Union said on "Axios on HBO" he accepts "Joe Biden is my president, and I want him to succeed," but predicted Republicans retake the House and Senate in 2022 with greater than 50% odds Donald Trump runs in 2024. The big picture: In a joint interview with his wife, Mercedes, Matt Schlapp also refused to share their vaccination status. And he told corporate America "you blew it" by embracing vaccine mandates and liberal social stances that have alienated GOP voters and politicians. "It's offensive to those who support the Republican Party and the conservative movement," he said. "They thought that they could appease the left and that the people, this broad midsection of this country would just go along with it, and they're not going to." Why it matters: The Schlapps, who once served together in George W. Bush's White House and remain close with Trump, are influential figures in the Republican Party. The ACU hosts the annual Conservative Political Action Conference, a mandatory stop for upwardly mobile Republican political figures. What they're saying: "He won the election," Matt Schlapp said of President Biden. "You also have to acknowledge that we had a presidential election, an election generally, unlike any we had ever had, because we suspended the rules because of the terrible pandemic. And that resulted in us not following the verification of voters in these states. "Joe Biden is my president, and I want him to succeed," Schlapp said. "And I want him to project strength overseas. ... We have never participated in any kind of rhetoric that would undermine that." "I don't believe it would change the outcome of the election," Mercedes Schlapp said of calls for audits or investigations of alleged fraud. "But I will tell you a lot of people out there are very concerned ... about election integrity." Matt Schlapp said he leaves each conversation with Trump asking himself, "Is he gonna run or is he not gonna run?" but after their most recent interaction a week earlier, "I think it's a greater than 50% chance that he runs. "I think, for him, he wants to know that it's a doable thing, to win the presidency again," Schlapp said. Mercedes Schlapp said Trump's thinking may be influenced by "how well the Republicans do" next year. If they win back control of both chambers, a Trump run is "more likely." Asked whether any other Republican could beat Trump in a primary, Matt Schlapp said, "My belief if Donald Trump gets in the race, it's gonna be a lot like 2015-2016: It'll be controversial. There'll be some Republicans who hate the idea and will try to fight it. ... When it gets down to the debates and having the primaries and the caucuses, my guess is he'll clean up just like he did in 2016." The intrigue: While revealing that their parents did get the COVID-19 vaccine, the Schlapps refused to say whether they have. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Saturday he's declared U.S. Ambassador David Satterfield and nine other foreign envoys personae non gratae after they called for the release of jailed philanthropist Osman Kavala this week, per AP. Why it matters: This would be the biggest rift with the West since Erdogan came to power 19 years ago if the envoys were forced to leave, Reuters notes. Seven of the ambassadors Erdogan has threatened to expel represent NATO allies of Turkey. The threat comes weeks after Erdogan accused a top Biden official of "supporting terrorism" for allying with Kurdish militias in Syria, which Turkey's government considers a national security threat. He has also demanded the U.S. pay $1.4 billion for removing Turkey from a stealth fighter jet program. Driving the news: The embassies of the United States, Canada, France, Finland, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway and Sweden wrote in the Oct. 18 statement that they "believe a just and speedy resolution to his case must be in line with Turkeys international obligations and domestic laws." "Noting the rulings of the European Court of Human Rights on the matter, we call for Turkey to secure his urgent release," the joint statement added. Kavala has been held without a conviction since 2017. A court acquitted him in 2020 of charges related to nationwide anti-government demonstrations in 2013, but the decision was later overturned and his original charges were combined with separate charges involving a 2016 coup attempt, per AP. What he's saying: I gave the instruction to our foreign minister and said, You will immediately handle the persona non grata declaration of these 10 ambassadors, Erdogan said during a Saturday rally, according to AP. "They will recognize, understand and know Turkey," he added. "The day they dont know or understand Turkey, they will leave. Of note: Erdogan previously announced plans to meet with President Biden at a Group of 20 (G20) summit in Rome next weekend, Reuters notes. U.S. State Department spokesperson said it's aware of Erdogan's reported comments and was "seeking clarity from the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs," per Reuters. Go deeper: Biden to tap ex-Sen. Jeff Flake as ambassador to Turkey Editor's note: This article has been updated with comment from the State Department and further context. Gyumri has been run by Samvel Balasanian, a local businessman, for the last nine years. He used to be allied to the former Armenian government that helped him win reelection in 2016. Although Balasanian decided not to seek another term in office, a newly created bloc bearing his name joined the mayoral race. The Balasanian Bloc garnered 36.6 percent of the vote, earning it 14 seats in the 33-member city council empowered to elect the mayor. In what is widely seen as a serious setback for Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian, Civil Contract finished second with 11 seats. The remaining eight seats will be distributed among three opposition parties. One of them, Zartonk (Awakening), will be represented in the local council by four members. Zartonk proposed last week a coalition deal to the Balasanian Bloc which would allow the latters top election candidate, Vardges Samsonian, to become mayor. The bloc has still not responded to the offer. We dont have a decision at the moment, a spokesman for the Balasanian Bloc, Arman Shaboyan, told RFE/RLs Armenian Service on Monday. We are holding discussions within our team. The new city council is scheduled to hold its inaugural session on November 4. According to some media reports, the Balasanian Bloc is facing strong pressure from the central government to reach a power-sharing deal with Pashinians party and even cede the post of mayor to it. The bloc has not officially reacted to those reports. Civil Contract has not commented on its post-election plans in Gyumri. Its mayoral candidate, Hovannes Harutiunian, is the governor of surrounding Shirak province. Samvel Balasanian, the outgoing mayor, has made no public statements on the outcome of the local election. Balasanian has avoided openly challenging the current Armenian government ever since he took office in 2018. The order, effective from Tuesday, requires all universities and colleges to offer their students only distance courses until November 15. It also means that a one-week autumn break in Armenias primary, secondary high schools, which began on Monday, will be extended until November 7. The Armenian educational institutions will thus be effectively closed for the first time since October 2020. The authorities began reopening them in December after coronavirus cases peaked during the war in Nagorno-Karabakh. The authorities have reported similarly large numbers of cases and resulting deaths in recent weeks. According to the Ministry of Health, over 13,000 people in the country of about 3 million have tested positive for COVID-19 and at least 250 of them have died in the past week. Forty-two of those deaths were recorded on Sunday. Health Minister Anahit Avanesian warned that Armenian hospitals are on the verge of running out of vacant beds for COVID-19 patients. Her ministry already reported a shortage of beds more than a week ago. It said hundreds of infected people in need of urgent care are awaiting hospitalization because of that. In a Facebook post, Avanesian urged Armenians to put on masks everywhere and get vaccinated. The minister faced criticism on social media on Monday after it emerged that she and other senior government officials did not wear masks during an indoor reception hosted by President Armen Sarkissian and attended by more than 100 people. Most ordinary Armenians also do not wear mandatory masks indoors, including in overcrowded public buses. Authorities essentially stopped fining them more than a year ago. Also, Armenia continues to have the lowest vaccination rate in the region. Ministry of Health data shows that 466,785 people received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine and only about 210,250 of them were fully vaccinated as of October 24. Vaccinations have accelerated over the past month after the authorities began requiring all public and private sector employees to get inoculated or take coronavirus tests twice a month at their own expense. Bakersfield, CA (93308) Today Mostly clear this evening then becoming mostly cloudy after midnight. Low 49F. Winds light and variable.. Tonight Mostly clear this evening then becoming mostly cloudy after midnight. Low 49F. Winds light and variable. Waves Up to 40 Feet - More Warnings for Oregon / Washington Coast Published 10/24/21 at 5:36 PM PDT By Oregon Coast Beach Connection staff (Manzanita, Oregon) More high surf and flood warnings have been issued up and down the entire length of the Pacific Northwests beaches, along with some new high wind warnings. (Above: storm surges in Cannon Beach Sunday, courtesy Tolovana Inn web cam) The National Weather Service (NWS) is now saying 40-foot waves are possible in some areas, upping the earlier predictions of 30 to 35 feet. Various web cams around the Oregon coast and Washington coast are showing some dangerous conditions Sunday. The NWS also indicated Saturday that tornadoes or waterspouts would be a possibility in these conditions on Sunday, but so far that has not materialized. Coastal Flood Warnings South Oregon Coast, North Oregon Coast, Washington Coast. A Coastal Flood Warning remains in effect from 8 p.m. Sunday through 5 a.m. Tuesday, for the region from Florence through the southern Washington coast. For the southern Oregon coast (Reedsport to Brookings), the warning is until 7 a.m. Monday, but a high surf warning there is extended through 5 a.m. Tuesday. Large waves and dangerous surf conditions with breakers up to 40 ft are also possible," the NWS said. A Coastal Flood Warning means that flooding is occurring or imminent. Coastal residents in the warned area should be alert for rising water, and take appropriate action to protect life and property. Exercise extreme caution along beaches. Unpredictable and destructive waves may wash over beaches, jetties and other structures with no warning. Beach erosion is possible." Watch the storms live at Oregon Coast Sky Cams - Web Cams, Weather Cams For the north and central Washington coast, the flood advisory expired at 4 p.m. Sunday. High Surf Warnings for South Oregon coast, North Oregon Coast and Washington Coast. For the north and central Washington coast, the high surf warning is in effect until 11 p.m. Monday. Waves of 24 to 28 feet expected in the surf zone. For the south Washington coast, north and central Oregon coast, the high surf warning remains in effect through 5 a.m. Tuesday although it is once again embedded in the Coastal Flood Warning for that region. The NWS said 40-foot waves are possible along the surf zone. For the south Oregon coast, the high surf warning is in effect through 11 p.m. Monday, with waves of 24 to 28 feet expected in the surf zone. Coastal Flood Warnings Washington and Oregon Coast. From southern Washington through the north and central Oregon coast, coastal flooding is expected. That warning remains in effect through 5 a.m. Tuesday. The NWS said flooding could occur one foot above the ground level just above the beaches. On the southern Oregon coast, that warning is in effect until 7 a.m. Monday. Take the necessary actions to protect flood-prone property," the NWS said. If travel is required, do not drive around barricades or through water of unknown depth. Beaches and coastlines will become hazardous due to very large and life-threatening surf conditions. Stay off of beaches, rocks, jetties, piers, and other waterside infrastructure." Sunday in Lincoln City: note there is no beach with these surges below the Inn at Spanish Head. Photo courtesy Inn at Spanish Head / KATU web cam High Wind Warnings. For the north and central Washington coast, the high wind warning is in effect through 6 p.m. Monday. South winds 40 to 50 mph with gusts up to 70 mph are possible in that region from Aberdeen through the Olympic Peninsula. See Oregon Coast Weather - Washington Coast Weather On the north and central Oregon coast, the warning is in effect until 9 a.m. Monday. South winds 35 to 45 mph with gusts up to 65 mph expected near beaches and headlands. There are no high wind warnings for the south Oregon coast. Oregon Coast Hotels for this event - South Coast Hotels - Where to eat - Maps - Virtual Tours MORE PHOTOS BELOW More About Oregon Coast hotels, lodging..... More About Oregon Coast Restaurants, Dining..... Coastal Spotlight 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 Jefferson County has taken the next step toward pursuit of the largest coastal restoration project in the United States. This month, the commissioners court approved the second part of a twenty-year effort to restore the countys beach and dunes, in part funded by the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill that has brought more than $1 billion to the state. This will be a very important year for coastal restoration in Jefferson County, because the McFaddin Beach and Dune project is going to proceed, and that's the largest piece of the Salt Bayou watershed restoration plan, said Tim Richardson, a consultant working with the commissioners court on the project. Other important pieces of the project include marshland restoration and flood-prevention infrastructure. Work is expected to begin by the end of the year after hurricane season is officially passed. Funding primarily comes from the Deepwater Horizon settlement as well as the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act. Together, these will reenergize a vibrant and unique American landscape and improve hurricane flood protection for decades to come. Jefferson County is one of the most ecologically-diverse regions in the country, Richardson said. Situated within the Chenier Plain, which stretches from eastern Galveston Bay to Vermillion Bay, Louisiana, the area is made up of coastal marshlands, coastal prairies, forests of longleaf pine, cypress bayous, grasslands, a network of estuaries that are rich in nutrients and organic material and a healthy mix of brackish water, freshwater, and saltwater. Dive down and youll find blue crab, oysters, shrimp. Look up the area is positioned at the nexus of two essential flyways for migratory birds, like snow geese and sandhill cranes, black-chinned hummingbirds, neotropicals and blue herons, as well as the spoonbills and snowy egrets, pelicans, ibis, laughing gulls, sandpipers and red-winged blackbirds that call the region home. Jefferson County is home to 139,000 acres of the Chenier Marsh that is the largest in Texas. It is important for several reasons, said Jefferson County Judge Jeff Branick. A lot of people use it for fishing, hunting and birdwatching. Jefferson County is home to the second-most valuable seafood catch on the Texas Gulf Coast. So, you know we want to have a healthy nursery system for fish and shrimp and crab. But for all its beauty and recreational value, the region also has significant challenges that Southeast Texans are all too familiar with, including violent coastal weather and the consequences that sometimes come with offshore oil drilling and shipping. In April 2010, when British Petroleums Deepwater Horizon oil rig exploded off the coast of Louisiana, 11 people died. Sea turtles, birds, fish, deep-sea coral, dolphins all also were victims of this industrial disaster. Photographs after the incident showed the devastation: Feathers coated in petroleum; bodies slathered and weighed down by thick, brownish goop; and drastically-depleted populations already in a precarious situation. But thats only one of the most visceral examples of human-caused damage. The local portion of the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway was built in 1933. Spanning over 1,100 miles from St. Marks, Florida across to the Sabine River and down to Brownsville, Texas, it has become one of the busiest inland waterways in the United States, according to the Texas Department of Transportation transporting hundreds of thousands of tons of cargo annually and disrupting marshland flora in its wake. The results to plant and animal biodiversity from these and other issues have been disastrous, Richardson said. So how do you help a fish? he asks. You protect the breeding and the rearing habitats, which is in the marsh. You protect their homes. How do you help the crab? Can you give them a check? No, the only way to help them is to make sure that their population is resilient in the future. As a result, part of the Deepwater Horizon settlement has become a sort-of reparations package for marine life in an attempt to address present and past concerns. Many of the plants in the marshland are not saltwater tolerant. For eons, they thrived on sheet water alone inland rain rolling down sloped land to water plants. But the ships in the Intracoastal Waterway push out saltwater eroding the canal and killing many plants. When their roots die, they release the soil they were stationed in, which is then lost to the Gulf of Mexico and new plants cannot grow in their place. At the same time, McFaddin Beach, which was largely eroded by Hurricane Ike and storms following, no longer keeps water from the Gulf of Mexico from seeping into the marshes and damaging aquatic vegetation. Whereas water previously only made it past the ridge in extreme instances, since 2008, its reached that point several times a year. To temporarily solve this, the county and state and federal partners have invested a little over $12 million in building mounds of white limestone rock, called breakwaters, to form a barrier between the intracoastal canal system and the marshlands. The breakwaters stop the wakes of the barges from eroding the banks of the canal, Richardson said. Because when the barge goes by and throws off a wake, it rips into the shore. If you put a breakwater there, then the wake of the boat hits the breakwater. (It) goes up over the top but slows down, and then the soil falls to the bottom behind the breakwater, where it builds up. Then marsh grass grows back, rebuilding the marsh and enhancing biodiversity in the system. While theyve served as a stopgap to slow damage to the marshland, the breakwaters dont have the engineered capacity to withstand direct exposure to waves. As a result of the continued erosion, many animals, such as the regions species of sea turtles, havent been recorded nesting on McFaddin Beach in over a decade. But this project is expected to extend protection for at least 25 years and could restore sea turtle nesting and other habitats. It will cost nearly $90 million and use sand from the Gulf of Mexicos floor to rebuild McFaddin. They have specific sand depositions mapped and dredges will go out there, scoop up sand and pipe it to the shore, Richardson said. Bulldozers will then move it around and build that beach and dune system. Probably by December we'll start the coastal beach dune restoration construction the remaining 17 miles, said Branick. Theres another $102 million administered by the state, and we are identifying other projects for coastal restoration. The county already completed a three-mile pilot project, which already has shown improvement to wildlife habitat and saltwater intrusion. Most of the Salt Bayou coastal wetland projects and McFaddin Beach nourishment are expected to be completed by the end of 2022, and the next phase will include similar projects at Texas Point National Wildlife Refuge and regional flood management. Regional flood control is a bonafide coastal resiliency issue, said Richardson. Most people think of hurricanes as storm surge and wind, but flooding can be the costliest impact. The prevalence of storms has overwhelmed infrastructure that was built many years ago. Climate change, he says, has increased the temperature, and precipitation regionally has increased by 9% in recent years. This has led to, among other things, sewer system failures and septic tanks that overflow polluted water that children and others walk in. Rebuilding the marsh, according to Branick, is an incredibly important part of slowing down waters and preventing flooding. It is a giant environmental ecosystem restoration, with many different parts. Thankfully, a lot of it can be done, Richardson said. Between Deepwater Horizon and GOMESA, there is needed dollars becoming available. rachel.kersey@beaumontenterprise.com twitter.com/ontheREKord Days after Beaumont union members decided not to accept ExxonMobils contract offer, the two parties are heading back to the negotiation table. There is an added level of urgency for the over 620 workers impacted by the lockout that started in May, as the company has promised to remove some benefits from its offer after Nov. 1. The company and leadership from the United Steelworkers Union confirmed that negotiators would be meeting again Tuesday morning to discuss what comes next, but their messaging shows both believe there likely still is still a long road ahead. Related: Workers turn down new ExxonMobil contract On Friday afternoon, USW leadership released a statement condemning the company for seemingly dragging their feet after the vote on Tuesday and shifting focus to an employee-led effort to end union representation at the Beaumont complex. It is time to get back to the bargaining table, negotiate a contract that is fair and equitable for both parties, end the Unfair Labor Practice Lockout and show your employees that you do in fact care about them and want them back on their jobs, representatives for the union wrote in the statement. The unions bargaining committee and the companys representatives were in arbitration meetings throughout the week but were able to confirm negotiations on Friday morning. Related: USW encourages locked out ExxonMobil workers to vote no on proposal While workers probably would like to avoid the Nov. 1 deadline and potentially losing bonuses, pay raises for 2021 and the right to arbitration, the company has said its amended offer still will be on the table. In fact, representatives told the Enterprise on Friday that the company didnt plan on budging from its amended offer in the near future, which could mean bad news for a quick resolution based on the unions position. For at least two weeks leading up to the vote, the USW urged members to vote against the offer, making the case that it still jeopardizes key issues of seniority and safety that the union has been fighting against since negotiations started in January. Related: ExxonMobil employees appear to move toward union vote USW representatives have said provisions in the contract essentially would end the unions seniority system as it works today, and eliminate several positions in the refinery that it felt was necessary for safety. For the companys part, representatives blamed the vote against its proposal on negative messaging from the union and restated that turning down the contract meant workers were no closer to returning to their jobs. It also appeared to be doubtful of compromise ahead, instead focusing on the decertification election and reminding workers the lockout would end if they decided to dissolve union representation. The good news is that soon you will have the opportunity to vote again - in a decertification election, ExxonMobil representatives wrote in a Friday evening bulletin to employees. This time, your vote will determine whether you want to put an end to Union irresponsibility, pressure on your loved ones, and unnecessary risks, such as strikes and lockouts. Related: ExxonMobil makes first amended offer since lockout After months of organizing, an official petition to decertify the local United Steelworkers Union at ExxonMobil Beaumont was filed with the National Labor Relations Board on Oct. 6. Before an official vote is called, the NLRB has to verify each signature to make sure the 30% threshold of represented employees is actually met, but there is no guarantee that will be a quick process. During the contract negotiation at ExxonMobils Baytown facility last year, a similar decertification campaign and vote was triggered, which took almost five months from the time the petition was filed to when the vote was held. jacob.dick@beaumontenterprise.com twitter.com/jd_journalism Kim Brent/The Enterprise The Lamar Institute of Technology (LIT) announced last Monday that a new dual credit high school firefighting academy/emergency medical technician program is now a reality after a nine-month long planning period. This is a partnership between LITs Workforce Education, the City of Jasper, Jasper Economic Development Corporation (JEDCO), Jasper County Emergency Services District No.4 and seven Southeast Texas school districts. Jasper, Newton, Burkeville, Kirbyville, Spurger, Woodville and Brookeland high school juniors will have an opportunity to take dual credit classes that provide them with an opportunity to take the state certification test as a firefighter or EMT at the end of their senior year. Those who complete the program will be eligible to graduate from LIT in May of their senior year with the Basic Fire Academy Certificate. The new program will be housed in Jasper at the Deep East Texas College and Career Academy (DETCCA) located on the Jasper High School campus. SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) The assistant director who handed Alec Baldwin the gun that killed a cinematographer last week had been fired from a previous job after a gun went off on a set and wounded a member of the film crew, a producer said Monday. The disclosure emerged as producers of Baldwin's movie officially halted filming, and court records showed that investigators seized more than two dozen items from the set on the day after the shooting. In an email statement to The Associated Press, a producer for the movie Freedoms Path confirmed that Dave Halls was fired from the 2019 production after a crew member suffered a minor injury "when a gun was unexpectedly discharged. The producer, who asked not to be identified by name, wrote that Halls was removed from the set immediately." Production did not resume until Halls was gone. His firing from Freedoms Path was first reported by CNN. Halls has not returned phone calls and email messages seeking comment. The producer is the second person to air doubts about Halls' safety record. On Sunday, another crew member who worked with Halls said she raised concerns about him in 2019. Maggie Goll, a prop maker and licensed pyrotechnician, said in a statement that she filed an internal complaint with the executive producers of Hulus Into the Dark series over Halls behavior. Goll said in a phone interview that Halls disregarded safety protocols for weapons and pyrotechnics and tried to continue filming after the supervising pyrotechnician, who was diabetic, lost consciousness on set. The fatal shooting and previous experiences point to larger safety issues, Goll said, adding that crew safety was a top issue in recent contract negotiations between a union that represents film and TV workers and a major producers group. This situation is not about Dave Halls. ... Its in no way one persons fault, she said. Its a bigger conversation about safety on set and what we are trying to achieve with that culture. In an email sent to Rust crew members over the weekend, the movie's production team confirmed that work on the Western has been suspended at least until the investigation is complete. The team said it is working with law enforcement and conducting its own internal safety review. The production company is also offering grief counseling. The email suggested that work on the film could resume at some point. Although our hearts are broken, and it is hard to see beyond the horizon, this is, at the moment, a pause rather than an end, the email read. The sheriff's investigation continued Monday, and new court documents showed that authorities seized three black revolvers, ammunition boxes, a fanny pack with ammunition, several spent casings, two leather gun belts with holsters, articles of clothing and swabs of what were believed to be blood. No charges have been filed. Prosecutors and law enforcement officers were expected to provide an update on the investigation Wednesday. Moments before the shooting, Baldwin was explaining how he was going to draw the revolver from his holster and where his arm would be positioned, court records show. The actor had been told that the gun was safe to use for the rehearsal of a scene in which he was supposed to pull out the weapon while sitting in a church pew and point it at the camera, the records said. Cameraman Reid Russell told a detective that he was unsure whether the weapon was checked before it was handed to Baldwin, and he did not know why the gun was fired. The camera was not rolling when the gun went off and killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, Russell told authorities, according a search warrant affidavit released Sunday. Authorities have said that Halls had handed the weapon to Baldwin and announced cold gun, indicating it was safe. When asked about how Baldwin treated firearms on the set, Russell said the actor was safe, citing a previous instance when Baldwin made sure a child actor was not near him when a gun was being discharged. The affidavit released Sunday also included statements by director Joel Souza, who was standing behind Hutchins and was wounded. It detailed the moments before the shooting and showed that there was turmoil on the set the day of the shooting. Several members of the camera crew walked off the production in a dispute over payment and lodging, Russell said, and he was left with a lot of work to do. Only one camera was available to shoot, and it had to be moved because the light had shifted and there was a shadow. Souza said he was focused on how the scene would appear on camera. He said he recalled hearing the phrase cold gun before the shooting, the affidavit said. He said the scene did not call for the use of live rounds. After a lunch break, Souza said he was not sure if the firearm had been checked again. Souza was looking over Hutchins' shoulder when he heard the gunshot, according to the affidavit. The films chief electrician, Serge Svetnoy, blamed producers for Hutchins death in an emotional Facebook post on Sunday. Svetnoy said he had worked with Hutchins on multiple films and faulted negligence and unprofessionalism among those handling weapons on the set. He said producers hired an inexperienced armorer. Baldwin, who is known for his roles in 30 Rock and The Hunt for Red October and his impression of former President Donald Trump on Saturday Night Live, has described the killing as a tragic accident. ___ Italie reported from New York. Associated Press writers Ryan Pearson in Los Angeles, Gillian Flaccus in Portland, Oregon, and Michelle Eaton in Newport Beach, California, contributed to this report. ROYALTON, Vt. (AP) A federal judge has ruled that Vermont Law School can conceal two large murals that some members of the school community find racially offensive. The Valley News reports the judge granted the school's request to dismiss a lawsuit by the artist, ruling last week that the schools plan to hide the murals behind a wall of acoustic tiles doesnt violate the federal Visual Artists Rights Act. They are currently covered by drop cloths. Lawyers for artist Samuel Kerson said he will appeal. Kerson painted the murals entitled Vermont, The Underground Railroad and Vermont and the Fugitive Slave for the school on two walls inside a building in 1994. Last year the school said it would paint over them and, when the artist objected, said it would instead cover the murals with the tiles. Despite its beneficent intentions, the mural has not aged well. Its depiction of African Americans strikes some viewers as caricatured and offensive, and the mural has become a source of discord and distraction at Vermont Law School an institution whose explicit mission it is to educate students in a diverse community, the school said in a court filing in response Kerson's lawsuit. Lawyers for Kerson, who lives in Quebec, argued that the artwork is protected by the Visual Artists Rights Act that safeguards artists works from "distortion, mutilation, or other modification," which would be prejudicial to their honor or reputation. U.S. District Court Judge Geoffrey Crawford disagreed, ruling that once the wall is in place, The murals will have the same status as a portrait or bust that is removed from public exhibition and placed in storage. Justin Barnard, a lawyer for the school, said they're pleased the court agrees that the act doesnt compel an owner to display artwork against its wishes. In a statement, Kersons lawyers, Steven Hyman and Richard Rubin, said the judge ignored the clear intent of the act. Kerson declined to comment beyond the statement from his lawyers. Midcounty firefighters are seeking voters support for a chance to negotiate working conditions and pay. Two local professional firefighters associations, Port Neches Local No. 3713 and Groves Local No. 1905, were received hundreds of signatures on its union petitions, which added collective bargaining as an option for voters to make their voice heard on the Nov. 2 ballot. Early voting began Oct.18 and continues until Oct. 29. Vote YES on both propositions to support your Port Neches Professional Firefighters in obtaining Collective Bargaining & Binding Arbitration! Port Neches Professional Firefighters said in a social media post. We still have plenty of yard signs to hand out, and will be walking the neighborhoods every weekend until Election Day. Send us a message with your address and we will come place a sign in your yard to show your support! If passed, they would amend the citys charter to establish a contract or collective bargaining agreement between the firefighters and the city. Groves and Port Neches are the last two departments in the region that dont have such an agreement. It will actually give us the ability to actually establish our very first contract and then every year or every four or five years however we determine the term to have that contract last we will have that forever now, IAFF Local 3713 President Tyler Hebert previously said. Related: Mid-County firefighters seek collective bargaining Provisions up for negotiation could include wages, hours, fringe benefits, discipline, health and safety and other working conditions. The associations also are petitioning for binding arbitration, which would settle any labor management disputes. The provision would include a neutral third party or panel that holds a formal hearing, takes testimony and renders a verdict. Hebert, who is confident the items will receive the support needed to pass, previously said approval would not result in a tax increase and the public servants would not be able to strike or get locked out. Instead, the contract would give workers a voice on matters that directly affect employment, which the association said could help retain and recruit experienced and talented firefighters. Groves Local 1905 President Haden Groves previously said most police and fire departments are union and have collective bargaining that enables them to negotiate a contract with their cities. We believe that if we are successful in gaining collective bargaining and binding arbitration, then we will continue to be the best and most professional fire department out there, Grove previously stated. Also, (the fire department would) be able to continue to hire and retain the caliber of professional firefighters that we have had for years. meagan.ellsworth@beaumontenterprise.com twitter.com/megzmagpie chrispecoraro/Getty Images/iStockphoto Droves of people moved over the last year and Texas has been a top relocation destination. According to a new report, several cities in the Lone Star State could be prime real estate for people seeking greener pastures elsewhere. Earlier this month, Livability.com released a roundup of the best places to live in the U.S. In a blog post about the rankings, the company said it uses surveys, studies, new variables and adjusts its algorithm to determine this annual list. Relatives and fellow refugees prepare to bury the wrapped bodies of slain Rohingya in a graveyard at the Balukhali camp in Ukhia, Bangladesh, Oct. 23, 2021. Police suspect that the people who killed a Rohingya leader and six refugees in separate attacks at camps in southeastern Bangladesh belong to the same group, authorities said Monday but declined to name it, although victims relatives blamed Rohingya rebels. So far, police have arrested 19 suspects nine in connection with the Sept. 29 killing of Muhib Ullah, who was an internationally known activist, and 10 connected to the killing last week of six refugees at an Islamic boarding school in Coxs Bazar district, officials said. We suspect that the same group of people conducted the separate killing missions, Rafiqul Islam, the additional superintendent of police in Coxs Bazar, told BenarNews. We already collected the names, addresses and other details of most attackers. Sharing the details about the group is not possible at this stage as we are investigating two cases in this regard separately, he said. Investigators suspect that both killing missions might be conducted by the same group of people, Naimul Haque, commanding officer of the Armed Police Battalion Unit-14, told a news conference Saturday. An eyewitness to Fridays pre-dawn attack had said that about 100 masked men, who were armed with machetes, sticks and guns, carried out the killings at the madrassa in the Balukhali camp. Some of those who were slain had volunteered to help police patrol the camp at night and were sleeping at the Islamic school when the armed intruders burst in and killed them. It was the deadliest incident of violence at the sprawling Rohingya camps near the Myanmar border in Coxs Bazar in recent memory. A few weeks earlier, at the Kutupalong camp, a group of gunmen burst into the office of the Arakan Rohingya Society for Peace and Human Rights (ARSPH), which Ullah headed, and shot him dead. Since Ullahs killing, police have arrested nearly 86 refugees, including many suspected of involvement with illegal weapons and drugs, Haque said. We have tightened security in the refugee camps since the murder of Muhib Ullah. Police are patrolling there regularly. But, amid the strict security, a group carried out a killing mission at the madrassa, Md Hasanuzzaman, superintendent of police for Coxs Bazar district, told BenarNews, describing the incident on Oct. 22 as an isolated one. Rafiqul Islam, meanwhile, said that the density of the camps played a factor in the suspects ability to pull off the attack. The killers were successful in carrying out their killing mission because of the congested area inside the refugee camps, he said. We are working to bring the killers to trial. No criminal will be able to flee after doing any crime in the refugee camps. More than 40,000 refugees are crammed into each square kilometer at the camps in the southeast more than 40 times the average density of Bangladeshs population, according to the U.N. refugee agency UNHCR. About 1 million Rohingya live in the camps in and around Coxs Bazar. These include 740,000 Rohingya who fled to Bangladesh after the Burmese military launched a brutal offensive in retaliation for deadly raids by the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) on government outposts in Rakhine state in August 2017. Ullahs brother as well as relatives of the six people killed last week have blamed ARSA for the fatal attacks, but police have denied allegations that the group has a foothold in Bangladesh. ARSA, on its official Twitter account, denied responsibility and blamed what it called ARSA 2.0, a criminal gang that is responsible for many crimes in refugee camps & beyond. On Saturday, police alleged that 19 people participated in the killing of Ullah, who had represented his community in international meetings, including at the United Nations and the White House. Officers also arrested four suspects that day, including one who confessed to the killing, officials said. The confession is the second by a suspect in the crime. 2-minute attack Haque released details about the attack based on the ongoing investigation. A five-member killer group took just two minutes to assassinate popular Rohingya leader Muhib Ullah at his ARSPH office on Sept. 29, he said. The suspects allegedly held a planning meeting two days before Ullah was shot four times, Haque said, adding that they allegedly targeted him because he became an important figure through his efforts to return the Rohingya to their homes across the border in Myanmar. Meanwhile, the father of one of the six people killed at the madrassa filed a case Saturday night with the Ukhia Police Station against 25 named and 250 unnamed people. Ten people have been arrested and linked to the case filed by Nurul Islam, whose son, Azizul Haque, was killed, Ahmed Sanjur Morshed, the chief of the Ukhia police, told BenarNews. Myanmars national flag (center) appears with flags of other member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), in Bangkok, Nov. 4, 2019. ASEAN begins a summit this week amid uncertainty over Myanmars participation after the regional bloc barred the Burmese junta chief from attending and Naypyidaw threatened to skip the meeting. Myanmars military government said Monday that it had not decided whether to send a senior diplomat invited by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to the meeting as the countrys non-political representative, in place of Min Aung Hlaing, the senior general who led a coup that toppled an elected government on Feb. 1. ASEAN invited the Permanent Secretary of the junta-appointed Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a spokesman for the military government confirmed. But many Burmese criticized ASEAN via social media for inviting the diplomat, saying he was most definitely not a non-political representative. Such summits are supposed to be attended by heads of state or government only, Zaw Min Tun, the juntas spokesman, told Radio Free Asia (RFA), a BenarNews sister entity. As we have said, this is an infringement of ASEAN rules and regulations and [its] non-interference policy. We believe that this degrades our countrys position and sovereignty. So we are not sure if we will attend the summit. The ASEAN summit, which opens Tuesday and runs through Thursday, will be held virtually due to concerns about COVID-19. At a special meeting earlier this month, ASEAN foreign ministers barred Min Aung Hlaing from the summit after the blocs special envoy to Myanmar said no progress had been made on ASEANs five-point roadmap to putting the country back on a path to peace and democracy. Min Aung Hlaing led the coup that toppled the National League for Democracy (NLD) government, which had won elections decisively in November 2020. The regional bloc said it would instead invite a non-political representative from Myanmar to the summit. However, many Burmese on social media said that the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was not a non-political representative because he held that position at the ministry appointed by the junta. Its totally disappointing ASEAN has invited permanent secretary of SACs MOFA as non-political representative for Myanmar, said Robert Minn, whose bio says he is a member of the youth wing of the NLD. He was referring to the State Administration Council, the official name for the junta. For its part, the junta said that ASEAN was violating its charter. The invitation to a non-political representative is not in line with [the] ASEAN Charter, ASEAN procedures and precedent, the SAC-appointed foreign ministry said in a statement posted on Facebook. Myanmar would be pursuing the due processes under the ASEAN Charter and the Protocol to the ASEAN Charter on Dispute Settlement Mechanisms in resolving the differences on Myanmars representation at the ASEAN Meetings. Last Friday, the Burmese foreign ministry also said that the matter of participation at the summits was deliberately linked with the domestic affairs of Myanmar. The statement was alluding to ASEANs principle of non-interference in member-states domestic affairs, a founding principle of the 54-year-old bloc in addition to one about its 10 member-states taking all decisions by consensus. While ASEAN has not revealed what issues would be discussed at the summit, the situation in post-coup Myanmar will most certainly be on the agenda. Close to 1,200 people most of them pro-democracy protesters have been killed by Burmese security forces since the coup. On Friday, Tom Andrews, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Myanmar, told the U.N. General Assembly that he feared even more mass atrocity crimes because the Burmese junta had been moving tens of thousands of troops and weaponry to the north and northwest. Hassanal Bolkiah, the sultan of Brunei, attends the opening session of the 31st ASEAN Summit in Manila, Nov. 13, 2017. This week, Brunei will host the ASEAN summit. [Reuters] ASEAN Plus One Summits Brunei, the 2021 holder of the blocs rotating chair, will host the summit. Participants at the meeting will discuss the future direction of the bloc and its community-building efforts, its COVID-19 response and views on regional and international issues of common concern, the Malaysian foreign ministry said in a statement Monday. Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob and Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah will attend the summit, it added. The leaders of the ASEAN states will also take part in ASEAN Plus One summits with the leaders of the U.S., Australia, India, China, Japan and South Korea, the statement said. ASEAN has inked free-trade agreements with these countries as part of efforts to strengthen the regions role in the global supply chain. Indonesia President Joko Jokowi Widodo will be attending the ASEAN and related summits, according to Retno Marsudi, Jakartas top diplomat. Jokowi is expected to attend 13 meetings and deliver a speech at the ASEAN business and investment summit (ABIS), she said. From the Philippines, President Rodrigo Duterte will also be attending the meetings, his spokesman Harry Roque told a news briefing Monday. As usual, these ASEAN summits are regular, Roque said when pressed about what issues the country would raise during the meeting. AUKUS Still, it will not be business as usual, according to Chester Cabalza, a political and defense analyst at International Development and Security Cooperation, a Manila think-tank. It seems that the regional bloc is starting to redefine its relevance and role in the changing global security [scenario], Cabalza told BenarNews, adding that the change was welcome. Indeed, this ASEAN summit will be the blocs first high-level meeting since the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia announced a new pact, called AUKUS, under which Washington and London will provide Canberra with the technology for building nuclear-powered submarines. AUKUS has divided ASEAN. Some members have welcomed it, others not. The Philippines and Singapore said AUKUS would help restore a regional imbalance and lead to stability in Southeast Asia. Malaysia and Indonesia, however, warned that AUKUS may spur a regional arms race. The new pact had rendered ASEAN irrelevant and the bloc was to blame for that, some analysts told BenarNews last month. The fact that it cannot resolve the South China Sea issue, cant even get China to agree to the Code of Conduct after 20 years It shows that ASEAN cant be taken seriously based on its historical track record, James Chin, an academic at Tasmania University, told BenarNews at the time. Jason Gutierrez in Manila, Ahmad Syamsudin in Jakarta, Muzliza Mustafa in Kuala Lumpur, and Shailaja Neelakantan in Washington contributed to this report. 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. Vigil held for young boy who went missing, later found dead Hundreds of people gathered for a candlelight vigil for a young boy from New Hampshire who went missing a month ago and was recently found dead You are the owner of this article. Business writer Tony Dobrowolski's main focus is on business reporting. He came to The Eagle in 1992 after previously working for newspapers in Connecticut and Montreal. He can be reached at tdobrowolski@berkshireeagle.com or 413-496-6224. 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. If journalism was a department store, opinion would be one of its largest and most popular sections. State Rep. John Barrett III, D-North Adams, said the $3.65 billion spending bill released Tuesday covers the whole gamut of what is needed. Barrett is a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, which worked on the bill, which makes proposals to spend most of the state's surplus and remaining federal COVID-19 relief funds. What Is the Meaning of Foreknowledge? Foreknowledge means having information on events, ideas, situations, etcetera before they happen. You know the decisions that a person will make beforehand. Say, for example, you have two children. Both of them receive an allowance each week. You know that one of your children is a saver and you know that they will stash their money away to save for something big. Your other child likes to live for the moment. And from experience you know they will beg to go to the store each week to spend what they have. This is an example of how I see God dealing with us in foreknowledge. He knows beforehand who will be saved, but He gives us free choice to accept Him or not. Like a parent, He is not trying to make us get saved, but He does make life easier for those who do His will. Salvation makes our lives easier. Also, we as humans can only explain to you how we believe things to be. We are not God, and we are not all-knowing. If God chooses to flip the script on some things, He can do that. He is God. I know sometimes when people really mess up, but you might want to see them get just what you believe they deserve. God gives them mercy whether we like it or not. God sent Jonah to Nineveh. Jonah did not want to go. He figured that those people did not need to get saved because they were so wicked. God saw differently. Read the book of Jonah. It has four chapters. You may know the story of how Jonah ended up in the belly of a whale because he did not want to go to Nineveh and preach unto them. God had planned to send some destruction to Nineveh. Jonah avoided going for as long as he could. He went in a different direction and even had the wrath of God come on those who were around him. These men were smart enough to figure out that someone had made God mad. It is amazing how God can work in situations. Even those who are not saved and say they do not believe can figure out when someone is running from God or not doing what they are supposed to do. Jonah spent three days in the belly of a whale after being thrown overboard a ship that he was in. In the end, Jonah obeyed God. The people of Nineveh believed what Jonah had to say because he was the messenger of God. The king called for everyone to fast from the least of them unto the greatest (Jonah 3:4-9). The king declared that everyone should be covered with sackcloth and cry out mightily unto God. God heard them and did not do what He had planned to do to them which was to bring destruction. We are so fortunate that we have Jesus standing in the gap for us. Even when you do not do what the prophet says, you can still go home and repent and receive forgiveness because of the blood of Jesus. If a prophet is warning you and it lines up with what you believe God is saying, straighten up. What Does the Bible Say about Foreknowledge? We know that God is all-knowing. He is omniscient. That is His character. Acts 15:18 declares, Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world. If you have a problem with the fact that God knows what you are going to do before you do it, get over it. There is nothing that you can do about that. You cannot go back and rewrite whatever laws God has established from the beginning of the world. Compare this to being a new employee at a company. You might come in with your own ideas and agenda, but at the end of the day, you will have to fall in line with the mission of this particular company or you can find yourself a new job or start your own company. Christianity is different. You cannot rewrite the laws of God. God gives us free will and often He covers us when we do not follow the rule book because we repent and ask for forgiveness. Jesus refers to foreknowledge in John 1:47-48. When he saw Nathanael coming, he said, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile. Of course, Nathanael wanted to know how Jesus knew so much about him. Nathanael was convinced that Jesus was the Son of God because Jesus knew specifics about his life. If God Is All-Knowing, How Are We Free? We are free because whom the Son sets free is free indeed. Look at John 8: 31-34. If you are in sin, you are a servant of sin. Life is a lot harder. Being saved affords us more freedom and sweatless victories. People who are living in bondage to sin are not really having as much fun as they would have you believe. I submit to you today that they have several restless nights. They try to give the appearance that everything is going well, but it is not. Listen to the conversations of some people who you believe are not saved. I am not saying that nothing ever happens to people who are saved, but we miss a lot of stuff that could have happened to us because we are saved. I have seen enough gangster movies on television to know that that is not the life. Unfortunately, those who have various addictions have become servants to those addictions. The only way to become free is to ask Jesus for help. Why Is This Such a Hard Concept to Grasp? Its hard to grasp because some would argue that the fight is already fixed, but it is fixed in our favor. God wants us to win and to be saved. He cannot reward lawlessness. Look at Satan. He is so far gone that there is no redemption for him. God does not want us to be like that. Satan had free will and he just took it to the nth degree. Sometimes people just do anything and want God to cosign on that. That is not happening. We have a rulebook that we go by, and it is called the Bible. I know that people say that religion is here to enslave people. That is not true. Over the centuries, people have taken religion and manipulated the people of God with it. That does not mean that the Bible or Christianity is not true. That just means we have had some bad actors along the way. We should seek to be different and live our lives pleasing to God. Be thankful that you are on Gods mind and that He wants you to be saved. The word of God says that God is not willing that any should perish, but that all will come to repentance. Look at 2 Peter 3:9. It says, The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. I believe God. Read the Bible and study. Do not just take peoples word for what is written in the Bible. Pray and ask God for revelation knowledge concerning things. Read the book of Revelation. If you read it enough, you might begin to have more clarity. Many of you reading this article have insight into Gods plan and can share it with others. Even though you do not have a title yet, you can still encourage Gods people. Do not let the argument about predestination discourage or confuse you. Live your life pleasing unto God. Photo credit: Pixabay/Free Photos Dr. Sandra Hamer Smith is a Christian and wife to Sylvester Smith. She has one stepson, Greg. Smith lives and resides in Memphis, Tennessee. The University of Memphis alumnae has been in education for about 20 years after receiving the call to teach. Dr. Smith primarily teaches language arts. Prior to education, she worked in local and national television news for 13 years including positions as an overnight news anchor, reporter, and assignments editor at two local network affiliate stations. Smith was also a freelance correspondent for BET news. Dr. Smith has freelanced for the Tri-State Defender newspaper and Contempora magazine. She is the author of the self-published novel GLORYTHE HAIR. Smith is also a playwright and poet. The Tennessee native is a member of Temple of Deliverance COGIC, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc, Omicron Delta Kappa, The Golden Key International Honour Society, and Kappa Delta Pi. The centre will provide cost-effective clinical care in Gurugram and surrounding areas HCAH (formerly HealthCare atHOME) has launched its third transition care centre in India and first in North India in Sector-51, Gurugram. The Chief Guest, Dr Yash Garg, Deputy Commissioner of Gururgram inaugurated the centre. "The way healthcare system has been unfolding, the demand for Transition Care has increased significantly in India. Gurugram has been in great need of transition care services. The transition care centre launched by HCAH will cater to the growing demand, filling the massive healthcare continuum gap between tertiary care hospitals and homes," said Dr Garg. Vivek Srivastava, Co-Founder & CEO HCAH said, We hope the transition care centre will bridge the healthcare continuum gap between tertiary care hospitals and homes. It will provide more cost-effective clinical care for long-term patients in Gurugram to recover in an infection-free, rehabilitation, and skilled nursing environment under 24/7 medical supervision. HCAH facilities are testimony to 3000 successful recoveries. "We hope that the newly launched transition centre in Gurugram, which has facilities like balance and gamification lab, mobility tracker, robotic hand, occupational therapy / ADL lab, and speech and swallow therapy to name a few, will meet the growing demand for transition Care services, says Dr Gaurav Thukral, COO, HCAH. Ogilvy South Africa is proud to announce the establishment of The Ogilvy Molefi Thulo Bursary Fund. The bursary will celebrate the memory of industry giant Mo Thulo, executive creative director of Ogilvy Johannesburg, who passed away in August this year. Thulo began his career as a copywriter in the 2000s. He joined Ogilvy in 2009, eventually rising to become executive creative director. Over the years he produced some of South Africas and Ogilvys most awarded work for KFC, Lucozade, Coca-Cola, DStv, AB InBev, Philips and the Nelson Mandela Foundation, among many others.He made it to the top of the global ad industry, winning multiple Cannes Grands Prix awards. It is therefore a fitting tribute that the Loeries has renamed its Radio Grand Prix in his name from this year forward, alongside the formation of the bursary programme.The bursary is a long-term programme designed to discover and support the next generation of industry creative talent. The focus will be on unearthing writers from a similar background to Thulo, who grew up in rural Free State, where opportunities were few and far between.We are hoping that Mos spirit will inspire a new generation of writers across the advertising industry. He was a magical and nurturing soul. Mo emerged from very humble beginnings to become a force in the industry, winning numerous awards along the way, says Angela Madlala, chief people officer, Ogilvy South Africa.The bursary is unusual in that, whilst it will fund the studies of a variety of new talent, it looks to have a special focus on discovering local writers, a talent that is traditionally more difficult and scarcer to find relative to other creative talents who are recruited from design and marketing colleges.Another factor that makes The Ogilvy Molefi Thulo Bursary Fund unique is that it will serve the industry, and not be exclusive to Ogilvy. Any successful applicants will be free to join any agency they choose, post their study completion.The annual bursary will fund up to 10 creatives studying at a variety of levels, including one-, two-, and three-year courses. A comprehensive package of funding from education fees to travel, educational materials and computers will be offered to the bursary winners.The existing Loeries Creative Future Scholarship programme has been underway since 2009 and funded tertiary studies of 19 students into the industry. The additional 10 bursaries funded from Ogilvy in 2022, as a tribute to Mo, will significantly improve the impact that we can jointly have in the industry, says Preetesh Sewraj, CEO of The Loeries.This new programme adds to Ogilvys existing investments in helping drive diversity and inclusivity in the industry, alongside other innovative programmes such as the annual 12-month immersive o25 Graduate programme which has produced 119 alumni since 2016: o25.ogilvy.co.za/ The application process for The Ogilvy Molefi Thulo Bursary Fund will be published on The Loeries site ( www.loeries.com ). Many will remember 2013 as the start of the collapse of single source data in South Africa. We watched with disbelief the collapse of single source data and the demise of Saarf (SA Advertising Research Foundation) which allowed all stakeholders to shape, via voting rights, the media and brand research that the industry was dependent on and traded with. SA was the envy of many countries where they had to rely on multiple sources and surveys to be able to create and execute a media strategy and track brand and competitor growth. No one was under any pretence that there weren't fault lines with the Amps (All Media & Products Survey), Rams (Radio Audience Measurement Survey) & Tams (Television Audience Measurement Survey) surveys and data. It was known that they needed modification and improvement. There was also frustration for the end users where a target market created using Amps data could not be replicated in Rams and Tams due to differing demographic structures. Life was therefore not a bed of roses, but for marketers and agencies there was the reassurance of having access to regularly updated research at no direct subscription cost. In addition, together with the media owners, marketers and agencies had a seat at the table in terms of controlling and contributing to what the research looked like and how it was conducted. About the AMF In all honesty, one could understand the arguments from both sides of the table: the broadcasters wanting a larger voting representation as they accounted for 78% of the research funding, was not an unreasonable ask. Forcing a vote at a Saarf board meeting where the other constituents were not given the opportunity to review the request was unreasonable.The marketers insistence that the research was indirectly funded by them was also in part correct. Back in the 80s to early 90s, every media schedule had a levy line item a percentage charged on media investment to fund research. In the 90s it was decided, by mutual agreement of all parties involved, that media rates would increase by 1% to fund the research going forward. One can therefore understand marketers argument that they indirectly fund the research, and some would argue they continue to do so.There was no going back, the damage had been done and SA moved into uncharted waters with new research and new research bodies being created. The BRC (Broadcast Research Council) took over Rams and Tams; the PRC (Publishers Research Council) took responsibility for publisher researcher and the MRF (Marketers Research Foundation) was established to meet marketers research requirements. The BRC and PRC funded the Establishment Survey (ES) the predominantly demographic and broad media consumption survey which informs Rams, Tams & Pams. The MRF has recently launched Maps (Marketing All Products Survey). While the ES, Rams, Tams & Pams remain free to the end user, Maps is subscription based and funded by marketers.Then followed years of ups and downs, with most of the frustration being felt largely by the end users. Agencies were trying to make sense of the data across multiple sources, including gaps in the research resulting in frustration as well as questioning of the data.Covid-19 hit and everyone took a financial hammering. 2020 saw the industry taking a step closer to the single source data of old with the launch of Fusion 2020. A collaboration between the PRC, BRC Tams data, Nielsen CPS FMCG data and Nielsen DCS Digital Consumer Survey. There were however still gaps: no outdoor, no station level data for radio, no cinema, no intermedia and marketers and agencies needed more brand and lifestyle data.The Covid-19 pandemic has resulted in the three research bodies funding being negatively impacted. The question arises as to whether its not time for all interested parties, including cinema, outdoor and potentially the IAB to sit around the table once again. There remains an important need for a base survey, an ES. The BRC, PRC & MRF all require an ES as the starting point to their surveys. Currently all three bodies are self-funding the ES with certain elements being paid separately for the same information. A case in point is that all three need to purchase geospatial maps however by collaborating to fund an ES, savings can be made which could fund the rest of their research requirements. The more players around the table the greater the saving and the more likely the entire industry would buy in. It would assist with the standardisation of basic demographics, a SocioEconomic Measure (SEM) agreed to by all and overarching media consumption questions.Can it be done? In 2020, the organisations responsible for the official radio, print, TV and internet audience measurements in the Netherlands founded the MSS (Media Standard Survey). The survey is a source for census information on media. The website says under collaboration: the collaboration between the official media audience measurement services in the Netherlands is a unique initiative. Since 2013, the audience measurement services, their partners and the SCP have commissioned a Time Budget Study, which is used as a hub to fuse the different media audience currencies. Source: www.kijkonderzoek.nl South Africa was at the forefront of collaboration historically, and there is no reason why we cannot do this again.Herein lies the key benefit for all stakeholders: the creation of an ES that is used as a hub to fuse the different media currency surveys. Imagine having a single fused survey that includes Tams, Rams, Pams, IAB, Road, Maps, CPS, DCS & Roots into one for free to the end user? What a wealth of data and a collaboration that would be.The combination of all data sources might well be a step too far as the IAB, Road and MRF do have their own funding and financial models, however, creating an ES that is a collaboration between all interested parties and creating a fused media currency survey would be a win for all stakeholders as well as ensuring financial savings.The good news is that there are already meetings scheduled amongst the key players about collaboration and the AMF is actively involved and represented. There are new kids on the block with the old guard having moved on. There exists the perfect opportunity to get around a table, leave self-interest and criticism of the past and current surveys outside the door and start a collaboration conversation. Lets work together to get back to single source data thats a result of collaboration, mutual respect and an understanding that at the end of the day, all players require data that is supported by the industry in order to ensure that there is a media currency which keeps the industry thriving and brands growing to ensure investment growth.The Advertising Media Forum (AMF) is a collective of media agencies and individuals including media strategists, planners, buyers and consultants through whom 95% of all media expenditure in South Africa is bought. The AMF advises and represents relevant organisations and aims to create open channels of communication and encourage and support transparent policies, strategies and transactions within the industry. For more information on the AMF, visit amf.org,za Sweden is the fourth nation to ban Moderna. Brick by brick, the globalist fear-mongering campaign is being dismantled and recognized for what it is. Propaganda and experimental injections at the expense of lives is unacceptable, and the Technocrats who control the narrative should be removed from all public policy. TN Editor New concerns are being raised about side effects from the Moderna vaccine against the coronavirus. Swedish health officials have now decided that a moratorium on giving the Moderna vaccine to anyone under 31 will be extended indefinitely, the U.K. Daily Mail reported. The pause on the Moderna shots had been scheduled to end on Dec. 1. Finland, Iceland and Denmark have taken similar steps. Norway is encouraging men under 30 not to get the Moderna shot, but is not mandating it. For months, the Moderna vaccine has been under scrutiny because of data that shows young men who receive it are at increased risk for myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart muscle, and pericarditis, an inflammation of the sac around the heart. Rate of Myocarditis/pericarditis for young males in #Ontario after 2nd shot stands out above the rest. 1 in 5770-after 2nd shot in Males 18 to 24. Factoring in 12-17 age group: 1 in 6817- in males 12-24 after 2nd.Source:https://t.co/GCqNgpsQmJ #COVID19 #CovidVaccine #myocarditis pic.twitter.com/PKwQok6MxQ Antony Robart (@AntonyRobart) October 18, 2021 The Daily Mail reported that one U.S. study that has not yet been peer-reviewed concluded that young males under [age] 20 are up to six times more likely to develop myocarditis after contracting COVID-19 than those who have been vaccinated. The decision comes as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is putting Modernas plans for a shot aimed at the population from age 12 to 17 on hold due to concerns over risks of the ailments, according to The Wall Street Journal. Read full story here The supply of housing on Brandons North Hill will soon be augmented after a new development broke ground less than two weeks ago. Advertisement Advertise With Us The supply of housing on Brandons North Hill will soon be augmented after a new development broke ground less than two weeks ago. Local developers T&G Holdings are now in the process of building six 12-plexes at 1501 Braecrest Ave., next to the North Hill Inn, under the name of Apollo Heights. For owners Tom and Vasilios Giannopoulos, the name is a nod toward their Greek heritage, with Apollo the Greek god of music, healing, poetry and more. "Its been approximately a year or so," Vasilios told the Sun about how long it has taken to get the project off the ground. "We had to go through the city and at first, we werent sure how many units the sewer and stuff would be able to service, so we had to do some digging and quite a few things before actually getting going." One of the biggest obstacles in getting the project started was a lack of available materials caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. "Everyone knows the lumber prices for things like this," Vasilios said about how prices have jumped during the pandemic. "During COVID, our rates skyrocketed for lumber, materials and trades ... it was honestly really up in the air whether this project would be feasible with all the lumber prices and stuff as they were. Luckily, in the past few months, things were able to come down and be more reasonable. On the construction side, we kinda got lucky that way." The total size of the plot of land being developed is close to 13 acres, according to Vasilios, which means that future phases or developments could materialize if things go well. Each 12-plex will feature six two-bedroom apartments and six three-bedroom apartments. The buildings will be similar, but not an exact copy of another 12-plex the company runs at the corner of Second Street and Victoria Avenue called Parthenon Place, also named in honour of the familys Greek heritage. Rent for the two-bedroom apartments will start at $1,123, while rent for the three-bedroom apartments will start at $1,370 and will include appliances and a parking space. What will separate this development from many of the other developments in town, Vasilios said, will be a more modern design that tenants will be proud to live in. The large size of the lot means that tenants will have some breathing room. "The two-bedroom (apartments) will be close to 1,000 square feet, and the three-bedrooms close to 1,200 square feet, so generous sizes are kind of the first things we wanted," Vasilios said. "I know with lots of these multi-residential apartments and rental units, lots of times theyre cramped because developers want to maximize profits." One of the key demographics the development is trying to attract is post-secondary students, with Assiniboine Community Colleges North Hill campus on the far end of Braecrest and Brandon University a five-minute drive down 18th Street or a 30- to 45-minute bus ride on Brandon Transit. Though snow has yet to start sticking to the ground in Westman, the frozen-over car windows in the mornings certainly signify that winter weather is on the way. Before things freeze too much, the developers are trying to get as much of the concrete for the project poured as possible. Once thats done, other work can continue over the winter as the weather permits. The tentative date for the first round of tenants allowed to move into the first couple of completed buildings is September 2022. cslark@brandonsun.com Twitter: @ColinSlark The rising of the dead has been postponed for another year, with the annual Brandon Zombie Walk fundraiser moving online to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. Advertisement Advertise With Us The rising of the dead has been postponed for another year, with the annual Brandon Zombie Walk fundraiser moving online to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. Co-organizers Trista Creasy and Angel Robbins said it while it was disappointing to cancel the walk for the second year in a row, they are hopeful the community will rally to support the Funds for Furry Friends fundraiser. "It was a lot of reforming of what we could do to raise the most funds for Funds for Furry Friends," Creasy said. "Everyone has been suffering so much these last couple years due to COVID animals dont need to suffer as well." It was a difficult decision to cancel the walk again, but it was a necessary evil, Creasy said, triggered by the rising number of COVID-19 cases in the province. She added the need for everyone to be double vaccinated also impacted their decision because of the complicated logistics involved. Organizers discussed different options and believed an online event would be the safest form of a fundraiser. They have worked hard to make the best of an uncontrollable situation, Robbins said, and have put a lot of thought into planning the online event. This years Zombie Walk has been dedicated to the memory of Linda Faye (Sebastian) Herrmann. Creasy said the Zombie Walk would be proud to represent her as she loved good scares, such as her volunteering at Grim Acres and also her love for animals. Creasy and Robbins will be selling raffle tickets in support of Funds for Furry Friends and are also hosting an food drive fundraiser for animals. Residents will be able to donate items including dog and cat food, toys, crates, litter, leashes, collars and other items that benefit animals. Creasy added they are looking for essential items that can help facilitate animals living in foster homes. Raffle ticket prices are $2 a ticket, $5 for three tickets or $8 for 10 tickets. "The less Funds [for Furry Friends] has to pay for, the easier it is to be able to have them take more and save more animals," Robbins said. The raffle ticket prizes can be viewed on the Zombie Walk Facebook page, and include a painting from renowned Brandon artist Weiming Zhao. Robbins said he created an amazing piece, and whoever wins the prize will be lucky to have the gorgeous piece for their home. It is $10 to enter to win the painting. All funds raised during the virtual walk are given to Funds for Furry Friends. The Zombie Walk has been taking place in Brandon for 12 years, and Creasy and Robbins have helped organize both COVID-19 walks. They hosted a similar fundraising raffle in 2020. While the experience of hosting an online event made planning the 2021 virtual walk easier because it laid out a foundation for them, preparation for this years walk was more difficult because there was a hope it would be able to go forward in-person. "It almost made it harder because with the COVID numbers going down, we were so pumped and amped to actually be able to do the walk. Then numbers started increasing again," Creasy said. "It was very hard because there were going to be different things that we were planning for this year, that now unfortunately we cant." She added they are keeping special treats in their back pocket for the 2022 Zombie Walk, assuming an in-person event can go forward. "You see a whole bunch of effort put in by the community with their looks and its just a lot of fun," Robbins said. "Its such a happy gathering. Funds come out and sometimes theyre able to bring adoptable dogs so people can see some of the animals." They are hopeful to see an in-person event next year, she said, but encouraged people to show off their zombie looks online for the virtual event. To purchase raffle tickets in support of the Zombie Walk fundraiser, please contact Creasy at 204-730-2498 or Robbins at 204-574-4298. ckemp@brandonsun.com Twitter: @The_ChelseaKemp IQALUIT, Nunavut - Campaigning in Nunavut's territorial election is a little like competing against your neighbours and friends, says former premier Paul Quassa. An advance polling station for Nunavut's territorial election is seen in Iqaluit, Thursday, Oct. 21, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Emma Tranter IQALUIT, Nunavut - Campaigning in Nunavut's territorial election is a little like competing against your neighbours and friends, says former premier Paul Quassa. Voters head to the polls Monday to elect their representatives in the territory's sixth legislative assembly. In larger centres like Iqaluit, candidates have been knocking on doors and handing out pamphlets for weeks. But in Nunavut's smaller communities, such as Quassa's former Igloolik constituency, the race is more subdued. "Everybody knows everybody, so it's a matter of who's better known or more vocal within the community," Quassa said in an interview. He said Nunavut's elections don't see much in the way of aggressive campaign tactics or personal digs between candidates as those in Southern Canada. "There's no sense of fighting against each other. It's more subtle up here. It's more like, 'even if you don't vote for me, that's fine,'" he said. Candidates, except in some of the larger communities, don't usually campaign door-to-door and instead use local radio to get their ideas out. Territorial elections are held in Nunavut every four years. This election, there are 58 candidates vying for 22 seats across the territory. Of those, 16 candidates are running for re-election and 14 are women. While it's a tight race in communities like Iqaluit, five candidates have already been acclaimed, including Nunavut's most recent premier, Joe Savikataaq, in the constituency of Arviat-South. In Nunavut's consensus-style government, there are no political parties or platforms. The assembly is made up of cabinet members and regular members of the legislature, who outnumber ministers and often act as the unofficial opposition. The election is only the first step in selecting the territory's next legislative assembly. MLAs, once elected, need to select a premier and a cabinet. That is tentatively scheduled to happen Nov. 17, when members take their sealskin-upholstered seats in the assembly at a leadership forum. Quassa, who is semi-retired and not running this time around, said he's well aware of the issues Nunavut's next government will have to tackle. The territory continues to face a persistent housing crisis something Quassa notes has been a priority since he was elected eight years ago. "This legislative assembly needs to start thinking outside the box. How can we mitigate the annual shortage of housing?" Quassa said. Mental health, food insecurity, resource development, Inuit employment and climate change are also issues the next assembly will need to continue working on, he said. The COVID-19 pandemic has also highlighted the limits of Nunavut's health-care system. There is no intensive care unit in the territory, while millions of dollars are spent on isolation centres for Nunavut residents in Southern Canada. Another urgent issue is elders' care. With few long-term care options in the territory, Nunavut's elders are regularly sent south, away from their families, their communities and their language. The next government will also have to deal with a lawsuit filed by Nunavut Tunngavik Inc, the land claims organization, about the rights of students to be educated in Inuktut. The lawsuit claims the Nunavut government is discriminating against Inuit by not offering education in the territory's first language at the same level as English and French. In addition to the lawsuit, Quassa said the assembly will need to make sure Inuit are at the forefront of legislative decisions, which is at the heart of why Nunavut was created. "That's why we got a territory in the first place. It was Inuit who created it," he said. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 25, 2021. --- This story was produced with the financial assistance of the Facebook-Canadian Press News Fellowship. OTTAWA - Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is flying to Europe later this week touting Canada's climate plan and post-pandemic recovery progress at leaders' summits in Italy and Scotland. Justin Trudeau waves to the media on arrival prior to the English language leaders' debate, in Gatineau, Que., Tuesday, Sept. 7, 2021. Trudeau is flying to Europe later this week touting Canada's climate plan and post-pandemic recovery progress at leaders' summits in Italy and Scotland. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn OTTAWA - Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is flying to Europe later this week touting Canada's climate plan and post-pandemic recovery progress at leaders' summits in Italy and Scotland. Trudeau's six-day trip the first since September's election returned him with a second minority government starts with an official visit to the Netherlands for meetings with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte. Canadian officials said Trudeau will also address Dutch parliamentarians, almost three years to the day that Rutte delivered a speech in the Canadian House of Commons. His Netherlands day-trip will include a visit to the Bergen op-Zoom Canadian War Cemetery, and meetings with Dutch clean technology and environmental innovators. From Holland, Trudeau will go to Rome for the G20 leaders' summit, which is the first in-person encounter for leaders of the world's biggest economies since before the pandemic. The 2020 G20 summit was to be in Saudi Arabia but moved entirely virtual amid the worst global health crisis in a century. COVID-19 recovery and vaccine equity will be high on the agenda, as the world's wealthiest nations including Canada will be pushed to do more to help vaccinate the rest of the world. Climate change will also be a focus at the G20 which comes just before the United Nations COP26 climate talks kick off in Scotland. Trudeau will fly to Glasgow for the first two days of those negotiations before returning to Canada. It is Trudeau's second COP meeting as prime minister. His first was in 2015, when the world agreed to the Paris accord setting a goal to keeping global warming well below 2 C. This year's COP meetings are seen by some as the last chance to bring into line the plans to achieve the Paris accord. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 25, 2021. Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size Last week, cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was killed and director Joel Souza injured on the set of a movie in New Mexico when a prop gun being used by Alec Baldwin, the co-writer, producer and star of Rust, was fired twice. Baldwin was rehearsing a move in which he would draw the gun across his chest and aim it towards the camera when it discharged, according to an affidavit released on Monday. A projectile of some sort, possibly a bullet, hit Hutchins in the chest and passed through her to hit Souza, who was standing behind her. They were both taken to hospital, where she was pronounced dead and he was later released. This tragic incident has put the issue of the use of guns in film and television productions in the crosshairs. What kind of weapons and charges are safe to use? How they are to be handled? Is there even a place anymore for real guns on set given the advances in visual effects? Jon-Erik Hexum, who died after a prank with a revolver loaded with a blank in 1984. Credit:Wally Fong Is this the first time something like this has happened? Sadly, no. In 1984, 26-year-old actor Jon-Erik Hexum died after shooting himself in the temple with a blank from a pistol between takes on the set of the TV series Cover Up. In 1993, actor Brandon Lee son of martial arts legend Bruce Lee died on the set of the feature film The Crow after being shot in the abdomen by a modified bullet fired from a supposedly safe prop gun. And in 2017, stuntman Johann Ofner died after being shot in the chest by a prop shotgun containing blanks while filming a video for hip-hop act BlissnEso in Brisbane. But arent blanks meant to be safe? Advertisement According to John Fox, a veteran motion picture armourer whose credits include Romper Stomper, Animal Kingdom and the weaponry-heavy Son of a Gun, many people think blanks are like toy caps and are safe to use and that no harm can come to them ... in fact, the blanks that are used in todays film industry are very powerful and can cause severe injury or death when fired at close range to vital organs, soft body tissue, the head or the heart. They can also cause damage to hearing and eyesight. Blanks are extremely dangerous, but theyre safe when theyre used in a safe way, says Cameron Douglas, who trains filmmakers in the appropriate use of weaponry. The reason you have an armourer on set is to ensure that everyone knows how to use them in a safe manner. What, exactly, is a blank? A blank is the same as a real bullet except theres no projectile, says Douglas. That means it has a primer and propulsive charge inside a cartridge case (or shell), but no projectile (the actual bullet at the tip of the entire device, which is properly known as a cartridge). It may have what is known as wadding, which might consist of paper or even dacron (the polyester fibre used in pillows) but in many cases it does not. The idea is to create the impression of a gunshot principally flash, smoke and kickback minus the actual bullet and the risk it poses. After it is fired, the empty casing simply pops out of the weapon. If used correctly, under the appropriate supervision of a qualified and licensed armourer, blanks can be used safely, says Douglas. Brandon Lee died during the filming of The Crow. Credit: Advertisement Sounds safe; where does the risk come in? In short, preparation and procedure. Brandon Lees death was a result of a chain of mishaps, starting with the prop gun (a real revolver) being loaded with dummy rounds made from modified live bullets that had their explosive charges removed (so they would look real in close-up but could not actually fire). However, the primers (the small charges used to ignite the main propellant that actually fires the bullet) remained. When the shells were removed from the gun and replaced with blanks (which had propellants but no bullets) no one noticed that a bullet had become dislodged from its casing and lodged in the barrel. When the trigger was pulled, the explosive charge in the blank was enough to force the bullet out of the chamber and into Lees abdomen. In the case of Ofner, a coronial inquest recently heard that a prop shotgun had been loaded with blanks that had been prepared to be fired into the air, not at a body at close range. The man who prepared the blanks told the inquest that had he known they were to be fired at a person, I probably would have said no. The inquest is due to deliver its findings in November. Hexoms death resulted from an apparent failure to understand the danger posed by blanks. In a joking riff on the movie The Deer Hunter, he emptied the chamber of all but one shell before spinning it Russian roulette style and holding the gun to his temple. As he pulled the trigger, the wadding in the blank hit his head with such force that it pushed fragments of skull into his brain. Its too soon to say what happened on the set of Rust, though early reports suggest the presence of live ammunition on set (two rounds were reportedly fired in a separate incident two weeks earlier, again from a gun that had been declared cold), a prop gun being handled by a first assistant director rather than an armourer, and an armed weapon being pointed directly at people all of which would be in clear breach of on-set safety guidelines in Australia. Advertisement Johann Ofner died after he was shot during the filming of a Bliss n Eso music video in Brisbane. Credit:Facebook Should real guns simply be banned from sets? Plenty of people think so. A petition on change.org started by director Bandar Albuliwi calling for a ban on real firearms has attracted more than 22,000 signatures. Alex Proyas, the Australian director of The Crow, has the kind of experience in this matter no one wants. On Saturday, he posted on Facebook that real guns should have been banned on sets after The Crow. Why theyre still used is utterly inexplicable. I am filled with sadness for the victims, and Im also so angry over this. Ban functioning guns on movie sets now! Ill add my voice to the chorus, in the hope this time something might change. Theres a case to be made that metal replicas, rubber guns, even detailed water pistols can look convincing, especially once flash and smoke are added in post-production. But, says Glenn Melenhorst, Emmy award-winning VFX supervisor at Method, its an expensive endeavour, and it requires forethought. It can be done realistically in complete safety you shoot the real weapons in a controlled environment, capture those shots from multiple angles, and add it into the frame in post but its complicated and a lot more expensive than having an armourer on set. So, can real guns be used safely on sets or not? Advertisement The new mayor of a blue-ribbon council in Sydneys north has been barred from speaking to council staff in person and over the phone because of alleged threats he made after just over a month in the job. In an email to the Ku-ring-gai mayor Cedric Spencer on Friday, general manager John McKee said he held increasing concerns about Cr Spencers interactions with staff and had a responsibility to make sure they were working in a safe environment. It is not appropriate for staff to be subjected to explicit or implicit threats of dismissal by a mayor. It is not appropriate for a mayor to threaten disciplinary or other retributory action towards staff, explicitly or implicitly, Mr McKee wrote. Kur-ring-gai Council mayor Cedric Spencer has been barred from talking to staff. Credit:Ku-ring-gai Council Mr McKee then told councillors in a memo he had also relocated municipal employees, including Cr Spencers personal assistant, in acting on serious concerns he had as a result of information coming to my attention. Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says the COVID-infected ride-share driver who was found outside his isolation room at a Gold Coast hospital should just sit tight and get better. Police were called to a minor disturbance at the Gold Coast University Hospital on Sunday morning, but say the matter was quickly resolved without any issues or breaches of health orders. The unvaccinated 36-year-old, Duran Raman, was taken to the hospital by authorities on Wednesday, 10 days after returning to the region via Melbourne while infectious, with police launching an ongoing investigation into how he crossed the border without going into quarantine. Reports emerged on Monday that Mr Raman had been unco-operative and abusive towards hospital staff at the weekend. Labor MP Julian Hill says the United States government must answer a credible allegation that its spy agency planned to kidnap or even kill Julian Assange while he evaded possible charges in Ecuadors embassy in London. He said the Australian government must challenge its closest security ally after a media report last month claimed the Central Intelligence Agency raised the prospect of capturing the WikiLeaks founder because it feared the Australian was plotting an escape of his own. Julian Assange, pictured in 2017 at the Ecuadorian embassy. Credit:AP The report, published by Yahoo News, relied on interviews with 30 former US officials and said three detailed an alleged plot to kill Assange. Mr Hill, who is a prominent figure in the 23-member bipartisan Bring Julian Assange Home parliamentary group, said the claims should not be treated like the James Bond premiere. Eastman told The Post on Wednesday that he had not yet been contacted by the House select committee investigating the insurrection. Asked about his involvement in the Trump teams operation at the Willard, Eastman said: To the extent I was there, those were attorney discussions. You dont get any comment from me on those. The Willard Hotel was used as a war room by the effort to overturn the 2020 US election result. In May, Eastman indicated that he was at the hotel with Giuliani on the morning of January 6. We had a war room at the Willard ... kind of coordinating all of the communications, he told talk show host Peter Boyles, comments first reported in the newsletter Proof. Giulianis lawyer, Robert Costello, did not respond to requests for comment. Also present was One America News reporter Christina Bobb, a lawyer by training who was volunteering for the campaign at the time, according to people familiar with the operation. Bobb declined to comment. Kerik said his firm billed the Trump campaign more than $US55,000 ($73,000) for rooms for the legal team. The former police commissioner, who was helping to head up efforts to collect and investigate allegations of election fraud, was later reimbursed, records show. Loading The three people familiar with the operation described intense work in the days and hours leading up to and even extending beyond 1pm on January 6, when Congress convened for the counting of electoral votes. In those first days in January, from the command centre, Trump allies were calling members of Republican-dominated legislatures in swing states that Eastman had spotlighted in his memos, including Pennsylvania, Georgia and Arizona, encouraging them to convene special sessions to investigate fraud and to reassign electoral college votes from Biden to Trump, two of the people familiar with the operation said. On January 2, Trump, Giuliani and Eastman spoke to 300 state legislators via a conference call meant to arm them with purported evidence of fraud and galvanise them to take action to decertify their election results. You are the real power, Trump told the state lawmakers, according to a Washington Examiner report. Youre the ones that are going to make the decision. A participant on the call, Michigan state Senator Ed McBroom, a Republican, recalled listening as Trump, Giuliani, Eastman and others described the power state legislators have over the certification of electors. I didnt need any convincing about our plenary powers, McBroom told The Post. I was listening to hear whether they had any evidence to substantiate claims of significant voter fraud that could change the results in Michigan. The callers did not provide additional information, he said, and he did not support a delay in the electoral vote count. Loading But others appear to have been persuaded. Three days after the call, dozens of lawmakers from Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin wrote to Pence. They asked that he delay certification of Bidens victory for 10 days to allow our respective bodies to meet, investigate, and as a body vote on certification or decertification of the election. Also on January 2, Eastman, Giuliani and Epshteyn appeared on Bannons podcast to make the case directly to Bannons pro-Trump listeners. They discussed what Bannon called that days all-hands meeting with state ... legislators that the Trump campaign and also others are putting on. The comments were first highlighted by Proof. They argued that state lawmakers were legally bound to reexamine their election results. Its the duty of these legislatures to fix this, this egregious conduct, and make sure that were not putting in the White House some guy that didnt get elected, Eastman said. He contended that Congress could itself decide on January 6 to select Trump electors in contested states, but that it would certainly be helped immensely if the legislatures in the states looked at what happened in their own states and weigh in. Eastman was not the first or the only person in Trumps sphere to argue that Pence was empowered to block or delay certification of Bidens victory. Trumps former national security adviser Michael Flynn - and Trump himself - suggested as much on December 23, retweeting a post about the possibility of invoking the Pence card. In happier times: Donald Trump and Mike Pence. Credit:AP But after other efforts failed, as January 6 neared, the Eastman strategy came into bloom. Eastman, a Federalist Society member, law professor and former clerk for Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, had the conservative legal credentials to burnish the argument. Eastmans first memo, only two pages long, described a six-point plan by which Pence could effectively commandeer the electoral counting process and enable Trump to win. The memo was first revealed last month in the book Peril, by Washington Post writers Bob Woodward and Robert Costa. Eastman has said it was a preliminary draft of a more complete and nuanced memo that outlined multiple possible outcomes following the joint session of Congress on January 6. The ideas in the memos were the basis for a discussion of options Pence had with Eastman and Trump in the Oval Office on January 4, he has said. Eastman has more recently distanced himself from the memos, telling the National Review on Friday that the options he outlined did not represent his advice. He said he wrote the memos at the request of somebody in the legal team whose name he could not recall. In the Sacramento Bee, Eastman wrote on October 7 that he advised Pence to delay counting the electoral votes to give the states time to resolve concerns about voting irregularities. This was the strategy around which the Trump advisers in the Willard command centre coalesced, according to two of the people familiar with the discussions there in the early days of January. For that scenario to upend Bidens win, legislatures in those states would investigate alleged fraud and, if they chose, could decertify their results. All we are demanding of Vice President Pence is this afternoon at one oclock he let the legislatures of the states look into this so that we get to the bottom of it and the American people know whether we have control of the direction of our government or not! Eastman told the crowd gathered at the Ellipse on January 6. We no longer live in a self-governing republic if we cant get the answer to this question! Pence withstood the pressure. Around 1 p.m., as he prepared to gavel in the joint session, he announced via a letter posted to Twitter that he would count the electoral college votes as they had been cast several weeks earlier. When the violence erupted a short time later, forcing Congress into recess, some of the most ardent Trump supporters saw an opportunity. Congress is adjourned. Send the elector choice back to the legislatures, Kelli Ward, chair of the Arizona GOP, tweeted at 3:30 p.m., more than half an hour after insurrectionists in tactical gear made their way to the floor of the Senate. Ward did not respond to a message seeking comment. Epshteyn told The Post, In line with President Trumps position and message, the Trump legal team immediately made it clear that any and all violence is not acceptable. At 2.30pm on January 6, shortly after the Capitol was breached, Epshteyn tweeted: To all those protesting, please stay PEACEFUL and respect the LAW. After the violence began, Trump used Twitter account to ask his supporters to Stay peaceful but notably did not tell them to go home until 4.17pm, when he tweeted a video of himself addressing the Capitol rioters. I know your pain. I know your hurt. We had an election that was stolen from us, he said. We have to have peace. So go home. We love you, youre very special. While the lawyers at the Willard were focused on promoting the legal strategy Eastman outlined, Kerik helped head up efforts to sift through allegations of election fraud. Phil Waldron, a retired Army colonel who specialised in psychological operations, led a team of people who provided Kerik with analyses of state data, which purported to show fraudulent voting, according to two of the people familiar with activities at the Willard. Waldron was working closely with Russell Ramsland, a Texas Republican who had been spreading election-fraud conspiracy theories for months before the election and submitted sworn affidavits to multiple post-election lawsuits claiming fraud, The Post has previously reported. Ramsland was present in one of the Willard rooms on the evening of January 6, according to photographs posted to Instagram that circulated widely after the congressional committees mention of the war room. Waldron and Ramsland did not respond to messages seeking comment. Kerik said he had been working alongside Giuliani since November 5, two days after the election, and that they continued until January 19. I believed until Inauguration Day that something could be done - thats why the fight was still going on, Kerik told The Post. There were a lot of people who thought on the 6th that it was over, but I didnt believe that because the evidence seemed so overwhelming to me. Kerik and Giuliani set up shop in Washington in early November at the Mandarin Oriental hotel, according to Kerik, and in the third week in December moved to the Willard, closer to the White House. The Willard attracted many pro-Trump figures around that time, including Stop the Steal provocateur Roger Stone. Stone was not part of the Giuliani team at the Willard and did not participate in the teams efforts, according to the three people with knowledge of the matter. On January 8, Kerik billed the Trump campaign for $US66,371.54 in travel expenses, including $US55,295 on rooms for legal team members at the Willard from December 18 to January 8, according to Kerik and documents reviewed by The Post. The legal team members referenced in the documents include Kerik, Giuliani and Eastman. Documents also show that Kerik paid for rooms for William Ligon, a Georgia state senator who had chaired two hearings in Atlanta at which Giuliani aired false claims of election fraud, and Preston Haliburton, at Atlanta attorney who had represented a Coffee County Republican leader who claimed to be a whistleblower with evidence about Dominion voting machines. Ligon and Haliburton did not respond to messages seeking comment. Kerik initially sought reimbursement from the Republican National Committee, but said he was told the party would not foot the bills. The bills were eventually submitted to the Trump campaign, which agreed to pay them. Kerik told The Post he was furious with the RNC because it collected tens of millions of dollars in support of Trumps legal battle, yet didnt spend a dime on [Giulianis] legal team or their expenses. The RNC has previously said that it did not pay the legal bills because neither Giuliani nor Kerik were hired by or represented the organisation. Eastman stayed at the Willard from January 3 until after breakfast on January 8, according to records showing that the hotel charged $US1407 for his lodging and meals during that time. His arrival at the Willard came on the same day that Trump convened an Oval Office meeting to discuss replacing then-acting attorney-general Jeffrey Rosen with Jeffrey Clark, a Justice Department official friendly with Eastman who proposed that the department encourage investigation of Trumps election fraud claims in Georgia and other states. The three-hour meeting with Trump ended after Rosen, other department officials and White House counsel Pat Cipollone threatened to resign if Clark were appointed. Clark has been subpoenaed by the House panel investigating January 6 and is required to appear for questioning at the end of next week. He did not respond to requests for comment. Although Clarks proposal was rebuffed, those working in the Willard command centre continued to push the idea that Pence could intervene on January 6 itself. Other legal scholars disagreed. Domestic premium e-bike maker, EMotorad (EM), has raised USD 3-million (around Rs 22.5 crore) in a strategic seed round from two investors for scaling up its current facilities and expanding its presence across the domestic and overseas markets, a release said on Monday. Basant Lohia, Managing Director at TaraSafe International Pvt Ltd, along with a Hong Kong-based investor participated in the latest round, notching a USD 12-million valuation in the seed round, EMotorad said. "We are arranging this round of funds to ensure that we will strategically meet our goals and needs with regards to our future plans and prepare ourselves to develop the products that can take the Indian markets by storm," said Rajib Gangopadhyay, founder of EMotorad. "We are in talks with multiple investors to raise further rounds of fundings and expand to various other demographics. With this push, we'll be able to expand the current team and invest more in the growth and marketing initiatives and accelerate the adoption of EV in the country," said Kunal Gupta, Co-founder-CEO, EMotorad. The platform said it has been able to set up over 150 dealerships across the country with a presence across 48 major cities within one year of its inception. At the same time, EM has achieved a global presence by launching its products in the UAE and Nepal as its first international projects. The team has aggressively scaled itself and is already at a strength of up to 100 employees and growing fast, the company 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.) on Monday neared $1 trillion in market capitalisation as the company founded by received its biggest-ever order from Hertz, which announced plans to buy 100,000 electric rental cars. shares opened up 4.5 per cent at $950.53, a new record high, following the order. Shares were also buoyed by news of the company's Model 3 becoming the first electric vehicle to top monthly sales of new cars in Europe. The news from Hertz comes as is coping with a backlog of unfulfilled orders for its vehicles and continuing supply chain disruptions, but it does solidify the mainstream appeal of Interim Hertz Chief Executive Mark Fields in an interview told Reuters the order, delivered by the end of 2022, will primarily be Model 3 vehicles. Tesla vehicles will start being available at Hertz rental facilities in November. "We absolutely believe that this is going to be competitive advantage for us," Fields said of the Tesla order. Hertz has around 430,000 to 450,000 vehicles worldwide, Fields said. Tesla would have to top $995.75 to become a company worth a trillion dollars, according to Reuters calculations based on its filing. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) on Monday said it will opt for four-year payments moratorium -- on AGR and dues -- being offered by the government as part of a relief package for the telecom sector. The other option offered in the Department of Telecom's notification would be considered by the company within the stipulated timelines, Airtel said in a regulatory filing. "...we wish to inform you that the company has confirmed to avail the following options...deferment of the payment of auction instalments due up to four years; and deferment of AGR related dues by a period of four years with immediate effect," Airtel said in the BSE filing. Sources said Airtel had communicated its decision to the telecom department on Friday. On the option for converting the interest amount (of moratorium period) into equity, still have ample time to convey their decision, a source pointed out. In line with the bold reforms unveiled for the telecom sector, the government recently wrote to telcos including Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Idea and Reliance Jio asking them to convey by October 29 if they would be opting for the four-year dues moratorium. Telcos have also been given 90 days time to indicate if they want to opt for converting the interest amount pertaining to the moratorium period into equity. Chairman Sunil Mittal had last month said the company will opt for payment moratorium and redirect the cashflow to aggressively build networks. With regard to interest dues on payment moratorium, Mittal had said Airtel will take a decision, when the offer comes from the government, on whether to go for equity conversion mechanism or pay cash. The company's board will take a decision at that point, Mittal had said adding that with interest component working out to Rs 7,500- 10,000 crore, the stake involved may work out to 2-3 per cent, in case the company opted for it. The moratorium will free up cashflow to the extent of Rs 40,000 crore and that amount is sufficient to meet the market's requirements, he had said. Vodafone Idea, last week, said it will avail the four-year payment moratorium. VIL had further stated that other options offered in the telecom department's notification will be considered by the board of directors within the set timeframe. According to the letter sent to the telcos, the government has offered the option to defer payment of the spectrum auction instalments due up to four years, with immediate effect, excluding the instalments due for spectrum auction 2021. This option is applicable from FY 2022-23 to FY 2025-26. These deferred amounts will be spread equally over the remaining instalments to be paid, without any increase in the existing time period specified for making the instalment payments. Interest as stipulated in the relevant year of auction of spectrum will, however, be charged so that the Net Present Value (NPV) of the payable amount is protected. "Option for converting the interest amount, arising out of protection of NPV on account of deferred spectrum dues, pertaining to the moratorium period, by way of equity, shall be exercised within 90 days of this notification," the DoT letter to telcos had said. The letter had also spelt out the fine print related to modalities for converting interest amount into equity. The method of arriving at the price and valuation for equity conversion of interest dues is different for listed and unlisted One of the letters issued by DoT to a listed company had mentioned that equity shares would be issued by the company to the government on preferential basis. It went on to add that the NPV of the interest amount will be calculated as on the date of exercise of option. The interest amount will continue to be treated as a loan to till the completion of the equity infusion process, DoT had said. Besides the four-year break to companies from paying statutory dues, the relief package for the sector includes permission to share scarce airwaves, change in the definition of revenue on which levies are paid and 100 per cent foreign investment through the automatic route. The measures, aimed at providing relief to companies such as Vodafone Idea that have to pay thousands of crores in unprovisioned past statutory dues, also include the scrapping of Spectrum Usage Charge (SUC) for airwaves acquired in future spectrum auctions. (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 much-awaited protein sub-unit Covid-19 Corbevax is likely to be rolled out by November end, the companys senior official said on Monday. Mahima Datla, managing director, Biological E, said the firm was getting ready with 100 million doses for the launch. Cobevax is in phase-3 trials. We are likely to complete all the studies by end of November which is when we are expecting a licence (from the drug regulator). The license for children should follow one month later. The study in children is underway as well," she said. She was speaking to reporters at the sidelines of the event of the US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), where the firm also received $50 million in funding. The DFC funding will support one billion doses by the end of 2022 for India and other developing countries around the world. Datla also added that the manufactured doses of the are currently being sent to the Central Drugs Laboratory (CDL), Kasauli in Himachal Pradesh for regulatory testing. "We are submitting doses to Kasauli for release. So it is my hope that at the day of launch it is always been our vision to have close to ten crore (100 million) doses on the day. By end of November this may happen as soon as we get the license," she said. has the capacity to make a billion doses of Corbevax annually. As for the Johnson & Johnson (J&J) vaccine it has a capacity to make 600 million doses per year. The firm can further scale up this capacity to 2 billion doses depending on market demand. "We are pleased with the financial support from the US government, especially DFC, which was announced at the Quad Summit in March 2021. This investment will not only help us augment our capacity to produce more Covid-19 vaccines, but also help the global community that has been relentlessly fighting against the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic," Mahima Datla said. Apart from a billion Corbevax doses and 600 million J&J doses, the Hyderabad based company has plans to make 600 million doses of an mRNA vaccine for Covid by 2022. It has tied up with Canadian firm Providence Therapeutics. The vaccine, named PTX-COVID19-B, is under development in Canada and the plan includes conducting clinical trials in India. Providence will transfer technology to make the vaccine in India, with a minimum production capacity of 600 million doses in 2022 and target capacity of one billion doses. The Indian government has supported Biological Es candidate since the pre-clinical stage. The Department of Biotechnology extended a grant-in-aid) of over Rs 100 crore, and also partnered with Biological-E to conduct all animal challenge and assay studies through its Research Institute Translational Health Science Technology Institute (THSTI), Faridabad. In December last year, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), which is backed by 14 governments, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and UKs Wellcome Trust, chipped in with an initial amount of $5 million and an option to provide more to produce 100 million doses of the vaccine in 2021. The global vaccine alliances interest in Biological Es candidate is due to its scalability. In a press statement, CEPI had indicated that Biological E's vaccine candidate has the potential to be produced at scale, and characteristics which could make it suitable for broad distribution in developing countries. The Indian government is betting on for the same reason. --With Inputs from PTI Competition Commission of India (CCI) on Monday approved of Parexel International Corporation by Parentco Inc. Headquartered in the US, Paraxel provides biopharmaceutical outsourcing services to biopharmaceutical The proposed transaction pertains to of 100 per cent of the equity shareholding of Parexel International, according to a notice filed with the regulator. "Commission approves of Parexel International Corporation by Parentco, Inc," the watchdog said in a tweet on Monday. Parentco is a special purpose investment vehicle that operates solely as an investment holding company. It is jointly controlled by EQT Fund Management S. r.l. and The Goldman Sachs Group Inc. (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.) Tyre maker Ceat Ltd on Monday reported a 77 per cent decline in consolidated net profit at Rs 42.28 crore for the second quarter ended September 30, impacted by higher input costs. The company, which posted a consolidated net profit of Rs 182.18 crore in the same quarter last fiscal, also said its board at a meeting held on Monday approved raising of up to Rs 500 crore through issuance of debt securities on a private placement basis. Consolidated revenue from operations during the quarter under review stood at Rs 2,451.76 crore as against Rs 1,978.47 crore in the year-ago period, Ceat Ltd said in a regulatory filing. Commenting on the results, Ceat Ltd Managing Director Anant Goenka said the overall market demand continues to be robust, despite some lag in commercial and farm categories. The company witnessed strong growth on account of good performance in the replacement market, particularly in the passenger vehicles segment, he noted. "The rising input cost has impacted our gross margins, it has been partially offset by price adjustments over the last quarter," Goenka added. Total expenses were higher at Rs 2,401.64 crore as compared to Rs 1,814.89 crore in the corresponding period last fiscal. Cost of materials consumed stood at Rs 1,616.59 crore, as against Rs 1,051.57 crore earlier. Ceat Ltd said its board approved raising of up to Rs 500 crore through issuance of non-convertible debentures (NCDs) which can be listed/unlisted, secured/unsecured or such debt securities on a private placement basis in one or more tranches. The board also approved the appointment of Parak K Chowdhary as an additional non-independent director, it added. (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.) Eicher Motor shareholders have approved a proposal to re-appoint as the company's managing director for a period of five years with effect from May 1 this year. The members also cleared the proposal to increase Lal's remuneration. In the latest round of voting, 93.75 per cent votes favoured the re-appointment, while 6.25 per cent votes opposed the proposal. "The resolution was passed with requisite majority," said in a regulatory filing. Similarly, 98.56 per cent of the votes favoured an increase in Lal's remuneration while 1.44 per cent votes went against the proposal. The agenda was cleared by the shareholders under the 'ordinary resolution' mechanism. In August, Eicher Motors' shareholders had rejected a proposal for re-appointment of Lal as the company's managing director for a period of five years with effect from May 1 this year. During the company's 39th AGM, which was held in August, the members had also rejected the proposal of increasing Lal's remuneration. While 73 per cent of the votes had favoured the re-appointment, the rest 27 per cent were against it. As a special resolution, it needed support from 75 per cent of the votes cast to pass the proposal. The company's public institutional shareholders had particularly opposed the move. Out of the total 8,13,98,998 votes received in the category, 5,86,16,986 (72 per cent) disapproved the proposal and just 2,27,82,012 (27.98 pet cent) favoured the move. Royal Enfield, a part of Eicher Motors, is a leading player in the mid-sized motorcycle segment with presence across domestic as well as international markets. In addition to motorcycles, has a joint venture with Sweden's AB Volvo VE Commercial Vehicles Limited (VECV). (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 government on Monday signed a share purchase agreement with for sale of national carrier for Rs 18,000 crore. Earlier this month, the government had accepted an offer by Talace Pvt Ltd, a unit of the holding company of the salt-to-software conglomerate, to pay Rs 2,700 crore cash and take over Rs 15,300 crore of the airline's debt. Following that, on October 11 a Letter of Intent (LoI) was issued to the Tata Group confirming the government's willingness to sell its 100 per cent stake in the airline. "Share Purchase Agreement signed today by Government with for strategic disinvestment of Air India," Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM) Secretary Tuhin Kanta Pandey tweeted. The deal also includes the sale of Express and ground handling arm AISATS. Tatas beat the Rs 15,100-crore offer by a consortium led by SpiceJet promoter Ajay Singh and the reserve price of Rs 12,906 crore set by the government for the sale of its 100 per cent stake in the loss-making carrier. While this will be the first privatisation since 2003-04, will be the third airline brand in the Tatas' stable -- it holds a majority interest in AirAsia India and Vistara, a joint venture with Singapore Airlines Ltd. (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 Centre has signed the share purchase agreement (SPA) with Tata Sons for the privatisation of national carrier The wholly-owned subsidiary of Tata Sons, Talace Pvt Ltd, earlier this month had emerged as the successful bidder to buyout governments shareholding in The share purchase agreement (SPA) with Tata Sons was signed today, Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM) Secretary Tuhin Kanta Pandey said in a tweet. Talace had placed a bid to acquire for Rs 18,000 crore, which involved retaining debt of Rs 15,300 crore of the national carrier, and a cash component of Rs 2,700 crore. Only two bids were placed to acquire the national carrier, with another one by Spicejet Chairman Ajay Singh in his personal capacity. After signing of the SPA, Conditions Precedent (CP)--that would include terms and conditions--will be completed in about eight weeks, as per the plan shared by the government. The government will prepare financial statement of the national carrier on a cut-off date before handing over the airline to Tatas. The transaction would be completed by end-December. Business tycoon Sanjiv Goenka and international equity investment firm Irelia Company Pte Limited (CVC Capital) shelled out a combined Rs 12,715 crore (approx $1.7 billion) to win the bids for two new IPL teams, a windfall that far exceeded BCCI's expectations, here on Monday. The was hoping for a cumulative bid in the range of Rs 10,000 crore but to their surprise, earned Rs 7,090 crore from Goenka's RPSG Group for the Lucknow franchise, while CVC capital forked out Rs 5,625 crore for the Ahmedabad team. The two new sides will take part in the 2022 IPL. The mega auction for the 15th edition of the Indian Premier League, IPL 2022, will be held later this year in December. PTI had reported on Sunday that Goenka was one of the favourites to win a team after having been in the IPL for two years in 2016 and 2017 when he owned the Rising Pune Supergiants. " is pleased to announce the following successful bidders (subject to definitive documentation and other formalities being completed): 1. RPSG Ventures Ltd. Lucknow (for INR 7090 crores). 2. Irelia Company Pte Ltd. (CVC Capital Partners) Ahmedabad (for INR 5625 crores)," the Board stated in a press release. The IPL 2022 season will comprise 10 teams and will have 74 matches, wherein each team will play seven home and seven away matches, the Board added. Goenka was delighted to be back in the IPL and this time, as a full-time owner and not a temporary one, which was the case when he ran the Pune franchise during the spot-fixing related suspension of CSK and Rajasthan Royals. "Firstly, it feels good to be back in the IPL. But this is just the first step. Now, it's really for us to build a good team, and try and put up a good performance. So the work really begins now in terms of actually getting the coach, putting together a team," Goenka said after his company won the bid. "IPL has created some of the biggest brands. Look at Mumbai Indians, Delhi Capitals, Chennai Super Kings and look at some of the others, they are really household names, some of the biggest brands the country has," he added. Asked if Rs 7,000 crore was economically viable, Goenka reasoned: "We do believe that the valuation of this will go up in the future. And from what we invest, to what it could be over a period of 10 years would be a multiple of a few times." He was also happy to get Lucknow as the home base as RPSG group has business interests in the state of Uttar Pradesh. "We distribute power in Greater Noida. We have a number of Spencer stores in the state. So we do believe, that will help us to connect with the state, and we look forward to this." president Sourav Ganguly was happy that IPL was spreading far and wide. "The IPL will now go to two new cities in India viz in Lucknow and Ahmedabad. It is heartening to see the inclusion of two new teams at such a high valuation, and it reiterates the cricketing and financial strength of our cricket ecosystem," Ganguly said in a press statement. "The ITT (Invitation To Tender) process included two interested bidders from outside of India, which strongly emphasises the global appeal of the IPL as a sports property," he added. BCCI secretary Jay Shah also welcomed the two new on board. "It is a momentous day for all of us and I formally welcome RPSG Ventures Ltd. and Irelia Company Pte Ltd. into the IPL fold. We had promised that IPL will be bigger and better from the 15th season and with Lucknow and Ahmedabad, we will take the league to different parts of India," Shah said. "For BCCI and the cricket world, the addition of two new IPL teams -- Lucknow and Ahmedabad -- is a great value addition. It is a great achievement for us. UP got its first team & Ahmedabad also got a team, they've the best stadiums," said BCCI Vice-President Rajeev Shukla. "We're extremely happy that Indian cricket is growing forward. That is what is important for us. We look at Indian cricket and that's what our job is. The more Indian cricket prosperous, the better it is," said BCCI President Sourav Ganguly on the addition of two new IPL teams It was nearly a seven-hour process that led to BCCI announcing the winners after intense scrutiny that involved technical vetting followed by opening of the financial bid documents. The that cleared the final round of technical vetting to be eligible to place the bids included RP-SG, the Adani Group, HT Media Private Limited, Torrent Pharma, Aurobindo Pharma, All Cargo, CVC, Kotak group in a consortium and the Glazers of Manchester United through their equity firm. Rhiti Sports, best known for being former India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni's management firm, also placed the bid but was dismissed at the technical stage because official believed that it was fronting for an industrialist, whose relatives already own an IPL franchise. Similarly, little known All Cargo company attracted a lot of interest as it was understood that it had the blessings of a powerful BCCI administrator and well-connected politician of an opposition party. One of the major that lost out was Gautam Adani's Adani Group which bid around Rs 5,000 crore while bids of Glazers from Manchester United and Torrent Group also fell short of the mark. In fact, Adani group's representatives, during the bidding, were accompanied by one of the BCCI sponsors, who were then told to leave the premises as it was violation of rules. Twenty two companies picked up the tender document worth Rs 10 lakh but with base price for new teams pegged at Rs 2000 crore, only five to six serious bidders were in the final fray. Goenka's near $one billion bid is an insane amount and possibly the highest in the history of the league. "The bids were only going to shoot up once the broke that the next cycle of broadcasting rights for next 10 years could go up to $5 billion (Rs 36,000 crore plus) which means that from BCCI's broadcast revenue pool, each of the 10 franchises will be earning around Rs 360 crore. "The maths is simple, the broadcast rights will increase the earnings and also the gate money for franchises in Ahmedabad (capacity of 1.2 lakh) or Lucknow (70,000) will also help them earn well. Add the money from the sponsorship pool too and it's not bad economics." Goenka has been desperate to come back to the IPL after the brief stay with RPS and during one of the two editions (2017), his team played the final and lost to Mumbai Indians by one run. With a $6 billion asset base and $4 billion revenue, the Group's businesses include power and energy, carbon black manufacturing, retail, IT-enabled services, FMCG, media and entertainment, infrastructure and education. They have been part of Indian Super League football from the first year as ATK and later merged with legacy club Mohun Bagan last year to play as ATK-Mohun Bagan. (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.) JioPhone Next 4G smartphone will enable vernacular speakers to connect with people speaking different regional languages, mainly to target around 30 crore users in the country. The made in India smartphone is likely to be launched before Diwali. JioPhone Next will have the first operating system -- Pragati OS -- jointly developed by Jio and Google, customised for Indian users, the telco said in a video released on Monday. Chairman and Managing Director Mukesh Ambani at the group's 44th annual general meeting had asserted that an ultra-affordable 4G smartphone is essential to make India '2G-mukt' (free of 2G). He had said India still has nearly 30 crore mobile users who are unable to escape from inefficient and exorbitant services since most basic 4G smartphones remain unaffordable. Jio was the first company that launched 4G mobile phones in India free for consumers, where they were required to pay a refundable deposit of Rs 1,500 for a JioPhone, built like an advanced feature phone. JioPhone Next will come with a touch screen, and the device is built on Qualcomm chipsets. The smartphones that use Qualcomm chipsets are priced on the higher side compared to those using competing chipsets with a similar level of computing power but Ambani had promised that "JioPhone Next will be by far the most affordable smartphone not just in India but globally". The phone will use a language-translation tool as a special feature to enable communication between vernacular speakers in India. "Jio's vision for India resonates with that of Google. Pragati OS - Pragati stands for progress - is powered by Android, as a result of this passionate effort bringing together best minds at Jio and Google," Android general manager and India engineering lead Ram Papatla said in the video. JioPhone Next will have a translation feature working in 10 Indian languages. "I am so proud of this new OS. All of us are. It has some of the coolest new features specially translated now. I can speak in one language, and the phone will translate that into another language," JioPhone Next product management Binish Parangodath said. The phone will also come with a read-aloud function, which will read out content from any app open on the screen, Jio official Ashok Agarwal said. JioPhone Next will have a Qualcomm processor and manufactured at RIL group's Neolync unit in Tirupati and Sriperumbudur. "Jio Phone Next will help our nation become more and more Atmanirbhar," Parangodath said. The device will come with an entire suite of applications from both Google and Jio. The company has promised to provide features like the voice assistant, automatic read-aloud of screen text, smart camera with augmented reality filter. The JioPhone Next launch was deferred from September 10 to Diwali festive season due to the shortage of semiconductors and refining the features promised in the device. (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.) operators, including Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel and Vodafone Idea, have asked the Department of to extend the trial period by six months. In May, the government allocated spectrum to the in 700 Mhz band, 3.3-3.6 Gigahertz (Ghz) band and 24.25-28.5 Ghz band for trials across various locations for six months. "All telecom have asked for extension of trials by another six months," a senior government official told PTI. The current trial period ends in November. The Department of Telecom (DoT) has started the process for commercial roll out of by seeking telecom regulator Trai's view on the pricing and methodology for the spectrum auction. While there is no clarity on the timeline of the spectrum auction, industry sources expect it to take place in April-June 2022 period. On May 4, DoT cleared applications from Reliance Jio, Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Idea and MTNL for conducting 5G trials without using technologies from Chinese DoT had approved trials of 5G with Ericsson, Nokia, Samsung and C-DOT. In addition, Reliance Jio Infocomm has been conducting trials using its own indigenous technology as well as Samsung gears. According to DoT, 5G technology is expected to deliver ten times better download speed than that of 4G and up to three times greater spectrum efficiency. Vodafone Idea claims to have recorded a top speed of 3.7 gigabit per second during the trial while top speed recorded in India for commercial 4G services has been around 23 megabit per second. (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.) TVS Motor Company, the flagship company of the $8.5 billion TVS Group, has signed a tri-party deal arrangement with Bahwan International Group in According to the terms of the deal, Arata International FZC,a subsidiary of Bahwan International Group (BIG), will become the new distributor for TVS Motor in Building on this partnership, the groups will also explore other avenues of cooperation in and India. The signing ceremony was held on Monday at Bahwan International Group, between Sheikh Ahmed Bahwan, chairman of the Bahwan International Group and Sudarshan Venu, joint managing director, in Muscat, Arata International FZC, registered in the UAE, is a subsidiary of Bahwan International Group (BIG) - Oman, having a strong presence in the MENA region. TVS Motor ranks amongst the top five two-wheeler globally with a presence in over 70 countries across Africa, South East Asia, the Indian Sub-Continent, Latin America and the Middle East. Speaking on the occasion, Venu said, We are delighted to partner with a reputed group like BIG, to strengthen our presence in the MENA region. ARATA International FZC, a part of the Bahwan International Group LLC (BIG), comes with rich experience, deep understanding, and vast industry knowledge. He added that is an important market for the company, and ARATA International FZCs extensive distribution network makes the Indian major an ideal strategic partner. This association with them is a significant step towards further expanding and bolstering TVS Motor Companys market presence in Iraq. Bahwan International Group (ARATA International FZC) and their channel partners plan to operate more than 30 dealerships for The dealerships will include state of the art 3S dealership facilities in all the major cities of Iraq with after-sales service, and spare parts support in tier two cities to expand the TVS presence in Iraq. Bahwan, executive director, Bahwan International Group Holding, said, We are happy to join hands with a multinational brand like This partnership will be instrumental in bringing a wide range of mobility solutions and will cater to the requirements of a broad range of customer segments in the country. The quality prowess of TVS Motor Company combined with our strong understanding of the market will definitely create an impact in the mobility space in Iraq. TVS Motor Companys product portfolio available in Iraq include; two Wheeler - TVS XL 100 i-TOUCHstart, TVS XL 100 Comfort, TVS HLX 150 series, TVS NTORQ, TVS Jupiter series, TVS WEGO, TVS MAX 125 and three wheeler-TVS King Deluxe Plus. Biological E. Limited (BE) is expecting its COVID-19 vaccine Corbevax to be rolled out by the end of November even as the city-based firm is getting ready with 100 million doses for the launch, Mahima Datla, Managing Director, BE said on Monday. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of signing a financing agreement with US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), she said currently the manufactured doses are being sent to Central Drugs Laboratory (CDL), Kasauli in Himachal Pradesh for regulatory testing. "Cobevax is in phase 3 trials. We are likely to complete all the studies by end of November which is when we are expecting licence (from the drug regulator). The licence for children should follow one month later. The study in children is underway as well," she said. Biological E's anti- shot, Corbevax, is a RBD protein sub-unit vaccine and is currently undergoing phase 2/3 clinical trials on adults. The Phase 3 trials are going to be a study in comparison with the already licensed vaccines, though the study in children is not a comparative study, she further said. "We are submitting doses to Kasauli for release. So it is my hope that at the day of launch it is always been our vision to have close to ten crore doses on the day. By end of November this may happen as soon as we get the license," she said. On the COVID-19 vaccine manufacturing capacities, she said currently BE has the capacity to make one billion doses of Corbevax per annum, and 600 doses of Johnson & Johnson's jab. Biological E Ltd had earlier said it entered into an agreement with Janssen Pharmaceutica NV, part of pharma major Johnson & Johnson, for creation and enhancement of production capabilities to manufacture the latter's COVID-19 vaccine. Meanwhile, DFC's Chief Operating Officer David Marchick and Mahima Datla today unveiled the expansion of Biological E.'s vaccine manufacturing facility here and finalised a U.S. government financing arrangement formalising USD 50 million to expand the company's capacity to produce COVID-19 vaccines. "DFC's partnership with Biological E will support capacity for production of more than one billion vaccine doses by the end of 2022 for India and for developing countries around the world," Marchick said in a press release. "We are pleased with the financial support from the U.S. government, especially DFC, which was announced at the Quad Summit in March 2021. This investment will not only help us augment our capacity to produce more COVID-19 vaccines, but also help the global community that has been relentlessly fighting against the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic," Mahima Datla 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.) Slamming the Central government over the recent extension of the jurisdiction of (BSF), Congress President on Monday alleged that the Centre is weakening the country's federal structure by creating 'a state within a state'. Addressing an all-party meeting in today, Sidhu said, "Centre is creating states within states and they are fulfilling their own interests. This is a political move by the BJP to scuttle elections, to camouflage their weak political position in BJP is using BSF to interfere in the autonomy of states ruled by opposition parties." Sidhu further claimed that this decision, being taken a few months ahead of assembly elections in Punjab, is aimed at creating unrest to hamper the electoral process in the state. "Why is this happening just two months before elections, why not in the last 4.5 years? This is to scuttle the electoral process which is the centrifugal force of any democracy. You (BJP) want control on flimsy grounds, where you don't have any political support, but public hate," he added. Sidhu further said that the Centre did not give any official explanation for issuing this new order and said that the BSF daily violates the constitutional provision of the country in the name of security in West Bengal, and there is a possibility that the instances of torture, false cases, arbitrary detention and illegal arrests would happen in Punjab too. "They use institutions as a political tool. West Bengal government, in the last five years, had lodged a total of 240 cases accusing the BSF of extra-judicial torture, 60 cases of extrajudicial execution and eight cases of forced disappearance. Of these, in 33 cases, the Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has recommended compensation to the victims or to their next of kin," he stated. The Congress leader further warned the Centre and said that if it does not roll back its fresh notification, then the party will hold an agitation. "We will hold an agitation along with all the parties. The whole world will see. This fight cannot be fought alone, we all will fight together," he added. Meanwhile, an all-party meeting was convened by Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi on Monday to discuss the Centre's recent enhanced jurisdiction of the BSF. Earlier on October 13, the Ministry of Home Affairs empowered the BSF to conduct searches, arrest suspects and make seizures upto an area of 50 km inside Indian territory from the International Border (IB) along India-Pakistan and India-Bangladesh borders. As per the fresh order, the BSF, which was only empowered to take action up to 15 kilometres in the states of Punjab, West Bengal and Assam, has now been authorised to have jurisdiction up to 50 km without any hurdle or further permission either from central or state governments. (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.) A court in Punjab's Faridkot on Monday ordered the production of chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim, serving a life term in a Rohtak jail in Haryana, before it on October 29. The Faridkot court issued the production warrant against Ram Rahim on a plea by the Punjab Police Special Investigation Team, seeking his custodial interrogation in a 2015 sacrilege case, involving the thefts of a copy of Guru Granth Sahib. Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh is currently lodged in Rohtak's Sunaria jail since his conviction in 2017 for raping two disciples. The SIT led by Inspector General SPS Parmar investigating the 2015 sacrilege cases, moved the court for the production warrant on Monday, said police sources. The chief had been named as an accused in FIR number 63 which pertains to the theft of a 'bir' (copy) of the Guru Granth Sahib from Burj Jawahar Singh Wala gurdwara. Three more Dera committee members -- Harsh Dhuri, Sandeep Bareta and Pardeep Kler too had been booked in this case but they are absconding. On the Punjab and Haryana High Court orders, the CBI, in February this year, had handed over the documents and files of the case to the Punjab Police SIT. The previous SAD-BJP government had handed over the three cases -- the theft of a ''bir'' (copy) of the Guru Granth Sahib from Burj Jawahar Singh Wala gurdwara, putting up of handwritten sacrilegious posters in Bargari and Burj Jawahar Singh Wala and throwing of torn pages of the holy book at Bargari -- to the CBI for the probe. The Punjab government had handed over the probe to an SIT of the state police in September 2018 after the state assembly passed a resolution withdrawing the state's consent for the CBI probe on the grounds of lack of progress in the investigation. Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh was sentenced to 20-year imprisonment for raping two disciples. He is currently lodged in Rohtak's Sunaria jail. Over two years back, the sect head was also awarded life imprisonment for the murder of a journalist, Ram Chander Chhatrapati. On October 18 this year, a special CBI court in Panchkula had sentenced Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh and four others to life imprisonment in the 19-year-old murder case of the sect manager Ranjit Singh. (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 pandemic will come to an end when all the countries start using the available health tools effectively, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus says. "The pandemic will end when the world chooses to end it. It is in our hands. We have all the tools we need: effective public health tools and effective medical tools. But the world has not used those tools well. With almost 50,000 deaths a week, the pandemic is far from over," Dr. Tedros said on Sunday, in his address to the World Health Summit in Berlin. The WHO chief called on G20 countries that have already vaccinated 40 per cent of their population to actively engage in the COVAX mechanism, as well as the African Vaccine Acquisition Trust (AVAT). On Sunday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called on the G20 countries to help collect USD 8 billion to ensure a fair distribution of COVID-19 vaccines around the world. Speaking at the World Health Summit in Berlin, Gutteres said that earlier in October, he joined the WHO chief to launch a global strategy for COVID-19 vaccination, which suggests a credible and cost-effective plan to deliver vaccines to 40 per cent of people in all countries by the end of this year and 70 per cent by mid-2022. (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 on Monday launched the Health Infrastructure Mission worth Rs 64,000 crore in his parliamentary constituency Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, to address gaps and strengthen the critical health care network from village and block to the district and level in the next four to five years. Those whose governments remained in the country for a long time, instead of the all-around development of the country's healthcare system, kept it deprived of facilities. The PM Health Infrastructure Mission aims to tackle this deficiency, Modi said. He also inaugurated various development projects worth around Rs 5,200 crore for Varanasi. Elaborate facilities for diagnostics and treatment including health and wellness centers are being opened in villages as well as cities as part of this Mission, PM said. These centres, he said, would enable early detection of diseases, provide free medical consultation, tests, and medicines. For serious illness, 35 thousand new critical care-related beds are being added in 600 districts and referral facilities will be given in 125 districts. ALSO READ: Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission: All you need to know As part of the scheme, 730 districts of the country will get integrated public health labs, 3,000 blocks would get block public health units. A institution for one health, four new institutes for virology, a regional research platform for WHO South East Asia Region, nine biosafety level-III laboratories, five new regional national centre for disease control will also be set up under the Mission. This means, through PM Health Infrastructure Mission an entire ecosystem for services from treatment to critical research will be created in every corner of the country, Modi added. Describing the scheme, the PM said, It is a part of the effort to achieve holistic health care. Which means healthcare that is affordable and accessible to all. Modi also inaugurated nine new medical colleges in Siddharth Nagar, UP. He said before 2014 (when his party came to power), the medical seats in the country were less than 90,000 and in the last 7 years, 60,000 new medical seats had been added. In Uttar Pradesh too, till 2017 there were only 1900 medical seats in government medical colleges. Whereas in the government of double engine, more than 1,900 seats have been increased in just the last four years, the prime minister said. Prime Minister will attend virtually the annual ASEAN-India summit on Thursday that will review the status of strategic partnership between the two sides and take stock of progress made in areas of trade and investment, post-COVID-19 economic recovery and connectivity. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said Modi will also attend the 16th East Asia Summit to be held virtually on Wednesday that will discuss matters of regional and international interest and concern including maritime security and terrorism. The 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is considered one of the most influential groupings in the region, and India and several other countries, including the US, China, Japan and Australia, are its dialogue partners. "Prime Minister will attend 18th ASEAN-India Summit to be held virtually on October 28 at the invitation of Sultan of Brunei," the MEA said. The ties between India and have been on an upswing in the last few years with the focus being on ramping up cooperation in the areas of trade and investment as well as security and defence. The East Asia Summit is the premier forum in the Asia-Pacific region to deal with issues relating to security and defence. Since its inception in 2005, it has played a significant role in the strategic, geopolitical and economic evolution of East Asia. Apart from the member states, the East Asia Summit includes India, China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Australia, New Zealand, the United States and Russia. The MEA said the ASEAN-India summit will be attended by heads of state and government of the member countries of the grouping. "The 18th ASEAN-India Summit will review the status of ASEAN-India strategic partnership and take stock of progress made in key areas including COVID-19 and health, trade and commerce, connectivity, and education and culture," the MEA said in a statement. It said important regional and international developments including post-pandemic economic recovery will also be discussed. The two sides are also expected to review the maritime security scenario in the Indo-Pacific and the South China Sea. Modi attended the 17th ASEAN-India summit held virtually in November last year. The upcoming summit will be the ninth ASEAN-India summit to be attended by him. "ASEAN-India Strategic Partnership stands on a strong foundation of shared geographical, historical and civilizational ties. is central to our Act East Policy and our wider vision of the Indo-Pacific," the MEA said. The year 2022 will mark 30 years of ASEAN-India relations. The East Asia Summit is the premier Leaders-led forum in the Indo-Pacific. Since its inception in 2005, it has played a significant role in the strategic and geopolitical evolution of East Asia. "India, being a founding member of the East Asia Summit, is committed to strengthening the East Asia Summit and making it more effective for dealing with contemporary challenges," the MEA said. "It is also an important platform for furthering practical cooperation in the Indo-Pacific by building upon the convergence between ASEAN Outlook on Indo-Pacific (AOIP) and Indo-Pacific Ocean's Initiative (IPOI)," it said. The MEA said the 16th East Asia Summit will discuss matters of regional and international interest and concern including maritime security and terrorism. It said the leaders are also expected to accept declarations on mental health, economic recovery through tourism and green recovery, which are being co-sponsored by 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.) A civilian was killed allegedly in cross-firing after terrorists attacked a CRPF party in Jammu and Kashmir's Shopian district on Sunday, police said. The incident evoked strong reactions from mainstream political parties in the Kashmir valley, who demanded a probe into it. The deceased has been identified as Shahid Ahmad. "Around 10.30 am, unidentified terrorists attacked a naka party of the CRPF's 178 Battalion at Shopian's Babapora," the police said. They said the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) troops retaliated the fire and "during cross-firing", one person got killed. In a statement, a police spokesperson said police received information about an attack by terrorists on an area domination patrol (ADP) party of the CRPF's 178 Battalion at Shopian's Babapora and the killing of an unidentified person in cross-firing. "Preliminary investigation including statements of eye-witnesses revealed that terrorists fired upon the ADP party of CRPF, which was retaliated by the ADP party. During the cross-firing, the service rifle (AK-47) of one of the ADP personnel, who was at the rear end, was snatched by one of the associates of the terrorists. "He was challenged and ordered to stop. However, he kept running towards the direction from where the ADP party was being fired at and in the meanwhile, he received bullet injuries in the cross-firing," the police spokesperson said. A CRPF personnel also sustained injuries, he added. A case (FIR No.130/2021) under the relevant sections of law has been registered at the Zainapora police station and a probe launched, the police spokesperson said. Taking to Twitter, Conference (NC) vice-president Omar Abdullah said a "shoot first" policy will further "alienate" people and is no way to make friends with the people of Kashmir. "He was shot dead & his bag has no weapons or explosives, he's carrying fruits & vegetables. This policy of 'shoot first' will further alienate people. This is no way to make friends with the people or the youth of Kashmir," he said, referring to Union Home Minister Amit Shah's remarks on Saturday that he wants to make friends with the youngsters of the valley. The NC condemned the killing and said the "unabated" loss of human lives in Kashmir is worrisome and heart-rending. It said the vicious cycle of violence that has gripped the valley does not augur well for the return of peace. "Yet another life has been sniffed off, yet another mother will have to live with lifelong pain and agony. Sympathies and condolences seem hollow to console the bereaved household, whose heartthrob has been snatched away," the party said. It demanded that the circumstances leading to the killing be probed forthwith. PDP president Mehbooba Mufti said it is sad that the armed forces "show little restraint & operate with such impunity". "Another innocent civilian killed allegedly by CRPF in Shopian today. It's sad that armed forces show little restraint & operate with such impunity. My heartfelt condolences to his family," she wrote on Twitter. Condemning the killing of the civilian, CPI(M) leader Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami asked the authorities to probe the incident thoroughly. "The circumstances in which the civilian was shot dead need to be probed. Losing a precious human life is unfortunate and mere condemnation of such heinous incidents isn't enough," he said in a statement. Tarigami also demanded compensation to the victim's family. The People's Conference (JKPC) termed the incident unfortunate. It demanded a time-bound inquiry into the circumstances leading to the killing and stern action against the "erring personnel". A JKPC spokesperson said it is worrisome to find Kashmir turning into a "veritable inferno" with violence and killings becoming the order of the day. The people of Kashmir deserve to live without chaos and mayhem and the government is duty-bound to accord them enough safety so that they can breathe in an air bereft of anxiety and fear, he added. (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 on Monday slammed the previous governments in the Centre and said that the health infrastructure of the nation was not given attention for a long period of time after independence. Addressing the launch event of PM Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission in his parliamentary constituency Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, PM Modi said, "For a long time after independence, not much attention was paid to health and facilities. People who governed the nation for years never bothered to invest in infrastructure." "They kept the system devoid of facilities instead of facilitating its development," said the Prime Minister. "Villages either did not have hospitals or no doctors in hospitals. Block hospitals did not have testing facilities, if test reports came in, there was doubt on its results." Prime Minister further said, "In its fight against coronavirus pandemic, the nation has achieved a major milestone of administering 100 crore vaccine doses. With the blessings of Baba Vishwanath, Maa Ganga and the trust of the people of Kashi, the campaign of 'Sabko vaccine, muft vaccine' is going ahead successfully." "The present Centre government and the state government understand the pain of the poor, downtrodden, oppressed and backward class people. We are working day and night to improve health facilities in the country," he added. PM Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission will be one of the largest pan-India schemes for strengthening healthcare infrastructure across the country. It will be in addition to the Health Mission, according to PMO. The objective of PM Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission is to fill critical gaps in public health infrastructure, especially in critical care facilities and primary care in both urban and rural areas. It will provide support for 17,788 rural Health and Wellness Centres in 10 High Focus States. Further, 11,024 urban Health and Wellness Centres will be established in all the States. Critical care services will be available in all the districts of the country with more than 5 lakh population, through Exclusive Critical Care Hospital Blocks, while the remaining districts will be covered through referral services, it said. People will have access to a full range of diagnostic services in the Public Healthcare system through a network of laboratories across the country. Integrated Public Health Labs will be set up in all the districts. Under PM Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission, a Institution for One Health, 4 New Institutes for Virology, a Regional Research Platform for WHO South-East Asia Region, 9 Biosafety Level III laboratories, 5 New Regional National Centre for Disease Control will be set up. PM Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission targets to build an IT enabled disease surveillance system by developing a network of surveillance laboratories at block, district, regional and national levels, in Metropolitan areas. Integrated Health Information Portal will be expanded to all States/UTs to connect all public health labs. PM Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission also aims at the Operationalisation of 17 new Public Health Units and strengthening 33 existing Public Health Units at Points of Entry, for effectively detecting, investigating, preventing, and combating Public Health Emergencies and Disease Outbreaks. It will also work towards building up a trained frontline health workforce to respond to any public health emergency. (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.) Superstar Rajinikanth, chosen for the 51st Dadasaheb Phalke Award by the Centre for the year 2020, said that Monday will be "an important occasion for him" when he will receive the prestigious honour. The day will also be important for him as his daughter Soundarya Vishagan will launch a voice-based social media platform, saying it will be a "useful app" for the people. "Tomorrow is an important occasion for me with two special landmarks. One, Dadasaheb Phalke Award being conferred upon me by the Government of India because of the love and support of the people," Rajinikanth, who left for Delhi on Sunday, said in a statement here. The day will be equally important to him because Soundarya, who by "her independent efforts has pioneered the making of a very useful app for people called Hoote," said to be the country's "first voice-based social media platform" will be launching it here on Monday, he said. "People can now express through their voice their thoughts, wishes and ideas just like they do in writing in any language of their choice," he added. The veteran, whose action flick "Annathe" is slated for a Deepavali release, said he will be launching the "first of its kind" app in his voice on Monday. (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.) Defence Minister on Monday addressed more than 200 foreign envoys and defence attaches at a round table in Delhi, reaching out to countries that might import defence weaponry from India and to global vendors who could be interested in defence manufacture here. He urged them to participate in DefExpo 2022, Indias premier land and naval systems exhibition, which will be held in Gandhinagar, Gujarat from March 10-13 next year. expressed confidence that DefExpo-2022 will sow the seeds of successful new ventures and international partnerships to promote shared prosperity, boost investment, expand manufacturing and bolster aerospace and defence ecosystem in India. Thanking the foreign delegates for participating in DefExpo 2020 and Aero India 2021, he said DefExpo 2022 aimed to have an even greater presence of foreign and Indian exhibitors. He said the Indian aerospace and is ready to soar to newer heights, given its potential for research and development (R&D) in space, cyberspace, futuristic capabilities and disruptive technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, block-chain, virtual reality, 3D printing, digital frontier and Internet of Military Things. Singh pointed out measures that he said the government had taken, including increasing defence capital outlay this year by 18.75 per cent, which he termed the highest increment in 15 years. He also underlined his ministrys policy reforms, including simplifying industrial licensing; allowing 74 per cent foreign direct investment through the automatic route and 100 per cent for critical technologies with government approvals; introduction of Open General Export License policy; two positive indigenisation lists that placed an import embargo on 209 defence items; the corporatisation of the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) into seven new defence public sector undertakings (DPSUs); and allowing the private sector to use OFB and DPSU testing and trial facilities. It is because of the collaborative efforts of entities from all over the world that our defence exports have grown by 334 per cent in last five years and now India is exporting to more than 75 countries. Our export performance is a strong indicator of the quality and competitiveness of our defence products, said the defence minister. The defence minister also launched the DefExpo 2022 website (www.defexpo.gov.in), which enables exhibitors to register and book space online on a first-come-first-serve basis, make online payments, book conference halls and venues for business-to-business meetings. The website will also allow trade visitors to buy their tickets for visiting the show during the two business days, i.e. March 10 and 11. The general public is being allowed free entry on the last two days, i.e. March 12 and 13. Pointing out that over 100 crore doses of Covishield have been supplied in India and many other countries, on Monday sought regular marketing approval for the COVID-19 vaccine, which is currently authorized for emergency use in the country, official sources said. The application sent to the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) by Prakash Kumar Singh, Director, Government and Regulatory Affairs at (SII) comes just a couple of days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a meeting with domestic COVID-19 vaccine manufacturers. If the DCGI grants regular marketing authorisation, Covishied will be the second vaccine in the world to receive such approval. Pfizer-BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine has received full US FDA approval for use in individuals 16 years of age and older. The cumulative COVID-19 vaccines administered in the country has exceeded 102.27 crore. Of all the vaccine doses administered, around 90 per cent are Covishield and close to 10 per cent are Bharat Biotech's Covaxin. Less than one per cent of the doses given are Sputnik V. The Pune-based SII has submitted the final phase 2/3 clinical study report of India with its application for grant of regular market authorization for Covishield, an official source said. According to the application by Singh, the firm has already submitted phase-3 clinical study results of 24,244 subjects from the UK, Brazil and South Africa on June 8, 2021, to the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO). Also, phase-3 clinical study results of 32,379 subjects from the US, Chile and Peru were submitted on July 9. "In addition to the successful completion of our phase 2/3 clinical study in India, till now more than 100 crore doses of our Covishield has been administered to people in our country and worldwide. "Such a large-scale vaccination with our Covishield vaccine and containment of COVID-19 infection is in itself a testimony to the safety and efficacy of Covishield," the official source quoted Singh as having stated in the application. Singh thanked the DCGI office and Subject Expert Committee for granting restricted emergency use approval to Covishield on January 3, because of which, he said, the vaccine played a crucial role in the pandemic control and has been the mainstay of India's Covid inoculation drive. "It is a matter of pride for us that we have been a part of the world's largest vaccination drive under the dynamic and visionary leadership of our Prime Minister Narendra Modi Ji," Singh is learnt to have said in the application. Under the kind guidance of Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, Team Government of India and leadership of CEO Adar C Poonawalla, Team has been working relentlessly to manufacture and supply Covishield vaccine for making the world's largest Covid vaccination drive successful, he said. "In line with our prime minister's clarion call of Aatmanirbhar Bharat, we have made our country Aatmanirbhar for COVID-19 vaccine. In view of the above-mentioned facts, we request for your kind approval for regular market authorization of Covishield," Singh is learnt to have written in the application. (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.) accepts 4-year moratorium on spectrum, AGR payments has informed the government that it will opt for the four-year moratorium on payment of AGR and spectrum dues, a source said. The option of dues moratorium was offered by the government to telcos as part of a recently-announced relief package for the telecom sector. Read more Q2 net up 26% YoY to Rs 1,339 cr, down slightly sequentially Tech Mahindra, a top-5 IT services provider, reported a strong set of numbers in the second quarter of FY22, as growth was driven by adoption of 5G, cloud and digital transformation. The company reported net profit at Rs 1,339 crore up 25.8 per cent, but down 1.1 per cent sequentially. Profits were impacted by higher tax rates in other geographies. The revenue for the quarter grew 16.1 per cent year-on-year at Rs 10,881 crore. Revenue was up 6.7 per cent sequentially. Read more Govt signs share purchase agreement with Tatas for sale The Centre has signed the share purchase agreement (SPA) with for the privatisation of carrier The wholly-owned subsidiary of Tata Sons, Talace Pvt Ltd, earlier this month had emerged as the successful bidder to buyout governments shareholding in The share purchase agreement (SPA) with was signed today, Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM) Secretary Tuhin Kanta Pandey said in a tweet. Read more New IPL teams: CVC Capital wins bid for Ahmedabad, RPSG Group gets Lucknow Kolkata-based business tycoon Sanjiv Goenka's RPSG Group claimed the Lucknow franchise for a whopping Rs 7,090 crore while international equity investment firm CVC Capital won the bid for Ahmedabad with a Rs 5,600 crore offer as the eagerly-awaited two new IPL teams were unveiled in Dubai on Monday, PTI reported. The BCCI was expecting a windfall in the range of Rs 10,000 crore but to their surprise, earned Rs 12,690 crore from the two new teams that will take part in the 2022 IPL. The southwest withdrew from the entire country on Monday, making it the seventh-most delayed retreat since 1975, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). In view of a significant reduction in rainfall activity over most parts of the country, the southwest has withdrawn from the entire country today (October 25, 2021). Simultaneously, with the setting in of northeasterly winds in the lower tropospheric levels, the northeast monsoon rain has commenced over extreme south peninsular India today, the IMD said in a statement. Read more Hyderabad-based VEM Technologies, which is into aerospace and defence technologies, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Telangana government on Sunday to set up an integrated defence systems facility at Yelgoi in Telangana. The Yelgoi unit, first of its kind in the country and having the end to end infrastructure for assembly, integration and testing of the systems, will see an investment of around Rs 1,000 crore and might create around 2,000 jobs over the next five years. The deal was signed between the company's Chairman and Managing Director V Venkata Raju and Jayesh Ranjan, principal secretary to the Government of Telangana, in the presence of KT Rama Rao, industries minister, Government of Telangana. VEM is one of the largest production partners for Akash, LRSAM/MRSAM, Astra and BrahMos missile programmes supplying various systems and subsystems. VEM supplies "centre fuselages" to the countrys prestigious light combat aircraft, Tejas production programme. climate talks were always going to be difficult: 200 countries in search of a plan to prevent catastrophic warming of the planet with time running out fast.The backdrop of terrifying weather events had brought a renewed sense of urgency to the matter. Then, the energy crisis struck, leaving Asia and Europe scrambling for fossil fuels, forcing China to double down on coal, and giving climate laggards another excuse not to engage. In the US, President Joe Bidens green ambitions have gotten bogged down in domestic politics, undermining his credibility as he tries to push others to curb their emissions. The aim of the acronym for the conference of parties thats now in its 26th round is to curb emissions, keep the goal of 1.5 degrees of within reach, reduce coal use, sort out rules for a global carbon market and raise billions in climate finance. But at the heart of talks is the issue of fairness. Developing nations say rich countries wrecked the planet as they industrialized, and its now unfair theyre thwarting others economic progress -- and failing to provide enough cash to help poor countries adjust. Thats why theres so much talk about how much money will be on the table. ALSO READ: Climate ambition Here is our guide to whats shaping up to be a fraught two weeks of talks. Well take you from the grand aims to the small detail, from a leaders summit in Rome, to the backroom deals where masked delegates will hash out carbon-market rules while trying to keep at a Covid-safe distance. Where It All Begins: Rome will be held in Glasgow, Scotland. But the Group of 20 summit in Rome just a few days before will set the tone as climate will dominate the agenda, with talks on coal use, net- zero goals and climate finance. So far, the G-20 which includes major emitters China and India has little to show for many summit hours. Meetings this month even showed signs of backsliding. If leaders can make progress, it will be a major boost for COP. They wrap up in Rome on Oct. 31, and head straight for Glasgow. To Glasgow: Roll Call Some key leaders are going to be missing, including Chinas Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro. Still, almost 200 countries will be represented. Some delegates will be there in person, some will dial in from home, and there will be strict rules on masks, numbers allowed in negotiating rooms, and Covid testing. The pandemic has added extra obstacles, and some countries go into the talks resentful of what they perceive as unequal access. Leaders Mark Their Homework Under the landmark Paris Agreement of 2015, countries have to regularly review their pollution-reduction pledges in order to ensure the world stays on track to limit the rise in temperature to close to 1.5 degree Celsius. The first promises called Nationally Determined Contributions, or NDCs were submitted in 2016, but it was clear that they were well short of what science says is needed. While some nations have already submitted new pledges over the past year, several major economies, including China and India, havent. The plans made so far would lead to a 2.4-degrees increase in temperature by the end of the century, according to the nonprofit research group Climate Action Tracker. At the start of COP theres a moment of taking stock to see just how far away we still are from keeping 1.5 degrees within reach. US climate envoy John Kerry has already acknowledged the plans probably wont be enough, and one aim of Glasgow is to make sure countries keep coming back with improved goals. ALSO READ: COP26 meet: India, UK, Australia to launch new group IRIS We need to change and we need to change radically and we need to change fast, says EU climate chief Frans Timmermans. Thats going to be bloody hard; thats the bad The Goals The U.K. hosts describe the aims for this COP as coal, cars, cash and trees. That means ending the use of the most polluting fossil fuel; phasing out the internal combustion engine; raising cash to help developing countries transition to cleaner energy and protect against the ravages of climate change; and reversing deforestation. They also aim to figure out global rules for pricing and trading carbon globally. Expect posturing and grand statements in the first two days along with perhaps some new pledges then the leaders leave, and the real work starts. Priority: Coal My personal priority: coal, says COP President Alok Sharma. The U.K. presidency has set a target for the meeting to consign coal to history and has been pushing for the goal at G-7 and G-20 meetings this year with mixed success so far. But coal is still a massive part of the energy mix, and the recent surge in energy prices has forced countries into even greater reliance on the fuel. China is ordering miners to dig up as much as they can and in the US a key lawmaker from coal-rich West Virginia is getting in the way of Bidens plans. The Key: Cash More than a decade ago, developed nations pledged that by 2020 they will raise $100 billion per year to help developing nations transition to cleaner energy. But they still havent delivered on the promise, a failure that enrages poor countries and undermines developed world leaders credibility as they push others to make expensive changes. Total climate finance was $79.6 billion in 2019, an increase of just 2% from 2018, according to the OECD. We absolutely need to meet the $100 billion, says Tina Stege, climate envoy for the Marshall Islands. The delivery of that is a foundational element of the success at COP. Last month, Biden doubled the latest US pledge to $11.4 billion annually beginning in 2024, but that still has to be approved by Congress, and activists argue it doesnt come close to the USs fair share for the fund. ODI, a think tank, puts that figure closer to $43 billion, based on the USs wealth, emissions and population size. Finance Day: Follow the Money Finance ministers, central banks and Wall Street bank CEOs will be in Glasgow on Nov. 3 for finance day, with a focus on how to green the global financial system and funnel money away from polluting industries and into cleaner ones. Watch out for pledges to phase out, or stop, financing for coal. Already weve seen a series of promises in the runup, including JP Morgan Chase & Co joining an alliance of lenders aligning their portfolios with net zero by 2050. As always, though, what matters is the detail, and just how rigorously investors hold companies to account. Paris Loose Ends: Carbon Market The Paris Agreement left some unfinished business that negotiators still havent been able to tie up: how to standardize rules on carbon trading across the world. The buzzword to watch is Article Six referring to those lines in the Paris deal that paved the way for a global carbon market but are so complex and controversial that they are yet to be finalized. The good is negotiators are edging toward a deal on this. The basic idea is to match carbon-sucking projects that reduce pollution with counterparties who need to reduce emissions, via a market of so-called offsets, which could be worth as much as $100 billion in 2030, according to some estimates. The mechanism in theory should drive money to places where the biggest gains can be made most cheaply. Offsets are becoming an increasingly important element of decarbonization strategies, says Lidia Wojtal, of think tank Agora Energiewende.While there are already various voluntary carbon markets that can provide such credits, a deal on Article Six would make a difference: it would guarantee a truly global standard. The difficulty is in creating a robust financial instrument that would translate work on national emissions-reduction pledges into comparable, exchangeable units. The framework needs to be flexible enough to attract investment, palatable to a range of countries with different priorities, and credible. Some negotiators say a bad deal would be worse than no deal if the rules that emerge arent robust enough. There are two big sticking points: one is the need to avoid double counting, the other is how to deal with old credits from a now-defunct system launched way back in 1997 under the Kyoto Protocol. A good deal would result in a net reduction of emissions globally and the risk is that a bad deal does the opposite. Broadly speaking, developing nations are eager to reap the funds that would come from a new program, while richer nations led by the European Union are focused on the integrity of the system. The Endgame At the end of talks theres likely to be some kind of Glasgow declaration. The US and U.K. have both said they want to make sure countries keep racheting up their plans. While several leaders are framing COP as a "make or break" deal for the planet, the reality is probably more nuanced. A clear win on just one issue will probably count as success, and its possible there will be progress that can be built on down the line. Meanwhile the role of business and finance is increasingly important banks are mobilizing finance to green the economy, and that momentum is likely to be sustained. Saving Face: the Side Deals But as the main goals of ending coal and getting a net-zero commitment slip out of reach, work is under way to hatch a series of side deals that would go some way to salvaging the talks or at least saving face. Theres a plan on curbing methane, for example, which the US and EU are cajoling others to join, and others in the works on aviation and forests. The risk though is that if the main communique is so weak that all the action is in the mini deals, it raises questions about whats the point of COP and whether climate multilateralism is coming to the end of the road. The on Monday asked the Centre to put on hold the counselling for National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) PG until it decides the validity of the Centre's decision to introduce OBC and EWS reservation in All India Quota (AIQ). A Bench headed by Justice DY Chandrachud said the NEET-PG counselling will not start without its approval as the court is examining a plea against the Centre's decision for medical admission. The Central government also assured the apex court that the counselling process will not commence till the Bench decides the matter. Additional Solicitor General (ASG) KM Nataraj, appearing for the Centre, gave the assurance to the apex court, which the court took into the note. The Bench observed that students will be in serious problems if the counselling process goes ahead as scheduled. The top court was told that it has been announced that the counselling will begin from October 25. The assurance of the Centre came after senior advocate Arvind Dattar, appearing for some candidates, mentioned that by the time the court decides the pending batch of petitions, challenging the July 29 notification, introducing the reservation from this academic year, the entire process of admission will be over and serious prejudice would be caused to the students. The top court was hearing a batch of pleas challenging the Centre and Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) July 29 notice providing 27 per cent reservation for Other Backward Class (OBC) and 10 per cent for EWS category for the admission in the for all medical seats. The July 29 notice provide 27 per cent reservation for OBC and 10 per cent for the EWS category in 15 per cent UG and 50 per cent PG All India Quota seats (MBBS/BDS and MD/MS/MDS) with effect from the current academic session 2021-22. On October 21, the Bench had asked the Centre whether it would like to revisit the limit of Rs 8 lakh annual income, fixed for determining the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) category for reservation in admissions for medical courses. It had asked the Centre whether any exercise was undertaken before fixing a limit of Rs 8 lakh annual income for determining the EWS category. (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.) Delhi University's Deen Dayal Upadhyaya College and Aryabhatta College released their special cut-off lists on Monday for those candidates who could not take admission in the three lists released earlier. The university has so far released three cut-off lists with over 60,000 students securing admissions. The consolidated special cut-off list, that will be released later in the day, is only for those candidates who could not apply under the three lists for various reasons. Students do not have the provision of cancelling their admission and taking admission to a course or college of their choice under this list, something that was available to them in the second and third lists. The special cut-off is the last declared cut-off for a programme. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya College has pegged the cut-offs for BCom(Honours) at 98.25 per cent, BSc(Honours) Chemistry at 96.33 per cent, BSc(Honours) Computer Science, Mathematics (Honours) and Physics (Honours) at 97 per cent respectively and BSc Physical Science with Computer Science at 95 per cent. Aryabhatta College has kept the minimum required marks for BA(honours) Economics at 97 per cent, BA(Honours) Hindi at 84 per cent, BA(Honours) Psychology at 97.75 per cent, BCom at 96.75 per cent, BCom(Honours) at 97 per cent while the cut-offs for BSc(Honours) Computer Science is 96.5 per cent, BA programme combination of Economics and Political Science is 95.75 per cent and BA programme combination of Economics and History is 95 per cent. According to an official of the university, colleges release special cut-offs in those courses where more than two seats are vacant since they don't want to risk excessive admissions. In cases where only a couple of seats are left in a course, colleges prefer to release the cut-off for those seats in the fourth or fifth list. If there are excessive admissions in the unreserved category, then the seats in the reserved categories have to be increased in that proportion, the official said. In a related development, the university has postponed the admission process for ward quota. In an email sent last week, had sought a list of students from colleges who had applied under the ward quota. Children of teaching and non-teaching staff working in the university can secure their admission in colleges affiliated with the university under the ward quota. (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 first branch of Unity Small Bank, the joint venture between and Bharatpe, will be up and running shorty from the city with Rs 1,500 crore growth capital and a Rs 1,300-crore loan book, according to a top official of one of the promoter groups. On October 12, the Reserve Bank gave the final licence to Unity Small Bank, a consortium floated by Centrum Financial Services and Resilient Innovations, an arm of the digital lending platform Bharatpe, four months after giving it an in-principle nod to establish a bank and then takeover the scam-ridden Punjab and Maharashtra Cooperative (PMC) Bank, which was under direct RBI control since mid 2019. In June, the Reserve Bank had given the in-principle approval for the 12th licence to the consortium provided its takes over PMC, the city-based cooperative lender under restrictions for more than two years after a massive over Rs 7,000-crore fraud. The owns 51 per cent in Unity and the remaining equity is held by the Gurugram-based "Our first branch is ready for formal launch anytime now at the headquarters of in Mumbai. We will lunch our services with an initial capital of Rs 1,500 crore and the operations will begin with Rs 1,300 crore loan book," Suhail Sameer, chief executive of Bharatpe, which is the equal equity partner in the proposed Unity Finance Bank, along with the Centrum Group, told PTI. The Rs 1,300-crore loan book will come from the existing credit business of the Centrum Group (MSME and microfinance businesses) which will merge Centrum Capital with the proposed small finance bank. These two verticals have a loan book of Rs 1,300 crore. Having received the final licence from the RBI last week, the plan over the next 12 months is to get the bank operationalised and start launching payments, lending as well as deposit products, he said. Asked about the launch date, he said they are working towards a formal launch shortly. It should happen this calendar year itself and the formal opening the branding will happen soon. "We'll predominantly be a digital bank but definitely will have some branches, too," he added. About the top management, Sameer said the JV already has on board former SBI chairman Rajnish Kumar as the chairman of the board. Some of the senior management professionals will come in from Centrum, and a few others have been hired from top banks, leading small finance banks, as well as NBFCs. was co-founded by Ashneer Grover and Shashvat Nakrani in 2018 to help small merchants get finance easily. In 2018, it launched the first UPI interoperable QR code, the first zero MDR payment acceptance service and in 2020, it launched the only zero MDR card acceptance terminals BharatSwipe. Currently serving over 70 lakh merchants across 140 cities, is a leader in UPI offline transactions, processing over 11 crore transactions per month with an annualized transaction value of over USD 10 billion. The grant of banking licence to Unit USFB sets the stage for RBI to place in the public domain a draft scheme of amalgamation of PMC Bank with the new SFB. The last step will be the government's sanction for the scheme. It is for the first time that two partners are uniting equally to build a bank. Jaspal Bindra, executive chairman of the Centrum Group had said on the day the RBI gave the final approval, that Unity SFB will be operational in the next few weeks. While granting the in-principle nod on June 18, the RBI had said the approval was accorded in specific pursuance to Centrum's February 1 offer expressing interest to take over PMC Bank. (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 makers of 'Rust' are suspending filming while authorities investigate the circumstances of the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins that occurred when a gun handled by discharged on October 21. As per Variety, actors were rehearsing for the film, which was being shot at the Bonanza Creek Ranch near Santa Fe, New Mexico, when the gun was discharged after Baldwin had been told it was a cold or unloaded gun. The Santa Fe Sheriff's search warrant executed on Friday indicated the deputy arriving at the scene was told that assistant director Dave Halls did not know there was a live round in the gun when he yelled "cold gun". "As we go through this crisis, we have made the decision to wrap the set at least until the investigations are complete," said the statement from the 'Rust' production company. The letter went on to say that director Joel Souza is recovering, and the production is "supporting him however we can." Producers reiterated that they are conducting an internal review of safety protocols, but reminded that "we are limited in our ability to say anything further publicly or privately" since it is an ongoing investigation. "Our hearts are with all of you, as we all go through this tragic time and mourn the loss of our colleague and dear friend, Halyna Hutchins," the statement said. The statement further stated that the producers remain in close touch with Hutchins' family. The production team said that it had arranged in-person and virtual grief counsellors for cast and crew members. Producers will also be donating to the AFI Halyna Hutchins Scholarship Fund and will be matching any donations by the crew. "Although our hearts are broken, and it is hard to see beyond the horizon, this is, at the moment, a pause rather than an end. The spirit that brought us all to this special place remains," the statement from the production team said. The Santa Fe Sheriff's Office has set a news conference regarding the investigation on Wednesday. A petition has been created asking to "use his power and influence in the film industry to make change and ban real guns on film sets." Over 22,000 people to date have signed the petition, including actors Olivia Wilde and Holland Taylor. (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.) plans to make social media companies obtain parental consent for users under the age of 16 and threaten fines of up to A$10 million ($7.5 million) for internet platforms which fail to comply, under draft legislation published on Monday. Social media companies, which include anonymous forums like and smartphone dating apps like Bumble, would also be required to take all reasonsable steps to determine users' ages and prioritise children's interests when collecting data, the Online Privacy Bill said. The new proposed rules would put among the most stringent countries in terms of age controls for social media, and build on efforts to rein in the power of Big Tech following mandatory licencing payments for media outlets and plans to toughen laws against online misinformation and defamation. Facebook this month faced anger from U.S. lawmakers after a former company employee and whistleblower handed thousands of documents to congressional investigators amid concerns the company harmed children's mental health and has stoked societal divisions - a development cited by Australian lawmakers on Monday. "We are ensuring (Australians') data and privacy will be protected and handled with care," said Attorney-General Michaelia Cash in a statement. "Our draft legislations means that these companies will be punished heavily if they don't meet that standard," she added. Assistant Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention David Coleman said the "leak of Facebook's own internal research demonstrates the impact social media platforms can have on body image and the mental health of young people". Facebook's director of public policy in and New Zealand, Mia Garlick, said in a statement that the company was reviewing the proposed law and understood "the importance of ensuring Australia's privacy laws evolve at a comparable pace to the rate of innovation and new technology we're experiencing today". Under the draft law, privacy watchdog the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner would receive full investigation and enforcement powers, with the ability to fine a corporation up to A$10 million, 10% its annual turnover or three times the financial benefit of any breach. A former senior Saudi security official who helped oversee joint US counterterrorism efforts claimed in an interview with "60 Minutes" that the kingdom's crown prince once spoke of killing a sitting Saudi monarch before his own father was crowned king. Saad al-Jabri did not provide evidence to the CBS News program, which aired Sunday. The ex-intelligence official, who resides in exile in Canada, claimed that in 2014, Prince Mohammed boasted that he could kill King Abdullah. At the time, Prince Mohammed held no senior role in government but was serving as gatekeeper to his father's royal court when his father was still heir to the throne. King Salman ascended to the throne in January 2015 after his half-brother, King Abdullah, died of stated natural causes. Al-Jabri used the interview to warn Prince that he's recorded a video that reveals even more royal secrets and some of the A short, silent clip was shown to "60 Minutes" correspondent Scott Pelley. The video, al-Jabri said, could be released if he's killed. It's the latest attempt by the ex-counterterrorism official to try to pressure the 36-year-old crown prince, whom the al-Jabri family says has detained two of al-Jabri's adult children and is using them as pawns to force their father back to If he returns, al-Jabri faces possible abuse, imprisonment or house arrest like his former boss, the once-powerful interior minister, Prince Mohammed bin Nayef, who was ousted from the line of succession by Prince in 2017. Al-Jabri, 62, claims the crown prince will not rest until "he see me dead" because "he fears my information." He described Prince as "a psychopath, killer." The crown prince drew global outcry after it emerged that aides who worked for him had killed Saudi critic Jamal Khashoggi inside the Saudi Consulate in Turkey in October 2018. After recordings from inside the consulate were leaked by Turkish authorities, the Saudis claimed it had been an effort meant to forcibly bring Khashoggi back to the country, and that it went awry. The crown prince denied any knowledge of the operation, despite a US intelligence assessment to the contrary. Al-Jabri claimed that in a 2014 meeting with Prince Mohammed bin Nayef, who was head of intelligence as interior minister at the time, the much younger Prince Mohammed bin Salman said he could kill King Abdullah to make way for his father's rise to the throne. "He told him, I want to assassinate King Abdullah. I get a poison ring from Russia. It's enough for me just to shake hand with him and he will be done," Al-Jabri said, and claimed that Saudi intelligence took the threat seriously. The issue was handled within the royal family, al-Jabri said. A video recording of that meeting still exists, he said. The Saudi government told CBS News that al-Jabri is "a discredited former government official with a long history of fabricating and creating distractions to hide the financial crimes he committed." The government has issued extradition requests and Interpol notices for al-Jabri, alleging he is wanted for corruption. Al-Jabri claims his wealth comes from the generosity of the kings he's served. While it is not the first time al-Jabri has tried to exert pressure on the crown prince, it is his first on-record interview since his son Omar al-Jabri, 23, and daughter Sarah al-Jabri, 21, were detained in March 2020 in Riyadh, A son-in-law was allegedly kidnapped from a third country, forcibly returned to Saudi Arabia, tortured and detained. Human Rights Watch says the arrest of family members is an apparent effort to coerce al-Jabri to return to A Saudi court sentenced his son and daughter to nine and six-and-a-half years in prison, respectively, for money laundering and unlawfully attempting to flee Saudi Arabia, according to the rights group. An appeals court reportedly upheld the prison sentence in May, without informing the family. Al-Jabri has filed a federal lawsuit in the against the Saudi crown prince, alleging the royal tried to trap and kill him in the US and Canada. Meanwhile, Saudi entities are suing him in the US and Canada, claiming he stole some half-a-billion dollars from the counterterrorism budget. A Canadian judge has frozen his assets due to evidence of fraud as the case proceeds, according to the CBS News report. The Russian-based agency behind last year's massive SolarWinds cyberattack has targeted hundreds more and organizations in its latest wave of attacks on US-based computer systems, said in a blog post. Microsoft, in a blog post dated October 24, said Nobeliums latest wave targeted resellers and other technology service providers of cloud services. Those attacks were part of a broader campaign over the summer, said, adding it had notified 609 customers between July 1 and October 19 that they had been attacked. Just a small percent of the latest attempts were successful, told the New York Times, which first reported the breach, but it gave no further details. US officials could not be immediately reached to confirm the report. US officials confirmed to the Times that the operation was underway, with one unnamed senior administration official calling it "unsophisticated, run-of-the mill operations that could have been prevented if the cloud service providers had implemented baseline practices." "This recent activity is another indicator that is trying to gain long-term, systematic access to a variety of points in the technology supply chain and establish a mechanism for surveilling now or in the future targets of interest to the Russian government," Microsoft wrote. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Former data scientist turned whistleblower Frances Haugen on Monday told lawmakers in the United Kingdom working on legislation to rein in that the company is making online hate and extremism worse and outlined how it could improve online safety. Haugen appeared before a parliamentary committee scrutinizing the British government's draft legislation to crack down on harmful online content, and her comments could help lawmakers beef up the rules. She's testifying the same day that is set to release its latest earnings and that The Associated Press and other news organisations started publishing stories based on thousands of pages of internal company documents she obtained. Haugen told U.K. lawmakers how Groups amplifies online hate, saying algorithms that prioritize engagement take people with mainstream interests and push them to the extremes. She said the company could add moderators to prevent groups from being used to spread extremist views. Unquestionably, it's making hate worse, she said. Haugen added that she was shocked to hear recently that Facebook wants to double down on the metaverse and that they're gonna hire 10,000 engineers in Europe to work on the metaverse, Haugen said, referring to the company's plans for an immersive online world it believes will be the next big internet trend. I was like, Wow, do you know what we could have done with safety if we had 10,000 more engineers?' It would be amazing, she said. It's her second appearance before lawmakers after she testified in the U.S. Senate earlier this month about the danger she says the company poses, from harming children to inciting political violence and fueling misinformation. Haugen cited internal research documents she secretly copied before leaving her job in Facebook's civic integrity unit. The documents, which Haugen provided to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, allege Facebook prioritised profits over safety and hid its own research from investors and the public. Some stories based on the files have already been published, exposing internal turmoil after Facebook was blindsided by the Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol riot and how it dithered over curbing divisive content in India, and more is to come. Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has disputed Haugen's portrayal of the company as one that puts profit over the well-being of its users or that pushes divisive content, saying a false picture is being painted. But he does agree on the need for updated internet regulations, saying lawmakers are best able to assess the tradeoffs. Haugen has told U.S. lawmakers that she thinks a federal regulator is needed to oversee digital giants like Facebook, something that officials in Britain and the European Union are already working on. The U.K. government's online safety bill calls for setting up a regulator that would hold to account when it comes to removing harmful or illegal content from their platforms, such as terrorist material or child sex abuse images. This is quite a big moment, Damian Collins, the lawmaker who chairs the committee, said ahead of the hearing. This is a moment, sort of like Cambridge Analytica, but possibly bigger in that I think it provides a real window into the soul of these Collins was referring to the 2018 debacle involving data-mining firm Cambridge Analytica, which gathered details on as many as 87 million Facebook users without their permission. Representatives from Facebook and other companies plan to speak to the committee Thursday. Ahead of the hearing, Haugen met the father of Molly Russell, a 14-year-old girl who killed herself in 2017 after viewing disturbing content on Facebook-owned Instagram. In a chat filmed by the BBC, Ian Russell told Haugen that after Molly's death, her family found notes she wrote about being addicted to Instagram. Haugen also is scheduled to meet next month with European Union officials in Brussels, where the bloc's executive commission is updating its digital rulebook to better protect internet users by holding online companies more responsible for illegal or dangerous content. Under the U.K. rules, expected to take effect next year, Silicon Valley giants face an ultimate penalty of up to 10% of their global revenue for any violations. The EU is proposing a similar penalty. The U.K. committee will be hoping to hear more from Haugen about the data that tech companies have gathered. Collins said the internal files that Haugen has turned over to U.S. authorities are important because it shows the kind of information that Facebook holds and what regulators should be asking when they investigate these companies. The committee has already heard from another Facebook whistleblower, Sophie Zhang, who raised the alarm after finding evidence of online political manipulation in countries such as Honduras and Azerbaijan before she was fired. (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.) Chinese President took a veiled swipe at US leadership in a speech marking Beijings 50th anniversary as a member of the United Nations, comments that come as Washington moves toward helping Taiwan play a bigger role in forums. has always pursued an independent foreign policy of peace, upheld justice and resolutely opposed hegemonism and power politics, Xi said, in comments that stopped short of naming the US The Chinese leader vowed that his nation would stick to the road of peaceful development, adding that nations should work together to address issues such as terrorism, climate change, cybersecurity and biosecurity. Only by forming more inclusive global governance, more effective multilateral mechanisms and more active regional cooperation can we effectively deal with them, Xi said. Xi also spoke with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres via video link, according to the Global Times. Guterres offered his congratulations on the anniversary and the two discussed expanding cooperation on issues such as dealing with climate change, the Communist Party newspaper reported. Tensions between and the US have lingered since a trade war erupted during the Trump administration. Beijing has stepped up military pressure on Taiwan this year, and President Joe Biden last week said the US was committed to defending the democratic government in Taipei from a Chinese attack, comments Beijing denounced. Xi is expected to use a major meeting of the ruling party in November to bolster his case for a third term in office. A key point selling point for Xi is that he is standing up to the US on issues from efforts to determine the origins of the coronavirus to Taiwan, which views as a breakaway province that must be brought under Beijings control. That friction is likely to escalate after high-level diplomats from the US State Department and the Taiwanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs met Friday via video to discuss Taipeis participation at the UN and other forums. The discussion focused on supporting Taiwans ability to participate meaningfully at the UN and contribute its valuable expertise to address global challenges, including global public health, the environment and climate change, development assistance, technical standards and economic cooperation, the State Department said in a statement. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said Monday at a regular press briefing in Beijing that Taiwans participation in activities must be handled in accordance with the one-China principle, referring to Beijings position that both sides belong to a single China. Taiwan attempts to boost its influence in the world, but such attempts are doomed to fail, he said, adding that the US should avoid doing anything that would undermine peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. Misused Resolution State Department official Rick Waters said last week that China has been misusing UN Resolution 2758 -- which in 1971 recognized Beijing as the legitimate representative to the UN instead of Taipei -- to stop Taiwan from playing a big role in the organization, according to the semi-official Central News Agency in Taiwan. Chinas embassy in the US hit back at the remarks, saying in a statement that they disregard facts and were highly misleading. This is a serious political provocation to China and a malign distortion of international law and universally recognized norms governing international relations, the statement said, adding that China lodged a solemn representation with US diplomats. Five decades ago when Mao Zedong led China, the UN voted to give Beijing a seat in its General Assembly and expel Taipei, saying that the former is the only legitimate representative of China. The Peoples Republic of China, now led by Xi, holds a permanent position on the Security Council and plays a large role in UN bodies that handle issues such as climate change and food security, while working to exclude Taiwan. Biden answered yes when asked during a CNN town hall Thursday whether he could pledge to protect Taiwan. I dont want a Cold War with China -- I just want to make China understand that we are not going to step back, we are not going to change any of our views, Biden told host Anderson Cooper in Baltimore. A White House spokesperson later said Biden didnt announce a change in US policy toward Taiwan. The US would continue to uphold its commitment under the Taiwan Relations Act, support Taiwans self-defense and oppose unilateral changes in the status quo, the spokesperson said. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin offered only a mild rebuke of Bidens comments, urging the US to speak prudently on Taiwan and abide by its agreements. Xi and Biden are preparing to hold their first summit via video since the US presidential election. Washington is aiming to hold the meeting later next month, Reuters has reported, citing people familiar with the matter. The countrys investor count has crossed 50 million, the countrys top bourse National Stock Exchange (NSE) said on Monday. The unique investor count is 30 per cent less than the total dematerialised (demat) accounts in the country. This is because several investors have multiple demat and trading accounts with more than one broker. At the end of September, the total demat accounts with CDSL and NSDLthe countrys main depositoriesstood at 70.2 million. The number of demat accounts have surged by 40 per cent, or 20.4 million this yearmany of whom are first-time investors. The sharp jump in investor account has been underpinned by buoyancy in the stock market, ease of account opening and shift to remote working following the covid-19 pandemic. The perks offered by brokerages, such as fee waivers and gift vouchers, to attract new clients also has led to investors with multiple accounts. The unique registered investors on the NSE crossed 50 million count on October 25. While the journey from 30 million registered investors to 40 million took about 15 months, the next 10 million investor registrations took less than seven months. Total number of client codes registered with the exchange stands at 88.6 million (clients could register with more than one trading member), NSE said in a press release. While an investor can have more than one demat or trading account with different depository participants and trading members, they are linked to a single permanent account number (PAN). Market players said the number of unique investors dealing purely in equities could be less than 50 million as NSE registered investors also deal in other products such as gold and bonds. "The investors can diversify their portfolio on the exchange platform by investing in equity shares or via the exchange traded fund (ETF) or mutual fund route, government securities through non-competitive bidding platform, corporate bonds, real estate by way of investments in REITs & InvITs, gold through Gold ETFs or sovereign gold bonds, said Vikram Limaye, MD & CEO, NSE. Assuming a population of 1.4 billion, India's equity market penetration is currently less than 4 per cent. Limaye said that the industry is focused on taking the investor count past the 100 million mark over the next 3-4 years. Smaller cities jump on to the equity bandwagon NSE said northern states have accounted for 36 per cent of new investor registrations, followed by western India with 31 per cent. Meanwhile, southern and eastern states account for 20 per cent and 13 per cent of new investor registrations, respectively. At the state level, Maharashtra accounts for the highest investors 17 per cent followed by Uttar Pradesh with 10 per cent and Gujarat with 7 per cent of new investor registrations. The top 10 states accounted for 71% of new investor registrations. Interestingly, the growth in investor registrations has largely been driven from non-metro cities, indicating that the growing interest in the stocks isnt just restricted to the metros. As per NSE, cities beyond the top 50 have accounted for 57 per cent of new investor registrations, while the cities beyond the top 100 have contributed to 43 per cent. Aditya Birla Sun Life AMC (ABSL AMC)'s consolidated net profit jumped 37.99% to Rs 173.07 crore on a 30.12% surge in revenue from operations to Rs 331.97 crore in Q2 September 2021 over Q2 September 2020. On a consolidated basis, operating Profit before Tax (PBT) stood at Rs 190.30 crore in Q2 FY22, growing 49% Y-o-Y (year-on-year) from Q2 FY21. Ratio of Profit before Tax to AAUM stood at 30.5 bps (basic points) in Q2 FY22 versus 27.3 bps in Q2 FY21. As on 30 September 2021, ABSL AMC was the fourth largest asset management company in India and largest non-bank affiliated AMC with QAAUM of Rs 3,00,300 crore. ABSL AMC's total QAAUM including alternate assets was at Rs 3,12,000 crore for the quarter ending 30 September 2021. The equity MF QAAUM surged 41% Y-o-Y to Rs 1,16,200 crore for Q2 FY22. The equity MF mix stood at 38.7% for Q2 FY22. Individual monthly AAUM increased 29% Y-o-Y to Rs 1,43,100 crore for 30 September 2021. The Individual mix was at 47.2% of total AUM. ABSL AMC serviced 7.3 million folios for the quarter ending 30 September 2021 while adding around 5,95,000 new folios in H1 FY22. The monthly systematic inflows for September 2021 was at Rs 866.60 crore with 0.299 crore accounts. The company registered around 3,20,000 new SIP (including STP) for Q2 FY22, recording an increase of 110% Y-o-Y during the quarter. Over 67,000 KYD-compliant MFDs, 240+ National Distributors and 100+ Banks/Financial intermediaries were serviced through 280+ locations of which over 80% is in B-30 cities. A. Balasubramanian, the chief executive officer (CEO) and managing director (MD) of Aditya Birla Sun Life AMC (ABSL AMC), said, "We continue to focus on increasing our overall assets under management by growing across different asset categories. Our sustained growth in SIP book, Equity AUM, B-30 assets, folio count and differentiated product offerings have contributed towards our growth. We remain committed towards profitable growth by focussing further on operational efficiencies and building the business with a combination of our broader retail customer acquisition strategy, along with alternate products and enhanced services, thus catering to the needs of a wide array of investors." Meanwhile, the board has declared of an interim dividend of Rs 5.60 per equity share of face value of Rs 5 each for the FY 2021-22. The record date for payment of the interim dividend will be on Monday, 8 November 2021. The interim dividend will be paid to the registered shareholders on or before Monday, 22 November 2021. The scrip entered the bourses on 11 October 2021. It was listed at its issue price of Rs 712 per share. The initial public offer (IPO) of ABSL AMC was subscribed 5.25 times. The issue opened for bidding on 29 September 2021 and it closed on 1 October 2021. The price band of the IPO was fixed at Rs 695-712 per share. ABSL AMC is the fourth largest asset management companies (AMCs) in India by quarterly average asset under management (QAAUM) since September 2011 and its also the largest non-bank affiliated AMC in India since March 2018. The focus of the company is on consistent investment performance, extensive distribution network, brand, and superior customer service. The company managed total AUM of Rs 2,93,642 crore (closing AUM) under its suite of mutual fund (excluding domestic fund of funds (FoFs)), portfolio management services, offshore and real estate offerings, and approximately 7.18 million investor folios (including domestic FoFs) end June 2021. Shares of ABSL AMC slipped 1.29% to Rs 650 on BSE. The scrip hit an all-time low at Rs 650 during intraday trade. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The media reported that a whistle blower flagged off related party transactions (RPTs) carried out by the promoters of Asian Paints. According to media reports, the whistle-blower informed Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) that money to buy a company called Paladin Paints and Chemicals (PPC) went from Asian Paints but its promoters Ashwin Dani and son Malav now control it in their personal capacity. SEBI has reportedly sought further details from the whistle-blower. Following the allegation, Asian Paints clarified to the bourses on 24 October 2021, that the company had entered into a technical consultancy agreement with Jayram Nadkarni (ex-employee of the company) and Paladin Paints and Chemicals during the financial year 2005-2006. Pursuant to this agreement, an upfront consultancy charge of Rs 1.20 crore and a monthly consultancy of Rs 12 lakh for a period of 21 months amounting to Rs 2.52 crore was paid to him for providing necessary technical consultancy, technology knowledge package and process for manufacturing of resins to the company with respect to the products governed by the agreement. As he was an ex-employee, he provided this technical service exclusively to the company. There was no related party relationship existing at this point of time. Subsequently during 2015-16, the company was informed of the acquisition of interest by a promoter director in Paladin Paints & Chemicals and since then, all the transactions (purchase and processing of goods) undertaken with the said entity have been pursuant to necessary approvals from the audit committee of the board of directors of the company and in accordance with the applicable provisions of law. The paint major further clarified that a complaint was received in July 2021, from an individual, not related to the company, alleging impropriety with respect to certain related party transactions entered into by the company. The said complaint was investigated in accordance with the company's whistle blower policy. After undertaking a detailed review of the transactions which were mentioned therein, the said complaint was closed as the enquiry concluded that the transactions were undertaken in compliance with law, and there was no basis for the allegations made. The company had also received e-mail enquiries from SEBI and the National Stock Exchange of India, seeking details of the said transactions. The company has provided all necessary details and explanations sought by the said authorities, along with an overview of the processes followed for approval of related party transactions. "As a company, we would like to reiterate that all transactions involving related parties are undertaken in strict compliance with the provisions of law and necessary disclosures have been made in accordance with the applicable disclosure norms from time to time," Asian Paints said in a statement. On a consolidated basis, Asian Paints' revenue from operations has increased by 32.6% to Rs 7,096.01 crore in Q2 September 2021 from Rs 5,350.23 crore in Q2 September 2020. Profit before depreciation, interest, tax and other income (PBDIT) for the group (before share in profit of associates) decreased by 28.5% to Rs 904.45 crore from Rs 1265.20 crore. Profit Before Tax (PBT) decreased by 27.9% to Rs 826.24 crore from Rs 1,145.52 crore. Net profit after non-controlling interest decreased 28.2% to Rs 595.96 crore as against Rs 830.37 crore in the previous corresponding period. Asian Paints is a leading paint company of India. The company along with its subsidiaries has operations in 15 countries across the world with 26 paint manufacturing facilities, servicing consumers in over 60 countries. Shares of Asian Paints fell 2.18% to Rs 2919.60. The stock hit a high of Rs 2949.45 and a low of Rs 2855.60 so far during the day. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Benchmark indices traded near the day's low with modest losses in morning trade. The Nifty hovered around above the crucial 18,000 mark. Banks and financial stocks bucked the broader selling pressure. At 10:21 IST, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, fell 160.75 points or 0.26% to 60,660.58. The Nifty 50 index declined 83.8 points or 0.46% to 18,031.10. The broader market witnessed heavy selling. The S&P BSE Mid-Cap index lost 2.34% while the S&P BSE Small-Cap index slumped 2.52%. The market breadth, indicating the overall health of the market, was weak. On the BSE, 693 shares rose and 2320 shares fell. A total of 154 shares were unchanged. Results Today: Tech Mahindra (down 0.45%), HDFC AMC (down 1.6%), Colgate-Palmolive (India) (down 1.78%), Kansai Nerolac Paints (down 2.58%), CEAT (down 1.49%), CSB Bank (up 2.94%), SRF (down 1.69%), Home First Finance Company India (down 3.51%), ICRA (down 2.59%), Newgen Software Technologies (down 3.65%) and The Ramco Cements (down 3.48%) will announce their quarterly results today. Aditya Birla Sun Life AMC will announce its first quarterly result after listing on bourses on 11 October 2021. Buzzing Index: The Nifty Metal index slipped 1.87% to 5,583.85, falling for fifth consecutive trading session. The metal index has lost 10.7% in five days. APL Apollo Tubes (down 5.34%), Vedanta (down 2.38%), Hindalco Industries (down 2.02%), NMDC (down 1.96%) and JSW Steel (down 1.84%) were the top losers. Among the other losers were Coal India (down 1.84%), Tata Steel (down 1.77%), Steel Authority of India (down 1.63%), Jindal Steel & Power (down 1.6%) and Hindustan Zinc (down 1.12%). Stocks in Spotlight: Multi Commodity Exchange of India (MCX) tumbled 4% to Rs 1726.35 after the exchange reported 44% fall in consolidated net profit to Rs 32.66 crore in Q2 FY22 from Rs 58.55 crore in Q2 FY21. Revenue from operations declined by 30% YoY to Rs 83.19 crore during the quarter. EBITDA fell by 40% to Rs 49.88 crore in Q2 FY22 from Rs 83.52 crore in Q2 F2Y21. For the quarter ended 30 September 2021, the EBITDA margin was 50%. Apollo Tyres fell 1.18%. The company announced the launch of the premium European brand, Vredestein in India. Vredestein brand of tyres will be manufactured in India, and will cater to the premium and luxury segment in passenger cars. The two-wheeler tyres from the brand would cater to the growing superbiking segment in India, Apollo Tyres said in a press release. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Ircon International on behalf of Government of India (GoI), has handed over the newly commissioned cross-border rail section from Jaynagar (Km. 0.00) to Kurtha (Km. 34.90) to Government of Nepal (GoN) on 22 October 2021. Under the grant assistance from Government of India and MoU signed between GoI and GoN to undertake Indo-Nepal Cross Border Railway Projects, the work of Jaynagar (India) to Bardibas (Nepal) rail line project was entrusted to Ircon International. The 1st phase of 34.9 Km Jaynagar (India) - Kurtha (Nepal) section is part of 68.72 Km Jaynagar-Bijalpura-Bardibas rail link being built under Government of India grant assistance of NPR 8.77 billion. This section was earlier a narrow-gauge rail link between Jayanagar and Bijalpura. There are 8 stations and halts on the Jaynagar-Kurtha section, which includes the historically important station of Janakpur. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) 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 SBI Cards and Payment Services rose 1.17% to Rs 1141.90 after the company said its board will meet on 28 October 2021 to consider issuing non-convertible debentures (NCDs) worth Rs 2,000 crore in one or more tranches. On 28 October 2021, the board of SBI Cards And Payment Services will also consider unaudited financial results of for the quarter and the half year ended 30 September 2021. SBI Card posted a 22.6% fall in standalone net profit to Rs 304.61 crore on 11.6% rise in total income to Rs 2,450.94 crore in Q1 FY22 over Q1 FY21. SBI Card is a non-banking financial company that offers extensive credit card portfolio to individual cardholders and corporate clients. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) SRF reported 21.3% rise in consolidated net profit to Rs 382.45 crore on a 35.1% increase in revenue from operations to Rs 2,838.97 crore in Q2 FY22 as compared with Q2 FY21. The company's Chemicals Business reported an increase of 28% in its segment revenue from Rs 881 crore to Rs 1,126 crore during Q2FY22 over corresponding period last year (CPLY). During the quarter, the company said that the fluorochemicals business performed well on account of higher sales volumes in the refrigerants, blends, and chloromethanes segments, with better realizations, especially driven by international sales. The specialty chemicals business delivered a robust performance owing to higher sales from exports and domestic markets. Demand for existing and new, niche products has contributed to the overall sales. Rising crude prices, logistics concerns and global shortage of key raw materials had an impact on the business during Q2 FY22. The Packaging Films Business reported an increase of 29% in its segment revenue from Rs 833 crore to Rs 1,076 crore during Q2 FY22 when compared with CPLY. During the quarter, margins of BOPET films were under pressure. However, this trend was partially offset with a sustained demand of BOPP films. The Technical Textiles Business reported an increase of 68% in its segment revenue from Rs 332 crore to Rs 558 crore during Q2 FY22 over CPLY. Higher sales volumes from the nylon tyre cord fabrics, belting fabrics and polyester industrial yarn segments augured well for the business. The Other Businesses reported an increase of 52% in its segment revenue from Rs 57 crore to Rs 86 crore in Q2 FY22 when compared with CPLY. Both the coated and laminated fabrics business performed reasonably well in a difficult external environment. Total expenses rose by 38.1% to Rs 2317.67 crore in Q2 FY22 over Q2 FY21, due to higher raw material costs (up 58.7% YoY), higher power and fuel charges (up 39.1% YoY) and higher other expenses (up 40.2% YoY). Profit before tax in Q2 FY22 stood at Rs 532.42 crore, up by 23.2% from Rs 432.07 crore in Q2 FY21. Ashish Bharat Ram, managing director, said, This has been another good quarter for the company. Although we have witnessed an increase in prices of key raw materials and logistics costs due to many domestic and international factors, and despite various challenges linked to COVID-19 and supply chain disruptions, we were able to deliver good numbers. As of September 2021, the company's net debt position was lower by Rs 180 crore when compared with March 2021, despite continued investment in capex. To enhance the production capacity of a key product catering to the agrochemical industry, the Board has approved a debottlenecking project at Dahej at a projected cost of Rs 27.5 crore. SRF is a chemical based multi-business conglomerate engaged in the manufacturing of industrial and specialty intermediates. The scrip slumped 5.52% to currently trade at Rs 2096.65 on the BSE. \ Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) TVS Motor Company signed a tri-party deal arrangement with Bahwan International Group (BIG) (Oman), in which, its subsidiary registered in the UAE, ARATA International FZC will be the new distributor, as per the tri-party deal arrangement. The groups will also explore other avenues of co-operation in Oman and India. ARATA International FZC, a subsidiary of Bahwan International Group (BIG) - Oman, registered in the UAE, has a strong presence in the MENA region. Bahwan International Group (ARATA International FZC) and their channel partners plan to operate more than 30 dealerships for TVS Motor Company. The dealerships will include state of the art 3S dealership facilities in all the major cities of Iraq with after-sales service, and spare parts support in tier two cities to expand the TVS presence in Iraq. TVS Motor Company's product portfolio available in Iraq include - Two Wheeler- TVS XL 100 i- TOUCHstart, TVS XL 100 Comfort, TVS HLX 150 series, TVS NTORQ, TVS Jupiter series, TVS WEGO, TVS MAX 125 and Three Wheeler-TVS King Deluxe Plus. TVS Motor Company's consolidated net profit jumped 29.2% to Rs 234.37 crore on a 23.4% surge in net sales to Rs 6,483.42 crore in Q2 FY22 over Q2 FY21. Shares of TVS Motor Company shed 0.98% to Rs 613.90 on BSE. TVS Motor Company, part of the TVS Group, is a two and three-wheeler manufacturer. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A BJP-led delegation of three displaced Kashmiri Pandit organisations called on Union Home Minister on Sunday and demanded the construction of two-bedroom quarters for the migrant employees from the community recruited under the prime minister's special recruitment programme in the Kashmir valley, besides security and an insurance coverage for them. They also demanded the constitution of an apex committee and a welfare board for the displaced people. The seven-member delegation, led by Jammu and Kashmir BJP spokesperson and former MLA G L Raina, met Shah at the Raj Bhawan here, officials said. The other members of the delegation included former Jammu and Kashmir chief secretary and Apni Party leader Vijay Bakaya, Youth All India Kashmiri Samaj (YAIKS) chief R K Bhat, All India Kashmiri Samaj (AIKS) leader A K Raina and Kashmiri Pandit Sabha (KPS) chief K K Khosa. They demanded security for the non-migrant Kashmiri Pandit employees in the valley, transfer of such employees from far-flung areas to nearby safe areas and a comprehensive insurance package for them. Nearly 3,000 Kashmiri Pandit employees recruited under the prime minister's special recruitment package have been appointed in the valley since 2010. The delegation also demanded security to temples, distress sale of land and the setting up of a welfare board for Kashmir Pandits, the officials said. It demanded the formation of an advisory council of to work under the minister of home affairs to come up with a plan for full restorative justice for the community. The delegation requested Shah to accept the community's demand for a single comprehensive rehabilitation plan, including employment and other rights, as enshrined in the Constitution, as well as restoration and rebuilding of temples, shrines and community assets, including crematoriums. Shah also met the wife and the brother of Deepak Chand, a teacher who was killed by terrorists in Srinagar recently. He conveyed his condolences to them and assured them of all possible support from the Centre. The Union home minister also met delegations of the Gujjar-Bakarwal and Pahadi communities. (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 on Monday alleged that the Modi government's "wrong policies" are responsible for the plight of who are "not getting even the cost of their produce". general secretary and chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala claimed that as per rates on the government agency 'Agmarknet', are not getting the minimum support price for their crop. "The Modi government's wrong policies are responsible for ignoring the How will their income double by 2022, when far from giving them 'cost + 50% profit', the farmer is not even getting the 'cost' of the crop," he said in a statement. He cited data available on 'Agmarknet' to say that farmers are not getting the minimum support price on Kharif crops. "With this, the anti-farmer face of the Modi government has been exposed in front of everyone and it has been clearly proved that the promise of doubling the income of farmers by the year 2022 is just an election gimmick to mislead the country's Annadata and get their votes. It has nothing to do with the truth," Surjewala claimed. He also claimed that in the last 25 days, the market price received by the farmers of the country from their crops is much less than the minimum support price and the cost of crops. He said farmers across the country are agitating and opposition parties are also standing firmly in their support, but they are still facing "injustice". "When the Modi government is deliberately reducing the purchase of crops at MSP as part of a conspiracy, then what is the benefit of fixing the MSP?" "Based on experience of the last seven years, it becomes clear that the Modi government believes less in work and more in making headlines. The truth is that under a well-thought-out conspiracy, the Modi government is continuously reducing the purchase of crops on MSP, so that gradually the MSP will end on its own," he alleged. If the government does not buy at the minimum support price, then the market price will fall and the farmer will be left with no option but to sell it below the cost, he said. "This is happening now." Surjewala said the Modi government bought 389.93 lakh tonnes of wheat at MSP in 2020-21, but in the current year till April 30, 2021 (in the year 2021-22), the quantity of wheat procured at MSP has been reduced to 271 lakh tonnes. Resultantly, in the current year 2021-22, 118.93 lakh tonnes of less wheat was bought at MSP than last year 2020-21, he said. The leader claimed that in 2019-20, 519.97 lakh tonnes of paddy was purchased at MSP, but in 2020-21, the Modi government bought only 481.41 lakh tonnes of money on MSP to weaken the MSP, which was 38.56 lakh tonnes less. (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.) Two senior Congress leaders of on Monday joined the Trinamool Congress in presence of West Bengal Chief Minister in Siliguri in Bengal. The two leaders, Rajeshpati Tripathi and Lalitpati Tripathi, said they would carry on the fight to oust the BJP from power in UP and the Centre under the leadership of Banerjee, the TMC supremo. Rajeshpati Tripathi is an ex-MLC while Laliteshpati Tripathi is former UP Congress vice-president and an ex-MLA. Rajeshpati and Laliteshpati are the grandson and the great-grandson of former UP chief minister Kamalapati Tripathi respectively, TMC sources said. "The faith of people in the TMC is increasing. The joining of the two leaders testifies that we are now an all-India party which can give real fight to the BJP," Banerjee said. Alleging that the BJP is preventing the TMC from organising political programmes in Goa, Banerjee said she will be going to the western state in a few days. (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 Home Minister on Monday hit out at National Conference president Farooq Abdullah for seeking talks with Pakistan, saying the government would rather talk to the youth of for making it the most developed in the country. The home minister, who is on a visit to -- his first since the abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019 -- remotely inaugurated several development projects and laid the foundation stone of some. "I read in newspapers that Farooq Abdullah has suggested that the government should talk to Pakistan. He has a right to his opinion but we would rather talk to the Kashmiri youth," Shah said while addressing a function at the SKICC here. "The repealing of Article 370 had only one intention -- to put Kashmir, Jammu and newly created Ladakh (Union Territory) on the path of development. You will see the fruits of our efforts by 2024," he said. The article, which granted special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, was abrogated in August 2019 and the state was bifurcated into union territories of and Ladakh. Shah inaugurated a 500-bed hospital at Bemina, completed at a cost of Rs 115 crore, laid the foundation stone for the Handwara Medical College, a Rs 46-crore steel girder bridge over the Ferozepur Nallah in Baramulla district and road projects worth Rs 4,000 crore, among others. The home minister, who is on his Jammu and Kashmir visit's third day, said that those who advocate talks with Islamabad and separatists should be asked what has Pakistan done in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). "Compare the development between this side and PoK. Do they have electricity, roads, healthcare and toilets. There is nothing (on the other side). You (Kashmiris) have the same rights as any other Indian," he said. Without naming the Congress, the National Conference and the Peoples' Democratic Party, he said while only three medical colleges were set up by the "three families which have ruled Jammu and Kashmir", Prime Minister Narendra Modi has ensured seven new medical colleges and these are coming up. "Earlier, 500 youths could become doctors ... now 2,000 youths can become doctors from these new medical colleges. Nobody will need to go to Pakistan to study medicine," he said. Shah said the schemes and the plans of the Modi government will ensure that Jammu and Kashmir will be the most developed province of the country. He sought the cooperation of the people to realise this dream. "It is only the youth of Jammu and Kashmir who can work towards achieving this goal," he said. Asserting that the government is aiming to wipe out terrorism from Jammu and Kashmir and put an end to civilian killings, Shah said nobody would be allowed to disrupt peace and development in the Union Territory, which has a special place in Prime Minister Modi's heart. Defending the curbs on internet services and imposition of curfew in the aftermath of abrogation of Article 370, he said that "some people would have misled the masses. Who would have been killed? The Kashmiri youth. We know how heavy the coffin of a young son is for an old man". He said that 40,000 people have been killed in Kashmir in violence and it should stop now. "This many people do not die even in wars. We have to come back and take Kashmir to new heights of development," he said. The minister said Rs 12,000 crore worth of investment has already come to the Union Territory and the government aims at a total of Rs 51,000 crore by the end of 2022 to provide five lakh jobs to the local youth. Shah said "three families" are answerable to the people for their failure to develop Jammu and Kashmir over the past seven decades. "The new phase of development under the leadership of Modi has started in J&K but attempts are being made by inimical elements to create hurdles. I have come here to assure you that nobody will be able to create a hurdle and disrupt peace and development," Shah said. He said a new phase of development has started and this cannot be stopped by anyone. Listing various steps taken by the government since the formation of the BJP government at the Centre, Shah said five lakh jobs are being created in Jammu and Kashmir, while 20,000 people have been provided government jobs in the past two years. "The three families used to say who will come and invest in J&K.... in just six months after announcing a new industrial policy, we have got an investment of Rs 7,000 crore in Jammu and Rs 6,000 crore in Kashmir and are looking forward to an investment of Rs 50,000 crore by the end of 2022, the minister said. Targeting the "three families", he said they were asking what the government is going to give to Jammu and Kashmir. "We have a long list of what we have given to J&K and the people know it very well but the people are demanding an answer from them as to what they have given to J&K despite ruling the erstwhile state for the past seven decades. Have you thought of anyone else other than your own family members?" Shah asked. (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 European Medicines Agency said on Monday that a booster dose of Moderna's vaccine can be considered" in people aged 18 and above. In a statement, the drug regulator said its analysis had shown that a third dose given of Moderna's vaccine which is usually given in a two-dose schedule at least six months after the second dose, led to an increase in antibody levels in adults whose levels were waning. The booster dose consists of half the dose normally given to adults. The EMA said that currently available data suggest the incidence of side effects is similar to what is observed following the second dose of Moderna's vaccine, which is known to cause temporary heart and chest inflammation in a small number of people. At national level, public health bodies may issue official recommendations on the use of booster doses, taking into account the local epidemiological situation, the agency said in a statement. Earlier this month, the EMA said booster doses of the COVID-19 vaccine made by Pfizer-BioNTech could also be considered. It also recommended a third dose of vaccines for people with compromised immune systems. Booster doses of the vaccines made by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna have already been authorized by American officials, but there are still restrictions on who qualifies. Starting six months past their last Pfizer or Moderna vaccination, people are urged to get a booster if they're 65 or older, nursing home residents, or at least 50 and at increased risk of severe disease because of health problems. Boosters also were allowed, but not urged, for adults of any age at increased risk of infection because of health problems or their jobs or living conditions. That includes health care workers, teachers and people in jails or homeless shelters. And as European officials have recommended, Moderna's booster will come at half the dose of the original two shots. The World Health Organization has repeatedly slammed rich countries for embarking on booster doses, saying there is no scientific evidence the shots are justified and pointed out that the authorized vaccines remain strongly protective against hospitalization and deaths months after immunization. It has urged rich countries to donate their COVID-19 vaccines immediately to poorer countries, which have received fewer than 1% of the world's limited supply. (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.) A leading private healthcare group on Monday said it will provide COVID-19 jabs for free to children with "specified co-morbidities", even as the Centre is yet to announce its approval to it. Apollo Hospitals, in a statement, said, however, it is an "indicative list" and the "final list of co-morbidities eligible for free vaccination would be as per the list published by the government". Zydus Cadila's Covid vaccine ZyCoV-D has already received Emergency Use Authorisation from the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) in the country and will be administered to those aged 12 years and above. It is yet to be introduced in the nationwide Covid vaccination programme. As for the emergency use approval for Bharat Biotech's Covaxin in the 2-18 years age group by the DCGI, it is under expert evaluation, official sources had earlier said. On October 12, the Subject Expert Committee (SEC) on COVID-19 of the central drug authority had recommended granting Emergency Use Authorisation to Covaxin for children and adolescents in the 2-18 years age group with certain conditions. sources on Monday claimed that the list of co-morbidities announced by the group on Monday was prepared "after consulting with the government". "It is anticipated that approval will soon be granted for vaccinating children with specified co-morbidities and immediately post-approval, and details of the age-group permitted for vaccination, the free vaccination initiative would be launched by across its units," the statement said. "The list is expected to include children with haematological, neurological, cardiac, liver, gastrointestinal, rheumatic, cancer, respiratory, genitourinary and developmental disorders," it said. Dr Prathap C Reddy, Chairman, Group, said, "Adults have been the focus of vaccination till now as by and large, children have been spared from severe Covid infection. However, this is not the case in children with co-morbidities. These children continue to be at high risk of developing a severe infection. In addition, children with comorbidities have also seen a significant psychosocial impact as the lockdown resulted in their missing out on the personalised attention and specialised treatment and care that they require." The government's approval of vaccination for children with co-morbidities, when it comes through, will be a "welcome step in the right direction", he was quoted as saying in the statement. "Realising the criticality of this vaccination, we will be extending the Covid vaccines completely free of cost to children with co-morbidities and giving them the necessary 'kavach' (shield) against Covid," Reddy said. Both vaccines would be available at Apollo Hospitals' vaccination centres across the country once all approvals by the government are in place and the vaccines are made available, the statement 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.) has admitted that core parts of its platform appear hardwired for spreading misinformation and divisive content, according to a fresh wave of internal documents that showed the company struggled to contain in the developing world and was reluctant to censor rightwing US news organisations, The Guardian reported. An internal memo warned Facebooks core product mechanics, or its basic workings, had let and misinformation grow on the platform. In March, a group of researchers inside compiled a report for one of the companys most powerful executives, Chief Product Officer Chris Cox. The paper included charts and data highlighting a troubling trend that seemed to be accelerating: was losing popularity with teens and young adults. According to Bloomberg, one colorful graphic showed that time spent for US teenagers on Facebook was down 16 per cent YoY, and that young adults in the US were also spending 5 per cent less time on the social network. The number of new teen signups was declining, and perhaps most concerning was a series of slides showing that young people were taking much longer to join Facebook than they had in the past. The report is among hundreds of internal documents collected by former Facebook employee-turned-whistle-blower Frances Haugen, who went public in early October with accusations that Facebook has been prioritiSing profits over user safety and security. Among Haugens arguments is that Facebook has misrepresented core metrics to investors and advertisers by showing overall growth but excluding details that show slowdowns in key demographics, according to the letter outlining her complaint. Documents viewed by Reuters show Facebook has known that it hasn't hired enough workers who possess both the language skills and knowledge of local events needed to identify objectionable posts in a number of developing countries. The documents also showed that the artificial intelligence systems Facebook employs to root out such content frequently aren't up to the task, either; Facebook will fuel more violent unrest around the world because of the way its algorithms are designed to promote divisive content, whistleblower Haugen told the British parliament on Monday. She said the social network saw safety as a cost centre and said it was "unquestionably" making hate worse. Apple once threatened Facebook ban over Mideast maid abuse Two years ago, Apple threatened to pull Facebook and Instagram from its app store over concerns about the platform being used as a tool to trade and sell maids in the Mideast. FB acknowledged in internal documents that it was under-enforcing on confirmed abusive activity. on Monday confirmed operating system and processor details of the JioPhone Next ahead of Diwali launch. Announced at the Reliance Industries annual general meeting earlier this year, the JioPhone Next will be powered by Google Android operating system-based Pragati OS and Qualcomm processor. According to Reliance Jio, the Pragati OS, powered by Android, is an operating system built specifically for India and is at the heart of JioPhone Next. It has been engineered by best minds at Jio and Google with an objective to bring Pragati (progress) for all, while offering truly seamless experience at affordable cost. As for the processor, Jio said the Qualcomm processor on the JioPhone Next will deliver optimised connectivity and location technologies along with optimisations in device performance, audio and battery. The information came courtesy a short video titled Making of JioPhone Next released by on Monday. In the video, the telecom giant also previewed its upcoming budget smartphone. In a short span of 5 years, Jio has become a household name in India. With 430 million users, its services span geographies, economic and social classes. With JioPhone Next, Jio plans to take a decisive step towards its vision of democratising digital connectivity in India. JioPhone Next is Made in India, Made for India and Made by Indians. JioPhone Next will ensure that every Indian gets an equal opportunity and equal access to digital technology, said in a statement. Here are a few features of JioPhone Next: Voice Assistant Voice assistant helps users to operate the device (Open App, manage settings etc.) and get information/content from Internet easily in a language familiar to them. Read Aloud Listen functionality allows user to have content on any screen read out to them by device. This allows users to consume content by listening in a language which they can understand. Translate Translate functionality allows user to have any screen translated to language of user choice. This allows users to read any content in their language of preference. Smart Camera The device is equipped with a smart and powerful camera which supports various photography modes such as Portrait mode allowing users to capture great photos with automatically blurred background. Night mode allows users to capture great photos even under low light. The camera app also comes preloaded with custom Indian augmented reality filters to enhance the pictures by associating with emotions and festivities. Jio and Google Apps preloaded The device supports all the available android apps which users can download and use in device via Google Play Store thus giving them the freedom to choose from lacs of apps available on the Play Store. It also comes preloaded with a host of Jio and Google apps. Automatic Software upgrade The JioPhone Next remains up to date with automatic software updates. The experience is only going to get better over time with the latest features delivered automatically. It also comes with security updates ensuring a hassle-free experience. Long Battery Life The newly designed Pragati OS, which is powered by Android, ensures optimum performance while ensuring long battery life. Johnson Controls-Hitachi Air Condition. India Ltd Johnson Controls-Hitachi Air Conditioning India Company (formerly known as Hitachi Home and Life Solutions (India) Limited) was incorporated in December 07 1984 as 'Acquest Air Conditioning Systems Private Limited'. It was converted into a deemed public limited company in Jun.'89. The Company is engaged in the business of manufacturing selling and trading of Hitachi' brand of Air conditioners refr...> More Pune (Maharashtra) [India], October 25 (ANI/NewsVoir): Bajaj Finance Limited cautions its customers and the public at large to stay vigilant against online loan frauds and other types of frauds on the electronic platform during this festive season. As a part of Cybersecurity Awareness Month, the company issued an advisory to its customers over email and on their social media platforms, urging them to stay alert of the growing incidences of cyber frauds and how to stay safe online. With the festive season around, consumers are more prone to availing instant loans, shopping online, seeking various discounts and cashback offers which make them vulnerable to fall into the trap of cyber frauds. So, it's critical that consumers remain alert and informed about frauds such as (including, but not limited to) fake ads on social media, website impersonation, identity theft, fake job offers, vishing, phishing, sim swapping, UPI frauds, fake loan approval letters, 'too good to be true loan offers', suspicious phone calls, phone calls by impersonators claiming to be representatives of Bajaj Finance Ltd., suspicious links received on SMS or on various messenger platforms etc. ("frauds on electronic platform"). The awareness advisory is a part of the continuous efforts of the company towards educating customers about frauds on electronic platform, the modus operandi of fraudsters who target unsuspecting users to carry out loan frauds and cyber security scams and the necessary safety measures to follow to avoid getting duped. Cyber Safety Tips for Festive Season Do's * Always verify Bajaj Finance loan offers at (https://www.bajajfinserv.in) or from any of the nearest branch offices * Always check for the verified blue tick mark on our social media handles before engaging * Bookmark our support page (https://www.bajajfinserv.in/reach-us) in your browser's address bar * Always be careful while speaking with unknown callers offering instant loans and urging you to share your details over Phone/SMS/Email * Change passwords at regular intervals and use a strong combination of alpha numeric and symbolic characters * Install an effective antivirus software on your devices * Always access secured websites starting with 'https' * Always uninstall remote access apps that are no longer needed * Enable two-factor authentication on all platforms and for mobile banking applications * Keep your contact details updated to receive timely transaction alerts * Report about any cyber-crime incidents on 155260 established by Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India (https://cybercrime.gov.in/Webform/Helpline.aspx) Don'ts * Never pay any advance money as Processing Fee/GST or TDS Fee/Refundable Fee for availing loans from Bajaj Finance Limited or any of its subsidiaries * Never share confidential information over phone with anyone, even if they claim to represent Bajaj Finance Ltd., * Never rely on search engines to locate us as those may mislead you to fake websites of Bajaj Finance Ltd., * Never click on any links to receive payments and avoid saving your card details on any app or on your device * Never share your mobile number, OTP, address, D.O.B, EMI Card details, PAN/Aadhaar number or copies of cheque book with strangers or on online and social media platforms * Never open or respond to emails from unknown sources carrying suspicious attachments * Never click on suspicious web links received via SMS from unknown sources as that may lead you to downloading remote control apps like 'Any Desk' which will take control of your mobile device to carry out transactions * Never engage with scam callers urging you to download unsolicited third-party apps or asking for access to change your device settings * Never act upon a call received from a mobile number without checking with the Bajaj Finance Customer Support team (https://www.bajajfinserv.in/insights/bajaj-finserv-customer-care) To know more on how to stay safe while transacting online, read our blogs and cautionary message: * Cautionary Note: (https://www.bajajfinserv.in/cautionary-notice-new.pdf) * Customer Awareness Blog: (https://www.bajajfinserv.in/insights/fraud-awareness) Bajaj Finance Limited, the lending arm Bajaj Finserv Ltd., is one of the most diversified NBFCs in the Indian market catering to more than 31 million customers across the country. Headquartered in Pune, the company's product offering includes Consumer Durable Loans, Lifestyle Finance, Digital Product Finance, Personal Loans, Loan against Property, Small Business Loans, Home loans, Credit Cards, Two-wheeler and Three-wheeler Loans, Commercial lending/SME Loans, Loan against Securities and Rural Finance which includes Gold Loans and Vehicle Refinancing Loans along with Fixed Deposits. Bajaj Finance Limited prides itself on holding the highest credit rating of FAAA/Stable for any NBFC in the country today. It is also the only NBFC in India with the international 'BBB' with stable outlook for long-term, by S & P Global Rating. To know more, please visit (https://www.bajajfinserv.in) 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.) Vellore (Tamil Nadu) [India], October 25 (ANI/BusinessWire India): BD Life Sciences-Biosciences, a segment of BD (Becton, Dickinson and Company), in collaboration with Christian Medical College - Vellore launched its second Center of Excellence (CoE) in flow cytometry for clinical research in India today. This CoE will serve as the National Reference Center for clinical diagnostics applications, wherein hematologists, physicians, lab specialists from across India can come together to deliberate and discuss standardization and best practices in clinical flow cytometry. The CoE at CMC Vellore will help to push the bounds of clinical research, provide opportunities for knowledge exchange, and conduct diagnosis with higher accuracy to achieve faster turnaround of reports and better patient outcomes. Pavan Mocherla, Managing Director, BD India/South Asia at the inaugural ceremony said, "Over the years, flow cytometry has been an invaluable tool in several clinical applications. Christian Medical College, Vellore has been leading healthcare and research for more than 120 years and we are honoured that this Centre of Excellence in flow cytometry at CMC Vellore is a testament of our purpose of advancing the world of health. The depth of experience of CMC's faculty of Haematology department and BD's technological advancements will together provide a world-class experience for anyone coming in for training or treatment. Our aim is to encourage best practices, stay ahead in science to create a strong foundation for better patient outcomes." Dr Vikram Mathews, Associate Director & Professor of Haematology, Christian Medical College, Vellore said, "The proposed Centre of Excellence in flow cytometry at the department of Haematology in Christian Medical College, Vellore is another milestone in the academic collaboration between the institute and BD-India. As a state-of-the-art diagnostic facility, the Center of Excellence will help educate and train the pathologists and haematologists in multicolour flow cytometry analysis. The lab is one of the largest diagnostic flow cytometry facilities in the country and the services offered include leukemia and lymphoma diagnostics, minimal residual disease for leukemia and myeloma, Stem cell enumeration, primary immunodeficiency disorders, and lymphocyte subset analysis, paroxysmal nocturnal haemoglobinuria, and cellular therapy assays. The proposed collaboration with BD-India strengthens our relationship, positioning us to perform high-quality diagnostic services and academic activities further. It will not only help students' and early career pathologists' understanding of this field but will also nurture the institute's mandate of integrating diagnostic service with active academic and research activities." This CoE is equipped with a comprehensive range of flow cytometer instruments like BD FACSLyricTM, BD FACS Canto II, BD FACS Canto 10C, and BD Accuri C6 Plus that will help in increasing awareness about the role of flow cytometry in clinical diagnostics among healthcare professionals. Puneet Talwar, Business Director- India/ South Asia, BD Lifesciences- Biosciences added, "Our association with CMC Vellore goes back to three decades when we supplied them our first BD FACS flow cytometry instrument. Over the years, we have strengthened our partnership by regular upgradation of technology as well as other tools/resources required by CMC in serving its patients. With the establishment of this Centre of Excellence in flow cytometry, we will be writing a new chapter for our academic collaboration. This will give us a platform to train and educate many more pathologists and haematologists in the country in multicolour flow cytometry analysis." In addition to this CoE, BD also has CoEs as mentioned below: 1. BD-Calcutta University CoE in Nanobiosciences - Kolkata 2. BD-NCBS CoE in Advanced flow cytometry - Bengaluru 3. BD-PD Hinduja CoE in Clinical flow cytometry - Mumbai 4. IISER- BD Centre of Excellence (CoE) in flow Cytometry - Pune 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.) New Delhi [India], October 25 (ANI/Mediawire): Everyone is pulling up their socks as CBSE Class 10 And 12 Datesheet 2021 for Term 1 Board Exams is released. Now, only a few weeks are left for the exams, and it is the crucial time to give a final touch to your preparation. The major news after the announcement of CBSE Class 10 & 12 Term 1 Date Sheet 2021 for major subjects is that the CBSE has announced the date sheet 2021 for minor subjects as well. If you are the one who is also appearing for CBSE Board Exam 2021, then there are a few amazing tips that you NEED for Term 1. At the end, you'll find the ways to easily score high in CBSE Board Exam 2021. 1. Don't Skip Step For Well-Versed Practice Getting acquainted with the updated syllabus of CBSE Board Exam 2021 is one of the most important things that you should never miss upon. Every student has prepared for the CBSE Board Exam 2021 as per the syllabus but is a good practice to check the updated one in this last month once more. You can check the updated CBSE syllabus for the board exam on the official site of CBSE at CBSEACADEMIC.NIC.IN You need to focus only on those topics or chapters that are mentioned for term 1 exams. Don't ever skip any of the Class 10 & 12 MCQs Offcial Resources Provided By CBSE. May it be CBSE Official Question Banks, CBSE Official MCQs Sample Papers Class 10 & 12 For Term 1 Boards, Online Study Material provided at (https://diksha.gov.in) 2. A Decisive Subject-wise Exam Cracker (a) CBSE has hinted upon a sort of format for MCQs Class 10 & 12 question for each subject via live videos for teachers. It might be a handy add on approach for CBSE Class 10 & 12 Term 1 Boards Students. Here's the link for that: (http://www.cbseacademic.nic.in/web_material/Circulars/2021/88_Circular_2021.pdf) The MCQs Question in Boards might be expected to test Cognitive Skills And Analytical Thinking of Students For Each and Every Subject, NCERT Books, NCERT Exemplar, PYQS are must to practice. As these resources constitutes important questions. The MCQs for CBSE Class 10 & 12 Term 1 Boards are likely to be reframed from these questions It becomes the need of the hour to stay familiar with the exam pattern. Because no one has witnessed this pattern in the CBSE regime. (b) The Best Seller MCQs Based Oswaal CBSE Sample Papers Class 10 & 12 For Term 1 Board Exams 2021-22 have most likely MCQs reframed from NCERT Books, Exemplars, PYQs, all official CBSE resources and all MCQs typologies (Case-Based, Reasoning-Assertion, Stand-Alone). In this book, cognitive exam tools for comprehensive and integrated quick learning such as mind maps, mnemonics, revision notes, blended exam-based learning via concept videos might prove handy in memory recall at exam time. You may also study with Oswaal CBSE MCQs Question Banks for Term 1 Board Exams 2021 for chapter-wise topic-wise exam preparation. Here's the recommended link for MCQs Based Oswaal CBSE Sample Papers Class 10 For Term 1 Board Exams 2021-22:(https://bit.ly/3vzuq0t) MCQs Based CBSE Sample Paper Class 12 For Term 1 Board Exams 2021-22: (https://bit.ly/3C9yreG) The syllabus is also divided into two terms by keeping the concept of connectivity in mind. With this division of syllabus, students can't leave anything optional because the syllabus is already limited for the CBSE board exam 2021. Moreover, students can even get a glimpse of the pattern by visiting the official site of CBSE. 3. Subject-wise Must Follow Comprehensive Approach: For the 10th & 12 MCQs Based Term 1 Board Exams, we need to first classify the chapters into 3 categories- easy, tricky and difficult. Then we need to anonymously prepare for these chapters for every subject as per the mark weightage in the boards. Here's the reference video for Preparing MCQs Based CBSE Class 10 Maths Board Exam:(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OK852achTK4) Students need to prepare their studies in the same format for each and every bit of Subject for CBSE Class 10 & 12. 4. Mind Maps: A great resource Students face a lot of difficulty in remembering everything they come across the syllabus. In this situation, mind maps play a critical role in giving a new dimension to your preparation. When you are studying something, make a diagrammatic representation of it in your mind or take the help of Oswaal Sample papers where you'll get the Mind Maps for every chapter. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3bwJadzKWI) Studies have also revealed that pictures have a long-lasting impression as compared to the theory. Try to make a connection of the topic you are studying with the previous one. When you are stuck in the exam at a particular question then try to remember in which chapter you have studied it. After that, try to remember under which topic you studied it and on which corner of the page it was present. 5. Exam Time Confidence Booster, A 360 Preparation Exam Approach At this time, you only need to evaluate the preparation that you have done so far. Mock tests are the true way that can help you introspect your preparation journey. When you take the mock tests in a time-bound fashion, you realize where you are lacking. Is it on the time management part? Is it regarding your preparation? Are you getting nervous? So, with the assistance of mock tests, you get answers to all such questions. This ultimately helps you to go a step further and work on the area where you are lacking. Here's the recommended link for Weekly Newly Updated Chapter-wise & Comprehensive Mock Tests For MCQs Based Term 1 Board Exams for CBSE Class 10 & 12: (https://bit.ly/3E6HJbG) Here, you may also 360 live analysis of your online exam score too via detailed solutions 6. The ultimate key to shine The more you practice, the closer you get to your goal. You should practice an ample number of sample paper to score high in your CBSE Board exam 2021. Sample paper comprises of all the latest typologies in addition to the great pool of important questions that are important from an examination point of view. After solving a sample paper, you can even check your answers and calculate your entire score. You can even check the answers to the questions that you were unable to attempt so that they can help you on the day of the exam. 7. Do's To Follow While in Exam Hall Students will need to answer the assertion and reasoning-based questions and all MCQs Typologies of Questions in the time frame of 90 minutes. Students need to give first 10 minutes to thorough reading of all questions. Thereafter, they can easily classify questions in easy, tricky and difficulties. Next 70 Minutes to be dedicated to completely solving the exam paper in ascending order of difficulties. Thereafter last 10 minutes to be given to complete revise the attempted exam papers. Beware to deploy your logic carefully while solving tricky questions, as they might be having closely matching options Bottom Line: Beware OMR Sheet Based Pointers:- While a students encircled a wrong option in OMR sheet, he/she may cross it. CBSE has provided an extra circle in OMR, where student may write the correct option. You should follow the above-specified strategy for CBSE Board exam 2021. Moreover, if you want to get an edge over others then the CBSE Sample Papers for Class 10 and 12 are a true friend for you. You can get them to boost up your preparation and score high. This sample paper is comprised of all the essentials that can help you succeed ranging from mind maps to the greatest question pool. So, just buck up your preparation and All the Best for upcoming board exams!! To Read More - (https://bit.ly/3GgSXw9) Also check these 7 exam tips based on scientific fact to boost your preparations. Read this Article. This story is provided by Mediawire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/Mediawire) DISCLAIMER (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Jaipur (Rajasthan) [India], October 25 (ANI/NewsVoir): (https://srammram.com/)SRAM & MRAM Group, a leading conglomerate along with (https://www.atdgroup.in/) ATD Group, which has been instrumental in supporting the nation in upgrading its healthcare segment takes immense pride to announce the accomplishment of creating a milestone in the history of healthcare vertical with the successful installation of 47 Oxygen plants all across the state of Rajasthan. The installation drive was a part under "fast-track mode" to assist hospitals facing an acute shortage of medical oxygen in view of surging cases of coronavirus. The move came as the state was scrambling to shore up supplies of medical oxygen to hospitals in multiple places. Foundation stone-laying ceremony of NICU/PICU and inauguration of ICU/NICU/PICU, Oxygen Generation plants, LMO in the Hospitals was inaugurated by Chief Minister through Virtual Conference yesterday. Among the key dignitaries that attended the conference were, Sh. Shanti Kumar Dhariwal, Minister, LSG & UDH, Sh. Raghu Sharma, Minister, M & H, Sh. Subhash Garg, State Minister, Medical & Health, Smt. Sangeeta Beniwal, Chairman, Rajasthan State Commission for Protection of Child Rights, Sh. Niranjan Arya, Chief Secretary, Sh. Akhil Arora, PS, Finance/M & H, Sh. Kuldeep Ranka, PSCM, Sh. Kunji Lal Meena, PS, UDH, Sh. Vaibhav Galriya, Secy., Medical & Health and Medical Education, Sh. Bhawani Singh Detha, Secy., LSG, Shri Gaurav Goyal, JDC, Smt. Shivangi Swarnkar, Commissioner, Medical Education and Sh. Shaheen Ali Khan, Joint Secretary to CM. On this occasion, Sh. Kunji Lal Meena, PS, UDH, said, "All Time Data Private Ltd. has installed all the oxygen plants successfully as per the order given to them. Special thanks to Dr. Sailesh Lachu Hiranandani of SRAM & MRAM and Manoranjan Mohanty of ATD Group for timely execution of the order in Rajasthan." Congratulating the team for its mega success, Manoranjan Mohanty, Promoter ATD Group, said, "We extend our gratitude to the Principal Secretary, Sh. Kunji Lal Meena, Director DLB, Deepak Nandi, CE, Sh. Bhupender Mathur, SE, Sh. K KNathani of DLB and CFO, Mahender Kumar, DLB for their cooperation to complete the project on time." "We would also like to thank JDC, Sh. Gaurav Goel, Director JDA, Sh. Devender Gupta, Ex En, Sh. Bahadur Singh, Ex En, Sh. Arun Sharma and Sanjeev for their tremendous support without which this project would not have been successfully accomplished," added, Mohanty of ATD Group and Dr. Sailesh Lachu Hiranandani of SRAM & MRAM Group. As predicted by scientists amid the festive season, India is unlikely to see a COVID wave like the devastating second one unless there is a new immune escaping variant but the lower number of cases does not necessarily mean the pandemic is now endemic. New variants could potentially still pose a challenge. Any new variant which spreads much more easily, especially amongst people who are vaccinated or have been previously infected, could lead to new surges. The medical society and the State Governments have been emphasizing the same and not to let the guards down during the festive season. As the nation was struggling with the second wave of coronavirus and hospitals in the state were reeling under a shortage of medical oxygen, to overcome the crisis, the group worked on installing a number of plants all across the different cities of Rajasthan in collaboration with the state government, to upgrade the healthcare system, aiming at making the state ready to fight for future challenges. Dedicated to supporting the cause with maximum wavelength, SRAM & MRAM is committed to helping the nation fight the current onslaught of the deadly pandemic in the coming times. (https://srammram.com/) SRAM & MRAM Group along with ATD Group has been aiding in setting up of local health structure. The group has been working actively and finally achieved the milestone of successfully installing, commissioning and even supplying Oxygen to the patients' beds in a very less span of time in Rajasthan. The drive has seen an overwhelming response from the masses and will be helping the people of Rajasthan to have a well-equipped and upgraded amenity. Furthermore, it will also help in the preparedness for any untoward threat in near future. 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 25 (ANI/NewsVoir): Complinity, a Gurgaon based startup in the B2B SaaS space has raised $750,000 (INR 5.5 crore approximately) in a funding round from RiSo Capital, an early stage VC investment firm based in Silicon Valley (US), along with Rajnish Babbar, another lead investor from the US and few other angel investors, as part of the Pre-Series A round closure. The funds raised will be utilized to expand the overall technology, sales and operational capabilities of the company. Founded in 2017 by Sumit Pahwa, Hari Balasubramanian and Kapil Sharma, Complinity is India's Leading (https://complinity.com) Compliance Software Company covering 2000+ Laws and 20,000+ compliances in India across all states and 50+ industry verticals. There are 100s of legal updates notified each month and the regulatory vigilance mechanisms are becoming more stringent by the day with the increasing adoption of technology by the regulators including the use of AI based analytics. Non-compliances with laws are fraught with the risk of heavy monetary penalties, interest on delayed payments, imprisonment of directors or key managerial personnel, license cancellation and reputational impact. Therefore, compliance is the path to building sustainable businesses. Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) monitoring even in large companies continues to be a manual process. Complinity aims to disrupt and transform the GRC space with the help of technology. Complinity helps businesses establish a centralized Compliance Monitoring Framework across different locations of an organization with real-time automated legal updates, alerts, escalations, workflows, dashboards and document management. Complinity also puts an organization's Contracts, Litigation, Risks, Controls, Audits and much more on the digital platform, thereby managing the risk of non-compliances, contract breaches and control failures, thus driving efficiencies with automation, real-time visibility and access to information across all levels of an organization. Complinity is adding value to 300+ enterprise customers and 8000+ users and is working with leading brands all over India across 50+ industry verticals. Complinity recently achieved its ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 27001:2013 certifications on quality and data security respectively and has an aggressive product road-map across all modules including the use of machine learning and AI. Sharing his thoughts on the closure of the funding round, Sumit Pahwa, Co-founder and CEO, Complinity said, "We are thankful to RiSo Capital and all other investors who believed in us and in our vision. We founded Complinity with a mission to establish regulatory compliance monitoring mechanism in Companies through technology. We believe we are still at early stages of technology disrupting the Compliance space. There are 1.3 million Companies in India and less than 1% use any such software. This presents an exciting opportunity before us in this virgin market. The current round of investment will help us scale the technology for making cutting-edge SaaS products with a global appeal." Mahendra Jain, General Partner, RiSo Capital added, "The Complinity founders and team carry a rich experience in Technology, Legal and Business and we're super excited to be part of their growth journey. India is rapidly digitizing small and medium businesses and Complinity is one of the fastest growing Compliance Software Companies in India to bring ease of processing and doing business. They have built a significantly disruptive SaaS product with a wide pan-India marquee customer footprint and hold a global vision." Devansh Shah, Bilanz Capital was the advisor to the deal. Complinity is India's Leading Governance, Risk & Compliance Software helping several Companies manage their Compliance, Contracts, Registrations, Litigation, Assessments, Legal Updates, Audit, Internal Controls, Insurance, Documents, Secretarial, Tasks and much more! Complinity's integrated true-cloud B2B SaaS Platform helps businesses digitize, automate and manage their risk & compliance with real time legal updates across all laws applicable to the organization. Reach us at (https://complinity.com) complinity.com or call us at 8181 900 600 for more details. 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 25 (ANI/SRV Media): Khetiwalo has recently launched a wide range of organic fertilizers at the price of chemical ones. Dharti Shakti 50kg is a full replacement for Di-Ammonium Phosphate (DAP) fertilizer. Khetiwalo organics and agro technologies have come up with natural environment-friendly organic fertilizers- Dharti Shakti is an organic fertilizer curated to help farmers. Enriched with natural nitrogen and natural Phosphorus, it maintains the pH of the soil for a long duration. The company was established in 2019. After investing more than 22 years in research, the company has developed sustainable and easy organic treatment in agriculture. To cater to the increasing high fertilizer demand and to provide organic fertilizers at low prices, Khetiwalo has launched a wide range of organic fertilizers at the price of chemical ones. The company provides India's innovative Gluconate-based 100% organic input. Keeping environment and pocket-friendliness in mind, chemical fertilizers used by farmers can be replaced with a wide product range. It is the happiest news ever in agriculture. The company promotes cost-effective and profitable farming. Dharti Shakti has proven to be effective in agriculture, floriculture, horticulture, hydroponics, and vegetables of all varieties. By providing nutrients in an already degraded condition, it is able to deliver better results in all types of agricultural land having a pH range from 3.5 to 11.5. It improves soil health as it is a new technique of farming promoting sustainable farming. Also, irrespective of the TDS of the water, Khetiwalo products are showing satisfactory output amongst farmers. Usage of Dharti Shakti not only makes the crop healthy but also increases soil life. The usage of phosphorus elongates the leaf life of the plants and as Dharti Shakti has usage gypsum, it regulates the pH of the soil for a longer duration. Along with protection from pests, it makes the stem of the plant thick and resistant to seasonal changes. Bhushan S Chhajed, Founder, CHAIRMAN, and MD of Khetiwalo organics and agro technologies, said, "India wants sustainable, profitable & easy farming practices. We promote cost-effective and profitable residue-free farming maintenance (MRL). We have a quality team that believes in consistent hardworking. Our team is fully supportive of the dealers and farmers. We value long-term relationships to achieve our dreams and aspirations. We are committed to strengthening the market grip by continuously observing the fields of various crops. We have built the trust of the farmers on our organic products as a better alternative, providing us the strength to change Indian agriculture." Khetiwalo is an ethical company believes to value the relationship with their valuable clients. Their products are ECOCERT India certified and trustworthy to use. Khetiwalo's manufacturing partner- World Agri Solutions Private Limited has established its plant facilities along with an R & D lab in Ahmedabad. They are exploring the network by hiring distributors, dealers & retailers, and getting in touch with Farmer Producer Companies (FPCs) throughout Maharashtra to build a robust structure. The company is successfully delivering better results in all crops and more than 95% of the farmers are happy and satisfied after using their organic treatments. The company adheres to high standards while producing. They are committed to offering the best and long-lasting sustainable treatment to any kind of agricultural produce. They are committed to offering the best and long-lasting sustainable treatment to any kind of agricultural produce. To know more visit (https://www.khetiwalo.com/?utm_source=SRV+PR+ & utm_medium=ani%2B+PR+ & utm_campaign=Khetiwalo) Khetiwalo Organics This story is provided by SRV Media. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/SRV Media) DISCLAIMER (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Sangli (Maharashtra) [India], October 25 (ANI/BusinessWire India): Social impact entrepreneur, Prateek Patil, has implemented a line of drone technology for the purposes of spraying fertilizers which has already covered 3,200 acres of sugarcane area benefiting more than 2,000 farmers in Walwa, Sangli. Sangli District has been grounds for pioneering agriculture and irrigation works in Western Maharashtra. From the cooperative movement to drip irrigation, innovation has been a sign of the cultivation in the region. The drone spraying technology introduced by Prateek Patil and adopted by the Rajarambapu Sugar Factory in Sangli in 2020-2021 has not only reduced time and efforts of the farmer but also increases profitability. To launch this initiative, Prateek conducted 22 'Shetkari Parisamvads' where he met over 4,900 farmers to incept the idea and talk about the benefits of this technology. According to him, "acceptance to new methods is often the most difficult step in the Indian agricultural landscape, and to get their willingness to try new schemes is one of the challenging parts." Prateek has been involved with agro-innovation and has conducted several initiatives to aid and propagate drip irrigation. These meetings across Sangli propelled the conversation and attracted many farmers to come and test out the drone technology. Saving Time, Money and Water Conventionally the farmer sprays his crops physically. Even with hired manual labour, this is a costly and time-consuming affair. In the manual spraying method, for 1-acre sugarcane, a farmer would spend around Rs1000 on spraying labour charges along with 200 litres of water and a higher quantity of chemicals. To address these problems, coupled with the lack of labourers during COVID 19, Prateek decided to introduce this technique. He took it upon himself to test the technology and setup a partnership with a regional manufacturing company. The drones are given out on rent at very affordable rates saving almost 40% of total costs. It utilizes only 10 litres of water, saving almost 150 litres. Additionally, now it takes only 5-10 mins to spray fertilizers and permitted pesticides on 1 acre of Sugarcane as opposed to 4-5 hours earlier. Crops at any height can be effectively reached and 4 nozzles guarantee a comprehensive and equal distribution of fertilizers and pesticides. It is flexible across climate conditions and allows for uniform spraying of entire fields. A reduction of 25-50% in the quantity of fertilizers and pesticides used has been observed after adapting drone spraying and the quality of yield of crops has been found to increase by 20-30%, which in turn has translated to more income. Generating Employment Use of this drone technology also has an additional advantage of generating employment for the local youth in sectors of manufacturing and operations. The Sugar Factory has partnered with a company called Chatak Innovations for assembling and operating the drones. Labour force hiring for the drone operation facility like Drone Pilots & Co-Pilots, Cars & Drivers for the drone's transport and the supervision team is facilitated under the leadership of Prateek Patil. Employment numbers for assembling and operating is expected to increase as more farmers adopt the drone technology. Currently, the Factory uses a 10 litre Octocopter drone. After conducting an initial pilot, this technology is being introduced on a greater scale to farmers of the region. Till date, more than 3,200 acres of area has been covered by drone spraying benefiting more than 2000 farmers of the region. Each drone is currently covering 9 to 12 acres in a day and this is a first of its kind exercise conducted by a sugar factory in Maharashtra, stated by Vikas Deshmukh (Director-Vasantdada Sugar Institute). This initiative opens a great path into precision agriculture in Maharashtra, providing new ways for farmers to manage crops, ensure the efficiency of inputs such as water, fertilizers and maximize productivity, quality, and yield. As a part of Prateek Patil's vision, there are plans for the Sugar Factory to further utilize drones for Crop Scouting. This method gives a 97% accurate estimate of the Sugarcane crop's yield. There are also plans to utilize drones to estimate pests and diseases in crops, conduct nutrient analysis of the soil by analyzing pictures of the crop, NDVI, monitor irrigation and also estimate the total area covered under Sugarcane in the region. 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 25 (ANI/OP Jindal University): On the occasion of the United Nations Day 2021, O.P. Jindal Global University released the first-of-its-kind Implementing the Sustainable Development Goals: Role of Universities and Civil Society in Protecting the Environment Report, mapping its compliance towards the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations. Setting a global benchmark, JGU has become one of the first universities to fully commit to and implement the SDGs on its campus, despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The report was launched in the presence of Dharmendra Pradhan, Union Minister of Education, Ashwini Kumar Choubey, Hon'ble Union Minister of State for Environment, Professor (Dr.) Pankaj Mittal, Secretary General Association of Indian Universities, Atul Bagai Head of Country Office United Nations Environment Programme and Sudhir Mishra, Founder & Managing Partner, Trust Legal, Advocates & Consultants. The UN SDGs include affordable and sustainable energy, combating climate change, eradicating hunger, education, health, and gender equality. To demonstrate its commitment towards the implementation of the SDGs, JGU engaged in an independent assessment of its campus and initiatives to get a transparent and fair view of the university's progress in compliance with the UN SDGs. A cohort of 12 assessors from the environment and legal fields including The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), Trust Legal, Advocates & Consultants and Mazars Business Advisors Pvt. Ltd., Trust Legal, Advocates & Consultants carried out a rigorous evaluation of the university's processes ranging from the university's energy consumption to water management systems and community engagement initiatives. Dharmendra Pradhan, Union Minister of Education, Government of India, congratulated JGU on the launch of the Report and said, "The launch of the report comes at an opportune moment when the world leaders including Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi will attend COP26 meeting at Glasgow next month. Diverse voices in the form of reports, scientific inquiry, and debates will only enrich our collective knowledge in protecting the health of the planet. The National Education Policy 2020 is fully aligned to the UN's Sustainable Goals and aims to nurture youth with global outlook and sensibility with capabilities that can help them face the global challenges of the 21st century. It is built on the foundational pillars of access, equity, quality, affordability and accountability. childhood care to quality education for the students in the remotest corner of the country. Universities have responsibility to contribute not only to the local communities but also to the global community. This is primarily because they have the capacity to help students develop a holistic understanding of how a wide range of local, national and global challenges can be addressed. They help students in developing the spirit of scientific inquiry, curiosity and entrepreneurship needed to produce concrete and innovative solutions to tackle these challenges. The role of university in the road to the sustainable development is crucial. It becomes imperative that the universities devote time and resources to create an SDG ready generation that remains focused on the mission to achieve sustainable development." Ashwini Kumar Choubey, Hon'ble Minister of State for Environment, Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Government of India said, "I congratulate the Vice Chancellor of JGU that under his leadership, JGU is not only committed to excellence in education but has also demonstrated a vision to implement the UN-SDG goals at the university. Educational institutions can play a pivotal role in informing young people and create awareness about the steps needed to protect and preserve the environment. India has a long tradition of protecting nature and environment. As our Vedas say, if you protect nature, nature will protect you. It is our duty to respect the environment for human survival. It is an achievement for JGU for conducting such a study on UN-SDG goals and its aim to handle the challenges of carbon emissions to pollution, flora and fauna and depleting natural resources." Professor (Dr.) C. Raj Kumar, Founding Vice-Chancellor of O.P. Jindal Global University said, "The Sustainability Development Report 2021 demonstrates our commitment to creating a green and socially-conscious campus and to have a transparent and fair view of our progress in our compliance with the UN SDGs. This comprehensive assessment was conducted on our processes ranging from our energy consumption to water management systems to community engagement initiatives. While the COVID-19 pandemic presented challenges as well as opportunities for reaching the SDGs, JGU has moved towards a healthier and safer environment by implementing the SDGs within its campus. By taking efforts to implement the UN-SDGs, JGU has shown the way to other educational institutions, how futuristic, social and environmental commitments are met. Even in the past, JGU has demonstrated its commitment to protecting our environment by gaining top rankings in the Swachh Campus Rankings of Higher Educational Institutions conducted by the Ministry of Education. The SDG Report 2021 on JGU is a culmination of outstanding efforts by TERI, Trust Legal and Mazars for creating a new dimension for promoting sustainable development. This has the potential to transform the future and help address the challenges of climate change by brining universities to the centre of knowledge creation, research, experiential learning, innovation and broader engagement with the youth." Setting the context for why universities must play a role in implementing SDGs, Atul Bagai Head, Country Office United Nations Environment Programme said, "Today, we are all facing 'the triple planetary crisis'. It is the crisis of climate, the crisis of nature, and the crisis of pollution and waste. The crisis is very clearly a consequence of the economic path that we have pursued along with resource-intensive processes, consequent lifestyle changes due to economic growth and urbanisation. This has led to 60% of our ecosystem being damaged in the last few decades and a real prospect of increase of three degrees Celsius in global temperatures by the end of the century especially if we continue with our emissions. It is a rare feat for a university not only in south Asia or in Asia Pacific to have come up with such a report. It's an extremely laudable effort which will be a game-changer. We should make it available to every university in the country." O.P. Jindal Global University has created a sustainable model with solar power generation by contributing excess power to the grid. The university has aimed in instituting zero-net emission policies and investing in on-campus renewable energy production by developing long term resource efficiency and management plans. Close to 55% of university's campus is under a green cover. A green area around the university helps to arrest the effects of particulate matter and gaseous pollutants in the area besides playing a major role in environmental conservation efforts. The university has also set up the Jindal School of Environment and Sustainability to ensure that it creates innovation and young leadership to combat climate change and its impact. It also provides interdisciplinary education across other schools to ensure that there is adequate awareness on this important subject across the entire university. Professor (Dr.) Pankaj Mittal, Secretary General Association of Indian Universities said, "We do realise that India is placed at 120th rank in implementation of SDG 2021 and this calls for an urgent action from all sectors of the society. Due to their unique position in society, the higher education institutions have immense scope and potential to contribute towards realising all 17 SDGs and thereby accomplishing them. I feel that rather realising the SDGs without the cooperation of the higher education sector is quite an impossible task. In India, there is a lot of tacit contribution of HEIs in implementing SDGs, but there is no documented data on the same." Sudhir Mishra, Founder & Managing Partner, Trust Legal, Advocates & Consultants who was the lead knowledge partner for the commissioning of the SDR called the release of this voluntary report a watershed moment in the history of climate change movement in India. For him this single bold step by India's no one private university on sustainability will lead to complete change of the narrative as many campuses will become the symbol of hope to showcase how they conserve water, how they dispose waste, how they nurture trees, how they reduce carbon foot prints, and how they engage with local communities. Mishra observed, "The Sustainable Development Report 2021 on O.P. Jindal Global University is unique initiative promoted by India's Number One Ranked Private University as a part of its social responsibility. We were delighted to work on this initiative as the university ensured complete intellectual autonomy, operational freedom and editorial independence in preparing the report. The collective contribution of the teams from TERI, Trust Legal and Mazars provided a comprehensive assessment of JGU's commitment to the implementation of the SDG goals and other compliance related matters. The report is a comprehensive 100-page document that identifies every key aspect of SDGs and its relationship to the governance and functioning of JGU. The importance of this report and the initiative was demonstrated by the fact that the Education Minister and Environment Minister of India were present at the launch of the SDR 2021 of JGU." Prof. Dabiru Sridhar Patnaik, Registrar, O.P. Jindal Global University (JGU) gave the concluding address and said, "We have taken a step in the right direction towards promoting the significance of UN-SGDs by progressively undertaking activities to meet the goals in consonance with the National Education Policy. I am also happy to report that most recently we have opened a student chapter of the International Green Building Campus under the aegis of the Confederation of Indian Industry. A very futuristic and a definite step has been taken to create a green campus." 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.) Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], October 25 (ANI/PRNewswire): Heart harvested from a brain-dead person in Kochi was flown to Chennai airport in 1 hour 5 mins time and transported to Rela Hospital through a green corridor in less than 5 minutes for a heart transplant surgery. The recipient, a 51-year-old male, working for a private IT company in Chennai was diagnosed with Dilated Cardio Myopathy (DCM). He had been on a organ registry waiting list since Feb 2021. The donor, a 30-year-old male from Kochi had a traumatic brain injury due to a road accident in his hometown and was admitted to a private hospital in Kochi on 19th October 2021. He did not heed to treatment and was declared brain dead on the midnight of 23rd October. His family was counselled and they consented to organ donation. The alert for the heart organ was sent to Tamil Nadu Organ registry which was later allocated to Rela Hospital as per standard registry protocol. The Heart was allocated to Tamil Nadu while the rest of the organs of the brain-dead person have been allocated to Kerala Hospitals. A team of 4 from Rela led by Dr. Arumugam, Heart and Lung Transplant Surgeon flew into Kochi on 24th morning to retrieve the organ from the donor. The team left Kochi hospital with the retrieved heart through the green corridor created by the kochi police team and flew into Chennai airport at 4.10 pm. Rela Hospital ambulance along with security personnel at the airport speedily transported the heart through a green corridor route created by the Chennai police. Parallely, the transplant team headed by Dr Sandeep Attawar, Program Director - Heart and Lung Transplant, Rela Hospital and KIMS set the recipient ready for the Heart transplant. This story is provided by PRNewswire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/PRNewswire) DISCLAIMER (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) New Delhi [India], October 25 (ANI/SRV Media): The global logistics company, Gxpress Solutions India Pvt. Ltd., provides assistance to Indian SMEs (Small and Medium Enterprises) to head worldwide and exhibit their merchandise overseas. SMEs can be a critical motive force of the country's future improvement and it's far essential to recognize how they could scale up and emerge as mounted organizations. That is wherein Gxpress Solutions are available to make it less difficult for all of the Indian SMEs to get a worldwide attain and disrupt the Cross- Border E-trade marketplace in India. Many SME sellers aspire to showcase their products overseas, but they face challenges from every end. Gxpress helps them to ideate, recognize the demanding situations and discover progressive answers to them on the way to enhance their enterprise extensively. They reach out to the respective corporations and investors on behalf of the SMEs and encourage them to plough in this given platform. Gxpress with its professionalism and integrity has got the back of every Indian SME to enhance their growth globally and it intends to promote B2C or B2B cross-border e-commerce markets, instead of underpinning the idea of them showcasing their products internationally and making a mark there. As per experts, Organized Logistic Players tend to prefer larger companies often over the small and medium business enterprises that are considered to be less resilient in comparison. In numbers, very few corporations want to take the risk of investing in smaller names, Gxpress communicates with them to show them the importance of SMEs in this fast-emerging world. Most toddler enterprise proprietors lack a strategic boom plan which makes it a pressing want to broaden a blueprint to assist extra SMEs in scaling up successfully. With India witnessing speedy strides in phrases of digitization, now's the precise time for small-medium enterprises (SMEs) to get alongside the pressure and attain out to a bigger pool of customers. India is being strongly related to the tech enterprise for a while now; e-Commerce is seeing an increase amongst Indian consumers, particularly in city areas. With the appearance of generation and net penetration, the web income marketplace with inside the country is presenting promising possibilities for the worldwide enterprise giants, which have already set their points of interest on capturing. According to a report by Accenture, by 2020, over 2 billion e-shoppers, or 60 percent of the target global population, would have transacted 13.5 percent of their overall retail consumptions online, equivalent to a market value of US USD 3.4 trillion (Global B2C GMV, growing at CAGR of 13.5 percent from 2014 to 2020). SMEs contribute to approximately 50 percent of domestic e-Commerce but can get to only 5 percent when looking at exports. India, with 50 million registered SMEs stands to gain the most by the momentum due to the large range of diverse categories that Indian artisans can churn out. The country's untapped potential and a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 17.8 percent, higher than any other country for the period 2019-2023, is a major reason for global online shopping firms to eye their fortunes on India. As an innovation-pushed company, Gxpress gives dependable and tailored answers for shippers within the areas of the US, UK, Canada, the United Arab Emirates, and across the world. They are on hand to robust warehousing facilities, drop shipping, relabeling, and return management capabilities at every center across the globe. The company's expertise in the field helps them to bag appreciation for imparting solutions inside the region of API integrations, monitoring systems, warehouse control systems, and hassle-unfastened order processing. "We are dedicated to fulfilling the increasingly sophisticated needs of the International Trade by offering customized and personalized solutions through our worldwide self and agency network and that's what we have been doing- Superior Flexible Routing and Shipping Solutions at Economic rates!" says Praveen Vashistha, Founder of Gxpress Solutions India Pvt Ltd. Gxpress, with its humble and streamlined approach, furnished logistic answers to many shippers international. They provide numerous providers on transportation and logistics offerings that preferably cater to their customers' desires no matter the character in their enterprise. To know more, visit (http://gxpresss.com/?utm_source=SRV+PR+ & utm_medium=ani%2B+PR+ & utm_campaign=GXPRESS+) This story is provided by SRV Media. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/SRV Media) DISCLAIMER (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) New Delhi [India], October 25 (ANI/NewsVoir): The homegrown Lifestyle tech brand (https://www.pebblecart.com) Pebble has announced Bollywood stars Kriti Kharbanda and Pulkit Samrat as their first celebrity brand ambassadors for the smart wearable category. The collaboration is aimed at amplifying the #ConnectedbyPebble campaign ahead of the festive season, to increase awareness of Pebble Smart Watches that are designed to be a part of everyday life. Kriti Kharbanda and Pulkit Samrat are a natural fit for the brand. Individually, they both have a unique sense of style that's modern yet classic, they practice and inspire a fit and free-spirited lifestyle and are simply effortless at their craft. Together, there's playful yet affectionate chemistry between them that resonates well with the brand's young millennial TG and their lifestyle. The #ConnectedbyPebble campaign is aimed at making people switch to the Pebble smartwatch because it is built to give you a little extra from the day, by keeping you connected with everything and everyone. Pebble is one of India's fastest-growing Smart Wearable Brands. With the announcement of the brand ambassadors, the company is aiming to reinforce its top position in the market. Commenting on the announcement, Komal Agarwal, Co-founder, Pebble said, "We are excited to have them on board as our brand's face. Both Kriti and Pulkit are highly driven and ambitious, but also advocate a balanced lifestyle, which aligns perfectly with our brand mission of enabling smooth living. They are aspirational yet relatable and approachable, which makes them the ideal evangelists for our (https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/pebblesquad) #PebbleSquad as well as our campaign." Kriti, commenting on the exciting collaboration said, "Pebble is not trying to be part of the crowd and that's what made me like the brand more. Their focus on creating value through technology & premium design, that provides an effortless lifestyle experience and connected living are what we need today." On this collaboration, Pulkit praised the brand for making premium design & technology, affordable for all. He said, "Pebble Smartwatches are designed not just for fitness, but for our complete lifestyle needs. The designs are very trendy and it becomes a part of your everyday life." Pebble, through its technology & design, keeps people connected throughout the day and makes life effortless. Pebble Smartwatches are crafted to be a part of your everyday life, so you can "Stay Connected" and achieve a little extra from the day. They endeavour to provide a perfect blend of minimalistic global design and innovative technology. Pebble has a very aggressive growth plan for the wearable category and is very swiftly adding new high-tech products to their Smart Wearable Portfolio. The last launched Pebble Cosmos BT calling smartwatch was a huge success and is one of the largest selling products in its category. Pebble is a home-grown lifestyle tech brand, founded in the year 2013, with a clear vision to provide a perfect blend of advanced technology & superior design. The affordable premium brand, available through its network of 5000+ retail outlets across India and leading eCommerce portals, sells at least 1 smartwatch every minute. For more updates, be socially connected with us on Facebook, Youtube, Instagram & Twitter. 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 25 (ANI/NewsVoir): PropertyGuru, Southeast Asia's leading property technology company, announces the second virtual edition of its technology and thought leadership platform, the PropertyGuru Asia Real Estate Summit. Gathering the finest minds, top-level business leaders, and decision-makers in the real estate and tech industries, the PropertyGuru Asia Real Estate Summit: Virtual Edition is set to premiere on Wednesday, 8 December 2021 on (https://www.asiarealestatesummit.com) with interactive features including live chat among participants, virtual booths, and on-demand playlists after opening day until Saturday, 8 January 2022. The virtual summit will feature global keynotes, expert talks, fireside chats, and panel discussions. This year's conversation will centre on the "Data Revolution" in the real estate sector, with discussions on sustainability, accessible data, green finance, smart tech and smart cities, and innovation from visionaries and start-ups. Chaired by Stephen Oehme, Managing Director of Quantum Thailand Ltd. and former board member of Burj Khalifa Dubai, the PropertyGuru Asia Real Estate Summit: Virtual Edition 2021 main stage will be populated by a roster of diverse and internationally acclaimed speakers who are well-versed on the power of data science and its versatile applications, especially in the field of sustainable real estate. Dr. William Thomas, PhD, South East Asia Director of The Economist Intelligence Corporate Network, will open the discussion with The Economist Keynote on Asia's economic recovery and reinvention post-pandemic. Susan Bennett, a veteran voice talent who gained prominence as the original voice of Siri, will deliver the International Keynote on "Becoming the Voice of A.I." Former US Ambassador to Asian Development Bank Curtis S. Chin, now senior fellow for Asia at Milken Institute and presenter of "Asia Minute" on YouTube, will give the Policy Keynote and later join a fireside chat to discuss Asia's urban resilience. And Ommid Saberi, senior industry specialist for green buildings at the International Finance Corporation will present the World Bank Keynote to discuss the recently-launched Building Resilience Index. A couple of case studies will also feature at the virtual summit, including one by Japan-based Kohei Kurihara, Co-founder of Privacy by Design Lab, who will shine the light on privacy and ethics issues. Renowned designer Patrick Keane, Founder of Enter Projects, will talk about "The Age of 3D" to showcase 3D-printed or prefabricated materials and how architectural R & D implement sustainable, technologically aided, and data-driven designs. And Yasmin Rasyid, Sustainability Director in Malaysia at Lendlease, will present Kuala Lumpur's The Exchange TRX project and how it fits within the sustainability framework of Malaysia's newest financial district. In a fireside chat called "Women who lead and build", the Philippines' Jean Jacqueline de Castro, CEO at ESCA Incorporated, will chat with Thailand's Kotchakorn Voraakhom, CEO and Founder, Pourous City Network, and Chairwoman, Climate Change Working Group, International Federation of Landscape Architects, World (IFLA World), about the about the tools to better plan our cities and built environment. Ms. Kotchakorn Voraakhom, who was included in the prestigious TIME100 Next list in 2019, will be the first female recipient of the PropertyGuru Visionary of the Year to be presented as one of the highlights of this year's summit. The day-long premiere of the 2021 PropertyGuru Asia Real Estate Summit: Virtual Edition will be segmented into an interactive exchange of ideas on the data landscape, accessible data, sustainable development, and data innovation, and will also feature expert speakers including Ken Ip, founder, Asia MarTech Society and chairperson of the PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards (Mainland China); Stuart Mendel, Managing Director & Country Head, Malaysia, Lendlease; podcast host Tina Ryan, the 2019 emcee of the PropertyGuru Asia Real Estate Summit in Bangkok, Thailand; and Masaya Fujisawa, Associate Director at IHI, who will appear in a smart parking tech showcase. In addition, there will exclusive presentations from PropertyGuru Group leadership, including Manav Kamboj, Chief Technology Officer and Chairperson of the Tech Innovation Award; Jules Kay, Managing Director of PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards & Asia Real Estate Summit; Mallika Gadepalli, Director of Strategy, who will join a fireside chat with Milken Institute's Curtis S. Chin; and a "GuruTalk" to promote greater transparency and market intelligence in the Asian property industry from Hari V. Krishnan, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of PropertyGuru Group. Tickets are on sale now Tickets to the virtual edition of the PropertyGuru Asia Real Estate Summit are on sale now, with an early bird offer until 7 November 2021, and special discounts for students who can present valid identification. Access codes are valid from opening day of the virtual summit on 8 December 2021 until 8 January 2022. For tickets, please visit the official site: AsiaRealEstateSummit.com. The 2021 PropertyGuru Asia Real Estate Summit: Virtual Edition is supported by official innovation partner IHI; official cable TV partner History Channel; official PR partner Infinity Communications; official charity partner Right To Play International; official ESG partner Baan Dek Foundation; supporting associations Asia MarTech Society, and Green Building Consulting and Engineering; and media partners Oxford Business Group, Asia.Proptech, APAC CIO Outlook, Nikkei Asia, and PropertyGuru Property Report. Tech Innovation Awards entries are open Starting September 2021, PropertyGuru Asia Real Estate Summit also began accepting entries for its annual Tech Innovation Award, which is given to a game-changing, impactful idea in proptech. Entrants are judges by an independent panel of global experts on how their tech or innovation can solve an issue or problem in real estate. The PropertyGuru Tech Innovation Award was presented to Rizome in 2020 for its use of engineered bamboo lumber as the primary material in construction. Sensgreen, a scalable AI-powered indoor sensor technology operating in Turkey and Singapore, earned the honour. In 2018 Igloohome, a smart locks startup based in Singapore, won the first award. Submissions for the PropertyGuru Tech Innovation Award 2021 competition are currently being accepted until 31 October: AsiaRealEstateSummit.com/award. Webinar series and digital white paper The PropertyGuru Asia Real Estate Summit marks its seventh edition in 2021. The preferred space of real estate industry leaders, innovators and visionaries in Asia Pacific, the Summit went into high gear in July with a relaunch of its official site: AsiaRealEstateSummit.com. The PropertyGuru Asia Real Estate Summit held in June its first live webinar of the year: an expert discussion on the impact of the pandemic on Food & Beverage (F & B) tenants in retail properties and the use of e-commerce and contactless tech to mitigate losses in the industry. The series continued with the logistics and retail real estate webinar in September featuring The Economist Intelligence Unit, and the new concept of living webinar, co-hosted by C9 Hotelworks' Bill Barnett in early October. The PropertyGuru Asia Real Estate Summit also published its inaugural ARES Digital White Paper, Vol. 1 in early September, entitled "PropTech and the Responsible Innovator", tackling the crucial themes discussed at the 2020 Summit to encourage the Asia Pacific property sector to act on minimising their carbon footprint and building smarter, healthier cities for future generations. Established in 2015, the PropertyGuru Asia Real Estate Summit over the years has gathered several influential and global names for its annual and regional events. In the last three years, the PropertyGuru summit has also proudly featured a line-up made up of 30 percent female or LGBTQ+ speakers. In 2020, the summit attracted such speakers as Audrey Tang, the digital minister of Taiwan; Lars Svensson, sustainability and communications director for IKEA Southeast Asia; Prashant Kapoor, chief industry specialist for green buildings and climate-smart cities at the IFC; and Dr. Simon Baptist, global chief economist and managing director for Asia at The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU). Other past speakers include ASEAN Deputy Secretary-General Dr. Aladdin D. Rillo; Thailand's former Finance Minister Korn Chatikavanij; Malaysia's Deputy Finance Minister Dato' Lee Chee Leong; The Economist's former global editorial director Andrew Staples; TechCrunch China founder Dr. Gang Lu; Google's head of agency and performance Kim Rellinger; Singapore's chief urban planner-architect Dr. Liu Thai Ker; MiraLab founder Prof. Nadia Magnenat Thalmann; PLP Architecture's Ron Bakker; and the original Apple Store designer-architect Tim Kobe. PropertyGuru Asia Real Estate Summit is the premier gathering of the industry's finest minds, top-level business leaders and decision-makers. Designed to 'educate, innovate and inspire', the Summit focuses on advancements in property technology, green building, sustainability, and innovation. More than 500 registered delegates, comprising real estate and proptech experts, climate heroes, sustainability champions, trendsetters, and tech startup executives from around the region and beyond participate to refresh thinking, exchange ideas and connect with peers at the PropertyGuru Asia Real Estate Summit Virtual Edition, which features global keynotes, case studies, panel discussions, interactive booths and exhibition halls, and online networking. The virtual summit is part of the exciting 'PropertyGuru Week' in December 2021, coinciding with the PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards Grand Final virtual red carpet and presentation ceremony, which is joined by the region's finest real estate developers and leaders, and watched by investors, agents and consumers via livestream. For more information, email ares@propertyguru.com or visit the official website: (https://www.asiarealestatesummit.com/" rel="noopener" target="_blank">AsiaRealEstateSummit.com. PropertyGuru Group is Southeast Asia's leading property technology company1 and the preferred destination for 37 million property seekers to find their dream home, every month. PropertyGuru and its group companies empower property seekers with more than 2.8 million real estate listings, in-depth insights, and solutions that enable them to make confident property decisions across Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam. (https://www.propertyguru.com.sg) was launched in 2007 and has helped to drive the Singapore property market online and has made property search transparent for the property seeker. Over the decade, the Group has grown into a high-growth technology company with a robust portfolio of leading property portals across its core markets1; award-winning mobile apps; a high quality developer sales enablement platform, FastKey; mortgage marketplace PropertyGuru Finance; and a host of other property offerings including Awards, events and publications across Asia. For more information, please visit (https://www.propertygurugroup.com) (https://www.linkedin.com/company/propertyguru) 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.) Dusseldorf [Germany], October 25 (ANI/NewsVoir): (https://srammram.com) SRAM & MRAM Group will participate in A+A 2021 International Trade Fair and Congress to be held in Germany from October 26-29, 2021. The group will be showcasing "(https://www.walletz4u.com) Walletz4u" during the summit. In a bid to shape tomorrow's world, how do we want to live, work and operate in this world while treating our fellow human beings and the available resources ecologically and responsibly? Comprehensive insights, as well as solutions and products for the future of work, will be part of the A+A 2021 Summit. The summit is expected to host more than 1,000 exhibitors. The leading international trade fair for safety, security and health at work will be opening its doors at the Dusseldorf Exhibition Centre from 26 to 29 October. The 37th Congress for Occupational Safety and Medicine congress for all experts and insiders will be organised by Basi, the German Federal Association for Occupation Safety and Health, and will be bringing together the OSH actors and decision-makers from industry, skilled crafts, administration, politics and science in Dusseldorf. This year the key focus area will be Work 4.0, possibilities of digitalisation and AI for occupational health, working in pandemic times as well as making Vision Zero a reality. Walletz4u is the world's largest gloves OEM, a brand that is catering to multiple markets and verticals. The brand is synonymous with its high-quality latex, vinyl, nitrile, and rubber disposable gloves. Each glove is backed with the seal of approval and with the commitment to bringing the products that one can trust to help keep you safe, healthy, and comfortable. Walletz4u is poised to become one of the largest glove manufacturers and resellers in the ASEAN and the world markets. Addressing on the participation, Hitanshu Heera, Global Director - SRAM & MRAM Group said, "We are proud to be associated with A+A 2021, where we'll be showcasing Walletz4u. The summit will help us in reaching out to the European region. I'm proud to say that we have successfully delivered 80 Million Boxes of Gloves to USA and other parts of the world till date since the pandemic started. We made a stronger association with Hospital Groups in the USA because of our timely delivery even at the time of shortage when finding the gloves was a challenge for everyone around the Globe. Our sales team is getting aggressive orders in the European market and A+A will certainly offer a great business proposition to showcase the advancement and the products to the stakeholders as well. It will help us to understand the European market and will give us an opportunity to get closer to the stakeholders and the potential business prospects. We will move one step closer to our target of being on number one in Europe market in terms of sales numbers." Lakkapaa Import OY is one of the largest importers of Gloves and other medical products in Europe and is the Exclusive Distributor of Walletz4u for EU Market. Speaking on the participation, Jukka Lakkapaa, CEO Lakkapaa Import OY said, "We have already secured a number of long term contracts for Walletz4u with Europe Hospital Groups and are successfully delivering to the Medical Groups who are supremely satisfied with Walletz4u product quality and timely delivery. We have a number of contracts going on with the Government and aggressively getting more orders due to high demand and shortage of premium genuine products in the market. We are looking forward to being a part of A+A 2021 summit. We will be showcasing a plethora of medical products along with our flagship medical protection supply 'Walletz4u". Petri Keskitalo, Dr. Juris, Attorney, Lex Barents Ltd., Finland, who is closely monitoring all the legal activities in terms of certifications, custom requirements and current policies, speaking on legal aspects quoted, "I'm glad to say that our client has always successfully cleared the products from custom in neat n clean and speedy way as all the required certifications and pictograms on the boxes are always up to date. A+A 2021 is a great platform; it is a forum that helps in bringing the merchants and genuine manufacturers together." Speaking on the development, Sarah Dhillon, Business Development Director, SRAM & MRAM from Germany quoted, "A+A 2021 is a great platform, A+A will certainly offer a great business development opportunity. The summit is also the place to be as it also offers great business prospects too. We are confident about the success of our participation and to capture a good amount of business in entire Europe region." The Trending themes at A+A 2021 in the industry characterise the appearance of A+A 2021 - be it by the solutions and products that exhibitors present or by the numerous lectures and presentations at the Special Show areas and Trend Forum. Digital efficiency and sustainability determine the current debate and will continue strongly influencing the future of work. Alongside these megatrends at A+A 2021 the programme of side events will focus on Future Solutions, New Work and the topic Hygiene and the Pandemic. 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.) Muscat (Oman) [India], October 25 (ANI/NewsVoir): TVS Motor Company, a reputed two-wheeler and three-wheeler manufacturer globally, signed a tri-party deal arrangement with Bahwan International Group. The signing ceremony was held today at Bahwan International Group, between Sheikh Ahmed Bahwan, Chairman Bahwan International Group and Mr. Sudarshan Venu, Joint Managing Director - TVS Motor Company in Muscat, Oman. As per the tri-party deal arrangement, ARATA International FZC will be the new distributor. Building on this partnership, the groups will also explore other avenues of cooperation in Oman and India. ARATA International FZC, registered in the UAE, is a subsidiary of Bahwan International Group (BIG) - Oman, having a strong presence in the MENA region. TVS Motor ranks amongst the top five two-wheeler companies globally with a presence in over 70 countries across Africa, South East Asia, the Indian Sub-Continent, Latin America and the Middle East. Speaking on the occasion, Sudarshan Venu, Joint Managing Director - TVS Motor Company said, "We are delighted to partner with a reputed group like 'BIG', to strengthen our presence in the MENA region. ARATA International FZC, a part of the Bahwan International Group LLC (BIG), comes with rich experience, deep understanding, and vast industry knowledge. Iraq is an important market for us, and ARATA International FZC's extensive distribution network, along with our shared ethos and values, makes them the ideal strategic partner. This association with them is a significant step towards further expanding and bolstering TVS Motor Company's market presence in Iraq." Bahwan International Group (ARATA International FZC) and their channel partners plan to operate more than 30 dealerships for TVS Motor Company. The dealerships will include state-of-the-art 3S dealership facilities in all the major cities of Iraq with after-sales service, and spare parts support in tier two cities to expand the TVS presence in Iraq. Abdullah Bahwan, Executive Director, Bahwan International Group Holding, said, "We are happy to join hands with a multinational brand like TVS Motor Company. This partnership will be instrumental in bringing a wide range of mobility solutions and will cater to the requirements of a broad range of customer segments in the country. The quality prowess of TVS Motor Company combined with our strong understanding of the market will definitely create an impact in mobility space in Iraq." TVS Motor Company's product portfolio available in Iraq include; Two Wheeler - TVS XL 100 i-TOUCHstart, TVS XL 100 Comfort, TVS HLX 150 series, TVS NTORQ, TVS Jupiter series, TVS WEGO, TVS MAX 125 and Three Wheeler-TVS King Deluxe Plus. We are a reputed two and three-wheeler manufacturer and the flagship company of the USD 8.5 billion TVS Group. We believe in Championing Progress through Mobility. Rooted in our 100-year legacy of Trust, Value, Passion for Customers and Exactness, we take pride in making internationally aspirational products of the highest quality through innovative and sustainable processes. We endeavour to deliver the most superior customer experience at all our touch points across 70 countries. We are the only two-wheeler company to have received the prestigious Deming Prize. Our products lead in their respective categories in the JD Power IQS and APEAL surveys for the past five years. We have been ranked No. 1 Company in the JD Power Customer Service Satisfaction Survey for consecutive four years. For more information, please visit (https://www.tvsmotor.com) Arata International FZC is the international operations arm of Oman based Bahwan International Group (BIG), operating in Oman, KSA, UAE, Iraq, and Libya with importation and distribution of brands like Nissan, Renault, Infiniti, Suzuki, Iveco, Changan, BAIC, Foton, Construction equipment brands like Case, New Holland and other franchises. With a turnover of 2 Billion USD; the group has 2,500 employees and a sales volume of 40,000 cars and trucks per year in 5 countries. ARATA International FZC, registered in the UAE, is BIG's subsidiary and official Distributor for Nissan distribution, Sales and Aftersales in Iraq and Libya. For more information, please visit (http://www.sbigh.com) 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.) The privatisation of Bharat Petroleum may hit a roadblock due to high fuel prices due to a rise in global crude oil prices. The price of global benchmark Brent crude oil has risen 13% in a month to $85 per barrel, its highest level in seven years. A senior oil ministry official told Business Standard that state-run oil marketing companies were currently taking a hit on sale of petrol, diesel and LPG and expected to recover losses when oil prices would soften later. The fuel retailers are losing about Rs 100 for every domestic LPG cylinder sold. Indian Oil, Hindustan Petroleum and Bharat Petroleum adopted a daily price revision mechanism in June 2017 to pass on the impact of international oil prices quickly. But an official said the full impact of the recent surge in crude oil prices was yet to be passed on to the consumers by oil companies. State and central taxes account for a major part of petrol and diesel prices in India. As on October 16, when petrol was sold at Rs 105.49 per litre in Delhi, the cost excluding taxes was Rs 44.37 per litre. Customers are paying more than twice the cost of the auto fuels due to high taxation by both the Centre and states. Even though petrol and diesel prices have been officially deregulated, the government nudges the three refiners under its control to keep prices under check. Under the current pricing structure, the oil companies are bearing a loss with their existing marketing margin of Rs 3-4 a litre getting squeezed. The new owners of will not like a scenario where they have to adhere to these unofficial price regulations to remain competitive. We spoke to former chairman and managing director of Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), R S Sharma about the challenges facing the privatisation. Highlights of his response: The 3 state-run OMCs support govts pricing policy Firms unable to fully pass on higher crude oil costs Oil prices were stable and low when sale was announced The price can cross $100 per barrel soon How can a private company participate in underrecovery? Govt should delay privatisation, wait for stability in oil markets sale took several years, Pawan Hans yet to find takers much bigger, complex company than Air India If public sector OMCs are not allowed to freely change prices when oil prices continue to soar, BPCL finances will take a hit after it changes hands. The company has a network of 18,768 retail fuel outlets. To understand this, let us imagine a scenario where there is a further surge in oil prices after BPCL is privatised. The government cannot ask a private company to absorb losses to minimise impact on consumers. But if it asks Indian Oil and HPCL to do this, BPCL will have no option but to reduce its prices. Else, customers will flock to cheaper options like Indian Oil and Hindustan Petroleum. Not just this, the new promoters of BPCL will also be mandated to follow official pricing regulations concerning LPG, as the government wants to keep regulating it. The companys BharatGas division had a 26.5% share of the LPG market as of June 2021. If the government wants to keep prices under control, it has to look at reducing its excise duties. The central excise duty collection on petroleum products jumped 74% in FY21 to Rs 3.36 trillion, compared to Rs 2.35 trillion in FY20. It is on track to touch Rs 4 trillion this financial year. Investors will not look favourably at the privatisation process if the government intends to shift the burden on to the private owners after Bharat Petroleum is sold. The government may have to make concessions which could be politically sensitive. BPCLs buyers may seek a commitment from the government to ensure that free market pricing is followed by all fuel companies. The Covid-19 pandemic has ravaged all major economies, including Indias. The countrys Gross Domestic Product contracted by 7.3% in 2020-21. How the economy will recover from here on is a matter of debate. Economists say that recovery after a recession can come in five different shapes V, U, L, W and K. They are named after how each recovery would look when plotted on a graph. A V-shaped recovery is the best-case scenario, where the economy bounces back immediately after a sharp decline to go back to its pre-recession level in less than a year. The rebound can be bolstered by appropriate fiscal and monetary policies. In a U-shaped recovery, also described as the Nike Swoosh recovery, the economy experiences stagnation for a significant period of time after declining. It then rises gradually to its previous peak. This means the recession lasts longer, causing job losses and erosion of savings. The L-shaped recovery represents the worst-case scenario. Here, the economy fails to regain its peak GDP even after several years. This has the longest recession period among all shapes. The downturn and the slow revival sometimes lasts indefinitely. Also called the double-dip recession, a W-shaped recovery sees an economy staging a brief comeback only to fall a second time. This scenario breaks consumer confidence and enters the full recovery period that can take up to 2 years. The economy will witness two recessionary periods. The K-shaped recovery is a new term that economists have created to describe what is happening with the Covid-19 pandemic. According to one analysis, the Covid recovery path branches into two different directions. Large-cap companies and public-sector enterprises with access to government support and central bank stimulus packages will help some areas of the economy recover faster. The small and medium companies, along with blue-collar workers, are left out of the recovery process. The divergence between these two groups is represented by the two diagonal lines in the letter K. Such a recovery takes place when different parts of the economy recover at vastly different rates. A study released this week found that in Canada in 2020, there were up to 1,340,364 vacant homes, comprising 8.7% of all homes in the country. On the list of countries with the most vacant homes as a percentage of total homes, Canada ranked in eleventh place. Topping the list were Japan, Cyprus, and Hungary, all with over 10% of total homes vacant. The United States has the most total vacant homes in the world, though their relatively larger stock of property puts them at number four. Of the countries studied, England did the best, with less than 1% of homes in the country vacant. The report was compiled by Money.co.uk using data from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The figures are confounding when considered against the fact that many analysts cite low supply as one of the major issues in the real estate market today and a reason why so many are struggling to buy homes for reasonable prices. The obvious question is, where are all these vacant homes, and why are they going unused? While OECD presents its figure, they dont go as far as to speculate the cause of vacant homes. Some claim vacant homes are the result of investors buying properties and leaving them vacant, purely for speculation or to accrue equity. This has often been blamed on foreign investors more than anyone else. However, its unclear how true this belief actually is. With the high rent rates and demand of todays market, it makes little sense for investors not to use their property. Other issues may cause a house to remain vacant such as the death of a resident, or safety concerns preventing it from being rented. Even more disturbing are the figures comparing vacant homes to the homeless population of a given country. While Canada ranks lower on this list at 13, it is still not a ranking that we should be proud of at all. It would take just 9% of the over 1.3 million vacant homes in Canada to give every homeless person in the country a place to live. An earlier report by Point2 Homes found that in 2016 there were still over 1.3 million vacant homes in Canada, so what has been done since then? Recently, cities like Toronto and Vancouver have begun instituting vacant home taxes to combat this very issue. And, the federal government has promised numerous programs to help affordability, supply, and homelessness. These actions are steps in the right direction, but they clearly have a long way to go. Photo: The Canadian Press Ships work to control a fire onboard the MV Zim Kingsto on Sunday. UPDATE 4:25 p.m. Officials don't yet know how many containers burned aboard a cargo ship in a still-smouldering blaze off the coast of Victoria, a spokesman for the Canadian Coast Guard said Sunday. The flames initially spread to 10 containers after another 40 fell overboard in choppy waters on Friday, but JJ Brickett said the fire on the MV Zim Kingston was mostly under control by Sunday afternoon. "Looking at the actual images, it's a pile," Brickett told a virtual news conference. "The containers burned down to basically their shell and then collapsed on top of one another." Provincial and federal officials are working with all the First Nations on the west coast of Vancouver Island while investigating the fire aboard the ship, he said. Brickett said the location of some of the containers that landed in the ocean is being monitored by helicopter, but efforts to retrieve them can't start until after a break in a storm that is forecast to worsen until Monday. Efforts to read labels on the downed containers in order to try and identify their contents have not been fruitful and officials are trying to account for all of them, Brickett said. "One of the objectives for the response is 100% accountability for all of these containers where they are, what happened to them, what was in them. And to the extent that we can, how can we recover them." The MV Zim Kingston had experienced some damage as it approached Vancouver and the crew were in contact with the Canadian Coast Guard and Transport Canada, he said, adding the vessel was assessed off the Strait of Juan de Fuca where it was anchored for repairs and to await further contact with the latter agency. He said Transport Canada inspectors will be aboard the ship after the "emergency phase" of securing the safety of the vessel and those still on it, and that its Greece-based owner is providing assistance. UPDATE: 11:35 a.m. Applying cold water directly to a fire burning in 10 containers aboard a cargo ship near Victoria is not an option due to hazardous materials in two of them, the Canadian Coast Guard said Sunday. The agency said in a tweet that the hull of the MV Zim Kingston had been cooled overnight by a tugboat spraying it with water. It said the blaze aboard the ship about eight kilometres off the coast of Victoria poses a significant risk to mariners but not people on shore. Two of the burning containers on the deck held 52,000 kilograms of a hazardous material identified as potassium amylxanthate, the agency said in a news release. It noted the ship itself was not on fire, but said in a tweet that an emergency zone had been doubled to two nautical miles around the Zim Kingston. The Joint Rescue and Coordination Centre in Victoria said 16 crewmembers were safely taken off the ship, while five others, including the captain, remained on board at their own behest. The coast guard said recovery of the containers with the hazardous material may be a challenge due to stormy weather forecast for Sunday. ORIGINAL: 7:15 a.m. The Canadian Coast Guard said there was significant risk to mariners but not to people on shore as a fire burned in containers aboard a cargo ship about eight kilometres off the coast of Victoria on Sunday. The Coast Guard said it received word late Saturday morning about a fire in 10 damaged containers aboard the MV Zim Kingston, which was anchored in Constance Bank, B.C. Two of the burning containers on the ship's deck held hazardous material identified as potassium amylxanthate, the agency said in a news release. It noted the ship itself was not on fire, but said an emergency zone had been set up for one nautical mile around the Zim Kingston. The Joint Rescue and Coordination Centre in Victoria said 16 crewmembers were safely taken off the ship, while five others, including the captain, remained on board at their own behest. Canadian Coast Guard spokeswoman Michelle Imbeau said an Incident Command Post led by the Coast Guard on behalf of the federal and B.C. governments, as well as First Nations representatives, was co-ordinating a multi-agency response to the incident. She said the Command Post was also working with the U.S. Coast Guard to monitor 40 containers that fell overboard from the Zim Kingston in choppy waters on Friday and were floating about 12 nautical miles off the west coast of Vancouver Island, near Bamfield. The Coast Guard said the containers, some of which contain hazardous material, posed a significant risk to mariners, and that with stormy weather in Sunday's forecast, recovering them may be a challenge. It said a Hazmat crew from Vancouver was mobilizing and the owner of the Zim Kingston had contracted the U.S.-based Resolve Marine Group for salvage operations, including firefighting and recovery of the containers. Resolve Marine had mobilized two vessels that were expected to be on site Sunday. The Canadian Coast Guard, meanwhile, said it was working through the Emergency Management BC network to broadcast public safety information as required. Photo: Contributed The ousted chairman of Rogers Communication Inc. says hell go to the British Columbia Supreme Court in a bid to wrest back control of the company. Edward Rogers made the assertion after holding a meeting that included five hand-picked directors, meant to replace members of the board that on Thursday removed him as its chair. A statement from his camp says Edward Rogers was elected chair of the board at Sunday's meeting. An earlier statement from Rogers three siblings and the board they endorse pre-emptively rejected any outcome of Sunday night's meeting, saying that only the board as it existed Thursday has any authority. The statement says it comes from a group representing the majority of the board. But Edward Rogers remains chair of the Rogers Control Trust, the controlling shareholder, which, along with Rogers family members, owns 97 per cent of Class A voting shares. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 24, 2021. Companies in this story: (TSX:RCI.B) Photo: The Canadian Press Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's tricky task of crafting a new cabinet is hitting its final hours before the team of ministers is unveiled. Any hints of who might be in cabinet could begin trickling out today as those taking on new positions may start arriving in the national capital ahead of Tuesday's swearing-in ceremony. Trudeau has said there will be gender parity among the regionally balanced appointments. That means he had to find replacements for three female ministers who lost their seats in last month's election Fisheries Minister Bernadette Jordan, Gender Equality Minister Maryam Monsef and Seniors Minister Deb Schulte as well as Infrastructure Minister Catherine McKenna who did not seek re-election. Some ministers are likely to have an interest in remaining in their portfolios, but Trudeau has only publicly confirmed that Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland isn't on the move. Trudeau is under pressure to shuffle Defence Minister Harjit Sajjan to a new portfolio amid criticism for his handling of sexual misconduct allegations among the military's senior ranks. Once sworn in, any new faces in new places will quickly get a crash-course on their portfolios and try to soak up details ahead of Parliament's return on Nov. 22. The Liberals have said that high atop the agenda for MPs when the House of Commons returns is a $7.4-billion reshaping of federal pandemic aid, which the Liberals unveiled late last week. Photo: The Canadian Press Federal Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinson makes an announcement in Calgary, Alta., Tuesday, July 20, 2021.A decade-old goal to raise US$100 billion to help developing nations adapt to and mitigate against climate change is unlikely to be met for another two years.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh The world's wealthiest countries didn't meet a decade-old goal to provide the developing world with US$100 billion in climate aid by 2020 and won't actually get there for another two years, a new analysis showed Monday. The news is expected to cast a pall over next week's United Nations COP26 climate talks in Scotland. The meeting is meant to finalize the rule book for meeting the 2015 Paris climate change targets, and lay out more ambitious plans to slow global warming. It was also supposed to start the talks to see developed countries go above the $100-billion-a-year mark in contributions after 2025 to help developing countries and small-island states meet, adapt to and mitigate against climate change. Those nations are often the most impacted by climate change, but are the least responsible for the global emissions causing global warming to date. Many only agreed to join the Paris agreement in 2015 because of the climate finance pledge made by the wealthiest nations in the world. Harjeet Singh, a senior adviser at Climate Change Action Network International, said climate finance is "fundamental" and the missed targets for aid are going to erode the trust between the developed world and everyone else. "What has been delivered today is a delayed plan," he said in a media briefing Monday. "And then we expect developing countries to come up with a plan where they are going to change their policies for greener development. How can that happen?" The climate finance plan outlined Monday is the result of a collaboration between Canadian Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinson and Germany's state secretary for the environment, Jochen Flasbarth. The two were asked in July, by COP26 president designate Alok Sharma, to figure out exactly what the financing pledges are through to 2025. Canada announced last spring it would double its climate aid to more than C$1 billion a year for the next five years, or about US$855 million. Germany announced it would increase its contribution by 50 per cent, to $6 billion euros, or about US$7.3 billion a year, by 2025. Wilkinson and Flasbarth then spent the last three months wrangling new commitments out of other countries, and Flasbarth said "not all of our conversations were really seen to be polite." New Zealand and Sweden are among the countries that responded with new pledges. Thus far Italy, hosting the G20 leaders' summit later this week, is the most notable on the list of countries that haven't increased their climate finance promise yet. Flasbarth said he understands the disappointment developing nations have in the totals so far but believes the results of the recent efforts will allow for constructive progress in Glasgow. The OECD concluded last month that climate finance reached almost US$80 billion in 2019, but was unlikely to get to $100 billion by the end of 2020. The actual results for 2020 won't be analyzed until next year, but Wilkinson and Flasbarth said it's already pretty clear the total didn't hit $100 billion. They said with new contributions pledged in the last few months annual climate financing will get to about $97 billion next year, and finally hit $100 billion in 2023. "It's disappointing that we didn't get there in 2020 but I think most people understood that we weren't (going to)," said Wilkinson in an interview with The Canadian Press. "I think the positive part of this is we actually have a pathway to get there potentially in 2022, certainly in 2023 and the numbers go up in 2024 and 2025. That's actually a big step forward." Sharma said Monday the higher amounts in 2024 and 2025 mean the total for the five years will be close to the $500 billion expected in that time frame. Sharma, Flasbarth and Wilkinson acknowledged not meeting the 2020 goal has eroded trust between developed and developing countries in the world. But they say they hope this plan showing a path to get there will provide confidence. "Today I think we are telling countries around the world that they can trust in the goals that we collectively established in the fight against climate change," Wilkinson said in a media event Monday morning. "This is a critical moment to deliver on a critical promise." Connecting the dots between the killing of Catholic parliamentarian Sir David Amess and the reception of ex-Anglican bishop Michael Nazir-Ali into the Catholic Church. "While it is often said that good can come out of someone's death, it is difficult to see what good can come from this senseless murder." So wrote Sir David Amess, the British member of Parliament stabbed to death while meeting his constituents on Oct. 15. He was not writing about himself, of course, but of the murder of another MP, Jo Cox, in 2016. But the words apply all the more to Sir David, who, by universal and multiparty consensus, was the best of the British parliamentary tradition. A Conservative MP since 1983, Sir David was a staunch Catholic about whom many said "his Catholicism meant everything to him." His is survived by his wife, Julia, and their five children. "My Catholic faith has sustained me through my period as a Member of Parliament, guiding me in all aspects of my life," Sir David wrote. "I have been a staunch advocate for animal welfare and a vocal supporter of the pro-life movement." The political culture in Britain is different than in the United States, and Sir David was an example of a devout Catholic who devoted his energies to protecting the most vulnerable the unborn, the poor struggling to heat their homes and animals subject to needless cruelty. The murder of Sir David was apparently an act of jihadist extremism. The suspect, Ali Harbi Ali, a naturalized Briton from Somalia, has been charged under the Terrorism Act rather than simply for murder, indicating that the police believe an Islamist dimension was at play. The Islamist killing of a Catholic parliamentarian links the Amess story to another major religious story in Britain, the conversion of the emeritus Anglican bishop of Rochester, Michael Nazir-Ali, to the Catholic faith. Nazir-Ali, now a Catholic layman awaiting priestly ordination in a few weeks into the Ordinariate of Our Lady of Walsingham the non-territorial "diocese" set up by Pope Benedict XVI for Anglican converts was one of the most prominent bishops in the Church of England. Born and raised in Pakistan, he served as bishop of Rochester the former diocese held by the martyr St. John Fisher in the early 1500s. In the 1990s Nazir-Ali emerged as one of the Church of England's most theologically sophisticated and publicly compelling voices. That he was a dual Pakistani-British national made his public profile all the more remarkable, given the establishment status of the Church of England. In 2002, he was one of two names nominated to be archbishop of Canterbury, the worldwide Anglican primate. The post went instead to Rowan Williams. Nazir-Ali's conversion is not, by itself, shocking news. He is the 14th Church of England bishop to convert to Catholicism in the last 30 years. Indeed, the "ordinariates" were set up in large part because so many Anglican clergy desired to become Catholic and continue to exercise their pastoral ministry as priests. The reasons for Nazir-Ali's conversion are also standard, as it were. He tired of, as he wrote, the Church of England "jumping on every faddish bandwagon about identity politics and mea culpas about Britain's imperial past." "With my background, I don't think of myself as a convert," the former Pakistani-Anglican priest and English-Anglican bishop says. "Conversion is from one religion to another. I see this more as a fulfillment, that what Anglicanism in its classical form has held more dear is being fulfilled in the progression of the ordinariate." He tired of, as he wrote, the Church of England "jumping on every faddish bandwagon about identity politics and mea culpas about Britain's imperial past." That's more or less what America's most famous convert priest, Father Richard John Neuhaus, said on his move from Lutheranism to Catholicism in 1990. Nothing authentically Christian was being left behind; it was a fulfillment of a path already embarked upon long ago. What is the connection between Amess and Nazir-Ali? Before Sir David's murder, the most famous Catholic politician assassinated by jihadi extremism was Shahbaz Bhatti. Indeed, this year marks the 10th anniversary of the murder of Pakistan's minister for minority affairs. Unlike Sir David, Bhatti's death was not unexpected. Offered foreign asylum because of the danger to his life, Bhatti stayed in Pakistan even though he knew that he would be killed. In 2016, Pakistan's Catholic bishops opened the cause for him to beatified as a martyr. Nazir-Ali lived inside an Islamic culture from his upbringing in Pakistan. He knew its authentic spirit and the corruptions to which it was prone. Nazir-Ali's presence was a light from an Islamic country that came to Britain; the alleged murderer Ali was part of the darkness. Amess and Bhatti were Catholic public servants killed in the line of duty. But Sir David and Dr. Nazir-Ali also shared something in common, a defense of the orthodox Christian patrimony in an England that seems incapable to giving an account for its own Christian heritage. Sometimes that incapacity is most prominent in its established church. Both Sir David and Dr. Nazir-Ali were considered "traditional" or "conservative" in their respective worlds. They were traditional in their Christian orthodoxy, to be sure, but their creativity makes it hard to describe them as "conservative." They were faithful in doctrine and innovative in their approach. Pakistan and England, orthodoxy and extremism that's what links England's two biggest religious stories this week. IF YOU RECEIVED Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna You should get a booster if you are: Ages 50 years and older Ages 18 years and older and live in a long-term care setting You may get a booster if you are: Ages 18 years and older When to get a booster: At least 6 months after completing your primary COVID-19 vaccination series Which booster should you get? Any of the COVID-19 vaccines authorized in the United States Today, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is issuing Orders to implement the new travel policy announced by the Biden administration to safely resume global travel to the United States while protecting the health and safety of American communities from COVID-19. These Orders put in place a stringent and consistent global international travel policy that is guided by public health. Todays announcement means that on November 8, non-U.S. citizens who are not immigrants to the United States will be required to be fully vaccinated and provide proof of their vaccination status to fly to the United States. There will be very limited exceptions to this vaccination requirement for certain non-U.S. citizens who are not immigrants, including children under the age of 18. Fully vaccinated air passengers, regardless of citizenship, will continue to be required to show a negative pre-departure COVID-19 test taken no more than three days before they board their flight to the United States. For passengers who are not fully vaccinated, the rules will tighten to require a test taken no more than one day before departing to the United States. All air passengers to the United States will also be required to provide basic contact information to airlines before boarding flights to the United States. This will allow airlines to better coordinate with public health agencies to share information when needed to keep the public safe and informed, and strengthen their ability to rapidly identify and contact people in the U.S. who may have been exposed to a communicable disease, such as COVID-19. Both the U.S. Government and the airline industry are committed to making this process as seamless as possible for the traveling public. These travel requirements will be effective for air travel to the United States from any foreign country at or after 12:01AM ET on November 8, 2021. Further guidance on the very limited exceptions to these vaccination requirements, what constitutes acceptable proof of vaccination, and other operational details are available on CDCs website. Laws and Regulations (cdc.gov) Travel | CDC Carbon at new steady high, but European prices turmoil drive new debate of intervention in power markets ICR Newsroom By 25 October 2021 By Frank O. Brannvoll, Brannvoll ApS, Denmark As usual, the carbon market set a new all-time high at EUR66 before falling 10 per cent to the current EUR60, five per cent lower than reported in ICRs previous issue. A fundamental demand for EUA was seen as several coal-powered plants were put online, driven by higher gas prices. The dark spread was 2x better for coal-fired power production than with gas, setting a true demand for EUA buying. However, discussions within the EU as power prices rallied to more than EUR300 on the November contracts led to talks of curbing the EUA price or forbid speculative players. This sent a wave of profit-taking and the price fell just below EUR60. The European Commission and several member states reiterated that the EU ETS was to be seen as a market mechanism, and intervention or bans should not be implied. It remains to be seen what the outcome will be. The financial players are still in this for long-term play or carbon prices of >EUR80-100. The EU Commission and MEPS have stated again that a level of EUR60 is of no concern. Brannvoll sees the price towards EUR100 in 2030 or even before, based on the currently-apparent political will. The price is still supported by proposals of the reforms of the EU trading scheme, including: rebasing of the cap, increasing the linear reduction factor, reducing EUAs and aiming to phase out free EUA allocations setting up a Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM). The Dec 21 contract fell five per cent MoM to EUR60. Unchanged technical view uptrend covers a EUR57-66 range for the next month. Major support is found at EUR57 and EUR50 while resistance is at an all-time high of EUR66. The long-term trend is still moving upwards and would break EUR50 to abandon this. Published under Several motorcyclists were injured Saturday night in a crash on Bonny Oaks Drive, and one person was arrested for driving under the influence. The serious crash involved a pedestrian struck and several motorcycles. Police said several motorcycles were attempting to turn into a parking lot near the 4200 block of Bonny Oaks. One person dismounted his bike and attempted to slow traffic for the group. He stepped in front of an oncoming vehicle and was struck. That vehicle subsequently struck several motorcycles as well. Several people were transported to the hospital. The pedestrian sustained serious injuries. The driver of the vehicle was arrested for DUI. Police said several friends of the person who was seriously injured went to the hospital and emotions were high. Erlanger Hospital temporarily went on lockdown as a precaution. The case is under investigation. Katherine Wallace Schropshire born May 27, 1949, in Chattanooga, TN, to Steve and Emma Wallace. Sadly, on Monday, October 18, 2021, after 21 years of battling cancer, her heavenly father called her home, her fight was over. She can now rest; she fought the battle strong making it look easy. Katherine graduated from Howard High School in 1967 and attended City College. Her first job was at Fehns Restaurant with her mom, Emma Wallace. Following that, she accepted a job at AT&T, as a telephone operator. Kat left AT&T to travel with her devoted husband, Gill Schropshire, who was in the Military. Upon their return to Chattanooga, she worked at BCBST. Her last position was as a Public Librarian for the City of Chattanooga, from which she retired. Kat was a dedicated wife, mother and grandmother. She would light up and those beautiful eyes would sparkle when she came around to see us. If she was feeling down, the sight of her family would make it all go away. Katherine battled cancer for 21yrs, showing her strength and determination to push through. She has beat so many odds and did it gracefully. She is our "STRONG BLACK WIFE, MOTHER, & GRANDMOTHER." You always saw her with that gorgeous smile and full of life and energy. She was the "Life of the Party." Rest Easy, Beautiful. Preceding her in death, father, Steve Wallace; brother, Clarence Wallace; niece, Shalonda Wallace; father-in-law, Charles Schropshire; mother-in-law, Eddie Louise Schropshire; and sister-in-law, Elyse Schropshire. Loved ones left to cherish her wonderful memories, her devoted husband of 49 years, Gill Schropshire, who was blessed to spend 51 glorious years with Kat; a son, Kevin Schropshire (longtime companion, Keisha Camon); daughter, Sharia (Vincent) Blake; mother, Emma Wallace; brother, Freddie Wallace; grandchildren, Da'Nairria Fletcher, Vaniesia Martin, Jeriyah Schropshire, Mikayla Blake, Shamond Fletcher, Arianna Blake, Kantrell Blake and Ve'Asia Blake; great-grandchildren, Kanya Martin and Khaelin Martin; sister-in-law, Vnita Qualls; a host of other family and friends. Public viewing will be held from 2-6 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 28, at the funeral home. A funeral service will be held at noon, Friday, Oct. 29, at the funeral home chapel. Interment will be at Chattanooga National Cemetery. Arrangements are by John P. Franklin Funeral Home, 1101 Dodds Ave., 423 622-9995. The little community at the high point of the Cumberland Plateau Memorial about 45 miles from Chattanooga and 90 miles from Nashville on interstate I-24 has an intriguing history. Its citizens reside in the three Middle Tennessee counties of Grundy, Marion and Franklin. The founder of the town was John Moffat who first came to the area around 1870 and was so impressed with its beauty that he purchased over 1,000 acres. He was a Scottish-Canadian temperance believer who became an active leader in the town. As a result, the town was originally named Moffat Station in his honor. It would later be changed to Mount Eagle and then to Mounteagle. Eventually, the spelling would become the present municipality known as Monteagle and it would be incorporated under that name in 1962. Prior to I-24 being built as part of the Interstate system, Monteagle was part of the Dixie Highway which runs from Chicago, Illinois, to Miami, Florida, as Highway 41. Due to the elevation of Monteagle being close to 2,000 feet above sea level prior to the construction of the freeway, the downward trip from the top of the Cumberland Mountain to the valley below on 41 was considered one of the most dangerous descents in the country as many of the tractor trailer rigs would burn out their brakes and often run off the side of the mountain, resulting in injury, death and loss of cargo. Any truck driver who survived the Deadmans Ride down the mountain and lived to tell about it became part of the lore and mystique of the area. With the completion of I-24 and the creation of some runaway truck ramps, the safety record of the area has drastically improved. A part of the rumored history of Monteagle has been the Mabee House. Whether fact or fiction, it makes an entertaining tale that places one of the most notorious criminals in the history of America as having a tie to Monteagle and the Mabee House. Made of mountain stone and now a popular and fashionable restaurant named High Point, it still possesses the mysterious aura of its earlier history. Felicia Irene Mabee was born in Monteagle in 1885 and was a descendant of a poor family who was able to build one of the largest homes in the community. More mystery and intrigue surrounds it and the big rock house is alleged to have been constructed on the site of a previous residence that had mountain stone added as an outside layer sometime between 1920 and 1930. Little has ever been told about how Irene came into ownership of the house or how she was financially able to drive a big black Cadillac during the years before, during and after the depression. Monteagle was close to the halfway point between Chicago and Miami and would be a good stop for travelers between those two destinations. There would be times when several large cars would arrive and take a respite from the long journey. Rumors also existed that a notorious gangster from Chicago bought the house for Irene although there was an age difference of 15 years between the older woman and the young criminal. Tales of alleged criminal activity at the house persisted in spite of lack of verification. Mountain folks during this time preferred to mind their own business and go their own way. However, a couple of rumors supposedly have some actual contact with the Chicago mobster who was the most successful criminal in the underworld during the Prohibition Era between 1920-1933. A local barber claimed that he had one time been called upon to cut the Chicagoans hair. The most direct rumor came from a local citizen who, one winter day, came upon a big car that had slid off the icy roads that prevail on the mountain and was stuck in a ditch. The car was pulled out by the Good Samaritan using his team of oxen. When the driver of the car offered to pay for the tow, the owner of the team declined payment saying that the mountain people didnt take money for helping folks in trouble. Whereas the big man offered him a cigar and said, My name is Al Capone. Call on me at any time. Legends of secret tunnels, moonshine stills and acts of criminal activity still are attached to the stone house in Monteagle. Whether fact or fiction, they make a good story that adds to the atmosphere at High Point while visitors enjoy a good dinner. Other rumors involve the presence of Al Capone on several occasions at the stone house in the 1920-1931 years prior to serving his income tax invasion sentence in Atlanta and Alcatraz and his death in 1947 in Miami at his home on Palm Island. A recently discovered National Registry of Historic Places Registration Form filed on November 21, 1997, asking that the Irene Mabee (Gibson) House be placed on the national registry adds some additional corroboration of the Al Capone connection to the structure now known as High Point Restaurant. Several interviews of Monteagle residents during the period of 1925-1931 indicate that Capone visited the 1875 Mabee home on a regular basis when he was traveling between Chicago and Miami. Allegedly there are existing photos showing Big Al in his car being pulled up Highway 41 from Pelham, Tennessee, in the late 1920s when the vehicle broke down showing further corroboration of Capones presence in the area. Grundy County native and 1960 graduate of the University of the South at Sewanee, Ernie Cheek, refutes the Capone rumors in their entirety. Ernie claims a knowledgeable relationship with the Mabees but disavows any belief in the presence of Chicagos most notorious criminal on the Cumberland Plateau at Monteagle. The absence of any knowledge of the Capone stories is also supported by another lifelong resident of the area, Jack Baggenstoss. Author Laurence Bergreen in his novel entitled Capone: The Man and the Era, (Simon and Schuster, pp. 701) presented the private side of the gangster as being very generous and well-liked outside of his direct business and federal law enforcement. It is a known fact that Irene Mabee (Gibson) and her mother, Marie, were residents of Chicago during the 1920s and could have met the notorious criminal during that era. It has also been rumored that another famous gangster, John Dillinger in 1925, had stayed at the Beersheba Springs Hotel in Grundy County prior to him returning to Chicago and being gunned down by Elliott Ness and his G-Men coming out of a movie theater. Both of the fact or fiction scenarios add much to the mysterious history of the Cumberland Plateau. * * * Jerry Summers (If you have additional information about one of Mr. Summers' articles or have suggestions or ideas about a future Chattanooga area historical piece, please contact Mr. Summers at jsummers@summersfirm.com) The Thompson Foundation presented the Chattanooga Public Library with a $5,000 grant award that will support the librarys efforts to provide STEAM education to middle school-aged children. Sharon Law, Tennessee area manager for Thompson Engineering, presented the funding to the Library on Oct. 4. We want students to be excited about STEAM careers, so we welcome opportunities to partner with organizations that engage students in STEAM learning in fun, meaningful ways," said Ms. Law. "We're looking forward to assisting the library in its STEAMtastic Thompson Tuesdays program and helping these middle school students open their minds to engineering concepts." "Thompson Foundation, the philanthropic fund of Thompson Engineering, has been committed to supporting STEAM education and other fields of service since 2003. Earlier this year, Thompson reached a major milestone, the $1 million mark in giving," officials said. Michael Watson, director of library development, is looking forward to the future of this partnership. The Chattanooga Public Library has always sought out new ways to incorporate science and technology into its programs. When Thompson heard about our childrens programs, they committed to furthering our mission to support lifelong learning, Mr. Watson said. To learn more about the librarys programs, visit their YouTube channel chattlibrary.tv. More information about the library, how to get a library card, and reopening plans can be found at chattlibrary.org. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has released a free Gospel for Kids YouTube channel for children everywhere, including in the greater Chattanooga area. The channel has videos, stories, sing-alongs and a Come Draw With Me feature. The channel may be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/ channel/UCaRTB7h-1p_ Rd9qw6HU0tVQ . Primary General President Camille N. Johnson, who heads up the Church program for children under the direction of the First Presidency and Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said, Our Heavenly Father loves His children so very much. Those of us who interact with children can help them feel that love. We hope this new resource for children will bless them with a confirmation that their Heavenly Father knows and loves them. President Jason J. Isaacson of the Chattanooga Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints said, There are so many voices that vie for our childrens attention, and electronic media can multiply and magnify those voices for good or for ill. As parents we have a great responsibility to give our children opportunities to hear and know the most important voice of allthat of Jesus Christ. This new tool is one of many resources the Church offers to help our children hear and know His voice. And as they learn to Hear His voice while they are young, they will surely recognize it when they are old. The Church has also released a free Gospel for Kids app that includes 21 different coloring books as well as scripture stories, sing along and other activities. The Gospel for Kids app may be downloaded on iOS devices at https://apps.apple.com/us/ app/gospel-for-kids/ id1523539595 or on Android devices at https://play.google.com/ store/apps/details?id=org.lds. gospelforkids&hl=en_US&gl=US in English, Spanish or Portuguese. The free Gospel Library childrens collection may be accessed at https://www. churchofjesuschrist.org/study/ children?lang=eng Google. The intent of these programs, like all programs of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is to teach the gospel of Christ that all might have joy. In episode 9 of 90 Day Fiance: The Other Way Season 3, secrets are brought to light as Alina reveals that she knows about Stevens internet flirtations and Evelin calls out Corey for his lies. Meanwhile, Kenny comes clean to Armando about being homesick, and Sumit confesses his dream to Jenny. Heres the recap of episode 9, Fish or Cut Bait. Ariela Weinberg on 90 Day Fiance The Other Way Season 3 | TLC Kenny and Armando As Kenny and Armandos wedding gets closer and closer, the pressure is on. After Kenny called his daughters, Cassidy and Madison, he found out Cassidy is having a baby. This made him feel sad about missing his daughters entire pregnancy. Kenny reveals that hes been hiding his feelings from Armando not to make him feel guilty about him moving to Mexico. He finally told Armando how homesick hes been feeling. He said sometimes being in Mexico makes him feel all alone. Armando is worried that Kenny will change his mind about marrying him and staying with him. Kenny explained that he and Armando agreed to live in Mexico so that their daughter, Hannah, could be close to both of her grandparents. Alina and Steven Its the morning of Alinas mom, Annas departure back to Russia. Before leaving Turkey, Anna asked her daughter if shed like to come back or stay with Steven. Alina told her she wanted to give Steven another chance. Anna is worried that Alina is making the wrong choice because she thinks Steven behaves like a child. After Anna left for Russia, Alina was crying, worried she made the wrong choice by not going with her mother. Later on, Alina and Steven go to a Turkish bathhouse together, where he apologizes to her for being hypocritical. Alina asks Steven to, once again, delete his social media so that she can see hes trying to change for her. However, its met with another promise and more excuses. Later on, Alina confronts Steven again about why he didnt delete his social media. She finally reveals the test that she had her friend, Masha, do to him. She said that she knew everything about the flirtatious conversation with Masha and how he invited her to Utah and then again in Turkey. Alina thinks that the relationship with Steven wont work. Ariela and Biniyam After spending three weeks in the United States, Ariela is still waiting to get Avis hernia surgery. The distance has caused problems for the couple. Since Ariela has left Ethiopia, Biniyam has been going to the clubs every weekend. Ariela cant get in touch with Biniyam because he turns his phone off or is in airplane mode when he doesnt want to be bothered by Ariela. She thinks that this is a major red flag indicating that hes hiding something from her. She asks Bibiyam not to turn off his phone until theyre reunited in Ethiopia, he agrees. While Ariela is in the United States with her family, Biniyam celebrates the traditional Ethiopian holiday, Meskel. He spends time with his friends, discussing how Ariela is asking too many things of him. In the preview for the upcoming episode, Ariela is video chatting with Biniyam. She accuses Biniyam of having sex with someone else. She says, Who knows who youve fked. She tells him that she wont be returning to Ethiopia until he proves himself. Jenny and Sumit Its day one of Sumits mother, Sahna, and father, Anil, moving into Jennys home. During these days, Sahna hopes to teach Jenny how to be a traditional Indian housewife worthy of Sumit. The visit only goes from bad to worse as Jenny is forced to cook a traditional Indian meal with Sahna. Because of the language barrier, Jenny doesnt realize Sahna is insulting her while they are cooking. She tells Jenny how useless she is, but Jenny thinks shes being nice. During dinner, they discuss what Jenny can expect if she were to become Sumits wife. Sahna said that she should be prepared for Jenny to be laughed at and made fun of for her age. She said that people would laugh at her and call her Sumits grandmother. Jenny starts crying and wipes her nose. Jenny lays the used tissue down on the table, Sahna tells her how unhygienic she is. When talking about the long term, how Sumit and Jennys relationship will work, Sumit tells his parents how he wants them to stay in his house with Jenny forever. This confession shocks Jenny. She had no idea she wanted to have his parent live with them. And, of course, shes against the idea. Evelin and Corey Corey gets his own apartment after living with Raul for a week following Evelin kicking him out. Corey prepares a nice dinner for Evelin as a peace offering. During the dinner, Evelin and Corey agree to go to a couples therapy to work through the problems that Coreys fling in Peru with Jenny caused. During the couples counseling, Evelin begins crying, recalling the car accident she had during her and Coreys breakup. She said it hurt that Corey stayed with Jenny instead of coming back and making sure she was alright after being hit by a drunk driver. She called Corey out for being out at dinner with Jenny that night, as she saw on his Instagram Story. He lied until the therapist coaxed him to tell the truth. He admits he was continuing to pursue his relationship with Jenny during the time of the accident. There are a lot of lies that are being brought to light. Will these couples be able to get past each others secrets to continue their hopes of getting married? 90 Day Fiance: The Other Way fans will have to continue watching season 3 to find out if they will stay together or if their secrets will tear them apart. RELATED: 90 Day Fiance: Evelin Villegas Claims TLC Producers Blindsided Her With Jenny This week, Days of Our Lives makes history as it celebrates 40 years of Abe Carver. Abe is the longest-lasting Black character in daytime, and Mondays episode will feature a great retrospective of his work. As Abes best romances are reflected on, Theo comes home in the hopes to see his father one last time. This weeks Days of Our Lives is going to be memorable in more ways than one. [Spoiler alert: Potential spoilers for upcoming episodes of Days of Our Lives are ahead.] Days of Our Lives | Paul Drinkwater/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images On Days of Our Lives, Abe will have an out-of-body experience When last we left poor Abe Carver, hed just suffered a gunshot wound from Jake DiMera. Jake had meant to hurt Carmine, but Abe got caught in the crossfire. And so, while in the hospital, he flatlines. After 40 years in Salem, Abe Carver passes on; meanwhile, Ciara shares big news with Ben about their future. Watch #DAYS weekdays on @NBC and stream exclusively for FREE on @PeacockTV. pic.twitter.com/i9RKdz4dx0 Days of our Lives (@nbcdays) October 22, 2021 This, according to Celeb Dirty Laundry, is where Days of Our Lives will pick up on Monday, Oct. 25. Abe will walk into the white light and have an out-of-body experience. And that means hell be reunited with some of the great loves of his past including Lexie, his one true love. Days will offer a tribute to James Reynolds and his 40-year anniversary as Abe Carver, reports the outlet. A recast Lexie Carver will come back for a reunion with Abe in the great beyond. After Abe dies in the hospital, his soul will meet up with Lexie for some emotional scenes. Theo will rush home to see his father Paulina is sitting vigil by Abes bedside, and shes desperate for him to wake up. Other members of Abes friends and family are also anxiously waiting for him to wake up from his coma. But the most important member of the Days of Our Lives family that will be waiting for Abe will be none other than his beloved son, Theo Carver. According to SoapHub, well be seeing Theo come home from South Africa on the 28th of Oct. His fathers situation will definitely bring him back to Salem. But it remains to be seen how long he will stay. The good news is, though, that Paulina will have a lot of support during this difficult time, and upcoming Days of Our Lives episodes will feature her growing closer to Julie as we get closer to her wedding. Abe will look back on 40 years of Days history Days of Our Lives will do a great job in paying tribute to Abe Carver on Monday, Oct. 25. According to Soaps @ SheKnows, many people will be tuning in to watch Days history on the small screen. Few characters have had the impact on fans, cast, and crew as James Reynolds, so it will be a treat to watch those times once again. In the latest #DAYS, John confides his suspicion to Abe about Marlena. Watch weekdays on @NBC and stream exclusively on @PeacockTV for FREE. https://t.co/FI8PGzrCgn pic.twitter.com/EQcQjAehPj Days of our Lives (@nbcdays) October 23, 2021 Kayla does everything she can to revive Abe, but things dont look good, reports the outlet. When he walks into the proverbial light, can anyone or anything convince him to fight for his life and return to those who love him? Meanwhile, his loved ones gather to reflect on his life in Salem and the many people he has touched. Even Julie and Paulina, whove not always been the best of buds, lean on one another during this difficult time. This weeks Days of Our Lives will definitely be ones we wont want to miss. RELATED: Days of Our Lives Weekly Recap: John Refuses to Give Up, Abe Flatlines & Puts His Wedding to Paulina in Jeopardy The new mystery-thriller Korean drama Jirisan is already off to a strong start after its premiere on Oct.23. A select few K-dramas have managed to break records topping ratings across multiple channels. After Jirisans episode 1, the K-drama received excellent viewership ratings breaking a tvN record. Jirisan was a highly anticipated K-drama not only for its star-studded cast but for its astounding cinematography using Mount Jiri as its central landscape. The K-drama piques viewers interest as it also entails a mysterious incident that takes place in the mountains. The main cast, writer, and director for iQiyi and tvN Jirisan K-drama | via iQiyi Jirisan gives viewers a front-row seat to dangerous rescue missions and possible murder Jirisan takes place in the beauty of Mount Jiri in South Korea. In the vast nature of the mountain, things can go wrong. The main characters are a dedicated crew of rangers. They go on missions to find lost hikers amid heavy rainfall, dangerous winds, and weather conditions. Each rescue has an emotional story behind it. According to Soompi, writer Kim Eun-hee explained, I think that Mount Jiri is a space that people seek out of a cherished dream or longing. Its a land that has been layered with peoples desire and sorrow, so I thought that many mysterious or fantastic or inexplicable things could happen there. The K-drama interweaves the mountain dark secret, as episode 1 revealed a surprising twist involving a mysterious incident and a possible killer. The K-drama debuts at No.1 with highest premiere ratings RELATED: Jirisan: Everything We Know About the K-Drama Before Its Premiere Jirisan premiered to an overwhelming good start. According to Soompi, the dramas first episode received a 9.1 percent nationwide rating per Nielsen Korea. This led the K-drama to take the No.1 spot among other cable television dramas, even public network channels. Jirisan is the second-highest-rated K-drama in tvN history. The Shin Won-ho K-drama Hospital Playlist remains in the top spot. But after premiering with top ratings, Jirisan broke another record. The K-drama officially has the highest-premiere ratings of any weekend drama. Jirisan outranks the previous record holder, Mr.Sunshine, with an 8.9 percentage rating. As episode one set the K-drama off to a good start, its second episode did even better. Episode 2 broke into the double digits with an average nationwide rating of 10.7 percent. Fans can only hope tvNs Jirisan continues its winning streak. Jirisan K-drama has fans eager to see where it will lead them RELATED: Squid Game: K-Drama Generates Millions in Value for Netflix Fans on Reddit are intrigued by Jirisans first episode. They are excited to see where the mystery leads them and the main characters. What initially had fans hooked was the jaw-dropping setting of Mount Jiri. Not many K-dramas take on such natural environments for their storylines. What a great first episode!! The cinematography is just amazing. It felt like I was watching a nature documentary!! This concept is super unique, and this is the first time Ive watched a drama based around nature/that sort of supernatural environment. I cant wait for this to get exciting soon, said one Redditor. Other fans on Reddit also have high raises for the impressive and jaw-dropping visuals of the mountains and the natural terrain it offers. Like other reviews, fans do agree the K-drama lacked in crisp and realistic use of CGI for certain scenes. When working in a natural setting like Mount Jiri, getting a production and film crew to the top of the mountain can be tricky and is instead solved in front of a green screen. Jirisan is available to stream on iQiyi. The tvN and iQiyi Korean drama, Jirisan debuted on Oct.23. Set in South Koreas second tallest mountain, Jirisan combines the adventure of mountain rescue rangers with the dark and eery mystery of murder. Actors Jun Ji-hyun and Ju Ji-hoon star as the K-dramas leading characters. Jirisan K-drama is off to a considerably good start after the premiere of its first episode. Mount Jirisan has multiple rescue teams that band together to retrieve lost hikers and track down survivors before it is too late. They take on dangerous terrain, deadly weather conditions, and the unpredictable circumstances of the mountains. But, the picturesque mountains have a fatal secret. Actor Jun Ji-hyun for Jirisan K-drama | via iQiyi Jirisan K-drama begins with a heart-racing rescue mission Mount Jiri is one of South Koreas marvels with a heaven-like landscape. The K-drama opens with a monologue about the importance of the mountain to the country. A narrator explains the importance of the mountain to the country. Audiences do not have to worry about whether or not the drama starts off slow. Actor Ju plays the new rescuer Kang Hyun-jo and joins the team at the perfect moment. The minute Hun-jo steps into the office, he is sent out on a rescue mission to save a young boy who became lost in the mountains. The team captain stresses the importance of Golden Time. It is a time window where a survivor can still be rescued before things become fatal. Each rescue has a story that will tug at viewers hearts. Audiences watch as the team must trek through the mountains and face dangerous weather conditions. The Jirisan K-drama does the job of elevating the risk factor to keep the audience intrigued on whether or not the team is successful in its mission. Each episode of the K-drama will entail a rescue that will slowly integrate the bigger picture of a murder mystery. Mount Jiri is a picturesque environment but can be fatal in the K-drama RELATED: Hellbound: Netflix Releases First Official Posters of the Horror K-Drama Audiences might have split feelings over the setting used in Jirisan. The production team used the natural mountain location and CGI for more dangerous storylines. In a behind-the-scenes video, fans can see the production crew and the main cast venturing through Mount Jirisans terrain, just like in the drama. There are scenes in the first episodes that cannot happen in real life and would cause injury to the actors. Instead, the production team used a green screen. The South China Morning Post describes the K-drama has, some occasionally dodgy visual effects. But in the grand scope of Jirisans storyline and setting, the visual effects have to try and mimic the same terrain and difficult weather conditions that could occur in the mountains. The K-drama still does the job of arousing some high stakes tension as Seo Yi-kang (Jun) and Hyun-jo fight the harsh rain and speeding winds to find the lost young boy. The plot thickens when there is a major twist at the end of the first episode. Jirisans storyline twist was never explored in the K-dramas trailers. Viewers will find it adds risk and intrigue going foward. Mount Jiri and its rescuers soon piece together a murderous secret possibly involving a serial killer who uses the mountain as their hunting ground. Jirisan K-drama still has time to introduce its characters RELATED: Inspector Koo: Promises Comedy, Crime Investigation, and Young Serial Killer in Netflix Trailer The main focus of the K-dramas beginning episode is on the dangers and stories of the mountains. Fans have a minimal intro to Yi-kang and Hyun-jo. Yi-kang is known as Devil Seo because of her dedication to saving lost hikers no matter the risk. Yi-kang is also the most seasoned rescuer amongst the crew. When it comes to the other main character Hyun-jo, fans know small details. The biggest detail is his ability to have premonitions about the mountains and lost hikers. Some viewers might be dismayed Jirisan does not properly introduce the supporting characters. In a press conference before the K-dramas debut, Soompi explains writer Kim Eun-hee took time to introduce the supporting characters and the actors taking on the roles. Jirisan is available to stream on iQiyi. Meghan Markle recently opened up about her childhood and talked about some financial struggles in her family. However, some onlookers think that is not the whole truth. According to a resurfaced Instagram post, the duchess might have been more well-off than she let on. Meghan Markle | Christopher Furlong/Getty Images Meghan Markle spoke about financial difficulties in her childhood Meghan Markle recently shared that she supports paid parental leave for all American parents. She wrote an open letter to Senator Chuck Schumer and Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi on the site Paid Leave for All. To drive home the importance of financial assistance for families, Meghan talked about financial difficulties in her childhood. I grew up on the $4.99 salad bar at Sizzlerit may have cost less back then (to be honest, I cant remember)but what I do remember was the feeling: I knew how hard my parents worked to afford this because even at five bucks, eating out was something special, and I felt lucky, she wrote. Meghan also added that she started taking on odd jobs when she was 13 to cover odds and ends. Meghan Markles past Instagram post allegedly debunks her claim of growing up poor RELATED: Queen Elizabeth Reportedly Had Concerns About Meghan Markles Behavior and Attitude Before the Royal Wedding According to Daily Mail, in 2013, Meghan posted a photo that contradicted her story of financial difficulties. In the photo, the restaurant Musso and Frank Grill on Hollywood Boulevard could be seen. She wrote in the caption, I used to have lunch with my dad here after every tap & ballet class. Happy. Thank you. More please #mussos #hollywood. The restaurant is rather popular and a favorite among many celebrities in Los Angeles, including Johnny Depp and Brad Pitt. Its current menu also includes items such as $55 Filet Mignon and $32 salmon fillet. The news outlet noted that friends once shared Meghan took dance classes for three to four years when she was a teen in the 1990s. While [her father, Thomas Markle Sr.,] may not have paid that much for his lunch, but menus from the 1990s show a meal for two would cost up to $75 15 times more than the $5 Sizzler salad she said she lived on, Daily Mail wrote. Meghan Markle has been accused of embellishing her story Meghan Markle is once again in hot water with the British tabloid press for daring to shock, horror take a stand for paid parental leave in the United States. https://t.co/QTfiSR6vI3 NBC News (@NBCNews) October 23, 2021 RELATED: Meghan Markles Hugely Expensive Outfits Have Most People Laughing at Her, Research Shows Royal commentator Angela Mollard also recently accused Meghan of embellishing her story about her childhood. She then goes on to talk about the fact that when she was growing up she had to buy $5 salads to exist and she worked in a yoghurt shop and that sort of thing, Mollard said, according to Express. Making the point that she was sort of in poverty as well, now the critics have come out and said, well actually you went to a $16,000 a year school and your dad was a celebrated lighting director. Meghan attended Immaculate Heart High School, a private Catholic institution. Her father was also a lighting director on shows such as General Hospital and Marriedwith Children. When she was a child, he won a lottery worth $750,000. Mollard added, So, I think that is where she makes her errors. She has a point to say and then she seems to always need to embellish the story, and I think thats where shes gone wrong here. Ana Navarro never holds back her opinion on The View and always calls out the people that need to be called out. The political commentator who had identified as a Republican has been at odds with the political party since backing Donald Trump. Navarro has openly called out conservatives and after Lauren Boebert mocked Alec Baldwin following the tragic incident on the Rust movie set, the Nicaraguan-born star exposed her. Ana Navarro | Handout/Biden Inaugural Committee via Getty Images Ana Navarro slams Republican congressperson Hollywood was shaken after the accident on the set of the movie Rust that took the life of Halyna Hutchins. Baldwin discharged the alleged prop gun and fatally shot the director of photography and injured the director Joel Souza. As Baldwin has been critical of the Republican party in recent years, some took it as an opportunity to take a jab at the actor. Never failing to hit a new low, Boebert retweeted an old tweet from Baldwin from 2014. Im going to make bright, banana yellow t-shirts that read, My hands are up. Please dont shoot me,' the tweet from Baldwin read. Boebert added, Alec Baldwin are these still available? Asking for a movie producer Navarro shared the nasty tweet Boebert posted to expose and denounce the gross behavior of the Republican officials in Congress. This was a tweet put out by the Republican Congresswoman from Colorado, Navarro stated. You really have to be the most ghoulish, heartless, lamest excuse for a human being to use a tragic accident that cost a young mother her life, to attempt to crack a joke at @AlecBaldwins expense, just because you disagree with his politics. A 42-year-old woman dies, for Gods sake. RELATED: Halyna Hutchins Rust Camera Crew Protested for Safer Work Conditions Morning of Fatal Alec Baldwin Prop Gun Accident Fans back up Ana Navarro denouncing Lauren Boebert Boeberts tweet was tasteless and uncalled for and Navarros fans joined in calling the Republican out for her bad take. The poor taste that usually frames anything out of the mouth of Republican. Mocking a tragedy is straight out of the Trump playbook. But then lower life forms cant think for themselves. They need a script to follow, a fan replied. Colorado is sickened by her. Such a tragedy, a follower added. Empathy is not a trait these extreme right wingers possess, an Instagram user commented. Agreed! Scary that this person is an elected official, another fan said. She has no class typical Trump Republican, another follower mentioned. Wow, theres no bottom, another Instagram user added. Ana Navarro | Lou Rocco/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images RELATED: The View Star Ana Navarro Explains Why She Cant Visit Her Mother in Nicaragua After ICU Release Alec Baldwin releases statement Baldwin has been distraught about the incident on the Rust movie set and he released a statement on Twitter expressing his sadness over what had transpired. There are no words to convey my shock and sadness regarding the tragic accident that took the life of Halyna Hutchins, a wife, mother, and deeply admired colleague of ours, he tweeted. Im fully cooperating with the police investigation to address how this tragedy occurred and I am in touch with her husband, offering my support to him and his family. My heart is broken for her husband, their son, and all who knew and loved Halyna. Meanwhile, Hutchins father told The Sun that he doesnt hold Baldwin responsible for the accident as it is the responsibility of the props people who handle the guns. Hutchins father also added that her son is badly affected after losing his mother. Mike Christian and his wife lead a small congregation called the Afghan-American Church of the Bay Area. But their main ministry is not gathering with a dozen or so Afghan believers during the week. It is engaging with the tens of thousands of Afghan seekers from around the world who reach out through messaging apps, social media, and online outlets. Mike, who was born in Afghanistan and worked alongside the US military there, adopted the name Mike Christian after his conversion. It was a signal to fellow Afghans that they could speak with him if they were curious about Christianity. His popular Facebook page shares Bible verses and Christian messages in Dari alongside an invitation to get in touch. The recent Taliban takeover has created a unique opportunity for some Afghan Muslims to rethink their faith, just as a massive influx of Afghan evacuees are fleeing to the United States for resettlement. Its the younger generation, and especially the women, Mike says, who are most disenchanted with Islam, and most open to learning about the God of Christianity. We receive tons of text messages, emails, WhatsApp, and phone calls from Afghanistan, Mike told CT in an interview. Theyre saying, We dont like Islam. We dont want that kind of religion. We want to become a Christian. Please help us. Show us how we become a follower of Jesus. I just keep praying, he says, Lord, you have the power to change Afghan peopleto join your church, to seek you and believe in you, to pray and repent. The couple fields hundreds of questions a day from curious Afghans, describing the good news to them and connecting new believers to nearby house churches. But they are also part of the global network of believers with Afghan connections, helping create resources for churches to better serve their Afghan neighborsboth here and abroad. Im engaged with 30,000 Afghans now, said Mike. I dont remember the Lord telling me to stop. The Lords mission is never stopped, so lets keep going. When Mike was working with the military during the War in Afghanistan, he found himself in a dark place and struggling after a deadly mission. He had a series of dreams about Jesus, who called him by name to share the gospel with his people. After joining the underground house church movement, Mike endured intense persecution, multiple imprisonments, and brutal torture for his evangelism efforts before he was able to escape Afghanistan and make his way to the United States. And although most of the people he engages with are still in Afghanistan, there are a number who live in the US or who are in the process of being resettled here and abroad. More than 66,000 Afghans call California home, and more evacuees will be resettled there than any other state. The highest concentration of Afghan Americanssome who have been in the US for decades, and some more recent arrivalslive the Bay Area, including in dense clusters of apartment housing around a Fremont neighborhood known as Little Kabul. When the Afghan crisis began, Compassion Network, a group of over 50 pastors and churches around Fremont, began to meet and mobilize. An arm of the local ministry CityServe, they have joined hands to not only welcome incoming Afghan families, but to prepare the existing Afghan community to absorb these new arrivals. One of the pastors in the network is Sam Knottnerus. Just a couple years ago, he attended a regional gathering of his family of churches, the Evangelical Presbyterian Churchs Presbytery of the Pacific Southwest. At the meeting, they began a campaign to give and pray specifically for the Pashtun people, the largest ethnic group in Afghanistan and one of the largest unreached groups in the world. After that meeting, Knottnerus said the Lord whispered in his ear, saying he would play a role in serving the Pashtun people. At the time, he was a family pastor in Pasadena. I told my wife, Im just saying this out loud so Ive said it, he said. I dont know what it means. I dont know anything about them. A few months later, a Presbyterian church in Fremont asked him to apply to become its lead pastor. He discovered its campus was located in Centerville, only a few minutes from Little Kabul. Knottnerus began leading the churchCPC Fremontin 2020, as it was still navigating COVID-19, unaware of the further challenges ahead as their region now begins to receive and resettle the largest share of Afghan evacuees in the US. For Knottnerus, it was a steep learning curve to go from knowing nothing about Afghan people to serving as a pastor in the heart of the nations largest Afghan community. But he was soon connected to the global network of believers who have experience working with Afghansfrom expat consultants and cultural experts, overseas missionaries, and NGO workers to Afghan Christians like Mikewho have curated a pool of shared resources. He discovered basic things about how to engage with Afghan people in a culturally sensitive wayfrom keeping mens and womens activities separate to not signaling disrespect for the Word of God by placing a Bible on the floor. Like, dont serve hot dogs and pepperoni pizza or barbeque pork at your neighborhood cookout, Knottnerus said. But experts in engaging with Afghan Muslims see faith conversations as most appropriate within the context of a trusted relationship. Traditional evangelism is almost always seen as premature and ineffective when first approaching Afghan Muslims, particularly those who have just arrived in the US. A lot of them have come out of various oppressive religious climates, so theyre religiously abused or traumatized, says Anthony Roberts, another Christian field expert on Afghan culture, who uses a pen name to write about the history of Christianity in Afghanistan. Even though theyre attracted to Jesus and this new faith, its still difficult for them to want to engage, because they might be pushed into a situation where theyre going to be re-traumatized by a new system. God has brought them to us National groups like World Relief as well as local leaders have emphasized how the wave of Afghan resettlement represents an unprecedented opportunity to serve Afghans who may otherwise have little to no exposure to Christian witness. What were seeing nowits surreal, it really is, said John, a ministry worker. I mean, we spent yearswe went over there, learned their language, developed relationships, went deep into their worldand now God has brought them to us in this season. A former expat whos worked with Afghans since 1985 and holds a PhD in Afghan studies, John asked not to use his full name to preserve his nonprofits access. Right now, he is working with an NGO at one of the eight US military bases designated to temporarily house Afghan evacuees, where they wait to complete vetting, biometrics, vaccinations, and other processes before being sent to their respective resettlement locations. Over 50,000 arrivals are staying on these US bases, many of which are located along the eastern seaboard, and a few thousand more being hosted in bases overseas. There are a number of faith-based organizations among the nonprofits helping care for evacuated families on base, including Samaritans Pursewhich is facilitating a distribution of donations collected from local churches across the country. Because of his extensive knowledge of Afghan culture and language, Johns role is to provide orientation for the evacueesto help them understand differences between Afghan and American culture, religion, and government, and to prepare them for potential obstacles they are likely to face while adjusting to society in the States. He gets the most questions about American values like justice, equality, and freedomespecially freedom of religion and freedom for women. After one class recently, a man came up to thank John for his talk, and then proceeded to offer him an invitation to convert and become a Muslim. As the man shared about the Quran and the story of Muhammad, John listened patiently before responding. I paused and I said, Thank you for telling me that. I know you care. You are saying this as a sincere man because you have your faith, and your faith is important to you, John said. The conversation also led to an opportunity for John to share about his own religious beliefs. He had many questions, but our conversation was in a spirit of love and respectand thats critical when we exchange views of faith, he said. Im trying to model something for him. I told him, You are free here. You can become a Hindu, or a Buddhist, or a Christian. He says most Afghan Muslims are actually quite open to talking about other holy books, including the Bible, because they are devout people for whom God is real and present in the world. Muslims believe in a number of other holy figures from other religionsincluding Jesus, whos revered as a prophet. God is part of their worldview, so they respect and understand people who have room for a sovereign God. They listen to us, and we make a connection point at that, John said. Although we both believe in one Godthe question is what is God like, and how do we know. For those who want to engage Afghan Muslims, leaders recommended books like Loving Your Muslim Neighbor, and for Muslim seekers themselves, What is Christianity, translated from the English one, Beliefs And Practices Of Christians: A Letter To A Friend, by William Miller. There are a number of basic misconceptions Muslims have about Christianity, such as that they believe in three gods rather than one triune God, or that Jesus is Gods son in a physical sense, rather than a spiritual oneand they resist the idea that Christ would die. There are gaps in their understanding, so it will take Christians willing to converse in a friendly way, says John. We want them to meet true Christians who will not argueyou cant argue a Muslim to faith, he says. Believers should be willing to listen, learn, and discuss but know that at the end of the day God is the one who changes hearts. Mike says he will engage with some people regularly for months, while others take years before they feel comfortable to take any tangible steps toward following Jesus. And for the most part, all he does is share his own testimony and answer their many questions. Theyre asking a lot about Christianity and about Islam, Mike says. Why did you become a Christian? Whats the reason you accept Jesus? What do you think about Islamwhy did you leave Islam and become a follower of Christ? And for Mike, it all comes back to his experience after that deadly mission in 2007, when he returned to his room that day and began to struggle with questions about his faith. Why do Afghans fight with each other? he recalls thinking. If theyre called Muslim [Arabic for one who submits to God] and our religion is known as a peaceful religion, why are they fighting with each other? He remembers reading the Bible for the first time shortly after that, opening up a passage in Matthew where Jesus delivers the Sermon on the Mount. I just felt something so clean in my insideI felt more peace and love in that time, he said. It made me very excited. Today, he is praying for every member of dozens of underground house churches who are still stuck in Afghanistanand he yearns for his own family, who are also considered targets for being moderate and educated Muslims, to eventually join him here in the US. Theyre in a very bad situationtheres no way to get out, Mike says. But we just keep praying to the Lord, who has the power to protect all his children, and my family, and all these people in Afghanistan. Witness through welcome Narges Mahdi, who is one of very few second-generation Afghan believers, says that at the end of the day, one of the best ways American Christians can be good witnesses to Afghan Muslims is by accepting them into the country as they are, despite their differences. We were not welcomed in Afghanistan, or Afghan culture in general, because we were not Muslim, Mahdi says. But for Christians [in America], that shouldnt be the problem. Beyond being persecuted for converting from Islam to Christianity, Mahdi and her parents are also members of the Hazara people, an oppressed ethnic and religious minority group (as Shia Muslims in a Sunni Muslim nation), which, unlike the plurality Pashtuns, are identified by their more Asiatic features. Most Afghan Christian converts are Hazara. Christianity is about opening the door for somebody that doesnt look like you. Thats what my faith has taught me, Mahdi said. How you serve people will tell the difference between what its like to be a Muslim, and what its like to be a Christian. Mahdi came to study in the US with a student visa, and she is now going through the asylum process to stay herewhile her parents sought asylum in Turkey and applied for refugee status in 2016. They are currently leading a house church there, among other displaced Afghans, while they await approval for resettlement to join Mahdi in America. Advocate for Afghan Christians, because they will be killed first. But dont stop there, Mahdi said. Advocate for those who are not Christiansfor families that you dont necessarily agree with, but because their life matters. Thats what Jesus did for us, so thats what I want to do for people. 17 Coptic Christians go missing in Libya, fears rise over possible abduction by terrorists Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment At least 17 Egyptian Coptic Christians have gone missing in Libya, and it's feared an armed group might have abducted them in the north African country where 21 Coptic Christians were beheaded by ISIS in 2015. The Coptic Christians, who were living in an Egyptian neighborhood in Tripoli, have either been detained by the authorities or taken by an armed group due to their Christian faith, friends and family believe, according to the U.S.-based persecution watchdog International Christian Concern, which says that they have been missing since Sept. 30. The Copts had work visas for labor work in Libya, but they failed to get work opportunities and the costs of renewing the visas are high and its likely that the police of Libya detained them from September 30 until now, a lawyer and friend of one the missing Copts was quoted as saying. The Copts were staying in the Gargash District in Tripoli, he added. In this residency, they were surrounded by so many persons of other countries like India and Bangladesh. So the action of detaining 17 Copts only is such a mysterious action! We are fearing of repeating an incident like the one who did by ISIS. We are contacting the Egyptian Foreign Ministry to intervene in the situation. Numerous Coptic Christians cross over to Libya in search of work despite knowing that they will face severe persecution, including death. The Sunday Times quoted a Coptic Christian as previously saying: We know it is more likely we will die than live in Libya but we don't have a choice. More and more people are going to Libya because of the economic crisis here. You can't get work, you can't make money in Egypt. We are aware of the dangers, particularly as Christians. In 2017, Libyas interior ministry said they had found a mass grave with the bodies of 21 Coptic Christians who were beheaded by the Islamic State two years earlier. The heads are separated from the bodies clad in orange jumpsuits, hands bound behind the back with plastic wire, said the ministrys unit for fighting organized crime in the city of Misurata at the time, according to Agence France Presse. The authorities came to know about the mass grave near the one-time Islamic State bastion of Sirte, 280 miles east of Tripoli, after an ISIS prisoner confessed to the group's killings. ISIS had kidnapped the Copts in separate incidents in Libya throughout December 2014 and January 2015. The terrorist group then released the video of their execution on Feb. 15, 2015, showing the Christian men in orange jumpsuits kneeling on the sand as the terrorists stood behind them, ready to carry out the executions at a beach near Tripoli. ICC earlier reported that the victims' family members took pride in how their loved ones stood up to the Islamic radicals and refused to deny their faith despite the imminent threat of death. One wife said that her husband kept the faith, and was martyred in the name of Christ. His faith was very strong. I'm proud of him. He has lifted our heads up and honored us and all the Christians. Another family member said: Im very happy that my brother is in Heaven with Jesus now. I loved my brother when he was alive on the Earth, but now I love him more than before. He was martyred in the name of Jesus Christ. Families of kidnapped missionaries in Haiti preach forgiveness as gang leader threatens to kill loved ones Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Family members of the 17 missionaries kidnapped by the 400 Mawozo gang in Haiti preached forgiveness for their kidnappers days after Wilson Joseph, the gangs leader, threatened to put a bullet in the heads of their loved ones if his $17 million ransom demand for their release isnt met. The 400 Mawozo gang kidnapped the missionaries, which include 16 Americans, one Canadian and five children on Oct. 16, while they were working with Christian Aid Ministries. The gang has demanded $1 million each for their safe return. Despite the threat of execution, Christian Aid Ministries said in a statement on Saturday that the families are united in their desire to follow Jesus teaching of forgiveness. As a group of Christians, our King [Jesus] said that He is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance, an unidentified family member shared. That is our desire for the men who are part of the gang. While negotiations for the missionaries' release continue between the gang and officials in the troubled Caribbean nation and the U.S., a video of Joseph, which began circulating on social media last Thursday, showed the crime boss wasn't pleased with the pace of negotiations. I swear by thunder that if I dont get what Im asking for, I will put a bullet in the heads of these Americans, Joseph threatened, according to a translation cited by Bloomberg Quicktake. The gang leader further threatened Haitis Prime Minister Ariel Henry, as well as the chief of Haitis National Police, Leon Charles. Bloomberg noted that Josephs speech was made in front of open coffins that apparently held several members of his gang who were recently killed. You guys make me cry. I cry water. But Im going to make you guys cry blood, he said. Henrys office announced on Thursday that Charles resigned and has been replaced by another top police official, Frantz Elbe, The Wall Street Journal reported. When asked about the missionaries during a press briefing last Thursday, Karine Jean-Pierre cited recent comments made by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on the matter. We have in the administration been relentlessly focused on this, including sending a team to Haiti from the State Department; working very closely with the FBI, which is the lead in these kinds of matters; in constant communication with the Haitian National Police, the church that the missionaries belong to, as well as the Haitian government. And we will do everything that we can to help resolve the situation, Blinken said. Since the kidnapping of the missionaries, Haitians have taken to the streets demanding their release. Schools and most businesses were closed for several days in Port-au-Prince last week, according to The Haitian Times, following a call for a general strike to protest kidnappings and widespread insecurity, which followed the assassination of the countrys late President Jovenel Moise in July. In his comments on Haitian insecurity, Blinken said the U.S. is working with local officials to improve the situation on the ground. We have been working closely with the Haitian National Police to try to build their capacity, as well as help put in place programs that can effectively deal with the gangs. But its a very challenging and long-term process. Were focused on it, but is it absolutely essential that this security dynamic change if Haiti is going to make real progress, he said. The Pope's economics would move the world back to medieval mass starvation Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Many people are confused about how the West can be so rich and much of the rest of the world so poor. On World Food Day, Pope Francis blamed markets and capitalism. The fight against hunger demands we overcome the cold logic of the market, which is greedily focused on mere economic profit and the reduction of food to a commodity, and strengthening the logic of solidarity. We must adapt our socio-economic models so they have a human face, because many models have lost it. Thinking about these situations, in Gods name I want to ask The big food corporations to stop imposing monopolistic production and distribution structures that inflate prices and end up withholding bread from the hungry. Dr. Thomas Woods, also a Catholic, argues in his book The Church and the Market: A Catholic Defense of the Free Economy that the Pope enjoys infallibility in matters of theology and morality, but not science, according to Catholic doctrine. If he did, we wouldnt need scientists. We could just ask the Pope to solve all scientific problems. Since economics is a science, the Pope has no more insight into it than does any layman. Catholics still must study economics in order to understand how the world works, just like Protestants. If the Pope understood economic history, he would know that the world was poorer than Haiti from prehistory until the advent of capitalism in the 17th century when standards of living began to rise for the first time in human history, but only in the Dutch Republic, a Protestant country. Later, England and its colonies followed. How did the Dutch break the Malthusian cycles of famine and mass starvation that had plagued mankind for millennia? They implemented the economic doctrines distilled from the Bible by the Catholic theologians at the University of Salamanca, Spain, in the 16th century. As a result, the Dutch outlawed the former honorable ways to gain wealth through looting in war and kidnapping for ransom. They prevented the nobility from using the courts to steal from the common people. And they created free markets and limited government. In other words, they instantiated capitalism. The Pope should know that the Catholic church at the time of the Industrial Revolution owned a third of all land in Europe, because wealthy people had given land to the church to help the poor for centuries. Yet, the charity of the Catholic church did not lift people out of poverty. Europeans were as poor at the launch of the Industrial Revolution as they had been 10,000 years earlier. The Dutch launched the Industrial Revolution by using peat and wind power to mass manufacture goods for the masses. They became rich and powerful because they produced more of the things that people wanted to buy at cheaper prices. People are poor because they produce very little of what anyone wants to buy. They produce so little because they have poor tools, knowledge and skills. For example, women farm most of the land in the world using a short-handled hoe. They can farm at most an acre or two and will use most of the produce to feed their families and have nothing left over to sell in the market for other goods. Advancing to the cutting-edge technology of 5000 B.C., a team of oxen, would allow farmers to work 20 acres of land and produce far more food with a surplus to sell in the market so they can buy other necessities, such as clothing. Deploying mules would empower farmers to work 40 acres. Small tractors would enable them to farm 100 acres with less effort than is required for a team of oxen. So why dont they? Envy is the main problem. Around the turn of the century, the United Nations tried to give oxen to farmers in Uganda to improve their productivity, but the farmers refused. The farmers said that others in the community would envy them for having oxen and would steal, butcher and eat them. Also, many Africans fear that envious people will use magic to cast spells on them and possibly kill them. Before 1900, this planet could not feed more than one billion people. Starvation from famines was common and kept the world population below that level. Today, the earths population is almost eight billion and famines are rare. How can we feed eight times as many people as we did a little more than a century ago? Capitalism and markets, the things Pope Francis despises, are the reason. So clearly, the poor need more charity, right? They do, but it will not lift them out of poverty as the Catholic Church proved throughout its history. Also, the poorest nations on the planet, such as Haiti and Tanzania, have received enough charity in the past 50 years to make every citizen a millionaire. Yet theyre still poor. The Pope needs to learn from the many nations that leaped from starvation to wealth since World War II, such as Taiwan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore, Chile and most recently, China and India. According to the World Bank, China and India have lifted over 500 million people from starvation to relative riches in the past generation, not through charity, but through freer markets. Freer markets encourage businesspeople to invest in new and better ways of making things that others want to buy and enrich the sellers and the buyers. In that way, they serve their neighbors. And doesnt the Pope want to encourage serving others, which lifts people out of poverty? Nearly 70% of born-again Christians say other religions can lead to Heaven: study Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Nearly 70% of born-again Christians disagree with the biblical position that Jesus is the only way to God, according to a new survey from Probe Ministries, a nonprofit that seeks to help the Church in renewing the minds of believers with a Christian worldview. The survey, which looked at religious beliefs and attitudes toward cultural behaviors, polled 3,106 Americans ages 18 to 55 from all religious groups, including 717 respondents who identified as born-again Christians. Born-again respondents were identified based on their affirmative response to the question, Have you ever made a personal commitment to Jesus Christ that is still important in your life today? They were also identified by their belief about what happens after they die. Born-again believers agree that I will go to Heaven because I confessed my sins and accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior. Despite this claim by the self-identified born-again Christians in the study, however, among all respondents ages 18 to 39, who profess an affiliation with some religion, fewer than 1 out of 5 of them strongly disagree with the statement that Muhammad, Buddha and Jesus all taught valid ways to God. Still, some 60% of this cohort said they shared their faith with someone else at least annually with the intent of converting them. If you think that there are multiple ways to Heaven, why would you want to go out of your way to convert someone to your religion? Of course, you could be sharing with an unaffiliated person who needs to choose a valid religion, noted Steve Cable, senior vice president of Probe Ministries, in his analysis of the data. The survey also found that among the top reasons given by born-again Christians for not telling others about their faith is the acceptance of pluralism. When asked why they dont share their beliefs with others, born-again respondents chose They can get to Heaven through their different religious belief, We shouldnt impose our ideas on others, and The Bible tells us not to judge others as their top three responses, respectively. At first glance, this may seem surprising. But in a culture where pluralism is a dominant part of all religious groups, it begins to make sense. And the pluralistic reasons were dominant, attracting around two-thirds of the population across all religious groupings, Cable said. Cable argued that pastors and churches need to make the exclusivity of Jesus as the only way to Heaven a stronger focus in teaching their congregations in order to push back against the tide of pluralism. On the most common reasons (which indicate a belief that other people dont really need to know about salvation through faith in Jesus), we need to make the exclusive role of Jesus Christ in any hope of salvation a recurring and prominent theme in our teaching, he said. This is not a topic to tiptoe gingerly around. Rather, we need to boldly proclaim, There is salvation in no other name under Heaven other than the name of Jesus Christ. God would not have planned from before the beginning of time to sacrifice Himself on the cross for our salvation if there were any other means to reconcile sinful men and women to Himself. He added: God will not force reconciliation on us. We can choose to reject His grace. But as Paul tells us in Romans, How are they to believe in one they have not heard of? If we think we can slough off our responsibility to tell others, we do not understand the grace of God and our role as citizens of Heaven living on this Earth. In 2008, a Pew Research Center study found that more than half of all American Christians believe that at least some non-Christian faiths can lead to salvation. Nearly a decade later, a Pew survey found that even among the most traditional Christian groups, significant minorities have been rejecting God as described in the Bible. While 80% of all Americans surveyed in the 2018 study said they believe in God, only 56% said the God they believe in is the one "as described in the Bible." The strongest supporters of God as described in the Bible were Christians who self-identified as members of historically black Protestant churches at 92%, followed closely by evangelicals at 91%. Significant minorities of Christians who identified as Catholics, 28%, and mainline Protestants, 26%, also indicated that they believe in a higher power or spiritual force, which is not God as described in the Bible. This confusion among Christians and what they believe was also recently reflected in the American Worldview Inventory published last month by the Cultural Research Center of Arizona Christian University. Of an estimated 176 million American adults who identify as Christian, just 6% or 15 million of them were actually found to hold a biblical worldview. The study showed, in general, that while a majority of Americas self-identified Christians, including many who identify as evangelical, believe that God is all-powerful, all-knowing and is the Creator of the universe, more than half reject a number of biblical teachings and principles, including the existence of the Holy Spirit. Strong majorities were also found to errantly believe that all religious faiths are of equal value, people are basically good and that people can use acts of goodness to earn their way into Heaven. The study further showed that majorities dont believe in moral absolutes, consider feelings, experience or the input of friends and family as their most trusted sources of moral guidance, and say that having faith matters more than which faith you pursue. Chris Tomlin, Hillsong UNITED to headline nationwide worship tour: 'Magnify the name of Jesus' Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment After a long season of isolation, award-winning Christian music artist Chris Tomlin and the popular worship band UNITED are hoping to bring joy and unity to thousands across the country through their long-awaited 2022 "Tomlin UNITED Tour." "I can't think of a more critical moment in time for us to come back together and worship ... unified and as one voice," Tomlin told The Christian Post. "For me, what is so important to remember is that music is God's idea. ... Isn't that beautiful? God gave us not only a way to worship Him but also to connect and communicate with Him through music. Worship is different from any other concert. It's your soul connecting to God. It's eternal and an opportunity to join in everlasting praise." Kicking off at the Greensboro Coliseum on Feb. 9, the live worship experience includes 33 dates across the U.S. They will make stops in major markets, including Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, Washington D.C., San Francisco, Miami and two shows in the New York area before ending in Duluth, Georgia, on April 13. Tickets for the Tomlin UNITED Tour will go on sale to the public beginning Oct. 22. "We really believe this tour is going to be an experience unlike any other," Jonathon Douglass of UNITED told CP. "We've wanted to do this for a long time and we have a real sense of trust in the fact that this is the right time. We want these nights to be about hope, the living hope, and for people to leave with a little more of it than they came in with. Music has the power to touch people in this way, and I'm excited for that." The tour marks the first reunion the artists have had since the COVID-19 pandemic prevented large groups from gathering in 2020. A Grammy Award-winning artist, Tomlin is behind some of the most well-known worship songs today, including "How Great is Our God" and "Good Good Father." UNITED, the band born from a youth ministry out of Hillsong Church in Australia, has similarly dominated airwaves with hits including "Oceans" and "Lead Me to the Cross." Tomlin told CP that how the tour came together is "evidence of God's timing." "UNITED and I have toured around the country and around the world with our own teams, but to finally be able to come together after what has been a really challenging season of isolation with the pandemic, I know these nights are going to be powerful," he said. "When we gather together, we remember the bigger story that we are part of. We remember that we are part of God's Kingdom. And when we gather together, we encounter the presence of God and that changes our lives." Douglass agreed that the artists have a "real sense of trust that this is the right time" to resume in-person concerts. "It means a lot to be able to bring our songs to audiences across the country," he said. "Our ministry is first to the Lord and then to people. So no pandemic can ever stop that fact. If anything, it amplifies the urgency. We have so much hope for this coming tour and are looking forward to seeing people face-to-face and gather[ing] together again across the globe to magnify the name of Jesus." Reflecting on his passion for worship music, Douglass said the genre highlights the biblical truth that "God is the same yesterday, today and forever" at a time when people are desperately seeking for hope, encouragement and stability. Worship songs, he said, are "evidence and testimony that God is moving, right now." "As we pray again, lament again, rejoice again, declare again, love mercy again, praise again, we do so in absolute faith that we will see God's goodness again, experience His presence again and see Him keep His promises again," the artist emphasized. "So, when I think about people coming together in one accord, singing songs of worship and having moments where they encounter the presence of God and the saving grace of Jesus, it fills me with so much hope." Through the "Tomlin UNITED Tour," the artists hope to bring encouragement and unity to the Church and bring faith back to the center of our conversations. "We want people to leave with the understanding that there is a greater hope in this world. This is a critical moment in time for people to be reminded that there is a true and living hope, and that's obviously Jesus," Douglass said. "That is what we proclaim with these nights." "Every night on the tour, we will sing and worship together in the presence of God," he added. "We know that music touches so many different streams of people, especially in the faith, and we hope that our live show has that impact." Tomlin echoed Douglass' sentiment, stressing that his hope and prayer for the tour is that "God touches them in ways they could have never expected." Biden State Dept. increases number of Americans left behind in Afghanistan Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment The Biden administration, which had been saying for weeks that the number of Americans still left behind in Afghanistan and urgently want to be evacuated was about 100, has now increased the number to about 200. State Department spokesman Ned Price said last week that while the U.S. airlifted out dozens of people in the past couple days, more people had come forward in recent weeks expressing a desire to leave and the number is somewhere between 100 and 200, The Washington Times reported. Sen. Ben Sasse, a Republican from Nebraska, criticized the Biden administration. For weeks, their official number was about a hundred and it magically never changed as Americans slowly got out the total number never went down. Now they say more than 300 Americans are still in Afghanistan, Sasse was quoted as saying. The number quoted by Sasse includes Americans who, according to the State Department, havent said they want to leave. Price, however, claimed that the proven ability of the U.S. in airlifting people out is behind the higher number of people wanting to flee. Following the drawing down of U.S. troops in Afghanistan, the Taliban quickly seized control of much of the country, taking the capital Kabul in August and forcing the government to flee. Afghanistans interim government includes more than a dozen leaders who are designated terrorists and ex-Guantanamo detainees. Meanwhile, Aman Khalili, an Afghan interpreter who helped rescue Biden in 2008, when he was a senator, after a helicopter he and other senators were riding on had to make an emergency landing in Afghanistan, was able to escape earlier this month. U.S. veterans worked with former Afghan soldiers and Pakistani allies to help Khalili cross the border into Pakistan with his family, The Wall Street Journal reported. Aman helped keep me and other Americans safe while we were fighting in Afghanistan, and we wanted to return the favor, said Brian Genthe, a combat veteran, was quoted as saying. Hes a blessing. Last month, the Taliban declared they will 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. Everyone criticized us for the punishments in the stadium, but we have never said anything about their laws and their punishments. 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 may consider carrying out such punishments in public. The Taliban have banned all demonstrations and have violently cracked down on protests, including beating women and killing demonstrators. The Taliban are arresting, and in some instances executing, people they perceive as their enemies, Christian missionary David Eubank, a former U.S. Army Special Forces and Ranger officer, said in an earlier interview with CBN News. Eubank also said recent photos and video suggest theyre killing as many as 30 to 40 people at a time. They [the Taliban] are hunting down people right now, trying to get all the names of anyone they perceive as an enemy, Eubank said, adding that the enemies include people who work with the U.S. government, people who are with other governments, people who work with nongovernmental organizations they dont agree with. California Church to Build Brewery, Drink Beer During Services Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A California church sold their church building and relocated in a new space where beer is served and plans are underway to build a brewery where church services can occur. "We decided to sell the building, because for us a church is a community and a movement," pastor Chris VanHall, who leads The Greater Purpose Community Church in Santa Cruz, California, told the NBC affiliate in the Bay Area last week. "It's not brick and mortar." VanHall's church community ended up in a food lounge complete with several beer options, a move that reportedly gained them new followers. He added: "There's nothing in the Bible that says you can't drink alcohol in a responsible manner." Food lounge owner Andrea Mollenauer, whose business is hosting the church thinks it is a great idea. "Why not serve beer when they're reading Bible verses? I thought it was genius," she said. Formerly named Garfield Park Community Church, the progressive Disciples of Christ congregation's "About" section on their Facebook page and website explains that they "will embrace you regardless of your faith, personal life choices, race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, political preference, social status, or economic standing." "We love and value all equally and at Greater Purpose Community Church: ALL LITERALLY MEANS ALL! Radical love and unity are sacred in our community." VanHall came to Santa Cruz to plant a church, according to his bio on the GPCC website, in hopes of creating "a place of safety for those who have justifiably left the church, due to bigotry and hate-filled theology." The pastor went on to explain that everyone drinks responsibly and that the church in the food lounge is a conversational atmosphere. He is presently converting a downtown bookstore into a brewery that will also serve as a church; VanHall hopes to give 30 to 60 percent of the profits to charity. "I thought to myself, wouldn't it be great if a church could figure out a way to make a product where they split the profits with local community service organizations, we were like 'hey, we love beer, we love making beer, why not do a brewery?'" Yet he maintains this is not a marketing trick. "We don't want to dupe anyone, we don't want to have this bar, and say 'ok come on in' and boom you get a church service," said VanHall. "We don't want that." But if people come for church, a couple of beers improves the sermon, VanHall joked. "They can have one or two, as a matter of fact if they have two my sermon's always better," he said. The idea of attracting people to church with beer is not new. In 2013 NPR reported that a Disciples of Christ congregation in Portland, Oregon hosted monthly Saturday night gatherings called "Beer & Hymns" in which participants consumed "homemade stout from plastic cups with a two-beer limit" and sang traditional hymns from a projection screen such as "Be Thou My Vision." In Europe, monks have been brewing beer at least since the 6th century. Some of those monestary breweries are still in operation today, with Chimay in Belgium being one of the most famous. Churches in Bars, Movie Theaters, in the Bible Belt, As Other Churches Close Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Amid dozens of church closures in the heart of the Bible Belt, some in South Carolina are planting congregations in bars, movie theaters, and in homes. South Carolina newspaper The State reported Thursday that across the traditionally conservative state, many churches have closed 97 since 2011 and others are slowly dying, reflecting a nationwide trend, yet there is new growth amid the decay. Reflecting on the article Thursday, Mark Tooley, president of the Institute on Religion and Democracy in Washington D.C., noted that the South Carolina newspaper's account of the unconventional ways of doing church shows that stories of decline are "more complicated than church shrinkage ... as people leave old denominations, especially Mainline Protestant, in favor of newer churches." In West Columbia, New Brookland Tavern, a bar that features punk and metal bands on Saturday nights, hosts services on Sunday morning once per month. "Everybody just goes, 'What?'" when they hear about having church services in a bar, said Jody Ratcliffe, who had been a Southern Baptist pastor and now leads Church at West Vista. The church is a network of home groups that worship in homes three times per month and meets in the bar on the remaining Sunday. "And then they think and go, 'Wait a minute, that's really cool,'" he said. This particular church speaks to people who have ever been hurt in the past and do not want to go to church ever again, he said. "The traditional church has the mentality that everyone knows we're here, and if we just open our doors, people will come if they want," the pastor continued, explaining this is an ineffective approach to ministry particularly among the younger generations. "Millennials don't value legacy. ... A lot of our older churches, they've been relying on legacy for decades." The Church at West Vista's model for growth is relying upon people with whom members are already connected, such as their friends, neighbors, and work colleagues. In recent years, considerable analysis has taken place among pollsters and political pundits concerning the rise of the "nones," those who identify themselves as religiously unaffiliated. Some have suggested that with the decline of institutional religion in the United States, marrying "conversational" Christian gatherings with America's favorite beverage, beer, in an unconventional setting, is the answer. A recurring theme that seems to bolster the idea of doing church outside the confines of a traditional church is that the traditional setting has been an atmosphere where people have had negative experiences and crave a space where they can explore their questions and doubts more openly. Though often regarded as a project of more progressive Christians, some distinctly evangelical initiatives, such as Fresh Expressions, "an international movement of missionary disciples cultivating new kinds of church alongside existing congregations" are engaging a growing post-Christian society and changing culture by establishing "expressions" of churches in unlikely places "primarily for the benefit of those who are not yet part of any church." The State also mentioned OneLife Community Church, also in Columbia, which in 2016 moved its weekly meetings from the local gym to a movie theater, complete with plush, reclining seats. "You've never been to a church with a more comfortable chair," said Derrick Boatwright, who is a member of the church's leadership team. On on a "good" Sunday, they attract more than 100 people. "We feel like it's a safe space. ... You're less intimidated than you'd be walking into a typical cathedral building." For preaching, OneLife presently streams in sermons from the national Life.Church network, founded by Oklahoma pastor Craig Groeschel. They are looking for a full-time pastor to preach on-site. 2,132 churches are currently listed as "active churches" on the website of the South Carolina Baptist Convention's website. Tomlin United Tour removes VIP option amid backlash over celebrity-style commercialized worship Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Following scrutiny from online critics, Hillsong United and Chris Tomlin eliminated the "VIP" ticket option from their upcoming United States concert tour. The Tomlin United Tour concert tickets, which went on sale Oct. 22, no longer include a VIP option that allowed buyers to walk on stage with the artists and take pictures in a catwalk-style photoshoot. The VIP ticket option also allowed buyers to receive premium seats, exclusive gifts and meet-and-greets. However, the inclusion of a staged catwalk for the artists and their fan base took things a step too far, according to online critics, who said that Hillsong United and Tomlin were engaging in celebrity-style commercialized worship. Tom Read, the founder of the United Kingdoms Modern Hymnal, took to Twitter to express his distaste about the ticket option. I'm not sure which is worse: that Hillsong and Chris Tomlin think that this is OK in the context of worship; or that there's actually a demand for it? he tweeted. Some people will think that I'm being unfair here, or unnecessarily divisive, but at what point are we allowed to say something is not OK? Because this is not OK, and justifying it just contributes to the problem. Read, who said he's been heavily influenced by both Hillsong United and Tomlin, added that the option for VIP tickets was hugely disappointing, but sadly not surprising. Modern day worship has become so corrupt that I have no doubt Jesus would flip the tables on so much of it, he wrote. In my opinion, worship needs its own reformation that rids itself of the celebrity culture that it's become so entrenched in This will continue as long as we give a platform for it to continue. So please, do not buy a 'VIP EXPERIENCE' for worship events. It's the opposite of what worship should be about. We need to do better. [Hillsong United and Chris Tomlin] have both actively branded themselves as worship leaders for the last 20+ years so I don't think they get off on a technicality, Read added. However, Chris Llewellyn, a Rend Collective worship band member, said in an op-ed for Premier Christianity that tours would not be possible without VIP options, which typically provide financial perks that allow the artists to afford their tours. "One of the main mechanisms by which large Christian concerts actually break even is via upgraded ticketing think 'VIP experience' or through sponsorship, he said. I can say confidently that without these things my own band would be unable to tour. This is because we already reduce our ticket prices to staggeringly low rates compared to equivalent artists in the secular world to make the concerts as accessible as possible, continued Llewellyn. "Yes, there's a price tag for [VIP] service, but in a world of compromise, I'd rather offer this service at an extra charge to people who have expressed that they want it, than have to have a more expensive ticket for everyone," he added. Hillsong United and Tomlins concert tickets for their 33-day tour are available now with a new option to buy Experiences instead of VIP tickets. Despite the controversy surrounding VIP tickets, Tomlin and Hillsong UNITED remain optimistic about the upcoming tour. In an interview with The Christian Post, Tomlin, who is behind worship hits like "How Great is Our God" and "Good Good Father," said that it's "critical" for believers to come together in worship. "For me, what is so important to remember is that music is God's idea. ... Isn't that beautiful? God gave us not only a way to worship Him but also to connect and communicate with Him through music. Worship is different from any other concert. It's your soul connecting to God. It's eternal and an opportunity to join in everlasting praise." Jonathon Douglass of Hillsong United told CP that the artists have a "real sense of trust that this is the right time" to resume in-person concerts. "We really believe this tour is going to be an experience unlike any other," he said. "We've wanted to do this for a long time and we have a real sense of trust in the fact that this is the right time. We want these nights to be about hope, the living hope, and for people to leave with a little more of it than they came in with. Music has the power to touch people in this way, and I'm excited for that." Father gets 11 years in prison for drowning daughter in church baptismal pool Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A judge in northern California has sentenced a man to 11 years in prison for drowning his 4-year-old daughter in the baptismal pool of a Catholic church while high on methamphetamine. Sonoma County Superior Court Judge Robert LaForge took just three minutes Wednesday to sentence Gerardo Mendoza Ordaz to 11 years in prison for voluntary manslaughter for drowning his daughter Maria Jose Ordaz Chavarria five years ago. The drowning took place in a cross-shaped pool inside St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Healdsburg on Nov. 20, 2016, The Press Democrat reported. Ordaz agreed to plead no contest to voluntary manslaughter and child abuse charges in lieu of a murder charge, which could have led to a 25 years-to-life sentence. Ordaz faced a charge of child abuse for the emotional trauma inflicted on his son, now 14, who witnessed the killing of his sister. Certainly, Im going to give you the maximum allowed by law based on what I read, the judge said. There were a couple things that were concerning. Your statement was concerning, minimizing. I want you to know that. After smoking methamphetamine and going without sleep for three days, Ordaz started believing that his two youngest children as well as himself were being attacked by evil. He walked the children a mile and a half away from their home to St. Johns on the evening of Nov. 20, 2016 and looked for a priest. After he couldnt find a priest, Ordaz took his daughter and his 9-year-old son to the churchs cross-shaped baptismal pool filled with one to two feet of water, believing the holy water would drive away the spirits in himself and his children. He told police that he drank the holy water and told his children to drink the water, too. According to a written report prepared by a probation officer, Ordaz claimed that he just gave her water and never submerged her. He commented that when he gave her water, her hair went up (levitated) and he was afraid, so he gave her more water with his hand, as per court documents. He alleged that after she drowned and made a noise, he carried her body to the nearby police station and sought assistance. Thats how this tragedy happened, Ordaz recalled, claiming his daughter did not cry or scream before she died. Local news outlet KTVU reported that Ordaz stood naked in the police stations parking lot yelling help and police in Spanish. While Maria was fully clothed and drenched with holy water, his son was only wearing shorts. After the incident, Ordaz went to a state hospital for mental treatment. He was brought back to police in 2019, when doctors concluded that his mental health had been restored. He later expressed some degree of remorse for what happened, acknowledging that he had some part in the incident. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott says anyone denied organ transplant due to COVID vaccine status will get care in his state Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Texas Gov. Greg Abbotts office has announced the state will not require people in need of life-saving organ transplants to get the COVID-19 vaccine in order to receive treatment. Abbotts office told Fox News in a statement that, regarding people seeking necessary organ transplants, vaccines remain voluntary and never forced. Anyone being denied critical, life-saving organ transplants is welcome here in Texas, where ones rights and freedoms are always protected, Abbotts office said. Wesley J. Smith of the conservative publication The National Review commended Texas for their decision while denouncing denials of organ transplants on the basis of vaccination status. So, which state really cares about the well-being of these very ill patients? Clearly, Texas. But dont expect the usual media suspects and critics to give the state credit, wrote Smith. That would interfere with the false narrative that rejecting mandates is akin to killing people, even though Colorados transplant refusals more aptly fit that description. Smith was alluding to the highly publicized decision by UCHealth to prohibit organ transplants for patients who refused to be vaccinated against COVID-19. UCHealth spokesperson Kelly Tracer told USA Today that, "in almost all situations, transplant recipients and living donors" in their system "are now required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 in addition to meeting other health requirements." Organ transplant patients must undergo a host of requirements before being allowed to receive a new organ, according to Tracer, in order to better guarantee a successful transplant. Patients may also be required to avoid alcohol, stop smoking, or prove they will be able to continue taking their anti-rejection medications long after their transplant surgery, Tracer also told USA Today. These requirements increase the likelihood that a transplant will be successful and the patient will avoid rejection. According to a review article published in January by Yorg Azzi et al., individuals seeking organ transplantation procedures may be at high risk from COVID-19 disease due to chronic immunosuppressive treatment and other medical comorbidities. In addition to high rates of complications and mortality attributable to COVID-19 infections, the pandemic has also led to additional complexities in transplantation, read the review article abstract. Transplant activity during a pandemic should be tailored with careful selection of both donors and recipients. In recent weeks, several reports have emerged out of Colorado where hospitals have denied unvaccinated patients organ transplants. Colorados UCHealth recently told Dawn McLaughlin, a woman with polycystic kidney disease, she was removed from the waitlist to receive a transplant because she hadnt gotten the COVID vaccine, CBS4 reported. Also in October, Colorado woman, Leilani Lutali, was told her hospital won't approve her kidney transplant surgery to remedy her stage 5 kidney disease until she's gotten the COVID-19 vaccine, according to a report from The Associated Press. The Marxist move to cancel Jefferson Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment In our age of historical revisionism, the city officials in New York City have set their sights on a statue of our third president, Thomas Jefferson. This is a statue that has been in City Hall since 1833. It was moved about 80 years ago to the actual chamber where the business of the city is conducted. "Jefferson Statue Will Be Removed From N.Y.C. Council Chambers," declaresTheNew York Times. The story notes: "Black, Latino and Asian City Council members who find the sculpture oppressive and racist may finally win a two-decade fight to remove it from their chamber." The city's Public Design Commission unanimously voted Monday to remove the statue. The Times notes, Though Jefferson, one of the nations founding fathers, wrote about equality in the Declaration of Independence, he enslaved more than 600 people and fathered six children with one of them, Sally Hemings. Of course, there is no justification from a moral and biblical perspective for slavery. Sadly, Thomas Jefferson was born into the tradition of slavery. He did not free his own slaves, even though as a younger man, he did make some attempts to fight it. Also, there are some who doubt that the DNA testing proved that Thomas was the Jefferson who had children with Sally Hemings. When Jefferson wrote his first draft of the Declaration of Independence, it contained a strong denunciation of slavery and of the colonists attempt to at least stop the slave trade. A measure that King George vetoed. Unfortunately, this slavery passage from the Declaration got cut so that all the members of the Continental Congress could unanimously agree on independence. In my humble opinion, the most enduring legacy of Jefferson is that he helped set the framework by which the slaves could be free one day. As the author of the first draft of the Declaration of Independence, he made it clear that our rights come from the Creator. Abraham Lincoln was greatly inspired by the truths of the Declaration of Independence. When he delivered his Gettysburg Address, the four score and seven years ago refers to the Declaration of Independence. To paraphrase Lincoln, America in 1863 was now poised in this great conflict to make those words of Jefferson apply to all that all men are created equal. Dr. Mark Beliles is a minister in the Charlottesville area. After the melee in his city in 2017, he and a black minister teamed up to create Healing4Charlottesville. Several years ago, Beliles and I joined forces to write a book on the faith (or lack thereof) of our third president, Doubting Thomas (MorganJames 2014). The book makes two main points: Jefferson was not a lifelong skeptic, and he didnt believe in the separation of God and state. I asked Beliles, president of the America Transformation Company, for a comment about this plan to remove the Jefferson statue in NYC. He told me that we find this statue-removal phenomenon in areas dominated by the Left, not the Right: It is purely a partisan effort to appease radical elements in their party and get or maintain votes. Beliles noted, But the whole reasoning is hypocritical since that very party was the one that defended slavery, and gave birth to segregation, Jim Crow, lynchings, and the Ku Klux Klan and erected all the Confederate statues. Never did the Republican Party advocate those things. Beliles observes the irony in all this: Furthermore, the reasoning for removing these statues is flawed because it requires alignment by historical persons to majority standards that did not exist in their era, and it has no logical end since there will always be found flaws in human leaders. Beliles adds, There is no way to have a unified social identity as a nation with this flawed standard. In reality, it is a tool of disunion used by Marxists to undermine unity in culture and create an environment for revolution. It must be resisted. Jarrett Stepman, a writer and commentator with the Heritage Foundation, wrote a book, The War on History. In reference to this NYC-Jefferson controversy, he told me: "Thomas Jefferson was a great man and great American whose words and accomplishments have been a stumbling block to tyrants for the past two centuries.That the New York City Council even considers removing his statue from city hall is an indictment on New York's political leaders, not Jefferson." If only perfect people can have their statues remain, then how many statues can there be? In fact, the only perfect human being who ever lived was Jesus Christ. And yet just the other week a statue of Him was desecrated outside of a church in the greater Miami area. In this removal of Jeffersons statue in New York City, the Marxist war on America as founded goes on unabated. Twitter suspends Republican congressmans account for calling Rachel Levine a man Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Twitter has suspended the account of a Republican congressman who posted a tweet noting that President Joe Biden's U.S. Assistant Secretary of Health, Rachel Levine, who identifies as transgender, is a man. Rep. Jim Banks, R-Ind., was suspended Saturday after posting a tweet in response to Levine who went by the name Richard before he began identifying as female becoming the first trans-identified four-star officer in the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps. Banks has been temporarily blocked from using his Twitter account until he agrees to delete the tweet calling Levine a man, according to NBC News. In the now-deleted tweet posted Tuesday, Banks lamented that the title of first female four-star officer gets taken by a man. Twitter claimed that the tweet violated its hateful conduct policy, which prohibits tweets that engage in misgendering or deadnaming of transgender individuals. For his part, Banks took to his Instagram account to post a statement denouncing the actions of Twitter, saying that the social media site was censoring a basic truth. My tweet was a statement of fact. Big Tech doesnt have to agree with me, but they shouldnt be able to cancel me. If they silence me, they will silence you, he warned. We cant allow Big Tech to prevent us from telling the truth. When Republicans take back the House next year, we must restore honesty to our public forums and hold Big Tech accountable. Levine was the previous secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Health and was confirmed by the U.S. Senate in March to be assistant secretary for the Department of Health and Human Services in a 52-48 vote. In a tweet still visible as of Monday morning, Banks criticized the hailing of Levine as the first female four-star officer at the corps, arguing that it disrespected biological females. Calling someone that was born and lived as a man for 54 years the first female four-star officer is an insult to every little girl who dreams of breaking glass ceilings one day, tweeted Banks on Oct. 19. Calling someone that was born and lived as a man for 54 years the first "female" four-star officer is an insult to every little girl who dreams of breaking glass ceilings one day. https://t.co/bHKmJbE6cA Jim Banks (@RepJimBanks) October 19, 2021 While speaking during the swearing-in ceremony, Levine expressed optimism that there would be more efforts at diversifying the ranks of the corps. Levine who plans to regularly wear the blue uniform of the corps delivered remarks after being sworn in. May this appointment today be the first of many more to come, the new admiral said. Diversity makes us stronger. pic.twitter.com/JepXrOcFZH Dan Diamond (@ddiamond) October 19, 2021 May this appointment today be the first of many more to come, stated Levine. Diversity makes us stronger. Banks is not the first person to face repercussions from Twitter for asserting that Levine is a biological male. On Jan. 20, the day of Bidens inauguration, radio host Michael Brown sent out a tweet asking, Will I get punished by Twitter for saying that, in Gods sight, Rachel Levine (nominated by Biden to be his assistant secretary for HHS) is a man? Shortly after that, Brown was locked out of his account for 12 hours. A recent report from a media watchdog reveals that censorship of conservative politicians is not an uncommon phenomenon. The Media Research Center found that censorship of Republican members of Congress outnumbers censorship of Democrats in Congress by a ratio of 54 to 1. Amazon driver in blonde wig filmed naked girls in women's bathroom with pen camera, police say Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment An Amazon driver has been arrested for wearing a wig and going into a girls bathroom while wearing shoes equipped with cameras. The Wrentham Police Department in Wrentham, Massachusetts, announced Tuesday that it arrested 23-year-old Jacob Guerrero of Woonsocket, Rhode Island, for possession of child pornography as well as violating the states upskirt law. Guerrero was arrested Monday night in the Amazon parking lot and was arraigned in Wrentham District Court Tuesday morning. The initial incident and subsequent investigation began August 24, 2021 when Wrentham Police received a call from customers at the Wrentham Outlets reporting a person who appeared to be a man acting suspiciously in the public Ladies bathroom, Wrentham Police Chief Bill McGrath said in a statement. A witness photograph of Guerrero revealed the suspect wearing a blonde wig. During the August 24th incident, the suspect, wearing a blonde wig, reportedly entered the Ladies room and occupied stalls next to adjoining stalls that women and younger girls, estimated to be 12-15 years old, were using, McGrath stated. The initial investigation revealed the suspect appeared to have a pen camera fastened to his sneaker. Pen cameras are easily concealed surveillance cameras that have the ability to record video and photos on Micro SD cards contained within the pen. Guerrero escaped the scene before police arrived, but Wrentham Police tracked him down using surveillance camera footage. While Guerrero was arrested on Sept. 2 for violating a law banning the photography of an unsuspecting nude person, he was released on bail later that day. Following his release, the investigation continued. The Wrentham Police Department uncovered evidence in Guerreros vehicle that led to issuing a second arrest warrant for 12 counts of possession of child pornography. The child pornography found in Guerreros possession indicated that his voyeurism extended far beyond the Aug. 24 incident at the Wrentham Outlets. The evidence obtained from the search warrant includes twelve videos where the unsuspecting victims were either nude or partially nude. Five of the twelve victims were under the age of 18. Of the victims under 18 years old, several are estimated to be between 8 and 11 years old. In at [least] one case, the evidence suggests the suspect secretly recorded a young girl through her bedroom window as she undressed. In an interview with CBS Boston, McGrath elaborated on the investigation, saying that Guerrero engaged in illegal activity while working as an Amazon delivery driver. He had returned to a home that was on his route and actually filmed a child through a second-story window, McGrath said. The statement from the Wrentham Police Department explained that the investigation into Guerrero is active and on-going, including several law enforcement agencies in more than one state. CBS Boston reported that most of the video footage contained on Guerreros phone was taken during trips he took to New Jersey and California in his capacity as an Amazon delivery driver. Guerreros arrest comes amid renewed concerns about sexual predators in restrooms. Last week, a report from The Daily Wire detailing how a boy allegedly wearing a skirt raped a teenage girl in the girls bathroom at her Loudoun County, Virginia, high school caused outrage among parents and accusations of a cover-up. The May 28 sexual assault occurred as the Loudoun County School District considered implementing a policy allowing trans-identified students to use bathrooms that correspond with their gender identities. When asked at a June 22 school board meeting if any sexual assaults at the hands of a trans-identified student had ever taken place, Superintendent of Schools Scott Ziegler denied that such an assault had occurred. The school board approved the transgender bathroom policy on Aug. 10. More than four months later, the May 28 sexual assault perpetrator, who had been transferred to another school in the district after the incident, sexually assaulted another teenage girl in an empty classroom. Upon learning this, the father of the first victim, Scott Smith, went public with his story. In response to the backlash, Ziegler apologized for the districts response to the assaults in remarks slammed by parent groups as insufficient. Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment I am not an anti-vaxxer, and plenty of my friends and colleagues have been vaccinated. From the perspective of those who believe that the COVId vaccinations are safe and effective and even life-saving, I can understand the desire to see everyone vaccinated. But what I cannot possibly understand is the threatening, vindictive, heavy-handed bullying in conjunction with the mandates. Not only are these unfair and even cruel, but they give fuel to the fire of those who view the mandates as nothing less than dangerous governmental overreach. Consider this October 18 story from The Hill which states that, "Chicago police officers could face repercussions, including losing retirement benefits, if they choose to not comply with the city's vaccine mandate, according to a memo from the Chicago Police Department." "The memo states that anyone who chooses to disobey the city's vaccination policy will become the subject of a disciplinary investigation that could result in a penalty up to and including separation from the Chicago Police Department, according to CNN." "'Furthermore, sworn members who retire while under disciplinary investigations may be denied retirement credentials,' it continues." How can this possibly be justified? Were talking about people who, in good conscience, will not be vaccinated, be it for medical reasons or religious reasons, or something else (including having natural immunity after having COVID). They are even willing to lose their jobs rather than get vaccinated. But, as if that was not bad enough, according to this report, the city of Chicago may actually strip away their retirement benefits. Is this anything less than outrageous? A few weeks ago on my radio broadcast, a caller asked for counsel regarding the vaccine. He had served in the military for years but had serious reservations about getting vaccinated. He explained what would happen if he were to pass on vaccination: Not only would he be dismissed but he would lose all the military benefits he had accrued over the years. I was shocked to hear this, searching online for confirmation after the show (although the caller seemed quite sure that this was the case). Although there are varied reports circulating online, early last month, House legislators openly challenged the announcement that those who refused vaccination would receive a dishonorable discharge. (For the record, and as noted on a military transition website, "A Dishonorable Discharge is the harshest discharge status a military service member can receive, as it is given via court-martial and not by the military administration. Service members who receive this standing are accused of felonies involving homicide, fraud, desertion, and crimes that would put any person, service member or not, in hot water. If you receive a Dishonorable Discharge, it is not possible to reenlist with the military.") But was this charge true? Were military members being threatened with a dishonorable discharge? Some fact-checkers have said plainly that this is not correct and that the Biden administration does not have the authority to do this. Yet this does beg the question of why the Military.com website reported on September 2 that, "House lawmakers have backed legislation prohibiting dishonorable discharges for troops who refuse the COVID-19 vaccine." It also begs the question of how and why news outlets were reporting this very thing. Was it manufactured out of thin air? Even if this was being reported erroneously and dishonorable discharges were never being considered, we do know that on October 15, it was reported that, "The US Navy said Thursday that personnel who refuse to be vaccinated against Covid-19 will be expelled from the force, ahead of the November 28 deadline for the injection." And this: "People expelled for refusing the vaccine will receive a general honorable discharge, but could lose certain benefits or be forced to repay the cost of training and education in some cases" the statement said. Note carefully those words: lose certain benefits. And all because, in good conscience, they will not be vaccinated. How can this be justified? The article also stated that "Navy personnel who can claim an exemption from mandatory vaccines, for health or other reasons, can be reassigned from their current duties." And, it explained, "The Navy has been particularly sensitive to the pandemic, because of the risk that a single COVID case could infect an entire ship or submarine at sea, forcing it out of action." But what about natural immunity for all those who have had COVID? Since this is far more effective than a vaccine, why must those people be vaccinated? As reported on Medical News Today, a major study from Israel "indicated that people who had never had the infection and received a vaccine in January or February of 2021 were up to 13 times more likely to contract the virus than people who had already had the infection." Yet these people face the choice of vaccination or else, and that or else is quite ominous. How can this be justified? When it comes to those serving in the military, were talking about people who, for the most part, are in one of the lowest demographics for COVID fatalities. And were talking about people who have chosen to serve in the military, some for many years of their lives. And in some cases, were talking about people who have risked their lives and disrupted their families, and perhaps even been wounded in the field of duty. Yet, if for reasons that are valid in their eyes, they cannot receive the vaccination, not only do they lose their current jobs. Not only do they lose their military career trajectories (where that applies), but they also lose all the benefits they have accrued over the years. What an outrage, especially when you consider that it is for those very benefits, such as college tuition aid, that some of them enrolled in the first place. Again, I am not an anti-vaxxer. As much as I very strongly differ with the vaccine mandates, I can understand some of the thinking behind the mandates. But these vindictive and punitive measures are outrageous and completely unjustifiable. In the end, they will do more harm than good, hurting lives more than saving lives while increasing our general mistrust of authority. May those in government (along with others enforcing these mandates) think long and hard. There is still time to reconsider, retract, and reverse course. That would be the honorable thing to do. Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment The Financial Times reported last week that China tested a new nuclear-capable hypersonic missile, a development that surprised U.S. intelligence agencies. This comes as China also continues to develop its conventional military capabilities. Nowhere will Chinas military buildup be felt more keenly than in Taiwan. Just days before Taiwan celebrated its 110th National Day at the beginning of October, Chinese President Xi Jinping sent almost 150 warplanes into Taiwans air defense zone. This show of force marks the largest threat to Taiwanese airspace since the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) took control of mainland China 72 years ago. These events make it clear that Beijing is seriously upping the ante, and it signals that a military invasion may now be more likely than ever before. Taiwan is an island off the coast of mainland China with which the United States has long-standing commitments that are partially outlined in the Taiwan Relations Act of 1979. But for its part, the Biden administration met Beijings provocations toward Taiwan with lackluster and at times confusing statements urging Beijing to stop pressuring Taiwan. So, why does the future of Taiwan matter to Americans, and specifically to American Christians? Tensions between China and Taiwan point to a larger global struggle between authoritarianism and freedom. And for the 23 million people who currently live in Taiwan, the prospect of the CCP taking over would mean an abrupt end to many of the human rights they currently enjoy, including freedom of speech, political participation, and religious freedom. Chinese President Xi views Taiwan as a breakaway province, but the reality is that the CCP has never ruled Taiwan. In a speech delivered on Chinas national day, following days of military drills close to Taiwan, Xi struck a nationalist tone, declaring, The historic mission of achieving the complete unification of our country must be realized, and can be realized. While this narrative plays well for Xi on the mainland, most Taiwanese citizens would reject unification with China even if ideal conditions were guaranteed. The day after Xis speech, Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen responded in a speech of her own, saying, [W]e 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... as it offers neither a free and democratic way of life for Taiwan, nor sovereignty for our 23 million people. And this is exactly what President Tsai says is at the heart of the issue not only a dispute about territory or sovereignty but also a debate over which vision of government is better. Do free countries want to see Taiwan succumb to the oppressive authoritarian leadership of the CCP as seen in mainland China? Or see it remain a democratic society, which while flawed, protects the most basic human rights for its people and gives its citizens a voice in the government? For Christians, the answer is obvious. The concept of Imago Dei, found in Genesis 1:27, teaches that every human person is created in the image of God. Because of the worth and value that all people inherently possess, they have God-given rights that the American Founders called unalienable rights and international law identifies as human rights. These include core rights such as the right to life, freedom of expression, religious freedom, and others outlined in the Universal Declaration on Human Rights. We can treat people with human dignity by working to protect people against authoritarian regimes like Chinas. We want to see more people living under governments that respect human dignity, not the other way around. The world has already seen the consequences when China takes over a freedom-loving population. Over the past couple of years, President Xis government effectively eliminated political rights and freedom of expression in Hong Kong. We dont want to see this happen to Taiwan, too. President Tsai met Chinas bullying with a principled reminder to the free world. In a recent op-ed in Foreign Affairs, she wrote, [I]f Taiwan were to fall, the consequences would be catastrophic for regional peace and the democratic alliance system. It would signal that in todays global contest of values, authoritarianism has the upper hand over democracy. The values that Taiwan shares with America should be the backbone of our friendship. Now more than ever, Taiwan needs and deserves American support. The United States should offer robust support for Taiwan in practical ways. This includes supporting Taiwans defense weaponry system, especially its missile defense and air to surface capacities, in order to deter an invasion. In addition, the United States, along with other allies, should hold military exercises on the Taiwan Strait, demonstrating American support for Taiwan and a presence in the region. The Taiwanese people formerly spent four decades under martial law, then demanded and successfully achieved democracy. That shift has led to greater prosperity and human flourishing. Today, Taiwan is a shining example for people suffering under authoritarian regimes that change can happen. To stand with Taiwan is to stand for fundamental human rights, including religious freedom. The United States should do so without reservation. Originally published at the Family Research Council. 79-year-old American pastor kidnapped 2 weeks before missionaries in Haiti still missing Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Nearly two weeks before the notorious 400 Mawozo gang in Haiti kidnapped 17 mostly American missionaries and demanded a $17 million ransom, Pastor Jean Pierre Ferrer Michel, another American, was abducted from his church along with two others. And like the missionaries, Michel is still missing. They dont talk about it, like they are talking about the case of the group of 17. But this man is an American citizen, too, a family friend told the Miami Herald on the condition of anonymity in a recent interview about the kidnapping of Michel, who is a founding member of the church Jesus Center in Delmas 29. Its not the same attention that the 17 people who they abducted in Croix-des-Bouquets are getting. A Haiti Libre report said at about 8 a.m. on Oct. 3, heavily armed individuals dressed in different uniforms of the National Police of Haiti kidnapped Michel, 79, Isabelle Devendegis and Norman Weiner in front of the Jesus Center Church of Delmas 29. While the gang released the female congregant, Michel and Weiner are still being held hostage even though they have paid a ransom that was initially $15 million for the three Christians, including $8 million for Michel. When they (gangsters) say dollars, you dont know if they are talking about American dollars or Haitian, the family friend said. They asked us for a ransom, the two families came together and paid a ransom and after we paid it, they called and said the money wasnt enough and they cannot release them. Since then, there has been no contact. While there have been rumors that Michel had been released, the pastors wife, Maryse Michel, released a video Tuesday in Haitian Creole begging for his freedom. They have yet to release him after 17 days, she said. Hes without his medication. Hes an old man who is nearly 80 years old, and doesnt have a lot of years in front of him. Ive come to plead, and I came to ask everyone who it concerns: Release the pastor. Release my husband. Give the children back their father. Give the family back their brother because we did everything already. They are still holding them. They have to let them go. We did everything we were supposed to do. The Christian Post reached out to Michels family for further comment Thursday, but they werent immediately available. While the missionaries and Michel are now getting widespread international attention, the targeting of the church by kidnappers in Haiti has been ongoing for months and has resulted in at least one casualty. On Sept. 26, as they prepared to enter the First Baptist Church of Port-au-Prince, 60-year-old deacon Sylner Lafaille and his wife, Marie Marthe Laurent Lafaille, were attacked by a heavily armed group. They tried to kidnap the deacons wife, but he fought back the gunmen and was fatally shot for his bravery. Some church members who witnessed the attack were injured, a Haiti Libre report said. In April, gunmen were also recorded in a livestream broadcast on Facebook and YouTube kidnapping a pastor and three members of the Seventh-day Adventist Gospel Kreyol Ministry Church in Diquini on the outskirts of the capital Port-au-Prince. The pastor and his congregants were released three days later. It is unclear if a ransom was paid. Gregory M. Figaro, whose father, Greger Figaro, founded the church, told the Miami Herald that eight to 10 gunmen were involved in the attack. If this can happen, then anything is possible in the country because there is no respect for any institution, whether its a church or school, Figaro said. Earlier this week, Christian Aid Ministries said an 8-month-old baby is among the 16 American missionaries and Canadian colleague waiting to be rescued from the 400 Mawozo gang. Haitian Justice Minister Liszt Quitel confirmed Tuesday that the gang, which kidnapped the missionaries Saturday while they were working with Christian Aid Ministries, demanded $1 million each for their safe return. Christian Aid Ministries said Tuesday that officials in the troubled Caribbean nation and the U.S. are working to negotiate the release of the missionaries, which include six men, six women and five children. The international charity has been calling for prayers for the abducted group since the first day they were reported missing but called for a day of fasting on Thursday. We are entering day number five since our workers and loved ones were kidnapped in Haiti. We, along with government authorities, continue to work hard to bring them home safely. We appreciate the work of those knowledgeable and experienced in dealing with kidnapping cases, the charity said in a statement. As CAM associates, we plan to have a special day of fasting and prayer, October 21. We invite believers around the world to join us in seeking God for His mighty hand to work. Christian Aid Ministries also drew attention to the worsening crisis of governance unfolding in Haiti. Since the kidnapping of the missionaries, Haitians have taken to the streets demanding their release. Schools and most businesses were closed for a second consecutive day in Port-au-Prince Wednesday, according to The Haitian Times, following a call for a general strike to protest kidnappings and widespread insecurity which followed the assassination of the countrys late President Jovenel Moise in July. This time of difficulty reminds us of the ongoing suffering of millions of Haitians. While our workers chose to serve in Haiti, our Haitian friends endure crisis after crisis, continual violence, and economic hardship, the charity said. Despite the difficulties and dangers involved in working there, both our Haitian and American workers carry a vision to minister the love of Jesus in Haiti. Our goal is to seize opportunities around the world, even in difficult contexts, to follow in the footsteps of Jesus, who went about doing good (Acts 10:38). Radical and innovative: Cezannes love letter to a coastal French paradise A painting of Paul Cezannes sanctuary, LEstaque, represents the artist at the height of an intense surge of creativity LEstaque aux toits rouges by Paul Cezanne is one of the finest views of LEstaque, the Provencal fishing village where the artist forged a radical new way of depicting the world around him. Exhibited in 1936 and hidden away ever since, this remarkable piece will finally come back on view as part of The Cox Collection: The Story of Impressionism, taking place at Christies New York on 11 November. While Cezanne is primarily associated with Aix-en-Provence, the village of LEstaque near Marseille was a place that he returned to again and again when he sought sanctuary. His relationship with the village began when he holidayed there as a child with his mother. Then, in 1870, when Cezanne left Paris to avoid conscription into the army following the start of the Franco-Prussian War, he escaped to LEstaque. Paul Cezanne (1839-1906), LEstaque aux toits rouges, 1883-85. Oil on canvas. 25 3/4 x 32 in (65.5 x 81.4 cm). Estimate: $35,000,000-55,000,000. Offered in The Cox Collection: The Story of Impressionism on 11 November at Christies in New York In 1878, Cezanne once again fled to LEstaque to avoid the disapproval of his father, who had discovered Cezannes semi-secret family life with his unwed partner Hortense and their illegitimate son, Paul. It was in this town, secluded from his family and the art world of Paris, that Cezanne painted some of the most innovative landscapes of his career. From the Musee Picasso, Paris to the Museum of Modern Art, New York, many of these vistas of the sea seen beyond LEstaque are now housed in museum collections around the world. LEstaque aux toits rouges is one of six landscapes of this view to remain in private hands. LEstaque aux toits rouges is one of the emblematic works of that time. Painted between 1883 and 1885, when Cezanne was in his mid-forties, it shows how, through intense observation, Cezanne transformed the landscape into planes and facets of colour. Shadows are gone and the Provencal light is depicted through a brighter palette, while the balance between the trees, buildings and the flat blue sea vibrates at a perfect tension, evoking the intense heat of the south. Left: Paul Cezanne, LEstaque, 1879-83. The Museum of Modern Art, New York. Right: Paul Cezanne, La mer a LEstaque derriere les arbres, 1878-79. Musee Picasso, Paris Max Carter, Head of Christies Impressionist and Modern Art department in New York, says that the painting incorporates warm Mediterranean light in its purest form as well as the solid architectural forms that mark Cezannes career. He describes it as one of the key expressions that would lead, 30 years later, to Cubism. It is radical and innovative, says Carter. What others in the Impressionist movement were doing was capturing the immediate effect of light, what Cezanne was doing was looking at how we perceive objects. This would have a profound effect on painters who followed Cezanne, as later visits to LEstaque by artists such as Georges Braque show. [In this painting], he breaks down the colour and the structures stroke by stroke, colour by colour, Carter continues. The Cubists took these explorations to their terminal conclusion. Les Bouches-du-Rhone illustrees, c. 1935. Photograph courtesy of Fonds Alain Mothe - Societe Paul Cezanne The intense light and striking landscape of LEstaque provided Cezanne with the path towards this artistic aim. Now working predominantly from elevated viewpoints, he began to capture nature in an increasingly simplified and monumental manner. LEstaque enabled Cezanne to reconsider how he portrayed the world. Its like a playing card, he wrote to his friend and mentor Camille Pissarro in 1876. Red roofs against the blue sea Its olive trees and pines, which always keep their leaves. The sun here is so frightful that it seems to me the objects are silhouetted not in white or black, but in blue, red, brown, violet. I could be wrong, but it seems to me that this is the opposite of modeling. Sign up today Christies Online Magazine delivers our best features, videos, and auction news to your inbox every week Subscribe PASADENA, Calif. (AP) _ Alexandria Real Estate Equities Inc. (ARE) on Monday reported a key measure of profitability in its third quarter. The real estate investment trust, based in Pasadena, California, said it had funds from operations of $296 million, or $1.95 per share, in the period. Just a week ago, a scandal broke out because Hooters' new uniform "looks like underwear," according to complaints from several chain employees. One of the arguments to defend the very short shorts is that they increase the amount of tips that the girls receive. Now, a Hooters waitress revealed on TikTok how much money she makes per week just on 'extras', in addition to her salary. The tiktoker Kirsten Songer went viral at the end of 2020 for sharing her day to day as a waitress at said restaurant. The 22-year-old, better known as 'The flat Hooters girl' is described as a "medical student, Hooters girl" and "aspiring TikTok star" on her Instagram profile. Songer , a graduate of the University of South Carolina , now attends medical school , but retains her profitable network job. Last June, Kirsten revealed how much she makes a week as a Hooters waitress in tips alone . In a clip of almost a minute, the young woman shows the tickets she received during the different shifts she covered during the week. Songer's tips ranged from $ 50 to $ 408 per day ($ 1,000 to $ 8,200 Mexican pesos) . He also added the extra $ 60 that a guy at the bar gave him just for talking to him. In total, Kirsten earned about $ 1,310 (almost $ 26,500 MXN) in tips during the week . That is, your annual income potential would be around $ 70,000 . That amount is in the salary range of transportation inspectors and insurance appraisers, and is higher than the average salary in South Carolina, which is $ 54,672 a year , according to this year's Ziprecruiter data. Big tips, small salary Kristen revealed another fact that caused astonishment and outrage among netizens: her official salary as a waitress was Hooters . Since 2019, by law, anyone who works in a restaurant in the United States, regardless of what state, must receive a minimum payment of $ 7.25 per hour, including tips (about 146 Mexican pesos). However, based on the minimum wage rules in their respective states, servers can receive an effective minimum wage . That federal minimum wage for waiters and other tipped employees is just $ 2.13 an hour in South Carolina, North Carolina, Texas and Nebraska. Copyright 2021 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved Petroleo Brasileiro S.A., or Petrobras PBR is set to release third-quarter 2021 results on Oct 28. The current Zacks Consensus Estimate for the to-be-reported quarter is a profit of 61 cents per share on revenues of $22.3 billion. Lets delve into the factors that might have influenced Brazil's state-run energy giants results in the upcoming earnings. But its worth taking a look at Petrobras previous-quarter performance first. In the last reported quarter, the integrated energy major beat the consensus mark owing to the rally in oil prices, strong downstream results and favorable currency effects. Petrobras had reported earnings per ADS of $1.18, ahead of the Zacks Consensus Estimate of 92 cents. The companys revenues of $21 billion had also outperformed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 9.5%. Petrobras beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate thrice in the last four quarters and missed in the other, delivering an earnings surprise of 321.62%, on average. This is depicted in the graph below: Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. Petrobras Price and EPS Surprise Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. Petrobras price-eps-surprise | Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. Petrobras Quote Factors to Consider In the April to June period, the average sales price of oil in Brazil soared 173.4% from the year-earlier period to $65.57 per barrel. The uptick is most likely to have continued in the third quarter, thanks to the sharp rebound in commodity prices that revisited their multi-year highs following the vaccine progress and the ongoing macroeconomic recovery. This price boost is likely to have buoyed the results of the upstream unit of Petrobras. The company is also expected to have reaped the reward of a strengthening Brazilian market. Per Petrobras, in third-quarter 2021, the sale of oil products in the domestic market increased again, with a sales volume of 1,946 thousand bpd. The highlights were the increase in sales of diesel, gasoline and jet fuel. The company sold 441 million bpd of gasoline domestically, marking increases of 14.3% sequentially and 17.9% year over year. Domestic diesel sales were 867 bpd, up 6.4% sequentially and 15.7% year over year. But on a somewhat bearish note, the company is likely to have faced a decline in liquids production that makes up some 80% of its total volumes. Per Petrobras recently issued update, the company produced 2.269 million barrels per day of oil and NGLs in the third quarter, down 4% year over year. The decline could be blamed on the elimination of some older productive resources as part of Petrobras extensive divestment strategy. This might have impacted the companys revenues and cash flows in the September quarter. What Does Our Model Say? The proven Zacks model does not conclusively show that Petrobras is likely to beat estimates in the third quarter. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the chances of beating estimates. But thats not the case here. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before theyre reported with our Earnings ESP Filter. Earnings ESP: Petrobras has an Earnings ESP of 0.00%. This is because the Most Accurate Estimate and the Zacks Consensus Estimate are pegged at 61 cents per share each. Zacks Rank: Petrobras currently carries a Zacks Rank #1, which increases the predictive power of ESP. However, the companys 0.00% ESP makes surprise prediction difficult this earnings season. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. Stocks to Consider While an earnings beat looks uncertain for Petrobras, here are some firms from the energy space that you may want to consider on the basis of our model: CNX Resources Corp. CNX has an Earnings ESP of +2.79% and a Zacks Rank #1. The firm is scheduled to release earnings on Oct 28. ExxonMobil XOM has an Earnings ESP of +1.57% and is Zacks #1 Ranked. The firm is scheduled to release earnings on Oct 29. SM Energy Company SM has an Earnings ESP of +34.21% and a Zacks Rank #1. The firm is scheduled to release earnings on Oct 28. Infrastructure Stock Boom to Sweep America A massive push to rebuild the crumbling U.S. infrastructure will soon be underway. Its bipartisan, urgent, and inevitable. Trillions will be spent. Fortunes will be made. The only question is Will you get into the right stocks early when their growth potential is greatest? Zacks has released a Special Report to help you do just that, and today its free. Discover 7 special companies that look to gain the most from construction and repair to roads, bridges, and buildings, plus cargo hauling and energy transformation on an almost unimaginable scale. 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 Exxon Mobil Corporation (XOM): Free Stock Analysis Report Petroleo Brasileiro S.A. Petrobras (PBR): Free Stock Analysis Report CNX Resources Corporation. (CNX): Free Stock Analysis Report SM Energy Company (SM): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research Copyright 2021 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved Unity Software Inc. (U) closed at $145.99 in the latest trading session, marking a +1.49% move from the prior day. This change outpaced the S&P 500's 0.48% gain on the day. Heading into today, shares of the company had gained 0.93% over the past month, outpacing the Computer and Technology sector's loss of 0.56% and lagging the S&P 500's gain of 3.46% in that time. Investors will be hoping for strength from U as it approaches its next earnings release, which is expected to be November 9, 2021. In that report, analysts expect U to post earnings of -$0.06 per share. This would mark year-over-year growth of 33.33%. Our most recent consensus estimate is calling for quarterly revenue of $266.14 million, up 32.55% from the year-ago period. For the full year, our Zacks Consensus Estimates are projecting earnings of -$0.23 per share and revenue of $1.06 billion, which would represent changes of +41.03% and +37.41%, respectively, from the prior year. Any recent changes to analyst estimates for U should also be noted by investors. These revisions typically reflect the latest short-term business trends, which can change frequently. As a result, we can interpret positive estimate revisions as a good sign for the company's business outlook. Based on our research, we believe these estimate revisions are directly related to near-team stock moves. We developed the Zacks Rank to capitalize on this phenomenon. Our system takes these estimate changes into account and delivers a clear, actionable rating model. The Zacks Rank system ranges from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell). It has a remarkable, outside-audited track record of success, with #1 stocks delivering an average annual return of +25% since 1988. The Zacks Consensus EPS estimate remained stagnant within the past month. U is currently sporting a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold). The Internet - Software industry is part of the Computer and Technology sector. This industry currently has a Zacks Industry Rank of 172, which puts it in the bottom 33% of all 250+ industries. The Zacks Industry Rank gauges the strength of our individual industry groups by measuring the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks within the groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1. Be sure to follow all of these stock-moving metrics, and many more, on Zacks.com. Infrastructure Stock Boom to Sweep America A massive push to rebuild the crumbling U.S. infrastructure will soon be underway. Its bipartisan, urgent, and inevitable. Trillions will be spent. Fortunes will be made. The only question is Will you get into the right stocks early when their growth potential is greatest? Zacks has released a Special Report to help you do just that, and today its free. Discover 7 special companies that look to gain the most from construction and repair to roads, bridges, and buildings, plus cargo hauling and energy transformation on an almost unimaginable scale. 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 Unity Software Inc. (U): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Copyright 2021 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved Pfizer Inc. PFE and BioNTech SE BNTX recently announced encouraging data from a Phase 3 randomized, controlled trial studying the efficiency and safety levels of a 30-g booster dose of their COVID-19 vaccine. The trial included more than 10,000 participants of age 16 years or above. Compared to the participants who were not administered the booster shot, the data reflected relative vaccine efficiency of 95.6% against COVID-19. In the trial, the 30-g booster dose, which is the same dosage level as those in the primary series or placebo, was given to participants who had completed the initial two-dose schedule of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine and were randomized 1:1 for administering the vaccine. According to the company, roughly 11 months was the median time between the second dose and the booster dose or placebo administration. It is worth noting that the Pfizer/ BioNTech booster shot has already been authorized for people aged 65 years and above. The booster dose has also been approved to administer to individuals between 18 and 64 years of age and are at high risk of severe COVID-19. The FDA has also authorized the booster shot for people in the 18-64 years age group whose frequent institutional or occupational exposure to SARS-CoV-2 raises the risk of severe COVID-19 complications. According to the company, the booster shot can be provided at least six months post-completion of the primary series. Notably, the booster vaccine is the same formulation, composition and dosage power as the doses in the primary series. Notably, the approval was awarded on carefully evaluating the scientific evidence and clinical program data shared by the companies and reviewed by the FDAs Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC). Now, to combat the coronavirus outbreak and accelerate the distribution process of extra doses in the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and its vaccine advisory committee and the FDA approved the vaccine booster shots produced by Moderna (MRNA) and Johnson & Johnson (JNJ). As mentioned in a CNBC article, the regulators have also permitted mixing and matching vaccines. This will enable Americans to opt for a booster shot from a different developer than those that came up with the initial doses. ETFs to Shine Bright The nod for booster shots can likely enhance the confidence toward jabs, resulting in more people opting for the vaccination. This update is going to accelerate demand for coronavirus vaccines and boost the companys financials. Thus, lets take a look at ETFs with high exposure to Pfizer that can gain from the recent development: iShares U.S. Pharmaceuticals ETF IHE The fund provides exposure to U.S. companies that manufacture prescription or over-the-counter drugs or vaccines. It holds 47 stocks in its basket, with Pfizer making up for a 18.8% share. The product has AUM of about $382.1 million. The fund charges 42 basis points (bps) in fees and expenses (read: JNJ Posts Mixed Q3 Bag, Ups View: ETFs in Focus). First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index Fund FDL This ETF replicates as closely as possible, before fees and expenses, the price and yield of the Morningstar Dividend Leaders Index and holds 100 stocks in its basket. Pfizer holds 5.5% weight in the fund. The product has amassed $1.67 billion in its asset base. Expense ratio is 0.45%. iShares Evolved U.S. Innovative Healthcare ETF IEIH This fund employs data science techniques to identify companies with exposure to the innovative healthcare sector and holds 249 stocks in its basket, with Pfizer making up for a 6.5% share. The product has AUM of about $41.9 million. The fund charges 18 bps in fees and expenses (read: Take a Look at the Top-Performing Biotech ETFs YTD). Invesco Dynamic Pharmaceuticals ETF PJP This fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield, before fees and expenses, of the Dynamic Pharmaceutical Intellidex Index and holds 23 stocks in its basket, with Pfizer making up for a 5.5% share. The product has AUM of about $428.9 million. The fund charges total expense ratio of 58 bps in fees and expenses (read: ETFs to Play as Merck Shares Surge on COVID Treatment News). Infrastructure Stock Boom to Sweep America A massive push to rebuild the crumbling U.S. infrastructure will soon be underway. Its bipartisan, urgent, and inevitable. Trillions will be spent. Fortunes will be made. The only question is Will you get into the right stocks early when their growth potential is greatest? Zacks has released a Special Report to help you do just that, and today its free. Discover 7 special companies that look to gain the most from construction and repair to roads, bridges, and buildings, plus cargo hauling and energy transformation on an almost unimaginable scale. 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 Pfizer Inc. (PFE): Free Stock Analysis Report Invesco Dynamic Pharmaceuticals ETF (PJP): ETF Research Reports iShares U.S. Pharmaceuticals ETF (IHE): ETF Research Reports First Trust Morningstar Dividend Leaders ETF (FDL): ETF Research Reports iShares Evolved U.S. Innovative Healthcare ETF (IEIH): ETF Research Reports BioNTech SE Sponsored ADR (BNTX): Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research Copyright 2021 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved Rolling Stones bombshell report that multiple Republican members of Congress met with organizers of the Stop the Steal event preceding the Capitol insurrection has elicited outrage across the nation and through the halls of Congress. Lawmakers have responded to the story published Sunday night in droves, with some Democratic representatives going so far as to push for the expulsion of any members of Congress who were involved in planning the attack on the Capitol that occurred after the rally. They tried to overthrow the government, they had a plan, they executed it, and they broke many laws along the way, Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), tweeted shortly after the report was published Sunday night. The problem wont naturally fade away, he added, noting that Trump appears to be gearing up for a 2024 run at the White House. It must be confronted. They tried to overthrow the government, they had a plan, they executed it, and they broke many laws along the way. And the leader of the Party is going to run again. This problem wont naturally fade away it must be confronted. https://t.co/b9GtTplDlJ Brian Schatz (@brianschatz) October 25, 2021 Rolling Stone engaged in extensive conservations with two people who helped plan the events of Jan. 6 and who are now communicating with the House select committee investigating Jan. 6. These people shared that multiple members of Congress were intimately involved in planning both Trumps efforts to overturn his election loss and the Jan. 6 events that turned violent. Those members include Reps. Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.), Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.), Mo Brooks (R-Ala.), Madison Cawthorn (R-N.C.), Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.), and Louie Gohmert (R-Texas) all of whom voted against certifying Joe Bidens election win. Rep. Dean Phillips (D-Minn.) noted on Twitter that he called out Gosar on the House floor during the attack on Jan. 6. Thats why I screamed, THIS IS BECAUSE OF YOU! at Paul Gosar on the House floor on Jan 6 as he was undermining our democracy and his traitorous devotees were storming the Capitol, Phillips wrote. Multiple members called for the expulsion of any representatives who were involved in the planning of the violence that unfolded at the Capitol. (Rolling Stones reporting did not state that the members helped plan the actual attack on the building.) Any member of Congress who helped plot a terrorist attack on our nations Capitol must be expelled, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) tweeted on Sunday. Any member of Congress who helped plot a terrorist attack on our nations capitol must be expelled. This was a terror attack. 138 injured, almost 10 dead. Those responsible remain a danger to our democracy, our country, and human life in the vicinity of our Capitol and beyond. https://t.co/D0qLlaFjTh Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) October 25, 2021 Reps. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.), David Cicilline (D-R.I.), and Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-N.J.) said the same in tweets of their own. Any Member of Congress who plotted with Jan. 6 terrorists must be removed from Congress, Swalwell tweeted. Any Member who had knowledge of or helped plan the January 6 attack on the Capitol needs to be immediately expelled from Congress, wrote Cicilline. They cannot be trusted with the future of our democracy and country. Anyone who aided in an attack on Congress should not be permitted to be a Member of Congress, added Coleman. Period. Rep. Cori Bush (D-Mo.) tweeted a reminder that she has introduced a resolution in the House proposing an investigation and expulsion of any members who may have helped incite the riot. My resolution to investigate and expel the Members of Congress who helped incite the deadly insurrection on our Capitol is just waiting for a vote, Bush wrote. Its inexcusable to wait any longer. My resolution to investigate and expel the Members of Congress who helped incite the deadly insurrection on our Capitol is just waiting for a vote. Its inexcusable to wait any longer. Pass H.Res 25. https://t.co/HimDSDNc1I Cori Bush (@CoriBush) October 25, 2021 Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-Pa.) kept his tweet simple. Make sure you see this, he wrote, tagging the FBI and Department of Justice. Republicans have largely remained silent on the news that their colleagues helped plan the Jan. 6 events that turned violent, although Rep. Gohmert, one of the lawmakers who reportedly helped plan the events of Jan. 6, tweeted on Monday that the accusations are baseless and that he had nothing to do with the planning of the really or any criminal activity on January 6. For the purpose of a potential defamation lawsuit against those making baseless accusations of a crime, I need to know who these persons are who are alleging that I helped. #J6 pic.twitter.com/FngvSUrD7a Louie Gohmert (@replouiegohmert) October 25, 2021 Gohmert couldnt help but push the idea that FBI operatives were behind the events of Jan. 6, a conspiracy theory for which there is no evidence. Click here to read the full article. As the House investigation into the Jan. 6 attack heats up, some of the planners of the pro-Trump rallies that took place in Washington, D.C., have begun communicating with congressional investigators and sharing new information about what happened when the former presidents supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol. Two of these people have spoken to Rolling Stone extensively in recent weeks and detailed explosive allegations that multiple members of Congress were intimately involved in planning both Trumps efforts to overturn his election loss and the Jan. 6 events that turned violent. Rolling Stone separately confirmed a third person involved in the main Jan. 6 rally in D.C. has communicated with the committee. This is the first report that the committee is hearing major new allegations from potential cooperating witnesses. While there have been prior indications that members of Congress were involved, this is also the first account detailing their purported role and its scope. The two sources also claim they interacted with members of Trumps team, including former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, who they describe as having had an opportunity to prevent the violence. The two sources, both of whom have been granted anonymity due to the ongoing investigation, describe participating in dozens of planning briefings ahead of that day when Trump supporters broke into the Capitol as his election loss to President Joe Biden was being certified. I remember Marjorie Taylor Greene specifically, the organizer says. I remember talking to probably close to a dozen other members at one point or another or their staffs. For the sake of clarity, we will refer to one of the sources as a rally organizer and the other as a planner. Rolling Stone has confirmed that both sources were involved in organizing the main event aimed at objecting to the electoral certification, which took place at the White House Ellipse on Jan. 6. Trump spoke at that rally and encouraged his supporters to march to the Capitol. Some members of the audience at the Ellipse began walking the mile and a half to the Capitol as Trump gave his speech. The barricades were stormed minutes before the former president concluded his remarks. These two sources also helped plan a series of demonstrations that took place in multiple states around the country in the weeks between the election and the storming of the Capitol. According to these sources, multiple people associated with the March for Trump and Stop the Steal events that took place during this period communicated with members of Congress throughout this process. Along with Greene, the conspiratorial pro-Trump Republican from Georgia who took office earlier this year, the pair both say the members who participated in these conversations or had top staffers join in included Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.), Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.), Rep. Mo Brooks (R-Ala.), Rep. Madison Cawthorn (R-N.C.), Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.), and Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas). We would talk to Boeberts team, Cawthorns team, Gosars team like back to back to back to back, says the organizer. Jonathan Ernst-Pool/Getty Images Jonathan Ernst-Pool/Getty Images And Gosar, who has been one of the most prominent defenders of the Jan. 6 rioters, allegedly took things a step further. Both sources say he dangled the possibility of a blanket pardon in an unrelated ongoing investigation to encourage them to plan the protests. Our impression was that it was a done deal, the organizer says, that hed spoken to the president about it in the Oval in a meeting about pardons and that our names came up. They were working on submitting the paperwork and getting members of the House Freedom Caucus to sign on as a show of support. The organizer claims the pair received several assurances about the blanket pardon from Gosar. I was just going over the list of pardons and we just wanted to tell you guys how much we appreciate all the hard work youve been doing, Gosar said, according to the organizer. The rally planner describes the pardon as being offered while encouraging the staging of protests against the election. While the organizer says they did not get involved in planning the rallies solely due to the pardon, they were upset that it ultimately did not materialize. I would have done it either way with or without the pardon, the organizer says. I do truly believe in this country, but to use something like that and put that out on the table when someone is so desperate, its really not good business. Gosars office did not respond to requests for comment on this story. Rolling Stone has separately obtained documentary evidence that both sources were in contact with Gosar and Boebert on Jan. 6. We are not describing the nature of that evidence to preserve their anonymity. The House select committee investigating the attack also has interest in Gosars office. Gosars chief of staff, Thomas Van Flein, was among the people who were named in the committees sweeping requests to executive-branch agencies seeking documents and communications from within the Trump administration. Both sources claim Van Flein was personally involved in the conversations about the blanket pardon and other discussions about pro-Trump efforts to dispute the election. Van Flein did not respond to a request for comment. These specific members of Congress were involved in the pro-Trump activism around the election and the electoral certification on Jan. 6. Both Brooks and Cawthorn spoke with Trump at the Ellipse on Jan. 6. In his speech at that event, Brooks, who was reportedly wearing body armor, declared, Today is the day American patriots start taking down names and kicking ass. Gosar, Greene, and Boebert were all billed as speakers at the Wild Protest, which also took place on Jan. 6 at the Capitol. Nick Dyer, who is Greenes communications director, said she was solely involved in planning to object to the electoral certification on the House floor. Spokespeople for the other members of Congress, who the sources describe as involved in the planning for protests, did not respond to requests for comment. Congresswoman Greene and her staff were focused on the Congressional election objection on the House floor and had nothing to do with planning of any protest, Dyer wrote in an email to Rolling Stone. Ben Gray/AP Ben Gray/AP Dyer further compared Greenes efforts to dispute certification of Bidens victory with similar objections certain Democrats lodged against Trumps first election. She objected just like Democrats who have objected to Republican presidential victories over the years, wrote Dyer. Just like in 2017, when Jim McGovern, Jamie Raskin, Pramila Jayapal, Barbara Lee, Sheila Jackson Lee, Raul Grijalva, and Maxine Waters tried to prevent President Trumps election win from being certified. Dyer also suggested the public is far more concerned with issues occurring under President Joe Biden than they are with what happened in January. No one cares about Jan. 6 when gas prices are skyrocketing, grocery store shelves are empty, unemployment is skyrocketing, businesses are going bankrupt, our border is being invaded, children are forced to wear masks, vaccine mandates are getting workers fired, and 13 members of our military are murdered by the Taliban and Americans are left stranded in Afghanistan, Dyer wrote. In another indication members of Congress may have been involved in planning the protests against the election, Ali Alexander, who helped organize the Wild Protest, declared in a since-deleted livestream broadcast that Gosar, Brooks, and Biggs helped him formulate the strategy for that event. I was the person who came up with the Jan. 6 idea with Congressman Gosar, Congressman Mo Brooks, and Congressman Andy Biggs, Alexander said at the time. We four schemed up on putting maximum pressure on Congress while they were voting so that who we couldnt lobby we could change the hearts and the minds of Republicans who were in that body hearing our loud roar from outside. Alexander led Stop the Steal, which was one of the main groups promoting efforts to dispute Trumps loss. In December, he organized a Stop the Steal event in Phoenix, where Gosar was one the main speakers. At that demonstration, Alexander referred to Gosar as my captain and declared one of the other heroes has been Congressman Andy Biggs. Alexander did not respond to requests for comment. The rally planner, who accused Alexander of ratcheting up the potential for violence that day while taking advantage of funds from donors and others who helped finance the events, confirmed that he was in contact with those three members of Congress. He just couldnt help himself but go on his live and just talk about everything that he did and who he talked to, the planner says of Alexander. So, he, like, really told on himself. While it was already clear members of Congress played some role in the Jan. 6 events and similar rallies that occurred in the lead-up to that day, the two sources say they can provide new details about the members specific roles in these efforts. The sources plan to share that information with congressional investigators right away. While both sources say their communications with the Houses Jan. 6 committee thus far have been informal, they are expecting to testify publicly. I have no problem openly testifying, the planner says. A representative for the committee declined to comment. In the past month, the committee has issued subpoenas to top Trump allies, government agencies, and activists who were involved in the planning of events and rallies that took place on that day and in the prior weeks. Multiple sources familiar with the committees investigation have confirmed to Rolling Stone that, thus far, it seems to be heavily focused on the financing for the Ellipse rally and similar previous events. Both of the sources made clear that they still believe in Trumps agenda. They also have questions about how his election loss occurred. The two sources say they do not necessarily believe there were issues with the actual vote count. However, they are concerned that Democrats gained an unfair advantage in the race due to perceived social media censorship of Trump allies and the voting rules that were implemented as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. Democrats used tactics to disrupt their political opposition in ways that frankly were completely unacceptable, the organizer says. Despite their remaining affinity for Trump and their questions about the vote, both sources say they were motivated to come forward because of their concerns about how the pro-Trump protests against the election ultimately resulted in the violent attack on the Capitol. Of course, with their other legal issues and the House investigation, both of these sources have clear motivation to cooperate with investigators and turn on their former allies. And both of their accounts paint them in a decidedly favorable light compared with their former allies. The reason Im talking to the committee and the reason its so important is that despite Republicans refusing to participate this commissions all we got as far as being able to uncover the truth about what happened at the Capitol that day, the organizer says. Its clear that a lot of bad actors set out to cause chaos. They made us all look like shit. And Trump, they admit, was one of those bad actors. A representative for Trump did not respond to a request for comment. The breaking point for me [on Jan. 6 was when] Trump starts talking about walking to the Capitol, the organizer says. I was like. Lets get the fuck out of here. I do kind of feel abandoned by Trump, says the planner. Im actually pretty pissed about it and Im pissed at him. The organizer offers an even more succinct assessment when asked what they would say to Trump. What the fuck? the organizer says. The two potential witnesses plan to present to the committee allegations about how these demonstrations were funded and to detail communications between organizers and the White House. According to both sources, members of Trumps administration and former members of his campaign team were involved in the planning. Both describe Katrina Pierson, who worked for Trumps campaign in 2016 and 2020, as a key liaison between the organizers of protests against the election and the White House. Katrina was like our go-to girl, the organizer says. She was like our primary advocate. Pierson spoke at the Ellipse rally on Jan. 6. She did not respond to requests for comment. Both sources also describe Trumps White House chief of staff, Mark Meadows, as someone who played a major role in the conversations surrounding the protests on Jan. 6. Among other things, they both say concerns were raised to Meadows about Alexanders protest at the Capitol and the potential that it could spark violence. Meadows was subpoenaed by the committee last month as part of a group of four people with close ties to the former President who were working in or had communications with the White House on or in the days leading up to the January 6th insurrection. Meadows was 100 percent made aware of what was going on, says the organizer. Hes also like a regular figure in these really tiny groups of national organizers. A separate third source, who has also communicated with the committee and was involved in the Ellipse rally, says Kylie Kremer, one of the key organizers at that event, boasted that she was going to meet with Meadows at the White House ahead of the rally. The committee has been provided with that information. Kremer did not respond to a request for comment. Both the organizer and the planner say Alexander initially agreed he would not hold his Wild Protest at the Capitol and that the Ellipse would be the only major demonstration. When Alexander seemed to be ignoring that arrangement, both claim worries were brought to Meadows. Despite making a deal they plowed forward with their own thing at the Capitol on Jan.y 6 anyway, the organizer says of Alexander and his allies. We ended up escalating that to everybody we could, including Meadows. A representative for Meadows did not respond to requests for comment. Along with making plans for Jan. 6, the sources say, the members of Congress who were involved solicited supposed proof of election fraud from them. Challenging electoral certification requires the support of a member of the Senate. While more than a hundred Republican members of the House ultimately objected to the Electoral College count that formalized Trumps loss, only a handful of senators backed the effort. According to the sources, the members of Congress and their staff advised them to hold rallies in specific states. The organizer says locations were chosen to put pressure on key senators that we considered to be persuadable. We had also been coordinating with some of our congressional contacts on, like, what would be presented after the individual objections, and our expectation was that that was the day the storm was going to arrive, the organizer says, adding, It was supposed to be the best evidence that they had been secretly gathering. Everyone was going to stay at the Ellipse throughout the congressional thing. Heading into Jan. 6, both sources say, the plan they had discussed with other organizers, Trump allies, and members of Congress was a rally that would solely take place at the Ellipse, where speakers including the former president would present evidence about issues with the election. This demonstration would take place in conjunction with objections that were being made by Trump allies during the certification on the House floor that day. It was in a variety of calls, some with Gosar and Gosars team, some with Marjorie Taylor Greene and her team Mo Brooks, the organizer says. The Capitol was never in play, insists the planner. A senior staffer for a Republican member of Congress, who was also granted anonymity to discuss the ongoing investigation, similarly says they believed the events would only involve supporting objections on the House floor. The staffer says their member was engaged in planning that was specifically and fully above board. A whole host of people let this go a totally different way, the senior Republican staffer says. They fucked it up for a lot of people who were planning to present evidence on the House floor. We were pissed off at everything that happened . The two sources claim there were early concerns about Alexanders event. They had seen him with members of the paramilitary groups 1st Amendment Praetorian (1AP) and the Oath Keepers in his entourage at prior pro-Trump rallies. Alexander was filmed with a reputed member of 1AP at his side at a November Stop the Steal event that took place in Georgia. The two sources also claim to have been concerned about drawing people to the area directly adjacent to the Capitol on Jan. 6, given the anger among Trump supporters about the electoral certification that was underway that day. They knew that they werent there to sing Kumbaya and, like, put up a peace sign, the planner says. These frickin people were angry. 1701 BBQ, one of the newest and most popular barbecue joints in Beaumont, has made Texas Monthlys list of the Top 50 barbecue spots in the state. 1701, aptly named after the address of the historic building it began occupying at the end of 2020, has been an almost instant hit among barbecue lovers in Southeast Texas drawn to its combination of central Texas smoking styles and Southeast Texas charm. Opened by James Blue Broussard and company just over 11 months ago, 1701 BBQ is now as easily spotted by a parchment sign on the front door declaring SOLD OUT, as it is by the neon Local sign hanging in the dining room. Texas Monthly complimented the pit crew on their brisket and pork ribs cuts not usually associated with Southeast Texas barbecue in addition to its sausage. Related: What's New: 1701 makes barbecue debut From opening a restaurant during a global pandemic to being among one of the top barbecue spots in the state, General Manager Travis Cox called these past several months a whirlwind. But its been a rush the team has sustained thanks to the connections they found while making great eats. Its been unreal, Cox said. We went from not really knowing each other to building this team together. I think its a success we were able to generate because we really do care about every bite. Just this week, 1701 BBQ debuted its own house-made boudain, further cementing its balance between central and Southeast Texas. Cox said customers can expect some more new tastes and menu items to drop in the near future as the crew continues to experiment and grow behind the smoker. The Calder Avenue eatery now joins 49 other joints that made Texas Monthlys sixth list since the magazine started scouring the state in 1997. For this list, 32 editorial staff and three freelancers visited 411 restaurants across the state over about two months before Texas Monthlys top barbecue experts visited the top candidates. Related: Local barbecue spot makes Texas Monthly's Top 25 list 1701 BBQ was the only Southeast Texas joint to make the list, joining Charlies Bar-B-Que on College Street in the honor of being listed in one of the publications lists. Charlies was named in the magazines 2019 25 Best New and Improved Barbecue Joints. Before 1701 became a brick and mortar restaurant, fans of Broussards barbecue had to visit the Blue Davis food truck that made the rounds across the region. Related: 1701 Barbecue brings style Central Texas to Beaumont Broussard and his partners sold the pop-up operation in 2019 and he briefly returned to the family mortuary business, now just next door to his restaurant, but the smoke quickly returned. The operation has been expanding its smoking capacity since it opened with three industrial smokers and has been taking on catering and pop-up events at places like Neches Brewing in Port Neches. When Texas Monthlys barbecue guru, Daniel Vaughn, visited 1701 back in September, he complimented the craft and willingness of the crew to break away from Beaumont's deep barbecue traditions to deliver something uniquely good. 1701 Barbecue isnt like the other barbecue joints in town, and thats okay, Vaughn wrote in his review. I love the deep history of Beaumont barbecue and wouldnt think to leave town without one of the areas signature links, but Broussard wanted to offer his hometown a different take on Texas barbecue than theyre used to. jacob.dick@beaumontenterprise.com twitter.com/jd_journalism When it comes to accommodations in the Lone Star State, Texas has a little something for everyone, from rustic barns and re-purposed wagons to solar homes and grain silos. Below, we highlight some of the most unique and oddball vacation rentals around the state. Want to sleep under the Texas sky and enjoy the stars? Check out a repurposed wagon that allows visitors a truly special night they surely won't forget when visiting Texas. The Barons Wagon describes itself as the The Ultimate Texas Hill Country Glamping Adventure. It sleeps up to four people, but this glamping experience isnt without amenities: it comes with wifi! This clothing optional vacation rental is the newest addition to Tin Valley Retro Rentals and is located near Big Bend National & State Park and the Rio Grande. No need to worry about tan lines. But dont worry because its docked on its own island and far away from other properties in the area so you get lots of privacy. It has one bedroom and a kitchen. Theres a composting toilet and a shower house/flushing toilet nearby. You also get a large fire pit as well as an upper deck perfect for stargazing. The Silo House in Laughing Llama Farm is a secluded farmhouse minutes away from Waco, Texas. The actual house is a renovated grain bin that was moved from a family farm 50 miles away to its current location. The interior of the 672-square-foot silo has a modern artistic vibe. The upstairs loft has a queen-sized bed and a queen-sized sofa sleeper while downstairs there is a full bathroom and a modern kitchen. Its best to be a fan of four-legged creatures as this property is a working farm with llamas, sheep, goats and cows occasionally. Located in the Chihuahuan desert near Big Bend National Park, the adobe dome house makes for a truly off-grid experience. The earthen structure runs off solar power enough for lights and charging your phone so dont expect to have air conditioning or a TV. The dome sleeps two and has a small but functional kitchen with a working fridge. For a true vacation away from it all, try out this unique rental! A modern solar home near world-famous Marfa is a perfect retreat for artists and arts lovers alike! Featuring two bedrooms and three baths, its a perfect spot for a gathering or laid-back weekend. Feeling royal or want to pretend to be? Enjoy a stay at this mini fortress surrounded by a wooded forest with a castle guesthouse located outside the castle walls. Inside the castle is a loft bedroom fit for royalty. Exposed wooden beams compliment the medieval-esque plaster walls. The entire property can accommodate five guests in two bedrooms and one bath. Enjoy access to the neighborhood private boat dock on Lake Livingston. Texas is known for wide-open spaces so why not consider that for your vacation rental as well? This property known as Barndominium is nestled 16 miles from downtown Amarillo. Featuring a hot tub, game room and more, this 2,000-square-foot property promises to keep you entertained. Country living at its finest is what youll get at this barn converted into a vacation guesthouse. This rustic rental is ideal for a romantic getaway and close by Fredericksburg, Bandera and San Antonio. The Kerr County Sheriff's Office is asking the public for photos or video of the drag racing incident that killed two children and injured eight people on Saturday, October 23, in Kerrville. A 6-year-old boy and an 8-year-old boy were killed after a driver lost control and crashed into a crowd during an event called "Airport Race Wars 2" at the Kerrville-Kerr County Airport, police said in a news release. Thousands of visitors attended the event that involves drivers speeding down a runway for cash. WARSAW, Poland (AP) Officials in Poland said Monday that two soldiers were lightly hurt when a group of some 60 migrants tried to force their way across the border from Belarus. The Border Guards office said the troops who have been deployed to help protect the European Union's eastern border from growing migration pressure were treated at a hospital for facial injuries following the events Sunday near the village of Usnarz Gorny. They said in a statement that the migrants were throwing stones and wielding branches. That part of the border is in a dense forest that also includes bogs. Most of the border with Belarus runs along the Bug river. A video showing men trying to break the razor wire border fence with a branch and helmeted Polish troops watching from nearby was posted on the Border Guards website. Poland and the Baltic states, which are members of the European Union, are facing pressure on their borders with Belarus. They say the government in Minsk is facilitating crossings for migrants, mostly from the Middle East and Africa, in order to destabilize the bloc in retaliation for Western sanctions. Poland has built a fence on the border and put some 7,000 guards, troops and police to prevent crossings, and is pushing back those who cross, but thousands are still getting through. Most are heading toward Germany. A group of some 30 migrants that had been stranded in the border strip since August is no longer there, the Border Guards statement said. It said some of them were recognized in the group that tried to force the border Sunday. On Saturday a group of women, including two of Poland's former first ladies, Jolanta Kwasniewska and Anna Komorowska, protested near the border against pushing the migrants including women and children into the forest, back to Belarus. A number of migrants have been found dead close to the border. Humanitarian organizations active in the are have reported finding migrant groups with children who had spent days in the forest. Poland's security officials have said that migrants can pay up to $12,000 in their home countries to people promising to get them to the EU, preferably to Germany. Deputy interior minister, Bartosz Grodecki has said that Poland is seeking cooperation with the European border agency Frontex to arrange readmission, or return flights directly to migrants' home countries, according to the English-language service of Poland's state PAP news agency. Migrants who cross into Poland can ask for international protection, which would cover all of the EU. While waiting for a decision, which is most often a refusal, they are placed in guarded centers for foreigners. They mostly come from Iraq, Iran and Syria. BOISE, Idaho (AP) The founder of a far-right anti-government group says a report estimating the organizations fast growth over the past year undercounted by half. Ammon Bundy took issue with the Institute for Research and Education on Human Rights report, saying Peoples Rights is actually much larger and more of a network than an official organization. The report, released last week, found that the organization has grown by roughly 53% in the past year to more than 33,000 members, rapidly expanding nationwide and making inroads into Canada. The IREHR report is drastically inaccurate. Not sure where they pulled their info from, Bundy wrote in an email on Saturday. People's Rights now had 62,337 members as of Saturday, he said. Im glad they under reported so the FBI does not think we are too much of a threat to democracy, Bundy wrote. If we keep growing the way we are the FBI may get jealous and throw me in jail for no reason again. Bundy who started Peoples Rights amid a wave of backlash against public health measures taken at the start of the coronavirus pandemic is best known for leading a group of armed activists in the occupation of an Oregon wildlife refuge in 2016. But Bundy was acquitted of all federal charges in that case by an Oregon jury. In 2014, Bundy, several brothers and his father led an armed standoff in Nevada with Bureau of Land Management agents who attempted to confiscate his fathers cattle for grazing on public land without a permit. The Nevada criminal case against Bundy ended in a mistrial, but he spent nearly two years behind bars awaiting the resolution of the two court cases. At the start of last year, People's Rights had just under 22,000 members nationally, according to an earlier report by IREHR and the Montana Human Right's Network. IREHR Research Director Chuck Tanner said the organization's political ideology centers on pre-Civil War interpretations of the U.S. Constitution and Christian nationalism. What Peoples Rights does is spread really radical ideas about overturning civil rights in the United States, Tanner said last week. This is a broad-based, anti-Democratic and bigoted social movement. In a phone interview late Friday afternoon, Bundy said People's Rights is more of a network than an organization, and claimed the network doesn't profess any ideology other than the principles spelled out at the start of the Declaration of Independence. Its a network of individuals that are looking for a way to secure their liberty, but other than giving them tools of how to do that, each area is completely on their own to be able to do whatever they decide to communicate, even whatever they decide to do," Bundy said. "Theres very few restrictions that we have placed upon them. According to the People's Rights website, the network seems akin to an emergency militia service, with members agreeing to help defend each other against government criminals. Who would you call right now if you needed help defending your rights against a government agency? the website asks readers. It goes on to suggest that things such as vaccination mandates and child protection investigations might be reasons that the network would be activated in a call to action. The network is divided into regions, where leaders sometimes hold training sessions on HAM radios, firearms or emergency first aid. At times members in certain regions are asked to attend protests or take other actions to defend your rights. Much of the networks' activity in the past year has been focused on opposing public health measures taken to slow the spread of COVID-19. In Idaho, People's Rights members have used the network to spread misinformation about coronavirus, advised each other on how to obtain medications that aren't approved for treating COVID-19, and staged protests outside of government officials' homes. Bundy said the group isn't anti-government, though he acknowledged that he and other members were ready to take action against the government if needed. If it's government trying to take the rights, we will have to unite against them, he said. It happens. We don't need to get all emotional about it. We just need to appear and unite together so we can all get through it. BARCELONA, Spain (AP) Emergency agencies in Spains Canary Islands say a child who was among dozens of migrants rescued from a boat drifting in the Atlantic Ocean has died. Two adults and six children found on the boat some 185 kilometers (114 miles) southwest of Gran Canaria were evacuated by helicopter for urgent medical care Sunday, but one child did not survive, Canary Islands' emergency services tweeted. Approximately 40 more people were brought to land by Spains Maritime Rescue Service and disembarked in the port of Arguineguin, the service confirmed to The Associated Press on Monday.. A plane belonging to the Maritime Rescue Service first spotted the boat. Red Cross official Jose Antonio Rodriguez said the rescued migrants departed from Dakhla, in the Western Sahara, eight days ago. Migrant arrivals to the Canary Islands, a Spanish archipelago that is closer to Africa than to continental Europe, have been rising. Authorities say 14,720 people made the dangerous trip from January to mid-October this year. That's an 83% increase compared to the same period last year, according to Spain's Interior Ministry. While many boats reach the islands, migration experts say many also disappear in the Atlantic without a trace in what are known as invisible shipwrecks. So far this year, nearly 900 people have died or gone missing by trying to reach the Canary Islands by boat, and that might be a vast undercount, according to the United Nations' migration agency. Spanish migrant rights group Walking Borders, for example, reported that it counted nearly 2,000 deaths on the Atlantic route during the first six months of the year. Conflicts, poverty and other factors exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic and climate change have led Europe-bound travelers to board boats along the West African coast from Morocco all the way south to The Gambia. Increasing border controls and interceptions in the Mediterranean Sea between North Africa and Southern Europe have also caused people smugglers to adapt by launching more boats on the Atlantic Ocean. ___ Follow APs global migration coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/migration MOUNT STERLING Dot Foods had a problem. In early 2020, COVID-19 put the brakes on six decades of nearly constant hiring. When the pandemic eased and business buzzed again last spring, the company found that prospective employees, less willing to work, or at least having warmed up to doing it from home, werent lining up like they used to. You cant work from your living room in your pajamas Dots jobs are in-person, physical warehouse labor, packing pallets with the specialized orders the companys customers need. But the giant food redistributor, located in Mount Sterling, population 1,900, is piggy-backing on the post-pandemic phenomenon which is luring parts of the workforce from cities. But with its traditionally local employment pool more reluctant, Dot is looking farther and wider. Its dangling $1,500 to $3,000 in moving expenses if you pack up for western Illinois and a competitive wage at a company that boasts its never laid off an employee in its 61 years. Dot Foods, still run by the family of founders Robert RT and Dorothy Tracy, is following a portion of the playbook for what some researchers call a Zoom town phenomenon, driven largely, but not entirely, by work-at-home conditions forced by the pandemic. Urban centers no longer dictate the geography of a job and some employees are trading in endless commutes and Got a minute? interruptions for more time at home and a slower, smaller lifestyle. There had already been population dispersal even before the pandemic, related to the the economic uptick after the Great Recession, said William Frey, senior fellow with the Brookings Institutions Metropolitan Policy Program. But pandemic-related migration could open the door to new growth opportunities in smaller communities. To qualify for reimbursement, prospective Dot employees must live at least 75 miles away from Mount Sterling and move within 45 miles of the city. A move of up to 500 miles warrants a $1,500 check, an amount that increases incrementally to $3,000 for anyone coming from more than 2,000 miles. Since it launched in May, 40 of Dots 248 hires qualified for moving reimbursement. But there are still 150 openings, a combination of a reignited economy and an admittedly high warehouse turnover. The physical labor isnt for everyone, said Ashley Ferguson, director of personnel for Dots Illinois warehouse. Others find jobs with shorter commutes. Referrals have always been our No. 1 source of candidates, but this year we were hiring more, Ferguson said. We decided we need to have more strategies and different approaches to help people that might want to move to this area. Its far from a unique idea. Cities themselves have joined in the hunt in numbers that prompted pioneers of Angies List last winter to launch MakeMyMove.com, which collates U.S. locations offering relocation incentives. How about $20,000 from Morgantown, West Virginia, $15,660 from Augusta, Maine, or $12,500 to call Newton, Iowa, home? Not since the Industrial Revolution have we seen such a massive reorganization of how people think about place, said Evan Hock, MakeMyMove co-founder and chief operating officer. Instead of following jobs to cities, working remotely means working from anywhere, Hock said. But money drives migration as well. Respondents to a MakeMyMove survey last summer indicated that their reluctance to pull up roots Moving is expensive and its risky, Hock said withers when theres a monetary incentive. The same mechanics that are driving remote workers to make moves would apply to any type of worker, Hock said. A lot of people are moving to find someplace thats more affordable, some people are wanting to move closer to amenities like the outdoors or to have a lot of land. For Aimie Logan, it was a combination of things that brought her to Mount Sterling last spring, but one thing is certain: She never dreamed of living outside Chicago, where shed spent her entire adult life. Then, the pandemic forced the company where she worked to cut her hours. Logan, 37, lured west by a friend in the area and what looked like Dots friendly work environment, decided she was ready for a change. And she got it. I live in an old farmhouse with a big yard and neighbors, you have to drive to them, but its great. A welcoming town, said Logan during a break from one of her four weekly 10-hour shifts in the frozen-foods warehouse. I never thought I would move out of the city. I liked the convenience. I liked the fast pace. Now I have a Dollar General and a gas station. I wouldnt trade it for the world where Im at now. Mount Sterling Realtors can attest. Courtney Newton has had inquiries in recent months from Arizona, California and Florida. Calls from the Dallas and St. Louis areas have come in to Lance Grady. Some are considering moving closer to family, at least one landed a job at Dot, another couple has new remote-work freedom and shopping for a hometown. The majority of the ones that I work with do not want to live in a busier area, Newton said. They want to live here because they like the peace and quiet, more rural theme, where everybody kind of knows everybody. BEIJING (AP) Two people were killed and at least nine others were injured in a laboratory explosion at a university in eastern China, state media said Monday. The blast occurred Sunday afternoon at the Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics. Nanjing is a major center of higher education that attracts large numbers of foreign students. Officials were investigating the cause of the explosion at the universitys School of Materials Science and Technology, state broadcaster CCTV reported. BRUNSWICK, Ga. (AP) The final giant chunk of an overturned cargo ship was removed from waters along the coast of Georgia on Monday, almost a year after demolition began on the wreck that tipped over with 4,200 automobiles in its cargo decks. Weighing more than 4,000 metric tons (4,410 U.S. tons), the eighth and last section of the South Korean freighter Golden Ray left the wreck site off St. Simons Island after a crane lowered it onto a big barge outfitted with a special cradle to hold the wreckage. This is the end of the wreck removal phase," said Coast Guard Petty Officer 2nd Class Michael Himes, a spokesman for the multiagency command in charge of the demolition. But the salvage job isn't over. Big pieces of the ship's side and other debris were left behind after the ship's center, the most damaged part of the vessel, was cut in two, Himes said. Those were the final two sections removed. Cleanup of that debris and stray wreckage that fell from the other larger sections, including some cars, will take two weeks or longer, Himes said. Then crews will remove metal shipping containers and rock placed around the partly submerged wreck to stabilize it during demolition, as well as take down the giant mesh barrier installed around the site to contain debris. That should all be finished before the end of the year, Himes said. Meanwhile, the last two large sections taken from the wreck site must be broken down further before they can depart Georgia for a salvage yard in Louisiana. Himes said that likely won't be done until early 2022. The ship capsized onto its side on Sept. 9, 2019, shortly after departing the Port of Brunswick. All crew members were rescued safely, but salvage experts deemed the ship itself, measuring 656 feet (199 meters) long, was a complete loss. The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board reported the combined losses totaled more than $204 million. The agency concluded an officer's error in calculating the ship's stability left its center of gravity too high, causing the vessel to capsize. They settled on a plan to straddle the shipwreck with a towering crane and use a long anchor chain powered by winches and pulleys to slowly saw it into eight giant pieces for removal. Demolition work began last Nov. 6 and was periodically interrupted by breaks in the chain, one big fire that engulfed the wreck after being sparked by cutting torches and leaking oil that fouled 2.5 miles (4 kilometers) of beach and marsh grasses. Some conservationists have asked the multiagency command overseeing the demolition for a formal assessment to determine the extent of the ecological damage from oil spills and other pollutants that came from the wreck. No decision has been announced. DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) The wife of the Des Moines school district's superintendent is raising eyebrows with her $400 donation to a local school board candidate's campaign. School board experts and government watchdogs say the donation Jami Bassman Ahart made is legal but it raises ethical questions because the school board will be making decisions about Superintendent Tom Ahart's future employment. TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) An Israeli court Monday ordered a 6-year-old boy who survived a cable car crash in Italy to be returned to his relatives there, who have been locked in a bitter custody battle with family members in Israel. The court ordered Eitan Biran returned to the place of his normal residence, which is Italy." It ordered his grandfather, who had brought him to Israel against the wishes of his family members in Italy, to pay around $20,000 in expenses and attorney fees. Birans parents and younger sibling were among 14 killed in May when a cable car slammed into a mountainside in northern Italy. He has been the focus of a custody battle between his maternal grandparents in Israel and his paternal relatives in Italy. Birans paternal relatives say he was taken without their knowledge and they had filed a legal complaint in Italy seeking his return. His grandfather, Shmulik Peleg, has defended his decision to spirit the boy away, saying it was in the child's best interest. He drove Biran to Switzerland without the other relatives' knowledge before flying him back to Israel. Eitan and his parents were living in Italy at the time of the accident. After his release from a Turin hospital following weeks of treatment, Italian juvenile court officials ruled the child would live with a paternal aunt, Aya Biran, near Pavia, in northern Italy. In Monday's ruling, Judge Iris Ilotovich-Segal of the Tel Aviv family court said Biran's residence was in Italy, where his family moved when he was only a month old. She concluded that his relocation to Israel was unlawful and violated the guardianship rights of his aunt. The judge also called on the family to reconcile, saying there is supreme importance in focusing on the medical and emotional condition of the minor and giving him the support, treatment and embrace he needs following the tragedy that befell him and his family. The Peleg family said the decision doesnt address questions concerning the well-being and future of the child. In a statement, they said they would continue to fight in all ways possible for Eitans benefit, welfare and rights to grow up in Israel as his parents hoped. Biran's paternal relatives welcomed the ruling in a statement, saying there are no victors and no vanquished, no winners and no losers. "There is only Eitan. All that we ask now is that Eitan returns home quickly, to friends and to school, to his family and especially to the therapeutic and educational frameworks that he needs. ___ Associated Press writer Ilan Ben Zion in Jerusalem contributed. GARY, Ind. (AP) The Indiana University Northwest campus was closed Monday due to flooding caused by the ongoing rainfall, a school spokesperson said. All classes will be held remotely and students should check Canvas for updates, campus spokeswoman Marisa Villalobos said. A group of Midland women were honored over the weekend as part of Northwood University's Distinguished Women Awards. A half century of recognizing the contributions of remarkable women continued in Midland at Northwood Universitys annual Distinguished Women Awards, which was attended by more than 150 guests Saturday at The H Hotel in downtown Midland. That tradition marked the 52nd annual ceremony for the Distinguished Women Awards. Originally held in Detroit, the gala has been held at many locations across the country over the years. The Distinguished Women Award traces its origins to the founders of Northwood University, and it is a great honor to carry on this tradition today right here in Midland, said Northwood President Kent MacDonald. It is a privilege to recognize these women who have dedicated themselves to leaving their mark on the world. They serve as role models and inspiration for the next generation of women leaders being developed at Northwood who will drive The Northwood Idea forward. These women truly embody the values Northwood espouses for its students: commitment to free enterprise, the partnership of arts and business, and the management of global commerce. The Northwood University Board of Trustees supports the Distinguished Women Awards to honor the significant contributions of women who have made a difference in their business and community, all while upholding the vision and ethical values of Northwood University. The 2021 class of honorees include: Tina Lynn Hubbard, president, and CEO, HDA Truck Pride; Melanie Kalmar, corporate vice president, chief information officer, chief digital officer, Dow; Mindie Kaplan, CEO/founder, Rated VR and creator, MaleRoom podcast; and Martha Reeves, musician, Martha Reeves and the Vandellas and president, Martha Reeves Enterprises. In addition, three Midland-area community leaders were recognized with a Distinguished Womens Group Award for their tremendous assistance to the community following last years flood in Midland: Holly Miller, president/CEO, United Way of Midland County; Sharon Mortensen, president/CEO Midland Area Community Foundation; and Jenee Velasquez, executive director, Herbert H., and Grace A. Dow Foundation. Commenting on behalf of these dedicated women leaders, Holly Miller shared their inspirational mantra during those trying times, Midland together forward, bold. When reflecting, Miller drew on the words of St Francis Of Assisi, do what is necessary and possible to do the impossible. She went on to thank Northwood for shining the light on women and their leadership. The 2021 honorees joined an exceptional sisterhood of almost 500 women who have been honored as Distinguished Women over the years. Melanie Kalmar inspired students and guests, be a spark that ignites someone to be a leader or contributorthank you, Northwood University, for illuminating distinguished women to be a spark for others. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee and distinguished woman Martha Reeves led the crowd in song with a captivating version of the Lords Prayer and encouraged students, get in where you fit in. The gala was the highlight of a weekend full of events surrounding the Distinguished Women Awards. Northwood University and area high school students had the opportunity to interact with the women on Friday morning at a roundtable discussion. Following was an on-campus luncheon where students and the Northwood community had additional opportunities to meet with the women. Friday closed with a welcome reception at the H.H. Dow Academy Lounge at The H Hotel downtown Midland. Saturday morning, the group came together for an exclusive, honorees-only breakfast hosted by the Universitys First Lady, Mary-Ellen MacPhee. Each honoree was connected with a Northwood student in advance. These student presenters went through a competitive application process to be chosen to get to know the stories of each Distinguished Woman to be able to write an introductory speech at the weekends events. Designated students and their paired awardee included Calista Shannon (Tina Hubbard), Jovana Petkovich (Melanie Kalmar), Jackson Gast (Mindie Kaplan), Kaitlyn Bremer (Martha Reeves), and Jordan Barker (Jenee Velasquez, Holly Miller and Sharon Mortensen). The gala is supported by many generous sponsors that help raise funds for the Distinguished Women Endowed Scholarship. To date, 59 young women have had the opportunity to attend Northwood through this scholarship. Two students, Alissa Buther and Jordyn Boyne, were recognized and are currently benefiting from this scholarship. MacDonald also announced a six-figure gift from former Distinguished Women Award recipient Betty Hardy that will help support the program for years to come. Hardy was a native of Houston and an internationally known fashion and television personality. She was long associated with the fashion industry, especially with Neiman Marcus. Betty was an amazing woman who was fond of sharing and was known for saying think beautiful thoughts and do lovely things for others, said Justin Marshall, vice president of Advancement. We are thankful for Betty and for her thoughtful gift that will help us continue to recognize women like her and inspire future women leaders. For more information about the Distinguished Women Awards, visit northwood.edu/dw/awards. RICHMOND, Va. (AP) Virginia State Police said they are investigating a report that a car was shot on Interstate 95 in Richmond on Monday morning but no one was injured. Troopers responded to a reported shooting in the northbound lanes between Monument Avenue and Broad Street, police said. A white Scion sedan was in the left lane, when it was hit. The driver managed to get off of the highway safely and notify police. GILLETTE, Wyo. (AP) A man in the U.S. state of Wyoming allegedly tried getting out of a drunken driving charge by claiming his 4-year-old son was behind the wheel. Campbell County sheriff's deputies pulled the 39-year-old man over Saturday. They were responding to a report he'd been fighting with a woman, sheriff's Lt. Paul Pownall said. LONDON (AP) Environmental protesters pressuring the British government to insulate all homes within a decade resumed a road-blocking campaign in London on Monday ahead of the United Nations' annual climate conference. As commuters headed to work, demonstrators from the Insulate Britain campaign obstructed a major artery into Canary Wharf, a major financial center in east London that is home to some of the world's biggest banks. Other roads into the British capital's traditional financial center, the City of London, which is a few miles west of Canary Wharf, were also blocked. The Metropolitan Police force said 52 people were arrested in connection with Monday's protests, during which some demonstrators glued themselves to the roads. On Oct. 14, Insulate Britain paused its organized blocking of many major roads that had caused traffic misery for drivers in and around London. The group says it wants the country's Conservative government to insulate all of Britains 29 million leaky homes by 2030, and all social housing by 2025, a policy that it says will pay dividends in the urgent battle against climate change. The resumption of the roadblocking campaign comes days before the start of the U.N. Climate Change Conference, known as COP26, in the Scottish city of Glasgow. Many environmentalists are calling the Oct. 31-Nov. 12 gathering the worlds last chance to turn the tide in the battle against climate change. Tony Hill, 71, said he had traveled hundreds of miles from his home in northwest England to join Monday's protest in the City of London. Im here today out of anger, fear and determination, Hill said. The anger that my government is failing the people of our country. The governments of the world are failing everyone. Everyone says were at the eleventh hour, but were at midnight, and nothing substantial is being done by our government and governments across the world. ___ Follow AP's coverage of climate issues at https://apnews.com/hub/climate HOUSTON (AP) The skeletal remains of a child were found inside an apartment in the Houston area along with three surviving siblings who appear to have been abandoned, a sheriff said. One of the children, a 15-year-old, called the Harris County Sheriff's Office on Sunday afternoon and told authorities that his 9-year-old brother had been dead for a year and the body was inside the apartment, the office said in a statement. Deputies responded and found the teen, and two other siblings ages 10 and 7, living alone in the apartment, Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez told reporters. The skeletal remains were also located. It appears that the remains had been there for an extended period of time. And I emphasize extended, Gonzalez said. The sheriff said it also appeared that the surviving children were fending for each other, with the oldest sibling caring for the younger two. It was unclear whether any of the kids were attending school. The younger children appeared to be malnourished and had physical injuries, the statement said. All three siblings were taken to a hospital to be assessed and treated. The apartment where the children were living didn't have any power and a neighbor had helped the children by charging a cell phone for them and buying them food, Deputy Thomas Gilliland, a spokesman for the sheriff's office, said Monday. The mother of the children and her boyfriend were later located, authorities said. Both were questioned and later released, Gonzalez said in a tweet on Monday. Gilliland said investigators were still conducting interviews on Monday and still waiting for an autopsy report to determine a cause of death for the child whose remains were found. Investigators are diligently looking through everything," Gilliland said. In a statement, the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services said it was seeking emergency custody of the 15-year-old and his two siblings to ensure the safety of the children." The request for emergency custody was filed with a judge on Monday. The judge later granted the agency temporary custody of the children. Child Protective Services does have history with the family, but there was no active CPS investigation at the time the children were discovered alone in their apartment," the agency said. Neighbors expressed shock and disbelief when they learned about the children. Kayla Williams told the Houston Chronicle that she has two children, but she doesn't plan to tell them what happened. I dont need to put this in their heads, she said. This is crazy. Investigators were still trying to determine why no one with the apartment complex had noticed anything unusual in connection with the apartment where the children lived, Gilliland said. The apartment complex referred calls about the case to Highmark Residential, the property management company which runs the complex. The management company did not immediately return a call seeking comment. ___ Follow Juan A. Lozano on Twitter: https://twitter.com/juanlozano70 PRAGUE (AP) Taiwanese government ministers were visiting the Czech capital on Monday accompanied by dozens of business and research representatives to boost trade and investment, a move that has angered China. Minister of National Development Kung Ming-hsin is leading a delegation of 66 officials representing business and research groups and organizations, including biotechnology, green energy, information technology, machinery and tourism. Taiwanese Foreign Minister Joseph Wu will visit later in the week. China has protested, threatening unspecified retaliatory steps. Taiwan relies on such exchanges to counter Chinas efforts to isolate the self-governing island that Beijing claims as its own territory, to be annexed by military force if it deems necessary. The Czech Republic, like most countries, has no formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan, but maintains robust informal contacts. Taiwans high-tech companies are also significant investors in the Czech Republic. The ties between Prague and Taipei were boosted by last years trip to Taiwan by the speaker of the Czech parliaments upper house, the Senate, Milos Vystrcil. He was accompanied by more than 80 representatives from government, business and academia, drawing strong criticism from China. Vystrcil and other senior officials in the Senate, together with representatives of government business and tourist agencies and business groups, are scheduled to meet the members of the Taiwanese delegation. During the pandemic, Taiwan sent the Czech Republic equipment to make quality face masks while the Czechs donated coronavirus vaccines to Taiwan. The delegation is also visiting two other European Union countries, Slovakia and Lithuania. TOKYO (AP) People in Tokyo can eat and drink in bars and restaurants later in the evening starting Monday as officials ease social distancing rules with the countrys daily coronavirus cases reaching their lowest levels in more than a year. Crowds have been returning to bars and trains since Japan lifted its moderate state of emergency on Sept. 30. But officials in Tokyo had asked food and beverage businesses to maintain their early closures through Sunday as a precaution against a quick resurgence. After seeing daily jumps of nearly 6,000 cases in mid-August, Tokyo is now reporting less than 50 new coronavirus infections a day. The 17 new cases reported on Monday was the lowest since June 2020. Im overjoyed, Mitsuru Saga, owner of the Taiko Chaya Japanese restaurant in downtown Tokyo, said in an interview with Nippon Television. He said his restaurant will now operate until 11 p.m. for the first time in 11 months. Eateries had been asked to close by 9 p.m. and not serve alcohol. But Saga said hes concerned that many people will still feel uneasy eating indoors. Many people now drink at home (due to COVID-19), and Im worried whether customers will come back, he said. Unlike other countries in Asia and Europe, Japan has so far weathered the pandemic without compulsory lockdowns. It has had a series of largely toothless states of emergency focused on eateries. Experts have been puzzled by Japans sudden decline in virus cases. Some attribute it to a rapid vaccine rollout after a slow start, widespread mask wearing and subdued nightlife. Japan has recorded about 1.7 million coronavirus cases and 18,200 deaths. About 70% of its population has been fully vaccinated. Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike on Monday urged residents to remain vigilant and stick to basic precautionary measures as the winter sets in and the air turns drier - an environment she said may help the virus spread. She has asked eateries to limit each table to four people and ensure good ventilation and other anti-virus measures. WASHINGTON (AP) The Biden administration on Monday suspended $700 million in financial assistance to Sudan following a coup in the African nation that U.S. officials roundly condemned. The State Department said the full amount of the aid package had been put on pause pending a review of the developments in Khartoum that saw the military oust a civilian-led transitional authority and detain many of its members. Spokesman Ned Price called for the immediate release of those arrested, including Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, and the restoration of the civilian authority. The civilian-led transitional government should be immediately restored. It represents the will of the Sudanese people, as evidenced by the significant, peaceful demonstrations of support, Price said. We recognize the legitimate grievances about the pace of the transition, but (the) dismissal of government officials and dissolution of government institutions, both violate Sudans constitutional declaration and abandon the democratic aspirations of the Sudanese people. Military officials should immediately release and ensure the safety of all detained political actors, fully restore the civilian led transitional government and refrain from any violence against protesters, including the use of live ammunition, Price said. Any change to the transitional government by force risks assistance and our bilateral relationship more broadly. The suspended aid was direct financial support intended to help the country transition to a fully civilian government. Price said additional U.S. aid to the country could also be at risk, along with the broader relationship. Ties between Washington and Khartoum had been warming since Sudan agreed to pay compensation to the victims of the 1998 embassy bombings in neighboring Kenya and nearby Tanzania that were planned on Sudanese soil by Osama bin Ladens al-Qaida network. Sudan had been removed from the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism late last year. It was not immediately clear how much aid the U.S. is providing Sudan in addition to the $700 million that was suspended. Many forms of U.S. assistance, including military aid, are still barred due to a decades-old determination that a coup had brought Sudans now-deposed authoritarian leader Omar al-Bashir to power in 1989. That determination had not been rescinded despite the recent thaw in relations. Price said the administration was watching developments very closely and will not hesitate to hold those responsible for the coup to account, including through the restoration of sanctions that had been lifted or eased after Sudan's removal from the terrorism sponsor list. The coup unfolded just hours after the U.S. special envoy for the Horn of Africa, Jeffrey Feltman, left Khartoum where he had met senior Sudanese military and civilian officials to try to urge a calming of tensions and reconciliation to keep the transition on track. Price said Feltman warned military chief Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan and others that any unconstitutional changes in the government would have consequences. U.S. officials said Feltman had departed about three hours before the arrests began without any knowledge of what was about to happen. To be clear, we were not given any heads up about this, Price said. Clearly an action like this is something that the United States would, and now does, oppose and condemns in the strongest possible terms. RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) Brazil's government will accelerate its timeline by two to three years to completely eliminate illegal deforestation, Vice President Hamilton Mourao told foreign press reporters on Monday. Mourao said the Brazilian delegation to the upcoming U.N. climate talks in Glasgow will announce its target of zero illegal logging by 2027 or 2028, sooner than the 2030 goal President Jair Bolsonaro presented at the White House-led climate summit in April. A more ambitious goal in terms of reducing illegal deforestation in a shorter time would be, in my opinion, extremely welcome by the international community," Mourao, who coordinates the governments Amazon Council, said in a video call. And it would make clear the government's commitment to work to impede climate change from hurting life on earth. The 2030 goal already represented a nod to U.S. President Joe Biden, who had called out Brazils environmental track record on the campaign trail last year. For his part, Bolsonaro campaigned in 2018 promising to unlock the vast resources of the Amazon and downplaying the rights and desires of Indigenous people to leave vast territories untouched. His stance is widely seen as having emboldened illegal logging and wildcat mining that sent deforestation surging and caused global outcry. Bolsonaro has reeled in such contentious rhetoric as he seeks to rehabilitate Brazil's tattered environmental image abroad and project responsible stewardship. His critics have warned that his shift is disingenuous and that recent months of encouraging data that indicated less deforestation don't necessarily represent a trend. For several months, the Brazilian space agency's satellites recorded fewer deforestation alerts in the Amazon than the same months in 2020. At the United Nations in September, Bolsonaro credited his administrations redoubled efforts for the plunge of alerts the prior month. But the number of alerts in September was roughly flat year-on-year, and preliminary data for October shows it on track to far outpace the destruction of the same month last year. Earlier this month, Mourao said that the three-month deployment of 3,000 soldiers to the Amazon rainforest to prevent deforestation and man-made fires was coming to an end and wouldn't be extended. Mourao told the foreign press on Monday that the administration continues to hold that the Amazon should be developed -- but in a manner congruent with a view toward sustainability and arresting climate change, and in observance of Brazilian law. Asked about the ongoing dispute over the double counting of carbon credits -- in both the nation offsetting emissions and the nation buying the offsets -- Mourao initially said the government is opposed, which would mark a change in the country's stance. Nations in Glasgow will address potentially closing loopholes that allow for double counting; that would force countries like Brazil to decide if they count emissions reductions toward their own goals, or the sale of reductions abroad to another countrys goals. Double counting, I have absolute certainty we dont agree with that there, he said. "We dont support that under any hypothesis. Pressed further for clarification about whether the government was shifting its position, he said he wasnt privy to the delegations negotiation strategy. Its not up to me to unravel all the nuances of that strategy. You know, it is a negotiation, and it is being done with that push and pull, Mourao said, adding that he hopes to reach consensus that yields "mutual benefits. Experts have accused Brazil of adjusting its emissions targets last year in a way that would allow it to release more greenhouse gas into the atmosphere, unlike most other nations, which have stepped up ambitions. Brazil has made a significantly worse proposal, said Niklas Hoehne of the Berlin-based New Climate Institute. The government has proposed cutting emissions 43% by 2030 from the level 25 years earlier, but last year significantly increased the estimate for its baseline, making the target easier to accomplish. ___ AP reporter Frank Jordans contributed from Berlin. The effect of an ambiguous Texas law banning the teaching of critical race theory (CRT) in K-12 schools is now being seen in real time. Earlier this month, state educators made headlines for their struggles to comply with the law, including one school administrator requesting teachers present opposing views of the Holocaust due to its ideological basis in white supremacy, and another district pulling books by a renowned Black author for review after parents alleged the books promoted the principles of CRT. Critical race theory teaches that racism is embedded in the foundations of America's history and is institutionalized in its legal systems and government policies, however its opponents argue that CRT is itself a racist, anti-white ideology. So what is it about the new legislation that's leaving Texas schools grasping for ways to comply? House Bill 3979 vaguely states that teachers cannot "require or make part of a course" certain race-related concepts including the idea that one race or sex is "inherently superior to another race or sex" or that an individual is is "inherently racist, sexist, or oppressive" based on their race or sex. The bill also states that teachers can't be compelled "to discuss current events or widely debated and currently controversial issues of public policy or social affairs." However, if they must, they are required to "explore such issues from diverse and contending perspectives without giving deference to any one perspective." Vida Robertson, director of the University of Houston Downtown's Center for Critical Race Studies, said the legislation was intentionally constructed to cause uncertainty among teachers for how it should be interpreted. "It was intended for parents, for legislatures, to make accusations against people who were offering historical facts or perspectives that made them uncomfortable," he argued. However, critical race theory is not actually even taught in K-12 education and is instead typically reserved for law school or graduate school students, said Celeste Alana Brown, director of advocacy at San Antonio-based Compass Rose Public Schools. Brown, who often engages with lawmakers around policies that will impact students and educators, spoke out against HB 3979 on behalf of her organization when it was introduced during the regular legislative session this summer. "Our focus was primarily on the fact that we want to ensure our educators are able to teach the truth," Brown explained. "And that all students feel celebrated, welcome and included in our classrooms." In order to comply with the bill, Brown said her district has been following guidelines provided by the Texas Education Agency. However, those guidelines mostly just restate the language of the legislation."We still remain committed to equity and inclusion work and we let our educators know that it's important to teach accurately and give students room to engage in dialogue while still adhering to the law," Brown said. "The ways in which we engage our staff and create space for these conversations around inclusivity have just been adjusted but the work continues nonetheless." Teaching students the truth, however ugly or complicated it might be, is harder for educators to do under the bill as fear begins to dominate classroom discussions, Robertson said. In Carroll Independent School District near Dallas-Forth Worth, a school administrator in charge of curriculum and instruction advised teachers during an Oct. 8 training session to offer students an "opposing perspective" regarding the Holocaust, according to NBC News. Just try to remember the concepts of [House Bill] 3979, the administrator said in a recording obtained by NBC News. And make sure that if you have a book on the Holocaust... that you have one that has an opposing, that has other perspectives. Teachers in the district told NBC News they feared being punished for stocking classrooms with books about racism, slavery and the Holocaust, as the training was in response to a parent's complaint that a fourth grade teacher kept an anti-racism book in her classroom. When introducing the legislation, the bill's author Rep. Steve Toth stated it was "about teaching racial harmony by telling the truth that we are all equal, both in God's eyes and our founding documents." However, Robertson said that Toth has a romanticized view of the country and that history continues to prove the imbalance between groups and the struggle for equality, pointing specifically to moments including the passage of the 13th amendment and the landmark civil rights case Brown v. Board of Education. The bill instead fails to consider the feelings of students of color when discussing these moments in history, Robertson said. "When we're teaching slavery... don't African American children feel discomfort? So we can't teach slavery?" he asked. "But see that's not what we were actually talking about were we?" While the law assumes critical race theory teaches that one race is superior to the other, the fundamental premise of CRT, which emerged from critical legal studies, is that race is not real and is not biological, Robertson explained. "It is something that we use as a society to organize ourselves and to organize who gets our resources, opportunities and power," he said. "It's infused into our systems, structures, institutions, practices and our social norms." Furthermore, "since racism is therefore quite normal," Robertson argued, "we're going to use it at different times in different ways in order to maintain the social structure that we put in place or the status quo. We will create different racial groups at different moments in time in order to serve different ends of the society to maintain the power, the resources and the opportunities of the dominant group who are controlling this." HB 3979 at work is actually proof of critical race theory at work, Robertson said, pointing to when Katy ISD temporarily pulled books by award-winning Black author Jerry Craft and cancelled his speaking event over allegations that his work promoted the practice. "Mr. Craft wrote a book about the way he experienced Blackness and here comes a parent and says 'I don't like that.. therefore your very existence is going to be expelled from the educational process,'" Robertson said. "The way the bill is set up, the dominant group again is privileging its own perspective in order to systematically, institutionally, legally, marginalize other groups and control the resources, power and the opportunities that are available. The bill is being used exactly the way it was intended." Many Texas universities which collectively hold billions of dollars in federal contracts are wrestling with how to navigate the Biden administrations mandate that all federal contractors be vaccinated by Dec. 8 in a state that bans vaccine mandates. While more public universities across the country are announcing that all employees must be vaccinated to comply with the federal requirement, several Texas public universities all managed by Gov. Greg Abbott appointees told The Texas Tribune they are still evaluating the executive order, which applies to new federal contracts of $250,000 or greater and awarded as of Nov. 14 or existing contracts that have been renewed as of Oct. 15. This is unprecedented, said Michael LeRoy, a labor law expert at the University of Illinois College of Law. There have been conflicts between the state and federal government, but not at this magnitude with this kind of money on the line. LeRoy believes the issue will be resolved in the courts because of the two conflicting issues at the center. State universities receive funding from the state and federal level but they are run by a board of regents appointed by the Texas governor. While LeRoy said its unlikely the federal government will immediately terminate a grant if universities don't comply, he said a universitys actions could impact future bids for federal grants. The federal government could begin to give notice to rescind a grant, he speculated, but that is a lengthy process. For now, universities are awaiting guidance from their own lawyers. ... [T]he White House has been clear that noncompliance will not be excused, even in situations where state law contradicts the federal directive, University of Houston spokesperson Shawn Lindsey told the Tribune in a statement. Its an extremely complicated situation that requires further analysis. Texas Tech University is working with its lawyers to determine if there are contracts that would trigger the vaccination requirement, school officials said in a statement. Texas Tech is also requesting guidance from the Texas attorney generals office. A Texas A&M University System spokesperson said they are also still evaluating the order. The A&M system has about 500 contracts with the federal government worth $2 billion, most of which are tied to the flagship university in College Station. A statement from the University of Texas System revealed how universities are trying to appease both federal and state leaders. We will endeavor to comply with federal vaccine requirements for specific, covered individuals to protect these investments in our state, spokesperson Karen Adler said in a statement. She then went on to say the system would provide exemptions for those with religious beliefs and we will make every effort to accommodate employees personal situations. Adler did not immediately respond to follow-up questions clarifying if the university will require all employees to be vaccinated. President Joe Bidens executive order already allows for exemptions for disability or religious beliefs. Baylor University, Texas State University and Southern Methodist University, which have received federal contracts as recently as 2018, according to a federal website tracking public money given to universities, did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Friday. Through a spokesperson, Abbott criticized Bidens vaccine mandate. The Biden Administration 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, Renae Eze, a spokesperson for the governor, said in a statement. And they left employers with the unfair choice of either violating federal regulations or losing their valued employees. Having spent his entire time in office fighting for the rights and freedoms of all Texans, the Governor will not abandon Texans worried about putting food on the table, and our office continues working with the Office of the Attorney General to do just that. Outside of Texas, several universities have opted to comply with Bidens vaccination mandate for federal contractors. On Friday, the University of Kansas and Auburn University in Alabama announced they would implement vaccine requirements for all employees, joining Arizonas largest public universities, Penn State University and the University of Delaware. KU participates in millions of dollars in federal contracts that fund research, employment and educational efforts all of which are at risk if we are not aligned with the executive order, Chancellor Douglas Girod wrote in a letter Friday. For this reason, we cannot be flexible with employees who choose not to comply with the vaccine requirement. More than 1,000 public and private colleges and universities across the country have required vaccines of at least some students or employees, according to The Chronicle of Higher Education. According to Sept. 24 guidance released by the Biden administration, those who are included in the order are broad, including employees who work in human resources, billing, legal review and perform work in connection with a Federal Government contract must be vaccinated. Disclosure: Baylor University, Southern Methodist University, Texas Tech University, University of Texas System and University of Houston have been financial supporters of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribune's journalism. Find a complete list of them here. The Texas Tribune is a nonpartisan, nonprofit media organization that informs Texans and engages with them about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form Nearly 80 per cent of respondents said labour shortages should be the main determinant of selecting which municipalities can participate in the MNP. Municipal Nominee Program: IRCC memo reveals stakeholder consultation findings Nearly 80 per cent of respondents said labour shortages should be the main determinant of selecting which municipalities can participate in the MNP. Municipal Nominee Program: IRCC memo reveals stakeholder consultation findings Nearly 80 per cent of respondents said labour shortages should be the main determinant of selecting which municipalities can participate in the MNP. Municipal Nominee Program: IRCC memo reveals stakeholder consultation findings Nearly 80 per cent of respondents said labour shortages should be the main determinant of selecting which municipalities can participate in the MNP. Kareem El-Assal Aa Accessibility Font Style Serif Sans Font Size A A A recent internal memo by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) reveals highlights from its 2020 stakeholder consultations on the Municipal Nominee Program (MNP). The Liberal Party of Canada initially promised to introduce the MNP during Canadas 2019 federal election campaign. The MNP was outlined as a key priority in the two mandate letters provided to Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau since the Liberals won the 2019 election. However, the coronavirus pandemic got in the way, which is why the Liberals promised once again to introduce the MNP during the recent 2021 election campaign, an election which they also won. With the Liberals set to unveil their cabinet on Tuesday October 26, Parliament set to resume on November 22, and the worst of the pandemic seemingly behind Canada, it appears that the path is clearer for the government to go ahead and fulfil this promise. Get a Free Canadian Immigration Evaluation Why launch the MNP? The idea behind the MNP is to promote a broader distribution of immigrants across smaller Canadian municipalities. Since the 1990s, IRCC and Canadas provinces and territories have made a larger effort to attract and retain more immigrants in smaller jurisdictions. This is to help recruit more workers to support economies across Canada as more workers age and retire. Canada has been largely successful in promoting regionalization thanks to the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), Quebecs own immigration system, and more recently, initiatives such as the Atlantic Immigration Pilot (AIP). Every province and territory (except Nunavut) operates economic class immigration programs that allow them to recruit permanent residents that have the skills to address their jurisdictions labour market needs. Prior to the launch of the PNP in 1998, up to 85 per cent of all new immigrants to Canada settled in Ontario, Quebec, and British Columbia. The introduction of the PNP and subsequent regionalization initiatives have seen this figure fall to around 70 per cent. This has enabled the likes of Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador to enjoy a greater share of immigration to Canada. However, a common challenge remains. That is, most immigrants choose to settle in each provinces largest cities. As a result, smaller cities and towns continue to face challenges attracting immigrants. The MNP aims to help address this challenge. Prior to the launch of a new program, IRCC engages in consultations with stakeholders such as provincial and municipal governments, researchers, immigrant-serving organizations, employers, and immigration lawyers. IRCC asks these experts for advice on how to design new immigration programs. CIC News obtained the results of IRCCs MNP stakeholder consultations via an access to information request to IRCC. Key findings of IRCCs MNP consultations In the memo, IRCC reveals it planned to hold in-person consultations in 2020 but had to shift to virtual consultations in spring/summer 2020 due to the onset of the coronavirus pandemic. IRCC consulted with provinces, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (an association that represents over 2,000 Canadian municipalities), academics, immigrant-serving organizations, labour councils, among others. IRCC asked stakeholders questions relating to what a successful MNP could look like, how to select municipalities that will participate in the MNP, what role each key stakeholder could play in ensuring the MNP achieves its objectives, and how to foster settlement and retention. The majority of stakeholders identified retention as the most important success metric. This is important because new immigrants have the right to live anywhere they want in Canada. For a community to benefit from immigration, they need to provide job opportunities and a welcoming environment to help immigrants feel at home. Other success factors identified by stakeholders included addressing labour market needs and supporting economic growth in smaller communities. IRCCs main takeaway from the discussion on the MNPs success was that the MNP should aim to increase immigration to under-served communities that have labour shortages while also ensuring participating municipalities have the capacity they need to retain new immigrants. Nearly 80 per cent of respondents said labour shortages should be the main determinant of selecting which municipalities can participate in the MNP. To support retention, respondents said participating municipalities should have readiness factors in place such as critical infrastructure, the ability to welcome newcomers, existing economic growth strategies, and having publicly funded colleges and universities. The top three infrastructure criteria flagged by respondents were housing, health care, and schools. Respondents agreed the three levels of government each have a key role to play in the MNP. Nearly half suggested it was completely viable for the MNP to operate within the Provincial Nominee Program. Whats next? Details on when the MNP will launch remain unavailable. There are still more questions than answers on topics such as what the program will look like, what the eligibility criteria is, which municipalities will participate, and what role key actors such as employers and immigrant-serving organizations will play. Based on recent precedent, we can expect IRCC to eventually unveil most of these details via a press release on its website. If the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP) is any indication, IRCC will also issue a call for proposals so that eligible municipalities can submit applications to IRCC to be approved to recruit newcomers through the MNP. We also do not know whether the MNP will be unveiled as a permanent or pilot program. However, every new program launched by IRCC since 2013 has been a pilot. If this holds true for the MNP, IRCC will operate the MNP for up to 5 years and process up to 2,750 applications per year. Within the 5 year period, IRCC would need to determine whether to make the MNP permanent, a process that would entail having it approved by Parliament. Get a Free Canadian Immigration Evaluation CIC News All Rights Reserved. Visit CanadaVisa.com to discover your Canadian immigration options. This past winter, cold weather took down the Texas energy grid. Residents across the state had no electricity and no heat sources as temperatures plummeted. Everything that could fail did fail at a time when demand was at its highest. The energy grid was not able to survive extreme weather, and the losses were catastrophic. What happened in Texas may be our best example at what a full-throttle cyberattack against critical infrastructure would look like if businesses and government dont improve their approach to cybersecurity. On the positive side, it appears that the Biden administration has made cybersecurity a priority for the nations critical infrastructure. The United States has taken significant steps to better defend against nation-state backed attackers. But just as foreign governments fund and enable their offensive teams, the U.S. federal government should help fund and coordinate the efforts of the security industry to better defend American companies, universities, and other organizations. As we all know, startups are typically at the center of innovation. Today, there is little to no coordination with any government program or entity to help enhance a startups chance for success it is a fairly Wild West environment. This lack of coordination is not just between young companies and the federal government. It also exists between startups and the more established security players. This creates a situation where the typical CISO must defend against well-financed, well-trained, and motivated attackers, leveraging a perceived best-of-breed patchwork of security products to defend their organization. But how does that CISO know if their security architecture choices are really optimized? Steps forward in cybersecurity It is a given that today, most security defenses are anything but optimized. In the first half of 2021, cyberattacks on industrial control systems (ICS) increased by 41% over the previous six months, according to research from Claroty. The cyberattacks on Colonial Pipeline, JBS Foods, and the Oldsmar, Fla., water treatment facility showed the fragility of critical infrastructure and manufacturing environments that are exposed to the internet. These are the types of attacks the White House is trying to prevent. To protect our critical infrastructure, President Biden signed a national security directive addressing the ransomware attacks that have already impacted energy and food supply chains. The directive is voluntary (it would require legislation through Congress to be mandatory), but the goal is to have the companies responsible for keeping the critical infrastructure work toward the State goals to improve security from ransomware. The Biden administration is also working with NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) to develop a new framework aimed at the security of the technical supply chain. And this past May, an Executive Order was signed to improve cybersecurity and protect federal government networks. Federal agencies are now required to use a zero-trust approach and institute improved incident reporting plans. President Biden continues to talk to Big Tech companies, holding cybersecurity summits to discuss threats facing organizations and to strategize on ways public and private entities can work together. This is all positive movement toward addressing a growing national security problem. But more could certainly be done to better coordinate the defenses required to protect our country. I am not suggesting that we regulate the security market, as the FDA does with the pharma industry an industry that has often been considered a good analogy to the cybersecurity world. But to ensure the U.S. is on the front lines, government encouragement, coordination, and funding of the startup community must be a part of the battle plan. Why investment in cybersecurity startups must stay strong The recent cybersecurity summit that President Biden hosted included the usual suspects, Amazon and Alphabet/Google, and other large corporations like JP Morgan. The little guys werent ignored, with two venture-backed cybersecurity companies included in the conversation. But if the government is serious about tackling cybersecurity, then their focus should be on talking with and investing in the startup community and the entrepreneurs who are developing frontier technology to cope with what is yet to come. The need to do this is twofold. First, without restraint, the Big Five tech companies will continue to get bigger and more powerful. Cybersecurity is a default setting for these guys, something they have to offer as their customers become more aware of the risks of a data breach and want to know tech companies are doing something anything to protect their personal information. Instead, their focus is developing tech products aimed at getting users to share more data and coming up with ways to monetize those products. As these companies get larger, cybersecurity could stagnate. This leads to the second reason why there should be engagement with the entrepreneurial ecosystem. Innovation is born in startups. These small companies in their earliest stages begin with an idea, with a problem they want to solve. They can focus on those problems because they dont have large numbers of customers to satisfy. Cybersecurity startups are agile and can shift to address emerging threats quicker. And often, these venture-backed startups become some of the most respected and biggest names in the cybersecurity industry. The best recent example of that over the past decade is CrowdStrike, but it is hardly the only success in the market. Cybersecurity venture capital is seeing record numbers in funding this year as the concern surrounding ransomware and other cyberattacks rises. Unfortunately, instead of encouraging more of these innovative investments needed to protect the country, Congress is potentially creating a disincentive to embracing the risks of launching and funding more startups with its proposed changes to tax policy and small business incentives. The White House would be wise to take advantage of what cybersecurity startups have to offer to defend against attacks on our most critical infrastructure. CISOs should also pay attention to emerging cybersecurity companies that are raising or have raised venture backing. These are the companies that arent looking only at existing cyber threats; they are looking at the future, at what cyber threats will evolve into, and how to develop innovative ways to protect from the attacks of the future. These are the companies looking at ways to focus security on data in ways to keep it from being impacted by a ransomware attack, and they will be the companies that have the solution ready to go for whatever attacks cybercriminals come up with next. Even with a better-coordinated industry, including positive government involvement, the market will require a new generation of startups to create innovative technologies that have a holistic view of an organizations increasingly complicated security stack. Fortunately, some of these companies are already underway, creating AI-based solutions to better manage and integrate the hodge-podge of other third-party solutions. But the industry is still in need of more of these innovative companies to be spawned to provide an optimized level of defense. During the Democratic debates on June 27, Senator Kamala Harris had a standout moment. Former vice president Joe Biden, the front-runner, had recently made news for defending his work in the seventies with senators who advocated racial segregation, telling donors that, in those days, At least there was some civility. We got things done. Harris, the only Black woman in the field, seized an opportunity to call out Bidens imperfect record on race, and focused on his history of opposition to busing that would integrate schools. There was a little girl in California, Harris saidher eyes closing for a momentwho was part of the second class to integrate her public schools, and she was bused to school every day, and that little girl was me. Facing Biden directly, she went on: So I will tell you that on this subject, it cannot be an intellectual debate among Democrats. We have to take it seriously; we have to act swiftly. Many people watching, Harris supporters or not, were moved by the sincerity of her message. Of course, the internet provided dissent. That evening, Ali Alexander, a right-wing provocateur, tweeted, Kamala Harris is *not* an American Black. She is half Indian and half Jamaican. Im so sick of people robbing American Blacks (like myself) of our history. Its disgusting. Immediately, Alexander became part of a smear campaign. His tweet was reposted thousands of times and shared by Donald Trump Jr. to some 3.65 million followers with the line Is this true? Wow. (Trump later deleted the post.) Its true that Harris is of Jamaican and Indian descent; she is also Black and a native citizen from Oakland, California. The incident was referred to by several news outlets as Birtherism 2.0, a nod to the conspiracy theory that emerged during Barack Obamas 2008 campaign and launched Donald Trumps modern political ambitions. Back then, the claimthat Obama was born outside the United States and therefore constitutionally ineligible to become presidentwas viewed as an old-fashioned lie, propagated by a reality television star with a loyal following. Today, the spread of such messages is interpreted differently, thanks to the Senate Intelligence Committee and Special Counsel Robert Mueller, who determined that Russians sought to influence Americas 2016 elections via social media channels, in many cases targeting the Black community. And, after months of speculation, it became clear that Russian activity continued even after Trump entered the White House. ICYMI: Did NYT ignore a major story because it wasnt the papers own scoop? Though the Harris campaign has been unable to prove that Russian bots were behind the tweets virality, the episode bore the signs: Caroline Orr, a reporter focused on disinformation, observed that a group of accounts all picked up Alexanders tweet within minutes, astroturfing itthat is, planting the message but masking its origin, to make something artificial appear realwithin the #Blexit movement (a play on Brexit for a Black constituency). As in the 2016 election, which revealed how vulnerable the American electorate is to outside influence, the Harris claim used the fault line of race, a potent motivator, to foment division, create distrust in the democratic process, and turn African Americans into disaffected voters. Propaganda aimed at suppressing the Black vote is not new, of course, but social media has transformed its nature and scale, enabling what New Knowledge, a tech firm, has called an expansive cross-platform media mirage targeting the Black community, which shared and cross-promoted authentic Black media to create an immersive influence ecosystem. In newsrooms across the country, as journalists have been grappling with questions of when and how to report on disinformation, they have also faced a logistical challenge. Unless youre on Black Twitter, you dont hear the conversations, Shireen Mitchell, the founder of Stop Online Violence Against Women, an organization focused on how suppression of the Black female vote is playing out on the internet, tells me. Nuance can be missed, context lost. If you dont have a group of people connected to these communities, youre never going to see it. Sign up for CJR 's daily email A lot of damage has already been done as reporters have tried to figure it all out. The Internet Research Agency, Russias fire hose of election interference, has reached more than 120 million people on Facebook and at least 20 million on Instagram. It also produced 1.4 million election-related tweets and uploaded more than a thousand videos to YouTube. Using sophisticated tacticsfrom newsbots posting articles to retweets and hashtags on Twitter to cultural media pages built to foster relationships with real people on Facebook and Instagramthe IRA has had an especially dire impact on millions of Black voters, a demographic that disproportionately uses social networks and has a long history of mistrusting the US government. In a December 2018 report commissioned by the Senate, New Knowledge found that, during the past presidential election, the IRA identified as assets people whose trust in Black media could be exploited to share manufactured disinformation on their own accounts. To target them, the IRA put out messages on topics including Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, Black History Month, Pan-Africanism, Black Is Beautiful, and Black Power; some posts also featured seemingly nonpolitical images or memes. The most popular post in the data set analyzed by New Knowledge was an Instagram advertisement for a Black-owned leather goods company called Kahmune; through a phony account, @blackstagram__ (303,663 followers), IRA operatives promoted the ad in order to engage with an unsuspecting user base. There were other forms of targeting, too: some geographic and newsy in nature, zeroing in on communities for local events and rallies, with race- and police-brutality-related content timed to follow officer-involved shootings; others took up historical conspiracies intended to divide Black people while reinforcing cultural identity. Once they had enough people and enough of a campaign going and gained their trust, they sent out voter suppression stuff and people believed it, Mitchell tells me. We come from a community of mistrust, but when we build trust, its hard for us to shake. People didnt understand what they were looking at. The IRA continued to meddle in American politics during the midterms. A year ago, the Department of Justice announced that federal officials had charged Elena Alekseevna Khusyaynova, a Russian national, for her alleged role as the chief accountant for Project Lakhta, a conspiracy that would, among other things, aggravate the conflict between minorities and the rest of the population. In Florida, the conspiracy deployed @KaniJJackson, an account created around September 5, 2017, that amassed over thirty-three thousand followers. The focus on Florida was clever: Andrew Gillum, the mayor of Tallahassee, was in a neck-and-neck contest for governor against Ron DeSantis, a former congressman. Gillum, a Democrat, is Black and supported criminal-justice reform; DeSantis, a Republican, is white and backed Trump. The @KaniJJackson account posted on subjects such as gun rights, net neutrality, negotiations with North Korea, Trump, and the midterms themselves, aiming to discourage liberal voters from showing up to the polls. To cover its tracks, @KaniJJackson referred to past Russian interference with American democracy, tweeting on February 7, 2018, Jeanette Manfra, the head of cybersecurity at the DHS: the Russians successfully penetrated the voter registration rolls of several U.S. states prior to the 2016 election. On the ground, the coordinated efforts of Russian agents seemed to work in concert with American operatives intent on using similar tactics to weaponize digital media. For instance, when Gillum backed a ballot initiative that would restore voting rights to former felons who had served out their sentences, his political opponents flooded social networks with ads and stories about him being soft on crime; right-wing sitessuch as the Daily Wire, the Daily Caller, The Signal, and Breitbartspread the same message under the guise of news reporting. Those articles would be shared on Facebook, on Twitter, and directly with voters. Its illegal to send robotic text messages, Joshua Karp, Gillums former deputy campaign manager, tells me. So Republicans figured out a loophole to outsource the sending of text messages to Latin America, where they could cheaply send hundreds of thousandsif not millionsof individual text messages to voters containing negative headlines and facts about Andrew Gillum. In other words, while the IRA was behind a campaign generating posts en masse that encouraged Black voters to stay home on Election Day, Republicans were fueling a disinformation campaign to motivate conservatives. (A spokesperson for DeSantis didnt respond to requests for comment.) More of the same took place during the gubernatorial race in Georgia, where Stacey Abrams, a Black female Democrat, was running in a tight, closely watched election against Brian Kemp, a white male Republican. On November 3, the New Black Panther Partyfounded in 1989, condemned by the original Black Panthers, and described by the Southern Poverty Law Center as an anti-white and anti-Semitic groupposted photos of NBPP members marching in support of Abrams while carrying rifles. A few hours later, the images were shared on right-wing Facebook groups, including one dedicated to supporting Kemp. The next morning, Kemp shared one of the photos posted by the NBPP on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Soon, the story was picked up by the Daily Caller, Breitbart, and other sites; Fox discussed it on the November 5 episode of Americas Newsroom. You just had Black Panthers in Atlanta, for example, carrying what looked like semiautomatic weapons, for Stacey Abrams, Newt Gingrich told viewers. You want a really radical America? You can get one, and shed beif she winsshell be the most radical governor in the country. Abrams, for her part, had never associated with the New Black Panther Party, but by the time conservative media had the images, that didnt matter. On Big League Politics, Laura Loomer stated that armed Black Panthers were campaigning with Stacey Abrams and that she was committing an act of racially motivated anti-white voter intimidation. The accusations piled atop other misinformation attacks that fallaccusing Abrams of being aligned with Communists and the Muslim Brotherhood. While the IRA was generating posts en masse that encouraged Black voters to stay home, Republicans were fueling a disinformation campaign to motivate conservatives. Both Gillum and Abrams lost their elections. (Floridas Voting Rights Restoration for Felons Initiative was approved by a large margin, and in January at least 1.4 million people became eligible to vote, but the states Republican leaders later instituted a poll tax that would severely limit its effects.) At the end of last year, the NAACP called for a one-week boycott of Facebook and Instagram, explaining in a statement that the action was meant to protest the utilization of Facebook for propaganda promoting disingenuous portrayals of the African American community. This past Black History Month, Abrams appeared at an event at the Brookings Institution in Washington, DC. Mitchell, of Stop Online Violence Against Women, was there, and asked about the problem of disinformation during the campaign in Georgia. DisinformationI will say this, they lied about me on television, Abrams replied. It was less about going online to do it. But I do think disinformation campaigns do suppress the votes in a lot of communities, less by giving disinformation about the candidate and more about giving bad information about how elections work. Voter suppression, she emphasized, was the fundamental harmthe way fake news campaigns overwhelm people with a despair and mistrust that turns them away from politics. If youre angry, you do something, Abrams said. If youre despondent, you curl up in bed. And so we need people to be angry about voter suppression and out there acting. For journalism to adequately cover how disinformation is used against the Black electorate, a solution is having Black journalists on the story. Some, like Rachelle Hampton, a writer for Slate, have been at it for a while. Three years ago, she noticed that Black female activists were unmasking disinformation campaigns targeting Black women online. Though Hampton had never written about disinformation, the subject intrigued her. I am a Black woman, and the women I was talking to were Black women, Hampton recalls. Ive kind of grown up on the internet, and there are certain ways in which this isnt a straight-up tech story, so I didnt have to know a lot about Twitter. Approaching her sources presented a challenge: many of them had been frequent targets of online harassment, so their guard was up and their accounts were locked down. When she introduced herself, however, they found her relatable. Her resulting piece described Black Twitters relationship to disinformation in a way never seen before; she also highlighted the disappointing response of Twitter executives. Still, Hampton had trouble explaining her findings to her editors, many of whom were older, white, and unfamiliar with the mores of Black womens activity on social media. The nuances of whats happening on the internet where people of color are congregatingthey dont understand the conversation, Hampton says. When the Harris Birtherism 2.0 claims came up, news outlets found themselves tested. To be sure, the story was a plot point in the Democratic primaries, where, given the twenty-four-hour news cycle, virtually anything was fair game; it speaks to the importance of race in the 2020 election and the role of social media, whether at the command of Russian troll farms or partisan instigators. Yet airing the notion that Harris is not an American Black plays into a false narrative designed to serve an antidemocratic agenda by sowing division in the Black community. In a case such as this, editors are liable to be misledand usedby trolls. As Jessie Daniels, a sociologist at the City University of New York whose work focuses on the intersection of race and technology, tells me, Our institutions, which are often rooted in these legacy, analog systems, are sitting ducks for this digital warfare. In the days following the debate, numerous outletsincluding the New York Times, BuzzFeed, and NBCcovered the divisive Alexander tweet. Some stories focused on reactions to it; others highlighted the appearance of related articles on the Daily Stormer, a neo-Nazi site, and patriots4truth.org, part of a network of sites that spread fringe conspiracy theories. My newsroom, the Associated Press, published a couple of pieces that corrected false statements about Harris. We check claims from any newsmaker in the world of politics, Karen Mahabir, head of fact-checking at the AP, tells me. It seemed like a case in which journalists were getting better at identifying disinformation for what it was, and appreciating the complex web in which it operated. Yet there are limits to what journalists know and can discern in real timeespecially if theyre not deeply versed in the particulars of an online community such as Black Twitter. For better or for worse, journalists get a lot of their stories off of Twitter, Hampton says. Reporters need to be sophisticated in their skepticism, she explains, and appreciate that there is often more to messages than what appears on the surface. If you are treating Twitter like a distillation of American politics, not being able to parse whats real from whats fake is going to distort what youre actually thinking. ICYMI: MSNBC devotes majority of Democratic candidate 2020 coverage to Biden, data shows Correction The version of this story originally posted misidentified Shireen Mitchell, the founder of Stop Online Violence Against Women. CJR regrets the error. Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today Errin Haines is an award-winning journalist who is the National Writer for Race and Ethnicity at the Associated Press. She is based in Philadelphia. In November, just before I went to see Jerry Brown at the annual meeting of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, some eleven thousand climate experts signed a statement declaring clearly and unequivocally that planet Earth is facing a climate emergency. At eighty-one, Brown, the former governor of California, was retired, but not really, having committed himself to fending off environmental disaster. Recently, he had testified before a House subcommittee, calling an attack by President Trump on Californias auto emissions rules just plain dumb, if not commercially suicidal. A month before that, hed announced the creation of the California-China Climate Institute, a bilateral research and training initiative to spur further climate action. And just before finishing his last term as governor, hed signed on as the executive chair of the Bulletin, which was eager to stake out territory in the climate fight. Id arranged to interview Brown about his choice to join the Bulletin, a nonprofit magazine founded in Chicago in 1945 by conscience-stricken alumni of the Manhattan Project. The Bulletin covers all things nuclear and is best known for its annual Doomsday Clock announcement, which draws on expert opinion to report just how close we are to the midnight of man-made apocalypse. But the publications original remitto help formulate the opinion and responsibilities of scientists and educate the public about the many problems arising from the release of nuclear energyhas broadened considerably. It now devotes equal attention to the threat of the climate crisis, including in the setting of the clock. In this regard, the Bulletin and a post-gubernatorial Brown were an ideal match. The meeting I attended, at the regal University Club in downtown Chicago, was Browns second with the science and security board, a group of subject-matter experts who set the clock and advise the editorial staff. (The Bulletin also has two other boards: the governing board, a corporate and philanthropic fundraising body, and the board of sponsors, which boasts thirteen Nobel laureates.) A few hundred people arrived, palling around and getting ready to talk all things apocalypse. The dress code for the event had called for business attire, but Brown turned up in crumpled slacks and a navy-blue sweatera suitcase screwup, he explained. Why the Bulletin? I asked. Number one is, of course, the reduction of the nuclear threat, but climate is another huge threat to humanity, he said. And the Bulletin, by linking the two threats, can increase public awareness, get people thinking about the big threats that humanity faces. Brown complained, in his jocular, pugnacious way, that the American news medias servitude to the concept of the news of the day is partly to blame for public ignorance about climate change. He asked me repeatedly, How can journalism cover something as diffuse and general and gradual as climate change? As we chatted, searching for answers, I thought of the untold amount of carbon wed all combusted to get to Chicago. I next saw Brown at the opening luncheon, in the buffet line among Bulletin funders and fans. The crowd resembled that of a classical-music concert: old, white, intellectual. The day included three sets of workshops, led by eminent scientists and policy wonks, then a closing plenary session and dinner banquet at Chicagos Palmer House, a grand hotel dating to the late nineteenth century. At the dinner, Brown delivered an energetic, free-flowing speech. The worse it is, the more excited I am, he said, the it being our current geopolitical, nuclear, and climate morass. Lets get it done! That second itthe avoidance of total destructionaptly distilled the Bulletins mission. Since the atrocities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the magazine has tried to convey the grave danger weve imposed on ourselves. Today, though the possibility of nuclear war remains real, the climate crisis feels just as daunting and consequential. Environmental scientists know this, as do journalists who report on global warming. Yet the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists may be the only publication to cover climate change with an approach that is explicitly existential. In 2017, during a seemingly endless, ever-escalating row between President Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists was permanently tabbed in my browser window. What some were calling a new North Korean nuclear crisis wasnt really new or even a crisis so much as the crackling of a rather constant fire. Still, as a Korea watcher with family on the peninsula, and given the statesmen involved, I felt frightened and looked to the Bulletin as a vital source of news and commentary. The magazine had, after all, invented the nuclear beat. From the very first issue, a slight, mimeographed newsletter published on the fourth anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, the Bulletin appealed to America and the rest of the world to eliminate nuclear weapons and establish efficient international control of atomic energy. Progress will be useless if our nation is to live in continuous dread of sudden annihilation, the editors said at a conference in Moscow. We can afford compromises, disagreements, or delays in other fieldsbut not in this one, where our very survival is at stake. A few years on, the Bulletin published the text of a speech by Albert Einstein, delivered to journalists at the United Nations, in which he asked why global cooperation hadnt yet staved off the threat of apocalypse. Perhaps it would be different, he suggested, if the atom bomb were not one of the things made by Man himself. Einstein later founded the Bulletins board of sponsors. The Bulletin evolved from a newsletter into a magazine, headquartered at the University of Chicago, and Martyl Langsdorf, a landscape painter and the wife of a Manhattan Project alumnus, designed a symbolic cover: an analog clock, set at 11:53pm, to represent the imminence of our self-destruction. In 1949, when the Soviet Union tested its first nuclear device, Eugene Rabinowitch, the Bulletins coeditor, decided to animate Langsdorfs clock, winding it four minutes closer to midnight. It has ticked forward and backward ever sincethrough the proliferation of ballistic missiles; the catastrophes at Three Mile Island, Chernobyl, and Fukushima; and the adoption of and American withdrawal from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty. The Nuclear Notebook, a research column of hair-raising erudition, has appeared in every issue since May 1987 and is second only to the Doomsday Clock in Bulletin influence. Each Notebook installment analyzes a category of stockpiletactical nuclear weapons, for instance, or the Chinese nuclear arsenaldown to the quantity and types and locations of various arms and fissile materials. The interests of the magazine have always overlapped with those of environmentalists. Early Bulletin scientists expressed a desire to make atomic energy a clean, limitless alternative to fossil fuels. That did not, of course, come to pass; more apparent were various kinds of long-term damage, from nuclear tests to plant meltdowns to radioactive waste buried on- and offshore, all of it documented in the Bulletin. Theres still no consensus on nuclear power. At the annual meeting, Robert Socolow, a member of the science and security board and a Princeton professor emeritus, said in a presentation, Im still going back and forth on nuclear energy, because of the coupling of nuclear power and nuclear weapons. There is always some probability of disaster, he added. Atomic energy, in any case, never came close to rivaling fossil fuels, and the subject of climate change appeared in the Bulletin as early as November 1961. Climate to Order, an article-cumthought experiment by H.E. Landsberg, a German climatologist, described geoengineeringthat is, hacking the atmosphere (reflecting sunlight, injecting chemicals into the stratosphere, etc.)avant la lettre. In theory, Landsberg wrote, it would be great to customize our environment, but When we are changing the climate of the whole world, a mistake could be disastrous. In 1970, the Bulletin ran another piece on geoengineering, this time in relation to polar ice and mans inadvertent influences on global climate. By 1972, a long, poetic account of the loss of forests and arable land would warn, There is plenty of evidence that man is the principal cause of this change. When I visited Rachel Bronson, the CEO and president of the Bulletin, in the magazines Chicago offices, she plucked a bound library volume from her shelf and opened it to February 1978. Is mankind warming the Earth? William W. Kellogg, a meteorologist, queried in the magazines first climate-change cover story. The answer is, I believe, an unqualified yes. Kelloggs article might have been written today, so salient are its arguments against delayed action and the conflating of extreme weather and atmospheric transformation. He included a message to colleagues who maintain that we should not publish any conclusions about the response of the climate to anthropogenic influences until we have done more homework, expressing his disagreement with such a conservative and noncommunicative attitude because the stakes are so great, the issues so fundamental to the future of society and most of all because some decisions are upon us that depend on every scrap of insight we can muster. By the end of the Cold War, most scientists were aware of the dangers of climate change and its relation to atomic and geopolitical concerns. Around the time Bill McKibben published The End of Nature, the first mass-market account of global warming, in 1989, the Bulletin was running pieces on the science of climate change side by side with heated denials that global warming posed any threat at all, historians David Kaiser and Benjamin Wilson observe in a special seventieth-anniversary issue of the Bulletin. The magazine also recast the debate over nuclear energy amid new apprehension about greenhouse gas emissions and implications for global warming. Len Ackland, the editor from 1984 to 1991, told me that it became clear we needed to address longer-term environmental dangers. To that end, he commissioned new artwork from Langsdorf: in her cover illustration for the October 1989 issue, the circle of the clock encloses a blue-and-white map of the world, the minute and hour hands radiating out from the North Pole. In 1992, the Bulletin published a major speech by Mikhail Gorbachev that set out environmental priorities for a post-Soviet world: The prospect of catastrophic climatic changesmore frequent droughts, floods, hunger, epidemics, national-ethnic conflicts, and other similar catastrophescompels governments to adopt a world perspective and seek generally applicable solutions. The Bulletin has vacillated in style over time, toggling between academic journal and science magazine, but has always maintained a certain seriousness. When I spoke to Bronson, she told me that tradition and expertise are no longer enough. In the moment of populism in which were now operating, wed better inform the populace, she said. Our power will come from having an educated and devoted following thats larger than it is right now. Recently, the Bulletin has adjusted its idioms; leaned more on interviews, explainers, personal essays, and multimedia; and stretched beyond an author base of older white male technocrats from Europe and the United States. Theres the Voices of Tomorrow column, which ran a moving essay by four teenage activists, including Isra Hirsi, Congresswoman Ilhan Omars daughter: Adults wont take climate change seriously. So we, the youth, are forced to strike. Theres elegant multimedia reportage, such as deputy editor Dan Drollettes Tilting toward windmills, about a test wind farm on Block Island, Rhode Island. And theres refined polemic: for example, Let science be science again, by Yangyang Cheng, a Chinese physicist based in Chicago, on science advocacy in the age of Donald Trump. A popular video series, Say What? A clear-eyed look at fuzzy policy, produced by multimedia editor Thomas Gaulkin, demonstrates that, even though the Bulletin is nonpartisan, its religiously pro-science. Some decisions are upon us that depend on every scrap of insight we can muster. In recent years, the Bulletin website has more than quintupled its traffic, from about 42,000 visits per month in 2013 to 236,000 per month today. The audience remains small but is alsojudging from the comments section and social mediawell connected and atypically informed: scientists, graduate students, journalists, the kinds of people who subscribe to Scientific American and Foreign Affairs. In response to a recent article on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change that debunked the supposed coming of a little ice age, commenter Cjones1 wrote: You forgot to mention that less solar radiation allows more cosmic radiation which effects [sic] cloud cover. The IPCC predictions have been less accurate than a bone throwing shaman. Fifty-five people responded to this with a thumbs-up. The Bulletin discontinued its print edition in 2008 but maintains a distinction between its paywalled bimonthly magazine and other articles. A yearly subscription costs eighty-six dollars and comes via Taylor & Francis, a profitable British publisher of scholarly books and journals. Since 2011, John Mecklin has served as the Bulletins editor in chief. He supervises six editors, spread out across the United States, who commission and write; seven other staff members handle administration, public relations, and fundraising. Collectively, they aim to grow the magazines readership, assign more illustrations, and invest in narrative and investigative journalism. Im in the process of commissioning a story right now, paying somebody two to three dollars a word, Mecklin told me. The Bulletin is doing well financially, but I cant pay what The New Yorker pays somebody, or I cant do it for very many stories a year. Most pieces are written for nothingdonated, as Mecklin put itby experts with day jobs. One of Mecklins predecessors, Mark Strauss, recalled compensating at least one contributor with a Bulletin T-shirt. When Mecklin took the job, climate represented just a quarter or 30 percent of the magazine, he told me; its now more like 40 percent nuclear, 40 percent climate. As he explained, What has evolved and changed since Ive been editor is that there are now three areas of focus: its nuclear, climate change, and this area we call disruptive technologiessuch as artificial intelligence and disinformationa sort of threat multiplier of the first two. Both Mecklin and Bronson described this expanded mission as logical and necessary, and in line with the Bulletins history of tackling the impacts of cutting-edge science. When I listened in on a recent editorial meeting, via Skype, I was struck by the magazines simultaneously banal and illustrious character. The editors did what all editors do: they evaluated pitches and commissions, reviewed social media statistics (e.g., an SUV shaming story, by contributing editor Dawn Stover, that was doing well on the interwebs), brainstormed story ideas, and planned coverage. But every so often, someone would refer to a famous politician or scientist (e.g., Siegfried Hecker, a Stanford physicist who has personally inspected North Koreas nuclear arsenal) not as a dream subject or occasional source, but as a friend and adviser to the magazine. On questions of climate, for instance, they might consult Elizabeth Kolbert, a Pulitzer Prizewinning New Yorker writer who sits on the science and security board. This is a publication with extraordinary history and reach. I thought of something Mecklin told me when we first spoke: We want to be read in the White House, at the Kremlin, and at the kitchen table. Among the prominent scientists closely involved with the Bulletin is Raymond Pierrehumbert, a lavishly bearded and tweeded physicist, not of the nuclear sort. He joined the magazines science and security board while across campus at the University of Chicago. He has since moved to Oxford, but remains heavily involved. In his work on the early Earth and planets around other stars, he applies the same physics we use to quantify the greenhouse effect on Earth, he told me. If youre a climate scientist or paleontologist, youve studied the role of CO 2 in the Earths past historyyou know that what humans are doing to the Earths climate is truly disturbing. For his part, he said, It would be irresponsible to stay in the lab. Pierrehumbert once wrote a lively column on science and politics for Slate; he also contributed to the website RealClimate and appeared in a well-intentioned rap video titled We are climate scientists, Chicago style. (Hes better as a folk musician.) In a recent cover story for the Bulletin, There is no Plan B for dealing with the climate crisis, Pierrehumbert argues in dramatic language against geoengineering. To pursue that strategy, he writes, would commit generations yet unborn to continuously run a mechanical process, over a time-span longer than the age of the pyramids. And if our offspring dont, or simply cant, do so at some point in the future, then they will suffer the consequences of an unimaginably huge climate shock, accumulated over vast amounts of time. When I saw Pierrehumbert at the annual meeting, he was sheepish about the sin of his flight to get to Illinois. Yet he seemed energized by the company of his colleagues: fellow physicists, national-security experts, and politicians, including Jerry Brown, whom he admires. A few years ago, Pierrehumbert told me, hed raised concerns with Brown about coal exports. If California allowed a proposed coal export terminal to be built, Pierrehumbert had said, it would increase demand in China, putting all of our carbon reduction goals in jeopardy. The problems were confounding, the answer frustratingly simple: We need to put fossil fuel companies out of business, or at least their traditional business, Pierrehumbert told me. We will need to write down carbon to zero. Brown heard him out, Pierrehumbert recalled, but it was not on his radar. In November, Pierrehumbert had Californias cap-and-trade program on his mind. A flaw of that and related markets, he told me, is that they apply an inaccurate equivalence standard, mass for mass, to methane and carbon dioxide, thereby exaggerating the role of methane in global warming. But if we reopen the debatethat is, rejigger the math of cap-and-tradewe could lose the benefit on carbon dioxide. Its politically complicated. Im not sure its worth the risk, he explained. Its too bad that Jerry Brown is no longer governor. Even if he didnt act on everything Pierrehumbert told him about, he had, at least, listened. Gavin Newsom, the new guy in Sacramento, has yet to show up to a Bulletin meeting. We want to be read in the White House, at the Kremlin, and at the kitchen table. At the start of 2020, Bronson and her staff flew to Washington, DC, as they do every January, to announce to the world what time it is. At the press conference, livestreamed to maximize virality, Bronson wore a scarlet dress and stood at a podium bearing the Bulletins somber black-and-white logo. In 2018 and 2019, the clock was set at 11:58, the direst assessment by the science and security board since 1953, after both the United States and the Soviet Union tested hydrogen bombs. This year, alongside Brown; Mary Robinson, a former president of Ireland; and Ban Ki-moon, a former UN secretary-general, Bronson delivered an even grimmer report: the world was now a hundred seconds from apocalypsecloser than ever to midnight, as CNN would write. The Bulletins accompanying statement, authored by Mecklin and addressed to the leaders and citizens of the world, is a seven-page, reader-friendly recitation of man-made horrors and suggested mitigations. Humanity is facing a state of emergency that requires the immediate, focused, and unrelenting attention of the entire world, it reads. The reasons are many. On the nuclear side, the US, Russia, and China retain their stockpiles; Iran retreated from international cooperation, in response to Americas withdrawal from their nuclear deal and its assassination of a top Iranian military commander; the INF Treaty is no more and other arms agreements are soon to expire. In terms of climate change, the US officially left the Paris Agreement; Brazil is allowing its precious rain forests to be destroyed; and greenhouse gas emissions are on the rise, zero-carbon rhetoric be damned. All this is made worse by a corrupted and manipulated media environment in which truth, let alone scientific reality, becomes increasingly unknowable. Still, the Bulletin statement offers shards of hope. Climate change has catalyzed a wave of youth engagement, activism, and protest, it observes. If we multiply this mass civic engagement, it states, there is no reason the Doomsday Clock cannot move away from midnight. If the clock announcement invites sober reflection, its also an occasion to push for political action. Throughout its history, the Bulletin has balanced its journalistic mission with various forms of advocacy. As soon as the atomic scientists in Chicago founded the Bulletin, they joined with colleagues in Los Alamos, Oak Ridge, and Manhattan to lease an office in Washington, forming a Beltway collaboration that eventually became the Federation of American Scientists. Last year, just after the clock announcement, Bronson, Brown, and former defense secretary William Perry, who now chairs the Bulletins board of sponsors, met with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumerto lobby not for a specific candidate or bill, but for arms control, diplomacy, and nuclear and climate policies rooted in science. Bulletin staff transmitted the ominous details of the clock statement: North Korean nuclear proliferation, increasing carbon dioxide emissions, and information warfare. This year, alas, Congress was busy with impeachment proceedings. There is a tension, in such conversations, between fear and hope. How much is too much apocalypse talk? Its very hard to find the words, even, to express the moment we now are in, Brown said, during the clock announcement. I myself am a person of limitless words, but I cant find how to say it in such a way that it can be heard. Back in November, at the end of the closing plenary session, a tall, bespectacled woman in the audience raised her hand: Elizabeth Talerman, a strategic-communications expert, who offered some advice on framing. Its best to avoid phrases like existential threat, she said, because they bum people out. The Doomsday Clock certainly has its skeptics, mostly on the right. See: Just skip the doomsday predictions, guys (the National Review); Goose eggs: No climate change doomsday warning has come true (the Washington Examiner); The Climate Doomsday Trap (the Cato Institute). Strauss, the former editor, told me that the Bulletin has played just as important a role in debunking overhyped threatsfor example, fears that terrorists might start massive forest firesas it has in playing up actual perils. When I asked Brown how the Bulletin should convey the urgency of the climate crisis, he didnt have an easy answer. He brought up a document from 1992, a one-page Warning to Humanity published by the Union of Concerned Scientists, a nonprofit whose members and staff often write for the Bulletin. A great change in our stewardship of the earth and the life on it is required, if vast human misery is to be avoided and our global home on this planet is not to be irretrievably mutilated, the statement reads. Browns point was that every climate messenger, not just at the Bulletin, struggles to balance gloom and motivation. Meaghan Parker, executive director of the Society of Environmental Journalists, told me, Its not so much about the emotionare you a doom writer or a solutions-and-hope writer?but talking about the specific, lived changes of real people. Some Bulletin articles punch and flail; others coax. Many do both, traipsing from seemingly intractable problems to optimistic solutions. In its March 2019 issue, the Bulletin examined climate change actionfrom the right, including an interview with Christine Todd Whitman, the former governor of New Jersey and head of the Environmental Protection Agency under George W. Bush, and an article about a Christian group, Young Evangelicals for Climate Action. Mecklins editors note offered practical guidance to ungenerous corners of the American left: Republican officeholders are not likely to agree to substantive action on climate change until they feel it is clearly in their best political interest to do so. The best people to explain those best interests to Republican congressmen and women? Republicans who believe in climate action and vote their beliefs. Recently, when I sat down to read a tall stack of Bulletin articles, I felt a confusing combination of terror, depletion, and productive rage. Perhaps this is how the original atomic scientists felt, trembling from guilt, trying to pull us away from the abyss. Nuclear war, so overwhelming a concept, once needed its own metaphors to be understood. When the Bulletin first took on climate change as an area of focus, it might have seemed an odd fit. As they say, nuclear can do us in in an afternoon; climate change will take much longer, Kennette Benedict, the Bulletins former director and publisher, who oversaw the inclusion of climate change in the clock-setting, told me. But the two crises are now an inseparable apocalyptic pair. If memories of fallout shelters and air raid drills make rising sea levels and extreme temperatures feel more pressing, then so be it. Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today E. Tammy Kim is a freelance reporter and essayist whose writing has appeared in The New Yorker, the New York Review of Books, the New York Times, and many other publications. She coedited 2016s Punk Ethnography. One day in July 2016, Casey Newton, a tech reporter for The Verge, sat down at Facebook headquarters in Menlo Park for the biggest interview of his career. Across from him was Mark Zuckerberg. With his characteristic geeky excitement, Zuckerberg described the promising initial test flight of Aquila, a drone with a wingspan larger than a 737 jet that was part of his plan to provide internet connectivity all over the world. Though Newton hadnt witnessed the test flight in Yuma, Arizonano members of the press were invitedhe believed Zuckerbergs account of it. When his article was published, it reported that Aquila was so stable that they kept it in the air for 90 minutes before landing it safely. Months later, however, a Bloomberg story revealed that the flight hadnt gone so smoothly after allAquila had crashed. While the craft had indeed stayed aloft for longer than intended, high winds tore a chunk out of a wing, leading to a crash landing. I immediately, of course, felt like an idiot, Newton says. In retrospect there were definitely questions that I should have asked that I did not. Facebook downplayed the crash, offering to the press a range of excuses: a rough landing was always expected; the cause was mostly a software malfunction; the long flight time was the real story. Newton published a more critical follow-up piece, but the damage was done: he had been had. (The Aquila drone was soon grounded and, within two years, the entire program scrapped.) That experience, honestly, it really changed the way I thought about the company and reported on the company, Newton says. Before that, I sort of thought, My goal is to get in front of Mark Zuckerberg and ask him questions, and if I do that, I can do good journalism. After the Aquila experience, Newton realized that he could be sitting in front of the CEO and still not get the story. Youre better off trying to report around the margins of the company. Sign up for CJR 's daily email Newton is still in touch with executives at Facebooksome of them are subscribers to his newsletterbut hes since focused his attention on the companys abuses of low-level employees and third-party contractors. He no longer trusts Facebook like he once did. It can feel impossible to comprehend Facebooks total influenceor to overstate its impact on journalism. Newtons professional arc, from enthusiastic tech beat reporter to skeptical industry investigator, matches the trajectories of a number of journalists in recent years. The 2016 presidential election in particular prompted a change in worldview against Facebook and the power wielded by Big Tech. The media had learned, perhaps belatedly, the cost of taking Facebook at its word. More recent, and adversarial, reporting has produced important stories about Facebooks refusal to tackle the proliferation of right-wing extremism and conspiracy theories on its platform. In advance of the 2020 election, more journalists are taking a hard look at the Trump campaigns once-heralded digital operation, which spends heavily on Facebook advertising, and its bombastic overseer, Brad Parscale, who has been promoted to overall campaign manager. Beyond the companys dissembling, reporting on Facebooks operations has become increasingly complex simply because of its size. The company controls the communications and informational intake of more than two and a half billion people. It can feel impossible to comprehend its total influenceor to overstate its impact on journalism. The past four years have made tech reporters out of many journalists who would otherwise confine their scope of interest to politics, culture, labor, or economics. Facebooks reach extends across every beat. In conversations with more than fifteen journalists and industry observers, I tried to understand what it is like to cover Facebook. What I found was troublesome: operating with the secrecy of an intelligence agency and the authority of a state government, Facebook has arrogated to itself vast powers while enjoying, until recently, limited journalistic scrutiny. (Some journalists, like The Observers Carole Cadwalladr, have done important work linking Facebook data to political corruption in the UK and elsewhere.) Media organizations have stepped up their game, but they suffer from a lack of access, among other power asymmetries. Many journalists contacted for this story declined to talk out of fear of hurting relationships with Facebooks communications shop. A number of journalists agreed to be interviewed, only to pass after speaking to their editors and PR reps. Some spoke to me off the record. Nearly everyone I talked to acknowledged that the relationship between Facebook and journalists had dramatically deteriorated in recent years. It wasnt long ago, after all, that Facebook and its comms shop was, for many journalists, a valued source. Facebook appeared in 2004, during a period of general techno-optimism. The site had a palatable origin story, a wunderkind founder, and a minimalist design, and it was largely treated as a trendy newcomer to the social network scene. Covering the company soon became a full-time job for some tech journalists, especially at digital publications like TechCrunch or Gizmodo that expected writers to generate a stream of news and scoops. Meanwhile, Facebooks comms shop practically acted as an assignment editor, doling out exclusives to generate good press and curry favor with journalists. Kate Losse, an early Facebook employee who would go on to write The Boy Kings, a memoir of her time at the company, told me in an email that journalistic coverage of Facebook in its first years was focused mostly on product updates. A notable story might be about a new feature in the sites news feed. Sam Biddle, a reporter at The Intercept who was working at Valleywag and Gizmodo in the early 2010s, told me that Facebook would offer up scoops to journalists that they credulously swallowed. It was like pigs at a trough, Biddle says. We were all trying to get the same drip-drip of product news out of Facebook, no matter what outlet you were at. In those years, scandals involving the company were mostly low-grade stuff: users unhappy about design changes; public disputes between the founders (as dramatized in The Social Network); murky data collection practices that caused the FTC to force Facebook to sign a consent decree in 2011. Facebook did face some public criticism about its role in eroding consumer privacy, but any skepticism tended to be watered down with exuberant praise. A 2008 GQ profile of Zuckerberg anointed him Boy Genius of the Year even as it asked, Do you trust this face? In private, Facebook has cultivated relationships with writers and influencers while also carefully working to shape a public narrative. In 2018, as part of a lawsuit filed in a UK court, the company produced thousands of pages of documents and emails that revealed how the companys comms team operated during part of 2014 and 2015. Staffers and their partners at the OutCast Agency, an outside firm, worked with reporters for months on articles that they hoped would paint the company in a good light. A Time magazine cover story about Facebooks charitable mission to wire the world that was facilitated by Facebooks Internet.org division was applauded internally as a win. Sometimes, Facebook wrote the story itself. Emails in the document dump suggest that in 2014, in the run-up to Facebooks F8 show, at which it unveils new features for developers, staff at the OutCast Agency wrote an article about how to use Facebook to build an app. They sent the article to a man named Eric Siu, who has written extensively and positively about using Facebook in business, for publication under his byline at Entrepreneur.com. The article does not appear to have been published, but it shows that Facebook is willing to push its message using Astroturfed content under the patina of credibility lent by sites like Entrepreneur. (Siu didnt respond to requests for comment; nor did several former OutCast Agency staffers who now work in various divisions of Facebook.) A similar tactic was employed in 2018, after George Soros criticized Facebook as a menace against which society needed to be defended in a public speech in Davos. The company hired a firm to produce incendiary pro-Facebook research that contained anti-Semitic tropes about Soros, a Jewish Holocaust survivor, as the shadowy funder of anti-Facebook groups. The documents were then passed around to journalists with the urging that they look into Soross financial interests. In the ensuing controversy, Elliot Schrage, Facebooks head of comms and policy and already on the way out, was blamed, while Sheryl Sandberg and Mark Zuckerberg stated they had no knowledge of the affair. Facebook employs the only comms people who have ever yelled at me. The 2016 presidential election changed everything. After Donald Trumps ascent, greased by the Cambridge Analytica scandal and the embedding of Facebook staff in the Trump campaigns digital operation, tech was seen as a political force unto itself. Journalists began digging into Facebook in a way few had before. The company responded by closing itself off. People have described it to me as a bunker mentality, says Charlie Warzel, a New York Times opinion writer who covers technology, media, and politics. The relationship is just naturally strained by the fact that theyre dealing with a crisis pretty much weekly, if not more frequently. In 2018 and 2019, Caryn Marooney and Rachel Whetstone, two of Facebooks leaders in policy and communications, left the company. In their place, Warzel notes, Facebook has installed some really talented flacks from political power centers like Washington, DC, and London. Those include Nick Clegg, the former British Lib-Dem party leader, and a handful of former Republican operatives, such as Joel Kaplan, Facebooks VP of policy, who is also a prominent friend and supporter of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh. Campbell Brown, a former CNN anchor and charter school booster who is married to Dan Senor, himself a former Mitt Romney adviser and spokesman for the US military occupation of Iraq, was brought in to develop relationships with news organizations. Mike Isaac, a New York Times technology reporter, estimates that the comms and policy divisions now employ several hundred people. The companys PR team also appears to have gotten more sophisticated. In 2017, Zuckerberg went on a yearlong listening tour across the United States that, while it earned some mockery, raised his political profile. Top execs including Andrew Bosworth and Adam Mosseri have been tweeting more, giving the impression of public availability. And Facebook PR staff sometimes contact reporters about their tweets, trying to quash stories before they emerge. They have smartly all gotten on Twitter and basically watch all reporters on Twitter, Isaac says. To expand its public outreach, Facebook publishes blog posts to explain new initiatives and efforts to clamp down on misinformation. The company continues to make use of embargoed scoops. It also cultivates reporters and influencers through off-the-record dinners, conference calls, and media scrums. Taylor Lorenz, a New York Times Style reporter, told me that last year she attended an off-the-record dinner sponsored by Instagram. She described the guest list: an Instagram executive, bookers from morning shows, editors of pop culture websites, music critics. To her mind, the dinner didnt present company propaganda so much as opportunities for informal conversation about trends or new productswhat an executive might think about TikTok, for example. But in terms of actual reporting, these events count for little. When it comes to anything consequential, Im not going to talk to them on background, Lorenz says. I want to hear what they have to say on the record. Otherwise its useless to me. Marie C. Baca, an independent journalist who has written extensively about Facebook, says off-the-record events are an attempt to shape a storys reporting from its inception. In 2018, when Baca was a reporter for the Albuquerque Journal, Facebooks PR staff came to town to hold off-the-record events about one of their programs for small businesses. Reporters were game, she said, because it was the only access they could get. When they are not courting journalists in off-the-record meetings, Facebook representatives are known to be difficult, even combative. Facebook employs the only comms people who have ever yelled at me, Biddle says. Lorenz has also seen Facebook shift its tone. I think the tension comes when you report on anything political, Lorenz says. The stakes are higher for them. While reporting a story earlier this year on Michael Bloombergs purchase of positive messages from influencers, Lorenz heard constantly from Facebook PR representatives. She compared the level of attention to when she wrote an article a couple of years ago about Facebooks balky ads system. At the time, Facebook PR reps called Lorenz and demanded headline changes and corrections, which she and her editors refused. One longtime Silicon Valley reporter who covers Facebook told me the company has a history of front-running storiesfeeding information to other publications to get ahead of potentially bad press. It has demanded, and received, approval for quotes. Several reporters told me that Facebook, like other large tech companies, makes aggressive use of off-the-record sourcing to obstruct the reporting process. Its pretty standard for a tech comms person to give you an on-record statement, theyll talk about the story with you on background, and then when its published, theyll come back to you and try to undermine it off the record, says Biddle. It has a big effect on the finished product, he explains, meaning that hes left with important information he cant tell his readers. To the extent that salient, substantive answers are given to reporters during these conversations, its often done in a way that minimizes the reporters ability to actually transmit that information to their readers. I experienced some of this myself while reporting this article. Over the course of two weeks, I spoke with a Facebook communications representative via phone calls and emailall off the record. I described the general arc of my story and asked specific questions about important details. The evening before publication, the company representative provided responses, on background, to my questions, as well as a statement from John Pinette, Facebooks vice president of global communications. The majority of reporters we work with tell us our relationships with them are professional and productive, he wrote. A company of our size and impact is going to attract scrutiny from journalists, and it should. Thats why its in our interest to develop relationships based on trust and candor. Indeed, the impression the comms person endeavored to create was one of opennessFacebook is constantly talking to journalists, after allwithout providing much real information that I could share transparently with readers. Michael Nunez, a technology journalist who has worked at Forbes and Gizmodo and has broken several notable stories on Facebook, is more blunt in his assessment of Facebooks comms operation. In his experience, he says, Facebook has been willing to lie on the record. Nunez recalled reporting on an internal poll in which Facebook employees asked Zuckerberg whether the company should do something to try to stop Donald Trump from becoming president. When he asked a Facebook flack about it, they denied the poll existed. I remember begging this person: Im not asking you to confirm the validity of this, Nunez said. Im looking at [a screenshot of] it. Im just here asking you for a comment. In Nunezs eyes, Facebook is not a trustworthy interlocutor. The company seems to be pretty comfortable with obfuscating the truth, and thats why people dont trust Facebook anymore, he says. Theyve had the chance to be honest and transparent plenty of times, and time and time again, you see that the company has been misleading either by choice or by willful ignorance. Others, like Warzel, see in Facebooks battle-hardened posture a strategic effort to resemble companies like Amazon, which rarely responds to public controversy and somehow manages to weather every storm. Facebook has erected a vigorous security apparatus and modified its internal culture to one defined by secrecy and a loose-lips-sink-ships attitude. Openness was once a part of Facebooks internal culture. The workplace was known for Zuckerbergs weekly all-hands meetings, in which employees could submit questions for consideration. According to a longtime Silicon Valley reporter, the company shared information internally knowing that there was no reason for employees to go talk to a reporter. People were generally happy. People enjoyed their jobs. They thought they were connecting the world and making it a wonderful place. And I guess any internal debate stayed within the confines of the company. Now you start to see a lot of cracks in the facade. The cracks have made way for more internal dissent, including an employee walkout in June in a rare show of public protest against Zuckerbergs refusal to crack down on threatening posts by President Trump. Amid this bubbling-over of discontent, more leakers have appeared. In October, a recording of an all-hands meeting was leaked to Newton at The Verge in which Zuckerberg talked about company threats ranging from TikTok to Sen. Elizabeth Warrens antitrust proposals. To stanch the leaks, Facebook has erected a vigorous security apparatus and modified its internal culture to one defined by secrecy and a loose-lips-sink-ships attitude. It is locked down in a way in which no other tech company is, says Warzel. With the knowledge that a company that has built a globe-spanning surveillance apparatus might always be watching, reporters and sources take tremendous precautions. Any Facebook-issued device, or even a phone with the Facebook app installed, could be vulnerable to the companys internal investigators. If a source has friended a reporter on a social network or merely looked up their profile on a company computer, Facebook can find out. It can potentially tap location data to see if a reporter and a source appear to be in the same place at the same time. Warzel compares the companys mentality to that of an intelligence agency. I have former Facebook sources who will tell me an interesting tip and then lament that they dont know a single person who could possibly confirm this, even though these people would like to confirm this, because they dont own a single device that Facebook couldnt forensically tap into to figure out the source of a leak. Facebook hires exCIA agents for its security operations, says Newton. (BuzzFeed has also reported on Facebooks hiring of former intelligence officers.) After he started doing critical reporting on the company, he went through his own information security training. In 2016, after Nunez published a Gizmodo article on political bias in Facebooks trending-topics feature, every one of his Facebook friends who worked at the company was individually called into a room and interrogated by company staff. Private messages between Nunez and his friends were read back to them. Its really unfortunate because it seems there are employees at Facebook who genuinely have a conscience, a sense of moral and ethical obligations, and want to see the company adhere to that, Warzel says. Every big powerful organization leaks, and thats a way of holding it accountable outside the walls of that company. More and more of the best journalism is going to be done without any help from Facebook. What Facebook has become is the presss assignment editor, its distribution network, its great antagonist, devourer of its ad revenue, and, through corporate secrecy, a massive block to journalisms core mission of democratic accountability. Faced with these daunting circumstances, what can journalists do better? Part of the challenge of covering Facebook is that many beat reporters are not granted the time and resources needed to develop sources within a hostile company. Instead, they are often expected to report on the latest viral controversy. Every week seems to bring new evidence of horrific behavior abetted by the Facebook platform and overlooked by its harried staff of poorly paid moderators. The result is accountability journalism that points fingers but doesnt address root problems. This kind of reporting is important, but theres a way in which it serves as a form of reactive content moderation that Facebook should be doing on its own. It leaves one to ask: What does accountability journalism look like for Facebook when its own systems of accountability are so lacking? One story helps sum up the situation. In 2018, Jesselyn Cook, a tech reporter for HuffPost, learned that photos of her had been taken from a Facebook photo album and posted in a private Facebook group. The posts were sexist and abusive, and Cook began to receive harassing messages. She reported the group to Facebook, but no action was taken. Eventually, she managed to get the ear of one of the groups administrators, who agreed to delete the photos. Two months later, Cook contacted Facebook againthis time as a reporter seeking comment about the experience for an articleand the company quickly responded. Within hours, the group was deleted. Cooks experience is sadly representative. Too often, the company doesnt acknowledge a problemharassment of doctors by anti-vaccine activists, say, or deception in political advertisinguntil the press covers it or a politician complains. Its as if Facebook is constantly playing a game of whack-a-mole, but at its own pace and with little regard for its users. Facebook responds best to bad press, Judd Legum, who publishes the newsletter Popular Information, says. This dynamic serves no one. Over and over, the press is left chasing down Facebook reps for comment on a single offensive group or account on a platform of billions of people. Until Facebook provides comprehensive solutions for these problems of harassment, content moderation, and user experience, journalists will always be talking about the latest outrage that pops up on the platform. This leaves little media oxygen for reporting on first-order issues about the company and its larger societal machinations. Adrian Chen, a former staff writer for The New Yorker and Gawker, says that journalists need to investigate the internet political economy as much as the mechanics of the Facebook platform. We need to understand how they wield their influence politically to create the environment that has allowed them to become what they are. What Facebook has become is the presss assignment editor, its distribution network, its great antagonist, devourer of its ad revenue, and, through corporate secrecy, a massive block to journalisms core mission of democratic accountability. Whether journalists can survive these conditions to produce meaningful, critical work about Facebook depends as much on their own adaptability as it does on the backing of revenue-minded media owners who might not wish to antagonize one holder of the advertising duopoly during an unfolding economic calamity. Except for one or two premium-tier media properties, journalism needs Facebook more than Facebook needs journalism. I dont think the adversarial relationship between Facebook and the press is going to change, Biddle says. Its a question of whether Facebook is going to stop resenting it so obviously and realize that this is what comes with being an enormously powerful, enormously wealthy corporation. Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today Jacob Silverman is the author of Terms of Service: Social Media and the Price of Constant Connection. His website is jacobsilverman.com and his Twitter handle is @silvermanjacob. Last Mondayfive weeks after the Wall Street Journal began publishing the Facebook Files, a series based on documents leaked by Frances Haugen, a former Facebook staffer, showing that the company knows full well that many of its products cause harmFacebooks PR apparatus appeared to snap. Right now 30+ journalists are finishing up a coordinated series of articles based on thousands of pages of leaked documents, an official company account tweeted. We hear that to get the docs, outlets had to agree to the conditions and a schedule laid down by the PR team that worked on earlier leaked docs. The account then referred to the purported collaboration as an orchestrated gotcha campaign. Journalists roundly roasted Facebook for its conspiratorial characterization of their craft, and pointed out that Facebook has itself embargoed information, as has just about every other major company under the sun. Nevertheless, there is something extraordinary about what this collaboration turned out to be. Having initially worked only with the Journal, Haugen provided documents to seventeen typically-competitive US news outletsincluding the New York Times, the Washington Post, and CNNand others in Europe, opening the journalistic equivalent of an outlet store, as Ben Smith, the media columnist at the Times, put it. Per Smith, the journalists working on the documents have communicated in a Slack group named Apparently Were a Consortium Now. The consortium agreed to publish its findings starting today, but that agreement didnt quite hold, and the first stories started to emerge on Friday, prompting a weekend flood. Many of them concerned Facebooks role in the circulation of disinformation, not least around the 2020 US presidential election and subsequent insurrection. NBC reported that Facebook has long known its algorithms and recommendation systems push some users toward extreme, conspiratorial content. The Times reported that Facebook was caught flat-footed as users weaponized its platform to spread lies about the vote. The Post reported that Facebook seemingly moved too quickly after the election to lift measures that had helped suppress some election-related misinformation. CNN reported that Facebook was fundamentally unprepared for how the Stop the Steal movement used its platform to organize, and only truly swung into action after the movement, which played a pivotal role in the insurrection, had turned violent. The Associated Press reported that as the insurrection unfolded, Facebook engineers raced to tweak internal controls to slow the spread of misinformation and inciteful content. Bloomberg reported that, over the 24 hours that followed the insurrection, employees used the internal version of Facebook to debate the companys performance in frank terms. ICYMI: Britain mulls protecting leakers. The US must do the same. Yesterday, the focus of several stories based on the documentsincluding in the Times, the Post, and the AP, as well as in the Journalshifted away from the US and overseas, examining Facebooks culpability for fueling toxic discourse, including anti-Muslim hate speech, in India, in particular. (The reason I wanted to do this project, Haugen has said, is because I think the global South is in danger.) Facebook staffers prepared dozens of studies and memos on the platforms role in India that, the Times reported, provide stark evidence of one of the most serious criticisms levied by human rights activists and politicians against the world-spanning company: It moves into a country without fully understanding its potential impact on local culture and politics, and fails to deploy the resources to act on issues once they occur. More such stories are set to follow today and in the days to come. (CNNs Donie OSullivan has started a list to help keep track of the consortiums collective work, but judging by the weekends barrage of push notifications and social-media sharing, you might not need it.) The barrage has worsened what was already a terrible news cycle for Facebook, stretching back to the Journal publishing its initial stories and Haugen revealing her identity on 60 Minutes and then testifying before Congress, throughout which the specter of regulation has seemed to loom larger than ever (though many Congressional specters turn out to be paper tigers). This, of course, is not Facebooks first bout of sustained bad publicitywe all remember the 2016 election and Cambridge Analytica scandalbut the current reckoning feels especially intense. There are a range of reasons for that. The documents leaked by Haugen contain very important new evidence; one of the Journals early stories reported that Instagram, which is owned by Facebook, knew that its product was harmful to many users, in particular teenage girls, which is an issue of emotive and immediate concern for millions of people who might not have strongly held views on the ins and outs of a data-privacy scandal. Still, not everything that the consortium is centering is new information, exactly. Fierce political and media headwinds have been whipping around Facebook for a long time nowand Haugen appears to have been very savvy about accelerating them. Time will tell if theyre blowing toward a tipping point. Facebook, for its part, has continued to hit backcharacterizing stories based on the documents as selective and unfair, defending many of its content-moderation decisions, and insisting that others were responsible for the insurrection, not least the insurrectionists themselves. In recent weeks, the company has dispatched Nick Clegg, its vice president for global affairs and communications, to tour TV studios, where hes made the case that the good stuff on Facebooks platforms outweighs the bad, and that bad stuff is inevitable given how widely the platforms are used. As the negative headlines intensified over the weekend, Clegg took a shot at the press in a memo to his colleagues. In the past, public discourse was largely curated by established gatekeepers in the media who decided what people could read, see and digest, he wrote. Social media has enabled people to decide for themselves, he added, which is both empowering for individualsand disruptive to those who hanker after the top-down controls of the past, especially if they are finding the transition to the online world a struggle for their own businesses. Sign up for CJR 's daily email Ive long found Clegg an interesting figure: Im from the United Kingdom, where he served as the liberal deputy prime minister in a rare, conservative-led coalition government in the early 2010s. As I noted when he joined Facebook, in 2018, Clegg was always likely to be a snug ideological fit with the companys stated culture given his classical-liberal, decentralizing, techno-optimist views, and those have indeed been stamped clearly through his recent statements. I also noted that Clegg left office in the UK deeply unpopular and with a serious credibility problem, having failed to sell a skeptical electorate on his political project: basically, laissez-faire with some safeguards. Facebook, of course, is itself now a mammoth informational gatekeeper whose decisions shape public discourse, rather than merely holding up a mirror to an external marketplace of ideas. The stories emerging from Haugens leak show that clearly. They dont cover the entirety of Facebooks operations, but how could they? The companys size is at the core of this story, and that story is manifestly in the public interest. The economic picture for news, and industry griping about it, doesnt change that. Its notable that in reporting this new round of stories about Facebook, major news organizations havent channeled the competitive industry practices of old but instead coalesced at a remarkable scale; the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists and similar groups have, in recent years, brought together much greater numbers of media partners to work through big leaks, but they havent tended to work at the same time with so many rival outlets from the same country. Smith reported yesterday that the documents arrangement was not without its challenges: the Journal apparently found it awkward that Haugen had gone to its rivals; one of the journalists involved described the consortium as the weirdest thing I have ever been part of, reporting-wise; the agreed-upon embargo effectively fell apart. But the overall, public-facing effecta rash of bad news for Facebookremains one of intense amplification. Its hard to come away from the resulting stories as a techno-optimist. Below, more on Facebook, social media, and whistleblowing: A programming note, and an invitation: Two weeks from now, Ill be writing this newsletter from inside COP26, the vital global climate summit in Scotland, reporting and commenting on the media stories surrounding both the conference and the climate crisis itself. If you or your news organization is headed to COP, Id love to hear about your coverage plans (especially if youre lining up something innovative) or just to say hi. If you arent heading to COP, Id love to hear about what youre looking for from others coverage of the conference, or any thoughts you may have on the state of climate journalism generally. You can reach me at [email protected]. Other notable stories: Podcast: On the trail of pink slime Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today Jon Allsop is a freelance journalist whose work has appeared in the New York Review of Books, Foreign Policy, and The Nation, among other outlets. He writes CJRs newsletter The Media Today. Find him on Twitter @Jon_Allsop. A growing number of False Claims Act investigations combined with recent court decisions that found insurers liable for the cost of settlements may spell trouble for commercial liability insurers. Policyholder attorney Geoffrey B. Fehling, with Hunton Andrews Kurth in Washington D.C., noted two court decisions this year that rejected insurer arguments that payments made to settle fraud allegations were uninsurable. Fehling said that the U.S. Justice Department announced in January that it had initiated more False Claims Act this year than in any year since 1994. He said policyholders should take heart that they will be able to look to their insurers to defend them. Alleged fraud is very different than actual fraud, he said in an interview. The Delaware Superior Court ruled on July 14 that Ace American and other insurers that issued directors and officers and employment practices liability policies were liable for the $18 million cost of defending and settling a whistleblower complaint against Guaranteed Rate Inc. that alleged the underwriting company had failed to comply with quality-control requirements for government-backed mortgages. U.S. District Court Judge Franklin U. Valderrama in Chicago ruled on Oct. 8 that Federal Insurance Co. was required to pay the $10 million policy limit to Astellas Pharma as compensation for the drug manufacturers $100 million settlement with the Justice Department. Federal prosecutors accused the company of violating the False Claims Act by boosting sales of a drug used to treat prostate cancer by steering patients to charities that paid their Medicare co-pays. Federal rules prohibit pharmaceutical companies from offering incentives to drive sales. The decision noted that $50 million of the settlement agreement was labeled as restitution. If that amount had been identified as disgorgement of profits, the claim would have been uninsurable. Fehling noted that in both rulings, the policyholders were accused of illegal acts but there had been no final adjudication. Valderrama found no authority to support Federals argument that because Astellas agreed to pay double the amount of the governments alleged losses, the settlement payment amounted to punitive damages, which cannot be covered by insurance. The False Claims Act allows penalties of up to three times the amount of actual damages. Valderrama rejected the assertion that Astellas payment was an uninsurable disgorgement of ill-gotten gains. Illinois law recognizes a distinction between the legal remedy of damages and the restitution of unjust gains, the judges order says. Valderrama granted summary judgment in favor of Astellas. The drug company is pursuing an additional $10 million in coverage from two other insurers. Tax deductible The Justice Department did not routinely identify settlement payments as restitution until after passage of the Tax Cut and Jobs Act, signed into law by President Donald Trump in 2017. Historically, the Internal Revenue Code prohibited taxpayers from deducting any payments to the government for fines or penalties. The 2017 legislation, however, allows deductions for amounts paid as restitution for damage or harm caused by a potential violation of law, or paid to come into compliance with the law, as long as they are identified as restitution in the agreement, according to an article by the Gibson Dunn law firm. After passage of the law, the Internal Revenue Service asked the Justice Department to change its standard settlement form for False Claims Act violations to identify any amount of the payment that is restitution for civil damages, said Jonathan M. Phillips, a Gibson Dunn partner in Washington D.C. who defends organizations against False Claims Act allegations. The amount identified as restitution is completely at the discretion of prosecuting attorneys; the defendant has no input other than to provide documentation, according to Greenberg Traurig shareholder Marvin Kirsner, who specializes in tax law. There must be evidence to support that the payment was, in fact, paid as restitution to make a victim whole, Kirsner said in an email. I have advised colleagues who have said that government attorneys are very sensitive to this issue, and will not merely agree to identify the settlement payments as restitution, unless the documents can establish that the payment is, in fact, for the purpose of restitution. The tax code change, however, does provide defense attorneys with an incentive to ensure that any False Claims Act settlements clearly identify any amounts that are being paid as restitution, Kirsner said. The Illinois and Delaware decisions may give policyholders another reason to avoid any settlement agreements that identify the amounts paid as disgorgement. Busy lawyers The number of government False Claims Act actions has been growing over the years. In 2001 there were about 400 prosecution; in 2020 there were more than 900, according to Justice Department statistics. The vast majority of the actions are usually initiated by whistleblowers, who can collect from 15% to 30% of the amount recovered. The amount recovered does not necessarily follow the number of False Claims Act actions. The Justice Department recovered $2.2 billion in 2020, the least amount recovered since 2008, even though it initiated a record number of actions. But 2020 was unusual in another way: The government initiated 250 False Claims Act actions, almost double the typical number filed each year. Phillips, the Gibson Dunn attorney, said increased government spending during the COVID-19 pandemic, such as the Paycheck Protection Act and government grants to hospitals to treat infected patients, will likely lead to a greater number of False Claims Act prosecutions. Increased government spending being pushed by the Biden administration may also drive up the number of actions. Phillips said the advent of litigation finance companies has led to an increase in the caliber of legal professionals that pursue whistleblower claims. Investor funding gives law firms the staying power to finance thorough investigations, he said. He said the federal government has also learned how to better analyze its databases to mine for leads. They see it as information that is already in their hands, so why not use it, he said. SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) Hours before actor Alec Baldwin fired a fatal gunshot from a prop gun that he had been told was safe, a camera crew for the movie he was filming walked off the job to protest conditions and production issues that included safety concerns. Disputes in the production of the Western film Rust began almost from the start in early October and culminated with seven crew members walking off several hours before 42-year-old cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was killed. The crew members had expressed their discontent with matters that ranged from safety procedures to their housing accommodations, according to one of those who left. He requested anonymity for fear that speaking up would hurt his prospects for future jobs. Rust Movie Productions did not answer emails Friday and Saturday seeking comment. At a rehearsal on the film set Thursday at Bonanza Creek Ranch outside Santa Fe, the gun Baldwin used was one of three that a firearms specialist, or armorer, had set on a cart outside the building where a scene was being rehearsed, according to the court records. Court records indicate that an assistant director, Dave Halls, grabbed a prop gun off a cart and handed it to Baldwin, indicating incorrectly that the weapon didnt carry live rounds by yelling cold gun. When Baldwin pulled the trigger, he unwittingly killed Hutchins and wounded director Joel Souza, who was standing behind her inside a wooden, chapel-like building. Baldwin, 63, who is known for his roles in 30 Rock and The Hunt for Red October and his impression of former President Donald Trump on Saturday Night Live, has described the killing as a tragic accident. He was a producer of Rust. Halls did not immediately return phone and email messages seeking comment. A 911 call that alerted authorities to the shooting at the Bonanza Creek Ranch outside Santa Fe hints at the panic on the movie set, as detailed in a recording released by the Santa Fe County Regional Emergency Communications Center. We had two people accidentally shot on a movie set by a prop gun, we need help immediately, script supervisor Mamie Mitchell told an emergency dispatcher. We were rehearsing and it went off, and I ran out, we all ran out. The dispatcher asked if the gun was loaded with a real bullet. I cannot tell you. We have two injuries, Mitchell replied. And this (expletive) AD (assistant director) that yelled at me at lunch, asking about revisions.Hes supposed to check the guns. Hes responsible for what happens on the set. The Associated Press was unable to contact Hannah Gutierrez, the films armorer, and several messages sent to production companies affiliated with Rust did not receive responses Friday. Court records say that Halls grabbed the firearm from the cart and brought it inside to the actor, also unaware that it was loaded with live rounds, a detective wrote in a search warrant application. It was unclear how many rounds were fired. Gutierrez removed a shell casing from the gun after the shooting, and she turned the weapon over to police when they arrived, the court records say. Guns used in making movies are sometimes real weapons that can fire either bullets or blanks, which are gunpowder charges intended to produce little more than a flash and a bang. New Mexico workplace safety investigators are examining if film industry standards for gun safety were followed during production of Rust. The Los Angeles Times, citing two crew members it did not name, reported that five days before the shooting, Baldwins stunt double accidentally fired two live rounds after being told the gun didnt have any ammunition. A crew member who was alarmed by the misfires told a unit production manager in a text message, Weve now had 3 accidental discharges. This is super unsafe, according to a copy of the message reviewed by the newspaper. The New York Times also reported that there were at least two earlier accidental gun discharges; it cited three former crew members. Mitchell, the script supervisor, told The Associated Press she was standing next to Hutchins when the cinematographer was hit. I ran out and called 911 and said `Bring everybody, send everybody, Mitchell said. This woman is gone at the beginning of her career. She was an extraordinary, rare, very rare woman. Filmmaker Souza, who was shot in the shoulder, said in a statement to NBC News that he was grateful for the support he was receiving and gutted by the loss of Hutchins. She was kind, vibrant, incredibly talented, fought for every inch and always pushed me to be better, he said. Santa Fe-area District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies said prosecutors will be reviewing evidence in the shooting and do not know if charges will be filed. Hutchins husband Matthew Hutchins posted on social media to mourn his wifes loss, ask for privacy for his family, and thank her friends and mentors at the American Film Institute, who he said nurtured the success we had only just begun to see flourish. The institutes conservatory canceled cinematography classes Friday in response to Hutchins death. At a vigil Saturday around 200 film crew workers gathered for a candlelight vigil as the sun set. They shared grief at the loss of one of their own, and fear of accidents on their own film sets. Several in attendance lit candles, held a moment of silence, read poetry and made brief comments including one testimonial to her artistic spark and generosity. Her death shouldnt have happened, Union sets should be safe sets, said Liz Pecos, president of IATSE Local 480. Production on Rust was halted after the shooting. The movie is about a 13-year-old boy who is left to fend for himself and his younger brother following the death of their parents in 1880s Kansas, according to the Internet Movie Database website. The crew member that spoke to the AP said he never witnessed any formal orientation about weapons used on set, which normally would take place before filming begins. He also said only minimal COVID-19 precautions were taken even though crew and cast members often worked in small enclosed spaces on the ranch. The crew was initially housed at the Courtyard by Marriot in Santa Fe, according to the crew member. Four days in, however, they were told that going forward they would be housed at the budget Coyote South hotel. Some crew members balked at staying there. We packed our gear and left that morning, the crew member said of the Thursday walkout. The Los Angeles Times and Variety also reported on the walkout. Gutierrez, the films armorer, is the daughter of a longtime Hollywood firearms expert. She gave an interview in September to the Voices of the West podcast in which she said she had learned how to handle guns from her father since she was a teenager. During the podcast interview, Gutierrez shared that she just finished her first movie in the role of head armorer, a project in Montana starring Nicolas Cage titled The Old Way. I was really nervous about it at first and I almost didnt take the job because I wasnt sure if I was ready but doing it, like, it went really smoothly, she said. In another on-set gun death from 1993, Brandon Lee, the son of martial arts legend Bruce Lee, was killed by a bullet left in a prop gun after a previous scene. Similar shootings have occurred involving stage weapons that were loaded with live rounds during historical re-enactments. Gun-safety protocol on sets in the United States has improved since then, said Steven Hall, a veteran director of photography in Britain. But he said one of the riskiest positions to be in is behind the camera because that person is in the line of fire in scenes where an actor appears to point a gun at the audience. Price reported from New York. Associated Press writers Jake Coyle and Jocelyn Noveck in New York; Lizzie Knight in London; Yuras Karmanau in Kyiv, Ukraine; Ryan Pearson in Los Angeles; Susan Montoya Bryan in Albuquerque, New Mexico; Walter Berry in Phoenix; and Gene Johnson in Seattle contributed to this report. About the photo: This aerial photo shows a film set at the Bonanza Creek Ranch in Santa Fe, N.M., Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021. Actor Alec Baldwin fired a prop gun on the set of a Western being filmed at the ranch on Thursday, Oct. 21, killing the cinematographer, officials said. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. LOS ANGELES (AP) The shooting death of a cinematographer on the set of the set of the Alec Baldwin movie Rust is a reminder of the dangers that can exist on film and television sets. As authorities investigate why a crew member handed Baldwin a loaded gun instead of one safe to use, industry leaders will look for ways to avoid similar tragedies. On-set fatalities have led to safety reforms in the past. Here are some of the productions that experienced industry-altering accidents: Twilight Zone: The Movie A 1982 helicopter crash that killed actor Vic Morrow and two child actors on the set of Twilight Zone shook the film industry and led to new safety standards for the use of choppers during filming. Morrow and the children were killed while filming a scene set in Vietnam for a film based on the popular television series. The helicopter came down after debris from explosions staged during the scene rose 100 feet in the air and damaged the aircrafts rotor. Director John Landis and four others were acquitted of involuntary manslaughter charges in a rare case of prosecutors targeting a film production for on-set deaths. The families of the child actors killed settled civil lawsuits years later, and federal agencies enacted new rules for filming with helicopters. The Crow Actor Brandon Lee died in March 1993 after he was shot in the abdomen while filming a scene for The Crow. Money and safety issues, including severe burns suffered by a construction worker, already had plagued the production. A makeshift bullet was mistakenly left in a gun from a previous scene and struck Lee during a scene that called for using blank rounds. OSHA fined the production $84,000 for violations found after Lees death, but the fine was later reduced to $55,000. After the fatal Rust shooting on Thursday, an account run by Lees sister Shannon tweeted: No one should ever be killed by a gun on a film set. Period. Midnight Rider Camera operator Sarah Jones was run over by a train in February 2014 during the filming of a Gregg Allman biopic in rural Georgia. The death of Jones, 27, and the injuries of other crew members hit by pieces of a metal bed frame that was on the train tracks as part of the production, put a heightened industry focus on film set safety. The crew filming Midnight Rider did not have permission to be on the tracks but were not expecting a train while filming the bed scene. Prosecutors filed criminal charges against the films director, who pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and criminal trespassing charges. He was sentenced to two years in jail but released after a year and fined $74,900 by OSHA. Jones parents created a foundation dedicated to improving safety on film and television shoots. Cops An audio technician recording a police shootout for the long-running TV reality series Cops was struck and killed in Omaha, Nebraska in August 2014. The death of Boston native Bryce Dion prompted the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration to recommend additional training and safety instruction for the shows crew members, including on how to film shootings from farther away. OSHA also recommended removing bonus incentives that encourage workers to take risks to capture more action-packed stories. Dion was the first person killed in the history of Cops, which premiered in 1989 and follows on-duty American police officers performing their jobs. The show was canceled last year but has been recently revived for the Fox Nation streaming service. Untitled Military Project An early morning helicopter crash in a remote river valley north of Los Angeles killed three people filming a planned reality TV series for the Discovery Channel. The February 2013 filming took place on a moonless night, and the pilot wasnt wearing night vision goggles at the time of the crash. Federal investigators later determined that a light used to illuminate an actors face in the cockpit hampered the pilots ability to fly. But the National Transportation Safety Board faulted the pilot, who was among those killed, for flying in unsafe conditions. The agency later rescinded its determination that a Federal Aviation Administration inspector failed to recognize the risks involved when he approved plans for the shoot. Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 25) Health Secretary Francisco Duque III has approved the recommendation of an independent panel to give COVID-19 booster shots and additional vaccine doses, but the program cannot be rolled out yet pending required documents and guidelines, the Department of Health (DOH) said Monday. The recommendation of the Health Technology Assessment Council (HTAC) includes giving booster shots for healthcare workers and senior citizens six months after they complete the single- or two-dose COVID-19 vaccine, while immunocompromised patients are recommended to get additional shots at least 28 days after they complete their vaccination. "The Secretary has approved the recommendations of HTAC at lahat po ng plano underway na [and all plans are underway]. We will have the third doses for the immunocompromised, senior citizens, and our booster for our healthcare workers," Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said in a media briefing. DOH stressed that an amended emergency use authorization from the Food and Drug Administration is required before the rollout of the booster and additional shots. Vergeire said they have sent the application and initial documents to the drug regulatory agency, but DOH is finalizing the list of brands to apply for. The official added they will wait for the final guidelines from the World Health Organization Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (WHO SAGE), slated to be released in mid-November. WHO has laid down the difference between booster and an additional shot. Booster shots are given to those whose immunity is going down over time after completing their shots. An additional dose is for individuals who never reached the ideal immune response level and are usually those who are immunocompromised and the elderly. Booster shots The HTAC said booster shots can be given to other priority sectors from A3 (people with comorbidities), A4 (economic frontliners), and A5 (poor population) by 2022 if 50% of the sector have completed their shots and 70% of the total target population in hotspots such as Metro Manila, Cebu, Davao, Iloilo, Calabarzon, and Central Luzon have been vaccinated. It said this will ensure maximum protection for the population because the "premature" rollout of booster shots would exacerbate the existing inequalities in vaccine supply. Mixing-and-matching of vaccine brands is allowed for CoronaVac or commonly known as Sinovac and AstraZeneca, the HTAC said. Those who completed their Sinovac shots should preferably be given Pfizer or AstraZeneca as their booster six months after completing their two doses. For those who received Pfizer and single-dose Janssen vaccines, the HTAC said they can only receive the same brand or a similar vaccine type for their booster. Those who completed their Moderna shots should ideally be given a Pfizer dose as booster, while a Pfizer booster should be administered to those who received two AstraZeneca shots. The HTAC said they can also get the same brand as their booster. Additional COVID-19 shots The HTAC recommended giving an additional shot of the same brand or a homologous or comparable type of dose at least 28 days after the completion of the initial COVID-19 vaccine series for immunocompromised individuals. It also suggested that those immunocompromised who received Janssen and Sinovac should receive an additional dose of Pfizer vaccine. Inter-Agency Task Force spokesperson Harry Roque said they will discuss HTAC's recommendation on Thursday. The decision of the IATF is forwarded to President Rodrigo Duterte, who will have the final say in the national vaccination policy. Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr earlier said the target for the rollout of boosters and additional shots is by early November. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 25) The regional office of the Department of Health in Calabarzon denied overpricing allegation in the purchase of ambulances and their components. In a letter to Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, Center for Health Development-Calabarzon director Eduardo Janairo said the office followed requirements under the procurement law and was not flagged by the Commission on Audit. The Bids and Awards Committee of this Office reviewed all the submitted bid documents taking into consideration with due diligence the legal, technical and financial capabilities of all participating bidders before declaring the lowest calculated bid, said Janairo. Janairo said the 98 ambulances were bid as a package and not separately. The winning bid for each ambulance with 30 components was at 2.298 million, lower than the 2.5-million budget. Janairo said the amounts presented by Senator Panfilo Lacson during a hearing showing the supposed overpricing of components of the ambulances were taken from the office's 2019 Land Ambulance Market Study. There is no amount specified for each component, he said, since the ambulances and components were bid as a package. Janairo said the office recently asked for the price for each component from the winning bidder to supposedly check the veracity of Lacsons presentation: Janairo admitted Lacsons allegation that some ambulances were delivered to local government units with only 21 of 30 components. He added they intended to deliver ambulances with complete accessories. However, a list of documentary requirements needs to be submitted including the training certificates of drivers, nurses, and doctors who will use the ambulance. Janairo also said the office released the ambulances with incomplete accessories due to the appeal of local government units and lawmakers for use in COVID-19 response. "Due to the clamor and appeal of the Local Chief Executives and Congressmen to immediately release the ambulances for their COVID-19 response, this Office was compelled to turn over the ambulance and withhold temporarily specific equipment that requires training like Automatic External Defibrillator because this is a skill training, he explained. This information was explained thoroughly to all recipients during the turn-over ceremony. Upon completion of training requirements, CHD-Calabarzon said it released the remaining components to the LGUs. Janairo said all LGUs already received the complete ambulance package. As of this writing, this Office has not received any complaints and reported malfunction of devices and ambulance itself. The Commission on Audit recognizes the full delivery of said ambulance including its equipment as there was no findings relative thereto, he said. Senator Lacson alleged that all 841 ambulances bought by the Health department since 2019 were overpriced by 1 million each. As a result, he said, the government lost 841-million from these procurements. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 25) A lawmaker seeks to ban the substitution of candidates who voluntarily withdraw their candidacies in elections. Senator Sherwin Gatchalian filed Senate Bill 2439 to amend Section 77 of the Omnibus Election Code, which gives the privilege to a candidate who belongs to the same political party to file for substitution. Under the present provision, a political aspirant can be replaced due to the candidate's death, disqualification, or withdrawal. But Gatchalian noted that the reason of withdrawal for substitution has been abused by many candidates. "This unfortunate practice of just fielding anyone to be a party's candidate for the sake of complying with the Comelec deadline is observed by some as a mockery of the process of filing certificates of candidacies," said Gatchalian. In Gatchalian's proposed measure, the words "withdrawal," "withdraws," and "withdrew" stated in Section 77 of the Omnibus Election Code were deleted. The senator also proposed incapacity as a ground for substitution of the original candidate. The bill also aims to strengthen and institutionalize the country's political party system to level the playing field among aspirants for political office. "Substitution by withdrawal is only allowed when the candidate is a member of a political party. This gives an unreasonable advantage to political parties at the expense of independent candidates," added Gatchalian. Deputy Speaker and Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez filed a similar measure in the House of Representatives recently. The Commission on Elections has set the deadline of substitution of candidates for the May 2022 elections on Nov. 15. President Rodrigo Duterte is one of the beneficiaries of the contested substitution option after he replaced Martin Dino, who withdrew his candidacy for president, as the standard bearer of the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) during the 2016 elections. Sen. Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa, who filed his candidacy for the country's highest position under the Cusi-led faction of the ruling PDP-Laban party, has repeatedly said he is willing to give way to presidential daughter and Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte if she decides to vie for the presidency in 2022. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 25) Senators seeking higher office will have no chance to remain in their position even if they lose an election once a bill declaring their automatic resignation is signed into law, a veteran lawmaker said on Monday. Speaking to CNN Philippines' The Source, Deputy Speaker Rufus Rodriguez said his House Bill 10381 seeks to reinstate a rule that elective officials will be deemed resigned once they file their certificate of candidacy, but only if the position they are running for is different from the one they are holding. "If you run for the same position, for example, you are running again for mayor, it's (not applicable) because you are running again to continue," he said. "But if you are running for another position, you are considered resigned, because where is this most applicable? In the Senate." "In the Senate, senators would run for president, for vice president during their midterm because they know during their midterm...if they will lose, they are always backed up by this law," he added, referring to the Fair Election Act of 2001. The Fair Election Act of 2001 has repealed Section 67 of the Omnibus Election Code that has declared an incumbent official as resigned upon filing his candidacy for another position. Under the repealed provision, "any elective official, whether national or local, running for any office other than the one which he is holding in a permanent capacity, except for President and Vice President, shall be considered ipso facto resigned from his office upon the filing of his certificate of candidacy." Rodriguez filed House Bill 10381 on Oct.13 in a bid to "force aspirants to take running for higher office seriously and to stop manipulating and mocking the electoral process," his explanatory note read. "Once they file for president and vice president, senators (should be) resigned from their position, so they should know this is not something to trifle about," the Cagayan de Oro lawmaker said. Under the Constitution, senators are limited to serving two consecutive terms, with one term lasting for six years. This means those who were elected in 2016 can seek reelection in 2022, but those who were elected in 2019 can simply return to the Senate next year. Senators Panfilo Lacson, Manny Pacquiao and Francis Pangilinan were elected in 2016. Lacson and Pacquiao are seeking the presidency in 2022 while Pangilinan is running for vice president. Senate President Tito Sotto, who is running for vice president in tandem with Lacson, is ineligible to run since he is on the end of his second term by 2022. Senators Ronald dela Rosa and Bong Go are running as a tandem under the ruling PDP-Laban, but they can simply return to their posts in 2022 if they lose since their first term will end in 2025. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 25) The bulk of the 400,000 Moderna vaccine vials expiring in November have been "loaned" to the national government, a health official said on Monday. Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said 356,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine ordered by the private sector have been lent to the national government. The shots have already been distributed to Calabarzon and Central Luzon. The official said they were loaned to the government to prevent wastage. New stocks will be given back to the private sector, Vergeire assured. "Papalitan natin ang doses na iyan kapag kailangan na nila," she said in a media briefing. [Translation: We will replace it when they need it.] Some supplies received by the private sector remain unused because many employees who listed with their companies were vaccinated through the local governments since the vaccines ordered by the national government arrived first. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 25) The Parish Pastoral Council for Responsible Voting (PPCRV) said extended voting hours and additional support staff are needed to decongest precincts and prevent the May 9, 2022 polls from becoming a COVID-19 superspreader. The poll watchdog outlined its proposed adjustments for voting day rules following a dry run hosted by the Commission on Elections at the San Juan Elementary School over the weekend. We are very concerned about choke points for example, a suggestion by the Comelec that they will have health declaration forms for voters to fill up prior to the election process. I think we should do away with that, PPCRV president Myla Villanueva said in a webinar hosted by the Management Association of the Philippines on Monday. Based on existing protocols, election staff would be checking the body temperature of voters at the entrance gates. If feverish or with other COVID-19 symptoms, a voter will be taken to an isolation polling place to cast his or her ballot without putting other voters at risk. Villanueva likewise suggested to further extend the voting period to accommodate more people. PPCRV proposed voting hours to start at 6 a.m. and last anywhere between 8-10 p.m. The watchdog, which is supported by members of the Catholic Church, also suggested that voting precincts should cater to a maximum of 10 voters at a time. Villanueva added that the number of poll watchers per classroom should also be limited to avoid COVID-19 contagion. There should also be ample waiting area space, we believe, to ensure that voters are not creating a superspreader event, she said. Comelec said it will finalize voting day rules by mid-November. READ: Comelec eyeing more barangay courts, halls as voting centers in 2022 Commissioner Marlon Casquejo has rejected calls to hold the elections for multiple days, saying it is not allowed by law. The poll body's Saturday simulation activity saw strict health protocols enforced in precincts. However, it caused some delays in the process with physical distancing enforced at all times, according to Comelec spokesman James Jimenez. Independence In the same briefing, election law experts called for independent appointees to the Comelec as it will be in need of three new commissioners and a new chairman just three months away from the 2022 national and local elections. There should be a public vetting of the appointment of four new commissioners by February 2022, which can be a game changer on the conduct of elections, said Atty. Christian Monsod, a constitutionalist and former Comelec chairman. What we need are independent appointments that could build stronger credibility, Ateneo School of Government Dean Ronald Mendoza added. If those appointments actually fall short and are again coming from a particular city in the south, this is not going to be healthy for our democracy and can increase risks in terms of the credibility of the outcome of May 2022, he stressed. President Rodrigo Dutertes latest comelec appointees Commissioners Casquejo, Socorro Inting, and Aimee Ferolino, all hail from his bailiwick in Davao City. There is currently a vacant seat in the seven-member Comelec en banc. Meanwhile, Commissioners Rowena Guanzon and Antonio Kho, Jr., as well as Chairman Sheriff Abas, are set to retire in February. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 25) Senator Ronald Bato dela Rosa, standard bearer of the ruling PDP-Laban party, met with Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte on Monday two days after the presidential daughters meeting with another presidential aspirant, former Senator Ferdinand Bongbong Marcos, Jr. The Marcos camp has been coy about the meeting with the mayor on Saturday. Marcos' spokesperson, Vic Rodriguez, even called their simultaneous visits to Cebu a beautiful coincidence. Meanwhile, Dela Rosa frankly admitted he flew to Davao City to remind Mayor Duterte of the November 15 deadline for substitution of political candidates. Asked if they explicitly talked about the possibility of Sara Duterte replacing him in the presidential race, Dela Rosa in a phone interview said: Basta niremind ko lang siya na November 15 is fast approaching... thats in relation to substitution na di ba? [Translation: All I can say is I reminded her that November 15 is fast approaching thats in relation to substitution, right?] Dela Rosa said he had a serious discussion with her, and believes it yielded a positive outcome. He said he will let the mayor announce her decision. Let's wait for her. Siya na bahala magsabi kung anong final niya Nabago ko ba yung pag-iisip niya o hindi, he said. [Translation: Let's wait for her. It's up to her to announce her final decision... If I was able to change her mind or not.] In an interview with CNN Philippines News Night, Dela Rosa said he cited national interest in urging the Davao City mayor to run for president, as he believes electing another Duterte would be best for the nation. Maganda na yung takbo ng six years ng Duterte administration, and for continuity purposes, another six years of Duterte brand of leadership...gaganda yung ating bansa, kasi six years is not enough, he said. [Translation: The past six years of the Duterte administration has been smooth-sailing, and for continuity purposes, another six years of a Duterte brand of leadership will help the country, because six years is not enough.] Sought for comment on Mayor Duterte's regional party Hugpong ng Pagbabago supporting Marcoss presidential bid, Dela Rosa said nothing is final yet. He added, Walang problema sa amin kung manalo si Bongbong Marcos, eh...kaibigan din namin 'yan, wala namang problema. Hindi mahirap mag-adjust." [Translation: There's no problem if Bongbong Marcos wins. Hes also our friend, so thats a non-issue. Its not difficult to adjust.] Dela Rosa has publicly admitted he would give way if Mayor Duterte eventually seeks the presidency instead of reelection. Officials of PDP-Laban, particularly the faction that nominated Dela Rosa, said this may be his personal opinion, since there are no talks of substitution within the partys leadership. The PDP-Laban faction led by its president, Energy Secretary Alfonso Cusi, and backed by its chairman, President Rodrigo Duterte, at the same time maintains theres nothing wrong about substitution, since its an option provided to political parties under the Omnibus Election Code. A number of lawmakers and legal experts, however, said the provision has been abused. On Monday, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian filed a bill removing the withdrawal of ones candidacy as a ground for substitution. It seeks to amend the law to allow substitution only in case of the death, incapacity, or disqualification of a candidate. Gatchalian earlier offered to be Sara Duterte's vice presidential running mate. He filed a certificate of candidacy for senator as the mayor opted for reelection. A frontrunner in pre-election surveys, Duterte on Sunday maintained she still has no plans to run for President. READ: Sara Duterte reiterates no presidential, VP run; in talks to support Marcos Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 25) House Deputy Speaker Rufus Rodriguez maintained on Monday that COVID-19 vaccine suppliers are willing to give doses to localities and the private sector, contrary to the statement of vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. that they would rather deal and transact with the government directly. Speaking to CNN Philippines' The Source on Monday, Rodriguez reiterated that Galvez has been sitting on the requests of local government units and the private sector to source their vaccine supply directly from manufacturers. "There is no reason why he should not sign that because everybody says we really need vaccines including the local government officials," Rodriguez said. The Cagayan de Oro lawmaker noted that some manufacturers have assured LGUs that they are willing to directly transact with them to provide them additional vaccines. "We have manufacturers like AstraZeneca, we have also Moderna and Sinovac, they are ready to send directly to LGUs, and also Covaxin of India. So that is not correct that they are not willing to give directly," Rodriguez said, citing his previous conversations with some local authorities. On Saturday, Galvez reiterated that there is no need for LGUs to purchase their own COVID-19 vaccines since the country already has over 10 million doses in warehouses that are ready for distribution, while 40 million are up for administration. As I have been telling our LGUs over the past several weeks, vaccine supply is no longer a problem for our country. Our main concern at this point is how to get these COVID-19 jabs into the arms of as many Filipinos as quickly as possible, Galvez said. Galvez added he already relayed during previous congressional hearings that the National Task Force Against COVID-19 has reviewed most of the MPAs, but it saw that "there were questionable deals" that would primarily benefit third party consolidators and "would put our LGUs in a highly disadvantageous position." The vaccine czar said Sinovac has decided that it will only deal with the Philippine government for now; Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson&Johnson "are not welcoming MPAs as of this time" due to the presence of third-party consolidators; and Covaxin procurement is still subject to the approval of the Health Technology Assessment Council. He added that AstraZeneca, Sputnik, and Moderna may be open for administration of booster shots for 2022. As of October 24, over 97.6 million COVID-19 vaccines have been delivered to the country. RELATED: Galvez bares some vaccine brands shun tripartite deals, opt to sign with govt only Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 25) The World Health Organization recommended the third dose of COVID-19 vaccination in phases with Chinese brands, an official said on Monday. "Our recommendation is we start with the severely immunocompromised; we start with the over 80s, then move to the over 70s, and finally, move to the over 60s," Dr. Rabindra Abeyasinghe, WHO representative to the Philippines, said during a briefing. Abeyasinghe said immunocompromised people cannot develop and sustain the level of immunity to protect them from severe infection and death. In these groups, immunocompromised and the elderly who received Sinovac or Sinopharm, they appear to require a third dose, he added. The official said WHO is suggesting a third dose, not a booster shot. "This is different from booster. When we talk about booster, we are talking of boosting the immunity in a general population. WHO is not heading to that at this point of time," Abeyasinghe explained. Abeyasinghe said people in the elderly group who have yet to receive a single dose should still be prioritized. The Department of Health on Monday also approved the recommendation of the Health Technology Assessment Council to administer COVID-19 booster doses for medical frontliners and senior citizens, and extra shots for immunocompromised patients. READ: DOH approves guidelines for booster and additional COVID-19 vaccines, but no rollout yet This program will be rolled out once the DOH secures the required documents and guidelines. Abeyasinghe expressed support for the government's decision to expand the coverage of pediatric vaccination. However, he said the country should be "very conscious" of the equity issue. The COVID-19 vaccination of young Filipinos with comorbidities aged 12 to 17 will be launched nationwide on Oct. 29, according to Sec. Carlito Galvez Jr., vaccine czar and chief implementer of the National Task Force Against COVID-19. Vaccines manufactured by western brands Pfizer and Moderna are the only ones authorized for emergency use by the Food and Drug Administration in the vaccination of minors. 10/25/2021 Photo (c) Andriy Onufriyenko - Getty Images Coronavirus (COVID-19) tally as compiled by Johns Hopkins University. (Previous numbers in parentheses.) Total U.S. confirmed cases: 45,445,118 (45,317,284) Total U.S. deaths: 735,943 (733,426) Total global cases: 243,805,577 (243,124,120) Total global deaths: 4,951,264 (4,939,467) Vaccines for young children could come next month The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is currently reviewing data on COVID-19 vaccines administered to young children. Dr. Anthony Fauci, head of the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID), predicts that approval for five- to 11-year-olds could come as soon as next month. If all goes well, and we get the regulatory approval, and the recommendation from the CDC, its entirely possible, if not very likely, that vaccines will be available for children from five to 11 within the first week or two of November, Fauci said on ABCs This Week. Fauci said we shouldnt get ahead of the FDA, but from the data hes seen, the smaller dose of the Pfizer vaccine appears to be safe and effective for young children. FDA researchers shared a study Friday showing that the vaccine had proven to be highly effective at protecting kids from COVID-19. Officials concerned about fake vaccines Health experts say medical practitioners are now more knowledgeable about COVID-19, but mitigation efforts are now being threatened by counterfeit vaccines and medicines. Officials say these knock-off products can undermine efforts to control the pandemic. According to a report published in STAT, these products cant prevent or treat the virus. So, in essence, they are contributing to its spread. They say these products also erode confidence in valid vaccines and therapeutics. These products are less common in the U.S., but the World Health Organization (WHO) has voiced concern that they are becoming more pervasive in poorer countries where legitimate products are in short supply. Texas universities caught in the middle Several universities in the state are reportedly on the fence about the Biden administration's directive that institutions receiving federal contracts impose vaccination mandates. The state has issued an order banning mandates, and universities have until Dec. 8 to decide. Several colleges told the Texas Tribune that they are still analyzing Bidens executive order, which applies to new federal contracts of $250,000 or greater that were awarded as of Nov. 14 or existing contracts that have been renewed as of Oct. 15. This is unprecedented, said Michael LeRoy, a labor law expert at the University of Illinois College of Law. There have been conflicts between the state and federal government, but not at this magnitude with this kind of money on the line. Around the nation Michigan: State officials have announced that Michigan will not require employers in the state to follow COVID-19 vaccination and testing requirements that are stricter than policies being implemented by the Biden administration. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer revealed her plans in response to questions from the business community. New York: There are only a few days to go before New York Citys vaccination mandate goes into effect. Several hundred municipal workers, including firefighters, staged a protest on Staten Island. Union officials at the protest said any disruption in city services will be the city governments fault. Nevada: Were well into the second year of the pandemic, and some businesses are continuing to struggle. Small businesses in 16 of Nevadas 17 counties have been awarded federal COVID-19 grants of up to $25,000 in forgivable loans. The debt is wiped clean after participants complete a nine-month online business training and mentoring program. Tennessee: State legislators are headed back to Nashville this week for a special session that lawmakers say will largely focus on vaccine mandates. Two bills have been submitted so far. One would make employers liable for COVID-19 vaccine side effects. 10/25/2021 Photo (c) BeeBright - Getty Images Cybersecurity specialists at the Microsoft Threat Intelligence Center (MSTIC) claim that the Russian-linked hacking group behind the attacks on SolarWinds, JBS, and others last year is at it again -- this time going after key players in the global technology supply chain. The group, known as Nobelium, has been attempting to replicate the approach it has used in past attacks by targeting organizations integral to the global IT supply chain according to Tom Burt, Microsofts corporate vice president of customer security and trust. So far, the group has allegedly targeted more than 140 IT resellers and service providers and compromised as many as 14 since May. Russia is trying to gain long-term, systematic access to a variety of points in the technology supply chain and establish a mechanism for surveilling targets of interest to the Russian government, Burt said in a blog post. Hackers use "password spraying" technique The hackers favorite technique this time around is reportedly something called a password spray. This attack is a procedure that tries to access a vast number of account usernames via commonly used passwords such as 123456789, Password123, and picture1. DoubleOctopus -- a cybersecurity company focused on password protection -- says even though password spraying is a slow-and-go technique, it does allow hackers to stay undetected by avoiding rapid or frequent account lockouts. That makes it different from traditional attacks that attempt to gain unauthorized access by guessing an accounts password. In this situation, online users appear to be at the mercy of the service providers and platforms they use to protect their accounts. To that end, Microsoft recommends that companies with online customer systems implement a specific set of protocols to thwart recent Nobelium activity. Putting protective measures in place While consumers may need to depend on companies to protect them to some extent, there are still some things they can do to gain an advantage against hackers. In an interview with USAToday, Craig Danuloff, CEO of The Privacy Co., offered these tips to make personal passwords and information less susceptible: Do not reuse passwords on any important accounts. Keeping your passwords unique helps ensure that hackers cant access all of your important accounts if they figure out just one of your passwords. Use two-factor authentication wherever possible. Amazon, Apple, Google, and other major tech players use this method because it works well. Heres a guide that goes over two-factor authentication and other cybersecurity steps you can take to protect yourself. Choose platforms that use end-to-end encryption. This is a method that Zoom now uses after learning a valuable lesson without it. Files or photos sitting in cloud storage can be stolen, Danuloff said. If theyre in a database that has no keys or just one master key, all of your personal data has a much higher likelihood of being stolen, accessed, and maybe even shared publicly. Dont give up your data to every site that asks for it. Data that isnt there cant be stolen, Danuloff said. All kinds of services ask for your address, phone number, or even your Social Security number. The vast majority of them dont need it, he said. So give them alternative facts. Use burner email accounts. Use a personal monitoring service -- aka ID theft protection -- that informs you when your data has been stolen in a hack or when there are signs of identity theft. 10/25/2021 Photo (c) franckreporter - Getty Images A new study conducted by researchers from Umea University explored how the different types of COVID-19 vaccines may impact consumers health outcomes. Their findings showed that consumers who received one dose each of the AstraZeneca and mRNA vaccines had a lower risk of COVID-19 infection. Having received any of the approved vaccines is better compared to no vaccine, and two doses are better than one, said researcher Peter Nordstrom. However, our study shows a greater risk reduction for people who received an mRNA vaccine after having received the first dose of a vector-based, as compared to people having received the vector-based vaccine for both doses. How do the different vaccines impact consumers health? For the study, the researchers analyzed data from nearly 700,000 people enrolled in the Public Health Agency of Sweden, the National Board of Health and Welfare, and Statistics Sweden. The team explained that it was recommended that AstraZenecas vaccine wasnt used on consumers under the age of 65; for those who had received the first dose of that shot, experts recommended they get one of the mRNA vaccines for their second dose. The researchers followed the participants over the course of nearly three months to see how well the two vaccines worked to protect consumers from COVID-19. Ultimately, the researchers learned that participants who received one dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine and a second dose of either the Moderna or Pfizer mRNA vaccines had a lower risk of infection than those who were either unvaccinated or received two doses of the AstraZeneca shot. Getting one round of AstraZeneca and one round of the Moderna vaccine was linked with a nearly 80% lower risk of developing COVID-19, while one round of the Pfizer vaccine was linked with a nearly 70% lower risk of infection. On the other hand, receiving two doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine was associated with a 50% lower risk of contracting COVID-19. The researchers explained that these findings held up even after accounting for several of the known risk factors of COVID-19, including participants age. The results of the study may have implications for vaccination strategies in different countries, said researcher Marcel Ballin. The World Health Organization has stated that despite the promising results from previous studies regarding immune response from mix-and-match vaccination, there is a need for larger studies to investigate their safety and effectiveness against clinical outcomes. Here we now have one such study. 100% Website danosongs.com uses latest and advanced technologies. It is very popular on the web, it's within the 1 million most visited websites of the world at position 410638 by Alexa. It supports HTTPS and GZIP compression. The main html page has a size of 212087 bytes (207.12 kb uncompressed) and 21563 bytes (21.06 kb compressed). This CoolSocial report was updated on 2021-10-25, you can refresh this analysis whenever you want. Lakhbir Singh, his wife Ahmadis or Dalits in Pakistan There are many others in Pakistan who suffer at the hands of the religious elite, which uses blasphemy as per its whims and fancies to target the Dalits and Ahmedis. It is a serious question which is not debated much in Pakistan, as it uses the Dalit card for its propaganda against India at its national and international forums, while completely ignoring the status of the Dalits in Pakistan. The Pakistani elite speaking of human rights has not only not responded to the question as to why blasphemy cases are used against Churas or Dalits, who are internationally identified as Christians just to avoid the caste question and the issue of Dalits. The hypocrisy of the Pakistani elite can be gauged the fact that they celebrate Ambedkar Jayanti and want Indian intellectuals to visit them and speak about the caste system in India, as if their own track record is great. They need to read and re-read the resignation letter of Jogendra Nath Mandal, the chair of Pakistans Constituent Assembly, and its first law minister. It must respond as to why Jogendra Nath Mandal was compelled to return to India just within a years period after the Constitution was promulgated in Pakistan. Have the Pakistani law makers ever addressed the question as to why most of the victims of the blasphemy laws in Pakistan are Churas? Asia Bi It is not for any other reason except caste discrimination that the sanitation job is reserved for Churas in Pakistan. Pakistanis will never speak about the Pasmandas an Indian Muslim social reform organization dedicated to the emancipation of the Dalit Muslims belonging to the "Arzal" class in the caste system among South Asian Muslims. Caste system in Punjab Bordering Lahore on our side is Punjab. Here blasphemy has a new name called sacrilege, and those killed or blamed are mostly Dalits. Look at the brutality inflicted on Lakhbir Singh, a landless Dalit, who was accused of sacrilege of the saropa at the Singhu border, where farmers have been sitting on an indefinite protest for the last 10 months. Sikhs are normally considered a very progressive community. We have seen the power and commitment of Sikhs, but it is also a fact that almost all the Sikh Gurus emerged from the Khatri community, as Ambedkarite scholar Bhagwan Das told me in an interview 15 years back. He About Sikhism, I have a very poor opinion. I came close to them because I was teaching two Sikh children. One of the students' fathers was a doctor, who used to invite me to Gurudwara. I used to go there. Then there was one festival on which they had a langar (community meal) in the Gurudwara. One man asked the doctor: 'You are making us eat with the Churas and Chamars.' It was a shocking experience for me in the Gurudwara. After that I studied Sikhism and found that they had 10 Gurus, all belonging to the Khatri caste, none married outside their own parental castes, and the fourth guru included teachings of Ravidas, Kabir and others in the Guru Granth Sahib, but in practice Sikhism is no different from Hinduism. If a convert comes from the carpenter community, he is a Ramgarhia, if is he a convert from the scavenger community, he is a Majhabi, if he is a convert from liquor selling community, then is an Ahluwalia. Where is the caste system gone? If goes from the front door and comes back from windows. They never started a movement to condemn caste system. After that incident, I never went to a Gurudwara. Bishan Das Bains is a well-known political activist and former mayor of Wolverhampton, UK, and the first South Asian to have risen to that post in the mid 1980s. In an interview with me, he said that during his campaign, most of the South Asians, Africans and other nationalities supported him wholeheartedly but the upper caste Sikhs fought vigorously not to allow a chamar to win from his constituency. But he won despite their fierce opposition. He said: The 1979 election was the most memorable episode in the history of my political career in England. The Indian Workers Association, mainly lead and dominated by Punjabi Jat Sikhs, was a very strong national organisation during the period of sixties and seventies. They found it extremely difficult to digest and compromise with the facts that a person from a lower caste can be an elected member of the council. Subsequently, the dirty Indian politics of caste prejudice and religious hatred reared its head to undermine my position as an elected member of the council. They left no stone unturned to get me deselected by the Labour Party and replaced me with one from their own caste. After their failed attempts, they fielded a most reputable person the president of the Indian Workers Association, against me. During the election they started a smear campaign to tarnish my name and discredit my public reputation. They had army of workers roaming streets of my constituency all day, harassing and intimidating residents, printing and distributing literature. It was one of the most difficult elections as campaign as I have to overcome a multiple of discrimination and prejudice. In addition to Indian caste and religious prejudice, there was a British National Party (far right wing organisation) and other two parties slightly less racial. In the end with solid support from the Pakistani community, some indigenous and others, I managed to won the seat with an increased majority. He further The local Labour Party had an established custom and practice for the past many years to elect a Mayoral candidate for the ensuing year. At a special meeting two names were proposed and secret voting taken, according to custom and practice the winner of the contest became the candidate for the following year, and the runner up is usually had the nomination and was elected the following year. I like to mention here that I was the only non-white out of sixty elected members of the council for many years, and the rest of fifty-nine were all indigenous whites. In the beginning I was not interested at all in becoming the Mayor of the city. But there were some left wing councillors who wanted me to bid for my right. My name was duly proposed and seconded continuously for two constructive years and I lost the contest for both times. It means the established custom and practices which were being followed up over the past many years were violated for no reason other than underlying racial prejudice. Not only that, it was contrary to the policy of equality of opportunity of the national Labour Party. This situation left me with no option but to seriously consider my position in both terms as an elected member of the council and as a member of the party. I decided not to walk away quietly but to fight back and publicly expose their behaviour of racial prejudice. I decided to bring the whole truth of underlying racial prejudice in the Labour Party into the public domain. Now it was not a question of getting the nomination for mayoralty but to fight back for equality of opportunity and justice. I decided to issue a press statement, high lighting the underlying racial discrimination within the Labour Party. It was a very controversial, of course a courageous move which attracted a great deal of public support for me and contrarily huge discontent amongst my fellow Labour councillors. . I was served with a show cause notice and meeting with the high command leadership. I justify my actions at the meeting and it was decided to harmonise mutual relations amongst elected members of the Labour Party. Who are the victims of sacrilege in Punjab? The story of Lakhbir Singh is now well publicised, as it happened at a public place where farmers have been protesting for the last 10 months. The body of Lakhbir Singh, a landless Dalit, was chopped off mercilessly and hanged at the pole near the place of protest. Why is it that there have been strong assertions of sarvadharma samabhav, but no strong condemnation from the protesters, except the fact that they have had no association either with Nihangs or with Lakhbir Singh? Why have political leaders and activists remained cowardly silent on this criminal act of the thugs who feel no shame in suggesting they did it and will do it again? If this was a murder committed by a Muslim, international media would have made it a big headline, and we would have seen debates of brutality and primitivity of Islam on TV. The Brahmin-Bania media in India, known to have kept quiet on mob lynching by Hindutva goons, highlighted this incident only to defame the farmers movement. Ironically, Shafaqat is wheelchair-bound. Her lower part of the body was completely paralysed in an accident in 2004. They have four grown up children. The blasphemy court found the charges proved and issued death sentence in 2014, but the High Court overturned it for lack of evidence.There are many others in Pakistan who suffer at the hands of the religious elite, which uses blasphemy as per its whims and fancies to target the Dalits and Ahmedis. It is a serious question which is not debated much in Pakistan, as it uses the Dalit card for its propaganda against India at its national and international forums, while completely ignoring the status of the Dalits in Pakistan.The Pakistani elite speaking of human rights has not only not responded to the question as to why blasphemy cases are used against Churas or Dalits, who are internationally identified as Christians just to avoid the caste question and the issue of Dalits. The hypocrisy of the Pakistani elite can be gauged the fact that they celebrate Ambedkar Jayanti and want Indian intellectuals to visit them and speak about the caste system in India, as if their own track record is great.They need to read and re-read the resignation letter of Jogendra Nath Mandal, the chair of Pakistans Constituent Assembly, and its first law minister. It must respond as to why Jogendra Nath Mandal was compelled to return to India just within a years period after the Constitution was promulgated in Pakistan. Have the Pakistani law makers ever addressed the question as to why most of the victims of the blasphemy laws in Pakistan are Churas?It is not for any other reason except caste discrimination that the sanitation job is reserved for Churas in Pakistan. Pakistanis will never speak about the Pasmandas an Indian Muslim social reform organization dedicated to the emancipation of the Dalit Muslims belonging to the "Arzal" class in the caste system among South Asian Muslims.Bordering Lahore on our side is Punjab. Here blasphemy has a new name called sacrilege, and those killed or blamed are mostly Dalits. Look at the brutality inflicted on Lakhbir Singh, a landless Dalit, who was accused of sacrilege of the saropa at the Singhu border, where farmers have been sitting on an indefinite protest for the last 10 months.Sikhs are normally considered a very progressive community. We have seen the power and commitment of Sikhs, but it is also a fact that almost all the Sikh Gurus emerged from the Khatri community, as Ambedkarite scholar Bhagwan Das told me in an interview 15 years back. He said Bishan Das Bains is a well-known political activist and former mayor of Wolverhampton, UK, and the first South Asian to have risen to that post in the mid 1980s. In an interview with me, he said that during his campaign, most of the South Asians, Africans and other nationalities supported him wholeheartedly but the upper caste Sikhs fought vigorously not to allow a chamar to win from his constituency. But he won despite their fierce opposition. He said:He further informed me about the attitude of the native whites who too worked to stop him:The story of Lakhbir Singh is now well publicised, as it happened at a public place where farmers have been protesting for the last 10 months. The body of Lakhbir Singh, a landless Dalit, was chopped off mercilessly and hanged at the pole near the place of protest. Why is it that there have been strong assertions of sarvadharma samabhav, but no strong condemnation from the protesters, except the fact that they have had no association either with Nihangs or with Lakhbir Singh?Why have political leaders and activists remained cowardly silent on this criminal act of the thugs who feel no shame in suggesting they did it and will do it again? If this was a murder committed by a Muslim, international media would have made it a big headline, and we would have seen debates of brutality and primitivity of Islam on TV. The Brahmin-Bania media in India, known to have kept quiet on mob lynching by Hindutva goons, highlighted this incident only to defame the farmers movement. Can the Samyukta Kisan Morcha justify its stance by saying that both the Nihangs and Lakhbir Singh were never associated with them? Lakhbirs case is not out of the blue but a continuous process happening in Punjab to intimidate the Dalits. Even children are not left out. Like the Islamic fundamentalists did it for an illiterate couple accusing them of blasphemy, on this side of Punjab things are no different. In June 2020, a 10-years-old girl from the Mazhabi community in district Sangroor was charged with sacrilege. She used to go for sewa in a Gurudwara. Accused of sacrilege, hundreds of people gathered to actually harass or lynch her. She and her parents were illegally arrested and put in jail. She was then charged under Section 295A of the Indian Penal Code. The provision criminalises deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs. Punjabs SIT and other records suggest that the girl actually did not commit any sacrilege. The fact is, probably hailing from the Mazhabi community, she would go to sweep the floor and inadvertently she picked up a calendar and would have touched the cloth that covers the Holy Guru Granth Sahib. As per an Indian Express report, the CCTV footage does not show the girl tearing the Holy Book. It is definitely an act of untouchability, which was blown out of proportion to suggest that the poor girl committed sacrilege. How different was this case from that of Aisa Bi or Shagufta who were still better, as they survived the mob? Of course, if they were not arrested, they would have been lynched. Then there is the case of Bant Singh, a revolutionary balladeer whose hands were chopped off by feudal landlords and his daughter was violated by the criminals on January 7, 2006. Nobody knows where Bant Singh and his daughter are. How many political leaders and government officials have gone and spoken to them, providing them a healing touch? Violence against Dalits in Punjab may not be the same as it happens elsewhere, such as Gujarat and Haryana, where social boycott has been the biggest weapon employed by the powerful thugs. But is that a consolation? Hypocrisy of Samyukta Kisan Morcha Can the Samyukta Kisan Morcha justify its stance by saying that both the Nihangs and Lakhbir Singh were never associated with them? How is it that none heard the cries of a man being brutally chopped off near a public space? Someone even mentioned that it was not a Dalit verses Sikh issue, as the killing was the doing of Nihangs. Some also tried to suggest that it was a Dalit verses Dalit issue. The question is, what stopped farmer leaders from visiting Lakhbirs home and providing his family financial aid? It is the fear and repercussion of the powerful community in the election year that is making the politicians stay away. No doubt, Indias farmers have rightfully understood the dangers of capitalism, or in terms of India, the Gujarati crony domination on our vast agrarian sector; but unfortunately the farmers movement has not yet identified the priestly classes/castes that is a threat to Indias vast Bahujan masses something that was brilliantly explained decades ago by Jyotiba Phule by identifying the threat as coming from the Sethji-Bhatji combine. The priesthood in Punjab is extremely powerful. It dominates the powerful agrarian communities, whose religious value system has no space for Dalits. Great Gurus fight against superstition It is time our communities and their leaders understood that innocent people cant be accused of blasphemy or sacrilege just because something happened mistakenly. Equally important it to note that those who are made villains of sacrilege have the right to question religious texts, whether one likes it or not. Manu Smriti was burnt by activists at Mahad in 1927 in the presence of Baba Saheb Ambedkar, who termed it the book of injustice. Bertrand Russel wrote, I am not a Christian. Somebody else wrote, Why I am not a Muslim. Tasleema Nasreen felt Islam was a threat, while many activists and authors of the marginalised communities feel the same about Hinduism. There is no doubt that Guru Granth Saheb is respected and revered. It is definitely different from other religious books, as it contains great texts from different religions and Sufi saints, irrespective of their caste and religion, which is its unique quality. Yet it is a fact that Punjab has caste system and Dalits are on the margins. For keeping the dominance of the elite, false cases are filed against Dalits and others in the name of sacrilege. It is time Sikh intellectuals and political leaders get together and state that their Gurus had done much bigger service to humanity, and none of them would have done things barbarically, as happened to Lakhbir Singh or Bant Singh. There is no bigger sacrilege than allowing the Brahmanical caste system among the Sikhs and killing people in the name of religion. The crisis is not of sacrilege but of those wanting to make their political fortune out of it, deviating from the path of the great Gurus who spoke against superstition, caste practices and untouchability. Upper caste Sikhs know it well as to why the Ravidasis and Majahabis had to start their own Gurudwaras and temples if there was so much of love and affection everywhere in Punjab and elsewhere. --- *Human rights defender. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vbrawat; twitter: @freetohumanity Sikhism was a revolt against Brahmanism, but the caste system survived; it is a reality that the powerful caste lobby today dominates Sikhism. It is a violation of the principles of equality and fraternity as espoused by Guru Nanak Dev and other great Gurus. It is time to condemn these brutal acts unapologetically and seek justice for Lakhbir.There is no bigger sacrilege than allowing the Brahmanical caste system among the Sikhs and killing people in the name of religion. The crisis is not of sacrilege but of those wanting to make their political fortune out of it, deviating from the path of the great Gurus who spoke against superstition, caste practices and untouchability.Upper caste Sikhs know it well as to why the Ravidasis and Majahabis had to start their own Gurudwaras and temples if there was so much of love and affection everywhere in Punjab and elsewhere.--- There is no doubt that Sikhism actually was a revolt against the Brahmanical system and superstition. Guru Granth Saheb is perhaps the only Holy Book which contains matters from different religions as well as those of various Sufi saints, including Kabir, Ravidas, Baba Farid and others. The aim of Sikhism was to create an egalitarian society, and, definitely, Punjab that way is far better than many other States in India, where violence against Dalits is rampant.However, there are other dark realities of Punjabs socio-political structure that reflect that the message of equality and brotherhood has not reached everywhere. The fact, is Majhabis and Ravidasis have for long faced the tyranny of caste forces in Punjab. It is important to understand, in the context of recent events, who is being blamed for sacrilege and what exactly it is.Is sacrilege the same as blasphemy, being used to target the minorities, and most importantly the Dalits? The dictionary meaning of sacrilege is, Behaviour that shows great disrespect for a holy place or object. Blasphemy is considered as a synonymous of sacrilege, but more often it is used in Islamic countries, where Islam is the state religion. In their definition, blasphemy is an act or attempt to denigrate the Holy Quran or the Prophet or Islam.Under Islamic regimes, there are specific laws that provide specific punishments for blasphemy, and in most cases it ends up in death penalty. Globally, the victims of blasphemy or sacrilege laws or morality are the minorities, marginalised and women.The story of a Christian woman, Asia Bibi, who was charged under blasphemy law came into limelight in Pakistan. It was said that she uttered insulting remarks against Islam or Quran allegedly heard by some women who complained against her. The court found enough material in these complaint and the woman accused of blasphemy was sentenced to death.Another couple Shafqat Emmanuel and Shagufta Kausar, belonging to the Christian community were sentenced to death in 2014, though their sentence was overturned by the Lahore High Court and they were released in February 2021.Whether it was Asia Bi or Shafaqat Emmanuel and Shagufta, all of them belonged to the Christian community of Pakistan, which is a respectable name for Churas in Pakistan something similar to what happened in India, where Arya Samaj campaigner Amichand Sharma suggesting the Valmiki surname for the communities engaged in sanitation and manual scavenging.A careful investigation of the cases will tell you how flimsy the charges were. Asia Bi was humiliated by the upper caste Muslim women (a fact so far very cleverly denied by the Pakistani elite who treat caste and Dalit issues as related to Hindus) just because she drank water from a pitcher as she was thirsty.Shafaqat and Shagufta were completely illiterate and living in the compound of a Church when a Muslim cleric charged them for sending WhatsApp message insulting Prophet Mohammad. Shockingly, the illiterate couple were accused of sending the so-called insulting message in English. A massive explosion ripped through the port, obliterating anything within 2,500 feet of the barrel. When the smoke cleared, a hole eight feet deep had been punched into the solid stone quay, while the blast could be heard 50 miles away in Hamburg. The Mosel was virtually obliterated, while damage was reported to buildings up to 10 miles away. At least 80 people were killed, and dozens more were left badly injured. But the most curious casualty was a man known locally as William King Thomas, who was found unconscious in his cabin on a nearby ship. It was initially assumed he had been hit by shrapnel, but it soon became apparent that Thomas had watched the explosion, then calmly walked into his cabin, written a couple of letters, and shot himself twice in the head. Hmaag/Wiki Commons His last words were Argh, why must I live in an era with such shitty guns! Continue Reading Below Advertisement Even stranger was the fact that Thomas was soon identified as the owner of the mysterious barrel that caused the explosion. Incredibly, he actually survived for another two weeks after shooting himself, remaining conscious and in terrible pain for most of that time. But he refused to answer questions and his last letters offered few clues. One simply informed his wife and children you will never see me again, while the other was a suicide note claiming he had been so affected by the horrible sight of the explosion that he couldnt bear life anymore. To further deepen the mystery, it soon became clear that William King Thomas was a fake name. So just who the hell was this guy? Continue Reading Below Advertisement Mystified, the German police ended up hiring Allen Pinkerton, founder of the famous Pinkerton detective agency. By carefully retracing his route to Bremerhaven, Pinkerton was able to identify Thomas as none other than Alexander Keith Jr., the notorious Canadian scammer and Confederate secret agent who had been on the run for years from Pinkertons agents and his own disgruntled former colleagues. But who was Keith, and just how did he end up killing 80 people in Germany? GUILFORD, Conn. (AP) A racial reckoning began years ago for the Guilford school system, first with an episode in which a student wore blackface makeup to a home football game and then a fraught debate over the elimination of its mascot, the Indians. After the killing of George Floyd, district leaders announced they were doubling down on efforts to address social justice and racism in schools and teaching materials. But an organized pushback in the overwhelmingly white community began last year with a petition for the superintendents removal. This summer, conservative activists won the GOPs endorsement for school board, knocking out three incumbents in the Republican caucus. In next weeks elections, their slate aims to seize control of the school board. The top issue on their platform is to fight critical race theory, which has become a rallying cry for activist candidates in the Nov. 2 elections all over the country who take issue with how schools have addressed diversity and inclusion. It was a surprise to me to be lumped in that national conversation, Superintendent Paul Freeman said. There have been direct accusations in Guilford that teachers are bullying and indoctrinating children in leftist political agenda. That could not be more wrong. The school board elections will test the durability of conservative efforts to attack equity initiatives, with much at stake. Where opponents see efforts to stop liberal indoctrination, incumbents and school administrators fear takeovers could result in school board members becoming thorns in the side of professional educators. Interest in school board seats has surged, with national conservative groups and state-level efforts encouraging challenges by right-learning newcomers amid debates over COVID-19 mask mandates, gender-neutral bathrooms, and teachings on race. Schools have been addressing issues of diversity and culturally responsive teaching for years without stirring much controversy, but flames of frustration in some communities have been fanned by groups with bigger agendas, said Jeffrey Henig, a professor of political science and education at Columbia University. Some Republicans, he said, see it as an issue that can help them win suburban votes in midterm elections. Its in the current context where I think this is being deliberately exploited by national actors that this is getting the energy and attention it does, he said. Critical race theory is a way of analyzing American history through the lens of racism. While the term has been applied broadly by some to any efforts toward inclusion, the theory itself is not a fixture of K-12 instruction. In Guilford, a New Haven suburb of 22,000 on Connecticuts shoreline, Freeman said the district's work on race and equity intensified after last year's debate over the mascot, which is now the Grizzlies, and the 2019 blackface episode at a game against a team from Hartford. Students and young alumni, he said, called on the school system to do more on topics of race and equity so graduates would not feel sheltered. The work has included a self-audit of curriculum to ensure materials do not reflect implicit bias and include authors with diverse experiences and backgrounds. In eighth grade, for one example, students learn about enslaved people who lived in Guilford so they do not see the Colonial period in an idealized way, Freeman said. Opponents criticized Freeman for assigning administrators to read books including White Fragility: Why Its So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism. One national group, No Left Turn in Education, organized a June forum in Guilford on what they see as the threat of critical race theory. One of the five candidates on the slate opposed to critical race theory, Danielle Scarpellino, a local business owner, said in an appearance on Fox & Friends First in July that it was district leaders who were introducing politics into schools, saying students were being used as political pawns. None of the candidates responded to interview requests from The Associated Press. Another candidate, Tim Chamberlain, said on a campaign website that his child's teachers have tried to persuade him to abandon his conservative viewpoint during discussion of topics ranging from global warming to affirmative action. Independent and Democratic candidates have joined forces to campaign against the slate of anti-critical race theory candidates. Among them is Kristy Faulkner, a molecular biologist and zoning board of appeals member who said she signed up to run after seeing equity and inclusion turned into bad words by her rivals. She said she also worries that if the newcomers win, they would not find any middle ground with the existing school board members. Im just envisioning basically a total meltdown of productivity on the board, she said. Its unclear how many of the thousands of U.S. school board races include agenda-driven newcomers, but there are examples around the country. In Ohio, the number of school board candidates has ballooned by 50% from four years ago, according to the Ohio School Boards Association. Almost half of the 2,600 candidates are political newcomers, including many whose anger has been stoked by critical race theory. Seven candidates are running for just three seats on the school board in Chagrin Falls, a suburb of Cleveland where some parents have objected to racial inclusion policies. In nearby Rocky River, a conservative slate taking aim at critical race theory is running on the slogan: Education not activism." In communities where mask mandates are attracting the most attention in school board races, as in Dover, New Hampshire, some candidates have also questioned approaches to diversity and inclusion. Several newcomers in Dover have said discussions of diversity should be broadened beyond race, and one candidate has spoken out against critical race theory. Guilford's nine-member school board is chaired by Kathleen Balestracci, a Democrat, who said initiatives on equity and inclusion are important work that students and community members asked the district to take on. Balestracci, who is not up for reelection, said she often has heard from parents seeking clarity on policies during her 10 years on the board but nothing like the acrimony she has seen lately. I dont think Ive experienced a situation in which we have thoroughly explained what were trying to do and the approach were trying to take and then have the response be, Youre lying,'" said Balestracci, a research faculty member at the Yale School of Medicine. ___ Associated Press writers Julie Carr Smyth in Columbus, Ohio, and Michael Casey in Dover, New Hampshire contributed to this report. NEW YORK (AP) Christian Maboko wants to change the world. Starting Monday, the 18-year-old from Burundi, who lives in a Kenyan refugee camp and has co-founded a nonprofit to help address poverty there, will get a lifetime of help with his work from a new philanthropic program to nurture talented teens around the world. Schmidt Futures announced that Maboko is one of the inaugural 100 Rise Global Winners, part of a $1 billion program funded by philanthropists Wendy and Eric Schmidt, the former CEO of Google and executive chairman of its parent company, Alphabet Inc. The program aims to foster collaboration and new projects from young people to help solve the worlds thorniest problems. Maboko plans to use Rise's financial support to further his work in the Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya and go to college, even though only 1% of high school graduates in the camp do so. "Im trying my best to be among the 1%, he told The Associated Press. Rise winners will receive lifetime access to higher education scholarships, career development and funding for projects they create for public benefit. They also receive an annual three-week residential summit with the other winners, and mentorship and internship opportunities in their fields of interest. Because the costs of college degrees vary widely around the world, the prize for each winner also will vary. Rise will notify the winners, which include teens from 42 countries speaking 20 languages, on Monday. We think talent around the world is distributed evenly, Wendy Schmidt said. But opportunity isnt. Schmidt Futures and The Rhodes Trust invited teens to explain how they would address an issue or are already addressing it. More than 50,000 teens from 170 countries applied last year. For his application, Maboko developed a program to teach girls and young women in his refugee camp about reproductive health and the importance of remaining in school even if they get pregnant. I dont want to see my younger sisters dropping out," said Maboko, whose family has been unable to return to Burundi due to political unrest. "So I had to come up with a solution and do it for the community. The wide variety of global problems that Rise applicants want to tackle from sustainable farming to female representation in Irish mythology to making shopping more accessible to those in wheelchairs surprised the Schmidts, who expected an emphasis on scientific projects. When I look at this group, I can see the pandemic generation, Wendy Schmidt said. These kids have been growing up at a time when almost every system in the world that they knew about was failing. If that doesnt give them an opening for creative solutions to some of these really big, hairy global problems that we face, nothing does. Eric Schmidt said the Rise initiative hopes to prove several theories about supporting teenagers. Unlike other programs that support individuals rather than organizations such as the MacArthur Foundations genius grant Rise selects its winners mainly on potential and takes numerous criteria into account, including intelligence and overcoming adversity. Theres a lot of intuition that you can identify exceptional, creative, powerfully important people at 16 and not 14, he said. Now, thats still a question, but I believe it to be true. And I think the cohort that has been selected is illustrative of this. Another winner, Ella Duus, wants to reduce political polarization in America. The 16-year-old from Huntsville, Alabama, built an online tool to gauge how much biased information any Twitter account offers. Social media algorithms get people stuck in feedback loops, she said. This ultimately leads to a lot of radicalization of people, which can be a danger to the public. Her tool proved so popular that Duus had to take it down because the server charges to host it grew too expensive. That will likely soon change because of her inclusion in the Rise Global Winners, which also will help her pursue her interest in diplomacy and national security when she goes to college. Jennifer Uche, 17, of Boston, another winner, said the application process strengthened her writer's voice and she hopes to encourage her peers to raise their voices as well. For her application, she wrote and produced a fictional podcast about mutant teens who suffer discrimination and react by becoming heroes in their community. I wanted to really make something interesting out of the idea of advocacy, Uche said. And I wanted youth to see they have a voice and they can do something." She combined the podcast with an online forum for people to discuss the combination of art and advocacy and how various works of art could inspire them to take action in their lives. Uche plans to use the support she gets from the Rise initiative to expand her podcast and forum, as well as pursue a college education in film and computer science. Applications for next year's class of Rise Global Winners will be accepted until Dec. 22 from those who will be 15 to 17 as of July 1, 2022, through the Hello World Network smartphone app. Other Rise global winners include: Irfan Ayub, of Afghanistan, who started a tutoring center in his rural community. Adam Dhalla, of Canada, who developed a machine learning algorithm to classify the locations of proteins within cells. Valentina Barron Garcia, of Mexico, who built a hydroponic system for growing fruits and vegetables. Lydia Ruth Nottingham, of the United Kingdom, who convinced her school to invest in reusable masks. Aryan Sharma, of India, who made a diagnostic app that scans X-rays for abnormalities. ___ The Associated Press receives support from the Lilly Endowment for coverage of philanthropy and nonprofits. The AP is solely responsible for all content. For all of APs philanthropy coverage, visit https://apnews.com/hub/philanthropy. JACKSON, Miss. (AP) The Mississippi attorney general can take over a case when a local prosecutor steps away, but the takeover must be voluntary and a judge cannot set deadlines for the work. In a unanimous ruling Tuesday, Mississippi Supreme Court justices said a circuit court acted outside its authority this year when it ordered Attorney General Lynn Fitch's office to investigate a death after a district attorney recused herself. Kassie Coleman became Lauderdale County district attorney in November 2018. According to the Meridian Star, Coleman released a statement in August 2019 saying her office was ready to receive and review any new evidence" about the 2014 shooting death of a 21-year-old man, Christian Andreacchio. Police said Andreacchios death was a suicide, but his parents have said they believe he was killed. Coleman later recused herself from the case and asked a judge to appoint another prosecutor, according to court documents. Coleman cited several reasons, including an election complaint the Andreacchio family filed against her, Justice Robert Chamberlin wrote for the Supreme Court. Coleman insisted her self-disqualification was necessary to avoid any appearance of impropriety,'" Chamberlin wrote. Bilbo Mitchell, the Lauderdale County district attorney before Coleman, recused himself from the case in 2017 and handed it to then-Attorney General Jim Hood. A grand jury declined to indict two people that year in Andreacchios death. Andreacchio's family wants a new grand jury to examine some police reports they say were not shown to the previous one. On March 31, Lauderdale County Circuit Judge Charles Wright ordered Fitch to undertake an investigation and report on the status of the work by Sept. 1. Fitch appealed, arguing the judge had overstepped the separation of power between branches of government. She also said the attorney general's office had conflicts of interest in the case. Chamberlin wrote that Wright acted properly in allowing the district attorney to recuse herself, but the judge improperly usurped the executive power of the Attorney General by directing her to conduct a criminal investigation and by requiring the Attorney General report to the trial court the status of her criminal investigation by a date certain. Chamberlin wrote that the attorney general has the power to appoint and employ outside attorneys and special investigators to work on prosecutions, if she chooses. Finally, any decision to investigate a case and present said case to a grand jury as well as a decision to decline prosecution as unwarranted is within the sole and sound discretion of the Attorney General or her designee, Chamberlin wrote. Fitch, a Republican, was inaugurated in January 2020. She has made decisions about two high-profile cases transferred from district attorneys to the attorney general's office one involving a man tried multiple times and the other involving a white police officer charged with shooting a Black man. Soon after taking office, Fitch was handed the case of Curtis Flowers after Montgomery County District Attorney Doug Evans recused himself. Evans tried Flowers six times in the July 1996 killings of four people at a Winona furniture store. Flowers was convicted four times: twice for individual slayings and twice for all four killings. Two trials on all four deaths ended in mistrials. Each of Flowers convictions was overturned. In June 2019, the U.S. Supreme Court tossed the conviction and death sentence from Flowers sixth trial, which was in 2010. Flowers is Black, and justices said prosecutors unconstitutionally excluded African American jurors. The Supreme Court ruling came after American Public Medias In the Dark investigated the case and interviewed a key witness who said he lied about Flowers. In December 2019, Flowers was released from prison but remained under indictment. In September 2020, Fitch announced she would not pursue a seventh trial of Flowers because there were no longer any credible witnesses. In May 2020, Fitch announced she was dropping a manslaughter charge against Canyon Boykin, a white former police officer in Columbus who pleaded not guilty in 2016 after being indicted in the shooting death of a Black man, Ricky Ball. Lowndes County District Attorney Scott Colom transferred the case to the attorney general in 2016. It was still pending when Hood, a Democrat, ran unsuccessfully for governor in 2019. _____ Emily Wagster Pettus has covered Mississippi government and politics since 1994. Follow her on Twitter: http://twitter.com/EWagsterPettus. BRIDGEPORT For nearly three years Carolyn Vermont filled in for Mayor Joe Ganim at various events and dealt with a host of issues as his full-time community liaison. Now that Vermont has been named Habitat for Humanity of Coastal Fairfield Countys new chief executive officer, questions are being raised about the future of her $80,000-per-year liaison position and whether it is one Ganim aide too many. Complicating matters is the fact Vermont has not made a complete break from her municipal employment. She confirmed she is still doing some limited appearances for the mayors office and getting paid for it, likening the situation to being a consultant. I do fulfill a few hours over some weekends with the city while still fully engaged in my role at Habitat, Vermont explained Friday in a brief text exchange with Hearst Connecticut Media. As for how much longer that arrangement will last, Vermont wrote back, Maybe a staff member (for Ganim) can answer that. I have not been in that office since starting at Habitat so I am not privy to any conversations. The mayor, whose salary is $159,000, did not answer questions about Vermont and the future of her position Friday. I think we definitely need to look at that, said Councilman Scott Burns, a budget committee co-chairman, who suggested Vermonts role instead be filled with someone who could focus on marketing Connecticuts largest city. Somebody who can sell the city ... to share whats going on positively, Burns said. If were going to have some sort of outreach or publicity-type position, it ought to be directed more in that way. Others on the budget committee like council members Jorge Cruz and Jeanette Herron said they and their 18 council colleagues serve as a connection between residents and their local government. While she (Vermont) was there she did a great job, Herron said. But we have a council to do community outreach. He should not fill that position again, Cruz said. Its absolutely useless. He instead wants the $80,000 salary to go for other needs, such as more social services for residents. Despite the reservations about renewing the position, it was the council, not the mayor, that in spring, 2018 established what was then a $70,000-per-year liaison role when crafting that years municipal budget. Council President Aidee Nieves at the time likened the job to the role that Lamond Daniels had under Ganims predecessor, fellow Democrat Bill Finch. He was the boots on the ground person, Nieves had recalled of Daniels. And so in November, 2018 Ganim announced he had hired Vermont, a well-known volunteer, community and political activist and former local NAACP head who had recently lost a bid for state Senate. Vermont earlier that year had unsuccessfully sought the Democratic Town Committees nomination to represent the 23rd state Senate District in the legislature. The committee instead chose Dennis Bradley, who was arrested this past May for allegedly attempting to fraudulently obtain $179,850 in state campaign grants for his 2018 campaign. City budget documents show that the liaisons salary started at just over $70,000 in 2018 and this past spring budget season was increased by the mayor and council to $80,000 from $74,285. When Habitat for Humanity announced Vermont had joined that entity in August, the press release cited her deep connection to the community, her naturally magnetic personality and her commitment to our organization plus her work providing consulting services in a range of areas including government relations, community engagement, ethics, nonprofit board development, violence prevention, conflict resolution and leadership. In a statement included in Habitats August announcement Vermont said she has volunteered there for many years and the organization is near and dear to my heart. Approached Friday for comment on Vermonts tenure in his administration and whether he will replace her, Ganim in a text responded that he had referred the questions to another aide his communications director, Rowena White. Besides White and her staff, the mayor also has on his payroll Gina Malheiro, whose duties have, like Vermonts and his communications office, involved some form of public outreach and interaction. Malheiro has done work as Ganims events coordinator. Councilman Matthew McCarthy, who also sits on the budget committee, said he saw some value in Ganim using a liaison. He said Vermont went to tons of stuff and the mayor cant be everywhere for all these events. Its probably better as a part-time position so we dont have to pay health insurance and fringe benefits for it, McCarthy said. I think she (Vermont) did an excellent job. I think people just didnt really understand the role of what it was, said Councilman Ernie Newton, a budget committee co-chairman who had initially questioned Ganims choice of Vermont in 2018. The mayors only one person. (He) cant be at everything. And you need representation. Nieves said she would like the duties restructured so that a new hire, rather than fielding all of the requests Ganims office receives for personal appearances, would be more pro-active in trying to engage with various constituencies, particularly those that feel ignored by City Hall. The responsibilities should be changed to do more outreach to bring in those that are still struggling with having a voice at the table, Nieves said. People continually say they dont have access to the mayors office. ATLANTA (AP) Georgia state government has settled a lawsuit filed by three former Insurance Department employees who said they were fired by ex-Insurance Commissioner Jim Beck because they had leaked information to a television reporter. The state is paying $870,000 to Loranda Allen, Candice Sprague, Sherry Mowell and their attorneys, WAGA-TV reported. Jurors convicted Beck in July on 37 counts of wire fraud, mail fraud, money laundering and tax fraud. The charges stemmed from Becks scheme to channel more than $2.5 million from the Georgia Underwriting Association through a series of companies to his own bank accounts. Beck managed the state-chartered private insurer of last resort for years before the Republican was elected insurance commissioner. A judge earlier this month sentenced Beck to more than seven years in prison and ordered him to pay $2.6 million in restitution. Federal officials began investigating Beck as he was elected statewide in 2018 as Georgias chief insurance regulator, indicting him shortly after the Republican took office in 2019. The investigation was capped by an eight-day trial that ended with jurors convicting Beck after fewer than two hours of deliberation. The lawsuit stemmed not from the charges Beck was indicted on, but a story from Fox affiliate WAGA-TV about a 2017 arson that burned down a Carrollton rental property that Beck owned. The television station obtained a copy of Becks insurance application that showed two weeks before the fire, Beck nearly doubled his insurance coverage, from $95,000 to $186,000. Beck said he increased the insured value because of renovations. No one was ever charged with arson. The television station also reported that Beck was managing the Georgia Underwriting Association at the same time that he had a full-time state job as a victim-witness advocate for a district attorneys office. The lawsuit alleged that Beck told another department employee that he blamed the women for providing the information for the reporting by Fox News. and said he was going to clean the place up and get rid of the three women after taking office in 2019. People shouldnt be damaged financially or otherwise, for just doing their jobs. And, doing them well, said Ed Tarver, a lawyer for the women. The three women issued a joint statement saying: We hate that this convicted felon destroyed so many careers when he came into office. That is sad for all Georgians. Lawyers for Beck did not respond to requests for comment. Beck was automatically removed from office on conviction. He had been suspended after his indictment, but kept drawing a $195,000 yearly salary. EL ESTOR, Guatemala (AP) Police and soldiers frisked people at checkpoints and a tense calm reigned in the streets of this lakeside town Monday after protests against a mining project erupted into violence over the weekend. Guatemalas government imposed martial law and a dusk to dawn curfew Sunday and filled the town of 20,000 residents with security forces. Teams carried out searches at homes and offices looking for protest leaders, while those targets went into hiding. The police were ostensibly there to make sure protesters do not block trucks from entering and leaving a nickel processing plant, which shares the site with the disputed mine. Protesters contend the operation pollutes Lake Izabal. The Fenix mine, owned by Guatemala Nickel Co., a subsidiary of Switzerlands Solway Investment Group, is under a court order to carry out a public consultation process in the community about the project. In a statement Sunday, Solway said that it was fully complying with the court-ordered consultation on the Fenix mine and noted that the nickel processing plant on the site is not subject to the court order. The Guatemalan government said in a statement that the processing plant and the companys other mining rights in the area are not affected by the court order. A pre-consultation process for the Fenix mine began a month ago and the exclusion of a group of local fishermen and Indigenous Qeqchi from the discussion by Guatemalas Energy and Mines Ministry appeared to have sparked the protest. Astrid Franco, the local delegate of Guatemalas Human Rights Ombudsman, said a case had been opened over the groups complaints. Yesterday, the government offered the protesting communal leaders a dialogue, Franco said. What they want is to participate in the consultation, the how and when theyre going to do the consultation. Prosecutors announced the first two arrests under martial law Sunday, allegedly for drug and weapons possession. The suspension of basic rights and searches carried out put the Indigenous town on the shores of Lake Izabal on edge. Protest leaders laid low and refused to meet for interviews, afraid authorities would find them. Average citizens were stopped, questioned and frisked by authorities. Protesters had been blocking highways for days, keeping trucks from reaching the site. Some threw rocks and police responded with tear gas to clear the road Saturday. On Monday, the trucks moved in and out unimpeded. Daniel Mac, a 22-year-old farmer, complained that the mine was polluting the area. The roofs are rusted, the dust is corrosive and the fish die in the lake. But Emilio Jalal Tzoc, 67, a local fisherman and former worker at the mine, said that the company doesnt affect us, it helps the people. He said the money workers earned at the mine circulated throughout the community. Those behind (the protests) arent from here, he said. According to the World Bank, poverty grew to 47% from 45.6% in Guatemala in 2020. It said the country had the fourth highest rate of chronic malnutrition in the world and the highest in Latin America and the Caribbean. Indigenous and rural populations are especially affected. TOKYO (AP) Japan's governing party split two parliamentary seats in weekend byelections seen as a major test of its support ahead of a national vote next Sunday. Both seats are in the upper house of Japans Diet, or parliament, which is not subject to the Oct. 31 elections for the more powerful lower chamber, but they were seen as a bellwether for Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's government. His Liberal Democratic Party had previously held both seats. It lost to an opposition-backed candidate in a tightly contested vote for a vacant seat in Shizuoka prefecture, while the LDP candidate won the other seat in Sunday's byelections in the partys traditional stronghold of Yamaguchi prefecture, home to former leader Shinzo Abe. Even though media surveys widely expect the LDP and its junior coalition partner Komeito to keep a majority of the 465 seats in the lower house, losing ground from the 305 it held before the election would be a bad start for Kishida's weeks-old administration. We had a disappointing result in Shizuoka, Kishida told reporters Monday. I will seriously take the judgment of the voters and will seriously endeavor for (Sundays) elections. In the vote for the seat representing the prefecture south of Tokyo, former prefectural assembly member Shinnosuke Yamazaki, supported by opposition groups, the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan and the Democratic Party for the People, beat the LDP-backed Yohei Wakabayashi, a former mayor, and a third candidate backed by the Japanese Communist Party. Jun Azumi, senior lawmaker of the Constitutional Democratic Party, said the victory in Shizuoka gives the opposition bloc a big confidence" ahead of Sunday's lower house vote. The result reflected discontent of many voters who want to change politics after seeing their lives continue to deteriorate during the pandemic, Azumi said. In Yamaguchi prefecture, the LDP-backed Tsuneo Kitamura beat a communist candidate and a former YouTuber. Kishida took office on Oct. 4 with the immediate task of rallying party support weakened by a perceived high-handed approach to the pandemic and insistence on holding the Tokyo Olympics. He dissolved the lower house only 10 days after taking office, saying he wanted a mandate from the public for his new government. Major issues in the lower house campaign include COVID-19 response measures and revitalizing the pandemic-battered economy, as well as diplomatic and security issues linked to Chinas growing strength and influence and North Koreas missile and nuclear programs. The campaign already has been rocky for the LDP, with media polls showing support for Kishida's weeks-old government sliding. Kishida said he aims for the coalition to secure at least a majority of seats, or 233, in the chamber. That would be an easy target but experts and media polls predict that the LDP may lose about 30 seats. BRIDGEPORT Rev. Kenneth Moales has until Jan. 7 to vacate his Union Avenue cathedral and other East End properties. A federal judge ruled Monday that Moales, pastor of the Prayer Tabernacle Church of Love and Cathedral of the Holy Spirit, has run out of time on his request to remain in the church while he appeals its foreclosure by his bank, Foundation Capital Resources. I conclude that Prayer Tabernacle has not established grounds to warrant a stay pending appeal. It does not have a likelihood of success and probably lacks standing even to maintain the claims it proposes to advance on appeal, said U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Meyer. Moales had requested a stay of Meyers previous foreclosure order while he appealed it to the U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals. An appeal to the Second Circuit ordinarily takes at least a year and often more time than that to be decided, Meyer stated. In my view, the church has not satisfied the well-established legal and equitable requirements that govern whether to grant a stay for the entire duration of an appeal. We would prefer not to comment given that the litigation is pending, said Moales lawyer, James Lenes. Moales, a former chairman of the citys Board of Education, is senior pastor of Prayer Tabernacle Church of Love, Cathedral of the Holy Spirit and chief executive of CREAM Enterprises, a construction and management company. Through his church he owns five parcels of land in the East End. In September 2017, according to court documents, after a more than four-year legal battle that initially began in state court, Meyer issued a foreclosure order against Moales for failure to pay a debt of $12,630,230. That amount has since increased to more than $15 million. Following numerous court hearings, the judge on May 29, 2020, ordered the eviction of the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit on Union Avenue along with the Kingdoms Little Ones daycare, a summer camp, a private school, Love Christian Academy, all at the Union Avenue address and other operations owned by Moales on Stratford Avenue. Moales subsequently filed for bankruptcy to block the foreclosure but federal bankruptcy court dismissed the case and allowed the foreclosure to proceed. At a subsequent hearing before the judge Moales accused Foundation Capital of engaging in fraud and predatory lending practices. The company has denied the accusations. However, in his ruling Monday, the judge reiterated that he had evaluated Moales testimony in great detail and concluded that it was not credible or supported by the testimony of other witnesses or the whole of the documentary evidence record presented at trial. Meyers continued that Foundation Capital would be substantially harmed if its ability to take possession of the properties at issue were delayed for the year or more that an appeal is likely to last. He stated that Moales on behalf of his church properties has not made a mortgage payment since 2013 nor has he paid property taxes or utilities for several years. Moales could not be reached for comment. The 49-year-old Moales was recently arrested and charged with writing a bad check. According to the warrant affidavit, on July 22, Moales wrote a check to Testos Restaurant for $2,821.40 to cover expenses for catering services. The check was subsequently returned for insufficient funds. Moales is also being sued in state and federal court for eviction from a house on Northwood Drive in Easton where the suits claim he has been living and failing to pay rent since July 2019. A lawsuit challenging Gov. Ned Lamonts school mask mandate is headed to the Connecticut Supreme Court, five months after a lower court judge cited the justices own rulings as precedent to keep the requirement in place. The Supreme Court on Tuesday took over the case from the states Appellate Court, where the original appeal was filed after Hartford Superior Court Judge Thomas Moukawsher dismissed the lawsuit in May. The court did not set a date for oral arguments and attorneys on the case were told to abide by the previously set schedule for filing briefs. The lawsuit was filed more than a year ago by four Connecticut parents and the anti-mask group CT Freedom Alliance, arguing that Lamont and his then-education commissioner Miguel Cardona exceeded their authority by issuing the mask mandate, which the plaintiffs also described as dangerous and damaging, to the health and emotional well-being of schoolchildren. The plaintiffs are represented by two conservative state lawmakers Doug Dubinsky and Craig Fishbein along with high-profile defense attorney Norm Pattis. Dubinsky said Friday the justices essentially reached down and grabbed the case from the lower appeals court, before referring additional questions to his co-counsel Pattis, who could not be reached for comment. In a statement posted to its website this week, the CT Freedom Alliance welcomed the Supreme Courts decision to take the case while also asking its supporters to donate to the groups legal defense fund. This has taken far longer than we would have preferred, as our children are well into their second school year of muzzling, with a COVID shot mandate for schoolchildren looming on the horizon, the post read. A Lamont spokesman declined to comment on the case when reached on Friday. In his order earlier this year to dismiss the lawsuit, Moukawsher leaned heavily on the Supreme Courts previous ruling against Milford bar owner Kristine Casey, who challenged Lamonts executive order to close bars early in the pandemic. Moukawsher also noted that state lawmakers have repeatedly endorsed Lamonts emergency actions. There can be little doubt that between the Casey ruling and the General Assemblys action that principles and oversight exist and have been strengthened, Moukawsher wrote in May. This means this court must deem the governors actions within his rights under the constitution. In September, lawmakers voted again to extend Lamonts emergency powers until February, including the mask requirement in public schools. Despite waning case numbers, Lamont has said the requirement is necessary due to the lack of vaccine eligibility for children under age 12, as well as continued guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Lamonts administration is being represented in the lawsuit by Attorney General William Tong, a fellow Democrat. Two attorneys in Tongs office, Darren Cunningham and Timothy James Holzman, are listed as those representing the defendants in online court records. The Connecticut Supreme Court is comprised of seven justices who were all appointed by Democratic governors. LAJAS BLANCAS, Panama (AP) A growing number of women migrants crossing the forbidding jungle of the Darien Gap between Colombia and Panama on their route north are reporting sexual assaults, grabbing the attention of Panamanian lawmakers. On Saturday, a 25-year-old Haitian woman told members of a Panamanian congressional committee visiting Darien province that she had been assaulted just days before as she navigated the lawless area with her husband and 8-month-old son. The family stepped from a boat that had carried them along a roiling river to Lajas Blancas from Bajo Chiquito, the first small population center many migrants encounter after crossing the mountainous border. Hundreds of other migrants arrived Saturday alongside them. Panamanian lawmaker Zulay Rodriguez said her committee had collected around 1,000 allegations of sexual abuse since they began investigating the issue two months ago. It is the daily life for women (migrants) when they are young, when they are 20 or 30 or so years old," Rodriguez said. Assailants don't care if they rape them in front of their husband or family ... this displays the indifference. This has simply happened for a long time and for many years, said Rodriguez, head of the Womens, Childhood, Youth and Family Affairs Committee and a member of the Democratic Revolutionary Party. The Haitian woman who talked to the committee said that she and her husband had lived in Brazil for two years after leaving Haiti, then decided to head north. She said she was assaulted one afternoon last week by a man who had his face covered and held a gun to her head. She showed a document from the aid organization Doctors Without Borders certifying that a medican examination had confirmed the assault. Her husband said they did not think of making a formal complaint to authorities because they couldnt identify her aggressor. The couple were penniless because the attacker also took all their money and their cellphones. Police arranged for them to be transported by boat to Lajas Blancas because they couldnt pay the fare. Liseydis Martinez, a Cuban migrant, said that she saw two Cuban female friends emerge from the jungle bleeding and crying, who said they were sexually assaulted. They had been travelling in a group behind hers. Thank God nothing happened to me, but in the group behind were four Cubans and two of them who arrived (Friday), they raped them and a Haitian 13-year-old girl, she said. My God, its horrible! They were bad, she said of the victims. Their husbands were beaten up. Martinez was waiting in Lajas Blancas with her husband and their children ages 3 and 6. She said they had been swindled out of $1,500 in Necocli, the main departure point in Colombia, by a man who passed himself off as a soldier who could transport their family to Panama. Rodriguez, the lawmaker, said she would make sure the reports made it to the Attorney Generals Office and international aid groups. Her committee has produced short documentaries about assaults, robberies and deaths among migrants their way into Panama through the Darien Gap. She wants to call authorities attention to the problems rampant in the Darien jungle. At the migrant reception center in Lajas Blancas, migrants receive food and medical attention while they wait for buses to cross to the other side of Panama near the border with Costa Rica. The flow of migrants through the Darien Gap this year has been the highest in more than a decade. So far, more than 107,000 migrants mostly Haitians have made the trek. Authorities expect 50,000 more in the coming months. President Joe Biden and the spiritual leader of Eastern Orthodox Christians discussed ways to fight climate change and to end the coronavirus pandemic as well as the importance of religious freedom during an Oval Office session Monday. Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, 81, met separately with Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken not long after being hospitalized overnight for feeling unwell at the outset of his 12-day visit to the United States. While Bartholomews visit was expected to draw attention to the plight of the small Orthodox Christian minority in his homeland of Turkey, he took a diplomatic tone at an earlier breakfast meeting hosted by Turkish Ambassador Hasan Murat Mercan, according to remarks released by the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America. Bartholomew said his mission as patriarch is purely spiritual, and demonstrates how Turkey can be not only an inclusive society, but a bridge-builder between East and West. He called the ambassadors welcome an example of mutual dialogue and respect. The remarks did not refer to ongoing sore points such as the Turkish governments closure of an Orthodox seminary on the Turkish island of Halki 50 years ago. Blinken, however, reaffirmed that the reopening of the Halki Seminary remains a continued priority according to State Department spokesperson Ned Price. They discussed the U.S. commitment to supporting religious freedom around the world and opportunities to work with the Orthodox Christian community worldwide on issues of shared concern, as well as with religious minorities in Turkey and the region, Price said. The White House said the meeting between Bartholomew and Biden underscored the critical role that faith communities play in confronting the range of global challenges we all face. Bartholomew said at the White House that he was abundantly satisfied with his visit, praising Biden as a man of faith, and man of vision. We cannot allow any short sighted political agendas to interfere with our relationships, that are through, and in, Christ Jesus, the Lord and Savior of the world. he said. Blinken also praised the remarkable leadership Bartholomew, sometimes known as the green patriarch, has shown in calling for solutions to the climate crisis. Bartholomew also said Monday he'd join with Pope Francis and the leaders of other major religions around the world to call on the global community to facilitate COVID-19 vaccinations for the world, especially for poor countries. Bartholomew was released from a Washington hospital Monday morning after an overnight stay. He was brought to George Washington University Hospital on Sunday night after he felt unwell due to the long flight on Saturday and the busy schedule of events, according to the Greek Orthodox archdiocese. Bartholomew is the patriarch of Constantinople, based in Turkey. He is considered first among equals among Eastern Orthodox patriarchs, which gives him prominence but not the power of a Catholic pope. He does oversee Greek Orthodox and some other jurisdictions, although large portions of the Eastern Orthodox world are self-governing under their own patriarchs. ___ Associated Press writer Alexandra Jaffe contributed to this report. ___ Associated Press religion coverage receives support from the Lilly Endowment through The Conversation U.S. The AP is solely responsible for this content. WHITEHAVEN, England (AP) In the patchwork of hills, lakes and sea that make up Englands northwest corner, most people see beauty. Dave Cradduck sees broken dreams. The coal mine where the 74-year-old once worked has long closed. The chemical factory that employed thousands is gone. The nuclear power plant is being decommissioned. To Cradduck, a plan for a new coal mine that could bring hundreds of jobs is a sign that at least someones interested in the area and an opportunity "for people who have got mining in their blood. But environmentalists view the proposed mine with horror. They say it sends a disastrous message as the United Kingdom welcomes world leaders, advocates, diplomats and scientists to Glasgow, Scotland, for a United Nations Climate Change Conference that starts Oct. 31. Many scientists and activists consider the two-week COP26 conference a last chance to nail down carbon-cutting promises that could keep global warming within manageable limits. The U.K. sets itself out as a leader, but its building a coal mine, which is the most polluting thing that you can do, Rebecca Willis, a professor of energy and climate governance at Lancaster University, said. It sends a signal to the rest of the world that the U.K. isnt actually serious. The proposed deep mine symbolizes a dilemma facing the British government: It aims to generate all of the U.K.s electricity from clean energy sources by 2035 and to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. But Conservative Prime Minister Boris Johnson has also pledged to boost prosperity in Englands neglected north with new factories, roads, railways and other infrastructure that environmentalists say is at odds with the governments green agenda. West Cumbria Mining, the company hoping to build Britains first deep coal mine in three decades, wants to extract coking coal a type used to make steel rather than for fuel from under the Irish Sea. It plans to process the coal on the site of a shuttered chemical plant in Whitehaven, 340 miles (550 kilometers) northwest of London. The company describes the project as a new kind of mine, far removed from the dirty, dangerous behemoths whose brick and steel skeletons dot the region's landscape. West Cumbria Mining says it will be the worlds first net-zero coal mine, with all of its carbon emissions reduced or offset by credits to the Gold Standard Foundation, an environmental organization. Plans show curved modern buildings that blend in with the surrounding hills. Alexander Greaves, a lawyer for the mining company, said while opening a new coal mine might look bad at first glance, the Cumbria County project aims to be different be design. Showing these mines can be made by lawto capture greenhouse gas emissions and required to offset any residual impactis true environmental leadership, he said. Environmentalists scoff at that idea. Its blindingly obvious that the quickest way to stop these carbon emissions and to make radical changes which we have to do in the next 10 years is to stop opening any new coal mines, said Maggie Mason, a local opponent of the mine. The same is true for oil wells and gas wells." Nature and industry have long vied for supremacy in this part of England. Whitehaven sits on the edge of the Lake District National Park, an area whose beauty inspired William Wordsworth and Beatrix Potter. The area also once was home to industries that offered hard, dirty jobs in factories and mines. These days, wind turbines spin beside the sea a sign of Britains transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy, which last year produced almost half of the countrys electricity. That share shrank this year, however, partly due to a lack of wind. With the cost of imported natural gas soaring and plans for new nuclear plants moving at a crawl, the U.K. government is still considering new fossil-fuel projects. In the North Atlantic, west of the Shetland islands, Shell and Siccar Point Energy plan to extract 170 million barrels of oil from the Cambo oilfield. Environmental groups are trying to force the British government to stop the drilling. Johnsons administration is reluctant to intervene, saying sources like Cambo are still required to meet Britains energy needs as it shifts to a low-carbon economy. We need to transition our existing oil and gas sector to a decarbonized platform, Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said last month in the House of Commons, accusing Cambo opponents of wanting a complete eclipse" of the oil and gas industries "with 250,000 jobs vanishing overnight. In West Cumbria, the local authority approved the mine a year ago. The areas Conservative mayor, Mike Starkie, says it will be transformational. The British government, under pressure from opponents and its own environmental commitments, intervened in March and ordered an inquiry by a planning inspector. The inspector says he will make a recommendation around the end of the year. Then the U.K. government will make a final decision well after COP26 has ended. Local supporters of the mine believe they are the silent majority, at risk of being drowned out by environmental activists. Some rallied at the site this month, holding signs that read Part of the answer, not part of the problem and Cumbria coke is the real thing. Its been very simplified in the press that its jobs against the climate, said John Greasley, who helps run a Facebook page in support of the mine. And, of course, the climate is going to win every time. But its deeper than that." ___ Lawless reported from London. ___ Follow APs climate coverage at http://apnews.com/hub/climate BLACKSTONE, Va. (AP) Civil War history casts a long shadow in Virginia, the birthplace of Confederate generals, scene of their surrender and now a crossroad of controversy over renaming military bases that honor rebel leaders. In and around Blackstone, about 50 miles (80 kilometers) southwest of Richmond, that shadow can stir passions when talk turns to nearby Fort Pickett. Some are troubled by Congress requiring the Pickett name be dropped as part of a wider scrubbing of military base names that commemorate the Confederacy or honor officers who fought for it. In all, the names of at least nine Army bases in six states will be changed. Others here say it's high time to drop the names. Change them! says Nathaniel Miller, a Black member of the town council who was stationed at Pickett after he returned from Vietnam in 1973. It should have happened a long time ago," he says, because the names are a reminder of slavery and a period in American history when Black people had no voice. Fort Picketts namesake is Maj. Gen. George E. Pickett, best remembered for a failed Confederate assault at Gettysburg that became known as Picketts Charge. He was a Virginia native and a West Point graduate who resigned his U.S. Army officer commission shortly after the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861. The push to rename Fort Pickett and other bases is part of a national reckoning with centuries of racial injustice, triggered most recently by the May 2020 police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. For years, the military defended the naming of bases after Confederate officers; as recently as 2015 the Army argued that the names did not honor the rebel cause but were a gesture of reconciliation with the South. Congress easily agreed last year to compel the name changes to remove what are seen by many as emblems of human bondage and Black oppression. Reflecting a shift in the military's thinking, Army Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has spoken forcefully about a legacy of Black pain reflected in Confederate names at Army bases where today at least 20% of soldiers are Black. He said those names can be reminders to Black soldiers that the rebel officers fought for an institution that may have enslaved their ancestors. Milley told a House committee in June 2020 the Confederacy doesn't deserve to be commemorated in this way. It was an act of rebellion, it was an act of treason at the time, against the Union, against the Stars and Stripes, against the U.S. Constitution," he said. And those officers turned their back on their oath. Now, some have a different view of that. Some think it's heritage. Others think it's hate. No one around Blackstone seems to know why the government picked the Pickett name in the first place. The 1942 dedication ceremony for what originally was called Camp Pickett, attended by the general's descendants, was held on July 3 to coincide with the 79th anniversary of his Gettysburg charge. An Associated Press account of the ceremony quoted Virginia Gov. Colgate Darden saying the story of Picketts Charge will live forever as an epic of superb courage that made him a Virginia immortal. Some folks, like Greg Eanes, an Air Force veteran who grew up in the nearby town of Crewe, see removing the Pickett name as disrespecting the rebels and their descendants. In my opinion, it is nothing less than cultural genocide, albeit with a velvet glove, Eanes says, standing beside a still-visible Confederate trench on a battlefield in an adjacent county. The South has a unique history. Many of its people have ancestors and family members who were in the Confederate armies. It would be wrong, in my opinion, to dismiss just arbitrarily dismiss their concerns. Still, stripping Fort Pickett of its Confederate connection is hardly a hot topic around here. There was probably a time in my life when this would have gotten me riled up, says Billy Coleburn, 52, a Blackstone native who publishes the local newspaper and is mayor of the town of about 3,500 residents. The times change, he adds. Local innkeepers Jim and Christine Hasbrouck applaud the removal of Confederate generals' names. We need to stop putting them on a pedestal, says Jim. Fort Pickett is used mainly by the Virginia National Guard. Situated in what is known as Southside Virginia, it is roughly halfway between Richmond, former capital of the Confederacy, and Appomattox, where Gen. Robert E. Lee surrendered his Confederate forces in 1865. This is a heavily Republican area that voted for Donald Trump over Joe Biden by 57% to 42% last November and also favored Trump over Hillary Clinton four years earlier by a 55% to 42% margin. Reminders of the Civil War are not hard to find here; up the road among groves of pine, elm, maple and oak is Sailors Creek Battlefield State Park, scene of a series of battles on April 6, 1865, in which Confederate forces including a unit commanded by Pickett were defeated. Three days later, Lee surrendered at Appomattox. Congress last year created a federal commission to recommend new names for at least nine Army bases named for Confederate officers, including three in Virginia. The others are in North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana and Texas. The law was passed over the objection of Trump, who argued that renaming disrespects those who trained at the bases. Two active Navy ships also will be renamed. The USNS Maury, an oceanographic survey ship, was named for Matthew Fontaine Maury, a naval officer and scientist who resigned to join the Confederates. The cruiser USS Chancellorsville was named for the 1863 Confederate victory at Chancellorsville, Virginia. Tom Wilkinson, a Blackstone resident and retired Army colonel who commanded Fort Pickett from 2008 to 2012, says he accepts the renaming decision but considers it a mistake. "If we could look back in hindsight, I would say leave it alone, Wilkinson says. Because whats next? Are you going to change the names of streets throughout the United States? In fact the post-George Floyd debate over racial injustice does extend beyond military base names. Pickett, for example, is a name that stirs controversy as far away as Washington state. In 2019 the Bellingham city council voted to remove the Pickett name from a bridge that troops under his command built during his establishment of a frontier post called Fort Bellingham in the 1850s. A hotter topic here in Nottoway County is a November referendum on whether to relocate a Confederate war monument that has stood in front of the county courthouse since 1893. Fort Pickett is among the last bases to be visited by members of the federal Naming Commission created by Congress. In their other visits, the commissioners were generally well received by communities, although some people took the opportunity to vent a little, according to Michelle Howard, a retired Navy admiral who heads the commission, which will visit Pickett soon. Aside from his decision to take up arms against the federal government, Pickett's military record is the subject of conflicting interpretation by historians. But it's generally agreed that his performance was spotty at best. After the decimation of his division at Gettysburg in 1863, Pickett commanded Confederate forces in North Carolina and Virginia. His defeat at Five Forks, about 20 miles east of Blackstone, in 1865 was especially humiliating because he had slipped away earlier to a fish bake, not expecting a Union attack. Days later he fled the battlefield at Sailor's Creek after his men were overwhelmed and forced to surrender. Whatever the details of his legacy, people who grew up near Fort Pickett say the name change won't really matter. It will always be Pickett to me, says Leigh Hart, who was born and raised in Blackstone. It will be Pickett forever. During President Bidens visit to Connecticut, which he used to underscore the importance of investing in our people, he noted that child care educators are doing Gods work. Its a sentiment that certainly applies to Maria Amado. A family child care educator in Hartford for the last six years, the adoptive mom turned her own home into Green World Day Care, where she devotes herself to developing young minds and preparing children to become independent, confident and inquisitive. Amado is proud of how she has developed her program. Through her work with All Our Kin, she was inspired to emphasize social-emotional development, not only at Green World, but with parents who bring the techniques home. Amado, along with the estimated 100,000 licensed family child care educators across the U.S., is one of the unsung heroes who has provided a lifeline for families during COVID-19. To support frontline workers in the height of the first wave, Ms. Amado extended her program to several elementary students, learning the technology to connect them to their teachers. Her program, once open from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., often provided coverage until 10 at night. Without family child care educators, parents would be hard-pressed to help this nation build back better. They offer intimate settings, personalized attention, culturally relevant care and a level of flexibility that supports communities economic growth. They also offer quality. Child care educators play a crucial role in developing young minds when brain synapses are firing away at unprecedented levels. President Bidens critical legislation would expand child care and pre-K to 70,000 additional Connecticut children, reducing co-payments for those who earn the least and ensuring proper pay and professional development opportunities for the workforce. It also resonates with Amado: Its an opportunity for the nation to understand that we do more than babysit. We provide fundamental care and education for children. Embracing family child care means embracing equity, yet across the country, the industry remains in peril. The average family child care educator makes under $12 an hour with educators of infants and toddlers earning even less. The number of family child care homes decreased across the country by 48 percent between 2005 and 2014, with the pandemic further exacerbating this trend. And yet, family child care educators serve a role of undeniable importance. Were not here to sell bread. Were not here to sell cars. We are here to build brains and build the future children of our nation, asserts Amado. Over 22 years, All Our Kin has trained, supported and sustained more than 1,100 educators to help them become licensed, develop strong business practices and support high-quality care. Studies have shown that our educators salaries increase by $5,000 after their first year of receiving business support; four of five parents have gone to work for every family child care business that opens; and every dollar invested yields $15 to $20 in immediate gains for the regional economy. This model can be scaled and tailored across the country. As lawmakers grapple with whether parts of Bidens infrastructure bill are expendable, Connecticut can definitively say that child care is not. We have proven that growing support for child care providers, including family child care educators, has both social and economic impact. The president reminded us that 55 of our countrys wealthiest corporations paid nothing in taxes last year. Opponents have argued that Congress cant support child care, pre-k, the child tax credit and paid family leave. But families need all, not some, of these services. And our country can afford it if these corporations pay their fair share. Ultimately the legislation will spark what Amado refers to as a domino effect. Parents have financial support so their children can be in care. Educators are supported to grow as professionals. And the children are the ultimate beneficiaries. Family child care empowers constituents on both sides of the aisle, something senators would be wise to remember as they consider the consequences of stripping life-changing measures of the human infrastructure bill. Jessica Sager is co-founder and CEO of All Our Kin, a national nonprofit organization headquartered in Connecticut that trains, supports and sustains family child care educators. As another International Credit Union Day passes, World Council of Credit Unions (WOCCU) looks forward to another event on the calendar that should be just as important to credit unions around the world: Financial Inclusion Week. Powered by the Center for Financial Inclusion (CFI), Financial Inclusion Week is recognized and promoted by dozens of other international financial organizations focused on improving financial access and outcomes around the globe. Held from November 1-4, 2021, Financial Inclusion Week will feature live and on-demand sessions around the theme of Promoting Prosperity in an Era of Uncertainty. WOCCU team members and representatives from WOCCU member organizations will show how the international credit union movement is driving inclusive finance in new ways, such as removing gender bias from loan underwriting methods and putting a focus on climate resilience. Credit unions ready to show novel approaches to financial inclusion Members of the WOCCU Gender Lens Investment Methodology for Credit Unions Project (GLI4CUs) will host an on-demand session for the Center for Financial Inclusion that will focus on how they have worked with credit unions in Senegal to expand more credit offerings to women, allowing more women to start or grow small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs). Members of the GLI4CUs team recently discussed those efforts in an episode of the Global Credit Union Podcast. WOCCU also connected representatives from the Asian Confederation of Credit Unions (ACCU) with the Digital Finance for Climate Resilience Task Force (DF4CR), which is hosting a November 4 event focused on innovations that concretely build climate resilience among vulnerable people experiencing climate change impacts. ACCU representatives will present on the organizations Guide on Climate Action, which encourages credit unions to introduce climate compliance as a criteria for assessing loan applications. According to ACCU: The Guide on Climate Action has been prepared in the belief that institutionalizing climate actions and educating members on climate risks and making them assess their vulnerability is essential for preparedness. The DF4CR Task Force is focused on how digital finance can build climate resilience among the worlds most vulnerable populations. WOCCU encourages American credit unions to take the time to watch these Financial Inclusion Week events and others to get a wider view of the efforts dedicated to expanding financial inclusion around the world. A year-long effort with the G20 to promote proportionality in regulations and advance financial inclusion through credit unions Financial Inclusion Week is truly the culmination of WOCCUs 2021 focus on expanding financial inclusion through credit unions and other small financial cooperatives. Beginning in the first quarter of the year, WOCCU Senior Vice President of International Advocacy Andrew Price and advocacy experts from our member credit union associations in the United States, Canada and Australia began making strides toward asking the G20 to give direction to national-level regulators to increase financial inclusion by focusing on the importance of proportionality. Emphasizing a proportional approach to regulation allows smaller cooperative depository institutions like credit unions to fulfill their mission and greatly reduce inequalities and promote inclusive growth. More importantly, proportionality, if applied appropriately, can significantly advance the G20s goals of promoting financial inclusion by fostering responsible finance through increased access to responsible and affordable financial services offered by credit unions. Price and representatives from those participating member associations laid out the importance of proportionality in a September 29 webinar hosted by WOCCU. Those efforts are now paying off. In a communique released in mid-October, the G20 included a statement that reads: We reaffirm our commitment to enhancing digital financial inclusion of vulnerable and underserved segments of society, including micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), carrying forward the work of the Global Partnership for Financial Inclusion (GPFI) and implementing the G20 2020 Financial Inclusion Action Plan. We therefore endorse the G20 Menu of Policy Options for digital financial literacy and financial consumer and MSME protection Enhancing digital financial inclusion beyond the COVID-19 crisis with the aim to provide a guide for policymakers in their efforts to lay the ground for new financial inclusion strategies in the postpandemic world. We look forward to the review of the G20/OECD High-Level Principles for Financial Consumer Protection in 2022. This is a very promising sign for what the G20 will direct international standard setters to focus on for financial inclusion strategies when it releases its Leaders Declaration in late October. These strategies should include stressing the importance of proportionality as it relates to financial inclusion. Straub 156 is a lecture hall with 500 seats, making it one of the largest lecture halls at The University of Oregon. The University of Oregon returned to in-person classes this fall after four consecutive terms of online instruction. (Ian Enger/Emerald) If you're interested in submitting a Letter to the Editor, click here. Submit Over in his 7million mansion outside San Francisco, Sir Nick Clegg must have been choking on his morning kale smoothie. Facebooks richly rewarded Vice President of Global Affairs and Communications was in for a busy old day: One that would surely feature crisis meetings, emails marked urgent and the odd eardrum-bashing from his boss, company founder Mark Zuckerberg (37 years old and with a net worth of over $121billion). In Westminster Facebook employee-turned-whistleblower Frances Haugen was in the House of Commons spilling the borlotti on her ex-employer. Or, more pertinently, up-ending a giant bucket of pig slurry all over its head. Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen leaves the Houses of Parliament in London, after she testified to MPs and peers as part of government plans for social media regulation Miss Haugen is a one-time Facebook data scientist who earlier this year shared thousands of pages of company documents outlining the firms failure to keep toxic content off its platforms. She had been invited to give evidence to Parliaments Joint Committee to advise on the Online Harms Bill, which Parliament hopes to hurry into the statute book following the shocking murder of Sir David Amess earlier this month. Over the course of a jargon-filled two-and-a-half hours, we heard how Facebook had evolved from modest origins in Zuckerbergs Harvard dorm room into a swirling cesspit where vile harmful content not only flourishes like toadstools on a rotting log, but is in fact prioritised. Anger and hate [are] the easiest way to grow Facebook, she told the committee matter-of-factly. Oh, Cleggy! How did this beacon of self-righteous morality get involved with such a shameless bunch of wrong uns? Over in his 7million mansion outside San Francisco, Sir Nick Clegg must have been choking on his morning kale smoothie Perhaps his reported 2.7million salary helped to sway him. Haugen was good. Often a whistleblower can come across like a disgruntled employee or, worse, an attention-seeker hungry for fame, book deals, documentary appearances and so on. Yet she made a credible witness, albeit prone to spurts of corporate gobbledegook. She talked incessantly and without prompt, her answers illustrated with energetic arm gestures. Behind her sat a cohort of men jotting down the occasional note. Judging by their oversized wristwatches, corporate lawyers would be my guess. Early questioning from committee chairman Damian Collins (Con, Folkestone) concerned Facebooks chat groups, a popular meeting place for conspiracy-theory cranks to peddle their codswallop. Unless rapid action was taken, recent violence such as the storming of Washingtons Capitol Hill in January were just the opening chapters, Haugen predicted. She blamed Facebooks lack of online safety officers. She claimed that whenever she saw something posted that potentially posed a threat to national security, there was no one to report it to. Another problem, she alleged, was that Zuckerberg and his cohorts still behaved like they were working for a start-up. She repeatedly referred to the notorious hoodie-sporting oddball as Mark, suggesting a close familiarity. Soon Labour peer Lord Knight was getting involved. His Lordship dialled in remotely wearing neither a jacket or tie. Was he trying to look like another Palo Alto tech bro? Another problem, she alleged, was that Zuckerberg and his cohorts still behaved like they were working for a start-up. She repeatedly referred to the notorious hoodie-sporting oddball as Mark, suggesting a close familiarity We learned that Facebook charged considerably less for the most divisive adverts than for compassionate ones, because the former got more engagement from users. The platform was subsidising hate, said Haugen. Around the U-shaped table, there was a collective pious shaking of heads. The committee clearly regarded Haugen as a hero. The deference was reciprocated. Great question! she would remark occasionally in her hokey Midwestern accent. Up popped John Nicolson (SNP, Ochil). Youre trending on Twitter! he informed Haugen over-excitedly. He wanted to discuss Instagram, the Facebook-owned photo site blamed for giving young girls body issues. Users are meant to be 13 to join it, yet Haugen said Facebook did little to enforce this rule. In Westminster Facebook employee-turned-whistleblower Frances Haugen was in the House of Commons spilling the borlotti on her ex-employer The earlier young people are using the platform, the earlier they get them hooked, she shrugged. Mr Nicolson was hungrily chasing a headline. Is Facebook evil? he asked. Haugen replied cryptically that it was not for her to see into the hearts of men. Nicolson tried again. Is it malevolent? Same thing, surely and still no dice. Towards the end, someone asked whether Zuck would be losing any sleep over the proposed Online Harms Bill. Haugen bit her lip and suggested he would be paying attention to what youre doing. Totally unfussed, in other words. Perhaps Cleggy can rest easy though how he squares working for such a company with his own liberal, democratic principles is anyones guess. Have you ever looked at a small business online and wondered how on earth they have managed to grow amid the Covid-19 pandemic? One of the secrets of their success is personalised advertising - a tool which allows companies to connect with and target relevant customers. Whether it's a barber shop or a juice company, personalised advertising gives entrepreneurs everything they need to give their brand a much needed boost. And with more people than ever shopping online during the Covid-19 pandemic, why wouldn't you want to tap into the enormous marketplace of potential customers ? And in a bid to support small businesses, Facebook has launched its #DeserveToBeFound campaign, in which companies can win an invaluable shout out from serial entrepreneur and TV star, Steven Bartlett. Read on to discover how to get involved but first, meet the business owners already making personalised advertising work for them... 'I KNOW PERSONALISED ADS ARE AT THE ROOT OF MY BARBER SHOP CHAIN'S SUCCESS' Adam Choudhry, from Birmingham, founded Kings Barbers Club in 2009 just weeks before he was due to begin university Adam Choudhry, from Birmingham, founded Kings Barbers Club in 2009 just weeks before he was due to begin university. It is now the UK's largest chain of independently-owned barber shops, with 14 other outlets across the Midlands and 60 employees. Adam's top tips for small businesses Sounds cliche but dont quit! Personalised advertising tools work, but like anything we all make mistakes. Sometimes I look at an image or video that I'm so proud of but it's slandered online. It hurts! As small business owners our business is a reflection of us so it feels like a failure when people dont appreciate our work the way we want them to. Dont be disheartened, try again with something new but always stay consistent and true to your business ethos.' Don't expect sales on the first day; You'll need to segment your advertising and build brand awareness and trust. I always follow the same rule: like, trust, and trade. People want to feel at ease before making a purchase; they are not as frivolous as you may think. If youre not comfortable investing money in the platform then at least start learning about it. If youre not talking to your customers then your competitors probably are. The conversation between you and your client is so pivotal in today's climate, and social platforms have created a space where we can do that for free or find new clients by paid media, which is measured, easily scalable and can be done from your sofa. Try doing that with a leaflet or other forms of print media! He credits much of his success to personalised advertising, a tool he learned to use during lunch breaks and evenings while he was a student. He revealed: 'I launched the business and started university just as social media was really beginning to take off. 'Suddenly, everyone was getting a smartphone for the first time and I noticed that everything social at college was being organised on peoples Facebook Pages.' Adam began using personalised advertising to help him understand his customers and deliver content relevant to them, based on their behaviours and interests. He explained: 'Unlike offline tools, it is always available at any time of day, can be turned on and off, and most importantly, can be tailored to any budget. 'Advertising costs are well-known for being expensive. How do small businesses compete with brands that advertise on billboards, buses, television, and radio 24 hours a day, 7 days a week? With social media, we're all in the same boat.' He quickly got to know his customers before they even stepped through the door. While he assumed his target audience was male, by using the tool he realised that 40 per cent of conversions were actually women booking for someone else. And by using Dynamic Ads, he could then tailor his advertising to specific audiences, allowing the algorithm to match and display images. He explained: 'Lookalike Audiences and our own data gives us a head start. 'We can identify key clients and change the geography of what were looking for.' Adam quickly adapted, and began targeting personalised ads at both men and women, boosting his online bookings. Meanwhile he ensures Kings Barbers is top of mind to potential customers by targeting those within a three-mile radius of the salon. And to drive return on investment, Adam retargets customers with a haircut reminder within a month of their appointment, using data-driven insights to calculate the average timeframe of a repeat booking. By spending two hours and 1,000 per week on advertising, Adam knows he can earn up to 8,000 in return! No wonder his business is thriving. 'I QUIT MY JOB IN THE CITY TO LAUNCH A FRUIT CORDIAL BUSINESS - IT WAS PERSONALISED ADS WHICH HELPED MY BUSINESS GROW DURING THE PANDEMIC' Natasha Steele made a dramatic career swerve from audit advisor in London to owner and 'chief juicer' of Urban Cordial in 2016. Bored of working in the city, Natasha Steele made a dramatic career swerve from audit advisor in London to owner and 'chief juicer' of Urban Cordial in 2016. She began foraging ingredients from her allotment and turning them into fruity cordials, selling the bottles at her local farmers market. But when the COVID-19 crisis hit, Natasha was forced to change her strategy, and turned to personalised ads to help boost sales. By testing out different personalised ads online, Natasha hit the sweet spot - she discovered Facebook's Dynamic Ads performed best for her business, allowing her to deliver relevant content to the right people, at the right time. Meanwhile Lookalike Audiences help Natasha quickly identify and engage with a range of potential customers. She can see traits shared by her existing customers, from regular spenders to bulk buyers, and then target similar demographics across the UK with personalised ads. She said: 'Through Facebook advertising, our business has grown during a pandemic something I was not sure was possible.' She revealed she is always looking for new customers who will be attracted to her brand, adding: 'Some businesses are fortunate that they never have to change their audiences. I am not one of those businesses. 'I am constantly having to play around with different audiences, different percentage Lookalikes, different Targeted audiences, whether that's broad or narrow.' Today, personalised ads drive 70 per cent of the brand's online revenue and deliver five times return on investment. And while in 2019, Natasha earned 2,000 in online revenue, by 2020 she had reached 60,000. Now, thanks to its loyal community of followers and Natasha's investment in personalised advertising, Urban Cordial drinks can now be found in many upmarket bars, clubs and food halls across the UK. Do YOU want to learn more about personalised ads and how the tools could help you grow your business? Visit Facebook to learn more about the digital tools and free resources available to support your business. Target Australia has brought back its sell-out snowy aspen Christmas tree. The much-anticipated $69 tree has returned to shelves for its fourth year running - and shoppers are expected to get in early before they're gone. The artificial tree, measuring 183cm tall, is easy to assemble, flame retardant, makes a great centrepiece for festive celebrations and is simple to decorate. Target Australia has brought back its sell-out snowy aspen Christmas tree for just $69 The much-anticipated $69 tree has returned to shelves for its fourth year running - and shoppers are expected to get in early before they're gone The festive range also includes the popular pre-lit snowy aspen Christmas tree, measuring 213cm tall, for $149. The 'glorious' white trees have been a huge hit among thousands of shoppers every year, with the product selling out in the months leading up to the big day. 'Love this snowy tree, so pretty, fills the house with Christmas joy,' one wrote. 'This tree is beautiful, I'm in love and cannot believe how pretty it is. I was lucky enough to find one and I'm grateful I did,' another said, while one added: 'It's the best Christmas tree ever.' The festive range also includes the popular pre-lit snowy aspen Christmas tree (pictured), measuring 213cm tall, for $149 The 'glorious' white trees have been a huge hit among thousands of shoppers every year, with the product selling out in the months leading up to the big day A Target spokeswoman told Daily Mail Australia last year the trees are specially made from virgin plastic rather than PVC plastic. 'There is a significant improvement in the overall presentation, visual and touch quality along with durability which helps the tree maintain its shape,' she said. 'We added more tips to our Christmas trees which make the tree look more realistic and fuller once it is properly assembled, along with the delicate and soft, flocked snow our Snowy Aspen Tree is sure to be a stand out. 'We're absolutely thrilled and feel so honoured that our Snowy Aspen has, and continues to be, a special part of Christmas for so many Australian families. We're proud to offer quality, stylish Christmas decorations at affordable prices.' I am writing from my parents home in Scotland, where Halloween preparations are under way. The children living opposite have put out pumpkins. And I was amused to see a wedding-dress boutique had changed its elegant window display from virginal ivory-silk robes to something more bride of Dracula. Scotland is steeped in spookiness, from tales of kelpies, banshees and monsters to having been one of the European centres of witch-hunting for two centuries. Following the Scottish Witchcraft Act in 1563, as many as 4,000 were prosecuted mostly women and an estimated 2,500 tortured and executed. Now an Edinburgh QC, Claire Mitchell, is campaigning for a retrospective pardon and national monument to mark that miscarriage of justice. Who were those women? Well, many of the symbols we associate with witches broomsticks, cauldrons and pointy hats were also used by alewives, amateur brewers who scratched a living selling beer in medieval times. When brewing became big business, aspersions were cast on their brews. Patricia Nicol picks out a selection of the best books on witches, including Frank Herberts Dune (pictured left) and Charlotte Higginss Greek Myths (pictured right) Maggie OFarrells Hamnet imagines the life and death of Shakespeares only son. Its heroine Agnes is wise, with knowledge of herbs, brews and potions passed down from her mother. The people of Stratford regard her with suspicion. But when Agnes marries Shakespeare, her mother-in-law is impressed by her household skills. Those skills haunt Agnes, when she cannot save her child. Gifted female outsiders are often viewed with suspicion. Charlotte Higginss Greek Myths: A New Retelling, explores the stories of Ovid and Homer from a female vantage. There is a poignancy to her account of the witch Medea, urged to use her powers to aid Jason in his quest for the Golden Fleece, but then scorned by him. She unleashes hell. The new film version of Frank Herberts Dune is out. Its Lady Jessica is a scion of the Bene Gesserit Order, a group of wise women with mind-control powers who can choose the sex of their child. She ends up training rebels in the weirding ways. Let these books cast a spell. Q Ive developed vitiligo at age 77; Im not sure whats triggered it. What would best cover the large, white skin patches it leaves? A Dr Selena Langdon (berkshireaesthetics.com) warns that late-onset vitiligo a melanin disorder that can appear all over the body and face can be set off by underlying autoimmune conditions such as thyroid disease, so do please get a check-up with your GP. High-profile people such as supermodel Winnie Harlow are helping to normalise the condition by not covering it up but, for those that want to treat it, there are options that include topical steroid creams, oral steroids and UV-phototherapy, says Dr Langdon. But they can come with major side effects, especially if youre of advanced age. A reader asked Inge van Lotringen for advice on covering large patches caused by vitiligo (file image) So make sure you do this under the guidance of a professional youve been referred to by your GP; most vitiligo treatment is available on the NHS. For short-term coverage, skin camouflage products are available via organisations such as Changing Faces and The British Association of Skin Camouflage (BASC). They are waterproof and can be applied anywhere on the body; brands include Dermacolor (uk.kryolan.com), Keromask and Covermark. Costs for a tube are around 20. Vitiligo puts you at severe risk of sun damage and skin cancer so always cover up with high-factor SPF. Heliocare 360*MD AK Fluid SPF100+, (32.99, heliocare.co.uk) is the kind of protection you need. Inge van Lotringen (pictured) shared advice from Dr Selena Langdon who suggests steroid creams, oral steroids and UV-phototherapy Email your questions to Ingeborg van L otringen, author of Great Skin, at inge@dailymail.co.uk Shoppers around Australia are rushing to Woolworths supermarkets to purchase a Samsung Galaxy mobile phone for a mere $5. The Telstra Samsung Galaxy A11 normally retails for $229, but the supermarket giant slashed the price. The news was shared on social media after shopper Emma noticed the bargain buy on the Woolworths website. To snatch up the bargain customers should act quickly as the phone is expected to sell out fast. The Telstra Samsung Galaxy A11 normally retails for $229, but the supermarket giant slashed the price to only $5 (pictured) The phone has 32GB of storage space, a large 6.4 inch Infinity-O display and triple rear camera 'Woolworths have cheap phone again, not available at all stores,' Emma captioned the Facebook post. The phone has 32GB of storage space, a large 6.4 inch Infinity-O display and triple rear camera. It's also designed with smooth curved edges for a comfortable grip that's easy to hold. The phone is also designed with smooth curved edges for a comfortable grip that's easy to hold To snatch up the bargain customers should act quickly as the phone is expected to sell out fast Customers who managed to get their hands on the device have said it's an 'excellent phone' that works well. Others online were disappointed the phone has already already sold out at their local Woolworths. 'So cheap, I'd buy one just to have as a spare,' one woman wrote in the comments. The Telstra Evoke Plus 2 mobile and Fzone Prepaaid Bundle are also both on sale The Telstra Evoke Plus 2 mobile and Fzone Prepaaid Bundle are also both on sale. The Telstra Prepaid Evoke Plus 2 Mobile Phone currently retails for $59 down from $139, while the Fzone Mobile Prepaid Bundle is on sale for $89.55 down from $199. The sale items are only available online and in selected Woolworths stores until stock lasts. Iconic chocolate bar Violet Crumble has launched a new honeycomb and caramel-flavoured milk. The Violet Crumble Caramel Milk consists of the flavours of the famous golden honeycomb and a creamy caramel white choc, splattered with milk. Australian shoppers who are keen to get their hands around the $4.50 creation can head into independent supermarkets and selected petrol stations from Monday. The Violet Crumble Caramel Milk consists of the flavours of the famous golden honeycomb and a creamy caramel flavoured white choc, splattered with milk The new milk flavour blend is the brand's second collaboration with Australian beverage producer Bickford's following the launch of Violet Crumble Milk last year. 'The frenzy we saw last year from our taste-bud shattering Violet Crumble Milk was overwhelming, so we knew our next milk drink needed to take the flavour combinations to another level,' Phil Sims, CEO of Robern Menz, said. Amelia Wright, brand manager at Bickford's, said they wanted to create a product that shoppers will love for years to come. Australian shoppers who are keen to get their hands around the $4.50 creation can head into independent supermarkets and selected petrol stations from Monday 'We just knew that turning our honeycomb and creamy caramel flavoured white choc into liquid form would give customers a product that would become legendary, not just now but for future decades to come,' she said. 'Our new milk is the refreshing flavoured milk Aussies didn't know they needed, but after the year we've had, is tipped to be the milk they will want to get their hands on.' Shoppers can find the milk at Coles Express, Ampol and local Independent Supermarkets or online via Sippify. While South Australian's can grab the drink from OTR and The FruChocs Shops at Glynde, McLaren Vale and Hahndorf. Popular scientist Dr Karl Kruszelnicki has shared his simple trick for curing a hangover - and why drinking more alcohol does make you feel better. Dr Karl, 73, who is dubbed 'the people's scientist', says while having another drink will alleviate symptoms in the short run, time is the greatest - and safest - healer. 'Unfortunately, a cure is just a bit of alcohol - the hair of the dog - which is a bad pathway to go down,' he told listeners of the Dr Karl Podcast last week. Popular scientist Dr Karl Kruszelnicki (pictured) has revealed why drinking more alcohol can help to cure a hangover - but he doesn't advise it Hangovers occur when the body begins to absorb methanol, a toxic chemical found in alcohol in trace amounts. Dr Karl said hitting the bottle again delays this from happening because the body is forced to break down ethanol - the main component of alcohol - instead. But getting back on the booze is not something he recommends doing. 'Some people feel so much better that they then go down the path of becoming alcoholics,' he explained. Later in the episode, Dr Karl confessed he has been drunk to the point of vomiting twice in his life. While having another drink will alleviate symptoms in the short run, the beloved science boffin says time is the greatest - and safest - healer 'The second time, I thought "I'll never do this again" - and I never did,' he said. The revelations come weeks after the much-loved scientist revealed what would happen if a person drank a Covid-19 vaccine instead of injecting it into their arm. Dr Karl claimed stomach acid would likely destroy any vaccine ingested through the mouth. '[The vaccine] is optimised to work by a tiny amount of it being injected into the muscle and then various things happen there,' he explained during an interview on Triple M's The Danny Lakey Show. Instructions on Covid-19 vaccines stress they should be administered intramuscularly (above) and not swallowed He added: 'The vitamin is not that much, it's less than a mil, so I'm guessing on average, you could swallow it into your mouth, no worries, and it would go down into your esophagus, no worries. 'In the stomach, the extreme acidity may very well break it down and destroy it.' Dr Karl said that while there are vaccines that are swallowed, including for polio, the health industry was moving towards vaccines administered via a spray. 'We're now moving to vaccines that work where the centre of all the action is, the lungs,' he said. Host Lakey asked whether the vaccine would taste like medicine. 'It's only a mil, half a mil, so it would depend on the individual vaccine because there's so many,' Dr Karl said. While a human being's stomach acid, enzymes and gut bacteria generally kill vaccine antigens, ingestible vaccines for diseases such as polio and rotavirus exist because both of those are gut pathogens. Earlier this year, the beloved science boffin took to TikTok to share an important message about the risk of dying from a Covid-19 vaccine compared to the disease itself. 'One in a million is the odds of dying from the AstraZeneca vaccine,' the expert said. The figure is taken from Therapeutic Goods Administration data, which shows there have only been nine deaths linked to the AstraZeneca vaccine from more than 9.6 million doses administered across Australia as of August 29. There have only been nine deaths linked to the AstraZeneca vaccine from more than 9.6 million doses administered across Australia as of August 29 The vaccine has been linked to extremely rare blood clotting incidents but Dr Karl said the risk of dying in a road accident is still much higher at 40 deaths in a million. He said the chance of dying from Covid-19 once infected is 22,000 in a million, 550 times higher than the risk of being killed on Australia's roads. '22,000 to one. Those are really good odds,' Dr Karl said. 'That's why I got vaccinated as soon as possible - and so should you.' During Melbourne's second Covid wave, there were 18,628 cases and 800 deaths as the virus ripped through Victoria's unvaccinated population in late 2020, according to the state's Department of Health. Those figures equate to a death rate of 42,000 in one million. McDonald's Australia has quietly removed its popular all-day breakfast menu option McDonald's Australia has sparked outrage on social media after quietly removing its popular all-day breakfast menu option. The fast food chain will no longer serve breakfast menu items after midday. In a statement to Daily Mail Australia, a McDonald's spokeswoman said: 'Our breakfast menu will be available until midday in restaurants and 10.30am via McDelivery, to better meet the needs of customers during other peak times. 'By adjusting our all-day breakfast schedule we hope to reduce the amount of time our customers may need to wait for other items during the afternoon and evening rush. 'While we understand a number of customers will be disappointed, our breakfast menu will continue to be available in restaurant until midday every day and via McDelivery until 10.30am.' However, the McDonald's spokeswoman confirmed fan favourite hash browns will still be available to order all day. The fast food chain will no longer serve breakfast menu items after midday. But a McDonald's spokeswoman confirmed fan favourite hash browns will still be available to order all day The breakfast menu will be available until midday in restaurants and 10.30am via McDelivery The restaurant prides itself on not putting 'labels' on meal times, with its website currently stating: 'We don't believe in labels at Macca's, like dinner or breakfast. So, we got rid of them. You can have a Big Mac for breakfast or a Hash Brown for dinner.' The chain quietly ended its all-day breakfast menu on Wednesday, October 20. Many diners have taken particular issue with McDonald's over the controversial move, with one man writing on Facebook: 'When did you very quietly drop the all-day breakfast menu? Not everybody wants burgers when they eat. 'I would frequently have a bacon and egg meal as a lunch or dinner option. Losing a customer here. Just left the store without purchasing anything.' The fast food chain will no longer serve breakfast menu items after midday in a controversial move to provide faster service for customers Many diners have taken particular issue with McDonald's for cancelling its all-day menu And he wasn't the only way furious with the chain's decision. 'Why have you stopped all day breakfast? Without any notice either! Not happy,' one woman wrote. Another said: 'Thanks for looking after shift workers by stopping all-day breakfast. Only available until 12pm now. So much for not putting "labels" on meal times.' While one man said: 'I just woke up from a big night out, hung over, hungry. Incapable of cooking my own food. My girlfriend drives me to Maccas... and to my disgust the all-day breakfast menu has been violated. 'This is the next worst thing since COVID-19. How does McDonald's expect me to go to bed at 4am and wake up early enough to obtain the glorious sausage McMuffin to revive my soul. I don't want a Big Mac for breakfast I want pancakes for dinner.' Poll Would you try the dim sim burger with potato cake? Yes No Would you try the dim sim burger with potato cake? Yes 65 votes No 47 votes Now share your opinion An unusual burger featuring controversial ingredients like a dim sim and potato cake has been crowned the best burger in Australia. Melbourne burger joint Easeys took home the coveted title of 'Australia's Best Burger' in the Litt Burger of Origin competition with its Motz Madness creation, a double Oklahoma fried onion burger. Chief judge Cal Stubbs, Australia's No.1 and World's No.9 ranked professional competitive eater, toured the country in style filled with obstacles - including border closures and strict lockdowns - to valiantly taste the 17 top burger joints. 'It was a nail biting competition that all came down to the final tasting,' he said. 'The competition was really tight between the final four burger joints and only after the final tasting could I decide on a clear-cut winner. I couldn't go past Easeys' Motz Madness burger, it was soft on the mouth and the onions worked perfectly. 'It has some unusual additions like a dim sim and potato cake that put it over the edge. Australians need to come down and give it a try, even the fussiest of eaters will love this burger, you definitely won't regret it.' An unusual burger featuring controversial ingredients like a potato cake and dim sim has been crowned the best burger in Australia Easeys owner Jimmy Hurlston said he's 'completely shocked' and 'ecstatic' after his burger came out on top, beating out stiff competition from the likes of Sydney's Bar Luca and Hashtag Burgers and Waffles in Brisbane. 'I still can't believe our burger was crowned the best. I was just happy to be among some of the best burger restaurants and I'm genuinely honoured to come out of this as a winner,' he said. 'The burger industry is a small place so I know the competition well and knew it was going to be tough to even make the final as I knew the other 17 burger joints were going to bring their best. 'I took a leap of faith with the Motz Madness by adding a potato cake and a dim sim but it paid off and I'm glad to see Australia embrace my creation.' Melbourne burger joint Easeys took home the coveted title of 'Australia's Best Burger' in the Litt Burger of Origin competition with its Motz Madness creation, a double Oklahoma fried onion burger with its controversial ingredients of a potato cake and dim sim The hunt for Australia's best burger was orchestrated by social media app LITT to help reignite the hospitality sector in Australia. It has paid for thousands of these burgers to be given away for free via its Pokemon GO-styled augmented reality treasure hunt in order to drive customers in to these small businesses - which need support to bring patronage back to pre-Covid levels. In a grand-final event that navigated strict Covid protocols, the ingredients from all five state finalists were flown into Melbourne especially for the world-renowned tasting palate of the chief judge. Hosted by Hellos Sams in Melbourne, the state-finalist chefs Zoomed in to instruct chef Stu to recreate their winning creation - ensuring they were just as delicious as if they were created in their own restaurant. The runners up and therefore the winner for each respective state were; Bar Luca in Sydney, Hashtag Burgers and Waffles in Brisbane, and RoyAls in Perth. A shopper has sent Instagram into meltdown with a mind-bending dress that many claim should come with 'professional help'. After ordering a rust-coloured mini-dress on Amazon, New York fashion blogger Lauren Wolfe was perplexed to receive a ball of transparent fabric with long strips streaming out from either side. The brunette beauty filmed herself slipping into the main piece of material and wrapping the strips tightly around her waist to create a body conscious dress that perfectly accentuates her figure. 'I'm sorry, I LOVE it,' Lauren said in the video, adding: 'You can also tie it in a bunch of different ways.' Scroll down for video After ordering a rust coloured mini-dress on Amazon, New York fashion blogger Lauren Wolfe was perplexed to receive a ball of transparent fabric with long strips streaming from either side The process, which has been viewed 34,500 times since it was posted online on Saturday, sparked stunned responses, with viewers astounded by how simple Lauren made it look. 'Looks awesome but I can't figure out regular dresses so imma leave it to the professionals,' one woman wrote in a comment that has racked up 50 likes. Another pointed out a practical flaw to the tightness of the dress. 'Love it, but what happens when you need to use the restroom...,' she said. Viewers were astounded by how easy Lauren (pictured) made the process look The influencer (pictured in Positano, Italy) said she 'loves' the dress and how you can wear it different ways And it's not the first time a fast-fashion piece has sent social media into a tailspin. Earlier this month, a woman left thousands scratching their heads with an 'optical illusion' dress that makes the waist look inches smaller than it really is. An influencer named Jem sparked stunned responses after wearing the $32 AUD/$22.99 USD 'Mind Of My Own Maxi Dress' from Fashion Nova on TikTok. In a now-viral video, she poses in the boldly printed frock before tying a thick piece of fabric tightly around her waist. The eye is tricked into seeing wider hips and a slimmer waist by the swirling downward pattern. A fashionista has left millions scratching their heads with an 'optical illusion' dress that makes the waist look inches smaller than it really is. The video, which has racked up 2.6 million views since it was posted online on October 10, sparked stunned responses. Viewers swiftly flooded the comments section, saying they were 'struggling to fathom' how her figure looked in the dress. 'I couldn't comprehend that for so long,' one person wrote. 'Girl it looked like you cut yourself in half for a second,' said another, while a third added: 'Am I drunk or...?' According to the Fashion Nova website, the outfit is not intentionally designed to snatch the waistline Others raved about the slimming illusion and said they couldn't wait to buy the dress themselves. 'I need this!!' one woman said. A second added: 'Need that kind of magic in my life.' A product description on Fashion Nova's website suggests the outfit is not intentionally designed to snatch the waistline, but many were unconvinced. A similar style is also available on Shein for $26.95 AUD/$19.99. A businesswoman has claimed that parents who work from home are setting a 'bad example' to their children, likening the situation to families where several generations are unemployed and rely on benefits. Tina Knight, from Essex, said parents continuing to work remotely could be harmful to the future generation of workers, branding the 'sense of entitlement' among the public 'incredible'. Appearing on Good Morning Britain today, she compared the mindset about working from home passed on to children from parents to that of those claiming unemployment benefits. After building up her own electronics company, Miss Knight was presented with the 1988 Women in Business Award by Margaret Thatcher, and now sits on the boards of companies in both the private and public sector. However, Geeta Sidhu-Robb, owner of Nosh Detox criticised her argument, insisting her approach is 'another stick to beat women with', saying employees are often more productive at home. Scroll down for video Tina Knight, chairman of Women into Business, said parents continuing to work remotely could be harmful to the future generation of workers, branding the 'sense of entitlement' among the public 'incredible' Geeta Sidhu-Robb, owner of company Nosh Detox criticised her argument, insisting her approach is 'another stick to beat women with' and saying employees are often more productive at home 'The problem is people dont want to hear the truth, everything has to be sugar coated,' said Tina from her home in Essex. 'I think its not the next generation, its here with us now. 'If you were to ask someone what they would like to do, everybody would like to work at home. Do an hour in the morning, a nice long lunch hour and an hour in the afternoon. But we have to deal with reality. 'Business is to make money, which makes profit which the government takes, which makes the wheels go round. Profit seems to be a dirty word, but for profit you have to have productivity.' She argued that in the first few months of the pandemic Brits adopted a 'euphoric Dunkirk spirit' and productivity spiked, but says longterm impacts could be more harmful. Tina says longterm impacts of working from home could be more harmful than returning to the office, but Geeta was quick to criticise her argument, pointing out that she has successfully raised three children while running a thriving company from home 'Youre finding the mental problem is becoming more pronounced because people like the camaraderie of working,' she said. 'The buzz of working, the brainstorming, the general things that give extra output, and companies are now finding that missing and a lot of the reason companies are bowing to the pressure is the shortage of staff in certain sectors, theyre being blackmailed into it.' Viewers were quick to take to Twitter with their opinions, with several agreeing knowledge and social experiences picked up in the office is 'invaluable' - however some felt their productivity rose during the pandemic. 'Im retired now but over the years Ive made loads of friends/acquaintances being at work, when young working with all different age groups the knowledge I picked up was invaluable, the banter/camaraderie cant be replaced and no chatting to someone on Zoom is not the same', wrote one viewer. Viewers were quick to take to Twitter with their opinions, with several agreeing knowledge and social experiences picked up in the office is 'invaluable' Some viewers defended Geeta's argument and felt their productivity rose working from home during the pandemic 'Depends on the person if your doing your work as you would at work or are you taking advantage of not being supervised doesnt it?', said another. 'It works for Geeta, great, but not everyone. A young person needs tutoring, the company of colleagues, the structure of a work place. It wont work for them, which is the point of the original question, not if it works for a 40 year old whos been doing the job 20 years', a third commented. Geeta, from London, from was quick to criticise her argument, pointing out that she has successfully raised three children while running a thriving company from home. 'To me thats not just old fashioned, I think old fashioned is a very polite way of putting it. I think its quite an offensive approach', she said. 'It is yet another stick to beat women with when theyre really just trying to do the best theyre trying to do. 'Ive been working from home for 18 years because my eldest son was very ill and I had to make the money to pay the bills and look after my children, there wasnt a way to do it, it is incredibly offensive to say I work an hour a day. Tina argued that as chairman of Women into Business she is in favour of women choosing tow work from home and starting businesses remotely after they have children, adding they are 'often very successful' 'I put three kids through private school, have built a business and employ people. I get dressed in the morning and I come downstairs treat it as an office, work down here and put in eight to ten hour days as my business needs it. 'Its all very well with everyone being very wealthy, but for everyone else weve had such a hard time. Were doing the very best we can and this sort of thing is trying to make you feel bad.' Tina argued that as chairman of Women into Business she is in favour of women choosing to work from home and starting businesses remotely after they have children, adding they are 'often very successful'. 'But as their business grows and they become more successful and they start employing people and reality sets in then attitudes to change', she said. 'Its all very well saying you have expenses, its whats called life but you have to make the wheels go round. She went on to argue that many people will work longer hours at home than they would in the office, adding that the attitudes of parents towards working are often passed on to their children 'If people want to have their own business and work from home thats fine, but when you have larger business and you personally are relying on raising enough funds to pay wages, youve got to compete with other countries outside. You have to look at it from a different perspective. 'Its offensive not to tell the truth, it may offend but its certainly not offensive.' She went on to argue that many people will work longer hours at home than they would in the office, adding that the attitudes of parents towards working are often passed on to their children. 'It is setting a bad example,' she said. 'I did very quickly read this morning what a gentleman said and he used the example of unemployment benefits and how that has now set bad examples. Youve got three generations of families now who have never gone to work because its a mindset. 'I can see, hes looking at that as the way things are going. The sense of entitlement of people now days is absolutely incredible. In my day, it was a day's work for a day's pay. I dont see whats wrong in that.' Advertisement Guests attending the wedding of Prince Philippos of Greece, the godson of Princess Diana and the Duke of Edinburgh, with Nina Flohr, the daughter of a billionaire, have shared snaps of the lavish event in Athens over the weekend. The prince, 35, who is the youngest child of the last king and queen of Greece, Constantine II and Anne-Marie of Denmark, exchanged vows with Nina, daughter of Swiss businessman Thomas Flohr, for the third time. The couple first wed last December in a small civil ceremony in St Moritz, Switzerland, followed by a high society springtime celebration in Cambridgeshire. While both were intimate affairs - indeed there were just the two fathers as witnesses at the first - this third wedding at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens had all the makings of a full-blown extravaganza. Guests of the big day, which was attended by Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, shared snaps on social media, revealing a lavish wedding breakfast of golden grouper fillet and wild fennel, as well as 'late harvest tomato salad' and 'handmade ravioli'. Guests attending the wedding of Prince Philippos of Greece , the godson of Princess Diana and the Duke of Edinburgh , with Nina Flohr, the daughter of a billionaire, have shared snaps of the lavish event in Athens over the weekend The couple's third wedding at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens had all the makings of a full-blown extravaganza (pictured, Nina walking down the aisle) Guests of the big day, which was attended by Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, shared snaps on social media, including the adorable flower girls Meanwhile those attending the big day dined on handmade ravioli, late harvest tomato salad and a golden groupet fillet with wild fennel (left). The tables were decorated with huge colourful floral and fruit displays (right) Guests opted for stunning monochrome gowns for the big event, and posed for snaps on an orange carpeted tent which was decorated with fairy lights and hanging greenery The couple's wedding menu, which featured a simple design with navy writing, also showcased the couple's monograph. Meanwhile tables at the venue were decorated with colourful flowers and fruits, including pomegranates and berries. Princess Olympia of Greece also shared snaps of the flower girls online, who donned pretty cream dresses with gold sashes. The little girls also donned flower crowns crafted from yellow, white and blue flowers, and carried posies full of small white flowers. The couple tied-the-knot at the stunning Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens, with several guests sharing snaps of the gorgeous surroundings The little girls also donned flower crowns crafted from yellow, white and blue flowers, and carried posies full of small white flowers Princess Olympia of Greece walked down the aisle holding hands with the flower girls (left), and could be seen keeping the youngsters amused with a book during the ceremony (right) Guests attending the wedding were met by hoards of reporters as they exited the cathedral in the Greek capital city (pictured) The flower girls donned white gowns with gold sashes from Marie Chantal's children's brand (pictured) Later, guests shared snaps as they took to the dancefloor and boogied the night away, with large yellow floral decorations visible in the background Philippos and Nina had made the guestlist for the wedding of Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank in 2018, while Nina is also good friends with Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, Princess Beatrice's husband. Eugenie opted for a black dress designed by Peter Pilotto which featured gold button detailing, and completed the look with a Gabriela Hurst clutch, Carvela heels and sunglasses. Beatrice looked stunning in a Gucci dress which features a cream top and a black bottom, accessorised with a bow. Among the guestlist were King Constantine of Greece (Prince William's godfather) and Queen Anne-Marie of Denmark, who still use their royal titles despite the abolition of the Greek monarchy in 1973. Among the royals in attendance were Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank (left) and Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi (right) Princess Beatrice jetted out to Athens for the ceremony along with royals from around the world as they celebrated in front of adoring Greek fans Beatrice looked stunning in a Gucci dress which features a cream top and a black bottom, accessorised with a bow Eugenie was all smiles during the ceremony, the third held by the couple due to Covid restrictions as they made the most of their nuptials Eugenie opted for a black dress designed by Peter Pilotto which featured gold button detailing, and completed the look with a Gabriela Hurst clutch, Carvela heels and sunglasses Philippos and Nina had made the guestlist for the wedding of Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank in 2018, while Nina is also good friends with Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, Princess Beatrice's husband. He has four siblings, including Crown Prince Pavlos of Greece, 54, who shares five children with the jet-set socialite Marie-Chantal of Greece. Their model daughter Princess Olympia, 25, and her dashing British beau Peregrine Pearson, the wealthy heir to Cowdray Park, were also in attendance. Other Brits who made the journey include Vogue writer Alice Naylor-Leyland and her husband Tom, who hosted wedding No. 2 at their home of Stibbington House in Cambridge. Alice was named as one of Tatler's 'society swans' of 2018, while Tom is the son of Baronet Sir Philip Naylor-Leyland, part of a land-owning dynasty which controls the 17th-century Talbot hotel in Malton, North Yorkshire. Philippos, son of former King of Greece Constantine II, and his wife Nina Flohn leave Athens' Orthodox Cathedral following their wedding ceremony in Athens The lavish ceremony drew crowds of adoring fans as well as a number of royals and well-heeled guests from around the world Princess Beatrice of York poses with her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi in front of the church doors ahead of the royal wedding The adoring couple put on a loved-up display as Philippos kissed the hand of his new bride outside the Athens church in front of spectators Crowds gathered near the Orthodox Cathedral in Athens to cheer on the newlyweds as they emerged from the church after their third ceremony Princess Beatrice looked stunning in her Gucci dress as she beamed at cheering onlookers in front of the Orthodox Cathedral Eugenie and Beatrie and their husbands join Prince Ernst August of Hanover and Prince Christian of Hanover at the wedding Philippos was born in London after his family were exiled from Greece in 1967 and later studied at the Georgetown University in the US Pavlos (centre), the eldest son of Constantine II and Anne Marie, welcomes the Emeritus Queen of Spain Sophia (left) and her sister Irene (right) The prince (pictured with his mother), 35, is the youngest child of the last king and queen of Greece, Constantine II and Anne-Marie of Denmark The sisters looked glamorous in their eye-catching outfits as they travelled to Greece for the ceremony watched on by royal fans The couple first wed last December in a small civil ceremony in St Moritz, Switzerland, followed by a high society springtime celebration in Cambridgeshire Pavlos (left), Thomas Flohr (second left), Prince Constantine Alexios (centre, standing), former King Constantine II (centre, seated), Anne-Marie (right, in blue) salute the crowd Thomas Flohr, pictured walking alongside his daughter, is the Swiss founder of VistaJet, a private jet charter company The former King of Greece waves to supporters as he is supported by his grandson Prince Constantine Alexios of Greece and Denmark Beatrice's stylish Gucci dress featured an accented bow detail at the front as she carried her face mask in her hand outside the church Princess Beatrice of York and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi and Andrea Casiraghi stand outside the church during the royal wedding The couple, pictured on the eve of the wedding, are expected to be hosting a lavish celebration with a host of international royals in attendance Philippos, 35, godson of Princess Diana and the Duke of Edinburgh, married at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens. The couple's first wedding took place in December 2020 in St Moritz, pictured The couple's second low-key wedding was hosted by Vogue writer Alice Naylor- Leyland and her husband Tom at their home of Stibbington House in Cambridge, pictured Also part of their well-heeled set is magazine editor Violet Henderson and Princess Eugenie's friend Caroline Rupert. The Duke of Edinburgh's long-time carriage driving companion Lady Penelope Knatchbull is the groom's godmother and was expected to be among the guests. Philippos's well-connected family means there could be representatives from almost every European monarchy at the ceremony. Prince Philippos of Greece and Denmark and Nina Flohr smile to the crowds during their wedding ceremony in Athens Among the guestlist were King Constantine of Greece (pictured) and Queen Anne-Marie of Denmark, who still use their royal titles despite the abolition of the Greek monarchy in 1973 King Constantine and his son the Crown Prince Pavlos have no official remit, but are still active participants in royal life around Europe Princess Beatrice of York and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi stand hand in hand at the wedding of the Greek royal The couple first wed last December in a small civil ceremony in St Moritz, Switzerland, followed by a high society springtime celebration in Cambridgeshire Their third wedding at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens had all the makings of a full-blown extravaganza Irene of Greece (centre), Queen Sofia of Spain (right) and Princess Benedikte of Denmark (left) stand outside the cathedral following the ceremony Princess Beatrice of York and Alice Naylor-Leyland are seen at the Athens' Orthodox Cathedral following the wedding ceremony The New York City-based hedge fund analyst secretly married creative director for airline VistaJet Nina Nastassja Flohr for the first time last year The couple's second low-key wedding was hosted by Vogue writer Alice Naylor- Leyland and her husband Tom at their home of Stibbington House in Cambridge Beatrice holds a mobile phone up to her ear while attending the wedding in Athens Certainly there will be no shortage of potential names on the guestlist. Right at the top will be the groom's family. He has four siblings, including Crown Prince Pavlos of Greece, 54, who shares five children with the jet-set socialite Marie-Chantal of Greece (right). Their model daughter Princess Olympia (left) would surely bring some glamour to her uncle's wedding Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank, pictured in September, were rumoured to be in attendance, with Philippos and Nina making the guestlist for their royal wedding in October 2018 Other Brits expected to make the journey include Vogue writer Alice Naylor- Leyland (in pink), Princess Eugenie's friend Caroline Rupert (in blue) and magazine editor Violet Henderson (right). All are pictured at Nina's second wedding hosted by Alice in May Philippo's father Constantine II was king of Greece until he was ousted from power in a military coup in 1967 His paternal aunt Queen Sofia of Spain, mother of the current King Felipe, were due to attend, according to Hola!, as well as Princess Elena of Spain, the groom's cousin and godmother. Another godmother and the groom's maternal aunt, Princess Benedikte of Denmark, was invited, as has godfather Kyril, Prince of Preslav. Margrethe II of Denmark, is also a maternal aunt, and she could attend alongside her son Crown Prince Frederick and daughter-in-law Crown Princess Mary. Although they're not directly related, royal protocol means King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands, Crown Princess Victoria and Crown Prince Daniel of Sweden, and Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit, were also expected at the cathedral on Saturday. Philippos's godparents include King Felipe of Spain (left, with his wife Queen Letizia) and Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, right, who is also his maternal aunt Although they're not directly related, royal protocol means King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands, pictured, Crown Princess Victoria and Crown Prince Daniel of Sweden, and Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit may attend Among the notable absences were godfather and cousin King Felipe of Spain and his wife, Queen Sofia, who are otherwise engaged at the annual Asturias awards. Born in 1986 at St Mary's Hospital in London, Philippos was raised in a 13-bedroom stately house on the edge of Hampstead Heath where Princess Diana was a frequent visitor with Prince William and Prince Harry. He's known to be private and largely shuns the limelight, but he's made appearances at numerous high profile events such as the wedding of Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden in 2010 and her sister Princess Madeleine in 2013. The Georgetown University graduate now works as a hedge fund analyst in New York, while his future wife founded the nonprofit marine research facility, the Bazaruto Center for Scientific Studies (BCSS), in 2017. The couple were first married in a private ceremony in December, and were joined only by their fathers King Constantine, 80, and Thomas Flohr, 60, due to Covid-19 restrictions Nina wore a large white bow in her hair and opted to wear a smart two piece suit for the couple's first wedding She is the daughter of Swiss businessman Thomas Flohr, who founded private jet charter company VistaJet, where she also works as a creative director. King Constantine and his son the Crown Prince Pavlos have no official remit, but are still active participants in royal life around Europe. The family is closely connected with the British royals as King Constantine is second cousins with Prince Charles and Prince William's godfather. Other snaps from the weekend revealed the wedding party enjoyed an outdoor picnic in the sunshine Vogue writer Alice decorated the dining room of her home Stibbington House with white balloons and photographs of the couple's first wedding for the occasion A beautician has shared shocking images of her body covered in bruises and third degree liposuction burns after a botched Brazilian butt lift, boob job and liposuction. Sivan Himmelman, 40, from LA travelled to Tijuana in Mexico to save money on surgery with it costing her $6,400 for the three procedures. But the botched surgery left her with necrosis - the death of body tissue due to lack of blood supply and an infection leaving her unable to work for months. She now regrets going under the knife as she feels more 'insecure' about her body than she did before, and has also suffered from depression as a result of her surgery. She's now desperately searching for a surgeon in the US to fix the botched work - but can't afford it and says 'no doctors want to go near her'. Sivan Himmelman, 40, from LA travelled to Tijuana in Mexico to save money on surgery with it costing her $6,400 for the three procedures A beautician has shared shocking images of her body covered in bruises and third degree liposuction burns after a botched Brazilian butt lift, boob job and tummy tuck. She is pictured bandaged after surgery Sivan said: 'I've struggled with shame, guilt, sadness, anger and the fear of being judged by others. 'The mental and the emotional recovery has been so much greater, longer and even more painful than the physical as it is too difficult to look in the mirror. 'I was always self-conscious about my body. 'I felt that I had no curves and that my bum was too small - and I always wished I was curvy and full on the bottom. 'I was tired of feeling ashamed about my body and I wanted to feel good about myself. 'I thought that surgery can improve the areas I was insecure about - that it would boost up my confidence and give me the courage to finally live life to the fullest. The botched surgery left her with necrosis - the death of body tissue due to lack of blood supply and an infection leaving her unable to work for months. The botched surgery left her with necrosis - the death of body tissue due to lack of blood supply and an infection leaving her unable to work for months Sivan now regrets going under the knife as she feels more 'insecure' about her body than she did before, and has also suffered from depression as a result of her surgery. Pictured are the scars all over her body 'But instead, I was botched, mentally broken and left with devastating - that's not what was promised to me nor what I signed up for. 'Looking back, I wish I knew better and took more time to do the research and evaluate all possible risks, especially when having surgery abroad. 'I never thought that finally after having plastic surgery, I'd find myself working harder today to love myself.' Initially, Sivan wanted surgery to enhance her bottom but claims the surgeon offered her breast implants for a discounted price. She adds: 'I've always struggled with body image and I was very insecure. Sivan is now desperately searching for a surgeon in the US to fix the botched work - but can't afford it and says 'no doctors want to go near her'. Sivan is pictured before the ceremony. She said she's struggled with shame, guilt, sadness, anger and the fear of being judged by others 'However, I didn't mind my breasts but for an extra 1,450 I decided to get them done. 'I had my consultation on September 3, 2019 and the surgeon managed to squeeze me in on September 5. 'I didn't realise that wasn't right and went for it. 'I didn't have much fat so the surgeon performed liposuction on my stomach, back, arms, inner thighs and pelvic area to transfer the fat into my bum. 'I also had implants making me a 34DD from a C cup even though I asked for them to be smaller.' Sivan says she claims she was left with a bumpy bum. She said the mental and the emotional recovery has 'been so much greater, longer and even more painful than the physical as it is too difficult to look in the mirror' Sivan's infected stomach is pictured. She said: 'I thought that surgery can improve the areas I was insecure about - that it would boost up my confidence and give me the courage to finally live life to the fullest. A day after the surgery, Sivan removed the bandages and was horrified by what she saw. Sivan claims her body was 'black and blue' from the top of her thighs to her the top of her chest. She said: 'At this point, I was worried but I thought it may ease as the swelling goes down. But it only got worse and worse. 'They were bruises and blisters that popped open to wounds. My skin was numbing, itching and tingling then the skin began to peel off.' After 10 days in Mexico, Sivan went back to LA and was diagnosed with an infection. She was unable to work for several months and had 25 lymphatic massages to speed up the recovery. She was diagnosed with depression as a result of the surgery. She said: 'I was too weak and dizzy to make sense of everything or understand just how bad it was at first. After 10 days in Mexico, Sivan went back to LA and was diagnosed with an infection. She was unable to work for several months and had 25 lymphatic massages to speed up the recovery. Pictured is her uneven and bumpy skin A day after the surgery, Sivan removed the bandages and was horrified by what she saw. Sivan claims her body was 'black and blue' from the top of her thighs to her the top of her chest. It took two years for her body to heal (pictured) 'But when I saw the staffs reaction to my body, I realised something was not right. The bruises turned into third-degree liposuction burns. 'At one point, I was driving three hours to Mexico for them to drain the excess fluid. The surgery was not worth the headache. 'I was so miserable and desperately wanted my body to heal and look good. I fell into a dark hole and started hiding even more than I did before. 'My skin went through so many stages - I experienced dryness, rashes, itching, tingling, numbing sensations, and loss of elasticity. 'Later my skin began to discolour over and I developed keloids, internal painful scars, bumps, and necrosis. Sivan is pictured on an oxygen machine after the surgery 'It was scary and heart-breaking to look in the mirror because my stomach looked like someone had butchered it. It was like watching a horror movie - and you don't know what the end is going to look like because it continued to get worse.' Sivan opted for surgery in Mexico as it was cheaper than the quotes she received from Beverly Hills clinics. But now, she is desperately trying to find a surgeon to help her. She said: 'I was quoted $17,000 to 23,000 which was out of my budget. 'I have asked many surgeons to help me but they don't want to touch me. Perhaps it is a liability issue, I'm not sure. 'I would advise other women to not get surgery if they can't afford it and avoid the cheaper option. I am sure there are many good surgeons abroad but it's not worth the risk. 'On top of all this, there's a language barrier so I had no one to turn to. 'I want other people to know social media isn't always the reality. 'I wish I had listened to other people who said go to the gym and love what you are born in. 'The mental and emotional pain is forever there and it is very difficult to deal with.' The young Archduchess of Austria has announced she has welcomed her first child with her Belgian racing driver husband with a gushing post on Instagram. Eleonore von Habsburg, 27, whose full title is Archduchess of Austria, Royal Princess of Hungary, Bohemia and Croatia, tied the knot with Formula E racer Jerome dAmbrosio, 35, at a registry office in Monaco last July, according to Hello! magazine. She shared the news online with a black-and-white snap of her son's hand, writing: 'Welcome to the world little Otto - born 20th October 2021. 'Your parents could not be more proud of you. Our hearts are full of love.' Eleonore von Habsburg , 27, whose full title is Archduchess of Austria, Royal Princess of Hungary, Bohemia and Croatia, has welcomed her first child with Formula E racer Jerome dAmbrosio Eleonore shared the news online with a black-and-white snap of her son's hand, writing: 'Welcome to the world little Otto - born 20th October 2021' (pictured) The royal said she and her husband were 'could not be more proud' of their young son Otto, who was born last week The couple have named their first son after Eleonore's late grandfather Otto, the last Crown Prince of Austria. Born in Salzburg, the glamorous model and socialite is the daughter of Archduke Karl von Habsburg - head of the House of Habsburg-Lorraine and a leading politician - and his estranged wife, Baroness Francesca von Habsburg. This makes Eleonore the great-granddaughter of the last Emperor of Austria, Charles I of Austria, who reigned for two years until the monarchy was abolished at the end of the First World War. At its height of power, the House of Habsburg was one of the leading and most influential rulers in Europe. Eleonore and Jerome married in a lowkey ceremony last July, and appeared overjoyed as they walked into their outdoor lunch The couple were joined by a small group of family and friends for the occasion (pictured, Mayor of Monaco Georges Marsan, Henri d'Ambrosio, Giselle d'Ambrosio, Jerome d'Ambrosio, Eleonore of Habsburg, Karl of Habsburg and Francesca Thyssen-Bornemisza) The couple had planned a large church wedding but due to coronavirus restrictions, they opted for a smaller civil ceremony at a registry office. One of the great personalities of modern European history: Otto von Habsburg Born in 1912, Otto Habsburg was heir to the empire until it collapsed at the end of World War I and his family went into exile. However, after the Second World War, he emerged from the ashes of his family's crumbled empire as a champion of a united and democratic Europe, particularly during its Cold War division. Habsburg used his influence in a vain struggle to keep the Nazis from annexing Austria before World War II, then campaigned against the Soviet empire in the decades after the war. With the fall of the Berlin Wall, he used his seat in European Parliament to lobby for expanding the European Union to include former Eastern bloc nations. Advertisement Despite Eleonore's royal connections, she previously told Madonna24 how her parents have always insisted that she and her siblings stay 'grounded' and she loves shopping in high street stalwarts such as Mango, Zara and H&M. 'I am incredibly grateful to my parents for not raising us in the belief that it is normal to go to Swiss boarding school and to live in London in a chic apartment,' she told the site. Eleonore has been with dAmbrosio, since early 2017 and has close links to the racing world with her brother, Ferdinand Habsburg, a DTM driver. The eldest of three children, she attended boarding school in Gstaad, Switzerland before studying law at London's European Business School. The brainy aristo beauty speaks fluent German and English, and is reportedly proficient in French and Spanish too. And it seems fashion runs in the family as her mother, who descends from Swiss nobility, also enjoyed a brief spell as a model before pursuing a career as an art collector. It is not known whether she has pursued a career in law, however she has risen to prominence in the fashion world with high-profile campaigns for the likes of Dolce & Gabbana under her belt. She was hand-picked to star in the Italian luxury label's SS18 runway show in Milan alongside other society beauties including Lady Kitty Spencer, Lady Amelia Windsor and Maria-Olympia of Greece and Denmark. But she insists she does not have her sights set on modelling, telling Madonna24: 'It was a great experience - but the model business is definitely not my main career path.' The newlyweds appeared overjoyed as they posed for photographs at their reception venue, where they were joined by a larger group of friends and family to celebrate their nuptials The couple announced their engagement in March 2019 after two years of dating (pictured together in 2019) Eleonore is a keen jet-setter and regularly posts Instagram updates from far-flung destinations including Cambodia, Morocco and Argentina to name a few. Based in Monaco, d'Ambrosio is also a brand ambassador for Hugo Boss and Julius Baer and has previously driven in the Formula 1 Grand Prix. The couple announced their engagement in March 2019 after two years of dating. The mother of a murder suspect who stabbed his partner's ex-boyfriend in a knife frenzy after a row broke out over an iPad insists her son is a 'lovely' boy as she's interviewed on suspicion of concealing his whereabouts on 24 Hours in Police Custody. Tonight's episode of the Channel 4 show focuses on Robert Parkins, 33, who was jailed for murder after stabbing Alex Fitzpatrick, 30, originally from Cornwall, at least 17 times in St Neots, Cambridgeshire on 13 October 2019. Detectives explain how on that sunny afternoon, Alex got into a disagreement with his nine-year-old sons mother, Kelly after dropping him home after swimming. They add that when Alex refused to give her their son's glasses until he got an iPad he wanted to upload a programme to, an annoyed Robert stormed out of the semi-detached home with a kitchen knife. He left Alex bleeding to death on the doorstep after stabbing him through the heart, spinal cord and on the back of the head. Janet - the mother of murder suspect Robert Parkins - is interviewed in custody on suspicion of concealing the whereabouts of her son on tonight's episode of C4's 24 hours in police custody Robert Parkins (pictured), 33, knifed Alex Fitzpatrick, 30, at least 17 times in the neck and chest outside the home of his former partner Kelly Anderson in St Neots, Cambridgeshire After Robert fled the scene, CCTV reveals that he made his way to his parents house and then escaped to London. Detectives from Cambridgeshires Major Crime Unit decide to arrest the parents of the missing man on suspicion of assisting an offender in the hope that they will give away where he is hiding and reveal what lay behind the attack. When asked whether Robert lives at her address, a distraught Janet says: 'He has been - most of the time when I've been very ill. He's been an absolute rock and that boy is a good boy. He's a lovely, lovely son - helpful son.' Meanwhile, in a separate interview room, Robert's father, Arthur adds: 'All I know is Robert, he's phoned his mum up in a panic. 'He's told her basically the geezer's tried to push in and he's hit him with his helmet and he's lost it and Jan said "where?" He wouldn't tell us where he was. The altercation occurred after Alex (pictured) got into a disagreement with his nine-year-old sons mother, Kelly after dropping him home after swimming After Robert flees the scene, CCTV reveals that he made his way to his parents house and then escaped to London (pictured) When asked whether she knows why he didn't want to tell them that information, Janet responds: 'Well he probably didn't want to get me too involved. My sister died just yesterday.' Cameras follow each twist and turn of the operation as police grapple with the hunt to find the missing killer and officers push to see how far family loyalties can be stretched before they break. Eventually, Robert is found hiding at Janet's sister's house in London - who is none the wiser about what had previously occurred. As the line of interviewing continues, Janet says: 'What has happened, I know this is murder - it's unbelievable. It's not in his character. I want to see my son. He must be freaked out. 'If this has happened and it's murder, it has to be manslaughter or defence or something. He would not go out and hurt anybody, my son. He's just great.' Detectives from Cambridgeshires Major Crime Unit decide to arrest the parents of the missing man (pictured, father Arthur) in the hope that they will give away where he is hiding and reveal what lay behind the attack Forensic officers analyse victim Alex Fitzpatrick's clothing (pictured) And when the detective explains that taking Robert away from the scene is an offence, Janet says: 'Well I didn't realise it was such an offence helping your children who are injured, upset and running scared. I didn't know that was any type of offence. I would feel that any sort of loving mother would protect her children and try to help her children.' At the time, the court heard Robert Parkins fled the scene and discarded the knife he had used, after 'animosity' had built between himself and Alex Fitzpatrick. In September 2019, the victim had taken news of Robert moving in with Kelly and his then nine-year-old son 'badly' and had 'made his thoughts and feelings clear', the trial heard. DSI Mike Branston (pictured) briefs the Major Crime Unit about the murder Following the incident on the afternoon of Sunday October 13, Parkins ran to his sisters home and called for a lift to a property in Pymmes Brook House, London where he was later arrested by police. Janet and Arthur Parkins received a caution for assisting an offender. Parkins was jailed for life in August 2020 and was told he must serve at least 19 years. Following the verdict, senior investigating officer Detective Superintendent Michael Branston said: 'This was a brutal, frenzied and sustained attack resulting in the death of a man whose son will now grow up without his father in his life. 'Our deepest sympathies go out to Alex's family. I hope today's verdict will provide them with some assistance as they learn to live with this tragedy.' Paying tribute to their son, Mary Reading and Dave Fitzpatrick said: 'Alex was a loving and devoted father, son and brother to his eight siblings. 'He was always there for us and tried to better himself every day. 'After hearing the evidence and the injuries Alex sustained, today's result is such a relief for us all.' The Loose Women panel clashed today as they debated whether Covid-19 lockdowns should restrict unvaccinated people only. Appearing on the programme today, Coleen Nolan, Katie Piper, Jane Moore and Kelle Bryan discussed whether it was appropriated to impose restrictions on those who hadn't had the jab. While Katie claimed it would 'create a two-tier society', Jane insisted that the government 'needs to be more persuasive' to encourage the public to get vaccinated. The debate comes as it was revealed Austria is considering a Covid-19 lockdown that would only restrict unvaccinated people as virus cases continue to rise. The Loose Women panel clashed today as they debated whether Covid-19 lockdowns should restrict unvaccinated people only - with Katie Piper suggesting it would make a 'two tier society' Kicking off the discussion today, Katie insisted she thought it would be wrong, saying: 'I don't believe in discriminating against people who, for whatever reason, haven't had vaccination. 'I think it would cause more division, more isolation for a part of society who are already isolated pre-Covid and pre-pandemic. 'It worries me the precedent it would set for other treatments and other jabs where the freedom of choice might be taken away from people.' She pointed out that people who are receiving end of life care, those with learning disabilities and people with a severe allergy to all currently available vaccines would be restricted under the rule. However Jane Moore suggested the government 'needed to be more persuasive' to encourage people to get the jab She added: 'A large number of people in my life would be restricted from leaving the home or entering certain immunities. It's something I have to stand up and say I don't agree with.' Jane rebutted, saying: 'I think people who are exempt from having the vaccine wouldn't be put into lockdown because obviously, it's not their problem - they physically can't have the vaccine so they can't be discriminated against. 'What we're talking about is anti-vaxxers - those who could have the vaccine. 'I'm like you, I don't agree, I don't think we should discriminate between people but we need to be more persuasive. 'Otherwise we're just going to go into the same kind of problem round and round. I don't think any of us want to go back into lockdown again.' The panel was split over the debate, with Jane insisting that the public should be 'listening to people who are trained as doctors' Katie said she felt it would create a 'two-tier' society, but Jane continued: 'We have to be more persuasive to get people to have their vaccines and follow it up with a booster. 'When you have the medical director of NHS England and he is saying, "The freedom we now all enjoy is the willingness of patients to come forward for jabs." 'Let's listen to people who are trained as doctors.' Coleen interrupted, saying: 'People have lost trust in it. I have to say, I totally understand your point of view and of course I've had my jabs but I loath to say to people whose choice it is not to have it, to have them in a different part of society.' Meanwhile Coleen Nolan suggested people have 'lost trust' in the vaccination programme (pictured) Kelle weighed in: 'I don't think you can take peoples choice away. It's difficult if you do the right thing, if you're trying to do the right thing. Sajid Javid hints 100,000 unvaccinated NHS staff could be FIRED as he admits he is 'leaning towards' making Covid jabs compulsory for all medics Unvaccinated NHS staff are set to be told to get their Covid jabs or lose their jobs under plans being considered by the Government. Some 100,000 healthcare workers or seven per cent are still yet to show up for their first dose in England. But Health Secretary Sajid Javid said bringing in compulsory jabs was the 'clear direction of travel' despite fears staff could quit the health service at a critical time. When asked if the plans could come in this winter, Mr Javid told Sky News: 'Im leaning towards doing it.' He said those who had failed to get the jab were putting seriously ill patients in harm's way. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said forcing vaccination on medics was a mistake, warning it could exacerbate staffing shortages among doctors and nurses. The 'no jab, no job' policy is already in care homes and staff working in elderly residences must be jabbed by November 11. Care bosses have warned many homes will be forced to close because they won't be able to find enough vaccinated workers. Studies show the vaccines dramatically reduce a person's risk of being hospitalised or dying from Covid, but they are slightly less effective at stopping transmission. Advertisement 'It's a shift in mindset, not just thinking about yourself and your individual. But also thinking about how that might affect people in the community too.' Katie added: 'I'm definitely thinking about others too though, I'm thinking of people in my life and my community that aren't just exempt but don't want to have it.' She continued: 'If you say to people you're exempt, that's fine you don't have to do it, doesn't that then make a mockery of the concept? 'If those people would then make the numbers go up and spread it, even though they're exempt for legitimate reasons. 'I just think it'll get into dangerous territory where people will have to state health conditions, people will have to state private things from their past. 'You may work with someone who has an invisible disability that they were never willing to share.' And many viewers backed Katie in the argument, with one writing: 'We have to be very wary here. If we start locking people up for making a choice, it sets a very dangerous precedent.' Another wrote: 'I'm double vaccinated but would vigorously protest the right of people who do not want it. We live in a society where there should be freedom of choice without discrimination.' It comes after Chancellor Alexander Schallenberg announced the news late on Friday during a meeting with state-level leaders to discuss a national response to increasing infection numbers. 'The pandemic is not yet in the rearview mirror,' Schallenberg said. 'We are about to stumble into a pandemic of the unvaccinated.' Schallenberg announced that if the number of Covid patients in intensive-care units reaches 500, or 25 percent of the country's total ICU capacity, entrance into businesses such as restaurants and hotels will be limited to those who are vaccinated or recovered from the virus. If the number reaches 600, or one-third of total ICU capacity, the government plans to impose restrictions on unvaccinated people. In this case, they would only be allowed to leave their homes for specific reasons. Currently, the number of COVID patients in ICUs stands at 220. In the past week, Austria has reported 20,408 new cases of the virus, according to health authorities, bringing the 7-day average to 228.5 per 100,000 inhabitants. A week earlier, that figure was at 152.5 per 100,000 inhabitants. Although Austria's government has encouraged citizens to get vaccinated, the effort has slowed in recent months. Some 65.4 per cent of the total population has received one dose of the vaccine, and 62.2 per cent are fully vaccinated. The Belgian royal family has released a new portrait to mark Princess Elisabeth's 20th birthday. Elisabeth, the eldest daughter of King Philippe and Queen Mathilde and who is heir to the Belgian throne, is currently studying a three-year degree in history and politics at Oxford University. The princess completed her secondary education at UWC Atlantic College in South Wales - based at a 12th-century castle and dubbed the 'Hippie Hogwarts' - where she boarded for 18 months. In the portrait, shared by the Belgian household today, Elisabeth smiles away from the camera, while dressed in a stylish check blazer, blue jumper and white shirt. The Belgian royal family has released a new portrait to mark Princess Elisabeth's 20th birthday (pictured) She completed her look with elegant hooped earrings, while keeping her hair down and curly. The photo was shared to the royal family's Instagram account with the caption: 'Princess Elisabeth turns 20 today. Thank you for your birthday wishes.' The new image is an unreleased photo from a collection of pictures published by the Belgian Royal Palace to celebrate Elisabeth, Duchess of Brabant, starting at Oxford. Elisabeth, the eldest daughter of King Philippe and Queen Mathilde and who is heir to the Belgian throne, is currently studying a three-year degree in history and politics at Oxford University (pictured) Released at the beginning of this month, the photos were taken on 27 September at the university by Bas Bogaerts. The Belgian royals announced the news that the princess would be attending the prestigious university's Lincoln College in a statement on its Instagram page last month, adding that Elisabeth will 'regularly return to Belgium and remain involved in Belgian public life' while she studies in the UK. The post was accompanied by a photo of Elisabeth, dressed casually in jeans, a white shirt and a fawn jacket, smiling with her eyes looking away from the camera. According to Belgian newspaper Le Soir, the princess completed a written entrance exam in history 'anonymously' so that her social status would not affect her marks. Princess Elisabeth, pictured last month, appeared like any other student as she began her degree in history and politics at Oxford University The Belgian royals shared a series of photographs taken in September of the royal exploring the city and campus after she arrived in the UK (left, going punting with friends, and right in the library) Elisabeth is believed to have chosen the course herself, in agreement with her parents, and reportedly consulted with alumni from various universities and made her decision based on what would be most useful to her in her role as queen later in life. The princess completed her secondary education at UWC Atlantic College in South Wales - based at a 12th-century castle and dubbed the 'Hippie Hogwarts' - where she boarded for 18 months. She then headed home to Brussels in March ahead of the government lockdown, which she spent with her parents and siblings Prince Gabriel, 17, Prince Emmanuel, 15, and Princess Eleonore, 13. She then enrolled at the Royal Military Academy - where her father studied for three years as a teenager - in September 2020. The princess, who received her International Baccalaureate Diploma last summer, completed a one-year course in social and military sciences. The course is said to teach in-depth about the four components of Belgian defence; Army, Air Force, Navy and Medical. King Philippe, 60, spent three years at the esteemed institution between 1978 to 1981. The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall will take their first major overseas tour since the pandemic began with a trip to the Middle East. Clarence House said Prince Charles, 72, and Camilla, 74, have been asked by the British government to visit Jordan and Egypt and will tour the countries from November 16 to 19. Tours are a significant part of the royal calendar and allow the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to use their legendary 'soft power', opening doors not normally available to diplomats and politicians. But the royal family have had their wings clipped as a result of the Covid pandemic and this will be the first royal overseas tour for almost two years. The prince and duchess are both double jabbed and will likely have had their boosters by the time the trip takes place. As the Queen no longer travels abroad, any trip by Charles is akin to a state visit and treated with huge significance. The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall will take their first major overseas tour since the pandemic began with a trip to the Middle East. Pictured in Jordan in 2013. Clarence House shared the news with a number of throwback images Clarence House said Prince Charles, 72, and Camilla, 74, have been asked by the British government to visit Jordan and Egypt and will tour the countries from November 16 to 19. Pictured, the royal couple in Egypt in 2006 Chris Fitzgerald, deputy private secretary to the prince, said climate change would be one of the main themes of the visit, and other issues would include inter-faith dialogue, female empowerment and efforts to preserve cultural heritage. Mr Fitzgerald said: 'The first royal tour in almost two years will come at a significant moment in the UK's relationship with both countries. 'Their royal highnesses will first travel to Jordan, where they will celebrate both Jordan's own centenary and 100 years of the UK-Jordan bilateral relationship. 'Their royal highnesses' visit to Egypt comes as the UK holds the Cop presidency and Egypt has been nominated to assume the Cop27 presidency in 2022. 'In this decisive decade for climate action, the next 12 months is therefore expected to see a significant co-operation between the UK and Egypt. Indeed, both visits will have a major focus on addressing the climate crisis.' The royal family have close ties with many of the ruling families of the Middle East including Jordan. Chris Fitzgerald, deputy private secretary to the prince, said climate change would be one of the main themes of the visit, and other issues would include inter-faith dialogue, female empowerment and efforts to preserve cultural heritage. Pictured, the royal couple in Egypt in 2006 The Duchess of Cambridge 'loved' living in Jordan as a young child, according to her husband, the Duke of Cambridge, after her father Michael, then a British Airways manager, moved to the capital of Amman in 1984 for work and took his family. Charles and Camilla will begin their four-day visit in Jordan, with the prince meeting humanitarian groups he supports as patron, including the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the International Rescue Committee, and he will highlight the nation's role in sheltering 650,000 registered Syrian refugees and more than two million Palestinians. Camilla will learn about the work of Queen Rania, wife of the ruling King Abdullah II, in protecting vulnerable children and mothers, and will take part in a Women of the World event, promoting the empowerment of women. Jordan's royal family has been rattled after two confidants of the king's half-brother Prince Hamzah were sentenced to 15 years over an alleged plot against the Western-allied monarchy. Mr Fitzgerald said: 'The first royal tour in almost two years will come at a significant moment in the UK's relationship with both countries.' Pictured, the royal couple in Jordan in 2013 Bassem Awadallah, who once served as a senior aide to the king, and Sharif Hassan bin Zaid, a member of the royal family, were alleged to have conspired with Prince Hamzah and were found guilty in July of sedition and incitement. The status of Prince Hamzah, who was put under house arrest, is not known. In Egypt, tour highlights include a UK-Egypt reception celebrating the bond between the two counties, which will be staged overlooking the pyramids at the Giza Plateau. The royal couple will also tour the ancient city of Alexandria. Charles and Camilla are due to visit Cairo's Grand Imam of Al-Azhar for discussions with the religious leader and young scholars about religious tolerance and the role of faith in stewarding the environment. The prince and his wife last visited Egypt in 2006, while Charles toured Jordan in 2015 and Camilla visited in 2013. Advertisement Spanx founder Sara Blakely celebrated her company's $1.2 billion valuation last week by sharing her good fortune by giving all of her 500+ employees first-class plane tickets and $10,000 spending money. On Thursday, CNN reported that investment management company Blackstone had purchased a majority stake in Spanx, with the company reportedly valued at a whopping $1.2 billion. Blakely, 50, announced the sale to her employees with a party, where she shocked the room by announcing that she was gifting everyone with two first-class Delta flights to anywhere in the world, plus an additional $10,000 cash. Blakely who built her way up to billionaire business status from humble beginnings selling fax machines watched on as her staff erupted in cheers, applause, and even some happy tears. Spreading the wealth! Spanx founder Sara Blakely celebrated her company's $1.2 billion valuation last week by sharing her good fortune with her 500+ employees Blackstone announced the deal on Wednesday, writing in a press release that it has 'agreed to buy a majority stake in the company at a valuation of $1.2 billion,' but that Blakely still maintains 'a significant equity stake in the business.' Though the investment business didn't share just how much it paid, CNN reports that it's eight figures, meaning a massive payday for Blakely. But while plenty of CEOs kept those payouts for themselves, Blakely rewarded the employees who have helped get Spanx to where it is. At a party last week, Blakely stood before her champagne-holding employees in a room decorated with balloons. 'When I started the company in Virginia Highlands on a white board in my room, I wrote a goal down. And I said this company will one day be worth $10 million,' she told them, pausing as she got choked up. 'And everybody laughed at me.' Wow! She announced to staff last week that investment management company Blackstone purchased a majority stake in Spanx, with the company valued at a whopping $1.2 billion So generous! She told them that every employee was getting two first-class plane tickets to anywhere int he world But wait, there's more! She also threw in an additional $10,000 in spending money Having far surpassed that goal, Blakely stood next to a globe sitting on a table. 'Why am I spinning the globe?' she asked the room. 'I was spinning the globe because to celebrate this moment, I have bought each one of you two first-class tickets to anywhere in the world,' she said. The whole room immediately erupted in cheers and screams. In video shared on Instagram, employees holding glasses of champagne can be seen clapping, cheering, and in some cases, crying. But Blakely wasn't finished, and as the cheers died down, she spoke back up. 'You know,' she continued, 'if you go on a trip you might want to go out to a really nice dinner, you might want to go out to a really nice hotel, and so with everybodys two first-class tickets to anywhere in the world, you are each getting $10,000.' The room was filled with more screams, cheers, and giddy laugher. More women began crying, while others shook, gasped, and stood in shock with their hands on their mouths. Thrilling! The whole room immediately erupted in cheers and screams Emotional: In video shared on Instagram, employees holding glasses of champagne can be seen clapping, cheering, and in some cases, crying The room was filled with more screams, cheers, and giddy laugher after everyone learned there would be cash, too Pumped! More women began crying, while others shook, gasped, and stood in shock with their hands on their mouths Later, several of the employees were asked where they plan to go on their luxurious getaways, with several naming places like Japan, Croatia, South Africa, and even Antarctica. 'I'm going to go on my honeymoon with my fiance, and we're going to Bora Bora!' said one woman. 'I'm gonna fly to Sweden and elope with my girlfriend,' said a man. One woman who had been crying with joy earlier jumped up and down and said she is going to South Africa. On Instagram, Blakely said that 'it was an emotional announcement filled with happy tears acknowledging how far weve come,' admitting the 'tears really started to flow when' when she surprised everyone with the gift. 'I really want every employee to celebrate this moment in their own way and create a memory that will last them a lifetime!' she continued. 'Cheers to 21 years of magic and many more to come.' Blakely has certainly come a long way herself, having spent years trying her hand at a number of other careers before launching Spanx in 2000 with just $5,000 in savings. On Instagram, Blakely said that 'it was an emotional announcement filled with happy tears acknowledging how far weve come' She admitted the 'tears really started to flow when' when she surprised everyone with the gift Several of the employees were asked where they plan to go on their luxurious getaways, with several naming places like Japan, Croatia, South Africa, and even Antarctica In fact, she failed at her first career choice, 'bombing' the LSAT twice and giving up on her desire to become a lawyer. 'When I realized that law school wasnt a real possibility for me, I drove to Disney World and tried out to be Goofy,' the Florida State graduate told Glamour in 2019. That didn't work out, either: 'Unfortunately, you have to be 5'8" to play Goofy, and Im only 5'6". So I got the part of one of the chipmunks instead. 'I worked at Disney for three months and put people on rides at Epcot. I was never actually the chipmunk; I left Disney before I got the chance.' Her next job was selling Danka fax machines door-to-door in Clearwater, Florida, while doing stand-up comedy at night. Though she was great at sales, she didn't love what she was doing. 'I woke up one day and thought, "Im in the wrong movie, call the director! What happened? This is not my life,"' she told New York magazine in 2016. 'So I wrote down on a piece of paper the things that I was good at, and one of them was sales. 'I just started thinking about that, and I ended up writing down in my journal, "I want to invent a product that I can sell to millions of people that will make them feel good."' Flashback: Blakely has certainly come a long way herself, starting her career selling fax machines door-to-door The idea came to her while considering a pair of cream-colored slacks she owned. She'd never worn them because she didn't have undergarments that worked Blakely previously shared a photo from 2000 when the 'packing and shipping' was the family room in her apartment, with all packages shipped from her home The idea came to her while considering a pair of cream-colored slacks she owned. She'd never worn them because she didn't have undergarments that worked. Determined to wear them, she cut off the feet of a pair of control-top pantyhose and wore them under the pants. While the idea worked to a degree, with Sara recalling to Inc.com that she 'looked fabulous' and 'felt great' as a result of her DIY shapewear, the pantyhose were not a perfect solution and 'rolled up her legs all night'. So, the businesswoman decided to fill what she saw as a serious gap in the undergarment market with her own design that would offer all of the benefits of control-top pantyhose with none of the discomfort and irritation. However, Sara would go on to face more obstacles from naysaying men. 'When I started my company, Id reach out to hosiery mills which were all run by men asking them to manufacture Spanx,' she told Glamour. 'They would always say, And you are? And I would say, Sara Blakely. And theyd say, And youre with? And Id say, Sara Blakely. And then theyd say, Youre financially backed by? And Id say, Sara Blakely.' 'Some of them would just escort me out and say, Were not interested,"' she recalled. 'I didnt realize that selling fax machines door-to-door was really laying the groundwork for me to be able to be an inventor and create a product that had never been done before and bring it to market, because doing something like that requires hearing the word "no" a lot,'' she said. She famously got Neiman Marcus to stock Spanx in seven stores by modeling a pair of white pants for a buyer in the bathroom before and after Spanx The business quickly grew from there, being featured on Oprah and becoming a QVC best seller 'Never underestimate what you can do if you truly care the most,' she advised followers on Instagram this week 'The cold-calling to sell fax machines was an amazing training ground for hearing "no." I just learned that theres a formula, you have to go through a certain number of "nos" to get to a "yes," so dont let it discourage you.' She finally found a manufacturer, who told her that his three daughters all loved the idea. The early days were incredibly hands-on. Blakely previously shared a photo from 2000 when the 'packing and shipping' was the family room in her apartment, with all packages shipped from her home. 'Middle of the night, wine was needed. Wake up, sell fax machines all day, come home, pack and ship all night, repeat,'' she recalled. She famously got Neiman Marcus to stock Spanx in seven stores by modeling a pair of white pants for a buyer in the bathroom before and after Spanx. The business quickly grew from there, being featured on Oprah and becoming a QVC best seller. 'Never underestimate what you can do if you truly care the most,' she advised followers on Instagram this week. 'It wasnt what I knew (zero background in business), it wasnt who I knew (no one in the industry) it was because I cared the most that gave me the courage to launch the company. Thirty years of marriage is a cause for celebration in anyone's book. But when your relationship started on a television dating show, that surely takes it into a totally different league. After all, while they may be ratings hits, no one expects the myriad relationships forged on shows such as Love Island and Married At First Sight to last longer than five minutes. Indeed, it would be fair to say that the quicker the relationships fall apart, the more entertaining we find it all. The make-ups and break-ups, the jealous spats, the tears and tantrums are all grist to the mill. So no wonder Sue Tatham, 55, and her husband, Alex, 56, are feeling decidedly blessed still to be together and blissfully happy after celebrating their 30th wedding anniversary on October 19 with their children Emily, 27, and Charlie, 25. When Alex then an ebullient 23-year-old accountant picked the shy but smiley 22-year-old Sue on ITV's iconic dating show Blind Date in 1988, no one could have anticipated they would forge a life-long relationship, least of all the couple themselves. Without Blind Date which was presented by the late Cilla Black and, in its heyday, attracted 18.2 million viewers every Saturday night there is no way on earth they would have met. Sue Tatham, 55, and her husband, Alex (pictured), 56, were blessed to celebrate their 30th wedding anniversary on October 19 with their children Emily, 27, and Charlie, 25 To say they moved in different social circles is an understatement. Alex had been educated at Eton and then Durham University. His family featured regularly in society bible Tatler, with one report covering Alex's 21st birthday party at their home in Fulham, West London. Stalwartly middle class, Sue is the product of a comprehensive in the West Midlands and left school at 18 to work in a DHSS office. But if the show's producers were hoping for comedic mileage out of a culture clash between the pair perhaps even some fireworks then they were disappointed. Alex and Sue made TV history as the first Blind Date couple to get married. Cilla Black was the guest of honour at their wedding in October 1991, turning up in a hat so magnificent it had a starring role of its own. Here they are at their gorgeous home in London celebrating a milestone anniversary and looking every bit as smiley and excited about life as when that famous curtain swept back 33 years ago. So what is their secret? How have they built such a successful marriage when virtually every other couple brought together on a dating show (there were only two other Blind Date marriages over 18 series) has fared so badly? 'I definitely wasn't looking for a husband,' Sue, a former teacher who now 'manages life', admits candidly. 'I just went on the show for a bit of fun. It was the biggest TV programme of its day. Everyone wanted to be part of it.' Alex agrees. 'I've always been a show-off,' he smiles. 'I was looking for a laugh not a wife.' Without Blind Date which was presented by the late Cilla Black and, in its heyday, attracted 18.2 million viewers every Saturday night there is no way on earth they would have met In fact, so blase was Alex, who was doing the 'picking', he confesses he actually went 'eenie, meenie, minie mo' in his head before plumping for Sue, who was sitting in the middle between her brunette rivals Lyn from Middlesex and Kate from Essex. And yet talking to this enchanting couple, it's clear that whatever their intentions and those of the TV producers, they have found the secret of a successful relationship. 'We have each other's backs,' says Sue. 'Whatever life throws at us, we are there for each other. If we're at a party, Alex will always have an eye on me, checking I'm OK. 'We may come from different backgrounds, but we have similar values. We both hate arguments and make it a priority to have a friendly atmosphere. Family comes first, always. 'Most of all, we want to have fun. We love trying new experiences together. And, believe it or not, I still get goosebumps when Alex walks into a room.' And it all started the moment the curtain rolled back . . . and had very little to do with looks. 'My only dread was that Alex would be short,' admits Sue who at 5 ft 6 in was so concerned she would end up with a height-challenged man she borrowed a friend's flat shoes for the night. When the mop-haired Alex an impressive 6 ft 2 in appeared, Sue instantly relaxed. Alex, meanwhile, was struck by bubbly blonde Sue's huge smile. But it was as they left the set, hand in hand, all set for a date in Ireland, that their future was set. 'Alex whispered to me: 'This is going to be an extraordinary experience which we will talk about for the rest of our lives. Whatever comes of it, let's make sure we always stay friends,' ' recalls Sue. 'It summed up exactly how I felt. Knowing that Alex valued kindness as much as I did made me warm to him immediately. So many of the Blind Date couples bitched about one another afterwards.' They did indeed. And cynics might suggest that this is exactly what TV producers were anticipating when they 'matched' Old Etonian Alex with the somewhat more humble Sue Middleton. 'I've never seen myself as a posh boy and I still don't,' says Alex stoutly. 'A class divide may exist in other people's eyes but it doesn't in mine. All I know is that the team were very keen to have me and Sue on the same show. 'I had accountancy exams, which meant I had to alter the date I could appear. They changed Sue's appearance to fit in.' When Alex picked Sue (pictured with Emily, four and Charlie, two in 1998) on ITV's dating show Blind Date in 1988, no one could have anticipated they would forge a life-long relationship Whether TV producers sensed grounds for love or loathing, Alex and Sue's relationship took off like a rocket. Their date was to fly to Shannon for a medieval banquet. On the plane over, they chatted non-stop, rapidly discovering how similar they were. Even their birthdays are just two days apart. But there was certainly no opportunity for anything intimate, in contrast with contemporary reality shows such as Love Island where these things are seemingly encouraged. 'We were heavily chaperoned and our hotels were five miles apart,' recalls Alex. 'It was almost Covid-style social distancing conditions. Although the TV researchers with us were delighted we were getting on, they didn't want any hanky-panky.' Sue hastily agrees. 'It couldn't have been more different from today's dating shows,' she says. 'When Alex isn't around to disapprove, I like watching Married At First Sight, which I find utterly addictive. 'When I went on Blind Date I was a real party girl, eager to have fun, so I may well have been tempted to appear on something like Love Island with all that sunshine and nice men. 'But thank heavens I lived in an age when TV wasn't so intrusive and couples weren't encouraged to hate each other. 'I would be very worried if either of our children wanted to go on a dating show. It's not just the tackiness. It's all the potential for trolling. Life was so much gentler 30 years ago.' Alex and Sue recall how they managed to escape the cameras soon after they had flown back from Ireland. 'I took Sue to London Zoo because, thanks to my degree in zoology, I could take her behind the scenes at the Chimp House,' Alex says. 'I took her out to dinner that evening and that's when we kissed for the first time.' Although the couple lived 120 miles apart, their relationship developed at whirlwind speed. Just three weeks after meeting, Sue who still lived at the family home introduced Alex to her parents, Barrie, a headmaster, and Barbara, a civil servant. Alex and Sue made TV history as the first Blind Date couple to get married. Cilla Black was the guest of honour at their wedding (pictured) in October 1991 'It was a big moment,' she says. 'I'd had boyfriends before, but I already knew this was serious. 'Alex is such a charmer and wanted to get himself remembered. He turned up with some fluffy slippers in the shape of ladybirds. They were a total icebreaker. My parents roared with laughter. It cemented the jolliness.' Meanwhile, Alex's parents, David, a trademark agent, and Jenefer, an interior designer, hadn't even heard of Blind Date, let alone watched the show. They weren't just baffled but worried when he announced that he had fallen in love with his date. 'But then they met Sue and all their worries evaporated,' says Alex. 'They could see how great we are together.' They courted for three years spending every weekend together either in London or Walsall before getting married at Sue's parish church in Pelsall on October 19, 1991. 'When you long to see someone again the second you've said goodbye, you know it's real,' says Sue. So bound up in their romance was the nation that 5,000 strangers turned up outside the church to cheer them on, while the televised Blind Date wedding special was 1991's second most watched programme, with 17 million viewers. 'Even so, it was very much our wedding us saying our vows,' insists Sue. 'Cilla was just a lovely guest who happened to wear a funny hat and everyone wanted to see her.' Six weeks before the wedding, Sue's recruitment company transferred her to London, where the newlyweds were to set up home in a two-bedroom terrace house in the capital's South-West. 'We had a traditional courtship and a traditional wedding, and we didn't live together before we were married,' says Alex. 'Our honeymoon in Mauritius was when we really first spent any length of time together.' After retraining as a Montessori teacher, Sue worked while bringing up their children Emily, who was born in 1994, and her little brother, Charlie who arrived two years later. Meanwhile, Alex moved into the computer industry and is now managing director of Westcoast, a leading supplier of IT products. How have they built such a successful marriage when there were only two other Blind Date marriages over 18 series? Pictured: Alex and Sue with children Emily and Charlie This is a couple who are determined to make light of everything life throws at them and appreciate that they are lucky to have privileges many would envy. Alex has had a stellar career, and both their children went to top private schools: Charlie to Eton and Emily to Downe House in Berkshire. Home for the past 20 years has been an imposing double-fronted house built in 1879 in a smart area of South London. 'I know we're incredibly lucky,' says Sue. 'We have two fabulous children whom we adore. Emily graduated from Warwick and works in social media. Charlie studied at St Andrews and is now a software developer. We have a family Zoom every Sunday.' But, however determinedly cheery, no couple can avoid pain altogether. And the past few years have been decidedly testing. Two years ago, in July 2019, Alex's father, David, died very suddenly. He was 82. 'Dad went into hospital for an operation and never woke up,' says Alex. 'It was very traumatic, but I felt incredibly lucky to have Sue beside me. It crystalised all that matters in my life. My job is to look after Mum, Sue and my sister. 'Then, in January of this year, it was Alex's turn to comfort Sue after her dad died, also aged 82.' Sue explains: 'Dad had Parkinson's disease for the last few years of his life, which was really horrid. The awful thing was that, because of Covid, we weren't able to see him at the end, which made it even harder. I miss him every day.' But, whatever their private sorrows, this happiest of couples are determined to treasure everything they have. 'If there's a secret at all it's that we still love one another like crazy and get that little frisson of excitement when we see each other,' says Alex. 'We have one of those doorbells where you can see who's on the doorstep. It's plugged up to my phone. So quite often Sue will be going into the house, I will be at work, and I'll surprise her by calling out: 'Hello, I love you.' ' 'Life's never boring with Alex around,' says Sue fondly. 'I've loved every minute of the past 30 years with him. 'I don't think anyone would seriously recommend going on a dating show to find a husband, but it's definitely worked out for us. 'Without Blind Date, we simply would never have met. We're enormously lucky.' Pregnant women could be denied the care they need if Covid cases continue to surge, Britain's top gynecologist has warned. Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists president Edward Morris warned that maternity staff are facing 'immense pressure'. He argued the pandemic was 'far from over' and said maternity wards could soon be unable to 'deliver the care' needed, if infections continue to rise. Dr Morris's warnings come after Covid hospitalisations have breached 1,000 for the first time in six weeks. But cases yesterday were down on the week before, in a ray of hope that the worst of the current outbreak may have passed. Maternity wards could become once again overwhelmed with Covid pressures if cases continue to rise , leaving women and girls denied the care they need. Britain's top gynecologist has warned Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists president Edward Morris warned that maternity staff are facing 'immense pressure' The Government has insisted it is not the tight time to resort to the 'Plan B' winter strategy, with the figures 'fully in line' with what was expected. 'Plan B' would see measures such as face masks indoors, Covid passports, and WFH reintroduced. Health bosses have already called on the Government to enact 'Plan B' measures, with fears the NHS is heading for a winter crisis, with both Covid and flu in circulation and a record high back-log of cancelled operations to catch-up on. Now Dr Morris has become the latest high profile voice to raise the alarm about the impact of rising Covid cases. He told the Guardian that the college was concerned about situation maternity staff could face this winter. 'The Covid pandemic is far from over and were becoming increasingly concerned about the immense pressures facing our maternity staff this winter if the situation continues as it is,' he said. 'Were also aware of the many women and girls who are suffering with gynaecological conditions that are currently on extensive waiting lists with no end in sight. 'With the number of Covid cases rising once more, the NHS could soon be in a situation where it is unable to deliver the care it needs to or deal with the huge backlog that has already built up.' More than 1.5million NHS operations were cancelled or delayed in England in 2020, with this expected to balloon to over 2million by the end of this year, according to a report published in July. Dr Morris said that maternity staff, who were redeployed to help other parts of the NHS during the first Covid wave, must be allowed to continue their specialist work this winter. 'We know during the first wave of the pandemic, maternity staff were redeployed to different areas of the hospital,' he added. 'We would urge NHS trusts and boards to avoid this at all costs.' It comes as a record 325,000 people got their booster jab in a single day, while more than 800,000 people over three days had a third jab as queues again formed at centres across the country Virus left me in a coma for month Unjabbed mother-to-be Claire Bromley, 33, spent almost a month in hospital with Covid and said the risk 'far outweighs any doubts' about the vaccine. She was admitted to hospital in Kent with breathing difficulties a few days after testing positive and was put on a ventilator in a medically induced coma. Medics feared she might need an emergency C-section at just 26 weeks. But her condition improved and her pregnancy is proceeding normally. She said: 'I can honestly say the risk of not having the vaccine far outweighs any doubts about having it.' Claire Bromley, 33, from Kent, in hospital after she contracted coronavirus while pregnant Advertisement In addition to Dr Morris, other NHS heads have urged the Government to enact 'Plan B' restrictions now to avoid putting NHS care in jeopardy later. Dr Chaand Nagpaul, of the British Medical Association, said the refusal to implement Plan B measures amounted to 'wilful negligence'. Matthew Taylor, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, which represents health trusts, said it was 'better to act now, rather than regret it later'. The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists is currently urging pregnant women to get the Covid and flu vaccines to help protect themselves and their babies this winter. Flu can be very serious for a small number of pregnant women and their babies, occasionally leading to stillbirth, maternal death and miscarriage. The colleges warn it is possible to be infected with flu and Covid at the same time and this could make pregnant women seriously ill. Despite claims by antivaxxers, data show there has been no subsequent damage to mothers or children from the vaccines. The plea came after it emerged earlier this month that unvaccinated women make up nearly a fifth of the most ill Covid patients in intensive care. NHS England said 17 per cent of Covid patients receiving treatment through a special lung-bypass machine were unvaccinated expectant mothers. Data also showed pregnant women accounted for 32 per cent of all women aged between 16 and 49 in ICU on the machine used when a patient's lungs are so damaged by Covid that ventilators do not work. NHS England said this figure has risen from six per cent at the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020. Even without full winter Covid pressures, maternity units in England were rocked by claims that staff-on-staff bullying was putting babies' health at risk. A report from the health-watchdog the Care Quality Commission (CQC), published last month found that four in ten maternity units are failing to meet basic safety standards. The CQC warned that a culture of bullying was creating a hostile working environment in some hospitals, with 41 per cent of maternity services rated as either inadequate or requiring improvement. The report based on nine inspections of hospitals from March to June, highlighted a culture of cover-ups when things went wrong. It found that pregnant women are still being let down by the NHS despite pressure to reform following a series of high-profile scandals, including at Shrewsbury and Telford Hospitals. Scientists are working to create a vaccine that could combat of all types of coronaviruses in an effort to potentially prevent the next pandemic. The La Jolla Institute for Immunology, in San Diego, California, has received a $2.6 million grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases to work on their ambitious project to potentially prevent future pandemics. Researchers believe they could build on the research and development used to create the current crop of COVID-19 vaccines to prevent other similar viruses. Their goal is to identify parts of the structure of the virus that are unlikely to mutate as the virus changes, and target those parts in particular. Researchers in San Diego have received a grant from NIAID to work on a vaccine that could be effective on all present and future forms of coronavirus. On top of Covid, it would also be effective against MERS and SARS. Pictured: COVID-19 cells captured in a microscope Dr Erica Ollmann Saphire (pictured), president of the La Jolla Institute, said that her team hopes their research could prevent the need to constantly launch new vaccines for different viruses 'Rather than having to constantly launch new vaccines ... we need a single vaccine that's going to protect against SARS-CoV-2 variants and whatever coronavirus emerges next,' Dr Erica Ollmann Saphire, president of the La Jolla Institute, said in a statement. Her team is partnering with scientists in Boston from Harvard University, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital. Researchers have developed a model of Covid spike proteins called 'VFLIP', which can be used to get a more accurate look at the structure of virus cells. The more accurate look can help the researchers develop stronger, more effective, antibodies. 'The stability of VFLIP, its robust production and its ability to elicit a potent, long-lasting antibody response capable of neutralizing the infectivity of different variants of [Covid] make this immunogen an excellent tool for the design of novel pan-coronavirus vaccines,' said Dr Eduardo Olmedillas, who is leading the research at La Jolla, said in a statement. 'The biophysical characteristics of VFLIP allow its further study in vaccine platforms such mRNA and nanoparticle-based vaccines, which broadens the possibilities of designing more broad and potent pan-coronavirus vaccines.' While the term 'coronavirus' was not familiar to the average person until late 2019, when the virus that eventually started a global pandemic first appeared in China, it refers to an entire family of viruses that have been known since the 1960s. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are seven known types of coronavirus. The most well known coronavirus before COVID-19 was severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), a virus that originated in China and quickly spread across the world, causing an epidemic in 2003. There has not been a single recorded incident of transmission of SARS since 2004. Other notable coronaviruses include the Middle East respiratory syndrome, or 'MERS', or the 'camel virus' as it has been dubbed. The COVID-19 vaccine is the first coronavirus vaccine to become available to the public. Around two-thirds of Americans have received at least one shot of the vaccine The virus was first detected in Saudi Arabia in 2012, and is believed to have originated in neighboring Jordan While transmission of the virus is rare, it is incredibly deadly killing around three or four out of every 10 patients infected. Neither of those viruses have a vaccine yet, though their relatively low levels of transmission means there was not as many resources invested into development of shots for them. The COVID-19 vaccine is the first coronavirus vaccine, making it a base for development of jabs for similar viruses. A new version of the coronavirus that can cause problems for humans erupt around every 10 years. While COVID-19 is the most destructive so far, the future could hold even stronger, more infectious, versions of coronavirus. Researchers hope they can develop a shot that can 'ward off' the future pandemics by inoculating humans to viruses that do not even exist yet. Catching Covid is more likely to cause a rare neurological complication than having any vaccine, according to a study. Scientists found 38 people out of every 10million given AstraZeneca's jab developed GuillainBarre syndrome, which can cause paralysis and leave patients in agony. But people were nearly four times more likely to develop GBS from getting infected, with the complication occurring in 145 per 10million cases. No risk of the developing the condition was found among recipients of Pfizer's jab. GuillainBarre syndrome is generally caused by a viral infection, though it has been linked to vaccinations as well. AstraZeneca already lists GBS as a potential, but very rare, side effect. The disorder, caused by the immune system going into overdrive and the body attacking its own nerves, is rare. Figures suggest it affects about one in 100,000 per year in the UK and US. Common symptoms of the rare condition include weakness and tingling in the limbs. As patients' conditions worsen, this can lead to parts of the body or in some cases the whole body being paralysed. Researchers have found while there was a risk of developing GuillainBarre syndrome, a neurological condition causing numbness, weakness and pain in the extremities, people were four time likelier to get the condition if they caught Covid itself. Oxford University researchers who uncovered the link also reported an increased risk of haemorrhagic stroke, caused by a brain bleed, in people given Pfizer's vaccine (60 extra cases per 10 million people). Publishing their findings in Nature, the researchers drew their conclusions from data from 32million patients in England and 3million in Scotland. The increased risk of stroke in Pfizer vaccine recipients was not seen in the Scottish data, prompting the authors to say further trials were needed. Independent experts have also urged caution on this part of study, saying it has not been replicated in other data sets and there may be problems in the methodology. The researchers are from the same university which developed the Oxford-AstraZeneca jab, though different scientists were involved. WHAT IS GUILLAIN-BARRE SYNDROME? Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) occurs when the body's immune system attacks its nervous system. It affects around one in 100,000 people in the UK and US. Symptoms usually start with a tingling sensation in the leg, which may spread to the arms and upper body. In severe cases, the person can become paralysed. The condition can be life-threatening if it affects a person's breathing, blood pressure or heart rate. GBS' cause is unknown, but it usually occurs after a viral infection. The NHS states campylobacter infections have been known to trigger GBS. There is no cure. Treatment focuses on restoring the nervous system. Source: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Advertisement Study co-author Professor Julia Hippisley-Cox said the research would help medics diagnose and treat the rare incidence of Covid vaccine complications. 'Whilst there are some increased risks of very rare neurological complications associated with the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine, these are much smaller than the risks associated with Covid infection itself,' she said. 'However, these very rare conditions are very important to spot to ensure that clinicians know what to look for, aid earlier diagnosis, and inform clinical decision-making and resource management.' Experts welcomed the study but said the link between Pfizer and hemorrhagic stroke should be treated with caution. Professor Penny Ward, an expert in medicine at Kings College London, said even if the finding was correct, the risk of brain bleeding from catching Covid was still greater. She concluded that the study was yet more evidence of the importance of getting a Covid vaccine. 'From any perspective therefore, and particularly with the community spread of infection on the rise, unvaccinated adults should come forward for vaccination to reduce their own risk of serious central nervous system effects should they become infected,' she said. Imperial College London's Professor Peter Openshaw, a Government adviser, agreed, and said the takeaway from the study was get your Covid vaccine. '[The risk of stroke] looks to me a very small signal and possibly not very significant,' he said. 'The neurological complications of vaccines are much rarer than of Covid, showing the vital importance of getting vaccinated.' Cases of GBS have also been reported in the single dose Johnson & Johnson Covid jab, but this was not measured in this latest study. The latest research echoes that regarding the risk of blood clots from vaccines from earlier this year. That research, also from Oxford University, found the risk of clots among those who caught Covid was 12,614 per 10million people. Whereas the risk among those given the Oxford- AstraZeneca vaccine was significantly lower at 66 per 10million. Britain, like several other countries in Europe, currently does not give the AstraZeneca vaccine to people under 40 after it was linked to clotting disorders in the spring. Moderna believes its COVID-19 vaccine is safe and effective for children aged five to 11, and the company will submit data from recent clinical trials to global regulators. The news comes as a panel of government advisors was preparing to meet Tuesday on the question of whether to authorize the Pfizer vaccine in kids aged five to 11, as Moderna hopes its vaccine could soon follow. The Cambridge, Massachusetts, based company reports its vaccine showed effectiveness in young children after receiving two half-doses of the shots. Momentum for COVID-19 vaccines among children has picked up in recent days, with both Dr Anthony Fauci and former U.S. Food and Drug Administration commissioner and current Pfizer board member Scott Gottlieb both said over the weekend they expect the jabs to be available to young children in the near future. 'We are encouraged by the immunogenicity and safety profile of mRNA-1273 in children aged 6 to under 12 years and are pleased that the study met its primary immunogenicity endpoints,' Moderna chief executive Stephane Bancel said in a statement (file photo) Experts like Dr Anthony Fauci and former FDA chief Scott Gottlieb both believe jabs will be available for children under the age of 12 in the coming weeks. Pictured: A child in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, receives a shot of a Covid vaccine on May 13 'We are encouraged by the immunogenicity and safety profile of mRNA-1273 in children aged 6 to under 12 years and are pleased that the study met its primary immunogenicity endpoints,' Stephane Bancel, Moderna CEO, said in a statement. An interim analysis from a mid-to-late stage clinical trial of 4,753 children showed that two doses of vaccine produced a high level of neutralizing antibodies. The vaccine was dosed at 50 micrograms, which is half of what is used among adults, but still produced on average 1.5 times as many antibodies in children as it did in young adults given the higher dose. The same smaller dose is also being used for the company's Covid booster shot. The majority of adverse events were mild or moderate, including fatigue, headache, fever, and injection site pain. These early results, released via a press statement, do not yet include a vaccine efficacy estimate, which may be expected at a later time once cases have accrued. Moderna's shot is currently available to all Americans aged 18 or older, though the company hopes to soon expand that eligibility. A briefing document posted on the FDA's website indicated the agency believes benefits outweigh the most worrying side effect for this age group, namely myocarditis, or heart inflammation. 'The overall analysis predicted that the numbers of clinically significant Covid-19-related outcomes prevented would clearly outweigh the numbers of vaccine-associated excess myocarditis cases,' the document said. But it acknowledged the benefit-risk calculus would differ when community transmission is very low, as was the case in the United States in June 2021. The FDA also uploaded Pfizer's efficacy analysis, with the company estimating a two-dose course of its vaccine at 10 micrograms was more than 90 percent effective in preventing symptomatic disease. Overall, more than 150 children aged 5 to 11 have died from Covid in the United States since the start of the pandemic, according to official data. 'If all goes well, and we get the regulatory approval and the recommendation from the CDC, it's entirely possible, if not very likely, that vaccines will be available for children from 5 to 11 within the first week or two of November,' Fauci told ABC News Sunday. Gottlieb told CBS' Face the Nation that if the jab gets authorization from regulators on Tuesday then the shots could rollout for the youth as early as November 4. The Pfizer jab is currently the only one approved for minors in the U.S., with the FDA authorizing the shots for all Americans 12 or older. Air Force fighter pilots face an increased risk of testicular and prostate cancers, though the exact reason why can not be determined, a study finds. The Department of the Air Force published a massive study with nearly 450,000 participants in May, finding the fighter pilots and weapons systems officers were 29 percent more likely to develop testicular cancer, 24 percent more likely to be diagnosed with melanoma and 23 percent more likely to have prostate cancer. While the findings are not surprising, as many Air Force experts and insiders have noticed an uptick in these cases among pilots, the findings confirm a worrying trend. Why exactly pilots are at such an increased risk can not be determined, though. A recent study by the Air Force finds that fighter pilots and weapons system officers are up to 30% more likely to develop some forms of cancer than their peers in the branch (file photo) 'Current and former fighter aviators are encouraged to discuss this report with their flight surgeon or primary care provider, including such topics as ultraviolet radiation protection and its impact on vitamin D, lifestyle approaches to cancer prevention, and screening for melanoma skin and prostate cancers,' said Major Brian Huggins, an Air Force preventive medicine consultant told Defense One. Researchers from the Air Force gathered data from 34,679 fighter pilots and weapons systems officers and 411,998 airmen that do not fly aircrafts during the 30 year period from 1970 to 2004. The pilots also had higher rates of some cancers than the average U.S. population does. The study found that the pilots were 13 percent more likely to be diagnosed with non-Hodgin lymphoma, 25 percent more likely to develop melanoma and 19 percent more likely to have prostate cancer. Many Air Force veterans have long known about the link between being an Air Force fighter pilot and certain cancers. The study confirms their beliefs, and they are pushing for further research into the causes of these cancer disparities (file photo) This study confirms what many have already known, that pilots face an increased risk of cancer, but it is the first step towards figuring out why. Former fighter pilots have pushed Congress and Department of Defense to do more in order to figure out why they were developing cancer, and how to protect them from it. 'We're about to graduate out of the era of 'We think this deserves a study, and we think that cancer incidence rates and mortality are higher among military aviators, but no one's paying attention,' Vince Alcaza, a Red River Valley Fighter Pilots Association member, told Defense One. 'That was 2017, 2018, and 2019. Here in 2021, we have this study. And the Air Force is talking about it out loud.' Pilots that flew Vietnam-era warplanes, and specifically the F-100 Super Sabre, seemed to have the most risk. The study found that people who flew Vietnam-era planes, and specifically the F-100 Super Sabre (pictured), were most at risk of developing cancer The 'why' for the increased risk of cancer is unknown, though there are a few theories. Some believe it could have to do with pilots being exposed to an increased amount of radiation or ultraviolet rays when flying. It could also potentially have something to do with pilots breathing in emissions or other chemicals when they are in or around the planes. Defense One reports that another, more in-depth, study that finds the causation of the cancer could be underway at the Department of Defense. Diane French-Finlays periods used to be so heavy and painful that for two to three days a month she was effectively housebound. I was in agony, says Diane, 50, a mother of three from Leicester. I took ibuprofen but it never really got rid of the pain. So I would lie on the bed or sofa with a hot-water bottle on my tummy to try and soothe it. And if she had to leave the house to pick up her children from school, she would have to wear several sanitary towels as well as her usual protection to avoid the risk of any embarrassing leaks before she returned home, less than an hour later. It made my life a misery, she says. But Diane, then in her late 40s, was confident she knew how to fix the problem. Both my older sisters had also suffered with heavy periods that virtually disappeared when they were each fitted with a coil, says Diane. The coil, or intrauterine device (IUD), is a T-shaped plastic or metal contraceptive placed inside the womb by a doctor or specially trained nurse. Diane French-Finlays periods used to be so heavy and painful that for two to three days a month she was effectively housebound Hormone-based IUDs prevent pregnancy by gradually releasing progestin to thicken mucus around the entrance to the womb, stopping sperm entering, while non-hormonal ones are made with copper, which acts as a spermicide. As well as providing long-acting contraception (the implants need replacing after five to ten years), the hormonal coil is also often recommended for women who, like Diane, suffer with excessively heavy periods, as the gradual release of hormones reduces the thickness of the lining of the womb, thereby lessening bleeding every month when the lining breaks down. But what Diane assumed would be a straightforward process accessing NHS contraceptive services proved anything but. After all, every woman in the UK is entitled to free contraception, whether its the Pill or long-acting implants. In fact, it took almost a year from first requesting it from her GP to having an implant fitted in October 2019 at another practice. During that time Diane was shunted between GP practices and local authority-run sexual health clinics. Each time, the answer was they either did not provide the service, had no funding to do it, or lacked trained staff to fit the implant. It was incredibly frustrating, says Diane, a former recruitment worker. I had assumed I would be able to get the coil more or less straight away. In fact, its thought thousands more older women are in a similar position because of changes in the way they are funded that led to clinic closures and a shortage of the trained staff needed to fit coils and implants. Hormone-based IUDs prevent pregnancy by gradually releasing progestin to thicken mucus around the entrance to the womb, stopping sperm entering, while non-hormonal ones are made with copper, which acts as a spermicide Among those Good Health spoke to who have faced similar obstacles, one urgently needed her coil removed after it caused excessive bleeding which can happen in the first few weeks and months after being fitted (thought to be as a result of the body adjusting to its presence). She said: I couldnt get in anywhere and was bleeding horribly every day for nine weeks. In the end I had to pay privately to have it removed. Another told Good Health: Ive been waiting 15 months to have one fitted. Every time I ring the surgery or clinic they dont have any appointments or have stopped doing them. And according to some experts, such as Dr Anne Connolly, a GP in Bradford and a leading member of the Primary Care Womens Health Forum, the lack of access is almost certainly to blame for a rise in abortions in older women (defined as 35 and over) who take second place to younger women when it comes to access to contraceptives such as the coil. Recent Department of Health figures for England show terminations in those aged 35 to 39 have risen 27 per cent since 2015, while those in the over-50s are up 65 per cent, although the actual numbers are small. This coincides with a significant drop in the number of women of all ages in England and Wales being fitted with long-acting contraception such as coils or implants (a flexible plastic rod placed under the skin in the upper arm to gradually release the hormone progestogen). These have declined by about 8 per cent, to around 300,000, since 2015. This is despite long-acting contraception being regarded as the most effective form of birth control; while one in 100 women on the Pill will accidentally become pregnant, with long-acting arm implants its just one in 2,000. Women are being bounced around the system and its having a big impact on their health, says Dr Connolly. Abortion rates are going up and the contraception service is not working. But why are things in such a dire state? The finger of blame is being pointed at the 2012 Health and Social Care Act. Previously, budgets for NHS contraception-fitting services were mostly in the hands of primary care groups GPs who decided how services in their area were funded. GP surgeries were paid a fixed fee, usually around 100, every time they would fit, replace or remove an IUD or implant. This covered their time and cost of the equipment and gave practices an incentive to pay for one or two staff members to keep up-to-date with the training needed to be a qualified fitter. But the 2012 Act split funding so that fitting coils and implants prescribed primarily for contraception rather than for heavy periods was carried out by community sexual health clinics, funded by councils. GPs would instead just be paid to do them when there was an underlying clinical need, such as excessive bleeding. But they are under no obligation to do so if it is not financially viable. In addition, out went the national fee of around 100 per patient, in favour of local authorities negotiating their own deals with GP practices. Some now get just 35 for each patient they treat, despite each coil alone costing up to 80 for the hormone versions. This huge disincentive for GPs has been compounded by long-term cuts in local authority budgets, which have forced many councils to reduce contraception services. Since reducing unwanted pregnancies in young women was a priority under the Act, this had led to reports that some local authority-run clinics even refuse to see women over 25 wanting coils or implants. The Health and Social Care Act has been a big issue in this, says Dr Connolly. It was focused on prevention of health problems [such as unwanted pregnancies] and so took contraception out of womens health and made it a sexual health issue. This was great for younger women and teenage pregnancy rates have fallen. But not so great for mature women who are just as concerned about gynaecological problems such as very heavy periods. And not so great either for the thousands of middle-aged women encouraged by the NHS to switch to coils and implants, instead of the widely-used combined Pill, before they hit 50. The combined Pill, which contains the hormones oestrogen and progesterone, has been linked to a raised risk of breast cancer. The Act was flawed and I fear women are paying the price for it now, says Dr Connolly. A damning report in 2020 by the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Sexual and Reproductive Health found almost one in two cash-strapped councils had reduced the number of clinics providing contraceptive services in the last five years. Those that remained saw staff cuts and shorter opening hours to try and save money. More than one in ten councils also slashed the number of contracts agreed with GPs to fit coils and implants. One Exeter GP told the MPs inquiry people were travelling nearly 200 miles from London for their contraception services. Its easier for them to come for a long weekend to Devon and have their needs met here rather than try and find a service in London. Dr Connolly says what frustrates many women is that they get passed from pillar to post. If a woman goes to a community sexual health clinic because she has heavy periods, it wont provide a coil or implant. She will probably be told to go back to her GP. And if they dont do it, she may get referred to another practice or to hospital. The Primary Care Womens Health Forum wants a revamp of services, with a network of hubs across the UK, each based at a GP surgery, providing coils and implants for both contraceptive and clinical reasons. And GPs across the country would all get the same fee. Dr Connolly says: The service needs to be built around the needs of women not the needs of whoever is controlling the purse strings. Dianes heavy periods were well controlled by the Pill until she stopped taking it to have her family. But after the birth of her last child in 2014, her GP was reluctant to put her back on the Pill at 43. She used condoms for contraception but recalls: I was having heavy and agonising periods. When I asked my GP about it, he said heavy bleeding was to be expected at my age and there wasnt much I could do. Dogged by persistently painful periods, Diane went back to her GP to ask again about the coil in November 2018. But the practice had stopped doing them and she was referred to a sexual health clinic in Leicester city centre. After months of calling them, she was told they didnt fit coils for heavy bleeding and Diane would have to go back to her GP. In spring 2019, her doctor managed to locate another practice in Leicester that provided long-acting contraception but it had a six-month waiting list. After Diane finally received a hormonal coil, in October 2019, it made a real difference. I felt so much better and Ive not had a proper heavy period since, she says. But nobody should have to face delays like that. Under the microscope Singer Engelbert Humperdinck, 85, answers our health quiz Can you run up the stairs? Not quite. In January 2021 I got Covid, so Ive been working myself back slowly into fit mode. At my home in LA Ive got a gym with a treadmill, cross trainer and a rowing machine. A few months ago, I lost my wife Patricia [82] following a battle with Alzheimers. I stayed close to home to be with her. Get your five a day? Yes. Breakfast is chilli, egg and onions on toast. I have a juicer and throw in carrots, celery, beetroot and sometimes a little cauliflower, which I drink as a daily supplement. Singer Engelbert Humperdinck, 85, answers our health quiz Ever dieted? Frequently. Im 6 ft 1 in and 14 st. I feel in good shape now but, a couple of years ago, I weighed 17 st because of stress. My wife was poorly and I was eating the wrong foods. Right now, I have a flat tummy. How has the pandemic affected you? After nearly a year of caution, Covid found a way into our home. Then I had long Covid for four months, which left me with stiff fingers, backache and my legs didnt work properly. Any vices? I love a cognac but I drink enough to be merry, then I stop. Worst illness? In my mid-20s, I got tuberculosis and was in hospital for six months. It was caused by malnutrition. When I first started in the business, I was on the breadline. Any family ailments? My mother had plenty of heart attacks, but she had ten children so that heart worked hard over the years. Ive never had heart problems. Ever been depressed? Many times. Depression happens when people have problems and Ive had a lot of problems. For me, golf is the best cure conversation, walking the course, then the 19th hole bevvy. Tried alternative remedies? I love acupuncture, which has been good recently for easing my back pain. I also have two massages a week. Ever have plastic surgery? No. My parents never had wrinkles and one of my sisters just turned 100 and she doesnt either. Its genetics! Pop any pills? I take vitamins C and D3 and K for bone strength and boosting immunity. Cope well with pain? I have a pretty good tolerance. One time I was skiing and twisted my left leg all the way around. All the tendons were loose and you could sway my leg from side to side. What keeps you awake at night? Thinking of song lyrics but the cure is keeping a recorder by my bed. Any phobias? Yes. Spiders, snakes, rats, mice and cockroaches. Engelbert Humperdinck will be touring the UK from October 31, 2021. Tickets are available at biglink.to/EHTicket UK renters are waiting 41 days on average for their landlords to fix serious issues such as damp, loss of heating and water leaks, new research has found. Housing disrepair is a major problem for both social and private renters across the country, with two thirds of tenants experiencing some sort of disrepair, according to a survey conducted by Hodge Jones & Allen Solicitors. Nearly half a million renters report damp in their home each year, according to the English Housing Survey, making it the most common problem. Tenants in Cardiff have had the greatest struggle getting issues repaired, with three in ten claiming their reported disrepair issue has never been fixed The research found that over one third of renters claim to have had some sort of damp issue within their rental property within the past five years, whilst close to three in ten said they had faced heating or hot water issues. A further 26 per cent of renters said they had experienced water leaks or blocked pipes. Farzana Chowdhury, a partner at Hodge Jones & Allen said: 'Our research reveals just how many people are living in properties that are not being properly maintained by their landlord. 'It's worrying to see damp as the most common issue, as damp can cause health problems such as respiratory issues, respiratory infections, allergies or asthma. It also has the potential to affect the immune system.' A quarter of renters claimed to have recently lived in a property that suffered from mould, and more than one in five complained of roof leaks. Promisingly, half of renters said that their disrepair issue was fixed within two weeks of it being reported. However, more than a fifth claimed their wait was in excess of six months, and one in six said their reported issue had never been fixed. 'It's shocking that renters are waiting 41 days on average for their reported issue to be fixed, as often the problem could be tackled relatively cheaply and quickly too,' said Chowdhury. 'It is inevitable that issues may occur, but if the landlord deals with these in a timely manner then the tenant is often satisfied.' Waiting game: More than a fifth of renters said their wait for a repair was in excess of six months, and one in six said their reported issue has never been fixed In terms of location, London came out as the worst place for the number of reported issues nationwide with eight in ten tenants living in the capital stating that they have experienced one or more serious disrepair issues during a recent tenancy. Manchester took second place, with three quarters of its renters experiencing at least one problem during a recent tenancy agreement. Renters in Cardiff have had the greatest struggle getting issues repaired, with three in ten claiming their reported disrepair issue had never been fixed. This was also a common problem in Leeds and Southampton, where a quarter of the tenants living there experienced the same outcome. What can renters do? Landlords are contractually obliged to adhere to the terms of a tenancy agreement. They are are almost always responsible for the external walls, roofs, water and gas pipes, water tanks, radiators and boilers among many other things. Cities such as Leeds, Glasgow and Liverpool were all below the UK average but there is still a large majority of tenants reporting issues with the state of their property Richard Davies, head of lettings at London estate agent Chestertons, said: 'A landlord is contractually obliged to adhere to the clauses of the tenancy agreement - the legally binding document between the landlord and tenant - along with ensuring that structure and exterior of the property is safe and not in disrepair. 'A landlord is also responsible for repairing issues that relate to heating and hot water, gas appliances, pipework, sanitary fittings and electrical wiring.' There is now a vast array of legislation that landlords need to be aware of when renting out a property. They need to ensure their rental properties are fit for human habitation and free from serious hazards - which might include a serious damp problem and issues with heating or leaks for example. It is possible for a renter to claim a 'statutory nuisance' if their home is in such a state as to be harmful to their health. Disrepair that is harmful to their health could include dampness and mould growth, according to Citizens Advice, and local authorities generally take action against landlords where there is a statutory nuisance such as this. However, renters must also be aware that a landlord may not be accountable if the tenant is responsible for causing the disrepair by not looking after the property - for example, not consistently not using the extractor fan after having a shower. 37 per cent of those surveyed claimed to have had a damp issue within their rented property It is also vital that renters tell their landlord of any maintenance issues so that the landlord is aware. Al Mcclenahan, director of the non-profit advice service, Justice For Tenants said: 'If renters are not having their disrepair issues handled quickly, they should make sure they have informed the landlord in writing by email, letter, SMS or WhatsApp. 'They should then send photos of the issues along with a copy of the correspondence with the landlord to their council's Environmental Health team along with a request for an inspection. 'Unfortunately, it is a bit of a postcode lottery whether an inspection will happen quickly, as most Environmental Health Teams are under-resourced, but that is the best course of action available to renters.' As a last resort, renters can seek help from a legal firm specialising in housing law to help bring a claim against a landlord. 'Anyone who has experienced a disrepair issue that has not been rectified, within a reasonable timeframe, could bring a claim for an order for the repair works to be carried out and for compensation,' said Chowdhury. For example, they could claim private nuisance if their landlord failed to fix a leak and this subsequently caused damage to your possessions. Arecor Therapeutics is going from strength to strength ahead of launching its insulin products. The pharma group, which floated London's junior market in June, has developed Arestat, a technology platform that allows drugs to be delivered more easily into patients' bodies. Earlier this month, the EU upheld a patent for the use of Arestat in certain vaccines following opposition appeal proceedings filed by GlaxoSmithKline. Arecor has developed a a technology that helps some types of vaccines last longer The patent protects the composition of a specific type of vaccines, called polysaccharide vaccines, some of which are used for meningitis or pneumonia. They usually degrade and lose potency over time, however with Arecor's technology they last longer. 'The success that we've had here, in defending and upholding this polysaccharide vaccine pattern, really shows the strength and the breadth of the technology platform, which is important for us and, of course, important for our partners who are using the technology and the products that they're developing and taking to market as well,' chief executive Dr Sarah Howell said. 'The global vaccine market itself is a valuable market, in 2020 the sales of global vaccines were $41billion, and it's forecast to reach closer to $60billion by 2025. It's a growth market and we're only going to see more of that, I think, on the back of Covid and mRNA, to see the explosion really of investment and interest in the vaccine space.' Arestat is already being licensed to three companies for four products, but Arecor is also using it to 'reinvent insulin' to make it easier for diabetes patients to take their daily doses. It has developed two formulations, an ultra-rapid acting insulin (AT247) and an ultra-concentrated rapid acting insulin (AT278), that would allow people to inject smaller doses fewer times per day. Diabetes is on the rise along with those requiring high daily doses of insulin, so these formulations would make treatment more convenient and easier. The rapid formulation, in particular, helps patients at mealtimes: normally - when we eat, the level of sugar in the blood rises quickly. For diabetes sufferers, it's important to bring it back to their healthy range swiftly to avoid complications. As it is reformulating products, Arecor's pipeline has few safety issues as the drugs have already been tried and tested but are being enhanced for faster delivery. The AIM-listed group is discussing with potential partners how to design the next phases of clinical studies, so that they can generate data that will support potential agreements. Last month, AT278 achieved the main goal of the first phase of clinical trials, which was to be no worse than the current standard of care, the low-concentrated NovoRapid. It also showed a better PK/PD profile, meaning it moved more easily through the body and received a good biological response, which also topped the researchers' initial expectations. The group, which spun out of Unilever 14 years ago, will now move to further analysis of the results and then to phase two and three of trials, with commercialisation earmarked for 2025. As for AT247, the focus is to support a system called artificial pancreas for type 1 diabetes patients. Arecor has recently received clearance from the US authorities to perform a three-day study to demonstrate the efficacy of AT247 when used with insulin pumps. It's not a full clinical trial per se, but an addition to confirm the PK/PD profile observed in previous analysis. Howell noted that the rapid acting insulin available today, such as the formulations produced by Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly, still require a high dose of liquid to inject each time. 'There was an opportunity with our Arestat technology to develop very concentrated but rapid acting insulin. 'We've overcome this challenge, as you concentrate insulin you'll see a slower time action profiles of slower insulin, we've been able to counteract that and develop very fast acting but concentrated insulin,' she commented. 'For that high insulin patient population, which is mainly type 2 diabetic patients, they can have the best of both worlds, essentially, or the convenience and compliance of lower injection volume and potentially fewer injections a day, but a fast-acting insulin to help them really control that glucose and improve their longer-term outcomes.' Shares are changing hands at 405p, having soared 70 per cent since IPO, but given the surefooted progress so far this is one to watch. Today I resigned my position as a Minister in the Morrison Cabinet. I thank the Prime Minister and my Cabinet colleagues for the strong support they have shown me throughout my period in Cabinet. On 26 February 2021, I was the subject of an allegation in an article published by the ABC that was not true. That article depicted events that never happened and which the ABC, in settlement of a defamation case, acknowledged was an allegation that could not 'be substantiated to the applicable legal standard criminal or civil.' As I tried my best to say at a media conference shortly after the allegation was reported, the initial article and subsequent media reporting has created a new standard under which literally any Australian can be the subject of an accusation widely published and, without due process or fairness, be tried and judged in a trial by media. After my experience it now seems to be a part of modern public life that if you are a politician, particularly a conservative politician, a mere allegation is considered enough to warrant an accusation being widely published, regardless of its inability to be proven to a civil or criminal standard. From the moment the ABC article was published, I entered what appears to me now to be an inescapable media frenzy where the evidence, or in this case lack of it, appeared to be irrelevant. Instead, all that appeared to matter was the presence of an accusation. To my disbelief, even in some mainstream media the onus of proof was completely reversed. The Sydney Morning Herald summed up the new reversed standard of proof in its declaration just days after the ABC article was published that: 'It's up to the Government to convince Australians that the Attorney General is innocent.' It is almost impossible for anyone to prove that something did not happen, let alone to positively disprove what are at times completely bizarre allegations about something claimed in an unsigned document about a night 33 years ago, where the person withdrew the complaint and is now sadly deceased. From that point, when the reporting on both social media generally, and in parts of the mainstream media, shifted from a presumption of innocence to one of guilt, an impossible standard was set for any person to meet - politician or not. The most frightening indicator that the public broadcaster was central to this shift to a presumption of guilt in a trial by media is the fact that the ABC seemingly with great care and effort has reported only those parts of the information that it has in its possession which feeds into its narrative of guilt. I have recently been provided from a source outside the ABC with a copy of the only signed document that the person who made and subsequently withdrew the complaint ever made. Many parts of that 88-page document are such that any reasonable person would conclude that they show an allegation that lacks credibility; was based on repressed memory (which has been completely rejected by courts as unreliable and dangerous); which relied on diaries said to be drafted in 1990/91 but which were actually words composed in 2019; and, was written by someone who was, sadly, very unwell. This material, which remains unreported, clearly does not feed the ABC's predetermined narrative of guilt by accusation. And presumably because this document detracts so substantively from the credibility of the allegations there has been careful and deliberate avoidance in reporting it or publishing the parts of it that run counter to the chosen narrative. Having set in motion its trial by accusation, the ABC unleashed the Twitter version of an angry mob. In this online mob environment the mere accusation reported by Australia's national broadcaster was determined adequate to assign guilt, with no regard to evidence or, indeed, lack of evidence. All that seemed to matter was the fact that the accusation had been made and the identity of the person accused. The target of the Twitter mob then extended to anyone who contradicted the narrative of guilt by accusation. So fierce and vengeful is the response of the Twitter mob to anyone who dares say anything contrary to the narrative of guilt that those people then come to be deemed to commit a form of social crime for defending the subject of the unproven allegation and the mob turns on them. This happened to my two female lawyers, amongst many others. The journalists who said anything in support of what were once accepted principles of due process, rule of law and presumption of innocence in the context of the accusations against me felt the full force of the Twitter mob. Thousands of ordinary people contacted me, expressing disgust at what the ABC had done. Even though I suspected action against the taxpayer-funded broadcaster was probably going to be financially unsustainable, as it ultimately was, I decided I had to commence action against the ABC. Some people wanted to help in that course by supporting my defamation case. They contributed to a Trust on the basis of confidentiality and a belief that their contribution would remain confidential within the rules of disclosure. Whilst I have no right of access to the funding or conduct of the Trust, on my request the Trustee provided me an assurance that none of the contributors were lobbyists or prohibited foreign entities. This additional information was provided as part of my Ministerial disclosure. No doubt the desire of some, possibly many, of those contributors to remain anonymous was driven by a natural desire to avoid the inevitable fact that for supporting me, the trial by mob would inevitably turn on them if they were identified. Facing a false allegation is an experience that places your family, friends and staff under enormous and cruel pressure. It has resulted in constant abuse and ongoing threats. For me personally, the physical threats of violence, the experience of being spat at and publicly abused for something I didn't do has been nearly beyond comprehension in a civilised country. To my family, friends, staff, colleagues and supporters who have helped me get through these most difficult days, words will never be able to adequately express the deep gratitude I feel. I understand the questions raised in the media about the financial arrangements to help fund the now settled litigation. But I consider that I have provided the information required under the Members' Register of Interests. I also considered that the additional disclosures I provided under the Ministerial Standards were in accordance with its additional requirements. However, after discussing the matter with the Prime Minister I accept that any uncertainty on this point provides a very unhelpful distraction for the Government in its work. To the extent that that uncertainty may be resolved by seeking further information in relation to the identities of the contributors, this would require me to put pressure on the Trust to provide me with information to which I am not entitled. I am not prepared to seek to break the confidentiality of those people who contributed to my legal fees under what are well-known and regular legal structures, including the confidentiality attached to the Trust contribution. Ultimately, the Prime Minister is a person for whom I have great personal and professional respect. But fully understanding the consequences, where I am not willing to put pressure on the Trust to provide me with any further information, I respectfully informed the Prime Minister that I would not place pressure on the Trust to provide me with information to which I am not entitled. I explained my reason for this was that I could not assist any process that would ultimately allow people who have done nothing wrong to become targets of the social media mob and I would continue to respect their position. Ultimately, I decided that if I have to make a choice between seeking to pressure the Trust to break individuals' confidentiality in order to remain in Cabinet, or alternatively forego my Cabinet position, there is only one choice I could, in all conscience, make. Consequently, I provided the Prime Minister with my resignation earlier today. It is effective immediately. It has been a great honour to serve as a Coalition Cabinet Minister over the past six years and as Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister before that. I believe the Morrison Government has been a good and considered government in the most difficult time our country has faced since World War II. If the last decision I was a part of in Cabinet was to provide Australia with the future deterrent of nuclear-powered submarines, then I have been part of a Government that works to change the face of Australia's future security with a decision that our children will thank us for. My greatest privilege has always been to serve the people of Pearce as their representative in the Australian Parliament since 2013 and to be re-elected by them in 2016 and 2019. I have previously stated my determination to contest the next election in Pearce and have nominated for preselection, and I have no intention of standing aside from my responsibilities to the people of Pearce. Again, I thank the Prime Minister, my Cabinet and Ministerial and Parliamentary colleagues for their fellowship and support. I have always tried my best to fulfil my role as part of a hard-working team in Government and now will work again to secure the return of the Morrison Government whenever the next election is held. Disgraced ex-congresswoman Katie Hill's new baby daddy denied his secret relationship with her while reporting on her throuple scandal and publicly defending her. Former Playboy Magazine politics columnist Alex Thomas waded into the controversy, tweeting and publishing a newsletter erroneously claiming Republican groups were behind the story and vowed to 'chase the f***ing rabbit' because he was 'hungry for a pulitzer' but failed to disclose that he had been in a romantic relationship with Hill for months. In October 2019, DailyMail.com published a story about Hill's three-way relationship with her young female campaign staffer and her husband, and an alleged affair with a congressional staffer that led to an ethics committee probe and Hill's resignation. In an interview with Vanity Fair published Tuesday, Hill, 34, revealed she is pregnant and living with Thomas, 30, in Washington DC. Former Democratic congresswoman Katie Hill is expecting her first child with ex-Playboy staff writer Alex Thomas (right) Hill, 34, was forced to resign during her first year in office after reports revealed she had been in a three-way relationship with her staffer Morgan Desjardins (center) while married to now-ex-husband Kenny Heslep (right) in 2019 The ex-politician told the magazine she met Thomas at a congressional softball game in June 2019, and previously told New York magazine they went on a beach vacation together in August that year. After the throuple scandal broke two months later, Thomas, who was then a Playboy staffer, reported on the story and defended Hill on Twitter without disclosing his romantic relationship. On October 24, 2019, the day of DailyMail.com's first story on Hill's inappropriate relationships, Thomas tweeted: 'this is not journalism. It's disgusting, harassment and publishing revenge porn is a crime.' Hill later sued DailyMail.com, other journalists and her ex-husband claiming the photos of her constituted revenge porn, but a Los Angeles judge dismissed the case after ruling the reporting on Hill's throuple affair with her young campaign staffer and her alleged campaign finance violations were of 'compelling public interest' and protected by the first amendment. In since-deleted October 2019 tweets, Thomas reported that the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) had been 'shopping around the Katie Hill images' before the scandal broke. He tweeted in all-caps before publishing his story: 'SOME NRCCxKATIE HILL S**T IS GONNA HIT THE FAN IN THE NEWSLETTER THIS WEEK, BOYS. SUBSCRIBE'. But after the NRCC denied the claims, Thomas conceded that the organization 'might have never had their hands on the photos.' Thomas, a politics columnist for Playboy Magazine at the time, published a newsletter reporting on the scandal, but failed to disclose he was dating Hill at the time In since-deleted October 2019 tweets, Thomas reported that the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) had been 'shopping around the Katie Hill images' before the scandal broke After the NRCC denied the claims, Thomas conceded that the organization 'might have never had their hands on the photos' The reporter ran a story on the alleged Republican links to the leaked pictures and texts involving Hill in his personal newsletter, not in Playboy Magazine, and tweeted that his reporting was 'not at all attached to Playboy'. When the Washington Free Beacon contacted him in March 2020 with questions about his failure to disclose his relationship with Hill, Thomas did not respond. An NRCC spokesman told the Beacon at the time: 'It's baffling that someone who has sex with the subject of his glowing puff piece articles making now-retracted accusations against our organization is a credentialed member of the press.' When Thomas and Hill were spotted together at a Manhattan book party in February 2020, he denied any romantic involvement, and reportedly 'insisted that he and Hill are just pals and, in fact, they'd attended the bash with two other friends,' according to a New York Post report. But in a sympathetic interview days later, Thomas and Hill made no effort to hide their intimate relationship. In the March 2020 New York magazine profile of Hill, Thomas claimed to have walked in on her in the bath after she 'scraped' her wrists with a knife while contemplating suicide on the evening of October 24, 2019. In October 2019 Thomas reportedly sent an email to Red State, the conservative news site that first published leaked photos and texts involving Hill, saying he was 'looking at doing a piece on the Katie Hill story' and claimed that the site was using a fake identity to write stories about his secret girlfriend He later posted tweets - now deleted - about a 'guy' calling to scare him off the story On October 27 he then reportedly sent an email to Red State, the conservative news site that first published leaked photos and texts involving Hill, saying he was 'looking at doing a piece on the Katie Hill story'. In the email, Thomas claimed that the site was using a fake identity to write stories about Hill, that the Red State journalist who published its Hill stories, Jennifer Van Laar, had worked as a campaign manager to Hill's former political opponent Suzette Valladares, and that Van Laar's former business partner was arrested for trafficking child pornography. Van Laar, who later published Thomas's email, says all three claims are false and that Thomas failed to declare his relationship with Hill in any communications. Thomas studied English Language and Literature/Letters at Clarion University of Pennsylvania from 2009 to 2012 'It's unethical to "look to write a piece" whose sole purpose is to discredit and smear a fellow journalist who published (true) stories that can negatively impact your partner's career, whether or not you disclose your conflict of interest,' Van Laar wrote in a March 2020 RedState post. 'It's unethical to threaten to publish untrue inflammatory information about someone's former colleagues, friends, or family as a way to intimidate a fellow journalist.' Thomas studied English Language and Literature/Letters at Clarion University of Pennsylvania from 2009 to 2012 where he was a varsity wrestler, then got a B.A. in English at Salisbury University, graduating in 2014. He worked for 14 months as a staff writer at Splashpress Media the year after he graduated, then at Cox Media Group before being hired as a political columnist at Playboy in May 2018, according to his LinkedIn profile. He quit to write a novel in March this year, but still publishes as a freelancer. As well as political profiles, columns and interviews, he writes more titillating stories including a December 2020 article for Playboy titled 'How Porn Performers Became 'Essential' in the Pandemic', and a Men's Health article about 'How OnlyFans Became the Porn Capital of the Pandemic'. Alex Thomas, who grew up in Seaford, rural Delaware, used to be a member of Sussex Tech wrestling team. Here's pictured in 2009, standing second from the right (green t-shirt) He quit to write a novel in March this year, but still publishes as a freelancer Thomas, now a published poet and writer, also wrote about lighting up a joint outside the Supreme Court during the coronavirus lockdown last year for the Hawaii Pacific Review Thomas has been a published poet since 2015, writing in the Pine Hills Review, Broad River Review, Third Coast magazine and others. His poetry over the past two years hinted at his changing love life, publishing a poem in the fall 2019 edition of DMQ Review about being lonely and looking for love in a city, but mentioning 'my girlfriend' in a 2020 poem published in the Broad River Review. The writer appears to have a similar penchant for bending the rules as the mother of his child. The infamous photo of Hill published by DailyMail.com in 2019 showed her holding a bong at a time before marijuana was legalized in California. In her 2020 memoir, She Will Rise, Hill hints at her relationship with Thomas Thomas also wrote about lighting up a joint outside the Supreme Court during the coronavirus lockdown last year. 'Washington is empty and I / smoked marijuana on the / steps of the Supreme Court / only to see if they still arrest / the trespassers. They don't,' he wrote in a June 2020 poem for the Hawaii Pacific Review. Though the drug was mostly legalized in 2014, 'it remains a crime under D.C. law for anyone to smoke or consume marijuana on public space (parks, streets, alleys, sidewalks) or anywhere to which the public is invited,' according to the ACLU. 'You still cannot have marijuana on federal land (which includes Rock Creek Park, the National Mall, and area around federal buildings).' The 30-year-old grew up in Seaford, rural Delaware, where his parents own a house on the Nanticoke River the apparent location of his photoshoot with Hill for their Vanity Fair profile. Hill acknowledged Thomas in her book, She Will Rise, hinting at their relationship prior to her scandal, and how she visited his parents Michele and LJ, at the Seaford house. 'Alex, you showed me how to laugh again, how to be happy. And then when it all came crashing down, you were the shoulder I could cry on, the one who could make me feel safe, every single time. Michele and LJ, thank you for letting me into your home and your hearts when I needed it most,' Hill wrote. The glowing Vanity Fair profile glossed over her scandal in one sentence, did not mention her boyfriend's seeming conflict of interest of previously reporting on Hill while dating her, or allegations from another of her ex-employees and throuple lovers who accused Hill of 'emotional abuse'. Katie Hill and her ex-husband Kenny Heslep Hill (pictured in July 2019) told Vanity Fair that she is considering filing for bankruptcy as she faces $400,000 in legal fees from her courtroom defeats over reports of the scandal In an interview with DailyMail.com last year, the woman said she met Hill and her husband Kenny Heslep on dating site OkCupid in 2010 years before Hill's infamous throuple with her campaign staffer and joined them in a polyamorous relationship age 21. As well as her throuple girlfriend, Hill became her boss when she got the girl an internship at Los Angeles charity People Assisting The Homeless (PATH) where Hill was deputy CEO. The woman, who asked to remain anonymous, claimed Hill was financially controlling and would fly into rages at her, leaving her wondering if her job would be in jeopardy if she failed to complete chores at home. The woman said her 15-month experience with Hill left her scarred even after 10 years of therapy. Hill, who was showing a baby bump in her Vanity Fair photoshoot, appears to have set up a baby registry for gifts with a due date of February 24, 2022. She told the magazine she is considering filing for bankruptcy, and faces $400,000 in legal fees from her courtroom defeats. Van Laar was one of those sued by Hill and won, and is currently attempting to recover more than $100,000 in legal fees from the former congresswoman. Hill's lawyers are currently refusing to accept service of debt papers according to Van Laar's attorney. NRL star James Tedesco has denied claims he shouted 'Squid Game' at a young Vietnamese woman before boasting: 'Do you know who I am?' The Sydney Roosters captain allegedly shouted the reference to the hit South Korean Netflix series at Tiffany Trinh, 20, outside Bondi's Beach Road Hotel on Thursday. Ms Trinh said she was waiting with a friend for a lift home when she was approached by Tedesco and a group of friends. 'It was a group of about ten footy boys, and I was pretty intimidated,' she told Sydney Morning Herald. 'A 20-year-old tiny girl, waiting for a lift home and you have a bunch of guys come up to you and laugh at you for being Asian.' Roosters captain James Tedesco has been accused of shouting 'Squid Game' at a Vietnamese woman (pictured, Tedesco with partner Maria Glinellis) Ms Trinh later told her family when her outraged sister penned an open letter to the NRL skipper and posted it to her Instagram Ms Trinh later told her family when her outraged sister Katherine penned an open letter to the NRL skipper and posted it to her Instagram. 'You don't know me, or my family. However, last night you felt compelled to say "squid game" at my sister when you walked past her outside of Beach Road in Bondi,' Katherine claimed. 'She was shocked, and in the moment, was too embarrassed to say anything because you were with a group of footy players. However, her friend called you out on it and you responded, "Do you know who I am?"' Ms Trinh's sister called Tedesco entitled and said he needed to be held accountable for his actions. 'A quick Google, shows you are quite the footy player, and even represented our home state! No doubt, you are a role model to many. As such, you need to be held accountable for your words and actions.' The Roosters defended its star player and claimed that Tedesco (pictured with partner Maria Glinellis) had been discussing the hit Korean television show with friends within earshot of Ms Trinh The social media post prompted The Roosters to launch an investigation into the matter. The club has defended its star player and claimed that Tedesco had been discussing the hit Korean television show with friends within earshot of Ms Trinh. 'After we found out about the Instagram post we thoroughly investigated the matter,' Roosters chief executive Joe Kelly said. 'There was absolutely no interaction between James Tedesco with this group of people. We categorically deny that anything untoward occurred.' Daily Mail Australia contacted the Roosters for comment. The NRL has revealed it will be launching its own investigation into the matter. Controversial cartoonist Michael Leunig has been axed from his prime spot in The Age newspaper after a cartoon comparing resistance against mandatory Covid vaccines to the fight for democracy in Tiananmen Square was censored. 'Apparently, Im out of touch with the readership,' Leunig told The Australian's Media Diary of his sacking from providing the editorial page cartoon in Monday editions of the Melbourne-based publication. Leunig's cartoon, which never made the paper, featured one of his typically fragile, big-nosed figures facing the silhouette of a tank with a syringe in place of the gun turret. In the top left corner, the 76-year-old copied the iconic 'Tank Man' image showing a Beijing demonstrator standing in the path of a column of tanks in 1989. He posted the drawing on his Instagram page in late September with the word 'mandate', after it was rejected for publication by The Age editor, Gay Alcorn. Michael Leunig is an artist and political commentator who is also known for his anti-vaccine stance Leunig confirmed to The Australian he had been dumped from the editorial page spot, with the paper saying it was 'trialling new cartoonists' on the page. 'If what Gay says is right, I dont much want to work for the sorts of readers who are so censorious,' Leunig said. 'It seems that at The Age in particular, you cant go near the Covid story except in a way thats supportive of the Victorian governments handling of it. And if youre not supportive, thats reason enough for you to be cancelled. Leunig revealed that 12 of his other cartoons, also about vaccines and the Victorian government, had been censored by the paper this year. He said the way he had been informed his editorial cartoons were no longer wanted by The Age was 'pretty blunt [and] discourteous'. 'It is not rejection that bothers me. Its the wokeism and the humourlessness, which seem without courage, good spirit or creative imagination,' he said. Ms Alcorn told Diary she was 'not surprised' Leunig was upset. 'We dont mind cartoonists challenging the readers. We encourage diversity of thought, but I had a concern with cartoons perceived as anti-vaccination,' she said. She said Leunig's 'lifestyle' cartoon would continue in the Spectrum section of the Saturday edition of the paper. After Leunig posted the cartoon on Instagram in September, some fans praised him for being 'on point, as always', while others were horrified and said the scenarios were incomparable. 'Really insulting to people all over the world who actually live under dictatorships and to the victims of the Tiananmen Square massacre. Not even remotely comparable. Shameful,' one woman wrote. 'Bulls**t. We are not living under a communist regime. We have absolutely no right to compare ourselves to people living under brutal dictatorship,' another added. Someone else said: 'You're comparing lazy, opportunistic, right-wing instigators to the brave students demonstrating for greater accountability, freedom of press, freedom of speech and democracy in a one party state. 'You make a mockery of those vibrant young souls who perished at Tiananmen Square ... you're drenched in fear and it reeks.' Anti-vaxxers, however, praised the cartoonist for his political commentary. 'Brilliant and thank you for using your art to bring the conversation out for those who cant speak and feel alone. Who feel powerless and bullied by the government, media, workplaces and friends,' one man wrote. 'This picture is everything. The unvaxxed stand bravely defiant against the govt tyranny and communist mandates,' another sensationally claimed. Mandatory vaccination has been a source of angst in Victoria, sparking sometimes violent protests in across the Melbourne CBD in late September Pictured: A man standing alone in front of a convoy of military tanks when they rolled into Tiananmen Square in 1989 Someone else aptly pointed out: 'He knew he'd p**s some people off with this one.' The Tiananmen Square massacre followed weeks of student-led protests calling for democracy, free speech and free press in communist China in 1989, but the demonstration came to a grinding halt when the military arrived on June 4. Thousands of pro-democracy demonstrators were slaughtered by Chinese troops. Mandatory vaccination has been an ongoing source of angst in Victoria, sparking sometimes violent protests in across the Melbourne CBD in late September. Workers in many industries, including health, higher education, emergency services, transport, mining and real estate are subject to deadlines by which they have to show evidence of vaccination to their employer. A trial in the Victorian Supreme Court is due to start today after two Victorian teachers sought to challenge the state government's vaccine mandate for their profession. Casual teacher Belinda Cetnar is one of the plaintiffs behind the legal action, arguing the mandate is a breach of human rights and 'not legally or ethically justified'. Students at Howard University are on their second week of protest after accusing university administrators of dismissing their reports of mold, roaches, mice, and housing shortages on campus. Members of the historically black university have organized in tents outside of campus and in sleeping bags inside the social hub and the university center. On social media, students have said the issues have been persistent for years and improvements are long overdue. They've shared videos of the unsafe living condition in the dorms, showing cockroaches in the showers, walls covered with mold, mice skittering across dorm rooms, and flooding from burst pipes. On social media, students have said the issues at Howard University have been persistent for years and are long overdue. They've shared videos of the unsafe living condition in the dorms, showing cockroaches in the showers, walls with mold, mice making their way inside dorm rooms, and floodings from burst pipes More mold photos a student at @HowardU sent me this morning of her dorm in the Quad. @fox5dc #BlackburnTakeover I reached out to @VP office to see if she has any comment on her alma maters living conditions. I also reached out to HU for a finance report but havent heard back pic.twitter.com/kP3i2xdICR Jacqueline Matter (@JMatter_TV) October 21, 2021 Members of the historically black university have organized in tents outside of campus and in sleeping bags inside the social hub and the university center Students have said the university has largely ignored their calls for action Twitter user @MKDominique, a Howard student, shared a video of what she claimed to be her dorm in 2019, in which a mouse could be seen making its way inside a closet 'My freshman year ('19-'20) Howard had us living in what was supposed to be a newly renovated dorm that was actually under construction the entire time we were there. I recorded this video of ONE of the mice that got into our room,' a student tweeted Protesters said the university has largely ignored their pleas. They are demanding a town hall meeting with the university's president before October ends, the release of a housing plan that addresses their concerns, and the appointment of students to the board of trustees. Jaelan Trapp, a senior at Howard, told CBS he experienced the same issues during his freshman year. Trapp now lives off-campus, as the university only secures dorms to freshman and sophomores, but is supporting the protest. 'A lot of the dorms have their own issues between mold in the dorm and being different infestations of whatever different creatures like rats and roaches in the dorms. Sometimes the dorms don't have heating, sometimes the pipes are bursting,' Trapp told the outlet. Mario Beatty, an associate professor of Afro-American studies at the university, shared on Twitter that the mold had affected one of his students Another student claimed the university had refused to relocate her and her roomates even when she slipped and fell because her doorm was flooded Protesters said the university has largely ignored the infestation, flooding, and mold in dorms Students are demanding a town hall meeting with the university's president before October ends, the release of a housing plan that addresses their concerns, and the appointment of students to the board of trustees The university has said that an influx of students in 2021, over 400 more than in 2019, has been the root cause of the housing shortage. Mario Beatty, an associate professor of Afro-American studies at the university, shared on Twitter that the mold had affected one of his students. 'One of my students told me last week that she went to her hometown to see her doctor and she was diagnosed with mold induced asthma from being in the dorms. The University can not and should not minimize at all the reality of what students are experiencing,' Beatty said. Twitter user @MKDominique, a Howard student, shared a video of what she claimed to be her dorm in 2019, in which a mouse could be seen making its way inside a closet. 'My freshman year ('19-'20) Howard had us living in what was supposed to be a newly renovated dorm that was actually under construction the entire time we were there. I recorded this video of ONE of the mice that got into our room,' she tweeted. She said that after reporting the incident, it took maintenance more than a week to fix the air conditioner hole the mouse came through and left without disposing of the mice that had been trapped because 'it wasn't their job.' The university allegedly responded that 'DC had a rodent issue,' even though her dorm was on the third floor. Another student claimed the university had refused to relocate her and her roommates even when she slipped and fell because her dorm was flooded. Howard has reticently acknowledged that there 'may' be some issues in the dorms but did not explicitly address the mold and mice claims raised by students. As of Saturday, October 23, the university had made attempts to stop students from entering the buildings where they had been protesting by placing campus officers outside Howard has reticently acknowledged that there 'may' be some issues in the dorms but did not explicitly address the mold and mice claims raised by students. In an email, the university said: 'The university along with its campus housing are actively addressing the concerns our students have raised' In an email, the university said: 'The university along with its campus housing are actively addressing the concerns our students have raised. While there have only been a small number of documented facilities reports, we are actively inquiring about reported issues that may be in the residence halls going door to door to interview each resident.' 'Additionally, members of the administration have also toured and inspected every residence hall on campus and are addressing any documented facility issues directly with our third-party housing managers,' the email read. Cynthia Evers, Vice President of Student Affairs, told students that 'there have been rooms in select residence halls that were affected by mold growth,' WUSA9 reported. Evers also allegedly said that mold remediation and HVAC duct cleaning in the impacted rooms were taking place. A very dividing reality could be seen at Howard as the university made preparations for Homecoming, while tents remained outside of buildings with students refusing to end the protest until their concerns are acknowledged. As of Saturday, October 23, the university had made attempts to stop students from entering the buildings where they had been protesting by placing campus officers outside. A teenager has given her brain and life savings to a cancer researcher after she died in hope he can find a cure for the disease that also claimed his young daughter. Jemima Winter Belle Gazley, 15, from Wellington, was rushed to hospital in February after suffering from a sudden headache and vomiting. Days later she was diagnosed with diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma, or DIPG - a fatal tumour in the brain stem - and told she had nine to 12 months left to live. As the New Zealand teenager battled to prolong her life, she met experts from around the world - including Australian Dr Matt Dun - who has worked tirelessly to find a cure after losing his four-year-old daughter Josie to the same disease in 2019. Jemima Winter Belle Gazley, 15, has donated her life savings and brain to cancer research after dying from diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma The Wellington teenager was diagnosed with the fatal brain cancer in February after suffering from a sudden headache and vomiting In the last two weeks of Jemima's life, she had one wish - to raise money for Dr Dun's ongoing research to 'make this cancer history'. 'Hey people, this is my life savings let's hope with my money and yours Matt Dun can find a cure for this horrible disease,' her final post in her GiveALittle page reads. When she died on October 12, she donated $5382 of her own money, more than $700,000 from fundraising efforts, and her brain tumour and its surrounding tissue. Her brain tissue arrived at Dr Dun's laboratory at the Hunter Medical Research Institute, in Newcastle, days later, where he will be able to keep the tumour alive and grow it. Jemima spent her final days rallying to raise money for Dr Matt Dun (pictured) to continue his research to find a cure for the deadly disease Dr Dun has been fighting to find a cure after losing his four-year-old daughter Josie to DIPG in 2019 (pictured together) Unlike other tumours which are solid, DIPG grows like a spider web, making it inoperable, with researchers yet to determine the reason for its unusual form. 'What Matt is trying to achieve and we can find something from it we may save the lives of many more,' Jemima's father Oliver Gazley told the Daily Telegraph. Dr Matt Dun said research into paediatric brain cancer has been limited and Jemima's gift will go a long way in helping find a cure. 'The brain is really important because it gives us another living avatar, another model but this model, when she passed away, the tumour had spread the NZ team could take tumour from different parts of the brain and get it to us still living,' he said. 'This is all her doing, we have been talking throughout her journey. She wanted to do this, it's just really amazing, incredible young girl.' For the past decade he has been one of the most vocal opponents to climate change action - but now Barnaby Joyce has sealed a deal to end the 'climate wars'. Under his leadership, the National Party has declared it will support a 2050 net zero carbon emissions target, a historic move that brings Australia into line with most of the developed world just a week before crunch climate talks in Glasgow. After a week of internal meetings and debate, Mr Joyce revealed the junior Coalition party now backs the target and declared: 'I am 100 per cent on board with the goal of net zero by 2050.' After a week of internal meetings and debate, Barnaby Joyce (centre with David Littleproud and Bridget McKenzie) revealed his party now backs a net zero target The move harmonises Labor and Coalition climate change policy, ending a decade of the so-called 'climate wars' in politics. It also marks a major shift for the Deputy Prime Minister who has until now opposed climate change action by either questioning the existence of global warming or insisting that Australia can make no difference. As a Queensland senator in 2012, Mr Joyce called the issue 'an indulgent and irrelevant debate'. 'Even if climate change turns out to exist one day, we will have absolutely no impact on it whatsoever we really should have bigger fish to fry than this one,' he said. A year earlier he had slammed climate scientists for trying to 'scare' western societies. 'I don't feel the world is coming to a catastrophic end. I just feel that this is just another one of those pitches,' he said in a 2GB radio interview. He said action was pointless, insisting 'there's definitely nothing you can do about it from Australia by yourself, except stuff up your economy'. A turning point for Mr Joyce may have occurred in 2016 when, during a bad drought, he visited his parents' property near Tamworth with a reporter from the Sydney Morning Herald. Staring at a creek that he used to play in as a child, he said: 'It's the driest I've ever seen it. When I look at this I start to wonder whether climate change might really be happening.' In recent years the New England MP has not questioned the existence of climate change but argued that it's occurring naturally. 'I believe this is one of the greatest policy phantoms, the misguided and quite ludicrous proposition that Australia can have any effect on the climate,' he wrote on Facebook in 2019. 'If we could, we should be the first to make it rain and, more importantly, stop the recurrence of an ice age anytime in the coming millennium.' He added: 'The very idea that we can stop climate change is barking mad. Climate change is inevitable, as geology has always shown.' Mr Joyce went on to claim that temperatures would 'drop 10 degrees' when another ice age hits in about a thousand years. 'One may suggest that warmer weather is the better problem of the two,' he said. This was despite the fact that 97 per cent of the world's climate scientists agree that humans are warming the globe with increasing greenhouse gas emissions. Ex Opposition Leader Tony Abbott (centre) and then Senator Barnaby Joyce (left) visit Unique Meats butchery in 2011. Mr Joyce used to question the existence of climate change And on Christmas Eve 2019, Mr Joyce posted a selfie video of him feeding his cattle on his farm where he acknowledged climate change was real but railed against action such as Labor's carbon price. 'You don't have to convince me the climate's not changing. It is changing. My problem has always been whether you believe a new tax is going to change it back,' he said. Mr Joyce suggested only God could change the climate. 'And the other thing we've got to acknowledge is there's a higher authority that's beyond our comprehension - right up there in the sky - and unless we understand that it's got to be respected, then we're just fools, we're going to get nailed,' he said. When Mr Joyce overthrew Nationals leader Michael McCormack in June, analysts said a major reason for the coup was to stop the party agreeing to a net zero target amid fears that regional jobs would be destroyed. The new leader was adamant that his party would not support the target. World leaders will meet in Glasgow, UK later this month to discuss climate change. Pictured: Smoke blotted out the skies in Nowra, NSW in January 2020 due to bushfires 'The likelihood of Joyce getting endorsement from his party room to agree to net zero is zero. That's where the net zero lies,' he told the AFR Weekend in July. But just three months later the Deputy Prime Minister has backed the target after his hand was forced by Scott Morrison whose decision to attend the Glasgow climate conference essentially confirmed he would adopt net zero with or without Nationals support. Mr Joyce said he had two choices: to either 'negotiate' a better deal for regional Australia or 'demonstrate' against the net zero target. 'The choice was quite obvious. It was to make sure we negotiate a better settlement and we did,' he said. Details of the net zero policy are yet to be announced, but the Nationals are believed to have secured safeguards - and lots of cash - for regional Australia which will be most affected by emissions reduction. On Sunday Mr Joyce said he expected there to be a 'firm commitment' to regional Australia in a submission which would go to cabinet this week, before Mr Morrison heads overseas on Thursday. 'The position regional people are in now is better than the terms and the process that was initially delivered to us,' he said after a partyroom meeting in Canberra which lasted just over two hours. If temperatures continue to rise, there could be devastating effects here on Earth, including a dramatic loss of sea-life, an ice-free Arctic and more regular 'extreme' weather 'We are in support of a process going forward that would go towards a 2050 emissions target. 'Obviously that depends upon what we see in the cabinet submission reflecting the conversations and agreements between myself and the prime minister.' Apart from a 'socio-economic safety valve' which would include regular reviews of the impacts of the emissions target on jobs and industries in rural and regional areas, a key factor in getting the Nationals over the line was the prospect of an election loss without a net zero target. 'Standing up for them (regional Australians) is making sure that you are in the (cabinet) room where the decisions are being made,' the deputy prime minister said. 'Heroics that have no outcome, heroics that leave nothing but a rhetorical flourish - but leave the person who is hurting in the same position as what they were - is not an outcome the Nationals party room supported.' He declined to say whether the prime minister had agreed during the negotiations to give the Nationals an extra cabinet position. A young Woolworths worker who hated his job sent a late-night message to a co-worker saying he was struggling to hold on - just minutes before his death. Zachary Hendricks' life ended when his car hit a tree on the Bruce Highway in Midgee, 10km south of Rockhampton on Queensland's mid-north coast, at about 4.45am on September 22. The 21-year-old worked in the online orders department, but said the role was a 'nightmare even Freddy Krueger wouldn't want' in a heartbreaking note left for his mother Dhanni. On Sunday, the mother-of-three revealed her son texted a colleague at 4.20am on the night of the crash. Zachary Hendricks (pictured) tragically took his own life on September 22 near Rockhampton in Queensland Pictured: Zachary Hendricks' final text message to a friend, sent 25 minutes before he died In the tragic message, Zachary said he was 'sorry for having to make this decision' but was struggling. 'I sent out letters but I ran out of envelopes.' The young man also explained he'd already left a note for his team at work, 'so no need to tell them,' he added. A Woolworths spokesman told Daily Mail Australia: 'As soon as we became aware of concerns regarding Zachs safety on the morning of September 22, we moved quickly to alert local police and his family.' 'Were assisting the police and coroner with their inquiries, and reviewing the circumstances surrounding Zachs employment with us.' He also said the company is 'devastated by Zachs tragic passing'. Pictured: Zachary Hendricks in his Woolworths uniform. He worked there for 18 months before he took his own life Zachary Hendricks' mum Dhanni said her son was thrust into a management position without training Zachary started working at Woolworths about 18 months ago on a casual basis, but he was soon put on a full time contract - working 38 hours per week. 'It was 38 hours too much,' Dhanni told Daily Mail Australia. She said he was thrust into a management position with no training week and a half before he died, but tragically decided to take his own life after little more than a week in the new role. 'We know that he had only made the decision go take his own life just three days beforehand,' his mother wrote in a gut-wrenching Facebook post. 'There wasn't a lot of planning at all. It was in fact very sudden.' Zachary Hendricks (pictured) spent six years in the RAAF Cadet Corps, which his mother said was his 'whole world' She said close family members knew about a year ago that the job was stressful, but they didn't know how bad it was - 'the new position was a whole other level,' she added. The family only found out how much Zachary's work was having an impact on his mental health until they found the notes after the crash. 'He wrote quite a few letters and they were all about the work,' she said. Zachary said his job was 'a nightmare not even Freddy Krueger would want',' according to his mother. The line referenced Nightmare On Elm Street - a 1980s horror film featuring serial killer Freddy Krueger, who killed his victims in their dreams. Dhanni said her son's complaint about bullying and the workload to HR 'went nowhere'. A Woolworths spokesman said the company is devastated by Zachary's passing, and offered support to his colleagues The Woolworths spokesman said: 'Woolworths is currently unaware of any workplace complaints being made by Zach.' When asked about impact Zachary's death has had on her family, she said it was 'indescribable'. In a Facebook group dedicated to her son, Dhanni said the supermarket chain was 'worse than Covid' and accused Woolworths of 'corporate manslaughter'. 'They drove him to the edge and pushed him to take his own life after dismantling and crushing his mental health. I have the letters to prove it,' she wrote. She also coined the hashtag #YWLM - Young Woolworths Lives Matter. Dhanni made a memorial page for Zachary (pictured), and says his death has been indescribable Thousands of people flocked to the page to pay their respects, and to share their stories working for large corporations. 'I worked for the Woolworths group and had a very similar experience that led to me making an attempt on my own life,' one woman wrote. 'I was unsuccessful and given a second chance to get out but unfortunately people like your son did not get that. I am so very sorry for your loss.' Another wrote: 'This is heartbreaking, I left the company earlier this year after 11 years of service when my mental health had severely spiralled after years of consistent bullying.' Following the fatal crash, emergency services raced to the scene and spent 30 minutes to quell the flames. They tried to assess Zachary for injuries, but he died in the blaze. Police said the investigation is ongoing. A report has been prepared for the coroner. For 24/7 confidential support, call Lifeline on 13 11 14 Grace Tame has shared a hateful tweet falsely suggesting she was a willing participant in her sexual abuse, just days after claiming she'd been snubbed over an influential abuse prevention report on live television. The 2021 Australian of the Year and sexual abuse survivor shared the tweet, which was posted by a high-profile female conspiracy theorist, in a carefully-worded thread on Sunday to show why some victims don't come forward. The critic falsely contended Ms Tame, 26, had not told the truth and was not among the worst victims because she was 15 when her abuse occurred. She also falsely claimed Ms Tame had 'organised sex' with the paedophile who raped her. Grace Tame has shared a hateful tweet, which falsely suggested she was a willing participant when raped by a paedophile teacher in 2010, just days after claiming she'd been snubbed over an influential abuse prevention report on live television Ms Tame said her latest twitter thread was based on doing something she'd usually avoid - 'giving space to hate' - because it could help show why victims fear speaking out The same critic also baited Ms Tame three days after posting the tweet Ms Tame shared on Sunday, falsely calling her 'a notorious exaggerator'. Tame was 15, in Year 10 and anorexic when she was groomed and raped by her 58-year old maths teacher, Nicolaas Bester, at St Michaels Collegiate School in Hobart. Nine years before, she was molested in a cupboard by an older boy - which she told Bester, who later used the horrifying memory as part of a ritual as he abused her. 'When a perpetrator is 58 and a victim is 15, thats not an affair, thats a clear imbalance of power and its a clear case of sexual abuse,' said Grace Tame's mother, Penny Plaschke. Bester pleaded guilty to 'maintaining a relationship with a young person' and possession of child porn. When she was named Australian of the Year in January, an emotional Ms Tame said her win is for 'all survivors of child sexual abuse' as she vowed to use her position for change Ms Tame took to Twitter on Sunday evening to explain why sexual assault victims are so fearful of coming forward He convicted and sentenced to 2 years 10 months in jail and was released on parole after serving 19 months. In her Twitter thread on Sunday, Ms Tame explained that sexual abuse is a 'life sentence' because survivors are relentlessly 'victim-blamed' and retraumatised to the point of exhaustion. 'Child Sexual Abuse Awareness Week has ended, but our work is far from done,' Tame began. 'Today Im doing something I dont usually dogiving space to hatred. Why? Because it can be constructive; it helps explain why many people fear speaking out.' Ms Tame avoided naming her critic, but she was discussed in the accompanying comments - which were almost all appalled at her comments. 'Prolonged psychological manipulation can permanently damage the developing human brain, physical trauma is stored in our cells and memories stay with us,' Ms Tame wrote. 'Abusers and apologists aim to keep you exhausted by making you justify yourself and correct the record repeatedly. Both survivors and whistleblowers are relentlessly subjected to this treatment.' 'Hatred is born of ignorance.' On Friday Ms Tame was blindsided on national television when asked by ABC presenter Ros Childs what would be in the National Strategy to Prevent Child Sexual Abuse, due for release this week. A clearly embarrassed and visibly seething Ms Tame admitted she didn't know. 'No, I haven't been [involved],' a shocked Ms Tame said, shaking her head, and staring off screen. 'I haven't been involved in the drafting of that.' In a statement to Daily Mail Australia, Scott Morrison's office denied Ms Tame's complaint about not being consulted over the report, citing several occasions where it said Ms Tame was involved. The clash was the latest in several awkward exchanges with the Morrison government and the Prime Minister himself. Australian of the Year Grace Tame smiled awkwardly - but visibly seethed - while speaking about the matter Prime Minister Scott Morrison and 2021 Australian of the Year winner Grace Tame during the 2021 Australian of the Year Awards at the National Arboretum in Canberra Two months after being named Australian of the Year in a glittering ceremony, Ms Tame criticised the appointment of the new Commonwealth Assistant Minister for Women Amanda Stoker over her support for a men's rights activist. In March she spoke in favour of Liberal staffer Brittany Higgins, who claimed she had been raped and appeared to criticise Mr Morrison's comments over the matter. 'Having children doesn't guarantee a conscience,' she said. In May she also accused accused Mr Morrison of making a crass comment in her ear after her Australian of the Year acceptance speech. In August she spoke against Christian Porter's temporary promotion because he had been accused of rape, allegations he denies. Tens of millions of dirty, used, and counterfeit nitrile gloves - some of them stained with blood - have been shipped to the United States from Thailand in recent months as fraudsters look to take advantage of the surge in demand for medical equipment due to the COVID-19 pandemic. An investigation conducted by CNN has found that Thai companies are repackaging used gloves and reselling them worldwide, including in the US, where federal authorities are only beginning to understand the scope of the crisis. Earlier this year, Thai law enforcement agencies raided warehouses of companies who sold reused nitrile gloves abroad. Workers at the warehouses used dye to color the used gloves and laundry dryers to dry them after washing. In February and March, a US company warned the Biden administration that it had received shipments with visibly soiled gloves from a company based in Thailand. The warning was issued to both Customs and Border Protection as well as the Food and Drug Administration. Despite the warnings, the counterfeit shipments continued to be imported into the country as recently as July, according to CNN. Earlier this year, Thai police raided a warehouse that was repackaging and selling used, counterfeit medical grade nitrile gloves Thailand-based warehouses would ship the used gloves to the United States, making millions in profit even though the products they were selling were counterfeit In February and March, a US company warned the Biden administration that it had received shipments with visibly soiled gloves from a company based in Thailand. The warning was issued to both Customs and Border Protection as well as the Food and Drug Administration Workers at the warehouses used dye to color the used gloves and laundry dryers to dry them after washing In order to meet the emergency demand, the federal government lifted important regulations at the height of the pandemic - enabling the shipments of defective gloves to enter the country. Medical nitrile gloves are used by doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals who examine patients. After the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus a global pandemic and most governments announced mitigation measures, demand for the nitrile gloves skyrocketed. As supply dwindled, fraudsters found an opportunity to take advantage by selling soiled, second-hand gloves at a profit to governments and hospitals that were running desperately low on medical grade nitrile gloves. In the US, the FDA has banned the use of powdered latex gloves. Medical grade nitrile gloves are produced mostly in south and east Asia using natural rubber. The factories that produce the gloves use highly specialized manufacturing processes and expertise, making it difficult to ramp up supply in a short period of time. That created a void filled by shady businesses looking to turn a quick profit selling bogus gloves. The image above shows a pair of soiled, used gloves that were seized in raids by police in Thailand Tarek Kirschen, a Miami-based businessman, ordered $2million worth of gloves from Paddy the Room, a Thai-based company. Kirschen then sold the gloves to an American distributor. 'We start getting phone calls from clients completely upset, and you know, yelling and screaming at us saying, "Hey, you screwed us",' he told CNN. 'These were reused gloves. They were washed, recycled...Some of them were dirty. 'Some of them had bloodstains. Some of them had markers on them with dates from two years ago... I couldn't believe my eyes.' Kirschen told CNN he refunded the money to his clients and threw the gloves into a landfill. In February, he notified the FDA. According to CNN, other American distributors purchased 200 million gloves from Paddy the Room during the pandemic. Two of the distributors told CNN that the shipments were substandards and that the gloves weren't even nitrile. Uweport, a US-based company, said it was unable to resell the gloves to medical companies. Instead, the gloves were sold at a lower price to distributors that supply food processing plants, hotels, and restaurants. US Liberty LLC told CNN that it purchased gloves from a Vietnamese company. The gloves had holes, stains, rips, and were in different shades and colors, the company president said. 'It's ridiculously nefarious at every link in the chain,' industry expert Douglas Stein told CNN. Stein said he has warned US companies against going for deals that appear too good to be true. Tarek Kirschen, a Miami-based businessman, ordered $2million worth of gloves from Paddy the Room, a Thai-based company. Kirschen then sold the gloves to an American distributor. He said the gloves turned out to be defective Louis Ziskin, the owner of the company AirQueen, purchased $2.7million up front for an order of gloves from Paddy the Room through a third party. 'We saw dollar signs. We also saw we had legitimate medical customers who were literally begging for this stuff,' he told CNN. But the gloves that Ziskin purchased weren't even made of nitrile. Instead, they were lower-grade latex or vinyl, and many of them were soiled and used. When Ziskin saw the defective products, he said he could not in good conscience offer them up to hospitals. 'It's a total safety issue... to me the fact that these companies were never blacklisted is shocking,' he told CNN. Ziskin traveled to Thailand in an attempt to recoup the $2.7million his company lost. He and several others were arrested and charged with assault and kidnapping after a confrontation in a Bangkok restaurant. Zikin has denied the allegations. I'm going to see this through to the very end, he vowed. Am I going to get my money back for the company? Most likely not. Are we bringing a light to this to where hopefully, the United States can get up off the bench and stop it? Yeah. If that's what justice is, then that's what my hope is. Thai police missed a deadline to present evidence in the case. As a result, Ziskin was allowed to leave Thailand and return home to Los Angeles. Thai authorities said the investigation is ongoing. According to Thai authorities, warehouse workers used dye to color the gloves before repackaging the counterfeit merchandise and shipping it to the United States In July, DHS officials seized 70,000 boxes of counterfeit gloves from Ziskins Los Angeles warehouse. The boxes are now evidence in the investigation against Paddy the Room. CBP officials told CNN that it seized 40 million counterfeit face masks and hundreds of thousands of other PPE (personal protective equipment) items. The agency said it has not tracked the volume of seized gloves. Since the start of the pandemic, DHS has made more than 2,000 seizures of suspected counterfeit PPE. 'I think DHS has been a model around the world for how best to coordinate efforts among different agencies to really stop the import, the transactions and all the other surrounding criminal activity around Covid,' DHS Investigations Special Operations Agent Mike Rose told CNN. Last December, Thai police raided Paddy the Room. Investigators found piles of garbage bags filled with loose gloves of various colors, quality, and materials. The workers at the factory were stuffing old gloves into new, counterfeit boxes branded with the insignia of another Thai-based manufacturer, SriTrang. SriTrang, which is considered a legitimate company, told CNN that it does not do business with Paddy the Room. Thai police arrested the warehouse owner, but Paddy the Room continued operating from another location. Medical grade nitrile gloves (like those seen in the above file photo) are produced mostly in south and east Asia using natural rubber. The factories that produce the gloves use highly specialized manufacturing processes and expertise, making it difficult to ramp up supply in a short period of time 'They just moved to another location, to another warehouse,' said Supattra Boonserm, the deputy secretary-general of the Thai Food and Drug Administration. 'And why is that? Because the demand for gloves is still high. There are still customers waiting out there.' Thai authorities have staged at least 10 raids in recent months, seizing boxes of used and substandard gloves. Investigators even found workers scrubbing used gloves by hand in wash bowls and dyeing them with food coloring. Thai authorities said the workers would dry the gloves by placing them in a dryer. Many of the used gloves are collected from China or Indonesia and then shipped to Thailand to be washed, dried, and re-packaged. 'In simple terms, it's fraud,' Boonserm says. 'Under this outbreak situation, the demand is enormous both from hospitals and the general public. The volume of illegal gloves we have found is enormous.' Fresh doubts were raised last night over the alleged kidnapping of a former British public schoolboy in Italy. Sam Demilecamps, 25, was found malnourished and chained to a radiator after he phoned his estranged father saying he needed 6,000 or would be dead the next day. He later told officers he had been waterboarded and tasered while held hostage by three men and a woman. Sam Demilecamps, 25, with his mother Jally But one of the suspects has since told a judge the kidnap two weeks ago was all Mr Demilecampss idea to pay off a debt. And his own family have admitted they do not know who to believe. The suspects have been bailed under house arrest and their alleged victim is understood to have returned to Britain, while police inquiries continue. It is not the first time the former boarding school pupil who describes himself as an adrenaline junkie has needed emergency help. Mr Demilecamps attended the 36,000-a-year Hampshire boarding school Lord Wandsworth College. He now describes himself as a chef Five years ago, he had to be rescued after leaping into the sea from a 180ft cliff in Sicily for a dare. Last night Mr Demilecamps, who was barred from the pub beside his former flat in Brighton, could not be contacted for comment. His father Patrick Demilecamps, a former investment banker who used to work in England but now lives in Brussels, said: I dont have anything to add to what has already become public knowledge. His stepfather Derek McCall, 61, managing director of a biotechnology company, and skin therapist mother Jally, 60, declined to discuss the kidnap at their 2.5million mansion in Hampshire. Mr Demilecamps seen being rescued after a friend dared him to jump into the sea from a 180ft cliff at the resort of Taormina, Sicily in 2016 But a source close to the family said: His dad lost contact with him a long time ago then he was suddenly contacted by Sam during this event in Italy. 'He told him: I owe money to very dangerous people. This is a matter of life and death if I dont get 7,000 euros Im dead tomorrow. But now it seems the situation is not quite what it appeared and the so-called kidnappers are saying it was fraud all planned by Sam. The source added: And what sort of kidnapper would let their hostage have a mobile phone when everyone knows the police will be able to track them? We all know about Sams cliff jump. That sums up what hes like. And he spends money he hasnt got. The former boarding school pupil who describes himself as an adrenaline junkie has in the past needed emergency help for jumping off a cliff for a dare Mr Demilecamps, who attended 36,000-a-year Hampshire boarding school Lord Wandsworth College and now describes himself as a chef, had been in Italy since June, and at the start of October was at a hostel in Florence. After his father received his call asking for 7,000 euros, officers tracked him down within 36 hours and launched an armed raid. They found Mr Demilecamps chained and barefoot in a darkened room in a top-floor flat in the small town of Monte San Giusto in central Italy. Suspects Rubens Beliga Gnaga, 18, an Italian, Dona Conte, 22, from Guinea, Ahmed Rajraji, 21, from Morocco, and Aida Carpani, 20, from Montenegro, were arrested on suspicion of kidnap. Gnaga, however, told an Italian court: It was a sham. We had lent him 7,000. The kidnapping was staged to convince his family to send us the money. The four were freed under house arrest while inquiries continue. An English friend who Mr Demilecamps had been travelling with is understood to have corroborated his claims. Mr Demilecamps told police: My captors had seen me spending lavishly. They kicked and punched me, used a taser and pepper spray, then dragged me into a car and gave me tranquillisers. 'They drove me to Monte San Giusto. I was held underwater in the bath and beaten. Carabinieri officer Massimiliano Mengasini said: When [he was] found he was really shaken. Sean Kelly, National Crime Agency anti-kidnap and extortion unit operations manager, said: We are pleased that this incident has been resolved successfully. But an Italian police source added: There are certain aspects which are still being looked at such as the small amount of ransom demanded, and the fact he already knew the kidnappers. In November 2016 he broke a vertebra after jumping 180ft into the sea from a cliff in Sicily. At the time a police spokes- man said: He was certainly fortunate to survive. Nearly a third of small businesses are considering plans to force their staff to work from home over winter, to pass on the cost of soaring energy prices. Research from Smart Energy GB, a smart meter company, found that 30 per cent of companies in Britain have considered temporarily closing workplaces if they can. Energy bills are set to soar amid a huge increase in the price of buying gas on the global market, a squeeze which has put many energy suppliers out of business. Now 62 per cent of small businesses are worried about rising energy costs and whether it will affect their ability to operate over winter. The energy price cap was set at a record 1,277 a year from October 1 - and experts anticipate that it will have to be significantly increased in spring 2022. The increased cap pushed energy bills up by 140 on average this month. Energy bills are set to soar amid a huge increase in the price of buying gas on the global market 'Small businesses are the beating heart of the British economy but it is clear concerns about energy use are affecting how many of them will continue to operate this winter,' said Iagan MacNeil, Smart Energy GB's head of policy. Companies are now planning to tighten their belts, as more than nine in ten say they are trying to become more energy efficient. And 57 per cent of employees say they are doing their bit to try to save money for their employer by reducing their energy use. However the survey also found that 60 per cent charge their phones at work to avoid doing it at home, while 29 per cent shower at work. 'Whether it's turning off unused equipment or ensuring your bills are accurate, it all adds up. But the solution needs to be a collaborative approach with everyone playing a part. The cheapest energy tariffs on the market are now more expensive than Ofgem's price cap 'Many businesses are eligible to get a smart meter installed on their premises and this can help by giving you more control over your energy spend a vital tool for those worried about rising prices. Bring forward requirement for low-carbon heating in buildings, Lib Dems say New buildings in Scotland should immediately be required to use low or no-carbon heating, the Liberal Democrats have said. Laying out 'radical' proposals to counter the recent heat in buildings strategy put forward by the Scottish Government, party leader Alex Cole-Hamilton said decarbonising heat would 'make or break our climate emergency commitments'. The Government strategy, outlined by zero-carbon buildings minister Patrick Harvie, would require new-builds to use 'zero direct emissions heating' from 2024, but Mr Cole-Hamilton's plans would make the change immediate. He also urged the Government to make insulation a priority, while bringing in an up-front voucher scheme for homeowners to install low-carbon heating and more ambitious targets for the replacement of gas boilers. Advertisement 'To find out if your business is eligible for a smart meter, contact your energy supplier.' It comes after Labour said yesterday that those living in poverty are paying more on average for their gas and electricity than those who live more comfortably. Analysis from the party found the poorest 10 per cent of households pay on average 756 a year per person for electricity, gas and other fuels. Labour said this was an extra 50 per cent above what the richest households pay, at 504 per person on average, and more than the national average at 530. Shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves also said yesterday that if Labour was in power, the cost of living crisis would be at the centre of Wednesday's Budget. Meanwhile, the Liberal Democrats called for a windfall tax on gas producers profiting from record-high prices to help support struggling households and businesses this winter. The Lib Dems said that wholesale gas prices had risen from 56p/therm during the first half of the year to 150p/therm and are now reaching 300p/therm. Before that, natural gas prices had never reached 100p/therm. The party said Serica Energy, a North Sea gas company responsible for 5 per cent of the UK supply, had already stated it expects 'significant returns' due to the increase and that Serica's share price had surged from 156p per share at the end of August to 232p on Wednesday. A Government spokesman said: 'Protecting consumers is our top priority which is why our energy price cap will remain in place. 'We are also supporting vulnerable and low-income households further through initiatives such as the 500 million Household Support Fund, Warm Home Discount, winter fuel payments and cold weather payments. 'Domestic fuels such as gas and electricity are already subject to the reduced rate of 5 per cent of VAT.' Chinese spies are monitoring foreign nationals in Australia and even physically threatening them to remain silent, a spy agency report has suggested. The Australian Security Intelligence Organisation, the domestic spy agency, has predicted espionage and foreign interference will replace terrorism as Australia's principal threat within the next five years. ASIO's annual report, last week tabled in both houses of federal Parliament, made five references to separate Islamic terror groups but didn't explicitly mention China - not even once. However, it talked extensively about foreign interference by 'multiple countries' describing interference attempts as 'unacceptably high'. 'These attempts occur on a daily basis,' the report said. 'They are sophisticated and wide-ranging. They are enabled and accelerated by technology. And they take place in every state and territory, targeting all levels of government, as well as industry and academia.' Chinese spies are monitoring foreign nationals in Australia and even physically threatening them to remain silent, a spy agency report has implied (pictured is Chinese President Xi Jinping) Chillingly, ASIO said foreign governments spied on nationals living in Australia (pictured is a Chinese student group at the University of New South Wales) Chillingly, ASIO said foreign governments spied on nationals living in Australia. 'They are monitoring diaspora communities in Australia and, in some cases, threatening to physically harm members of these communities,' it said. ASIO also warned about foreign governments getting cosy with former members of parliament and high-level public servants. 'Foreign spies are attempting to obtain classified information about Australia's trade relationships, defence and intelligence capabilities,' it said. 'They are seeking to develop targeted relationships with current and former politicians, and current and former security clearance holders.' ASIO's director-general of security Mike Burgess said foreign spies operated without ethical boundaries and Australia had to be one step ahead. 'We out-imagined and out-manoeuvred sophisticated foreign adversaries who are effectively unconstrained by law, ethics and resources,' he said. ASIO's annual report, last week tabled in both houses of federal Parliament, made five references to separate Islamic terror groups but didn't explicitly mention China - not even once (pictured are People's Liberation Army troops at Tiananmen Square in September 2021) The Australian Security Intelligence Organisation, the domestic spy agency, has predicted espionage and foreign interference will replace terrorism as Australia's principal threat within the next five years (pictured is Melbourne's Bourke Street Islamist terror attack in November 2018) Under Chinese President Xi Jinping, Chinese nationals living in Australia have been even more active in United Front Work Department groups, arms of the Chinese Communist Party which seek to control the vast Chinese diaspora. Sam Dastyari's career as a Labor senator for New South Wales ended in January 2018 after it was revealed he had ties to Chinese Communist Party-linked property billionaire Huang Xiangmo, who was key figure in one of these front groups. Mr Huang had been a leader of the Australian Council for the Promotion of Peaceful Reunification of China, a group opposed to Taiwan remaining independent of China, and in 2013 he donated $1.8million over three years to the University of Technology Sydney so it could establish the Australian China Relations Institute. A UTS spokesman previously said ACRI was an 'independent, non-partisan research institute' and noted its staff had expressed views critical of China. The Australian Council for the Promotion of Peaceful Reunification of China, a group opposed to Taiwan remaining independent of China, is one such organisation In 2016, Mr Huang promised the Labor Party a $400,000 donation if it changed its policy on the disputed South China Sea. Mr Dastyari held a media conference for Chinese-language publications contradicting the ALP's South China Sea position, and was secretly recorded at Mr Huang's Mosman mansion on Sydney's lower north shore advising him his phone might be bugged. Mr Huang, the head of the Yuhu property group, in 2019 was effectively banned from re-entering Australia, had his citizenship bid blocked and his permanent residency rescinded. He had been photographed with high-level politicians from both major parties, including former Liberal prime minister Malcolm Turnbull and former foreign minister Julie Bishop at various functions. In his 2018 book Silent Invasion: China's Influence in Australia, academic Clive Hamilton detailed how Chinese student organisations operated as a front for the Chinese Communist Party. Chinese Communist Party-linked property billionaire Huang Xiangmo has been photographed with former Liberal prime minister Malcolm Turnbull Until April 2019, former Labor prime minister Paul Keating was an international advisory board member of the state-owned China Development Bank, with his image even featuring on the Communist Party linked group's website 'Aggression, threats, money and other favours are used by Beijing to influence public opinion in Australia from campuses to the halls of power,' it said. Until April 2019, former Labor prime minister Paul Keating was an international advisory board member of the state-owned China Development Bank, with his image even featuring on the Communist Party linked group's website. In November that year, Mr Keating accused Australian security agencies of being anti-China. 'My concern is that what passes for the foreign policy of Australia lacks any sense of strategic purpose,' he said in a speech to The Australian newspaper's Strategic Forum event in Sydney. 'The whispered word of 'communism' of old is now being replaced by the word 'China'. In the lead-up to Australia's May 2019 election, Mr Keating had told the ABC ASIO were 'nutters'. An Australian scientist who has developed an alternative 'synthetic protein' vaccine against Covid-19 has been forced to go hand-in-cap to try and fund its approval in Australia. Professor Nikolai Petrovsky has already raised more than $70,000 since listing his vaccine on GoFundMe last week. The Adelaide vaccine scientist, from Australian biotechnology company Vaxine, claims Covax-19 is the first synthetic protein vaccine against Covid-19 to receive market authorisation, after showing strong protection against the Delta virus variant in a Phase 3 clinical trial in 16,876 subjects in the Middle East. Professor Nikolai Petrovsky has developed an alternative Covid-19 vaccine that is being blanked out of existence by the Commonwealth Government A GoFundMe page has already taken in more than $70,000 to help get Covax-19 TGA approval Australians have expressed a keen interest in alternative Covid-19 vaccines. At present they have access to Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca Professor Petrovsky has been scathing of the Health Department's failure to back the product for use in Australia while handing over billions to its competitor CSL to produce the UK-developed AstraZeneca vaccine. 'Not only have the government failed to support our efforts, but if Australians are to have any chance to access our Covax-19 vaccine then the government requires that we first pay their agency, the Therapeutic Goods Administration or TGA, hundreds of thousands of dollars in fees to them and regulatory consultants, just to assess our application to get our vaccine locally approved,' the GoFundMe page states. CSL spokesman Jimmy Baker denied CSL had received billions from the Commonwealth. The professor hopes to raise at least $365,000 to go towards the expected half a million dollars or more to make the vaccine available to Australians. Poll WOULD YOU LIKE ACCESS TO AN AUSTRALIAN MADE COVID-19 VACCINE ALTERNATIVE? YES NO WOULD YOU LIKE ACCESS TO AN AUSTRALIAN MADE COVID-19 VACCINE ALTERNATIVE? YES 232 votes NO 10 votes Now share your opinion A frustrated Professor Petrovsky claims the Australian Government has refused to help make the vaccine available apart from a small grant he labelled 'hush money'. Further, he accused Federal Minister for Health Greg Hunt of attempting to wipe its very existence from history. 'If you go back through the thousands of interviews Greg Hunt has given over the last 18 months of this pandemic, you will not find one mention of our vaccine - the only successful vaccine developed here in Australia and our own government won't, very well aware of that vaccine, refuses to mention it by name,' he told The Informer last week. Professor Nikolai Petrovsky unleashed on the Health Department's lack of help Professor Nikolai Petrovsky has developed numerous vaccines. He is outraged his Covid-19 vaccine has not been approved for use in Australia Professor Petrovsky said no Australian-made vaccine had come anywhere close to mimicking the successful results of Covax-19. He questioned why the Commonwealth continued to handover millions to CSL and AstraZeneca when the vaccine had been largely avoided by the majority of young Australians. Daily Mail Australia revealed last week 819,527 AZ jabs went into the arms of young NSW residents between July 13 - when Delta hit Bondi - and October 10. Covax-19 has been successfully trialled showing strong protection against the Delta virus variant Professor Nikolai Petrovsky refused to pay millions of dollars to Liberal Party lobby groups to have the vaccine approved for use in Australia Over the same period, Victorians under the age of 40 took just 309,878 AZ jabs - with many preferring to wait for Pfizer. 'The Australian population pretty well universally have said we don't want this vaccine (AZ), the government continued to pay, you know, many millions, if not hundreds of millions of dollars to CSL to keep producing that vaccine that no-one wants,' Professor Petrovsky said. The respected scientist, who has developed vaccines against influenza, hepatitis b, sting allergy, malaria, japanese encephalitis, rabies and hiv, claimed the choice of vaccines available to Australians was not based on their merit. 'They were based on other principles that are opaque and dare I say, highly dubious and questionable and need to be looked at by an independent authority that has the power to obviously compel people to answer the question: "if you didn't fund this on merit, what was going on and did money change hands",' he said. Professor Petrovsky said it would cost just under $300,000 just to have the TGA review the vaccine, which is already approved for use overseas. 'The TGA is part of the Health Department and so if the government doesn't want a particular vaccine to be approved in Australia it can just put a hold to that process,' he said. Health Department response Professor Petrovskys assertions are absolutely and categorically rejected. Vaxine Pty Ltd, the company developing Flinders University's Covid-19 vaccine candidate COVAX-19 was funded $1 million through the Australian Government's Biomedical Translation Bridge Program, an initiative of the Medical Research Future Fund. To date the government has invested over $96 million from the Medical Research Future Fund into funding a vaccine and treatments for Covid-19. The Australian Government has invested in a diverse portfolio of Covid-19 vaccines that use a variety of technical platforms, entering into five separate Advance Purchase Agreements for the supply of Covid-19 vaccines, if they prove to be safe and effective. These include agreements with Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Novavax, Moderna and the international COVAX Facility. Combined, these agreements will ensure Australia has access to more than 280 million vaccine doses throughout 2021, 2022 and 2023. If a sponsor holds the appropriate evidence they are welcome at any time to make an application to the TGA to register their vaccine in the Australian Register of Therapeutic Goods. However, the government cannot compel a sponsor to make an application, nor can a regulatory approval be granted in the absence of an application. All Covid-19 vaccine applications are being treated with the greatest priority as part of the Department of Health's response to the pandemic. Advertisement The GoFundMe page has received dozens of messages of support from ordinary Australians desperate for more vaccination choices. 'I donated because Australian citizens should have access to Australian made vaccines and particularly protein based vaccines,' one man wrote. 'I will end up losing everything as I've just lost my job and have kids to care for. I pray this comes out very soon. I have much respect for this,' another wrote. Daily Mail Australia has contacted the Commonwealth Health Department for comment. Advertisement A mound of dirt adorned with a single bouquet of flowers is the final resting place of a teenage gangster who was gunned down alongside his father. Salim Hamze, 18, was buried in Sydney's Rookwood Cemetery on Sunday in an intimate ceremony surrounded by loved ones - just days after his life was cut short in a brazen daylight execution outside his father's home in Guildford, in Sydney's southwest His father Toufik Hamze, 64, will be flown overseas for burial in his native Lebanon. Salim's low key funeral was in the same grounds as distant relatives Bilal and Mejid, both of whom were also killed as a result of their family name and ties to the underworld. But the 18-year-old's farewell couldn't have been more different. Details of his funeral were provided to immediate family only, and he was buried without any fanfare. On Monday, two black plastic chairs lined a gravel footpath in front of a dirt mound and temporary headstone that marked Salim's final resting place. The plot was marked with just a simple plaque bearing his full name, age, and dates of birth and death, while a single bouquet of flowers had been placed on the dirt in the centre of a smattering of plants. Salim Hamze was farewelled at Rookwood Cemetery on Sunday afternoon, five days after he tragically died outside his father's Guildford home in Sydney's southwest. He was executed in broad daylight on Wednesday Salim's lonely gravestone was void of any fanfare on Monday. Two black plastic chairs lined a gravel footpath in front of a dirt mound and temporary headstone Salim's plot was marked with just a simple plaque bearing his full name, age, and dates of birth and death Salim Hamze, 18, and his father Toufik Hamze, 64, (pictured) were killed in a spray of bullets as they sat in the front seat of a red utility in Guildford last Wednesday Salim and Toufik became the latest victims of a high profile gangland feud on Wednesday morning. The duo were about to leave for work in their battered old Nissan Navara Ute when they were executed outside Mr Hamze senior's Guildford home in Sydney's southwest. While Salim is the latest of his relatives now buried at Rookwood - Sydney's biggest graveyard - his father's body was prepared to make the 21-hour journey back to Lebanon. The 64-year-old had made it clear to loved ones he wanted to return to where he was born and raised when he died. Details of Salim's intimate funeral were kept off social media and were passed on directly to immediate family to avoid any commotion. A source told Daily Mail Australia the service was 'small, nice for the family'. There are no limits on the amount of people who can attend a funeral, but capacity limits restrict services to no more than one person per four square metres indoors and one person per two square metres outdoors. About a hundred men gathered at Rookwood necropolis to bury Bilal Hamze, 34, a far cry from the intimate ceremony held for Salim Hamze A single bouquet of flowers had been placed on the dirt in the centre of a smattering of plants by Monday afternoon Medics try to save Toufik Hamze, 64, after he was shot on Wednesday beside his son Salim, 18. The fatal shootings were believed to be an extension of the bloody Hamze-Alameddine gangland battle It was a far cry from the funerals of some of his distant relatives, including notorious cousins Bilal and Mejid. On both occasions, more than 100 mourners turned out to say their farewells, flanked by police officers who were alert and prepared for further attacks. But Detective Chief Superintendent Darren Bennett confessed last week there are ongoing concerns about reprisal attacks. 'We've had this going on for a number of years now - tit for tat targeted shootings. I'm not shying away at all from the fact that we've got a significant issue in our south-western suburbs,' he said. 'These retribution-style, drug turf-style shootings are an ongoing problem. We're always worried about reprisals.' It's not clear if this concern prompted Salim's family to organise a low-key, private send-off. A burnt out Lexus SUV (pictured) was found 1.8km away in Murdock Lane a short time after the shooting Salim's relatives chose to host a private, intimate funeral for immediate family only on Sunday afternoon Salim's plot is the most recent that was dug at Rookwood Cemetery as of Monday afternoon The funeral home which organised Salim's funeral is understood to be repatriating Mr Hamze senior's body. What started as a feud between rival bikies in Sydney's south-west has blown up into an all-out war that now stretches across the city and even into the leafy North Shore. Police believe crime families are using mercenary guns-for-hire to carry out their brutal executions with military-style precision to slaughter their Hamze enemies. While Salim had loose ties to the Hamze gang - but wasn't related - his father was a wholly innocent victim of the gang war, condemned to death by his surname. While Salim (pictured) had loose ties to the Hamze gang - but wasn't related - police admit Toufik Hamze was an innocent victim of the gang war, condemned to death by his surname Family members, many of them masked, are seen carry the coffin of slain gangster Bilal Hamze following his funeral prayer service at Lakemba mosque. Salim's funeral was kept private to all but immediate family Pictured: This is the lonely tombstone of Bilal Hamze, the crime boss who was killed in a bitter war between his family and the Alameddine clan. Bilal was shot dead earlier this year Mr Hamze senior is believed to have been an innocent victim caught in the crossfire of the tit for tat reprisals between the two warring clans. Salim was charged last month after police found a prohibited gun in the door of his car. Mr Bennett said when officers stopped him and seized the firearm, the teenager knew he was 'under threat'. 'He was known to us as a person who was sometimes under threat and known to be involved in criminal organisations,' Supt Bennett said last week. As Salim was laid to rest, detectives may have made a breakthrough in the case, seizing a high-powered Ford Mustang which matches the description of a car seen speeding away from a lane in Guildford where an earlier getaway car was torched after the shooting. The front yard of Toufik Hamze's home (pictured) where the pair died was littered with construction site debris, including a toilet and a frying pan The assassins made their escape in a Lexus SUV which was later found burning out in Murdock Lane, less than 2km away from the shooting (pictured) Salim Hamze, 18, (left) and his father Toufik Hamze, 64, (right) were killed in a spray of bullets as they sat in the front seat of a red utility in Guildford on Wednesday 'The search warrant relates to an ongoing investigation by officers attached to the State Crime Command's homicide, criminal groups and Raptor squads,' a NSW Police spokesman said in a statement. 'No further information is available at this time.' Police Minister David Elliott warned on Friday officers would 'not stop' until culprits were off the streets. "This 'boutique approach' to lawlessness by these gangs is taking control, and we have to stop at nothing,' he said. "What's going to happen is that they will either find themselves in Long Bay [Correctional Centre] or in Rookwood [Cemetery].' The state's anti-bikie squad, Strike Force Raptor, would 'fight fire with fire' if required on the streets. Toufik Hamze was hit by a shot to the head in the salvo of shots that also cut down his son as they sat in the front of their bullet-riddled red Nissan Navara ute (pictured) A Tennessee town has erected a monument to black former slaves who fought in the Civil War, after calls to remove the city's Confederate monument met resistance. The new statue honoring members of the US Colored Troops, a segregated part of the Union Army during the Civil War, was unveiled in the historic town square of Franklin on Saturday. It stands opposite a 37-foot Confederate monument erected in 1899, known as 'Chip', which for years has faced calls for its removal. However, the city doesn't own the Confederate monument and says it is legally unable to remove it. Designed by sculptor Joe Howard, the new statue depicts a USCT soldier standing near eye level, so viewers can see his wisdom, Pastor Chris Williamson said at the unveiling, according to The Tennessean. A new statue honoring members of the US Colored Troops, a segregated part of the Union Army during the Civil War, was unveiled in the historic town square of Franklin on Saturday It stands opposite a 37-foot Confederate monument (above) erected in 1899, known as 'Chip', which for years has been the target of petitions calling for its removal Sculptor Joe Howard shakes hands with people who came to see the Saturday unveiling of his statue honoring Black enslaved men who enlisted in the U.S. Colored Troops Situated in Williamson County in central Tennessee, Franklin was the site of the 1864 Battle of Franklin, a major turning point in the Civil War and one of the Confederacy's worst defeats. The area is now a prosperous hub for major businesses, including the North America headquarters for Nissan, and much of its tourism industry centers on Civil War landmarks. But, concerned that the full history of the Civil War was not being told, the new statue along with five historical markers have been added as part of a project dubbed The Fuller Story. The four-year project was led by Baptist minister Hewitt Sawyers and three other local residents, culminating in the statue unveiling on Saturday, an event attended by hundreds. 'Here is a black man who was enslaved, who gave his life to go out to help free other people,' Sawyers told the New York Times of the new statue. 'To be standing here, now, in the face of a statue that represents enslaving those people and to know that, because he was willing to do that, we won what a powerful message,' he added. Hundreds gather for the unveiling of the historic U.S. Colored Troops soldier statue in Franklin, honoring black enslaved men who enlisted and served in the Civil War Sculptor Joe Frank Howard gets emotional as he delivers remarks at the unveiling The statue was commissioned by The Fuller Story Project in Franklin to create a monument memorializing black Civil War soldiers in the Union Army Sawyers said at a panel discussion on Thursday that since childhood he had avoided downtown Franklin because it meant seeing the Confederate statue. He had believed the statue needed to come down, but said that talks with community members with a passion for local Civil War history had 'changed my heart about that.' 'It's not a statue of Robert E. Lee or someone like that, it's just saying that Confederate soldiers died, and it's just giving them honor for fighting in a war,' said Sawyers. Battle of Franklin Trust CEO Eric Jacobson, who is white, initially floated the idea of the Fuller Story project, according to the AP. An estimated 170,000 African Americans joined the Union Army from around the country, and some 300 are believed to have ties to Williamson County. For years, some Franklin residents have raised concerns about the towering 'Chip' monument, which depicts an Confederate soldier at parade rest on top of a tall column. U.S. Colored Troops reenactor Gary Burke stands at attention before the statue unveiling Attendees gather around the Historic U.S. Colored Troops soldier statue following an unveiling Ebony Moore sheds a tear as the new statue is unveiled Saturday in Franklin, Tennessee The monument was erected by the Daughters of the Confederacy in honor of the Confederate troops who died in the Battle of Franklin. The private group still owns the monument, but it has been restored several times at the expense of the city. Following a 2010 restoration of the Confederate monument, then-Mayor John Schroer declared that the statue was 'an important piece of the city of Franklin.' In 2017, following the deadly right-wing rally in Charlottesville, Virginia protesting the removal of a Confederate monument, a petition circulated calling for the removal of the Chip statue. A competing petition called for the statue to remain, and both garnered thousands of signatures. At the time, Franklin's city administrator said that state law prohibited removing the statue without the permission of the Tennessee Historical Commission. The issue is still tied up in the courts. Incredible footage has captured the moment Jacinda Ardern appears to push a sign language interpreter out of her way during a nationally televised Covid press conference. The uncomfortable moment was shared to TikTok on Saturday showing the New Zealand prime minister speaking to reporters - before stepping away from the microphone and directly into the interpreter. Ms Ardern, 41, then steps back again, forcing the interpreter out of frame completely before the woman walks around her and back in front of TV crews - giving the nation's leader a priceless look before she continues signing for the hearing impaired. The moment hasn't been well-received by Ms Ardern's constituents, who pointed out that the oblivious move was 'rude' underneath the video. Jacinda Ardern stepping in front of the sign language interpreter at the country's Covid press conference on the weekend (pictured) 'What a bully! Wolf in sheep's clothing,' one person said. 'So disrespectful. I used to think she was cool but far from it now,' added another. However, others were quick to point out the interaction wasn't intentional. 'She was just moving out of the way for the other speaker to come on, she even smiled at her afterwards.' Most of the comments were just tickled by the expression the interpreter gave. 'This was innocent and the sign ladies face is hilarious,' one said. 'Love the look she gives to Jacinda when she moves back in front the camera,' added another. Many people commenting said the expression on the sign language interpreters face was hilarious. Ms Ardern apologised after the incident (pictured) Video from the longer media conference shows Ms Ardern very quickly registered that she had pushed the woman out of the way and smiles and nods at her in apology. Ms Ardern's press conferences have been notable in recent days not only for the subject material. A day earlier her media address was interrupted by an earthquake which shook the stage, causing her to share an alarmed expression with the sign language interpreter. The earthquake was later revealed to be a 5.9 magnitude quake which had struck the North Island. Ms Ardern very quickly regained her composure and pushed on. 'Sorry, a slight distraction would you mind repeating that question?' she said. On Friday, Ms Ardern and the same interpreter were briefly rattled by an earthquake, which struck as she was addressing the nation for a Covid-19 update On Monday, New Zealand reported 109 new locally acquired Covid cases and revealed 87 per cent of the country has had one vaccine dose. A 90 per cent double-vaccination target was announced by Ms Ardern on Friday. The alert level system is also set to be replaced by a traffic light system and vaccine mandates have been announced for health, education and prison workers. Aucklanders - who have spent almost 10 weeks in lockdown - will be the first movers to a new traffic light style. Auckland's 1.7 million residents will move from alert level three to 'code red' on the new system when 90 per cent of Aucklanders aged 12 and over are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Pictured: The epicentre of Friday's earthquake near Nueva Plymouth on New Zealand's North Island. Geonet said the quake was recorded at a depth of about 210km and was felt across the country Ms Ardern says NZ's biggest city - which is currently 89 per cent partially vaccinated - could shift in early December. 'At current rates, Auckland would move absolutely before Christmas,' Ms Ardern said. 'This is within Auckland's grasp.' But the vaccine mandates have sparked fury from some New Zealanders. Former Breakfast, Good Morning and Radio NZ presenter Liz Gunn released an emotional video on Saturday. She claimed that mandatory vaccinations were 'rape' and that Friday's earthquake was 'Mother Earth' rising up against a tyrannical leader. 'The poisoning of our children, the poisoning of our air, the poisoning of our waters. The poisoning of New Zealand with these terrible ideas,' Ms Gunn said. Former TVNZ and Radio NZ presenter Liz Gunn uploaded a video on Saturday (pictured) in which she said mandatory vaccines were 'rape' and Ms Ardern had caused the earthquake She claimed the vaccine passport to be introduced in New Zealand would divide the population. 'These completely misguided lies Ardern is telling us. The poisoning with arrogant tyrannical leaders. All of this is it stops with this earthquake. That's what our mother was explaining to us. We must listen to her. Even those who think Ardern is amazing.' 'Stop and think, what will this country be like in a generation or two generations if a leader like this is allowed to jab rape. Because it is rape to force something in someone's body.' Ms Gunn was a presenter with TVNZ for more than a decade between 1990 and 2003 before she quit live on air amid reports she had not clicked with new co-host Mike Hosking. She continued to work at Radio NZ until 2016 and is now the executive producer and presenter for a creative content agency. Advertisement They tackled the black summer bushfires together and now Gladys Berejiklian has turned to an old friend as she faces a new crisis. The former NSW premier was pictured having coffee with respected former Rural Fire Service head Shane Fitzsimmons and his wife Lisa in Sydney on Monday as just a few hundred metres away the Independent Commission Against Corruption heard evidence from her former deputy, John Barilaro. Ms Berejiklian struck up a strong bond with Mr Fitzsimmons during Sydney's 'summer from hell' in 2019-2020 and made time for a coffee with her former colleague as the ICAC probe that saw her resign as premier entered its second week. On Monday, Mr Barilaro told ICAC that if he had known about a then secret relationship between Ms Berejiklian and Mr Maguire, a controversial shooting centre funding proposal from the Australian Clay Target Association (ACTA) may have been handled differently. Ms Berejiklian's years-long clandestine affair with the former Liberal MP was not revealed until a year ago when ICAC was investigating Mr Maguire. The shooting centre was to be located in Mr Maguire's former electorate of Wagga Wagga and he was a keen backer of it getting state funding of $5.5million. 'It's very possible because of the conflict that we would have managed it differently,' said Mr Barilaro. Former NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian (pictured right) has coffee on Monday morning with former Rural Fire Service head Shane Fitzsimmons (with back to camera) and his wife Lisa in Sydney's Strand Arcade Former NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian (pictured left) will give evidence to the ICAC on Thursday and Friday The ICAC is investigating if Ms Berejiklian was 'liable to allow or encourage the occurrence of corrupt conduct' by Mr Maguire, with whom she was in a 'close personal relationship' between 2015 and 2018. It's also looking into whether she 'exercised her official functions dishonestly or partially' by not reporting any reasonable suspicions about Mr Maguire to the ICAC. Counsel for ICAC Scott Robertson asked Mr Barilaro about Mr Maguire's advocacy for projects in his electorate. 'I would say he was a pain in the a**e (like) a dog with a bone,' he said. Peter Minucos, a former adviser to the ex-deputy premier John Barilaro, was the first to give evidence on Monday. Ms Berejiklian's public testimony is set to begin on Thursday. Mr Barilaro joined cabinet's expenditure review committee (ERC) in November 2016 after he became leader of the NSW National Party and deputy premier. Ms Berejiklian was then the state treasurer and chair of the ERC. Mr Barilaro said he first became aware the ACTA was looking for funding was when it appeared on the ERC agenda in December 2016. It was the 'third or the fourth' ERC meeting he had attended. Mr Robertson asked Mr Barilaro if any one had lobbied him about the ACTA proposal. 'Not that I can recall,' Mr Barilaro replied. Former NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian (pictured left) has coffee on Monday morning with former Rural Fire Service head Shane Fitzsimmons (right) and his wife Lisa (with her back to camera) Former NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian (pictured right) on Monday morning in Sydney with former Rural Fire Service head Shane Fitzsimmons (with back to camera) and his wife Lisa Mr Barilaro became the minister responsible for administrative details, such as the finalisation of a business case, for the ACTA project. An updated business case was prepared by an external company in consultation with the NSW government. He said he did not direct that the project have any particular priority or emphasis in his office. 'No, absolutely not,' Mr Barilaro said. Public servant Chris Hanger told the ICAC last Thursday that Mr Minucos was a key figure in developing a business case for the ACTA facilities upgrade. Ms Berejiklian's relationship with Mr Maguire was a closely guarded secret at the time, and was not disclosed to her colleagues in her then positions of treasurer, initially, followed by becoming premier upon the resignation of Mike Baird in January 2017. On Monday morning, Mr Minucos was asked by Mr Robertson if he understood the money for ACTA was guaranteed by January 2017, or contingent on that business case. He said it was a 'bit of both' and it was a 'fine line in my mind at the time'. The funds were to come from Restart NSW, which required a business to cost (BCR) ratio above one to be demonstrated for the funds to be paid. Former NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian (pictured centre) deep in conversation with former Rural Fire Service head Shane Fitzsimmons (right) and his wife Lisa (centre) Former NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian leaves her house on Sydney's leafy north shore on Monday morning Gladys Berejiklian prepares to leave her home for a coffee meeting with the former head of the Rural Fire Service Shane Fitzsimmons and his wife Lisa Last week, Mr Hanger said Mr Minucos was the 'key contact' and was 'heavily involved in the development of the (ACTA) project, in particular the advice back to the consultants ... in regards to an addendum to the original business case'. Neither Mr Minucos nor Mr Barilaro are accused of wrongdoing. Mr Robertson asked if it was 'unusual to have someone in a ministerial office involved in procuring a business case as an addendum to a business case?' 'It's peculiar for them to be involved in advice around that in the way Mr Minucos did,' Mr Hanger answered. Mr Robertson asked: 'As a longtime public servant with responsibility for procurement of infrastructure, did you regard it as inappropriate that there was the kind of advice ... provided at the political level rather than the agency or departmental level?' Former NSW deputy premier John Barilaro (left) arrives at the Independent Commission Against Corruption hearing in Sydney on Monday Peter Minucos arrives at the Independent Commission Against Corruption hearing in Sydney on Monday. The ICAC's Operation Keppel is holding hearings into whether former premier Gladys Berejiklian breached public trust The former Premier made time for coffee with a friend as the ICAC heard evidence from Mr Barilaro 'We indicated that it wasn't ... where or how they should be providing advice,' Mr Hanger said, adding that this view was expressed to Mr Barilaro's office. Mr Hanger then worked for a regional NSW agency which sat under the Department of Premier and Cabinet and whose relevant minister was Mr Barilaro. Last week's evidence was at times excruciating, not least for the former premier, who again saw her private and public life scrutinised in minute detail. Most galling of all for the former premier, is that none of this was necessary. If she had declared there was a potential conflict of interest in her relationship with Mr Maguire, she could have recused herself from funding meetings concerning projects of interest to him. She had previously declared that two of her cousins worked for the NSW public service and also disclosed meeting someone at a function. Declaring a potential conflict of interest was also something the then state premier Mike Baird expected and called for at every cabinet meeting, as ICAC heard last week. ICAC assisting counsel Scott Robertson will question former NSW National Party leader John Barilaro Ms Berejiklian first appeared before ICAC more than a year ago. On Monday, October 12, 2020, she told an inquiry into Mr Maguire that she had been in a secret 'close personal relationship' with him for years. A tapped phone call entered into evidence that day featured the pair discussing a business deal. 'I don't need to know about that bit,' the then premier of NSW said to her then partner. She announced on October 1 2021 that she was resigning as NSW premier because she herself was being investigated by ICAC. Ms Berejiklian had known for at least two weeks that was the case, as ICAC had already interviewed her. In an excruciating 22 second clip played entered into evidence last week she was asked if she had suspicions that her former boyfriend, Mr Maguire may have been involved in corrupt behaviour. 'I was in shock, I didn't know what to think. I didn't have enough detail. I hadn't read what was happening. I can't remember what I thought at that time,' she said. Mr Robertson pressed her, saying 'I'm not asking what you knew, I'm asking whether at the time you asked for Mr Maguire's resignation you suspected that he may have been engaged in corrupt conduct?' 'I didn't, I didn't, I didn't know. I wasn't, I wasn't sure,' Ms Berejiklian replied in the recording of an interview from September 18. That term Mr Robertson used - suspected - is important. The ICAC Act holds that leaders must report 'suspicion' of possible corrupt behaviour straight away. Former NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian is being investigated by the Independent Committee Against Corruption in Sydney Last Tuesday, the now infamous 'WTF' memo was presented at ICAC. On December 12, 2016, Nigel Blunden sent a memo sent to his boss, the then premier Mike Baird, sarcastically referring to the proposed 'Maguire international shooting centre of excellence.' 'As Joel Goodson (the character Tom Cruise played in the 1983 film Risky Business) would say, sometimes you have to say WTF,' Mr Blunden said. In the recommendation section of his memo, Mr Blunden wrote 'Oppose. Gladys and (Stuart) Ayres want it. No doubt they've done a sweetheart deal with Daryl, but this goes against all of the principles of sound economic management.' The explosive memo that has rocked the ICAC inquiry into former premier Gladys Berejiklian On Friday, the NSW Trade and Industry Minister Stuart Ayres was grilled by Mr Robertson about the 'WTF' memo, which mentioned him. He replied that he didn't 'recall having any interactions with (Ms Berejiklian)', on the issue. Sophie Callan, who is representing Ms Berejiklian at the ICAC, asked Mr Ayres if the statement about a 'sweetheart deal' was speculative. 'Fantasy would be a good word,' Mr Ayres replied. The memo was written two days before government's expenditure review committee - which was headed by Ms Berejiklian - considered the proposal and ultimately gave the association $5.5 million. But this paled in comparison to what came next - her political ally and close friend Mike Baird's appearance. Mr Baird said the first he heard of Ms Berejiklian and Mr Maguire's relationship was 'when it was revealed here (at ICAC) about a year ago,' he said, adding that he was 'incredulous' when he heard it. 'Certainly I think (the relationship) should have been disclosed to myself as the premier' and that it was a 'potential conflict of interest,' he said. Mr Baird also said that Mr Maguire was 'at times aggressive and at times abusive to members of staff and public servants'. Ms Berejiklian has repeatedly and strenuously denied all wrongdoing. Mike Baird (pictured right) and Gladys Berejiklian (left) were very close political allies and friends The Australian Clay Target Association is part of an ICAC inquiry into former NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian The revelation of former NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian's (pictured left) secret relationship with Daryl Maguire (right) left another former premier, Mike Baird 'incredulous' Hopes were raised last night that Britain could avoid a winter health crisis as data from Israel shows booster jabs can significantly reduce cases and hospitalisations. The country, which has led the way in vaccinations, rolled out boosters when immunity from the first two jabs began to wane in the summer. Almost half of its population has now been given a third shot and last week, hospitalisations had halved compared to the previous month. The country, which has led the way in vaccinations, rolled out boosters when immunity from the first two jabs began to wane in the summer Cases also dropped to 1,200 around five times lower than in September. It will come as welcome news to Health Secretary Sajid Javid, who is increasing efforts to ramp up the booster programme. Amanda Pritchard, chief executive of the NHS, yesterday revealed that Saturday was the busiest day for Covid booster jabs, with more than 325,000 patients receiving their third dose. Almost half of its population has now been given a third shot and last week, hospitalisations had halved compared to the previous month Hopes were raised last night that Britain could avoid a winter health crisis as data from Israel shows booster jabs can significantly reduce cases and hospitalisations But take-up of booster doses has been slow. Those eligible currently include only the over-50s and those who are immunocompromised. And patients need to wait for six months after their last dose. But in a bid to speed up the programme, NHS chiefs will now allow eligible patients to book their third jab a month earlier. It comes as figures released yesterday reveal another 39,962 cases and 72 deaths from Covid. Meanwhile, Mr Javid is looking to make getting the jab a condition of employment for NHS staff but there are fears it could spark a backlash. The Department of Health said those eligible for a booster should book as soon as they are invited. It added that more than 5million booster jabs have been administered in England. He bought first home at 22 and has aspirations to be a millionaire before he's 30 Savvy spender works seven days as a teacher and works casually at Woolworths The homes, four in NSW and one in Hobart, have combined value of $2.4million Douglas Lazickirk, 27, is the owner of five properties across two Australian states A casual employee at Woolworths has revealed how he was able to purchase five properties and travel the world all before his 28th birthday. Douglas Lazickirk, 27, is the proud owner of five properties across two Australian states that have a combined value of $2.4million. The teacher and casual Woolworths employee from NSW has aspirations to be a millionaire before he turns 30 and puts his success down to hard work and 'just a little luck'. He bought his first home when he was 22 while balancing his shifts at the supermarket and studying a bachelor of teaching and arts he finished in 2015. Douglas Lazickirk, 27, (pictured) is the proud owner of five properties across two states that have a combined value of $2.4million The teacher and casual Woolworths employee has aspirations to be a millionaire before he turns 30 and has put his success down to hard work and a little luck His first property was previously owned by his neighbour in the NSW Central Coast suburb of Erina, which he was able to secure by getting a loan from the bank. The graduate was advised to work full-time at Woolworths to make sure he was approved for the loan, which he did for ten weeks before returning to casual work. With his father as guarantor on the loan he was able to purchase the two-bedroom, one-bathroom home for $280,000 with a down payment of $28,000. The savvy spender immediately moved tenants into the home to help with the mortgage payments and set about strategising his next move in the NSW property market. Mr Lazickirk told Daily Mail Australia he learnt most of what he knows from watching YouTube videos on investing and reading 'every article' he could. 'I have the belief you should do everything yourself,' he said. 'It's not a fast game, it's a slow game.' The investor used equity from his previous two homes to purchase the $300,000 four-bedroom home in Grafton, in the NSW Northern Rivers region (pictured) Mr Lazickirk bought his first home at 22 and plans to continue to expand his property portfolio The savvy spender aspires to be a millionaire by the time he turns 30 and plans to purchase three more properties in the next twelve months He bought his second home at the age of 24 with the help of his sister, who used the first homebuyer's grant to purchase the two-bedroom, one-bathroom property. The Tumbi Umbi home on the Central Coast - complete with a granny flat out the back - cost $435,000 with each sibling putting down a 10 per cent deposit. The pair decided to increase the rent on the home, meaning the mortgage is slowly being repaid as the two pursue their passions, which for Mr Lazickirk is travelling. As a casual worker, the investor has the luxury of making travel his first priority and has flown to a staggering 132 countries so far. As a casual worker, the investor has the luxury of making travel a priority and has flown to a staggering 132 countries so far He then decided to slice his first Erina property down the middle and build a two-bedroom, one-bathroom granny flat to make an extra $460 each week. In the last three months, the 27-year-old has purchased two additional properties, one in Grafton in the NSW Northern Rivers region and the other in Hobart. He used equity from his previous two homes to purchase the $300,000 four-bedroom home in NSW and nabbed the property in Tasmania after it had been on the market for only eight hours. The property cost him $380,000 and has three bedrooms and one bathroom. Mr Lazickirk said he will usually make 20 offers on homes and get accepted for four, and has purchased each property without even inspecting them because of Covid-19. The casual teacher and Woolworths employee has been able to build his savings by living in his father's garage and working seven days a week The Hobart property cost the investor $380,000 and has three bedrooms and one bathroom (pictured) He says interest in his savvy investment methods has exploded in the last three months but admitted he doesn't like to give out financial advice. The casual teacher said he's been able to build his savings by living in his father's garage and working seven days a week, adding he doesn't drink alcohol. He now outsources the work that comes with owning five homes to brokers and real estate agents and looks at himself as 'the CEO making all the decisions'. With the passive return from the five properties he has been able to take flying lessons and says he can enjoy spending more time with friends. As for future investments, Mr Lazickirk aspires to purchase three new properties in the next 12 months and is confident he will hit millionaire status a year after that. An accused Capitol rioter who is in jail awaiting trial said he is considering running for mayor of Las Vegas in 2024. Nate DeGrave, 32, was arrested by the FBI in his Las Vegas apartment in late January and now faces a dozen of charges in connection to the January 6 attacks on the Capitol. DeGrave told I-Team that while he was in the Capitol during the attacks, he was there recording a documentary and did not take part in any violent activities. He said that he and other Las Vegas men who were subsequently arrested planned to sell the documentary and that was the main motivation behind their trip to DC. Scroll down for video Nate DeGrave, 32, (left) was arrested by the FBI and accused of taking part in the January 6 riot. He said he is 'flirting' with the idea of running for mayor of Las Vegas in 2024 According to I-Team, DeGrave is the CEO of an event planner and adult model management company. In a modeling profile, DeGrave said he was a fitness model, entrepreneur, personal trainer and motivator with 'great camera presence' who had been told many times he 'should be on the cover of magazines' But security footage obtained by investigators showed DeGrave and other men forcibly pushing officers guarding Capitol doors to make their way inside, prosecutors said. In January 6 pictures of DeGrave, he can be seen wearing what investigators said was tactical gear, but he told I-Team that he was simply wearing a motorcycle vest. 'I fully believed that the election would be overturned by Pence and I knew that it was going to be historical,' DeGrave said. 'I was excited, but at the same time, I was very concerned for my safety,' he told the outlet. 'I do think that there are also better and more effective ways at creating change and I have been flirting with the idea of running for mayor of Las Vegas in the next couple years,' he added. DeGrave is now jailed in Washington DC awaiting a trial that has not been scheduled yet. On social media, DeGrave commented 'It's time the American people rise and stand up for this country. We're tired of the corruption' before the riot. He allegedly said: 'We are out here protecting the country, if shit goes down, if Pence does what we think he is going to do. Let Antifa try us, we are here, we are ready. I say bring it. We are not silent anymore' But security footage obtained by investigators showed DeGrave and other men forcibly pushing officers guarding Capitol doors to make their way inside. A person believed to be DeGrave is circled A criminal complaint filed against him states he 'assaulted, resisted, opposed, impeded, intimidated, and interfered with an officer' A fundraiser with a goal of $500,000 was set up for DeGrave. Nobody has made donations as of Sunday He insisted that he and others present at the riot were not violent and were exercising their right to protest peacefully. 'We're not violent people,' DeGrave said. 'We're not extremists. We're not domestic terrorists.' But a criminal complaint filed against him states he 'assaulted, resisted, opposed, impeded, intimidated, and interfered with an officer.' Before the riot on January 6, a fellow accused rioter shared on social media that DeGrave and other men had booked their flights to Washington DC to stand with Trump and record the events. 'We will be documenting our journey and every contributor will get a personal thank you video shot on location in Washington DC and will be featured as a contributor on the video mini documentary,' the post said according to the complaint. An accused Capital rioter has said he is planning to run for mayor of Las Vegas in 2024 (file picture) DeGrave insisted that he and others present at the riot were not violent and were exercising their right to protest peacefully. 'We're not violent people,' DeGrave said. 'We're not extremists. We're not domestic terrorists' (file picture) Retrieved comments from DeGrave's deactivated Facebook account show that he said 'It's time the American people rise and stand up for this country. We're tired of the corruption.' The men then allegedly met in a Maryland hotel room and recorded a debate before the Capitol riot. In the video, obtained by investigators, a person believed to be DeGrave says: 'We are out here protecting the country, if shit goes down, if Pence does what we think he is going to do. Let Antifa try us, we are here, we are ready. I say bring it. We are not silent anymore.' DeGrave insisted that his behavior on social media was merely that, and what should be investigated are his actions, which he said were not violent DeGrave said that he has lost 'a lot' since he was jailed. The description of his fundraiser claims that he has been denied proper hygiene, proper nutrition, access to legal visits in jail DeGrave is in jail awaiting trial but said he is thinking of running for Las Vegas mayor in 2024 DeGrave insisted to I-Team that his behavior on social media was merely that, and what should be investigated are his actions, which he said were not violent. A fundraiser with a goal of $500,000 was set up for DeGrave. Nobody has made donations as of Sunday. 'Nathan DeGrave is a patriot, political prisoner suffering in solitary confinement at Biden's D.C Gitmo. While murderers, rapists, and pedophiles get treated with kid's gloves for their crimes, Nathan's only crime is his non violent participation at the mostly peaceful January 6 rally,' read the description. ln it, it's also claimed that the 'corrupt Biden regime' would not allow DeGrave to leave jail before the trial because he is a Trump supporter and that he has been denied proper hygiene, proper nutrition, access to legal visits in jail. According to I-Team, DeGrave is the CEO of an event planner and adult model management company. In a modeling profile, DeGrave said he was a fitness model, entrepreneur, personal trainer and motivator with 'great camera presence' who had been told many times he 'should be on the cover of magazines.' DeGrave faces charges including conspiracy, obstruction of an official proceeding, and assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers. The next Las Vegas mayoral election will be held in 2024. More than 500 people have died from Covid-19 in the latest NSW outbreak, with the state recording 294 new locally acquired cases and four deaths as all student year groups return to face-to-face learning. There have been 502 Covid-related deaths in NSW since the latest wave began on June 16. Now 93 per cent of people 16 and over have had one dose of a Covid vaccine and 84.8 per cent of adults are fully jabbed. There are 474 Covid-19 patients in NSW hospitals, 116 of them in intensive care. In the 24-hour reporting period to 8pm on Sunday there were 59,612 tests. More than 500 NSW residents have died from Covid-related illnesses since the state's Delta outbreak began in June. Pictured: Hospital staff care for ICU Covid patients at Sydney's St Vincent's hospital in July NSW recorded 294 new cases and four deaths on Monday. Pictured Sydneysiders out and about on October 16 after the city's lockdown was lifted Kindergarten, year one and year 12 students went back to school in NSW last week and the remaining students have returned to classrooms on Monday. Non-urgent elective surgery will also resume at public and private hospitals within Greater Sydney on Monday after being cancelled in August to stop hospitals from being overwhelmed as Covid cases soared. Overnight elective surgery will be capped at 75 per cent in public and private facilities but private facilities can exceed the cap if they are providing surgery for public patients. There are no restrictions in regional hospitals providing overnight non-urgent elective surgery. Jury trials will also resume in the District Court with Covid safety precautions including a requirement for jurors to be fully vaccinated and practise social distancing. Premier Dominic Perrottet admits there will be challenges as 810,000 students get back to school but is 'very confident' it will go well. 'We've had a number of schools close but the alternative is to keep all schools closed,' Mr Perrottet said on Sunday. 'We're not doing that.' Now 93 per cent of people 16 and over in NSW have had one dose of a Covid vaccine and 84.8 per cent of adults are fully jabbed On Sunday night, NSW Education announced 16 schools were closed for cleaning and contact tracing after positive Covid tests in their communities. Asked about reports up to 160 schools throughout NSW had staffing issues as students returned, Mr Perrottet said he was aware there would be some shortages. 'There will always be teachers and people across our state who just decide not to get vaccinated,' he said. 'That's their choice. We believe it's a bad choice but ultimately that success rate of 95 per cent has helped us get our kids back in the classroom.' All teachers are required to be fully vaccinated and vaccines are recommended for students 12 and older. Masks are compulsory for teachers and high school students and are strongly recommended for primary school students. Saudi Arabia has pledged to slash its carbon emissions to net zero by 2060. The country, which produces more than a tenth of the worlds crude oil, joins more than 100 nations that have set a net zero target. Its efforts so far have been slow, with the first Saudi renewable energy plant having only opened in April and its first wind farm launching in August. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman speaking at the Saudi Green Initiative Forum last week But it is investing 130billion in methods such as carbon-capture technology to reach its net zero goal and is creating a 4billion hydrogen plant. The Gulf state will also double the emissions cuts it had planned by 2030. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman made the announcement ahead of the Cop26 climate conference. However, he said Saudi Arabia will still produce oil for decades to come. Head of the state oil giant Saudi Aramco Amin Nasser (pictured) plans to expand its oil and gas production capacity while also achieving net zero emissions from its own operations by 2050 Its net zero target applies only to domestic emissions, meaning it can continue to export oil and gas. Amin Nasser, head of the state oil giant Saudi Aramco, aims to expand its oil and gas production capacity while also achieving net zero emissions from its own operations by 2050. It aims to eliminate 278 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions per year by 2030, up from a previous target of 130 million tonnes. Mr Nasser said it was counterproductive to 'demonise' hydrocarbons. He also called for more global investment to ensure adequate crude oil supplies. The Crown Prince made the announcement about the pledge ahead of the Cop26 climate conference The Crown Prince and his energy minister said Saudi Arabia would tackle climate change, but also stressed the continued importance of hydrocarbons and said it would continue to ensure oil market stability. Energy minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman said the world needed fossil fuels as well as renewables. Another Gulf oil producer, the United Arab Emirates, this month announced a plan for net zero emissions by 2050. The non-profit Climate Action Tracker consortium gives Saudi Arabia its lowest possible ranking, 'Critically insufficient'. Advertisement Covid cases should slump in November by around 85 per cent to just 5,000 per day by Christmas even without Plan B restrictions, according to modelling seen by the Government. The current rise in cases is mostly being driven by children who are largely unvaccinated and because so many youngsters are getting infected, some SAGE modellers expect infections to run out of steam in soon when they achieve a higher level of natural immunity. The October half term, which for most schools starts today, is also expected to act like a natural firebreaker and bring down case numbers. Ministers are understood to be refraining from introducing restrictions including compulsory facemasks, advice to work from home and domestic vaccine passports after seeing projections which show infections declining rapidly within the next few weeks. One model, from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, suggests that cases will soon peak before falling steeply in the winter months - even without the Government's Plan B. Other unpublished models have also shown similar drops, with experts indicating that cases could fall to around 5,000 cases a day before Christmas, The Telegraph reported. SAGE scientist Professor John Edmunds, the chief scientist behind the LSHTM model, told the paper: 'When we were doing the work about two weeks ago, the Health Secretary had made it very clear that the government was not planning to introduce Plan B in the near future. 'Our model was projecting that cases would start to decline some time in the autumn. However, the model also suggests that cases may start to climb again in the spring, due to a combination of waning immunity and increased contacts.' It comes as a record 325,000 people got their booster jab in a single day, while more than 800,000 people had a third dose over three days as queues again formed at centres across the country. The Government is coming under increasing pressure to implement Plan B after daily cases rose beyond 50,000 last week, while hospital admissions increased to more than 1,000. Much of the current wave is being driven by high case rates in children, with scientists expecting the 'children's epidemic' to run out of steam soon as immunity in youngsters increases, both through infection and vaccination. LONDON SCHOOL OF HYGIENE AND TROPICAL MEDICINE: These charts show the impact of returning to normal level of social mixing in three months (bottom) versus remaining cautious for a year - and the impact this would have on infections (left), admissions (middle) and deaths (right). The models show cases plummeting by November in both scenarios thanks to natural immunity but rising in spring (bottom) when vaccine protection is expected to wane A vaccination bus offers walk-in Covid vaccinations in London, August 6, 2021 It comes as a record 325,000 people got their booster jab in a single day, while more than 800,000 people over three days had a third jab as queues again formed at centres across the country Prime Minister Boris Johnson visiting a vaccine centre in London, left, and Health Secretary Sajid Javid during a press conference held in Downing Street, right Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who has resisted pleas from health leaders for tighter restrictions despite the rising number of cases, said vaccines will get the country through the winter and out of the pandemic. Yesterday, Department of Health bosses reported a further 39,962 cases - down by eleven per cent in a week. However, the number of people dying with Covid rose from 57 on October 27 to 72 - a rise of 26 per cent. Labour said it now backed the immediate reintroduction of restrictions, despite Sir Keir Starmer saying on Thursday that the debate over which plan to follow was the 'wrong focus'. Is Plan B imminent? Health chiefs gauge support for 'immediate rollout' of working from home and Covid passports, 'secret document' shows - but Rishi insists it's not necessary 'at the moment' as Covid cases FALL by 11% in week Rishi Sunak insisted there was no need to move to Plan B to cut Covid cases today - after health chiefs discussed whether there needed to be an 'immediate rollout' of tougher measures to combat a surge in cases. The Chancellor insisted that the data shows that bringing back working from home and introducing mandatory Covid passports was not yet required. His comments to the BBC's Andrew Marr programme came after it was reported that the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) contacted local authorities on Friday to canvass their level of support for the 'immediate rollout of the winter plan - plan B'. An 'official sensitive' document seen by the Observer sought opinions from the leaders and chief executives of councils across England to be fed to the Cabinet Office before then end of the day. But Mr Sunak today said: 'The data does not suggest we should be immediately moving to Plan B.' However a leading Government scientist said 'some kind of Plan B' was needed immediately. Professor Adam Finn, who is on the Joint Committee of Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), said Covid-19 hospital admissions and deaths are rising, and warned against complacency in what he said is a 'worsening' situation. Advertisement Chancellor Rishi Sunak told the BBC's Andrew Marr programme there was no need to move to Plan B to cut Covid cases, amid reports that health chiefs have discussed whether there needs to be an 'immediate rollout' of tougher measures. The Observer reported that the UK Health Security Agency contacted local authorities on Friday to canvass their level of support for the 'immediate rollout of the winter plan - Plan B'. NHS medical director Professor Stephen Powis said infection rates are rising and that NHS England has already administered five million booster jabs. And on Sunday, it said more than 800,000 people had their booster in the past 72 hours. The Government has launched a media blitz in recent days encouraging people to get a booster, as well as urging those not yet vaccinated to get jabbed. But Professor Adam Finn, who is on the Joint Committee of Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), has warned that the vaccination programme will not be enough to bring current infection rates under control and warned against complacency in what he said is a 'worsening' situation. He said people need to be testing themselves, wearing masks and avoiding crowds in enclosed spaces in order to prevent 'a real meltdown'. Health Secretary Sajid Javid said this week that new cases could reach 100,000 a day, but Downing Street has insisted there is still spare capacity in the NHS and that Plan B will only be activated if it comes under 'significant pressure'. Plan B includes working-from-home guidance and the mandatory use of face masks. Asked if it is time to bring in Plan B to tackle coronavirus, Mr Sunak said 'at the moment the data does not suggest that we should be immediately moving to Plan B'. He told BBC One's The Andrew Marr Show: 'Well, the Prime Minister actually just said that we're looking at the data all the time, as you would expect us to. 'We're monitoring everything, but at the moment the data does not suggest that we should be immediately moving to Plan B, but of course we will keep an eye on that and the plans are ready.' Vaccines minister Maggie Throup said Plan A is 'working' and 'where we need to be'. Asked where case numbers will have to get to before the public will be asked to work from home, Ms Throup told LBC: 'The public has been very patient in doing what we've asked them to do. Rishi Sunak pledges 6 BILLION for the NHS to tackle Covid backlog: Chancellor will unveil cash injection in Wednesday's budget with more diagnostic scans, shorter waits for surgery and improved IT all promised Rishi Sunak is expected to unveil a 6billion package of funding for the NHS to ease the growing backlog and undo the enormous damage inflicted during the Covid pandemic in Wednesday's budget. The Chancellor is due to set out the investment in NHS capital funding that will support the aim to deliver around 30 per cent more elective activity by 2024-25 compared to pre-Covid levels. This is equivalent to millions more checks, scans and procedures for non-emergency patients, the Treasury insisted. It comes amid warnings from doctors that backlogs of more than five million patients waiting for non-emergency treatments are 'dangerously close' to crippling the health service. In a bid to address the backlog of people waiting for checks, tests and scans, and help get waiting lists down, some 2.3billion will be used to try to transform diagnostic services. But the additional funding is likely to raise eyebrows among Conservatives who are already upset over a lack of tax cuts to help businesses and workers struggling after 18 months of shutdowns. In September NHS bosses were given a 30billion handout as Prime Minister Boris Johnson clobbered Britons with their highest tax burden since the Second World War. The health service will receive the vast majority of the 36billion raised by a National Insurance hike over the next three years, with social care receiving a 5.3billion slice. Advertisement 'And I think Plan A has actually opened up people's lives and that's so important because if we do need to take further measures I'm sure they'll have appreciated exactly the freedoms we've been able to offer them at this time. 'Plan A is working, as I said, the data right now shows that Plan A is working.' The Government has launched a media blitz encouraging people to get a booster jab, and is encouraging those not yet vaccinated to do so. Chief executive of NHS England Amanda Pritchard tweeted on Sunday afternoon: 'Yesterday was the biggest day yet for Covid booster jabs: more than 325,000 people getting vital protection. 'In the past three days over 800,000 people have had their booster jab.' Prof Finn said that while vaccines are very effective at stopping people from getting seriously ill, they are not so effective at stopping infections altogether or stopping the virus from spreading. 'They do have an effect on that, but they're not by themselves going to be enough at the present time to keep the spread of the virus under control,' he said. 'And we do need to see people continuing to make efforts to avoid contact, to avoid transmission, and to do other things as well as get vaccinated if we're going to stop this rise from going up further,' he told Trevor Phillips On Sunday on Sky News. Prof Finn added: 'I would like to re-emphasise the fact that the vaccine programme by itself, in the current situation, even if things go optimally, is not, in my opinion, enough to bring things under control. 'We do need to have people using lateral flow tests, avoiding contact with large numbers of people in enclosed spaces, using masks, all of those things now need to happen if we're going to stop this rise and get things under control soon enough to stop a real meltdown in the middle of the winter.' His comments came after another prominent adviser to the Government on Covid-19 said he is 'very fearful' there will be another 'lockdown Christmas' as he urged the public to do everything possible to reduce transmission of the virus. Professor Peter Openshaw, a member of the New and Emerging Respiratory Virus Threats Advisory Group (Nervtag), said case numbers and death rates are currently 'unacceptable'. He said measures such as working from home and mask-wearing are 'so important' as part of efforts to control the spread of Covid. Prof Openshaw also advised people to 'take matters into your own hands', telling BBC Breakfast on Saturday: 'Don't wait necessarily for Government policy.' Meanwhile, Dr Katherine Henderson, president of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, said people need to try to minimise the need for healthcare resources. She told Sky News's Trevor Phillips On Sunday: 'We didn't go into the pandemic in a great place in emergency care. We didn't have enough beds then. Modelling by SAGE predicted that the combination of vaccine-acquired immunity and natural protection would be enough to keep hospital rates below levels seen in the second wave. Even in the most pessimistic scenarios, the group estimated that daily Covid hospital admissions would not rise above 1,500. More optimistic models had them peaking at below 1,000 in winter. The above charts are based on modelling by Warwick University and look at how quickly people go back to pre-pandemic social contacts. It was based on the booster doses given 'sustained' immunity Other SAGE modelling took into account 'repeated' waning from booster doses, and projected that hospital admissions could breach levels seen during the second wave in January under the worst-case projections Only around 4.5million (green line) out of the 9.3million eligible people (blue line) in England have received the crucial third dose, prompting ministers to urge people to come forward for their inoculations 'The problem is that things are worse at the moment so we need everybody to be as careful with the healthcare resources as they possibly can be, and try and minimise the need for healthcare resources. 'So if we've got 8,000 patients in hospital who are suffering Covid, if we didn't have those patients that would be another 8,000 beds in the system. 'So every bed that gets filled by a patient with Covid in a sense is in a hospital bed with a potentially avoidable disease, and that's what we need people to focus on if we want to get through the elective backlog.' Meanwhile, The Observer reported that the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) contacted local authorities on Friday to canvass their level of support for the 'immediate rollout of the winter plan - plan B'. A UKHSA spokeswoman said: 'We don't comment on leaks. It is part of UKHSA's role to provide advice to the Government on the ongoing response to the pandemic. 'UKHSA recognises the significant past and ongoing importance of local authorities and their directors of public health in managing the pandemic. 'We will continue to consult with them and learn from the experience of local communities to help us to protect the nation's health.' Could the Army be the answer? 4,000 troops are on standby to help the NHS cope if it is in danger of becoming overwhelmed this winter Four thousand troops are on standby to aid the NHS deal with a winter crisis, the Defence Secretary said last night. Ben Wallace said they are 'ready to help' carry out tasks such as administering vaccines, testing for Covid, driving ambulances and providing general support in hospitals. The revelation is among the surest signs yet that ministers are on 'a war footing' ahead of a feared winter crisis in the NHS. Four thousand troops are on standby to aid the NHS deal with a winter crisis, the Defence Secretary (pictured) said last night Scientists are increasingly concerned over the impact that coronavirus, flu and other seasonal pressures could have on already stretched hospitals in the weeks ahead. And it emerged yesterday that ministers in England are considering 'restructuring' the NHS waiting list to counter fears that it is becoming overwhelmed. Many obese patients who are waiting for minor operations but have been told they must first lose weight could be removed from waiting lists. Last week the Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust declared a critical incident, with up to 100 patients waiting to be seen in the emergency department and 25 ambulances waiting outside. Managers contacted staff asking them to work extra hours to help handle 'intense pressures' and families were urged to contact wards if they could provide support to enable someone waiting for home care to leave hospital sooner. Ben Wallace said they are 'ready to help' carry out tasks such as administering vaccines, testing for Covid, driving ambulances and providing general support in hospitals Several Scottish health boards are pleading for further military support to help them cope with soaring demand and to roll out the booster vaccine. Mr Wallace, speaking in Scotland, said: 'We've got plenty [of armed forces personnel available] and in winter we put on standby thousands of military personnel, mainly because of our experience of floods and things. 'We have already put on standby something like 4,000-plus people, for the whole of the United Kingdom.' Pledging that more support will be provided in Scotland if needed, he said: 'They [the Armed Forces] all belong to the United Kingdom. Nicola Sturgeon might be SNP but if the people of Scotland need the support of defence, they'll get it.' However, he warned that additional support from military personnel cannot be used to let devolved governments 'off the hook' for policy failings. It will only be provided for the 'next few months', or however long the pandemic lasts, but should not be expected beyond that. Meanwhile, the UK's top gynaecologist warned last night that NHS maternity services are near breaking point. Meanwhile, the UK's top gynaecologist warned last night that NHS maternity services are near breaking point Dr Edward Morris, president of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, said: 'We're becoming increasingly concerned about the immense pressures facing our maternity staff this winter if the situation continues as it is. 'With the number of Covid-19 cases rising, the NHS could soon be in a situation where it is unable to deliver the care it needs to or deal with the huge backlog that has already built up.' He told The Guardian that many women and girls suffering from gynaecological conditions are currently on extensive waiting lists with 'no end in sight'. And Dr Katherine Henderson, president of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, said: 'We are already struggling to cope. 'This is not something that's coming in the next couple of months, we are already in a terrible place where we have got large queues of ambulances with vulnerable people waiting to be offloaded into departments and other patients at home waiting to be picked up by the ambulance.' She told Sky News: 'The system is incredibly busy. We are already reaching a point where you don't get an immediate answer when you ring 999.' Proof that boosters can avert a disaster: Data from Israel on effect of third Covid jab fuels hopes that Britain can avoid winter health crisis Hopes were raised last night that Britain could avoid a winter health crisis as data from Israel shows booster jabs can significantly reduce cases and hospitalisations. The country, which has led the way in vaccinations, rolled out boosters when immunity from the first two jabs began to wane in the summer. Almost half of its population has now been given a third shot and last week, hospitalisations had halved compared to the previous month. The country, which has led the way in vaccinations, rolled out boosters when immunity from the first two jabs began to wane in the summer Cases also dropped to 1,200 around five times lower than in September. It will come as welcome news to Health Secretary Sajid Javid, who is increasing efforts to ramp up the booster programme. Amanda Pritchard, chief executive of the NHS, yesterday revealed that Saturday was the busiest day for Covid booster jabs, with more than 325,000 patients receiving their third dose. Almost half of its population has now been given a third shot and last week, hospitalisations had halved compared to the previous month Hopes were raised last night that Britain could avoid a winter health crisis as data from Israel shows booster jabs can significantly reduce cases and hospitalisations But take-up of booster doses has been slow. Those eligible currently include only the over-50s and those who are immunocompromised. And patients need to wait for six months after their last dose. But in a bid to speed up the programme, NHS chiefs will now allow eligible patients to book their third jab a month earlier. It comes as figures released yesterday reveal another 39,962 cases and 72 deaths from Covid. Meanwhile, Mr Javid is looking to make getting the jab a 'condition of employment' for NHS staff but there are fears it could spark a backlash. The Department of Health said those eligible for a booster 'should book as soon as they are invited'. It added that more than 5million booster jabs have been administered in England. The heartbroken mother of Cleo Smith has shared an adorable new photo of the four-year-old in another desperate plea for answers as eerie CCTV footage captures the little girl's voice the day before she vanished. The audio was recorded by a CCTV camera installed inside a beach shack just 20 metres from the family tent Cleo mysteriously disappeared from last Saturday. WA Police have confirmed the voice of the missing four-year-old can be heard on the motion-sensitive camera, which also takes a wide-angle photo of anyone who enters or leaves the shack. Missing girl Cleo Smith's voice was recorded on this CCTV camera the day before she vanished from her family tent at the Blowholes Campground WA Police have said the audio of the little girl has helped place Cleo (pictured) at the campground on the day before she went missing The camera captures audio and images from inside a painted wooden box with a glass front and would not appear obvious to those passing by the shack. Officers have scrutinised copies of the CCTV footage and said on Sunday the new evidence helped place Cleo at the campground on the day before she went missing. The development is also significant because it rules out any suspicions the child was never brought to the camping ground by her parents. 'It was just after they arrived, it's motion-sensitive so it was by [their vehicle],' Detective Superintendent Rod Wilde said. 'It's very limited we've reviewed that and we believe it's Cleo's voice that's heard on the CCTV.' Cleo Smith vanished from a tent at a camping site near Carnarvon on the northwest coast of Western Australia during the early hours of October 16 with police believing the youngster was abducted - rather than wandering away by herself. Her devastated mother Ellie Smith continues to post fresh appeals for information to her Instagram page, most recently sharing a sweet photo of her two daughters. Four-year-old Cleo is seen giving her baby sister Isla Mae a kiss on the forehead in the photo with the caption: 'We all need her home'. She posted another heartbreaking photo of Cleo enjoying a day at the beach and questioned: 'Where are you baby' followed by another shot of her two daughters describing the little girl as the 'best big sister ever'. Cleo's devastated mother Ellie Smith continues to post fresh appeals for information on her Instagram (pictured) as detectives continue to scour the campground for clues Cleo's mother described her as the 'best big sister ever' to her other daughter Isla Mae (right) new witnesses told police they saw a car and heard screeching tyres at the Blowholes Campsite, 50km north of Canarvon, where Cleo (left) vanished It comes after new witnesses told police they saw a car and heard screeching tyres at the Blowholes Campsite, 50km north of Canarvon, where Cleo vanished. Superintendent Wilde said the car was seen about 3am on October 16 when Cleo went missing. The car was turning south off Blowholes Road, near the area Cleo's family was camping, and headed for Carnarvon. The timing of the car sighting coincides with evidence from other campers that they heard the the sound of screeching tyres rapidly leaving the campsite about 3am. Superintendent Wilde said the evidence was 'credible' and the witnesses only came forward after learning of the possible abduction of the child, having not thought their sighting of the car was significant at the time. 'Obviously at that time when the people observed it, it wasn't anything of great significance. They just came forward after hearing about Cleo and the news and realised the significance he said. 'Fortunately, they've come forward and passed that on to us so we are keen to speak to the person who was driving and anyone who was in that vehicle to speak to us.' Police believe Cleo was taken from her family tent at the Blowholes Campsite on WA's northwest coast during the early hours of Saturday, October 16 (pictured, search teams) It comes after new witnesses told police they saw a car and heard screeching tyres at the Blowholes Campsite, 50km north of Canarvon, where Cleo vanished (pictured) The new witnesses were travelling north on the North West Coastal Highway on their way to work when they spotted the mysterious vehicle leaving the camping ground. Unfortunately, they were unable to give a description of the car or how many people were inside as it was too dark. 'We want the person or persons who were in that vehicle to come forward and contact police,' Superintendent Wilde said. 'We want to know who they were and what they were doing. 'The time is not exact but we believe it to have been between 3am and 3.30am. We believe it was a passenger vehicle, not a truck.' Supt Wilde has stressed the driver is not considered a suspect. Cleo's mother Ellie (left) and her partner Jake Gliddon (left) have remained close to the campsite throughout the extensive sea, land and air search for little Cleo Premier Mark McGowan on Thursday announced a $1million reward would be offered to anyone with information which leads to Cleo coming home or the arrest and conviction of those responsible for taking her (pictured, Cleo's missing child poster) Police are still unsure whether the little girl (pictured, left) was taken by a lone offender or one with an accomplice, as extra detectives travel from Perth to join search efforts Meanwhile, while it was originally thought the little girl had simply wandered off towards the ocean or the rugged scrublands nearby, detectives are now convinced Cleo was abducted by a brazen child predator. The leading theory is that she was snatched while sleeping beside her mother Ellie Smith and step father Jake Gliddon in a tent at the remote camping site. Her parents woke up to find her missing along with her adult-sized red and grey sleeping bag, suggesting she may have been carried out and loaded into a vehicle in the dead of night. Police are still unsure whether the little girl was taken by a lone offender or one with an accomplice, as extra detectives travel from Perth to join search efforts. Superintendent Wilde said the family didn't see anything suspicious when they arrived at the campsite and said there was no evidence Cleo had been inside the beach shacks a short distance from the campground. Detectives have confirmed known sex offenders were in the area at the time Cleo vanished but there are currently no suspects. Anyone with information is urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. One of the victims of a notorious Alaska serial killer, who was known only as 'Horseshoe Harriet' since her body was discovered almost 40 years ago, has finally been identified through genetic genealogy and a DNA match. Robin Pelkey, 19, was homeless and living on the streets of Anchorage when she was killed by Robert Hansen in the early 1980s, the Alaska Bureau of Investigation's Cold Case Investigation Unit said. According to her killer, she was working as a 'prostitute' when he murdered her. A DNA match with a close relative in Arkansas confirmed Pelkey's identity and the family was notified in September. 'Obviously, I'm very happy to have finally figured out who she is and give her family some closure,' Randy McPherron, an Alaska State Troopers cold case investigator, said. 'Genetic genealogy has been quite a great leap forward in solving unsolved homicides but in also identifying people, so this is very satisfying to see it finally come together like this.' Serial killer Hansen, who owned a bakery, gained the nickname 'Butcher Baker' for abducting and hunting down women many of them sex workers in the wilderness just north of Anchorage through the early 1980s, when the state's largest city was booming because of construction of the trans-Alaska pipeline. Scroll down for video The remains of Robin Pelkey (pictured) - better known for the last 37 years as 'Horseshoe Harriet' - were found in Alaska back in 1984 Pelkey was only properly identified and found to be a victim of convicted serial killer Robert Hansen, pictured here in 1971, after authorities announced the connection on Friday morning Construction of the 800-mile pipeline offered good paying jobs for workers, but it also attracted those who wished to make money off of them, everyone from sex workers to drug dealers. Many of those people looking for fast money left as quickly as they came, and exotic dancers traveled a circuit along West Coast cities, making sudden disappearances commonplace. Retired trooper Glenn Flothe, who helped put Hansen behind bars, told the Anchorage Daily News in 2008 that Hansen's victims initially included any woman who caught his eye, but he quickly learned that strippers and prostitutes were harder to track and less likely to be missed. The 2013 movie 'Frozen Ground,' starring Nicolas Cage and John Cusack, chronicled the troopers' investigation and capture of Hansen. Hansen was convicted in the deaths of four women but confessed to killing several more, troopers said. At one point, he flew with investigators over an area north of Anchorage, where he pointed out where 17 of his victims were buried. In 1984, Alaska State Troopers returned to those areas, where the remains of eight women were discovered. In total, 12 bodies have been found, and 11 of those have been identified, trooper spokesperson Austin McDaniel said. Pictured: workers and medical examiner crew members exhume the body of 'Jane Doe #3' from a cemetery in Anchorage, Alaska The remains of Robin Pelkey 'Horseshoe Harriet,' who was a victim of convicted serial killer Robert Hansen A July 2003 photo of Pelkey's remains, decades before they were properly identified The only person not yet identified is known only as Eklutna Annie, who is believed to have been Hansen's first victim, McDaniel said. Her body was found near Eklutna Lake just north of Anchorage. Genetic genealogy efforts are underway in hopes of also identifying her, Randy McPherron, an Alaska State Troopers cold case investigator, told The Associated Press. 'We really got our fingers crossed that we may know, find out who Eklutna Annie is,' he said, adding the timeframe could take up to a year. Among the skeletal remains found in 1984, Pelsky was discovered lying on the ground near Horseshoe Lake, near the Little Susitna River just a few miles northwest of Anchorage, troopers said. 'I would like to thank all of the troopers, investigators, and analysts that have diligently worked on this case over the last 37 years. Without their hard work and tenacity, the identity of Ms. Pelkey may have never been known,' Alaska Department of Public Safety Commissioner James Cockrell said in a statement. There was no ID on the body that became known as Horseshoe Harriet. Hansen told investigators she was a sex worker he abducted from downtown Anchorage sometime in the winter of 1983. He told investigators he flew her to the lake in his small airplane, murdered her and discarded the body. He didn't know her name or much else about her. An autopsy confirmed the body was that of a white woman between the ages of 17 and 23. There were no missing persons reports that matched, and she was buried in the Anchorage municipal cemetery as an unknown. Pelkey, pictured left and right, was born in Colorado in 1963 and was only 19-years old at the time of her murder at the hands of Hansen The case was reopened in 2014, the same year Hansen died in prison at the age of 75. The body was exhumed, and samples were sent to create a DNA profile, which was added to the FBI's national missing person database. It didn't provide an identification. In September 2020, investigators made another attempt to identify the remains using genetic genealogy. A bone sample was sent to a private lab and additional DNA was extracted and sent for Whole Genome Sequencing, troopers said. This data was then sent to another lab, where a DNA profile was generated and uploaded into a public access genealogy database in April. Troopers said several close matches were found and used to create a family tree for the victim. Research indicated that the victim might be a woman named Robin Pelkey, who was born in Colorado in 1963, troopers said. Troopers traced her to living in Anchorage in the early 1980s, but no record indicated she was alive after 1984. Eventually close relatives were located in Arkansas and Alaska. Family members told troopers that Pelkey lived in Anchorage in the late 1970s, but moved to Arkansas as a teenager before returning to Alaska in 1981 to live with her father and stepmother. Troopers said she wound up living on the streets of Anchorage but had vanished by late 1982 or early 1983. Relatives told troopers they didn't know for certain why Pelkey's parents, who are now deceased, didn't report her missing. Troopers have purchased a new grave marker for Pelkey, McDaniel said. Anti-vaxxers have vandalised a small suburban cafe for following government rules. The owners of Blacksheep Wine Bean and Grazing Bar, at South Kingsville, Melbourne, turned up at work before 7am on Monday to find someone had sprayed an anti-vax message across the front of the cafe. The message, sprayed in orange tag-style writing read 'Discrimination is not ok. F*** Dan.' Anti-vaxxers have attacked and vandalised Blacksheep, a small suburban Melbourne cafe, for following government rules The owners of the South Kingsville cafe turned up at work before 7am on Monday to find someone had sprayed an anti-vax message across the front of the cafe Under Victoria's new relaxed Covid restrictions, restaurants, cafes, bars and pubs can open for seated dine-in services - but patrons must show proof they are double vaccinated to go sit down. Proof is not required for takeaway customers. 'So this is what we get for following government guidelines and just doing our jobs!' the cafe's owners posted to Instagram and Facebook. The cafe's loyal customers quickly rallied around to support the cafe. ''This is awful, any of this frustration needs to be aimed at the government, not at businesses who bore the brunt of this pandemic and are just trying to do the right thing,' wrote Lisa. Many took to social media to support Blacksheep's owners and vowed to help with the clean-up and to raise enough money to pay for it by buying more coffees and food there. 'More than happy to come over and help out paint as I'm sure many others are also willing to do,' said Brad Clucas. Another man, Adam Lucas, offered to donate fresh paint to cover-up the anti-vaxxer slogan, while more give advice on how to do the job properly. Blacksheep cafe's loyal customers quickly rallied around to support the the damaged venue Anti-vaxxers stage a 'picnic protest' on a popular dining strip in St Kilda, Melbourne on Saturday (pictured) Others just offered to visit and buy from them. 'We will show them by spreading the word and getting more people to support your business,' posted Elisa Cirene. 'I'll be coming for coffee this week for sure to show my support,' Simone Cassidy posted. 'You absolutely do not deserve this. Thank you for being a great place to grab food and coffee and thank you for following the guidelines and keeping your customers safe.' The vandalism comes two days after anti-vaxxers gathered at a popular Melbourne dining strip to protest the state's Covid vaccination rules. Dozens of demonstrators lined Acland street's dining precinct in St Kilda for a sit-in picnic protest on Saturday, calling for an end to 'vaccination segregation'. Organisers encouraged protesters via Telegram to gather along the footpath, starting at the Barkly Street end side before indicating a march could proceed to Luna Park. 'This is a peaceful picnic to highlight the segregation in our state,' a post on the encrypted app said. Social media users are calling for the arrest of Dr. Anthony Fauci and his removal as the nation's top infectious disease expert after his agency was found to have used taxpayer funds to finance cruel experiments on dogs. The hashtag #ArrestFauci was trending on Twitter over the weekend, amplifying the outrage over the experiments, including one which saw beagles trapped in cages so flies could eat them, and another where they were 'debarked' before being pumped with drugs and killed. One of the most disturbing incidents funded by Fauci's National Institutes of Allergies and Infectious Diseases involved $375,000 given to a Tunisian research lab. There, puppies had their heads held in cages, before being left for sand flies to eat them alive for research purposes. Distressing snaps showed the pups with their heads kept inside the muslin-type cages filled with the hungry insects. Another procedure - which the NIH funded to the tune of $1.8m - saw 44 beagle puppies undergo a 'cordectomy,' which saw their vocal cords cut to stop them barking. That experiment, which took place in Menlo Park, California, saw the dogs then pumped full of drugs, before being killed and dissected. There are growing calls for the removal of Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, over experiments on dogs that are funded by his agency The White Coat Waste Project claims the NIAID provided a $375,800 grant to a lab in Tunisia to drug beagle puppies and locked their heads in mesh cages so sand flies could eat the dogs filled with hundreds of infected sand flies Melissa Tate wrote on Twitter: 'The fact that Fauci is still walking around free and is doing media appearances without a single "journalist" asking him about gain of function and #puppygate, is a true testament to how far gone this country is. God help us #ArrestFauci.' Another Twitter user wrote: 'This is the same guy promoting the vaccine and forcing it on you, remember that' Bryan Dean Wright tweeted: 'If you're angry about how Fauci uses puppies, just wait until you hear how he uses COVID vaccines on healthy kids.' 'This man has to go!' tweeted another Twitter user. 'Anyone responsible needs to be held accountable!' Another Twitter user photoshopped a picture of Fauci, making it appear as if he was sitting behind bars. 'This is what the next lockdown should look like,' the caption on the meme read. According to this Twitter user, Fauci should be locked up for 'animal abuse and crimes against humanity' The animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals released a statement demanding that President Joe Biden 'designate an NIH director who chooses human-relevant research'. The PETA statement did not name Fauci Another Twitter user blasted Fauci, writing: 'He funded gain of function and he funded cruel treatment of innocent dogs. He's an evil doctor and a despicable person' Other Twitter users posted photos of their dogs who were 'demanding' Fauci's arrest A third, $425,000 set of taxpayer funded tests saw beagles howl in pain while being experimented on in Georgia. On Twitter, angry social media users demanded Fauci's arrest. Melissa Tate wrote on Twitter: 'The fact that Fauci is still walking around free and is doing media appearances without a single "journalist" asking him about gain of function and #puppygate, is a true testament to how far gone this country is. God help us #ArrestFauci.' An official with the National Institutes of Health, the agency which oversees the NIAID headed by Fauci, admitted on Wednesday that American taxpayers funded gain of function research on bat coronaviruses in Wuhan, China. The official acknowledged that EcoHealth Alliance, the US nonprofit that funneled NIH money to the Wuhan Institute of Virology, was not transparent about the work it was doing. In testimony before Congress, Fauci and outgoing NIH Director Francis Collins denied that the agency funded gain of function research at Wuhan. Another Twitter user wrote: 'This is the same guy promoting the vaccine and forcing it on you, remember that.' Bryan Dean Wright tweeted: 'If you're angry about how Fauci uses puppies, just wait until you hear how he uses COVID vaccines on healthy kids.' 'This man has to go!' tweeted another Twitter user. 'Anyone responsible needs to be held accountable!' The sand flies would gnaw on the dogs' ears, eating them alive The White Coat Waste Project also revealed that close to $1.68million was spent on experiments on a total of 44 beagles at Sri International in Menlo Park, California, in which the puppies received cordectomies and were force-fed drugs before being killed and dissected Another Twitter user photoshopped a picture of Fauci, making it appear as if he was sitting behind bars. 'This is what the next lockdown should look like,' the caption on the meme read. According to this Twitter user, Fauci should be locked up for 'animal abuse and crimes against humanity.' The animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals released a statement demanding that President Joe Biden 'designate an NIH director who chooses human-relevant research'. The PETA statement did not name Fauci. Another Twitter user blasted Fauci, writing: 'He funded gain of function and he funded cruel treatment of innocent dogs. He's an evil doctor and a despicable person.' Other Twitter users posted photos of their dogs who were 'demanding' Fauci's arrest. In response to the gruesome revelations, a group of 24 lawmakers, led by Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC), are now demanding Fauci provide answers about the experiments they believe to be 'cruel' and a 'reprehensible misuse of taxpayer funds.' 'According to documents obtained via a Freedom of Information Act request by taxpayer watchdog group White Coat Waste Project, and subsequent media coverage, from October 2018 until February 2019, NIAID spent $1.86million in taxpayer funds on drug tests involving 44 beagle puppies,' the letter from lawmakers reads. 'While documents state that the ostensible purpose of this study was to 'provide data of suitable quality and integrity to support application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other regulatory agencies,' the FDA itself has recently stated that it 'does not mandate that human drugs be studied in dogs.'' The experiments were done with funding from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, of which Fauci has been director since 1984. Two weeks ago, the White Coat Waste Project revealed that close to $1.68million was spent on experiments on a total of 44 beagles at Sri International in Menlo Park, California, in which the puppies received cordectomies and were force-fed drugs before being killed and dissected. Another $375,800 was provided as a grant to a lab in Tunisia to drug beagle puppies and locked their heads in mesh cages so sand flies could eat the dogs filled with hundreds of infected sand flies, the group revealed in August. Fauci's team had previously, in 2016, strapped the infectious sand flies to beagles at the NIAID lab in Bethesda, Maryland, allowing them to feed on the dogs for 22 months. The White Coat Waste Project alleges that the dogs developed infectious legions before researchers killed and dissected them. This procedure cost $18,430,917. In 2016, Fauci's strapped sand flies to beagles at the NIAID lab in Bethesda, Maryland, allowing them to feed on the dogs for 22 months The White Coat Waste Project alleges that the 2016 experiment caused the dogs to develop infectious legions before researchers killed and dissected them In September 2020, Faucis agency reportedly authorized a $424,000 grant for animal experiments at the University of Georgia, where healthy beagles were drugged and then intentionally infested with parasite-carrying flies In September 2020, Faucis agency reportedly authorized a $424,000 grant for animal experiments at the University of Georgia, where healthy beagles were drugged and then intentionally infested with parasite-carrying flies. Records show the dogs were 'vocalizing in pain' during the experiments, before being killed. The group of legislators has asked Fauci and his researchers to answer the following by November 19: How many drug tests involving dogs have been funded by NIAID since January 2018? How much taxpayer money has been spent on this testing? Since the Food and Drug Administration has clearly stated that it does not require dog testing for new drugs, why has NIAID continued to commission testing on dogs? What has NIAID done to explore the use of non-canine and non-animal alternatives to meet FDA data requirements? Has NIAID ever made any dogs available for adoption after the conclusion of an experiment or testing? If so, how many? if so, why not? Why has NIAID contracted for cordectomies when they appear to be scientifically and medically unnecessary? What is the average cost for each cordectomy performed? A group of 24 bi-partisan legislators are demanding answered and have called the experiments 'cruel' and a 'reprehensible misuse of taxpayer funds' 'De-barking beagles and poisoning puppies in experiments with our tax dollars is a national disgrace that's uniting Republicans and Democrats, and we applaud Rep. Nancy Mace and her colleagues on both sides of the aisle for holding the NIH accountable for this government waste and animal abuse,' Justin Goodman, Vice President of Advocacy and Public Policy at taxpayer watchdog group White Coat Waste Project, said in a statement provided to DailyMail.com. Neither Fauci nor the NIAID immediately responded to our request for comment. The animal testing allegations come after Fauci was accused of lying to Congress by claiming the US did not fund gain-of-function research at the Wuhan lab blamed for creating COVID. The National Institutes of Health admitted on Wednesday to funding gain of function research on bat coronaviruses in it's Wuhan laboratory despite Dr. Fauci's denials to congress that no such research took place. The admission came in a letter addressed Kentucky congressman James Comer, in which NIH's principal deputy director Lawrence A. Tabak refers to a 'limited experiment' conducted to test if 'spike proteins from naturally occurring bat coronaviruses circulating in China were capable of binding to the human ACE2 receptor in a mouse model,' at the Wuhan lab. According to Tabak, the mice infected with the modified bat virus 'became sicker' than those infected with the unmodified bat virus. The lawmakers expect Fauci (pictured) to answer their questions by November 19 While never using the term, Tabak essentially confirms that gain of function research. It looks at both transmitting disease between animals and humans and is a way for scientists to alter organisms and diseases. They can then study how these diseases could become deadlier or more transmissible, took place at the Chinese lab despite consistent denials from Dr. Fauci. The letter shifts the blame to U.S non profit EcoHealth Alliance, which used NIH money to fund research at the Wuhan Institute of Virology, for not being transparent about the kind of research they were doing. 'EcoHealth failed to report this finding right away, as was required by the terms of the grant,' Tabak wrote in his letter. 'EcoHealth is being notified that they have five days from today to submit to NIH any and all unpublished data from the experiments and work conducted under this award.' Fauci has testified on several occasions before Congress that American taxpayers never financed what is called 'gain of function' research in China - which would make a virus more contagious or deadly. In May, Fauci testified that the NIH 'has not ever and does not now fund gain of function research in the Wuhan Institute of Virology.' However, in September, The Intercept revealed it had received 900 pages of documents detailing the work of EcoHealth Alliance's research in Wuhan, China. The files showed that in 2014, the National Health Institute approved a five-year, yearly grant of $666,000 a year for five years ($3.3million) for EcoHealth Alliance, a US research organization, into bat coronavirus. NIH's principal deputy director Lawrence A. Tabak admitted to funding gain-of-function research on bat coronaviruses in it's Wuhan laboratory The Wuhan Institute of Virology has been fingered as the potential source of COVID-19. It received $599,000 in US government money from the EcoHealth Alliance for its study on coronaviruses in bats EcoHealth Alliance, in its proposal to the NIH, acknowledged the risks involved were 'the highest risk of exposure to SARS or other CoVs' among staff, who could then carry it out of the lab. The NIH gave them the money anyway - something Fauci was previously forced to admit when testifying before Congress in May this year. EcoHealth Alliance then gave $599,000 of the money to the Wuhan Institute of Virology. The approval notice for the grant is 528 pages long. It describes how EcoAlliance would receive yearly payments, totaling $3.3million over five years. The funding was renewed in 2019 but was abruptly cut short in April 2020, once COVID-19 had spread throughout the world. Worshippers at a Manchester synagogue were left sickened after a troll hijacked their Zoom service by changing its picture to a swastika and screaming anti-Semitic abuse. Manchester Reform Synagogue's service, which was being held online, was ambushed by 'violent' and 'shocking' intruders on Friday evening. Rabbi Robyn Ashworth-Steen described the incident as an 'invasion' and said the offenders changed the synagogue's online picture to a swastika so it would pop up on the screens of all in attendance. She added: 'It was clear that someone was trying to get in through the waiting room, people kept coming in with different names so it was quite clear that something strange was going on.' 'What we didn't realise was that someone was already in. Manchester Reform Synagogue's online service was hijacked by a troll shouting Anti-Semitic abuse 'About halfway through the service they started to shout. They changed their picture to a swastika and lots of awful racist images were popping up.' The meeting was being held online as normal on the weekly Jewish holy day when people started trying to enter the call. Rabbi Steen said the vile incident was 'obviously premeditated'. She continued: 'It felt like such an invasion and even though it was online, it felt violent. 'Our services are a safe space and it was just really shocking for people. We have members of our community who have family who are holocaust survivors. The synagogue was recently used to film a scene for the BBC's Ridley Road in which fascists break in. 'The support from across Greater Manchester, from within and outside the Jewish community, has been amazing and that has really helped. 'We don't want to add to fuel to the fire but it's very important to highlight when things like this happen.' Hunter Biden's art show has officially opened in New York City, with industry observers and ethics experts eagerly watching to see who purchases the $500,000 canvasses. The president's son, 51, made his Big Apple debut as a professional artist at the Georges Berges Gallery in the SoHo district of Manhattan. Anyone wanting to see the 15 works of art must make an appointment, and be vetted in advance. The show opened on Saturday. It was unclear how long the exhibition would last, but the gallery website said that another artist was launching their own show on the site on November 18. Biden's wife, Melissa Cohen, a South African documentary maker, was spotted at the gallery on Saturday. On Sunday, only three people went to see the works. The Georges Berges Gallery in SoHo has opened its exhibition of 15 paintings by Hunter Biden, the son of the president Biden, 51, took up art as a way to help him in his recovery from addition to alcohol and drugs The show in Manhattan marks Biden's debut as a professional artist, and has caused significant controversy and fears about ethics. Critics say that anyone wanting to endear themselves to the first family could buy Biden's paintings Biden works on canvas, yup paper, wood, and metal. He then uses oil, acrylic, and ink Biden, a Yale-educated lawyer, has had several different careers. He famously served on the board of Ukrainian energy firm Burisma, despite lacking any relevant experience, sparking criticism of him for using his father's position to boost his own wealth and influence When asked if there would be a formal opening of the show, Berges, who currently represents 16 artists, told The New York Post: 'I don't know.' Biden is described on Berges' website as 'a lawyer by profession' who 'now devotes his energies to the creative arts, bringing innumerable experiences to bear.' The gallery states: 'The results are powerful and impactful paintings ranging from photogenic to mixed media to the abstract. 'His chosen substrates are canvas, yup paper, wood, and metal on which he affixes oil, acrylic, ink along with the written word; all of which creates a unique experience that has become his signature.' Biden began painting as part of his recovery from addictions, and is said to have turned to his canvasses to deal with the stress of being central to attempts to impeach Donald Trump in 2019. Joe Biden has been unwavering in his support for his son's endeavor. Hunter, left with his father and the White House claim not to know who is buying his paintings, amid fears the sales could be used to try and gain influence within the White House But ethics experts have expressed alarm, warning that anyone wanting to curry favor with the president could buy a painting to impress. The White House has said that the buyers will be anonymous, to allay fears. Yet few believe that the identity of the purchasers will remain a secret for long. Sources say lawyers are vetting individuals who want to view Biden's paintings at Berges' Manhattan gallery. 'It is a whole process to get in to see the Biden show. You have to call the gallery in SoHo, and they are vetting people carefully,' the source told the Post. 'They laid down rules that thorough vetting of any collector has to be done by a team of lawyers.' Officials have not revealed who hired the lawyers or the purpose behind the legal vetting. On Sunday DailyMail.com revealed that Berges was photographed wearing a Camp David hat after Joe Biden visited the presidential retreat sparking questions whether the controversial gallerist joined the first family there. Hunter Biden's art dealer Georges Berges, right, is pictured wearing a Camp David hat two days before the president's son's art exhibition opened Gossip columnist George Wayne, left, shared the snap on his Instagram, sparking speculation over whether Berges had traveled to the presidential retreat It remains unclear if Berges stayed at Camp David, pictured, but the photo of the hat is set to raise eyebrows over Hunter's latest career choice The picture was shared on Instagram on Thursday by renowned gossip columnist and celebrity interviewer George Wayne, who claims to have introduced Hunter to Berges. GB shows up wearing a fabulous cap emblazoned with the Presidential seal and the words Camp David Presidential Retreat 46 all over it, Wayne wrote. Say whaaa? Were you at Camp David last weekend with your artist Hunter Biden???!!! Though the writer is known for his tongue-in-cheek posts, a personal visit with the first family could prove a controversial move by the gallerist, who is under intense scrutiny amid fears that Hunters art sales could be a conduit for corrupt attempts to financially influence the Biden family. A transgender comedian has expressed support for Dave Chapelle after his jokes targeting trans people in a new Netflix special drew strong backlash. Flame Monroe, a stand-up from Chicago, told CNN that she 'absolutely [does] believe that you should be able to make jokes about trans folks' in an interview published on Sunday. Chappelle and Netflix drew harsh criticism over his new special, The Closer, in which he crudely compared the genitals of trans women to plant-based meat alternatives and declared that he was 'team TERF,' a reference to feminists who reject the identity of trans women. While many trans comedians have spoken out to condemn Chappelle, equating his remarks to hate speech and violence, Monroe had a different take, arguing that his act was funny and that trans people should be willing to be the butt of a joke. 'As a trans person and a comedian, we mostly crack jokes about who we are and how we identify in my experience, and I'm only speaking for me,' she told CNN. 'You can't ask for inclusion 24/7 and then conveniently want to be excluded because some truths are being told in a comedic fashion about your community.' Flame Monroe, a stand-up from Chicago, said that she 'absolutely [does] believe that you should be able to make jokes about trans folks' Chappelle and Netflix drew harsh criticism over his new special, The Closer, in which he crudely compared the genitals of trans women to plant-based meat alternatives Monroe, who is one of the few trans comedians to be featured in a Netflix special, as part of Tiffany Haddish's They Ready series, also spoke to CNN in an on-air interview last week. 'It made me scream out loud laughing,' she said of Chappelle's act. 'Because I'm a comedian, I'm a human, and I know who Dave Chappelle is and what Dave Chappelle is. He's a comedian.' Monroe said that even if some of the remarks did make her gasp, 'when it's the truth, and it's funny, it's just humor. It's laughter, we keep missing that.' 'We have to be able to take, as grown people, and stop being so sensitized in this world. It's only a joke. Nobody lost their lives.' However, other trans comedians have also voiced their strong concerns about Chappelle's act. 'I know [Chappelle] says he wasn't punching down -- he's absolutely punching down,' trans stand-up Jaye McBride told CNN. 'When you're just taking this mean position against a minority, no matter who the minority is or who you are, it just comes off as wrong.' Monroe, who is one of the few trans comedians to be featured in a Netflix special, as part of Tiffany Haddish's They Ready series, also spoke to CNN in an on-air interview last week 'Given Chappelle's undeniable cultural impact, his insistence on my erasure is deeply painful and feels like a betrayal,' Mx. Dahlia Belle told the outlet. On Wednesday, Netflix employees who walked out in protest of Chappelle's special, and were joined by allies who chanted 'Trans lives matter.' Joey Soloway, creator of the groundbreaking Emmy-winning comedy 'Transparent,' was among the speakers at the rally. Chappelle's decision to share 'his outrage as comedic humiliation in front of thousands of people, and then broadcasting it to hundreds of millions of people is infinitely amplified gender violence,' they said. 'I want trans representation on the Netflix board, this (expletive) week,' the writer-director said, according to the AP. People attend a rally in support of the Netflix transgender employee walkout 'Stand Up in Solidarity' to protest the streaming of comedian Dave Chappelle's new comedy special Dave Briggs holds a placard as he attends a rally in support of the Netflix transgender employee walkout 'Stand Up in Solidarity' to protest the Dave Chappelle special Terra Field, who identifies herself on Twitter as a senior software engineer at Netflix and as trans, posted tweets critical of Chappelles special immediately after it aired and the comments were widely shared. In her posts, Field said the comic was being criticized not because his remarks are offensive but for the harm they do to the trans community, especially black trans women. 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.' At Wednesday's protest, a small group of counter-protesters attended, carrying placards reading 'Free speech is a right' and 'Truth is not transphobic.' Belissa Cohen, a former journalist, said she was on hand to 'support Netflix's decision not to pull' the special. 'We want to show that there isn't unanimous support about transgender ideology when it comes to Netflix viewers,' Cohen said. A desperate dad is still clinging to hope someone knows what happened to his son two months after his body was found underneath a tree in Byron Bay. Jackson Stacker, 25, was travelling through the NSW north coast in a van gifted to him by his grandparents when he disappeared on July 22. His parents, who live in Melbourne, didn't realise he was missing until August 24. It wasn't unusual for him to be 'off the grid' while travelling. A day after they lodged a missing person report, Mr Stacker's remains were found in farmland not too far from his abandoned van. After his father's initial plea for information relating to Mr Stacker's whereabouts, there were concerns among locals that his disappearance might've been linked to missing backpacker Theo Hayez and Thea Liddle. Jackson Stacker, 25, was travelling through the NSW north coast in a van gifted to him by his grandparents when he disappeared on July 22 Police have since confirmed there is nothing connecting the trio to one another, and each of the disappearances are being investigated separately. Theo Hayez famously disappeared on his way home from the Cheeky Monkeys nightclub in May 2019. The 18-year-old Belgian backpacker has never been seen since, and police are no closer to solving the mystery surrounding his disappearance. Meanwhile, Ms Liddle's remains were found on Byron Bay's Tallow Beach Road July 2020. Ms Liddle, a 42-year-old former microbiologist who became homeless, went missing five months after Hayez. For Jackson Stacker's family, they feel there won't be any closure until they know exactly what happened to their son. 'Because his body had been in the elements so long, the autopsy wasn't able to reveal a cause of death so we don't know whether the death was self-inflicted, accidental or foul play,' Mr Stacker's father said. Mr Stacker's van sat abandoned for one month before anybody realised the 25-year-old was missing He hopes that by sharing his son's tragic end publicly, it might jog the memory of someone in the area who saw Mr Stacker in the days leading to his death. 'Did anyone see him? Was he alone or with somebody?' his father asks. 'We are seeking information or video cam of anyone who may have seen Jackson on July 22. Any information you may have could help us solve the mystery of what happened to our son.' The Stacker family are determined to find out if their son's death was self inflicted - and if not, 'get some justice' by tracking down who was involved. 'Sounds like he was pretty sad when he spoke to people around him but that doesn't make you suicidal,' his father said. Theo Hayez famously disappeared on his way home from the Cheeky Monkeys nightclub in May 2019 A day after they lodged a missing person report, Mr Stacker's remains were found in farmland not too far from his abandoned van It's understood Mr Stacker's body was found lying under a tree in the field. His car keys were still in the ignition. His parents only realised he was missing when they received a phone call from a woman hoping to buy the 25-year-old's van. It had been parked on the side of the road at the Sleepy Hollow rest area in Pottsville for a month by the time the woman called. 'I had tried ringing Jackson a couple of times before that just to touch base with him but just got voicemail, I wasn't too concerned because it wasn't unusual for him to go out of contact sometimes,' his father Ian said. Ms Liddle's remains were found on Byron Bay's Tallow Beach Road July 2020. Ms Liddle, a 42-year-old former microbiologist who became homeless, went missing five months after Hayez 'When we realised the van was at this roadside stop for a month, we put out a missing person search for him.' Mr Stacker's remains were found the next day. 'This is really scary, Theo, Thea and now this young boy, really, really sad. I hope they figure this out,' one local said. A spokeswoman for NSW Police told Daily Mail Australia investigations into Mr Stacker's death are ongoing. A report is being prepared for the coroner. NSW Police search bushland near Cape Byron lighthouse where Theo's phone last pinged Police found an adorable German Shepherd lost and roaming the streets of Sydney's inner-west before taking her to a vet and issuing an appeal online. Burwood Police officers were called to a street in Croydon after locals found the friendly dog walking alone. 'The happy hound was quick to jump into the officers police vehicle, making herself comfortable on the front seat while posing for the camera,' NSW Police posted to Facebook. 'She almost looks like she could be the newest member of our Dog Unit!' Police found an adorable German Shepherd lost and roaming the streets of Sydney's inner-west before taking her place in the front seat of the patrol car Officers were appealing for the owner of the friendly dog to come forward after being called to a street in Croydon when locals found the lost pet Officers were appealing for the owner of the friendly dog to come forward after taking her to Sydney University Teaching Hospital on Parramatta Road. The female German Shepherd was reportedly extremely friendly and too happy to pose for a picture after jumping into the front seat of the patrol car. The post went viral on Facebook, attracting more than 500 comments as people attempted to locate her owners. 'The fact that this photo is taken from the back seat so the officer was clearly like well okay, you can stay in the front,' one person replied. 'Mystery solved they drove past me on Parramatta Rd and I wondered why the police dog was sitting up in the front seat,' another commented. The post went viral on Facebook, attracting more than 500 commes with 5,000 likes and being widely distributed as people attempted to locate her owners The friendly German Shepherd was eventually reunited with her owner, who was ecstatic to reunite the sweet dog with her young children. 'We are so happy she is safe and home with us thanks NSW Police,' the mother commented on the post. People celebrated her safe return home, with one speculating she could be in for a new career. 'I suspect she has ambitions to join the force,' a Facebook user replied. Rhode Island is set to become the first state to create safe-injection sites for intravenous drug users as overdoses take over from car crashes as the number one cause of accidental death in the US. The state is set to codify rules for operating supervised injection sites in a two-year pilot program by January, with locations to be agreed upon by March. Users can also have their drugs tested for fentanyl - an opioid 100 times stronger than morphine which has been blamed for the record-breaking overdose deaths last year. Safe injection sites have been slammed by critics who say they encourage illegal drug taking and bring crime to the surrounding area. Democratic Rhode Island State Representative Arthur Corvese called the sites a 'moral oxymoron' as the state still outlaws drugs like heroin, but then creates a safe space for the rules to be broken. But proponents say they help avoid needless overdose deaths and allow drug addicts, who would be taking the drugs regardless, a safe, clean place to do so. The spaces both protect the users and gets addicts off the streets, improving the surrounding neighborhoods. 'Weve been historically a country that addresses a health condition with punishments,' Suzanne Carlberg-Racich, associate professor of public health at DePaul University in Chicago, told the Wall Street Journal. Rhode Island State Rep. Edith Ajello told the Journal that the overdose death of her best friend's son, which occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic, pushed her to advocate for safe-injection sites in an effort to prevent such fatalities statewide. 'Supervised consumption sites can help to cut these losses,' she said. Canada-society-drugs-health Addicts inject themselves at the Insite supervised injection Center in Vancouver, Canada, on May 3, 2011 California and Massachusetts are also considering implementing similar plans. There are about 100 safe-use sites throughout Canada, Australia and Europe. The Netherlands in particular have the most which almost 40 locations after opening their first site in 1996. The Dutch were able to cut overdose deaths by administering pure heroin, and not heroin cut with fentanyl. Canada began opening sites in 2003, when Insite opened to become North America's first legal supervised consumption site in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside, where a heavy concentration of intravenous drug users reside. The main drugs that will be intravenously injected in a safe, supervised environment will be heroin and methamphetamine, which will be administered by trained personnel. Injection-site staff will be equipped with naloxone, which is an antidote used in reversing opioid overdoses, with supporters of the idea say the sites help prevent fatal overdoses while providing users with a starting point for other crucial social services, including medical care and housing. Amy Nunn, executive director of the Rhode Island Public Health Institute, the nonprofit working to open a site in Providence, told the Journal that even if the safe-use sites were to open, issues could still arise. Nunn specifically mentioned the logistics in obtaining medical malpractice insurance or getting Medicaid to pay costs of treating users there could prove problematic, especially if local politicians aren't sympathetic to the idea. 'People will put up a lot of roadblocks,' she said. 'There's just so much stigma associated with using drugs.' She added that her group would graciously accept private donations in an effort to find funding for the location. In Canada, supervised consumption sites saw around 2 million visits between 2017 and 2019. With 39 sites operating as of last year, it is estimated that around 3,000 visits take place every day. The busiest sites in Canada see upwards of 500 visits each day, according to Health-Infobase. Philadelphia pushed for safe-injection sites in 2020 when courts ruled the state could not open a supervised injection site. That left Safehouse, the Philadelphia location, closed indefinitely, but the site recently requested a federal judge to reverse the ban and allow its opening. However, its efforts were thwarted and sites forced to remain closed after former U.S. Attorney William McSwain, a President Donald Trump appointee now running for Pennsylvania governor, argued that it violated a 1980s-era drug law aimed at 'crackhouses.' While the district judge rejected McSwains argument, the appeals court agreed with him in a 2-1 decision that called the goal of harm reduction 'admirable.' In Trump's first year in office in 2017, over 42,000 Americans died from overdoses linked to heroin, fentanyl and prescription opioids, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The front door of the Insite supervised injection Center in Vancouver, Canada, on May 3, 2011 'People are in a bit of a waiting and watching game, to see whether the (Biden) Administration is going to criminalize it,' said Miriam Krinsky, executive director of Fair and Just Prosecution, the organization that coordinated the brief. 'The waiting game has cost lives.' Thus far, the Justice Department has remained neutral in the case while waiving its right to weigh in. McSwains successor, Acting US Attorney Jennifer Arbittier Williams, likewise declined to comment on the subject when asked late last month. The Journal reports that the Justice Department did not comment on the Biden administration's opinion on Safehouse's request. Fatal overdoses remain the leading cause of accidental death across the nation, with more people dying from overdoses than car crashes, according to the Journal. In 2020, overdose deaths increased almost 30 percent because of the emergence of the far-deadlier fentanyl and a destabilizing effect caused by the pandemic, the outlet said while citing federal data and public health officials. Australians could very soon be back on the beach in Bali if a quarantine-free travel bubble being considered by the federal government goes ahead, Tourism Minister Dan Tehan has confirmed. Mr Tehan said officials were in talks with Indonesia about re-opening travel between the two nations as Covid cases continue to fall in the south-east Asian country. 'The Covid situation on the ground in Bali is continuing to improve,' he said during a question-and-answer discussion with Newscorp on Monday. 'It's obviously an incredibly popular destination for Australians in particular, and tourism is such a huge part of the Balinese economy so we will continue to have discussions.' Aussies could very soon be back on the beach in Bali (pictured) if a travel corridor being discussed by both sides is given the green light Indonesian beer Bintang is a favourite for tourists in Bali with beachside bottles for sale extremely cheaply (pictured: a woman enjoying the Indonesian lager) Mr Tehan said travel agreements with Japan and South Korea were also actively being considered by the Australian government. 'We're going to put something in place for Singaporeans in the next couple of weeks and my hope would be we could then look at Japan, South Korea and Bali as the next step in that direction,' he said. 'I think there's a real pent-up demand for people to travel again.' Prime Minister Scott Morrison already announced on Friday a travel corridor between Australia and Singapore was in its 'final stages' and could be unveiled in the next week. Massive demand for air travel has been triggered by the announcement Australia's international border will open on November 1 in NSW. Qantas has said they will restart flights between Sydney and Singapore on November 23, four weeks earlier this originally planned. Dan Tehan (pictured) said Bali was one of a number of destinations where travel bubbles are being negotiated The airline will open a new route between Sydney and New Delhi on December 6 with three flights a week. Sydney to Fiji will be brought forward to December 7 for four flights a week. Qantas will fly from Sydney to Johannesburg three times a week from January 5, three months earlier than scheduled. From January 14, the airline will resume its Sydney to Bangkok services more than two months earlier than expected, while Jetstar flights to Phuket will start on January 12. Bali's beaches (pictured) are among the most popular in the world and are just a short flight from Australia Sales on already announced Qantas flights to London and Los Angeles have been strong, with some selling out in hours after the border announcement. Flights to Honolulu, Vancouver, Tokyo and New Zealand are still scheduled to commence from mid-December 2021, with other destinations to restart in the new year. All travellers will have to be fully vaccinated and will be required to test negative for coronavirus within 72 hours of departure. An airport worker walks through a deserted Ngurah Rai Airport in Bali in October (pictured) A Houston mother and her boyfriend were questioned and released without any charges after the woman's three starving children, ages 7, 10, and 15, were found living alone in an apartment in deplorable conditions, along with the decomposing remains of their nine-year-old brother who police say had been dead for a year. The siblings and skeletal remains were found at 3535 Green Crest, near Addicks Clodine and Westpark Tollway in Houston, Texas, around 4:30 p.m. on Sunday, after police responded to a request for a welfare check that was made by the eldest child. Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzales said the three brothers were living without adult supervision for months in deplorable conditions and that the body of the dead child was on full display, prompting repeated complaints about a terrible smell from a neighbors. In an update late Sunday, Gonzalez revealed that the children's mother and her boyfriend have been located and interviewed by homicide detectives. On Monday, the sheriff announced that the couple was released without being arrested or charged with any crime. No explanation was provided for the decision to let the pair go at this time. In response to a request for comment, a spokesperson for the sheriff's office wrote in an email to DailyMail.com: 'This is an active investigation, with charges pending.' Authorities have not said whether or not they were looking for the children's biological father. While there were no indications that the children were locked in the house, they had seemingly been abandoned by adults and were 'fending for each other.' Three siblings and skeletal remains presumed to be of a fourth sibling were found at 3535 Green Crest in Houston on Sunday HCSO Sheriff Ed Gonzales said an unit was sent to do a welfare check at the residence after receiving a call. The body was not concealed 'I think the oldest sibling was doing the best he could to take care of the others,' Gonzales said. He did not say whom the apartment was registered to, nor who was paying the rent. 'Connecting all the dots, it seems they were in there while the body was deteriorating.' HCSO is now investigating to determine the circumstances that led to the death of the minor and how long the kids had been alone. A neighbor in the apartment complex told the station KTRK that she complained for months about a foul odor emanating from the unit where the shocking discovery was made over the weekend. The gruesome incident began unfolding at around 3.15pm on Sunday, when cops received a 911 call from the 15-year-old boy, telling a dispatcher that his nine-year-old brother had been dead for a year and his skeletonized body was in a room next to his in the family's apartment. The teen also revealed that his parents had not been living in the apartment for several months, Gonzales said in a tweet. Deputies were dispatched to the apartment and found the remains of a small child. According to the sheriff, who described the situation as ''heartbreaking,' the younger siblings 'appeared malnourished and showed signs of physical injury.' All three surviving children were taken to a hospital to be evaluated and treated for their injuries. The minors are now receiving professional assistance, and victim's advocates have been made available to help them cope with the trauma. Homicide investigators along with CPS and Child Abuse investigators are also working on the case. It is unclear whether any of the surviving siblings were enrolled in school. The children had seemingly been left abandoned by adults for a long period of time and were 'fending for each other' Homicide investigators along with CPS and Child Abuse investigators are also working on the case Residents of the area said that management had been doing inspection rounds in the area for the last couple of weeks. A neighbor living next door to the siblings told KTRK she had no idea there was anyone occupying that unit, let alone children. She said that 13 or 14 months ago, she first noticed a vile odor wafting from what she thought was an abandoned apartment. The smell was so bad, the woman said, that she would be forced to turn off her air conditioning to prevent it from entering her apartment through the vents. The neighbor said she complained several times to the building's management about the smell, but it is unclear if anyone had gone to the unit housing the siblings to inspect it. Police said the investigation is still in the preliminary stages . 'Very horrific situation here, very tragic. I've been in this business for a long time and I've never heard of a scenario like this, it really caught me by surprise,' said Gonzales when addressing the media on Sunday evening. 'We are trying to identify next of kin to determine exactly what happened and how we got to this point...We're going to make sure we conduct a thorough follow-up investigation,' he added. Facebook employees complained about Breitbart being included in their news tab, according to internal messages released by a whistleblower. The complaints arose amid the George Floyd protests, in June 2020. Breitbart, a conservative website which used to be run by Donald Trump's chief strategist Steve Bannon, was particularly focused on the damage caused by rioters and their headlines suggested taking a hardline approach to the protests. 'Get Breitbart out of News Tab,' wrote one Facebook employee, in documents obtained by The Wall Street Journal. The employee shared headlines from Breitbart such as: 'Minneapolis Mayhem: Riots in Masks,' 'Massive Looting, Buildings in Flames, Bonfires!' and 'BLM Protesters Pummel Police Cars on 101.' Mark Zuckerberg, the founder and CEO of Facebook, is under intense pressure to explain the company's policies on hate speech and their publishing of material Facebook's headquarters are seen in Menlo Park, California A person is seen reading the Breitbart website on their phone. The conservative news website remains controversial The employee said the headlines were 'emblematic of a concerted effort at Breitbart and similarly hyperpartisan sources (none of which belong in News Tab) to paint Black Americans and Black-led movements in a very negative way.' Facebook's concern about Breitbart was not new. In 2018, one employee working on the Facebook Audience Network, for whom Facebook sells advertising, argued that Facebook should drop Breitbart from the network. 'My argument is that allowing Breitbart to monetize through us is, in fact, a political statement,' the person wrote in an internal memo. 'It's an acceptance of extreme, hateful and often false news used to propagate fear, racism and bigotry.' Yet senior Facebook figures, concerned at accusations of bias, were reluctant to act against Breitbart. In 2020 a member of Facebook's integrity team, which tries to stop harmful behavior on the site, said that Breitbart was hindering efforts to fight hate speech. 'We make special exceptions to our written policies for them, and we even explicitly endorse them by including them as trusted partners in our core products,' the employee claimed. When Breitbart was singled out for its approach to the George Floyd protests, an employee remarked that Facebook's leaders would struggle to clamp down on Breitbart, through fear of being called biased. Facebook employees were concerned in June 2020 with the way Breitbart was reporting on the George Floyd protests Facebook employees said that Breitbart was demonizing the protesters angered by George Floyd's murder 'At best, it would be a very difficult policy discussion,' the researcher said. After a staffer asked about removing Breitbart, a senior researcher responded by defending the controversial site, stating: 'I can also tell you that we saw drops in trust in CNN 2 years ago: would we take the same approach for them too?' Another employee in a different discussion said that the far-right website was being granted a pass from Facebook's usual rules about journalistic standards, saying of Breitbart: 'We're scared of political backlash if we enforce our policies without exemptions.' Facebook told The Wall Street Journal - which has been publishing a series of articles about the internal workings of the Silicon Valley firm - that it enforces its rules equally and politics do not play a part in its decision making. 'We make changes to reduce problematic or low-quality content to improve people's experiences on the platform, not because of a page's political point of view,' said Facebook spokesman Andy Stone. 'When it comes to changes that will impact public pages like publishers, of course we analyze the effect of the proposed change before we make it.' Facebook has long been accused of being biased against conservatives - claims that have been heightened since Trump was banned from the platform earlier this year, after he was found to have violated Facebook's rule against inciting violence. Facebook said that Trump's remarks around the January 6 riots were dangerous and should not be shared on the platform. On Friday a new whistleblower affidavit submitted by a former Facebook employee accused the social media giant of prioritizing profits over their due diligence to combat hate speech, misinformation and other threats to the public. The new allegations, submitted anonymously under penalty of perjury, echoed the claims made by fellow whistleblower Frances Haugen, who delivered a scathing testimony before Congress earlier this month on Facebook's moral failings. The new allegations come after whistleblower Frances Haugen, pictured, testified before Congress earlier this month over Facebook's failings The anonymous whistleblower accused one of Facebook's top communication officials, Tucker Bounds, pictured, of brushing aside an employee's concern of misinformation In the most dramatic line of the affidavit, the former employee anguished over Facebook's inability to act quickly to help curb racial killings in Myanmar in 2017 as military officials used the site to spread hate speech. 'I, working for Facebook, had been a party to genocide,' the whistleblower wrote. Building on Haugen's statements, the anonymous whistleblower, who worked on Facebook's Integrity Team, also shared a story about a top company official brushing aside worries of election interference, the Washington Post reports. As the company was looking to quell political controversy following Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election, Facebook communications official Tucker Bounds allegedly said, 'It will be a flash in the pan.' 'Some legislators will get pissy. And then in a few weeks they will move onto something else. Meanwhile we are printing money in the basement, and we are fine.' The whistleblower explained that Bounds' alleged viewpoint was common among the leadership in the company, and other former employees have said that Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg were well aware of the problems. Bounds has denied the claim and both he and Facebook chastised the Washington Post's reporting of the affidavit. 'It sets a dangerous precedent to hang an entire story on a single source making a wide range of claims without any apparent corroboration,' Facebook spokeswoman Erin McPike said in a statement. Former employees said Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, left, and COO Sheryl Sandberg were aware of Facebook's failings but did little to fix the situation Zuckerberg, shown testifying before congress in 2019, has defended his company despite leaked documents and testimony from former employees detailing the company's wrongs Haugen and the new whistleblower also submitted the allegations to the Securities and Exchange Commission, which oversees all publicly traded companies. In the SEC affidavit, the anonymous ex-employee alleges that Facebook officials routinely undermined efforts within the company to fight misinformation and hate speech out of fear of angering Trump and his allies. The former employee said that on one occasion, Facebook's Public Policy team defended a 'white list' that exempted Breitbart News and other Trump-aligned publishers from Facebook's ordinary rules against spreading fake news. When an employee questioned this policy, Joel Kaplan, Facebook's vice president of global policy, reportedly shot down any concerns. 'Do you want to start a fight with Steven Bannon,' Kaplan allegedly said. Kaplan, who had been previously criticized by former employees for allegedly seeking to protect conservative interests on Facebook, denies he ever showed bias. 'There has never been a whitelist that exempts publishers, including Breitbart, from Facebook's rules against misinformation,' he insisted. Resources and water minister Keith Pitt will return to the cabinet after the Nationals backed net zero emissions by 2050. Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Monday announced the Nationals MP would be elevated back into the cabinet, just months after he was demoted to the outer ministry. 'Minister Pitt is a powerful voice for the resources sector and ensuring that we build upon Australia's strength in traditional exports, while harnessing opportunities in the new energy economy and critical minerals,' Mr Morrison said in a statement. Resources and water minister Keith Pitt (left talking to Barnaby Joyce) will return to the cabinet after the Nationals backed net zero emissions by 2050 'Minister Pitt has been a strong advocate for regional and rural communities, both in his portfolio responsibilities and as a local MP.' The National Party has declared it will support a 2050 net zero carbon emissions target, a historic move that brings Australia into line with most of the developed world just a week before crunch climate talks in Glasgow. After a week of internal meetings and debate, leader Barnaby Joyce revealed the junior Coalition party now backs the target and declared: 'I am 100 per cent on board with the goal of net zero by 2050.' While it has not yet been publicly announced what the Nationals agreed to in order to support a net-zero plan, it was expected the party would push for an additional seat in cabinet. Labor MP Anika Wells told the ABC: 'The news that Keith Pitt is off to cabinet out of this demonstrates once and for all that these actors are only in it for themselves, not for their actual constituents, and not with our economic prosperity and climate future in mind.' After a week of internal meetings and debate, Barnaby Joyce (centre with David Littleproud and Bridget McKenzie) revealed his party now backs a net zero target Mr Pitt was demoted from cabinet in June after Barnaby Joyce replaced Michael McCormack as Nationals leader. Cabinet is expected to meet to discuss the net-zero plans later on Monday. The move harmonises Labor and Coalition climate change policy, ending a decade of the so-called 'climate wars' in politics. It also marks a major shift for the Deputy Prime Minister who has until now opposed climate change action by either questioning the existence of global warming or insisting that Australia can make no difference. On Sunday Mr Joyce said he expected there to be a 'firm commitment' to regional Australia in a submission which would go to cabinet this week, before Mr Morrison heads overseas on Thursday. 'The position regional people are in now is better than the terms and the process that was initially delivered to us,' he said after a partyroom meeting in Canberra which lasted just over two hours. If temperatures continue to rise, there could be devastating effects here on Earth, including a dramatic loss of sea-life, an ice-free Arctic and more regular 'extreme' weather 'We are in support of a process going forward that would go towards a 2050 emissions target. 'Obviously that depends upon what we see in the cabinet submission reflecting the conversations and agreements between myself and the prime minister.' Apart from a 'socio-economic safety valve' which would include regular reviews of the impacts of the emissions target on jobs and industries in rural and regional areas, a key factor in getting the Nationals over the line was the prospect of an election loss without a net zero target. 'Standing up for them (regional Australians) is making sure that you are in the (cabinet) room where the decisions are being made,' the deputy prime minister said. 'Heroics that have no outcome, heroics that leave nothing but a rhetorical flourish - but leave the person who is hurting in the same position as what they were - is not an outcome the Nationals party room supported.' He declined to say whether the prime minister had agreed during the negotiations to give the Nationals an extra cabinet position. The devastated stepfather of missing four-year-old Cleo Smith has broken his silence nine days after the little girl mysteriously vanished from the family tent. Jake Gliddon shared an image of the missing poster to his Instagram on Monday nearly a week after he and Cleo's mother fronted the media for the first time. The heartbroken couple begged the public to report anything 'big or small' that could help bring the little girl home, as an exhaustive search of the area continues. The missing poster offers a $1million reward to anyone with information which leads to Cleo's return, or the arrest and conviction of those responsible for taking her. Cleo's devastated stepdad Jake Gliddon (pictured) has broken his silence nine days after the little girl mysteriously vanished from the family tent at the Blowholes Campground Jake Gliddon shared an image of the missing poster to his Instagram on Monday (pictured) which offers a $1million reward to anyone who gives information that leads to Cleo's safe return, or the arrest or conviction of those responsible for taking her Cleo's mother Ellie (left) and her partner Jake Gliddon (left) begged the media to report anything 'big or small' that could lead to Cleo's safe return Last week, Ms Smith appeared emotional while Mr Gliddon seemed lost for words as the couple recounted the last time they saw young Cleo. The heartbroken mum revealed the couple have barely slept since the four-year-old vanished and described the last few days without Cleo as being 'horrendous'. It comes just hours after Ms Smith posted her own desperate plea for answers to social media and it was revealed the missing girl's voice was captured on CCTV footage the day before she vanished. The audio was recorded by a CCTV camera installed inside a beach shack just 20 metres from the family tent Cleo mysteriously disappeared from last Saturday. WA Police have confirmed the voice of the missing four-year-old can be heard on the motion-sensitive camera, which also takes a wide-angle photo of anyone who enters or leaves the shack. The camera captures audio and images from inside a painted wooden box with a glass front and would not appear obvious to those passing by the shack. Officers have scrutinised copies of the CCTV footage and said on Sunday the new evidence helped place Cleo at the campground on the day before she went missing. The development is also significant because it rules out any suspicions the child was never brought to the camping ground by her parents. The couple - who have been together for two years - also share Cleo's baby sister Isla Mae who was born in March of this year Missing girl Cleo Smith's voice was recorded on this CCTV camera the day before she vanished from her family tent at the Blowholes Campground 'It was just after they arrived, it's motion-sensitive so it was by [their vehicle],' Detective Superintendent Rod Wilde said. 'It's very limited we've reviewed that and we believe it's Cleo's voice that's heard on the CCTV.' Cleo Smith vanished from a tent at a camping site near Carnarvon on the northwest coast of Western Australia during the early hours of October 16 with police believing the youngster was abducted - rather than wandering away by herself. Her devastated mother Ellie Smith continues to post fresh appeals for information to her Instagram page, most recently sharing a sweet photo of her two daughters. Four-year-old Cleo is seen giving her baby sister Isla Mae a kiss on the forehead in the photo with the caption: 'We all need her home'. She posted another heartbreaking photo of her missing daughter enjoying a day at the beach and questioned: 'Where are you baby' followed by another shot of the two girls that described Cleo as the 'best big sister ever'. Cleo's devastated mother Ellie Smith continues to post fresh appeals for information on her Instagram (pictured) as detectives continue to scour the campground for clues Cleo's mother described her as the 'best big sister ever' to her other daughter Isla Mae (right) Cleo's heartbroken mother asked the burning question on the entire nations' lips when she asked her little girl 'Where are you baby' It comes after new witnesses told police they saw a car and heard screeching tyres at the Blowholes Campsite, 50km north of Canarvon, where Cleo vanished. Superintendent Wilde said the car was seen about 3am on October 16 when Cleo went missing. The car was turning south off Blowholes Road, near the area Cleo's family was camping, and headed for Carnarvon. The timing of the car sighting coincides with evidence from other campers that they heard the the sound of screeching tyres rapidly leaving the campsite about 3am. Superintendent Wilde said the evidence was 'credible' and the witnesses only came forward after learning of the possible abduction of the child, having not thought their sighting of the car was significant at the time. 'Obviously at that time when the people observed it, it wasn't anything of great significance. They just came forward after hearing about Cleo and the news and realised the significance he said. 'Fortunately, they've come forward and passed that on to us so we are keen to speak to the person who was driving and anyone who was in that vehicle to speak to us.' A team of more than 100 police officers have now entered their ninth day of exhaustive search efforts for missing girl Cleo Smith (pictured) Police believe Cleo was taken from her family tent at the Blowholes Campsite on WA's northwest coast during the early hours of Saturday, October 16 (pictured, search teams) The new witnesses were travelling north on the North West Coastal Highway on their way to work when they spotted the mysterious vehicle leaving the camping ground. Unfortunately, they were unable to give a description of the car or how many people were inside as it was too dark. 'We want the person or persons who were in that vehicle to come forward and contact police,' Superintendent Wilde said. 'We want to know who they were and what they were doing. 'The time is not exact but we believe it to have been between 3am and 3.30am. We believe it was a passenger vehicle, not a truck.' Supt Wilde has stressed the driver is not considered a suspect. New witnesses have told police they saw a car and heard screeching tyres at the Blowholes Campsite, 50km north of Canarvon, where Cleo vanished last Saturday Police are still unsure whether the little girl was taken by a lone offender or one with an accomplice, as extra detectives travel from Perth to join search efforts Meanwhile, while it was originally thought the little girl had simply wandered off towards the ocean or the rugged scrublands nearby, detectives are now convinced Cleo was abducted by a brazen child predator. The leading theory is that she was snatched while sleeping beside her mother Ellie Smith and step father Jake Gliddon in a tent at the remote camping site. Her parents woke up to find her missing along with her adult-sized red and grey sleeping bag, suggesting she may have been carried out and loaded into a vehicle in the dead of night. Police are still unsure whether the little girl was taken by a lone offender or one with an accomplice, as extra detectives travel from Perth to join search efforts. Superintendent Wilde said the family didn't see anything suspicious when they arrived at the campsite and said there was no evidence Cleo had been inside the beach shacks a short distance from the campground. Detectives have confirmed known sex offenders were in the area at the time Cleo vanished but there are currently no suspects. Anyone with information is urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. A corruption inquiry into Gladys Berejiklian has heard her former deputy John Barilaro thought her secret boyfriend Daryl Maguire was 'a pain in the a**e' and that she should have revealed their relationship as it may have been a 'conflict'. Mr Barilaro told the Independent Commission Against Corruption that if he had known about the clandestine relationship between Ms Berejiklian and Mr Maguire, a controversial shooting centre funding proposal from the Australian Clay Target Association (ACTA) could have been handled differently. 'It's very possible because of the conflict that we would have managed it differently,' said Mr Barilaro. Ms Berejiklian's years-long secret affair with the former Liberal MP was not revealed until a year ago when ICAC was investigating Mr Maguire. But Ms Berejiklian's barrister, Sophie Callan SC, sought to turn the tables on Mr Barilaro, asking if he had disclosed relationships of his own. Mr Barilaro said he 'would have' disclosed any relationships, including family links. 'What about any other intimate personal relationships?' Ms Callan asked. 'That's a hard question because my relationships are with my family,' Mr Barilaro said. Gladys Berejiklian prepares to leave her home for a coffee meeting with the former head of the Rural Fire Service Shane Fitzsimmons and his wife Lisa Former NSW deputy premier John Barilaro (left) arrives at the Independent Commission Against Corruption hearing in Sydney on Monday Daily Mail Australia is not suggesting Mr Barilaro has done anything improper in his personal or professional lives. The ACTA shooting centre was to be located in Mr Maguire's former electorate of Wagga Wagga and he was a keen backer of it getting state funding of $5.5million. The ICAC is investigating if Ms Berejiklian was 'liable to allow or encourage the occurrence of corrupt conduct' by Mr Maguire, with whom she was in a 'close personal relationship' between 2015 and 2018. It's also looking into whether she 'exercised her official functions dishonestly or partially' by not reporting any reasonable suspicions about Mr Maguire to the ICAC. An email tendered into evidence at ICAC from Mr Maguire to his then lover Ms Berejiklian and her deputy Mr Barilaro featured a subject line of 'Here we go on the merry go round again.' ICAC is investigating whether Ms Berejiklian 1. Engaged in conduct between 2012 and 2018 that was 'liable to allow or encourage the occurrence of corrupt conduct' by former Liberal MP Daryl Maguire, with whom she was in a close personal relationship between 2015 and 2018 2. Exercised her official functions dishonestly or partially by refusing to exercise her duty to report any reasonable suspicions about Mr Maguire to the ICAC 3. Exercised any of her official functions partially in connection with two multimillion-dollar grants in Mr Maguire's electorate, to the Australian Clay Target Association Inc and the Riverina Conservatorium of Music. Advertisement It was a reference to the fact that Mr Maguire was again seeking to help an organisation in his electorate to get substantial, multi-million dollar funding. Mr Barilaro was again asked about the former premier's relationship with Mr Maguire regarding funding promises made to the Riverina Conservatorium of Music in Wagga Wagga. Ms Berejiklian was premier by the time the government's expenditure review committee (ERC) signed off in 2018 on $10 million for the conservatorium to move to another premises. Later that year the government also promised during a by-election - caused by Mr Maguire's resignation - to award a further $20 million to fund the construction a recital hall. That money still has not been paid. 'There should have been a disclosure (of the relationship),' Mr Barilaro said. 'ERC decisions are taken seriously,' he said. Earlier on Monday, the former NSW premier was pictured having coffee with respected former Rural Fire Service head Shane Fitzsimmons and his wife just a few hundred metres away from where the ICAC hearings were under way. Ms Berejiklian struck up a strong bond with Mr Fitzsimmons during Sydney's 'summer from hell' in 2019-2020 and made time for a coffee with her former colleague as the ICAC probe that saw her resign as premier entered its second week. Just a few hundred metres away from their coffee date, counsel for ICAC Scott Robertson was asking Mr Barilaro about Mr Maguire's advocacy for projects in his electorate. 'I would say he was a pain in the a**e (like) a dog with a bone,' he said. Former NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian (pictured right) on Monday morning in Sydney with former Rural Fire Service head Shane Fitzsimmons (with back to camera) and his wife Lisa Mr Barilaro joined the ERC in November 2016 after he became leader of the NSW National Party and deputy premier. Ms Berejiklian was then the state treasurer and chair of the ERC, which was considering the ACTA funding request. Mr Barilaro agreed with Mr Robertson that Ms Berejiklian's support for putting the ACTA application on the ERC agenda indicated she supported it. Liberal MP Daryl Maguire, who was then the secret lover of NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian, took a humorous view of project funding requests in an email to Ms Berejiklian and her then deputy premier John Barilaro Mr Barilaro said that if the relationship between Ms Berejiklian and Mr Maguire was known at the time, her cabinet colleagues would have expected the 'treasurer would have excused herself from the debate'. It was disclosed to the commission that he said in his private hearing that if the relationship had been known 'I would not have supported the agenda item, I believe my colleagues would not have supported the agenda item.' Mr Barilaro said he first became aware the ACTA was looking for funding was when it appeared on the ERC agenda in December 2016. It was the 'third or the fourth' ERC meeting he had attended. Mr Robertson asked Mr Barilaro if any one had lobbied him about the ACTA proposal. 'Not that I can recall,' Mr Barilaro replied. Mr Barilaro became the minister responsible for administrative details, such as the finalisation of a business case, for the ACTA project. An updated business case was prepared by an external company in consultation with the NSW government. He said he did not direct that the project have any particular priority or emphasis in his office. ICAC witness list Tuesday 26 - Neil Harley, former chief of staff to Gladys Berejiklian Brad Burden, project director at Department of Defence Sarah Cruickshank, deputy secretary at Department of Premier and Cabinet Wednesday 27 - Daryl Maguire, former Liberal MP Thursday 28 - Gladys Berejiklian, former premier of NSW Friday 29 - Gladys Berejiklian Advertisement 'No, absolutely not,' Mr Barilaro said. Counsel for Ms Berejiklian, in questioning Mr Barilaro, referred to his evidence that Mr Maguire could be a 'pain in the a**e' in advocating for projects in his electorate and suggested 'he was not alone' in doing so. Mr Barilaro replied 'he was probably top of the bunch in his advocacy and the aggressiveness of it' but agreed he was not alone. He also agreed Mr Maguire was a hard-working MP, but said he did not believe he advocated on 'broad, wide, regional issues' outside Wagga Wagga. Peter Minucos, a former adviser to the ex-deputy premier John Barilaro, was the first to give evidence on Monday. Public servant Chris Hanger told the ICAC last Thursday that Mr Minucos was a key figure in developing a business case for the ACTA facilities upgrade. Ms Berejiklian's relationship with Mr Maguire was a closely guarded secret at the time, and was not disclosed to her colleagues in her then positions of treasurer, initially, followed by becoming premier upon the resignation of Mike Baird in January 2017. On Monday morning, Mr Minucos was asked by Mr Robertson if he understood the money for ACTA was guaranteed by January 2017, or contingent on that business case. He said it was a 'bit of both' and it was a 'fine line in my mind at the time'. The funds were to come from Restart NSW, which required a business to cost (BCR) ratio above one to be demonstrated for the funds to be paid. Last week, Mr Hanger said Mr Minucos was the 'key contact' and was 'heavily involved in the development of the (ACTA) project, in particular the advice back to the consultants ... in regards to an addendum to the original business case'. Neither Mr Minucos nor Mr Barilaro are accused of wrongdoing. The former Premier made time for coffee with a friend as the ICAC heard evidence from Mr Barilaro Mr Robertson asked if it was 'unusual to have someone in a ministerial office involved in procuring a business case as an addendum to a business case?' 'It's peculiar for them to be involved in advice around that in the way Mr Minucos did,' Mr Hanger answered. Mr Robertson asked: 'As a longtime public servant with responsibility for procurement of infrastructure, did you regard it as inappropriate that there was the kind of advice ... provided at the political level rather than the agency or departmental level?' 'We indicated that it wasn't ... where or how they should be providing advice,' Mr Hanger said, adding that this view was expressed to Mr Barilaro's office. Mr Hanger then worked for a regional NSW agency which sat under the Department of Premier and Cabinet and whose relevant minister was Mr Barilaro. ICAC assisting counsel Scott Robertson will question former NSW National Party leader John Barilaro Ms Berejiklian first appeared before ICAC more than a year ago. On Monday, October 12, 2020, she told an inquiry into Mr Maguire that she had been in a secret 'close personal relationship' with him for years. A tapped phone call entered into evidence that day featured the pair discussing a business deal. 'I don't need to know about that bit,' the then premier of NSW said to her then partner. She announced on October 1 2021 that she was resigning as NSW premier because she herself was being investigated by ICAC. Ms Berejiklian had known for at least two weeks that was the case, as ICAC had already interviewed her. In an excruciating 22 second clip played entered into evidence last week she was asked if she had suspicions that her former boyfriend, Mr Maguire may have been involved in corrupt behaviour. 'I was in shock, I didn't know what to think. I didn't have enough detail. I hadn't read what was happening. I can't remember what I thought at that time,' she said. Mr Robertson pressed her, saying 'I'm not asking what you knew, I'm asking whether at the time you asked for Mr Maguire's resignation you suspected that he may have been engaged in corrupt conduct?' 'I didn't, I didn't, I didn't know. I wasn't, I wasn't sure,' Ms Berejiklian replied in the recording of an interview from September 18. That term Mr Robertson used - suspected - is important. The ICAC Act holds that leaders must report 'suspicion' of possible corrupt behaviour straight away. Ms Berejiklian has repeatedly and strenuously denied all wrongdoing. The Australian Clay Target Association is part of an ICAC inquiry into former NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian The revelation of former NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian's (pictured left) secret relationship with Daryl Maguire (right) left another former premier, Mike Baird 'incredulous' One of the countrys top evangelical universities is being sued by a dozen former students who claim that administrators made it difficult or impossible to report sexual assault because the young women would be punished for 'pre-marital sex'. Liberty University, the Lynchburg, Virginia-based Christian university co-founded by the late Jerry Falwell Sr, would penalize the young women who came forward by claiming they violated the Liberty Way, according to the lawsuit. News of the allegations against Liberty was first reported by ProPublica. Last year, the school's president, Jerry Falwell Jr, left his post after it was learned that his wife was having an affair with a pool boy, Giancarlo Granda, who was trying to extort the couple. Also last year, a former Liberty University student who played in a band with Becki Falwells son came forward with claims she performed oral sex on him and pursued him on Facebook for months when he was 22. Earlier this year, Liberty filed a lawsuit seeking tens of millions of dollars in damages from Jerry Falwell Jr. The complaint, which was filed in Lynchburg Circuit Court, alleges Falwell crafted a well-resourced exit strategy from his role as president and chancellor in the form of a lucrative 2019 employment agreement while withholding damaging information from the evangelical school about a personal scandal that would explode into public view the following year. According to the ProPublica site, women who attended the university and reported rapes or sexual assaults were punished for admitting they consumed alcohol and fraternized with the opposite sex. The Liberty Way prohibits students from being in any state of undress with a member of the opposite sex. 'The goal of The Liberty Way (Student Honor Code) is to encourage and instruct our students how to love God through a life of service to others,' the code says. 'The way we treat each other in our community is a direct reflection of our love of God.' When it comes to pre-marital sex, the Liberty Way states: 'Sexual relations outside of a biblically-ordained marriage between a natural-born man and a natural-born woman are not permissible at Liberty University.' Liberty University, the Lynchburg, Virginia-based Christian university co-founded by the late Jerry Falwell Sr, is being sued by a dozen former students who claim that administrators made it difficult or impossible to report sexual assault because the young women ran afoul of the honor code that bans drinking and pre-marital relations One student who reported being raped to school authorities was allegedly fined $500 for drinking alcohol and ordered to attend counseling. She was reportedly also told her transcript wouldnt be released until she paid the penalty. At least a dozen women told ProPublica that it was part of a pattern at the school, where rape victims were discouraged from reporting what happened to them. Elizabeth Axley told ProPublica that she was raped during her freshman year at the school in 2017. During a Halloween party at an off-campus location, she drank eight shots of vodka as well as a couple of mixed drinks. Axley said that she then remembers waking up with another student on top of her and his hand against her mouth. She then returned to the dorm and called the campus police department to report the incident. After being driven to the local hospital, a nurse documented 15 bruises, welts, and lacerations on her arm, face, and torso. After returning to the dorm on Sunday morning, Axley told her resident adviser what had happened. According to Axley, the RA told her not to report it for fear that she would be punished for violating the student code of conduct. Instead, the RA said that Axley should pray. 'I was really confused,' Axley said. 'They were making it seem like I had done something wrong.' She added: 'I didn't want to get fined or punished, but I wasn't going to let this keep me from reporting my assault.' Axley then approached the schools equity office, which is responsible for investigating claims of sexual discrimination. Under Title IX, the civil rights law, schools that engage in sex discrimination would not be entitled to federal funding. Axley had photos of her bruises and text messages from friends who saw the alleged rapist being all over you. He was just super handsy and he has his face all over you and stuff like that, a friend of Axley, Logan Pratt, texted her on the morning after the party. According to Axley, the lead investigator at the equity office, Elysa Bucci, hardly took an interest in her claims. Last year, the school's president, Jerry Falwell Jr (above), left his post after it was learned that his wife was having an affair with a pool boy, Giancarlo Granda, who was trying to extort the couple Instead, Bucci questioned Axley about why she had gone to the party, what she had to drink, and how much she drank, according to ProPublica. I immediately felt judged, Axley said. Bucci is now a Title IX investigator at Baylor University. It reportedly took five months for the university to inform Axley that it completed the investigation into her claims. During that time, Axley stopped going to class for fear she would run into her alleged assailant. As a result, her grades suffered. Axley said her mental health started to deteriorate as well. She suffered full-blown panic attacks. She was also sued by her alleged assailant, claiming that she defamed him by recounting the allegations to others. That lawsuit was settled. The alleged assailant denies assaulting Axley. When she was handed her file, the photos that she took of her injuries were gone. When Axley asked what happened to the photos, Bucci said the pictures were removed because they were too explicit. 'I felt like I'd been punched in the stomach,' Axley said. Also last year, a former Liberty University student who played in a band with Becki Falwells son came forward with claims she performed oral sex on him and pursued him on Facebook for months when he was 22. Jerry and Becki Falwell are seen above in Lynchburg, Virginia in 2018 'I had been relying on them all these months to take my evidence into account when considering my case, and it wasn't even in my file.' Several days later, Axley was informed by the university that she needed to sign a document acknowledging that she violated the code of conduct and could be subject to possible disciplinary actions. At least two other students said they had to sign a similar document. Pratt said he gave a statement to the Title IX office that supported Axleys version of events. But a few months later, Pratt said he was kicked out of the school for drinking and other Liberty Way violations. Diane Stargel, a former student, alleged that she was raped by another student at a party off-campus in 2013. When she told a counselor what happened, the counselor informed her that she needed to sign a victim notice that warned of possible penalties due to violations of the Liberty Way. Stargel decided not to go ahead with the complaint because she feared losing her scholarship if she was found to have violated the code of conduct. 'I feel like Liberty bullied me into silence after what happened to me,' said Stargel. 'I've always regretted that I never got my day in court. 'But at least now I can stand up and say, "Yeah, that happened to me".' Another former student, Amanda Stevens, reported to the schools Title IX office that she was raped in April 2015. After filing her report, she was told she could be in violation of the Liberty Way for drinking alcohol, having premarital sex, and being alone with a man on campus. 'I remember thinking, "What? Are you kidding me?"' said Stevens. '"I could get in trouble for coming forward and reporting?"' The school conducted an investigation into Stevens claims. The investigation found that the alleged assailant was 'not responsible.' At least 10 other students told ProPublica that they decided not to report their rapes to school administrators because they feared they would be punished. 'I knew I would face the blame for putting myself in that situation,' said Chelsea Andrews, a former LU student. Andrews said she was assaulted by a Liberty graduate student. In October 2016, Adrianna Rice contacted the schools Title IX office to report she had been raped by a fellow student. Rice and another student drove off campus to a local nature trail when the rape occurred, according to ProPublica. I dont think Im OK, Adrianna Rice told her mother, Kristine Rice. I had sex with a guy and I didnt want to. I asked her, Did you want that? And she started sobbing and said, No, Kristine Rice said. And I said, Honey, that sounds like rape. About a week after the alleged rape, Adrianna Rice and her mother traveled to the campus counseling office. Adrianna wrote on her intake form that it was an emergency and that she was experiencing suicidal ideation. But the Rices were turned away because there werent any appointments available. 'They referred me to other Christian counselors in the area,' Adrianna Rice recalled. The counseling center also referred her to Buccis office. Bucci emailed Rice a list of resources, but law enforcement was not on the list. Scott Lamb, a former LU spokesperson, said he was fired this year by the school after urging administrators to issue a statement saying they would 'get to the bottom' of the allegations in the lawsuit Federal law requires that students who report sexual violence be informed that they had the option of going to law enforcement. 'I was never informed that filing a police report was even an option,' said Adrianna Rice. When she asked Bucci to open a formal investigation, Bucci allegedly told her not to speak to anyone about the case, including law enforcement. 'I felt like a gag order had been placed on me after I had already experienced a trauma,' Adrianna Rice said. An investigation by the school found that Rices alleged rapist was not responsible even though she says she provided investigators with a text in which the alleged assailant is said to have admitted what he did. When Rice appealed, she was asked by committee members how and why I had put myself in a situation where this could have happened. Committee members asked her questions like What definition of rape are you going off of? and What is counted as valid evidence? The appeals committee decided to uphold the Title IX offices original decision by a preponderance of the evidence. Rice decided to take the case to police, but she says that the chief of the campus police discouraged her from pursuing the matter. 'He told me all the details I had written down in my personal statement could be turned against me, and that a jury would likely kill my case,' she said. 'He essentially discouraged me from continuing.' When ProPublica sought comment from the university about the claims, the school declined to comment. Scott Lamb, Libertys senior vice president of communications, urged his bosses to release a statement expressing empathy with victims and a desire to get to the bottom of the claims. 'The emails from ProPublica were definitely ignored,' said Lamb. Lamb said he and another colleague tried to get administrators to take the issue seriously. 'We said, "Listen, the optics of this are killing us. Is there anything we can message something? A message about empathy? Or that we're at least working to get to the bottom of this?" 'And then it dawned on us: They're not working to get to the bottom of this.' Lamb added: 'Concerns about sexual assault would go up the chain and then die.' He called is a 'conspiracy of silence.' In a May 7 email, Lamb wrote to administrators: 'There seems to be the notion that there are many (not few) skeletons in LUs closet when it comes to "mishandling sexual assault allegations." 'Culturally, this seems to be a pattern: 1 person makes an accusation about Bill Cosby/Harvey Weinstein/Matt Lauer etc.... And overnight there are a dozen people who say the same thing. True, LU is not Bill Cosby...But Im talking about the Court of Public Opinion. 'And I fear that we are about to enter into a season of being found guilty in that court.' Lamb said he received no response. As news of the lawsuits began to gain more traction on social media, the university decided that it would disable comments on its official Instagram and Facebook accounts. When Lamb objected to the policy, he says he was fired. Sen. Joe Manchin said Monday that he expects a 'conceptual framework' on Democrats social and climate spending bill to be finalized this week, while President Biden, even more optimistic, said he expects a deal on his desk by Wednesday. 'I think a framework should be [finalized], it really should be,' the West Virginia Democrat told reporters. He said he was still concerned about Medicare expansion and had pushed back on the proposal. 'I'm still at $1.5 guys,' Manchin added, signaling that he would not allow a price tag higher than $1.5 trillion for the package. Manchin said his party still has a lot of 'concerns' to work out and refused to talk about which specific proposals would be cut from the final bill. 'I'm concerned about an awful lot of things,' he said. Manchin did throw cold water on Sen. Bernie Sanders' push to expand Medicare in the package, warning the program could be insolvent by 2026. 'My big concern right now is the 2026 deadline [for] Medicare insolvency and if no one's concerned about that, I've got people that's a lifeline. Medicare and Social Security is a lifeline for people back in West Virginia, most people around the country,' Manchin told reporters. 'You've got to stabilize that first before you look at basically expansion. So if we're not being fiscally responsible, that's a concern,' he added. But the senator seems to be on board with President Joe Biden's proposal to help pay for his massive social spending plan with a wealth tax on billionaires and corporations. Manchin and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer huddled with the president at his Wilmington, Delaware home on Sunday morning to work through resolving disputes between centrist and progressive factions of the party. These divides have stalled the Democrats' social safety nets and climate change package, which had an original proposed price tag of $3.5 trillion and has now been scaled back to $2 trillion at the highest. The plan is now being eyed as a $1.75 trillion package, but a person familiar with the private talks said it could still climb considerably higher. When leaving Delaware for a trip to New Jersey on Monday, Biden said of the meeting: 'It went well, a few more things to work out, but it went well.' When asked if he expects a deal on his desk by Wednesday, Biden said: 'With the grace of God and the good will of neighbor.' A second person familiar with the discussions told The Associated Press that Manchin is agreeable to the White House's approach to raise taxes on around 700 billionaires and impose a 15 per cent minimum corporate tax rate to pay for the plan. The new tax plan from the White House would be on billionaires' unrealized capital gains, which includes assets like stocks, bonds, real estate and art, as well as other assets that have not been sold. It would apply to those who made more than $100 million per year for three years in a row or if an individual has at least $1 billion in annual income. It's not clear if Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz., is on board with the newly proposed pay-fors, but the 15 per cent minimum corporate tax seems agreeable to her, according to reports. Democratic Senator Joe Manchin is agreeable to Joe Biden's plan to increase taxes on 1,000 billionaires and impose a 15 per cent minimum corporate tax rate to pay for the massive social spending package, a person familiar with discussions revealed President Biden's package had an original price tag of $3.5 trillion, but that has been lowered to $1.75 trillion as centrist Democrats stalled the bill House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said that even at 'half' the original $3.5 trillion proposed, Biden's signature domestic initiative would be larger than any other legislative package with big investments in health care, child care and strategies to tackle climate change. 'It is less than what was projected to begin with, but it's still bigger than anything we have ever done in terms of addressing the needs of America's working families,' Pelosi told CNN's State of the Union on Sunday. Democrats are working intensely to try again to wrap up talks on the measure so the president can spotlight his administration's achievements to world leaders at two overseas summits on the economy and climate change that get underway this week. Biden decided to meet with Manchin and New York Senator Schumer at his home in Wilmington after Democrats missed last week's deadline to resolve disputes. Biden has said he'd like to see a $2 trillion package and they are trying again this upcoming week to reach agreement. The president was in Kearny, New Jersey peddling his Build Back Better agenda on Monday. 'These bills are going to change the lives of millions of people in areas and hundreds of millions of people across the country for better, for years to come,' he said. And he repeated his debunked claim his plan costs zero. 'We pay for it all. It doesn't increase the deficit one single cent,' he said. Manchin and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (pictured) huddled with Biden at his home in Wilmington, Delaware on Sunday to discuss the massive welfare spending package THE BILLIONAIRES' TAX: HOW DEMS PLAN TO EXTRACT $200BN FROM 700 WEALTHIEST Democrats have won the approval of key centrist Sen. Joe Manchin for a new tax on billionaires' unrealized capital gains, while Sen. Kyrsten Sinema has not yet ruled the proposal out. The proposal would likely affect around 700 of the richest US taxpayers, the wealthiest on the wealthiest 0.0002 percent, and revenues would be used to pay for Democrats' social and climate spending bill, now valued at around $2 trillion at the highest. The tax is expected to affect people with $1 billion in assets or those who have made more than $100 million each year for at least the past three years, according to the Wall Street Journal. Democrats hope the proposal would generate around $200 billion over the next decade. Sen. Ron Wyden, the head of the Senate Finance Committee, has been working on a version of the proposal for almost two years. The proposal would focus on unrealized capital gains, or asset appreciation, and is expected to include a one-time tax on gains to date. Capital gains are currently only counted as income for tax purposes when gains are 'realized,' meaning the seller earns profit on an asset sale. Unrealized capital gains are the main source of income for some very wealthy people, who can defer paying income tax on such gains for years, allowing their wealth to grow rapidly. The wealthy often borrow against these gains to spend huge sums of money at little relative cost. The proposal would shut down the deferral of income tax on unrealized capital gains. It would force the wealthy to pay taxes each year on gains from not only stocks and bonds, but also illiquid assets like real estate and art, regardless of whether they sell them. Owners could claim deductions for annual losses in the value of their assets. Republicans claim the new proposal would further bloat bureaucracies and be difficult to implement. And tax experts warn that creating such a narrowly targeted tax could make it easy to avoid. Advertisement Resolving the revenue side is key as the Democrats insist the new spending will be fully paid for by the various taxes. Manchin and another centrist Democrat, Senator Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona, have almost on their own halted Biden's proposal from advancing. With Republican opposition and an evenly split 50-50 Senate, Biden has no votes to spare, and the two Democratic senators have insisted on reducing the size of the enormous package and pressed for other changes. One key debate has been over the revenues to pay for the package, after Sinema rejected an earlier plan to reverse the Republican-led 2017 tax cuts and raise rates on corporations earning more than $5 million a year and wealthy Americans earning more than $400,000, or $450,000 for couples. Instead, the White House proposed a tax on the investment incomes of billionaires, which is fewer than 1,000 of the wealthiest Americans with at least $1 billion in assets. Biden's team has also floated a 15 per cent corporate minimum tax that is designed to ensure all companies pay what Biden calls their 'fair share' ending the practice of some big-name firms paying no taxes. Democrats initially planned that Biden's package would contain $3.5 trillion worth of spending and tax initiatives over 10 years. But demands by moderates led by Manchin and Sinema to contain costs mean its final price tag could well be less than $2 trillion. Disputes remain over far-reaching investments, including plans to expand Medicare coverage with dental, vision and hearing aid benefits for seniors; child care assistance; and free pre-kindergarten. Pelosi said on CNN that Democrats were still working to keep in provisions for four weeks of paid family leave but acknowledged that other proposals such as expanding Medicare to include dental coverage could prove harder to save because of cost. The California Democrat reiterated that about 90 per cent of the deal is wrapped up and said she expects an agreement by week's end, paving the way for a House vote on a separate $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill before next Sunday, October 31, when a series of transportation programs will lapse. The Senate approved the package of road, broadband and other public works projects over the summer, but the measure stalled in the House during deliberations on the broader Biden bill. Progressive insisted on holding the bipartisan infrastructure deal hostage in exchange for the passage of the massive social spending and welfare package, which Republicans and centrist Democrats opposed from the get go. Manchin, whose state has a major coal industry, has opposed Biden's initial climate change proposals, which involved a plan to penalize utilities that do not switch quickly to clean energy. Democrats are now also compiling other climate change strategies to meet Biden's goal of reducing U.S. greenhouse gas emissions by at least 50 per cent by 2030. Democrats were hoping Biden could cite major accomplishments when he attends a global conference in Scotland on climate change in early November after attending a summit of world leaders in Rome. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi expects the bill to be finalized this week, claiming 90 per cent is already agreed upon Senator Angus King, a Maine independent who caucuses with Democrats, said the expected cuts to the clean energy provisions in the spending bill were especially disappointing. 'If we're going to get the rest of the world to take serious steps to remedy this problem, we've got to do it ourselves,' King said Sunday on NBC's Meet the Press. Pelosi insisted that Democrats had pieced together other policies in the spending bill that could reduce emissions. 'We will have something that will meet the presidents goals,' she said. Democrats also want to make progress that could help Democrat Terry McAuliffe win a neck-and-neck Nov. 2 gubernatorial election in Virginia. Representative Ro Khanna, a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, maintained that his caucus will not budge on supporting the infrastructure bill before Oct. 31 if there is no agreement on the broader package, which would be passed under so-called budget reconciliation rules. 'The president needs the reconciliation agreement to go to Glasgow,' Khanna said on Fox News Sunday. He added: 'That's what is going to deal with climate change, that's what's going to hit his goals of 50 per cent reduction by 2030. I'm confident we will have an agreement.' A judge in Florida is preparing to rule on a legal challenge against Governor Ron DeSantis' ban on school mask mandates. Administrative law Judge Brian Newman heard testimony from both sides in the case this week in Tallahassee, and will have until November 5 to render a ruling. DeSantis in July issued an executive order barring school mask mandates, but in practice, at least eight counties representing more than half of Florida's public school students have defied him, requiring kids to wear masks to limit the spread of COVID-19. The legal challenge to the order heard by Judge Newman was filed by six of those counties: Alachua, Broward, Duval, Miami-Dade, Orange and Leon. A judge in Florida is preparing to rule on a legal challenge against Governor Ron DeSantis' ban on school mask mandates During this week's hearings, Judge Newman heard testimony from Aileen Marty, an infectious-disease specialist and professor at Florida International University. 'There's no ifs, ands or buts about it, masks are a highly effective way of reducing transmission from a respiratory virus, and particularly one that is spread by aerosol as is the SARS-CoV-2 virus,' Marty said, according to WKMG-TV. DeSantis has said parents should decide if their children wear masks, but Marty argued that it is 'much safer for the child' to leave decisions to experts. 'Under the circumstances that we were under, with the type of viral load we have, it is much better to have a mask mandate without a parental opt-out,' Marty said. On the opposing side, Jacob Oliva, a senior chancellor for the state Department of Education, defended the mask mandate ban and argued against quarantining asymptomatic students. He said that statewide standardized test results showed significant learning loss in students who did remote learning. DeSantis has said parents should decide if their children wear masks, but a witness for the defiant district argued that it is 'much safer for the child' to leave decisions to experts Florida is one of several U.S. states where Republican governors have sought to prevent local governments and school districts from mandating masks, in what has become a highly politicized tussle over COVID-19 precautions. Despite DeSantis' ban on mandates, both Alachua and the Broward County district in metropolitan Miami went against the governor. DeSantis and state education officials responded by cutting salaries paid to school board members in Florida who voted to require masks for students. In Alachua County, the pay reductions so far for four school board members who voted for the mask mandate amounted to $27,000. President Joe Biden's administration has been stepping in to make up the pay cuts by infusing federal grants into the affected districts. Alachua County school Superintendent Carlee Simon said in a news release last month the district has received $148,000 through a U.S. Department of Education program. Students walk from iPrep Academy on the first day of school in Miami. Schools in Miami-Dade County opened Monday with a strict mask mandate to guard against coronavirus infections This week, officials in South Florida said the mask mandate for students there could be eased by the end of October as local rates of COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations continue to fall. The number of students needing to quarantine in Miami-Dade County public schools has dropped significantly since school started in August, school Superintendent Alberto Carvalho said Wednesday. He said the decision would be based on the latest COVID-19 data and the advice of a task force of local doctors advising the district. The easing of the mask policy would give parents an opt-out provision for their children, he said. A parental opt out was the original back-to-school plan in Miami. But the delta variant spread rapidly across Florida during the summer, causing a spike in cases, hospitalizations and deaths. Telstra has agreed to buy the largest telco in the Pacific using $1.8billion of taxpayer cash to prevent it being owned by China. The $2.1billion sale of Digicel Pacific - which operates in Papua New Guinea, Tonga, Fiji, Nauru, Samoa and Vanuatu - will go through next year. Most of the cost is being covered by the Government through Export Finance Australia with Telstra tipping in the rest. Telstra has agreed to buy the largest telco in the Pacific using $1.8billion of taxpayer cash to prevent it being owned by China. Pictured: Scott Morrison on Monday State-owned China Mobile had expressed interest in buying Digicel but the Australian Government did not want the strategic asset to fall into the hands of the Chinese Communist Party. In a joint statement, Foreign Minister Marise Payne, Trade Minister Dan Tehan and International Development and Pacific Minister Zed Seselja said the Government expects to see a long term return from the deal. 'The acquisition also reflects the government's commitment... to support the development of secure and reliable infrastructure in the region,' the ministers said on Monday. Irish billionaire Denis O'Brien, who started the business, will sit on the company's new board. 'It's a tribute to Australia's commitment to the Pacific,' said Senator James Paterson, who also chairs a parliamentary intelligence and security committee. 'One of the key things about this agreement is that it demonstrates that Australia does so for the benefit of our friends and family in the Pacific, and unlike some other operators in the Pacific, we do so without any strings attached.' State-owned China Mobile had expressed interest in buying Digicel but the Australian Government did not want the strategic asset to fall into the hands of the Chinese Communist Party. Pictured: Chinese troops in Mongolia in 2017 Telstra will control 100 per cent of Digicel Pacific upon the completion of the acquisition by mid-next year. The Government hopes to make a return on its portion of the financing in the event of any future sale. Chief executive Andy Penn said Telstra had considered acquiring the business after first being approached by the Government last year to provide technical advice. 'We previously said that if Telstra were to proceed with a transaction it would be with financial and strategic risk management support from the government,' he said in a statement on Monday. Digicel Pacific is part of the Digicel Group, which began providing mobile and broadband services in the Caribbean in the 2000s before expanding to the Pacific. Digicel Pacific operates has about 2.5million subscribers and 1700 employees. One of the partners in its Pacific operations is Huawei, the Chinese firm banned from participating in Australia's 5G network infrastructure in 2018. Mr Penn acknowledged that partnership on Monday but said he didn't anticipate any regulatory issues in the Pacific markets, with the company to focus on 4G for now. 'We will work with our local team on the network plan, taking into account our partnerships... there are no issues in the short to near term in relation to that,' he said in a conference call. Pacific Telecommunications Council Vice President Paul McCann said Telstra's move into the region had been a long time coming. 'Telstra is inheriting a network that will bring great benefit to the Pacific,' he said. The deal is expected to be wrapped up in the next three to six months. A young woman who smashed a bottle at the feet of tradie Cam Smith's girlfriend as she rushed to his aid says she's grieving too for what happened. Mr Smith, a carpenter remembered for his zest for life, died after allegedly being set upon while standing up for his girlfriend outside Seaford train station, in Melbourne's southeast, last year. Mr Smith and his girlfriend Natasha Stroumos were off to have dinner by the beach when they were confronted by a group including 21-year-old Scarlett Taylor. Angry words were exchanged over an incident dating back to a New Year's Eve party when Mr Smith had inadvertently taken a drink belonging to Taylor. Jack Ledlin is charged with Mr Smith's murder and is set to stand trial. Taylor and Liam Casley both pleaded guilty to affray charges over the incident. Casley was sentenced to eight months' jail for kicking Mr Smith after he was stabbed. Cam Smith (pictured above) was allegedly stabbed to death while picking up pizza last year Victorian Supreme Court Justice Michael Croucher was told on Monday that Taylor played no physical part in the affray but had hurled verbal abuse at the couple and smashed a bottle at Ms Stroumos' feet to stop her rushing to help her boyfriend. 'I didn't want any of this to happen. I'm grieving him too, he will always be a part of me for the rest of my life too,' Taylor said through her lawyer Megan Casey. 'I'll never forget, I'm really sorry.' Taylor also admitted breaching bail conditions, which required her to live with her mother. Ms Casey said Taylor had a problematic relationship with her mother. After an argument with her daughter, her mother called triple-zero to say she didn't want Taylor living with her. Taylor was taken back into custody over Christmas and New Year before later being bailed to live with her older sister. She said Taylor is now working and wants to study, although is unsure which direction she wants to go in. Scarlett Taylor, 21, (pictured) says she is 'grieving too' over the alleged murder of Mr Smith Justice Croucher had encouraging words for the young woman who finished school at year 10. 'When I was 22 I had only completed year 10, so there you go,' he said. Ms Casey suggested community work might be a fitting punishment but Justice Croucher wasn't inclined to go down that path. 'While people can manage a job and community work I don't think there should be any impediment to her working or doing other rehabilitative things she should be doing,' he said. 'I don't think community work is necessary or desirable in a case like hers.' He said Taylor had experienced more in her young life than many do in a lifetime. Taylor will be sentenced next month. Advertisement Soldiers have opened fire on protesters in Sudan - killing two people and wounding 80 - hours after the military launched a coup with the country's prime minister marched out of his house by armed men. Thousands of people rallied close to the military's headquarters in capital Khartoum on Monday after Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok was seized in the early hours and taken to an 'unknown location'. Video showed huge crowds making their way over barricades around the building, before more footage captured the sound of gunfire. 'Military forces shot live bullets at protesters,' Sudan's information ministry said, adding that 'a number of injured are expected'. A doctors' union that has been central to the protests later said at least two people had been killed and 80 more wounded. Hamdock, who has been overseeing Sudan's transition from military rule to democracy, was seized just weeks before he was due to take over leadership of the transitional government from General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan. Soldiers have opened fire on protesters in Sudan with live bullets, the country's information ministry has said. Social media videos showed people with bloody headwounds Thousands of demonstrators have taken to the streets of the capital Khartoum today, denouncing a military coup that was launched in the early hours as armed men whisked the prime minister away to an 'unknown location' Sudan has been transitioning to democracy since a 2019 revolution ended decades of autocratic and military rule, with trade unions urging people on to the streets on Monday to 'safeguard' their freedoms A picture taken in the early hours of Monday purports to show the arrest of civilian ministers by unidentified gunmen, in what has since been established as a military coup Abdalla Hamdok, a former UN diplomat and current prime minister of Sudan who was overseeing its transition to democracy, was taken to an 'unknown location' from his house this morning Demonstrators demand the release of civilian leaders seized by Sudan's military in a coup launched on Monday morning Sudanese protesters hold placards reading 'no to overturning people's choices' and 'free revolutionaries' during a demonstration in the capital Khartoum on Monday Demonstrators have been burning tyres and stacking bricks in the road in an attempt to block the military from moving around after generals launched an early-morning coup Armed men arrived at Hamdok's home and urged him to sign a statement supporting the coup, the information ministry said. When he refused, he was taken to an 'unknown location' along with his wife. Key ministers within his government have also been arrested, with sources putting the total number of arrests around 300. In the hours after Hamdok went missing, the military seized control of the country's national TV and radio broadcaster, cut Internet services, and seized control of key bridges in the capital. Al-Burhan then went on TV to announce a state of emergency, saying he has dissolved the transitional government and dismissed the Cabinet. Sudan has been politically unstable since a 2019 revolution overthrew decades of autocratic rule by Omar al-Bashir, a former military general, and then a military council that stepped in to replace him. Since April 2019, the country has been led by a transitional council run by both military and civilian leaders tasked with rewriting the constitution and then holding elections, which were due for November 2022. Tensions between civilian and military leaders have been evident since the start of the transition, but have reached a head in recent months as deadlines for the handover of key powers loomed. Burhan claimed Monday's coup was 'to rectify the revolution's course.' It comes a month after the government said it had thwarted another coup attempt by soldiers loyal to al-Bashir which had targeted Hamdok, and more than a year after he survived an assassination plot. After the failed coup, Hamdok gave a speech calling it 'the worst and most dangerous crisis that not only threatens the [democratic] transition, but threatens our whole country.' Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the country's most-senior general and who had been due to hand over control of the government to civilian politicians in the coming weeks, announced on TV that he has now dissolved that government Sudanese protester draped with the national flag flashes the victory sign next to burning tyres during a demonstration in the capital Khartoum Protesters constructed barricades and burned tyres on the streets of Khartoum on Monday amid calls for a campaign of 'civil disobedience' to military rule The 'coup' comes weeks before Sudan's military leaders were due to hand over key roles in the government to civilians as part of the transition to democracy Protesters walk between palls of tyre smoke that have filled the streets of Sudan's capital Khartoum since the 'coup' began in the early hours Sudanese protesters chant pro-government slogans during a march in the capital Khartoum on Monday People burn tires and block a street during a protest in Khartoum after the military launched a coup in the early hours His arrest comes just two days after a Sudan faction calling for a transfer of power to civilian rule warned of a 'creeping coup' during a press conference that an unidentified mob attack tried to stop. Following news of Monday's coup, US special envoy for the Horn of Africa, Jeffrey Feltman said: 'The US is deeply alarmed at reports of a military take-over of the transitional government. 'This would contravene the Constitutional Declaration (which outlines the transition) and the democratic aspirations of the Sudanese people,' he said, according to a statement on Twitter. The European Union called for the release of the civilian leadership and insisted 'violence and bloodshed must be avoided'. 'The EU is very concerned about Sudan's military forces reportedly putting Prime Minister Hamdok under house arrest, as well as detaining other members of the civilian leadership, and we urge for their fast release,' said European Commission spokeswoman Nabila Massrali. The African Union and Arab League also expressed concern. The Sudanese Professionals Association, an umbrella group of trade unions which were key in leading the 2019 anti-Bashir protests, denounced what it called a 'military coup' and urged demonstrators 'to fiercely resist' it. Tensions within the transitional government have also been exacerbated by a split within the civilian faction of the government that has seen it split into two blocs. Sudanese protesters lift national flags next to a brick roadblock during a demonstration in the capital Khartoum Sudan has been politically unstable since a 2019 revolution that overthrew military leader Omar al-Bashir who had ruled the country for three decades (pictured, protesters on Monday) Sudanese protester chant near burning tires during a demonstration in the capital Khartoum Since April 2019, power in Sudan has rested with a joint military-civilian coalition that has been wracked with in-fighting and power struggles (pictured, protests on Monday) The protests are centered around the Sudanese capital of Khartoum (pictured) 'The crisis at hand is engineered -- and is in the shape of a creeping coup,' Yasser Arman, leader of the civilian FFC told a Saturday press conference in Khartoum. 'We renew our confidence in the government, Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, and reforming transitional institutions -- but without dictations or imposition,' he added. Last week tens of thousands of Sudanese marched in several cities to back the full transfer of power to civilians, and to counter a rival days-long sit-in outside the presidential palace in the capital Khartoum demanding a return to 'military rule'. On Saturday, Hamdok denied rumours he had agreed to a cabinet reshuffle, calling them 'not accurate'. The premier also 'emphasised that he does not monopolise the right to decide the fate of transitional institutions.' Also on Saturday, US Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa Jeffrey Feltman met jointly with Hamdok, the chairman of Sudan's ruling body General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and paramilitary commander Mohamed Hamdan Daglo. 'Feltman emphasised US support for a civilian democratic transition in accordance with the expressed wishes of Sudan's people,' the US embassy in Khartoum said. Analysts have said the recent mass protests showed strong support for a civilian-led democracy, but warned street demonstrations may have little impact on the powerful factions pushing a return to military rule. Two young men have been found dead at a home at a new housing estate in regional Victoria, almost 200km from Melbourne. Emergency services were called to the Kinchega Drive address in North Shepparton around 11am on Monday. Two men aged 19 and 20 were found dead inside the home. Two men were found dead inside a home in Kinchega Drive (pictured) in North Shepparton 'The exact cause of death will be determined by a post mortem but the deaths are not being treated as suspicious at this stage,' a police spokesman told Daily Mail Australia. Police will now prepare a report for the coroner. No other details are available. Shocked residents told The Goulburn Valley News part of Kinchega Drive remained cordoned off with police still at the scene. The street is part of a new housing estate in North Shepparton. Rogue ex-Liberal MP Craig Kelly has backed a ban on unsolicited text messages just weeks after spamming the nation with 14 million anti-vax texts. Clive Palmer's sidekick in the United Australia Party last month sparked outrage when he bombarded Australians with a message warning against Covid vaccines. Furious voters demanded to know how he had access to their phone numbers and were incensed to receive the fake news text from the fringe party politician. But now Mr Kelly has backed a bill to outlaw unsolicited texts, providing it will also ban Labor and the Coalition from sending them too. The Spam Amendment (Unsolicited Political Communications) Bill 2021 - sponsored by South Australian Senator Stirling Griff - has had its first reading in Parliament. Rogue ex-Liberal MP Craig Kelly (pictured) has backed a ban on unsolicited text messages just weeks after spamming the nation with a salvo of 14 million anti-vax texts The proposed new law would allow Australians to unsubscribe from unwanted texts and robocalls from political parties. 'I think that's a good idea,' Mr Kelly told Nine Radio. 'All United Australia Party has called for is a level playing field - that's all we want. 'If both the major parties are unable to use unsolicited text messages, we'll happily go along with that.' But while Mr Kelly said he was in favour of the ban, he was unrepentant about his mass text blitz. 'To be honest, it is a microsecond swipe of the finger that deletes the text message. So there's a lot of beat-up about this,' he insisted. 'Everyone gets countless spam emails across their computer. I know they do become annoying, but you wipe them out. 'It takes you a microsecond to wipe the things out if you don't want to read them.' And he warned that if Labor or the Coalition started using mass texts again, he would immediately return fire too. 'We will be playing by the same rules that the major political parties play by,' he said. 'We can't have a situation where it's one rule for Labor, Liberals or the Greens, and another rule for United Australia.' Mining billionaire Clive Palmer's political sidekick in the United Australia Party last month sparked outrage when he bombarded Australians with a message warning against Covid vaccines. At the last federal election in 2019, UAP was accused of running a massive $60 million scare campaign for the Coalition when it failed to win a single seat despite the massive ad blitz. Mr Kelly said the party would use similar tactics at the next election too, regardless of whether they are allowed to use text messaging spam. 'We will be using every advertising manner that we have that is lawful,' he said. 'From large billboards, television advertising, newspaper advertising, radio advertising... 'We will be competing against the major parties on that level playing field to give the Australian public a real choice.' Mining magnate Clive Palmer is picking up the bill for the media spend which has already begun with billboards popping up across the country. The party is also said to have spent $1.2 million promoting a UAP YouTube clip that has been seen 4.5 million times. The massive ad spend appears to be paying off, with the latest Newspoll survey this week showing a sudden rise in support for 'Other' candidates, including the UAP. (Pictured, a voting booth in Sydney at the 2019 federal election) The massive spend appears to be paying off, with the latest Newspoll survey this week showing a sudden rise in support for 'other' candidates, including the UAP. In just three months, support for independent parties has soared more than 50 per cent, from an eight per cent share of the vote now rising up to 13 per cent, well ahead of One Nation on just three per cent. However, they are still far behind Labor and the Coalition on 38 and 35 per cent each, but they could make a significant enough impact at the polls to hold the balance of power after the next election. The second reading of anti-spam bill targeting the mass text messages was adjourned when it came before parliament last week. But the notes for the bill highlighted the threat posed by UAP's exploitation of the rules as they stand. 'During the 2019 Federal election the use of robocalls and text messages to target voters...by the UAP and more recently by UAP again resulted in thousands of complaints to ACMA,' it said. Craig Kelly has sent another round of unsolicited text messages to Australians claiming to promote the adverse reactions of Covid-19 drugs (pictured) 'Voters are concerned about the intrusive nature of this type of political campaigning and are concerned about such messaging disseminating disinformation.' It called for all election-related electronic messages to include an unsubscribe link. '[This] would give voters some control over unsolicited and unwanted electronic communication, without interfering with the implied freedom of political communication protected by the Constitution,' it added. One of the text messages sent by the the NSW Member for Hughes claimed to report adverse reactions to Covid-19 jabs. 'Australian Government's Covid-19 Vaccines Adverse Events Report,' the text message reads, along with a link directing recipients to a UAP website. The site appears to contain a list of adverse reactions to three Covid vaccines claiming to be from the Therapeutic Goods Administration. The link does not direct the recipient to the actual TGA website. The text message was slammed for distributing 'misleading' information, with one Melbourne doctor criticising the MP on Twitter. 'So odious Craig Kelly is sending text messages to scare people off vaccination now. Note I had blocked their number after the last unsolicited text message,' Dr Shaun wrote. A Melbourne doctor slammed Mr Kelly on Twitter for attempting to 'scare people off vaccination' (pictured) The former Liberal MP-turned-UAP member (pictured) was slammed for appearing to promote vaccine hesitancy 'Driving vaccine hesitancy while people are on ventilators and dying from Covid in this city. They should be ashamed.' 'Next round of Craig Kelly texts out here promoting vaccine hesitancy. If we had a code of conduct and donation laws maybe Clive Palmer wouldn't be able to bankroll this auspol spam,' another tweeted. 'Who's paying for Craig Kelly's vaccine misinformation SMS messages that have been sent out en masse? Clive Palmer? Does he have to declare funds received for that purpose?' one user asked. 'Next round of Craig Kelly texts out here promoting vaccine hesitancy...' claimed one Twitter user One Tweet questioned how the text messages were being funded The 57-year-old riled up Australians with his unwanted text messages, after a previous SMS made the rounds earlier the same week. 'You can never trust the Liberals or Labor, or Greens again. Authorised by Craig Kelly, United Australia Party. Click on this link,' the text read. 'Not sure if this is within your ambit but probably should be. Had an unsolicited text message from Craig Kelly UAP, How did he get my number? I regard this as impinging on my privacy & is intrusive spam,' one person wrote. The Australian Communications Media Authority received more than 4,036 complaints about the text messages within days of the text campaign's launch. He has ruffled the feathers of Australians earlier in the week after thousands of people received an unsolicited UAP text message promoted by Craig Kelly (pictured) Political parties are permitted to distribute calls, emails or texts without the recipient's permission as long as it is not for commercial reasons according to the media regulator. '[Text messages that] don't offer, advertise or promote goods or servicesare not required to comply with the obligations under the Spam Act 2003,' ACMA told Daily Mail Australia. 'Communications about elections or political matters are usually not commercial and [the text messages] do not appear to include a commercial purpose. 'There are, however, rules that apply to the disclosure of authorisation details for matters related to elections on non-broadcasting media platforms.' The Liberal MP-turned UAP member has publicly promoted the dangerous use of drugs such as ivermectin and the malaria drug hydroxychloroquine as treatments for Covid-19. Mr Kelly previously claimed he resigned from the Liberal party because he wanted to speak freely about treatment drugs, which have not been proven as appropriate treatments for Covid-19 in Australia. He has also accused governments of taking an 'authoritarian' approach to Covid-19. 'In those last six months, I've witnessed the very fabric of our society unravelling,' he said. 'With endless authoritarian lockdowns, censorship of expert opinion, the emergence of a biomedical security state, our state borders shut, contrary to the vision of our Federation, and the freedoms that were once the birth right of every Australian, stolen.' Advertisement Alec Baldwin was practicing a cross draw in a church pew when he accidentally shot and killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of Rust on Thursday and was 'inconsolable for hours' afterwards, search warrants from the local sheriff's department have revealed. Baldwin, 63, was filming Rust in Santa Fe, New Mexico, on Thursday with Halyna Hutchins, 42, and director Joel Souza, 48, when the gun - which he thought contained blanks - went off. Hutchins was wounded in the chest then 'stumbled backwards, holding her mid-section and complaining she couldn't feel her legs', according to witnesses who were interviewed by sheriff's deputies afterwards. She was airlifted to the hospital but was pronounced dead a short time later. Souza was released from the hospital on Thursday night. The search warrants reveal how Assistant Director Dave Halls handed Baldwin the gun, claiming it was 'a cold gun' without realizing there were live rounds in the chamber. He had been working with 'inexperienced' armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed. Industry experts are lining up to ask how a live round ever made it on to the movie set, much less into the gun that Baldwin was handling. On Wednesday night, the day before the shooting, crew had walked off the set in a row over 'payment and housing'. They were replaced by local workers. At 1.50pm, Baldwin was preparing for the scene, sitting in a church pew, when he was handed the weapon by Halls. What exactly happened next is unclear but Souza described hearing a 'pop', then seeing Halyna wounded. After the shooting, Baldwin changed out of his Western costume into 'street clothes' for police to recover his clothes. The affidavit says they had 'blood stains' on them. Production of the film has been halted now while the authorities continued to investigate. In an email to crew on Sunday night, the movie producers encouraged staff not to speak to the press about the accident. Scroll down for video Alec Baldwin, left in Santa Fe, New Mexico, on Sunday, accidentally killed Halyna Hutchins while practicing a cross draw with a weapon that was loaded with a live round. Hutchins, 42, clutched her 'chest' and 'stumbled backwards', according to director Joel Souza, who was shot in the shoulder Alec Baldwin is seen hugging Matthew Hutchins, the widower of Halina, a cinematographer who he shot and killed on the set of his new movie Rust last week Assistant Director Dave Halls, left, handed Baldwin the gun, claiming it was 'cold', according to the search warrants. The movie's armorer was Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, right Search warrants released by the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Department on Sunday reveal what witnesses told police during interviews Souza, the director, told police how Baldwin had been preparing for the scene when the gun went off. The affidavit reveals how police took Baldwin's blood-stained clothes into evidence 'Joel stated that they had Alec sitting in a pew in a church building setting, and he was practicing a cross draw. Joel said he was looking over the shoulder of (Hutchins), when he heard what sounded like a whip and then loud pop. 'Joel then vaguely remembers (Hutchins) complaining about her stomach and grabbing her midsection. Joel also said (Hutchins) began to stumble backwards and she was assisted to the ground.' The information about Thursday's shooting has emerged in new affidavits which also cite cameraman Reid Russell who told investigators that Baldwin had always been careful with weapons on set. In a previous scene, he asked that a child who was nearby be removed from the set to avoid any accidents. On Sunday night, the cast and crew received an email from the film's production company which encouraged them not to speak to the media. Many had complained online about the conditions they were working under before they walked off the set. The email also said they were working to determine when crew would be able to return to set to gather belongings. 'As the investigation continues, we cannot respond to the comments that have been making their way into the media, on social media and elsewhere. We are sorry to hear that so many of you are receiving unsolicited contacts from the media while all of us need time and space to grieve and heal. 'You dont need to engage, but if you do just ask that the journalists to respect your privacy. It should help,' the email says. Cinematographer Halyna Hutchins (left) was fatally shot with a prop gun fired by actor Alec Baldwin in a movie set in New Mexico on Thursday, while director Joel Souza (right) was injured Cameraman Reid Russell told a detective that Baldwin, who he said had been careful with weapons on set, was rehearsing a scene in which he was set to draw his gun while sitting in a church pew and point it at the camera. Pictured: the church where the gun was fired during rehearsals The camera wasn't rolling when the gun went off 'like a whip and a loud pop', Souza said, during rehearsals in a church pew People attend a vigil for late cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, who was fatally shot on the film set of 'Rust', in Burbank, Los Angeles, California Actor Alec Baldwin, 63, was reportedly 'hysterical and absolutely inconsolable for hours' after accidentally shooting cinematographer Halyna Hutchins with a loaded prop gun on a movie set Thursday afternoon Hundreds of people turned out for the second vigil for Hutchins, after another event was held in Albuquerque A distraught Baldwin was photographed on Saturday outside a hotel in Santa Fe embracing and talking with Matt Hutchins, the husband of Halyna Hutchins, and their nine-year-old son. It comes as mourners held candles in Hutchins' honor while watching a slideshow of the cinematographer in silence during a moving vigil this weekend, while the International Cinematographers Guild held another ceremony for Hutchins in Albuquerque on Saturday. In a statement read to a candlelight vigil on Saturday, Hutchins called his wife's death 'an enormous loss.' No one has been charged in the fatal incident during a rehearsal on Thursday at the Bonanza Creek Ranch outside Santa Fe as the sheriff's office continues its investigation. Multiple media and social media reports have raised concerns about safety protocols on the set of the low-budget movie. Both Souza and Russel described a walk-out by a camera crew before the accident. 'Reid stated that the camera crew was having issues with production involving payment and housing,' the affidavit reads, adding that Russel had said six individuals had walked out. Serge Svetnoy, chief electrician for Rust, said in a Facebook post on Sunday that he had held Hutchins his arms while she was dying and blamed 'negligence and unprofessionalism' for her death. Several members of the camera crew walked off the production in a dispute over payment and lodging, Russell said, and he was left with a lot of work to do. Only one camera was available to shoot, and it had to be moved because the light had shifted and there was a shadow. He said he was unsure whether the weapon was checked before it was handed to Baldwin. Souza said that he was focused on how the scene would appear on camera. He said he recalled hearing the phrase 'cold gun' being used before the shooting. Mourners held candles in Hutchins' honor while watching a slideshow of the cinematographer in silence Mourners attend a candlelight vigil for Halyna Hutchins at IATSE West Coast Office on October 24 An inconsolable Alec Baldwin is shown outside the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office after accidentally shooting and killing the cinematographer on Thursday He said the scene they were shooting did not call for the use of live rounds. Authorities said Friday that the assistant director, Dave Halls, had handed the weapon to Baldwin and announced 'cold gun,' indicating it was safe to use. On Sunday, a crew member who worked with Halls on another project said she had raised safety concerns about him in 2019. Maggie Goll, a prop maker and licensed pyrotechnician, said in a statement that she filed an internal complaint with the executive producers of Hulu's 'Into the Dark' series in 2019 over concerns about Halls' behavior on set. Goll said in a phone interview Sunday that Halls disregarded safety protocols for weapons and pyrotechnics and tried to continue filming after the supervising pyrotechnician lost consciousness on set. Halls has not returned phone calls and email messages seeking comment. The fatal shooting and previous experiences point to larger safety issues that need to be addressed, Goll said, adding that crew member safety and wellbeing were top issues in recent contract negotiations between a union that represents film and TV workers and a major producers' group. 'This situation is not about Dave Halls. ... It's in no way one person's fault,' she said. 'It's a bigger conversation about safety on set and what we are trying to achieve with that culture.' When asked about how Baldwin treated firearms on the set, Russell said the actor was very careful, citing an instance when Baldwin made sure a child actor was not near him when a gun was being discharged. Celebrity website TMZ.com, citing unidentified sources connected to the production, said the gun handed to Baldwin had previously been used by crew members for target practice off-set, using real bullets. Gun that went off in Alec Baldwin's hands and claimed the life of Halyna Hutchins was used for off-set target practice by crew members and live ammo and blanks were stored together, sources say Alec Baldwin was wielding a vintage Colt pistol when it accidentally went off. It is not known who loaded the weapon and why it went off as a replacement crew was brought in the day of the incident (The gun pictured above is a vintage Colt pistol manufactured between 1873-92. While the exact model of the gun used is unknown, Rust is set in the 1880s) The gun that killed the cinematographer on the set of Alec Baldwin's Rust had been used for target practice by crew members, sources linked to the western film's production said. Multiple sources connected to the set of Rust told TMZ that the same Colt pistol that went off in Alec Baldwin's hands, killing Halyna Hutchins and injuring director Joel Souza, had been used recreationally by crew members. The sources claim that some crew members would go off for target practice using real bullets, and some believe a live round from those practice sessions found its way onto the set. Another source told TMZ that live ammo and blanks were being stored in the same area on set, offering another possible explanation as to how a bullet was fired from Baldwin's Colt. A search warrant released Friday said that Rust armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, 24, had laid out three prop guns on a cart outside the filming location, and first assistant director Dave Halls grabbed the Colt from the cart and brought it inside to Baldwin, unaware that it was loaded with live rounds. 'Cold gun!' shouted Halls before handing the gun to Baldwin, using the phrase to signal to cast and crew that the gun was safe to fire for the scene, the warrant said. Seconds later, filming a scene inside an Old West-style church, Baldwin apparently aimed towards the camera and pulled the trigger, accidentally killing Hutchins as she filmed him, and injuring Souza, who stood behind her. Two production sources who previously worked with Gutierrez-Reed said this was not the first time she was involved in an incident on a movie set. The two sources told The Daily Beast that Hannah Gutierrez-Reed had allegedly given an 11-year-old actress a gun without checking it properly while on the set of the Nicholas Cage film, The Old Way. 'There were a couple times she was loading the blanks and doing it in a fashion that we thought was unsafe,' one of the sources said. 'She was a bit careless with the guns, waving it around every now and again.' Sources on the Rust set have said the fatal incident that killed Hutchins, 42, and injured Souza, 48, was a result of production failings from top to bottom. They added that assistant director Halls, who handed the gun to Baldwin and told him it was safe, should have checked the weapon. 'He's supposed to be our last line of defense and he failed us,' one of the sources on set said. 'He's the last person that's supposed to look at that firearm.' A Rust production source told The Daily Beast that there were at least two previous incidents of guns being accidentally discharged by other crewmember on set before Thursday's tragic incident. The source described Gutierrez-Reed as 'inexperienced and green.' Advertisement Candles are placed in front of a photo of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins during a vigil in her honor Attendees of the vigil held candles, gave heartfelt speeches about Hutchins, and shared what a beloved member of the community she was Assistant director 'ignored gun safety protocols on previous production' The assistant director on Rust has been accused of making a string of gun-safety gaffes on a prior production - and was also said to have made staff feel uncomfortable with his 'touchy' behavior. Complaints against Dave Halls were made by prop maker and pyrotechnician Maggie Goll after working on him on a previous production with him on Hulu in 2019 called Into the Dark. In Goll's statement to CNN, she claimed that Halls never addressed weapon safety protocols in production meetings or when a firearm was to be used on the set. Goll also said that she was told to 'watch out' for him by another crew member as Halls apparently tended to get touchy with them. In reference to her experience on Into the Dark, Goll said she had worked with Halls between February to May of 2019 where he had neglected to hold production meetings to follow standard weapon safety protocols. Those stipulate that any weapon being used on a set - real or fake - must be 'introduced' to the cast and the crew so that they are aware of its presence, and can follow other safety protocols. 'The only reason the crew was made aware of a weapon's presence was because the assistant prop master demanded Dave acknowledge and announce the situation each day,' Goll said in the statement. She also added that the prop master would reprimand Halls for not acknowledging the protocol. Another unnamed crew member had also said that Halls would only hold short meetings about guns as necessary, but would often question why he was holding them as he said the protocols were the same as on every other film set. Advertisement Reuters could not verify the report and police in Santa Fe did not respond to inquiries on Sunday. According to the Los Angeles Times, more than a week ago Baldwin's stunt double accidentally fired two rounds from a prop firearm after being told it was 'cold', an industry term meaning a weapon is not loaded with ammunition, including blanks. Rust Movie Productions said last week that although they 'were not made aware of any official complaints concerning weapon or prop safety on set, we will be conducting an internal review of our procedures while production is shut down.' According to court documents, the prop gun was handed to Baldwin by the film's assistant director, Dave Halls, who has more than 20 years' experience in the business. Halls did not respond to requests for comment on Sunday. Also involved in the sheriff's probe is the movie's chief armorer, Hannah Gutierrez. She could not be reached for comment. About 200 people took part in the vigil for Hutchins in Albuquerque on Saturday. While organizers emphasized that the event was to honor Hutchins' memory, rather than focus on her death, some in the crowd held signs that read 'Safety on Set.' A second vigil was held on Sunday in the Los Angeles area, where a few hundred people mourned in a private parking lot, according to a Reuters photographer. Hollywood professionals say they're baffled by the circumstances and production crews have quickly stepped up safety measures. Jeffrey Wright, who has worked on projects including the James Bond franchise and the upcoming movie 'The Batman,' was acting with a weapon on the set of 'Westworld' when news broke of the shooting Thursday at a New Mexico ranch. 'We were all pretty shocked. And it informed what we did from that moment on,' he said in an interview Sunday at the Newport Beach Film Festival. 'I don't recall ever being handed a weapon that was not cleared in front of me - meaning chamber open, barrel shown to me, light flashed inside the barrel to make sure that it's cleared,' Wright said. 'Clearly, that was a mismanaged set.' Actor Ray Liotta agreed with Wright that the checks on firearms are usually extensive. 'They always - that I know of - they check it so you can see,' Liotta said. 'They give it to the person you're pointing the gun at, they do it to the producer, they show whoever is there that it doesn't work.' On Sunday, a source said Baldwin is looking 'to take some time to himself and re-center himself' after he was spotted walking out of a hotel and embracing Hutchins' husband Matt just two days after the fatal stunt. He is also said to have been seen hugging Matt and Halyna's son Andros, 9. 'This was pretty devastating,' the source told People magazine. 'This is how he handles difficult times. Whenever something bad happens, in the short term, he removes himself from [the] public eye.' People attend a vigil for late cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, who was fatally shot on the film set of 'Rust' Some of Sunday's vigil participants saw Hutchins' passing as a warning to the film industry of the dangers stage and set workers face while at work every day. 'I hope this will bring real change,' said actress Jennifer Jernigan Lisa Walker places a candle during a vigil for late cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, who was fatally shot on the film set of 'Rust', in Burbank One crew member said Rust will never be finished in the wake of the tragic shooting. 'None of us expect this movie to be finished. Ever,' the unnamed worker told The Sun after the tragedy on Thursday. 'We know this is the end of the road for Rust sadly.' 'Maybe way down the line it will get picked up again but right now, theres no way its going to continue getting made. If by a miracle it ever is though, the movie will absolutely be dedicated to Halyna.' The source told The Sun that the film couldn't go on without director Souza who is still recovering from his injuries after he, too, was shot. 'Not only is our director still [recovering], but there will be lawsuits Im sure and a lot of other factors that will prevent this movie from ever being finished.' Rust was being made on a $7 million budget - tiny, by Hollywood standards, where a superhero movie can cost upwards of $300 million. The production had been hit by walkouts amid staff mistreatment, and will now forever be associated with the tragic killing of a crew member on set, potentially putting people off going to see it even if it were completed. 'But we have two things to accomplish tonight. The first is to comfort each other and the second is to celebrate the remarkable life of a remarkable woman that was cut short way too soon, ' she went on to say 'Tonight is about Halyna. There will be plenty of time to focus on the who, on the what, on the why in the future,' said a woman during the vigil Halyna Hutchins' husband, Matthew, shared a touching tribute to his wife with a picture of her with their 9-year-old son Andros Baldwin is the star of the movie, with the horrific tragedy that has swept the set likely making it difficult for anyone to watch his character on-screen without thinking of what happened should the movie miraculously make it to theaters. Some experts have predicted that the movie's insurers may refuse to pay out if it emerges that safety protocols weren't followed properly, potentially ruining its financial backers. The Crow, the 1993 movie which saw star Brandon Lee shot dead while filming, was completed and went on to become a financial success. But Lee had completed almost all his scenes before filming, and wasn't shot and killed by the star of the movie. Legal experts have told DailyMail.com that lawsuits naming Baldwin are a virtual certainty, but that any potential criminal charges are more likely to center on whoever prepared the prop gun that he fired on set. 'If Baldwin or another person was negligent, a civil suit is almost a no-brainer at this point - a very high likelihood,' said attorney Jamie White, who has experience in both criminal defense and civil prosecutions. 'But the criminal side is going to be very fact-sensitive. Only if someone was recklessly negligent would there be criminal consequences,' he added. 'It is not likely that it was Baldwin's job to prepare props.' Key facts in the case have not yet been publicly confirmed, including who loaded the prop weapon, what kind of cartridges it was loaded with, and how and why a projectile was expelled. 'As the facts have thus far been presented, Baldwin will not be charged with an intentional act of violence,' said White. 'However, it is not unheard of to be charged with significant negligence. There are a lot more facts that need to be developed, but studios take extensive cautions in light of Brandon Lee's death in 1993,' he said, referring to the actor killed by a squib load on the set of The Crow. Los Angeles personal injury attorney Miguel Custodio said that as the known facts stand, 'liability certainly points to Rust Movie Productions and the prop manager.' Custodio noted that any lawsuit is likely to name Baldwin, however, due to his role as a producer of the movie as well as an actor. 'As the actor, Alec Baldwin has little liability because you're given something and you're trusting the prop manager to have checked everything out,' he said. 'Baldwin the producer may bear more responsibility, depending on if he is just an investor or has a more active role in the making of the film, which I suspect he does.' 'Overall, this is horrible negligence and Ms. Hutchins' survivors should go after everyone they can,' added Custodio. 'It's likely they'll go after Baldwin the actor, Baldwin the producer, the film company and the prop manager.' After the fatal incident that took Hutchins' life, people in the entertainment industry are calling for Hollywood to ban the use of firearms on film sets Former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani, president of West Coast Trial Lawyers, said that criminal charges are possible in the case, but that a murder charge is unlikely. 'A charge of murder is unlikely because it requires the intent to kill. There is no evidence that Baldwin indeed intended to kill,' said Rahmani. 'A manslaughter charge might be more likely, because it does not require intent to kill, but does require criminal negligence or gross negligence,' he added. 'In this case, there are reports that the prop gun was loaded with live rounds. If that is true, that is grossly negligent, and whoever loaded the gun is going to be responsible.' 'Baldwin, if he had no knowledge whatsoever that the gun was loaded with a live round instead of a blank, wouldn't have any criminal liability,' said Rahmani. Rahmani said that if a live round were loaded by mistake, its likely to be a case of simple negligence, which would not bring criminal liability. 'There is a rare circumstance where there can be criminal charges without any knowledge that the round was live,' he said. 'That's when there's deliberate indifference or willful ignorance. It's very hard to prove, which is why these types of prosecutions are rare.' 'It comes down to what was in the gun, who put it in, and what did he or she know when they put the round in there,' added Rahmani. 'If it was a blank, even blanks can be dangerous when discharged at close distances. That can be grossly negligent.' Custodio speculated that any civil suit brought by the family of Hutchins was likely to seek a large amount of damages. 'She was 42 and had an incredibly promising future, so her potential earnings were likely to be significant,' he said. 'It's also clear that somebody failed her in the most basic way to check whether a gun was safe and may be criminally negligent,' added Custodio. 'And remember, director Joel Souza also was injured, and many others on set also are traumatized and affected by this.' No criminal charges have been filed in the case, but police say an active investigation is underway. Baldwin has pledged to cooperate fully with the investigation. Sales of frozen turkeys have almost doubled as families are stocking up early over fears of supply problems in the run up to Christmas. Frozen stuffing sales are also up by a fifth while other savoury items are up by 9 per cent according to analysts at Kantar. Concerns about a shortage of festive foods have prompted shoppers to start stocking up early as they scramble to ensure they have everything needed for a merry Christmas. Frozen turkey sales have soared in recent weeks as shoppers begin stocking up on festive food over fears there will be a shortage of the usual favourite supplies in the run up to Christmas Aldi, Tesco and Iceland have all reported a surge in the purchasing of frozen turkeys with sales at the latter increasing by 400 per cent, according to the Guardian, while sales of frozen party food have tripled. Recent data also showed the word 'Christmas' has been searched more than 17,000 times across Iceland's website in the first week of October. Iceland said it is preparing for a much busier season than usual and increased its order of frozen turkeys by 20 per cent earlier this month. It will also launch its full range of Christmas meats two weeks earlier than normal. Richard Harrow, chief executive of British Frozen Food Federation, said the rise in sales of frozen turkeys is 'evidence of a growing awareness of frozen food's quality, convenience and ability to reduce food waste'. He added: 'Many consumers have been permanently converted to buying more frozen products by the long shelf-life, value for money and variety of food on offer. As well as a surge in the sale of frozen turkeys, frozen stuffing and party food are also up 'This combined with current concerns about food supply means many people will be opting for frozen this Christmas.' According to the BFFF's 2021 'Frozen Food' report, shoppers spent an extra 872 million on frozen goods last year. It found that frozen food was the fastest-growing groceries category after alcohol. Analysts at Mintel said the recent fuel crisis and shortage of HGV drivers created uncertainty for shoppers and meant some had started their festive preparations as early as September. Meanwhile, figures released by analytics firm Kantar show 449,000 consumers bought their Christmas pudding in September - a 76 per cent rise on last year. It comes after it was reported fears over a possible shortage led to a surge in ordering good quality turkeys to prepare for Christmas, according to the Traditional FarmFresh Turkey Association (TFTA). Meanwhile families have already started panic-buying toys, a major retail boss said, as brands such as Barbie and Lego warned they were selling at 'Christmas quantities'. Sajid Javid today hailed Rishi Sunak's 6billion funding boost for the NHS as he insisted the cash is 'new money'. The Health Secretary said the 'huge amount' of money being brought forward by the Chancellor at the Budget on Wednesday is what the health service has 'asked for'. He insisted it will be enough to clear the coronavirus treatment backlog, with funding due to be spent on providing millions more checks, scans and procedures for non-emergency patients. Sajid Javid today hailed Rishi Sunak's 6billion funding boost for the NHS as he insisted the cash is 'new money' The Health Secretary said the 'huge amount' of money being brought forward by the Chancellor at the Budget on Wednesday is what the health service has 'asked for'. Royal Free Hospital in north London is pictured The 6billion package is for capital spending and is separate to the 12billion funding injection being provided through the Government's new health and social care levy which will pay for day-to-day services. The capital funding will aim to deliver approximately 30 per cent more elective activity by 2024-25 compared to pre-pandemic levels. In an effort to address the Covid backlog of people waiting for checks, tests and scans, and help get waiting lists down, 2.3billion of the funding package will be used to transform diagnostic services. The Treasury said there will be at least 100 'one-stop-shop' community diagnostic centres across England, including 44 which have already been announced. These centres are expected to help clear most existing test backlogs caused by the pandemic, including for CT, MRI and ultrasound scans, by the end of the parliament. The settlement to tackle backlogs also includes 1.5 billion for increased bed capacity, equipment and new surgical hubs to tackle waiting times for elective surgeries. Each hub will be equipped with four or five surgical theatres designated for critical elective surgeries. A total of 2.1 billion of the 5.9 billion total will be invested in technology and data in a bid to improve efficiency and security within the NHS. It is hoped the new and improved IT will help NHS staff have access to the fastest broadband, and that digital patient records will ensure patients get the best care wherever they are. Asked if the 6billion will be enough to clear the treatment backlog, Mr Javid told Sky News: 'It is a huge amount of money. I am full of praise for everyone who works in the NHS. 'I want to see what we can do to support them in bringing down those waiting lists and getting more patients seen more quickly. 'This 6billion that we will be committing to in Wednesday's Budget is huge. It is going to mean more buildings, more equipment, more investment in IT. 'This is going to mean things like at least 100 more community diagnostic centres, that means millions of more scans and tests and check ups. 'It is going to mean investment in beds and buildings and equipment and surgical hubs and investment in IT, freeing up the time of our dedicated NHS staff so they can see more patients.' Asked again if the money will be enough, the Health Secretary said: 'It is based on, we obviously work very closely with the NHS, it is what they have asked for, it is what we are putting forward.' Mr Javid stressed the new capital investment is separate to the 12billion increase in day-to-day spending made possible by the Government's decision to hike National Insurance. Mr Sunak has said the investment will help the health service get 'back on track' and ensure 'no one is left waiting for vital tests or treatment' '(The day-to-day spending increase) is basically what is coming from the NHS and care levy which is the 12billion a year for NHS and care,' he said. 'That will cover those day-to-day costs. What today's announcement is about is the capital equipment, all the capital investment, the things the NHS has to buy that are used again and again.' Asked if the 6billion is entirely new spending or if some of it has been recycled, Mr Javid said: 'It is all new money.' Mr Sunak has said the investment will help the health service get 'back on track' and ensure 'no one is left waiting for vital tests or treatment'. He added: 'This is a game-changing investment in the NHS to make sure we have the right buildings, equipment and systems to get patients the help they need and make sure the NHS is fit for the future.' An extra 800 officers were stationed in the area to control the migrant flow German police have stopped more than 50 far-right vigilantes from patrolling the country's border with Poland to stop illegal immigrants. The vigilantes were following a call by the Third Way, a far-right party with suspected links to neo-Nazi groups, for its members to stop illegal crossings near the town of Guben on the German-Polish border. Police seized weapons including pepper spray, batons, a bayonet and a machete from the thugs and made them leave the town late on Saturday and in the early hours of Sunday. More than 50 far-right vigilantes hunting illegal immigrants while armed with pepper spray, a bayonet, a machete and batons had their weapons seized and were sent home by police Many EU states accuse Belarus of sending illegal migrants across the border into the EU to put pressure on the bloc. The EU imposed sanctions on Belarus after the disputed re-election of its President Alexander Lukashenko in August 2020 Some of the group had travelled to the area from other parts of Germany. Dozens of people held a vigil in Guben over the weekend to show their opposition to the planned far-right patrols. Germany's interior minister Horst Seehofer, 72, said an extra 800 police officers were on the Polish border to control the flow of migrants trying to enter the European Union from Belarus. 'Hundreds of officers are currently on duty there day and night,' he told the Bild am Sonntag newspaper. 'If necessary, I am prepared to reinforce them even further.' Mr Seehofer said there had already been 6,162 unauthorised entries into Germany from Belarus and Poland this year. Dozens of people held a vigil in Guben over the weekend to show their opposition to the planned far-right patrols A protester holds a placard reading 'asylum is a human right' at a vigil against the vigilantes German police watched over the peaceful vigil. Germany's interior minister Horst Seehofer, 72, said an extra 800 police officers were on the Polish border to control the flow of migrants trying to enter the European Union from Belarus He previously said Germany did not intend to close the border with Poland but on Sunday he said the country might have to consider a U-turn on that. He said: 'If the situation on the German-Polish border does not ease, we will also have to consider whether this step needs to be taken in coordination with Poland and the state of Brandenburg.' Many EU states accuse Belarus of sending illegal migrants across the border into the EU to put pressure on the bloc. The EU imposed sanctions on Belarus after the disputed re-election of its President Alexander Lukashenko in August 2020. Mr Lukashenko denies this and has blamed the West for what he says is a looming humanitarian catastrophe this winter after migrants were left stranded on the Belarusian-Polish border. Sajid Javid today slammed 'idiot' anti-vax campaigners for 'spreading vicious lies' outside secondary schools following reports three children had been left injured by demonstrators. The health secretary described how the group of campaigners were 'doing so much damage' and warned rallies were becoming a 'growing problem' across the country. The minister's comments come as Labour's Keir Starmer called for councils to be allowed to use exclusion orders to stop anti-vaccine activists from protesting outside schools and 'spreading dangerous misinformation'. Speaking to Kay Burley on Sky News Mr Javid said: 'These people are doing so much damage. Sajid Javid slammed anti-vax campaigners for 'spreading vicious lies' and described how the group of campaigners were 'doing so much damage' 'First of all here you have three children that are injured, actually physically injured, and that's heart-breaking to see. Children going about what they should be doing, going to school every day, and you've got frankly these idiots outside their school spreading vicious lies. 'It is becoming a growing problem as time goes by.' Mr Javid went on to say that an exclusion zone was an option but other methods to tackle the campaigners should be done at a local level. He continued: 'There are options, in terms of whether it's an exclusion zone, or other potential action, I think it's got to be done at a local level with local police. 'If you've injured children, that is a criminal act and I hope in that case police are able to track those people down.' He added: 'The Home Office quite rightly has been taking this very seriously as well and they've been helping with advice to schools as well. 'We have a unit in the Home Office that will give advice directly to teachers about what they can do. 'I think there is only so much that can be done at the end of the day you will still have people for example that are sending completely fake letters to parents. 'They will be posting letters through parents doors, completely fake, with advice that is just based on lies and they've got to understand that if they don't want the vaccine themselves at the end of the day that is their choice. No one is going to force them. 'I think it's a bad decision to make but that is their choice but they shouldn't really be passing on these false vicious lies to ordinary people. Especially parents that are trying to do their very best to look after their children.' During his interview the health secretary also warned he was 'leaning towards' making Covid vaccines mandatory for all NHS staff. He said around seven per cent of healthcare workers or 100,000 people were still yet to be vaccinated. Labour's Keir Starmer called for councils to be allowed to use exclusion orders to stop anti-vaccine activists from protesting outside schools Demonstrators hold signs and banners as they march through London and protest against Covid-19 vaccinations for children Covid cases should SLUMP by around 85% to just 5,000-a-day by Christmas even WITHOUT Plan B Covid cases should slump in November by around 85 per cent to just 5,000 per day by Christmas even without Plan B restrictions, according to modelling seen by the Government. The current rise in cases is mostly being driven by children who are largely unvaccinated and because so many youngsters are getting infected, some SAGE modellers expect infections to run out of steam in soon when they achieve a higher level of natural immunity. The October half term, which for most schools starts today, is also expected to act like a natural firebreaker and bring down case numbers. Ministers are understood to be refraining from introducing restrictions including compulsory facemasks, advice to work from home and domestic vaccine passports after seeing projections which show infections declining rapidly within the next few weeks. One model, from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, suggests that cases will soon peak before falling steeply in the winter months - even without the Government's Plan B. Other unpublished models have also shown similar drops, with experts indicating that cases could fall to around 5,000 cases a day before Christmas, The Telegraph reported. SAGE scientist Professor John Edmunds, the chief scientist behind the LSHTM model, told the paper: 'When we were doing the work about two weeks ago, the Health Secretary had made it very clear that the government was not planning to introduce Plan B in the near future. 'Our model was projecting that cases would start to decline some time in the autumn. However, the model also suggests that cases may start to climb again in the spring, due to a combination of waning immunity and increased contacts.' Advertisement But he said that the 'no jab, no job' policy would boost uptake and protect patients which was something ministers took 'very seriously'. Covid vaccines are already a requirement for care home staff, with all expected to have got two doses by November 11. But care homes warned they would have to either close or break the law to stick to the policy, with staff leaving the sector that already has too few employees When asked about making jabs mandatory for NHS staff, Mr Javid said: 'I'm leaning towards doing it. 'There's around 100,000 that are not (vaccinated in the NHS) at this point but what we saw with the care sector is that when we announced the policy then we saw many more people come forward and do the right thing and get vaccinated. 'That's what I hope, if we can do the same thing with the NHS, we will see.' Following the anti-vax demonstrations outside schools, home secretary Priti Patel said it was 'completely unacceptable' for anti-vaccination campaigners to be harassing members of the public outside school gates. Meanwhile education secretary Nadhim Zahawi said the 'disgraceful actions of a small minority must be brought to an end', The Daily Telegraph reports. The Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) revealed earlier this month that most of the schools surveyed by the union (79 per cent) had been targeted by anti-vaxxers. It comes as Labour called for councils to be able to use exclusion orders to address harassment outside schools. Sir Keir Starmer said it was 'sickening' that those against vaccinations were demonstrating at the school gates. He said: 'It is sickening that anti-vax protesters are spreading dangerous misinformation to children in protests outside of schools. 'Labour believes the law around public spaces protection orders (PSPOs) urgently needs to be updated so that local authorities can rapidly create exclusion zones for anti-vax protests outside of schools.' PSPOs can be used to disperse people from a public area and have previously been used to move on protesters outside abortion clinics, or to allow police to confiscate alcohol in certain spaces. But gaining permission to impose one takes time and significant consultation, and Labour is calling for an expedited process in cases of preventing harassment and intimidation of children outside schools if agreed to by the school, the leader of the local council, and the local police chief constable. The party said the PSPO could be in place within five days, and could be in place for six months. The ASCL previously said that of the 526 responses from schools eligible for the Covid vaccination programme for 12 to 15-year-olds, 13 per cent had reported seeing protesters immediately outside their school premises, and 20 per cent reported protesters in the local area. Some 18 schools said protesters had gained access and protested inside the school premises, and 20 said they had received communications threatening physical harm to staff. Most of the harassment by anti-vaxxers reported to ASCL had been through emails threatening legal action, though the association said staff had been threatened with physical harm while some protesters have gained access to school sites. Last week a group of anti-vaxxers swooped on Buckinghamshire secondary schools and photographed pupils as they were bombarded with leaflets claiming 'taking the #clotshot won't save your granny'. The mob targeted pupils as young as 11 at three secondary schools shouting that the Covid vaccine would also cause paralysis or give them autism. Pupils were also 'harassed' with fliers that contained a QR code with a link to an anti-jab song, as well as warnings not to take the vaccine. Police were called to the Sir William Borlase school in Marlow, while teaching staff had to intervene at The Beaconsfield School and the Amersham School. The scenes came as children aged between 12 and 17 became eligible for Covid jabs as part of the latest vaccination programme. A former Saudi intelligence official has alleged that the kingdom's ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), plotted to kill the former King Abdullah with a 'poison ring from Russia'. Saad Aljabri, who was a top official in Saudi Arabia's government, claimed the Crown Prince is a 'psychopath with no empathy who doesn't feel emotion' in an interview on the CBS program '60 Minutes', and said he has proof that MBS planned to assassinate the former king. Aljabri, a former intelligence official loyal to the kingdom's former ruler Mohammed bin Nayef (MBN), fled to Canada from Saudi Arabia in 2017 when MBN was ousted by the current Crown Prince. He also alleges that MBS, who is widely thought to have orchestrated the gruesome murder of prominent Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018, sent a hit squad to Canada to kill him. Aljabri, 62, was joined in the '60 Minutes' episode by one of his sons, Khalid, who shared harrowing insight into the alleged torture of Aljabri's son-in-law in an attempt to force him back to the Kingdom. The ex-spymaster was also joined by former CIA director Michael Morell, who described Aljabri as 'extraordinarily bright' and 'incredibly loyal to his country'. Meanwhile, Aljabri stands accused of financial crimes and is the subject of a lawsuit filed by multiple state-linked Saudi firms, who claim he embezzled over $3 billion while working for MBN. Former Saudi intelligence official Saad Aljabri has alleged that the kingdom's ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MBS), is a 'psychopath killer who poses a threat to the planet' Aljabri, a top official in Saudi Arabia's government, claimed Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman plotted to kill him in 2018 (pictured: Aljabri with his daughter Sarah, who is currently imprisoned in Saudi Arabia) Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has been accused by Aljabri of ordering his assassination. Bin Salman is also widely thought to have ordered the gruesome murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018 Aljabri immediately levied allegations against Crown Prince MBS as soon as the interview began. 'I am here to sound the alarm about a psychopath, killer, in the Middle East with infinite resources, who poses threat to his people, to the Americans and to the planet,' he exclaimed. He went on to accuse MBS of carrying out multiple atrocities and crimes, and said he had evidence of the Crown Prince declaring he wanted to use a 'poison ring' to kill the then King Abdullah as early as 2014. Aljabri claimed MBS had bragged: 'I want to assassinate King Abdullah. I get a poison ring from Russia. It's enough for me just to shake hand with him and he will be done.' 'I expect to be killed one day because [MBS] will not rest off until he see me dead,' said Aljabri, who claimed he had two recordings of the conversation in safe-keeping. '[MBS] fears my information,' said Aljabri. A Saudi court jailed two of his adult children, Sarah and Omar, late last year on charges of money laundering and conspiracy to escape the kingdom unlawfully - a move seen by many as retaliation for their father's alleged crimes. Aljabri's son-in-law was also jailed, and according to Aljabri's eldest son Khalid, was tortured at the hands of Saudi authorities. Prominent Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi was strangled and his body dismembered by Saudi agents at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in 2018. The CIA concluded that he was likely murdered on the orders of the kingdom's crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, whom Khashoggi had criticized Former CIA director Michael Morell was full of praise for Aljabri, telling Pelley that 'the people at the CIA feel an obligation to Saad Aljabri', and that he is a 'big admirer' of the former spymaster 'The first night he was kidnapped, he received more than a hundred lashes. He was tortured. He was beaten on his back, on his legs,' Khalid told Pelley. 'He was being told that he was detained and tortured as a proxy for his father-in-law, meaning my dad. They even asked him a question, who do you think we should arrest and torture so Dr. Saad can come back to the kingdom?' It came after Aljabri filed a federal lawsuit against MBS, alleging the royal tried to trap and kill him in the US and Canada. Aljabri's lawsuit claims a 'kill team' was dispatched for him in Canada just two weeks after the same squad killed Khashoggi in October 2018 but that the effort was thwarted by Canadian border security officials. Meanwhile, former CIA director Michael Morell was full of praise for Aljabri, telling Pelley that 'the people at the CIA feel an obligation to Saad Aljabri', and that he is a 'big admirer' of the former spymaster. Morell went on to say that Aljabri was to thank for saving American lives by thwarting terror attacks and sharing vital intelligence. 'Dr. Saad absolutely saved American lives. He saved Saudi lives, many of them, and he saved American lives. 'In 2010, al-Qaida hid bombs in two desktop printers. They were in the air, as cargo, headed to the US on two planes, perhaps intended to explode over American cities. 'But thanks to intelligence relayed by Saad Aljabri, the bombs were intercepted during layovers.' A plane headed for Chicago carrying the cartridges was intercepted during a stop at East Midlands airport - an operation for which Aljabri is credited with providing key information. Former Saudi intelligence official Saad Aljabri with his son Omar in 2016. Omar and Sarah Aljabri are currently being held in a Saudi prison on charges of money laundering and conspiracy to escape the kingdom unlawfully - a move seen by many as retaliation for Aljabri's alleged crimes Yet despite the favour Aljabri has curried among the American intelligence community, the former Saudi official is currently the subject of a lawsuit from several Saudi firms. The state-linked company Sakab Saudi Holding accused Aljabri in March of embezzling $3.47 billion while working at the Ministry of Interior under former Crown Prince MBN. The suit came weeks after multiple state-owned companies sued Aljabri in Toronto on similar allegations, prompting a Canadian court to freeze Aljabri's assets. When asked by Scott Pelley whether he stole the money, Aljabri simply replied, 'no.' But Pelley followed up, asking Aljabri again, 'if you didn't steal the money, how did you get so rich?' Aljabri replied by saying his service to the royal family over the years has simply paid dividends. 'They've been nice to me. They've been very generous. It's a tradition in Saudi Arabia royal family. They take care of people around them,' Aljabri insisted. MBN was ousted as Crown Prince in 2017 by his cousin MBS, and currently resides in a Saudi prison. This prompted Aljabri to flee, given his close personal relationship with the former crown prince. The Saudi embassy in Washington issued a statement to CBS in response to the interview, which read: 'Saad Aljabri is a discredited former government official with a long history of fabricating and creating distractions to hide the financial crimes he committed, which amount to billions of dollars, to furnish a lavish life-style for himself and his family. 'He has not denied his crimes; in fact he implies that stealing was acceptable at the time. But it wasn't acceptable nor legal then, and it isn't now.' Mohammed bin Nayef was ousted as crown prince in 2017 by his cousin Mohammed bin Salman, and currently resides in a Saudi prison (pictured: bin Nayef with Barack Obama at the White House in 2015) Since his rise to power in 2017, MBS is the ruler of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the world's top oil exporter and a key US ally. But Aljabri is a respected member of the intelligence community in the US and is privy to a variety of state secrets and information concerning counter-terrorism programs. Aljabri's legal team previously stated that Sakab - the state-linked company which filed a lawsuit against Aljabri accusing him of embezzlement - is part of a network of front companies to provide cover for clandestine security operations with the United States. In order to determine Aljabri's innocence in the case, American courts would need to probe Sakab's finances, including how they were used to 'finance sensitive programs' operated in partnership with the CIA, the US National Security Agency and the US Defense Department, said a filing by Aljabri. This has left the US reluctant to get involved in the feud between the Saudi state and its former intelligence official. More worrying reports have emerged about the unvaccinated Uber driver who allegedly tried to escape a Queensland hospital while seriously sick with Covid-19. Police were called to Gold Coast University Hospital on Sunday following reports Duran Raman, 36, was allegedly trying to flee hospital quarantine, despite needing a constant supply of oxygen. While the investigation has since closed without any charges, sources alleged Raman has been an uncooperative patient who verbally abused nurses and called them c**ts. He also insisted he 'doesn't really have' Covid-19 and claimed the virus wasn't real, as several hospital sources shared more details about his alleged attempted escape. Disturbing allegations have emerged about Duran Raman's (pictured) stint in a Gold Coast hospital, where he's batting Covid-19 'He left his room and exposed the whole ward to Covid. They had to call police,' one told the Courier Mail. Another source alleged Mr Raman was 'abusing' healthcare staff and left his isolation room at one stage. Concerned staff also claimed he fled Robina Hospital when he was initially admitted last week, forcing staff to track down his family through the White Pages phone directory. Mr Raman in a stable condition but under public health directions to stay in his hospital room for 14 days, regardless of if his infectious period is over. The Today show reported authorities were investigating the alleged escape attempt, but Queensland Police since said the incident was resolved. 'Police are not investigating an incident at a health facility on the Gold Coast,' a statement read on Monday. 'Around 9am yesterday police were called to a health facility due to a minor disturbance. Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk (pictured) publicly urged Duran Raman to complete his hospital quarantine following an alleged attempted escape on the weekend 'The matter was resolved quickly and without any issue. There was no breach of a Public Health Direction detected.' Queensland Health insists the incident had 'no risk to the public or staff' and that Mr Raman didn't leave the Covid ward. 'All patients isolating in Covid-19 wards are required to stay in their rooms until they are discharged,' a spokesperson said. Deputy chief health officer Peter Aitken told reporters: 'He is in the ward at the moment and he hasn't left the ward. There is no risk to the public, other patients or staff and the situation is under control.' Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszcuzk publicly urged the the rideshare driver to complete his hospital quarantine. 'He should just sit tight and get better,' she said. 'It is going to be of no help to anyone to have an infectious person running around the Gold Coast.' Sources alleged the infected patient has verbally abused nurses caring for him at Gold Coast University Hospital (pictured) Raman arrived in Queensland on October 10 following a trip to Melbourne but is believed to have been infectious several days prior. He tested positive for coronavirus at the Robina Hospital last Wednesday, bringing an end to the state's 15-day Covid-free streak. He allegedly checked out of the hospital before the results came back and had to be tracked down at his home by police and health authorities when he could not be contacted. Police arrived at the resort, where he lives alone, last Wednesday and he was taken to Gold Coast University by an ambulance and placed on oxygen. Health authorities said the exercise enthusiast, who was 'so sick he can barely speak', has lived in the Island Beach Resort in Broadbeach for about 12 months and was out and about around the Gold Coast for 10 days while infectious. Adding to the difficulty of their task, Raman - who was unvaccinated and shared anti-vax videos over his social media accounts - allegedly did not use Queensland's QR check-in system for over a month, according to health officials. Mr Raman posted his reaction to a Covid press conference from the start of September in which Mr Andrews announced some eased restrictions, labelling the premier a 'gronk' Mr Raman, who has also played for local AFL team Broadbeach Cats, reportedly had a brush with the law earlier this year when he was charged with low-range drink driving and driving unlicensed. He pleaded guilty to both charges in Southport Magistrates Court in June and was fined $1,000 and banned from driving for two months. Raman shared his reaction to a Victorian Covid press conference from the start of September in which Premier Dan Andrews announced some eased restrictions. He captioned the video posted to his Instagram: 'Mr Gronk. A dead set gronk'. In the conference, the premier announced playgrounds would be reopening and authorised workers would once again be permitted in homes to provide services. 'Yay. The playgrounds are going to reopen. Wow,' Mr Raman is heard saying. 'Playgrounds and looking after kids, you f***ing gronk. You're a gronk, look at ya.' A terrified young women was taken 40 minutes in the wrong direction by a DiDi rideshare driver before begging to be let out on the side of a busy highway. Julie, 26, was heading out with her friends on Saturday to mark the end of Melbourne's sixth Covid lockdown but with Ubers in short supply and prices surging, she decided to give the Chinese service giant a go. She booked a 15-minute trip from Brunswick to Richmond about 6pm and eagerly hopped in the silver Mazda 3, excited for her first night out in months. But what was supposed to be a joyous evening quickly turned into a nightmare after the driver started to make 'a lot of weird turns'. A terrified young women (Julie, 26) was driven 40 minutes in the wrong direction before begging to be let out on the side of a busy highway But what was supposed to be a joyous evening quickly turned into a nightmare after the driver started to make 'a lot of weird turns' Julie first thought the driver was trying to get 'some extra money' by taking a longer route. But then she realised the car was tracking east instead of south, nowhere near where she wanted to go. Eventually they ended up on a highway and she started to feel increasingly scared. She asked if he was 'going the right way?' and the driver admitted he had made a few wrong turns and offered cancel the trip. 'He would look at his phone and go on maps, but he didn't do anything. Then I saw his phone kept rerouting and telling him to exit, and he was clearly ignoring it. He had multiple opportunities to take the exit, but he didn't,' Julie told 7News. As the time to destination on the app started increasing, Julie started 'freaking out'. 'It just felt like he wasn't understanding anything I was saying. He could see I was very upset, crying and panicking,' she said. Julie shutters to think were they would have ended up if she hadn't demanded to get out Julie booked a 15-minute trip from Brunswick to Richmond in this silver Mazda3 Eventually she decided it would be safer alone on the side of a motorway, than to stay in the vehicle. After stepping out of the car, the driver tried to convince her to get back in assuring her she would make it to her destination. Bizarrely, he tried to hand her his phone so she could to speak to his 'friend'. After she repeatedly refused he drove away, leaving her by on the highway. 'I was just so scared, I don't really know the area that well at all so it was just the uncertainty of where I was going, what he was doing and what could happen,' Julie said. She shudders to think were they would have ended up if she hadn't demanded to get out. After the ordeal, Julie went to Brunswick Police Station to report the incident Luckily Julie's was able to phone her sister who rushed to pick her up. The two then went to Brunswick Police Station to report the incident. DiDi in a statement said the driver had been temporarily suspended and a 'thorough investigation' was underway. The company said it would cooperate fully with any subsequent law enforcement investigations. DiDi urged anyone who felt unsafe during a trip to call Triple-0. Prime Minister Scott Morrison had to accept a secret written demand from the Nationals for an extra Cabinet spot to win their backing for his climate change plan. The return of resources and water minister Keith Pitt to the government's inner sanctum was a non-negotiable condition for Nationals support, it's been revealed. The Coalition was divided after the PM vowed to fly out to the COP26 conference in Glasgow with a net-zero emissions by 2050 commitment, despite Nationals opposition. The Nationals agreed to back net-zero after a slim majority accepted the proposal, despite Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce himself not supporting it. But Mr Joyce took the pragmatic option of adding an extra Nationals voice to the Cabinet and demanding Mr Pitt's reinstatement as the price of his party's support. The return of Nationals resources and water minister Keith Pitt (left) to the government's inner sanctum was a non-negotiable conditions for the support of Barnaby Joyce (right) Within 24 hours of pledging to back the PM's plan, Mr Morrison announced the Nationals MP would be elevated back into the cabinet, just months after he was demoted to the outer ministry. The announcement came after Nationals MP were shown the written demand during a two hour party room meeting on Sunday before it was handed to the PM, reported news.com.au Copies of the written demand were reportedly taken back from MPs after they had a chance to look at it to ensure it was not leaked to the media. 'Minister Pitt is a powerful voice for the resources sector and ensuring that we build upon Australia's strength in traditional exports, while harnessing opportunities in the new energy economy and critical minerals,' Mr Morrison said on Monday. The Nationals agreed to back net-zero after a slim majority accepted the proposal, despite Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce (pictured) not supporting it 'Minister Pitt has been a strong advocate for regional and rural communities, both in his portfolio responsibilities and as a local MP.' The National Party declared it would support a 2050 net-zero carbon emissions target, a historic move that brings Australia into line with most of the developed world just a week before crunch climate talks in Glasgow. After a week of internal meetings and debate, leader Barnaby Joyce said the junior Coalition party now backed the target and declared: 'I am 100 per cent on board with the goal of net zero by 2050.' While it has not yet been publicly announced what the Nationals agreed to in order to support a net-zero plan, it was expected the party would push for an additional seat in cabinet. Labor MP Anika Wells told the ABC: 'The news that Keith Pitt is off to cabinet out of this demonstrates once and for all that these actors are only in it for themselves, not for their actual constituents, and not with our economic prosperity and climate future in mind.' After a week of internal meetings and debate, Barnaby Joyce (centre with David Littleproud and Bridget McKenzie) revealed his party now backs a net zero target Mr Pitt was demoted from cabinet in June after Barnaby Joyce replaced Michael McCormack as Nationals leader. Cabinet is expected to meet to discuss the net-zero plans later on Monday night. The move harmonises Labor and Coalition climate change policy, ending a decade of the so-called 'climate wars' in politics. It also marks a major shift for the deputy PM who has until now opposed climate change action by either questioning the existence of global warming or insisting that Australia can make no difference. On Sunday, Mr Joyce said he expected there to be a 'firm commitment' to regional Australia in a submission which would go to cabinet this week, before Mr Morrison heads overseas on Thursday. 'The position regional people are in now is better than the terms and the process that was initially delivered to us,' he said after the party room meeting in Canberra. If temperatures continue to rise, there could be devastating effects here on Earth, including a dramatic loss of sea-life, an ice-free Arctic and more regular 'extreme' weather 'We are in support of a process going forward that would go towards a 2050 emissions target. 'Obviously that depends upon what we see in the cabinet submission reflecting the conversations and agreements between myself and the prime minister.' Apart from a 'socio-economic safety valve' which would include regular reviews of the impacts of the emissions target on jobs and industries in rural and regional areas, a key factor in getting the Nationals over the line was the prospect of an election loss without a net zero target. 'Standing up for them (regional Australians) is making sure that you are in the (cabinet) room where the decisions are being made,' the deputy prime minister said. 'Heroics that have no outcome, heroics that leave nothing but a rhetorical flourish - but leave the person who is hurting in the same position as what they were - is not an outcome the Nationals party room supported.' He declined to say whether the prime minister had agreed during the negotiations to give the Nationals an extra cabinet position. Advertisement The architect behind some of Britain's most controversial buildings, including one branded a 'mildewed lump of elephant droppings' by Prince Charles, has died aged 93. Owen Luder designed some of the country's most notable buildings in the 1960s and 1970s, many of which have now been demolished. His works are often cited as some of the most striking examples of Brutalist architecture, a style characterised by its large-scale use of concrete and geometric shapes. Included in his portfolio is a building once voted the most hated building in the UK but he is most known for the Trinity Square multi-storey carpark in Gateshead which featured in the 1971 film Get Carter. In the film, Michael Cain throws local businessman Cliff Brumby to his death from the top of the car park, cementing its place in cinematic history. But not all of Luder's designs were considered as iconic or remembered as fondly as Trinity Square. Pictured: Brutalist architect Owen Luder - the man behind some of the UK's most controversial buildings - has died aged 93 Prince Charles (pictured right) once described Luder's Tricorn Centre in Portsmouth as a 'mildewed lump of elephant droppings', one of four notable buildings by Luder and Gordon to be demolished decades after they were built (pictured left) The Rubble Club: How architects are outliving their own buildings Owen Luder is known as a member of the Rubble Club, having seen many of his own buildings torn down in his lifetime. The tongue-in-cheek term was created in architectural circles in the face of improving medical science which is prolonging our lives and means more and more architects are outliving their own buildings. It was set up as a 'support group' for recently bereaved architects who are living long enough to see buildings they designed being added to the scrap heap. Critics and victims of the tear-down mentality often urge those responsible to consider regeneration over demolition which, they say, should be a last resort. Members of the Rubble Club often say that you should be sure the building will be replaced by something better before deciding to tear it down, a principle not followed with the demolition of Luder's Tricorn Centre. Another prominent member of the club is veteran Dublin architect Brian Hogan who also lived to see several of his 1960s buildings torn down to make way for more contemporary buildings in the Irish capital. Advertisement Owing to the nature of Brutalism, many of the buildings were considered cold and soulless, often standing out from their neighbouring structures. Because of the British climate, the use of concrete also meant the buildings' facades often deteriorated rapidly, meaning any aesthetic appeal they once had disappeared. Speaking to Dezeen in 2014, Luder said: We never set out to design Brutalist buildings. We designed them in concrete because thats what was there. Bear in mind it was the 60s; it was difficult to get steel, it was still rationed. Harold Owen Luder CBE was born in London in 1928 and grew up wanting to design aircraft but, after the Second World War, decided he wanted to become an architect. After studying at the Brixton School of Building, Luder worked for several small firms throughout the 50s before setting up his own practice in 1957 - the Owen Luder Partnership with partner Rodney Gordon. There was high demand for new buildings in the post war years and business was booming for the fledgling firm. Tricorn Centre, Portsmouth (built in 1966 and demolished in 2004) One of his first notable commercial projects was the Tricorn Centre in Portsmouth. Costing the city council about 2million, the shopping centre opened in 1966 and was purposefully designed with a blank facade. As well as retail units, there was also eight flats and a nightclub built into the development. The hope was that tenants who moved into the shopping centre would add vibrancy and life to the building once it was up and running. When it opened in 1966, the Tricorn Centre in Portsmouth (pictured) was supposed to be a buzzing hub for huge retailers The Tricorn Centre became increasingly seedy and dilapidated and was eventually pulled down in 2004 over nine months But the development struggled to retain major tenants as it was not connected to Portsmouth City Centre. As a result, units were let to smaller retailers which struggled to attract the footfall that would put it on the map. During the 1980s, the centre became increasingly seedy and the nightclub was developed into a casino. The shops began to leave, with the last one vacating its unit in 2002. Before its demise, it was home to one of the first Virgin Megastores and housed the largest Laser Quest arena in Europe. The centre's car park was also the scene of many suicide attempts, being amongst the tallest publicly accessible buildings on the south coast which led to a plaque offering support from the Samaritans being installed at the top. Pictured: The Tricorn Centre in Portsmouth which was once voted the most hated building in the UK by BBC Radio listeners The Tricorn Centre in Portsmouth was voted the 3rd ugliest building in the UK in the 1980s and in 2001, BBC Radio 4 listeners voted it the most hated building in the UK The building was demolished in 2004, a process which took nine months, and the site currently serves as a ground-level car park for the city centre Although there was a small following of fans, the building's design also came under fire as numerous attempts to get it listed in the 1990s failed. It was voted the 3rd ugliest building in the UK in the 1980s and in 2001, BBC Radio 4 listeners voted it the most hated building in the UK. Even Prince Charles is known to have described it as 'a mildewed lump of elephant droppings'. The building was demolished in 2004, a process which took nine months, and the site currently serves as a ground-level car park for the city centre. Tchaikovskys 1812 Overture was played over loudspeakers in celebration, as the demolition crew got to work, in 2004. Trinity Square car park, Gateshead (built in 1969 and demolished in 2010) Iconic: Luder's most famous building was the Trinity Square car park in Gateshead which was opened in August 1969 Initially designed in 1962, by the time the car park opened in August 1969, initially free of charge, interest in the movement had already begun to decline A year after the Tricorn Centre opened, Gateshead's Trinity Square opened in the north east. Initially designed in 1962, by the time the car park opened in August 1969, initially free of charge, interest in the movement had already begun to decline. It cost 200,000 to construct and opinions on the design for the car park have been divided right down the middle ever since it opened. The car park featured seven decks of spaces with a cafe at the top which offered a stunning view across the Tyne but was never used. Trinity Square became famous after it featured in a prominent scene of the 1971 film Get Carter in which Michael Cain's character throws local businessman Cliff Brumby, played by the late Bryan Mosley, to his death from the car park (pictured) The building fell into disrepair and, despite protests, was demolished in 2010 to make way for a new shopping centre The last part of the infamous Trinity Square car park being demolished in Gateshead. It achieved notoriety by featuring in the 1970s film, in which Caine played gangster Jack Carter who returned to Newcastle to try to find out the truth about his brother's death Mr Luder made a final visit to the structure's extraordinary rooftop box, built 124ft up, stating that it was a sad day and that Gateshead was losing its 'front teeth'. Mr Luder added he thought the car park should be kept and the shops below it revamped. It was allowed to deteriorate, it obviously looks an eyesore. In fact it could be renovated,' he said. It achieved notoriety by featuring in the 1970s film, in which Caine played gangster Jack Carter who returned to Newcastle to try to find out the truth about his brother's death. In one scene Carter threw local businessman Cliff Brumby, played by the late Bryan Mosley, to his death from the car park. Mr Luder made a final visit to the structure's extraordinary rooftop box, built 124ft up, stating that it was a sad day and that Gateshead was losing its 'front teeth'. Mr Luder added he thought the car park should be kept and the shops below it revamped. It was allowed to deteriorate, it obviously looks an eyesore. In fact it could be renovated,' he said. 'The sad thing is of course that in 20 or 30 years time when they in fact are going to demolish what is going to be built now, there won't be interviews on that.' It was demolished in 2010 and has since been replaced by a new shopping centre and car park. Derwent Tower, Dunston (built in 1972 and demolished in 2012) Derwent Tower, in Dunston, Gateshead, was known as the Dunston Rocket and, like Trinity Square, was later demolished As with Trinity Square, Derwent Tower was allowed to fall into disrepair and residents were moved out in 2007 when it was declared no longer safe to live in. The building was demolished in 2012 Luder's other notable Brutalist structure in the north east was Derwent Tower which became known as the Dunston Rocket because of its shape. Derwent Tower, in Dunston, Gateshead, was a 29-storey block of flats which opened in 1972. Construction was complex because of the very poor ground conditions and the foundations were based on a sunken concrete caisson that was built above ground then sunk over a period of time. The use of a caisson - a type of foundation that transfers building loads further down into the earth - in a council tower block was unique for the 1960s and the space was used as an underground garage for residents. The tower housed two-bedroom flats up to the 10th floor and one-bedroom flats on floors 11 to 29 and once featured in a 1970s advert for Tudor Crisps. As with Trinity Square, the building was allowed to fall into disrepair and residents were moved out in 2007 when it was declared no longer safe to live in. The building was demolished in 2012. Southgate Shopping Centre, Bath (built in 1971 and demolished in 2007) Luder's Southgate Shopping Centre in Bath was considered controversial because Victorian and Georgian buildings were demolished to make way for its construction. The building was demolished in 2007 to make way for a new shopping centre Luder and Gordon's Southgate Shopping Centre in Bath was the last major retail development and was completed in 1971. But the project had already courted controversy before it opened as many Victorian and Georgian buildings had to be demolished to make way for its construction. He once said of the design: 'We used Bath stone but they still called it a concrete monstrosity.' The building's design was unpopular and in 2007, it was demolished to make way for a shopping centre designed in the more classical style which was deemed more appropriate for the city of Bath. The new Georgian-style shopping centre is more than double the size of the previous space and provides 37,000 sq metres of retail space, 3,500 sq metres of leisure space, 2,300 sq metres of restaurant space plus 99 residential units. Eros House, Catford (built in 1963) The design of Eros House in Catford was considered by Luder as his most successful work but has since fallen into disrepair The building Luder considered his most successful was Eros House, completed in Catford in 1963 on the land of the former Eros Theatre. It started life as an office block but is now a residential tower block The building formed part of a larger urban renewal project that included the Catford Centre also designed by Luder and his partner Rodney Gordon. The building was celebrated at the time it opened and went on to win architectural awards. In 1963, it had been awarded a RIBA (Royal Institute of British Architects) medal and by 1964 it had also won a Civic Trust Award for architecture. The building has characteristics that are typical of Luder's and Gordon's brutalist architecture, including the freestanding stair tower. There are 63 flats contained in the building, 45 of which are leased by Lewisham Council and has since been the scene of protests by residents who say the building is now dilapidated. In 2019, Luder demanded a plaque bearing his name was removed from the award-winning building, in protest at its disgraceful condition. Luder said he feared Eros House would be demolished like many of his other buildings. Catford Centre, Catford (built in 1974) The iconic Catford Cat is one of several Luder contributions which remain installed in 1974 when the centre was designed Another one of Luder and Gordon's most notable buildings which is still standing is the Catford Shopping Centre and the iconic fibreglass black cat which sits above its entrance. Erected with the Catford Centre, it was designed by famous Luder and Rodney Gordon, who also designed the Michael Faraday Memorial in Elephant & Castle. Luder and Gorden were part of Lewisham Councils ambitious plan in the 60s and 70s to make Catford a shopping, cultural and leisure destination, and it was part of the same regeneration project that led them to design the iconic Eros House office block nearby. The plans to turn Catford into a brutalist utopia failed, but the cat has become a Catford landmark and even has its own Twitter account. Luder, a life-long Arsenal fan, was also behind many uncontroversial projects such as Harrogate House in Harrogate (1963), Hendon Hall Court in north London (1963) and 16 Grand Avenue in Hove (1965). He also oversaw the conversion of a Grade II-listed Victorian fire station in West Norwood into the South London Theatre in 1967. Pictured: Wigham House in Barking was designed by the Owen Luder Partnership and opened in 1973 and still stands today He served as the president of the Royal Institute of British Architects on two separate occasions, between 19811983 and again between 19951997. Simon Allford RIBA president said: 'Our thoughts are with Luders family, friends and loved ones at this time. 'Made famous as the commercially astute Brutalist, Luder designed several remarkable schemes throughout the 1960s and 1970s, which divided opinion attracting both admiration and condemnation in equal measure. 'Luder will be remembered for his powerful and raw schemes that were celebrated in critically-acclaimed movies and in the case of the Tricorn Centre celebrated and demolished. 'Owens life was long and well lived dedicated to his family, friends, the profession and his beloved Arsenal FC.' Owen Luder CBE, architect, was born on August 7, 1928. He died in his sleep on October 9, 2021, aged 93. Advertisement All this lion cub wanted was a safe place to sit while its mother went hunting for food. Instead it became another animal's lunch when a hungry leopard snatched the three-week-old cub and climbed a tree to devour it. The cub's mother had been moving her children deeper into a parched bush for safety in Tanzania's Ruaha National Park, East Africa, so she could go hunting for food. Yet instead of providing her babies with some well-earned lunch, a sneaky leopard pounced on one of the unprotected cubs left alone by their mother. The lion cub was visibly frightened as it was taken away. The leopard carried the cub up a tree in its in its mouth before devouring the helpless lion cub. Canadian lawyer Scott Hyman, 54, saw the scene unfold in September and managed to capture it on camera. He said the lioness was 'moving her cubs deeper into the bush for safety when she [had] to leave them alone to go off and hunt.' He added: 'They have no hands so have to use their mouths to gently carry the cubs.' The lawyer and keen photographer said he did not capture 'the most brutal parts' of the baby lion's death. A 160-pound leopard snatched a three-week-old lion cub that had been left alone by its mother and climbed a tree to devour it The lion cub had been left alone by its lioness mother while she moved her other children to the safety of a nearby bush before she went hunting for food The cub was helpless and unprotected and the perfect prey for a hungry leopard, who fancied the baby lion for dinner under the Tanzanian sun The leopard snatched the cub in its jaws and sprinted away. It climbed up a tree before eating the young animal in the shade The cub's mother looked shocked with her mouth hanging open and her eyes wide when she realised what had happened to her baby Advertisement Foreign Secretary Liz Truss looked ready for battle as she landed on the HMS Queen Elizabeth warship this weekend - as it was claimed she and Chancellor Rishi Sunak were on 'constant manoeuvres' to become PM. The minister appeared in Navy gear as she was pictured on the aircraft carrier as it continued its deployment. She and and the Foreign Secretary, both long been tipped as potential successors to Boris Johnson, are said to have been 'sounding out' colleagues. Allies of Miss Truss, including her parliamentary private secretary Bim Afolami, have allegedly been 'working it quite hard' to see if she has a chance. Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss (pictured) are on 'constant manoeuvres' to line themselves up as future leaders of the Conservative Party, MPs have told the Daily Mail. She is pictured on a a tour of the HMS Queen Elizabeth The aircraft carrier, part of the Carrier Strike Group 2021 is currently on deployment in the Indo-Pacific region Miss Truss was seen trying on a headset inside one of the fighter jets - clearing enjoying the chance to try out some military hardware Mr Sunak, meanwhile, has been 'unashamedly' building support by asking his aides to arrange meetings with MPs to hear their concerns and ideas. One senior Tory said: 'It was absolutely clear it was nothing to do with MPs' views because there was no follow-up letter. It was just a token gesture, just trying to be accessible and laying the ground for when the leadership race happens.' Another said: 'Liz and Rishi are on constant manoeuvres, but without actually explicitly saying it.' Miss Truss strolls across the deck of HMS Queen Elizabeth, one of the Royal Navy's two new aircraft carriers She is seen speaking with members of the ship's crew. It is currently on deployment near Mumbai in India The Carrier Strike Group 21 is a British-led deployment to help ensure 'regional stability' in the Indo-Pacific region Mr Sunak, meanwhile, has been 'unashamedly' building support by asking his aides to arrange meetings with MPs to hear their concerns and ideas As he says he'll prepare for speech with Sprite and a Twix Chancellor Rishi Sunak will have a Twix and a can of Sprite as his 'pre-game routine' before delivering the Budget on Wednesday. Unlike some of his predecessors, the Chancellor, who is teetotal, will not enjoy a sharpener as he delivers his speech in the Commons but will tuck into a chocolate bar and fizzy drink beforehand instead. Asked whether he had any rituals ahead of the event, Mr Sunak said: 'I have a general pre-game routine, pre-match routine, for when I have to do parliamentary things which is, look, I have a sugar problem so I tend to have a Twix and a can of Sprite, even though my favourite thing is Coke but I save that for afterwards. 'But I have a Twix and a can of Sprite which Lisa who runs my office always makes sure is sitting there on my desk in Parliament, so that is my immediate pre-game kind of booster.' Mr Sunak also told Times Radio that his children 'have a lot of input generally' on his tie selection and he sometimes wears bracelets that they have made for him. Advertisement A source close to the Foreign Secretary denied the claims, saying: 'We're not sounding out anyone. Liz is 100 per cent focused on getting on with the job of being Foreign Secretary.' Mr Afolami also strongly denied that he had been sounding out colleagues, insisting he had only spoken to MPs about parliamentary questions. ' Some MPs questioned whether Mr Sunak and Miss Truss would be right for the jobs, with Miss Truss accused of being 'lightweight' and 'ineffectual'. One said: 'The people who are currently going for it are the people who took the easy path when the hard part was available to them. And since the path ahead is also very hard, it is not clear to me why they are fit to take it.' Miss Truss, a rising star in the party who is currently in India on an official visit, openly covets the chance to become the first female chancellor. Brandishing her low-tax credentials, she recently told friends she briefly considered resigning over the national insurance tax rise to pay for social care believing the Chancellor should have borrowed the money instead. Mr Sunak, meanwhile, won praise for his grip on the economy during the depths of the pandemic. Miss Truss came top of a poll of Conservative members earlier this month for net satisfaction with Cabinet ministers. She had a 15-point gap at the top, while Mr Sunak dropped from second in the table in September to fifth this month. But both ministers could be waiting a while for the next leadership election as the Prime Minister reportedly intends to outlast Margaret Thatcher's 11-year tenure in No 10. Question Time panellist Nazir Afzal today backed Fiona Bruce, saying he had 'no criticism' of the host after accusing her during the show of asking him first about the cricket racism row because he is a 'brown person'. The BBC programme has become embroiled in an 'unconscious racism' row after Bruce asked Mr Afzal, the only non-white member of the panel, to be the first person to answer an audience member's query about racism. During the show, Mr Afzal agreed with Bruce that he thought she was 'wrong' to go to him first. But reacting this morning after the incident prompted huge debate online, Mr Afzal tweeted: 'I have no criticism of Fiona Bruce. I made point that racism is something which everyone should have a view on, not just minorities. If the subject was say child or domestic abuse, you wouldn't just ask the victim. It's everybody's business.' The question, which was partly about recent allegations of racist abuse made by cricketer Azeem Rafiq, was asked last night to a panel made up of former crown prosecutor Mr Afzal; white psychologist Jordan Peterson; and three white MPs - Mims Davies from the Conservatives, Stella Creasy of Labour and Stephen Flynn from the SNP. Bruce then immediately turned to Mr Afzal and asked him to answer, prompting him to say: 'The brown person will answer first'. As he made the comment he turned to the audience and laughed, which saw some chuckle with him. The presenter then asked him: 'Nazir, so do you think that was wrong of me to come to you first?' Mr Afzal replied: 'I think so' and attempted to continue answering the question while pointing towards the audience. But Bruce then added: 'Well let's not do it. I'm not being sarcastic at all. I mean if that's how you feel, I respect that.' Mr Afzal then stopped speaking and sat silently, while Bruce went to Mr Peterson to hear from him instead. But others warned measures such as limiting contacts and working from home should be brought back Boosters, jabs to school pupils and natural immunity will leave the virus with no one to infect, they said Experts told MailOnline the measures are not needed, because infections will begin to drop next month Government advisers said daily Covid infections could drop to 5,000, prompting No10 to defy calls for Plan B Advertisement Covid cases will plummet next month without the Government's winter 'Plan B' because the virus will run out of people to infect, independent experts said today as they waded into a row about how the epidemic will unfold in the coming months. Optimistic scientists expect that a combination of the booster vaccine rollout and rising natural immunity in children will lead to a 'substantial and rapid' fall in cases, hospitalisations and deaths, without the need for compulsory face masks, working from home and vaccine passports. The trajectory of the epidemic this winter has divided No10's own scientific advisory panel SAGE, with several key members publicly lobbying for more restrictions to safeguard the NHS from being overwhelmed in the coming months. But many of the scenarios forecasted by the group's modelling teams have daily cases plunging over the coming weeks to as low as 5,000, even if the virus is allowed to spread unchecked. The unusually optimistic modelling has given ministers the confidence to reject growing calls for them to revert to Plan B. Professor Paul Hunter, an infectious diseases expert at the University of East Anglia, threw his support behind the modelling, telling MailOnline he expects a 'substantial and rapid fall' in the epidemic in the coming weeks. He said the booster vaccines will top up half of the population's immunity, adding: 'The boosters are working much better than we first thought they would.' And children, who are responsible for the recent surge, will have acquired significant natural and jab-induced protection, according to Cambridge University epidemiologist Dr Raghib Ali. The half-term school holiday which for many schools started today will act as a mini firebreaker and bring down cases further, experts believe. But neither Professor Hunter or Dr Ali believe cases will plunge to as low as 5,000 per day, partly because of the emergence of the new even more transmissible strain of Delta. Yet other scientists have warned it is impossible to accurately predict how the outbreak will unfold and that Plan B measures such as WFH guidance and face masks should be brought back now to control rising infections just in case. Professor Martin McKee, a public health expert based at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said he would be 'very cautious about making firm Christmas arrangements' because of the 'high' number of cases and emergence of the AY.4.2 variant which appears 'more transmissible than Delta'. Britain's daily Covid cases last week breached 50,000, marking a three-month high. At the height of the second wave last winter, there were more than 80,000 positive tests. But infections yesterday fell for the first time in nearly three weeks, further confusing the debate about what will happen next. In a bid to avoid another national lockdown, ministers are following 'Plan A', which focuses on boosters, jabbing 12 to 15-year-olds and a successful flu vaccine roll-out. Boris Johnson last week rejected calls from the NHS and scientists to implement 'Plan B', which includes vaccine passports, masks and WFH. It is reserved for when the health service comes under 'unsustainable' pressure. Ministers were also said to have discussed a 'Plan C' if all else fails, which could include banning mixing between households. LONDON SCHOOL OF HYGIENE AND TROPICAL MEDICINE: These charts show the impact of returning to normal level of social mixing in three months (bottom) versus remaining cautious for a year - and the impact this would have on infections (left), admissions (middle) and deaths (right). The models show cases plummeting by November in both scenarios thanks to natural immunity but rising in spring (bottom) when vaccine protection is expected to wane Even in the most pessimistic scenarios, SAGE estimated that daily Covid hospital admissions would not rise above 1,500. More optimistic models had them peaking at below 1,000 in winter. The above charts are based on modelling by Warwick University and look at how quickly people go back to pre-pandemic social contacts. It was based on the booster doses giving 'sustained' immunity Other SAGE modelling took into account 'repeated' waning from booster doses, and projected that hospital admissions could breach levels seen during the second wave in January under the worst-case projections Covid Plan B needed now to stop 'winter meltdown' Social distancing and masks need to be reimposed now to avoid a 'meltdown in the middle of winter' and save Christmas , several Government scientists warned today. Experts warned the current infection rate was 'unacceptable' and claimed that vaccines alone were not enough to control Covid and protect the NHS during the colder months. It comes despite growing optimism among No10's modellers who say daily cases could plummet to just 5,000 next month without any restrictions due to growing natural immunity and booster jabs. But Professor Peter Openshaw, a member of an influential subcommittee of SAGE , said enacting 'Plan B' now would be a 'sensible' safeguard that's 'not very disruptive'. Professor Adam Finn, who advises ministers on Covid jabs, went a step further, claiming compulsory masks and other curbs were needed 'to get things under control'. But Health Secretary Sajid Javid has promised a 'normal Christmas' this year as long as over-50s and vulnerable Britons get their booster vaccines. During a round of interviews this morning, he said: 'The facts right now are that we don't think the data requires us to move to Plan B.' He added: 'For all those people like me that are hoping and planning for a normal Christmas which I do by the way, I think that's where we'll be, we'll have a normal Christmas... Let's just keep playing our part.' Ministers have taken confidence from unusually optimistic SAGE modelling, which estimated the epidemic will shrink or stay well below previous waves this winter even without the Government's Plan B of face masks, vaccine passports and WFH. Other unpublished models have also shown similar drops, with experts indicating that cases could fall to around 5,000 cases a day during the festive period. Hopes were raised further last night that Britain could avoid another winter health crisis as data from Israel shows booster jabs can significantly reduce cases and hospitalisations. The country, which has led the way in vaccinations, rolled out boosters when immunity from the first two jabs began to wane in the summer. Almost half of its population has now been given a third shot and last week, hospitalisations had halved compared to the previous month Advertisement Modelling for SAGE from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) shows cases could fall to 5,000 per day over Christmas after the virus runs out of steam among younger people who are driving the current high case numbers levels. Professor Hunter, who wasn't involved in the projections but agreed with them, said: 'Over the next couple weeks we should start seeing a substantial fall in cases followed ten days to two weeks by hospitalisations. Then another fortnight after that I expect a fall in deaths. 'It's because of immunity. What we're seeing at the moment is a substantial number of cases in children, very high rates indeed, and that can't go on for much longer. The virus is running out of non-immune people to infect.' He added: 'The other thing is over 93 per cent adults have got antibodies [according to ONS estimates], and while antibodies aren't the only factor in immunity, they are a pretty good marker.' Professor Hunter said he doesn't expect cases to fall as rapidly as those estimates because the modelling did not take into account AY4.2, which evidence suggests is up to 15 per cent more infectious than its predecessor. It now makes up almost one in 10 infections across England. He added: 'Even if the fall isn't as rapid as the LSHTM model, it still raises the question: what's the point of having more restrictions? 'Plan B measures are effective to certain extent mask wearing for example we predict can reduce transmission by 10 to 20 per cent. But what they do is delay. Last year, delaying was crucial to buy us time to develop better treatments and vaccines. 'If the LSHTM model is correct and by Christmas we have very low levels of Covid around then what's the point? Why would we want to increase restrictions?' Meanwhile, Cambridge University epidemiologist Dr Raghib Ali told MailOnline he also expects the three Covid measurements to begin dropping next month. He said: 'I am confident all three will fall but I'm not confident cases will get down to 5,000 per day [as suggested by LSHTM's model]. 'This is due to a combination of several factors firstly, we've seen as cases rise, people change their behaviour. We saw it in July [after the Euro 2020 surge] and in previous waves, people start to take better care, possibly wear masks more and this is especially true in older people who are higher risk. 'Then you've got the combination of the vaccine programme in teenagers and a build-up of natural immunity in primary and secondary school-aged children.' The rollout of a single dose of the Pfizer jab to 12 to 15-year-olds began last month but only around two in 10 have been jabbed in England. Speaking about the power of natural immunity, Dr Ali said: 'One of the interesting things is despite London having the lowest rates of vaccination in the country, it also has the lowest rates of Covid. 'It's hard to think of any reason for that other than high levels of immunity from previous waves of the pandemic. 'The third factor is obviously booster doses, data in Israel and the UAE shows they are very effective at bringing down all three things hospitalisations, deaths and cases.' Some 5.2million boosters have already been dished out in England, but there are concerns the sluggish rollout is not moving fast enough. But hopes were raised last night that Britain could avoid another winter health crisis, as data from Israel shows booster jabs can significantly reduce cases and hospitalisations. Dr Ali dismissed calls for the Government to revert to Plan B, adding: 'If respectable teams [like the LSHTM] are now predicting cases coming down next month, then there's no need for restrictions. 'I'm certainly not encouraging people not to wear a mask, I wear a mask myself, but I don't think it needs to be mandated. I encourage everyone to take care, wear a mask particularly around high-risk people. 'But I just don't think mandating it [Plan B] would make much difference. What we all want to do is to reduce cases, hospital rates and deaths. I'm not convinced masks will, but boosters do. Only around 4.5million (green line) out of the 9.3million eligible people (blue line) in England have received the crucial third dose, prompting ministers to urge people to come forward for their inoculations Professor Paul Hunter (left), an epidemiologist at the University of East Anglia, told MailOnline he expects a 'substantial fall' in cases over the coming weeks, followed by hospitalisations and deaths. And Cambridge University epidemiologist Dr Raghib Ali (right) told MailOnline he also expected Covid measurements to drop as people change their behaviour in response to rising infections, the vaccine programme and the build up of natural immunity Public health expert Professor Martin McKee (left) told MailOnline he would be 'very cautious about making firm arrangements for Christmas' amid 'a very high level' of cases and new variant AY.4.2 'that seems to be more transmissible than Delta'. Meanwhile, Professor Stephen Reicher (right), a member of the independent Scientific Pandemic Insights group SPI-B, told MailOnline it is difficult to predict how high cases will get, so measures such as working from home and limiting contacts should be brought back now to control rising infections The above graph shows the proportion of cases down to different variants in England over time. It reveals AY.4.2 (yellow) is beginning to make up a higher proportion of cases. But Delta (light green) remains the dominant Covid strain. Alpha (purple) was dominant last winter, after it replaced the old virus (pink and dark green) 'And I think there is a danger that if the public feel that all these restrictions are coming in then they might not feel they need to get booster doses, so the emphasis rightly needs to be on boosters.' Dr Ali called for half a million doses of booster vaccines to be rolled out each day and for the gap between second and third doses to be shortened from six to five months. He added: 'I want to see all nine priority cohorts vaccinated with a booster by the Christmas holidays.' Sajid Javid hints 100,000 unvaccinated NHS staff could be FIRED as he admits he is 'leaning towards' making Covid jabs compulsory for medics Unvaccinated NHS staff are set to be told to get their Covid jabs or lose their jobs under plans being considered by the Government. Some 100,000 healthcare workers or seven per cent are still yet to show up for their first dose in England. But Health Secretary Sajid Javid said bringing in compulsory jabs was the 'clear direction of travel' despite fears staff could quit the health service at a critical time. When asked if the plans could come in this winter, Mr Javid told Sky News: 'I'm leaning towards doing it.' He said those who had failed to get the jab were putting seriously ill patients in harm's way. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said forcing vaccination on medics was a mistake, warning it could exacerbate staffing shortages among doctors and nurses. The 'no jab, no job' policy is already in care homes and staff working in elderly residences must be jabbed by November 11. Care bosses have warned many homes will be forced to close because they won't be able to find enough vaccinated workers. Studies show the vaccines dramatically reduce a person's risk of being hospitalised or dying from Covid, but they are slightly less effective at stopping transmission. Advertisement But Professor McKee, from LSHTM, told MailOnline that despite SAGE models offering 'high quality estimates of what might happen' there are 'many unknowns' going into winter, including how people adapt their behaviour. He said: 'We saw this when the (Immensa Health Clinic) laboratory scandal that affected the South West falsely led to people who were infected being told they were not, so they did not take precautions and cases surged.' Plan B needs to be implemented to avoid another lockdown and 'dithering and delay' on imposing less-stringent restrictions makes a lockdown more likely, he said. Professor McKee added: 'The recent estimates [of 5,000 cases a day by LSHTM] may turn out to be right but, given the consequences if they are wrong, I would be very cautious. 'It's very difficult to say what could happen by Christmas, not least because we now have a new variant that seems to be more transmissible than Delta.' He said: 'However, infections are already at a very high level, far above that when other countries impose greater restrictions. So it's now obvious decisions on restrictions in England are made on political rather than scientific grounds. 'I would be very cautious about making firm arrangements for Christmas.' Professor Stephen Reicher, a member of the independent Scientific Pandemic Insights group SPI-B which feeds into SAGE, told MailOnline making predictions about infection levels is a 'notoriously inaccurate pastime'. Efforts should instead focus on what can be done to bring cases down, he said. Professor Reicher said the key ways of reducing infections are behavioural increasing vaccine uptake, limiting contacts, including by working from home, increasing ventilation and ensuring infected people self-isolate. To do this, 'clear and consistent messaging about the need to bring infections down and how to do so' is needed, he said. 'Now the messaging is all over the place, often inaccurate, and even suggesting that infections don't matter at which point why do anything,' he said. The frame of the discussion also needs to be changed because if 'all Covid measures sound negative' then 'you put people off the sensible interventions' that protect them and increase their choice. He added: 'In other words, the level of infections, hospitalisations and deaths is up to all of us. 'But "all of us" must include the Government providing the information, the protections and the support we need to do the right thing. And they aren't.' Social media sites will be forced to verify the ages of all users and obtain parental consent for children under 16 to join, under new laws planned in Australia. Sites which violate the new law - which ministers say is designed to help protect children's mental health - would face fines of up to 5million. It is just the latest crackdown on tech giants by Australia, which earlier this year faced off against Facebook over plans to make the site pay for news its users share. Facebook refused, pulling all news content off its site for several days before agreeing a compromise that saw the government significantly water down its plans. Australia is planning to force social media companies to check the ages of its users and require parental consent for anyone under the age of 16 to sign up (file image) It is just the latest crackdown on big tech launched by Australia, which previously forced Facebook and Google into paying for news content hosted on their sites David Coleman, minister in charge of mental health and suicide prevention, said the law would make Australia a world-leader in protecting children from online harm. 'In Australia, even before the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a consistent increase in signs of distress and mental ill health among young people,' he said. 'While the reasons for this are varied and complex, we know that social media is part of the problem.' The law also comes as Frances Haugen, a former Facebook employee, testifies before governments around the English-speaking world about the harms the site causes to its users. Haugen, who worked at the site's civic integrity unit, insists Mark Zuckerberg has shown 'no desire' to run the company in a way that protects those who use it. 'I am extremely, extremely worried about the state of our societies. I am extremely concerned about engagement-based ranking, which prioritizes extreme content,' she said during an appearance in front of British lawmakers this week. She decided to speak out after leaking a trove of documents which she says shows staff at the site have been flagging for years that it helps spread hate speech and incite violence but has failed to act decisively in cutting it out. According to Haugen, failures to stop hate speech in volatile world regions such as Myanmar, Vietnam, India and Pakistan could have led to real-world violence. She also disclosed internal messages posted on the day of the Capitol riots in the US on January 6, when staff said they blamed themselves for the violence. The new law was proposed as Frances Haugen, a former Facebook employee, accuses the company of failing to protect its users from harm Earlier this year, Australia forced Facebook to start paying for news it hosts after a days-long spat that saw it temporarily remove all news content (pictured) 'One of the darkest days in the history of democracy and self-governance. History will not judge us kindly,' said one worker. Another wrote: 'We've been fueling this fire for a long time and we shouldn't be surprised it's now out of control'. Facebook regional director of public policy Mia Garlick said her platform had been calling for Australias privacy laws to evolve with new technology. 'We have supported the development of international codes around young peoples data, like the U.K. Age Appropriate Design Code,' Garlick said in a statement, referring to British legislation introduced this year that requires platforms to verify users ages if content risks the moral, physical or mental well-being of children. 'Were reviewing the draft bill and discussion paper released today, and look forward to working with the Australian government on this further,' she added. Australia has been a prominent voice in calling for international regulation of the internet. It passed laws this year that oblige Google and Facebook to pay for journalism. Australia also defied the tech companies by creating a law that could imprison social media executives if their platforms stream violent images. New German playgrounds are built to be dangerous, forcing children to negotiate perilous obstacles while risking injury if they fall according to a professor of motor development. Professor Rolf Schwarz of Karlsruhe University of Education, argues that 'safe' playgrounds prevent kids from learning how to handle risk in the early stages of their development. 'If we want children to be prepared for risk, we need to allow them to come into contact with risk,' said the professor who works with councils and playground designers to develop challenging obstacles. It comes as Rebecca Faulkner, an executive from New York based non-profit researcher play:groundNYC, said soft landing areas and spongy floors don't help kids to learn that their actions have consequences. 'What the spongy surface playgrounds don't do is teach kids that there is a consequence to falling, and they won't learn anything from it,' said Faulkner. 'The spongy surface really just teaches them that the ground is soft, which, of course, it's not.' This climbing tower, built in 2018 in Ludwig Lesser Park in Berlin, is an example of a growing trend of new playgrounds designed to force kids to conquer difficult obstacles while managing risk The Ludwig Lesser Park still has some play areas that are less dangerous intended for small children, but more play parks in Germany are being built with danger in mind The news comes after a group of accident insurance companies last year called on German town planners, councils and playground to develop structures that help children to cultivate 'risk competence', as many of Germany's kids were spending so much time inside amid the pandemic. Insurance companies in the UK have taken a different approach by refusing to insure playgrounds deemed too 'high-risk' to avoid the cost of paying out on accidents. Insurer Zurich Municipal in 2019 withdrew its cover from several of Britain's adventure play parks, blaming the move on an increase in the number and cost of claims arising from play-related accidents. It led to fears that councils and local authorities responsible for paying the insurance premiums on playgrounds would simply water down the challenges posed by the structures in an effort to keep insurance costs low. Play:ground NYC's research suggests that children are better than we think at assessing risk, while Faulkner claimed that over sanitising and scrutinising kids could in fact cause more accidents. 'One of the things that we have noticed is that kids are really good at risk assessing their own behaviour,' she said. 'The reason that they have accidents sometimes is because there's a lot of adults around who are very cautious and nervous and keep telling them to be careful and watch out.' Meanwhile, a research team based in Houston, Texas, conducted a study over a five year period to determine which kind of play park was most likely to be the location of serious injuries to kids. Their results, published in 2018, found that while the occurrence of injuries was quite rare, a 'statistically significant majority of them' took part in a playground where the equipment was fixed and seen as 'safer' vs an adventure playground with more dangerous and wobbly equipment. Furthermore, a study by non-profit Studioludo that compared parks in England and the US found adventure parks were both more popular among kids (55 percent more so) and also encouraged higher activity rates among visiting children of 1618 percent when compared with fixed-equipment playgrounds. Insurance companies in the UK have taken a different approach by refusing to insure playgrounds deemed too 'high-risk' to avoid the cost of paying out on accidents, while researchers have said British kids are generally not allowed to play independently until age 11 (pictured: Gunnersbury Park, London) David Kohler, whose company has built playgrounds and rope-based spiderweb structures in Germany since the 1970s, told the Guardian he has pushed for more challenging structures to be built for years. 'Children may feel insecure when they first climb in our nets, but this is actually what makes the structures even safer,' he said. 'When you are feeling insecure, you are also extra careful. Our designs have significantly increased in height in recent years.' Meanwhile, the British Children's Play Survey revealed earlier this year that British society is becoming more protective of children, at a detriment to their ability to manage risk and their overall mental and physical health. According to the research, primary-age children in Britain are generally not permitted to play outside unsupervised until age 11, while their parents' generation was able to do so at age nine. 'We are seeing children getting towards the end of their primary school years without having had enough opportunities to develop their ability to assess and manage risk independently.' Ministers fear that plans for greater regulation of social media sites could be leaked by civil servants to former mandarins now working for Facebook. The alarm was raised after an online harms issue known only to a few people at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport was raised by a senior executive at Facebook in a recent meeting. Mark Zuckerberg's social media colossus is facing increasing pressure over misinformation and harmful material, including abuse, shared by its users, with ministers drawing up plans for tighter rules. Jobs taken by former senior civil servants in the private sector are meant to be scrutinised by the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (Acoba). But its powers are weak and more junior appointments are not vetted. A source lashed out at department mandarins, telling the Times: 'The problem is that DCMS officials think it's their job to work there for four years then get a job at Facebook. The alarm was raised after an online harms issue known only to a few people at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport was raised by a senior executive at Facebook in a recent meeting. Nicola Aitken (left),who formerly 'led UK Government efforts to counter disinformation' is now working at Facebook, as is Farzana Dudhwala, who previously worked for the Government Office for Artificial Intelligence. There is no suggestion that either of them has solicited or received information from former Civil Service colleagues 'They don't get scrutinised by Acoba except at the most senior level.' Civil Servants in DCMS are among the better paid mandarins. Median wages there were just below 50,000 last year, compared to a cross-Whitehall median of below 30,000, according to the Institute for Government. Average pay for the Civil Service is around 30,000, but at Facebook's UK arm in 2019 it was more than 117,000. Several DCMS officials have gone on to work for Facebook recently, after working elsewhere before joining Facebook. There is no suggestion they have solicited information from former Civil Service colleagues. Nicola Aitken, who formerly 'led UK Government efforts to counter disinformation' is now working there as a misinformation policy manager, having spent a year in between at Full Fact, an independent organisation that highlights misinformation online. And Farzana Dudhwala has been Facebook's privacy policy manager since January, having spent a year in 2018-9 at DCMS's Government Office for Artificial Intelligence and then two years at the Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation. Julian Knight, the Conservative chairman of the DCMS select committee, told the Times: 'Any perceived cosiness between the likes of Facebook and civil servants has the potential to undermine the new online harms bill and regulatory regime. 'This frankly is too important to have anything done other than by the book. I trust ministers will take this seriously.' The Online Safety Bill would put a new legal duty of care on social media giants to protect their UK users from harmful material. However, there are concerns that firms will be allowed by regulators to automate the process of policing content - effectively putting power in the hands of 'unaccountable' AI that no-one can 'challenge or check'. Meanwhile more than 50 Conservative MPs have demanded social media verify the identification of their users in a bid to stamp out abuse. The backbenchers have written to Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, Reddit and Snapchat to call on them to do more to tackle harassment. In a letter, organised by Meriden MP Saqib Bhatti, they urge the firms to make people prove their identity when they sign up. The group of 51 MPs, which include former Cabinet ministers Andrea Leadsom, Damian Green, and Karen Bradley, say this would make it easier to trace abusers and permanently ban them from platforms. The inaction by social media companies like yours to take decisive action to tackle online abuse has meant that you have become enablers of abuse which rots away the very foundations of our society, they wrote. There is no doubt that social media has become an invaluable part of our lives and has transformed our world. It brings people together, empowers communities and improves the lives of people across the world. During the pandemic, social media was a lifeline connecting us to our loved ones and to the rest of the world. As politicians, social media provides us with another method for communicating with our electorate and has fundamentally changed the way we work. However, there are those who use social media and online platforms to commit abhorrent abuse and they do so in the knowledge that little or no action will be taken against them. Despite numerous calls for change, it is our view that insufficient steps are being taken to address this. A German ISIS bride was sentenced to 10 years in prison by a Munich court today over the war crime of letting a five-year-old Yazidi 'slave' girl die of thirst in the sun. Jennifer Wenisch, 30, from Lohne in Lower Saxony, was found guilty of 'two crimes against humanity in the form of enslavement', as well as aiding and abetting the girl's killing and being a member of a terrorist organisation. Wenisch converted to Islam in 2013 and made her way to Iraq to join the Islamic State, where she and her husband 'purchased' a Yazidi woman and child as household slaves according to the court. 'After the girl fell ill and wet her mattress, the husband of the accused chained her up outside as punishment and let the child die an agonising death of thirst in the scorching heat,' prosecutors said during the trial. 'The accused allowed her husband to do so and did nothing to save the girl.' Her sentence, handed out by the Higher Regional Court in Munich, is the culmination of what is thought to be one of the first convictions anywhere in the world related to the Islamic State group's persecution of the Yazidi community. Jennifer Wenisch, 30, covered her face as she was escorted into the courtroom where she was sentenced to 10 years in prison for allowing a slave girl to die of thirst in Iraq She was found guilty of 'two crimes against humanity in the form of enslavement', as well as aiding and abetting the girl's killing and being a member of a terrorist organisation Presiding judge Reinhold Baier handed down the verdict to Wenisch this morning, after declaring the child was 'defenceless and helplessly exposed to the situation,' and that Wenisch 'had to reckon from the beginning that the child, who was tied up in the heat of the sun, was in danger of dying'. Wenisch's husband, Taha al-Jumailly, is also facing trial in separate proceedings in Frankfurt, where the verdict is due in late November. When asked during the trial about her failure to save the girl, Wenisch said she was 'afraid' that her husband would 'push her or lock her up'. Identified only by her first name Nora, the Yazidi girl's mother has repeatedly testified in both Munich and Frankfurt about the torment allegedly visited on her child. The defence had claimed the mother's testimony is untrustworthy and said there was no proof that the girl, who was taken to hospital after the incident, actually died. Wenisch's lawyers had called for her to receive just a two-year suspended sentence for supporting a terrorist organisation. Wenisch herself claimed she was being 'made an example of for everything that has happened under ISIS' at the close of the trial, according to the daily Sueddeutsche Zeitung, and appeared to show remorse for the crimes for which she was found guilty. In an earlier hearing, Wenisch's lawyers had called for her to receive just a two-year suspended sentence for supporting a terrorist organisation Wenisch converted to Islam in 2013 and is thought to have left Germany to join ISIS the following year, travelling through Turkey and Syria to reach her eventual destination of Mosul in Iraq. Recruited in mid-2015 to the group's self-styled hisbah morality police, she patrolled city parks in IS-occupied Fallujah and Mosul. Armed with an AK-47 assault rifle, a pistol and an explosives vest, her task was to ensure strict IS rules on dress code, public behaviour and bans on alcohol and tobacco. In January 2016, she visited the German embassy in Ankara to apply for new identity papers. When she left the mission, she was arrested and extradited days later to Germany. Wenisch's trial, which began in April 2019, is one of the first examples of court proceedings over the Islamic State group's brutal treatment of Yazidis. A Kurdish-speaking group hailing from northern Iraq, the Yazidis were specifically targeted and oppressed by the jihadists beginning in 2015. Prominent London-based human rights lawyer Amal Clooney, who has been involved in a campaign for IS crimes against the Yazidi to be recognised as a 'genocide', was part of the team representing the Yazidi girl's mother. Germany has charged several German and foreign nationals with war crimes and crimes against humanity carried out abroad, using the legal principle of universal jurisdiction which allows crimes to be prosecuted even if they were committed in a foreign country. A handful of female suspects are among those who have appeared in the dock. In November 2020, a German woman named as Nurten J. was charged with crimes against humanity allegedly committed while she was living in Syria as a member of Islamic State. In October 2020, another German court sentenced the German-Tunisian wife of a rapper-turned-jihadist to three-and-a-half years in prison for having taken part in the enslavement of a Yazidi girl in Syria. Advertisement Daily Covid infections in Britain have fallen again and deaths are also down as scientists expect the epidemic to shrink from next month without added curbs. The Department of Health reported 36,657 new cases in the past 24 hours, down a quarter on the figure last week and the second day in a row there has been a week-on-week drop. Cases had risen for 18 days prior to Sunday. Many experts predicted that the October half-term which for many schools began today would drag infection rates down and act as a miniature 'firebreaker'. There were also 38 coronavirus deaths registered today, down around 16 per cent on the toll last Monday. UK-wide hospital data isn't due until tomorrow. A technical issue means the promising statistics do not include data from Wales, which is recording on average 3,200 daily cases and nine deaths per day. The trajectory of the epidemic is likely to remain unchanged, even with the inclusion of Wales' infection numbers. Yet, Sir Keir Starmer became the latest figure to call for the Government to revert to Plan B today and bring back a suite of Covid curbs. It comes amid an escalating row about how Britain's epidemic will unfold in the coming months and whether compulsory face masks, working from home and vaccine passports are necessary. Independent scientists told MailOnline they expect that a combination of the booster vaccine rollout and rising natural immunity in children will lead to a 'substantial and rapid' fall in cases, hospitalisations and deaths in weeks. The topic has also divided No10's own scientific advisory panel SAGE, with several key members publicly lobbying for more restrictions to safeguard the NHS from being overwhelmed in the coming months. But many of the scenarios forecasted by the group's modelling teams have daily cases plunging over the coming weeks to as low as 5,000, even if the virus is allowed to spread unchecked. The unusually optimistic modelling has given ministers the confidence to reject growing calls for them to revert to Plan B. It comes amid an escalating row about how the epidemic will unfold in the coming months and whether compulsory face masks, working from home and vaccine passports are necessary (shown left on Boris' winter plan). Sajid Javid, the Health Secretary, has promised a 'normal Christmas' this year Professor Paul Hunter, an infectious diseases expert at the University of East Anglia, threw his support behind the modelling, telling MailOnline he expects a 'substantial and rapid fall' in the epidemic in the coming weeks. He said the booster vaccines will top up half of the population's immunity, adding: 'The boosters are working much better than we first thought they would.' And children, who are responsible for the recent surge, will have acquired significant natural and jab-induced protection, according to Cambridge University epidemiologist Dr Raghib Ali. The half-term school holiday which for many schools started today will act as a mini firebreaker and bring down cases further, experts believe. But neither Professor Hunter or Dr Ali believe cases will plunge to as low as 5,000 per day, partly because of the emergence of the new even more transmissible strain of Delta. Yet other scientists have warned it is impossible to accurately predict how the outbreak will unfold and that Plan B measures such as WFH guidance and face masks should be brought back now to control rising infections just in case. Professor Martin McKee, a public health expert based at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said he would be 'very cautious about making firm Christmas arrangements' because of the 'high' number of cases and emergence of the AY.4.2 variant which appears 'more transmissible than Delta'. Modelling for SAGE from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) shows cases could fall to 5,000 per day over Christmas after the virus runs out of steam among younger people who are driving the current high case numbers levels. LONDON SCHOOL OF HYGIENE AND TROPICAL MEDICINE: These charts show the impact of returning to normal level of social mixing in three months (bottom) versus remaining cautious for a year - and the impact this would have on infections (left), admissions (middle) and deaths (right). The models show cases plummeting by November in both scenarios thanks to natural immunity but rising in spring (bottom) when vaccine protection is expected to wane Professor Paul Hunter (left), an epidemiologist at the University of East Anglia, told MailOnline he expects a 'substantial fall' in cases over the coming weeks, followed by hospitalisations and deaths. And Cambridge University epidemiologist Dr Raghib Ali (right) told MailOnline he also expected Covid measurements to drop as people change their behaviour in response to rising infections, the vaccine programme and the build up of natural immunity Public health expert Professor Martin McKee (left) told MailOnline he would be 'very cautious about making firm arrangements for Christmas' amid 'a very high level' of cases and new variant AY.4.2 'that seems to be more transmissible than Delta'. Meanwhile, Professor Stephen Reicher (right), a member of the independent Scientific Pandemic Insights group SPI-B, told MailOnline it is difficult to predict how high cases will get, so measures such as working from home and limiting contacts should be brought back now to control rising infections Professor Hunter, who wasn't involved in the projections but agreed with them, said: 'Over the next couple weeks we should start seeing a substantial fall in cases followed ten days to two weeks by hospitalisations. Then another fortnight after that I expect a fall in deaths. Covid cases should SLUMP by around 85% to just 5,000-a-day by Christmas WITHOUT Plan B, SAGE models say Covid cases should slump in November by around 85 per cent to just 5,000 per day by Christmas even without Plan B restrictions, according to modelling seen by the Government. The current rise in cases is mostly being driven by children who are largely unvaccinated and because so many youngsters are getting infected, some SAGE modellers expect infections to run out of steam in soon when they achieve a higher level of natural immunity. The October half term, which for most schools starts today, is also expected to act like a natural firebreaker and bring down case numbers. Ministers are understood to be refraining from introducing restrictions including compulsory facemasks, advice to work from home and domestic vaccine passports after seeing projections which show infections declining rapidly within the next few weeks. One model, from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, suggests that cases will soon peak before falling steeply in the winter months - even without the Government's Plan B. Other unpublished models have also shown similar drops, with experts indicating that cases could fall to around 5,000 cases a day before Christmas, The Telegraph reported. SAGE scientist Professor John Edmunds, the chief scientist behind the LSHTM model, told the paper: 'When we were doing the work about two weeks ago, the Health Secretary had made it very clear that the government was not planning to introduce Plan B in the near future. 'Our model was projecting that cases would start to decline some time in the autumn. However, the model also suggests that cases may start to climb again in the spring, due to a combination of waning immunity and increased contacts.' Advertisement 'It's because of immunity. What we're seeing at the moment is a substantial number of cases in children, very high rates indeed, and that can't go on for much longer. The virus is running out of non-immune people to infect.' He added: 'The other thing is over 93 per cent adults have got antibodies [according to ONS estimates], and while antibodies aren't the only factor in immunity, they are a pretty good marker.' Professor Hunter said he doesn't expect cases to fall as rapidly as those estimates because the modelling did not take into account AY4.2, which evidence suggests is up to 15 per cent more infectious than its predecessor. It now makes up almost one in 10 infections across England. He added: 'Even if the fall isn't as rapid as the LSHTM model, it still raises the question: what's the point of having more restrictions? 'Plan B measures are effective to certain extent mask wearing for example we predict can reduce transmission by 10 to 20 per cent. But what they do is delay. Last year, delaying was crucial to buy us time to develop better treatments and vaccines. 'If the LSHTM model is correct and by Christmas we have very low levels of Covid around then what's the point? Why would we want to increase restrictions?' Meanwhile, Cambridge University epidemiologist Dr Raghib Ali told MailOnline he also expects the three Covid measurements to begin dropping next month. He said: 'I am confident all three will fall but I'm not confident cases will get down to 5,000 per day [as suggested by LSHTM's model]. 'This is due to a combination of several factors firstly, we've seen as cases rise, people change their behaviour. We saw it in July [after the Euro 2020 surge] and in previous waves, people start to take better care, possibly wear masks more and this is especially true in older people who are higher risk. 'Then you've got the combination of the vaccine programme in teenagers and a build-up of natural immunity in primary and secondary school-aged children.' The rollout of a single dose of the Pfizer jab to 12 to 15-year-olds began last month but only around two in 10 have been jabbed in England. Speaking about the power of natural immunity, Dr Ali said: 'One of the interesting things is despite London having the lowest rates of vaccination in the country, it also has the lowest rates of Covid. 'It's hard to think of any reason for that other than high levels of immunity from previous waves of the pandemic. 'The third factor is obviously booster doses, data in Israel and the UAE shows they are very effective at bringing down all three things hospitalisations, deaths and cases.' Some 5.2million boosters have already been dished out in England, but there are concerns the sluggish rollout is not moving fast enough. But hopes were raised last night that Britain could avoid another winter health crisis, as data from Israel shows booster jabs can significantly reduce cases and hospitalisations. Dr Ali dismissed calls for the Government to revert to Plan B, adding: 'If respectable teams [like the LSHTM] are now predicting cases coming down next month, then there's no need for restrictions. 'I'm certainly not encouraging people not to wear a mask, I wear a mask myself, but I don't think it needs to be mandated. I encourage everyone to take care, wear a mask particularly around high-risk people. Modelling by SAGE predicted that the combination of vaccine-acquired immunity and natural protection would be enough to keep hospital rates below levels seen in the second wave. Even in the most pessimistic scenarios, the group estimated that daily Covid hospital admissions would not rise above 1,500. More optimistic models had them peaking at below 1,000 in winter. The above charts are based on modelling by Warwick University and look at how quickly people go back to pre-pandemic social contacts. It was based on the booster doses given 'sustained' immunity Other SAGE modelling took into account 'repeated' waning from booster doses, and projected that hospital admissions could breach levels seen during the second wave in January under the worst-case projections 'But I just don't think mandating it [Plan B] would make much difference. What we all want to do is to reduce cases, hospital rates and deaths. I'm not convinced masks will, but boosters do. 'And I think there is a danger that if the public feel that all these restrictions are coming in then they might not feel they need to get booster doses, so the emphasis rightly needs to be on boosters.' Dr Ali called for half a million doses of booster vaccines to be rolled out each day and for the gap between second and third doses to be shortened from six to five months. He added: 'I want to see all nine priority cohorts vaccinated with a booster by the Christmas holidays.' 100,000 unvaccinated NHS staff could be FIRED as Sajid is 'leaning towards' making Covid jabs compulsory for medics Unvaccinated NHS staff are set to be told to get their Covid jabs or lose their jobs under plans being considered by the Government. Some 100,000 healthcare workers or seven per cent are still yet to show up for their first dose in England. But Health Secretary Sajid Javid said bringing in compulsory jabs was the 'clear direction of travel', despite fears staff could quit the health service at a critical time. When asked if the plans could come in this winter, Mr Javid told Sky News: 'Im leaning towards doing it.' He said those who had failed to get the vaccine were putting seriously ill patients in harm's way. But Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said forcing vaccination on medics was a mistake, warning it could exacerbate staffing shortages among doctors and nurses. No10's controversial 'no jab, no job' policy is already in care homes and staff working in elderly residences must be jabbed by November 11. Care bosses have warned many homes will be forced to close because they won't be able to find enough vaccinated workers. Studies show the vaccines dramatically reduce a person's risk of being hospitalised or dying from Covid, but they are slightly less effective at stopping transmission. Advertisement But Professor McKee, from LSHTM, told MailOnline that despite SAGE models offering 'high quality estimates of what might happen' there are 'many unknowns' going into winter, including how people adapt their behaviour. He said: 'We saw this when the (Immensa Health Clinic) laboratory scandal that affected the South West falsely led to people who were infected being told they were not, so they did not take precautions and cases surged.' Plan B needs to be implemented to avoid another lockdown and 'dithering and delay' on imposing less-stringent restrictions makes a lockdown more likely, he said. Professor McKee added: 'The recent estimates [of 5,000 cases a day by LSHTM] may turn out to be right but, given the consequences if they are wrong, I would be very cautious. 'It's very difficult to say what could happen by Christmas, not least because we now have a new variant that seems to be more transmissible than Delta.' He said: 'However, infections are already at a very high level, far above that when other countries impose greater restrictions. So it's now obvious decisions on restrictions in England are made on political rather than scientific grounds. 'I would be very cautious about making firm arrangements for Christmas.' Professor Stephen Reicher, a member of the independent Scientific Pandemic Insights group SPI-B which feeds into SAGE, told MailOnline making predictions about infection levels is a 'notoriously inaccurate pastime'. Efforts should instead focus on what can be done to bring cases down, he said. Professor Reicher said the key ways of reducing infections are behavioural increasing vaccine uptake, limiting contacts, including by working from home, increasing ventilation and ensuring infected people self-isolate. To do this, 'clear and consistent messaging about the need to bring infections down and how to do so' is needed, he said. 'Now the messaging is all over the place, often inaccurate, and even suggesting that infections don't matter at which point why do anything,' he said. The frame of the discussion also needs to be changed because if 'all Covid measures sound negative' then 'you put people off the sensible interventions' that protect them and increase their choice. He added: 'In other words, the level of infections, hospitalisations and deaths is up to all of us. 'But "all of us" must include the Government providing the information, the protections and the support we need to do the right thing. And they aren't.' Meanwhile, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer today became the latest figure to throw his support behind compulsory face masks and WFH guidance. The Labour leader revealed he was in favour of the measures because it was 'common sense' and they protect 'yourself and everybody else'. Unlike in Wales and Scotland, people in England have not been encouraged to work from home or required wear face masks indoors since all legal Covid restrictions were lifted in July on 'Freedom Day'. Yet Wales is still recording more infections per head than England and Scotland suffered the largest outbreak of any home nation this autumn. Candace Owens has sparked a huge backlash after claiming Alec Baldwin's accidental shooting was 'poetic justice' Candace Owens has sparked a huge backlash after claiming Alec Baldwin's accidental shooting was 'poetic justice' following the actor's criticism of Donald Trump. The conservative pundit, 32, has since deleted her provocative tweets and Instagram posts after criticizing Baldwin over the shooting that killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. Owens wrote: 'Alec Baldwin spent 4 years dedicated to painting Donald Trump and his supporters as evil murderers. 'What has happened to Alec would be an example of poetic justice if it weren't for the actual innocent people that were murdered by him. Pray for their families. So sad.' The right-wing talk show host then added: 'Will correct that last tweet to say Alec Baldwin *killed* someone- not murdered someone, as murder carries a different legal definition. 'Literally not one single thing that Alec Baldwin has said about Donald Trump and his supporters is going to age well.' Conservative pundit Candace Owens, 32, has since deleted her provocative tweets and Instagram posts after criticizing Baldwin over the shooting that killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins The actor, 63, accidentally opened fire on the set of Rust, believing the gun was 'cold' Owens' remarks prompted fury online, with many accusing her of trying to profit politically from the tragic death of Hutchins. One person called the commentator 'spineless' and said the tweets were 'below her'. Another wrote that her response to the tragedy was 'tasteless', saying Baldwin's politics had no bearing on the shooting. Owens' remarks prompted fury online, with many accusing her of trying to profit politically from the tragic death of Hutchins Baldwin, a lifelong Democrat, played Trump on SNL and once referred to the president and his supporters as a 'gallery of monsters'. The 30 Rock star also went on a rant about how Trump was causing a 'moral collapse of the US' and compared him to Adolf Hitler. He wrote after the 2020 election: 'Bury Trump in a Nazi graveyard and put a swastika on his grave. The majority of Americans made the right choice. Trump is a maniac.' His SNL impressions upset the president who blasted in 2019: 'Nothing funny about tired Saturday Night Live on Fake News NBC!' 'Question is, how do the Networks get away with these total Republican hit jobs without retribution? Likewise for many other shows? Very unfair and should be looked into. This is the real Collusion!' Trump was responding to a typically caustic sketch by Baldwin from the previous night during the border emergency. Baldwin joked: 'We have a tremendous amount of drugs flowing into the country from the southern border or the brown line, as many people have asked me not to call it. 'Thats why we need wall. Because wall works. Wall makes safe.' 'We have a tremendous amount of drugs flowing into the country from the southern border or the brown line, as many people have asked me not to call it,' Baldwin said. 'Thats why we need wall. Because wall works. Wall makes safe Owens has previously landed herself in hot water on numerous occasions for her controversial comments. She claimed baselessly that the 2018 mail bombing attempts that targeted prominent Democrats were being orchestrated by leftists, before a Trump supporter was arrested. She deleted her tweets and offered no further explanation. Owens has also pushed antivaxx conspiracy theories and was embroiled in a high-profile spat with rapper Cardi B. The conservative pundit, 32, has since deleted her provocative tweets and Instagram posts after criticizing Baldwin Following the shooting, Baldwin said in a Twitter statement: 'There are no words to convey my shock and sadness regarding the tragic accident that took the life of Halyna Hutchins, a wife, mother and deeply admired colleague of ours. 'I'm fully cooperating with the police investigation to address how this tragedy occurred and I am in touch with her husband, offering my support to him and his family. 'My heart is broken for her husband, their son, and all who knew and loved Halyna.' The actor was reportedly 'hysterical and absolutely inconsolable for hours' after the accidental shooting and is now looking 'to take some time to himself and re-center himself'. Matthew Hutchins tweeted a photo of his wife and their nine-year-old son Andros on Friday captioned: 'Halyna inspired us all with her passion and vision, and her legacy is too meaningful to encapsulate in words. 'Our loss is enormous, and we ask that the media please respect my family's privacy as we process our grief. We thank everyone for sharing images and stories of her life.' Half of Afghanistan's population does not have enough food to get through the winter, the UN has warned, with children already starving to death as women sell their offspring just to make ends meet. The World Food Programme says 23million Afghans risk acute malnutrition and death in the coming months with a million children at risk of dying 'without immediate treatment'. Millions of dollars will be needed over the coming months to avert a worst-case scenario, the WFP said, but cash is being withheld by governments who are fearful that donations will be plundered by the Taliban. The warning comes just a day after eight orphans were reported to have starved to death in Kabul, and a week after mothers in the city of Herat revealed they are selling their children to pay off loans they took out to buy food. 'Hunger is rising and children are dying.' WFP director David Beasley said. 'We are on a countdown to catastrophe and if we dont act now, we will have a total disaster on our hands.' 23 million people in Afghanistan are facing malnutrition and possible starvation this winter as food supplies run desperately low, the UN has warned (file image) Afghanistan - an impoverished country devastated by decades of conflict and rampant corruption - was dependent on overseas aid for some 40 per cent of its GDP even whilst it was ruled by a government propped up by the West. But the Covid pandemic, drought, and the near-overnight collapse of its government and subsequent Taliban take-over has dramatically worsened the situation, with the country now on the verge of economic meltdown. The value of its currency has plunged even as food prices have soared while aid has stopped - with workers going unpaid, businesses shut and families forced to flog off everything they own just to survive. Underlining the severity of the situation, eight children were reported to have starved to death in the capital of Kabul this week. Mohammad Ali Bamiyani, preacher of a nearby mosque, told journalists that the siblings had been orphaned in recent months after their father died of cancer and mother perished of a heart condition. Speaking of the moment he entered the family's home, he said: 'All eight children were dead. It was clear that they had starved. 'The children were so hungry that they could not even stretch their legs.' Meanwhile a woman who gave her name only as Saleha said she is facing the prospect of giving one of her children to a loanshark she borrowed money from in a desperate attempt to keep her family fed. Saleha, 40, borrowed the money after fighting forced her and her much-older husband off farmland they had cultivated in Badghis province which they hoped to pay back after finding work elsewhere. Now in the city of Herat, she makes just 70 cents per day cleaning houses and has no hope of repaying the $550 loan. Last month, the loan shark offered to write off the debt if she hands over her three-year-old daughter Najiba. 'If life continues to be this awful, I will kill my children and myself,' Saleha told the Wall Street Journal. 'I don't even know what we will eat tonight.' The UN says $220million-per-month in funding 'may' be needed to avert crisis, but world leaders are hesitant to hand over money to the Taliban Meanwhile a Save the Children report warned that families are 'selling what little they have to buy food, sending their children to work or getting by on bread alone.' According to Mr Beasley, Afghanistan is now 'among the worlds worst humanitarian crises - if not the worst. The WFP warns that levels of poverty which were once limited to Afghanistan's rural regions are now hitting big cities, all of which face food shortages this winter. 'Rampant unemployment and the liquidity crisis mean that all major urban centres are projected to face... food insecurity, including formerly middle-class populations,' today's report says. Meanwhile the country's harsh winter is threatening to 'cut off' rural areas where 7.3million people are dependent on food aid after farms were hit by drought. The WFP is now urgently appealing for funds, warning some $220million-per-month may be needed to keep everyone fed. Another $211million will be needed to help rural areas hit by drought, it said. World leaders have pledged some $1billion in aid for Afghanistan but are struggling to work out how to get it into the country without it being pilfered by the Taliban. Alex Zerden, a former Treasury Department official and fellow at the Center for a New American Security, warned CNBC last month that the potential for corruption within Taliban ranks is 'huge'. A quarter of Afghanistan's banks are state-owned, he said, along with the national bank which would typically be used to move large volumes of cash around. 'The Taliban control customs, they control taxation. They were in the extortion business a month ago [and] I don't think they're going to change,' he said. Even before the Taliban take-over of Afghanistan, the country relied on aid for 40 per cent of its GDP and the need has only increased since (file image) Countries may be tempted to give the money direct to aid agencies, but they are unlikely to be set up to receive such large sums, Zerden added. Andreas Krieg, an associate professor at King's College London, warned that humanitarian funds will inevitably 'get into the wrong hands' in developing nations run by regimes such as the Taliban. But he said that should not be used to justify cutting the regime off entirely, because 'that will undermine any effort to reign the Taliban in and moderate them.' World leaders did raise some $1billion in UN funding for aid efforts in Afghanistan last month, but must now work out how to get it into the country while bypassing the new government. The World Food Programme has sought to reassure donors, saying there are 'robust monitoring systems in place' to make sure aid does not fall into the wrong hands. 'We conduct routine monitoring activities to ensure accountability and improve the quality of our programmes,' a statement added. Earlier this month, the Taliban insisted that the US has committed to handing over humanitarian aid after a meeting with senior officials. But an American statement put out after the same meeting was more ambiguous, saying only that the two sides 'discussed the United States' provision of robust humanitarian assistance, directly to the Afghan people.' Congress has been debating how to help the Afghan population since the government collapsed in August, in a way which does not prop up the Taliban. Republican aides said at the time that any funding would be conditional on all US citizens and contractors being allowed to safely leave the country, and on strict oversight of where money is going and how it is being used. A barrister who groped a colleague's breasts during a night out and then asked her to lie to help him cover his tracks with his fiancee has been kicked out of the profession. Kevin Farquharson, 45, sexually assaulted the woman inside a photo booth in a bar in Bristol city centre in the early hours of September 28, 2019. The woman, in her twenties and referred to as A, asked him 'what the f***' he was doing,' but he repeatedly grabbed her breasts and buttocks on the dancefloor. Farquharson ignored her desperate efforts to fight him off, touched her crotch, pinned her arms down and tried to force her to kiss him, the Bar Tribunal and Adjudication Service heard. After he eventually stumbled back home at 4am, Farquharson was confronted by his 'furious' partner, demanding to know what he had been up to. The following evening, he sent the woman a text saying 'Would you help me by responding to my text tomorrow by simply stating, "We lost sight of you at about 1:45. You left after you had a run in with one of the bouncers. I hope you are feeling ok.''' Barrister Kevin Farquharson, 45, has been disbarred after sexually assaulting a younger female colleague during a night out in Bristol in 2019 Farquharson, 45,was disbarred after a hearing at the Bar Tribunal and Adjudication Service, located in Gray's Inn, London, heard he sexually assaulted a colleague on a night out The woman's ordeal only came to an end when staff at the bar stepped in to remove him as the woman hid in the bathroom. Farquharson was given a two-month suspended sentence after admitting sexual assault in court, ordered to pay the woman 1,800 in compensation and put on the sexual offenders' register for seven years. Mark Ruffell, for the Bar Standards Board, said: 'This is a sad case from start to finish. 'On the one hand, we have a young lady who was great friends with the respondent, no doubt saw him most days in a professional context, and it is fair to say they were friends. 'For good reasons, as people do, they decided to go out, let their hair down on the evening and then sadly through drink the events took place.' The tribunal heard that Farquharson had been out for dinner and drinks with some work colleagues ,when he decided to cancel his pre-booked cab and instead moved on to Kongs Bar in the city's upmarket King Street with his young colleague. The assault took place during a night out in Kongs bar in Bristol city centre 'The real question was what was going on in his head at that point, because as far as we can see that is the point where things tipped off the rail,' said Mr Ruffell. 'We would suggest it was because he was taking a keen interest on A, all of which started to manifest itself from that point on.' He put his hands on the woman's breasts while they were taking some pictures in a photobooth. 'She says 'what the f**** are you doing', which you might consider a spot on thing to say from the woman to a man she considered a friend and work colleague going straight over the boundaries,' said Mr Ruffell. After she walked away from him, he accosted her on the dance floor and touched her bottom and breasts of several occasions. Farquharson ignored her pleas for him to stop, including her loudly telling him he was sexually assaulting her. The panel heard that at one point Farquharson pinned her arms to her side and demanded that she kiss him. 'She went to the bar and he went against her back at the bar, touching her vaginal area over her clothes. 'She had to wriggle free,' said Mr Ruffell. The bartender eventually advised her to take shelter in the toilets as the bouncers removed the lawyer. Despite her ordeal, the woman declined the bar staff's offers to get police involved not wanting to get her colleague in trouble. Referring to her victim impact statement, Mr Ruffell said: 'She is effectively saying she was traumatised due to the perseverance and the fact that he didn't appear to take no for an answer, since it was only after the interference of others events came to an end.' Later that weekend, he texted a senior colleague, asking him to claim he was with him when the bouncer arrived, should Farquharson's partner call him. Farquharson admitted sending the two messages but denied them being professional misconduct, saying his judgement was impaired due to his mental health. The panel was told Farquharson was diagnosed with reactive attachment disorder and post traumatic stress disorder due to experiences in his childhood. He told the panel the woman had briefly informed him of his actions in a conversation the morning after the events, but he had not realised the full extent of what he had done. Representing himself, he said: 'I was pretty overwhelmed. At that point I did not know Ms A was upset, but I was pretty upset. 'She had not expressed to me she was upset, it was a revelation to me what she had said. I was in in a very poor state of mind because of the fear of losing my family.' He told the panel that due to his medical diagnoses, he was told by therapists he was in a 'compromised' state mind and 'not able to think rationally'. 'I spoke to Ms A and my whole mind exploded when she said to me what she said to me,' said Farquharson, who was called to the Bar in 2011. 'It is incredible, absolutely incredible to hear, absolutely terrifying to contemplate what could happen with my family.' He admitted he asked A to give a 'partial account' in the scripted message he asked her to send but said it was not meant to deliberately lie about the incident. 'It was a confirmation of the time I had left and I had not left with her, and that is what she did in response,' said Farquharson. The disgraced barrister burst into tears as he told the panel he had always tried to be a good person and the incident was 'out of character' for him. 'I am still two years later in shock,' he said. 'I am absolutely devastated to have upset Ms A the way I upset her and the profession that gave me the opportunity to get somewhere I would never get because of my background.' Tribunal chair, Judge Witold Pawlak found all the charges proved and ordered Farquharson be disbarred. He said: 'Our decision is that the sanction on the three charges should be disbarment on each, that the costs should be paid in full, namely the amount of 2,100 with 28 days to pay.' Dressed in a navy suit, Farquharson buried his head in his hands and broke down as the decision was announced. Shocking video has emerged of a FreeNow driver being attacked by a hooded gang during an alleged gunpoint robbery in London. Dash-cam footage shows the four-strong group getting into the private hire vehicle before launching an attack on the driver after a row over the number of passengers. One member of the group is seen in the video punching the driver in the face while another grabs at him and pulls him out of the car. Moments later a member of the gang is seen jumping into the front seat of the vehicle. The video then ends. Police say three teenagers have been charged with robbery following the incident, which took place in the Ladbroke Grove area of west London on Sunday, October 17. Shocking video has emerged of a FreeNow driver being attacked by a hooded gang during an alleged gunpoint robbery in London Dash-cam footage shows the four-strong group getting into the private hire vehicle before launching an attack on the driver after a row over the number of passengers One member of the group is seen in the video punching the driver in the face while another grabs at him and pulls him out of the car What is FreeNow? FreeNow is a German ride hailing app aiming to challenge Uber. It was launched in 2019 as joint venture between BMW and Daimler Mobility. However, the company has part of its roots in Britain, back in 2011, with a company called Hailo. Hailo, best known for its bright yellow taxis. The company was launched by Daimler's MyTaxi in 2016. And MyTaxi was later rebranded in 2019 to FreeNow. Like Uber and Bolt, users can order a cab - as well as a scooter - through a mobile app. It is estimated to have around 10 million users and currently operates in 100 European cities, including Madrid, Berlin, Dublin, Paris, Milan and London. It also operates in other UK cities such as Brighton, Manchester, Oxford, Nottingham and Reading. Advertisement Video shows three members of the group getting into the back of the vehicle after arriving at Southern Row, off Kensal Road, around 11.35pm. The group are heard urging the driver to allow a fourth member of the group into the private-hire vehicle. One hooded male is heard saying: 'I want four of us in the car. If I can't get four of us in the car I'm going to get angry. All my friends are coming in bro.' The video shows the same member then grabbing the driver around the neck before punching him. Another member of the group is seen opening the driver's door before the driver is pulled out of the vehicle. The dash-cam footage then shows a hooded man sitting in the driver's seat. The driver, who reported the incident to the police, claimed to officers he was threatened with a gun by the group. He was not injured during the incident, police say. Scotland Yard has launched an investigation and have now charged three people in relation to the incident. Police say three teenagers, two aged 17 and one aged 15, have been charged with robbery and attempted robbery. The teenagers, who cannot be named for legal reasons, have been kept in custody ahead of an appearance at Highbury Corner Magistrates' Court today. A Metropolitan Police spokesperson told MailOnline: 'Three people have been charged following an alleged gunpoint robbery 'The incident happened at about 11:35hrs on Sunday, 17 October at Southern Row, London, W10. 'A taxi driver reported that four people had threatened him with a gun and stolen his car. The victim was not injured in the incident. 'Following an investigation by detectives from the Central West Command Unit three teenagers, two aged 17 and one aged 15, were charged with robbery and attempted robbery on Sunday, 24 October, 'All three have been kept in custody to appear at Highbury Corner Magistrates' Court on Monday, 25 October. Enquiries continue.' A FreeNow spokesperson told MailOnline: 'The safety of all drivers and passengers when using the FreeNow app is a fundamental priority for us. 'We are aware of this particular incident and are fully supporting the police investigation. 'We take matters like this seriously so when notified of what happened we reported it to the police shortly after this incident took place. 'As we have a zero tolerance policy towards customers abusing or assaulting drivers we have taken the additional measure of blocking not only the accounts linked to this incident but also the devices.' Have YOU been forced to go to A&E because you can't see your GP? Email connor.boyd@mailonline.co.uk or ring 020 361 50537 Advertisement Dr Jonathan Griffiths, a GP in Winsford, Cheshire, blamed Britons' 'Amazon Prime mentality' for a surge in demand for NHS care A prominent GP today blamed Britons' 'Amazon Prime mentality' for a surge in demand for emergency NHS care. Dr Jonathan Griffiths said an increasing number of patients were turning up at A&E with non-urgent symptoms that could be managed by a GP. He likened the situation to Amazon's same-day delivery service, adding that people had 'high expectations' and an 'inability to wait for anything'. But patients have reported struggling to get a timely face-to-face appointment with their doctor during the pandemic, even as surgeries bounce back from lockdown. Dr Griffiths, a GP in Winsford, Cheshire, made the comments in a blog post about the current pressures on the NHS, and emergency departments in particular. He wrote: 'We talked about the "Amazon Prime" mentality that we all now have high expectations and inability to wait for anything. 'There are significant numbers of people aged 30-50 presenting to the ED with undifferentiated symptoms that are possibly better managed by GPs. 'These individuals do not want to wait for GP assessment and want everything investigated and sorted in one trip. He added: 'By and large, they have nothing wrong with them and should never have been there in the first place.' It comes amid a furious row over a lack of in-person GP appointments, with family doctors threatening industrial action over the Government's plan to name and shame the worst performers. In his most recent blog entry on Sunday, titled 'The Emergency Department', Dr Griffiths reflected on a chat with an ED consultant. The number of GP appointments taking place face-to-face tumbled at the start of the pandemic when surgeries were told to see patients remotely where possible. But despite the country largely returning to normal, in-person visits are yet to climb back to pre-pandemic levels. The above graph shows the number of face-to-face GP appointments (red line) by month since the end of 2019 A total of 52 per cent of consultations in July were with an actual doctor, with the rest carried out by other healthcare staff, such as nurses, pharmacy assistants, and even acupuncturists Dr Griffiths, a GP at Swanlow Surgery (pictured) in Winsford, Cheshire, made the comments in a blog post about the current pressures on the NHS, and emergency departments in particular He wrote: 'In our conversation we were both concerned that people seem to be less able to self-manage minor illness and seem to be presenting at earlier stages. 'This is certainly true in General Practice where we are seeing patients seeking help after a few hours of a sore throat or cough. 'It seems a proportion of these patients are also heading to the ED.' Charities have previously warned that cancers, diabetes and other diseases have been made worse during the pandemic because so few people came forward for care in lockdowns. Dr Griffiths, who had a five-minute Zoom chat with Prince William earlier this year about Covid vaccines, acknowledged this in his most recent post. Sajid Javid hints 100,000 unvaccinated NHS staff could be FIRED Unvaccinated NHS staff are set to be told to get their Covid jabs or lose their jobs under plans being considered by the Government. Some 100,000 healthcare workers or seven per cent are still yet to show up for their first dose in England. But Health Secretary Sajid Javid said bringing in compulsory jabs was the 'clear direction of travel' despite fears staff could quit the health service at a critical time. When asked if the plans could come in this winter, Mr Javid told Sky News: 'Im leaning towards doing it.' He said those who had failed to get the jab were putting seriously ill patients in harm's way. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said forcing vaccination on medics was a mistake, warning it could exacerbate staffing shortages among doctors and nurses. The 'no jab, no job' policy is already in care homes and staff working in elderly residences must be jabbed by November 11. Care bosses have warned many homes will be forced to close because they won't be able to find enough vaccinated workers. The vaccines dramatically reduce a person's risk of being hospitalised or dying from Covid, but they are slightly less effective at stopping transmission. Advertisement 'During the first wave of the Covid pandemic, numbers attending [ED] dropped significantly, but numbers have been slowly rising since then and now are higher than ever. 'We cannot escape the fact that there has been an increase in numbers of patients attending who would usually have been expected to have been managed in Primary Care.' Dr Griffiths said there were 'multiple factors' at play, including GPs and administrative staff at surgeries advising patients go to A&E because they are too busy. He wrote: 'Some patients are saying that they are being told to go to the ED by their GP. My consultant colleague is aware that this is not necessarily always the case. 'Some people may have been advised this. Of those who have, some of those may have been advised to do so by reception staff, some by clinicians. 'Some of those recommendations will have been appropriate, others may appear less so but always we need to remember context and it is hard to know what may have been happening in the surgery at that time understaffed, overwhelmed by demand who knows?' He added: 'Sometimes GPs are sending patients to the ED rather than direct to a more appropriate speciality. 'I dont believe GPs really want to do this, but it can sometimes be tricky to know what to do when there are barriers to doing the right thing. 'When GPs find it hard to get their patient seen by the appropriate speciality they will, sometimes, just send them to the ED.' It comes as unvaccinated NHS staff are set to be told to get their Covid jabs or lose their jobs under plans being considered by the Government. Some 100,000 healthcare workers or seven per cent are still yet to show up for their first dose in England. But Health Secretary Sajid Javid said bringing in compulsory jabs was the 'clear direction of travel' despite fears staff could quit the health service at a critical time. When asked if the plans could come in this winter, Mr Javid told Sky News: 'Im leaning towards doing it.' He said those who had failed to get the jab were putting seriously ill patients in harm's way. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said forcing vaccination on medics was a mistake, warning it could exacerbate staffing shortages among doctors and nurses. Patients England over the past week have shared their struggles trying to get GP appointments. Rachel Powell tweeted that after a week of trying 'quite hard' to get her 78-year-old mother a GP appointment, she dropped her off at A&E on Thursday and medics decided to admit her to hospital. Andrew Shaw said his GP surgery is 'hopeless' after medics 'wouldn't see' his 86-year-old father with dementia and an infected leg. He eventually turned to a private doctor, who prescribed him antibiotics and cost 98. Meanwhile, Vicky Newman tweeted that she had to go to A&E on Thursday after suffering from endometriosis and being unable to get through to her GP. And Teagan Allen said she spent 'literally hours' on the phone with her GP surgery last week trying to get an appointment but was told none were available and to go to A&E. Advertisement Family and friends have visited the makeshift memorial where two 16-year-old boys were 'stabbed to death' in Essex on Sunday morning. The Mayor of Brentwood, Ms Olivia Sanders, also arrived at the site to lay flowers with the message 'From the residents of the Borough of Brentwood'. Eight men - including two aged 40 and 49 - have been arrested on suspicion of murder and are still being held by detectives. Scared locals warned police about violence and anti-social behaviour near the Essex scene where the 16-year-olds were stabbed to death. Police said officers found three people injured after receiving a number of calls to Regency Court, Brentwood, at about 1.30am on Sunday. Two of those have since died while the third was treated for non-life threatening injuries, the force added. Family and friends have visited the makeshift memorial where two 16-year-old boys were 'stabbed to death' in Essex on Sunday morning The Mayor of Brentwood, Ms Olivia Sanders, also arrived at the site to lay flowers with the message 'From the residents of the Borough of Brentwood' Police conduct a fingertip search where two teenage boys died from stab wounds in the early hours of Sunday morning at Regency Court, Brentwood in Essex A neighbour at the scene said he heard shouts and someone 'yelling out in pain' from the scene of the suspected double murder, and claimed he tried to warn police about anti-social behaviour weeks earlier. 'There's constant anti-social behaviour, drinking, drugs, shouting, fighting,' Mark MacIntosh told reporters. 'I've heard people saying ''I'm going to kill him'' up there. 'I've come down and broken up a knife fight down at the bottom here before. 'I realise that what I heard was somebody yelling out in pain who may have lost his life shortly thereafter. Police said officers found three people injured after receiving a number of calls to Regency Court, Brentwood, at about 1.30am on Sunday Eight men - including two aged 40 and 49 - have been arrested on suspicion of murder and are still being held by detectives Scared locals warned police about violence and anti-social behaviour near the Essex scene where the 16-year-olds were stabbed to death He claimed the area had been dealing with problems which stemmed from a multi-storey car park that overlooks the scene. Police said they were 'working to establish how the boys died' and post-mortem examinations would take place. It is understood that the teenagers suffered suspected stab wounds. Detective Superintendent Stephen Jennings said there was an altercation between 'two groups' who 'knew each other'. The murder scene was still taped off today as police continued their meticulous investigation Officers lined up to scour the road and pavement for clues, not matter how small they could be Two teenagers sadly died at the scene near Regency Court in Brentwood, Essex, while one other victim was taken to hospital with stab wounds Emergency services attended the scene en-masse after receiving a number of calls from the public at around 1.30am yesterday morning A forensics tent was erected at the spot where the tragedy occurred as officers continue to gather evidence A forensic officer at Regency Court in Brentwood, Essex, where two teenage boys died in the early hours of Sunday morning Police said officers found three people injured after receiving a number of calls to Regency Court, Brentwood, at about 1.30am on Sunday. Two of those have since died while the third was treated for non-life threatening injuries, the force added Mr MacIntosh said he had warned police that something bad would happen if they did not arrange 'constant patrols' of the area. 'I phoned the police three weeks ago and told them you need to make constant patrols around here, because something bad is going to happen soon.' He told reporters that he had only just arrived home when he heard shouting and screaming coming from the nearby residence. 'I came home last night, I came in five minutes before I heard the shouts and screams. I said ''should I go down?'' as I usually do if I think there's something serious but I couldn't hear.' Mr MacIntosh said he then paced around his flat wondering what he should do. 'Now, as I reflect, I realise that what I heard was somebody yelling out in pain who may have lost his life shortly thereafter.' Another resident from South Street, who asked not to be named, said their thoughts are with the loved ones affected. They told Essex Live: 'You feel for the family - some poor mother has had her world destroyed. We have always had noise and what-not from the clubs and kids coming up and down but I wouldn't expect this. 'I feel sorry for the people, their parents and their families. Some poor mother has a broken heart today.' The Conservative MP for Brentwood and Ongar, Alex Burghart, said the community is in a 'state of shock'. Left: Detective Superintendent Stephen Jennings speaks to the media outside Brentwood Town Hall in Essex. Right: A police officer and sniffer dog at Regency Court A forensic officer at Regency Court in Brentwood, Essex, where two teenage boys died in the early hours of Sunday morning Forensic examiners have remained in place throughout the day and are still combing for evidence The street remains closed to traffic and pedestrians, except residents of the building nearby Speaking today, he said: 'Incidents like these are quite rare in our town and to have two boys killed in one night has left us very upset. 'I completely understand people will be shaken by this but I hope they take some reassurance that police believe it is an isolated incident and will be providing enhanced police presence in the coming days. 'There are no words I can say to make this better but my deepest condolences go out to families affected and I know everyone in Brentwood will be wanting to send their sympathies as well.' A blue tent has been erected at the site and police tape was put around it to block off public access. A group of mourners also arrived at the scene this afternoon. They were allowed through the police cordon to leave flowers outside. One teenage girl burst into tears as they approached the scene. Another mourner refused to speak to the press saying: 'I don't know anything.' An Essex Police spokesman said: 'We received a number of calls to Regency Court, including from colleagues in the ambulance service, at about 1.30am. Two forensic officers are spotted in the street, close to the spot where the violence occured A police guard remains in place at the scene in Brentwood, Essex, after two teenage boys died A blue tent was erected nearby and police tape was pulled across the site to block off public access Brentwood is an affluent part of Essex, where many scenes of ITV's hit reality series TOWIE (The Only Way is Essex) are filmed 'We arrived and found three people had been injured. 'Despite the efforts of medics, two of that group have now died. Their families are being supported by specialist officers. 'We are working to establish how the boys died and a forensic post-mortem examination will be carried out. 'The third victim was treated for injuries which are neither life-threatening nor life-changing.' Detective Chief Inspector Andy Clarkson, of the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate, led the investigation through the night. He said: 'This incident has required an immediate and a large-scale response and officers and investigators have worked through the night to piece together what happened in the lead up to this tragic incident. 'Our investigations will continue throughout today. A forensic officer at the scene of the tragedy Officers are patrolling the area to provide reassurance to anxious residents following the outbreak of violence in the early hours of this morning 'We understand there will naturally be shock and concern within the community after such a tragic loss of life. 'But, at this stage, we do not believe there is any wider threat to the public. 'We know there were a number of witnesses to this incident and I would urge anyone who saw anything in Regency Court and the roads around it in central Brentwood between 1am and 2am to come forward and speak to us if you have not already done so.' Chief Inspector Mark Barber added: 'There will continue to be a highly visible police presence in Brentwood this morning and indeed throughout the day. 'I am acutely aware that this incident will shock many without the community. My officers will be there throughout the day - they will be there to reassure you and keep you safe. If you have any concerns or information on the incident then, please, do not hesitate to come forward and speak to them.' Anyone who witnessed the incident or who has information should call Essex Police on 101 or report online, quoting incident 125 of October 24. The Russia-based agency behind last year's massive SolarWinds cyberattack has tried to hack another 140 tech companies, its latest intrusion into US cyber infrastructure just months after the US expelled 10 diplomats over the last hack. Microsoft says that Nobelium's latest hack targeted 'resellers and other technology service providers that customize, deploy and manage cloud services.' Fourteen firms successfully had their defenses breached, although they haven't been named, and further information on the nature of the hacks have not been shared. The goal of Nobelium, which is widely-believed to be working for Russia's SVR intelligence agency, is to impersonate the technology companies and gain access to their downstream customers, Microsoft said in a blog post Monday. The move would target any company that uses the products and services of the companies that were attacked. In April, President Joe Biden expelled 10 Russian diplomats and sanctioned six companies after accusing the country of ordering last year's SolarWinds hacks. The president announced at the time that he'd backed off imposing harsher sanctions on Russia because he wanted to 'de-escalate' tensions with Vladimir Putin. Microsoft said Monday that it's discovered a new round of hacks from Russia-backed Nobelium that targeted 140 cloud-computing companies in hopes of accessing their customers' data Nobelium is believed to be working with Russia's SVR agency, the successor to the KGB, whose Moscow headquarters is pictured In April, President Joe Biden expelled 10 Russian diplomats from the US and sanctioned six companies after last year's SolarWinds hack, which exposed nine US federal agencies 'I was clear with President Putin that we could have gone further, but I chose not to do so,' Biden said after calling the Russian president, according to the Associated Press. 'Now is the time to de-escalate.' The sanctions barred US banks from buying Russian bonds from the Russian Central Bank, Russian National Wealth Fund and Finance Ministry, making it difficult for the country to raise money. They sanctions package also included 32 sanctions on individuals believed to have worked with Russia to turn last years presidential election for Donald Trump. Beginning in March 2020, Nobelium used the system management company SolarWinds, which runs the Orion platform, to gain access to the networks of Intel and Belkin and government agencies like the Treasury and Homeland Security departments, among other entities. Russia has denied all involvement. The latest attacks into different tech companies were part of a broader campaign over the summer, Microsoft said, adding it had notified 609 customers between July 1 and October 19 that they had been attacked. Biden says he told President Vladimir Putin of Russia that 'we could have gone further, but I chose not to do so.' Russia has denied all involvement in the SolarWinds hack The hack of SolarWinds, which runs IT management system Orion, hurt an estimated 18,000 SolarWinds customers who downloaded compromised software updates Only 14 of the resellers and service providers have been compromised in this latest round, Microsoft said as it continues to investigate the scope of the breach. US cybersecurity officials could not be immediately reached to confirm the report. US officials confirmed to the New York Times that the operation was underway. One unnamed senior administration official called it an 'unsophisticated, run-of-the mill operations that could have been prevented if the cloud service providers had implemented baseline cybersecurity practices.' Nobelium did not appear to exploit any software vulnerabilities and instead focused on a tried-and-true method of stealing legitimate login credentials to privileged access, Microsoft notes. In its blog post, Microsoft wrote: 'This recent activity is another indicator that Russia is trying to gain long-term, systematic access to a variety of points in the technology supply chain and establish a mechanism for surveilling - now or in the future - targets of interest to the Russian government.' The SolarWinds attack hurt an estimated 18,000 SolarWinds customers who downloaded compromised software updates. The updates allowed the alleged Russian hackers to access their servers, though the explicit intent of the breaches is not yet known. Washington-based Microsoft says the latest breach was not sophisticated and that it appeared to steal legitimate login credentials to gain access to the tech companies The breach went on to expose the information of at least nine US federal agencies. Chad Wolf, the acting head of the Department of Homeland Security during the Trump administration, had his emails accessed. A second cabinet member, Dan Brouillette of the Energy Department, had his schedules compromised. 'The SolarWinds hack was a victory for our foreign adversaries, and a failure for DHS,' said Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio, the top Republican on the Senate's Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, earlier this year. 'We are talking about DHS's crown jewels.' Microsoft says it has worked with companies that use its cloud services to prevent future attacks. In September 2020, the Redmond, Washington-based company said it updated its customer contracts to expand Microsoft's ability to address security breaches. It also required companies to use protections like multi-factor authentication when accessing their products, which are used by business to do everything from accounting to in-office communication. In February of this year, Sen. Ron Wyden criticized Microsoft for knowing about the vulnerabilities and not acting soon enough. 'The federal government spends billions on Microsoft software,' Wyden told Reuters ahead of a SolarWinds hearing in the House of Representatives. 'It should be cautious about spending any more before we find out why the company didnt warn the government about the hacking technique that the Russians used, which Microsoft had known about since at least 2017,' he said. CBS Evening News' Norah O'Donnell is reportedly at risk of losing her $8-million-a-year job as head anchor at 'CBS Evening News,' as the network's top brass look to replace her due to lackluster ratings and rumored diva-like behavior. O'Donnell, 47, has helmed the hallowed broadcast since December 2019, after she was plucked from the network's morning fixture, CBS This Morning, earlier that year, due to a rumored spat with then co-anchor Gayle King. Now, however, after not even two years in the prime time hot seat, execs want O'Donnell - who earns approximately $8 million a year and has one year left on her contract - out, reportedly tired of her over-the-top demands and failure to make the needle move in regards to ratings, the New York Post learned. Currently, the show sits in third place out of the notable evening news broadcasts - well behind ABC World News Tonight with David Muir and NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt. CBS Evening News' Norah O'Donnell is reportedly at risk of losing her $8-million-a-year job as head anchor at 'CBS Evening News,' as the network's top brass look to replace her due to lackluster ratings and rumored diva-like behavior O'Donnell's salary is set to expire next spring, and, according to the New York Post, insiders say that execs are not happy with the return the newscaster has offered the network so far, after moving the broadcast to Washington, D.C., from New York City to accommodate O'Donnell and her family, who live in the nation's capital. What's more, according to the paper, CBS president and co-head Neeraj Khemlani is not only looking to replace O'Donnell, but to bring the show back to New York. CBS president and co-head Neeraj Khemlani is not only looking to replace O'Donnell, but to bring CBS Evening News back to New York With that in mind, the former Hearst exec, who assumed his current role at the top of the company along with former ABC exec Wendy McMahon back in May, has been working with an array of consultants to root out the network's dead wood following the 2019 merger of CBS and Viacom, and has honed in on the underperforming O'Donnell, the sources revealed. 'Neeraj is charged with bringing down costs and boosting profits and he does not understand why the Evening News is in DC,' an insider told the Post. The insiders further revealed to the Post that O'Donnell has alienated her Evening News colleagues with diva-like behavior. The Post reported that the anchor, who has worked at the network for more than a decade, has been deemed 'divisive' and 'toxic' by her coworkers, and treats hair, makeup and wardrobe staff, in particular, with clear contempt. The CBS talking head also reportedly rubbed execs and staffers the wrong way after demanding designer threads for broadcasts during the pandemic, serving as a stark contrast to the dire subjects the anchor was reporting on. CBS Evening News did not respond to DailyMail.com's request for comment as of publication. Two 11-year-old 'porn addicts' have been arrested in India after they allegedly stoned a six-year-old girl to death for refusing to perform sex acts they had watched on their parents' phones. The juveniles allegedly became porn addicts while attending school classes online via their parents' phones, as they were able to access adult content and became obsessed with what they saw. The six-year-old girl, a neighbour of her attackers, was found unconscious close to her house in Kaliabor, in the Indian state of Assam on October 18 and was rushed to hospital, but was later pronounced dead. Authorities arrested the two juveniles on Wednesday last week, along with another eight-year-old who is thought to have helped the children murder the young girl. All three juveniles have been sent to the Jorhat juvenile correctional facility awaiting trial, as children are seen as having criminal responsibility from the age of seven in India. It comes after a report by the Indo-Asian News Service (IANS) found that India was the world's largest consumer of porn via smartphones in 2019. This pic shows the children accused of the crime being quizzed by a police officer after the six-year-old girl was found beaten to death with a rock The six-year-old girl, a neighbour of her attackers, was found unconscious close to her house in Kaliabor, in the Indian state of Assam on October 18 and was rushed to hospital, but was later pronounced dead (pictured: police examining the area around the crime scene) Kaliabor police officer Mrinmoy Das provided a statement shortly after the arrests. Two of the boys first tried to replicate the pornographic acts they had been watching and tried to molest the neighbour's girl. 'When she resisted they hit her head with a stone and carried her to a toilet where they hit her again with a stone on her chest. The third child stood guard outside the toilet.' Porn website Pornhub.com reported that India was the third-largest consumer of porn in the world in 2017-2018, before the Indian government introduced a blanket ban on the website and 800 other adult content platforms in late 2018. Despite this, the IANS report found that India was the world's largest consumer of porn via smartphones in 2019, while data released by Pornhub last year showed that traffic to the website from India jumped by 95 percent during the first three weeks of coronavirus lockdown in March. Though the government's ban on the website still exists, users are still able to access content using virtual private network (VPN) services to hide their browsing location. According to a report by Top10VPN in November 2019, the number of downloads of VPNs in India increased by 405 percent in a year since October 2018. Police are led to the scene of the crime by members of the community in Kaliabor, where the young girl was found in critical condition on October 18 The statistics are emblematic of growing concerns around porn addiction in India according to several experts, who are calling for a more developed sex education programme in the country with the world's largest youth population. Dr Samir Parikh, director of mental health and behavioural sciences at Fortis Hospital in New Delhi, said: 'Children need to learn to critically evaluate whatever messages they receive, understand the motives and, most importantly, distinguish what is real from fiction.' Meanwhile, Dr Sameer Malhotra, director of the department of mental health and behavioural sciences at Max Super Speciality Hospital in New Delhi, believes that young people are particularly prone to developing porn addiction as their behaviour during their developmental years is often more compulsive. 'Excessive porn viewing could be reflective of compulsive traits and behaviours in an individual. 'Age appropriate and sensitively handled sex education can help in preventing risky behaviour, addressing myths associated with sexual issues,' Dr Malhotra said. Advertisement Whistleblower's key quotes at today's bombshell hearing BULLYING 'FOLLOWS KIDS HOME' Ms Haugen said: 'Facebook's own research says now the bullying follows them home. It goes into their bedrooms,' she said. 'The last thing they see at night is someone being cruel to them, the first thing they see in the morning is a hateful statement.' FIRM 'WANTS TO ''HOOK'' YOUNGER USERS' 'Facebook could make a huge dent on this if they wanted to and they don't because they know that young users are the future of the platform. The earlier they get them, the more likely they'll get them hooked.' CHILDREN 'ADDICTED' 'When kids describe their usage of Instagram, Facebook's own research describes it as ''an addict's narrative''. The kids say 'this makes me unhappy, I don't have the ability to control my usage of it, and I feel if I left it would make me ostracised'.' 'HURTING MOST VULNERABLE' 'I am deeply concerned that they have made a product that can lead people away from their real communities and isolate them in these rabbit holes and these filter bubbles. What you find is that when people are sent targeted misinformation to a community it can make it hard to reintegrate into wider society because now you don't have shared facts'. ''UNQUESTIONABLY' MAKING HATE WORSE' 'We didn't invent hate, we didn't invent ethnic violence. And that is not the question. The question is what is Facebook doing to amplify or expand hate ... or ethnic violence?' 'VERY GOOD AT DANCING WITH DATA' 'Part of why I came forward is that I am extremely worried about the condition of our societies ... and of the interaction of the choices that Facebook has made and how it plays out more broadly... it is very good at dancing with data.' FACEBOOK 'LIKE AN OIL SPILL' 'When we see something like an oil spill, that oil spill doesn't make it harder for a society to regulate oil companies. But right now the failures of Facebook are making it harder for us to regulate Facebook.' ANGER AND HATE 'EASIEST WAY TO GROW' 'Anger and hate is the easiest way to grow on Facebook. We are literally subsidising hate on these platforms. It is substantially cheaper to run an angry hateful divisive ad than it is to run a compassionate, empathetic ad.' 'NEGLIGENT BUT NOT MALEVOLENT' 'Facebook believes in a world of flatness which hides the difference, like (that) children are not adults. They believe in flatness, won't accept the consequences of their actions and, so, I think that is negligence and ignorance, but I can't see into their hearts, so I don't want to consider it malevolent.' Advertisement Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen today issued a stark warning to parents that Instagram 'may never be safe for 14-year-olds' as she said the tech giant's own research found children are turning to addicts and bullying was 'following them into their bedrooms'. The former employee said Facebook knew Instagram is dangerous for young people but did not want to act because 'young users are the future of the platform and the earlier they get them the more likely they'll get them hooked'. She said the platform was unwilling to sacrifice 'even a slither of profit' for safety improvements. Her appearance coincided with her release of a fresh trove of documents which sensationally revealed CEO Mark Zuckerberg 'personally intervened' to allow US right wingers to 'say what they wanted' on the platform. The memos - which have been dubbed 'the Facebook Papers' and comprise internal research she secretly copied while working at the firm's 'integrity unit' - also revealed how bosses ignored internal complaints from staff for years to put profits first, 'lied' to investors and sought to shield Mr Zuckerberg from public scrutiny. Today, Ms Haugen told MPs said Facebook had meant childhood bullying was no longer confined to the classroom. Instead, she said it 'follows' them home and 'goes into their bedrooms, meaning the 'last thing they see at night is someone being cruel to them'. She claimed that the firm's own research found that Instagram is more dangerous than other social media such as TikTok and Snapchat, because the platform is focused on 'social comparison about bodies, about people's lifestyles, and that's what ends up being worse for kids'. Ms Haugen also cast doubt on whether Instagram could ever be made safe for children. At present, you must be at least 13 years old to use the service, though it is easy for users to lie about their age. Facebook was developing an Instagram Kids specifically for children but the idea was put on hold earlier this year due to the raft of concerns. 'I am deeply worried that it may not be possible to make Instagram safe for 14-year-olds and I sincerely doubt it is possible to make it safe for a 10-year-old,' Ms Haugen said. During today's hearing, Ms Haugen said Facebook's algorithm 'prioritises' extreme content and although the firm is 'very good at dancing with data' it is 'unquestionably' making online hate worse and pushing users towards extremism. The whistleblower was addressing a parliamentary committee scrutinising the government's Online Safety Bill, which would place a duty of care on social media companies to protect users with the threat of substantial fines of up to 10% of their global revenue if they fail to do so. Opening the session, she said: 'I am extremely, extremely worried about the state of our societies. I am extremely concerned about engagement-based ranking, which prioritises extreme content.' Ms Haugen said Facebook was reluctant to sacrifice even a 'slither of profit' to make the platform safer, and said the UK could be particularly vulnerable because its automated safety systems may be more effective with US English than British English. 'I am deeply concerned about their underinvestment in non-English languages and how they mislead the public in how they are supporting them,' she said. 'UK English is sufficiently different that I would be unsurprised if the safety systems that they developed primarily for American English were actually underenforcing in the UK. Facebook should have to disclose those dialectical differences.' She said that one of the effects of Facebook's algorithm was to give hateful advertising greater traction, meaning it was 'cheaper' for companies and pressure groups to produce angry messages rather than positive ones. Ms Haugen described this process as 'subsiding hate'. Responding to this afternoon's session, Home Secretary Priti Patel said 'tech companies have a moral duty to keep their users safe' following a meeting with Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen. Ms Patel said it was a 'constructive meeting' on online safety. Firing off a barrage of devastating allegations that will further trash Facebook's already tattered reputation, Ms Haugen claimed - Facebook's algorithm prioritises hate speech by showing people content based on how much engagement it has received; 'A nger and hate' is the 'best way to grow' on the platform, and 'bad actors' are playing the algorithm by making their content more hateful; The world is 'at the opening stages of a horrific novel' due to extremism spreading via social media unless regulators act; Facebook is reluctant to sacrifice 'even slithers of profit' to prioritise online safety and 'unquestionably' makes online hate worse; Children's relationship with platforms like Facebook is an 'addicts' narrative', with youngsters saying social media sites make them unhappy but they are unable to stop using them; Facebook could tackle this problem but 'they don't because they know that young users are the future of the platform and the earlier they get them the sooner they get them hooked'; Platform had demonstrated 'negligence' and 'ignorance', but resisted the term 'malevolence' as this 'implies intent'; 'Underinvestment' in foreign languages means Facebook is less able to monitor content not in US English. Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen is appearing before a parliamentary committee scrutinising the government's draft legislation to crack down on harmful online content The data scientist's appearance coincided with her release of a fresh trove of documents which sensationally revealed CEO Mark Zuckerberg 'personally intervened' to allow US right wingers to 'say what they wanted' on the platform The Facebook Papers: Whistleblower's sensational new data dump to coincide with today's hearing Zuckerberg 'personally intervened' to allow US right wingers say 'whatever they wanted' Facebook's boss interfered to protect political figures who violated the company's content moderation rules, new leaked documents suggested today. In one internal note, dated December 2020, an employee claimed Facebook's public policy team, blocked decisions to take down posts 'when they see that they could harm powerful political actors'. In one case in 2019, Facebook moderators took down a video that falsely said that abortions are 'never medically necessary.' After Republican politicians including Texas Sen. Ted Cruz complained about the move, Mark Zuckerberg was personally involved with Facebook's decision to put the video back up, according to the Financial Times. Apple threatened to pull Facebook from app store over fears it was being used to traffic Filipina maids Two years ago, Apple threatened to pull Facebook and Instagram from its app store over concerns about the platform being used as a tool to trade and sell maids in the Mideast, according to documents obtained by the Associated Press. After publicly promising to crack down, Facebook acknowledged in internal documents that it was 'under-enforcing on confirmed abusive activity' that saw Filipina maids complaining on the social media site of being abused. Company knew young people were going off Facebook but kept from investors Facebook researchers compiled a report in March for chief product officer Chris Cox, detailing concerning data that showed the site was losing popularity with teenagers and young people. One graphic showed 'time spent' on Facebook by US teenagers was down 16 per cent year on year, according to Bloomberg. It also revealed that young adults were spending five per cent less time on the social network. Teenagers were delaying signing up to the site and the number of new teen signups was also declining. The average age Facebook expected people to join was now as old as 24, if ever. While the popularity decline has been studied extensively within Facebook, executives have stayed mostly quiet about the concerns in public. Staff have reported concerns about tackling hate speech for years - while platform failed to anticipate Capitol riot Facebook had been warned by staff for years that it was not doing enough to police hate speech, Ms Haugen has claimed based on documents she has leaked. One of the problems is its AI tools do not have the capability to appropriate pick out hateful commentary, and there aren't enough staff with the language skills to do it manually. Documents also suggested staff failed to anticipate the disastrous January 6 Capitol riot despite monitoring a range of individual, right-wing accounts. On an internal messaging board that day, staff said: 'We've been fueling this fire for a long time and we shouldn't be surprised it's now out of control'. Advertisement BULLYING FOLLOWS CHILDREN HOME FROM SCHOOL Speaking to MPs today, Ms Haugen claimed that Facebook allows bullying to continue at home. 'Facebook's own research says now the bullying follows children home, it goes into their bedrooms,' she said. 'The last thing they see at night is someone being cruel to them. 'The first thing they see in the morning is a hateful statement and that is just so much worse.' FACEBOOK 'LIKE AN OIL SPILL' Ms Haugen also likened failures at Facebook to an oil spill. 'I came forward now because now is the most critical time to act,' she told the select committee. When we see something like an oil spill, that oil spill doesn't make it harder for a society to regulate oil companies. 'But right now the failures of Facebook are making it harder for us to regulate Facebook.' The whistleblower said she had 'no doubt' that events like the storming of the US Capitol would happen in the future due to Facebook's ranking system prioritising inflammatory content. She said the problem could get worse due to the social media giant prioritising the creation on large Facebook groups so people spend more time on the network. 'Facebook has been trying to make people spend more time on Facebook, and the only way they can do that is by multiplying the content that already exists on the platform with things like groups and reshares,' she said. 'One group might produced hundreds of pieces of content a day, but only three get delivered. Only the ones most likely to spread will go out.' FACEBOOK IS 'HURTING THE MOST VULNERABLE' Ms Haugen said Facebook groups were increasingly acting as 'echo chambers' that are pushing people towards more extreme beliefs. 'You see a normalisation of hate and dehumanising others, and that's what leads to violent incidents,' she said. She added that the platform was 'hurting the most vulnerable among us' and leading people down 'rabbit holes'. 'Facebook has studied who has been most exposed to misinformation and it is ... people who are socially isolated,' she told the select committee. 'I am deeply concerned that they have made a product that can lead people away from their real communities and isolate them in these rabbit holes and these filter bubbles. 'What you find is that when people are sent targeted misinformation to a community it can make it hard to reintegrate into wider society because now you don't have shared facts.' The whistleblower argued regulation could benefit Facebook in the long run by making it a 'more pleasant' place to be. She said that Twitter and Google were 'far more transparent' than Facebook, as she called for Mr Zuckerberg to hire 10,000 extra engineers to work on safety instead of 10,000 engineers to build its new 'metaverse' initiative. FACEBOOK 'UNQUESTIONABLY' MAKING HATE WORSE - BUT SPOUTING VENOM IS THE 'EASIEST WAY TO GROW' Ms Haugen said that 'anger and hate' is the 'best way to grow' on Facebook, and said bad actors were playing the algorithm by making their content more hateful. 'The current system is biased towards bad actors and those who push Facebook to the extremes.' The whistleblower urged ministers to take into account the harm Facebook does to society as a whole rather than just individuals when considering new regulation. 'Situations like [ethnic violence in] Ethiopia are just the opening chapters of a novel that is going to be horrific to read. 'Facebook is closing the door on us being able to act. We have a slight window of time to regain people control over AI - we have to take advantage of this moment.' Ms Haugen urged MPs to regulate paid-for advertisements on Facebook, because hateful ones were drawing in more users. 'We are literally subsidising hate on these platforms,' she said. 'It is substantially cheaper to run an angry hateful divisive ad than it is to run a compassionate, empathetic ad.' The whistleblower said Facebook was reluctant to sacrifice 'even slithers of profit' to prioritise online safety. Ms Haugen said systems for reporting employee concerns at Facebook were a 'huge weak spot' at the company. Ministers fear social media regulation plans could be leaked to Facebook by civil servants who 'want to get job at tech giant' By David Wilcock, Whitehall Correspondent for MailOnline Ministers fear that plans for greater regulation of social media sites could be leaked by civil servants to former mandarins now working for Facebook. The alarm was raised after an online harms issue known only to a few people at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport was raised by a senior executive at Facebook in a recent meeting. Mark Zuckerberg's social media colossus is facing increasing pressure over misinformation and harmful material, including abuse, shared by its users, with ministers drawing up plans for tighter rules. Jobs taken by former senior civil servants in the private sector are meant to be scrutinised by the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (Acoba). But its powers are weak and more junior appointments are not vetted. A source lashed out at department mandarins, telling the Times: 'The problem is that DCMS officials think it's their job to work there for four years then get a job at Facebook. 'They don't get scrutinised by Acoba except at the most senior level.' Civil Servants in DCMS are among the better paid mandarins. Median wages there were just below 50,000 last year, compared to a cross-Whitehall median of below 30,000, according to the Institute for Government. Average pay for the Civil Service is around 30,000, but at Facebook's UK arm in 2019 it was more than 117,000. Several DCMS officials have gone on to work for Facebook recently, after working elsewhere before joining Facebook. There is no suggestion they have solicited information from former Civil Service colleagues. Nicola Aitken, who formerly 'led UK Government efforts to counter disinformation' is now working there as a misinformation policy manager, having spent a year in between at Full Fact, an independent organisation that highlights misinformation online. And Farzana Dudhwala has been Facebook's privacy policy manager since January, having spent a year in 2018-9 at DCMS's Government Office for Artificial Intelligence and then two years at the Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation. Advertisement 'When I worked on counter espionage, I saw things where I was concerned about national security and I had no idea how to escalate those because I didn't have faith in my chain of command at that point,' she said. 'We were told to accept under-resourcing. 'I flagged repeatedly when I worked on civic integrity that I felt that critical teams were understaffed. 'Right now there's no incentives internally, that if you make noise saying we need more help, like, people will not get rallied around for help, because everyone is underwater.' Ms Haugen told the parliamentary select committee that the social media giant was 'unquestionably' making online hate worse. 'We didn't invent hate, we didn't invent ethnic violence. And that is not the question. 'The question is what is Facebook doing to amplify or expand hate ... or ethnic violence?' CHILDREN ADDICTED - BUT FACEBOOK WANTS TO 'HOOK' YOUNGER USERS As well as speaking of how bullying had now moved from the classroom to the home as a result of abuse on Facebook, Ms Haugen said she 'sincerely doubted' that it was possible for Instagram to be made safe for children and that the platform promoted an 'addict's narrative'. 'Children don't have as good self regulation as adults do, that's why they're not allowed to buy cigarettes,' she said. 'When kids describe their usage of Instagram, Facebook's own research describes it as 'an addict's narrative'. 'The kids say 'this makes me unhappy, I don't have the ability to control my usage of it, and I feel if I left it would make me ostracised'.' She continued: 'I am deeply worried that it may not be possible to make Instagram safe for a 14-year-old and I sincerely doubt that it is possible to make it safe for a 10-year-old.' Ms Haugen said Facebook could estimate people's ages with 'a great deal of precision' but did not act to stop under-age users. 'Facebook could make a huge dent on this if they wanted to and they don't because they know that young users are the future of the platform,' she told a parliamentary select committee. 'The earlier they get them, the more likely they'll get them hooked.' NEGLIGENT BUT NOT MALEVOLENT Ms Haugen said Facebook believes in 'flatness' and 'wont accept' the consequences of their actions - but said the firm is not 'malevolent'. 'Facebook believes in a world of flatness which hides the difference, like (that) children are not adults,' she said. 'They believe in flatness, won't accept the consequences of their actions and, so, I think that is negligence and ignorance, but I can't see into their hearts, so I don't want to consider it malevolent.' She also repeatedly said the social network is filled with 'kind, conscientious' people but systems that reward growth make it hard for Facebook to change. 'When I worked on counter espionage, I saw things where I was concerned about national security and I had no idea how to escalate those because I didn't have faith in my chain of command,' she claimed. 'I flagged repeatedly when I worked on integrity that I felt that critical teams were understaffed. 'Right now there's no incentives internally, that if you make noise, saying we need more help, people will not get rallied around for help, because everyone is underwater.' Facebook has previously outlined plans to set up a so-called Instagram Kids. It argues that under-13s already use Instagram despite age barriers, and that the new app would be safer for them. Ms Haugen first aired her bombshell revelations in front of the US Senate earlier this month, where she argued a federal regulator is needed to oversee digital giants like Facebook. The draft Online Safety Bill proposes something similar by creating a regulator that would monitor Big Tech's progress with removing harmful or illegal content from their platforms, such as terrorist material or child sex abuse images. Ministers also want social media companies to stamp down on online abuse by anonymous trolls. Damian Collins, Chair of the Joint Committee on the Draft Online Safety bill, called Ms Haugen's appearance 'quite a big moment'. 'This is a moment, sort of like Cambridge Analytica, but possibly bigger in that I think it provides a real window into the soul of these companies,' he said. Mr Collins was referring to the 2018 debacle involving data-mining firm Cambridge Analytica, which gathered details on as many as 87 million Facebook users without their permission. Mr Haugen first discussed her huge tranche of leaked internal Facebook documents in front of the US Senate earlier this month The committee has already heard from another Facebook whistleblower, Sophie Zhang, who raised the alarm after finding evidence of online political manipulation in countries such as Honduras and Azerbaijan before she was fired. It comes as concerns were raised that details of the new legislation could be leaked to Facebook by civil servants who 'want to work for government for four years before getting job at tech giants' The alarm was raised after an online harms issue known only to a few people at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport was raised by a senior executive at Facebook in a recent meeting. Jobs taken by former senior civil servants in the private sector are meant to be scrutinised by the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments (Acoba). But its powers are weak and more junior appointments are not vetted. APPLE'S THREAT TO AXE SITES FOR AIDING 'SLAVE' MAID TRADE Apple threatened to pull Facebook and Instagram from its app store because they were being used to traffic women to work as maids in the Middle East, leaked documents reveal. Facebook acknowledged it was not doing enough to prevent its platforms from assisting the abusive trade and Apple relented. But the incident two years ago appears to have had little effect, with a quick search showing accounts in Arabic of African and South Asian women with ages and prices next to their picture. Campaigner Flora Rebello Arduini pictured outside the Houses of Parliament in London, before Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen testified to MPs as part of government plans for social media regulation It raises yet further questions over Facebooks duty of care to its users and is one of a series of shocking revelations yesterday after a consortium of 17 news publishers were given access to a trove of internal documents. It was also revealed how Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and senior executives intervened to allow US politicians and celebrities to post content that broke its rules, while dissidents were censored in Vietnam. Staff were said to have reported concerns about the platforms inaction in tackling hate speech for years. They accused Facebook of facilitating the storming of the US Capitol in January by a far-Right mob. Advertisement A source lashed out at department mandarins, telling the Times: 'The problem is that DCMS officials think it's their job to work there for four years then get a job at Facebook. 'They don't get scrutinised by Acoba except at the most senior level.' Several DCMS officials have gone on to work for Facebook recently, after working elsewhere before joining Facebook. There is no suggestion they have solicited information from former Civil Service colleagues. Facebook whistleblower docs reveal it 'has known for YEARS' that it fails to stop hate speech and is unpopular among youth but 'lies to investors': Apple threatened to remove app over human trafficking and staff failed to see Jan 6 riot coming By Jack Newman for MailOnline A trove of documents from Facebook whistleblower Francis Haugen have revealed in detail how the tech firm has ignored internal complaints from staff for years to put profits first, 'lie' to investors and shield CEO Mark Zuckerberg from public scrutiny. The documents were reported on in depth this morning as part of an agreement by a conglomerate of media organizations, as Haugen testified before the British Parliament about her concerns. They comprise internal research that she chose to make public. They are now being referred to by the US media as the 'Facebook Papers'. They claim, among other things, that; Facebook staff ha v e reported for years that they are concerned about the company's failure to police hate speech; e reported for years that they are concerned about the company's failure to police hate speech; That Facebook executives knew it was becoming less popular among young people but shielded the numbers from investors; That staff failed to anticipate the disastrous January 6 Capitol riot despite monitoring a range of individual, right-wing accounts; On an internal messaging board that day, staff said: 'We've been fueling this fire for a long time and we shouldn't be surprised it's now out of control'; Apple threatened to remove the app from the App Store over how it failed to police the trafficking of maids in the Philippines; Mark Zuckerberg's public comments about the company are often at odds with internal messaging. Some of the most damning comments were posted on January 6, the day of the Capitol riot, when staff told Zuckerberg and other executives on an internal messaging board that they blamed themselves for the violence. 'One of the darkest days in the history of democracy and self-governance. History will not judge us kindly,' said one worker while another said: 'We've been fueling this fire for a long time and we shouldn't be surprised it's now out of control'. Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen testifying before British lawmakers on Monday about her concerns over the tech giant's power in the tech and telecomms space. She said, among other things, that Facebook misleads the world by claiming it helps non-English-speaking companies with its technology, when it in fact fuels extremism One of her complaints is how the company had been warned by staff for years that it was not doing enough to police hate speech. Apple threatened to pull Facebook and Instagram from app store over fears it was being used to traffic Filipina maids Two years ago, Apple threatened to pull Facebook and Instagram from its app store over concerns about the platform being used as a tool to trade and sell maids in the Mideast. After publicly promising to crack down, Facebook acknowledged in internal documents obtained by The Associated Press that it was 'under-enforcing on confirmed abusive activity' that saw Filipina maids complaining on the social media site of being abused. Apple relented and Facebook and Instagram remained in the app store. But Facebook's crackdown seems to have had a limited effect. Even today, a quick search for 'khadima,' or 'maids' in Arabic, will bring up accounts featuring posed photographs of Africans and South Asians with ages and prices listed next to their images. That's even as the Philippines government has a team of workers that do nothing but scour Facebook posts each day to try and protect desperate job seekers from criminal gangs and unscrupulous recruiters using the site. While the Mideast remains a crucial source of work for women in Asia and Africa hoping to provide for their families back home, Facebook acknowledged some countries across the region have 'especially egregious' human rights issues when it comes to laborers' protection. 'In our investigation, domestic workers frequently complained to their recruitment agencies of being locked in their homes, starved, forced to extend their contracts indefinitely, unpaid, and repeatedly sold to other employers without their consent,' one Facebook document read. 'In response, agencies commonly told them to be more agreeable.' The report added: 'We also found recruitment agencies dismissing more serious crimes, such as physical or sexual assault, rather than helping domestic workers.' In a statement to the AP, Facebook said it took the problem seriously, despite the continued spread of ads exploiting foreign workers in the Mideast. 'We prohibit human exploitation in no uncertain terms,' Facebook said. 'We've been combating human trafficking on our platform for many years and our goal remains to prevent anyone who seeks to exploit others from having a home on our platform.' Advertisement One of the problems is its AI tools do not have the capability to appropriate pick out hateful commentary, and there aren't enough staff with the language skills to do it manually. The failures to block hate speech in volatile regions such as Myanmar, the Middle East, Ethiopia and Vietnam could contribute to real-world violence. In a review posted to Facebook's internal message board last year regarding ways the company identifies abuses, one employee reported 'significant gaps' in certain at-risk countries. Facebook spokesperson Mavis Jones said in a statement that the company has native speakers worldwide reviewing content in more than 70 languages, as well as experts in humanitarian and human rights issues. She said these teams are working to stop abuse on Facebook's platform in places where there is a heightened risk of conflict and violence. 'We know these challenges are real and we are proud of the work we've done to date,' Jones said. Still, the cache of internal Facebook documents offers detailed snapshots of how employees in recent years have sounded alarms about problems with the company's tools - both human and technological - aimed at rooting out or blocking speech that violated its own standards. The material expands upon Reuters' previous reporting on Myanmar and other countries where the world's largest social network has failed repeatedly to protect users from problems on its own platform and has struggled to monitor content across languages. Among the weaknesses cited were a lack of screening algorithms for languages used in some of the countries Facebook has deemed most 'at-risk' for potential real-world harm and violence stemming from abuses on its site. The company designates countries 'at-risk' based on variables including unrest, ethnic violence, the number of users and existing laws, two former staffers told Reuters. The system aims to steer resources to places where abuses on its site could have the most severe impact, the people said. Facebook reviews and prioritizes these countries every six months in line with United Nations guidelines aimed at helping companies prevent and remedy human rights abuses in their business operations, spokesperson Jones said. In 2018, United Nations experts investigating a brutal campaign of killings and expulsions against Myanmar's Rohingya Muslim minority said Facebook was widely used to spread hate speech toward them. That prompted the company to increase its staffing in vulnerable countries, a former employee told Reuters. Facebook has said it should have done more to prevent the platform being used to incite offline violence in the country. Ashraf Zeitoon, Facebook's former head of policy for the Middle East and North Africa, who left in 2017, said the company's approach to global growth has been 'colonial,' focused on monetization without safety measures. More than 90 per cent of Facebook's monthly active users are outside the United States or Canada. Facebook has long touted the importance of its artificial-intelligence (AI) systems, in combination with human review, as a way of tackling objectionable and dangerous content on its platforms. Machine-learning systems can detect such content with varying levels of accuracy. On January 6, staff wrote on an internal messaging board: 'We've been fueling this fire for a long time and we shouldn't be surprised it's now out of control' But languages spoken outside the United States, Canada and Europe have been a stumbling block for Facebook's automated content moderation, the documents provided to the government by Haugen show. The company lacks AI systems to detect abusive posts in a number of languages used on its platform. In 2020, for example, the company did not have screening algorithms known as 'classifiers' to find misinformation in Burmese, the language of Myanmar, or hate speech in the Ethiopian languages of Oromo or Amharic, a document showed. These gaps can allow abusive posts to proliferate in the countries where Facebook itself has determined the risk of real-world harm is high. Zuckerberg 'personally decided company would agree to demands by Vietnamese government to increase censorship of 'anti-state' posts' Mark Zuckerberg personally agreed to requests from Vietnam's ruling Communist Party to censor anti-government dissidents, insiders say. Facebook was threatened with being kicked out of the country, where it earns $1billion in revenue annually, if it did not agree. Zuckerberg, seen as a champion of free speech in the West for steadfastly refusing to remove dangerous content, agreed to Hanoi's demands. Ahead of the Communist party congress in January, the Vietnamese government was given effective control of the social media platform as activists were silenced online, sources claim. 'Anti-state' posts were removed as Facebook allowed for the crackdown on dissidents of the regime. Facebook told the Washington Post the decision was justified 'to ensure our services remain available for millions of people who rely on them every day'. Meanwhile in Myanmar, where Facebook-based misinformation has been linked repeatedly to ethnic and religious violence, the company acknowledged it had failed to stop the spread of hate speech targeting the minority Rohingya Muslim population. The Rohingya's persecution, which the U.S. has described as ethnic cleansing, led Facebook to publicly pledge in 2018 that it would recruit 100 native Myanmar language speakers to police its platforms. But the company never disclosed how many content moderators it ultimately hired or revealed which of the nation's many dialects they covered. Despite Facebook's public promises and many internal reports on the problems, the rights group Global Witness said the company's recommendation algorithm continued to amplify army propaganda and other content that breaches the company's Myanmar policies following a military coup in February. Advertisement Reuters this month found posts in Amharic, one of Ethiopia's most common languages, referring to different ethnic groups as the enemy and issuing them death threats. A nearly year-long conflict in the country between the Ethiopian government and rebel forces in the Tigray region has killed thousands of people and displaced more than 2 million. Facebook spokesperson Jones said the company now has proactive detection technology to detect hate speech in Oromo and Amharic and has hired more people with 'language, country and topic expertise,' including people who have worked in Myanmar and Ethiopia. In an undated document, which a person familiar with the disclosures said was from 2021, Facebook employees also shared examples of 'fear-mongering, anti-Muslim narratives' spread on the site in India, including calls to oust the large minority Muslim population there. 'Our lack of Hindi and Bengali classifiers means much of this content is never flagged or actioned,' the document said. Internal posts and comments by employees this year also noted the lack of classifiers in the Urdu and Pashto languages to screen problematic content posted by users in Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan. Jones said Facebook added hate speech classifiers for Hindi in 2018 and Bengali in 2020, and classifiers for violence and incitement in Hindi and Bengali this year. She said Facebook also now has hate speech classifiers in Urdu but not Pashto. Facebook's human review of posts, which is crucial for nuanced problems like hate speech, also has gaps across key languages, the documents show. An undated document laid out how its content moderation operation struggled with Arabic-language dialects of multiple 'at-risk' countries, leaving it constantly 'playing catch up.' The document acknowledged that, even within its Arabic-speaking reviewers, 'Yemeni, Libyan, Saudi Arabian (really all Gulf nations) are either missing or have very low representation.' Facebook's Jones acknowledged that Arabic language content moderation 'presents an enormous set of challenges.' She said Facebook has made investments in staff over the last two years but recognizes 'we still have more work to do.' Three former Facebook employees who worked for the companys Asia Pacific and Middle East and North Africa offices in the past five years told Reuters they believed content moderation in their regions had not been a priority for Facebook management. These people said leadership did not understand the issues and did not devote enough staff and resources. Facebook's Jones said the California company cracks down on abuse by users outside the United States with the same intensity applied domestically. The company said it uses AI proactively to identify hate speech in more than 50 languages. Facebook said it bases its decisions on where to deploy AI on the size of the market and an assessment of the country's risks. It declined to say in how many countries it did not have functioning hate speech classifiers. Company knew young people were going off Facebook but kept from investors Facebook researchers compiled a report in March for chief product officer Chris Cox, detailing concerning data that showed the site was losing popularity with teenagers and young people. One graphic showed 'time spent' on Facebook by US teenagers was down 16 per cent year on year, according to Bloomberg. It also revealed that young adults were spending five per cent less time on the social network. Teenagers were delaying signing up to the site and the number of new teen signups was also declining. The average age Facebook expected people to join was now as old as 24, if ever. While the popularity decline has been studied extensively within Facebook, executives have stayed mostly quiet about the concerns in public. The falling rate among young people has stayed mostly invisible as the audience continues to expand, often with duplicate profiles, leading to misrepresentations of audience size, it is claimed. The discrepancy forms part of Haugen's argument that Facebook 'has misrepresented core metrics to investors and advertisers' by showing overall growth but excluding factors such as the decline in key demographics. Advertisement Facebook also says it has 15,000 content moderators reviewing material from its global users. 'Adding more language expertise has been a key focus for us,' Jones said. In the past two years, it has hired people who can review content in Amharic, Oromo, Tigrinya, Somali, and Burmese, the company said, and this year added moderators in 12 new languages, including Haitian Creole. Facebook declined to say whether it requires a minimum number of content moderators for any language offered on the platform. Facebook's users are a powerful resource to identify content that violates the company's standards. The company has built a system for them to do so, but has acknowledged that the process can be time consuming and expensive for users in countries without reliable internet access. The reporting tool also has had bugs, design flaws and accessibility issues for some languages, according to the documents and digital rights activists who spoke with Reuters. Next Billion Network, a group of tech civic society groups working mostly across Asia, the Middle East and Africa, said in recent years it had repeatedly flagged problems with the reporting system to Facebook management. Those included a technical defect that kept Facebook's content review system from being able to see objectionable text accompanying videos and photos in some posts reported by users. That issue prevented serious violations, such as death threats in the text of these posts, from being properly assessed, the group and a former Facebook employee told Reuters. They said the issue was fixed in 2020. Facebook said it continues to work to improve its reporting systems and takes feedback seriously. Language coverage remains a problem. A Facebook presentation from January, included in the documents, concluded 'there is a huge gap in the Hate Speech reporting process in local languages' for users in Afghanistan. The recent pullout of U.S. troops there after two decades has ignited an internal power struggle in the country. So-called 'community standards' - the rules that govern what users can post - are also not available in Afghanistan's main languages of Pashto and Dari, the author of the presentation said. A Reuters review this month found that community standards weren't available in about half the more than 110 languages that Facebook supports with features such as menus and prompts. Facebook said it aims to have these rules available in 59 languages by the end of the year, and in another 20 languages by the end of 2022. Advertisement Joe Biden on Monday tried to sell his Build Back Better plan to a classroom full of pre-schoolers, most of whom were too busy playing with their legos to notice the president of the United States. He also joked to the kids that his main job is avoiding questions from reporteres. 'Hey guys how are you?,' Biden said as he walked in. Most of the kids didn't look up from their play. The president attempted to engage them but not always to success. 'He's got his head phones on,' he said of one kid who was ignoring him. He also tried to find common ground. 'I like legos,' Biden told the kids as he made the rounds, stopping at various tables of four and five-year-olds and attempting to make chitchat. During one stop, he distracted a little girl so that her tower of legos fell down as she tried to add more pieces. 'I'm sorry. That was my fault. I made you look up,' Biden told her. He bent down to help pick up the legos and hand them to her. 'It's okay.' He had more luck with four-year-old Landon, who showed him his shirt, which read 'future president.' 'Well look at that. Future president,' Biden said. And he also offered Landon some advice. 'Mr. President. You gotta talk to me about the presidency. You know when you're president, you see all these people here,' he said, pointing to the cameras and journalists. 'They're with you all the time. They get to ask you all kinds of questions and you got to figure out how you can avoid answering them sometimes.' Biden didn't seem bothered by the lack of attention during his tour of the school, which he was on to sell his multiptrillion Build Back Better social spending program. He made small talk with teachers and chuckled as he left the room. 'They're into it,' he said of the kids. President Joe Biden tried to sell his Build Back Better plan to a classroom full of pre-schoolers, most of whom were too busy playing with their legos to notice him The pre-schoolers at East End elementary school in North Plainfield, N.J., stayed focused on their play during the presidential visit Four-year-old Landon shows President Biden his 'future president' shirt The kids were playing with legos and one girl's tower fell as the president talked to her Biden had a little more luck at his second classroom visit at the East End Elementary School in North Plainfield, N.J., where the kids gave him fist bumps President Biden picked up one girl before leaving the classroom President Biden joined the kids in their play to try and engage with them The kids, who ranged from four to five years old, were really into the legos He had a little more luck at his second classroom visit at the East End Elementary School in North Plainfield, N.J., where the kids gave him fist bumps. When the teacher said the presiddent had to go, a little boy asked him to come back sometime. 'Okay,' he said. Biden also picked up a little girl with braids before saying his goodbyes to the students. Biden is in New Jersey to tout his multi-trillion congressional agenda with a new bridge announcement and, along the way, he'll boost Gov. Phi Murphy ahead of next week's election. 'We need to get this done,' Biden said in remarks at the NJ Transit Meadowlands Maintenance Complex in Kearny. Biden is pushing to get a deal between moderates and liberals on his multi-trillion social spending program finished before he heads to Europe on Thursday. The president's focus on Monday was on the childcare aspect of his legislation. 'Under my plan no middle class family will spend more than 7% of their income on childcare,' he said. Then Biden did as he always does when he wants to emphasize a point - he leaned forward to whisper into the microphone that the childcare provision, which includes an expansion of the child tax credit, is a 'tax cut.' 'It's a tax cut for middle class families,' he whispered. 'A tax cut.' Then his voice rose as he argued: 'This is a tax cut that changes the lives of the American people.' Biden originally wanted a four-year extension of the tax credit but had to winnow it down to one year because of objections from moderates about the overall cost of his plan. Biden was pushing his infrastructure bill along with his budget package of social spending plans. 'These bills are going to change the lives of millions of people in areas and hundreds of millions of people across the country for better, for years to come,' he said. And he repeated his debunked claim his plan costs zero. 'We pay for it all. It doesn't increase the deficit one single set,' he said. Meanwhile, Murphy was with him in the classroom visits. 'He runs the state,' Biden told the kids of the governor. Before arriving in the Garden State, Biden said his talks about his spending plan with Senator Joe Manchin over the weekend 'went well' and he hopes to have a deal in place before he leaves for Europe on Thursday. 'It went well, a few more things to work out, but it went well,' he said of negotiations. And asked if it would be done Wednesday, the president replied: 'With the grace of God and the good will of neighbor.' 'It'd be very positive to get it done before the trip,' he noted. He'll push support for his plan in New Jersey while pushing a fellow Democrat for re-election. Murphy, in his first term as state governor, has pushed several initiatives that line with Biden's priorities: increased income taxes on the wealthy, expanded voting rights and tightened the state's gun laws. Historical precedent favors his Republican opponent Jack Ciattarelli: the state hasn't reelected a Democrat as governor in four decades and hasn't elected a governor from the same party as the president in three decades. Murphy, if he prevails in the Nov. 2 contest, would be the first Democratic governor to win a second term since 1977. Murphy is leading in the polls ahead of Biden's visit but that lead has dropped to six points from a high of 26 points earlier this year. Former President Barack Obama has already been in the state to campaign for him. Biden talked about his Build Back Better agenda at the NJ TRANSIT Meadowlands Maintenance Complex in Kearny, N.J. President Biden joined the kids in their play One kid shows the president a drawing Biden tried to interact with kids, most of whom were focused on their toys Biden gives one girl a hug during his visit The kids also gave President Biden a drawing Biden was promoting his Build Back Better plan, which calls for two years of free pre-K, during the stop Biden checks out one boy's lego sculpture President Joe Biden heads to New Jersey on Monday to tout his multi-trillion congressional agenda Biden won New Jersey by 15 points in the 2020 presidential election and the gubenatorial race, along with one in Virginia, will be seen a bellweather for Democrats ahead of the 2022 midterm election. Biden will announce construction of a new Portal Bridge, which connections NJ Transit and Amtrak trains to and from New York, according to NJ.com. Earlier this year the state's transit system approved $1.6 billion to replace the bridge, which often became stuck with traffic, causing delays along Amtrak's NorthEast cooridor and for local commuters. As many as 200,000 passengers a day cross the bridge. Federal funds are also going into the project. And Biden will use the stop to push his $1.9 trillion infrastructure bill and his budget package of social programs, which is in final negotiations between warring moderates and liberals in the Democratic Party. The president will also visit North Plainfield Elementary School District to tout a provision in his social spending package that would offer two years of free pre-K education. In New Jersey, Biden will campaign for Gov. Phi Murphy ahead of next week's election Biden will announce construction of a new Portal Bridge, which connections NJ Transit and Amtrak trains to and from New York Biden had breakfast in Wilmington, Del., home on Sunday morning with moderate Senator Joe Manchin, a key player in passing his agenda, and Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer. The three discussed the provisions in the president's social spending plan, including how to pay for it. Manchin has pushed for a $1.5 trillion package - about half of the original $3.5 trillion price tag - but it could inch closer to $2 trillion as final details are ironed out. Manchin is agreeable to the White House's approach to raise taxes on 1,000 billionaires and impose a 15 per cent minimum corporate tax rate to pay for the plan, the Associated Press reported. The breaking of bread did not break the impass to a deal however, leaving Biden with nothing to announce going into Monday's New Jersey trip and Tuesday's venture into Virigina to campaign for struggling Democratic gubenatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe. Biden also wants the two pieces of legislation voted on before he leaves for Rome on Thursday where he'll meet with Pope Francis on Friday and attend the G20 over the weekend. A Georgia man has been charged with wire fraud after he allegedly lied to get an $85,000 COVID-19 relief loan only to blow $57,000 of it on a single Pokemon card. Vinath Oudomsine of Dublin, Georgia, had spent two-thirds of the loan on the card which was said to cost $57,789, according to prosecutors. Oudomsine was charged on Tuesday for using false information to get federal aid as well as misusing it for other monetary purposes. It is unclear which card he bought, and Oudomsine has not responded to DailyMail.com requests for a comment. The Small Business Administration was said to have overpaid self-employed people $4.5 billion in grant money with no additional security control to make sure it was going to eligible applicants. Georgia man Vinath Oudomsine was charged with wire fraud after he lied to get an $85,000 COVID-19 relief fund meant for small businesses and used it to purchase a $57,789 Pokemon card Oudomsine applied through the Small Business Administration's Economic Injury Disaster Loan Oudomsine had allegedly lied about having 10 employees and the annual gross revenue of his 'business' being $235,000 in his July application for the SBA's Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL). He was awarded the $85,000 fund almost a month later, most of which he then blew in January on the pricey Pokemon card. The EIDL was created for small businesses that struggled as a result of the pandemic which was meant for purposes such as payroll, sick leave and rent. The financial aid program was said to have laid out more than $310 billion to small businesses as well as criticizing the Trump administration for their lack of control, according to the SBA. The government agency said in a statement that the Biden administration is now working on ensuring antifraud methods. Those defending the program, however, have said that the flagged loans and grants only represent a small portion of the heavily-funded aid. The Trump administration was criticized by the SBA for their alleged lack of control due to the number of fraudulent relief fund schemes. He signed the H.R. 748, Coronavirus Aid Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act on March 27, 2020 If convicted of the charges, the maximum penalty for Oudomsine could be up to 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000. He has yet to enter a plea but his sentencing is said to be less severe than that of the maximum penalty. Prosecutors and Oudomsine's attorney have declined to comment on the case. The exact Pokemon card that Oudomsine had purchased is also currently unknown. The popular collecting cards had previously been sold at high rates before as a first-edition box of them was sold for $400,000 this year, according to the Washington Post. Even celebrity Pokemon fans such as Logan Paul have paid a hefty fee for one of the collectible cards after he purchased a $150,000 Charizard card last year. Celebrity Pokemon fan Logan Paul purchased a Charizard card for $150,000 last year Oudomsine is not the first alleged fraudster said to have tried such a scheme. A Texas man was indicted over a week ago and charged with seven counts of wire fraud as well as three counts of making false statements to the bank. Sinoj Kallamplackal Joseph, 42, submitted fraudulent applications to the Paycheck Protection Program for over $3 million and lied about the number of employees working for his company and the amount of payroll costs. The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) had also been created with the purpose of helping struggling businesses during the pandemic through the CARES Act. If convicted, he could face up to 20 years in federal prison for wire fraud charges and 30 years in prison for making the false bank statements. An Instagram model dubbed 'the Brooke Shields of Kuwait' harassed her ex-husband and sliced up his clothes - after accusing him of giving her an STD from a prostitute. Rawan Bin Hussain, 24, cut up Mohammed Youssef Migariafs 200 polo shirt she had bought for him during an argument on June 24 last year. Mr Migariaf called police to their flat in Hyde Park Gate, central London, and arrested Bin Hussain after finding him bleeding from scratches on his face, Westminster Magistrates' Court heard today. Following her release the influencer sent him a text message on July 13 which said: You are disgusting and pathetic, and a pathological liar. The former Cosmopolitan Middle East star - referred to in court as Rawan Abdullah - later approached the Libyan businessman while he was having dinner with a family member, and told him: How can you do that to the mother of your child? We could start all over again, and travel, restart our relationship. Rawan Bin Hussain (pictured), 24, admitted harassing her ex and slicing up his clothes The former Cosmopolitan Middle East star confessed to damaging a 200 shirt of his She also posted pictures of Mr Migariafs family on her Instagram profile, and accused him of giving her human papillomavirus (HPV) by sleeping with prostitutes. In a statement read to the court, Mr Migariaf said: My life has completely gone upside down, I no longer have the face to meet with my family, they have always warned me.' Justin Rouse, defending Bin Hussain, referred to statements from Dubai police showing Mr Migarief admitted he assaulted her. Mr Rouse said: He in the course of the interview accepted he pushed her, pushed her in the face caused her to be wounded in the face in April 2019. Jonathan Bryan, prosecuting said: There is a frequent allegation he sleeps with prostitutes. In the background of this case, the defendant has posted Instagram pictures of members of Mr Migariafs family. Mother-of-one Bin Hussain, who has a law degree from King's College, now lives in Dubai Mother-of-one Bin Hussain, who has a law degree from King's College, was ordered not to contact Mr Migariaf or his family directly or indirectly for five years. She showed no emotion as she sat in the dock wearing a black suit and white open-collar shirt. Bin Hussain, of Dubai, admitted harassment and criminal damage. She was ordered to pay a 6,500 fine, 500 in prosecution costs, and a 65 victim surcharge. Bin Hussain had originally faced a further count of assault by beating but that charge was dropped by the prosecution. In January this year Bin Hussain, who privately funded her defence, had been excused from attending court after she tested positive for Covid-19. Facebook has been accused of misleading the US Securities and Exchange Commission by failing to disclose that its popularity among young users is slumping. The social media giant is also said to have failed to explain that many of its overall users are people with more than one account on its sites, meaning the actual number of users could be up to 11% fewer than its figures would suggest. One trend shows that the time spent on Facebook by U.S. teenagers was down 16% from 2020 to 2021 and that young adults, between 18 and 29, were spending 5% less time on the app, according to reporting from Bloomberg. Those new revelations, shared in documents from whistleblower Frances Haugen, could land Facebook in hot water over claims it misled advertisers about the scale of its business, and how many younger users are on its platform - with that demographic particularly appealing to ad firms. The documents were disclosed to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and provided to Congress in redacted form by Haugen's legal counsel. They are set to provide further meat for campaigners - including US congressmen and women - who insist that Facebook's size and power break antitrust laws, and that it must be broken up, or muzzled with new rules. The above chart shows a number of trends highlighting Facebook's decrease in popularity among young users compared to older ones. One trend shows that the time spent on Facebook by U.S. teenagers was down 16% from 2020 to 2021 and young adults, between 18 and 29, were spending 5% less time on the app Facebook researchers have sat on trends that younger audiences are losing interest in the network, but allegedly failed to mention this to investors The SEC determines what should be disclosed to investors and advertisers based on whether a reasonable person would consider it important, but that often falls into a gray area and leaves it up to companies to interpret. Some say that the information must be disclosed if it poses an at least 5% drop in profits, though the SEC doesnt consider this universal and typically determines what should be disclosed on more of a case by case basis. One case that will most likely be scrutinized involves a report that a group of Facebook researchers compiled in March for Chief Product Officer Chris Cox, which revealed a number of trends detailing the loss in teen interest. Far fewer teens are signing up for the social network and young people are joining at a much later age than in previous years. Most users born before 2000 had created a Facebook account at 19 or 20, the research shows, but Facebook predicts that those born later, without an account already, might not join until they are 24 or 25. The tech giant could be in violation of SEC rules as advertisers were allegedly duped by the lack of disclosure about Facebook's influence on teens. The above chart shows the decline in teen engagement since 2012/2013 The above chart, created in 2017, reveals that Facebook researchers knew for at least four years that the social network was losing steam among young people Another trend reveals that users under 25 have generally decreased their use of Facebook in the past eight years. The number of young adults on Facebook in the U.S. has dropped by 2% since 2019 and is expected to slump by an additional 4% over the next two years. Young adults engage with Facebook far less often than their older cohorts, seeing it as an 'outdated network' with 'irrelevant content' that provides limited value for them, according to a November 2020 internal document. It is 'boring, misleading and negative,' they say. They are also sharing less and sending less messages than they were a year ago. 'There is a [young adult] sharing problem. They are choosing other apps to share day-to-day moments and life moments,' an internal report from early 2021 reads. Despite noticing the downwards trends in youth engagement, Facebook staff explained that they dont have a full picture explaining the reason for the trend and how to alleviate it. One report asks, What should we (particularly) optimize for among young adults? We dont know enough to know. Facebooks total audience has expanded consistently for years, revenue has risen to nearly $30 billion per quarter and the companys market value is close to $1 trillion, according to Bloomberg. A group of Facebook researchers compiled a report in March for Chief Product Officer Chris Cox (pictured above) that revealed a number of trends detailing the loss in teen interest The revelation comes as a group of roughly two-dozen news outlets broke an embargo on documents leaked by former Facebook staffer Frances Haugen Zuckerberg 'personally decided company would agree to demands by Vietnamese government to increase censorship of 'anti-state' posts' Mark Zuckerberg personally agreed to requests from Vietnam's ruling Communist Party to censor anti-government dissidents, insiders say. Facebook was threatened with being kicked out of the country, where it earns $1billion in revenue annually, if it did not agree. Zuckerberg, seen as a champion of free speech in the West for steadfastly refusing to remove dangerous content, agreed to Hanoi's demands. Ahead of the Communist party congress in January, the Vietnamese government was given effective control of the social media platform as activists were silenced online, sources claim. 'Anti-state' posts were removed as Facebook allowed for the crackdown on dissidents of the regime. Facebook told the Washington Post the decision was justified 'to ensure our services remain available for millions of people who rely on them every day'. Meanwhile in Myanmar, where Facebook-based misinformation has been linked repeatedly to ethnic and religious violence, the company acknowledged it had failed to stop the spread of hate speech targeting the minority Rohingya Muslim population. The Rohingya's persecution, which the U.S. has described as ethnic cleansing, led Facebook to publicly pledge in 2018 that it would recruit 100 native Myanmar language speakers to police its platforms. But the company never disclosed how many content moderators it ultimately hired or revealed which of the nation's many dialects they covered. Despite Facebook's public promises and many internal reports on the problems, the rights group Global Witness said the company's recommendation algorithm continued to amplify army propaganda and other content that breaches the company's Myanmar policies following a military coup in February. Advertisement The companys overall success allows it to hide its failures among younger people from the general public. Facebook doesnt disclose it user numbers by age group and has avoided questions from Wall Street analysts about the social networks popularity among teens. Haugen argues that Facebook has misrepresented core metrics to investors and advertisers for years by showing its blanket growth, but not breaking that down by demographic, she explains in a letter outlining her complaint. So it can continue to expand its reach and power, Facebook has pushed for high user growth outside the U.S. and Western Europe. But as it expanded into less familiar parts of the world, the company systematically failed to address or even anticipate the unintended consequences of signing up millions of new users, without also providing staff and systems to identify and limit the spread of hate speech, misinformation and calls to violence. In Afghanistan and Myanmar, for instance, extremist language has flourished due to a lack of people and computer programs able to speak the local language, and moderate content. In Myanmar, it has been linked to atrocities committed against the country's minority Rohingya Muslim population. But Facebook appears unable to acknowledge, much less prevent, the real-world collateral damage accompanying its untrammeled growth. Its alleged wrongdoing also includes shadowy algorithms that radicalize users, pervasive misinformation and extremism, facilitation of human trafficking, teen suicide and more. Final responsibility for this state of affairs rests with CEO Mark Zuckerberg, who holds what one former employee described as dictatorial power over a corporation that collects data on and provides free services to roughly 3 billion people around the world. 'Ultimately, it rests with Mark and whatever his prerogative is - and it has always been to grow, to increase his power and his reach,' said Jennifer Grygiel, a Syracuse University communications professor who's followed Facebook closely for years. Apple threatened to pull Facebook and Instagram from app store over fears it was being used to traffic Filipina maids Two years ago, Apple threatened to pull Facebook and Instagram from its app store over concerns about the platform being used as a tool to trade and sell maids in the Mideast. After publicly promising to crack down, Facebook acknowledged in internal documents obtained by The Associated Press that it was 'under-enforcing on confirmed abusive activity' that saw Filipina maids complaining on the social media site of being abused. Apple relented and Facebook and Instagram remained in the app store. But Facebook's crackdown seems to have had a limited effect. Even today, a quick search for 'khadima,' or 'maids' in Arabic, will bring up accounts featuring posed photographs of Africans and South Asians with ages and prices listed next to their images. That's even as the Philippines government has a team of workers that do nothing but scour Facebook posts each day to try and protect desperate job seekers from criminal gangs and unscrupulous recruiters using the site. While the Mideast remains a crucial source of work for women in Asia and Africa hoping to provide for their families back home, Facebook acknowledged some countries across the region have 'especially egregious' human rights issues when it comes to laborers' protection. 'In our investigation, domestic workers frequently complained to their recruitment agencies of being locked in their homes, starved, forced to extend their contracts indefinitely, unpaid, and repeatedly sold to other employers without their consent,' one Facebook document read. 'In response, agencies commonly told them to be more agreeable.' The report added: 'We also found recruitment agencies dismissing more serious crimes, such as physical or sexual assault, rather than helping domestic workers.' In a statement to the AP, Facebook said it took the problem seriously, despite the continued spread of ads exploiting foreign workers in the Mideast. 'We prohibit human exploitation in no uncertain terms,' Facebook said. 'We've been combating human trafficking on our platform for many years and our goal remains to prevent anyone who seeks to exploit others from having a home on our platform.' Advertisement Zuckerberg has an ironclad hold on Facebook Inc. He holds the majority of the company's voting shares, controls its board of directors and has increasingly surrounded himself with executives who don't appear to question his vision. But he has so far been unable to address stagnating user growth and shrinking engagement for Facebook the product in key areas such as the United States and Europe. Worse, the company is losing the attention of its most important demographic - teenagers and young people - with no clear path to gaining it back, its own documents reveal. Internal efforts to mitigate such problems have often been pushed aside or abandoned when solutions conflict with growth - and, by extension, profit. Backed into a corner with hard evidence from leaked documents, the company has doubled down defending its choices rather than try to fix its problems. 'We do not and we have not prioritized engagement over safety,' Monika Bickert, Facebooks head of global policy management, told The Associated Press this month following congressional testimony from whistleblower and former Facebook employee Frances Haugen. In the days since Haugen's testimony and appearance on '60 Minutes' - during which Zuckerberg posted a video of himself sailing with his wife Priscilla Chan - Facebook has tried to discredit Haugen by repeatedly pointing out that she didn't directly work on many of the problems she revealed. 'A curated selection out of millions of documents at Facebook can in no way be used to draw fair conclusions about us,' Facebook tweeted from its public relations 'newsroom' account earlier this month, following the company's discovery that a group of news organizations was working on stories about the internal documents. 'At the heart of these stories is a premise which is false. Yes, were a business and we make profit, but the idea that we do so at the expense of peoples safety or wellbeing misunderstands where our own commercial interests lie,' Facebook said in a prepared statement Friday. 'The truth is weve invested $13 billion and have over 40,000 people to do one job: keep people safe on Facebook.' Statements like these are the latest sign that Facebook has gotten into what Sophie Zhang, a former Facebook data scientist, described as a 'siege mentality' at the company. Zhang last year accused the social network of ignoring fake accounts used to undermine foreign elections. With more whistleblowers - notably Haugen - coming forward, it's only gotten worse. 'Facebook has been going through a bit of an authoritarian narrative spiral, where it becomes less responsive to employee criticism, to internal dissent and in some cases cracks down upon it,' said Zhang, who was fired from Facebook in the fall of 2020. 'And this leads to more internal dissent.' 'I have seen many colleagues that are extremely frustrated and angry, while at the same time, feeling powerless and (disheartened) about the current situation,' one employee, whose name was redacted, wrote on an internal message board after Facebook decided last year to leave up incendiary posts by former President Donald Trump that suggested Minneapolis protesters could be shot. 'My view is, if you want to fix Facebook, do it within.' The company insists it 'does not conduct research and then systematically and willfully ignore it if the findings are inconvenient for the company.' This claim, Facebook said in a statement, can 'only be made by cherry-picking selective quotes from individual pieces of leaked material in a way that presents complex and nuanced issues as if there is only ever one right answer.' Haugen, who testified before the Senate this month that Facebooks products 'harm children, stoke division and weaken our democracy,' said the company should declare 'moral bankruptcy' if it is to move forward from all this. 'Facebook did regular surveys of its employees - what percentage of employees believe that Facebook is making the world a better place,' Zhang recalled. 'It was around 70 percent when I joined. It was around 50 percent when I left,' said Zhang, who was at the company for more than two years before she was fired in the fall of 2020. Facebook has not said where the number stands today. Two of Donald Trump's supporters who had a hand in organizing rallies in Washington, DC on the day of the Capitol riot claim they had help from several House Republicans and other members in the former president's orbit, a bombshell new report claimed on Sunday. They're two of the people who are currently communicating with investigators on the House January 6 committee, providing them with potentially groundbreaking new information, Rolling Stone reported. Speaking on the condition of anonymity, the two rally planners told the outlet that they had regular to frequent communication with White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows and Trump campaign aide Katrina Pierson. The pair also detailed damning allegations that one lawmaker, Rep. Paul Gosar of Arizona, dangled the possibility of a pardon in front of their faces for an unrelated probe in a bid to force them into planning rallies. The two House witnesses also claim to have took part in 'dozens' of briefings with members of Congress and their staff leading up to January 6 riot. 'I remember talking to probably close to a dozen other members at one point or another or their staffs,' one person said, adding that pro-Trump freshman Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia played a key role. 'I remember Marjorie Taylor Greene specifically.' The new report details allegations made by two January 6 Trump rally organizers who are working with the House committee investigating the riot Also named in the report were Reps. Lauren Boebert of Colorado, Mo Brooks of Alabama, Madison Cawthorn of North Carolina, Andy Biggs of Arizona and Louie Gohmert of Texas. The sources claimed those representatives or their staffers were in contact with activists planning pro-Trump demonstrations across the country in the weeks before the riot. One of them recalled speaking with Boebert, Cawthorn and Gosar's staffs 'back to back to back.' But it was only Gosar who they claim tried to strongarm them into planning pro-Trump events, by offering to intervene in a separate law enforcement investigation - but the bargain never materialized. Some of the most damning claims involve Rep. Paul Gosar, who the organizers claim dangled an unrelated pardon over their heads to encourage them to plan their rallies Gosar has been one of Trump's most vocal supporters in Congress. He was billed at a speaker for another January 6 rally, the Wild Protest, whose organizer Ali Alexander named as one of three lawmakers who helped him plan how to 'put maximum pressure on Congress while they were voting' to certify the election results. The other two were Biggs and Brooks. One of the organizers said Gosar made it seem like 'he'd spoken to the president about it in the Oval in a meeting about pardons and that our names came up.' 'They were working on submitting the paperwork and getting members of the House Freedom Caucus to sign on as a show of support.' They added, 'Our impression was that it was a done deal.' The House Freedom Caucus is chaired by Biggs, one of the lawmakers accused in the report. But the pair said Gosar offered a 'blanket pardon' on multiple occasions. Once, they claim he said: 'I was just going over the list of pardons and we just wanted to tell you guys how much we appreciate all the hard work youve been doing.' The organizers expressed disappointment that the dentist-turned-lawmaker never followed up on his promise. 'I would have done it either way with or without the pardon,' one person said. 'I do truly believe in this country, but to use something like that and put that out on the table when someone is so desperate, its really not good business.' In Sunday's report Rolling Stone noted that it 'obtained documentary evidence' to support claims that Gosar and Boebert were in contact with them. An earlier report from April claimed that Gosar had asked Trump for a pre-emptive pardon over the events of January 6. House Freedom Caucus chair Rep. Andy Biggs and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene are among two of the lawmakers specifically named by the organizers Gosar's chief of staff Thomas Van Flein was one of those subpoenaed by the House for documents and communications on the riot. The two sources claim Val Flein was 'personally involved' in the pardon conversation and promoted baseless election fraud theories. The two Trump rally organizers say Mark Meadows, who was also subpoenaed by the House, could have prevented the violence that broke out that day. 'Meadows was 100 percent made aware of what was going on,' one witness said. 'Hes also like a regular figure in these really tiny groups of national organizers.' He's one of four people 'with close ties to the former president' who the bipartisan House panel is interested in hearing from, in addition to Steve Bannon, former White House aide Dan Scavino and former Pentagon official Kash Patel. Both people said they raised concerns to Meadows over Ali Alexander's planned Wild Protest at the Capitol, which they worried had the potential to result in violence. They claim Alexander 'plowed forward' with his event despite 'making a deal' not to. 'We ended up escalating that to everybody we could, including Meadows,' one person said. The report details allegations from a 'separate third source' working with the House committee who said Trump rally organizer Kylie Kremer 'boasted that she was going to meet with Meadows at the White House ahead of the rally.' The witnesses allege that Katrina Pierson, who worked for Trump's 2016 and 2020 campaigns and also spoke at the January 6 rally, was a 'primary' contact for them who also had the president's ear. They described Pierson as 'our go-to girl.' Former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows and former Trump campaign aide Katrina Pierson were also named as having communicated with rally organizers 'She was like our primary advocate,' they said. But the most extensive allegations in the report detail the alleged extent to which members of Congress communicated with pro-Trump activists ahead of the insurrection. Between the election and the certification, the two planners claim members of Congress and their staff gave advice on which rallies to hold states in in order to put 'pressure' on potentially 'persuadable' senators. However, despite the chaotic way the day unfolded, the organizers maintain that 'the Capitol was never in place' and that the demonstrations were solely aimed at being outside the White House. They said it was planned in a 'variety of calls' between them and Gosar, Greene and Brooks. The Wild Protest, whose event website lists Gosar as a speaker along with Greene, Boebert and Trump ally Roger Stone, was scheduled to take place on the Capitol lawn. Greene's office told Rolling Stone, 'Congresswoman Greene and her staff were focused on the Congressional election objection on the House floor and had nothing to do with planning of any protest.' The two witnesses implied that it was pro-Trump activist Ali Alexander's rally at the Capitol that led to the violent insurrection One of the organizers who spoke with the outlet said he wants to go public with their allegations. 'I have no problem openly testifying,' they said. The other person said they want the House committee to 'uncover the truth about what happened at the Capitol that day.' 'It's clear that a lot of bad actors set out to cause chaos,' the person complained. 'They made us all look like s**t.' They claim that on January 6, once Trump asked his supports to march on the Capitol, their reaction was one of 'let's get the f**k out of here.' That day, the ex-president encouraged his supporters to 'fight like hell' and at one point said, 'I know that everyone here will soon be marching over to the Capitol building to peacefully and patriotically make your voices heard.' Both witnesses have also said they still support Trump but feel betrayed by him They accused Democrats of using 'tactics to disrupt their political opposition in ways that frankly were completely unacceptable' including social media censorship and changes to voting requirements in light of the COVID pandemic. Of the ex-president, they said: 'I do feel kind of abandoned by Trump.' 'I'm actually pretty pissed about it and I'm pissed at him,' the person said. A beach brawl took a bizarre turn over the weekend when a man used a mini alligator as a weapon against his opponent. The man was in a fight with another beachgoer when he tried to use a caiman to attack his adversary. The pair were locked in a tussle on Macumba beach in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. As a lifeguard attempted to end the fight, the caiman-wielding fighter thrust the animal towards his bare-chested opponent. The caiman was later captured by firefighters who set it free in the citys municipal park. A man in Brazil looked to nature as he fought in a brawl on Macumba beach on the west side of Rio de Janeiro, using a mini alligator, or caiman, as a weapon It was an odd day for this caiman, as the beast was used as a prop in a battle between two beachgoers The two men were fighting in the sand while a lifeguard tried to calm them down. In the background the rocky hill of Pontal Stone can be seen, which has panoramic views of the city and the south Atlantic Ocean Although he was initially thrown to the floor, the man in a blue polo shirt, red swimming trunks and a black cap got back on his feet with his newfound weapon The man jabbed the caiman in his adversary's face with quick thrusts as the small animal bared its spiky teeth Britains first black train driver has been honoured with a blue plaque at King's Cross station. Jamaican-born Wilston Samuel Jackson, known as Bill, began maintaining trains shortly after moving to London in 1952 and became a driver ten years later. He had a long and successful career on the railway, including driving the famous Flying Scotsman locomotive. He had a long and successful career on the railway, including driving the famous Flying Scotsman locomotive Britains first black train driver - Jamaican-born Wilston Samuel Jackson, known as Bill - has been honoured with a blue plaque at King's Cross station Mr Jackson began maintaining trains shortly after moving to London in 1952 and became a driver ten years later Speaking at the unveiling ceremony of his plaque at London Kings Cross station on Monday, Mr Jacksons youngest daughter, Polly Jackson, said: 'My father dedicated much of his life to the railway. 'He was never late or missed a day, and he was so proud of his work, despite the many challenges he faced. 'Today was a fitting tribute to his life and career.' Mr Jackson worked his way up from his initial maintenance role to a position managing train boilers. This involved spending days shovelling coal in hot and filthy conditions after which he returned home to study for his driver exams. He was not the first black person to aspire to be a train driver in Britain but many saw their applications blocked due to racism. Mr Jacksons appointment in 1962 sparked a furious reaction from some of his white colleagues who unsuccessfully attempted to prevent white men from working under him. Two years later he broke both his legs when his train crashed into the back of a stationary goods train near Finsbury Park, north London, after a signalman mistakenly gave a green light. After a long recovery he returned to the railway, before emigrating with his family to Zambia where he taught people how to drive trains. He died in September 2018 aged 91. Andrew Haines, Network Rail chief executive, said: 'I have been fascinated to learn about Wilstons life and career. 'He was a real trailblazer for our industry and we owe him a huge debt of gratitude for his incredible service, made even more remarkable by the many obstacles he had to overcome. Josiah Jackson, Lawrence Hollingsworth and Sofia Hollingsworth stand underneath a plaque to commemorate their great grandfather Wilston Samuel Jackson 'This plaque is a fitting tribute to his career, and I hope it helps to inspire the next generation of train drivers and railway workers from minority ethnic backgrounds, because despite some progress we know they remain under-represented in our industry.' According to train drivers union Aslef, just 10% of Britains train drivers are from black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds. Aslef general secretary Mick Whelan said: 'We are incredibly proud to have had Wilston as one of our own, a dedicated driver with an illustrious and ground-breaking career. 'Nearly 60 years after Wilston earned his key, just 10% of train drivers in England, Scotland and Wales come from an ethnic minority. 'Aslef continues to campaign for change across the sector and for a driving grade that represents 21st century Britain. 'This blue plaque is fitting recognition of that.' The husband of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe claimed police tried to move him on from his protest outside the Foreign Office and says he will stay until the Government responds. Richard Ratcliffe has today been pictured outside the Foreign Office in London on day two of his latest hunger strike and has been joined by their daughter Gabriella. The father says police officers attempted to remove him at 3.45am this morning but that he intends to stay until the Government takes action, according to the Standard. Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a British-Iranian dual national, has been in custody in the country since 2016 after being accused of plotting to overthrow the government. Richard Ratcliffe, pictured with daughter Gabriella, has today been pictured outside the Foreign Office and says he intends to sleep in a tent at night until the Government responds Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe (R) lost her appeal against a second jail sentence earlier this month and her husband Richard (L) admits he is 'shocked' and 'angry' as he launches his hunger strike She was taking her daughter Gabriella to see her family when she was arrested and was sentenced to five years in prison shortly afterwards, spending four years in Evin Prison and one under house arrest. According to her family, she was told by Iranian authorities that she was being detained because of the UK's failure to pay an outstanding 400million debt to Iran. Mr Ratcliffe has been pictured outside the Foreign Office with signs demanding help from the Prime Minister. 'I'm staying until the Government responds,' he told the Standard on Monday. 'I'm hoping that response is to engage with the demands and not to tell the police to move me on.' One sign lists four demands for Boris Johnson, asking the government to 'acknowledge Nazanin and the others as hostages, punish the perpetrators, keep the promise to settle the debt and commit to end state hostage taking in JCPOA negotiations'. Mr Ratcliffe (pictured) says police officers attempted to move him on at 3.45am this morning JCPOA refers to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action and is more commonly known as the Iranian nuclear deal - an agreement reached between Iran and the EU in 2015. Mr Ratcliffe said his wife's prolonged incarceration was 'upsetting' for his daughter, adding: 'She asked if she could sleep in the tent as well. 'The longer it goes on the more of a detrimental affect it has on her. It is upsetting. 'There is a lot of stuff she is exposed to but she is young enough not to dwell on it too much at the moment.' On a petition on Change.Org, which has more than 3.5 million signatures as of Sunday afternoon, Mr Ratcliffe has written: 'Two years ago I went on hunger strike in front of the Iranian Embassy, on the eve of Boris Johnson taking over as Prime Minister. Richard Ratcliffe's daughter Gabrielle joined her father outside the Foreign Office earlier today Mr Ratcliffe says his family is caught in a dispute between states and is being let down by UK 'Two years ago we were allowed to camp in front of Iranian Embassy for 15 days, much to their considerable anger. 'But it got Gabriella home. We are now giving the UK government the same treatment. 'In truth, I never expected to have to do a hunger strike twice. It is not a normal act. 'It seems extraordinary the need to adopt the same tactics to persuade government here, to cut through the accountability gap. 'Of course Iran still remains the primary abuser in Nazanin's case. But our family is caught in a dispute between two states. 'The UK is also letting us down. 'It is increasingly clear that Nazanin's case could have been solved many months ago, but for other diplomatic agendas. 'The PM needs to take responsibility for that. Who does the Government answer to for the choices it makes? Who takes responsibility?' Labour MP Tulip Siddiq tweeted on Sunday afternoon: 'My heart breaks to write this, but once again my constituent Richard Ratcliffe has been forced to go on hunger strike because of the Government's inaction and failure to #FreeNazanin. 'It should never have come to this.' Sacha Deshmukh, chief executive of Amnesty International UK, said: 'It's so incredibly upsetting that it's come to this. 'Like Richard, we've grown tired of hearing ministers saying they're 'doing all they can' for Nazanin and other arbitrarily-detained Britons in Iran - it doesn't look like that to us, and it certainly hasn't produced results.' Nazanin was with daughter Gabriella, now six, (pictured together during a temporary release in 2018) who was with relatives in Iran until eventually coming home to her father in 2019 He said the Government should set out a clearly articulated strategy for how it intends to secure the release of Ms Zaghari-Ratcliffe and other British nationals detained in Iran. 'We call on Boris Johnson, Liz Truss and other ministers to take the time to come out of their offices to visit Richard at his tent. Ministers need to hear first-hand how desperate this situation is,' Mr Deshmukh said. A spokeswoman for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), said: 'Iran's decision to proceed with these baseless charges against Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe is an appalling continuation of the cruel ordeal she is going through. 'Instead of threatening to return Nazanin to prison Iran must release her permanently so she can return home. 'We are doing all we can to help Nazanin get home to her young daughter and family and we will continue to press Iran on this point.' Talk show host John Oliver has attacked cops who've refused to get vaccines and accused them of hypocrisy, even as cities including Chicago face losing thousands of officers due to stand-offs over mandates. Speaking on his show Last Week Tonight on Sunday, the British comic said: 'It is true that all over the country, a small number of police officers have received disproportionate coverage after threatening to resign over COVID mandates. 'They framed this as a matter of individual liberty, even in cases where very little was being asked of them.' Oliver, who shared multiple statistics and clips throughout his diatribe, continued: 'There is also the key matter of fact that the police are supposed to keep the public safe. That is the point of their jobs, yet some don't seem to give much of a s*** about that.' In his show on Sunday, John Oliver slammed police officers who are quitting over COVID vaccine mandates 'The constant refrain we hear from cops every time they kill an unarmed black person is "They should have complied with commands," because as long as you comply, things will supposedly go well. 'But that only seems to work one way. 'When officers are asked to follow simple rules or face consequences, a not insignificant amount of them flip their s***.' 'So you know what, if an officer wants to quit over this, f****** let them,' Oliver said. 'Let the individuals who clearly don't care about public safety stop being in charge of public safety. It's really that simple. 'And that is a motherf***** walkie drop.' He was referring to a clip shot by a Washington State trooper who filmed himself resigning by dropping his walkie talkie while sat in his cruiser. Oliver also took a dim view of that incident, saying: 'Ooh, a walkie drop, you don't see many of those. And that's probably because it looks pathetic. 'Dropping a microphone is inherently exciting - you get a thud as it hits the floor and the cheer of the crowd. But a walkie drop? That's just a sad man sitting in a dark car dropping an object directly on his penis.' 'But it is true that all over the country, a small number of police officers have received disproportionate coverage after threatening to resign over COVID mandates,' Oliver continued. 'They framed this as a matter of individual liberty, even in cases where very little was being asked of them.' He said that in Chicago, officers were 'merely asked to fill out a form listing their vaccination status on a portal and for now can still work if they are unvaccinated so long as they are regularly tested.' But, as the Chicago Sun Times reported, 26 officers are on a no-pay status for refusing to report their vaccination status and face possible termination, after Fraternal Order of Police President John Catanzara urged officers not to comply. He played one video of a Seattle trooper resigning while in his patrol car Chicago police officers have protested the vaccine mandate, even though they are allowed to stay on the force if they submit to testing twice a week Seattle police hung 'Don't tread on me' flags to protest the city's vaccine mandate Catanzara effectively dared the city's embattled mayor Lori Lightfoot to fire thousands of cops he says will ignore the edict, whose deadline passed last week. Crimes in the city have rocketed by 68 per cent in two years - with murder alone up 56 per cent over that period, with Lightfoot set to take further heat if the mandate prompts many of the city's 13,000 officers to resign. In a video shared last week, Catanzara said: 'We're in America, goddammit. We don't want to be forced to do anything. Period. 'This ain't Nazi f****** Germany. 'Step into the fucking showers. The pills won't hurt you. What the f***.' Catanzara has since issued a video apology over the Nazi comparison, but continues to push his anti-mandate stance. He called on cops who are members of his union to flood the city with religious exemption requests the day before the deadline, and led a protest on Monday. Catanzara has said he is personally pro-vaccine, but against having the shots mandated on public officials. Oliver then turned his attention to Catanzara, and highlighted how the union boss has been suspended eight times and has received more misconduct complaints per year of service than 96 percent of the force. Oliver went on to bring up a statistic reported by CNN that nearly four times as many officers have died from COVID-19 since than from gun violence since the pandemic began, with 240 so far this year, compared to 50 gunfire deaths. Fraternal Order of Police President John Catanzara urged Chicago police officers not to comply with the city's vaccine mandate Studies have shown that 240 police officers have died of COVID this year, compared to 50 who died from gunfire But police leadership in Chicago are still trying to get all of the police officers to comply with its mandate, meeting individually with each employee not entered into the portal. They first counsel the officers on what the city's vaccine mandate requires, before sending them to human resources to enter a no-pay status and finally directly ordering to report to the portal from the bureau of internal affairs. They still have yet to speak with up to 1,000 workers yet to enter their details into the portal, the Sun Times reports. And other major cities are facing similar issues. In Los Angeles, more than 2,600 employees have said they intended to get a religious exemption, according to the New York Times, and as of last Monday, 24 officers in Seattle have not shown proof of vaccination. Meanwhile, in New York City, a total of 16,500 employees - or about 30 percent of the agency's total workforce of 36,000 officers and 19,000 civilians - have refused to get vaccinated ahead of the October 29 deadline to do so, according to Quartz. Patrick Lynch, president of the Police Benevolent Association said in a statement it will proceed with 'legal action to protect our members' rights.' But across the United States, 66.4 percent of eligible Americans have received at least one dose of the COVID vaccine and 57.4 percent are fully vaccinated, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control. COVID cases are also on a decline - with 77,933 new cases reported on Friday, and 1,277 new deaths. Still, the CDC warns, community transmission remains high. The sound of gunfire is becoming increasingly familiar across Portland as shootings and homicides reach new records not seen since 1987, with no sign of slowing down, as two people died in a shooting on Sunday. Portland Police Bureau (PPB) arrested a 45-year-old man on murder charges in connection to the deaths of two people in an apartment in the Old Town neighborhood early Sunday morning. PPB did not immediately release details on the events leading up to the shooting, but it did specify that the two casualties are expected to be the 71st and 72nd homicides of 2021 in Portland. Michael S. VanDomelen, of Portland, was charged and booked in the Multnomah County Detention Center on two counts of first-degree murder. Around 6:25 a.m., local authorities responded to reports of shots being fired inside an apartment complex in the area. Once they had arrived, police found two victims who were already pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics. Police detained the suspect, VanDomelen, Sunday morning. The victims, a man and a woman, will be identified at a later time after the Oregon State Medical Examiner confirms their names and contacts their families. The shooting is just one of many others as Portland's police department is struggling to keep up with local crime amid an acute staffing shortage and budget cuts following calls to 'defund the police' - city leaders slashed $27 million from the police budget in 2020, and crime is showing no sign of slowing down. Portland has seen a surge in gun violence during the coronavirus pandemic, with 2021 reaching historic levels of people killed (71), expecting to top a 1987 stat. In a pre-pandemic era (2019), the amount of homicides was half the amount (36) as there are in the city today. Portland has also been rocked by violent protests, including a 100-person protest on October 12 that caused $500,000 in damage (pictured) Last Tuesday, at least 100 self-proclaimed anarchists tore through the city, setting dumpsters aflame, smashing windows and causing $500,000 in damage. Police say 35 separate locations were targeted as the force stood idle due to a new state law that restricts how law enforcement can respond to riots. At the same time, Oregon's largest city is also implementing novel solutions aimed at improving safety, including adding traffic barrels to prevent drive-by shootings and suspending minor traffic stops so officers can focus on immediate threats. So far this year, Portland has had about 1,000 shootings, 314 people have been injured by bullets, and firearms have accounted for three-quarters of homicides. Police attribute much of the gunfire to gangs, fights and retaliation killings, but they are also affecting bystanders. Nationally, homicides increased by nearly 30 percent from 2019 to 2020, based on FBI data. However, in Portland, deadly violence is increasing at a faster rate than nearly all major cities, with an 83 percent increase in homicides in 2020. Portland has seen more homicides in 2021 than some larger cities, including San Francisco, and twice as many slayings as its larger neighbor, Seattle. Other hard-hit Western cities include the Albuquerque, New Mexico, metro area, which has about 679,000 residents and has seen a record 97 homicides this year. Portland police have struggled to quell the violence with a force 128 officers below its authorized strength. Since August 2020, about 200 officers have left the department. Many, in their exit interviews, cited low morale, lack of support from city officials and burnout from months of racial justice protests, which often ended in plumes of tear gas before largely dying down since summer. 'We are running on fumes. There's no way we can investigate thoroughly, and correctly, all these shootings,' said Daryl Turner, executive director of Portland's police union. Police say the law ties their hands as it prohibits them from using crowd control techniques like pepper spray or tear gas. Instead, law enforcement agencies are told to rely on follow-up investigations to hold rioters accountable A mob amok through the streets on October 12 and shattered windows, set fires and sprayed graffiti messages like 'anarchy means attack,' 'riots work' (pictured) and 'breaking windows is good' Turner says the city will need to hire 840 officers over the next five years to implement proper community policing and keep Portland safe. Besides staffing, Turner said the increase in violence is directly related to budget cuts. Amid booming calls to defund the police, city leaders slashed $27 million from the police budget last year - $11 million due to the pandemic-caused budget crisis - a decision that Turner says has cost lives. Officials also disbanded a specialized unit focused on curbing gun violence, which had long faced criticism for disproportionately targeting people of color. Insufficient manpower and funds have forced officials to implement nontraditional ideas in an attempt to hinder gun violence. More traffic barrels were installed this month in a southeast Portland neighborhood plagued by shootings, some linked to high-speed drivers. City Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty said they hope to slow activity at gun violence hot spots and make it harder to 'both commit a crime and get away with it.' 'This is an all-hands-on deck situation where government needs to dig deep, think creatively,' Hardesty said. 'From police to community-based organizations to infrastructure design - we all have a role to play in this emergency.' Painted messages encouraging violence against police are no longer uncommon to come across in the city, including one that reads 'kill cops' (pictured) Police say 35 separate locations were targeted in the destruction Tuesday night, October 12 - including banks, retail stores, coffee shops and government buildings. Above is the damage done to Portland's 10th-tallest building, the Moda Tower In addition, Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler announced in June that officers are no longer being directed to stop drivers for low-level traffic violations. Wheeler and Police Chief Chuck Lovell said this was in response to data showing a disproportionate impact on Black drivers, but also because the city doesn't have enough officers. But experts, police and residents say these measures aren't nearly enough to counter the most violent year in the city's modern history. 'This past year has shattered anything that I've ever witnessed,' said Irving, the outreach worker and a former gang member. He said he does not see gun violence slowing without more officers on the street and a specialized gun violence unit, along with investments in community-based organizations. Four cultural institutions in Portland's Old Town Chinatown neighborhood recently sent a letter to officials, demanding immediate action to keep visitors, staff and volunteers safe. The increasing violence and pleas for cities to do more have compelled some areas to switch from defunding police departments to restoring funding to them. On October 16, Lovell posted the above tweet addressing Portland's gun violence. The city has seen more than 1,000 shootings over the past year In major cities across the country, portions of police budgets are being restored. From Los Angeles to New York, some law enforcement departments that underwent massive budget cuts, amid nationwide protests over the murder of George Floyd last year, have had local leaders restore funds or implement new programs or units. In Portland, there's money available for public safety in the form of a $60 million general fund excess balance. The City Council can use half the money, which came from business taxes last year and was far more than anticipated, however it wants. Whether a significant portion will go to the police bureau has yet to be determined. 'We have to realize that everybody has a role, from community members to the police department,' Irving said. 'No one entity is going to solve gun violence.' Poland has made exaggerated claims that the EU is starting World War Three by withholding cash in a bitter row over the rule of law. Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki upset the bloc earlier this month after his country's Supreme Court ruled that EU treaties were incompatible with the Polish constitution. The move led to fears of a 'Polexit' and a break-up of the EU after the Warsaw ruling that national law takes precedence over diktats from Brussels. After the EU threatened sanctions against Poland, Morawiecki responded with outlandish comments that the bloc is starting WWIII and 'putting a gun to our head'. When asked if Poland could use its veto power to block legislation in retaliation, Morawiecki told the Financial Times: 'If they start the third world war, we are going to defend our rights with any weapons which are at our disposal.' Poland has warned the EU it is starting World War Three by withholding cash in a bitter row over the rule of law. Pictured: Mateusz Morawiecki and Angela Merkel EU Commission spokesman Eric Mamer took issue with the violent imagery, saying: 'The EU is a project that very successfully contributed to establishing a lasting peace among its member states. 'There is no place for rhetoric referring to war.' The comments follow years of disputes over changes Poland's government has made to the country's courts. The EU believes the changes erode democratic checks and balances, and the European Commission is holding up billions of euros to Poland earmarked in a pandemic recovery plan. Morawiecki stands alongside Ursula von der Leyen, Angela Merkel and Emmanuel Macron during the leaders' summit in Brussels on Friday Which EU laws is Poland disputing? Article 1 What is it? This sets out the founding principle of the EU, which is to create a Union and develop 'an ever closer union among the peoples of Europe.' In dispute: Poland argues the way the law is being applied blocks the country from applying its own constitution and could force it to apply unconstitutional laws laid down by EU courts What Poland's court said: The EU is acting outside of its remit by preventing the country from acting as a sovereign state, and that Polish law should take precedence Article 4 What is it? This establishes the principle of 'sincere cooperation' between states which must 'work together to implement' EU laws. In dispute: Poland again argues that the way the law is being interpreted will stop it from applying its own laws or compel it to apply unconstitutional laws if they are laid down by EU courts Court ruling: Judges again found the EU is acting outside of its remit by preventing the country from acting as a sovereign state, and that Polish law must take precedence Article 19 What is it? This establishes the authority of the European Court of Justice which 'shall ensure that in the interpretation and application of... the law is observed.' In dispute: Poland says the article, as applied, grants the EU the power to oversee the appointment of judges made by the Polish President Court ruling: Judges found that, by interfering in the process of appointing judges, the EU is preventing Poland from acting as a sovereign nation and that the President's decision-making must take precedence Advertisement Morawiecki faced less sanguine criticism from his Polish political opponents, many of whom are deeply worried about Poland's increasing isolation within the EU. 'I have the impression that Mr Morawiecki has recently had some problems with English or that he has lost his mind,' tweeted Marek Belka, a former left-wing Polish prime minister who is now a member of the European Parliament. Donald Tusk, the head of the leading opposition party in Poland, reacted to the 'war' comment by saying: 'In politics, stupidity is the cause of most serious misfortunes.' The government spokesman, Piotr Muller, told Polish media that the prime minister's comment amounted to hyperbole and should not be taken literally. The nationalist ruling party in Poland, Law and Justice, has been in conflict with Brussels since winning power in 2015 over a number of matters, including migration and LGBT rights. The longest running dispute, however, has centred on the Polish governments attempts to take political control of the judiciary. The matter came to a head earlier this month when the constitutional court ruled that some key parts of EU law are not compatible with the nation's constitution. The ruling by a court filled with ruling party's loyalists was made after Morawiecki asked it to rule on whether EU or national law has primacy. Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said last week that it was the first time ever that a national court found 'that the EU treaties are incompatible with the national constitution.' 'This ruling calls into question the foundations of the European Union,' von der Leyen said. 'It is a direct challenge to the unity of the European legal order.' Poland's decision has cast the Eastern European nation's future in the EU into doubt, six years after the UK voted to leave the bloc in 2016 and kickstarted a continent-wide debate about the role of the 27-nation bloc. Warsaw has long been at odds with Brussels over democratic standards and the independence of its judiciary. Opinion polls show Poles are overwhelmingly EU-enthusiastic, with over 80 percent backing membership of the bloc that has given their country billions of euros in subsidies, turbo-charging its development. Donald Tusk, the head of the leading opposition party in Poland, reacted strongly to the bellicose comments But relations have become increasingly strained since the populist Law and Justice (PiS) party came to power. Morawiecki earlier this year had asked the Constitutional Court to rule on the primacy of EU law following a series of rulings from the bloc's top court against Poland's disputed judicial reforms. The Constitutional Court itself underwent controversial reforms in 2016 designed by the PiS government, leading critics both in Poland and abroad to argue it is stacked with PiS allies. A cyclist was attacked by a group of six thugs attempting to steal his bike by throwing rocks and hitting him with sticks - as New York's crime wave persists. The New York City Police department released security footage of the moment the gang of six individuals push the 33-year-old off of his bike. The cyclist had been making his way along the sidewalk in the vicinity of East 152 Street and Tinton Avenue in the Bronx around 12.30pm on October 14 when he was attacked. In the footage, the gang tried to pick the bike up off the floor after having pushed the cyclist. Security footage captured the moment a gang of six attacked a cyclist in the Bronx on October 14, with one thug even seen throwing a rock With the 33-year-old refusing to give up his property to the group, the thugs leave and return with objects to be used to try and take the bike by force. Despite their attack, the group were unable to take the bike from the cyclist and fled down the road. Police have said the victim was hit with 'various objects including sticks, bottles, and unknown cutting instruments'. They added: 'The victim sustained lacerations to the forearm and was removed by EMS to NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln in stable condition.' The New York Police Department released the security footage as well as images of six people they are seeking in connection with the incident Six images were released by the NYPD of people they are searching for in connection with the incident The security footage and images of six people wanted in connection with the attack have been released by the police as they appeal for information. Anyone with information in regard to this incident is asked to call the NYPD's Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477) or for Spanish, 1-888-57-PISTA (74782). Information can also be submitted by logging onto the CrimeStoppers website or on Twitter @NYPDTips. All calls are strictly confidential. The attempted theft is part of New Yorks growing crime wave as lawlessness continues to grip the city. Security footage showed the moment the gang members surrounded the cyclist on a sidewalk in the Bronx after having pushed him from his bike. One person, wearing a black top can be seen holding a large stick Recently released NYPD crime statistics for September 2021 showed the city had 1,526 shooting victims this year through October 17, nearly double the amount of gun violence victims through the same time as 2019, which had 760. There were 1,507 shooting victims through October 17 of last year. The data recorded 89 shooting victims 17-years-old and younger from January 1 to September 26 of this year. In 2019, there were 45 shooting victims 17-years-old and younger during the same time period. Of those injured in shootings, 16 young people were killed by gun violence between January 1 and September 26 - an increase of more than 136% compared with the same time period in 2019, when three children or teens were killed. The attempted bike theft is the latest incident in a string of crimes to have plagued New York over the last year. Crime has sky rocketed in New York City, while rates have stayed relatively consistent with last year, they have more than doubled since 2019 in some cases including shooting victims Violent crime has continued to escalate in New York City, with total crime up 2.6% in September 2021 compared to September 2020 A map showing the New York City boroughs where crime has increased (in red) and decreased (in green) in September 2021 compared to the same month last year Over the weekend, a thief who tried to rob a smoke shop in the Bronx found himself pinned to the floor and beaten up by members of staff. New York Police Department are currently appealing for help in finding the man who attempted to attack the Convenience Smoke Shop, in the Kingsbridge Heights district on Saturday night at around 11:40pm. The man, in a grey hoodie, was caught on security footage walking into the store and demanding money. When he attempted to leap over the counter, the two men working in the store hauled him to the ground and pummeled him with their fists - the battered thief then apparently ran away. In a separate incident, over the weekend, a thief was caught trying to rob a smoke shop in the Bronx by leaning over the shop counter No injuries were reported and the NYPD is offering a reward of $3,500 for information that leads to the man's arrest. 'WANTED for Attempted Robbery: On Saturday 10/23/21 inside of 1364 Webster Avenue (Convenience Smoke Shop) @npd44pct a unknown individual entered located demanded money and fled location,' the NYPD Crime Stoppers tweeted. 'Call @ 800-577-TIPS or DM NYPDTips Reward up to $3500.' The father of Manchester Arena bomber Salman Abedi 'shaped' his son's extremist beliefs, a senior MI5 officer today told an inquiry. The officer, a senior director general of the security service, said MI5 had carried out an assessment of Ramadan Abedi - a Libyan national who fought against the Gaddafi regime with a militant group once designated a terror organisation by the US. He said the report found that Ramadan had 'likely' influenced the extremist views of son Salman, who killed 22 people when he detonated a suicide bomb in the foyer of the Manchester Arena in 2017. Ramadan, who fled for Libya five weeks before the attack, has so far refused to help the inquiry. The MI5 officer, referred to at the inquiry as 'Witness J', also revealed how security services were aware that Salman had links to a serious crime gang in the city prior to the attack. The inquiry heard from Witness J how MI5 came close to reopening an investigation into Salman's terror links. A meeting was due to take place nine days after Salman carried out the attack, the inquiry heard. The evidence, given from behind a specially made wooden screen to protect the MI5 officer's identity, was heard at the ongoing inquiry into the terror attack. The inquiry is examining whether a probe into Salman should have been re-opened as a subject of interest in 2016, prior to the atrocity. As part of the inquiry officials have been attempting to obtain evidence from friends and family members about Salman's background and how he came to be radicalised. Ramadan Abedi (pictured) is a Libyan national who fought against the Gaddafi regime with a militant group once designated a terror organisation by the US The inquiry heard from Witness J how MI5 came close to reopening an investigation into Salman's (pictured) terror links. A meeting was due to take place nine days after Salman carried out the attack, the inquiry heard The hearing had earlier heard how Salman's brother, Ismail Abedi, had fled the country after being served a notice demanding he attend the inquiry. He said he would only help the inquiry if he was given immunity from prosecution - a request that was rejected. Their brother, Hashem, has been jailed for life for helping Salman carry out the 2017 attack. But asked about their father, Ramada, Witness J told the inquiry today: 'Salman Abedi was assessed as likely his extreme views were informed by his father, Ramadan Abedi'. Witness J also told the inquiry it was 'reasonable' not to re-open an investigation into Salman after two separate pieces of intelligence were received about him in the months before the attack. Salman was in touch, directly and indirectly, with six different 'subjects of interest' in the years before the attack, officer said. The senior officer also revealed that Abedi had links to a serious crime gang in the city. Abedi was investigated as a 'subject of interest' himself in 2014 and briefly in 2015 and a meeting to decide whether to re-open his case was days away when he launched his attack. The intelligence received in the months before the attack was assessed at the time to relate to 'non-nefarious activity' or 'non-terrorist criminality' on his part. Paul Greaney QC, for the inquiry said that 'in retrospect this intelligence was highly relevant to the planned attack, but the significance of it was not fully appreciated at the time.' The hearing had earlier heard how Salman's brother, Ismail Abedi (pictured), had fled the country after being served a notice demanding he attend the inquiry But Witness J told the inquiry: 'This was fragments of the picture held at the time. In our post-attack work, looking back, we can see if was highly relevant to the planned attack.' Asked if he would make the same assessment 'not applying hindsight and judgment retrospectively', the officer said: 'In our view it was a reasonable judgment to make that he was not associated with terrorism and reasonable not to reopen the investigation on that basis.' The officer, one of three director generals, gave evidence from inside a specially built wooden box to a court room at Manchester Magistrates Court, packed with members of the victims' families and lawyers. Earlier he told the inquiry: 'We assess that Salman Abedi was part of a group of individuals in South Manchester who had links to a serious crime gang.' The officer added: 'The challenge for us is when individuals are involved in terrorism and crime, some of their behaviour and activity can look the same. 'It can be difficult to distinguish, for example drug dealing and fraud from national security activity.' Beginning on December 2013, Abedi's phone number was picked up as linked to 'Subject of Interest A' who was suspected of planning to travel to Syria to join the fighting. He appeared again in 2015, this time after meeting on a number of occasions with 'Subject of Interest B' who was previously associated with al-Qaeda and being investigated for facilitating travel to Syria. The final appearance was as an associated of 'longstanding' subject of investigation who had affiliations to a group in Libya, described as 'Subject of Interest C.' The second two individuals were said to have had a radicalising influence on Abedi but are not thought to have known about his attack plans. Mr Greaney told the inquiry that 'the security service's general assessment on the intelligence picture as it stands is that no one other than Salman Abedi and Hashem Abedi', his brother serving life in jail for helping building the bomb, 'were knowingly involved in the attack plot.' In October 2015, Abedi was thought to have had direct links to a senior ISIS figure in Libya and opened again as a subjects of interest but the case was closed the same day when it was found that the links were through a third person. In April 2016, January 2017, and April 2017, Abedi was identified as a 'contact of a contact' with three individual subjects of interest - the first providing financial support to Syria, the second believed to previously have travel to Syria and the third allegedly facilitating travel to Syria. A total of 22 people, many of them children, died in the terror attack at the Manchester Arena on May 22 2017. Pictured: Armed police stand guard outside the arena following the terror attack in 2017 The terror attack claimed 22 lives at Manchester Arena and injured hundreds more On March 3 2017, Salman Abedi was one of 687 subjects of interest to hit a 'priority indicator' for his case to be re-opened as part of Operation Clematis, a result of information received a year earlier. On May 1, three weeks before the attack, MI5 triaged Abedi's case and decided it met the criteria to be re-opened, but he was correctly believed to be overseas, probably in Libya. On May 8, Abedi was one of 26 individuals referred to Operation Daffodil for consideration of further 'low level' investigation into whether he had re-engaged with Islamist extremism. His case was due to be considered by an MI5 team on May 31, nine days after the attack, but the meeting was 'tragically overtaken by events,' Mr Greaney told the inquiry. Witness J said the Clematis process 'was a relatively new process designed to assess the risk of individuals not being investigated.' Running the process on closed subjects of interest too frequently would 'potentially have a had an effect on priority investigations' he added. The officer described how a report by the Joint Analysis and Terrorism Centre (JTAC), a part of MI5, in 2010 highlighted the 'close proximity between violent extremism and criminal gangs in Manchester. Sir John Saunders, the inquiry chairman has ruled that there is 'centrally important material' relevant to the question of whether MI5 could have prevented the attacks that cannot be revealed to the public. Abedi's other brother, Hashem Abedi, was previously found guilty of 22 counts of murder relating to the attack As a result, for the first time in an inquest or inquiry since 9/11, some of the hearings will take place behind closed doors. The inquiry is examining whether Salman Abedi should have been re-opened as a subject of interest in 2016, in light of what was known by MI5 and police at that time. A second issue will be whether Abedi should have been re-opened as a subject of interest in the first few months of 2017 in response to information received on two occasions. The last issue is whether Abedi should have been put on a 'ports action' list in 2017 which would have alerted police to his return from Libya, four days before the attack The inquiry continues. Advertisement Facebook the company is losing control of Facebook the product - not to mention the last shreds of its carefully crafted, decade-old image as a benevolent company just wanting to connect the world. Thousands of pages of internal documents provided to Congress by a former employee depict an internally conflicted company where data on the harms it causes is abundant, but solutions, much less the will to act on them, are halting at best. The crisis exposed by the documents shows how Facebook, despite its regularly avowed good intentions, appears to have slow-walked or sidelined efforts to address real harms the social network has magnified and sometimes created. They reveal numerous instances where researchers and rank-and-file workers uncovered deep-seated problems that the company then overlooked or ignored. Final responsibility for this state of affairs rests with CEO Mark Zuckerberg, who holds what one former employee described as dictatorial power over a corporation that collects data on and provides free services to roughly three billion people around the world. 'Ultimately, it rests with Mark and whatever his prerogative is - and it has always been to grow, to increase his power and his reach,' said Jennifer Grygiel, a Syracuse University communications professor who's followed Facebook closely for years. Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen speaks to the joint committee for the Draft Online Safety Bill in London today Mr Zuckerberg has an ironclad hold on Facebook Inc. He holds the majority of the company's voting shares, controls its board of directors and has increasingly surrounded himself with executives who don't appear to question his vision. But he has so far been unable to address stagnating user growth and shrinking engagement for Facebook the product in key areas such as the United States and Europe. Facebook whistleblower says social network makes hate 'unquestionably worse' Facebook has been accused of being 'very good at dancing with data' and making hate 'unquestionably worse' by a former employee turned whistleblower. Frances Haugen took questions from MPs and peers this afternoon after releasing thousands of pages of internal research documents she secretly copied before leaving her job in the company's civic integrity unit. The whistleblower shed light on her time with the tech giant, saying there was a 'weak spot' on who you could turn to for escalating concerns. 'When I worked on counter espionage, I saw things where I was concerned about national security and I had no idea how to escalate those because I didn't have faith in my chain of command,' she said. 'I flagged repeatedly when I worked on integrity that I felt that critical teams were understaffed. 'Right now there's no incentives internally, that if you make noise, saying we need more help - people will not get rallied around for help, because everyone is underwater.' Ms Haugen likened failures at Facebook to an oil spill, telling the Draft Online Safety Bill (Joint Committee) that she 'came forward now because now is the most critical time to act'. 'When we see something like an oil spill, that oil spill doesn't make it harder for a society to regulate oil companies. 'But right now the failures of Facebook are making it harder for us to regulate Facebook.' Ms Haugen also dismissed claims that she was being used as 'a plan to get more censorship' on the internet, as the Government works out how to go about regulating tech firms and social media. Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg has previously rejected the claims made by Ms Haugen in the US press and before a congressional committee, saying her attacks on the company were 'misrepresenting' the work it does. Advertisement Worse, the company is losing the attention of its most important demographic - teenagers and young people - with no clear path to gaining it back, its own documents reveal. Young adults engage with Facebook far less than their older cohorts, seeing it as an 'outdated network' with 'irrelevant content' that provides limited value for them, according to a November 2020 internal document. It is 'boring, misleading and negative,' they say. In other words, the young see Facebook as a place for old people. Facebook's user base has been aging faster, on average, than the general population, the company's researchers found. Unless Facebook can find a way to turn this around, its population will continue to get older and young people will find even fewer reasons to sign on, threatening the monthly user figures that are essential to selling ads. Facebook says its products are still widely used by teens, although it acknowledges there's 'tough competition' from TikTok, Snapchat and the like. So it can continue to expand its reach and power, Facebook has pushed for high user growth outside the U.S. and Western Europe. But as it expanded into less familiar parts of the world, the company systematically failed to address or even anticipate the unintended consequences of signing up millions of new users without also providing staff and systems to identify and limit the spread of hate speech, misinformation and calls to violence. In Afghanistan and Myanmar, for instance, extremist language has flourished due to a systemic lack of language support for content moderation, whether that's human or artificial intelligence-driven. In Myanmar, it has been linked to atrocities committed against the country's minority Rohingya Muslim population. But Facebook appears unable to acknowledge, much less prevent, the real-world collateral damage accompanying its untrammeled growth. Those harms include shadowy algorithms that radicalize users, pervasive misinformation and extremism, facilitation of human trafficking, teen suicide and more. Internal efforts to mitigate such problems have often been pushed aside or abandoned when solutions conflict with growth - and, by extension, profit. Backed into a corner with hard evidence from leaked documents, the company has doubled down defending its choices rather than try to fix its problems. 'We do not and we have not prioritized engagement over safety,' Monika Bickert, Facebooks head of global policy management, told The Associated Press this month following congressional testimony from whistleblower and former Facebook employee Frances Haugen. In the days since Ms Haugen's testimony and appearance on '60 Minutes' - during which Mr Zuckerberg posted a video of himself sailing with his wife Priscilla Chan - Facebook has tried to discredit Ms Haugen by repeatedly pointing out that she didn't directly work on many of the problems she revealed. Mark Zuckerberg has an ironclad hold on Facebook Inc. He holds the majority of the company's voting shares, controls its board of directors and has increasingly surrounded himself with executives who don't appear to question his vision 'A curated selection out of millions of documents at Facebook can in no way be used to draw fair conclusions about us,' Facebook tweeted from its public relations 'newsroom' account earlier this month, following the company's discovery that a group of news organizations was working on stories about the internal documents. 'At the heart of these stories is a premise which is false. Yes, were a business and we make profit, but the idea that we do so at the expense of peoples safety or wellbeing misunderstands where our own commercial interests lie,' Facebook said in a prepared statement on Friday. 'The truth is weve invested $13 billion and have over 40,000 people to do one job: keep people safe on Facebook.' Statements like these are the latest sign that Facebook has gotten into what Sophie Zhang, a former Facebook data scientist, described as a 'siege mentality' at the company. A US flag is shown between monitors as workers sit at their desks at Facebook's offices in Menlo Park, California Ms Zhang last year accused the social network of ignoring fake accounts used to undermine foreign elections. With more whistleblowers - notably Haugen - coming forward, it's only gotten worse. 'Facebook has been going through a bit of an authoritarian narrative spiral, where it becomes less responsive to employee criticism, to internal dissent and in some cases cracks down upon it,' said Ms Zhang, who was fired from Facebook in the fall of 2020. 'And this leads to more internal dissent.' 'I have seen many colleagues that are extremely frustrated and angry, while at the same time, feeling powerless and (disheartened) about the current situation,' one employee, whose name was redacted, wrote on an internal message board after Facebook decided last year to leave up incendiary posts by former President Donald Trump that suggested Minneapolis protesters could be shot. 'My view is, if you want to fix Facebook, do it within.' The thumbs up 'Like' logo is shown on a sign at Facebook headquarters in Menlo Park, California This story is based in part on disclosures made to the Securities and Exchange Commission and provided to Congress in redacted form by Haugens legal counsel. The redacted versions received by Congress were obtained by a consortium of news organizations, including The Associated Press. They detail painstakingly collected data on problems as wide-ranging as the trafficking of domestic workers in the Middle East, an over-correction in crackdowns on Arabic content that critics say muzzles free speech while hate speech and abuse flourish, and rampant anti-vaccine misinformation that researchers found could have been easily tamped down with subtle changes in how users view posts on their feed. The company insists it 'does not conduct research and then systematically and willfully ignore it if the findings are inconvenient for the company.' This claim, Facebook said in a statement, can 'only be made by cherry-picking selective quotes from individual pieces of leaked material in a way that presents complex and nuanced issues as if there is only ever one right answer.' Facebook's user base has been aging faster, on average, than the general population, the company's researchers found Ms Haugen, who testified before the Senate this month that Facebooks products 'harm children, stoke division and weaken our democracy,' said the company should declare 'moral bankruptcy' if it is to move forward from all this. At this stage, that seems unlikely. There is a deep-seated conflict between profit and people within Facebook - and the company does not appear to be ready to give up on its narrative that its good for the world even as it regularly makes decisions intended to maximize growth. 'Facebook did regular surveys of its employees - what percentage of employees believe that Facebook is making the world a better place,' Ms Zhang recalled. 'It was around 70 per cent when I joined. It was around 50 percent when I left,' said Ms Zhang, who was at the company for more than two years before she was fired in the fall of 2020. Facebook has not said where the number stands today. The family of an 11-year-old girl who became pregnant after her 61-year-old step-grandfather allegedly raped her has refused to let her have an abortion. The young girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is more than five months pregnant. She was allegedly raped by her stepfather's parent, who is half a century older than her, in the Bolivian town of Yapacani, near Santa Cruz, in the centre of the South American country. The girl's family had accepted the abortion at first but changed its mind over the weekend and signed their consent to continue the pregnancy. Women's House chief, Ana Paola Garcia, said to newspaper EFE the young girl told one of her cousins 'she felt strange movements in her belly'. The family of an 11-year-old girl who became pregnant after her 61-year-old step-grandfather allegedly raped her has refused to let her have an abortion. The family's lawyer Giovanni Cabello (pictured) announced the decision to reporters in Bolivia The cousin told her mother, the 11-year-old girl's aunt, who filed a police complaint. 'She does not want to be a mother,' Garcia said. 'What is being done with this creature is a crime'. She added the victim was given a first dose of the pregnancy termination medication. 'It is not possible for us to force an 11-year-old girl to be in a nine-month gestation process, that is torture.' Garcia said there were 39,999 pregnancies of children under 18 in Bolivia in 2020, an average of 109 girls per day. The 11-year-old was allegedly raped by her stepfather's dad, who is half a century older than her, in the Bolivian town of Yapacani (pictured), near Santa Cruz, in the centre of the South American country 'This situation is alarming, sexual violence still plagues Bolivia and girls continue to be the main victims,' she added. Abortion has been legal in Bolivia since 1970 in cases of alleged rape or sexual assault. However, it has only been able to be done without a court order since a constitutional ruling in 2014. Since then only a document signed by the victim informing her of the abortion procedure has been needed. The family's decision change may have been influenced by the Catholic Church in Bolivia, which said 'the only solution is to save, care for and lovingly support both lives'. The Church added: 'A crime is not solved with another crime, abortion does not remedy rape, nor does it give peace of mind to consciences, on the contrary, it leaves more serious psychological wounds for a long time.' Bolivian Minister of the Interior, Eduardo del Castillo (pictured) said: 'We cannot tolerate this type of behaviour within our country and we cannot destroy the life of an 11-year-old girl' The decision made by the young girl's family was revealed by their lawyer, Giovanni Cabello to news site Pagina Siete. She said: 'The maternity ward and all its team are proceeding according to the will expressed by the family.' Regarding the state in which the girl is, the lawyer said 'she is in adequate condition, she is calm'. She added the young girl was being given 'all the necessary care so that the mother and the unborn baby are well.' The decision not to abort the pregnancy reportedly goes against the wishes of the girl's doctors and of the judicial authorities. Her step-grandfather is in custody at the Montero prison, north of Santa Cruz, charged with aggravated rape of a girl. The 61-year-old's alleged attacks supposedly started last May when the 11-year-old and her 15-year-old sister were living under his care while their parents were earning a living in the country's capital La Paz The 11-year-old and her 15-year-old sister were living under the care of the suspect since last February as their parents were working in the capital La Paz as a cook and as a bricklayer respectively. The girl locked herself in her room in an attempt to avoid the attacks, which allegedly started last May. There are contrasting statements both for and against continuing the pregnancy, allegedly written by the 11-year-old girl and her mother. The 11-year-old was determined to be 21 weeks pregnant after an ultrasound was performed by doctors. The young was cared for at the Percy Boland Maternity hospital in Santa Cruz, a two and a half hour drive from Yapacani Bolivian Minister of the Interior, Eduardo del Castillo said the girl would have to be evaluated psychologically if she wanted to continue with her pregnancy. He said: 'Imagine an 11-year-old girl who has to see her son or daughter as a result of rape every day. 'We cannot tolerate this type of behaviour within our country and we cannot destroy the life of an 11-year-old girl. 'We must generate the material conditions so that this pregnancy is interrupted if it is defined as such.' The representative of the Yapacani Children's Ombudsman, Silvia Suazo, said: 'The girl rejects the baby. What's more, she doesn't even dare to say "baby". 'She wants to study and go on with her life, she's very afraid and nervous.' Meanwhile, former representative of the Ombudsman in Santa Cruz Hernan Cabrera criticised the Church and pro-life groups in Bolivia. He said: 'She was brutally raped. The Church implores the name of God for the life of the baby, while that girl suffers, everything hurts and does not want that 'life' in her womb. 'Those who call themselves pro-life say that life cannot be killed, but it is already dead unjustly. 'She was shattered by a violent, erect penis of a man-beast. She is one of the many abused, raped and pregnant girls.' Protesters blocked off both of New York City's main highways Monday morning, causing massive backlogs at the height of the city's rush hour. Climate change activists from a host of organizations - including Extinction Rebellion - blocked off northbound traffic on the the city's FDR Drive for more than two hours, and southbound lanes crosstown on the West Side Highway as well. The protests come amid deliberations for President Joe Biden's 'Build Back Better' plan - an ambitious $3.5 trillion social spending bill that calls for billions of dollars of federal funds to be allocated to causes associated with climate change mitigation. 'If we do not act today, if @potus does not act today, NYC will be underwater by 2100. It's a matter of life and death,' the group tweeted earlier Monday morning. Scroll down for video Protesters blocked off New York City's FDR Drive Monday morning, going as far as to lay down on the pavement, daring drivers to run them over As of 9:00 am on Monday, all the FDR's northbound lanes were closed, with dozens of dissenters stationed along a stretch of the highway on the city's Lower East Side President Biden is in New Jersey Monday to promote the yet-to-be-passed spending package, amid negotiations with holdouts from the Democratic Party on how to scale back the bill enough to get it to make its way through Congress. As of 9:00 a.m. on Monday, the FDR's northbound lanes were all closed as a result, with dozens of dissenters from Extinction Rebellion stationed along a stretch of the highway on the city's Lower East Side. The group tweeted Monday that the demonstrations were not intended to annoy or obstruct commuters, but to bring attention to the dangers of unchecked climate change ahead of the president's prospective spending bill. They called their cause 'a matter of life and death,' and stated that New York 'will be underwater by 2100' if the bill does not pass, in its entirety. A sister group - composed of activists from organizations like the Sunrise Movement, Extinction Rebellion and Jews for Racial and Economic Justice - simultaneously assembled on the other side of the city, along the Hudson near West 34th Street, was blocking all of the West Side Highway's southbound lanes. Thousands of motorists on both of Manhattan's main speedways subsequently experienced delays of more than an hour and were advised to consider alternate routes - but many found themselves hopelessly stuck and unable to move, as protesters used their bodies to block off the roads, and going as far as to sit or lay down on the pavement, daring drivers to run them over. The protests come amid deliberations for President Joe Biden's 'Build Back Better' plan - an ambitious social spending bill that calls for federal funds to be allocated to climate change mitigation as well as to child care, home health care and paid family leave Extinction Rebellion, one of the groups heading the joint protests, tweeted Monday that the demonstrations were not intended to annoy or obstruct commuters, but to bring attention to the dangers of unchecked climate change ahead of the president's prospective spending bill Weve been stuck on the FDR Drive for about 40 min. due to a climate protest blocking all lanes,' one commuter wrote on social media at 9:14 am. 'In addition to inconveniencing thousands of drivers, I wonder how much carbon has been emitted due to to [sic] idling engines of all these stuck vehicles. The bottlenecks began sometime around 8:30 am, with police notifying drivers at 8:43 am that the southbound West Side Highway was blocked at West 34th Street. Climate change activists took part in a protest on the West Side Highway where they blocked the roadway for more than an hour before being arrested in Manhattan The protesters set up on 12th Avenue - hailing from organizations like the Sunrise Movement, Extinction Rebellion and Jews for Racial and Economic Justice - and encased their arms in metal pipes to form a blockade, forcing officers to saw the tubes to make arrests and get them off the street so traffic could resume The activists were demanding that President Biden fully support a $3.5 trillion reconciliation package to combat climate change, including funding for environmental justice, the Civilian Climate Corps, infrastructure and investments in clean energy to reduce emissions The protestors on Manhattan's West Side Highway held up commuters Monday morning during the height of the city's rush hour Protesters flocked to both the West Side Highway and the FDR Drive to pressure the president to pass the bill, which has been met with pushback Police were forced to saw metal pipes that linked activists on the West Side Highway by their arms to get them off the busy speedway New York police officers used a buzz saw to disconnect conjoined protesters on the West Side Highway A Sunrise Movement protester advocating for more federal funding for causes associated with mitigating climate change wasarrested by police on the West Side Highway on Monday The protesters formed a barrier with heavy metal pipes connecting their arms along the width of the West Side Highway At least three protesters were arrested on Manhattan's West Side after causing a backlog of traffic The FDR had all northbound lanes blocked at Houston Street The FDR had all northbound lanes blocked at Houston Street. The congestion on the West Side was caused by an array of activist groups clamoring for new policies on climate change, who were urging Biden to maintain an emphasis on environmentally conscious energy programs in the upcoming bill. At least three protesters were arrested on the West Side Highway, one of the groups said. At both scenes, protesters linked arms across the highways, despite blaring megaphone message from police advising them they were 'illegally occupying the crosswalk,' one witness Tweeted. By 9:54 am, the West Side Highway had reopened, according to a city alert. Thousands of motorists experienced delays and were advised to consider alternate routes - but many found themselves stuck on either highway, unable to move Climate change activists from the organization Extinction Rebellion blocked off northbound traffic on the the city's FDR Drive for more than two hours Boris Johnson today admitted he is 'worried' the COP26 climate change summit in Glasgow could end in failure. The Prime Minister said a deal between world leaders on reducing harmful emissions 'can be done' but it is going to be 'very, very tough'. Mr Johnson said he is concerned the summit could 'go wrong' and it will be 'touch and go' whether an agreement can be hammered out. His comments came after reports last week that Alok Sharma, the COP26 President, was angry with Mr Johnson for talking up the summit as a make or break moment for the planet. Boris Johnson today admitted he is 'worried' the COP26 climate change summit in Glasgow could end in failure. The PM's comments came after reports last week that Alok Sharma, the COP26 President, was angry with Mr Johnson for talking up the summit The PM will welcome world leaders to Glasgow on Sunday for the start of the UN summit. He told children during a Downing Street event this morning: 'We need as many people as possible to agree go to net zero so that they are not producing too much carbon dioxide by the middle of the century. 'Now, I think it can be done. It's going to be very, very tough, this summit. 'And I'm very worried, because it might go wrong and we might not get the agreements that we need. It's touch and go.' Mr Johnson said 'peer pressure' at the summit could force some nations into action. But with some major world leaders including China's Xi Jinping expected to stay away due to the state of the coronavirus pandemic the chances of that tactic being a success may be limited. Mr Johnson acknowledged 'it's very, very far from clear that we will get the progress that we need' although he praised Australia for its 'heroic' decision to commit to net zero by 2050. Downing Street insisted the PM was setting out the 'realistic situation' about the chances of COP26 being a success. The Prime Minister's Official Spokesman said: 'We have made some progress with a number of countries, Saudi Arabia has come forward with some commitments, for example. 'But the Prime Minister was simply setting out the realistic situation that bringing together countries from around the world to sign up to ambitious targets such as these that require tangible commitments is difficult and challenging, and will require some intense negotiation.' The main aim of the summit is to persuade countries to agree to take action to restrict global warming to nothing more than 1.5 degrees. It was claimed last week that Mr Sharma was angry at Mr Johnson for building up expectations ahead of the summit amid Cabinet fears it will be a 'damp squib'. Mr Sharma was said to be 'raging' at the PM for 'ramping up' hopes of a breakthrough in Glasgow. Some ministers believe the Government's messaging ahead of the summit has been too bullish and is 'completely out of control'. Allies of Mr Sharma denied that he was angry with the PM. A former Arkansas judge who served prison time for granting lenient sentences to young male defendants in exchange for sexual favors is now trying to get civil lawsuits filed against him by the victims dismissed, citing judicial immunity. Joseph Boeckmann, now 75, pleaded guilty in 2017 to charges of mail fraud and witness tampering and was sentenced to five years in prison for coercing men, some as young as 16, into posing for nude pictures and being spanked with wooden paddles as a form of community service. One victim told the court Boeckmann offered him $300 to pose as Michelangelo's David, but he refused. Former Arkansas judge Joseph Boeckmann is being sued by four men, accusing him of coercing them into sexual acts under the guise of community service, but his attorney argues that he is protected by judicial immunity Boeckmann, who was recently freed from prison and placed on supervised release after spending less than four years behind bars, appeared in Monroe County Court on Wednesday for a dismissal hearing, the Arkansas Democrat Gazette reported. Jeff Rosenzwieg, Boeckmann's defense attorney, argued that his client cannot be sued in civil court because the he was acting in his official capacity as a judge when he sentenced the plaintiffs to community service - which included photographing them picking up litter and offering some of them money to pose naked - rendering him immune from claims. Boeckmann, 75, served less than four years in prison after pleading guilty to wire fraud and evidence tampering charges Plaintiffs' attorney Joshua Gillispie countered Rosenzwieg's argument by claiming that Boeckmann used his position as a judge to coerce young men into giving him sexual favors in exchange for leniency outside of the courtroom. 'Is that a judicial act? Is that something that a judge normally would do? Is that something a judge is expected to be performing?' he asked. 'If the answer is no, then there is no judicial immunity.' The doctrine of judicial immunity protects judges from being sued for actions taken as part of their official role. According to the lawsuit, which was filed in 2016, Boeckmann dismissed a minor's charge stemming from a traffic violation after the defendant agreed to perform community service, which entailed picking up cans as the judge took pictures of the young man from behind. Another plaintiff claimed he posed nude for Boeckmann and was groped by him in exchange for money or dismissal of charges. A third plaintiff said Boeckmann paid him for posing both naked and clothed after appearing in his courtroom on a misdemeanor count back in 2010. A fourth plaintiff claimed to have been instructed by the judge to pick up cans from the floor at Boeckmann's home as the judge photographed him. Boeckmann's lawyer has been trying to have the lawsuit dismissed for the past five years, citing judicial immunity and statue of limitations. Prosecutors said in 2017 that Boeckmann's pattern of misbehavior dated at least to the 1990s, when he was investigated while serving as a part-time deputy Cross County prosecutor. Federal prosecutors decided against charging him after he agreed to give up his post in 1998. Two of Boeckmann's victims Kyle Butler (left) and Richard Milliman (right) spoke out in court during his sentencing in Little Rock, Arkansas, in 2018 Richard Milliman of Memphis, Tennessee, became one of Boeckmann's victims after being stopped for driving 5mph over the speed limit four years ago, then forgetting his trial date. The judge summoned Milliman to his house and took photos of him from behind as he picked up cans under the guise of performing community service, then shot photos of some of Milliman's tattoos. Milliman, then 23, said he refused to pose David-like, even though he was offered $300 to mimic the Michelangelo masterpiece. Prosecutors said the number of victims could be in the dozens or hundreds. Typically, the former district court judge dismissed traffic citations and misdemeanors in exchange for 'community service' that, in some cases, required some young men to submit to photographs in compromising positions, but in others, required sexually related conduct. Kyle Butler said he was also forced to pose for photos and was threatened with his life if he didn't recant information he had given to state investigators. In a letter written before Boeckmann's sentencing hearing in 2018, Butler said that after the judge had helped him following a traffic accident, he required him to routinely clean up a laptop computer that had been slowed down by a cache of X-rated pictures and videos. 'I had to do as he said. He held all the keys to my freedom,' Butler said. Boeckmann's lawyer did not want the judge to consider the 1990s investigations, saying the ex-judge's memory was such that he couldn't refute any allegations. The defense attorney had wanted home detention for the 'broken, ailing man', and prosecutors recommended a three-year prison term, but after hearing from two of the ex-judge's victims, US District Judge Kristine Baker said she had no choice but to impose an even stiffer penalty. 'He acted corruptly while serving as a judge. When his back was against the wall, he obstructed justice,' Baker said during the sentencing. 'That sets his crime apart.' The judge presiding over Wednesday's dismissal hearing asked both parties to submit their arguments in writing within a week, after which he will review them and make a ruling at a later time. A young multi-millionaire property tycoon has mysteriously died just eight weeks after getting married in a lavish Sikh ceremony. Vivek Chadha, 33, enjoyed close links to Conservative Party grandees and ran the multi-million-pound Nine Group, which had extensive hotel and property interests. He collapsed at a central London address in the early hours of Sunday morning, just hours after being spotted partying at the exclusive Annabel's night club on Saturday night. Only two months ago, Mr Chadha married Stuttee Chaddha, 29, in a glamorous ceremony at the five-star JW Marriott Grosvenor House hotel, on London's Park Lane, that culminated in a week of festivities. Speaking exclusively to MailOnline, his grieving widow sobbed: 'There are no words to describe what has happened. I'm in shock and still trying to make sense of it. 'We only got married eight weeks ago and it was beautiful. Now I'm having to deal with the loss of the love of my life. I'm stunned and heartbroken.' There is likely to be a post-mortem to establish the causes of Mr Chadha's death, given his age and that he did not appear to have any known underlying health issues but sources close to him indicated that it was from natural causes. Only two months ago, Vivek Chadha married Stuttee Chaddha, 29, in a glamorous ceremony the five-star JW Marriott Grosvenor House hotel, on London's Park Lane that culminated in a week of festivities Vivek Chadha, pictured with former Prime Minister Theresa May in 2019, enjoyed close links to Conservative Party grandees and ran the multi-million-pound Nine Group, which had extensive hotel and property interests Friends revealed that the family has still not been informed as to the exact reasons for Mr Chadha's death, but one claimed that initial reports indicated that it was the result of a heart attack which is believed to have occurred at his central London residence (pictured Mr Chadha with ex-PM David Cameron at 10 Downing Street) The source added: 'He did not die at his central London address but was at another location when it happened. We don't know the full facts yet and are waiting to establish what exactly occurred.' Accounts from Companies House up to December 31, 2019 reveal that his business, Nine Estates Limited, made 2.5million in revenue over the previous two years, with a 1.3million gross profit. Speaking exclusively to MailOnline, his grieving widow sobbed: 'There are no words to describe what has happened. I'm in shock and still trying to make sense of it' Among the hotels owned by Nine Group are the four-star London 02 Arena Hotel and four Holiday Inn franchises. The firm also owns a pub - the Halt & Pull in Horley, Surrey - and recently struck a franchising deal with restaurant chain Pizza Hut. Stuttee was being consoled by dozens of relatives and Mr Chadha's parents, Gursharan, 61 and Jasbir, 58 at their luxurious country home in Iver, Berkshire. Jasbir cried: 'We are in total shock and it's too early for us to say anything about Vivek and his achievements. There will come a time when we will pay tribute to him but at the moment, it's too early for us. We are in too much pain.' Friends revealed that the family has still not been informed as to the exact reasons for Mr Chadha's death, but one claimed that initial reports indicated that it was the result of a heart attack which is believed to have occurred at his central London residence. Mr Chadha divided his time between the family home in Berkshire and London. He was a regular visitor to Conservative Party functions, rubbing shoulders with the likes of former Prime Ministers David Cameron and Theresa May. In 2015, he donated 100,000 for a Mahatma Gandhi statute in Parliament Square, an initiative that was backed by William Hauge and George Osborne. In 2015, Mr Chadha donated 100,000 for a Mahatma Gandhi statute in Parliament Square, an initiative that was backed by William Hauge and George Osborne Tributes and messages of condolences poured in following the news of Mr Chadha's death In 2017, Mr Chadha won the 'Rising Star' award at the Young Entrepreneur of the Year awards in recognition of his work. After graduating with a degree in civil engineering in 2010, he founded the Nine Group with his father in 2012, helping to establish it as one of the largest private hotel companies in the UK. It now owns 18 hotels across the country and employs more than 800 people as well as having commercial and residential investments. A San Diego woman was arrested on Thursday after she broke into an empty house while the homeowner was away. The 43-year-old woman, who has not been named or pictured because her crime is considered non-violent, not only broke into the home but had also changed the locks and listened to music as if she owned the residence. The Coronado Police Department were called to the home on Alameda Boulevard at 11pm after a neighbor reported seeing 'suspicious activity' inside the home. That neighbor knew that the property's rightful occupant was away. The woman inside was arrested and charged on suspicion of burglary after police spotted her moving around the house. The home was located between Alameda Boulevard and 7th Street in Coronado, California The Coronado Police Department arrived to a home on Alameda Boulevard on Thursday night after woman had reportedly broken into a home and acted like it was her own According to police records, the suspicious woman was spotted by the neighbor who noticed lights going on and off in the home. The neighbor is a relative of the actual homeowner and knew they were away at the time. They provided police with the spare key to the residence when they arrived at the scene. The key, however, no longer fit the hole for the front door because the woman had changed them as metal shavings and pieces of the old lock were found on the ground. Officers circled the perimeter of the home and noticed that multiple doors were left open in the back of the residence. The CPD released a statement detailing the scene and the eventual arrest of the female suspect They also noticed that the alleged burglar had lit the fireplace and heard music playing inside. The department then requested extra support using the sheriffs ASTREA helicopter and a K-9 unit from the San Diego Police Department. One of the officers then noticed movement in the second floor of the home. They called out for the suspicious new 'resident' to come out of the home after the police dogs had arrived to the scene. The woman then exited the home and was taken into custody. She had told the officers to call off the dogs as she claimed two children were inside the home but no one was found after the department searched the home. The suspect also added that she owned the home and that she called a locksmith to change the locks earlier that night. John F. Kennedy's nephews are slamming the Biden administration's decision to withhold JFK assassination records that remain under seal until late 2022 with Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. calling it an 'outrage.' The Biden White House released a memorandum on the records Friday night explaining the continuation of the delay, which followed a decision by former President Donald Trump to withhold thousands of records. 'Its an outrage. Its an outrage against American democracy. Were not supposed to have secret governments within the government,' RFK, Jr. told Politico. He added: 'How the hell is it 58 years later, and what in the world could justify not releasing these documents?' Former Rep. Patrick Kennedy, the son of longtime Biden friend late Sen. Ted Kennedy, also slammed the decision, although in softer terms. Former US President John F. Kennedy, pictured, was assassinated in Dallas, Texas in 1962. His nephews Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and former Rep. Patrick Kennedy are calling for the release of assassination records that remain sealed 'I think for the good of the country, everything has to be put out there so theres greater understanding of our history,' he said. Kennedy said it was a time of 'a lot of conspiracy theories' and noted there is 'a tendency to distrust government in general.' Biden's decision to hold back records comes after he released a trove of Sept. 11th records after pressure from families of victims of the attacks, who had turned up public pressure in advance of the 20th anniversary of 9/11. The public comments by the Kennedy nephews come after the administration cited the 'significant impact' of the COVID-19 pandemic as cause for the holdup although the pandemic only hit the US in early 2020. According to the memo released by the White House, 'The Archivist of the United States (Archivist) ... has reported that "unfortunately, the pandemic has had a significant impact on the agencies" and NARA and that NARA "require[s] additional time to engage with the agencies and to conduct research within the larger collection to maximize the amount of information released."' Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and former Rep. Patrick Kennedy are calling for the release of assassination records that remain sealed The White House said Friday it would delay the release of long-classified documents related to the assassination. President Biden wrote in a statement that 'an interim release' of the remaining classified files 'shall be withheld from full public disclosure' until 'later this year' - nearly 60 years after Kennedy's assassination in Dallas, Texas in 1963. A second batch of records will be released to the public in a 'more comprehensive release' in a little over a year on December 15, 2022, the memo announced. The memo said that the coronavirus pandemic has slowed down the process of reviewing whether redactions continue to meet the 'statutory standard.' President Joe Biden, pictured, wrote in a statement that 'an interim release' of the remaining classified files 'shall be withheld from full public disclosure' until 'later this year' Pictured: a memo from the White House to the Public Interest Declassification Board, where the president makes the case for the delay of the remaining JFK assassination files In 2018, former president Donald Trump released around 19,000 secret files on the assassination, but withheld approximately 14,000 records on national security grounds through October 26, 2021 - which would have been this coming Tuesday. The deadline had been initially imposed 25 years ago by then-President George H.W. Bush after passing the John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Collection Act. However, the White House said the national archivist needs more time for a review into that redaction, which was slowed by the pandemic, according to Biden's memo. Biden also said the delay was 'necessary to protect against identifiable harm to the military defense, intelligence operations, law enforcement, or the conduct of foreign relations' and that this 'outweighs the public interest in immediate disclosure.' The assassination of the 46-year-old president was a 'profound national tragedy' that 'continues to resonate in American history and in the memories of so many Americans who were alive on that terrible day,' the statement said. A 10-month investigation led by then-Supreme Court chief justice Earl Warren concluded that Lee Harvey Oswald, a former Marine who had lived in the Soviet Union, acted alone when he fired on Kennedy's motorcade. Kennedy, pictured, was assassinated in Dallas, Texas in 1963 In 2018, former president Donald Trump, pictured, released around 19,000 secret files on the assassination, but withheld 14,000 records on national security grounds through October 26 Pictured: a document in JFK's assassination files that was released by former President Donald Trump in 2018 A 10-month investigation concluded that Lee Harvey Oswald, pictured, a former Marine who had lived in the Soviet Union, acted alone when he fired on Kennedy's motorcade But the Commission's investigation was criticized for being incomplete, with a Congressional committee later concluding that Kennedy was 'probably assassinated as a result of a conspiracy.' US law requires that all government records on the assassination be disclosed 'to enable the public to become fully informed.' In the decades since Kennedy's assassination, millions of pages of documents have been released to the public, providing researchers with a veritable treasure trove of American history, with topics ranging from the Cold War to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's slaying. The national archivist added that the administration 'making these decisions is a matter that requires a professional, scholarly, and orderly process; not decisions or releases made in haste.' An Israeli court has ordered that a six-year-old boy who survived a cable car crash in Italy be returned to his relatives there amid a bitter custody battle between them and his family in Israel. The court declared today that Eitan Biran must be returned to 'the place of his normal residence in Italy' and ordered his grandfather, who had flown the boy to Israel against the wishes of his family members in Italy, to pay around $20,000 (14,500) in expenses and lawyers' fees. Eitan's parents and younger sibling were among the 14 people killed in May when a cable car slammed into a mountainside in northern Italy and has been the focus of a custody battle between his maternal grandparents in Israel and his paternal relatives in Italy. Eitan's paternal relatives say he was taken without their knowledge and had filed a legal complaint in Italy seeking his return. An Israeli judge concluded today that Eitan's relocation to Israel was unlawful and violated the guardianship rights of Aya Biran-Nirko, his paternal aunt in Italy, to whom the boy will be returned. A Tel Aviv court has ruled that Eitan Biran, six (centre), must be returned to his family in Italy after his grandfather flew him to Israel in the wake of a cable car crash that killed his parents and sibling Fourteen people, including Eitan Biran's Israeli parents, younger brother and great-grandparents, were killed in the accident in Italy's north-western Piedmont region in May. After the accident, Eitan had been airlifted to hospital in critical condition Eitan's grandfather, Shmulik Peleg, defended his decision to spirit the boy away, saying it was in the child's best interests despite his paternal family in Italy disapproving of the decision Eitan will be returned to live with his paternal aunt, Israeli-born doctor Aya Biran-Nirko (pictured), close to the city of Pavia Eitan's grandfather, Shmulik Peleg, has defended his decision to spirit the boy away, saying it was in the child's best interests. He drove Eitan to Switzerland without the other relatives' knowledge before flying him back to Israel. Eitan and his parents were living in Italy at the time of the accident, and after his release from a Turin hospital following weeks of treatment, Italian juvenile court officials ruled the child would live with a paternal aunt, Aya Biran, near Pavia, in northern Italy. In Monday's ruling, Judge Iris Ilotovich-Segal, of the Tel Aviv family court, said Eitan's residence was in Italy, where his family moved when he was only a month old. She concluded that his relocation to Israel was unlawful and violated the guardianship rights of his aunt. Eitan's maternal grandfather Shmulik Peleg (pictured at court) organised the boy's transportation to Israel despite an Italian court ruling the child would live with his paternal aunt in Italy. An Israeli judge concluded today that Eitan's relocation to Israel was unlawful and violated the guardianship rights of his aunt The judge also called on the family to reconcile, saying 'there is supreme importance in focusing on the medical and emotional condition of the minor and giving him the support, treatment and embrace he needs following the tragedy that befell him and his family'. Eitan's paternal relatives welcomed the ruling in a statement, saying 'there are no victors and no vanquished, no winners and no losers'. 'There is only Eitan. All that we ask now is that Eitan returns home quickly, to friends and to school, to his family and especially to the therapeutic and educational frameworks that he needs.' Meanwhile, the boy's maternal family in Israel said it plans to appeal the decision. The court ruling dealt only with the issue of how Eitan was taken out of Italy, without considering what was best for his future, they said in a statement. 'Sadly, the options and solutions that were raised regarding the minor's connection with both families were not fully exhausted,' they said. 'The family is determined to continue to fight in all possible ways for the good of Eitan, his wellbeing, and his right to grow up in Israel as his parents wished.' Before judges ordered the sides to stop talking to the media, Peleg told Israel's Channel 12 in September that his grandson was 'in the place where he is supposed to be, in his home, in Israel.' In this file photo taken on October 10, 2021, Aya Biran (centre), paternal aunt of Eitan Biran who was the sole survivor of a deadly cable car crash in Italy, arrives at the court in the Israeli coastal city of Tel Aviv The case has stirred emotions in Israel, with some pro-Peleg protesters insisting it was wrong to send a Jewish child out of Israel. Before judges ordered the sides to stop talking to the media, Peleg told Israel's Channel 12 in September that his grandson was 'in the place where he is supposed to be, in his home, in Israel.' Eitan and his parents, Amit Biran and Tal Peleg, had been living in Italy, where Amit Biran was studying medicine, together with their other child, Tom. Eitan suffered severe chest and abdominal injuries and spent a week in intensive care after the May accident that occurred when a cable snapped on the aerial tram bringing weekend visitors to the top of the Piedmont region's Mottarone mountain. The accident was one of Italy's worst in over two decades. Offering people 20 to get a Covid vaccine or drive someone to their appointment can boost uptake, a study suggests. Researchers at the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services found the payments encouraged more low-income, Hispanic and black people to show up at jabbing centres. Britain currently has no official financial incentives in place to boost uptake, despite rates being lower among BAME groups. But some firms such as Deliveroo and Uber offer discounts to people who get the vaccine. Up to 4.2million adults are yet to be jabbed at all, including around 700,000 over-50s. The US already has vaccine incentives in place, including entering fully immunised Americans into $1mililion (725,000) lotteries. A woman received a Covid vaccine at the Birkenhead Medical Building in Merseyside on Saturday The NCDHHS, which is responsible for ensuring the health and safety of people in North Carolina, launched a two-week pilot incentive programme in June that gave $25 (18) to adults who received or drove someone to their appointment for a first Covid dose. Over the course of the scheme, 2,890 people received the cash for getting their first dose, while 1,374 people received it for driving others to their jab booking. Sajid Javid hints 100,000 unvaccinated NHS staff could be FIRED as he admits he is 'leaning towards' making Covid jabs compulsory for medics Unvaccinated NHS staff are set to be told to get their Covid jabs or lose their jobs under plans being considered by the Government. Some 100,000 healthcare workers or seven per cent are still yet to show up for their first dose in England. But Health Secretary Sajid Javid said bringing in compulsory jabs was the 'clear direction of travel', despite fears staff could quit the health service at a critical time. When asked if the plans could come in this winter, Mr Javid told Sky News: 'Im leaning towards doing it.' He said those who had failed to get the vaccine were putting seriously ill patients in harm's way. But Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said forcing vaccination on medics was a mistake, warning it could exacerbate staffing shortages among doctors and nurses. No10's controversial 'no jab, no job' policy is already in care homes and staff working in elderly residences must be jabbed by November 11. Care bosses have warned many homes will be forced to close because they won't be able to find enough vaccinated workers. Studies show the vaccines dramatically reduce a person's risk of being hospitalised or dying from Covid, but they are slightly less effective at stopping transmission. Advertisement Among sites offering the scheme, the number of people coming forward for the vaccine dropped by around 26.4 per cent between May and June. But it dropped slower than the county average, where rates declined by 51.1 per cent, and less than the state average, where there was a drop of 48.6 per cent. In their paper published in JAMA Internal Medicine, experts said the small financial incentive is 'a potentially promising strategy to increase Covid vaccination uptake'. The cash 'slowed the decline in vaccination and promoted more equitable distribution', especially for low-income, black and Hispanic people. The team wrote: 'With vaccination rates lagging in areas with higher social vulnerability, small financial incentives should be considered in conjunction with other equity-promoting strategies. 'The social incentive of cash cards for drivers may also encourage people to help get their friends and family vaccinated, a powerful motivator for those undecided about vaccination. 'With hundreds of millions of dollars being spent to accelerate Covid vaccine uptake, these study findings suggest that this strategy for increasing vaccination merits greater investment.' But they noted that it needs to be establish whether the findings could be applied elsewhere. Among 401 people who were quizzed about their participation in the scheme, 41 per cent said the cash was an important reason for vaccination. People were more likely to say the cash was a motivator if they were of Hispanic or 'other' ethnicity compared to white people. And people with an income below $40,000 (29,000) had a higher chance of saying the cash was important for them getting the vaccine. Nine per cent said they only came forward for the vaccine because of the reward. Some 15 per cent said they waited to get vaccinated until they found a way to get an incentive for doing so. And 49 per cent of people said getting driven to their vaccination appointment was an important reason for getting the jab, with black, Hispanic and lower income individuals more likely to say the lift was essential. It comes as ministers face calls to persuade 5million Britons who have yet to have a single vaccine to come forward. Some 13.6 per cent of over-12s in the UK remain unvaccinated, while millions who are eligible are yet to come forward for a booster jab. Extending the jab roll-out is a key part of the Government's plan to suppress cases, hospitalisations and deaths this winter. Alec Baldwin believes passionately in gun safety and wants much tighter controls over who can have a gun. The actor thinks fellow Americans should only be allowed to exercise their constitutional right to own firearms if they go through a lengthy stringent procedure to ensure they are fit and proper enough citizens to possess a deadly weapon. I know this because we discussed it during an interview at CNN a few years ago in which he said: 'I'm in favour of people owning guns but I'm in favour of there being the most arduous process for them to qualify to own that gun. We license many things in our society. You can't walk into a store to get all the drugs you need. You could be in agonizing pain, and you still have to go to a hospital and stand in line and you have to go to a doctor and get a prescription, from a pharmacist. We license cars. We license a lot of things and I think that we need to license guns beyond the way we do it now. Meaning if you want a gun, you could have a gun, but it might take you a couple of weeks to get them do a proper background check.' As he spoke to me, Baldwin was sporting bruised and battered knuckles which he'd sustained from an accident while making a film. 'I injured myself on set,' he explained. 'I hit a ladder with my hand. When you're on a sound stage, especially if you're moving sets and shooting the way we do, you're in pretty constant peril every five minutes of smashing your head on something. You know you're on a real movie set when you trip on something or hit something, and I cracked my hand.' I thought of these exchanges when I heard the shocking news about Baldwin accidentally shooting and killing a young female cinematographer, and also wounding a director, while filming his new movie Rust in New Mexico. It seemed barely believable that a star of Alec Baldwin's experience and stature could do something so lethally stupid as to fire a loaded gun towards co-workers, especially given his advocacy of gun safety and awareness of hazardous movie sets. But it quickly became clear that Baldwin didn't realise the gun had real ammunition inside it. Pictured: Baldwin outside the Santa Fe Sheriff's Office after the shooting However, the more we've learned about this appalling incident, the more questions have been raised about Baldwin's own culpability for the chaotically dangerous and amateurish working culture on the set of 'Rust' that led to the shooting. These questions are incredibly serious. The family of the woman who died, Halyna Hutchins (left), deserve and must get answers, and I'm sure they will seek them through criminal and civil lawsuits and courtrooms What we know so far, from affidavits given to police and search warrants executed by Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office, is that the shooting occurred after Baldwin and members of the production crew were setting up a shot that required him to 'cross-draw a revolver' - take it from a holster on the opposite side of the body to the draw hand - and point it at the camera. Pictured: The cast and crew of Rust at Bonanza Creek Ranch It has emerged there were at least two and possibly three other accidental gun discharges on the set on October 16, a week before the fatal shooting. Following these incidents, a complaint was made to a supervisor about safety practices on the set. Pictured: The church on the ranch where Baldwin was rehearsing when the gun went off It seemed barely believable that a star of his experience and stature could do something so lethally stupid as to fire a loaded gun towards co-workers, especially given his advocacy of gun safety and awareness of hazardous movie sets. But it quickly became clear that Baldwin didn't realize the gun had real ammunition inside it. So, as many on social media rushed to instantly blame him for what happened, I tweeted: 'If it's true that Alec Baldwin was handed a prop gun containing live rounds of ammunition, then the focus of people's ire shouldn't be on the guy who innocently fired it without knowing - but whoever gave it to him and must have known.' However, the more we've learned about this appalling incident, the more questions have been raised about Baldwin's own culpability for the chaotically dangerous and amateurish working culture on the set of 'Rust' that led to the shooting. These questions are incredibly serious. The family of the woman who died, Halyna Hutchins, deserve and must get answers, and I'm sure they will seek them through criminal and civil lawsuits and courtrooms. What we know so far, from affidavits given to police and search warrants executed by Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office, is that the shooting occurred after Baldwin and members of the production crew were setting up a shot that required him to 'cross-draw a revolver' - take it from a holster on the opposite side of the body to the draw hand - and point it at the camera. An assistant director on the set, David Halls, had taken the gun off a cart where it had been placed by the film's armorer, or weapons handler and handed it to Baldwin with the words 'cold gun!' which is movie set speak for confirming it was unloaded and safe for Baldwin to handle. Baldwin was apparently demonstrating how he was going to do the cross-draw move when the gun it went off. Director Joel Souza said he heard 'what sounded like a whip and then a loud pop,' and noticed Hutchins, who he was standing behind at the time, grab her stomach as she fell backwards. She was airlifted to the University of New Mexico Hospital in Albuquerque, New Mexico, where she died. Souza suffered a wound to his shoulder but was released from hospital. So, just a terrible accident right? Well, yes in the sense that Baldwin obviously believed the gun wasn't loaded. The film's chief electrician Serge Svetnoy blamed producers for Hutchins' death in an emotional Facebook post on Sunday, slamming them for hiring an inexperienced armorer, 24-year-old Hannah Gutierrez-Reed (pictured), and accusing them of 'negligence and unprofessionalism' for the way weapons were handled on set. A source who worked alongside Gutierrez-Reed, 24, on a previous film set said she has a history of recklessness around guns An assistant director on the set, David Halls (pictured), had taken the gun off a cart where it had been placed by the film's armorer, or weapons handler and handed it to Baldwin with the words 'cold gun!' which is movie set speak for confirming it was unloaded and safe for Baldwin to handle. Baldwin was apparently demonstrating how he was going to do the cross-draw move when the gun it went off. The camera wasn't rolling when the gun went off 'like a whip and a loud pop', Souza said, during rehearsals in a church pew But that doesn't mean, from what we have now learned, that he should have automatically believed that, nor that he is absolved from any managerial responsibility for events leading up to the shooting. It has emerged there were at least two and possibly three other accidental gun discharges on the set on October 16, a week before the fatal shooting. Following these incidents, a complaint was made to a supervisor about safety practices on the set. We also know that a 911 call made immediately after Hutchins' death naming David Halls, the assistant director who handed Baldwin the gun, and an industry veteran who worked on movies including 'Fargo' and 'The Matrix Reloaded' as being responsible for what happened. Halls had previously been the subject of complaints around his regard for safety protocols. Maggie Goll, a prop maker and licensed pyrotechnician, said in a statement that she filed an internal complaint with the executive producers of Hulu's 'Into the Dark' series in 2019 over concerns about Halls' behaviour on set, saying he disregarded safety protocols for weapons and pyrotechnics and tried to continue filming after the supervising pyrotechnician lost consciousness on set. It's been asserted that Hall didn't know the gun was loaded, either. But that begs the question: why shout 'cold gun' if you don't actually know it's a cold gun? And if he really didn't know whether the gun was loaded or not, then who did? Someone must have done. The film's chief electrician Serge Svetnoy blamed producers for Hutchins' death in an emotional Facebook post on Sunday, slamming them for hiring an inexperienced armorer, 24-year-old Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, and accusing them of 'negligence and unprofessionalism' for the way weapons were handled on set. A source who worked alongside Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, 24, on a previous film set said she has a history of recklessness around guns. 'She was a bit careless with the guns, waving it around every now and again,' the source told the Daily Beast. 'There were a couple times she was loading the blanks and doing it in a fashion that we thought was unsafe.' Gutierrez-Reed herself had expressed doubts about her level of experience. On a podcast a month ago, she said she had nearly turned down her last job 'because I wasn't sure if I was ready.' So, we have a dangerously inexperienced armorer, a reckless safety-ignoring assistant director, and gun discharges going off on set. This all sounds as worrying to me as it did to other crew members. One worker was so worried about weapon safety he sent a text message to his manager warning of 'super-unsafe' conditions. The text, sent to the unit production manager and seen by the Los Angeles Times, read: 'We've now had 3 accidental discharges. This is super unsafe.' Sources on Rust also told the LA Times that vital safety protocols, including regular gun inspections, were not strictly followed. 'There should have been an investigation into what happened,' the crew member said. 'There were no safety meetings. There was no assurance that it wouldn't happen again. All they wanted to do was rush, rush, rush.' The chaotic environment created general turmoil on set, with six crew members quitting just hours before the fatal shooting, in protest at terrible working conditions including overlong workdays, delayed paychecks and hotels booked an hour's commute from the location. Alec Baldwin must have known about the gun discharge incidents, and crew concerns over the armorer's inexperience and the assistant director's record of dangerous on-set safety misconduct, because he wasn't just a jobbing actor on the movie he was a named Executive Producer. So, if he didn't know, he should have ensured he knew Director Joel Souza (right) said he heard 'what sounded like a whip and then a loud pop,' and noticed Hutchins (left), who he was standing behind at the time, grab her stomach as she fell backwards. Souza was also injured in the shooting But the big question remains: how and why did this fatal shooting happen? Real guns are used all the time on movie sets, but there are very strict rules about how they are used. All firearms must be managed by a trained armorer who holds government-issued permits. Cast members must also be trained in gun safety before filming starts and significantly, guns should never be pointed directly at anyone, especially in rehearsals but also during actual filming. Cameras can be deployed in ways to make the angles work. Most importantly, live ammunition must never be loaded inside guns on set. If the guns need to be fired, then blanks are used instead of real bullets. (Even blanks made up of wads of papers, plastic, felt or cotton - must be handled very carefully as they can still cause serious harm or even death as happened to Jon-Erik Hexum on the set of CBS series Cover Up when he jokily aimed the gun at himself and died from the blast.) Other industry experts were aghast at the Baldwin shooting. Jeffrey Wright, who has worked on the James Bond franchise and the upcoming movie 'The Batman', said: 'I don't recall ever being handed a weapon that was not cleared in front of me meaning chamber open, barrel shown to me, light flashed inside the barrel to make sure that it's cleared. Clearly, that was a mismanaged set.' Actor Ray Liotta agreed: 'They always that I know of they check it so you can see. They give it to the person you're pointing the gun at, they do it to the producer, they show whoever is there that it doesn't work.' More questions then: why did Alec Baldwin not insist on being shown the gun was safe? Why did he point it directly at his co-workers, if that is strictly prohibited? Alec Baldwin must have known about the gun discharge incidents, and crew concerns over the armorer's inexperience and the assistant director's record of dangerous on-set safety misconduct, because he wasn't just a jobbing actor on the movie he was a named Executive Producer. So, if he didn't know, he should have ensured he knew. And he should have also ensured his gun really was 'cold' before he aimed it at his co-workers and killed a talented young woman. Baldwin's called the shooting a 'tragic accident' and said: 'There are no words to convey my shock and sadness regarding the tragic accident that took the life of Halyna Hutchins, a wife, mother and deeply admired colleague of ours. My heart is broken for her husband, their son, and all who knew and loved Halyna.' I don't doubt the sincerity of his sadness at the shooting, nor that he had no idea the gun he fired was loaded. But what I do now doubt is Alec Baldwin's depiction of it as a 'tragic accident.' Given what we have discovered about the circumstances leading up to the moment he pulled the trigger, this was an accident waiting to happen. Boris Johnson's Brexit minister appeared to slap down talk of compromise with Brussels over post-Brexit rules governing Northern Ireland. Lord Frost told MPs today that the Government would not accept a role for the European Court of Justice in settling disputes between the two sides. Reports last week suggested that the UK was open to retaining the EU's internal court in the arbitration process for trade disagreements if an independent body was introduced that made its use all-but unnecessary. A Government source told the Times that such a system 'is exactly the kind of compromise that could be acceptable'. But appearing in front of the European Scrutiny Committee this afternoon the peer said: 'We are not interested in the court by another name or another route.' Lord Frost told MPs today that the Government would not accept a role for the European Court of Justice in settling disputes between the two sides. Reports last week suggested that Boris Johnson (pictured today) was open to retaining the EU's internal court in the arbitration process for trade disagreements if an independent body was introduced that made its use all-but unnecessary. 'What we'd like to see instead is an arbitration mechanism which is normal in these sort of treaties, it is exactly what we have in the trade and co-operation agreement (TCA). 'The arrangements in the TCA are good arrangements ... we worked very hard on them all last year and would be a good model in this case too.' He insisted the UK is not interested in any arrangements which keep the court by some other name. 'It's highly unusual in an international treaty to have disputes settled in the court of one of the parties and that is the fundamental principle that we take into this, and the fundamental thing we need to remove from the arrangements going forward.' The Northern Ireland 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. But 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. Last week the EU made major concessions over goods entry to Northern Ireland from Great Britain as it sought to ease the ongoing row. The European Commission offered to slash 80 per cent of regulatory checks and dramatically cut customs processes on British goods moving to Northern Ireland. However, the plan did not address a key UK demand - the removal of the oversight function of the ECJ. Lord Frost said the UK Government welcomed aspects of the European Commission's proposals to reform the Northern Ireland Protocol but argued some of the ideas put forward were 'problematic'. The Brexit minister told the Commons' European Scrutiny Committee it was 'now understood on both sides that there are problems with the current situation' and told MPs that Brussels' proposals 'do, for the first time, acknowledge they might be willing to change their own laws in order to deal with the special situation in Northern Ireland'. The Conservative peer added: 'The problem with them is that they don't go far enough. 'I'm not sure they would quite deliver the kind of ambitious freeing-up of trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland that we want to see, but what we're trying to test is whether they could find the basis to go further than what they have put on the table. 'That's the kind of discussions we have been having and it has been quite constructive so far, but the gaps between us remain significant, and there is a lot of working through to go.' Two prosecutors have quit their jobs in the San Francisco District Attorney's office - and are now joining an effort to recall him. Brooke Jenkins and Dan DuBain told KNTV over the weekend they stepped down from their posts in San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin's office due to his lack of commitment to prosecuting crimes, and the danger they say his policies are unleashing on the crime-ridden city's streets. They both accused Boudin of making San Francisco more dangerous by regularly handing down more lenient sentences than are prescribed by law, releasing criminals early and in some cases not filing charges at all. 'Chesa has a radical approach that involves not charging crime in the first place and simply releasing individuals with no rehabilitation and putting them in positions where they are simply more likely to re-offend,' Jenkins said, who had been a prosecutor for seven years, most recently in the homicide department. 'Being an African American and Latino woman, I would wholeheartedly agree that the criminal justice system needs a lot of work, but when you are a district attorney, your job is to have balance.' DuBain added that he believes Boudin 'disregards the laws that he doesn't like, and he disregards the court decisions that he doesn't like to impose his own version of what he believes is just - and that's not the job of the district attorney. 'The office was headed in such the wrong direction that the best thing I could do was to join the effort to recall Chesa Boudin as district attorney,' said DuBain, a former district attorney in Solano County. 'I take no pleasure in saying this,' he said. 'I didn't want to be in this position. I consider Chesa a friend.' Brooke Jenkins and Dan DuBain are two of the attorneys who have resigned from the San Francisco District Attorney's Office in recent months over DA Chesa Boudin's policies Boudin, 41, became the city's District Attorney in January 2020 The two are now among the more than 50 lawyers from Boudin's office who quit or were fired since he became the district attorney in January 2020, representing roughly one-third of the department's prosecutors. Boudin, 41, entered the district attorney's race back then as an underdog and won by fewer than 3,000 votes. Voters were captivated by his life story. When he was just 1 year old in 1981, his parents, who were members of the far-left Weather Underground, dropped him off with a babysitter and took part in an armored car robbery in upstate New York that left two police officers and a security guard dead. His mother, Kathy Boudin, served 22 years behind bars and his father, David Gilbert, was jailed for life - until outgoing NY Governor Andrew Cuomo commuted his sentence for murder in August. They didn't fire shots that day and the victims were killed by the Black Liberation Army. Chesa was cared for by members of a radical left-wing group and says his experiences of visiting his parents in jail galvanized his progressive views on law and order. He won San Francisco's tightly contested race for district attorney after campaigning to reform the criminal justice system in November. Pictured as a child with his parents in his campaign video Kathy Boudin (left in November 24, 1981) served 22 years behind bars and his father, David Gilbert (center in the right image), may spend the rest of his life in prison. Judith Clark, David Gilbert and Katherine Boudin are pictured right October 20, 1981 But since he entered office, his opponents say, crime is on the rise and more criminals are going free. He drew criticism earlier this year when a parolee back on the streets killed two pedestrians after running a red light in a stolen car. Troy McAlister, 45, was intoxicated when he killed Elizabeth Platt, 60, and Hanako Abe, 27, according to FOX News. Troy McAlister, 45, was intoxicated when he killed Elizabeth Platt, 60, and Hanako Abe, 27 earlier this year as he was out on parole for robbery The San Francisco police officers association says a plea agreement for a robbery set McAlister free in April 2020, and that Boudin's office failed to prosecute McAlister's multiple arrests in the aftermath - including another alleged car theft on December 20. And a California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation spokeswoman told the Associated Press that McAlister has been incarcerated in state prisons numerous times. In April 2020, he was sentenced to five years in prison for second-degree robbery and was released on parole. Boudin said that charging McAlister with a new non-violent crime would not have necessarily put him behind bars, and instead blamed law enforcement agencies, saying they could have acted differently to avoid 'a terrible and devastating tragedy.' But in another instance, DuBain said, he was ordered by Boudin to request a more lenient sentence for a man convicted of shooting his girlfriend. DuBain thought the order was a violation of a state statute guiding sentencing for those cases and withdrew from the case in protest. 'I've done 136 jury trials in my career,' he said, adding that he has 'never, never withdrawn from a case before. 'I've seen decisions made in the office in the last year plus, since Chesa took over, that shook my conscience - and I've been a prosecutor for 30 years.' And in yet another case, Jenkins said, a man convicted of brutally murdering his mother was able to avoid jail time after the district attorney agreed to let him plead insanity without requiring he provide evidence of his mental state in court. In response to these allegations, DA spokeswoman Sara Yousuf told NBC Bay Area: 'Almost all of the victim's family supported a finding of insanity. 'We are disappointed to see reporting of wrong and obviously politically-motivated accusations.' Crime is on the rise throughout San Francisco, with homicides up 7.3 percent Boudin is now facing his second recall effort in his short tenure, with organizers hoping to oust him submitting 83,000 signatures to election officials to force him into a recall election next June. While the San Francisco Department of Elections must certify the signatures within the next month, the organizers have submitted 32,162 more signatures than the 51,325 required to put the recall issue on the ballot, as the city faces an increase in crime. As of October 17, homicides were up 7.3 percent over the same time period one year prior, assaults were up 7.8 percent, arson cases were up 9.6 percent and larcenies were up 9.6 percent, according to data from the San Francisco Police Department. Human sex trafficking was also up a whopping 25 percent. San Francisco Police Officers Association President Tony Montoya said the city is now crippled with open-air drug markets and homelessness, coupled with upticks in blatant shoplifting, residential and commercial burglaries, shooting and other violent crimes. 'Police are the bad guys and the bad guys are the good guys in the mind of a progressive' like Boudin, Montoya said, adding: 'Chesa's good at the blame game. We're going to call him Mr. Deflector because he's always pointing the finger left or right and never at the man in the mirror.' And in September, NBC Bay Area reports, San Francisco Superior Court Judge Bruce Chan took the unusual step of criticizing Boudin's office from the bench for 'constant turnover' and neglecting 'the fundamentals of competent, professional prosecution.' 'I cannot express in any more certain terms my disapproval of the manner in which the office of the district attorney is being managed,' Chan said. 'We simply cannot have the current levels of inadvertence, disorganization and expect there to be any public confidence in what we do here collectively.' Yousuf, though, defended Boudin saying he 'has made it his priority to promote public safety for the people of San Francisco.' She also underscored his efforts to protect San Franciscans by 'expanding services for crime victims, pursuing meaningful accountability to address the root causes of crime, including by fighting for public health solutions to prevent crime from occurring.' And, she said, Boudin's prosecution rates are similar, if not higher, than both his predecessor 'as well as other district attorneys in surrounding counties.' The office is also fighting back against the recall effort, with Boudin telling his supporters at a recent rally: 'This has nothing to do with the facts or the real challenges our communities are facing. 'This has everything to do with disrespecting the will of the people,' he said, describing the recall campaign as being pushed by 'dark money' and the Republican Party. Two unidentified individuals wearing hooded jackets were caught on amateur video during a brazen smash-and-grab spree in the San Francisco Bay Area The image above shows one of the thieves reaching into a vehicle to steal an item Meanwhile, more than 150 families have hired the Patrol Special Officers - who are overseen by the police commissioner - to monitor their neighborhoods. 'We don't feel safe in our neighborhood,' Katie Lyons, resident of the Marina District neighborhood, told CBS San Francisco. 'We have an alarm, we have cameras on our property, but we want the extra security of having someone have eyes on our place.' Lyons said that she, like many other residents, is cautious about walking around outside. 'Especially at night, I don't walk with a purse, I'll drive, or I'll take an Uber, and it's beginning to become a daytime problem too,' she shared. Officer Alan Byard, who was hired to patrol the Marina District from 8pm to 5am, shared that his clients has more than doubled since COVID hit the city, from 70 last year to 150 now, with each household paying him $65-a-month. 'People are afraid of what's been going on,' the officer said. 'They want a safe place to raise their kids. In the last year, I've had 10 of my clients move out of the city.' He says he searches the neighborhood for suspicious people. Byard was hired after a rash of repeated instances of car break-ins and home burglaries. While he most often deals with homeless people sleeping on residents' doorsteps, Byard has also addressed incidents of petty theft and burglary. Lyons said it is not uncommon for stolen property, such as emptied luggage, to be discarded right outside her home. Between May 2020 and May 2021, there was a 753 percent increase in the car break-ins in the city's Central District, according to The San Francisco Chronicle. Last week, two unidentified individuals wearing hooded jackets were caught on amateur video during a brazen 'smash-and-grab' spree on cars in the San Francisco Bay Area. Video posted to social media on Wednesday shows the two thieves driving along streets in residential areas of San Francisco and Oakland. Mayor London Breed on Tuesday announced that the city would offer rewards of up to $100,000 to anyone with information leading to the arrest of the mastermind of what officials say is an organized criminal effort. Asylum-seekers who posed as children won a High Court battle with a council for leaving them in adult accommodation - despite them both now being ruled as being over 24. They were among three males who arrived in the UK in August and September last year and all placed in the Holiday Inn in Wembley. The Home Office decided to house the trio in the hotel, which was was designated for adults and had around 180 others already there. Two were from Afghanistan and one from Sudan and it was believed they were all over 25. But later all three - who arrived at different times and did not know each other - contacted Brent Council saying they were children and it agreed they should all have age assessments. And today High Court Judge Mr Justice Poole ruled the council had acted unlawfully, because it did not treat them as minors from that moment. He said because it had agreed they should be age-assessed, it triggered statutory guidance that meant they should be treated as minors until the tests came back. This is despite the age-assessments later ruling one of the Afghanistan migrants was 24 and the Sudan refugee was 25. The other Afghani national was a child and aged just 16. Home Office thought three were all over 25 so placed them in adult-designated Holiday Inn All three said they were children and Brent Council agreed to do assessment, sparking law This latest ruling comes a year after parents feared a grown man had started a school The judge, who is based in London, outlined his reasoning in a written ruling published on Monday after considering arguments at a High Court hearing earlier this month. He said there was no evidence 'putative children' at the hotel were 'safeguarded against risk from adult strangers' and no evidence that any account was taken of promoting the three asylum-seekers' welfare. Lawyers representing the council told the judge that the three asylum-seekers had been provided with appropriate accommodation and said their 'physical appearance and demeanour' were strongly suggestive of an 'adult male of at least 25 years old'. Mr Justice Poole said each of the three had now been ' age assessed' and appropriate accommodation provided. He added: 'It was... unreasonable for the defendant local authority to determine that it did not appear to it that these three claimants required accommodation, and the local authority was in breach of its duty under section 20 of the Children Act 1989 by declining to provide accommodation to these three claimants pending the outcome of their age assessments. 'The defendant's decisions in these three cases not to accommodate the claimants under section 20 of the Children Act 1989 were unlawful.' The council could face costs and relief payments now the judgement has been published. A council spokesman told MailOnline: 'Following the court's judgement we are urgently reviewing all of the cases of asylum seekers that the Home Office has placed in hotel accommodation in Brent who have subsequently approached Brent claiming they are children despite the Home Office's assessments that they are adults. 'For those who are eligible for interim support, pending the completion of age assessments, we will provide suitable accommodation in line with our Children Act responsibilities. Home Secretary Priti Patel is considering X-raying migrants to try and ascertain their age 'While it is welcome that local authorities now have clarity on our duties under the Children Act regarding the provision of interim support pending the completion of age assessments, the unplanned and uncoordinated way that the Home Office places asylum seekers in boroughs, such as Brent, is still in need of significant reform. 'Brent has always been a borough that is proud to welcome asylum seekers, including unaccompanied asylum seeking children. 'The number of asylum seeking children supported by Brent is at its highest level for more than four years and the proportion of asylum seeking children here is well above the agreed London threshold that is meant to ensure a more even distribution across London.' This is the latest development in a long-running debate over how asylum-seekers without identity papers should have their ages assessed. Last year a school pupil who claimed to be 15 but looked 40 disappeared from classes after October half-term. Parents at the school in Coventry previously expressed doubts about the asylum-seeking student, who is said to have moved to the UK from Gambia, West Africa. The Home Office launched an 'urgent investigation' into the matter after the city council wrote to parents to reassure them about the situation. The school said it had been able to verify the pupil's age, but did not explain how further fuelling concerns about the balding male. Asylum seekers who are genuine child victims of war, terror and humanitarian disasters, will have the right to financial help with accommodation up until they are 25. Children in asylum rules are under 18. Earlier this month it was announced migrants could face X-rays checks to test their age before they are given asylum to ensure they are not lying. Priti Patel is set to unveil new powers to use 'scientifically verifiable' methods to confirm a person's age. The amendments under the National and Borders Bill are understood to allow X-rays of the forearm bones - which accurately report the maturity of the skeletal system. But they are only believed to be targeted at those suspected of lying about their age to boost their chances of asylum. It would bring the UK up to date with other European countries and the US, which use dental X-rays. A Metropolitan Police officer 'raped a woman in her home after a night out because he thought she was playing hard-to-get when she told him to stop', a court has heard. James Geoghegan, 27, from Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire, is accused of raping the woman on December 12, 2018. Jurors at Chelmsford Crown Court were told the victim returned to her home in Loughton, Essex, with Geoghegan at around 3am after they had been drinking. Geoghegan had decided to sleep there instead of returning to his home in Enfield, north London, before following the victim into her room 'uninvited' later that morning as she was undressing. Prosecutor Wayne Cleaver said Geoghegan proceeded to try to take off the victim's pyjama bottoms, to which she replied 'stop, think about your girlfriend'. Jurors were told that she repeated this several times to try to 'discourage him' as she was 'not interested in intercourse' but this was ignored. After gesturing that she was not interested in going further, the alleged rape took place on her bed, the court heard. James Geoghegan, 27, from Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire, is accused of raping the woman on December 12, 2018 In a police video interview played in court, the woman said: 'I pulled them back up, said, 'No. Stop'. 'He then pulled them back down.' 'I just remember lying there looking at the ceiling thinking, 'This is disgusting',' she said. 'He was quite sweaty.' She said the defendant fell asleep afterwards and she cried. The woman said: 'We were kissing and that was all consensual, mucking around for a bit, laughing. He was saying he's going to marry me one day.' She said he was lying on top of her. 'He wasn't pushing me down or anything,' she said. 'He was on top of me but not with his weight on me.' She said he then pulled her pyjama shorts off and she told him no and pulled them back up. 'He's a lot stronger and bigger than me and pulled them off,' she said. She described the defendant as '6ft something' and of 'quite large build'. 'I personally think if somebody says stop it means stop,' she said. She said she had had some alcohol, adding: 'There's bits missing as there was quite a lot of drink involved.' Following the incident, the victim told a friend she had been raped and asked Geoghegan 'do you remember me asking you to stop?' to which he replied 'yes, I thought you were just playing around'. Mr Cleaver said: 'Clearly he heard her say no, he had heard her indicate that she didnt want to have sex with him and he also acknowledged that she had indeed pulled her shorts back up when he first pulled them down.' In text messages between the pair later that day, the victim told Geoghegan she had been crying and was 'all over the place'. She said: 'Im upset James because I said no multiple times, but you carried on'. Mr Cleaver said: 'The prosecution case is simple, (the victim) said no and (the victim) said stop and that is exactly what she meant. 'He accepted in the living room and later in those messages that he heard her say it more than once, but he took no notice of her. 'He disregarded her limits and decided instead to press on.' Mr Cleaver added: 'It was totally unreasonable, he had no reasonable belief that she was consenting, less still that she was inviting sexual intercourse with him. 'It may be that he felt that he had waited long enough and this was his opportunity to go all the way without any real regard to what she actually wanted and to what she was clearly indicating.' He said that as a police officer, Geoghegan had 'professional insight' on where 'sexual boundaries may be crossed'. The trial continues. Today Gulie, 28, was convicted of the murder of his child after a three-week trial Sixth-month-old taken to hospital but was pronounced dead three days later A father who violently shook his six-month-old son and caused him catastrophic head injuries has been found guilty of his murder. Mihai-Catalin Gulie, 28, was arrested by police after he attacked his son Robert Ion in a fit of rage at his home in Widnes, Cheshire, on February 21 this year. The sixth-month-old, who was diagnosed with Down's Syndrome at birth and suffered from a range of medical complications, was rushed to hospital but was tragically pronounced dead just three days later. The baby's mother Gabriela Ion, 35, had previously tried to cover up the baby's bruises - and injuries including broken ribs - with toothpaste, a court heard. She admitted doing so, but said she did not foresee the fatal attack and blamed her husband for the killing. Today Gulie was convicted of the murder of his child after a three-week trial at Liverpool Crown Court. Robert's mother Gabriela Ion was found guilty of causing or allowing his death. Mihai-Catalin Gulie (left), 28, was convicted of the murder of his six-month-old child and his wife Gabriela Ion (right), 35, was found guilty of causing or allowing the baby's death Sixth-month-old Robert Ion, who was diagnosed with Down's Syndrome at birth and suffered from a range of medical complications, was rushed to hospital but was tragically pronounced dead just three days later Nicholas Johnson QC, for the prosecution, told the jury that three days before Robert's death, he had suffered catastrophic injuries at the hands of Gulie, who was alone in the house while Ion and their two-year-old daughter had gone to a nearby corner shop. The jury was told that on the day of the fatal assault, Robert's father fell into a rage and forcefully shook his son, probably impacting his head too. The force used was enough to cause extensive internal bleeding and over-stretching of vulnerable structures inside Robert's brain and spinal cord, quickly leading a heart attack, from which he never recovered. Mr Johnson said: 'It is not entirely clear why Robert's father did it but it wasn't the first time he had been violent to his son. 'Robert was born with Down's Syndrome and had other medical requirements such as feeding him through a tube into his stomach. His need for medical treatment in hospital had caused significant disruption and debt. 'Whatever the cause, subsequent investigations showed that, about 10 days before he was fatally attacked, Robert had suffered two fractured ribs and a bleed on the brain, which are classic signs of a previous forceful shaking. 'And this was a previous assault which Robert's mother was not only aware of but, rather than telling family and friends who lived close by or doctors or the police about the obvious risk of serious injury to him, covered up Robert's bruising with toothpaste and kept secret what was going on, until it was too late. 'As a result of the later, fatal attack on February 18, Robert suffered a classic 'triad' of injuries associated with non-accidental head injury - what used to be called shaken baby syndrome.' The court heard how Robert had spent the first few months of his life in hospital and had only returned home to live with his parents and his two-year-old sister just before Christmas last year. On February 18, 2021, Ion had left the family home at 11.25am to go to the shop before returning a few minutes later. Gulie was convicted of the murder after a three-week trial at Liverpool Crown Court When she returned to the house, she saw Gulie with the baby and he said that Robert appeared unwell. They put water on his face in an attempt to revive him and tapped his back. Gulie, a Romanian national, called a family friend to ring an ambulance as he does not speak English. However when paramedics arrived, they found Robert on the sofa with no signs of life. After six minutes of CPR medics were able to move Robert to the ambulance before taking him to hospital where he was placed into an induced coma in order to stabilise him. On assessment, it was revealed that Robert was in a critical condition and had sustained a skull fracture and an irreversible non-survivable brain injury. Further tests found Robert had also sustained additional injuries including fractured ribs and a brain injury, which are believed to date back to around February 7. Despite the efforts of medical staff, Robert passed away three days later on February 21, sparking a murder probe. In an interview with police, Gulie stated that he loved Robert and would never hurt him. He also denied causing any injury to Robert and claimed that he handled him as a 'jewel'. He told officers how he had spent 4,000 in taxi fares going to and from hospitals in the first few months of his life. But police examination of Ion's phone found how she had been searching how to remove bruises. Detective Inspector Nigel Parr, who was in charge of the investigation, said: 'This has been an extremely difficult and emotional case for all involved. 'Robert's death was horrific. He had already fought for the first few months of his life with various health issues only to suffer further and have his life cruelly taken away from him by the people who should have cared for him the most. 'What Gulie and Ion did is unimaginable and they are now facing the consequences of their actions behind bars. 'I hope that that the verdict reached today will in some way help Robert's wider family to find some form of closure after an incredibly difficult experience.' Following the verdict, Robert's wider family said in a statement: 'The last few months have been incredibly difficult losing Robert so suddenly without knowing the reasons why. 'We are all very shocked and we still haven't recovered from this shock yet especially now we have found out what Robert went through. 'Robert was a beautiful, happy, content baby who was cruelly taken away from us in the place where he should have been protected and safe. 'We are a close family and whilst it will take some time to process what has happened, we take comfort from the support we have had from the local community and the police since Robert's death. 'From the bottom of our hearts we hope that Robert can now finally rest in peace' Gulie and Ion are due to be sentenced at the same court on November 26. By Brian Stieglitz for DailyMail.com (First published in September 2021) CIA officials under the Trump administration allegedly made secret plans to kidnap or even assassinate Wikileaks founder Julian Assange after the website published sensitive agency hacking tools online, according to a report on Sunday. The publication of the tools by Wikileaks in 2016 was considered the 'largest data loss in CIA history', and senior agency officials reportedly requested 'sketches' and 'options' on how to kidnap or assassinate Assange in response. The claims were made in a newly released Yahoo News investigation that included interviews with 30 former US officials. Former CIA director Mike Pompeo allegedly led the crusade against Assange in 2017 when WikiLeaks continued publishing classified government documents under the name 'Vault 7.' Pompeo's plans intensified that year when the US government heard Assange might attempt to escape Ecuador for Russia, prompting the CIA to plan a number of scenarios for intercepting him. One proposal allegedly involved shooting out the tires of his plane if Assange attempted to flee to Russia from London. Assange had his asylum at the embassy revoked in April 2019, and was arrested by British police. He is currently detained in Belmarsh prison while he fights extradition to the US on espionage charges. CIA officials under the Trump administration had deliberated killing Julian Assange in 2017 when, despite being holed up for five years in Ecuadorian Embassy in London, WikiLeaks continued publishing classified government documents under the name 'Vault 7' In 2012, Assange sought asylum in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London and was pictured above addressing the press in 2017 Among the proposals reportedly suggested by agency officials are scenarios that appear to be straight out of a James Bond movie. They included possible shootouts on the streets of London, crashing a car into a vehicle transporting him, or shooting out the tires of a plane taking him to Russia. In the lattermost scenario, U.S. officials allegedly even asked their British counterparts to aide in the mission by carrying out the shooting. A former senior administration official told Yahoo News that the British agreed with the plan. The CIA's war against Assange was concurrent to the Justice Department's debate over extraditing Assange from London to the US for prosecution. WikiLeaks first drew fury from the U.S. government in 2010 after publishing thousands of pages of once-secret reports and documents generated by American military and intelligence agencies, including detailed descriptions of CIA hacking capabilities. That same year, U.S. authorities alleged Assange engaged in a conspiracy to hack a classified U.S. government computer with former Army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning. In 2012, Assange entered the Ecuadorian embassy in London and was granted political asylum. Debate over possible American moves to seek Assange's extradition from Britain first arose nearly a decade ago when Barack Obama served as president and Joe Biden was his vice president. Former CIA director Mike Pompeo led the crusade against Assange, which intensified in 2017 when the US government heard Assange might attempt to escape Ecuador for Russia Obama's Justice Department decided not to seek Assange's extradition on the grounds that what Assange and WikiLeaks did was too similar to journalistic activities protected by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. WikiLeaks gained national attention again after publishing emails hacked from Democrat Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential campaign and a key adviser, which Clinton and some of her supporters say was a factor in her election defeat to Republican Donald Trump. Then, in 2017, WikiLeaks began Vault 7 and drew the ire of Trump administration officials. Only weeks after taking office in January 2017, the Trump administration filed a series of increasingly harsh criminal charges accusing Assange of participating in the Chelsea Manning hacking conspiracy. The Justice Department rushed its drafts of such charges against Assange out of concern that Pompeo and the CIA's talks of kidnapping or killing him would derail or jeopardize the prosecution, Yahoo reports. A former senior counterintelligence official told Yahoo News that these talks happened 'at the highest levels' of the Trump administration and 'there seemed to be no boundaries.' The official added that Pompeo and agency leaders 'were completely detached from reality because they were so embarrassed about Vault 7. They were seeing blood.' Five weeks after the Vault 7 files began, in April 2017, Pompeo addressed WikiLeaks at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), a Washington think tank, for his first public remarks as Trump's CIA director. He said, 'WikiLeaks walks like a hostile intelligence service and talks like a hostile intelligence service and has encouraged its followers to find jobs at the CIA in order to obtain intelligence. It's time to call out WikiLeaks for what it really is: a non-state hostile intelligence service often abetted by state actors like Russia.' The CIA planned a number of scenarios for intercepting Assange's potential prison break, according to a newly released Yahoo News investigation that included interviews with 30 former US officials If the CIA could legitimize WikiLeaks as a non-state hostile intelligence service, it meant they could treat it the way they treat foreign enemies. However, the CIA faced difficulty in proving that WikiLeaks was conspiring with the Kremlin, which stunted their attempts to plan Assange's capture or murder. A former senior counterintelligence official told Yahoo News, 'There was a lot of legal debate on: Are they operating as a Russian agent? It wasn't clear they were, so the question was, can it be reframed on them being a hostile entity.' Nevertheless, soon after his speech, Pompeo asked a small group of senior CIA officers to determine 'the art of the possible' when it came to WikiLeaks, another official told Yahoo News. 'He said, 'Nothing's off limits, don't self-censor yourself. I need operational ideas from you. I'll worry about the lawyers in Washington.' Within months, U.S. spies moved beyond just Assange and began targeting other WikiLeaks personnel with 'offensive counterintelligence' strategies like paralyzing its digital infrastructure, disturbing its communications, planting damaging information in the organization to start infighting and even stealing WikiLeaks members' electronic devices. Some of these proposals may have come to fruition because Andy Muller-Maguhn, a German hacker involved in the Vault 7 projects, made several claims in December 2020 about his time with WikiLeaks. Among them were that someone tried to break into his apartment, that he had been followed by 'mysterious figures' and that his encrypted telephone had been bugged. Meanwhile, U.S. officials heard about a plan in which Ecuadorian officials would grant Assange diplomatic status as part of a scheme so he could leave the embassy and fly to Moscow. According to Yahoo News, officials grew more concerned when they spotted Russian operatives near the Ecuadorian Embassy practicing a 'starburst' maneuver, a common tactic for spy services in which multiple operatives suddenly disperse to escape surveillance. U.S. officials believed they were seeing a practice run for Assange's prison break. Talk of killing Assange may have been just that and Trump recently denied that he ever considered having Assange assassinated 'We had all sorts of reasons to believe he was contemplating getting the hell out of there,' a former senior administration official told Yahoo News. 'It was going to be like a prison break movie.' The CIA began coordinating with the Trump White House to prepare for his anticipated escape, which is when CIA officials discussed tactics like shooting out the tires of his plane. Assange's escape plan never came to fruition, but Pompeo allegedly continued to seek vengeance. A former Trump administration national security official told Yahoo News, 'WikiLeaks was a complete obsession of Pompeo's. After Vault 7, Pompeo and [Deputy CIA Director Gina] Haspel wanted vengeance on Assange.' Pompeo and other intelligence officials discussed abducting Assange from the embassy through a process known as 'rendition,' which involves bringing him to a third country before bringing him back to the U.S. The idea was to 'break into the embassy, drag [Assange] out and bring him to where we want,' a former intelligence official told the news outlet. The idea came off to some as 'ridiculous,' the former intelligence official said. 'This isn't Pakistan or Egypt we're talking about London.' 'There was a discussion with the Brits about turning the other cheek or looking the other way when a team of guys went inside and did a rendition,' a former senior counterintelligence official told Yahoo News. 'But the British said, 'No way, you're not doing that on our territory, that ain't happening.' In addition to diplomatic concerns with carrying out a rendition, some national security officials believed that it would be clearly illegal. 'You can't throw people in a car and kidnap them,' one source said. Currently, Assange is housed in a London prison as the courts there deliberate on a U.S. request to extradite him on charges of participating in the Chelsea Manning hacking conspiracy 'As an American citizen, I find it absolutely outrageous that our government would be contemplating kidnapping or assassinating somebody without any judicial process simply because he had published truthful information,' Barry Pollack, Assange's U.S. lawyer, told Yahoo News. 'My hope and expectation is that the U.K. courts will consider this information and it will further bolster its decision not to extradite to the U.S.,' Pollack added. Nevertheless, talk of killing Assange may have been just that. 'It was viewed as unhinged and ridiculous,' recalled one former senior CIA official to Yahoo News. And in a statement to Yahoo News, Trump denied that he ever considered having Assange assassinated. 'It's totally false, it never happened,' he said, adding 'In fact, I think he's been treated very badly.' In April 2019, Ecuador's government revoked Assange's asylum and British police arrested him for failing to surrender to the court over a warrant issued in 2012. The U.S. government unsealed its initial indictment of Assange the same day. Currently, Assange is housed in a London prison as the courts there deliberate on a U.S. request to extradite him on charges of participating in the Chelsea Manning hacking conspiracy and acting in violation of the Espionage Act. Advertisement New York Governor Kathy Hochul and New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy declared states of emergency on Monday as the Northeast is battered by fall storms which are expected to dump an inch of water an hour sparking flash flooding warnings. 'I am proactively declaring a State of Emergency to ensure we can provide the necessary resources to respond to this storm and protect lives and property in regions where the forecast is calling for significant rainfall,' Hochul announced. 'I am encouraging New Yorkers to prepare now for inclement weather expected over the coming days and urging commuters to take precaution ahead of heavy rainfall expected tomorrow morning.' Hochul has ordered emergency response teams to be prepared to respond as 3 to 5 inches of rain are expected to hit over the next couple of days. The New York City area is forecast to experience intense rain showers and thunderstorms along with gusty winds through Tuesday, according to a special weather statement released by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Murphy also declared a state of emergency for the state starting at 8pm on Monday. 'The anticipated Nor'easter storm is forecasted to bring significant flash flooding, coastal flooding, and wind gusts across New Jersey,' Murphy said. 'Residents should stay off the roads, remain vigilant, and follow all safety protocols.' Flood watches have been in effect from Southern New Jersey to Eastern Massachusetts since Monday evening as heavy rain is expected to fall in the region until Wednesday. HIT AND SUNK: Several inches of rain are expected to fall on the tristate area, including all five boroughs of New York City, Monday night as New Yorkers brace themselves for more flooding Both the West Coast (left) and the East Coast (right) are facing heavy rains and devastating winds throughout the week Connecticut has not issued a state of emergency but flash flood warnings were set for the entire state. Governor Ned Lamont tweeted rainstorm and flash flood safety tips. The state of Massachusetts issued a severe weather alert and informed their residents of an expected timeline of the storm and its effects. The first nor'easter of the season, which last between September and April, may escalate to become the third bomb cyclone to hit the US in a week. The storm has been categorized as a nor'easter but may undergo rapid intensification to be upgraded to a bomb cyclone. A multi-day severe storm currently in the Midwest, where it has impacted more than 50 million people, is likely to be the source of rain coming east later Monday and will be joined by a second storm, a Nor'easter, forming off the Atlantic coast later this week. 'Whatever sun you get on Thursday, enjoy it,' David Roth, a senior branch forecaster at the U.S. Weather Prediction Center, told Bloomberg. While lightning, destructive winds and flash flooding are expected from this storm, tornadoes and large hail are considered unlikely at this point. The heavy rain expected this evening could impact daily commutes made Tuesday morning. The largest amount of rain is forecasted to fall between midnight to 9 a.m., while three-to-five inches of rain is possible across much of New York City rain levels the area typically sees in a month. A flash flood warning was issued for the entire tristate region, including south New Jersey, Connecticut and all five boroughs of New York City. A wind advisory has also been put in place for parts of Suffolk County starting Tuesday morning. Mayor Bill de Blasio has pushed a hypervigilant approach to weather over the last month since the devastations made by floods from Hurricane Ida and Henri over the summer. The mayor also asked New Yorkers to stay out of flooded areas when driving, and urged those who live in apartments with basements to be on the lookout for flooding. Wind gusts are also anticipated for mid-morning Tuesday, approaching 50 mph for parts of Long Island later in the day. However, the wind will gradually fall back Wednesday. The latest forecast on the coastal system expected to impact the area through Wednesday says most of New York City will be under flash flood warnings. A Wind Advisory is in effect from 2 p.m. Tuesday through 6 a.m. Wednesday for Eastern locations. Wind gusts are also anticipated for mid-morning Tuesday, approaching 50 mph for most of Long Island, impacting the Hamptons, Quogue, Riverhead, East Moriches and Wading River Another storm could wreck Halloween plans for some, as a system currently ravaging the West Coast with torrential rains could combine with wild winds in the East Coast and hit the area on Friday. A massive storm barreled toward Southern California on Monday after flooding highways, toppling trees, cutting power to about 380,000 utility customers and causing rock slides and mud flows in areas burned bare by wildfires across the northern half of the state. Drenching rains and strong winds accompanied the weekend arrival of an atmospheric river a long plume of Pacific moisture into the drought-stricken state. Rainfall records were shattered and heavy snow pounded high elevations of the Sierra Nevada. The National Weather Service issued numerous flash flood warnings. There were widespread power outages in Northern California, with Pacific Gas & Electric reporting Sunday evening that about 130,000 customers did not have electricity, though the utility said power had been restored to about 250,000 customers. A Category 5 atmospheric river brought heavy precipitation, high winds and power outages to the San Francisco Bay Area. The storm brought more than 3 inches of rain to many parts of the area. Pictured: A pedestrian walks on a flooded street on October 24, 2021, in Kentfield, California Northern and Central California have seen torrential rain throughout the weekend, as Sacramento was on the receiving end of more than 5 inches of rain on Sunday and San Francisco had 4.02 inches, its fourth highest in records going back to the 1849 Gold Rush year Flooding was reported across the San Francisco Bay Area, closing streets in Berkeley, inundating Oakland's Bay Bridge toll plaza and overflowing rivers in Napa and Sonoma counties. 'It's been a memorable past 24 hours for the Bay Area as the long talked-about atmospheric river rolled through the region,' the local weather office said. 'We literally have gone from fire/drought conditions to flooding in one storm cycle.' The weather service called preliminary rainfall totals 'staggering,' including 11 inches (27.9 centimeters) at the base of Marin County's Mount Tamalpais and and 4.02 inches (10.2 centimeters) in downtown San Francisco. 'It looks like [Sunday] was the 4th wettest day ever for downtown SF where records go back to the Gold Rush years,' the weather service said. About 150 miles (241 kilometers) to the north, the California Highway Patrol closed a stretch of State Route 70 in Butte and Plumas counties because of multiple landslides within the massive Dixie Fire burn scar. In the state's Central Valley, Sacramento got 5.4 inches (13.7 centimeters) of rain, smashing the all-time one-day rainfall record dating to 1880, the weather service said on Monday. Interstate 80, the major highway through the Sierra to Reno, Nevada, was shut down by heavy snow early that morning. Flooding was reported across the San Francisco Bay Area, closing streets in Berkeley, inundating Oakland Bay Bridge toll plaza and overflowing rivers in Napa and Sonoma counties. Pictured: A couple pushes a vehicle away from a flooded area as a powerful storm drenched northern California in Fairfield, California, 45 miles in between Sacramento and San Francisco Rainfall records were scattered throughout most areas between San Francisco and Sacramento throughout the weekend. Pictured: A minivan sits stranded on a flooded street on October 24, 2021, in San Rafael, California, 28 miles north of San Francisco The same storm system also slammed Oregon and Washington state, causing power outages that affected tens of thousands of people. Two people were killed when a tree fell on a vehicle in the greater Seattle area. In California's Colusa and Yolo counties, state highways 16 and 20 were shut for several miles because of mudslides, the state Department of Transportation said Monday. Burn areas remain a concern because land devoid of vegetation can't soak up heavy rainfall as quickly, increasing the likelihood of flash flooding. 'If you are in the vicinity of a recent burn scar and haven't already, prepare now for likely debris flows,' the Sacramento weather service tweeted. 'If you are told to evacuate by local officials, or you feel threatened, do not hesitate to do so. If it is too late to evacuate, get to higher ground.' South of San Francisco, evacuation orders were in effect in the Santa Cruz Mountains over concerns that several inches of rain could trigger debris flows in the CZU Lightning Complex Fire burn scar when the storm moved through early Monday. About 150 miles (241 kilometers) to the north of San Francisco, the California Highway Patrol closed a stretch of State Route 70. Pictured: Cars sit in heavy traffic on Highway 101 on October 24, 2021, in Corte Madera, California, 15 miles north of San Francisco Further south, evacuation warnings for parts of western Santa Barbara County were upgraded to evacuation orders in the area burned by this month's Alisal Fire. Officials said mountain areas above 9,000 feet (2,745 meters) in the Sierra Nevada could get 18 inches (46 centimeters) of snow or more from Sunday until Monday morning. Recent storms have helped contain some of the nation's largest wildfires this year. But it remains to be seen if the wet weather will make a dent in the drought that's plaguing California and the western United States. California's climate is hotter and drier now and that means the rain and snow that does fall is more likely to evaporate and less likely to absorb into the soil. California's 2021 water year, which ended September 30, was the second driest on record and last year's was the fifth driest on record. Some of the state's most important reservoirs are at record low levels. Boris Johnson today told Vladimir Putin that 'significant bilateral difficulties remain' in the relationship between the UK and Russia. The Prime Minister told the Russian President during a telephone call this afternoon that the current relationship with Moscow 'is not the one we want'. But he said issues including the 2018 Salisbury nerve agent attack and Russias actions in Ukraine mean the two nations are still at odds. Mr Johnson welcomed Russia's recent commitment to achieve net zero emissions by 2060 - but urged his counterpart to go further and bring forward the target to 2050. Boris Johnson today told Vladimir Putin that 'significant bilateral difficulties remain' in the relationship between the UK and Russia The Prime Minister told the Russian President during a telephone call this afternoon that the current relationship with Moscow 'is not the one we want' The two leaders spoke ahead of the COP26 climate change summit in Glasgow which is due to get underway next Sunday. The Kremlin said last week that Mr Putin will not be attending the gathering of world leaders because of the worsening coronavirus situation in Russia. A Downing Street spokesman said: 'The Prime Minister spoke to Russian President Putin this afternoon ahead of the COP26 Summit. 'He welcomed the steps Russia has taken in recent days to commit net zero by 2060. The Prime Minister expressed his hope that Russia will raise that target to achieving net zero by 2050 as well as making further progress on ending deforestation and an ambitious Nationally Determined Contribution. 'President Putin expressed his regret that he would not be able attend the COP26 Summit in person in the light of the coronavirus situation in Russia. 'The Prime Minister was clear that the UK's current relationship with Russia is not the one we want. 'He said significant bilateral difficulties remain, including the poisonings in Salisbury in 2018. 'The Prime Minister also underscored the importance of Ukrainian sovereignty.' Mr Johnson told Mr Putin that despite the difficult relationship between the two countries they have a 'responsibility to work together to tackle shared challenges'. 'The Prime Minister said that as fellow permanent members of the UN Security Council and major world economies with a long, shared history, the UK and Russia have a responsibility to work together to tackle shared challenges like climate change and safeguard international agreements like the Iran Nuclear Deal,' Number 10 said. 'The leaders also discussed the current situation in Afghanistan. The Prime Minister stressed the importance of any recognition of the Taliban being conditional on their behaviour, including respect for human rights.' Facebook's algorithms inundated conservative users with QAnon conspiracies and other far-right content, while flooding liberal users' news feeds with far-left posts and memes like 'Moscow Mitch' that claimed the Senate majority leader was a Russian asset, newly released internal documents reveal. Researchers created dummy profiles in 2019 for two fictitious female users - a liberal 41 year-old woman from Illinois called Karen, and a conservative from North Carolina called Carol, who was the same age. Within days of activating the conservative account, named Carol Smith, the Facebook researcher started seeing posts supporting QAnon and other far-right groups. The liberal account, named Karen Jones, began seeing posts about collusion with Russia. And the Indian account saw graphic content depicting violence against Muslims. All the material was fed to the dummy profiles through recommended groups, pages, videos and posts. Facebook's algorithms flooded users with extremist content and conspiracy theories based on their political beliefs. Liberal users were flooded with far-left posts and memes like 'Moscow Mitch' that claimed the Senate majority leader was a Russian asset (file photo) Facebook conducted the experiment to study how the platform recommended content to Americans on opposite ends of the political spectrum. The accounts only clicked on content recommended by Facebook's algorithms and found themselves locked in an echo chamber of extremist beliefs and inflammatory misinformation. Facebook's research backs up whistleblower Frances Haugen's claims that the website's algorithm favored divisive content because it kept users coming back. The documents reveal that Facebook was aware of the power its algorithms held in leading users 'down the path to conspiracy theories' at least a year before the January 6 riot at the Capitol, which the tech giant is also accused of not doing enough to prevent. Meanwhile, the documents also reveal how the platform also stoked violence among foreign countries in conflict in a similar way. A researcher created a third dummy account for a Facebook user in India, the social networks biggest market, and saw a slew of posts against Muslims and Pakistan amid the border crisis between the two countries. Facebook's algorithms inundated conservative users with QAnon conspiracies and other far-right content (file photo) Researchers created dummy profiles in 2019 to study how the platform recommended content to Americans on opposite ends of the political spectrum, according to newly released internal documents The findings from the three dummy accounts were detailed among a trove of documents shared by whistleblower Frances Haugen, which were disclosed to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and provided to Congress in redacted form by Haugen's legal counsel. Facebook's issues in India reveal that the platform causes even more potential damage in countries where it has less resources and insufficient expertise in local languages to gauge what constitutes hate speech or misinformation. India is the company's largest market, but the platform said it only trained its A.I. systems on five, adding that it has some human reviewers for some others, the New York Times reported. But the Facebook report said that material targeting Muslims 'is never flagged or actioned.' The researcher running the Facebook dummy profile in India wrote in a report that year, 'I've seen more images of dead people in the past 3 weeks than I've seen in my entire life total.' She described how bots and fake accounts fanned the flames during the country's 2019 election. She saw a number of graphic posts as violence raged in Kashmir, the site of a long-running territorial dispute between India and Pakistan. A third dummy profile created for an Indian user saw a slew of posts against Muslims and Pakistan amid the border crisis between the two countries. Above is an Indian fighting jet that was reportedly shot down by Pakistan in 2019 The researcher running the Facebook dummy profile in India wrote in a report that year, 'I've seen more images of dead people in the past 3 weeks than I've seen in my entire life total' One post circulating in the groups she joined depicted a beheading of a Pakistani national and dead bodies wrapped in white sheets on the ground. The posts were unprompted and the user was flooded with propaganda and anti-Muslim hate speech following retaliatory airstrikes Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, campaigning for re-election as a nationalist strongman, unleashed against Pakistan. The company's global budget for time spent on classifying misinformation dedicates 87% to the United States and only 13% for the rest of the world, the New York Times reported. However, North American users only comprise 10% of the social network's daily active users, according to a document describing Facebook's allocation of resources. Andy Stone, a Facebook spokesman, told the New York Times that the figures were incomplete and don't include the company's third-party fact-checking partners, most of whom are outside the United States. Stone added that Facebook has invested significantly in technology to find hate speech in various languages like Hindi and Bengali, two of the most widely used in India, and has cut the amount of hate speech that people see globally in half this year. 'Hate speech against marginalized groups, including Muslims, is on the rise in India and globally,' Stone said. 'So we are improving enforcement and are committed to updating our policies as hate speech evolves online.' In India, 'there is definitely a question about resourcing' for Facebook, but the answer is not 'just throwing more money at the problem,' Katie Harbath, who spent 10 years at Facebook as a director of public policy, told the New York Times. Harbath, who also worked directly on securing India's national elections, added that Facebook needs to find a solution that can be applied to countries around the world. A Facebook spokesperson told CBS News that the dummy profile experiment was necessary in making changes to the platform and cited the conservative profile as 'a perfect example of research the company does to improve our systems and helped inform our decision to remove QAnon from the platform.' Facebook make sweeping changes to its algorithms in 2018 to center news feeds on what it calls 'Meaningful Social Interactions,' but the internal research done the following year found that engaging with a post doesn't mean a user wants to seem more of it. The revelation comes as a group of roughly two-dozen news outlets broke an embargo on documents leaked by former Facebook staffer Frances Haugen A Facebook spokesperson defended the platform by arguing that extremism was rampant before social media In other words, a user could comment their dissatisfaction with a post and the algorithm will interpret is as a 'meaningful interaction' and show more related content to that user. 'A state[d] goal of the move toward meaningful social interactions was to increase well-being by connecting people. However, we know that many things that generate engagement on our platform leave users divided and depressed,' a Facebook researcher wrote in a December 2019 report. Dubbed 'We are Responsible for Viral Content,' the document noted that users noted what content they wanted to see, but the company ignored such requests for 'business reasons,' CBS News reported. The report also alleges that users are twice as likely to see content that is reshared by others instead of the pages they choose to like and follow. The algorithm considers several metrics that each carry different weight to determine what content will go viral. For example, in 2018, the 'Like' button gave a post one point and reaction buttons 'Love,' 'Care,' 'Haha,' 'Sad' and 'Angry gave a post five points. Resharing a post also gave it five points. Comments on posts, messages in Groups, and RSVPs to public events granted the content 15 points and any that included photos, videos or links were awarded 30 points. Facebook researchers noted quickly that users were taking advantage of the algorithm by 'posting ever more outrageous things to get comments and reactions that our algorithms interpret as signs we should let things go viral,' reads a December 2019 report from a Facebook researcher. 'We consistently find that shares, angrys, and hahas are much more frequent on civic low-quality news, civic misinfo, civic toxicity, health misinfo, and health antivax content,' a Facebook wrote in an internal note from November 2019. A Facebook spokesperson defended the platform by arguing that extremism was rampant before social media and the platform isn't 'the source of the world's divisions,' regardless of how it could perpetuate them. 'Partisan divisions in our society have been growing for many decades, long before platforms like Facebook ever existed,' the spokesperson told CBS News. Facebook has argued that its researchers constantly strive to fix the algorithm and consider thousands of metrics before content is shown to users. Anna Stepanov, Facebook's head of app integrity, told CBS News the rankings powering the News Feed evolve based on new data from direct user surveys. Facebook has adjusted is algorithm rankings since introducing them in 2018. The platform reduced the weight of 'Angry' reactions from five points to 1.5 in January 2020, then lowered it to zero in September 2020. Facebook announced in February that it is beginning tests to reduce the distribution of political content in the News Feed for a small group of users in the U.S. and Canada. Earlier this month, the program expanded to include other countries. Iconic soap opera actor John James (above) will play President Joe Biden in the upcoming film My Son Hunter John James is being brought on board to play President Joe Biden in the upcoming Hunter Biden movie, DailyMail.com can exclusively reveal. British actor Laurence Fox, who is playing Hunter Biden, posted an image Monday that appeared to be from set where he is donning a white loin cloth, an orange scarf and sunglasses and nothing else in an outfit indicative of one of the photos found on the president's son's harddrive. 'Everything is fine. I'm in a really good place,' Fox sarcastically posted in the image from the set where he was holding up a peace sign alongside a woman in lingerie. The film from conservative filmmakers and married couple Phelim McAleer and Ann McElhinney began shooting in Serbia this week. 'The script has it all. Money, power, greed, sex, drugs, and alcohol,' James said in a 39-second clip announcing his role. 'It kind of reminds me of Dynasty,' he said in a nod to his most notable TV role. 'This is a common tale of a father's ultimate love for his son, despite his major shortcomings,' the actor continued. 'My Son Hunter is an inside look at the world of politics.' James, 65, is a veteran daytime soap opera star most known for his 1980s role of Jeff Colby in Dynasty, which ran from 1981-1989, and its spin-off series The Colbys, which ran from 1985-1987. Most recently, James starred in 2020 film Axcellerator and will now take on playing the 46th President of the United States in a biopic about his son. British actor Laurence Fox, who is playing Hunter Biden, shared a photo on Twitter Monday showing him donning a look the president's son was seen wearing in a photo leaked from his hard drive The actor sarcastically wrote 'Everything is fine. I'm in a really good place.', along with the image Conservative filmmakers and married couple Phelim McAleer (left) and Ann McElhinney (right) said when announcing the film earlier this year: 'The truth deserves to be told and it needs to be seen by as many people as possible. An entertaining and enjoyable movie is the best way to [do that]... If the media won't do their jobs, we'll do it for them' DailyMail.com was first to report last month that British actor and politician Laurence Fox will play Hunter in the film portraying alongside James one of the most controversial father-son duos. 'I'm especially excited to be working with a wonderful actor Laurence Fox is going to be my son, Hunter,' James said. 'We have some interesting scenes together.' In August, DailyMail.com reported that Bond villain and Goonies and Die Hard actor Robert Davi, 70, signed on to direct the biopic. 'I saw in him a depth, sincerity and an extreme likability which I wanted for the basis of Joe Biden, a man who has for 40 plus years been at the forefront of American politics,' Davi said of James joining the cast. 'It is important to have an actor that can measure up to such an icon, while at the same time present an endearing quirkiness without falling into the trap of belaboring his apparent frailties. John James is that actor,' he continued. 'With John and Laurence, I think audiences will be riveted by Joe and Hunters relationship and come to understand the dynamics between father and son.' The film is described by its makers as a way to 'explore how Hunter Biden amassed tens of millions of dollars from foreign entities owned by oligarchs, and the controversial interactions between Hunter, his father and other members of the Biden family.' McAleer and McElhinney, who are Irish filmmaker, are engaged in a crowdfunding campaign to fund the movie, which has already raised more than $1.6 million. The budget for the film is $1.8 million, just $200,000 more than they have raised so far, and began shooting in Serbia this week and will go into November lasting four weeks total. Robert Davi (left), the 70-year-old known for his James Bond and Goonies villain roles, will direct the film and British actor Laurence Fox (right), 43, has signed on to play Hunter Biden The couple have written and produced several niche films mostly backed by crowdfunded efforts and specifically targeting conservative viewers. Two of their bigger films include 'Gosnell: The Trial of America's Biggest Serial Killer', which is a true crime drama based on abortionist Dr. Kermit Gosnell; and 'FrackNation', which addressed what they called misinformation about hydraulic fracturing or 'fracking'. McAleer said they are thrilled to have James joining the project to expose the 'partying lifestyle and dodgy business practices' of the president's son. 'Joe Biden is a complex character,' McAleer explained. 'At times he mumbles and stumbles but he also is one the longest serving politicians in Washington who has become very wealthy during his time in public service.' 'John is the perfect actor to portray that complexity,' he added. A video shows the tragic moment a couple crashed and died in a two-seater plane moments after take-off - as their horrified grandchildren helplessly watched. Yuri Samofalov, 69, and his wife Tatyana Pokoevaya, 67, proudly flew the plane near Moscow as their family watched on. But the aircraft got into trouble and nosedived to the ground shortly after take-off on Sunday. Pilot Samofalov, a businessman, and his wife died on the spot in their A-22 high-wing light aircraft. It later emerged that the plane had departed without permission from air traffic controllers at Vakulino airfield in Ruza district. 'Samofalov has not received permission to take off,' said a law enforcement source. Strong cross wins may have contributed to the tragedy, said reports. The fatal flight was reported to be the first time the couple had flown together in the two-seater Ukrainian-made A-22 aircraft, also called the Flying Fox. Earlier the grandfather, who owned a construction company, had taken his grandchildren up in the air in the ultralight plane, reported Russian outlet Readovka. Yuri Samofalov, 69, and his wife Tatyana Pokoevaya, 67, crashed and died in a two-seater plane moments after take-off near Moscow - as their horrified grandchildren helplessly watched Pilot Samofalov, a businessman, and his wife died on the spot in their A-22 high-wing light aircraft. Above: The moment the plane plunged out of the sky It later emerged that the plane had departed without permission authorisation from air traffic controllers at Vakulino airfield in Ruza district. Above: The remains of their wrecked aircraft is seen being doused with water by a fireman after it exploded in flames The fatal flight was reported to be the first time the couple had flown together in the two-seater Ukrainian-made A-22 aircraft, also called the Flying Fox The smouldering wreck of the plane was seen being attended to by firemen The grass runway at the Vakulino airfield, in Ruza district, is seen from the air The cause of the crash in Moscow region is under investigation. A Russian emergency ministries spokesman said: 'An accident was reported in the village of Vatulino 'An Aeroprakt A-22 high-wing aircraft crashed at Aeroklassika aeroclub. Samofalov is seen with one of his grandchildren posing in front of another aircraft Pokoevaya was the daughter of Russian World War Two Major General of Aviation Grigory Prokofievich Pokoevoy. Right: Samofalov 'The crash was followed by a fire there were two persons onboard.' Pokoevaya was the daughter of Russian World War Two Major General of Aviation Grigory Prokofievich Pokoevoy. He reportedly flew 35 sorties in bombers and took part in the Battle of Kursk against Nazi Germany in 1943. Rachel Diamond looks like most of the moms at the Park Slope cafe where we meet. She's wearing a green t-shirt under a black corduroy jumper, sensible shoes and carries a smart, leather bag. She sips a four dollar iced chai. Except the 31-year-old isn't a mom. And she never will be. 'You know,' Diamond says cheerily, 'I never expected to be the poster child of sterilization.' On the aspiring actor's TikTok, one finds short funny videos about Diamond's job working the register at a cafe near Union Square and updates on her rescue pitbull, Rue, who has anemia. Mixed in are the clips extolling her child-free life. They have titles like 'Sterilization Attempt #3' and 'Being Childfree: We DO Know What We're Missing.' It's been five months since she had her fallopian tubes cut not tied and she has 64,000 followers. Growing up near Hershey, Penn., Diamond always assumed she'd have a family of her own. Then came college at Arcadia University; her political awakening, away from her conservative roots, and towards progressivism; and a therapist who she found online a few months after graduation who made her realize that being spanked as a child was deeply traumatic, and that it made her fear authority figures like her father. She decided that she never wanted to be one herself. Never ever ever. 'Looking back, I never pretended that my American Girl dolls were children, they were always my sisters,' she says. 'There were little things showing that I wasn't preparing myself for motherhood. I think for me, it's as innate as saying, 'I've always wanted to be a mom.' Diamond is hardly an outlier. Americans are making fewer babies than we've made since we started keeping track in the 1930s. And some women, like Diamond, are not just putting off pregnancy but eliminating the possibility of it altogether. Suzy Weiss interviewed aspiring actress Rachel Diamond (pictured) who said she 'never expected to be the poster child of sterilization' Diamond, who underwent a sterilization treatment, decided in her adulthood that her childhood trauma made her fear authority figures and she no longer wanted to be a mom Last year, the number of deaths exceeded that of births in 25 states up from five the year before. The marriage rate is also at an all-time low, at 6.5 marriages per 1,000 people. Millennials are the first generation where a majority are unmarried (about 56%). They are also more likely to live with their own parents, according to Pew, than previous generations were in their twenties and thirties. They also aren't having sex. The number of young men (ages 18 to 30) who admit they have had no sex in the past year tripled between 2008 and 2018. Cities like New York, where young, secular Americans flock to to build their lives, are increasingly childless. In San Francisco, there are more dogs than children. It used to be that people wanted to make babies. Women, especially, but also men. That was a healthy young person's default position, and our existence depended on it. We wanted to do other things, of course, and the great post-feminist challenge was how to have it all the proper work-life balance, the career and the baby, the supportive husband and the adventurous life. But now, for an increasing number, the question isn't how to have it all. It's: why do it at all? Diamond and her partner instead have dogs, which is a rising trend among many millennials. Cities like New York, where young, secular Americans flock to to build their lives, are increasingly childless. In San Francisco, there are more dogs than children Diamond uses social media to provide updates on her rescue pitbull, Rue, who has anemia This psychological reversal didn't just happen. It took place inside the hurricane of spiritual, cultural and environmental forces swirling around us. But the message from this young cohort is clear: Life is already exhausting enough. And the world is broken and burning. Who would want to bring new, innocent life into a criminally unequal society situated on a planet with catastrophically rising sea levels? The Rapture sorry, the end is upon us, and this is no time for onesies. So says The New Yorker and NPR and AOC. According to a new poll, 39% of Gen Zers are hesitant to procreate for fear of the climate apocalypse. A nationally representative study of adults in Michigan found that over a quarter of adults there are child-free by choice. And new research by the Institute of Family Studies found that the desire to have a child among adults decreased by 17% since the onset of the pandemic. 'I think it's morally wrong to bring a child into the world,' said Isabel, 28, a self proclaimed anti-natalist who lives in southwestern Texas and did not want her last name in print. 'No matter how good someone has it, they will suffer.' Texas's new, highly restrictive abortion law has led her to take action sooner instead of later. 'I was going to wait until I was thirty to get the procedure done,' Isabel said, 'but, with the Heartbeat Bill in place, I can't take the risk of getting pregnant and not being able to abort.' Last week, she was approved for The Operation aka laparoscopic bilateral salpingectomy. (Many surgeons won't sterilize young, childless women because studies indicate high rates of regret, so it can take time to lock one down.) During the procedure, which she hopes will take place in the next few months depending on Covid and the hospital's capacity to perform elective surgeries, Isabel's surgeon will make three incisions: two near her abdomen and one just above her belly button. This will allow the surgeon to insert cameras and then remove her fallopian tubes. Isabel is planning a 'sterilization celebration' at a local sushi joint. There will be lots of booze, a smattering of friends, and her brother and his husband, who are also child-free. 'I don't want to work my life away,' says Isabel, who hopes to retire in her fifties or earlier. Darlene Nickell, 31, (pictured) in Denver, Colo., told Weiss she had her tubes removed eight months ago after being told by her doctor ten years prior that she needed written consent from her male partner or to have already had two kids Darlene told Weiss she was surprised that her obstetrician agreed to sterilize her when she brought it up at her yearly check up Darlene Nickell, 31, in Denver, Colo., had her tubes removed eight months ago. 'My generation is very aware of the ways that our parents traumatized us,' she tells me. 'My mom smoked a lot of weed and did her own thing, and my dad was away a lot for work.' She says her parents' marriage improved after they became empty nesters. She first set out to get sterilized at the age of 21 and was told by her doctor that she needed written consent from her male partner or to have already had two kids. Meantime, her childless male friend from high school had successfully gotten his vasectomy a year before. 'That felt like an attack on me.' Darlene, who was surprised that her obstetrician agreed to sterilize her when she brought it up at her yearly check up, is the self-proclaimed black sheep of her family though she says her two younger sisters, one in her twenties and one in her teens, are likely to follow her lead. The 23-year-old is exploring sterilization herself; the other is 'feeling inspired' by the child-free life. The child-free find each other on social media, mostly on Reddit. There's r/childfree and r/antinatalism and r/fencesitters as in, 'I'm on the fence about this whole kids thing.' You can also find doctors who will sterilize you, and how-to guides with tips and frequently asked questions like 'Can you trust a fence-sitter boyfriend who doesn't want a vasectomy?' Rachel Diamond's live-in boyfriend, Cameron Gilkes, 33, (pictured) met on eHarmony seven years ago and 'came out' to each other on their second date Rachel Diamond's live-in boyfriend, Cameron Gilkes, 33, introduced her to Reddit and her new family of people dead set against creating families. 'I asked to get a vasectomy at 24 and 26,' says Cameron, who was hopeful for any type of male contraceptive, one injectable called Vasalgel has been stuck in trials for years, before Rachel got sterilized. 'We'd been trying for a long time,' she says. They met on eHarmony seven years ago and 'came out' to each other on their second date. The script from the movie they saw that night, 'Interstellar,' sits on a stuffed bookshelf next to 'The Feminine Mystique,' 'Screenwriting for Dummies,' and 'The Peter Pan Chronicles' in the two-bedroom apartment they share with a third roommate who they met through a friend. The space is well-kept, if cramped with accessories and toys for their 'special-needs' pitbull. ('She's scared of other dogs,' Diamond explained. 'She's never been socialized because she was bred for fighting, and she is so much f-ing work.') Star Wars action figures are lined up atop a shoe rack and just beneath a Bluetooth-enabled lightsaber, custom made to be as close to movie-realness as possible. On the fridge are magnets from The Strand, one of a Baby Yoda peeking out of a spaceship, and a few from the Brooklyn Public Library, including one declaring 'Knowledge is Power.' Child-freedom and Diamond and Gilkes are child-free, not anti-natalist, in that they don't think it's necessarily wrong for other people to procreate comes with its own lingo. 'Brant' means 'breeder rant' (as in, the annoying things people with kids tell people without kids about how great life is with kids). 'Mombie' is a haggard mom-zombie, lost to the land of breast milk and binkies. 'THINKER' is an acronym standing for 'Two Healthy Incomes No Kids Early Retirement.' 'Bingo-ing' refers to the questions the child-free get asked by the child-full: 'What if your kid cures cancer? What if you regret it? Who will take care of you when you're older?' The dating apps have taken note. On Hinge for example, under the 'My Vitals' section, there's also 'Vices,' like if you take drugs, and 'Virtues,' for religious and political affiliations, you can tick off whether you want children, if you don't want them, or if you're 'open' to it. If you're child-free, you can eliminate future breeders from your feed using a premium plan starting at $29.99 per month. The child-free have many reasons for not wanting babies: fear of pregnancy, fear of authority, fear of preeclampsia (a pregnancy disorder that can lead to undesirable outcomes for the mother and baby), fear of postpartum depression. And, in Diamond and Gilkes' case, racism. Diamond is white. Gilkes is black. And they say they worry about what life would be like for a biracial baby in today's America. 'I wouldn't be able to say 'I understand' if they came home from school and had been bullied for their hair or their skin color,' Diamond said. Gilkes said, 'I had a girlfriend break up with me because she didn't want to deal with the racism that came with dating a black guy, and said if we had kids she wouldn't know how to do black girl hair.' (That prompted Diamond to roll her eyes. 'I mean, there are salons and professionals for that.') I asked them if they ever thought about their own personal legacy the people they would leave behind. 'The whole legacy thing makes me laugh,' Rachel said. 'It's like, 'Who do you think you are?' Do you want your kid to be a founding father? That would make them a colonizer.' Diamond and Gilkes are child-free, not anti-natalist, in that they don't think it's necessarily wrong for other people to procreate comes with its own lingo Sophia a 19-year old communications student who goes to a small school in British Columbia, and declined to give her last name for privacy reasons was just approved for sterilization by her doctor in Canada. She told me she has a great relationship with her parents who are 'super chill' about her decision to be child-free, despite the fact that they're both religious Christians. She has one sister who she says is pro-kid, or at least not anti, and though Sophia doesn't believe in God anymore she's left behind the church she grew up in and its 'toxic culture' she describes herself as 'vaguely spiritual.' She says taking the pill or using another non-permanent birth control would amount to kicking the can down the road since she knows she doesn't want kids ever. 'I'm going to do this invasive thing once, rest for a few days, and never think about it again.' The teen, who has a roommate named Emily and a part-time job at a grocery store, doesn't have a clear picture of her life besides travelling, and maybe moving to the coast, away from the 'semi-desert grasslands' where she lives now. In high school she visited Ecuador and Kenya on humanitarian trips, and has dreams to hit every continent. She was surprised that the doctor, who will sterilize her in the coming months, didn't ask about her sexual history. If she did he would have found out that it amounts to little more than flirting and a few dates. 'I'm a virgin, and I was worried that she would send me off to have sex before she agreed to do it,' Sophia says. She acknowledged that she may come down with a case of baby fever in her twenties, but that that's just another risk that she's accepting. 'There's no point regretting what you can't change,' she says. If she were to eventually find a partner who wanted kids? 'That would just be a dealbreaker for me.' She doesn't remember one moment that turned her off permanently to parenthood, but she never really liked being around other kids when she was one, and hated babysitting when she got older. 'I found it draining.' Chelsea, a 25 year-old in Sacramento, told me kids 'kind of gross her out.' She's weighing the risks of going under the knife, like infection or mood swings brought on by anesthesia, but says regret isn't one of them. 'What's there to regret?' writes another Redditor, 'That I'll be too happy? Too free?' According to Clay Routledge, an existential psychologist at North Dakota State University who has studied young people's attitudes toward the future, there is a growing school of thought among twenty-somethings that humans are the problem. It's not just that we've built factories and polluted the oceans and launched tons of garbage into space. It's that there's something about us our psychology, our chromosomal wiring that makes it impossible for us to make things better. 'They're saying that the future isn't a good investment,' Routledge says. 'And if there's no future, why would you be anything but hedonistic? Why would you donate to charities? Why would you try to make the world better or care about human progress?' He adds that this generation has a sense that 'humans were a mistake.' Sophie Lewis, a British feminist scholar, calls the institution of the family a 'microfactory of debtors' and argues that it generally 'sucks.' In her book, 'Full Surrogacy Now: Feminism Against Family,' Lewis describes pregnancy as 'something to be struggled in and against.' She dreams of a post-parent world, one in which the old notion of the family is replaced with a 'classless commune on the basis of the best available care for all.' She might well get it, unless the current fever breaks. 'I used to think all kids are bad, and I had a period in middle school where I was ultra liberal, and I thought everyone should stop having kids,' says 19-year-old Sophia in British Columbia. 'I chalk it up to emotional immaturity. As I got older, I realized that there was more to this, and I didn't have to be super uptight in my beliefs.' I ask what she hopes her childless life will look like. What countries will she visit? Where will she live? What will she do with all of her free time, and what does she hope her career will be? 'It's kind of hard to ask someone who is nineteen and hasn't finished college what they want their life to look like,' she tells me, a little annoyed. The new mayor of a village in a Chicago suburb unleashed a firestorm after it has emerged that she hired a registered child sex offender who worked on her campaign to be the town's code enforcement officer - a job that requires him to inspect inside homes and businesses. Trustees in the Village of Dolton - a community of 23,000 located just south of Chicago - say they are appalled that Mayor Tiffany Henyard offered Lavelle Redmond a municipal job without consulting them. Despite facing backlash from village leaders and residents, Heynard has defended her hiring decision, saying she believes in 'second chances' for ex-convicts who had repaid their debts to society. Tiffany Heynard, the first female and youngest mayor of Dolton, Illinois, is under fire for hiring her former campaign worker Lavelle Redmond (pictured together, left) as a code enforcement officer. The 46-year-old is a registered child sex offender When confronted in his car, Redmond referred to his criminal history as his 'childhood background over 30 years ago' Redmond, 46, served 24 years in prison after pleading guilty to two counts of aggravated criminal sexual assault with a weapon stemming from a gang rape that took place in 1991, as Fox 32 Chicago first reported. According to reporting at the time, the then-16-year-old Redmond and three others kidnapped and sexually assaulted two girl, ages 13 and 14. At age 17, Redmond was sentenced to 50 years in prison but was paroled in 2016 and required to register as a sex offender. Heynard, a Democrat, was sworn in as mayor in May, becoming the first woman and the youngest person to occupy that post in Dolton's 128-year history. Fox 32 reported that during Heynard's successful run for office, Redmond worked on her campaign; the two were pictured posing together at an event. On September 20, Redmond was hired as a code enforcement officer, which draws an annual salary of more than $31,200. When he was confronted about his criminal history by a reporter, Redmond described it as his 'childhood background over 30 years ago.' Heynard, who was sworn in as mayor in May, defended her hiring decision, saying she believes in 'second chances.' Village trustees have lashed out at the mayor Several local residents told the news outlet they would be terrified if Redmond were to show up on their doorstep to perform an inspection. Village trustees said Redmond was hired directly by the mayor and her village administrator, Dorothy Brown-Cook, without any input from them. In the midst of the controversy, the mayor has refused to back down and expressed support for Redmond. 'I and the Village of Dolton take the safety of our residents very serious [sic], and we would never put our residents in jeopardy,' Heynard said in a statement. 'In regard to the matter of the employee who is the subject of recent news stories, know that the incident referred to, occurred nearly 30 yeas ago and they paid their debt to society. We believe that a person can be rehabilitated, and we believe in second chances.' Sen. Rand Paul slammed Dr. Anthony Fauci on Monday, accusing President Biden's top medical adviser of funding 'deadly and unnecessary' experiments on beagles. The senator stepped up his attacks on Fauci at the weekend, demanding that he be fired for 'lack of judgment' over research funded by his institute at the Wuhan laboratory in China which is at the center of claims COVID-19 leaked from a scientific facility. On Monday he seized on reports that his National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases funded hundreds of thousands of dollars in experiments on dogs. 'Dr. Faucis division at the National Institutes of Health wasted over $424,000 on deadly and unnecessary experiments on beagles. Thank you for the expose,' he wrote on Twitter using the #BeagleGate and #PaulsPups hashtags. Fauci has become a hate figure for conservatives after he promoted social distancing, mask wearing and vaccination to stem the spread of COVID-19. Sen. Rand Paul seized on an expose about animal experiments to accuse Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease expert, of funding 'deadly and unnecessary' experiments Sen. Rand Paul resumed his attacks on Anthony Fauci, demanding he be fired for 'lying' to Congress over whether U.S. taxpayers funded gain-of-function research in Wuhan, and blasting him for research on beagles Fauci, the country's top infectious diseases experts, said Paul didn't know what he was talking about. 'It's just not correct,' he said The White Coat Waste Project claims the NIAID provided a $375,800 grant to a lab in Tunisia to drug beagle puppies and locked their heads in mesh cages so sand flies could eat the dogs filled with hundreds of infected sand flies Their latest avenue of attack was provided by White Coat Waste, a pressure group seeking a ban on federally funded research on animals. It cited documents obtained through Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests as well as others that were publicly available, in reporting that National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases have $375,000 to a Tunisian research lab. There, puppies had their heads held in cages, before being left for sand flies to eat them alive for research purposes. Distressing snaps showed the pups with their heads kept inside the muslin-type cages filled with the hungry insects. Another procedure - which the NIH funded to the tune of $1.8m - saw 44 beagle puppies undergo a 'cordectomy,' which saw their vocal cords cut to stop them barking. A day earlier Paul said Fauci should be fired for his 'lack of judgment' as he claimed on Sunday that President Biden's top medical adviser lied about National Institutes of Health-funded research in Wuhan, China. 'He should be fired,' he told 'Axios on HBO.' 'The thing is, is just for lack of judgment if nothing else, and I, you know, he's probably never going to admit that he lied, he's going to continue to dissemble and try to work around the truth and massage the truth.' His outburst is just the most recent broadside in a months-long feud. The latest twist came last week when the NIH admitted to funding research on bat coronaviruses, to test different spike proteins, in the Wuhan lab that is at the center of COVID-19 origin theories. It comes after Fauci testified on multiple occasions before Congress than U.S. taxpayers never financed so called 'gain-of-function research.' .@RandPaul says Biden should fire Fauci over U.S.-funded research in Wuhan "just for lack of judgment, if nothing else." Fauci fired back at Paul's #AxiosOnHBO interview, telling @ThisWeekABC his criticism implies the research led to COVID-19, which is "molecularly impossible." pic.twitter.com/d4DHkYpOD9 Axios (@axios) October 24, 2021 The revelation came in a letter sent to Kentucky congressman James Comer, in which NIH's principal deputy director Lawrence A. Tabak refers to a 'limited experiment' conducted to test whether 'spike proteins from naturally occurring bat coronaviruses circulating in China were capable of binding to the human ACE2 receptor in a mouse model,' at the Wuhan lab. According to Tabak, the mice infected with the modified bat virus 'became sicker' than those infected with the unmodified bat virus, according to unpublished data. He wrote that the finding was an 'unexpected result of the research,' and that the viruses studied were 'genetically very distant' from the one that causes COVID-19. The result is a tussle over how to define 'gain of function.' 'In the letter they acknowledge that yes, the viruses did gain in function, they became more dangerous,' said Paul. 'So they've created a virus that doesn't exist in nature to become more dangerous. That is gain of function.' 'Now they try to justify it by saying well it was an unexpected result. 'I'm not sure I buy that. 'Think about it you take an unknown virus, you combine it with another virus and you get a super virus. 'You have no idea whether it gains functions or loses function, that's what the experiment is, but I don't know how anybody could argue that that's not gain of function research.' The lab in Wuhan, China, is at the center of theories that COVID-19 could have escaped from a laboratory rather than have emerged naturally in the wild from a host species Mike Allen, the interviewer for Axios, told Paul that Biden was unlikely to fire Fauci. Paul said he would accept an investigation into the gain-of-function research. Fauci rejected his interpretation of the research during an interview on ABC's 'This Week' on Sunday. 'The funding at the Wuhan Institute was to be able to determine what is out there in the environment, in bat viruses in China,' he said. 'And the research was very strictly under what we call a framework of oversight of the type of research. 'And under those conditions which we have explained very, very clearly, does not constitute research of gain of function of concern. 'There are people who interpret it that way, but when you look at the framework under which the guidance is, that is not the case. 'So I have to respectfully disagree with Senator Paul. He is not correct that we lied or misled the Congress. 'It's just not correct.' He also said it was 'molecularly impossible' for the viruses being studied to turn into COVID-19 because they were very distant genetically from each other. On Monday, social media users called for the arrest of Fauci after his agency was found to have used taxpayer funds to finance experiments on dogs. The hashtag #ArrestFauci was trending on Twitter over the weekend, amplifying the outrage over the experiments, including one which saw beagles trapped in cages so flies could eat them, and another where they were 'debarked' before being pumped with drugs and killed. One of the most disturbing incidents funded by Fauci's National Institutes of Allergies and Infectious Diseases involved $375,000 given to a Tunisian research lab. There, puppies had their heads held in cages, before being left for sand flies to eat them alive for research purposes. Nicola Sturgeon has challenged polluting nations ahead of the United Nations Climate Change Conference and asked them to 'step up', despite bins overflowing in rat-infested Glasgow. The First Minister of Scotland used a speech ahead of the Cop26 summit to call on leaders of high-emitting nations to create a 'significant uplift' in ambition to tackle the climate emergency. World leaders from 120 countries will descend on Glasgow for the Cop26 climate change conference on Sunday - but Scotland's second city is blighted by rubbish and fly-tipping as well as some of the UK's highest poverty, drug death and crime rates. The summit is slated for the first two weeks of November, when world leaders including UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and US President Joe Biden will be in town for one of the most consequential climate summits in history. Scenes of waste-strewn streets would be a fresh blow to the summit, which has already been hit by news President Xi Jinping of China may not attend. Nicola Sturgeon delivers a keynote speech in the Technology and Innovation Centre at Strathclyde University setting out how COP26 in Glasgow can lead the world into the green revolution World leaders from 120 countries, including PM Boris Johnson and US President Joe Biden, will descend on Glasgow for Cop26 on Sunday The First Minister used a speech ahead of the Cop26 summit to call on leaders of high-emitting nations to create a 'significant uplift' in ambition to tackle the climate emergency Speaking at Strathclyde University in Glasgow ahead of the Cop26 climate summit that is set to begin on Sunday, Ms Sturgeon said 'The hard fact is this: "Keeping 1.5 alive" which has become the strapline almost for Cop26 is vital. It mustn't become a face-saving slogan. It must be real. 'In the coming days, it is the countries that emit the most, that most need to step up the most to this challenge. 'And both in the run-up to and at Cop itself, there needs to be a significant uplift in ambition from the world's biggest-emitting countries to make that real'. Glasgow's council leader has denied bins are overflowing and rubbish collectors have needed hospital treatment for rat attacks, as she insisted the city is ready to host Cop26. Susan Aitken said Glasgow is ready 'with caveats' for the United Nations' climate conference and none of the problems the city faces is 'enough to cause panic'. Giving evidence to Westminster's Scottish Affairs Committee about preparations for Cop26, Ms Aitken argued that other cities are dirtier than Glasgow and she is 'not embarrassed' about its condition. She said it is 'entirely gratuitous' to suggest the city is in a state of disrepair but that cleansing staff are 'working round the clock' ahead of the climate summit. Pictures show the grim reality of every corner of Scotland's second city being blighted with rubbish, fly-tipping and bins overflowing in recent month Workers remove bath tubs, window frames, mattresses, broken furniture and construction waste dumped underneath the M8 motorway on September 15 Pictures have shown the grim reality of every corner of Scotland's second city being blighted with rubbish, fly-tipping and bins overflowing in recent months (this image shows fly-tipping in Cranhill) Flytipping has skyrocketed in the city since a 35 bulk waste charge was implemented by Glasgow City Council in April. Above: Litter is left in Camlachie area of east Glasgow The Glasgow City Council leader said: 'The Cop26 co-ordinating board within the council met last week and the verdict was that we are ready, with caveats. 'I would say the caveats are mainly technical, some of them have already been resolved or are being ticked off. 'None of them were massive, none of them were enough to cause panic.' Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross asked whether the 'technical issues were that the bins are overflowing, there's rats in the streets and some of your employees have been taken to hospital while collecting that rubbish?' Ms Aitken denied that was the case, although she later admitted that there have been 'small incidents' where rubbish collectors had been taken to hospital after 'very minor contact with a rat'. The GMB union has said it is aware of four binmen being taken to hospital after rat attacks, although Ms Aitken told the committee there was 'one, possibly two at most'. The SNP councillor said: 'Our cleansing employees occasionally experience rats. 'It's also not something that is unique to Glasgow, it's something that's happening right across the UK - all cities have rats.' However many residents are shocked by the state of Glasgow, with one resident calling it 'embarrassing' and another admitting the rats are as 'big as rabbits'. Addressing concerns about the rubbish situation, Ms Aitken added: 'This is not unique to Glasgow. And what I reject entirely are suggestions that Glasgow is somehow particular in this, it is peculiarly challenged in relation to any of these things.' Ms Aitken also told the committee that 12,000 additional hours have been worked to clean Glasgow ahead of Cop26, with 150 new rubbish bins deployed across the city. She added: 'According to Keep Scotland Beautiful, Edinburgh was actually worse impacted by these (rubbish) issues during the pandemic, but I don't recall anyone saying 'Edinburgh should be embarrassed about having the festival'. 'We are - as are other cities globally - working to address the very serious challenges and impacts that were caused by the pandemic, but we were never going to be able to recover overnight from the impact on our services on the city. 'I believe we are making considerable progress, we're working round the clock to address those issues - particularly in the Cop26 zones in the city - but actually right across the city. 'Our services are not just for VIPs coming to Glasgow, we're not working to have our services recover from that impact of Covid just because Joe Biden's coming to town; we're doing it for our citizens because, actually, our services are for them, first and foremost. 'So no, I'm not embarrassed. I'm confident that the visitors coming to Glasgow will see - as they always see - an incredibly vibrant, diverse, and welcoming urban space.' Asked about the state of Glasgow as it prepares to host Cop26 from October 31, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: 'I think there are challenges in Glasgow and challenges in cities across Scotland, the UK, the world - some of them related to Covid, some of them more fundamental than that. 'I'm not going to stand here and say they don't exist in Glasgow. 'I think Glasgow is ready for Cop26. 'Glasgow - as it has been with big events in past years - will be an excellent host for Cop26, and that's important. 'But - as all countries do - we have challenges in our public services and how we make sure they're delivering in the post-Covid era.' Advertisement Hilaria Baldwin has paid tribute to Halyna Hutchins, the woman her husband Alec accidentally killed last week in an on-set tragedy while shooting his new movie Rust. In an Instagram post on Monday, Hilaria wrote: 'My heart is with Halyna. Her husband. Her son. Their family and loved ones. And my Alec. 'It's said "there are no words" because it's impossible to express the shock and heartache of such a tragic accident. Heartbreak. Loss. Support.' She was inundated with support from fellow celebrities like Katie Couric and Melanie Griffith. Alec, 63, accidentally killed the 42-year-old cinematographer on the set of their movie Rust in Santa Fe, New Mexico, on Thursday. Baldwin was rehearsing drawing his gun across his body when it went off. He thought the gun was loaded with blanks, after being told 'cold gun' as Assistant Director Dave Halls gave it to him. There are now questions over how live ammunition made its way onto the set. In an Instagram post on Monday, Hilaria wrote: 'My heart is with Halyna. Her husband. Her son. Their family and loved ones. And my Alec. 'It's said "there are no words" because it's impossible to express the shock and heartache of such a tragic accident. Heartbreak. Loss. Support.' Baldwin was handed the gun and was told by Halls that it was 'cold'. He was practicing a cross draw when it went off, fatally wounding Hutchins and injuring director Joel Souza The crew were filming a scene inside this church when the shooting happened on Thursday. Production has now been halted Baldwin was pictured buckled over in grief on Thursday afternoon after being interviewed by sheriff's deputies. David Halls is the Assistant Director of Rust, the Western movie Baldwin was acting in and producing when he accidentally killed Hutchins on Thursday and wounded director Joel Souza It's believed Hilaria - with whom he shares six kids - flew to be with him in New Mexico in the early hours of Friday morning. The 37-year-old has not been seen publicly, but Baldwin was seen in Santa Fe on Sunday, embracing Hutchins' widower Matthew. The incident has been unanimously described as an accident but many in the film and TV industry have started pointing fingers at who is to blame. David Halls is the assistant director of Rust, the Western movie Baldwin was acting in and producing when he accidentally killed Hutchins on Thursday and wounded director Joel Souza. Search warrants reveal that Halls, and everyone else on the set, was unaware the gun he handed Baldwin contained live ammunition. He had declared it a 'cold' weapon, meaning it was loaded only with blanks. As police investigate what exactly happened in the moments leading up to the tragic accident, pyrotechnicians and prop masters who worked with Halls on other projects told DailyMail.com about their concerns about him. One crew member, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of being blacklisted, told DailyMail.com that hed worked with Halls on two similarly low-budget sets in Los Angeles in spring 2019, one where a revolver and Glock were used, and another involving shotguns. Each morning theyd have a meeting to discuss the weapons and other safety issues, an industry standard. But he said Halls didnt think they were needed. 'He was very flippant about my insistence on having a safety meeting about the weapons, on both of the sets,' said the crew member, who asked to use the pseudonym Jay and has worked on films for 10 years. 'He would rush through it and say, alright guys, be safe, lets get to work.' 'Even though the guns were not loaded, you have to treat it as if it always is,' he said. And for me that means doing a safety meeting that may be seen as unnecessary but should absolutely be done so that everyone is on the same page. 'Systemically, so much pressure is put on the first assistant directors to meet a schedule, to make the day, meaning to get all the work done that you already have scheduled for the day,' he continued. 'When it comes to safety on set, or having to wait for anything, because safety takes time, I have seen 1st ADs get annoyed for having to wait. Search warrants released by the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Department on Sunday reveal what witnesses told police during interviews Alec Baldwin is seen hugging Matthew Hutchins, the widower of Halina, a cinematographer who he shot and killed on the set of his new movie Rust last week 'But they ultimately understand it needs to be done. But when I worked with him, it was the only time Ive had any AD ask me, "Do we really need to have a safety meeting?"' TIMELINE OF TRAGIC SHOOTING ON SET OCTOBER 6: Rust starts shooting on location on Bonanza Creek Ranch, Sante Fe, New Mexico OCTOBER 20: Camera crew quit over complaints about working conditions, pay and housing OCTOBER 21 - DAY OF SHOOTING 6.30am: Director Joel Souza told sheriffs that he and those who were still on the set met at 6.30am to start the day It was later than usual because of the walk-off the previous night 12.30pm: Crew breaks for lunch and is shuttled off set Sometime in the next 20 minutes, the crew - or at least Baldwin, Hutchins, Souza, Halls and cameraman Reid Russel, return to the church for the shot They have to move the camera to avoid a shadow that has cast over part of the church and Baldwin talks about the direction he's going to point the weapon in Assistant Director Dave Halls hands Baldwin the weapon, calling it 'a cold gun' Alec Baldwin, while filming a scene in a church pew, accidentally shoots the gun and kills Halyna Hutchins. She stumbles backwards, clutching her stomach, then is airlifted to the hospital 12.50pm: Police dispatched to the ranch 1pm: Souza, who was shot in the shoulder, speaks briefly to sheriff's deputies. He is taken by ambulance and is later released 7pm: Baldwin is photographed buckled in grief outside the Sante Fe County Sheriff's Office after being interviewed OCTOBER 22: Baldwin releases statement to say he is 'heartbroken' Advertisement On both sets, no live bullets were used, and no guns were pointed at another person. Camera angles made it appear as if the guns were on target. And before anyone placed their finger on a trigger, an 'armorer' or person on set responsible for weapons, would shine a flashlight down the barrel to show no blockage or potential projectile. 'When you fire, no projectile is supposed to come out, though it still could be dangerous,' Jay said. 'Thats where there are rules. You dont aim it at anybody at any time.' At 1.50pm, Baldwin was preparing for the scene, sitting in a church pew, when he was handed the weapon by Halls. What exactly happened next is unclear but Souza described hearing a 'pop', then seeing Halyna wounded. After the shooting, Baldwin changed out of his Western costume into 'street clothes' for police to recover his clothes. The affidavit says they had 'blood stains' on them. Production of the film has been halted now while the authorities continued to investigate. In an email to crew on Sunday night, the movie producers encouraged staff not to speak to the press about the accident. Souza, the director, told police how Baldwin had been preparing for the scene when the gun went off. 'Joel stated that they had Alec sitting in a pew in a church building setting, and he was practicing a cross draw. Joel said he was looking over the shoulder of (Hutchins), when he heard what sounded like a whip and then loud pop. 'Joel then vaguely remembers (Hutchins) complaining about her stomach and grabbing her midsection. Joel also said (Hutchins) began to stumble backwards and she was assisted to the ground.' The information about Thursday's shooting has emerged in new affidavits which also cite cameraman Reid Russell who told investigators that Baldwin had always been careful with weapons on set. In a previous scene, he asked that a child who was nearby be removed from the set to avoid any accidents. On Sunday night, the cast and crew received an email from the film's production company which encouraged them not to speak to the media. Many had complained online about the conditions they were working under before they walked off the set. The email also said they were working to determine when crew would be able to return to set to gather belongings. 'As the investigation continues, we cannot respond to the comments that have been making their way into the media, on social media and elsewhere. 'We are sorry to hear that so many of you are receiving unsolicited contacts from the media while all of us need time and space to grieve and heal. 'You dont need to engage, but if you do just ask that the journalists to respect your privacy. It should help,' the email says. A fading black and white photograph posted on a Facebook nostalgia page has led to a father and daughter being reunited for the first time in 58 years. Brian Rothery, 83, hadn't seen his daughter Julie Lund, 58, since she was a baby and had given up hope of ever meeting her again. But all that changed when Ms Lund posted a treasured childhood picture on the Dewsbury Pictures Old and New group in Dewsbury, West Yorkshire, in the hope someone might remember the family she was with. Reunited: Ms Lund (centre) travelled from Lincolnshire to Mr Rothery's home in Dewsbury to meet him and his wife Patricia Alongside the picture, she wrote: 'Does anyone recognise the family in this picture? 'I'm the baby in the pushchair and the photo would have been taken around 1963. Many thanks.' She was delighted when the family in the photograph - who had looked after her for a time when she was a baby - came forward and got in touch. But the post had another unexpected consequence, leading to an emotional reunion with the father she'd been separated from all her life. Ms Lund posted a treasured childhood picture which featured her as a baby in a pram on the Dewsbury Pictures Old and New group in the hope someone might remember the family she was with Ms Lund had no idea whether Mr Rothery was still alive and knew little of his whereabouts. But encouraged by the response her picture had received she asked for further help and members of the Facebook group made it their mission to track down her dad. She discovered that he had been visiting her on a weekly basis when she was a baby and had been heartbroken when her birth mum took her out of the area. After Ms Lund travelled from Lincolnshire to his home in Dewsbury to meet Mr Rothery and his wife Patricia, he told BBC Yorkshire: 'I thought I'd never see her again - it feels like a miracle.' Ms Lund said: 'Without the people of Dewsbury and that Facebook group this wouldn't have happened, I have wanted to find my dad for so many years but without any details I couldn't so I want to say thankyou from the bottom of my heart.' Mr Rothery said the reunion has felt like a 'miracle' for him. He hasn't been able to see his daughter in 58 years after she was moved away to Lancashire as a baby She added: 'It just means the world to me. This year I've lost my mum and step-dad and I've gained my dad and a lovely step-mum, it's incredible 'As a child I didn't think much about this, I didn't question it, you just think 'that's why I look different from my sisters and brothers.' 'I couldn't believe that after all these years I had actually found my father and that he was still alive and kicking 'I was just amazed, it was like a piece of a jigsaw had fallen into place. 'I understood he could have been anywhere, he could have emigrated, he could have been anywhere in the country and to find out he was just over an hour's drive away was mind-blowing. 'It makes me a little sad for all the time we have lost, there are so many times we could have been together but there is no point looking back, we can just look forward now. 'I can be bombing over on the motorway whenever I like now and see him.' Mr Rothery said: 'It's like a miracle has happened - and I don't believe in miracles. 'I got a message asking if I knew a Julie Lund. A few seconds later they said "well do you know anybody called Julie?" and I said yes. And that was it, I thought "good God she's turned up." 'I used to go up on a Sunday to talk to them and play with Julie and then I got a phone call to say she'd been taken to Lancashire 'I thought "just remember what she was like' because I didn't expect to see her again. She means a heck of a lot to me, a heck of a lot."' Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has announced that he will pay unvaccinated police officers from other states $5,000 if they relocate to the Sunshine State to work, as cops across the U.S. continue to leave their posts in droves over COVID vaccine mandates. 'We're actually actively working to recruit out-of-state law enforcement, because we do have needs in our police and our sheriff's departments,' the governor told Fox News on Sunday. 'In the next legislative session, I'm going to hopefully sign legislation that gives a $5,000 bonus to any out-of-state law enforcement that relocates in Florida,' he told the network's Sunday Morning Futures program. Then, addressing officers in cities like New York, Seattle and Minneapolis, DeSantis said: 'If you're not being treated well, we'll treat you better here.' Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced that he will pay unvaccinated police officers from other states $5,000 if they relocate to the Sunshine State to work, as cops across the US continue to leave their posts in droves over COVID vaccine mandates The governor further explained his reasoning behind the prospective legislation during a news conference in North Venice the next day, saying Monday that his office is looking to make the most out of other cities' mistakes regarding mandates on law enforcement officials and scoop up the disillusioned staffers for himself. 'We are looking to capitalize off a lot of communities across our county who have turned their back on law enforcement, who aren't providing them the support,' the politician told attendees outside the event. DeSantis, an outspoken critique of both vaccine and mask mandates, emphasized that it's these mistreated officers, from cities with mandates like New York, Chicago and Minneapolis, and their current situations that inspired him to devise such a plan. The governor, who reinstated the state's ban on mask mandates in schools last month, also specified that the proposed legislation is intended to boost morale among these members of law enforcement who may or may not have faced persecution for their beliefs in the past year - especially in recent months. 'You can fill important needs for us and we will compensate you as a result,' DeSantis said, referring to law enforcement jobs that were potentially jeopardized by the slew of recent vaccine mandates in cities like Chicago, Seattle and New York. Chicago could face a public safety crisis as one-third of the force could lose their jobs over the jab mandate, with an epidemic of violent crimes and gun violence currently plaguing the city Less than two weeks ago, Chicago's powerful police union boss, John Catanzara, seemingly dared the city's Democrat mayor, Lori Lightfoot, to suspend up of half the crime-plagued city's cops amid pushback over an impending vaccine mandate on civic workers - which has since come and gone. Catanzara, the head of the Chicago Branch of the Fraternal Order of Police, explicitly instructed officers to defy the mandate just days before deadline hit on October 16, despite the mayor's assurance that doing so would result in them being put on unpaid leave. As of last week, a little over one-third of the 12,770-strong Chicago Police Department (CPD) - more than 4,000 officers - has yet to comply with the mayor's request, as an unprecedented crime wave wreaks havoc on the Windy City. The officers who have refused to get vaccinated at this point must be tested for COVID-19 twice a week on their own time and expense - until December 31, when they will be required to be vaccinated or be placed on unpaid leave. Meanwhile, the city has started seeking recruits from suburban Illinois to fill the potential staffing shortage. The Seattle Police Department (SPD) is also facing backlash from disgruntled officers over imposed vaccine mandates. The Seattle Police Department (SPD) is also facing backlash from disgruntled officers over imposed vaccine mandates Last week, Seattle officers were seen hanging dont tread on me Gadsden flags - a symbol of American patriotism originating from the Revolutionary War - from their cruisers in protest of a citywide vaccine mandate that took effect last Monday Just last week, slews of Seattle officers were seen hanging Dont Tread On Me Gadsden flags from their cruisers in protest of a citywide vaccine mandate that took effect last Monday. The city similarly required its city employees - including cops - to show proof of vaccination, or risk losing their jobs. Seattle police spokesperson Sgt. Randy Huserik told DailyMail.com that officers who did not turn in their vaccine verification paperwork by the city's deadline will likely be terminated. By tomorrow, we'll know what our numbers are, and how many officers have opted to forego the vaccine, the officer disclosed on the day of the deadline. The Seattle Police Officers Guild is still in negotiations with the city over accommodations for those opposed to the vaccine. Officers used yellow Gadsden flags - a symbol of American patriotism originating from the Revolutionary War - that depict a snake ready to strike, to express their displeasure with the mandate being forced upon them. In New York City, Mayor Bill De Blasio announced Wednesday that the city would be the latest metropolis to force municipal workers to choose between getting vaccinated and the alternative. NYC Mayor Bill De Blasio announced Wednesday that the city would be the latest metropolis to force municipal workers - including NYPD - to choose between getting vaccinated and losing their jobs 'We've given people a lot of time. It's time to keep moving,' the mayor said of the controversial decree during a Wednesday press conference. 'We are here to keep you safe so you can keep everyone else safe. We need you to keep everyone around you in the workplace safe, we need to make sure the people you encounter are safe.' What's more, in an attempt to encourage public employees, including the NYPD, to get the jab - one that directly contradicts and mirrors DeSantis' planned incentive - any city worker who gets their first shot between now and October 29 will receive a $500 bonus in their paycheck. However, on Monday, just a week from the proposed deadline, the city's largest police union, the New York City Police Benevolent Association, threw a wrench into the lame-duck mayor's plans and filed a lawsuit seeking to overturn the mandate. The results of the suit will effect more than 36,000 officers and more than 100,000 other workers employed by the city. If it fails, unvaccinated employees would be required to be put on unpaid leave if unable to produce proof of vaccination to their direct supervisor, de Blasio said. There would not be a weekly COVID testing option, he added. DeSantis last week announced that he also has plans to call a special legislative session intended to create support for state residents - not city - against nationwide COVID-19 policies. 'We're going to have a special session and we're going to say nobody should lose their job based off these injections,' he said. 'It's a choice you can make but we want to make sure we are protecting your jobs and your livelihood.' COVID cases are currently on the decline, with 77,933 new cases reported on Friday, and 1,277 new deaths. Across the United States, 66.4 percent of eligible Americans have received at least one dose of the COVID vaccine and 57.4 percent are fully vaccinated, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which still warns that community transmission remains high. A father-of-two GP blamed a 'stressful day at work' for drinking vodka and crashing into a traffic island in Wales during a 20-mile journey home from his surgery while more than twice the drink drive limit. Neeraj Singh, 48, veered across the road and hit a kerb twice as he was being followed by police on a commute from Forest View Medical Centre in Treorchy, Rhondda, back to his home near Cardiff on October 4. The GP of 15 years was banned from driving for three years at Merthyr Tydfil Magistrates' Court on Friday. The court heard that Singh was around halfway through the journey when he crashed into a traffic island, causing his tyre to burst, in Hopkinstown, Pontypridd. A roadside breath test subsequently revealed he had 96 microgrammes of alcohol in 100ml of breath - nearly three times the legal limit of 35. Dr Neeraj Singh has been a doctor for 21 years, a GP for 15 years and a partner at the local practice for 11 years, the court heard Singh crashed in Hopkinstown, around halfway between his place of work and his home near Cardiff Forest View Medical Centre in Treorchy, Rhondda, from where Singh began a 20-mile journey back to his home near Cardiff Mike Powell, prosecuting, said Singh had told officers he drank vodka 'at the end of a stressful day at work'. The married father added that he thought he was fully in control of the vehicle as he made the 20-mile trip home from the surgery. Singh, of Cyncoed, Cardiff, later admitted drink driving. Andrew Shanahan, defending, said in mitigation that the GP had been operating in 'incredibly stressful working conditions'. He continued: 'He has been a doctor for 21 years, a GP for 15 years and a partner in a practice for 11 years. 'What has happened here is a build up of incredibly stressful working conditions. 'We are all aware of what doctors and medics have been going through in the last 18 months. They not only have their normal work but also Covid work and have to organise their practice to comply with Covid laws. 'We have all seen the news about burn out and stress and the impact on working conditions for doctors. Dr Singh was halfway through the 20-mile journey Forest View Medical Centre to his home near Cardiff when the crash took place Dr Singh was disqualified from driving for three years, fined 2000 and ordered to pay costs at Merthyr Tydfil Magistrates Court on Friday 'The ideal situation is for Dr Singh to get back into work and caring for people as soon as possible.' However, passing sentence, District Judge Neale Thomas told the court that Singh must have known he was a risk to other drivers. He said: 'You had a significant amount of alcohol in your system, nearly three times the limited for driving. That must have been a fact known to you when you got behind the wheel. You knew you were a risk to other road users. 'You drove in such a poor state a member of the public informed the police. When the police found you your tyre was damaged and you accepted the collision with the street furniture. 'You have driven that distance badly under the influence of alcohol. It is fortunate police were able to apprehend you when they did. 'It was fundamentally a catastrophic error of judgement on your part to think you could drive that distance.' Dr Singh was disqualified from driving for three years, fined 2,000 and ordered to pay 85 in costs and a 190 surcharge. A former MSNBC host branded former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice a 'soldier for white supremacy' after she spoke out against Critical Race Theory in a recent episode of The View. Toure Neblett, who co-hosted MSNBC's daytime show The Cycle from 2012 until its cancelation in 2015, wrote in an op-ed for The Grio on Friday: 'Condoleezza Rice's recent appearance on The View was offensive and disgusting for many reasons, but she was who we thought she was: a soldier for white supremacy. 'Her thoughts on critical race theory are completely white-centric, as in, they revolve around the thoughts and needs of white people.' Rice served as secretary of state in President George W Bush's administration between 2001 and 2009, and was the highest-ranking black woman to hold office in the US government until Kamala Harris was elected vice president. According to critical race theory, racism is a social construct that has been embedded in American legal systems and policies. It has sparked a fierce nationwide debate in the wake of the Black Lives Matter protests around the country over the last year, with opponents claiming it promotes racism by categorizing people into 'oppressors' and the 'oppressed,' and supporters arguing that it is vital to eliminate racism. Former MSNBC host Toure Neblett, left, branded former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, right, a 'soldier for white supremacy,' due to her criticism of critical race theory in an op-ed published Friday CRITICAL RACE THEORY: WHAT DOES IT MEAN? The fight over critical race theory in schools has escalated in the United States over the last year. The theory has sparked a fierce nationwide debate in the wake of the Black Lives Matter protests around the country over the last year and the introduction of the 1619 Project. The 1619 Project, which was published by the New York Times in 2019 to mark 400 years since the first enslaved Africans arrived on American shores, reframes American history by 'placing the consequences of slavery and the contributions of black Americans at the center of the US narrative'. The debate surrounding critical race theory regards concerns that some children are being indoctrinated into thinking that white people are inherently racist or sexist. Those against critical race theory have argued it reduces people to the categories of 'privileged' or 'oppressed' based on their skin color. Supporters, however, say the theory is vital to eliminating racism because it examines the ways in which race influence American politics, culture and the law. Advertisement In his argument, Neblett continued: 'White children and adults should absolutely feel bad about the past atrocities committed by white Americans. 'They should feel guilty. They should cringe at what their ancestors did. They should also understand that modern white power is directly related to those atrocities.' 'On The View, Rice suggests that learning about America's racial history could make black children feel disempowered by race, but it had the exact opposite impact on me,' wrote Neblett, who uses his first name in his articles. 'Just because the stories are hard to hear does not mean that it will damage the listeners.' His comments came just a few days after Rice, who is black, appeared on The View as they discussed a variety of issues, including critical race theory. In the episode last Wednesday, Rice said: 'I come out of an academic institution and this is something that academics debate - what is the role of race and so forth. 'And let me be very clear, I grew up in segregated Birmingham, Alabama. I couldn't go to the movie theater or a restaurant with my parents. I was in segregated schools 'til we moved to Denver. 'My parents never thought I was going to grow up in a world without prejudice, but they also told me that's somebody else's problem - not yours. You're going to overcome it and you're going to be anything you want to be,' said Rice, the first black female Secretary of State. 'And that's the message I think we ought to be sending to kids. Rice, right, joined the cast of The View to discuss a range of topics - including critical race theory - in its episode last Wednesday She served as the first black female Secretary of State in the United States 'One of the worries I have about the way that we're talking about race is that it either seems so big that somehow white people now have to feel guilty for everything that's happened in the past - I don't think that's very productive - or black people have to feel disempowered by race,' she added. 'I would like black kids to be completely empowered, to know that they are beautiful in their blackness, but in order to do that I don't have to make white kids feel bad about being white. 'So somehow I think this conversation has gone in the wrong direction.' Later on in the segment, she said: 'I have no problem with letting people know what happened [in the past], but let's remember history is complex. Human beings aren't angels now, and they weren't in the past. 'So how we teach about our history is also important. 'We teach the good and we teach the bad of history, but what we don't do is make 7 and 10 year-olds feel that they are somehow bad people because of the color of their skin. 'We've been through that and we don't want to do that again.' Rice said during the show she has concerns about critical race theory because she does not want to make white people feel guilty for the historic treatment of black people - and she does not want black people to feel like victims A total of 21 states have passed or are in the process of passing legislation restricting the teaching of critical race theory in schools, and the issue has become a hot topic in the Virginia governor's race. Throughout the state, school board meetings have been besieged by parents angry at divisive racial concepts being pushed on to their kids. But Democratic nominee Terry McAuliffe blasted a reporter's question about critical race theory last week, claiming it wasn't being taught in the state. He branded the claims about CRT 'offensive' and a 'racist dog whistle' being used by his opponent Glenn Youngkin, who has gone from being an underdog to neck-and-neck contender, largely thanks to McAuliffe's perceived blunders on answering questions about CRT. McAuliffe was also asked about comments he made last week saying that parents should not be telling schools what to teach, and claimed he actually believed that parents should have a voice in their children's education. Terry McAuliffe, the Democrat running for Virginia governor, blasted a reporter's question about critical race theory last week, claiming it wasn't being taught in the state Meanwhile, President Joe Biden has appointed a Critical Race Theory activist from Nebraska to his Department of Education, the new federal staffer announced on her Facebook page earlier this month. Newly-minted Biden official Precious McKesson once criticized a resolution to block CRT from being taught on University of Nebraska campuses as 'systemic racism' and claimed Republicans wanted to 'drive a wedge between white communities and communities of color.' McKesson, chair of the Nebraska Democratic Party's Black Caucus, was sworn in to serve as a Special Assistant in the DOE's office of Communications and Outreach. 'Today I am happy to announce that I've accepted a position with the Biden Harris Administration,' McKesson wrote on Facebook. 'I am so honored to have been selected to hold this position, but I want to thank my family and friends for being a part of the process, keeping lifting up. To my fellow Nebraskans, thank you so much for the support over the last 3 1/2 years.' 'As you know, Omaha will always be home, but now I begin a new journey in Washington DC. Continue to uplift my family and me in prayer during this process.' McKesson made a name for herself as a strong proponent of CRT during a GOP-backed bid to have it censored on state college campuses. Nebraska Board of Regents board member Jim Pillen, who is currently running for governor, introduced a resolution that would ban CRT from the University of Nebraska education system. The measure failed to pass a vote in August. Precious McKesson, who once wrote an op-ed slamming a resolution banning Critical Race Theory, was sworn in to serve as a Special Assistant in the Department of Education's office of Communications and Outreach McKesson, along with Democratic Latino and Native Caucus leaders Dulce Sherman and Colette Yellow Robe, penned an op-ed blasting the resolution as a 'red herring to erase history.' They claimed Republicans didn't want students learning about the Trail of Tears or the Tulsa Race Massacre. The GOP, McKesson claimed, 'made CRT a political boogeyman without actually knowing what it is.' 'Simply put, CRT examines social, cultural and legal issues as they relate to race and racism. Students would be taught about the systemic racism that still exists today and permeates our society,' the op-ed reads. 'One has to wonder why the Republican Party is now trying to frame all educational experiences that discuss diversity and equity with a negative partisan lens. 'From our collective experiences, the only answer is to create a wedge between white communities and communities of color, making us the villain rather than having Nebraskans see us as their neighbors and co-workers.' They condemned Pillen by name, claiming his resolution was a 'direct assault upon the sovereignty of one's soul, mind and body.' Here is a breakdown of the states that have banned critical race theory in public schools or are considering a ban: Governor Ron DeSantis has publicly vowed not to let it be taught in the state's schools Florida - BANNED The Florida State Board of Education voted unanimously on Tuesday to pass a resolution that would ban the teaching of the critical race theory in schools. The resolution does not specifically name critical race theory, but states: 'Instruction on the required topics must be factual and may not suppress or distort significant historical events, such as the Holocaust, and may not define American history as something other than the creation of a new nation based largely on universal principles stated in the Declaration of Independence.' It comes months after Governor Ron DeSantis vowed not to let the critical race theory be taught in the state's schools. He declared back in March that critical race theory would not be taught in the state's schools because it 'teaches kids to hate their country and each other'. He made the comments as he proposed a $106 million boost in funding for civics education in across the state using money from President Biden's COVID-19 aid package. DeSantis said $17 million would be targeted for developing civics curricula with 'foundational concepts' - and not 'unsanctioned narratives like critical race theory'. 'Let me be clear: There is no room in our classrooms for things like critical race theory,' he said. 'Teaching kids to hate their country and to hate each other is not worth one red cent of taxpayer money.' Georgia - BANNED The Georgia State Board of Education voted 11 - 2 on June 3 to pass a resolution banning the teaching of critical race theory in schools, after Republican Governor Brian Kemp wrote the board a letter urging them to adopt such a policy. In the letter, Kemp writes: 'It is ridiculous that the Biden Administration is considering using taxpayer funds to push a blatantly partisan agenda in Georgia classrooms. 'Parents, educators and local communities here in the Peach State know how best to educate their students not the federal government,' he wrote, adding: 'Education in Georgia should reflect our fundamental values as a state and nation freedom, equality and the God-given potential of each individual.' The state's new policy 'no state education agency, school district or school shall teach or instruct' any concepts about race in the classroom that make 'an individual feel discomfort, guilt, anguish or any form of psychological distress on account of his or her race or sex.' Board members Leonte Benton and Kenneth Mason were the only two dissenting votes, with Mason, a black man telling CBS Atlanta, 'The statement, when I read it, made me feel like I don't belong, because it excused the existence of racism.' Helen Rice, a white board member, however defended the move, saying: 'We are respecting equality. That means treating people like you'd like to be treated.' Montana - BANNED Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen issued a binding opinion on May 27 that labeled critical race theory and some antiracism programs taught in schools as 'discriminatory' and said they violate federal and state law, the Associated Press reported. Knudsen's decision came after Republican Superintendent of Public Instruction Elsie Arntzen requested the AG to weigh in on the issue. 'Committing racial discrimination in the name of ending racial discrimination is both illogical and illegal,' Knudsen said in a statement. 'Montana law does not tolerate schools, other government entities, or employers implementing CRT and antiracist programming in a way that treats individuals differently on the basis of race that creates a racially hostile environment.' The order states that certain activities that fall under the umbrella of critical race theory teaching violate the U.S. and state constitutions. The activities include grading students differently based on race, forcing people to admit privilege or reflect on their racial identities, assigning fault, blame or bias to a race, and offering training or assignments that force students or employees to support concepts such as racial privilege, AP reported. Schools and government and public workplaces in Montana that offer critical race theory training or activities could lose state funding and could be liable for damages from lawsuits, AP reported. Knudsen's office also encouraged students and parents who believe they experience illegal discrimination under critical race theory programming to sue their schools directly or file complains with the U.S. Department of Education. Tennessee - BANNED A Tennessee law that bans teachers from teaching the critical race theory was signed by the Governor Bill Lee on May 24, after months of debate about the bill. The Republican governor had previously claimed he would sign the bill, but black Democrats in the majority-white Legislature spoke out against the bill, claiming it would make teachers fearful to teach the history of racial relations in America. 'Critical race theory is rooted in critical theory, which argues that social problems are created and influenced by societal structures and cultural assumptions,' Sen. Katrina Robinson, a black Democrat from Memphis, said. 'How ironic that a body made up of a simple majority of white privileged men can determine whether even my grandchildren can see reflections of themselves in the history lessons at their school.' Republican Sen. Brian Kelsey, also of Memphis, however, argued that teaching the theory was 'harmful to our students'. 'Critical race theory teaches that American democracy is a lie. It teaches that the rule of law does not exist and is instead a series of power struggles among racial groups,' he said. 'It is harmful to our students and is antithetical to everything we stand for as Americans and as Tennesseans.' Idaho - BANNED Idaho's Republican Governor Brad Little signed legislation in April that prevents schools and universities from 'indoctrinating' students with critical race theory. The state's bill allows for the teaching of critical race theory but bans curriculums from forcing belief systems onto students that claim groups of people are inferior or superior to others because of their race, gender or religion. It also prevents teachers from making students 'affirm, adopt or adhere to' belief systems that claim individuals of any race, sex or religion are responsible for the past actions of other members of the same group. Idaho's Republican-controlled Senate had earlier passed the bill with a 28-7 vote. One Republican, Senator Dan Johnson, broke rank and joined Democrats in opposing the bill. Idaho's Republican Governor Brad Little signed legislation in April that prevents schools and universities from 'indoctrinating' students with critical race theory. Students filled the gallery as the legislation was passed in the Senate last month Governor Brad Little became the first to sign the critical race theory ban into law last month 'The claim that there is widespread, systemic indoctrination occurring in Idaho classrooms is a serious allegation,' Little said. 'Most worryingly, it undermines popular support for public education in Idaho.' State Democrats had accused Republicans of holding crucial education budget bills hostage while they focused on passing the bill - as they argued the bill was contrary to First Amendment rights. Senator Janie Ward-Engelking argued the bill was 'not needed' and said the idea that schools are 'brainwashing' children with 'a liberal leftist indoctrination' false. 'Our universities and school districts districts already have procedures in place that will deal with any problem we have in curriculum,' she told the Idaho Press. 'What's happening is we have a group that's put out for public release comments that our teachers are brainwashing our children with a liberal leftist indoctrination. And that's simply not true.' Oklahoma - BANNED Oklahoma's Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt signed his state's bill into law on May 7 after the GOP-controlled House voted 70-19 in its favor. Under the law, Oklahoma City public school teachers are prohibited from teaching certain concepts of race and racism, including critical race theory. The bill, which takes effect on July 1, also prevents colleges and universities from requiring students to undergo training on gender or sexual diversity. Oklahoma's Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt signed his state's bill into law last Friday after the GOP-controlled House voted 70-19 in favor Stitt said that the new law will allow history to be taught without labeling a 'young child as an oppressor'. 'As governor, I firmly believe that not one cent of taxpayer money should be used to define and divide young Oklahomans about their race or sex. That is what this bill upholds for public education,' he said. 'We must keep teaching history and all of its complexities and encourage honest and tough conversations about our past. Nothing in this bill prevents or discourages those conversations. 'We can and should teach this history without labeling a young child as an oppressor or requiring that he or she feel guilt or shame based on their race or sex. I refuse to tolerate otherwise.' The bill has received pushback from some, including the Oklahoma City Public Schools Board of Education who unanimously voted on Monday to denounce the law. All eight board members took turns criticizing Stitt's bill, including Ruth Veales who argued that the legislation was attempting to shut off conversations about racism to 'protect white fragility'. 'As a district that's over 80 percent students of color, this is definitely an insult,' Veales said. 'It is a situation that is so egregious to me.' Texas - BANNED On June 15, Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott signed a bill banning elements of critical race theory in the classroom. The law 'makes certain that critical race philosophies, including the 1619 founding myth, are removed from our school curriculums statewide,' Lt. Governor Dan Patrick said after the bill passed both houses of the legislature in May. 'When parents send their children to school, they want their students to learn critical thinking without being indoctrinated with misinformation charging that America and our Constitution are rooted in racism,' he continued, adding: 'Texans roundly reject the 'woke' philosophies that espouse that one race or sex is better than another and that someone, by virtue of their race or sex, is innately racist, oppressive or sexist.' The bill requires teachers who talk about race relations and how they shaped history to look at viewpoints 'from diverse and contending perspectives without giving deference to any one perspective.' A number of teaching organizations have opposed the legislation, however, by arguing that it is attempting to downplay the role of racism in America's history. 'By telling teachers what and how to teach and ordering TEA to play police, HB 3979 may be one of the most disrespectful bills to teachers I've seen the #txlege dignify with debate,' Mark Wiggins, a lobbyist for The Association of Professional Educators, tweeted over the weekend. Texas is in the process of approving similar legislation to ban critical race theory in public schools. Texas Gov Greg Abbott has already expressed support for it and is expected to sign it into law Mark Wiggins, a lobbyist for The Association of Professional Educators, called the bill 'one of the most disrespectful ... to teachers I've seen' Arizona- BANNED Gov. Doug Ducey signed legislation on July 9 that prohibits teachers from instructing about unconscious bias or responsibility for historic acts of racism, as well as other instruction that 'presents any form of blame or judgment on the basis of race, ethnicity or sex.' Teachers could lose their certifications and their schools could be fined up to $5,000 for noncompliance. Arkansas - IN PROGRESS In Arkansas, the Saving American History Act died in committee in February, but the effort to ban critical race theory in the classroom continues. The bill, proposed by Rep. Mark Lowery sought to 'prohibit the use of public school funds to teach the "'1619 Project."' On June 7, Lowery wrote a letter to Attorney General Leslie Rutledge seeking feedback on 'the legality of teaching so-called anti-racism and Critical Race Theory in Arkansas public schools and universities.' Iowa -BANNED on June 8, Iowa Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds announced that she signed a bill limiting instruction on institutional racism, white privilege, and critical race theory in Iowa classrooms, including public universities. Republicans who support the bill argue that it will prevent students from being indoctrinated. While debating the bill, Republican Rep. Steven Holt said it would not ban discussions about slavery, sexism, racism or discrimination. He argued, however, that teachers didn't need to 'use racism to teach against racism'. 'Of course these issues must be taught. They must be discussed, and they can be without scapegoating entire groups of people,' Holt said. New Hampshire - IN PROGRESS Lawmakers in New Hampshire are currently debating a critical race theory amendment that is included in the state's proposed budget. Republicans are now trying to compromise with Democrats in the House about the amendment that seeks to ban 'divisive' topics regarding race and gender in schools. North Carolina - IN PROGRESS North Carolina House Republicans approved a plan on May 19 to prohibit public schools from embracing certain ideas related to critical race theory. The measure passed by a vote of 65 to 48 and now heads to the Senate. If approved, it would go to Democratic Governor Roy Cooper's desk. House Bill 324, if approved, would prevent schools from endorsing the view that any person should feel guilty because of their race or sex, or that the person's race or sex makes them inherently racist, sexist or oppressive, even if unconsciously. North Carolina's proposal doesn't prohibit teachers from introducing the ideas to students as long as they make it clear that the school isn't endorsing such concepts. Democrats and racial justice advocates in the state have accused Republicans of trying to rewrite history and deprive pupils of a fulfilling curriculum. South Carolina - IN PROGRESS A South Carolina bill introduced in May remains in committee. If it advances, the bill will prevent public schools and universities from providing instruction on critical race theory or compelling students 'to personally affirm, adopt, or adhere to the tenets.' Kentucky - IN PROGRESS Kentucky Rep. Joseph Fischer has pre-filed a bill for the 2022 legislative session that will prohibit teachers from discussing certain 'concepts related to race, sex, and religion' and would require that 'a school district employee that violates the prohibition is subject to disciplinary action.' A similar measure, BR 69, seeks to add more urgency to the possible enactment of such a law by 'declaring an emergency.' Michigan - IN PROGRESS A bill introduced by senior lawmakers in the Michigan Senate in late May would cut funding to districts that teach critical race theory, the 1619 Project, or a list of 'anti-American and racist theories.' A similar bill was filed in the house by Rep. Andrew Beeler. Wisconsin - IN PROGRESS In June, Republican senators in Wisconsin introduced Senate Bill 411. The bill prohibits instruction that suggests that an individual 'bears responsibility for acts committed in the past by other individuals of the same race or sex.' Additionally, the bill requires school boards and charter operators 'to post all curricula used in schools' online. If the bill becomes law, districts and charter operators that fail to comply with it may lose 10% of their state funding. Utah - IN PROGRESS In May, Utahs House Resolution on critical theory passed both legislative chambers. Less restrictive than similar legislation in Texas and Tennessee, the Utah bill urges the state education officials to ensure certain ideas are not taught in schools and was opposed by the states Educational Equity Coalition. South Dakota - IN PROGRESS In South Dakota, there is no legislation banning critical race theory. Governor Kristi Noem, however, has put her name to the '1776 pledge' that opposes the teaching of critical race theory in public schools. 'Teaching our children and grandchildren to hate their own country and pitting them against one another on the basis of race or sex is shameful and must be stopped,' Noem said earlier this month. The 1776 Pledge was launched as an attempt to counter the 1619 Project, which posits the true founding of America in 1619, when the first African slaves arrived, rather than 1776, when the Declaration of Independence was signed. A unit of 1,000 state police officers and Texas Rangers assigned to monitor areas along the Lone Star State's 1,241 miles of border with Mexico is readying to guard against the next surge of migrants looking to defy President Joe Biden's administration. A month has passed since Texas state law enforcement agents played a role in preventing some 15,000 migrants - mostly Haitians - from crossing the United States-Mexico border. The state troopers and Rangers would be expected to do the same in the coming days, but with a smaller caravan of migrants predominantly led by Central Americans that is marching through southern Mexico toward the United States. Organizers had initially said that the group, called 'Madre Caravana' or 'Mother Caravan,' would be formed by tens of thousands of migrants, according to BorderReport.com. But now, about 3,000 migrants, including some 250 children, stopped along a highway in Huehuetan, a city in the southern state of Chiapas, on Monday, as the weather topped 89 degrees but really felt like 99 due to the humidity. 'The Texas Department of Public Safety [DPS] is committed to securing our southern border under the direction of Texas Governor Greg Abbott and has deployed around one-thousand Troopers, Special Agents and Texas Rangers as part of Operation Lone Star (OLS),' a spokesperson told DailyMail.com on Monday. 'While the department does not discuss operational specifics, we continue to monitor the situation as it unfolds in order to make real-time decisions and will adjust operations as necessary.' Hundreds of migrants who are part of are a caravan of some 3,000 asylum seekers traveled by foot Monday along a highway in the Huehuetan. The group hopes to ultimately reach the US border in the coming days and apply for asylum The caravan consists of 3,000 nationals from Central America, South America, Africa and Haiti Migrants from Africa, Central America, Haiti and South American walk on a highway in Huehuetan, Mexico, on Monday. Nearly 3,000 people are traveling to Mexico City where they plan to demand documents that would allow them to move freely in the country as part of their plan to reach the border with the United States A migrant carries a child while resting at a park Sunday in Huehuetan, a city in the southern Mexico state of Chiapas Migrants bathe in the middle of a street in Huehuetan, Chiapas, on Sunday A U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CPB) spokesperson told DailyMail.com that the agency 'plans for all possible scenarios based off information on the operations of smugglers or movements of migrants. 'Our posture and response are based on comprehensive analysis, and not on any single report. 'CBP stands ready to address any potential increase in migrant encounters as we work to ensure safety and security of our borders, while managing a fair and orderly immigration system.' The caravan initially drew its members by distributing a QR code via text message October 15. Handers of a Facebook page called PUM Pueblo Unidos Migrantes set up QR code for migrants who wanted to form part of the new caravan of 3,000 people The migrants, who would seek asylum under the Biden administration of, started their journey by foot Saturday when they took off from the town of Tapachula across from Guatemala's border. Many clashed with hundreds of law enforcement officers in riot gear who were unsuccessful in attempting to block their path. A Salvadoran migrant interviewed by Fox News defied the United States' stance on securing its borders from unlawful migration and told the network, 'Tell Biden we are coming.' The group's plan is to reach Mexico City and demand that the Institute of National Migration speed up the process in providing the legal document that is necessary for the migrants to move freely in the country. Migrants from Africa, Central America, Haiti and South America camp out near a highway in Huehuetan, Mexico, on Monday on day three of their trek by foot to Mexico City where they seek to apply for a legal document to transit freely through the nation before heading to the border with the United States Mexican television network Foro TV said the group also consists of South American, Haitian and African migrants who have spent the last eight months stuck in Chiapas and waiting for the Mexican government to approve their travel documents. At least 147,000 undocumented migrants were registered in southern Mexico between January and August of this year, triple the amount that was reported during the same period in 2020. The Institute of National Migration declined to comment when it was contacted by DailyMail.com on Monday. Mexican National Guard prepared to form a barricade to stop migrants from traveling along a highway in Chiapas before a clash on Saturday A man holds a wooden cross with other migrants as they head to Mexico City to apply for asylum and refugee status; he is pictured in Huehuetan, Mexico, on Monday Migrant families rested at a park in Huehuetan, Chiapas, on Sunday after they took a break from their trek from Southern Mexico to Mexico City A woman carried her son as a group of migrants traveled by foot Monday in Huehuetan, a city in the southern Mexican state of Chiapas Migrants from Central America, South America, Africa and Haiti walk together on a highway in Huehuetan, Mexico, on Monday Mexican Foreign Secretary Marcelo Ebrard slammed smugglers and organizers during a press conference Monday, accusing them of misleading migrants into believing the United States would simply allow them to freely cross the border. 'We will act with caution, with care for the law and human rights,' Ebrard said. 'But we do want to say that they are deceiving people because it is not true that they are going to let them pass to the United States.' Some migrants who attempted to leave Tapachula in September to head north were subject to brutal treatment by Mexican officials, and the Institute of National Migration condemned incidents of violence captured on video at the time. U.S. Border Patrol reported 1,734,686 encounters with migrants for unlawfully crossing the United States-Mexico border during fiscal year 2021, according to the latest CBP monthly southwestern border report released last Friday. Unvaccinated citizens from 50 countries will be allowed into the US from Nov. 8 despite Biden requiring virtually all other international travelers to be jabbed. People from countries where less than 10 per cent of people are vaccinated 'due to the lack of availability' will be allowed into the US without being jabbed. However, they will still need to present proof of a negative COVID test. They would need a 'compelling reason' to come and would not be eligible for an ordinary tourist visa. The list of 50 countries has not yet been released by the White House. Children 18 under will also get a blanket exemption from being vaccinated. Biden announced in September he was lifting the travel ban on countries such as the UK into the US and then stipulated visitors that visitors must be vaccinated. The approved vaccines are Pfizer BioNTech, Moderna, Janssen/Johnson & Johnson, Oxford/AstraZeneca, Sinopharm and Sinovac. The ban had been in place since the Trump administration at the start of the pandemic. New administration rules for air travelers entering the U.S. include an exemption for children under 18 The administration is making the outlines of the new policy available, after announcing it weeks ago, as it tries to battle the Delta variant and keep positive numbers down in the US. 'Preventing people from getting sick, hospitalized and dying of covid is a top, top priority,' said a senior administration official on a media call. The administration is doing 'everything we can do to incentivize that process reduces the amount of virus that is circulating,' said the official, who could not be identified by name under ground rules of the call imposed by the administration. The administration characterized 'very limited exceptions' to the policy, including the one from the 50 countries, which would be very limited. 'These have been crafted to be narrow,' said an administration official. Children under two do not need to be vaccinated. Kids are not required to be vaccinated, although their parents are with numerous exceptions Fully vaccinated passengers will have to show a negative covid test 'regardless of citizenship.' For vaccinated Americans, the window for the test will be three-days before travel. For unvaccinated air passengers, including US citizens and Green Card holders, the new rules will require a test within a day prior to departure. Air passengers will have to furnish valid contact information to the airlines, who will collect it in case of the need for contact tracing in the event of an exposure. The airlines also are charged with verifying the vaccine status documents, which they are to do by verifying date of birth information. It was not clear whether they would be responsible for verifying the validity of the vaccine in any other ways. The White House announced in September the US would lift travel restrictions on air travelers from 33 countries. They included China, Brazil, India, and European countries. 'Children under 18 are excepted from the vaccination requirement for foreign national travelers, given both the ineligibility of some younger children for vaccination, as well as the global variability in access to vaccination for older children who are eligible to be vaccinated,' according to a White House fact sheet released Monday. 'Starting on November 8, non-citizen, non-immigrant air travelers to the United States will be required to be fully vaccinated and to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination status prior to boarding an airplane to fly to the U.S., with only limited exceptions. The updated travel guidelines also include new protocols around testing. To further strengthen protections, unvaccinated travelers whether U.S. Citizens, lawful permanent residents (LPRs), or the small number of excepted unvaccinated foreign nationals will now need to test within one day of departure.' Travelers to the U.S. will be required to be masked. Relatives of more than two dozen American hostages and people wrongfully detained overseas wrote to President Joe Biden on Monday demanding he do more to free their loved ones. In their letter, they say they feel they have been left in the dark and question his administration's commitment to bringing them home. 'We have not been able to meet with you or even with your national security adviser to discuss our loved ones captivity, which leads us to believe that your administration is not prioritizing negotiations and other methods to secure their release,' they say. 'When we do meet with other officials we feel we are being kept in the dark about what the U.S. government intends to do to free our loved ones. 'And yet we continue to add up the minutes, hours, days and years our sons, daughters, fathers, mothers, husbands, sisters, and brothers are unjustly denied their freedom.' Signatories include families whose relatives are imprisoned or held hostage in countries such as Russia, Iran, Afghanistan, Cuba and Venezuela. Relatives of 26 people detained or held hostage overseas demanded that Biden do more to help free them on Monday, as he traveled to New Jersey to highlight his domestic agenda Paul Rusesabagina's (l) story saving the lives of Tutsis during the Rwandan genocide was told in the movie Hotel Rwanda, but the resident of San Antonio is now being held in his home country on what his supporters are trumped up terrorism charges. Ex-Green Beret Luke Denman has been held in Venezuela since last year's failed coup attempt American citizen and 61-year-old psychotherapist Majd Kamalmaz (l) disappeared in Syria in 2017. The Russian government has hinted it may be interested in a prisoner swap to release Paul Whelan, sentenced to 16 years hard labor for espionage Airan Berry (l), a former U.S. special forces operative, was sentenced to a 20-year prison term in Venezuela after a failed coup. Former Marine Trevor Reed was sentenced to nine years in a Russian prison last year after being found guilty of assaulting a police office They include the mother of Trevor Reed, a Marine sentenced to nine years in prison after being convicted by a Moscow court of assaulting a police officer, and the family of Paul Rusesabagina, whose heroics during his country's genocide was the basis for the movie Hotel Rwanda but who now languishes in prison in his home country on what supporters say are trumped up charges. The letter, released by the James W. Foley Foundation named for the journalist James Foley who was held hostage for nearly two years before being murdered by ISIS, describes their early optimism in Biden. 'Many of us were present on a February call with Secretary of State Antony Blinken during his first week in office,' they write. 'That call provided hope to so many families who heard this administration promise that their loved ones freedom was a national priority. 'Yet as of this letter, so many of us remain in the same situation, or worse, more than 8 months later. 'In fact, some of us have endured this burden across multiple administrations.' Biden's predecessor saw hostage negotiations as a way to demonstrate his deal-making ability. Former President Trump brought six freed hostages to the White House to film a video for the Republican National Convention last year, as a way to highlight his unconventional approach to bringing home Americans. There was even a high-level trip to Damascus to try to find journalist Austin Tice, who was kidnapped in 2012 in Syria. Biden has been under pressure to do more. That only intensified during the past week after 17 American and Canadian missionaries and their families were forced out of a bus at gunpoint in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and taken captive. The leader of the Haitian gang that kidnapped them is threatening to kill them if he doesn't receive a ransom of up to $1 million for each person. And when troops left Afghanistan at the end of August, they left behind Mark Frerichs, a contractor abducted there early last year. His sister Charlene Cakora signed the letter. 'We have heard a lot of positive talk about making Mark and the other cases a national priority, but we are not seeing actions to bring them home,' she told the Associated Press. 'There are solutions for many of these cases - including my brother's, which could have been solved last summer - but we are not sensing any urgency on the part of the White House. 'For families, every second a loved one is kept detained is an eternity.' Other cases brought up in the letter include Luke Denman and Matthew Heath, arrested in Venezuela in the wake of a failed coup attempt. And the letter was signed by Paul Whelan, sentenced to 16 years in Russian prison for espionage. A spokesperson for the National Security Council said: 'The safe and prompt release of U.S. hostages and wrongful detainees will always be a top priority, never an afterthought, in all of our foreign policy decisions.' Notorious Mexican drug lord Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman's lawyers asked an appeal court to overturn his US conspiracy conviction arguing that the jury ignored warnings to avoid media accounts of the case. Guzman's attorney, Marc Fernich, said the court should order a new trial or at least call for a hearing on the alleged jury misconduct. Fernich's oral arguments before the 2nd US Circuit Court of Appeals in New York, resonated with Circuit Judge Gerard E. Lynch, who said it was 'a not bad argument.' 'The guy is going to be in a box for the rest of his life,' Fernich said. 'I'm not asking you to play violins for him. This is his last shot.' 'This is serious stuff,' the judge later added. Guzman's attorney said the New York 2nd US Circuit Court of Appeals should order a new trial or at least call for a hearing on the alleged jury misconduct. Pictured is 'El Chapo' being escorted by soldiers during a presentation in Mexico City, January 8, 2016 Guzman's attorney, Marc Fernich (pictured), said the court should order a new trial or at least call for a hearing on the alleged jury misconduct Fenich asked the three-judge panel on Monday to resist any 'punitive impulse' toward someone who was cast as a 'public enemy' like gangster Al Capone. El Chapo's defense cited a news report that during deliberations jurors were exposed to salacious claims that were barred from the trial, including that Guzman sexually abused girls he referred to as 'vitamins' that gave him energy. Assistant US Attorney Hiral Mehta argued there was no valid evidence of misconduct and the lower court should reject the defense request for a hearing on the jury issue. Mehta said the Vice News report - based on a post-conviction interview with a juror who wasn't named - amounted to 'hearsay and double hearsay.' Hearsay is often inadmissible in court as it can not be adequately substantiated. Guzman was sentenced in 2019 to life behind bars for a massive drug conspiracy that spread murder and mayhem for more than two decades. The three-judge panel will rule at a later date. Guzman was sentenced in 2019 to life in jail for a two-decade drug conspiracy that spread murder and mayhem. In this July 17, 2019 file photo of a courtroom sketch, 'El Chapo,' second from right, listens to his sentence The judges, while sounding open to the arguments about potential juror prejudice, showed less patience with another claim that Guzman's defense was unfairly hindered by the strict terms of confinement. (File picture) Before the federal case, he had attained near-mythical status by escaping from prison twice in Mexico, the second time through a tunnel dug into the shower of his cell. He was recaptured and sent in 2017 to the United States and put in solitary confinement. At trial, Guzman's lawyers argued he was the fall guy for other kingpins who were better at paying off top Mexican politicians and law enforcement officials to protect them. The judges, while sounding open to the arguments about potential juror prejudice, showed less patience with another claim that Guzman's defense was unfairly hindered by the strict terms of confinement that were imposed in response to his reputation as an escape artist. Lynch challenged Fernich's characterization that Guzman was thrown into a 'modern dungeon,' pointing out that his lawyers had constant access to him leading up to the trial. 'He's not isolated from the world,' Lynch said. 'He's seeing people on a regular basis.' The panel will rule at a later date. Secondary students have been left feeling 'upset' and 'intimidated' by a group of anti-vaxxers who blocked the school gates so they could not go home - and now only a quarter of those eligible have had their jab. The students were handed leaflets by protesters in Liverpool earlier this month, and the schools headteacher has revealed the campaign has made some children hesitant to get the vaccine. He said 'less pupils than expected' have come forward to have their Covid-19 jab and before the protest occurred they expected a 'higher proportion'. When the group of anti-vaxxers blocked the path of pupils who were trying to leave, the police were called but no reinforcements turned up despite the protest getting 'quite feisty' and 'unpleasant'. Molly Rowe, 15, (L) from St John Ogilvie High School in Hamilton receives her vaccines from Dentist Nollaig O Callaghan (R) at Fernhill community centre in Rutherglen, South Lanarkshire Demonstrators hold signs and banners as they march through London and protest against Covid-19 vaccinations for children The headteacher told the PA news agency: 'We had some youngsters who were really upset about the leaflets that were being given out. 'The leafleteers were blocking students' way and insisting that they took a leaflet and some of them didn't want to.' Only around a quarter of the eligible students came forward to have their Covid-19 vaccine at the school a few days after the anti-vaccination protesters targeted children at the school gates. He said: 'I would have expected a higher proportion. 'I can't directly attribute that to the leaflets, but the take-up has been slightly less than I would have expected.' His comments come after the Health Secretary lashed out at 'idiots' who mount anti-vaccine protests outside schools as he said exclusion zones are an option to protect children. Sajid Javid said children have been injured in clashes with protesters, who are spreading 'vicious lies'. Labour has called for councils to be able to use exclusion orders to prevent harassment of staff and pupils by anti-vaxxers outside schools. But the head of the Liverpool school added: 'If we're going to have exclusion zones, they need to be enforced and sadly my experience has been that we haven't had the police back-up when we wanted it.' The school, which is running another vaccination day onsite due to low take-up, is paying extra staff to be on duty 'in case anti-vaxxers turn up', he said. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has said it is 'sickening' that those against vaccinations are demonstrating at school gates. Sajid Javid slammed anti-vax campaigners for 'spreading vicious lies' and described how the group of campaigners were 'doing so much damage' Labour's Keir Starmer called for councils to be allowed to use exclusion orders to stop anti-vaccine activists from protesting outside schools He said: 'Labour believes the law around public spaces protection orders (PSPOs) urgently needs to be updated so that local authorities can rapidly create exclusion zones for anti-vax protests outside of schools.' PSPOs can be used to disperse people from a public area and have previously been used to move on protesters outside abortion clinics, or to allow police to confiscate alcohol in certain spaces. The mother of a child, whose school was also targeted by anti-vaccine protesters, believes some pupils may now be vaccine-hesitant as a result of the group's demonstration. Diane Sweeney said that her 15-year-old son, Euan Sweeney, heard the group of protesters 'shouting using megaphones' while 'handing out leaflets to students' at the school near Birmingham. Ms Sweeney, 55, told PA: 'The leaflets were, I'm told, biased and guided the reader to websites with inaccurate and disturbing information... I'm guessing there are now worried parents struggling to get their child to agree to be vaccinated because of this misinformation.' The full-time mum and carer from Sutton Coldfield said that her son thought the protest was 'stupid' and 'irresponsible'. When asked whether anti-vaccination protests could be making young people more hesitant to get the Covid-19 jab, the Liverpool headteacher told PA: 'I suspect that may be the case unfortunately yes. 'There hasn't been a big public health campaign that I've seen to encourage 12-15-year-olds or their parents to get vaccinated. 'I guess there'll be quite a few who are uncertain about things and for whom this could be a persuasive factor.' Downing Street said it was 'never acceptable for anyone to pressurise or intimidate pupils, teachers or the wider school community'. The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: 'Protesters engaging in this type of behaviour should immediately stop.' Home Secretary Priti Patel has made clear that police will have the 'powers and resources they need' to deal with the issue, the spokesman added. The Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL) revealed earlier this month that most of the schools surveyed by the union (79%) have been targeted by anti-vaxxers. Geoff Barton, general secretary of the ASCL, said: 'We would welcome any action which helps to keep anti-vaccination campaigners away from schools and which allows pupils and staff to go about their business without this intrusion. 'Schools are operating under great pressure because of the disruption which continues to be caused by the coronavirus pandemic. 'The last thing they need is the additional problem of protesters outside their gates. 'Vaccinations are an important step in helping to reduce educational disruption and in keeping pupils in the classroom after 18 months of turbulence. 'If protesters think otherwise there are plenty of outlets for them to express their views without resorting to targeting schools.' Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders' union NAHT, said: 'Whatever your views on vaccination, it is never OK to make children feel scared and intimidated as they arrive at school. 'People have the right to express their concerns but this must be done appropriately, schools are not the place for angry protests. 'We would urge anti-vaccination campaigners to behave more responsibly and to carefully consider the impact their actions are having on children.' The Metropolitan Police will apologise to the family of two murdered sisters for its response when they were reported missing which was 'below the standard that it should have been'. Nicole Smallman, 27, and Bibaa Henry, 46, were brutally stabbed to death by a teenage Satanist in Fryent Country Park in Wembley, north London, June, while out celebrating a birthday. Danyal Hussein, 19, was convicted of their murder in July after a jury found him guilty of the savage attack. Scotland Yard said it agreed with the findings of a report by the police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, that found the level of service provided over the weekend when they went missing was below the standard that it should have been. The force said no misconduct was found by an officer and two members of police staff but there will be action taken over their performance, which was found to be inadequate. There was no suggestion racial bias played any part in how the missing persons reports were dealt with, it added. However, devastated mother Mina Smallman has told the force 'the time for apologies has long gone'. She told Channel 4: 'No one was taking it seriously. There was no search put in place by police. Our phone calls were being disregarded. 'There was no action at all Biba wasn't even on as a missing person on the Sunday after we'd made calls on the Saturday. And you know, it's shameful. It's shocking that. 'Right from the very beginning, they knew they were looking for two girls, two women of colour. I'm trying to understand. Why they didn't follow procedure? What could the explanation be?' Nicole Smallman (left) and Bibaa Henry (right) were last seen dancing to music with fairy lights around 1am on June 6 after celebrating Bibaa's birthday with friends in Fryent Country Park Bibaa Henry and Nicole Smallman taken from Bibaa's phone in Fryent Country Park that night Mina Smallman, the mother of Nicole Smallman, speaking outside the Old Bailey in London after Danyal Hussein was found guilty of murder Metropolitan Police Commissioner Dame Cressida Dick said: 'My thoughts and deepest sympathies are with the family and friends of Nicole and Bibaa for their tragic losses. 'The way we responded to information that Nicole and Bibaa were missing that weekend was below the standard we should have achieved and compounded the distress felt by their loved ones. 'While we know that very sadly Nicola and Bibaa had been murdered in the early hours of Saturday June 6 2020, before they were reported missing, if we had responded better we may have saved their friends and family immeasurable pain. Murderer: Danyal Hussein, 19, who killed the two sisters, seen here in his police mugshot 'I am very sorry that the level of service we provided fell short. 'We have contacted the family to ask if they will allow me or, if they prefer, another senior officer to visit them at a time that is right to apologise in person.' The IOPC investigation found that the inspector closed the police logs after receiving information about the sisters' possible whereabouts from a family member, but that information was 'inaccurately' recorded by a communications supervisor. This meant that missing persons inquiries for both women were not progressed properly. The inspector told the investigation that this had been one of 'the most challenging shifts of his career' with 16 missing persons reports open and the North West Command Unit under capacity by almost 50 per cent due to the ongoing pandemic. The Met said following the investigation several members of staff must subsequently undertake 'unsatisfactory performance procedures.' The IOPC investigation had also considered whether the force's response had been affected by the sisters' ethnicity, the Met added. 'After a comprehensive examination of police records, no evidence was found of stereotyping or biased assumptions based on the sisters' race or where they lived,' the it said. A MailOnline map shows where police were called to at around 1pm on June 7 to a report of two women found unresponsive Police received over 100 calls from the public after appeals for information (pictured, officers guarding forensics tents at Fryent Country Park near Wembley, north London on June 8) The sisters had been part of a group of 10 people who congregated in the park from around 7pm on Friday, June 5 to celebrate Bibaa's birthday. Pictured: An aerial showing police guarding the forensics tents in Fryent Country Park 'The IOPC also recommended we review the processes and separate computer systems used by different call handlers, and consider whether further training should be provided to ensure all fully understand how systems operate that they might not use as frequently. 'We have already addressed this recommendation by producing an enhanced training information pack for all call operators.' Regional Director for London Sal Naseem said: 'Once again my thoughts and sympathies are with the family and friends of Nicole Smallman and Bibaa Henry. 'Their deaths caused unimaginable heartache, loss and grief, feelings which were heightened by the inadequate service the family and friends received from the Metropolitan Police when reporting the sisters missing. 'Had the MPS focused on progressing the missing persons investigation it may have prevented the further distress caused to Nicole and Bibaa's loved ones, who made the harrowing discovery after organising their own search party. 'As well as identifying three individuals whose performance fell below the standards expected of them, this investigation also identified failings in the service provided, for which we have now advised the MPS to apologise to the family. 'It is vital that the force addresses these shortcomings and effects long-lasting change and improvement to help restore public confidence in the MPS.' In August, family and friends of the sisters staged at a vigil at the scene of the incident on what would have been Ms Smallman's 29th birthday. Large crowds lit candles and laid flowers to honour all women lost to male violence. Both PC Jamie Lewis and PC Deniz Jaffer are charged with misconduct in public office Two police officers alleged to have shared photos of the sisters' bodies said they were 'sorry beyond measure for the pain they have caused' after being charged with misconduct in public office on May 27. Pc Deniz Jaffer, 47, and Pc Jamie Lewis, 32, are charged with taking 'non-official and inappropriate photographs' at the crime scene before sharing them on WhatsApp between 7 and June 23, 2020. Ms Smallman told the BBC at the time that the pictures 'dehumanised' her children. Nicole and Bibaa were targeted at random by Hussein, who proceeded to attack the sisters as they took selfies with fairy lights. Hussein had earlier made a blood pact with a demon to 'sacrifice women' in return for winning the lottery. After being linked to the murder through DNA and CCTV evidence, Hussein was arrested at his mother's home, where officers made the disturbing discoveries in his bedroom. The blood pact, which stated he carry out the killings and evade the attention of police, was found along with various Satanic symbols. The letter was signed with his blood and tucked inside were three lottery tickets. Detective Chief Inspector Simon Harding said that the Met 'had never seen in any murder case before'. He was convicted of two counts of murder and possession of a knife following a trial at the Old Bailey on July 6. The National Institutes of Health has been condemned for torturing monkeys with acid, toy snakes and rubber spiders for research after it was revealed Dr Anthony Fauci had approved funding horrific experiments on beagles. Watchdog the White Coat Waste Project (WCW) first accused the NIH of conducting 'bizarre psychological experiments' on monkeys back in December 2019, revealing that the experiments has cost taxpayers 'nearly $100 million just since 2007' and have been 'continuously funded for over 40 years'. It re-emerged the day after Fauci - director of the NIH's National Institutes for Allergies and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) was condemned for funding experiments which saw beagles left in the desert for flies to eat them. The WCW first unveiled the monkey experiment in December 2019, announcing a lawsuit against after the NIH reportedly refused to provide them with 'videos and other materials related to wasteful and bizarre psychological experiments on primates'. The National Institutes of Health is under fire after a nonprofit revealed that organization used millions of taxpayer dollars to conduct torturous experiments on monkeys and puppies The organization alleges that the experiments have cost nearly $100 million just since 2007. Since released video footage of the testing showed distraught primates chained in tiny cages as researchers surprised them with rubber spiders and mechanical snakes - objects they instinctively fear - to observe their reactions. The NIH scientists then removed portions of their brains or destroyed them with acid to 'intentionally worsen the primates' fear'. 'In the video, a callous NIH 'white coat' can be heard joking, 'Where the hell is the dancing monkey?,' after one of the tests on the terrified monkeys ends,' the WCW report states. The videotaped experiments, according to the group, took place at he National Institutes of Mental Health (NIMH) in Bethesda, Maryland and have 'cost taxpayers over $16 million since 2007 and $1.7 million in 2019 alone.' The 2019 report resurfaced Monday as Dr Anthony Fauci faces public outcry after the WCW revealed over the weekend that his division of the NIH - the National Institutes of Allergies and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) - spent millions conducting cruel and painful experiments on beagle puppies. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who is among those outraged by the alleged findings, has called for Fauci's resignation, citing the misuse of taxpayer funds. 'I really think Fauci needs to be held accountable,' DeSantis said during a press conference Monday. 'They're doing cruel experiments on puppies. What they were doing with those puppies is flat out disgusting. It's despicable. I cannot believe American tax dollars would go to treat those dogs the way those dogs are being treated.' He continued: 'From funding gain of function research to treating these puppies with really unimaginable cruelty, I think that whole lot of them need to be cleaned out and we need to be standing up for the American taxpayer and doing things ethically.' Meanwhile, the American public is condemning the immunologist on Twitter as #FauciLiedDogsDied trends nationwide. The White Coat Waste Project (WCW) first accused the NIH of conducting 'bizarre psychological experiments' on monkeys back in February 2020, revealing that the experiments has cost taxpayers 'nearly $100 million just since 2007' and have been 'continuously funded for over 40 years' Rep. Mary Miller (R-IL) called out the immunologist on social media saying: 'Dr. Fauci lied repeatedly about the NIH funding gain-of-function research in China. 'His agency ALSO spent millions of tax dollars on animal testing that involved the brutal abuse and murder of puppies Yet, he's still our government's highest paid employee. #FauciLiedDogsDied' 'Gosh, maybe trusting whatever the government tells us as long as they claim it's 'science' isn't a good call after all. Who knew?,' wrote Nick Freitas, member of the Virginia House of Delegates. 'Interesting. It took animal torture to wake up Americans to the evils of Fauci,' echoed documentary film producer Errol Webber. Some social media users even marked their dogs 'safe from Dr Fauci,' referencing the Facebook featured used during disaster situations. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who is among those outraged by the alleged findings, has called for Fauci's resignation, citing the misuse of taxpayer funds The American public is also condemning the immunologist on Twitter as #FauciLiedDogsDied trends nationwide Conservative talkshow host Candace Owens also condemned Fauci, while incorrectly attributing the monkey experiment to his research within the NIH. 'Reading through Fauci's experiments and the one I find most alarming is the use of an acid to destroy a region of monkeys' brains to magnify terror,' Owens wrote. 'They then simulated images of spiders and tormented them with fear. Human DNA is 97% identical to apes. Why fund that research?' The WCW, in a statement issued to DailyMail.com on Monday, reiterated that while they the monkey experiments were conducted by the NIH, they 'were not conducted or funded by Fauci's division.' Conservative talkshow host Candace Owens also condemned Fauci, while incorrectly attributing the monkey experiment to his research within the NIH Video footage of the testing showed distraught primates chained in tiny cages as researchers presented them with rubber spiders and mechanical snakes - objects they instinctively fear - to observe their reactions The NIH scientists then removed portions of their brains or destroyed them with acid to 'intentionally worsen the primates' fear' As of a result of the WCW's investigation, Congress directed the NIH to commission an independent study by the National Academies on their intramural primate testing and modern alternatives to this type of testing. The governmental organization had to report its efforts to reduce and replace the primate testing by the end of 2020. Similarly, a group of legislators are now calling on Fauci and his NIAID researchers to answer the American people's questions about the allegations that they were using taxpayers dollars to conduct inhumane experiments on beagle puppies. The lawmakers expect a response by November 19. The WCW revealed over the weekend that the NIAD funded four animal experiments involving the puppies, including one which saw beagles trapped in cages so flies could eat them, and another where they were 'debarked' before being pumped with drugs and killed. One of the most disturbing incidents funded by Fauci's National Institutes of Allergies and Infectious Diseases involved $375,000 given to a Tunisian research lab. There, puppies had their heads held in cages, before being left for sand flies to eat them alive for to see how a specific drug works against diseases they carry. Distressing snaps showed the pups with their heads kept inside the muslin-type cages filled with the hungry insects. Another procedure - which the NIH funded to the tune of $1.8m - saw 44 beagle puppies undergo a 'cordectomy,' which saw their vocal cords cut to stop them barking. That experiment, which took place in Menlo Park, California, saw the dogs then pumped full of drugs, before being killed and dissected. The White Coat Waste Project claims the NIAID provided a $375,800 grant to a lab in Tunisia to drug beagle puppies and locked their heads in mesh cages so sand flies could eat the dogs filled with hundreds of infected sand flies The sand flies would gnaw on the dogs' ears, eating them alive A third, $425,000 set of taxpayer funded tests saw beagles howl in pain while being experimented on in Georgia. In response, a group of 24 lawmakers, led by Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC), are now demanding Fauci provide answers about the experiments they believe to be 'cruel' and a 'reprehensible misuse of taxpayer funds.' 'According to documents obtained via a Freedom of Information Act request by taxpayer watchdog group White Coat Waste Project, and subsequent media coverage, from October 2018 until February 2019, NIAID spent $1.86million in taxpayer funds on drug tests involving 44 beagle puppies,' the letter from lawmakers reads. 'While documents state that the ostensible purpose of this study was to 'provide data of suitable quality and integrity to support application to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other regulatory agencies,' the FDA itself has recently stated that it 'does not mandate that human drugs be studied in dogs.'' The experiments were done with funding from the NIAID, of which Fauci has been director since 1984. Two weeks ago, WCW revealed that close to $1.68million was spent on experiments on a total of 44 beagles at Sri International in Menlo Park, California, in which the puppies received cordectomies and were force-fed drugs before being killed and dissected. Another $375,800 was provided as a grant to a lab in Tunisia to drug beagle puppies and locked their heads in mesh cages so sand flies could eat the dogs filled with hundreds of infected sand flies, the group revealed in August. Fauci's team had previously, in 2016, strapped the infectious sand flies to beagles at the NIAID lab in Bethesda, Maryland, allowing them to feed on the dogs for 22 months. WCW alleges that the dogs developed infectious legions before researchers killed and dissected them. This procedure cost $18,430,917. The White Coat Waste Project also revealed that close to $1.68million was spent on experiments on a total of 44 beagles at Sri International in Menlo Park, California, in which the puppies received cordectomies and were force-fed drugs before being killed and dissected In 2016, Fauci's strapped sand flies to beagles at the NIAID lab in Bethesda, Maryland, allowing them to feed on the dogs for 22 months The White Coat Waste Project alleges that the 2016 experiment caused the dogs to develop infectious legions before researchers killed and dissected them In September 2020, Fauci's agency reportedly authorized a $424,000 grant for animal experiments at the University of Georgia, where healthy beagles were drugged and then intentionally infested with parasite-carrying flies In September 2020, Fauci's agency reportedly authorized a $424,000 grant for animal experiments at the University of Georgia, where healthy beagles were drugged and then intentionally infested with parasite-carrying flies. Records show the dogs were 'vocalizing in pain' during the experiments, before being killed. The group of legislators has asked Fauci and his researchers to answer the following by November 19: How many drug tests involving dogs have been funded by NIAID since January 2018? How much taxpayer money has been spent on this testing? Since the Food and Drug Administration has clearly stated that it does not require dog testing for new drugs, why has NIAID continued to commission testing on dogs? What has NIAID done to explore the use of non-canine and non-animal alternatives to meet FDA data requirements? Has NIAID ever made any dogs available for adoption after the conclusion of an experiment or testing? If so, how many? if so, why not? Why has NIAID contracted for cordectomies when they appear to be scientifically and medically unnecessary? What is the average cost for each cordectomy performed? A group of 24 bi-partisan legislators are demanding answered and have called the experiments 'cruel' and a 'reprehensible misuse of taxpayer funds' 'De-barking beagles and poisoning puppies in experiments with our tax dollars is a national disgrace that's uniting Republicans and Democrats, and we applaud Rep. Nancy Mace and her colleagues on both sides of the aisle for holding the NIH accountable for this government waste and animal abuse,' Justin Goodman, Vice President of Advocacy and Public Policy at taxpayer watchdog group White Coat Waste Project, said in a statement provided to DailyMail.com. Neither Fauci nor the NIAID immediately responded to our request for comment. The animal testing allegations come after Fauci was accused of lying to Congress by claiming the US did not fund gain-of-function research at the Wuhan lab blamed for creating COVID. The National Institutes of Health admitted on Wednesday to funding gain of function research on bat coronaviruses in it's Wuhan laboratory despite Dr. Fauci's denials to congress that no such research took place. The admission came in a letter addressed Kentucky congressman James Comer, in which NIH's principal deputy director Lawrence A. Tabak refers to a 'limited experiment' conducted to test if 'spike proteins from naturally occurring bat coronaviruses circulating in China were capable of binding to the human ACE2 receptor in a mouse model,' at the Wuhan lab. According to Tabak, the mice infected with the modified bat virus 'became sicker' than those infected with the unmodified bat virus. The lawmakers expect Fauci (pictured) to answer their questions by November 19 While never using the term, Tabak essentially confirms that gain of function research. It looks at both transmitting disease between animals and humans and is a way for scientists to alter organisms and diseases. They can then study how these diseases could become deadlier or more transmissible, took place at the Chinese lab despite consistent denials from Dr. Fauci. The letter shifts the blame to U.S non profit EcoHealth Alliance, which used NIH money to fund research at the Wuhan Institute of Virology, for not being transparent about the kind of research they were doing. 'EcoHealth failed to report this finding right away, as was required by the terms of the grant,' Tabak wrote in his letter. 'EcoHealth is being notified that they have five days from today to submit to NIH any and all unpublished data from the experiments and work conducted under this award.' Fauci has testified on several occasions before Congress that American taxpayers never financed what is called 'gain of function' research in China - which would make a virus more contagious or deadly. In May, Fauci testified that the NIH 'has not ever and does not now fund gain of function research in the Wuhan Institute of Virology.' However, in September, The Intercept revealed it had received 900 pages of documents detailing the work of EcoHealth Alliance's research in Wuhan, China. The files showed that in 2014, the National Health Institute approved a five-year, yearly grant of $666,000 a year for five years ($3.3million) for EcoHealth Alliance, a US research organization, into bat coronavirus. NIH's principal deputy director Lawrence A. Tabak admitted to funding gain-of-function research on bat coronaviruses in it's Wuhan laboratory The Wuhan Institute of Virology has been fingered as the potential source of COVID-19. It received $599,000 in US government money from the EcoHealth Alliance for its study on coronaviruses in bats EcoHealth Alliance, in its proposal to the NIH, acknowledged the risks involved were 'the highest risk of exposure to SARS or other CoVs' among staff, who could then carry it out of the lab. The NIH gave them the money anyway - something Fauci was previously forced to admit when testifying before Congress in May this year. EcoHealth Alliance then gave $599,000 of the money to the Wuhan Institute of Virology. The approval notice for the grant is 528 pages long. It describes how EcoAlliance would receive yearly payments, totaling $3.3million over five years. The funding was renewed in 2019 but was abruptly cut short in April 2020, once COVID-19 had spread throughout the world. Two men have been charged with the murder of a young father after he was stabbed to death following an argument at a Royal British Legion social club. Max Maguire, a 23 year old fisherman, died from knife wounds at the scene in Lymington, Hampshire, while another 23 year old man was rushed to hospital where he is still being treated for 'serious injuries'. Also stabbed during the incident on Friday night was 23 year old Georgina Wort from Southampton, who received 'serious injuries to her chest'. On Monday, October 25, Garon Jewell,18, and Draven Jewell, 20, from Lymington, were charged with murder, one count of attempted murder and one count of grievous bodily harm with intent. They have both been remanded in custody to appear at Southampton Magistates' Court on Tuesday October 26. Mr Maguire's devastated family have paid tribute to the 'amazing' father of one. Max Maguire, 23, has been identified as the victim of a fatal stabbing in Lymington on Friday It read: 'Lovely Max had lots of friends and was a very popular lad. 'Anyone Max ever met fell in love with him instantly. He would have you in tears of laughter and with a heart of gold, he would help anyone in need. 'Max was an amazing father to his beautiful daughter Delilah Daisy. Her father has been robbed from her. 'He was an amazing son, brother, uncle and nephew, grandson and cousin. 'Max also loved his job as a fisherman and worked hard. He adored his dog too. 'He will be sorely missed by his loving family: mum, dad, brothers and sisters, uncles and aunties, nan and grandad and his many cousins. 'Life will never be the same again for anyone who knew Max.' Detective Inspector Rod Kenny, who is leading the investigation said: 'This is a tragic incident and our thoughts remain with Max's family and friends as well as the other people that were injured. 'The charges come after three days of intensive enquiries by officers and we will continue to work with the Crown Prosecution Service in relation to this case.' New Forest Inspector Brian Goodall added: 'Friday's tragic events will have caused concern in the community, so we have stepped up patrols in the area which I hope has provided some reassurance. 'If you have any concerns, please don't hesitate to speak to any of our officers.' A 14 year old boy from Lymington who was arrested on suspicion of murder has been bailed while enquiries continue. A 29-year-old man from Lymington arrested on suspicion of murder has been released without charge, with no further action to be taken against him. Pictured: Flowers at the scene outside the Royal British Legion on High Street in Lymington, Hampshire, where two men and a woman were found with stab wounds on Friday evening Garon Jewell, 18, and Draven Jewell, 20, from Lymington, have been charged with murder of Max Maguire. Pictured: Forensic officers at the scene of the stabbing on Lymington High Street on Friday morning In a post on Facebook on Saturday Ms Wort said: 'Unfortunately life is so so cruel. One of my lifelong best friends won't be coming home to his family, while another is still having care in hospital. 'I was very lucky my injuries weren't worse. I'm home and I'm so so grateful I can be here. Justice will be served. I'll make sure of it.' She also posted: 'Last night was my worst nightmare. Please give us all time to come to terms with what happened.' Residents of Lymington and traders spoke of their shock at the stabbing in what is usually a sleepy yachting town. A 23-year-old woman received knife wounds to her chest which are not life-threatening Mark Edwards, who has been running Edwards Clothing on Lymington High Street for 33 years, said he was concerned how 'fashionable' it has become to carry a knife. The 60 year old, from nearby Barton-on-Sea said: 'There has never been anything like this before here. 'I worry about what society has become. 'In the old days if you had a problem with somebody you might get a little punch up but you wouldn't stab them. 'It seems it's almost become fashionable to carry a knife and stab somebody..' Ali Gul, 41, who owns Cell Zone on Lymington High Street, said: 'You don't expect it in a small town like this, maybe in a big city but not here. It's strange. 'It's a nice town to visit and you don't expect stuff like this.' Advertisement Thousands of New Yorkers were seen marching across the Brooklyn Bridge on Monday in protest of the vaccine mandate for city workers that is set to go into effect on November 1. Mayor Bill De Blasio, 60, had issued the order for the mandate last week for the city's 160,000 unvaccinated workers who must receive at least one dose by October 29 at 5pm. City workers who do not comply with the mandate will be put on unpaid leave from November 1, and also face losing their jobs. The anti-mandate protestors were captured bearing signs, banners and American flags with plans to finish on the Manhattan side of the bridge in front of City Hall. The Manhattan bound lanes on the Brooklyn Bridge had been closed between 12.30 and 3pm on Monday due to the protest, according to an NYPD report. The event comes the same day as the lawsuit that was filed against the mandate by The New York City Police Benevolent Association union. Thousands of city workers were seen marching across the Brooklyn Bridge Monday in protest of Mayor Bill De Blasio's vaccine mandate set for November 1 De Blasio had announced last week that city workers must receive at least one dose of the vaccine by October 29 or face termination Essential workers such as members of the NYPD and FDNY attended the protest Protestors were captured crossing the Brooklyn Bridge bearing signs, banners and American flags De Blasio had pushed for the mandate due to the significant lack in vaccination rates in certain city organizations such as the NYPD and FDNY. He even offered a $500 incentive for those who complied with his requests and received at least one dose of the vaccine. 'It's time now,' De Blasio said. 'If you don't want to get vaccinated, you'll be put on unpaid leave. 'Well, the vast majority of human beings go to work to get paid. And also, I think for a lot of our first responders, there's a calling. 'They believe in the work, they care about the work. Those two factors I think are going to cause the vast majority to get vaccinated.' Mayor Bill De Blasio had offered a $500 incentive for workers who complied with the mandate and got the vaccine De Blasio is seen receiving the booster shot as part of his effort to promote widespread vaccination De Blasio had pushed the mandate following the significant lack of vaccination rates in certain city organizations such as the NYPD and FDNY Despite the criticism, De Blasio continued to defend his mandate and offered a plan for operations to continue if the mandate had failed and staff shortages ensued. 'Every commissioner and their team has talked through different options. Obviously, use of overtime is an example,' de Blasio said on Monday. 'I talked to all of the relevant commissioners in the lead up, especially the most crucial operational agencies, and every one of them said they were confident this is the right thing to do.' A few of the protestors had offered comments on their stance of De Blasio's mandate. 'This is not following the science, this is like totalitarianism,' retired FDNY Lt. James Finnegan told CBS2's John Dias. 'He (De Blasio) doesnt remember that when it started a year and a half ago, we worked through it all. Ok? I got my family sick. 'Really what theyre doing is forcing their will on people at this point, and thats what Im against. 'I dont really have a problem with people taking the vaccine, if thats what they want to do.' Manhattan bound lanes on the Brooklyn Bridge were closed from 12.30 to 3pm A man is captured waving a giant wooden cross above a crowd of flag waving protestors Protestors are seen carrying an American flag through the streets of downtown Brooklyn Finnegan also added that he believes city workers, such as the firefighters, should not have to be vaccinated. The current vaccination status of uniformed essential workers have been recorded as 60 per cent of uniformed firefighters and EMS being vaccinated along with 71 percent of police officers, 51 per cent of correction officers and around 60 per cent of sanitation workers. Republican mayoral candidate Curtis Silwa, who is also against the mandate, was present at the protest. 'I think especially these draconian measures that all civil servants have to be vaccinated or they get fired, we already don't have enough cops, we don't have enough correction officers, we don't have enough health care workers, we don't have enough teachers,' Sliwa told Eyewitness News. 'So, who's getting hurt by all of us, obviously, students, citizens, people who need services. Stop this nonsense, and the mandate.' Mayoral candidate Curtis Silwa, who is also against the mandate, was present at the protest Essential workers, such as fire fighters and EMS members, are seen waving signs in protest of the mandate The current vaccination status of uniformed essential workers have been recorded as 60 per cent of uniformed firefighters and EMS being vaccinated along with 71 percent of police officers, 51 per cent of correction officers and around 60 per cent of sanitation workers PBA President Patrick Lynch had filed a lawsuit against the mandate in Staten Island State Supreme Court which requested a temporary restraining order from the mandate while the case was ongoing. 'From the beginning of the de Blasio administrations haphazard vaccine rollout, we have fought to make the vaccine available to every member who chooses it, while also protecting their right to make that personal medical decision in consultation with their own doctor,' Lynch said in a statement. 'Now that the city has moved to unilaterally impose a mandate, we will proceed with legal action to protect our members rights.' A lone woman counter protests in the midst of anti-mandate activists Protestors interact with the pro-mandate woman who held up a sign reading 'Man up! Vax up!' The protest had inspired a mix of reactions as both pro and anti-mandaters shared their opinions online. 'The protestors blocking the #brooklynbridge are lucky they aren't in Florida, because someone could legally plow through them, one user said. 'Lower Manhattan right now is full of large white men in American flag shirts drinking midday, refusing to wear masks or wait their turn in lines,' another said. 'Seeing this many people on the Brooklyn Bridge fight #VaccineMandates in liberal NYC makes me shed a proud tear,' one said in agreement with the protest. The protest stirred a mixed Twitter reaction as both pro and anti-mandaters commented on the event Other city workers who have faced mandates include NYC school teachers, which was previously enforced on October 4. The mandate has seen more than 97 per cent of city teachers vaccinated, according to the United Federation of Teachers President Michael Mulgrew. As of Monday, 20,683,007 vaccines have been administered in NYC with a 64.3 per cent vaccination rate for the city's population. In addition, 70.9 per cent of NYC residents have received at least one dose of the vaccine. In the US, more than 413 million doses have been administered with 57.4 per cent of the population being fully vaccinated. Alex Murdaugh's former law firm has reached a secret settlement with the family of the housekeeper who mysteriously died at his hunting lodge, after it was revealed that the disgraced lawyer used the firm's stationery and other resources to siphon $4.3 million from the dead woman's estate. 'Over the weekend, the Satterfields and the law firm reconciled their differences,' said Columbia attorney Eric Bland, who represents the family of Gloria Satterfield, the housekeeper who died mysteriously in 2018 after a 'fall' at the Murdaugh family's home in South Carolina. Murdaugh, who resigned from the firm of Peters, Murdaugh, Parker, Eltzroth and Detrick about two months ago after allegedly stealing from them, used the firm's stationary and resources in a plan to steal $4.3 million that was owed to Satterfield's sons as a settlement in her death, Band told The State. He worked at the law firm at the time, but has since been dismissed over millions in missing cash. There is no suggestion anyone else at the firm was privy to his alleged deception. Bland declined to reveal how much money PMPED would be paying Satterfield's sons, Michael 'Tony' Satterfield and Brian Harriott. The former law firm of disgraced lawyer Alex Murdaugh (right) has reached a secret settlement with the family of housekeeper Gloria Satterfield (left), who died of a 'fall' in his home in 2018 Murdaugh used the firm's stationary in a plot to siphon $4.3 million from Satterfield's estate that was supposed to go to her two sons Murdaugh planned the scheme with his two friends, attorney Cory Fleming and banker Chad Westendorf, it is claimed. The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division, which is also investigating Satterfield's death, has charged Murdaugh with two felony counts of obtaining property by false pretenses in the Satterfield case. According to prosecutors who reviewed his bank records, Murdaugh had already funneled $3.3 million of the settlement into a fake bank account named after an Atlanta-based financial firm calledForge. He allegedly used the funds in the months after to pay off a $100,000 credit card bill, write his father a $300,000 check and write two checks totaling $753,000 to himself. The remainder of the settlement was taken up by fees, with Satterfield's sons unaware that any agreements had been reached, or that it had gone into Murdaugh's accounts. 'He absolutely used his position, his prestige, his reputation as a lawyer to steal from this family,' Prosecutor Creighton Waters, of the South Carolina Attorney General's office, said at Murdaugh's bond hearing in Columbia on Oct. 19. Murdaugh's defense lawyer, South Carolina Senator Dick Harpootlian, pointed fingers at attorney Fleming and banker Westendorf, both of whom have not had any criminal charges brought against them. 'Mr. Murdaugh was not a lawyer in the Satterfield matter. He was the defendant. He had no authority over any money whatsoever. [Fleming and Westendorf] were responsible for making sure Mr. Murdaugh could not if he in fact did purloin that money,' Harpootlian said. Fleming and Westendorf were both removed from the Satterfield lawsuit after agreeing to repay all the money they owed. Fleming and his law firm, Moss, Kuhn & Fleming, did not reveal a specific amount, but said in an October 6 statement that they would repay all legal fees and funds he received from the Satterfield settlement. All of the wrongful death claims were handled by lawyers and bankers who are friends with Murdaugh, and who were recommended to the sons by Murdaugh. Above left, Cory Fleming, the attorney who brokered the deal. He has had his license suspended. Banker Chad Westendorf, right, served as the personal representative Satterfield, 57, died after tripping over the Murdaugh family's dog at the family's hunting lodge (pictured) in South Carolina in February 2018. To this day, Satterfield's sons say they still don't know how the fall caused her such horrific injuries that she died The firm's malpractice insurance carrier is paying the full limits of its policy. Fleming and his law firm also paid the family an additional $113,000 in funds that were left over in his escrow account and never distributed from the $4.3 million, according to Bland. An order in the case from May 13, 2019, said that $1.4 million from the Satterfield estate was to be distributed as attorneys' fees, but it is not known if all of that money went to, or was retained by, Fleming, according to The State. Westendorf, of Palmetto State Bank in Hampton, repaid the $30,000 that he received as personal representative for the Satterfield's in the case, which was originally an over-payment. Bland said his firm believes this was Westendorf's first time serving as a personal representative, adding that he only attended two hearings, did not ensure the money was going to its intended destination and did not speak with the sons he was supposed to represent. The Satterfield sons are still planning to see if Bank of America followed all regulations when Murdaugh opened the fake account there, Bland told The State. They are also pursuing Palmetto State Bank as a possible defendant, though the company said in recent court filings that Westendorf acted on his own accord. If the court involves the bank, it is asking for damages from Fleming and Murdaugh. 'Chad Westendorf was an exemplary person of integrity who has helped and served others and .... at that time there was no reason to suspect or know of Murdaugh's scheme to defraud and steal, which only came to light in September 2021,' the filing states. Bland said that all the players involved should have stopped the scheme before it got out of hand and called it the 'perfect storm of crooks in Alex Murdaugh.' Cory Fleming, who was 'willfully blind ... or he was complicit with Alex Murdaugh those are his only options ... [PMPED] that said they represented Gloria Satterfield but did not keep up with the matter. And Chad Westendorf and [Palmetto State Bank]. They were like mummies. They didn't do anything.' To this day, Satterfield's sons say they still don't know how the fall caused her such horrific injuries that she died. The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division is still investigating her death in light of a slew of other allegations against Murdaugh. In an interview last Tuesday, after Murdaugh was denied bond, the sons' attorney Ronnie Richter cast doubt on the claim that Gloria died by falling down the stairs in the family's home. Paul and Maggie Murdaugh (together left) were shot dead on June 7 Murdaugh is in jail for stealing more than $3 million in payouts from insurance companies that were intended for them. He is pictured above at his bond hearing at the Hampton County Jail in September, where he faced charges of insurance fraud and filing a false police report Murdaugh resigned about two months ago at the request of his firm after millions of dollars were found to have gone missing from its coffers 'Death was first classified a natural death... there is nothing natural about a 57-year old-woman falling down a flight of steps and dying from a head trauma,' he told CBS in South Carolina. After Gloria's death, Murdaugh promised to 'take care of' the boys financially. The two sons, in a lawsuit filed last month, tell how they trusted Murdaugh as a respected South Carolina attorney whose family had been in law offices across the state for more than 100 years. 'Prior to her untimely death on February 26, 2018, Gloria had worked for Alex Murdaugh and his family as a housekeeper and nanny for over two decades. 'Gloria was told she was part of the Murdaugh family, and she believed it to be true. The Murdaughs are prominent and wealthy family based in Hampton County that for generations controlled the prosecutor's office in Hampton County and were the prominent legal family in the area,' the sons' lawyer said in their suit. This was before the still-unsolved murders of Murdaugh's wife Maggie and son Paul, before Murdaugh admitted to having an 'opioid addiction', before he stole money from his own law firm and unsuccessfully tried to have himself killed in a suicide-by-hitman plot to benefit his remaining son Buster. Murdaugh's son Paul was also entangled in controversy surrounding multiple deaths before he was killed with his mother in June. In 2015, Stephen Smith was found dead on the side of the road. Police officially rule his death a hit-and-run but he had suffered blunt force trauma to the head. His mother has since shared her belief that she thinks he was killed in a hate-crime because he was gay and case notes obtained by DailyMail.com revealed Paul's older brother Buster was named multiple times in the investigation. Another death was Mallory Beach, who was one of six teenagers on board Alex Murdaugh's boat in 2019 when a 'highly drunk' Paul Murdaugh crashed the boat, resulting in her death. Paul, 22, was ultimately charged as the driver of the boat and was awaiting trial on three felony counts relating to the crash when he was killed with his mother. 'Soon after' Sttaerfield's funeral, Murdaugh introduced the sons to attorney Cory Fleming and encouraged them to hire him. 'Tony and Brian trusted Alex Murdaugh and because of their trust in him, Tony and Brian retained Fleming and MKF to represent them,' the lawsuit states. Neither son was aware that Fleming was Murdaugh's college roommate and 'best friend'. Fleming then appointed a banker, Chad Westendorf, to act as a representative on behalf of the sons. They didn't know him and were also unaware that they could have acted as their own representatives, they said. President Joe Biden on Monday pushed to get a deal done on his multi-trillion social spending plan before he heads for Europe later this week by repeating his debunked claim it costs nothing and painting the child tax credit as a 'tax cut' for the middle class. 'We need to get this done,' Biden said in remarks at the NJ Transit Meadowlands Maintenance Complex in Kearny, New Jersey. Biden is pushing to get a deal between moderates and liberals on legislation that provides trillion in funding for childcare, education, heathcare and fighting climate change, The president's focus on Monday was on the childcare aspect of his legislation and included a stop at a New Jersey elementary school that has a pre-K program for four and five-year olds. Biden's plan includes two years of free pre-K education. 'Under my plan, no middle class family will spend more than 7% of their income on childcare,' he said. Then Biden did as he always does when he wants to emphasize a point - he leaned forward to whisper into the microphone that the childcare provision, which includes an expansion of the child tax credit, is a 'tax cut.' 'I view it as a tax cut for middle class families,' he whispered. 'A tax cut.' Then his voice rose as he argued: 'This is a tax cut that changes the lives of the American people.' President Joe Biden pushed for his multi-trillion social spending plan by repeating his debunked claim it costs nothing Biden originally wanted a four-year extension of the child tax credit but had to winnow it down to one year because of objections from moderates about the overall cost of his plan. It is the final price tag that is causing the hold up in negotiations along with how to pay for his wish-list of items. The president originally pushed a $3.5 trillion package but moderate Senators Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema want the number essentially cut in half to $1.5 trillion. In the evenly divided 50-50 Senate, Biden needs every Democratic vote, giving them essentiall veto power. The president had breakfast Sunday at his Wilmington, Del., home with Manchin and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer as he works to finalize a deal. There were reports he convinced Manchin to move closer to $2 trillion but the West Virginia senator shot that down. 'I'm still at $1.5 guys,' Manchin told reporters in the Capitol on Monday. Biden was pushing his infrastructure bill along with his budget package of social spending plans as the clock is ticking toward his self-imposed deadline of completing the deals before he leaves Thursday for the G20 in Rome. In pushing his infrastructure plan, Biden repeated for the sixth time a story about an encounter with an Amtrak conductor - even though the man in question, Angelo Negri, was already dead at the time the chat was supposed to have taken place. The tale involves Biden's long relationship with Amtrak - as a senator from Delaware he commuted daily via train to Washington D.C. when the Senate was in session. He claimed their chat about him traveling two million miles by rail had happened in the seventh year of his vice presidency - 2015 - even though Negri retired from Amtrak in 1993, and died in 2014. Additionally in his sales pitch, Biden repeated his debunked claim his plan costs zero. 'We pay for it all. It doesn't increase the deficit one single set,' he said. The president and his administration have repeatedly argued his spending deal - which increase funding for numerous fuderal programs involving education, healthcare and climate - will have no cost. But some experts counter a price must be paid even if it's indirectly through a rise in goods and services instead of a hike in individual taxes. How Biden's agenda is paid for has become a sticking point in the negotiations between moderates and liberals. Biden originally wanted a corporate tax, which Sinema is opposed to having. Manchin, however, is reported to agree with Biden's proposal to raise taxes on around 700 billionaires and impose a 15 per cent minimum corporate tax rate to pay for the plan. The new tax would be on billionaires' unrealized capital gains, which includes assets like stocks, bonds, real estate and art, as well as other assets that have not been sold. It would apply to those who made more than $100 million per year for three years in a row or if an individual has at least $1 billion in annual income. Sinema is reported to back both pay-for options as well. Moderate Senator Joe Manchin told reporters a 'framework' could be ready this week Biden's trip to New Jersey focused on the childcare aspect of his plan and included a stop at a pre-K program at an elementary school Biden claims his child tax credit is a 'tax cut' for the middle class Meanwhile, Schumer said Monday there are 'three or four outstanding issues, and we first have to get some kind of agreement on those and then move forward from there.' Those issues include paid family leave, Medicare expansion, prescription drug pricing and combatting climate change. Manchin said Monday that he expects a 'conceptual framework' to be finished on the legislation this week. 'I think a framework should be [finalized], it really should be,' he said. Biden also expressed hope the deal could be done before his European trip when he meets with his fellow leaders of the most powerful 20 leaders in the world. When asked if it would be done by Wednesday, the president said: 'With the grace of God and the good will of neighbor.' Manchin, meanwhile, said his party still has a lot of 'concerns' to work out and noted one of them was an expansion of Medicaid to include dental work, hearing aids and eye glasses - a provision Senator Bernie Sanders has been pushing. 'My big concern right now is the 2026 deadline [for] Medicare insolvency and if no one's concerned about that, I've got people that's a lifeline. Medicare and Social Security is a lifeline for people back in West Virginia, most people around the country,' Manchin told reporters. 'You've got to stabilize that first before you look at basically expansion. So if we're not being fiscally responsible, that's a concern,' he added. He essentially shot down Sanders' demand, made via tweet on Sunday, that th final verison of the bill to expand Medicare to cover dental, hearing and vision. Even Biden has conceded most of that will have to go, pointing out how expensive the dental provision was but expressing hope the hearing and vision could be included. Democratic leaders are trying to put a positive spin on the legislation as it races toward the finish line, even as it will hit it at a lower price tag than leadership wanted. Speaker Nancy Pelosi said that even at 'half' the original $3.5 trillion proposed, Biden's signature domestic initiative would be larger than any other legislative package with big investments in health care, child care and strategies to tackle climate change. 'It is less than what was projected to begin with, but it's still bigger than anything we have ever done in terms of addressing the needs of America's working families,' Pelosi told CNN's State of the Union on Sunday. THE BILLIONAIRES' TAX: HOW DEMS PLAN TO EXTRACT $200BN FROM 700 WEALTHIEST Democrats have won the approval of key centrist Sen. Joe Manchin for a new tax on billionaires' unrealized capital gains, while Sen. Kyrsten Sinema has not yet ruled the proposal out. The proposal would likely affect around 700 of the richest US taxpayers, the wealthiest on the wealthiest 0.0002 percent, and revenues would be used to pay for Democrats' social and climate spending bill, now valued at around $2 trillion at the highest. The tax is expected to affect people with $1 billion in assets or those who have made more than $100 million each year for at least the past three years, according to the Wall Street Journal. Democrats hope the proposal would generate around $200 billion over the next decade. Sen. Ron Wyden, the head of the Senate Finance Committee, has been working on a version of the proposal for almost two years. The proposal would focus on unrealized capital gains, or asset appreciation, and is expected to include a one-time tax on gains to date. Capital gains are currently only counted as income for tax purposes when gains are 'realized,' meaning the seller earns profit on an asset sale. Unrealized capital gains are the main source of income for some very wealthy people, who can defer paying income tax on such gains for years, allowing their wealth to grow rapidly. The wealthy often borrow against these gains to spend huge sums of money at little relative cost. The proposal would shut down the deferral of income tax on unrealized capital gains. It would force the wealthy to pay taxes each year on gains from not only stocks and bonds, but also illiquid assets like real estate and art, regardless of whether they sell them. Owners could claim deductions for annual losses in the value of their assets. Republicans claim the new proposal would further bloat bureaucracies and be difficult to implement. And tax experts warn that creating such a narrowly targeted tax could make it easy to avoid. Advertisement Pelosi, meanwhile, said that about 90 per cent of the deal is wrapped up and said she expects an agreement by week's end, paving the way for a House vote on a separate $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill before next Sunday, October 31, when a series of transportation programs will lapse. The Senate approved the package of road, broadband and other public works projects over the summer, but the measure stalled in the House during deliberations on the broader Biden bill. Progressive insisted on holding the bipartisan infrastructure deal hostage in exchange for the passage of the massive social spending and welfare package, which Republicans and centrist Democrats opposed from the get go. Manchin, whose state has a major coal industry, has opposed Biden's initial climate change proposals, which involved a plan to penalize utilities that do not switch quickly to clean energy. Democrats are now also compiling other climate change strategies to meet Biden's goal of reducing U.S. greenhouse gas emissions by at least 50 per cent by 2030. Biden wanted the victory ahead of his Europe trip, which will also include a stop in Scotland for the UN climate summit known was COP26. Senator Angus King, a Maine independent who caucuses with Democrats, said the expected cuts to the clean energy provisions in the spending bill were especially disappointing. 'If we're going to get the rest of the world to take serious steps to remedy this problem, we've got to do it ourselves,' King said Sunday on NBC's Meet the Press. Pelosi insisted that Democrats had pieced together other policies in the spending bill that could reduce emissions. 'We will have something that will meet the president's goals,' she said. Another item driving the agenda: Democrats need a legislative win ahead of the Virginia governor's election, where their candidate Terry McAuliffee is struggling. The Nov. 2 gubernatorial election in Virginia is being seen a referendum on Biden. The result will be used to forecast Democrats' chances of retraining control over Congress in next year's midterm election. Micah Beals, 37, aka Micah Femiah, was arrested on Monday for allegedly throwing silver paint at a George Floyd statue at a Manhattan park on October 3 The white skateboarder accused of hurling silver paint over a George Floyd statue at a Manhattan park is being questioned for another crime after he was ordered released without bail. Micah Beals, of Maspeth in Queens, was arraigned in Manhattan Criminal Court early Tuesday after being charged with second-degree criminal mischief for allegedly defacing the statue at Union Square Park at around 10am on October 3. As he was being released, detectives took him back into custody in connection to another case involving possession of an ammo clip, The Daily News reported. Details surrounding the ammo clip investigation were not immediately available. The 37-year-old failed actor has prior convictions in Michigan, California and Washington state. He also has a case pending against him in Washington D.C. for his alleged involvement in the January 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. Beals was arraigned in Manhattan Criminal Court on Tuesday after he was arrested for allegedly defacing the George Floyd statue in Union Square on Oct. 3. He had been charged with second-degree criminal mischief He was ordered released without bail but was immediately taken back into custody in connection to another crime Details surrounding that crime remain unknown at this time, however police sources say it involved an ammo clip in his possession Beals, who has scored bit-parts in Parks and Recreation as well as CSI, was arrested around 4.30am Monday after investigators allegedly determined he was the skateboarder caught on video defacing the the Floyd statue. Footage released after the incident showed a man, wearing a dark green jacket, a neon green T-shirt, black shorts, black and white sneakers and a black beanie walking along the park carrying his skateboard in one hand. He later ducks behind a nearby statue of the late Rep. John Lewis and is seen grabbing something from his green backpack before he gets on his skateboard and hurls silver paint at the George Floyd bust before riding off, heading north on the west side of the park at around 10.15am. Two people - apparently a woman and a child - were standing nearby when the vandalism occurred. The incident was originally being investigated as a hate crime, but Beals has not been charged for a hate crime. Cops have yet to address a possible motive for the vandalism incident. DailyMail.com has reached out to Beals for comment. Surveillance footage released by the New York Police Department shows a man, wearing a dark green jacket, a neon green T-shirt, black shorts, black and white sneakers and a black beanie walking along Union Square Park carrying his skateboard He later ducks behind a statue of the late Rep. John Lewis and is seen grabbing something from his backpack The suspect then gets on his skateboard and sprays silver paint at the George Floyd memorial Two people - apparently a woman and a child - were trying to take a picture of the statue at the time of the vandalism The suspect was later seen trying to enter the subway Beals, also known by his stage name, Micah Femiah, has previously been arrested in Washington D.C. on January 6, 2021 on a curfew violation after the insurrection at the United States Capitol. The case against him is still pending, according to Heavy.com, but is listed as 'post and forfeit.' Under D.C. law, if someone is arrested for 'certain traffic and a number of lower level offenses,' they can 'post and forfeit the collateral rather than to appear in court, thus waiving his or her right to a trial.' Additionally, Beals has prior arrests dating back to 2002 in multiple states, including his home state of Michigan, as well as California and Washington state. He was charged with driving with an expired registration place in Kent County, Michigan in 2002, and 10 years later, he was charged in the same county with malicious destruction of property. By 2014, he was charged with driving without a valid license and giving false information to a police officer. He was also arrested in 2013 on a misdemeanor charge in Washington and pleaded guilty, though the details of the case - including the crime he was accused of, were not immediately available. And Beals has been arrested twice on citations in Orange County and Los Angeles County, California, according to Heavy, although the details are again scarce. Beals is an aspiring actor known by his stage name, Micah Femia. A grab from his showreel is pictured He appeared in an episode of Parks and Recreation as a club-goer, pictured But Beals has tried to make a name for himself in another way - as an actor. According to his IMDB page, 'Micah Femia was born as Micah Joel Beals. He is an actor and composer known for Pop Star (2013), Parks and Recreation (2009) and CSI: NY (2004).' He has appeared as Len, a clubgoer, in an episode of the third season of Parks and Recreation, Abraham in Pop Star, and 'Lead Teen Boy' in CSI: NY. Beals has also made appearances as an improv student in the Mike Bibiglia film Don't Think Twice and was a swing drummer on That's So Raven. He has also acted in theater performances in New York City, where he currently lives, Chicago and Michigan, and has appeared in multiple television commercials - including some for Volkswagen, McDonalds, Walmart, Direct TV as well as public service announcements against smoking and drugs. Following the vandalism of the George Floyd statue earlier this month, a group of volunteers went to a Blick art materials store to gather materials repair the statue. One of the volunteers was a painter, the Washington Post reports, who knew which materials would work best to restore the statue. 'They went to the hardware [store] and bought supplies out of their pockets,' Confront Art co-founder Andrew Cohen, who helped design the bust, told CNN. 'This is inspiring teamwork and support from the community.' The memorial in honor of the late George Floyd was vandalized by a skateboarder in Manhattan, who authorities said doused the statue in silver paint over the weekend The George Floyd bust opened to the public on just two days before the incident, after first being unveiled on Juneteenth in East Flatbush, Brooklyn. Less than a week later, it was defaced with black paint and the message 'Patriot Front' - a white nationalist hate group. Police could not say if Beals was connected to the prior vandalism incident. 'It's incredibly disappointing how the statues were defaced in such a short amount of time,' Floyd's brother, Terrence, said in a joint statement with the nonprofit We are Floyd Foundation on Sunday, 'and it just goes to show you how far we still have to go to reach our goal of unity.' Chris Carnabuci, the artist who made the sculpture, along with ones of the late Rep. John Lewis and Breonna Taylor, said in a statement on Sunday that while the vandalism was not a complete surprise 'It is upsetting to us all.' He said he created the #SeeInjustice exhibit at Union Square Park to inspire civil discourse and provide a space where different opinions could be heard. It will be on display until October 30. 'Vandalism of any sort is not an action that is productive or meaningful,' Carnabuci, 57, said. 'Actions like this remind us that we have a long way to go, and we will never stop fighting.' Carnabuci previously told the New York Times he decided to create the statues because he felt 'hopeless' while watching the protests against police brutality unfold in the wake of George Floyd's murder at the hands of Derek Chauvin in Minneapolis in May 2020, and his wife encouraged him to express his sorrow with art. 'We actually started thinking about making an exhibition and bringing the pieces around to sort of keep the awareness up,' he said, 'and even raise some money for foundations that are geared toward those in need.' He worked with Andrew Cohen and Lindsay Eshelman, founders of Confront Art, an organization that aims to connect artists with social justice causes to create public art. They designed the statues so that if someone tried to deface them, they would be easy to restore. Police said Lewis' and Breonna Taylor's statues were left unharmed in the vandalism. Floyd died on May 25, 2020, after Minneapolis Police officer, Derek Chauvin knelt on his neck for more than nine minutes as Floyd, 46, lay face-down crying: 'I can't breathe' Floyd died on May 25, 2020, after Minneapolis Police officer, Derek Chauvin knelt on his neck for more than nine minutes as Floyd, 46, lay face-down crying: 'I can't breathe.' Video of the incident went viral, and soon protests against police brutality spread throughout the United States, lasting for months, turning violent at times. Chauvin was fired by the Minneapolis Police Department in the aftermath and was soon arrested. He was found guilty of second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. On June 25, 2021, Chauvin received a sentence of 22 and a half years in prison, with the possibility of supervised relief, contingent on good behavior after serving two-thirds of his sentence or 15 years for second-degree murder. Bill Shorten has weighed in on McDonald's controversial move to quietly axe its all-day breakfast menu, saying it will be 'bad news' for stoners. The fast food chain will no longer serve breakfast menu items after midday and favourites such as bacon and egg McMuffins will be unavailable after 10.30am on online delivery platforms. While hash browns will be on offer to customers at any time, the decision has outraged many Australians. Speaking on the Today Show on Tuesday morning, the former Opposition leader said there were many groups who wouldn't be thrilled with the menu change. Bill Shorten has weighed in on McDonald's move to quietly axe their all-day breakfast menu, saying it will be 'bad news' for stoners The breakfast menu will be available until midday in restaurants and 10.30am via McDelivery 'Well, listen, this is bad news for shift workers, for stoners, for uni students, I get that,' Mr Shorten said as host Sylvia Jeffreys and fellow guest Scott Emerson burst into laughter. Mr Emerson, who hosts 4BC Radio's Drive program, had earlier joked all-day breakfast was a 'sign of an advanced civilisation'. 'Something has gone terribly wrong here. I know they're trying to placate me by saying the hash brown is available all day,' he said. 'But, sorry, I mean, the pandemic, Covid, whatever it is, I don't care, something has gone terribly wrong here when Maccas dumps the all-day breakfast.' Mr Shorten pointed out McDonald's had only been offering its all-day breakfast menu since 2015. 'So I actually think to go all climate change, this is a sign of nature healing,' he said. 'We are moving away from Covid. No more track suits after midday and you will have to get down there to get your breakfast.' In a statement to Daily Mail Australia, a McDonald's spokeswoman said: 'Our breakfast menu will be available until midday in restaurants and 10.30am via McDelivery, to better meet the needs of customers during other peak times. The fast food chain will no longer serve breakfast menu items after midday. But a McDonald's spokeswoman confirmed fan favourite hash browns will still be available to order all day 'By adjusting our all-day breakfast schedule we hope to reduce the amount of time our customers may need to wait for other items during the afternoon and evening rush. 'While we understand a number of customers will be disappointed, our breakfast menu will continue to be available in restaurant until midday every day and via McDelivery until 10.30am.' The restaurant prides itself on not putting 'labels' on meal times, with its website currently stating: 'We don't believe in labels at Macca's, like dinner or breakfast. So, we got rid of them. You can have a Big Mac for breakfast or a Hash Brown for dinner.' The chain quietly ended its all-day breakfast menu on Wednesday, October 20. Many diners have taken particular issue with McDonald's over the controversial move, with one man writing on Facebook: 'When did you very quietly drop the all-day breakfast menu? Not everybody wants burgers when they eat. Many Aussies were left furious with the decision to scrap the all-day breakfast menu 'I would frequently have a bacon and egg meal as a lunch or dinner option. Losing a customer here. Just left the store without purchasing anything.' And he wasn't the only one furious with the chain's decision. 'Why have you stopped all day breakfast? Without any notice either! Not happy,' one woman wrote. Another said: 'Thanks for looking after shift workers by stopping all-day breakfast. Only available until 12pm now. So much for not putting "labels" on meal times.' While one man said: 'I just woke up from a big night out, hung over, hungry. Incapable of cooking my own food. My girlfriend drives me to Maccas... and to my disgust the all-day breakfast menu has been violated. 'This is the next worst thing since Covid-19. How does McDonald's expect me to go to bed at 4am and wake up early enough to obtain the glorious sausage McMuffin to revive my soul. I don't want a Big Mac for breakfast I want pancakes for dinner.' The U.S. halted $700 million of aid to Sudan on Monday in the wake of a military takeover and said it would consider 'all appropriate measures' to defend democracy in the country, but stopped short of calling it a coup. Thousands of protesters took to the streets of the capital Khartoum after Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok was seized by armed men in the early hours of the morning. Soldiers opened fire on protesters killing two people and wounding at least 80, according to the Sudan Doctor's Committee. Earlier, the head of the armed force, Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan, appeared on TV to say he was dissolving the government. State Department spokesman Ned Price said the U.S. had no early warning that a takeover was about to take place - despite President Biden's envoy to the region meeting with top military and civilian leaders at the weekend. 'In light of these developments, the United States is pausing assistance from the $700 million in emergency assistance appropriations of economic support funds for Sudan,' he said. State Department spokesman Ned Price said on Monday that the U.S. was halting $700 million in aid to Sudan after the country's military said it was dissolving a transitional government Sudanese men protest against a military coup that overthrew the transition to civilian rule, on October 25, 2021 in the al-Shajara district in southern Khartoum Sudan's top general declared a state of emergency and dissolved the government on Monday as armed men reportedly detained civilian leaders None of the money - for the country's transition to democracy - had been distributed, he added so the entire amount had been frozen. 'All measures to hold accountable, if appropriate, those responsible for what we've seen, and for anything that we may see that is an affront to the rights to the aspirations of the Sudanese people, we will consider all appropriate measures to respond to that,' he said. Price added that officials were monitoring the situation on the ground and coordinating with allies on the best path forward. Videos showed huge crowds of demonstrators outside the country's army headquarters. The country has been stumbling toward democracy since the overthrow of Omar al-Bashir - who himself took power in a coup in 1989 - two years ago. A transitional government, made up of military and civilian figures, was due to step aside in 2023 after elections. U.S. aid is restricted in the event of a coup. But Price said the U.S. government had not determined whether or not a coup had taken place in Sudan because the country was already under coup restriction. 'When these events transpire, we typically do undertake a coup determination,' he said. However, Sudan has been subject to the military coup restrictions since the 1989 coup by the Bashir regime, and it will continue to remain subject to that restriction, until the secretary determines that a democratically elected government has taken office.' He also said he no further information on the fate of Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok. He was due to take over from Burhan, as part of a shift from military to civilian leadership in the coming weeks. Soldiers have opened fire on protesters in Sudan with live bullets, the country's information ministry has said. Social media videos showed people with bloody headwounds Thousands of demonstrators have taken to the streets of the capital Khartoum today, denouncing a military coup that was launched in the early hours as armed men whisked the prime minister away to an 'unknown location' Sudan has been transitioning to democracy since a 2019 revolution ended decades of autocratic and military rule, with trade unions urging people on to the streets on Monday to 'safeguard' their freedoms A picture taken in the early hours of Monday purports to show the arrest of civilian ministers by unidentified gunmen, in what has since been established as a military coup Abdalla Hamdok, a former UN diplomat and current prime minister of Sudan who was overseeing its transition to democracy, was taken to an 'unknown location' from his house this morning Demonstrators demand the release of civilian leaders seized by Sudan's military in a coup launched on Monday morning Sudanese protesters hold placards reading 'no to overturning people's choices' and 'free revolutionaries' during a demonstration in the capital Khartoum on Monday Demonstrators have been burning tyres and stacking bricks in the road in an attempt to block the military from moving around after generals launched an early-morning coup Armed men arrived at Hamdok's home and urged him to sign a statement supporting the coup, the information ministry said. When he refused, he was taken to an 'unknown location' along with his wife. Key ministers within his government have also been arrested, with sources putting the total number of arrests around 300. In the hours after Hamdok went missing, the military seized control of the country's national TV and radio broadcaster, cut Internet services, and seized control of key bridges in the capital. Al-Burhan then went on TV to announce a state of emergency, saying he has dissolved the transitional government and dismissed the Cabinet. Sudan has been politically unstable since a 2019 revolution overthrew decades of autocratic rule by Omar al-Bashir, a former military general, and then a military council that stepped in to replace him. Since April 2019, the country has been led by a transitional council run by both military and civilian leaders tasked with rewriting the constitution and then holding elections, which were due for November 2022. Tensions between civilian and military leaders have been evident since the start of the transition, but have reached a head in recent months as deadlines for the handover of key powers loomed. Burhan claimed Monday's coup was 'to rectify the revolution's course.' It comes a month after the government said it had thwarted another coup attempt by soldiers loyal to al-Bashir which had targeted Hamdok, and more than a year after he survived an assassination plot. After the failed coup, Hamdok gave a speech calling it 'the worst and most dangerous crisis that not only threatens the [democratic] transition, but threatens our whole country.' Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the country's most-senior general and who had been due to hand over control of the government to civilian politicians in the coming weeks, announced on TV that he has now dissolved that government Sudanese protester draped with the national flag flashes the victory sign next to burning tyres during a demonstration in the capital Khartoum Protesters constructed barricades and burned tyres on the streets of Khartoum on Monday amid calls for a campaign of 'civil disobedience' to military rule The 'coup' comes weeks before Sudan's military leaders were due to hand over key roles in the government to civilians as part of the transition to democracy Protesters walk between palls of tyre smoke that have filled the streets of Sudan's capital Khartoum since the 'coup' began in the early hours Sudanese protesters chant pro-government slogans during a march in the capital Khartoum on Monday People burn tires and block a street during a protest in Khartoum after the military launched a coup in the early hours His arrest comes just two days after a Sudan faction calling for a transfer of power to civilian rule warned of a 'creeping coup' during a press conference that an unidentified mob attack tried to stop. Following news of Monday's coup, US special envoy for the Horn of Africa, Jeffrey Feltman said: 'The US is deeply alarmed at reports of a military take-over of the transitional government. 'This would contravene the Constitutional Declaration (which outlines the transition) and the democratic aspirations of the Sudanese people,' he said, according to a statement on Twitter. The European Union called for the release of the civilian leadership and insisted 'violence and bloodshed must be avoided'. 'The EU is very concerned about Sudan's military forces reportedly putting Prime Minister Hamdok under house arrest, as well as detaining other members of the civilian leadership, and we urge for their fast release,' said European Commission spokeswoman Nabila Massrali. The African Union and Arab League also expressed concern. The Sudanese Professionals Association, an umbrella group of trade unions which were key in leading the 2019 anti-Bashir protests, denounced what it called a 'military coup' and urged demonstrators 'to fiercely resist' it. Tensions within the transitional government have also been exacerbated by a split within the civilian faction of the government that has seen it split into two blocs. Sudanese protesters lift national flags next to a brick roadblock during a demonstration in the capital Khartoum Sudan has been politically unstable since a 2019 revolution that overthrew military leader Omar al-Bashir who had ruled the country for three decades (pictured, protesters on Monday) Sudanese protester chant near burning tires during a demonstration in the capital Khartoum Since April 2019, power in Sudan has rested with a joint military-civilian coalition that has been wracked with in-fighting and power struggles (pictured, protests on Monday) The protests are centered around the Sudanese capital of Khartoum (pictured) 'The crisis at hand is engineered -- and is in the shape of a creeping coup,' Yasser Arman, leader of the civilian FFC told a Saturday press conference in Khartoum. 'We renew our confidence in the government, Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, and reforming transitional institutions -- but without dictations or imposition,' he added. Last week tens of thousands of Sudanese marched in several cities to back the full transfer of power to civilians, and to counter a rival days-long sit-in outside the presidential palace in the capital Khartoum demanding a return to 'military rule'. On Saturday, Hamdok denied rumours he had agreed to a cabinet reshuffle, calling them 'not accurate'. The premier also 'emphasised that he does not monopolise the right to decide the fate of transitional institutions.' Also on Saturday, US Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa Jeffrey Feltman met jointly with Hamdok, the chairman of Sudan's ruling body General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, and paramilitary commander Mohamed Hamdan Daglo. 'Feltman emphasised US support for a civilian democratic transition in accordance with the expressed wishes of Sudan's people,' the US embassy in Khartoum said. Analysts have said the recent mass protests showed strong support for a civilian-led democracy, but warned street demonstrations may have little impact on the powerful factions pushing a return to military rule. The assistant director who handed Alec Baldwin the gun loaded with live ammunition that he used to accidentally kill cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was previously fired from the production of Freedom's Path in 2019 after another accident involving a gun. Dave Halls was on set when the weapon in that production fired unexpectedly, injuring a sound crew member who recoiled from the blast and had to seek treatment. Freedom's Path is still in production and is expected to be released next year. Rock Soul Studios, the company that produced the movie, fired him as a result. The company told CNN about the incident on Monday as others in the industry lined up to trash Halls, calling him unprofessional, 'barbaric' and negligent. Halls has not commented on Thursday's tragedy. David Halls is the Assistant Director of Rust, the Western movie Baldwin was acting in and producing when he accidentally killed Hutchins on Thursday and wounded director Joel Souza Halls was working on the set of Freedom's Path in 2019 when the gun 'unexpectedly discharged'. He was fired then replaced. The movie has not been released yet Rock Soul Studios said in a statement: 'Halls was removed from set immediately after the prop gun discharged. Production did not resume filming until Dave was off site. An incident report was taken and filed at that time. 'Upon wrapping production for the day, Dave Halls was officially terminated and given the specific reasons for his termination. 'Dave was very remorseful for the events, and understood the reasons he was being terminated. 'A new assistant director as well as a new armorer were hired for the duration of principal photography. Production of the film finished successfully.' Halls is the person named in police reports as giving Baldwin the gun loaded with real bullets or at least one live round instead of blanks. He had picked it off of a tray which had three guns on it. The other person in charge of the weapons was Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the film's 24-year-old armorer whose experience has been called into question in light of the tragedy. Halls passed Baldwin the revolver, declaring it a 'cold gun'. The gun then fired after a 'pop' and Hutchins was shot in the abdomen. She fell back into the arms of Serge Sventoy, and died later in the hospital. Former camera and prop crew who have worked with Halls on previous project told DailyMail.com that he had a 'flippant' attitude towards safety. Baldwin was handed the gun and was told by Halls that it was 'cold'. He was practicing a cross draw when it went off, fatally wounding Hutchins and injuring director Joel Souza One crew member who worked with Halls on the film Darlin' in 2019 said he treated junior staff abhorrently, yelling and belittling them when their supervisors weren't around. 'Another crew member who previously worked in the art department of one of Halls films told DailyMail.com that he is barbaric in his treatment of junior crewmembers, and would drink a gallon of vodka a day. 'He's really barbaric. Towards lower crew and workers, interns, pa's, mean and not well regarded. When producers are around, he doesnt stray too far but when they arent he's really nasty. 'Hed say "this looks like s**t, who picked this out". He did it to wardrobe, not necessarily the head of wardrobe, but the people down the work. Youd hear him snip and chirp,' he said. A different crew member, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of being blacklisted, told DailyMail.com that hed worked with Halls on two similarly low-budget sets in Los Angeles in spring 2019, one where a revolver and Glock were used, and another involving shotguns. Each morning theyd have a meeting to discuss the weapons and other safety issues, an industry standard. But he said Halls didnt think they were needed. 'He was very flippant about my insistence on having a safety meeting about the weapons, on both of the sets,' said the crew member, who asked to use the pseudonym Jay and has worked on films for 10 years. 'He would rush through it and say, alright guys, be safe, lets get to work.' 'Even though the guns were not loaded, you have to treat it as if it always is,' he said. And for me that means doing a safety meeting that may be seen as unnecessary but should absolutely be done so that everyone is on the same page. 'He would rush through it and say, alright guys, be safe, lets get to work' 'Systemically, so much pressure is put on the first assistant directors to meet a schedule, to make the day, meaning to get all the work done that you already have scheduled for the day,' he continued. 'When it comes to safety on set, or having to wait for anything, because safety takes time, I have seen 1st ADs get annoyed for having to wait. 'But they ultimately understand it needs to be done. But when I worked with him, it was the only time Ive had any AD ask me, "Do we really need to have a safety meeting?"' On both sets, no live bullets were used, and no guns were pointed at another person. Camera angles made it appear as if the guns were on target. And before anyone placed their finger on a trigger, an 'armorer' or person on set responsible for weapons, would shine a flashlight down the barrel to show no blockage or potential projectile. 'When you fire, no projectile is supposed to come out, though it still could be dangerous,' Jay said. 'Thats where there are rules. You dont aim it at anybody at any time.' Halls has removed his Twitter and LinkedIn accounts and has not commented on the shooting Sources on the set of Rust said the incident that killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins could be tied to the armorer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed And in no instance would an assistant director ever touch the gun, he said. 'His job is to check the guns, visually, check them with the actor and with the steward on set who is the property person or the armorer,' Jay said. 'The chain of custody for the gun should only be between the armorer, the property person and the actor directly handling it.' On the set of Rust, Jay said, first of all there shouldnt have been any live ammunition on the set. But he believes Hall is primarily responsible for the tragedy because he reportedly shouted 'cold gun' without having visually inspected the weapon to 'clear the gun.' 'Thats what makes me feel he is in every way responsible,' Jay told DailyMail.com. 'First of all, he was never supposed to handle that prop. Then he declared it a cold gun. It literally takes just a few seconds to check the gun to make sure its safe. 'He had no idea if it was a cold gun, so why make that announcement? The crew were filming a scene inside this church when the shooting happened on Thursday. Production has now been halted PRODUCTION EMAIL TO CREW October 24 Dear all, Our hearts are with all of you, as we all go through this tragic time and mourn the loss of our colleague and dear friend, Halyna Hutchins. We are family and we must stand beside each other as families do in difficult times. We remain in close touch with Halynas family and commend the strength they show in the face of unspeakable tragedy. It is beyond an inspiration. We also want to let you know that Joel Souza is recovering, and we are supporting him however we can knowing just how difficult his journey is. We want you to know that we continue to cooperate with the Sante Fe County Sheriffs Department as they conduct their investigation. We commend them for their diligence. Further, as you may know, we are conducting an internal review of safety protocols. As with any ongoing investigation, we are limited in our ability to say anything further publicly or privately, and ask for your patience in that regards. As the investigation continues, we cannot respond to the comments that have been making their way into the media, on social media and elsewhere. We are sorry to hear that so many of you are receiving unsolicited contacts from the media while all of us need time and space to grieve and heal. You dont need to engage, but if you do just ask that the journalists to respect your privacy. It should help. We want to remind you of the support resources we have made available to you to help you through this very difficult time. We encourage you to reach out to the in-person and virtual grief counselors at any time they are available 24/7. If you would like to set up an in-person or virtual session, please text the office 505-230-8713 with times that work for you and whether you would prefer in person sessions or virtual, and someone will connect you with the car call correct counsellor. As we go through this crisis, we have made the decision to wrap the set at least until the investigations are complete. As such, we are working through when you can pick up your personal items. You should expect an update on the wrap-out schedule tomorrow. Although our hearts are broken, and it is hard to see beyond the horizon, this is, at the moment, a pause rather than an end. The spirit that brought us all to this special place remains. --The Rust Production Team We will be making a donation to the Halyna Hutchins Scholarship Fund established by Halynas family. We will be matching any donations by the crew. You can find more information here: https://www.afi.com/halyna-hutchins-scholarship-fund. Advertisement 'If it werent for the actions he took in those few seconds, I believe Halyna would still be alive,' he concluded. Maggie Goll, a pyrotechnician who worked with Halls in 2019 for a Hulu series Into The Dark, told DailyMail.com that she complained to the Directors Guild of America about him after he tried to push on with filming despite a crew member having a diabetic fit. The crewmember was also a pyrotechnician who was needed on set to supervise a scene involving a fireplace filled with 100 candles. When he collapsed, Goll said she extinguished everything and called for an ambulance but Halls wanted to keep shooting. On that same shoot, she says he 'neglected to hold safety meetings'. 'Dave neglected to hold safety meetings or make announcements prior to the appearance of a firearm on set on a daily basis. 'The only reason the crew was made aware of a weapon's presence was because the Assistant Prop Master demanded Dave acknowledge and announce the situation each day. A girl pays her respects at a vigil held for Halyna in Burbank, California, on October 23 'This Asst Prop Master would announce each day when a gun would be required on camera, the disposition of that weapon - whether it was a rubber/plastic replica, a non-firing option, or a "cold" functional but unloaded option, allowing anyone to inspect said weapon prior to bringing it to set and presenting it to the talent. 'The Prop Master also was extremely vigilant in reclaiming any distributed weapons prior to the talent leaving set. 'The Prop Master frequently admonished Dave for dismissing the talent without returning props, weapon included, or failing to make safety announcements.' After the shoot, she says she filed multiple complaints with a safety line and tried to contact the Directors Guild of America but 'nothing was done'. 'That was the last I saw of Dave and that AP. That is, until I saw Dave's name pop up in relation to the accident on the set of "Rust." 'I am gutted at not pushing harder for greater accountability and safety. 'Many of us have messaged each other wondering the same thing: is there something we could have done then that would have prevented the tragedy in New Mexico yesterday? 'It is a horrible feeling,' she said. Halls has not yet spoken about the tragedy. He was working alongside 24-year-old armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, whose slapdash approach to gun safety training has been questioned by other crew members. Baldwin issued a statement on Twitter on Friday to say he was fully cooperating with the police. He was in touch with Halyna's widower, Matthew, before Matthew flew to New Mexico. The pair were photographed together on Sunday. A rapper who spoke to schoolchildren about mental health issues with Prince William has promoted an Instagram cannabis dealer. Professor Green, who said he has been a guest at Buckingham Palace several times, was filmed praising drug pusher Stonechester. It comes despite him previously insisting that he is 'long removed' from the world of cannabis because it makes him 'paranoid and anxious'. The Duke of Cambridge (R) with rapper Professor Green (L), real name Stephen Manderson, makes an unannounced visit to Burlington Danes Academy in west London to surprise children taking part in an assembly on cyberbullying and its effect on young people's mental health Professor Green (Pictured) appears in clip on Stonechester's Instagram page, appearing to smoke drugs The Instagram page for Stonechester dealers (Pictured). Advert for 'Pre Rolls', which are 'filled with 1.5G Hand Trimmed Premium Flower' saying 'leave a message if you want one' In the short clip posted to the dealer's 19,000 Instagram followers, the rapper is shown apparently smoking a joint as he says: 'Good food guys, it's Stonechester.' Food is slang for cannabis. It appeared on the site ten months after he spoke to pupils with the Duke of Cambridge about the importance of role models and mental health problems. Manchester-based Stonechester has avoided deletion on Instagram for four years by including the disclaimer 'No Sales. No DMs [direct messages]' in the account's biography. But the page posts pictures and videos which openly promote cannabis products with hashtags including #smokeweedeveryday, #thehighlyfe and #F***ThaFeds. When undercover reporters contacted Stonechester via Wickr an encrypted messaging app the dealer was happy to sell high-strength cannabis even when they believed a customer was aged 16. Professor Green, real name Stephen Manderson, has openly admitted selling drugs when he was younger. But in a 2017 BBC documentary about legalising cannabis, he said: 'Nowadays it makes me uncomfortable, it makes me paranoid, it makes me anxious. I've been well removed from that world for a long time.' The following year ten months before the Stonechester promotional video was posted in December 2018 he helped William in his mental health campaign Heads Together. And in an interview with the Mail last year, he said he goes to schools and prisons to encourage others to make better decisions about drugs. Professor Green's publicist did not respond to requests for comment. Within five hours of the Mail contacting them, Stonechester had pulled all the cannabis content on the Instagram page. Kensington Palace declined to comment. Family doctors have been told to refuse to take on new patients as the row over face-to-face appointments escalates. The British Medical Association wrote to GPs today claiming Health Secretary Sajid Javids plan to improve patient access was a bullys charter. The letter, from BMA GP committee chairman Dr Richard Vautrey, claimed doctors should not feel pressured to return to a traditional ten-minute treadmill of face-to-face consultations. The BMA urged GPs not to feel pressured into going back to a 'traditional ten-minute treadmill of face-to-face consultations' The union also advised GPs to reject many patients sent their way by hospitals or the NHS 111 service. And it said surgeries should apply to close the practice list to focus on the needs of existing patients, making it impossible for people to register with a new doctor. The incendiary letter comes as GPs are locked in a stand-off with the Health Secretary over measures aimed at increasing face-to-face appointments something the Daily Mail is campaigning for as just 57 per cent are currently in-person, compared to 80 per cent pre-Covid. The BMA last week unanimously rejected Mr Javids 250million plan to improve access, and is also pressing ahead with plans to ballot members on industrial action. Yesterdays letter also told doctors not to carry out extra shifts in the evenings or at weekends, and to stop providing non-essential services such as out-of-hours clinics. Health Secretary Sajid Javid's plan to improve patient access was deemed a 'bully's charter' in the letter The letter says: We believe Sajid Javid ignored GPs expertise and experience when he laid out his bullys charter, and patient care will suffer as a result. 'We are now calling on the Government to withdraw their plan and work with us to introduce a new contract that ensures general practice is properly funded with a safer workload and reduced bureaucracy, and ultimately provides better care and services for patients and vastly improved working conditions. The Department of Health is yet to comment on the move. But Dennis Reed, of patient campaign group Silver Voices, said patients could become collateral damage in the war between the Health Secretary and the BMA. He added: Both sides need to get round the table and sort it out.' A GP has suggested an Amazon Prime mentality among patients with an inability to wait is piling pressure on A&E. Dr Jonathan Griffiths claims have angered campaigners who insist people are only going to casualty because of the struggle to book GP appointments or to be seen face to face. Dennis Reed, of older peoples campaign group Silver Voices, branded the remark insulting. Dr Griffiths, a GP in Winsford, Cheshire, made his comments on a blog, and said many of those who turn up at A&E have nothing wrong with them. A series of Gladys Berejiklian's closest confidants have given evidence to a corruption inquiry about the moments the then-NSW Premier confessed her secret relationship to them. The Independent Commission Against Corruption hearing into former the NSW premier heard from Neil Harley that he spoke with Ms Berejiklian after she was summonsed to give evidence at a different ICAC investigation last year. 'It was a very difficult conversation for both of us,' he said, adding that the former premier is 'inherently a very private person'. 'We didn't go into detail about when (the relationship with Mr Maguire) ... commenced and when it finished,' he said. 'We talked in broad terms about the nature of the relationship.' Another former chief of staff to Ms Berejiklian, later told the ICAC that on Friday 13 July 2018 the then premier called her and told her 'she'd been close in the past with Mr Maguire'. Sarah Cruickshank said she thought the call was unusual as Mr Berejiklian was on leave at the time. It was the day it was revealed that Mr Maguire was a person of interest to ICAC. Gladys Berejiklian (pictured) checks her phone while out for a walk in Sydney ICAC counsel Scott Robertson asked if she was 'quite clear' in her mind that it was a historical relationship before Ms Berejiklian became premier? 'Quite clear,' she replied. Mr Harley said he subsequently discovered the relationship had 'continued on for a lot longer than I had anticipated' and 'it was more recent' than he thought. He said if he previously known about the relationship, he and others 'might have provided advice to her about how that situation could appropriately be managed'. The ICAC also heard that in an email from August 20, 2018, Mr Harley said then premier Ms Berejiklian wanted to 'push' a plan to award millions of dollars in funding to the for a recital hall in the Riverina Conservatorium of Music in Wagga Wagga. Gladys's confidant and former chief of staff Neil Harley Mr Maguire, had quit politics a month earlier after giving evidence at an earlier ICAC inquiry, resulting in a by-election. The commission has heard the recital hall was one of the projects Mr Maguire had pushed hard for in the pursuit of funding. Mr Harley said in the email to colleagues in Ms Berejiklian's office that 'I personally don't want to push this project but the premier did'. Mr Maguire's testimony at a corruption hearing into former NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian has been delayed due to 'investigative reasons'. The Independent Commission Against Corruption is, in part, investigating if Ms Berejiklian engaged in conduct 'liable to allow or encourage the occurrence of corrupt conduct' by former Liberal MP Daryl Maguire, with whom she was in a secret relationship at the time. Sophie Callan, representing Ms Berejiklian said ICAC has taken evidence from 'seven men' about whether the former premier was in a position of conflict in light of her relationship with Mr Maguire between 2015 and 2018. The delayed start on Tuesday may have been due to a change in the witness list timetable. Mr Maguire has been switched from Wednesday to Thursday. Mr Robertson said: 'I don't intend to call Mr Maguire tomorrow' due to 'investigative reasons'. Sarah Cruickshank, a former chief of staff to Gladys Berejiklian, arrives at ICAC on Tuesday Ms Berejiklian's testimony was initially set to be heard on Thursday and Friday, but her appearance on Thursday has now been cancelled and she will probably have to return to the ICAC on Monday. Her former chief of staff, Ms Cruickshank said the relationship between Ms Berejiklian and Mr Maguire was described to her as a historical relationship or friendship before Ms Berejiklian became premier in January 2017, and not one that had continued. Ms Cruickshank was under the impression that the then premier's relationship with Mr Maguire was not ongoing, and she believed it had already ended. Ms Berejiklian told the ICAC last year that the relationship started in 2015 and did not end until 2018. Ms Cruickshank said staff were told after Mr Maguire's appearance at the ICAC in 2018 that if they had 'things to report about Mr Maguire they should'. Earlier on Tuesday, Brad Burden, a former director of strategy to then-premier Ms Berejiklian, was asked if he would have done anything differently about a funding proposal favoured by Mr Maguire if he had known about his relationship with the former premier. Brad Burden (pictured), a former adviser to Gladys Berejiklian, gave evidence by video link to the ICAC on Tuesday He said the thought 'advice would have been sought around any potential conflicts of interest and how to manage them'. Gary Barnes, secretary of the Department of Regional NSW, who gave evidence last week, has been recalled for further questions on Wednesday. Ms Callan said she is seeking procedural fairness regarding the ICAC's investigation into whether or not Ms Berejiklian complied with a legal duty to report suspected corruption to the watchdog. Section 11 of the ICAC Act states that a NSW government minister and other public officials have a duty to report any matter the person suspects on reasonable grounds concerns or may concern corrupt conduct. Ms Callan said Ms Berejiklian's lawyers wrote to the ICAC asking for further information about this but had received a 'wholly unsatisfactory' response. She said Ms Berejiklian was 'entitled to know what it is that is alleged in respect of section 11'. In reply, Mr Robertson said 'these proceedings are not a trial' and the correspondence contained a 'fundamental misapprehension' about ICAC's role, which is that it was seeking to find the truth and was not a prosecutorial body. ICAC is investigating whether Ms Berejiklian 1. Engaged in conduct between 2012 and 2018 that was 'liable to allow or encourage the occurrence of corrupt conduct' by former Liberal MP Daryl Maguire, with whom she was in a close personal relationship between 2015 and 2018 2. Exercised her official functions dishonestly or partially by refusing to exercise her duty to report any reasonable suspicions about Mr Maguire to the ICAC 3. Exercised any of her official functions partially in connection with two multimillion-dollar grants in Mr Maguire's electorate, to the Australian Clay Target Association Inc and the Riverina Conservatorium of Music Advertisement Ms Callan added that the watchdog had received evidence from 'seven men' to date about whether Ms Berejiklian was in a position of conflict in light of her secret relationship with Mr Maguire between 2015 and 2018. She indicated that Ms Berejiklian's team would argue this evidence could not 'rationally bear' on Assistant Commissioner Ruth McColl, SC's assessment as to whether a conflict of interest in fact existed. Ms McColl did not accept that ICAC needed to change the course its inquiry was taking. Mr Harley will be followed by Brad Burden, project director at the Department of Defence, and Sarah Cruickshank, deputy secretary at the Department of Premier and Cabinet, who is also a former chief of staff to Ms Berejiklian. If these two days reveal as much as the previous six days of testimony, then Ms Berejiklian is in for an emotional rollercoaster ride before she even gets a chance to defend herself. On Monday, the Independent Commission Against Corruption heard her former deputy John Barilaro thought Mr Maguire was 'a pain in the a**e' and that she should have revealed their relationship as it may have been a 'conflict'. Mr Barilaro said if he had known about the clandestine relationship between Ms Berejiklian and Mr Maguire, a controversial shooting centre funding proposal from the Australian Clay Target Association (ACTA) could have been handled differently. 'It's very possible because of the conflict that we would have managed it differently,' said Mr Barilaro. Ms Berejiklian's years-long secret affair with the former Liberal MP was not revealed until a year ago when ICAC was investigating Mr Maguire. But Ms Berejiklian's barrister, Sophie Callan SC, sought to turn the tables on Mr Barilaro on Monday afternoon, asking if he had disclosed relationships of his own. Former NSW deputy premier John Barilaro leaves the Independent Commission Against Corruption hearing in Sydney on Monday, October 25, 2021 Mr Barilaro said he 'would have' disclosed any relationships, including family links. 'What about any other intimate personal relationships?' Ms Callan asked. 'That's a hard question because my relationships are with my family,' Mr Barilaro said. Daily Mail Australia is not suggesting Mr Barilaro has done anything improper in his personal or professional lives. The ACTA shooting centre was to be located in Mr Maguire's former electorate of Wagga Wagga and he was a keen backer of it getting state funding of $5.5million. The ICAC is investigating if Ms Berejiklian was 'liable to allow or encourage the occurrence of corrupt conduct' by Mr Maguire, with whom she was in a 'close personal relationship' between 2015 and 2018. It's also looking into whether she 'exercised her official functions dishonestly or partially' by not reporting any reasonable suspicions about Mr Maguire to the ICAC. An email tendered into evidence at ICAC on Monday from Mr Maguire to his then lover Ms Berejiklian and her deputy Mr Barilaro featured a subject line of 'Here we go on the merry go round again.' Liberal MP Daryl Maguire, who was then the secret lover of NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian, took a humorous view of project funding requests in an email to Ms Berejiklian and her then deputy premier John Barilaro It was a reference to the fact that Mr Maguire was again seeking to help an organisation in his electorate to get substantial, multi-million dollar funding. Mr Barilaro was asked ICAC counsel Scott Robertson about the former premier's relationship with Mr Maguire regarding funding promises made to the Riverina Conservatorium of Music in Wagga Wagga. Ms Berejiklian was premier by the time the government's expenditure review committee (ERC) signed off in 2018 on $10 million for the conservatorium to move to another premises. A statement from former deputy premier Gladys Berejiklian tendered into evidence at ICAC on Monday Later that year the government also promised during a by-election - caused by Mr Maguire's resignation - to award a further $20 million to fund the construction a recital hall. That money still has not been paid. 'There should have been a disclosure (of the relationship),' Mr Barilaro said. 'ERC decisions are taken seriously,' he said. Mr Robertson asked Mr Barilaro about Mr Maguire's advocacy for projects in his electorate. 'I would say he was a pain in the a**e (like) a dog with a bone,' he said. ICAC witness list Tuesday 26 - Neil Harley, former chief of staff to Gladys Berejiklian Brad Burden, project director at Department of Defence Sarah Cruickshank, deputy secretary at Department of Premier and Cabinet Wednesday 27 - Gary Barnes, secretary of the Department of Regional NSW Thursday 28 - Daryl Maguire, former Liberal MP Friday 29 - Gladys Berejiklian, former premier of NSW Advertisement In a statement to the ICAC, which was tendered into evidence on Monday, he said: 'Whilst Mr Maguire was a member of parliament It was common practice for him to turn up to my offices unannounced, stop me in corridors, or in the Chamber to advocate for projects. 'However, I can't recall specifics of any encounter regarding the Clay Target proposal. 'I can recall that I had conversations with Premier Berejiklian, regarding the Clay Target project where Ms Berejiklian indicated support for the project,' Mr Barilaro said. Hejoined the ERC in November 2016 after he became leader of the NSW National Party and deputy premier. Ms Berejiklian was then the state treasurer and chair of the ERC, which was considering the ACTA funding request. Mr Barilaro agreed with Mr Robertson that Ms Berejiklian's support for putting the ACTA application on the ERC agenda indicated she supported it. The former NSW National Party leader said that if the relationship between Ms Berejiklian and Mr Maguire was known at the time, her cabinet colleagues would have expected the 'treasurer would have excused herself from the debate'. It was disclosed to the commission that he said in his private hearing that if the relationship had been known 'I would not have supported the agenda item, I believe my colleagues would not have supported the agenda item.' Mr Barilaro said he first became aware the ACTA was looking for funding was when it appeared on the ERC agenda in December 2016. It was the 'third or the fourth' ERC meeting he had attended. Ms Berejiklian denies any wrongdoing. Gladys Berejiklian (pictured right) is under investigation by ICAC for her conduct while NSW premier in relation to her former boyfriend, ex-MP Daryl Maguire (pictured left) Dave Chappelle, whose comments about transgender people led to a furious backlash from the LGBTQ community, has said he will 'not bend to anyone's demands' over what he can and cannot say. In recent weeks, the comedian has faced calls for him to be cancelled following jokes made in a stand-up special for the streaming service, Netflix. Chappelle courted controversy with his jokes in which he asserts 'gender is a fact,' and criticizes what he says is the thin skin of the trans community. The jokes were based upon earlier observations made by Harry Potter author J K Rowling's who in 2019 stated that transgender women were not actually women and were a threat to her identity. Comedian Dave Chappelle, 48, together with Netflix has faced backlash from the LGBTQ community for remarks made in his latest special In an Instagram video on Monday, Chapelle said he was open to meeting with the transgender community but they had to have watched his special beforehand On Monday, Chapelle spoke out for the first time about the controversy in a five minute video which was posted to Instagram. 'To the transgender community, I am more than willing to give you an audience, but you will not summon me,' Chapelle stated in a a five-minute posting. 'I am not bending to anyone's demands, and if you want to meet with me, I am more than willing to, but I have some conditions...' Chappelle said in a segment which was filmed onstage. 'First of all, you cannot come if you have not watched my special from beginning to end. You must come to a place of my choosing at a time of my choosing, and thirdly, you must admit that Hannah Gadsby is not funny. 'Am I canceled or not? Then let's go!' Chappelle yells at the end of the video. Chappelle, 48, has been accused of transphobia in previous Netflix specials. In The Closer he is at pains to stress that he does not hate transgender people, and tells a long anecdote about a trans woman comic, who he describes as a friend, who came to his defense in earlier entanglements with the community. Chappelle adds: '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.' In the contentious special, Chappelle also jokes that women today view transwomen the same way black people might view white women wearing blackface, and remarked that 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 says during a problematic bit. The star also jokes about the anatomy of transwomen in the special, joking that they lacked real female reproductive organs and that they did not have blood but 'beet juice. It has been almost three weeks since the controversy began which saw some staff suspended and others fired in the fallout. Chappelle's comments and Netflix's refusal to pull the comedy special, The Closer, led to protests on the streets of Hollywood. Netflix CEO, Ted Sarandos, initially defended Chappelle and said that it did not 'cross the line' on hate speech, despite various organizations including GLAAD and National Black Justice Coalition condemning the comedian's comments along with a number of trans Netflix employees. Netflix boss Ted Sarandos has defended Dave Chappelle's The Closer special to his staff, telling them in an email 'content on screen doesn't translate to real-world harm'. Lesbian comedian Hannah Gadsby, right, who has two comedy specials on Netflix, rose to fame after her first special Nanette began streaming on Netflix in 2018 But last week Sarandos appeared to soften his stance. 'I screwed up the internal communication and I don't mean just mechanically,' Sarandos said. 'I feel I should've made sure to recognize that a group of our employees was hurting very badly from the decision made, and I should've recognized upfront before going into a rationalization of anything the pain they were going through. I say that because I respect them deeply, and I love the contribution they have at Netflix. They were hurting, and I should've recognized that first.' Sarandos said that Netflix 'was working hard to ensure marginalized communities arent defined by a single story' specifically noting 'we have Sex Education, Orange Is the New Black, Control Z, Hannah Gadsby and Dave Chappelle all on Netflix. Key to this is increasing diversity on the content team itself.' Gadsby, who has two comedy specials on Netflix, rose to fame after her first special Nanette began streaming on Netflix in 2018. She posted on Instagram asking Sarandos not to 'drag [her] name into [his] mess.' 'F**k you and your amoral algorithm cult...' she wrote. Those who have criticized Chapelle's jokes have specifically cited the physical danger faced by the trans community as a result of anti-trans ideology. The family of a trans woman who Chappelle said was hounded to death for defending his jokes in a 2019 Netflix show have slammed the woke mob trying to cancel him, saying they do not know how much he did for her. The Closer is Chappelle's last stand up special on Netflix before he takes a break Daphne Dorman, 44, was a transgender amateur comic opened for comedian Dave Chappelle Daphne Dorman was 44 when she killed herself in 2019 after defending her friend Chappelle for jokes made during a Netflix special that year. 'When she did that, the trans community dragged that b**** through Twitter,' Chappelle told the audience in The Closer. 'For days, they was going in on her and she was on her own because she's funny,' he continued, hinting the harassment might have contributed to her suicide. 'It's a true story; my heart was broken. I don't know what was going on, but I'll bet dragging her didn't help.' Dorman, who began transitioning to a woman in 2014, was an up-and-coming comedian who opened a show for Chappelle. Her humor veiled a dark past mired by a troubled childhood that left her with severe PTSD, her family said. But despite her inner demons, she tapped into her comedy to make the world around her laugh, her sister said. Her sister brushed off critics who have slammed Chappelle's transgender jokes, saying the comedian 'loved' Dorman and said people cannot demand that 'everyone see it your way'. Boris Johnson last night urged the police to take swift action following the Daily Mails revelations about the billion-pound Instagram drug trade. Downing Street also called for a response from social media companies as he praised us for exposing the problem of children buying potent cannabis on the platform. Labours schools spokesman Peter Kyle said Instagrams high-strength cannabis trade was as rancid as crime can get. He also warned that the distribution of the drugs sold on social media often involved children in county lines gangs. The Mails investigation found hundreds of dealers on the Facebook-owned site are peddling the drug to youngsters as part of a billion-pound online industry sparking major health concerns. Drug Baron Selamet Mehmetaj, nicknamed 'The Devil', (Above) is a notorious dealer who uses Instagram to sell cannabis Prime Minister Boris Johnson has urged police to take action over the Instagram drugs trade, as well as calling on social media bosses to clamp down on the issue Pushers who have tens of thousands of followers promoted their wares with enticing pictures of cannabis packaged to look like childrens sweets or cereals. They then arranged sales via private messaging services. Undercover reporters met a drug baron who used Instagram to help make millions a year and boasted about kidnapping and cutting off the fingers of a client who failed to pay. The Prime Ministers spokesman said: We have seen this investigation by the Mail, who rightly brought this to the public eye. Criminals who peddle illegal drugs wreak havoc on communities, fuel serious violence and devastate peoples lives. 'We would fully support any police action to tackle any criminals peddling illegal drugs in this manner. Asked how he wants social media sites to react, he said: We are introducing tougher rules on social media firms. 'I think they themselves have said that they are taking action in this space and we would urge them to do so as quickly as possible. Dealers using the social media site to earn themselves millions of pounds a year, our undercover reporters found Daily Mail investigation finds dealers using Instagram (Pictured) to sell cannabis to children using brightly coloured sweet packets to entice them, and arrange sales via private messaging The Governments crime plan, which was released in the summer, set out tactics and investment for dealing with the scourge of illicit drugs which are major drivers of burglaries and violent crime, the spokesman added. He said that over the last two years, ministers had invested over 65million into tackling drug gangs, which had seen the police arrest 1,500 people. He added: There is definitely more to do here, which is why were setting up plans to publish a long-term drug strategy by the end of the year. Our expose revealed how online sales of high-strength cannabis had exploded during lockdown, leading to fears of the drug causing a psychosis timebomb. Experts have warned that drug dealers had now shifted from street corners on to social media because of the ease of selling online. Advertising on online platforms such as Instagram also gives the dealers greater legitimacy and it enables them to build a brand and identity. It comes as almost 13,000 under-18s needed treatment because of cannabis last year, including more than 1,000 aged 13 and younger. One consultant psychiatrist warned high-strength cannabis was driving youngsters into psychosis, depression, anxiety, self-harm and suicide. The Mails investigation also found some Instagram dealers offered gifts to children buying from them if they persuaded their classmates to also become customers. Mr Kyle said: From start to finish this business of selling drugs via social media has at its core the suffering of children. It would not be viable as a business without children suffering. Children are being sold drugs by social media, children are incentivised to involve other children, children are transporting the drugs from one part of the country to the other. It is children who are delivering to the customers who are also often children. It is the criminal exploitation of children. Instagram has removed hundreds of dealers pages after being alerted by the Mail and said that it was continuing to investigate. Mostafa Baluch, 33, from Sydney's northern beaches is wanted for allegedly breaching his bail conditions after he was hit with drug offences in June when his Bayview house was raided A manhunt has been launched to find a former restaurateur accused of importing more than 900kg of cocaine into Australia. Mostafa Baluch, 33, from Sydney's northern beaches, is wanted for allegedly breaching his bail conditions after he was hit with drug offences in June when his Bayview house was raided. He was granted bail on Friday on several conditions, and must wear an ankle monitor. The tracking device died on Monday night with police now urgently trying to track down the 33-year-old, the Daily Telegraph reported. NSW Police are appealing for anyone with information on Baluch to come forward. The man last seen on Pittwater Road, Bayview, about 10.40pm on Monday. 'Anyone who sights Mostafa, or who has information about his whereabouts, is urged not to approach him, and to call Triple Zero (000) immediately,' NSW Police said. Police believe he may be travelling in a dark grey coloured Mercedes SUV and believe he is still within the Northern Beaches area. Earlier in June, Baluch, who once owned Cervo restaurant in Northbridge, faced charges including possessing anabolic steroids, drug supply, and dealing with the proceeds of crime. He was then hit with another charge of conspiracy to import a commercial quantity of drugs and was refused bail. NSW Police are now appealing for anyone with information on Baluch to come forward with the man believed to have been last seen on Pittwater Road, Bayview, about 10.40pm on Monday Police believe he may be travelling in a dark grey coloured Mercedes SUV (pictured) and is still within the Northern Beaches area The millionaire restaurateur was arrested as part of an investigation into an alleged organised crime sting plotting to supply three tonnes of cocaine in NSW. Detectives started the investigation last year after receiving a tip about a person gambling a huge amount of money at the Star Casino. The betting was flagged as potential money laundering and kicked off an investigation that eventually became focused on drug trafficking. Police allege they discovered drugs were being imported across Australia and North and South America. The US Navy seized 870kg of cocaine after intercepting a vessel travelling off the coast of Colombia in October, 2020. Another 900kg of the drug was seized from a boat sailing off the coast of Ecuador in April. Both shipments allegedly formed part of the overarching conspiracy to import a total of three tonnes of cocaine into Australia. Baluch was due to face court on Tuesday. Marketing firms cash in by helping Instagram dealers create designer brands to boost their cannabis sales. The businesses which are registered on Companies House openly boast online about how they produce carefully designed bags and products to package the drugs. The specialist packaging is often made to appeal to youngsters. One company, called Dank Canz, is run by couple Jack and Rosanna Chapman in Nottingham. Dank is slang for potent, high-quality cannabis. On its website, the firm which is registered as DC Print and Packaging Ltd states: Branding is key in all industries... We have experienced designers ready to create unique designs for your business and packaging. It posts links to bags and other products it has produced for clients, adding: Contact us today for more info on custom packaging and branding. Owners are a husband and wife, Jack and Rosanna Chapman, from Hucknall, Nottingham. The couple run Dank Canz, which is registered as DC Print and Packaging Ltd on Companies House. Dank is slang for potent, high-quality cannabis Advertising the products on Instagram, Dank Canz have Ben and Jerry themed designs (Pictured) for cannabis products. The website even features a request a strain service for customers to specify which type of cannabis they are packaging. They include bags made to look like popular children's cereals such as Frosties and Lucky Charms Monster Munch crisps and Ben and Jerrys ice cream. Dank Canz even sponsors a cannabis cup where Instagram dealers battle it out over the quality of their product The website even features a request a strain service for customers to specify which type of cannabis they are packaging. It also states that it has a range of high-quality customised products to showcase your brand. It linked to a bag the company printed and packaged for Stonechester, a cannabis dealer with 19,000 followers. It features a picture of Bart Simpson smoking a joint, saying 100 per cent dank. In other posts, Dank Canz links to a bag with the McDonalds clown, Ronald McDonald, smoking the drug, which is labelled as premium UK cannabis. The bags are also designed to look like childrens cereals such as Frosties and Lucky Charms Monster Munch crisps and Ben and Jerrys ice cream. Dank Canz even sponsors a cannabis cup where Instagram dealers battle it out over the quality of their product. And on his Facebook page, Mr Chapman has posted pictures of himself with what appear to be joints and adverts for his company. One post said: Anybody know basic Photoshop, smoke weed and want a job? When contacted by an undercover reporter who was posing as a cannabis dealer needing bags to promote his online business, Dank Canz responded: Its all about the bag designs and who you get your bags to, new products, cool products, good strains and most importantly, good weed. Another company called Custom Dank describes itself as having the UKs largest range of custom smoking accessories and it helps dealers build your brand at the best price. Its customisable products list which it said is forever growing includes grinders, rolling trays, ashtrays, lighters, joint holders, cannabis seed and flower packaging, glass jars, LED signs, business cards and key rings. It offers free UK delivery on all orders. The company is run by Oliver Bents, 34, a married former business development manager from Cardiff. He only contacts customers via email. And when contacted by a Mail undercover reporter asking for bags and advice in promoting his cannabis sales, he said he could only design and print bags, adding: Be careful what you write when sending email etc. Very risky to be so open if you know what I mean. However, on his companys website and Instagram page, he is not so shy. He openly posted pictures of a bag he made for an online dealer which states that it contains high-strength cannabis. The bag, for LoudFamUK, features a cannabis flower and said it contains THC the psychoactive constituent of cannabis which is illegal in the UK. He also worked for an online dealer called Secret Farmer and the packaging states that it contains cannabis a controlled class B substance. For smaller dealers, he offers generic bags which are emblazoned with premium quality strain and top shelf cannabis. On the companys website, it states that Custom Dank is a registered trademark of Jsob Trading Ltd, of which Mr Bents is listed as director on Companies House. It also has a VAT number. Mr Bents told the Mail: We are a packaging and accessories manufacturer. All products sold are for novelty purposes only and we do not condone or encourage any illegal activities. Dank Canz did not respond to requests for comment. A spokesman for Facebook, which owns Instagram, said: Weve removed several of the accounts flagged to us by the Daily Mail and are continuing to investigate. Buying and selling drugs is strictly against our rules and we use a combination of technology and human review to remove it. Between April and June, we removed 2.3million pieces of drug sales content, over 95 per cent before it was reported to us, and we work closely with law enforcement and youth organisations to help us continually improve. Were exploring new ways to support people who search for this content in the UK and hope to have an update soon. U.S. officials say they believe Iran was behind the drone attack last week at the military outpost in southern Syria where American troops are based. Officials said Monday the U.S. believed that Iran resourced and encouraged the attack, but that the drones were not launched from Iran. They were Iranian drones, and Iran appears to have facilitated their use, officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss details that have not been made public. Officials said they believed the attacks involved as many as five drones laden with explosive charges, and that they hit both the U.S. side of al-Tanf garrison and the side where Syrian opposition forces stay. There were no reported injuries or deaths as a result of the attack. A Fox News reporter said officials had told him that a warning meant that personnel could be moved to safety ahead of the attack. 'U.S. military tipped off to attack on base housing American troops in Syria last week and moved them prior to the drone strike: U.S. officials,' said Lucas Tominson on Twitter. 'Bomb fragments later found where U.S. troops sleep.' The US base in Al-Tanf, Syria, was hit by a coordinated attack on Wednesday. Pictured, soldiers training at the site on April 22, 2020 The base is located near the Syrian border with Iraq and Jordan The base serves as a training location for US soldiers to prep local opposition fighters U.S. and coalition troops are based at al-Tanf to train Syrian forces on patrols to counter Islamic State militants. The base is also located on a road serving as a vital link for Iranian-backed forces from Tehran all the way to southern Lebanon and Israel. Pentagon spokesman John Kirby declined to provide details when asked about the report during a news conference Monday. He called it a 'complex, coordinated and deliberate attack' and said the U.S. had seen similar ones before from Shia militia groups that are backed by Iran. But he would not go into specifics and said he had no update on the munitions used in the attack. Kirby also declined to say if troops were warned ahead of time or whether the U.S. intends to make a military response. 'The protection and security of our troops overseas remains a paramount concern for the secretary,' Kirby said, referring to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, 'and that if there is to be a response, it will be at a time and a place and a manner of our choosing, and we certainly won't get ahead of those kinds of decisions.' Pro-Iran media outlets have been saying that the attack on Tanf was carried out by 'Syria's allies' an apparent reference to Iran-backed groups in retaliation for an attack days earlier near the historic Syrian town of Palmyra. Israel has been blamed for the attack, but U.S. officials say America was not involved with it. The base was attacked by at least one drone strike and possible gunfire. No US troops at the base were reportedly injured in the attack 'You can consider that the strike on Tanf was an implementation' of previous promises by Syrian allies to retaliate for Palmyra, according to an official with the so-called Axis of Resistance, an anti-Western political-military alliance that includes Iran, Syria, Hezbollah and other groups fighting alongside Syrian President Bashar Assad's forces. The attack came during a period of rising tensions with Iran. The Biden administration this week said international diplomatic efforts to get Iran back into negotiations to return to a 2015 nuclear deal were at a 'critical place' and that patience was wearing thin. The last major Iranian attack on U.S. forces was in January 2020, when Tehran launched a barrage of ballistic missiles on al-Asad air base in Iraq. U.S. and coalition troops were warned of the incoming missiles and were able to take cover, but more than 100 U.S. service members received traumatic brain injuries as a result of the blasts. The Iran attack was in response to the U.S. drone strike earlier that month near the Baghdad airport that killed Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani and Iraqi militia leader Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis. Two months after the al-Asad assault, U.S. fighter jets struck five sites in retaliation, targeting Iranian-backed Shiite militia members believed responsible for the January rocket attack. A new 'smart bandage' can tell doctors when a wound has healed without them having to check first. The bandage, developed by scientists at the University of Bologna, Italy, is equipped with a sensor to read moisture levels a crucial indicator of if a wound has healed and transmits the data to an app on a nearby smartphone. The information lets doctors ensure a dressed wound is healing without taking off the bandage, which usually inhibits the healing process. By providing real-time wireless monitoring, the technology could help doctors better monitor wounds, according to the experts although it's just a prototype for now. Researchers have not revealed the exact cost of the smart bandage or when it might be commercially available, but said it was 'low cost and disposable', having chosen inexpensive materials for their design. With the new prototype, doctors can make sure a dressed wound is healing without taking off the bandage, based on moisture level information. Removing a bandage can disrupt the healing process The smart bandage uses commercially-available bandage materials. But it features a sensor that can measure changes in the moisture level of a wound, as well as a radio-frequency identification (RFID) chip, which transmits the data to a smartphone 'We developed a range of bandages with various layers and different absorption properties and characteristics,' said study author Dr Luca Possanzini at the University of Bologna. 'The idea is that each type of wound could have its own appropriate dressing, from slowly exuding wounds to highly exuding wounds, such as burns and blisters. 'However, we will need to further optimise the sensor geometry and determine the appropriate sensor values for optimal healing before we can apply our technology to various types of wounds.' The 'smart bandage' contains a sensor that measures wound moisture levels and then transmits the data to a nearby smartphone, using a radio-frequency identification (RFID) chip. The wireless communication with a smartphone allows measurements of the wound's condition in real-time RFID chips (pictured) are about the same size as a grain of rice and are already used in clothing security tags and contactless cards (stock image) WHAT ARE RFID CHIPS? Radio-frequency identification (RFID) chips are about the same size as a grain of rice. They store personal security information which can be transmitted over short distances to special receivers. They can already be found in contactless cards - including the Oyster system in London. They are also similar to the chips implanted in pets. It is believed there are 10,000 people across the world using microchip technology inside their bodies. Advertisement RFID chips are about the same size as a grain of rice and are already used in clothing security tags and contactless cards including Transport for London's Oyster card. There are several factors that can affect whether or not a wound heals, such as temperature, glucose levels, acidity and, most importantly, moisture. Too dry, and the skin tissue can become desiccated, but too wet, and it can become white and wrinkly, just like when we spend too long in the bath. However, if a doctor wants to check the moisture levels of a wound then they need to remove the bandage, potentially damaging the delicate healing tissue. So the researchers wanted to create a smart bandage as a way to monitor wound moisture levels 'non-invasively'. The choice of materials was a challenge, as bandages need to be biocompatible, disposable and inexpensive, according to the team. They applied a conductive polymer called PEDOT:PSS onto two different types of gauzes gauze rayon and gauze PET using a technique called screen printing. Gauze is a thin transparent fabric, wrapped around a wound or fracture as a surgical dressing. The conductive polymer appears as a length of what looks like ink, printed in a line through the middle of the gauze. A conductive polymer called PEDOT:PSS is screen printed onto gauze (pictured) in a 'specific geometry', according to the researchers (stock image) When attached to a patient, the idea is that changes in the moisture level of their wound causes a change in an electrical signal measured by the sensor. 'PEDOT:PSS is an organic semiconducting polymer that can be easily deposited on several substrates as a standard ink,' said study author Dr Marta Tessarolo, from the University of Bologna. 'We also incorporated a cheap, disposable and bandage-compatible RFID tag, similar to those used for clothing security tags, into the textile patch. 'The tag can wirelessly communicate moisture level data with a smartphone, allowing healthcare staff to know when a bandage needs to be changed.' Graphical abstract from the paper. (A) Cross section of gauzes PET and rayon. (B) Image of the final textile moisture sensor. (C) Structure of the bandage sensor showing the three different composition layers. (D) Cross section and top views of the two absorbing layers Commercially available bandage materials were also used to form a 'protective' and 'absorbing' layer either side of the gauze layer. To test their bandages, the researchers exposed them to an artificial version of exudate the liquid that seeps from wounds and also tested different bandage materials and shapes. They found that the bandage was highly sensitive, providing drastically different readings between dry, moist and saturated conditions, suggesting it could be a valuable tool in wound management. In the future, by changing the geometry and materials in the bandage, the researchers may be able to fine tune it to suit different types of wounds. The study has been published in the journal Frontiers in Physics. The Hubble Space Telescope has spotted two 'squabbling' galaxies that are locked in a cosmic dance one that can only end in one of two dramatic ways. Either the smaller one will be engulfed by its neighbour or else it will be tossed out into intergalactic space, experts from the European Space Agency (ESA) have said. The larger barred spiral galaxy is known as NGC 7753 and seemingly attached to one of its spiral arms is its smaller companion, dubbed NGC 7752. The pair are 220 million light-years away from Earth in the Pegasus constellation. Two 'squabbling' galaxies have been spotted by the Hubble Space Telescope that are locked in a cosmic dance one which can only end in one of two dramatic ways. Either the smaller one will be engulfed by its neighbour or else it will be tossed out into intergalactic space, experts from the European Space Agency have said. Pictured: NGC 7753 and the smaller NGC 7752 WHAT IS ARP 68? ARP 68 is the name given to a pair of galaxies in the Pegasus constellation, some 220 million light-years away. The larger galaxy, NGC 7753, is a barred spiral galaxy. Attached to one of its arms is the barred lenticular satellite galaxy NGC 7752. Experts expect that NGC 7752 will eventually be subsumed into NGC 7753, or else cast off into deep space. Advertisement 'The diminutive companion galaxy almost appears attached to NGC 7753, and it is this peculiarity that has earned the designation "Arp 86",' ESA officials said. This identifier, they explained, signifies that the galaxy pair 'appears in the Atlas of Peculiar Galaxies compiled by the astronomer Halton Arp in 1966.' 'The gravitational squabble between the two galaxies is doomed to end catastrophically for NGC 7752. 'It will eventually either be flung out into intergalactic space or be entirely engulfed by its far larger neighbour.' Hubble has been observing Arp 86 as part of a broader effort to learn more about the connections between young stars and the cold clouds of gas in which they form. This investigation has seen Hubble focussed on star clusters and clouds of dust and gas across a variety of different environments found within nearby galaxies including both NGC 7752 and NGC 7753. Hubble (pictured) has been observing Arp 86 as part of a broader effort to learn more about the connections between young stars and the cold clouds of gas in which they form 'Combined with measurements from ALMA, a gigantic radio telescope perched high in the Chilean Andes, these Hubble observations provide a treasure trove of data for astronomers working to understand how stars are born,' ESA explained. Hubble and ALMA's efforts here are also serving to pave the way for research by Hubble's spiritual successor the NASA/ESA James Webb Space Telescope. This space observatory, due to launch in December this year, will also be studying star formation in the dusty regions of galaxies like NGC 7752 and NGC 7753. Madagascar's critically endangered 'singing' lemurs Indri indri have a natural ability to keep a beat, just like us humans do, a study has concluded. Researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics and the University of Turin studied the songs of indri in the rainforests of the island country. They found that the lemurs' strange, wailing songs have the same kinds of universal, categorical rhythms found across human musical cultures. Outside of humans, having rhythm is a rare trait in mammals although it can be found elsewhere in the animal kingdom, perhaps most notably in songbirds. Madagascar's critically endangered 'singing' lemurs Indri indri have a natural ability to keep a beat, just like us humans do, a study has concluded. Pictured: a Madagascan indri HOW DID EVOLUTION GIVE LEMURS RHYTHM LIKE HUMANS? According to Dr Andrea Ravignani, of the Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics, the ability to produce categorical, music-like rhythms likely evolved independently among 'singing' primate species. He and his colleagues reached this conclusion after noting that the last common ancestor between indri and humans lived some 77.5 million years ago. Having a sense of rhythm, they added, may make it easier to produce and process songs and even to learn new ones. Advertisement The study was carried out by comparative bioacoustics expert Andrea Ravignani of the Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics, in the Netherlands, and his colleagues. 'There is longstanding interest in understanding how human musicality evolved, but musicality is not restricted to humans,' explained Dr Ravignani. 'Looking for musical features in other species allows us to build an "evolutionary tree" of musical traits, and understand how rhythm capacities originated and evolved in humans.' For their investigation, Dr Ravignani and colleagues spent 12 years monitoring indri in the rainforest of Madagascar in tandem with a local primate study group. The team recorded songs from 39 indri, together making up 20 groups of the primates. The lemurs tend to sing together in family groups, producing harmonised duets and choruses. Analysis of the animal's songs revealed that they exhibited classic, categorial rhythms in which the intervals between sounds have either exactly the same duration (1:1) rhythm or doubled duration (1:2). When a piece of music has a categorical rhythm, such makes it easily recognisable, even if the song is sung or played at a different speed. The researchers also found evidence of 'ritardando', the slowing down of tempo that is also found in several human musical traditions. Meanwhile, the songs of male and female indri were found to have a different tempo, but nevertheless follow the same rhythm a finding that the researchers have said is the first evidence of a 'rhythmic universal' in a non-human mammal. Analysis of the indri lemurs' songs revealed that they exhibited classic, categorial rhythms in which the intervals between sounds have either exactly the same duration (1:1) rhythm or doubled duration (1:2). Pictured: an indri in the wild 'Categorical rhythms are just one of the six universals that have been identified so far', Dr Ravignani explained. 'We would like to look for evidence of others including an underlying "repetitive" beat and a hierarchical organisation of beats in indri and other species.' The team said that researchers should be looking to gather more data on indri and other similarly endangered species 'before it is too late to witness their breathtaking singing displays.' The full findings of the study were published in the journal Current Biology. Researchers from the Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics and the University of Turin studied the songs of indri in the in the rainforests of Madagascar, in the Indian Ocean Astronomers have discovered 'one of the youngest planets ever found' in deep space, which could shed new light into how planets are formed. The planet, known as 2M0437b, is 'several million years' old and is estimated to be a 'few times more massive than Jupiter,' according to an international team of scientists, led by those at the University of Hawaii, who made the discovery. As 2M0437b is still early in its lifespan, it is still hot from the energy released during its formation. It has a temperature similar to 'the lava erupting from Kilauea Volcano,' according to the statement announcing the discovery. The planet, roughly 400 light-years from Earth, was first spotted in 2018 using the Subaru Telescope. Since then, researchers were studying the object with the Keck Observatory on Maunakea to make sure it was truly a companion to the 2M0437 star. Astronomers discovered 'one of the youngest planets ever found' 400 light-years from Earth. Exoplanet 2M0437b is 'several million years' old and estimated to be a 'few times more massive than Jupiter' The planet was first spotted in 2018 using the Subaru Telescope (pictured) The star 2M0437 moves 'slowly' and both it and its orbiting planet were located in a 'stellar nursery' known as the Taurus Cloud. 'This serendipitous discovery adds to an elite list of planets that we can directly observe with our telescopes,' the study's lead author, Eric Gaidos, said in a statement. 'By analyzing the light from this planet we can say something about its composition, and perhaps where and how it formed in a long-vanished disk of gas and dust around its host star.' Given that planet 2M0437bis so young, it likely has a extremely high temperature, akin to that of 'the lava erupting from Kilauea Volcano,' the scientists noted Given that it is so young, the planet likely has a extremely high temperature, akin to that of 'the lava erupting from Kilauea Volcano,' the scientists noted. Exoplanet 2M0437b has a 'much wider' orbit than the planets in the solar system, at roughly 100 times the distance that the Earth is to the sun. Scientists used 'adaptive' optic technology to compensate for the image distortion that Earth's atmosphere causes. 'Two of the world's largest telescopes, adaptive optics technology and Maunakea's clear skies were all needed to make this discovery,' study co-author Michael Liu added. 'We are all looking forward to more such discoveries, and more detailed studies of such planets with the technologies and telescopes of the future.' Astronomers are excited to learn more about the planet, particularly as new telescopes such as the James Webb Space Telescope, are set to launch. 'Observations with space telescopes such as NASA's Hubble and the soon-to-be-launched James Webb Space Telescope could identify gases in its atmosphere and reveal whether the planet has a moon-forming disk,' Gaidos added. The study has been published in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. NatWest's online banking system is back up and running after customers were left unable to access their accounts during an outage that lasted for almost two hours. According to Down Detector, which monitors website outages, hundreds of users began experiencing issues from around 12:30 BST. NatWest said the problem was resolved at about 14:30 BST and its online banking tool was 'now working as normal'. 'We apologise for the inconvenience caused. No customer will be left out of pocket as a result,' a spokesperson said. The bank did not reveal the cause of the outage. It came just hours after HSBC customers suffered similar problems between 09:30 and 11:30 BST. NatWest's online banking system is back up and running after customers were left unable to access their accounts during an outage that lasted for almost two hours According to Down Detector, which monitors website outages, hundreds of users began experiencing issues from around 12:30 BST London was the area most affected, with issues also reported in cities such as Bristol, Manchester and Birmingham, according to Down Detector Among the NatWest complaints were 63 per cent reporting issues with online banking, 27 per cent with online login troubles, and 10 per cent with mobile banking problems. London was the area most affected, with issues also reported in cities such as Bristol, Manchester and Birmingham, according to Down Detector. NatWest customers took to social media to express their frustration. One Twitter user shared a screengrab of a broken internet page that read 'site can't be reached', before adding: 'Is online banking down?' Another said: 'Why is the online banking down? Trying to make payments.' Hundreds of HSBC users began experiencing similar issues earlier this morning. A spokesperson for the bank told MailOnline that the service was 'stable' as of 11:30 BST. HSBC's online banking system went down this morning, leaving customers unable to access their accounts According to Down Detector, which monitors website outages, hundreds of users began experiencing issues at around 9:30 BST MailOnline asked the bank about the specific cause of the relatively short outage, but the spokesperson said they could not share any detail on this as yet. 'We have identified the likely root cause in fully recovering the service, but further investigations are under way,' they added. A number of people took to social media to express their frustration, saying they had trouble logging in both online and through the HSBCnet app. One HSBC customer wrote on Twitter: 'Is HSBCnet broken? We're not able to log in!' Another added: 'Is there a problem with HSBCnet this morning? I am unable to logon anywhere' One user, Christina Sleight, tweeted: 'Is HSBCnet down?' Earlier, HSBC had acknowledged the problem but said it was only affecting online banking platform HSBCnet and not retail customers. Users of HSBCnet, the bank's online banking platform, took to Twitter to share their issues on Monday morning A spokesman said: 'The account access issues seen by some business customers lasted for less than half an hour, though some intermittent issues remain so customers may have to retry. We are working to resolve these residual issues. 'We apologise for any inconvenience caused.' Down Detector gets network status updates from various sources including social media and reports submitted to its website. Reports started to surge at around 9am on Monday morning, peaking at more than 300 at about 10:30am. The majority of issues reported 63 per cent related to online banking, while a further 31 per cent were specifically about an inability to log in, according to Down Detector. This Down Detector map shows the areas of the UK where HSBC customers were having issues Reports had fallen to just 28 at around 11:15am, coinciding with HSBC's announcement that the issue had been resolved. Down Detector's 'heat map' of user-submitted problem reports shows affected customers are mostly in the UK's major cities, including London, Manchester, Cardiff and Belfast. Also on Monday, HSBC announced a 74 per cent jump in third quarter profit, allowing it to announce a share buyback of $2 billion. The Asia-focused bank posted pretax profit of $5.4 billion for the quarter to September, which compares with $3.1 billion a year prior. A man was murdered 1,300 years ago in northwest China and now, scientists believe the killers dumped the body in an ancient cemetery to cover up their tracks by 'hiding a leaf in the forests.'The young male was originally found in 2011when excavation began at Shiyanzi cemetery that had just discovered a few years prior. The victim's skeleton was found inside a tomb shaft that led to the resting place of a family a man, woman and child and was initially thought to have been a grave robber who accidently died while stealing goods from the grave. A team of scientists, led by Texas A&M University, determined the remains sat 14 feet above the floor of the burial chamber, which suggests he died a significant time after there was a grave robbery. Researchers also note that the man lived during the Tang dynasty, which hung or decapitated people found guilty of murder or assault leading to severe injury. A man was murdered 1,300 years ago in northwest China and now, scientists believe the killers dumped the body in an ancient cemetery to cover up their tracks by 'hiding a leaf in the forests' The Shiyanzi cemetery was discovered by construction workers working on a pipeline through the region of Ningxia in 2002, South China Morning Post reports. Excavations of the graveyard, which was built 2,000 years ago during the Han Dynasty (206BC-220AD), began in 2009 and uncovered a total of 11 tombs. Archaeologists began unearthing remains in each tomb until they came across one with a skeleton stuck inside a shaft above the grave. Following a deeper analysis, the three skeletons in the main area were found to be related, while the one in the shaft did not belong to this family and was also 700 years younger when he died - this was determine during a bone analysis. Excavations of the graveyard, which was built 2,000 years ago during the Han Dynasty (206BC-220AD), began in 2009 and uncovered a total of 11 tombs. Archaeologists began unearthing remains in each tomb until they came across one with a skeleton stuck inside a shaft above the grave The victim's skeleton was found inside a tomb shaft that led to the resting place of a family a man, woman and child (Pictured are the remains of the original owners of the tomb) It was previously speculated that the young male fell into the shaft while attempting to rob the grave, but as experts note, his body was nowhere near the area where grave goods sat. Following the bone analysis that determined the date when the man died, the experts set out to learn how he may have met his demise 1,300 years ago. There were 13 'V-shaped sharp-force marks' on the skeleton, with the worst located on the face - but experts say they were not deep enough to have killed the man. What may have killed the man were stab wounds to his ribs that may have punctured vital organs like his heart or lungs. Researchers were able to paint a picture of the the horrific event after seeing marks on the back of the head: these marks suggest the man was being attacked while he was turned away, which could suggest he was attempting to escape his captures. There were 13 'V-shaped sharp-force marks' on the skeleton, with the worst located on the face - but experts say they were not deep enough to have killed the man. The potentially deadly injuries showed on the ribs (h) Pictured are scans of the man's skull, showing wounds on his face Scientists believe the shaft was dug by the killers who then dropped the man's body inside and filled up the hole before carrying on their way. 'Through a reconstruction of the tomb and its relationship with the individual, it was believed that this individual was a victim of an assault,' the study's authors wrote. The Shiyanzi cemetery was discovered by construction workers working on a pipeline through the region of Ningxia in 2002 'After the assault, the victim was dumped in this shaft to purposely kept from sight. This case indicates that the strategy of hiding victims' bodies in existing tombs or graveyards as a means of disposal, akin to 'hiding a leaf in the forest,' has been practiced since antiquity.' The study was published in Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences. The winter migration of birds southwards from Europe to Africa may become a thing of the past thanks to the impacts of climate change, a study has warned. Many species are already spending up to an extra two months in their summer breeding grounds already, a team of researchers led from Durham University found. They came to this conclusion after studying more than 50 years of trans-Saharan migratory bird sightings from both Gibraltar and The Gambia. Among the affected species are some of Europe's most common migratory birds including Nightingales and Willow Warblers. The team's data suggest that these birds are able to survive longer in their European breeding grounds than before and may one day not need to migrate at all. The findings show that birds are not just timing their migrations based on day length, but make nuanced decisions factoring in climate and vegetation availability. It is estimated that some 4,000 bird species around 40 per cent of the world's total undertake regular migrations. The winter migration of birds southwards from Europe to Africa may become a thing of the past thanks to the impacts of climate change, a study has warned. Pictured: the common nightingale, one of the many species whose migrations are already changing schedules 'If the trends we have seen in this study continue we may see that, in time, some birds will spend no time at all in sub-Saharan Africa, and instead spend the full year within Europe,' said paper author and Durham University ecologist Kieran Lawrence. 'The changes in migratory habits we are already seeing could lead to longer breeding seasons for these species, as well as knock-on effects on other species both here in the UK and in the traditional winter migration destinations. 'In Europe, the longer presence of traditionally migratory birds could lead to increased competition for autumn/winter food and resources for resident bird species that do not migrate. 'Meanwhile, in the traditional migration destinations of sub-Saharan Africa a reduction in the time migratory birds spend there could have implications for ecosystem services such as insect consumption, seed dispersal and pollination.' In their study, Mr Lawrence and colleagues analysed data on local bird sightings collected by ornithologists in The Gambia from 19642019 and members of the Gibraltar Ornithological & Natural History Society from 19912018. From this, the team assessed changes in migratory bird arrival and departure dates over time, comparing this with observed climate and vegetation changes. The researchers found that birds are arriving at their winter migration destinations later into the Autumn than they were in the past and also heading back north earlier in the spring. 'Next, we aim to apply a new model, which we are developing at Durham, to simulate these complex migrations,' added lead author and Durham University bioscientist Stephen Willis. This model, he explained, could be applied 'to future scenarios to understand how the patterns we have identified in trans-Saharan birds over recent decades may continue or change.' Many species are already spending up to an extra two months in their summer breeding grounds already, a team of researchers led from Durham University found. Pictured: a white wagtail, one of the migratory birds that the researchers assessed in their study The researchers studied more than 50 years of trans-Saharan migratory bird sightings from both Gibraltar and The Gambia The team's data suggest that birds like the northern wheatear (pictured) are able to survive longer in their European breeding grounds than before and may one day not need to migrate 'It is very satisfying to see the constructive way the Gambian migrant bird records are now being used to highlight the changing migratory patterns of these species,' said paper author Clive Barlow of the Birds of The Gambia 'Until the current research, no-one had realised the extent to which migrant birds are spending less of the year in sub-Saharan Africa,' he added. The full findings of the study were published in the journal Global Change Biology. The findings show that birds like the yellow wagtail, pictured, are not just timing their migrations based on day length, but make nuanced decisions factoring in climate and vegetation availability One of the rarest mammals in the world - the North Atlantic right whale - lost 10 percent of its population last year, bringing the total to 336, the North Atlantic Right Whale Consortium said on Monday. The agency notes that the 2020 population figure, down from 366 in 2019, is the lowest for the endangered species in nearly 20 years. The sharp drop is a result of poor reproduction and high mortality over the last decade, according to officials, as these whales are vulnerable to ship collisions and are known to become entangled in fishing gear. Right whales were once abundant in the waters off New England, but were decimated during the commercial whaling era from the late 1700s through the mid-1800s, due to their high concentrations of oil. They have been listed as endangered by the U.S. government for more than half a century and federally protected since 1972, but the majestic creatures have yet to fully recover. Scroll down for video One of the rarest marine animals in the world - the North Atlantic right whale - lost 10 percent of its population in just a year, brining the total to just 336 Scott Kraus, chair of the consortium, said in a statement: 'No one engaged in right whale work believes that the species cannot recover from this. 'They absolutely can, if we stop killing them and allow them to allocate energy to finding food, mates and habitats that aren't marred with deadly obstacles.' The North Atlantic right whale is a baleen whale and is one of three right whale species belonging to the genus Eubalaena. The whales feed and mate off New England and Canada and then travel hundreds of miles in the fall to calving grounds off Georgia and Florida before returning north in the spring. The recent decline is a result of poor reproduction and high mortality over the last decade, according to officials, along with these whales being vulnerable to ship collisions and are known to become entangled in fishing gear The whale consortium was founded in the mid-1980s by a group of science institutions, including the New England Aquarium. It now includes dozens of members from academia, industry, government and elsewhere. The team has since been monitoring the population, noting all the declines and rises. In 1990, there were as few as 270 surviving individuals and then the population grew to 481 in 2011, but has been on the decline since. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the arm of the federal government that monitors and regulates ocean issues, cautioned that the group's estimate is preliminary and has not yet been peer reviewed. However, the agency shares the consortium's concern about the loss of right whales, said Allison Ferreira, a spokesperson for the agency, said Monday. 'North Atlantic right whales are one of the most imperiled species on the planet, and the latest estimate shows that the substantial downward trajectory of right whale abundance documented over the last decade continues,' Ferreira said. The whales, which can weight 135,000 pounds have been a focus of conservationists for generations. In 1990, there were as few as 270 surviving individuals and then the population grew to 481 in 2011, but has been on the decline since Recently, efforts to save the whales have resulted in new restrictions on U.S. lobster fishing, and pushback from the fishing industry about those new rules. The rules are designed to reduce the number of rope lines that link buoys to lobster and crab traps, and went into effect this year. However, the rules also resulted in a flurry of lawsuits, and a federal judge ruled this month that fishermen can continue to fish until further notice in an area off the coast of Maine that had been slated for restriction from their gear. In Monday's Daily Mail Frankie Dettori described how he narrowly escaped death in a plane crash. Now, in the third and final extract from his gripping autobiography 'Leap Of Faith', he recalls fighting back from a drugs ban to win his second Derby, and his amazing winning streak on Enable, the best horse he ever rode... Frankie Dettori discusses his journey with Enable in his new autobiography 'Leap Of Faith' Derby Day. Theres nothing else like it. Its our Super Bowl, our Wimbledon, our Monaco Grand Prix. Its the race I dreamed of winning as a young kid on a pony back in Milan. The Derby is the greatest race in the world and for pretty much all my career Id ridden it every year, and finally achieved my lifelong ambition of winning it in 2007. That was before everything went to pot. In late 2012, angered by being passed over time and time again in favour of younger jockeys, I announced that Id no longer be riding for Sheik Mohammed of Dubais Godolphin stables in Newmarket. That coincided with my six-month ban from the sport after Id taken cocaine at a party and tested positive in a random drugs test. My drugs ban ended in May 2013, just in time for that years Derby, but the question was whether anyone would have me and I realised that the break from Godolphin wasnt just a one-time thing, done and dusted. An outfit that rich and powerful controls a lot of people, either directly or indirectly. There were trainers who werent allowed to give me rides and there were trainers who could give me rides but didnt want to for fear that they would get blowback from Godolphin. No one said this directly; no one needed to. It was just a general unspoken threat. It was not even necessarily coming straight from Godolphin. But thats the influence they had. People who I thought were my friends fobbed me off with lame excuses. I was the forgotten man, the ghost of Derbies past who couldnt beg, steal or borrow a mount on the biggest day of all. Finally I got three rides at Epsom on the day before the Derby itself. It was too foggy to go by helicopter so I went by car and when we finally reached the racecourse, after hitting heavy traffic which sent my stress levels through the roof, we couldnt get past the long queues for the car park. Missing my comeback wouldnt have been a great look. It was hard enough getting the rides in the first place. So at the three-furlong marker I hopped out of the car and ran to the rail, where two security guards stopped me and insisted I had to go via the main entrance which would have made me late for the first race. Dettori recalls being handed a six-month ban after failing a random drugs' test in 2012 Almost before I knew it, Id ducked past them, jumped the rail and was running the last three furlongs. I didnt look behind to see if they were chasing me and I didnt care: I wasnt going to be late. Those first three races back yielded two last places and a fifth out of eight. It was hardly the stuff of fairy tales and I realised that the idea that Id just pick up where I left off was ludicrous. Six months was by far the longest Id been out of racing since I began my career almost 25 years previously and I was trying too hard to make things happen. The horses could sense my low mood and the more mistakes I made the more I lost confidence, which made me ride even worse, and the vicious circle went on. I became depressed, lethargic, moody. I was a complete nuisance: moping around, succeeding only in depressing myself, no use to anybody. To add insult to injury, many people thought my problem was not that I was trying too hard but that I was trying too little. Frankie doesnt care any more, they were saying. Hes too rich, too complacent, too in love with being famous. They didnt say it to my face, of course, but I heard it on the grapevine anyway. Everybody jumped on the bandwagon, got the knives out and kicked me in the backside. At one stage I went 50 races without a winner. Fifty! Even by the law of averages, youd probably have at least one or two in that time simply by sitting on the horse and pointing it in the right direction. I finished 2013 with 16 winners, and 2014 wasnt much better, only yielding 37. I contemplated giving up but then came a call from John Gosden, one of the best trainers in racing, inviting me to ride for him at his Clarehaven Stables in Newmarket. Dettori celebrates as he rides Golden Horn to win the iconic Derby at Epsom back in 2015 This was the second time in my career that John had been prepared to back me when nobody else would. The first was when I was 22 and hed got me riding for Sheik Mohammed, despite a police caution for possession of cocaine. Now hed given me the opportunity Id been praying for, riding a superstar horse in the shape of Golden Horn, the favourite for that 2015 Derby. The night before I slept badly, as I always do. I used to shy away from the nerves but now I embrace them: I need them to help me perform at my best and the night I get eight hours uninterrupted kip before the Derby is the day I hang up my boots for good. Coming downstairs to make myself a coffee that morning on June 6, I saw that my five kids had made a banner for me and draped it across the kitchen window. GOOD LUCK, DADDY, it said. Leo was then 15, followed by Ella, 14, Mia, 12, Tallula who was 11, and 10-year-old Rocco. They were old enough to know what the race meant to me and I fought back the tears as I kissed them goodbye, one by one, followed by my wife Catherine. The previous year, when I was about to give up, shed sat me down and given it to me straight. You keep telling me how f***ing good you are, she said. Well, nows the time to show it. Now was the time indeed. I hugged her hard. Shed been there for me through all the ups and downs, and wed had more of both than the Big Dipper on Blackpool Beach. I couldnt have done any of this without her and I mean that from the bottom of my heart. Epsom is one of the most testing Flat racing tracks on the planet, not least because in the first half mile it rises 150 feet, almost the height of Nelsons Column. As youre eased into the stalls its like looking up a mountain. As the race got going, Golden Horn wanted to go out too fast and have his own way. No, I said, come here. Im in charge, not you. The legendary jockey did not believe he would ever ride a better horse than Golden Horn I always think of the horse as a ball of energy I have to eke out along the course. That energy is like a petrol gauge and if its a close race I need it to run out exactly on the line: not a stride after, and certainly not a stride before. I had so much experience by then that it was like playing chess. I saw the race not as it was but as it would be in a few seconds time. I knew that one horse in front of me would go left and the other would go right. I didnt even know how I knew this: it was tiny pieces of memory stored in my brain which came up just when I needed them. With 150 metres to go it was all sewn up. I knew we were going to win. In all my years of riding, in all the races Ive won, it was the best and most exciting moment. More than my Magnificent Seven at Ascot, more than my first Derby, more than anything. They told me I was finished. They told me Id never be the same jockey again. They told me I should head off into the sunset and let the young bucks fight it out. They were wrong. They were all wrong. Frankie Dettori, two-time Derby winner. How do you like them apples? I looked down at my breeches. L. Dettori, they said. L for my full name Lanfranco. And now L for Lazarus. Later that year, Golden Horn and I won the Prix de lArc de Triomphe, the French race which is one of the sports greatest events. A DerbyArc double isnt unknown six horses had done it in the previous 50 years but it is rare and you need a special horse to pull it off. At the end of that season Golden Horn was retired to stud. What a horse and what a privilege to have ridden him that year. Ill never ride a better horse than that, I told John. But, not for the first time, I was wrong. My 2017 season at Clarehaven started with riding out on a filly called Enable. She was a reluctant worker, and every ounce of her demeanour suggested shed rather be back in her stable having a good old nosh on some hay rather than put up with some damn fool Italian jumping around on her back. Dettori's 2017 season started with riding on a filly called Enable, who was a reluctant worker At the races she was a very different horse, puffing out her chest, arching her neck so the veins were sticking out and chewing at the bit like a boxer going into the ring. She just knew that this was her stage. That year we won all three Oaks Epsom, Irish and Yorkshire followed by the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot and then the Prix in which the lift-off when I finally asked her to go wouldnt have disgraced a rocket. That was my fifth Arc, a record for one jockey. What a way to do it and what a horse to do it on: a destination horse, one the crowds came to see, one who put thousands on a gate just by her presence alone. They dont come along very often. The following year Enable was out of action for several months following knee surgery and I went to see her three or four times a week. Where are you going? Catherine would say. To the yard to see Enable. Why? No reason. Just to see her. Just to spend time with her, talk to her, bask in the warmth of her stardust and feed her endless Polo mints. I spent more on those at the garage than I did on petrol. Dettori, on his horse Enable, celebrates after winning the 2018 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe She was fit in time for us to win the Arc again that October of 2018 and the Breeders Cup in Kentucky the following month. An Arc and Breeders double. History right there. A few have tried but only Enable had succeeded. A further victory in the King George followed in 2019 and again in 2020, her final season before going off to stud. That last King George took place only a few months after the start of the pandemic and as we crossed the line, making Enable the first horse to win the race three times, my screams of I love you! echoed round the empty stands at Ascot. Three months later we attempted to win the Arc for the third time, Pierre-Charles Boudot on Waldgeist having beaten us the previous year. No horse had ever achieved the treble and only one jockey had Pat Eddery, on three different mounts between 1985 and 1987 but she finished sixth and in front of an empty grandstand to boot. That is not how it should have ended. Enable deserved a final victory in front of a rapturous crowd cheering her home to the last echo. I got off and cuddled her. Theres no horse who can replace what we did together. Wed had an unbelievable journey and I was very grateful for that. On her last day at Clarehaven before going off to stud she had her picture taken in the colours of her owner Prince Abdullah, the lovely pink, green and white shed worn so well. The entire stable staff came out into the front yard, and I took her on three laps, each one to a standing ovation. I could hardly see through my tears. Everyone else was crying too. This is how a horse like Enable can touch your soul. Her road was run and though mine isnt yet I know that one day it will be. The sands are running through my hourglass the same way they ran through hers, and I know that part of my wanting to stall the end of her time was wanting to stall my own too. I dread the day I have to stop. Ive woken up every morning for 35 years doing exactly the same thing, going out there, competing, travelling the world, all the ups and downs, people adoring me and hating me. Ive been in the fast lane for so long that Ive become addicted to it. But nothing lasts for ever. Once I stop all this madness, when I step off that treadmill, Ill just have to readjust: reset myself, reset the treadmill at a different pace. Start another life. God, it will be hard. And scary, too. But Ill find a way. With their dramatic mountains, towering cliffs and majestic waterfalls, the Norwegian fjords are among the most beautiful and unspoilt places on Earth. A winter cruise is the best way to see them and once darkness falls theres also the chance to witness one of natures most bewitching spectacles: the Northern Lights. On our memorable 12-day cruise, you will have the opportunity to meet legendary explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes, who has completed record-breaking missions to both North and South Poles and Mount Everest, and conquered the North Face of the Eiger. Light fantastic: Witness the awesome aurora borealis On day nine of the incredible tour you'll visit the Lofoten Islands (pictured) Sir Ranulph will give two talks and a Q&A during your trip and will join you on an included excursion to see the breathtaking North Cape, Europes most northerly point. Our first Northern Lights cruise with Sir Ranulph, which sailed along the Norwegian coastline at the end of last year, was hugely popular with readers so book your place now to avoid missing out. REASONS TO BOOK Throughout this unforgettable journey you will be sailing on MS Richard With OUR SPECIAL GUEST You will be joined by Ranulph Fiennes The extraordinary achievements of Sir Ranulph Fiennes make him the worlds greatest living explorer. He served in the Army for eight years, as a member of the Royal Scots Greys and the SAS, and later embarked on missions to many of Earths most inhospitable places. He was the first person (with Charles Burton) to conquer both North and South Poles on foot, and was the first (with Mike Stroud) to cross the Antarctic continent on foot. In 2009, he climbed Everest at 65, becoming the oldest Briton to reach the summit. Advertisement Meet Sir Ranulph Fiennes: This is a unique opportunity to meet the famous explorer and hear first-hand about his remarkable feats of courage and endurance. Sir Ranulph will give an exclusive talk and video presentation on board the ship, and you will also have the chance to ask him your own questions in a private Q&A session. See the spectacular North Cape: You will enjoy a special included excursion with Sir Ranulph, on which you will visit Norways remote and beautiful North Cape. Sail the fjords in style: Throughout this unforgettable journey you will be sailing on MS Richard With. On-board facilities include a two-storey panoramic lounge with floor-to-ceiling windows, an a la carte restaurant, bar, cafes, bakery, two hot tubs, sauna with a view, fitness room and library. The ship also hosts a series of free talks and demonstrations. The delicious food, which includes Norwegian specialities such as roast reindeer and aquavit ice cream, is all sourced locally. Meals are included in the price. Your Northern Lights promise: Our travel partner, Hurtigruten, is so confident you will see the Northern Lights during your 12-day trip that if you dont, the company will offer you another six- or seven-day Northern Lights voyage free of charge***. The worlds most beautiful voyage: During this cruise you will see 2,500 miles of Norways stunning coastline, have the chance to explore more than 30 historic ports and spend seven days in the auroral zone, where sightings of the Northern Lights are at their most breathtaking. Amazing Arctic activities: You can also take your pick from dozens of optional activities**, from guided nature walks and husky-sledding to tucking into a traditional Viking feast. Advertisement Need to chill out? Then you might warm to the idea of staying in a former refrigerated truck trailer one that has been transformed into a cosy holiday rental. Polish mobile hotel chain Good Spot operates four such rentals and is gearing up to launch a new service, where guests vote online for where they are set up. While the details haven't been finalised yet, Good Spot plans to open the vote in January, with holidaymakers selecting between two intriguing landscapes - a lake and a seaside location in Poland. Polish mobile hotel chain Good Spot operates holiday rentals housed in former refrigerated truck trailers (pictured) The vote will initially take place on Good Spot's social media, but as the hotel grows - they aim to add 50 trailers to their current roster of four - their website will host the voting poll. One potential location is a 'mystery' lake - a reservoir created by a glacier - which 'delights with its crystal-clear water not polluted by exhaust fumes or sewage'. It's an ideal spot for fishing, according to Good Spot's financial director Roman Sokolowski. He says: 'Even novice anglers can catch huge fish - bream, eels, pikes and perch.' Good Spot's trailers are talking points in themselves. The trailers have been created by Polish design firm Znamy Sie, based in the city of Wrocaw, which is delighted to have repurposed them Pictured above is the kitchen and shower in one of Good Spot's trailer apartments. The firm operates four, but is hoping to add another 50 They have been created by Polish design firm Znamy Sie, based in the city of Wrocaw, which is delighted to have repurposed them. A statement from the agency, run by college friends Aleksandra Majdzik, Bogna Kawa and Wojciech Nowak, reads: 'A huge number of isothermal refrigerated trailers withdrawn from the market are imported to our country each year. Poland is thus becoming a graveyard for these no-longer-used trucks. 'By renovating a trailer, we give it a second life!' In the centre of each trailer is a bathroom, where the icy blue colour palette reflects the vehicle's cold-storage history. There is a kitchen, and two bedrooms at either end - one double, and one twin plus a small porch running down one side. The design intends to 'evoke nostalgic associations with trips to the mountains and the seaside', according to Znamy Sie. The biggest design challenge was providing hotel-style amenities in such a small space. As for the reaction to the unusual structures, the design agency says people are 'curious' when they see the trailers for the first time. What's it like to spend the night inside? One Good Spot trailer reviewer said: 'This was the best stay in the mountains we have ever had. Many thanks for such a beautiful place' Poland has become 'a refrigerated trailer graveyard' Znamy Sie says: 'It is definitely an interesting experience. It is a bit associated with camping trips outside the city. However, it is not a typical caravan, in terms of use it does not differ from a small apartment.' The hotel's reviews speak for themselves. One guest wrote after their stay: 'An experience unlike any other. The trailer resembles a tiny hotel room, nothing is missing. We were just closing the beach season in Mrzezyno - we had close proximity to the beach and food, and at the same time, peace, quiet and forest surroundings like in a remote area. We will definitely come back, but this time we will throw ourselves into the mountain landscape.' Another wrote: 'This was the best stay in the mountains we have ever had. Many thanks for such a beautiful place.' The company hopes to venture further afield in years to come, setting up the mobile hotel in different countries and across a wider variety of landscapes. The four trailers spent the summer of 2021 in Mrzezyno, a village on the Baltic Sea, before moving in September to Karpacz, a ski town in the Karkonosze Mountains. Landowners propose their sites for the hotel, generating revenue from the land rental. Good Spot investigates each proposal, checking the area in terms of its natural attractiveness, connections to power grids, and water and sewage systems. The concept behind the business came when its founders were on a kitesurfing trip at the seaside resort of Hel in Poland. Taking in the scenery, they came up with the idea for a hotel that could 'move around and stop in places that offer the best conditions and proximity to nature'. Depending on the location, a night in the hotel costs from 36 ($50) to 109 ($150). For more information, visit Znamy Sie and Good Spot. They can also be found on Instagram or Facebook. Married At First Sight bride Joanne Todd has returned to work as a barber less than one month after she was sacked for refusing to get the Covid-19 vaccine. The mother-of-three, 40, shared the news to her Instagram on Sunday, before inviting her followers to come in for a haircut at Moe & Co. in Karingal, Melbourne. 'I've started a new job!' she wrote alongside of the new salon. Back to work! Married At First Sight bride Joanne Todd, 40, (pictured) has returned to work as a barber less than one month after she was sacked for refusing to get the Covid-19 vaccine Jo said that she was thrilled to be back doing what she loves, but did not reveal whether she has been vaccinated or not. 'I'm very lucky to get to work next to one of my closest friends everyday. It makes my job even more enjoyable, also having such a great boss,' she added. Last month, Jo announced that she was no longer working at her usual barbershop in Karingal after being told to get the jab or quit. Happy: The mother-of-three (pictured centre) shared the news to her Instagram on Sunday before inviting her followers to come in for a haircut at Moe & Co, in Karingal, Melbourne New job: Jo said that she was thrilled to be back doing what she loves, but did not reveal whether she has been vaccinated or not Jo has insisted she's not an anti-vaxxer, despite recently losing her job as a barber for refusing to get the jab. In an interview with Yahoo! Lifestyle, she maintained that she is not against getting the vaccine, but wanted to 'wait a little longer'. She said that while she's not opposed to the Covid vaccine, she does believe that people who choose not to get vaccinated are being treated 'unfairly'. Support: 'I'm very lucky to get to work next to one of my closest friends everyday. It makes my job even more enjoyable, also having such a great boss,' she added. Pictured with co-worker 'I want people to know that I am not anti-vax at all. I do think it should be a choice,' she explained. 'I also think it's unfair how the unvaccinated are being treated for their own rights to not choose to get the vaccine. 'I just believe that everyone should have a choice with their own bodies and not come with rules.' Speaking out: Since making her announcement last month, Jo has insisted she's not an anti-vaxxer, despite recently losing her job as a barber for refusing to get the Covid-19 vaccine Jo said she'll happily 'cut the unvaccinated and the vaccinated', insisting she 'won't discriminate'. 'I'm not saying I'll never get a vaccine. I am just choosing to wait a little longer,' she added. Jo was relentlessly mocked on social media after revealing she lost her job for refusing the Covid-19 vaccine. Creating controversy: Jo insisted that a video she shared to Instagram informing her clients that she wouldn't be returning to the salon had been 'blown way out of proportion' While there was the usual chorus of 'good for you' and 'stand up for your rights' from anti-vaxxers, other Aussies said they had 'no sympathy' for the MAFS star. She was labelled foolish for choosing to walk away from her job of 12 years because of her stubbornness, with some fans saying they were unfollowing her on Instagram. The coronavirus vaccine is a safe and vital measure being taken to protect the community from the spread of the virus. The vaccine makes you significantly less likely to become seriously ill with Covid, and also reduces the likelihood of transmission. Sunrise co-host Natalie Barr was reportedly surprised when her predecessor Sam Armytage extended her contract with Channel Seven for another year. Many industry observers had expected Armytage to walk off into the sunset and leave the TV industry behind after quitting the breakfast show in March to spend more time at her Southern Highlands farm with husband Richard Lavender. But her decision this month to re-sign with Seven apparently blindsided Barr, who didn't expect her to stay at the network given unflattering remarks she had made about her colleagues following her exit from Sunrise. Breakfast TV wars: Sunrise co-host Natalie Barr (left) was reportedly surprised when her predecessor Sam Armytage (right) extended her contract with Channel Seven for another year Weeks before leaving Sunrise, Armytage had ruffled feathers by telling News Corp's Stellar magazine the TV industry was 'full of sociopaths and narcissists'. A source told Woman's Day: '[These comments] should've been a career suicide... Nat, along with other colleagues, is worried that by allowing her back they're sending the wrong message. 'Imagine how Nat feels? Thankfully, after a series of back-to-back crisis meetings, senior management have assured [her] she's got nothing to worry about.' Armytage isn't expected to return to Sunrise, and her commitments at Seven in 2022 are believed to be limited to horse racing coverage and guest hosting Farmer Wants A Wife alongside Natalie Gruzlewski. Unexpected: Armytage's decision this month to re-sign with Seven apparently blindsided Barr, who didn't expect her to stay at the network given unflattering remarks she had made about her colleagues following her exit from Sunrise Woman's Day claims Seven may have extended Armytage's contract simply to prevent her from signing to another commercial rival. The network may also be concerned about the possibility of Armytage releasing a 'brutal tell-all' memoir, like former Today co-host Lisa Wilkinson has done. Barr, Sunrise's long-serving newsreader, replaced Armytage as co-anchor in March, stepping in alongside David 'Kochie' Koch. All is forgiven? Weeks before leaving Sunrise, Armytage had ruffled feathers by telling News Corp's Stellar magazine the TV industry was 'full of sociopaths and narcissists'. A source said, '[These comments] should've been a career suicide... Nat, along with other colleagues, is worried that by allowing her back they're sending the wrong message' Concerns: Woman's Day claims Seven may have extended Armytage's contract simply to prevent her from signing to another commercial rival. The network may also be concerned about the possibility of Armytage releasing a 'brutal tell-all' memoir The two women reportedly feuded in the months after Armytage left the show. Soon after her departure, Armytage took a swipe at Barr by tweeting: 'Nats wanted the job, forever... and she's finally got it.' Unfortunately for Barr, the former anchor won't be leaving the hallways of Seven anytime soon as she prepares to make a guest appearance on dating show Farmer Wants a Wife, alongside her husband Richard Lavender, next year. Rivalry rumours: The two women reportedly feuded in the months after Armytage left Sunrise She's back! Unfortunately for Barr, the former anchor won't be leaving the hallways of Seven anytime soon as she prepares to make a guest appearance on dating show Farmer Wants a Wife, alongside her husband Richard Lavender, next year Armytage, who married wealthy farmer Lavender, 60, late last year, will assist with the matchmaking process alongside host Natalie Gruzlewski. 'I'm thrilled to be joining Farmer Wants a Wife in 2022,' she said in a statement earlier this month. '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.' Helping others find love: Armytage, who married wealthy farmer Lavender, 60, late last year, will assist with the matchmaking process alongside host Natalie Gruzlewski 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'. 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. More roles: Armytage will also feature in coverage of six horse racing events in 2022 '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.' Armytage will also feature in coverage of six horse racing events in 2022. The Daily Telegraph reports she will shoot 'packages from the races to be incorporated into Seven's coverage' but won't be presenting or calling races. 'She was contracted to the end of the year so we expected this might be a case of her being a few new projects to see her through but a new contract reopens the door. She could turn up anywhere in the future,' an insider said. The new season of Farmer Wants a Wife premieres next year on Seven Hollywood icons Ray Liotta and Rosanna Arquette helped celebrate the next generation of acting stars at Variety's 10 Actors to Watch. The trade publication announced the 10 actors - Camille Cottin, Danielle Deadwyler, Leslie Grace, Emilia Jones, Jaden Michael, Justin H. Min, Moses Ingram, Angourie Rice, Saniyya Sidney and Filippo Scotti - back in September. The actors were all honored at the The Balboa Bay Club And Resort as part of the Newport Beach Film Festival. Celebrate: Hollywood icons Ray Liotta and Rosanna Arquette helped celebrate the next generation of acting stars at Variety's 10 Actors to Watch Liotta stepped out wearing a dark blue suit with no tie and his white dress shirt slightly unbuttoned. He also wore a dark blue suit coat and matching pants while completing his look with a pair of black shoes. Rosanna Arquette hit the red carpet with a pristine white coat that fell just above her knees. Ray's look: Liotta stepped out wearing a dark blue suit with no tie and his white dress shirt slightly unbuttoned Rosanna's look: Rosanna Arquette hit the red carpet with a pristine white coat that fell just above her knees The blonde actress also wore a unique necklace with a white dress shirt, navy blue pants and stylish white boots to complete her look. She also posed on the red carpet with one of the evening's honorees, Moses Ingram, who earned an Emmy nod for playing Jolene on Netflix's The Queen's Gambit. Ingram hit the red carpet in a black halter top under a tan suit coat and matching tan skirt with black boots. Rosana and Moses: She also posed on the red carpet with one of the evening's honorees, Moses Ingram, who earned an Emmy nod for playing Jolene on Netflix's The Queen's Gambit Variety has named their annual 10 Actors to Watch every year since 1998, with past winners including Mahershala Ali, Timothee Chalamet, Viola Davis, Adam Driver, Brie Larson and Lupita Nyongo. Others who helped celebrate these rising stars were Regina Hall, who stunned in an off-shoulder red dress with pink heels. She accessorized with earrings while walking the red carpet in style. Regina: Others who helped celebrate these rising stars were Regina Hall, who stunned in an off-shoulder red dress with pink heels Red carpet ready: She accessorized with earrings while walking the red carpet in style Harvey Keitel was all smiles on the red carpet with a black-on-black suit and black sandals, alongside his wife of 20 years, Daphna Kastner. Thomasin McKenzie stepped out in an elegant black dress with black platform heels for the event. Australian cinematographer Dion Beebe (Chicago) was also at the event with a black t-shirt under a dark blue suit coat, dark blue jeans and black sneakers. Harvey and Daphna: Harvey Keitel was all smiles on the red carpet with a black-on-black suit and black sandals, alongside his wife of 20 years, Daphna Kastner Black look: Thomasin McKenzie stepped out in an elegant black dress with black platform heels for the event Dion: Australian cinematographer Dion Beebe (Chicago) was also at the event with a black t-shirt under a dark blue suit coat, dark blue jeans and black sneakers Saniyya: Saniyya Sidney rocks a strapless floral print dress and black platform heeled boots Justin: Justin H. Min rocks a blue leather coat, black shirt, black pants and black shoes They announced their exciting engagement news back in July. And Married At First Sight star Rhyce Power and his fiancee Taylor Peters finally celebrated their upcoming nuptials over the weekend. The couple enjoyed a low-key party at a Gold Coast home with friends and family. Happy! Married At First Sight star Rhyce Power and his fiancee Taylor Peters finally celebrated their upcoming nuptials over the weekend with an engagement party on the Gold Coast The group feasted on BBQ meats and salads, and the couple cut into a cute pink and white cake adorned 'Happy Engagement - Rhyce and Taylor'. Rhyce's bride-to-be stunned in an animal print dress teamed with white strappy heels. Meanwhile, Rhyce showed off her muscular tattooed arms in a white polo shirt with ripped jeans. Wild thing! Rhyce's bride-to-be stunned in an animal print dress teamed with white strappy heels The brother of MAFS star Jessika Power said he was suffering from a bad hangover the following day, writing, 'now I remember why I don't drink.' Rhyce, 29, broke the exciting news he was engaged on Instagram Stories back in July, uploading a video of Taylor's hand as she showed off her new ring. Fans of the reality star were understandably shocked by the revelation, given that Rhyce had never introduced Taylor as his girlfriend on Instagram before. Big news: They announced their exciting engagement news back in July Pretty in pink: The group feasted on BBQ meats and salads and the couple cut into a cute pink and white cake, adorned 'Happy Engagement - Rhyce and Taylor' Surprise! Rhyce, 29, broke the exciting news he was engaged on Instagram Stories back in July, uploading a video of Taylor's hand as she showed off her new ring Responding to the news, Rhyce's sister, MAFS bride Jessika, told Daily Mail Australia that she's overjoyed to welcome Taylor into the Power brood. 'I'm very happy for my brother and Taylor - I've known his intentions for some time and I'm so overjoyed to see her say yes,' the reality star enthused. 'I'm very pleased to welcome Taylor into the family and I hope they both have a happy and healthy future together.' Ring-a-ding-ding! Rhyce broke the exciting news via Instagram Stories on Saturday night, uploading a video of Taylor's hand as she showed off her new ring Taylor, a Queensland-based false eyelash technician, went 'Instagram official' with Rhyce back in May, uploading a photo of the tattooed couple kissing at a restaurant. 'It will always be you [love-heart emoji],' the besotted brunette wrote in the caption. Meanwhile, OnlyFans star Rhyce has left a number of amorous comments on his future bride's Instagram photos recently. Keeping it under wraps: Fans of the reality star were understandably shocked by the revelation, given that Rhyce (left) had never introduced Taylor (right) as his girlfriend on Instagram before 'I've known his intentions for some time and I'm so overjoyed to see her say yes': Responding to the news, Rhyce's sister, MAFS bride Jessika (pictured) told Daily Mail Australia that she's overjoyed to welcome Taylor into the Power brood Hint: Rhyce gave fans a brief glimpse of Taylor in a recent Instagram Story, uploading a photo of the pair posing in matching face-masks at Darwin Airport 'Are you joking me.. HOW DO YOU GET BETTER LOOKING IN EVERY SINGLE PHOTO!!' he gushed beneath a photo of the Instagram model posing for a selfie last week. 'Holy Jesus your [sic] sexy,' he added beneath another recent selfie. Meanwhile, Rhyce gave fans a brief glimpse of Taylor in a recent Instagram Story, uploading a photo of the pair posing in matching face-masks at Darwin Airport. Glamazon: Taylor is a Queensland-based false eyelash technician 'Holy Jesus your [sic] sexy': Rhyce has left a number of amorous comments on his future bride's Instagram photos recently Rhyce's happily ever after comes less than two years after he was spectacularly dumped on Instagram by his ex-girlfriend Cheyenne O'Leary. At the time, Cheyenne accused the reality star of 'cheating' on her by having a threesome with two other women on her birthday. In Cheyenne's Instagram post, she said: 'I feel like I am always the polite, quiet one, and never let anything spill, but I'm sorry, I'm not going to be quiet anymore. Ex file: Rhyce's happily ever after comes less than two years after he was spectacularly dumped on Instagram by his ex-girlfriend Cheyenne O'Leary (left) 'You were all right, everything you think about that person is exactly who he is. Absolute scumbag. You have an hour to get all your s**t out of my house.' When approached for comment at the time, a remorseful Rhyce told Daily Mail Australia he had 'messed up' and 'will have to live with [his] actions' - but did not confirm or deny the alleged threesome had occurred. In a brief statement addressing the break-up, Rhyce said: 'I think I'll stay single for a while and not rush into relationships.' 'The whole world of Instagram makes it so much harder, you think you've fallen in love from someone's photos and talking online for months, and then [you] start a relationship and realise it's not at all how you thought it would be. 'Chey's a beautiful, amazing girl and an absolutely wonderful mother. I messed up and went about it the wrong way but it is what it is and I have to live with my actions.' Allegations: At the time, Cheyenne accused the reality star of 'cheating' on her by having a threesome with two other women on her birthday Orlando Bloom left fans feeling all flustered as he assembled furniture and painted his one-year-old daughter Daisy Dove's nursery. The actor, 44, showed off his chiselled physique as he set to work in a very welcomed video filmed by his fiancee Katy Perry and shared via Instagram on Sunday. Pirates of the Caribbean star Orlando bizarrely went shirtless as he flashed a grin at the camera while kneeling in his jeans. Hot in here: Orlando Bloom left fans feeling all flustered as he assembled furniture and painted his one-year-old daughter Daisy Dove's nursery in a video shared via Instagram on Sunday Orlando could be seen fixing together a wooden flat pack toy for his little girl in the short video, while a snap of his latest DIY project saw him painting daisy flowers on his daughter's bright yellow wall. 'Let's do it,' Orlando laughed in the video, as wife-to-be Katy was heard saying that the star was the 'dad of the year' for renovating his daughter's nursery. 'Oh yeah,' Orland replied as he turned to face the camera, joking: 'Stars, they're just like us!' The clip zoomed in on Orlando and his buff body, with hot and bothered fans being sent into a frenzy as thousand commented on his upload. Fit: The 44-year-old actor showed off his chiseled chest and taut abs as he went shirtless in footage filmed by his fiancee Katy Perry Crushing on the shirtless star, one fan cheekily quipped: 'Can you paint my walls?' More fans labelled Orlando a 'sexy worker' and 'hot daddy', while one more teased: 'Okay but yes, I love a good dilf.' 'I swear this man doesn't age,' gushed a fourth, as another fan commented: 'This is the sexiest thing ever.' 'You're hired,' teased one more, while another flirty fan posted: 'It looks fabulous - and honestly, so do you.' Another follower joked: 'Flat packs and a [six] pack.' 'Let's do it': An enthusiastic Orlando was seen assembling a wooden flat-pack toy for his little girl, as Katy called him the 'dad of the year' for his handiwork Thirst trap: Orlando was shirtless in the video as he knelt on the floor in just his jeans Roar hit-maker Katy and Orlando are parents to daughter Daisy, who was born in August last year. Ahead of Daisy's arrival, Orlando, who is also dad to son Flynn, 10, from his previous marriage to ex Miranda Kerr, shared his excitement over becoming a 'girl dad'. Opening up on fatherhood during an interview with Good Morning America, he recalled the early stages of parenting as he said: ' Its a magical time when an angel pops into the planet, which is what it feels like for me 'You know those quiet times at home just you and the family and a little one and nursing and just sort of being present and seeing where you can help and what you can do to nurture a little life into the world.' Loving it: Fans couldn't get enough of the star, as thousands commented on his post labelling Orlando a 'sexy worker' and 'hot daddy' 'Can you paint my walls?' Others teased that they wouldn't mind Orlando getting up to some DIY in their own homes as they lusted after the movie talent Orlando and Katy confirmed that they were expecting their first child together in March 2020 - just over a year after their engagement. Movie talent Orlando proposed to Katy on Valentine's Day in 2019 with a $5million ring that features a four-carat ruby surrounded by diamonds in the shape of a daisy. The pair have been dating on and off since January 2016 and reunited in 2018, following a brief split. Since becoming a dad-of-two, reports revealed Orlando has made it his 'priority' to spend more time with his family. Hard at work: Another snap saw dad-of-two Orlando cutely painting daises on the wall of his daughter's bright yellow nursery Sources told Us Weekly in November last year: 'Orlando has made Daisy his priority and slashed a lot of his work time to stay home for the holidays. 'Orlando is so happy about being a new dad again. He has been doing the night feeds and helping out however he can.' Months later, Orlando revealed that he was trying to get daughter Daisy to say 'daddy' before anything else. 'I sing anything that has "daddy" in it, just because I want her to say dad before she says anything else,' he explained during an appearance on The Graham Norton Show. Comedian Aisling Bea, who was also a guest on the show at the time, jokingly asked whether the baby prefers her mum Katy's music, given she's a hit recording artist. She teased: "Does the baby go like, 'Well can you put Katy Perry on?'" A good sport, Orlando replied: 'Yeah, she's like, "Mum's going to be much better at this than you."' Madeline Holtznagel celebrated turning 26 in style over the weekend. The model's billionaire pub baron boyfriend Justin Hemmes, 49, treated her, her sister Simone, 28, and friends to a luxurious meal of oysters, caviar shots and birthday cake at the Merivale boss' Newport restaurant Bert's Bar and Brasserie. He then charted his seaplane to his $60million Vaucluse mansion for an epic pool party. Celebrating in style! On Saturday, Madeline Holtznagel (pictured), her billionaire pub baron boyfriend Justin Hemmes, her sister Simone and a group of pals enjoyed an epic day of celebrations as she turned 26 over the weekend What a beauty! Model Madeline looked absolutely stunning in a thigh-flashing floral dress, which she teamed with a pair of slip-on sandals After landing at the stunning beachfront property, Madeline was seen getting a piggyback across the water by the plane's captain to avoid getting her glamorous ensemble wet. She looked absolutely stunning in a thigh-flashing floral dress by For Love & Lemons, which she teamed with a pair of slip-on sandals. Madeline, who held hands with her boyfriend as they walked across the beach, accessorised with a $2450 YSL bag and styled her hair in a trendy bun. She wore just a touch of makeup to enhance her naturally striking features, including a pretty pink gloss and a flash of bronzer and highlighter across her cheeks. Safe journey! After landing at his mansion in Vaucluse, Madeline was seen getting a piggyback across the water by the plane's captain to avoid getting her glamorous ensemble wet Chic: Justin Hemmes oozed beach chic in an all-white ensemble, including a linen shirt, shorts and white sneakers Stunner: Madeline's sister Simone looked equally as beautiful in a stunning patterned dress, which showed off her epic curves and toned arms to perfection Safe journey! Madeline avoided taking off her pink heels and wetting her gorgeous floral dress after being carried to dry land by the captain That's one way to celebrate! The group arrived at the beach on a seaplane, before heading over to Hemmes' mansion to continue the celebrations Justin oozed beach chic in an all-white ensemble, including a linen shirt, shorts and white sneakers. Madeline's sister Simone looked equally as beautiful as her sister in a stunning strapless patterned dress, which showed off her epic curves and toned arms to perfection. As she exited the water, Simone was seen wrapping the long gown just above her thigh while carrying a pair of heels in her hand. She wore her long, luscious locks in a gentle beach wave, and donned a pair of oversized sunglasses for the occasion. Romance: Justin himself shared a sweet tribute to his partner online, sharing this rare photo of the pair together alongside the caption: 'Happy birthday beautiful girl' as the pair drank expensive French champagne Cute! Madeline and Justin were seen holding hands as they sauntered across the sand following landing Happy! Madeline was seen throwing her hands into the air in celebration, as the next stage of her epic party day continued Beauty times two: Madeline and her sister are both successful models Simone documented a lot of the day in a video shared to Instagram, showing the group enjoying their meal at oyster bar Bert's Bar & Brasserie. The gang enjoyed a lavish seafood menu including oysters and shellfish, before taking a shot of caviar off the back of their hands. Madeline was then treated to a birthday cake and a kiss on her boyfriend's lips after blowing out her candles. She later revealed her friends had made merchandise for the grand occasion, with a cap that read 'Madeline World' and a hoodie captioned: 'It's my birthday I'll get high if I want to.' Friends: Madeline and her smartly-dressed group of pals appeared in high spirits as they enjoyed the baking Sydney sunshine All smiles: Justin appeared in a great mood as he walked through the water barefoot as the group continued their party Wild! Later in the afternoon, the group were seen enjoying an epic pool party at Hemmes' $60million mansion Sizzling! Madeline slipped into a slinky white G-string two-piece and bounced around the pool with her bikini-clad pals Whale of a time! Simone shared a video of her sister lapping up the sunshine in the pool, as they danced to music following a day of activities Merch: Madeline's friends were decked out in merchandise to celebrate the model's big day 'I have the best friends': One of Madeline's pals made a hoodie especially for the occasion, which read: 'It's my birthday I'll get high if I want to' Later in the afternoon, the group were seen enjoying an epic pool party at Hemmes' mansion - with Madeline slipping into a slinky white G-string two-piece and bouncing around the pool with her bikini-clad pals. Justin himself had shared a sweet tribute to his girlfriend online, sharing a rare photo of the pair together alongside the caption: 'Happy birthday beautiful girl.' The couple have remained quite private through the duration of their relationship. While it's not known exactly how long the couple have been dating, she hinted their relationship has carried on longer than many people expect. Delicious! Simone documented a lot of the day in a video shared to Instagram, showing the group enjoying a meal at oyster bar Bert's Bar & Brasserie - which is owned by Merivale boss Hemmes Shots! One of Simone's friends also shared a video of the trio doing shots of caviar off their hands Make a wish! Madeline was then given a slice of birthday cake as her pals celebrated around her 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. It was also reported that Madeline was living in a penthouse apartment owned by Justin in the Sydney beachside suburb of Coogee. Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford have told how they will spend Christmas apart with 'a sea dividing us'. The TV presenters both have elderly mothers they want to spend the festive period with after Covid restrictions saw many families kept apart last year. Speaking to Woman and Home magazine, Eamonn, 61, admitted the couple often have this issue at Christmas as Ruth's family are in England and his are in Northern Ireland. Festive period: Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford have told how they will spend Christmas apart with 'a sea dividing us' He said: 'We have this issue now, in that we've got a sea dividing us. We often have a dilemma of whether I go to Belfast, whether Ruth comes with me. 'But Ruth wants to be with her mum. My mother is 93 this year. It's easier for us often to be apart.' Ruth, 61, added: 'Being apart for Christmas has never been a problem. I wouldn't be going to Belfast this year, because I need to be with my mum. It's about family for me.' Ruth's mother Joan lives in Surrey and the pair were unable to be together last Christmas amid the pandemic. Family: The TV presenters both have elderly mothers they want to spend the festive period with after Covid restrictions saw many families kept apart last year (Ruth pictured with her mother Joan) It comes after Eamonn recently recalled his 'panic' after being told by a doctor that he could go blind due to painful shingles. The television presenter also admitted that seeing himself in the mirror with red scars on his face was like 'waking up in a horror movie'. Eamonn was struck down with the illness in 2018 and spoke publicly of his experience this year in a bid to raise awareness. On his health battle, he told the Mirror: 'I literally jumped back at my image shouting "what the heck is this?" It was like waking up in a horror movie. Apart: Eamonn admitted the couple often have this issue at Christmas as Ruth's family are in England and his are in Northern Ireland 'When I called my doctor and said it was on my face the first question was, "Is it near your eyes? Don't touch your eyes because it could affect your vision you could go blind. Get down here to let me see it". It was panic stations.' Last month, Eamonn shared a picture of himself on Instagram from when he had shingles in 2018, with his face looking puffy, and red marks and scabs visible on his skin. He thanked ITV and television show Loose Women for letting him speak out on the matter after making a recovery, but admitted he was shocked to have contracted the illness, a rash caused by the reactivation of chickenpox. The chances of suffering shingles and the severity of the illness increases after the age of 50, with it becoming more likely during times of stress or when the immune system is lowered. Reunited: Ruth's mother Joan lives in Surrey and the pair were unable to be together last Christmas amid the pandemic. And Eamonn believes it was stress that triggered his illness in 2018, saying his status as a freelance worker was challenged by HM Revenue & Customs when they claimed he worked for ITV and should pay more tax, resulting in a court appearance. The broadcaster took time off work to recover from shingles, saying he could not have gone on television looking the way he did at the time. He said the illness also impacted his eldest son Declan's wedding, adding: 'I had makeup all over my face trying to pretend everything was fine, but my eyes were just two slits.' While most people make a full recovery from shingles, Eamonn admits he was 'blissfully ignorant' but now realises people need to be more aware. Health woes: Eamonn recently recalled his 'panic' after being told by a doctor that he could go blind due to painful shingles The screen star has also spoken of his back pain on television this year after two slipped discs in his spine left him with nerve damage. Eamonn suffered excruciating pain for a month and was left needing a crutch to help him walk. He has been prescribed steroid injections which now help with the pain. 'Horror movie': The presenter was struck down with the illness in 2018 and admitted that seeing himself in the mirror with red scars on his face was like 'waking up in a horror movie' In a clip of himself doing physio, which he shared on social media earlier this year, Eamonn said: 'This all looks very simple and it is very simple except it's like learning to walk again.' 'I've lost nerves in my right leg and there's certain actions I can't do so even the most simple thing is hard but it's getting better.' Eamonn is now back at work and recently said he hopes to make a fully recovery by Christmas. Finn Wolfhard was seen performing with his band, The Aubreys, at the Shaky Knees Music Festival in Atlanta on Sunday. The 18-year-old Stranger Things cast member appeared to be enjoying his time on stage at the annual event, during which he was seen singing and playing guitar. The performer's show comes not long before the release of several major projects in which he is currently set to appear. Doing his thing: Finn Wolfhard was seen performing with his band, The Aubreys, at the Shaky Knees Music Festival in Atlanta on Sunday Wolfhard was dressed in a bright green button-up shirt while performing with his band. The It cast member contrasted his top with a pair of brown pants and a lighter set of leather shoes. The Aubreys were founded in 2019, when the group released their first three tracks on their Bandcamp page. They have since made numerous tracks available to the public, with their song Getting Better (otherwise) being featured on the soundtrack for the 2020 horror film The Turning. Standing out: Wolfhard was dressed in a bright green button-up shirt while performing with his band Moving fast: The Aubreys were founded in 2019, when the group released their first three tracks on their Bandcamp page Wolfhard is currently set to appear in the forthcoming supernatural comedy feature Ghostbusters: Afterlife, which ignores the events of 2016's Ghostbusters and follows the events of the first two films. The feature will follow a pair of children who must take up the mantle of the ghost-fighting team when evil spirits make their way into this world. In addition to the guitarist, cast members include McKenna Grace, Paul Rudd and Carrie Coon, among others. Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd and Ernie Hudson will reprise their roles as doctors Peter Venkman, Ray Stantz and Winston Zeddemore, respectively. Future project: Wolfhard is currently set to appear in the forthcoming supernatural comedy feature Ghostbusters: Afterlife, which ignores the events of 2016's Ghostbusters and follows the events of the first two films Work on Afterlife began in earnest following the negative reception and poor performance of the attempted 2016 reboot. Wolfhard, Grace and Coon signed on to appear in the feature in 2019, and physical production began and ended that same year. The long-awaited feature was initially set to premiere in 2020, although its release was pushed back numerous times due to the onset of the global pandemic. Ghostbusters: Afterlife was eventually given a set premiere date of November 19th, where it currently stands. Adjusting: The long-awaited feature was initially set to premiere in 2020, although its release was pushed back numerous times due to the onset of the global pandemic, and it is currently set to be made available to the public on November 19th Wolfhard will also reprise his longstanding role as Mike Wheeler in the long-awaited fourth season of the hit Netflix series Stranger Things. The show's renewal was previously confirmed in September of 2019, when a teaser trailer for the new run of episodes was released by the streaming service. Several new performers, including Jamie Campbell Bower and Joseph Quinn, were also added to the project's cast. Filming for the program initially took place in Lithuania before the cast and crew moved to Atlanta for further work before production was shut down due to the onset of the global pandemic. Back at it: Wolfhard will also reprise his longstanding role as Mike Wheeler in the long-awaited fourth season of the hit Netflix series Stranger Things Shooting eventually resumed in September of last year, and the series' team eventually wrapped last month A second promotional clip was later shared to the program's official YouTube account this past May. A sneak peek at the new season made its debut in August, with another teaser trailer being made available to the public last month. Stranger Things' fourth season, which will premiere on the Netflix streaming service, has not been given a set release date as of yet. Amanda Seyfried cut a glamorous figure as she donned a sequined black minidress while attending a special screening of her film A Mouthful Of Air in New York City. The 35-year-old Mank star looked absolutely beautiful as she arrived to The Roxy Hotel, hosted by The Cinema Society, in semi-sheer tights and matching heels. Her golden blonde hair were perfectly straightened and she opted for a glamorous makeup look, which included a coral lipstick, a light dusting of blush and a few layers of mascara. Glam! Amanda Seyfried cut a glamorous figure as she donned a sequined black minidress while attending a special screening of her film A Mouthful Of Air in New York City She completed her sparkly ensemble with a delicate gold bracelet and black leather one. At the event, Seyfried was seen warmly hugging writer Amy Koppelman, who wrote the adapted screenplay and directed. The three-time author who wore a navy blazer, matching trousers and leather loafers. Beauty: The 35-year-old Mank star looked absolutely beautiful as she arrived to The Roxy Hotel, hosted by The Cinema Society, in semi-sheer tights and matching heels Chic: Her golden blonde hair were perfectly straightened and she opted for a glamorous makeup look, which included a coral lipstick, a light dusting of blush and a few layers of mascara Big smile: She completed her sparkly ensemble with a delicate gold bracelet and black leather one The pair also posed for pictures, Dr. Harvey Karp, a pediatrician, and film producer Joanna Plafsky. For the occasion, Plafsky wore a beige tweed jacket, black silk top and matching pants. Seyfried plays Julie, a children's book author and mother, who escapes into the colourful world she creates in her books to escape postpartum depression, according to Deadline. A Mouthful Of Air premiere: At the event, Seyfried was seen warmly hugging writer Amy Koppelman, who wrote the adapted screenplay and directed Latest role: Seyfried plays Julie, a children's book author and mother, who escapes into the colorful world she creates in her books to escape postpartum depression, per Deadline Finn Wittrock is playing Julie's husband, Ethan, with Jennifer Carpenter playing her sister-in-law and the cast rounded out by Amy Irving as Julie's mother and Paul Giamatti as her doctor. Seyfriend recently starred alongside Milo Ventimiglia and Kevin Costner in The Art of Racing In the Rain, based on Garth Stein's novel. She also stars in You Should Have Left, alongside Kevin Bacon, which is currently in post-production though it doesn't have a release date. Moving on: Bachelorette alum Dale Moss looked in high spirits as he attended the screening after his split with Clare Crawley Timeless: Fiona Graham wore a short black dress open-toed black shoes, which showed off her hot pink pedicure and braided blonde updo The actress will also lend her voice to the iconic animated character Daphne Blake in Warner Animation Group's Scoob, based on the iconic Scooby-Doo cartoons. Seyfriend married actor Thomas Sadoski in March 2017, and just days after the ceremony, the couple welcomed their first child. The actress gave birth to their daughter Nina on March 24, 2017, and her one-year-old son Thomas last year. Handsome: Logan Macrae wore a classic black suit and white Converse shoes The Graham Norton Show Rating: The Jonathan Ross Show Rating: The 80s: Music's Greatest Decade? Rating: What was Sir Ian McKellen thinking? For a couple of minutes on a prime-time chat show, he started talking seriously and held everyone mesmerised. The 82-year-old, currently playing the doddery family retainer Firs in Chekhov's The Cherry Orchard, told The Graham Norton Show (BBC1) how he captured the octogenarian servant's gait, with one palsied hand and a crooked back. It literally made him feel ancient, he said and was a vivid contrast to the lithe, nervous gestures he used as the young Prince of Denmark in his previous play, Hamlet. What was Sir Ian McKellen thinking? For a couple of minutes on a prime-time chat show, he started talking seriously and held everyone mesmerised He demonstrated the two modes, switching between them like a magician flipping a coin. Graham's guests, particularly fellow actors Jessie Buckley and Eddie Redmayne, were agog perched on the edge of their seats. That's not what the show is meant to be. Norton deftly steered it back, into the relentless flippancy we expect. Brainless trivia is his stock-in-trade, and for the rest of the hour he made sure that's what we got. Jessie forced a smile at a family video of herself as a child, writer Stephen Merchant mocked himself for being too tall, and a couple of million viewers wondered whether it was worth waiting up through this dross just to hear Elton John perform his new song at the end. Wossy's idea of a searching question was to ask each celeb whether they'd fancy a bus ride into space on the Amazon rocket. Dame Joan Collins said: 'No, absolutely not.' Succession star Brian Cox also said: 'No, absolutely not'. Comedian Rob Beckett said: 'I'm up for it. If it was taking off near my house, I'd go Everyone, most of all the guests, wished we could have a whole episode of the intelligent conversation that Sir Ian inadvertently provided. The Jonathan Ross Show (ITV) made no such slips. It was shallow anecdotage all the way. Wossy's idea of a searching question was to ask each celeb whether they'd fancy a bus ride into space on the Amazon rocket. Dame Joan Collins said: 'No, absolutely not.' Succession star Brian Cox also said: 'No, absolutely not'. Comedian Rob Beckett said: 'I'm up for it. If it was taking off near my house, I'd go.' The question was pointless, a vapid attempt at making small talk the sort of thing a nervous young man might memorise to ask on a first date, in case he runs out of things to say. Joan and Brian, both seasoned raconteurs, were plugging autobiographies and gave us a selection of truncated tales though nothing we hadn't heard before. We weren't even rewarded with more Elton . . . just Duran Duran, celebrating their 40th anniversary. Once they were a boy band, now they're a gang of OAPs. Duran Duran got a five-second look-in on The 80s: Music's Greatest Decade? (BBC2) but they shouldn't feel insulted, because practically none of the era's greats featured for longer than a blink. We heard barely four bars of U2, The Smiths or Prince. Kate Bush and George Michael went unmentioned. Springsteen was on screen for as long as it took him to haul Courteney Cox out of the crowd in his Dancing In The Dark video. Instead, we had long, dreary clips from the likes of Bananarama and Bronski Beat, while presenter Dylan Jones droned sententiously about their lasting contribution to musical culture. I bet Dylan wouldn't have been caught dead listening to Bananarama when he was editor of pretentious fashion mag i-D in the 1980s. His thesis, that modern pop started with the launch of MTV in 1981, was impossible to follow, because he was intent on showing off his knowledge. Like Mark Kermode with his shows about movie genres, Dylan chucked heaps of obscure names at us without stopping to explain their significance. Why don't they understand it's no use trying to construct an argument with a shovel and a wheelbarrow? Flying lady of the weekend: Bric-a-brac dealer Jean (Sally Lindsay) took one look at a walking stick on The Madame Blanc Mysteries (C5) and spotted its handle was a 'Spirit of Ecstasy' from a Rolls-Royce, cast in solid gold. You'd notice if one of those turned up on the Antiques Roadshow. Advertisement Kendall Roy (Jeremy Strong) tries to bring as many allies to his side as possible as he continues to wage war against his father Logan Roy (Brian Cox) in the second episode of Succession Season three. The third season picks up directly after the events of the season two finale, where, instead of becoming the company's patsy for the cruise ship scandal, Kendall called out his father and revealed the mogul knew all along. Now Kendall is trying to find as many allies as he can - including his brother Roman (Kieran Culkin), sister Shiv (Sarah Snook), Logan's nemesis Sandy Furness (Larry Pine) and Stewy (Arian Moayed). The scenes follow on from Kendall setting up camp at his ex-wife Natalie Gold's apartment to avoid paparazzi and media attention - making her home the backdrop for his attempts to destroy his father and recruit aides. Allies: Kendall Roy (Jeremy Strong) tries to bring as many allies to his side as possible as he continues to wage war against his father Logan Roy (Brian Cox) in the second episode of Succession Season 2 The episode begins with Shiv riding in her car when she gets a call from Logan but she doesn't answer. Logan calls Roman and asks where she is, saying he needs to know where everyone else is. 'I need you to show your face for me, son,' Logan says, asking Roman to keep an eye on Gerri, saying it has to be her for CEO. 'Yeah, I get it Dad,' Roman says. Kendall is chatting with Greg, trying to set his mind at ease, when he gets some good news, telling the rest of the team to clear the room. They get a large, quite literal, Trojan Horse delivered, as Greg steps out to get some air. No answer: The episode begins with Shiv riding in her car when she gets a call from Logan but she doesn't answer Need to know: Logan calls Roman and asks where she is, saying he needs to know where everyone else is CEO: 'I need you to show your face for me, son,' Logan says, asking Roman to keep an eye on Gerri, saying it has to be her for CEO Get it: 'Yeah, I get it Dad,' Roman says Kendall and Greg: Kendall is chatting with Greg, trying to set his mind at ease, when he gets some good news, telling the rest of the team to clear the room Greg gets a call from Tom who asks him what's going on as Tom threatens him, but Greg saying he's not a part of this. He says he doesn't even know what the papers are or where they came from as Greg tells Tom that Shiv is in talks with Kendall at his ex-wife's apartment, where he has set up camp to recruit his followers.# Tom pretends to know that he knew Shiv was at Kendall's, as she comes up to meet him, calling her brother 'the little man who started this big war. Trojan: They get a large, quite literal, Trojan Horse delivered, as Greg steps out to get some air Tom: Greg gets a call from Tom who asks him what's going on as Tom threatens him, but Greg saying he's not a part of this Little man: Tom pretends to know that he knew Shiv was at Kendall's, as she comes up to meet him, calling her brother 'the little man who started this big war Roman comes in to check on Gerri, saying he wants to make sure that she's not concerned about him. She says Logan has both great instincts and also horrible instincts, as Logan says she should put together an executive committee. She says she will think about his executive committee. Roman: Roman comes in to check on Gerri, saying he wants to make sure that she's not concerned about him Instincts: She says Logan has both great instincts and also horrible instincts, as Logan says she should put together an executive committee Kendall gets straight to the point and says he wants her on his side, but she says that dad sacrificing Kendall was 'cold.' Kendall says he thought he had no choice and tells Shiv that she must be 'angry' at herself, but she thinks he 'f***ed the family.' 'You tell yourself you're a good person, but you're not a good person,' Kendall tells Shiv. To the point: Kendall gets straight to the point and says he wants her on his side, but she says that dad sacrificing Kendall was 'cold' Logan is still impatient as to Shiv's whereabouts as Logan tells his team that he is 'losing juice' and they have to act. Logan calls Connor (Alan Ruck), thanking him for 'holding the fort,' and that he can rely on him. 'You're number one, kiddo. you know that,' Logan tells Connor before hanging up. Impatient: Logan is still impatient as to Shiv's whereabouts as Logan tells his team that he is 'losing juice' and they have to act Connor: Logan calls Connor (Alan Ruck), thanking him for 'holding the fort,' and that he can rely on him Number one: 'You're number one, kiddo. you know that,' Logan tells Connor before hanging up Shiv asks where these 'famous papers' are and he says they're being 'copied' and he insists he wants Shiv on his side. Greg is talking to a friend named Leah and he needs someone to talk to and he gets a visitor, his new lawyer, asking if the government has been in contact. Greg goes back to Leah and tells her that this guy is his new lawyer but Greg says he needs time to think. Shiv: Shiv asks where these 'famous papers' are and he says they're being 'copied' and he insists he wants Shiv on his side Greg and Leah: Greg is talking to a friend named Leah and he needs someone to talk to and he gets a visitor, his new lawyer, asking if the government has been in contact New lawyer: Greg goes back to Leah and tells her that this guy is his new lawyer but Greg says he needs time to think Kendall's lawyer Lisa Arthur (Sanaa Lathan) says she needs him for about eight hours to look over these papers before he gets a subpoena. She says the FBI might be at his door at any minute. Tom calls Shiv and she lies and says she's at home but she's still at Kendall's. Papers: Kendall's lawyer Lisa Arthur (Sanaa Lathan) says she needs him for about eight hours to look over these papers before he gets a subpoena FBI: She says the FBI might be at his door at any minute She tells Tom she loves him but he says thanks and she wants to know if he still loves her, and he eventually tells her he does. 'It's good to know we don't have an unbalanced love portfolio,' Tom says. Roman shows up and tells Shiv that Logan has been trying to call her. Love: She tells Tom she loves him but he says thanks and she wants to know if he still loves her, and he eventually tells her he does Unbalanced: 'It's good to know we don't have an unbalanced love portfolio,' Tom says Roman asks what her 'f***ing game' is but Kendall comes in and he wants a clean slate. 'Here's the thing. He's over so lets work together to move on and take him out,' Kendall says. Roman tells him he's just there to spy on Shiv and Shiv is just there to tell him to back down. Clean slate: Roman asks what her 'f***ing game' is but Kendall comes in and he wants a clean slate Back down: Roman tells him he's just there to spy on Shiv and Shiv is just there to tell him to back down Greg meets up with his grandfather Ewan (James Cromwell) saying he's back in New York to 'put his affairs in order.' Greg tells his grandpa that he thinks him and Kendall are 'on the same page' but he doesn't like seeing 'dirty laundry washed in public.' Greg says he needs some 'independent legal advice,' and Ewan says he'll set him up with some of his lawyers. Greg and Ewan: Greg meets up with his grandfather Ewan (James Cromwell) saying he's back in New York to 'put his affairs in order' Ewan: Greg says he needs some 'independent legal advice,' and Ewan says he'll set him up with some of his lawyers Kendall tells Roman and Shiv and saying he wants them to gang up on dad and take him down. Shiv says he has made this 'very hard' and she wants him to back down on dad's behalf. Kendall says he's taking him down and he's not interested in any deals, and Kendall says he wants a media appearance with all four of them. Take down: Kendall tells Roman and Shiv and saying he wants them to gang up on dad and take him down Back down: Shiv says he has made this 'very hard' and she wants him to back down on dad's behalf Kendall says the 'milk has gone sour' and its their time to shine and they are in a great position to 'leapfrog tech.' 'Detoxify our brand and we can be supersonic,' Kendall says, as Roman says he doesn't want to betray his father. Roman says he's actually a spy and he's gonna go back and tell everything to dad, as Kendall says he just wants to offer them an 'escape pod.' Milk: Kendall says the 'milk has gone sour' and its their time to shine and they are in a great position to 'leapfrog tech' Detoxify: 'Detoxify our brand and we can be supersonic,' Kendall says, as Roman says he doesn't want to betray his father Shiv makes fun of him saying he loves showing his pee-pee to everyone but eventually he's gonna have to f**k someone, which upsets Roman to the point of leaving. Shiv ask if she went too far but Kendall thinks it will turn him on. Logan meets up with Marcia (Hiam Abbass) telling her it's a 'bad time to be estranged,' but she says she was hurt. Loves: Shiv makes fun of him saying he loves showing his pee-pee to everyone but eventually he's gonna have to f**k someone, which upsets Roman to the point of leaving Logan and Marcia: Logan meets up with Marcia (Hiam Abbass) telling her it's a 'bad time to be estranged,' but she says she was hurt Connor brings Roman back and Shiv apologizes, as Kendall says dad let bad stuff happen and they have to take responsibility. Shiv says she didn't know about all of that stuff, and Roman says he 'kind of knew' but he didn't know the extent. Roman asks what did we really know and Shiv insists she didn't know. Roman: Connor brings Roman back and Shiv apologizes, as Kendall says dad let bad stuff happen and they have to take responsibility Know: Shiv says she didn't know about all of that stuff, and Roman says he 'kind of knew' but he didn't know the extent 'All I am asking is to move forward from a position of truth,' Kendall says before leaving to hug his kids. Kendall goes down to meet Stewy, who thanks him for the Trojan Horse, as Kendall gets in the car to meet Sandy's daughter Sandi (Hope Davis). Kendall asks Sandy to back him and Kendall wants an agreement that there won't be a disaster at the shareholder's meeting. Stewy: Kendall goes down to meet Stewy, who thanks him for the Trojan Horse, as Kendall gets in the car to meet Sandy's daughter Sandi (Hope Davis) Kendall and Sandi: Kendall asks Sandy to back him and Kendall wants an agreement that there won't be a disaster at the shareholder's meeting Marcia unloads all of her demands to be back by Logan's side. Shiv and Roman talk and Shiv thinks if they all team up they could take dad down but Roman isn't so sure. Kendall insists to the siblings that Stewy and Sandi will back him and there will be no proxy battle. Demands: Marcia unloads all of her demands to be back by Logan's side Insists: Kendall insists to the siblings that Stewy and Sandi will back him and there will be no proxy battle Kendall says Logan tried to send him to jail and he'd probably do the same thing to each of the kids. Shiv says if she would back him she'd need to take over but Kendall says she doesn't have the experience. Shiv calls Tom and tells him she was with Kendall, saying he's offering an alliance to take down dad. Same thing: Kendall says Logan tried to send him to jail and he'd probably do the same thing to each of the kids Alliance: Shiv calls Tom and tells him she was with Kendall, saying he's offering an alliance to take down dad Shiv says he 'fails all the time,' as Connor says it's hard to imagine him surviving . Roman calls Gerri and tells her that Kendall wants them to take down dad, and asks if he does that what will happen. Gerri says if they all come out and get the board it could work, but Gerri thinks they will all get burned. Fails: Shiv says he 'fails all the time,' as Connor says it's hard to imagine him surviving Roman: Roman calls Gerri and tells her that Kendall wants them to take down dad, and asks if he does that what will happen Burned: Gerri says if they all come out and get the board it could work, but Gerri thinks they will all get burned 'Stick with me, Roman,' Gerri says before asking what he's gonna do. Kendall comes back and they find Logan has sent donuts, saying he wants them to have a nice tea party. Kendall asks if they're in and he'll make the call tonight. Connor says he's out and Kendall kicks him out and says he's not wanted. Stick with me: 'Stick with me, Roman,' Gerri says before asking what he's gonna do Out: Kendall asks if they're in and he'll make the call tonight. Connor says he's out and Kendall kicks him out and says he's not wanted Both Roman and Shiv say they're both out and Kendall thinks they owe him an explanation. Shiv leaves without giving him an explanation and Connor says he just doesn't want to destroy dad. Logan tells Marcia that he thinks they need to get back to the city, show some 'family unity.' Explanation: Both Roman and Shiv say they're both out and Kendall thinks they owe him an explanation Marcia: Both Roman and Shiv say they're both out and Kendall thinks they owe him an explanation Roman calls Logan and tell him about the meeting as Logan says they should 'be together.' Greg is meeting with his grandpa and a lawyer, saying he is putting his estate in order. The lawyer says the top priority is Greg's wellbeing, but the second priority is exposing corporate corruption. Lawyer: Greg is meeting with his grandpa and a lawyer, saying he is putting his estate in order Roman calls: Roman calls Logan and tell him about the meeting as Logan says they should 'be together' Greg says he's focused on not getting fired or going to jail. Logan's private plane lands as the family reunites as paparazzi photographers snap pictures of the family. Logan gets in the car with Shiv, saying it's good to see her and he wants to get her in before the shareholder meeting. 'Someone at the top with credibility,' Logan says, but she says, 'a mascot?' as he reveals Gerri will still be at the top, as a patsy, so to speak, while asking Shiv to be his 'eyes and ears.' 'My eyes and ears, Shiv, at the heart of everything through the shitstorm. But wearing a full and chemical and biological suit going by the name of Gerri Kellman,' Logan says as the episode comes to an end. Succession returns with the third episode of Season 3 on Sunday, October 231 at 9 PM ET on HBO. Eyes and ears: 'My eyes and ears, Shiv, at the heart of everything through the shitstorm. But wearing a full and chemical and biological suit going by the name of Gerri Kellman,' Logan says as the episode comes to an end The trailer for the remainder of Season 2 teased that the all-important shareholders meeting is coming up, where the family business may no longer be in the family. The trailer also teased that beloved cousin Greg (Nicholas Braun) may be getting into some legal trouble for shredding those documents from the cruise scandal. The trailer also teased that the FBI was raiding the company, just the latest setback for Waystar Royco. Cousin Greg: The trailer also teased that beloved cousin Greg (Nicholas Braun) may be getting into some legal trouble for shredding those documents from the cruise scandal This new season will find Logan trying to secure familial and political allies in the aftermath of Kendall's bombshell announcement. The trailers have teased that the family has been divided with most abandoning Logan, as they near the pivotal shareholder's meeting where the family could lose the company to Stewy (Arian Moayed) and Sandy Furness (Larry Pine). Kendall reveals in one of the trailers that he wants to take down his father, but he also doesn't want the family to lose control of the company. Family: This new season will find Logan trying to secure familial and political allies in the aftermath of Kendall's bombshell announcement There will also be a few new characters thrown into the mix this season, played by Adrien Brody, Alexander Skarsgard and Hope Davis. Brody will portray Josh Aaronson, described as, 'a billionaire activist investor who becomes pivotal in the battle for the ownership of Waystar.' Skarsgard plays Lukas Matsson, described as a, 'successful, confrontational tech founder and CEO.' New characters: There will also be a few new characters thrown into the mix this season, played by Adrien Brody, Alexander Skarsgard and Hope Davis Davis plays Sandi Furness, the daughter of Logan Roy's longtime rival Sandy Furness. Other new characters include Sanaa Lathan as Lisa Arthur, 'a high profile well-connected New York lawyer,' Linda Emond as Michelle-Anne Vanderhoven, 'a senior White House aide,' and Jihae Kim as Berry Schneider, 'a leading Public Relations consultant,' all in recurring roles. The nine-episode Season 3 of Succession will air Sunday nights at 9 PM ET on HBO. One week after Kourtney Kardashian became engaged to beau Travis Barker, the 42-year-old is in disbelief. 'I can't believe this was a week ago @travisbarker,' she wrote on Instagram, along with a rose emoji. In a carefully-coordinated event the 45-year-old drummer got down on one knee in Montecito, California to ask for the mom-of-three's hand in marriage. Smitten: One week after Kourtney Kardashian became engaged to beau Travis Barker, the 42-year-old is in disbelief In newly shared photos from the night of the week-old engagement the Poosh founder lies on a bed of rose petals, posing with her left hand covering her mouth. Flaunting an almond-shaped black manicure, the eldest of the Kardashian siblings wears the stunning $1 million engagement ring her fiance proposed with. Kourt appears to be topless in the snapshots as she luxuriates on white bedding. Her bob haircut is parted down the middle and her sleek dark tresses fall past her neck as she looks away in one photo, and stares into the camera in another. Too good to be true: 'I can't believe this was a week ago @travisbarker,' she wrote on Instagram, along with a rose emoji The entrepreneur seems to be overwhelmed with happiness as she looks ahead to her life as a future wife. The day after Barker popped the question she shared a round of images taken at the proposal - which took place on the beach in Montecito - and wrote, 'forever.' Then, days after that she posted even more snaps and captioned them, 'I woke up all night thinking it was a dream.' Travis also took to the photo-sharing app to share the sentiment, writing 'forever' and 'my fiance' on two separate posts. 'Til the wheels fall off: The day after Barker popped the question she shared a round of images taken at the proposal - which took place on the beach in Montecito - and wrote, 'forever' Social media sensation: Also on Sunday, the reality TV personality went to Instagram Stories to share some life outtakes Also on Sunday, the reality TV personality went to Instagram Stories to share some life outtakes. One included a flick of the mom with one of her children in her lap as the wind blew through their hair. Only the back of the tot's head was shown as the doting caregiver caressed her little one. 'Nap time,' she wrote. And in another share, the star posted a napkin that had a kiss mark on it in black lipstick. Jennifer Aniston and Courteney Cox led stars taking to social media on Sunday to pay tribute to their late Friends co-star James Michael Tyler, who died at 59. A representative for the actor, who played Gunther on the hit NBC series throughout its 10 series, confirmed the actor's has passed away at his Los Angeles home following a three year battle with prostate cancer. Jennifer, 52, whose character Rachel Green was the object of Gunther's desire making up his main storyline on the show, shared shots of the late actor, writing: 'Friends would not have been the same without you... 'Thank you for the laughter you brought to the show and to all of our lives. You will be so missed,' adding the hashtag #JamesMichaelTyler and a broken heart emoji. Memorials: Jennifer Aniston and Courteney Cox led stars taking to social media on Sunday to pay tribute to their late Friends co-star James Michael Tyler, who died at 59 In her own heartfelt tribute to her co-star, Courteney, 57, who played Monica Gellar, penned: 'The size of gratitude you brought into the room and showed every day on set is the size of the gratitude I hold for having known you. Rest In peace James.' Matt LeBlanc, 54, who played Joey Tribbiani, shared shots of Tyler on the show, writing: 'We had a lot of laughs buddy. You will be missed. RIP my friend.' Lisa Kudrow, 58, who starred as Phoebe Buffay, wrote: 'James Michael Tyler, we will miss you. Thank you for being there for us all.' Friends co-creators Marta Kauffman and David Crane paid tribute in a statement, as they penned: 'James was a genuinely kind, sweet man... 'When he started as an extra on Friends, his unique spirit caught our eye and we knew we had to make him a character. He made Gunthers unrequited love incredibly relatable. Our heart goes out to his wife, Jennifer Carno.' A rep for the actor, who played Gunther on the hit NBC series, confirmed the actor's passing to TMZ earlier on Sunday. The stars, seen at the Friends reunion earlier this year, shared poignant words in the memory of their late costar Matt LeBlanc shared shots of Tyler on the show, writing, 'We had a lot of laughs buddy. You will be missed. RIP my friend' Lisa Kudrow wrote, 'Thank you for being there for us all' RIP: Friends actor James Michael Tyler died at 59 at his Los Angeles home on Sunday following a three-year battle with stage four prostate cancer. He was snapped in London in 2015 'The world knew him as Gunther (the seventh "Friend"), from the hit series "Friends," but Michaels loved ones knew him as an actor, musician, cancer-awareness advocate, and loving husband,' his family said in a statement. His family continued: 'Michael loved live music, cheering on his Clemson Tigers, and would often find himself in fun and unplanned adventures. If you met him once you made a friend for life.' The actor was initially diagnosed with cancer in 2018 and didn't publicly reveal his battle until earlier this year. Tyler had appeared on 150 episodes of the hit show during its run from 1994 thru 2004. He had also appeared on shows including Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Modern Music, Just Shoot Me! and Scrubs. Tyler is survived by his wide Jennifer Carno. The beloved actor appeared on the Friends reunion special earlier this year He was seen opposite David Schwimmer in a 2002 episode of the NBC hit Tyler last June opened up about the details of his cancer battle appearing on the Today show. 'I was diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer, which had spread to my bones,' he said. 'I've been dealing with that diagnosis for almost the past three years It's stage four. Late-stage cancer. So eventually, you know, it's gonna probably get me.' He said that he was diagnosed after a September 2018 checkup in which he registered 'an extraordinarily high number' for a 'prostate-specific antigen.' 'I knew immediately when I went online and I saw the results of my blood test and blood work that there was obviously something quite wrong there,' he said. 'Nearly immediately, my doctor called me and said, "Hey, I need you to come in tomorrow because I suspect that you may have quite a serious problem with your prostate."' Courageous: Tyler last June opened up about the details of his cancer battle appearing on the Today show The actor was seen performing with Matthew Perry and Jennifer Aniston on the show He said after a year of effective hormone therapy, his cancer spread amid the COVID-19 pandemic. 'I missed going in for a test, which was not a good thing,' he said. 'So the cancer decided to mutate at the time of the pandemic, and so it's progressed.' Tyler appeared on the Friends reunion special on HBO Max this past May via Zoom. 'I wanted to be a part of that, and initially I was going to be on the stage, at least, with them, and be able to take part in all the festivities,' he said on the Today show. 'I was very happy to be included. The actor, seen in June after a chemotherapy treatment, was a cancer awareness advocate 'It was my decision not to be a part of that physically and make an appearance on Zoom, basically, because I didn't wanna bring a downer on it, you know? I didn't want to be like, "Oh, and by the way, Gunther has cancer."' The actor was born in Winona, Mississippi on May 28, 1962 and grew up in Anderson, South Carolina with his sister after his parents died. He graduated from Clemson University in 1984 and got a master's degree from the University of Georgia in 1987. The next year, he moved to Los Angeles and did production assistant work, as well as at establishments such as Guitar Center and the Bourgeois Pig, before he was cast on Friends. Rebel Wilson is about to release her first children's book. In the sneak peek of Bella the Brave, supplied to Daily Mail Australia, illustrations of the lead character bear a striking resemblance to a young Rebel. Wilson, 41, has previously revealed the book is about lessons she learned 'from being a shy girl growing up in Sydneys western suburbs to becoming an international movie star'. Coming soon: Rebel Wilson is about to release her first children's book, titled Bella the Brave The first page of the book shows Bella in class, along with the lines, 'Bella was shy, to the point that she'd cry. When invited to a party, she'd often lie.' Another line hinted at her future as an onscreen funny lady, when she wrote, 'She must've seemed very boring, she was no comedienne.' The actress made her name with memorable comic appearances in films such as Bridesmaids and Pitch Perfect. Rebel's book, which is illustrated by Annabel Tempest, is available to buy from October 27. Author: Wilson, 41, has previously revealed the book is about lessons she learned 'from being a shy girl growing up in Sydneys western suburbs to becoming an international movie star' Likeness: In the sneak peek of Bella the Brave, supplied to Daily Mail Australia, illustrations of the lead character bear a striking resemblance to a young Rebel Wilson first showed fans the soon-to-be-released children's book last month. The actress shared a video filmed in her home to Instagram, in which she enjoyed a breakfast smoothie while opening a parcel. She proudly unwrapped a copy of the tome, called Bella the Brave, with a pink cover. Coming soon! Rebel's book, which is illustrated by Annabel Tempest, is available to buy from October 27 The Isn't It Romantic star explained in her caption that the story was inspired by her own struggles with shyness. 'OMG just received a very special delivery! This is a very limited run of my first ever children's book BELLA THE BRAVE' she wrote. 'This is a book for ages 3+ [and] based on my childhood. This first book is about overcoming shyness. Can't wait for you guys to meet Bella'. Inspo: The Isn't It Romantic star explained in her caption that the story was inspired by her own struggles with shyness The star recently announced that she was going to be taking a break to focus on a film she has written that will go into production next year. Sharing a photo of herself dressed up as a mermaid, Rebel wrote: 'I feel like turning 40, I've weathered a lot of storms in my life (malaria, being kidnapped, being bullied, fertility struggles, emotional eating, overcoming shyness, having no money) but somehow I've managed to thrive, to find my inner 'siren'. 'I encourage everyone out there to seek their inner 'siren' - it's not about looking a certain way or being a certain size, it's about embracing your unique beauty, loving yourself, finding your purpose and then feeling yourself to the MAX!' First time author: 'OMG just received a very special delivery! This is a very limited run of my first ever children's book BELLA THE BRAVE' she wrote Dramatic: Rebel has documented her incredible weight loss journey, which she dubbed as her 'Year Of Health', throughout 2020 'Love you guys and now I'm taking a bit of break to focus on a very exciting film I've written going into production next year'. Rebel has documented her incredible weight loss journey, which she dubbed as her 'Year Of Health', throughout 2020. Over the past 18 months, Rebel has completely overhauled her lifestyle and lost more than 30kg in the process. Ewan McGregor and Mary Elizabeth Winstead were seen duetting during the 2021 Go Gala, which was held on Saturday. The 50-year-old Trainspotting star and his partner, 36, played guitar and ukulele, respectively, while the actor co-hosted the annual charitable event. The happy couple has been romantically involved ever since 2017, when they met while working on the third season of the crime drama series Fargo. Musical couple: Ewan McGregor and Mary Elizabeth Winstead were seen duetting during the 2021 Go Gala, which was held on Saturday McGregor wore a fashionable dark orange button-up jacket while spending time with his girlfriend. Winstead also sported a similarly colored pair of pants that was contrasted with a navy blue sweater. The Scott Pilgrim vs. the World cast member accessorized with a lovely gold necklace as she sang with the Star Wars star. Her gorgeous brunette hair was cut short and fell towards her shoulders during the low-key performance. Starting off strong: The performers initially met in 2017 while working on Fargo's third run of episodes, which were released that same year The performers initially met in 2017 while working on Fargo's third run of episodes, which were released that same year. At the time, McGregor was married to his former wife, Eve Mavrakis, with whom he tied the knot in 1995. The exes currently share four daughters, including model Clara and musician Esther. Proud father: McGregor was previously married to Eve Mavrakis, with whom he shares four daughters; he is seen in 2019 Winstead was also previously in a long-term relationship with her former husband, Riley Stearns, whom she married in 2010. The performers both separated from their respective spouses the year that they initially met and began dating in secret. That October, Us Weekly reported that the two were seen becoming very physically affectionate during a dinner date in London. Keeping it under the radar: The performers both separated from their respective spouses the year that they initially met and began dating in secret; Winstead is pictured in 2020 The following January, McGregor thanked his costar and partner while accepting the 75th annual Golden Globes ceremony. He subsequently expressed that he was 'happier' in his new relationship during an interview with Men's Journal that was published in October of 2019. The pair were spotted together on several other occasions before they welcomed their baby son, Laurie, in June of 2021. Iris Bennett was shocked to see her sister Hope along with CRM soldiers enter the grounds of the Perimeter on Sunday's episode of The Walking Dead: World Beyond on AMC. The episode titled 'Family Is a Four Letter Word' centered around the growing divide between Hope [Alexa Mansour] and her sister Iris [Aliyah Royale]. The show started with Hope and Jennifer 'Huck' Mallick coming face-to-face with Indira [Anna Khaja], the leader of the Perimeter. Surprise visit: Iris Bennett was shocked to see her sister Hope along with CRM soldiers enter the grounds of the Perimeter on Sunday's episode of The Walking Dead: World Beyond on AMC 'What brings you out so far?' asked Indira as Hope's eyes turned and she saw Iris standing in a doorway. 'Iris?' said Hope, who started crying. The two ran to each other and hugged. Felix Carlucci [Nico Tortorella] and Will [Jelani Alladin] returned from patrol of killing zombies and were stunned to see Hope and Huck talking to Iris. Felix told Will that he should stay hidden. Felix then ran up and hugged Hope. 'Just like old times,' said Huck. Together again: Hope made a dangerous trip with Jennifer 'Huck' Mallick to see her sister Percy [Ted Sutherland] also watched this reunion from afar. He asked Asha [Madelyn Kientz] why Huck was here, but she told him that she didn't know. Indira told Huck that she hoped she was not bringing trouble. She asked if her mother Elizabeth Kublek [Julia Ormond], the Civic Republic Military leader, knew that she was there and Huck told her that she didn't. 'And she won't,' Huck promised Indira as she handed over her weapons to the guards at the Perimeter. 'I just wanted to talk to them alone.' Mixed emotions: Felix welcomed Huck and then later attacked her Keeping distant: Percy [Ted Sutherland] also watched this reunion from afar with Asha [Madelyn Kientz] Indira told her the place had not seen bloodshed since it's founding and that she wanted to keep it that way. Felix asked Huck why she was there and Hope told him that it was about 'what we want.' Hope told him she wanted him and Iris to come back with them. Over at the zombie culling outpost, Webb, [Jesse Gallegos], Tiga [Ry Chase], and Grady [Kellen Quinn] were busy luring in zombies from all around. They turned on bright lights, played loud metal music and exploded fireworks to draw in as many zombies as possible. Once the zombies came inside the outpost walls, they set off explosives and then moved in and killed all the remaining ones themselves. Dennis [Max Osinski] was orchestrating the whole operation. They caught one zombie alive and brought him inside. Silas [Hal Cumpston] was standing there numb and Dennis yelled at him to pay attention and to get to work cleaning up the zombies. Zombie culling: A zombie was taken care of at the culling outpost Later, Dennis sat down with Silas to stitch his injured hand. Dennis told him that he planned to take him off lights and sound and put him on the floor to kill the zombies. Back at the Perimeter, Iris still didn't understand why Hope and Huck were there. Hope told her she came because she was worried that their dad would stir things up if she didn't bring her back to the CRM soon. 'He could get hurt or worse,' said Hope. Endangered dad: 'He could get hurt or worse,' said Hope of their endangered dad Leo Felix questioned Huck's motives and asked whether she was just using Hope to lure them out. Huck told him all he needed to do was to play dumb about the CRM and the fuel caches. She told him that her mother would take him in and that he would be safe. 'What about Omaha?,' asked Iris. Felix asked if the entire colony was gone and Huck told him that the CRM just couldn't mobilize fast enough. Colony question: Felix asked if the entire colony was gone and Huck told him that the CRM just couldn't mobilize fast enough 'Or maybe they were the ones that made it happen,' said Iris. 'It was a giant dead column ,' Huck shot back. 'No, I think you killed those people,' said Iris. Bold statement: 'No, I think you killed those people,' said Iris Huck told them the CRM was about bringing the world back. Hope asked Iris how she knew about the CRM's involvement in Omaha's destruction. Iris told her she couldn't prove it but that she wasn't going anywhere with Huck. Iris told Hope that they would be idiots to go back in the CRM without a way out. Felix agreed. Huck then revealed to them that Silas was alive and was nearby at a maintenance zombie culling outpost. She told him that she was making sure he was being taken care of and if they went with her that they would be able to see him. Still alive: Huck then revealed to them that Silas was alive and was nearby at a maintenance zombie culling outpost Hope said this was the first she was hearing about Silas. Iris then asked Hope to talk to her alone. Hope told Iris that she seemed older. Hope also told her about her experiences inside the CRM that their father had a smart scientist girlfriend and that she met this guy named Mason. Iris told Hope that what would be smart was if she stayed with them, but Hope said that wasn't a good option. Hope tried to encourage her to come back with her to the CRM but Iris said, 'We would be prisoners.' Bad option: Iris told Hope that what would be smart was if she stayed with them, but Hope said that wasn't a good option 'We would be alive,' said Hope. 'We are all we have.' Iris told her she wouldn't go back with her. Meanwhile, Felix walked off with Huck, who tried to explain her actions. Felix knocked her down and then grabbed a zombie and dangled it in front of her. Huck begged for him to stop as the zombie came within inches of biting her. Knocked down: Felix knocked her down and then grabbed a zombie and dangled it in front of her 'I'm not going to kill you tonight, I just wanted to know what it was going to feel like when I do,' he said. Felix then went back to see Will and said he thought he had just seen Percy coming back from the armory. He told Will that he thought Percy was going to go after Huck and that they needed to stop him. Percy told Asha earlier that he was afraid that Huck knew he was there, but Asha told him that she couldn't see them. He ran off and had flashbacks about Huck killing his family. Death preview: 'I'm not going to kill you tonight, I just wanted to know what it was going to feel like when I do,' Felix told Huck Will and Felix tracked Percy down in the woods. Percy had a weapon trained on Huck when Will ran out into the field and stood directly in his line of fire. Huck was shocked to see him because she told him she thought he was dead. Will said he was on to the truth about Omaha and that was why the CRM tried to kill him. 'If the CRM would have destroyed Omaha it would have gone through my mother,' said Huck ,who said her mother would have told her about it. Omaha tragedy: 'If the CRM would have destroyed Omaha it would have gone through my mother,' said Huck ,who said her mother would have told her about it 'Open your eyes,' said Felix. 'She's lying to you.' Huck told them she needed to get Hope back to the CRM before the sun came up. They told her they didn't trust her but Huck told them she was the closest thing to a friend in the CRM that they had. Hope was upset when Iris told her what the CRM tried to do to Will. 'This changes everything,' Hope said crying. Game changer: 'This changes everything,' Hope said crying Iris and Hope hugged and Iris told her that they would get her and their father out of there. Iris told Hope not to worry and to tell their father that they were okay. 'I wish I could,' Hope said. At the outpost zombies culling facility, Silas tried to walk off the base , but the guys spotted him. Silas asked them if they were going to tell Dennis that he tried to leave and they told him no that they would take him in their own way. They put a hood over Silas head and locked him in a building and told him to kill anything that moves. Zombies started coming at him and Silas killed them. The other kids walked in and were impressed with how many zombies Silas killed so quickly. He told him that they wanted out of here too, but instead of running off, they were working to get promoted to CRM training. Zombie slayer: They put a hood over Silas head and locked him in a building and told him to kill anything that moves Silas stormed off angry. He went back to pack his things, but Dennis caught him. He asked him where he was running off to. He told him that Webb just got accepted into basic training and that he needed Silas to step up. Silas told him that he was going cross country with his friend when they got split up. He told them that someone in their group was dangerous and a killer. Silas told him he was worried that the others didn't know. Dennis told him that he was sure that his friends were fine and knew what was going on. 'You don't know Huck,' Silas said. Dennis was stunned. 'Huck?' he asked. He told Silas he shouldn't be afraid of someone named Huck and that his friends were probably a lot stronger than he thought. Dennis told him that running away was giving up. Dennis gave him a bottle of alcohol to clean his hand. No worries: Dennis told Silas he shouldn't be afraid of someone named Huck and that his friends were probably a lot stronger than he thought. At the Perimeter, Elton Ortiz [Nicolas Cantu] stumbled upon an old hunting shed that had a chest full of medicine. He confronted Asha and asked her if her mother knew about it. She told him that she did and that she was the one who was sick. She told him that as long as she kept the dialysis going that she felt fine. Asha told him that it sucked that she had to rely on the CRM. Elton told Asha that things with Hope were messed up. Elton shared with her that he used to believe that his family was still out there, but that deep down he knew that they weren't. Later Asha revealed to her mother Indira that she told Elton about the dialysis. Indira worried that they would lose everything if Elton told anyone. It turned out that it was Indira who needed the dialysis. Asha said he wouldn't say anything because she told Elton that she was the one who was sick. Her medicine: Asha told Elton that the medicine he found was for her The next day, Will told Felix that he talked to Percy. Felix told Will it wasn't safe for them to stay at the Perimeter anymore. Felix said he didn't want to lose him again. He told them about Silas being at an outpost. Will said it was a long shot but if Silas was at an outpost that he might know a way to get them out. Percy went to see Iris. He told her that he never wanted to kill anyone so bad in his life. Iris told him that she just wanted justice. She asked him if he was mad that Will stopped him. He told her he should have been thinking about everyone and not just about revenge. The two kissed. Back at the CRM, Elizabeth Kublek [Julia Ormond], Civic Republic Military leader was taping a message for her allies in Portland regarding the tragedy of the fallen city of Omaha. Huck walked in when she was taping. Elizabeth said now was not the time to question their resolve. She pledged to the citizens of Portland that her military would stand ready to fight for their alliance and for the survival of humankind. Outgoing message: Back at the CRM, Elizabeth Kublek [Julia Ormond], Civic Republic Military leader was taping a message for her allies in Portland regarding the tragedy of the fallen city of Omaha The episode included a flashback about how Huck ended up inside the campus compound in Omaha in the first place. The flashback showed Huck being discovered by a couple who found her by the river with her arm broken and her check freshly scarred. They told her they were going to get her help. It was later revealed that Huck slashed her own face and her mother had a soldier break her arm as part of her cover for her to be accepted into the colony. Huck confronted her mother and demanded to know how many people survived Omaha. She asked for the names of the people that she said she airlifted out. Elizabeth told Huck that information was above her rank. The Walking Dead: The World Beyond will return next Sunday on AMC. Jennie Nguyen urged her husband Duy to seek professional help to talk to someone about the trauma over losing their daughter shortly after childbirth on Sunday's episode of The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City on Bravo. The discussion occurred at an oyster bar when Duy told Jennie he was still in favor of them getting a sister wife to have more children. He told her that they had always talked about having more kids and that it hurt him when she walked away from their previous discussion on the subject where he suggested getting a sister wife. Jennie started crying and asked him how he would feel if she told him the solution was for her to marry another guy. Therapy suggestion: Jennie Nguyen urged her husband Duy to seek professional help to talk to someone about the trauma over losing their daughter shortly after childbirth on Sunday's episode of The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City on Bravo Duy said he didn't know what other solution there was for them. 'You think having a sister wife is a solution?' Jennie asked. 'Isn't it illegal to have multiple marriages?' Duy told her in 2019 they removed the law that prohibited that in Utah. 'Utah!' Said Jennie. 'But Utah.' Sister wife: The discussion occurred at an oyster bar when Duy told Jennie he was still in favor of them getting a sister wife to have more children 'That's where we live,' said Duy.'Polygamy is not unique to here in Utah. They have it all over the world.' In a confessional, Duy said in Asia that there were many polygamous families. He said one of his patients in Utah had five wives and 40 kids. He said some of their kids were on their way to college and were very well behaved. Jennie said in a confessional that she knew that Duy's grandfather had multiple wives. But Jennie said she was not okay with sharing her husband with another woman. Multiple wives: Jennie said in a confessional that she knew that Duy's grandfather had multiple wives Jennie pointed out to Duy that the people in Utah who engaged in polygamy were part of a religion FLDS ( Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints). She reminded him that she was Catholic and that this was not something encouraged in her religion. She asked him if he had talked to their priest. Duy told her that he didn't think it would be something that their religion would prohibit. He said the Ten Commandments do not say 'thou should not have another wife.' Jennie told her she was trying to be open minded but that it really hurt what he was saying. 'Why would you want me to share you with someone?' said Jennie while crying. Tears flowing: 'Why would you want me to share you with someone?' said Jennie while crying Duy told her she was his best friend. He told her that a big family meant a lot and he had this empty feeling and believed that more children would fill this emptiness in his heart. Jennie instead told him that the best thing for him to deal with the tragedy of losing their daughter was for him to get professional help. 'There is nothing wrong with me ...,' Duy protested. 'I know what I want.' Jennie said in a confessional she didn't think that Duy had healed from the trauma of losing their daughter. She said in their culture that it was very hard for individuals to seek professional help. Nothing wrong: 'There is nothing wrong with me ...,' Duy protested. 'I know what I want' Duy told her that his best answer to her was to let him think about it. Across town, Meredith Marks, 49, met her husband Seth for lunch. She told him they needed to finalize their real estate purchase in Utah. He said all he cared about was Mother Nature's view. She said their marriage counselor helped them with their communication issues but that she thought that sometimes she didn't feel she had his full support. 'I'm asking for you to help me manage the stress,' Meredith said. Doing lunch: Across town, Meredith Marks, 49, met her husband Seth for lunch Stress relief: 'I'm asking for you to help me manage the stress,' Meredith said He told her it would be his greatest pleasure to 'manage mitigate and extinguish the stress from your life.' Later that day, Heather Gay, 47, held a party at her store Beauty Lab to celebrate her store's one year anniversary and her employees who had babies. The other housewives showed up. Whitney Rose, 34, told the other woman about her awkward dinner with Lisa Barlow, 46. She told them how Lisa arranged the dinner at her friends Marco and Aubrey's restaurant Nino Viejo, the same chefs that backed out of catering the LBGTQ casino night fundraiser, later dubbed 'caterer-gate' that Whitney's friend Angie hosted. Whitney said that the first thing out of Aubrey's mouth was about the catering event. Whitney said she accused Lisa of staging and setting up a trap. Whitney told her that she agreed to move on with Lisa but that Lisa told her she didn't want to have a relationship with Angie. Whitney said she invited Lisa and Angie to the group's snow tubing day and they both could sort it out there. Store anniversary: Later that day, Heather Gay, 47, held a party at her store Beauty Lab to celebrate her store's one year anniversary and her employees who had babies Awkward dinner: Whitney Rose, 34, told the other woman about her awkward dinner with Lisa Barlow, 46 The next day the women all gathered for a day of snow tubing. They took a party bus together to the event where Lisa pretended that Angie wasn't there. Right off the bat, Mary Cosby and Lisa got into a fight. Mary didn't like the fact that Lisa said she was going to google to double check one of the things that Mary said. Mary told her she thought she had an attitude. 'I don't deal with little girls like you,' said Mary. 'I don't tolerate that.' Instant tension: Right off the bat, Mary Cosby and Lisa got into a fight 'You don't tolerate what,' asked Lisa. 'You,' said Mary. When they got out of the car, Lisa asked Mary what that was about. Mary told her to not talk to her like she was beneath her. 'Know that,' said Mary told her to not belittle her. 'You keep talking about goggle things that I say,' said Mary. 'Why because I am black?' Talking down: Mary told Lisa to not talk to her like she was beneath her Lisa said if she came like that at her again that they would have another conversation. Mary told her she was too sensitive. Jennie yelled for them to stop and insisted that they needed to have some fun. Mary asked her if she was serious. Jennie said it was not a good day for her and told Mary not to start with her. Jennie told Mary she didn't care what she thought and to keep her mouth shut. Lisa tried to calm her down, but Jennie yelled for no one to tell her what to say. 'You aint my Mom,' said Jennie. 'No one f***s with me today.' Demanding fun: Jennie yelled for them to stop and insisted that they needed to have some fun The woman got their snow tubes and went tubing. Angie and Whitney went and changed into furry gorilla outfits and tried to scare the other women. The woman had a fun tubing race and then went to lunch. Losers of the tubing race had to wear silly wigs at lunch. Mary sat at lunch and didn't eat. The women asked if Mary was still good with Lisa. Lisa told Mary that she thought they were good. Mary said of course they were good. Angie stepped in and said she wanted her relationship with Lisa to move on for the sake of their wellness. 'Unless you are saying sorry, I don't think there is anything more to say,' Lisa told her. Good times: The woman got their snow tubes and went tubing Speaking up: Angie stepped in and said she wanted her relationship with Lisa to move on for the sake of their wellness Angie asked if she understood her point at all. Lisa said she didn't think she did anything wrong. Lisa said she was not going to be accused of something she didn't do and didn't appreciate a friend of 20 years doing that to her. 'I had nothing to do with anything,' said Lisa. 'My feelings were devastated.' Whitney tried to explain Angie's position, but Lisa didn't appreciate Whitney's involvement. Butting in: Whitney tried to explain Angie's position, but Lisa didn't appreciate Whitney's involvement 'I'm not into this pile all this f***ing bull***,' said Lisa. 'All I want to do is to be f***ing me and to not have everyone question what I think, say, do. I can't even say the word f***ing ''google'' without someone jumping on me. Get off my f***ing back.' In a confessional, Lisa said she didn't know what was more hurtful that Angie was going on about this lie or that her two friends Jen and Meredith were dead silent. Lisa was emphatic that she did not instruct her friends to pull out from catering Angie's event. Lisa started crying and said her grandfather was gay and that it was a hurtful accusation to say she encouraged them to pull out of an event for a community that she loved and supported. Strong denial: Lisa was emphatic that she did not instruct her friends to pull out from catering Angie's event Angie got up and gave sobbing Lisa a hug. Jennie then asked Mary if they were good. Jennie said she was very open and that she didn't like people telling her what to do. She said it triggered her. Mary said in a confessional that Jennie was looking at the air. Jennie told them it was her daughter's death anniversary. They told her they were sorry. Big hug: Angie got up and gave sobbing Lisa a hug Got triggered: Jennie said she was very open and that she didn't like people telling her what to do. 'It's hard,' said Jennie as she sobbed. 'Just understand as a mom that I don't want to go through this. Especially today. ' Lisa said in a confessional that she understood the pain that Jennie was feeling but that she didn't understand why she was sharing it with this group because they were all 'selfish b****es.' The Real Housewives Of Salt Lake City will return next Sunday on Bravo. Tough time: 'It's hard,' said Jennie as she sobbed. 'Just understand as a mom that I don't want to go through this. Especially today' Nikita Jasmine put on a very busty display in a plunging devil bodysuit as she got into the Halloween spirit early on Saturday. The Married At First Sight UK star, 27, caught the eye in the scarlet ensemble which was complete with fishnet tights, shimmering wings and horns. Her sensational figure was on full display in the racy outfit which she finished off with strappy black heeled sandals. Wow: Nikita Jasmine, 27, put on a very busty display in a plunging red bodysuit as she stepped out for a Halloween night out on Saturday Her makeup consisted of red glitter under her eyes and on her neck and she also wore lashings of mascara to frame her red contact lenses. The outing comes after the reality star is reportedly set to make another television appearance in the upcoming series of Celebs Go Dating. The reality star is set to star alongside 5ive band member Abz Love and TOWIE's Chloe Brockett in the upcoming series. Stunner: The Married At First Sight UK star caught the eye in the scarlet ensemble which was complete with fish net tights, shimmering wings and horns Nikita recently hit out at co-star Alexis Economou in the reunion episode of MAFS where she made an explosive return after being axed from the series. The Geordie star was removed from the show in a previous episode for breaking E4's code of conduct and exploding at fellow cast members - forcing her husband Ant Poole to also leave the programme. However, Ant returned to the show when sparks flew with Alexis, who had also originally quit the process after failing to find a connection with her husband Jordon Mundell. But in the reunion they went on to discuss her marriage to Ant, Nikita fumed that Alexis was a snake and broke girl code by going with her husband following their split. Gorgeous: Her sensational figure was on full display in the racy outfit which she finished off with strappy black heeled sandals Shes a f****** snake, right, Nikita insisted as she watched footage of the Ant and Alexis together. I was your mate, man, she added. However, Alexis responded: You was not my friend. A shocked Nikita retorted: How can you say that? I want to know how I wasnt your friend. Fury: The outing comes after Nikita hit out at co-star Alexis Economou in the reunion episode of MAFS where she made an explosive return after being axed from the series Turning her attention towards her ex-husband, Nikita added: He never mentioned anything about a connection. I actually said to you, Do you think Alexis is fit? and you said no. Categorically, you said no. If he says thats not true hes a f****** liar. Eventually, Alexis apologised for 'upsetting' Nikita, insisting she 'owed her an apology as a woman'. 'Just know that it was never my intention, I am sorry. I am sorry if I hurt your feelings,' Alexis added, before the two women hugged one another. Both Alexis and Nikita are no longer with Ant. Jessika Power has recalled her turbulent childhood with her former drug addict mother, Melinda Mackenzie. The Married At First Sight star told The Daily Telegraph that she 'saw a lot of things that a child should never see'. 'It was really rough growing up... I was in situations a child should never be put in,' the 29-year-old told the paper. Memories: Jessika Power (left) has recalled her turbulent childhood with her former drug addict mother, Melinda Mackenzie (right) 'I saw my mother being abused by the various men that came and went. There were times where there were dirty needles left around the house. 'I stayed down a year because my mum never really got me to school.' Jessika says that while she does not think her mother is a 'bad person' the pair no longer talk. Childhood: The Married At First Sight star told The Daily Telegraph that she 'saw a lot of things that a child should never see'. 'It was really rough growing up... I was in situations a child should never be put in,' the 29-year-old told the paper 'I saw my mother being abused by the various men that came and went. There were times where there were dirty needles left around the house. I stayed down a year because my mum never really got me to school,' she added The reality star was raised by her aunt, and in 2018 lashed out at her mum when she spoke to Woman's Day. In her interview with the magazine, Melinda said she felt ashamed watching her daughter cheat on 'husband' Mick Gould on season six of MAFS. She further claimed that Jessika's behaviour was 'out of line' when she pursued a secret relationship with Daniel Webb during the social experiment. Drama: The reality star was raised by her aunt, and in 2018 lashed out at her mum when she spoke to Woman's Day. In her interview with the magazine, Melinda said she felt ashamed watching her daughter cheat on 'husband' Mick Gould (left) on season six of MAFS 'She has absolutely no place in my life. She hasn't been a part of my life for four years,' Jessika told Daily Mail Australia in response 'She has absolutely no place in my life. She hasn't been a part of my life for four years,' Jessika told Daily Mail Australia in response. She added: 'My aunt brought me up. I have so much love in my life from my auntie, my two dads [her biological father and stepfather] and siblings. I don't need her.' Jessika's aunt Rebecca also denied Melinda's claims, telling Daily Mail Australia that she is 'gobsmacked' any publication would buy an article from her sister. The buxom blonde is currently in the UK, after revealing she has lined up TV work in England, where she is staying with her secret boyfriend, Manchester-based podcaster Connor Thompson. The Block host Scott Cam has confirmed the show will be heading to the country. The 58-year-old told Nova's Fitzy & Wippa on Monday, the 2022 series of the show will be filmed in a regional town. 'I might get in trouble for saying this but we are going regional. Bit of a tree change which will be something different. I'm really excited about it,' Scott said. Making the move: The Block host Scott Cam (pictured) has confirmed the show will make a move to the country as the 2022 season is set to be filmed in a regional town 'I can't give you much more information than that but we are definitely getting out of the city next year.' He added: 'I'm looking forward to doing the walk around for the visits on horseback!' It comes after the Herald Sun reported the renovation show is going to be filmed in Gisborne South in the Macedon Ranges Shire. New location: The 58-year-old told Nova's Fitzy & Wippa on Monday, the 2022 series of the show will be filmed in a regional town A 79-acre property was recently purchased for around $11million, and the land has been subdivided into seven lots. Gisborne South is a 40-minute drive from Melbourne and is known for its vineyards, olive groves and alpaca industries, while the property itself boasts incredible views of Mount Macedon. When asked about the rumours last month, The Block creator Julian Cress told the publication: 'While I cant confirm any rumour about where we are going next year, lifestyle properties in regional areas sounds like a great idea. 'I might get in trouble for saying this but we are going regional. Bit of a tree change which will be something different. I'm really excited about it,' Scott said 'If the rumour is true, whoever thought of it is a genius. The Block from its inception 19 years ago has always been about aspirational living for Australians.' Over the years, the show has been filmed in locations such as Sydney's Bondi and Manly, as well as Port Melbourne, St Kilda and Brighton in Victoria. The current season of the renovation show was filmed on a cul-de-sac in the suburb of Hampton in Melbourne. She's been engaged to her partner of nearly a decade, Norm Hogan, for seven years. And The Block star-turned-radio host Jess Eva caught her fiance lying about where he was on Friday. On Triple M Sydney's Moonman in the Morning radio show on Monday, the 36-year-old recalled finding his car parked at an RSL when he was supposed to be at work. Busted! The Block's Jess Eva, 36, caught fiance Norm Hogan enjoying a 'couple of schooners' at the pub on a work day on Friday (both pictured on another occasion) 'Oh the best thing happened on Friday. I caught Norm at the pub when he was meant to be at work. As a wife you're just like, "this is delicious",' Jess told co-hosts Lawrence Mooney and Chris Page. Jess drove past Gladesville RSL in Sydney en route to McDonald's for lunch on Friday, only to discover Norm's car in the RSL's parking lot. Keen to catch him out, she decided to call Norm on her phone and use her friend's phone to record the saga. 'I said, "oh that little bugger. I'll ring him!" So I got Donna's phone and I rang him on my phone and recorded it just so I could send it to the boys if I have to catch him out,' she said with a laugh. Caught out: On Triple M Sydney's Moonman in the Morning radio show on Monday, Jess recalled finding his white car parked at Gladesville RSL in Sydney when he was supposed to be at work. She decided to call Norm on his phone, while recording the saga on her friend's phone When asked about his work day on the phone, tradesman Norm insisted that he had to go as he was very busy with a crane that had just arrived at the site. While she posted the video of his car in the parking lot to her Instagram, Norm was unaware he was caught out until Monday's radio show when she got him on the line. Norm confessed to placing a bet on a horse that day and ended up at the bar. A bet and some booze: When asked about his work day on the phone, tradesman Norm insisted that he had to go as he was very busy with a crane that just arrived at the site. However on Monday's radio show, he confessed to placing a bet on a horse and ending up at the bar 'Well look, I had a horse racing that day so I thought I'd go and watch it in the TAB area and it just so happened to be right next to the bar, and I was having a couple of schooners and the infamous phone call came through,' he admitted on air. Jess is known to share details about her personal life and this was particularly evident on an episode of Jana Hocking's Kinda Sorta Dating podcast this month. The media star - who shares Fred, six, and Matilda, four, with Norm - said she has no intention of marrying him as she's against the idea of spending thousands on a wedding when she could invest in something for their children. 'I find traditional a bit outdated, and it's just what fits your jam. For us, we got engaged and I've got no intention of getting married,' she said. Confession: 'Well look, I had a horse racing that day so I thought I'd go and watch it in the TAB area and it just so happened to be right next to the bar, and I was having a couple of schooners and the infamous phone call came through,' Norm admitted on air 'The only way I would get married is if it was a BYOB (bring your own booze), because I've been to too many weddings where I've drunk the crap wine and I've felt bad about it - because it still costs the bride and groom thousands of dollars.' She continued: 'I don't need to [get married]. I'd do it for the party, but I don't need to. With this economy, you can put the money into something for your kids.' While she may be against the idea of marriage for the time being, she says Norm is 'desperate' to tie the knot. Jess added that he always asks her if she would 'just want to experience it', to which she replies: 'I love you, I've got no chance of breaking up with you - and if I did, we've been together more than six months so we're splitting our super 50/50 as it is.' Doting parents: Jess and Norm share two children, son Fred, six, and Matilda, four. They are pictured during the auctions of The Block's 2018 season where they won $209,000 She concluded that while she's not planning on walking down the aisle anytime soon, she's happy for anyone else who decides to. 'If that's what you like, go ahead,' she added, before advising: 'If you are waiting on a proposal, actually doesn't define anything emotionally with you.' Speaking about her first ever meeting with Norm, the blushing radio host recalled: 'We've been together nearly ten years, ever since an illusive night when I got kicked out of a nightclub and a pizza restaurant. 'His bald head was glistening in the moonlight. I said, "Can I have a bit of your pizza?" he said, "Can I have your number?" I said "I'll do whatever you want mate, just give us a bite." It was love since then'. I'm A Celebrity has come under fire from animal welfare charity PETA after after Ant McPartlin was seen filming the advert for the new series while sat on a small Shetland pony. The presenter, 45, shared a behind-the-scenes clip of himself and Declan Donnelly on set after the official trailer for I'm A Celeb dropped on Friday. In the footage he shared to Instagram, Ant is dressed as a knight and sat on the back of the horse as he joked it was doing 'a little dance' while pacing around. Under fire: I'm A Celebrity has come under fire from fans after Ant McPartlin was seen filming the advert for the new series while sat on a small horse in a behind-the-scenes clip Dec was also seen in the clip, like Ant dressed as a knight, seated on a much bigger white horse as it shuffled about with him on its back. Ant joked: 'Haha it's doing a little dance for you,' before singing: 'Do a little dance, make a little love, get down tonight.' He was later seen feeding the horse a treat and saying: 'This is what you get for being a good boy.' However, reacting to the footage, PETA released a statement slamming the decision to use the horse for 'cheap laughs' as the organisation urged bosses to find 'more creative and humane ways' to promote the show. New promo: Ant shared footage of him filming the advert for I'm A Celebrity's new series to the Instagram page he shares with Declan Donnelly on Sunday night PETAs Director Elisa Allen said in a statement to MailOnline: 'Is there anything I'm A Celebrity wouldnt do in a desperate attempt to get cheap laughs at the expense of animals welfare? 'This stunt caused a Shetland pony to struggle and risk acute back pain and even lameness.' Allen added: 'PETA urges the shows producers to find more creative and humane ways of introducing its absurd antics and to leave animals in peace.' While fans were excited to see the return of I'm A Celebrity to TV screens next month, the post - shared via Ant and Dec's Instagram page - was overshadowed by those also sharing their 'disappointment' over the use of the small pony in the advert. Difference: In the footage, Dec is seen sat on the back of a much bigger white horse Funny guy: Ant jokes in the clip that his horse is 'trying to do a little dance' as it paces around with him on his back and moves its head up and down All dressed up: He is seen dressed up as a knight while on set filming in the countryside Claiming that the horse looked like it was in discomfort and Ant was 'too heavy' to be sitting on its back, fans said they were left 'upset' by the footage. 'Bloody hell Ant you are wey (sic) too big for that little horse get off,' wrote one person. Another questioned: 'How was this actually allowed ...beyond belief that poor little pony it's wicked.' A third alleged: 'Thats not cool guys. The reason that pony is dancing around like that is because of the weight on his back. That pony should only carry the weight of a small child on his back, not a full grown man in armour. The horse is clearly not happy which doesnt make it very funny.' Horsing around: The star was in high spirits as he straddled the pony in his costume 'Good boy': In the footage, Ant was also seen giving the horse a treat for being a 'good boy' 'Poor little pony': Fans were quick to share their 'disappointment', as hundreds commented on the clip and claimed Ant was 'too big' to be sat on the pony A fourth said: 'Love your work, always have, but shame on you both for using that small pony to carry Ant who is clearly far to heavy for it.' 'I thought it funny until I saw Ants horse.. far too small for him with all that weight.. made me upset,' said one more follower. 'Would have been better if they showed him on a rocking horse as he is far too heavy for that pony,' added another. One person commented: 'Im shocked this was allowed! Ant is much too big for that small pony! So disappointed.' Another shared: 'I love you and guys and think you are both brilliant but this is not funny at all. The strain you will be putting on that small pony's back is huge. Disappointed in you guys.' Mixed reviews: While some found the behind-the-scenes clip 'hilarious', others shared their 'upset' over Ant being sat on the back of the small horse Others found the size of the horse funny, as they applauded the tongue-in-cheek clip, with one follower commenting: 'Hilarious that horse is far too small.' 'This is hilarious haha,' said one fan, as plenty more commented with crying laughing emoji. MailOnline has reached out to a spokesperson for ITV for comment. The official trailer for this year's series of I'm A Celebrity, which will take place in the UK once again at Gwrych Castle in Wales, was released on Friday. In the 40-second long clip, Ant and Dec are seen heading out on a quest dressed as knights, with Ant joking about the size of his horse compared to Dec's, who is shorter than him, and quipping: 'I think we've got the wrong horses.' Back again: The official trailer for I'm A Celeb dropped on Friday, with Ant joking in the 40-second long clip that he thinks he and Dec, who is shorter than him, got the 'wrong horses' It came after the pair were shown this year's lineup, which is yet to be confirmed publicly, in another video. While no details surrounding this year's stars were given, an excited Ant and Dec were seen animatedly reacting, before revealing they were 'happy' with the confirmed celebs. Rumoured stars set to appear include Love Island's Maura Higgins, Richard Madeley, EastEnders Adam Woodyatt and former Strictly Come Dancing judge Arlene Phillips. Preparations for the upcoming series are underway at the camp in Gwrych Castle, North Wales, which will play host for the second consecutive year due to travel restrictions surrounding its usual home on Australia's east coast. Exciting: The pair set out on a quest as they returned to the castle where I'm A Celebrity filmed in North Wales last year during the pandemic ahead of another UK-based series ITV bosses are facing a scramble against time to renovate the dilapidated building - which is now closed to the public - and its surrounding areas ahead of the new series expected to begin in November. The reality show, which usually films in the Australian wilderness, was forced to relocate to the dilapidated castle following fears Australia could shut its borders because of the ongoing pandemic. Producers have since filed an extensive planning application to the authorities in order to make the country house inhabitable in time for the new series. Last year's I'm A Celebrity series was the first to take place in the UK. The show was won by Giovanna Fletcher, with Radio 1 host Jordan North finishing in second place and Vernon Kay following close behind in third place. Bella Hadid sent temperature soaring as she posted a slew of sizzling snaps to her Instagram Stories on Sunday during her sun-soaked trip to the Bahamas. The model, 25, certainly turned up the heat as she showcased her enviable frame in a black bikini which highlighted her bronzed complexion. Frolicking in a shallow pool at the opulent Ocean Club, she protected her visage from the beating sunshine with a stylish straw hat. Wow! Bella Hadid sent temperature soaring as she posted a slew of sizzling snaps to her Instagram Stories on Sunday during her sun-soaked trip to the Bahamas A later shot saw the Vogue cover star extend her arms out while crossing her toned pins in a skimpy yellow two-piece. Bella looked every inch the Bond girl as she recently shared behind-the-scenes snaps from her newly released Michael Kors campaign video. Modeling a tiny 'agent 007' tee and black string bikini bottoms she showed off her bronzed frame while bringing the heat in a pool shoot. Hot stuff: A later shot saw the Vogue cover star extend her arms out while crossing her toned pins in a skimpy yellow two-piece The Kors 007 capsule collection was timed to coincide with the release of No Time To Die with Daniel Craig, Lea Seydoux, and Ana de Armas. As a face of the brand, naturally she was tapped for their latest campaign which was shot at The Ocean Club - the same destination seen in the 007 film Casino Royale. In a few images the 25-year-old supermodel showed off her very toned and tanned tummy while wearing high rise bikini bottoms and a cropped black tee. Her relatively natural glam included shimmered cheeks and slicked back hair, as well as large gold hoop earrings for accessory. Bella Bond! She looked every inch the Bond girl as she recently shared behind-the-scenes snaps from her newly released Michael Kors campaign video She worked her angles in the pool, reclining back with her face towards the sun before submerging most of her arms for another shot. 'How I feel about NO TIME TO DIE coming out and us finally being able to release our 007 x Michael Kors film,' she wrote of her smiling pool shoot. 'Feeling honored to be involved in something as special as this!! Working with the Bond team was a dream come true.' She's never been afraid to flaunt her incredible figure on social media. And on Monday, Tammy Hembrow put on a very busty display in a black swimsuit as she enjoyed a day at the beach. The 27-year-old influencer shared a series of photos to Instagram, as she soaked up the sun with her daughter Saskia, five, and son Wolf, four. Bombshell in black! Tammy Hembrow put on a VERY busty display in a swimsuit as she enjoyed a day at the beach with her children on Monday In one photo, Tammy flaunted her figure in a black swimsuit with a plunging neckline after enjoying a swim. She also shared another image of herself walking along the sand with her daughter. Tammy shares Saskia and Wolf with her ex-fiance Reece Hawkins. Family fun: The 27-year-old influencer shared a series of photos to Instagram, as she soaked up the sun with her daughter Saskia, five, and son Wolf, four She has moved on from Reece with Gold Coast-based Ironman Matt Poole, 32. Tammy and Matt went public with their romance in September last year during a trip to the Whitsundays. That month, Matt also made his debut on his girlfriend's YouTube channel, admitting in a Q&A video that he'd been the first to say 'I love you'. Going strong: Tammy shares her children with her ex-fiance Reece Hawkins. She has moved on from Reece with Gold Coast-based Ironman Matt Poole (pictured) 'I did. I am obsessed,' Matt said, before Tammy explained how he had confessed his feelings after they'd 'had a little fight' on holiday. 'We had a little fight over nothing, and then when he was trying to make up with me and apologise, he told me he loved me,' she said with a smile. Meanwhile, Reece and his American model fiancee London Goheen, 23, welcomed their first child together, son Stone, in March. Carrie Bickmore announced the launch of The Brain Cancer Centre on Monday night's episode of The Project, in collaboration with WEHI - the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research. Following a segment on an eight-year-old girl's brain cancer diagnosis and treatment, an emotional Carrie, 40, revealed she's 'on a mission to raise as much money as possible to give brain cancer patients hope'. The TV presenter is also the founder of Carrie's Beanies 4 Brain Cancer, following her late husband Greg Lange's death in 2010 after a nine-year battle with the disease. Worthy cause: Carrie Bickmore (pictured) announced the launch of The Brain Cancer Centre on Monday's episode of The Project, in collaboration with WEHI - the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research 'It's a reminder that cancer diagnoses haven't stopped while our focus has been on Covid the past few years. Around 3,000 people have passed away from brain cancer in just the past two years,' Carrie revealed on air about the startling statistics. 'Survival rates haven't changed in 30 years which is just unacceptable and that's why I, along with many other brilliant advocates around the country, have been on a mission to raise as much money as possible to give brain cancer patients hope.' Carrie said she was 'so proud' to announce the launch of The Brain Cancer Centre, in partnership with WEHI 'which is a world-renowned research institute that has been making discoveries for 100 years'. Mission: Following a segment on an eight-year-old girl's brain cancer diagnosis and treatment, an emotional Carrie, 40, revealed she's 'on a mission to raise as much money as possible to give brain cancer patients hope' 'This is a collaborative centre, it's a collaborative initiative, and we hope to end brain cancer as terminal illness,' she said. The Brain Cancer Centre has already secured $40million in funding through the sales of the beanies at Carries Beanies 4 Brain Cancer, along with grants and collaborations with research institutes. Back in 2018, Carrie became tearful while discussing her relationship with late husband Greg on ABC's Anh's Brush With Fame. Carrie said that welcoming their son Oliver, now 14, was 'probably the greatest thing' she and Greg ever did together. Working hard: The Brain Cancer Centre has already secured $40million in funding through the sales of the beanies at Carries Beanies 4 Brain Cancer, along with grants and collaborations with research institutes 'It's the greatest thing we ever did': Carrie became emotional while speaking about her late husband Greg Lange (right) and their 14-year-old son Oliver on ABC's Anh's Brush With Fame back in 2018. Greg died in 2010 after a nine-year battle with brain cancer 'Ollie is a very... he's a gorgeous boy and he's so much like [Greg] in so many ways,' Carrie told comedian and painter Anh Do. 'Even his... you know... it sounds so weird, but often I'll see him in the shower, the back of his body, and he's just like... his frame is just a miniature version of Greg. They're very similar, very similar,' she added. Carrie also revealed that welcoming Ollie in 2007, three years before Greg tragically died, gave the couple joy and focus during such challenging times. Emotional: 'Ollie is a very... he's a gorgeous boy and he's so much like [Greg] in so many ways,' Carrie told comedian and painter Anh Do 'It was a really... it was great. It was a great thing for both of us to have him and to have that focus,' the Channel Ten star said of her pregnancy. The couple discovered Greg had a brain tumour in 2001, and the diagnosis changed their lives forever. 'It just completely threw everything we knew, everything we had planned, everything we thought, it just threw everything on its head. It was the start of an incredibly hard journey,' she told Anh. Greg lost his battle with brain cancer in December 2010. Father and son: Carrie and Greg welcomed Ollie in 2007, three years before Greg tragically died from brain cancer in 2010. Pictured: Greg and Ollie New romance: Following Greg's death, Carrie found love again with Chris Walker (left), a producer on Network Ten's The Project Brain cancer statistics in Australia * 1,171 males and 725 females estimated to be diagnosed with brain cancer in 2021 * 935 males and 593 females estimated to die from brain cancer in 2021 * 22 per cent chance of surviving at least five years (2013 to 2017) Source: Australian government / Cancer Australia Advertisement Following his death, Carrie has worked tirelessly to raise awareness and funds through her charity Carrie's Beanies 4 Brain Cancer. Carrie eventually found love again with Chris Walker, a producer she met on set of Network Ten's The Project. The couple welcomed their first child, daughter Evie, now six, in March 2015. They are also proud parents to daughter Adelaide, two. It first surfaced that she was divorcing husband Tom Girardi, 82, in November 2020. And almost a year after their split, Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Erika Jayne, 50, is rumoured to be dating again. According to TMZ, the US reality star is putting herself back out there and has enjoyed a 'handful' of dates with 'different men' within the last month. Moving on: Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Erika Jayne, 50, is reportedly dating again - nearly a year after she filed for divorce from estranged husband Tom Girardi, 82 Sources told the publication that Erika has 'jumped back into the LA dating pool' and was seen heading out on dates for the first time since filing for divorce 11-months ago. MailOnline has reached out to a representative for Erika for comment. She and attorney Girardi, who is 33 years her senior, were married for 21 years and news of their divorce came weeks before a class-action suit was filed against the pair. The former couple have been accused of embezzling $2million (1.45m) meant for families who lost loved ones in the 2018 Lion Air plane crash. They are also being accused of using their separation to protect themselves financially. All over: The reality star and Girardi, who is 33 years her senior, were married for 21 years (pictured above together in 2017) A class action lawsuit filed by Edelson PC on 2 December in Illinois accuses Erika and Girardi of embezzling money meant for his law firm clients because he's 'on the verge of financial collapse' and needed to finance their lavish lifestyle. The suit seems to further claims that the divorce is a strategy to protect their money from debt collectors. 'At the heart of this deception is Defendant Girardi and his need to fund outrageous lifestyles for himself and his soon-to-be ex-wife, Erika Jayne,' the complaint, obtained by DailyMail.com, said. Girardi is also being sued by Wells Fargo Vendor Financial Services for $882,715 (641,755) of unpaid office lease and business supply charges, according to court documents obtained by Page Six. Back on the market: Sources claim Erika has enjoyed a 'handful' of dates in Los Angeles with 'different men' over the last month Furthermore, Girardi is facing a lawsuit from Robert Keese, a partner in his law firm who claims Girardi owes him over $500,000 (363k) and is also named in Edelson PC's class-action suit. The once powerful Los Angeles lawyer has also been the subject of numerous bar complaints alleging financial malfeasance involving millions of dollars owed to clients, including female cancer victims and a burn victim Girardi was stripped of his law license from the State Bar Of California, following the slew of legal challenges, which have reportedly become complicated due to the disgraced attorney's declining health. Candid: Erika was seen addressing her divorce and the embezzlement allegations against Girardi on the reunion special of RHOB's 11th season with host Andy Cohen Last month, Girardi was put under a temporary conservatorship and a doctor in the case later testified that he has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disorder. Erika found herself in the hot seat as the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills season 11 reunion played out on Bravo recently. She was quizzed by host Andy Cohen, who is the executive producer of the Real Housewives franchise, over her relationship with her now estranged husband and what and when she knew about his business dealings and embezzlement scandal. The conversation saw Erika accuse Girardi of being unfaithful to her for 'years' and claim she knew of 'three mistresses' her ex had when they were together, as she claimed she 'wasn't in control' of her finances and handed over 'every pay check' to her former spouse. 'I gave every paycheck to my husband,' she alleged, adding: 'I'll say this - I was 27 when I went in. He was 60. The power balance was way out of whack. I trusted this man. All my finances were kept down at the firm.' Expressing her desire to move on from her failed marriage and the current scandal surrounding herself and Girardi, Erika said: 'I just turned 50. I cannot allow this to destroy me and take me to a place that I cannot recover. I have to survive this.' She confirmed that Girardi was now in a memory care facility and that their divorce proceedings have been delayed due to his conservatorship. Past in the past: She expressed her desire to move on from the drama, as she told Andy: 'I cannot allow this to destroy me and take me to a place that I cannot recover' Reflecting on the breakdown of her marriage, Erika said: 'I'm trying, much like everyone else around me, to figure out what the f*** happened.' The TV star said that she hopes the embezzlement allegations facing Girardi are 'not true' and insisted she had loved him On her being associated with the allegations in the headlines, Erika said: 'I feel terrible, this is not who I am.' She explained that a bankruptcy trustee now has to sort out what money goes where and at this point in time, she is focused on worrying about herself. Matthew Wright has spoken out on LBC host Steve Allen's row with Tilly Ramsay, after the DJ branded the Strictly star 'chubby'. Last week, drama erupted when Gordon Ramsay's daughter, 19, hit out at Steve, 57, for calling her 'a chubby little thing', leading to an onslaught of backlash from Tilly's fans - yet Matthew, 56, insisted the reaction was hypocritical. Appearing on This Morning on Monday, Matthew said: 'It was very interesting to see the comments made online afterwards for Steve Allen. They were incredibly ageist and sexist so he says something that's cruel and hurtful to somebody... Not ok: Matthew Wright has spoken out on LBC host Steve Allen's row with Tilly Ramsay, after the DJ branded the Strictly star 'chubby' 'Then thousands of people on Twitter say something that's cruel and hurtful and sexist and ageist about him. There's too much hate in the world regardless of hate or sex or gender.' Scandal erupted last week when Steve read out a comment from a listener on his show telling him the teenager is taking part in Celebrity MasterChef Australia. He replied: 'Is she? Well, she can't blimming well dance, I'm bored with her already... 'She's a chubby little thing, isn't she? Have you noticed? Probably her dad's cooking'. Taking to social media, Tilly said she would not tolerate those who criticise her weight. She penned: 'I try not to read and listen to comments and negativity... 'However recently being called out on a national radio station by a 67-year-old man is a step too far. It's such a shame that someone is trying to make such a positive experience negative... Hitting back: Last week, drama erupted when Gordon Ramsay's daughter, 19, hit out at Steve, 57, for calling her 'a chubby little thing', leading to an onslaught of backlash from Tilly's fans - yet Matthew, 56, insisted the reaction was hypocritical Speaking out: After his initial comments, there were calls from industry insiders for Steve to go, while Twitter users also reacted - something Matthew discussed 'This isn't the first and definitely won't be the last comment made about my appearance... but please remember that words can hurt.' After his initial comments, there were calls from industry insiders for Steve to go, while Twitter users also reacted - something Matthew discussed. He said: 'I am not pointing this out by way of justification for Steve Allen cos I don't think there is any justification for that comment but in terms of a line making a comment about a woman... 'It was very interesting to see the comments made online afterwards for Steve Allen. They were incredibly ageist and sexist so he says something that's cruel and hurtful to somebody and then thousands of people on Twitter say something that's cruel and hurtful and sexist and ageist about him... Hmm.. Appearing on This Morning on Monday, Matthew said: 'It was very interesting to see the comments made online afterwards for Steve Allen. They were incredibly ageist and sexist so he says something that's cruel and hurtful to somebody' Many controversies of LBC host Steve Allen The ongoing row between Steve Allen and Tilly Ramsay is the latest spat the LBC host has been involved in. A scan of his Twitter shows a bizarre feud with reality TV star Gemma Collins, whose weight he frequently criticised and who he described as 'a beach hut'. He made similar comments about TV personality Sally Jacks, who he said was 'fat like you can't believe'. Ms Jacks replied to the tweet to reveal she was struggling to shed baby weight. Back in 2018, he was rapped by Ofcom after he mocked a blind journalist who became the first person in the UK to use a miniature guide horse. Mohammed Salim Patel from Blackburn, Lancashire, was using two-year-old American miniature horse Digby because of his fear of dogs - until the horse grew too big. In a broadcast on October 1, Allen said he'd 'never heard of anything so stupid' while discussing a story on Digby. He also said on air: 'Well if he's blind, tell him it's a rabbit or something. I've never heard of anything so stupid. 'This is the blind man scared of dogs hoping that a horse will guide him on his commute. Where are you going to take that for goodness sake?' In December, communications regulator Ofcom upheld a complaint that the comments had been offensive. In 2015, LBC was given a warning from Ofcom after Allen made comments about 'beating up' London Tube workers. Allen said: 'I think we should go round and start beating up tube people, the people that bring them all out on strike.' In 2017, Ofcom also received complaints after Allen said: 'Why do we have to start being nice to travellers? Every time I read a story in the newspaper its either thieving, robbing or brawling what is the matter with them?' And in the same year, Ofcom found him in breach of the code for making discriminatory comments about people from Portugal. Advertisement 'There's too much hate in the world regardless of hate or sex or gender.' Matthew's words come after it was reported that Steve sent a private apology to Tilly. Allen contacted her earlier this week to issue an apology, according to PA. Amid outcry to get the star axed from LBC, one source told The Sun: 'Steve's outdated and archaic comments have been allowed to continue for far too long and plenty of people want him out. 'There's free speech and then there is calling a teenage girl fat live on the radio. Plenty of people think it's time he was given his marching orders because this isn't the first time he's made unacceptable comments on air and hasn't been reprimanded. 'He should issue an apology at the least - but people want him gone. He's bringing the reputation of the station down.' An insider told MailOnline that while there are some within LBC who called for Allen to quit because they see him as a 'dinosaur', others wanted him to stay. The insider added that Allen 'gets on well' with LBC hosts Eddie Mair and Nick Ferrari and was 'well thought of in the industry' by breakfast presenters on other stations. Talking about who may want Allen out, the industry insider told MailOnline it would be those at LBC who are 'slightly more progressive, and they may regard Steve as a dinosaur'. The insider continued: 'I think that there's always been this suggestion that because he's been there 20 years that he's a bit of a dinosaur and he's had his day and there's been a number of Ofcom complaints about him. 'But there was dissatisfaction with Nigel Farage when he was on LBC and that was from the James O'Brien stable. But I'm not sure if this falls into the same category. 'I'm not particularly a fan but I know he has a massive following and if he were to disappear from the airwaves I think there'd be quite an outcry.' He added that there was a possibility Allen could retire soon, saying: 'That might probably be the outcome and I was thinking this morning maybe there's a conversation going on saying 'Steve, you're in your 60s, perhaps it's time to go and hit the beach' - maybe that conversation is taking place.' The insider continued: 'I think everyone's tolerated him, but I think the moment something like this happens people draw up battle lines. 'A lot of breakfast show presenters listen to Steve Allen on their way to work because they think he's a good presenter, he's well thought of in the industry.' Neither LBC nor Ofcom have confirmed whether any complaints have been made, with an Ofcom spokesman telling MailOnline: 'We are assessing the complaints against our broadcasting rules, but are yet to decide whether or not to investigate.' Ramsay secured third place on the leader board with her latest performance on Strictly Abbie Chatfield is single and ready to mingle. Celebrating the end of lockdown, the former Bachelor star said that she was not keen on any romantic encounters, until she broke her drought. In a series of explicit tales shared to Instagram Stories, the 26-year-old explained: 'I f***ed someone, and I'm back to normal. Ready: Abbie Chatfield (pictured) is single and ready to mingle. Celebrating the end of lockdown, the former Bachelor star said that she was not keen on any romantic encounters, until she broke her drought 'I've got the roster in my head. I'm making plans. I've making an Excel spreadsheet. I'm ready. I'm ready to f**k half of the Eastern Suburbs. 'And then get on a plane, and fly to Melbourne, and f**k half of Melbourne as well,' she said. Abbie went on: 'I'm back to normal. It's very fun. I'm masturbating over someone different than I was masturbating about all of f***ing lockdown. 'I'm ready. I'm ready to f**k half of the Eastern Suburbs. And then get on a plane, and fly to Melbourne, and f**k half of Melbourne as well,' she said She added in a further Instagram Story: 'So shout out to the person who spat in my mouth last week on this couch and brought me back to the living' 'It's great. I'm happy about it. She's back baby. Nipples hard. Just be warned.' She added in a further Instagram Story: 'So shout out to the person who spat in my mouth last week on this couch and brought me back to the living'. She then explained that anyone she made a date with during lockdown will have to stay true to their word, and they will 'at least kiss' if the date comes to fruition. The reality star had earlier joined her friends for a Sunday lunch, with the trio dancing very provocatively on a rooftop. Abbie went on: 'I'm back to normal. It's very fun. I'm masturbating over someone different than I was masturbating about all of f***ing lockdown' In a video shared to Instagram, Abbie twerked against a male pal who was behind her, while another female friend joined the grind from behind. In photos shared on the day, the reality star showed off her figure in a skin-tight animal print frock. 'We are all double vaxxed that's why we're so hot!' Abbie wrote in the comments alongside her post, garnering 500 likes from fans for the quip. Love Island stars Molly Mae Hague and Tommy Fury have been victims of an 800k burglary at their Manchester apartment. At around 10pm on Thursday 21 October, while the influencer, 22, and boxer, 21, were in London at her Beauty Works Christmas launch, an 'experienced gang' targeted their flat in Hale, Manchester and stole the vast quantity of goods. Sources revealed to MailOnline that the couple will 'never return' to the property after being left 'extremely shaken up' and terrified by the crime. The insider said: 'They will never return back to their apartment again unfortunately they feel they have been targeted and don't feel safe there any more. They really loved living there its a shame they have been forced out of their home.' Heartache: Love Island stars Molly Mae Hague and Tommy Fury have been victims to an 800k burglary at their Manchester apartment (the couple are pictured in their flat earlier this year) While Molly Mae and Tommy partied in London, the gang descended on their block of flats, in which there are five other properties. An insider detailed: 'It seems to be an experienced gang who know what theyre doing as they have had machinery and waited for Molly and Tommy to be away... 'They have approached the property from the rear and smashed through their balcony windows and doors to gain access to their apartment. There is five apartments in the block but other neighbours were out too... 'They have stolen approx 800k worth of belongings leaving them with nothing left other than what they had on them in their suitcases in London on the night of event.. At the event: At around 10pm on Thursday 21 October, while the influencer, 22, and boxer, 21, were in London at her Beauty Works Christmas launch, an 'experienced gang' targeted their flat in Hale, Manchester and stole the vast quantity of goods (the couple pictured at the event) Lavish: Sources revealed to MailOnline that the couple will 'never return' to the property after being left 'extremely shaken up' and terrified by the crime 'Molly was pictured that night when the robbery happened at her Beauty Works x Molly Mae event in London. They seemed to have got scared off and departed quickly possible across the park at the back. Its called Halecroft Park.' In the wake of the incident, a representative for Molly told MailOnline: 'Molly is doing well considering the circumstances. It has been a very distressing time but she is trying to be as positive as possible'. A representative for Greater Manchester Police told MailOnline: 'On Friday 22 October 2021 police received a report of a burglary at a property in the Hale Barns area... During the burglary a number of items were taken, including jewellery. Enquiries are ongoing and no arrests have been made.' Heartache: A representative for Greater Manchester Police told MailOnline: 'On Friday 22 October 2021 police received a report of a burglary at a property in the Hale Barns area' While the burglary took place in Manchester, Molly and Tommy partied in London, where the blonde beauty was wearing a staggering collection of jewellery. She wore a whopping 58,000 in jewellery on one single wrist, including a 40,000 white gold, 1.99 carat diamond Cartier band. On the other wrist, she wore a 37,400 Cartier 18k gold 1.99 carat bangle with a rose gold Patek Phillipe watch bedazzled with an impressive 56 diamonds. Her hands were decorated with 30,000 in sparking rings for the the Beauty Works x Molly-Mae event. Wow: Molly-Mae Hague was dripping in 180,000-worth of designer jewellery on Thursday night (pictured top left 37,400 Cartier bangle and 3,800 bracelet, bottom 30,000 rings) The influencer was seen with two Van Cleef & Arpels Vintage Alhambra necklaces around her neck as she posed-up at the event. The glistening chains matched the 3,800 bracelet partner Tommy gifted her earlier this year. Molly frequently shares images of the inside of her home on social media and has spoken at length about her plans to purchase a property. She has previously admitted she 'loves' the property and was yet to 'fall in love' with a home to buy, so revealed the couple were debating building a home. Stunning: Molly has frequently shown her designer goodies on social media Kym Marsh has shared details from her emotional wedding to fiance Scott Ratcliff at Sandhurst Military Academy on October 16. Discussing their stunning military-inspired nuptials, the Coronation Street star, 45, described tying the knot with army major Scott, 33, as the 'best day ever'. Following a stunning ceremony held at the Royal Memorial Chapel, the newlyweds hosted a champagne reception, before moving guests to tears with emotional speeches as they filled their wedding day with personal touches - including Kym's sweet tribute to stillborn son Archie. The ceremony marked Kym's third wedding ceremony, as she was previously married to EastEnders star Jack Ryder and Hollyoaks' Jamie Lomas. 'Best day ever': Kym Marsh has shared details of her wedding day to fiance Scott Ratcliff after the pair wed on 16 October at Sandhurst Military Academy Sharing their big day with OK! magazine, Kym revealed how she purposely wore a cherub necklace with her Carolina Herrera bridal gown, as it represents her baby boy who died at birth. Kym lost her son, Archie, with ex-husband Jamie Lomas in 2009 after giving birth at only 23 weeks. The actress is mum to three children, David, 26, Emilie, 24, and Polly, 10, and explained how they bought her a cherub necklace to symbolise Archie as a gift on Mother's Day. Wanting to wear it on her wedding day to 'represent' Archie, Kym also had yellow roses dotted around the venue to 'symbolise' her son as a yellow rose is his flower. Sweet tribute: Kym paid tribute to stillborn son Archie as she wore a cherub necklace (pictured above), given to her by her children, that symbolises him with her Carolina Herrera wedding dress on the day Only commissioned officers can wed at Sandhurst, with Kym and Scott revealing it was so 'special' to say I Do at the stunning venue, before hosting their wedding reception in another room on site and a marquee, where the couple's 152 guests dined on prawn cocktail, chicken supreme and sticky toffee pudding. On the day, Kym was flanked by a huge bridal party, including her kids, grandchildren Teddy and Polly, and Scott's daughter Renee, as well as her bridesmaids, headed up by her Corrie co-star Alison King, and Anthony Cotton, who acted as Master of Ceremonies. Corrie stars Jane Danson, Tristan Gemmill, Chris Gascoyne, Sally-Anne Matthews and Ryan Prescott were all in attendance, as were other celebrity guests including Carol Vorderman, Hear'Say star Danny Foster, TV presenter Gethin Jones and Strictly Come Dancing star Janette Manrara. Emotional: Kym's dad, who has been diagnosed with terminal prostate cancer, moved guest to tears with his emotional father of the bride speech after walking the actress down the aisle Kym's father, who has been diagnosed with terminal prostate cancer, walked her down the aisle, before moving guests to tears with his speech. 'Dad received a standing ovation before he even started, because of the courage and strength it took him to do the job he did that day,' Kym said of her father's speech. 'There was so much respect for him in the room,' she added. The entire day was filled with personal touches - the wedding ceremony including a reading of a poem Scott, who was dressed in his military uniform for the nuptials, had penned for Kym while on tour in Afghanistan and Kym's daughter Emilie sang the pair's first dance song, country ballad Then by Brad Paisley. Family touch: Kym's eldest daughter Emilie, 24, sang the couple's first dance song - a country balled titled Then by Brad Paisley chosen by Scott Scott's army peers also carried out a military parade, which saw them draw swords to create an arch for the newly married couple to walk under. 'It really was the best day ever. It was exactly what we hoped it would be and more,' Kym revealed to the publication, as Scott gushed how bride Kym looked so 'elegant' on the day, he was lost for words. The couple exchanged wedding rings during the ceremony, with Kym opting for a diamond encrusted band and Scott personalising his ring with the pair's wedding date and their nicknames 'Ratty and Marshy' engraved on the inside. In love: Kym and Scott announced their engagement in June, after he proposed to the soap star on her birthday, with the pair tying the knot four months later Kym - who plans to take Scott's last name for personal use now they're married - and husband Scott are planning to head on an exotic honeymoon in December, with Kym revealing the pair are eyeing up an island for peace and quiet and to enjoy some quality time together. Gushing about her husband, Kym said that she feels like Scott 'saved her' after years of being 'unlucky in love'. 'Neither of us were looking for love when we fell for each other. He is my best friend and loves me no matter what. Hes always so supportive and loving to me,' Kym said. Sharing her regret that she never got to say anything about Scott during their wedding - instead issuing necessary thanks to those that helped on the day - she added: 'I wish Id stood up and said that, but Im saying it now!' Star-studded guest list: Carol Vorderman (above) headed up the celebrity guests, with other stars in attendance including Strictly's Janette Manrara, Hear'Say star Danny Foster and Gethin Jones The couple have been dating since July 2018 and confirmed their engagement in June. Throughout their relationship, they have had to endure long stints of separation as Scott serves abroad, with Kym admitting last April that, at the time, they had been apart for seven months. Kym told The Sun at the Military Awards in 2018: 'He is due to go back to Afghanistan next year for six months. It is tough, but I know we can make it work and we will be fine. 'He's just got back from a training exercise in Kenya, so tonight was the first time we have seen each other in weeks.' Over: After breaking onto the pop scene as a member of Hear'Say Kym married EastEnders star Jack Ryder, 36, in 2002, but they divorced in 2009 Kym has been married twice previously. She wed former EastEnders star Jack Ryder in 2002, but later divorced in 2009. She then went on to marry ex Jamie in 2012 and the couple share daughter Polly. Just over a year after tying the knot, Kym filed from divorce from Jamie in 2013 citing 'unreasonable behaviour'. Prior to dating Scott, Kym was in a relationship with ex-boyfriend Matt Barker for two years. Three months after their split, she found love with military man Scott. Jeremy Piven's Los Angeles home was burglarized earlier this week, according to TMZ. The Entourage star, 56, had over $20,000 in clothes stolen from his home, with the thieves still at large. The thieves smashed a window of his house to get in, although he was not home at the time of the incident. The latest: Jeremy Piven's Los Angeles home was burglarized earlier this week, according to TMZ Jeremy's representative told the outlet after the burglary: 'It's unfortunate when high profile celebrities are a target of home robberies when traveling, Jeremy was out of town at the time doing his stand-up comedy shows in the UK.' It is not known if the actor was specifically targeted. Police are looking at video footage to identify the thieves, TMZ reported, with no arrests yet made. It is unknown which day the burglary took place earlier this week but Jeremy is currently traveling in Europe for his comedy show, with stops in London and Belfast. Thieves: The thieves smashed a window of his house to get in, although he was not home at the time of the incident; seen in 2015 on Entourage The actor is set to do two shows in Chicago in mid-November before heading to the West Coast for a San Diego show right before Thanksgiving. The remainder of the tour takes Jeremy from Las Vegas to Florida, Northern California, Nebraska and Washington state. Jeremy became a household name after starring as Ari Gold in the hit series Entourage. He won three Emmy Awards and one Golden Globe for his portrayal of the character, who is a talent agent. The TV star played Ari for eight seasons from 2004 until 2011 alongside Adrian Grenier, Kevin Connolly, Kevin Dillon and Jerry Ferrara. Jeremy has several projects in the works with two films completed: All-Star Weekend and American Night, and two in post-production: Ghost Killers and The Walk. Kate Beckinsale was left wincing as she had her toes sucked in bizarre scenes from her new comedy series, Guilty Party. The actress plays a discredited journalist who is fixed on restoring her reputation in the dark comedy series that premiered over in the US, earlier this month. In one erotic scene, Kate appears in character as writer Beth Baker while having her toe sucked by another woman. 'It was a weird day': Kate Beckinsale gets her toes sucked in one erotic scene in new comedy series Guilty Party, where she stars as discredited journalist Beth Baker The footage sees Kate wincing and pulling away from the woman who seductively licks the bottom of her feet and sucks her toes, before asking: 'You want me to lick your nipples?' Guilty Party follows Beth as she tries to revive her reputation as a journalist by following a story that centres around a woman who denies murdering her husband. While researching into the the case, Beth stops to interview a woman named Donna, played by Helen Hayden. Not realising Donna is a call girl, Beth refuses sex Donna's offer of sex, but agrees to let her suck on her toes instead. Wincing as Donna starts licking the sole of her foot, Kate's character who is sat down on a sofa, pulls herself backwards as she cries: 'Oh god.' Bizarre: The actress admits she felt 'so bad' for her co-star who had to lick her foot and suck her toes, especially as they'd only just met that day on set Discussing the scene, Kate revealed she had weirdly been sent her own feet by someone with a foot fetish on Instagram prior to filming. In a video interview with Swedish publication FilmTopp, she said: 'It was a really weird day. 'Somebody had sent me an article that morning of, I guess, Instagram's top foot fetishes, saying that I was his favourite feet - which by the way, I'm not particularly attracted to my own feet, they're not like something I ever think about. So I was already feeling a bit hunted in the foot department.' Kate also revealed she felt 'so bad' for her co-star Helen, who was only on set for one day and had to suck her toes. Bizarre: The scene sees Kate's character Beth interview a call-girl named Donna, but she doesn't realise she's a call girl - Donna offers Beth sex, which she refuses with Beth agreeing to let her suck her toes instead Speaking to Collider, the Pearl Harbor star said she refused a foot double for the close-up shots of the scene as she didn't want to make Helen suck the toes of two people. 'I had not met her beforehand. You read the script and then this person turns up. She was just perfectly brilliant and so lovable. At one point, they were like, "You know, we have a foot double for you." 'And I was like, Okay, I dont know how thats gonna work because theres all these wide shots where its clearly me. And they went, Yes, but for the close-ups, the foot double will do it. 'I said, That means that girls got to have two peoples feet in her mouth. At least weve broken the ice. Lets just carry on. So, I did all of it.' Mess: The series follow Kate's character Beth as she tries to revive her career by following a story that centres around a woman who denies murdering her husband Kate recalled: 'I felt so bad for her. Thats the thing. She was on set for a day, and thats what she had to do. We had an awkward, "Oh, hello. Nice to meet you." And the next thing, she was swallowing my feet,' Kate recalled. 'She was so nice as well. I felt terrible. My make-up artist and I were bleaching and scrubbing and perfuming. We probably chemically poisoned her, but I didnt want to smell a bit sock-ish.' Kate added that she didn't do anything she 'wasn't comfortable' on set, as she insisted it was 'really fun to play' a character that constantly overreacts and winds up doing 'reckless' things. Having a ball: Kate revealed in interviews what it was 'really fun' to play such a 'reckless' character and that she didn't do anything she 'wasn't comfortable' with on set Guilty Party premiered on 14 October on streaming service Paramount Plus, with fans able to tuck into the first two episodes of the show. Originally Isla Fisher was in the running to play Kate's character Beth, with her addition to the series confirmed in March 2020 before she later dropped out regarding concerns over the coronavirus pandemic. In December last year, it was announced that Kate would be replacing her in the lead role. She stars alongside Geoff Stults, who plays her onscreen husband Marco Baker, Jules Latimer, Tiya Sircar, Alanna Ubach and Laurie Davidson. Roxy Horner put on a glamorous display as she had her hair done at a Kensington salon on Friday. The model, 30, looked stunning in a black dress while munching on a takeaway as hairdresser, Tatiana Karelina, curled her blonde locks. The leather number ensured her slender legs were on full display as she elevated her height with strappy heeled sandals. Wow! Roxy Horner, 30, put on a glamorous display in a leggy leather mini dress as she had her hair done at a Kensington salon on Friday Roxy also kept warm in the salon by wearing a white wool coat and sipped on bubbly while her long blonde extensions were being put in. Roxy, who is the girlfriend of comedian Jack Whitehall, had her hair styled in an elegant half-up half-down style. The social media influencer smiled down at her phone as she sat in the hairdresser's chair. Looking good: The model looked stunning in a black dress as she munched on a takeaway as the hairdresser, Tatiana Karelina, curled her blonde locks Pamper session: She also kept warm in the salon by wearing a white wool coat and sipped on bubbly while her long blonde extensions were being put in Beauty: Roxy, who is the girlfriend of comedian Jack Whitehall, had her hair styled in an elegant half-up half-down style Roxy had her make up done up flawlessly with a layer of foundation, winged eyeliner and neutral coloured lip. Later, she looked in the mirror to ensure she liked her new hair-do. The fashionista looked stunning when she left the upmarket hairdresser while wearing the outerwear as she held her phone in her hand. Roxy has been dating the comedian since the first lockdown after the pair met during a trip to Australia, with the model moving into his London home after just a few weeks of dating. Getting glam: Her extensions fell to the middle of her back VIP: The hairdresser specialises in extensions to ensure Roxy had the best treatment The Travels With My Father star previously admitted although the decision 'accelerated' their relationship, they did miss out on doing ordinary things like restaurant and cinema dates. Speaking on the Couples Quarantine podcast, he said: 'Weirdly that was quite nice because we spent a lot of time together and it accelerates the relationship in a way. 'Then when lockdown ended, there's a lot of things we realised. We'd never gone to see a film together. We'd never been to a restaurant in England because we met in Australia.' Beauty: Roxy had her make up done up flawlessly with a layer of foundation, winged eyeliner and neutral coloured lip Checking: Roxy looked in the mirror to ensure she was happy with her new 'do Relaxed: Roxy sipped on bubbly on the outing It also comes after it was reported that a freak flood wreaked havoc in Jack's new home. The house, which Roxy shares with the comedian, was reportedly swamped with floodwater and the pair have been forced to stay in a hotel due to the damage. According to The Sun, water flooded the kitchen and dining area, damaging the parquet flooring. Busy: She tapped away on her phone while her tresses were being curled Something funny? The social media influencer smiled down at her phone as she sat in the hairdresser's chair A source told the publication: 'He's gutted. Talk about putting a dampener on moving in. The house is incredible and he loves it. There's even a lift and swimming pool in it. He wasn't expecting the kitchen to become a pool as well. 'Roxy doesn't live there full time but she is there most of the week now and it would definitely make the perfect home to start a family 'They had to move out while the repairs are being done. The flooring was ruined and it was really expensive stuff.' The source added that all the damaged property will have to be replaced, likely leaving the couple with a hefty bill. Glamorous: She looked stunning when she left the upmarket hairdresser while wearing the outerwear as she held her phone in her hand Keri Russell turned heads as she left Good Morning America in Times Square in New York City on Monday. The 45-year-old Felicity star looked chic in a gold patterned dress with a high neck for her appearance on the famed morning show. During her segment, Keri spoke about her upcoming movie Antlers produced by Guillermo Del Toro with director Scott Cooper. And she also said she would be up for a Felicity reunion as the show is about to celebrate 20 years since the finale. Ray of sunshine: The 45-year-old Felicity star caught the eye in a gold dress as she left Good Morning America following an appearance to promote her upcoming horror film Antlers on Monday morning Going back: And she also said she would be up for a Felicity reunion as the show is about to turn 20. The cast seen here is Amanda Foreman, Greg Grunberg, Amy Jo Johnson, Scott Speedman, Tangi Miller, Keri Russell, Scott Foley in 1998 Keri's on-air look included a floral printed marigold dress with a high neck that fell just below the knee. The frock looked to have some buttons on the side and a masquerade style mask on the front. She paired the dress with simple black pumps and a coordinating clutch bag and wore her hair tied back in a low bun with statement earrings. On the show they played a very brief and ominous clip from her newest film Antlers which caused hosts T. J. Holmes, Amy Robach and George Stephanopoulos to burst out in laughter afterwards. Working woman: On the show they played a very brief and ominous clip from her latest film Antlers which caused the hosts including George Stephanopoulos to burst out in laughter afterwards Details: The frock looked to have some buttons on the side and a creepy masquerade style mask on the front 'We didn't see anything! They want to keep it a real mystery,' Stephanopoulos said while roaring alongside the other hosts. And he later could not quit talking about how fruitless the clip was as he jokingly called it 'the best trailer we've ever shown.' They continued to ask her if scary movies were her forte, and if she 'liked' to be scared. 'I do not like to be scared at all - which is helpful when you're doing a scary movie cuz you're always scared. It's always at night, shaking, heavy breathing, and they're like "just walk into that dark cave". You know, it is legitimately scary.' Russell continued to share that a good horror movie has to have 'some base,' with this particular film being based on the short story, The Quiet Boy by Nick Antosca. 'There's like a generational trauma story that happens there,' she said of her role as a small town Oregon teacher, who helps a young student of hers harboring a dangerous secret. Antlers: Russell continued to share that a good horror movie has to have 'some base,' with this particular film being based on the short story, The Quiet Boy Felicity reboot? Most excitingly they spoke with Russell about Felicity and how next year will mark the 20th anniversary of the finale and she said she would 'definitely' be open to doing an 'on-screen reunion' Most excitingly they spoke with Russell about Felicity and how next year will mark the 20th anniversary of the finale. Asking if she would ever do an 'on-screen reunion,' she immediately shared: 'Well I would do it. You know I love that group, some of those people are still some of my best friends. I would definitely.' The California native rose to fame on the hit drama series which ran from 1998 to 2002. She has been romantically involved with her The Americans co-star Matthew Rhys since 2014. Steve Coogan transformed into paedophile Jimmy Savile on Monday in Manchester as filming continued on controversial new BBC series, The Reckoning. The new drama, which will be broadcasted by the BBC, will trace the disgraced former star's upbringing, his early career and prolific child sex offences. Steve, 55, was the spitting image of the disgraced children's TV host as he sported a blonde wig, tweed coat and red suit to film scenes outside a city nightclub. Controversial: Steve Coogan transformed into paedophile Jimmy Savile on Monday in Manchester as filming continued on controversial new BBC series, The Reckoning Steve got into character as he was filmed stepping out of a Rolls Royce Silver Cloud III and going into the club - which the star believed to be recreating scenes from 1962. The club had a poster of Elvis Presley and was titled 'Afternoon Party with Jimmy Savile.' Extras in 60s garb were also seen on set, with the Alan Partridge star looking sombre during the dramatic scenes. The decision to chronicle Savile's life has come under fire from many, however BBC has stated that they worked with his victims and will portray a story 'with sensitivity and respect'. Uncanny: Steve, 55, was the spitting image of the disgraced children's TV host (oictured right in the 1960s_ as he sported a blonde wig, tweed coat and red suit to film scenes outside a city nightclub Focus: Steve was nearly unrecognisable as he filmed for the new drama Back in time: A Rolls Royce Silver Cloud III was seen parked outside the club alongside extras in 60s attire - the TV host famously owned a fleet of Rolls Royce cars over the years 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. Filming: The star was handed a briefcase by a crew member as he prepared to film Drama: The star looked pensive as he prepared for filming in the northern city Details: The club had a poster of Elvis Presley and was titled 'Afternoon Party with Jimmy Savile' Details: Steve pulled a pained expression as he headed to film scenes for the drama Reaction: The decision to chronicle Savile's life has come under fire from many Portrayal: The BBC has stated that they worked with his victims and will portray a story 'with sensitivity and respect' Crimes: A BBC-led inquiry into his actions found Saville 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 Decision: 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' 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. Executive producer, Jeff Pope, said: 'I think this is a story that has to be told. We must understand why a man like Jimmy Savile seemed to remain immune for so long to proper scrutiny and criminal investigation. He said: 'Neil McKay has written an intelligent script tackling sensitively a horrific story which, however harrowing, needs to be told' History: Savile, who rose from a humble working-class upbringing to become one of British television's biggest stars, passed away aged 84 in 2011 Speculation: In his final years, he fought to quell growing speculation about his illegal exploits throughout his illustrious career with the BBC Last week: Last week, he was seen running in a Manchester park while depicting a younger Savile 'Steve has a unique ability to inhabit complex characters and will approach this role with the greatest care and integrity.' The BBC also says it will draw on 'extensive and wide-ranging research sources' or the project, examining the lasting impact of Savile's crimes and the 'powerlessness' his victims felt. Piers Wenger Controller, of BBC Drama, added: 'The story of Jimmy Savile is one of the most emotive and troubling of our times. We do not intend to sensationalise these crimes but to give voice to his victims. Tricky: Steve (pictured in 2020) previously explained in a statement the decision to play Savile was not one 'I took lightly' 'We will work with survivors to ensure their stories are told with sensitivity and respect and to examine the institutions which Jimmy Savile was associated with and the circumstances in which these crimes took place. 'Drama has the ability to tackle sensitive real life subjects and consider the impact of a crime on its survivors and what lessons can be learnt to stop this ever happening again.' A release date has yet to be announced with filming for the series expected to continue taking place in Manchester over the coming months. Addison Rae looked incredible as she headed out for a meal at Scott's restaurant in Mayfair on Friday night. The American star, 21, beamed as she was pictured in a black mini dress which boasted multiple straps and velvet fabric on the bust. Her outing comes as the social media mogul revealed she was grateful to be banned from the 'toxic' TikTok social media platform on Josh Smith's podcast on Monday. Wow! Addison Rae, 21, looked incredible as she headed out for a meal at Scott's restaurant in Mayfair on Friday night The social media mogul sizzled in the slinky number, which she paired with sheer black tights and matching black peep-toe heels. The blonde beauty exuded Princess Diana vibes in the classy ensemble, accessorising with a pearl necklace and a small black handbag. She styled her highlighted layered locks into a sleek style, while she added a sweep of light blue eyeshadow to her eyelids. A stunner: The TikTok star beamed as she was pictured in a black mini dress which boasted multiple straps and velvet fabric on the bust Her outing to the high-end seafood restaurant comes as Addison told listeners while she was on the Reign podcast that her recent TikTok ban 'was the universe saying, "Count your blessings"'. The influencer told the Glamour UK contributing editor: 'I got on my phone the other day and I was scrolling on TikTok and I was talking to my friends and my team and I was like, "Sometimes social media is so toxic. I wish it would just go back to the way it was", when you just posted to share and whatever, it's just so negative. 'And then I go on my Tik Tok and I'm scrolling. And then all of a sudden it's like "permanently banned". So the universe was like, "please stop talking bad about social media." Elegant: The blonde beauty exuded Princess Diana vibes in the classy ensemble, accessorising with a pearl necklace and a small black handbag 'So I was like, "Ohh OK that was my fault." And then I was banned and I was like, "What just happened?" 'So I don't know how I got banned, but I was banned, but then it came back thank God because I think I just got banned for no reason. It was the universe saying, "Count your blessings."' Addison, who has over 85 million followers on the site, shared on Twitter earlier this week that she was kicked from the short video-sharing platform. '"Count your blessings!"' Her outing comes as the social media mogul revealed she was grateful to be banned from the 'toxic' TikTok platform on Josh Smith's podcast on Monday Posting a screenshot of her banned TikTok account, the star joked: 'Well, time to get a job'. Continuing to talk about social media on the Reign podcast, the He's All That star said she often finds it difficult to 'keep up' with her own likes and hobbies because trends die so quickly on the internet. She said: 'I feel like I have an identity crisis every other day. I'm like, "Who am I? What do I like? Whats going on?" 'Well time to get a job': Addison shared on Twitter earlier this week that she was kicked from the short video-sharing platform 'Especially with the way that the trends go so fast nowadays, I don't know if anyone else notices it, but trends are rolling, it's like this is cool one day, then this is out and people think it's weird the next day. 'And I'm like, I just hopped on this trend. Its so hard to keep up because it's so fast. I guess the reason why it's been that way is because things will circulate and trend really quickly and then just not be cool the next day. She even admitted that the platform that found her fame also made her 'lose' herself in a bid to be liked by others. 'I have an identity crisis every other day': The star also said she often finds it difficult to 'keep up' with her own likes and hobbies because trends die so quickly on the internet 'I really struggled with that for a long time. I think for the first year into doing social media I kind of lost who I was in a way. 'And I dealt with this inner me who was just like, "Do you even know yourself anymore? Are you just changing things about yourself so people will think its cool?" 'I forget that the way I started on social media was so raw and people liked when you can just be different and be yourself and not have this filter of what's cool and what's not in the world,' she revealed. Reign with Josh Smith: The Podcast is available on Apple Music now. '"Do you even know yourself anymore?"' She even admitted that the platform that found her fame also made her 'lose' herself in a bid to be liked by others She's a reality star, a mom, a businesswoman, an entrepreneur, a law student and a criminal justice advocate. And Kim Kardashian sat down with WSJ Magazine for their Innovators issue as she opened up about her relationship with estranged husband Kanye West. The 41-year-old star revealed that Kanye, 44, is a business partner in her loungewear/intimates apparel brand Skims, which she launched in 2019: 'He has a piece of Skims himself and gives [the team] inspiration but also information.' Adding: 'Kanye will always be the most inspirational person to me.' Candid: She's a reality star, a mom, a businesswoman, an entrepreneur, a law student and a criminal justice advocate. And Kim Kardashian sat down with WSJ Magazine for their Innovators issue as she opened up about her relationship with estranged husband Kanye West The black and white shoot featured Kim rocking pieces from the new Skims X Fendi as well as other sets from her brand; Kim was styled by Giovanni Dario Laudicina for the shoot. The Fendi X Skims collection launches on November 9 on fendiskims.com and some select Fendi stores as well as retailers. Kim previously teamed up with the US Olympic Team for a collection. She is currently rebranding her beauty brand KKW Beauty - something she announced over the summer, with the website going dark until the rebranding is complete. Strike a pose: The 41-year-old star revealed that Kanye is a business partner in her loungewear/intimates apparel brand Skims: 'He has a piece of Skims himself and gives [the team] inspiration but also information Kim announced the news on KKW Beauty's Instagram page on August 1, with no released set day of the re-launch. Kim is also the founder of KKW Fragrance, although it is not undergoing a rebrand. KKW Beauty was originally launched in June 2017 with her fragrance brand KKW Fragrance launching in November 2017. She had said she plans on using more modern formulas, packaging and a new name instead of KKW Beauty. Kanye is helping her on streamlining and upgrading her brand, she revealed in the interview. She revealed that Kanye looked at her various brands and told her to simplify. The latest: Adding: 'Kanye will always be the most inspirational person to me' 'He expressed that there were too many branding situations. He's always super simple.' Kanye is someone she goes to for advice for her brands, with the star revealing that he is her business partner: 'He has a piece of Skims himself and gives [the team] inspiration but also information. I think he enjoys the process. Kanye will always be the most inspirational person to me.' Kim has both majority ownership and creative control of Skims, which is valued at $1.6 billion. Adding: 'I really wanted to condense my beauty brands I wanted one place, one website, where everything can live.' Kim said that she wants to 'really launch an entirely new beauty brand. I learned so much that I'm excited [to put out] a brand that has all the new information that I know.' 'I feel like it's going to be my baby, I'll have my beauty brand and Skims. I can really nourish it and flourish it more if it were] all condensed into one.' Happier times: 'He expressed that there were too many branding situations. He's always super simple'; seen together in 2020 Striking: Kanye is helping her on streamlining and upgrading her brand, she revealed in the interview When she first started her brands, Kim said it was just on a 'collection basis' and 'didn't know the business so I didn't know how you could evolve.,' adding that she 'did what I could at the time.' Kim filed for divorce from Kanye in February; the two shared four children together: North, eight, Saint, five, Chicago, three and Psalm, two. Despite ending their seven year marriage, the duo have publicly supported each other, with Kim dressing in a custom Balenciaga couture dress for Kanye's Donda listening event. Kim and Kanye were longtime friends before they finally began dating in April 2012; they got engaged on her 33rd birthday - October 21, 2013. The duo had their pre-wedding festivities in Paris, France and had their ceremony on May 24, 2014 in Fort di Belvedere in Florence, Italy. Coming again soon: Kim announced the news on KKW Beauty's Instagram page on August 1, with no released set day of the re-launch Moody vibes: 'He expressed that there were too many branding situations. He's always super simple' Kim filed for divorce in February 2021. While handing her companies, Kim is also a law student, with an end goal of becoming a lawyer. Although she failed the baby Bar exam twice she did say she still has a lot to do: 'I do have aways to go.' On her future in law: 'We talked about it for sure when I was in college but I wasn't that serious.' Family first: They are parents to: North, eight, Saint, five, Chicago, three, and Psalm, two Interesting: In August 2021, Kim made a statement when she appeared on stage at Kanye's Donda listening event in Chicago in a wedding gown and veil Businesswoman: Kim founded Skims in 2019; seen in her label 'Hopefully one day I can start a law firm where we can help people pro bono and hire people who were formerly incarcerated.' Kim says 'a lot of my work ethnic' comes from her late father, Robert Kardashian Sr as she admits she is a workaholic. Adding: 'I don't see me floating on a yacht,' explaining that her grandmother retired in her early 80s. 'I think I'll always feel good when I'm working,' Kim said. On her new Skims collection with Fendi, Kim said that it was due to her friendship with artistic director of Fendi's women's collection Kim Jones and that she heard women in his office are fans of Skims. She revealed she sent him a bunch and then he flew to see her in December 2020 regarding a collaboration. The star headed to Cabo San Lucas in March 2021 for 10 hours to discuss the collaboration since Europeans are not allowed to enter the US due to travel restrictions because of COVID-19. She flew home after the meeting and was able to put her kids to bed. Focus: On her new Skims collection with Fendi, Kim said that it was due to her friendship with artistic director of Fendi's women's collection Kim Jones and that she heard women in his office are fans of Skims Her day is micromanaged by the minute, and she says she goes into her office to study, then works on her beauty and rebranding as well as Skims: 'I'm always in fittings and fabric meetings.' 'My days are pretty full... and that's it. I love to be home, I love my weekends at home.' Kim also revealed that any business deal is something she, her mom Kris Jenner and their attorney talks over. And if she will take the reins from Kris one day as the family manager, Kim said: 'We've talked about it. I would assemble a team of people to take it over. I hope it doesn't happen for a really long time, because I'm really busy.' WSJ Magazine's November issue is out on newstands on Saturday, November 13. He's been spotted around town wearing a few questionable masks. But Kanye West let it all hang out on Sunday afternoon as he stepped out for lunch at celebrity hotspot Prime 112 in Miami Beach. The 44-year-old rapper who officially changed his name to Ye last week appeared to be in a somber mood while showing off his shaggy haircut after fans teased online that daughter North was responsible for the new look. There he is! Kanye West let it all hang out on Sunday afternoon as he stepped out for lunch at celebrity hotspot Prime 112 in Miami Beach West rocked an electric green T-shirt underneath a heavy black leather bomber jacket at the boutique steakhouse in South Beach. He sported a pair of stonewashed dark denim slacks with black rubber booties, and carried a phone in his hand as he left the trendy eatery. Ye tucked dark sunglasses into the neckline of his tee and wore a pair of headphones over his ears. Yikes: The 44-year-old rapper who officially changed his name to Ye last week appeared to be in a somber mood while showing off his shaggy haircut after fans teased online that daughter North was responsible for the new look Walk this way: West rocked an electric green T-shirt underneath a heavy black leather bomber jacket at the boutique steakhouse in South Beach Walk this way: West rocked an electric green T-shirt underneath a heavy black leather bomber jacket at the boutique steakhouse in South Beach Fashion forward: He sported a pair of stonewashed dark denim slacks with black rubber booties, and carried a phone in his hand as he left the trendy eatery He showed off his arguably unique haircut as he walked to a waiting SUV, with patches of hair growing back. The Power rapper debuted his new look last week last week while wearing a backwards Saint necklace, an ode to his firstborn son. Fans couldn't help but question his choice in cut and took to Twitter to decry the aggressive style. Busy guy: He showed off his arguably unique haircut as he walked to a waiting SUV, with patches of hair growing back My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy: The Power rapper debuted his new look last week last week while wearing a backwards Saint necklace, an ode to his firstborn son 'Yeezy gave North the clippers,' @YungOG3nius wrote 'I think I know who gave Kanye that haircut,' @DestryBrod noted with a side-by-side image of Johnny Depp as Edward Scissorhands 'Yeezy gave North the clippers,' @YungOG3nius wrote. 'I think I know who gave Kanye that haircut,' @DestryBrod noted with a side-by-side image of Johnny Depp as Edward Scissorhands. In a totally relatable meme, @stacyhawadi compiled a few images of Kanye's recent masked escapades and noted 'Kanye after 1 bad haircut.' Kanye has been spotted in a series of awkward disguises in the last few weeks, including a bizarre white male prosthetic mask to meet up with Donald Trump's disgraced lawyer Michael Cohen, woven balaclava masks and creepy green-tinted head gear while in Italy. Julia Garner goes through the rise and fall of convicted fraudster Anna Delvery in the first photos released from Netflix's upcoming series Inventing Anna. Garner, 27, is seen at the height of her manipulations and thievery in glamorous images from early episodes of the true-crime series, before she's confined to wearing prison scrubs behind bars in the limited series' final episodes. The Ozark star's new project is based on the The Cut's popular article How Anna Delvey Tricked New York's Party People by Jessica Pressler, who brings her expertise to the show as an executive producer. Picture perfect: Julia Garner, 27, looked glamorous in first-look photos from Netflix's Inventing Anna, in which she plays the fake German heiress and fraudster Anna Delvey Julia stunned in a photo from the show's second episode showing her framed against the sea while in a figure-hugging red off-the-shoulder dress. She had her straightened blonde locks covered with a colorful translucent scarf that fluttered in the breeze, and she carried a large tote back on her arm. Julia looked equally elegant in an image from episode five in which she sported red-dyed hair to match the fake German heiress. She relaxed in a comfy chair while wearing baggy brown tunic and sipping on a champagne flute. The ruse is up: The advance images also showed Garner playing Delvey born Anna Sorokin after her deceptions became known, including one still in which she's photographed for a mug shot The advance images also showed Garner playing Delvey born Anna Sorokin after her deceptions became known. She wore a black sleeveless dress but sported unkempt hair as she posed for a mug shot in one still taken from the series' seventh episode. A final photo from episode eight features Garner behind bars in tan prison scrubs as she chats with Veep star Anna Chlumsky, who plays a fictional journalist named Vivian Kent. Rise and fall: At the beginning of the series Anna sports a series of glamorous looks before later being seen in beige prison scrubs (right) Inventing Anna also stars Jennifer Esposito, Anna Deavere Smith, Workaholics' Anders Holm, and Orange Is The New Black star Laverne Cox. The series, which arrives next year, is the first to be created by Grey's Anatomy showrunner Shonda Rhimes, who is also writing it. David Frankel, best known for directing The Devil Wears Prada, will be directing two episodes, including the premiere. New look: She looked like a blonde bombshell in one photo but had switched to Delvey's recognizable red locks in another still Speaking out: A final photo from episode eight features Garner behind bars in tan prison scrubs as she chats with Veep star Anna Chlumsky, who plays a fictional journalist Inventing Anna follows Chlumsky's journalist as she hopes to prove herself by exposing the lies of Anna Delvey, a German heiress who has become a fixture of New York social life. But even as Delvey was becoming a sensation on Instagram and in high society, she was stealing money from wealthy pals and disguising her true origin as Anna Sorokin, a Russian immigrant from a working-class background who moved to Germany with her family as a teen. Sorokin initially began using the invented surname Delvey after moving to Paris to work at a fashion magazine, and she kept the name when she moved to the United States and reinvented herself as a German heiress. She adopted a life of luxury sustained by fraudulent loan requests, which allowed her to stay in luxury hotels until they eventually kicked her out for not having a credit card on file. The con artist would also use her well-heeled friends for money by taking them on trips on her dime, before asking them to pay. Impressive pedigree: Grey's Anatomy showrunner Shonda Rhimes created and wrote the series, and The Devil Wears Prada director David Frankel directs two episodes; Sorokin (R) with (LR) Giudo Cacciatori, Gro Curtis and Giorgia Tordini Deception: Sorokin, who was convicted in 2019, was accused of taking out fake loans and of asking friends to cover her expenses before failing to pay them back; seen in court in 2019 One of Sorokin's traveling companions, Rachel DeLoache Williams, revealed in Vanity Fair in 2018 how her fake friend convinced her to put a $62,000 bill on her credit card, plus other expenses. She claimed to Williams that she would wire the money to her once they were back home, but it never materialized. Sorokin was indicted in 2017 and convicted in 2019 of eight charges, including second-degree grand larceny, attempted grand larceny, and theft of services, though the jury reached a not guilty verdict on the larceny charge for failing to pay back Williams. The convicted fraudster was released from prison in February of this year, only to be taken into custody by Immigrant and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for overstaying her visa. She's expected to be deported back to Germany, though she was still in ICE custody as of late September. On top of the world: Garner is taking on the role after receiving widespread acclaim for her lead role on Netflix's crime drama Ozark, which is set to return for its fourth and final season starting in January; seen on set in New York in November 2020 Garner is taking on the role after receiving widespread acclaim for her lead role on Netflix's crime drama Ozark, which is set to return for its fourth and final season starting in January. She plays Ruth Langmore, a young woman in a family of blue-collar criminals who joins forces with Marty Byrde (Jason Bateman) to skim off a resort and casino in Missouri to pay off his debts to a drug cartel. Garner also received critical praise for playing the title role in the dark drama The Assistant, a fictionalized look at the toxic work environments created by abusive Hollywood producers like Harvey Weinstein. The BBC has shared a first look at Claire Foy and Paul Bettany in A Very British Scandal. The pair will play the Duke and Duchess of Argyll in the drama series about the couple's high-profile divorce in the 1960s. Foy will play Margaret Campbell, Duchess of Argyll, who was famed for her charisma, beauty and style, and who 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. New roles: The BBC has shared a first look at Claire Foy and Paul Bettany as the Duke and Duchess of Argyll in forthcoming drama A Very British Scandal The real deal: The Duke and Duchess of Argyll's 1963 divorce featured accusations of forgery, theft, violence, drug-taking, secret recordings, bribery and an explicit polaroid picture (the couple are pictured in 1951, shortly before their engagement) A Very British Scandal will explore the social and political climate of post-war Britain and look at attitudes towards women to ask 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 show will be made by the team behind the BBC's A Very English Scandal, which starred Hugh Grant and Ben Whishaw as politician Jeremy Thorpe and his lover Norman Scott. The first images from the drama show Foy in an autumnal setting while sporting a classic red lip and finger-wave hairstyle, and wearing a black winter coat with thick fur trim along with a hat, gloves and tartan scarf. Glamorous: Foy is seen in an autumnal setting while sporting a classic red lip and finger-wave hairstyle, and wearing a black winter coat with thick fur trim along with a hat, gloves and tartan scarf High spirits: Another shows the decadent lifestyle of the character as the actress can be seen at a lavish event laughing while holding a coupe glass, wearing a sparkly evening dress Authentic: Claire Foy in action as the Duchess of Argyll (L) and the real life Duchess with her husband at a German embassy reception in London's Tate Gallery (R) I do: The Duke and Duchess of Argyll following their wedding at Caxton Hall in London on the 23rd March, 1951 The good life: Bettany and Foy are pictured cruising in a lavish speedboat in another still from the forthcoming series Another shows the decadent lifestyle of the character as the actress can be seen at a lavish event laughing while holding a coupe glass, wearing a sparkly evening dress, pearl necklace and white gloves. Foy is also seen in court in a crisp grey suit with a matching hat and her signature pearl necklace. The 37-year-old actress previously played the young Queen Elizabeth II in the first two seasons of the Netflix series The Crown, which won her the Emmy Award for outstanding lead actress in a drama series in 2018. Stylish: Foy is also seen in court in a crisp grey suit with a matching hat and her signature pearl necklace Success: The show will be made by the team behind the BBC's A Very English Scandal, which starred Hugh Grant and Ben Whishaw as politician Jeremy Thorpe and his lover Norman Scott Topical: The new show will explore the social and political climate of post-war Britain and look at attitudes towards women to ask whether institutional misogyny was widespread at the time She is joined by Bettany, who starred as Vision in WandaVision and Avengers: Infinity War, who will play her husband Ian Campbell, 11th Duke of Argyll, while Gavin & Stacey star Julia Davis will portray Maureen, Marchioness of Dufferin and Ava. Also joining the cast are Amanda Drew, Richard McCabe, Phoebe Nicholls, Camilla Rutherford, Timothy Renouf, Sophia Myles, Sophie Ward and Tim Steed. Katherine Manners, Richard Goulding, Jonathan Aris, Oliver Chris, Nicholas Rowe and Miles Jupp will also star. The three-part series will be written by Sarah Phelps, who previously wrote The Pale Horse, And Then There Were None and Dublin Murders, and directed by Norwegian filmmaker Anne Sewitsky. The series will premiere on BBC One and BBC iPlayer in the UK and be available on Amazon Prime Video in the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. She has been outspoken about the abuse she endured while attending the Provo Canyon School in Utah as a teen. And Paris Hilton will be continuing in her crusade as the producer of a new docu-style podcast series discussing the dark side of youth behavior modification facilities, Trapped In Treatment. The new iHeartRadio podcast will 'will focus on unmasking one youth treatment facility, through the experience and stories of its survivors and the traumatizing abuse at the hands of their captors,' according to a statement. 'I am so proud to be producing': Paris Hilton will be continuing in her crusade as the producer of a new docu-style podcast series examining the dark side of youth behavior modification facilities, Trapped In Treatment The series will incorporate expert opinions and personal accounts with historical details to depict 'on what really happens realities at behavior modification centers and how this billion-dollar industry has flourished for so long', reads the statement. 'For 20 years, I lived silently with the memories, and the trauma, from my experience at Provo Canyon School,' Paris said in a statement. 'This past year, thousands of survivors like me have shared their stories, helping to bring into public view what so many of us have locked up. 'Provo Canyon School will not be able to hide behind the abuse they've caused survivors any longer. I am so proud to be producing Trapped in Treatment and can't wait to take you on this audio journey.' The new podcast will focus on a single youth treatment facility every season, starting with the one Paris attended, Provo Canyon. Candid: The reality TV star also spoke about the abuse in a documentary titled 'This is Paris' Last week Paris met with lawmakers on Capitol Hill to advocate for better protections for youths in congregate care facilities Trapped in Treatment will be hosted Caroline Cole and Rebecca Mellinger by Caroline Cole and Rebecca Mellinger and will also by produced by London Audio, iHeart Media, with Warner Bros. Unscripted Television in association with Telepictures. The series will premiere in 2022. Hilton was instrumental in getting a bill passed in Utah requiring more government oversight of youth residential treatment centers and documentation for when they use restraints. An aerial photo shows Provo Canyon School campus in Springville, Utah. Provo Canyon School is one of several youth behavior modification facilities where Paris said she was subjected to abuse, and many other previous inmates have since come forward with similar testimonies Hilton was shipped off to a series of behavior modification schools following a rebellious phase as a teenager while living at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City with her family (pictured: a teenage Paris Hilton moving into a school for 'behavior modification', taken from 'This is Paris' documentary released in 2020) It will also prohibit treatment centers from using sedation or mechanical restraints without prior authorization. The bill, SB127, was passed by Utah State Legislature in April this year, after Hilton testified before lawmakers about abuse she suffered at Provo Canyon School in the 1990s. The bill prohibits youth facilities from using certain punishments and medications, and bumps up regulation of the industry in an effort to prevent institutional abuse. The reality TV star also spoke about the abuse in a documentary titled 'This is Paris' that was released this fall. Since the documentary was released, other celebrities have spoken out about their experiences at the school or others like it, including Michael Jacksons daughter Paris Jackson and tattoo artist Kat Von D. Last week Paris met with lawmakers on Capitol Hill to advocate for better protections for youths in congregate care facilities. She spoke at a press conference for 'Accountability for Congregate Care Act of 2021', which lawmakers were set to introduce to both houses of Congress. The act would provide federal oversight to the 'troubled teen' industry. Kendall Jenner was back to showing off her supermodel figure on social media on Monday afternoon. The Keeping Up With The Kardashians star, 25, was seen in a skimpy pea green string bikini from Juillet, which made the most of her 24in waistline. And the girlfriend of Devin Booker added a pink cowgirl hat that had silver fringe on the edge and was emblazoned with her initials, KJ. Yee-haw! Kendall Jenner was back to showing off her supermodel figure on social media on Monday afternoon. The Keeping Up With The Kardashians star, 25, was seen in a skimpy pea green string bikini from Juillet, which made the most of her 24in waistline The Vogue favorite was with her pals Hailey Bieber, Bella Hadid, and Jesse Jo Stark as Hadid tagged them in a photo of her dessert on a table with a white tablecloth. The group was together at Kris Jenner's Palm Springs, California mansion to celebrate pal Lauren Perez's upcoming wedding to David Waltzer. Lauren wrote on Instagram: 'Next step is the altar!! Im one lucky girl with the greatest friends and soon to be hubby. Feeling so blessed in this world.' Giddy up: And the girlfriend of Devin Booker added a pink cowgirl hat that had silver fringe on the edge and was emblazoned with her initials, KJ She shared a look at the room where there were silver Mylar balloons that spelled out Mrs Waltzer. And she said she felt like a 'princess' during the special weekend. Kendall also shared an image of her 818 tequila that was crystal encrusted as did Lauren. Bella was also seen in a bikini top during the get together. Hers was brown with thin straps. Give me a pout: Kendal, left, wore her hat in a car as she posed next to a model pal Girls weekend! Guests were seen arriving to Kris Jenner's opulent Palm Springs mansion; this photo was shared by Bella Meanwhile, Kendall has been working hard to promote her tequila brand. In September she said she wants her tequila brand to support the Jalisco community. The Versace model was accused of culturally appropriating Mexican culture earlier this year, when she starred in a controversial advertising campaign for 818 Tequila. But Kendall has now revealed how she and her brand are supporting the community where the drink is made. The brunette beauty - who was previously accused of spreading misconceptions about Mexican culture - said on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon: 'At our distillery, which I was just at the other day, we found a way to take the agave fibres and water waste and build sustainable brick that were are actually dominating back to the community of Jalisco. Party people: The Vogue favorite was with her pals Hailey Bieber, Bella Hadid, and Jesse Jo Stark as Hadid tagged them in a photo of her dessert on a table with a white tablecloth Their pal: The group was together to celebrate pal Lauren Perez's upcoming wedding to David Waltzer Good times: Lauren wrote on Instagram: 'Next step is the altar!! Im one lucky girl with the greatest friends and soon to be hubby. Feeling so blessed in this world' 'Along with saving the planet it's important for us to be friendly to the community as well. We're donating them and building homes for people that need homes.' Andy Coronado, who co-owns La Gritona Tequila with businesswoman Melly Barajas Cardenas, previously bemoaned celebrities like Kendall entering the drinks industry. He warned that celebrity tequila companies 'pull away resources from smaller brands'. Drink up: Kendall also shared an image of her 818 tequila that was crystal encrusted as did Lauren Andy said: 'It is a commodity, and it boosts the prices. It leaves the rest of the tequila world to trying to survive.' Meanwhile, Melly thinks the drinks industry is becoming more globalized. She said: 'If you say tequila, you immediately think about Mexico. 'I would love for it to be known all over the world by whoever because although an American creates their own brand and whether you like it or not, Mexico also sees that money because there's no other country.' She once wanted to quit acting and live a quiet life in the Big Apple. But Busy Philipps was back in front of cameras to film season two of the popular Peacock sitcom Girls5Eva in New York on Monday morning. The 42-year-old actress flashed a peace sign as she joined forces once again with Sara Bareilles, Renee Elise Goldsberry and Paula Pell for the show which focuses on a revived '90s girl group. The gang's all here! Busy Philipps was back in front of cameras to film season two of the popular Peacock sitcom Girls5Eva in New York on Monday morning Busy sported a pink leopard print dress with towering heels as she stood on a stoop in SoHo with her friends. She carried a colorful snakeskin purse across her arm and wore her platinum blonde hair stick straight with a part down the middle. Paula rocked a black turtleneck top to match a pair of slacks and stayed warm underneath a vibrant red coat with brassy buttons. Hanging out: The 42-year-old actress flashed a peace sign as she joined forces once again with Sara Bareilles, Renee Elise Goldsberry and Paula Pell for the show which focuses on a revived '90s girl group Dream team: Created by Meredith Scardino with Tina Fey serving as executive producer, the comedy follows 'a one-hit-wonder girl group from the '90s that reunites to give their pop star dreams one more shot,' according to Deadline Sara paid homage to the '90s in an over-sized green plaid blazer with a maroon striped shirts and navy slacks. Renee added inches to her statuesque frame with a pair of silver studded heels and wore a bright red plaid jacket. Created by Meredith Scardino with Tina Fey serving as executive producer, the comedy follows 'a one-hit-wonder girl group from the '90s that reunites to give their pop star dreams one more shot,' according to Deadline. Their first episode, which aired on May 6, has an approval rating of 100% based on 27 critic reviews, with an average rating of 8.1/10, according to Rotten Tomatoes, and was picked up for a second season in June. 'I tell people I quit acting because I couldnt deal with the heartbreak -it just wasnt worth it for me anymore,' she wrote. 'But then Tina Fey called and said, Hey! wanna stay in NYC and do this show GIRLS5EVA with us? Oh my god. OBVIOUSLY YES' Rockstars: Renee Elise Goldsberry, Sara Bareilles and Paula Pell also star in the show created by Meredith Scardino which follows 'a one-hit-wonder girl group from the '90s that reunites to give their pop star dreams one more shot,' according to Deadline 'Smart, funny, and just nostalgic enough, Girls5eva's intelligent insights are brought to brilliant life by its talented quartet, whose individual gifts come together to make sweet comedic harmony,' the website's critical consensus said. Busy shared a heartfelt post earlier this year detailing how near-and-dear the project became as she formed friendships with the cast and crew. 'I tell people I 'quit' acting because I couldn't deal with the heartbreak -it just wasn't worth it for me anymore,' she wrote. 'But then Tina Fey called and said, 'Hey! wanna stay in NYC and do this show GIRLS5EVA with us?' Oh my god. OBVIOUSLY YES. 'What I CAN tell you is that if even HALF of the joy that we all had making it translates to your screens, you will be obsessed. AND we did all 8 episodes in the middle (end?) of this pandemic- being tested everyday, having mandatory shorter work hours, doing table reads over zoom, wearing masks and shields and redoing our damn lipstick four thousand times a day.' She detailed the arduous testing process and how she's been 'so so lucky' in her career, but this role really 'takes the cake.' 'So all I have to say is that I'm eternally grateful to have been able to have had this JOY with these incredible people making this insanity called Girls5eva in this- the strangest time.' New South Wales is finally opening up after an extended lockdown amid the Covid pandemic. And on Friday, Ben Fordham made the most of the new freedoms to throw a birthday bash for his wife of a decade, Jodie Speers. The 2GB radio star, 44, took the newsreader, 39, to recently opened Double Bay restaurant Roxy's for the festivities. Lovebirds: On Friday, Ben Fordham made the most of NSW's new freedoms to throw a birthday bash for his wife of a decade, Jodie Speers. Both pictured Among the high-profile guests in attendance were journalist Jessica Ridley and former radio producer turned media adviser Harriet Glenn. Ben paid tribute to his wife of a decade on Instagram last week, writing 'Happy birthday to the greatest thing to ever happen in my life'. Fordham shares son Freddy, six, and daughters Pearl, four, and Marigold, one, with the Channel Seven presenter. Earlier this year Ben praised Jodie for her role in their family. Among the high-profile guests in attendance were journalist Jessica Ridley (centre) and former radio producer turned media adviser Harriet Glenn (left) Speaking with Insider magazine in May, the radio presenter described Jodie as the 'captain' of the plane. 'I feel busy but I will never fully comprehend how much Jodie does to keep this family ticking along,' Ben told the publication. 'I am probably the flight attendant and Jodie is the captain in the cockpit.' 'I still think I've got a role to play, but without Jodie flying the plane there's no flight and there's no family and there's no question on that whatsoever. Stars on parade: Also spotted at the venue last week was former Channel 7 presenter Sally Obermeder Roxy's is owned and run by Flat White Cafe chef Damien Monley. It was due to be launched earlier this year, but had to be delayed due to Sydney's hardline lockdown. Also spotted at the venue last week was former Channel 7 presenter Sally Obermeder. Sophie Turner and Joe Jonas braved the rainy West Hollywood weather during a shopping spree on Monday. The 25-year-old actress and the musician, 32, made their way along the city's soaked streets with Joe holding an umbrella over his wife's head. The happy couple has been together for several years and they currently share a daughter named Willa, aged one. Toughing it out: Sophie Turner and Joe Jonas were seen braving the rainy weather during a shopping spree in West Hollywood on Monday Jonas wore a red-and-gray varsity jacket on top of a graphic-printed t-shirt as he braved the autumn rain with his spouse. The Disney Channel alum also rocked a stylish pair of pinstriped pants and a set of white Converse sneakers that added an element of brightness to his outfit. Turner opted for a sizable black coat worn above a navy blue hoodie, both of which kept her nice and comfortable in the rainy weather. She contrasted the darker tones of her clothing with a pair of loose-fitting and distressed blue jeans, as well as a set of white Nike sneakers. Dressed to the nines: The Disney Channel alum rocked a stylish pair of pinstriped pants and a set of white Converse sneakers that added an element of brightness to his outfit Staying warm: Turner opted for a sizable black coat worn above a navy blue hoodie, both of which kept her nice and comfortable in the rainy weather as she shopped at Fred Segal Sunset The Dark Phoenix cast member accessorized with a stylish pair of sunglasses that were perched on the crown of her head, and she also carried a baby blue bag with her during the outing. Her gorgeous dyed-red hair remained free-flowing and cascaded onto her shoulders on the shopping spree, which took place at Fred Segal Sunset. Jonas previously shared a selfie that was taken with his wife to his Instagram account on Sunday. The two were seen spending a bit of quality time together while they relaxed on a picturesque beach in the loved-up shot. Happy together: Jonas and Turner were seen spending a bit of quality time together while they relaxed on a picturesque beach in a loved-up shot that was shared to the former's Instagram account on Sunday The guitarist also wrote a brief message in his post's caption that simply read: 'NYC with this one.' The now-married couple were first spotted in each other's company in 2016 and were seen spending time with each other over much of the following year. Prior to becoming involved with the actress, Jonas was romantically linked to figures such as Taylor Swift, Gigi Hadid and Ashley Greene. The two later shocked many when they announced their engagement in October of 2017, and they celebrated the new phase in their lives the following month. Moving quickly: The now-married couple were first spotted in each other's company in 2016 and were seen spending time with each other over much of the following year; they are seen at the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards Turner and her husband waited for two years before they eloped during a ceremony that was held in Las Vegas. The pair later said their vows during a second wedding that occurred in France, which was attended by several of the actress' Game of Thrones co-stars. The following February, it was announced that the happy couple was expecting to welcome a child into their lives. The actress later gave birth to Willa in July of last year, and a source spoke to Us Weekly that November and expressed that the pair were 'already trying to have another baby.' The insider added: 'They are really excited to expand their family. Having the baby has made them really close and want to have a large family together.' Gold Coast model Olivia Mathers has offered a dignified response after being trolled earlier this week for her emotional Instagram post about doing yard work. The 24-year-old, who became the laughing stock of social media after sharing her revelatory lawn-mowing experience, posted several photos of herself in lingerie on Monday, alongside a wise quote about how to handle criticism. 'Those who mind don't matter and those who matter, don't mind,' the influencer captioned the post in a thinly veiled swipe at her critics. Classy: Gold Coast model Olivia Mathers has offered a dignified response after being trolled earlier this week for her emotional Instagram post about doing yard work The sassy clapback followed Olivia's melodramatic Instagram post earlier in the week about mowing the lawn of her new home, which left fans baffled. She said she was 'so proud' of her achievement, which had literally reduced her to tears, and encouraged her 632,000 followers to dare to try new things. 'I've had happy tears through this process... Happy tears because I am just so f**king proud of myself. It's so easy to be faced with an unknown / new situation and say "I can't",' she wrote alongside a photo of her perfectly trimmed backyard. Rising above it: The 24-year-old, who became the laughing stock of social media after sharing her revelatory lawn-mowing experience, posted several photos of herself in lingerie on Monday, alongside a wise quote about how to handle criticism Profound: 'Those who mind don't matter and those who matter, don't mind,' the influencer captioned the post in a thinly veiled swipe at her critics She continued: 'My advice and something I am only just learning is, give yourself more credit and challenge yourself to create results you want in life, in every aspect. It's damn f**king empowering.' Olivia also praised her mother for inspiring her to 'defy the odds.' 'Shoutout to my weapon of a mum [for] setting the absolute best example of someone who doesn't give up and continues to defy all odds,' she said. 'I've had happy tears through this process': The sassy clapback followed Olivia's melodramatic Instagram post earlier in the week about mowing her lawn, which left fans baffled Proud: She said she was 'so proud' of her achievement, which had literally reduced her to tears, and encouraged her 632,000 followers to dare to try new things. She also posted a 'before and after' video showing her grass-trimming efforts 'I'm so lucky to have the best role models and people that believe in me.' Her post caught the attention of notorious 'snark' account Celeb Spellcheck, which reposted the image alongside the blunt caption: 'You mowed the lawn.' Followers of Celeb Spellcheck were quick to roast Olivia for her dramatic display, with one commenting: 'My three-year-old did more yard work than this today.' Called out: Her post caught the attention of notorious 'snark' account Celeb Spellcheck, which reposted the image alongside the blunt caption: 'You mowed the lawn' Popular: Olivia is the younger sister of bikini model Isabelle Mathers, and boasts a whopping 632,000 followers on Instagram 'Unless she was on all fours with a pair of scissors.. colour me wildly unimpressed,' another added. Olivia, who is the younger sister of bikini model Isabelle Mathers, bought her first home in January. It is so possible her post was referring to her feelings about being a first-time home buyer, rather than the mundane act of mowing the grass. However, given that she also uploaded a 'before and after' video showing her grass-trimming efforts, it's easy to see why many found her post amusing. Olivia reacted to the trolling on Instagram Stories on Monday. 'I was sadden [sic] to see my vulnerable moment of gratitude be so quickly turned into a laugh,' she wrote. The Bachelorette's Katie Thurston and Blake Moynes announced they are calling it quits just three months after their whirlwind engagement aired on season 17. Moynes, who works as a wildlife manager in Ontario, Canada, and his former fiance announced the news on their respective Monday with identical statements. 'It is with mutual love and respect that we have decided to go our separate ways,' Thurston, 30, captioned a sweet black and white photo of them staring lovingly at each other. It's over! The Bachelorette's Katie Thurston and Blake Moynes announced they are parting ways just three months after their whirlwind engagement aired on season 17 She continued: 'We are so grateful for the moments we shared together and the entire journey that has unfolded this year, but we ultimately have concluded that we are not compatible as life partners, and it is the most caring choice for both of us to move forward independently.' After her season of the Bachelorette wrapped, she told People she had 'no regrets' and found all their struggles on the show to have 'really strengthened' their relationship. Recently, Thurston admitted she was 'winging' her life while navigating living in different countries and his busy travel schedule in an interview with Us Weekly. Sad news: Moynes, who works as a wildlife manager in Ontario, Canada, and his former fiance announced the news on their respective Monday with identical statements 'It is with mutual love and respect that we have decided to go our separate ways,' Thurston, 30, captioned a sweet black and white photo of them staring lovingly at each other 'We're figuring it out,' the reality star added. 'We don't know. This is very new to us still. I'm just focusing on myself, he's focusing on him, and if we work doing that, great.' On social media, they seemed to be mastering long distance as the Canadian took a break from rescuing rhinos in Africa to show up to his partner's stand-up debut this month. Thurston memorably chose over Justin Glaze in the emotional Season 17 finale of The Bachelorette on the finale of ABC's reality dating show. So promising: After her season of the Bachelorette wrapped, she told People she had 'no regrets' and found all their struggles on the show to have 'really strengthened' their relationship After promising all season that she would only say 'I love you' to one person, she uttered those words to Moynes, 30, during their overnight date, before going to the fantasy suite. Unfortunately for Glaze, 26, an investment sales consultant from Ellicott City, Maryland, that overnight date came the day before his, as she told him the next day that she was in love with Blake and it was over between them. While Blake seemed hesitant heading into the final day, he ultimately got down on one knee and proposed to Katie, which she accepted. 'It's scary to say because I promised myself that I wouldn't say it to anybody unless I was sure. I f**king love you, and I'm really excited about life with you,' Blake told her on their one-on-one. Recently, Thurston admitted she was 'winging' her life while navigating their long distance relationship in an interview with Us Weekly Katie replied: 'Wow. I'm speechless because as you're talking about love and sharing it, I'm relating. Like yes, I haven't said it to anybody. I've held that close. It is a big deal. It's a huge word. As much as I want to be stubborn and just like you, it's scary and it's crazy, but I f***ing love you so much. And I couldn't be happier that you're here.' 'I get to go into the fantasy suite with a guy that I love. I have not felt this happy in a long time. All I ever wanted was to find someone that loves me exactly as I am. I feel like he completes me,' Katie said in confessional. As Blake walked up to meet Katie, she told him that would be forever thankful that he fought to be on this show. She told them that their chemistry was instant and that the night he told her he loved her changed her life forever. Winner: Thurston chose over Justin Glaze in the emotional Season 17 finale of The Bachelorette on the finale of ABC's reality dating show She told him that she couldn't wait for their journey to begin. Blake told her that he felt like they were dreaming and living a fairytale. 'With you I honestly knew,' Blake told her. 'But I can't give you what you came here for because you deserve a lot more than thatI'm excited to support you and be there for you every day moving forward.' Blake then got down on one knee and proposed with a $80,000 Neil Lane ring. Katie said yes and they hugged and kissed. Katie then gave him the final rose which he accepted. BOISE, Idaho (AP) - Police in Boise, Idaho, said Monday that five people and a police officer have been injured in a shooting at a shopping mall. They say one person is in custody. Police on Twitter said they are working their way through each business at the mall, but dont have information indicating additional threats. Police are asking people to avoid the area. Police also said they were notifying the families of those involved. The Boise Towne Square shopping mall is located in Idahos largest city and is the citys largest mall. Police were interviewing dozens of people outside the entrance to Macy's, one of five large department stores at the mall that has 153 stores in all. Police are also investigating what appears to be another crime scene at a restaurant near the mall. Police close off a street outside a shopping mall after a shooting in Boise, Idaho on Monday, Oct. 25, 2021. Police said there are reports of multiple injuries and one person is in custody. (AP Photo/Rebecca Boone) Cheri Gypin, of Boise, was in the mall with a friend where they walk for an hour three or four times a week. She said she heard several large bangs, but thought something had fallen from the ceiling. Then about 60 people, including families pushing strollers, came running at them, some of them shouting that there was an active shooter. "My friend was trying to process it," said Gypin, 60. "I just looked at her and said, 'We've got to run.' So we just ran and kept running until we got to the outer perimeter of the parking lot." They made their way back to their car, where police told the crowd of people who had fled the mall to leave the parking area. In this file photo actor James Michael Tyler attends the Central Perk Pop-Up Celebrating The 20th Anniversary Of "Friends" on September 16, 2014 in New York City. (Photo: AP) Los Angeles: Actor James Michael Tyler, who played Central Perk barista Gunther on the hit sitcom "Friends", has passed away after a battle with stage four prostate cancer. He was 59. Tyler died Sunday morning at his home here, according to his longtime friend and manager Toni Benson. "If you met him once you made a friend for life," Benson wrote in a tribute emailed to The Hollywood Reporter. Tyler was working as a barista at the Bourgeois Pig coffee shop on Franklin Avenue near Hollywood and it was his expertise with the levers of an espresso machine that landed him the job in "Friends" when he was asked to stand in the background on the NBC sitcom. He got his first dialogue and his character a name after two seasons and 33 appearances, according to Saul Austerlitz's 2019 book, "Generation Friends: An Inside Look at the Show That Defined a Television Era". Tyler went on to star in 150 of the 236 episodes of the show, from the second installment that first aired in September 1994 to "The Last One" on May 6, 2004. Tyler's Gunther harboured unrequited love for Rachel Greene, played by Jennifer Aniston, for years but does not reveal his true feelings to her until the series finale. Aniston took to Instagram to pay tributes to her late co-star. "Friends would not have been the same without you. Thank you for the laughter you brought to the show and to all of our lives. You will be so missed #JamesMichaelTyler," she wrote alongside a clip from "Friends" finale with Tyler. "We had a lot of laughs buddy. You will be missed. RIP my friend," wrote Matt LeBlanc, who played one of the six leads as Joey Tribbiani on the show, on Instagram. Lisa Kudrow, who essayed the role of Phoebe Buffay in "Friends", thanked Tyler "for being there for us all". "James Michael Tyler, we will miss you," she wrote alongside his photo on Instagram. Courteney Cox, better known as Monica Geller in the series, remembered the actor as a magnanimous person. "The size of gratitude you brought into the room and showed every day on set is the size of gratitude I hold for having known you. Rest in peace James," she wrote. "Friends" co-creators Marta Kauffman and David Crane paid tributes to the actor as well. "James was a genuinely kind, sweet man. When he started as an extra on Friends, his unique spirit caught our eye and we knew we had to make him a character. He made Gunther's unrequited love incredibly relatable. Our heart goes out to his wife, Jennifer Carno," they said in a joint statement. In an interview with Today in June, Tyler revealed he was diagnosed with the disease in September 2018 after a routine check-up. "I was 56 years old at the time, and they screen for PSA, which is prostate-specific antigen. That came back at an extraordinarily high number... so I knew immediately when I went online and I saw the results of my blood test and blood work that there was obviously something quite wrong there. "Nearly immediately, my doctor called me and said, 'Hey, I need you to come in tomorrow because I suspect that you may have quite a serious problem with your prostate'," he had said. Tyler, who made a brief appearance on the "Friends" reunion special via Zoom in May, said he chose not to reveal his diagnosis during the event but was "happy to be included" in all the festivities. "It was bittersweet, honestly... It was my decision not to be a part of that physically and make an appearance on Zoom, basically, because I didn't wanna bring a downer on it, you know? I didn't want to be like, 'Oh, and by the way, Gunther has cancer'," he had said in the interview with Today. The actor had also said the cast and crew knew about his diagnosis. "David Schwimmer (who played Ross Geller on the show) has corresponded with me via Instagram. The producers are aware, they've been aware for a long time," he had said. Tyler was the youngest of five children and was born on May 28, 1962, in Winona, Mississippi. After losing his parents -- father, a retired Air Force captain, and homemaker mother -- early, he went to live with his sister in Anderson, South Carolina. He acted in student plays at Clemson University, where he graduated with a degree in geology in 1984, then received a master's in fine arts from the University of Georgia three years later. He moved to Los Angeles in 1988, sold keyboards at a Guitar Center and worked as a production assistant on the Paul Newman-starring "Fat Man and Little Boy" (1989) and at the Bourgeois Pig cafe before landing on "Friends". His small screen credits also include "Just Shoot Me!", "Sabrina the Teenage Witch", "Scrubs", "Modern Music" and, as himself in 2012, on LeBlanc's show "Episodes". While undergoing chemotherapy, Tyler continued to perform and starred in two short films -- "The Gesture and the Word" and "Processing" -- which earned him accolades at various film festivals. Earlier this year, his spoken-word performance of Stephen Kalinich's poem "If You Knew" was adapted into a short video to raise awareness for the Prostate Cancer Foundation. The Phase 3 trials are going to be a study in comparison with the already licensed vaccines, though the study in children is not a comparative study, she further said. (AFP Photo) Hyderabad: Biological E. Limited (BE) is expecting its COVID-19 vaccine Corbevax to be rolled out by the end of November even as the city-based firm is getting ready with 100 million doses for the launch, Mahima Datla, Managing Director, BE said on Monday. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of signing a financing agreement with US International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), she said currently the manufactured doses are being sent to Central Drugs Laboratory (CDL), Kasauli in Himachal Pradesh for regulatory testing. "Cobevax is in phase 3 trials. We are likely to complete all the studies by end of November which is when we are expecting licence (from the drug regulator). The licence for children should follow one month later. The study in children is underway as well," she said. Biological E's anti-coronavirus shot, Corbevax, is a RBD protein sub-unit vaccine and is currently undergoing phase 2/3 clinical trials on adults. The Phase 3 trials are going to be a study in comparison with the already licensed vaccines, though the study in children is not a comparative study, she further said. "We are submitting doses to Kasauli for release. So it is my hope that at the day of launch it is always been our vision to have close to ten crore doses on the day. By end of November this may happen as soon as we get the license," she said. On the COVID-19 vaccine manufacturing capacities, she said currently BE has the capacity to make one billion doses of Corbevax per annum, and 600 doses of Johnson & Johnson's jab. Biological E Ltd had earlier said it entered into an agreement with Janssen Pharmaceutica NV, part of pharma major Johnson & Johnson, for creation and enhancement of production capabilities to manufacture the latter's COVID-19 vaccine. Meanwhile, DFC's Chief Operating Officer David Marchick and Mahima Datla today unveiled the expansion of Biological E.'s vaccine manufacturing facility here and finalised a U.S. government financing arrangement formalising USD 50 million to expand the company's capacity to produce COVID-19 vaccines. "DFC's partnership with Biological E will support capacity for production of more than one billion vaccine doses by the end of 2022 for India and for developing countries around the world," Marchick said in a press release. "We are pleased with the financial support from the U.S. government, especially DFC, which was announced at the Quad Summit in March 2021. This investment will not only help us augment our capacity to produce more COVID-19 vaccines, but also help the global community that has been relentlessly fighting against the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic," Mahima Datla said. A health worker holds the used vials of Covishield vaccine during a special vaccination drive in the outskirts of Jammu. (Photo: PTI/File) New Delhi: India is committed to supplying COVID-19 vaccines to other nations and such supplies are likely to begin by the end of this year, as the abundant production will not just meet domestic needs but also generate surplus for exports. a top government official said on Monday. The official, however, added that the supply of vaccines to other nations will have to be balanced against the country's vaccination program. "India's commitment to provide vaccines to other nations stands. It has been reiterated by the Indian leadership... However, major supplies to other nations will have to be balanced against India's own needs of vaccines for the country's vaccination program," the official told PTI on condition of anonymity. India, the world's largest producer of vaccines overall, had suspended exports of COVID-19 vaccines in April to focus on inoculating its own population following a sudden spike in infections. "We do foresee that there will be spare supplies, and in fact going into late 2021 and beyond, there will be generous vaccine supplies, which would then become available for exports, so the situation is being watched carefully, it is a dynamic situation," he said. According to the official, currently the priority is to cover the eligible population of India effectively and in the shortest possible time. "The export needs and commitments are also carefully watched and monitored," he said, adding that going forward, the calibrated approach to exporting vaccines would be taken. The official said: "India would particularly like to fulfil its commitment to COVAX." COVAX is a worldwide initiative aimed at equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines directed by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations, and the WHO. The Ministry of External Affairs on October 14, had said that coronavirus vaccines have been sent to Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar and Iran as per the government's decision to resume their supplies. External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said the government has decided to send the supplies to neighbouring countries initially. India had suspended exports of COVID-19 vaccines in April. Last month, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya announced that India will resume supply of coronavirus vaccines abroad. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi said recently at the UN General Assembly that India will resume supply of coronavirus vaccines. We have decided to start with the neighbourhood," Bagchi had said. On October 21, India achieved a major milestone in its vaccination programme against COVID-19 as the cumulative vaccine doses administered in the country surpassed the 100-crore mark. More than 75 per cent of India's adult population has received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, with nine states and union territories administering the first dose to all eligible people. Over 31 per cent of the country's around 93 crore adults have been administered both doses, according to health ministry officials. Three vaccines -- Covishield manufactured by Serum Institute of India, Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech's Covaxin and Sputnik V -- are currently being used in the country's COVID vaccination drive. HYDERABAD: TRS president and Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao made the best use of the party's plenary held in Hyderabad on Monday to campaign for the TRS in the Huzurabad Assembly by-poll to be held on October 30. Rao used the occasion to address Huzurabad voters, to instil confidence among Dalits in Huzurabad on the continuation of Dalit Bandhu scheme soon after the bypoll, which was halted by the Election Commission (EC) recently on citing the election code of code rules. He told Huzurabad voters that their constituency would be showcased to the state for the successful implementation of Dalit Bandhu as a pilot project, while attacking the EC for obstructing his public meeting in the bypoll-bound constituency and bordering areas citing Covid norms. Rao said the poll panel had crossed its limits by objecting to his public meeting and stopping the Dalit Bandhu scheme. He advised the EC to exercise its autonomy and maintain its dignity as a Constitutional institution rather than succumbing to pressures from others. It is not right on part of the EC to impose restrictions on my public meeting. Some people even filed cases to stop a public meeting before the Nagarjunasagar bypoll earlier. As a senior politician, a responsible president of a political party and also as Chief Minister of a state, I want to know what could the EC achieve with its decision? More people are listening to my speech in the plenary meeting now through live telecast than those who could have attended the public meeting," Rao said. He dared the Opposition parties to stop him from holding public meetings, a democratic right in an election process. He lashed out at some leaders for filing cases in the courts to restrain him from holding public meetings and wondered what sort of politicians they were. The Chief Minister urged Huzurabad voters, especially the Dalit families, not to get disheartened by the EC's decision to stop Dalit Bandhu. He asserted that none including the EC could stop the scheme after November 4 when the model code of conduct ended in the constituency. "TRS candidate Gellu Srinivas Yadav will win the bypoll with all your blessings. He will resume the scheme as your MLA after November 4 and ensure that all Dalit families in Huzurabad will receive the benefit by November or December-end. Later, MLAs and officials from the remaining 118 Assembly constituencies will visit Huzurabad in 118 buses to study the successful implementation of the scheme as a pilot programme and to replicate the same in their respective constituencies, he said. He also announced that he would undertake visits to four more mandals in four Assembly constituencies very soon, which were selected for implementation of Dalit Bandhu as a pilot programme and monitor the progress of the scheme. TRS president and Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao was cynosure of all eyes at the party plenary here at Hitex on Monday. (Photo:Twitter) HYDERABAD: TRS president and Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao was cynosure of all eyes at the party plenary here at Hitex on Monday. Rank and file of the party including ministers, MPs, MLAs and MLCs extolled him for his revolutionary reforms in welfare schemes and developmental activities in Telangana. Interestingly, there was no picture of any leader other than Chandrashekar Rao and his son and party working president K.T. Rama Rao at the venue. Delegates from across the state took part in the plenary with utmost discipline. They followed the dress code of pink shirt and white trousers. Surprisingly, the entire plenary session highlighted the Huzurabad byelection, where former TRS leader Etala Rajender is contesting as the BJP candidate. Chandrasekhar Rao addressed the plenary as per the mood of the cadre. After being re-elected unanimously as the TRS president in the plenary, Rao spoke on various issues including Huzurabad bypoll and Dalit Bandhu scheme. Though the delegates hoped for a concluding speech from their leader, Rao asked minister V. Prashanth Reddy to address the vote of thanks. All the speakers who addressed the plenary profusely praised their party chief. Alair MLA Gongidi Sunita continued her prolonged speech even after Chandrasekhar Rao suggested her to conclude. Minister Mahmood Ali termed Rao as Mahatma several times in his speech. Other dignitaries also followed suit. Taking the opportunity to prove their loyalties before the party chief, a few leaders spoke in an emotional way. Dalit Bandhu scheme was the centre attraction in the meeting as the Chief Minister highlighted its importance several times. Senior leader Kadiam Srihari, MP Nethakani Venkatesh and MLA C. Anand, all from Dalit community, explained the importance of the scheme and hurdles in implementing it. Speaking to this newspaper, Miryalaguda agriculture market committee vice chairman L. Meghya Naik said policies of the TRS government were praiseworthy. Party should fulfil all its poll promises and there was no need to announce new schemes, he opined. Dalit Bandhu was a great scheme, but it should be extended to STs and others, he said. If there is shortage of funds, the government should give at least `5 lakh each to poor SC/STs, he said. Tandra Vishala, ZPTC, Keshampet, said the TRS high command was encouraging women leadership. But women elected representatives should act independently, she said. Nandigama MPP president Priyanka said women were coming forward to participate in active politics in recent times. Providing 50 per cent reservations to women was encouraging, she said. We are hopeful that representation of women in all government activities will have good results, she said. HYDERABAD: Poland can be a natural partner of Telangana and investors from both countries have opportunities to invest in one another, said Polands Ambassador to India Prof. Adam Burakowski. In the city in connection with the Polish Food Festival, Prof. Burakowski told Deccan Chronicle: Population of Poland is 38 million and it is similar in size to Telangana. So, we can be natural partners. Telangana investors can come to Poland and invest, while Polish investors can do so in Telangana. The ambassador said he will be meeting state government officials during his current trip of Hyderabad to discuss the way forward on this front. Prof. Burakowski described India as a major player in global affairs and one of the most important countries in Asia. We have a very long tradition of friendship. Our relationship has always been very good. But trade between us has suffered due to Covid, he pointed out. A new factor that has strengthened ties between the two countries is increasing Indian diaspora in Poland, including about 6,000 students. Poland has become more attractive for students ever since it introduced English as medium of instruction in medicine and engineering at major universities, the ambassador disclosed. There are about 40,000 Indians currently in Poland. Most of them are involved in business, with major Indian companies like Infosys, ArcelorMittal and Tata having their offices in Poland. People-to-people contacts are very good. Indians easily find their place in Polish society. In Warsaw alone, there are around 100 Indian restaurants, he underlined Prof. Burakowski said Polish embassy in New Delhi serves not only India but five other countries Bangladesh, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Bhutan. What we need is more connectivity. Before Covid, there used to be a direct flight to Warsaw from Delhi operated by Polish airline LOT. We hope to restore this flight soon, he remarked. The ambassador said: I am in the city to promote the Polish Food Festival at Trident Hotel. Our cuisine is based on vegetables and fruits with some meat. Poland is home to over a thousand varieties of soups sweet, sour, hot and cold. We export fresh fruits and vegetables. We are number one producer of apples in Europe, some of which we export to India. Poland is also the fourth-largest producer of chocolate in the world and the second-largest producer of beer in Europe, he stated. New Delhi: TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu on Monday met President Ram Nath Kovind and demanded that President's Rule be imposed in Andhra Pradesh, as he said state-sponsored terror has reached "unimaginable heights" threatening democracy, institutions and very fabric of the state. He demanded CBI investigation into alleged criminal networks linked to the extensive drug-hub operating in the state as well as against the series of attacks on Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leaders and offices on October 19. Naidu also sought recall of the Director General of Police (DGP) of Andhra Pradesh in view of alleged collusion with the ruling-YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) and eschewing his constitutional duties and responsibilities. "The people of the state are facing daily threats to their constitutionally mandated rights... state-sponsored terror has reached unimaginable level of heights threatening democracy, institutions and the very fabric of the state," he said in a representation made to the president. If the Centre remains silent towards the YSRCP-ruled state government which is continuously violating the constitution, then there is every possibility of planting seeds for the disintegration of the nation," he said. The TDP president further alleged that the current situation makes for an apt case for the invocation of Article 356. As you are well aware, Article 356 is not something to be imposed in a cavalier fashion. The TDP itself does not condone its imposition except in grave circumstances. We strongly urge you to see the current situation in AP," he added. Seeking the president's intervention to curb the spread of drug use from Andhra Pradesh to the rest of India, Naidu said ganja worth Rs 8,000 crore is being cultivated in around 2,500 acres in the state. Nearly 3,000 kg of heroin was seized at Mundra port on September 15 this year. Recently on October 21, a cache of 3 kg of pseudoephedrine was seized by Bengalure police and the force traced the drug's origin to Narasapuram of West Godavari, he said, added that it is evident that AP has emerged as a drug-hub crossing state and national boundaries. "The future of our youth, both in the state and nation, is at great risk if this spread is left unchecked. This illicit trade serves as a significant revenue stream for anti-social elements," he noted. Asserting that there is "mafiasiation of the state apparatus" in Andhra Pradesh, the TDP leader said in the meeting that the ruling-YSRCP thrives on money gained from illicit trade networks. To protect and enforce these networks, this party in turn corrupts every state organisation and section of society that opposes it, he said. A prime example is the mob attack on TDP offices and leaders across the state on October 19, including on its national headquarters, he said. "This attack was carried out despite the presence of DGP...," Naidu said, adding that the police remained spectators. Thousands of "false cases" have been filed against dissenting individuals, organisations and political parties, especially TDP cadres. Even the High Court of Andhra Pradesh and the Supreme Court have pointed out to lawlessness in the state, he said. "The longer AP's situation is neglected, the worse it will turn into a hotbed of illicit trade, conversion into a police state, ultimately leading to a state of anarchy that hurts our democracy, people, economy and our constitutional and republican principles," Naidu rued. The TDP supremo is also planning to meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday to seek his intervention in the matter. HYDERABAD: In a significant development, the state government has handpicked police officers to monitor the cash-for-vote case in which state Congress president A. Revanth Reddy is one of the accused. The officials working in various departments will be transferred to Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB). The cash-for-vote case was registered by the ACB and is being investigated. Sources said the government had collected details of the investigation officer (IO) and other officials who worked with the ACB when the case was registered in 2015, in order to tighten the noose around Revanth Reddy. These officers were later transferred to other wings of the city police. A review meeting was conducted on ACB cases including cash-for-vote case and their legal proceedings a few days ago. Citing that the video footage of cash-for-vote case was proved genuine by the forensic laboratory, the officials felt in the review meeting that the status of regular legal proceedings to be monitored by senior officials. Senior IPS officer Govind Singh, additional DGP of CID, is holding additional charge as chief of the ACB. The government is likely to appoint a senior IPS officer as the agency's director-general to control corruption in government departments, especially revenue, and to slow down Revanth Reddy by speeding up legal proceedings before the court in the cash-for-vote case, it is learnt. In 2015, the ACB registered cases against Revanth Reddy and others for offering a bribe to nominated MLC Elvis Stephenson, seeking support for the Telugu Desam candidate in the Legislative Council elections. The episode of offering bribes was recorded and the footage was aired. India has administered one billion, or 100 crore, doses of the Covid-19 vaccines, and this is a fine achievement. Where did these 100 crore doses come from and what was the role of the Indian government in procuring them? This needs to be properly understood. On August 7, 2020, the Serum Institute of India (SII), the countrys largest private vaccine manufacturer, signed an agreement with the global vaccine alliance GAVI and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to supply vaccines to 92 poor countries by the first half of 2021. The total number of vaccines the SII would produce in 2021 of Covishield, that is a version of the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine first developed in Britain, would be 100 crores (or 1 billion) doses. This would be distributed among the 92 nations with a total population of four billion. The alliance said that: A founding principle of Covax (Covid Vaccine Global Access) is that the access will be equitable. That doesnt just mean ensuring that all countries get fair access to Covid-19 vaccines, it also means having an allocation mechanism, driven by the World Health Organisation (WHO), to guide how vaccines are distributed within countries and territories. The GAVI alliance would also sell the vaccine produced by SII to rich nations, and use that money given upfront to ramp up production in India. On September 26, 2020, Prime Minister Narendra Modi told the United Nations General Assembly that India would deliver vaccines to the world: As the largest manufacturer of vaccines in the world, I want to assure the world that Indias vaccine production and delivery capacity will be put to help pull out all of humanity from this calamity. India would also help other nations with cold chain and storage facilities. After this speech the media called Mr Modi the worlds Vaccine Guru. By September 30, 2020, SII had been given $300 million (a little more than Rs 2,500 crore) by GAVI to set up the infrastructure to deliver these doses. The same week, SIIs owner, Adar Poonawalla, tweeted to Prime Minister Modi: Quick question; will the Government of India have Rs 80,000 crore available, over the next one year? Because thats what @MoHFW_INDIA (the health ministry) needs, to buy and distribute the vaccine to everyone in India. This is the next concerning challenge we need to tackle. @PMOIndia. He then added: I ask this question, because we need to plan and guide, vaccine manufacturers both in India and overseas to service the needs of our country in terms of procurement and distribution. If India wanted to vaccinate its entire population in 2021, it would need to procure the vaccines from somewhere. The government did not do anything. Till February 2021, India had ordered only 11 crore doses while it required 200 crore doses for the eligible population, or 270 crore doses for all Indians, including those under 14, assuming there was no wastage. Compare Indias 11 crore to the numbers ordered and paid for by Canada (33 crore), the US (120 crore), UK (45 crore), Brazil (23 crore), African Union (67 crore), Indonesia (19 crore) and the European Union (180 crore). India ordered fewer doses than even Australia (12 crore), which has a population smaller than Indias National Capital Region. At the end of March 2021, as the second wave began, India unofficially blocked SII from exporting vaccines to GAVI that had already been paid for, and grabbed them. Soon after, SII owner Adar Poonawalla fled to London because of threats from Indias most powerful people. In May, the Wall Street Journal summed it up: Most of the worlds poorest nations were left highly dependent on a single vaccine, produced by a single manufacturer in a single country. In a cruel twist, that supplier the Serum Institute of India ended up engulfed by the worlds worst Covid-19 outbreak. Because of this, GAVI, which had already paid upfront for the vaccines, did not get its deliveries. In a letter to 92 developing nations, GAVIs head wrote: Dear Participant, we regret to inform you that, given the heightened Covid-19 crisis in India, Covax no longer expects deliveries When asked whether the strategy to depend on India was flawed, he said: We hear a lot of criticism, and the truth is, weve tried to do something that we think is the right thing. Hindsights 20:20. Should we have not invested in India? Well, that was the fastest way to get there. Not only was it not the fastest way, it turned out to have sabotaged the global fight because of the mess India was in by April. SII was due to ship 14 crore doses by this time but was stopped by the government after it had sent fewer than two crore. Far from being the Vaccine Guru and saving the world, India disrupted what others had planned for, paid for and organised. This month, the government said it would now allow SII to resume exports. This is then the story of the 100 crore vaccines. We should be relieved that we got the doses but we must also know where they came from and who was and who was not responsible for this achievement. Cairo: Sudan's interim prime minister and a number of senior government officials were arrested Monday, the information ministry said, describing the actions as a military coup. The internet in the country was largely cut off and military forces closed bridges, according to the ministry's Facebook page. It said the whereabouts of Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok were not immediately known. Meanwhile, the country's state news channel played patriotic traditional music and scenes of the Nile river. The country's main pro-democracy group and the largest political party urged people in separate appeals to take to the streets to counter the apparent military coup. Thousands of people flooded the streets of Khartoum and its twin city of Omdurman. Footage shared online appeared to show protesters blocking streets and setting fire to tires as security forces used tear gas to disperse them. A takeover by the military would be a major setback for Sudan, which has grappled with a transition to democracy since long-time ruler Omar al-Bashir was toppled by mass protests two years ago. Early Monday, the U.S. Special Envoy to the Horn of Africa Jeffrey Feltman said Washington was deeply alarmed by reports of the military takeover. Monday's arrests come after weeks of rising tensions between Sudan's civilian and military leaders. A failed coup attempt in September fractured the country along old lines, pitting more-conservative Islamists who want a military government against those who toppled al-Bashir in protests. In recent days, both camps have taken to the street in demonstrations. The information ministry said on its Facebook page that Hamdok was detained and taken to an undisclosed location. It said a number of officials were also detained and their whereabouts were not known. Earlier Monday, two officials confirmed that at least five government figures were the detained. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media. The officials said the detained government members include Industry Minister Ibrahim al-Sheikh, Information Minister Hamza Baloul, and Mohammed al-Fiky Suliman, member of the country's ruling transitional body, known as The Sovereign Council, and Faisal Mohammed Saleh, a media adviser to Hamdok. Ayman Khalid, governor of the state containing the capital, Khartoum, was also arrested, according to the official Facebook page of his office. Under Hamdok and the transitional council, Sudan has slowly emerged from years of international pariah status in which it existed under al-Bashir. The country was removed from the United States' state supporter of terror list in 2020, opening the door for badly needed international loans and investment. But the country's economy has struggled with the shock of a number economic reforms called for by international lending institutions. There have been previous military coups in Sudan since it gained its independence from Britain and Egypt in 1956. Al-Bashir came to power in a 1989 military coup that removed the country's last elected government. The arrests followed meetings by Feltman, the special U.S. envoy, with Sudanese military and civilian leaders Saturday and Sunday in efforts to resolve the dispute. Sudan's state news website highlighted the meetings with military officials. The Sudanese Communist Party called on workers to go on strike and mass civil disobedience after what it described as a full military coup orchestrated by the Sovereign Council's head Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan. NetBlocks, a group which tracks disruptions across the internet, said it had seen a significant disruption to both fixed-line and mobile internet connections across Sudan with multiple providers early Monday. Metrics corroborate user reports network disruptions appearing consistent with an internet shutdown, the advocacy group said. The disruption is likely to limit the free flow of information online and news coverage of incidents on the ground. By Saritha Rai Indian startup Clear raised $75 million from investors including global fintech giant Stripe Inc. to fund its expansion into online payments and other new businesses. The Series C round was led by Kora Capital and joined by Alua Capital, Think Investments and existing backers of Bangalore-headquartered Clear. The startup, which offers cloud software subscription for tax filings, plans to use the new capital to develop business-to-business payments and credit as well as grow in international markets, it said in an statement on Sunday. Investors are increasingly flocking to Indias digital financial services market, drawn by the industrys accelerating growth. Clears platform grew five times in the past 18 months and it has added 3,000-plus large enterprises and more than 1 million small business to its roster of customers, the company said. The Sequoia Capital and Y Combinator-backed startup said it now processes more than a tenth of Indias business invoices. The startup, which also offers wealth management, services tax filing and electronic invoicing services, recently acquired yBANQ to expand into payments -- an industry that counts Stripe as one of the largest players. A Mexico-based social enterprise has invested Rs 20 crore to set up a plant in India to manufacture biodigesters that convert cattle dung into biogas to address the energy needs of a small farmer household. Sistema.bio has already installed more than 14,000 biodigester plants across 14 states in India and now plans to scale up presence in the country and also look forward to exporting their products. The plant at Chakan near Pune will have the capacity to manufacture 30,000 biodigesters every year which will help the company cater to farmers across Asian and African countries. In the past three years, we received great acceptance from dairy farmers all across the country. This motivated us to set up a manufacturing facility near our head office in Pune, said Camilo Pages, co-founder and chief production officer of Sistema.bio. The manufacturing plant at Chakan is expected to create 250 jobs as the company seeks to build a robust supply chain in India. With the manufacturing unit in India, the company also looked forward to reducing the cost of the biodigesters by 20%. Earlier, it imported biodigesters from the parent company in Mexico. The patented biodigesters allow smallholder farmers to increase their agricultural productivity and net income, besides enhancing the sustainability of their farms. We are now moving towards manufacturing our biodigesters in India to ensure that our products are even more affordable for the farmers and are available throughout the year. We will also export biodigesters made in India to African and South-Asian countries, Piyush Sohani, Managing Director, Sistema.bio India said. Check out the latest DH videos: Markets regulator Sebi on Monday imposed a penalty of Rs 3.5 lakh on Fortis Healthcare Holdings for flouting norms with respect to its non-convertible debentures. The fine has been levied for violating several provisions of LODR (Listing Obligations and Disclosure Requirements) rules, Sebi said in an order. The regulator noted that Fortis did not provide information on the payment of interest for certain ISINs (International Securities Identification Numbers). ISIN code, which has 12 characters, is used for uniquely identifying securities like stocks, bonds warrants and commercial papers. Among others, Sebi said the company did not provide hard copies of annual reports to holders of NCDs (Non-Convertible Debentures) who had requested for the same. Also Read | Sebi levies fine on 3 Titan employees for violating insider trading norms Further, the company was required to fix a record date for purpose of payment of interest, dividend and payment of redemption as specified under the norms. However, the firm failed to comply with the provision. Fortis did not take prior approval for any material modification in the structure of NCDs, according to Sebi. For these violations, the regulator levied a "penalty of Rs 3.5 lakh on the notice i.e. Fortis Healthcare Holdings Private Limited." The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) had received references from the Debenture Trustees of NCDs issued by Fortis alleging that the company had not provided any information on the payment of interest for certain ISINs. Thereafter, the regulator conducted an examination to ascertain the compliance of relevant regulations pertaining to the disclosures/ filings with stock exchanges by Fortis as required under the LODR rules for the financial years 2017-18, 2018-19 and 2019-20 (up to September 30, 2019) with respect to the NCDs issued by the firm. Watch the latest DH Videos here: Frances Haugen first met Jeff Horwitz, a tech-industry reporter for The Wall Street Journal, in early December on a hiking trail near the Chabot Space & Science Center in Oakland, California. She liked that he seemed thoughtful, and she liked that he had written about Facebooks role in transmitting violent Hindu nationalism in India, a particular interest of hers. She also got the impression that he would support her as a person, rather than as a mere source who could supply him with the inside information she had picked up during her nearly two years as a product manager at Facebook. Also read: Internal Facebook documents show struggle with misinformation, hate speech in India: Report I auditioned Jeff for a while, Haugen told me in a phone interview from her home in Puerto Rico, and one of the reasons I went with him is that he was less sensationalistic than other choices I could have made. She became one of the greatest sources of the century, turning over the tens of thousands of pages of internal documents she had collected. Starting September 13, the Journal justified her confidence with a meticulous rollout that included 11 major articles by Horwitz and other reporters cleverly packaged under a catchy rubric, The Facebook Files. Key revelations included how Facebook executives handled politicized lies, including Donald Trumps claims of election fraud. Often, the company chose to let misinformation spread widely, to keep more people logging on. The series also noted the lengths that Facebook went to in its desperation to hang on to its audience as young people drifted away from its platforms. The Journal also produced a podcast episode introducing Haugen as poised, incisive and intensely moral, a depiction that Horwitz told me he agrees with after much reporting, but which also amounted to white-glove treatment of a treasured source. So there was an uncomfortable moment October 7, when a communications firm working with Haugen invited Horwitz and two of his editors to a Zoom call with a group that would grow to include journalists from 17 other US media outlets. On the call, Haugen offered to share redacted versions of the trove of Facebook documents under an embargo to be set by the group. The firm, founded by former Barack Obama aide Bill Burton, would help manage the process. After she made her pitch, Horwitz and his colleagues found themselves in a strange position: The source who had provided them with the stuff of so many exclusive scoops now seemed to be going rogue. This is a little awkward, Jason Dean, an editor at the Journal, said on the call, according to three participants. The Journal team left before the call was over. Since then, journalists at The Atlantic, The Associated Press, CNN, NBC News, Fox Business and other outlets, including The New York Times, have been poring over the first tranche of Haugens documents, along with a parallel group in Europe, with a plan to publish their findings Monday (although stories began trickling out Friday night). Also read: Rising tide of leaks threatens to inundate Facebook We live in a time of megaleaks, enabled by the same digital technology that allows us to surveil one another and document our lives as never before. These leaks have given the leakers and their brokers a new kind of power over the news media, raising tricky questions about how their revelations should enter the public sphere. There are questions, in particular, on the balance of power between the sources of vital information and the reporters who benefit from them. Some leaks, including US military and State Department files, emerged on WikiLeaks or nameless servers in the form of massive data dumps; others, including Edward Snowdens National Security Agency files and The Intercepts revelations of Americas drone wars, came about after journalists had gained sources trusts. Reports on the Panama Papers, based on the leaking of more than 11 million documents, and other examinations of global tax evasion that followed it were brokered through the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, which managed a collaboration among hundreds of journalists around the world. They read the documents, as well as one anothers stories, on a secure server before coordinating the rollout of their articles on social media. In some cases, the leaker or hacker seems to be the one who controls how and when information is released. Thats how it went in the run-up to the 2016 presidential election, when a Kremlin-directed cyberattack on the Democratic National Committee led to the devastatingly timed publication of the committees private documents on WikiLeaks. In other instances, a key source may yield to a unified group of journalists at the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists or elsewhere who add layers of reporting and analysis to the raw material. You cant afford to have the source dictate the story, Gerard Ryle, director of the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, said in an interview. Haugen chose a middle path, one that appears to have captured the best of both arrangements, from her perspective, while also foiling Facebooks attempts to contain the story. First, she handed her documents to the Journal for a boutique rollout. Then she opened the journalistic equivalent of an outlet store, allowing reporters on two continents to root through everything the Journal had left behind in search of overlooked informational gems. Her intention was to broaden the circle, she said. She added that she plans to share the documents with academic writers and publications from parts of the world where she sees the greatest peril, including India and parts of the Middle East. The reason I wanted to do this project is because I think the global South is in danger, she said. With this model, Haugen and her advisers have created a new kind of journalistic network, one that has stirred mixed feelings among the journalists involved. In the past two weeks, they have gathered on the messaging app Slack to coordinate their plans and the name of their Slack group, chosen by Adrienne LaFrance, executive editor of The Atlantic, suggests their ambivalence: Apparently were a consortium Now. Inside the Slack group, whose messages were shared with me by a participant, members have reflected on the strangeness of working, however tangentially, with competitors. (I didnt speak to any Times participants about the Slack messages.) This is the weirdest thing I have ever been part of, reporting-wise, wrote Alex Heath, a tech reporter for The Verge. In an interview, Brian Carovillano, head of investigations for The Associated Press, said, Its remarkable to see these news organizations, large and small, set aside some of their competitive impulses and work together to report out a story that is unquestionably in the public interest. The Slack group has also discussed news outlets that are not part of the consortium, including The Information. (In an article published Friday about Haugens media strategy, The Information reported that it had asked to join the group, but was told by one participant that it was not accepting new members.) The Guardian, which won a Pulitzer Prize in public service in 2014 for its reports on secret surveillance by the National Security Agency a series made possible by Snowdens leaks was another publication that got left out. Haugen told the participants that she felt the Journal could have published more articles on the documents she provided, especially on Facebooks effect on nations where English is not the main language. The polished rollout, including Haugens October 3 appearance on 60 Minutes and congressional testimony days later, has led to dark hints from Facebook and its allies that there is something a little too good to be true about her. The Journals right-wing editorial page accused her of seeking to censor political speech, writing that it was notable that her appearance seems to have been midwifed by Bill Burton, a prominent Democratic communications executive. A Facebook executive tweeted preemptively to suggest that the embargo could amount to an orchestrated gotcha campaign. I havent found anything to suggest that there is more, or less, than meets the eye to Haugen, a high school debater who had worked at Google and Pinterest before joining Facebook in 2019. There is zero evidence whatsoever in my mind of any other entity being involved, Horwitz told me. Lawrence Lessig, the Roy L Furman Professor of Law at Harvard Law School, who volunteered as her lawyer, said he had brought in Burton, the former Obama aide, in September, after the Journals reporting was underway. Haugen, in our phone interview, also resolved a minor mystery: whether shes quietly relying on the financial support of Pierre Omidyar, an eBay co-founder whose groups started working with her in October, as Politico first reported. The reality, she said, is that she has her own financial resources, and has accepted help from nonprofit groups backed by Omidyar only for travel and similar expenses. For the foreseeable future, Im fine, because I did buy crypto at the right time, she told me. She noted that she had moved to Puerto Rico to cope with a health condition but also to join her crypto friends on the island, whose capital-gains tax exemptions have made it a hub for that novel financial system. When I began reporting this column, I thought the central question would be whether Haugens tactics had allowed her to control the story, and whether journalistic collaboration had bled into groupthink. But although a glance at Twitter shows that journalists on any beat can slip into a herd mentality, theres little evidence that this leak, with its trove of documentary detail, had deepened that tendency. Competitive pressures have remained close to the surface. The Journal suggested other outlets stick with its Facebook Files branding, but the Times Mike Isaac wrote in the Slack group that using that phrase would be free advertising for the Journal series, prompting Casey Newton of the newsletter Platformer to suggest going with The Leftovers. Most outlets settled on The Facebook Papers. Also read: New whistleblower accuses Facebook of wrongdoing: Report By Friday night Black Friday at the information mall, so to speak the Slack group was falling apart. Another Times reporter had dropped in late that afternoon with a heads-up: The Times would be publishing an article on Facebooks conduct in the run-up to the Januarty6 riot at the US Capitol based he assured his rivals on documents we got before the formation of the consortium. It seemed to many others to be within the letter of their agreement, but also an attempt by the Times to get ahead of competitors who hadnt obtained the documents separately. My thought is, if you are a reporter who had these docs, maybe it would have been cooler to not be part of the consortium, rather than run down the clock, NBC News' Brandy Zadrozny fumed in the Slack group. After NBC News responded to the Times move by breaking the embargo with its own Facebook article, Zadrozny apologized to her rival reporters in a Slack message: My editor says if the nytimes doesnt have to abide by the rules then we are out. Im really sorry. This sucks. And now its a media story. A Times spokesperson, Danielle Rhoades Ha, said the publication is playing by theconsortiums ground rules, under which documents obtained by outlets prior to the consortiums creation are not subject to the embargo time. Haugen, for her part, has watched the Journals rollout and its rivals subsequent scramble to catch up with equanimity. Now that Ive met so many journalists, and Ive seen how hard Jeff works, I feel more grateful for the media than when I started, she said. Check out latest DH videos here: WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has fought a long-running battle to avoid extradition to the United States for publishing classified documents. The latest chapter starts at the High Court of England and Wales on Wednesday, when the US government appeals against a refusal by a London court in January to send him for trial. In one of the biggest leaks ever, Assange's WikiLeaks whistleblowing website releases 470,000 classified US military documents between July and October 2010 relating to US diplomacy and wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. It later releases another batch of more than 250,000 classified US diplomatic cables. Also Read | US tries again to extradite Wikileaks' Assange from Britain In November, a Swedish prosecutor issues a European arrest warrant for Assange over sexual assault allegations involving two women. He denies the claims, saying they had consensual sex. But he is arrested in London in December and released on bail a week later. In February 2011 a British judge rules that Assange can be extradited to Sweden. Also Read | Ecuadorian court revokes citizenship for Julian Assange He launches an appeal, claiming the Swedish allegations are a pretext to transfer him to the United States. In June 2012 Assange takes refuge in Ecuador's London embassy. Then ruled by left-wing president Rafael Correa, the South American country grants him asylum in August. In May 2017, Swedish prosecutors drop the sex assault investigation. In December, Ecuador grants Assange nationality but is blocked by Britain from according him diplomatic status. Ecuador now ruled by right-wing President Lenin Moreno and keen to court favour with Washington says hosting Assange has become "untenable" in January 2018. Tensions peak in April 2019 when Moreno says Assange has "repeatedly violated" his asylum conditions. Ecuador revokes his citizenship on April 10. The next day, British police drag him out of the embassy on a US extradition request. In May, Assange is sentenced to 50 weeks in the high-security Belmarsh prison in southeast London for having breached bail in 2010. The US formally charges Assange on May 23 with violating the US Espionage Act by publishing military and diplomatic secrets. UN rights experts Nils Melzer says Assange had been subjected to drawn-out "psychological torture" that has seriously affected his health. He makes his first appearance since being jailed on June 15, telling a court via video link that WikiLeaks is "nothing but a publisher". In subsequent appearances, he appears frail and confused. On November 19, Swedish prosecutors say they have dropped the rape case because "the evidence is not strong enough". A London court starts hearing the US extradition request on February 24, 2020, but it is later postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic. In early July around 40 NGOs call for Assange's release. On January 4, 2021, an Old Bailey judge rejects the extradition. The US submits grounds to appeal and takes the case to the High Court. Check out latest DH videos here A day after the set of filmmaker Prakash Jha's web series 'Ashram' was ransacked in Bhopal over alleged wrong portrayal of Hinduism, a Madhya Pradesh minister on Monday said producers and directors will have to inform the authorities about objectionable content or scenes in their stories before seeking permission for shooting in the state. Bajrang Dal activists had, on Sunday evening, vandalised the set of the third season of web series 'Ashram' and also threw ink on Jha, accusing him of portraying Hindus in a bad light, following which four people were arrested for the ruckus. We are going to issue a permanent guideline following the dispute over the shooting of Ashram-3. Now, (the producer-director) will need to show the script of the story to the administration before seeking permission, if they are going to shoot objectionable scenes which hurt the sentiments of any religion, MP Home Minister Narottam Mishra told reporters on Monday. He said the state government welcomes filmmakers to shoot their projects here but they should inform authorities about objectionable scenes before seeking permission, and those who have objections to a script or scene must complain to the administration. Replying to a query, Mishra further said he supports the Bajrang Dal's demand to change the name of the web series from Ashram. I also support this. Why is the web series named Ashram? They will understand (the consequences) if they name it (web series or stories) after others' (religion)? We consider the ransacking as wrong. Four persons were arrested and further legal steps will be taken. But, Jha saheb (Prakash Jha), think about your mistakes too," Mishra said. Later, Mishra tweeted, "In the name of the web series, an attempt is being made to deliberately target Hinduism for a long time. Considering the spirit of the majority society, Prakash Jha should consider changing the name of his web series Ashram. Meanwhile, Bhopal South Superintendent of Police (SP) Sai Krishna Thota said Bajrang Dal activists raised objections and staged a protest over the name of the web series when its shooting was underway at Old Jail Premises located in Arera Hills. The protesters threw ink on Prakash Jha, pelted stones due to which the windscreens of two buses were damaged and one person was injured, the SP said. Bajrang Dal state convener Sushil Surhele asserted that his activists would not allow Ashram to be shot in Bhopal as "Prakash Jha wrongly portrayed the arrangements in a Hindu ashram in its previous seasons by showing the exploitation of women by gurus". "There have been ashrams in Sanatan Dharma since the past thousand years and these have played an important role in building social values. There is no truth in what has been shown in this web series," Surhele, who admitted Bajrang Dal activists threw the ink on Jha, claimed. Check out the latest DH videos here: The Delhi Police on Monday raided 37 locations in Haryana, Rajasthan and the national capital, days after the Supreme Court directed a probe into the alleged collusion of Tihar Jail officials with Unitech's imprisoned ex-promoters Sanjay and Ajay Chandra. In a statement, Delhi Police PRO Chinmoy Biswal said the Crime Branch teams conducted searches and seizure operations at the premises of Unitech founder Ramesh Chandra and the firm's imprisoned ex-promoters Ajay Chandra and Sanjay Chandra and their employees, as well as officials of Tihar jail. These searches and seizure operations were carried out at by 37 teams at 37 different locations in Delhi, Haryana and Rajasthan, he said. Searches and seizures were conducted at the residences of former superintendent of Tihar jail number seven, former deputy superintendent, assistant superintendents, head warders and contractual staff of Tihar Jail, he added. "The crime branch team probing the case collected evidence in the form of mobile phones and have also seized essential documents. Further investigation is in progress," the statement quoting Biswal stated. The Supreme Court had on October 6 directed suspension of Tihar jail officials, registration of case against them and full-fledged probe into their collusion with Sanjay and Ajay Chandra, based on Delhi Police Commissioner Rakesh Asthanas report. Following this, the Delhi Police's Crime Branch had on October 12 registered a case after 32 officials of Tihar Jail were found complicit with Unitech's two ex-promoters. The FIR was registered under relevant sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Indian Penal Code, and investigation was taken up. The former Unitech promoters had been shifted from the Tihar Jail here to Mumbai's Arthur Road Jail and Taloja Central Jail, following the Supreme Court order. On Supreme Court's direction, the Delhi Prisons Department had suspended 28 jail officials after they were found to be complicit with Unitech's imprisoned ex-promoters Ajay Chandra and Sanjay Chandra. According to jail administration, 28 officials of Tihar Jail number seven had been suspended while the services of two contractual employees were terminated. Two other officials were also suspended by the Delhi government. Check out the latest DH videos: More refugees from Myanmar's Chin state are entering the southern and eastern border districts of Mizoram due to continuing clashes between the neighbouring country's army and rebels, a senior police officer said on Sunday. At least 12,939 Myanmarese, including women and children, are currently taking shelter in different parts of Mizoram, he said. Of them, the detailed information of 1,518 Myanmarese is yet to be recorded, the officer said. The numbers keep changing as there are new entrants almost every day, while some who live near the international border enter and exit India on a regular basis, he said. The police officer said that Myanmar nationals are being provided with shelter and food by locals, community leaders, NGOs and churches. As per Mizoram Police data accessed by PTI, six border districts Champhai, Lawngtlai, Siaha, Serchhip, Hnahthial and Saitual together housed 9,411 refugees. The Myanmar nationals are taking shelter in all the 11 districts, with Champhai housing the highest number at 5,998, while there are 1,622 people in the state capital Aizawl, as per the data. Young Mizo Association's Tuipuiral unit president M C Lalramenga said that around 2,690 Myanmar nationals are currently taking shelter in the Tuipuiral area comprising 21 villages in the Champhai district. He said that refugees from Myanmar's Chin state are continuously pouring in and more influx is expected after their harvest season. Lalramenga said that relief camps and temporary shelters have been set up by locals in 14 villages in the area. Besides several NGOs, Presbyterian, Baptist and Roman Catholic churches are proving food and clothing along with monetary assistance to the refugees. Central Young Mizo Association vice president Lalhmachhuana said that the organisation has recently disbursed Rs 15 lakh, collected from people as donations, as assistance among the Myanmar refugees. He said the outfit will send two truckloads of cloth to two southern districts next week. Mizoram shares a 510-km-long international boundary with Myanmar. Among six border districts, Champhai, Siaha, Lawngtlai and Hnahthial have witnessed more influx from Myanmar since September 7, officials said. The northeastern state has been facing a steady influx from Myanmar since the military junta seized power through a coup in February. Heavy firing was reported from a forest area as a massive search operation to track down hiding terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir's twin border districts of Poonch and Rajouri entered the 15th day on Monday, officials said. It was not immediately clear whether the firing in Bhatti Durrian forest was the result of a fresh contact with the terrorists, believed to be hiding in caves deep inside the forest, the officials said. Nine Army personnel including two JCO's and an arrested Pakistani terrorist have been killed and three security men injured since the commencement of the operation on October 11. While five Army personnel were killed on the first day of the operation in Surankote forest of Poonch, four other soldiers lost their lives in Bhatti Durrian area of Mendhar on October 14. Read | J&K counter-insurgency operation: Arrested Pakistani terrorist killed, 3 security personnel injured The Pakistani terrorist, who was shifted from Kot Bhalwal Central Jail Jammu to Mendhar on police remand for questioning in connection with the ongoing operation was killed when the security forces accompanying him to identify a hideout came under fire from hiding terrorists on Sunday. Besides Surankote and Mendhar, the search operation also continued in nearby Thanamandi forest in Rajouri district. The officials said Army helicopters made several sorties over the besieged forest area, while drones are also being used to keep a tight surveillance to ensure that the terrorists are not able to flee. Nearly a dozen persons including two women were also detained for questioning after it came to light that they allegedly provided logistic support including food and shelter to the terrorists, the officials said. Traffic between Mendhar and Thanamandi along the Jammu-Rajouri highway remained suspended as a precautionary measure for the 10th day on Monday in the wake of the ongoing operation. Rajouri and Poonch in Jammu region have witnessed a rise in infiltration attempts since June this year, resulting in the killing of nine terrorists in separate encounters. Check out the latest DH videos here: Track DH's latest updates of news in India and across the world here! Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been working on the agenda of 'Sabka Sath Sabka Vikas' since 2014 but getting the support of the Muslims has been an elusive goal even now, as it was for the BJP's predecessor, the Bharatiya Jan Sangh, earlier. Keeping this in mind, the BJP is trying to dispel its "hardline right wing" image to woo all sections of society. There was a time when the BJP used to think that it would not get Muslim votes but now the party has started gaining the minority community's confidence, say party leaders. Talking to IANS, Union Minority Affairs Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, who is one of the party's top Muslim leaders, said that the BJP makes constant efforts to win the trust of minority community and working for them to get their votes, but the party does not believe in making deals for votes. Also Read | Congress allergic to Hindu rituals, says Pralhad Joshi Citing several welfare schemes, including Ayushman Bharat, Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, Saubhagya Yojana, toilets, Ujjwala Yojana, food grains, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had recently told the Legislative Council that though Muslim population in the state is 17 to 19 per cent, it is bagging benefits of 30 to 35 per cent from these schemes. On the BJP's image and development works of the government, Naqvi said that some people take secularism as a "political facility", but for the saffron party, it has been a constitutional commitment. In seven and a half years of the Modi government and even during the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government, one cannot cry discrimination in the matter of development, he said, adding that "we are on the path of universal empowerment and the party and government follows it too". On the BJP's challenges in attracting support of Muslims, Naqvi said that the party is also well aware of this, so instead of running a big campaign to woo the community, it is making contact at personal level. Also Read | Development, public outreach campaigns BJP's twin planks for upcoming elections Talking to IANS, BJP Minority Morcha national President Jamal Siddiqui said that the Morcha has prepared a list of booths, where more than 70 per cent of voters are Muslims, in all the states Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab, Manipur, and Goa going to polls. In these booths, party's Muslim activists will go and spread awareness about welfare schemes run by the state and Central government and their achievements. Siddiqui claimed that parties like the Congress, the SP, and the BSP "sell lies" to Muslims, but now the saffron party would reach out to the minority community and expose their lies. For the upcoming Assembly polls, Siddiqui said the party is aiming to add 100 such people to each constituency who are either not very active now or are not directly associated with the party. On the BJP being blamed for not giving ticket to Muslim candidates, Siddiqui said under a campaign, the Morcha has asked people to come forward to contest polls. "If you can bloom a lotus on a Muslim majority seat, then you are also welcome to contest elections," Siddiqui said, adding that Morcha is also instructing its Muslim workers and leaders to prepare for contesting elections. It will be too early to say whether the BJP will succeed in winning Muslim votes or not, but it is determined not leave the field open for the opposition. Check out latest DH videos here Prime Minister Narendra Modi invoked Lord Shiva, Buddha and Mother Ganga as he addressed public meetings in Siddharth Nagar and his Lok Sabha constituency of Varanasi on Monday and inaugurated nine medical colleges, besides launching the 'Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission'. Modi accused the previous Samajwadi Party (SP) government of 'blocking' development of the state, and lauded CM Yogi Adityanath, saying that the latter's government had been able to successfully tackle the Covid-19 pandemic and save the lives of thousands of children by checking the spread of Japanese Encephalitis in the eastern UP. "The previous government took no interest in developing the state.....its aim was to fill the coffers of some families...it was neck deep in corruption....the cycle of corruption was continuously moving," the Prime Minister said in a veiled reference to the then SP regime while addressing a rally at Siddharth Nagar. He virtually inaugurated nine medical colleges which have been set up in different parts of UP and said that the eastern UP region would become the "medical hub" of the country. "Earlier Japanese Encephalitis used to claim the lives of thousands of people but the UP government has been able to check its spread," he added. Speaking at the rally at Varanasi, Modi invoked Lord Shiva and Mother Ganga, said that any developmental project which was in Kashi (the old name of Varanasi) was bound to succeed as it would have the blessings of 'Baba Vishwanath' and the 'Mother Ganga'. The Prime Minister said that health was never the priority of the governments since independence. "There were no hospitals in the rural areas...no facility to treat serious diseases in district hospitals and testing facilities were not available at block levels," he added. Explaining the 'Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission', Modi said that its objectives were to strengthen detection, testing and research facilities. He said that the present government was alive to the problems of the poor, Dalits, backwards and medium class people and had taken steps to provide succor to every section of the society. Modi also listed the developmental projects being undertaken to beautify Varanasi and said that they would go a long way in easing the problem of traffic jams in the city. "Kashi would have been different had the previous regimes been honest in implementing the developmental schemes," he remarked. Watch latest videos by DH here: Punjab Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu on Monday attacked the Centre over the issue of jurisdiction of the BSF, accusing it of weakening the federal structure by creating a state within a state. He also slammed the government for disregarding the democratic rights of the people of Punjab with extending the jurisdiction of the Border Security Force (BSF) and expressed fear of torture, false cases, arbitrary detention and illegal arrests in the state. The Union government had recently amended the BSF Act to authorise the force to undertake search, seizure and arrest within a 50 km stretch, up from the existing 15 km, from the international border in Punjab, West Bengal and Assam. Also Read | Centre crossing the borders In a series of tweets on Monday, Sidhu slammed the Centre as he participated in an all-party meeting chaired by Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi, convened to deliberate on the issue of jurisdiction of the BSF. Except for the BJP, representatives of the Shiromani Akali Dal, Aam Aadmi Party, Lok Insaaf Party and other parties attended the meeting. Centre is weakening country's federal structure, by creating a State within a State BSF means Border Security Force, What is the definition of the border? 50 kms?? Public order, which connotes public peace & safety is primarily the responsibility of State Govt (Entry 1, State list), tweeted Sidhu. Also Read | Why BSF jurisdiction extension has triggered a political row He alleged that the BSF "daily violated the constitutional provision of the country in the name of security in West Bengal and there is a possibility that instances of torture, false cases, arbitrary detention and illegal arrests would happen in Punjab too. There are a number of cases in West Bengal where BSF did not inform local police after firing incidents. The Bengal government in the last five years had lodged a total of 240 cases accusing BSF of extra-judicial torture, 60 cases of extrajudicial execution and eight cases of forced disappearance. Of these, in 33 cases, the NHRC recommended compensation to the victims or to their next of kin. If UP Police can illegally detain @priyankagandhi Ji for more than 60 hours without any valid reason, Who takes guarantee of a common person if BSF detains him/her, the Congress leader said in a series of tweets. Also Read | Punjab Cabinet opposes Centre's decision to extend BSF jurisdiction He further said, without obtaining the consent of the state government, the notification amounts to encroachment on constitutional rights of the states, disregarding the democratic powers of the people of Punjab vested in the state legislature and state executive. The Punjab CM had earlier opposed the Centre's move and had said that his government would not allow enhancement of BSF's jurisdiction, saying it was against the spirit of federalism. Watch the latest DH Videos here: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday stated in categorical terms that the Centre will not talk to Pakistan but will talk to people of Jammu and Kashmir directly. Before addressing a gathering at the Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) in Srinagar on the final day of his visit, the Home Minister had a bulletproof glass shield removed. Today I want to speak to you frankly, which is why there is neither bulletproof shield nor security here. I am standing before you like this, Shah, who was wearing a pheran (Kashmiri gown), said. Also Read | Amit Shah offers prayers at Kheer Bhawani temple in Kashmir While snubbing regional National Conference (NC) president and former chief minister Farooq Abdullah for advocating dialogue with Pakistan, he said, Let me clarify, if I will talk, I will talk to people of Jammu and Kashmir and its youth only, no one else, On Sunday, Abdullah had called for talks with Pakistan for the sake of peace in J&K. Shah said that those who advocate talks with Islamabad and separatists should be asked what Pakistan has done in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). Compare the development between this side and PoK. Do they have electricity, roads, healthcare and toilets? There is nothing (on the other side), he said. Also Read | Abdullah expresses surprise over Shahs comment on restoration of J&K statehood Shah, who was on a three-day visit to J&K, said he is often asked by some people why curfew was imposed in Kashmir and why the internet was snapped after August 5, 2019 in Kashmir. Let me answer today. This was done to protect and save the lives of our youth. We didnt want vested interests and anti-peace elements to exploit the situation and push our youth on roads to face bullets. This step was taken to save the lives of Kashmiri youth, he said. Also Read | Nobody will be allowed to disrupt peace in J&K, says Amit Shah The Home Minister said that behind the Article 370 revocation there was only one intention to put Kashmir, Jammu and the newly-created Ladakh on the path to development. You will see the fruits of our efforts by 2024. Shah said there was rumour-mongering in J&K after the abrogation of Article 370 that land and jobs of people would be snatched. Give me one example, of any village, where land of any villager has been snatched, he said. Without naming any party, the home minister said, Three families which ruled Jammu and Kashmir are answerable to the people for their failure to develop the region over the past seven decades. Shah said that militancy was on a decline in J&K and efforts to replace guns with pens have borne fruit. Watch the latest DH Videos here: Healthcare has emerged as the latest election issue in poll-bound Uttar Pradesh as Prime Minister Narendra Modi chose to unveil the mission to strengthen health infrastructure across the country from Varanasi. The temple town, Modi's Lok Sabha constituency, falls in eastern Uttar Pradesh a region often in the news for inadequate healthcare facilities and outbreaks of diseases such as Japanese Encephalitis. The Pradhan Mantri Ayushmaan Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission, launched by Modi in Varanasi on Monday, is aimed at filling critical gaps in public health infrastructure, especially in critical care facilities and primary care in both the urban and rural areas. Also Read Ahead of polls, PM Modi inaugurates 9 medical colleges in Uttar Pradesh In anticipation of the big-bang launch, AICC General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra announced free medical treatment of upto Rs 10 lakh to the people of Uttar Pradesh if the Congress is voted to power in the assembly elections next month. Everyone saw the dilapidated condition of the health system of UP due to government neglect during the Corona period and now during the spread of fever. For ensuring good and cheap treatment, with the consent of the manifesto committee, the UP Congress has decided that if voted to power, our government will provide up to Rs 10 lakh for treatment of any disease, Gandhi said in a tweet in Hindi. The Central initiative will provide support for 17,788 rural health and wellness centres in 10 High Focus States. In addition, 11,024 urban health and wellness centres will be established in all the states. Congress has been targeting the Yogi Adityanath government's handling of the Covid-19 situation in Uttar Pradesh as also on the creaking health infrastructure in the state. Congress had finished fourth in the Uttar Pradesh assembly election in 2017, winning just seven seats in the 403-member state assembly. Under Priyanka's leadership, Congress is making efforts to emerge as the key opposition in the state where regional parties SP and BSP had been calling the shots for the past couple of decades. Watch the latest DH Videos here: On a day when Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that nobody will be allowed to disrupt peace in Kashmir, National Conference president Farooq Abdullah Monday said that ground situation in J&K belies the Centers normacly claims post abrogation of Article 370. Least to speak about ending militancy, it is on increase and Home Minister Amit Shah needs to answer why, Abdullah said addressing a public rally in border Poonch district of Jammu region. He expressed apprehensions about containment of militancy and peace returning to Jammu and Kashmir because of ill conceived policies of the BJP led central government. Read more: No talks with Pakistan, but will talk to people of Jammu and Kashmir: Amit Shah They (BJP) have deceived the people by snatching them from the unique special status, which owed genesis to the era of the Maharajas, who had incorporated permanent residence provision in view of special circumstances of the state, Abdullah, a former CM of J&K, said. Cautioning people to remain steadfast in maintaining amity and brotherhood, he said the National Conference has surmounted these challenges since its inception by pursuing the cherished philosophy of secularism and democracy. This has been the strength of this party in a diverse state like Jammu and Kashmir, which has maintained its glorious ethos in the most testing times, octogenarian Abdullah added. He also exhorted the people to remain vigilant by elements deployed by the RSS in every area to create apprehensions in the public mind about religion being in danger. This atmosphere is aimed at polarization to garner votes. This is the tested tool of those who want to remain in power at all costs, the NC chief claimed, adding that the sagacious and politically matured people wont get swayed by hate being spread by the divisive forces. Abdullah, who represents Srinagar Lok Sabha seat in the Parliament, exuded confidence that the people will foil all such attempts by keeping the flame of secularism shining despite provocations. The Supreme Court on Monday issued notice to the West Bengal government and a woman complainant on a plea by senior BJP leader Kailash Vijayvargiya and others in a case of gang rape. A bench presided over by Justice M R Shah, however, asked the petitioners to approach the High Court for interim protection. Senior advocate Mahesh Jethmalani, appearing for the petitioners, submitted that it was alleged that the complainant was raped in 2018 but the complaint was filed in 2020. A closure report was filed in between but the High Court allowed a revision petition. As per the Constitution bench decision in the Lalita Kumari case, there was a preliminary enquiry and it was found that there was nothing in this complaint. The counsel said the petitioners were subjected to "illegal investigation". The petitioners were aggrieved with the order passed by the Chief Judicial Magistrate Alipore, directing lodging of FIR against them. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for the West Bengal government, submitted that he would not argue on the merit of the matter. Senior advocate P S Patwalia, also appearing for the petitioners, asked the court to grant protection. The court, however, asked them to approach the High Court and put the matter for consideration after Diwali break. The complainant here alleged the petitioners, including Jisnu Basu and Pradeep Joshi, raped her at an apartment here on November 29, 2018, and had also assaulted her. Watch latest videos by DH here: Telangana chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao was unanimously reelected as the Telangana Rashtra Samithi party president on Monday. KCR's election to the top post, for the 10th consecutive time with no contest, comes as no surprise in the party which was formed by him two decades back and continues to be steered now with a more steely grip. TRS was formed in those days of mistrust in Telangana movement, with the initial objective of gaining people's confidence. As united Andhra leaders created hurdles, we soldiered on with same perseverance, KCR said at the party's plenary, recalling the hot summer day in April 2001 when the statehood agitation party was unveiled in Hyderabad. Except the support of Telangana ideologues, KCR was almost alone politically at TRS's launch. His party formation was seen more as a disgruntled move after then chief minister Chandrababu Naidu denied him a cabinet berth. Interesting to note, several of KCR cabinet colleagues now, who occupied chairs alongside him on the plenary dais, are those who had ridiculed, opposed or at least disbelieved that Telangana statehood could be a reality. But the state did form in June 2014, after a protracted struggle and several ups and downs for KCR electorally. In the preceding 13 years, TRS fought several elections, sometime aligning with the Congress (2004) and onetime with the TDP (2009). He was part of the UPA-1 government at the centre and the TRS MLAs joined the Congress's in the state but exited in the middle, as there was no movement on the assurance to create Telangana. Its lowest point was in the 2009 AP assembly and Lok Sabha elections, when TRS was reduced to two Lok Sabha seats from five and 10 MLAs from 26. "Maybe we should shut shop now, KCR remarked as the results were coming in. The party, which was staring at extinction, saw a revival after then chief minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy's untimely death in a chopper crash in September 2009. With the principal opposing force to Telangana gone, KCR renewed the statehood agitation with his fast unto death forcing the UPA-II government to announce steps towards Telangana formation in December 2009. Telangana became a reality five years later, with KCR leading the state as its chief minister. Since the state's creation, TRS evolved into what political pundits say is a pucca political party, encouraging defections of legislators from the Congress, TDP and consolidating its position in the assembly making the opposition virtually absent. The TRS which has retained power in 2018 with improved strength in the assembly is however facing the challenge of BJP's growing influence in the state. The saffron party, whose strength fell from five MLAs in 2014 to one in 2018, wrested Dubbaka from the TRS last year and is making the ruling party leaders sweat in the Huzurabad bye-polls scheduled on 30 October. KCR, however, looked unperturbed and used the plenary venue instead to take a swipe at Andhra leaders. "They said it will be anarchy if Telangana is created. But now we are leaping ahead on all developmental fronts like producing paddy in quantities even the FCI could not purchase. Such are our welfare schemes that I am receiving requests from Andhra people to form a party there, KCR claimed as party cadres, leaders cheered on. Watch latest videos by DH here: The BJP-led Karnataka government has told the Supreme Court there are 72 identified Rohingyas living in Bengaluru but there is no immediate plan to deport them. "The Bengaluru city police have not housed Rohingyas in any camp or detention centers within its jurisdiction. However, 72 Rohingyas identified in Bengaluru city are working in various fields and Bengaluru city police have not taken any coercive action against them as of now and there is no immediate plan of deporting them," it said. The government also furnished the names of Rohingya refugees who were staying in North East division of the city. All these Rohingyas, except those below 12 years of age, have been given individual numbers by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). The written response of the state government was filed in a 2017 PIL filed by BJP leader and advocate Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay who sought the court's direction to deport illegal Rohingyas. The government - which filed a statement of the objection through advocate V N Raghupathy - asked the court to dismiss the petition for being devoid of merit and not maintainable in law and facts. In his plea, Upadhyay has asked the court to issue a direction to the central and state governments to identify, detain and deport all the illegal immigrants and infiltrators including Bangladeshis and Rohingyas within one year. He also sought direction to amend the respective laws to make illegal immigration and infiltration a cognisable, non-bailable and non-compoundable offence. The petitioner also said making of forged or fabricated PAN and Aadhaar cards, passport, ration and Voter ID cards and other docments as a non-bailable, non-compoundable and cognisable offence. Watch latest videos by DH here: The Kerala Assembly on Monday witnessed a blame game over the recent calamities that have waylaid the state. While the opposition Congress-led United Democratic Front accused the government of failure in disaster alert and management systems, the ruling CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front blamed it on lack of rough weather alerts from the Centre. The opposition also staged a walkout as permission for an adjournment motion notice was rejected. Revenue Minister K Rajan defended the accusations from the opposition, maintaining that there was not even an Orange alert in the calamity-hit Idukki and Kottayam regions till October 16 - the day the districts suffered heavy rains, landslides and landslips claiming around 20 lives. He also added that the casualties of the calamities could be minimised because the preparedness of the state disaster response systems. Opposition leader V D Satheesan said that Kerala that was so far considered as a safe zone was now being considered as a disaster-prone place. Hence the house shall discuss the issue for the larger interest of the state. He also said that the State Disaster Management Authority's meteorological wing need to be strengthened for better weather forecasts and alerts. Watch latest videos by DH here: A family court in Thiruvananthapuram on Monday stalled the adoption process of a one-year-old child in view of the claims made by a woman that it was her biological child and was surrendered by her parents. The court directed the police to submit its inquiry report on a sealed cover and suggested the need for a DNA test. The court will consider the case again on November 1. While 22-year old Anupama hailing from Thiruvananthapuram alleges that her parents handed over the child to the adoption agency by threatening her, her parents and some others involved were maintaining that she willingly agreed to surrender the child born out of a relationship with a married man. The child was surrendered at the Kerala State Council for Child Welfare three days after Anupama gave birth to it in October 2020 and the Child Welfare Committee declared the child legally free for adoption. Subsequently, the child was handed over to a couple who was on the seniority list of Central Adoption Resource Agency on pre-adoption foster care and the final adoption order was about to come. Hence the fresh claim of the biological mother for the child is posing legal and social issues. Meanwhile, the privacy of the adoptive parents is also at stake as a section of media even visited the family which is residing in another state. This had raised serious queries on how the whereabouts of the adoptive parents were leaked out. The family court stalled the procedures considering a petition filed by the state government and the Child Welfare Committee. Anupama alleged that her parents took away the child assuring her that they would return after her sister's marriage. But later her parents threatened her when she asked the child. She also alleged that his father, who is a local leader of ruling CPM in Kerala, used his political influence to suppress her complaints to the authorities for about six months and now it got highlighted following media reports. Anupama, who was also a left-front student activist, was in a relationship with another left front youth leader Ajith, who was already married. Anupama's family maintained that they opposed the relationship as Ajith was already married. Apart from Anupama's parents, Ajith's first wife Naziya also alleged that Anupama surrendered the child for adoption willingly. Naziya, who got separated from Ajith in January, also alleged that she had to face much harassment from Ajith as she questioned his relationship with Anupama. The police registered a case against Anupama's parents and some relatives and friends based on Anupama's complaint of kidnapping the child. Watch the latest DH Videos here: TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee Monday courted controversy by calling BJP a "virus" and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee the "only vaccine" which will "eradicate" it in the next Lok Sabha poll in the country. Banerjee also slammed the saffron camp calling it the "enemy of the Hindus" for trying to allegedly polarise the upcoming assembly bypoll in West Bengal by using as a poll plank the violence against the Hindu minority in neighbouring Bangladesh. The de facto number two in the Trinamool Congress also criticised BJP for "thrusting" on the people the by-election in two of the four seats that will go to the poll later this week. Also Read | Don't keep mask hanging from your chin: Mamata urges people as Covid-19 cases spike in Bengal "Winning BJP candidates Jagannath Sarkar (Shantipur) and Nisith Pramanik (Dinhata) had resigned as MLAs after being elected by the people. They had thought that they would become ministers after BJP wins in Bengal. But the party failed and they were no longer eager to continue," he said addressing a poll campaign rally here. The two resigned to retain their post as MPs. If they were so keen on holding on to their Lok Sabha seat, they should not have fought assembly election, Banerjee said. Pramanik was inducted to the central ministry as union minister of state for home and sports. By-election to two other seats - Gosaba and Khardah is being held following the death of their elected MLAs. "They (Sarkar and Pramanik) dishonoured the verdict of the people to retain their parliamentary berths. The BJP leaders used to visit Coochbehar regularly during the assembly poll but have stopped coming after their defeat. They had made false promises of a Narayani Sena in the central forces, but Mamata Banerjee has kept her promise of creating a Narayani battalion. This is the difference," the nephew of Mamata Banerjee pointed out. Also Read | BJP attacks opponents seeking to take out rallies in Tripura; TMC woman MP not spared: Mamata The TMC leader asserted that the party would make a "4-0 sweep" in the October 30 bypoll. "The entire country is eagerly waiting for the bypoll result. People of the country want a leader like Mamata Banerjee. That is why they raised slogans such as 'Desh ki netri kaisi ho, Mamata didi jaisi ho'. Like the vaccines that fight Covid-19, Mamata Banerjee is a vaccine against virus BJP," Elaborating, he said "Just as we have to take two doses of the vaccine to fight Covid , the first jab against virus BJP will be on October 30 through your vote in the by-poll. The second dose to eradicate the virus BJP will be during the next Lok Sabha poll." Banerjee contended that BJP is trying to win the by-election in Shantipur and Dinhata riding the wave created the recent communal violence in Bangladesh. Also Read | Voting for Cong, Left same as pressing NOTA button: TMC's Abhishek Banerjee "The BJP leaders are saying that they will benefit from the violence against the minorities in Bangladesh. The BJP, which boasts of being the saviour and the flag bearer of the Hindu religion, is trying to gain mileage from the communal violence in Bangladesh. What kind of Hindus are these BJP leaders who seek to gain mileage from the attack on fellow Hindus in Bangladesh?" he asked. BJP has kick-started a high pitch campaign in Dinhata and Santipur in Coochbehar and Nadia districts which border Bangladesh and has highlighted the atrocities on Hindus in the neighbouring country. The two constituencies have a sizeable number of voters who trace their roots to Bangladesh. They had to leave erstwhile East Pakistan during partition in 1947 or its Liberation War in 1971. Both the seats were won by BJP in the April-May state poll on the party's CAA poll plank. Banerjee also hit out at Congress for failing to fight against BJP and claimed that the TMC supremo is emerging as the "undisputed leader" from Kashmir to Kanyakumari. "There are several other national parties. But they have failed to put up a fight against the BJP. Congress has surrendered before the BJP in the last seven years. It is only TMC that has not bowed before the threats of the saffron camp," he said. Also Read | Bangladesh communal violence resonates in West Bengal's political discourse The TMC leader asserted "We will never bow our heads - the more you threaten us, the more fearsome force we will turn into ... Mamata Banerjee is the spearhead to fight and defeat the Modi-Shah regime in the next general election," he asserted. TMC, he said, had already expanded its footprints in Tripura and Goa and is planning to venture out to a few other states in the days to come. "Our party is making its presence felt all over the country. We will win the Goa assembly poll in a few months and we will dislodge the BJP government in Tripura in 2023. Wherever BJP is in power, we will go there and fight against them," Banerjee said. Watch the latest DH Videos here: Narcotics Control Bureau's Mumbai Zonal Director Sameer Wankhede on Monday said that he was ready for a probe into allegations against him, adding that he and his family, including his sister and deceased mother were being targetted. Wankhede on Sunday approached the Mumbai police commissioner seeking protection from likely legal action "being planned" against him by unknown persons to falsely frame him concerning an alleged vigilance related issue. In his single-page letter addressed to Police Commissioner Hemant Nagrale, Wankhede, who is at the centre of controversy surrounding the arrest of actor Shah Rukh Khan's son Aryan Khan in a drugs case, stated he came to know that some "precipitate" legal action for falsely implicating him is being planned by unknown persons in relation to the alleged vigilance related issue in NCB Cr. N. 94/2021. Also Read Cruise drugs case: Witness makes bribery allegations against NCB's Sameer Wankhede This comes after a witness in the cruise ship drugs case made grave allegations of bribery and wrongdoing against Sameer Wankhede, adding a new twist to the incident that has made national news following the arrest of actor Shah Rukh Khan's son, Aryan Khan. The claims made by the witness ignited a political storm in Maharashtra on Sunday and raised questions on the agency's credibility. Watch the latest DH Videos here: The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has ordered a vigilance inquiry into the claims made by a witness in the cruise drugs case of an extortion bid of Rs 25 crore by some agency officials, including its Mumbai zonal director Sameer Wankhede, and others for letting off accused Aryan Khan, son of actor Shah Rukh Khan. The inquiry will be conducted by Gyaneshwar Singh, the NCB deputy director general (DDG) of northern region based at its headquarters here. Singh is also the chief vigilance officer (CVO) of the federal anti-narcotics agency. Prabhakar Sail, a witness in the cruise drugs case, had on Sunday claimed in an affidavit and in subsequent interactions with reporters in Mumbai that Rs 25 crore was demanded by an NCB official and other persons to let off Aryan Khan from this case. Sail said he was the bodyguard of another witness in this case, K P Gosavi, who is absconding after the NCB raids that were conducted on October 3 at the cruise terminal on Mumbai's coast leading to arrest of as many as 20 people, including Khan. Also Read | NCB, Sameer Wankhede move court against extortion allegations Sail also claimed that he saw Gosavi meeting Shah Rukh Khan's manager and that he was asked to sign "9-10 blank pages" in the presence of Wankhede after the cruise raids. "We have received the affidavit and a report from our DDG (northwest) based in Mumbai and the NCB director general has taken cognisance of this report. He has marked it to the vigilance section for inquiry. "We are a professional organisation and we are open for inquiry against any allegation against our staffers. The inquiry will be transparent and fair," Gyaneshwar Singh told PTI. Asked if Wankhede will continue to probe the cruise case till this inquiry goes on, Singh said the question was "premature and we will take a call as the inquiry progresses and evidences are gathered." Also Read | Drugs-on-cruise case: Sameer Wankhede says he's 'ready for probe' into bribe allegations Officials said the NCB inquiry will look at all aspects of the claims made by Sail and will also record the version of Wankhede and other officers of the Mumbai zonal unit involved in this drugs bust case. The inquiry team may also question Sail, they said. Wankhede, an Indian Revenue Service (IRS) of 2008 batch Customs cadre, is expected to join the inquiry at the NCB headquarters here in the next few days. He has denied the charges made in the affidavit by Sail. The officer on Sunday also wrote to Mumbai Police commissioner Hemant Nagrale, seeking protection from likely legal action "being planned" against him by unknown persons to falsely frame him concerning an alleged vigilance related issue. Check out latest DH videos here The Trinamool Congress on Monday slammed the BJP-led coalition government in Goa, claiming that the coastal state, otherwise known for tourism, had transformed into the newest crime hotspot in the country. The party also released a 'people's charge sheet which criticised the Chief Minister Pramod Sawant-led administration for not being able to revive the mining sector in the state, while also claiming that the education and the health sectors had crumbled in Goa. "Crime in Goa sharply rose by 60 per cent (218 per lakh population) in the last 4 years alone. 5 women are raped in Goa every month, 3 of whom are minors. Goas rate of rape (7.8 per lakh population) has become double the national average," says the TMC's charge sheet, which was released in presence of TMC MP Mahua Moitra, national vice president Luizinho Faleiro and party leader Babul Supriyo. Also Read | Bangladesh communal violence resonates in West Bengal's political discourse "Goas government failed to recover the illegal mining loot amounting to 35,000 crore as calculated by (Justice MB) Shah Commission report. Lack of governments foresight has directly cost the livelihoods of nearly 2.5 lakh Goans dependent on mining," the charge sheet also said. The mining industry in Goa has virtually shut down since 2018, in wake of a Supreme Court order, which had exposed irregularities in the mining lease renewal process adopted by the state government. The charge sheet also took a swipe at the Covid management efforts of the state government. "Goa recorded the highest Covid-19 death rate and second highest infection rate in India. The governments vested interest in oxygen procurement caused 75 deaths in just four days in GMC, during the second wave. 239 out of 1486 schools in Goa have only one teacher. 152 government primary schools have been closed in the last eight years," the charge sheet said. The charge sheet also said that the BJP-led coalition government was in the process of destroying the environment in the coastal state by pursuing controversial projects, which include road and rail expansion projects along the Goa-Karnataka border. "Despite public opposition, the government-backed the Vasco-Mollem double-tracking and Mopa Airport projects, destroying Goas environment and cultural heritage. Mormugao port expansion plan has put Goas biodiversity and the lives of its people at risk, just to favour a few corporate giants," the charge sheet also said. Watch the latest DH Videos here: Cryptocurrency has so far failed to sweep away government-issued money, or to bring about the broader revolution that its most ardent enthusiasts envision. But what if the underlying technology could be harnessed to transform traditional fiat currencies for example, by making them much easier and cheaper for more people around the world to use? This goal might be attainable with help from the governments that crypto was meant to sideline. Ordinary money leaves a lot to be desired. Most people keep it at large banks, which have sometimes used subterfuge and even outright fraud to tax their customers and which have proven troublingly fragile in crises. Moving money can take days, particularly if it must wend its way through the antiquated and hackable network of correspondent banks that handles international transfers. For those who dont have bank accounts including millions of Americans, disproportionately Black and Latino things are worse. Check cashers, ATMs, card issuers and money transmitters all charge burdensome fees. Bitcoin, the original cryptocurrency, was designed to bypass all this. Anyone with an internet connection could set up a pseudonymous account, controlled with a private key. Users could send digital tokens anywhere, at any time, thanks to a voluntary network of computers that recorded transactions on a public ledger known as a blockchain. High-powered cryptography and decentralization protected against abuse and malfunction. The technology inspired hope not only for a more equitable sort of finance, but also for greater stability: The demise of one or more big global banks would do much less damage if payments could proceed without them. Bitcoin has spawned an entire movement, but it has so far failed as money. Pure cryptocurrencies are far too volatile to be useful except for speculation, illicit trade and the occasional financing of activists in oppressive regimes. The computing power required for the Bitcoin blockchain makes it slow and expensive for smaller transactions, not to mention environmentally damaging. People are afraid to lose the keys to their crypto (about a fifth of all Bitcoin is estimated to have been lost in this way), so they entrust them to wallet apps and other platforms that often get hacked. Most crypto believers engage through the same types of intermediaries exchanges, PayPal, specialized ATMs, opaque trust companies that the technology was intended to replace. Many of these businesses are less safe and more expensive than traditional banks. Their rapid growth threatens more financial instability. That said, all is not lost. Despite everything, crypto innovation may yet deliver a better payment system. Also read: Ethereum: The transformation that could see it overtake bitcoin Consider stablecoins. They deal with volatility by tying their value to fiat currencies implicitly recognizing the biggest defect of pure cryptocurrencies. They can run on blockchains that work more efficiently than Bitcoin and have a smaller carbon footprint. At the moment, theyre mainly used by crypto speculators to park funds while deciding what to bet on next, or to earn interest in unregulated lending pools. But as a unique form of electronic cash, they have the potential to make transfers easy, instantaneous and cheap. The Facebook-initiated Diem Association, for example, wants to use them to enable payments on mobile apps such as Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp. Ultimately, the infrastructure they use could even provide the rails on which government-issued digital currencies could travel. Another initiative, known as Lightning, seeks to address Bitcoins throughput and energy issues by establishing side channels through which multiple payments can be made, with only the final balance recorded on the blockchain. The system has allowed one application, Strike, to use Bitcoin as a utility for remittances between the US and El Salvador. Users money can enter as dollars in one country and emerge as dollars in the other, spending practically no time in volatile crypto. Innovations like these have promise but they also pose risks that regulators need to address. They could trigger runs. Stablecoins redeemable for fiat currencies at fixed rates, and fiat-currency balances in apps such as Strike, need to be securely backed. Often, they arent. A recent Bloomberg Businessweek exploration of Tether, the most popular stablecoin with about $70 billion outstanding, found a company quilted out of red flags. The lack of clarity or a lack of funds could one day spook holders, precipitating a crash as everyone rushes for the exits. Regulators should insist on backing in the form of high-quality assets, and ideally in fiat currency. In the US, this can be achieved by requiring payment apps and stablecoin issuers to invest only in bank deposits that are in turn held at the Federal Reserve, or by creating a narrowly defined banking license allowing them to open reserve accounts directly with the Fed. They could undermine traditional banks. If people could safely keep their money in stablecoins and payment apps, they might stop depositing it at banks, depriving the latter of the resources to make loans. The resulting credit contraction could tank the economy. A recent analysis by the Bank of England suggests that such concerns are overblown. People will likely be slow, its authors say, to adopt new forms of digital money, allowing time for the system to adapt. Still, regulators should err on the side of caution, by forbidding stablecoins and payment apps to pay interest, or by reducing the interest they receive on their deposits at the Fed. Such restrictions could be relaxed later, once officials can assess any threat to banking and credit. They could crash or get hacked. Its one thing for Facebooks apps to go dark for a day; it would be another if the company were running a global payment system. The newer protocols arent yet proven as the recent outage of the Solana blockchain demonstrated. Lightning has known vulnerabilities. Regulators should require enough equity capital to absorb surprise losses and set standards for security and governance for example, by testing resilience and identifying whos in charge of handling emergencies. If a company cant show it would act responsibly, it shouldnt be allowed to run a payment system. Also, systems should be interoperable, so that a dollar in one can easily be converted into a dollar in another. They could abet crime. Crypto platforms usually identify users only with an alphanumeric address. This has made them useful for ransomware developers, tax cheats and other criminals and raised concerns that they could undermine international sanctions and anti-money-laundering laws. Platforms and apps can and should demand identification where needed to enforce the law. If regulators required this for example, when balances or transactions exceeded certain thresholds crypto-enabled payment systems could remain broadly accessible and still be much more transparent than the current banking system. In most cases transactions are already visible on public ledgers, which has helped both law enforcement and the crypto community track down and recover ill-gotten gains. For many, the speculative frenzy surrounding cryptocurrencies wont end well. Officials such as US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen are right to call for urgent measures to address the mounting risks. But theyre also right not to ban crypto altogether, as China has sought to do. Surging innovation is already driving competition, both private and public, to upgrade a financial system that can certainly stand some improvement. The result could benefit people everywhere so long as regulators dont fall any further behind in guarding against the dangers. Check out the latest DH videos here: Students of government higher primary school at Malavagoppa in Shivamogga, who came to the school after a gap of nearly 18 months, on Monday, were surprised on the first day of their school as Primary & Secondary Education Minister B C Nagesh himself welcomed the students by offering roses to them. The minister distributed notebooks and chocolates to students of first standard to fifth standard who came to the school on the first day. He asked them how they felt coming to the school after a gap of many months. He also launched the reopening of classes from first to fifth standard by lighting a lamp in the class room. The minister visited the 2government primary school at Malavagoppa and interacted with students, parents and teachers. Speaking on the occasion, he said students are happy to be back. Mayor Sunita Annappa, Leader of Ruling Party in City Corporation S N Channabasappa, Karnataka Arya-Vysya Communities Development Corporation Chairman D S Arun, teachers and members of school development and monitoring committee were present on the occasion. Check out the latest DH videos: It is true that the country faced a shortage of thermal coal. But we have converted this challenge into an opportunity, Union Coal and Mines Minister Pralhad Joshi said on Sunday. The minister added that the supplies had been increased to meet the demand using large reserves available in the country. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of Kittur Utsav, the minister said, The country had faced a shortage of thermal coal for sometime due to incessant rain and high import costs. But we are managing to meet the demand for coal supplies with the reserves available in the country. We have decided to tap into vast reserves of coal in the country and stop importing from next fiscal, Joshi said. Also read: Congress allergic to Hindu rituals, says Pralhad Joshi The Centre will declare Kittur Fort as a national monument. The Railway Ministry will start work for the proposed Dharwad-Belagavi via Kittur rail line if the state government provides at least 80% of the land required for the project, the Union minister said. Similarly, theres a demand for an international airport at Kittur. The Centre will take steps for the same if the state government provides the land, Joshi added. Industries Minister Murugesh Nirani assuring the necessary support from the state, said the proposed airport would come up at Kittur and will be named after Rani Chennamma. JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy on Monday turned emotional as he recalled efforts behind building a regional party, and asserted that he has never indulged in money politics. "Building a regional party is not that easy, we don't have contact with big and rich people while going for every election. Our contact is with you- innocent village people, we have grown from you," an emotional Kumaraswamy said. Addressing a gathering at a party event at Gubbi near here, he said, "In our family, we have never done politics with money. We have worked with the support of lakhs of workers like you, and with your blessings." "...some great people are talking about me asking for a suitcase (containing money), if God is there, he will take care of them," he added. Also Read | If JD(S) was BJP's B-team, we wouldn't have joined hands with Congress: Kumaraswamy The former Chief Minister was referring to allegations levelled against him during a campaign for Sindagi and Hangal bypolls by his former confidant and now Congress MLA B Z Zameer Ahmed Khan of indulging in "suitcase politics." Stating that he has gone through a lot of pain and has put in all efforts to build the party despite ill-health, Kumaraswamy said, " I would have died during my Israel visit (2017), but I survived because of the good deeds of my parents...after going through heart surgery for the second time, within one month I travelled across the State to build the party." Questioning as to which leader has travelled with him across the State to build the party other than party supremo H D Deve Gowda despite his old age, he said, "In this part (old Mysuru region) you show affection to me as people belonging to my community are there, but I will have to go to north Karnataka and build the party. I will go there as well. Despite all these efforts, today we are in a position to win 28-40 seats." Watch the latest DH Videos here: Congress leader and former home minister K J George said on Monday that the use of the intelligence department for surveying the churches in Karnataka is illegal. Addressing a press conference along with Archbishop of Bengaluru, George said the ground for such survey has to be some anti-social or anti-national activity. "The use of the intelligence department is illegal as no such ground has been established," he said. To a question, he said the Congress party will discuss the issue within the party and oppose the bill in the house. Check out the latest DH videos: People Before Profit's Shaun Harkin has criticised Ulster University Vice-Chancellor, Paul Bartholomew accusing him of insulting Derry and the north west. Professor Bartholomew addressed Derry City & Strabane Council regarding developments at the University's Magee campus. These include the opening of the Graduate Entry Medical School, the addition of a Paramedic Science course, and the relocation of the Health Sciences school to the Magee Campus at Derry. Prof Bartholomew also placed importance on growing student numbers with a target of an increase of 6000 being mentioned. However, Cllr Harkin says this is a revised target that flies in the face of the original aim of 10,000 more students as outlined by the 'New Decade New Approach' (NDNA). Cllr Harkin said: The comments of Ulster University Vice Chancellor Paul Bartholomew at Friday's meeting of Derry and Strabane Council's Strategic Growth Partnership fly in the face of government commitments to Derry and the North West. Bartholomew made clear an increase to 6000 students is the top-end of his plans for Magee expansion. New Decade New Approach states 10,000 students as the strategic goal for Magee expansion. Bartholomew described this as a unachievable 'aspiration'. This is an insult. If 'rules' are an obstacle to a crucial government objective they need to be changed. It should be remembered 10,000 sliced in half the original ambition of a 20,000 student university for Derry. Bartholomew's dismissal of NDNA agreements is all the more jarring because Ulster University is set to be the beneficiary of nearly 100 million of City Deal funding. That the Stormont Executive has not already made a priority of seeing a major commitment to Derry and the North West delivered on is a disgrace. Local MLAs who are part of government parties forever profess Magee is a priority but what they are doing about the fact Ulster University bosses are ripping up commitments to Derry? Whether it's Magee expansion, addressing deprivation or the Derry rail upgrade, commitments in NDNA do not appear to be worth the paper they are written on. A tremendous amount is at stake. A vibrant university can be a key driver of Derry's economic rejuvenation. This hope for people in Derry and the North West is paramount. Everyone in Derry and across Ireland knows university expansion has been held back here for 60 years. The chronic lack of investment in Magee, regional infrastructure, jobs and housing have not been accidental. For sixty years Stormont and Ulster University bosses have blocked the expansion of Magee. Council agreed to support a People Before Profit proposal calling on the Stormont Executive to immediately set-up a specific working group to lead on the delivery of NDNA commitments to Derry and the North West. It's urgent this happens. Council has agreed if Ulster University bosses refuse to expand Magee based on our agreed strategic goals then all options for expansion of higher education for Derry and the North West must be put on the table. Renewed people power pressure must be applied on decision makers if we are to see the end of decades of neglect for people in Derry and the North West. This depends on action. The alarm has been sounded. In response to Cllr Harkin's comments, a spokesperson for Ulster University said: "We wouldnt look to add anything beyond what the Vice Chancellor said in his presentation about the Universitys position, ambitions and the wider context." Aryan Khan drug case: NCB director Wankhede approaches court against allegations of extortion The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and its zonal director Sameer Wankhede approached a special court here on Monday against allegations of extortion levelled against them in the cruise drugs seizure case, in which Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan's son Aryan Khan is an accused. Wankhede in his affidavit submitted to the court refuted the allegations levelled against him, and claimed he was under a "lurking threat of arrest as it does not suit some vested interests for conducting an honest and impartial investigation". Wankhede also claimed that he was being personally targeted by a well-known political figure, and the only reason he can fathom is that the NCB had arrested "this person's son-in-law Sameer Khan". Notably, Sameer Khan is the son-in-law of NCP leader and Maharashtra minister Nawab Malik. The NCB and Wankhede in their affidavits, submitted to the court designated to hear cases related to the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS), also said the allegations against them were an attempt to create hurdles and scuttle the investigation in the case. The NCB in its affidavit sought that there should be no tampering with the evidence or investigation in the case. On Sunday, an independent witness in the case, in a statement to the media, claimed that Rs 25 crore was demanded by an official of the NCB and other persons, including absconding witness K P Gosavi, to let off Aryan Khan in the case. Prabhakar Sail, the 'independent witness', told media persons that he had overheard Gosavi telling one Sam D'Souza over the phone, after Aryan Khan was brought to the NCB office following the October 2 raid, about a demand of Rs 25 crore and "to settle at Rs 18 crore as they have to give Rs eight crore to Sameer Wankhede". Sail had said he would soon release evidence to support his claim. The NCB and Wankhede rubbished these claims in their affidavits submitted to the court on Monday. "After spearheading the investigation in the cruise ship case, I am being personally targeted by a well-known political figure for reasons best known to him," Wankhede said in his affidavit, adding the only reason he can fathom is that the NCB had arrested this politician's son-in-law Sameer Khan. Wankhede's affidavit claimed there has been personal vendetta against him and his family members. "I am under a lurking threat of arrest as it does not suit some vested interests for conducting an honest and impartial investigation," Wankhede said adding he was ready to face probe to prove his innocence. He added that the court should take cognisance of such pressures put on officers with an intent to demoralise them so that the truth does not come to light. "The present case (cruise drugs case) involves influential and rich persons from the higher echelons of the society in which all kinds of threats including that of arrest are made against me," Wankhede said. The Narcotics Control Bureau in its affidavit termed the allegations levelled against Wankhede and other officers as "completely false, misleading and mischievous and an attempt to malign and tarnish the image of an independent agency like the NCB". "The allegations of extortion against NCB officials and money changing hands is a clear attempt to undermine the ongoing investigation and create pressure with malafide and ulterior motive," it said. The agency added that its officers, including Wankhede, have an impeccable service record, replete with honesty and integrity and they are working tirelessly towards making Mumbai a drug-free city. Special public prosecutor for the NCB, Advait Sethna, on Monday submitted the affidavits before the special court. Sethna told the court that Sail was threatening to release some evidence which would hamper the case and hence, appropriate orders should be passed. The court, after hearing Sethna and perusing the affidavits, said it would pass appropriate orders later in the day. Wankhede on Sunday also wrote to Mumbai Police Commissioner Hemant Nagrale, seeking protection from likely legal action "being planned" against him by unknown persons to falsely frame him concerning an alleged vigilance related issue. Without taking names, Wankhede, an IRS officer of the 2008 batch, had claimed in his letter to Nagrale that the threat of jail and dismissal have been issued against him on public media by highly respectable public functionaries. An NCB team led by Wankhede earlier this month allegedly seized drugs onboard a cruise ship off the Mumbai coast following which Aryan Khan was arrested on October 3. He is currently lodged in the Arthur Road jail in Mumbai. His bail application is likely to be heard by the Bombay High Court on Tuesday. Aashram 3: Bhopal sets of Bobby Deols web series vandalized by Bajrang Dal; latter demand a title change The upcoming web series Aashram 3 directed by Prakash Jha has sparked controversy after Bajrang Dal workers ransacked the series' sets on Sunday during its filming and even threw ink at the director. The filming was going on at the old jail in Bhopal, where the Bajrang Dal workers stopped the vehicles and pelted stones at them, leaving some crew members injured. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Prakash Jha Productions (@prakashjproductions) After the incident, Irshad Wali, DIG Bhopal, clarified, "All the miscreants have been shunned from the premises and no one has been fatally injured, though some vehicles have been damaged. Further action will be taken against those responsible." He added, "I want to assure everyone that a similar situation will not be repeated again." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Prakash Jha Productions (@prakashjproductions) Regarding the incident, Bajrang Dal Bhopal leader Sushil Sudele said, "We want the film industry to be promoted here in Madhya Pradesh. People should get employment, but this land should not be used to humiliate Hindu samaj. In the earlier installment of the series it was shown that women are exploited inside Aashram, is it so? Stop defaming Hindus and if he wants to gain popularity then why not name any other religion and see the number of protests that happen." "We have given only a warning for now and Prakash Raj has said that he is in talks to change the show's title," he continued, adding "I repeat the show's name will have to be changed from 'Aashram' or won't be filmed here in Bhopal." Subscriber content preview SEATTLE A fairly new apartment building at 5637 University Way N.E. sold for $9.4 million, according to King County records. The seller was 5637 University Way NE LLC, associated with Coombes Development, which acquired the land in 2016 for $1.2 million, then developed it. . . . A local district court judge has likened the case of a 22 year old man who repaid over 18,000 to a Polish company after his bank account was used as part of a money laundering scam, to a bank robber handing back the money. The barrister who appeared for Jack Hughes with an address at Millgrange, Greenore told Dundalk district court last week that the prosecution was related to a loss suffered by a Polish company where his client had allowed his bank account to be used. The charge of engaging in possessing property that is the proceeds of criminal conduct while being reckless as to whether or not said property was the proceeds of crime, relates to an offence at AIB, Clanbrassil Street, Dundalk in December 2019. The court was told the defendant has repaid almost 17,500 to cover the more than 15,000 lost by the company, and the cost of its lawyers in Poland and Dundalk. He added the firm subsequently withdrew its complaint but the DPP had sought that his client be interviewed. Court presenter Sgt. Jimmy McGovern confirmed the DPP had directed summary disposal - which means being heard at district court level. After hearing the 22 year old is a fourth year student at UCD, studying Commerce, Judge Eirinn McKiernan said he's a very smart young man and referring to the loss to the company being repaid,said it was a very serious matter "That's like someone robbing a bank and handing back the money". The case was put back to December 15th for the preparation of a Probation report. Sinn Fein Councillor Antoin Watters has hit out at the latest delays in the National Broadband Plan (NBP) accusing the government of not caring about rural communities. Cllr Watters whose constituency is mostly rural said it was confirmed by government officials and National Broadband that just 17,000 premises have been completed this year to date. Their actual target was 115,000 so they are just under 100,000 short. That just isnt good enough. They had the cheek to revise their target downwards to 60,000, half of their initial target, and they are nowhere near even reaching that. My faith in Broadband Ireland rolling out this national plan dwindles every time they make an announcement. You know of course that rural Ireland will be the last to get it because it is just never a priority. "People who live in rural Ireland, my neighbours in the Cooley Peninsula, are treated like second class citizens by the government. "You can be assured that if there was a shortage of broadband or anything else in Dublin the government wouldnt be long getting it sorted. Cllr Watters continued: These delays have serious implications for rural communities. "I know the government doesnt realise it but there are actual people living in rural areas that have the same needs and requirements of those who live in Dublin and urban areas. "There are businesses trying to operate and young people learning from home, all of whom need reliable broadband for their day to day lives. Broadband in the Cooley Peninsula can be sporadic and they are the lucky ones, some have no broadband at all. Cllr Watters said he was disappointed that yet again we are hearing that rural families and rural workers will be left waiting for broadband. Despite it being a commitment in the Programme for Government, it would seem that rural communities are once again at the bottom of the list of government priorities. Louth Library Service will host an audience event with award-winning author Roddy Doyle as part of the Louth Decade of Centenaries programme 2021. Louth Library Service in conjunction with Libraries Northern Ireland has facilitated a cross border reading group initiative. Reading groups on both sides of the border have been reading Roddy Doyles A Star Called Henry. The reading initiative focuses on the power of fiction to challenge set narratives and explores themes in the novel, his portrait of a Dublin during the period of the Irish Revolution of 1916-1921. The initiative will culminate with an interactive Q& an online session with Roddy on November 3rd which is free and open to all. There are still some copies of A Star Called Henry, available to borrow in library branches. Audiences can register for free on the crowdcast platform www.crowdcast.io/e/ roddydoyle The Louth Decade of Centenaries programme has been funded by the Commemorations Unit of the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media. B2B Lead Generation Service Reach key decision makers with sales-ready leads that shorten your sales process. Move the needle by delivering funnel qualified leads to your sales team. Learn more. E-commerce and m-commerce are transforming the economic landscape. Both markets were steadily growing before the pandemic. But since then, consumers have been fueling both types of commerce with a frenzy. For instance, global e-commerce is expected to yield $6.5 trillion by 2023, growing at 17.5 percent compound annual growth rate (CAGR). That represents nearly a quarter of all retail transactions. "Global e-commerce is flourishing. As highlighted in a recent eMarketer report, the market is growing at a 28 percent pace with sales exceeding $4 trillion," according to Tom Furukawa, CEO of Logiq. Add to that, global m-commerce is on target to produce $4.3 trillion by 2023, growing at 18 percent CAGR. Mobile commerce transactions have overtaken desktop transactions. CAGR is the rate of return that would be required for an investment to grow from its beginning balance to its ending balance. That definition assumes the profits were reinvested at the end of each year of the investment's life span. U.S.-based Logiq is at the forefront of the changes. It is a global provider of e-commerce, m-commerce, and fintech business enablement solutions. The company has a portfolio of innovative offerings, such as AppLogiq, to help businesses capture opportunities in e- and m-commerce markets. Its DataLogiq business provides a data-driven e-commerce marketing solution. The AI-powered LogiqX data engine delivers valuable consumer insights that enhance the ROI of online marketing spend. The company's Fixel technology offers simplified online marketing with critical privacy features. The E-Commerce Times discussed with Logiq CEO Tom Furukawa, opportunity trends in digital commerce and the role of market intelligence in the global commerce space. The interview covered the use of commerce platforms to stay informed about the e- and m-commerce markets, their trends worldwide, and the growth and trajectory in the sectors. E-Commerce Times: How are e-commerce and m-commerce transforming the economic landscape? Tom Furukawa: Certain trends in e-commerce and m-commerce are geographically specific. In Southeast Asia, for example, the strong growth in m-commerce has been driven by massive smartphone adoption. Just about everyone has a smartphone, while much fewer have PCs or laptops. This makes the main challenge for businesses, mostly micro-sized, to develop and maintain an e-commerce and m-commerce presence. That requires marketing and selling their products and services to consumers through a dedicated app. Does that mobile-only platform help or hinder payments? Furukawa: While there is an increasing volume of digital payments, there remains a great amount of daily cash-based transactions. The transformation of cash payments to digital forms will be a pivotal market driver over the coming years. This trend is accelerating with fintech now gaining market share against conventional banking. How else does the Asian market differ from U.S.-based e-commerce and m-commerce operations? Furukawa: Another important aspect of Southeast Asia is the need for consumer product deliveries (consumer staples, food, etc.) at the hyper-local level. Indonesia is a great example. The population density and traffic patterns make it extremely difficult to drive, which creates a demand for delivery via pedestrian foot traffic. Tom Furukawa, CEO of Logiq In North America, businesses have much easier ways of bringing their brand online and conducting e-commerce transactions, such as via Shopify, Wix, and Squarespace. However, the biggest challenge for marketers is customer acquisition, with audience targeting being the hardest to get right. The North American market is also interesting, because the top 10 e-commerce companies control 63 percent of all sales, with Amazon as the lead, according to eMarketer. This means there are in excess of 500,000 smaller brands struggling to compete with the large-scale players. Does that mean that smaller brands have fewer chances for growth in the digital marketplace? Furukawa: There is space to compete though, considering that forecasters anticipate 95 percent of all retail sales will be conducted in the e- and m-commerce space by 2040. That is economic transformation! How much of this transitioning was already taking place prior to the pandemic? Furukawa: The e- and m-commerce wave was growing for years prior to 2020, and Covid merely accelerated the dynamic by four to six years, according to Forbes. The most glaring point that the pandemic revealed was that a business must have an online presence to be successful and grow. A brick-and-mortar presence alone is no longer a viable option. Even industries, such as medical clinics, which may have never considered a digital architecture, now realize that they need to develop and implement an online strategy. Digital marketing is a complicated arena and businesses need a trusted partner to navigate the complexity. One other area of note, digital media consumption, and digital advertising have been steadily expanding year-over-year prior to the pandemic. In 2020 and into 2021, the growth skyrocketed and continues to show no signs of dissipating. Pandemic aside, what trends are firmly entrenched in the economic landscape today? Furukawa: The best answer is that e- and m-commerce are taking more market share of the overall retail space. Interestingly, in 2020, overall retail sales growth slowed, even as, previously mentioned, e-commerce accelerated by 28 percent. To that point, consumer behavior has permanently changed, and data-based marketing efforts are now embedded in the sales lifecycle. Another macro advancement concerns data, artificial intelligence, and deep and machine learning. E-commerce is flourishing as data collection and analytics becomes more robust. The economics of data is a core pillar for e-commerce expansion in the coming decades. What new trends are appearing? Furukawa: For certain, the digitization of advertising continues to gain traction and momentum, as does the movement towards digital wallets and payment models. In advanced economies, these trends are established, but in the emerging markets, they are still in the inchoate stage. As businesses and consumers discover the value in digital offerings, the curve on adoption is likely to steepen. As an example, in the emerging and developing nations, the unbanked can participate in the economy to a far greater degree with access to digital payments and services. A final point on new trends: E- and m-commerce are differentiated from traditional retail in that there are network effects driving the growth trajectory. User engagement and experience are the foundation of commercial activity. Brands such as Uber become more valuable as more users engage on the platform. Logiq's AtozGo app is another great example of the economics of the network effect. How does Logiq assist businesses in capturing opportunities in e- and m-commerce? Furukawa: Logiq's mission statement is to help businesses by simplifying e- and m-commerce. Focusing on Southeast Asia and the app presence for local businesses, our company's AppLogiq solution enables a business to quickly create a digital presence on their own app. That gives consumers access to purchase goods and services. As for the payment side, AtozPay is the company's fintech solution to bring digital payments to the forefront in the region. Relative to deliveries, AtozGo provides the hyper-local delivery service in densely populated areas such as cities in Indonesia. In the North American market, Logiq is helping those small and medium-sized businesses with their digital marketing, as a tool to compete for customers against the e-commerce giants. Our artificial intelligence-enabled, enterprise software solution, Logiq Digital Marketing, provides companies with the intelligence they need for targeting customers and increasing sales. Are there specialized differences in how vendors/marketers need to approach e-commerce versus mobile commerce? Furukawa: For m-commerce it is about enabling businesses to conduct their business via an online presence. The experience must be holistic to be successful. An app that does not offer a payment function becomes obsolete, just as a restaurant that cannot deliver food misses out on customers. M-commerce is all about the ecosystem and synergies. In North America, the approach for vendors begins with the question: How can this business compete in the sphere of e-commerce against the titans? The answer is to adopt technologies in a cost-effective way, which will optimize resource usage and elevate brand awareness. What is driving the accelerated growth of the online economy today? Furukawa: Ease of purchasing is an obvious factor for e-commerce expansion compared to a brick-and-mortar transaction. Ordering goods and services from a smartphone, tablet, or laptop is quick and efficient. Beyond that, companies in every industry are now, at some level, e-commerce businesses. The requirement of an online presence, post-pandemic, is incredibly important for financial success. Given these trends and their driving factors, what is the likelihood they will remain in the post-pandemic marketplace? Furukawa: E- and m-commerce are not only here to stay, they are evolving and becoming an integral piece of the global economic framework. This progression is playing out in front of us daily and will accelerate as technologies improve and new participants enter the marketplace. The economics of commerce are morphing rapidly. In a word...disruption. Are the e-commerce trends universal, or does geography play a role in how viable and thriving consumer adoptions are? Furukawa: As mentioned, there are locale differences (Southeast Asia, North America, Europe, and South America). However, the most important distinction is between the advanced, developing, and emerging economies. Because both e- and m-commerce are online-based (website and apps), smartphone proliferation is a key driver for consumer adoption. The largest surge in e- and m-commerce growth will emanate from the emerging and developing world. How are innovations changing the e-commerce and m-commerce landscape? Furukawa: The days of website-only e-commerce, marketing, and ads are over. There are so many other platforms and mediums, such as apps, streaming content, social media, audio, and native channels. These advancements have facilitated, to some degree, a leveling of the playing field for businesses across verticals and industries. In addition, the ubiquity of data and analytical prowess are unlocking value for companies on customer behaviors, purchasing tendencies, future product, and service interest. Firms that can bring technology to market that makes data more actionable will thrive the most. What innovations do you see as significant? Furukawa: Without question, artificial intelligence, and deep and machine learning are essential. These technologies are revolutionizing the way companies utilize their customer data and ultimately how they advertise and market to customers and generate sales. What lies ahead for e-commerce and m-commerce? Furukawa: The next decades will be a period of robust growth for e- and m-commerce. The crucial intersection for companies will be their digital advertising strategy to customers, and the subsequent probability of this audience purchasing goods and services online. Another fascinating space for the development of e- and m-commerce is in the augmented and virtual reality mediums. Companies can create unique branding experiences for customers on these platforms. To be sure, utilization of the technology from a commerce perspective is in its infancy. Jack M. Germain has been an ECT News Network reporter since 2003. His main areas of focus are enterprise IT, Linux and open-source technologies. He is an esteemed reviewer of Linux distros and other open-source software. In addition, Jack extensively covers business technology and privacy issues, as well as developments in e-commerce and consumer electronics. Email Jack. NASA is preparing to launch the DART Mission on November 23, 2021 (Pacific Standard Time), the US space agency announced on October 24. In a tweet, NASA mentioned how the mission will crash a spacecraft into an asteroid. Here's all you need to know about the DART Mission and how it will go down: What is the DART Mission? DART or Double Asteroid Redirection Test will test methods to alter an asteroid's path in space. NASA says the test will help them understand how to prevent an asteroid heading towards Earth from colliding. The mission will be launched along with the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from California's Vandenberg Space Force Base. What is DART's target? NASA scientists are targeting an asteroid near Earth Didymos. The asteroid, which is now being monitored by NASA, is 780 metres in diameter. Didymos also has a secondary body that is around 160 metres in diameter. READ ALSO : What The FAQ: Why NASA's James Webb Space Telescope might get a new name after homophobic controversy How will the DART Mission work? The mission will use the kinetic impactor technique, where an object (spacecraft) that is huge and has a high velocity will be thrown into the path of a travelling asteroid. DART is the first-of-its-kind test that seeks to alter an asteroid's trajectory. According to NASA, cameras mounted on the spacecraft, called Didymos Reconnaissance and Asteroid Camera for OpNav (DRACO), will help navigate it and smash into the asteroid at a speed of 6.6 km/s. The scientists inform that this will slow down the speed of the secondary body's orbit around the asteroid by a fraction and also modify the orbital period of the secondary body by some minutes. EIB National Health Laboratory investment to strengthen epidemic and pandemic preparedness by improving diagnosis, surveillance and research Investment key Government of Rwanda COVID-19 National Response Plan priority First EIB health project in Rwanda and largest ever EIB health engagement in East Africa EUR 22 million EIB loan combined with EUR 5 million EU grant to support construction of the National Health Laboratory, in partnership with the World Health Organisation Government of Rwanda and Team Europe reach last milestone for financing National Health Referral Laboratory Project Minister for Health Dr Daniel Ngamije, and Finance Minister Dr Uzziel Ndagijimana today highlighted the national importance of EUR 27 million European Investment Bank and European Union support for redevelopment of the National Health Laboratory by the Rwanda Biomedical Centre and new investment under Rwandas COVID-19 National Response Plan. Unlocking new investment by the Rwanda Biomedical Centre will transform diagnosis, surveillance and research at the National Health Laboratory. The EUR 27 million Team Europe support provided by the European Investment Banks streamlined African COVID-19 health resilience engagement and the European Union will better protect Rwandans from disease and future epidemics. said Dr Daniel Ngamije Minister for Health. Accelerating public health investment is essential to tackle COVID-19 and better prepare for future health emergencies. The European Investment Bank is a key financing partner for Rwanda and todays EUR 27 million backing represents the first ever direct EIB backing for health investment in our country. said Dr Uzziel Ndagijimana, Minister of Finance and Economic Planning. The Team Europe financing was formally announced in Kigali earlier today ahead of the Second African Union-European Union ministerial meeting. Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic the European Investment Bank has worked with partners across Africa to unlock priority public health, vaccine and medical investment. The EIB is pleased to provide EUR 22 million to support redevelopment of the National Health Laboratory by the Rwanda Biomedical Centre, alongside EUR 5 million from Team Europe and World Health Organisation partners. Upgrading medical diagnosis will enable Rwandans to benefit from high quality health care and ensure a quicker response to future pandemics said Thomas Ostros, European Investment Bank Vice President. Team Europe is working with partners across Africa to strengthen healthcare and improve resilience to future health emergencies. Combining EIB financing and EU grant support and technical assistance will enable Rwanda to benefit from world class diagnosis at the National Health Laboratory. said Ambassador Nicola Bellomo, Head of the European Union Delegation to Rwanda. Largest ever EIB health engagement in East Africa The largest ever EIB financing for health investment in East Africa will finance construction of a new medical diagnosis and research facility at Rwandas central health implementation agency in Kigali. The new 20 year European Investment Bank loan is provided under the EIB dedicated Covid-19 Health and Economic Resilience approved by European finance ministers within weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic and enabling streamlined financing to be provided across Africa. EU and WHO backing COVID and pandemic resilience in Rwanda The project is a key priority under the COVID-19 National Response Plan. The project will also benefit from a EUR 5 million European Union grant, under the Africa Investment Platform and European Development Funds to co-finance the project and EUR 1.5m to enable World Health Organisation best-practice project implementation. The Rwanda Biomedical Centre conducts scientific research, provides diagnostics services, and implements innovative health interventions to protect the nation against diseases and other health threats. RBC was established in 2011 to improve the health of the Rwandan population by providing high quality, affordable and sustainable health care services. The EIB has operated in Rwanda since 1977 and provided more than EUR 206 million for private and public investment across the country. More groups asked to sign up to Armed Forces Covenant Businesses, charities and local services are being asked to support the Armed Forces Covenant. The Manx Government first signed the Covenant in 2013, and since then weve gone on to become a Gold Award Employer. The Armed Forces Covenant is a declaration of support for Island residents who serve, or have served, in the British Armed Forces. The goal of the Covenant is to bring together services to support for those service and ex-service personnel. Juan Watterson MHK, our Armed Forces Champion, is calling for more businesses, charities and local services to sign up too. He said The Armed Forces Covenant is a pledge that together we acknowledge and understand that those who serve or who have served in the forces, and their families, should be treated with fairness and respect in the communities, economy and society they serve with their lives." "Being a Gold Award Employer means we have been recognised for our advocacy work as well as being an exemplar employer for ex-forces and Reservist personnel. We encourage all employers and groups to sign the covenant and see what they can do to remove any disadvantage for those in or leaving the armed forces. Last week the Isle of Man Freemasons became the most recent group the sign the Covenant. Apple said in September that it was launching a feature called Group Workouts on Fitness+ that would use iOS 15's SharePlay tool for exercise sessions over FaceTime. The company just announced that Group Workouts is available starting today, so you can get up to 32 friends together to follow along with the company's exercise or meditation videos. To use the new features, you'll need to update to iOS 15.1 or iPadOS 15.1, as well as watchOS 8.1, which are available today. Those who plan on watching the videos on their Apple TV will also need tvOS 15.1. To start a Group Workout, you'll need to first be on a FaceTime call, go to the Fitness app, then pick the video to follow. As you all sweat it out, Apple will display each person's metrics on their own screens. When someone moves ahead on the Burn Bar (which appears on specific workouts with more cardio activity) or closes their rings, everyone gets an alert so you can celebrate together. SharePlay wasn't available when iOS 15 launched earlier this year, and during our testing of the iOS 15 beta it was buggy and unstable. The company just released iOS 15.1 today, bringing the ability to SharePlay over FaceTime, so you can watch movies and videos with your friends or just show them what's on your iPhone. Fitness+ is also expanding to 15 new countries. From Nov. 3rd, Austria, Brazil, Colombia, France, Germany, Indonesia, Italy, Malaysia, Mexico, Portugal, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Switzerland and the United Arab Emirates will be able to access the service. In America, those on UnitedHealthcare insurance can get a year of Fitness+ on their plans at no additional cost, starting Nov. 1st. Update (at 1:15pm ET): This post was edited to add information about iOS 15.1's availability starting today. The Facebook Papers, a vast trove of documents supplied by whistleblower Frances Haugen to a consortium of news organizations, has been released. The reporting, by Reuters, Bloomberg, The Washington Post and others, paints a picture of a company that repeatedly sought to prioritize dominance and profit over user safety. This was, however, despite a large number of employees warning that the companys focus on engagement put users at risk of real-world violence. The Washington Post, for instance, claims that while Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg played down reports that the site amplified hate speech in testimony to Congress, he was aware that the problem was far broader than publicly declared. Internal documents seen by the Post claim that the social network had removed less than five percent of hate speech, and that executives including Zuckerberg were well aware that Facebook was polarizing people. The claims have already been rebutted by Facebook, which says that the documents have been misrepresented. Zuckerberg is also accused of squashing a plan to run a Spanish-language voter-registration drive in the US before the 2020 elections. He said that the plan may have appeared partisan, with WhatsApp staffers subsequently offering a watered-down version partnering with outside agencies. The CEO was also reportedly behind the decision not to clamp down on COVID-19 misinformation in the early stages of the pandemic as there may be a material tradeoff with MSI [Meaningful Social Interaction an internal Facebook metric] impact. Facebook has refuted the claim, saying that the documents have been mischaracterized. Reuters reported that Facebook has serially neglected a number of developing nations, allowing hate speech and extremism to flourish. That includes not hiring enough staffers who can speak the local language, appreciate the cultural context and otherwise effectively moderate. The result is that the company has unjustified faith in its automatic moderation systems which are ineffective in non-English speaking countries. Again, Facebook has refuted the accusation that it is neglecting its users in those territories. One specific region that is singled out for concern is Myanmar, where Facebook has been held responsible for amplifying local tensions. A 2020 document suggests that the companys automatic moderation system could not flag problematic terms in (local language) Burmese. (It should be noted that, two years previously, Facebooks failure to properly act to prevent civil unrest in Myanmar was highlighted in a report from Business for Social Responsibility.) Similarly, Facebook reportedly did not have the tools in place to detect hate speech in the Ethiopian languages of Oromo or Amharic. Facebook has said that it is working to expand its content moderation team and, in the last two years, has recruited Oromo, Amharic and Burmese speakers (as well as a number of other languages). Elsewhere, The New York Times reports that Facebooks internal research was well-aware that the Like and Share functions core elements of how the platform work had accelerated the spread of hate speech. A document, titled "What Is Collateral Damage", says that Facebooks failure to remedy these issues will see the company actively (if not necessarily consciously) promoting these types of activities. Facebook says that, again, these statements are based on incorrect premises, and that it would be illogical for the company to try and actively harm its users. Bloomberg, meanwhile, has focused on the supposed collapse in Facebooks engagement metrics. Young people, a key target market for advertisers, are spending less time on Facebooks platform, with fewer teens opting to sign up. At the same time, the number of users may be artificially inflated in these age groups, with users choosing to create multiple accounts Finstas to separate their online personas to cater to different groups. Haugen alleges that Facebook has misrepresented core metrics to investors and advertisers, and that duplicate accounts are leading to extensive fraud against advertisers. Facebook says that it already notifies advertisers of the risk that purchases will reach duplicate accounts in its Help Center, and lists the issue in its SEC filings. Wired focuses on how Facebooks employees regularly leave valedictions when they leave the company. And how these missives have become increasingly gloomy, with one departing employee writing that the platform has a net negative influence on politics. Another said that they felt that they had blood on their hands, while a third said that their ability to effect changes to Facebooks systems to improve matters was hampered by internal roadblocks. The Verge offered more context on the companys work in Ethiopia, where the lack of language and cultural experience was a huge problem. This meant that Facebooks community standards werent available in all of the countrys official languages and automated moderation models were unavailable. In addition, there was no reliable access to fact-checking, and no ability to open a war room to help monitor activity during major events. (Facebooks documentation says that it takes around a year to build the necessary capacity to address hate speech in a specific country.) This same report adds that, in order to reduce the burden on the companys limited human moderators, it would make it harder for users to report hate speech. In addition, those reports of hate speech would be automatically closed in cases where the post in question had received little attention. There is also a statement saying, broadly, that the team had exhausted its budget for the year and, as a consequence, there would be fewer moderators working on these issues towards the end of that period. And, shortly after these reports were published, Frances Haugen sat down with the UK's select committee looking at its forthcoming Online Safety Bill. Much of what she said has already been expressed to regulators in the US, but her comments have been highly critical of Facebook. At one point, Haugen said that Facebook has been unwilling to sacrifice even "little slivers of profit" in order to make its product safer. She added that Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg "has unilateral control over three billion people, [and that] there's no will at the top [of the company] to make sure these systems are run in an adequately safe way." Over the weekend, Axios reported that Facebooks Sir Nick Clegg warned that the site should expect more bad headlines in the coming weeks. It's likely that whatever happens at the company's third-quarter announcement later today won't be sufficient to dispel the storm of bad press it is currently weathering. Updated 10:41am ET to include comments from Frances Haugen made to the select committee. The Pixel 6 is the most intriguing phone Google has made in years. Not only is it a return to premium design with eye-catching colors and up to a 120Hz screen, its also powered by the companys first mobile processor Tensor. With it, Google is promising serious improvements in AI performance and photography, including better voice recognition and Assistant features. Google also finally upgraded the Pixels camera hardware instead of just relying on its processing smarts. Thats not to say its overlooked software this year. The Pixel 6 is stuffed to the brim with special photography modes. The best thing about the Pixel 6 series, though, is the surprisingly low starting price, and it makes the few drawbacks easier to forgive. Google Pixel 6 Pro SCORE 91 Engadget 91 Critics - Not yet scored N/A Users - Not yet scored N/A Pros Clever Assistant and voice software Lighter than the competition Excellent cameras Competitively priced Cons Slow fingerprint sensor Google Pixel 6 SCORE 89 Engadget 89 Critics - Not yet scored N/A Users - Not yet scored N/A Pros Useful voice typing and translation features Fun color palette Great cameras Competitively priced Cons Slow fingerprint sensor The small Pixel aint so small Design I'm torn over the Pixel 6's design. Compared to the last few generations, these are an arresting change of pace. The two-tone palette is pretty, especially on the smaller Pixel 6, which has more fun color options. It also has a flat screen with a matte finish on its sides while the Pro has pleasantly curved, shiny edges and feels a lot like the Galaxy Note 20 Ultra. David Imel for Engadget Google's horizontal camera bar here is polarizing. I don't mind it, but I know many people think it's hideous. In its defense, it not only houses larger sensors, but it also makes for a more symmetrical design than the corner camera bumps on every other flagship. And as a bonus, it doesnt wobble when resting on a tabletop. Aesthetics and style are all subjective, but no one can argue with hard numbers. At 207 grams (or 7.3 ounces), the Pixel 6 is heavier than the Galaxy S21 and the iPhone 13, though not by much. The Pixel does have a larger 6.4-inch screen, though, and I wish it was smaller since previous generations (and other companies) all offer a one-hand-friendly size. Meanwhile, the Pixel 6 Pro weighs 210 grams, which is much lighter than the iPhone 13 Pro Max and the Galaxy S21 Ultra. Display, audio and fingerprint sensor Both the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro have lovely OLED screens. The standard model has a 6.4-inch 1080p panel that runs at 90Hz, while the Pro uses a 6.7-inch display that goes between 10Hz and 120Hz depending on what you're doing. Most flagship phones have adopted OLED by now, and in general offer excellent image quality. The new frontier for displays is refresh rate, and the Pixel 6 Pros 120Hz screen is as buttery as the iPhone 13 Pro and Galaxy S21 Ultras. Scrolling through Twitter, Instagram and articles on the internet is satisfyingly fast. David Imel for Engadget The Pixel 6s 90Hz refresh rate does make it feel a little slower, but you wont notice if you havent been spoiled by 120Hz screens. If youre upgrading from an older phone, the 90Hz panel will be an obvious improvement. Plus, this thing costs just $600, so no gripes here, especially since the iPhone 13 is $200 more and runs at 60Hz. Im also not going to complain much about the Pixel 6s speakers, which are decent. Vocals were clear in Steve Aoki and Jolin Tsais Equal in the Darkness, though the mix could sound messy at times and lacked bass. Lil Nas Xs Industry Baby held up a little better. Under the Pixel 6s display is a fingerprint sensor, and unfortunately its slow and finicky, especially compared to in-screen readers on recent Galaxy and OnePlus devices. You also cant log in with your thumb when the screen is off, meaning unlocking your phone is a two-step process: Wake the screen, then scan your print. Google could stand to take notes from Samsung here. Place your finger on the screen of an S21 and you almost immediately see your home page. David Imel for Engadget If youre mad that the fingerprint sensor was relocated, Google said it was mainly to keep the phones rear looking uncluttered, while still offering some form of secure biometric authentication. Android 12 and Assistant features What truly defines the Pixel 6 experience is its software an area Google has always excelled. With Android 12's new Material You UI, the Pixel 6s feel as pretty inside as they do outside. The most obvious flourish is its ability to theme the entire interface around a color palette it extracts from your wallpaper. We've discussed this many times in our previous coverage of the Android 12 beta, so I won't go on and on about it here, but it makes the OS feel more cohesive. Android 12 offers many new features that we've already tested, like updated widgets, camera and mic privacy toggles, but the company has updates that are exclusive to Pixels as well. The most impactful of these are the upgraded speech recognition algorithms. Transcriptions are more accurate, translations are integrated in more parts of the OS and the keyboard is easier to use hands-free. As someone who detests typing on a phone, I love the new voice keyboard. Its better at understanding my rambling monologues and inserting punctuation. Now transcribed text looks more natural, rather than being a long block of words. The system will even retroactively add punctuation to previous sentences while youre speaking. That said, Assistant still isnt perfect, and often adds periods where they dont belong. And maybe this is more of an indictment of the way I speak, but Google seems to think everything I say is a question. In fact, heres an example of the above paragraph as transcribed by the new voice keyboard: As someone who detest typing on a phone, I love the new voice keyboard. It's better at understanding my rambling monologues and inserting punctuation. Now transcribe text looks more natural rather than being a long block of words. The system will even retroactively add punctuation to previous sentences while you're speaking. That said, assistant still isn't perfect and often adds periods where they don't belong. And maybe this is more of an indictment of the way I speak, but Google seems to think everything I say is a question What makes hands-free typing even easier is the ability to say things like Send, Clear, Delete and Undo. I especially love that you can say Hey Google, type to trigger the speech keyboard, so theres no need to touch the screen to reply to your friends. The Pixel 6 also helpfully suggests commands for things like jumping to the next field in a form or setting the subject of an email. Plus, you can add emoji by saying smiley face emoji or peach emoji. The new keyboard also makes it easier to fix mistakes. You cant do this hands-free unless you want to clear everything and start over, but at least you dont have to exit voice typing mode to select a typo and then tap the speech button to start dictating again. The mic will remain on so you can repeat something with more careful enunciation, and you can use commands like Delete to get rid of stray words. The improvements to voice commands are especially important for those with physical or motor disabilities, and this might make it easier to communicate if you have limited mobility. Cherlyn Low / Engadget Google also expanded its Quick Phrases feature, which allowed you to say things like Stop or Answer in response to alarms or calls. This feature rolled out first on Googles speakers and displays, and now on the Pixel 6 you can also say Stop, Snooze, Answer and Decline. I know it seems like a minor update, but I appreciate every little addition that makes hands-free interaction with my phone easier. Another advantage Pixels have over other phones is Googles time-saving features like Duplex and Call Screening. On the Pixel 6, Google is introducing new Wait Time and Direct My Call tools that tell you how long youll have to wait for a customer service rep and converts voice-based menus into on-screen options. Though its supposed to work with the top 5,000 toll-free US business numbers, I didnt see wait times appear for Bank of America, though it showed up for Capital One, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield and DoorDash. The Pixel 6 accurately turned DoorDashs menu into tappable buttons, too, though it only works in English. Press 1 to continue in English appeared, though Para continuar en espanol, o prima dos did not, nor did the option to continue en Francais. The company has also integrated its translation engine into more parts of the Pixel 6, like Live Transcribe and the keyboard. You no longer have to use the app or search engine to translate what you need before copying and pasting it into a message. When I opened a conversation with our video producer Brian, the phone detected that he had written in German and asked if I wanted it to translate. Once I agreed, Brians message of ich liebe dich was replaced with I love you. As I typed out my reply, a separate text field appeared above the keyboard with my words in English being translated into Deutsch. This also worked with the new voice typing, although sometimes it reverted to the old speech keyboard (the microphone icon looks different in the latest version). Cherlynn Low / Engadget Only a few languages like German, Chinese (Simplified), Japanese, French, Hindi, Spanish, Portuguese, Polish, Russian and English are supported at this time. Most chat apps are compatible, too, like WhatsApp, Signal, Line, Twitter, Google Chat, Snapchat and Android Messages. Though, Instagram messages werent working when I tried it. Another area where translation is baked in is Live Captions, which provides subtitles for anything playing through your phones speakers. In general Googles interpretations still arent very accurate and sentences come off stilted. In Interpreter Mode, Brian and I had a conversation where I spoke Chinese and he spoke Korean and simply couldnt make sense of what the other was saying unless we told it to translate both languages to English instead. But its not like any other translation software is better. The phones Tensor chip handles all these things quickly, and since its all done on-device you can use the features without an internet connection. Lens in particular was very fast at identifying Korean characters on a book and correctly capitalizing the authors names. And, though it struggled with my handwritten Chinese characters, it was still fairly speedy at showing its English interpretation. There are a lot of little software updates throughout Android 12 that I dont have the time or space to go into here, but Ill quickly shout out new security features like the Anti-Malware and Phishing tool. When someone sends you a suspicious message in WhatsApp, Facebook or Instagram, Google will throw up a warning page like it does in Chrome, reminding you not to transmit sensitive information online to people who might not be who you think they are. It wont prevent these messages from reaching you, but its at least a reminder to be careful (and a great way to diss your friends). Theres also a new security hub that helps you identify what apps are using your personal data the most. Microsoft has shared more details about a recent cyberattack campaign orchestrated by the Russian state-sponsored group blamed for last year's devastating SolarWinds hack. The company's cybersecurity experts warned that Nobelium is once again trying to access government and corporate networks around the world, despite President Joe Biden sanctioning Russia over previous cyberattacks. According to Microsoft, the group is using the same strategy it employed in the successful SolarWinds attack targeting companies whose products form core parts of global IT systems. In this campaign, Microsoft says, Nobelium has focused on a different aspect of the IT supply chain, namely resellers and service suppliers that provide cloud services and other tech. The company says it has informed more than 140 providers and resellers that the group has targeted them. It believes Nobelium breached up to 14 of these companies' networks. However, Microsoft says it detected the campaign, which isn't related to the Sunburst attack on SolarWinds, in its early stages in May, which should help mitigate the fallout. Microsoft notes these hack attempts are part of a huge series of attacks conducted by Nobelium over the last few months. Between July 1st and October 19th, it told 609 of its customers that Nobelium had attempted to hack them on 22,868 occasions, with fewer than 10 successes. In the three years prior to July 1st, Microsoft told its customers about 20,500 attacks from all nation-state actors not just Nobelium. "This latest activity shares the hallmarks of Nobeliums compromise-one-to-compromise-many approach and use of a diverse and dynamic toolkit that includes sophisticated malware, password sprays, supply chain attacks, token theft, API abuse [and] spear phishing," Microsoft's security intelligence division wrote in a tweet. Nobelium has also been known as Cozy Bear and APT29. In 2020, hackers created a backdoor in a SolarWinds product called Orion, which was used by around 30,000 customers in the public and private sector. Nobelium is said to have carried out further hacks on the systems of nine US agencies and around 100 companies. Other hackers piggybacked onto the backdoor to facilitate their own attacks. The US sanctioned six Russian companies and 32 individuals and entities in April over alleged misconduct connected to the SolarWinds attack and attempts to interfere with the 2020 presidential election. "This recent activity is another indicator that Russia is trying to gain long-term, systematic access to a variety of points in the technology supply chain and establish a mechanism for surveilling now or in the future targets of interest to the Russian government," Tom Burt, Microsoft's corporate vice president of customer security and trust, wrote in a blog post. Monday, October 25, 2021 October 25, 2021 Not less than 2 weeks ago, an immense event happened. Perhaps you think that I am talking about the launch of the Blue Shepard developed by Jeff Bezos Blue Origin company. I am, in a way- and that would be true for many people- but for me is that the 90 year old William Shatner was launched into space. And, although I will be presenting that to you here- and some other points, I first want to let those who have not seen it, watch the full show. Of course, it is quite long- but you can watch part of it- or skip it entirely. Here it is as it was broadcast live on October 13,2021. [embedded content] BLUE ORIGIN: AMAZON-GRUNDER BEZOS SCHICKT CAPTAIN KIRK WILLIAM SHATNER INS ALL | WELT LIVE DABEI We now stand at the very beginning of the commercial spaceflight business- along with Elon Musks Space X, which led the way, followed by the Virgin enterprise magnate, Richard Branson with his Virgin Galactic company- and now with and the ever-enterprising Jeff Bezos, perhaps a little farther behind- but now on his second Blue Origin flight. If we didnt think latecomer Bezos couldnt compete- his choice of sending Shatner to space guaranteed him an exceptional and never forgotten legacy. Of course, none of these gentlemen are going to stand still. Space was super important for me as a child. And my earliest glimpse of a realistic manned flight to space was way before Star Trek based on a movie produced by George Pal called Destination Moon. Who says that science fiction hasnt served as a major inspiration for space? I listened to this record dozens of times, strapping in securely to my seat, preparing for launch while I listened. How much more so- concrete and inspired- were the magnificent Star Trek films when commanded by James Tiberias Kirk. [embedded content] DESTINATION MOON CHILDRENS RECORD Here is Chris Cuomo interviewing William Shatner after his profound journey into the netherworld of space. [embedded content] Hear why William Shatner is overwhelmed by sadness after space flight Despite our commendable efforts to get into Space, the reality of our home world is not so commendable. If we can, we would like to help you Earth-bound citizens to get your life back onto track. Here are a few details of the New Shepard spaceship, launched by Blue Origin. [embedded content] The New Shephard craft was based somewhat on the original design which launched Alan Shepard, when he became the first American in space in 1961. In 1971, he went about further, commanding the Apollo 14 mission and piloting the Lunar Modules, Antares and walking on the moon. The amazing thing about this spaceship is its autonomous navigation and control system and its very controlled landing which we have seen as such an amazing success in the last video. Prior to this last launch, here is a Wikimedia chronology of the last three civilian spaceflight launches. 30 May 2020 SpaceX successfully launches a Falcon 9 rocket carrying the Crew Demo space capsule during the Demo-2 mission, marking the first privately-developed crewed mission to orbit and to visit the ISS. 11 July 2021 Virgin Galactic successfully launches Richard Branson on a SpaceShipTwo to space, marking the first privately-developed crewed mission to space carrying a founder of a space company. 20 July 2021 Blue Origin successfully launches Jeff Bezos on a New Shepard rocket to space above the Karman Line, marking the first privately-developed crewed mission to space with a company founder to get above the Karman Line. For those of you who missed the first launch from Blue Origin, here is another long video. Make this your own personal Space Day if you wish. [embedded content] WATCH LIVE: AMAZON AND BLUE ORIGIN FOUNDER JEFF BEZOS LAUNCHES BLUE SHEPARD TO THE EDGE OF SPACE We can also help you design your website. [embedded content] Thanks for participating in this on-going adventure. Johnny Johnny Blue Star, CEO New Galaxy Enterprises, Inc. DISCLAIMER: In our New Galaxy Blogs, we share various types of videos for you to scrutinize. Unless we specifically say so, we do not necessarily agree with their content, in whole or in part. Sometimes, we will present written or audio/video material concerned with health or financial issues. We always recommend that before you try anything, you check with your medical or certified health professional before engaging in a health protocol- and with your best qualified financial advisor before embarking on any financial adventure, Author: Kevin G. Chapman ASIN : B09HT232BP Though Kevin G. Chapman's Perilous Gambit: A Mike Stoneman Thriller unfolds with a homicide of a U.S. Senator in Rapid City, South Dakota on December 22nd 2019, the action, predominantly that follows, is set in Las Vegas, Nevada. The opening scene has Senator Harlan Bushfield III driving home with his wife Loretta on a bitter winter night after attending a fundraiser. The SUV Harlan is driving has a flat tire. He telephones Triple-A for help. After a brief wait, a fellow with a thick black beard wearing a sizable down coat and a brown fur hat shows up. He tells Harlan to get out of the SUV and come with him to his tow truck. Harlan complies, and in the ensuing sequence of events, he is tasered from behind, paralyzing his nerves. The man yells out to Harlan, "you should have played ball." The van with a barely conscious Harlan pulls onto an isolated road and rides past the SUV, to Loretta's astonishment. We later learn that Harlan has been assassinated, and his body was spotted lying on ice under an overpass over Rapid Creek. Crimes of this variety don't crop up very regularly in Rapid City. Why did someone want Harlan dead? Loretta did recall that her husband was unusually fidgety and uneasy over the previous few weeks. She associated that to some upcoming votes in the senate. The scene shifts to New York on December 26th. We meet senior homicide detective Mike Stoneman of the Manhattan North Division, and his sweetheart, Dr. Michelle McNeill, the county medical examiner. We are also introduced to Michelle's best friend Rachel, who is about to wed Mike's friend and partner, Detective Jason Dickson. Michelle is terribly upset because she just found out that she is pregnant. She is worried that Jason will have an adverse reaction and also doesn't want to have the baby before she is wed. Michelle is relieved when Jason is thrilled that the couple will be having a baby and both agree that they run off and marry in Las Vegas instead of the big, lavish wedding they had planned. They invite Mike and Michelle to travel with them to Las Vegas. The narrative jumps back to Rapid City, where FBI agent Derek Dumm and his junior partner Chelsea Anne Shields are involved in struggling to solve the murder of Bushfield. Dumm communicates with his boss and informs him they have very few leads except for an embarrassing photo found on Bushfield's phone. Dumm is warned not to contact Bushfield's wife about the image, and he is to make certain that it will be kept a secret.\ The photo shows three showgirls with Bushfield in an embarrassing position. It suggests it was used to blackmail him, which Dumm surmises from the note attached to the message dispatched to Bushfield. Maybe whoever was trying to blackmail Bushfield was attempting to manipulate votes in Congress. What is this about? The FBI agents are at a loss when and where the photo was taken. They again are baffled as to the identity of the ladies in the picture. We later learn that two individuals in the image were two black drag performers and the other a pole dancer. The agents also don't know what legislation involving Bushfield would be of interest to the blackmailer. As the story further unfolds, Mike and Jason's superior is contacted by the FBI, requesting the support of the N.Y. police department in tracking down the individuals in the photo. Mike and Jason are presented with a picture of three women, dolled up like showgirls or Carnivale dancers with a "dude" whose identity is not divulged. They are told not to let anyone copy the photo or even bother with the identification of the "dude." Another character that Chapman throws into the plot is mobster Freddy Costanzo. The latter has set up his criminal activities in Las Vegas. Freddy is not thrilled that someone is blackmailing him to the tune of one-hundred -thousand- dollars. The blackmailer claims to have evidence of linking Freddy to the murder of Senator Harland Bushfield, and he said he would turn it over to the FBI. To add insult to injury, the initial undertaking by Freddy's Lieutenant, Rick "The Neck Garetti" and his two further attempts to grab the culprit are screwed up. We subsequently learn that one of the young women in the photo is a pole dancer who, sadly, is killed. Another member of the trio, a drag queen, is likewise killed, leaving one left. This person is the brother of Rachel, and he winds up being in considerable danger. Chapman takes us on a roller-coaster ride as he deftly weaves together an assassination of a U.S. senator, a photo of the senator in a compromising position, a detective who is about to be married in Las Vegas whose future brother-in-law is embroiled in the photo, extortion, two other murders, a mobster who is being blackmailed, and a corrupt Las Vegas detective. The narrative's pacing is outstanding, its tautly written plot is full of surprises. Clever characterizations are tailor made for an action-oriented audience. In the end, readers are left with a heart pounding nail-biter keeping you on the edge of your seats. FOLLOW HERE TO READ NORM'S INTERVIEW WITH KEVIN G. CHAPMAN San Antonio investment advisor Robert Jeffrey Mueller is facing possible criminal prosecution after securities regulators referred their civil fraud case to the U.S. attorneys office. In August, the Securities and Exchange Commission sued Mueller, 46, alleging he used money raised from investors as his own piggy bank to pay personal and business expenses including for a pinball manufacturer. Muellers lawyers appeared Monday at a federal court hearing conducted remotely seeking approval to use $87,000 held in an attorney trust account for his criminal defense. An SEC lawyer opposed the request, arguing the court should preclude Mueller from using money that might be subject to an asset freeze, given no criminal charges have yet been filed against him. On ExpressNews.com: SEC: San Antonio lawyer used investment funds as piggy bank to pay personal expenses, businesses Jay Hulings, an attorney for Mueller, said hed already met with the assistant U.S. attorneys handling the case. It is an investigation they are moving forward on, Hulings told U.S. District Judge Xavier Rodriguez. They may not have issued any subpoenas yet but I think we can assume those are probably coming. Rodriguez ruled Muellers defense lawyers can use $20,000 of the funds in the trust account through Feb. 4. The judge indicated he could revisit the issue at a later date. Hulings said he expected the SECs action will either be resolved or hell move to stay the case pending the outcome of the criminal investigation. In its lawsuit, the SEC alleged Mueller raised about $58 million from nearly 300 investors through his Deeproot Funds. Investors were told their funds would be invested in life insurance policies and Deeproot-related businesses to provide relatively safe returns, the complaint said. On ExpressNews.com: Puro Pinball Wizard Instead, the SEC said, Mueller spent more than $1.5 million of investors money to pay for his second and third weddings, engagement rings and wedding bands, a divorce, vacation cruises, his daughters private school tuition and a condo in Hawaii. Mueller and his Deeproot Funds funneled more than $30 million in investor funds to businesses he controlled, including Deeproot Pinball, the SEC said. The pinball company last year was developing its debut game, Retro Atomic Zombie Adventureland. Muellers lawyers have yet to answer the SECs complaint. But in court papers seeking the judges approval to use funds for his criminal defense and living expenses, they said he received a total of $1.6 million in salary and $1.5 million for expenditures from 2015 to 2020. In an allegedly $60 million fund, these payments amounted to a little more than 5% of the alleged fund value, Muellers lawyers said in a Sept. 29 filing. They added that Mueller expects to show that offering documents presented to investors disclosed that he would receive compensation and that the funds could use various percentages of investor funds to pay administrative expenses. SA Inc.: Get the best of business news sent directly to your inbox The offering documents also disclosed to investors that a portion of their funds would go to affiliated entities, including Deeproot Pinball. The pinball manufacturer was a real company, with a number of full-time employees, pinball parts and equipment with book values in the millions of dollars, intellectual property assets, and dozens of partially constructed pinball machines that were expected to retail for more than ten thousand dollars each, the court filing added. Meanwhile, the 16 Deeproot companies may be headed for Chapter 7 liquidation within the week, Hulings said. The companies ceased operations after the SECs complaint and no longer have any employees. All of their assets have been frozen. There are significant assets, potentially in the multiple millions maybe tens of millions within both the (insurance) policies and the equipment and some other assets of the companies, Hulings said during the hearing. With his companies no longer in business, Mueller who also is an attorney will have to find a job to help pay for his familys living expenses. His lawyers sought court approval to use $34,000 from his accounts to cover expenses. The judge allowed for Mueller to receive reasonable living expenses, but an exact amount wasnt specified during the hearing. Last month, Mueller received court approval to use up to $10,000 from certain accounts for living expenses. pdanner@express-news.net Michael S. Schwartz /Getty Images Art: Wayne Thiebaud 100 celebrates the acclaimed artists centennial with 100 paintings, prints and drawings. Thiebaud is known for his images of treats such as pie and ice cream cones. Opens Thursday. Through Jan. 16, McNay Art Museum, 6000 N. New Braunfels. $10 to $20; $10 during free-admission periods from 4 to 9 p.m. Thursdays and noon to 5 p.m. on the first Sunday of each month. Info, mcnayart.org. Stage: Teatro Audaz kicks off its 2021-22 season with Man of the Flesh, native San Antonian Octavio Solis contemporary spin on The Trickster of Seville, the first telling of the story of Don Juan. Holly Nanes directs. Opens Thursday. 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday and Nov. 1-2 and 2 p.m. Oct. 31, Cellar Theater, The Public Theater of San Antonio, 800 W. Ashby Place. $15 to $25, teatroaudaz.com. Express-News archives Spooky season is upon us. Its also not a bad time to hop on the bike. On Tuesday, the SATX Social Ride and Centro San Antonio will host the seventh annual Night Ride of the Living Dead" and diaper drive at Travis Park. The event is free and will take place from 6 to 10 p.m. A 64-year-old San Antonio man accused of stabbing another man to death was arrested Saturday and charged with murder, according to court documents. Juan Alvarado Becerra Jr. allegedly stabbed Roy Salinas Jr. 13 times on Sept. 23 at an Enrique Barrera Pik Nik gas station on the West Side during a confrontation, an arrest affidavit supporting Becerra's arrest stated. San Antonio police arrived at the gas station to find Salinas lying on the ground next to the ice machine with 13 stab wounds, the affidavit said. On ExpressNews.com: City of San Antonio's top earner: Ex-cop fired 7 times in 2 decades, accused of shooting at Tennessee deputy in July Salinas was rushed to the hospital but was pronounced dead shortly after. Police obtained video that shows a black Chevy truck with a Texas decal on the back windshield pull up to the gas pumps and Becerra get out of the passenger side of the vehicle and walk up to Salinas and "start something" with the victim, the court documents said. Becerra then pulls out a knife and stabs Salinas multiple times, the affidavit continues. Salinas collapsed and Becerra fled from the gas station on foot, according to the affidavit. Nearly a month after the stabbing, the driver of the Chevy told police that he drove Becerra to the gas station so Becerra could look for his truck that had allegedly been stolen earlier that day. He told police he did not know Becerra was going to stab Salinas, the affidavit said. On Saturday, Becerra turned himself in. He is being held on a $100,000 bail. taylor.pettaway@express-news.net SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) The assistant director who handed Alec Baldwin the gun that killed a cinematographer last week had been fired from a previous job after a gun went off on a set and wounded a member of the film crew, a producer said Monday. The disclosure emerged as producers of Baldwin's movie officially halted filming, and court records showed that investigators seized more than two dozen items from the set on the day after the shooting. In an email statement to The Associated Press, a producer for the movie Freedoms Path confirmed that Dave Halls was fired from the 2019 production after a crew member suffered a minor injury "when a gun was unexpectedly discharged. The producer, who asked not to be identified by name, wrote that Halls was removed from the set immediately." Production did not resume until Halls was gone. His firing from Freedoms Path was first reported by CNN. Halls has not returned phone calls and email messages seeking comment. Now Playing: A vigil was held in Burbank, California on Sunday for Halyna Hutchins, the cinematographer who was shot and killed with a prop gun in New Mexico. A camera operator told authorities that Alec Baldwin was careful with weapons before the incident. (Oct. 25) Video: Associated Press The producer is the second person to air doubts about Halls' safety record. On Sunday, another crew member who worked with Halls said she raised concerns about him in 2019. Maggie Goll, a prop maker and licensed pyrotechnician, said in a statement that she filed an internal complaint with the executive producers of Hulus Into the Dark series over Halls behavior. Goll said in a phone interview that Halls disregarded safety protocols for weapons and pyrotechnics and tried to continue filming after the supervising pyrotechnician, who was diabetic, lost consciousness on set. The fatal shooting and previous experiences point to larger safety issues, Goll said, adding that crew safety was a top issue in recent contract negotiations between a union that represents film and TV workers and a major producers group. This situation is not about Dave Halls. ... Its in no way one persons fault, she said. Its a bigger conversation about safety on set and what we are trying to achieve with that culture. In an email sent to Rust crew members over the weekend, the movie's production team confirmed that work on the Western has been suspended at least until the investigation is complete. The team said it is working with law enforcement and conducting its own internal safety review. The production company is also offering grief counseling. The email suggested that work on the film could resume at some point. Although our hearts are broken, and it is hard to see beyond the horizon, this is, at the moment, a pause rather than an end, the email read. The sheriff's investigation continued Monday, and new court documents showed that authorities seized three black revolvers, ammunition boxes, a fanny pack with ammunition, several spent casings, two leather gun belts with holsters, articles of clothing and swabs of what were believed to be blood. No charges have been filed. Prosecutors and law enforcement officers were expected to provide an update on the investigation Wednesday. Moments before the shooting, Baldwin was explaining how he was going to draw the revolver from his holster and where his arm would be positioned, court records show. The actor had been told that the gun was safe to use for the rehearsal of a scene in which he was supposed to pull out the weapon while sitting in a church pew and point it at the camera, the records said. Cameraman Reid Russell told a detective that he was unsure whether the weapon was checked before it was handed to Baldwin, and he did not know why the gun was fired. The camera was not rolling when the gun went off and killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, Russell told authorities, according a search warrant affidavit released Sunday. Authorities have said that Halls had handed the weapon to Baldwin and announced cold gun, indicating it was safe. When asked about how Baldwin treated firearms on the set, Russell said the actor was safe, citing a previous instance when Baldwin made sure a child actor was not near him when a gun was being discharged. The affidavit released Sunday also included statements by director Joel Souza, who was standing behind Hutchins and was wounded. It detailed the moments before the shooting and showed that there was turmoil on the set the day of the shooting. Several members of the camera crew walked off the production in a dispute over payment and lodging, Russell said, and he was left with a lot of work to do. Only one camera was available to shoot, and it had to be moved because the light had shifted and there was a shadow. Souza said he was focused on how the scene would appear on camera. He said he recalled hearing the phrase cold gun before the shooting, the affidavit said. He said the scene did not call for the use of live rounds. After a lunch break, Souza said he was not sure if the firearm had been checked again. Souza was looking over Hutchins' shoulder when he heard the gunshot, according to the affidavit. The films chief electrician, Serge Svetnoy, blamed producers for Hutchins death in an emotional Facebook post on Sunday. Svetnoy said he had worked with Hutchins on multiple films and faulted negligence and unprofessionalism among those handling weapons on the set. He said producers hired an inexperienced armorer. Baldwin, who is known for his roles in 30 Rock and The Hunt for Red October and his impression of former President Donald Trump on Saturday Night Live, has described the killing as a tragic accident. ___ Italie reported from New York. Associated Press writers Ryan Pearson in Los Angeles, Gillian Flaccus in Portland, Oregon, and Michelle Eaton in Newport Beach, California, contributed to this report. More than 1.3 million doses of the pediatric Pfizer COVID vaccine likely will head to Texas providers over the next few weeks, as federal health officials are expected to greenlight the shots for 5- to 11-year-olds within days. The state has started pre-ordering the shots, which will start to ship as soon as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration grants emergency use authorization for the vaccine. An advisory panel will meet Tuesday on the matter, with full consideration following shortly after. Advisers to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which makes additional recommendations on who should get the vaccine, are scheduled to meet Nov. 2 and 3. This new age group is a big factor just in helping us reduce the viral load across the state, said Imelda Garcia, the head of the states Expert Vaccine Allocation Panel. The emergency use authorization would add about 2.9 million Texans to the vaccine eligibility pool and comes as childrens COVID cases and hospitalizations have surged during the delta wave. The pediatric vaccine, like its adult companion, requires two shots for full immunization, though it contains just a fraction of the dosage. Pfizer said last week that its shots are more than 90 percent effective in children ages 5 to 11. The 1.3 million doses likely headed to Texas are not differentiated by first and second doses. Depending on demand, providers can request additional doses in the weeks after the emergency use authorization is granted. Just more than 1 million of those doses will be allocated directly to the states providers, including hospitals and pediatricians offices. Roughly 260,000 more will head to pharmacies, which have independent relationships with the federal government. More than 800 COVID vaccine providers in 120 counties will receive the doses in three shipment waves. The first includes about 440,000 doses that will ship within one to five days after the emergency use authorization is issued; the other orders will follow close behind. Garcia said the vaccines authorization will be another critical development in the fight to stop the spread of COVID-19. She plans to vaccinate her daughter. Its not only for my daughters health and safety, but vaccinating her also protects our extended loved ones, she said. The vaccine currently is available to Texans ages 12 and over. The Pfizer vaccine is the only one authorized for use in children under 18. As of Monday, more than 15.3 million Texans have been vaccinated fully nearly 64 percent of the states 12-and-over population. The historic Alamo Long Barrack officially reopens to visitors Friday after nearly three years of repairs and preservation work. It is the oldest remaining structure at the mission and battle site. The Long Barrack is one of the two surviving structures we have from the original mission era, Alamo Conservator Pamela Jary Rosser said. We performed assessments of the condition of the walls above and below grade and used state-of-the-art technology during our investigations. With the data we have now, a long-term preservation plan for this historic building is currently underway. Crews carefully removed the flagstone floor of the building and numbered bags of dirt that were excavated during archaeological investigations of the Long Barracks lower walls and foundation so everything could be put back in its location. Archaeologists have documented use of a north room of the rectangular Convento/Long Barrack as an early church of the Mission San Antonio de Valero from about 1728 to 1749, before the stone church was constructed. Preservation experts have found colored fragments of plaster, suggesting part of the Long Barrack might have been painted, as was the custom for mission worship spaces of the 1700s. On ExpressNews.com: Early mission-era artifact found in digs at Alamo Long Barrack Jerry Lara /Staff photographer The Long Barrack was built by Spanish craftsmen and Indigenous people living near the mission and was completed by the 1740s as a two-story convento, where Spanish friars lived and worked. Later, as part of a fort, the second floor housed the first hospital in Texas, dating to 1805. Heavy fighting occurred in and near the building during the early morning battle March 6, 1836. In early 2019, the 300-year old building was closed to visitors so the Alamos preservation team could assess the condition of the structure. They made repairs to the roof and cleaned exterior walls earlier this year. With the investigations concluded and the data under review, the Long Barrack will open for visitors again. New displays provide details about the Alamo hospital and its doctors and recent archaeological discoveries in and around the building, including pieces of red-, yellow-, black- and white-painted plaster found in the soil. We are thrilled that visitors will once again be able to learn about the 1836 battle inside the Long Barrack, Alamo Trust Executive Director Kate Rogers said. The Long Barrack is one of the most important historical artifacts in Texas, along with the Alamo Church experiencing it in person is a must for all Texans. On ExpressNews.com: Alamo has proven most successful mission in Texas, expert says After the battle, the U.S. Army remodeled the Long Barrack as the primary structure of a supply depot and converted the Alamo Church to a warehouse. Original portions of the Long Barracks west wall are believed to be the oldest remaining structures at the Alamo. While touring the Long Barrack, visitors can learn about the people who lived at the site, the buildings evolution over time and efforts in recent years to preserve it. A new archaeological exhibit will open there early next year to offer a deeper look into the approaches archaeologists took to studying the building and what they found out about its structural makeup and stability and the layers of history below the floor, Alamo officials said. Visitors will not need a timed ticket to see the Long Barrack, which is open to the public for free during regular operating hours, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily. To visit the Alamo Church, free timed-entry tickets can be reserved at theAlamo.org. shuddleston@express-news.net The citys most highly compensated employee last year was a police lieutenant who was fired seven times, repeatedly won back his job, agreed to retire in February 2020 and now faces charges that include aggravated kidnapping and attempted murder after he allegedly fired a gun at a sheriffs deputy in Tennessee. Former Lt. Lee Rakun received about $447,000 in total compensation in 2020, more than City Manager Erik Walsh, who earned about $440,620. Total compensation at the city can include base pay, medical benefits, accrued leave and incentives such as car and clothing allowances. Rakuns windfall was partly because of a settlement agreement with the city worth nearly $150,000. The payout followed two indefinite suspensions, tantamount to firings, handed down to the former lieutenant just days apart in June 2018. Rakun, 52, was hired in 1993. By the time he retired last year, he had weathered seven attempts to remove him from the Police Department, in part through his right to arbitration proceedings. Under state law, officers have the right to appeal firings to a qualified neutral arbitrator. There are no limits to an arbitrators authority to re-evaluate disciplinary decisions. On ExpressNews.com: Former SAPD officer charged with attempted murder after alleged shootout with deputies in Tennessee In one instance, Rakun was fired in 2010 after city officials said he lied during an internal affairs investigation into two alleged dating violence incidents. He fought the discipline and was reinstated a year later with back pay for all but 125 days. This is my last debacle, he told the San Antonio Express-News that year. It wasnt. /Tennessee Bureau of Investigation In 2012, Rakun was fired again, for allegedly spewing racist slurs at an off-duty constable working security at an Alamo Heights bar and restaurant. An arbitrator reduced that discipline to a 45-day suspension. The first of Rakuns two firings in 2018 was for a homophobic slur that city officials said he made on Facebook to describe a pair of shorts that Police Chief William McManus wore at a news conference. Days later, Rakun again was suspended indefinitely for allegedly leaving his substation in his personal car, not his patrol car, before his shift had ended. Rakun appealed both firings. With another arbitration hearing looming, the city agreed in 2019 to give Rakun nearly $150,000 in back pay and benefits if he would retire in February 2020. More than a year after his retirement, the former lieutenant found himself facing criminal charges in another state. On ExpressNews.com: Six times, a SAPD lieutenant has been fired. Will he get his job back again? On July 13, sheriffs deputies in Tennessee responding to a domestic disturbance call found two people fleeing on foot from a home. One of them had suffered a stab wound in a domestic assault, according to the Sevier County Sheriffs Office. Rakun, who was armed, fired a gun at a deputy but missed, said Sevier County Chief Deputy Jeff McCarter. The deputy returned fire, striking Rakun. The former lieutenant was hospitalized and later was booked on charges that include attempted first-degree murder, two counts of attempted second-degree murder, two counts of aggravated assault, two counts of aggravated kidnapping, leaving the scene of an accident, aggravated cruelty to animals and possession of a firearm during a felony, McCarter said. The animal cruelty charge was in connection with a dog that was shot, McCarter said. McCarter said Rakun was released from jail Sept. 2 on $500,000 bail roughly the same amount the city of San Antonio paid the former lieutenant last year. Second fired cop cashes in Another police officer with a checkered disciplinary record ranked 11th in total compensation last year. Officer Michael Garza was fired in 2012 after he fatally shot a man in the back. He earned nearly $311,900 last year, a figure that included a back pay settlement with the city worth $125,000. In 2012, while on duty, Garza was drinking alcohol and driving his girlfriend, Abigail Hernandez, in a city-owned vehicle from a bar to her apartment when her ex-boyfriend, Alfredo Aragon, began shooting at them, according to an internal police investigation. With Hernandez wounded in the passenger seat, Garza pursued Aragon to the ex-boyfriends Northwest Side home, where the officer fatally shot him in the back as the father of four tried to run inside, the investigation found. Four months later, McManus fired Garza. The chief also personally filed murder charges against the officer, but a grand jury declined to indict him. Garza appealed his termination. In 2015, an arbitrator reduced Garzas punishment to a 15-day suspension, returning him to the force, where he remains. Last year, Garza received back pay and benefits for a period of about three years. The payout catapulted him to the ranks of top earners at the city and just two spots below McManus. bchasnoff@express-news.net Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was the keynote speaker at the 41st annual "Night to Honor Israel" event at Cornerstone Church in the Stone Oak area on Sunday night. The event, which raises money for Israeli and Jewish charities, drew 6,000 people inside the church and as usual a few dozen protesters outside. During his speech, Pompeo called for the end of anti-Semitism. "It's because I am a champion of religious faith that I'm here today to tell you that the United States must stand with the Jewish people and Israel in the fight against this oldest bigotry, anti-Semitism," Pompeo said during his speech. The church's founder and senior pastor, John Hagee, also spoke during the event and said it is important that Christians "speak out in defense of the Jewish people." Outside of the church, there were two sets of protests. One was calling for the end of U.S. funds that are sent to Israel and then used for its military. The other was promoting anti-Semitic rhetoric. The two protests were not related. On ExpressNews.com: AG Paxton vows to sue the feds for any state agency defying Biden vaccine mandate Since 2014, the San Antonio chapter of Jewish Voice for Peace, or JVP, has led protests outside the church on the night of the event. Other groups joining JVP on Sunday were the Palestinian Youth Movement and the Palestine Solidarity Committee. These demonstrators stood at the corner of Stone Oak Parkway and N. Loop 1604 with signs that read "Israel occupies, USA pays," "Hagee preaches hate," and "Cornerstone promotes hate." "The Cornerstone Church plays a significant role in consolidating political support among Christian communities in the U.S. for this massive military package," a JVP flyer distributed at the protest said. The other group of less than 10 protesters displayed signs with anti-Semitic rhetoric written across them. GoyimTV, an anti-Semitic video platform, was written across one of the posters. Since 1981, Hagee Ministries has donated over $100 million to Israeli and Jewish organizations, according to a news release. On Sunday night, about $2.9 million was donated to charities providing medical, special needs and therapy services, as well as Zionist and religious education to people in Israel. The Houston Holocaust Museum also received a donation. Cornerstone Church has not responded to an Express-News request for comment. Malak.Silmi@express-news.net Facebook - DeWitt County Sheriffs Office DeWitt Countys sheriff was hospitalized Sunday for injuries received in a burn pit incident at his home, according to the department. The DeWitt County Sheriffs Office said on Facebook that Sheriff Carl Bowen was alert and receiving treatment for his injuries, though it did not disclose the extent of those injuries. Ken Branca /Contributor A man lost his leg and remains in critical condition after being hit by a train on the South Side late Sunday, San Antonio police said. The man was skateboarding on the sidewalk, heading south toward the train tracks in the 1800 block of South Presa Street, near Conrad Street, when he attempted to cross the tracks, San Antonio police said. For 30 minutes, a team of nearly a dozen doctors and nurses at Childrens Hospital San Antonio performed CPR, pushed oxygen and even placed intravenous lines directly into 11-month-old Xzavier Cortezs bones to try to revive him. But the childs condition never changed, an emergency room doctor testified Monday in the murder trial of Miguel Gutierrez. Gutierrez, 27, is accused in the beating death of Xzavier, whom he was babysitting along with the childs three siblings. Xzavier, found heavily bruised and unresponsive around 3:30 a.m. Nov. 3, 2017 at a West Side residence, arrived at the hospital around 4:02 a.m. and was received by a waiting trauma team. Dr. Tracy McCallin, now a pediatric emergency room physician at a Cleveland, Ohio, hospital, was the doctor in charge that night. She told the jury in 379th District Court that Xzaviers condition necessitated an all hands on deck approach, adding, He was flatlined on the heart monitor when he arrived. With no family there to provide a history of how the child got hurt, the team attempted everything to try and get him to start breathing and his heart beating, using intubation, chest compressions, and with IVs inserted into the childs tibia and femur to get epinephrine and other drugs directly into the childs bone marrow, she said. While life-saving efforts were being conducted, McCallin said they noticed bruising in the childs abdominal area. That was very concerning to us for injury or trauma, she testified. We dont normally see this type of bruising on a child who isnt yet walking. As the childs body temperature continued to drop, physicians applied a bear huggie blanket that emits warm air to bring his 95-degree temperature to a normal 98.6. They checked his breathing and stopped chest compressions just for seconds to see if the heart started on its own. They X-rayed the chest to make sure an intubation tube was in the right place. Still, no change. On ExpressNews.com: Somebody needs to do something!' - S.A. jury hears frantic 911 call for dying 11-month-old boy At 4:30 a.m., doctors did an ultrasound at Xzaviers bedside to check his heart activity. There was none. He was blue. Cool. Not responding, McCallin said. We had done all of our proven efforts medically. It was time to stop efforts. They called the time of death 4:32 a.m. Prosecutors Lauren Scott and Grant Bryan argued in opening statements Friday that Gutierrez, who was supposed to be watching Xzavier, wasnt even at the scene when EMTs arrived the night they were called to his home. He later was arrested. In the afternoon, jurors saw pictures and video taken at the residence in the hours after Xzavier was transported to the hospital. The images showed a cluttered entry way. A bedroom in disarray contained a child-size bed near a mattress and box spring that was on the floor without a bed frame, blood spatter on a wall and droplets on a blue blanket. Defense attorney John Economidy has argued the childs mother, Selena Gabrielle Moya, is responsible for the death because she asked Gutierrez to watch her children. She told authorities all the children were in good health when she left them in Gutierrezs care, an arrest warrant affidavit stated. Moya, 25, has been charged with child abandonment, a second-degree felony. Her case is pending in the same court. ezavala@express-news.net | Twitter: @elizabeth2863 As a month-long effort to raise awareness of domestic violence draws to a close, city leaders gathered to remind the public that work to combat the epidemic and help victims will continue. To that end, this years free, virtual Domestic Violence Awareness Symposium starts at 8:30 a.m. Thursday and continues Friday. The symposium features 17 sessions in family, community and public safety tracks, District 6 Councilwoman Melissa Cabello Havrda said, as well as opening remarks from Rosie Hidalgo McCabe, senior adviser for gender-based violence and special assistant to the president. According to the Texas Council on Family Violence, 228 people were killed in the state as a result of domestic violence last year. Of that number, 17 were from San Antonio, Mayor Ron Nirenberg said. Only 4 percent of those killed in San Antonio had reached out to a victim service organization. On ExpressNews.com: 'An epidemic': Bexar County's domestic violence deaths are at unprecedented levels, advocates warn Domestic violence rose everywhere in the United States last year, which is yet another grim reminder of the social conditions that were exacerbated during this pandemic, Nirenberg said. That our tragedy not is unique does not make it any less painful. Nirenberg said that 90 percent of people who flee abusive relationships also experience homelessness at least once, so helping them remain safe requires more than domestic violence-related services. It involves everything that we are doing as a city to increase our social safety net, he said. In 2020, the San Antonio police responded to more than 62,000 calls for violence, up 52 percent from 2019, Cabello Havrda said, calling it a community crisis. She said police have received 22,754 more calls for domestic violence this year than they did in 2019, and 18,770 more compared to 2020. City Manager Erik Walsh said City Council approved a $3.1 million in the budget to address domestic violence. That includes adding community advocates to the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District to augment the crisis response team and support police in areas where the city sees the most 911 calls for domestic violence. Walsh said there is also funding for case management to support survivors of long-term abuse. On ExpressNews.com: 'A long-haul commitment': San Antonio officials describe wins, challenges in plan to combat domestic violence District 3 Councilwoman Phyllis Viagran described the barriers facing many women in abusive relationship in terms of the reasons they often feel compelled to stay: How will I get to work? Its his car, What will happen to my children? and I dont have a job. The barrier for leaving is real, and its our job as a community to build safe bridges and let people know there is help, Viagran said. District 4 Councilwoman Adriana Rocha Garcia said abusers isolate their victims, so that when they are ready to leave, they have no where to turn. She encouraged people who see signs of abuse to be available. A text saying Im thinking of you can let a person living with abuse know that they are not alone, she said. A person who will not judge them, that is critical, Garcia said. Viagran encouraged anyone who is planning to leave an abusive relationship to contact the San Antonio police and the Metro Health Crisis Team. The citys domestic abuse hotline is 210-207-1878. The Family Violence Prevention Services hotline is 210-733-8810. The national domestic violence hotline at 1-800-799-7233 (SAFE). jbeltran@express-news.net San Antonio has grown by more than 100,000 residents over the last decade, leading some to consider whether the City Council should be expanded. Twenty years ago, city officials were so concerned about keeping up with the growth that then-Mayor Howard Peak worked with former state legislator Robert Puente to pass legislation allowing the city to expand without amending the city charter, which can only be done once every two years. The legislation lets the city increase the size of the council to 14. Puente, who is now the chief executive of the San Antonio Water System, said they ultimately decided the growth at the time didnt warrant an increase in districts. But over the years, San Antonio has remained one of the fastest growing cities in the country it grew by 8.1 percent over the last decade, mostly on the outer edges. It is ranked the seventh largest, slightly behind Philadelphia, which has 17 on its council 10 district representatives and seven at-large. Dallas, which is slightly smaller than San Antonio and ranked two below, has 14 council members. San Antonio is preparing to redraw its district boundaries through the redistricting process, and as the city districts are being analyzed, city leaders are asking when the council should be expanded and by how many. Typically, redistricting happens every 10 years, after the U.S. Census numbers are released, to ensure each council member represents roughly the same number of people. The council recently appointed an advisory committee that will be focused on redistricting maps for several months. The committee is expected to make a final recommendation to City Council in summer 2022 on the new boundaries. The first election using the new maps would take place in 2023. District 9 Councilman John Courage, representing the North Side, pointed out the city would need to go through the lengthy redistricting process twice over the next few years if the council did not expand now. (If) we decide in 2023 to hold an election for 12 districts, and we approve a 12-member council, then I presume we would go through this whole thing again after that election in 2023 to prepare for 2025? Courage asked city attorneys. On ExpressNews.com: Heres what you need to know as San Antonio begins to remake its City Council districts Though the legislation passed in 2001 would allow the city to add districts, city attorneys emphasized the need to amend the city charter. The city charter allows for 10 council members each representing a district and a mayor. It can only be updated by an election once every two years, and voters just approved changes in May. At a recent meeting, Iliana Castillo Daily, an assistant city attorney, said shes been asked several times if the city intends to add districts to the council through the redistricting process. But, she said, it will be several years before the city could possibly add to the council. Our charter has to change before that could happen. Then, the voters have to agree that thats a good idea, which would happen in 2023, and then, in 2025, wed be able to do it, Castillo Daily said. Courage would like to see 12 City Council districts, but he appears to be in the minority on the timeline. He doesnt think theres much interest among other council members in moving forward before the city charter has been amended. The way it was presented seemed to indicate that there was some doubt by the City Attorneys Office about whether we could or should expand under the states law, Courage said. Legal grounds Michael Ariens, law professor at St. Marys University, said it seems the state legislation is a way to get around the city charter and increase the number of districts without voter input. Ariens spoke generally after reviewing the 2001 state law and said he couldnt speak specifically on the topic of home rule in Texas or what a city can do to govern itself under its own charter. There are pros and cons to choosing a City Council expansion through either option. For example, if the city moves forward with the charter revision as planned, officials could add as many council districts they think are necessary to accommodate the citys population growth now and decades into the future. On the other hand, if the city follows the route laid out by the 2001 law and expands the districts now, it can only have up to 14 districts. The charter change would not be bound by this particular law, Ariens said. If the city maintains its current number of 10 districts, the ideal size is 143,378 residents each. Thats similar to a mid-sized city, Ariens said. Thats tough to connect with all those folks in your district even if youre trying really hard to do so, he said. On the other hand, if you go to 20 people on council, as opposed to 10, it can be more difficult to govern, Ariens said, simply because if everyone wants to speak on an issue, you now have twice the amount of time you want to spend on that. When asked about the 2001 state law, city spokeswoman Laura Mayes said San Antonio plans to move forward as planned without adding districts. The decision of whether to increase the number of council districts is of great significance and will be given the careful consideration it deserves by the City of San Antonios Charter Review Commission and, ultimately, the voters, Mayes wrote in a statement. There are different possible interpretations of the law, said City Attorney Andrew Segovia, and another reading could be that the city still has an obligation to abide by its charter. Mayor Ron Nirenberg is open to expanding City Council in the future, but he said the city must be thorough in its process and not move to add districts right now. City Councils size involves the voters direct relationship with city government, and San Antonians deserve to be consulted, Nirenberg wrote in a statement. I believe voters should make the decision. The city charter is our essential governing guide, and the people should be consulted if we want to make changes. Phyllis Viagran, representing District 3 on the South Side, agreed with Nirenberg on letting voters decide the issue, and Councilman Clayton Perry, who represents growing District 10 on San Antonios Northeast Side, doesnt think the city needs to expand just yet. Theres really not an urgent need to add members now, Perry wrote in a statement. He said the issue can be addressed through a charter change in the future. Perry also questioned the value of adding new council members compared with the expense of new city employees and offices. Diverse representation Adding more council districts could ensure more quality and equitable representation for residents of a growing city, said Sharon Navarro, professor of political science at the University of Texas at San Antonio. City Council determines everything from annual budgets to federal COVID-19 relief spending to five-year bond funding and more. A more diverse City Council that reflects its citizens gives residents better access to influence how that money is spent in their district, Navarro said. You want the population to feel like they have a legitimate voice, she said. If they see someone that looks like them, its a matter of having someone representative. San Antonio is doing all right with its current diversity on City Council, in terms of reflecting the makeup of the city, Navarro said. City Council is about 50 percent female. Councilman Jalen McKee-Rodriguez, representing District 2 on the East Side, is keeping tabs on how additional districts might impact whats traditionally been a Black seat on City Council. Right now the historically Black seat is one out of 10, McKee-Rodriguez said. If we were to add two more districts that did not have a significant Black population, then likely the historically Black seat would be one out of 12 or one out of 11. No one is more impacted by redistricting than the residents he represents, McKee-Rodriguez later said. Whatever route the council takes, he wants to make sure the city can maintain a historically Black City Council seat, and that the Black vote in San Antonio isnt diluted in a way that would violate the Voting Rights Act. He also isnt sure the citys growth warrants new districts just yet and said it would be fine to stay at 10 districts if the council chooses to do so. He first wants his district residents to weigh in. Melissa Cabello Havrda, who represents District 6 on the citys far West Side, didnt commit to expanding or maintaining the number of council districts, but said the discussion was inevitable. Im open to any change that supports the spirit of equal representation, she said in a statement. I would first want clarity from the City Attorney regarding effects and consequences of moving ahead now as opposed to waiting for a charter amendment. This is a question that neither I nor, Im sure, any of my Council colleagues take lightly. megan.stringer@express-news.net A family is suing Torchys Tacos after a child became ill weeks after eating at the chain's Sonterra Place location in San Antonio, according to court documents. The boy was rushed to a local pediatric intensive care unit for sepsis, organ failure and pneumonia treatments linked to a salmonella outbreak in onions that affected 37 states, the court documents say. Texas alone has reported almost 160 cases of salmonella. On ExpressNews.com: City of San Antonio's top earner: Ex-cop fired 7 times in 2 decades, accused of shooting at Tennessee deputy in July The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has linked the outbreak to fresh whole red, white, and yellow onions imported from Chihuahua, Mexico. The onions were sold to American restaurants and grocery stores ending on Aug. 31. Ching-yi Ortizd filed the lawsuit in Bexar County Court on behalf of her underaged son who is listed as A.O. in court filings. She is suing Torchys parent company Success Foods Management Group LLC and food distributor ProSource Produce LLC. Ortiz is represented by Marler Clark and the Hill Law Firm of San Antonio. The lawsuit is seeking over $200,000 in damages to cover the familys medical bills and to compensate the minor for pain and suffering. On ExpressNews.com: Two dead after collision outside a Northwest Side Whataburger, police say The family reportedly ate dinner at Torchys Tacos on 18210 Sonterra Pl. in San Antonio in late August, according to the lawsuit. A week after visiting the restaurant, on Aug. 27, the child began to experience exhaustion and a headache, the lawsuit said. When his symptoms grew worse over the next week, he was taken to the emergency room on Sept. 3. However, he did not receive a diagnosis. On Sept. 7, the child was in such intense pain he could not walk or sit up, and he was taken to the Methodist Childrens Hospital where he received treatment for complications from his Salmonella Oranienburg infection in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, the lawsuit said. On ExpressNews.com: 64-year-old accused of stabbing man 13 times outside of West Side gas station The lawsuit says the boys infection caused sepsis, organ failure, pneumonia and extreme pain when it reached the bones around his sacroiliac joint. He continues to be treated daily with long term IV antibiotics for salmonella, which was found in his blood, urine and stool, according to the lawsuit. The lawsuit says Torchys sold a defective and dangerous product. At the time the food product left control of (Torchys Tacos), it was defective and unreasonably dangerous in that it was not adequately manufactured or marketed to minimize the risk of injury or death, the lawsuit said. Amanda Whitlock, the senior account supervisor for Edible Inc., said in an email that the company had first heard of the claim after the family filed the lawsuit. "At Torchys, our number one priority is providing safe and delicious food to our guests," Whitlock said. "We take this claim very seriously and have retained nationally respected food safety experts to track our food supply in August to see if they can find a connection between food we served then and this claim." Whitlock said the Sonterra location has "a uniform record of excellent health inspection scores." That includes a 100-acore routine inspection from the city of San Antonio Metropolitan Health District as recently as Oct. 8. She added: "Our thoughts are with this guest and his family and we hope for continued recovery." Timothy.Fanning@express-news.net. Dia de los Muertos was in full swing last weekend, more than a week ahead of the official Mexican holiday observed Nov. 1-2. San Antonians were eager to participate in whats an ancient Mesoamerican tradition that honors the dead, some of whom left us way too soon. Its a poignant time for such remembrances more than 18 months into a devastating pandemic that has claimed more than 736,000 people in the United States alone. Over the last decade, such events have mushroomed, growing more elaborate and colorful each year. It says so much about its breadth and beauty. That embrace may be especially evident in an old city like ours thats predominantly Mexican American, thus descendants of many indigenous groups in the Americas, including the Aztecs to whom the tradition is linked. Pixars 2017 film, Coco, may have something to do with the holidays popularity, too. But as Day of the Dead is culturally appropriated and commercialized, theres also the danger its misunderstood, contrived and even plundered. So, with these celebrations comes an obligation to learn more about the holidays significance and observe it with some reverence. Cultural leaders like San Antonio scholar Ellen Riojas Clark have been at work on that task. This year she has teamed up with chef Johnny Hernandez, founder of La Gloria, Fruteria and Burgerteca restaurants. For several years, he has tapped artisans in Michoacan, Mexico, to produce items commonly used on altars. He has had them assembled into altar kits available at his restaurants for $20 each, at cost, he said. Hes donating several hundred of them to area schoolteachers. The kit includes a QR code that downloads a student presentation. This week, Riojas Clark also will conduct workshops to better equip teachers to present Day of the Deads history and significance. Most importantly, she doesnt want anyone to confuse or intermingle the tradition with Halloween. The kits come in a cardboard box that looks like a suitcase, alluding to the muertos annual journey to the world of the living. Hernandez also produced a video about the artisans, who are shown making the altar items. Each symbolizes an element. Now Playing: San Antonio chef Johnny Hernandez worked with a team of artisans in Michoacan, Mexico, to produce Dia de los Muertos altar kits, several hundred of which hes donating to area schools. Video: San Antonio Express-News Papel picado represents air. Candles are a symbol of fire. A piece of pan de muerto, a mold made of clay, symbolizes earth and nourishment. Small clay vessels can hold water and salt. Marigold paper flowers represent the pungent cempasuchil flower traditionally used on the holiday. Theyre paired with two sticks of copal incense. The kit also includes a colorful frame for a loved ones image. The video tells us that altars bring the living and the dead together in a dimension that allows us to coexist. So much more can be added, including favorite objects that belonged to a loved one: a compact still containing pressed power, a pair of cuff links, a bottle of that persons favorite beer. These offerings are placed on a table or any other surface with at least two levels that symbolize heaven and earth. Some altars have far more levels. Your altar is all your own. For me, the most moving altars are those that remain up year-round and center on an image of the Virgen de Guadalupe alongside rosaries the departed once used. Its no wonder that in 2008, Hernandezs video notes, this magical tradition of Dia de los Muertos was inscribed (by UNESCO) on the list of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity. Other cultures have similar traditions that are part of their spiritual and socio-cultural traditions, Riojas Clark said. For Mexicans and other Central Americans as well as Mexican Americans and other Latinos Day of the Dead also represents an attitude, an acceptance that death is part of life, a continuum and natural cycle. The ancient tradition was incorporated by the Catholic Church, falling on Nov. 1, All Saints Day, in which children are remembered; and Nov. 2, All Souls Day honoring adults whove died. Its not solely a Catholic tradition, however, crossing into other faith traditions and into the secular world. Its part of the human condition to remember and respect those whove left us and find a way for the living to intermingle with their dead. This year we have so many more people to remember. We must remember, too, that others are fighting the coronavirus in hospitals and at home; and others are burying their loved ones today. For them, we pray. eayala@express-news.net Re: Greenway funding plan under attack, Editorial, Thursday: My family and I love the greenway trails, and we frequent them often. San Antonio clearly loves the Howard W. Peak Greenway Trails System. The trails provide an outdoor option in the midst of the pandemic. I fully support investing in them, but with $6.6 billion worth of infrastructure needs identified in the city, I believe those take precedence. This isnt an attack on the trails; its a plea for further discussion. Our commitment to the trails will be upheld. The question is, how much can we afford at this moment? In the past, city staff brought bond proposals to the City Council months in advance. Council members had an opportunity to study, deliberate with community members and have a civil conversation on their objections, if any. That was not the case this time. The first time council members were presented the 2022 bond proposal was at B session on Oct. 13, only a short time before it would go to citizen-led committees. There was little built-in allocation for district priorities, which left no wiggle room to add essential projects without cutting from others. On ExpressNews.com: Brodesky: To slash greenway funding is to betray voters When we understandably had recommendations to the proposal, they were not seriously regarded. These are not pet projects that we are suggesting. These are drainage projects for neighborhoods that are literally being flooded and for streets that become seriously dangerous with heavy rain. (City staff also assesses we have $3.1 billion worth of drainage needs.) These are infrastructure improvements that would fix failing streets. At this point, nothing is non-negotiable. It shouldnt take a special memo for our voices to be heard. If we allocate $50 million in the bond for greenway trails instead of $126 million, plus an anticipated $25 million in federal funds, as well as Bexar Countys commitment of $83.5 million and the $10 million left from sales tax proceeds, that would be more than $168 million committed to the trails in coming years. This would free up $76 million to be better allocated for infrastructure needs. A small drop in the $1.2 billion bond bucket, but an amount that could prevent homes from being inundated with water. Im also concerned we may not have the capacity to build $126 million worth of trailways over the next five years given the nations workforce shortage and raw materials shortage, and the massive infrastructure package making its way through Congress. Further discussion may reveal other ways to free up funding, which would be fine with me. These are the conversations that should have taken place well in advance of the Oct. 13 B session meeting. Thats the heart of the problem for me. I dont think any council member appreciates the lack of opportunity to deliberate earlier. There are great things in this bond to be excited about. Im proud of the dedication to the greenway trails. On ExpressNews.com: Your guide to San Antonio's Howard W. Peak Greenway Trails System hike and bike trails - all 84 miles of them I am not here to be a rubber stamp or one-dimensional. That would be myopic. We are elected to be the voice for our residents. In my case, neighborhoods like Kentwood Manor and Oak Haven Heights are pleading for funding to mitigate flooding issues that have lingered for decades. If I dont fight for them, then I shouldnt be on the dais. The 2022 bond still has a long way to go before it is presented to voters in May. I have been meeting with a large focus group of residents from all parts of District 9 for more than three months. As it stands, no funding has been identified for critical projects since being crowded out by other transformational projects. Drainage isnt sexy, its necessary. Checks and balances. Give and take. Compromise. We cant fund everything we want, but we should fund what we need. City Councilman John Courage represents District 9. In the battle to preserve democracy, Senate Republicans have failed to fire a single shot. This intransigence is not the result of passivity; it is a willful attempt to compromise, for their own benefit, what is perhaps our most precious right the vote. In a replay of previous conflicts during the last two election cycles, Republicans recently blocked a bill to make voting easier, including measures such as simplifying the registration process. Known as the Freedom to Vote Act, the bill would also allow all voters to request mail-in ballots while ensuring that every state hold early voting for federal elections. The vote, along party lines, was 49-51, short of the 60 required to advance debate on the bill. The latest umpteenth iteration is only a compromise in the sense that the left and the far left argued among themselves about exactly how much power to grab and in which areas, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said. As long as Senate Democrats remain fixated on their radical agenda, this body will continue to do the job the framers assigned it and stop terrible ideas in their tracks. It was not a power grab; it was an attempt to place the power where it belongs in the hands of the voters. Only in an era when political warfare has overwhelmed diplomacy could a Senate leader describe a voter protection bill as a terrible idea. The real losers, however, are the poor and people of color, who face greater obstacles to voting; it is no coincidence that those demographics generally favor Democrats. The United States Senate needs to act to protect the sacred constitutional right to vote, which is under unrelenting assault by proponents of the Big Lie and Republican Governors, Secretaries of State, Attorneys General, and state legislatures across the nation, President Joe Biden said in a statement. Following the dastardly falsehood that fraud tainted the 2020 presidential election, Democrats drafted the bill to counter draconian measures that Republican-controlled states through the country, including Texas, have recently passed. In September, Gov. Greg Abbott signed into law SB 1, which limited the ability of counties to expand voter options, including mail-in ballots and ballot drop boxes. Repeated in state after state, the measure is a boon for Republicans and a blow for democracy, a more subtle and refined version of the Jim Crow laws that blocked Black voters in the South before the landmark civil rights legislation of 1964 and Voting Rights Act of 1965. If nothing is done, these laws will make it harder for millions of Americans to participate in their government, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said. There may be other attempts to revive the bill, but unless something shifts with two key Democrats, Sens. Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona and Joe Manchin of West Virginia, who support the filibuster, there is no path forward. Every Democratic Senator who votes in favor of this bill but wont support getting rid of the filibuster, is engaging in performative politics, and is content with the GOPs complete assault on our democracy, Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. John Fetterman, a Senate Democratic candidate, said in a statement. The assault comes on different battlefronts. A civil rights group, composed of individuals and organizations, recently filed a federal lawsuit to challenge redistricting maps proposed by the Texas Legislature. The suit, filed in El Paso, claims the maps deny Latinos greater influence at the polls, even though 95 percent of the 4 million new residents in the state are people of color, according to census figures. The new redistricting plans are an unlawful attempt to thwart the changing Texas electorate and should be struck down, Nina Perales, the vice president of litigation for MALDEF, or the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund, said in a statement. In 2011, ruling on a similar lawsuit, a federal court found lawmakers discriminated against people of color by diluting their strength in voting districts. Civil rights groups hope for a similar outcome this time around. Every voter, regardless of party affiliation, should join them in that hope. This is not about Republicans or Democrats. It is about Americans. When voting rights are undermined, we are all victims. Gov. Greg Abbott is getting increasing pressure from the political right to call yet another special session of the Texas Legislature to stop private businesses from requiring employees to get vaccinated against COVID-19. Over the weekend, the Texas Republican Party chairman Matt Rinaldi sent a letter to Abbott formally calling for another special session to address the issue. That came just days after Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, also a Republican, said Abbott should call another one to address other conservative priorities lawmakers never did pass. The Texas Constitution allows only the governor to call a special session. Abbott has no plans to call another special session at this point. Abbott spokeswoman Renae Eze ticked off a list of GOP accomplishments during the latest special session, including property tax relief proposals and the redistricting of the congressional and legislative districts in Texas. Because of the Texas House and Senates efforts to get these priorities across the finish line, there is no need for another special session at this time, she said Monday. Earlier this month, Abbott issued an executive order banning private businesses from having vaccine mandates in Texas. That came after the Biden administration announced in September that employers with 100 or more employees would be required to mandate vaccines. But Republicans say private businesses are not following Abbotts order, and he needs to force the Legislature to come back and pass a law to prevent the mandates. Rinaldi called Abbotts executive order a stop-gap to protect vulnerable Texans, but it alone is simply not enough. We look forward to your swift and decisive action in defense of the citizens of Texas, and we look forward to a Fourth Special Session! Rinaldi said in his letter to Abbott, which was signed by dozens of other members of the state party. Abbott put the issue on the agenda earlier this month for the Legislature to take up during its third special session. But that ended last week without lawmakers passing anything related to vaccine mandates. The push for another special session comes as Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is getting attention in conservative media circles for calling a special session there to ban mandates. DeSantis has not said when that special session will be. Some of Abbotts GOP primary opponents are seizing on DeSantis call to push Abbott to respond in kind. Former State Sen. Don Huffines, a Dallas Republican, lauded DeSantis for calling a special session and said Abbott should do the same. Now is the time for him to prove that he means it, Huffines said about Abbotts opposition to vaccine mandates. If Abbott were to call another special session, it would be the fourth of the year tying the record for most special sessions in one year. Gov. Bill Clements called four special sessions in 1990. Other governors have called four or more sessions but split them over two years. The Slovenian Ministry for Economic Development and Technology has turned down several offers by airlines to either establish the countrys new national carrier or station aircraft in Ljubljana. According to the Sierra5 portal, talks have been held with the Lufthansa-owned Air Dolomiti, low cost carrier Wizz Air, Slovenian cargo airline Solinair and the French Valljet. Recently, a carrier from the Middle East also expressed interest in establishing a new Slovenian operation. All of the meetings were of an informative and presentational nature, in a way that would not cause or have any financial consequences for the ministry or the state of Slovenia, the Ministry said. It added, We received offers and proposals throughout last year and mostly during the first half of this year, just prior to Slovenias presidency of the Council of the EU, as well as during the first months of the presidency. We examined all of the submitted proposals and responded to them. They varied widely, from planned destination networks, the number of frequencies for each destination, as well as aircraft types for the new airline. The Slovenian Ministry for Economic Development and Technology has turned down several offers by airlines to either establish the countrys new national carrier or station aircraft in Ljubljana. According to the Sierra5 portal, talks have been held with the Lufthansa-owned Air Dolomiti, low cost carrier Wizz Air, Slovenian cargo airline Solinair and the French Valljet. Recently, a carrier from the Middle East also expressed interest in establishing a new Slovenian operation. All of the meetings were of an informative and presentational nature, in a way that would not cause or have any financial consequences for the ministry or the state of Slovenia, the Ministry said. It added, We received offers and proposals throughout last year and mostly during the first half of this year, just prior to Slovenias presidency of the Council of the EU, as well as during the first months of the presidency. We examined all of the submitted proposals and responded to them. They varied widely, from planned destination networks, the number of frequencies for each destination, as well as aircraft types for the new airline. The Ministry said it has not accepted a single offer. We are still seeking the most favourable solution that would cover the needs of Slovenian passengers, as well as meet the requirements set out by the European Commission for the establishment of a new airline, which would have to involve a private investor, or several private investors, a sustainable business model etc., the Ministry said. Croatia Airlines is also believed to have submitted an offer to establish a base in the Slovenian capital. Talks over improving the countrys connectivity had also taken place with the likes of LOT Polish Airlines, Air Serbia, as well as the former President and CEO of the Etihad Aviation Group, James Hogan, who today heads a consultancy company. The Slovenian Deputy Prime Minister and the Minister for Economic Development and Technology, Zdravko Pocivalsek, said this August that the government was still looking into ways to fill the void left by the collapse of Adria Airways in September 2019. If we want to have better air connectivity in Slovenia, we will have to do something in this sector and find a way forward to enable progress, in cooperation with a private stakeholder. Currently, we do not have a national carrier, and air traffic is severely affected by the pandemic, Mr Pocivalsek said. BOISE, Idaho (AP) A suspect is in custody after two people were killed and four injured including a police officer in a shooting at a shopping mall Monday in Boise, Idaho, police said. At a news conference, authorities said officers exchanged gunfire with the suspect. Police on Monday evening said in a news release that the suspect was in critical condition at a hospital and that the officer who was hurt had been treated and released. Police haven't released any other information about the victims, officer or the suspect. The mall had been secured by Monday evening, and police said it would remain closed as the investigation continues. Boise Police Chief Ryan Lee said the shooting was reported to law enforcement about 1:50 p.m. on Monday including a report that one person was shot and down at that time. When the officers arrived, they spotted someone who matched the description of the suspect. There was an exchange of gunfire that ensued shortly thereafter, resulting in the officer's injury, as well as the suspect being taken into custody, Lee said. He said investigators believe there was only one shooter, and there is no ongoing danger to the public. We really cannot at this time speak to any motivation behind it, Lee said, calling any speculation premature. I cannot stress enough how traumatic this event is for the community at large, as well as for those that were witnesses, or are the families of those involved or involved themselves, Lee said. After the shooting, several witnesses stood in the rain outside the entrance to Macys one of five large department stores at the mall waiting to be interviewed by police or told they could leave. Patrol cars from several agencies, ambulances and fire trucks filled a section of the mall parking lot. Officers from the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were assisting in the investigation. About a quarter of a mile away, officers closed part of a road near a busy intersection so they could investigate a second crime scene related to the shooting incident. Officers at the second crime scene declined to answer questions about the investigation other than to confirm it was related to the shooting investigation. Cheri Gypin, of Boise, was in the mall with a friend where they walk for an hour three or four times a week. She said she heard several large bangs, but thought something had fallen from the ceiling. Then about 60 people, including families pushing strollers, came running at them, some of them shouting that there was an active shooter. My friend was trying to process it, said Gypin, 60. I just looked at her and said, Weve got to run. So we just ran and kept running until we got to the outer perimeter of the parking lot. They made their way back to their car, where police told the crowd of people who had fled the mall to leave the parking area. Investigators were working with hospital officials to notify family members of those injured and killed in the shooting, Lee said. The shooting between between the suspect and officer will be investigated separately by the Critical Incident Task Force led by the Meridian Police Department, police said Monday evening. Boise Mayor Lauren McLean asked members of the public and the news media to give the victims and their families privacy as they deal with the trauma of the shooting. She thanked the law enforcement officers, first responders and others she said worked to keep the community safe. Countless people found themselves in a situation they never would have or should have expected, McLean said, lauding the shopkeepers and others in the mall for reacting so quickly to take care of folks that were there. You showed in a tough and chaotic moment how much you care and what you're willing to do to support and care for strangers. ___ This story has been updated to correct that four people were injured, not six, as previously reported by police. CAIRO (AP) Sudans military seized power Monday, dissolving the transitional government hours after troops arrested the prime minister, and thousands flooded the streets to protest the coup that threatened the countrys shaky progress toward democracy. Security forces opened fire on some of them, and three protesters were killed, according to the Sudan Doctors Committee, which also said 80 people were wounded. The takeover, which drew condemnation from the United Nations, the United States and the European Union, comes more than two years after protesters forced the ouster of longtime autocrat Omar al-Bashir and just weeks before the military was supposed to hand the leadership of the council that runs the country over to civilians. The U.N. Security Council scheduled an emergency closed meeting on the Sudan coup late Tuesday afternoon. The United States, United Kingdom, France, Ireland, Norway and Estonia requested the emergency consultations.. After the early morning arrests of Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok and other senior officials, thousands demonstrated in the streets of the capital, Khartoum, and its twin city of Omdurman. They blocked streets and set fire to tires as security forces used tear gas to disperse them. As plumes of smoke rose, protesters could be heard chanting, The people are stronger, stronger! and Retreat is not an option! Social media video showed crowds crossing bridges over the Nile to the center of the capital. The U.S. Embassy warned that troops were blocking parts of the city and urged the military to immediately cease violence. Pro-democracy activist Dura Gambo said paramilitary forces chased protesters through some Khartoum neighborhoods. Records from a Khartoum hospital obtained by The Associated Press showed some people admitted with gunshot wounds. The head of the military, Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan, announced on national TV that he was dissolving the government and the Sovereign Council, a joint military and civilian body created soon after al-Bashirs ouster to run the country. Burhan said quarrels among political factions prompted the military intervention. Tensions have been rising for weeks over the course and the pace of the transition to democracy in Sudan, a nation in Africa linked by language and culture to the Arab world. The general declared a state of emergency and said the military will appoint a technocratic government to lead the country to elections, set for July 2023. But he made clear the military will remain in charge. The Armed Forces will continue completing the democratic transition until the handover of the countrys leadership to a civilian, elected government, he said. He added that the constitution would be rewritten and a legislative body would be formed with the participation of young men and women who made this revolution. The Information Ministry, still loyal to the dissolved government, called his speech an announcement of a seizure of power by military coup. As darkness fell in Khartoum, barricades were still burning and occasional gunshots could be heard, said Volker Perthes, the U.N. special envoy for Sudan, at a briefing in New York. President Joe Biden was briefed on Sudan in the morning, said White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre. She added that the U.S. was deeply alarmed at reports of a military takeover" and called for the immediate release of the prime minister and other officials. The actions today are in stark opposition to the will of the Sudanese people and their aspirations for peace, liberty and justice, Jean-Pierre said. The Biden administration is suspending $700 million in emergency economic aid to Sudan that had been allocated to help the transition, said State Department spokesman Ned Price. He called it a pause, and urged the civilian-led government be immediately restored. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres strongly condemns the ongoing military coup detat in Khartoum and all actions that could jeopardize Sudans political transition and stability, said his spokesman, spokesman Stephane Dujarric. Guterres also called for the release of the government officials, the spokesman said, as did the African Union. EU foreign affairs chief Joseph Borrell tweeted that he was following the events with the utmost concern. Michelle Bachelet, the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, warned that Sudan could slip backward, urging the military to free the officials, withdraw from the streets and settle differences with the transitional government through dialogue. Since al-Bashir, who remains in prison, was forced from power, Sudan has tried to rid itself of the international pariah status it held under the autocrat. The country was removed from the U.S. list of state supporters of terrorism in 2020, opening the way for badly needed foreign loans and investment. But Sudan has struggled with the shock of a number economic reforms called for by international lending institutions. In recent weeks, there have been concerns the military might be planning a takeover, and in fact there was a failed coup attempt in September. Tensions only rose from there, as the country fractured along old lines, with more conservative Islamists who want a military government pitted against those who toppled al-Bashir in protests. In recent days, both camps have staged demonstrations. Amid the standoff, the generals have called repeatedly for dissolving Hamdok's transitional government and Burhan, who leads the ruling Sovereign Council, said frequently the military would only relinquish power to an elected government, an indication the generals might not stick to the plan to hand leadership of the body to a civilian sometime in November. The council is the ultimate decision-maker, though the Hamdok government is tasked with running Sudans day-to-day affairs. As part of efforts to resolve the crisis, Jeffrey Feltman, the U.S. special envoy to the Horn of Africa, met with Sudanese officials over the weekend, and a senior Sudanese military official said he tried unsuccessfully to get the generals to stick to the agreed plan. The arrests began a few hours later, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to brief media. The official said the prime minister and the others were being detained in a military camp outside Khartoum. Perthes said he and Feltman, in parallel meetings with political and military leaders in recent weeks, had tried to urge a return to dialogue and against a coup, which he said would squander the achievements of the first two years of the transition. State Department spokesman Price said Feltman warned Burhan and others that any unconstitutional changes in the government would have consequences. The military has been emboldened in its dispute with civilian leaders by the support of tribal protesters, who blocked the countrys main Red Sea port for weeks. The two most senior military officials, Burhan and his deputy Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, also have close ties with Egypt and the wealthy Gulf nations of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. The first reports of a possible military takeover emerged before dawn, and the Information Ministry later confirmed them, saying Hamdok and several senior government figures had been arrested. Internet access was widely disrupted and the state news channel played traditional patriotic music. Hamdoks office denounced the detentions on Facebook as a complete coup. It said his wife was also arrested. Sudan has suffered other coups since gaining its independence from Britain and Egypt in 1956. Al-Bashir came to power in 1989 in one such takeover, which removed the countrys last elected government. Among those detained were senior government figures and political leaders, including the information and industry ministers, a media adviser to Hamdok and the governor of the state that includes the capital, according to the senior military official and another official. Both spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief the media. After news of the arrests spread, the main pro-democracy group and two political parties appealed to the people to take to the streets. The Communist Party urged workers to protest what it described as a full military coup orchestrated by Burhan. - Associated Press writers Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations, Matthew Lee in Washington and Darlene Superville in Kearny, N.J., contributed to this report. UNITED NATIONS -- The U.N. Security Council has scheduled an emergency closed-door meeting on the coup in Sudan for Tuesday afternoon. Diplomats said late Monday that the consultations were requested by the United States, United Kingdom, France, Ireland, Norway and Estonia. The council is wrapping up a visit to Mali and Niger and is scheduled to return to New York early Tuesday afternoon, so the meeting has been scheduled for 4 p.m. EDT, the diplomats said ahead of an official announcement. Sudans military seized power Monday, arresting the prime minister and other officials of the transitional government, sparking protests by thousands of demonstrators across the country demanding a return to civilian rule. The takeover threatened the countrys shaky progress toward democracy. Council members are scheduled to discuss the disputed Abyei region on the Sudan-South Sudan border Wednesday. ___ WASHINGTON The Biden administration is suspending $700 million in emergency assistance to Sudan following a coup in the African nation. State Department spokesman Ned Price said the full amount of the aid package had been put on pause pending a review of the developments in Khartoum. The money, which was direct financial support, was intended to help the country transition to a fully civilian government. Price said additional U.S. assistance could also be affected. The administration condemned the military takeover and dissolution of a transitional civilian-led authority and demanded the release of all officials detained in the overnight coup, which led to the arrest of Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok. Price said the administration was watching developments very closely and will not hesitate to hold those responsible for the coup to account. ___ UNITED NATIONS The U.N. special envoy for Sudan says barricades in the capital of Khartoum are burning and occasional gunshots can be heard so there is a risk that there would be more violence or more clashes. The Sudan Doctors Committee says three protesters were killed after security forces fired on crowds that flooded in the streets in the wake of a coup Monday. It says 80 people were wounded. Volker Perthes spoke in a press briefing from Khartoum to reporters at U.N. headquarters Monday. He said that after the army carried out the coup and closed the entrances, bridges and airport in the city, quite a number of parties and unions asked people to take to the streets to condemn the takeover. He says thousands came out across the country to demand a return to civilian government. Perthes says some demonstrators earlier Monday tried to enter army headquarters here in Khartoum, and we have then seen shooting and injuries but cant confirm any details. Perthes said he and U.S. envoy Jeffrey Feltman held parallel meetings with Sudanese political and military leaders in the past weeks. They urged a return to dialogue and advised against a coup which he said would squander the achievements of the first two years of the transition. The U.N. envoy demanded that all parties exercise utmost restraint, that the military release all those unlawfully detained on Monday, and urged a return to dialogue and adherence to the constitution. ___ MORE ON SUDAN: Sudans military takes power in coup, arrests prime minister EXPLAINER: How months of tensions led to Sudans coup ___ HERE'S WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING: ___ CAIRO The U.N.s top human rights official has condemned the coup in Sudan, warning the county could slip backwards after progress following the 2019 uprising that ended a repressive dictatorship. Michelle Bachelet, the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, called Monday for the release of Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, government officials and political leaders who were detained. Bachelet also urged military authorities to settle differences with civilians in the transitional government through dialogue and negotiation. She called for the military to withdraw troops from the streets and refrain from unnecessary and disproportionate use of force against protesters who took to the streets against the coup. ___ KHARTOUM, Sudan The Sudan Doctors Committee says two protesters were killed after security forces fired on crowds that flooded in the streets in the wake of a coup Monday. It says 80 people were wounded. Sudans military seized power, dissolving the transitional government hours after troops arrested the prime minister. Thousands of people flooded into the streets to protest the coup that threatens the countrys shaky progress toward democracy. The takeover comes more than two years after protesters forced the ouster of longtime autocrat Omar al-Bashir and just weeks before the military was supposed to hand the leadership of the council that runs the country over to civilians. ___ DUBAI, United Arab Emirates The Gulf Arab sheikhdoms of the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain have called for calm and restraint in Sudan following the armys coup. The UAE, which along with regional allies Saudi Arabia and Egypt had cultivated close ties to Sudans top generals, emphasized the importance of securing stability as soon as possible, in a manner that achieves the interest and aspirations of the Sudanese people. Bahrains Foreign Ministry said it had confidence in Sudans political establishment to overcome this crisis through dialogue and understanding. Their muted statements come as Western countries and the United Nations have strongly condemned the armys takeover of Sudan. Security forces arrested several top officials including the interim prime minister and protesters flooded the streets of the capital. The developments threaten to undermine Sudans fragile democratic transition since the ouster of longtime autocrat Omar al-Bashir over two years ago. ___ KHARTOUM U.S. diplomats in Sudan have issued warnings to American citizens in the country citing the militarys closure of areas in and around the capital and reports of violence against protesters. The U.S. Embassy in Khartoum urged Americans to shelter in place and remain aware of their surroundings hours after Sudans top general declared a state of emergency and dissolved the civilian government. Internet remained widely disrupted across the country and the embassy noted it was non-functional in Khartoum. It asked that American citizens not travel to the U.S. Embassy or to international airports in Khartoum or Port Sudan, where it said outbound flights were halted. The military coup on Monday plunged Sudans fragile political transition into uncertainty, two years after mass protests helped to topple the iron-fisted rule of longtime autocrat Omar al-Bashir. CAIRO The pro-democracy group that negotiated a power-sharing deal with Sudans military after the ouster of autocratic president Omar al-Bashir has condemned the coup that returned the military to power. The Forces for the Declaration of Freedom and Change in a statement Monday called for the release of all detained ministers and government officials and for the military to hand power over to a civilian government. The statement also urged the international community to declare their rejection of the coup. Sudans military seized power Monday, dissolving the transitional government hours after troops arrested the interim prime minister and other officials. Thousands of people flooded into the streets to protest the coup that threatens the countrys shaky progress toward democracy. ___ DUBAI, United Arab Emirates Saudi Arabia has issued a call for restraint and calm in Sudan amid the armys takeover. The regional powerhouse, which has cultivated close ties with Sudans top generals, issued a statement of concern on Monday, calling on Sudanese factions to unify and preserve the political and economic gains that have been achieved. The kingdom affirms its continued standing with the brotherly Sudanese people, the Foreign Ministry statement read. Saudi Arabia and other oil-rich Gulf Arab sheikhdoms for years supported long-time autocrat Omar al-Bashir, although they eventually backed the militarys ouster of him amid mass protests against his rule over two years ago. After al-Bashirs removal, Saudi pledged billions of dollars in funding along with the United Arab Emirates to Sudans new military rulers, a move that generated some suspicion among Sudanese protesters who feared their revolution may be thwarted. The Saudi statement came as Sudans ruling general declared a state of emergency and dissolved the countrys civilian Cabinet. Security forces arrested top officials and protesters poured into the streets of the capital. ___ UNITED NATIONS The United Nations has denounced the ongoing military coup in Sudan and urgently called for the release of the countrys interim prime minister and other top Cabinet officials. In a tweet on Monday, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok and all other officials detained by Sudanese security forces early Monday must be released immediately. There must be full respect for the constitutional charter to protect the hard-won political transition, Guterres wrote. He added: The UN will continue to stand with the people of Sudan. The U.N.s political envoy to Sudan, Volker Perthes, echoed Guterres appeal and described the arrests of officials as unacceptable. Perthes added he was deeply concerned about the attempts to undermine Sudans political transition to democracy following the ouster of longtime autocrat Omar al-Bashir in 2019. He urged all parties to return to dialogue and engage in good faith to restore the constitutional order. ___ BRUSSELS The European Union has condemned the arrest of Sudans acting prime minister and other officials by the countrys military forces, calling for their immediate release. The takeover takes place more than two years after protesters forced the ouster of longtime autocrat Omar al-Bashir and just weeks before the military was expected to hand the leadership of the council that runs the African country over to civilians. The EUs top diplomat, Josep Borrell, said in a statement that the coup is a betrayal of the revolution, the transition, and the legitimate requests of the Sudanese people for peace, justice and economic development. Thousands of protesters have poured into the streets of the capital, Khartoum, and its twin city of Omdurman, following the arrests. The right of peaceful protest must be respected; violence and bloodshed must be avoided at all cost; we also urge communication networks to be open, Borrell said. ___ CAIRO Egypt has urged all parties in neighboring Sudan to work to ensure stability and security amid the military takeover of the east African country. Egypt, which shares access to the vital Nile River and a long southern border with Sudan, said Monday that it was closely following the countrys tumult and emphasized the need to deal with current challenges in a manner that guarantees the safety of this brotherly country. The statement from the Egyptian Foreign Ministry, which came after Sudans top general dissolved the civilian government and declared a state of emergency, did not condemn the coup or express overt concerns like many Western countries have. Instead, Egypt said only that it was urging Sudanese factions to give priority to the higher interest of the country and to national consensus. The two most senior generals in Sudan have close ties with Egypt under its own general-turned-president Abdel Fattah el-Sissi. ___ PARIS French President Emmanuel Macron has added his voice to the growing global concern over the military coup underway in Sudan. France condemns in the strongest terms the attempted coup detat, Macron tweeted, after Sudans leading general declared a state of emergency and dissolved the civilian government. Macron said France supports the transitional government that had been tasked with steering Sudan toward democratic elections. He also called for the immediate release of Sudans prime minister and other civilian leaders who have been detained. ___ CAIRO The United States says the leaders of the military coup underway in Sudan are undermining the countrys transition to democracy and should stand down. The U.S. Embassy in Sudan said on Twitter Monday it was gravely concerned after Sudans leading general declared a state of emergency and dissolved the ruling body that had been jointly overseen by military and civilian leaders. In the statement the embassy calls on all actors who are disrupting Sudans transition to stand down, and allow the civilian-led transitional government to continue its important work to achieve the goals of the revolution. Thats a reference to the mass protests that helped topple longtime autocrat Omar al-Bashir in 2019 and installed a ruling council to steer the country toward democratic elections. U.S. Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa Jeffrey Feltman said earlier Monday that Washington was deeply alarmed about the events and warned that a military coup could jeopardize American aid to Sudan. ___ CAIRO The Norwegian Refugee Council has appealed to Sudans rulers to protect civilians amid the military takeover of the east African country, requesting unimpeded humanitarian access to help millions who have fled war over the years. The aid groups Sudan director, Will Carter, said Monday that changes to Sudans political leadership should not jeopardize authorities previous vows to ensure that humanitarian organizations can assist the 13 million people badly in need of aid across Sudan, including millions of displaced Sudanese. Sudans leaders have a collective opportunity and responsibility to break from a difficult past, the statement said, exhorting the international community not to abandon Sudans people in this hour of need. The call came as Sudans leading general declared a state of emergency and dissolved the ruling council that had been steering the fragile country toward democratic elections. Under long-time autocrat Omar al-Bashir who was toppled amid mass protests in 2019, aid organizations struggled to access the countrys most vulnerable in war-scarred regions like Darfur where combatants sometimes controlled access to food. ___ BEIJING China is urging a dialogue between Sudanese factions as an apparent military coup roils the nation. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said Monday that China wanted all parties in Sudan to resolve their differences through dialogue so as to maintain peace and stability of the country. He told reporters that China would continue to closely follow the turbulence in Sudan and take necessary measures to ensure the safety of Chinese institutions and personnel there. China is a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council and major investor in Africa. The arrests on Monday of Sudans interim prime minister and other officials plunged Sudans fragile path to democracy into uncertainty following the 2019 ouster of longtime autocrat Omar al-Bashir. During al-Bashirs harsh rule and despite allegations of his governments human rights abuses, China was Sudans biggest trading partner and key international partner. ___ CAIRO - The Saudi-based Organization of Islamic Cooperation has expressed concern over the apparent coup in Sudan amid a fragile transition to democracy. In a statement carried by the state-run Saudi Press Agency, the organization said Monday that it urged Sudanese leaders to abide by the constitutional document and what has been agreed upon during the transition period. The statement comes as other nations express alarm at the arrest of Sudans interim prime minister and other senior officials. Their whereabouts were not immediately known. Thousands of Sudanese protesters have flooded the streets as fears of a military coup grip the country two years after mass protests ousted autocrat Omar al-Bashir, who ruled Sudan with an iron fist for three decades. The 57-nation OIC is based in Jiddah, Saudi Arabia. ___ BERLIN Germany has demanded an immediate halt to the apparent military coup underway in Sudan. German Foreign Minister Heiko Mass condemned the attempted takeover in the vast east African country and called the news dismaying. This attempted coup must end immediately, he said, urging all those who bear responsibility for security and state order in Sudan to continue the peaceful political transition process in Sudan toward democracy. The statement Monday was one of several from other nations expressing concern about the arrest of Sudans interim prime minister and other senior officials. Their whereabouts were not immediately known. Thousands of Sudanese protesters have flooded the streets as fears of a military coup grip the country two years after mass protests ousted autocrat Omar al-Bashir, who ruled Sudan with an iron fist for three decades. Since 2019, Sudan has been navigating a fragile transition to democracy. ___ CAIRO The United Nations Mission to Sudan has issued an emphatic rebuke of what it called an ongoing coup and attempts to undermine the northeast African nations fragile democratic transition. The first reports about a possible military takeover began trickling out of Sudan before dawn Monday. By mid-morning, the information ministry confirmed that the prime minister, Abdalla Hamdok, had been arrested and taken to an undisclosed location. Several senior government figures were also detained, the ministry said in a Facebook post. It said their whereabouts were unknown. The reported detentions of the prime minister, government officials and politicians are unacceptable, said the recently formed U.N. political mission, which has a mandate to assist the countrys political transition and protect human rights. The mission called on Sudans security forces to immediately release those who have been unlawfully detained or placed under house arrest and urged all parties to exercise utmost restraint. Diplomats have joined in a chorus of concern over the events that rocked Sudan on Monday, as Sudanese security forces detained senior government officials in undisclosed locations and thousands flooded the street in protest, two years after mass demonstrations helped topple former autocrat Omar al-Bashir. ___ CAIRO The Arab League has released a statement of deep concern about the apparent military coup in Sudan. The Secretary-General of the 22-member bloc, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, urged all parties on Monday to fully abide by the constitutional declaration signed in August 2019, which had aimed to pave the way for a transition to civilian rule and democratic elections following the ouster of longtime autocrat Omar al-Bashir. There are no problems that cannot be resolved without dialogue, Aboul Gheit said after Sudans military detained the countrys interim prime minister along with other top Cabinet officials and protesters poured into streets of the capital, Khartoum. It is important to respect all decisions and agreements that were decided upon refraining from any measures that would disrupt the transitional period and shake stability in Sudan, the statement added. ___ CAIRO The European Union has joined the United States in expressing grave concern about a possible military takeover underway in Sudan. EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell tweeted on Monday that hes following events in the northeast African nation with the utmost concern, after reports emerged that Sudanese military forces had detained several senior government officials, including the interim prime minister. The EU calls on all stakeholders and regional partners to put back on track the transition process, Borrell wrote, referring to Sudans fragile transition from autocracy to democracy after the ouster of longtime ruler Omar al-Bashir in 2019. Earlier, U.S. Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa Jeffrey Feltman said Washington was deeply alarmed and indicated that a military coup would threaten American aid to the impoverished country. As we have said repeatedly, any changes to the transitional government by force puts at risk U.S. assistance, the U.S. Bureau of African Affairs wrote on Twitter. Up to half of farmers could see their profits wiped out within three years due to subsidy cuts, rural business experts have warned. Under-pressure farmers are being urged to seek help to weather a subsidy shake-up thats likely to herald the start of big changes to modern farming. With subsidy cuts at the forefront of a cash, labour and environmental triple whammy, financial specialists say that farmers cannot afford to stick their heads in the sand. Accountancy firm Douglas Home & Co said that for many farmers, European Union subsidy payments propped up their business. But as part of Brexit, the Basic Payment Scheme is being phased out between 2021 and 2028, meaning farmers could lose between 50-70% of their subsidy by 2024. Deeper cuts and further changes will also likely continue well beyond 2024. Our estimate is that at least 50% of farmers could see their profit wiped out," warned Victoria Ivinson, head of the agricultural team at Douglas Home & Co. "While most may break even, many will be running at a loss once the subsidies are cut. That is a horrifying prospect. At the moment, this money is essential to help them smooth out the challenges posed by major weather events, fluctuations in yields and grain prices and many other unpredictable variables. The company's stark assessment is based on experience with more than 1,000 of its 3,100 clients operating as rural businesses. Ms Ivinson, whose husband is a beef and sheep farmer in Penrith, added: We are entering a decade of massive change across farming and the rural economy. "Brexit, climate change and major labour shortages are already causing sleepless nights. Yet subsidy cuts are an even bigger threat to survival, particularly for those with no other income stream or alternative financial support. Frankly, some farmers are terrified. The accountant says many farmers are overawed by the complexity of the replacement system, which has not yet been fully fleshed out or explained by the government. Regulations also differ slightly between Scotland and England, however all UK farmers face similar prospects. Another common problem is that many are unaware which parts of their business are profitable and which are not. Ms Ivinson added: It can be challenging to change long standing farming practices, particularly for those who are passionate about traditional methods. "In some cases, farmers may need to move away from old enterprises and embrace a new farming mix. However, this ability to adapt and change can help a business survive during such uncertain times. Starting now is vital, because this is just the tip of the iceberg. We are in the midst of a climate emergency which means more government regulation is coming. "Acting now could help farmers reduce the sting for years, if not decades to come. Henry Dimbleby has described the UK-New Zealand trade deal announcement as 'disappointing' and slammed the UK government for 'ignoring his advice'. The businessman, who led Defra's National Food Strategy, criticised the government for rejecting his advice to ensure trade deals do not allow cheap, lower-quality imports into the UK. His reaction followed the governments announcement of an agreement in principle on a free trade agreement (FTA) with New Zealand. Speaking at the Soil Association Certification Organic Trade Conference held on 21 October, Mr Dimbleby said UK food standards must be protected 'before it's too late'. One thing risks destroying the whole transformation is trade, and that is getting trade right," the businessman said. "There is no point in creating a food and farming system here that looks after animals, sequesters carbon, and supports biodiversity, if overseas products on our shelves dont do the same. "It is a disappointing day the government has clearly rejected my advice. Australia and NZ are the edge of the problem - Brazil and the US are huge problems." He added: We need to pray the Prime Minister and Secretary for State live up to their election manifesto to protect food standards before its too late. Speaking about the kind of food and farming that government should be looking towards, Mr Dimbleby said: We need a mix of extensively farmed areas, more sustainable, more high yielding regenerative farming, reductions in pesticides and semi-natural land." At the same event, former Conservative Agriculture Minister and Chair of the Climate Change Committee, Lord Deben, said the UK-NZ deal was a 'disgrace'. It is not acceptable and it is completely at odds with everything the government has promised to do to safeguard our farmers and protect UK consumers. "We are looking for sustainability not unsustainable trade deals," Lord Deben said at the event. He also called for clarity from the government on what farmers need to do saying that ELMS was "too vague, lacked substance and was ducking the chance to achieve clarity. He added that the problem in the UK was that politicians and the public knew very little about farming, unlike in other countries like France, and that they were too removed from the countryside. We need to improve our understanding of farming, the countryside and how the climate and weather impacts farmers," he said. Northern Irelands dependence on agriculture means the region may not achieve net zero emissions by 2050, according to a committee. Lord Deben, Chairman of the Climate Change Committee, said Northern Irish farmers faced a difficult task in curbing emissions compared to the rest of the UK. There are fears that legislation to combat climate change in the region would be the 'ruination' of the local agri-food industry. As the sector which emits the most greenhouse gases, the farming sector has concerns it would be disproportionately affected. The industry makes up more than a quarter (27 percent) of Northern Ireland's greenhouse gas emissions, according to official figures. And unlike the rest of the UKs regions, NI has complete control of its energy policy, being a member of the all-Ireland Integrated Single Electricity Market (I-SEM) with the Republic. Lord Deben made the comments at the Institute of Directors inaugural Energy Symposium: At the heart of what we have to do about climate change is what we have to do about energy. We really do have to think much more systemically and that problem of course becomes particularly so in the north of Ireland because of the common energy connections with the south. It is difficult for governments to operate on that basis, Lord Deben said. He added that Northern Ireland had a real issue of emissions without the ease of sequestration which some other parts of the United Kingdom have. If you take the Scots for example, they do have a very important agriculture industry and mechanisms for sequestration which do not apply in Northern Ireland," he said. We are therefore asking the Scots to get to net zero by 2045, the rest of the UK as far as England and Wales is concerned will be asked to reach net zero by 2050. We dont believe the north of Ireland can actually do that," Lord Deben warned. The Ulster Farmers' Union commissioned an economic impact assessment into a private members' bill calling for net zero emissions by 2045. The union's report concluded that measure would cause industry job losses of 13,000 and a reduction of 11bn in economic output. It added that the bill would cause the 'ruination' of the farming industry, as a reduction of 86% in livestock numbers may be required to reach the 2045 target, in turn 'wiping out traditional grass-based farms'. At the Energy Symposium, Lord Deben said NI had "so much dependence on agriculture that to suggest you could do it [reach net zero] would in fact, in our view, deny one of the central principles of the climate change committee. "Im not prepared to recommend things that I dont think people can do. High farmer confidence levels in autumn 2020 helped support an increase in breeding ewes for the current season, according to an agricultural census. Results from the Scottish government's census also show that the rebound in ewe numbers of 1.1% almost offset the previous years decline. However, they did still remain slightly below the average for the previous five years and were down 3% on 2011. Meanwhile, the lambing rate matched the June 2020 record of 130.6 percent, the census shows. Analysing the results, Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) says poor spring weather may have been more localised this year, compared to the widespread challenges seen in 2013 and 2018. "As a result, there were 1.1% more lambs on Scottish farms than a year earlier, helping explain why store lamb marketings have almost matched the highs of autumn 2020, said QMS's senior economics analyst, Iain Macdonald. Rising productivity in recent years means that the 3.35m lamb crop in June 2021 was around 2% above the five-year average and almost 1% larger than in 2011. In England, the situation is markedly different, with a 3.9% decline in the lamb crop placing it 6% below the five-year average. This was driven by a 2% reduction in ewe numbers and there were 2.6 fewer lambs per 100 ewes than in 2020. Mr Macdonald said: While the volume of lambs leaving Scottish farms for slaughter this season is likely to be slightly higher than in the 2020/21 season, at GB level, supply is tighter overall." A slow marketing profile has also supported farmgate prices so far this season, according to QMS. Defra slaughter data up to the end of September points to 15% reduction in lamb throughput at GB abattoirs between June and September compared to 2020, with volumes down 11% on the five-year average. Given the scale of this decline so far, slaughter numbers may begin to recover going forward, supporting availability for export in late 2021 and early 2022," Mr Macdonald said. At auction sales, there has been some evidence of an upturn in October, with similar numbers traded to 2020. Nevertheless, producer prices have held firm, around 20% higher than last year and 40% above the five-year average. In the cattle sector, supply has been very tight this year, with prime and mature cattle slaughter down 5% and 7% respectively from 2020 in the first nine months at GB abattoirs. Census results suggest that this situation should begin to change, particularly in Scotland where cattle tend to be processed at younger ages. "Indeed, the number of males aged 1-2 on Scottish farms was 1.8% higher than a year earlier in June, explained Mr Macdonald. The Scottish census also showed a more stable beef herd after a prolonged period of decline, down just 0.1% on 2020. Nevertheless, the herd has still fallen by more than 12% in the past decade," he said, "In England, the decline in the beef herd accelerated to 3.3%, also resulting in a 12% decline on 2011." Labour shortages in the processing sector have had more of an impact on farmgate prices in the pig sector this autumn than for cattle or sheep due to the significant increase in availability for slaughter. In England, there was a 6% increase in fattening pigs in June, while in Scotland, numbers were up 2% on last year. A breakdown of the census data shows that these increases were front-loaded, with increases of 7% in the number of fattening pigs over 20kg in both countries. Mr Macdonald says that looking further forward, a slightly slower increase in the availability of pigs for slaughter was signalled for England, with the number of piglets under 20kg 4% higher than in 2020. Meanwhile, in Scotland, availability is set to fall back, as there were 8% fewer piglets under 20kg, reflecting a 9% contraction in the sow herd," he explained. Nevertheless, Scottish sow numbers were only 1% below their five-year average and were 1% higher than their ten-year average. "In England, the sow herd has been trending downwards over the past decade and fell another 2% in the year to June 2021." The Fauquier Times is honored to serve as your community companion. To say thank you, we are excited to offer 4 weeks FREE Digital & Print access to all subscribers new and returning alike. We are dedicated to continuing providing reliable, high quality journalism. This is possible with the trust and support of our subscribers in the community we are proud to serve. Category Select Category Apparel/Garments Textiles Fashion Technical Textiles Information Technology E-commerce Retail Corporate Association Press Release SubCategory Select Sub-Category Regulatory News: Getlink SE (Paris:GET) (the "Issuer") today announces that it is launching an offering of additional senior secured "green" notes due 2025 (the "Additional Notes" and such offering, the "Additional Notes Offering"). The Additional Notes will be consolidated and treated as a single class with the Issuer's 700.0 million in aggregate principal amount "green" senior secured notes due 2025 (the "Original Notes" and together with the Additional Notes, the "Notes In line with Getlink's focus on sustainability, the Additional Notes will be classified as "Green Bonds"1. The Issuer intends to use the proceeds of the Additional Notes Offering to: (a) fund eligible "green" assets; and (b) pay fees and expenses in relation to the Additional Notes Offering. The Additional Notes will not be made available to retail investors. Getlink has appointed BNP Paribas and Goldman Sachs Bank Europe SE to be the joint global coordinators and active bookrunners, and Societe Generale to be the joint bookrunner, for the Additional Notes Offering. Results of the Additional Notes Offering will be confirmed towards the end of the week. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE OR FORM PART OF ANY OFFER OR INVITATION TO SELL OR ISSUE, OR ANY SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO PURCHASE OR SUBSCRIBE FOR, ANY SECURITIES OF GETLINK SE OR ANY OF ITS AFFILIATES. NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN WHICH IT WOULD BE UNLAWFUL TO DO SO. PLEASE SEE THE IMPORTANT NOTICE BELOW. This announcement is not an offer of any securities for sale in the United States. Securities may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration, or an exemption from registration, under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"). The Additional Notes Offering described in this announcement has not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act. There will be no public offering of these securities in the United States. This announcement has been prepared on the basis that any offer of the Additional Notes in any member state of the European Economic Area (the "EEA") will be made pursuant to an exemption under the Regulation (EU) 2017/1129, as amended, from the requirement to publish a prospectus for the Additional Notes Offering. The Additional Notes are not intended to be offered, sold or otherwise made available to and should not be offered, sold or otherwise made available to any retail investor in the EEA. For these purposes, a retail investor means a person who is one (or more) of: (i) a retail client as defined in point (11) of Article 4(1) of Directive 2014/65/EU (as amended, "MiFID II"); or (ii) a customer within the meaning of Directive (EU) 2016/97, where that customer would not qualify as a professional client as defined in point (10) of Article 4(1) of MiFID II. Consequently, no key information document required by Regulation (EU) No 1286/2014 (as amended the "PRIIPs Regulation") for offering or selling the Additional Notes or otherwise making them available to retail investors in the EEA has been prepared and therefore offering or selling the Additional Notes or otherwise making them available to any retail investor in the EEA may be unlawful under the PRIIPs Regulation. The Additional Notes are not intended to be offered, sold or otherwise made available to and should not be offered, sold or otherwise made available to any retail investor in the UK. For these purposes, a "retail investor" means a person who is one (or more) of: (i) a retail client, as defined in point (8) of Article 2 of Regulation (EU) No 2017/565 as it forms part of UK domestic law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 ("EUWA"); or (ii) a customer within the meaning of the provisions of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (the "FSMA") and any rules or regulations made under the FSMA to implement Directive (EU) 2016/97, where that customer would not qualify as a professional client, as defined in point (8) of Article 2(1) of Regulation (EU) No 600/2014 as it forms part of UK domestic law by virtue of the EUWA. Consequently no key information document required by Regulation (EU) No 1286/2014 as it forms part of UK domestic law by virtue of the EUWA (the "UK PRIIPs Regulation") for offering or selling the Additional Notes or otherwise making them available to retail investors in the UK has been prepared and therefore offering or selling the Additional Notes or otherwise making them available to any retail investor in the UK may be unlawful under the UK PRIIPs Regulation. Professional Investors and ECPs only target market. Solely for the purposes of the manufacturers' product approval process, the target market assessment in respect of the Additional Notes has led the manufacturers to the conclusion that: (i) the target market for the Additional Notes is eligible counterparties and professional clients only, each as defined in MiFID II; and (ii) all channels for distribution of the Additional Notes to eligible counterparties and professional clients are appropriate. Any person subsequently offering, selling or recommending the Notes (a "distributor") should take into consideration the manufacturers' target market assessment; however, a distributor subject to MiFID II is responsible for undertaking its own target market assessment in respect of the Additional Notes (by either adopting or refining the manufacturers' target market assessment) and determining appropriate distribution channels. Solely for the purposes of the manufacturer's product approval process, the target market assessment in respect of the Additional Notes has led to the conclusion that: (i) the target market for the Additional Notes is only eligible counterparties, as defined in the FCA Handbook Conduct of Business Sourcebook ("COBS"), and professional clients, as defined in Regulation (EU) No 600/2014 as it forms part of UK domestic law by virtue of the EUWA ("UK MiFIR"); and (ii) all channels for distribution of the Additional Notes to eligible counterparties and professional clients are appropriate. Any person subsequently offering, selling or recommending the Additional Notes (for the purposes of this provision, a "distributor") should take into consideration the manufacturer's target market assessment; however, a distributor subject to the FCA Handbook Product Intervention and Product Governance Sourcebook is responsible for undertaking its own target market assessment in respect of the Additional Notes (by either adopting or refining the manufacturer's target market assessment) and determining appropriate distribution channels. The Additional Notes may only be offered or sold in France to qualified investors ("investisseurs qualifies"), as defined in Article L. 411-2 1 of the French Code monetaire et financier, and this announcement and any offering or marketing materials relating to the Additional Notes must also only be made available or distributed in France to qualified investors ("investisseurs qualifies"), as defined in Article L. 411-2 1 of the French Code monetaire et financier. In the United Kingdom, this announcement is for distribution only to persons who: (i) have professional experience in matters relating to investments falling within Article 19(5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005 (as amended, the "Financial Promotion Order"); (ii) are persons falling within Articles 49(2)(a) to (d) ("high net worth companies, unincorporated associations etc.") of the Financial Promotion Order; or (iii) are persons to whom an invitation or inducement to engage in investment activity (within the meaning of Section 21 of the FSMA) in connection with the issue or sale of any Additional Notes may otherwise lawfully be communicated or caused to be communicated (all such persons together being referred to as "relevant persons"). This announcement is directed only at relevant persons and must not be acted on or relied on by persons who are not relevant persons. Any investment or investment activity to which this announcement relates is available only to relevant persons and will be engaged in only with relevant persons. Any person who is not a relevant person should not act or rely on this announcement or any of its contents. Neither the content of any website of Getlink nor any website accessible by hyperlinks on any website of Getlink is incorporated in, or forms part of, this announcement. No money, securities or other consideration is being solicited, and, if sent in response to the information contained herein, will not be accepted. The announcement may contain certain "forward-looking statements", forecasts, estimates, projections and opinions. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, all statements other than statements of historical facts contained in this announcement, including, without limitation, those regarding Getlink's results of operations, strategy, plans, objectives, goals and targets. The forward-looking statements in this announcement can be identified, in some instances, by the use of words such as "expects", "anticipates", "intends", "believes", and similar language or the negative thereof or similar expressions that are predictions of or indicate future events or future trends. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will occur in the future whether or not outside the control of Getlink. No representation is made that the underlying assumptions are reasonable. Getlink's actual results may differ from those set forth in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors. Getlink is under no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak of the date of this announcement. Statements contained in this announcement regarding past trends or events should not be taken as a representation that such trends or events will continue in the future. This announcement contains inside information within the meaning of Regulation (EU) No 596/2014 of 16 April 2014 on market abuse ("MAR"). For the purposes of MAR and Article 2 of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2016/1055, this announcement is made by Michael Schuller, Corporate Finance Director and Head of Investor Relations. 1 The Additional Notes will meet the criteria of the International Capital Markets Association's Green Bond Principles (2018) (the "Green Bond Principles"), as certified by DNV GL Business Assurance Services UK Limited ("DNV") in 2020. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211024005059/en/ Contacts: For UK media enquiriescontact John Keefe on 44 (0) 1303 284491 Email: press@getlinkgroup.com For other media enquiries contact Anne-Laure Descleves on +33(0)1 4098 0467 For investor enquiries contact Jean-Baptiste Roussille on +33 (0)1 40 98 04 81 Emailjean-baptiste.roussille@getlinkgroup.com Michael Schuller on +44 (0) 1303 288749 Email:Michael.schuller@getlinkgroup.com FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 25 October 2021 London & Associated Properties PLC ("LAP" or the "Company") Director/PDMR Shareholding The Company has been notified that on 22 October 2021, Jonathan Mintz (a director of the Company), acquired 100,000 ordinary shares of 10 pence each in the Company ("Ordinary Shares") for 15.5p per Ordinary Share (the "Purchase"). Following the Purchase Jonathan Mintz's holding is 100,000 shares in the Company representing 0.12% of the issued share capital net of Treasury shares. The notification below, made in accordance with the requirements of the EU Market Abuse Regulation, provides further details of the Transfer. 1 Details of the person discharging managerial responsibilities / person closely associated a) Name Jonathan Mintz 2 Reason for the notification a) Position/status Jonathan Mintz is a director of the Company b) Initial notification /Amendment Initial notification 3 Details of the issuer, emission allowance market participant, auction platform, auctioneer or auction monitor a) Name London & Associated Properties PLC b) LEI 213800GLCG54Q578EX51 4 Details of the transaction(s): section to be repeated for (i) each type of instrument; (ii) each type of transaction; (iii) each date; and (iv) each place where transactions have been conducted a) Description of the financial instrument, type of instrument Identification code Ordinary shares of 10 pence each in the Company ("Ordinary Shares") GB0005234223 b) Nature of the transaction Purchase of Ordinary Shares c) Price(s) and volume(s) Price(s) Volume(s) 15.5p per share 100,000 Ordinary Shares d) Aggregated information - Aggregated volume - Price N/A (single transaction) e) Date of the transaction 22/10/2021 f) Place of the transaction London Stock Exchange Contact: Jonathan Mintz, Company Secretary 020 7415 5000 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. ANKARA (dpa-AFX) - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's order to remove foreign ambassadors who demanded the release of a government critic Osman Kavala pushed down the Turkish Lira to a record low against the U.S. dollar on Monday. Erdogan said that the ambassadors of the United States and nine other Western countries will be expelled from Turkey immediately after they called for a resolution to the case of Kavala, who has been jailed since 2017 without being convicted. The President said that he had ordered the foreign minister to declare these 10 ambassadors as persona non grata as soon as possible and has asked to leave Turkey. Erdogan's order came after these 10 ambassadors issued a joint statement on October 18 demanding a speedy resolution to Kavala's case and his acquittal. The Turkish Lira plunged to a record low of 9.8395 against the greenback in Asian trading and has since stabilized around 9.7469. The USD/TRY pair had closed Friday's deals at 9.5862. 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, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - October 25, 2021) - Japan Gold Corp. (TSXV: JG) (OTCQB: JGLDF) ("Japan Gold" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that at its annual general meeting held on October 21, 2021 (the "AGM"), all nominees listed in its management information circular dated September 13, 2021 were elected as independent directors of the Company. Ian Burney, Michael Carrick and Tanneke Heersche have joined the Board of Directors. Ian Burney Mr. Burney was the Ambassador of Canada to Japan from 2016 to 2021. Mr. Burney is an accomplished, high-performing public service executive and diplomat with over 30 years of experience in international affairs, particularly in the area of global economic issues. Mr. Burney graduated in 1985 from McGill University, Montreal, with a Bachelor of Arts with honours in Political Science, and in 1986 from University of Toronto, with a Master of Arts in International Relations. Mr. Burney joined the Department of External Affairs in 1987 and has held a range of positions in Ottawa and diplomatic postings overseas. Michael Carrick Mr. Carrick is currently Chairman of RTG Mining Inc. and has been responsible for the development of seven major gold mines in five countries around the world including the development of the largest gold mine in the Philippines. That mine was merged with B2 Gold of Canada in a US$4.5 billion merger. Mr. Carrick is a Chartered Accountant with over 30 years of experience in the resources sector. He holds a degree in Commerce from the University of Natal, and an Accounting and Finance degree from the University of the Witwatersrand, and is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants both in South Africa and in Australia Tanneke Heersche Ms. Heersche is a partner in the Global Mining Group at Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP and is the head of the firm-wide ESG Steering Committee. Prior to Fasken, Ms. Heersche was a partner at White & Case LLP where she was co-Chair of the Global Metals & Mining Practice Group and executive managing partner of its Johannesburg office. Ms Heersche is a highly regarded expert and strategic advisor in the natural resources industry with over 25 years of international industry experience. She has a particular emphasis on project development, investment agreement negotiations and the integration of ESG into development frameworks. Ms. Heersche holds an LLB from the University of Toronto and a BSc (Physiology) and BA (German Literature) from Western University . John Proust, Chairman and CEO of Japan Gold, stated, "I'm very pleased to welcome Ian, Michael and Tanneke to our Board of Directors. I believe their vast experience and broad networks will diversify the expertise of the Japan Gold Board of Directors and be very beneficial to the Company as we continue to advance existing and future projects in Japan. We look forward to their contributions." "I would like to thank Dr. Michael Andrews, John Carlile and Bob Gallagher, founding directors who did not stand for re-election, for their dedication and commitment on the Board of Directors and welcome their ongoing commitment to the success of Japan Gold as they join Dr. Steve Garwin on the Board of Advisors." The Board of Directors of Japan Gold now consists of John Proust, Mitsuhiko Yamada, Ian Burney, Michael Carrick, Paul Harbidge, Tanneke Heersche and Murray Flanigan. Shareholders also approved the re-appointment of KPMG, LLP, as the Company's auditor for the ensuing year and the authorization of the Board to fix the auditor's remuneration. Investors Webinar The Investor Webinar scheduled for October 21st had to be rescheduled because of technical issues by our service provider. These included the delay or inability to transfer some attendees into the AGM and Investor Webinar and the disruption of the video service. Accordingly we have rescheduled the Investor Webinar to October 28th at 3:00 pm Vancouver time. To register for the webinar, please follow the link below: Date: Thursday, October 25, 2021 Time: 3:00 pm Vancouver time Link: https://event.webcasts.com/starthere.jsp?ei=1508736&tp_key=ce8e05b2a0 Dial in numbers: Participant / Guest toll-free dial-in number: 877-269-7756 Participant / Guest toll dial-in number: 201-689-7817 A recording of the webinar will be posted to the Company's website following the live broadcast. On behalf of the Board of Japan Gold Corp. "John Proust" Chairman & CEO About Japan Gold Corp. Japan Gold Corp. is a Canadian mineral exploration company focused solely on gold exploration across the three largest islands of Japan: Hokkaido, Honshu and Kyushu. The Company has a country-wide alliance with Barrick Gold Corporation to jointly explore, develop and mine certain gold mineral properties and mining projects. The Company holds a portfolio of 31 gold projects which cover areas with known gold occurrences, a history of mining and are prospective for high-grade epithermal gold mineralization. Japan Gold's leadership team represent decades of resource industry and business experience, and the Company has recruited geologists, drillers and technical advisors with experience exploring and operating in Japan. More information is available at www.japangold.com or by email at info@japangold.com For further information please contact: John Proust Chairman & CEO Phone: 778-725-1491 Email: jproust@japangold.com Website: www.japangold.com Cautionary Note 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. This news release contains forward-looking statements relating to expected or anticipated future events and anticipated results related to future partnerships and the Company's 2021 gold exploration program. These statements are forward-looking in nature and, as a result, are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that include, but are not limited to, general economic, market and business conditions; competition for qualified staff; the regulatory process and actions; technical issues; new legislation; potential delays or changes in plans; working in a new political jurisdiction; results of exploration; the timing and granting of prospecting rights; the Company's ability to execute and implement future plans, arrange or conclude a joint-venture or partnership; and the occurrence of unexpected events. Actual results achieved may differ from the information provided herein and, consequently, readers are advised not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The forward-looking information contained herein speaks only as of the date of this News Release. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise forward-looking information or to explain any material difference between such and subsequent actual events, except as required by applicable laws. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/100739 VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / October 25, 2021 / Searchlight Resources Inc. ("Searchlight" or the "Company") (TSXV:SCLT)(OTC PINK:CNYCF)(FSE:2CC2) is pleased to announce the initial results of the high-resolution aeromagnetic and radiometric surveys on the Company's Kulyk Lake Rare Earth Element ("REE") project, located approximately 165 km north of La Ronge, Saskatchewan, and 65 km south of the Key Lake Uranium Mine. Highlights Radiometric thorium data highlight Kulyk Lake high-grade Rare Earth Element showing Using thorium as REE pathfinder, a 3-km long REE exploration target is outlined Significant, previously unknown uranium target is outlined with radiometric data In September 2021, Special Projects Inc. of Calgary, Alberta, completed high-resolution aeromagnetic and radiometric surveys covering approximately 39 sq km of the Kulyk Lake claims (Map 1). Preliminary radiometric results have outlined significant new thorium and uranium targets, in addition to several historical REE, uranium and thorium showings. Searchlight uses thorium as a pathfinder for rare earth elements in the mineral monazite, which is the principal mineral in the known Kulyk Lake REE showing (Map 2). The highest thorium value from the radiometric survey (5.3 ppm) was located over the known Kulyk Lake REE trenches which yielded historical assays of 56.18% Total Rare Earth Oxides ("TREO"). Additionally, the radiometric survey identified the Kulyk Lake target as part of a larger anomalous thorium zone, at least 3 kilometres in length (Maps 2 and 4). "These are excellent results from the radiometric survey, highlighting the known Kulyk Lake trench area, and tying it to a significant multi-kilometer thorium anomaly", stated Stephen Wallace, CEO. "The results suggest a potentially large Rare Earth exploration target area". Uranium results from the radiometric survey were equally positive, identifying a significant new, previously unknown uranium target (Maps 3 and 5), as well as pinpointing known uranium showings, including the Eldorado showing with historical assays of 0.785 % U3O8. The newly identified anomalous uranium zone has multiple high values, ranging up to 5.74 ppm, the highest uranium value of this survey (Maps 3 and 5). "The uranium results are strongest in an area where there are no previous uranium showings, and this New Anomalous Uranium Zone represents a priority target", stated Stephen Wallace, CEO. "Though the Kulyk claims were staked for the Rare Earth potential, the Company will now add uranium to our follow-up exploration targets". Map 1. Flightlines for 2021 Airborne Magnetic and Radiometric Surveys, Kulyk Lake Project, with Historical Showings Map 2. Thorium (ppm) overlaid on Total Magnetic Intensity (nT), 2021 Airborne Survey, Kulyk Lake Project Map 3. Uranium (ppm) overlaid on Total Magnetic Intensity (nT), 2021 Airborne Survey, Kulyk Lake Project Map 4. Shaded Relief Map of Thorium from 2021 Airborne Survey, Kulyk Lake Project, with Historical Showings, and newly identified 3-km long anomalous thorium zone Map 5. Shaded Relief Map of Uranium from 2021 Airborne Survey, Kulyk Lake Project, with Historical Showings, and the newly identified anomalous uranium zone Qualified Person Stephen Wallace, P.Geo., is Searchlight's Qualified Person within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the technical information contained in this news release. About Searchlight Resources Inc. Searchlight Resources Inc. (TSXV:SCLT, US:CNYCF, FSE:2CC2) is a Canadian mineral exploration and development company focused on Saskatchewan, Canada, which has been ranked as the top location for mining investment in Canada by the Fraser Institute. Exploration focus is on gold and battery minerals throughout the Province, concentrating on projects with road access. Searchlight holds a 427.6 square kilometre land position within the gold and base metal rich Flin Flon - Snow Lake Greenstone Belt. The Company is currently advancing its Bootleg Lake Gold Project which hosts four past-producing high-grade gold mines, located in Saskatchewan, less than 10 km from Flin Flon, Manitoba. On behalf of the Board of Directors, "Stephen Wallace" Stephen Wallace, President, CEO and Director SEARCHLIGHT RESOURCES INC. For further information, visit the Company's website at www.searchlightresources.com or contact: Searchlight Resources Inc. Alf Stewart, Chairman (604) 331-9326 info@searchlightresources.com Forward-Looking Statements Information set forth in this news release contains forward-looking statements that are based on assumptions as of the date of this news release. These statements reflect management's current estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations. They are not guarantees of future performance. The Company cautions that all forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain and that actual performance may be affected by a number of material factors, many of which are beyond the Company's control. Such factors include, among other things: risks and uncertainties relating to the Company's limited operating history and the need to comply with environmental and governmental regulations. Accordingly, actual and future events, conditions and results may differ materially from the estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations expressed or implied in the forward-looking information. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking information. NEITHER TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE. SOURCE: Searchlight Resources Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/669492/Searchlight-Resources-Defines-New-Rare-Earth-and-Uranium-Targets-on-Kulyk-Lake-Exploration-Project Kamloops, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - October 25, 2021) - Advance Gold Corp. (TSXV: AAX) ("Advance Gold" or "the Company") is pleased to announce that a patent application has been filed for a unique environmentally friendly method to extract lithium and potassium from its clay and fine sand salars in central Mexico. To date, the existing methods of extraction of lithium from clay deposits require the use of significant amounts of water and toxic chemicals. This new method is able to use recycled water and electricity from solar power to extract lithium with an electrical process. This new method uses water and an electrical process to obtain a solution of lithium and potassium. This process can be repeated several times to produce a high-grade concentrate. Finally, the lithium and potassium are extracted using organic compounds. According to our new studies, this process might also be useful to extract boron. Allan Barry Laboucan, President and CEO of Advance Gold Corp. commented: "On behalf of the board of directors and our shareholders I would like to thank a number of people and especially, Dr. Roberto Perez Garibay and his team for their outstanding work to invent a unique method to recover lithium from clay deposits. Our key geological advisor Jose de Jesus Parga who ran the Geological Survey of Mexico for over 30 years and recognized the lithium mining potential of the salt lakes/salars in central Mexico also deserves our thanks. Our partner Hot Spring Mining, led by Gilberto Zapata Castaneda who has a PhD in Law, has been instrumental in acquiring the salars, working with local communities, and through this patent we have been able to get an opportunity to move into the lithium mining space, his advice is greatly appreciated. "I first met Dr. Roberto Perez Garibay several years ago when he described to me the work he had been doing on a low cost method to extract lithium from the clay and fine sand deposits in central Mexico. He currently runs a state-of-the-art laboratory close to our salars, he has worked with many of the Mexican major mining companies and is a key advisor to one of them. Dr. Roberto Perez Garibay is a professor-researcher at the prestigious Center of Research and Advanced Studies of the National Polytechnic Institute (Cinvestav-IPN). It is very exciting to have a method to extract lithium from clay deposits that was developed in Mexico. "Until now, methods to extract lithium from clay deposits required the use of large amounts of water and toxic chemicals. This new method developed by Dr. Perez Garibay for lithium and potassium extraction, that has now been filed as a new patent application, uses recyclable water, electrical separation of lithium and potassium using solar power, and finally uses organic compounds to extract the lithium and potassium from the water. "Central Mexico is a key mining jurisdiction and is also the breadbasket of Mexico. Currently, there are no Mexican sources of potassium, it is all imported, and this method now gives Advance Gold the potential to become a major producer of potassium in close proximity to the farming centre of Mexico. In addition, we also have promising grades of boron which is crucial to plant health and enhances the strength of plants and increases the nutritional value of agriculture and increases the shelf life of fruits and vegetables. We are excited to have an environmentally conscious method to extract agricultural minerals and be a first mover in having Mexican sourced minerals to provide farmers with a domestic source. "We are now well positioned to become a producer of lithium, crucial in battery technology and key agricultural commodities. Dr. Perez Garibay is based in Saltillo, Mexico, which is near our salars. He is designing a test plant and will start construction shortly, to prepare for the bulk sampling of our salars to show the benefits and low costs of extracting lithium and potassium from these salars. "The world is in the midst of a revolution to electrify everything, to move away from fossil fuels. Battery metals are crucial to electrical vehicles and other green solutions for alternative energy sources. Lithium will help power the future, we are gratified to have the potential to move into the forefront with this new extraction process. "Being based in Mexico gives us tremendous advantages, logistically, geo-politically and economically. It has the raw materials needed for electrical vehicles and a long history of mining. Additionally, it has the labour force needed to build electrical vehicles and batteries. We look forward to the opportunity to provide a green solution to mine lithium for green energy." Additional News Advance Gold has filed the final agreement, previously discussed in the news release dated March 2, 2021, for regulatory approval. In addition to the purchase agreement, Advance has also secured the rights to use this new extraction method on its 13 salars in central Mexico on the terms outlined in the March 2, 2021 news release. Dr. Julio Pinto Linares is a qualified person, doctor in geological sciences with an academic specialty in economic geology and a qualified professional, No. 01365 by MMSA. He is the qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 for Advance Gold and is responsible for the accuracy of technical information contained in this news release. About Advance Gold Corp. Advance Gold is a junior exploration company focused on acquiring and exploring mineral properties containing precious metals, agricultural minerals and battery metals. The company acquired a 100-per-cent interest in the Tabasquena silver mine in Zacatecas, Mexico, in 2017, and the Venaditas project, also in Zacatecas state, in April, 2018. In addition, Advance Gold holds an 10.85% interest in strategic claims in the Liranda Corridor in Kenya, East Africa. The remaining 89.15% of the Kakamega project is held by Shanta Gold Limited (project previously owned by Barrick Gold Corporation, for details see Advance Gold News Release dated 08, 26, 2020). In March, 2021 Advance Gold acquired 13 salars in central Mexico containing potassium, boron and lithium, enabling it to move into agricultural minerals and the exciting lithium space. For further information, please contact: Allan Barry Laboucan President and CEO Phone 492-238-5282 (Direct-Mexico Cell) Email: allan@advancegold.ca www.advancegold.ca This news release contains certain statements that may be deemed "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 forward based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made. 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, except as required by law. 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 news release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/100756 TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / October 25, 2021 / Please see below for a link to the monthly factsheet for the Aberdeen Asia-Pacific Income Investment Company Limited (TSX:FAP), including performance and portfolio composition as of September 30, 2021. Aberdeen Asia-Pacific Income Investment Company Limited Factsheet Important Information Aberdeen Standard Investments ("ASI") is the registered marketing name in Canada for the following entities, which now operate around the world under the abrdn brand: Aberdeen Standard Investments (Canada) Limited, Aberdeen Standard Investments Luxembourg Standard Life Investments Private Capital Ltd, SL Capital Partners LLP, Standard Life Investments Limited, Aberdeen Standard Alternative Funds Limited, and Aberdeen Capital Management LLC. Aberdeen Standard Investments (Canada) Limited, is registered as a Portfolio Manager and Exempt Market Dealer in all provinces and territories of Canada as well as an Investment Fund Manager in the provinces of Ontario, Quebec, and Newfoundland and Labrador. Closed-end funds are traded on the secondary market through one of the stock exchanges. The Company's investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that an investor's shares may be worth more or less than the original cost. Shares of closed-end funds may trade above (a premium) or below (a discount) the net asset value (NAV) of the company's portfolio. There is no assurance that the Company will achieve its investment objective. Past performance does not guarantee future results. If you wish to receive this information electronically, please contact: Investor.Relations@abrdn.com . For More Information Contact: Aberdeen Standard Investments Inc. Investor Relations 1-800-992-6341 Investor.Relations@abrdn.com SOURCE: Aberdeen Asia-Pacific Income Investment Company Limited View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/669549/Aberdeen-Asia-Pacific-Income-Investment-Company-Limited-Announces-Release-of-Monthly-Factsheet PHILADELPHIA, PA / ACCESSWIRE / October 25, 2021 / Please see below for links to each of the abrdn U.S. closed-end funds monthly factsheets including performance and portfolio composition as of September 30, 2021. Equity Funds Aberdeen Australia Equity Fund, Inc. ("IAF") Factsheet Aberdeen Emerging Markets Equity Income Fund, Inc. ("AEF") Factsheet Aberdeen Global Dynamic Dividend Fund ("AGD") Factsheet Aberdeen Japan Equity Fund, Inc. ("JEQ") Factsheet Aberdeen Standard Global Infrastructure Income Fund ("ASGI") Factsheet Aberdeen Total Dynamic Dividend Fund ("AOD") Factsheet The India Fund, Inc. ("IFN") Factsheet Fixed Income Funds Aberdeen Asia-Pacific Income Fund, Inc. ("FAX") Factsheet Aberdeen Global Income Fund, Inc. ("FCO") Factsheet Aberdeen Income Credit Strategies Fund ("ACP") Factsheet Property Funds Aberdeen Global Premier Properties Fund ("AWP") Factsheet Important Information In the United States, abrdn is the marketing name for the following affiliated, registered investment advisers: Aberdeen Standard Investments Inc., Aberdeen Asset Managers Ltd., abrdn Australia Limited, Aberdeen Standard Investments (Asia) Ltd., Aberdeen Capital Management, LLC, Aberdeen Standard Investments ETFs Advisors LLC and Aberdeen Standard Alternative Funds Limited. Closed-end funds are traded on the secondary market through one of the stock exchanges. The Fund's investment return and principal value will fluctuate so that an investor's shares may be worth more or less than the original cost. Shares of closed-end funds may trade above (a premium) or below (a discount) the net asset value (NAV) of the fund's portfolio. There is no assurance that the Fund will achieve its investment objective. Past performance does not guarantee future results. If you wish to receive this information electronically, please contact: Investor.Relations@abrdn.com # # # For More Information Contact: Aberdeen Standard Investments Inc. Investor Relations 1-800-522-5465 Investor.Relations@abrdn.com SOURCE: Aberdeen Standard Investments Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/669555/Aberdeen-Standard-Investments-Inc-Announce-Release-Of-US-Closed-End-Funds-Monthly-Factsheets Rockley Photonics (NYSE: RKLY), a global leader in photonics-based health monitoring and communications solutions, today announced that it plans to report its third quarter fiscal year 2021 financial results after the market closes on Monday, November 15, 2021. The company also plans to host a conference call that day at 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time to review its financial results and business outlook. The conference call can be accessed by dialing 877-407-0784 from the United States or +1 201-689-8560 internationally, referencing Rockley Photonics. A live webcast and replay of the conference call can be accessed from the investor relations page on Rockley's website at investors.rockleyphotonics.com. Following the completion of the call through 11:59 p.m. ET on November 29, 2021, a telephone replay will be available by dialing 844-512-2921 from the United States or +1 412-317-6671 internationally with recording access code 13724627. About Rockley Photonics A global leader in photonics-based health monitoring and communications solutions, Rockley Photonics is developing a comprehensive range of photonic integrated circuits and associated modules, sensors, and full-stack solutions. From next-generation sensing platforms specifically designed for mobile health monitoring and machine vision to high-speed, high-volume solutions for data communications, Rockley is laying the foundation for a new generation of applications across multiple industries. Rockley believes that photonics will eventually become as pervasive as micro-electronics, and it has developed a platform with the power and flexibility needed to address both mass markets and a wide variety of vertical applications. Formed in 2013, Rockley is uniquely positioned to support hyper-scale manufacturing and address a multitude of high-volume markets. Rockley has partnered with numerous Tier-1 customers across a diverse range of industries to deliver the complex optical systems required to bring transformational products to market. To learn more about Rockley, visit rockleyphotonics.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211025005755/en/ Contacts: For Rockley Media Karen Boud Resonates Telephone: 01635 898 698 Email: rockley@resonates.com Investors Gwyn Lauber Rockley Photonics investors@rockleyphotonics.com HOUSTON, TX / ACCESSWIRE / October 25, 2021 / Evolution Petroleum Corporation (NYSE American:EPM) ("Evolution" or the "Company") today announced that it will release its financial and operational results for the first quarter ended September 30, 2021 (its first fiscal quarter of 2022), after the market closes on Tuesday, November 9, 2021. An investor conference call to review the results will be held on Wednesday, November 10, 2021, at 2:00 p.m. Eastern (1:00 p.m. Central). The call will be hosted by Jason Brown, President & Chief Executive Officer, and Ryan Stash, Chief Financial Officer. Details for the conference call are as follows: Date: November 10, 2021 Time: 2:00 p.m. Eastern (1:00 p.m. Central) Call: Provide access code of 750105 after dialing: 888-506-0062 (Toll free United States & Canada) 973-528-0011 (International) To listen live via webcast, click the link https://www.webcaster4.com/Webcast/Page/2188/43337 or go to the Company's website at www.evolutionpetroleum.com. An audio replay will be available on Evolution's website following the call. An audio replay will also be available two hours after the end of the conference call through December 10, 2021 and will be accessible by dialing 877-481-4010 (Toll free United States & Canada); 919-882-2331 (International) with the replay pin number of 43337. About Evolution Petroleum Evolution Petroleum Corporation is an oil and natural gas company focused on delivering a sustainable dividend yield to its shareholders through the ownership, management, and development of producing oil and natural gas properties onshore in the United States. The Company's long-term goal is to build a diversified portfolio of oil and natural gas assets primarily through acquisition, while seeking opportunities to maintain and increase production through selective development, production enhancement and other exploitation efforts on its properties. Our largest assets are our interest in a CO2 enhanced oil recovery project in Louisiana's Delhi field, our interest in a secondary recovery project in Wyoming's Hamilton Dome field, and our recently acquired interests in the Barnett Shale in Texas. Additional information, including the Company's annual report on Form 10-K and its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, is available on its website at http://www.EvolutionPetroleum.com. Company Contacts Jason Brown, President & CEO Ryan Stash, SVP & CFO (713) 935-0122 JBrown@evolutionpetroleum.com RStash@evolutionpetroleum.com SOURCE: Evolution Petroleum Corporation View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/669597/Evolution-Petroleum-Announces-First-Fiscal-Quarter-2022-Earnings-Release-Conference-Call Acquires Azteca America Affiliate T.V. Station KRRI-LD in Reno Nevada RENO, NV / ACCESSWIRE / October 25, 2021 / Adaptive Ad Systems, Inc. (OTC PINK:AATV), a company that provides Dynamic Digital Ad Insertion (DDAI) via its streaming media hardware and proprietary processing software for the U.S. cable T.V. and Satellite markets, announced today that it has acquired Telemundo television Affiliate KRRI-LP in Reno, Nevada. In connection with the acquisition, J. Michael Heil, the Company's CEO, stated: "Industry insiders have viewed Adaptive as a leader in creating cutting-edge technology for the television ad insertion industry for many years. Our management and technology teams have worked in the satellite television and cable television industry for decades. Now, the Company has expanded its suite of projects and market segments by making an initial entrance into broadcast television with the acquisition of T.V. station KRRI-LP." An Azteca America affiliate for over ten years, the station commenced broadcasting Azteca in May 2010 and is located on channel 25 in Reno, Nevada. On local cable, the station is carried on Spectrum Channel 238 and Channel 53 on Satview Broadband Cable in Elko, Nevada. Azteca America is an American Spanish-language free-to-air television network owned by HC2 Broadcasting, a subsidiary of INNOVATE Corp., a NYSE company (VATE). Innovative owns 230 broadcast stations in over 90 markets, including 34 of the top 35 markets. Headquartered in New York City, the network's programming is aimed at the Hispanic and Latin American communities in the United States. It has access to programming from Azteca's three television national networks in Mexico, including a library with over 200,000 hours of original programming and news content from local bureaus in 32 Mexican states. Its programming consists of a mix of telenovelas, drama series, news programming, and reality and variety series. Mr. Heil adds, "Our team has a lot of experience in television, and we are in the process of researching and developing the types of products we can make available to our growing network by experimenting and expanding with different opportunities in the television industry. Our latest acquisition addresses a very fast-growing Hispanic market in the U.S. and is just one indicator of our creative thinking moving into the future." THE ADAPTIVE SYSTEM Adaptive allows advertisers across the U.S. to purchase ads inserted into a linked group of the Adaptive digital T.V. advertising system. Adaptive Ad Systems manages all ad-related activities, provides all technical support, ad-sales, traffic, and billing. Adaptive has established an innovative revenue share agreement with each cable television system. ABOUT ADAPTIVE Adaptive Ad Systems Inc. is a digital media and video communications company that together with its subsidiary manufactures, develops and deploys dynamic digital ad insertion (DDAI) and video streaming media hardware and proprietary processing software for the Cable T.V., Satellite T.V., and IPTV markets, and High Speed Fixed Wireless Internet Service (WISP) via a network of Hybrid Access Points and Micro POPs. Adaptive's primary focus is the 2nd and 3rd tier U.S. markets. Adaptive exclusively sells all available advertising space in each market across multiple national cable television networks while maintaining complete technology ownership. Adaptive has implemented a compelling profit-sharing model with its cable T.V. partners. The Company serves over 200 designated marketing areas in approximately 39 states. Adaptive also provides broadband and cable T.V. services in some niche markets. For additional information, please visit www.adaptiveadsystems.com. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS Any statements contained in this press release that do not describe historical facts constitute forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements may include, without limitation, financial projections, information regarding the plans and objectives of management for current and future operations, the development, regulatory approvals, and commercialization of the Company's products, or any of the Company's proposed services, systems, partnerships, or acquisitions. Such forward-looking statements are not meant to predict or guarantee actual results and performance, and actual events or results may differ considerably. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from any projections may include, without limitation, the Company's delays in the development of its products, the inability to obtain additional financing, the impact of significant new or changing government regulation on the industry, existing or increased competition, results of arbitration and litigation, stock volatility and illiquidity, and the Company's general failure to implement the Company's business plans or strategies. The Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect any change in events or circumstances that may arise after the date of this release. DOWNLOAD SWI RESEARCH REPORT HERE. Adaptive Ad Systems, Inc. 4400 NE 77th Avenue, Suite 275 Vancouver, Washington 98662 310-321-4958 info@aatv.co www.aatv.co StockWatchIndex San Diego, California 442-287-8059 info@stockwatchindex.com www.stockwatchindex.com www.swiresearch.com SOURCE: Adaptive Ad Systems, Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/669600/Adaptive-Ad-Systems-Enters-Television-Broadcasting Cedilla Therapeutics, a Cambridge, Mass.-based biotechnology company focused on precision oncology, raised $25m in an expansion of its Series B financing, bringing the total amount raised to $82.6m. The Series B expansion includes new investors RA Capital Management, Janus Henderson Investors, Woodline Partners LP and Logos Capital, along with participation from existing investor Third Rock Ventures. In conjunction with the financing, Jake Simson, Ph.D., Partner at RA Capital Management, joins Cedillas Board of Directors. Proceeds from the financing will support Cedillas continued growth and development of its two lead programs, an inhibitor of TEAD for the treatment of solid tumors, such as mesothelioma and certain squamous cell carcinomas, and a highly selective inhibitor of CDK2/Cyclin E for the treatment of multiple tumor types, including CDK4/6-resistant breast cancer, ovarian, uterine, stomach and esophageal cancers. The company plans to initiate investigational new drug application-enabling studies for the TEAD program in the first half of 2022 and for the CDK2 program in the second half of 2022. Cedilla is led by Alexandra Glucksmann, Ph.D., President and Chief Executive Officer. FinSMEs 25/10/2021 Citcon, a San Jose, Calif.-based mobile wallet payment provider enabling global commerce at scale, raised $30m in Series C financing. The round was led by Norwest Venture Partners and Cota Capital with participation from Sierra Ventures and Sonae IM. The company intends to use the funds for the addition of staff and global expansion. Led by Chuck Huang, CEO and founder, Citcon provides a global enterprise payments gateway that allows merchants to participate in global commerce by enabling secure online or in-store transactions with more than 100 different payment methods, including mobile wallets, local payment schemes, and traditional credit cards all through one single integration and reconciliation platform. The solution integrates a variety of globally popular digital wallet brands including PayPal, Venmo, AliPay, WeChat Pay, as well as buy now pay later services, cryptocurrency, and more. Its payment solutions are currently deployed at more than 30,000 merchants sites and locations, including world-renowned brands such as LOreal, Tumi, Texas Instruments, Revolve, Macys, and Panda Express. Citcons annualized payment volume is more than $1 billion. The company has five regional offices in the US, Canada, Europe, and Asia to service its global clientele. FinSMEs 25/11/2021 Jimu Intelligent, a Wuhan, China-based intelligent driving solution provider, raised CNY 200m in Series C1 funding round. This round was jointly led by Forebright Capital and SDIC Unity Capital, followed by institutions such as AVIC Pingshan, Founder H Fund, MY Tsinghua Capital, UMC Capital and others. In this round of funding, Jimu has introduced investment institutions, such as Forebright Capital, SDIC Yangtze backed by State Development & Investment Corp., AVIC Pingshan, a subsidiary of China Aviation Industry Corporation, Founder H Fund, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Founder Securities, MY Tsinghua Capital backed by Tsinghua Strait Research Institute, and UMC Capital, an internationally known semiconductor group, etc. These new shareholders will promote the development of JIMU Intelligent with their industrial resources and capital. The company intends to use the funds to further increase its R&D investment in intelligent driving, connectivity and autonomous driving in specific scenarios, continue to expand its customer base, and accelerate the mass production of high-level intelligent driving technologies. Founded in 2011 by Cheng Jianwei, CEO, Jimu Intelligent is an intelligent driving solution provider, providing global OEMs and Tier-1 suppliers with self-developed intelligent driving solutions based on multi-sensor fusion and domain controllers. The companys intelligent driving products have been applied in batches to around 100 models of nearly 30 OEMs globally. After this funding, Jimu Intelligent will continue to actively expand the passenger car market, trying to enter the supply chains of at least five leading car companies in the next two years, and becoming a mainstream intelligent driving solution provider in the passenger vehicle field. In addition, the company is actively exploring overseas markets. FinSMEs 25/10/2021 kevin., a Vilnius, Lithuania-based fintech startup which provides payment infrastructure for online, mobile, and physical sales, secured $10m in seed funding. The round, which brought total funding raised to date to $14m, was co-led by OTB Ventures and Speedinvest, with participation from OpenOcean, Javier Perezs Global PayTech Ventures, and high net worth individuals including AmRest founder Henry McGovern. The company intends to use the funds to further develop its product offering, particularly around POS payments, to expand into new markets. Led by Tadas Tamosiunas, CEO, and Pavel Sokolovas, COO and Co-founder, kevin. offers customizable transacting solutions which scale to the size of any business. Its advanced A2A (account-to-account) payment infrastructure solution swiftly changes card payments to payments linked directly from customers bank accounts without using any third-party providers. The technology scales to businesses of any size and across industries, including retail, parking, fashion, car-sharing, deliveries, insurance and many more. kevin. focuses on mobile and POS payments where customers predominantly pay using cards currently. Its payment infrastructure is based on open banking regulated by the European PSD2 Directive which requires all banks and financial institutions in the European Economic Area to open their API for licensed third-party providers. Currently, the company supports more than 2,700 merchants in 15 markets, including Sweden, Finland, Norway, Poland, Netherlands and Portugal. By 2022, kevin. expects to have operations in 28 markets in total, including in new markets such as the UK, Spain and France. The company has a team of more than 100 employees in seven countries and it plans to expand its workforce to beyond 350 employees in 2022. FinSMEs 25/11/2021 Novalith, a Sydney, Australia-based climate technology company, raised $2.5M in Seed funding. The CEFC, through the Clean Energy Innovation Fund, has made a $1.5 million investment in the seed round, which also drew support from the US-based venture capital investor, The Jeremy and Hannelore Grantham Environmental Trusts Neglected Climate Opportunities LLC. The company intends to use the funds to finance the build-out and operation of a pilot plant in Sydney, as it moves toward the development of a commercial demonstration plant. Led by Founder and CEO Steven Vassiloudis, Co-founder and CTO Dr Andrew Harris and Co-founder and CBO Christiaan Jordaan, Novalith is a climate technology company that uses carbon dioxide to simplify lithium chemicals production. The process for extracting lithium consumes carbon dioxide as a reagent, reducing emissions, eliminating the need for conventionally consumed chemicals and minimising waste footprints. FinSMEs 25/10/2021 About Novalith Novalith Technologies is a Sydney, Australia based climate technology company that uses carbon dioxide to simplify lithium chemicals production. We are motivated by our belief that the future of lithium mining and refining will require the elimination of carbon-intensive energy sources, and ideally turn carbon waste into carbon value. Novaliths LiCALTM lithium extraction technology uses significantly less equipment, chemical reagents, water and energy than conventional processing, which reduces capital and production costs. The direct use and sequestration of CO 2 in producing lithium chemicals also produces a much smaller emissions footprint than existing and alternative processes. About the CEFC The CEFC has a unique purpose to lead investment in Australias transition to a low emissions economy. It invests to lead the market, operating with commercial rigour to address some of Australias toughest emissions challenges. This includes working with co-investors across renewable energy generation and energy storage, as well as agriculture, infrastructure, property, transport and waste. Through the Advancing Hydrogen Fund, it is supporting the growth of a clean, innovative, safe and competitive hydrogen industry. And as Australias largest dedicated cleantech investor, it continues to back cleantech entrepreneurs through the Clean Energy Innovation Fund. With $10 billion to invest on behalf of the Australian Government, the CEFC works to deliver a positive return for taxpayers across its portfolio. About Neglected Climate Opportunities LLC Neglected Climate Opportunities LLC is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Jeremy and Hannelore Grantham Foundation and the Grantham Trusts environmental venture capital vehicle. We invest to redesign our energy systems, to improve soil health, to spare the ocean from acidification, to directly recapture carbon from the atmosphere and more. We believe that innovation and technology are the best hope for an enduring future. The Grantham Foundation for the Protection of the Environment was established in 1997 by Jeremy and Hannelore Grantham. [1] Future Battery Industries CRC, Future Charge Building Australias Battery Industries, June 2021. p3. https://fbicrc.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Future-Charge-Report-Final.pdf [2] Future Battery Industries CRC, Future Charge Building Australias Battery Industries, June 2021. P4. https://fbicrc.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Future-Charge-Report-Final.pdf SOURCE Novalith Technologies Pty Ltd Related Links www.novalith.com.au property.xyz, a Manchester, England, UK-based intelligent property search portal, raised 268k in angel funding. Eleven, experienced investors in the fields of technology, finance and real estate participated in the round. The company intends to use the funds to continue to develop the platform. Co-founded by Robert Jones and Dr Simone Di Cola, property xyz provides an intelligent property search portal which presents properties for sale and supplies all the property data investors need to make a quick decision about a purchase, all available for free. The portal has been user-tested by agents, homebuilders, property investors and buy-to-let landlords. The company plans to allow investors to place bids and buy now on properties selected by agents with both on and off-market property investments. The next stage of the roadmap lays out a path to deepening established partnerships with some of the best agents, homebuilders and data providers in the UK and growing partnerships with other proptech companies, all in service of providing property investors more options for researching and purchasing properties on an intuitive platform built with modern technology. FinSMEs 25/10/2021 Sofinnova Partners, a life sciences venture capital firm based in Paris, London and Milan, closed its latest early-stage healthcare venture capital fund, Sofinnova Capital X, at 472 ($548) million. Capital X, the 10th iteration of Sofinnova Partners flagship fund, was raised with institutional investors including pension funds, insurance companies, foundations, endowments, corporate investors, and prominent family offices from across Europe, Asia, and North America. Capital X will invest in the most promising biopharmaceutical and medical device startups that address pressing unmet clinical needs and aim to transform patients lives. In keeping with the current strategy, the team will source and create value across a portfolio of groundbreaking innovations in healthcare, supporting entrepreneurs globally in the creation and growth of their companies. This brings the total amount the firm has raised to 1 billion in the last 12 months across its multi-fund platform, and the total AUM to over 2.5 billion. Led by Antoine Papiernik, Managing Partner and Chairman, and Henrijette Richter, Managing Partner, Sofinnova Partners is a European venture capital firm in life sciences, specializing in healthcare and sustainability with has over 2.5 billion under management. FinSMEs 25/10/2021 Versace Eros Parfum New Fragrances Versace has decided to expand the Eros line by offering the newest version of the popular masculine scent. After the pillar, Versace Eros Eau de Toilette, launched in 2012; Eros Flame from 2018; and Eros Eau de Parfum launched in 2020; Versace will now release a Parfum! The Eros line is deeply connected and inspired with Greek mythology. The fragrance was named after the Greek god of love and son of the goddess Aphrodite Eros. The inspiration from ancient Greece has lasted since the time when Gianni Versace raised his fashion empire and took the goddess Medusa as symbol of the brand to adorn numerous products of the house, among them also the new flacon of the men's fragrance Eros. I designed my new fragrance, Eros, for a man who is both heroic and passionate, like a Greek God. Donatella Versace As announced: "A fragrance that strikes you right through the heart, bearing an important message about dignity and the power of diversity. Versace Eros now in a Parfum." The composition favors aromatic and fougere notes settled on a warm, ambery base. The opening offers a blend of fresh mint and Sorrento lemon, followed by crisp green apple and geranium in the heart. The base provides the comfy effect of balsamic tonka beans and amber. VERSACE EROS PARFUM Edition 2021 Opening notes: mint, Sorrento lemon Middle notes: green apple, geranium Base notes: tonka beans, amber The well-known bottle remains the same: made in turquoise glass with the bold and sculptured Medusa's head at the center of the flacon. VERSACE EROS PARFUM is available as a 100ml Parfum at the price of $139. (Macy's) PRESS RELEASE Rwanda hosts AU-EU Ministerial Meeting amid a crackdown on opposition and independent media Kigali, 25th October 2021, The Rwandan political opposition working inside Rwanda has learnt with interest about the AU/EU ministerial meeting taking place in Rwanda from 25th to 26th October 2021. We commend the thematic areas that will be covered during the discussions, namely: the response to and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic building resilience investing in the digital and green transitions peace, security, and global governance migration and mobility education, science, technology, and skills development While we commend all these areas of partnership, we would like to draw the attention of participating countries and institutions on one area that we believe is vital for the rest to succeed which is the area of peace, security and global governance. While Europe takes peace, security, and good governance for granted this is not the case everywhere in Africa. You will agree with us that democracy, respect for political and civil rights are prerequisite for peace and security hence the adoption of the universal declaration of human rights in 1948 at the end of the Second World War. Indeed, in its preamble it is stated: Whereas it is essential, if man is not to be compelled to have recourse, as a last resort, to rebellion against tyranny and oppression, that human rights should be protected by the rule of law. And indeed, as The UN Special Rapporteur on the rights to freedom of peaceful assembly and of association, Maina Kiai gave a warning on Rwanda in his June 2014 address to the Human Rights Council, a society without room for critical voices to speak freely and peacefully is unsustainable We do acknowledge that the Rwandan government has made commendable advances in certain areas but has fallen far short of expectations in meeting minimum standards in terms of respecting political and civil rights of its citizens, key to durable peace and economic development. For example, the government has conducted a crackdown on opposition and independent media ahead of this important Meeting. Seven key members of DALFA Umurinzi political party led by Mrs Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza, her assistant and one independent journalist have been arrested since the 13th of October 2021. Mrs Victoire Ingabire Umuhoza has also been summoned by the Rwandan Investigation Bureau (RIB) for questioning on 19th and 21st October 2021. She must return there this Monday, October 25 October 2021. On January 25, 2021, at the meeting of the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of the Human Rights Council in Geneva, many countries called on Rwanda to end torture and ill-treatment, and investigate cases of extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, arbitrary detention, and deaths in custody. Rwanda received 284 recommendations from ninety-nine countries. It accepted 160 recommendations, noted seventy-five. Welcome to my genealogy blog. Genea-Musings features genealogy research tips and techniques, genealogy news items and commentary, genealogy humor, San Diego genealogy society news, family history research and some family history stories from the keyboard of Randy Seaver (of Chula Vista CA), who thinks that Genealogy Research Is really FUN! Copyright (c) Randall J. Seaver, 2006-2021. Fort Collins, CO and Lincoln, NE, March 17, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NUtech Ventures, the technology commercialization affiliate at the University of NebraskaLincoln (UNL), is joining Innosphere Ventures University Partner Program, which supports the growth of university startup companies. Innosphere aims to be a value-added extension of NUtechs commercialization process by facilitating introductions to corporate partners and helping faculty founders and CEOs achieve business milestones. NUtech and UNL currently offer a variety of business resources to their startup ventures, including a customer discovery program that helps campus researchers develop value propositions, learn about customer segmentation and interview prospective stakeholders. Before forming a startup, university teams begin by licensing intellectual property, typically patents, from NUtech Ventures, before further developing the technology for commercial use. In 2020, for the third year in a row, the University of Nebraska System ranked in the top 100 academic institutions worldwide for issued U.S. patents. University of NebraskaLincoln faculty are launching startup companies to bring their innovations to the marketplace, and were excited to partner with Innosphere Ventures to provide additional support services, said Brad Roth, Ph.D., executive director of NUtech Ventures. This support is tailored for faculty founders, who are addressing the unique challenges and opportunities associated with early-stage technologies. Currently, UNL has startup companies related to cancer detection, organic weed control, conductive concrete, gut health, turfgrass management, and firefighting with drone technology, among others. Were ready to start working with UNL faculty and licensing managers who are developing and commercializing cutting-edge research, said Mike Freeman, CEO of Innosphere Ventures. NUtech has a great mission of promoting economic development and improving quality of life. Theyre a great partner for Innosphere because they share our same goal of transferring technologies from the lab to the marketplace, with broad, real-world impact. For many years, Innosphere has held partnerships with Colorados research universities and their technology transfer offices at Colorado State University (CSU Ventures), the University of Colorado Boulder (Venture Partners at CU Boulder), and the Colorado School of Mines Office of Research and Technology Transfer. For more information on Innosphere Ventures University Partner Program, please visit innosphereventures.org/partners. Attachments 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 English French CGG, TGS and BGP Sign Agreement with Staatsolie for Multi-Client Programs Offshore Suriname Paris, France October 20, 2021 CGG, a global geoscience technology leader, in a consortium with TGS and BGP, today announced the signature of a multi-client agreement with Staatsolie, the state-owned company leading the development of the energy industry in the Republic of Suriname. The agreement allows the consortium to acquire, promote and license multi-client seismic programs, including new 3D acquisition and legacy data reprocessing, in the shallow water acreage offshore Suriname. Surinames shallow offshore acreage includes three blocks recently awarded, and current open acreage slated to be offered in a competitive bid round for 2023. The new seismic data from the consortiums multi-client programs will be instrumental in accurately delineating the prospectivity and potential of this underexplored area and is on trend with the recent material discoveries announced on the prolific block 58. Plans are in place to start acquiring the new 3D seismic data in the shallow offshore area from Q4 2021 with first products being made available during H1 2022. Sophie Zurquiyah, CEO, CGG, said: CGG brings its multi-client expertise and high-end imaging technology to this major new program that marks our return to the Guyana-Suriname basin after our successful campaign in the Stabroek block. The resulting exceptional data will bring new insight and potentially extend the trend of recent significant discoveries to the shallow waters of Suriname. Kristian Johansen, CEO at TGS, commented: We are pleased to announce entry to Suriname to continue successful evaluation of the regions potential. With this exciting multi-client agreement, the consortium will play a key part in encouraging and enhancing future exploration in Suriname, ultimately helping our customers de-risk their investment opportunities. Luo Junchao, President of BGP Offshore, commented, We are excited to be part of this innovative and pioneering consortium with TGS and CGG providing the industry with a world class drill ready dataset. BGP Offshore will deploy its state-of-the-art 3D vessel BGP Prospector on phase 1 of this project. About CGG CGG (www.cgg.com) is a global geoscience technology leader. Employing around 3,700 people worldwide, CGG provides a comprehensive range of data, products, services and solutions that support our clients to more efficiently and responsibly solve complex natural resource, environmental and infrastructure challenges. CGG is listed on the Euronext Paris SA (ISIN: 0013181864). Contacts Group Communications & Investor Relations Christophe Barnini Tel: + 33 1 64 47 38 11 E-Mail: christophe.barnini@cgg.com Attachment SEATTLE, WA, USA, Oct. 24, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Seattle Gummy Company (SGC) launched sugar free Mocca Shots, creating the most concentrated sugar free caffeine shots on the market. Each dark chocolate strawberry flavored gummy packs 100 mg caffeine, the equivalent of a regular cup of coffee! These sugar free gummies not only taste amazing, they also have the same all-natural, extremely effective and non-jittery energy as the companys regular Mocca Shots. And the best part? Each gummy is only 5-calories. One would think such concentrated caffeine would cause a lot of caffeine jitters, but SGC proprietary Serene Focus herbal blend removed caffeine jitter while providing a fast and effective energy boost. We try to replicate our regular Mocca Shots clean energy boost. Said Dr. Connie Wan, CEO, instead of just making a sugar free version of our regular Mocca Shots, we reformulated the bioactives to replicate that serene focus effect that our regular Mocca Shots brings. Sugar free products often taste artificial. Said Connie, it took a team of our Ph.D. scientists to develop an all-natural sugar-free gummy that tastes like natural sugar without all the artificial sweeteners and additives. The company has filed patent protection on its innovative sugar-free gummy formulations. We are now 70 plus patent filings strong! Connie emphasized. Keeping expanding its gummy technology toolbox, SGCs R&D team invented multiple technology platforms from diabetic safe carbohydrates to sugar free gummy matrix. Its new product pipeline not only includes more functional gummy products but also a suite of gummy medicines for treating conditions from allergy to inflammation to erectile dysfunction. Gummy medicine delivers drugs through mucosal absorption which is fast and effective. Said Connie, the first part of our medicine pipeline targets the conditions that need fast relief. The company is in the process of launch Series B raise to accelerate its gummy medicine pipeline. As part of the B raise, the company has carved a portion of the raise and partnered up with weFunder, a crowdsourcing platform. We have raised over $10M from VC and PEs with the ticket size being at least half a million. Said Connie, But in the past few years, we have so many people asking if there is a way for them to join. With weFunder, people can join with as little as $100. SGC board approved this exception as a thanks to all the customers and partners who have provided us unwavering supports in the past few years. For your chance of joining the gummy medicine future, SGCs weFunder page can be found here: https://wefunder.com/seattle-gummy-company About the Company: Seattle Gummy Company is a science-based and performance-driven company that takes immense pride in providing a range of innovative chewable gummy formulations. These gummies were developed by their in-house Ph.D. research scientists who have designed their gummies to give the best health benefits at an affordable price. Their wide selection of products, each made with premium, high-quality ingredients, are vegan, non-GMO, all-natural, and made in the USA. They combine Traditional Chinese Medicine with the latest science to ensure all products provide the maximum results for every customer. Website: https://seattlegummy.com/ Location: Seattle Gummy Company - Google Maps English French Solutions 30 announced today that it has acquired the business and certain assets of Mono Consultants Ltd ("Mono"). With this transaction, Solutions 30 is resuming its external growth policy and confirming its ambitions in the UK market, by strengthening its territorial coverage and its client portfolio in the field of mobile telecommunications networks. Founded in 1997, Mono offers turnkey services related to the deployment of mobile telecommunications infrastructures, from network design to deployment. One of the largest businesses in a highly fragmented UK market, Mono generated revenues of 41.5 million (49.0 million) for the year ended August 31, 2020. Impacted by the Covid-19 crisis, the company did not have the critical size and financial strength to absorb the drop in volume and then respond to the strong market rebound. At the end of August 2021, the company closed its financial year with revenues of 27.8 million (32.8 million). However, its excellent reputation, its first-rate customer portfolio and strong order book mean there is strong growth potential for the 2021-22 financial year, driven by the development of 5th generation (5G) mobile networks. In this context, with the support of all its partners as well as Mono's management team, Solutions 30 acquired the business and certain assets of this company on 22nd October 2021, thereby making its second acquisition in the United Kingdom, in a high-potential market. This transaction marks the re-launch of Solutions 30's external growth policy, aimed at consolidating the Group's positions in Europe. Paul Garston, Managing Director of Solutions 30 UK, said: This transaction is a major step forward for Solutions 30 in the UK and we are delighted to welcome the 165 employees of Mono to the Group. There are many synergies between our two companies and the complementary nature of our activities, customer portfolios and locations significantly strengthens our base for development in a very dynamic UK market, whether in mobile telecommunications, fibre optics or energy. Mono operates throughout the UK and has a presence in Glasgow, Manchester and Milton Keynes. The company has built up a prestigious client portfolio and works with major operators including Telefonica and BT/EE, as well as telecom equipment manufacturers including Ericsson. Peter Walsh, CEO of Mono since 2020, added: Joining the Solutions 30 Group provides us with the strength and depth we need to develop the business and be at the forefront of our customers deployment plans in the UK. It provides access to the Groups broad skills and expertise from different sectors as well as the working capital needed to fund our growth ambitions. The combined capability of Comvergent and Mono will make Solutions 30 a leading player across all four mobile networks in the UK. About Solutions 30 SE The Solutions 30 group is the European leader in solutions for new technologies. Its mission is to make the technological developments that are transforming our daily lives accessible to everyone, individuals and businesses alike. Yesterday, it was computers and the Internet. Today, its digital technology. Tomorrow, it will be technologies that make the world even more interconnected in real time. With more than 30 million call-outs carried out since it was founded and a network of more than 15,700 local technicians, Solutions 30 currently covers all of France, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Iberian Peninsula, the United Kingdom, and Poland. The share capital of Solutions 30 SE consists of 107,127,984 shares, equal to the number of theoretical votes that can be exercised. Solutions 30 SE is listed on the Euronext Paris exchange (ISIN FR0013379484- code S30). Indexes: MSCI Europe Small Cap | Tech40 | CAC PME | SBF 120 | CAC Mid 60. Visit our website for more information: www.solutions30.com Contact Individual Shareholders: Investor Relations - Tel: +33 1 86 86 00 63 - shareholders@solutions30.com Analysts/Investors: Nathalie Boumendil - Tel: +33 6 85 82 41 95 - nathalie.boumendil@solutions30.com Press - Image 7: Leslie Jung - Tel: +44 7818 641803 - ljung@image7.fr Charlotte Le Barbier - Tel: +33 6 78 37 27 60 - clebarbier@image7.fr Attachment San Juan, Puerto Rico, Oct. 25, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via NewMediaWire BOTS, Inc. (OTC: BTZI), ("BOTS" or "The Company"), a global technology conglomerate specialized in Blockchain-based solutions including decentralized finance applications, cybersecurity, crypto generation, mining, equipment repair, and warranties announced today that the Company invites all holders of $PRES the world's first commemorative presidential coin minted on a blockchain - to swap out their Omni protocol based $PRES for Binance Smart Chain based coins that allow holders to trade PRES on Pancakeswap, a popular decentralized exchange. Current owners of $PRES on the Omni and potential crypto traders may find information about President Trump (COIN: PRES) on the Binance Smart Chain Explorer here: https://bscscan.com/token/0x19b8213b09b76f4bf01464559f7b915669065f22#balances The historically commemorative $PRES coin was first listed on CoinMarketCap before the 2016 elections. It showed a significant upside trend leading up to Trump's win in the 2016 elections, while President Clinton (COIN: HILL) fell sharply leading up to her defeat. https://coinmarketcap.com/currencies/president-trump/ Those who wish to swap out their Omni $PRES for Binance, $PRES, should contact info@bots.bz for further instructions. President Donald J. Trump's declaration on Wednesday evening that he would start a "media powerhouse" along with hints that he will run in 2024 brought renewed interest in $PRES. On Trump's flagship operation known as Truth Social, a Twitter-like social network, his statement declared that it would "stand up to the tyranny of Big Tech." Trump has managed to gain access to hundreds of millions of dollars to launch a social media company through a SPAC bearing the symbol DWAC. New York Times article "Trump Takes Advantage of Wall Street Fad to Bankroll New Venture" described the deal. Special purpose acquisition companies are the reverse of initial public offerings. Sometimes called blank-check companies, SPACs go public first and raise money from investors with the goal of finding a private company to merge with. Those investors have no clue about what that merger partner will turn out to be and are certainly surprised to find a Trump deal as this is his first venture into the public arena, having kept his vast real estate empire private throughout his life. This led some of the prominent investors in a SPAC named Digital World Acquisition including the hedge funds D.E. Shaw and Saba Capital to the surprising realization that they were financially backing Mr. Trump's latest Company. Mr. Trump's new Company, Trump Media and Technology Group incorporated in Delaware in February with little fanfare and with no revenue or tested business plan reached a deal to merge with Digital World on Wednesday. Digital World, which was set up shortly after Mr. Trump lost the 2020 electoral vote, only last month raised nearly $300 million, largely from big investors. Assuming the merger is consummated, that money will soon be bankrolling the Trump media venture, which plans early next year to offer a Twitter-like social media app. Shares of the newly merged Company soared on Thursday, rising more than 300 percent to close at $45.50 a share and partly reflecting expectations that the former president's media company could be very profitable. Some Republican groups immediately sought to use the announcement of the social media site for fund-raising purposes. The Republican National Committee, for instance, sent a "BREAKING NEWS" email on Thursday asking supporters if they would join the site. The hedge funds that invested in Digital World appear to have profited at least on paper, given the stock's steep rise on Thursday and continued upward soaring prices on Friday. The stock climbed so fast that it underwent several halts to cool off what appeared to be unsustainable surges in price per share on Friday. Bots' incubator company, Tipestry.com, recently launched a section for groups which now includes: https://tipestry.com/group/MAGA-Mania where $PRES can be tipped between users that post content. Liquidity of $PRES and its price can be added and tracked here: https://charts.bogged.finance/0x19b8213B09B76f4BF01464559F7b915669065f22 Bots, Inc. owns a 6% interest in Tipestry.com and is the majority owner and successive founder of the commemorative coin President Trump (COIN: PRES) and will retire the portions of the Omni version of PRES as owners convert to the Binance version so that the total ownership never exceeds the original 57,968,072,167 minted in President Trump coinage. PRES will also be tradeable on Bots' upcoming decentralized exchange, Kosher Swap. About BOTS, Inc. BOTS, Inc. is a global technology company specialized in Blockchain-based solutions, including decentralized finance applications, cybersecurity solutions, and owns a portfolio of digital assets and crypto-related businesses such as BeadSwap, a decentralized crypto exchange, Bitcoin ATM machines, and corresponding U.S. patents and Cyber Security Group LLC, an ISO/IEC 27001:2013 Information Security Management System certified company. The Company also provides crypto mining consulting, optimization, and crypto mining equipment repair and insurance. Track BTZI news on Facebook @https://www.facebook.com/Bots.Bz/ Follow BTZI news on Twitter @Bots_bz http://www.Twitter.com/Bots_bz Find BTZI news at http://www.bots.bz Bots, Inc. has been featured in media nationwide, including CNBC, Bloomberg, TheStreet.com. For more information please dial **BTZI (**2894) from your mobile phone (service in beta- available on ATT and Verizon networks only) Visit BTZI on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Bots.Bz/ Follow BTZI on Twitter @Bots_bz Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements contained in this press release may constitute "forward-looking statements." Forward-looking statements provide current expectations of future events based on certain assumptions and include any statement that does not directly relate to any historical or current fact. Actual results may differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors as may be disclosed in the Company's filings. In addition to these factors, actual future performance, outcomes, and results may differ materially because of more general factors, including (without limitation) general industry and market conditions and growth rates, economic conditions, and governmental and public policy changes. The forward-looking statements included in this press release represent the Company's views as of the date of this press release, and these views could change. However, while the Company may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, the Company specifically disclaims any obligation to do so. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing the Company's views as of any date subsequent to the date of the press release. Such forward-looking statements are risks that are detailed in the Company's website and filings. Contact: Oleksandr Gordieiev CEO info@bots.bz New York, Oct. 25, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "3D Bioprinting Global Market Report 2021: COVID-19 Implications And Growth" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06177522/?utm_source=GNW , Digilab Inc., RegenHU, GeSIM GmbH, Advanced Solutions Life Sciences LLC, Regenovo Biotechnology Co. Ltd., Regemat 3D S.L., Bio3D Technologies, Stratasys Ltd, ROKIT Healthcare, Inventia Life Science PTY LTD, Vivax Bio LLC, GE Healthcare, and 3D Biotek. The global 3D bioprinting market is expected to grow from $771.41 million in 2020 to $933.91 million in 2021 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 21.1%. The change in growth trend is mainly due to the companies stabilizing their output after catering to the demand that grew exponentially during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. The market is expected to reach $1,899.37 million in 2025 at a CAGR of 19.4%. The 3D bioprinting market consists of sales of 3D bioprinting products by entities (organizations, sole traders, and partnerships) that are engaged in manufacturing and utilizing 3D printing to produce biomedical parts that imitate natural tissue characteristics. 3D Bioprinting is a type of additive manufacturing that prints live structures layer by layer, mimicking the behavior of actual living systems, using cells and other biocompatible materials like inks, also known as bio-inks. 3D bioprinting materials are mainly used in connection with drug research and most recently as cell scaffolds to help repair damaged ligaments and joints. The main types of components in 3D bioprinting are 3D bioprinters and bio-inks. 3D bioprinters use three-dimensional technology in combination with biocompatible materials to replicate body parts. It is used for bioprinting of tissue, bone, organs, blood vessels tissue, and biomedical parts. The different types of materials include living cells, hydrogels, extracellular matrices, and others. 3D bioprinting is used in research applications, clinical applications, others and implemented in several verticals such as research organizations and academic institutes, biopharmaceuticals companies, hospitals, others. North America was the largest region in the 3D bioprinting market in 2020.The Asia Pacific is expected to be the fastest-growing region in the forecast period. The regions covered in this report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, and Africa. Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly being used in 3D bioprinting to fabricate bio-tissues in a layer-to-layer fashion from a digital 3D model using a combination of cells, growth factors, and biomaterials.Artificial intelligence is a branch of technology that deals with the simulation of human behavior in machines. AI is used in bioprinting to give suggestions on the best possible printing parameters needed to produce a biocompatible tissue that can fit the patients physiological makeup, by analyzing data and identifying patterns throughout the bioprinting process.For instance, in June 2021, researchers at Queensland University of Technologys (QUT) Center in Transformative Biomimetics in Bioengineering, and Oregon University, integrated AI and machine vision into 3D printers to manufacture customized medical implants. In addition to this, in September 2020, Researchers at Rice University used AI to speed up the development of 3D printed bioscaffolds that help injuries heal. In May 2021, 3D Systems, a US-based company engaged in offering 3D bioprinting technology announced the acquisition of Allevi Inc. for an undisclosed amount. Through this acquisition, 3D Systems plans to utilize Allevis expertise to develop applications in the future for the development of human organs in the long term and become a market leader in bioprinting. Allevi Inc. is a US-based company that manufactures 3D bioprinters and bio-inks which are used by researchers. Rising governments and private funding to support 3D bioprinting research activities are expected to drive the growth of the 3D bioprinting market in the forecast period. 3D bioprinting is increasing applications in healthcare attracted funding from government and private organizations. This funding provides financial and technical assistance across different development phases of 3D bioprinting techniques. For instance, in May 2021, Readily3d SA, a Switzerland-based bioprinting company, received funding of $600,000 from the European Union to develop a living miniature model of the pancreas using its Tomolite 3D bioprinting technique. The Australian Minister for Health funded Curtin University $737,690 in June 2020 to develop and optimize 3D technology for bioprinting skin tissue directly onto model wounds as a prelude to human skin restoration. Furthermore, in January 2020, Aspect Biosystems, a Canada-based 3D bioprinting technology company received a $20 million funding in Series A financing round to advance its technology for 3D bioprinting human tissue which was led by venture capital firm Radical Ventures, Pangaea Ventures, Pallasite Ventures, and Rhino Ventures. Thus, increasing the availability of funding will boost the 3D bioprinting market. The countries covered in the 3d bioprinting market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA. Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06177522/?utm_source=GNW About Reportlinker ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place. __________________________ New York, Oct. 25, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Augmented Reality In Health Care Global Market Report 2021: COVID-19 Implications And Growth" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06177526/?utm_source=GNW , Osterhout Design Group Inc., Magic Leap Inc., Atheer Inc, VirtaMed, and ARToolworks Inc. The global augmented reality in health care market is expected to grow from $1,065.14 million in 2020 to $1,415.23 million in 2021 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 32.9%. The change in growth trend is mainly due to the companies stabilizing their output after catering to the demand that grew exponentially during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. The market is expected to reach $4,145.48 million in 2025 at a CAGR of 30.8%. The augmented reality in health care market consists of sales of augmented reality hardware and software in health care by entities (organizations, sole traders, and partnerships) which allows physicians to integrate data visualization into treatment and diagnostic procedures.The use of AR in healthcare allows the generation of interactive and rich experiences that show how clinical instruments and new drugs interact with the patients body. AR devices in health care make use of augmented technology to better perform surgeries and diagnosis with the help of visualization and real time data. The main types of products in augmented reality in healthcare are hardware and software.Hardware helps to perform medical tasks such as surgeries and diagnosis more efficiently and accurately using AR technology including smart glasses. The different types of devices include head-mounted displays, handheld devices, others and uses different technologies such as wearables, vision-based, spatial, mobile-device based. It is implemented in various verticals such as hospitals and clinics, research laboratories and others. North America was the largest region in the augmented reality in health care market in 2020. The regions covered in this report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, and Africa. New product launches are shaping the AR in healthcare market.Major companies operating in the AR in healthcare sector are focused on product innovations for AR in healthcare to improve the accuracy in treatment. For instance, in December 2019, Augmedics, a US-based company that provides augmented reality in healthcare launched Xvision Spine augmented reality surgical guidance device.The device is intended to allow doctors to see a patients 3D spinal anatomy during surgery as if they were using X-ray vision. The vision enables the doctor to move instruments and implants precisely while looking directly at the patient rather than at a remote screen. In February 2020, Medtronic plc, a US-based medical technology company acquired Digital Surgery for $300 million.The acquisition of Digital Surgery will boost Medtronics robotic guided surgery platform and will be helpful throughout the companys entire portfolio. Digital Surgery is a UK-based digital health compnay that develops virtual reality and artificial intelligence technology for doctors. The increasing geriatric population is expects to propel the growth of the AR in healthcare market over coming years.The elderly population is increasing rapidly across the world and it is expected to continue over the forecast period. The older population is prone to a number of diseases and ailments that require surgeries.The use of AR in surgeries allows surgeons to visualize a patients anatomy side by side with their MRI and CT scan data. For instance, according to the Physical Review B (PRB) Journal, by 2060, the number of Americans aged 65 and above is expected to nearly quadruple to 95 million, accounting for 23% of the total population. Therefore, the rising geriatric population drivers the growth of the AR in healthcare market. The countries covered in the augmented reality in health care market report are Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Russia, South Korea, UK, USA. Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06177526/?utm_source=GNW About Reportlinker ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place. __________________________ Dublin, Oct. 25, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Vietnam Express Delivery Services Market by Application, End Use, and Destination: Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2020-2027" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. Express delivery service is a quick parcel delivery service for which the customer pays a considerable amount. It is a facility for international and domestic mail. It mainly includes non-palletized packages of documents, parcels, letters, merchandise, and other consumer goods to various customers such as retail, business, and government agencies. The delivery time usually varies between 24 and 72 hours depending on destination. Express delivery services are coupled with a variety of value-added services, such as packaging, labeling, billing, payment collection, and return, to improvise the delivery experience for the user. Factors, such as the growing e-commerce industry coupled with the rise in B2C deliveries and rapid growth in international trade services, are expected to drive the market growth. However, lack of infrastructure and higher operational costs hinder the market growth. Further, the rise in technological advancements in delivery services and the emergence of last-mile deliveries with technological advancements in delivery vehicles are some of the factors that are expected to offer lucrative opportunities for market growth. Moreover, the growth of value-added services in express delivery and rapid growth of same day delivery services are some factors trending in the Vietnam express delivery services market. The Vietnam express delivery services market is segmented on the basis of application, end use, and destination. Based on application, it is bifurcated into B2B and B2C. By end use, it is divided into e-commerce platform, social media platform, document service, and others. On the basis of destination, it is categorized into domestics and international. COVID-19 Impact Analysis: The outbreak of COVID-19 resulted in flight cancellations, travel bans, and quarantines, which led to the massive slowing of express delivery service activities across the world. The coronavirus pandemic is an unprecedented crisis with dramatic economic impacts on the Vietnam express delivery services industry. Although the pandemic has accelerated the decline of letters & document parcels and the growth of e-commerce parcels due to the increased number of people shopping from home. E-commerce and the daily essentials goods industry is expected to affect the express delivery service industry positively during the COVID-19 outbreak in Vietnam. As B2B express delivery services suffered and came to a halt, B2C emerged during the pandemic, owing to the rapid growth of the online retail and e-commerce industry. Companies Mentioned GHN (Fast Delivery) BEST Express Vietnam (BEST Inc.) GHTK J&T Express (Vietnam) Kerry Express (Vietnam) Nasco Logistics JSC Nhat Tin Logistics Nin Sing Logistics Company Limited (Ninja Van) Swift247 Viettel Post VNPost KEY BENEFITS FOR STAKEHOLDERS This study presents an analytical depiction of the Vietnam express delivery services market analysis along with current trends and future estimations to depict imminent investment pockets. The overall Vietnam express delivery services market opportunity is determined by understanding profitable trends to gain a stronger foothold. The report presents information related to the key drivers, restraints, and opportunities of the Vietnam express delivery services market with detailed impact analysis. The current Vietnam express delivery services market is quantitatively analyzed from 2019 to 2027 to benchmark financial competency. Porter's five forces analysis illustrates the potency of the buyers and suppliers in the industry. KEY MARKET SEGMENTS By Application B2B B2C By End Use E-commerce Platform Social Media Platform Document Service Others By Destination Domestics International Key Topics Covered: CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION 1.1. Report description 1.2. Key benefits for stakeholders 1.3. Key market segments 1.4. Research methodology CHAPTER 2: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY CHAPTER 3: MARKET OVERVIEW 3.1. Market definition and scope 3.2. Key findings 3.2.1. Top impacting factors 3.2.2. Top investment pockets 3.2.3. Top winning strategies 3.3. Porter's five forces analysis 3.4. Market share analysis (2020) 3.5. Market dynamics 3.5.1. Drivers 3.5.1.1. Growing e-commerce industry coupled with a rise in B2C deliveries 3.5.1.2. Rapid growth in international trade services 3.5.2. Restraints 3.5.2.1. Lack of infrastructure 3.5.2.2. Higher operational costs 3.5.3. Opportunities 3.5.3.1. Rise in technological advancements in delivery services 3.5.3.2. Emergence of last-mile deliveries with technological advancements in delivery vehicles 3.5.4. Trends 3.5.4.1. Growth of value-added services in express delivery 3.5.4.2. Rapid growth of same day delivery services 3.6. Impact of COVID-19 on the market 3.6.1. Evolution of outbreaks 3.6.1.1. COVID-19 3.6.2. Micro economic impact analysis 3.6.2.1. Consumer trends 3.6.2.2. Technology trends 3.6.2.3. Regulatory trends 3.6.3. Macro-economic impact analysis 3.6.3.1. GDP 3.6.3.2. Import/export analysis 3.6.3.3. Employment index 3.6.4. Impact on industry analysis 3.7. Express delivery services volume, by e-commerce platform 3.7.1. Tiki 3.7.1.1. Company overview and business insights 3.7.2. Shopee 3.7.2.1. Company overview and business insights 3.7.3. Lazada Group 3.7.3.1. Company overview and business insights 3.7.4. Sendo.vn 3.7.4.1. Company overview and business insights CHAPTER 4: VIETNAM EXPRESS DELIVERY SERVICES MARKET, BY APPLICATION 4.1. Overview 4.2. B2B 4.3. B2C CHAPTER 5: VIETNAM EXPRESS DELIVERY SERVICES MARKET, BY END USE 5.1. Overview 5.2. E-commerce platform 5.2.1. Key market trends, growth factors, and opportunities 5.2.2. Market size and forecast 5.3. Social media platform 5.3.1. Key market trends, growth factors, and opportunities 5.3.2. Market size and forecast 5.4. Document service 5.4.1. Key market trends, growth factors, and opportunities 5.4.2. Market size and forecast 5.5. Others 5.5.1. Key market trends, growth factors, and opportunities 5.5.2. Market size and forecast CHAPTER 6: VIETNAM EXPRESS DELIVERY SERVICES MARKET, BY DESTINATION 6.1. Overview 6.2. Domestics 6.3. International CHAPTER 7: COMPANY PROFILES For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/mufcwc San Diego, California, Oct. 25, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- +++++ Whats the news: Zyter and Qualcomm are partnering to implement a state-of-the art, IoT-based smart warehouse for OneScreen, a smart school technology provider in San Diego. The warehouse will feature LiDAR-based digital twin, autonomous mobile robots (AMR), AR/VR technologies, IoT sensors, and a robust warehouse management system. Why it matters: High turnover and a severe labor shortage are impacting warehouse operations at a time when demand, driven by rapid e-Commerce growth, is at an all-time high. The warehouse and transportation industry had a record 490,000 openings in July1, a shortfall that experts expect will only get worse in coming months. In addition, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports turnover in warehousing has grown from 40% to nearly 60% over a five-year period2. Who its for: Those interested in supply chain, warehouse and logistics advances. +++++ San Diego, CA, October 25 Zyter today announced they are implementing a state-of-the-art, next-generation smart warehouse for OneScreen located in San Diego which will be equipped with products from Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. The smart warehouse design for OneScreen plans to include an LTE-private network, implementation of a digital twin, robust warehouse management system, autonomous mobile robots (AMR), AR/VR technologies, IoT sensors and more. The modern smart warehouse will increase warehouse operational efficiencies, enable automated inventory control, enhance safety and security within the facility and save time and money for OneScreen employees and customers. This smart warehouse project exemplifies how Qualcomm Technologies and its IoT ecosystem are critical to enabling the global digital transformation of industries with a differentiated approach that leverages the growing number of smart devices that make up the connected intelligent edge. Through the Qualcomm IoT Services Suite and its ecosystem of 400+ Qualcomm Smart Cities Accelerator program members, Qualcomm Technologies has acted as a catalyst in enabling the accessibility and ease of deployment for businesses and entities looking to adopt end-to-end smart solutions, fueling digital transformation and deployments of smart spaces. Implementing smart connected spaces frequently involves sourcing, developing and integrating multiple fragmented technologies. The unique IoTaaS model is designed to remove the need to invest in costly and fragmented efforts. Adopting IoTaaS enables streamlined, end-to-end solutions, taking the place of lengthy processes that previously took months or years and can shrink timelines to a matter of weeks. Ultimately this supports rollout with faster time to commercialization and provides increased accessibility to smart solutions and infrastructure for businesses and communities. For this project, Zyter will be responsible for implementing its Smart Warehouse module running on the Zyter SmartSpaces IoT platform. As a key collaborator with Qualcomm Technologies for the Qualcomm Smart Cities Accelerator Program ecosystem, the SmartSpaces platform breaks down silos of information by integrating and consolidating data from IoT devices and applications in a seamless interface. In addition, the Smart Warehouse will contain the private LTE CBRS (Citizens Broadband Radio Service) network cell sites powered by Qualcomm RAN Platforms for Small Cells, and CPEs featuring Qualcomm Fixed Wireless Access Platform, with an upgrade path to 5G in the future. Members of the Qualcomm Smart Cities Accelerator Program ecosystem are supplying trackers, cameras, and sensors needed for enabling the smart warehouse. Zyter will be implementing and deploying the LTE private network as well as managing and installing the integration of all hardware, sensors, and the warehouse management system (WMS). We are pleased Zyter has chosen Qualcomm Technologies IoT products for another IoTaaS commercial deployment with the smart warehouse for OneScreen, said Sanjeet Pandit, senior director and global head of smart cities, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. To directly address the fragmented nature of the IoT industry, our unique Qualcomm IoT Services Suite is helping to bridge the gap for IoT service providers and entities looking to efficiently and effectively deploy smart solutions and is revolutionizing the way businesses and entities modernize their practices. I am pleased to work with Zyter and Qualcomm Technologies, utilizing the Qualcomm IoT Services Suite to enable a smart warehouse in San Diego. Implementation of the digital twin, autonomous mobile robots (AMR), AR/VR use cases, and IoT sensors will make this a state-of-the-art operation, said Sufian Munir, chief executive officer, OneScreen. This next-generation smart warehouse will increase productivity, enable automated inventory control, safety and security within the facility and save time and money for employees and customers. This smart warehouse project exemplifies how Qualcomm Technologies and its IoT ecosystem are essential to enabling the global digital transformation of many different industries, said Sanjay Govil, founder and chief executive officer, Zyter, Inc. Bringing IoT, artificial intelligence and virtual reality technologies to warehouses takes operations to a level never seen before. To learn more about the Qualcomm IoT Services Suite, please visit: https://www.qualcomm.com/products/internet-of-things/services-suite. About Qualcomm Qualcomm is the worlds leading wireless technology innovator and the driving force behind the development, launch, and expansion of 5G. When we connected the phone to the internet, the mobile revolution was born. Today, our foundational technologies enable the mobile ecosystem and are found in every 3G, 4G and 5G smartphone. We bring the benefits of mobile to new industries, including automotive, the internet of things, and computing, and are leading the way to a world where everything and everyone can communicate and interact seamlessly. Qualcomm Incorporated includes our licensing business, QTL, and the vast majority of our patent portfolio. Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., a subsidiary of Qualcomm Incorporated, operates, along with its subsidiaries, substantially all of our engineering, research and development functions, and substantially all of our products and services businesses, including our QCT semiconductor business. About Zyter Zyter delivers a wide range of Internet of Things (IoT) solutions spanning buildings, stadiums, campuses, and even cities. The Zyter SmartSpaces platform supports solutions for multiple markets including healthcare, education, logistics, retail, travel, and construction. By integrating and consolidating data from IoT devices and applications, organizations can gain new insights to improve efficiencies while providing end-users with an engaging digital experience. In 2021, Zyter won more than 37 global awards for its IoT products including Best Technology and Company Innovation of the Year. Founded in 2017, the privately-held company is based in Rockville, Md. For more information, please visit www.Zyter.com/IoT. ### Qualcomm is a trademark or registered trademark of Qualcomm Incorporated. Qualcomm Smart Cities Accelerator Program is a program of Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries. Qualcomm IoT Services Suite, Qualcomm RAN Platforms, Qualcomm Fixed Wireless Access Platform are products of Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries. Zyter Media Contact: Michael E. Donner Chief Marketing Officer Zyter, Inc. press@Zyter.com Attachments Multi-year research agreement to develop, test and validate ConformalFLASH at the Roberts Proton Therapy Center Louvain-La-Neuve, Belgium, 25 October 2021 IBA (Ion Beam Applications S.A., EURONEXT), the world leader in particle accelerator technology, today announces that it has signed an agreement with the University of Pennsylvania (Penn) to advance research in ConformalFLASH1, a novel method combining ultra-high dose rate FLASH radiotherapy and the unique Bragg Peak properties of protons. The agreement is another successful milestone in the long-term collaboration between IBA and Penn. FLASH Therapy has the potential to deliver a paradigm shift in radiation therapy and cancer treatment, as demonstrated by a growing body of preclinical evidence2. ConformalFLASH is a unique technology that brings together FLASH irradiation, which offers high doses of radiotherapy with high precision, with the Proton Bragg Peak, to optimize and accelerate the radiotherapy process. The two organizations will use this latest initiative, which builds on a long-standing collaboration, to develop a science-based approach to bringing ConformalFLASH to patients in the clinic. Olivier Legrain, Chief Executive Officer of IBA, commented: This agreement is yet another example of the strength of the IBA community and the benefits that partnerships between the company and its clients have, with a joint goal to make proton therapy better. IBA is fully committed to developing the future of proton therapy for as many patients as possible, by building on technologies such as ConformalFLASH. Our team is constantly striving to provide the latest and most innovative tools and resources, and we hope through this research to learn more about how this technology may help provide treatment more quickly and effectively, said James M. Metz, MD, Henry K. Pancoast Professor of Radiation Oncology and Chair of the Department of Radiation Oncology at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. Penn and IBA announced this partnership during a Conference at ASTRO on Sunday 24th October 2021. *** END *** About IBA IBA (Ion Beam Applications S.A.) is the world leader in particle accelerator technology. The company is the leading supplier of equipment and services in the field of proton therapy, considered to be the most advanced form of radiation therapy available today. IBA is also a leading player in the fields of industrial sterilization, radiopharmaceuticals and dosimetry. The company, based in Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium, employs approximately 1,500 people worldwide. IBA is a certified B Corporation (B Corp) meeting the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance. IBA is listed on the pan-European stock exchange EURONEXT (IBA: Reuters IBAB.BR and Bloomberg IBAB.BB). More information can be found at: www.iba-worldwide.com . CONTACTS IBA Aymeric Harmant Proton Therapy Marketing Global Director +32 10 475 890 global.marketing@iba-group.com Olivier Lechien Corporate Communication Director +32 10 475 890 communication@iba-group.com For media and investor enquiries: Consilium Strategic Communications Amber Fennell, Angela Gray, Lucy Featherstone +44 (0) 20 3709 5700 IBA@consilium-comms.com 1 ConformalFLAsH is a registered brand of IBAs Proton FLASH irradiation solution currently under research and development phase. 2 Diffenderfer, Koumenis, Metz et al. Design, Implementation, and in Vivo Validation of a Novel Proton FLASH Radiation Therapy System, Int J Radiation Oncol Biol Phys, 2020 Kim et al. Comparison of FLASH Proton Entrance and the Spread-Out Bragg Peak Dose Regions in the Sparing of Mouse Intestinal Crypts and in a Pancreatic Tumor Model, Cancers, 2021 Attachment HOUSTON, Oct. 25, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Technology is nothing new when it comes to the real estate industry. However, a new technology company that was recently funded by a major tech giant is about to shake things up for consumers. Ask DOSS is a voice-activated digital real estate marketplace that's on a mission to radically evolve the way people search, service, and transact real estate. Based out of Houston, Texas, their objective is to make homeownership in America more affordable when it comes to buying and selling a home. Normally every year around this time, we all start thinking about family, food, friends, holidays, sales, and shopping. From Black Friday to Cyber Monday, just about every product or service is marked down 25% to 75%. But, what about the real estate industry? Does the 6% to 7% commission that Real Estate Agents charge ever go on sale? Co-Founders of Ask DOSS, Bobby Bryant(CEO) and Chris Norton (COO) asked themselves, "Why isn't there an annual sale for real estate services? Has anybody ever done it before? If not, why?" They spent the last few years building DOSS and planning for the first-ever "Sell Your House Sale" to save homeowners thousands of dollars in commissions normally paid to Real Estate Agents. This year, from Nov. 1 - 30, sellers in Austin, Dallas, Houston, or Raleigh, North Carolina, can take advantage of the first-ever "Sell Your House Sale" to save thousands of dollars. Instead of paying 6% to 7% in commissions, by taking advantage of this listing special, sellers would only pay Ask DOSS a $500 flat fee if and when their home sells and up to 3% to the buyer's agent. Traditionally, if a home sells for $400,000, the seller would pay $12,000 to the listing agent and $12,000 to the buyer's agent totaling $24,000. With DOSS and given the same $400,000 example, the "Sell Your House Sale" would save a seller $11,500 in commissions for the same type of service they would receive from a traditional brokerage. The total paid in commissions would be $12,500 with DOSS instead of $24,000 with other brokerage firms. The "Sell Your House Sale" isn't a do-it-yourself offering by DOSS. Sellers will actually receive full service and support. A DOSS Agent will handle all paperwork, take calls, set up scheduling appointments to be automated, do an open house, help negotiate contracts, coordinate everything with the title company, etc. However, for the "Sell Your House Sale" listing special, participating sellers are required to provide professional pictures or cover the upfront cost($250) to have professional pictures taken. Please note, the cost for professional pictures is separate from the $500 paid at closing to the DOSS Agent. In addition, sellers must list their house on the MLS "For Sale" anytime between Nov. 1 and Jan. 31. Those interested can complete a seller consultation form on DOSS's website, or contact them at sale@askdoss.com or 1-877-770-3677. DOSS: Better. Faster. Smarter. Related Images Image 1: DOSS DOSS Logo This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. Attachment English French TORONTO, Oct. 25, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- This holiday, Gap has joined forces with global pop superstar and cultural icon Katy Perry to underscore the importance of love, kindness, and acceptance with its new campaign, ALL TOGETHER NOW. Gap shines at the intersection of culture, fashion, and music, with Katys remix of All You Need is Love, bringing Gaps modern American optimism to life like never before. Concepted by Gap Global Creative Director Len Peltier and renowned American filmmaker Mark Romanek, ALL TOGETHER NOW amplifies the power of music and storytelling to convey a sense of love and joy that brings people together the essence of the iconic song that inspired the campaign itself. The Beatles debuted All You Need is Love in 1967, just two years before Gap was founded in 1969 a cultural decade defined by changemakers. Fast forward to today, ALL TOGETHER NOW spotlights Katy as herself, a dimensional culture shaper making an impact across music, philanthropy and empowerment showing her fans the importance of being part of something greater than yourself. Music and culture have always been part of Gaps heritage, says Mary Alderete, global head of Gap marketing. When Gap first opened in 1969 with the fresh idea of selling denim next to a curated selection of records, Gap also committed to a founding principle do more than sell clothes. Were thrilled to further Gaps mission in partnership with global icon and culture shaper, Katy Perry. Together, well help children in need this holiday season with a donation to Baby2Baby, and advance a brighter future rooted in optimism, inclusion, and leading with love. Wearing holiday favourites, such as 90s icons including Gaps arch logo hoodie and an oversized denim jacket, vintage soft joggers and a 100% recycled cropped puffer, Katy vocalizes the uplifting spirit of hope and togetherness at the most magical time of year. ALL TOGETHER NOW includes Gaps holiday collection, featuring an assortment of seasonal icons for the whole family. Signature looks from the collection include matching family flannel PJs, cozy lounge and fleece sets, 90s-inspired denim fits, and a variety of recycled puffers and cold weather accessories available in bright colours and textures, perfect for mixing and matching. Today, Katy will also release her recording of the full-length single, All you Need is Love. Gap will spread the love by donating $1 USD for every stream of the new track on Spotify, up to $100,000 USD, to Baby2Baby a nonprofit, long supported by Katy, that provides children living in poverty with all the basic necessities that every child deserves. Im always excited to work with brands that are going the extra mile to make this world a better, happier place, said Katy Perry. Reimagining one of the most recognizable and emotional songs of our time with an iconic brand like Gap, having such a special and important message, has been a dream. And what better reason to partner than bringing people together to spread joy for the holidays and raise money for Baby2Baby, a charity thats close to my heart. Children are our future. We need to lift kids and help them find their value, self-worth and self-respect. In honour of World Kindness Day, Gap will also be celebrating friendships of every kind and the people who cultivate them. Gap and Disney will issue an exclusive collaboration for all generations Gaps classic arch logo with Mickey Mouse, a friend to everyone. With this limited-edition logo collection, Gap will continue its support of EmbraceRace a non-profit organization that supports parents and other adults to raise a generation of children who are thoughtful, informed, and brave about race. Gaps $50,000 USD donation will support their emerging storytelling platform dedicated to sharing first-person stories at the intersections of race, culture, and other identities, inspiring all generations to embrace friendships of every kind. Gap's ALL TOGETHER NOW campaign debuts today, October 25, 2021, on TV and streaming video, and rolls out across out-of-home media and digital throughout the holiday season. Customers will have the opportunity to shop and experience the campaign through TV + TV for Cord Cutters, shoppable experiences on social media, digital partnerships featuring gift guides, creator content, livestream shopping and augmented reality. Spread the love this holiday and follow along on @gap and @katyperry. PRESS CONTACTS Zoey Fiksel Zoey_Fiksel@gap.com Denise Chow Denise_Chow@gap.com About Gap @gap and @gapkids Gap is an authority on modern American style. Founded in San Francisco in 1969, Gap continues to build on its heritage grounded in denim and connect with customers online and in company-operated and franchise retail locations globally. Gap includes Women's and Men's apparel and accessories, GapKids, babyGap, GapTeen, GapMaternity, GapBody and GapFit collections. The brand also serves value-conscious customers with exclusively designed collections for Gap Outlet and GapFactory Stores. Gap is the namesake brand for leading global specialty retailer, Gap Inc. (NYSE: GPS) which includes Old Navy, Gap, Banana Republic and Athleta brands. For more information, please visit www.gapinc.com Photos accompanying this announcement are available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/56591c03-1492-46b4-9cce-930d2700024b https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/66a05083-763c-4213-96eb-53bd8d2af97f Miami, FL, Oct. 25, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via NewMediaWire -- Amazonas Florestal, Ltd. (OTC:AZFL) announced last week on October 18th that the Company published its 3rd quarter financial reports and OTC disclosuresreporting consolidated revenues of $4.885 Million and over $500k in gross income; the highest reported revenue and gross profit figures in company history. AZFLs latest acquisitions Gamma Engineering and Innova Consulting Group demonstrated solid growth potential and effective business models in their transition towards the rapidly emerging cannabis industry in Colombia. Innova alone has projected positive revenues from operations of more than $8 Million for its fiscal year 2021. CFO Carlos Martinez stated: These are the highest year to date revenues comparatively ever reported by Amazonas Florestal for any trimester in the recorded history of this issuer. Management is doing outstanding work in establishing the companys presence in the rapidly growing Latin American Hemp and Medical Marijuana consumer markets, catering to the requirements of more than 1,800 licensees that operate in Colombia. Our subsidiaries Innova and Gamma are achieving excellent results and growth rates through the professional services that they provide to the Colombian growers and to the other strategic alliances and partnerships that are currently being developed and adjoined to these efforts. The organization of these subsidiaries abroad and the modern lab facility well underway in South Florida are becoming the ignition switch that will take AZFL to fulfill the profitable business combinations it had strived to accomplish for many years." Gamma Engineers & Consultants ( www.gammaingenierosyc.com.co) headquartered in Cali, Colombia is AZFLs engineering and design branch that is specialized in the field of design and construction of cannabis cultivation and processing facilities. Their fully integrated design team gives Amazonas a competitive edge in the field of greenhouse and indoor grow planning and construction. In addition, their services include structural, mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and interior design of all types of cannabis businesses and are now designing portable dispensaries for growers that can to set up sales operations in malls and service stations. Innova Consulting Group ( www.innovacg.com.co ) offers software solutions and general Information Technology (IT) services to licensed Hemp and Marijuana companies. Innova provides services ranging from app design, strategic planning and manufacturing, to innovative inventory software solutions. Innova is a key component to Amazonas Florestals vision of its future in the industry. Amazonas Florestal CEO Ricardo Cortez expressed: Innova Consulting is becoming a powerhouse. Just in the last few months, this division now owned entirely by Amazonas Florestal has contributed more than a fair share of ideas, projects, business proposalsand of courserevenues and profits that have exceeded our expectations. We will continue to work together with Innova to implement their technological solutions and use them in the projects that we are now developing in various parts of the world. The sky is the limit for this team. AZFL also informed its shareholders last week of having completed the acquisition of 51% of Colombia Dreams Marijuana (CDM). The partnership became official on October 21st. CDM, a Colombian company based out of Cienaga, Magdalena, is a fully licensed grower and manufacturer of High-CBD and Medical Marijuana products dedicated to the research and development of its own hybrid cannabis plant genetics. Their proprietary genetics, specifically several strains that have tested among the best in Colombia, gives CDM a significant edge over its competitors in Colombia, where AZFL has established a strong presence in the industry. CDM owns two separate production facilities in Guamo, Tolima and Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. Finally, AZFL announced last week that its subsidiary Green America Laboratories completed submission of its environmental protection plan to the local county Department of Environmental Resources Management. CEO Ricardo Cortez further stated: Our development team has worked restlessly on the design, review and presentation of these plans. We are making great progress in meeting building and zoning requirements and are excited to start the construction of our state-of-the-art laboratory facility in the coming months. It is important that we fully comply with all safety, environmental and building codes before we begin construction, and our team is working diligently on every detail. This dream project is rapidly becoming a reality and will help us complete the alignment of every business component and marketing goal that we had established for this division. Green America Laboratories (GAL) is set to become the largest hemp oil extraction facility in Miami, with equipment capable of producing over 220 liters per day of the purest CBD T-Free distillates and isolates and of the highest quality available anywhere. About Amazonas Florestal Ltd. Amazonas Florestal, Ltd.headquartered in Miami, FLis a natural resources company dedicated to the research and development of innovative projects to process Industrial Hemp in legal cannabinoid concentrations into High CBD, THC-Free and Delta-8 products. The company also promotes the sustainable management of large tracts of land in the rainforest state of Amazonas, in Brazil, and projects the certification and sale of carbon credits registered from the preservation of rainforest properties. In 2017, the company shifted gears to focus on the growing, harvesting, research and development of Industrial Hemp and related products in the U.S.A. for both domestic and international markets. In 2021, the company is building an important hemp-derived extraction facility in Miami, FL dedicated to the production of premium bulk T-Free concentrates. Amazonas Florestal's goal is to become a leader in the field of cannabinoid extractions, serving labs that use these distillates as raw material for human and animal health/wellness products. Disclaimer: Forward Looking Statements Forward-looking statements in this release regarding Amazonas Florestal Ltd. are made pursuant to the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Investors are cautioned that such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, continued acceptance of the company's products, increased levels of competition, new products and technological changes, the company's dependence upon third-party suppliers, intellectual property rights, and other risks detailed from time to time in the company's periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Attachment SASKATOON, Saskatchewan and REGINA, Saskatchewan, Oct. 25, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- DEEP Earth Energy Production Corp. (DEEP) and Prairie Lithium Corporation (Prairie Lithium) announce today an agreement to exchange subsurface mineral permits and to establish an Area of Mutual Interest (AMI) in the Williston Sedimentary Basin in southeast Saskatchewan. The AMI covers a large area of 40 Townships. In the agreement, Prairie Lithium acquires subsurface mineral permits stretching from the top of the Madison Group down to the top of the Red River Formation from DEEPs subsurface mineral tenure. In exchange, DEEP acquires the subsurface mineral permits from the top of the Red River Formation down to the Precambrian from Prairie Lithiums subsurface mineral tenure. DEEP retains all lithium potential from the top of the Red River to the Precambrian. The agreement establishes a mutually beneficial co-operation deal between these two Saskatchewan companies, advancing new and innovative energy resources. The agreement is for select stratigraphic intervals that are approximately 1,500 meters 3,500 meters below the surface at various locations across the AMI. The exchange covers approximately 110,227 hectares (272,376 acres) of existing mineral tenure, vastly increasing each companys resource development capacity. DEEP and Prairie Lithium are also working collaboratively to share well data and potential resource testing opportunities. In the near term, Prairie Lithium will access DEEPs Border-4 wellbore to test the lithium potential in an upper stratigraphic interval, above DEEPs geothermal reservoir. At the same time, DEEP and Prairie Lithium are jointly exploring the lithium potential across the AMI. In addition to Prairie Lithiums focus in shallower formations, DEEPs deeper geothermal brine also has the potential to contain lithium for commercial extraction. Prairie Lithium has developed proprietary lithium-extraction technology which can extract lithium from DEEPs geothermal resources. Preliminary lab results indicate that Prairie Lithiums Plix technology successfully removed 99% of the lithium from DEEPs geothermal brine sample, while simultaneously rejecting practically all impurities. We are pleased to move forward with this historic, strategic partnership, explains DEEPs CEO Kirsten Marcia. Adding, Drawing on obvious synergies, the mineral exchange and collaboration between our two Saskatchewan-based companies is a testament to our made-in-Saskatchewan ability to work together for multiple economic wins. We are creating more great jobs and promoting new regional economic developments in rural Saskatchewan. This agreement highlights a win-win deal, as both of us were able to increase our acreage substantially for vital resources that matter to our projects, added Zach Maurer, President & CEO of Prairie Lithium. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0ac58ce3-8b12-4990-b717-08b7736e76c2 About DEEP Earth Energy Production: DEEP is developing geothermal resources to meet increasing energy needs with sustainable, clean and renewable energy. The company is advancing its first 20-32 MW geothermal power facility in southern Saskatchewan that will produce emission-free baseload power. This first facility is on track for full commissioning by early 2024. A staged build aims to increase the project to produce 100-200 MW of renewable power generation. About Prairie Lithium: Prairie Lithium is a private lithium resource and technology developer situated in the heart of the resource-rich Williston Basin in Saskatchewan, Canada. For more information about the Company, please visit www.prairielithium.ca or contact info@prairielithium.ca. For more information on DEEP, please visit DEEPs website at www.deepcorp.ca or contact: President & CEO, Kirsten Marcia: (639) 638 0484, kmarcia@deepcorp.ca; or Wade MacBain, Corporate Development: (306) 717-1818, wmacbain@deepcorp.ca Public Relations & Media, Cynthia Block: (306) 230-8262, cynthia@blockcommunications.ca Future Oriented Financial Information Disclaimer: Some of the statements in this news release may be forward-looking statements or statements of future expectations based on currently available information. Such statements are naturally subject to risks and uncertainties. Factors such as the development of general economic conditions, future market conditions, unusual catastrophic loss events, changes in the capital markets and other circumstances may cause the actual events or results to be materially different from those anticipated by such statements. DEEP and/or Prairie Lithium, including its directors or officers, do not make any representation or warranty, express or implied, as to the accuracy, completeness or updated status of such statements. Therefore, in no case whatsoever will DEEP and/or Prairie Lithium or its directors or officers be liable to anyone for any decision made or action taken in conjunction with the information and/or statements in this update or for any related damages. You should consult your professional advisors before deciding to make an investment decision in DEEP and/or Prairie Lithium. Newark, NJ, Oct. 25, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As per the report published by Fior Markets, the global high tibial osteotomy (HTO) plates market is expected to grow from USD 88.12 million in 2020 and reach USD 144.74 million by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 6.4% during the forecast period 2021-2028. The high tibial osteotomy (HTO) plates market is witnessing significant growth from the past years. This growth is attributed to varus arthrosis, ACL deficiency, and medial compartment degenerative arthritis, as well as an increase in the number of knee osteoarthritis cases, varus malalignment, an increase in the geriatric population, and a preference for chevron osteotomy and other techniques such as closed wedge technique, progressive callus distraction, and dome technique, among others. High tibial osteotomy (HTO) is a type of orthopedic surgery. The osteotomy plates prevent soft tissue irritation and eliminate the need for intraoperative contouring. They have tapered ends that enable the insertion of a submuscular plate. Furthermore, the locking screws form a fixed-angle structure that provides angular stability. The goal of HTO is to reduce knee discomfort and postpone knee replacement. The surgery is commonly used to treat knee arthrosis. Dome osteotomy, closing, opening wedge osteotomy, Chevron osteotomy, and progressive callus distraction are among HTO procedures. When choosing effective treatment for patients, the appropriate osteotomy type and correct surgical technique are critical. The global high tibial osteotomy (HTO) plates market is expected to witness significant growth, owing to increasing rapidly growing geriatric population, increasing incidence and prevalence of bone-related disorders such as osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, the rising incidence of accidents and sports-related injuries worldwide is likely to fuel additional increase, ongoing research and development activities for the development of ways to reduce the problems associated with the HTO are also expected to generate potential demand during the forecast period. The factors restraining the market growth are surgical problems associated with high tibial osteotomy HTO and an increased desire for alternate treatment techniques. DOWNLOAD FREE SAMPLE REPORT AT https://www.fiormarkets.com/report-detail/419687/request-sample The major companies profiled in the report include DePuy Synthes (Johnson & Johnson), Arthrex, Inc., Zimmer Biomet, AAP Implantate AG, Stryker Corporation, B. Braun Melsungen AG, Smith & Nephew, Wright Medical Group N.V., Acumed. In October 2019, Zimmer Biomet launched the Stratum Foot Plating System. The screw-and-plate system is designed to heal osteotomies, non-unions, and fractures. This technique enabled the company to diversify its product portfolio and market consumer base. In October 2017, Arthrex announced plans to build a cutting-edge surgical device and implant manufacturing facility in North Carolina. The facility was created to encourage innovation and novel products such as high tibial osteotomy plates. This strategy benefited the firm in extending its product line, growing its market share, and reaching new economies. Open Wedge Technique segment dominated the market and held the largest market share of 26.9% in the year 2020 The global high tibial osteotomy (HTO) plates market is segmented into five sub-segments based on technique. They are Open Wedge Technique, Dome Technique, Closed Wedge Technique, Chevron Osteotomy, Progressive Callus Distraction. The Open Wedge Technique segment dominated the market and held the largest market share of 26.9% in the year 2020. This expansion can be ascribed to an effective treatment for restoring coronal alignment and the proximal tibiofibular joint. The operation requires only a few dissections and a single bone cut, which improves patient recovery and compliance. The metal segment dominated the market and held the largest market share of 60.25% in the year 2020 The global high tibial osteotomy (HTO) plate market is divided into two sub-segments based on material. They are Metal and Polymer. The metal segment dominated the market and held the largest market share of 60.25% in 2020. This growth is attributed to the presence of research efforts and the availability of items on the market. Metal osteotomy plates are used to keep the bone in the correct position after surgery while it heals. Browse full report with TOC at https://www.fiormarkets.com/report/global-high-tibial-osteotomy-hto-plates-market-size-419687.html Regional Segment of High Tibial Osteotomy (HTO) Plates Market North America (U.S., Canada, Mexico) Europe (Germany, France, U.K., Italy, Spain, Rest of Europe) Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, India, Rest of APAC) South America (Brazil & the Rest of South America) The Middle East and Africa (UAE, South Africa, and the Rest of MEA) Based on geography, the global high tibial osteotomy (HTO) plates market is classified into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East & Africa, and South America. North America region holds the largest market share of 26.66% in the year 2020. This growth is assigned to increased bone-related disorders, increased surgical operations for bone-related diseases, and consumer hg power. Growth would be achievable due to marketing analytics technologies and existing companies that have been firmly established in the market since its inception. Furthermore, government organizations, businesses, third-party administrations, and others focus their efforts on developing customer-centric goods, which will contribute to the region's progress. Rising demand, rising money, updated technology, machinery, and programs to raise awareness of the requirement will almost certainly drive the high tibial osteotomy (HTO) plates market to expand significantly. Because of its rapidly rising population, Asia-Pacific will likewise experience tremendous growth. This feature alone explains why the area will dominate the high tibial osteotomy (HTO) plate market share over the forecast period. The region has been urbanized to a greater extent due to gains in GDP per capita and infrastructure development, transforming rural areas into urban areas. Request for Customization: https://www.fiormarkets.com/enquiry/request-customization/419687 About the report: The global high tibial osteotomy (HTO) plates market is analyzed based on value (USD million). All the segments have been examined on a worldwide, regional, as well as the country basis. The study covers the analysis of more than 30 countries for each piece. The report offers a thorough analysis of driving factors, opportunities, restraints, and challenges for gaining crucial insights. The study includes porter's five forces model, raw material analysis, attractiveness analysis, and competitors position grid analysis. 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Contact Us Avinash D Head of Business Development Phone: +1-201-465-4211 Email: sales@fiormarkets.com Web: www.fiormarkets.com To Read Top Industries Reports, Visit our Affiliated Website: https://marketandresearch.biz Related Reports Clot Management Devices Market- https://www.fiormarkets.com/report/clot-management-devices-market-by-product-inferior-vena-419457.html Air Ambulance Services Market - https://www.fiormarkets.com/report/air-ambulance-services-market-share-share-trends-419475.html Pen Needles Market - https://www.fiormarkets.com/report/pen-needles-market-by-product-safety-pen-needles-419245.html Angioplasty Balloons Market - https://www.fiormarkets.com/report/angioplasty-balloons-market-by-type-scoring-cutting-debs-419238.html PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 25, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Vicinity Energy , owner of the nations largest portfolio of district energy systems, announces today that it has filed a formal complaint with the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) regarding the renewal of its gas transportation contract with Philadelphia Gas Works (PGW). The existing contract between Vicinity and PGW, which was originally executed in 1996 and expires at the end of 2022, has helped to ensure that Vicinitys customers, representing approximately 100 million square feet of building space (75 million square feet of heating and 25 million square feet of summer cooling) in city center Philadelphia, continue to receive clean, reliable, and affordable steam service. In February 2021, PGW provided Vicinity with a new offer to continue gas supply to its Grays Ferry plant starting in 2023, which increases the price for gas supply to Vicinity by over 1000%. Per the longstanding contract, PGW supplies gas transportation services to Vicinitys Grays Ferry combined heat and power (CHP) plant in South Philadelphia; Vicinity purchases the natural gas itself from third party natural gas suppliers. Vicinity Energy is PGWs largest customer and consumes this gas to generate both electricity, which is supplied to the PJM electric grid, and a by-product thermal heat in the form of steam. This steam is distributed to customers throughout the city through a vast network of underground pipes and is used to heat and cool buildings, as well as for critical processes and sterilization of lab and surgical equipment in hospitals, bio-medical and life science laboratories, and other facilities. Because the steam is a by-product of the CHP process, it is a clean, low carbon, and efficient alternative to directly consuming gas on site in individual buildings. In its formal complaint to the PUC, Vicinity contests the drastic increase in the cost to transport gas through PGWs pipeline and claims it is anti-competitive, unreasonable and an attempt to impose significant anti-competitive pressure on Vicinitys mission critical energy services business. In addition to the dramatic price increase, PGWs new offer also migrates Vicinity from firm gas delivery to interruptible supply. If permitted, this provides PGW with the ability to suspend the supply of gas to Vicinity at any time, which would interrupt the co-generation of electricity and steam in its plant. PGW has provided Vicinity with firm supply since the current contract was first signed in 1996. The new offer represents a fundamental shift in the longstanding terms of the agreement between Vicinity and PGW. While Vicinity Energy has backup options (including dual-fuel steam generators, portable steam generators and fuel oil reserves) and system redundancies, interruptible supply is unacceptable to Vicinity and the needs of its customers, including major hospitals, research labs, universities, and government buildings. In the 1996 agreement, PGW was obligated to refurbish and construct a dedicated pipe to connect Vicinitys Grays Ferry Plant to the interstate gas transmission line. Vicinity was required to repay PGW for the capital investment over the life of the contract. While PGW continues to own the pipe, it only transports gas to Vicinitys facility and PGW has more than recouped its capital investment over the life of the current agreement. In addition, Vicinity has paid an annual fee to maintain the pipe throughout contract. Therefore, Vicinity contends that the ongoing cost to serve Grays Ferry is negligible and there is no basis for the significant price increase or the interruptible terms proposed by PGW. Vicinity is appealing to the PUC to review all terms presented in PGWs new gas transportation offer as monopolistic and ultimately a risk to end-users. PGW is already responsible for contributing 4.6 million tons of carbon equivalent emissions to the regions carbon budget according to an October 2019 study by the University of Pennsylvanias Kleinman Center for Energy Policy. In addition, PGW has admitted that its antiquated distribution system leaks the equivalent of 1 million tons of carbon dioxide per year. In light of this, PGW is the subject of a diversification study recently launched by Philadelphias Office of Sustainability. The purpose of this study is to determine if there are viable new business ventures for the city-owned gas utility, given the Citys commitment to upholding the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement and to reaching 100% clean energy by 2050. The City has publicly stated that it can only reach its decarbonization targets by reducing the carbon emissions from thermal energy. As a fossil fuel supplying entity, PGWs future is uncertain. Vicinity has repeatedly reached out to PGW in attempts to cooperatively forge a path forward towards a more sustainable energy future for Philadelphia. While Vicinity continues this outreach, PGWs responses have failed to address the huge divide between the parties, refusing to provide any justification or substantiation of their proposed increases and accordingly these efforts have thus far been unsuccessful. By contrast, Vicinity estimates that its CHP operations avoid over 300,000 tons of CO 2 emissions annually, as compared to on-site gas boilers and electric consumption from the grid. Further, CHP technology is 20% more efficient as compared to even the most advanced combined-cycle gas turbine power plants. Vicinitys offering is a low carbon, green option today, and Vicinity plans to continue to reduce its carbon footprint. The company has made a public commitment to further invest in Philadelphias green energy infrastructure and to reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050, in line with the Citys published plan. Vicinity announced earlier this year it will begin using net-zero carbon vegetable oil recovered from Philadelphias food service industry to eliminate its use of petroleum-based heating oil. In 2019, Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf directed Pennsylvania to join the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) through an executive order. Eleven states currently participate in the program, which sets a cap on emissions from power generators and provides a market through which these generators can trade credits. Pennsylvania regulators recognized the importance of incentivizing combined heat and power plants like Vicinitys Grays Ferry Facility and became the first state to change its treatment of CHP in the RGGI program to reflect its unique attributes, including increased efficiency and reduced carbon emissions. Vicinitys complaint highlights the commitment of the Commonwealth to its CHP technology and requests that the PUC consider the implications of PGWs price increase on the broad use of the technology for decarbonization. PGWs tactics are clearly motivated to limit the output of this important resource and push Vicinity to use higher carbon intensity alternatives. Vicinity will take all necessary steps to protect its customers from this greedy, anti-competitive and environmentally unsustainable attack by PGW including pursuing alternative natural gas transportation means and electrification of its steam generation assets. According to the PUCs website, the complaint process will involve a legal proceeding through which Vicinity will be required to present facts and evidence to a PUC administrative law judge. PGW will have an opportunity to file an answer to the complaint. Vicinity expects a formal review of the complaint by the PUC to take six months or more. About Vicinity Energy With 19 district energy systems in 12 major cities, Vicinity Energy is the leading provider of district energy solutions nationwide. Vicinity produces and distributes steam, hot water, and chilled water directly through its vast underground network to individual buildings and campuses. Additionally, it generates electricity through its CHP units as a wholesale provider to the electric grid. District energy eliminates the need for boiler and chiller plants in individual buildings, improving overall efficiency, lowering carbon footprints, and increasing reliability. Vicinitys over 450 skilled engineers, operators, and energy experts have a singular dedication to customer success and a relentless focus on delivering reliable and efficient energy products and services. With the recent launch of the companys Clean Energy Future roadmap, Vicinity has committed to achieving net zero carbon emissions across all operations by 2050. For more information, check out www.vicinityenergy.us . Media Contact Vicinity Media Relations Colleen Doherty Director of Communications 857 557 7814 HOUSTON, Oct. 25, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- More than 100 volunteers from ExxonMobil, one of the greater Houston area's largest employers, rolled up their sleeves this "National Make a Difference Day" to restore the homes of seniors, veterans and others in need of costly repairs. A volunteer crew from ExxonMobil's Global Organization for the Advancement of Latinos worked with nonprofit Rebuilding Together Houston to make needed repairs at the 90-year-old East End Houston home of Maria Garza. Like thousands of veterans, homebound seniors, people with disabilities, families and others overwhelmed amid the pandemic, Garza, who crochets in her Second Ward home, has been unable to undertake costly repairs. Rebuilding Together previously provided structural stabilization, made electrical repairs and replaced two broken window frames, siding and trim in Garza's house. Today, ExxonMobil volunteers repainted and complete the repair projects. ExxonMobil and Rebuilding Together Houston teamed up to give community members like Ms. Garza, a former school cafeteria worker, a safe and healthy places to live. Led by Rebuilding Together Houston, more than 100 ExxonMobil employees, retirees and family and friends are volunteering this month for an estimated 1,500 hours at five different home restoration projects throughout Harris County. Over the last 39 years, ExxonMobil employees, retirees and family and friends, have worked with Rebuilding Together Houston to restore 390 homes for those in need. Rebuilding Together Houston (RT) provides home repairs for hundreds of families annually. RT's work adds 10 to 20 years to the life of a home, making it safe, livable, and more resilient against disaster. Rebuilding Together enlists community volunteers and licensed contractors to repair the homes of low-income elderly, U.S. military veterans, homeowners with disabilities, and working families in need. RT's work helps to retain the character of Houston neighborhoods by repairing homes that are passed from generation to generation, keeping families in communities that they helped to build. Together with its corporate supporters and community partners, RT's mission is repairing homes, revitalizing communities, and rebuilding lives. MEDIA CONTACT: Drive West Communications, 281.220.6861 ext. 704, RTHou@drivewest.com Related Images Image 1 This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. Attachment Chicago, Illinois, Oct. 25, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Pritzker Military Museum & Library (PMML) raised nearly $800,000 at its annual Liberty Gala as a small group of sponsors and honored guests joined together at the Museum & Library on Thursday, October 21. Additional guests participated in the nights engaging program online. The PMML celebrated and honored the service of soldiers, particularly those who served during the Cold War, which served as the Galas theme. Awards were presented to the winners of the Citizen Soldier Award and the Literature Award for Lifetime Achievement in Military Writing. The two Founders Awards were presented to individuals who have made significant contributions to furthering the mission of the Museum & Library. The funds raised at this years Liberty Gala will allow the Museum & Library to continue educating the public on military history, military affairs and national security by providing a forum for the study and exploration of the military. Contributions will also help provide critical funding for all the Museum & Librarys efforts, such as book and artifact preservation, the collection of oral histories and the production of educational resources. The 2021 Liberty Gala focused on the Cold War, which occurred when the ideological rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union flourished. This rivalry lasted roughly 45 years following World War II. Today, historians are still debating the historical significance of this period in the countrys collective history. The PMML recognizes the advances, service and sacrifices made during this period. This message was conveyed in the nights video production which included mentions of their recent Cold War Veterans Memorial Design Competition. The video was elegantly produced by the Museum & Librarys Emmy-nominated production crew. The Gala kicked off with a silent auction, which ran from October 18- 22. There were several exciting auction items, including: a four-person tour of the Frank Lloyd Wrights Unity Temple and an overnight stay at the Frank Lloyd Wright Emil Bach House, a VIP weekend at the Wende Museum in Culver City, Calif., tickets to The Queen's Ball: A Bridgerton Experience, and tickets to the Chicago Architecture Foundation Center River Cruises. The Pritzker Military Museum & Library serves the public through preservation and education covering military history, military affairs and national security, said Susan Rifkin, Pritzker Military Museum & Library Interim CEO. The proceeds of the Gala and silent auction are critical in helping us maintain our goals and allows the Museum & Library to continue its successes and expand our reach. We are honored to have so many contributors believe in our work. The Military Museum & Library Founder, Colonel Jennifer Pritzker (IL), IL ARNG (Retired), presented four awards throughout the evening: John Rowe and Williamson Wick Murray were honored with Founders Awards for their extraordinary contributions to the mission of the Pritzker Military Museum & Library and the preservation of the heritage of the Citizen Soldier. The Pritzker Military Museum & Librarys Citizen Soldier Award was presented to RADM Richard Schneider Ph.D ,USCGR (Retired) by Col. Jennifer Pritzker. It celebrates the accomplishments of individuals who have served in leadership roles in both military and civilian endeavors. The Citizen Soldier Award stands to honor a person who exemplifies the traditions of the citizen soldier set by George Washington; a person who served the nation as a leader in war and in peace, for the betterment of the common good. Dr. Schneider personifies these qualities through both his service in the military and his achievements as the former president of Norwich University. Professor of international history and award-winning author Dr. Margaret MacMillan was presented with the 15th annual Pritzker Military Museum & Library Literature Award for Lifetime Achievement in Military Writing. This award serves to recognize a living author who has made a significant contribution to the understanding of military history, including military affairs. Author or co-author of 15 publications, MacMillan has been recognized nationally and internationally for her work regarding the international and military history of the 19th and 20th centuries. The Pritzker Military & Museum believes in uniting the past and present lessons of history to create positive change for the world, stated Colonel Pritzker. Each of these prestigious awards helps us accomplish that by honororing individuals who value the gifts of history. Dr. Richard W. Schneider, Margaret MacMillan, John Rowe and Williamson Murray are well deserving of these awards, and we could not have thought of better individuals with the qualifications of each award. For a list of this years gala sponsors, please visit the Pritzker Military Museum & Library website. About Pritzker Military Museum & Library The Pritzker Military Museum & Library aims to increase the publics understanding of military history, military affairs, and national security by providing a forum for the study and exploration of our military - past, present, and future - with a specific focus on their stories, sacrifices, and values. With national and global reach, these spaces and events aim to share the stories of those who served and their contributions as citizen soldiers, helping citizens everywhere appreciate the relationship between the armed forces and the civilians whose freedoms they protect. A non-governmental, non-partisan organization, the Museum & Library features diverse collections, scholarly initiatives, and public programs from its flagship center in downtown Chicago to its world-class research center and park currently under construction in Somers, Wisconsin. Carmel, IN, Oct. 25, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Community Association Services of Indiana, an Associa company, recently hosted an open house networking event and silent auction to support Associas national non-profit organization, Associa Cares. Board member participants enjoyed connecting with 15 vendor partners representing various community association services and other property management leaders. Attendees also participated in a silent auction with items and experiences donated by local businesses, where 100% of the proceeds went directly to furthering the charitable work of Associa Cares. Our team has always been devoted to supporting charitable initiatives that serve our communities, especially the work of Associa Cares, stated Jennifer Freeman, CMCA, Community Association Services of Indiana president. By partnering with generous local businesses, we were able to host this auction and networking event, connect with clients, and raise much-needed funds for Associa Cares. We are proud to play a small role in furthering the impact Associa Cares makes. Associa Cares has provided assistance to more than 3,000 families and over $4 million has been distributed since 2007. To view Associa Cares fundraising disclosure statement, please visit http://www.associacares.org/fundraising-disclosure-statement/. Associa Cares funds are distributed to organizations and families of Associa-managed and non-Associa managed communities. To donate to Associa Cares or apply for assistance, please visit our website at http://www.associacares.org. With more than 200 branch offices across North America, Associa delivers unsurpassed management and lifestyle services to nearly five million residents worldwide. Our 10,000+ team members lead the industry with unrivaled education, expertise and trailblazing innovation. For more than 40 years, Associa has provided solutions designed to help communities achieve their vision. To learn more, visit www.associaonline.com. Stay Connected: Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/associa Subscribe to the Blog: https://hub.associaonline.com/ Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/associa Join us on LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/associa Attachment Toronto, ON, Oct. 25, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Featuring an almost entirely Indigenous cast, TVO Original series Unsettled premieres on November 7, 2021 at 9 pm ET on TVO and will air its full 10-episode season on Sundays, with additional broadcasts on Thursdays and Fridays. Viewers across Canada can also stream the thought-provoking series any time after the premiere on TVO.org, YouTube and Roku. Unsettled is an immersive, Indigenous-led exploration of what it means to feel at home, both with others and within yourself, says John Ferri, VP of Programming and Content at TVO. This TVO Original series offers a refreshing new perspective on that theme that couldnt be more relevant right now. Its a captivating portrait of families we dont often see on screen, and Im proud TVO is sharing it across Canada. Produced in association with TVO and APTN, Unsettled tells the story of Rayna, an Indigenous adoptee who grew up with little connection to her roots. She returns to her First Nation for a homecoming ceremony only to discover a divided community and her own inner need to heal. Played by Cheri Maracle (Blackstone), Raynas anticipated weekend visit becomes the beginning of a complicated and hopeful journey to find meaning. Writing Unsettled was an emotional journey for me, says Jennifer Podemski, who also co-directed and co-produced the series. I hope it resonates with audiences who rarely get to see these stories and characters on television. Our amazing cast, and each person working behind the scenes, really gave everything they had to bring this show to life. We faced many challenges, including a pandemic, but this labour of love is a celebration of Indigenous life. Written, directed and produced by Podemski and Derek Diorio, Unsettled was filmed almost entirely in Nipissing First Nation. Out of 55 roles, 50 feature Indigenous actors playing Indigenous characters, some of whom speak in Ojibwe on screen. The production also serves as a fertile ground for emerging filmmakers from the cinematography program at Canadore College. Original music for Unsettled was provided by Adrian Sutherland from the acclaimed group Midnight Shine along with Jeff Monague of Windaabteg Productions and Tasheena Sarazin of Nipissing First Nation, who also play Lyle and Allison in the series. Watch the TVO Original series Unsettled on Sundays at 9 pm ET on TVO starting November 7, 2021, or stream it anytime afterwards on TVO.org, YouTube and Roku. Episodes will also be rebroadcast on Thursdays at 9 pm ET and Fridays at 10 pm ET. -30- ABOUT TVO Since 1970, TVO has existed to ignite the potential in everyone through the power of learning. Through impactful digital education products, in-depth current affairs, thought-provoking TVO Original documentaries, and award-winning TVOkids content, we prepare Ontarians for success in school and life. TVOs ongoing evolution as a modern digital learning and media organization prepares us to serve Ontarians for generations to come. TVO is funded primarily by the Province of Ontario, and is a registered charity supported by thousands of sponsors and donors. For more information, visit tvo.org and tvokids.com. ABOUT REDCLOUD STUDIOS Redcloud Studios Inc. is an independent production company owned and operated by award-winning actor and producer, Jennifer Podemski. Redcloud Studios is dedicated to strengthening aboriginal visibility in the film and television industry, both behind the scenes and in front of the camera. Jennifer has traveled to over 2,000 Native communities throughout Canada and the US, using her media empowerment module to encourage youth to use the medium to speak out and effect change. Whether it's mainstream drama, provocative documentary, intensive training or live theatre, Redcloud Studios is committed to breaking down barriers and paving the way for the future generation of media makers. SOCIAL twitter.com/tvodocs facebook.com/tvodocs twitter.com/unsettledtv facebook.com/unsettledtv Austin, Texas, United States, Oct. 25, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- - Crimson Digital Capital announces Algorand fund, confirms lead investment in HEADLINE INC. Crimson Digital Capital, an Alabama investment firm, launches bespoke Algorand fund. The new blockchain fund will offer clients investment-grade access to Algorand and venture exposure to leading Algorand ecosystem projects. Crimson Digital Capital pursued HEADLINE INC, a Texas-based Algorand startup, for the funds inaugural deal. HEADLINE INC is the corporate front office of Aaron Martinez, the developer behind some of Algorands most innovative ecosystem projects - PIPELINE-UI, AlgoPay, FORUM, and more. Martinez made the following statement regarding his companys current projects, and teased several other, yet-to-be-released applications in mid and late-stage development: Along with PIPELINE-UI and AlgoPay, were also building a SAAS model, community dashboard that will integrate a number of underdeveloped elements of the Algorand ecosystem. Were calling this service AlgoCloud, and it will serve as a repository for our current stable of applications and a launching pad for future Algorand projects." In addition to HEADLINE INCs core Algorand ecosystem solutions, the Texas-based firm is also developing FORUM - a proof-of-stake social network, HEADLINE News - an unbiased news platform, and Libra Network - a Natural Language Understanding neural network. Crimson Digital Capitals founder, Ethan Welch, gave the following statement regarding his decision to pursue an equity stake in HEADLINE INC: First and foremost Crimson Digital Capital's investment is in Aaron Martinez and the current team of brilliant and dedicated trailblazers at HEADLINE INC. His combination of relentless nature, problem-solving ability, and keen intellect are rarely seen. Conceptually, HEADLINE INC is taking the power of blockchain/decentralization and laying that infrastructure on top of the most profitable and improvable of current platforms i.e. Media/News and Social Networks. HEADLINE is going to re-deliver these platforms to the masses in a much healthier, honest, and more constructive way. HEADLINE is also well positioned as the gateway to Algorand with the SAAS model and cutting-edge developments with AlgoPay and Algocloud. HEADLINE has grown into a ubiquitous and indelible member of the Algorand ecosystem and Crimson Digital Capital couldnt be happier to lead the investment! He (Welch) also had this to say about his funds role in the ongoing development of the Algorand Ecosystem: Crimson Digital Capital is solely focused on the Algorand ecosystem. Our VC arm is 100% involved in the support and growth of HEADLINE INC and all its wonderful projects currently in development. Crimson Digital Capital also offers, via private placement, a DeFi-as-a-service fund. This fund offers, oftentimes as a first exposure, lay investors the power of DeFi and yield-generating activities on digital assets. In the future, we will also be launching an artist network(launchpad) for physically-backed NFTs to bring in more of the talent from the traditional art world and open them up to the beautiful patronage opportunities that exist on Algorand. The long-term vision is for Crimson Digital Capital to support and compliment as many worthy projects as possible to drive worldwide adoption of this beautifully elegant and useful technology! Crimson Digital Capitals investment in HEADLINE INC goes beyond capital injection. Welch will serve on the board of advisors and play a key role in day-to-day operations. Welch confirmed that he will also lead HEADLINE INCs upcoming investment round, a regulated offering that will solidify Algorands position as the home for securitized token offerings in the blockchain industry. Crimson Digital Capital and HEADLINE INC will be present and in-person at Decipher, Algorands inaugural conference in Miami, November 29th - 30th. Roskill reports that China-based cathode producer XTC New Energy Materials, a unit of Xiamen Tungsten, signed a supply agreement with Jingmen GEM, a subsidiary of GEM. Under this agreement, Jingmen GEM will supply 5-15 ktpy of cobalt tetroxide and 15-35 ktpy of lithium nickel cobalt manganese oxide (NCM) precursor materials to XTC New Energy Materials until the end of 2023. The two companies also committed to build long-term strategic partnerships covering mineral resources development, procurement and sales, product processing, and information sharing. Roskill noted that this is the second long-term precursor supply XTC New Energy Materials has secured this year. In September, XTC signed a similar agreement with CNGR, Chinas leading precursor supplier. CNGR will supply 20-25 ktpy of cobalt tetroxide and 15-35 ktpy of lithium nickel cobalt manganese oxide (NCM) precursor materials to XTC New Energy Materials until the end of 2023. XTC New Energy Materials now has an existing cathode capacity of around 60 ktpy; the company plans to increase capacity to 260 ktpy in the long-term. This will come from the addition of a new 40 ktpy NCM project under construction and 160 ktpy NCM+LFP project newly invested in Yaan, Sichuan. The precursor supply agreements signed successively with Chinas leading precursor manufacturers CNGR and GEM will secure XTCs precursor supply as it looks to expand its cathode capacity at a rapid pace. Roskill believes the supply agreement with GEM on cobalt tetroxide and NCM precursors materials will allow XTC to strengthen its supply chain and create greater resilience for cathode materials production. Importantly, the collaboration with GEM, the worlds leading ternary precursor materials provider, on product processing as well as procurement and sales would put XTC in a good position to develop new cathode products and optimize cost structure, Roskill noted. It is also noted that mineral resources development is a key component of the long-term strategic partnerships between XTC and GEM. Roskill believes this is expected to create synergies for both companies in terms of securing key raw materials supply. Driven by the strong downstream demand, key players throughout the lithium-ion battery supply chain have been striving to gain control over the supply of battery raw materialsparticularly important for precursor and cathode manufacturers. WASHINGTON (AP) Pivotal Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin appears to be on board with White House proposals for new taxes on billionaires and certain corporations to help pay for President Joe Bidens scaled-back social services and climate change package. Biden said Monday he felt very positive about reaching agreement on his big domestic policy bill, aiming for votes in Congress as soon as this week though that is far from certain. Thats my hope, the president said before leaving his home state of Delaware for a trip to New Jersey to highlight the child care proposals in the package and his infrastructure measure. Democrats are working intensely to try again to wrap up talks, scaling back what had been what had been a sweeping $3.5 trillion plan so the president can spotlight his administrations achievements to world leaders at two overseas summits on the economy and climate change that get underway later this week. Biden huddled with the conservative West Virginia Democrat Manchin and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer at the presidents Delaware home on Sunday as they work on resolving the disputes between centrists and progressives that have stalled the Democrats wide-ranging bill. A person who insisted on anonymity to discuss Manchins position told The Associated Press the senator is agreeable to the White Houses new approach on the tax proposals. Its now being eyed as at least a $1.75 trillion package. Thats within a range that could still climb considerably higher, according to a second person who insisted on anonymity to discuss the private talks. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said that even at half the original $3.5 trillion proposed, Bidens signature domestic initiative would be larger than any other legislative package with big investments in health care, child care and strategies to tackle climate change. It is less than what was projected to begin with, but its still bigger than anything we have ever done in terms of addressing the needs of Americas working families, Pelosi said Sunday on CNNs State of the Union." Biden met with Manchin and Schumer, D-N.Y., at the presidents home in Wilmington after Democrats missed last weeks deadline to resolve disputes. Biden has said he'd like to see a $2 trillion package and they are trying again this upcoming week to reach agreement. Resolving the revenue side is key as the Democrats insist the new spending will be fully paid for by the various taxes. Manchin and another Democrat, Sen. Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona, have almost on their own halted Bidens proposal from advancing. With Republican opposition and an evenly split 50-50 Senate, Biden has no votes to spare, and the two Democratic senators have insisted on reducing the size of the enormous package and pressed for other changes. One key debate has been over the revenues to pay for the package, after Sinema rejected an earlier plan to reverse the Republican-led 2017 tax cuts and raise rates on corporations earning more than $5 million a year and wealthy Americans earning more than $400,000, or $450,000 for couples. Instead, the White House is considering a tax on the investment incomes of billionaires fewer than 1,000 of the wealthiest Americans with at least $1 billion in assets. It also has floated a 15% corporate minimum tax that is designed to ensure all companies pay what Biden calls their fair share ending the practice of some big-name firms paying no taxes. Its unclear what level of the new taxes Manchin would support, but he generally backs the White House proposals, according to the person who insisted on anonymity to discuss Manchins position. Neither person insisting on anonymity was authorized to discuss the negotiations by name. The White House said the breakfast meeting was a productive discussion about the presidents agenda. The talks appeared to last for hours, but no decisions were announced. The Democrats continued to make progress, the White House said in its post-meeting statement. Democrats initially planned that Biden's package would contain $3.5 trillion worth of spending and tax initiatives over 10 years. But demands by moderates led by Manchin and Sinema to contain costs mean its final price tag could well be less than $2 trillion. Disputes remain over far-reaching investments, including plans to expand Medicare coverage with dental, vision and hearing aid benefits for seniors; child care assistance; and free pre-kindergarten. Pelosi, D-Calif., said on CNN that Democrats were still working to keep in provisions for four weeks of paid family leave but acknowledged that other proposals such as expanding Medicare to include dental coverage could prove harder to save because of cost. Pelosi reiterated that about 90% is wrapped up and said she expected an agreement by weeks end, paving the way for a House vote on a separate $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill before next Sunday, Oct. 31, when a series of transportation programs will lapse. The Senate approved over the summer the package of road, broadband and other public works projects, but the measure stalled in the House during deliberations on the broader Biden bill. Manchin, whose state has a major coal industry, has opposed Biden's initial climate change proposals, which involved a plan to penalize utilities that do not switch quickly to clean energy. Democrats are now also compiling other climate change strategies to meet Bidens goal of reducing U.S. greenhouse gas emissions by at least 50% by 2030. Democrats were hoping Biden could cite major accomplishments when he attends a global conference in Scotland on climate change in early November after attending a summit of world leaders in Rome. Sen. Angus King, a Maine independent who caucuses with Democrats, said the expected cuts to the clean energy provisions in the spending bill were especially disappointing. If were going to get the rest of the world to take serious steps to remedy this problem, weve got to do it ourselves, King said on NBCs Meet the Press." Democrats also want to make progress that could help Democrat Terry McAuliffe win a neck-and-neck Nov. 2 gubernatorial election in Virginia. ___ Associated Press writers Alan Fram and Darlene Superville contributed to this report. HUIXTLA, Mexico (AP) More than 2,000 mostly Central American migrants walked along a highway in southern Mexico toward the town of Huixtla Monday where security forces had deployed, possibly signaling that authorities would soon try to break up the group. About 100 National Guard, soldiers and immigration agents waited just outside Huixtla. Authorities have dissolved other migrant groups in the area during other recent attempts. The migrants set out early Saturday from Tapachula, near the Guatemala border, where thousands of migrants have spent months waiting for asylum applications or other visas that would allow them to transit Mexico. The government has used a containment strategy with a varying degree of success to try to keep migrants in the south and far from the U.S. border. Large groups of migrants attempted to walk out of Tapachula in recent months after growing frustrated with the wait and their inability to find work. Those groups were largely made up of Haitians, who were notably absent from the larger group that left Saturday. Thousands of Haitians made it to the U.S. border in September, many of whom were later deported to their homeland. The latest group is composed mostly of Central Americans, many with young children. They started walking early Monday from Huehuetan before the heat of the day set in. Were not hurting anyone, said Maryin Juarez, a Nicaraguan college student travelling with her uncle and cousin. She was confident she could avoid detention like they had at a roadblock over the weekend. In that case, she lost her shoes scrambling away from authorities. Juarez, like so many others in Tapachula, had been waiting in Tapachula to apply for asylum for two months, but the earliest appointment she was offered was next January. Our little bit of money (was spent) there, she said. She said she was fleeing the repression unleashed by Nicaragua President Daniel Ortega against students who had marched against his government in April 2018. We dont want problems with anyone, said Anthony Beltrandez, a Cuban who left his country in 2018 for Uruguay and had been waiting for 1 months in Tapachula since arriving in Mexico. He wanted documents that would allow him to reach the U.S. border. We want to do everything peacefully. In August, National Guardsmen and immigration agents were criticized for using excessive force to break up a smaller group of migrants. No group has come close to the size of migrant caravans that crossed Mexico in 2018 and 2019. Large efforts that started in Honduras have been broken up by authorities in Guatemala before reaching Mexico. GREENWICH A $24 million plan to renovate and expand Old Greenwich School in a project that would solve problems ranging from accessibility to flooding has moved a step closer to reality. The specifications, which serve as guidance for drawing up the architectural plans, call for three new kindergarten classrooms, a new first grade classroom, upgrades to the HVAC system, renovations to a multipurpose room, a resource room, accessibility at the main entrance, security upgrades and outdoor improvements. An elevator would also be added that is accessible on all levels to solve a long-standing problem in the school building. We really focused on fixing this school with respect to health, safety and putting the classrooms back in good shape without flooding, Karen Kowalski, a member of the projects feasibility committee, said at Thursdays school board meeting. What we have come up with here is an ed spec that meets those needs and does not drive for any fancy extras. I was proud of the group that came up with this. We worked very hard on this and this is what the community wants. The Board of Education unanimously approved the guidelines at its meeting last Thursday. The next step is to seek approval for the project. Superintendent of Schools Toni Jones is expected to request $1.5 million in the proposed 2022-23 school budget for the design work. That would require approval from the Board of Education, Board of Estimate and Taxation and the Representative Town Meeting through next years budget process. The proposed school budget, scheduled to be unveiled Nov. 4, is also slated to include money for improvements at Julian Curtiss School. If the design money were approved for Old Greenwich School, then the construction money would be requested in a budget for a later fiscal year, either 2023-24 or 2024-25. Only then would construction begin on the project. The final cost of the construction has not been determined, but the preliminary budget is slated at $24 million. School dates back a century The Old Greenwich School dates to 1902, with additions built in 1950, 1957 and 1995 and a renovation completed in 1993. No significant capital projects have been completed at the school for 25 years. The planned renovations have become a priority for many school officials and parents, particularly on compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Old Greenwich School Principal Jennifer Bencivengo told the school board that approval to fully fund the renovations was her birthday wish. This is a request for a safe, ADA-compliant building with adequate HVAC and air quality, Bencivengo said. Our committees proposal is not for a building with excessive extras or bells and whistles. It is the bare minimum for what we need to provide a safe learning environment for all our students, teachers and staff. With portions of the building below sea level, sewage flooding is a frequent problem, with three such incidents since July, Bencivengo said. And because the school is not ADA-complaint, she told of staff members forced to carry children with injuries to the nurses office, she said. Also, the temperature inside the old building can soar so high hot days that it can trigger fire alarms that require students and staff to evacuate, Bencivengo said. Support for the plan Parents also spoke at the school boards public hearing in support of the educational specifications. PTA President Erica Jacoby said that after her daughter once fell from the playgrounds climbing bars and had to be carried to the nurses office. And she said she saw a boy on crutches who had to be supported by his mother while entering the school building. This was just the start of a 7-year-olds day, Jacoby said. I can only imagine how he fared navigating the stairs from his second floor classroom to the ground floor cafeteria, art and music rooms multiple times during the day. How different these situations could have been in an ADA-compliant building. But Jacoby and others added that the proposed budget had been reduced and complained it would invest only the bare minimum needed for the school. Board Chair Peter Bernstein said the ed specs were great but also expressed his concern about what were not doing. He asked about the buildings walls and ceilings, pointing to the ceiling collapse and flood at North Mianus School last winter, which caused millions of dollars in damage. That is something the board going forward will certainly need to think about as you move these projects forward in the older buildings, Bernstein said. This building was designed before 1900. I just worry about the very older parts of the building where we slapped on some paint, maybe put a drop ceiling in, but really didnt pay attention to whats going on. Russell Davidson of KG&D Architects, who put together the specifications, said the four new classrooms would not expand capacity at the school because part of the building would be reconfigured. One room is needed because were going to move the main office down to the ground floor, Davidson said. Two rooms are undersized, are not accessible and prone to flooding, and one existing room is undersized and we need that room to cut through to make the corridor to the new addition. kborsuk@greenwichtime.com WEST HAVEN State Rep. Michael DiMassa, D-West Haven, submitted his resignation from his lawmaking position to the Secretary of States office Monday, five days after being arrested and charged with one count of wire fraud. Secretary of the State Denise Merrill received DiMassas resignation Monday morning, effective immediately, said Press Secretary Jada M. Harris. According to investigators, DiMassa allegedly abused his position as an administrative assistant in West Haven City Hall to transfer over $636,000 of federal pandemic relief funding to a business bank account, which he then used to purchase chips at Mohegan Sun for gambling purposes. Arnold Gold / Hearst Connecticut Media I am glad that he has resigned so we can start the process of replacing him through the special election process, said Mayor Nancy Rossi. I think its important that we have a full legislative delegation. Theres a lot of work ahead for West Haven and we need our delegation to help us move forward, she said. Hopefully will start the healing process to restore trust, not just for the legislative delegation but for the whole city, Rossi said. Gov. Ned Lamont now has 10 days under state law to issue a writ of election for a special election to fill DiMassas 116th District seat, said Harris. The special election must be held on the 46th day after the issuance of the writ of election, she said. Major party conventions must take place no later than 36 days prior to the special election, she said. Mark Zaretsky / Hearst Connecticut Media They will notify me and we will have a special election, said City Clerk Patricia Horvath. She said she expected it to take place sometime in December. Horvath said its important for people to know that there are many people in city government who work hard every day to earn and maintain the publics trust. So many people work every day to retain peoples trust in government, and one person, hopefully that doesnt damage peoples trust for everyone, she said. So I guess well get ready for the next election, Horvath said. Democratic Town Chairman Michael Last said that no one has contacted him directly to express interest in running but he has heard indirectly about at least one person who may be interested in the seat. Were going to go through the selection process and the delegates in the town committee would make that choice, Last said. In his letter to Sec. of the State Denise W. Merrill DiMassa said is was with deep regret that he resigns his 116th District House seat, effective immediately. In a joint statement, House Speaker Matt Ritter and Majority Leader Jason Rojas said: Rep. DiMassas resignation is the right move for his constituents and the State. He (allegedly) broke faith with the people of West Haven and can no longer serve as their trusted voice at the State Capitol. Gov. Ned Lamont said in a statement, The allegations against Mike DiMassa are serious and very troubling. If the allegations are true, he has not only broken the law but also betrayed the public trust. He had no choice but to resign, Lamont said. The citizens of West Haven and all of Connecticut deserve honest government. In subsequent comments to a Hearst Connecticut Media reporter, Lamont said, Our credibility as political leaders is the publics trust. Anytime something like that happens it hurts peoples faith in government. Thats why Im glad the representative stepped aside. Lets now let justice take its course, and every day I think the political class has to earn the respect of the voters. As soon as we found and heard about potential fraud going on in West Haven, we were all over it, Lamont said. Were going to get to the bottom of it and do everything we can to make sure it doesnt happen again. Asked if it was part of a wider problem the state needs to address, Lamont responded, Anybody that wants to make a complaint, any whistleblowers, they can come to us, well follow up on that. Alyssas tough, shes going to go over every single line item, every single dime of federal money that goes out, account for it as best we can, and if were missing anything let us know. We have plenty of checks and balances to make sure we hold accountable if laws were broken, and think again about how we can make sure this doesnt happen again, the governor said. Look, there was a lot of federal money pouring out over this last year and a half, and I care very deeply that the money get out to the people that need, but to get it out in an honest way. DiMassa submitted his resignation from his City Hall job last Thursday, effective on Oct. 25. As a condition of his release on bond, he was forbidden from having any contact with West Haven municipal employees. On the day of his arrest, neighbors and colleagues in West Haven expressed surprise. City Hall officials have vowed to make changes to the citys internal financial processes, although Rossi has declined to say what changes will be made, citing ongoing investigations into the citys budget and finances. DiMassas arrest and presentation in federal court Wednesday on one count of wire fraud in connection with the alleged scheme to siphon more than $636,000 in federal Covid recovery money to a company he formed in January and from there, to a personal bank account to finance alleged gambling sprees at Mohegan Sun Casino left many people in wondering how it could have happened. Ritter, D-Hartford, has said DiMassas arrest shocked him and everyone who worked with DiMassa in the General Assembly. We were all shocked, Ritter said, calling it disappointment that someone who could do so much more might get involved in something like what has been alleged. Attempts to reach DiMassa have been unsuccessful. Reporter John Moritz contributed to this story. brian.zahn@hearstmediact.com or mark.zaretsky@hearstmediact.com NEW YORK (AP) The National Labor Relations Board said there was sufficient interest to form a union at an Amazon distribution center in New York, after union organizers on Monday delivered hundreds of signatures to the agency a key step in authorizing a vote that could establish the first union at the nation's largest online retailer. This is the second unionizing attempt in the past year at Amazon. Workers in Alabama resoundingly defeated an effort earlier this year, but organizers there are asking federal officials for a do-over. Organizers delivered more than 2,000 signed union-support cards to the NLRB's Brooklyn office after launching the effort in April. The specific number of signatures was not immediately available. This is a small victory," said Christian Smalls, a former employee of the retail giant who now leads the fledgling Amazon Labor Union, adding, We know the fight has just started. As part of its petition to hold a union vote, organizers must have submitted signatures from at least 30% from the roughly 5,500 employees who the union says work at four adjoining Amazon facilities that it seeks to represent under collective bargaining. Mondays development puts the company on notice that the NLRB has determined that union organizers have met the minimum threshold for Amazon to formally acknowledge and to respond to the union-organizing petition. That means the company must post notices on its premises that the union is seeking to become the bargaining representative for thousands of Amazon workers on Staten Island. The company could have several avenues to challenge the effort, including contesting the number of employees that union organizers used to calculate the minimum signatures they needed. Were skeptical that a sufficient number of legitimate employee signatures has been secured to warrant an election," Amazon's spokesperson, Kelly Nantel, said in a statement. If there is an election, we want the voice of our employees to be heard and look forward to it. Our focus remains on listening directly to our employees and continuously improving on their behalf, Nantel said. While a vote is not yet certain, organizers hailed the formal filing of their petition as an important step to forming a union. This was the easy part," Smalls said of the signature gathering. Convincing at least 50% of the workers to vote yes is the hard part. Smalls says he was fired last year after organizing a walkout to protest working conditions, although Amazon said he repeatedly violated company policies. NLRB staff members started counting the cards soon after they were delivered, and union organizers were confident that they had met the minimum necessary. They had planned a rally outside the Staten Island distribution center Monday evening. Following the count, the NLRB ordered Amazon to provide a roster of employees who would be covered by the proposed union and set November 15 as the start of hearings on the union-organizing petition. If an election is held, the NLRB said it will conduct voting by secret ballot. Smalls proposed that the election be held on March 30, the day he was fired. If organizers in New York succeed, it could launch other union drives across the companys vast empire, which includes more than 100 fulfillment centers and nearly 1 million employees across the United States. Amazon employees have complained about long work hours, insufficient breaks and safety, with Smalls and others likening working conditions to modern-day sweatshops. The employee turnover rate has also been a cause of concern. The union efforts on Staten Island come as Amazon is on a hiring binge. It announced in September it wants to hire 125,000 delivery and warehouse workers and is paying new recruits an average of $18 an hour in a tight job market. Thats in addition to the 150,000 seasonal workers it plans to bring on for the holidays. The Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union had led the effort to form a union at the Alabama facility that was defeated in April. A hearing officer for the NLRB found in August that Amazon potentially interfered with the Alabama election. And the RWDSU is now waiting for a decision from an NLRB regional director to see whether the hearing officers guidance will be sanctioned. But even with a second election, labor experts say a union victory there is a long shot. The New York City organizing drive is taking place without the support of a national union. WASHINGTON (AP) Relatives of more than two dozen American hostages and wrongful detainees held overseas told President Joe Biden in a letter on Monday that they questioned his administration's commitment to bringing their loved ones home. In the letter, obtained by The Associated Press, the family members complained that the administration seemed to be getting bogged down in burdensome processes or policy debates that keep our loved ones from coming home and keep us uninformed of what you can and cannot do to help us. We need to be shown that the promises of your administration to prioritize the return of our family members are not empty. Now is the time for action. Now we need you to bring our fellow Americans home, the letter states. The letter reflects growing concerns within the hostage community that the Biden administration's foreign policy agenda does not prioritize the release of hostages, and that legal and political actions have complicated rather than advanced efforts to get captives released. In some cases, the letter to Biden asserts, the families feel as if they're in a worse situation now than eight months ago. The U.S. withdrew from Afghanistan without bringing home Mark Frerichs, an American contractor abducted there in early 2020. Six American oil executives who'd been under house arrest in Venezuela were ordered back to jail this month following the extradition to the U.S. on corruption charges of a businessman who prosecutors say was a major conduit for corruption by President Nicolas Maduros inner circle. The Biden team has been short on high-profile detainee and hostages releases so far. It was an area of keen interest to President Donald Trump, who in keeping with his unconventional approach to foreign policy appeared open to outside-the-box machinations with regard to hostage negotiations, such as a high-level but ultimately unsuccessful trip by administration officials to Damascus aimed at getting journalist Austin Tice home. He also invited American captives who'd been freed during his administration to appear with him at the 2020 Republican National Convention. The families note in the letter that they were optimistic following a February call with Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Since then, though, they say they have been unable to meet with Biden or with his national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, which leads us to believe that your administration is not prioritizing negotiations and other methods to secure their release. When we do meet with other officials we feel we are being kept in the dark about what the U.S. government intends to do to free our loved ones, the letter says. Asked about the letter, a White House National Security Council spokesperson said, The safe and prompt release of U.S. hostages and wrongful detainees will always be a top priority, never an afterthought, in all of our foreign policy decisions. The letter was signed by family members of 26 American hostages and detainees held in countries across the world. That includes the mother of Trevor Reed, a Marine imprisoned in Moscow on charges of assaulting a police officer in Russia; the sister of Frerichs; and the wife of Jeffrey Woodke, an aid worker taken from his home in Niger in 2016. We have heard a lot of positive talk about making Mark and the other cases a national priority, but we are not seeing actions to bring them home," Frerichs's sister, Charlene Cakora, said in a statement to the AP. "There are solutions for many of these cases including my brothers, which could have been solved last summer but we are not sensing any urgency on the part of the White House. For families, every second a loved one is kept detained is an eternity. Others who signed include the families of nine Americans detained in Venezuela, who joined together more than a week ago in a separate critical letter of the White House approach to their cases. The lack of urgency is especially troubling to the family of Jose Pereira, the former president of Houston-based CITGO, a subsidiary of Venezuelas state owned oil company. Over the weekend, Pereira was rushed from jail to a private clinic in Caracas for emergency treatment for a cardiac condition that his family says hasnt received medical treatment since his detention four years ago. John Pereira said that although the Biden administration isnt to blame for his fathers arrest, he expected more from the new U.S. president. Our feeling is that they can do more, said Pereira, who along with the families of eight other American detainees in Caracas sent their own letter to Biden a week ago urging U.S. officials to sit down and talk directly with Maduros government. This goes beyond politics. Its a humanitarian issue. They have to sit down to talk. ____ Associated Press writer Joshua Goodman in Miami contributed to this report. ___ Follow Eric Tucker on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/etuckerAP Eds: This story was supplied by The Conversation for AP customers. The Associated Press does not guarantee the content. Abdulkader Sinno, Indiana University (THE CONVERSATION) Close to a hundred Afghan Shiite Muslims were killed in attacks on mosques in October 2021. One such attack took place on Oct. 15, when a group of suicide bombers detonated explosives at a mosque in Kandahar. Just over a week before that, at least 46 people were killed in another suicide bomber attack in northern Afghanistan. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for both attacks. Ethnicity and religion are key to understanding the politics and conflicts of todays Afghanistan. My research on Afghan affairs can explain how they have created fault lines that have influenced Afghanistans politics since 1978. Afghanistans four largest ethnic groups The largest ethnic group in Afghanistan, estimated at around 45% of the population and mostly concentrated in the south and east of the country, are the Sunni Muslim Pashtun. The Pashtun population is split in half by the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan, the Durand Line, and has a long history of challenging state authority and the legitimacy of official borders in both countries. Until recently, when Pakistan built a fence on the border, Pashtun tribesmen and fighters crossed the border as if it did not exist. The Pashtun are often characterized as being fiercely independent and protective of their land, honor, traditions and faith. The first time Pashtun fighters defeated an invading superpower was when they destroyed a British army sent to colonize Afghanistan in what is known as the First Anglo-Afghan War, which lasted from 1838 to 1942. The Pashtun tribes and clans martial prowess makes them very influential in the politics of Afghanistan. Except for two short-lived exceptions, in 1929 and between 1992 and 1994, only Pashtun leaders have ruled Afghanistan since 1750. The second-largest ethnic group in Afghanistan are the Tajiks, a term that refers to ethnic Tajiks as well as to other Sunni Muslim Persian speakers. The Tajiks, who constitute some 30% of the Afghan population and are mostly concentrated in the northeast and west, have generally been accepted by Pashtuns as part of the fabric of life in Afghanistan, perhaps because of their common adherence to Sunni Islam. The third-largest Sunni Muslim group are the Uzbeks and the closely related Turkmen in the north of the country, who form around 10% of the population. The Hazara around 15% of the Afghan population traditionally lived in the rough mountainous terrain in the center of Afghanistan, an area in which they historically sought shelter from Pashtun tribesmen who disapproved of their adherence to the Shiite sect of Islam. The Hazara have historically been some of the poorest and most marginalized people in Afghanistan. Communist government and Soviet occupation Most Afghans hardly reacted when a faction of Afghanistans communist party took power in April 1978, because the Afghan government had traditionally played a very limited role outside of the larger cities. They did, however, rise in impromptu revolts when the communists sent their activists to conservative villages to teach Afghan children Marxist dogma. When the Soviets invaded in 1979, resistance spread to much of Afghanistan. Mujahideen the Muslim warriors defending their land from all ethnic groups played a role in resisting the Soviet military. Later, a brutish Uzbek communist militia leader named Abdul Rashid Dostum eliminated most Uzbek Mujahideen, and most Hazara Mujahideen parties made a tacit agreement with the Soviets to reduce hostilities. Most Pashtuns and Tajiks, however, continued to resist until the Soviet withdrawal and the collapse of the Soviet-backed regime in Kabul. The Soviets promoted minority interests and gender equality in areas of Afghanistan they controlled, which led the larger cities they controlled to evolve culturally to a point that made city life unrecognizably alien to many rural Afghans. The withdrawal of the Soviet Red Army in February 1989 led to the cessation of U.S. aid to the Mujahideen parties, which turned Mujahideen field commanders, whose loyalty to party leaders was based on their ability to distribute financial and military resources, into militarized independent local leaders. Similarly, the regimes militias and units also became independent after its collapse in April 1992. Afghanistan, particularly the Pashtun areas, became fragmented, with hundreds of local leaders and warlords fighting over territory, drug production, smuggling routes and populations to tax. While many local leaders cared about the welfare of their kith and kin, some were warlords who abused fellow Afghans. The first Taliban era In 1994, a group of previous Pashtun Mujahideen formed the Taliban and managed to control most of Afghanistan, including Kabul, by the time the U.S. invaded in late 2001. The Talibans rise was fueled by rural Pashtun support for its agenda of ending warlord-generated insecurity, bringing back Pashtun prominence and recreating traditional Pashtun village life as they imagined it to have been. The Talibans conservative views reflected the values of a large section of the public they governed in the south and east of the country. The conservative rural Taliban, traumatized by decades of war, encountered an alien cultural environment when they took over Kabul. They reacted forcefully, limited urban womens access to education and labor and imposed strict limitations on dress, appearance and public behavior. Afghans in urban areas, particularly women, and members of Afghan minorities did not by and large share the parochial Taliban understanding of their common faith. They were undermined, threatened or punished when they attempted to challenge Taliban restrictions. The Shiite Hazara, in particular, were subjected to brutal retaliatory attacks when they resisted Taliban rule. The US occupation The U.S. military invaded Afghanistan and allied with minority local leaders and some Pashtun warlords to oust the Taliban. These warlords ended up filling most key posts in the regime the U.S.-led coalition established in Kabul. For warlords from all backgrounds, it appeared to be a golden age. The rest of the Afghan population, even more so in Pashtun areas than in others, went back to suffering from warlords predatory behavior. In 2004, three years after the U.S. occupation began, the mostly Pashtun Taliban reorganized as an insurgent force to fight the U.S.-led occupation and the regime it established in Afghanistan. Enterprising urban youths, including women, from historically disadvantaged minorities, particularly the Shiite Hazara, took advantage of aid, education programs and foreign-driven employment opportunities to advance. In contrast, the rural Pashtun, who suffered the brunt of the warfare between the Taliban and U.S.-led coalition, were set back economically and hardly benefited from investments in health and education. One of the byproducts of the U.S. occupation of Afghanistan was the development of a local branch of the Islamic State, the Islamic State-Khorasan (an Arabic name for the region). The organization was formed by defectors from the Taliban who felt that their leadership was too soft on the Americans. This group has engaged in attacks on Shiite civilians, whom it considers to be heretics and agents of Shiite Iran. It was responsible for attacks on U.S. troops such as the August 2021 attack on the Kabul airport. It is also antagonistic toward the Taliban. The return of Taliban The return of the Taliban to Kabul after the withdrawal of U.S. troops in August 2021 is a return to a rural Pashtun order. Most Taliban leaders are rural Pashtuns who received their education in conservative madrassas in Afghanistan or Pashtun areas of Pakistan. Only three of the 24 members of the Taliban interim government are not Pashtuns they are Tajiks. [Over 115,000 readers rely on The Conversations newsletter to understand the world. Sign up today.] And the Taliban are running the country the way they imagine life in Pashtun villages used to be before Afghanistan sank into perpetual war in 1979. The Taliban movement caters to the sensibilities of conservative rural Pashtun Muslims. Their understanding of Islam is not necessarily shared by other Afghans, religious as they may be. In the meantime, the Islamic State group is conducting massive terrorist attacks on Shiite mosques, a tactic that originated with the Iraqi branch of the organization. One aim of the Islamic States attacks, I believe, is to drive recruitment that has weakened over the past years by appealing to anti-Shiite sentiment among the Pashtun, particularly after the U.S. withdrawal and Taliban successes on the battlefield. The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts. The Conversation is wholly responsible for the content. DAMASCUS, Syria (AP) Syria accused Israel on Monday of carrying out an attack in the countrys south, without offering details. A war monitor said an early morning attack happened in the southern Quneitra province and targeted two government military outposts on the edge of the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. These are the best offers from our affiliate partners. We may get a commission from qualifying sales. Haiti - News : Zapping... Covid-19 : Death of Father Jean Julien Estiverne The Archdiocese of Port-au-Prince informs us that on Saturday October 23, 2021, Father Jean Julien Estiverne, parish priest of the Sacre Coeur de Vialet Parish, (Petit-Goave) died from complications from Covid-19. The Archdiocese of Port-au-Prince "wishes the soul of the deceased to rest in peace in divine mercy." Serious fire in Limonade Saturday evening a serious fire broke out in Limonade near the bus station. Witnesses report that the explosion of a fuel drum is the cause of the fire. Several houses were engulfed in flames. Security : Government commitment On Sunday 24 October, a Special Superior Council of the National Police (CSPN) on the issue of insecurity was held at the Prime Minister's office with the participation, among others, of the Prime Minister ai Ariel Henry, the Minister of Justice Liszt Quitel and the new Director General of the National Police of Haiti (PNH), Frantz Elbe. The Government intends to do everything in its power to address the problem of insecurity and the energy crisis. To be continued Cap-Haitien : More than 2,000 Gourdes per gallon of gasoline On Saturday in Cap-Haitien, a gallon of gasoline was selling for up to 2,000 gourdes on the black market ... The French Embassy closed Due to the nationwide protest movements against the fuel shortage and the insecurity in the country scheduled from October 25, 2021 and considering the seriousness of these calls and the potential risk of violence they could generate, like some other embassies and international organizations, the Embassy of France will be closed to the public on Monday, October 25. FIFA : Our Grenadiers gain a place In the latest FIFA ranking published this week, our Grenadiers have gained a place and are now 86th in the world with 1,268.05 points. They remain 10th at CONCACAF level. HL/ HaitiLibre By Ishani Sarkar | Published on 2021/10/24 The second half of 2021 is looking extremely promising in terms of new content such as films, dramas, variety shows and more. One such drama that recently began broadcast and is streaming worldwide through Netflix is "Reflection of You", starring Shin Hyun-bin, Go Hyun-jung, Choi Won-young and Kim Jae-young in the leading roles. Advertisement "Reflection of You" is a revenge thriller where the story revolves around a middle aged woman Hee-joo, who begins painting as a way to provide catharsis to the loneliness that haunts her even when she's not alone. She meets a bright-eyed art student bubbling with life, Goo Hae-won (or Han-na as she knows her), who teaches her how to paint but most importantly, gives her purpose for the first time in her life. Years later, Hee-joo is an established painter with no trace of Hae-won in her life. Spoiler Alert! The narrative starts in medias res. Hee-joo's daughter has been punished corporally at her school for disrespecting her art teacher, who slapped her to the point of rupturing her ear drum. She meets the teacher the next day to discuss the situation and ends up assaulting her out of provocation. As the teacher walks out, she's reminded of the young woman she once befriended. Something tells her to check her records and she finds out that it's a woman named Goo Hae-won with completely different specifications than Han-na. However, a chain of circumstances lead her to doubt Hae-won's true identity. Paranoia creeps into her head and renders her hysteric as she struggles with the fact that Han-na might have returned and things come to a head when Goo Hae-won shows up to her doorstep and introduces herself as her long-lost acquaintance Han-na. There's a fear in Hee-joo's eyes that betrays her past: something must have gone terribly wrong. "Reflection of You" is so brilliantly paced that it will leave you at the edge of your seat for hours on end as you anticipate the slightest developments. Each character, no matter how insignificant they seem, holds a deep mystery behind their amicable and often even evidently hostile facade. Right from Hee-joo's daughter Ri-sa to her husband Ahn Hyeon-seong, there's a world of secrets being kept from Hee-joo. Despite being on the receiving end of Goo Hae-won's rage, Ri-sa keeps mum about why she got punished. At the same time, Hyeon-seong has secretly been keeping an eye on an almost comatose patient in Ireland, who we later find out is Goo Hae-won's husband. There are obvious implications of severe betrayal between Hae-won and Hee-joo, with the latter having an affair with Hae-won's fiance (and in all likelihood, birthing his child), imitating her work and perhaps even stealing it. As a matter of fact, Hee-joo seems to have completely stolen Hae-won's life from her, right from her lover to her talent. It will be interesting to see how Hae-won reclaims her power and her future and Hee-joo confronts her past. Needless to say, Shin Hyun-bin and Go Hyun-jung are marvellous in their characters, embodying their mystery to the fullest. Shin Hyun-bin is masterful in expressing the storm that is brewing inside Hae-won while retaining the calm of a tiger stalking their prey. On the other hand, Go Hyun-jung could not have been more convincing as chaos personified. From the writing (original novel by Jung So-hyeon, adapted to screenplay by Yoo Bo-ra) to the cinematography, "Reflection of You" is nothing short of a masterpiece. After all, it is art's purpose to comfort the disturbed and disturb the comfortable and that is exactly what is epitomised through this drama about art, revenge and blood. If you haven't started watching "Reflection of You" yet, catch it on Netflix every Wednesday and Thursday alongside its broadcast in South Korea on JTBC at 22:30 KST. Don't forget to share your thoughts in the comments down below! By Ishani Sarkar. ___________ "Reflection of You" is directed by Lim Hyeon-wook, written by Yoo Bo-ra, and features Go Hyun-jung, Shin Hyun-bin, Choi Won-young, Kim Jae-young, Kim Bo-yeon, Shin Dong-wook. Broadcasting information in Korea: 2021/10/13~Now airing, Wed, Thu 22:30 on jTBC. Havre Police Department Julia Larita-Jo Snow of Havre, 34, was arrested on a Justice or City court warrant served at Hill County Detention Center Friday at 9:22 a.m. -- Officers investigated a Friday 12:12 p.m. crash involving a Jeep and a Dodge pickup truck on 13th Avenue. -- Joshua Denny of Havre, 20, was arrested on charges of disorderly conduct, endangering the welfare of children and minor in possession after a 10th Avenue caller reported Friday at 8:58 p.m. that a man was banging on a door and trying to get in. -- Curtis George Healy of Havre, 20, was arrested on a charge of obstructing a peace officer or other public servant after a caller on Second Avenue reported Saturday at 12:01 a.m. that a man was in the backyard by the door. -- Ten summonses were issued related to a Saturday 3:17 a.m. report from Wilson Avenue of a loud party. Colista Ranee Sutherland of Havre, 20, was charged with MIP and social host; Kobe Deandre Sutherland of Harlem, 20, Ryley Reid Watson of Box Elder, 20, and Lucas Nagel of Box Elder, 19, were each charged with MIP; and Peyton Dean Gardipee of Box Elder, 21, David James Main of Havre, 21, Isaac Oliver Valdez, 22, Lazarus Gaige Windyboy of Havre, 21, and Zayne Michael Parker of Box Elder, 21, were each charged with unlawful transactions with children. -- Daniel Cole Azure-Denny of Havre, 23, was arrested on charges of driving under the influence and careless driving and Jadelynn Fourstar Clancy was issued a summons on an open container violation after a caller on First Street Northeast reported Saturday at 8:23 a.m. that a vehicle just left with an intoxicated driver and a bottle of alcohol in the vehicle. -- Jamie Lauren Seymour of Chinook, 20, was arrested on charges of speeding, failing to carry proof of vehicle insurance, no driver's license and obstructing a peace officer or other public servant during a vehicle stop on 11th Street West Saturday at 3:39 p.m. -- Leslie Annette Crazyboy of Great Falls, 42, was arrested on a state District Court warrant and a charge of partner or family member assault; Alissa Daun Morsette of Havre, 24, was arrested on a state District Court warrant and two counts of partner or family member assault; and Seth Daniel Maas of Greybull, Wyoming, 27, was arrested on a charge of DUI related to a caller on 10th Street West reporting an assault Saturday at 5:14 p.m. and a vehicle stop on Fifth Avenue West at 11:27 p.m. -- Teshina Lee Sayers of Havre, 25, was arrested on a charge of trespass to property and on a Justice or City court warrant after a trespasser was reported on 15th Avenue Sunday at 2:19 p.m. -- Gary Don Story of Havre, 32, was arrested on an assault charge and on a Justice or City court warrant after a caller at 4:05 a.m. today said they were en route to the police station to report an assault. Hill County Sheriff's Office A 17-year-old girl was issued a summons on charges of trespass to property and juvenile curfew violation after a caller reported suspicious activity at a Second Street West business Saturday at 6:52 a.m. -- Deputies were called to assist Rocky Boy Police at a Box Elder establishment Sunday at 9:52 p.m. Havre Fire Department Emergency medical personnel responded to two calls Friday, four calls Saturday, four calls Sunday and three calls early this morning. -- Firefighters responded to three calls Saturday that just required they reset the alarm system. -- Sunday at 3:39 p.m., firefighters responded to a mutual aid call from Blaine County Volunteer Fire Department to assist with manpower on Cleveland Road where a semitractor-trailer with cattle had overturned at mile marker 12. -- Firefighters were called Sunday at 4:42 p.m. to the 1000 Block of Second Street Northwest where a person digging a hole had bumped a gas line and the line was leaking. The scene was turned over to NorthWestern Energy. Havre Animal Shelter The shelter this morning held six cats and three kittens all of unknown gender, three female cats, one male cat, and three female and three male kittens of varying ages. -- The shelter also held a male shepherd dog, two female mixed-breed dogs, a female 21-week-old mixed-breed puppy, a male mixed-breed dog, a male Labrador retriever dog and a male border collie-German shepherd dog. Also, a male and a female 10-week-old mixed-breed puppies and a female mixed-breed dog were being held separately. Proposed redistricting map changes House District 113 A redistricting map released Friday by the chair of the House Redistricting Committee would remove Transylvania County from House District 113 and replace it with western Rutherford County. Currently the N.C. House District 113 seat, held by Jake Johnson of Saluda, is made up of Polk and Transylvania counties and southern Henderson County. The House District 117 seat held by Tim Moffitt would remain largely unchanged, although it would become District 114. The much-anticipated district map for the House was tweeted out by Rep. Destin Hall, R-Caldwell, on Friday afternoon. Hall, who chairs the House Redistricting Committee, labeled it "the chair's" proposed map. Public hearings will begin at different locations across the state and are available to watch online starting Monday. Legislators are focused on making the redistricting process as public as possible because they would like to complete the maps for congressional districts and the General Assembly by Nov. 5 ahead of the candidate filing period starting Dec. 6. Adding to the challenge, North Carolina is getting a 14th seat in the U.S. House of Representatives due to population growth over the past decade. According to Dr. Andy Jackson, director of the Civitas Center for Public Integrity at the John Locke Foundation, mapmakers face dilemmas regarding the redistricting process. Those dilemmas include Cumberland and Moore counties, which includes the Fayetteville area. He also talks about Asheville, in Buncombe County, and how the population will either be "packed," or consolidated into a small number of districts, or "cracked," meaning split over several districts. "Even if you had only neutral criteria being the only thing that's guiding redistricting, you are going to have these dilemmas come up only because you cannot successfully accomplish everything that the legislature is setting out to do," said Jackson. The redistricting process has been transparent in the past two weeks, with legislators working in an open committee room in which the public could attend or watch online. Maps had been drawn up with consultants behind closed doors until 2019, when a three-judge panel ruled that existing maps used as recently as 2018 were unconstitutional. The judges ordered a transparent map-drawing process for districts used in the 2020 elections. Lawmakers decided to retain most elements of that court-ordered process for this year's redistricting. The state has a long history of gerrymandering, with Republicans and Democrats drawing maps in favor of their party when they oversaw the General Assembly. Public hearings will take place jointly at 3 p.m. Monday in the General Assembly auditorium, and at remote sites at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington and Caldwell Community College. There will also be a virtual hearing at 5:30 pm. Hearings continue Tuesday at 3 p.m. in the auditorium in the General Assembly and East Carolina University and Central Piedmont Community College, and virtually at 5:30 pm. CawthWatch: Rolling Stone sources name Meadows, Cawthorn as Jan. 6 planners An article published by Rolling Stone casts the immediate past and the current congressman from Western North Carolina as key players in planning the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. Headlined "Protest Organizers Say They Participated in Dozens of Planning Meetings With Members of Congress and White House Staff," the magazine's story describes accounts of two organizers about the events leading up to the Stop the Steal rally at the Ellipse and subsequent march to the Capitol that disrupted Congress's certification of Biden's election victory over Trump. "While there have been prior indications that members of Congress were involved, this is also the first account detailing their purported role and its scope," the report said, quoting two people who are cooperating with House investigators probing the violent insurrection. "The two sources also claim they interacted with members of Trumps team, including former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, who they describe as having had an opportunity to prevent the violence." Meadows was chair of the House Freedom Caucus and represented the 11th Congressional District before becoming Trump's chief of staff in March of 2020. In addition to reporting Meadows' active involvement ahead of the rally, the story says his successor, Madison Cawthorn, was one of seven congressional Republicans involved in the rally's planning. The sources both said members of Congress who participated in planning of the rally or had top staffers join in included Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.), Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.), Rep. Mo Brooks (R-Ala.), Rep. Madison Cawthorn (R-N.C.), Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.), and Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas). We would talk to Boeberts team, Cawthorns team, Gosars team like back to back to back to back, one of the two anonymous sources told the magazine. Meadows was 100 percent made aware of what was going on. Hes also like a regular figure in these really tiny groups of national organizers. THE chairwoman of South Oxfordshire District Council is supporting the Earth Trust as one of her chosen charities for her year in office. Jo Robb began by helping to launch sponsored autumnal walks, comprising 5km and 10km routes, which celebrate the districts wildlife. Councillor Robb, who lives in Shepherds Green and serves the Woodcote and Rotherfield ward, walked the 5km trail with Jayne Manley, chief executive of Earth Trust, fellow councillors and their friends. They visited Broad Arboretum, near Wittenham Clumps, which has 49 native trees and shrubs, before making their way to Neptune Wood to see the trees that were planted to commemorate the Battle of Trafalgar and the death of Lord Nelson. The 10km walk takes visitors around the clumps, which date from the Iron Age, and through Little Wittenham Wood. Cllr Robb said: The trust plays an important role in protecting and restoring our local natural environment and gives us all the opportunity to enjoy beautiful green spaces to benefit our own health and wellbeing. Autumn is such a colourful and beautiful season to explore nature at its best, so I hope everyone is able to get out this half term to enjoy these walks. The trust is hoping to raise 2,500 between October 25 and November 30. Register your team for 5 at www.earthtrust.enthuse.com/ cf/sponsored-autumnal-walk TAXPAYERS in Henley are effectively subsidising multinational companies that have coffee shops in the town, claims a former mayor. Ken Arlett spoke out after it was revealed the town council is losing income of about 25,000 a year due to temporary legislation brought in by the Government to help businesses provide outdoor eating spaces during the coronavirus pandemic. The council normally charges businesses renting outdoor space in Market Place thousands of pounds each with large companies such as Starbucks and the H Cafe paying more than local businesses. But the Business and Planning Act 2020 means that a local authority can now charge only 100 to any business renting outdoor eating space. The law came into force in April last year and was meant to end last month but was extended to September next year. This means the town council is now only earning about 600 a year in rents instead of about 25,000. The council is to write to Henley MP John Howell to raise the issue and ask him how he thinks the shortfall should be recouped. Councillor Arlett, who was Mayor when the pandemic began, said the council might have to raise its share of council tax to make up the losses. He said: I dont see why we should lose this type of money, especially for the likes of Starbucks that pay very little tax to the Government and when in return theyre getting their space for almost free. Were having to subsidise them through taxpayers money. H Cafe are run by a big company [Harrods] probably worth millions and were subsidising them as well. And this is going to be the case for at least another year. This policy may work in London but in Henley we rely on this income. We spend 20,000 a year maintaining Market Place and keeping it clean, helping businesses like Starbucks, and we still have to spend that money without the income from rent. If we cant find another way to subsidise this, we will have to raise the council tax precept. Town clerk Sheridan Jacklin-Edward said the council hoped the law would come to an end next year and not be extended again. Mr Howell said: Im happy to raise the issue with ministers and try to get it resolved. Last month, the council agreed to charge all businesses a flat rate for renting outdoor seating space in Market Place. Businesses were paying a different annual fee depending on the size of the seating area used and whether the company is local or national. Local outlets including the Bijans Kitchen and the Square restaurants and the Argyll pub were paying 3,743 a year. Starbucks was paying 6,726, which was based on its prime location on the corner of Bell Street and the size of the business, and H Cafe and Crockers restaurant paid 4,542. The council has approved a flat rate of 4,500 a year, which will be brought in from September next year when the Business and Planning Act 2020 should no longer be enforced. This should increase the councils annual income from the charges by about 20 per cent to 31,500. The council said the flat rate was fairer and that all businesses should be treated the same way as they all brought benefits to the town, regardless of size or how local their owners were. Councillor Kellie Hinton said that she still felt Starbucks should pay more than the other coffee shops. Now Open 25 October 2021 The world's first and largest luxury hotel brand, InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, today announces the opening of InterContinental Barcelona, the first luxury hotel to open in Barcelona this year situated in the heart of the Montjuic district. Located southwest of the city, Montjuic is a scenic hill that overlooks the harbour offering stunning views of Barcelona. The rich influence of the city's Jewish roots can be seen all over this thriving, cultural destination for visitors from around the globe, complete with national treasures including the Palau Nacional, an iconic palace built in 1929 that now houses the National Museum of Catalan Art. Taking inspiration from the Mediterranean Sea and the striking architecture that the city is famous for, InterContinental Barcelona's 273 rooms offer guests an elegant space with an unparalleled level of sophistication. Following an extensive renovation, guests will find nods to the richness of a European city built on unique Catalan culture, including the use of natural wood interiors with hues of blue, ochre, and neutral tones woven into the soft furnishings. InterContinental Barcelona is also home to a 180sqm Presidential Suite, as well as 17 Junior Suites, which offer stunning views of Barcelona, embodying the brand's modern luxury philosophy. From Michelin star Chefs to up-and-coming talent, InterContinental Hotels & Resorts represents the best of international and local culinary expertise and InterContinental Barcelona is no exception. With three restaurants and bars within the hotel, guests can expect to be immersed in local culture with menus referencing earthly elements. Quirat, the hotel's main restaurant, will be headed by Victor Torres, the youngest chef in Spain to achieve a Michelin star. Directly translated to mean 'the measurement of purity amongst the elements that make up the earth', Quirat will offer a specially curated menu designed to offer guests a unique experience tailored around the chef's interpretation of the earth. All dishes will be made with locally sourced quality ingredients that are available seasonally. Arrel, InterContinental Barcelona's second restaurant has been designed around the concept of roots being the source of vitality of the earth and its produce. The menu pays homage to the humble root as the origin of all earth's ingredients and only uses seasonal ingredients. With an open kitchen, diners will have a full view of the chefs at work whilst enjoying a selection of sharing plates. For breakfast, Arrel will offer hotel guests a buffet service, whilst for lunch and dinner, there will be a daily set menu and a small a la carte menu available for guests and locals alike. The hotel's Gebre Cocktail and More bar offers a selection of classic and signature cocktails, the Boira Coffee Lounge is a great space for relaxation any time of the day, and the 173 Rooftop Terrace has spectacular 360 views over the whole of Barcelona and offers guests a seasonable swimming pool. The Spa, one of the most spacious spas in the city spanning 1,200sqm, is designed to be a sanctuary for both guests and locals. It boasts an expansive wet area, with a hydrotherapy pool, jets and water beds, steam bath, sauna, and a hammam. There are also six treatments rooms, including two doubles, where guests can enjoy therapies from award-winning Spa brand Natura Bisse. Press Release 25 October 2021 HVS Global Webinar 2021: The Impact of COVID-19 on Global Hotel Values Advertisements HVS in conjunction with our friends at EP Business in Hospitality, are pleased to invite you to join our colleagues from around the world as we discuss the impact on hotel values from both a regional and global perspective, at a time to suit your location. To register for the global webinar, please click here. Millennium Hilton Seoul to be Redeveloped as Mixed-Use Complex South Korea-based largest real estate investment firm, IGIS Asset Management Co. (IGIS), has signed the Memorandum of Understanding to acquire Millennium Hilton Seoul for approximately KRW1 trillion (USD845 million) from Singapore-based City Developments Limited (CDL). Located at the bottom of Mount Namsan and next to Seoul Station, the 22-floor hotel currently has 700 guest rooms with a land area and gross floor area of 18,760 square metres and 82,856 square metres, respectively. Upon the acquisition, the company plans to redevelop the property into a mixed-use complex comprising a hotel, office and retail spaces. The hotel was previously owned by South Korea-based Daewoo Group before it went bankrupt during the Asian Financial Crisis in 1997 and 1998. In 1999, CDL acquired the hotel for KRW260 billion (USD213.5 million). Artotel Acquired Indonesia Franchise of Kyriad with New Round of Financing Indonesia-based Artotel Group (Artotel) has completed a new round of Series B funding for an undisclosed sum, led by Singapore-based asset manager, Indies Capital Partners, with participation from Indonesia-based Benson Creativestment. Artotel will utilise the fund to expand in Indonesias hospitality sector through an aggressive merger and acquisition strategy in first- and second-tier cities, as well as new tourism destinations across Indonesia such as Sentul, Malang, Cepu and Banyuwangi, where rapid development and improved infrastructure are seen. The group is in the process of rolling out 29 new properties across Indonesia, expanding its portfolio to over 50 by 2023. In tandem with the investment, Artotel has also acquired the Indonesia franchise of Kyriad, a three-star hotel brand of France-based Louvre Hotels Group, adding eleven hotels and 1,300 rooms to Artotels portfolio. Kyriad brand will be developed in cities such as Purwoketo and Jember where the Artotel brand is not feasible to develop due to project cost and the local price level. Currently, Artotel is working on another acquisition which will be revealed in November. CPG Hotels to Acquire and Rebrand Rendezvous Hotel Christchurch New Zealand-based CPG Hotels (CPG) has announced the acquisition of Pacific Tower in central Christchurch and will be rebranding The Rendezvous Hotel to its boutique luxury brand, Fable Hotels and Resorts (FHR). The acquisition of the 23-storey development in Christchurch includes The Rendezvous hotel, from first to 14th level, and several levels of privately owned apartments. The 171-key hotel will undergo a major refurbishment and is slated to open in May 2022. It will feature a seafood restaurant that has a menu designed by the award-winning Group Executive Chef Jinu Abraham. The CPG Groups operations manager, Ronnie Ronalde, mentioned that this latest acquisition is an exciting step for the brands planned expansion in the South Island of New Zealand. FHR currently owns and operates over 60 rooms across two properties in New Zealand, 10-suite Hotel Fitzroy in Auckland and 50-key Fable Dunedin in Dunedin. External Article 25 October 2021 In 2019, Jason Henrichs took 46 flights for business, traveling to cities where he stayed at hotels, dined at local restaurants, and sometimes even visited tourist attractions like the Liberty Bell. Advertisements In 2020, he took just three flights. The traveling life has its perksHenrichs, the CEO of Alloy Labs, a consortium of community banks, has Executive Platinum status on American Airlines, Gold Elite status at Marriott, and membership in not one but three private airport lounges. He has 350,000 miles, which he can use to fly his whole family across the world for free. But forced to stay at home during the pandemic, Henrichs got a taste of a life where he sees his family more, and is just as effective at work. Hes even been able to convince banking colleagues who have long been averse to giving up in-person meetings to move online. The talks he once flew across the country to deliver to boards of directors are more frequently streamed online now, and so are the meetings that would have lasted in a bank over 2 or 3 days but now are spread out over short Microsoft Teams huddles over 2 or 3 weeks. And lo and behold, he and his colleagues are getting more done. This isnt about just reducing expense. This is about increasing effectiveness, says Henrichs, who says hell likely travel once a month, rather than once a week, after the pandemic. Tens of thousands of road warriors like Henrichsand their employersare coming to a similar conclusion, which is going to cause a reckoning for the already-battered leisure and hospitality sector. U.S. companies travel budgets declined by 90% or more in 2020, according to Deloitte Insights. Even if the pandemic ebbs, companies looking to become more environmentally sustainable wont likely go back to the same volume of travel as before; corporations like Zurich Insurance Group AG, Bain & Company, and S&P Global have announced plans to cut business travel emissions in the next few years, with Zurich aiming to reduce emissions by as much as 70% by next year. External Article 25 October 2021 WITH the rapid rollout of vaccination in Asia Pacific (APAC), many countries are preparing to live in an endemic phase, and opening their borders to their people to travel abroad. Advertisements This development has given rise to the endemic traveller who is prioritising leisure travel because they have been in lockdowns for months and are vacation-deprived. Hermione Joye, sector lead, travel & vertical search APAC at Google, reveals this when sharing insights on changing traveller demands in APAC culled from research done by Google based on apps and consumer-based data at last weeks WiT Experience Singapore 2021. According to the study, people are booking multiple trips as they fear going back to lockdown, which means they are spending more. Over 80% of consumers in India and Indonesia are showing a strong preference for luxury travel, while in Australia and Japan it is around 60%, which Joye described as a phenomenon. Average length of stay has extended dramatically since 2019, from three-and-half days to five days (85% of the respondents), with one in four travellers planning to spend over two weeks. Post-Covid travellers are also hyper focused and do not want to travel through multiple countries across South-east Asia like before the pandemic. What were seeing is a strong preference, particularly out of Australia and very heavily out of Japan, for very focused travel to just one to two countries, Joye says. Covid has also brought complexity in travel planning, and it now takes around almost 20% longer to book a trip due to requirements like vaccination and taking PRC (polymerase chain reaction) tests. Joye lists two reasons why travel suppliers have to heed these trends. Supplier News 25 October 2021 In our regular Shiji Buzz conversations, we explore various hot topics in hospitality technology with a panel of diverse experts from across the industry. In our most recent Buzz chat, we traveled to Asia-Pacific, joined by Shijis own Matthew Clark, APAC Sales Manager, and Patricia Brennan, VP, Strategic Accounts, Shiji Distribution Solutions, as well as Nicholas van Brenda, Director, Global Sales Distribution for Shangri-La International Hotel Management Limited, Gavin Maloney, Director of Sales & Marketing/ Distribution and Leisure, Shangri-La Group, and Duncan Waterman, Country Manager, Australia & New Zealand for D-Edge Hospitality Solutions. With this veritable expert panel, we dove right into todays most relevant topics in hospitality tech, from growing markets to watch to modern advertising best practices, and industry trends across. And if you missed our last Shiji Buzz webinar recap featuring Roomdex and a conversation about the golden age of hotel tech, be sure to click here to read. Now, lets dive in. Is China Still Leading Travel in APAC? Pre-pandemic, China was arguably the leader in APAC regional tourism, but are they still? As Shiji Distribution Solutions VP of Strategic Accounts, Patricia Brennan has plenty of knowledge to answer this question. She observed, Although we do have a lot of international travel, what were seeing is that the number of bookings within China has almost doubled what was booked in 2019. So thats all now domestic. I think that as soon as borders reopen, Chinese travel will come back. Fortunately, signs point to Chinese travel bounding back as soon as travel restrictions loosen. Whats more, we dont need to put all our eggs in one basket, so to speak, either. Photo: Shiji Distribution Solutions Other Markets to Watch China isnt the only player expected to heat up in post-pandemic travel in APAC. As Duncan Waterman, D-Edge Hospitality Solutions Country Manager for Australia and New Zealand, noted, Some of the emerging channels that are springing up in Indonesia, weve taken note of. Hotels will maximize their exposure through large OTAs [there] that will produce a billboard effect [in terms of exposure]. At the same time, ad spend remains concentrated in places like Google, so budgeting accordingly is recommended for hotels. Google is really the place where bookings are won and lost, says Waterman. And so thats what were seeing that a lot of [advertising] spend going to. So thats really what hotels can maximize on right now. Travel Restrictions Continue? While were not out of the woods yet in terms of safe post-pandemic travel, the consensus both in APAC and globally is starting to form around what countries will need to require to allow foreign guests entry. Patricia Brennan noted, People need to feel confident that when they go to a country, there have been vaccinations. But also, in order to enter a country, there will need to be proof that you have been vaccinated, and therefore, the only way to do that is to have some sort of a vaccine passport. A double-sided approach to ensuring safe entry and safe environments for tourists will be crucial to encouraging visits post-pandemic. Changes in Booking Patterns and Behavior Patricia Brennan continued by sharing interesting findings regarding booking trends. [Lately], theres an increase in direct bookings. The booking via web direct statistic is 41% compared to 27%, in 2019 OTAs have also dropped their advertising [spending]. So theres less pressure on advertising around brand name display ads. Hotels are saving money. There is an opportunity for hotels to capitalize on that. However, brand name display ads arent the only place hotels could find a win. Also, some of the traditional global booking channels like Expedia and booking.com, have dropped a little bit. And theres more production from some of the regional channels. In Australia and New Zealand, were seeing a little bit more booking from [regional booking engine] Flight Center, for instance. And in some of the Asian countries, there are more bookings coming through from Mr. And Mrs. Smith and some regional Indonesian booking sites. Photo: Shiji Distribution Solutions Channels and Methods for Reaching Audiences Nicholas Van Brenda from Shangri-La Group shared advice on how hotel marketing strategy is mostly staying the same, with a notable exception: The only way that I can really think that it would change is that perhaps therell be more use of AI and chatbots, etc, to engage more with the customer. Most people, when theyre booking leisure travel, will investigate for a couple of weeks before they actually make bookings, trawling the different OTA sites. His advice for hotel distribution in todays environment? Its important to, Have really good images and to make sure that your hotel is being represented correctly on all of those sites. Thats where solutions like IcePortal can assist because it automatically distributes those images out to each of the OTAs that you want to be shown on and represented on. So I think, as always, its a matter of making sure that youre present and in the forefront of peoples minds, either by direct communication or by ensuring that youre in the places that theyre going to search when theyre looking for something to do. Photo: Shiji Distribution Solutions Post-Pandemic Messaging So, you have your channels selected and are ready to reach your future guests. But how do you speak to them? Gavin Maloney of Shangri-La Group shared some nuggets of evergreen advice on this topic: Messaging is all about that dreaming stage, aspiration. Some people dont want to be sold to at this time its all about what that experience is going to be. [The important thing will be] getting that messaging right about coming together in a safe environment where you can enjoy life. Managing Rates, Inventory, and Other Best Practices That naturally brings us to managing rates, inventory, and other best practices these days. Duncan Waterman observed, We see lots of big hotel groups investing in getting better and better at CRM. Conversely, some smaller independent hotels are investing heavily in social media and getting huge numbers of followers, so they dont perhaps see the value in CRM and the spend needed, but are investing in their own staff. For them, that is the CRM for their audience. And so there are two contrasting hotel types that are doing well. And what about chatbots mentioned earlier? Are those worth considering for the average hotel or group? We see a number of chatbot tools doing really well and hotels adopting them quite quickly. And then some conversion tools as well. Theres a lot of data that comes with all of these tools, continued Waterman. Has COVID Accelerated Hotel Distribution Tech or Put it on Hold? Waterman continued, capping off the conversation, by addressing the question of the age right now, across industries: Whether the COVID-19 pandemic has aided in the evolution of certain industries, technologies, or consumer habits, or whether its hindered them. He illustrated his point with an example: We connect Airbnb through our channel manager. Theyve had a rough time, like all aggregators, but were seeing a spike in bookings on Airbnb now. Publicly, people think Airbnb at the moment is very bullish about remote working, which is really helping their business model. Historically, their third-quarter results are always the best. And right now theyre seeing a big spike in stays of 28 days or longer. Thats the fastest-growing stay category in Airbnb. In Australia, where it doesnt feel like were going to be able to go overseas for a while and companies are used to having their staff working at home, you would think that would play to Airbnb, in terms of people moving around the country and then working for a period of time. Photo: Shiji Distribution Solutions Ultimately, its a bit of both, of course, but no doubt that the pandemic has created a window for innovation to spring forward, as we can see in the conversation above. If youd like to watch the whole thing for yourself, you can access it here. Press Release 25 October 2021 NEW YORK - Certares Management LLC a leading investment specialist dedicated to the travel, tourism and hospitality sectors (together with its affiliates, "Certares"), in partnership with Highlands Investments LLC ("Highlands") and Monomoy Property Ventures LLC ("MPV"), today announced the acquisition of the 181 key, new-build Embassy Suites Atlanta Midtown located at 290 17th Street NW in Midtown Atlanta, Georgia. The deal also included the acquisition of an adjacent land parcel and an income-producing parking component. Advertisements Located in the Atlantic Station area of Midtown, the all-suites property features a lobby bar, restaurant, large fitness area and pool, along with 2,600 square feet of meeting space. The rooms average approximately 500 square feet, and each has a private kitchenette and separate living room area. The hotel sits adjacent to Microsoft's new eastern U.S. headquarters and near Georgia Tech's main Atlanta campus. HEI Hotels & Resorts ("HEI"), a leading hospitality management company that owns and/or operates 84 hotels and resorts throughout the United States, has been selected to operate the property. Nolan Hecht, Senior Managing Director & Head of Real Estate at Certares, said, "We are thrilled to acquire this brand-new asset in the heart of Atlantic Station. Midtown Atlanta is the city's preeminent submarket for technology and healthcare talent recruitment and is seeing an array of corporate relocations and expansions. We look forward to working closely with Highlands, MPV and HEI to ensure the property delivers a great experience to its guests." Jordan Kary, Founder and Principal of Highlands, added, "We are big believers in both Atlanta and, more specifically, the Midtown Atlanta submarket, and we are excited to acquire this high-quality hotel together with Certares, MPV and HEI. The property's location together with its all-suites rooms and amenity offerings makes the asset well-positioned for outsized growth. We look forward to continuing to identify opportunities to acquire great pieces of real estate at attractive values and working to ensure best-in-class operations and oversight." "High-quality real estate structured off-market from a motivated seller, in an excellent location within a growth MSA, the Embassy Suites Atlanta Midtown is illustrative of the types of investments MPV is successfully targeting as we establish our business," said Kevin Vaughan, Founder of MPV. Vaughan added, "We look forward to building on a close relationship with Certares, Highlands, HEI and Hilton as we execute on our business plan at this asset, and to participating in the substantial ongoing growth in the midtown Atlanta business community." About Certares Management LLC Established in 2012, Certares focuses on direct investments in proprietary transactions, leveraging deep sector experience in the travel and hospitality industries, and with a consistent emphasis on partnership with management teams to drive growth. Certares brings together a team with decades of both operational and investment experience in private equity, travel, tourism, hospitality and travel-related business and consumer services. For more information, please visit www.certares.com. About Highlands Investments LLC Founded in 2020, Highlands Investments LLC is a New York-based real estate investment and asset management company that employs a value approach to investing and targets select product types and geographic regions across the United States and Canada. Prompted by the shifting dynamics in the global real estate industry, the company's primary objectives include sourcing and negotiating target driven acquisition opportunities and managing investments throughout their lifecycle. Highlands focuses on identifying opportunistic acquisitions at attractive values with the potential to enhance returns at the asset level through operational improvements and through long-term economic recovery. To learn more, visit https://www.highlandsinv.com/. About Monomoy Property Ventures LLC Monomoy Property Ventures (MPV) is a New York-based real estate investment, development and management firm with an extensive track record sourcing, acquiring and redeveloping lodging assets. MPV purchases land parcels and existing buildings in enduring, high-barrier locations in select resort and urban markets in the United States. Through physical and operational repositioning or ground-up construction, MPV seeks to improve buildings, destinations, neighborhoods and the built environment while providing attractive financial returns to our company and investment partners. Through current and prior ventures, Principals of MPV have executed on over $1.4 billion of lodging investments across 23 hotels. For further information, please visit www.MonomoyPropertyVentures.com. Opinion Article 25 October 2021 The Indian aviation sector is finally flying high following a burst of encouraging news in recent weeks. Air passenger traffic is rising steadily, especially with the onset of the festive season and resumption of corporate travel, prompting the government to allow airlines to operate at full capacity. Air traffic is expected to recover further after the country reopens its borders to international tourists in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, with Jet Airways resuming operations and a new ultra-low-cost airline, Akasa Air, launching flights next year, as well as the privatization of the national carrier, Air India, through a sale to Tata Sons, competition in the aviation market is set to heat up. Advertisements According to the International Air Transport Association, India will become the world's third-largest aviation market by 2024-25. In recent years, India's air passenger traffic has grown significantly because of rising disposable income, the advent of low-cost carriers, and improved air connectivity through the UDAN scheme. As a result, India has been investing substantially in expanding its airport infrastructure to increase internal connectivity, especially to Tier 2, 3 & 4 cities. The number of operational airports in the country has increased significantly from 50 in 2000 to 153 in 2020, with plans in place to add another 100 by 2024. The government has also announced plans to privatize airports in Tier 2 & 3 cities. More recently, India also ushered in the era of multiple-airport cities by launching the new Jewar Airport project in Delhi NCR. The government is building additional airports in other cities such as Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune, and others to decongest existing airports and meet expanding demand, therefore the trend of numerous airports in the same city is likely to continue. The expansion of the aviation industry will mark a new chapter in the tourism industry's growth. These projects will help to increase regional and last-mile connectivity to India's hitherto unexplored and underserved tourist locations, which has been a major barrier to tourism growth in the past. Shorter direct flights will be accessible on numerous sectors as airport infrastructure improves, as will last-mile connectivity to several smaller, unexplored destinations, putting them on the domestic tourism map, while allowing larger cities in India to emerge as transportation hubs. For instance, Indias 29th international airport which just opened in Kushinagar, the Buddhist tourism circuits core, would allow tourists to complete their pilgrimage in a fraction of the time taken earlier. In the long run, increased competition in the aviation sector will result in better services and lower rates for customers, boosting the expansion of domestic tourism in the country. From a demand standpoint, the hotel industry is strongly reliant on the aviation industry, with a strong correlation between the hotel sectors growth and air traffic growth. As a result, the growing aviation industry will continue to be a powerful stimulus for the hotel industry in India. Air traffic is predicted to recover quickly following the pandemic, and with increased seat capacity, it will soon surpass pre-pandemic levels, resulting in a rise in hotel demand. Furthermore, post-pandemic hotel supply growth has been muted, and given the slow pace of hotel development in India, supply is unlikely to expand quickly. The combined effect will cause a boom in the Indian hotel sector, helping it to cross the pre-pandemic performance levels. WASHINGTON - Democrats are considering a plastic tax to encourage the industry to increase recycling and back off the production of single-use products. One of the tax provisions under discussion for inclusion in Democrats' budget package is a 20 cent per pound tax on the production of "virgin" plastic resin used for single-use products like food containers and beauty products, which could generate billions of dollars a year in revenue. RELATED: A look into plastic's trash crisis The idea stems from legislation introduced this summer by Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I., and Rep. Tom Suozzi, D-N.Y., designed to encourage manufacturers to switch to recycled plastic and help pay for the clean up of plastic waste. "The plastics industry has done far too little to address the damage its products cause," Whitehouse said this summer. "Plastic pollution chokes our oceans, hastens climate change, and threatens peoples well-being." Scientists estimate approximately 8 million metric tons of plastic waste nearly 20 billion pounds end up in the worlds oceans each year. The plastic is broken down into smaller and smaller pieces by the combination of salt water, waves and sun, slowly poisoning the fish and other marine creatures that eat it, eventually ending up in humans' food supply. But plastics is also a core industry in regions like the Texas Gulf Coast, employing 92,000 people in the United States alone and generating $1.2 trillion in annual revenues worldwide. In a letter to Congress earlier this month the Plastics Industry Association warned the tax stood to raise the cost of plastic products by more than 25 percent and drive U.S. production overseas. "Simply slapping a new tax on virgin resin and expecting significant change ignores the fact that the supply of recycled plastic is limited," read the letter. If passed in its current form, the plastic tax would start at 10 center per pound of virgin plastic, increasing to 20 cents by 2024. According to the American Chemistry Council, the United States produces 8.2 billion pounds of plastic resin a month. Under the legislation only plastic employed in single use products would be taxed, leaving plastic items like synthetic clothing and car parts exempt, along with resin that is exported abroad. In 2018 roughly 40 percent of U.S. plastic production went to single-use products, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. William Luther, Staff / William Luther Electricity consumers are overwhelming interested in electricity providers sustainability efforts, but few are confident that they know what some of the most basic terms relating to clean energy mean, according to a survey by Ernst & Young. The survey, the results of which were released this month, asked 34,000 consumers from 17 countries about everything from generating their own electricity to environmental concerns. It found that despite 84 percent of respondents saying sustainability was important for electricity purchasing decisions, only a little more than half said they were confident they knew what the word sustainability meant. About one-third said they were confident they knew what the words net zero and carbon neutral meant. An Ohio man is taking the popular 12-foot Halloween skeleton from Home Depot one step further with a display that has since gone viral. Alan Perkins lives in Olmsted Falls, Ohio. He created a captivating display and it's also helping a good cause. The coronavirus affected every segment of life around the world and real estate was no exception. For months, it has been a sellers market with numerous offers often more than the asking price. In some of the lower market homes, it has been a bidding war. But that hasnt necessarily been the case with all segments of the real estate market. Tim Surratt, a board member with the Houston Association of Realtors and a realtor with Greenwood King Properties focuses on the Memorial and River Oaks submarkets and says a recent spike in home sales in Memorial is a good sign. In my opinion, the upper end inventory is being chewed up: River Oaks, West U, and others like that. People are not able to get as big of a lot as they can get in Memorial. If youre craving a bigger lot, there's virtually nothing available inside the loop. Even at those prices, it's pretty difficult. That appetite, he said, is pushing some of the sales to Memorial. For a while, Memorial was a bit slow on the sales. In September, the HAR report of the top ten most expensive homes sold in Houston featured five homes in the Memorial communities of Mayerling, Glennville Place, Bayou Woods, and two in Sherwood Forest. The total for all five homes was $22,607,000 for 37,762 square foot of living space. Its nice to see people understand the value of having the big lawn, he said. In West U, a 10,000-square-foot lot would be considered huge. In Memorial, less than 20,000 is considered small. The smaller lots around 38,000-40,000 are what's called village acre, which is just under an acre. The ones that sold range from 20,000 square feet to 58,000 square feet, Surratt said. Surratt explained how the market works. Generally, what happens is, as the prices start going up, and people begin to say, Hey, my neighbors house sold for this much, then it helps put more inventory on the market because other people think I can put my house on the market and do pretty well, he explained. Some of that happens but the trend changed with the pandemic. People were wanting smaller houses. They didnt care about having a study, they didnt care about having a pool. They didnt care about any of that. Then when they found themselves trapped at home with their families and kids, working from home and homeschooling and not able to travel, it switched very quickly as they opened up the Texas market and allowed us to show homes again, he said. Since then, Surratt said buyers have been going for bigger homes and as big a lot as they can get. Second home purchases are also on the rise. Surratt also said that some of those homes in Memorial in the $3 million and higher range will have vacation homes and not spend a lot of time there. The sales, he said, had nothing to do with flooding from Hurricane Harvey. Obviously, if your house flooded in Harvey, it probably flooded several times before that. And those houses, of course are affected. Big time. But if your house didn't flood, then this really had no effect, especially if people say, Well, we didn't even flood in Harvey, which was one of the worst storms we've ever had. And so, if your house made it through that they feel a little bit safer. Obviously, there's no guarantee as the world continues to change, he said. The bidding wars seen around the county for much lesser expensive homes is not a part of this particular demographic, he said. That's not the same in this price range, he said. One home was priced at $6.5 million and sold for $5.91 million. Another was listed at $5.5 million and sold for $5 million even. One home that was priced at $4.3 million sold at full price. They may sell closer to full price, but then I'm not aware of them going over full price. That's only if it's priced right. Otherwise, they are going to discount them. When you're discounting the house even 5 percent in that price range, it's a big number, he said. The trend is continuing. According to HAR, the days on the market for a home $1 million-plus or even as much as $3.5 million is down from a typical 76 days to 53. Thats a huge difference, the realtor said. Theres 21 houses under contract over $3.5 million right now in the Houston area. Thats a lot, he said. One of the homes is priced at almost $9 million. Surratt has plenty of experience in the area selling in Houston for over 35 years. The market has changed dramatically in those three decades. Everything about the Houston market is different in every respect, but it's a very strong market. It's not like Boston, which is completely out of control. I think we're a little bit more in check. But if the days on the market are less than six months, its considered a seller's market. And you know, with 53 days on the market, the sellers have a little bit more control. But in the upper end houses, they're still not bidding wars or anything like that, he said. Surratt said anything under $800,000 is still in a super tight market. I've lived here most of my life, and it's shocking driving around and just seeing everything from high rises to mid rises to commercial, all of that, you know, it's unrecognizable the way our citys grown organically. And I think a big help to that has been the city's investment in our parks. Hundreds of millions of dollars have been invested in Memorial Park and Allen Parkway, and some of the other parksWillow Meadows Park, and some of thoseall those things have made a difference in the quality of life in Houston. And I think they've done a great job, really, he said. Surratt had a little bit of advice for wannabe homebuyers. They're not making any more land in Houston. Trying to wait out the markets, probably isnt the best tip. You're going to need to jump in there if you want to buy a house, he said. Surratt said he didnt have a crystal ball to predict the future, but said as the city continues to grow, there would never be enough homes to compensate. Theres going to be a lot of pressure on the market probably for the foreseeable future, he estimated. He guessed that there were only 20,000 to 30,000 homes on the market, but there needs to be closer to 50,000. The bidding wars will continue if theyre priced right. If theyre not priced right, its still not going to sell regardless of what the market is. The market is very educated. They want to pay a fair price and then sometimes theyll pay slightly over a fair price for a house, but theyre not going to overpay, he said. dtaylor@hcnonline.com While some women may take bras for granted, for some homeless women, bras are a luxury they cannot afford. But thanks to the efforts of around 10 women from the Landmark Community Center in Missouri City, area homeless women wont have to go without bras. The participants of the senior fitness class collected nearly 100 bras and more than 60 pairs of underwear to give to women in need. After completing their Oct. 22 workout, they were proud to show off the work they had done to help others during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. On HoustonChronicle.com: Sugar Land Town Square slated for landscape improvements Heights resident Barbara Davis, 49, went through a double mastectomy in June 2020 and was left with bras she didnt need anymore. She had seen news reports in the past about homeless people living in encampments but never truly believed the crisis was real. One day, Davis got lost and drove by a tent city in downtown Houston. It occurred to then her how many women living out there probably didnt have proper bras and underwear and how her bras might help someone else. Davis launched the Delivering Dignity program in late 2020 and has engaged other women to collect more than 1,000 bras, plus underwear. The program is a part of her organization Alpha Female League, which focuses on mentoring young minority women. Davis said all women need to find dignity within themselves. When theyre homeless and displaced, theyre already in a certain way where they feel less than the average person, or less than a person, Davis said. So with Delivering Dignity, its helping to give that back to the women that are homeless. Davis collects bras, washes the gently used ones, stores them in zip-close plastic bags and labels them with the size. She then drives to homeless camps, meets women, finds out what sizes they need and hands them their undergarments. Some women well up in tears and dont really understand why she would take the time to visit with them and provide for a basic need. On HoustonChronicle.com: Expert offers advice for enrolling in health care this fall While she has never been homeless, Davis has bounced around at times and lived with others. A single mother to four girls, she also knows the cost of outfitting five women with bras. Looking at Houstons homeless women, she said she thought, Well, what can I do? I cant do much. I cant house them all. But let me see what I can do to help. Since women also need tampons and maxi pads, she collects and distributes those to the homeless as well. Sometimes she works with school districts to discreetly provide bras and underwear to students who otherwise could not afford them. Apart from her nonprofit work, Davis works full time for the University of Houston. She considers helping others her passion, goal and calling in life. The bras are just a place to start for Davis. She hopes to get some land for fully functional and fully furnished tiny houses that would provide housing and programs for homeless individuals. The programs would work on areas like building job skills and creating a resume. Davis would also have a person to help with haircuts and hair washes. She plans to call the small community Village of Hope. Fitness class participant Johnnie Mackey underwent a mastectomy in 2007 and explained it is important to help others who face hardships to show them other people care. Being a breast cancer survivor, you always want to help the next person. On HoustonChronicle.com: Sugar Lands first female motorcycle officer hopes milestone can inspire her daughters, others Birtha Greene also participates in the class. She caught her stage 2 breast cancer four years ago with her annual mammogram and felt compelled to donate to the cause. Some people dont have the money to buy bras, Greene said. And if they buy bras, its not the right kind of bra. I think its very important that we donate bras to give to people because its just something in my heart that loves to give. Cheryl Worthy teaches the senior fitness class and has lost numerous friends to cancer. She wanted to give bras to support others. I am a widow because of cancer, and I want to do what I can for those who are suffering, especially women. Since it is Breast Cancer Month, I wanted to show love to those who may be suffering, Worthy said. To learn more about Delivering Dignity or to donate new or gently used bras, visit www.thealphaleagues.org or email Davis at alphafemaleleague@gmail.com. The senior fitness class meets from 10 to 11 a.m. on Wednesdays and Fridays at Landmark Community Center, located at 100 Louisiana St. in Missouri City. It offers low-impact exercise at no cost for Fort Bend County residents. Register at https://tinyurl.com/3whx5kx5 or call 832-471-5200. tracy.maness@hcnonline.com COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho (AP) Police in Idaho say they have found a body in a vehicle submerged in Fernan Lake that was last seen being driven by a Coeur d'Alene woman in September. The Spokesman-Review reports that the vehicle, a 2013 Toyota Highlander, was located by Coeur d'Alene police and members of the Kootenai County Sheriff's Office Marine Division about 150 feet (50 meters) offshore on Saturday. Fernan Lake is located just east of the city. FRANCONIA, N.H. (AP) A fish ladder for trout breeding is being planned at the lake on the site where New Hampshires Old Man of the Mountain once stood. The project is organized by the fund that's dedicated to help preserve a memorial to the Old Man of the Mountain. The massive, naturally formed granite profile attracted tourists to Franconia Notch for about 200 years before it crumbled in 2003. The memorial project was completed last year. Metro Video One person died and two others were injured Monday morning in a shooting outside a southwest Houston restaurant. Houston police officers arrived around 1:25 a.m. at the 10900 block of Bissonnet, near Alief, where two victims were shot in the head and another was shot in the hand, Detective Jason Campbell said. Jay R. Jordan / Jay Jordan, Staff Authorities are investigating the death of a person whose remains were discovered Saturday in southwest Houston. A passerby happened upon human remains in the woods at 13301 Hiram Clarke Road, police said. Jacklyn Marie Dobson, a young Oklahoma mother, was riding her bike on a March evening through the heart of 19th century Cherokee Nation when she was struck and killed by a vehicle. The driver fled the scene. A roadside memorial cropped up, with a cross, horseshoe and flowers, according to a local report. For the next seven months, state and federal investigators chased down old-fashioned leads and collected a vast array of high-tech data: tolling point photos, surveillance videos and Google searches for a glass repair and the Honduran consulate in Dallas. The clues ultimately led them last week to the home of a Pasadena woman who, officials said, admitted she had indeed slammed into a bike that spring night in the Ozark foothills, but she didnt think anyone was riding it. Silvia Veronica Fuentes, 35, was arrested Friday and released on bail Monday after appearing in Houston federal court on a single charge, failure to stop at the scene of an accident involving death on Indian land. U.S. Magistrate Frances Stacy judge found sufficient evidence to hold Fuentes for trial. The remainder of Fuentes prosecution will play out in the Eastern District of Oklahoma. The case highlights the powerful reach of search warrants in the digital age. In this instance as in other complex modern crime investigations across the country, police began by requesting tech companies provide information not about specific suspects, but rather from every mobile device user within a certain distance of a crime scene around the time the crime occurred. Tech giants manage thousands of these law enforcement requests for data stashed in personal devices, including photos, GPS data, texts and searches. A Washington Post investigation found that in a six month period in 2020, Facebook received 61,262 government requests for U.S. user data, Google received 39,536 requests and Apple received 11,363 requests. RELATED: Furious cyclists call for arrest, alleging teen driver menaced them before crash that injured 6 Jacklyn Marie Dobson was a 24-year-old former food service worker and member of the Cherokee Nation who loved country music, spending time at the creek, making homemade pizza and doting on her son Jace, according to an obituary. She also enjoyed getting a workout on her bike, which is what she was doing on along a clear, dry roadway just before 10 p.m. on March 18. Three miles west of Tahlequah in Cherokee County she was struck by a car. Another motorist at the scene stopped to check on Dobson. Emergency responders later transported her by helicopter to St. John Hospital in Tulsa. Dobsons obituary indicates she died of her injuries the following day. Traffic homicide unit of the Oklahoma Highway Patrol was dispatched to the scene of the collision, according to a statement from an FBI agent assigned to the case. After troopers spoke with witnesses and analyzed debris, they determined Dobson was attempting to cross U.S. 62, a four-lane highway dotted with businesses, from a side street when she was hit by a car traveling along the larger highway. The intersection has no traffic control devices, the investigator said. Several of the businesses and homes surrounding the crash site had surveillance video that police reviewed. Video showed that the driver who hit Dobson had pulled over to the shoulder of the highway a short distance from the collision, stopped for about 10 seconds and then continued west. Officials then obtained a search warrant information on all Google accounts and devices in the vicinity during the two minutes before and after the crash. Googles response included information on a device with a Google account that had passed through the scene of the collision westbound along the highway area at the exact moment of the collision, the FBI agent said. The device was connected to a subscriber named Silvia Fuentes and the tech company provided her date of birth. The phone also apparently recorded a photograph taken the day after the crash of a black Nissan Maxima with damage to the front passenger portion of the vehicle. The drivers Google-linked device traveled from Fayetteville, Ark., the evening of March 18 through eastern Oklahoma and ended that journey in the Dallas/Fort Worth area early March 19, data showed. Police also used toll plaza data from the North Texas Tollway also showed a 2013 Maxima passing through in the appropriate time span. Toll photographs showed a broken windshield and damage to the front passenger side. There was even more data for officials to piece together. The Google user had searched the database for taller mecanico near me or mechanics shop near me. Other Google searches sought information on body shops, glass repair and replacement headlights. Simultaneously, the user was also extensively Googling information regarding the Honduran Consulate in the Dallas, Texas area, the FBI agent said in a sworn statement. On Thursday, investigators spoke to Fuentes at her home in Pasadena. The FBI agent wrote in his statement that Fuentes admitted she had driven from Fayetteville, Ark., to Dallas the day of the crash. She recalled striking a bicycle along a dark highway in rural Oklahoma, but she thought it was an unoccupied bicycle on the roadway. She stated she did not exit her car to check it for damage or to see if anyone had been injured. Dobson, known to family as Missy or Jack-o-Lantern, had a delightful, outgoing personality, her obituary said, When she walked into the room, it lit up with her beautiful smile, and her infectious giggle. Her loved ones also noted in the post: She loved to ride her bike, she liked keeping in shape and never had the habit of staying still for long. gabrielle.banks@chron.com A family is suing Torchys Tacos after a child became ill weeks after eating at the chain's Sonterra Place location in San Antonio, according to court documents. The boy was rushed to a local pediatric intensive care unit for sepsis, organ failure and pneumonia treatments linked to a salmonella outbreak in onions that affected 37 states, the court documents say. Texas alone has reported almost 160 cases of salmonella. On HoustonChronicle.com: Abandoned Houston kids lived for weeks with no power, relied on neighbor for food and phone charging The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has linked the outbreak to fresh whole red, white, and yellow onions imported from Chihuahua, Mexico. The onions were sold to American restaurants and grocery stores ending on Aug. 31. Ching-yi Ortizd filed the lawsuit in Bexar County Court on behalf of her underaged son who is listed as A.O. in court filings. She is suing Torchys parent company Success Foods Management Group LLC and food distributor ProSource Produce LLC. Ortiz is represented by Marler Clark and the Hill Law Firm of San Antonio. The lawsuit is seeking over $200,000 in damages to cover the familys medical bills and to compensate the minor for pain and suffering. On HoustonChronicle.com: Cold front will bring beautiful weather for Halloween after hot, muggy start to this week The family reportedly ate dinner at Torchys Tacos on 18210 Sonterra Pl. in San Antonio in late August, according to the lawsuit. A week after visiting the restaurant, on Aug. 27, the child began to experience exhaustion and a headache, the lawsuit said. When his symptoms grew worse over the next week, he was taken to the emergency room on Sept. 3. However, he did not receive a diagnosis. On Sept. 7, the child was in such intense pain he could not walk or sit up, and he was taken to the Methodist Childrens Hospital where he received treatment for complications from his Salmonella Oranienburg infection in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, the lawsuit said. On HoustonChronicle.com: Why millionaires are flocking to Wimberley in Hays County, Texas The lawsuit says the boys infection caused sepsis, organ failure, pneumonia and extreme pain when it reached the bones around his sacroiliac joint. He continues to be treated daily with long term IV antibiotics for salmonella, which was found in his blood, urine and stool, according to the lawsuit. The lawsuit says Torchys sold a defective and dangerous product. At the time the food product left control of (Torchys Tacos), it was defective and unreasonably dangerous in that it was not adequately manufactured or marketed to minimize the risk of injury or death, the lawsuit said. Amanda Whitlock, the senior account supervisor for Edible Inc., said in an email that the company had first heard of the claim after the family filed the lawsuit. "At Torchys, our number one priority is providing safe and delicious food to our guests," Whitlock said. "We take this claim very seriously and have retained nationally respected food safety experts to track our food supply in August to see if they can find a connection between food we served then and this claim." Whitlock said the Sonterra location has "a uniform record of excellent health inspection scores." That includes a 100-acore routine inspection from the city of San Antonio Metropolitan Health District as recently as Oct. 8. She added: "Our thoughts are with this guest and his family and we hope for continued recovery." Timothy.Fanning@express-news.net. WARNING. The following random facts about Texas history may contain information that causes an individual to, in the words of House Bill 3979, feel discomfort, guilt, anguish, or any other form of psychological distress on account of the individuals race or sex: Stephen F. Austin, William Barret Travis, Jim Bowie and other Texas icons were slaveholders. Bowie was a slave trader; Article VIII of the Constitution of Texas (1845) and its amended form under the Confederate States of America made it illegal for Texans to emancipate their slaves; Texas stands third among the states, after Mississippi and Georgia, in the total number of recorded lynching victims: 468; Texas Rangers in the early years of the 20th century were guilty of numerous atrocities including executing innocents against Mexicans and Mexican Americans in South Texas. Its impossible to know Texas yesterday, today and no doubt tomorrow without being aware of those hard facts (and many others). State Rep. Steve Toth, R-Woodlands, would rather his fellow Texans, particularly young Texans, didnt know. Toth is the author of HB 3979, legislation passed in the recent regular session designed to prevent Texas school children from feeling discomfort, guilt, etc. He also wants to inoculate them against teachers whom he suspects are more interested in indoctrinating about Texas ills rather than educating about Texas triumphs. Toth and his legislative counterpart, state Sen. Bryan Hughes, R-Mineola, seek to eradicate critical race theory from the states classrooms. Neither, we suspect, would know critical race theory if it slapped them in the rear, but the esoteric academic discipline exploring how racism is embedded in social systems is useful to them. Critical race theory, along with the New York Times controversial 1619 Project exploring Americas racist origins are convenient bogeyman for Republicans looking for divisive social issues designed to appeal to their hard-right primary voters. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, by the way, is sure he knows critical race theory when he spots it. It teaches that one race is better than another and that someone, by virtue of their race or sex, is innately racist, oppressive or sexist, he has said. The lite guv, never one to let facts get in the way of his bloviating, not only misrepresents the theory, but also would be hard-pressed to find any public school in Texas where such a theory is taught. It took lawmakers a couple of tries once in the regular session and again in the second special session to satisfy Gov. Greg Abbott, who is desperate to inoculate himself against a couple of extreme-right challengers intent on denying him a third lease on the Governors Mansion. Hughes bill, Senate Bill 3, replaced Toths and goes into effect in December. Texas confirming its status as the laboratory of idiocracy, observed conservative Washington Post columnist Michael Gerson is one of at least a dozen states that in recent weeks have restricted how teachers can discuss race or racism with their students. How does this censorship sit with you, Texans? Mind-control, book-banning, and an intimidation campaign against the states social studies teachers isnt any less threatening in the purported land of individual freedom than it is in a totalitarian regime. Were relieved that the governor has resisted so far Patricks importuning for a fourth special session to corral a couple more uber-partisanrightwing hobby horses for the extreme rights riding pleasure, including a demand from Donald Trump for a statewide audit of the 2020 election. But we hear tale that Abbott, with his gimlet eye on the extreme, is tempted to call another special session to demand that Hughes write an addendum to his SB 3. It would make Walt Disneys zippity-do-dah movie, Song of the South, required viewing in Texas schools and force teachers to categorize it as a documentary. Were being facetious, of course, but theres nothing amusing about the new law. Supporters insist that its all about protecting Texas school children. Actually, its causing confusion and consternation for already-beleaguered Texas school teachers. An unfortunate incident in the North Texas suburb of Southlake attracted national attention, but similar incidents are reportedly occurring statewide. 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. In Southlakes Carroll ISD, an administrator in charge of curriculum and instruction advised teachers during an Oct. 8 training session that if they have a book about the Holocaust in their classroom, they should offer students an opposing perspective. Just try to remember the concepts of [House Bill] 3979, administrator Gina Peddy is heard telling teachers in a recording obtained by NBC News. The Carroll ISD superintendent later apologized for Peddys remark, while Hughes insisted his bill did not require teachers to provide opposing views on what he called matters of good and evil. Hughes colleague, state Sen. Kelly Hancock, R-Fort Worth, maintained that Southlake's actions had nothing to do with the bill. "Southlake just got it wrong, he tweeted. No legislation is suggesting the action this administrator is promoting." State Sen. Beverly Powell offered another perspective. "Already, the Fort Worth Democrat tweeted, we are seeing the impact of a vague and unnecessary bill that leaves teachers and administrators confused and afraid to teach the history of the Holocaust or the Civil War without teaching 'both sides. Teachers and administrators are worried, as Powell suggests. Some are terrified about what books they should or shouldnt have in their classroom or that a random remark, misinterpreted, will get them fired. Hard facts about race and racism, about our flawed heroes or about our inability over the years to live up to our ideals of freedom, equality and justice are part of the Texas story. Theyre not the only part, by a long shot, but a well-educated Texan needs to know them. Texans also need to know the unfortunate history of Abbotts predecessors Coke Stevenson, W. Lee Pass the Biscuits, Pappy ODaniel and the Fergusons, among others who were sure they knew more about education than teachers or professors. No one we know advocates classroom indoctrination, but students studying history, civics and other social studies require something much harder to achieve. Working under the tutelage of a wise and able teacher, they need to be exposed to new ideas (including uncomfortable ideas). They need to feel free to debate and argue. They need to learn, not critical race theory necessarily, but critical thinking. Neither student nor teacher needs intruding politicians. Annette Gordon-Reed, who may or may not be on any Toth-Hughes approved-author list, is well aware of our shared history and how we deal with it. An East Texan, an African American who grew up in Conroe, she is a Pulitzer Prize-winning historian at Harvard. In a book called On Juneteenth, published this year, she ruminates in a personal way about her complicated love for Texas. Love does not require taking an uncritical stance toward the object of ones affection, she writes. In truth, it often requires the opposite. We cant be of real service to the hopes we have for places and people, ourselves included without a clear-eyed assessment of their (and our) strengths and weaknesses. That often demands a willingness to be critical, sometimes deeply so. Imagine being in Gordon-Reeds classroom a classroom, we suspect, where students are free to explore, to question, to grow. Thats the sort of education we wish for every young Texan. In a state at once so very difficult, so full of good things and so full of potential to borrow Gordon-Reeds words our young people deserve nothing less. Regarding As Harris County judges take heat for felony bonds, critics point to unnoticed culprit: The bondsmen, (Oct. 14): When I read the Chronicles report about bail bondsmen, the main thing that jumped out at me was the practice of accepting monthly payments from those released on bail which reportedly and understandably has led to the commission of (more) crimes to get the money to make the monthly payments. Considering how common it is to read news reports of individuals arrested for committing crimes while out on bail for a previous arrest it seems the entire system is in need of reform. On the flip side, bail bondsmen are apparently having a tough time making enough money to stay in business. One might wonder why bail is not a function of the court system itself. Many people object to privately run prisons because they don't like the idea of for-profit businesses being involved in the criminal justice system on the back end which has allegedly resulted in bribes being paid to judges to sentence more people to serve time in these prisons, among other concerns which also include lack of transparency and accountability. Perhaps it's time to revisit the idea of privately owned for-profit bail bonds businesses being involved in the criminal justice system on the front end. Greg Groh, Houston What goes around comes around Regarding Republicans slam Rodney Ellis' proposal to redistrict Harris County, claim it will create 'chaos', (Oct. 21): There is no such thing as Republican gerrymandering or Democratic gerrymandering. There is simply gerrymandering. It is ugly. And, yes, it is accurate to call it playing politics. However, if our two Republican county commissioners dont like being on the short end of such shenanigans here in Harris County, then they could call Texas Republican governor and ask him to ease up in Austin. And the governor may want to consider that, as Texas becomes bluer, voters whose votes were negatively affected by gerrymandering will likely have long memories. There will continue to be hell to pay. Gene Fisseler, Houston Composting Regarding Houston leaders want you to start composting. Here's how, (Oct. 20): I was pleased to see that Houston is initiating a waste composting program. I hope that community powers like the Chronicle will closely monitor this program. Whether the compostable waste is sent to the city landfill or to the new compost facility, the gas emissions carbon dioxide and methane are pretty much the same. The difference is when a lot of material is not sent to landfill and a beneficial compost material is produced. What the public must be watchful of is that the compost product is actually used for something. Going through the process and then sending the compost to the landfill because it can't be used serves no good purpose. Louis DuPree, Magnolia Activist-in-residence Regarding Prairie View A&M names Melina Abdullah, co-founder of BLM Los Angeles chapter, activist-in-residence, (Oct. 14): Its distressing to see Prairie View A&M spending taxpayer money to hire Melina Abdullah as its first activist-in-residence. Ms. Abdullah is a Marxist. who will inspire a generation of activists. Students and taxpayers would be far better served if the university inspired students to become engineers, scientists, mathematicians, business leaders or some other profession that will contribute to the needs of our country and help them reach financial security. Jim Hauri, Houston Religious freedom is among the most fundamental American values. As longtime leaders of Houston houses of worship, we appreciate the desire to protect the right to worship and to gather in person for religious activities. As committed supporters of the constitutional principle of separation of church and state, we believe in the freedom to worship God according to each persons conscience. Our faith teaches us that preserving human life is an even more fundamental value. That is why we are voting against Proposition 3 in this election. Proposition 3 is a proposed amendment to the state constitution. If it passes, new language in the Texas Constitution will ban the state, city, county, school district or any other government entity from prohibiting or limiting religious services of religious organizations. There are no exceptions to this rule not for hurricanes, floods, fires or chemical spills. The consequences of this blanket exemption for religious organizations could be dangerous or even deadly. Under the guise of religious freedom, Proposition 3 would tie the hands of law enforcement, fire departments, code enforcers and other government officials who are charged with protecting us during the unforeseen events that all too often strike our Gulf Coast metropolis. That would put all Houstonians, including our religious communities, at risk. The COVID-19 pandemic has only further underscored the potential danger unleashed by Proposition 3. Our countrys fundamental promise of religious freedom guarantees that we have the freedom to believe and practice our faith. But that doesnt give us the right to harm others. In the middle of a deadly pandemic, that means limiting large gatherings to prevent the spread of a deadly disease even for places of worship. The pandemic acknowledges no religious exemption. As weve seen across the country, this coronavirus spreads as easily among religious gatherings as it does among secular groups. Voters looking at the ballot for the first time may think that Proposition 3 is a gift for the religious community, but nothing could be further from the truth. We do not want our holy places to become hot zones for disease or refuges for those who are unconcerned with the wellbeing of others. Thats why a broad coalition of Christian, Jewish, Muslim and other religious organizations released a statement this spring opposing measures like Proposition 3 as threats to public health that lend no benefit to our religious institutions. After all, safety regulations no more prevent us from practicing our faith than the fire codes that limit how many parishioners we can fit inside a building. Yet Proposition 3 would toss all of that out, putting our community and first responders at risk. Recognizing the spiritual sustenance and sense of community that religious practices provide, all of these denominations have found creative ways to provide opportunities for worship. As a matter of fact, unexpected advantages have come to light, such as the use of technology to engage with members who arent physically able to attend worship services, or to reach a new audience that might never have entered a particular house of worship otherwise. Times of public crisis demand that all community leaders religious, secular and governmental work together to find solutions. Religious communities should lead by example, not be set apart. By giving religious gatherings a preemptive exemption from future emergency orders, Proposition 3 could unintentionally paint religious communities as part of the problem, not the solution and undercut the ability of the faith community to partner with other community leaders to defeat the crisis. Voters should reject the notion that religious freedom is a license to bring harm to our friends, neighbors and loved ones. Vote no on Prop. 3. Jim Bankston is Pastor Emeritus at St. Pauls United Methodist Church. David Lyon is Senior Rabbi at Congregation Beth Israel. Gov. Greg Abbott agreed in a Friday court filing to a new expert panel created to analyze the crisis of foster care children without licensed placements and issue recommendations by mid-December. The filing was part of a lawsuit that has been pending for about a decade, heard by federal Judge Janis Jack. Child welfare advocates sued the state for unsafe conditions in the foster care system, which Jack found egregious enough as to be unconstitutional. She imposed new guardrails on the system, which led to the closure of a number of facilities. The closed facilities in conjunction with the COVID-19 pandemic created a capacity crisis where there are not enough beds for the kids who need them. As a result, the state has increasingly relied on placing children in unlicensed placements, often motels or office buildings, overseen by caseworkers who dont have the proper training to oversee troubled youth. In August of 2020, there were 47 kids in such placements, and this August there were about 400. Everyone agrees that there is a serious problem for hundreds of foster children that the state is placing in an unlicensed facility. Places like motels and conference rooms of state offices. These children are not being properly supervised and theyre not in placements that can provide the kinds of services that they need, and its putting them at risk, said Paul Yetter, lead attorney for the plaintiffs. The filed agreement says that the expert panel is to consist of one person chosen by the plaintiffs in the lawsuit, one chosen by the state and a third chosen by the other two. Once appointed, the experts will be considered neutral and wont act as representatives of the sides that appointed them. The state agreed to provide data and documents to the panel to help with its work, so long as the documents are not subject to legal privileges. The state named Ann Elizabeth Stanley as its pick to the expert panel, a lawyer for the plaintiffs said in an email. Stanley, who lives in Austin, has been a senior director with Casey Family Programs since 2000, a nonprofit that does consulting work relating to child welfare. Before 2000, Stanley served as the director of the childrens bureau with the Texas Health and Human Services Commission starting in 1994. Although Casey Family Programs consults for the state of Texas, Yetter said that the state informed plaintiffs attorneys that Stanley did not work for the state. The plaintiffs pick was Washington-based Judith Meltzer, the president of the Center for the Study of Social Policy, where she has worked since 1981. The third and final appointee, to be chosen by Stanley and Meltzer, has not yet been named. Its not like any of these three will be working for the state or for the plaintiffs. Theyre all independent and their only objective, and the only reason theyre being brought together on this panel, is to find a solution for these hundreds of foster children who do not have licensed places to stay at, Yetter said. We believe this is a significant crisis today, an ongoing problem, and having best minds in child welfare is one way to get good recommendations and think creatively and break through this chronic problem. Foster care children being forced to stay in unlicensed placements has been a repeated problem in Texas going back at least 20 years, Yetter said, and the expert panels purview will include proposals to fix the issue in both the short and long term. The panel will work with the court, the plaintiffs and the state develop a plan containing specific, concrete recommendations to fix the children without placement problem. Their work will be done in secret, behind a protective order from the court, and it will be funded out of the attorneys fees that the state had to pay for the plaintiffs after they lost in court last year. The filing identified Dec. 15 as a deadline for the panels report, if possible. After the panels report is released, the state, court and plaintiffs will meet to discuss the results within 15 days, and Abbott will ultimately be allowed to accept or deny any or all recommendations as he sees fit. Although the state is not committed to following the recommendations, Yetter said he expects the state to give them significant credence. Recommendations could include steps that Abbott could quickly take on his own as governor or potential legislation that would need to be taken up in the next Legislative session, Yetter said; the expert panel is not a replacement for immediate action from the state for kids currently in unlicensed facilities. This is not instead of the state working to fix this, this is in addition to the state working to fix the problem, Yetter said. The two things are going in parallel, and the reason we were convinced that this expert panel was necessary is that this problem comes and goes, and it has for decades. And theres never been a good solution for it. Its a structural issue that just needs to be changed. edward.mckinley@chron.com As President Joe Bidens vaccine mandate for federal contractors took effect, Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton told state agencies hed gladly sue the federal government if they choose to instead follow Gov. Greg Abbotts order blocking such requirements. He also warned the agencies that any violation of state law may expose your agency and its principals to liability. We will support any agency that follows state law and seeks to resist the repressive funding conditions being unlawfully imposed by President Biden, Paxton wrote to Texas state agencies in an Oct. 15 letter obtained by Hearst Newspapers. I must and will take legal action against the federal government to protect Texas state agencies and their employees from COVID-19 vaccination mandates. READ THE LETTER: Texas AG Ken Paxton pens letter to state agencies telling them to defy vaccine mandate Bidens executive order applies to federal contractors or subcontractors whose contracts were entered into, extended or renewed on or after Oct. 15. Many state agencies receive funding through contracts and other agreements with the federal government and have employees whose salaries are paid for with that money, Paxton noted in the letter. The order from Washington is in direct conflict, however, with Abbotts Aug. 25 order forbidding mandates by any governmental entity that would compel employees to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. Paxtons office did not respond to multiple requests for comment. When asked by Hearst Newspapers which mandate they planned to follow, state agencies offered mixed responses. RELATED: What Gov. Abbott's ban on vaccine requirements means for Texas workers Four of the 10 largest state agencies said they would follow Abbotts order: Health and Human Services Commission, Department of Family and Protective Services, Department of Public Safety and Texas Workforce Commission. Four others Department of Transportation, Department of State Health Services, Parks and Wildlife Department and the comptrollers office said they did not believe the Biden mandate applied to them. Two the Attorney Generals Office and Department of Criminal Justice didnt respond. If theres lingering confusion about the conflicting state and federal orders, that wouldnt be uncommon, employment lawyers said. You look at it and think its just a cut-and-dry supremacy clause issue where the federal law trumps state, but its messy, for sure, said Amy Wilkes, an employment law attorney out of Alabama who also practices in Texas. We definitely expect to see litigation. I think everyone thinks its going to be challenged. But it may take some time to see that litigation hit the courts for a number of reasons, she said. First, the federal government is still finalizing rules for how the mandates will be enforced when it comes to a separate Biden mandates affecting large private businesses and health care workers employed by Medicare- or Medicaid-funded facilities. In addition, the federal contractor rule may have a delayed effect since it does not affect existing contracts only new or modified ones. Some state agencies acknowledged as much in their responses. DPS has not received communications from any federal agency regarding the federal executive order directing federal agencies to include a clause related to COVID-19 vaccination requirements in federal contracts and contract-like instruments, DPS spokeswoman Ericka Miller said. Jay Root contributed to this report. taylor.goldenstein@chron.com The claim: Vaccinated health care workers are protected from COVID and cannot spread it to you. President Joe Biden Biden made the remark in early October while promoting his policies to increase vaccination rates. PolitiFact rating: Half true. Thats overstating the case. Multiple studies show that a vaccinated person is significantly less likely to pass the coronavirus to someone else than an unvaccinated person is, but the transmission risk is not reduced to zero. Bidens statement is correct, but theres a lot more to unpack. Discussion Biden made the claim while touting vaccine requirements for medical workers. His exact words were: Were making sure health care workers are vaccinated, because if you seek care at a health care facility, you should have the certainty that the people providing that care are protected from COVID and cannot spread it to you. The statement contradicts the position of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In a discussion of the more readily transmissible delta variant of the coronavirus published on Aug. 26, the CDC wrote that fully vaccinated people with delta variant breakthrough infections can spread the virus to others. TEXAS TAKE: Get political headlines from across the state sent directly to your inbox Biden should not be so firm in his phrasing, said Tara C. Smith, a Kent State University epidemiologist. Vaccination does significantly reduce transmission from vaccinated breakthrough cases but does not completely eliminate it. Babak Javid, a professor of medicine at the University of California-San Francisco, said there are many examples of onward transmission from vaccines, even beyond the most well-known example, an outbreak in the summer of 2021 that included many vaccinated people in Provincetown, Mass. So Biden is exaggerating when he suggests that someone who is vaccinated cannot spread the virus. But scientists agree that vaccination does cut transmission of the coronavirus significantly, even for the delta variant. For starters, vaccination makes it less likely that someone will be infected with the virus in the first place. But even beyond that, vaccinated people who do contract the virus have been found to be infectious for a shorter time than those who arent vaccinated. For instance, a study from Singapore found that virus levels dropped quickly after infection among people who had been vaccinated. This makes sense, since the immune response from the vaccination is coming in to fight the virus, said Monica Gandhi, a professor of medicine at the University of California-San Francisco. And the shorter time someone is at peak infectiousness, the less likely they are to transmit the virus to others. Here are some studies that show a reduction in transmission by vaccinated individuals: An Oxford University study of contract-tracing data from 100,000 initial cases in the United Kingdom found that vaccination reduced transmission of the delta variant, despite similar viral loads between vaccinated and unvaccinated subjects. Contacts who had received the Pfizer vaccine, which is also used in the United States, were 65 percent less likely to test positive than people who had not been vaccinated. The AstraZeneca vaccine, which is not approved for use in the United States, reduced positive tests by 36 percent. (The study did find that the effectiveness in preventing transmission waned with time.) A study from Umea University in Sweden found that people without immunity were at a significantly reduced risk of being infected if family members were vaccinated or had experienced a previous coronavirus infection. This reduction ranged from 45 percent to 97 percent, depending on how many other family members were infected. A study from the Netherlands looked at infections among more than 24,000 health care workers. It found that infectious virus shedding was lower among vaccinated individuals who had been infected than it was among those who were unvaccinated. As an existing print subscriber it is easy to get FREE access to all our online content. When you click get started below it will walk you through creating an online account to attach your print subscription number to. After your account is created it will ask you to either add a subscription for online access or click on the print subscriber button. Click the print subscriber button header and it will open a dropdown, now click on get started. The page will reload and you will be prompted to enter an account number and a zip code. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO USE THE NUMBER OFF OF THE MOST RECENT ISSUE OR ANYTHING AFTER JANUARY 28, 2019 TO GAIN ACCESS! OLD ACCOUNT NUMBERS WILL NOT WORK The account number and zip code are easily available on your most recent issue of the High Plains Journal or Midwest Ag Journal in the address fields as is shown here. Sometimes the account number has extra zero's in front of it, just ignore those. Subscribing to our services is a three step process. First you have to create an account and then you have to pick if you want to subscribe to digital and or print. Some people only want to be a digital subscriber to get access online and others want to also receive the print edition. If you are already a print subscriber and want online access, it is free, you simply have to create an online account and then attach your print subscription account number to the online account you create. Pittsfield Community Preservation Act Public Hearing Oct. 25 PITTSFIELD, Mass. The Community Preservation Committee will hold a public hearing at 6 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 25 related to the use of Community Preservation Act (CPA) funds and the city's priorities in relation to the Community Preservation Plan. Also, the project eligibility application process for a new year of CPA funds is open through Nov. 5. The public hearing will be held virtually via Zoom. Participation instructions are included with the meeting agenda posted on the city website. The committee will provide an overview of previous allocations of CPA funds and welcomes public participation to understand community priorities as it begins a new year of soliciting potential projects for funding. Eligibility project applications are due by 3 p.m. on Nov. 5. The application process involves two steps. The first is a determination of whether a project is eligible for CPA funds under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 44B. A digital version of the application for this first step is available through the Community Preservation Committee webpage referenced below. Upon confirmed eligibility, projects will then be invited to submit applications for funding in early 2022. A link to the Community Preservation Plan and eligibility application can be found through the Community Preservation Committee page located through the city's website, www.cityofpittsfield.org . A shortcut to the page is also listed under "Hot Topics" on the home page of the city website. Billions of dollars' worth of goods aren't going anywhere right now. Dozens of ships are languishing in the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, California, carrying $26 billion in goods, according to an estimate last week from Chattanooga, Tennessee-based media and analytics company FreightWaves. The Biden administration has implemented initiatives to help, noting that the two ports account for 40 percent of shipping containers that come into the U.S. The efforts won't be enough, says Anthony Coombs, founder and CEO of Splendies, a subscription-based underwear seller. Because of everything from clogged ports to a shortage of truck drivers to extraordinarily high demand for goods, the supply chain struggle has continually gotten worse. "This is what we call 'the shipping apocalypse,'" Coombs says. Coombs and Adam Compain, senior vice president of global product marketing at Project44, which helps companies manage supply chains and logistics, spoke at an Inc. 5000 Vision Conference event on October 21 on supply chain woes. Here are three tips they offered for dealing with the crisis. 1. Plan far ahead Coombs says his biggest regret was not realizing immediately how bad the supply chain crisis was. At first, the company planned an extra month out for getting inventory. Now that it better understands how serious the situation is, he says, "We're not pulling any punches." Splendies plans to be supplied for all of 2022 before the end of this year. 2. Talk to consumers A difficult aspect of the global supply chain is the data is just not good, which makes life even more challenging for sellers, Compain says. Customers tend to respond best to having access to information, he adds--if sellers can better know and predict when things will arrive, they can plan ahead, figure out the best carriers, and be transparent with customers to maintain goodwill. Coombs says Splendies's focus has been on communicating with customers, including adding a detailed notice about shipping delays to its website. When a product was delayed by a few weeks in September, the company sent emails, blogged, created videos, and, most important, tried to "set expectations low so [we could] hopefully exceed them." When you tell a customer something is going to be late, and it gets there a little earlier, that is always better than having to communicate two separate delays, he advises. 3. Jump on a boat (or a plane) If you haven't planned yet for the holiday season or are already behind, only one solution is left to you, says Coombs: to air freight your goods. He estimates that can costs tens of thousands of dollars, which you have to weigh against keeping your customers happy. Recently, someone told Splendies that a shipment scheduled for November wouldn't arrive until late December. So Coombs paid people to drive six hours in China to pull two containers off a ship and air freight the contents. He was able to pull that off, he says, because he's been working with the supplier for several years. It also can help to go straight to the source of the delay: Coombs says he went to a port and asked about a shipment that had been stuck for about two weeks. He talked to a security guard and offered a year of free underwear if they could get the shipment. "We did get our stuff the next day," he says, but the guard never cashed in the offer. Read more: EXPLORE MORE Inc. 5000 COMPANIES I've always felt orphaned by talk of generations. Born in 1980, I was a little too young to experience the full Reality Bites/grunge Gen-X vibe. On the other hand I didn't get a computer or email address of my own until I was 18. To my eternal shame, I still remember not understanding why the internet was a big deal when someone first explained it to me (Sorry, Evan, you were right). I am very much not a stereotypical Millennial either. We now have a bunch of catchy terms like "Xennial," "Generation Catalano," and, my least favorite, "geriatric Millennial" for the "micro-generation" between Gen-X and Millennial, but my experience of feeling excluded from typical generational categories left me skeptical of the whole enterprise. Is it helpful to group people into 15- to 20-year blocks? Isn't that kind of arbitrary? And do these groups even actually share fundamental similarities? Studies show many commonly held beliefs about particular generations are nonsense--Millennials aren't the entitled avocado toast munchers they're made out to be--but a recent New Yorker article goes further. In it, Louis Menand argues the problem isn't just an imprecise understanding of particular groups, but the whole idea of breaking up the population into generations in the first place. How helpful is the concept of "generations" really? In the long article, Menand lays out the history of our obsession with generations, explaining that the impulse to divide people into these groups sprung up in the 1940s when young people started staying in education longer. "Youth culture" was born and with it the impulse to define each new cohort in order to sell them stuff. Generations are just a convention we cooked up to make conversations about sociology and marketing easier. But do these terms actually help us understand anything more clearly? Menand wades through several books on the issue to conclude that generations aren't actually all that helpful. First, generations are incredibly diverse, and when we start talking about "Gen-Z," for instance, what we usually really mean is a particular type of young person who is not representative of the group as a whole. "A woman born to an immigrant family in San Antonio in 1947 had very different life chances from a white man born in San Francisco that year. Yet the Baby-Boom prototype is a white male college student wearing striped bell-bottoms and a peace button, just as the Gen-Z prototype is a female high-school student with spending money and an Instagram account," Menand points out. Second, people's concerns and character change consistently across life stages. Teenagers obsess about identity. Young adults fret about paying their rent. Becoming a parent makes you more risk averse. These effects often get conflated with "generational" trends. Finally, there is simply no evidence for a lot of the differences ascribed to generations. In his book The Generation Myth, King's College London social scientist Bobby Duffy uses data to show that "people in different age groups are much more alike than all the talk about generations suggests," Menand reports. "There is no evidence, he says, of a 'loneliness epidemic' among young people, or of a rise in the rate of suicide. The falling off in sexual activity in the United States and the U.K. is population-wide, not just among the young." Gen-Z is no more ethical than previous young people. Verifiable workplace differences among generations are nonexistent--an important notion to keep in mind when you're leading a team of employees with a range of ages. Things change, but maybe not because of "generations" Clearly, particular fashions belong to particular moments and cultures shift over time. When I entered adulthood, only 35 percent of Americans supported same-sex marriage. Now something like 60 to 70 percent do, depending on which poll you consult. Changes like that call out for explanations. But do generations really help us understand the rise and fall of ideas? Or is talking about generations just a way to sell consulting services and give us the illusion of order in an unruly world (much like listicles, astrology, and Myers-Briggs)? MAM | Marketing #KooKiyaKya asks Koo in its first-ever TVC Homegrown multi-language micro-blogging platform Koo has launched its first-ever television ad campaign during the ongoing T20 World Cup. The social media app has partnered with Ogilvy India and developed a creative communication platform - 'Koo Kiya Kya' to urge people to express themselves in their mother tongue. Read More... MAM | Marketing Mindshare India expands its footprint in the east Expanding its foothold in the east, Mindshare, GroupM's flagship agency has partnered with several new clients in Kolkata who are looking to explore their marketing strategies beyond traditional media, it said on Monday. Mindshare India has a mix of brands in its client roster across sectors like retail, manufacturing, jewelry, FMCG, etc. Read More... MAM | Media And Mdvertising Saurav Ganguly & VVS Laxman team up for My11Circle's T20 World Cup campaign Multi-game platform Games24x7 that owns fantasy sports platform My11Circle has launched a mass media campaign for its T20 World Cup fans. The new campaign launched on Sunday is called 'Game Ke Deewane' and celebrates the fervour of cricket fans. And in order to laud their winning spirit, whenever Team India wins a match, the player gets to win double the prize in the fantasy game. Read More... MAM | Marketing The Advertising Club to host Effie India Awards '21 on 29 Oct The Advertising Club is all set to host the Effie India Awards 2021, virtually, on 29 October at 7 p.m. This year The AdClub has surpassed all its previous records to receive 950 entries, the highest ever, with as many as 51 Agencies participating. Post conducting three town hall meetings with the stakeholders. Read More... MAM | Marketing Manyavar is official Indian wear partner of ICC Men's T20 World Cup '21 Vedant Fashions Ltd-owned ethnic clothing brand Manyavar has announced its association with the International Cricket Council (ICC) as the official Indian wear partner of ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2021. The brand went live with the ongoing T20 World Cup 2021 from the Super 12 stage games which commenced on 23 October with Australia vs South Africa match at Abu Dhabi. Read More... MAM | Marketing DDB Mudra Group advances gender equality with Phyllis India Project DDB Mudra Group has launched 'The Phyllis India Project'- a year-long mentorship program to enable and encourage women to thrive in leadership roles and drive professional growth. The comprehensive training program includes a customised career plan for each participant based on their goals and development areas. Read More... https://ift.tt/3B86iDd The Dubai World Expo took place in an electrifying musical atmosphere where thousands of attendees were captivated by the variety of artistic, musical and cultural expressions that characterize the different regions of Peru. All this was part of the inauguration of the Peru Pavilion at the most important cultural event in the world. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211022005454/en/ Peru inaugurated its Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai and received four awards from the Tourism Oscars. (Photo: Business Wire) The Peru Pavilion was inaugurated by the Commissioner General for Peru at the Expo, Amora Carbajal, and Najeeb Mohammed Al-Ali, Executive Director of Expo 2020 Dubai, in front of official representatives from different country pavilions. The purpose of the pavilion is to offer a complete learning experience about ancient Peruvian wisdom throughout the visit, communicating the importance of the heritage, biodiversity, gastronomy and creativity of our country, explained the Minister of Foreign Trade and Tourism, Roberto Sanchez. The much-anticipated master classes on Peruvian cuisine were also held, following all necessary health protocols. Throughout the six months of Expo 2020 Dubai, the Peru Pavilion will offer these classes given by chefs from different regions of the country. TIMELESS PAVILION, ETERNAL PERU The Peru Pavilion covers nearly 27,000 square feet and brings together the best of the tourism, gastronomy and cultural and product showings from the different regions of the country. In just the first two weeks since opening its doors it received more than 60,000 visitors. PERU WINS 4 AWARDS AT THE TOURISM OSCARS Peru earned four distinctions at the World Travel Awards - South America Region 2021: South Americas Leading Culinary Destination 2021 (Peru), South Americas Leading Cultural Destination 2021 (Peru), South Americas Leading Tourist Attraction 2021 (Machu Picchu, Peru) and South Americas Leading Tourist Office 2021 (PROMPERU). The awards from this important ceremony were handed to the Commissioner General of Peru, Amora Carbajal, by the founder of the World Travel Awards, Graham Cooke, at a moving and symbolic event at the Peru Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai. The South American awards are just the beginning since the WTA global prize ceremony will be held in Moscow on November 26th, where Peru has also been nominated in several important categories. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211022005454/en/ Ever since the poster of Akshay Kumar starrer Gorkha released, it has created a massive frenzy among the fans. The story of braveheart Major General Ian Cardozo is finally going to get a cinematic adaptation. In the film, Kumar will essay the lead role of the brave soul (who is now 84-year-old) who amputated his own leg during the Indo-Pak War of 1971 led to the freedom of East Pakistan and the formation of Bangladesh. Here is his inspiring story. Twitter "'Where is my khukri?' I asked my Gorkha batman, Balbahadur. When he pulled it out I said, 'Cut off my leg.' He refused. So I cut it off and told him to bury it. Poor chap. I now have a piece of land in Bangladesh," he had himself narrated. Pakistani-Bangladesh War of 1971 Twitter In 1971, tensions were rising between India and Pakistan. When the war broke out, Cardozo was attending a course at the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington. After his battalion's--4/5 Gorkha Rifles-- second-in-command got killed, he replaced him and also became a part of the Indian Army's first heliborne operation during the battle of Sylhet. Cartoos sahib ntd.tv Since his Gorkha regiment found it difficult to pronounce his name, they would fondly call Major General Ian Cardozo 'Cartooos Sahib'. For the unversed, Cartoos in Hindi means cartridge. He amputated his own leg jagrantv.com During the final days of Indo-Pak War and after the fall of Dhaka, Cardozo stepped on a landmine. While he was successfully taken to the camp, there was no doctor who could treat him there. Everyone feared he might die, but when he gained consciousness, people were happy, but his condition was still critical. He asked for morphine, which wasn't available there at that moment. Ian then decided to cut his leg. He asked his companions to help him with that, but when they refused to do so without the proper medical equipment and gave them his khukri. Everyone was still reluctant. That's when Cardozo took the matter in his own hand and cut his own leg. Major General Ian Cardozo's wooden leg Twitter A few days later, the war was won and the story of his bravery stunned the entire nation. He proved a soldier could do anything. He was then awarded with the Sena Medal. Despite his amputation, Cardozo was maintained his physical fitness levels and succeeded in fitness tests with his wooden leg. Thus, he became the first disabled officer of the Indian Army to command a battalion. Major General Ian Cardozo's early life Ian Cardozo was born to Vincent Cardozo and Diana (nee de Souza) Cardozo in 1937 in Bombay. He studied at St. Xavier's High School, Fort and St. Xavier's College in Mumbai. After completing his studies, he enrolled in the National Defense Academy, and this was the beginning of his journey to army. He then trained himself at Indian Military Academy before joining Gorkha rifle. He is the first NDA cadet to receive both Gold and Silver The gold medal is given to the cadet of the passing out course for best all round performance. (Also Read: 'Life Goes On', Akshay Kumar To Resume Shoot After Mother's Demise, Won't Let His Film Suffer) The emotional picture, chosen as the image of the year, covers the horrors of the Syrian war and the loss of families, who despite adversities, hold tight the last string of happiness. Manzur al-Nazzai, mutilated from the Syrian civil war, is seen holding Mustafa, a little boy born without legs or arms. The photo, clicked by Turkish photographer Mehmet Aslan, titled Hardship of life is picked as the image of the year 2021 by the Siena International Photo Awards. Turkish photographer Mehmet Aslan was recognized as the overall winner in the competition with his photo titled Hardship of Life. We wanted to draw attention to this drama, explained Aslan, specifying the objective of the image, which, ultimately, was always to help the child. The family of Manzur al-Nazzai fled Syria three years ago, and lives in a rental refugee camp in southern Turkey, in a border area. Mustafa was born with a malformation caused by his mothers ingestion of drugs, also affected by toxic gases during the fighting in the Idlib region, in northwestern Syria. The five-year-old boy needs continuous medical attention and special electronic prostheses. His father and mother, Zeinab, are committed to giving their child a normal and happy life. The human cost of Syrian civil war Syrias war has killed about 500,000 people during the past 10 years. Nearly twelve million peoplemore than half the countrys prewar populationhave been displaced taking refuge in Lebanon, Turkey, Jordan, and beyond. AFP It started with a lethal crackdown on anti-government protests, later turning into a complex battlefield involving international armies, local militias, and foreign fighters. About 6.8 million Syrians are refugees and asylum-seekers, and another 6.7 million people are displaced within Syria. Life is a daily struggle for lost to 11.1 million people in Syria who need humanitarian assistance. File photo of the India Palace restaurant in Santa Fe, New Mexico, when vandals broke in, destroyed, and spewed racist and political remarks all over the popular restaurant last year. (photo courtesy of Cole Rehbein/Santa Fe Reporter) Orkin released its Top 50 Rattiest Cities List today, and the top five cities didn't budge, with Chicago taking the top spot for the seventh consecutive time. Breaking into the Top 10 this year is Cleveland, taking the tenth spot, and Baltimore inches closer to the top five, moving up two spots to #6. New to the list is Portland, Maine, rising 26 spots to take #38, and Louisville, Kentucky, landing the list at #40, rising 13 spots from the previous year. Orkin ranked metro regions by the number of new rodent treatments performed from September 15, 2020, to September 15, 2021. This ranking includes both residential and commercial treatments. 1. Chicago 26. Columbus, Oh. 2. Los Angeles 27. Norfolk, Va. (-2) 3. New York 28. Richmond, Va. (+5) 4. Washington, D.C 29. Sacramento (+7) 5. San Francisco 30. St. Louis (+7) 6. Baltimore (+2) 31. Albany, New York (+7) 7. Philadelphia 32. Grand Rapids (-3) 8. Detroit (-2) 33. New Orleans (-12) 9. Denver 34. Flint, Mich. (+8) 10. Cleveland, Oh. (+1) 35. Raleigh, N.C. (-9) 11. Seattle (+1) 36. Nashville (-2) 12. Minneapolis (-2) 37. Champaign, Ill. (+2) 13. Boston 38. Portland, Me. (+26) 14. Indianapolis (+1) 39. Burlington, Va. (+8) 15. Atlanta (-1) 40. Louisville, Ky. (+13) 16. Pittsburgh (+2) 41. Buffalo, New York 17. San Diego (+2) 42. Charlotte (-11) 18. Houston (-1) 43. Phoenix (-11) 19. Cincinnati (+3) 44. Greenville, S.C. (-9) 20. Dallas (-4) 45. Green Bay 21. Hartford, Conn. (+6) 46. Syracuse (-2) 22. Milwaukee (+2) 47. Charleston, W.V. (+4) 23. Miami (-3) 48. Dayton (+1) 24. Portland, Or. (-1) 49. Albuquerque (-1) 25. Kansas City (+5) 50. Tampa (-9) During an unprecedented last year, the visibility of rodents increased, creating concern for homeowners and business owners alike. The pandemic-driven closure of restaurants forced rodents to find new food sources. Without food waste to consume, these pests were seen scavenging new areas and exhibiting unusual or aggressive behavior. The presence of rodents became so relevant that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued Rodent Control guidance on ways to keep rats and mice out of homes and businesses. As urban residents started to return to their city homes after the mass exodus following the outbreak of COVID-19 in March 2020, so did rat populations. Thanks to their human neighbors being back in houses and apartments, food and water sources have been replenished for rodents. In fact, per Bloomberg, in New York City alone, the number of rodent complaints to a city hotline in March 2021 surged by 80%, and the number is also higher than pre-pandemic levels. As the U.S. population faces a "new normal," managing an influx in rodent populations and activity in major cities across the country should remain a top concern. With more time spent around the home than ever before, residents should pay extra attention to the attractants that entice rats and mice. "As people resume normal activities, food availability will rise," says Ben Hottel, an Orkin entomologist. "Rodents are experts at sniffing out food and shelter, and they're resilient in their ways to obtain both. After a year of depleted resources, residential properties offer the ideal habitat for rodents, and once they've settled in, they're capable of reproducing rapidly and in large quantities." Rodents are known to cause severe structural damage with their strong jaws and burrowing skills. They have oversized front teeth that can gnaw a variety of items, including electrical wires, water pipes, and gas lines. "Unfortunately, rodents can cause great damage in and around homes," said Hottel. Beyond structural damage, there are multiple health issues associated with rodents, and during a time of continued heightened awareness around virus transmission, preventing rodents and the harmful pathogens they carry is critical. Rodents are capable of contaminating food through pathogens that can cause food poisoning or Leptospirosis. They can also spread diseases such as Hantavirus and Plague, specifically in the Western U.S., both of which while uncommon, can be fatal. The good news is, while a surging worldwide pandemic feels largely out of control, a rat infestation is manageable and preventable. To help residents avoid the potential health and safety risks associated with rodents, Orkin recommends the following tips to help prevent rats and mice in and around the home: Apparently, were back to wearing bell-bottoms in website land. But this time, theyre cool. Although we started with simple static-site generators (SSGs), the web evolved to embrace database-driven approaches to allow for increasingly dynamic websites. Content management systems (CMSs) like WordPress, Drupal, and Adobe Experience Manager emerged to give enterprises an all-inclusive approach to building their sites, whether a simple blog or an online catalog. SSGs seemed to be a thing of the past. And so they were, until clever developers figured out ways to drive dramatic performance improvements in systems like GatsbyJS, removing SSGs Achilles heel of slow build times, thereby making SSG a reality for big and small websites alike. Thats one of the main takeaways from the release of GatsbyJS 4 last week (in addition to Gatsbys move to enable server-side rendering). Gatsby might be ushering in the next-generation LAMP stack (Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP). Dubbed the Jamstack (JavaScript, APIs, Markup), its an architecture that gives developers a lightweight, highly approachable way to build the web. Of course, making something easy isnt the same as making it useful, and thats where Gatsby comes in. Its also what gets Gatsbys CEO, Zack Urlocker, most excited. Escape from the heavyweight CMS Its perhaps fitting that the next wave of the LAMP stack would involve a key executive from the LAMP era. Zack Urlocker first rose to prominence while running product for MySQL, the M in LAMP, and was recently announced as CEO of Gatsby, though hes been functioning in that role for some time. In a conversation with Urlocker, he stressed that younger developers are driving the rapid industry shift to Jamstack. Why? Because they dont want to be locked into a heavyweight CMS that requires them to adopt that CMS front-end tools, back-end database, and more. Developers are flocking to API-driven, headless CMSs that give them access to continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD), their preferred source code repositories (GitHub, GitLab), and React, the most popular JavaScript framework for building user interfaces. Those old-school systems still drive most web development, but the Jamstack approach has seen rapid adoption, Urlocker noted, and when that adoption grows from 3% or 4% today to 8% to 12% in the not-too-distant future, it becomes unstoppable. This could prove to be true, but what sparked the interest in Jamstack approaches like Gatsby? Mobile. As digital transformation projects have gathered steam, organizations are looking for ways to build mobile-friendly applications. Urlocker said, Theres just no way they were going to build those projects on the legacy systems like WordPress. Why? Because a traditional CMS structures content in a webpage-centric way, comingling content with code (HTML). This isnt terrible in a world where content is going to find its way to a website, but today that same content needs to be available to mobile applications and more. A headless CMS separates the content repository from its presentation, giving developers significant new levels of flexibility to do API-driven development. This doesnt mean organizations have been tossing their legacy workhorses. Instead, Urlocker continued, they are keeping legacy systems running for their legacy website needs, while turning to the improved flexibility of the Jamstack approach for new applications. Once they experience the benefits of a headless CMS such as Contentful paired with React-based Gatsby for the front end, he said, it just starts taking over the rest of the projects in the company, replacing those legacy systems in net-new projects. If mobile was the foot in the door for Gatsby (and this new Jamstack approach, generally), Google smashed the door wide open. In 2010, Google announced that speed would be a ranking signal for desktop searches. Later, in 2018, Google further announced that page speed would be a ranking factor for mobile searches as well. Suddenly, poor performance meant more than a bad user experience. It meant users might not find their way to your site at all. Simply using a system like Gatsby meant that out of the box, sites scored 40 to 50 points higher than with a traditional CMS. The race was on and, increasingly, Gatsby was winning that race. Redefining how web development is done Thats Gatsby the product. Gatsby the company has also been on a tear, fueled by improvements the Gatsby development team, led by cofounders Kyle Mathews and Sam Bhagwat, made to the core open source project and to the companys cloud service. When the company talks up Gatsbys 10x performance boost in Gatsby 4, much of that gain comes from rendering improvements the company delivers through its cloud service. With that in mind, I asked Urlocker if he worries that a cloud vendor could take Gatsby (licensed under the permissive MIT license) and create a rival cloud service. No, he said, for two reasons. First, the company wants Gatsby to be popular, so they are happy that there are multiple places to host Gatsby. In other words, owning all of a small pie isnt as tasty as owning a significant slice of a much larger pie. The confidence that the company will get pie at all comes down to its cloud expertise. A big part of our secret sauce is whats in Gatsby Cloud, Urlocker said. If somebody takes the Gatsby framework and puts it on the cloud, they still have to do a lot of work to get the functionality of Gatsby Cloud. The bet is that they wont be able to deliver as rich an experience as the Gatsby company has done. Urlocker is banking that customers are almost always going to want to do builds and hosting in the cloud, feeling like I may as well do it on Gatsby Cloud because thats the fastest, best experience. This is why, when I asked Urlocker why he chose Gatsby, the answer had become somewhat obvious. Heres an executive with four different billion-dollar exits (MySQL, DuoSecurity, Zendesk, and Active Software), someone who could pick his next billion-dollar outcome. For Urlocker, Gatsby is that, but its also much more: I truly think this is like the LAMP stack where its going to define how web development is done for the next 10 years. Or as the fictional character Jay Gatsby might have said, Cant repeat the past?Why of course you can! This time with Jam. A large storm system spawned tornadoes along the Missouri Illinois state line late Sunday, Oct. 24, causing structural damage to residences and knocking out power. The National Weather Service reported an EF-0 tornado struck Farmington, Missouri, about 75 miles southwest of St. Louis. The NWS said an EF-2 tornado hit Fredericktown, Missouri. A separate suspected tornado moved through St. Mary, Missouri and crossed into Chester, Illinois, according to the NWS. Theres structures around the Farmington and Fredericktown area of Missouri that have been hit, weather service meteorologist Jared Maples told the Associated Press. Chester, Illinois, is another area that was hit hard. Chester fire chief Marty Bert told the AP that the western Illinois town had downed trees and power lines. Felix Meyer, St. Genevieve County emergency management director, told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that several hundred people were without power in St. Mary. Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Catastrophe Natural Disasters Windstorm Missouri Illinois The Hartford Names Garrison Head Of Navigators Wholesale The Hartford has named Michael Garrison as head of Wholesale for Navigators, a brand of The Hartford. Garrison will lead the strategic direction, growth, and underwriting for the business, as well as manage relationships with the companys wholesale distribution partners. With more than 28 years of experience in the insurance industry, Garrison brings a broad range of business insights in global risk having worked in New York, Singapore, Hong Kong, London, Bermuda, and Paris. Prior to joining The Hartford, he was with at Allied World as president, head of Global Construction and International First-Party Lines. Garrison served as senior vice president and chief underwriting officer at Starr Companies where he created and developed first-party underwriting platforms for International Onshore Energy, Global Construction, Global Exploration & Production, and International General Property. He will report to The Hartfords head of Global Specialty Adrien Robinson. Ascot Names Trochev to Run Financial Institutions Ascot has appointed Peter Trochev as senior vice president and head of Financial Institutions. Trochey joins Ascot from Nationwide, where he has been since 2008, most recently as leader for the Financial Institutions and Fidelity divisions, overseeing Management and Professional Liability products across the country. He assumes the management of Ascots FI portfolio, which includes Management and Professional Liability products for asset managers, investment advisors and financial institutions of various sizes. He will also be responsible for developing new products, while continuing to build a high caliber team to serve a broader segment of the FI industry. Based in New York, Peter will report to Matthew C. Kramer, CEO, Ascot U.S. AXA XL Announces Regional Environmental Leaders; Adds Underwriter AXA XLs Environmental insurance business reported two new regional management appointments and the addition of new pollution underwriting expert in its Atlanta office. Joseph Madigan has been appointed head of Environmental for the East region of AXA XLs North America Environmental Insurance business. Previously, head of the Central region, he now assumes underwriting management responsibility of its largest region along the East Coast. Based in AXA XLs Exton, Penn office, Madigan joined AXA XLs Environmental insurance business in 1998 as an environmental underwriter and assumed increasingly more senior roles during his 22-year tenure. Based in Chicago, Tim Chung has been promoted to head of Environmental for the Central region; the position formerly held by Mr. Madigan. Mr. Chung joined AXA XL as an environmental underwriter in 2019, combining more than 16 years of environmental contracting and consulting experience with his underwriting skills. He is a graduate of the University of Illinois Chicago and is a licensed Professional Geologist (P.G.). Snohti Nmah joins AXA XL in Atlanta as a senior environmental underwriter and reporting to Madigan. Nmah began her insurance career in 2011 as an underwriter and claims analyst with ACE Group, now Chubb. Shes held underwriting positions with James River Insurance Co. and Colony Specialty. Allianz Appoints Houlihan to Lead Alternative Risk Transfer In the Americas Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty announced that Thomas Houlihan has been officially named the permanent regional head, Americas for AGCS Alternative Risk Transfer (ART) division. Houlihan has been serving in this role on an interim basis since May 2021 as ART refocused with an emphasis on structured insurance (including reinsurance for captives) and fronting (for captives and other corporates). He joined AGCS in May 2014 as an executive underwriter in Liability and previously was Northeast team leader and regional practice grouplLeader for Construction, Liability National Accounts before joining ART in January 2020. Prior to AGCS, Houlihan held positions at Allied World Assurance, The Navigators Group and Arch Insurance Group. Based in New York, he reports to Grant Maxwell, global head of Alternative Risk Transfer. Topics Pollution AXA XL Allianz Homeowners in 37 states now have access to a parametric-like multi-peril disaster insurance product designed to deliver quick cash in the wake of a natural disaster. The product, Recoop Disaster Insurance, pays out a lump-sum cash benefit from $5,000 up to $25,000 after a declared disaster that causes at least $1,000 in damage. To be eligible for a policy, customers must have an existing homeowners or renters insurance policy. Unlike typical home and renters insurance policies, Recoop covers multiple natural disasters ranging from earthquakes, hurricanes (including storm surge but not freshwater flooding), tornadoes, and wildfires to gas explosions, dust storms, and winter storms. Recoop promises policyholders they can receive their cash benefit within 24-48 hours of a disaster declaration in most cases. It says that compares to typical insurance that can take upwards of 30 days to process and pay policyholders. There are no restrictions on how policyholders spend their payout. To be eligible for a payout, customers must be in a state or federally declared disaster area and have sustained damages of $1,000 or more. A disaster does not need to be declared after a gas explosion for you to submit a claim. Winter storms and hazardous winter weather are covered when at least five inches or more of snow or sleet accumulate within a 12-hour period, or at least seven inches or more of snow or sleet accumulate in a 24-hour period. Recoop Example Using North Carolina Zip Code Here are the coverage options: $5,000 Coverage: $13.13/mo. $10,000 Coverage: $26.25/mo. Most Popular $15,000 Coverage: $39.38/mo. $20,000 Coverage: $52.50/mo. $25,000 Coverage: $65.63/mo. Source:www.recoopinsurance.com Des Moines, Iowa-based Recoop notes that the number of disasters per year has more than doubled from the 1990s to the 2010s and in 2020 alone there were 22 natural disasters with losses exceeding $1 billion each. While we cant eliminate the risk of natural disasters or put a price on peace of mind, we can give security to millions of families coast to coast, said Recoop Founder Darren Wood. We like to say that Recoop picks up where insurance stops. We help pick up the tab, and the pieces, so consumers can bounce back faster after a disaster. How It Works Policyholders upload photos of their home upon enrolling. After a disaster, customers start their claim by answering several questions and sending photos of their home for proof of loss. Sedgwick, which handles Recoops claims, compares the original photos with post-disaster photos to assess the damage and help process claims swiftly. If the damages surpass the $1,000 damage threshold, customers qualify to receive the full amount of their Recoop benefit, except in states with total incurred loss clauses. Recoop Disaster Insurance is currently available in Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington D.C., and Wisconsin. The company said it is focused on online purchases and distribution through employee benefit brokers at this time but envisions adding agents and other distribution later. It says it plans to enter additional states and be in all 50 in the near future. Recoop is underwritten by Professional Solutions Insurance Co. and backed by Swiss Re and Munich Re. Other Parametrics Recoop says its disaster insurance is the first and only multi-peril property/casualty insurance product designed to quickly pay claims following a natural disaster. However, Recoop joins a small roster of parametric products that bypass a typical claims process and pay out based on a formula or event. Jumpstart Insurance Solutions began offering earthquake insurance in California in 2019 in the form of a parametric product, with payments linked to a formula and based on U.S. Geological Survey earthquake measurements. The company provides a set payout amount based on the quake intensity, rather than the cost of damage. Earlier this month, digital flood insurance provider Neptune Flood acquired Jumpstart. Irish insurtech Blink has launched a hurricane non-damage parametric insurance product called Blink Interruption. The product aims to cut average business interruption claims processing time by up to 95%. It uses automated financial validation and immediate pay-outs to allow businesses to get back on their feet just days after the event occurs. The product is now being offered in the U.S. and plans are afoot to roll it out globally. Also, First Insurance Co. of Hawaii has a parametric product for Hawaii homeowners and renters. The companys FirstTrack product provides coverage for expenses that fall below most hurricane policy deductibles, including hurricane preparation and immediate post-hurricane expenses. FirstTrack bases payments on two variables: storm wind speed (as determined by the National Hurricane Center) and the proximity of the storm to the insured home. FEMA Envisions High-Tech Flood Insurance Program Using Parametrics, Blockchain Swiss Re Corporate Solutions (SRCS) has a parametric offering called HAIL that is designed to protect companies in U.S. hail-prone states from the financial impact of a significant hail event, such as physical damage, lost revenue due to business interruption, or significant retentions in traditional property policies. HAIL combines the customer location data with a pay-out table that outlines policy amounts for reported hail size at location(s) during an event. When a customer has hail damage and the hail size calls for a pay-out under the policy. Instead of waiting for a loss evaluation, the payment is released soon thereafter. The customer can use the money for any financial loss associated with the event. Topics Natural Disasters Homeowners The new Democratic leadership of the U.S. securities watchdog has a message for Corporate Americas highly paid executives: if your company screws up, your pay is at risk. Clawing back compensation is shaping up to be a key part of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commissions (SEC) agenda as it cracks down on corporate misconduct, raising the stakes for thousands of executives who could potentially lose millions of dollars in bonuses and stock sale profits. Clawbacks can be an important factor in accountability, said John Coffee, a professor at Columbia University Law School. If properly implemented, they can be much more effective than they currently are. Last week, the SEC said it would revive a rule left unfinished from the 2007-09 financial crisis that would require U.S.-listed companies to implement a plan to recoup executive compensation in the event they have to correct financial statements due to compliance failures. But in behind-the-scenes enforcement talks with companies, the SEC has already dusted off a narrower clawback power created in 2002 following the Enron and WorldCom accounting scandals, according to four lawyers familiar with the private discussions. That rule allows the SEC to force a public companys chief executive or chief financial officer to return bonuses or other incentive-based pay in the event the company restates its results due to misconduct. In 2016, a federal court settled a lingering question over whether the SEC could recoup pay from executives who were not directly accused of wrongdoing. It said the agency could, because the executives should not profit from the proceeds of foul play. In nearly two decades, however, the SEC has used the 2002 clawback power sparingly overall, despite potentially hundreds of opportunities to so, and just 15 times to penalize executives who were not directly accused of misconduct, according to a new analysis by law firm Covington and Burling LLP. Gerald Hodgkins, a partner in the firms Washington office and a former associate director in the SECs enforcement division, said it was unclear why the SEC had pursued so few such actions, but that perceived unfairness was one potential reason. The SEC appears to be shifting its stance on the issue. Its enforcement staff have recently proposed using the clawback power in private settlement negotiations over cases involving financial restatements where the CEO and CFO are not accused of misconduct, said four attorneys involved in the separate cases, in what appears to be a change in strategy. Among them is Joseph Dever, a lawyer with Cozen OConnor LLP and a former SEC enforcement attorney. Staff seems to be raising this remedy far more frequently now than in the past, he said. On one occasion, staff proposed clawing back an executives compensation after the issue with the company had been resolved, said one of the three other attorneys, adding that was highly unusual. The three attorneys asked to remain anonymous to discuss private matters. Reuters could not ascertain how frequently overall the SEC was proposing clawbacks in settlement discussions. But Allison Lee, a Democratic Commissioner who was a senior enforcement attorney with the agency from 2015 to 2018, told Reuters in an interview that the 2002 power has been underutilized. While Lee said she could not comment on enforcement probes over which she now has no oversight, she said of the power: Id like to see us ensure we are vindicating the recourse it provides for shareholders. ACCOUNTABILITY Cracking down on corporations is a priority for Democrats who say the SEC has long been too soft on big business. When properly enforced, clawbacks can improve accountability in an era where writing checks to appease regulators is seen by companies as a cost of doing business, say advocates. Over the past decade, investors have pushed for corporate clawback policies for a range of missteps, but companies have struggled to get the cash back once it is out the door, said Coffee. Goldman Sachs Group Inc., for example, failed to recoup compensation from former Chief Operating Officer Gary Cohn over the Wall Street banks involvement in Malaysias 1MDB sovereign fund corruption scandal. He gave the money to charity instead. That is why tougher regulatory clawback tools are important, say experts. Last week, the SEC reopened to public comment an additional clawback rule it first proposed in 2015 but never finalized. The comment period closes on Nov. 22. Required by the 2010 Dodd-Frank Act, that rule would go further than the 2002 power, capturing a broader range of corporate roles and situations in which incentive-based compensation could be recouped. While it puts the responsibility of implementing and enforcing the clawbacks on companies and exchanges, Lee said it could be a powerful accountability tool. Its based on the common-sense notion that you shouldnt get to keep incentive-based comp that wasnt actually earned, she said in a follow-up statement. Im glad were finally moving toward implementing that mandate. (Reporting by Chris Prentice in Washington Editing by Michelle Price and Matthew Lewis) A driver was behind the wheel when a Tesla electric car crashed and burned last April near Houston, killing two men, neither of whom was found in the drivers seat. The U.S. National Transportation Safety Board announced the findings in an investigative report update released Thursday on the April 17 crash on a residential road in Spring, Texas. Although first responders found one man in the back seat and the other in the front passenger seat, the NTSB said both the driver and a passenger were in the front seats with belts buckled at the time of the crash. The agency said the car was traveling up to 67 mph in the five seconds leading up to the crash, and the driver was accelerating. Data from the cars fire-damaged event data recorder revealed that at times, the accelerator pedal was pressed as high as 98.8%, the NTSB report said. The investigation is continuing, and the agency made no determination as to whether Teslas Autopilot partially automated driver-assist system was running at the time of the crash. The NTSB said it is still looking into Autopilot, whether the men could have had trouble getting out of the car, driver toxicology tests and other items. The agency will make those determinations in a final report. The update report left unclear how or why the driver unbuckled the seat belt and changed seating positions, although it said the crash damaged the Tesla Model Ss high-voltage lithium-ion battery case, where the fire started. The fatal trip began at the owners home near the end of a cul-de-sac, and home security video showed the owner getting into the drivers seat and the passenger entering the front passenger seat, the report said. The car traveled about 550 feet before leaving the road on a curve, going over a curb, hitting a drainage culvert, a raised manhole and a tree. The crash occurred around 9:07 p.m. on Hammock Dunes Place, a two-lane residential road. Both the 59-year-old owner and the 69-year-old passenger were killed. In a preliminary report from May, the NTSB said it tested a different Tesla vehicle on the same road, and the Autopilot driver-assist system could not be fully used. Investigators could not get the systems automated steering system to work, but were able to use Traffic Aware Cruise Control. Autopilot needs both the cruise control and the automatic steering to function. Traffic Aware Cruise Control can keep the car a safe distance from vehicles in front of it, while autosteer keeps it in its own lane. The report said the road also did not have lane lines. That could have have been why the automatic steering wouldnt work. The agency says it intends to issue safety recommendations to prevent similar crashes. Local authorities said one man was found in the front passenger seat, while another was in the back. Harris County Precinct Four Constable Mark Herman said at the time the car was traveling at a high speed. He would not say if there was evidence anyone tampered with Teslas system to monitor the driver, which detects force from hands on the steering wheel. The system will issue warnings and eventually shut the car down if it doesnt detect hands. But critics say Teslas system is easy to fool and can take as long as a minute to shut down. Consumer Reports said in April that it was able to easily trick a Tesla into driving in Autopilot mode with no one at the wheel. The NTSB, which has no regulatory authority and can only make recommendations, said its working with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration on the probe. NHTSA has the power to make vehicle safety regulations. The federal probe is running at the same time as a parallel investigation by local authorities, the NTSB said. The Texas crash raised questions of whether Autopilot was working at the time, and whether Tesla does enough to make sure drivers are engaged. The company says in owners manuals and on its website that Autopilot is a driver-assist system and drivers must be ready to take action at any time. Lars Moravy, Teslas vice president of vehicle engineering, said on the companys April 26 earnings conference call that an inspection of the badly burned car found that the steering wheel was deformed, so it was leading to a likelihood that someone was in the drivers seat at the time of the crash. He said all seat belts were found unbuckled. On Twitter in April, Tesla CEO Elon Musk wrote that data logs recovered so far in the crashed show Autopilot wasnt turned on, and Full Self-Driving was not purchased for the vehicle in the Texas crash. He didnt answer reporters questions posed on Twitter. NHTSA has stepped up its investigations into Tesla Autopilot. In August, it opened a formal investigation into the system 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 crashes identified as part of the probe, 17 people were injured and one was killed. NHTSA says it has identified 12 crashes since 2018 in which Teslas on Autopilot or Traffic Aware Cruise Control have hit vehicles at scenes where first responders have used flashing lights, flares, an illuminated arrow board or cones warning of hazards. Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Personal Auto Tesla Despite hearing warnings of more rate hikes and more red ink from property insurers in coming months, Florida lawmakers may little appetite for further, significant changes to the states insurance laws. Instead, the Legislature, which convenes Jan. 11, may wait and see if 2019 and 2021 reform measures are having enough of an impact. But members could, at least, tinker around the edges of those statutes and consider some relatively minor changes, according to an article in the South Florida Sun Sentinel. One bill that insurers are hoping for would be a tweak to the 2019 law that restricted assignments-of-benefits agreements on residential property. Since then, some contractors have stepped around the restrictions by creating other documents, such as direction to pay agreements between restoration companies and homeowners, insurers and attorneys have said. A judge this year temporarily blocked part of the 2021 legislation, known as Senate Bill 76, that attempted to limit roofing companies ability to solicit work for homeowners who may or may not need an entirely new roof. Lawmakers in January may consider ways to redraft the law so that it does not infringe on roofers rights. Other ideas include limiting the ability of Citizens Property Insurance Co. policyholders to veto take outs by private-market insurers. Citizens, the state-backed insurer of last resort that is growing too rapidly, officials said, has asked for rules that would allow a policyholder to block the take out only if the private carriers premiums were at least 15% higher than what the homeowner is paying with Citizens. Another possible change: Lowering the industry-loss threshold at which insurers could tap into the states Hurricane Catastrophe Fund, which could reduce the level of reinsurance that carriers must purchase. Attorneys who represent policyholders have warned that further restrictions, including more limits on attorney fees, will not reduce premiums. They have called for laws requiring more transparency on ratemaking data and to mandate that insurance carriers promptly settle claims. Topics Legislation Florida Florida property insurers may remember the strange case of Contender Claims Consultants and its associate, now-suspended Miami attorney Scot Strems. Back in 2019, it was the height of concerns about abuses of the states assignment-of-benefits law. Stories abounded about some public adjusters allegedly cozy relationship with restoration contractors, and about lawyers, like Strems, who were accused of working too closely with those businesses and filing thousands of lawsuits against insurers. The Florida Department of Financial Services appeared to be making some headway on at least a couple of cases one involving a complaint about Contender Claims and the Strems Law Firm, alleging that the parties were using unlicensed persons as adjusters. DFS investigators subpoenaed records held by Contender, its principals and associates, and records held by Strems and other lawyers. After those defendants refused to comply with the subpoena, DFS went to court and won. In March of this year, the 11th Circuit Court in Miami refused Contenders motion for dismissal of the subpoena, essentially ordering the defendants to comply. Then nothing. Six months later, DFS, headed by Florida CFO Jimmy Patronis, quietly dropped the whole thing. The department filed a notice with the court on Sept. 27, stating that it had voluntarily dismissed its petition against Contender Claims and Strems. The agency gave no explanation for its action, leaving industry insiders baffled and frustrated. I have no idea whats going on up there, said Scott Johnson, a Tallahassee consultant and former vice president at the Florida Association of Insurance Agents. Id be interested to see what their explanation is. A DFS spokesman told the Insurance Journal that the case is still part of an active investigation and litigation, and no further details would be released. The Contender Claims petition dismissal came one week after another complaint was withdrawn by Universal Property & Casualty Insurance Co., the largest private carrier in Florida. Universals own audits found numerous examples of public adjusters who appeared to have conflicts of interest: The adjusters immediate family members manage or own construction firms that received almost all of the restoration work that the adjusters had recommended. Link to IJ article An attorney for Universal said that the petition filed with DFS was the wrong avenue for the allegations, but that the carrier will continue to examine the problem on a claim-by-claim basis. That dismissal raised questions around the Florida insurance world. But the Contender Claims petition dismissal has been especially nettlesome, given the reports of some public adjusters misdeeds and the fact that Strems has been suspended from the practice of law. He had been declared public enemy No. 1 by property insurance advocates. State Sen. Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg, a member of the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee, said he needed to speak with officials at DFS before commenting on the recent disengagements. Sen. Jim Boyd, chair of that committee and who is in the insurance business, did not return requests for comment. Nor did investigators and attorneys for DFS. Its unclear how the investigation began, or who filed the initial complaint. Some of the alleged violations outlined in the DFS petition, filed in late 2019, are similar to those made by Citizens Property Insurance Corp. in a lawsuit filed early this year against Strems and Contender. A spokesman for Citizens said he did not believe the DFS petition originated with Citizens. The Florida Bar, which this year moved to suspend Strems from the practice of law because of numerous violations, did not initiate the DFS complaint, a Bar spokeswoman said. The DFS petition, seeking enforcement of its subpoena, details the stone wall and runaround that agency investigators faced in their examination. Starting in January 2019, the deputy chief of the DFS Bureau of Investigation, Matthew Guy, and other investigators began looking into complaints about the Strems law firm using unlicensed adjusters. DFS records showed that Strems had registered only one adjuster, Nicola Grados. Grados address was listed as the same as Strems. The Strems firms federal employer identification was the same number as Grados Social Security number, something thats not allowed by law, according to the DFS complaint. The department initiated an investigation to determine the following: if Strems was operating as an adjusting firm at Nicola Grados address; if Nicola Grados was the primary adjuster for Strems; why Strems had not submitted a primary adjuster form; whether Strems was using unlicensed people to adjust claims, the complaint explains. When investigators met with Grados at his Miami office in March 2019, he refused to give them access to his records. Grados then called his father, Miguel Grados, who said his son was represented by a lawyer, and they would not cooperate with DFS. Grados also told the investigators that his adjusting contracts were kept at a title company in nearby Coral Springs, where Contender Claims had office space. The title firm also refused to give up records. Based on Miguel Grados conduct in preventing the department from reviewing Nicola Grados records, the department had reason to believe that Miguel Grados may also have used unlicensed persons under his adjuster license, the DFS court filing notes. Thats when DFS filed an investigative subpoena, demanding records from all parties involved, including Contender Claims and its president, Guillermo Saavedra. Calls left by the Insurance Journal with Grados and Saavedra, at Contender Claims, and with Saavedras attorney, Edward Tapanes, were not returned. Months later, Contender responded that it did not have the records DFS was looking for, but Strems and other law firms did. One firm, Marin, Eljaiek, Lopez and Martinez, said they did not have the information. Contender also maintained that Grados work was not as an adjuster, but as a consultant and records were protected by the attorney-client privilege. Strems and another law firm never responded to the DFS subpoenas. The agency then went to court, asking the judge to compel the defendants to comply. In a motion to dismiss the DFS petition and subpoena, Matthew Ladd, the attorney for Contender, Saavedra and Grados, argued that DFS had not produced a signed complaint about the alleged unlicensed adjusters, nor did investigators give sufficient grounds for their belief that violations had taken place. Miami-Dade Circuit Court Judge Oscar Rodriguez-Fonts disagreed and denied the motion to dismiss the subpoena. Florida law requires adjusting firms to give DFS access to their records, the judge said. That was in March of this year. The court docket shows no further action on the matter until DFS voluntarily dismissed its petition in September. Miguel Grados appears to be associated with Contender Claims. A call to the firm on Monday asking for Grados was transferred to his voicemail. Florida Secretary of State records also show that Miguel and Nicola Grados are listed as managers of a landscaping company, starting in June of this year. So, why was the investigation dropped? It may be that Patronis or other DFS officials felt that most of their concerns will be addressed in the Citizens Property Insurance lawsuit against Strems, Contender Claims, Saavedra and a restoration company. In that complaint, filed in March, Citizens accused the defendants of violating federal and state anti-racketeering laws and engaging in a vast scheme of filing sham lawsuits against insurance companies over claims. The Strems Firm had filed more than 8,700 lawsuits against insurers in a four-year period, according to news reports. The scheme begins with defendants joint marketing under the single banner of Contender, the Citizens lawsuit complaint reads. The enterprise promises free home remodels and uses Saavedras public adjusting license to gain trust and entry into the homes of unsuspecting homeowners. Once inside their victims homes, Contender sheds its public adjuster duties without disclosure to their prospective clients, instead working directly for the benefit of the enterprise, including AIRS (the restoration contractor) and the Strems Law Firm, to manufacture multiple false claims and damages. Strems has denied all the allegations. A judge ordered the case to be sent to mediation and a mediation conference was held Oct. 1. Meanwhile, the Florida Bar moved to disbar Strems after years of complaints about what insurers and attorneys called sham lawsuits, missed court deadlines, falsified property damage and other problems. Strems and his firm were causing great public harm, illegally filing multiple lawsuits on an individual policy claim, delaying and ignoring court deadlines, and violating court orders, a referee in the Bars case wrote in recommending a two-year suspension for Strems. National insurance groups have taken note of the simmering issues with adjusters and litigation in Florida. Unlicensed adjusters have (been) getting kickbacks from unlicensed contractors doing storm repair work and unscrupulous attorneys filing lawsuits against insurers over storm claims, said Mark Friedlander, director of communications for the Insurance Information Institute. In addition, unlicensed adjusters have been partnering with unscrupulous roofing contractors going door-to-door in communities across Florida to solicit fraudulent roofing claims, one of the key drivers of the states property insurance crisis. The schemes have led to massive underwriting losses, double-digit premium increases, mid-term policy cancellations and non-renewals, the Institute and insurers have said. Others, including a few lawmakers and attorneys for policyholders, have said that many public adjusters perform a valuable service for homeowners who believe they have been short-changed by insurers after storm damages, and that many lawsuits would not be needed if carriers paid more claims promptly. The Florida Legislature this year took a step toward curtailing the alleged abuses by some public adjusters. It passed Senate Bill 1598, forbidding unlicensed public adjusters from soliciting business, punishable with up to five years in prison. The law also bars licensed public adjusters from being compensated by contractors or attorneys, and blocks contractors from acting as adjusters unless they also are licensed as public adjusters. The law did not address other conflicts of interest by adjusters, and more legislation is needed, insurance industry advocates have said. Topics Florida SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) Alec Baldwin fatally shot a cinematographer on a New Mexico film set with a gun a crew member had assured the actor was safe, a tragic mistake that came hours after some workers walked off the job to protest conditions and production issues. An assistant director, Dave Halls, grabbed a prop gun off a cart at a desert movie ranch and handed it to Baldwin during a Thursday rehearsal for the Western film Rust, according to court records made public Friday. Cold gun, Halls yelled, declaring the weapon didnt carry live rounds and was ready to fire. On Baldwins Rust, Other Movie Sets, Union Guidance Is Key to Gun Safety But it wasnt. When Baldwin pulled the trigger, he unwittingly killed 42-year-old cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and wounded director Joel Souza, who was standing behind her inside a wooden, chapel-like building. A 911 call that alerted authorities to the shooting at the Bonanza Creek Ranch outside Santa Fe hints at the panic on the movie set, as detailed in a recording released by the Santa Fe County Regional Emergency Communications Center. We had two people accidentally shot on a move set by a prop gun, we need help immediately, script supervisor Mamie Mitchell told an emergency dispatcher. We were rehearsing and it went off, and I ran out, we all ran out. The dispatcher asked if the gun was loaded with a real bullet. I cannot tell you. We have two injuries, Mitchell replied. And this (expletive) AD (assistant director) that yelled at me at lunch, asking about revisions.Hes supposed to check the guns. Hes responsible for what happens on the set. Halls did not immediately return phone and email messages seeking comment. The Associated Press was unable to contact Hannah Gutierrez, the films armorer, and several messages sent to production companies affiliated with Rust did not receive responses Friday. The gun Baldwin used was one of three that Gutierrez had set on a cart outside the building where a scene was being rehearsed, according to the court records. Halls grabbed the firearm from the cart and brought it inside to the actor, unaware that it was loaded with live rounds, a detective wrote in a search warrant application. It was unclear how many rounds were fired. Gutierrez removed a shell casing from the gun after the shooting, and she turned the weapon over to police when they arrived, the court records say. Guns used in making movies are sometimes real weapons that can fire either bullets or blanks, which are gunpowder charges that produce a flash and a bang but no dangerous projectile. New Mexico workplace safety investigators are examining if film industry standards for gun safety were followed during production of Rust. The Los Angeles Times, citing two crew members it did not name, reported that five days before the shooting, Baldwins stunt double accidentally fired two live rounds after being told the gun didnt have any ammunition. A crew member who was alarmed by the misfires told a unit production manager in a text message, Weve now had 3 accidental discharges. This is super unsafe, according to a copy of the message reviewed by the newspaper. The New York Times also reported that there were at least two earlier accidental gun discharges; it cited three former crew members. Mitchell, the script supervisor, told The Associated Press she was standing next to Hutchins when the cinematographer was hit. Other Notable Movie Set Accidents I ran out and called 911 and said `Bring everybody, send everybody, Mitchell said. This woman is gone at the beginning of her career. She was an extraordinary, rare, very rare woman. Filmmaker Souza, who was shot in the shoulder, said in a statement to NBC News that he was grateful for the support he was receiving and gutted by the loss of Hutchins. She was kind, vibrant, incredibly talented, fought for every inch and always pushed me to be better, he said. Santa Fe-area District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies said prosecutors are reviewing evidence in the shooting and do not know if charges will be filed. Baldwin, 63, who is known for his roles in 30 Rock and The Hunt for Red October and his impression of former President Donald Trump on Saturday Night Live, has described the killing as a tragic accident. He was a producer of Rust. There are no words to convey my shock and sadness regarding the tragic accident that took the life of Halyna Hutchins, a wife, mother and deeply admired colleague of ours. Im fully cooperating with the police investigation, Baldwin wrote on Twitter. My heart is broken for her husband, their son, and all who knew and loved Halyna. Production on Rust was halted after the shooting. The movie is about a 13-year-old boy who is left to fend for himself and his younger brother following the death of their parents in 1880s Kansas, according to the Internet Movie Database website. Before the fateful rehearsal, there were reports of some problems on the set. Seven crew members walked off several hours before Hutchins was killed to express their discontent with matters that ranged from safety conditions to their accommodations, according to one of the crew members who left. The disputes began soon after filming began in early October, said the crew member, who requested anonymity because he feared speaking up would hurt his prospects for future jobs. The crew was initially housed at the Courtyard by Marriot in Santa Fe, according to the crew member. Four days in, however, they were told that going forward they would be housed at the budget Coyote South hotel. Some crew members balked at staying there. The Los Angeles Times and Variety also reported on the walkout. Rust Movie Productions did not answer emails Friday and Saturday seeking comment. There were other concerns. Only minimal COVID-19 precautions were taken even though crew and cast members often worked in small enclosed spaces on the ranch, the crew member who spoke to the AP said. He said he never witnessed any formal orientation about weapons used on set, which normally would take place before filming begins. A combination of those concerns prompted the seven to walk off the job. We packed our gear and left that morning, the crew member said of the Thursday walkout. Gutierrez, the films armorer, is the daughter of a longtime Hollywood firearms expert. She gave an interview in September to the Voices of the West podcast in which she said she had learned how to handle guns from her father since she was a teenager. During the podcast interview. Gutierrez shared that she just finished her first movie in the role of head armorer, a project in Montana starring Nicholas Cage titled The Old Way. I was really nervous about it at first and I almost didnt take the job because I wasnt sure if I was ready but doing it, like, it went really smoothly, she said. In another on-set gun death from 1993, Brandon Lee, the son of martial arts legend Bruce Lee, was killed by a bullet left in a prop gun after a previous scene. Similar shootings have occurred involving stage weapons that were loaded with live rounds during historical re-enactments. Gun-safety protocol on sets in the United States has improved since then, said Steven Hall, a veteran director of photography in Britain. But he said one of the riskiest positions to be in is behind the camera because that person is in the line of fire in scenes where an actor appears to point a gun at the audience. Photo: This photo shows the Bonanza Creek Ranch one day after an incident left one crew member dead and another injured, Friday, Oct. 22, 2021 in Santa Fe, N.M. A prop firearm discharged by veteran actor Alec Baldwin, who is producing and starring in a Western movie, killed his director of photography and injured the director Thursday, Oct. 21, 2021 at the movie set outside Santa Fe, authorities said. (Roberto E. Rosales/Albuquerque Journal) Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Civil Unrest Lawyers representing New Seasons Market have filed a $2.7 million lawsuit against an Oregon beef producer accusing the company of negligence for delivering beef tainted with E. coli in 2019, court records show. Several people were sickened by the bacteria, prompting a wide recall, The Oregonian/OregonLive reported. The suit, filed this week in Multnomah County Circuit Court by the Portland-based company, names Country Natural Beef, based in Redmond. Lawyers for New Seasons and Oregon Country Beef didnt immediately return calls for comment from the newspaper. On Nov. 8, 2019, officials from the Oregon Health Authority and the Oregon Department of Agriculture told New Seasons three cases of E. coli had been connected to ground beef sold in Portland-area stores of the grocery chain. The chain took samples from meat cases and sent them to a state-run lab for analysis. Two came back positive for E. coli and both were determined to have come from Country Natural Beef, the lawsuit said. New Seasons pulled ground beef from shelves in all of its stores and recalled ground beef products it had sold, according to the suit. The suspension of ground beef sales lasted three months, the lawsuit says. Many customers returned products and received refunds, and New Seasons disposed of the unsold beef products, according to the suit. New Seasons seeks money to recover costs from paying refunds, cleaning, issuing and carrying out the recall and investigating the outbreak source. The chain also seeks damages for a loss of goodwill with customers, according to the suit. The lawsuit said Country Natural Beef has examined its internal procedures and implemented a new beef testing policy. Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Lawsuits Oregon Instagram photo posted of Rust cast reposted by Halyna Hutchins captioned RepostBy @francesfisher: Standing in #IAsolidarity with our @IATSE crew here in New Mexico on RUST, two days before her death. Denis O'Brien's Digicel is to sell its mobile business in the Pacific region to Australian firm Telstra in a deal that values the company at $1.85bn (1.59bn). The deal is being largely funded by the Australian government and is seen as a way to contain China's rising influence in the region. The government will front $1.33bn (1.14bn) of the total value, with Telstra contributing the rest, the Australian telco and the government said in a statement. Telstra first revealed in July the Australian government had approached it to help it buy the business. Digicel, the Caribbean telco founded by O'Brien, is the largest mobile phone carrier in the Pacific, with operations in Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Samoa, Nauru Vanuatu, and Tonga the most lucrative being those in Papua New Guinea (PNG). In a statement, Mr O'Brien said the deal marks a successful realisation of a strategic investment following their entry in the South Pacific. "In 2006, we established a business in the South Pacific region that has helped democratise mobile communications and transform local economies and societies by making affordable best-in-class communications available to more than 10 million people across six of the most exciting markets in the South Pacific region," he said. Todays announcement is a tremendous testament to our colleagues across Digicel Group and in particular, our 1,700 staff in the Pacific. As part of the deal, Mr O'Brien will join the board of directors of the newly formed holding company for Digicel Pacific Ltd. "Digicel Pacific is a commercially attractive asset and critical to telecommunications in the region," Telstra chief executive officer Andrew Penn said. "The Australian government is strongly committed to supporting quality private sector investment infrastructure in the Pacific region." Digicel last year denied an Australian newspaper report it was considering a sale of its Pacific business to state-owned China Mobile Ltd as the heavily indebted telco restructured its business. A sale of Digicel to a Chinese company would have been a cause of concern for the Australian government, amid rising strategic competition between Washington allies and Beijing in the Pacific region. "Given the proximity of the Pacific to Australia and given the geopolitical issues between Australia and China, the Australian government was quite concerned about the idea of a Chinese company owning a major telecommunications company in the Pacific," said Amanda Watson, a researcher from Australian National University's Department of Pacific Affairs. Diplomatic relations between the two nations have deteriorated in recent years, with China imposing trade sanctions on produce from Australia and reacting angrily to its 5G ban sidelining telecoms giant Huawei. Additional reporting Reuters Weve been given notice to leave our property. Wed been renting for two years, the landlord is selling. We applied to over 70 properties but as of Friday, we are homeless. The council are placing us in emergency accommodation. I have four little girls (age 7,5,2,1) as well as my partner, and I dont know where else we need to turn to try and find somewhere for us to have a home. Tonis call to RTEs Liveline last week provided another human story of how the housing crisis has spiralled out of control. What have we become as a country when people feel they have no option but to ring a national call-in radio show to try find a home? It is heartbreaking listening to the impact that losing their home is having on her children. Toni described how her seven-year-old is starting to get "really bad anxiety because of all of this". "Her birthday is on the first of December. She said for her birthday she doesnt want anything, she wants a house. She just wrote her list to Santa, saying that she just wants a house, a forever home for her family. "My kids, as of Friday, are living out of backpacks. Theyve got their favourite teddies packed. My 7-year-old, she came home early from school yesterday, with her anxiety, because she believes if she is in school for too long, she will come home and she is not going to have a home. This is a traumatic experience for that girl, and her sisters. It is already causing anxiety, and research done on the impact of homelessness on children points to potential lifelong impacts. How do we accept children being traumatised in this way as a society, given that it is utterly avoidable? These children and families are being made homeless, not because of something they have done, but because of the failure of successive Irish governments to provide social and affordable homes, and to give tenants protection from evictions. Im deeply concerned that family and child homelessness is becoming normalised in Irish society. It is important we listen to the human stories, like that of Toni and her family. Opening ourselves to the emotional impact of what is happening to these children, to actually feel the emotions it brings up in us - I cried, and felt I wanted to do something to help - is more likely to lead us to not accept this, to try to help, and to demand of Government that something must be done. The sheer amount of children being made homeless in Ireland today is a case of State failure and the violation of the basic human rights of the Irish states most vulnerable citizens, its children. I estimate at least 18,000 children have experienced the trauma of homelessness since 2016. This is a social issue that we will be dealing with the fallout from for decades to come. File photo When people think of homelessness, it is often of a person in a sleeping bag on the street. But most people homeless are in emergency accommodation hostels, hotels, B&Bs, and Family Hubs. Nationally, 953 families with 2,189 children are in homeless emergency accommodation. Many more families are losing their family homes and experiencing all the trauma that comes with it, but are supported to avoid emergency accommodation. In Dublin last year, a total of 1,544 families became homeless, with half entering emergency accommodation. Government should be doing all it can to avoid children being exposed to any aspect of the loss of their familys home. However, we do not count or track the total numbers of children nationally losing their homes. Nor do we have official data on how many children have been made homeless in the last six months, one year or even six years. Its an incredible indictment on our State that we do not even count the number of children made homeless. In 2017, I wrote a report with my colleague, Professor Mary Murphy, on research we did with homeless families in Dublin. The report was read out to the then-Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar in the Dail. It highlighted the severe impact of emergency accommodation on children. Instability can cause children to be consumed with worry and unable to focus on typical pursuits of childhood development. Feelings of anxiety and insecurity leave a child unsettled and out of control. "Adverse childhood experiences including homelessness are related to the development of risk factors for less well-being throughout life. There are currently 1,100 children in homeless accommodation in Dublin for longer than six months. Half of all children in emergency accommodation in Dublin are there longer than one year, and a quarter longer than two years. I estimate at least 18,000 children have experienced the trauma of homelessness since 2016. This is a social issue that we will be dealing with the fallout from for decades to come. Unfortunately, our 2017 reports recommendations for a strategy to eliminate family homelessness, and for a statutory limit on the length of time families spent in emergency accommodation have not yet been implemented. Nationally, 953 families with 2,189 children are in homeless emergency accommodation. File photo Lone parent households are also more likely to experience homelessness, accounting for 53% of all homeless families. Focus Ireland have been concerned about the disproportionate levels of lone parent households experiencing homelessness since the start of the crisis. Louise Bayliss, their campaigns coordinator, highlights that while the causes of this are complex, they can be tackled. Issues contributing to the risk of homelessness for families, and even more acutely for lone parents, include rents outstripping Housing Assistance Payment limits, poverty rates, childcare costs and poorly designed policy measures, relating to income assessment and maintenance. Tsunami of evictions But a major factor causing homelessness of families and children is the evictions in the private rental sector. Evictions have dramatically increased since the lifting of the Covid ban on evictions. The second quarter of this year saw the highest number of evictions registered since 2019. We could see almost 2,500 households evicted in the private rental sector this year alone, with 60% of evictions due to landlords selling the property. This is the tsunami of evictions. It is a tsunami of trauma for children and families in the rental sector. Emergency action is needed including a reintroduction of the ban on evictions in the private rental sector for at least three years to give renters some stability and reduce the unacceptable levels of child and family homelessness. National plans by countries to tackle the climate crisis leave the world on track for temperature rises of 2.7C, the UN has warned. A report by the UN Climate Change body assessed all the national plans that have been put forward by countries to cut emissions over the next decade as part of efforts to meet international targets to curb dangerous warming. Published in the run up to the latest UN climate summit, it confirms that countries are nowhere near what the science says the world needs to be to limit rising temperatures to globally-agreed goals. UN climate chief Patricia Espinosa urged countries to redouble their climate efforts or face a destabilised world and endless suffering as a result of the crisis. Countries attending the Cop26 talks in Glasgow are under pressure to up their ambition on tackling emissions to deliver on promises made in the global climate treaty, the Paris Agreement, secured six years ago. Under the Paris Agreement, countries committed to holding global temperature rises to well below 2C and to try to keep warming to 1.5C to avoid the worst impacts of climate change. But the national plans countries forward for the deal left the world well off-track for the 1.5C and 2C limits, so they have had to submit new or updated plans for action up to 2030, known as nationally determined contributions (NDCs), by Cop26. Keeping temperatures to the 1.5C limit requires cutting emissions by 45% on 2010 levels by 2030, while meeting the 2C goal requires cuts of 25%. The latest update on national action plans from countries includes 116 new or updated NDCs submitted by 143 countries, including one covering all 27 EU countries, in the run-up to Cop26. It found that for those 143 countries with new or updated plans, total greenhouse gases are estimated to be about 9% below 2010 levels by 2030. Of those, 71 have a goal to reach net-zero emissions or carbon neutrality by around mid-century, which would deliver deep cuts to the overall emissions of that group by 2050. But an assessment of all the available plans from all 192 parties to the UN climate process shows the world is set to see a 16% increase in global greenhouse emissions by 2030 on 2010 levels. That would put the planet on track for temperature rises of 2.7C by the end of the century, without quick action to change direction. Ms Espinosa, executive secretary of UN Climate Change (UNFCCC), said the new and updated action plans for cutting greenhouse gas emissions represent a commitment to acting on climate change. At the same time, the message from this update is loud and clear: parties must urgently redouble their climate efforts if they are to prevent global temperature increases beyond the Paris Agreements goal of well below 2C, ideally 1.5C, by the end of the century. Overshooting the temperature goals will lead to a destabilised world and endless suffering, especially among those who have contributed the least to the greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere. The report from UN Climate Change has been produced so countries have the most up-to-date information before Cop26, and includes extra plans put forward since a full analysis on the issue in September. Ms Espinosa said the update confirmed what the earlier report showed: That we are nowhere near where science says we should be. Burma Myanmar Activist Ko Jimmy in Critical Condition After Arrest by Junta Detained Myanmar activist Ko Jimmy / Maung Thein Veteran Myanmar democracy activist Ko Kyaw Min Yu, better known as Ko Jimmy, one of the leaders of the 88 Generation Students Group, has been hospitalized in critical condition with a severe head injury after his arrest by the junta in an overnight raid in Yangon, according to his wife. A large number of junta troops surrounded his hideout in North Dagon Township, Yangon, on Saturday night before breaking in and arresting him. His wife Ma Nilar Thein told The Irrawaddy that the activist sustained serious injuries, including to the head, at the time of his arrest and was taken to the Mingalardone Military Hospital. He is in critical condition. I am really concerned for his life, Ma Nilar Thein said, adding that the junta would be wholly responsible for anything that happens to Ko Jimmy. Ko Jimmy was added to the juntas wanted list at the same time as his comrade Ko Min Ko Naing, another leader of the 88 Generation Students Group, for their anti-regime activism, which began just days after the February coup in which the military overthrew the Daw Aung San Suu Kyi-led civilian government. The duo first came to political prominence as leaders of a university student boycott in 1988, when Myanmar stood against the then military dictator Ne Wins socialist regime and demanded democracy. Ko Min Ko Naing has been described as the countrys most prominent opposition figure after Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and has worked with the parallel National Unity Government and its parliamentary committee, which were formed by elected lawmakers who were prevented from taking seats by the coup, and their ethnic allies. Since the coup, Ko Jimmy had been hiding in various places in Yangon while still participating in anti-regime activism over the past eight months, his wife said. She added that he had only moved to the location in North Dagon recently. Ko Jimmy is the first member of the 88 Generation Students Groupa group of former student leaders who have led opposition against military regimes since the 1988 uprisingto be arrested since the coup. He chose to remain in the city and do whatever he can from inside, said his wife, who is herself involved in the 88 Generation group and is also in hiding. Ko Jimmy was arrested four times and jailed for several years under the former military regime. His most recent jail term was from 2007 to 2012 for his leading role in anti-government protests in 2007, known as the Saffron Revolution. As of Monday afternoon, the junta had yet to issue any statement about Ko Jimmys detention. Ma Nilar Thein, who is also a veteran democracy activist and a former political prisoner, told The Irrawaddy that the juntas arrest and brutality against its opponents, including Ko Jimmy, would only encourage stronger resistance. The more we face difficulties and pain, the more we are determined to root out the military dictatorship, she added. Myanmars junta has killed nearly 1,200 people and detained more than 9,000 others since the Feb. 1 coup, according to the Assistance Association of Political Prisoners, an advocacy group. You may also like these stories: Myanmar Junta Bars Another Suu Kyi Lawyer From Talking to Media Myanmar Military Regime Lashes Out at ASEAN After Summit Snub Myanmars Junta Seizes Veteran Student Leader Burma Myanmar Junta Bars Another Suu Kyi Lawyer From Talking to Media Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. / The Irrawaddy Myanmars military regime has imposed yet another gagging order on a lawyer representing detained State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, before her latest appearance in court on Tuesday. U Kyi Win is the fifth member of Daw Aung San Suu Kyis legal team to be barred from speaking to the media, foreign diplomats and international organizations. The regime imposed the gagging order after U Khin Maung Zaw, the head lawyer representing Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, gave details of President U Win Myints testimony during a court hearing on October 12, when the President said that the Myanmar military threatened to force him to resign during the February 1 coup. Lawyers U Khin Maung Zaw, U Thae Maung Maung and Daw Min Min Soe were also recently barred from speaking to the media, foreign diplomats and international organizations under Article 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. Another one of Daw Aung San Suu Kyis lawyers, Daw San Mar Lar Nyunt, was barred in August from speaking about the trials. The junta has brought 11 charges against Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and two against U Win Myint. The gagging order could prevent first-hand accounts of Suu Kyis weekly hearings from reaching the public, said lawyers. Daw Aung San Suu Kyis legal team has been the only source of information on the trials and on the well-being of the State Counselor and President U Win Myint. You may also like these stories: Myanmar Military Regime Lashes Out at ASEAN After Summit Snub Myanmars Junta Seizes Veteran Student Leader Myanmar Junta Condemns Foreign Recognition of Civilian Government Burma Myanmar Junta Supporters Hold Rallies in Military-Dominated Cities Military supporters before their rally in Meiktila on October 25. Pro-junta rallies were held on Monday in the Myanmar capital Naypyitaw and other towns with a strong military presence. A mix of Buddhist nationalist monks and the supporters of military-backed political parties paraded with posters declaring their support for the military regime and denouncing the civilian resistance movement as terrorists. The demonstrations were only the second time since the February 1 coup that pro-junta supporters have paraded in public. In late February, Myanmar military supporters marched in downtown Yangon in response to widespread anti-coup protests. Prior to the coup, extreme Buddhist nationalists and their followers regularly organized pro-military rallies, especially after international criticism of the militarys atrocities against the Rohingya Muslim minority in Rakhine State. Over 700,000 Rohingya fled to neighboring Bangladesh in 2017 after military clearance operations following attacks by Rohingya militants on the security forces in Rakhine. However, Mondays demonstrations come after the juntas lethal crackdowns on civilian anti-regime protesters and when the majority of Myanmar people are bitterly opposed to the militarys coup. In Naypyitaw, hundreds of regime supporters drove around the capital on motorbikes and in cars shouting pro-junta slogans. They also denounced the Peoples Defense Forces (PDF) battling the military and the parallel National Unity Government (NUG), formed by elected lawmakers from the ousted National League for Democracy government and their ethnic allies. There were similar protests on Monday in Pyin Oo Lwin and Meiktila in Mandalay Region towns which are both strongholds of the military and in the Kachin State capital Myitkyina. In Meiktila, where the militarys proxy Union Solidarity and Development Party has a strong presence, junta supporters paraded in cars and on motorbikes. I saw over one hundred people who were involved in the rally, a Meiktila resident told The Irrawaddy. In Pyin Oo Lwin, home to the armys officer training academies, hundreds of pro-military supporters drove around the towns clock tower in downtown at 8am, chanting slogans such as Say no to the terrorist PDF and Down with the NUG who are backed by foreign countries. Witnesses said soldiers and police provided security for all the rallies to protect them from attacks by civilian resistance forces. After the pro-junta rally in Meiktila, a bomb was thrown into a military truck on patrol, killing at least one policeman and injuring a soldier and two others. You may also like these stories: Myanmar Activist Ko Jimmy in Critical Condition After Arrest by Junta Myanmar Junta Bars Another Suu Kyi Lawyer From Talking to Media Myanmar Military Regime Lashes Out at ASEAN After Summit Snub Burma Myanmar Military Regime Lashes Out at ASEAN After Summit Snub Myanmar junta leader Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing at the Moscow Conference on International Security-2021 in June. / Cincds Myanmars military junta on Friday accused ASEAN of departing from its principles of consensus and noninterference after the regional bloc decided to exclude coup leader Senior General Min Aung Hlaing from its upcoming summit and asked the regime to send a politically neutral representative instead. In an indication of the juntas embarrassment about being excluded, it has yet to announce whether it will be sending a representative. Then on Saturday, the military rulers followed their stern rebuke of ASEAN with a pledge to cooperate as much as possible with the five-point consensus it agreed with ASEAN. The consensus calls for ending the violence in the country, initiating a dialogue, allowing humanitarian support and granting the regional blocs special envoy access to the country. However, Myanmars regime has so far failed to implement the steps called for in the consensus. In an announcement in state media on Saturday, the junta said it upholds the principle of peaceful coexistence with other countries and would cooperate with ASEAN in following the consensus agreed in April, a plan backed by the West and China. ASEANs special envoy, Erywan Yusof of Brunei, had sought a meeting with ousted leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, but the military regime said that was impossible because she was detained and charged with crimes. The junta recently released thousands of political detainees after ASEAN downgraded the status of its representative at the summit. However, many prisoners, including top leaders of the previous government, chief ministers and politicians and activists, remain in prisons and unknown detention centers. The Southeast Asian nation has been in chaos since a February coup, with more than 1,100 people killed in its crackdown on dissent, according to a local monitoring group. Almost nine months after the military seized power, the country is seeing growing resistance to the regime, which has been unable to stamp out opposition to its rule. The generals are under increasing international pressure to engage with their opponents but they refuse to do so. You may also like these stories: Myanmars Junta Seizes Veteran Student Leader Myanmar Junta Condemns Foreign Recognition of Civilian Government Myanmar Junta to Vaccinate School Students Against COVID-19 Burma Myanmar Must Turn Sorrow into Strength: Wife of Detained Activist Ko Jimmy and his wife Daw Nilar Thein, both are leading activists in the 88 Generation Students and former political prisoners for their pro-democracy activism / Daw Nilar Theins Facebook Myanmars junta seized veteran political activist Ko Jimmy, also known as Kyaw Min Yu, a prominent 88 Generation Student leader, on Saturday night in Yangon for his anti-regime activism. Ko Jimmy, 52, sustained a severe head injury during the arrest at Pin Lon Hnin Si villa in North Dagon Township. His wife Daw Nilar Thein, another leading 88 Generation Students figure who also took part in the 1988 pro-democracy movement as a university student, has been in hiding elsewhere for her anti-junta activism. She is worried about her husbands health and says, the regime must take all responsibility for whatever happens to him. Ko Jimmy has been evading arrest since February. The junta issued arrest warrants for him along with Ko Min Ko Naing, another prominent 88 Generation figure, and a few others on Feb. 13 for alleged incitement. The junta has killed nearly 1,200 people, detained more than 9,000 others and tortured those in captivity and committed gross human rights violations against civilians resisting military rule. The Irrawaddy spoke to Ma Nilar Thein, who was also a political prisoner under a previous military regime, about Ko Jimmy, her concerns and her message to those opposing the regime. How much do you know about Ko Jimmy since his arrest? I have heard that he is in Mingaladon Military Hospital. He is being watched. Do you know about his head injury? Im not sure how he got his head injury. You said two people escaped. What did they say about his arrest? Two young people escaped while junta forces were breaking down the door. They do not know what happened after that. They said there were a lot of troops. There was a rumor Ko Jimmy was arrested with weapons. I do not know. Why was he still in hiding in Yangon? There are a lot of people in hiding in Yangon knowing they face arrest any day. People are in hiding, avoiding arrest and trying to keep anti-regime activities going. It has been eight months. People in Yangon move around. We knew the risks when we joined the pro-democracy movement. We are doing our best. Not only people inside the country but those aboard are also fighting the dictatorship. People are doing different things in different ways. It is important to try to stay safe while doing what you can. But we all know we are no longer safe anywhere. Some think it is safer in liberated areas [controlled by ethnic armed groups]. But people there are fleeing the war. They face different problems. How worried are you about Ko Jimmy and yourself? If we are arrested by the junta, we know we will be tortured and maybe killed as we have heard many stories over the past eight months. We are all worried about everyone in captivity. Our concerns reduce slightly when we hear someone has arrived alive in prison. We are worried about him. We heard many things but we cant confirm anything. Im worried about him. Does he have a lawyer? No. We wont hire any lawyer because we will not cooperate with those who arbitrarily arrest people, act with injustice and manipulate cases. People are saddened by the arrest of Ko Jimmy. You have been involved in this revolution and been freed from detention. Would you like to share any message with the people? Ko Jimmy has been arrested. Before that, our beloved and respected Generation Z, our other dear comrades and student unions members have been arrested in many places. There are deaths. We have to turn these sorrows into strength and we will continue to work to overthrow the dictator. The more we face such difficulties and pain, the more determined we are to work harder to overthrow this dictator. You may also like these stories: Junta Forces Suffer Heavy Losses in Weekend Resistance Attacks Across Myanmar Myanmar Junta Supporters Hold Rallies in Military-Dominated Cities Myanmar Activist Ko Jimmy in Critical Condition After Arrest by Junta Guest Column QUAD Regional Bloc May Hold Key to Myanmar Crisis QUAD leaders at the White House before their September summit. / President Joe Biden Facebook The decision of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) not to invite the architect of the Myanmar coup, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, to its upcoming summit is likely a result of pressure from western countries. The United States (US) and the European Union (EU) have so far backed ASEANs five-point consensus for possible mediation between Myanmars junta and the parallel National Unity Government. But this idea did not translate into action because of a lack of cooperation from the coup leaders, prompting the ASEAN foreign ministers to invite a non-political representative from Myanmar to the upcoming summits, ASEAN chair Brunei said in a statement issued October 16. The move is significant as it came ahead of a US delegations visit to Southeast Asian countries, including Thailand, Singapore and Indonesia, for talks on topics including the Myanmar crisis. Last month, the first in-person summit of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD), a four-country group comprising the US, Japan, India and Australia, called for an end to violence in Myanmar, which has come close to slipping into civil war. The four-nation alliance, which China has dubbed an Asian NATO, is expected to play a more active role in the Asia-Pacific region in the months and years ahead. However, foreign policy experts believe that QUAD should be more articulate about its position on Myanmar. Despite country-specific policies, the four-nation bloc should exert pressure on the junta to put a stop to violence and coercion and create an appropriate atmosphere for dialogue with the detained civilian leaders of the ousted National League for Democracy (NLD) government. Amnesty Move Meanwhile, in a surprise move, Myanmars military regime released over 1,300 people jailed for participating in anti-coup protests and more than 4,300 detainees who were awaiting trial on incitement charges for their anti-regime activism. However, several NLD leaders, including State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and President U Win Myint, remain in custody. The significance of the prisoner release is that it comes in the wake of ASEANs decision to exclude Sen. Gen. Min Aung Hlaing from the blocs upcoming summit. Over 9,000 people have been arrested since the February 1 coup, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, which records alleged excesses committed by junta forces. It claims that at least 1,181 people have been killed by junta forces as of October 18 and 131 have been tortured to death. What QUAD Can Do During the first QUAD summit, held virtually in March, it became clear that the four-nation alliance has an inclusive agenda. It decided to launch an ambitious COVID-19 vaccine supply program and formed working groups to explore cooperation in the realms of emerging technologies and climate change. The leaders also made it clear that finding an early solution to the Myanmar crisis was a top priority. But within Quad, the reactions to the continuing violence in Myanmar have been different. While the US, along with the EU, has imposed sanctions on the military regime, India and Japan are treading more cautiously. Tokyo and New Delhi have maintained good relations with both Myanmars military and the NLD, as well as investing in various economic projects in the country. Another important reason behind Tokyo and New Delhi treading carefully is that they do not want to alienate Myanmar and push it towards China, according to foreign policy analyst Dr Sriparna Pathak. As for India, pushing Myanmar further towards China will ensure the re-emergence of non-traditional security threats. Several rebel groups from Indias restive northeast continue to operate from bases in Myanmars western border regions. Although Beijing has officially denied that it supports these Indian insurgent outfits, last year amid the border standoff with the Indian military in eastern Ladakh, Chinas state-run Global Times warned that Beijing could aid and support northeast Indias rebels. That the Global Times was confident enough to state that China may fuel insurgency in India is only possible when actual control over the groups exists, according to Dr. Pathak, who is an associate professor and director of the Centre for Northeast Asian Studies at Indias O.P. Jindal Global Universitys School of International Affairs. Among the QUAD nations, India and Japan both have a deep understanding of the complex dynamics at play within Myanmar. Along with their relatively good relations with the Myanmar military, that insight could definitely be leveraged to usher in peace in the country. As responsible players of the international system, the members of the QUAD need to engage and find a peaceful solution to the crisis, lest China foments further crises as it has done in the past in several other regions and countries. While the aim should be restoring peace and tranquillity, what cannot be forgotten is that China can and will use the slightest opportunity, even if it is at the cost of regional and global peace, to fulfil its narrow, selfish national interests which rely primarily on reducing stability and security for other actors of the international system, said Dr. Pathak. Veteran journalist and foreign affairs expert Dr. Prakash Nanda echoed those views. As the QUAD statement said, India wants an early solution [to the Myanmar crisis]. But the real question is the extent to which it can go. It is the only QUAD country that shares a border with Myanmar. A working relationship with the elements controlling the country, irrespective of their political affiliations or nature, is absolutely vital for fighting the insurgents in Indias northeast, said Dr. Nanda, who has authored several book on Indias foreign policy, including Rediscovering Asia: The Evolution of Indias Look-East Policy. Then there is the factor of China, the containment of which is the primary, though unstated, goal of QUAD, added Dr. Nanda. It is very much against Indias national interests if Naypyitaw comes under Chinas sphere of influence. So Indias role will not go beyond exercising some sort of moral pressure [on the junta]. It would like the other QUAD members to be more proactive. Jayanta Kalita is a senior journalist and author based in New Delhi. He writes on issues relating to Indias northeast and its immediate neighborhood. The views expressed are his own. You may also like these stories: Myanmar Views New Chinese Border Wall With Growing Unease India-Myanmar Military Ties Pay Dividends as Naga Rebels Return to Mainstream Myanmar Workers in Thailand Need Better Welfare Protection DCI CEO for Australia and New Zealand Malcolm Roe said DCI recognises the Northern Territorys position as the digital gateway to Australias forward-facing defence and space industries, as well as Asia to the north. Darwin is a strategic location in Australia and has already created a digital ecosystem with key elements like; renewable energy, international and Australia-wide network connectivity. It is also the command hub in the north for Australian defence and coastal border forces, as well as hosting significant U.S. Defence Force technical and aerial assets. The rapidly growing space sector is also seeing organisations such as NASA and other global players establishing a presence in the Territory. This is all in addition to the existing mining, agriculture and tourism sectors. These industries require secure ICT infrastructure, so it makes perfect sense for us to increase our footprint to include NT, starting with the purchase of this land, Roe said. DCIs investment closely follows the recent Darwin-Jakarta-Singapore Cable (DJSC) announcement and the extension of the Terabit Territory into Asia. With the development of the highly secure high-speed Terabit Territory network, and the impending arrival of a series of international sub-sea telecommunications cables, Darwin is strengthening its position as Australias Digital Territory and gateway to Asia, Roe said. DCI says it has secured a 2.7 hectare site in a Darwin Technology Park, which provides enough space to support up to 10 Megawatts of IT Load. The deal also provides an option to expand up to 5 hectares in the future. The DRW01 design, subject to development application approval, is based on the secure cloud edge TIER-Ready III design that is being used by DCI in Adelaide, with physical security up to Zone 5. We are very excited about this Darwin site as it is collocated with significant power infrastructure and has provision for large scale renewable energy assets to be developed alongside it, Roe said. This investment supports the expansion of DCIs national footprint and the deployment of secure cloud edge facilities across Australia and New Zealand. DCI has operational data centre assets located in Sydney and Adelaide. These will soon be joined by two new TIER-Ready III certified facilities called ADL02 and AKL01, with construction underway in Kidman Park, South Australia and New Zealand respectively. DCI has also recently announced acquisition of land in Mawson Lakes to build a third Data Centre facility in South Australia, the company concluded. This first appeared in the subscription newsletter CommsWire on 19 October 2021. Sydney Fish Market is poised to transform the way it trades its product by launching a new digital platform that has the potential to shake up how the $3 billion Australian seafood industry operates. Sydney Fish Market has signed an agreement with Sydney-based agri-technology business ShoreTrade to roll out the platform, a B2B online marketplace. Sydney Fish Market says it will hold an exclusive license in the fisheries sector to ShoreTrades technology in Australia and New Zealand. The platform will complement the Markets benchmark physical auction, which will be rehauled when the new Sydney Fish Market building on Blackwattle Bay opens in 2024. The opt-in platform will connect more sellers and buyers, and in doing so, will provide access to a wider variety of species. Sydney Fish Markets new online seafood marketplace will facilitate trading 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and transform the seafood trading experience. It will offer industry intelligence, including daily market pricing across both direct and auction trade and trading volumes and supply-and-demand data in Australia and New Zealand. Sydney Fish Market has decades of experience in large-scale, high-quality seafood trading, and has played a significant role in sustainably growing Australias seafood industry, claims Sydney Fish Market CEO Greg Dyer. The new trading platform will create further growth opportunities for our company and for our traditional suppliers here in NSW, while attracting new operators from the wild caught and aquaculture sectors across the country. It will offer new functions, including presale ordering and supply, fixed priced selling for fishers, and availability alerts for targeted species for buyers. The system will enable fishers to negotiate a price to go out and catch what buyers needa reversal of the way the market currently works. The technology will help to stabilise the market and help the industry deal with the unexpected, like COVID-19, by providing multiple trading opportunities without sole reliance on the physical auction, Dyer explains. The ability to aggregate data sets including trade data, catchment data, customer market segmentation across multiple locations and species allows the technology to be used to create more sustainable ecosystems, more robust sales channels and transparency across the industry, says ShoreTrade founder Peter Manettas. The NSW government funded Sydney Fish Market to support the development of the trading platform. Minister for Agriculture Adam Marshall said the new platform would deliver best practice innovation to the states seafood industry. NSW has world-class seafood, with Sydney Fish Market the epicentre of our fresh and sustainable seafood industry. This investment by the NSW government will support the Sydney Fish Market and their traditional suppliers to embrace a new level of market access and transparency, Marshall notes. This digital expansion of the fish market will give buyers and sellers more power to get a fair price so more Aussie seafood end up on our plates. So whether its prawns from Pambula, snapper caught at Coffs Harbour or kingfish at Kingscliff, this digital marketplace will offer the best seafood at the click of a button. Whether its prawns from Pambula, snapper caught at Coffs Harbour or kingfish at Kingscliff, this digital marketplace will offer the best seafood at a click, Marshall concludes. Sydney Fish Market is working with ShoreTrade on the platform integration, with a launch in early 2022. GUEST OPINION: Blockchain and cryptocurrencies are causing changes not only in the financial world but also in the labour market. In this article, we will look at the impact blockchain technology has on the modern labour market and what to expect in the near future. The impact of blockchain on the labour market The emergence of blockchain technology has revolutionised the financial industry over the past decade. With the appearance of cryptocurrencies, individuals worldwide have gained access to a decentralised form of money. This allowed them to experience a new type of financial freedom that wasnt previously available. Because of this, the mainstream media mainly associates blockchain with finances and crypto. However, the truth is much broader than that. This technology has been disrupting an increasingly large number of industries, especially since the introduction of smart contracts self-executing contracts where the terms of the agreement between the buyer and the seller are directly written into lines of code. In this article, we take a closer look at how blockchain technology impacts the labour market. Additionally, we analyse how its public ledger improves the labour process in various sectors and leads to new forms of employment. Impact assessment Smart contracts have been around since the release of the Ethereum network in 2015. Consequently, they have contributed to the automation of labour-intensive processes in various industries. They have allowed blockchain technology to replace manual labour in such fields as agriculture, logistics and healthcare, among others. The improvements are undeniable, as this automation reduces human error and streamlines the operational processes. However, as was previously the case with the introduction of robotics, some fear that blockchain might negatively impact the labour market. People worry that shifting systematisation of labour for tasks previously requiring humans were previously might lead to mass lay-offs and redundancies in affected industries. In reality, these fears have been unfounded, as there is no proof blockchain is reducing employment whatsoever. Instead, blockchain can open up new forms of employment and shift the labour market in a positive direction. New forms of employment Blockchain in jurisprudence The legal sector has been shown to be very resilient to change and therefore improvement. Even in developed countries, bureaucracy is still king, rendering legal processes opaque and difficult to manage. Moreover, the dependence on archaic principles for legal processing makes people doubt their legal system and question the integrity of the data. Blockchain technology can make the entire system more transparent and accessible to anyone. As such, it can provide all participants in the judicial system with free access to all the information in legal cases, ensuring data integrity. But how will this create new jobs for humans? Here are a few examples of potential new roles blockchain will create within the legal sector: Analysts for legal and compliance issues related to blockchain/crypto companies Counsel for regulatory affairs at venture capital firms Attorneys and legal teams supporting the development of decentralised protocols (DeFi) Legal teams dealing with exploited smart contracts, unverified transactions and a whole range of legal matters that arise with the growth (and exploitation) of blockchain technology. Moreover, blockchain automation can allow jurisprudence workers to save more than 40% of their time, which is usually reserved for redundant administrative tasks. This can not only free up precious man-hours but will also avoid human errors in this crucial sector, where even a tiny mistake can irrevocably change a persons life. Overall, blockchain technology might increase the job market in the legal sector by creating a demand for smart-contract experts that specialise in the art of law. This shouldnt impact existing jobs, considering that the technology mainly brings quality-of-life improvements and optimisation of processes for legal practitioners. However, down the line, we may see demand for particular types of attorneys decrease (for example, divorce attorneys) as many issues will be avoided through pre-signed smart contracts. Blockchain in banking Another sector experts consider to be immovable is the banking industry. This industry has been facing issues of managing administrative tasks for years. Banks are constantly having trouble keeping up with the amount of data generated from the rising numbers of users. Whats more, they must constantly monitor, cross-reference and keep this information private. To solve these issues, financial institutions usually need to employ centralised and non-transparent solutions. Blockchain, on the other hand, provides banks with an infallible record-keeping system that tracks user data continuously. Additionally, cryptocurrencies like bitcoin can be used as an alternative payment method to cut operational costs. Some cryptocurrency-specific job opportunities in the banking industry include: Digital currency managers (to drive innovation for the legacy banking system) Accounting and investment experts in the field of cryptocurrency (to help wealthy clients with existing investments) Experienced traders and on-chain analysts (to determine the best investment opportunities to grow the capital of the bank in question) Blockchain developers (to transform the existing record-keeping systems and help improve traceability, transparency, and authentication processes) In addition, there are already several privacy protocols that help keep transaction information secure and private at all times. As a result, blockchain can open up new jobs in banking that require the implementation of protocols for data integration and privacy. Blockchain in logistics The supply-chain industry is the one that will benefit the most from blockchain technology. Logistics tend to suffer from a lack of end-to-end visibility in the supply chain, leading to delays or parcel losses. Fraud and grey-market trading (an unofficial market for financial securities) can also heavily and negatively affect this sector. However, as explained in a Hindawi academic Blockchain, therefore, brings complete traceability through IoT integration, allowing more trust in the process. Additionally, thanks to data immutability, it can eliminate fraud entirely as each product can be traced back to its source. Consequently, IoT and data-sharing experts will be in high demand as blockchain makes its way in the logistics industry. Impact of blockchain technology on third-world economies In addition to the aforementioned sectors, blockchain can also be used as a cost-effective solution to the problem of outdated administrative systems used in third-world countries, which are usually riddled with fraud and corruption. On a practical level, these outdated systems hinder any prospect of development for the region because they perpetuate the vicious cycles of poverty and social injustice caused by such corruption. This is why administrative workers in these countries would benefit greatly from blockchain implementation. It can become an economical solution to the flaws in the existing systems. We are already seeing how El Salvador is saving hundreds of millions lost in remittance costs simply by switching to a Bitcoin standard. Additionally, Cardano is already working to provide African countries with robust and trustworthy technology and help them regain confidence in their governments through decentralisation. Charles Hoskinson, Cardano CEO, has a vision for economic identity and empowerment, sustainability and an increase of financial inclusion across the African continent, which involves training five million young Ethiopians on how to use blockchain technology and help spearhead their countrys economic development. This could lead to a fairer hiring process in government institutions in many third-world nations. In turn, it would pave a path for educated individuals to advance in all sectors of the economy. Reinventing employment As with every technological advancement, the emergence of new jobs related to blockchain is inevitable. As we deploy blockchain increasingly across various industries, the number of tech-related work positions is rising continuously. The labour market is already seeing a considerable increase in blockchain-related job positions, touching on almost every industry. However, blockchain can do so much more for the job sector than just creating new types of employment. Because of the nature of blockchain technology, existing labour relations are already changing. Automation can turn some labour-intensive work into part-time jobs, and fixed administrative posts are transformed into fully remote job positions. Conclusion Blockchain technology is continuously implemented in various industries for the many advantages it brings. This increased adoption worries some experts, who believe blockchain automation might be a direct cause of future unemployment rise. However, throughout this article, we have seen not only that blockchain does not eliminate work positions, but it also creates new ones. Additionally, it might just revolutionise the entire labour market and even whole economies in many third-world nations. In either case, blockchain technology is bound to improve the work sector and provide more variety in the job market. I felt it was necessary to add this as it wasn't stated but is clearly the main import of the article. I also note from this list of new jobs created from blockchain that nearly all of these are simply a new branch of legal cases that arise because of blockchain's existence there aren't any examples provided about how the actual technology of blockchain will create jobs. This seems a significant omission in terms of what will be lost. If the only real new jobs to come from blockchain concern blockchain-specific skills, that basically means it will create a whole new sphere of work in the same way that IT specialists as a job didn't exist before computers in which case it seems most appropriate to state that at the beginning. As for those administrative assistants who used to be employed to plough through the mountains of legal bureaucracy, it sounds like blockchain still makes them redundant so unless they can suddenly become blockchain legal experts, they are out of luck! I've added this as I had to Google it myself to understand it better Snyk (pronounced "sneak") was founded in 2015 by Guy Podjarny, and offered an open source dependency scanner so developers could easily see if there were any known vulnerabilities in the open source code they used in their software. Importantly, the scan is recursive, so it not only checks the libraries used by the developer, but the libraries used by those libraries, and so on. Since then, Snyk Open Source has been joined by three other tools Snyk Container (to find and fix vulnerabilities in container images and Kubernetes applications), Snyk Infrastructure as Code (to find and fixe insecure configurations in Terraform and Kubernetes code), and recently Snyk Code (to find and fix vulnerabilities in the developer's own code). All four run on a single platform, explained Snyk APJ head of solutions engineering Lawrence Crowther, so it is possible, for example, to apply global policies across the software development lifecycle. Furthermore, Snyk is developer focussed, he said, so the platform integrates with common developer tools IDE, source control, CI/CD, etc so "the tool does the heavy lifting for them" and the developer can then concentrate on fixing the problem rather than finding it. "We started with the digital natives" because for them, DevSecOps is a natural extension of DevOps, but now the company is addressing the enterprise market including the financial services sector. Local Snyk customers include Afterpay and Australia Post. "DevSecOps is a bit of a buzzword," Crowther admitted, but one of the company's goals is to bake security into DevOps so that in a few years the security part will be a first class citizen of every project. But "you need to do DevOps right before you do DevSecOps," he warned. The broad adoption of cloud has led to the adoption of different architectures (vs traditional monolithic applications), and this means the security of all the components must be properly addressed. For example, it's easy to get started with Kubernetes, he said, but it has a range of security implications and so DevOps teams need to step back and think about issues such as ensuring only the correct ports are open, that files aren't inappropriately exposed, and that the exactly correct privileges are assigned. There's a cultural issue here, Crowther suggests, because developers need to take ownership of security not only of the code they write, but right down to the infrastructure level. One way this can be addressed is by moving security specialists into application security roles, but this means they will need to understand engineering practices, DevOps workflows, and so on. Consequently, there aren't many people who can be slotted immediately into such roles. So organisations need to find ways to provide developers with security guidance (eg, "how to avoid SQL injection flaws) and should invest in reskilling, including giving developers sufficient time to learn and absorb this knowledge. Australian organisations are behind the US, but ahead of most of the APAC region, said Crowther. However, they are generally not getting to grips with the proper checking of open source code. A typical project now contains around 10% locally developed code, with the other 90% being open source, he said. But that 90% depends on other open source libraries, and if a project explicitly uses 10 libraries it could be implicitly using another 1000. Without proper checking, you're "just trusting the internet," he said. A further problem is that most tools for checking open source libraries only go one level down. In contrast, Snyk Open Source traverses the entire dependency tree according to Crowther. Similarly, downloading a container image from Docker Hub is a risky business without due diligence. It might purport contain something simple such as a Linux distribution and Node, but have other libraries been planted in it, and are there any old libraries that should have been updated? Lots of blind spots exist, he warned, so it is important to check all dependencies. If you're not sure whether Snyk's products are right for you, or if you only work on a small project, the company offers a 'free forever' plan that has a monthly limit of 200 Open Source tests, 100 Container tests, 300 Infrastructure as Code tests, and 100 Code tests. Otherwise, prices start at $115 a month for five developers using Snyk Open Source. And if you have your eye on job opportunities, Crowther said Snyk will be hiring sales, solutions engineering and support staff in 2022, in part to staff a planned Canberra office that will augment the existing operations in Sydney and Melbourne. Security firm Emsisoft has lost the ability to produce keys that could decrypt files encrypted by the BlackMatter Windows ransomware gang, something it has been doing for a while. A blog post written by the company's chief technology officer Fabian Wosar said researchers at the firm had noticed a mistake made by the BlackMatter operators, which they introduced shortly after they came into being as a rechristening of the DarkSide ransomware. DarkSide, itself, had a mistake in its encryption mechanism that allowed Emsisoft to decrypt files which were encrypted using the Windows version of the ransomware. This flaw was fixed on 12 January. Said Wosar: "Knowing DarkSides past mistakes, we were surprised when BlackMatter introduced a change to their ransomware payload that allowed us to once again recover victims data without the need for a ransom to be paid. "As soon as we became aware of the gangs error, we quietly reached out to our partners, who then assisted us in reaching as many victims as possible before they paid BlackMatters ransom. "Since then, we have been busy helping BlackMatter victims recover their data. With the help of law enforcement agencies, CERTs and private sector partners in multiple countries, we were able to reach numerous victims, helping them avoid tens of millions of dollars in demands." Extended verification on the BlackMatter site, introduced after extensive trolling on Twitter. Courtesy Emsisoft However, complications arose in September when a ransom note was leaked on Twitter. "Ransom notes, including BlackMatters, contain critical information intended for the victim only, including instructions on how to reach out and communicate with the threat actor. Consequently, anybody who has access to a note can interact with the gang as though they were the victim," Wosar explained. He said the broader infosec community on Twitter started using the private link in the ransom note intended for the victim to hijack ransom negotiations. "Soon, both the victim and the BlackMatter operators were confronted with an onslaught of insults and trolling behavior," Wosar said. "In addition, screenshots of the conversations were taken and circulated within the Twitter community, which caused even more people to join the 'fun', quickly derailing any sort of intelligence gathering by law enforcement and security researchers in the process." This resulted in BlackMatter locking down its platform and ensuring nobody could access the site without extended verification. Several weeks later, an update released by the BlackMatter operators fixed the flaw that Wosar and his employees had been using to decrypt files. "Beyond BlackMatter, our team has identified vulnerabilities in about a dozen active ransomware families. In these cases, we can recover the vast majority of victims encrypted data without a ransom payment," Wosar claimed. "As with BlackMatter, we arent making the list of families public until the vulnerability has been found and fixed by their respective operators. This is why we encourage victims to report incidents to law enforcement, as they may be able to direct them to us or other companies that can help." Artist impression of Curtin University 'human landing system 2024' surface astronauts as University pursues "ultimate goal" of sending WA to the moon by 2025 Western Australias homegrown spacecraft, Binar-1, has made first contact with ground control at Curtin University, after it was launched into low orbit from the International Space Station two weeks ago. Curtin University said on Monday that the Binar-1 CubeSat sprung to life overnight, making contact with the staff and students who built it by sending back an Ultra High Frequency Signal (UHF) signal from 400 kilometres above the Earth to the command centre in Perth, Western Australia. Curtin Vice-Chancellor Professor Harlene Hayne congratulated the Space Science and Technology team for their wonderful achievement. Binar-1s first words from space are an incredible milestone for the Binar Space Program, and cap more than four years of work by this hard-working and high-achieving team. Curtin couldnt be more proud, Professor Hayne said. Director of Curtins Space Science and Technology Centre (SSTC), John Curtin Distinguished Professor Phil Bland, said the contact heralded a landmark day for the Binar Space Program and for the future of space in WA. This is an incredibly proud moment for the entire SSTC team. After a fortnight of listening and waiting, we have finally heard back from Binar-1. It may just be a simple radio signal, but hearing this heartbeat is the initial successful step in testing all the critical spacecraft systems and validating what we have built, Professor Bland said. Binar-1 was coded and built from scratch by SSTC staff and students, but testing its viability is only made possible through our partnership with remote operations specialists, Fugro, and their Space Automation, Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Control Complex (SpAARC) which enables us to test protocols in space. This first contact with Binar-1 puts us on the path to proving that our technology can deliver and sets us up very well to achieve our aim of sending six more satellites into space over the next 18 months, and our ultimate goal of taking WA to the Moon by 2025. Binar Program Manager, Ben Hartig said with Binar-1 safely in orbit and communicating, the team is focussed on testing commands and collecting data. After a few anxious weeks, the team was both ecstatic and relieved to make contact with Binar-1 for the first time, Hartig said. It made contact using Ultra High Frequency (UHF) radio signals. Picking up that beacon not just from our own ground stations, but from all around the world with our partners and the amateur radio community was incredible. Our Curtin SSTC team will now further decode the signals to confirm all systems are working, collect data and then begin sending instructions for the next phases of its mission. The Binar Space Program has been supported by a State Government investment of $500,000 to facilitate joint operations with the Fugro SpAARC facility, and advance a valuable outreach component to inspire young people in WA to pursue careers in STEM. It is also supported by the Australian Remote Operations for Space and Earth (AROSE) consortium. The Federal Government has proposed stricter rules for social media services, data brokers and other large online platforms operating in Australia. The government has given industry first option to draft the code, failing which it will take on the task itself. Attorney-General Michaelia Cash on Monday released an exposure draft of the Privacy Legislation Amendment (Enhancing Online Privacy and Other Measures) Bill 2021. It would lead to creation of a binding Online Privacy code. Platforms covered by the code would need to have stronger protections for children on social media, and take all reasonable steps to verify their users' age. The platforms will also have to put the child first when handling children's personal information. Parental consent will be required for users under the age of 16. Also proposed are tougher penalties and enforcement powers to enable the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner to resolve matters more effectively. "We know that Australians are wary about what personal information they give over to large tech companies," said Cash. "We are ensuring their data and privacy will protected and handled with care. Our draft legislation means that these companies will be punished heavily if they don't meet that standard." Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention David Coleman said: "In Australia, even before the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a consistent increase in signs of distress and mental ill-health among young people. While the reasons for this are varied and complex, we know that social media is part of the problem. "Young people have told us this themselves. In a 2018 headspace survey of over 4000 young people aged 12 to 25, social media was nominated as the main reason youth mental health is getting worse. And the recent leak of Facebook's own internal research demonstrates the impact social media platforms can have on body image and the mental health of young people. "That's why this legislation is so important. It will provide families with powerful protections, and require fundamental changes to the way that social media platforms operate in Australia." Cash's department also also released a discussion paper as part of the broader review of the Privacy Act 1988 (Privacy Act). Written submissions on the code can be sent in by 3 December while submissions to the discussion paper must be sent by 7 January 2022. Paul Budde: "Telstra is better at operating in consolidating markets, so they are in a good position to continue the business." Telstra's decision to acquire Digicel Pacific is a political decision, Australia's top independent telecommunications analyst Paul Budde says, adding that it would never have happened without the involvement of the government. He described Digicel founder and chairman Denis O'Brien as "a builder, not a consolidator". Telstra announced on Monday morning that it would be buying Digicel's business in the South Pacific region for US$1.6 billion (A$2.14 billion), plus an additional US$250 million depending on how the business fares over the next three years. Said Budde: "Telstra is better at operating in consolidating markets, so they are in a good position to continue the business. "Of course, there are limits to these markets, increased competition, low income countries and limited growth." He said another challenge for Telstra would be to "not operate it from Melbourne, to keep it separate and independent. Keep it separate from the Telstra bureaucracy". Telstra will have to spend a considerable sum removing gear made by the Chinese telecommunications equipment vendor Huawei Technologies from Digicel's networks if it wants to adhere to Australian Government policy as far as its new acquisition is concerned. why should a private company financed with Australian Taxpayers money be fully owned by that private company? how many shares in Telstra does the Australian government own? #Auspol https://t.co/WF9C91EVWu Geoff Payne (@geoffrey_payne) October 24, 2021 This is not the first time that Australia has intervened in telecommunications deals in the Pacific. Back in 2017, Canberra pressured the Solomon Islands to withdraw from an undersea cable project after Huawei was awarded the contract to build the cable. The project was finally awarded to the Vocus Group, with Australia footing two-thirds of the bill, a sum of about $100 million. OBrien said in a statement: Todays announcement is a tremendous testament to our colleagues across Digicel Group and in particular, our 1700 staff in the Pacific. So the Australian taxpayer is providing 80% of the funding for Telstra's $1.6bn acquisition of Digicel. Nice work if you can get it. The deal also shows how costly it can be to neglect relations with your South Pacific neighbours. https://t.co/G3gN6Mqlnd Paul Wallbank (@paulwallbank) October 24, 2021 "In 2006, we established a business in the South Pacific region that has helped democratise mobile communications and transform local economies and societies by making affordable best-in-class communications available to more than 10 million people across six of the most exciting markets in the South Pacific region. I am very pleased that todays agreement with Telstra, our very near neighbour in the Pacific, will further enhance DPLs infrastructure, data and call termination links with one of the largest and most reliable networks in Australia. From a Digicel perspective, today marks a very successful realisation of a strategic investment following our entry in the South Pacific in 2006." This Week in Review A weekly review of the best and most popular stories published in the Imperial Valley Press. Also, featured upcoming events, new movies at local theaters, the week in photos and much more. Sudans top general declared a state of emergency, dissolved the authorities leading countrys democratic transition, and announced the formation of a new government after soldiers detained civilian leaders Monday in what activists denounced as a coup. General Abdel Fattah al-Burhans announcement in a televised address came after armed forces detained figures of the government in charge of leading the transition to democracy since the April 2019 ouster of autocratic president Omar al-Bashir. To rectify the revolutions course, we have decided to declare a state of emergency nationwide dissolve the transitional sovereign council, and dissolve the cabinet, Burhan said. His statement came as clashes erupted in the capital Khartoum, with soldiers firing live rounds at people who took to the streets to protest against the power grab. The violence was largely centred outside the army headquarters in the capital hours after soldiers detained Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, ministers in his government and civilian members of Sudans ruling council, the information ministry said. They were taken away after refusing to support the coup, it said on Facebook. Internet services were cut across the country around dawn and the main roads and bridges into Khartoum shut, before soldiers stormed the headquarters of Sudans state broadcaster in the capitals twin city of Omdurman, the ministry said. People took to the streets soon after, setting tyres ablaze and piling rows of bricks across roads to block them in protest against the military move, an AFP correspondent reported. Military forces have fired live bullets on protesters rejecting the military coup outside the army headquarters, the information ministry said. Around a dozen people have so far been wounded in the clashes, according to the Central Committee of Sudan Doctors, an independent medics union. International concern The power grab, which comes after weeks of tensions between the military and civilian figures sharing power since Bashirs ouster, was condemned by the international community. The European Union called for the release of the civilian leadership and insisted violence and bloodshed must be avoided. The EU is very concerned about Sudans military forces reportedly putting Prime Minister Hamdok under house arrest, as well as detaining other members of the civilian leadership, and we urge for their fast release, said European Commission spokeswoman Nabila Massrali. Americas Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa Jeffrey Feltman said the US is deeply alarmed at reports of a military takeover of the transitional government. Any changes to the transitional government by force puts at risk US assistance, he said on Twitter. The UN described the detentions as unacceptable. I call on the security forces to immediately release those who have been unlawfully detained or placed under house arrest, said Volker Perthes, its special representative to Sudan. The African Union and Arab League also expressed concern. Military coup The Sudanese Professionals Association, an umbrella group of trade unions which were key in leading the 2019 anti-Bashir protests, denounced what it called a military coup and urged demonstrators to fiercely resist it. The developments come two days after a Sudanese faction calling for a transfer of power to civilian rule warned of a creeping coup, at a news conference that was attacked by an unidentified mob. Bashir, who ruled Sudan with an iron fist for three decades, is behind bars in Khartoums high security Kober prison. The ex-president is wanted by the International Criminal Court over charges of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity in Sudans Darfur region. Since August 2019, the country has been led by a civilian-military administration tasked with overseeing the transition to full civilian rule. But the main civilian bloc the Forces for Freedom and Change which led the anti-Bashir protests in 2019, has splintered into two opposing factions. The crisis at hand is engineered and is in the shape of a creeping coup, mainstream FFC leader Yasser Arman told Saturdays news conference in Khartoum. We renew our confidence in the government, Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, and reforming transitional institutions but without dictations or imposition, Arman added. Sudans bankers association and doctors union on Monday declared campaigns of civil disobedience. Protesters marched through the streets of Khartoum carrying the Sudanese flag. Civilian rule is the peoples choice, and No to military rule, some of them chanted. We will not accept military rule and we are ready to give our lives for the democratic transition in Sudan, said demonstrator Haitham Mohamed. We will not leave the streets until the civilian government is back and the transition is back, said Sawsan Bashir, another protester. Rival protests Tensions between the two sides have long simmered, but divisions ratcheted up after a failed coup on September 21 this year. Last week tens of thousands of Sudanese marched in several cities to back the full transfer of power to civilians, and to counter a rival days-long sit-in outside the presidential palace in Khartoum demanding a return to military rule. Hamdok has previously described the splits in the transitional government as the worst and most dangerous crisis facing the transition. On Saturday, Hamdok denied rumours he had agreed to a cabinet reshuffle, calling them not accurate. The premier also emphasised that he does not monopolise the right to decide the fate of transitional institutions. Also on Saturday, Feltman met jointly with Hamdok, Burhan and paramilitary commander Mohamed Hamdan Daglo. Feltman emphasised US support for a civilian democratic transition in accordance with the expressed wishes of Sudans people, the US embassy in Khartoum said at the time. Analysts have said the recent mass protests showed strong support for a civilian-led democracy, but warned street demonstrations may have little impact on the powerful factions pushing a return to military rule. ab-rd-mon/dv FACEBOOK BATON ROUGE, La. Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin is reminding voters that early voting for the Nov. 13 election begins Saturday, Oct. 30, and continues through Saturday, Nov. 6, excluding Sunday, Oct. 31. Citizens who want to early vote may do so in person at their parish Registrar of Voters office or at other designated locations. 12 parishes will vote in local races and on propositions and Constitutional Amendments: Bossier, Calcasieu, East Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Lafourche, Morehouse, Orleans, Ouachita, St. Landry, St. Tammany, Vernon, and Washington. 7 parishes will vote in local races and on Constitutional Amendments: Ascension, Avoyelles, Caddo, Catahoula, Iberia, Rapides, and Richland. 24 parishes will vote on local propositions and Constitutional Amendments: Acadia, Allen, Assumption, Beauregard, Bienville, Claiborne, Evangeline, Franklin, Grant, Jefferson, Lincoln, Madison, Plaquemines, Sabine, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. John, St. Martin, St. Mary, Terrebonne, Union, Vermilion, West Carroll, and West Feliciana. 21 parishes will only vote on Constitutional Amendments: Caldwell, Cameron, Concordia, DeSoto, East Carroll, East Feliciana, Iberville, Jackson, Jefferson Davis, LaSalle, Livingston, Natchitoches, Pointe Coupee, Red River, St. Helena, St. James, Tangipahoa, Tensas, Webster, West Baton Rouge, and Winn. Secretary Ardoin is also pleased to announce a new, temporary early voting site in New Orleans. The new, temporary site will be at the LSU Health Sciences Center, located at 433 Bolivar Street at the corner of Gravier and Bolivar. The site features ample free parking for voters. More information on this site is forthcoming. Voters are encouraged to utilize Louisianas free, award-winning smartphone app, GeauxVote Mobile, to locate parish early voting locations, Election Day voting site, or view their sample ballot. GeauxBot, the virtual voter assistant, is also available to access pertinent election information such as registration deadlines, election dates, polling locations, and hours. GeauxBot is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by visiting www.voterportal.sos.la.gov or by selecting Elections and Voting on www.sos.la.gov. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, polling commissioners will be supplied with personal protective equipment and will regularly sanitize designated areas and wipe down voting machines between each voter. Hand sanitizer will be provided to voters and masks are recommended, although not required. In addition to a Louisiana drivers license, a Louisiana Special ID or a generally recognized ID with picture and signature, voters may use a digital license via LA Wallet. For more information, contact the Elections Division at 800.883.2805 or elections@sos.la.gov. Kim Seon Ho graced Arena Homme+ Korea magazine despite facing abortion and gaslighting issues. The controversial actor appeared for the publication's November issue showing off his modeling skills as he talks about his experience in the mega-hit series "Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha." Kim Seon Ho Made Fans Swoon Over his Dapper Looks It is safe to say that because of Kim Seon Ho's controversy, his pictorial for Arena Homme+ Korea was taken down from their official Instagram, but his supporters and fan accounts managed to secure a series of his snaps. : Arena Homme Plus releases photos and interview with Kim Seon Ho Full article here: https://t.co/nJXIXiq16K#KimSeonHo # pic.twitter.com/aCQ920kk0V Kim Seon Ho Philippines (@kimseonho_ph) October 23, 2021 Thank you Arena Homme+ for fulfilling Kim Seonho's wish to be sexy because he nailed the concept! https://t.co/FlP5J0KoXn#KimSeonHo # pic.twitter.com/xhKSJHibEb cha (@oriseonho) October 23, 2021 The "Start-Up" star definitely aced the shoot by donning fierce poses and highlighting his stunning facial features. Moreover, the 35-year-old South Korean heartthrob exudes that subtle sexiness by sporting off the runway pieces that gave him a whole new look. IN CASE YOU MISSED: Kim Seon Ho, Kim Jung Hyun, and Other Korean Rising Actors Who Faced Massive Controversies This 2021 Kim Seon's Thoughts on 'Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha' During his appearance for Arena Homme+ Korea magazine, the "Catch the Ghost" star also shared his experience and thoughts with the healing Kdrama "Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha." To recall, Kim Seon Ho played the Gongjin native, Hong Doo Shik, who was stunned by the city girl's beauty and dentist Yoon Hye Jin after moving from Seoul to the small town seaside village. He began by citing his first impression with Pohang, the location of the tvN drama. The actor shared that the area was a "pretty and quiet village" and seemed fascinated with the crashing waves, where he described it as music to his ears. Apart from the roster of actors, fans were also impressed by the drama's location that displays a peaceful countryside beach town. When asked about the tvN series veering away from the thrilling genre trend, Kim Seon Ho shares his thoughts starring in a healing Kdrama. He revealed that he was captivated by the script and was drawn to the beauty in every word. The actor even compared it to a play saying, "The village of Gongjin-dong is a stage, and the residents of Gongjin-dong on the stage exist by telling their own stories," he said. 'Hometown Cha-Cha-CHa' as One of the Remarkable Healing Kdramas The high viewership ratings and the social media hype proved how Kim Seon Ho and Shin Min Ah's Kdrama became a part of the viewers and had a positive effect not just on the audience but also on the cast and the production team as well. The actor says that the drama brought him so much happiness and pleasure as an actor. "When I started filming, regardless of the ratings, I thought that I would be happy just to meet people and enjoy acting, just to get that. But the filming set and the people were all Healing," said the lead star. Life After 'Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha' + Kim Seon Ho Controversy Initially, the 35-year-old star had a lineup of upcoming projects like his first-ever appearance on the big screen but had to step back due to the ongoing issue. Kim Seon Ho was removed from two movies, "Sad Tropics," which is supposed to be his movie debut alongside Go Ara and "2 O'Clock Date" with Girls' Generation's YoonA. KDramastars owns this article Written by Geca Wills "Squid Game" star Park Hae Soo challenges himself once again as he diversifies his acting roles and transforms into a homicide detective in new action crime thriller drama "Chimera." Park Hae Soo Transforms Into a Homicide Detective in New Drama 'Chimera' OCN's newest drama, "Chimera," is set to decorate the Saturday and Sunday nights with a heart-shaking explosive murder that took place in the past but led to a serial murder case 35 years later. In the drama, Park Hae Soo takes on the role of the homicide detective Cha Jae Hwan, an enthusiastic yet perfectionist detective who never misses even a dust of evidence whenever investigating. Park Hae Soo, who gained worldwide popularity and critical acclaim through the hit series "Squid Game," said, "I'm grateful to come back as detective Cha Jae Hwan. I'm quite nervous but at the same time, I'm just really happy to be able to meet the viewers once again through "Chimera." Besides the actor, "Mouse" actor Lee Hee Jun and Hollywood star Soo Hyun (also known as Claudia Kim) are also part of the main cast ensemble. Park Hae Soo on Working With Lee Hee Jun and Soo Hyun Lee Hee Jun, a fellow veteran, appeared in many hit dramas and films such as "Vincenzo," "The Legend of the Blue Sea," "Miss Baek," and "The Flu." On the other hand, Soo Hyun, also known internationally as Claudia Kim, appeared in the much loved film series "The Avengers: Age of Ultron". She also starred in several popular dramas, "7th Grade Civil Servant," "Monster," and "Standby." In the drama, Lee Hee Jun takes on the role of a surgeon who is involved in a harrowing murder case. Soo Hyun portrays the role of Eugene, an American-Korean criminal profiler who once worked for the FBI. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Park Hae Soo, Soo Hyun and Lee Hee Jun Work Intensely Together to Find the Truth in 'Chimera' Park Hae Soo reveals his honest thoughts on his co-actors, saying, "The two actors are very great in their own crafts. Lee Hee Jun and Soo Hyun both exude bright auras that give comfort and energy to the people around them." "I want to sincerely thank them for being the drama staff and production unit's strength while filming. It is a wonderful experience to be able to work together," he continues with a smile. Park Hae Soo Reveals His Honest Thoughts on His New Role in 'Chimera' The actor recently graced the small screen with his hit drama series "Squid Game" together with Lee Jung Jae, Wi Ha Joon, and Jung Ho Yeon. Now, he is set to show his amazing acting prowess once again with OCN's "Chimera". On October 25, ahead of the drama's big premiere, the actor revealed his honest thoughts on the drama as well as his new role. "Chimera" is a story which consists of characters who are filled with passion and purpose in life. It is an endless heart-shaking and tension-filled drama, and it would be good for the viewers who want to watch something new and exciting," he shared. In addition to that, he also described his character, Cha Jae Hwan, with fondness, "Jae Hwan is a hot-blooded detective with a surge of enthusiasm in his work. Although he is colder than anyone else when it comes to investigation and work, he is an attractive character." Finally, he encouraged the viewers to watch for the new Saturday and Sunday drama, "It is a work created with thorough attention to details by the actors and productionstaff, please look forward to it and give it a lot of support." On the other hand, OCN's newest action crime thriller drama "Chimera" is set to air for the first time on Saturday, October 30 at 10:30 p.m. KST on OCN. While you're here, watch the heart-stopping teaser of "Chimera" here: Follow KDramaStars for more KMovie, KDrama, and celebrity updates! KDramaStars owns this article. Written by Elijah Mully. Namgoong Min's blockbuster spy drama "The Veil" finally closed its curtains with a nationwide rating of 8.8% on October 23. The actor bids goodbye to the drama as he extends his utmost gratitude to his fellow stars and loyal viewers. Namgoong Bids Goodbye to 'The Veil', Extends Gratitude to Co-Stars and Viewers Namgoong Min led the blockbuster spy drama "The Veil" as Han Ji Hyeok, the top spy agent of the National Intelligence Service, and showed a great performance every episode until the end. On October 23, the spy drama finally closed its curtains with a relatively high viewership rating. Namgoong Min expressed his honest feelings on the drama, "I thought the drama would be a challenging work and I thought it'd be nice if I try to do it. It is a memorable work." The actor also said, "Working with Kim Ji Eun, Park Ha Sun and the rest of the production unit of "The Veil" was remarkable. The acting performances of my fellow stars were superb and I'm just so grateful to be able to work with great people with great work. I'd like to thank the director, writer and staff for showing their skills, as well as guiding us throughout the work." Namgoong Min Shares His Most Favorite Scene From the Drama Namgoong Min perfectly portrayed the revenge-seeking top agent Han Ji Hyeok in the drama, stealing the attention and hearts of many. The actor also revealed his most favorite and memorable scene from the recently concluded drama. The actor selected the penthouse action scene from the second episode as his favorite, saying, "The drama had a lot of action scenes but this scene was my most favorite. It was my first time doing one that was so long and intense. I really worked hard for it and I think it showed decent results." Namgoong Min vividly portrayed the various emotions that made Han Ji Hyeok. He, as well as the other actors, gave stellar performances, undeniable camaraderie and world class visuals and skills, proving the power of the drama. On the other hand, "The Veil" is set to air a two-episode spin-off titled "Mobius: The Veil," which is focused on the backstories of Seo Soo Yeon (Park Ha Sun), Jang Chun Woo (Jung Moon Sung) and Do Jin Sook (Jang Young Nam). "Mobius: The Veil" is scheduled to air on October 29 and 30 on MBC TV at 10:00 p.m. KST. Follow KDramaStars for more KMovie, KDrama, and celebrity updates! KDramaStars owns this article. Written by Elijah Mully. A year after JTBC's "18 Again" conlcluded, lead stars Lee Do Hyun, Hwang In Yeop, Wi Ha Joon, and more are now dominating the Korean drama industry. With this, know more about their upcoming projects this year and in 2022! Korean drama "18 Again" takes pride in its star-studded, versatile cast members, who were able to immerse themselves in their respective roles. Since its conclusion last November 10, 2020, the younger cast members - Lee Do Hyun, Hwang In Yeop, Wi Ha Joon - are now booked and busy, receiving various projects, and dominating the drama realm. Without further ado, here are their forthcoming dramas you should anticipate this year until 2022! Lee Do Hyun In "18 Again," Lee Do Hyun played the roles of Hong Dae Young and Ko Woo Sung. At 26, Lee Do Hyun already filled out his credentials, having starred not just in the slice of life Korean drama but also in Netflix thriller "Sweet Home," alongside Song Kang and Go Min Si. Lee Do Hyun also made a cameo in JTBC's and award-winning "Beyond Evil" that stars Shin Ha Kyung and Yeo Jin Goo. In May, he starred in the retro-melodrama "Youth of May," where Lee Do Hyun shared the frame again with Go Min Si. Then, the award-winning actor will now make his small screen return with "Melancholia," scheduled to premiere on November 3 on tvN. This time, he is expected to work with "Chicago Typewriter" actress Im Soo Jung. Wi Ha Joon Before he rose to stardom, thanks to "Squid Game," Wi Ha Joon was already in the acting industry for years. His appearance in "18 Again" made him noticed by many. Then, in 2021, Wi Ha Joon became booked as he took on various projects. In June, his movie "Midnight," along with Jin Ki Joo, met the viewers. In the same month, he starred in the film "Shark: The Beginning." Afterwards, Wi Ha Joon received his biggest breakthrough as an actor when he starred in "Squid Game." Since participating in this megahit series, he catapulted a massive following on Instagram and got more project offers. Wi Ha Joon will make his drama comeback with "Bad and Crazy," alongside Lee Dong Wook and Han Ji Eun. Wi Ha Joon is also in discussions to lead the forthcoming drama "Little Women." Hwang In Yeop Apart from acting, Hwang In Yeop also has a talent in singing. His participation in tvN's romantic-comedy series "True Beauty" became his turning point and received more support from the fans all over the world. Hwang In Yeop officially had his first-ever online fanmeeting. This 2021, the actor will star in Netflix's "The Sound of Magic," also known as "Annarasumanara," where he will work with Ji Chang Wook and Choi Sung Eun. In 2022, Hwang In Yeop is already booked for another drama, titled "Why Oh Soo Jae?" and is expected to share the screen with Seo Hyun Jin and Heo Jun Ho. Meanwhile, Roh Jeong Eui, who played the role of Hong Shi A in "18 Again," was supposed to make her small screen return with "Dear.M" last February. However, due to bullying accusations against her co-star Park Hye Soo, the drama was postponed. Fortunately, Roh Jeong Eui is booked to star in the SBS series "Us That Year," where she will star together with Choi Woo Shik and Kim Da Mi. The romantic drama is slated to premiere in the last quarter of 2021. Further, Golden Child's Bomin, who played the role of Seo Ji Ho, Hong Shi A's best friend, is set to take on a lead role in webtoon-based "Shadow Beauty." "18 Again" lead stars Kim Ha Neul and Yoo Sang Hyun have no upcoming drama projects yet. The JTBC series was their latest drama together. Who among the "18 Again" cast are you excited to see again? Let us know in the comments! For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news and updates, keep your tabs open here at Kdramastars. Kdramastars owns this article. Written by Shai Collins. ASHLAND, Ore. State Representative Pam Marsh will host a community forum Tuesday night via Zoom to address the growing issue of illicit marijuana grows across southern Oregon. The Jackson County Board of Commissioners declared a state of emergency earlier this month as a result of the influx of grows recently a phenomenon that has been building for years, though officials say that this year was particularly extreme. Southern Oregon was already a lodestone for cannabis and hemp grows operating within the state's legal framework, due in part to the area's conducive climate. For the same reason and because the presence of legal operations provides a certain level of reasonable doubt for illicit operations black market operations have flourished. The operators grow marijuana, process it, and ship it to states where cannabis remains illegal. Particularly in a severe drought years like 2021, one of the biggest issues is how these operations obtain large quantities of water. The other issue is one of labor, with law enforcement officials claiming that there are humanitarian issues with the way migrant laborers are exploited on black market grows. "The proliferation of illegal hemp and cannabis cultivation in Southern Oregon has generated enormous public concern," Marsh's office said in a statement. "This community forum will provide an opportunity to hear from individuals and agencies on the front lines regarding the issues that have emerged, including permitting, regulatory response, law enforcement, code compliance, worker conditions, water usage, and past and potential future legislation." RELATED: Jackson County asked for National Guard help with marijuana emergency, but it's unlikely to happen this year Tuesday's session will feature a few key presenters most familiar with the issue at both the state and local level Obie Strickler, chair of the Jackson County Marijuana Advisory Committee; multiple officials from the Oregon Department of Agriculture; Steve Marks, executive director of the OLCC; Jackson County Sheriff Nathan Sickler; Alicia Brown supervisor with Jackson County Code Enforcement; Jackson County Watermaster Shavon Haynes; and Kathy Keesee, execute director of Unete Center for Farmworker Advocacy. "Our goal is to provide listeners with the most current information possible, and to identify the right path forward," Marsh's office said. "To that end, we will ask each speaker to conclude with a couple of recommendations for policy or funding needed to get a handle on the illegal industry." The forum begins Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. until 8 p.m. Spanish and American Sign Language interpretation will be available. The link to attend via Zoom can accessed here directly, and will be posted on Marsh's page here. YREKA, Calif. A Siskiyou County mother says that her 5-year-old daughter was hospitalized last week after somehow coming into contact with the powerful synthetic opioid fentanyl while at school. Danyel Eldridge-Mott told NewsWatch 12 that her daughter, Addison, was attending an after-school program at Grenada Elementary on Thursday, October 21, when she suddenly became extremely ill and was taken to the hospital. It wasn't until about 24 hours later that Mott was told her daughter had tested positive for fentanyl while at a hospital in Davis, California. It's still not entirely clear how much fentanyl Addison came into contact with. It's also unknown where or how she was exposed to the opioid. The Siskiyou Opioid Safety Coalition reports that, although many rates are showing drastic declines, the overall death rate nationwide from opioid overdose continues to rise due to the increases in use of synthetic opioids such as fentanyl, which is 80-100 times stronger than morphine. In an October 24 letter to families obtained by NewsWatch 12, Grenada Elementary superintendent and principal GingerLee Charles said that the school would be closed until further notice "due to confidential and unforeseen circumstances," lasting at least through Wednesday. "This closure is due to an incident that involved one of our students being hospitalized after exhibiting symptoms at school," Charles wrote. "Thankfully, the student is recovering and our concerned thoughts and prayers are with the family." Charles indicated that school officials were working with Siskiyou County Public Health, county education administrators, and law enforcement in an ongoing investigation. "We understand this is an extremely serious and difficult situation and will share more information as we are able. Your patience is appreciated and updates will be provided daily," Charles concluded. In an interview with Newswatch 12, Mott said, "I have a firm feeling that this is something that came from a staff member, unfortunately, that is employed at the school. So, that brings me to my concern for our schools and our children." "Due to everything that's been going on, I haven't been able to look into drug screening policies for our schools, but it's something I'm really interested in." When Mott found her daughter in the unusual and scary state, she was at the after school program called SAFE, Siskiyou After School for Everyone, which she says is state funded. Mott said, "We need a program that is 100% transparent and that we can trust." Mott says her family developed the hashtag #addistrong on Facebook to spread awareness of Addison's story and to "make a change in our school systems so our children are protected and so this doesn't happen to anyone else child." Child Protective Services and Deputy Nowdesha with the Siskyou County Sheriff's Office are involved in the investigation. NewsWatch 12 has reached out to the principal/superintendent at Grenada Elementary, as well as the Siskiyou County Sheriff to get more details on the situation. Mott tells NewsWatch 12 she has not taken any steps toward legal action at this time as her family is still recovering from the horror of the situation. Federal Environment Minister Jonathan Wilkinson makes an announcement in Calgary, Alta., Tuesday, July 20, 2021.A decade-old goal to raise US$100 billion to help developing nations adapt to and mitigate against climate change is unlikely to be met for another two years.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh Alberta Premier Jason Kenney gives a COVID-19 update in Edmonton, Tuesday, Sept. 21, 2021. The first day of the Alberta legislature's fall sitting signalled the government's intention to focus on the economy and the Opposition determined to hold the United Conservatives to account for mismanaging COVID-19. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson 197 Shares Share Remember the dark days of the pandemic, when the true risk of caring for COVID patients started to become clear? Remember when you could be censured by a nursing supervisor or administrator for wearing a mask in public areas lest you frighten patients or visitors? Right around then, a third-year resident at UCLA decided to wear a mask wherever he went in the hospital, as testing wasnt readily available yet for patients, and visitors still had full access. Someone with a clipboard stopped him and said he couldnt wear a mask in the hallways. The resident politely responded that yes, he could. Why? Because his union representative said so. The discussion ended there. The resident enjoyed backup that his attendings lacked because all UCLA residents are members of the Committee on Interns and Residents/SEIU, a local of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU). This union represents more than 17,000 trainees in six states and the District of Columbia. As CMS threatens further pay cuts for anesthesiology services and other third-party payers are likely to follow suit, many attending anesthesiologists are asking: Why cant we form a union? Alternatively, why cant the ASA function like a union and negotiate on our behalf? Are you an employee? You may be eligible to unionize if you are an employee without the power to hire, fire, or make managerial decisions. According to one estimate, more anesthesiologists are employed (55 percent) today than ever before, and this trend is accelerating as private practices are absorbed by large health care systems in mergers and acquisitions. Hospitalists in Oregon elected in 2015 to form a union affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers. Primary care physicians employed by clinics in Washington State voted to be represented by the United Salaried Physicians and Dentists Union. Their vote to unionize was challenged by their employer on the grounds that some of their work was supervisory, but the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) upheld the physicians argument that their clinical supervision duties did not constitute managerial decisions. The important distinction here is that within the ASA, some members would meet the NLRBs definition of employees even if they direct the clinical work of anesthesiologist assistants or nurse anesthetists because they are directly employed by hospitals, health centers, or foundations. They could vote to unionize. Other ASA members, whether they work within a group partnership or on a 1099 basis, would be classified as self-employed or as independent contractors, depending on exactly how their contracts are written. A third group those in leadership and managerial roles, such as department chairs would be considered supervisors or managers. All these are excluded from collective bargaining as a central provision of the National Labor Relations Act. The ASA can advocate for fair physician payment, but an ASA attempt to negotiate payment rates on behalf of all its members would constitute a horizontal agreement among competitors to fix payment and would violate antitrust law. Could we strike without a union? Anesthesiologists and other physicians can act collectively without any union affiliation, and they have done so before. If no union is involved, it doesnt matter whether or not they are employees. In California during the 1960s and 70s, jury awards for pain and suffering in medical malpractice cases rose exponentially, and malpractice insurance premiums rose too. By 1975, insurance companies either withdrew from the California market or raised anesthesia malpractice premiums by as much as 350 percent. (These events have been described in detail in an excellent column by Drs. Jane Moon and Mark Singleton, published on the website of the California Society of Anesthesiologists on May 13.) Some anesthesiologists left the state or retired, and others decided to practice without coverage. In desperation, California anesthesiology leaders headed for Sacramento to demand legislative change. Anesthesiologists and surgeons in northern California began a dramatic protest by refusing for weeks to perform elective surgeries. Finally, on September 23, 1975, Gov. Jerry Brown signed the landmark Medical Injury Compensation Reform Act (MICRA), which capped pain and suffering awards at $250,000. Despite repeated challenges, MICRA still stands. At first, MICRA was vilified as unconstitutional until the California Supreme Court ruled to uphold it. While the court deliberated, anesthesiologists and surgeons in Los Angeles began their own month-long work slowdown in January 1976, again refusing to perform elective operations. This strike was studied extensively to determine if patients were harmed as a consequence. Though an estimated 25 percent to 50 percent of physicians participated, patient mortality decreased overall, and surveys by UCLA and the LA Times showed no significant negative effect on access to care. Yes, but is it ethical? Physicians today in many specialties are deeply unhappy about working conditions, production pressure, and how powerless they feel. The electronic health record is associated with burnout and disconnection from direct patient care. Could unionization be the best way forward, now that more and more physicians are employees of large health care systems? According to Dr. Eric Topol, cardiologist and author, the answer to that question is yes. He believes its high time for a new organization of doctors that has nothing to do with the business of medicine and everything to do with promoting the health of patients. In his article titled Why Doctors Should Organize, published in the New Yorker last year, Dr. Topol asked, Who will be in charge of our health as we move forward doctors or their managers? The trouble with the word union is that it evokes the image of strikers picketing for better pay. The public will never sympathize with physicians if payment is our only cause. But patients and physicians might get behind industrial action in support of more time spent with patients, more and better PPE, fewer hours wasted with poorly designed electronic records as long as patients are guaranteed that emergency coverage is always available. Maybe its time to try a different approach. The right to organize and strike is supported by the United Nations and international law. Physician work stoppages or slowdowns can be conducted ethically, without patient harm. Heres one appealing idea for collective action. Take full care of the patients but document only the clinical care. Dont waste your time ticking all the irrelevant boxes in the electronic record, which is a tool for billing and compliance-checking, not for patient care. This kind of collective action could get some real attention from health systems and large employers because it would affect their billing and revenue. They are the ones with the size and clout to negotiate better contracts with third-party payers, to demand better electronic health records, and to push back against regulation creep. We love to blame insurers, but employers share responsibility for physician exploitation and demoralization. As the AMA Journal of Ethics has stated, It is morally acceptable for physicians to unionize and employ collective action, including striking, as long as patients best interests are their reason for doing so. Where do I sign? Karen S. Sibert is an anesthesiologist who blogs at A Penned Point. This article originally appeared in ASA Monitor. Image credit: Shutterstock.com About 4 months after emergency medicine physician Jessica (a pseudonym used out of fear of retaliation from her employer) joined a Michigan hospital in 2014, the departments staffing group was bought out by TeamHealth, a staffing firm backed by the private-equity behemoth Blackstone. Ever since Emergency Medicine Specialists (EMS) which touts itself as one of the oldest emergency physician groups in Michigan was acquired by TeamHealth, its been pretty much a disaster, Jessica told MedPage Today. Over the past 10 years, private equity firms like Blackstone and KKR which acquired physician staffing group Envision Healthcare in 2018 have racked up billions in revenue by investing in staffing companies like TeamHealth. Envision and TeamHealth alone account for 30 percent of the national outsourcing market of emergency specialists. Emergency medicine isnt the only target. There have been similar trends among other commonly outsourced specialties like radiology and anesthesiology. While the last decade has seen growing interest from private equity in hospital consolidation, nursing homes, and home health care services, there have also been buyouts of smaller, private practices in specialties like dermatology, ophthalmology, urology, and orthopedics. As of 2019, for instance, nearly 200 dermatology practices were acquired by private equity-backed management groups, according to a study in JAMA Dermatology. Procedure-heavy practices that require expensive technology, like dermatology, are ripe for private equity buyouts. Overall, current research shows that the estimated annual deal values for private equity-backed health care acquisitions jumped from about $42 billion in 2010 to almost $120 billion in 2019 and it predicts that this rate will only accelerate in the years to come. In addition to KKR and Blackstone, other private equity firms that have made moves into health care include Apollo Global Management and The Carlyle Group. Whether the private equity model is good for health care systems and practices, however, is hotly debated. Defenders of the strategy argue that private equity investment can fortify smaller practices and revive struggling health care businesses. Opponents argue that the models reliance on risk, debt, and its prioritization of short-term profits doesnt fit into the health care landscape. Instead, it erodes the relationships between doctors and their patients, and, more importantly, leads to higher costs and a lower standard of care for patients. Impact on emergency medicine For Jessica, the acquisition of EMS by TeamHealth (which was ultimately bought by Blackstone in 2016) has brought steady declines in the number of physicians on staff in the emergency department (ED), coupled with significant cuts to doctors compensation and resources. Jessica and a group of her colleagues started to have secret meetings at off-site locations to discuss these issues, eventually bringing them to the attention of the hospital administration and TeamHealths leadership. However, they felt their concerns were never adequately addressed. Mitchell Li, MD, an emergency physician in Chicago, completed his residency during the TeamHealth takeover (residents are employed by the hospital, not by TeamHealth). Li, an emergency medicine physician and founder of TakeEMBack an organization working to push back against the private equity model in emergency care felt that his residency program was affected by TeamHealths involvement. Having enough physicians to oversee residents was always a problem in a certain area of the ED, Li said. However, he holds that the lack of meaningful supervision only worsened in the later years of his residency, with TeamHealths presence. We were largely making medical decisions and doing procedures on our own, and thats probably not ideal from a medical supervision and training perspective, Li told MedPage Today. Now, it certainly does kick your butt and gets you ready for doing things on your own. You know, trial by fire. After the 2014 transition, Li said the hospital and TeamHealth, increasingly driven by metrics, became primarily concerned with patient satisfaction scores and the EDs left without being seen (LWBS) numbers. In order to bypass reporting high numbers of people who left the ED without being seen, resources and priorities shifted, Li said. Physician assistants (PAs) were told to conduct medical screening exams for patients waiting to see a doctor, and, although many patients may still have had to wait hours after this initial exam to be seen by a doctor, records will show that the patient was seen immediately. Its another rubber stamp, Li said. They saw them really quick to triage and sometimes just to decompress the department. This can be helpful, he admitted, when a patient comes to the ER for something like a sinus infection. Jessica and Rafael, another emergency medicine doctor in the same ED who agreed to speak to MedPage Today under the promise of anonymity, attested to the long hours that many patients in their ED have to wait to be seen by a physician due to staffing issues. The practices that Li saw during his residency have continued, they said. When asked about these physicians concerns, a TeamHealth spokesperson told MedPage Today in an email that the company regularly adjusts staffing levels to reflect patient needs in the facilities we serve, maintaining the levels above anticipated patient numbers. Our clinicians do heroic work for their patients, and we are committed to supporting them with the resources they need to provide high-quality care every day. A generational divide When it comes to private equity investment in health care and consolidation, there seems to be a difference of opinion that falls somewhat along generational lines. Whether its staffing firms or small specialty practices, there is a trend toward later-career doctors who may be hoping to retire in the next couple of years selling or partnering with a management firm. Tarang Patel, DO, a Phoenix-based radiologist, told MedPage Today that younger physicians have become increasingly leery of jobs at private equity-owned practices. The bottom line is theres going to be higher turnover on the retirement side and not enough new blood coming in, he said. A study from March 2020 showed that of 602 early-career radiologists who were surveyed, 86 percent believed that corporate entities harm radiology as a specialty, and 83 percent preferred to join independent private practices. An overwhelming majority also reported being generally concerned that their practices or future practices will be bought by a firm. Many dermatologists have expressed an outright refusal to work for private equity-backed dermatology groups, Sailesh Konda, MD, a Florida-based dermatologist, told MedPage Today. Physician recruiters and independent practices now advertise job openings as not private equity-backed as a recruitment tool. This distrust may be partly due to the number of reports that have emerged in the last several years, exposing the frequency of unnecessary-but-profitable procedures in fields like dermatology. Still, groups managed by private equity firms draw early-career physicians in with large base-salary offers and sign-on bonuses. To doctors coming out of years of training, who are potentially sitting on hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt, these contracts are enticing. Theyre very attractive deals, but Ive spoken to physicians who think that, if you scratch a little bit below the surface, its not that attractive, said Atul Gupta, PhD, an assistant professor of health care economics at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. While some initial offers may seem irresistible, Konda told MedPage Today, a closer look reveals subpar bonus structures, administrative pressure to supervise physician extenders with minimal financial gain and increased risk for the employed physician, and aggressive non-compete clauses. Konda added that during the COVID-19 pandemic, a number of private equity-run dermatology groups didnt honor their contracts at all. Some asked their employed physicians to sign contract addendums which lowered their salaries for a period of time. Voicing concerns as private equity investment grows Doctors working for private equity-funded groups who speak out against the practices of their employers put themselves at risk of being terminated without a thorough investigation, sources said. In March 2020, Ming Lin, MD, an emergency physician employed by TeamHealth, was immediately fired for using social media to air his grievances with COVID protocols at the hospital where he worked. Robert McNamara, MD, chair of emergency medicine at Temple University, said during a press briefing featuring Lin last month that private equity-backed employers arent shy about terminating physicians. Emergency physicians can be fired on short notice without a chance to contest the claims, because staffing firms risk losing their contracts if they upset the hospitals administration, he said. Organizing a physician group, Jessica said, is key in taking any action against a giant like TeamHealth. But convincing doctors to join her coalition presented its own challenges, she said. Doctors are pretty risk-averse people, she said. To actually get everybody into an organization and speaking as one voice it took us over a year to do that. Now, however, there are nearly 50 doctors from Jessicas hospital system working to stand up against TeamHealth. We actually said no, this is all of us,' she said. Were representing an entire group. Yet it remains to be seen whether those voices will be heard as private equity firms continue to set their sights on health care assets. Kara Grant is an investigative reporter, MedPage Today. Image credit: Shutterstock.com By the end of December last year, there wasn't a good faith basis to demand the 2020 election be overturned. Then-President Donald Trump's lawsuits challenging the results had failed, recounts in various states had confirmed Joe Biden's win and the Electoral College had voted to affirm Biden as the President-elect. But, as The Washington Post reported on Saturday, none of that stopped Trump allies from running a "command center" in Washington, DC's Willard Hotel with a singular goal: "overturning the results of the 2020 election." The Post provided us with jaw-dropping details about the "command center," which was at first set up at the Mandarin Oriental hotel by Trump's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani and former New York police commissioner Bernard Kerik. (Kerik, you might recall, pled guilty in 2010 to eight felonies, including tax fraud and lying to government officials, before he was pardoned by Trump in February 2020.) This "war room" was later moved to the Willard to be closer to the White House. And at the outset, it appears the purported goal was to review the 2020 election results and advise Trump on options to challenge undesirable outcomes. But the details of this report show that this election "command center" operated less like an above-board strategy team and more like a group of people pushing for an attempted coup -- and the burning question is what will be done about it to prevent future presidents from trying to do the same. Along with Giuliani and Kerik, one of the other reported players in the "command center" was Steve Bannon, who was at the time out on $5 million bail after being charged in August 2020 with defrauding donors of hundreds of thousands of dollars in contributions to his own "Build the Wall" campaign. Bannon -- who was pardoned by Trump in his final hours in office -- recently refused to comply with a subpoena issued by the congressional committee investigating the January 6 attack on the Capitol, which resulted in the House last week voting to hold him in criminal contempt. The House action means Attorney General Merrick Garland will decide whether to prosecute Bannon. You get the sense it's not just Trump but the people around him who also think they are above the law. To be clear, there's nothing illegal about having lawyers and others review election results to determine if there was fraud or other suspicious activity, and then to file lawsuits to challenge results. Indeed, Trump's lawyers and allies robustly litigated the 2020 election, filing over 60 lawsuits and losing all but one minor one in Pennsylvania that that dealt with curing absentee ballots. Overall, the pro-Trump lawyers had their day in court claiming a range of alleged election misconduct -- including fraud -- and they lost. Even Trump's own Attorney General William Barr declared on December 1 that "we have not seen fraud on a scale that could have effected a different outcome in the election." But by the end of December, the Post reports, Trump's team was still working tirelessly from the Willard to achieve that "different outcome." This cabal strategized to pressure Vice President Mike Pence to baselessly stop the congressional certification of Biden's win on January 6 and send the results back to the states for further investigation. It's not clear what that investigation would've been about, given that there was no credible evidence of election fraud -- other than a delay tactic to somehow allow the House of Representative to choose Trump as president, as Bannon and others had been urging. (If no presidential candidate reached 270 Electoral votes, the House then selects the president with each state delegation receiving one vote. Since the GOP controlled 26 delegations, they theoretically could elect Trump despite his losing the 2020 election.) Boris Epshteyn, a former Trump White House special assistant, told the Post that he believed that Pence had "the constitutional power to send the issue back to the states for 10 days to investigate the widespread fraud and report back well in advance of Inauguration Day, January 20th ... our efforts were focused on conveying that message." When violence broke out at the Capitol, Epshteyn said, "In line with President Trump's position and message, the Trump legal team immediately made it clear that any and all violence is not acceptable." Even more alarming was The Post's reporting that on January 2, Trump -- along with Giuliani and another conservative lawyer -- spoke via conference call to some 300 GOP state legislators urging them to "decertify" the election results based on alleged fraud. Trump reportedly told them, "You are the real power." To Trump, GOP state officials were the "power" behind our democracy, not the voters of America. One of the GOP state legislators on that call, Michigan Sen. Ed McBroom, told the Post that he listened in to see if Trump would provide evidence of voter fraud that could change the results in his state. McBroom explained that he wasn't presented with any such evidence; thus, he refused to call for the Michigan results to be decertified. That lack of evidence didn't stop dozens of other GOP state legislators who were on that call from writing to Pence and urging him to delay certification of Biden's victory for 10 days to allow "our respective bodies to meet, investigate, and as a body vote on certification or decertification of the election." They were doing what Trump demanded so that he could remain in power, even though our courts -- including judges Trump appointed -- all ruled against his demands to overturn the election. But Trump didn't care about our laws nor what the courts decided; he was laser-focused on remaining in power at any cost. This is what an attempted coup looks like. Coups are not just tanks rolling in the streets. It's an illegal attempt to overturn the will of the people to retain political power. And if the organizers of the failed coup are not punished, what's to stop them from attempting another in the future? Consequently, the question that must be addressed by the Department of Justice is this: Do the Trump team's actions rise to the level of a federal crime, such as a conspiracy to interfere in a federal election? At least one law professor believes so. But no one who supports our democratic Republic can read about these actions behind the scenes to overturn the 2020 election and not believe it was dangerous and wrong. And if this somehow does not violate our current laws, Congress needs to act swiftly to enact laws to criminalize such conduct. If not, the next attempt to overturn valid election results may succeed. The-CNN-Wire & 2021 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved. Over 20,000 people are currently awaiting a decision on their Irish citizenship application. That's according to Minister of State at the Department of Justice, Deputy James Browne, who confirmed 22,200 applications are "on hand", including 14,800 applicants who have been in the system for over 12 months. However, he said, "These applications are at various stages of processing, ranging from those that have just been received to those on which a decision has been made and that are ceremony-ready." He made the comments in the Dail yesterday October 21st following a query on the matter from Deputy Peter Fitzpatrick. Deputy Browne stated the increased processing time is a result of "necessary health restrictions arising from the pandemic", as well as the impact of a High Court judgement in the Jones case, which found that an applicant for naturalisation must not have left the country for even one day in the year prior to their application. Deputy Fitzpatrick said," The problem at the moment is that there seems to be a communication breakdown. When my staff contact the Department for an update on the situation, it is nearly impossible to get one. In fairness, it is the same people coming in every time. All they need is an update." Deputy Browne admitted slipping "substantially behind" and said, "I understand people's frustration; I have seen it in my own constituency office. We are putting measures in place to try to reform the entire system. That is going to take time." However, the deputy confirmed the Department intends to host an in-person citizenship ceremony in December, subject to public health guidelines. This will be the first such ceremony since the pandemic began. Nobelium, the Russian hacking group responsible for breaching SolarWinds, is still at it. The Russian hackers behind that successful 2020 breach of US federal agencies compromised as many as 14 technology firms since May as part of another apparent espionage campaign, Microsoft said Monday. The hackers have been hitting a different part of the supply chain than in the 2020 breach: companies that buy and distribute software and manage cloud computing services. Microsoft did not name the victim companies or identify the ultimate targets of the alleged Russian spies. The Microsoft statement follows CNN's reporting earlier this month that the Russian hacking group had been leveraging compromised technology vendors to try to infiltrate US and European government networks in previously unreported activity. "This recent activity is another indicator that Russia is trying to gain long-term, systematic access to a variety of points in the technology supply chain and establish a mechanism for surveilling -- now or in the future -- targets of interest to the Russian government," said Tom Burt, Microsoft's corporate vice president, customer security and trust. The hackers have tried to break into more than 140 software resellers and other tech firms through common techniques such as phishing, according to Microsoft. The ultimate goal is to "impersonate an organization's trusted technology partner to gain access to their downstream customers," Burt said. It's the latest insight on a Russian group that has in the last two years confounded US government and corporate defenses. The hackers are best known for using tampered software made by federal contractor SolarWinds to breach at least nine US agencies in activity that came to light in December 2020. The attackers were undetected for months in the unclassified email networks of the departments of Justice, Homeland Security and others. The Biden administration in April attributed the spying campaign to Russia's foreign intelligence service, the SVR, and criticized Moscow for exposing thousands of SolarWinds customers to malicious code. Moscow has denied involvement. The suspected Russian operatives often cast a wide net of potential victims before sifting through them for valuable targets. That's what happened in May when the hackers impersonated a US government agency and sent malicious emails to 150 organizations in 24 countries, according to Microsoft. Among the apparent targets of that spying campaign were an ex-US ambassador to Russia and anti-corruption activists in Ukraine. Microsoft said that Nobelium targeted 3,000 email accounts at various organizations most of which were in the United States. Rob Joyce, head of the National Security Agency's Cybersecurity Directorate, on Monday morning shared the Microsoft announcement on Twitter and urged organizations to follow Microsoft's security recommendations. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has previously told CNN the US has "offensive options" to respond to cyberattacks but didn't specify. Cybersecurity has been a major focus for the US government following the revelations that hackers had put malicious code into a tool published by SolarWinds. A ransomware attack in May that led to the shutdown of one of America's most important pieces of energy infrastructure the Colonial Pipeline only underscored the importance of the issue. -- CNN Business' Jordan Valinsky contributed to this report The-CNN-Wire & 2021 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved. Amid fallout from the Facebook Papers documents supporting claims that the social network has valued financial success over user safety, Facebook on Monday reported higher profit for the latest quarter. The company's latest show of financial strength followed an avalanche of reports on the Facebook Papers a vast trove of redacted internal documents obtained by a consortium of news organizations, including The Associated Press as well as Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugens Monday testimony to British lawmakers. Facebook said its net income grew 17% in the July-September period to $9.19 billion, buoyed by strong advertising revenue. Thats up from $7.85 billion a year earlier. Revenue grew 35% to $29.01 billion. The results exceeded analyst expectations for Facebook's results. The company's shares rose 2.5% in after-hours trading after closing up 1% for the day. For now, the revenue picture for Facebook looks as good as can be expected, said eMarketer analyst Debra Aho Williamson. But she predicted more revelations and described the findings so far as unsettling and stomach-churning. CEO Mark Zuckerberg made only a brief mention of what he called the recent debate around our company." Largely repeating statements he made after Haugen's Oct. 5 testimony before a U.S. Senate subcommittee, he insisted that he welcomes good faith criticism but considers the current storm a coordinated effort to paint a false picture" of the company based on leaked documents. It makes a good soundbite to say that we dont solve these impossible tradeoffs because were just focused on making money, but the reality is these questions are not primarily about our business, but about balancing difficult social values," Zuckerberg said. Haugen, meanwhile, told a British parliamentary committee Monday that the social media giant stokes online hate and extremism, fails to protect children from harmful content and lacks any incentive to fix the problems, providing momentum for efforts by European governments working on stricter regulation of tech companies. While her testimony echoed much of what she told the U.S. Senate this month, her in-person appearance drew intense interest from a British parliamentary committee that is much further along in drawing up legislation to rein in the power of social media companies. Haugen told the committee of United Kingdom lawmakers that Facebook Groups amplifies online hate, saying algorithms that prioritize engagement take people with mainstream interests and push them to the extremes. The former Facebook data scientist said the company could add moderators to prevent groups over a certain size from being used to spread extremist views. Unquestionably, its making hate worse, she said. Haugen said she was shocked" to hear that Facebook wants to double down on what Zuckerberg calls the metaverse, the companys plan for an immersive online world it believes will be the next big internet trend. "Theyre gonna hire 10,000 engineers in Europe to work on the metaverse, Haugen said. I was like, Wow, do you know what we could have done with safety if we had 10,000 more engineers? she said. Facebook says it wants regulation for tech companies and was glad the U.K. was leading the way. While we have rules against harmful content and publish regular transparency reports, we agree we need regulation for the whole industry so that businesses like ours arent making these decisions on our own," Facebook said Monday. It pointed to investing $13 billion (9.4 billion pounds) on safety and security since 2016 and asserted that its almost halved the amount of hate speech over the last three quarters. Haugen accused Facebook-owned Instagram of failing to keep children under 13 the minimum user age from opening accounts, saying it wasnt doing enough to protect kids from content that, for example, makes them feel bad about their bodies. Facebooks own research describes it as an addicts narrative. Kids say, This makes me unhappy, I feel like I dont have the ability to control my usage of it, and I feel like if I left, Id be ostracized, she said. The company last month delayed plans for a kids version of Instagram, geared toward those under 13, in order to address concerns about the vulnerability of younger users. Pressed on whether she believes Facebook is fundamentally evil, Haugen demurred and said, I cant see into the hearts of men. Facebook is not evil, but negligent, she suggested. It was Haugen's second appearance before lawmakers after she testified in the U.S. about the danger she says the company poses, from harming children to inciting political violence and fueling misinformation. Haugen cited internal research documents she secretly copied before leaving her job in Facebooks civic integrity unit. The documents, which Haugen provided to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, allege Facebook prioritized profits over safety and hid its own research from investors and the public. Some stories based on the files have already been published, exposing internal turmoil after Facebook was blindsided by the Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol riot and how it dithered over curbing divisive content in India. More is to come. Representatives from Facebook and other social media companies plan to speak to the British committee Thursday. Haugen is scheduled to meet next month with European Union officials in Brussels, where the bloc's executive commission is updating its digital rulebook to better protect internet users by holding online companies more responsible for illegal or dangerous content. Under the U.K. rules, expected to take effect next year, Silicon Valley giants face an ultimate penalty of up to 10% of their global revenue for any violations. The EU is proposing a similar penalty. AMES, Iowa (AP) An Ankeny resident and Iowa State University student has become the first woman enlisted infantry soldier in the Iowa National Guard. The Guard says Pfc. Taylor Patterson returned from basic training at Fort Benning in Georgia last month and is with Company C, 168th Infantry. It's been five years since the U.S. Army opened combat arms positions to women. An infantry soldier must complete a 22-week training stint, where they learn skills ranging from squad tactics to close-quarter combat training. Patterson says she succeeded in the training with the help of her drill sergeants and to prove that she could do it. NORTHWOOD, Iowa One-half of a couple arrested after a toddler ingested methamphetamine pleads guilty while charges are dropped against the other. Cody Henderson, 31 of Manly, and Taylor Henderson, 29 of Manly, were charged with child endangerment. Law enforcement says a 1-year-old female under the care of the Hendersons was taken to MercyOne North Iowa Medical Center on July 25, 2020. According to investigators, the child tested positive for meth and ingested the drug at the Hendersons home in Manly. Taylor Henderson has pleaded guilty to an aggravated misdemeanor count of child endangerment. Shes been sentenced to one year of supervised probation and received a deferred judgment, meaning this conviction will be removed from her record if she successfully completes her probation. The charge against Cody Henderson has been dropped after the Worth County Attorneys Office said there was insufficient evidence to convict him of the same crime. ROCHESTER, Minn. A second person arrested after a gunshot in Rochester in the summer of 2020 has now been sentenced. Jesse Lee Tuttle, 33 of Rochester, has been given five years of probation to the court and ordered to pay a $500 fine or do 50 hours of community work service. Tuttle and Seth Grant Huntington, 35 or Rochester, were arrested on June 23, 2020. Rochester police say Tuttle went to confront Huntington at an apartment in the 1500 block of 4th Avenue SE and began to break his window. Witnesses say Huntington came out with a gun, tripped, and accidentally fired. Investigators say Tuttle then departed in a stolen vehicle. Authorities then arrested Huntington two days later after he was seen driving a stolen vehicle, searched his apartment, and found a 9-millimeter semiautomatic pistol. Tuttle pleaded guilty to a fifth-degree controlled substance crime. Huntington was charged with possession of a firearm after being convicted of a crime of violence and a fifth-degree controlled substance crime. Huntingtons state prosecution was put on hold after he was indicted in federal court for felon in possession of a firearm-armed career criminal. The U.S. Attorneys Office for the State of Minnesota says Huntington has past convictions for: - Third-degree assault in Waseca County in 2006 - First-degree burglary in Steele County in 2008 - Fifth-degree drug possession in Faribault County in 2011 - Possession of precursors with intent to manufacture methamphetamine in Waseca County in 2015 - Third-degree drug possession in Waseca County in 2015 - Third-degree assault in Mille Lacs County in 2018 Huntington pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison. ROCHESTER, Minn.- Cooler temps didn't turn participants away on Sunday from showing their support towards ovarian cancer. Several hundred people came out to Mayo High School to participate in Unleash The SHE. The annual 5K and 10K raises awareness of ovarian cancer. This was the first race/walk for Unleash The SHE in-person in over a year. Due to COVID-19, the event was virtual last year. Proceeds from the race/walk go towards Minnesota Ovarian Cancer Alliance(MOCA). "We want everyone to know that MOCA is here for them. We're a statewide organization. We also serve women and families from western Wisconsin, northern Iowa, and the Dakotas," says MOCA Executive Director Kathleen Gavin. The non-profit has provided close to $9.6 million in cancer research. It's a statewide organization that educates healthcare providers about the disease. Many people participating in the race and walk were ovarian cancer survivors including Kristine Greer who works for MOCA. "I am a 20-year survivor of ovarian cancer and I love Unleash The SHE. It just feels so good to be surrounded by all this support and to support the women." According to MOCA, more than 21,000 women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer each year in the United States. Anyone interested in learning more about Minnesota Ovarian Cancer Alliance can click here. Shenandoah, IA (51601) Today Partly cloudy skies in the morning will give way to cloudy skies during the afternoon. High near 55F. Winds light and variable.. Tonight Cloudy early with partial clearing expected late. Low 32F. Winds light and variable. With Brian Laundrie dead, here's where else authorities could look for answers on what happened to Gabby Petito Gettyimagesbank Experts mixed on partial lifting of economic penalties By Kang Seung-woo As ever-tightening U.S. sanctions have yet to achieve its policy goals, a discrepancy between South Korea and the United States in their respective views on whether to continue full implementation of economic punishment against North Korea is coming to the fore. Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong said earlier this month that the time was ripe for the consideration of sanctions relief, the latest move by the Moon Jae-in administration to engage the North on denuclearization. However, the U.S. State Department stressed the need to fully implement United Nations (U.N.) Security Council sanctions on the "rogue" state a few days later, a sign that the Joe Biden administration will not partially lift sanctions anytime soon in order to restart denuclearization talks that have been deadlocked since the collapse of a Hanoi summit between the U.S. and North Korea in February 2019. "There has been a rift between Washington and Seoul over sanctions on North Korea for quite some time. But more broadly, the two countries seem to be at odds over policy on North Korea writ large. The South Korean government has been more vocal about the need to relax sanctions on North Korea in recent weeks," said Soo Kim, a former CIA analyst now with the Rand Corp. U.S. Naval War College Professor Terence Roehrig also said, "There is definitely disagreement in Seoul and Washington over sanctions relief, and I doubt the Biden administration is going to change that position anytime soon." He added: "The administration's agenda is occupied by many other issues and there is little political incentive to offer a conciliatory proposal to North Korea." Foreign Minister Chung Eui-yong speaks during a National Assembly audit session, Oct. 1. Yonhap However, even diplomatic observers are mixed on the efficacy of the U.S. sanction-driven policy toward Pyongyang. "An end-of-war declaration should be the first confidence building initiative with North Korea. Assuming Pyongyang is amenable, which I think they will be, then the U.S. and the ROK, with the DPRK can come together possibly also including China to announce this decision on, after 68 years, finally declaring an end to the Korean War," said Joseph DeTrani, a former U.S. special envoy to the six-party talks. President Moon Jae-in proposed declaring a formal end to the 1950-53 Korean War in a speech at the U.N. last month and Kim Yo-jong, the influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, responded positively. "After that, assuming Pyongyang would agree to resume denuclearization talks with the U.S., the subject of lifting sanctions can be broached, in the context of a willingness to discuss the lifting of post-2016 sanctions in return for a moratorium on missile launches and a halt to the production of fissile material," he noted, adding that once that's established, denuclearization negotiations could be pursued on an action-for-action basis. Roehrig expressed a similar view, advising that policymakers in both countries must shift their planning to what might actually be achievable goals. "Despite the recent attention given to a proposal for a peace declaration, I doubt this possibility is as important to North Korea as some measure of sanctions relief," Roehrig said. "For any type of dialogue to resume, some concessions on sanctions will need to be offered by South Korea and the United States. But this need not be a giveaway and can be part of a careful negotiation strategy that seeks a calibrated, diplomatic approach in a step-by-step manner for policy goals that can actually be achieved." On the other hand, some analysts believe it is premature to consider sanctions relief amid North Korea's serial hostile behavior. "All sanctions are not alike. U.N. resolution sanctions are mostly responses to North Korea nuclear and missile violations of U.N. resolutions and can be altered by a vote of the U.N. Security Council. U.S. sanctions cover a wider range of misbehavior, including criminal activity and human rights violations. U.S. sanctions would not be applied if North Korean ended its abhorrent actions," said Bruce Klingner, a former CIA analyst and senior researcher at the Heritage Foundation. "North Korea has not ceased its violations of U.N. resolutions nor of U.S. laws. Therefore, sanctions relief should only be implemented when Pyongyang has improved its behavior or as part of a negotiated settlement, not as an inducement to merely return to dialogue." A new type of anti-aircraft missile, developed by North Korea's Academy of Defence Science, is seen in this photo released by the Korean Central News Agency, Oct. 1. The North test-fired it the previous day, according to the agency. Korea Times file Guests take part in a "Thanks to You" performance during the opening ceremony of the first U.N. Culture Week at the War Memorial of Korea in central Seoul, Oct. 19. Yonhap By Kwon Mee-yoo Ambassadors to Korea from Poland, Colombia and Mexico have shared their respective countries' stories related to the 1950-53 Korean War as part of the first U.N. Culture Week at the War Memorial of Korea. The War Memorial hosted an event for U.N. Day, which fell on Oct. 24, at the culmination of U.N. Culture Week that ran from Oct. 19 to 23, commemorating the 71st anniversary of the start of the war and the 30th anniversary of Korea's U.N. membership. "The U.N. supported the establishment of the government of the Republic of Korea, and the United Nations Command's dispatch to the Korean War signifies the world's first and only case of collective security under the U.N. system," War Memorial of Korea Director Lee Sang-chul said during an opening ceremony for the event, Oct. 19. "We hope to express gratitude and create peace beyond the memories of war through the U.N. Culture Week." On Wednesday, Polish Ambassador to Korea Piotr Ostaszewski shared the story of his country's participation during the Korean War and afterward as one of the countries forming the Neutral Nations Supervisory Commission (NNSC), which supervised the implementation of the Korean Armistice Agreement. Ambassador Ostaszewski gave a glimpse of what Polish people think about the Korean War through the documentary "Kim Ki Dok," which features North Korean orphans taken care of by Polish people after the war. Colombian Ambassador to Korea Juan Carlos Caiza traced how the bilateral relationship evolved from the Colombian veterans who fought in the Korean War 70 years ago to the Korea-Colombia FTA, which came into effect five years ago. Currently, the War Memorial of Korea presents "Gracias Colombia 2021" in collaboration with the Embassy of Colombia to commemorate the participation of the South American country that dispatched ground and naval forces. Mexican Ambassador to Korea Bruno Figueroa, center, speaks during the Ambassador Talk session as part of U.N. Culture Week events at the War Memorial of Korea in central Seoul, Oct. 22. Courtesy of War Memorial of Korea Samsung Heavy Industries' LNG carrier / Courtesy of Samsung Heavy Industries Demand for liquefied natural gas (LNG) is expected to rise by 25 percent to 50 percent by 2030, making it the fastest growing hydrocarbon over the next decade, analysts from Morgan Stanley Research said in a note on Monday. Morgan Stanley has raised its long-term LNG price outlook to $10 per million British thermal units (mmBtu), expecting spot prices of the super-chilled fuel to average 40 percent higher over the next decade, versus the past five years. Asian spot LNG prices hit a record above $56 mmBtu earlier this month as surging demand ahead of the northern hemisphere winter spurred by an economic rebound from the pandemic outstripped supply. Morgan Stanley said at least 73 million tons per annum (mtpa) of new projects are needed to meet LNG demand by 2030. This will require an additional $65 billion of new projects, on top of the $200 billion of projects already under construction which were sanctioned since 2019. "Contrary to investor expectations, the world is going to need more LNG in the initial phase of the energy transition," the analysts said. "Competing technologies for natural gas are not being developed fast enough, and there are significant benefits in reducing coal consumption while greener fuels are commercialized." Projects with lower emission intensity will be more sought after and are more likely to progress, they said. While higher gas prices are likely to underpin further investment in LNG, supply will be slower to respond than in previous cycles, the analysts said. "This will be driven by uncertainty over medium-term demand along with more capital discipline from the industry, including diversification into greener energies," they said. "We think investor sentiment towards LNG-focused companies is likely to increase given better prices and returns expectations." LNG demand will outpace growth in other hydrocarbons over the next 10 to 15 years, they said, adding that oil demand is expected to grow in line with recent averages while coal demand is expected to be flat. Asia, where coal makes up a high proportion of the energy mix, will be the key driver for LNG demand growth led by China and India as well as Taiwan, Thailand, Bangladesh, Indonesia and Malaysia, they added. (Reuters) By John J. Metzler The United States has been elected to the United Nations' Human Rights Council, the controversial human rights assembly that the Biden administration rejoined earlier in the year. In uncontested elections, or should we say "selections," Washington won a spot along with 17 other states, ranging from free nations, including Finland and Lithuania, to failed states such as Somalia, and even serial rights abusers, as is Eritrea. America is back? The 193-member U.N. General Assembly in New York held these elections to the 47-member Human Rights Council (HRC), which picked new members representing the regional groups: Africa, Asia-Pacific, Eastern Europe, Latin America, and Western Europe and Others. Hillel Neuer, the executive secretary of the watchdog group, U.N. Watch, tweeted that while elections are designed to weed out the world's worst rights abusers, "oppressive regimes like China, Cuba, Libya, Russia and Eritrea routinely win elections, and the stamp of international legitimacy." Given the council's past actions, the Trump administration pulled out of the Geneva-based body in 2018, largely over this very issue of uncompetitive elections and the HRC's excessive criticism of Israel. Yet Washington's "win" was a pyrrhic political victory at best; we were selected but our vote tally represented an almost insulting innuendo from the membership. Stated another way, Washington's final vote tally lagged behind serial rights abusers, such as Somalia, Cameron and the United Arab Emirates! Out of the 193 members in the U.N. General Assembly, the U.S. won 168 votes. Gambia gained 186, Somalia 171 and only Eritrea garnered fewer with 144. Following the selection, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated, "The Council provides a forum where we can have open discussions about ways we and our partners can improve. At the same time, it also suffers from serious flaws, including disproportionate attention on Israel and the membership of several states with egregious human rights records." Sadly so. Countries like the West African state of Cameroon have a pitiful human rights record. Moreover, Freedom House, the global human rights monitor, rates both Eritrea and Somalia among the least free countries in the world. Newly elected members set to serve three-year terms include, Benin, Gambia, Cameron, Somalia, Eritrea, India, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Lithuania, Montenegro, Paraguay, Argentina, Honduras, Finland, Luxembourg and the United States. American U.N. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield stated that by being back on the HRC, "Our initial efforts as full members in the Council will focus on what we can accomplish in situations of dire need, such as in Afghanistan, Burma, China, Ethiopia, Syria and Yemen." She added, "Finally, we will press against the election of countries with egregious human rights records." When the new members take their seats in January, just under a third of the entire HRC membership will represent democratic states. Members like Cuba, China, Russia and Pakistan already sit in judgment on the Council. Facing this grim political calculus, how can Western democratic states hope to tip the Council's balance away from the entrenched authoritarian states? Having covered past HRC proceedings in Geneva and viewing the bubble under which the council operates, it's almost taken for granted that members operate in a largely unchallenged cloud cuckoo land. I recall communist China putting on lavish exhibits which verged on political pornography where the persecuted Muslim Uighurs of Xinjiang province were presented as happy and dancing peasants all under Beijing's red banner. Serious discussions are sidetracked, stifled or shut down. Thus, is Washington's political pushback effort even worth it? So, with a disappointing and almost insulting 168 votes, should we proclaim America is back? Sort of. John J. Metzler (jjmcolumn@earthlink.net) is a United Nations correspondent covering diplomatic and defense issues. He is the author of "Divided Dynamism The Diplomacy of Separated Nations: Germany, Korea, China." Actor Rajit Kapur has termed the spotlight on superstar Shah Rukh Khan's son Aryan Khan "unfortunate", saying that the case reiterates that people in the film industry are held under "excruciating scrutiny." Aryan is currently lodged at the Arthur Road prison in the case of seizure of banned drugs aboard a cruise ship off the Mumbai coast earlier this month. Neeru Bajwas Sister Rubina Bajwa Gets Engaged to Beau Gurbaksh Singh Chahal. Kapur, known to star in films like "The Making of the Mahatma" and Basu Chatterjee's TV series "Byomkesh Bakshi", said the media trial of the Khan family is "extremely unfortunate." "Because people in the film industry are in the limelight, they are injected with this excruciating scrutiny. It is really unfair. This young man happens to be Shah Rukh Khan's son. Do you think if he was not Shah Rukh Khan's son, he would be made to go through this? The media making a whole 'tamasha' out of it? It would have gone unnoticed," Kapur told PTI. Mia Wasikowska Birthday: 7 Times She Made Some Jaw-Dropping Appearances On The Red Carpet (View Pics). The 61-year-old cinema and theatre veteran said his heart goes out to Aryan, who he feels must be going through an intense range of emotions. "Of course, as a parent, I would be traumatised. But think about the young man. What is he going through, what will he think, 'My father is Shah Rukh Khan and he can't do anything.' So that means, today being Shah Rukh Khan's son is what has gone against him. It is terrible." Aryan moved the High Court after a special court rejected his application for bail last week. The HC will hear his bail plea on October 26. In his appeal in the HC against the special court order, Aryan said the Narcotics Control Bureau's "interpretation and misinterpretation" of the WhatsApp chats collected from his mobile phone was "wrong and unjustified". He claimed no contraband was recovered from him after the NCB raided the ship. Kapur said he feels for Aryan as the 23-year-old not only finds himself in a tricky spot but is also at the risk of being stigmatised. "This is like a stigma being attached... What is it that you are penalising him for, you are not even clear. Has he taken a knife and stabbed somebody? This is just a loop... having him in the prison, not giving him bail as if you are going to unearth some murder weapon. It has become some exorcised drama, I don't understand it anymore," the actor said. Kapur will be next seen in the Eros Now anthology series "Aisa Waisa Pyaar". The anthology explores different shades of love through four separate relationship stories criss-crossing each other. The series features Kapur as a loving husband to actor Sheeba Chaddha, who plays a woman suffering from dementia and is a huge Shah Rukh fan. "It is a simple, middle-aged love story which was all heart. She suffers from dementia. She is a great Shah Rukh Khan fan. So he is making all his efforts to reach out to her, to renew their memories through the images of Shah Rukh Khan, whom she loves," Kapur said. The actor said he was drawn to the project after its writer and director Ashiish Patil narrated the segment to him on call. Kapur said he was not only touched by what the anthology was saying but also impressed by Patil's vision. "One thing that has changed drastically for me is that I need to know who I am working with. I don't mean my co-actors but the director. I need to connect with my director. Earlier perhaps it didn't matter, but today it is extremely important. "I want to sit across the table with my director and understand what they want out of the project, what they want from me. If I feel I will be able to add to the colours of what their vision is (then I take up the project)," the actor, who has featured in films like "Raazi" and "Uri: The Surgical Strike" in the recent past, said. "Aisa Waisa Pyaar" also stars Saqib Saleem, Nidhi Singh, Prit Kamani, Adah Sharma and Ahsaas Channa. It will premiere on October 27 on Eros Now. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Kanpur, October 25: After Uttar Pradesh reported its first case of Zika Virus from Kanpur, the central government sent a multi-disciplinary team on Monday. While speaking to ANI, Dr Nepal Singh, Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Kanpur on Sunday informed, "Yesterday, one person infected with Zika virus, was found in Kanpur. He is an Indian Air Force personnel. We have formed teams as soon as we received the information. With the help of 10 teams, we started taking precautionary action in his residential area and the workplace." He added, "House to house survey, line listing, fogging, cleaning was undertaken with the help of municipality. 22 samples of his close contacts, who were symptomatic, were sent to King George's Medical University (KGMU), Lucknow for testing." Zika Virus Disease: What Are The Causes, Symptoms and Treatment of This Mosquito-Borne Illness. Caused by a virus transmitted primarily by Aedes mosquitoes, which bite during the day, symptoms of this disease are mild fever, rash, conjunctivitis, muscle and joint pain, malaise or a headache. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Kutch (Gujarat) [India], October 25 (ANI): The Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) on Monday arrested a Border Security Force (BSF) constable from the Gandhidham of Gujarat's Kutch district for allegedly passing sensitive information to Pakistan. ATS Deputy SP BM Chavda said, "A BSF constable Mohammad Sajjad, a resident of Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri has been held from Gandhidham for allegedly passing sensitive information to Pakistan." Also Read | Fuel Price Hike: Hundreds of Petrol Pumps in Rajasthan Shut Indefinitely Over Rise in Petrol, Diesel Prices. Chavda further added, "He went to Pakistan and stayed there for 46 days before joining the BSF. He used to send information on WhatsApp." Further investigation into the matter is underway. (ANI) Also Read | HSSC MPHW Result 2021 Declared, Candidates Can Check Their Results Online at hssc.gov.in. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Indore (Madhya Pradesh) [India], October 25 (ANI): Indore Police arrested a Gym Owner for stealing bikes disguised as a woman from the parking lot of his own gym, informed Indore Police. "The accused Abhishek Pawar, who also used to hold the title of Mr Indore, used to commit the crime by dressing as a woman to dodge the police," said Pradeep Yadav, Sub-Inspector, Juni Police Station. Also Read | Tej Pratap Yadav Attacks NDA After Lalu Prasad Return to Bihar, Says Jackals Should Avoid Stepping Out, Lion Has Come. "Accused was facing financial crunch as his business was not making profits," added Yadav. The arrest took place after the accused was identified on the CCTV footage. Police arrested Abhishek Pawar and recovered five vehicles. Also Read | Cruise Ship Drug Case: NCBs Sameer Wankhede Appeals to Mumbai Police Commissioner to Protect Him From Possible Legal Action. "One of the incidents was caught on CCTV footage, after which he was identified and arrested. Chandan Yadav who used to visit the gym bought one of the bikes has also been arrested," said Pradeep Yadav. Further investigation is underway. More details are awaited. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi, October 25: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday left for Uttar Pradesh's Siddharthnagar and Varanasi to launch Pradhan Mantri Atmanirbhar Swasth Bharat Yojana and to inaugurate medical colleges in the state. "Leaving for Siddharthnagar and Varanasi. Today, India's largest scheme to scale-up health infrastructure will be launched. Various medical colleges along with key development works will be inaugurated," tweeted PM Modi. Also Read | Uttarakhand Rains: Death Toll Climbs to 72, Four People Still Missing. At around 10.30 am in Siddharthnagar, Prime Minister will inaugurate nine medical colleges in the state and at 1.15 pm he will launch Pradhan Mantri Atmanirbhar Swasth Bharat Yojana in Varanasi. Also Read | Tej Pratap Yadav Attacks NDA After Lalu Prasad Return to Bihar, Says Jackals Should Avoid Stepping Out, Lion Has Come. As per an official statement, he will also inaugurate various development projects worth more than Rs 5200 crore for Varanasi. "Prime Minister Atmanirbhar Swasth Bharat Yojana (PMASBY) will be one of the largest pan-India schemes for strengthening healthcare infrastructure across the country. It will be in addition to the National Health Mission," said PMO. It further said that the objective of PMASBY is to fill critical gaps in public health infrastructure, especially in critical care facilities and primary care in both urban and rural areas. It will provide support for 17,788 rural Health and Wellness Centres in 10 High Focus States. Further, 11,024 urban Health and Wellness Centres will be established in all the States. Critical care services will be available in all the districts of the country with more than 5 lakh population, through Exclusive Critical Care Hospital Blocks, while the remaining districts will be covered through referral services. People will have access to a full range of diagnostic services in the Public Healthcare system through a network of laboratories across the country. Integrated Public Health Labs will be set up in all the districts. Nine medical colleges to be inaugurated are situated in the districts of Siddharthnagar, Etah, Hardoi, Pratapgarh, Fatehpur, Deoria, Ghazipur, Mirzapur and Jaunpur. 8 Medical Colleges have been sanctioned under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme for "Establishment of new medical colleges attached with district/ referral hospitals" and 1 Medical College at Jaunpur has been made functional by the State Government through its own resources. UP Governor Anandiben Patel, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya will also be present during the event. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Pune, October 25: At least two teams of Pune Police fanned out to trace K P Gosavi, an independent witness of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) in the Mumbai cruise drugs case, who is wanted in connection with a 2018 cheating case registered against him here, an official said on Monday. The Pune Police have already arrested Gosavi's assistant Sherbano Kureshi in connection with the cheating case filed by one Chinmay Deshmukh who had alleged that Gosavi cheated him of Rs 3.09 lakh under the pretext of providing him with a job in Malaysia in the hotel industry. Kureshi had received the money in her account. Pune Police had issued a lookout circular to prevent Gosavi from leaving the country. Talking about some media reports stating that Gosavi wanted to surrender before the Pune Police, Deputy Commissioner of Police Priyanka Narnavare said he had not yet approached them. Mumbai Cruise Drugs Case: My Family Including My Sister and Deceased Mother Are Being Targeted, Says Sameer Wankhede. "We came across reports in media in which he is heard saying about surrendering. We have alerted our teams in court and at the police station level, in case he turns himself in," she said. The DCP said two teams of Pune Police are set out to trace Gosavi. A huge row has erupted after Gosavi was spotted in a selfie with Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan's son Aryan Khan after the latter was arrested by the NCB in connection with the cruise drugs case earlier this month. A video clip that surfaced recently showed Gosavi purportedly recording audio of Aryan Khan at the NCB office in Mumbai, in which hotelier Kunal Jani, who was earlier arrested in a separate drugs case, was also briefly seen. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Dehradun, October 25: The death toll due to rain-related incidents in Uttarakhand has mounted 72 and four people are still missing, said the Uttarakhand government on Sunday. As per the report, 26 people were injured in the disaster from October 17 to 19. Also Read | Tej Pratap Yadav Attacks NDA After Lalu Prasad Return to Bihar, Says Jackals Should Avoid Stepping Out, Lion Has Come. The rain triggered landslides, house collapses and deluge caused large scale devastation and loss of life and property in the state. Also, 224 houses were damaged in these incidents. Also Read | Cruise Ship Drug Case: NCBs Sameer Wankhede Appeals to Mumbai Police Commissioner to Protect Him From Possible Legal Action. Amid torrential rains, the hilly state has witnessed flooded roads, landslides, and overflowing rivers leaving people stranded in various places. Earlier on Friday, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami announced that he would contribute his salary for the month of October 2021 towards the Uttarakhand's Chief Minister's Relief Fund (CMRF). His contribution to the CMRF was announced in the wake of the natural calamity that struck the state recently. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi, Oct 25 (PTI) A leading private healthcare group on Monday said it will provide COVID-19 jabs for free to children with "specified co-morbidities", even as the Centre is yet to announce its approval to it. Apollo Hospitals, in a statement, said, however, it is an "indicative list" and the "final list of co-morbidities eligible for free vaccination would be as per the list published by the government". Also Read | Fuel Price Hike: Hundreds of Petrol Pumps in Rajasthan Shut Indefinitely Over Rise in Petrol, Diesel Prices. Zydus Cadila's Covid vaccine ZyCoV-D has already received Emergency Use Authorisation from the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) in the country and will be administered to those aged 12 years and above. It is yet to be introduced in the nationwide Covid vaccination programme. As for the emergency use approval for Bharat Biotech's Covaxin in the 2-18 years age group by the DCGI, it is under expert evaluation, official sources had earlier said. Also Read | HSSC MPHW Result 2021 Declared, Candidates Can Check Their Results Online at hssc.gov.in. On October 12, the Subject Expert Committee (SEC) on COVID-19 of the central drug authority had recommended granting Emergency Use Authorisation to Covaxin for children and adolescents in the 2-18 years age group with certain conditions. Apollo Hospitals sources on Monday claimed that the list of co-morbidities announced by the group on Monday was prepared "after consulting with the government". "It is anticipated that approval will soon be granted for vaccinating children with specified co-morbidities and immediately post-approval, and details of the age-group permitted for vaccination, the free vaccination initiative would be launched by Apollo Hospitals across its units," the statement said. "The list is expected to include children with haematological, neurological, cardiac, liver, gastrointestinal, rheumatic, cancer, respiratory, genitourinary and developmental disorders," it said. Dr Prathap C Reddy, Chairman, Apollo Hospitals Group, said, "Adults have been the focus of vaccination till now as by and large, children have been spared from severe Covid infection. However, this is not the case in children with co-morbidities. These children continue to be at high risk of developing a severe infection. In addition, children with comorbidities have also seen a significant psychosocial impact as the lockdown resulted in their missing out on the personalised attention and specialised treatment and care that they require." The government's approval of vaccination for children with co-morbidities, when it comes through, will be a "welcome step in the right direction", he was quoted as saying in the statement. "Realising the criticality of this vaccination, we will be extending the Covid vaccines completely free of cost to children with co-morbidities and giving them the necessary 'kavach' (shield) against Covid," Reddy said. Both vaccines would be available at Apollo Hospitals' vaccination centres across the country once all approvals by the government are in place and the vaccines are made available, the statement said. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) The Hague, Oct 25 (AP) The Dutch climate experts warned Monday that the low-lying Netherlands could face higher sea level rises than previously forecast as well as the threat of extreme rainfall and other dangerous weather events caused by climate change. The Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute, known by its Dutch acronym KNMI, issued the stark warning in a new update based on its own research and a report issued in August by the United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Also Read | Sudan PM Abdalla Hamdok And Several Other Ministers Placed Under House Arrest Joint Military Forces Amid Coup Reports. The Dutch report was presented less than a week before the U.N.'s annual climate conference opens in Glasgow, Scotland. The Oct. 31-Nov. 12 event, known as COP26, is seen by many as an important and even crucial opportunity for concrete government commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It might not be cheerful reading, but it is necessary reading, Dutch State Secretary for Infrastructure and Water Steven Weyenberg said. Also Read | Sudan Military Coup: UN Expresses Concerns Over Coup Reports, Calls for Immediate Release of Detained. Talking about climate change as something we do for our children underestimates the urgency, he added. The KNMI said that if greenhouse gas emissions are not reduced, the sea level along the long Dutch coastline could rise by 1.2 meters (nearly 4 feet) by the year 2100. The institute warned in 2014 of a possible 1-meter rise. It said in Monday's update that if melting of the Antarctic ice cap accelerates, then sea levels could rise by 2 meters by 2100. The agency also warned of both heavier summer storms and droughts, with river levels expected to be lower in the summer and higher in the winter. The low-lying Netherlands is protected by thousands of kilometers (miles) of dikes along its rivers and its North Sea coast, and has a national Delta Fund that invests hundreds of millions each year in improvements and maintenance. Over the summer, torrential rainfall sparked widespread flooding in the southern province of Limburg. The same heavy summer storm caused dozens of deaths in neighboring Germany and Belgium. Adapting to extreme weather and anticipating sea level rises must be a top priority for a new government, Rogier van der Sande, chairman of the Dutch Union of Water Boards, said in a statement Monday. Four parties are currently negotiating to form the next Dutch ruling coalition, with climate measures one of the topics they are discussing. Weyenberg said it is clear more has to be done. The climate crisis is here. It's code red, and it is up to us all to act, he said. (AP) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) India, US troops carry out joint C-IED, C-UAS training during during Yudh Abhyas 21. Alaska [US], October 25 (ANI): A combined Counter Improvised Explosive Device (C-IED) and Counter Unmanned Aerial Systems (C-UAS) training was carried out by armies of India and the US during the conduct of exercise 'Yudh Abhyas' at the Equipment Simulator Training Area (ESTA) Alaska' Anchorage. Civilian and military experts from the US displayed the Medium Mine Protected Vehicle ("The Panther") and the Mine-Protected Clearance Vehicle ("The Buffalo") to Indian troops. Also Read | Pakistan To Seek Loan From Russia for Strategic Pipeline Project. Later on, Indian soldiers displayed their own methods of C-IEDs used in CI/CT grid, according to a statement released by the Army. The joint training was also conducted for the detection, handling and removal of IEDs. The US Army also demonstrated the use of a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) for detecting and dismantling mines and bombs. Also Read | COVID-19 Pandemic: Global Coronavirus Caseload Tops 243.6 Million. [{d9bd7088-2250-46ad-bd18-58a3cac8daf7:intradmin/b4e98ddb-d529-4835-a6f8-0b374f1c0886.jpg}] Troops from both Armies also took part in a demonstration of a Drone Buster Gun by the US Army, used to jam the frequency of a drone. This was done during the C-UAS demonstration, the army statement said. As part of the ongoing Indo-US Defence Cooperation, the Joint Military Training Exercise "Ex Yudh Abhyas 2021" is being conducted at Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson, Alaska. The 14-day exercise had commenced on October 15. [{b962839b-bb0a-482a-b549-522332bb2f16:intradmin/06a45971-53dc-49fc-9e7e-c224a626d187_LnCog9l.jpg}] According to the defence ministry, 300 US Army soldiers belonging to First Squadron (Airborne) of the 40th Cavalry Regiment and 350 soldiers of 7 Madras Infantry Battalion Group of Indian Army are participating in the exercise. The 14 days training schedule includes activities on joint training in a Counter Insurgency/Counter Terrorism environment under the United Nations mandate. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Voting for #Uzbekistan's presidential election ended with over 80 per cent turnout which was described by the Central Election Commission as a historic achievement for the country. Photo: IANS (File) pic.twitter.com/aeK5SmeeY1 IANS Tweets (@ians_india) October 25, 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.) Alec Baldwin was reportedly pulling out on his other work projects following the fatal shooting on the set of his movie "Rust" that killed a renowned director of photography. A source close to Baldwin told People magazine that the actor would cancel his "other projects" to "take some time" and re-center himself" following the gun accident on the set in New Mexico last week, New York Post reported. "This is how he handles difficult times... Whenever something bad happens, in the short term, her removes himself from [the] public eye," the source pointed out. The insider further noted that the 63-year-old actor "needs to take a while to himself, to be with his family," adding that the incident "was pretty devastating." READ NEXT: Prop Gun in 'Rust' Movie Shooting Had Misfired Before Alec Baldwin Fatally Shot a Crew Member Alec Baldwin's Assistant Director Has a History of 'Unsafe' Practice on Set On Sunday, a prop maker revealed that "Rust's" current assistant director had a history of allowing unsafe working environments. Maggie Goll, the propmaker who worked with him Assistant Director Dave Halls on Hulu's "Into the Dark" anthology series in February 2019, told NBC News that Halls allowed sets to become "increasingly claustrophobic," with no established fire lanes. Goll added that exits were blocked, and "safety meetings were nonexistent." Court records showed that Halls handed the prop gun to Alec Baldwin before the fatal shooting. He indicated incorrectly that the firearm did not carry live rounds and was safe by yelling "cold gun." Goll, an experienced special effects technician and pyrotechnician, said in one instance on set, Halls disregarded safety protocols for pyrotechnics and weapons and attempted to keep filming even after the lead pyrotechnician lost consciousness, Associated Press reported. Goll noted that she filed an internal complaint with the executive producers of Blumhouse Productions on that day. However, the production company denied receiving any complaints. "We used non-firing, dummy firearm props during the production of Pure (the title of one of the episodes in the series). No complaints were received via the studio's anonymous reporting system EthicsPoint/Navex regarding safety concerns," a spokesperson for Blumhouse Television said in a statement to NBC News. Despite alleging that Dave Halls did not maintain a safe working environment on the set, Goll noted that the recent incident involving Alec Baldwin was not only one person's fault. "This situation is not about Dave Halls... It's in no way one person's fault... It's a bigger conversation about safety on set and what we are trying to achieve with that culture," Goll said. Call to Ban Guns on Movie Set Surface Amid Alec Baldwin's Accidental Shooting Calls to ban guns in movies surfaced after Alec Baldwin discharged the prop gun that killed "Rust" cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and injured director Joel Souza. One production that would implement the move is ABC's "The Rookie," as its executive producer, Alexi Hawley, wrote in a memo on Friday that there "will be no more live weapons" on the show. Hawley noted that they would use replica guns that use pellets and not bullets, with muzzle flashes added in post-production. Craig Zobel, the director of "Mare of Easttown" featuring Kate Winslet, said there's no more reason to use guns loaded with blanks on the set since there are "computers now." Theres no reason to have guns loaded with blanks or anything on set anymore. Should just be fully outlawed. Theres computers now. The gunshots on Mare of Easttown are all digital. You can probably tell, but who cares? Its an unnecessary risk. https://t.co/pVWJp766EY craig zobel (@craigzobel) October 22, 2021 Meanwhile, a petition published on Change.org called for a ban on real weapons on production sets. The petition also appealed to Alec Baldwin to use his influence to urge the industry to lobby for a proposed "Halyna's Law" that would ban the use of real guns on movie sets. As of midday Sunday, the petition has already gathered nearly 16,000 signatures. READ MORE: Alec Baldwin Accidentally Kills Cinematographer, Injures Director After He Discharged Prop Gun on New Mexico Movie Set This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Joshua Summers WATCH: Allegations Made Against Man Responsible For Film Safety On 'Rust' Set - From TODAY Laundrie family attorney Steven Bertolino on Sunday said no funeral service has been planned for Brian Laundrie after his remains are cremated. Bertolino told People that Laundrie's remains would "be cremated and there will be no funeral service." On Wednesday, after a month-long manhunt for their son, the elder Laundries, Christopher and Roberta, directed the North Port police and FBI agents to the area where human remains and "some articles" belonging to Laundrie were found. According to investigators, it appears that Laundrie's body had been decomposing in a swampy area of the Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park in Florida for several weeks. And before the discovery on Wednesday, the remains had been underwater. The FBI said the skeletal remains were confirmed to be Laundrie after a review of dental records. READ NEXT: Dog the Bounty Hunter Partially Blames Brian Laundrie's Parents for What Happened, Says He May Still Be Alive if They Cooperated Sooner Brian Laundrie's Autopsy Completed On Friday, Bertolino said an autopsy on Brian Laundrie's remains has been completed without providing answers regarding the cause or manner of his death. Bertolino noted that the remains of Gabby Petito's fiance would be sent to a forensic anthropologist for further examination. However, he said he's not sure why an anthropologist is being involved in determining Laundrie's death. Online studies noted that experts are brought into cases when bodies are far along in the decomposition to determine how a person died, whether accidental, suicide, homicide, or natural. Forensic anthropologist Dr. Heather Walsh-Haney earlier told WPBF News that forensic anthropologists are being called for help when the environment has ravaged or removed the soft tissue. Brian Laundrie's Possession Could Provide Answers to Gabby Petito Case Several items recovered by the authorities could also provide answers to Gabby Petito's mysterious death. It can be recalled that aside from the remains, authorities also found a backpack and a notebook on Wednesday. A source with knowledge of the investigation told CNN that the notebook was "possibly salvageable." Experts also believe that the item could offer more insight into Petito's case. FBI Deputy Director and CNN senior law enforcement analyst Andrew McCabe told CNN that the notebook would likely be taken to an FBI lab, where experts can examine the article. McCabe said experts who spent their careers doing things like "drying out paper evidence," recovering "the writing and the ink marks," fingerprints, and other relevant pieces of evidence would likely be called to look at the notebook. McCabe noted that the item could potentially include information such as Laundrie's motives, his feelings about his fiancee, and other writings he made about events in Wyoming, An external hard drive they found in Petito's white van and videos of the couple collected by authorities could also provide more information during their trip and perhaps Laundrie's journey back to Florida. Experts said finding the couple's missing phones could also offer a lot of information that could help in putting together pieces of the puzzle in the couple's journey. Gabby Petito disappeared on a cross-country road trip with Brian Laundrie. The couple was traveling to Oregon when the YouTuber stopped communicating with her family in Wyoming in late August. Laundrie was named a person of interest by North Port police after returning home on September 1 or 10 days before Gabby Petito was reported missing by her family. Petito's body was found at the Spread Creek Dispersed Campground near Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming on September 19. A Teton County, Wyoming coroner said she was strangled to death by a "human being," and the manner of death was homicide. The FBI has issued a federal arrest warrant for Brian Laundrie but over debit card fraud. READ MORE: Brian Laundrie Found: Human Remains Discovered in Florida Park Confirmed to be Gabby Petito's Fiance This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Joshua Summers WATCH: How did Brian Laundrie Die? USF Forensic Anthropologist Explains What's Next - From FOX 13 Tampa Bay Former chief of U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Scott Gottlieb said on Sunday that the new variant of Delta called "Delta Plus" will not change the "trajectory" of the nation towards its fight against COVID-19. Gottlieb shared his comments in an interview with CBS' "Face the Nation," as he was asked if he was concerned about the new version of the Delta variant. "I don't think this [Delta Plus] is enough to really change the trajectory of the direction we're [United States] heading in," the former FDA chief said in the interview, adding that the U.S. is closer to the end of the Delta variant wave. READ NEXT: CDC Director Says 'Fully Vaccinated' Status Could Change in Future as COVID Vaccine Booster Shots Roll Out CDC Monitoring Delta Plus On Sunday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) director, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, said that their agency is monitoring the new COVID-19 subvariant, also known as Delta Plus. "We're watching it [Delta Plus] very carefully... We have had a handful of cases here in the United States but it has not taken off as it has in the U.K.," Walensky underscored. The CDC director also noted that the sub-lineage of Delta variant was already on their radar, ever since it has emerged in the United Kingdom. Despite confirming that there were Delta Plus cases in the U.S., Walensky highlighted that the new Delta variant will not prompt a travel ban from Europe. "We're not anticipating that [travel ban] now. We are absolutely following all the science very very carefully, but we're not anticipating or looking into that right now," the CDC director said. Delta Plus Delta Plus, also known as AY.4.2, is an offshoot of Delta that includes new mutations on the spike protein, which the virus utilizes to penetrate the cells and infect individuals. Experts from the United Kingdom said that Delta Plus may spread more easily than the regular Delta variant of SARS-CoV-2, prompting the U.K. Health Security Agency (UKHSA) to move the said variant into the "variant under investigation" category, BBC reported. However, Walensky disputed the claims of the experts on Sunday, saying that it has yet to be determined if Delta Plus is more contagious, despite being linked to a growing number of cases in the U.K. According to UKHSA, Delta Plus is increasingly common in the U.K in recent months, mentioning evidence that the new variant "may have an increased growth rate in the U.K. compared to Delta." Despite the emergence of the subversion of the Delta variant, experts believe that existing vaccines would still work well to protect the people. "The public health advice is the same for all current variants. Get vaccinated and, for those eligible, come forward for your third or booster dose as appropriate as soon as you are called," UKHSA Chief Executive Dr. Jenny Harris said. READ NEXT: NIH Admits Funding Gain-of-Function Research in Wuhan Lab Despite Dr. Anthony Fauci's Earlier Denials This article is owned by Latin Post. Written By: Joshua Summers WATCH: Dr. Scott Gottlieb Tweets 'Delta-Plus' Variant is not a Cause for Immediate Concern - From CNBC Television United Airlines executive Jacob Cefolia went missing more than a year ago after he was last seen going for a jog near his Chicago home. He was found suspended by a belt from an uprooted tree in a Chicago forest preserve. The 50-year-old United Airlines executive was found on Friday afternoon, while authorities have confirmed that it was his remains, according to a Daily Mail report. Cefolia's wallet, driver's license, and a backpack of personal belongings were also found at the scene. His clothing matching to what he was last seen wearing was also uncovered at the scene, according to a New York Post report. The chief medical examiner, Richard Jorgensen, had done an autopsy on Cefolia's remains. However, the chief medical examiner's office said that the cause and manner of death are still under investigation. DuPage County Forest Preserve District Police Chief David Pederson noted that it did not seem like a natural cause of death, adding that the coroner's office will make the official determination. READ NEXT: United Airlines Employees with Religious Exemptions for the Vaccine Mandate Will Be on Unpaid Leave United Airlines Executive Missing Cefolia was reported missing in August 2020 after his ex-wife Kristine Cefolia had told authorities that he failed to show up for his night with their children, according to a People report. His car was found hours later at Waterfall Glen, which is an area he was said to be found running and hiking frequently. Multiple law enforcement agencies and bloodhounds were deployed for Cefolia's search, which had turned nothing at the time. Police reports said that Cefolia was in talks to sell his house before he went missing. However, he failed to show up for a meeting with his realtor. A law enforcement source said that Cefolia was under investigation during the time of his disappearance. However, the source did not share any additional details. Daily Mail reported that law enforcement officials said they had found a COVID face mask, which was hanging from his car's steering wheel. There was also a gray pullover in the back seat and a gold bag with a set of clubs. A $120 in cash was also uncovered in the trunk. Pederson noted that the human remains were located in a very thick covered bush area, extremely covered that one can be 10 feet away and not see it. Bill Boerum, a California businessman, paid tribute to the late United Airlines executive. He had posted a photo showing him shaking hands with Cefolia. He wrote Cefolia was enduring personal and emotional challenges. Boerum revealed that Cefolia had spoken of getting off the grid. He also noted that a corporate career and relationships were abandoned. Kristine had reported to Elmhurst police that she became worried and went to check on Cefolia's home and discovered that no one was there, according to an NBC 5 report. Kristine told the 911 dispatcher that she had left him multiple text messages and emails, and got no replies. Cefolia's ex-wife noted that nobody has heard from him when he was missing more than a year ago, saying that he was acting very out of character. READ MORE: American Airlines Cancels Almost 400 Flights Over Staff, Maintenance Issues This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Mary Webber WATCH: Human remains found in Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve identified as former United executive - from WGN News A critical report by the Wall Street Journal revealed that employees of the tech giant, Facebook have made unapproved suppression on right-wing outlets. Facebook Employees Unsupervised Move According to the New York Post, despite objections from Facebook managers who tried to avoid political blowback, the tech giant's employees have pushed to deplatform outlets such as Breibart. The internal debates were captured in message-board conversations reviewed by the Wall Street Journal. The discovery fueled new concerns that the platform treated several news outlets differently based on their political slant. In the report's spotlight was Breitbart, which employees have targeted to remove from the News Tab function, especially during the protests after the death of George Floyd in the hands of Minneapolis police last year. The report showed that when a staffer asked about removing Breitbart, a senior researcher responded that they have seen drops in trust in CNN 2 years ago and he mentioned if they would take the same approach for them, too. Meanwhile, since the start of 2020, Facebook started to keep track of "strikes" for content deemed false by third-party fact-checkers. The tech giant imposed those repeat offenders could be suspended from posting. Based on the report, escalations came more frequently against conservative outlets. Meanwhile, the report was the latest in a series of bombshell revelations from whistleblowers who claimed that the social media colossus craved profits over the needs of its users. READ MORE: Alec Baldwin Accidentally Kills Cinematographer, Injures Director After He Discharged Prop Gun on New Mexico Movie Set Another Whistleblower Against Facebook After the revelation, company managers told their employees to brace themselves for more disclosures. In a Saturday memo obtained by Axios, the vice president of global affairs for Facebook, Nick Clegg, said that the workers need to steel themselves for more bad headlines in the coming days, and he was worried about it. Moreover, new scoops were expected to come out on Monday after a number of news outlets were given leaked material by Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen. Also, an embargo on the information collapsed Friday and a more devastating revelation could come out based on the company's internal workings. It could be released any time. Furthermore, the story that broke the embargo on Friday involved a new whistleblower who told the Securities and Exchange Commission that the tech giant Facebook routinely dismissed concerns regarding hate speech and the spread of misinformation over fears that it would hinder the growth of their company. The whistleblower, who testified under oath but his name has not been released, shared to the SEC in 2017 that Facebook executives discouraged attempts to fight misinformation and hate speech during the Trump administration because it would hold back the company's growth. The whistleblower also leaked out that the execs were afraid of the consequences from the president and his allies. Tucker Bounds, a Facebook communications official, confirmed that the whistleblower, like Haugen, was a member of the social network's "integrity team." Bounds dismissed hate speech as a "flash in the pan" and said even though "some legislators will get pissy," the company would still print money in the basement. A person who worked at Facebook at the time told The Post that the comment of Bounds sounded accurate. Despite the new developments on the issue, Clegg in his memo encouraged employees to stay positive amid the revelation. READ NEXT: Leader of California's Largest Union Alma Hernandez Arrested on Charges of Tax Fraud, Embezzlement Charges This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Jess Smith WATCH: Facebook employees tried to suppress conservative news outlets, report shows, World News Today #ArrestFauci trended on Twitter on Sunday, as Dr. Anthony Fauci was caught in several allegations such as dogs testing, and virus research in Wuhan. Users were quick to criticize the nation's top infectious disease expert, after his National Institutes of Health division provided a grant to a lab located in Tunisia to torture and kill dozens of dogs for the purpose of scientific experiments, New York Post reported. The breed of dogs involved in the said experiments were reportedly beagle puppies. READ NEXT: Dr. Anthony Fauci Gives Green Light to Kids on Enjoying Halloween One Twitter user who joined in the #ArrestFauci trend called the doctor an "evil" practitioner, arguing that the doctor funded the gain of function and the cruel treatment for dogs. #ArrestFauci He funded gain of function and he funded cruel treatment of innocent dogs. Hes an evil doctor and a despicable person. First Words (@unscriptedmike) October 24, 2021 "He's [Anthony Fauci] an evil doctor and a despicable person," the user said. #ArrestFauci for animal abuse and for crimes against humanity pic.twitter.com/tsKwVGefFr Born Free Skye (@tappy1008) October 24, 2021 Another user tweeted an edited photo of Dr. Anthony Fauci inside a cell, contending that the doctor committed "animal abuse and crimes against humanity." Other users also edited a photo of Fauci running while mad dogs are tailing him. You didnt struggle to use his name last time https://t.co/EMBzZA85v2 Evi (@Evi_Cy) October 24, 2021 The organization People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) also joined in the mob, saying that President Biden must choose another NIH director who will not allow animals to get tortured. However, the group failed to include #ArrestFauci, prompting backlash from users urging the group to mention Fauci's name. Legislators Urge Dr. Anthony Fauci to Comment on Dog Experiments Allegations Aside from #ArrestFauci trending on Twitter, bipartisan legislators also called on Dr. Anthony Fauci to respond to the allegations about experiments involving dogs. South Carolina representative Nancy Mace and 23 other legislators sent a letter to the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease (NIAID), as they address their concerns about the reports of the "costly, cruel, and unnecessary tax-payer funded experiments on the dogs." In the letter, the legislators mentioned that a document obtained by the group White Coast Waste Project revealed that the NIAID spent at least $1.68 million in taxpayer funds on drug tests that involved 44 beagle puppies. The legislators also noted that some of the dogs were also reportedly injected with disease-causing parasites and lock them in cages with "hungry" sandflies so that the insects could eat them alive. The lawmakers also revealed in the letter that the several tests on the dogs also included force-feeding the puppies for several weeks, before they were dissected and killed. The lawmakers also alleged that scientists slit the dogs' vocal cords to prevent them from barking during the experiments. "This is a reprehensible misuse of taxpayer funds," the representatives pointed out. Dr. Anthony Fauci has not yet issued an official statement about the dog experiments slammed against him. NIH on Virus Research in Wuhan Dr. Anthony Fauci also faces another issue about the virus research also known as the gain of function in the Wuhan Lab. Previously, Fauci denied that the National Institutes of Health (NIH) funded the gain of function research, arguing that no such thing happened. However, an NIH official admitted that the said research that tackled bat coronaviruses in China's Wuhan laboratory was funded by taxpayers. In July, Senator Rand Paul called for the Department of Justice to issue a criminal referral against Anthony Fauci for lying to Congress about the virus research. "We have scientists that were lined up by the dozens to say that the research he [Fauci] was funding was gain-of-function," Paul said. READ NEXT: U.S. FDA to Allow Americans With Different Brand of Booster Vaccine Shot This article is owned by Latin Post. Written By Joshua Summers WATCH: 'Utterly Disgusting': Fauci Caught up in 'Cruel' Experiments on Puppies - From Sky News Australia A 6-year-old boy and an 8-year-old boy were killed in the crash Saturday afternoon after a drag race driver lost control and slammed into a crowd of spectators during a racing event on an airport runway in Texas, authorities said. 2 Dead, 8 Injured in Texas Racing Event According to Fort Wayne NBC, Kerrville police said in a news release that the 2 kids were killed in the crash at an event called "Airport Race Wars 2" at the Kerrville-Kerr County Airport. The organized event was attended by thousands of spectators and fans who were entertained by drivers speeding down a runway as they competed for cash. Aside from the two kids, the crash injured eight other individuals. Based on the statement of Kerrville police, the drag race driver lost control and left the runway. The vehicle then crashed into parked vehicles, striking spectators who were observing the races. Meanwhile, the injured victims were taken to various hospitals. A 46-year-old woman was listed in critical condition due to the impact of the crash. The majority of the other injuries were believed to be not life-threatening, but the condition of a 26-year-old man who was listed under injured individuals was unknown, authorities said. Also, a 4-year-old boy and a 3-month-old girl were taken to a hospital for precautionary evaluations. Authorities have not released the identities of the two kids killed at the event. The racing was set around 60 miles or 97 kilometers northwest of San Antonio, Texas. Moreover, the Kerrville Convention and Visitors Bureau's website promoted the event as an "action-packed, family-friendly day." The group highlighted that the event could give fans the chance to watch the fastest drag cars compete for over $8000 in total prizes. READ MORE: Plane Crashes, Burns in Texas; All 21 Individuals Scramble to Safety Witness Shares Experience During Texas Drag Race Accident A freelance journalist who was at the event, Louis Amestoy, estimated that there were at least 3,500 individuals who attended the racing event. In addition, Amestoy said that the race was an eighth of a mile or 0.2 kilometers long, and water-filled plastic barriers lined the course, protecting the crowd from possible accidents. However, Amestoy said they did not extend the barriers past the finish line, leaving no protection between spectators and cars as they were slowing down at the end of the race. During his phone interview with The Associated Press, Amestoy shared that the event organizers reminded people to stay in the grass and off the asphalt. He added that the organizers stated that spectators could get within about 15 feet (4.6 meters) of the track, and many fans watched the race from lawn chairs in the absence of stands on the site. Furthermore, Amestoy shared that the driver was nearing the end of the strip when the car veered off course. READ NEXT: Latino Groups File Lawsuit Against Texas Redistricting; Emphasized Diluted Voting Rights by Latinos This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Jess Smith WATCH: Two young boys killed after Kerrville drag racer loses control, veers into spectators -KENS 5: Your San Antonio News Source A fifteen year old Laois school girl has become an inspiration to Hooves4Hospice, a campaign to raise funds to build a Regional Hospice in the Midlands, now the only area in Ireland without a hospice. Ruth Talbot first generously donated some of her Confirmation money for a good cause that would benefit her community, has donated and now she is rearing the 500th Hooves4Hospice animal. Sourced in Kilkenny and purchased in Galway, the Friesian heifer is being reared and cared for by Ruth, daughter of Robin and Ann Talbot, and a sister of 17 year old Sarah, on the family farm at Coole, Ballacolla in Laois. When preparing for her Confirmation, Ruth felt she would like to share her money gifts with some worthwhile cause. Although the Confirmation was postponed due to Covid from June to December last year, Ruth persevered with her idea and bought the heifer calf with her own money, in February last year. Family friend, Liam Cassin, Kilkenny, assisted Ruth in her search for the animal which was purchased from Galway farmer, Noel Nelly. Support for Ruth and her very generous gesture was also apparent in her community, evidenced by the fact that the local Glanbia store dropped her over some calf feed. Now her 20 month-old in-calf heifer can be seen grazing in front of the family home. Last week Ruth make contact with the Hooves4Hospice office to say that she wished to donate the proceeds of the sale, later this year, to H4H. I am aware that the midlands is now the only area in the country which does not have a Regional Hospice and the fact that people currently have to travel to Dublin or further for end of life care. So when I heard about Hooves4Hospice I thought it was such a worthwhile project - fundraising to provide a facility that will be there in the future for families and their loved ones in the midlands. So, when I sell my in-calf heifer towards the end of this year, I will be giving the proceeds to H4H, Ruth said. She hopes that other farmers in the area would support the project. Her mother is proud of Ruth's effort. The Covid pandemic has reminded us of the importance of community, of looking after those who are close to us. So we are proud to do our part in helping this most worthy and necessary venture, said Robin. Lions Clubs in the midlands have joined forces with the farming community, supportive organisations and individuals in a fundraising project, Hooves 4 Hospice aiming to raise a sizeable sum of money towards the cost of building the much needed Midland Regional Hospice. Mr Pat Lalor, Chairman H4H described signing-off on the 500th 'donate and rear animal' as a very significant milestone for H4H and a tribute to the support and generosity of the farming and business community throughout the midlands. Ruths generous gesture is inspirational to all involved in the project and proof that our project has touched all ages in the community. We are very grateful to Ruth and her family for their support, he added. Launched in 2020 over 500 animals are now being reared by farmers participating in the project. When the animals are reared and sold, the entire proceeds will be donated to the project. Cash donations from individuals and community groups totalling over 100,000 have also been received. The target with everybodys support is to raise 1 million towards the building costs of the Midland Regional Hospice. See the hooves4hospice website here. LIMERICK City and County Council is to extend a number of local road and laneway closures in the city to facilitate outdoor dining over the coming months. The proposal is part of the council's Covid-19 support of the Tourism and Hospitality Sector within the Metropolitan District. Public notices have been published by the local authority advising that the roads and laneways will remain closed to traffic, at certain specified times, from November 2 until May 1, 2022. They are: Theatre Lane, Back Lane, Market Alley Lane, Glentworth Mews, Post Office Lane and a local laneway off Shannon Street The Mayor of the City and County of Limerick, Cllr Daniel Butler, has welcomed the planned extentions and has congratulated businesses for making a success of them to date. Pedestrian access to the laneways will not be affected and access for emergency vehicles will also be maintained during the closure times. Temporary restrictions and closures have already been introduced at a number of other laneways in Limerick as part of the Covid support scheme with some due to remain in place until next August. COP26 will take place in Glasgow next week, November 1 - 12. COPs official website says this meeting is an event that many believe to be the worlds best chance to get runaway climate change under control. The fact is that human activity (through global emissions caused by the burning of fossil fuels, deforestation and over-use of the earths resources) is making the planet heat up so much as to threaten the collapse of entire ecosystems and make earth unliveable for millions. Weve spent decades denying it, arguing about it, ignoring it. But the facts are staring us in the face right now. David Attenbourgh told the UN Security Council earlier this year that the climate crisis is the biggest threat to security humans have faced. The worlds scientists are 100% unanimous on it. According to the UN, 64% of people believe climate change is a global emergency. Six in 10 young people, according to another recent survey, are very or extremely worried about climate change. A similar number believe governments are not protecting them, the planet, or future generations. COP stands for the Conference of Parties. In 2015, the worlds governments unanimously agreed on the aim of holding [global] warming well below 2C, and pursuing efforts to limit warming to 1.5C. They agreed, via the Paris Agreement, to work together to meet this goal. Every country committed to submitting national plans setting out how much they would reduce their emissions known as NDCs (national defined contributions). Progress in reaching the Paris emissions goal, however, is light years behind target. Instead of emissions going down, theyre actually, over the past year for example, going up. Looking at https://climateactiontracker.org/, we see that only ONE country is rating as compatible with the Paris Agreement that is Gambia. The progress of the rest of the parties (countries) on their agreement targets ranges from Critically Insufficient to Almost Insufficient. According to many reports, the world is on track for an average of 4C degree increase instead of 1.5C. It doesnt sound like a lot, but heating of the entire globe by an average of 4C will make the planet unrecognisable from anything we have ever experienced. Scientists speak of sea-level rise, intense storms and flooding, droughts, food shortages, rivers drying, vast tracts of land becoming uninhabitable. They use the words mass extinction. We only had to look at our screens this year to see images of unprecedented flooding in Germany, New York, London, China; unprecedented wildfires in Greece, Turkey, the US, Siberia; unprecedented heatwaves in Europe, US, Canada and Africa. The latest UN report (August 2021), which was called a code red for humanity, found that climate change is intensifying, occurring at an accelerated pace, and is already affecting every region of the planet. The sad reality is that, because of delaying, weve now lost the chance of staying under a 1.5 C increase. We CAN however, work to keep warming within a 2C increase. So, why am I going to COP26? Because there is still hope. Because I want to be there to show my concern. Because I want to hear what the worlds leaders will say. Because I want to join the thousands of other young people who will be literally marching for their lives. Many people from affected countries cannot go to COP26, because theyre on the UKs Covid-19 red list of countries. I am very fortunate that I can. Feasta (see feasta.org), the organisation with which I am attending as part of their delegation, works for international climate justice. Its Cap and Share model aims to bring total global emissions from fossil fuels decreases to zero. They propose tightening the cap on fossil fuels by auctioning extraction licences and then sharing the proceeds of the auction among the communities most impacted. The famous Irish language poem from which Feasta takes its name, Cad a dheanfaimid feasta gan adhmad?, reminds us that we humans dont always have a great record when it comes to preserving what we need most, nature. I sincerely hope that COP26 changes this record. *Iona Logan is a Limerick-based climate change activist 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. ALLIED Irish Bank is being urged to retain an ATM service when it closes its branch on the Ennis Road in Limerick city. The branch, at Northtown Shopping Centre, is due to close on November 5 following a strategic review. by the bank. of its branch network across the country. At their monthly meeting, members of the Metropolitan District passed a motion calling for AIB to retain the ATM service following the branch closure. Proposing the motion, Cllr Conor Sheehan said the current round of branch closures is "shameful" and he noted that from the end of next week, there will be no local bank for those living in the Ennis Road, Clareview and Greystones areas. He added that the only ATM, for those who want cash, will be located at a service station further out the Ennis Road. Cllr Sheehan said many residents in that part of the city "can't get in and out of town very easily" and that the council needs to "push hard" to ensure an ATM service is retained. Seconding the motion, Cllr Olivia O'Sullivan said from November 5 there will be no bank branch on the northside of the city which is "very hard to believe and hard to accept". She added that the decision of Bank and Ireland and AIB to close their local branches means elderly people are being encouraged to "get into cars and hobble their way into the city centre". Following requests from Cllr Catherine Slattery and Cllr Elena Secas, it was agreed that Bank of Ireland should also be contacted and urged to reinstate an ATM service at Roxboro Shopping Centre. The ATM was removed earlier this month when the local branch closed. "It's ridiculous, elderly people don't use online banking," commented Cllr Slattery. Mastercard Inc. is making it easier for banks to offer cryptocurrency rewards on their credit and debit cards as part of the payment networks recent embrace of digital currencies. To pull it off, Mastercard has inked a deal with Bakkt, the cryptocurrencies firm that spun off from Intercontinental Exchange earlier this year, according to a statement Monday. As part of the changes, Mastercard will also make it easier for consumers to spend the cryptocurrency rewards they earn at the millions of retailers on the firms network. Together with Bakkt and grounded by our principled approach to innovation, well not only empower our partners to offer a dynamic mix of digital assets options, but also deliver differentiated and relevant consumer experiences," Sherri Haymond, executive vice president of digital partnerships at Mastercard, said in the statement. CNBC reported the partnership earlier Monday. Bakkt shares surged 40% to $12.78 at 9:33 am in New York. Mastercard shares climbed 1.2%. Mastercard said earlier this year it would begin allowing cardholders to transact in certain cryptocurrencies on its network. In July, the payments giant said it would work with startups focused on crypto and digital assets as part of its push to make it easier for consumers to buy, spend and hold cryptocurrencies. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Thousands of Sudanese pro-democracy protesters streamed into the streets of the capital on Monday to reject a military coup of the transitional government that has ruled the country since the ouster of longtime dictator Omar al-Bashir. In a statement broadcast on state television, Sudans most senior military leader, Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, declared a state of emergency across the strategic nation on the Horn of Africa and announced the dissolution of the transitional government, which included both civilian and military officials. He said a new caretaker government would soon be appointed to lead the country to elections, without providing a timetable. The statement followed reports earlier Monday from the Sudanese Information Ministry and several government officials that Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, his wife and other civilian leaders had been detained by the military. The ministry said Mr. Hamdok and the others were taken to an undisclosed location after the prime minister declined to endorse what it said was a military coup. We call on the Sudanese people to go out and demonstrate and use all the peaceful means to recover their revolution from any kidnapper," the ministry said. Across Khartoum, the capital, protesters erected roadblocks, burned tires and shouted slogans rejecting a return to military rule. Several labor unions called on their members to walk off the job in a show of civil disobedience. Soldiers, police and members of the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces, meanwhile, patrolled bridges and key intersections in the capital. On its verified Facebook page, the information ministry said soldiers fired live bullets at protesters that had gathered around the military headquarters in Khartoum. The Central Committee of Sudanese Doctors, one of the groups that participated in the monthslong popular uprising that preceded Mr. Bashirs 2019 ouster, said at least 12 people had been injured in clashes between protesters and the military. Private television and radio stations were taken off air, while internet monitoring group NetBlocks reported that fixed-line and mobile connections across Sudan had been disrupted. The U.S. and the European Union, which have sustained Sudans post-Bashir transition both financially and politically, said they were alarmed by reports of a military takeover. Josep Borrell, the EUs foreign-policy chief, called for the immediate release of the detained government officials. The actions of the military represent a betrayal of the revolution, the transition, and the legitimate requests of the Sudanese people for peace, justice and economic development," he said. Tensions between civilian and military leaders have been building for several weeks and Mr. Hamdok warned earlier this month that Sudans transition to democracy was under threat. Under the 2019 power-sharing deal, Sudan was to hold its first elections in 2023 following more than three decades of military rule. Last week, tens of thousands of Sudanese demonstrated in Khartoum and other key cities, demanding that the military hand over control of the country to civilian leaders. Days earlier, a smaller crowd of protesters jumped barricades protecting the presidential palace in Khartoum in what they said was a show of support for a military takeover. The backdrop to the rising tensions is a spiraling economic crisis in the country of 45 million people. Annual consumer-price inflation has been near 400% for much of the year and the government has warned of shortages of essential goods, including wheat, fuel and basic medicines. In Khartoum, long lines in front of bakeries and groceries stores have once again become a common sight, which for many Sudanese brought back memories of the sharp increases to the price of bread that sparked the protests against Mr. Bashir in late 2018. The U.S. and other Western nations have sent millions of dollars of support to Sudan, hoping to build into a nexus of stability in a turbulent region. Almost exactly a year ago, the Trump administration brokered an agreement between Sudan and Israel to normalize relations, a key step for the removal of U.S. sanctions imposed on Khartoum in the 1990s for harboring al Qaedas then leader, Osama bin Laden, and aiding terrorist groups. Earlier this year, the International Monetary Fund announced a massive debt-relief deal for Sudan under which more than $50 billion of the countrys external debts would be wiped out over the next three years. But the debt relief came tied to a stringent program of economic overhaulsincluding the removal of state subsidies and the floating of Sudans currencythat boosted opposition to Mr. Hamdoks government. Cameron Hudson, a former chief of staff for the Office of the U.S. Special Envoy to Sudan who is now with the Atlantic Councils Africa Center, said one important reason for the countrys economic difficulties was the militarys continued control of key revenue-generating sectors, including gold mining, agriculture and construction. The international assistance has helped slow the economic decline but it has not been enough to turn the economy around," he said. In recent weeks, Sudans economic problems have been exacerbated by a blockade of the Port of Sudan, the countrys biggest harbor on the Red Sea, where members of the Beja tribes, who make up around 10% of Sudans population, have cut off key access roads. They accuse the government of economic neglect and marginalization, and have insisted they wont end the blockade to the ports until their demands are met. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Oxytocin is known as the "cuddle hormone," but that simplistic moniker glosses over the complex role this hormone plays in social interactions and bonding. Oxytocin is a hormone secreted by the posterior lobe of the pituitary gland, a pea-sized structure at the base of the brain. It is sometimes known as the "cuddle hormone" or the "love hormone," because it is released when people snuggle up or bond socially, according to Texas Medical Center. Even playing with your dog can cause an oxytocin surge, according to research published in 2017 in the journal Frontiers in Psychology. But these monikers may be misleading. According to the American Psychological Association, oxytocin can also intensify memories of bonding gone bad, such as in cases where men have poor relationships with their mothers. It can also make people less accepting of people they see as outsiders. In other words, whether oxytocin makes you feel cuddly or suspicious of others depends on the environment. Oxytocin in women Oxytocin is a particularly important hormone for women. "Oxytocin is a peptide produced in the brain that was first recognized for its role in the birth process, and also in nursing," said Larry Young, a behavioral neuroscientist at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. The hormone increases the strength and frequency of uterine contractions during labor and helps shrink the uterus after delivery, according to a chapter in the book "Drugs During Pregnancy and Lactation" (Elsevier B.V., 2015). When an infant suckles at their mother's breast, the stimulation causes the mom's body to release oxytocin, which, in turn, orders the body to "let down" milk for the baby to drink. Oxytocin strengthens bonds between mothers and their babies. (Image credit: Getty) Oxytocin also promotes mother-child bonding. Studies show that "female rats find pups to be aversive if [the females are] virgins," Young told Live Science. "But once they give birth, the brain is transformed, so they find the pups irresistible," he said. And similar findings are seen in humans. The Association of Psychological Science found that the higher a mom's oxytocin levels in the first trimester of pregnancy, the more likely she was to engage in bonding behaviors such as singing to or bathing her baby. Related: 11 interesting effects of Oxytocin Although maternal bonding may not always be hardwired after all, human females can adopt babies and take care of them oxytocin released during pregnancy "does seem to have a role in motivation and feelings of connectedness to a baby," Young said. Studies also show that interacting with a baby causes the infant's own oxytocin levels to increase, he added. Oxytocin in men In men, oxytocin also facilitates bonding. In previous research, dads who got a boost of oxytocin via a nasal spray played more closely with their 5-month-old babies than dads who didn't get the hormone zap, Live Science reported. (There is another hormone, called vasopressin, which plays a stronger role in bonding for men.) Related: Oxytocin hormone may boost spirituality This anti-social effect of a social hormone brings some nuance to the story of oxytocin. In one study, researchers found that Dutch students given a snort of the hormone became more positive about fictional Dutch characters, but they were more negative about characters with Arab or German names. The finding suggests that oxytocin's social bonding effects are targeted at whomever a person perceives as part of their in-group, the researchers reported in January 2011 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). A man's oxytocin level usually increases when they become a father. (Image credit: Getty) In another study, also published in PNAS, men were given a dose of oxytocin and asked to recall memories of their mothers. Those with secure relationships described their moms as more caring after the hormone dose. Those with troubled relationships actually saw their mothers as less caring than they did before receiving the dose. The hormone may help with the formation of social memories, according to the study researchers, so a whiff strengthens previous associations, whether good or bad. "My view of what oxytocin is doing in the brain is making social information more salient," Young said. "It connects brain areas involved in processing social information whether it's sights, faces, sounds or smells and helps link those areas to the brain's reward system." Oxytocin and anxiety As well as creating social bonds and developing trust between people, oxytocin can also create opposing responses. According to a study in mice that was published in 2020 in PNAS, anxiety and envy can result when oxytocin is made in a certain part of the brain, the researchers said in a statement. Usually, oxytocin is produced in an area of the brain called the hypothalamus. Sometimes, however, the hormone is produced in the "bed nucleus of the stria terminalis" (BNST). This part of the brain plays a key role in the body's stress response. In the study, the researchers analyzed the brains and behaviors of mice, found that the mice displayed signs of social anxiety when oxytocin was produced in the BNST. What are oxytocin sprays? Oxytocin nose sprays also have been considered for use in treating autism, a neurological disorder marked by struggles with social functioning, Live Science previously reported. Research published in 2017 in the journal PNAS shows that increased levels of oxytocin in children with autism could improve their social abilities. In this study, which involved 32 children ages 6-12, scientists found that this treatment had the biggest impact on those who had the lowest natural levels of oxytocin beforehand. Oxytocin can be administered as an injection or nasal spray. (Image credit: Getty) "When you think about using oxytocin to treat diseases like autism, you want to make sure you do it in a context where the social information is positive," Young said. Use of oxytocin sprays outside of a medical context is far murkier, however. The sprays sold online without a prescription promise stress relief and social ease. In 2019, they were approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), specifically for treatment-resistant depression. For other treatments, little is known about the sprays' efficacy and side effects. There are no long-term studies on the side effects of the legitimate oxytocin sprays used in hormone research; most studies give people one dose of the hormone only. Pitocin, a synthetic version of oxytocin given intravenously to stimulate labor, according to Healthline. This can prevent complications in overdue births, but also holds risks such as infection and overstimulation of the uterus. Additional resources This article is for informational purposes only, and is not meant to offer medical advice. Click here to read the full article. The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures announced Vienna in Hollywood, a new six-week program launching on Dec. 10 that explores the history of the predominantly Jewish, Austrian-born community of filmmakers and professionals who helped shape the classical era of Hollywood. Jewish immigrants from Eastern and Central Europe including actor-director Erich von Stroheim and composer Max Steiner were major players in the early establishment of the American film industry in the 1920s. Due to Nazi persecution, a larger wave came in the 30s and 40s, bringing in talent such as the directors Billy Wilder and Fritz Lang; actors Hedy Lamarr and Peter Lorre; producers Eric Pleskow and Sam Spiegel; screenwriters Vicki Baum and Gina Kaus; and composers Erich Wolfgang Korngold and Ernest Gold. With a symposium and film series, Vienna in Hollywood will pay tribute to these artists and many more. The two-day symposium is titled Vienna in Hollywood: The Influence and Impact of Austrians on the Hollywood Film Industry, 1920s-2020s. Panels will take place at USC and at the Academy Museum on Dec. 10 and 11, respectively, featuring international scholars, filmmakers, artists and programmers. Panels include Composers and Their Legacies; Women Writers and Exile Networks; Vienna Film Exiles Below the Line; Directors; Wien Kultur; and Vienna and Hollywood Today. The film series, titled Vienna in Hollywood: Emigres and Exiles in the Studio System, launches on Dec. 11 at the Academy Museum. Running until Jan. 31, 2022, the lineup features the work of Austrian-born Jewish filmmakers including Michael Curtizs Casablanca, Max Reinhardts A Midsummer Nights Dream, Josef von Stenbergs Dishonored and Billy Wilders Sunset Boulevard and A Foreign Affair. Vienna in Hollywood is presented in collaboration with the USC Libraries and the USC Max Kade Institute for Austrian-German-Swiss Studies with support from the Austrian Consulate General in Los Angeles. During the classical Hollywood era, so many beloved films and so many components of the movie industry were developed and shaped by Austrian emigres, including Erich von Stroheim, Max Steiner, Vicki Baum, Fritz Lang and many others, said Bill Kramer, director and president of the Academy Museum. The Academy Museum is deeply committed to scholarly and dynamic explorations of film history. We are thrilled to be presenting the work and vision of these groundbreaking film artists and professionals who are a core part of our cinematic history. Many are familiar with the fascinating story that Jewish immigrants from Eastern and Central Europe were the founding fathers of Hollywood in the early 20th century, said Doris Berger, senior director of curatorial affairs at the Academy Museum. It is a privilege to collaborate with colleagues from USC and the Austrian Consulate to spotlight the lesser-known film and cultural history of the significant contributions of Austrian emigres to the look and sound of classic era Hollywood. The Max Kade Institute is thrilled to partner with the museum and USC Libraries for this wonderful series of events on the unique Austrian contributions to Hollywood cinema and Austrian and American cross-cultural cinematic currents, said Paul Lerner, professor of history at USC and director of the Max Kade Center. Vienna in Hollywood perfectly embodies the Institutes founding mission of documenting the lives and work of German-speaking emigres and exiles in Southern California, those predominantly Jewish refugees from Nazi-controlled Central Europe who shaped the landscapes and cultures of Los Angeles in the 1940s and beyond. Visit www.academymuseum.org for more information about the symposium and film series. Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. In the five years since his death from cancer in January 2016, David Bowies estate has kept fans captivated with an extensive, tastefully curated series of reissues that have presented a vast amount of material in a non-overwhelming manner. Happily, that same approach is evident in the Bowie 75 pop-up stores (so named for his 75th birthday in January of next year), which opened in London and New York on Monday. The locations function not just as stores although theres a bounty of T-shirts, vinyl, CDs, posters, stickers, hoodies and other swag but also as a sort of mini-museum destination, where fans can watch videos, listen to immersive audio and other stuff (see below), and attend events as well. It is open through late January. The first of those special events sounds exceptionally awesome: SUNDAY, 31 OCTOBER 2021, 11AM 7PM ET: FAN EVENT: Drop By Dressed Up As Your Favorite Bowie! Wow the Bowie 75 store staff and other fans with your best take from any of Davids iconic looks. Dont forget to share your images and tag #bowie75 Equally awesome (if less impressive on the costume front) is a reading in early December by Chris OLeary, whose books and website present arguably the most far-reaching and thoughtful observations on Bowie, his music and his era: SATURDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2021, 3PM ET SPECIAL APPEARANCE: Chris OLeary takes us inside and behind each and every song in Bowies vast catalog by reading from his books Rebel Rebel: All the Songs of David Bowie 64 to 76 and Ashes to Ashes: The Songs of David Bowie, 1976-2016 Bowie 75 producer Lawrence Peryer explains the significance of the New York location, which is just a short walk from Bowies longtime residence, in the introduction to the booklet accompanying the New York store: David Bowie spent over 20 years living and creating in New York City. In 2003, he told SOMA Magazine, I cant imagine living anywhere elseIts amazing. I am a New Yorker. And indeed, he was. He frequented our restaurants, bookstores, and art museums. He performed in our clubs, theatres, arenas, and stadiums. He mourned with us at the Concert for New York after 9/11 and celebrated with us the following Spring on stage in Battery Park, joyously welcoming us back downtown. He recorded albumsmade artraised a family. All here in New York City. Not far from this very location. Below are descriptions of some of the elements in the store (from the booklet); more info can be found at Bowie75.com: The CUT-UP Magnet Wall, inspired by Bowies use of the cut-up technique, a method of lyric-writing wherein a written text is cut into word or phrase-sized fragments and rearranged to generate a new text. This approach was used on songs as early as Moonage Daydream from the Ziggy Stardust era on through Bowies later career, when paper was replaced by The Varbaszier, a custom piece of software David co-developed with Brian Eno and Ty Roberts. The Custom K2, modeled after the iconic British phone box seen on the album sleeve for The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars. Take a picture to share on your socials, but make sure you place a call while in the box Be a Bowie, another great photo op. Snap yourself as part of various David Bowie iconography. I Am a D.J. Davids history with radio in general, and the BBC in particular, manifested in an on-going series of appearances as both a performer and in Spring 1979 a D.J., on BBC Radio. Learn more about Bowies performances and his time spinning his favorite tracks. Ground Control. This is where we all get to express our love, admiration, and any other sentiment to David Bowie. Guests of Bowie 75 in New York and London can leave and read messages, shared between the two locations. Visitors to bowie75.com can see the tributes as well. David Bowie in Sonys 360 Reality Audio An Immersive Music Experience. Visit the kiosks throughout the shop or drop into the immersive room to experience the music of David Bowie like never before, featuring mixes in 360 Reality Audio, a new immersive music experience, overseen by Bowies longtime producer Tony Visconti. Exclusive to the Bowie 75 locations, updated with new content throughout our run. Music, Collectibles, Apparel, Fine Art and Photography. In addition to our ongoing curated offerings, we will be announcing limited quantity drops of in-store music releases, special edition collectibles, exclusive apparel, beautifully framed and limited in number fine art prints of classic and rare David Bowie images, as well as an exhibition wall and later in our run, Celebration Prints from the world of photography associated with David Bowie. Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Amid the questions about what Grammy categories Halsey belongs in with her increasingly alternative-leaning music, theres at least one division where shell likely be in contention that cuts across all genres: best music film. She starred in and wrote If I Cant Have Love, I Want Power, a 50-minute film that premiered in IMAX theaters Aug. 26 and had its streaming bow on HBO Max Oct. 7. The movie tells a narrative about a expectant queen who falls afoul of her countrys ruling class, with plenty of interstitial silences pregnant pauses, if you will and a few bits of dialogue to further set apart a highly ambitious project that had Halseys own second-term pregnancy as both a challenge and a boon in filming. Colin Tilley, the films director, and Jamee Ranta, its executive producer (who also took on the role of creative/line producer), talked with Variety about a Prague shoot that was obviously very different from the many music videos theyve worked on together (including numerous ones for Justin Biebers latest album, Justice, like the Diane Keaton-starring Ghost). If I Cant Have Love falls somewhere into a netherworld between short subject, video album and feature-length film, but if that makes it less easily categorizable for some, its a sweet spot for these filmmakers. In separate interviews, they discussed a range of subjects relating to the film, including the practical effects and FX they used to both hide and heighten Halseys pregnancy (she was five months into it at the time of shooting, but the film portrays her in stages ranging from pre-conception to ready to give birth, and after), and how the record company dealt with such a dark film (spoiler: Halsey gets what Halsey wants, but Capitol supported her vision). Tilley: Whats so amazing about working with Ashley (aka Halsey) is shes such a risk-taker and she approached this film from the very beginning saying, Im not going to do what a normal pop artist would do. Thats what everybody expects. I want to do something that I truly love, and that I would watch and that I would want to be a part of. And she stayed true to that from the very beginning. And thats why I was onboard from the very beginning, because one of the first things that she said was: This film is going to end with me guillotined. And thats what this whole concept was built upon. And so from the very beginning, it was always going to be dark. Ranta: Halsey does what she wants. [Laughs.] But I will say that it is a risk to take on a project like this for a record label. And usually we get pushback, and they were all on board and very supportive of this concept and this idea, and it was really nice as a creative team to be able to receive that type of support from the label. Because thats not always the case. So, shout-out to Capitol Records and their whole team. Tilley: Halsey reached out to me to work on this project probably three months before we ended up going going to Prague. She had this whole kind of mood board written out, as far as kind of the structure of the way that things would work. Based on that concept, I worked with her on the storyline as she was writing the script, putting it all together into some kind of narrative structure. She was still working on the music, and I didnt hear any of that music or even find out that Trent and Atticus were doing the music until I actually got to Prague to start shooting. It was really just having to kind of trust your gut as far as like, how am I going to tell this silent movie, the story for a silent movie, without actually knowing what the full songs are going to be yet? So it was a really, really interesting process. But I knew the lyrics, and I knew the intentions of each song that Ashley was writing. Ranta: I feel like this (film) is a fine0art piece. You have custom-designed Vivienne Westwood pieces. You have the top stylist in Hollywood right now as part of this. The artwork and every painting in the castle and every fabric has been very strategically chosen and placed where it is. The makeup that Halsey did herself was very calculated and well thought out to create these looks. This is like a fashion horror film that has music-video elements to it. So you cant quite define it or put it into any specific genre. Its an hour long, so its not like a full, full-length feature and its not quite a short film. Its just a new medium. And her album release was at the net. Even our photographer on set was very, very careful about how he styled and framed things that were meant for the album artwork. Tilley: I read the story that she was trying to accomplish, and I was like, okay, this is a very interesting take on what its like to be somebody in the spotlight, and getting pregnant, and all the perception that happens there. But then she basically took that concept about whats currently happening to her and flipped it to back in the day in the 1300s or 1400s, where it was a whole different ordeal. But still nothing has really changed. It was just more extreme. So, its really like a modern-day horror story in that sense. Being pregnant at that time was horrifying, for so many reasons, and thats what we were leaning into telling here. Ranta: I presented Romania, Croatia, France, England and Ukraine, and I really did a thorough search and reached out to some production companies and some people Ive worked with before. But Prague area and Czech Republic have a very, very strong production base. I really felt like Prague was the location that we needed to shoot. We ended up shooting in two different castles, but the main castle is an 11th century castle that Ive always been wanting to go to, just as a tourist. They typically wouldnt allow filming, but because the country was shut down during COVID and thad no tours scheduled, we were able to really maximize on that opportunity. Tilley: Ive never experienced a feeling of focus like that in my life, because before this point, Id go back-to-back on videos where every week Im shooting a different video. So naturally you have a little bit of set ADD. I think that its getting close to 300 music videos Ive done at this point; I stopped counting after 200. And in the last 11, 12 years that Ive been directing, Ive gotten two days on set, three days max, in order to execute a storyline. So for the first time in my life, Im like, oh my gosh, I have two weeks on set to shoot something? The amount of prep work was unlike anything Id experienced, but it was the best feeling Ive ever had in my life. After I left, I said: This is where I want to live. This is the space that I want to be in. Director Colin Tilley, producer Jamee Ranta, filmmakers for Halseys If I Cant Have Love, I Want Power Tilley: Shooting in IMAX was incredible. The amount of information that those cameras take in is unreal, so when youre shooting in castles from the 1100s and youre shooting these huge sequences with all these people in them, you get to hold that quality. Yeah, the cameras are a little bit bigger, but Elias, my DP, grew up working with IMAX cameras with his father, so he was super-used to the process. We just had to basically bulk up our post machines as far as the way that were downloading all the information. I want to shoot everything on those cameras now. Even when youre doing more intimate scenes, the information that you take in, again, it makes it that much more intimate and that much more vulnerable. When Id be talking to Ashley about different shots, Id be like, Hey, this is a closeup, but remember, your face is going to be like a hundred feet tall on the screen here. You have to make sure to sell every centimeter of your face, as far as expressing your different emotions. It was really fun to be able to play with all of that in a whole different light, because youre not watching this on your iPhone well, people are now, but doing it for IMAX was a very, very cool experience. Ranta: We had over 200 cast and crew. So we had to make sure everyones protected, we had COVID testing, PCR testing, just like we do here in the United States, and everyone made a very enclosed pod where we didnt see or talk to anyone outside of the people we were working with and their direct, immediate families. We had no crew cases and very few cases of COVID among our general background extras, in which case they were obviously replaced prior to ever being in person. And that was a challenge. Halsey was pregnant during the process. We wanted to make sure that she felt safe. We wanted to make sure that she is healthy as shes nurturing a baby inside her while we make art about the birthing process. [On how Halsey was made to appear more pregnant or less pregnant]: Thats movie magic, baby! [Laughs.] That was a very, very intense strategy and calculations and collaboration on everything from our first AD scheduling things to the way we designed the shots with our director and cinematographer, as well as the conversations with our stylist, Law Roche, and the designer of the dress. One of those dresses, the main teal and maroon dress, is a custom Vivienne Westwood gown. So, paying attention to the way things are cut and angled for each period or each month and each stage of pregnancy. So it was a mix of that as well as a mix of aamera angles, lenses and VFX enhancements. You know, movie magic. We cant give away all the tricks. Weve got to be mysterious. Tilley: Yes, she was five months pregnant, and by the time we were done shooting, she was about six. But that (stage) is just a really small pocket of this film as far as the timeline (for the character). So it was definitely a lot of practical effects, whether it was different pregnancy stuffings that we could put in her dresses, but also her main stylist did an incredible job being able to hide that belly with some of these wardrobe pieces. That was something that was extremely helpful for us, because yes, there is stuff that we can do in post effects to be able to make her not look pregnant, but we wanted to make it feel as real as possible on set. And a lot of times I would be shooting a scene and be like, this is crazy, because she does not look pregnant here. And it was just such a genius job on the wardrobe side of being able to hide that and really manipulate it. You know, your body is going through so much when youre pregnant. And it was definitely like, we were working in some pretty extreme conditions. It was like extremely cold at times; it started snowing one day. and I was so impressed that Ashley was able to push through every single day, no matter what. It was one of the most impressive things Ive ever seen, where I was like, Im curious whats actually going to happen here. And yes, I did have to change up the style that I shot this, because sometimes I would have two hours blocked out to shoot a scene the way that I was hoping, and then its like, oh wait, its freezing cold here I cant have her on-set for even close to that long. I have 15 minutes to shoot this scene. And so Id have to flip the entire way that I approached shooting this entire piece. And I think it really worked to our advantage as far as some of these longer takes and some of the choices that I made as far as the way that we blocked out the camera. Ranta: Were currently involved in a transition phase of moving into more long form work. Ive done a couple of features myself. Weve done some (other) short films together, like Mr. Happy with Chance the Rapper, and a lot of our music videos lately have been narrative-driven, like the ones with Justin Bieber, Were pushing the envelope and breaking the mold of what long-form cinema can be. It doesnt have to always follow the same structure or model of the studio wave. Were be excited to come and be that outlier or that niche team to kind of move into that space. But I was in an interview and this guy was like, Yeah, enough about all those music videos. Tell me about this feature you did. And I thought to myself, he has no idea, because when you do a music video, like a studio picture or a blockbuster film, you may also have explosions and helicopters and a crowd of 60, 70 people and all of these things and we pull that stuff off all the time with three days of prep. Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Hundreds of entertainment industry artisans gathered on Sunday evening in the crowded parking lot of IATSE Local 80 Burbank headquarters to pay tribute to Halyna Hutchins, the cinematographer killed by a prop gun on the New Mexico set of the film Rust. For those in attendance, the spirit of solidarity was mentioned many times, along with a sense of frustration that the industry is still not paying attention to the impact of long hours, demanding deadlines and low pay among over-worked crew members. Were dying at work, said Local 44 property member Chela Fiorini, who attended the candlelight vigil with her spouse, DGA and SAG member David Coennen. Solidarity with my workmates brought me out here. Were fighting for a contract that includes meaningful rest, that this crew was not getting. And its completely unacceptable, and we have to put an end to this right now. The vigil, which took place as the sun set, included speeches and tributes from Local 600 national executive director Rebecca Rhine and president John Lindley, as well as Michael Miller, IATSE 4th international VP/department director, motion picture & TV production, and AFI instructor Stephen Lighthill, who was a mentor to Hutchins. Miller expressed solidarity with the crew of Rust, who have been devastated by her death and the situations on set that may have led to it. But were here for crews everywhere that sharing this grief and the knowledge that it could have been any one of us Im afraid we are also gathered with some frustration and a little bit of anger. Anger that too often, the rush to complete productions and the cutting of corners puts safety on the backburner and puts crewmembers at risk. Miller mentioned a frustration that its been seven years since the death of camera assistant Sarah Jones on another independent feature shooting on location, Midnight Rider, which also led to a discussion about working conditions for Hollywood crews. The circumstances are not identical, but theyre way too familiar, he said. The idea that there isnt time for safety is just wrong. The concept that schedule is more important than safety or the budget is more important than people is one that simply cannot be allowed to persist. If youre on a set, and your crews are telling you that its not safe, listen to them. Halynas death reminds us that our fight to protect the safety of ourselves and our co-workers is never over. It must continue each day in every workplace, and on every set. Lindley read a note from Hutchins husband, Matthew Hutchins, who wrote that her legacy is too meaningful to encapsulate in words. Our loss is enormous and we will need time to process our grief Please take time to remember her, and we will all take time to honor her memory. Lindley said although he didnt know Hutchins, he has gotten a very clear picture of who she is by talking to her friends and family. And whats clear to me is that she was beloved, respected, talented, and loving. She was one of us. She was part of the film family, she was passionate about the work and eager to succeed. And Ive heard a lot about her bright future. But whats really clear to me is that she had a very bright present, she had a husband and a son. But, he added, Its our nature to make sense of something like this that is senseless. And no matter what we ever learn about this, it will never make sense, because in my opinion, it was unnecessary. But here we are. What I asked them all of us is that we try not to let our grief turn to anger. But to spend this time, binding together with one another, and caring for each other, and also reaching out to her family and caring for them. Lighthill recounted meeting Hutchins at AFI and remembered her unique upbringing in the Soviet Union: She described it as being raised with the reindeer out one window and nuclear submarines out the other, he said. What impressed us when we interviewed Halyna was her determination, he said. And then what impressed us in her first year at AFI was her ability to take the criticism of the notes that we gave her, take them seriously without being defensive, and to really grow from those notes. Lighthill, a cinematographer who serves as that disciplines head at AFI, also urged students, faculty and industry members to tell him if theres anything I can do better to prepare you for this world. If youre an alum, if youre a current student, if youre faculty, please go to me and tell me because what has happened on Rust should never happen. And if I can equip people better to go out to this world, I will. Lighthill emphasized that industry artisans need to start a conversation about our addiction to long hours with producers and fellow crew members. We need to start working normal days so we can have normal family lives, he said. And the last thing Id like you to do is start a conversation about functional guns on sets. There is no place for weapons that can kill on motion picture sets. Rubber guns are totally acceptable now and can be made to look as real as they need to. The vigil resonated with attendees like special effects crewperson Maggie Goll, who said she came to celebrate Halynas life and hopefully that this will help us make changes but also to recognize that it could have been any one of us. When we have a chance to be together we should take these times. This is solidarity. Said writers assistant George Nader: This could have been any one of us. Weve both worked on sets in the past and safety is a primary concern for everybody. Its heartbreaking, it was so avoidable. Thats the thing. Fiorini and Coennen said they believed that Hutchins death will likely lead to more no votes on the IATSE contract that has recently been negotiated with the AMPTP. The tense contract talks over working conditions, hours and safety concerns led the industry to the brink of an IATSE strike for the first time in more than a century. This is really solidifying a lot of that vote right now, considering where this contract went, Coennen said. Im not a member but Ive been observing whats been going on because Im the spouse of a member. And theres not a lot of members that are happy with what they ended up with. What was going on, on this set was unfortunately a tragedy waiting to happen. It was a failure at every level. Its because of skimping, its because of having a tiered contract. Not wanting to spend the money on safety or rushing, trying to get it into 21 days of shooting Her death should not be in vain. Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Jonathan Lemire, a veteran Washington reporter whose on-air profile grew during coverage of the Trump administration, will take the anchor reins at MSNBCs Way Too Early, the network announced Monday. The move has been long expected. Lemire has been helming the early-morning hour for weeks, filling in after the departure of its previous anchor, Kasie Hunt. Lemire, who had been working at the Associated Press, will join Politico as its White House bureau chief as part of the move. Speaking on MSNBC Monday morning, Lemire said the program would take on a real reporters sensibility, and have some fun with the news while examining it with lawmakers and important officials throughout Washington. Before joining the AP in 2013, Lemire spent more than a decade at the New York Daily News. He grew up in Massachusetts. He is also at work on a book, The Big Lie: Election Chaos, Political Opportunism, and the State of American Politics after 2020, due out in fall 2022. Way Too Early, originally conceived as a vehicle for Willie Geist, is considered part of the NBCUniversal cable-news outlets politics-focused morning programming, and has increasingly been viewed as part of a block with Morning Joe, anchored by Joe Scarborough, Mika Brzezinski and Geist. Way Too Early debuted in 2009. Thomas Roberts succeeded Geist in the role. MSNBC changed the name of the hour to First Look in 2016 before restoring it in 2020 when Hunt took over the hour. Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Laredos congressional race is looking much more intense as a new Republican candidate has thrown his hat in the ring for his partys nomination. Ed Cabrera officially announced that he has joined the race for Texas District 28, which is currently held by Rep. Henry Cuellar. Cabreras entry means that there will be at least two Republicans vying for the partys nomination to challenge the eight-term incumbent. My ranch community outside of San Isidro has been negatively impacted by the open border policies of the Nancy Pelosi and Henry Cuellar Democrats, Cabrera said. Im a Cuban immigrant, a political refugee, so Im for legal immigrants but against illegal immigration. The uncontrolled border crisis burdens our community and pressures counties and cities that are already struggling with high taxes and economic setbacks. The district has some of the poorest zip codes in the country, high unemployment, a large number of uninsured and a high number of people in welfare. Forty years of Democratic political rule of these counties and 17 years of the Cuellar dynasty has not improved conditions, it has worsened them. Its time for change. For his platform, Cabrera wants to focus on providing a voice to the community and not to special interests, to impose term limits on Congress, to do better on border security and to to bring more jobs to the district. He states that his success when coming to the United States is what has propelled him to run for office in efforts to give back to the community he loves and admires. I have been fortunate that I have taken advantage of the opportunities this great country offers, Cabrera said. I have worked hard in school and at work. This has led me to financial success, and now its time for me to give back to my community and protect the fundamentals that has made us the envy of the world. There are patriots in this country that are concerned about the direction Cuellar, Pelosi and the liberal Democrats are taking our great country. They support my campaign. Webb County Republican Chair Luis F. De La Garza, Jr. states that he is excited about another candidate joining the race for the vital congressional district and considers it historical that two candidates are now vying to win the Republican nomination locally. I'm very pleased to know that Mr. Cabrera is running for the position of U.S. representative, De La Garza said. It shows that he cares about local issues and wants to address those concerns. Mr. Cabrera has expressed that change is needed. Now there are two candidates running for the same position, and that's probably history in the making. Cabrera joins Sandra Whitten, who is in the race for the second consecutive election. She said she welcomes the added competition but that her record proves that she can win the race. It shows that the Republican brand is growing, and that all of the hard work the grassroots and myself did in 2020 has captured the attention of Republicans all the way from New York City, Whitten said. Im honored to be a trailblazer and have made the history books as the first viable Republican and first-ever Republican woman candidate that has ever come out of CD-28, and I look forward to a healthy competition that will build our primary all the way down the ballot. Even though Whitten welcomes Cabreras run for the Republican nomination, she does state that she is ready to be the victor of her partys nomination. She states that her work and experience in Webb County especially is what will elevate her to win. I look forward to being the nominee again in 2022, Whitten said. I have been in Webb County for almost 13 years, and it's about time Republicans come to the table instead of just being on the menu. While my opponent has to learn our district as an outsider, I'm honored to represent our district just as I have for over a decade as a longtime resident and active member of our community, both for our law enforcement, churches and children, and boasting about the best trade port in the nation that our business and industry leaders have built. Although both candidates are in it to win it, the local Republican chair states that the local party will not endorse anyone for office and let the people decide who wants to represent the party comes Novembers election. A similar stance has been taken by the local Democratic party vying for the nomination including Cuellar and challengers Tannya Benavides and Jessica Cisneros. Once the primary is over, the party will give its full support to the winning candidate, De La Garza said. Cuellars campaign office states that they are aware of Cabreras entrance to the race but do not fear losing any major votes. They state that they know the congressman continues to be the strongest candidate among all other party candidates wanting to run for the same office. The congressman has a proven record getting big things done and is one of the most effective members in the country, said Bert Santibanez, Cuellars campaign manager. We look forward to comparing his record and plans for the future with any candidate. Cabrera also states that he is also ready to coordinate and work with the Hispanic populations of the district and in Laredo as he states that he and his family is fully bilingual. The community is heavy Hispanic, and to represent the district, you need to listen to their concerns, Cabrera said. If they feel more comfortable in Spanish, as an advocate, we need to speak Spanish. I am Cuban and Spanish was my first language. My wife of 37 years, Maria Luisa, grew up in The Valley and taught our four children to be bilingual. The new congressional candidate states that his familys support is one of the main reasons why he jumped on the wagon for District 28 as they propelled him to help him win in such vital contest coming in the mid-term elections in 2022. My family has told me to never lose sight of why Im running, Cabrera said. I should not forget to stay focused on the voters and their needs. There will be people pulling you in different directions, but never forget to keep the needs of the community first and foremost. Details are surfacing on the human smuggling that killed three migrants and injured several others. During the course of the investigation, Laredo police confirmed that a migrant died in San Antonio due to his injuries. A 16-year-old boy was charged on Oct. 8 with accident involving death, smuggling of persons: likelihood of serious bodily injury or death, accident involving serious bodily harm, accident involving damage to vehicles and reckless driving. The juveniles girlfriend Grecia Miguel Martinez, 21 was arrested on Oct. 13 on the charges of smuggling of persons. She acted as a decoy in another vehicle while her boyfriend was the driver of the vehicle involved in the deadly crash. Laredo police officers responded to an accident with injuries at about 6:27 p.m. June 23 at the intersection of Main Avenue and Jefferson Street. The two vehicles involved were described as a white 2009 Dodge Ram 1500 and a 2001 Ford Expedition. U.S. Border Patrol agents were at the scene, where nine migrants had been thrown out from the Dodge as a result of the crash. Border Patrol EMTs rendered aid to the migrants. Two migrants died at the scene. The driver of the Dodge had fled on foot. Police would identify the dead migrants as Francisco Javier Chesvez, 23, and Jose Reynaldo Melendez Heredia, 32, both from El Salvador. An investigation revealed that the Dodge was traveling north in the 2600 block of Main when it disregarded a stop sign and crashed into the Expedition that was traveling on Jefferson. Laredo Fire Department crews transported four migrants to Doctors Hospital and three others to Laredo Medical Center. Five migrants from both hospitals were then airlifted to San Antonio hospitals in critical but stable condition. The occupants of the Expedition, a family of four, were also taken to Doctors Hospital Emergency Room on 1300 E. Saunders St. They did not sustain life-threatening injuries and were later medically cleared. Investigators learned from Border Patrol that the white Dodge had been seen loading migrants by the riverbanks. Further investigation revealed that the last person seen operating the Dodge was a 16-year-old juvenile. A brother of the juvenile told police the juvenile lived with his girlfriend, who was identified as Martinez. The brother further stated that the juvenile was moving migrants. Due to a prior encounter with the juvenile, police went to his last known address in the 3900 block of Convent Avenue. Authorities conducted a knock and talk later that night and learned that the juvenile and Martinez drove a blue-and-green Chevy Tahoe parked inside the apartment complex. Upon checking the Tahoe, authorities discovered what appeared to be marijuana bundles inside. Police obtained a search warrant for the vehicle and discovered 75 pounds of marijuana inside, according to the affidavit. When reviewing video surveillance from the area, authorities noticed what appeared to be a blue Mazda speeding north in the 2700 block of Main. A lookout was placed for the Mazda. On June 24, the patrol division with assistance from the Juvenile And Gang Enforcement Team, or JAGET, had spotted and stopped the Mazda. Authorities identified the occupants as the juvenile and Martinez. Both were taken to LPD headquarters for an interview. Martinez claimed she had nothing to do with the crash and added she did not know who the driver of the Dodge was. She later admitted that the juvenile had asked her for (a favor), according to court documents. She added that the juvenile was the driver of the Dodge when the crash occurred. Martinez stated she was following the juvenile closely behind in her Mazda around the area of the accident. She then admitted she was there when the crash occurred, according to court documents. On July 12, Bexar County Medical Examiners Office personnel notified police that Wilmer Diaz-Sorto, 21, had died on July 9. A 23-year-old smuggler has admitted to his role in a human smuggling conspiracy that left one migrant dead, according to court documents. On Thursday, Jesus Martinez-Villela pleaded guilty to an 18-count indictment carrying charges of conspiracy to transport an undocumented migrant within the United States resulting in death, transport and attempt to transport an undocumented migrant within the United States for financial gain resulting in death, conspiracy to transport migrants causing serious injury, transport and attempt to transport migrants causing serious injuries, and transport and attempt to transport migrants for financial gain. Sentencing is set for Jan. 26. before U.S. District Judge Marina Garcia Marmolejo. At that time, Martinez-Villela faces up to life imprisonment as well as a possible $250,000 maximum fine. He has been and will remain in custody pending that hearing. Homeland Security Investigations conducted the investigation with assistance from the U.S. Border Patrol and Texas Department of Public Safety. Assistant U.S. Attorney Yoona Lim is prosecuting the case. The case dates back to April 22, when agents assigned to the Cotulla Station received a notification about a pursuit involving Texas DPS. Troopers had attempted to pull over a white Dodge Ram 2500 for speeding at about 7 a.m. between the La Salle and Webb County lines. The driver went off road and through a private ranch near the intersection of U.S. 83 and Texas 44. Troopers later discovered that the Dodge had crashed about one mile into the ranch. Further investigation revealed that the Dodge was reported stolen. A man with injuries was found near the crash site. Then, authorities discovered an unresponsive man in the bed of the Dodge. He was pronounced dead and later determined to be a migrant from Mexico. Meanwhile, authorities caught up to 12 migrants in the surrounding area. Three were rendered medical attention for various injuries. Martinez-Villela first was interviewed as a witness in the case. He claimed he had crossed the border illegally with three other people. But two migrants held as witnesses would identify Martinez-Villela as the driver of the Dodge. Material found on his cellular phone indicated Martinez-Villela has been living in the Dallas, Texas area for several months, which contradicted his earlier statement that he was smuggled on this occasion and with this group of 13 others, states the arrest affidavit. TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) A Wichita Republican who once was one of the Kansas Legislatures most powerful lawmakers pleaded no contest Monday to driving under the influence and reckless driving and will serve two days in jail. Former Senate Majority Leader Gene Suellentrop appeared in a Topeka court Monday to formally accept a deal with prosecutors over his speeding the wrong way on two interstate highways in March. Under the agreement, prosecutors dropped a felony charge of attempting to elude law enforcement as well as a misdemeanor charge of driving the wrong way on a divided highway. Shawnee County District Judge Jason Geier found Suellentrop guilty and sentenced him to 6 months in jail for the DUI and 90 days for reckless driving. The bulk of the jail sentences were suspended, but Suellentrop will serve 48 hours in jail and be on probation for a year. Geier also ordered him to pay $775 in fines and $218 in court costs. Fellow Republican senators removed Suellentrop as their majority leader in April, only five months after naming him to the job, which comes with the power to set the Senate's daily debate calendar. It was the first time in at least several decades that a legislative leader had been removed mid-term. Suellentrop, however, continues to retain the Senate seat that he first won in 2016. He is a 69-year-old businessman who also served eight years in the House. Suellentrop answered a series of questions from Geier to show that he understood his agreement with prosecutors and wasn't being coerced into it, and then apologized publicly. His jail term is scheduled for Nov. 18-20. There are many lessons to be learned in circumstances such as these, Suellentrop said. I can assure you I've learned my share. Suellentrop also had his driver's license suspended, and when it is reinstated, he'll have to install an ignition interlock device on his car that will prevent it from starting until he passes a breath test for alcohol. You will not see me in this court or any other court of law for any other similar infraction, he told Geier. Deputy District Attorney Charles Kitt said Suellentrop applied for but was denied a diversion agreement. Such agreements are used when people are charged with minor crimes to allow them to avoid convictions if they avoid further legal trouble. Geier emphasized several times Monday that Suellentrop was receiving a punishment in line with the typical first-time DUI offender. The Kansas Highway Patrol had said Suellentrop's blood-alcohol level was 0.17, more than twice the legal limit of 0.08. Suellentrop's case received national attention because he was a legislative leader and reportedly had been driving up to 90 miles per hour. A Kansas Highway Patrol trooper also said in an affidavit that Suellentrop at one point called him donut boy. Law enforcement radio recordings and 911 calls released by the local sheriffs department in response to an open records request showed multiple people reported Suellentrops white SUV traveling the wrong way on I-470 near a south Topeka exit and then on I-70 through northern Topeka. Suellentrops attorney, Tom Lemon, said in court that Suellentrop hadn't known police were behind him and that once he understood what was going on, He was not disagreeable, suggesting, maybe there were some misunderstandings. This is a case that was serious, and thank God no one was hurt here, Lemon said during Suellentrops hearing Monday. ___ Follow John Hanna on Twitter: https://twitter.com/apjdhanna DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) As the Gaza war raged and tensions surged across the Middle East last May, Instagram briefly banned the hashtag #AlAqsa, a reference to the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalems Old City, a flash point in the conflict. Facebook, which owns Instagram, later apologized, explaining its algorithms had mistaken the third-holiest site in Islam for the militant group Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, an armed offshoot of the secular Fatah party. For many Arabic-speaking users, it was just the latest potent example of how the social media giant muzzles political speech in the region. Arabic is among the most common languages on Facebooks platforms, and the company issues frequent public apologies after similar botched content removals. Now, internal company documents from the former Facebook product manager-turned-whistleblower Frances Haugen show the problems are far more systemic than just a few innocent mistakes, and that Facebook has understood the depth of these failings for years while doing little about it. Such errors are not limited to Arabic. An examination of the files reveals that in some of the worlds most volatile regions, terrorist content and hate speech proliferate because the company remains short on moderators who speak local languages and understand cultural contexts. And its platforms have failed to develop artificial-intelligence solutions that can catch harmful content in different languages. In countries like Afghanistan and Myanmar, these loopholes have allowed inflammatory language to flourish on the platform, while in Syria and the Palestinian territories, Facebook suppresses ordinary speech, imposing blanket bans on common words. The root problem is that the platform was never built with the intention it would one day mediate the political speech of everyone in the world, said Eliza Campbell, director of the Middle East Institutes Cyber Program. But for the amount of political importance and resources that Facebook has, moderation is a bafflingly under-resourced project. This story, along with others published Monday, is based on Haugens disclosures to the Securities and Exchange Commission, which were also provided to Congress in redacted form by her legal team. The redacted versions received by Congress were reviewed by a consortium of news organizations, including The Associated Press. This follows similar reporting by The Wall Street Journal, sourced from the same documents. In a statement to the AP, a Facebook spokesperson said that over the last two years the company has invested in recruiting more staff with local dialect and topic expertise to bolster its review capacity around the world. But when it comes to Arabic content moderation, the company said, We still have more work to do. ... We conduct research to better understand this complexity and identify how we can improve." In Myanmar, where Facebook-based misinformation has been linked repeatedly to ethnic and religious violence, the company acknowledged in its internal reports that it had failed to stop the spread of hate speech targeting the minority Rohingya Muslim population. The Rohingyas persecution, which the U.S. has described as ethnic cleansing, led Facebook to publicly pledge in 2018 that it would recruit 100 native Myanmar language speakers to police its platforms. But the company never disclosed how many content moderators it ultimately hired or revealed which of the nation's many dialects they covered. Despite Facebooks public promises and many internal reports on the problems, the rights group Global Witness said the companys recommendation algorithm continued to amplify army propaganda and other content that breaches the companys Myanmar policies following a military coup in February. In India, the documents show Facebook employees debating last March whether it could clamp down on the fear mongering, anti-Muslim narratives that Prime Minister Narendra Modis far-right Hindu nationalist group, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, broadcasts on its platform. In one document, the company notes that users linked to Modis party had created multiple accounts to supercharge the spread of Islamophobic content. Much of this content was never flagged or actioned, the research found, because Facebook lacked moderators and automated filters with knowledge of Hindi and Bengali. Arabic poses particular challenges to Facebooks automated systems and human moderators, each of which struggles to understand spoken dialects unique to each country and region, their vocabularies salted with different historical influences and cultural contexts. The Moroccan colloquial Arabic, for instance, includes French and Berber words, and is spoken with short vowels. Egyptian Arabic, on the other hand, includes some Turkish from the Ottoman conquest. Other dialects are closer to the official version found in the Quran. In some cases, these dialects are not mutually comprehensible, and there is no standard way of transcribing colloquial Arabic. Facebook first developed a massive following in the Middle East during the 2011 Arab Spring uprisings, and users credited the platform with providing a rare opportunity for free expression and a critical source of news in a region where autocratic governments exert tight controls over both. But in recent years, that reputation has changed. Scores of Palestinian journalists and activists have had their accounts deleted. Archives of the Syrian civil war have disappeared. And a vast vocabulary of everyday words have become off-limits to speakers of Arabic, Facebooks third-most common language with millions of users worldwide. For Hassan Slaieh, a prominent journalist in the blockaded Gaza Strip, the first message felt like a punch to the gut. Your account has been permanently disabled for violating Facebooks Community Standards, the companys notification read. That was at the peak of the bloody 2014 Gaza war, following years of his news posts on violence between Israel and Hamas being flagged as content violations. Within moments, he lost everything hed collected over six years: personal memories, stories of peoples lives in Gaza, photos of Israeli airstrikes pounding the enclave, not to mention 200,000 followers. The most recent Facebook takedown of his page last year came as less of a shock. It was the 17th time that he had to start from scratch. He had tried to be clever. Like many Palestinians, he'd learned to avoid the typical Arabic words for martyr and prisoner, along with references to Israels military occupation. If he mentioned militant groups, hed add symbols or spaces between each letter. Other users in the region have taken an increasingly savvy approach to tricking Facebooks algorithms, employing a centuries-old Arabic script that lacks the dots and marks that help readers differentiate between otherwise identical letters. The writing style, common before Arabic learning exploded with the spread of Islam, has circumvented hate speech censors on Facebooks Instagram app, according to the internal documents. But Slaiehs tactics didnt make the cut. He believes Facebook banned him simply for doing his job. As a reporter in Gaza, he posts photos of Palestinian protesters wounded at the Israeli border, mothers weeping over their sons coffins, statements from the Gaza Strips militant Hamas rulers. Criticism, satire and even simple mentions of groups on the companys Dangerous Individuals and Organizations list a docket modeled on the U.S. government equivalent are grounds for a takedown. We were incorrectly enforcing counterterrorism content in Arabic," one document reads, noting the current system limits users from participating in political speech, impeding their right to freedom of expression. The Facebook blacklist includes Gazas ruling Hamas party, as well as Hezbollah, the militant group that holds seats in Lebanons Parliament, along with many other groups representing wide swaths of people and territory across the Middle East, the internal documents show, resulting in what Facebook employees describe in the documents as widespread perceptions of censorship. If you posted about militant activity without clearly condemning whats happening, we treated you like you supported it, said Mai el-Mahdy, a former Facebook employee who worked on Arabic content moderation until 2017. In response to questions from the AP, Facebook said it consults independent experts to develop its moderation policies and goes to great lengths to ensure they are agnostic to religion, region, political outlook or ideology. We know our systems are not perfect," it added. The companys language gaps and biases have led to the widespread perception that its reviewers skew in favor of governments and against minority groups. Former Facebook employees also say that various governments exert pressure on the company, threatening regulation and fines. Israel, a lucrative source of advertising revenue for Facebook, is the only country in the Mideast where Facebook operates a national office. Its public policy director previously advised former right-wing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Israeli security agencies and watchdogs monitor Facebook and bombard it with thousands of orders to take down Palestinian accounts and posts as they try to crack down on incitement. They flood our system, completely overpowering it, said Ashraf Zeitoon, Facebooks former head of policy for the Middle East and North Africa region, who left in 2017. That forces the system to make mistakes in Israels favor. Nowhere else in the region had such a deep understanding of how Facebook works. Facebook said in a statement that it fields takedown requests from governments no differently from those from rights organizations or community members, although it may restrict access to content based on local laws. Any suggestion that we remove content solely under pressure from the Israeli government is completely inaccurate, it said. Syrian journalists and activists reporting on the countrys opposition also have complained of censorship, with electronic armies supporting embattled President Bashar Assad aggressively flagging dissident content for removal. Raed, a former reporter at the Aleppo Media Center, a group of antigovernment activists and citizen journalists in Syria, said Facebook erased most of his documentation of Syrian government shelling on neighborhoods and hospitals, citing graphic content. Facebook always tells us we break the rules, but no one tells us what the rules are, he added, giving only his first name for fear of reprisals. In Afghanistan, many users literally cannot understand Facebooks rules. According to an internal report in January, Facebook did not translate the sites hate speech and misinformation pages into Dari and Pashto, the two most common languages in Afghanistan, where English is not widely understood. When Afghan users try to flag posts as hate speech, the drop-down menus appear only in English. So does the Community Standards page. The site also doesnt have a bank of hate speech terms, slurs and code words in Afghanistan used to moderate Dari and Pashto content, as is typical elsewhere. Without this local word bank, Facebook cant build the automated filters that catch the worst violations in the country. When it came to looking into the abuse of domestic workers in the Middle East, internal Facebook documents acknowledged that engineers primarily focused on posts and messages written in English. The flagged-words list did not include Tagalog, the major language of the Philippines, where many of the regions housemaids and other domestic workers come from. In much of the Arab world, the opposite is true the company over-relies on artificial-intelligence filters that make mistakes, leading to a lot of false positives and a media backlash, one document reads. Largely unskilled human moderators, in over their heads, tend to passively field takedown requests instead of screening proactively. Sophie Zhang, a former Facebook employee-turned-whistleblower who worked at the company for nearly three years before being fired last year, said contractors in Facebooks Ireland office complained to her they had to depend on Google Translate because the company did not assign them content based on what languages they knew. Facebook outsources most content moderation to giant companies that enlist workers far afield, from Casablanca, Morocco, to Essen, Germany. The firms don't sponsor work visas for the Arabic teams, limiting the pool to local hires in precarious conditions mostly Moroccans who seem to have overstated their linguistic capabilities. They often get lost in the translation of Arabics 30-odd dialects, flagging inoffensive Arabic posts as terrorist content 77% of the time, one document said. These reps should not be fielding content from non-Maghreb region, however right now it is commonplace, another document reads, referring to the region of North Africa that includes Morocco. The file goes on to say that the Casablanca office falsely claimed in a survey it could handle every dialect of Arabic. But in one case, reviewers incorrectly flagged a set of Egyptian dialect content 90% of the time, a report said. Iraq ranks highest in the region for its reported volume of hate speech on Facebook. But among reviewers, knowledge of Iraqi dialect is close to non-existent, one document said. Journalists are trying to expose human rights abuses, but we just get banned, said one Baghdad-based press freedom activist, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals. We understand Facebook tries to limit the influence of militias, but its not working. Linguists described Facebooks system as flawed for a region with a vast diversity of colloquial dialects that Arabic speakers transcribe in different ways. The stereotype that Arabic is one entity is a major problem, said Enam al-Wer, professor of Arabic linguistics at the University of Essex, citing the languages huge variations not only between countries but class, gender, religion and ethnicity. Despite these problems, moderators are on the front lines of what makes Facebook a powerful arbiter of political expression in a tumultuous region. Although the documents from Haugen predate this years Gaza war, episodes from that 11-day conflict show how little has been done to address the problems flagged in Facebooks own internal reports. Activists in Gaza and the West Bank lost their ability to livestream. Whole archives of the conflict vanished from newsfeeds, a primary portal of information for many users. Influencers accustomed to tens of thousands of likes on their posts saw their outreach plummet when they posted about Palestinians. This has restrained me and prevented me from feeling free to publish what I want for fear of losing my account, said Soliman Hijjy, a Gaza-based journalist whose aerials of the Mediterranean Sea garnered tens of thousands more views than his images of Israeli bombs a common phenomenon when photos are flagged for violating community standards. During the war, Palestinian advocates submitted hundreds of complaints to Facebook, often leading the company to concede error and reinstate posts and accounts. In the internal documents, Facebook reported it had erred in nearly half of all Arabic language takedown requests submitted for appeal. The repetition of false positives creates a huge drain of resources, it said. In announcing the reversal of one such Palestinian post removal last month, Facebooks semi-independent oversight board urged an impartial investigation into the companys Arabic and Hebrew content moderation. It called for improvement in its broad terrorism blacklist to increase understanding of the exceptions for neutral discussion, condemnation and news reporting, according to the board's policy advisory statement. Facebooks internal documents also stressed the need to enhance algorithms, enlist more Arab moderators from less-represented countries and restrict them to where they have appropriate dialect expertise. With the size of the Arabic user base and potential severity of offline harm it is surely of the highest importance to put more resources to the task to improving Arabic systems, said the report. But the company also lamented that there is not one clear mitigation strategy. Meanwhile, many across the Middle East worry the stakes of Facebooks failings are exceptionally high, with potential to widen long-standing inequality, chill civic activism and stoke violence in the region. We told Facebook: Do you want people to convey their experiences on social platforms, or do you want to shut them down? said Husam Zomlot, the Palestinian envoy to the United Kingdom, who recently discussed Arabic content suppression with Facebook officials in London. If you take away peoples voices, the alternatives will be uglier. ___ Akram reported from Gaza City, Gaza Strip. Associated Press writers Sam McNeil in Beijing, Sheikh Saaliq in New Delhi and Barbara Ortutay in Oakland, California, contributed to this report. ___ See full coverage of the The Facebook Papers here: https://apnews.com/hub/the-facebook-papers Laredo police discovered a handgun and street-level narcotics following a raid in central Laredo. Authorities also arrested one man in connection with the case. Ruben Montes Cruz was charged with being a migrant illegally in the United States unlawfully possessing a firearm. Laredo polices narcotics unit raided a home in the 4600 block of Haynes Street on Oct. 21. During the execution of the search warrant, investigators found Ruben Montes Cruz inside the residence. Authorities then seized a 9mm MasterPiece Arms MPA930 and approximately 20.9 grams of cocaine in one gram packets. Montes Cruz was taken to the LPD headquarters for questioning. Montes Cruz stated he was born in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico and was in the country illegally. Montes Cruz stated that he purchased the firearm for $150. He stated he purchased the firearm from a person whom he frequently sells narcotics to, states the affidavit. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is investigating the case. SEOUL, South Korea (AP) South Koreas president said Monday hell keep striving to promote peace with North Korea through dialogue until the end of his term next May, after Pyongyang raised animosities with a resumption of provocative weapons tests. While launching a spate of newly developed weapons in recent weeks, North Korea has also slammed Washington and Seoul over what it calls hostility toward the North. Its actions indicate North Korea wants its rivals to ease economic sanctions against it and accept it as a legitimate nuclear state, experts say. In his final policy speech at parliament, President Moon Jae-in said hell make efforts to the end to help a new order for peace and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula be established through dialogue and diplomacy. Moon, a champion of greater reconciliation with North Korea, once shuttled between Pyongyang and Washington to help facilitate now-stalled nuclear diplomacy between the two countries. Pyongyang turned a cold shoulder on Moon after its diplomacy with Washington broke down in early 2019 amid bickering over the sanctions. Moon praised himself for paving the way for a peace process on the Korean Peninsula by holding three summits with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and helping arrange the first-ever North Korea-U.S. summit between Kim and then-President Donald Trump in 2018. But Moon acknowledged his push for peace through dialogue remains incomplete. Moon's single five-year term ends next May, and he's barred by law from seeking reelection. The presidential candidate of Moon's ruling liberal party has unveiled a similar North Korea policy as Moon's. Surveys indicate a neck-and-neck race with a potential conservative candidate, who will likely take a harder line on the North. Moon's appeasement policy on North Korea has been divisive, with his supporters call him a peace-making mediator while his opponents accused him of helping North Korea find ways to weaken international pressure and perfect its weapons systems. The North Korean weapons systems tested recently are mostly short- and medium-range weapons that place South Korea and Japan within their striking ranges. Last Tuesday, North Korea fired a ballistic missile from a submarine in its most significant weapons test since President Joe Biden took office in January. Some experts say North Korea may test a longer-range missile that could pose a direct threat to the American homeland to increase its pressure on Washington in coming weeks. In part of his efforts to ease tensions, Moon has recently been pushing for a symbolic declaration to end the 1950-53 Korean War, which ended with an armistice, not a peace treaty. When Moon meets Pope Francis at the Vatican this week during his European tour, theyll discuss a possible North Korea trip by Francis as the pope has repeatedly expressed hopes to visit the North, according to Moons office. South Koreas Unification Ministry said Monday the government will make efforts to help realize Francis trip to North Korea if related talks have progress. Spokeswoman Lee Jong-joo said a North Korea visit by the pope would make a big contribution to peace on the Korean Peninsula. After receiving reports by concerned members of the community over a video on social media, UISD issued out a statement regarding a dress code presentation in light of senior week which is slated between Nov. 1-4. According to the district, United High School Principal Jessica Salazar spoke to students and emphasized the importance of the dress code guidelines. As the board of trustees voted in favor of a casual dress code to help families during the pandemic, students do not have to wear uniforms but still have a dress code to adhere to. BAMAKO, Mali (AP) A U.N. Security Council mission that is visiting Mali this weekend to assess the security situation is urging the country's authorities to set elections for February to meet agreements reached with a West African regional bloc after a coup last year. The mission led by Kenyas ambassador to the U.N., Martin Kimani, met with civil society organizations, groups that have signed a peace agreement, Malis prime minister and transitional president Col. Assimi Goita during their weekend visit. I was struck by the thirst for reform (both political and institutional) that is desired by most of the Malian population, Kimani Sunday said at a news conference. We are now waiting for the end of the transition period which should lead to the organization of elections. However, Malian authorities have said after the meetings with the U.N. Security Council mission, they want to organize days of consultations in December amongst Malian groups to determine a path toward elections. The Malian authorities have spoken to us about these meetings as a prerequisite for the elections. These meetings will take place in December, said Abdou Abarry, Niger's ambassador to the U.N. who was a part of the delegation. We are not opposed to it, but only insist it does not delay the end of the transition and give Malians the opportunity to choose their leaders. Abarry said that Goita assured the delegation that the transitional authorities are not here to stay in power and any commitments the transitional authorities will make will be in the interest of Malians. Goita seized power in August 2020 by overthrowing Malis democratically elected president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, who had only served two years of his five-year term after being reelected in 2018. Goita eventually agreed to a transitional government led by a civilian president, but ousted those leaders in May after they announced a Cabinet reshuffle that sidelined two junta supporters without consulting him. Goita was then sworn in as president of the transitional government in June. He has pledged to keep the country on track to return to civilian rule with an election in February 2022. The U.N. diplomats also raised the issue of security in Mali. The peacekeeping mission in Mali remains the deadliest of all the U.N. missions since 2013. The Malian authorities have insisted that they are putting much emphasis on security challenges, and MINUSMA (the U.N. mission in Mali) is ready to help them, especially in Central Mali where there is the highest threat of terrorism, said Nicolas de Riviere, Frances ambassador to the U.N. Mali has been fighting growing insecurity since 2012, when al-Qaida-linked groups took over parts of the north. Despite a French-led military operation that forced many rebels from their northern strongholds in 2013, insurgents quickly regrouped and have been advancing year after year toward the south of the country, where the Malian capital is located. They also launch frequent attacks on the Malian army and its allies. ___ Carley Petesch contributed to this report from Dakar, Senegal. Amid fallout from the Facebook Papers documents supporting claims that the social network has valued financial success over user safety, Facebook on Monday reported higher profit for the latest quarter. The company's latest show of financial strength followed an avalanche of reports on the Facebook Papers a vast trove of redacted internal documents obtained by a consortium of news organizations, including The Associated Press as well as Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugens Monday testimony to British lawmakers. Facebook said its net income grew 17% in the July-September period to $9.19 billion, buoyed by strong advertising revenue. Thats up from $7.85 billion a year earlier. Revenue grew 35% to $29.01 billion. The results exceeded analyst expectations for Facebook's results. The company's shares rose 2.5% in after-hours trading after closing up 1% for the day. For now, the revenue picture for Facebook looks as good as can be expected, said eMarketer analyst Debra Aho Williamson. But she predicted more revelations and described the findings so far as unsettling and stomach-churning. CEO Mark Zuckerberg made only a brief mention of what he called the recent debate around our company." Largely repeating statements he made after Haugen's Oct. 5 testimony before a U.S. Senate subcommittee, he insisted that he welcomes good faith criticism but considers the current storm a coordinated effort to paint a false picture" of the company based on leaked documents. It makes a good soundbite to say that we dont solve these impossible tradeoffs because were just focused on making money, but the reality is these questions are not primarily about our business, but about balancing difficult social values," Zuckerberg said. Haugen, meanwhile, told a British parliamentary committee Monday that the social media giant stokes online hate and extremism, fails to protect children from harmful content and lacks any incentive to fix the problems, providing momentum for efforts by European governments working on stricter regulation of tech companies. While her testimony echoed much of what she told the U.S. Senate this month, her in-person appearance drew intense interest from a British parliamentary committee that is much further along in drawing up legislation to rein in the power of social media companies. Haugen told the committee of United Kingdom lawmakers that Facebook Groups amplifies online hate, saying algorithms that prioritize engagement take people with mainstream interests and push them to the extremes. The former Facebook data scientist said the company could add moderators to prevent groups over a certain size from being used to spread extremist views. Unquestionably, its making hate worse, she said. Haugen said she was shocked" to hear that Facebook wants to double down on what Zuckerberg calls the metaverse, the companys plan for an immersive online world it believes will be the next big internet trend. "Theyre gonna hire 10,000 engineers in Europe to work on the metaverse, Haugen said. I was like, Wow, do you know what we could have done with safety if we had 10,000 more engineers? she said. Facebook says it wants regulation for tech companies and was glad the U.K. was leading the way. While we have rules against harmful content and publish regular transparency reports, we agree we need regulation for the whole industry so that businesses like ours arent making these decisions on our own," Facebook said Monday. It pointed to investing $13 billion (9.4 billion pounds) on safety and security since 2016 and asserted that its almost halved the amount of hate speech over the last three quarters. Haugen accused Facebook-owned Instagram of failing to keep children under 13 the minimum user age from opening accounts, saying it wasnt doing enough to protect kids from content that, for example, makes them feel bad about their bodies. Facebooks own research describes it as an addicts narrative. Kids say, This makes me unhappy, I feel like I dont have the ability to control my usage of it, and I feel like if I left, Id be ostracized, she said. The company last month delayed plans for a kids version of Instagram, geared toward those under 13, in order to address concerns about the vulnerability of younger users. Pressed on whether she believes Facebook is fundamentally evil, Haugen demurred and said, I cant see into the hearts of men. Facebook is not evil, but negligent, she suggested. It was Haugen's second appearance before lawmakers after she testified in the U.S. about the danger she says the company poses, from harming children to inciting political violence and fueling misinformation. Haugen cited internal research documents she secretly copied before leaving her job in Facebooks civic integrity unit. The documents, which Haugen provided to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, allege Facebook prioritized profits over safety and hid its own research from investors and the public. Some stories based on the files have already been published, exposing internal turmoil after Facebook was blindsided by the Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol riot and how it dithered over curbing divisive content in India. More is to come. Representatives from Facebook and other social media companies plan to speak to the British committee Thursday. Haugen is scheduled to meet next month with European Union officials in Brussels, where the bloc's executive commission is updating its digital rulebook to better protect internet users by holding online companies more responsible for illegal or dangerous content. Under the U.K. rules, expected to take effect next year, Silicon Valley giants face an ultimate penalty of up to 10% of their global revenue for any violations. The EU is proposing a similar penalty. ___ See full coverage of the Facebook Papers here: https://apnews.com/hub/the-facebook-papers ___ Associated Press writer Marcy Gordon in Washington contributed to this report. A man who crashed into two cars after losing control of his car at a sharp bend between Ballinalee and Longford has been convicted of careless driving. Ryan Doyle, 17 Ardnacassa Avenue, Ballinalee Road, Longford was convicted by Judge John Brennan at last Fridays sitting of Longford District Court after an initial charge of dangerous driving was downgraded following an incident on December 27 last year. Inspector Dave Jordan said the accused had been driving a silver coloured Renault Megane when the car he was driving spun out of control as it attempted to navigate a corner at Kiernans Cross at around 2:30pm. He said the vehicle struck a black BMW before careering into a car park beside a pub and colliding with another car. In defence, solicitor Brid Mimnagh described the layout of the road in which the incident occurred and the dangers it can present to motorists. The car park is an open car park and there is a four crossroads there as well, she said, revealing how everyone caught up in the collision had been fully compensated. Judge Brennan originally indicated his unwillingness to reduce the episode to one of careless driving, given how there were allegations Mr Doyle may have been speeding at the time. Mr Doyle was also stopped in March, July and August last year and charged with a string of other traffic offences, including no insurance, driving while unaccompanied and failing to display L plates. He later reversed those earlier suggestions by agreeing to convict Mr Doyle of the lesser charge, owing to the fact the Longford man was already in custody and serving a sentence for an unrelated matter. It was revealed Mr Doyle was not scheduled to be released until December 23 and was scheduled to get married next March. His mother and father are very supportive of him and he did plead (guilty) in the Circuit Court in relation to the matter he is serving time for, said Ms Mimnagh, adding Mr Doyles fiancee was also in court to support her husband to be. The court also heard Mr Doyle had five previous convictions and had been banned from driving last July for four years after being caught at the wheel without insurance. Certainly, he (Mr Doyle) went through a period when he went out of control certainly in relation to RSA (Road Safety Authority) matters, he said. The judge said he was heartened by Ms Mimnaghs submission concerning the family support which was behind the accused, adding it was his hope Mr Doyle had learnt his ways. He added: If he was older, I would be more severe in relation to these matters. Notwithstanding that they are serious matters, they do cover a period of time that is relatively telescoped. He fined Mr Doyle 300 for the careless driving charge, with fines totalling 1,300 for the other road traffic charges along with a further 300 penalty for a breach of Covid-19 travel regulations. School & Education, Local News By Chris Boyle Published: October 25 2021 This is a State-funded program designed to help young men of color and all youth reach their full potential. Nassau County Executive Laura Curran has announced that the Roosevelt, Elmont, Sewanhaka and Uniondale school districts have become My Brothers Keeper (MBK) communities, taking part in a State-funded program designed to help young men of color and all youth reach their full potential. County Executive Curran was joined by government and school officials, and community leaders to recognize the incoming fellows of the MBK Program at the Theodore Roosevelt Executive Legislative Building. By accepting the New York State My Brothers Keeper Community Challenge, school districts, local government officials, and community partners commit to implementing actions and strategies to improve outcomes for boys and young men of color and all youth to help them realize their full potential. Roosevelt, Elmont, Sewanhaka and Uniondale school districts are receiving $11,900 annually (subject to legislative appropriation) to support the leadership development and growth of the Fellows, including mentoring. In addition, after a competitive RFP process, the My Brother's Keeper Family and Community Engagement Program will provide Roosevelt and Uniondale school districts $125,000 annually (subject to legislative appropriation) for four years to increase the academic achievement and college and career readiness of boys and young men of color by developing and sustaining effective relationships with families and the community to achieve student success. This is an exciting initiative that will help more of our boys and young men stay on track and provide the support they need to reach their full potential, said Nassau County Executive Laura Curran. The My Brothers Keeper or MBK initiative was founded by President Barrack Obama in 2014 as a national effort to eliminate opportunity gaps faced by boys and young men of color, so all young people have the chance to reach their full potential. In 2016, New York State became the first state to accept the Presidents MBK challenge when the Assembly secured $20 million in the 2016-2017 state budget to fund programs that help boys and young men of color succeed inside and outside the classroom. Thirty-one communities in New York, including those announced yesterday as well as Hempstead and Brentwood on Long Island, take part in the program. Officials who took part in yesterdays announcement included State Senator Kevin Thomas, State Senator Anna Kaplan, Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages, Assemblywoman Taylor Darling, Chancellor of the New York State Board of Regents Dr. Lester W. Young, Jr., and New York State Regent Roger Tilles. Nearly a dozen young men named My Brothers Keeper scholars or fellows shared the podium, as the expansion on Long Island was unveiled. It is great to be in Nassau County on this day, on this occasion, with so many committed people. What we are witnessing is the power of partnership, said Dr. Anael Alston, Assistant Commissioner - New York State Office of Access, Equity, and Community Engagement. There is plenty of power when the right people do the right thing at the right time in strategic places. Today that place is Nassau County. As I look at these young men today and as I think about what this means. Were trying to become globally ready. But before we can become globally ready, weve got to be locally steady, Roosevelt School District Superintendent Dr. Deborah Wortham said. This is what love looks like. We know it takes a village. This is the village right here. Sewanhaka High School District Superintendent Dr. James Grossane said older and younger students would partner in the MBK program as the MBK scholars work with classmates and younger students, benefitting both. Uniondale School District Superintendent Dr. Monique Darrisaw-Akil thanked officials who pushed for funding and implementing the program, including County Executive Curran, local school boards and legislators. Thank you for having the vision to invest in our young men and our communities, Dr. Darrisaw-Akil said. We are eager to engage in this work with our students, parents and community leaders so we can improve outcomes for all young people. The stars of the day, however were the students selected as MBK scholars who would not only obtain recognition and resources, but help others in their district. I think this is what MBK is all about, Elmont School District superintendent Kenneth Rosner said as he introduced a young man in the program. We will do this program with the dedication and efficiency it deserves. Jordan Burkett, a sixth grader at the Dutch Broadway Elementary School in Elmont, spoke about the significance of MBK. As a young, black scholar, I am excited to be part of this very important program, he said, adding he looks forward to participating in the program and events. Brandon Long, a senior at Uniondale High School and an MBK fellow said he was happy to be part of the program and hoped to help my community, Long Island as a whole, and that he was looking forward to bringing this experience not to just me, but to everybody else. Assemblymember Michaelle Solages thanked County Executive Curran for her support and hoped the program would continue to expand. This is wonderful. Kudos, she said. Lets continue the work. Chancellor of the New York State Board of Regents Dr. Lester W. Young, Jr., said this program is about providing support to youth and investing in their success. This is really about how we live up to the ideals that the nation was founded on, Dr. Young said. And ensure that each and every one of our young people is successful, not only in their education endeavors, but that theyre successful in life. New York State Regent Roger Tilles said its important to provide opportunities in all of Long Islands districts. Until every district is successful and every student has the same chance, we are far from meeting our success, Tilles, who has served as a regent for 17 years, said. Ive been saying that over and over and over again. These legislators and the county executive have been working tirelessly to make sure that happens. As part of their commitment, each district will receive New York State funding and technical assistance to support the leadership development and growth of new MBK fellows. Elmont plans to have a Teachers of Tomorrow program, including students who tutor and mentor. Uniondale hopes to reach out to and further involve alumni. We want them to come in and do some mentoring, Dr. Darrisaw-Akil said, adding she hoped those in the program would remain in contact. Its being part of a network. Well communicate all the time. Thats something you cant put a price tag on. County Executive Curran in her closing remarks said that the program was about partnership, bettering not only individual lives, but many. Its partnerships that help us succeed. Its relationships, Curran said. Its building trust that makes good things happen for people. Im excited about the possibilities. Crime, Community, Charity & Cause By Chris Boyle Published: October 25 2021 The United States Coast Guard also assisted. Suffolk County Police Marine Bureau officers last night rescued three boaters in the Fire Island Inlet, off Democrat Point, in Babylon. Andre Thchelischeff, the captain of a 36-foot Bennetaue Sailboat, put out a distress alert on a VHF channel at 9:25 p.m. after the boat struck a sandbar and became disabled. There had been a small craft advisory in effect at the time due to high seas. Marine Kilo and Marine Juliet responded along with the officers from the Aviation Section. The United States Coast Guard also assisted. Due to the difficult conditions, including four to five foot waves, it took officers Joseph Lanzisera, Chris DeFeo, Ed McDowell and Joe Meo from Marine Kilo four attempts to reach the vessel, at which point Thchelischeff, and his passengers Richard Cameron and James Isbester, were taken safely onto Marine Kilo. Thchelischeff, 60, Cameron, 61, and Isbester, 60, did not require medical attention. They were transported to the Coast Guard station. Kore Potash PLC - Kola and DX potash projects in Republic of Congo - Announces that the process to finance the construction of the Kola potash project, in Republic of Congo, has progressed in line with the memorandum of understanding signed with the consortium in April 2021. Optimisation study on track for completion in first quarter of 2022. Says consortium is on track to provide the royalty and debt financing proposal for the full construction cost of Kola in the second quarter of 2022. Company plans to further update investors following the completion of an interim report on the optimisation study, which is due "within weeks". "The company is very pleased that the optimisation study and the consortium's financing process are progressing to schedule. We are excited that the next key milestones for the consortium are imminent and look forward to receiving the interim study report and being able to update shareholders further on the progress to develop Kola," said Chief Executive Brad Sampson. Current Johannesburg stock price: ZAR0.23 Year-to-date change: up 28% Current London stock price: 1.15 pence Year-to-date change: up 39% By Greg Roxburgh; gregroxburgh@alliancenews.com Copyright 2021 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved. (Alliance News) - Oracle Power PLC on Monday revealed it has received approval to undertake a drill programme at its Jundee East gold project in Western Australia. The natural resources and power project developer was granted approval for the drilling of five target areas defined at the site by the Department of Mines Industry Resources & Safety. AIM-listed Oracle Power shares were trading 10% higher in London on Monday morning at 0.51 pence each. "It is great to have the programme of work approved, which allows Oracle to commence drilling at Jundee East. Local contractors, BM Geological Services, will seek to secure a drill rig and, once availability is confirmed, we will update shareholders," said Chief Executive Naheed Memon. To undertake drilling, Oracle has contracted BM Geological Services to work on securing a drill rig, which will be mobilised to site for the commencement of drilling. The Jundee East project is comprised of one exploration licence and is located within the Yandal gold province, host to numerous multi-million-ounce gold systems, Oracle stated. By Will Paige; willpaige@alliancenews.com Copyright 2021 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved. 25 October 2021 The Manager RNS Office of the Company Secretary Level 41242 Exhibition StreetMELBOURNE VIC 3000AUSTRALIA General Enquiries 03 8647 4838 Facsimile 03 9650 0989 companysecretary@team.telstra.com Investor Relations Tel: 1800 880 679 investor.relations@team.telstra.com ELECTRONIC LODGEMENT Dear Sir or Madam Telstra to acquire Digicel Pacific in partnership with the Australian Government In accordance with the Listing Rules, I attach a market release and accompanying slides (included as a PDF attachment) for release to the market. http://www.rns-pdf.londonstockexchange.com/rns/0294Q_1-2021-10-24.pdf Authorised for lodgement by: Sue Laver Company Secretary MARKET Release Telstra to acquire Digicel Pacific in partnership with the Australian Government 25 October 2021 - Telstra today announced it had partnered with the Australian Government to acquire the Digicel business in the South Pacific region for US$1.6 billion, plus up to an additional US$250 million subject to business performance over the next three years. The Digicel business will be owned and operated by Telstra. Telstra is contributing US$270 million of equity to the US$1.6 billion purchase price and the Australian Government, through Export Finance Australia, is providing the remaining US$1.33 billion through a combination of non-recourse debt facilities and equity like securities. Telstra will own 100 per cent of the ordinary equity. Chief Executive Officer, Andrew Penn said Telstra was initially approached by the Australian Government to provide technical advice in relation to Digicel Pacific and subsequently considered acquiring the business with financial and strategic risk management support from the Government. Mr Penn said the partnership represented an important milestone in the company's relationship with the Australian Government. Mr Penn said the terms of the sale had now been agreed with completion expected to occur in the next 3-6 months. "Digicel Pacific is a commercially attractive asset and critical to telecommunications in the region. The Australian Government is strongly committed to supporting quality private sector investment infrastructure in the Pacific region. We previously said that if Telstra were to proceed with a transaction it would be with financial and strategic risk management support from the Government. We also said that in addition to a Government funding and support package, any investment would also have to be within certain financial parameters with Telstra's equity investment being the minor portion of the overall transaction. I am pleased that we have been able to achieve both of those outcomes," said Mr Penn. Mr Penn said the acquisition was attractive for a number of reasons including the economics of the Digicel Pacific business, alignment with Telstra's core strengths as well as the support from the Australian Government. "Digicel enjoys a strong market position in the South Pacific region holding a strong number one position in all markets other than Fiji where it is the number two. The combined business generated EBITDA of US$233 million for the financial year ended 31 March 2021, with a strong margin. Digicel Pacific has already invested significant capital in PNG, which is its largest market, to achieve extensive network coverage including 4G to 55 per cent of the population. The medium to long-term capex to sales is expected to be around 15 per cent," said Mr Penn. The transaction is expected to deliver an attractive IRR and exceeds all Telstra M&A criteria - EPS accretive, ROIC above WACC and more accretive than a share buyback. The transaction implies a multiple of 5.8[1]-6.9x FY21 EBITDA for the acquisition of Digicel Pacific. "Telstra provided guidance to the market for FY22 at its recent full year results presentation and it also provided aspirations for FY23. These did not include any allowance for the Digicel Pacific acquisition which will further enhance our outlook depending on the timing of completion," said Mr Penn. "The transaction does not distract from Telstra's T22 or T25 strategies and represents a unique commercial opportunity. It is consistent with the Australian Government's interest in encouraging quality investment in the Pacific, the financial arrangements make it very attractive for Telstra and it strengthens our relationships with the Australian Government and the Pacific region. The Board unanimously believes the transaction is in the best interests of shareholders and it is on this basis that Telstra has agreed to proceed with the acquisition." Upon completion of the transaction which is subject to Government and Regulatory approvals and following Telstra's corporate restructure, the Digicel Pacific investment will be held by Telstra International which will become a fourth subsidiary of the new Telstra holding company, announced as part of its legal restructure. The Digicel Pacific business will be overseen by a Telstra controlled board which will also include current owner Denis O'Brien and two independent directors. "We understand the need to ensure this is a stand-alone business and that Telstra delivers on its commitments as part of the T22 and T25 strategies, as well as our intention to grow in coming years," said Mr Penn. Digicel Pacific was founded in 2006 by Mr O'Brien, a global entrepreneur with a successful track record in growing businesses. It is a leading provider of communications services across PNG, Fiji, Nauru, Samoa, Tonga and Vanuatu. The company has around 2.5 million subscribers and 1700 employees generating US$431 million in service revenue for the financial year ended 31 March. The majority of the revenue is generated in PNG. It is the number one player in all markets except Fiji, with strong underlying revenue growth. Around 76 per cent of its revenue is generated from its mobiles business, which is largely prepaid, and the balance from business solutions, TV and broadband services. Digicel Pacific currently services 1,500 small to medium business enterprises, 250 large enterprises and 200 corporates in PNG. Media Contact: Steve Carey M: +61 (0) 413 988 640 E: media@team.telstra.com Investor contact: Nathan Burley M: +61 (0) 457 529 334 E: investor.relations@team.telstra.com Reference number: 137/2021 Homicide Officers from Palma have gone to Hilversum in the Netherlands to help with the investigation into the murder of Dutch tourist in the Balearic capital. Ajax fan, Carlo Heuvelman came on holiday to Mallorca with friends in July this year. On July 14, a gang of Dutch tourists aged 18-20 allegedly started fighting in a bar in Playa de Palma and were thrown out. The group then allegedly attacked 5 other Dutch tourists; beating one until he was unconscious and beating up 3 others including Carlo Heuvelman, who was allegedly kicked in the head after he fell on the ground. He was rushed to Son Espases Hospital but died as a result of serious brain injuries. An 18 year old alleged suspect who was arrested in connection with the case, told Police he was with the group, but claimed he did not participate in the attack and Officers say CCTV footage backs his story. The alleged suspects, who fled Mallorca at dawn the next day after hearing that the Police were looking for them, 8 of them have been identified. MANISTEE Violence against health care workers has been a problem for decades according to the American Journal of Managed Care and the coronavirus pandemic has only exacerbated the problem. According to statistics collected by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics in 2018, nearly 75% of non-fatal workplace violence in the U.S. occurs in health care settings. U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration data showed that health care employees were, on average, nearly four times more likely to experience violence at work than individuals in all other private industries overall between 2002 and 2013. A 2018 survey from the American College of Emergency Physicians of about 3,500 emergency physicians in the United States reported 71% of the doctors had witnessed an assault, and 47% of the physicians were physically attacked themselves. Spectrum Health in West Michigan has seen a sharp increase in both verbal and physical assaults. Before the pandemic, there were about 100 verbal or physical acts of aggression reported every month at Spectrum. That number is now close to 350 incidents each month, according to Dr. Joshua Kooistra, the senior vice president and chief medical officer at Spectrum Health, as was reported by Michigan Advance. Similarly, a Sparrow Hospital Lansing saw one or two verbal or physical assaults daily pre-pandemic, now it's about six or seven a day, according to Sparrow Hospital Chief Nursing Officer Amy Brown. In northern Michigan, John Bolde, director of safety and security for Munson Healthcare, said that Munson staff have reported an across-the-board rise in the number of verbal and some physical assaults throughout the entire health system, over the last 20 months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Bolde said they have provided de-escalation training, panic alarms and electronic access codes at many of the area hospitals in order to provide better safety and security for Munson staff. He said, his role as director of security and safety, is to provide "safety for everyone." That includes patients, doctors, nurses and all other hospital and Munson Healthcare staff. He said the increase can be attributed to frustrations from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. He said times it's about visitor restrictions and many of the standard safety protocols like wearing face masks that have been instituted at many health systems across Michigan and across the country as a whole. He said he understands that everyone is tired of the pandemic but that he just asks that people be kind, courteous and patient with the staff at Munson. Along with some of the protocols at hospitals that have gone in place because of COVID-19, other issues, that have cropped up, such as alternative treatments like the controversial ivermectin, a drug that is used for deworming animals, and is anti-parasitic for humans has become an issue as it has sometimes been asked for it to be prescribed by the family of patients who had been hospitalized with COVID-19. One such incident in Idaho became national news. A CBS affiliate in Idaho reported that a doctor Ashley Carvalho was threatened by a COVID-19 patient's family member after she refused to prescribe Ivermectin. The family member said, "I have a lot of ways to get people to do what I want them to do, and they're all sitting in my gun safe at home." In Michigan, the Associated Press reported that a doctor at Beaumont Hospital named Matthew Trunsky had noted eight incidents over two days about COVID-19 patients who had refused to get vaccinated. The AP article stated that "For Trunsky, the vaccine pushback grew so intense that he turned to Facebook to describe the ire he confronts on a daily basis at Beaumont Hospital in Troy, Michigan. The post listed eight encounters he had in the two previous days alone in which COVID-19 patients explained misinformation-fueled reasons for not getting vaccines or made demands for unproven treatments. "Example No. 5 was a patient who said hed rather die than take the vaccine. Trunskys response: 'You may get your wish.' Bolde did not speak of any such specific incidents at Munson, just his reiteration that they were facing the same issues as other hospitals and health systems across the nation. Bolde said that "Its been long and hard for everyone. Everyone is doing the best they can to provide high-quality care for our patients." Munson Healthcare, which is based in Traverse City, has around 100 facilities in total from Manistee to St. Ignace. Public health officials have also faced hostility from the public across the nation. CBS News reported that "Nearly a quarter of public health workers report feeling bullied, harassed or threatened due to their work as the pandemic was unfolding, with one in eight saying they had received job-related threats. That's according to a new study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention." However, Kevin Hughes, who is the public health officer for District Health Department #10 has said, he has not faced that. He notes that he has had some emails and voicemails with "colorful language" but nothing like what some other public health officers have faced. Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belarus S.Aleinik meets the Ambassador of China On October 25, 2021, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus Sergei Aleinik met with Ambassador of the People's Republic of China to the Republic of Belarus Xie Xiaoyung. Sergei Aleinik congratulated Xie Xiaoyung on the 50th anniversary of the restoration of the legal rights of the People's Republic of China in the United Nations and handed over the letter of congratulations on behalf of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus Vladimir Makei to the Member of the State Council, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China Wang Yi. The parties also discussed issues of bilateral cooperation and interaction in international organizations. print version Insight from Miamis College of Education, Health and Society faculty By James Loy, College of Education, Health and Society McGuffey Hall, home of the College of Education, Health and Society. A rise in destructive student behaviors encouraged by social media trends on platforms such as TikTok are occurring in many school districts. In recent weeks, the "devious licks" trend has resulted in criminal activities such as stolen soap dispensers, smashed bathroom equipment, vandalized walls, and more. Similarly, the recent announcement of the "slap your teacher" challenge has raised additional concerns. Miami University College of Education, Health and Society educational leadership faculty and experts are available to help schools address these and related issues. Joel Malin, an associate professor who studies cross-sector collaborations to help schools create partnerships that can lead to progressive reform, says: School leaders responses should mirror what they would do any time students act in ways that violate school policy, and should follow our best knowledge about how to correct misbehavior. There are some unique elements here (e.g., its emergence and acceleration through TikTok) that may require creative responses, which tells me that school leaders would do well to be in close contact with fellow educators and leaders to gather and share emerging insights and ideas. Active communication will be key. Over time, a shared norm can be re-established among all community members (students, parents, teachers, etc.) that school property is part of the community and always needs to be respected. Jed Hayes, an educational leadership doctoral candidate, who is a 16-year veteran of the education field with experience in K-12 teaching, administration, and academic advising, says: Because of the nature of social media, and how fast trends evolve, by the time a school or community finds a good way of dealing with one, we are probably on to the next. So good school leadership will look for root causes, and not just address the symptoms. To put it concisely, these are students who dont feel a connection to their school community. They are seeking a way to be seen. We have to show that we believe in our students abilities and skills to make positive impacts on the school and the world. Something very pervasive in schools today is deficit mindset, which asserts that our students come to us needing to be fixed and cultivated. But they already bring so much to our classrooms every day. Honoring that, finding a place for them to impact the school culture in positive ways - that is what will lead to TikTok trends becoming powerless. Jennifer Schwanke, Miami instructor in educational administration and a deputy superintendent for the Dublin City School District (Ohio), says: A public hearing to consider the possible commutation of sentence for Alejandro DeLaRosa, #588504 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Chris Gautz, Public Information Officer 517-335-2316 The Michigan Parole Board will hold a public hearing on Tuesday, November 2, 2021 at 11:00 a.m. to consider the possible commutation of sentence for Alejandro DeLaRosa, #588504. The hearing will be conducted via video through Microsoft Teams and can be accessed by clicking HERE. Those planning to access the hearing must call 517-335-1736 no later than October 29, 2021 to confirm attendance. Alejandro DeLaRosa was sentenced to two terms of 3 years to 15 years for the crimes of Controlled Substance-Possess Narcotic/Cocaine Less Than 25 Grams and Operating Intoxicated/Impaired/Controlled Substance 3rd - Habitual 4th. Alejandro DeLaRosa was sentenced on November 25, 2019 out of Ottawa County. Adrianne Van Langevelde, Member of the Michigan Parole Board, will conduct the hearing under the provisions of the MCLA 791.244 prior to any recommendation for executive clemency by the Parole Board. When logging into the hearing, your video must be turned off and audio muted to eliminate distraction during the hearing. Please be advised that recordings, photography, or screenshots of the proceeding are prohibited. State and federal agencies and droves of volunteers have partnered to count Michigan's Kirtland's warbler population. The agencies recently announced that surveys conducted in June show the small songbirds have continued to flourish since their October 2019 removal from the federal list of endangered species. "The power of partnership continues to yield excellent results for the Kirtland's warbler after coming off the endangered species list," said U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Regional Director Charlie Wooley. "Recovery of this beloved species required a strong, creative set of partners, and that spirit continues into the future with agencies, organizations and private entities working together locally, nationally and internationally. I'm confident this strong partnership will secure the long-term future of this bird." With the June survey results now tallied, the Kirtland's warbler global population is estimated at 2,245 pairs, which is more than double the 1,000-pair recovery goal for the species - which has been exceeded over each of the past 20 years. Researchers survey nesting areas, listening for singing males advertising and defending nesting territories. Each male found is presumed to have a mate, so the number of males also indicates the number of pairs. Kirtland's warblers build nests on the ground, only in young, dense stands of jack pine in Michigan, Wisconsin and Ontario. This habitat was historically created by large wildfires. Today, wildfires are suppressed, and the nesting habitat is created by harvesting mature jack pine and planting jack pine seedling in the logged areas. This year's Kirtland's warbler counts took place in jack pine nesting habitat situated across lands managed by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, U.S. Forest Service, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Nearly all the world's Kirtland's warbler population nest in Michigan's northern Lower Peninsula. In 2017 and 2019, partial surveys were completed. This year's thorough census was the first full count of Kirtland's warbler since 2015, when 2,365 singing males were counted. This is believed to represent ALL the adult males of the entire global population of this highly localized bird species. "Recovering a species as imperiled as the Kirtland's warbler wasn't easy," said Brian Bogaczyk, Regional Threatened and Endangered Species Biologist for the USDA Forest Service Eastern Region. "The US Forest Service is honored to play a part in the Kirtland's warbler comeback, an incredible success story that's a great example of what we can achieve with strong partnerships. We must continue to invest in creating habitat for this disturbance-dependent species to thrive, and the Forest Service is committed to doing our part in the future." More specifically, 1,114 singing males were located on the Huron National Forest - representing a 9% increase over the number counted in 2019 - while 994 singing males were found on lands managed by the DNR and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in the northern Lower Peninsula. In addition, two singing males were found in Lake County on the Manistee National Forest in jack pine not established for Kirtland's warbler breeding habitat. This was the first time the birds have been found on the Manistee National Forest since 1977. "The number of singing males was above what we expected," said Phil Huber, Wildlife Program Manager for the Huron-Manistee National Forests in Cadillac, MI. "It's really gratifying to see this species doing so well, especially compared to the population lows we observed in the 1970s and early 1980s when 200 singing males was the average. The recovery of this species has been a decades long effort by many dedicated individuals." In the Upper Peninsula, a record number of Kirtland's warblers were recorded by census participants. Previous counts recorded 37 singing males in 2015, 44 in 2017 and 40 in 2019. This year, 67 singing males were found across the Upper Peninsula, including 42 on the Hiawatha National Forest and 25 on state forest lands, with 22 of those situated within recovering jack pine forests burned in the 21,069-acre Duck Lake Fire of 2012. "Expansion of Kirtland's warblers into new areas, and in greater numbers, is good news for the future of the species in Michigan," said DNR Director Dan Eichinger. "From the Kirtland's Warbler Alliance and American Bird Conservancy to our state and federal partners in the Great Lakes region, the effort and teamwork committed to the recovery of this species continues to pay great dividends." In addition to the birds found in Michigan, Wisconsin surveyors detected 39 singing males, largely in central Wisconsin's Adams County. This is an all-time high for Wisconsin, which has been seeing ever-increasing numbers since first being detected in 2008. Also, surveyors in Ontario detected 22 singing males, also representing an all-time high there since surveys began. Kirtland's warbler surveys have been conducted in Michigan since 1951. The species was among the first animals included when the Endangered Species Act was passed in 1973. Populations sunk to a low of 167 pairs in 1974 and 1987 before mounting a gradual recovery. Aiding greatly in that return were cooperative efforts between state and federal agencies, along with conservation groups, to conserve and expand suitable jack pine habitat and control brown-headed cowbirds. Cowbirds are nest parasites that lay their eggs in the nests of Kirtland's warblers and other bird species. The larger cowbird chicks out-compete warbler chicks for food, which causes them to die, while the warbler parents unknowingly raise the cowbird chicks. By 2001, the number of Kirtland's warbler pairs in Michigan had surpassed 1,000, while the places the birds were located expanded to include the U.P., Ontario and Wisconsin. The birds migrate to and overwinter in The Bahamas. The Kirtland's Warbler Breeding Range Conservation Plan was developed in 2015 and is now the guiding management strategy for the species. Additionally, funding and other commitments to habitat management and cowbird control are in place to ensure continued conservation actions in the absence of Endangered Species Act protections. In addition, the Kirtland's Warbler Conservation Team has replaced the Kirtland's Warbler Recovery Team established under the Endangered Species Act. Today, the Conservation Team preserves institutional knowledge, shares information and facilitates communication and collaboration among agencies and partners to maintain and improve Kirtland's warbler conservation. The current make-up of the team includes representatives from the US Fish and Wildlife Service, US Forest Service, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, USDA-Wildlife Services, Canadian Wildlife Service, Huron Pines, Kirtland's Warbler Alliance, American Bird Conservancy and California University of Pennsylvania. The Kirtland's Warbler Conservation Team is an integral part of post-delisting monitoring efforts and provides an important forum for sharing information, coordinating management efforts and ensuring that effective adaptive management occurs. The Kirtland's Warbler Alliance is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping ensure needs of the species are addressed. Find out more about Kirtland's warbler recovery, delisting, tours and more. A Gaylord man was recently convicted in Otesego County Circuit Court on several charges ranging from wildlife and felony weapons violations to third-offense drunken driving and being a habitual offender. Cecil Edward Day Jr., 56, is currently serving up to 7 1/2 years in state prison for his involvement in three separate incidents that Michigan Department of Natural Resources conservation officers have been investigating since 2018. "This individual was a thief of our natural resources," said Sgt. Mark DePew, Michigan DNR Law Enforcement Division, who led the investigations. "Our officers' teamwork should be a lesson to those who seek to steal fish and game from the citizens of this state." Conservation Officers Tom Oberg, Kyle Cherry and DePew conducted separate investigations over a three-year period that resulted in numerous convictions. On Sept. 8, Day pleaded guilty before a judge and was convicted of the following: 2018: Intentionally discharging a firearm from a motor vehicle and possession or taking of an illegal deer. He was sentenced to 13 months in jail, loss of weapon used and ordered to pay fines totaling $1,836. 2019: Possession of a firearm by a felon and using another's hunting license. He was sentenced to 13 months in jail, loss of weapon used and ordered to pay fines totaling $1,458. 2020: Operating a motor vehicle while being intoxicated (third offense) and being a habitual offender. He was sentenced to serve 16 months to 7 1/2 years in prison and to pay fines totaling $958. The three sentences will run concurrently. Day started serving his prison sentence Sept. 13. Of his total $4,254 in fines assessed, $2,000 was ordered paid to the state's Fish and Game Fund as restitution for the loss of game. Michigan conservation officers are fully commissioned law enforcement officers who protect natural resources, ensure recreational safety and protect residents by providing general law enforcement duties and lifesaving operations in the communities they serve. Due to the nature of their job, these officers often work with federal, state and local law enforcement officers to ensure public safety. Learn more at Michigan.gov/ConservationOfficers. AG Nessel, Department of Civil Rights File to Protect Citizens from Sexual Orientation Discrimination Before Michigan Supreme Court AG Nessel, Department of Civil Rights File to Protect Citizens from Sexual Orientation Discrimination Before Michigan Supreme Court Media contact: Lynsey Mukomel 517-599-2746 Public inquiries: 517-335-7622 October 25, 2021 LANSING - Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, on behalf of the Michigan Department of Civil Rights (MDCR) and the director of the MDCR, is challenging a Court of Claims' ruling that the Elliott-Larsen Civil Rights Act (ELCRA) does not prohibit discrimination because of an individual's sexual orientation. The Michigan Supreme Court has agreed to hear the landmark case. "We're arguing before the Michigan Supreme Court that all Michiganders are entitled to the same civil rights. It's long past time for our State to recognize sexual orientation as protected from discrimination under the law," Nessel said. The lawsuit, Rouch World LLC et al v Michigan Department of Civil Rights et al, was brought by businesses that denied services to customers who were either a same-sex couple or an individual who was transitioning their gender identity. In 2018, the Michigan Civil Rights Commission (MCRC) adopted an interpretive statement that "sex," as used in the ELCRA, included protections for individuals on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. This interpretation by the MCRC allowed the MDCR to begin processing complaints of discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Complaints about the plaintiff businesses were filed in 2019 with the MDCR, which began its investigation. In early 2020, plaintiffs filed suit, asking the Court to rule that the MDCR has no jurisdiction to investigate complaints based on sexual orientation or gender identity and that the MCRC had no authority to issue the 2018 interpretive statement that sexual orientation and gender Identity were covered under ELCRA. Court of Claims Judge Christopher Murray, in his opinion issued on Dec. 7, 2020, sided with the MCRC's interpretive statement that the ELCRA provides protections for "gender identity." But, as to sexual orientation discrimination, he concluded that he was bound by a 1993 Court of Appeals ruling in Barbour v Department of Social Services, which held that sexual orientation does not fall within the meaning of sex under ELCRA. The 28-year-old Barbour decision, however, relied on federal precedent that is no longer valid in light of the U.S. Supreme Court decision, Bostock v Clayton Co. In Bostock, the U.S. Supreme Court held that discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation is a form of sex discrimination. Under the Michigan Court Rules, the Court of Claims and the Court of Appeals are bound by prior published decisions of the Court of Appeals issued on or after November 1, 1990, such as Barbour. But, given that this issue is of highest public importance and affects the daily lives of many Michigan residents, AG Nessel and MDCR filed a bypass application in the Michigan Supreme Court, seeking a prompt review of this matter. The Michigan Supreme Court agreed the case warranted immediate review. As stated in the brief, "All Michiganders are entitled to the same civil rights-the right to be free from actionable discrimination in employment, public accommodations and public services, housing, and educational facilities." Depriving lesbian and gay Michiganders the protections under the ELCRA is both a "stigmatizing injury" and a "deprivation of personal dignity." DETROIT (AP) Hertz announced Monday that it will buy 100,000 electric vehicles from Tesla, one of the largest purchases of battery-powered cars in history and the latest evidence of the nation's increasing commitment to EV technology. The news of the deal triggered a rally in Tesla's stock, driving the carmaker's market value over the $1 trillion mark for the first time. The purchase by one of the world's leading rental car companies reflects its confidence that electric vehicles are gaining acceptance with environmentally minded consumers as an alternative to vehicles powered by petroleum-burning internal combustion engines. In an interview with The Associated Press, Mark Fields, Hertz' interim CEO, said that Teslas are already arriving at the company's sites and should be available for rental starting in November. Hertz said in its announcement that it will complete its purchases of the Tesla Model 3 small cars by the end of 2022. It also said it will establish its own electric vehicle charging network as it strives to produce the largest rental fleet of electric vehicles in North America. Fields wouldnt say how much Hertz is spending for the order. But he said the company has sufficient capital and a healthy balance sheet after having emerged from bankruptcy protection in June. The deal likely is worth around $4 billion because each Model 3 has a base price of about $40,000. It also ranks at the top of the list of electric vehicle orders by a single company. In 2019, Amazon ordered 100,000 electric delivery vans from Rivian, a startup manufacturer of electric van, pickup trucks and SUVs. Amazon is an investor in Rivian. The Hertz order sent Tesla shares soaring nearly 13% to a record closing price of $1,024.86, and pushed the world's most valuable automaker's total market value to just over $1 trillion. The wealth of CEO Elon Musk, the richest person in the world, grew 11.4% to $255.8 billion, according to Forbes. In his interview with the AP, Fields made clear his belief that electric vehicles are increasingly moving into the mainstream and that Hertz intends to be a leading provider of EVs to rental customers. He pointed to surveys showing that over the past five years, consumer interest in electric vehicles has grown dramatically. More are willing to try and buy, he said. It's pretty stunning. Fields said that Hertz, which is based in Estero, Florida, is in discussions with other automakers, too, about buying additional electric vehicles as it expands its EV fleet as more models enter the marketplace. Hertz also is investing in its own charging network. Fields said it has plans for 3,000 chargers in 65 locations across the United States by the end of 2022 and 4,000 by the end of 2023. Many of the sites will be at Hertz locations such as airports, he said, while others will be in suburban areas. Customers also would be able to use Tesla's own large charging network for a fee, Fields said. The company has a network of about 25,000 chargers worldwide. Fields declined to say how much Hertz will charge to rent the Teslas or whether they would be more expensive for customers than gas-powered vehicles. Daniel Ives, a technology analyst at Wedbush Securities, wrote in a note Monday to investors that Hertzs order represents a major feather in the cap for Tesla and shows that a broad adoption of electric vehicles is under way as part of this oncoming green tidal wave hitting the U.S." China and Europe have been ahead of the U.S. on vehicle electrification. But demand in the United States is accelerating, Ives noted, with Tesla leading the way, followed by startup Lucid Motors, General Motors, Ford and others that are chasing a potential $5 trillion market opportunity over the next decade. In an interview, Ives said he expected other rental car companies to follow Hertz's lead. It's a wake-up call for the rest of the industry as well, he said. Ives suggested that the deal will help Tesla and other manufacturers by giving thousands of consumers the experience of driving electric vehicles who might not otherwise have done so. It's the ultimate test drive, he said. For a company that doesn't normally market, this is the best brand and marketing deal they've ever struck, he said of Tesla. Hertz's order may also help alleviate a nationwide shortage of rental cars, he said. Automakers have slashed production and sales to rental car companies because of a global shortage of computer chips. Still, Ives said he doesn't expect Hertz to receive significant numbers of Teslas until the automaker's new factory near Austin, Texas, starts producing late next year. Hertz likely will charge customers more to rent the Model 3s compared with conventional vehicles with combustion engines, Ives noted. Hertz Global Holdings Inc. filed for bankruptcy protection in May 2020, two months after the coronavirus erupted across the country. It was among the first major corporations to be felled by the pandemic as infections surged and shut down travel on a global scale for both companies and vacationers. In October, Hertz named Fields, a former Ford Motor Co. CEO, as its interim chief executive. Shortly after Hertz's announcement Monday, the National Transportation Safety Board released a letter from its chairwoman chastising Tesla for failing to respond to recommendations that emerged from several fatal crash investigations involving the companys Autopilot partially automated driver-assist system. The agency recommended four years ago that Tesla limit where its Autopilot system can operate and that it better monitor drivers to make sure they're paying attention. CANBERRA, Australia (AP) Australian telco Telstra has partnered with the Australian government in a $1.6 billion deal to buy the South Pacific operations of Digicel in a deal that would prevent a key part of the regions telecommunications infrastructure falling into Chinese hands. Telstra, the nations largest telco, said in a statement on Monday it would contribute $270 million to the deal and hold 100% of the equity in Digicel Pacific. The terms of the sale were agreed on and would be completed within six months, Telstra chief executive Andrew Penn said. Digicel Pacific is a commercially attractive asset and critical to telecommunications in the region, Penn said. Digicel is owned by Irish businessman Denis OBrien, is incorporated in Bermuda and is headquartered in Jamaica. It operates in 33 markets in developing countries around the world. It is the leading mobile phone carrier in Papua New Guinea, Tahiti, Tonga, Nauru, Samoa and Vanuatu. It is the second biggest carrier in Fiji after Vodafone. Trade and Investment Minister Dan Tehan said in a statement the partnership with Telstra, once a state-owned monopoly, was consistent with Australias longstanding commitment to growing quality investment in regional infrastructure. The deal also reflected Australias commitment to support the development of secure and reliable infrastructure in the region, which is critical to the regions economic growth and development, Tehan said. The U.S. and some other governments have sought to minimize involvement of Chinese telecoms equipment makers in upgrades of communications networks, citing security concerns. Added to that, trade and other relations between Australia and China have been strained over a range of issues in the past several years. Australia signaled it was competing head on with China on telecommunications in the Pacific when it paid for a $130 million fiber-optic submarine telecommunications cable linking Sydney to Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands which started operating last year. The cable resulted in the Solomons government ripping up a contract with China's Huawei to run a cable to Sydney. Jonathan Pryke, Pacific Islands program director at the Sydney-based Lowy Institute international policy think tank, said Australia's main concern about Chinese ownership of Digicel was how heavily Pacific economies would come to rely on 5G telecommunications networks. Utilities are going to rely on 5G networks to operate and if Digicel were to fall into a Chinese state-owned enterprise's hands and Digicel while not a monopoly does have a very dominant market share it would give China the power to be a significant disruptor in these economies in time of geopolitical tension, Pryke said. If China and Australia are really having it out, China could flick the switch in Papua New Guinea and cause all sorts of mayhem and distract Australia's attention, he added, referring to Australia's nearest neighbor. The deal comes against a backdrop of China investing heavily in the Pacific in the last 15 years, largely through the private sector. Australian business have retreated from the region because it is considered too complicated, risky and not profitable enough. Australia is really eager to get Australian businesses back into the region, Pryke said. We can't command and control them like China can, we have to incentivize them. This is one really big incentive. WARSAW (AP) The European Union's executive told Poland Monday that there is no place for rhetoric referring to war among EU partners, after the Polish prime minister said that for Brussels to withhold cash over rule of law issues would be like starting World War III. In an interview with the Financial Times, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki accused the EU of making demands of Warsaw with a gun to our head and urged Brussels to drop its threats of sanctions against Poland. The comments follow years of disputes over changes Poland's government has made to the country's courts. The EU believes the changes erode democratic checks and balances, and the European Commission is holding up billions of euros to Poland earmarked in a pandemic recovery plan. When asked if Poland could use its veto power to block legislation in retaliation, for instance on climate issues, Morawiecki said: If they start the third world war, we are going to defend our rights with any weapons which are at our disposal." Asked about the comment at a briefing, EU Commission spokesman Eric Mamer said the EU is a project that very successfully contributed to establishing a lasting peace among its member states." Mamer added that there is no place for rhetoric referring to war. Morawiecki faced less sanguine criticism from his Polish political opponents, many of whom are deeply worried about Poland's increasing isolation within the EU. I have the impression that Mr. Morawiecki has recently had some problems with English or that he has lost his mind," tweeted Marek Belka, a former left-wing Polish prime minister who is now a member of the European Parliament. Donald Tusk, the head of the leading opposition party in Poland, reacted to the war comment by saying: In politics, stupidity is the cause of most serious misfortunes. The government spokesman, Piotr Muller, told Polish media that the prime minister's comment amounted to hyperbole and should not be taken literally. The nationalist ruling party in Poland, Law and Justice, has been in conflict with Brussels since winning power in 2015 over a number of matters, including migration and LGBT rights. The longest running dispute, however, has centered on the Polish governments attempts to take political control of the judiciary. The matter came to a head earlier this month when the constitutional court ruled that some key parts of EU law are not compatible with the nations constitution. The ruling by a court filled with ruling party's loyalists was made after Morawiecki asked it to rule on whether EU or national law has primacy. Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said last week that it was the first time ever that a national court found that the EU treaties are incompatible with the national constitution. This ruling calls into question the foundations of the European Union, von der Leyen said. It is a direct challenge to the unity of the European legal order. ___ Sam Petrequin contributed from Brussels BERLIN (AP) A German convert to Islam was sentenced to 10 years in prison Monday on charges that, as a member of the extremist Islamic State group in Iraq, she allowed a 5-year-old Yazidi girl she and her husband kept as a slave to die of thirst in the hot sun. The Higher Regional Court in Munich convicted the 30-year-old, identified only as Jennifer W. in line with privacy rules, of among other things membership of a terrorist organization abroad, aiding and abetting attempted murder, attempted war crimes and crimes against humanity, German news agency dpa reported. Federal prosecutors had accused the woman, from Lohne in Lower Saxony, of standing by in Iraq as her then-husband chained the young Yazidi girl in a courtyard and left her to die of thirst. The child was defenseless and helplessly exposed to the situation, judge Joachim Baier said on Monday, adding that W. had to reckon from the beginning that the child, who was tied up in the heat of the sun, was in danger of dying. However, she had done nothing to help the girl although this had been possible and reasonable for her, Baier said, according to dpa. W. grew up as a Protestant but converted to Islam in 2013. German media reported that she made her way to Iraq through Turkey and Syria in 2014 to join the IS. In 2015, as a member of the extremist groups morality police, she patrolled parks in Fallujah and Mosul, armed with an assault rifle and a pistol as well as an explosive vest and looking for women who did not conform with its strict codes of behavior and dress, prosecutors said. She was taken into custody while trying to renew her identity papers at the German embassy in Ankara in 2016, and deported back to Germany. The staff at Grandmas Pumpkin Patch in Midland have proved you dont need to be scared to have a good time around Halloween. This weekend, the farm hosted its first flashlight corn maze of the year. Adventurers of all ages trekked through the rows of corn on Friday and Saturday nights. Amanda King of Grandmas Pumpkin Patch stated the farm receives about 300 people at the three-acre maze on a busy night. Grandmas Pumpkin Patch has been providing the corn maze activity shortly after being established in 1994. Kings sister brought the idea to Delia Sandow, the "Grandma" of Grandmas Pumpkin Patch, after seeing a corn maze in Indiana where she went to school. (Sandow) couldnt believe people paid to walk in a field, King said with a laugh. A couple years after the farm began the corn maze, they heard about other corn mazes having patrons go through at night with flashlights. Since there were no opportunities for such an event in Midland, the staff at Grandmas Pumpkin Patch decided to give it a try. Theres haunted houses and theres spooky trail walks, but theres not a lot for families. Thats what were targeting we want families to come out here and have fun, King said. While there are no jump scares or creepy elements to the flashlight corn maze at Grandmas Pumpkin Patch, visitors should come prepared to face obstacles, including a few wrong turns and wet earth. Due to some rain that came through Midland the previous day, visitors had to slog through deep mud on Saturday night; more than a few emerged from the maze with their lower pant legs, even the seats of their pants, covered with mud. King suggested that families bring their own flashlights into the maze; the farm has glowsticks for sale. Boots are also a good idea to ward off the cold and mud. While visitors spend an average of 20 minutes going through the maze during the day, the typical finish time at night is about 30 minutes. Guests can mark their progress by finding six checkpoints dotted along the paths. There have been times where people got so lost that they needed to be rescued from the maze. King explained the staff always checks the parking lot before they go home for the night to make sure no one is left behind. They have not had to send in any search teams yet this year. Two more flashlight corn mazes are scheduled this year: from 6-9 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 29 and Saturday, Oct. 30. The cost to enter the maze is $7 per person; those who bring a donation to Aarons Gifts from Home will receive $1 off admission. Grandmas Pumpkin Patch is located at 4277 N. Eastman Road. FREDERICKTOWN, Mo. (AP) The National Weather Service has confirmed a strong tornado that thrashed the southeastern Missouri city of Fredericktown as strong storms that swept the state and moved into Illinois overnight damaged buildings and knocked out power, but left no serious injuries. The National Weather Service confirmed an EF-3 tornado hit Fredericktown Sunday night, damaging homes, businesses and the main electrical substation that feeds power to the city of about 4,000. A tornado with that rating is considered strong, and wind speeds range from 136-165 mph (219-266 kph). The National Weather Service said preliminary reports indicate up to six tornadoes may have touched down in across northern Missouri. Teams were surveying the damage Monday, but the service said it could take days to fully assess the damage. Fredericktown schools called off classes for Monday due to communitywide power outages and damages incurred by families in the storm, The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported. Fredericktown is about 85 miles (136.79 kilometers) south of St. Louis. We had a large, classic fall storm system that developed over the central part of the country. It strengthened as it passed over the St. Louis region, weather service meteorologist Jared Maples, based in St. Charles, Missouri, told The Associated Press on Monday. The storms dropped heavy rain, leading to some flooding around tributaries and in low-lying areas. The weather service reported over 2.5 inches (6.35 centimeters) of rain fell in the Chicago area during storms that started Sunday and continued into Monday. Peak winds of 48 mph (77.25 kph) were recorded at about 9:30 a.m. Monday at Chicago Midway International Airport. The service was also surveying damage from a suspected tornado at St. Mary, Missouri, about 55 miles southeast of St. Louis, that crossed the Mississippi River into Chester, Illinois. The damage included roofs torn from buildings and toppled trees and utility poles. Possible tornadoes were reported just west of Kingston, Missouri, with other possible tornadoes near Linneus and Winigan in north central Missouri. An EF-2 tornado was confirmed in Purdin, a small town of about 200 in north central Linn County, the weather service said. The tornado had a maximum winds of 120 mph but no injuries were reported. The weather service confirmed two EF-O tornadoes touched down near Sedalia, about 77 miles (123.92 kilometers) southeast of Kansas City. No serious damage or injuries were reported. In Chester, a city of about 8,700 across the Mississippi River from St. Mary, residents reported damage that included a tree falling onto one home and roof damage to a nursing home, said Larry Willis, a spokesman for the Randolph County Emergency Management Agency. Willis said the nearby village of Bremen took a direct hit before the storm dissipated about a mile (1.6 kilometers) east of that community. In its wake, a large storage building in Bremen was destroyed, and Illinois Route 150 was closed due to downed power lines and power poles. One St. Mary resident, Tina Lowry, was in bed and her sister was in the living room when they heard a whooshing sound Sunday night. Lowry said she took shelter in her closet and her sister hunkered down in the bedroom as the home was ripped apart. Vehicles also were destroyed by the storm. Im just happy were alive, she said. The severe weather in the Midwest came as a powerful storm barreled toward Southern California after flooding highways, toppling trees and causing mud flows in areas burned bare by recent fires across the northern part of the state. Drenching showers and strong winds accompanied the storm. The system that hit the Midwest continued east into the Ohio Valley on Monday, said weather service meteorologist Alex Elmore, who is based in St. Charles. It has weakened as it moves east, Elmore said. There is a chance of severe weather later Monday in the Carolinas and portions of Virginia, Kentucky and Tennessee. Forecasters are expecting more stormy weather later in the week. On Tuesday afternoon, parts of Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas could see severe storms, according to the Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma. Forecasters said those storms could bring large hail, strong winds and isolated tornadoes. ___ This story has been corrected to show that the population of Purdin is about 200 people. MIDDLETOWN An alleged altercation between several students at Middletown High School Monday, that prompted a request for additional police units, was contained by early afternoon, according to a district official. Middletown Police Lt. Brian Hubbs said Monday afternoon that the department was alerted to a big fight earlier in the day, and additional resources were requested at the scene, which, Hubbs said, was due to the magnitude and number of people involved. Soon after, Hubbs learned no additional officers were needed, he said. Administration and security have contained the incident and students involved. There is no evidence of weapons being part of this altercation, Principal Colleen Weiner said in an alert to parents, according to district Director of Communications Jessie B. Lavorgna. The school was placed on a temporary hold in place, Lavorgna also said. That was lifted a while ago; regular movement resumed in the building at that time. The school will continue to investigate and enforce discipline policies, Weiner said in her email. The safety and well-being of our students and staff are our priority. This is not the first time alleged fights at the high school have been made public. In late September, short videos of three alleged fights, showing students involved in altercations in the hallways of Middletown High School as others gathered to watch, were shared on social media by two Board of Education candidates. At the time, Lavorgna said that, as a result of the altercations, virtual assemblies were held to remind students of proper behavior in school. She attributed the behavior in part to the unconventional learning environment children have had to deal with during the pandemic. Ned Gerard / Hearst Connecticut Media BRIDGEPORT The former owner of a local marina was sentenced to probation and ordered to pay a steep fine for scuttling several sailboats and motorboats in the Long Island Sound, according to federal prosecutors. John Magness, 72, formerly of Southbury who now lives in Bristol, Maine, was sentenced by Judge Stefan R. Underhill in Bridgeport to two years of probation. Underhill also ordered Magness to pay a $45,000 fine and perform 50 hours of community service. BRISTOL A social media post circulating among students in reference to shooting up Central High School was determined to have referenced a Missouri high school with the same name. According to a post by the Bristol Police Department on Saturday, police were made aware of a social media post circulating among students that referenced shooting up Central High School. RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) Dozens of North Carolina residents said Monday that Republicans should shelve proposed congressional district maps that they said would likely give the GOP the most seats for the foreseeable future while needlessly fracturing the state's largest counties. Republicans and Democrats have spent the past few weeks creating separate redistricting maps. During the first of two days of public hearings on them, speakers criticized GOP proposals that could make at least 10 of the state's 14 U.S. House districts favorable to Republican candidates. Republicans currently hold an 8-5 advantage in the state's congressional ranks, but the state will get another member through at least 2032 due to population gains recorded by the 2020 census. Maps most favorable to Republicans would split predominantly Democratic Mecklenburg and Wake counties among at least three districts, some of which would spill into more conservative and rural surrounding counties, thereby making it harder for Democrats to win. This is not fair, since North Carolina is a half-and-half state with the two parties," Kathy Wheeler of Guilford County told redistricting committee members at the Legislative Building. The maps proposed by Republican members dilute Democratic votes and deprive communities of effective representation. Several speakers complained that some plans also would split Guilford County, currently represented by Democrat Kathy Manning, into as many as three districts. Democrats have offered congressional maps that would give their party a better chance to win six or seven seats, which they say aligns with electoral results for statewide races that are usually decided by a few percentage points. Republicans, who have controlled the General Assembly since 2011, have performed well in North Carolina federal races, not losing a U.S. Senate race since 2008. House committee Chairman Destin Hall of Caldwell County said after the hearing that GOP leaders are staying away from making decisions based on electoral outcomes. Hearing participants also criticized GOP redistricting committee leaders for preventing the use of racial data in drawing districts. Democrats and allied civil rights advocates argue that without such data lawmakers are unable to protect Black voters from being disenfranchised in a map plan. Being colorblind does not equate to being racially just. In fact, it can mean just the opposite, said Phyllis Demko with the League of Women Voters of North Carolina. She added that it's obvious legislators know where minority voters live and how they vote. Andy Jackson of the conservative John Locke Foundation was one of only a couple of the roughly 30 speakers at Mondays first session who seemed generally pleased with legislators, in particular for mapmaking criteria that he said ensures racial considerations do not predominate in designating districts. The House and Senate redistricting committees scheduled an in-person and an online-only hearing both Monday and Tuesday to collect feedback on proposed General Assembly districts. Each in-person hearing in Raleigh also had two remote sites. Mondays other locales were in Wilmington and Lenoir, with Greenville and Charlotte on Tuesday. The hearings are the next step before the legislature begins voting on the plans. The legislature hopes by early November to approve new maps that will apply to elections starting next year. Candidate filing for the 2022 election begins Dec. 6. With Republican majorities in both the state House and Senate and redistricting maps exempt from Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper's veto stamp, Republicans are likely to get their way unless litigation blocks them. Senate Minority Leader Dan Blue of Wake County said Democrats in his chamber want to meet with Republicans to express their concerns and seek what they consider a fair plan. But without real serious negotiations on all aspects of these maps that lead to consensus, Blue told reporters Monday, short of a lawsuit, there are very few other things left to do. AUSTIN, Texas (AP) Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott on Monday signed redrawn voting maps that pave a safer path for the GOPs slipping majority, leaving opponents hoping courts will block the newly gerrymandered districts before they can be used in the 2022 elections. Abbott signed the maps Monday, according to a spokeswoman for the governor. The governors office did not make an announcement. Civil rights groups have already filed federal lawsuits that accuse GOP mapmakers of disenfranchising Hispanic and Black residents who are driving the states rapid growth. Texas added 4 million new residents since 2010, but under the new U.S. House maps, Republicans added no new districts where Latinos hold a majority. The new maps end a highly charged year over voting rights in Texas, where Democrats this summer left the state to begin a 38-day holdout in protest of a sweeping elections overhaul. The only time that communities of color can get justice is going to the courthouse, Democratic state Rep. Rafael Anchia said before the final vote on the maps in the Texas House last week. The newly signed maps mark an end to the states once-in-a-decade redistricting process in which lawmakers decide how Texas nearly 30 million residents are sorted into political districts and who is elected to represent them. Texas was the only state awarded two additional congressional seats in the 2020 census, increasing the states already outsize political clout. The states Mexican American Legislative Caucus, who are mostly Democrats, are seeking documents over who had a hand in the drawing of the maps. The Mexican American Legal Defense Fund, along with other minority and voting advocacy groups, have also filed a separate lawsuit challenging the maps in a federal court. According to Census figures, more than 9 of 10 new Texans in the last decade were people of color. Texas Republicans have defended the maps, saying race was not taken into account, except for when preserving equal representation. Republican state Sen. Joan Huffman, who authored the maps and leads the Senate Redistricting Committee, told fellow lawmakers that they were drawn blind to race. She also said they were scrutinized by a legal team for violations of the Voting Rights Act. Texas has had to defend redrawn district lines in court since the Voting Rights Act took effect, but this is the first time since a U.S. Supreme Court ruling said Texas and other states with a history of racial discrimination no longer need to have the Justice Department scrutinize the maps before they are approved. ___ Acacia Coronado is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. CHICAGO (AP) John Wayne Gacy was convicted of killing 33 young men and boys in the Chicago area in the 1970s. Authorities found most of his victims' remains in a crawl space under his suburban Chicago house or buried elsewhere on the property. In 2011, they exhumed the remains of eight victims in the hopes of identifying them through DNA testing. On Monday, authorities identified the third of those eight people as Francis Wayne Alexander, a North Carolina native who moved with his family to New York State as a child and then to Chicago shortly before he disappeared. That left the names of five victims still unknown. Here is a timeline of Gacys life and the case: March 17, 1942: Gacy is born in Chicago. 1972-1978: Gacy, a building contractor who works as Pogo the Clown at childrens parties, lures young men and boys to his home just outside of Chicago for sex, then strangles them. He stabs one victim. December 1978: Gacy comes to the authorities' attention after 15-year-old Robert Piest goes missing in Des Plaines. Dec. 21, 1978: Police executing a search warrant find the first set of victim remains in a crawl space under Gacy's ranch-style house. Other Gacy victims were also found stashed under the home, buried elsewhere on his property or in waterways south of Chicago. March 1980: Gacy is convicted of killing 33 young men and boys, which made him one of the most prolific serial killers in U.S. history. May 10, 1994: Gacy is executed by lethal injection at the Stateville Correctional Center in Joliet. Oct. 12, 2011: The Cook County Sheriffs Department announces that it is undertaking a new effort to identify the remains of eight Gacy victims whose names still were not known. The agency says DNA testing that wasnt available when the remains were found in 1978 could help. Nov. 29, 2011: The county identifies one of the victims as William George Bundy, a 19-year-old construction worker from Chicago. July 19, 2017: The county identifies 16-year-old James Jimmie Byron Haakenson as another of Gacys victims. The teenager had left his Minnesota home in 1976 and was last heard from in August of that year. Oct. 25, 2021: Authorities identify another victim as Francis Wayne Alexander, a North Carolina native who moved with his family to New York State as a child and then moved to Chicago not long before he vanished. That leaves the names of five victims still unknown. ___ This story was first published on Oct. 25. It was updated on Oct. 26 to correct that Alexander moved with his family from North Carolina to New York State as a child. KENTWOOD, Mich. (AP) A western Michigan police officer fatally shot a knife-wielding man overnight after officers were called to a house to investigate a reported stabbing, police said. Kentwood police officers found an active fight inside the house and a 60-year-old man armed with a knife when they arrived at the residence about 10:30 p.m. Sunday, police said. An officer then shot the man, who was pronounced dead at the scene, police said in a news release. Details of the events that immediately preceded the shooting were not immediately released and police have not released the man's name, pending family notification. Police said they found one person with multiple stab wounds and that person was hospitalized in stable condition. A second person was treated at the scene for minor knife wounds. The officer involved in the deadly shooting was placed on administrative leave, a standard procedure following police-involved shootings, while the Kent County Sheriffs Office investigates the shooting. Some 2,300 National Guard troops will remain deployed to Washington, D.C. until at least May 23, the Pentagon announced Tuesday night. The deployment extension, approved after a request from the U.S. Capitol Police, will stretch the Guard mission to protect the nation's capital to nearly six months. "Nearly 2,300 National Guard personnel will continue the support mission.This represents a reduction of nearly 50 percent of the current support force," Defense Department spokesman John Kirby said in a statement. "This decision was made after a thorough review of the request and after close consideration of its potential impact on readiness." Close to 5,000 Guard troops from around the country are now deployed to D.C., down from the nearly 26,000 who converged on the capital ahead of President Joe Biden's Jan. 20 inauguration. Guard members from every state and territory were mobilized after a Jan. 6 pro-Trump rally turned violent, and rioters stormed the U.S. Capitol, forcing lawmakers to shelter in place for hours. While the inauguration was completely peaceful, it's not clear when the Guard mission will be brought to a close. A task force headed by retired Army Lt. Gen. Russel Honore called this week for the establishment of a permanent National Guard quick-reaction force in the district. "This could be done by mobilizing military police from Guard elements across the U.S. on rotations of three to six months," a report released by the task force proposed. "Another option would be to create a QRF that permanently resides within the D.C. Guard by reestablishing a military police battalion and staffing it with active Guard reserve troops who live in or near the city year-round, perpetually on active duty." Kirby said in the Tuesday night statement that defense officials would work with U.S. Capitol Police during the extended deployment "to incrementally reduce the National Guard footprint as conditions allow." "We thank the National Guard for its support throughout this mission, as well as for its significant efforts across the nation in combatting the COVID-19 pandemic," he said. -- Steve Beynon contributed to this report. -- Hope Hodge Seck can be reached at hope.seck@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @HopeSeck. A bipartisan pair of senators is looking to cut down on out-of-pocket costs female troops face when buying items for their uniforms. A bill introduced Wednesday by Sens. Maggie Hassan, D-N.H., and Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, aims to eliminate the so-called "pink tax," or the higher costs of female uniforms compared to male uniforms. "It is absurd that we are forcing service members to fork over thousands of dollars in order to pay for necessary clothing items that they wear while serving our country," Hassan said in a statement last week when introducing the bill. "This disparity in uniform costs is particularly stark for women, who are in some cases paying almost twice as much for the same uniform item as their male counterparts." The bill would require the Pentagon to review any changes to uniforms for potential out-of-pocket costs between genders, as well as mandate a report on the retail costs of items for male and female officers and enlisted personnel. The bill comes after the nonpartisan Government Accountability Office earlier this year confirmed women have more out-of-pocket costs for uniform items than their male counterparts. Enlisted service members receive a uniform when they enter the military and an annual clothing allowance after that to replace items. Officers generally receive a $400 clothing allowance when they first report for active duty, but do not receive an annual stipend for replacements. Read Next: Marine Corps Makes It Clear: Get The Vaccine or Get Out Women face higher out-of-pocket costs to replace uniform items because articles that are not considered "uniquely military" -- and so can't be paid for with the clothing allowance, such as underwear -- generally cost more for women than men, according to the GAO. "Other uniform items that the services have determined are required and that enlisted female service members must pay for beyond initial issuance in fiscal year 2020 include handbags for the Army, swimsuits for the Navy, and dress pumps for the Air Force and the Marine Corps," the report said. Over time, those costs add up to wide disparities in what men and women have to pay. A female soldier, for example, could face more than $2,000 in out-of-pocket costs after five years of service, compared with about $1,200 for a male soldier, according to the report. After 20 years, that becomes $8,000 in out-of-pocket costs for a female soldier, compared with about $4,000 for a male soldier. Another factor that can increase costs for female uniforms is the Defense Logistics Agency ordering fewer items for women than men, driving up individual costs, military officials told the GAO. For example, the Army estimated its new Army Green Service Uniform dress coat will cost about $163 for enlisted women and $82 for enlisted men. To address those disparities, Hassan and Ernst's bill, officially called the Military Forces Assuring that Treatment of Items by Gender are Uniform and Equal across the Services (FATIGUES) Act, would require the Defense Department to implement the GAO's recommendations, including developing "consistent criteria" for deciding which uniform items are "uniquely military." The bill is similar to one that was introduced in April in the House by Democratic Reps. Jackie Speier and Julia Brownley of California and Republican Elise Stefanik of New York. Brownley sponsored the provision in the fiscal 2020 defense policy bill that required the GAO report. In addition to requiring the Pentagon to implement the GAO's recommendations, the House bill would provide a one-time allowance to female service members to make up for the disparities in out-of-pocket costs over the last decade. The House bill was included in the lower chamber's version of this year's defense policy bill, known as the National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA. The House passed its version of the NDAA in September. The Senate is expected to act on its legislation later this fall, after which the two chambers will need to reconcile their versions before the bill becomes law. -- Rebecca Kheel can be reached at rebecca.kheel@military.com. Follow her on Twitter @reporterkheel. Related: Yes, There Is a 'Pink Tax' on Women's Military Uniforms, Report Finds CHALONS-EN-CHAMPAGNE, France One hundred years ago, an Army sergeant looked over four caskets draped in American flags inside the city hall here and chose the U.S. soldier who would embody the sacrifice of everything, even his name, to a cause greater than himself. French and American soldiers stood guard that night, never leaving the Unknown Soldiers side. On Saturday and Sunday, hundreds gathered for a vigil, a military parade and other ceremonies dedicated to that soldier and the many others he represents. The U.S. European Command Joint Color Guard marches with the French color guard during a ceremony commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Tomb of the Unknown in Chalons-en-Champagne, France, Oct. 24, 2021. (U.S. European Command) The attendees included current and former guards of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Gold Star mothers, veterans, military spouses and onlookers who, simply by remembering, shared in keeping the legacy of the Unknown Soldiers selection alive. Its a part of our history, said Benoist Apparu, mayor of this city of about 45,000 people. We need to celebrate this for the younger generation, so that they do not forget what happened here. France and Great Britain each dedicated tombs to their unknown World War I dead on Nov. 11, 1920. The U.S. Congress approved a memorial to be placed in Arlington National Cemetery the following year. The French town of Chalons-en- Champagne pays tribute to the U.S. Unknown Soldier at its WWI monument on the 100th anniversary of the Unknown Soldiers departure from Chalons to Le Havre, France, Oct. 24, 1921. (U.S. European Command) On Oct. 23, 1921, caskets carrying the remains of unidentified U.S. soldiers from four different war cemeteries in France arrived in the city, which was then known as Chalons-sur-Marne. The selection was set to be made at 11 a.m. the next morning by an American officer, until Maj. Gen. Harry Rogers went off-script, according to an account from the Society of the Honor Guard, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Rogers decided that a soldier who possibly served in the same trenches should make the choice. A horse-drawn carriage in front of Town Hall Oct. 24, 2021, re-creates the Unknown Soldiers journey from Town Hall in Chalons-en-Champagne to a train bound for Le Havre, France, Oct. 24, 1921. (U.S. European Command) Sgt. Edward F. Younger of the Army of Occupation on the Rhine had shown up for duty as a pallbearer that day. It fell to him to choose. Younger was nonchalant about it in interviews shortly afterward. But in a 1936 syndicated newspaper column, he described feeling overwhelmed. Perhaps one of them had fought with me, had befriended me, had possibly shielded me from a bullet that might have put me in his place, he wrote. Who would even know? Soldiers from U.S. Army Europe and Africa stand side by side with French service members during a ceremony in Chalons-en-Champagne, France, commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Tomb of the Unknown. (U.S. European Command) Unknown soldiers would later be chosen to rest at Arlington National Cemetery to symbolize those who died in World War II, Korea and Vietnam. The tomb at Arlington also represents every mother whose son has not come back and is unknown, said Pam Stemple, second vice president of American Gold Star Mothers. Scientific advances have meant that more unknown service members from past wars have been subsequently identified. Soldiers from U.S. Army Europe-Africa prepare to participate in a ceremony in Chalons-en-Champagne, France, commemorating the centennial of the Tomb of the Unknown. (U.S. European Command) Modern logistics have also contributed to preventing those killed in recent wars from being unknown. Stemples son, Army Ranger Sgt. 1st Class Tomas Avey, died in Afghanistan in 2015. She reflected on what mothers who never got their children back endured. We want to honor that, and thats why its so important for us to go and see this, Stemple said. For Stemple and about 40 others, the stop in Chalons-en-Champagne is part of a pilgrimage that has included cemeteries and monuments throughout France. The U.S.European Command Joint Color Guard prepares to participate in a ceremony in Chalons-en-Champagne, France, commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Tomb of the Unknown. (U.S. European Command) There have been hard moments, and tears flowed for some during taps on Sunday. But the pilgrimage participants say this has also been a celebration. And for some, its added new color and depth to a mission of perpetuating the memory of the Unknown Soldier. Gavin McIlvenna, the societys president, was first relief commander as a tomb guard at Arlington in 1997 and 1998. He spent some nights on duty thinking about where the Unknown Soldier might have come from, and what it would have been like for him to travel on trains and a ship over the ocean to France. For McIlvenna, the opportunity to follow the path of the man he guarded is nearly beyond description. Thats the room Sgt. Younger made his selection, McIlvenna said while standing on the steps of city hall, as scores of people paid their respects at the vigil. I dont know how many times I can say this is overwhelming. But it is. WASHINGTON U.S. officials say they believe Iran was behind the drone attack last week at the military outpost in southern Syria where American troops are based. Officials said Monday the U.S. believes that Iran resourced and encouraged the attack, but that the drones were not launched from Iran. They were Iranian drones, and Iran appears to have facilitated their use, officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss details that have not been made public. Officials said they believe the attacks involved as many as five drones laden with explosive charges, and that they hit both the U.S. side of al-Tanf garrison and the side where Syrian opposition forces stay. There were no reported injuries or deaths as a result of the attack. U.S. and coalition troops are based at al-Tanf to train Syrian forces on patrols to counter Islamic State militants. The base is also located on a road serving as a vital link for Iranian-backed forces from Tehran all the way to southern Lebanon and Israel. Pentagon spokesman John Kirby declined to provide details when asked about the report during a news conference Monday. He called it a complex, coordinated and deliberate attack and said the U.S. has seen similar ones before from Shia militia groups that are backed by Iran. But he would not go into specifics and said he had no update on the munitions used in the attack. Kirby also declined to say if troops were warned ahead of time or whether the U.S. intends to make a military response. The protection and security of our troops overseas remains a paramount concern for the secretary, Kirby said, referring to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, and that if there is to be a response, it will be at a time and a place and a manner of our choosing, and we certainly won't get ahead of those kinds of decisions. Pro-Iran media outlets have been saying that the attack on Tanf was carried out by Syrias allies an apparent reference to Iran-backed groups in retaliation for an attack days earlier near the historic Syrian town of Palmyra. Israel has been blamed for the attack, but U.S. officials say America was not involved with it. You can consider that the strike on Tanf was an implementation of previous promises by Syrian allies to retaliate for Palmyra, according to an official with the so-called Axis of Resistance, an anti-Western political-military alliance that includes Iran, Syria, Hezbollah and other groups fighting alongside Syrian President Bashar Assad's forces. The al-Tanf attack came in a period of rising tensions with Iran. The Biden administration this week said international diplomatic efforts to get Iran back into negotiations to return to a 2015 nuclear deal were at a critical place and that patience Is wearing thin. The last major Iranian attack on U.S. forces was in January 2020, when Tehran launched a barrage of ballistic missiles on al-Asad air base in Iraq. U.S. and coalition troops were warned of the incoming missiles and were able to take cover, but more than 100 U.S. service members received traumatic brain injuries as a result of the blasts. The Iran attack was in response to the U.S. drone strike earlier that month near the Baghdad airport that killed Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani and Iraqi militia leader Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis. Two months after the al-Asad assault, U.S. fighter jets struck five sites in retaliation, targeting Iranian-backed Shiite militia members believed responsible for the January rocket attack. Associated Press writer Bassem Mroue in Beirut contributed to this report. Days before Tricare pharmacy benefits manager Express Scripts announced that Walmart is leaving the Tricare network, the retail giant had inked a "multi-year" deal to remain, according to a company spokesman. The spokesman said late Friday that Walmart was "surprised" to learn that its pharmacy contract had been terminated, adding that the company and Express Scripts signed an agreement Sept. 30 for it to remain in the network. "We value our Tricare and [Defense Department] customers and are disappointed in Express Script's [sic] decision and we have requested more information from them to understand their decision," Luke Kleyn, a vice president at Walmart, said in an email to Military.com. "We have asked Express Scripts to honor the agreement we both recently signed." Kleyn said the new contract would have allowed military beneficiaries to continue all their prescriptions at Walmart and Sam's Club "for the next several years." "We hope to come to a resolution to continue as a pharmacy provider for the Tricare network," he added. An Express Scripts spokesperson did not directly address questions from Military.com about the negotiations and the deal described by the Walmart executive, but issued a statement citing pricing as the reasoning behind ending its relationship with Walmart. "Walmart's rates were not competitive enough to stay in the network and we are removing them effective Dec. 15, 2021," spokesperson Jennifer Luddy said in an email. She said that more than 6% of Tricare beneficiaries fill prescriptions at Walmart or Sam's Club, meaning approximately 600,000 people have used the stores for their medications. She added that Express Scripts is "helping beneficiaries ensure an easy transition." Tricare provides coverage to 9.6 million beneficiaries worldwide. Read Next: Marine Corps Makes It Clear: Get The Vaccine or Get Out Walmart first signed an agreement with Express Scripts in 2018 to provide brand-name prescription medications to beneficiaries who use Tricare and other insurance plans that use the pharmacy benefits management company. Walmart also provides many generic medications to all customers -- regardless of insurance -- through a program that provides 30-day prescriptions for $4 and 90-day prescriptions for $10. Military beneficiaries still will be able to use that program even if Walmart leaves the network, company officials said. But the change means prescriptions for brand-name and specialty medications not offered through Walmart's discount program will be considered non-network. Beneficiaries will have to pay the full cost of their medication up front and file a claim with Tricare for partial reimbursement. Last week, Express Scripts began notifying Tricare beneficiaries who use Walmart or Sam's Club pharmacies that their stores would no longer be in their retail pharmacy network as of Dec. 15. The letter includes three local network pharmacy options and instructions on how to transfer prescriptions. Those who fill specialty medications at Walmart or Sam's Club also will receive a letter as well as a phone call from Express Scripts to help them transfer their prescriptions. According to Express Scripts, these beneficiaries will have a 30-day grace period to transfer their prescriptions. As a pharmacy benefit manager, Express Scripts serves as a middleman, overseeing the Defense Health Agency's pharmacy program, including management of the retail pharmacy network, Tricare's mail order pharmacy, claims reimbursement, and beneficiary and pharmacy support services. In July, the Defense Department awarded a contract to Express Scripts worth up to $4.3 billion over the next seven years to continue as Tricare's pharmacy benefits manager. Luddy said Monday that pharmacies set reimbursement rates for medications, and Express Scripts negotiates discounts, conducting "continuous evaluations of the network to ensure best value and care for the Department of Defense, beneficiaries and taxpayers, and to pass on more savings to the government." Express Scripts also announced last week that CVS will return to the Tricare network after a five-year hiatus. Walmart and Sam's Club operate roughly 5,300 pharmacies nationwide, including many in rural areas, while CVS has nearly 10,000 locations. "This change provides more competitive rates for the Tricare pharmacy benefit and expands quality, convenient pharmacy choices nationwide," Luddy said in a statement to Military.com. Having access to Walmart pharmacies has been especially convenient to military families and retirees who live in rural or remote areas that may lack a chain pharmacy. Plus, many have come to rely on the discounted generic medications, which are offered at rates lower than Tricare copayments. In a blog post last week, Karen Ruedisueli, director of government relations for health affairs at the Military Officers Association of America, said her organization believes that the change will maintain the quality of the Tricare pharmacy program and may even improve it for many beneficiaries. "We understand families who fill prescriptions at Walmart or Sam's Club will be inconvenienced, but others will be pleased to once again have CVS as an option for their prescription medications," Ruedisueli wrote. Pharmacy copays have risen substantially over the past 10 years, in large part due to cost but also as required by Congress as part of a cost-cutting measure to the defense medical budget. This year, Tricare beneficiaries pay $13 for a 30-day supply for a generic drug and $33 for a brand-name medication at retail pharmacies. Non-formulary drugs not listed in Tricare's list of covered medications cost $60. Copayments for the mail-order pharmacy run $10 for a generic prescription and $29 for a brand-name drug for a 90-day script. And the rates are expected to rise next year. According to Express Scripts, the Tricare pharmacy network covers 56,000 stores, including chains such as Walgreens and Rite Aid and supermarkets like Kroger and Publix. Editor's note: This article has been updated to correct the 2021 copayment rate for a generic prescription at a Tricare network pharmacy. -- Patricia Kime can be reached at Patricia.Kime@Military.com. Follow her on Twitter @patriciakime. Related: Defense Health Agency Says It Will Come Up $1.8 Billion Short on Cash Due to Pandemic Military Families have experienced the emotional trauma of deployment on an unprecedented scale since the end of the Gulf War. Humanitarian missions and peace enforcement have sent our troops to Somalia, Cuba, Haiti, Bosnia, Kosovo, Iraq and Afghanistan. In the last decade, military downsizing has increased the likelihood that each Soldier will eventually participate in an extended mission. The impact of these long separations is of increasing concern with two-thirds of Soldiers now married and deployments to the Former Yugoslavia entering a fifth year. Differing coping strategies are needed through five stages of deployment. Education of health care providers, military leaders, Soldiers and Family members to anticipate these stages is crucial to ensure the Soldier's safe return and to minimize familial trauma. The Five Stages Pre-deployment (varies) Deployment (1st month) Sustainment (months 2 thru 5) Re-deployment (last month) Post-deployment (3-6 months after deployment) The emotional cycle of an extended deployment, six months or greater, is readily divided into five distinct stages. These stages are comprised as follows: pre-deployment, deployment, sustainment, re-deployment and post-deployment. Each stage is characterized both by a time frame and specific emotional challenges, which must be dealt with and mastered by each of the Family members. Failure to adequately negotiate these challenges can lead to significant strife - both for Family members and the deployed Soldier. Providing information early about what to expect, especially for Families who have not endured a lengthy separation before, can go a long way towards "normalizing" and coping positively with the deployment experience. Furthermore, promoting understanding of the stages of deployment helps to avert crises, minimize the need for command intervention or mental health counseling and can even reduce suicidal threats. Lessons Learned There are many challenges for military Families to overcome during the five stages of deployment. Anticipating these challenges is important to minimize the emotional trauma caused by extended deployment. It is important not to over-interpret arguments which are often caused by the pain and loss of separation. Resolving marital issues that precede deployment is very difficult to accomplish over long distances and is probably best left until the Soldier's return. Dates of departure and return often "slip" forwards and backwards. Establishing or maintaining a support network helps Families cope. Rumors are hurtful and are best not repeated. If they cannot be resolved, then contact the chain of command to find out the truth or put a stop to them. Breaking up the time is a useful technique to prevent being overwhelmed. This can include: weekly get-togethers with other Families, monthly outings for the children (a favorite restaurant, the park, a picnic etc.), and a visit to, or from, parents and in-laws around mid-deployment just to name a few. In order to maintain their sanity, parents - now "single" because of the deployment - will need time without their children. Scheduling a regular "Mommy's (Daddy's) day out" can be achieved by daycare or sharing sitting with someone you trust. Overspending or increased alcohol use may provide short-term relief; but in the long-term, they will only exacerbate the stress of deployment. Lastly, and most importantly, Soldier, spouse and children will change and grow during the deployment. It is critical to go slow, be patient and allow several months to reestablish Family bonds. Helpful Hints Establish a base of support Make plans to break up time E-mail/phone calls/letters Avoid overspending/alcohol Single" parents need time without kids Over the years -- beginning with the Persian Gulf War, through the Kosovo War and now with Iraq and Afghanistan -- Soldiers and their Families have had to adapt to a major shift in U.S. foreign policy and the role of the Army in extended multinational deployments. These experiences have provided new insight into the different skills needed to minimize familial trauma. Furthermore, Family well-being is not only essential to mission success with two-thirds of Soldiers now married, but also to the future health of the Army through retention of trained Soldiers. Health care professionals (including civilian providers accepting TRICARE insurance) and military leaders must be prepared to support Soldiers and their Families through the five stages of deployment. Providing information early, about what to expect, will help families cope with the deployment experience. More research is needed, about the impact of deployment on Soldiers and their families, to ensure that our forces are better prepared and ready for challenges of the next century. How to use the mindat.org media viewer Click/touch this help panel to close it. Welcome to the mindat.org media viewer. Here is a quick guide to some of the options available to you. Different controls are available depending on the type of media being shown (photo, video, animation, 3d image) Controls - all media types Zoom in and out of media using your mousewheel or with a two-finger 'resize' action on a touch device. Use the mouse or your finger to drag the image or the view area of the image around the screen. < and > at the left and right hand side of the screen move forwards and backwards for the other images associated with the media you selected. Usually this is used for previous/next photo in a gallery, in an article or in search results. Keyboard shortcuts: use shift + the left and right arrow keys. < and > in the bottom center are used for switching between the photos of the same specimen. Keyboard shortcuts: use the left and right arrow keys. > in the bottom center, raises the information box giving details and further options for the media, < at the top of this box then hides it. Keyboard shortcuts: use the up and down arrow keys. ? opens this help window. Keyboard shortcuts: use the H key or the ? key. Other keyboard shortcuts: 1 Fit image to screen 2 Fill screen with image 5 Display at full resolution < Make background darker > Make background lighter space Hide/dim titles and buttons Scalebar If the field of view (FOV) is specified for the photo, the scalebar appears in the left bottom corner of the viewer. The scalebar is draggable and resizeable. Drag the right edge to resize it. Double click will reset the scalebar to it's default size and position. If the scalebar is in default position, double click will make it circular. Controls - Video Video files have a standard set of video controls: - Reset to start, - Skip back, - Play, - Pause, - Skip forwards. Keyboard shortcuts: You can stop/start video play with the P key. Controls - Animation (Spin Rotation) Animation (usually 360 degree spin rotations) have their own controls: - enable spin mode. Note that while images are loading this option will not be available but will be automatically activated when the animation has loaded. Once active you can spin the image/change the animation by moving your mouse or finger on the image left/right or by pressing the [ or ] keys. The button switches to move mode so that you can use your mouse/fingers to move the image around the screen as with other media types. The button, or the P key will start playing the animation directly, you can interrupt this by using the mouse or finger on the image to regain manual movement control. Controls - 3D Stereoscopic images If a stereoscopic 3D image is opened in the viewer, the 3D button appears in the bottom right corner giving access to "3D settings" menu. The 3D images can be viewed in several ways: - without any special equipment using cross-eyed or parallel-eyed method - with stereoscope - with anaglyph glasses. - on a suitable 3D TV or monitor (passive 3D system) For details about 3D refer to: Mindat manuals: Mindat Media Viewer: 3D To enable/disable 3D stereo display of a compatible stereo pair image press the 3 key. If the left/right images are reversed on your display (this often happens in full-screen mode) press the 4 key to reverse them. Controls - photo comparison mode If a photo with activated comparison mode is opened in the viewer, the button appears in the bottom right corner giving access to "Comparison mode settings" menu. Several layouts are supported: slider and side by-side comparison with up to 6 photos shown synchronously on the screen. On each of the compared photos a view selector is placed, e.g.: Longwave UV . It shows the name of currently selected view and allows to select a view for each placeholder. Summary of all keyboard shortcuts [October 25, 2021] BlueSnap becomes first global PSP to launch local acquiring in Israel Beta program now open for BlueSnap's 47th acquiring country BOSTON and HERZLIYA, Israel and LONDON and DUBLIN and Ottawa, ON, Oct. 25, 2021 /CNW/ -- BlueSnap , a global payment technology company committed to helping B2B and B2C businesses accept and optimize digital payments around the world, has received licensing and bank approval for local acquiring in Israel. Israel becomes BlueSnap's 47th local acquiring country. Now businesses operating in Israel can process digital payments locally, saving them up to 2% in cross-border fees. Businesses may also benefit from increased sales as local acquiring helps improve payment authorization rates. Today's announcement also makes it easier for businesses already using BlueSnap to make their products and services available in Israel. Israel's thriving tech community makes it an ideal market for businesses to innovate and expand globally. BlueSnap itself originated in Israel in 2002 and has a growing team in Herzliya with over 80 employees and a newly renovated office. "We're excited to be expanding our local acquiring capabilities in the Israeli market, especially with BlueSnap's deep roots in Israel.", said Ralph Dangelmaier, CEO of BlueSnap. "More businesses than ever are expanding globally and the rate of customers purchasing goos and services online and from overseas sellers is accelerating. But international payments are extremely complex, and businesses face many challenges as they try to accept payments globally. BlueSnap is focused on helping businesses optimize their global payments; increasing sales and reducing costs so that they can focus on growing their business and serving customers." BlueSnap's All-in-One Payment Platform is specifically designed to help businesses accept payments domestically and internationally. Businesses only need to do one integration and will receive one account and one contract to accept payments in 200 geographies with 100+ currencies and 100+ payment types. As the business grows into new territories, there are no additional integrations, no additional accounts to set up and no struggling with multiple reports to reconcile. BlueSnap's network of global banks and local acquiring, paired with best-in-class tax solution, fraud protection, chargeback management and accounts receivable automation deliver businesses a better way to accept payments on a global scale. As part of BlueSnap's local acquiring launch in Israel, they are now welcoming businesses to participate in their beta program. Businesses participating in BlueSnap's beta program will have early access and the opportunity to provide feedback. To find out more about BlueSnap's Israel beta program, visit https://go.bluesnap.com/beta-program . About BlueSnap BlueSnap helps businesses accept payments globally. Our All-In-One Payment Platform is designed to increase sales and reduce costs for all businesses accepting payments. BlueSnap supports payments across all geographies through multiple sales channels such as online and mobile sales, marketplaces, subscriptions, invoice payments and manual orders through a virtual terminal. And for businesses looking for embedded payments, we offer white-labeled payments for platforms with automated underwriting and onboarding that supports marketplaces and split payments. With one integration and contract, businesses can sell in over 200 geographies with access to local acquiring in 47 countries, 110+ currencies and 100+ global payment types, including popular eWallets, automated accounts receivable, world-class fraud protection and chargeback management, built-in solutions for regulation and tax compliance, and unified global reporting to help businesses grow. BlueSnap is backed by world-class private equity investors including Great Hill Partners and Parthenon Capital Partners. Learn more at BlueSnap.com View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/bluesnap-becomes-first-global-psp-to-launch-local-acquiring-in-israel-301406909.html SOURCE BlueSnap [ Back To www.mobilitytechzone.com\LTE's Homepage ] [October 25, 2021] Hotwav's water, dust and shock resistant 5G smartphone Hotwav Cyber 7 available on Banggood for a limited period of time SHENZHEN, China, Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Chinese smartphone provider Hotwav today announced the launch of Hotwav Cyber 7, a highly competitive 5G smartphone that is water, dust and shock resistant as part of its efforts to enter the European and US markets. Cyber 7, originally priced at US$399.99, will be available on Banggood (PC / Mobile) from October 25 to October 31 for only US$199.99 (including free shipping to the US and major European countries). The first 200 purchasers of the smartphone on the platform are also entitled to a Hotwav C1 Smart Watch. Targeting young consumers, Hotwav Cyber 7 is an affordable luxury smartphonewith distinctive, stylish appearance that combines high-tech elements with the simple yet classic dominant colors (red and black). Besides the excellent exterior design, the phone also features a high-strength, durable IP68/69K body and a large battery (8280mAh) that supports up to 600 hours of standby time, providing an unprecedented experience to users whether it is used to play games, watch videos or used in outdoor events. Moreover, the 18W fast charging system enables full charging in a short period of time. With a 7nm MediaTek Dimensity 700 chip that supports the SA/NSA 5G network modes, a Octa-core processor and 8GB RAM plus 128GB ROM, Hotwav Cyber 7 outperforms when it comes to responding to the user's commands. Notably, the combination of a 6.3-inch FHD+ display made of Corning's glass and a 5G chip helps create an outstanding interactive experience and deliver a better performance. In addition, the smartphone uses the 32MP front camera that enhances the imaging, the 48MP HD main camera with 8MP wide angle and 2MP macro, and the 20MP HD night vision camera with two high-power infrared lights, which allows for clear video recording even at night. Founded in 2008, Hotwav has been committed to serving the Middle East and Southeast Asia where its mobile phones have gained growing popularity among users with average monthly shipments exceeding 300,000 units. The company expects to surprise and delight consumers by ensuring a sufficient supply of Cyber 7s on Banggood at a highly competitive price. For more information, please visit: http://www.hotwav.com/, or contact us at marketing@hotwav.com. Media Contact: Rocky Zhu, +86-13530132705, marketing@hotwav.com View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hotwavs-water-dust-and-shock-resistant-5g-smartphone-hotwav-cyber-7-available-on-banggood-for-a-limited-period-of-time-301407420.html SOURCE Hotwav [ Back To www.mobilitytechzone.com\LTE's Homepage ] [October 25, 2021] TeamViewer Provides Connectivity Solution for Gruppo Cimbali's New Global Remote Service Program for Professional Coffee Machines TAMPA BAY, Fla., Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Gruppo Cimbali, a global leading manufacturer of professional coffee machines, is using TeamViewer to launch a new worldwide remote service program for its corporate customers. Thanks to TeamViewer's secure connectivity solution, technicians from Gruppo Cimbali or one of its distributors can remotely access the clients' machines to quickly solve problems, and thereby reduce machine downtime and minimize revenue loss for the customer. By embedding TeamViewer's solution into the machines, technicians have a reliable and secure remote access to the coffee machine's file system and screen, almost similar as to being on-site, and can conduct a comprehensive assessment of the customer's issue. Gruppo Cimbali's new service is primarily focusing on technical support tickets related to both software issues and manual errors. First projections revealed that the remote customer service can reduce travel costs for technicians by up to 50 percent and, at the same time, increase the efficiency of the technicians' work by up to 20 percent. The new service is available for machines of Gruppo Cimbali's brands LaCimbali and Faema. In addition to the customer support use case, the solution also helps on-site technicians worldwide to receive remote support from one of their colleagues. For Gruppo Cimbali, this is particularly important from a knowledge transfer perspective, as training-on-the-job for junior technicians can be improved. Edgardo Ferrero, Services Director at Gruppo Cimbali: "Our clients include international coffee shops that rely on a 24/7 availability of their professional espresso and cappuccino machines. By introducing our new 'Global Remote Service Program,' we can significantly lower downtime of the machines, support them quickly, and therefore increase our customers' return on investment. At the same time, our technicians save time and can solve more tickets in order to create added value for our customers." Lukas Baur, Executive Vice President Solution Sales at TeamViewer: "It is great to see how our solutions enable new digital services in all kinds of indutries. Gruppo Cimbali's use case is an example of how a company leverages the interplay between connectivity and the Internet of Things to create a new global service for their customers. It shows how digitalization makes a company's value chain smarter and more cost effective." The Italy-based Gruppo Cimbali has created a distribution network covering over 100 countries and involving 700 distributors, a market sector that accounts for more than 80 percent of their products. Although the group today has a global framework, it remains Italian at heart, with a strong presence in the country. All machines are produced in Italy. Gruppo Cimbali's commercial customers include global system gastronomy corporations as well as local and regional companies from all over the world More information on Gruppo Cimbali's Global Remote Service Program here. About TeamViewer TeamViewer is a leading global technology company that provides a connectivity platform to remotely access, control, manage, monitor, and repair devices of any kind from laptops and mobile phones to industrial machines and robots. Although TeamViewer is free of charge for private use, it has more than 600,000 subscribers and enables companies of all sizes and from all industries to digitize their business-critical processes through seamless connectivity. Against the backdrop of global megatrends like device proliferation, automation and new work, TeamViewer proactively shapes digital transformation and continuously innovates in the fields of Augmented Reality, Internet of Things and Artificial Intelligence. Since the company's foundation in 2005, TeamViewer's software has been installed on more than 2.5 billion devices around the world. The company is headquartered in Goppingen, Germany, and employs around 1,500 people globally. In 2020, TeamViewer achieved billings of EUR 460 million. TeamViewer AG (TMV) is listed at Frankfurt Stock Exchange and belongs to the MDAX. Further information can be found at www.teamviewer.com . About GRUPPO CIMBALI Gruppo Cimbali is one of the main players in design and production of professional machines for espresso and fresh-milk drinks, as well as coffee and catering equipment. The Group, encompassing the brands La Cimbali, Faema, Slayer and Casadio, has three production facilities in Italy and one in the USA (in Seattle, where Slayer machines are manufactured) and employs about 700 people in total. The Group's passion and engagement for espresso culture and Made-in-Italy translated into setting up the MUMAC Museum Coffee Machine- in 2012: the first and most estensive permanent exhibition about the history, world and culture of espresso machines, located at the headquarters in Binasco, close to Milan. MUMAC is hosting MUMAC Academy, Gruppo Cimbali's coffee-machine academy: a training, dissemination and research centre. Press contact Jon Stotts Head of PR & Events, TeamViewer Americas Phone: 646-961-3497 E-Mail: press@teamviewer.com View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/teamviewer-provides-connectivity-solution-for-gruppo-cimbalis-new-global-remote-service-program-for-professional-coffee-machines-301407026.html SOURCE TeamViewer [ Back To www.mobilitytechzone.com\LTE's Homepage ] While holding that the reopening proceedings should be a clear case of change of opinion, the Madras High Court (HC) had quashed reopening proceedings against Cognizant Technology Solutions India Pvt Ltd. Cognizant Technology was subjected to reassessment for assessment year (AY) 2013-14; however, the assessing officer (AO) furnished a reason for reopening the assessment after five months from the date of issue of notice. In an order passed earlier this month, a division bench of justice TS Sivagnanam and justice Sathi Kumar Sukumura Kurup, says, "There is an enormous delay in furnishing the reasons for reopening and we are of the opinion that the reasons were not furnished to the assessee within a reasonable time. However, since we are fully convinced that the reopening proceedings are a clear case of change of opinion, we do not wish to render any finding on the legal issue as to what would be the reasonable time within which the assessee should be informed about the reasons for reopening, upon the request received from the assessee in that regard, and we leave the said legal issue open for consideration in an appropriate proceeding at the appropriate time." On 29 March 2018, the AO of income-tax (I-T) department issued a notice under Section 148 of the I-T Act to Cognizant Technology. On 27 April 2018, the company sought reasons for initiating the reopening proceedings. However, the AO neither furnished the reason nor responded to the company's letter. He, however, issued another notice under Section 143(2) on 21 August 2018. On 27 August 2018, Cognizant Technology sent one more letter to the AO requesting him to reveal the reason for reopening the proceedings against it. This time, the AO, via a letter on 30 August 2018, communicated the reasons for reopening the proceedings with the company. The AO had sought reassessment claiming that disallowances were not considered earlier, and the issue of marked to market losses in forward contracts, repairs and maintenance related to computer software, carry forward and set-off of long-term capital loss and adjustment of unrealised short-term capital gains, were the unresolved issues. The company challenged these claims by a writ petition. While holding that the reassessment was based on a new dimension that was not considered earlier, a single judge bench dismissed the company's writ petition. Cognizant Technology then filed an appeal before the division bench. The division bench observed that the ruling of the single judge bench did not reflect the correct legal position. The Madras HC referred to some judgements of the Supreme Court. In the case of Kelvinator India Ltd, the SC had held that one needs to give a schematic interpretation for the word reason to believe, failing which Section 147 of the Act would give arbitrary powers to the AO to reopen the assessment based on mere 'change of opinion', which cannot be per se the reason to reopen the case. In the case of Techspan India, the apex court had held that reassessment proceedings could not be initiated on the basis of the same facts as available during the regular assessment and in the absence of any new material coming to the light of the assessing authority. Regarding the grounds for reopening the assessment, the HC noted that all the issues were duly scrutinised and considered while framing the assessment under section 143(3) of the I-T Act. "While disposing of Cognizant Technology's objections, the revenue (I-T) did not examine any of these aspects but merely observed that the revenue nowhere left traces for verification of issues, and thus it did not amount to change of opinion," the division bench noted. It says, "In the absence of new facts coming to the knowledge of the revenue officials after original assessment proceedings, the reopening could not have been done on the same materials." The division bench also remarked that where the revenue officials accepted that the grounds on which the assessment was reopened were verified earlier, such reopening was a clear case of change of opinion. National Stock Exchange (NSE) s registered investor base has surpassed 50 million unique investors. While the journey from 30 million registered investors to 40 million registered investors took about 15 months, the subsequent 10 million investor registrations took less than seven months, the Exchange says in a release. We have come a long way over the past decade. Just 10-12 years ago, Indias vanishing investor base was a matter of concern. According to the D Swarup Committee report of 2009, of the 188 million Indians holding financial assets, only 8 million investors participate in debt and equity markets, either directly or indirectly through complex and risk-bearing products like mutual funds and market-linked insurance plans. So, Indias investor population, pegged at 21 million in 2000-01 according to a study by the National Council for Applied Economic Research (NCAER), was down to nearly a third by the end of the decade at that time. Read: Investor Population: Vanishing Investors ) This explains the rapid growth in investor accounts at NSE. However, with shrinking returns on bank term deposits, investors now want to invest at least a part of their money directly in stock markets. (This explains the rapid growth in investor accounts at NSE. As of 25 October 2021, the total number of client codes registered with the Exchange stands at 88.6 million (clients could register with more than one trading member). Demat accounts in India held with the two depositories, National Securities Depository Ltd (NSDL) and the Central Depository Services India Ltd (CDSL) together are at around 70.2 million, including multiple demat accounts held by a single investor with a unique permanent account number (PAN). An investor can have more than one demat account or a trading account with different depository participants and trading members linked to a single PAN. Vikram Limaye, managing director (MD) and chief executive (CEO) of NSE, says, The milestone achieved today is the culmination of efforts put in by the government, the regulators, and all stakeholders to provide a bouquet of products, simplified client onboarding processes, investor education and awareness. I am sure with the focused efforts of all stakeholders; we should be looking at increasing penetration further and touching the 10 crore unique investors mark over the next three-four years. According to NSE, the journey from 40 million unique investors to 50 million unique investors took about 203 days. North Indian states contributed to 36% of new investor registrations, followed by Western India with 31%, Southern India states and Eastern India states accounting for 20% and 13% of new investor registrations, respectively, it says. Maharashtra contributed 17% at the state level, followed by Uttar Pradesh with 10% and Gujarat with 7% new investor registrations. The top-10 states accounted for 71% of new investor registrations. According to NSE, the growth in investor registrations has primarily been driven from non-metro cities. The cities beyond the top 50 cities accounted for 57% of new investor registrations, while the cities beyond the top 100 cities contributed to 43%, indicating that the growing interest in the equity markets is not restricted to the metros and a few tier-1 cities, it says. October 25, 2021 Microsoft Blames Russia For Failure To Enforce Its Vendors Account Security There are again claims that a run-of-the-mill computer incident was caused by 'Russian hacking' even as no evidence is provided for it. The New York Times hacks immediately turn that evidence free claim that into a 'challenge' for the U.S. president even as there is nothing political about the incident. Russia Challenges Biden Again With Broad Cybersurveillance Operation Russias premier intelligence agency has launched another campaign to pierce thousands of U.S. government, corporate and think-tank computer networks, Microsoft officials and cybersecurity experts warned on Sunday, only months after President Biden imposed sanctions on Moscow in response to a series of sophisticated spy operations it had conducted around the world. The new effort is very large, and it is ongoing, Tom Burt, one of Microsofts top security officers, said in an interview. Government officials confirmed that the operation, apparently aimed at acquiring data stored in the cloud, seemed to come out of the S.V.R., the Russian intelligence agency that was the first to enter the Democratic National Committees networks during the 2016 election. While Microsoft insisted that the percentage of successful breaches was small, it did not provide enough information to accurately measure the severity of the theft. Earlier this year, the White House blamed the S.V.R. for the so-called SolarWinds hacking, a highly sophisticated effort to alter software used by government agencies and the nations largest companies, giving the Russians broad access to 18,000 users. As typical for such incidents they get exaggerated - "very large, and it is ongoing" - and downplayed - "the percentage of successful breaches was small" - at the same time. The attribution to Russia - "seemed to come out of the S.V.R." - is extraordinary weak. To compare the current incident, which turns out to have been a primitive 'brute force' attack on user logins, to the very sophisticated Solarwinds hack, makes little sense. If it was indeed the S.V.R. which has done the Solarwinds attack, which is also an unproven assertion, then it is hard to believe that the current rather primitive incident can be attributed to the same entity. Here is how the new attempts are described: Microsoft said it recently notified more than 600 organizations that they had been the target of about 23,000 attempts to enter their systems. ... Microsoft said the attack was focused on its resellers, firms that customize the use of the cloud for companies or academic institutions. ... As described by Microsoft, the incursion primarily involved deploying a huge database of stolen passwords in automated attacks intended to get Russian government hackers into Microsofts cloud services. So someone took a database of typically used passwords (there are many of these available for free) and used it for automated login attempts to some 600 accounts of Microsoft cloud resellers. Gaining such access could then allow to attack the customers of that reseller. Such brute force attacks are a simple script kiddie task that require less than ten lines of code. To claim that the organization that managed the Solarwinds hack would now use such a most primitive way to gain access to accounts is pretty hilarious. Consider the Solarwinds details: As part of the attack, the threat actors gained access to the SolarWinds Orion build system and added a backdoor to the legitimate SolarWinds.Orion.Core.BusinessLayer.dll DLL file. This DLL was then distributed to SolarWinds customers in a supply chain attack via an automatic update platform used to push out new software updates. This DLL backdoor is known as Sunburst (FireEye) or Solorigate (Microsoft, and is loaded by the SolarWinds.BusinessLayerHost.exe program. Once loaded, it will connect back to the remote command & control server at a subdomain of avsvmcloud[.]com to receive "jobs," or tasks, to execute on the infected computer. The backdoor's command control server's DNS name is created utilizing a domain generation algorithm (DGA) to create an encoded subdomain of avsvmcloud[.]com. FireEye states that the subdomain is created by "concatenating a victim userId with a reversible encoding of the victims local machine domain name," and then hashed. For example, a subdomain used in this attack is '1btcr12b62me0buden60ceudo1uv2f0i.appsync-api.us-east-2[.]avsvmcloud.com.' It is unknown what tasks were executed, but it could be anything from giving remote access to the threat actors, downloading and installing further malware, or stealing data. The Solarwinds attack required intimate knowledge of the company's development, build and distribution process, several complex software modifications, command and control tools and a well managed infrastructure. Source: Microsoft - bigger I have no problem to believe that the Solarwinds hack was done by a well resourced state actor. But no public evidence was provided that it was a Russian one. One should at least acknowledge that dozens of other countries have similar capabilities and could also lay false traces to point to other actors. But no such well resourced state actor would use simple brute force attacks on account logins because they are considered to be a waste of time. Such attacks are way too easy to detect and defended against and therefore the least attractive method to use. They are most often used by amateur criminals. This incident certainly does not point to a 'Russian attack' but to rather flimsy security policy provided by Microsoft and its resellers: American officials confirmed that the operation, which they consider routine spying, was underway. But they insisted that if it was successful, it was Microsoft and similar providers of cloud services who bore much of the blame. A senior administration official called the latest attacks unsophisticated, run-of-the mill operations that could have been prevented if the cloud service providers had implemented baseline cybersecurity practices. We can do a lot of things, the official said, but the responsibility to implement simple cybersecurity practices to lock their and by extension, our digital doors rests with the private sector. The Microsoft's description of the incident makes the unfounded claims that Russia's S.V.R. was behind it. But it also acknowledges that its shoddy security policy was the real culprit in this: The attacks weve observed in the recent campaign against resellers and service providers have not attempted to exploit any flaw or vulnerability in software but rather used well-known techniques, like password spray and phishing, to steal legitimate credentials and gain privileged access. Microsoft admits that while it had asked its resellers to use multi-factor authentication for logins it did not, up to now, enforce that policy: We have long maintained and evolved the security requirements and policies we enforce with service providers that sell or support Microsoft technology. For example, in September 2020, we updated contracts with our resellers to expand Microsofts abilities and rights to address reseller security incidents and to require that resellers implement specific security protections for their environments, such as restricting Partner Portal access and requiring that resellers enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) in accessing our cloud portals and underlying services, and we will take the necessary and appropriate steps to enforce these security commitments. Had Microsoft taken those "necessary and appropriate steps" earlier no hack could have had occurred. But it was Microsoft which let its cloud resellers get away with providing less security to their customers than Twitter provides for my @MoonofA account. To blame Russia for the resulting mess is obviously just a diversion from Microsoft's culpability. To manipulate that into a politically charged international incident that 'challenges' the U.S. president is dangerous warmongering. Posted by b on October 25, 2021 at 17:17 UTC | Permalink Comments Update at 4:45 p.m. on October 22: This story has been updated to include a statement from Torchy's Tacos. A family has filed a lawsuit against Austin-based Torchy's Tacos after a mother claims her son developed salmonella after eating contaminated onions at one of its San Antonio restaurants. The suit was filed by a San Antonio woman on behalf of her minor son, and includes Torchy's, its parent company Success Foods Management Group LLC and ProSource Produce LLC, a food distributor among the defendants. According to court documents, the plaintiff ate dinner at the Torchy's Tacos on 18210 Sonterra Place on August 21. Torchy's Tacos / Torchy's Tacos Six days later, the court filing stated the minor began to "experience exhaustion and a headache." The mother claimed his symptoms progressed over the next 10 days with increasing intensity, including fever, diarrhea, and intense pain in his lower back. The minor was taken to an emergency room on September 3. However, an examination failed to yield a diagnosis, according to the suit. His mother reported he was in such intense pain that he could not walk or sit up. The document stated he was taken to Methodist Children's Hospital where he received treatment for complications from a salmonella infection in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. According to the court filing, the infection reportedly led to sepsis, organ failure, pneumonia, acidosis, thrombocytopenia, pericardial effusion, interstitial emphysema, and extreme pain when it reached the bones around his sacroiliac joint. On October 21, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced a salmonella outbreak linked to onions from Chihuahua, Mexic, and distributed by ProSource, which is based in Hailey, Idaho. As of Thursday morning, the outbreak has sickened more than 650 people in 37 states. Torchy's Tacos included the statement below: "This week we learned that we are being sued based on an allegation that on August 21 a guest ate food from our Sonterra San Antonio restaurant and a week later became ill. This October lawsuit filing was the first notice we have received about this claim. At Torchys, our number one priority is providing safe and delicious food to our guests. We take this claim very seriously and have retained nationally respected food safety experts to track our food supply in August to see if they can find a connection between the food we served then and this claim. We can report our Sonterra location has a uniform record of excellent health inspection scores, including a 100-score routine inspection from the City of San Antonio Metropolitan Health District as recently as October 8, 2021. Our thoughts are with this guest and his family and we hope for continued recovery." The family is seeking more than $200,000 of compensation to cover the family's medical bills and to compensate the minor for pain and suffering, mental anguish, disfigurement, future lost wages, and more. The plaintiff in the suit is represented by Seattle's Marler Clark LLC and the Hill Law Firm of San Antonio. THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) Dutch climate experts warned Monday that the low-lying Netherlands could face higher sea level rises than previously forecast as well as the threat of extreme rainfall and other dangerous weather events caused by climate change. The Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute, known by its Dutch acronym KNMI, issued the stark warning in a new update based on its own research and a report issued in August by the United Nations' Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. The Dutch report was presented less than a week before the U.N.'s annual climate conference opens in Glasgow, Scotland. The Oct. 31-Nov. 12 event, known as COP26, is seen by many as an important and even crucial opportunity for concrete government commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It might not be cheerful reading, but it is necessary reading, Dutch State Secretary for Infrastructure and Water Steven Weyenberg said. Talking about climate change as something we do for our children underestimates the urgency, he added. The KNMI said that if greenhouse gas emissions are not reduced, the sea level along the long Dutch coastline could rise by 1.2 meters (nearly 4 feet) by the year 2100. The institute warned in 2014 of a possible 1-meter rise. It said in Monday's update that if melting of the Antarctic ice cap accelerates, then sea levels could rise by 2 meters by 2100. The agency also warned of both heavier summer storms and droughts, with river levels expected to be lower in the summer and higher in the winter. The low-lying Netherlands is protected by thousands of kilometers (miles) of dikes along its rivers and its North Sea coast, and has a national Delta Fund that invests hundreds of millions each year in improvements and maintenance. Over the summer, torrential rainfall sparked widespread flooding in the southern province of Limburg. The same heavy summer storm caused dozens of deaths in neighboring Germany and Belgium. Adapting to extreme weather and anticipating sea level rises must be a top priority for a new government, Rogier van der Sande, chairman of the Dutch Union of Water Boards, said in a statement Monday. Four parties are currently negotiating to form the next Dutch ruling coalition, with climate measures one of the topics they are discussing. Weyenberg said it is clear more has to be done. The climate crisis is here. Its code red, and it is up to us all to act, he said. ___ Follow APs climate coverage at http://apnews.com/hub/climate BERLIN (AP) A target for rich countries to provide poor nations with $100 billion in aid each year to tackle global warming will be missed, dealing a blow to the upcoming U.N. climate talks in Glasgow. Senior officials from Britain, Canada and Germany, who had hoped to break a deadlock in negotiations ahead of next week's summit, announced Monday that current data shows the goal won't be reached until 2023 three years later than agreed. The goal was almost certainly missed in 2020, said Alok Sharma, the U.K. official who will chair the talks in Glasgow. Failure to fulfil the pledge first made in 2009 and reaffirmed at the 2015 Paris climate talks, had been a source of deep frustration for developing countries," he added. I absolutely get this." But Sharma, who will now have to face the frustration of poor nations over the funding shortfall, pointed to a projected rise in financial aid beyond the agreed threshold in the coming years. The plan provides confidence that the $100 billion will be met in 2023, and importantly, it projects that the $100 billion will be exceeded in subsequent years, with up to $117 billion being mobilized in 2025, he said. Over the 2021-2025 period, $500 million would likely be mobilized in public and private finance, he added. The report was compiled by Canadas minister of environment and climate change, Jonathan Wilkinson, and Germanys deputy environment minister, Jochen Flasbarth, who drew on data provided by the Paris-based Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, which tracks international flows of climate finance. Not all of our conversations were really (...) polite, Flasbarth told reporters of the talks that had taken place with rich and poor nations in recent weeks. There is disappointment and we share this disappointment, he said. But the result we have now is not bad enough (to allow) not to be constructive in Glasgow. But Mohamed Adow, a long-time observer of U.N. climate talks who now heads Nairobi-based environmental think tank Power Shift Africa, said the plan won't satisfy poor nations, who have insisted that the original target must be met. The $100 billion of climate finance is not only a lifeline to poor and vulnerable communities on the front line of a climate crisis they did not cause, its also the bare minimum that rich countries need to do to hold up their end of the bargain at COP26," he said Adow warned the plan now submitted to the U.K. to take to the COP26 talks in Glasgow should not be considered mission accomplished. Poor nations will not be conned and the leaders of the developed world need to ... get this money on the table if COP26 is going to be a success, he said. Teresa Anderson, climate policy coordinator at ActionAid International, noted that much of the financial support from rich to poor countries is still made out as loans that those on the frontlines of climate change struggle to repay. It is vital that climate finance comes in the form of grants," she said. Sharma said the upcoming talks would seek to address that issue, as well as the demand from poor countries for half of the funds to be devoted to adapting to climate change. Currently, the overwhelming share is earmarked for measures to reduce emissions. The Washington-based environmental think tank World Resources Institute has calculated that only a handful of rich countries including France, Japan, Norway, Germany and Sweden are providing a fair share of climate aid. Based on the size of its economy and greenhouse gas emissions, the United States has fallen far short in recent years, though President Joe Biden has pledged to double U.S. climate finance contributions to $11.4 billion a year by 2024. ___ Follow AP's coverage of the climate talks at http://apnews.com/hub/climate MARC GEWERTZ, HONS / Associated Press KERRVILLE, Texas (AP) A driver lost control during a Texas drag racing event and slammed into a crowd of spectators, killing two and injuring at least five others Saturday, authorities said. The crash occurred Saturday afternoon at an event called Airport Race Wars 2 at the Kerrville-Kerr County Airport, police said in a news release. CANBERRA, Australia (AP) Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced on Monday that a fifth National's party minister will join his Cabinet as part of deal to cement the junior coalition partner's support for a national target of zero net carbon emissions by 2050. The National partys in-principle support for the target, which was decided on Sunday, is a breakthrough for Morrison, who wants to take a more ambitious plan to reduce Australias greenhouse gas emissions when he leaves on Thursday for a U.N. summit in Glasgow, Scotland. Nationals lawmakers would not discuss the conditions the party had placed on its support. Morrison's Cabinet was considering the conditions. Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce, who is also deputy prime minister, declined to say whether the party had demanded that Resources Minister Keith Pitt be made the fifth Nationals Cabinet minister. Morrison later said Pitt, who maintains Australia will continue mining coal for decades, will join his Cabinet. Minister Pitt is a powerful voice for the resources sector and ensuring that we build upon Australias strength in traditional exports, while harnessing opportunities in the new energy economy and critical minerals, Morrison said. Morrison later told Parliament he looked forward to outlining in Glasgow our commitments in terms of 2050, as well as an existing 2030 commitment to reduce emissions by 26% to 28% below 2005 levels. Morrison said the center-left opposition Labor Party's promise to reduce emissions by 45% by 2030 had cost the party the 2019 election. The Australian people rejected Labors policies because Labor couldnt explain their policies. They had no plan to achieve their policies. They couldnt say what theyd cost, Morrison told Parliament. Morrison declined to explain how the government plans to achieve its new 2050 target or detail the agreement with the Nationals. Labor accused Morrison of adopting its 2019 election promise of net zero by 2050. Joyce declined to confirm or deny that he had told his colleagues he opposed net zero. We never would have had to go into the negotiation process if the Nationals were 100% happy with where the proposition was, Joyce said. Nationals deputy leader David Littleproud said further details of the agreement would be made public by early Tuesday. We worked through this calmly and rationally as a party, Littleproud said, adding that the Nationals' amendments to the Cabinet proposal would protect jobs in rural Australia. Reducing emissions is a politically fraught issue in Australia, which is one of the worlds largest exporters of coal and liquified natural gas. The nation is also one of the worlds worst greenhouse gas emitters per capita because of its heavy reliance on coal-fired power. The rural-based Nationals have traditionally represented farmers interests, but are increasingly now seen as advocates for fossil fuel industries. Nationals Sen. Matt Canavan, who represents coal-rich Queensland state, said the deal was bad for the country. Net zero is going to end in tears, Canavan said. I dont think this is the right approach for this country. Its a fantasy to think we can remove all carbon emissions, Canavan added. Australia has not budged from its 2015 pledge at a Paris climate summit for 2030, despite many countries adopting far more ambitious targets. The Glasgow summit, known as COP26, will assess progress since nations agreed in the Paris accord to limit warming to less than 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit). The meeting in Glasgow is widely seen as the last chance to hold global warming to 1.5 C (2.7 F) above pre-industrial levels. On Monday, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker outlined coordinated statewide efforts to prepare for the anticipated approval of the Pfizer vaccine for children aged 5-11 with nearly 6.2 million children testing positive for COVID-19 over the course of the pandemic. Joined by Illinois Department of Public Health Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike and other pediatric healthcare professionals, the governor announced the administration is partnering with pediatricians, local health departments, schools and other organizations ahead of the expected emergency-use authorization from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Federal Drug Administration. Once the Pfizer vaccine is authorized for use in children ages 5-11, more than 2,200 locations and providers statewide are already enrolled to provide the vaccine. Illinois is expected to receive an initial allotment of approximately 306,000 doses for the states youngest residents, with an additional 73,000 doses for the City of Chicago, and well over 100,000 additional doses headed to the federal governments pharmacy partners in Illinois. Overall, the initial allocation will amount to approximately 500,000 doses available to children in Illinois. "Thanks to scientists and doctors whove worked tirelessly for the last year, we are likely just days away from having the COVID-19 vaccine available for 1.1 million more Illinois children, ages 5 to 11," Pritzker said in a statement. "As soon as the FDA and the CDC have signed off, these kid-sized doses and kid-sized needles will be shipped out to pharmacies, pediatricians and other providers across Illinois and IDPH has reached out to every pediatrician in the state to enroll them in the vaccine distribution program. As a parent, you should call your pediatrician now to make sure theyve enrolled and have ordered doses. And I will do everything in my power to continue to follow the science and keep our kids safe." As vaccination rates among adults increase, positive COVID-19 cases among children have spiked. For the week ending Oct. 14, one in four cases nationally were children, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. In preparation for administering shots to the 1.1 million children across the state who will become eligible for the vaccine in the coming days, IDPH is enrolling pediatric offices to provide COVID-19 shots. There are more than 2,200 locations and providers statewide that have already enrolled to provide COVID-19 vaccinations to the 5-11 age bracket. That includes more than 700 pediatric and family medicine practices, more than 700 pharmacy locations, approximately 100 urgent care locations, 112 local health departments and public health clinics, 270 federally qualified health centers, more than 200 hospitals, and dozens of rural health clinics. "Now that authorization has been granted, it is critically important that we get as many children vaccinated as quickly as possible, in order to provide them with the ultimate degree of protection," Ezike said. "IDPH is partnering with practices of all sizes, healthcare systems, and physician associations across the state to ensure the vaccine is readily available as soon as parents and guardians request it for their children." To make access to the pediatric vaccine as equitable as possible, the administration is also coordinating with federally qualified health centers, local health departments and family practitioners. IDPH is also overseeing outreach to 756 elementary school districts across the state to offer parent-approved vaccination clinics on school grounds, just as was offered to all relevant school districts when the COVID-19 vaccines were made available to 12-17-year-old students. The Illinois Emergency Management Agency-IDPH mobile vaccination teams have already conducted over 4,000 events statewide, including more than 870 school and youth events for older students. An additional 350 vaccine clinics among older students have been planned for the coming weeks. More than two-thirds of Illinois's 12-17 population has received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, Illinois is currently the only state in the Midwest to hit this milestone. The Pfizer vaccine consists of two doses given three weeks apart followed by a two-week wait for maximum immunity. To further ensure the health and safety of Illinois children, the state is requiring current, mandatory training for all vaccine providers on the pediatric vaccination guidelines. The Latest: UN Security Council to discuss Sudan on Tuesday View Photo UNITED NATIONS The U.N. Security Council has scheduled an emergency closed-door meeting on the coup in Sudan for Tuesday afternoon. Diplomats said late Monday that the consultations were requested by the United States, United Kingdom, France, Ireland, Norway and Estonia. The council is wrapping up a visit to Mali and Niger and is scheduled to return to New York early Tuesday afternoon, so the meeting has been scheduled for 4 p.m. EDT, the diplomats said ahead of an official announcement. Sudans military seized power Monday, arresting the prime minister and other officials of the transitional government, sparking protests by thousands of demonstrators across the country demanding a return to civilian rule. The takeover threatened the countrys shaky progress toward democracy. Council members are scheduled to discuss the disputed Abyei region on the Sudan-South Sudan border Wednesday. ___ WASHINGTON The Biden administration is suspending $700 million in emergency assistance to Sudan following a coup in the African nation. State Department spokesman Ned Price said the full amount of the aid package had been put on pause pending a review of the developments in Khartoum. The money, which was direct financial support, was intended to help the country transition to a fully civilian government. Price said additional U.S. assistance could also be affected. The administration condemned the military takeover and dissolution of a transitional civilian-led authority and demanded the release of all officials detained in the overnight coup, which led to the arrest of Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok. Price said the administration was watching developments very closely and will not hesitate to hold those responsible for the coup to account. ___ UNITED NATIONS The U.N. special envoy for Sudan says barricades in the capital of Khartoum are burning and occasional gunshots can be heard so there is a risk that there would be more violence or more clashes. The Sudan Doctors Committee says three protesters were killed after security forces fired on crowds that flooded in the streets in the wake of a coup Monday. It says 80 people were wounded. Volker Perthes spoke in a press briefing from Khartoum to reporters at U.N. headquarters Monday. He said that after the army carried out the coup and closed the entrances, bridges and airport in the city, quite a number of parties and unions asked people to take to the streets to condemn the takeover. He says thousands came out across the country to demand a return to civilian government. Perthes says some demonstrators earlier Monday tried to enter army headquarters here in Khartoum, and we have then seen shooting and injuries but cant confirm any details. Perthes said he and U.S. envoy Jeffrey Feltman held parallel meetings with Sudanese political and military leaders in the past weeks. They urged a return to dialogue and advised against a coup which he said would squander the achievements of the first two years of the transition. The U.N. envoy demanded that all parties exercise utmost restraint, that the military release all those unlawfully detained on Monday, and urged a return to dialogue and adherence to the constitution. ___ MORE ON SUDAN: Sudans military takes power in coup, arrests prime minister EXPLAINER: How months of tensions led to Sudans coup ___ HERES WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING: ___ CAIRO The U.N.s top human rights official has condemned the coup in Sudan, warning the county could slip backwards after progress following the 2019 uprising that ended a repressive dictatorship. Michelle Bachelet, the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, called Monday for the release of Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, government officials and political leaders who were detained. Bachelet also urged military authorities to settle differences with civilians in the transitional government through dialogue and negotiation. She called for the military to withdraw troops from the streets and refrain from unnecessary and disproportionate use of force against protesters who took to the streets against the coup. ___ KHARTOUM, Sudan The Sudan Doctors Committee says two protesters were killed after security forces fired on crowds that flooded in the streets in the wake of a coup Monday. It says 80 people were wounded. Sudans military seized power, dissolving the transitional government hours after troops arrested the prime minister. Thousands of people flooded into the streets to protest the coup that threatens the countrys shaky progress toward democracy. The takeover comes more than two years after protesters forced the ouster of longtime autocrat Omar al-Bashir and just weeks before the military was supposed to hand the leadership of the council that runs the country over to civilians. ___ DUBAI, United Arab Emirates The Gulf Arab sheikhdoms of the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain have called for calm and restraint in Sudan following the armys coup. The UAE, which along with regional allies Saudi Arabia and Egypt had cultivated close ties to Sudans top generals, emphasized the importance of securing stability as soon as possible, in a manner that achieves the interest and aspirations of the Sudanese people. Bahrains Foreign Ministry said it had confidence in Sudans political establishment to overcome this crisis through dialogue and understanding. Their muted statements come as Western countries and the United Nations have strongly condemned the armys takeover of Sudan. Security forces arrested several top officials including the interim prime minister and protesters flooded the streets of the capital. The developments threaten to undermine Sudans fragile democratic transition since the ouster of longtime autocrat Omar al-Bashir over two years ago. ___ KHARTOUM U.S. diplomats in Sudan have issued warnings to American citizens in the country citing the militarys closure of areas in and around the capital and reports of violence against protesters. The U.S. Embassy in Khartoum urged Americans to shelter in place and remain aware of their surroundings hours after Sudans top general declared a state of emergency and dissolved the civilian government. Internet remained widely disrupted across the country and the embassy noted it was non-functional in Khartoum. It asked that American citizens not travel to the U.S. Embassy or to international airports in Khartoum or Port Sudan, where it said outbound flights were halted. The military coup on Monday plunged Sudans fragile political transition into uncertainty, two years after mass protests helped to topple the iron-fisted rule of longtime autocrat Omar al-Bashir. CAIRO The pro-democracy group that negotiated a power-sharing deal with Sudans military after the ouster of autocratic president Omar al-Bashir has condemned the coup that returned the military to power. The Forces for the Declaration of Freedom and Change in a statement Monday called for the release of all detained ministers and government officials and for the military to hand power over to a civilian government. The statement also urged the international community to declare their rejection of the coup. Sudans military seized power Monday, dissolving the transitional government hours after troops arrested the interim prime minister and other officials. Thousands of people flooded into the streets to protest the coup that threatens the countrys shaky progress toward democracy. ___ DUBAI, United Arab Emirates Saudi Arabia has issued a call for restraint and calm in Sudan amid the armys takeover. The regional powerhouse, which has cultivated close ties with Sudans top generals, issued a statement of concern on Monday, calling on Sudanese factions to unify and preserve the political and economic gains that have been achieved. The kingdom affirms its continued standing with the brotherly Sudanese people, the Foreign Ministry statement read. Saudi Arabia and other oil-rich Gulf Arab sheikhdoms for years supported long-time autocrat Omar al-Bashir, although they eventually backed the militarys ouster of him amid mass protests against his rule over two years ago. After al-Bashirs removal, Saudi pledged billions of dollars in funding along with the United Arab Emirates to Sudans new military rulers, a move that generated some suspicion among Sudanese protesters who feared their revolution may be thwarted. The Saudi statement came as Sudans ruling general declared a state of emergency and dissolved the countrys civilian Cabinet. Security forces arrested top officials and protesters poured into the streets of the capital. ___ UNITED NATIONS The United Nations has denounced the ongoing military coup in Sudan and urgently called for the release of the countrys interim prime minister and other top Cabinet officials. In a tweet on Monday, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok and all other officials detained by Sudanese security forces early Monday must be released immediately. There must be full respect for the constitutional charter to protect the hard-won political transition, Guterres wrote. He added: The UN will continue to stand with the people of Sudan. The U.N.s political envoy to Sudan, Volker Perthes, echoed Guterres appeal and described the arrests of officials as unacceptable. Perthes added he was deeply concerned about the attempts to undermine Sudans political transition to democracy following the ouster of longtime autocrat Omar al-Bashir in 2019. He urged all parties to return to dialogue and engage in good faith to restore the constitutional order. ___ BRUSSELS The European Union has condemned the arrest of Sudans acting prime minister and other officials by the countrys military forces, calling for their immediate release. The takeover takes place more than two years after protesters forced the ouster of longtime autocrat Omar al-Bashir and just weeks before the military was expected to hand the leadership of the council that runs the African country over to civilians. The EUs top diplomat, Josep Borrell, said in a statement that the coup is a betrayal of the revolution, the transition, and the legitimate requests of the Sudanese people for peace, justice and economic development. Thousands of protesters have poured into the streets of the capital, Khartoum, and its twin city of Omdurman, following the arrests. The right of peaceful protest must be respected; violence and bloodshed must be avoided at all cost; we also urge communication networks to be open, Borrell said. ___ CAIRO Egypt has urged all parties in neighboring Sudan to work to ensure stability and security amid the military takeover of the east African country. Egypt, which shares access to the vital Nile River and a long southern border with Sudan, said Monday that it was closely following the countrys tumult and emphasized the need to deal with current challenges in a manner that guarantees the safety of this brotherly country. The statement from the Egyptian Foreign Ministry, which came after Sudans top general dissolved the civilian government and declared a state of emergency, did not condemn the coup or express overt concerns like many Western countries have. Instead, Egypt said only that it was urging Sudanese factions to give priority to the higher interest of the country and to national consensus. The two most senior generals in Sudan have close ties with Egypt under its own general-turned-president Abdel Fattah el-Sissi. ___ PARIS French President Emmanuel Macron has added his voice to the growing global concern over the military coup underway in Sudan. France condemns in the strongest terms the attempted coup detat, Macron tweeted, after Sudans leading general declared a state of emergency and dissolved the civilian government. Macron said France supports the transitional government that had been tasked with steering Sudan toward democratic elections. He also called for the immediate release of Sudans prime minister and other civilian leaders who have been detained. ___ CAIRO The United States says the leaders of the military coup underway in Sudan are undermining the countrys transition to democracy and should stand down. The U.S. Embassy in Sudan said on Twitter Monday it was gravely concerned after Sudans leading general declared a state of emergency and dissolved the ruling body that had been jointly overseen by military and civilian leaders. In the statement the embassy calls on all actors who are disrupting Sudans transition to stand down, and allow the civilian-led transitional government to continue its important work to achieve the goals of the revolution. Thats a reference to the mass protests that helped topple longtime autocrat Omar al-Bashir in 2019 and installed a ruling council to steer the country toward democratic elections. U.S. Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa Jeffrey Feltman said earlier Monday that Washington was deeply alarmed about the events and warned that a military coup could jeopardize American aid to Sudan. ___ CAIRO The Norwegian Refugee Council has appealed to Sudans rulers to protect civilians amid the military takeover of the east African country, requesting unimpeded humanitarian access to help millions who have fled war over the years. The aid groups Sudan director, Will Carter, said Monday that changes to Sudans political leadership should not jeopardize authorities previous vows to ensure that humanitarian organizations can assist the 13 million people badly in need of aid across Sudan, including millions of displaced Sudanese. Sudans leaders have a collective opportunity and responsibility to break from a difficult past, the statement said, exhorting the international community not to abandon Sudans people in this hour of need. The call came as Sudans leading general declared a state of emergency and dissolved the ruling council that had been steering the fragile country toward democratic elections. Under long-time autocrat Omar al-Bashir who was toppled amid mass protests in 2019, aid organizations struggled to access the countrys most vulnerable in war-scarred regions like Darfur where combatants sometimes controlled access to food. ___ BEIJING China is urging a dialogue between Sudanese factions as an apparent military coup roils the nation. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said Monday that China wanted all parties in Sudan to resolve their differences through dialogue so as to maintain peace and stability of the country. He told reporters that China would continue to closely follow the turbulence in Sudan and take necessary measures to ensure the safety of Chinese institutions and personnel there. China is a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council and major investor in Africa. The arrests on Monday of Sudans interim prime minister and other officials plunged Sudans fragile path to democracy into uncertainty following the 2019 ouster of longtime autocrat Omar al-Bashir. During al-Bashirs harsh rule and despite allegations of his governments human rights abuses, China was Sudans biggest trading partner and key international partner. ___ CAIRO The Saudi-based Organization of Islamic Cooperation has expressed concern over the apparent coup in Sudan amid a fragile transition to democracy. In a statement carried by the state-run Saudi Press Agency, the organization said Monday that it urged Sudanese leaders to abide by the constitutional document and what has been agreed upon during the transition period. The statement comes as other nations express alarm at the arrest of Sudans interim prime minister and other senior officials. Their whereabouts were not immediately known. Thousands of Sudanese protesters have flooded the streets as fears of a military coup grip the country two years after mass protests ousted autocrat Omar al-Bashir, who ruled Sudan with an iron fist for three decades. The 57-nation OIC is based in Jiddah, Saudi Arabia. ___ BERLIN Germany has demanded an immediate halt to the apparent military coup underway in Sudan. German Foreign Minister Heiko Mass condemned the attempted takeover in the vast east African country and called the news dismaying. This attempted coup must end immediately, he said, urging all those who bear responsibility for security and state order in Sudan to continue the peaceful political transition process in Sudan toward democracy. The statement Monday was one of several from other nations expressing concern about the arrest of Sudans interim prime minister and other senior officials. Their whereabouts were not immediately known. Thousands of Sudanese protesters have flooded the streets as fears of a military coup grip the country two years after mass protests ousted autocrat Omar al-Bashir, who ruled Sudan with an iron fist for three decades. Since 2019, Sudan has been navigating a fragile transition to democracy. ___ CAIRO The United Nations Mission to Sudan has issued an emphatic rebuke of what it called an ongoing coup and attempts to undermine the northeast African nations fragile democratic transition. The first reports about a possible military takeover began trickling out of Sudan before dawn Monday. By mid-morning, the information ministry confirmed that the prime minister, Abdalla Hamdok, had been arrested and taken to an undisclosed location. Several senior government figures were also detained, the ministry said in a Facebook post. It said their whereabouts were unknown. The reported detentions of the prime minister, government officials and politicians are unacceptable, said the recently formed U.N. political mission, which has a mandate to assist the countrys political transition and protect human rights. The mission called on Sudans security forces to immediately release those who have been unlawfully detained or placed under house arrest and urged all parties to exercise utmost restraint. Diplomats have joined in a chorus of concern over the events that rocked Sudan on Monday, as Sudanese security forces detained senior government officials in undisclosed locations and thousands flooded the street in protest, two years after mass demonstrations helped topple former autocrat Omar al-Bashir. ___ CAIRO The Arab League has released a statement of deep concern about the apparent military coup in Sudan. The Secretary-General of the 22-member bloc, Ahmed Aboul Gheit, urged all parties on Monday to fully abide by the constitutional declaration signed in August 2019, which had aimed to pave the way for a transition to civilian rule and democratic elections following the ouster of longtime autocrat Omar al-Bashir. There are no problems that cannot be resolved without dialogue, Aboul Gheit said after Sudans military detained the countrys interim prime minister along with other top Cabinet officials and protesters poured into streets of the capital, Khartoum. It is important to respect all decisions and agreements that were decided upon refraining from any measures that would disrupt the transitional period and shake stability in Sudan, the statement added. ___ CAIRO The European Union has joined the United States in expressing grave concern about a possible military takeover underway in Sudan. EU foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell tweeted on Monday that hes following events in the northeast African nation with the utmost concern, after reports emerged that Sudanese military forces had detained several senior government officials, including the interim prime minister. The EU calls on all stakeholders and regional partners to put back on track the transition process, Borrell wrote, referring to Sudans fragile transition from autocracy to democracy after the ouster of longtime ruler Omar al-Bashir in 2019. Earlier, U.S. Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa Jeffrey Feltman said Washington was deeply alarmed and indicated that a military coup would threaten American aid to the impoverished country. As we have said repeatedly, any changes to the transitional government by force puts at risk U.S. assistance, the U.S. Bureau of African Affairs wrote on Twitter. By The Associated Press China to start vaccinating children to age 3 as cases spread View Photo TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) Children as young as 3 will start receiving COVID-19 vaccines in China, where 76% of the population has been fully vaccinated and authorities are maintaining a zero-tolerance policy toward outbreaks. China becomes one of the very few countries in the world to start vaccinating children that young against the virus. Cuba, for one, has begun a vaccine drive for children as young as 2. The U.S. and many European countries allow COVID-19 shots down to age 12, though the U.S. is moving quickly toward opening vaccinations to 5- to 11-year-olds. Local city and provincial level governments in at least five Chinese provinces issued notices in recent days announcing that children ages 3 to 11 will be required to get their vaccinations. The expansion of the vaccination campaign comes as parts of China take new clampdown measures to try to stamp out small outbreaks. Gansu, a northwestern province heavily dependent on tourism, closed all tourist sites Monday after finding new COVID-19 cases. Residents in parts of Inner Mongolia have been ordered to stay indoors because of an outbreak there. The National Health Commission reported that 35 new cases of local transmission had been detected over the past 24 hours, four of them in Gansu. An additional 19 cases were found in the Inner Mongolia region, with others scattered around the country. China has employed lockdowns, quarantines and compulsory testing for the virus throughout the pandemic and has largely stamped out cases of local infection while fully vaccinating 1.07 billion people out of a population of 1.4 billion. In particular, the government is concerned about the spread of the more contagious delta variant by travelers and about having a largely vaccinated public ahead of the Beijing Olympics in February. Overseas spectators already have been banned from the Winter Games, and participants will have to stay in a bubble separating them from people outside. Chinas most widely used vaccines, from Sinopharm and Sinovac, have shown efficacy in preventing severe disease and transmission of the virus, based on public data. But the protection they offer against the delta variant has not been answered definitively, although officials say they remain protective. Hubei, Fujian and Hainan provinces all issued provincial level notices alerting new vaccination requirements, while individual cities in Zhejiang province and Hunan province have also issued similar announcements. China in June had approved two vaccines Sinopharms from the Beijing Institute of Biological Products and Sinovac for children ages 3 to 17, but it has only been vaccinating those 12 and older. In August, regulators approved another, Sinopharms from the Wuhan Institute of Biological Products. After the vaccines received domestic approval for children in China, foreign governments began giving the shots to children in their own countries. Cambodia uses both Sinovac and Sinopharms shots in children 6 to 11. Regulators in Chile approved Sinovac for children as young as 6. In Argentina, regulators approved the Sinopharm vaccine for children as young as age 3. Many developing countries left out of the race to get shots from Western pharmaceutical companies like Pfizer and Moderna bought Chinese vaccines. China has shipped more than 1.2 billion doses as of September, according to its Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Even with widespread domestic and global use, not every parent is reassured about the vaccine, citing less publicly available data on the shots. Wang Lu, who lives in the southern city of Fuzhou in Fujian province, said she isnt particularly rushing to get her 3-year-old son vaccinated. Im just not very clear on the vaccines safety profile, so I dont really want to get him vaccinated, at the very least, I dont want to be the first, Wang said. Sinovac started an efficacy trial with 14,000 child participants across multiple countries in September. Its approval in China was based on smaller phase 1 and phase 2 trials. Sinopharms Beijing shot was also approved based on smaller phase 1 and phase 2 trials. These were published later in peer-reviewed journals. Other parents said they werent concerned, given that many other people had already gotten the shot. Wu Cong, a mom of a 7-year old, said her daughters school in Shanghai hadnt yet notified them of any vaccinations. I think this isnt too different from the flu vaccine, theres already been so many people vaccinated, so I dont have too many worries, said Wu. ___ Associated Press researcher Chen Si in Shanghai contributed to this report. By HUIZHONG WU Associated Press Officials: Iran behind drone attack on US base in Syria View Photo WASHINGTON (AP) U.S. officials say they believe Iran was behind the drone attack last week at the military outpost in southern Syria where American troops are based. Officials said Monday the U.S. believes that Iran resourced and encouraged the attack, but that the drones were not launched from Iran. They were Iranian drones, and Iran appears to have facilitated their use, officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss details that have not been made public. Officials said they believe the attacks involved as many as five drones laden with explosive charges, and that they hit both the U.S. side of al-Tanf garrison and the side where Syrian opposition forces stay. There were no reported injuries or deaths as a result of the attack. U.S. and coalition troops are based at al-Tanf to train Syrian forces on patrols to counter Islamic State militants. The base is also located on a road serving as a vital link for Iranian-backed forces from Tehran all the way to southern Lebanon and Israel. Pentagon spokesman John Kirby declined to provide details when asked about the report during a news conference Monday. He called it a complex, coordinated and deliberate attack and said the U.S. has seen similar ones before from Shia militia groups that are backed by Iran. But he would not go into specifics and said he had no update on the munitions used in the attack. Kirby also declined to say if troops were warned ahead of time or whether the U.S. intends to make a military response. The protection and security of our troops overseas remains a paramount concern for the secretary, Kirby said, referring to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, and that if there is to be a response, it will be at a time and a place and a manner of our choosing, and we certainly wont get ahead of those kinds of decisions. Pro-Iran media outlets have been saying that the attack on Tanf was carried out by Syrias allies an apparent reference to Iran-backed groups in retaliation for an attack days earlier near the historic Syrian town of Palmyra. Israel has been blamed for the attack, but U.S. officials say America was not involved with it. You can consider that the strike on Tanf was an implementation of previous promises by Syrian allies to retaliate for Palmyra, according to an official with the so-called Axis of Resistance, an anti-Western political-military alliance that includes Iran, Syria, Hezbollah and other groups fighting alongside Syrian President Bashar Assads forces. The al-Tanf attack came in a period of rising tensions with Iran. The Biden administration this week said international diplomatic efforts to get Iran back into negotiations to return to a 2015 nuclear deal were at a critical place and that patience Is wearing thin. The last major Iranian attack on U.S. forces was in January 2020, when Tehran launched a barrage of ballistic missiles on al-Asad air base in Iraq. U.S. and coalition troops were warned of the incoming missiles and were able to take cover, but more than 100 U.S. service members received traumatic brain injuries as a result of the blasts. The Iran attack was in response to the U.S. drone strike earlier that month near the Baghdad airport that killed Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani and Iraqi militia leader Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis. Two months after the al-Asad assault, U.S. fighter jets struck five sites in retaliation, targeting Iranian-backed Shiite militia members believed responsible for the January rocket attack. _____ Associated Press writer Bassem Mroue in Beirut contributed to this report. By LOLITA C. BALDOR and ROBERT BURNS Associated Press Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) has been a thorn in the side of Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nations top epidemiologist, as Paul has insisted that Covid-19 was created from a lab in Wuhan, China, despite not having definitive proof. But Fauci is steadfast in his denial that the National Institutes of Health knowingly funded gain-of-function research on viruses that could have created Covid-19, telling George Stephanopoulos on Sunday, It is molecularly impossible for those viruses that were worked on to turn into Covid-19. Paul claimed when Fauci testified before Congress in July that NIH funded gain-of-function research that would increase a viruss transmissibility to humans. And in an interview with Axios set to air Sunday night, Paul reiterated that claim and said Fauci should be fired for lack of judgment. Hes probably never going to admit that he lied, Paul said of Fauci. Hes going to continue to dissemble and try to work around the truth and massage the truth. I obviously totally disagree with Senator Paul, Fauci told George Stephanopoulos on Sundays ABC This Week. Hes absolutely incorrect. Neither I nor Dr. Francis Collins, the director of the NIH, lied or misled about what weve done. The NIH sent a letter to Congress last week describing an unexpected result from research by EcoHealth Alliance that made a bat coronavirus more transmissible, but, according to Fauci, that was not the goal of the research, and it would have been molecularly impossible for that particular virus to turn into Covid-19. I obviously totally disagree with Senator Paul. He's absolutely incorrect. Neither I nor Dr. Francis Collins, the director of the NIH, lied or misled about what weve done, Dr. Anthony Fauci tells @GStephanopoulos in response to NIH letter on Wuhan lab. https://t.co/8mPfMgivjt pic.twitter.com/YUCB6ihFiF This Week (@ThisWeekABC) October 24, 2021 Fauci, who has been targeted by the right since the start of the pandemic when he dared contradict Trump, continued by explaining the funding that went to the Wuhan Institute of Virology was conducted with strict oversight. Additionally, NIH said in the letter that it did not know about gain-of-function in that study because EcoHealth did not report out those results until this past August, after Fauci testified to Congress in July. But, according to Vanity Fair, EcoHealth says it reported this to NIH in 2018. The research was very strictly under what we call a framework of oversight of the type of research, and under those conditions which we have explained very, very clearly, does not constitute research of gain of function of concern, Fauci said. He added, Theres all of this concern about whats gain of function or whats not, with the implication that that research led to SARS-CoV-2, and Covid-19, which, George, unequivocally anything that knows anything about viral biology and phylogeny of viruses know that it is molecularly impossible for those viruses that were worked on to turn into SARS-CoV-2 because they were distant enough molecularly that no matter what you did to them, they could never, ever become SARS-CoV-2. EDWARD A. ORNELAS/SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS Every fall, Texans travel across the state or fly to another area in the country to experience the beautiful autumn colors that paint the forests. But Texas does experience the changing of the leaves, too, and the best time to experience San Antonio fall colors in all their glory is from late October to early November, according to Farmers Almanac. And while leaf peepers may know about the popular state park areas such as Lost Maples State Natural Area and Garner State Park, reservations book quickly. Bookworms, this one is for you. Book-loving bar-goers? Tell your friends to get vaxxed. Highly anticipated and already loved Alamo Heights shop Nowhere is finally open to the public as of Monday, July 19. The shop, owned by New York Times best-selling author and San Antonian Jenny Lawson, was first teased in late 2019. Originally planned for an early March 2020 opening, Nowhere left off with a slight cliffhanger. The coronavirus halted that vision, forcing Lawson and her staff to shift to what has become very familiar now: curbside and online sales. While the to-go options remain, masked customers can now peruse the rows and find their new read in person. "It's been a dream for so long, and now it's hard to believe it's really happening," Lawson says. "We've had such amazing support from the community, and now we can finally open the doors and say thank you in real life." READ ALSO: Tiny Texas TikTok star lands role in Eva Longoria's 'Flamin' Hot' project The built-in support comes from Lawson's loyal fanbase, which kept the bookshop up-and-running throughout the pandemic, general manager Elizabeth Jordan tells MySA. Lawson's published several books, such as "You Are Here," "Furiously Happy," and "Broken." Jordan and her staff decided to open to the public when they became fully vaccinated and more comfortable with being around others. Inside Nowhere, book lovers will find aisles of novels, a children's section, and a bar that won't open until the vaccination rate in San Antonio increases. Once the city reaches over 80 percent, the bar will serve coffee, wine, and beer. Customers can sit and read all day just like Lawson intended when designing the space. "It's been quite a journey, but we're all very excited," Jordan says. "The booksellers that we brought on are super enthusiastic, and I think it's going to be a great place for the community to hang out and talk about books. We'll eventually get to a place where people can hang out all day, but, for now, we're just thrilled to talk to people about books again." The bookstore will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. While capacity is at 100 percent, Jordan is encouraging shoppers to not linger if Nowhere is crowded. Customers can find parking in the front and back of the store (I suggest parking in the back to avoid reversing onto on-coming Broadway traffic). Find Nowhere at 5154 Broadway. Poteet ISD has responded after a district band director was arrested for inappropriately touching a student. Superintendent Charles Camarillo says the district followed through on the accusations and reported it to the authorities, leading to former band director Joe Rodriguez's arrest on Thursday, October 21, according to a letter posted to Poteet ISD's Facebook. Rodriguez turned himself into the Atascosa County Sheriff's Office and was charged with one count of indecency with a child by sexual contact, the Pleasanton Express reported. "Also, please know that the student who came forward is a minor and the victim in this horrible circumstance and all the blame rests with the adult arrested," Camarillo writes in the letter. Nothing came up in Rodriguez's background check that could have "predicted this crime," according to the statement. The student told Texas Rangers that Rodriguez made advances towards her over the past year, making indecent comments and touching her inappropriately, according to the Pleasanton Express. Rodriguez told the student that he was only joking when the behavior was called out as inappropriate. The student also says that Rodriguez would drive by her house an stop by her place of work. Rodriguez has been a band director since 2018. With Pope John Paul II, the meeting stretched 45 minutes, frequently interrupted by aides who were brushed aside by a pontiff interested in talking to a 37-year-old senator named Joe Biden. With Pope Benedict XVI, there was a long discussion of whether politicians should impose their beliefs on others when it comes to church doctrine, an exchange Biden described as "like going to theology class." But it is with Pope Francis - the longtime Jesuit priest Biden will see Friday in a historic encounter at the Vatican - that Biden shares the deepest bond. It was Francis who comforted the Biden family in 2015 after Biden's son Beau died. It was Francis who met privately with Biden to talk about cancer research. And it was Francis whose photo Biden has displayed prominently in the Oval Office. Biden's meeting with the Pope in the Vatican, shortly before he heads off to a pair of international summits, will carry deep political, religious and symbolic significance, as the nation's second Catholic president greets the worldwide leader of the Catholic Church. But the resonance is also personal, given the similarities between the 84-year-old pope and the 78-year-old president, who have in a sense become allies. Both attained ultimate leadership late in their lives and quickly moved in a liberal direction. They have faced internal resistance; both are treated warily by conservative American bishops. "Both could have become pope or president earlier, but it didn't work out," said John Carr, founder of the Initiative on Catholic Social Thought and Public Life at Georgetown University. "Both were written off, Biden in the campaign and Bergoglio before the conclave, and both were surprises." (Francis's given name is Jorge Mario Bergoglio.) Carr added that Biden and Francis "now are in a position to act on what they believe. But they both also have a lot of the same adversaries." Biden and Francis are each fighting to change a culture after a predecessor they regarded as rigid and insufficiently inclusive, igniting angry opposition that is proving perhaps more potent than they may have anticipated. "They have in common that it has become visibly harder for them to keep together their people," said Massimo Faggioli, a Villanova University theology professor and author of "Joe Biden and Catholicism in the United States." "There is a culture of deep suspicion against the leader," Faggioli said. "It's no longer 'I don't agree with him but he's my pope anyway' or 'I don't agree with him but he's my president anyway.' It's no longer like that for many people. So they understand each other on that, I think." That does not mean the two leaders will see eye-to-eye on everything. Their meeting is likely to showcase common ground on climate change, poverty and covid-19. But some experts expect Francis to urge the United States to do more on vaccine distribution to poor countries, and Biden could also face criticism of his administration's chaotic exit from Afghanistan. The meeting also comes at a time of dissension among American Catholic leaders. Biden's election last year triggered a dispute among church officials over whether Communion should be granted to Catholic politicians who support abortion rights. "The Catholic Church in this country has never been as divided as it is right now, and the meeting is going to be put in terms of this division in the American church," said Father Gerald P. Fogarty, a longtime religious studies professor at the University of Virginia. The closest parallel to Friday's meeting may be President John Kennedy's visit with Pope Paul VI in July 1963. Kennedy, the nation's first Catholic president, was sensitive to political attacks that he would answer to the pope rather than the American people. Biden has not faced the same degree of open prejudice from non-Catholics. He is perhaps the most religiously observant president in decades, one who rarely misses Mass, often quotes scripture and clutches rosary beads ahead of key decisions. He was educated by nuns at Catholic schools, and several times in his life considered entering the priesthood. But Biden's positions have also at times been at odds with Catholic teaching, contradicting its stances with his early support for same-sex marriage and his embrace of abortion rights. He has on occasion lost his temper with those who point out such discrepancies. "The next Republican that tells me I'm not religious, I'm going to shove my rosary down their throat," he said in 2005. Some Catholics' distrust of Francis comes partly from the same American bishops who have questioned whether Biden should be granted Communion. Just after Biden's election, the leadership of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops declared his abortion policies a "problem" for a Mass-going Catholic, and a proposal was made to create a document on the purpose of the Eucharist, or Holy Communion, the consecrated host that represents the body of Christ and is one of the most sacred sacraments in Christianity. The bishops next month will vote on a proposed document on the meaning of the Eucharist, but after a furor the chair of the committee that wrote the draft document has said it will not mention Biden, abortion or the role of public figures. Amendments can be added up until the last minute, however, and the floor will be open to debate among the bishops. Some may press for at least a mention that canon law forbids Communion to people who are "conscious of serious sin." Francis weighed in last month on the debate over granting Communion to politicians who support abortion rights, advising that bishops should be "pastors, and not go condemning." "There's a fundamentally fractured relationship between the Vatican and the U.S. bishops," Faggioli said. "And Joe Biden is in the middle." Dramatic statements about the church, or the debate about serving Communion, are unlikely to emerge from the session, but the meeting itself will carry a good deal of symbolism. "Not many words are needed when you have such a stage as the Vatican where the event is the message," Faggioli said. "The audience, with the blessing and so on, will be more than enough as a message." Stylistically, both men pride themselves on shrugging off the trappings of power. "Francis himself is a kind of middle-class, regular parish priest. He doesn't take himself overly seriously," said Ken Hackett, a former U.S. ambassador to the Vatican who accompanied Biden to a meeting with Francis in 2016. Biden, he said, may be more comfortable with this pope than with many of the American bishops. While many Catholics who meet the pope kiss his ring, that is unlikely in Biden's case, who is visiting as a head of state and has himself eschewed that practice. In his 2007 memoir, Biden recalled that when he told his mother he was going to meet the queen of England, she advised him not to bow despite the protocol. "When I told her I was going to see the Pope, it was 'Don't you kiss his ring,' " Biden added. " 'Remember, Joey,' she'd say, 'you're a Biden. Nobody is better than you. You're not better than anybody else, but nobody is any better than you.'" Biden did avoid bowing to the queen on his recent visit to London, creating a bit of a stir among British observers. But when it comes to ring-kissing, Francis himself has not always appeared to enjoy the ritual, creating international headlines when he at times withdrew his hand from worshipers in 2019 (the Vatican later said it was simply a matter of not wanting to spread germs). Biden's first papal encounter came with Pope John Paul II in 1980, when the pontiff invited him after the senator wrote a paper examining the likely impact on Poland if the Soviet bloc were to collapse. "The Vatican secretary of state's office was very ornate, but the Pope's private library was very different," Biden told the News Journal, a Delaware newspaper, in 2005. "His desk was a plain oak desk with an oak cross, and he sat in a well-used oak chair that looked like something you might pick up at the auction in Dover." Biden spent 45 minutes with the pope, who several times waved away aides when they knocked on the door to end the meeting. John Paul, Biden recalled in an interview with the Dialog, the diocesan newspaper in Wilmington, Del., remarked several times about his youth. "He kept kidding me about how young I am," said Biden, who was 37 at the time. Biden met John Paul several more times, but the next extensive sit-down with a pope came when he was vice president and met with Benedict in 2011. He later told the Jesuit publication America that they had discussed Catholic doctrine and whether it should be imposed on everyone, particularly when it comes to issues like abortion. "It was like going back to theology class," Biden recalled in the 2015 interview. "And by the way, he wasn't judgmental. He was open. I came away enlivened from the discussion." Still, in that same interview, he expressed far greater enthusiasm for Francis, saying, "I am so excited about this pope ... the thing that I think is so electric about the holy father is that he's taking it all back to what my dad would say: We have an obligation to fight against the abuse of power." He has restated that affection for Francis over the years. "We have a good one now," Biden said in 2015, holding up a Washington Post article that detailed Francis's encyclical on the environment. "I love that guy," he added in 2016 on MSNBC, responding to Francis's criticism of Trump's immigration proposals. Their relationship deepened during Francis's trip to the United States in 2015, when Biden accompanied him at multiple stops and displayed his usual chatty manner. "He was just joking all the time. It was a very comfortable thing - casual, backslapping stuff," Hackett recalled. "He wasn't slapping the pope's back, but it was like that. Very easygoing." As the vice president saw the pope off at Philadelphia International Airport, Biden later said, Francis asked to meet with Biden's family, who had lost Beau a few months earlier. "I wish every grieving parent, brother, sister, mother, father, would have the benefit of his words, his prayers, his presence," Biden said in a speech. "He provided us with more comfort than even he, I think, will understand." The first U.S. president to meet with a sitting pope was Woodrow Wilson in 1919, although the visit, at the request of a top aide who was Catholic, did not go well, according to contemporary accounts. Wilson, the son of a Presbyterian minister, initially balked at receiving a traditional blessing from Pope Benedict XV - then rejected the pontiff's peace plan. Perhaps the most closely watched meeting, however, came in July 1963, when the first Catholic U.S. president was greeted by newly elected Pope Paul VI. Kennedy did not kiss the pope's ring, instead shaking his hand. Visits became more regular after President Ronald Reagan established diplomatic relations with the Vatican in 1984 (although two years prior, during a meeting with Pope John Paul II after little sleep, Reagan noticeably nodded off). The encounters have at times been tense, especially if a pontiff's humanitarian message collides with a given president's agenda. Pope Benedict XVI, for example, questioned President George W. Bush on the Iraq War. Biden has always made a point of bringing family members to his papal visits - his mother in 1995, his sister Val in 2013, and his son Hunter in 2016. The pope typically gives a blessing and a gift, and Biden this time is expected to provide a gift to the pope in turn. "I would counsel give something simple and small," Hackett said. "The pope just doesn't go for the silver sword or the emerald whatever. That doesn't go over with this guy." When Biden attended Francis's installation as pope in 2013, he said the pontiff sought to convey a newly open approach by the Vatican. "When I greeted him, he said, 'Mr. Vice President, you're always welcome here,' " Biden recalled later. "He was really sending a message to the world, to put out a welcome sign on the front door of our church." Yves here. While I appreciate that Lee Camp has written a post that takes a stab at some fundamental questions, an ambitious and difficult undertaking, I think this piece on media-constructed reality is more useful as what consultants call a forcing device than an analysis. But its still colorfully written and incisive. I have three quibbles of very different sorts. One is the primacy Camp gives to the news industry in shaping reality. That may be true for a cohort, particularly the politically engaged, but there are tons of people who listen only to talk radio, turn on the news to hear only the weather and sports, or to the extent that they do play an entire program, only half listen/watch. Needless to say, most also filter for content that caters to their priors. Second is that what the news industry is and what is it supposed to do have evolved, in part due to efforts to professionalize news (undergraduate and graduate programs), changes in means of distribution (print, radio, and TV), and changing class composition of reporters. In the stone ages of my youth, even mid-sized cities like Dayton Ohio had a profitable morning and evening paper. Classified ads represented about half of total revenues, which not only supported local news-gathering but also provided a measure of independence (the papers were not dependent on upscale retail ads where the advertiser might take umbrage due to not liking their ads to appear near controversial stories or where store execs might be connected personally to some of the targets). Over time, the class composition of newsrooms has changed. When news was entirely or predominantly print, the prototypical reporter came from a blue collar background. Hed have few inhibitions about going after socially/politically prominent individuals; in fact, stories about them would have the greatest impact. Television made news reporting glamorous and weeded out talking heads with low class accents. The thinned-out news industry has a far greater representation of Ivy or near-Ivy grads than in the 1960s. A related development was a shift in priorities of the most prominent news organizations in the 1970s. With Liberty and Justice for Some, Glenn Greenwald starts with the pardon of Richard Nixon, which he regards as a watershed event in the elite protection racket. He also describes how prominent politicians and businessmen felt that the destabilizing 1960s had gone too far and that the media needed to play more of a role defending established institutions. Third is alienation, but perhaps more along the lines of what the French call deracine. How many regularly see the stars in all their splendor? The last time I had that sort of view was in minimally light polluted Santa Fe in the 1990s. The ancients and pre-moderns lived in awe of nature and were regularly confronted with their limited ability to withstand its rages. Our illusory control of our environment means we can push our relationship with it out of our heads for the most part, and with it the bigger questions of where we fit in in the larger scheme of things. In other words, our economic organization, the regimentation of our lives, our day to day success in not have to worry about hunting and harvests and blizzards and downpours blinkers us even more than the media does. By Lee Camp, the host of the hit comedy news show Redacted Tonight. His new book Bullet Points and Punch Lines is available at LeeCampBook.com and his stand-up comedy special can be streamed for free at LeeCampAmerican.com. Originally published at ScheerPost No matter which mainstream media segment youre currently watching, I can promise you its not getting to the heart of any issue. By definition they only participate in surface level analysis. For example, there are three or four levels of reality we should be discussing when we talk about any United States election. And by discussing, I mean screaming about, and by screaming about, I mean freaking out about. So, lets freak out shall we? Quick tangent I got made fun of as a kid for freaking out or spazzing out all the time, but when you think about it when you really think about it shouldnt we all be freaking out? When you look around and so few people are enjoying their lives and so many people are struggling or oppressed, and there are new and bizarre illnesses and viruses to worry about, and all of our so-called leaders are goddamn corrupt morons shouldnt we all be spazzing out? If you look at our current reality, its all spazz-worthy. Anyway, we have three or four levels of reality that we should be discussing all the time because theyre incredibly important. But, generally speaking, American politicians and media dont talk about the deeper layers. In fact, they only talk about the surface layer (because theyre corporate tools). So, using this past presidential election as an example: Layer one was Whos going to win? Biden or Trump? Thats the surface layer. It was fair to talk about it and fair to debate it. But if we stop at that and dont dig deeper, we dont actually know anything about reality. It would be like licking the top crust of an apple pie and saying, I get it. It tastes like crust. Its dry and crumbly. But in fact, you still have no idea what an apple pie is. Now lets move on to layer two (which is already a layer beyond what your mainstream corporate media will ever report on). Layer two is the slightly deeper understanding that American oligarchs win each election no matter what. They win it in multiple ways one is by making sure progressives, socialists, libertarians, anarchists, communists, etc. are purged from the process. The other way they dominate every election is with cold, hard cash. And the third perhaps the most important way is that our system simply does not pass anything through the government that isnt beneficial to the business community, AKA Corporate America. A large 2014 Princeton study looked at 1,779 policy initiatives and found that the American public has zero impact on what gets passed through Congress. What we, the American people, want has no influence on American policy. The politicians tell you it does. They act like they care. But nothing you and I want ever gets done. Its like being in an emotionally and mentally abusive relationship. Our corporate overlords gaslight us. They tell us we matter. They tell us they love us. They tell us theyll change. But they never do. They just sit there in their pajamas eating ice cream out of the box with their feet on the coffee table putting coconut sprinkles into the ice cream container even though they know you dont like the coconut sprinkles because theyre tasteless and two days later when you find three in your mouth youll think its hair or scabs or something! Totally ruins the entire ice cream experience. They know that and they dont care! (But thats my life.) At the end of the day we, the people, get nothing unless it aligns with business interests. Look at Obamacare for example America wanted healthcare, but in order to get the Affordable Care Act passed, the ruling elite made sure it was a giant giveaway to the health insurance industry. Wow. Sounds like layer two is kind of important. But nope, the mainstream media will never mention it. They pretend its not happening. Layer three: Capitalism and environmental collapse. Under our current economic system, the most powerful people (the corporatocracy) will eventually own everything. Its inevitable. The gravity of capitalism pulls everything towards corporate hegemony. Every time. In every way. You can sometimes score roadblocks that slow them down, but thats all it does slow them down. As they take control, the environment the NATURAL WORLD will be destroyed.Take for example Monsanto Roundup herbicide. Its causing cancer; its killing people. And it (along with other herbicides and pesticides) is also killing the bees and the insects, and unfortunately the natural world needs those little fuckers. A 2019 global scientific review warned that the collapse in insect population could be catastrophic to ecosystems. You might love that there arent many gnats around, but nature is screwed without them. (Screwed is a technical term.) And as all the bees disappear and the insects fade into oblivion, we will fade away with them. (Maybe not next week, but it might not be as long as you think.) So, how could this happen? Why hasnt Monsanto, now owned by the pharmaceutical company Bayer, been stopped? Well, theyre too fucking powerful, for one. They own the market; they own the officials; they own the regulators; at times they even own the science. So thats what talking about level three looks like. Its talking about the economic system and its global impact. And yet again, the corporate media will pretty much never have that discussion. Level three is more off-limits for cable news anchors than it is for female anchors to grow out their armpit hair. And yes, I know thats a reference to stereotypical old-school gender norms, but Im not endorsing it. Im making the point that the odds of seeing one of those reporters or anchors really dig into the inherent flaws of our capitalist system is about as likely as seeing the anchor of the 6pm hour have a giant Krusty The Clown head of hair bursting forth from under her arms. (Again, not criticizing. In fact, Id love to see that.) Level four Now we really get deep. Level four is the true analysis of our reality. And there are a lot of different topics in level four. Things like, What really is money? or What the fuck are nation states? Why is everything we do somehow connected to national interests? What does it matter if I was born on this side of a line and you were born on that side of a line? Who even drew those dumb lines? Or level four could be something like, Why do we live the way we do in single-family houses or apartments? We live inside seclusion boxes, hardly interacting with our fellow humans except at our wage slavery jobs where we go, Hey Jim. At least its hump day or some dumb crap like that. What the hell is this existence? Thats level four. Its getting pretty deep into the philosophical realm. But so why dont our media think the most basic questions of our existence are important at all? They dont think it makes sense to occasionally talk about level four? Im not saying make it the beginning of every newscast Hello Nation, its 6pm and remember youre a victim of wage slavery, forced to live in a seclusion box. Im not saying that. But cant the deepest echelons of our reality ever come up in the mainstream narrative? Or do we have to go buy some hidden book in the basement of a bookstore run by a guy with food stuck in his mustache and one glass eye? Is that the only place we can learn about our reality? Anyway, those are four layers of our reality that are pretty important to our daily lives. There are more such as the fact were made up of energy waves or that no one even knows whatmakes up 96% of the universe and other crazy stuff like that but well stop at four for now. So there are four crucial levels of our reality and your media, your teachers, your leaders, most of your information sources almost never get past level one! Thats like going to school from age three to 18 and they never teach you about anything other than how to color inside the lines with the crayons. We are left at level one because it serves as a beautiful distraction. Never talk about the deeper economic system. Never talk about how nations are used to divide us. Never talk about how corporations own our society. Media only reports surface level reality Who will win the next presidential election or who will win the race for governor or which billionaire took a trip to space yesterday, etc. Dig deeper. If you dont do it for your own curiosity, do it because THEY dont want you to. By Lambert Strether of Corrente. If youve been listening to Mike Duncans Revolutions podcast (Good Riddance to Dear Nicky) you know that one of the causes of Imperial gridlock the inability of Czarist Russia to mobilize for whatever purpose, no matter the laws passed or reforms made was sheer incompetence; people placed in positions of authority, whether high or low, who had no idea of getting the job done (whether through cronyism, corruption, ineptitude, institutional pettifoggery, or sheer bloody-minded indifference). So you will see why the Romanovs immediately sprang to my mind when I started looking into the container crisis at the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, hereafter the Port. (The container crisis is one part of a larger crisis in the supply chain generally, which is out of scope for this post, and a good thing, too, because its enormous and not immediately tractable.) The proximate cause of my disgruntlement was a Twitter thread from Ryan Petersen that Yves posted, upon which I am about to expand. The only people I read who seemed to have a handle on the Port situation, or the supply chain generally, were logistics specialists Petersen is CEO of a logistics firm or truckers on the Twitter. Everybody else, and especially the press, just seemed to be hand-waving. (Dashboards, anyone?) Im going to be using images, because sometimes I need to quote and highlight several tweets at the same time. Petersen begins: There are (as of today) 76 ships waiting at the Port, with 430,000 container cargoes worth $26 billion. So you can see that moving a dozen containers and operating seven cranes wont be putting a dent in that any time soon. I had no idea things where this ridiculously bad, and I do try to keep track. But I had already started grinding my teeth with the first two tweets: Where was everybody? Why was Petersen the first company to go down to the Port and actually look at what was happening? The crisis at the port has been going on since at least August. Did no news-gathering organization think to write a story? The Los Angeles Times? The New York Times? Youd think the clogged Port would be a wonderful photo op, especially for a publicity-hungry McKinsey Consultant. Leaving the (Democratic) Los Angeles City Council, the (Democratic) Los Angeles Mayor, the (Democratic) California governor, and the (Democratic) California Congressional delegation aside, where was the Secretary of Transportation? On paternity leave, thats where, since August, and then doubling down on it. Otherwise, lying low, as Politico puts it. The beauty of containers is that they are as modular as Legos. But that beauty comes at a cost: Containers have no wheels. So, what the cranes should be doing is moving containers from ships to trucks, which do have wheels, on which they drive away, bearing the container. The truck bed onto which the crane placed the container is called a chassis. It should be simple and clean, but there are problems. Petersen again: Note that one of the key blockages is a business requirement: Containers are not fungible. They must be dropped off at the same place they are picked up. (Note that railroads dont have this business requirement at all; thats why you see a BNSF engine pulling (say) CSX cars, and billing for them. BNSF can settle up with CSX later because railroads can track their cars. I dont know what the Ports problem is. Goods having been delivered, the containers, on their chassis, are returned by truck to the Port, empty. But theres no place to put the container. So the truck waits at the trucking company. Peterson again: (I think destroy the global economy is harsh; the supply chain has more problems than the container crisis at the Port). Here at last we have a ray of hope. As alert reader Flora points out: One of his ideas gets a quick response from the mayor of LB. As we see: Update: The city of LB just announced it has temporarily suspended container stacking limitations. Thank you everybody who called the governor and the mayor to request. They got the message, you can stop now https://t.co/jp3S07NS4l Ryan Petersen (@typesfast) October 22, 2021 Again I ask: Where was everybody? Why on earth did it take a Tweet storm @jack, hat tip, youve singlehandedly done more good than Zuckerberg has ever done to get this small thing done? Why did the Mayors office not think of this? Did nobody ever look out the window? Why did the trucking company not get the Mayors attention? If they got the cold shoulder, this is trucking. Couldnt they have escalated? Having identified the key problems and Im assuming that the container bottleneck is the only problem at the Port Petersen turns to solutions: I like this argument. In a past life, I used to buy printing, and so I would visit printing plants. You never want to see empty bottles tossed under the workbenches. But the key sense is not sound but hearing: You want to hear the press running as soon as you open the door. If the press is not running, that tells you the firm isnt managing their most expensive item of fixed capital up to capacity (or its broken, which is worse). Petersens first step towards a solution was actually adopted, as Flora has shown, the Romanov bureaucracy having acted once someone, anyone, gave them some guidance. Here is Petersens second step: This Im not so sure of, partly because Im not sure how easy it would be to wrest containers from the hands of the military, but mostly because Id like to see numbers. All of the coverage is marked by a paucity of numbers, except for the containers piled up at the Port. (Thats also why I reacted so strongly to the two numbers Petersen proferred in his original tweets: a dozen containers, seven cranes.) Petersens next step: Presumably, there arent any railheads near Redwood forests; or, to be more bureaucratic, a President is not a CEO. Theres a lot of site selection to do, and permitting that would need to be waived, to get this done. Even assuming everything is maximally expedited, wed be looking at months not weeks let alone days. And thats assuming were not dealing with the Romanovs. Petersens penultimate step: Lol, the railroads love them their 1500 mile train journeys to Dallas, because thats the highest margin business they have. (I believe this is called precision railroading. No stops, no switching, no dealing with tiresome businesses along the way.) So the idea of railroad management howling is almost enough to sell me on the idea. My hesitation comes because the railroads, like everything else, are highly optimized. They dont have any slack either. So when their capacity is diverted to this laudable new purpose, what gets sacrificed? (I suppose the argument is that nothing does, since the ports that the railroads unload at are blocked; but Id like to see that proved, and Id like to know the effect on other ports that are not blocked as the Port is.) And finally: Here again I want numbers. How much capacity does the West Coast (and, I suppose, Mexicos West Coast) have to absorb this shipping? And how many of these barges and small container ships are there? Again, however, WHERE IS EVERYBODY? Though Ive tried to poke holes in it, the solution is simple and clean: You have a capacity problem. Get more capacity! Petersen at least proffers a worked-solution that was intuitively obvious enough for the Mayor of Long Beach to act on it. Who else is doing this? Governor Newsom? Buttigieg? The task force Biden set up, pointedly nominating neither his Secretary of Transportation nor [genuflects] his putative successor? Bueller? Bueller? Bueller? * * * Back to the chassis. If I have one nagging feeling about Petersens approach, its that he thinks hes looking at a technical problem, when in fact hes looking at a business problem. From a less spectacular thread than Petersens, but one well worth a read: Why haven't pool owners (who are often terminal operators) fixed this? They have no incentives to. Containers don't get moved? They get storage fees. Drivers miss their terminal appointments? More fees. Tracking chassis between pools? Sounds like effort. So untidy! 13/15 Christopher Smith (@chrylis) October 20, 2021 There are Romanov lackeys who are very happy to be collecting rents with things just as they are. Perhaps our Stolypin, whoever they may be, can get round all that. Perhaps not. But clearly, its Romanovs all the way down. The Wall Street Journal just published a detailed story substantiating what many have suspected of Facebook, that its been censoring right-wing content. Admittedly, this finding is in dog bites man: terrain. Gizmodo had ascertained that through an analysis of Trending Topics in May 2016, meaning well before the Trump win led Democratic/establishment screeching about Russian influence and clamping down on opinion suddenly deemed responsible and necessary. However, Facebook operates on the premise that it can tell howlers to Congress and the public and large, and no one heretofore has been able to disprove its self-serving and dubious claims. So lifting the veil on Facebooks process, such as it is, for booting content and providers from its platform serves to restrict its ability to prevaricate. It could even lead to a sensible policy or two. The Journal story relies on internal chats and focuses on Breitbart as an object of Facebook restrictions. The picture is not pretty. Facebook appears to lack any clear-cut policies, which means employees views and arguments held way too much sway. Fox also gets hated-on by Facebook staffers, but theres no indication in this story that theres any smoking gun as far as Fox is concerned. Its no surprise that Facebooks efforts at moderation are a train wreck. This tiny site has highly experienced moderators make considerable effort to keep the discussion civil and informative. Moderation does not scale. And thats before the wee problem of Facebook having what sure sounds like unduly fuzzy objectives. I find it hard to understand, save its presumably huge legal budget, why Facebook has put itself in the position of intervening in content as much as it does. This degree of control over content makes it hard for Facebook to deny that its a publisher, as opposed to a platform. Its puzzling that Facebook hasnt attempted to stare down the thought police and banned content and sites only that peddled hate speech (as in the kind that could be successfully prosecuted) and exhortations to commit violence. Cracking down on misinformation? Seriously? After two plus years of Russiagate fabrications? As Lambert points out, the discussion among scientists on Covid aerosol transmission would have been expunged under the misinformation standard because both the CDC and WHO rejected it. In fact, the Journal story both points out how Breitbart and other conservative sites were down-metered, yet also suggests they were treated too timidly because revenues: In many of the documents reviewed by the Journal, employees discussed whether Facebook was enforcing its rules evenly across the political spectrum. They said the company was allowing conservative sites to skirt the companys fact-checking rules, publish untrustworthy and offensive content and harm the tech giants relationship with advertisers, according to records from internal Facebook message boards. The Journal account focuses on its new trove, and hence does not step back to give context. Weve avoided saying much about Google and Facebook censorship of supposedly right wing and left wing sites because its at least as much an effort to winnow the Web down to fewer, orthodox voices But the interests of the officialdom dont fully align with those of the tech platforms. For instance: Right-wing sites are consistently among the best-performing publishers on the platform in terms of engagement, according to data from research firm NewsWhip. That is one reason Facebook also is criticized by people on the left, who say Facebooks algorithms reward far-right content. Facebook says it enforces its rules equally and doesnt consider politics in its decision making Breitbart was included in News Tab, which was launched in 2019. The product contains a main tier with curated news from publishers including The Wall Street Journal, New York Times and Washington Post, which are paid for their content. Breitbart is part of a second tier of news designed to deliver news tailored to a users interest, and isnt paid. Facebook said it requires sites included on News Tab to focus on quality news reporting and bars those that repeatedly share what it deems misinformation or violate its public list of community standards. One thing that is sorely missing is what exactly Breitbart was publishing that was deemed to rise to the level of misinformation and hate speech. Theres not a single example of a debate over a particular Breibart story and how it wound up. Instead, Facebook performed a study.we arent told howand Breibart got the worst marks in terms of trust: Interestingly, around the time of the George Floyd protests, the Journal found one employee calling for using them to purge Breitbart. The response was that Facebook needed to stick to its algos: A senior researcher wrote in the chat that it would be a problem for Facebook to remove Breitbart from News Tab for the way it framed news eventsbecause news framing is not a standard by which we approach journalistic integrity. He said if the company removed publishers whose trust and quality scores were going down, Breitbart might be caught in that net. But he questioned whether the company would do that for all publishers whose scores had fallen. I can also tell you that we saw drops in trust in CNN 2 years ago: would we take the same approach for them too? he wrote. What this article never states clearly is the elephant in the room, that Facebooks users skew conservative, putting the more liberal moderators at odds with them. For instance, Breitbart retorts to the Journal that it is rated better among Facebooks own readers than many mainstream media publications, which could be true. The flip side is that Facebook went so far as to insert conservative pundits into Feed Recommendations allegedly out of fear (I have difficultly believing the fear part, I am sure the operative reasons were mercenary). The article discusses how many advertisers tried to avoid placement on Breitbart, yet wound up there. Facebook staffers try blaming that on Breitbart machinations. Huh? This sounds like dog ate my homework. And in any event, the advertisers should have stared Facebook about paying for ads they explicitly did not want placed. There are only two news items mentioned: one a video of Trump reposting a Breitbart clip saying masks were unnecessary and touting hydroxychloroquinine, which was widely viewed across the Internet before being taken down and this one at the close of the story: .regarding pro-Trump influencers Diamond and Silk, third-party fact-checkers rated as false a post on their page that said, How the hell is allocating 25 million dollars in order to give a raised [sic] to house members, that dont give a damn about Americans, going to help stimulate Americas economy? When fact-checkers had rated that post false, a Facebook staffer involved in the partner program argued there should be no punishment, noting the publisher has not hesitated going public about their concerns around alleged [anti-]conservative bias on Facebook. Diamond and Silk were able to lobby the third-party fact checker to change the rating down to Partly False and, with the help of the managed partner escalation process, all its strikes were removed, according to the posted summary and escalation documents The chat conversations the Journal reviewed show that inside the company, Facebook employees demanded that higher-ups explain the allegations. We are apparently providing hate-speech-policy-consulting and consequence-mitigation services to select partners, wrote one. Leadership is scared of being accused of bias, wrote another. This sort of thing is worth litigating? Seriously? First, its a pervasive conservative trope to accuse government officials of spending too much on themselves. Calling it hate speech is simpy hysterical. And it is true that the March 2020 Covid stimulus bill contained $25 million for salaries and expenses for the House. But an actual pay increase would require approval of the House Appropriations Committee, and that didnt happen. The money instead was going for stuff like pay to furloughed food workers and funding to kit out remote connectivity. One could argue that House members should worry about their own computers just like other employees told to work at home, but that wasnt the point made. USA Today quotes much greater exaggerations about House spending in the CARES Act from Facebook that appear to have been untouched by the moderators. Oh, and as part of the CARES Act, which Trump had to sign before it became law, how was this a clean conservative shot even if accurate? Seems like this claim would set up for an easy rejoinder from someone on the other side of the ideological divide. But apparently goodthinking liberals have already written off the deplorables as beyond redemption. In the hothouse world of the Beltway, the video bloggers Diamond and Silk matter because they are among the few black supporters of Trump, and have earned a perverse badge of honor of being booted from Fox for questioning Covid data (they are now on NewsMax). The Journal also fails to provide some key backstory, that Diamond and Silk claimed that they had been censored by Facebook and had received a message stating their content and message were unsafe to the community. That got them a Congressional audience. I am in no position to get to the bottom of this, but Wikipedia strongly insinuates that the Diamond and Silk claims of Facebook downranking are exaggerated if not fabricated. In other words, Diamond and Silks off the mark shot at the House may seem important to the likes of Media Matters, but this is a nothingburger to most Americans. And a lot of people would find it disturbing that Facebook is engaging what looks like sentence-level policing. I wish the Wall Street Journal would publish all the documents to allow for broader reading and calibration. But not surprisingly, what theyve served up so far is true to Facebooks unsavory brand image. _____ (Natural News) New evidence has emerged to suggest that the federal government coordinated with foreign governments to conduct a pandemic preparedness exercise not long before the Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) was announced. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) documents outline a strategic plan for imposing fascism in response to an alleged threat. Its goal was to enhance international preparedness activities at the national, regional, and global levels, including through pandemic exercises. Just months before the mainstream media started talking about the Chinese Virus, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which was created by George W. Bush in response to 9/11, conducted an exercise that some now believe is what went live to become the Fauci Flu. These latest revelations about HHS and other American federal agencies conspiring with foreign governments only further supports that theory, suggesting that the Chinese Flu really was a plandemic that was schemed in advance of becoming real. This falsified pandemic, as many are now calling it, has an extensive paper trail that serves as evidence of malfeasance. The Fauci Flu did not just appear by accident, in other words: It is a product of government ill will. There is a significant amount of information which suggests that the U.S. federal government, in coordination with international governments, may have planned to conduct (or is currently conducting) an international, multi-year falsified pandemic preparedness exercise.,' reported LifeSiteNews. It was previously described that one method to determine whether COVID-19 is a falsified pandemic is following the paper trail so to speak. Bush, Obama and Trump all helped bring us the plandemic During his presidency, Donald Trump signed into law the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness and Advancing Innovation Act of 2019, which basically legalized creating a false pandemic exercise that would last several years. This law was passed by Congress and signed by Trump on June 24, 2019, just a few months before the first cases of the Chinese Flu appeared in Wuhan. Several months later, the first domestic cases would be announced in Seattle. One of the main points to keep in mind, though, is that the law attempts to enhance the legal authority of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) to carry out potentially national, ongoing drills and operational exercises,' LifeSiteNews further explains. Such drills and exercises may include pandemic drills and exercises which may be performed without notice.' Another document called the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response Strategic Plan for 2020-2023, shortened as ASPR Strategic Plan for 2020-2023, adds to the Pandemic Act of 2019. In it, this document provides for multiple examples of how a multi-year fake plandemic exercise could be legally imposed on the masses to help the government with its health preparedness, response, and recovery needs. This, too, was enacted under Trump, and built upon preceding laws that were brought bear under Barack Hussein Obama to turn America into a medically fascist police state. Both a Democrat and a Republican, in other words, worked together in their respective administrations to advance us to the point we have currently reached as a society. Both Obama and Trump, and of course Bush by creating DHS in the first place, contributed to bringing about this new normal under which we are now suffering. One higher-order policy that the ASPR Strategic Plan 2020-2023 cites is President Obamas Presidential Policy Directive / PPD 8 on National Preparedness, issued in 2011, LifeSiteNews explains. It is another document worth studying closely to determine whether the U.S. federal government may have planned a falsified pandemic exercise. The latest news about Chinese Virus deception can be found at Fascism.news. Sources for this article include: LifeSiteNews.com NaturalNews.com (Natural News) AUSTRALIA: Queensland health official Jeannette Young is now promising to flood the country with vaccinated super spreaders who carry covid, claiming on video, Every single queenslander is going to get exposed to the covid-19 virus and will get infected. She adds, We will be bringing in virus in vaccinated people and then specifically explains she is targeting unvaccinated people with this biowarfare attack by explaining, But if youre vaccinated, thats not a problem. This unthinkable admission of coordinated criminal activity by the government of Queensland is just the latest assault on humanity being waged by Australian officials who are so corrupt and evil, its almost like theyre competing for an award from Satan himself. Watch this stunning comment in the following video. The text callout was added to the video by someone else and was not in the original broadcast video: Brighteon.com/8d554303-cd88-45d7-b6ad-2020c26075c9 Dr. Young is fully aware that vaccines are killing people. She previously warned that blood clot-inducing vaccines shouldnt be given to people under the age of 50, saying, Wouldnt it be terrible that our first 18-year-old in Queensland to die from this pandemic died from the vaccine? Since then, she has been corrected by the genocidal medical establishment and anti-human news media that are coordinating their attacks on anyone who questions vaccines. Dr. Young has fallen in line and is now waging actual biological warfare against humanity, bragging that vaccinated people are the super spreaders who will infect everyone. Theyre not even trying to hide their agenda anymore. Let us all remember the names of these criminals as the international war crimes tribunals commence. The real threat from Cumbre Vieja / La Palma island volcano In todays Situation Update, we cover the Queensland attack on humanity, and we also cover the real threat to human civilization posed by the Cumbre Vieja volcano. Its not the tsunami threat to the East Coast thats the real threat here. Its that the volcano might erupt and eject a massive amount of particulate matter into the atmosphere, darkening the sun for an entire year. This would collapse the global food supply and lead to mass starvation around the world, followed by unrelenting disease and economic collapse. Naturally, all solar power would also be heavily impacted, resulting in a catastrophic collapse of green energy. A similar event already happened in 1816, known as The year without a summer, following the 1815 eruption of Mt. Tambora in Indonedia. Following the eruption, a global food collapse commenced, leading to mass famine, die-offs, disease and collapse. As covered by AmusingPlanet.com: The immediate aftermath of the eruption was famine as a result of destruction of crops. This was accompanied by all kinds of disease, especially diarrhea caused by the drinking of polluted water. The famine was so serious that people in Sumbawa were reduced to eating dry leaves and poisonous tubers. Many sold their children just to obtain rice. About 48,000 people were killed on Sumbawa and 44,000 on Lombok. Tens of thousands fled to Java, Bali and South Sulawesi to escape hunger. The effect of the eruption was not limited to Indonesia. Unseasonably cold weather killed trees, rice and animals even as far north as China and Tibet. Floods destroyed many remaining crops. In Taiwan, which has a tropical climate, snow was reported in many cities. In Europe, still recuperating from the Napoleonic Wars, low temperatures and heavy rains resulted in failed harvests across the continent, leading to serious famine in Ireland and Wales. This was followed by major typhus epidemics in parts of Europe, including Ireland, Italy, Switzerland, and Scotland, exacerbated by malnutrition caused by the Year Without a Summer. Temperatures plummeted across North America, especially in the northeastern parts of United States and Canada. Throughout spring and summer, there was a persistent dry fog that reddened and dimmed the sunlight such that sunspots were visible to the naked eye. Frost and snow fell in the upper elevations of New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont, and northern New York in the middle of summer. Cold weather ruined most agricultural crops in North America leading to rising prices. In Canada, Quebec ran out of bread and milk and Nova Scotians found themselves boiling foraged herbs for sustenance. We also know that a loss of photosynthesis would also cause atmospheric oxygen levels to plummet as plant metabolism is shut down. With 7.8 billion human beings still breathing oxygen (plus all the animals, insects, etc.), global oxygen concentrations in the atmosphere would plunge at the same time global food supplies collapsed. Whats clear is that globalists are now in a panic to exterminate billions of human beings via vaccines, spike protein bioweapons, economic collapse and food supply chain disruptions, most likely because they need to remove billions of humans before the big event arrives. What is that big event? Its anyones guess at this point, but its obviously something on a cosmic or planetary scale. Whatever it is, its big enough to have the globalists panicked into a planetary-scale mass extermination agenda. Find more details in todays Situation Update podcast: Brighteon.com/52af5c5f-d4cd-487f-82d5-d0ab8846d4c1 Discover a new podcast each day (along with amazing interviews) at: https://www.brighteon.com/channels/hrreport (Natural News) Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) has taken aim at the Biden administration over its handling of the U.S. economy and coronavirus pandemic. (Article republished from OANN.com) On Friday, DeSantis derided Joe Bidens energy polices, warning hes veering away from making America energy independent. The Florida Republican said under President Donald Trump, America had a strong energy sector. But now, DeSantis said Biden is begging international organizations to lower the price of oil. DeSantis also reaffirmed he would not back down in his fight against the Biden administrations vaccine mandates. He claimed Bidens mandate, particularly the provisions forcing Medicaid and Medicare-linked hospitals and employers of more than 100 people to jab their staff, is illegal and unconstitutional. Attempting to impose an unconstitutional mandate on the American people that will cause people to lose their jobs and will leave key industries shorthanded is divisive. pic.twitter.com/tNLMSrv0aG Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) October 15, 2021 He added the mandate would likely affect most of Floridas health care system and prompt mass walkouts and shortages to the health sector. DeSantis went on to tout Floridas handling of the virus, stressing the Sunshine State is at a 52-day low in statistics across the board. Additionally, DeSantis fired back at Biden for espousing lawmakers taking similar stances against mandates as divisive, however, DeSantis says Biden is the divisive one. Gov. DeSantis emphasized now is not the time to force people out of their jobs because of the jab and said people should be able to choose whether to get vaccinated or not. Read more at: OANN.com (Natural News) Iowa-based trucking company Heartland Express predicts that demands for freight trucking will continue to increase this year until 2022. The company has also predicted that the current labor shortages affecting many industries will continue well into next year. Heartland Express CEO Mike Gerdin made the prediction in an Oct. 14 press release. He says: Freight demand has continued to be strong and has reached unprecedented levels throughout the third quarter of 2021. We expect these trends to continue for the remainder of 2021 and well into 2022. Gerdin says that labor issues will remain a challenge throughout the trucking industry. We also believe that hiring and retention of employees have reached levels of unprecedented challenge across our industry for both carriers and shippers. He adds that the shared challenge of hiring and keeping truck drivers and other employees with key roles in the supply chain will continue into 2022. The press release notes that Heartland Express has stepped up to the challenge of labor shortages. We have increased wages and enhanced the compensation features for our drivers multiple times in the last 12 months, the company says. It adds that Heartland Express will continue to invest in our drivers, our fleet of revenue equipment, our terminal locations and technology to ensure our drivers receive a rewarding level of compensation along with the tools to have a safe and successful career. Compensation has been the foremost reason as to why truck drivers have left the industry in droves. Fox Business reported in May 2021 that the demand for truck drivers dwindled due to Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) lockdowns. Unemployment benefits and stimulus checks have also discouraged drivers from getting back behind the steering wheel. American Trucking Associations President and CEO Chris Spear said in May that the trucking industry was having trouble recruiting younger drivers. We have to make a very concerted effort over the next five to ten years to really fill those gaps if were going to maintain pace with the economy, he said at the time. (Related: Trucking industry hit by gas shortages, skyrocketing prices; truckers struggle to deliver consumer goods across America.) Some companies sourcing drivers from other countries to fill the gap Some companies are trying to source truck drivers from other countries. However, recruiting from other countries comes with its own set of problems. Holly McCormick, a recruiter for Oklahoma-based Groendyke Transport, shares her experiences in recruiting foreign truck drivers to address the shortage. McCormick says she had to coordinate with an agency in South Africa for the first time in her 10-year career in the industry. Even though the company has doubled her budget since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the sourcing process remains difficult. If were not able to haul these goods, our economy virtually shuts down, McCormick says. Jose Gomez-Urquiza, CEO of international recruiting firm Visa Solutions, also voices out the difficulties of hiring foreigners to drive trucks. Visa Solutions has handled immigration concerns for clients in the transportation industry resulting in a more-than-double increase of demand for his services since before the pandemic. Gomez-Urquiza attributes the increase in demand to the lack of drivers. Were living through the worst driver shortage that weve seen in recent history by far, he says. Petroleum Marketing Group (PMG) Vice President of Operations Andre LeBlanc laments both the current shortage of drivers and delays in processing immigration papers. Of the 24 drivers he has tried to hire via a federal immigration program, only three have passed through all the steps of the verification program. Weve got 21 drivers right now who are qualified to come to this country the right way and are ready to come here and solve this problem. We cant seem to get an answer on what we need to do to move that forward, LeBlanc says. (Related: Shortage of truck drivers in the US forces companies to look overseas.) Collapse.news has more articles about the shortage of truckers and its negative repercussions on the supply chain. Sources include: FreightWaves.com Static1.Squarespace.com [PDF] FoxBusiness.com PressHerald.com (Natural News) Several suburban Chicago sheriffs have said that they will not be sending their deputies to the city to help with staffing shortages resulting from vaccine mandates instituted by Mayor Lori Lightfoot. Speaking to the Chicago Tribune, Kane County sheriff Ron Hain, a democrat, said that he didnt feel like the onus is on us to go in there in an emergency situation that was created by poor government and a lack of support the officers receive. He said that he is not willing to send his officers to Chicago unless there is an officer under direct duress because he does not support what he termed a slanted agenda. He also said that he does not want his deputies to be under the prosecutorial jurisdiction of the States Attorney of Cook County. This sentiment was echoed by Kendall County Sheriff Dwight Baird, a republican, who said that he wouldnt be putting his officers at risk to respond to Lightfoots self-induced emergency. James Mendrick, the DuPage County Sheriff, told the paper that while he would not stop his deputies from assisting in an emergency, he does not understand why they would want to replace unvaccinated Chicago officers with officers from other jurisdictions who may also be unvaccinated. It doesnt make sense to say I only want my residents touching vaccinated people, but Im going to send all these potentially unvaccinated people from other municipalities to replace them, he said. The comments came in response to a notice that was sent through the Illinois Law Enforcement Alarm System stating that the Chicago police may need assistance if an emergency situation arises due to opposition to the vaccine mandates. The city required all of its employees to submit their proof of vaccination by October 15 or agree to undergo regular testing. The president of the Fraternal Order of Police, John Catanzara has been vocal in discouraging officers from complying and emphasizing that it is a violation of their rights. FOP calls vaccine mandate a political move The National Fraternal Order of Police issued a statement in response to the call for help. They said: The devolving situation in Chicago and the very real threat to public safety in the city has been entirely manufactured and unnecessarily escalated by Mayor Lori Lightfoot. Now she is searching for a way out of this mess and insists that contingency plans are in place. The statement added that the system exists for emergencies and is not intended for cases where a mayor fires a significant portion of their own police force. The union also said that they do not support forcing their members to submit to a medical procedure against their will without providing them with some form of due process. The FOP also pointed out that the call for assistance was not restricted solely to officers who have gotten the vaccine, which seems to defeat the purpose of firing the citys unvaccinated officers in the first place. The statement suggests its a political move and says that the mayor should not be using the safety of Chicagoans as a pawn in a political game: Clearly, her position has nothing to do with the publics safety or health policy and everything to do with winning the political game against the union. The union issued a no-confidence vote in Lightfoot in May. So far, just 67 percent of the citys police force has submitted their vaccination status; 21 officers have been placed on no pay status for refusing to comply. The move comes at a time when Chicago continues to see high levels of crime, with 39 shootings recorded last weekend alone and 1400 carjackings so far this year. The city cant really afford to lose any more officers, and it makes little sense to claim they cant work because they are unvaccinated while calling for backup from other law enforcement officers who may not be vaccinated, either. Sources for this article include: HeadlineUSA.com TheHill.com FoxNews.com (Natural News) By now, long-time readers know that the big tech oligarchs are working hand-in-hand with deep state leftists and the mainstream media to control the flow of information Americans see. The fact that they do this is proof in and of itself that the left cannot influence a majority of Americans by telling them the truth about their self-destructive policies. So they have to lie, obfuscate, censor and otherwise temper what the public is allowed to see so they can manufacture narratives and fake truths. One of the latest tools being employed by the tech/media giants is an organization called NewsGuard, which is a coalition of media outlets and other groups whose sole purpose is to promote narratives and hide factual information from Americans that does not comport with their preconceived political objectives. Thankfully there are still legitimate news outlets like ours and like Revolver News who are thus far able to bypass the tech gatekeepers to keep our citizens informed the way our founding fathers envisioned we should. Revolver News notes: The insidious Global Oligarchs are really sweating Revolver News lately, especially after investigative reporting blew up their carefully constructed January 6th insurrection and intelligence failure narratives. The Regimes response to the rising threat of Revolver News has been, thus far, to send legions of fact-checkers after us to claim that were spreading disinformation the Regimes censorship predicate du jour. Nowhere is the scam of disinformation journalism more apparent than in the services of a shadowy company called Newsguard. Newsguard markets itself as an internet trust tool that assigns nutrition label ratings to news sites to indicate their trustworthiness. We help you decide which news sources to trust with ratings from humans, not algorithms, NewsGuards website states. With trust ratings for over 6,000 websites produced by real journalists, NewsGuard gives you all the context you need as you read news online. The very first question Americans who are pretty smart people should ask themselves is, Why do I need a professional journalist to give me context about a story? And, If I need more context, then obviously the journalists who are reporting the story initially arent doing their job. Regarding the accuracy of NewsGuard, the group has a pathetic history of bias and censorship already, and the organization isnt that old. NewsGuard, the establishment news rating project that claims to fight untrustworthy media outlets, continues to give its seal of approval to Rolling Stone, a partisan leftist magazine that has repeatedly fallen for high profile hoaxes, Breitbart News reported last month. The CEO of NewsGuard, Steven Brill, told the outlet that officials were taking another look at perhaps reclassifying Rolling Stone, a very left-wing publication, after the magazine republished the false claims of an Oklahoma doctor who said hospitals there were overflowing with patients who overdosed on ivermectin, a medicine used to treat COVID-19. But at the time, Rolling Stone continues to receive a green stamp of approval from NewsGuard, as do establishment media that uncritically repeated its reporting, including the Hill, the BBC, and MSNBCs Rachel Maddow, Breitbart reported. And yet, independent news websites that highlighted Rolling Stones massive reporting error, including Breitbart News, the Epoch Times, and TownHall, get a red warning label from NewsGuard, the outlet continued. Got that? So there is no better evidence to prove that NewsGuard is just another establishment deep state organ designed to misinform, not inform, the American public and prevent people from knowing whats really going on in their own country, which is the very definition of state media that is, media outlets in authoritarian countries that are controlled by governments. Our founding fathers would be shocked at the state of the country they bequeathed us. See more at Newsguardwatch.com Sources include: NaturalNews.com Revolver.news (Natural News) In a response to a request made under the Transparency Act (2013), the Ministry of Health in Spain acknowledged that it does not have a SARS-CoV-2 culture nor a registry of laboratories with culture and isolation capacity for testing. The response also discharged all responsibility for diagnoses and treatments onto health professionals and recognised that tests, by themselves, are not usually sufficient to determine the disease. (Article by Rhoda Wilson republished from TheExpose.uk) On 30 September, El Diestro reported: those tests which have been used to justify decisions made about confinements, closures, isolations, patient treatments, vaccination and dictatorial measures aimed at ending the freedoms of all, are not usually enough to determine the disease, according to the Health Ministry. In May 2021, we published an article Hundreds of FOIs reveal that health/science institutions around the world have no record of COVID-19 isolation/purification, anywhere, ever. At the time the status of requests to Spanish authorities were as below: On 15 February 2021 Kepa Ormazabal submitted a Freedom of Information request regarding isolation or purification of the phantom virus to the Basque Country (Spain) Office of the President and Department of Health and all dependent institutions. Months later Kepa wrote: According to the law, they have 30 days to respond; 60 if the question is especially complex. Today is May 2nd and I have not heard from them. On March 30, 2021 Kepa Ormazabal submitted another FOI request re isolation/purification of the phantom virus to the flagship of Spanish research, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas (Higher Council of Scientific Research). Months later Kepa writes: Again, they have not responded and, therefore, their silence is refusing access to the information they may hold in regards to my question. The CSIC and the Basque government are public institutions and, therefore, must comply with the law of transparency, good governance and access to public information. Article 20.4 of this law states that, if after 30 days there has been no response from the public administration, this silence is to be understood as meaning that the request to access the public information solicited has been refused. Since our previous article, on 22 July 2021, La Asociacion Liberum (Liberum Association); Biologos por la Verdad (Biologists for the Truth); and, an individual made a request to the Spanish Ministry of Health for public information regarding the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The request, amongst other things, asked for a sample culture of the virus that could be independently tested. Authorities received the request on 10 August and according to the Transparency Act the Ministry of Health had one month to respond. They gave their response, including the above statements, on 8 September 2021 which can be found HERE (Spanish). We have used Google translate to translate the Ministry of Healths full response from Spanish into English and attached it below. ANSWER-MINISTRY-OF-HEALTH.es_.en_ The significant portion of the response from the Ministry of Health is on page three of the PDF document above and is quoted below (using Google translate): The Ministry of Health does not have a SARS-CoV-2 culture for testing, and it does not have a registry of laboratories with culture and isolation capacity for testing. In relation to the SARS-COV-2 diagnostic tests, and in general, with issues related to the SARS-Cov-2 pandemic, the Ministry of Health works with the aforementioned documents, which are updated according to the epidemiological need, to enable decision-making in relation to the management of the pandemic, and the dissemination of information to third parties that can use it in their specific environments. In this sense, the most conceptual and definitional issues remain more in academic and teaching environments, with the Ministry of Health playing a more secondary role and not acting on these issues in its power. Finally, the evaluation of patients in relation to their state of health, be it COVID-19 or another disease or pathology, is the responsibility of the reference health professionals. The tests, by themselves, are not usually sufficient to determine disease, requiring an expert evaluation of the person who has been tested. Either way, the case definition can be found at the following link: The Ministry of Health (Spain) Has Acknowledged in Writing That They Have No Covid-19 Virus Isolates or Cultures (2 mins) Read more at: TheExpose.uk (Natural News) The U.S. Navy announced on Thursday it will begin halting reenlistments and transfer orders for sailors currently refusing the COVID-19 vaccines and active-duty sailors will have up until November 14 to either have an approved or pending vaccine exemption request or their second COVID-19 vaccine dose or they will face being discharged from the service. Sailors in the Navy Reserves have until December 14 to receive their second vaccine dose. (Article by Ryan Morgan republished from AmericanMilitaryNews.com) In a press release, the Navy said after those final vaccination dates pass, it will start processing discharges for sailors who have to that point refused vaccination and dont have a pending or approved exemption. The Navy said it set up a system specifically for handling sailors who refuse the vaccine, the COVID Consolidated Disposition Authority (CCDA). Adm. William Lescher, Vice Chief of Naval Operations said the CCDA will ensure a fair and consistent process for separation determinations. The Navy said, effective as of the publication of its message, Navy commands will halt any reenlistment or execute orders, except for separations from the Navy, for any sailor who is refusing the vaccine, until the CCDA has handled their case. The Navy said, For officers and enlisted serving in Navy leadership roles refusing the vaccine, they will be notified immediately in writing that they have five days to either begin a vaccination series or request an exemption before being relieved and have detachment for cause initiated. The Navy said those sailors separated only for vaccine refusal will receive no lower than a general discharge under honorable conditions. Such a discharge status could result in the loss of some veterans benefits. CCDAs will also have the authority to strip unvaccinated sailors of their warfare qualifications, additional qualification designations (AQD), Navy Enlisted Classifications (NEC), or sub-specialties, except in cases where removal authority is otherwise authorized by law or Executive Order. CCDAs may also make sailors who refused the vaccine repay the Navy for applicable bonuses, special and incentive pays, and the costs for their training and education. The press release also said the first flag officers in any Navy chain of command are authorized to temporarily reassign Navy service members who refuse the COVID-19 vaccine, regardless of whether they have a vaccine exemption. Sailors who are already on terminal leave from the Navy or who begin their terminal leave by the applicable deadlines are administratively exempted from vaccine requirements. The Navys announcement comes nearly two months after the FDA granted full approval to the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. President Joe Biden and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin then moved to require COVID-19 vaccines for the entire military. Following their orders, the Department of the Navy announced at the end of August that active-duty sailors and Marines would have 90 days to receive the vaccination and reserve components would have 120 days, or else they could face disciplinary actions. While the timeline the Navy set November 28 and December 28 as the dates active and reserve sailors must be fully vaccinated, the Navy said sailors arent considered fully vaccinated until theyve completed 14-day waiting period following their second of two vaccine doses. That is why November 14 and December 14 are considered the last days for active and reserve sailors to receive their second vaccine doses. The Navy said about 98 percent of active-duty have completed or started the two-dose COVID-19 vaccination series. According to data reviewed by the Washington Post, vaccination rates increased rapidly in the wake of Bidens mandate, but hundreds of thousands of service members across the various military branches are still unvaccinated. A provision in the House version of the 2022 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) seeks to guarantee any service member separated only for refusing the vaccine will only receive an honorable discharge, which would preserve their veterans benefits. Biden has come out in opposition to the provision, saying it would limit a commanders options for enforcing good order and discipline against service members who refuse the vaccine. Some point out that the FDAs approval specifies only Pfizers COMIRNATY vaccine, and not the unnamed Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine that has been available for nearly a year and remains under emergency use authorization. The existing Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is identical to the COMIRNATY vaccine, however the only difference is the legal name and the packaging. The two are considered interchangeable due to the exact same formulation, according to the FDA. Read more at: AmericanMilitaryNews.com (Natural News) Why get vaccinated for the Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) when natural immunity is a far better and much safer option? While it might be politically incorrect to say it, natural immunity is robust, long-lasting, and broadly effective even in the case of mutations, to quote a new report from the Brownstone Institute, which identified some 30 different studies that prove natural immunity to be preferable to fake vaccine immunity. Contracting the virus and recovering from it is the best way to stay protected against future infections. The same cannot be said for vaccines and their booster shots, however, which are actually destroying peoples immune systems. Around half of the country already has natural immunity, and likely billions of people in other countries around the world do as well. Why, then, would anyone feel the need to get injected? The answer is that nobody actually needs to get injected, though many already have due to fear or mandates. This is fueling the creation of new variants that are driving up hospitalizations and deaths. Thanks to the diligent work of Paul Elias Alexander and Rational Grounds cheat sheet on natural immunity, we now know beyond a shadow of a doubt that the best immunity is the kind God gave us not the kind that Big Pharma and the government are trying to force on us. People who get jabbed for covid are more than 13 times more likely to develop a breakthrough infection It is worth your while to look through the list of studies published by the Brownstone Institute. Each one delineates how natural immunity is powerful, highly effective, and long lasting. One of them found that people who get jabbed for the Chinese Virus have a 13.06-fold increased risk of developing a so-called breakthrough infection, which the media is calling the Delta variant. Compared to unvaccinated people with natural immunity who are unlikely to get sick, the fully vaccinated are much more prone to developing symptomatic disease, which is why hospitals are now overflowing with really sick jabbed people. Another study found that people who get vaccinated shed infectious SARS-CoV-2 germs onto others. Some of these germs might be deadlier mutations that would not have existed apart from the vaccine. Yet another study determined that anybody who has ever tested positive for the Wuhan Flu is unlikely to benefit from getting jabbed. If only the government and the media had informed the public about this before tens of millions of people rushed out to get the needle. A longitudinal analysis found that natural exposure to Chinese Germs without a vaccine creates durable and broad immune memory post-infection. After the infection is gone, an unvaccinated person remains immune due to persistent antibody responses and memory B and T cells. The list goes on with study after study showing immense benefits to just leaving ones immune system alone to do its thing without any syringes. The government disagrees with this science, but it is science nonetheless and deserves more public attention. People who have contracted the virus and recovered deserve recognition, says the Brownstone Institute. The realization that natural immunity which pertains now to perhaps half of the US population and billions around the world is effective in providing protection should have a dramatic effect on vaccine mandates. Individuals whose livelihoods and liberties are being deprecated and deleted need access to the scientific literature as it pertains to this virus The scientists have not been silent; they just havent received the public attention they deserve. To learn more about how Fauci Flu shots are dangerous and ineffective, be sure to check out ChemicalViolence.com. Sources for this article include: Brownstone.org NaturalNews.com (Natural News) Earlier this fall, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, frustrated and angry at the Biden regimes purposeful inaction on securing the border, stepped up and issued a threat: He will use his authority and empower his own personnel to start arresting illegal aliens in the absence of federal enforcement. By virtue of the power and authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the State of Texas, I hereby order that the Texas National Guard assist DPS in enforcing Texas law by arresting lawbreakers at the border, Abbotts letter to Texas Adjutant General Major Gen. Tracy Norris said in July, when he first issued the order. USA Features News, which reported on the declaration at the time, added: Last month, Abbott said during a summit to discuss border security that any migrants who criminally trespass into Texas or commit other offenses would be subject to arrest and jailed. In addition, the GOP governor announced plans to build new sections of border wall so as to plug gaps left when President Joe Biden canceled federal wall construction begun under the Trump administration. In arguing as to why National Guard members should be empowered to make arrests, Abbott noted in his letter that more manpower is needed to deal with the hundreds of thousands of migrants who have been crashing the Tex-Mex border since Joe Biden took the oath of office for a presidency that was stolen on his behalf. In addition, Abbott explained that according to the Texas constitution, his powers as Commander-in-Chief of the military forces of the state grant him the authority to issue arrest powers to his Guard troops. Abbott also likewise recognizes that the governor can call on state military forces to enforce state law and to assist civil authorities in guarding [or] conveying prisoners, said the letter. To respond to this disaster and secure the rule of law at our Southern border, more manpower is neededin addition to the troopers from DPS and soldiers from the Texas National Guard I have already deployed thereand DPS needs help in arresting those who are violating state law, Abbott noted further. Now, the plan has been implemented, according to the Center for Immigration Studies: In a dive into new political and legal water, Texas Governor Greg Abbott has initiated the first-ever border security operations in which thousands of National Guard troops newly imbued with civilian arrest authority and given 40 hours of traditional police training in the use of deadly force have started handcuffing illegally entering migrants on state trespassing charges. Its not clear how the regime in Washington will react, but what is clear is that Abbott doesnt care what Biden or his lackeys in the Department of Homeland Security and the Justice Department think. Nobodys ever really used the guard before in this capacity, Texas DPS Director Steven McCraw confirmed to the CIS. Were going to use them to actually secure the border. The governor, the legislature, and the citizens of Texas have made it very clear; they want the border secure. It is good for our federal partner as well. The federal government should be thanking the state of Texas, and itll make the rest of the country safer as we increase the level of security. In all, around 3,000 Guard troops have been trained in law enforcement operations, and they will primarily be using their new arrest powers to apprehend single adult males who crossed the border illegally along state-built sections of border fencing that includes about 142 parcels of private ranch land. And frankly, its about time. GOP governors who are concerned about Bidens unconstitutional behaviors and failure to execute the laws of the country as he swore to do must follow Abbotts lead and think outside the box. Sources include: CIS.org USAFeatures.news OpenBorders.news (Natural News) Dr. Roderick McRae, the president of the Australian Medical Association (AMA) in Victoria, has a message for the unvaccinated: just go die already. In a statement, McRae said unequivocally that he believes all covid deniers and anti-vaxxers should just opt out of the public health care system entirely if they catch the Chinese Virus. Rather than be allowed to receive any care, he added, covid deniers and anti-vaxxers should be forced to let nature take its course. After Victoria reached a fully vaccinated threshold of greater than 70 percent of its over-16 population, officials lifted many of the oppressive restrictions that have been in place for a while now. Victorias case numbers are still high, though. People like McRae feel as though it is better to be injected than not injected when it comes to alleviating the burden on local hospitals. This is in spite of the fact that most of the people flooding hospital emergency rooms are fully vaccinated. Even so, the politically correct narrative is that the fully vaccinated are healthier than ever before while the unvaccinated are supposedly dying all over the streets. Based on this false claim, McRae and others are issuing statements of hate against the non-compliant. Within the public hospitals, the knees are knocking as restrictions ease, because the situation is stressed to the point that tents are going up outside of the public hospitals to facilitate the removal of ill patients from ambulances, so those ambulances can go and get the next patient, McRae stated, blaming the unvaccinated for this alleged phenomenon. Branch Covidians only want to save the lives of people who agree with them McRae went on to bring up the elderly, many of whom have been double vaccinated, he says, who cannot get their knee replacement or other surgeries done because hospitals are too busy dealing with covid. These patients continue to suffer some pain or disability for a longer period of time, and theyre often patients whove been double vaccinated, theyre elderly, and theyve done everything right, McRae says. But their knee replacement is being delayed and the public hospital waiting lists are growing. Were all juggling everything the best we can to avoid and prevent deaths. Even though all the available data shows that the fully vaccinated are the ones flooding hospitals and taking up beds, McRae has decided to adopt his own truth that blames this surge in hospitalizations on the unvaccinated. We know as we reopen its the unvaccinated who are going to get covid, and they are going to get great hospital treatment with many new experimental drugs, even though they think the vaccine is experimental,' McRae added in derangement. A whole lot of these people are passionate disbelievers that the virus even exists. And they should notify their nearest and dearest and ensure theres an advanced care directive that says, If I am diagnosed with this disease caused by a virus that I dont believe exists, I will not disturb the public hospital system, and Ill let nature run its course.' Such rhetoric is exceptionally tiresome at this point, but it must work on some people because plandemic liars like McRae continue to spew it. Fortunately, not everyone in the government agrees with McRae, including Victorias deputy premier James Merlino. I can understand the sentiment but thats not the way we operate, Merlino told ABC (Australia) radio the other day, rejecting McRaes callous comments that are unrepresentative of all government officials. We need to care for every single Victorian. The latest news about plandemic deception can be found at Pandemic.news. Sources for this article include: TheGuardian.com NaturalNews.com (Natural News) In Loudoun County, Virginia, an anti-white, Democrat, woke, corrupt, and immoral school board covered up the rape of a school girl in a female rest room by a transgendered male claiming to be a female. (Article republished from PaulCraigRoberts.org) Why did the school board cover up the rape? The answer is that the Democrat school board coerced transgenderism on students and parents and pretended that a teenage boy with raging hormones and a hard-on could really, truthfully, be a female, as long as he said so, and have access to the girls rest room, where he raped not one but two victims. When the criminally insane leftwing Democrat Loudoun County, Virginia, school board 100% responsible for crimes of rape and coverup, realized that its idiotic ideology had resulted in the rape of a child, the corrupt and criminal Democrat school board covered up to protect itself. Whats a couple of rapes? After all, eventually the girls would experience sex. A rape is no big deal, and we must not allow it to discredit our transgender policy. This is the way the Democrat Party functions in America today. The Democrat Party is the political party of all of the crazed anti-white, anti-American immoralists, and these anti-American immoralists are in the process of destroying the remains of America. The anti-white and utterly corrupt Virginia Democrat governor and attorney general will not prosecute the Democrat school board for obstruction of justice. It is unlikely they will prosecute the rapist, as it would discredit the Democrats policy of forcing transgenderism down peoples throats When the word got out and parents complained, the school board had the immoral and corrupt white police arrest the white parent, not the rapist or themselves clearly guilty of covering up crime, thereby obstructing justice. The criminal school board remains unindicted. The parent of the raped child is in jail on absurd charges. This is America today. It is OK to obstruct justice and cover up rapes of school girls if you are a Democrat school board. But if you are a Republican and you speak to a Russian you will be destroyed with a Russiagate hoax. A person might think that eventually Republicans would catch on and learn how to fight. Dont hold your breath. Republicans also are on the take. Money is all that is important to either political party. When you see white police man-handling, handcuffing, and arresting a white father who complained about the rape of his daughter, when the police, if they had an ounce of integrity, should be arresting the criminal school board for covering up a crime and the rapist for rape, how can you have any respect and support for the police? The idiot police are destroying the peoples support of them. Indeed, Americans who live under Democrat jurisdiction, such as Atlanta, St. Louis, Portland, Seattle, Chicago, Minneapolis, Philadelphia, already live without police protection as the extensive burning and looting of those cities by Black Lives Matter But Not White Ones and the American elites mercenary force, Antifa, proves. The only two people arrested and sentenced for the massive outbreak of violence and property destruction across Democrat-controlled US cities was a married St. Louis couple who brandished firearms to protect their home. The corrupt Democrat anti-American, anti-white district attorney arrested and prosecuted them. Those who burned and looted were given a free pass by the Democrats. The police seem incapable of ever doing the right thing. They always seem to support the evil that rules. It is the police who are protecting the evil that is destroying us. As long as the police are aligned with Democrats they are the enemies of the American people. Yes, it is all true. When it is put to traditional Americans in stark terms, most grasp that something is wrong. But what I have described is only the tip of the iceberg. The excrement installed in the White House by the establishment via a stolen election has declared war on half of the American populationthose who pay attention and refuse to accept the death jab, which is what the Covid vaccine is. Joe Biden is a cipher. All his life he has served the monied elite interest groups that put and keep him in office. He doesnt know how to do anything else. Being a whore is his lifelong occupation. Just think, if you believe the last US election was honest, Americans voted for a whore as their President. Last week the worst embarrassment Americans have ever sufferedJoe Bidenattacked unvaccinated Americans as the root of Americas problems, as cruel people who dont care about their vaccinated fellow Americans. The White House Moron is too senile to be able to put two and two together. If you are doubly vaccinated, and according to the corrupt US medical establishment 95% protected, how can you possibly be threatened by the unvaccinated? Never expect the corrupt and despicable American media to ever ask the White House Moron this question. The White House Excrement went on to describe half of the American population as dangerous, selfish, anti-Americans who are spreading the Covid disease despite the fact that the hospitals are full of the vaccinated, not the unvaccinated. It is the same in every country. It is the vaccinated who are hospitalized. How is it possible that an American president can go before news organizations with obvious lies and denunciations of American citizens that go far beyond Stalins denunciation in his drive for power of the Bolsheviks who led the revolution and the Kulaks who resisted it, Maos denunciations of landlords, and Pol Pots denunciations of the bureaucratic establishment? Each of the three left a mountain of skulls as their Monument. Will our skulls be Joe Bidens Monument? Here is Tucker Carlson, Americas only TV journalist, indeed one can say Americas only journalist in the non-internet media. https://www.foxnews.com/transcript/tucker-biden-unvaccinated-americans Listen to him, once, twice, three times, as long as it takes to lose your insouciance, because it is your insouciance that is destroying you. Become aware of what is happening to you. You are faced with an American President who hates and intends to destroy all Americans who think for themselves, believe in the Constitution, God, and civil liberty. The Democrat Party has declared all such Americans to be domestic terrorists and enemies of democracy, including parents who disrespect school boards by complaining about the race and gender indoctrination of their children. Not only are their bodies raped but also their minds. Prepare yourself to fight for your liberty, your family, and your country. The Democrats intend to destroy traditional Americans. To survive in woke Democrat America you need to win the war against your Democrat enemies, or to surrender to evil and endorse multiple genders and, if you are white, confess to your racism and give restitution and make your daughters available for rape to even the score. Americans are faced with total evil. That evil is Democrats and whore media. Why do real Americans tolerate their daily humiliation by evil people? This is prophecy for our time: And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. Read more at: PaulCraigRoberts.org (Natural News) As a country, we have never been through anything like this before. In the months ahead, millions upon millions of highly qualified people are going to be forced out of their jobs because of federal, state and local mandates that will soon be implemented. If you think that this is a good idea, you are crazy. How will you feel if there is a fire in your neighborhood and your home burns down because there werent enough firefighters? Or how about if you have a heart attack but you have to wait three hours for an ambulance because there arent enough first responders? Those are just two examples of the nightmares that communities all over America will soon be facing as we witness widespread institutional breakdowns on a massive scale. Many had been hoping that politicians would start backing down once they realized the implications of what they were doing, but that hasnt happened. So in the middle of the most epic worker shortage in U.S. history we are about to see millions upon millions of dedicated American workers be ruthlessly terminated. What our politicians are doing is morally wrong, and it is going to be absolutely disastrous. (Article by Michael Snyder republished from EndOfTheAmericanDream.com) Just consider what this is going to mean for air travel. Approximately 40 percent of all TSA workers have not been vaccinated, and some genius decided that it would be perfect to put the deadline on the Monday before Thanksgiving The Transportation Security Administration says 4-in-10 members of its workforce, including screeners, remain unvaccinated against Covid-19 as its deadline looms. The deadline for civilian federal government workers to be fully vaccinated is November 22 the Monday before Thanksgiving, one of the busiest travel times of the year. Can you imagine the lines that we are going to see at TSA checkpoints around the country? If you have stood in those lines, then you know how mind-numbing they can be. Of course one thing that could keep the size of those lines down is the fact that there will soon be a lot fewer flights because there will soon be a lot fewer pilots. We all saw what happened when a huge number of Southwest Airlines pilots decided to call in sick for a couple of days. It was madness, and it made headlines all over the country. Well, imagine what would happen if such conditions lasted for months. The co-founder of U.S. Freedom Flyers is using the term catastrophic to describe what our system of air travel is potentially facing On Monday night, an American Airlines pilot who recently co-founded a group of employees in the transportation industry affected by the mandate called U.S. Freedom Flyers told Fox News host Tucker Carlson the mandates impact on the airline industry will be far-reaching. If theres a disruption in one part of the system, it has a catastrophic effect on the rest of the system, Joshua Yoder said. Its going to affect commerce, its going to affect trade, and, ultimately, its going to affect the economy. Our healthcare system will be deeply affected by these mandates as well. Needless to say, hospitals around the country will not be able to serve as many patients as various mandates are implemented, and considering the fact that we are in the middle of a pandemic that is very troubling news. For example, hundreds of hospital beds in Massachusetts are already sitting completely empty simply because of a lack of staff Hospitals across the US are having to limit the number of patients they admit because there arent enough staff to treat them. At the TaraVista Behavioral Health Center in central Massachusetts, nearly a quarter of its 116 beds are empty, CEO Michael Krupa told Bloomberg. He said that across the state, there were hundreds of empty beds, and the reason is exclusively staff. In the months ahead, hospitals wont be able to pull people off the streets and hire them to be doctors and nurses. It takes years of intense training to become a doctor or a nurse, and so those that are being fired will not be easily replaced. Police departments all across America are dealing with similar issues. The situation in Chicago is particularly ugly, and it made headlines all over the nation this week. According to a top police union official, the city will have a police force at 50% or less for this weekend coming up as a new vaccine mandate goes into effect If we suspect the numbers are true and we get a large number of our members who stand firm on their beliefs that this is an overreach, and theyre not going to supply the information in the portal or submit to testing, then its safe to say the city of Chicago will have a police force at 50% or less for this weekend coming up, Catanzara said. That is not because of the FOP, that is 100% because of the mayors unwillingness to budge from her hard line so whatever happens because of the manpower issue, that falls at the mayors doorstep. Catanzara said the FOP would be seeking a temporary restraining order against the city that would stop them from enforcing the mandate, and said the union planned to file an unfair labor practice charge against the city over their failure to bargain with the union over this issue. We all know that the violence in Chicago is already wildly out of control. So what is going to happen when the number of police officers is suddenly cut in half? What Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot is doing is utter insanity, but she refuses to back down. The U.S. military is headed for a day of reckoning as well. At this point, hundreds of thousands of U.S. troops are not fully vaccinated Hundreds of thousands of U.S. service members remain unvaccinated or only partially vaccinated against the coronavirus as the Pentagons first compliance deadlines near, with lopsided rates across the individual services and a spike in deaths among military reservists illustrating how political division over the shots has seeped into a nonpartisan force with unambiguous orders. Overall, the militarys vaccination rate has climbed since August, when Defense Department leaders, acting on a directive from President Biden, informed the nations 2.1 million troops that immunization would become mandatory, exemptions would be rare and those who refuse would be punished. Yet troops response has been scattershot, according to data assessed by The Washington Post. If hundreds of thousands of highly qualified individuals are suddenly kicked out of the military, what is that going to do to the militarys ability to defend us? We better hope that no new military conflicts erupt any time soon. I could go through countless more example, but I think that you get the point by now. There are going to be mind-boggling breakdowns throughout our society as we witness a mass exodus of workers from major institutions. Do the politicians that are behind these mandates actually believe that this is a good idea? The months ahead are going to be such a dark time for our nation, and the path that we are currently on doesnt lead anywhere good. Personally, my heart breaks for the millions of Americans that are being forced to choose between feeding their families or taking the injections. Many are being forced to give up careers that they have spent their entire adult lives developing. The politicians that are responsible for these mandates are beyond evil, and history will not treat them kindly. Read more at: EndOfTheAmericanDream.com There has recently been a recurrence of sandstorms in North China after more than a decade without this event. The sandstorms impacted a region of nearly 3.8 million square kilometers between March 14-17. The concentration of PM10 in Beijing topped 7000 g/m3 and the visibility was just a few hundred meters, threatening human health, ecological civilization and transportation. Super Sandstorm A team led by Prof. Huijun Wang - Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology - discovered that in the dust source area (around Mongolia), the surface air temperature (SAT) and underground soil temperatures were consistently lower (lowest since 1979). This decrease in temperature was observed during early winter, but consistently higher (highest since 1979) during late winter. The colder temperatures resulted in deeper permafrost. It was followed by intense warming which prompted thawing and loosening of land surface. Winter precipitation, on the other hand, was the second lowest in the last decade. Furthermore, the level of surface vegetation covering has dropped to its lowest level since 1979. When high winds blow, dust particles rise with the wind, causing a dust or sandstorm. Prof. Zhicong Yin (first author) emphasized the importance of identifying prior climate drivers from observations and CMIP6 simulations that provided effective prediction information. Also Read: Massive Dust Storm in Brazil Turned Day Into Night, Swallowing Cities in Clouds of Dust La Nina Event Reduced Barents and Kara sea ice in November and December would raise the local geopotential height and Ural blocking high. It would allow abnormal northerlies to deliver cold air mass to Mongolia in early winter. The positive irregularities in sea ice in January and February, on the other hand, caused a cold air mass to be restricted over the West Siberian Plain. The cold air reaches the East European Plain, resulting in a warmer land surface in Mongolia. The other two external driving variables were discovered to be the La Nia event (cooler east tropical Pacific) and positive sea surface temperature irregularities in the northwest Atlantic. The East Asian winter flood would intensify after the La Nina event, and the water vapor flow would readily diverge over Mongolia, bringing about lower precipitation. Similarly, a warmer Northwest Pacific caused an upper Rossby wave-like train. This weakened the Asian polar vortex while strengthening the Ural High, resulting in less winter precipitation in Mongolia. Mongolian Cyclone In conclusion, the reversal of sea ice irregularities, the La Nia event, and the warmer Northwest Atlantic all contributed to Mongolia's loose and dry surface(i.e...enough dust source). Furthermore, on 14-15 March 2021, the strongest Mongolian cyclone in the last decade formed and developed as well. The surface winds (25 m s-1) were drastically increased by the descending movements. It is accompanied by downward passage of westerly momentum. It shook and blew the dry and loose ground surface. The sand particles were then carried into the troposphere by the rising movements in advance of the storm. Cold advection delivered enormous volumes of dust particles to North China as the Mongolian cyclone moved and developed. The tropospheric westerly momentums were transmitted downward to the surface at 09:00 on March 15, resulting in significant gusts (15 m s-1), prompting a severe sandstorm in North China. Related Article: At Least 6 Dead as Brazil Suffers From Powerful Sandstorms Due to Severe Drought For more news, updates about sandstorms and similar topics don't forget to follow Nature World News! As a violent storm raged through sections of California and the Pacific Northwest Sunday night, evacuations were ordered, highways were closed, and hundreds of thousands of people were without power. The weather presented the prospect of landslides and flooding, both of which might be fatal. The risk is incredibly high on wildfire-ravaged terrain, subject to floods and a particularly catastrophic and fast-moving form of landslide known as "debris flows." Declaring Watches and Advisories Flooding and debris flow watches and advisories were issued ahead of the storm for regions such as the Dixie and Alisal burn scars. The weather is providing respite from a severe drought and reducing the threat of wildfires this autumn. However, how the region's wet season will play out remains to be seen. Here's a look at what happened on Sunday during the day and evening. According to poweroutage.us, about 400,000 power outages were recorded across three states. In addition, over 179,000 people were in Washington, many of them being displaced by severe winds in King County, near Seattle. In California, around 175,000 homes and businesses were without power. Northern coastal counties such as Sonoma, Marin, and San Mateo saw the most outages. Others were centered in the counties of Butte and Nevada. Related Article: Incoming Storm Trio Labeled the 'Cyclone Bomb' May Help Combat Wildfires in the West Forcing Residents to Flee Flooding forced residents in one Santa Rosa neighborhood to flee. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, firefighters went door to door in water rescue gear and evacuated an apartment complex. San Rafael police sent a notice to residents on Sunday afternoon, warning of severe flooding in the city's downtown area. The notice stated that "several highways are under 2 feet of water and are inaccessible or otherwise blocked." "Another high tide is expected to exacerbate the flooding, in addition to the rainfall levels from the 'atmospheric river.'" The city is located north of San Francisco on the bay. Burn Scarred Areas Under Watch Residents in the Fresno County part of the Creek Fire burn scar were also advised to leave. their residences According to the county sheriff's department, the impacted region includes Big Creek Canyon from below Big Creek to the San Joaquin River. In the year 2020, the Creek Fire raged in Fresno and Madera Counties. Landslides Several landslides occurred, one of which closed Highway 70 near Tobin in Plumas County, where the Dixie Fire had left vast swathes of burn scars. The National Weather Service in Reno tweeted, "Numerous mud, rock, and debris flows have been recorded." "This event is only getting started! Today, keep cautious and safe!" Downed Power Lines Throughout the city, there were multiple cases of downed power lines and trees obstructing highways. San Mateo County firefighters responded to scores of storm-related calls, including downed trees and electrical lines, south of San Francisco. Some people in the Alisal Fire burn scar region, including locations west of Las Flores Canyon, east of Mariposa Reina, south of West Camino Cielo, and down to the seashore, have been told to evacuate. On Saturday, a warning was issued, which was later increased. This month, the Alisal Fire broke out in Santa Barbara County, consuming more than 26 square miles. What Happened? Debris flows were already happening Sunday morning, according to the National Weather Service in Sacramento. The government issued an alert warning resident that time may have run out for some to depart. "It may be too late to leave if you are near a burn scar," the agency stated in a tweet. "Crossing a debris flow is not a good idea. Instead, take refuge on the top level of your house." Rushing water and muck, as well as strange sounds like cracking, breaking, roaring, or the sound of a freight train, are all warning indicators of an imminent debris flow. The rain results from a powerful storm that came into California on Sunday, tapping into a strong atmospheric river. This newest storm to strike the West Coast is dumping soaking rain from Northern California to the Pacific Northwest. In certain regions, heavy snowfall is also likely. Debris Flows Wildfire-ravaged terrain is especially prone to "debris flows," a particularly deadly and fast-moving form of landslide. Short, intense rainstorms can cause mudslides, sending a wall of water, earth, ash, plants, boulders, and other debris careening downward, wiping away or burying everything in its path. In an interview with weather.com, Jason Kean, a debris flow expert with the US Geological Survey, said, "A debris flow is a kind of like a flood on steroids." "It's all piled high with rocks, dirt, and boulders - some of which are the size of vehicles." Wildfires disrupt the nature of the soil itself, in addition to eliminating plants that would ordinarily hold soil and debris in place. As a result, it becomes less prone to absorb water, allowing flash floods and debris flows. Also Read: La Nina Winter: Atmospheric Extremes May Last the Entire Season For more news about making the environment sustainable, don't forget to follow Nature World News! An outbreak of Salmonella tied to whole red, white and yellow onions has sickened more than 650 people in 37 states. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stated that the Salmonella epidemic linked to entire red, white, and yellow vegetables has affected over 650 individuals in 37 jurisdictions. According to an announcement from the department, the onions were purchased from Chihuahua, Mexico, and marketed by ProSource Inc. Specific details regarding the contaminated onions say that it may contain a stamp or package with the company's name which is the ProSource Inc. and place of origin information, Mexico. Due to the incident the CDC advised individuals and home owners to throw any entire red, white, or yellow onions they had at residence if they did not have a tag or labeling specifying its origin. ProSource Onions Linked to Salmonella Outbreak In the report made by the health officials there are a total of 652 instances have been linked to the plague. While there were 129 hospitalizations among these patients, but no fatalities have been documented. Authorities believe the quantity of persons afflicted in the epidemic is substantially greater, in particular since many individuals who become infected might recuperate whilst being diagnosed for Salmonella. The CDC originally launched its inquiry into the Salmonella epidemic on the 17th of September, however the origins was not yet established. Investigators have now identified onions as the culprit of about 75% of vulnerable patients interviewed mentioned regularly eating onions or foods including raw onions before being unwell, according to the claim. According to the CDC, assessments for salmonella inquiries might actually occur weeks after a patient falls ill, but not everyone remembers all of the items they ate before becoming sick, which might also indicate why 25% of patients did not recall consuming onions. Furthermore, individuals are often not conscious of all the substances in the meals they consume. While other persons who've become infected mentioned dining at same establishments. Most of these eateries, it found out, were provided by ProSource. The exact variant of Salmonella causing illness, Salmonella Oranienburg, was also found in a spice container with remaining cilantro and lime taken from a symptomatic patient's residence. As per the CDC, the commenter noted that the packaging also had onions, but no onions remained. Also read: Nuclear Bomb Detectors Gave Way to Discovery of New Blue Whale Specie CDC Tries to Stop Salmonella Outbreak The onions in question have been issued a recall by ProSource. According to the firm, the latest batch of onions it got from Mexico was delivered on the 27th of August in year 2021. According to the warning, since these onions may stay for about three months, they may still be in households and small enterprises. Salmonella contamination indications comprise diarrhea, fever, and stomachaches, which appear six hours to six days after consuming infected meal. The report also says that majority of individuals who become ill with Salmonella recuperate in four to seven days with no special therapy. Salmonella is more likely to cause serious disease in children, the elderly, and persons with impaired immunity. Moreover, the CDC believes that serious sickness indicators include a temperature of more than 102 degrees Fahrenheit or about 38.8 degrees Celsius, bloody diarrhea, heavy nausea, and exhaustion. Experts are still looking into if more onions or sources are involved in the epidemic. Also read: Majestic Horses' Powerful Ancestors Revealed Through Genetic Tracing Locals inhabiting close to the Florida reserve where Brian Laundrie's remains were discovered revealed that a lot of alligators and "evil" wild pigs are all over the area and these animals wouldn't have remained any flesh for those investigating the case to identify. Alligators and Wild Pigs in Carlton Reserve A number of locals have revealed to media outlets that hungry wetland animals are all over the 25,000-acre Carlton reserve which would have consumed any flesh that is there. A man living about a mile from the reserve whose name is John Widmann, told the New York Post, "I walk there all the time and there won't be much of the remains left." "There's alligators, but the worst thing are the wild pigs. They're evil animals and will eat anything. Any flesh out in the open will not be wasted," Mr. Widmann said. "There won't be much for the coroner to work on. Nature doesn't waste anything, " he added. Authorities hunting for Gabby Petito's fiance, Brian Laundrie, discovered partial remains that were later confirmed to be his following an examination of dental records. The remain was discovered in Florida's Carlton Reserve on Wednesday. This was after more than a month of hunting for Laundrie, who was labeled a person of interest in Petito's disappearance before her corpse was discovered in Wyoming. The remains were positively identified on Thursday, according to the FBI field office in Denver. Also Read: Wild Pigs Contribute As Much CO2 Emissions Than 1.1 Million Cars The Unfortunate Incident Gabby and her fiance were driving across the country in their van, recording their adventure on social media, until Laundrie returned to his parents' North Port house without her on September 1, according to officials. During the search for Petito, 22, police in Moab City, Utah, revealed body camera footage of an upset and agitated Petito following an alleged fight with Laundrie. Petito's corpse was recovered on September 19 in Wyoming's Bridger-Teton National Forest in the Spread Creek Dispersed Camping Area. Petito had been dead for at least three weeks as the doctors declared her death a murder by "manual strangulation." Laundrie has been missing since mid-September, when his parents reported him missing after he went hiking in the Carlton Reserve and never returned. The 25,000-acre wildlife reserve was shut down for lengthy searches and only reopened on Tuesday. Authorities filed an arrest warrant for Laundrie after claiming he used Petito's debit card without permission. He was a person of interest in the investigation, although he was never prosecuted for Petito's killing. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and other law enforcement authorities had been looking for Laundrie for over a month, since he was a person of interest in the killing of his girlfriend. Days after returning from a vacation without Petito, Laundrie allegedly went trekking at the Florida preserve. He then vanished, prompting law enforcement officials to initiate a manhunt for him. Laundrie's Remains Identified On Thursday, the FBI verified that the remains discovered were those of Laundrie. The police had previously stated that the human remains discovered in the reserve were "skeletal." The remains, along with many other items unearthed, were submerged and were discovered after the water had retreated, according to law enforcement officials. The items were located along a bridge between the Carlton Reserve and the Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park, and included a backpack and a notepad. However, it's unclear whether the items disclosed any further information that may aid Petito's case investigators. Two young people have now died. There are some parents who are going through a difficult time. Now whatever happened, or did not happen, is awful for two families. And anybody with a child, or a sense of humanity, can appreciate the frustration that both families experience at that time...according to the attorney in charge of the case. Related Article: Footage of Monstrous Alligator Swallowing Another Gator in Whole Goes Viral For more news, updates about alligators, wild pigs and similar topics don't forget to follow Nature World News! Open RAN is a push for industry standards in the design of gear thats used in the radio-access segment of telecom cellular networks and is particularly relevant to the buildout of 5G infrastructure. Radio-access networks (RAN) serve to connect the base stations that transmit and receive traffic to from endpoints like cell phones and laptops and provide the link toward the carrier core network. Without standards, wireless equipment vendors designing their RAN gear dont have to consider whether it interoperates with gear made by other vendors. As a result, in order to have a network that operates smoothly, telecom companies, and increasingly enterprises, are stuck dealing with one company and one company only when they want to deploy a licensed wireless network. This vendor lock-in tends to keep prices high because it limits competition among the equipment vendors for the individual RAN elements. It also limits flexibility in network design. What is Open RAN? Open RAN is a collaboration of equipment makers and telecoms in various working groups to solve this interoperability problem by creating standards. As long as equipment meets open RAN standards it should be compatible with gear made by any other vendor whose gear also meets the standards. Without having to rely on one vendor for all the equipment, carriers and enterprises have more opportunity to shop around for the best deal on each piece. Open RAN standards would also be available to software developers that could readily write innovative features and services to respond quickly to users needs. Virtualized network elements The Open RAN architecture virtualizes parts of the cellular network that are traditionally handled by specialized hardware and software. Time-sensitive functions like QoS management, handover control, and load balancing are handled by the RAN Intelligent Controller near-real time layer (RIC near-RT), while policy management and analytics take place in the RIC non-real time layer. Similarly virtualized functionality for radio frequency and baseband processing are provided by the distributed unit (DU) and remote radio unit (RRU) layers. These features are designed to provide the core functionality required for all cellular networks, while offering the opportunity to mix-and-match the actual hardware being used as long as the equipment is O-RAN compliant, it can interoperate with other O-RAN compliant devices. Whos working on Open RAN? The O-RAN Alliance is the biggest group working on Open RAN and is supported by all of the major equipment vendors, so might claim to be the de facto standard. It has published RIC, DU, and RRU specifications. The alliance has had to navigate political troubles. Nokia temporarily suspended technical work and funding for the group in the fall of 2021 amid concerns that the company could be sanctioned for working with Chinese firms on the U.S. governments banned list. O-RAN rules changes ensured that the China-firms participation complied with U.S. law, but as long as sanctions remain in place, the possibility of further trouble cant be ruled out. The Telecom Infra Project has, with its TIP OpenRAN standard, has also finalized some specification requirements, and the Small Cell Foundation has published some specs. All the initiatives have roughly the same goals in mind. How is Open RAN important to 5G? Telecom companies have been bewailing high infrastructure costs for a long time, and the issue got a lot more serious with the rush to deploy 5G equipment, much of which has a shorter range than previous-generation mobile networks. As a result, 5G networks requires many more base stations in order to provide general coverage. Thats not going to be cheap, so the big telcos are eager to support any initiative that could lower their capex. Open RAN and private 5G Open RAN is a boon to enterprises interested in private 5G and LTE. One of the main stumbling blocks to wider adoption of private, licensed wireless networks is cost, and open RAN could change the equation enough to let more organizations consider such networks. Estimates of the market size for private 5G/LTE generally concur that the sector is set for a sharp upturn over the next five years. A recent estimate from Juniper Research said that annual spending on private cellular networks will more than double to nearly $12 billion over the next two years, and the advent of open RAN could be a big part of that. Champaign, IL (61820) Today Cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy in the afternoon. High 52F. Winds SSW at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight Cloudy skies with periods of rain after midnight. Low 37F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been linked to coagulation disturbances, garnering interest in using antithrombotic therapy to treat COVID-19 infection. However, the specific type of thromboembolic risk in COVID-19 patients remains poorly understood. New research published in the medRxiv* preprint server suggests that COVID-19 illness incurs a greater 90-day risk of venous thrombosis than the flu. However, arterial thrombosis remains a higher risk among people with the influenza virus. The results may help with understanding the role of thromboprophylaxis when managing COVID-19 infection. Together, these findings address key knowledge gaps regarding the independent thromboembolic risks of COVID-19 compared with influenza and may guide future work to clarify the role of thromboprophylaxis in COVID-19 management, wrote the research team. Patient information From January 1, 2015, to October 31, 2020, the researchers collected insurance claims data who had either the flu or a COVID-19 infection. The study period was chosen to minimize the chances of a person with influenza having an undiagnosed COVID-19 illness. About 417,975 COVID-19 patients were included in the study because they tested positive for COVID-19 illness after April 1, 2020. The median age was 57, and 61% of patients were women. People in the influenza group were included in the study if they tested positive between October 1, 2018, to April 30, 2019. A total of 345,934 patients were enrolled. The median age was 47, and 66% of patients were women. Between both groups, patients in the COVID-19 cohort were more likely to be male, required hospitalization for infection, and have chronic comorbidities. Also noted were any comorbidities associated with cardiovascular disease and medications including anticoagulants, antiplatelets, and statins. In the COVID-19 group, 54% had heart disease, and 3.4% had venous thromboembolism. In the influenza group, 41% had heart disease, and 1.9% had venous thromboembolism. Cumulative event rate curves for primary outcomes. Stratified propensity weighted-cumulative event rate curves in the COVID-19 and influenza populations. After weighting, cohorts were balanced across 49 covariates including demographics, medication use, and clinical comorbidities associated with arterial and venous thromboembolism. Arterial thromboembolism risk is higher in COVID-19 patients with a history of heart disease A significantly increased risk of venous thromboembolism was observed in COVID-19 patients. However, there was not a higher risk for arterial thromboembolic events. Although, having a history of heart disease was associated with a higher arterial thromboembolic risk in the COVID-19 groups. A history of venous thromboembolic risk increases the risk for venous thromboembolism in COVID-19 patients. Having either acute deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism influences the risk of venous thromboembolism. These findings support close monitoring for venous events after a diagnosis of COVID-19, as well as the use of strategies to mitigate venous risk, including nonpharmacological and pharmacologic prophylaxis, wrote the researchers. There was no difference in risk of ischemic stroke and myocardial infarction between both groups. Study limitations Several limitations should be taken into consideration when interpreting the results. Race and ethnicity data were unavailable, making it difficult to generalize the findings to a diverse patient population. Additionally, the study may not reflect populations across the United States. Confounds not controlled for in the study may have also affected baseline characteristics between both groups. For example, information on a patients death was unavailable. However, the researchers did follow-up on the last day of a recorded claim or the last day of insurance enrollment to reduce the chances of missing a death event. The researchers note the results should encourage future research to further understand the causes behind arterial and venous thromboembolic risks in COVID-19 infection and how thromboprophylaxis may affect COVID-19 treatment regimens. *Important Notice medRxiv publishes preliminary scientific reports that are not peer-reviewed and, therefore, should not be regarded as conclusive, guide clinical practice/health-related behavior, or treated as established information. Cherwell Laboratories, manufacturer of Redipor prepared culture media, announces that it has added ANT Medikal, in Turkey, to its international distribution network for the Redipor range, as part of the companys continued strategic focus on building its overseas markets. Cherwell continues to grow its international distribution network for its Redipor microbiological culture media range by appointing ANT Medikal in Turkey. Image Credit: Cherwell Laboratories ANT Medikal is a specialist distributor of laboratory equipment throughout Turkey. Operating out of Istanbul, it supplies medical and pharmaceutical testing equipment, and now Redipor prepared media. Mirroring Cherwells customer and quality focused approach, ANT Medikal and its team of professionals, strive to ensure that the service and products that they supply to laboratories are of the highest quality. We are very proud to have ANT Medikal joining our distributor partnership and working with them to become one of the most effective and largest diagnostic companies in Turkey. ANT Medikal has a proven track record within the environmental monitoring space in the Turkish market, making our Redipor prepared media range an ideal addition to its offerings. It is a great collaborative opportunity for both Cherwell and ANT Medikal, with some exciting new products to bring to the Turkish market. Emma Millburn, Director of Sales, Cherwell Laboratories Cherwells network of expert international distributors is built from partners who have been carefully selected to ensure they have the ability to deliver the same quality service enjoyed by UK Redipor customers. This network has been growing in recent years and already covers Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Slovenia, Denmark, Italy, Northern Ireland, Poland, Singapore, South Korea, Sweden and Taiwan. Cherwells Redipor microbiological culture media range is mainly focused on the needs for environmental monitoring (EM), sterility testing and operator and process validations in pharmaceutical and related industries. The high-quality prepared media range includes petri dishes and contact plates, plus bottled media, injection vials and DIN bottles and broth bags and ampoules. Enabling the successful outsourcing of prepared media supply, all Redipor products are subjected to a full array of QC tests, including comprehensive growth tests, with detailed QC certification supplied for every batch. Its flexible production methods and managed stock levels allow Cherwell to deliver cost-effective, in-time solutions for both large and small customers alike. A small team of specialist medics from the UK's Emergency Medical Team has arrived in Papua New Guinea on 24 October in response to an urgent appeal for international assistance. Papua New Guinea's health services are under severe pressure from the rapid spread of the Delta variant of COVID-19. The team of 10 experts will provide direct clinical care and mentorship to support local health care workers who are battling a sharp surge in cases. The team members, including 4 NHS doctors and nurses, will be deployed for up to 6 weeks and will work closely with the country's National Control Centre for COVID-19, National Department for Health, World Health Organisation and other partners. Minister for the Pacific, Lord Goldsmith said: I am pleased that the UK has been able to respond quickly to Papua New Guinea's urgent appeal for medical assistance. The deployment of a UK Emergency Medical Team brings British expertise to where it is most needed. It will help save lives and build healthcare capacity in PNG for the future and demonstrates the vital role the UK is playing in the region." Team Leader of the Emergency Medical Team, Pete Sykes said: UK-Med are proud to represent the UK Emergency Medical Team in Papua New Guinea. Our expert team will be providing critical medical care to patients suffering with COVID-19 and support to health staff, at a time when their national health service has been overwhelmed by the rapid spread of a third wave of the virus." The UK Government-funded deployment includes experts in emergency medicine, critical care and logistics and is managed by the British NGO UK Med. The team arrived in the capital Port Moresby, following a direct request for assistance from the country's National Pandemic Controller and will focus on capacity building as well as helping to tackle the current surge in cases. The UK is committed to working in the Indo-Pacific to address global challenges. This deployment builds on the millions of vaccines the UK has already donated to the region and supports our close Commonwealth partner, Papua New Guinea. It is also in addition to the UK's donation of over 400,000 for vital medical equipment for Papua New Guinea and work through COVAX to provide hundreds of thousands of COVID-19 vaccines to the country. Eligible fully vaccinated passengers arriving in England from countries not on the UK's red list can take a cheaper lateral flow test instead of a PCR from today [Sunday 24 October]. Lateral flow tests must be taken as soon as possible on the day of arrival in England or at the latest before the end of a passenger's second day and can now be purchased from the list of private providers on GOV.UK from as little as 22 - significantly cheaper than PCR tests. Lateral flow tests for international travel must be purchased from a private provider as NHS Test and Trace lateral flow tests cannot be used for international travel. Passengers who have already bought a PCR to use for travel do not need to buy another test as PCRs can still be used. Passengers must take a photo of their lateral flow test and booking reference supplied by the private provider and send it back to them to verify the result. Passengers are also able to book a test which they can take on their arrival into England at testing centers located in some airports. People using PCR tests for travel will have their test reported by the company they purchase the test from. Anyone testing positive will need to isolate and take a confirmatory PCR test, at no additional cost to the traveler, which can be genomically sequenced to help identify new variants. PCR tests can be accessed free of charge by ordering in the usual way through NHS Test and Trace - via nhs.uk/coronavirus or by calling 119. Test providers will be expected to advise people to self-isolate and direct people towards the NHS Test and Trace booking page. I'm delighted that from today eligible travelers to England, who've had the life-saving COVID-19 vaccine can benefit from a cheaper lateral flow test, providing faster results. This huge boost to the travel industry and the public will make it easier and cheaper for people to book holidays and travel abroad, and it is it is because of our incredible vaccine program that this is possible. Anyone who tests positive must take a PCR test, which, if positive, may be genomically sequenced to check for variants and further help us fight this virus." Sajid Javid, Health and Social Care Secretary Transport Secretary Grant Shapps, said: "The change in rules for post-arrival tests will give passengers more options and faster results, just in time for many half-term holidays. "It's thanks to the success of our vaccination program that we can make this switch - giving the industry and consumers a much-needed boost." Dr Jenny Harries, Chief Executive of the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), said: "Testing and self-isolating if you are positive remain crucial steps to managing the pandemic and stopping the spread of COVID-19 in the community. "It is also critical that those who have positive Lateral Flow Tests when returning to England go on to get this checked through a NHS Test & Trace PCR. This way we can continue to monitor new variants and stay on top of the virus. "Regular hand-washing, wearing face coverings in crowded spaces - including on transport - ventilating spaces and getting vaccinated are simple actions all of us can take to protect ourselves and those around us when we travel." All travelers must complete their passenger locator form prior to travel, including providing a test booking reference number supplied by a testing provider. Anyone traveling on to Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales, the Channel Island or the Isle of Man in the ten days after arrival in England, must follow the rules for testing and quarantine in those places. Passengers who are not fully vaccinated with an authorised vaccine returning from a non-red destination must still take a pre-departure test (antigen / PCR), a PCR test on day 2 and day 8 test and complete 10 days self-isolation (with the option of doing Test to Release on day 5). The vaccine program is building a wall of defense across the country and the booster vaccine rollout is now well underway with more than 4 million people vaccinated. It is vital that eligible people get their booster jab and their flu jab to protect themselves, their loved ones and the NHS this winter. Survivors of childhood cancer have increased risks of experiencing various challenges, such as emotional distress, impaired quality of life, and financial burdens. A new study indicates that many long-term survivors of childhood cancer may also face an elevated risk of suicide, although their absolute risk is still low. The findings are published by Wiley early online in CANCER, a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society. The relatively limited data on suicide in survivors of childhood cancer have been inconsistent, though they have generally suggested that suicide rates in these individuals are low. When Justin Barnes, MD, MS, of Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, and his colleagues examined a large population-based database to evaluate suicide rates among individuals who had childhood cancer in the United States from 19752016, they too found that the risk of suicide was low. The team identified 49,836 childhood cancer survivors and 79 suicides, and there was approximately 1 suicide per 10,000 people per year. This rate was similar to the rate seen in the general U.S. population. However, adult survivors of childhood cancer over 28 years of age had a higher risk of suicide than individuals at the same age from the general population, with 2 suicides per 10,000 people per year. Our findings raise crucial questions about what can be done to prevent suicide in vulnerable long-term adult survivors of childhood cancer. Such strategies may include improving efforts to screen for distress and better employing survivorship care with a multidisciplinary team." Dr. Justin Barnes, MD, MS, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine Dr. Barnes noted that additional research is needed to study the underlying reasons and risk factors for suicides in these individuals. "These might include a history of depression, psychiatric comorbidities, persistent pain, socioeconomic stressors, and cancer treatment specifics, all of which we were unable to evaluate in our study," he said. "A better understanding may be helpful in tailoring interventions to cancer survivors at greatest risk." The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MADPH), on the 10th of July 2021, received reports of a surge in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases among residents of Provincetown, MA, or people who had recently visited the town. Provincetown is a tourist town on Cape Cod that attracted thousands of visitors. Many visitors reported attending multiple large public and indoor gatherings. The visits started with the 4th of July weekend and continued through the following week. Subsequently, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections in the area rose rapidly. As of the 1st of July, the vaccination rate in Barnstable County (where Provincetown is located) was 68%. 74% of the total number of reported cases were fully vaccinated individuals, and 79% were symptomatic. This outbreak episode was the first large one in a highly vaccinated population in the US. This led to a thorough investigation, including SARS-CoV-2 genome sequencing. Now, a new study, posted to the medRxiv* preprint server, describes the genomic epidemiology of this outbreak. It provides a deeper understanding of viral transmission from and between fully vaccinated individuals. A New Study Samples were collected between July 9th and August 2nd, and, SARS-CoV-2 genomes were sequenced. Scientists produced high-quality SARS-CoV-2 genomes from 467 unique individuals, including 439 samples that were associated with the outbreak. 80% of the samples sequenced came from males, the median age was 43, and 84% came from vaccinated individuals. Main Findings The SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant drove the Provincetown outbreak with 99% of the samples sequenced as Delta. 84% were from the lineage AY.25, which is rarely observed outside North America but quite common in the USA. Researchers analyzed diagnostic Ct values, which are an approximation of the viral load. The viral loads were similar between vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals and between symptomatic and asymptomatic individuals. There were, however, fewer asymptomatic cases because testing was focused on symptomatic cases. The Delta genomes in this dataset did not have novel variants of the spike protein, nor did they have a higher frequency of amino acid changes. The average time since completion of the vaccination course was 111 days. Scientists observed that the viral loans decreased slightly as more time passed post-vaccination. However, this declining trend was not statistically significant in this dataset. Further, albeit insignificantly, the viral load decreased marginally with increasing age in vaccinated individuals. In the study cohort, on average, unvaccinated individuals were younger than vaccinated individuals. Epidemiology of the Provincetown outbreak and dataset overview. A. Flow diagram describing the main events of the Provincetown outbreak and relevant sample sets presented here. B. SARS-CoV-2 genomes by collection date. Where multiple samples were collected from the same patient, the earliest collection date is used. C. Distribution of all cases in Barnstable county over the time period of the study and estimate of Rt over the course of the outbreak. D. Ct values of the N1 gene for the 313 individuals known to be fully vaccinated by one of Janssen, Moderna, or Pfizer; includes linear regression with 95% confidence interval. Scientists inferred that the Delta variant was introduced into the population from many sources based on a phylogenetic tree analysis. The earliest reported genomes within the cluster were from other states. This led researchers to believe that this lineage emerged outside MA and was introduced into the state just prior to amplification by the outbreak. They also observed a pattern, which indicated rapid spread from a single individual and - a signature of superspreading. However, public health investigation did not find any evidence of a single site shared among many cases. The specific transmission pattern could not be resolved, but the shape of the phylogeny suggested that a few individuals were responsible for most transmission events. Next, scientists investigated if the cases from the outbreak contributed to the subsequent increase in cases in MA and across the country. Half of the outbreak-associated individuals were MA residents, while the other half visited from 20 other US states. It was observed that the signature of the dominant cluster accounted for a small fraction of Delta infections sequenced in MA over the following weeks. Identification of putative transmission events from vaccinated individuals. A. High-confidence transmission links from contact tracing investigation. B. Predicted transmission links based on genomic sequence, intrahost variants, and symptom onset date. C. Genomics-predicted transmission links corroborated by further epidemiological follow-up. Putative contacts are grouped into possible links (grey lines) and known links (black lines) to denote plausible vs. confirmed contacts between transmission pairs. A confirmed transmission pair that is part of a larger cluster of putative links, described in the text, is marked with an asterisk. Further research showed that the smaller outbreak clusters had negligible impact on onward spread within Massachusetts and elsewhere within the USA. Despite epidemiological complexities, the data provided strong support for 21 transmissions from vaccinated individuals. Scientists concluded that transmission from vaccine breakthrough infections to both vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals was common. Conclusion The Provincetown outbreak had over a thousand cases, and it demonstrated that the Delta variant is capable of causing a large outbreak even in a mostly vaccinated population. It was, however, observed that this outbreak did not contribute significantly to the increase in cases in Massachusetts. It must be noted that the outbreak was short-lived owing to the swift public health response. The outbreak's impact could also be mitigated by the active engagement of the affected community in the epidemiological response. The limited effect of this episode suggested that although high vaccination rates cannot guarantee the prevention of Delta-driven outbreaks, swift and well-informed public health measures can indeed control them. *Important Notice medRxiv publishes preliminary scientific reports that are not peer-reviewed and, therefore, should not be regarded as conclusive, guide clinical practice/health-related behavior, or treated as established information. COVID-19 vaccine recipients had lower non-COVID-19 death rates than people who weren't vaccinated, according to Kaiser Permanente research published [publication date] in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Despite numerous studies showing the safety of COVID-19 vaccines, some people have remained hesitant to get vaccinated. This study provides reassurance that the vaccines are very safe, and, in fact, people who received COVID-19 vaccines in the United States had a lower death rate than those who didn't, even if you don't count COVID deaths." Stanley Xu, PhD, Study Lead Author and Southern California Department of Research & Evaluation, Kaiser Permanente To determine mortality risk associated with COVID-19 vaccination, researchers evaluated the electronic health records of 6.4 million COVID-19 vaccine recipients compared to 4.6 million unvaccinated people with similar demographics and geographic locations from December 14, 2020, through July 31, 2021. The study looked at only non-COVID-19-related deaths to avoid masking any safety concerns regarding COVID-19 vaccine-related death with the protective effects of COVID-19 vaccine. The study population included members of 7 Vaccine Safety Datalink sites: Kaiser Permanente Southern California, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Kaiser Permanente Colorado, Kaiser Permanente Northwest, Kaiser Permanente Washington, HealthPartners in Minnesota, and Marshfield Clinic in Wisconsin. The Pfizer and Moderna mRNA vaccines require 2 doses for full vaccination, while the Johnson & Johnson adenoviral vector vaccine requires only one dose. The 1-dose and 2-dose vaccines had different comparison groups due to differences in when the vaccines were available and potential differences in the demographics of people who chose the 1- or 2-dose vaccines. All analyses were adjusted for age, sex, race, ethnicity, and Vaccine Safety Datalink site. Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine recipients had a mortality rate of 4.2 deaths per 1,000 vaccinated people per year after first dose, and 3.5 deaths after second dose. The unvaccinated comparison group had a mortality rate of 11.1 deaths per 1,000 people per year. Moderna COVID-19 vaccine recipients had 3.7 deaths per 1,000 people per year after the first dose, and 3.4 deaths after the second dose. The unvaccinated comparison group had a mortality rate of 11.1 deaths per 1,000 people per year. Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine recipients had 8.4 deaths per 1,000 people per year. The unvaccinated comparison group had a mortality rate of 14.7 deaths per 1,000 people per year. A novel telemedicine lung cancer screening effort during the COVID-19 pandemic shows that virtual single-visit screenings are just as effective as single-visit screenings done in person at the hospital, according to a study presented at the American College of Surgeons (ACS) Virtual Clinical Congress 2021. The study of virtual lung cancer screenings (LCS) was performed at Temple University Hospital, Philadelphia, which has a large African American patient population. African Americans face disparities in care, especially for lung cancer. They are less likely to be screened and treated for lung cancer and more likely to die from it, compared with the general population, explained Jessica S. Magarinos, MD, a general surgery resident at Temple University Hospital and first author of the study. Although the authors hypothesized that LCS disparities would be exacerbated during COVID-19, this was not the case, she said. Our study shows that telemedicine screenings were able to reach the African American population in a safety net hospital." Dr. Jessica S. Magarinos, MD, general surgery resident, Temple University Hospital More people need to be screened for lung cancer More people die of lung cancer every year than from any other type of cancer. Although lung cancer can be successfully treated if caught early enough, only about 3-to-6 percent of the population eligible for LCS get screened, said Cherie P. Erkmen, MD, FACS, a thoracic surgeon at Temple University Hospital and the principal investigator for the retrospective study. "Overall, we do a sorrowful job of getting people to undergo lung cancer screening," Dr. Erkmen said. "We can reduce preventable lung cancer death by finding novel ways of getting people screened." With the advent of COVID-19 pandemic, many patients-;acting on advice from such scientific advisory groups such as the American College of Chest Physicians (CHEST)-;decided to defer getting screened for lung cancer. The authors at Temple University in Philadelphia decided to quickly pivot to offer telemedicine lung cancer screenings, which mitigates the risk of exposure to the COVID-19 virus. Earlier this year, the ACS was one of the major health care organizations that issued a call for patients to not miss cancer screenings due to COVID-19. Study details The researchers compared 673 patients who received single-visit lung cancer screening (LCS) patients before the COVID-19 pandemic with 440 patients who received Single Encounter Telemedicine Lung Cancer Screening (SET-LCS) since March of 2020, when the pandemic began to prompt shutdowns across the U.S. For the LCS population, the authors retrospectively analyzed prospectively collected data from February 2021 and earlier; for both groups, they looked at race, smoking history, educational status, Lung-RADS*, cancer diagnosis and stage, and adherence to follow-up using the Chi-square test and Fisher's exact test. Study findings The distribution of patient race before and after COVID-19 was not significantly different; in each case, the largest group of screened patients was African American (52 percent before, 37 percent after), Dr. Magarinos said. Smoking history was significantly different; 65 percent of those undergoing screening before COVID-19 were active smokers compared with 33 percent after COVID-19. The authors concluded there was no significant difference in the distribution of Lung-RADs results (single visit vs. telemedicine): Lung-RADS1, 46.4 percent vs. 37.0 percent Lung-RADS2, 44.0 percent vs. 50.8 percent Lung-RADS3, 5.3 percent vs. 7.6 percent Lung-RADS4, 4.2 percent vs. 4.8 percent Lung-RADS0, 0.1 percent vs. 0.2 percent The authors also concluded there was no significant difference in the frequency of procedures for cancer diagnoses CT guided biopsy, 0.4 percent vs. 0.5 percent EBUS guided biopsy, 0.3 percent vs. 0.5 percent Surgery 2.5 percent vs. 1.1 percent Declined diagnostic work up, 0.3 percent vs. 0.2 percent Deceased prior to diagnostic work up, 0 percent vs. 0.2 percent These multiple findings led the researchers to conclude that telemedicine screening was just as effective as in-person screenings. Although the telemedicine approach allowed many patients to get screened for lung cancer, overall the number of people who were screened for lung cancer during the pandemic declined by 75 percent, according to the authors. Dr. Erkmen hopes continued telemedicine lung cancer screenings after the pandemic will eliminate some barriers to getting screened and will result in more people getting screened. The authors believe that telemedicine screening is applicable to other types of cancers, including breast cancer or colorectal cancer screening, said Dr. Magarinos. The Udall Center at the University of Minnesota Medical School was awarded a new $11.3 million grant from the National Institute for Neurological Disorders and Stroke to continue its work in deep brain stimulation (DBS) for Parkinson's disease. The Morris K. Udall Centers of Excellence for Parkinson's Disease Research were established by Congress in 1998 as part of a program to honor the late representative from Arizona. Now receiving this grant for the second time, this Udall Center joins a short list of five other national sites funded to study Parkinson's disease from the molecular level all the way into patient treatments. Since the last Udall Center grant in 2016, our interdisciplinary team has made great progress in identifying some of the mechanisms that underlie Parkinson's disease. But, the clock is still ticking. Over one million people in the U.S. are living with the disease, and in Minnesota, we have a high incidence rate. That number will only continue to grow as time passes." Jerrold Vitek, MD, PhD, Director, U of M Medical School's Udall Center and Neurologist, M Health Fairview Vitek leads an interdisciplinary team of U of M scientists and physicians who are studying how brain circuits in people living with Parkinson's disease differ from healthy individuals and how to improve DBS therapies for those with the disease. Since 2016, the team has published several studies, including one in Neurobiology of Disease that identified biomarkers in the brain associated with Parkinson's disease. "Despite this new evidence, there's still much more to know about this disease," Vitek said. "We know that there are biomarkers for the disease that may lead to a better understanding of the brain circuits involved and improved treatments using DBS. There are also symptoms of Parkinson's disease that are resistant to DBS, like gait and balance or freezing of gait. Part of this new grant is focusing on those symptoms that are not responsive to current medication or stimulation and finding a way where DBS will treat them." This new grant supports three research projects that hope to improve upon DBS techniques and other therapies that are tailored to each patient: Project 1 will study the underlying changes in brain circuitry that affects patients with Parkinson's disease by using cutting-edging brain imaging developed at the U of M and intraoperative techniques pioneered by Dr. Vitek. Project 2 will develop new stimulation approaches in a region of the brain called the pallidum that is important for controlling voluntary movement. Project 3 will also explore the effects of novel stimulation approaches on brain circuitry that mediates problems associated with Parkinson's disease. "Dr. Vitek's research team explores innovative ways to understand and treat Parkinson's disease. Experts from across the University - biomedical engineers, radiologists, neurologists, neuropsychologists and others - focus together on this extremely complex and debilitating brain disorder," said Jakub Tolar, MD, PhD, dean of the Medical School. "Patients depend on this research, and the National Institutes of Health have recognized and continue to support the outstanding results of Dr. Vitek's uniquely diverse team." The U of M Medical School's Udall Center is one of five centers across the country, joining Emory University, the University of Alabama at Birmingham, the University of Michigan and the University of Rochester. It boasts an interdisciplinary team of faculty from across the U of M in the Department of Neurology, Department of Neurosurgery, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and the Department of Neuroscience in the Medical School; the Department of Biomedical Engineering in the College of the Science and Engineering; and the Division of Biostatistics in the School of Public Health. (Newser) Update: Amanda Knox announced the birth of her daughter with a photo on Instagramthe only one she'll ever share on social media. "Since my exoneration, I've struggled to reclaim my identity and protect the people I love from being exploited as tabloid content. It's not easy, and I often feel like I'm trying to invent good choices out of bad whole cloth. I know that I cannot 100% protect my daughter from the kind of treatment I've suffered, but I'm doing the best I can. Which is why this will be the only picture of her I will ever share on social media," Knox writes. She shares more in a New York Times article, including the name of her baby: Eureka Muse Knox-Robinson. Our original story from Aug. 4 follows: story continues below Amanda Knox revealed on Labyrinths, the podcast she shares with husband Christopher Robinson, that shes pregnant. Knox had tweeted and podcasted last month about experiencing a miscarriage in May. The couple had already started decorating a nursery and told their parents the good news when at a six-week checkup, no fetal heartbeat could be detected, NBC News reports. In the podcast, Knox, 34, announced that she and Robinson were recording audio of every step of their fertility journey for a future series. She spoke openly about trying again. "Its not a fun thing, which it was before," she said, per People. Knox and Robinson had to grieve the loss of the first pregnancy, too. "We sat with the miscarriage for a while, trying and failing to be okay," she said. Like a lot of women who blame themselves for pregnancy loss, Knox speculated that it was her fault, or possibly due to something that had happened to her while she was in prison in Italy. Knox is best known for her ordeal of being convicted, then acquitted, of murder in Italy. She was sent to prison for four years for her roommate Meredith Kerchers death in 2007, then returned to the US in 2015. (Read more Amanda Knox stories.) (Newser) The individual who owns what is perhaps the most extensive collection of artifacts related to the Alamo is a British gent named Phil Collins. Yes, that Phil Collins. This isn't exactly a secret, as the pop star agreed to donate his collection in 2014 to Texas with the stipulation that it be housed in yet-to-be-built museum at the San Antonio landmark. The Wall Street Journal notes that ground was broken this summer at the site, but its feature focuses more on the complicated debate set off by Collins' donation about how Americans should, in fact, remember the Alamo. Things have "gotten so heated recently that Alamo tourists have had to navigate around armed protesters in order to reach its iconic church," writes Kelly Crow. story continues below The standard American tale claims that Davy Crockett and others stood their ground at the fort but were overwhelmed by the Mexican army. (This was popularized in movies, and Collins has said he became "obsessed" with Crockett and the Alamo as a boy in Britain.) Local activists, however, say the museum shouldn't focus on Crockett and instead "more deeply explore the contributions of Texans of Mexican descent, or Tejanos, as well as Native Americans and Black indentured and enslaved people," per the Journal. Another wrinkle in all this: Skepticism about many of the items in Collins' collection. Texas Monthly did a lengthy feature on this earlier this year. A key quote from that piece: "No collection is totally devoid of at least a couple of items that are questionable, at the very least, says collector Compton LaBauve. But the Collins collection contains more questionable pieces, with more than questionable provenance, by far, than any collection Im aware of. For example, Collins' collection purports to contain a shot pouch used by Crockett during the battle and a knife from Col. William Barret Travis, but a closer look at the provenance claims yield only vague and "fanciful" assertions, according to the story. The $140 million museum is scheduled to open in 2026, though a smaller exhibition hall will be open before then. (Read more Phil Collins stories.) (Newser) The results of Brian Laundrie's autopsy are inand they're inconclusive. With no manner or cause of death determined, a lawyer for Laundrie's family says a forensic anthropologist will further examine the remains. Eventually, they will be cremated, People reports. There will be no funeral, the attorney adds. Laundrie was a person of interest in the death of his fiancee, Gabby Petito, when he died; a suspect still has not been named in her murder. story continues below Laundrie's father asked reporters to "please, let me grieve with my family" as he and his wife left their Florida home Sunday for the first time since the remains were identified, the Independent reports. Fox News reports the couple was in Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park on the day Laundrie's remains were found, and that they came within a few yards of perhaps discovering their son's remains themselves. This doesn't mean the Petito investigation is over. Experts tell CNN investigators will keep examining crime scenes for evidence and clues as to Petito's last days, and that the backpack, notebook, and other personal items recovered along with Laundrie's remains could also lend insight. Phones, computers, and more could help as well. "I don't think people realize the sheer volume of information that we now get on every case," says one expert not involved with the case. "Video, phone records ... if that vehicle had any information that can be gleaned from it with a GPS." (Read more Brian Laundrie stories.) (Newser) In the latest edition of its ongoing "Facebook Files" series, the Wall Street Journal takes a look at a trove of internal message-board conversations that reveal strife at the social media company over its treatment of Breitbart and other conservative news sites. Employees regularly questioned Breitbart's inclusion on News Tab and in the Facebook Audience Network, and also called out Facebook for failing to follow its own content-moderation rules for right-wing sites. But superiors at the company frequently pushed back on their complaints, arguing Facebook would spark too much controversy if it appeared to be targeting right-wing sites. Specifics, plus more headlines related to the social network as it faces increasing scrutiny: News Tab: While Breitbart was not among the first tier of publishers, which are actually paid for their content, it is among a second tier of publishers that deliver news targeted to users' specific interests. In the wake of George Floyd's death, as Breitbart published articles painting Black Lives Matter protests in a negative light, employees pushed for it to be removed, but it was not. story continues below Facebook Audience Network: Breitbart was among the third-party publishers for whom Facebook sold ads as part of this program, and one employee argued that "allowing Breitbart to monetize through us is, in fact, a political statement." Advertisers started asking to avoid having their ads run on Breitbart after the 2016 election, but employees said ads still sometimes nonetheless appeared there. Breitbart was among the third-party publishers for whom Facebook sold ads as part of this program, and one employee argued that "allowing Breitbart to monetize through us is, in fact, a political statement." Advertisers started asking to avoid having their ads run on Breitbart after the 2016 election, but employees said ads still sometimes nonetheless appeared there. Failure to follow its own rules: Employees say that various content-moderation rules have been skirted when it comes to far-right sites, with employees hearing from supervisors that any efforts to repress the influence of such sites would invite too much political blowback. See the Journal's full story for much more. Employees say that various content-moderation rules have been skirted when it comes to far-right sites, with employees hearing from supervisors that any efforts to repress the influence of such sites would invite too much political blowback. See the Journal's full story for much more. Widespread failure: The Washington Post, meanwhile, dives into Facebook's failure to implement key safety protocols in Indiathe company's biggest marketand, as a result, hate speech and violent rhetoric have run rampant there. The Washington Post, meanwhile, dives into Facebook's failure to implement key safety protocols in Indiathe company's biggest marketand, as a result, hate speech and violent rhetoric have run rampant there. "Cross-Check": CNN takes a look at a program said to have shielded "VIP" users from content-moderation rules. CNN takes a look at a program said to have shielded "VIP" users from content-moderation rules. Carol and Karen: Two fake accounts created by a Facebook researcher show how quickly users can be sucked in to misinformation based on the interests they express on Facebook, and how easily the country is divided as a result. Much more here and here. Two fake accounts created by a Facebook researcher show how quickly users can be sucked in to misinformation based on the interests they express on Facebook, and how easily the country is divided as a result. Much more here and here. A look at "Stop the Steal": NPR delves into how the conspiracy theory group outpaced Facebook's efforts to get it off the site ahead of the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. NPR delves into how the conspiracy theory group outpaced Facebook's efforts to get it off the site ahead of the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. No more Zuck? The Facebook whistleblower tells the Guardian shareholders would boot CEO Mark Zuckerberg if they could, but Zuck himself controls the majority of the voting shares. Full interview here. The Facebook whistleblower tells the Guardian shareholders would boot CEO Mark Zuckerberg if they could, but Zuck himself controls the majority of the voting shares. Full interview here. Some (sort of) good news: Bloomberg reports that Facebook's Oversight Board is "better than no regulation." (Read more Facebook stories.) (Newser) Update: It wasn't clear early Monday whether military forces surrounding the home of the Sudanese prime minister were protecting him or going after him, but the nation's Ministry of Information and Hamdok's economic adviser now say the PM has been arrested and whisked away in what CNN labels "events that [bear] the hallmarks of an apparent coup." The ministry's statement, per Al Jazeera: "After he refused to be a part of the coup, a force from the army detained Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok and took him to an unidentified location." Hamdok's wife was also reportedly arrested. US envoy Jeffrey Feltman notes the US is "deeply alarmed" at this "utterly unacceptable" development if true, and that it puts aid from the US at risk, per Axios. Our original story from earlier Monday follows: story continues below Military forces detained at least five senior Sudanese government figures on Monday, officials said, as the country's main pro-democracy group called on people to take to the streets to counter an apparent military coup. The Sudanese Professionals' Association, a group leading demands for a transition to democracy, also said there were internet and phone signal outages across the country, the AP reports. Images from the scene also appear to show the military surrounding the Khartoum home of Sudan's Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, though CNN reports it's not clear whether he's under house arrest or being protected by the military. A possible takeover by the military would be a major setback for Sudan, which has grappled with a transition to democracy since long-time autocrat Omar al-Bashir was toppled by mass protests. Monday's arrests come after weeks of rising tensions between Sudan's civilian and military leaders. A failed coup attempt in September fractured the country along old lines, pitting more-conservative Islamists who want a military government against those who toppled al-Bashir more than two years ago in mass protests. In recent days, both camps have taken to the street in demonstrations. The US special envoy for the Horn of Africa, Jeffrey Feltman, held meetings with Sudanese military and civilian leaders Saturday and Sunday in efforts to resolve the dispute. The arrests of the five government figures were confirmed by two officials who spoke on condition of anonymity because they weren't authorized to speak to the media. The officials said the detained government members include Industry Minister Ibrahim al-Sheikh; Information Minister Hamza Baloul; Mohammed al-Fiky Suliman, member of the country's ruling transitional body, known as The Sovereign Council; Faisal Mohammed Saleh, a media adviser to the PM; and Ayman Khalid, governor of the state containing the capital, Khartoum. NetBlocks, a group which tracks disruptions across the internet, said the significant disruptions it has seen in Sudan appear "consistent with an internet shutdown." (Read more Sudan stories.) (Newser) Ron DeSantis has an offer for police officers around the country: If you don't want to get vaccinated and may have to leave your job because of it, his state has a place for you. The Florida governor appeared on Fox News on Sunday, telling host Maria Bartiromo that his team is "actively working" to attract cops from out of state who've been resisting vaccine mandates, and that he's even working on legislation that would offer a $5,000 bonus to any law enforcement officers who relocate to the Sunshine State, reports the Hill. story continues below "NYPD, Minneapolis, Seattle, if you're not being treated well, we will treat you better here," DeSantis said. "You can fill important needs for us, and we will compensate you as a result." Those needs include roles within Florida's police and sheriff's departments, he noted. DeSantis' move ahead of what he says is a looming "unconstitutional" mandate by the Biden administration that would require all US businesses with 100 or more workers to mandate vaccination or weekly testing. The Washington Post, which details some of the pushback against such mandates in law enforcement departments around the US, also notes that COVID was the No. 1 cause of death in 2020 for police officers in the line of duty, killing more than 180, with another 133 dying this year so far, per the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund. Other police-tied groups, such as the Officer Down Memorial Page and the National Fraternal Order of Police, have encouraged cops to get vaccinated, though the latter stresses that it's "vehemently opposed" to any type of mandate. DeSantis says he's balking at required vaccination for police officers because "most" of the first responders who are refusing to get vaxxed have already had COVID, and so have "strong protection" against the disease already. But per Rolling Stone, "many in the scientific community recommend vaccines for people who had a prior COVID infection," citing a peer-reviewed CDC study that found more than one-third of those who'd had COVID didn't develop any antibodies against the illness; other research has found that almost 100% of non-immunocompromised people who get the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine develop crucial antibodies after just one dose. "A vaccine in addition to natural immunity, so-called 'hybrid immunity,' appears to convey the best protection from the virus," Rolling Stone notes. (Read more Ron DeSantis stories.) (Newser) Jury selection began in a federal lawsuit against white supremacists Monday, and the trial's central issue will be whether the violence that left dozens of people injured and one person dead at a 2017 rally was spontaneous or had been planned for months. The case will be heard in Charlottesville, Virginia, where the Unite the Right rally was held, the Wall Street Journal reports. A lawyer for the plaintiffs10 people who were injuredsaid the trial will reveal intent on the part of the white supremacists. "Most people have no idea the degree of coordination, planning, and hatred involved," Karen Dunn said. story continues below The suit cites the Ku Klux Klan Act of 1871, a federal law that lets victims of racially motivated violence sue people who attacked them for conspiracy. "What happened in Charlottesville is exactly the 21st-century version of what Congress wanted to prevent," said Roberta Kaplan, the plaintiffs' other lead counsel. One of the defendants, Richard Spencer, has said he promoted the event on social media and carried signs at the rally, but that was about it. "I never planned for Charlottesville to end up in the kind of chaos that it did, and I'm simply not responsible," Spencer said. Spencer, considered a founder of the alt-right white supremacist movement, said his actions were "classic First Amendment activity." That's the basic argument of the 14 men and 10 organizations being sued. They say the only violence was a result of being attacked by counterprotesters, per the New York Times. Other defendants include James Fields Jr., who was sentenced to life in prison for driving into a crowd, killing Heather Heyer; Vanguard America, the white nationalist group Fields belonged to; two Ku Klux Klan chapters; and the National Socialist Movement, another white supremacist organization. Attorneys for Fields, Vanguard America, and the National Socialist Movement declined to comment. To make their case that the violence was planned, the plaintiffs' lawyers will cite text message and social media posts about encouraging violence at the rally. Many of the conversations took place on Discord, a website for gamers, that were published by Unicorn Riot, an alternative media site. The discussions are filled with derogatory remarks about Black people, antifa, Jewish people, and Black Lives Matter, per the Journal. In rejecting a bid to have the lawsuit dismissed, a federal judge cited the KKK Act. (Read more Charlottesville, Va. stories.) (Newser) A teen's desperate call to law enforcement over the weekend led to a horrific find in a Texas apartment. That call came in to the Harris County Sheriff's Office on Sunday, per a statement from the agency, with the 15-year-old boy on the other end making a grim report: The body of his 9-year-old brother was in the room next to his own, and had been for about a year, per NBC News. The teen told investigators that their parents hadn't lived in the place for "several months," according to the statement. story continues below Deputies say what they encountered when they arrived at the third-floor apartment west of Houston was, sadly, as the boy had described. They discovered the teen and two other boys, ages 10 and 7, as well as skeletal remains "of a small child," Sheriff Ed Gonzalez tells the Houston Chronicle. "Heartbreaking," Gonzalez tweeted of the apparently abandoned children and deceased child, noting to the Chronicle that the latter's remains had been there for an "extended" period of time. "And I emphasize extended," he says. Officials say the three boys had signs of physical injuries and seemed malnourished; they were brought to a hospital for treatment. "They were in there while the body was deteriorating," Gonzalez says, adding that the brothers "were fending for each other. ... The 15-year-old was taking care" of his siblings. The sheriff, who says the boys may have been on their own for up to a year, noted online that the mother of the children and her boyfriend were tracked down late Sunday night and are being questioned. The three children, meanwhile, are in the custody of Child Protective Services while the investigation continues. It's not clear if they'd been going to school. A medical examiner will determine the cause of death for the deceased child, per KHOU 11. A neighbor in the apartment complex tells the Chronicle that she doesn't know how the boys could've fallen through the cracks for so long, as the building manager regularly makes the rounds to inspect plumbing, smoke detectors, and other issues. "How come they couldn't detect this?" she says. "How could that not have been found?" (Read more Harris County stories.) (Newser) An exiled former security official for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia called the crown prince and de facto ruler of the kingdom a "psychopath" and a "killer," in an interview on CBSs 60 Minutes. Saad Aljabri lives in Canada now, but back in 2014 he worked closely with Prince Mohammed bin Salman. In the interview, Jabri said he witnessed Mohammed saying he could easily kill the king at the time, Abdullah, getting his father, King Salman, on the throne earlier. He said he has videohe showed a short clip on 60 Minutesthat would expose Saudi royal secrets and would be released if he died. He said the Saudi crown prince wants him dead. He said he was on the same hit list as slain journalist Jamal Khashoggi, and was warned to avoid the Saudi embassy in Canada. "'Don't go to the consulate. Don't go to the embassy.' I said why? Said, they dismembered the guy, they kill him. You are on the top of the list,'" Aljabri said. story continues below The Saudi government has denied they ordered Khashoggi killed, but US intelligence disagrees. Former acting CIA director Mike Morell expressed support for Aljabri in the interview, but also said King Abdullah tolerated a little corruption, and he wouldn't be surprised if Aljabri had taken some money. Aljabri said he was going public with his allegations because hes afraid for his family. Two of his adult children are in prison in Saudi Arabia, and Aljabri believes they were arrested to force him to return to the kingdom, the Guardian reports. Aljabri has also asked the US government to help his children, Reuters reports. The Saudi government denies Aljabris allegations, calling him a discredited former government official and accusing him of financial crimes, per the Los Angeles Times. A judge in Canada has frozen Aljabris assets while a lawsuit filed against him unfolds. (Read more Mohammed bin Salman stories.) (Newser) Florida's top health official was asked to leave a meeting after refusing to wear a mask at the office of a state senator who told him she had a serious medical condition, officials have confirmed. Florida Senate leader Wilton Simpson, a Republican, sent a memo to senators Saturday regarding the incident at the office of Democratic state Sen. Tina Polsky, asking visitors at the building to be respectful with social interactions. Polsky, who represents parts of Broward and Palm Beach counties, had not yet made public her breast cancer diagnosis. Polsky told the AP about the tense exchange with state Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo that was first reported by the news site Florida Politics. story continues below Ladapo had asked to meet her in Tallahassee as he seeks confirmation in the Senate after being named to the post by Gov. Ron DeSantis last month. Polsky said Ladapo and two aides were offered masks and asked to wear them when they arrived for the Wednesday meeting. She didn't tell him she had breast cancer, but said she had a serious condition. The CDC says cancer patients are at a higher risk to get severely ill from COVID-19 and may not build the same immunity to vaccines. Ladapo offered to go outside, but the senator said she didn't want to sit on the metal picnic tables on a warm day when her office was nice and spacious. She said she asked whether there was a reason why he couldn't wear a mask, but he wouldn't answer. "It was so shocking to me that he treated me in this manner," Polsky said. "If he is a surgeon general for the next several years, I am really concerned about a future public health emergency and not being able to rely on him for necessary guidance and proper scientific leadership." Democrats have opposed the appointment of Ladapo, criticizing him for comments and actions related to the pandemic. A day into his job, Ladapo signed new rules allowing parents to decide whether their children should quarantine or stay in school after being exposed to people who tested positive for COVID. Ladapo also wrote an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal saying masks have "little or no effect on respiratory virus transmission," and at a recent presser with DeSantis, he said there was a "concerted effort" to hide stories of people with adverse vaccine reactions. Simpson, in his memo, said that while there's no mask mandate in the Senate, senators can request social distancing and masking within their offices. "It shouldn't take a cancer diagnosis for people to respect each other's level of comfort with social interactions during a pandemic," he noted. "What occurred in Senator Polsky's office was unprofessional and will not be tolerated in the Senate." (Read more Florida stories.) (Newser) More than 20 years ago, prosecutors used circumstantial evidence to convince jurors that plastic surgeon Robert Bierenbaum murdered his wife and threw her body into the Atlantic Ocean from his plane. He has finally admitted that they were right. According to court transcripts seen by ABC7, Bierenbaum confessed to the crime in a December 2020 parole board hearing. He said he strangled Gail Katz in 1985 because he was "immature" and he wanted her to stop yelling at him. "I went flying. I opened the door and then took her body out of the airplane over the ocean," he told the hearing. story continues below Bierenbaum, who claimed Katz had stormed out of their New York City apartment after a fight, was sentenced to 20 years to life in 2000. Dan Bibb, one of the prosecutors involved, said he was amazed to hear that Bierenbaum had confessed. "I was stunned because I always thought that that day would never come, that he would own up, take responsibility for having killed his wife," Bibb tells ABC7. He says convicting Bierenbaum with no witnesses and no body was "the toughest trial that we'd ever had." He notes that in 1983, Gail Katz told police Bierenbaum had choked her into unconsciousness, but nothing was done at the time. In the years after the crime, Bierenbaum remarried and started new medical practices in Las Vegas and North Dakota. He was indicted after chief investigator Det. Andy Rosenzweig, who was nearing retirement, took another look at the cold case, the New York Times reported in 2000. Contradictory statements Bierenbaum had made to several girlfriends, along with the finding that Bierenbaum had altered flight logs to make it seem that he hadn't flown his Cessna 172 on the day Katz disappeared, were enough to bring the case to trial. Prosecutors filmed a recreation to show how the doctor could have flown the plane while pushing his wife's body out. Bierenbaum is still behind bars, with another parole hearing scheduled for next month. (Read more murder stories.) (Newser) "What was briefly yours is now mine," nemesis Rene Belloq told Indiana Jones in Raiders of the Lost Ark. Fortunately for Harrison Ford, a tourist who found his lost credit card in Sicily did not adopt the same attitude. Police in Palermo said the German tourist found the 79-year-old actor's credit card in the nearby beach town of Mondello and handed it in to authorities, CNN reports. "Mondello's police quickly identified the place where 'Indiana Jones' had tried to regain his privacyafter that a few fans recognized him while walking 'undercover' in the streets of the beach area," police said in a statement. story continues below Police said Saturday that they had tracked Ford down and returned the card. It's not clear whether the actor knew it was missing, the AP reports. "When the police officer and two policemen showed him and returned his belongings, the actor smiled, relieved of all the prevented damage and happy to know a place as beautiful as it is honest," said police, who posed for a photo with Ford. The actor, who was injured in June on the set of the fifth Indiana Jones movie, was seen filming scenes in Sicily with co-stars Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Antonio Banderas last week, the New York Post reports. (Read more Harrison Ford stories.) (Newser) A North Carolina man who moved to Chicago has been identified as one of the victims of John Wayne Gacy, who was convicted of killing 33 young men and boys in the 1970s, per the AP. Francis Wayne Alexander would have been 21 or 22 years old when Gacy killed him sometime between early 1976 and early 1977, Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart said Monday. It is hard, even 45 years later, to know the fate of our beloved Wayne, wrote Alexander's sister, Carolyn Sanders. He was killed at the hands of a vile and evil man. ... We can now lay to rest what happened and move forward by honoring Wayne. story continues below Alexanders remains were among 26 sets that police found in the crawl space under Gacy's home just outside the city. Three victims, meanwhile, were found buried on Gacy's property and four others whom Gacy admitted killing were found in waterways south of Chicago. In 2011, Dart's office exhumed the remains of eight victims, including Alexander, who had been buried without being identified. Dart called on anyone who had a male relative disappear in the Chicago area in the 1970s to submit DNA. The details of Alexanders life in Chicago are sketchy. Born in North Carolina, he moved to New York and then on to Chicago, where he was married for approximately three months before he was divorced in 1975. According to the sheriffs offices news release, the last known record of Alexanders life was a traffic ticket he received in Chicago in January of 1976a year in which he earned little money. How he crossed paths with one of the most notorious serial killers in American history is a mystery, as authorities say all they know is that Alexander lived in an area that was frequented by Gacy and where other identified victims had previously lived." (Read more John Wayne Gacy stories.) (Newser) Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen told British lawmakers Monday that the social media giant stokes online hate and extremism, fails to protect children from harmful content, and lacks any incentive to fix the problemstestimony that provides strong momentum for efforts by European governments working on stricter regulation of tech giants. From the AP: UK is planning crackdown. While Haugen's testimony echoed much of what she told the US Senate earlier this month, her appearance drew intense interest from a British parliamentary committee that is much further along in drawing up legislation to crack down on social platforms. It comes the same day that Facebook is set to release its latest earnings and that the AP and other news organizations started publishing stories based on thousands of pages of internal company documents she obtained. story continues below "Unquestionably, it's making hate worse." Haugen told the committee of lawmakers that Facebook Groups amplifies online hate, saying algorithms that prioritize engagement take people with mainstream interests and push them to the extremes. The former Facebook data scientist said the company could add moderators to prevent groups over a certain size from being used to spread extremist views. "Unquestionably, its making hate worse," she said. Haugen told the committee of lawmakers that Facebook Groups amplifies online hate, saying algorithms that prioritize engagement take people with mainstream interests and push them to the extremes. The former Facebook data scientist said the company could add moderators to prevent groups over a certain size from being used to spread extremist views. "Unquestionably, its making hate worse," she said. Shocked by metaverse plans. Haugen added that she was shocked to hear recently that Facebook wants to double down on the metaverse and that theyre gonna hire 10,000 engineers in Europe to work on the metaverse, Haugen said, referring to the companys plans for an immersive online world it believes will be the next big internet trend. "I was like, 'Wow, do you know what we could have done with safety if we had 10,000 more engineers? It would be amazing," she said. Poor moderation is a "national security issue." Haugen said Monday that Facebooks moderation systems are worse at catching content in languages other than English, and thats a problem even in the UK because it is a diverse country. "Those people are also living in the UK and being fed misinformation that is dangerous, that radicalizes people," Haugen said. "And so language-based coverage is not just a good-for-individuals thing its a national security issue." Haugen said Monday that Facebooks moderation systems are worse at catching content in languages other than English, and thats a problem even in the UK because it is a diverse country. "Those people are also living in the UK and being fed misinformation that is dangerous, that radicalizes people," Haugen said. "And so language-based coverage is not just a good-for-individuals thing its a national security issue." Not evil, but negligent. Pressed on whether she believes Facebook is fundamentally evil, Haugen demurred and said, "I cant see into the hearts of men." Facebook is not evil, but negligent, she suggested. "It believes in a world of flatness and it wont accept the consequences of its actions," she said. (Read more Facebook stories.) (Newser) A United Airlines executive who mysteriously disappeared in August was found dead in a nature preserve Sunday. Jake Cefolia was under criminal investigation when his ex-wife, Kristine Cefolia, reported him missing. Police say they found his remains hanging from a tree in Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve in Illinois, People reports. Police showed up at Cefolias house on Aug. 6 with a search warrantbut he wasnt charged with a crime. Later that evening, his teenage son came over for dinner, and told his mother afterward that his father had seemed very drunk. The next day, Cefolia vanished. His ex-wife reported him missing Aug. 8 after trying to contact him repeatedly. story continues below Forest preserve officers found his car and searched the area with bloodhounds. Cefolias remains were found in an area that had been searched multiple times, by volunteers, search and rescue teams, and cadaver dogs. But the area has "a dense tree canopy, very thick briars, and dense vegetation," Forest Preserve District Police Chief David Pederson told NBC5. Investigators watched to see if his accounts were touched, and wondered if he was hiding but alive and well. His ex-wife had told police he "fantasized about going off the grid," People reports. Police havent said what they were looking for at Cefolias house. "What the heck could he be investigated for?" his friend David Burzynski said last summer. (Read more missing person stories.) (Newser) Hundreds of millions of Americans have gotten quietly vaccinated against COVID. But for many more, vaccines and vaccine mandates are a flashpoint for argument, sparking protests around the world on either side of the dispute, and prompting people with platforms like Fox News Neil Cavuto to weigh in. California has several vaccine mandates in place, including one for eating inside a restaurant and one requiring COVID shots for all students. Its basically the opposite of Texas, which has banned such mandates. An anti-mandate protest turned violent Saturday in Palmdale, California. Police say William Aslaksen, 64, came across the protest and got into an argument with some of the people demonstrating, the Los Angeles Times reports. After the altercation, witnesses say he drove into the crowd, injuring one woman. story continues below Aslaksen was arrested about an hour and a half after driving a Jeep Wrangler into a crowd of people gathered on a sidewalk. He allegedly struck a woman in her 40s who was taken to a hospital for injuries that werent considered life-threatening, Bakersfield.com reports. Aslaksen is scheduled to go to court Tuesday, NBC News reports. Its not the first time a vaccine dispute turned into a hit-and-runlast spring a Tennessee woman drove through a vaccination site yelling "No vaccine!" (Read more vaccine mandate stories.) TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com Industry, Commerce and Tourism Minister Zayed bin Rashid Al Zayani met with the Russian Ambassador to the Kingdom of Bahrain Igor Kremnev to discuss preparations for the third meeting of the Bahraini-Russian Committee for Commercial, Economic, Scientific and Technological Cooperation. Al Zayani stressed the governments keenness to boost relations and cooperation with friendly countries, pointing out the importance of exchanging visits in bolstering bilateral relations at all levels. He also underlined the favourable investment climate in the Kingdom and the facilities provided to investors from around the world. The meeting cast light on important issues on the agenda of the Bahraini-Russian Committee meeting, pertaining mainly to commercial, economic, industrial and investment cooperation. TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com Bahrain is stepping up efforts to achieve economic recovery and enhance financial stability amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. This was emphasised by Finance and National Economy Minister Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa as he met remotely with Bahrain Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) Chairman Samir Nass in the presence of other key officials to discuss a number of initiatives aimed at developing the economy and creating a qualitative opportunity for citizens. The meeting was also attended by Central Bank of Bahrain Governor Rashid Mohammed Al Maraj, Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism Minister Zayed bin Rashid Al Zayani, Tamkeen Board of Directors Chairman Shaikh Mohammed bin Isa Al Khalifa and Development Council Council CEO Khalid Humaidan. Shaikh Salman noted the growth paths that reflect the strength of the Kingdoms economy, which is based on Bahrains Economic Vision 2030, and lauded the royal directives and the continuous follow-up of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister. The meeting also reviewed the most prominent achievements of the Kingdom in addressing the COVID-19 repercussions, which included three priorities: preserving national employment, helping the most affected sectors, and placing Bahrain in the most appropriate position to benefit from the economic recovery. The Minister highlighted the contents of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifas speech at the opening of the Shura and Representatives Councils fourth session of the fifth legislative term. HM the King called on business owners to adopt more ideas and initiatives for comprehensive economic development. This set the foundations for the next stage, Shaikh Salman pointed out. This is to focus on the role of small and medium enterprises as key drivers to achieve sustainable development goals, support development in the field of industry and future sciences, and deal with environmental and climate challenges, in addition to continuing to strive towards achieving balance. It also focuses on financial and self-sufficiency as a basic entry point for the development and sustainability of national resources and wealth, tightening control over the quality of procedures and services, and commitment to the continuous development of performance with the latest administrative and technical practices. The Minister indicated the focus in the next stage on achieving economic growth based on knowledge and innovation and enhancing the competitive position of Bahrain. Some lawmakers, school nurses, and other medical professionals urged Gov. Phil Scott on Monday to reinstate a state of emergency and indoor mask mandate as they say school staff, parents, hospitals and health care workers are stressed, some to their breaking point. They also urged the governor at a Statehouse press conference to provide more resources for schools for contact tracing and testing and extend emergency housing to the homeless. I would urge the governor in the strongest terms possible to go back to the thoughtful, aggressive approach that he took early in the pandemic, said Rep. George Till, a Democrat from Jericho, who is a physician. The governor has emphasized personal responsibility and continues to urge people to get vaccinated even as children too young to be vaccinated register the highest rates of infection, said Anne Sosin, a public health practitioner researcher based at Dartmouth College. The state has had more deaths from COVID-19 since the start of September than in the first eight months of the pandemic, but Scott has refused to change course, she said. "We dont need to return to a lockdown, close our restaurants or bars or cancel Christmas as Gov. Scott suggested in a recent press conference, however we do need to return to evidence based approach to managing the pandemic, Sosin said. Jason Maulucci, press secretary for Scott, said vaccines work and Vermont continues to be a national leader in its vaccination efforts and consistently has had one of the lowest fatality, hospitalization, and test positivity rates in the country through the Delta wave. If the Governor believed state mandates were needed, he would implement them. But the fact is, declaring a state of emergency after nearly 20 months of experience with this virus and reimposing broad restrictions and closures is not something Vermonters would accept nor follow, Maulucci said in a written statement. School nurses are overwhelmed, exhausted and many are at their breaking point, either leaving their jobs or considering leaving, said Becca McCray, a nurse for the Burlington School District and president of the Vermont State School Nurses Association. The lack of guidance and piling on additional responsibilities is too much, McCray said. Rep. Erin Brady, a Democrat from Willison who is a parent, high school teacher, and school board member implored state leaders to do more to keep the state's unvaccinated children safe and mitigate the challenges for schools. Both of her children, who are too young to be vaccinated, have contracted COVID-19 and one of them is sick, Brady said. When my third grader hopefully returns to school in early November he will have missed at least a month of school days just this year, she said. WESTPORT Late October is often a time for people to turn to spooky stories and scary movies. This week, Sherwood Island State Park helped play home to both as crews started work on the film adaptation of Stephen Kings novella, Mr. Harrigans Phone, for Netflix. Crews were at the park a few days this week, and will be there a few more days between mid-November and early December, said Will Healey, a spokesman for the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. The park has not closed to the public due to filming operations thus far, and the plan is to remain open throughout the duration of filming operations, he said. Its unclear which scenes the park will be used for in the film. Earlier this month it was announced the movie will also be filmed at Lockwood Mansion in Norwalk. The story, which was published last year, is about a young boy who purchases a cell phone for the elderly man he works for. The phone is buried with the man when he dies but communication continues beyond the grave in chilling fashion, according to the description on Kings website. The film stars Donald Sutherland and Jaeden Martell, from IT and Knives Out, according to the Internet Movie Database. It will be directed and written by The Blind Side and Saving Mr. Banks director John Lee Hancock. The films producers include Ryan Murphy, creator of American Horror Story and Glee, and Get Out producer Jason Blum, according to IMDb. It is set to be released sometime in 2022. Filming is set to start at the mansion next week and go through Thanksgiving. Healey said the movie company paid the associated application fee and also will be making a donation to the Bureau of Outdoor Recreation Donation Account. The state also will be reimbursed for the DEEP Park and Environmental Conservation employees present during the filming. It doesnt appear the movie will be filmed in other parts of Westport, though the town is certainly no stranger to its television and film appearances. There have been several movies and/or shows set in Westport over the years, said Lynn Scully, Westports interim operations manager. Most recently there was a Netflix Christmas movie shot on Washington Ave., starring Treat Williams and Justin Hartley. B-roll for the shows American Housewife and Billions, which were set in Westport, have also been shot in town. Years ago The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants II was shot at the Westport Country Playhouse, she said. Westports involvement with the film and television industry dates back to the days of I Love Lucy, The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit and The Twilight Zone,said First Selectman Jim Marpe. We are proud to be home to many noted artists, writers, and actors. We are happy to have the production team in town and hope they will enjoy our fine restaurants and shops during their stay. RENO, Nev. (AP) More than 2 feet (0.7 meters) of new snow snarled traffic in the Sierra on Monday while record rainfall in Reno forced the closure of one school and caused minor flooding that shut down some streets. A winter storm warning remained in effect around Lake Tahoe until 11 p.m. Monday. But a stretch of Interstate 80 that closed overnight reopened, and floodwaters on rivers and streams continued to recede along the Sierra's eastern front. The storm packing winds gusting up to 90 mph (144 kph) Sunday night dropped 29 inches (74 centimeters) of snow on Donner Pass, where I-80 crosses the top of the Sierra west of Truckee, California, the National Weather Service said. All schools were closed Monday at Incline Village on Lake Tahoes north shore, where up to 18 inches (46 cm) of snow was recorded. A foot (30 cm) of snow was reported in California on Tahoes west shore at Homewood and 5 inches (12.7 cm) at South Lake Tahoe. Snow and rain throughout the weekend helped raise the water level at Lake Tahoe back above the natural rim, allowing water to resume flowing into the Truckee River at Tahoe City, California. More than 6 inches (15 cm) of rain was reported west of Reno, nearly 5 inches (12.7 cm) in the valleys north of town, and more than 5 inches in parts of Carson City. Reno High School closed because of major damage in multiple classrooms from rain through a leaky roof Sunday and overnight to Monday. The Truckee River was receding from near flood stage on Monday after a record 1.88 inches (4.5 cm) of rain was recorded Sunday at Reno Tahoe-International Airport, breaking the old record for the day of 0.86 inches (2 cm) set in 1951. By Monday morning, more than 2.5 inches (6.4 cm) had fallen at the airport over a 24-hour period, pushing the October rainfall total to a record 2.82 inches (7.1 cm), breaking the old mark of 2.65 inches (6.7 cm) set in 2010. Rain and snow intensity was expected to diminish across the region into Monday night, with just a few additional inches of snow along the Sierra crest. A high pressure ridge was forecast to build Tuesday Tuesday with temperatures warming through the week into 50s in the Sierra and 60s in the nearby valleys. In Las Vegas, gusty winds up to 50 mph (80 kph) and rain were expected Monday, the National Weather Service said, before skies clear on Tuesday with a high near 70 degrees Fahrenheit (21 Celsius). The weather service in Elko predicted Monday would be very wet and windy, and issued a flood advisory for northeast Nevada and a flood watch in the Ruby Mountains. Snow levels were expected to drop to 5,000 feet (1,524 meters) with up to 6 inches (15 cm) of accumulation on the highest peaks. Rainfall could create rockslides and debris flows canyon areas that experienced slides and flows in early August, the weather service said. ___ AP writer Ken Ritter contributed to this report from Las Vegas. TORONTO, Oct. 25, 2021 /CNW/ - CIBC congratulates Veni Iozzo, Executive Vice-President, Enterprise Real Estate and Workplace Transformation, on being inducted into the Women's Executive Network (WXN) Hall of Fame, Canada's Most Powerful Women: Top 100. WXN's Hall of Fame honours women who have previously been recognized with the WXN Top 100 Award three times for their remarkable contributions in the workplace and community. "Veni is a multi-faceted leader and an architect behind our workplace transformation that is enabling our purpose-driven and inclusive culture," said Victor G. Dodig, CIBC President & CEO. "Her relentless advocacy for intentional inclusion and community service has also made her a role model within our bank and beyond. We are proud to see her recognized among a distinguished group of leaders." Ms. Iozzo joins CIBC's Laura Dottori-Attanasio, Christina Kramer and Sandy Sharman as members of the WXN Hall of Fame. The Women's Executive Network highlights and commemorates women at all levels, in all sectors and of all ages. WXN Canada's Most Powerful Women: Top 100 award is presented to incredible women in ten different categories, winners are chosen by an independent advisory board. A complete list of recipients is available on the Women's Executive Network website . CIBC is a proud champion of WXN, an organization aligned to the bank's commitment to creating spaces that allows for opportunities for women to thrive and succeed in leadership positions. About CIBC CIBC is a leading North American financial institution with 10 million personal banking, business, public sector and institutional clients. Across Personal and Small Business Banking, Commercial Banking and Wealth Management, and Capital Markets businesses, CIBC offers a full range of advice, solutions and services through its leading digital banking network, and locations across Canada, in the United States and around the world. Ongoing news releases and more information about CIBC can be found at https://cibc.mediaroom.com/ . SOURCE CIBC For further information: Anna Ferguson, Public Affairs, 416-980-6120 or [email protected] Related Links www.cibc.com During the questioning that took place on Thursday, the actor denied the allegations of supplying and consuming drugs. As per the NCB sources, Ananya denied the allegation of supplying drugs to Aryan Khan, who is accused in the case, and said that she has never consumed drugs. Bollywood actor Ananya Panday who was summoned by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) in connection with Mumbai drugs-on-the-cruise case is not appearing before the agency on Monday due to some personal commitments. Panday was supposed to appear before NCB for the third round of questioning in connection with the investigation into the case on Monday. The actor requested the agency for any further date as she cannot join the questioning today due to some personal commitments. However, NCB has accepted her request. The agency will fix any other date for fresh summons for some other date. Earlier, the actor was quizzed by NCB on Friday for over four hours. She had been summoned by the agency on Thursday as well. During the questioning on Thursday, the actor denied the allegations of supplying or consuming drugs. As per the NCB sources, Ananya denied the allegation of supplying drugs to Aryan Khan, who is currently lodged in Mumbais Arthur Road Jail and an accused in the case, and said that she has never consumed drugs. The chats recovered from Aryan Khans mobile phone reveal that in the year 2018-19, she helped supply drugs to Aryan thrice by providing him the numbers of drug dealers, NCB sources had told ANI. Ananya denied the supply related talks in the chat conversation and told the NCB officials that she has never consumed or supplied drugs, sources added. Prime Minister Atmanirbhar Swasth Bharat Yojana (PMASBY) will be one of the largest pan-India schemes for strengthening healthcare infrastructure across the country. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday launched PM Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission and Release of Operational Guidelines in Uttar Pradeshs Varanasi. PM Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission will be one of the largest pan-India schemes for strengthening healthcare infrastructure across the country. It will be in addition to the National Health Mission, according to PMO. The objective of PM Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission is to fill critical gaps in public health infrastructure, especially in critical care facilities and primary care in both urban and rural areas. It will provide support for 17,788 rural Health and Wellness Centres in 10 High Focus States. Further, 11,024 urban Health and Wellness Centres will be established in all the States. Critical care services will be available in all the districts of the country with more than 5 lakh population, through Exclusive Critical Care Hospital Blocks, while the remaining districts will be covered through referral services, it said. People will have access to a full range of diagnostic services in the Public Healthcare system through a network of laboratories across the country. Integrated Public Health Labs will be set up in all the districts. Under PM Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission, a National Institution for One Health, 4 New National Institutes for Virology, a Regional Research Platform for WHO South-East Asia Region, 9 Biosafety Level III laboratories, 5 New Regional National Centre for Disease Control will be set up. PM Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission targets to build an IT enabled disease surveillance system by developing a network of surveillance laboratories at block, district, regional and national levels, in Metropolitan areas. Integrated Health Information Portal will be expanded to all States/UTs to connect all public health labs. PM Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission also aims at the Operationalisation of 17 new Public Health Units and strengthening 33 existing Public Health Units at Points of Entry, for effectively detecting, investigating, preventing, and combating Public Health Emergencies and Disease Outbreaks. It will also work towards building up a trained frontline health workforce to respond to any public health emergency. OMAHA, Neb. (AP) The Kellogg Co. is trying to persuade its 1,400 striking cereal-making workers to return to the bargaining table. The Battle Creek, Michigan-based company said Monday that it sent a message to the Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers International Union that represents those workers offering to resume contract talks. The workers have been on strike since Oct. 5. "We have a responsibility to these employees which is to engage in good faith bargaining toward a replacement agreement that gets them back to work, the company said. In its statement, the company hinted that it might be willing to discuss proposals that would address its current two-tiered system that gives fewer benefits and less pay to newer workers, which has been a sticking point for the union. But Kellogg's didn't elaborate except to say it would consider proposals that would preserve a pathway for transitionals to legacy wages and benefits. Dan Osborn, president of the union's local chapter in Omaha, Nebraska, said he believes the union is ready to return to the bargaining table if Kellogg's is serious about being willing to negotiate on that two-tiered wage system, but the company didn't immediately respond to questions the union sent Monday in response to the company's offer. I'm hoping we can get back to the table and get a contract, Osborn said. People just want to go back to work. The strike covers four plants that make all the company's well-known brands of cereal, including Fruit Loops and Frosted Flakes. The plants are in Battle Creek; Omaha; Lancaster, Pennsylvania; and Memphis, Tennessee. The company said it has resumed production at all four cereal plants with outside workers and salaried employees, so its not clear how the strike will affect cereal supplies. The workers at Kellogg's and other companies where strikes have happened this year feel emboldened to act now because of ongoing labor shortages. Kellogg's workers also say many of them have been putting in 12-hour shifts on a routine basis to keep the plants operating during the coronavirus pandemic. Earlier this summer, 600 Frito-Lay workers walked off the job in Topeka, Kansas, and 1,000 workers at five Nabisco plants across the country went on strike. In another industry, more than 10,000 Deere Co. workers also went on strike earlier this month in search of better pay and benefits. Contract talks have resumed between Deere and the United Auto Workers union, but workers at 14 Deere plants have remained on strike since Oct. 14. With movies like "A Haunting in Connecticut" and being home to two of the most famous paranormal researchers of all time, Ed and Lorraine Warren, Connecticut has earned a reputation for being a "haunted" spot. But why is that? According to Charles Rosenay, author, ghost tour host and founder of Stratfords Fright Haven, Connecticut stands as a barometer among other states for its supposedly ridiculously haunted nature. People from other states conceive that Connecticut is a haunted state, Rosenay said. People know Gettysburg. Gettysburg is known to be very haunted but people in Gettysburg will say yes, were haunted, but not like Connecticut." He believes this reputation is due to the state's sometimes violent history. Connecticut is very historic. It has had many brutal wars through the years and what I think happens in certain places is that if it has a history of bloodshed or suffering, then the original powers, feelings and entities that had those sufferings continue, Rosenay said he believes. It never goes away. Erik Trautmann / Hearst Connecticut Media Among the first major instances of strife in Connecticut was the Pequot War, which was fought between the Pequot Tribe and early colonists starting in 1636. At the end of the two-year war, which led to events such as the Mystic Massacre, approximately 600 Pequot Tribe members were killed, and many were sold into slavery, according to the Mashantucket Pequot Museum. The ensuing Revolutionary War had many battles in Connecticut, most notably in Groton and Ridgefield, which led to a number of casualties. Just last year, a number of skeletal remains were found underneath a house in Ridgefield, which historians believe belonged to soldiers who died during the Battle of Ridgefield in 1777. Another historical event that adds context to the argument of Connecticut being a haunted state are the Connecticut Witch Trials. Predating the nearby Salem Witch Trial by four decades, the Connecticut Witch Trials tried over 57 individuals for their assumed involvement in the occult between 1647 and 1692, resulting in 16 convictions and 14 to 16 executions, data shows. Christian Abraham / Hearst Connecticut Media file photo When Connecticuts witch purges began, just a single witness was needed to mount a trial and conviction. If one had a vindictive enemy or someone who stood to gain financially from ones downfall, then a witchcraft prosecution could result, a TIME article titled "The Witch Trials That America Forgot" states. While it was Connecticut that held New Englands first witch execution, launching the first large-scale witch trials in the American colonies, the Connecticut Witch Trials would slow down and eventually be outshined by the nearby Salem Witch Trials. Salem was a more grandiose persecution, with 156 people accused of witchcraft from 1692 to 1693, resulting in 30 convictions and 19 executions. For contrast, between 1647 and 1654, Massachusetts acquitted half of the people it brought to trial for witchcraft, while Connecticut convicted and hanged all seven charged during that time. During this early period of witch hunting in New England, Connecticut proved to be much, much harsher in its treatment of suspected witches than Massachusetts, Walter Woodward, the state historian, said at New Englands Other Witch Hunt, a recent lecture at the Darien Library. Contributed photo / Beyond history, Connecticut hosts its fair share of peculiar and abandoned sites that people have filled with stories of spectres and otherworldly phenomena. In April of this year, a paranormal investigation team entered the Ansonia opera house and claimed to have found "shadow people" and a "goat humanoid." The team claimed that about 40 entities were inhabiting the building. Built in 1869 and abandoned since 1971, the 900-capacity opera house's alleged haunted history has been debated at length over the years. Other sites around the state tied to ghost stories include Booth Memorial Park in Stratford, Fairfield Hills in Newtown and the Sterling Opera House in Derby. These stories, which are often referred to as urban legends, take many forms in Connecticut. Rosenay believes that though there are unexplained things around the state, everything has a basis. For example, Ida Richards, a 19th-century Norwalker, was so consumed by the untimely death of her fiance that she laid upon his grave in Pine Island Cemetery and died of a broken heart, the New York Times reported in 1879. Some believe, she still haunts the 300-year-old cemetery, Norwalk Historical Society program events coordinator Samantha Kulish-Fargione told Hearst Connecticut. Each Halloween since 2011, the historical society hosts the Haunting at Mill Hill, one of Norwalks four historic cemeteries and the third oldest cemetery in the city, to highlight other unusual happenings. The premise is to learn about unusual deaths that have occurred in Norwalk over the years, Kulish-Fargione told Hearst Connecticut. We dive into old Norwalk Hours. We go onto the Library of Congress site and dive into old newspapers there and search for unusual deaths that have occurred in Norwalk. Murders, suicides, natural disasters, mechanical disasters, what we do then is take those specific deaths and those people and bring them back to life in the graveyard. But, though some of these cautionary tales are rooted in facts, many stories at the center of Connecticuts urban legends are just that stories. According to a study by the Department of Psychology at Manchester Metropolitan University in the U.K., urban legends exist as a common societal experience that anyone can tap into, and despite little to no evidence supporting numerous urban legends, they thrive as people continue to pass them down. The study of ULs (urban legends) is important academically because they represent enduring social narratives, which reach wide audiences and potentially influence significant numbers of people, according to the study. Content alters over time...and often embraces social and technological advancements (computer viruses, global warming, etc.). These modifications in surface structure ensure that ULs remain relevant, coherent and significant. Thus, legends of the likes of sea monsters and vampires continue to live on in Connecticuts lore, filling in the gaps for unexplained occurrences throughout the history of the state. However, all of this begs the question: is Connecticut really haunted or are we just embracing stories weve been told? Additional reporting by Abigail Brone and Katrina Koerting. KERRVILLE, Texas (AP) Four people remained hospitalized Monday, two in critical condition, after a weekend drag racing crash in the Texas Hill Country that killed two children, police said. The crash happened during a Saturday racing event on a runway at the Kerrville-Kerr County Airport, about 50 miles (85 kilometers) northwest of San Antonio. In a statement Monday, Kerrville police said two women a 27-year-old from Taylor, Texas, and a 46-year-old from Converse, Texas were in critical condition at University Hospital in San Antonio. Meantime, race car driver Michael Gonzales, 34, of Fort Worth, was in stable condition Monday at a San Antonio hospital. A 26-year-old man was in stable condition at Dell Seton Medical Center in Austin. Two other adults were treated for minor injuries at the crash scene and released, and a four-year-old boy and a three-month-old girl were examined at a Kerrville hospital and released. Police were not releasing the identities of the two boys, ages 6 and 8, killed in the crash. The crash happened as Gonzalez was racing his 1990 Ford Mustang when he began to lose control halfway down the 1/8-mile track laid out on one of the airport runways, according to the police statement. The car started to fishtail before sliding out of control off the runway and into a grassy area from which spectators were watching. The vehicle struck multiple spectators before hitting a trailer and coming to a stop. Thousands attended the organized event, which involved drivers speeding down a runway as they competed for cash. NEW HAVEN, Conn. (AP) The Biden administrations proposed crackdown on so-called forever chemicals used in products from makeup to cookware could have a wide-ranging impact on Connecticut manufacturers. Last weeks EPA announcement covers per- and polyfluorinated alkyl, substances known as PFAS that are considered long-term health threats in food and water supplies. The issue was raised in Connecticut recently after a spill of firefighting foam into the Farmington River and a dozen contaminated wells found in Killingworth. State lawmakers earlier this year passed some of the toughest regulations in the nation regarding PFAS, banning their use in most firefighting foams and food packaging, the New Haven Register reported. The EPA's proposed action would go further and require manufacturers to report how many PFAS chemicals their products contain and, potentially, pay for environmental cleanup. Experts tell the Register that will place a particular burden on smaller manufacturers who will have to analyze and identify whether their products contain PFAS, and in what amount. Its time consuming, it requires an expertise that most small manufacturers dont have, Sabina Beck, vice president of Torrington-based electronics manufacturer Altek, told the newspaper. Thats not to say its not important or that they shouldnt be doing it, but its a costly administrative burden. Beck said groups like the Small Manufacturers Association of Connecticut can connect companies with resources to fulfill regulatory requirements. The EPA has said exposure to PFAS chemicals has been linked to some cancers, decreased fertility, impaired immune systems and low birth weights. We have more to do of course, we need to get (PFAS) out of textiles and rugs and all sorts of things, Susan Eastwood, state chapter chair of the Sierra Club, told the Register. But this will back us up. A DEEP spokesperson said last week the department was reviewing the EPA's announcement. GUILFORD Protect Guilford Schools, the Democratic and Independent fusion slate seeking open spots on the town Board of Education, is touting that more than 80 percent of its funding comes from in-town donors. State Elections Enforcement Commission filings detailing donations to the Democratic and Independent candidates from July 1 to Sept. 30 reviewed by Hearst Connecticut Media show that 88 percent of donors to the Protect Guilford Schools Committee are Guilford residents while 90 percent of donors to the Democratic Town Committee live in town. Out-of-town donations to Democratic candidates Moira Rader and Arnold Skretta came from towns such as South Windsor, Fairfield and Vernon. The Democratic candidates also received donations from New York, Massachusetts, Florida, Nebraska and Pennsylvania, though only 5 percent of donors were from out of state. The Independent candidates, Jennifer Baldwin, Kristy Faulkner and Noel Petra, received donations from Branford, Old Saybrook, Darien, Cromwell, Clinton, Madison, New Haven and elsewhere. Outside Connecticut, donations came from New York, California, Hawaii, New Mexico, California, Michigan, Florida and Pennsylvania. Six percent of donors were from out of state. Bill Bloss, campaign adviser to the Independent candidates on the slate, said in an email that the funds are not reported jointly because, from a financial point of view, the campaigns are separate as required by state law. On the Protect Guilford Schools website, those looking to donate have the option to donate to either the Democrats or Independents. Donations made to the Democratic candidates go to Guilfords Democratic Town Committee. Bloss added that the filings for the Democratic candidates for the Board of Education are looped into the donations to the party as a whole, meaning funds go to the two Board of Education candidates but also all other Guilford Democratic candidates, as well. The only contested election by major party candidates in Guilford is for the Board of Education. Expenses typically are divided proportionally among the two slates of candidates, Bloss wrote. For the donation period of July 1 to Sept. 30, the Democratic Town Committee received $17,893 in donations and the Independent candidates received $36,240. After the Republican candidates won the Sept. 14 Republican primary with the highest turnout in years, a spike in donations to the Democratic and Independent candidates can be seen, according to SEEC filings. Prior to Sept. 14, the Democratic Town Committee received 21 donations; on and after the primary, however, it received 156 donations. Protect Guilford Schools, which represents the three Independent candidates, had received 78 donations before the primary and 144 donations on or after it. PARIS (AP) A survivor of the terrible journey to Auschwitz remembered how the youngest wailed. There were 99 children squeezed among 751 adults gasping for air, crazed by thirst and hunger, aboard convoy No. 63 that departed Paris at 10 minutes past midday on Dec. 17, 1943. The 828 murdered at the death camp from that trainload alone included 3-year-old Francine Baur, her sister Myriam, 9, their brothers Antoine and Pierre, 6 and 10, and their parents Odette and Andre. All born in France, their French citizenship proved worthless under France's wartime Vichy regime that teamed up with the country's Nazi occupiers and their extermination of Jews. So when Andre Baur's great-nephew, a Paris mayor, was catching up on his Twitter feed recently and saw a claim reported in French media that Adolf Hitler's Vichy collaborators safeguarded France's Jews from the Holocaust, he was revolted. Worst still in the eyes of Ariel Weil, mayor of the French capital's city center, was that the debunked assertion came from a potential contender for the French presidency who is himself Jewish. That person is Eric Zemmour, a rabble-rousing television pundit and author with repeated convictions for hate speech who is finding fervent audiences for his anti-Islam, anti-immigration invective in the early stages of France's presidential race. He is packing auditoriums with paying crowds and filling supporters' heads with visions of a Trump-like leap from small screen to the presidential Elysee Palace when France votes in April. Although not yet officially declared as a candidate, Zemmour has so far dictated the course and tenor of the campaign. With climbing poll numbers, now consistently in double digits, and a Trump-like knack for generating buzz recent video of him pointing a sniper rifle at journalists is racking up millions of views Zemmour is sucking airtime from declared contenders. He has also destabilized them by hammering on about immigration and the mortal danger he says it poses to France, making it harder for mainstream rivals to steer campaign conversation back to themes combating climate change, post-pandemic rebuilding and suchlike they want to focus on. Zemmour is acting as a presidential contender in all but name. Supporters are soliciting funds and the backing from elected officials that candidates need to run. Shown the rifle at a security show by an exhibitor who said, When you are president, Mr. Zemmour, he interjected, Yes. That is a horrifying scenario for French Jews who are appalled by Zemmour's sugarcoating of the Vichy regime that was led by World War I hero Marshal Philippe Petain. He was tried and sentenced to death at World War II's end, subsequently commuted to life imprisonment. That Zemmour is himself a descendant of Berber Jews from Algeria, a family history he talks about proudly, deepened the hurt for Jews who lost relatives to the Holocaust. Just because he is Jewish, he is doing something that nobody else can do, and that is just disgusting, Weil told The Associated Press in an interview. History is complicated but this is very simple: Petain did not protect the French Jews. The frightened men, women and children herded aboard convoy No. 63 swelled what, by World War IIs end, became a shameful count of 74,182 Jews deported from France. Most were sent to their deaths in Auschwitz, in Nazi Germany-occupied Poland, where more than 1.1 million people perished. A Paris court in February acquitted Zemmour on a charge of contesting crimes against humanity illegal in France for arguing in a 2019 television debate that Petain saved France's Jews from the Holocaust. In its verdict, the court said the deportation of foreign and French Jews was implemented with the active participation of the Vichy government, its officials, and its police. Zemmour's comments negated Petain's role in the extermination, the court added. But in acquitting Zemmour, it said he'd spoken in the heat of the moment. It also noted that during the trial, Zemmour made a distinction between saying that some French Jews" were saved (using the word des in French), which he maintained was true, and saying the French Jews were saved (using the French word les), a generality which he said he disavowed. Yet last month, Zemmour employed les" when expounding again on Vichy in another broadcast interview, saying: "I say that Vichy protected the French Jews and that it handed over the foreign Jews. It's abominable, because these poor people died," he added. Lawyers who contest his court acquittal plan to cite that interview as evidence when their appeal is heard in January. Politically, most threatened by Zemmour is French far-right leader Marine Le Pen. Since losing the 2017 presidential runoff to winner Emmanuel Macron, she has watered down some of her policy proposals in hopes of broadening her appeal. But Zemmour is chipping away at her base, seemingly poaching Le Pen voters who suspect she's gone soft. Some polls suggest they are neck and neck. But both consistently trail Macron, who is expected to stand again. While both portray immigration as a threat to French identity, Zemmour uses language that Le Pen balks at and which his critics say positions him at the extremes of the far right. In a country that officially regards itself as colorblind and where public discussion of race is sometimes frowned upon, Zemmour is rare among political figures in openly distinguishing between skin colors. At a recent rally in Versailles, he described woke culture as a plot to make white, heterosexual, Catholic men feel so full of guilt that they willingly abandon their "culture and civilization." On Vichy, Zemmour has sought of late to draw a line under that topic. I am no longer discussing historical points that are discussed by historians," he said in Versailles. But for French Jews, the damage is already done. Some fear he has muddied decades of work by Holocaust researchers to indelibly document the horrors. He is denying something that was evident, that cannot be denied," said Eugenie Cayet, 84, whose father was deported from Paris to Auschwitz and killed. What's his goal? To rally all of Le Pen's votes behind him. MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey on Monday directed state agencies not to cooperate with the federal COVID-19 vaccine mandate, where possible, and instead help with the state's efforts to file a lawsuit challenging the vaccination requirements. The directive is part of Republican officials efforts to resist the Biden administration's vaccine mandate, but the impact of the Alabama order is unclear since it can only cover state executive branch agencies. Ivey signed an executive order forbidding executive branch agencies which include agencies such as Medicaid, Mental Health and Human Resources from penalizing employees or businesses for non-compliance with the federal vaccine mandate. If federal law requires the penalty, Ivey directed the state entity to take steps to notify the affected business or individual that Alabama does not condone the penalty. Gina Maiola, a spokesperson for Ivey, said the governor issued the executive order because some state agencies could potentially fall under the federal vaccine mandate or have enforcement duties. Maiola did not immediately respond to an email seeking examples. The federal governments outrageous overreach has simply given us no other option, but to begin taking action, which is why I am issuing this executive order to fight these egregious COVID-19 vaccine mandates, Ivey said in a statement. The executive order comes three days after the state's largest universities announced employees must get vaccinated because of the federal mandate. However, Ivey's executive order would not impact those plans announced by the University of Alabama System and Auburn University to require employees to be vaccinated for COVID-19 by Dec. 8. The universities were created by the Alabama Constitution and are under the management and control of a board of trustees. The schools said the Alabama campuses in Tuscaloosa, Birmingham, Huntsville and Auburn all are federal contractors, so they have to comply with an executive order signed last month by President Joe Biden. Ryan Easterling, a spokesperson for the Alabama Department of Public Health said that agency is still investigating how it is affected by the federal mandate, but wrote in an email that, we intend to comply with (the) Governor's order. Biden in September ordered sweeping new federal vaccine requirements for as many as 100 million Americans. The expansive rules mandate that all employers with more than 100 workers require them to be vaccinated or test for the virus weekly. Roughly 17 million workers at health facilities that receive federal Medicare or Medicaid also will have to be fully vaccinated. Biden is also requiring vaccination for federal employees of the executive branch and contractors who do business with the federal government. Conservative Republican in several states have vowed resistance to the mandate, calling it a federal overreach, but so far have limited options in trying to undercut the requirements. The issue is likely bound for court after GOP attorneys general vowed to sue. The White House has previously accused Republican officials to putting politics ahead of safety, noting the effectiveness of vaccines at preventing people from dying from a virus that has already killed more than 730,000 Americans. Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshal said earlier this month that his office is preparing to challenge the mandate on employers once the rule is unveiled. Ivey's executive order directed executive agencies to cooperate with Marshall's office in furtherance of litigation brought by the State to challenge any federally imposed COVID-19 vaccination requirement. In a statement Monday, the Alabama Democratic Party said vaccine mandates are nothing new," noting that states and the federal governments mandate a number of things to protect people including seat belts, restaurant inspections and numerous other vaccinations that are required to go to school or join the military. Whats wrong with a mandate that protects public health and keeps our hospitals from overcrowding? the party stated. LA CROSSE, Wis. (AP) Mike Kendhammer used to look out his dining room window and see large groups of deer gathered in a field below. In the morning, I would have my coffee and read the paper, and I would always see a dozen, 15 or 20, he said. These days, the deer are gone. Since last year, Kendhammer has found 15 dead deer on his 220-acre property just south of La Crosse. He said three other deer who died under similar circumstances have been found on a neighboring property. Last month, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources identified the cause of at least two of the deaths: epizootic hemorrhagic disease. Kendhammer believes EHD killed the remaining 16 deer. He also believes there are dead deer on his and neighboring properties that have yet to be found, the La Crosse Tribune reported. Its devastated the deer herd in this valley, he said. Its like they all disappeared. EHD has surfaced elsewhere in the area. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources reported Oct. 11 that confirmed cases were discovered in Houston and Winona counties. Later in the week, Wisconsin DNR confirmed a case in Juneau County and a third La Crosse County case in the town of Medary. DNR biologists in Wisconsin and Minnesota dont believe EHD poses the same threat to the deer herd as chronic wasting disease. EHD is common in the southern and western United States and was identified for the first time in Wisconsin in 2002, when 14 deer died in Iowa County. There were reports of EHD last year in Buffalo and Oconto counties, but only 50 deer died statewide, according Wisconsin DNR. However, Wisconsin DNR wildlife technician Paul Napierala isnt surprised that a local landowner would notice a population decline triggered by EHD. Its usually a local die-off, and it stops at the local level, Napierala said. We typically dont adjust any hunting quotas, even at the county level. The virus that causes EHD is carried by a biting gnat known as a midge. Infected deer with the most severe symptoms salivate excessively, have foam present around the nose (sometimes with blood), suffer from dehydration and lose their fear of humans. Deer with EHD may look outwardly healthy because the disease spreads rapidly through the body, and the deer shed little weight before they die. Those symptoms match what Kendhammer has seen on his property. We found dead deer by our tree stand, and we couldnt figure out what was going on, Kendhammer said of deer he discovered in 2020. The deer didnt show any sign of stress at all. I could see a little blood coming from the nose and ears. Since the EHD is caused by an insect, the spread of the disease is halted annually with the arrival of cold weather, said Minnesota DNR wildlife health program supervisor Michelle Carstensen. It ends as soon as we get the first frost, Carstensen said. Its really a short-term disease generally late summer into the fall. Unseasonably warm weather in western Wisconsin has given the disease additional time to spread. As of Friday, the La Crosse area had yet to experience its first frost, which normally arrives the first week of October. A later frost would give the midge population a better climate to thrive, Napierala said. Carstensen said Minnesota had been insulated from EHD until 2019, when the disease first appeared in Houston and Stearns counties. She said drought conditions in Minnesota played a role in the spread as deer congregated around shrinking water holes. All of our neighboring states have been dealing with EHD for years, she said. We dont get a lot of reports in Minnesota maybe a dozen overall but its an underestimate of the disease. Biologists say the virus doesnt infect humans even if a person handles infected deer, eats venison from infected deer or are bitten by infected midges. However, Carstensen said people shouldnt consume deer that exhibit any signs of poor health. Carstensen said EHD is very different from CWD, which is linked to a prion with a much longer incubation period. CWD is super slow, she said. Its a different pathogen. It has nothing to do with temperature or insects. It has a different cycle and presentation. Kendhammer and his neighbors found four bucks and six does in 2020 and one buck and seven does this year. He said all four bucks from last year would have registered a Pope and Young score. Hes concerned about the impact of the disease and said it can transmitted to other hoofed animals. He said the DNR needs to treat EHD with a sense of urgency. It would be an extreme disaster for Wisconsin if deer keep tipping over, Kendhammer said. Napierala said his department is monitoring the situation and asked for the publics help. The biggest thing is for hunters and landowners to notify the DNR so we can better track the geographic distribution of the disease, Napierala said. We really depend on landowners and hunters in these situations. HART, Mich. (AP) More than 100 people gathered Sunday in a small Michigan town to pray for the safe release of a local family among 17 members of a missionary group kidnapped by a gang in Haiti more than a week ago. The vigil in the western Michigan community of Hart took place after a video was released Thursday showing the leader of the 400 Mawozo gang threatening to kill those abducted if his demands are not met. Haitian officials have said the gang is seeking $1 million ransom per person. Those at Sundays vigil in a town park sang and prayed with pastors from several area churches for the safety of the missionaries. Among those kidnapped were four children and one of their parents from a family in Hart, a town near Lake Michigan about 200 miles (321.87 kilometers) northwest of Detroit, their pastor told The Detroit News. The youngest from the family is under 10, said minister Ron Marks, who did not identify them. They arrived in Haiti earlier this month, he said. Linda Dodge of nearby Hesperia, Michigan, said Sunday that her church congregation was shocked by the kidnapping. The best thing we could hope for is that this family will shine so bright for Jesus among their captors, that they will terrify the captors out of doing anything to them at all, Dodge said. That that love will shine through so much, that they are just afraid to touch them in any way. A spokesman for Ohio-based Christian Aid Ministries has said the families of those kidnapped are from Amish, Mennonite and other conservative Anabaptist communities in Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, Oregon and Ontario, Canada. The FBI is helping Haitian authorities recover the 16 Americans and one Canadian. A Haitian human rights group said their Haitian driver also was kidnapped. ___ Anna Liz Nichols is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Christian Abraham / Hearst Connecticut Media NEW HAVEN Police are investigating a report of a person who was shot on Sherman Avenue Sunday evening, according to officials. Officers are still on scene, said Scott Shumway, public information officer for the New Haven Police Department. RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) What works and what doesnt when it comes to encouraging people to get vaccinated against COVID-19? A new study in North Carolina shows that offering $25 to people getting their first shot was an important factor, while long odds at a big lottery prize made little difference. The study released on Monday examined a pilot program offering $25 to residents in four counties. Of the 401 vaccine recipients surveyed, more than two-fifths cited the prepaid cash cards as an important reason they went in for a shot. Hispanic people, other racial minorities and residents making less than $40,000 a year were more likely than white and wealthier residents to view the cash cards as a key reason to get the vaccine, according to the report published online in JAMA Internal Medicine. Roughly 1 in 11 respondents said they would not have come in for a COVID-19 shot if the $25 perk was not being offered at participating sites in Mecklenburg, Guilford, Rowan and Rockingham counties. About 1 in 7 people surveyed said they waited to get vaccinated until they learned they could get a cash card or other incentive. With hundreds of millions of dollars being spent to accelerate COVID-19 vaccine uptake, these study findings suggest that this strategy for increasing vaccination merits greater investment, the authors wrote. The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services authored the study in collaboration with researchers at North Carolina Central University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. After the pilot program ended in June, Gov. Roy Cooper and DHHS Secretary Mandy Cohen decided to offer a $100 financial reward and make the perk more widely available throughout the state. Less successful, however, was North Carolina's rollout of a $4.5 million lottery package ultimately won by just eight residents. Four kids aged 12 to 17 who got vaccinated each qualified for $125,000 college scholarships, while four adults 18 or older each got $1 million before taxes. Within the first two weeks of the state announcing the lottery in June, about 118,000 residents got their first shot, but weekly vaccination counts were flat throughout much of June and July before rising in late-July and early-August amid substantial spread of the more contagious delta variant. These large but uncertain financial prizes benefit only a few lucky winners and do not broadly address access barriers to vaccination, the authors wrote, adding that financial rewards should be considered in conjunction with other methods to promote an equitable distribution of shots. The latest data from the state health department shows eight consecutive weeks of weekly declines in the number of North Carolinians receiving a first dose. While more data is pending, numbers released on Monday show only 19,000 or so residents got their first COVID-19 shot last week, which represents the lowest weekly count to date. State health officials ended their $100 vaccine reward in August. The incentives section of the NCDHHS website now directs visitors to find a nearby vaccine location. ___ Follow AP coverage of the virus outbreak at https://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak. ___ Follow Anderson on Twitter at https://twitter.com/BryanRAnderson. ___ Anderson is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. East Hartford Police / Contributed EAST HARTFORD A local man was killed in a crash that left three others with minor injuries late Sunday afternoon, according to police. Just before 4 p.m. Sunday, police and fire units were dispatched to a reported two-vehicle collision in the area of Main Street at its intersection with Sterling Road, Lt. Joshua Litwin said. HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) Connecticut state Rep. Michael DiMassa has resigned from the legislature after having been charged last week with misusing federal COVID-19 relief funds. The West Haven Democrat submitted a short resignation letter, dated Oct. 21, that was received Monday by Secretary of the State Denise Merrill, Merrill's office said. Dear Secretary Merrill: It is with deep regret that I hereby resign from the Office of State Representative of the 116th General Assembly District effective immediately. Regards, Michael A. DiMassa. DiMassa did not return a phone message seeking comment Monday. DiMassas lawyer, John Gulash Jr., declined to comment Monday on the charges and his clients resignation from the legislature. DiMassa, who also resigned last week as an aide to the West Haven City Council, was arrested by FBI agents on Oct. 20 and charged with wire fraud. Federal authorities said he created a company that received more than $600,000 in federal COVID-19 relief funds for services that were never provided. He was later released on a $250,000 bond. The arrest came a week after the city's mayor raised concerns about possible fraudulent spending of the city's share of federal pandemic funds, and prompted calls from legislative Republicans for greater state oversight of the huge sums of federal money being provided to municipalities. DiMassa, 30, formed Compass Investment Group LLC in January with another person, who was not named in the warrant for DiMassa's arrest. Records show the entity was paid $636,783 by the city of West Haven, from February through September, for hundreds of hours of various COVID-19-related services, including lobbying, consulting and site work for clinics, despite never providing any services to the citys public health department, according to the affidavit. The legislator wrote checks to himself ranging in value from $11,847.50 to $87,650, and made cash withdrawals ranging from $8,000 to $10,000, bank records for Compass Investment Group show. The dates of some of the cash withdrawals coincided with cash buy-ins of chips at Mohegan Sun Casino by DiMassa, according to the affidavit. House Speaker Matt Ritter and House Majority Leader Jason Rojas, both Democrats, released a joint statement Monday. Rep. DiMassas resignation is the right move for his constituents and the State. He broke faith with the people of West Haven and can no longer serve as their trusted voice at the State Capitol, they said. Gov. Ned Lamont, also a Democrat, said DiMassa had no choice but to resign. The allegations against Mike DiMassa are serious and very troubling," Lamont said in a statement. "If the allegations are true, he has not only broken the law but also betrayed the public trust. He had no choice but to resign. The citizens of West Haven and all of Connecticut deserve honest government. Lamont, under state law, has 10 days from the resignation to call for a special election to fill DiMassa's seat, and the election must be held 46 days afterward. ___ This story has been corrected to show DiMassa was arrested on Oct. 20, not Oct. 18. WOODBRIDGE Amity Regional High School followed a shelter-in-place status for a time Monday due to a police investigation, according to the superintendent. Jennifer P. Byars said in a brief statement that the shelter-in-place mode means the exterior of the building was locked down and no one could enter. It was not clear just before 1 p.m. when the mode had been lifted but students were seen by a reporter leaving with parents. WASHINGTON (AP) The Biden administration said Monday that diplomatic efforts to get Iran back to nuclear negotiations are at a critical place and that international patience with Iranian delays in returning to the talks is wearing thin. The U.S. special envoy for Iran, Robert Malley, told reporters there is a deep and growing concern about Irans continued intransigence and refusal to commit to a date to resume the negotiations in Vienna. Malley said the U.S. and its partners still want a diplomatic solution to bring both America and Iran back into compliance with the 2015 nuclear deal that former President Donald Trump withdrew from. But, he said they are considering alternatives to the diplomatic path, although a decision will be dependent on Irans actions. Were in a critical place, he said, noting that the Vienna talks were suspended after a sixth round in June due to Iran's elections and that new Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi has had plenty of time since taking office in August to decide on a policy. At this point its hard to find an innocent explanation as to why its taking so long, Malley said. The Plan B being implemented right now appears to be the Iranian one, and thats something we have to be prepared for. His comments follow a series of high-level meetings in Washington, the Gulf and Europe about how to proceed in the effort to get Iran back to the table for serious discussions on how to limit its nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief. Malley met on Friday with European officials in Paris after which France urged Iran to curb nuclear activities of unprecedented gravity. Those talks followed meetings he held with Gulf Arab states earlier last week. Malley's travels came after a series of high-level meetings in Washington between senior Biden administration officials and the foreign ministers of Israel, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and the European Union's diplomatic chief. They have warned that Iran will face greater international isolation, new economic penalties and possibly military action if it does not return to the Vienna talks. The consensus comes amid growing concerns that Tehran is not serious about returning to the negotiations. It also comes as the Biden administration, which had made rejoining the accord a priority in its first months in office, and others, have become increasingly pessimistic about the prospects for such negotiations even if they do resume. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, today October 24, 2021 commenced the interrogation of a former Senate President, Senat... The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, today October 24, 2021 commenced the interrogation of a former Senate President, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim in a case of corruption and diversion of public funds. Anyim who arrived the headquarters of the anti-graft agency in Jabi, Abuja at about 3pm, is currently being grilled by a team of operatives. Though details of the specific allegations against the former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, were sketchy as of press time, a source familiar with the case informed that, it is tied to the corruption and money laundering case involving former Aviation Minister and serving senator, Senator Stella Oduah. Part of the rehabilitation funds to the tune of N780 million were allegedly traced to a company in which Senator Anyim has interest. When contacted, Wilson Uwujaren, EFCC spokesman said he has not been briefed. Senior officials at Manchester United are having an emergency meeting today, to discuss if Ole Gunnar Solskjaer should be fired as manager. ... Senior officials at Manchester United are having an emergency meeting today, to discuss if Ole Gunnar Solskjaer should be fired as manager. This comes 24 hours after the Red Devils were humiliated 5-0 by Liverpool at Old Trafford. Mohamed Salah scored a hat-trick, while Naby Keita and Diogo Jota also got on the scoresheet, as United put the sword in front of their fans. The result saw Liverpool climb back into second place with 21 points, one behind leaders Chelsea, while United dropped to seventh place with 14 points. On Monday, Uniteds managing director, Richard Arnold, cancelled all his appointments to hold talks with the owners, The Glazer family, about Solskjaers position. According to transfer expert, Fabrizio Romano, he tweeted: Manchester Uniteds managing director Richard Arnold is understood to have cancelled all appointments on Monday to hold talks with Glazer about Ole Gunnar Solskjaer position. Decision on Solskjrs future still to be made. Conversations on. The South-East Governors have appealed to the Spiritual Director, Adoration Ministry, Enugu Nigeria, Reverend Father Ejike Mbaka to stop s... The South-East Governors have appealed to the Spiritual Director, Adoration Ministry, Enugu Nigeria, Reverend Father Ejike Mbaka to stop speaking badly about the President, Muhammadu Buharis regime. The Chairman of the South-East Governors Forum, David Umahi, accompanied by Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State made the appeal during the annual harvest, thanksgiving and bazaar of the Adoration Ministry, on Sunday. In video clips which were available to our correspondent on Monday, by the Ministry, Umahi told Mbaka that the governors, Ohanaeze Ndigbo and other prominent people in the zone were making efforts for the release of the incarcerated leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu from detention as soon as possible. Umahi who donated 30m, 200 yams and 100 bags of rice during the thanksgiving service, said that Buhari was working to reposition the economy of the nation to reduce poverty. He advised that those elected into the position of authority should provide good governance to the masses who elected them. The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi Ojaja II, has regretted the detention of Yoruba Nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo aka Sunday Igboho, i... The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi Ojaja II, has regretted the detention of Yoruba Nation agitator, Sunday Adeyemo aka Sunday Igboho, in Benin Republic. In an interview with BBC, the monarch said the agitator rejected advice offered him by monarchs sent to dialogue with him. Ooni narrated that he met the President, Muhammadu Buhari, over Sunday Igboho. During the meeting, Buhari was informed of the reasons for Igbohos agitation, according to the monarch. In his reaction, Buhari was said to have said Igboho needs to be calm and patient. The president also asked monarchs in the South-West advise Igboho against moves that are lawless. The monarch, who said Igboho has a just cause to fight, said he should have been more diplomatic. He alleged that Igboho was misled by politicians, insisting that the activist deserved the support of monarchs in the region. On his part, Ooni said he had forgiven Igboho and already working to get him freed from detention in Benin Republic. He urged other Yoruba Nation agitators to consider dialogue. He said, I have always told the government to call the agitators for a dialogue. Sunday Igboho grew up in Ife. All that he has become today, started from Ife. He fought the Ife and Modakeke war and both lands belong to Ife. He is a son of the soil. He wanted to fight for his kinsmen. He stood up and fought for those killed in Oke Ogun. We thank God for preserving his life. He tried his best but he was overwhelmed by different advice from people. Many people advised him wrongly. He listened to them. I visited President Buhari on his case and we discussed it. I told him that Igboho is our son, he told me that he (Igboho) should stay calm and exercise patience. The president told me that monarchs should warn him to be calm. After I left Buharis place, I called on monarchs and elders of Yoruba land for a meeting to advise Igboho to exercise patience but Igboho did not listen. He started abusing everyone, including the monarchs I sent to him. He hurled so many bad words but he is still our son. God owns forgiveness. Weve forgiven him. If he had listened, he wouldnt have found himself in his current travail. We are trying our best to secure his release. It is better to fight together. We can only achieve our goal if we are united. No one can fight with the government alone? Youve to be diplomatic. Igboho is currently in a detention facility in Benin Republic after he was arrested in Cotonou, Benin Republic, on July 16, 2021, with his wife, while travelling to Germany. This is after Soka, Ibadan, Oyo State home of the pro-Yoruba self-determination activist was invaded by men from DSS around 1:30 am on July 1, 2021, leading to the arrest of 12 of his aides, while Igboho managed to escape arrest. Following the raid, Igboho sued the Federal Government and demanded damages. Igboho asked the court to order the respondents to jointly pay him the sum 500 million as special damages for the damage done to his house and his car and another 500 billion as exemplary and aggravated damages for beaching his fundamental rights with the malicious invasion of his house as well as an order directing the Federal Government and the other respondents to tender a public apology in two national dailies. Igboho also sought an order of the court directing the respondents to return all the items seized from the house. He listed the items to include, N2 million cash, one thousand Euros, travel documents including international passports belonging to him and his family members, gold jewelry and wristwatches, 2 mobile phones, and other items yet unknown but which were allegedly carted away by the SSS. Sarthak Samantray and Aman Kota went to culinary schools in their native India, but they met in New Orleans while working in the French Quarter. Samantray grew up in Odisha in eastern India and attended the culinary program at Manipal University. Kota is from Hyderabad and studied at the Culinary Academy of India. They launched their Indian food pop-up Lufu (which stands for Let Us Feed U) in June and most weeks they serve food from Friday through Monday at changing locations, which have included Miel Brewery, Pals Lounge, The Drifter Hotel, Parleaux Beer Lab, Coffee Science, Cafe Negril and elsewhere. Find the pop-up on Instagram at @lufu_nola. Gambit: How did you wind up cooking in New Orleans? Aman Kota: I graduated from the Culinary Academy of India. After I finished, I worked on a cruise line for one year. I visited 22 or 23 countries. Then I moved to America for work. I came to Branson, Missouri, to do an internship. My friends told me that if I want to learn more about food, I need to come to New Orleans. So I visited New Orleans and I fell in love. So I moved to New Orleans. Sarthak Samantray: I was 19 when I came to the U.S. I had already finished culinary school. We came to America and got jobs in different hotels. It was a coincidence that we used to work for the same boss. He owned several restaurants and bars around the city. We liked it, and we were appreciated. K: We used to talk about food. Its our passion. S: Hed cook something and bring it to my house. Id cook something, and wed get some beers and talk. Thats where Lufu was founded. K: We were like, we are graduates from the top culinary schools in India. Lets show people what they dont know about Indian cuisine. Gambit: What do you think people should know about Indian food? S: We learned French techniques in India, because we have a heavy British influence in our food. In certain parts of India, British food is celebrated. But we have our own idea of food. We also are heavily influenced by Middle Eastern food and Persian food. India was ruled by the Mughals for 100 years. There is a heavy food impact on Indian cuisine. K: People think butter chicken is our only dish. There are so many other things. Were motivated to change the mindsets of people. They always say, Its a curry, so you guys use curry powder? (In India) we never us curry powder. There is nothing called curry powder in India. S: Curry is an English term for any kind of gravy or liquidy stuff. To the English, everything is curry in India. But everything is so different. Some things are yogurt based. Some things are tomato and onion based. Theres different types of masala wet masala and dry masala. We have an upcoming eggplant dish with a wet masala in it, and its coconut based with garlic and onions. Its so beautiful when you put it together. We have garam masala. Its a mix of coriander seeds, cumin seeds, clove, cardamom, bay leaf. You can make your own version. K: All over India, its not about (spicy heat). Its about flavor. S: Here, we see mango lassi everywhere. Thats not even a thing in India. I mean, they have mango lassi, but its not popular like it is here. There are so many varieties. In my part of India, they drink savory lassis. In India, if you go 30 miles, you find different food, languages, people. Olive serves Mediterranean and Lebanese cuisine in the CBD Olvie opens at 7 a.m. daily for breakfast and serves a vast, all-day menu throughout the day. Gambit: What types of dishes do you like to do for Lufu? K: We decided to do authentic Indian food no matter what. We decided to change the menu so that they can always try something different. S: The Royal Frenchmen Hotel was the first to accept us. We did tandoori chicken salad, butter chicken, aloo gobi and gajar ka halwa (carrot pudding). Every week is a different creation based on the produce (that is available). We look at what regions of India weve already covered. We mix and match around India. K: The first classical regional dish was qurbani ka meetha. Its from Hyderabad. Its a dessert of stewed apricot with homemade ice cream. S: We did shahi tukda (bread pudding) from Lucknow, lamb vindaloo from Goa and bhel puri from Maharashtra. Its a stew. K: We do baby eggplant curry, which is famous where I am from. Its a stuffed eggplant. You make a gravy with onions, tomato and marsala and add the stuffed eggplants and finish it with creamy yogurt sauce and serve it with rice. S: It sounds weird to mix dishes from different regions. But when you work with it, its not, because youve studied all these dishes. I studied Indian cuisine from every region and worked around the country. Traveling helped me a lot going into grandmas houses and seeing what they do. Home cooked Indian food is different than restaurant food. Its healthy and light. There are a lot of basic stews with rice, or soup with rice. Indian restaurants use a lot of masala, oil, ghee (clarified butter). K: We want to serve everything. India has so many dishes. Were only doing three a week, so we can do this for the next 20 years. This week, we remember New Orleans music legend and six-time Grammy winner Harold Battiste Jr. The prolific composer, arranger, producer, performer and educator was born on Oct. 28, 1931 90 years ago this week. Battiste graduated from Gilbert Academy and Dillard University, where he formed his first band. After graduation, he embarked on a career as a public school music teacher. After becoming a New Orleans-based talent scout for Specialty Records, he found success in California as a studio arranger. In 1961, Battiste formed AFO (All for One) Records, the first Black musician-owned record label. Within a few months he had produced a million-selling hit song, Barbara Georges I Know (You Dont Love Me No More). It reached No. 1 on the R&B charts and No. 3 on the pop charts. The AFO label also released Ellis Marsalis Jr.s first album, The Monkey Puzzle. Battiste served as musical director for TVs The Sonny and Cher Show and was the studio producer and arranger (and played saxophone) for the iconic duos 1965 hit I Got You Babe. He went on to earn six gold records for his work with the couple. Battiste was also an arranger for early hits for Sam Cooke, Joe Jones and Lee Dorsey. In the mid-1960s, he helped fellow New Orleanian Mac Rebennack get work as a studio musician in L.A. and helped Rebennack create his Dr. John persona. He also produced Dr. Johns first album, Gris-Gris, in 1968. After dividing his time between California and New Orleans for decades, Battiste returned home in 1989 and joined Marsalis as a professor of jazz studies at the University of New Orleans. Battiste died in 2015. Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas is You" Donny Hathaway's "This Christmas" Louis Armstrong's "Christmas in New Orleans" Big Freedia's "Santa is a Gay Man" Vote View Results The St. Tammany Parish Library welcomes No. 1 New York Times best-selling, award-winning childrens author Eric Litwin for a virtual visit on Nov. 5. Author of the original "Pete the Cat" series, "Groovy Joe," "The Nuts" and "The Poop Song," Litwin is known for merging the worlds of music and literacy with his upbeat sing-alongs, guitar playing and storytelling. Register for the 6:30 p.m. event at bit.ly/EricLitwinVirtualVisit2021. After the virtual show, all those who register will receive a link that allows them to re-watch it for a week. Additionally, Litwins performance will be made available to four local schools to replay for their classes through Nov. 12. Learn more about Eric Litwin at bit.ly/EricLitwinSite. In another special event for younger library patrons, there will be a 10 a.m. Touch-a-Truck event on Nov. 6 at the Madisonville library when firefighters bring a firetruck to visit. Children will learn about fire safety, fire prevention and get to see a real firetruck up close. Registration is not required, but learn more about the event at bit.ly/TouchAFireTruckMadisonville. For patrons who enjoy book clubs, there are several options now and more changes in the wings. Although the COVID-19 pandemic shut down all in-person groups for way too long, some clubs have resumed in-the-flesh sessions. The Getting Cozy Book Club at the Covington branch, the Chapter Chat Book Club at the Slidell branch, and the Slidell Pageturners are using a hybrid of in-person and virtual meetings. St. Tammany top stories in your inbox A weekly guide to the biggest news in St. Tammany. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up Meanwhile, the Mandeville Book Club and the Owl Diaries Book Club for children at the Mandeville branch will continue to meet virtually; however, patrons in the Mandeville Book Club should monitor status changes on the events page located at bit.ly/BookClubsSTPL. Patrons can also use this link to register for book club meetings and-or learn more about what each club is currently reading. OTHER ACTIVITIES HAUNTED: Take a virtual tour through haunted Louisiana with reference librarians who will introduce participants to library resources that can help them learn more about these spooky places. Participation in the Oct. 27 event at 6 p.m. is free via Zoom, but it's for adults only. Registration required at https://stpl.bibliocommons.com/events. BOO: Get ready to enjoy a Halloween Spooktacular at the Slidell, Covington and Madisonville branches. Come in costume or regular clothes to enjoy Halloween crafts, trick-or-treating and a scavenger hunt. Oct. 28 in Slidell and Madisonville; Oct. 30 in Covington; 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. in all three locations. Learn more at bit.ly/HalloweenSpooktacularSTPL. TRICK OR READ: Celebrate Halloween at the Mandeville branch location parking lot. Enjoy family story time and Halloween crafts and activities for all ages. Costumes encouraged! Oct. 30, 10 a.m. to noon. Learn more at bit.ly/TrickorReadMandeville . INKTOBER: An opportunity for adults to improve drawing skills during an Oct. 29 online event from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Register at bit.ly/InktoberSTPL . NaNoWriMo: Teens celebrate NaNoWriMo, or National Novel Writing Month, with online Novel Writing 101 Workshops under the tutelage of local author Joy E. Rancatore. This is the first of two online writing workshops for teens ages 12-18. Nov. 3, 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Register at bit.ly/NaNoWriMoSTPLWorkshop1. A homeowner who claims he shot and killed a suspected burglar in his front yard this weekend said he didnt want to fire his gun, but felt he had no choice. During a brief phone interview Monday about the shooting on his lawn in the 2800 block of Paris Avenue, Philip Cooper III said the intruder was a habitual offender (who) kept coming back every night. It was an unfortunate incident, said the 69-year-old. I really didnt want to shoot anybody but this guy kind of forced me. Cooper ended the phone call after saying New Orleans police asked him not to speak about the case. On Monday, police had not yet decided whether to book Cooper with a crime. They also have said little about the case or the dead man, other than to say the shooting took place at 5:15 a.m. Saturday outside Cooper's home. Law enforcement sources familiar with the investigation said Cooper whos in the process of building a two-story addition to the back of his grand home had previously been burglarized. He was at home with at least two relatives when the man he shot apparently jumped over the wrought-iron gate surrounding the house. After the shooting, emergency responders arrived to pronounce the man dead on the scene. Officers confiscated two guns from the house and found a spent shell casing on the balcony. 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 Investigators performed gunshot residue tests on all three people at the home to determine whether more than one person fired, a source said. It was not clear whether the results of those tests had come back Monday. Police havent said whether there were any items on the shooting victim that might support the homeowners belief that he was an apparent burglar. Neighbors on Saturday told a reporter they suspected the man had taken tools from cars on the property as well as a generator from the second floor. At the heart of the police investigation into Saturdays killing is whether the shooting meets Louisianas definition of a justifiable homicide, andda whether it occurred within the curtilage of the home in question. Generally, a curtilage is an area of land occupied by a dwelling and its yards. People in the state can kill without prosecution if they prove they did so because they reasonably believed that they were in imminent danger of losing (their) lives or receiving great bodily harm. The states self-defense law allows people who are lawfully inside a dwelling to use deadly force against someone that they know is breaking in or had broken into the home, and there is no requirement to try to retreat first. When Children's Hospital's John Nickens and 14-year old Jade Sparacello cut the ribbon Monday on a new pediatric emergency room in Metairie, the resulting applause signaled that the end of what once had been an uncomfortable legal drama for Jefferson Parish was fully in the rearview mirror. The opening also furthers a trend in recent health care development in central Metairie. East Jefferson General Hospital stood as a health care island on West Esplanade for most of its 50 years, but it will now be joined by the pediatric ER nearby and a new Ochsner facility going up at Clearview shopping center. "This is good for this whole area," Jefferson Parish President Cynthia Lee Sheng said Monday. Children's new, 11-bed emergency room at the corner of Veterans Memorial Boulevard and Clearview Parkway is a $6 million capital investment from LCMC and will begin seeing patients Tuesday. It offers a range of services including specialized pediatric emergency care for patients from birth to 21 years old, plus a range of outpatient scanning services such as x-rays, CT scans and ultrasounds. On Monday, guests were able to take in the various exam and scanning rooms, which are painted bright colors and festooned with paintings of giraffes, dolphins and racoons designed to help kids relax. But for a while, it didn't seem as if the project would ever come to fruition. Suit against East Jefferson General Hospital over halted ER project dismissed by federal judge A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit against East Jefferson General Hospital filed by the owner of a Metairie building the hospital rented The site was first leased by officials at East Jefferson Hospital in 2016 and intended to serve as a free-standing emergency room. But the hospital, which was then still owned by the parish, eventually abandoned work on the site even after investing millions of dollars into it and continuing to pay the rent. That prompted the building's owner, George Cella, to file a lawsuit against the hospital alleging breach of the lease. 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 A federal bankruptcy judge ruled in the hospital's favor, but when LCMC purchased the hospital last year, they revived the effort. Cella attended the ribbon cutting but directed questions to a spokesperson. Cella's spokesperson, Martha Sassone, said LCMC had signed a long-term lease, but she would not disclose the terms. New $4.4M childrens emergency room planned for Metairie; see details, timeline As Childrens Hospital New Orleans completes its $300 million Uptown transformation this year, the hospital will also expand in Metairie, open Nickens, president and CEO of Children's Hospital New Orleans, said Monday that he was gratified the project was finally complete and praised parish leaders for working with the New Orleans-based health care nonprofit to get it done. Jefferson Parish Council member Jennifer Van Vrancken, in whose district EJGH and the emergency room lie, said it was a good thing for the entire area. "It's a huge deal," she said. Having a pediatric emergency room at one of the busiest intersections in the Jefferson Parish will help the parish in one of its long-term goals, which is attracting more young families. "I think it reflects what the needs are in our community," she said. Despite anticipating less property tax revenue, city revenue estimators are forecasting general fund growth of nearly 5% next year amid continued recovery from the pandemic. The Revenue Estimating Conference on Monday adopted a forecast of $639.6 million in recurring revenue in 2022, up from the $611.9 million that is forecast through the end of this year. That will form the basis of Mayor LaToya Cantrell's proposed annual budget, with departmental hearings before the City Council starting next month. The project revenue growth is driven largely by expected increases in sales tax collections, with the 2022 forecast nearly back at pre-pandemic levels. Sales tax revenues are expected to increase 10%, comprising nearly a third of all recurring revenue. The 2022 sales tax forecast of $202.7 million nearly matches 2019 sales tax revenue. Hotel-motel taxes are also expected to show a strong rebound next year, with a 20% increase over this year. Illustrating just how crippling the pandemic has been to the hospitality industry, however, the $15.6 million estimation for hotel-motel taxes next year is only 70% the amount collected in 2019. +2 New Orleans to use $77 million from coronavirus stimulus to boost 2021 budget New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell's administration is planning to plug $77 million into the municipal budget for 2021, boosting spending on em 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 Including one-time revenue, the 2022 general fund is expected to be about 95% what it was in the year before the pandemic. Hurricane Idas still-undetermined impact on property value is an uncertainty baked into the 2021 revenue forecast and, by extension, the administrations upcoming budget proposal. Assessor Erroll Williamss estimate of a 5% value reduction on all residential structures is based on the length of time the city was without power. Williams has not offered an estimate for commercial buildings. The citys building stock is just over 60% residential, and that, combined with Williamss estimate, prompted the city's finance department to assume a 4% cut in property tax revenue, amounting to about $7 million. The Revenue Estimating Conference is composed of Cantrell, Chief Administrative Officer Gilbert Montano, Chief Financial Officer Norman White, Tulane University professor Mara Baumgarten Force and City Council members Helena Moreno and Jared Brossett. The group is charged with formally adopting revenue projections established by the finance department. Brossett, who said last week he is entering an inpatient addiction treatment program following his arrest on suspicion of DWI, was absent. At the time, the post just seemed to be typical teasing from one massive tech giant to another. Android smartphones have witnessed the evolution of ever-decreasing notches to the point that the latest premium devices have under-display cameras (UDC) to banish this unruly blemish, with Samsung promoting the Galaxy Z Fold 3's UDC in the snarky tweet. But Apple has stuck to its guns with the iPhone - and now the MacBook Pro too - by continuing with its notch usage. At the time, Samsungs snide "Imagine still having a notch in 2021" comment was already ridiculed by many, and things just got worse thanks to the appearance of leaked renders of the Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra. It can be clearly seen that the upcoming Samsung tablet has been fitted with a notch for the front-facing camera. Of course, this will lead to the device having slimmer bezels, which is what OEMs have decided all consumers desire, but these thinner edges mean the selfie camera has nowhere to hideexcept in a notch or UDC solution. There are a couple of ways out of this particular pickle for Samsung: As one of Notebookchecks own writers pointed out, the company could just claim it meant on a smartphone only, thus leaving other device forms open to receiving a notch. Additionally, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra is likely to be launched next year, so having a notch in 2022 is apparently better than having one in 2021. Buy the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 or the Apple iPhone 13 on Amazon On a recent Saturday, my 87-year-old mother was feeling a bit woozy, so she pressed a button on the side of her Apple watch to reveal her ECG, a recording of her hearts electric rhythm. Thirty seconds later, three messages appeared on the watchs screen. One showed the characteristic zigzag spikes of the ECG, or electrocardiogram. The second revealed that her heart rate, usually 80 beats per minutes, was down to only 40. The third said the results were inconclusive, with the advice: Call your doctor. My mother is a hardy octogenarian. She walks about a mile every day, works out with a trainer (currently via Zoom) three times a week and, as she often used to say, planks nearly as well as her former sorority sister, the late Ruth Bader Ginsburg. After leaving a message with her doctors office, she called my brother, a doctor who lives nearby, and told him she was exhausted and just not feeling right. He came over immediately and took her to the emergency room. There, the hospitals electrocardiogram, which provides a more detailed readout than the watch, showed that the electrical signals in the top part of the heart were not being transmitted properly to the bottom. Her heart was beating, but too slowly. The staff rushed her to the cardiac care unit, where doctors implanted a pacemaker the next morning. The helicopter attack took place as Mr. Duque faces what several analysts have called the most difficult moment of his presidency. One recent poll, conducted by the firm Datexco, put his favorability rating at 16 percent, the lowest since he took office in 2018. Despite the peace deal, violence has risen in parts of the countryside during Mr. Duques tenure, and mass killings and assassinations of social leaders continue to be common. Mr. Duques critics have said that he has not done enough to carry out the peace accord, in which the government promised to enact economic aid programs that would foster peace in rural areas hit hard by decades of conflict. His government has said it is working to implement those programs. It has pointed out that the peace deal was an accord with just one group the FARC and that it had inherited conflicts with a complex mix of other violent actors. The pandemic has presented Mr. Duque with additional challenges. In the last week, Colombia experienced the globes third-highest average number of daily Covid-19 deaths, behind only Brazil and India, according to a New York Times analysis, and protesters recently spent weeks in the streets expressing anger over growing poverty and inequality. Dozens of people died in those protests, many at the hands of the national police. It is not clear if the perpetrators of the helicopter attack knew that Mr. Duque was aboard the aircraft. American leaders have depended on our armed forces so much because they are so vast and easy to deploy. This is the peril of creating such a large force: The annual budget for the U.S. military has grown to more than a gargantuan $700 billion, and we are more likely to use it, and less likely to build better substitutes. This means that when nonmilitary overseas jobs like training local government administrators are required, the U.S. military steps in. Other agencies do not have the same capacity. We send soldiers where we need civilians because the soldiers get the resources. And that problem grows worse as the military uses its heft to lobby for yet more money from Congress. At home, the growth of the armed forces means that American society has become more militarized. Police departments are now equipped with battlefield gear and military equipment, some of it surplus from the Army. Former soldiers have joined the violent extremist groups that have multiplied over the last decade. Less than 10 percent of Americans have served in the military, but 12 percent of those charged in the assault on the Capitol on Jan. 6 had military experience. Of course, the U.S. military is one of the most professional and patriotic parts of our society. Our uniformed leaders have consistently defended the rule of law, including against a president trying to undermine an election. The trouble stems from how bloated their organizations have become, and how often they are misused. We must be honest about what the military cannot do. We should allocate our resources to other organizations and agencies that will actually make our country more resilient, prosperous and secure. We will benefit by returning to our history as a big country with a small peacetime military. Jeremi Suri, a history professor at the University of Texas, Austin, and the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs, is the author, most recently, of The Impossible Presidency: The Rise and Fall of Americas Highest Office and the host of the podcast This Is Democracy. ALBUQUERQUE Alec Baldwin was rehearsing a scene that involved pointing a revolver towards the camera lens when the gun which the crew had been told did not contain live rounds suddenly went off and killed the cinematographer, according to the films director, who was quoted in an affidavit released Sunday night. The films director, Joel Souza, described hearing what sounded like a whip and then loud pop. The account by Mr. Souza explained why Mr. Baldwin had been pointing the gun at the cinematographer, Halyna Hutchins. But it did not answer the question of how a gun that was not supposed to contain live ammunition wound up killing her. The director, who was wounded in the shooting, told investigators that he had believed that the gun was safe and that it had been described as a cold gun in firearm safety announcements. He said that guns on the films set were typically checked by the films armorer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, and then checked again by Dave Halls, the assistant director, who would hand them to the actors. On film sets, the order of who handles a weapon typically involves a precise sequence, several armorers in the industry said. But actors had been handed guns on the set by both Mr. Halls and Ms. Gutierrez-Reed, according to a producer of Rust who asked not to be named because of the ongoing investigation. When the moderator asks the panelists when they found stability in their life, Issa doesnt have an answer. She is honest with her audience and tells them that shes unsure and that she may be wasting her time, but shes also talking to herself. Its as if by hearing herself talk about her latest endeavor, she comes to understand the risks associated with it in a way she hadnt before. Throughout the episode, Issa is so focused on her future and past that she is incapable of being present. Whenever she is asked what the name of her company stands for, she stammers, unable to remember. She may have her own company now, but she is still managing apartments and driving a Lyft. This all appears hard for Issa to reconcile but I get the impression that she eventually will. This isnt Game of Thrones. Back in the quad, Molly, three months after her break up with Andrew, is trying to be a good friend to Issa because thats what Molly needs from her. After the struggles of last season, Molly now seems ready to triage the friendship, softly asking Issa, Are we going to be OK? Molly also seems to be caught in a flashback on campus. While on a walk with Issa she remembers the confidence that she used to have. Freshman year, we thought we had it all figured out. The fire that used to define her, her tenacity and ambition, is absent. But I doubt that its gone forever. Kelli, on the other hand, is believed to be dead by the organizers of the reunion she was marked as deceased in the program and even appeared in an in-memoriam video. (Stanky Legg by the GS Boyz plays in tribute when her face appears.) At first, she thinks it might be good for her to go off the grid, but then something else sets in. When she realizes that she is only remembered for her allergy to kale and solid stanky leg, it stops being fun for her. Kellis modus operandi has generally been to go with the flow, but maybe its time to swim upstream. The Journal team left before the call was over. Since then, journalists at The Atlantic, The Associated Press, CNN, NBC News, Fox Business and other outlets including The New York Times have been poring over the first tranche of Ms. Haugens documents, along with a parallel group in Europe, with a plan to publish their findings on Monday (though stories began trickling out Friday night). We live in a time of mega-leaks, enabled by the same digital technology that allows us to surveil one another and document our lives as never before. These leaks have given the leakers and their brokers a new kind of power over the news media, raising tricky questions about how their revelations should enter the public sphere. There are questions, in particular, on the balance of power between the sources of vital information and the reporters who benefit from them. Some leaks, including U.S. military and State Department files, emerged on WikiLeaks or nameless servers in the form of massive data dumps; others, including Edward Snowdens National Security Agency files and The Intercepts revelations of Americas drone wars, came about after journalists had gained sources trusts. Reports on the Panama Papers, based on the leaking of more than 11 million documents, and other examinations of global tax evasion that followed it were brokered through the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, which managed a collaboration among hundreds of journalists around the world. They read the documents, as well as one anothers stories, on a secure server before coordinating the rollout of their articles on social media. In some cases, the leaker or hacker seems to be the one who controls how and when information is released. Thats how it went in the run-up to the 2016 presidential election, when a Kremlin-directed cyberattack on the Democratic National Committee led to the devastatingly timed publication of the committees private documents on WikiLeaks. In other instances, a key source may yield to a unified group of journalists at the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists or elsewhere who add layers of reporting and analysis to the raw material. You cant afford to have the source dictate the story, Gerard Ryle, the director of the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, said in an interview. Democrats are also increasingly eager to deliver the bipartisan legislation to Mr. Bidens desk before elections for governor in Virginia and New Jersey on Nov. 2, to show voters the party is making good on its promise to deliver sweeping social change. And a number of transportation programs will lapse at the end of the month without congressional action on either a stopgap extension or passage of the infrastructure bill, leading to possible furloughs. The legislation is expected to include a one-year extension of payments to most families with children, first approved as part of the $1.9 trillion pandemic relief plan, as well as an increase in funds for Pell grants, support for home and elder care, and billions of dollars for affordable housing. It would also provide tax incentives to encourage use of wind, solar and other clean energy. While aides cautioned that details were in flux, the plan is also expected to address a cap on how much taxpayers can deduct in state and local taxes, a key priority for Mr. Schumer and other lawmakers who represent higher-income residents of high-tax states affected by the limit. But negotiators on Sunday were still haggling over a number of outstanding pieces, including the details of a federal paid family and medical leave program already cut to four weeks from 12 weeks Medicaid expansion and a push to expand Medicare benefits to include dental, vision and hearing. With Mr. Manchin pushing for a $1.5 trillion price tag, Democratic officials are urging for him to accept more spending in order to avoid dropping other programs. Mr. Biden raised the prospect of an $800 voucher to help grant access to those benefits, but he said during a CNN town hall event on Thursday that he believed Mr. Manchin and Ms. Sinema both had reservations about the program. Talks are also continuing with moderate Democrats in both chambers over a proposal that would help lower the cost of prescription drugs. While Ms. Sinema has refused to embrace increasing either the corporate or individual tax rates, she has privately committed to enough proposals that would fully fund up to $2 trillion in spending. The details of those specific proposals, however, remain unclear. Ms. Sinema and Senator Elizabeth Warren, Democrat of Massachusetts, have spoken repeatedly about a number of alternatives that would ensure that corporations and wealthy people pay more in taxes without addressing those rates, according to an aide, some of which Ms. Warren had initially proposed earlier this year. Timothy Snyders On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons From the Twentieth Century appeared in 2017 during a time of postelection panic in the United States. His deep knowledge as a historian of modern Europe allowed him to identify links between fascism, past and present, and also to offer practical advice. A small book, almost a pamphlet (that so-called impulse buy that often sits near the register), and anchored largely in lessons from the Holocaust and from Russian totalitarianism, it was a best seller, readable and galvanizing. Snyder refused to name Trump in its pages, referring instead to a president. Now hes out with ON TYRANNY: Twenty Lessons From the Twentieth Century: Graphic Edition (Ten Speed, $24), brilliantly illustrated by the German cartoonist Nora Krug, and updated to include allusions to Covid-19 (also unnamed). I sometimes sigh at all the graphic adaptations out there, many of which are unnecessary. Not this one. Krug is an acclaimed creator in her own right; her 2018 breakout, the graphic memoir Belonging: A German Reckons With History and Home, uneasily examines her grandfathers Nazi past (which she uncovered) and dodges nothing, facing whatever she can know. For On Tyranny she pulls from a rich and surprising visual palette, including collage elements like historical photographs many of which she hand-colors and images such as wallpaper alongside her own drawings. The words often flow around images, sometimes changing hue. One striking page, a rosy orange, opens with a comment that arrives on either side of a heart enclosing two clasped hands: The hero of a David Lodge novel says that you dont know, when you make love for the last time, that you are making love for the last time. Then below, spanning the page, is a simple banner that bisects the tip of the heart: Voting is like that. Coup in Sudan Sudans military seized power on Monday, detaining the prime minister and other civilian political leaders. The unfolding coup appeared to deal a sweeping blow to hopes for a democratic transition in one of Africas largest countries. Lt. Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the military chief, announced at a news conference that he was dissolving the joint civilian-military government of the country and was imposing a state of emergency. He still vowed to press ahead with elections planned for July 2023. There had been growing tension and signs for weeks that the military was plotting a takeover. The general blamed unrest and squabbling between political factions in Sudan. It was unclear whether the military, which is riven by divisions, was united behind the coup attempt. On the ground: Thousands of protesters flooded into the streets in Khartoum, the capital. Troops fired on pro-democracy demonstrators, killing at least three people and injuring more than 80, according to a doctors group. Hundreds of thousands of foreign workers have gone missing from the labor market as the global coronavirus pandemic drags on, leaving holes in white-collar professions like the one Ms. Mahajan works in and in more service-oriented jobs in beach towns and at ski resorts. Newcomers and applicants for temporary visas were initially limited by policy changes under former President Donald J. Trump, who used a series of executive actions to slow many types of legal immigration. Then pandemic-era travel restrictions and bureaucratic backlogs caused immigration to drop precipitously, threatening a long-term loss of talent and economic potential. Some of those missing would-be employees will probably come and work as travel restrictions lift and as visa processing backlogs clear, as Ms. Mahajans example suggests. But the recent immigration lost to the pandemic is likely to leave a permanent hole. Goldman Sachs estimated in research this month that the economy was short 700,000 temporary visa holders and permanent immigrant workers, and that perhaps 300,000 of those people would never come to work in the United States. Employers consistently complain that they are struggling to hire, and job openings exceed the number of people actively looking for work, even though millions fewer people are working compared with just before the pandemic. The slump in immigration is one of the many reasons for the disconnect. Companies dependent on foreign workers have found that waves of infections and processing delays at consulates are keeping would-be employees in their home countries, or stuck in America but simply unable to work. Employers are having to wait a long time to get their petitions approved, and renewals are not being processed in a timely manner, said Stephen Yale-Loehr, an immigration lawyer who teaches at Cornell Law School. Its going to take a long time for them to work through the backlog. Worker inflows had already slowed sharply before the pandemic, the result of a crackdown by the Trump administration that made it harder for foreign workers, refugees and migrant family members to enter the United States. But the pandemic took that decline and accelerated it dramatically: Overall visa issuance dropped by 4.7 million last year. Dave Chappelle responded to the controversy over his Netflix standup special The Closer which has been criticized as promoting bigotry toward transgender people by posting a five-minute video clip to Instagram on Monday in which he denied that he had been invited to speak to transgender employees of the streaming service and refused. That is not true, he said in the video, which was taken during a weekend performance in Nashville. If they had invited me, I would have accepted. Although I am confused about what we would be speaking about. I said what I said, and boy, I heard what you said. My God, how could I not? You said you want a safe working environment at Netflix. It seems like Im the only one who cant go to the office anymore. The controversy over Mr. Chappelles special has put Netflix at the center of a conversation involving transphobia, free speech and employee activism. Last week, a group of Netflix employees in Los Angeles staged a walkout. Some employees working virtually also shut their laptops in solidarity. Hours before the protest, Netflix released a statement saying that it understood the deep hurt thats been caused, and that it recognized we have much more work to do both within Netflix and in our content. Dave Chappelle responds to Netflix controversy with a video clip from his concert. Image Dave Chappelle has faced criticism over his latest Netflix special. Credit... Yuri Gripas/Reuters Dave Chappelle responded to the controversy over his Netflix standup special The Closer which has been criticized as promoting bigotry toward transgender people by posting a five-minute video clip to Instagram on Monday in which he denied that he had been invited to speak to transgender employees of the streaming service and refused. That is not true, he said in the video, which was taken during a weekend performance in Nashville. If they had invited me, I would have accepted. Although I am confused about what we would be speaking about. I said what I said, and boy, I heard what you said. My God, how could I not? You said you want a safe working environment at Netflix. It seems like Im the only one who cant go to the office anymore. The controversy over Mr. Chappelles special has put Netflix at the center of a conversation involving transphobia, free speech and employee activism. Last week, a group of Netflix employees in Los Angeles staged a walkout. Some employees working virtually also shut their laptops in solidarity. Hours before the protest, Netflix released a statement saying that it understood the deep hurt thats been caused, and that it recognized we have much more work to do both within Netflix and in our content. In his video, Mr. Chappelle addressed the transgender community, saying, Im more than willing to give you an audience but you will not summon me. I am not bending to anybodys demands. Mr. Chappelle said he had three conditions for any meeting: those involved must watch The Closer in its entirety, he would choose the time and place, and you must admit that Hannah Gadsby is not funny. Ms. Gadsby, a comedian whose specials have been successful on Netflix, criticized Netflixs co-chief executive Ted Sarandos this month for defending Mr. Chappelle. Mr. Sarandos had invoked Ms. Gadsby in a statement in which he defended Mr. Chappelles right to artistic expression. Mr. Chappelle also said that a documentary he made chronicling a series of stand-up shows he hosted during the summer of 2020 from a cornfield near his home in Yellow Springs, Ohio, could not find distribution because of the controversy over The Closer. Directed by Steven Bognar and Julia Reichert, the film had its world premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival in June, for the reopening of Radio City Music Hall. Mr. Chappelle said he would release the documentary himself in 10 American cities over the next month. (Ten dates in different cities were listed on the Instagram post.) You have to answer the question, am I canceled or not? he said before dropping the microphone and walking off the stage. Read more Tesla shares surpass $1 trillion in value. Image The bottom line of the electric-car maker Tesla has steadily strengthened since late 2019. Credit... Kelsey McClellan for The New York Times Tesla shares vaulted to new heights on Monday, giving the electric-car maker a market capitalization of $1 trillion for the first time. The latest gain of nearly 13 percent in the days trading came after Hertz announced that it would buy 100,000 Tesla cars by the end of next year. Electric vehicles would then make up more than 20 percent of its global fleet. Teslas share price has risen more than tenfold since mid-March of last year, in the early days of the pandemic, when it fell below $100. The stock closed Monday at $1,024.86, its first close above $1,000. The trillion-dollar valuation is the latest sign of how Tesla has disrupted the auto industry. The company is now more valuable than General Motors, Toyota Motor, Ford Motor, Volkswagen, BMW, Honda Motor and several other automakers combined. Tesla crossed the $1 trillion mark more than three years after Apple became the first publicly traded company in the United States to do so in August 2018 making Elon Musks electric-vehicle maker the latest member of an elite club of highly valued tech companies that dominate the American markets. Today Apple is worth roughly $2.5 trillion, while Microsoft is valued around $2.3 trillion. Amazon and Alphabet the parent of the search giant Google each carry market capitalizations of more than $1.5 trillion. Facebook, a relative runt, weighs in around $930 billion. The almost unthinkable value investors have ascribed to these companies underscores both their remarkable profitability and the fact that they face few serious competitive threats. But their huge valuations are also part of a broad transformation of the American economy over the last 30 years. For decades, the countrys largest companies have been capturing an ever-larger share of business profits. The disruptions of the coronavirus pandemic have only supercharged those dynamics, as more activity shifted to the online economy. The $1 trillion valuation is also a prominent milestone for Tesla, which struggled to make money for nearly two decades. When Tesla was founded in 2003, and for many years after, the chances that sales of electric cars would take off seemed slim. Other automakers viewed electric cars primarily as gas savers, but Tesla envisioned using electric power to make fast, exciting and futuristic luxury vehicles. The company also designed its cars to be controlled almost completely by software that it could update and modify the way smartphones can. The concept built a zealous following of customers and investors. But just four years ago, Tesla was mired in production difficulties at its plant in Fremont, Calif., that Mr. Musk, its chief executive, described as manufacturing hell. Even after straightening out its production difficulties, Tesla remained on shaky financial footing, and it had to raise capital on several occasions. Mr. Musk has said that in the spring of 2018, as it was trying to produce its Model 3 compact sedan, Tesla was just weeks away from financial collapse. But the Model 3 proved a hit, and when Tesla opened a new factory in China in late 2019, the companys bottom line steadily strengthened. It is building additional factories in Austin, Texas, and near Berlin in Germany. How much higher Tesla stock can go is open to question. The companys sales continue to rise, and it is on track to sell close to one million cars this year. But it still faces many challenges, one of which is increased scrutiny of its Autopilot and so-called Full Self-Driving systems. Autopilot, which uses cameras to steer and brake a car with little help from a driver, sometimes fails to see other vehicles, a flaw that has led to a series of crashes, including some that were fatal. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is investigating why Autopilot sometimes fails to see stopped emergency vehicles. It is looking at 12 instances in which Teslas in Autopilot mode crashed into police cruisers or fire trucks with their lights flashing. On Monday, the National Transportation Safety Board, in a letter to Tesla, chided the company for failing to carry out safety improvements for Autopilot that the agency outlined four years ago. Tesla has also faced criticism for allowing a small group of customers to test on public roads a more advanced system called Full Self-Driving. The safety board has criticized the name, because the system is not capable of driving a car without a drivers help, as well as the practice of letting untrained drivers use unfinished safety software. Over the weekend, Tesla sent new Full Self-Driving software to its test customers but only hours later turned it off remotely after customers found that their cars were braking unexpectedly and making other maneuvers some considered unsafe. Read more Advertisement Continue reading the main story Amazon workers on Staten Island show they have enough support to hold a union election. Image Organizers have spent six months focused on a massive Staten Island warehouse known as JFK8 and three smaller facilities in the same industrial park. Credit... Dave Sanders for The New York Times A fledgling union of employees at four Amazon warehouses on Staten Island demonstrated on Monday that they had enough worker interest to hold an election to form a union, the National Labor Relations Board said. The agencys determination lays the groundwork for the second unionization vote at an Amazon warehouse in less than a year. For months, the organizers behind the union push have been collecting signatures on cards that must be submitted to the labor agency to request a vote. Christian Smalls, a former Amazon employee leading the effort, said late last week that he anticipated submitting more than 2,000 employee signatures, though he declined to disclose the final count. The labor board determined that the submission represents at least 30 percent of the proposed bargaining unit, according to Kayla Blado, the press secretary for the labor board. In the coming days, Amazon must notify workers at the facilities via text notifications and signage of the union petition, and the agency will hold a hearing in mid-November, where Amazon can contest which jobs should be included in the bargaining unit and the terms of the election. I have no doubt in my mind that were good, Mr. Smalls said. Amazon was skeptical that a sufficient number of legitimate employee signatures has been secured to warrant an election, Kelly Nantel, a company spokeswoman, said in a statement. If there is an election, we want the voice of our employees to be heard and look forward to it. Our focus remains on listening directly to our employees and continuously improving on their behalf. The Staten Island effort is being organized by current and former Amazon workers aiming to form a new independent union, called the Amazon Labor Union, focused solely on the nations second-largest employer. An election at an Amazon warehouse in Alabama early this year, supported by a national retail workers union, was unsuccessful. But the labor agency is considering throwing out the results of that election because of Amazons anti-union measures. Amazon has said it would appeal if the vote is invalidated. Mondays submission is the result of six months of organizing focused on a massive Staten Island warehouse, known as JFK8, that serves as Amazons key pipeline to New York City and employs more than 5,000 people. Over time, the organizers extended their push to include three smaller Amazon facilities in the same industrial park. Workers at JFK8 have accused Amazon of illegally interfering with their organizing rights. Staff lawyers at the labor board have found some merit to further pursue three of their cases and is still investigating six additional cases, the agency said. Correction : Oct. 25, 2021 An earlier version of this article misstated the timeline for a hearing where Amazon can contest which jobs should be included in the bargaining unit and the terms of the election. The hearing is expected in mid-November, not mid-May. Read more Facebooks profit jumps 17 percent. Image The results were a continuation of the companys strong financial performance during the coronavirus pandemic, which has pushed people indoors toward their computers and other devices. Credit... Kelsey McClellan for The New York Times Facebook said on Monday that revenue rose 35 percent to $29 billion in the three months ending in September compared with the same period last year, while profit rose 17 percent to $9.2 billion, a sign of the social networks financial strength as it faces a public relations crisis over troubling disclosures made by a former employee. Advertising revenue, which is responsible for the vast majority of Facebooks income, rose 33 percent to $28.3 billion. Other revenue, which consists largely of sales of Facebooks virtual-reality Oculus hardware, rose 195 percent to $734 million. Some 3.6 billion people now use one of Facebooks apps every month, up 12 percent from a year earlier. We made good progress this quarter and our community continues to grow, said Mark Zuckerberg, Facebooks founder and chief executive. Im excited about our road map, especially around creators, commerce and helping to build the metaverse a vision of the future espoused by technologists in which disparate parts of the digital world will merge with portions of the offline world. Mr. Zuckerberg has said he hopes for Facebook to be known as a metaverse company in the years ahead. The results were a continuation of the companys strong financial performance during the coronavirus pandemic, which has pushed people indoors toward their computers and other devices. In recent weeks, though, Facebook has faced intensifying political pressure. Frances Haugen, a former employee who became a whistle-blower, has shared thousands of pages of internal documents and has said that the company chose profits over people. The disclosures by Ms. Haugen, first publicized in The Wall Street Journal, ignited a firestorm of criticism from lawmakers, regulators and the public. Lawmakers have focused largely on reports showing how Facebook knew Instagram was worsening body image issues among teenagers, among other issues. On Monday, more than a dozen news organizations, including The New York Times, published articles based on the Facebook Papers, a cache of documents Ms. Haugen took before she left the company. A few hours later, she testified before British lawmakers, saying that the company was unwilling to stop the harmful aspects of its products because doing so could jeopardize profits and growth. Executives have pushed back vociferously on the coverage. My view on what we are seeing is a coordinated effort to selectively use leaked documents to create a false picture about our company, Mr. Zuckerberg said in a call with investors on Monday. Any honest account should be clear that these issues arent just about social media, he added. That means that whatever Facebook does, were never going to solve them alone. Facebook appears to be setting itself up for long-term, expensive growth plans. The company said it would break out its Facebook Reality Labs segment into a different reporting unit on its quarterly earnings statements. That segment will be separate from the rest of the companys so-called Family of Apps Instagram, WhatsApp, Messenger and Facebook proper. Facebook Reality Labs, or F.R.L., is heavily investing in technologies like virtual and augmented reality. Mr. Zuckerbergs long-term goal is that the department helps Facebook become a significant player and creator of the so-called metaverse. But now, the unit spends more than it makes and will for some time. We are committed to bringing this long-term vision to life and we expect to increase our investments for the next several years, the company said in its earnings statement Facebook expects F.R.L. to bring down its overall 2021 profit by close to $10 billion, but Mr. Zuckerberg said he expected the metaverse would bring a massive creator economy over the long term. The next few years, he noted, will be spent building out the infrastructure to support his vision. The company is also retooling some of its advertising systems to deal with recent changes to Apples mobile operating system, iOS, which has limited the amount of information companies like Facebook can learn from iPhone owners. Sheryl Sandberg, Facebooks chief operating officer, said the company was building a way to do advertising analysis with less information from users. Shares of Facebook jumped 2.6 percent to $337.25 in after-hours trading. Read more Advertisement Continue reading the main story The Facebook Papers and their fallout. For weeks, Facebook has been shaken by revelations that have ignited a firestorm of criticism from lawmakers, regulators and the public. Reports by The Wall Street Journal from research documents provided by a whistle-blower put Facebook under a microscope. Those reports showed how Facebook knew Instagram was worsening body image issues among teenagers, among other issues. The whistle-blower goes public. The whistle-blower, Frances Haugen, went public during an interview on 60 Minutes in early October. On Oct. 5, Ms. Haugen testified before a Senate subcommittee for more than three hours. She said Facebook had purposely hidden disturbing research about how teenagers felt worse about themselves after using its products and how it was willing to use hateful content on its site to keep users coming back. In her testimony, she encouraged lawmakers to demand more documents and internal research, suggesting the documents she had provided were just the tip of the iceberg. After Ms. Haugen testified, executives publicly questioned her credibility and called her accusations untrue. But internally, they tried to position their stances to hang on to the good will of more than 63,000 employees and assuage their concerns. Leaked documents reveal internal struggles. Reporters have since covered more internal documents from the company, which owns Instagram and WhatsApp in addition to the core Facebook social network. Documents about Instagram, for instance, reveal a company that is struggling with retaining, engaging and attracting young users. Other documents raise questions about Facebooks role in election misinformation and the pro-Trump attack on the Capitol on Jan. 6. Company documents show the degree to which Facebook knew of extremist movements and groups on its site that were trying to polarize American voters before the election. Employees believed Facebook could have done more, according to the documents. The challenges are global. In India, Facebooks biggest market, the problems are bigger, too. Internal documents show a struggle with misinformation, hate speech and celebrations of violence. Dozens of studies and memos written by Facebook employees provide stark evidence of one of the most serious criticisms levied by human rights activists and politicians against the world-spanning company: It moves into a country without fully understanding its potential impact on local culture and politics, and fails to deploy the resources to act on issues once they occur. The latest revelations, published on Monday morning, show internal research that undercuts the heart of social networking likes and sharing that Facebook revolutionized. According to the documents, researchers determined over and over that people misused key features or that those features amplified toxic content, among other effects. In an August 2019 internal memo, several researchers said it was Facebooks core product mechanics meaning the basics of how the product functioned that had let misinformation and hate speech flourish on the site. Without government-mandated transparency, Facebook can present a false picture of its efforts to address hate speech and other extreme content,Ms. Haugen told Britains Parliament. The company says artificial intelligence software catches more than 90 percent of hate speech, but Ms. Haugen said the number was less than 5 percent. They are very good at dancing with data, she said. Read more PayPal says it isnt interested in Pinterest, killing a potential $45 billion deal. Image Pinterest says it has over 450 million users. Some analysts had questioned the logic of a PayPal-Pinterest deal. Credit... Dado Ruvic/Reuters PayPal, the digital payments giant, said late on Sunday that it was not interested in buying the social media network Pinterest, ending efforts to draft a potential $45 billion deal that would have been one of the biggest consumer internet takeovers in a decade. In a brief statement, PayPal said it was not pursuing an acquisition of Pinterest at this time. A transaction would have been among the biggest ever by PayPal since being spun off from eBay in 2015 and would have bolstered its presence in e-commerce. Pinterest is best known for allowing its 454 million users to pin images and links to their online pinboards and letting them buy goods directly through so-called buyable pins. Pinterest largely makes money through advertising instead of online shopping. PayPal had offered $70 for each share of Pinterest, according to people with knowledge of the discussions, a 25 percent premium to where the digital pinboards stock had been trading before news of the talks emerged last week. Investor reaction to a potential deal was mixed. Shares in Pinterest jumped on the news, while those in PayPal tumbled sharply. Pinterest has performed well over the last year, with its revenue rising nearly 50 percent in 2020 because of a pandemic-fueled jump in online shopping. But some analysts questioned the logic of a deal and suggested the talks underscored PayPals difficulties with tougher competition in its core digital payments business. Advertisement Continue reading the main story Advertisement Continue reading the main story How Russia is censoring the internet. Video The image on the left loads normally, but the same image on the right takes eight times longer to load, simulating what a Twitter user in Russia would experience with the governments technology in use. Russia is putting in place perhaps the worlds most ambitious digital censorship effort outside China. It is using the censorship technology to gain more leverage over Western internet companies in addition to other strong-arm tactics and legal intimidation. The world got its first glimpse of Russias new tools in action when Twitter was slowed to a crawl in the country this spring. It was the first time the filtering system had been put to work, researchers and activists said. Other sites have since been blocked, including several linked to the jailed opposition leader Alexei A. Navalny. READ THE ARTICLE Big Tech earnings and Facebook whistle-blower testimony: The week in business. Image Frances Haugen, a former Facebook employee turned whistle-blower, will testify in Britain. She appeared before senators on Oct. 5. Credit... T.J. Kirkpatrick for The New York Times Monday Facebook earnings: The company is set to publish its financial performance report for the three months that ended in September. Investors are looking for any signs that recent privacy changes in Apples iOS mobile operating system, preventing tracking by some advertisers, hurt Facebooks ad business. Facebook whistle-blower: Frances Haugen, who once worked at Facebook, is expected to testify before the British Parliament. The testimony opens her European tour to meet with policymakers pushing for tougher regulation of Silicon Valley giants. Ms. Haugen is scheduled to visit Paris, Berlin and Brussels. Tuesday Twitter earnings: Investors will look for any clues about whether Twitter will miss revenue expectations because of Apples privacy changes. Twitters shares slumped after Snap, the parent company of Snapchat, reported lower-than-expected revenue on Thursday. Google earnings: Alphabet, Googles parent company, will report its financials for its third quarter. In July, the company reported a profit of $18.5 billion for the second quarter, more than it made in all of 2015. Wednesday Boeing earnings: Investors will be looking for an update on how quickly Boeing can resolve production issues with the 787 Dreamliner and start delivering the wide-body jet. The company announced in July that it would temporarily slow production of the model after identifying new work that needed to be done. Auto earnings: Ford Motor and General Motors will report their financials for the most recent quarter. Investors will be looking at how a global chip shortage affected both companies profits. Ford has already reported that sales of new vehicles in the United States fell about 27 percent in the three months that ended in September. Thursday G.D.P.: The Commerce Department will publish data on gross domestic product in the United States. Economists will look for evidence that supply-chain disruptions and labor shortages are constraining the recovery and prompting inflation. Amazon earnings: Investors will be looking for whether Amazons sales continued to decelerate as businesses opened in the three months that ended in September. Apple earnings: The company will report its financial performance for its fourth quarter, and investors will be watching for the effects that supply chain snarls have had on Apples production ahead of the holiday season. E.C.B. meeting: Christine Lagarde, the European Central Banks president, may offer some insight on when the bank will scale back its bond-purchase programs. Officials are also expected to provide their outlook on inflation. Friday Oil earnings: Investors will find out whether Exxon Mobil and Chevron benefited from a global energy crunch that pushed oil prices up to seven-year highs. The report captures the period when Hurricane Ida damaged oil platforms and infrastructure in the Gulf of Mexico in late August. Read more Advertisement Continue reading the main story Money that was supposed to be on the table last year will most likely be on the table next year. Thats the upshot of diplomatic efforts, announced Monday, to shore up $100 billion a year to help poor countries address climate change. It comes more than a decade after the United States said it would ensure that the industrialized nations of the world, whose pollutants have already warmed up the planet, would raise $100 billion a year starting in 2020. That pledge was enshrined in the 2015 Paris accord, the agreement among nations to address climate change. Now, a week before high-stakes international climate talks begin in Glasgow, diplomats from Canada and Germany said on Monday in a joint statement that they expected significant progress toward the U.S.$100 billion goal in 2022 and express confidence that it would be met in 2023. However, it may not be enough to ameliorate mounting tension and distrust at the Glasgow talks, known as the 26th session of the Conference of Parties, or COP26. Making good on a promise made more than a decade ago is setting a pretty low bar for a successful COP26, Teresa Anderson, climate policy coordinator at ActionAid International, a nongovernmental group, said in a statement. Following a series of endorsements over the last month by scientific panels advising federal agencies, tens of millions of Americans are now eligible for booster shots of coronavirus vaccines. But the recommendations even those approved unanimously mask significant dissent and disquiet among those advisers about the need for booster shots in the United States. In interviews last week, several advisers to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and to the Food and Drug Administration said data show that, with the exception of adults over age 65, the vast majority of Americans are already well protected against severe illness and do not need booster shots. All the advisers acknowledged that they were obligated to make difficult choices, based on sparse research, in the middle of a public health emergency. But some said they felt compelled to vote for the shots because of the way the federal agencies framed the questions that they were asked to consider. Two years ago, the Garner family sought a judicial inquiry a rare process under the City Charter to answer those questions among others. But city officials tried to have the effort dismissed and appealed the initial decision to proceed. This summer, a state appeals court unanimously ruled that the proceeding was warranted, writing that Mr. Garners was the rare case in which allegations of significant violations of duty were coupled with a serious lack of substantial investigation and public explanation. The inquiry centers on five subjects, including the probable cause for Mr. Garners arrest and to what extent the actions of officers other than Mr. Pantaleo were investigated or resulted in discipline. One thing that will become clear is it wasnt just about one day in July 2014, said Alvin Bragg, one of the lawyers representing Mr. Garners family and a heavy favorite to become Manhattans next district attorney in Novembers election. Part of the hearing will be expanding the lens and showing what led to what happened and what did or did not follow it. Mr. Bragg who would work closely with the Police Department should he be elected has been involved in the judicial inquiry effort since its inception. Over two to three weeks, about a dozen witnesses are expected to testify, including officer Justin DAmico, who was Mr. Pantaleos partner during the arrest; Sgt. Kizzy Adonis, who lost 20 vacation days after being accused of failing to properly supervise officers at the scene; and Lt. Christopher Bannon, a police commander who texted one of his officers that Mr. Garners death was not a big deal because we were effecting a lawful arrest. Gene Freidman, a cabdrivers son who schemed his way to become the nations biggest taxi mogul and came to personify both the inflated ascent of the industry in New York City and its crushing financial collapse, died on Sunday in Manhattan. He was 50. His death, in a Manhattan hospital, apparently from complications of a heart attack, was confirmed by the Riverside Memorial Chapel funeral home. Mr. Freidman, who emigrated from the Soviet Union with his parents in 1976, was widely known as the swashbuckling Taxi King and just as widely regarded as a piratical entrepreneur who did for the cab industry early in the 21st century what greedy lenders did for the nations savings and loan associations at the end of the 20th. He hurt so many people in so many different ways, David Pollack, the former head of the Committee for Taxi Safety, an association of fleet owners that once included Mr. Freidman, told The New York Times in 2019. Your headline could be The man who brought down the taxi industry. Since then, things have been pretty tame. In an earlier edition of this newsletter, I wrote about non-fungible tokens and how we should think of them as online communes and not only as get-rich-quick schemes. The mix of shared purpose and alienation in NFT online communities came, in part, from earlier iterations of Bitcoiners, who, aside from spreading their gospel, would proselytize about everything from food choices (for a while, a whole bunch of Bitcoin maximalists I know ate only meat) to politics. None of this was particularly pretty, but it did cohere into something of a vision for the world. The underlying question back then was whether the ideology of Bitcoin was central to its economic viability. Did trying to overthrow the existing order make the price go up or down? That question, at least for now, seems to have been answered. Bitcoins market cap now weighs in at over $1 trillion, and while its hard to tell how this ETF will continue to affect the market, its also become increasingly unclear what Bitcoin is supposed to do. Newer projects such as decentralized finance and NFTs have tenuously taken over Bitcoins role as chief disrupter, faintly echoing the call to leave the central banks and the traditional ways of life. (They do not, however, ask people to move to a lawless patch of the Nevada desert.) This is ultimately a good thing, but it does inspire the question: If Bitcoin isnt about taking power away from central banks and governments, then what, exactly, is it? Community colleges lose again Last Wednesday, the news came out that the White House would be cutting free community college from its highly contested economic plan. Ive written about standardized testing and its effects on diversity efforts in the University of California system in the past. Whats clear to me is that the problem with equity in the system isnt really because of testing, but has to do with overall exclusivity. As long as admissions rates stay low, diversity will continue to be a problem, regardless of whether you require testing. My solution to this problem is to expand significantly the community college transfer program. This would offer students from more working-class backgrounds, who may not be able to afford four years at the university, or who, perhaps in some instances, suffered through instability that made it harder to do well in high school, a better shot at attending the states pre-eminent institutions. Higher education has long been an unsustainable mess. Tuitions are too high, and the admission rates at many state schools are too low, which then forces high school students to focus on competing with one another. Standardized tests have long been villainized as a major culprit, but those who look only at the means of competition oftentimes fail to see the larger picture. The bigger problem is that there arent enough paths into these schools, which, in turn, forces too many students to try to push through a narrow doorway. If state-run higher education institutions actually want to have a socioeconomically and racially diverse student body, which includes students who may not have the wherewithal to join the academic death march, they should reserve a significant portion of their student body for students who want to transfer in from community colleges in their state. The C.I.A. has the closest relationships with the intelligence services from other English-speaking democracies Britain, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. So close that their alliance is named the Five Eyes. Even make-believe American and British operatives are thick as thieves. James Bonds compadre is none other than the C.I.A. officer Felix Leiter, who returns in the latest Bond thriller, No Time to Die. But a hugely important intelligence relationship is with another country: Poland. Out of the way, under the radar, the officers from this nation have functioned for decades almost as an adjunct to the agency. Poland is the 51st state, a C.I.A. official once recalled James Pavitt, a former director of the C.I.A.s clandestine service, as saying. Americans have no idea. The roots of this close relationship stretch back to the Cold War. Its a story of bravery, blood bonds and, of course, betrayal. For the United States, the alliance gave it a loyal ally with assets in some of the worlds most dangerous places. Poland gained the opportunity to rid itself of the Soviet yoke and integrate into the Western bloc. But Poland paid a heavy price. It started in the early 1980s, when a Polish spy named Marian Zacharski led the F.B.I. on a cat-and-mouse chase for months in Los Angeles. Under the nose of F.B.I. agents, Mr. Zacharski transmitted to Warsaw reams of classified documents. He was ultimately captured and convicted. John Palevich a C.I.A. officer who accompanied Mr. Zacharski to Berlin in 1985 for a prisoner exchange remembers being so impressed with Mr. Zacharskis tradecraft that he promised himself one day hed work with, not against, the likes of that Polish spy. President Biden will soon have an opportunity to appoint two new members of the Federal Reserves Board of Governors and renew or replace the chair and vice chair. These officials regulate many of our financial institutions. They play a central role in keeping prices in check and employment stable no small order, especially amid the turbulent Covid-era economy. With these appointments, Mr. Biden can do more than pick someone who follows ethics rules to the letter a problem that has plagued the Fed and Jerome Powell, the current chair. Mr. Biden can reshape the way we think about who should safeguard the national and global economies. Tradition dictates that the ideal governor is impartial and not beholden to the big banks or captured by special interests. This sort of high technocrat lives and thinks in the language of high finance a classic smart person. For the most part, the smart people have been white men like Ben Bernanke and Alan Greenspan, pulled from an exclusive club of graduate institutions like the University of Chicago, Harvard and Columbia. Their tight circle includes men like Jamie Dimon, chief executive of JPMorgan Chase, and James Gorman, chief executive of Morgan Stanley. In their minds, they do not represent an interest group. They do not have a culture or a political point of view. They are above the fray. The result: an exclusive class of central bankers blind to its own limitations. In the face of mounting resistance to his presidency, Mr. Moise and his party fell back on a tried-and-true tactic in Haiti: They turned to the gangs to silence opponents. A coalition of armed groups soon expanded into opposition-led neighborhoods through extortion, kidnapping and sexual violence. Mr. Moise is suspected of having enabled the repression through transfers of money, weapons, vehicles and even police uniforms. Corruption within the H.N.P. and a shortage of resources also led to a retrenchment of security services in some neighborhoods, reversing the hard-won gains in professionalism and reputation of the previous decade. Some 165 gang factions operate in Port-au-Prince, the epicenter of Haitis crime wave. This year, gangs conducted at least 628 abductions more than a threefold increase from last years total. And although the 400 Mawozo gangs mass abduction of the missionaries has captured the worlds attention, kidnappings of American citizens are not new: In 2020 alone, at least nine U.S. citizens were kidnapped in Haiti. Today, collusion between armed groups and political elites and the H.N.P.s shortfalls have allowed Haitis gangs to supplant the state. By providing protection, services and food in a country where nearly half the population is food insecure, gangs are capturing the loyalty of the people. By wielding weapons and controlling territory, they are rendering themselves indispensable to the social order, enhancing their leverage over future political outcomes. Elections to replace President Moise have been postponed indefinitely. Until the caretaker government led by Ariel Henry can assure Haitians a fair contest one in which they can express their vote free from intimidation Haiti will remain in limbo. There are no easy solutions to address these issues. But international organizations and regional governments do have a role to play in wresting control back from the gangs. A limited footprint of U.N. police could help the World Food Program and other aid organizations serve areas of the country where criminals are impeding humanitarian deliveries. The U.N. should also enhance its advisory work with the H.N.P. and expand its mandate to support the justice system. From 2007 to 2019, a U.N. anti-impunity mission in Guatemala helped that country lock up criminals, dismantle illicit networks and nearly halve its homicide rate. Leaning on the Guatemalan mission as a blueprint, a similar effort could assist Haitian courts in tackling paralyzing case backlogs, while advising and protecting judges and prosecutors as they go after public officials guilty of conspiring with gangs. Unfortunately, what the U.N. can accomplish will depend on what China, a permanent member of the Security Council, permits. As China has traditionally sought to limit U.N. involvement in Haiti, regional bodies like the Organization of American States should also seek to carry some of the weight. It was the reopening night of The Phantom of the Opera on Broadway, and Andrew Lloyd Webber was D.J.-ing the after-party. From a booth built earlier that day on 44th Street in Manhattan, Mr. Lloyd Webber, the plays composer, whose career has lasted decades and who has won four Tonys and an Oscar, mixed music, clapped on all four beats, waved his hands in the air, and bobbed his head before a crowd gathered outside. (He was sporting paprika-hued Beats by Dre headphones for the occasion.) The party followed the first performance of Phantom since the pandemic began, which was attended by Laura Linney, Joel Grey, several contestants of The Bachelorette, some Real Housewives of New York and Senator Chuck Schumer. Outside the theater after the show, throngs of Phantom of the Opera devotees known as phans hoisted their phones to capture the 73-year-old composer playing D.J. as costumed cast members danced and lip synced on the Majestic Theaters balcony behind him. A fledgling union of employees at four Amazon warehouses on Staten Island demonstrated on Monday that they had enough worker interest to hold an election to form a union, the National Labor Relations Board said. The agencys determination lays the groundwork for the second unionization vote at an Amazon warehouse in less than a year. For months, the organizers behind the union push have been collecting signatures on cards that must be submitted to the labor agency to request a vote. Christian Smalls, a former Amazon employee leading the effort, said late last week that he anticipated submitting more than 2,000 employee signatures, though he declined to disclose the final count. The labor board determined that the submission represents at least 30 percent of the proposed bargaining unit, according to Kayla Blado, the press secretary for the labor board. In the coming days, Amazon must notify workers at the facilities via text notifications and signage of the union petition, and the agency will hold a hearing in mid-November, where Amazon can contest which jobs should be included in the bargaining unit and the terms of the election. I have no doubt in my mind that were good, Mr. Smalls said. Amazon was skeptical that a sufficient number of legitimate employee signatures has been secured to warrant an election, Kelly Nantel, a company spokeswoman, said in a statement. If there is an election, we want the voice of our employees to be heard and look forward to it. Our focus remains on listening directly to our employees and continuously improving on their behalf. CAMARILLO, Calif. On a recent Wednesday afternoon, I flew a helicopter over Ventura County, just north of Los Angeles. I took off from a small airport, climbed to about 10,000 feet and banked sharply toward the hills along the eastern skyline of Camarillo. Following a canal as it snaked through the orange orchards below, I sped across the valley, before circling back to the airport. I lowered the helicopter into a hover and landed gently at the end of a concrete runway. The flight was short but remarkable. After all, I am not a pilot. The helicopter was equipped with new technology meant to simplify and automate the operation of passenger aircraft. I flew using two Apple iPads and a joystick mounted inside the cockpit. I could take off, turn, swivel, accelerate, climb, dive, hover and land with a tap of the screen or a twist of the stick, much as I would when flying through the digital space of a video game. The system, called FlightOS, provides a glimpse into the future of flight. The Southern California start-up that designed FlightOS, Skyryse, said it was working with major aircraft manufacturers to deploy the technology on everything from helicopters to small jets. Other companies, including the venerable helicopter maker Sikorsky, a subsidiary of Lockheed Martin, are designing similar technology. The sky was streaked with purple when I boarded the early-morning train from Bangkok to the Nakhon Chai Si District in central Thailand. For the entire hourlong ride, a monk sat quietly in front of me, smiling, gusts of wind swirling the orange robes over his tattoos. We disembarked at the same stop, a small station surrounded by thick trees and rice paddies. I watched as he took a seat on the back of a motorcycle and sped off, followed closely by several other passengers. One of the last people left at the station, I asked the only remaining driver if he could take me to the Wat Bang Phra. A few minutes later, the golden spires of the temple, glowing in the sunlight, came into view. Globally, 109 countries have parental leave available to fathers, which is more than half, and 47 offer more than four weeks. Many rich countries offer more than 12 weeks. Twenty, including Japan, Canada and Sweden, have options for more than a year. For proponents of paid leave in the United States, the broad definition of caregiving for loved ones has been a key demand. We have always fought for a family definition that reflects what American families really do look like, including chosen family, said Lelaine Bigelow, vice president for congressional relations at the National Partnership for Women and Families. This has been a big pillar of ours for a long time. Existing family leave policies in the United States already have a broad definition of caregiving, largely because the country came around to offering leave so late. Many countries started paid maternity leave in the 1920s. The American leave program unpaid and for 12 weeks, for about half of workers started in 1993. By that point, gender norms had evolved and it was common for mothers to work and men to care for children or relatives. The unpaid leave covers people caring for babies; sick spouses, parents or children; or their own medical conditions. Paid leave is rarely fully paid anywhere; the pay is usually a percentage of the regular salary up to a certain maximum. Around the world, paid leave is generally financed through social insurance, via taxes or contributions from employers and workers. The states with paid leave have a similar system. The conditions of the three other people who were injured were not released. The police believe there was only one assailant and that there was no ongoing threat or danger to the community at large from this incident, Chief Lee said. We really cannot at this time speak to any motivation behind it, or anything else that may impact the investigation, he said. It would be entirely too premature to make any of those assumptions. The police did not release the names of those killed, those who had been injured or the suspect. Chief Lee said his officers were working with investigators and hospitals to notify the victims families. At the news conference, Mayor Lauren McLean of Boise said those still at the mall on Monday afternoon were safe and that the city was safe. As we think about those that were hurt today, my heart goes out to those who sheltered in place, those who saw this crime, those who werent sure if theyd see a loved one again, or who knew that they had someone that cared about in the mall, Ms. McLean said. God does things you dont understand, he said. Maybe they need me over there. When he turned 75, Father Luis handed in his resignation, just as every Catholic priest was required to do. That was in 1996. From then on, it was up to his superiors to decide each year whether he would continue as pastor of Cristo Rey. The Great Read Here are more fascinating tales you cant help but read all the way to the end. The Fight of This Old Boxers Life Was With His Own Family. A battle among Marvin Steins family over his fortune broke out, and he suddenly found himself powerless to fight for himself. Taylor Swifts All Too Well and the Weaponization of Memory. The new version of the bitter breakup song luxuriates in its details and its supersize length, correcting a power imbalance in the relationship it describes. The Crypto Capital of the World. Ukraine has an ambitious plan to both mainstream the nations thriving trade in crypto and to rebrand the entire country. Twenty-five years later, he has, undeniably, slowed down, but he regularly gets around without his walker or cane. The first few steps are the hardest, but then he gets going. He sometimes grasps for words in English, but he blames that on decades of speaking mostly Spanish. He still prepares his own dinner in the rectory, stirring a splash of oil from Spain into his canned chicken noodle soup before he microwaves it. Just three years ago, he stopped driving himself around on errands and to visit the sick at the hospital. Father Luis bristles at the notion that his advanced age makes him unsuited to lead his parish. Im here doing what any priest who is 40 or 50 years old would do, he said. Still, the work can be demanding. Even more so when the parish is as bustling as Cristo Rey. There is a reason why we dont still run companies or businesses or parishes at 100, said Bishop David L. Toups of the Diocese of Beaumont. He described Father Luis with his congregation like a grandfather with his children, with his family, growing weaker. President Biden was in New Jersey on Monday to champion his efforts to pass legislation investing in early childhood education and passenger rail service. But the backdrop highlighted a simmering dispute among Democrats that is hampering Mr. Bidens legislative agenda: whether to lift the limit on a tax deduction that largely benefits high earners in states like New Jersey. Democrats including the president, party leaders in the House and Senate, and key factions of moderates and progressives in both chambers are negotiating a package to spend an estimated $2 trillion or less on tax cuts and programs for child care, education, climate change and more. A group of House Democrats from New Jersey have insisted that the package include a change to the state and local tax deduction, known as SALT, which Republicans capped at $10,000 per taxpayer to help pay for their 2017 tax cuts. With a slim majority in the House, Mr. Biden cannot afford to lose more than three Democratic votes there. The SALT limit resulted in tax increases for some Americans, particularly higher earners from high-tax states, and helped Democrats capture some House seats previously held by Republicans in New Jersey, California and elsewhere. Many of those representatives are pushing to lift the cap now. Doing so would most likely amount to a tax cut for some high earners while Democrats are seeking to offset other revenue losses in the bill by raising taxes on corporations and the rich. The Border Patrol had a high-profile role as an enforcer of President Donald J. Trumps harsh immigration policies. Officials at Customs and Border Protection were aware of the Facebook group in 2016, the report said. In 2019, the group had about 9,500 members. Two of the agencys chiefs were members of the group, and both justified their memberships as a way to keep track of their work force. But critics have pointed to the Im 10-15 group as evidence of a deep-rooted culture within the Border Patrol that has led to the regular debasement of migrants. The Project on Government Oversight, an external watchdog group, recently called Customs and Border Protection the federal governments least transparent and accountable law enforcement agency. The agency investigated 13 other racist and sexist posts in the private group in 2016 and 2017, the report said, resulting in a three-day suspension in one case, written reprimands or counseling in eight, and no action in four. The Trump administration had blocked the House committees inquiry, which began in 2019 after the Facebook group was revealed. Customs and Border Protection began providing documents to lawmakers in February, after President Biden took office, the report said. The committee faulted Customs and Border Protection for not having a strong enough social media policy or doing enough to make its employees aware of it. But its main criticism concerned the agencys decision to dole out lighter discipline than what was recommended by its discipline review board. The agencys Office of Professional Responsibility conducted the investigations, the review board made recommendations and a deciding official in this case, a longtime Border Patrol agent made the final decisions on punishment. According to the report, of the 60 employees that the Office of Professional Responsibility determined acted with misconduct, two were fired; more than 40 were suspended without pay; 12 got letters of reprimand; and three were given other punishments, such as suspension with pay. The Department of Homeland Security said four employees were fired, but two were returned to duty after arbitration. It also said 62 of the allegations were found to be unsubstantiated. In one case, the discipline review board recommended firing a Border Patrol supervisor who posted a C.B.P. video of a migrant falling off a cliff and dying on the groups Facebook page, as well as an obscene comment about a lawmaker. But in the end, the punishment was a 30-day suspension. Other punishments were reduced after an arbitration process. The agencys failure to quickly discipline employees after senior leaders became aware of the Facebook group, its lack of specific disciplinary guidelines and the inconsistent punishments it applied all weakened Customs and Border Protections ability to hold agents accountable for misconduct, the report found. Senator Joe Manchin III of West Virginia has pushed Democrats to drop or weaken a second major climate change provision from the sweeping social policy and environmental spending bill that the White House hopes to finalize this week, according to two people familiar with the matter. Mr. Manchin, a centrist Democrat from one of the countrys top coal- and gas-producing states, wants to remove or modify a provision that would impose a fee on emissions of methane, a powerful planet-warming pollutant that leaks from oil and gas wells. He has already effectively succeeded in stripping the bill of its most powerful climate change provision, a program that would have rapidly shut down coal and gas-fired power plants and replaced them with wind and solar power. Democrats are racing to finalize the details of the budget bill this week. President Biden is set to attend a major climate summit in Glasgow this weekend, and he hopes to point to the bill to make the case that the United States, the worlds largest historical greenhouse polluter, is finally taking strong, forceful action to cut its fossil fuel emissions and to push other countries to do the same. Mr. Biden has pledged that the United States will reduce its emissions 50 percent from 2005 levels by 2030. Analysts have found that it would be technically possible, although difficult, for the United States to meet that goal without passing the clean electricity legislation that Mr. Manchin opposes. The broader spending package still includes about $300 billion in tax credits for wind and solar energy, which analysts say could get the United States about halfway to Mr. Bidens target. But removing the methane fee legislation could further weaken his case in Glasgow. A school district in Utah ignored serious and widespread racial harassment for years, failing to respond to complaints from Black and Asian American students who were called racial slurs and physically assaulted by their peers, according to an investigation by the Justice Departments Civil Rights Division. The investigation, which focused on reports from 2015 to 2020, found more than 200 examples of racial harassment in the predominantly white Davis School District north of Salt Lake City, the Justice Department said. Black students were disciplined more harshly and frequently than white students, the investigation found, and Black students were denied opportunities to form student groups. Complaints about such treatment were frequently ignored or brushed off, leading the Justice Department to conclude that the district was deliberately indifferent to the racially hostile climate in many of its schools. The report was published last week as the Justice Department announced that it had reached a settlement with the district. Under the terms of the settlement, the district agreed to create a new department to handle complaints of racial discrimination; to train its staff members to identify and respond to complaints; to teach students how to report harassment; and to offer training to students, employees and parents to help them identify and prevent racial discrimination in its schools. A year ago, Daniel Darling was following news reports about the development of the coronavirus vaccines with eager anticipation. His family had all had Covid-19 themselves, and his children had lost their beloved piano teacher, an otherwise healthy 50-year-old woman, to the virus. The pandemic was personal. Eventually, vaccination became personal for Mr. Darling, too. In August, endorsing the shots from an evangelical perspective cost him his job as spokesman for the National Religious Broadcasters, a largely conservative group of some 1,000 members employed in Christian media. The news exploded not just in evangelical circles but also into the mainstream media, giving Mr. Darling a turn in the polarized news cycle that he had previously observed from the sideline. God has put me at the center of the storm, Mr. Darling recalled thinking to himself in the moment. He was determined not to respond with vitriol. Can I demonstrate forgiveness? he wondered. Can I make an appeal to Christian unity? Now, Mr. Darling has an answer, or at least the beginning of one. He has been named the director of the Land Center for Cultural Engagement at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, an appointment that was announced on Monday. The center was established in 2007 but has been inactive since 2019. The Southern Baptist seminary hopes that under Mr. Darling the center will help shape evangelical conversations on a wide spectrum of political and cultural issues, from bedrock evangelical issues like abortion and religious liberty, to technology, race and immigration. Until a military coup in Sudan, Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok had the daunting task of trying to liberalize his country and lead it to democracy after three decades of dictatorship, while revitalizing its battered economy and normalizing relations with the world. On Monday evening, his whereabouts remained unknown. Mr. Hamdok, 65, an economist by profession, had spent much of his career working in international institutions. But in August 2019, he joined a three-year transitional government that was formed after a revolution that overthrew the dictator Omar Hassan al-Bashir and left more than 100 Sudanese dead. At the outset, the opposition coalition, Force of Freedom and Change, and the armys Transitional Military Council agreed to govern jointly, laying a groundwork for transition to a fully civilian government and democratic elections in 2022. But in recent weeks, there were numerous signs that the army was unwilling to relinquish power, and expose itself to investigation of abuses during the Bashir regime. Last year, Mr. Hamdok survived an assassination attempt in Khartoum, Sudans capital. We paid a hefty price for this revolution for a better tomorrow and for sustainable peace, he wrote on Twitter after the attack. Our revolution should always be guarded by its peacefulness. Troops fired on demonstrators outside the Sudanese army headquarters, killing at least three people and injuring more than 80, according to a doctors group, as pro-democracy protesters flooded into the streets of the capital, Khartoum, on Monday, after the military mounted a coup, detaining the prime minister, suspending the government and declaring a state of emergency. The casualty figures were reported by the Central Committee of Sudanese Doctors, and other witnesses reported periodic bursts of gunfire around the city throughout the day. Nazim Sirag, a well-known pro-democracy activist, and Monim El Jak, an adviser to a cabinet minister, said they knew of at least two deaths. The Sudanese ministry of culture and information said on Facebook that military forces had shot live bullets at protesters rejecting the military coup in Khartoum. Video and photos posted on social media and broadcast on television stations showed demonstrators barricading roads, waving flags and banners, and burning tires, sending plumes of black smoke into the sky. They blocked streets with large stones and barbed wire as their processions grew. Masked protesters beat sticks against jerrycans and drums, brandished tree branches and held their phones to record the unfolding scenes. In a coup on Monday morning, the armed forces detained the prime minister and other top civilian officials. Soldiers killed at least three protesters and wounded more than 80 as demonstrations broke out across the country. Sudanese general says the joint civilian-military government has been dissolved. Image Protesters burning tires in Khartoum, Sudan, after the military detained civilian leaders on Monday. Credit... Agence France-Presse Getty Images Sudans military seized power on Monday, detaining the prime minister and other civilian political leaders in an unfolding coup that appeared to deal a sweeping blow to hopes for a democratic transition in one of Africas largest countries. Lt. Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the military chief, announced at a news conference that he was dissolving the countrys joint civilian-military government and imposing a state of emergency. Even so, he vowed to press ahead with elections planned for July 2023. There had been growing signs for weeks that the military, unwilling to fully share power and intent on protecting its own interests, was plotting a takeover. General al-Burhan, justifying the militarys actions, pointed to squabbling between rival civilian political factions in Sudan. What the country is going through represents a threat, he said. As news of the coup spread, thousands of protesters flooded into the streets of the capital, Khartoum, and television broadcast images of people burning tires as plumes of smoke spiraled into the sky. But soon after that, the information ministry announced that internet connections had been cut, making it difficult to know what was actually happening inside the country. There were reports that soldiers gunned down protesters gathered outside the army headquarters in Khartoum. A doctors group said that at least three had been killed and more than 80 wounded. It was not clear where Mr. Hamdok was taken, or what condition he was in. Asked if the U.S. government knew his location, Ned Price, a State Department spokesman, said, We have not been in touch with the prime minister. Sudans fledgling civilian-military government had been a fragile democratic hope for both Africa and the Arab world since the 2019 ouster of the countrys despised leader of three decades, Omar Hassan-al-Bashir. Last month, the authorities thwarted an attempted coup by loyalists of Mr. Bashir. Then a crowd of antigovernment protesters camped out on the steps of the Presidential Palace in Khartoum for the past 10 days with quiet military support, Western officials and analysts said. The military has also backed a disaffected tribal group that has blocked Sudans biggest port, Port Sudan on the Red Sea, deepening the misery of long-suffering civilians already grappling with soaring inflation and chronic shortages of currency, food and fuel. As the coup unfolded on Monday, the tribal leader behind the blockade announced he was calling it off. Image Sudans prime minister, Abdalla Hamdok, was detained by military forces in an apparent coup. Credit... Brittainy Newman/The New York Times The first sign of the coup came at dawn with the sudden disappearance of Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok. The information ministry said in Facebook posts that the military had detained Mr. Hamdok and his wife, and pressured him to endorse the coup. When he refused, the ministry said, Mr. Hamdok was moved to an undisclosed location. In detaining Mr. Hamdok, the military tore up a deal it signed in 2019, following the ouster of Mr. al-Bashir, when it agreed to share power with civilians until the countrys first free election in decades could be held. General al-Burhan has been heading the Sovereignty Council, a joint civilian-military body that was overseeing the transition to democracy. As leader of that council, he has served as head of state for the past two years. Under the terms of the transition, General al-Burhan was supposed to hand control of the sovereignty council to a civilian leader in the coming weeks which would have put Sudan under full civilian control for the first time since 1989. Sudanese civilian leaders on Monday urged citizens to take to the streets to defend the transition to democracy. The revolution is a revolution of the people, the Sudanese Professionals Association, which is led by doctors, engineers and lawyers, said in a Facebook post. Power and wealth belongs to the people. No to a military coup. It was still unclear whether the military, which is riven by divisions, was united behind the coup attempt. A senior Western official said that some Sudanese soldiers had stood between protesters and members of a powerful paramilitary group outside the military headquarters in Khartoum. Troops opened fire on pro-democracy protesters who flooded the streets, with at least two reported killed. Video transcript Back bars 0:00 / 1:10 - 0:00 transcript Protesters Defy Military Coup in Sudan Pro-democracy protesters filled the streets of the capital, Khartoum, after the military detained the prime minister, suspended the government and declared a state of emergency in an apparent coup. At least three protesters were killed. [Crowd chanting] [crowd chanting] [crowd chanting] Pro-democracy protesters filled the streets of the capital, Khartoum, after the military detained the prime minister, suspended the government and declared a state of emergency in an apparent coup. At least three protesters were killed. Credit Credit... Agence France-Presse Getty Images Troops fired on demonstrators outside the Sudanese army headquarters, killing at least three people and injuring more than 80, according to a doctors group, as pro-democracy protesters flooded into the streets of the capital, Khartoum, on Monday, after the military mounted a coup, detaining the prime minister, suspending the government and declaring a state of emergency. The casualty figures were reported by the Central Committee of Sudanese Doctors, and other witnesses reported periodic bursts of gunfire around the city throughout the day. Nazim Sirag, a well-known pro-democracy activist, and Monim El Jak, an adviser to a cabinet minister, said they knew of at least two deaths. The Sudanese ministry of culture and information said on Facebook that military forces had shot live bullets at protesters rejecting the military coup in Khartoum. Video and photos posted on social media and broadcast on television stations showed demonstrators barricading roads, waving flags and banners, and burning tires, sending plumes of black smoke into the sky. They blocked streets with large stones and barbed wire as their processions grew. Masked protesters beat sticks against jerrycans and drums, brandished tree branches and held their phones to record the unfolding scenes. The people are stronger, the demonstrators chanted. Retreat is impossible, they insisted, a reference to the possibility of returning to the three-decade autocratic rule of President Omar al-Bashir, who was deposed in 2019. The U.S. Embassy said on Twitter that it had received reports that armed forces were blocking certain areas in and around Khartoum, and urged its citizens to shelter in place. Schools, banks and business establishments were mostly closed, witnesses said, as the Sudanese Professionals Association, a pro-democracy coalition of trade unions and other groups, called for civil disobedience. Ahmed Abusin, a 27-year-old businessman in Khartoum, said security officers had surrounded the airport and key government buildings. Gunfire could be heard, he said, as demonstrators flocked to the streets. There was no internet access and it was hard to make calls locally, he said, but no amount of restrictions would deter protesters. This coup has no support at all, Mr. Abusin said in a telephone interview. In the capital, women in colorful veils joined the protests. Some demonstrators waved the Sudanese flag, while others flashed the V for victory sign. We are challenging al-Burhan, one woman said, referring to Lt. Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, the head of the joint civilian-military council who announced the militarys takeover and the beginning of a state of emergency. Protesters, some whistling and shrieking, carried each other on their backs and urged a return to the civilian transition. We are revolutionaries. We are free, they chorused. We will complete the journey. In the city of Omdurman near Khartoum, demonstrators urged their fellow citizens to resist the military. In Port Sudan in the east, hundreds of protesters could be seen gathering before heading off into a march chanting peaceful, peaceful. With the internet and phone networks severely disrupted in an apparent attempt to stifle opposition to the militarys actions, many Sudanese citizens abroad expressed concern. Just like millions of Sudanese in and outside of Sudan, I feel disappointed and angry, Khalid Albaih, a political cartoonist who was about to return to Sudan, said in an interview from Doha, Qatar. He said the Sudanese people were being denied democratic freedoms. Simon Marks contributed reporting. Advertisement Continue reading the main story Tensions between Sudans military and politicians grew in the past few months. Image Sudanese protesters passed a military vehicle in 2019. Credit... Bryan Denton for The New York Times The weeks leading up to Mondays coup in Sudan were fraught with tensions between the military and civilian leadership, which were battling to gain control of the nations future as a key deadline approached. The jubilant mood that reigned when Omar al-Bashir was ousted in 2019 after 30 years in power gave way to sporadic protests, a failed coup last month and accusations from each side that the other had betrayed the ideals of the revolution. Politicians insisted that the military should exit a ruling council ahead of Nov. 17, the date civilians said would signal the end of a three-year transition period. That would have been the first time civilians ruled the country in more than three decades. As the deadline to transfer power approached, civilian leaders, including Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, called for investigations of the military for the role it may have played in massacres and corruption under Mr. al-Bashir. Without a seat in the government, the military worried that it would face investigations it could not control. Last month, tribal leaders accused Mr. Hamdok of failing to deliver on promises, and sent people to Port Sudan, the main commercial artery, to block traffic. That worsened a deteriorating economic situation. Sudan was already battling inflation and a food shortage. Mr. Hamdok accused the military of fomenting the protests as the transition deadline approached. There were wider fears among military officials that civilian rule would lead to them being removed from the gold industry. The armed forces play a major role in mining gold and exporting it to Dubai. They have fears, they have interests and they have ambitions, Yasser Arman, a political adviser to Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, said in an interview at his office in Khartoum last week. We keep the partnership on one condition: that the end game should be a democratic civilian state. As the civilian government gained pace and began carrying out reforms, it quickly became clear that the military would lose power, he said. The U.S. cut off aid to the Sudanese government after the coup. Video transcript Back bars 0:00 / 1:19 - 0:00 transcript U.S. Freezes $700 Million in Aid After Coup in Sudan The Biden administration cut off aid to the Sudanese government in response to the military coup and demanded that the military immediately release civilian leaders and restore the transitional government. The United States condemns the actions taken overnight by Sudanese military forces. The arrest of civilian government officials and other political leaders, including Prime Minister Hamdok, undermines the countrys transition to Democratic civilian rule. The civilian-led transitional government should be immediately restored. It represents the will of the Sudanese people, as evidenced by the significant peaceful demonstrations of support on Oct. 21. Military officials should immediately release and ensure the safety of all detained political actors, fully restore the civilian-led transitional government and refrain from any violence against protesters, including the use of live ammunition. Any change to the transitional government by force risks assistance and our bilateral relationship more broadly. In light of these developments, the United States is pausing assistance from the $700 million in emergency assistance appropriations of economic support funds for Sudan. Those funds were intended to support the countrys Democratic transition as we evaluate the next step for Sudan programing. The Biden administration cut off aid to the Sudanese government in response to the military coup and demanded that the military immediately release civilian leaders and restore the transitional government. Credit Credit... Agence France-Presse Getty Images WASHINGTON The United States froze $700 million in direct assistance to Sudans government in response to Mondays coup, and American officials demanded that the Sudanese military immediately release civilian leaders and restore the transitional government. Ned Price, the State Department spokesman, acknowledged frustrations among Sudanese officials and citizens over the sluggish pace of the transition to full civilian rule and free elections, two years after its longtime president, Omar Hassan al-Bashir, was ousted. But he said the United States would hold to account those who may be responsible for derailing Sudans path to democracy. Mr. Price also warned the military to refrain from any violence against protesters, including the use of live ammunition, amid reports that soldiers had fired on protests, killing at least three and wounding more than 80. Potentially, of course, our entire relationship with this entity in Sudan will be evaluated in light of what has transpired unless Sudan is returned to the transitional path, Mr. Price told journalists in Washington. He said the coup had taken the United States by surprise, though a special envoy, Jeffrey Feltman, was in Khartoum as recently as Sunday. American officials have not been in touch with Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok since he was taken into military custody, Mr. Price said, and they appeared not to know his whereabouts. Humanitarian support to nongovernmental aid agencies working in Sudan will continue, Mr. Price said. The $700 million that is being withheld is the full amount of economic support funding that the United States had committed to the transitional government, Mr. Price said. For it to be released, he said, Sudans military leaders will need to fully restore Mr. Hamdok and other civilian leaders to power. They will also need to release all people who have been detained and refrain from violence against protesters. All are tremendously important to any relationship we might have going forward, Mr. Price said. He did not rule out the possibility of new sanctions in response to the military takeover. Advertisement Continue reading the main story Civilian leaders say the military deliberately crippled the economy to justify a takeover. Image Port Sudan on the Red Sea is Sudans biggest source of commercial shipping. Credit... Ashraf Shazly/Agence France-Presse Getty Images Omar Hassan al-Bashir, Sudans widely despised ruler, clung to power for three decades before a crippled economy, especially the rising cost of bread, led citizens to drive him from the power. The transitional government that replaced him lasted only two years and once again economic hardship played a role in the overthrow. This time, however, there were suggestions that it was no accident. In the weeks leading up to the coup, Sudanese citizens were confronted with shortages of food and fuel throughout the country, the result of a blockade of the countrys main commercial port by a tribal leader hostile to Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok. Civilian leaders said the tribe, a long-marginalized group known as the Beja, had been encourage to block the port by the military, which wanted to show that the transitional government had failed. The blockade, which began Sept. 16, held up hundreds of millions of dollars worth of cargo at Port Sudan, on the Red Sea. Soon, bread lines began to form again in the capital, Khartoum, and long lines were also seen at gas stations. But after the military moved against Mr. Hamdok, taking him and other civilian leaders into custody early Monday morning, and then dissolving the transitional governing council, the Beja announced that the blockade was over. Whatever role the military played, the Beja made no secret of their feelings toward the now-deposed prime minister. In a recent interview he gave as he hid out on a barren stretch of land in a mountain range between the towns of Sinkat and Port Sudan, Mohamed Alamin Tirik, the leader of the Beja community and former member of Mr. Bashirs political party, said the Hamdok government did not represent his tribe. In Sudan, we see dictatorship in many forms, be it from the military or civilians, he said. Mr. Tirik accused the civilian government of hijacking the democratic transition and continuing a long-lasting trend of ignoring one of the poorest regions in the country. The blockade, senior government officials said, was orchestrated by the army to show that the government could no longer govern. The eastern Sudan question is being used to over throw the civilian state, Yasser Arman, a political adviser to Mr. Hamdok, said before he was arrested on Monday. Mr. Arman said the army had tried to give people a choice between democracy on the one hand and hunger on the other. In August and September this year, Sudan recorded price drops for the first time since the transitional government took power in August 2019. Before that, inflation was at 365.8 percent, and the decline gave hope that tough economic reforms were beginning to take hold. In an attempt to reduce the lines at gas stations, the civilian government adopted a policy to increase oil production from oil wells in the East Darfur and West Kordafan states. But in an interview at his office last week, Sudans cabinet affairs minister, Khalid Omer Yousif, who was among several ministers arrested on Monday, said the military had hampered those plans by turning off the valves at the oil fields. They sent very small groups, entered the oil fields and closed the valve, he said. Attempts to ask the military about Mr. Khalids allegations went unanswered. The American envoy to Sudan was there on Saturday as protests gained traction. Image Jeffrey Feltman, the U.S. special envoy for the Horn of Africa, met with Sudans foreign minister, Maryam al-Sadiq al-Mahdi, in Khartoum, Sudan, in May. Credit... Marwan Ali/Associated Press The U.S. envoy for the Horn of Africa was in Sudan as recently as Saturday, urging the countrys military and civilian leaders to press ahead with its planned transition to democracy two days before the military seized power and detained top civilian political officials. The envoy, Jeffrey Feltman, met over the weekend in the capital, Khartoum, with Sudans civilian prime minister, Abdalla Hamdok, who was detained by the military on Monday. They were joined by other leaders, including Lt. Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, who heads the military and a joint civilian-military governing council that was supposed to be overseeing the countrys transition to democracy. Mr. Hamdok also sat on that council before he was detained. General al-Burhan announced on Monday that the military was dissolving the council and taking full control of the government. On Monday, Mr. Feltman said the United States was deeply alarmed at reports of a military takeover of Sudan. The United States has committed $377 million in humanitarian aid to Sudan this year, making it the nations biggest donor. While it pushed the governing council and the military to follow the democratic transition plan and respect the rights of protesters, it did not set specific guidelines that were necessary for receipt of that aid. As we have said repeatedly, any changes to the transitional government by force puts at risk U.S. assistance, Mr. Feltman said on Monday. In his weekend meetings in Khartoum, Mr. Feltman reiterated the Biden administrations support for a civilian democratic transition, the American Embassy in Khartoum said on Twitter. He called on all parties to stick by the constitutional declaration that the military and opposition signed after Mr. al-Bashirs ouster and a peace agreement reached last year by the government and rebel groups. Advertisement Continue reading the main story Reactions to the coup in Sudan from the U.S. and others. Image Sudanese protesters marching in Khartoum on Monday to denounce the overnight detentions of members of Sudans government by the army. Credit... Agence France-Presse Getty Images International organizations and the United States government reacted on Monday to the military coup in Sudan. The military detained the prime minister and other key civilian leaders and restricted access to the internet. The Arab League, the United Nations and the U.S. envoy to the region have all issued statements. More responses will be added here as they become available. Antonio Guterres, secretary general of the United Nations: I condemn the ongoing military coup in Sudan. Prime Minister Hamdok and all other officials must be released immediately. There must be full respect for the constitutional charter to protect the hard-won political transition. The U.N. will continue to stand with the people of Sudan. Ned Price , spokesman for the U.S. State Department: The United States condemns the actions taken overnight by Sudanese military forces. The arrest of civilian government officials and other political leaders, including Prime Minister Hamdok, undermines the countrys transition to democratic, civilian rule. The civilian-led transitional government should be immediately restored. The Arab League: The Arab League expresses concern over the developments in Sudan and calls on the Sudanese parties to abide by the signed transitional arrangements. Human Rights Watch: The military takeover in Sudan strikes a major blow to the hopes that Sudanese from many walks of life had that a transition to a more fair and rights-abiding country was possible. As pro-democracy protesters take to the streets, security forces should protect their fundamental right to protest and refrain from using lethal force as has too often been the go-to response. The international community should press for a return to the civilian transition. The African Union: In a statement issued by the head of the African Union Commission, the groups called for the immediate resumption of consultations between civilians and military within the framework of the Political Declaration and the Constitutional Decree. The Chairperson reaffirms that dialogue and consensus is the only relevant path to save the country and its democratic transition. The Chairperson further calls for the release of all arrested political leaders and the necessary strict respect of human rights. Josep Borrell Fontelles, the European Union foreign affairs chief: Following with utmost concern ongoing events in Sudan. The EU calls on all stakeholders and regional partners to put back on track the transition process. Vicky Ford , Britains minister for Africa: Todays military coup in Sudan is an unacceptable betrayal of the Sudanese people and their democratic transition. Security forces must release P.M. Hamdok and other civilian leaders, and those who do not respect right to protest without fear of violence will be held to account. Jeffrey Feltman, the U.S. envoy to the Horn of Africa: The U.S. is deeply alarmed at reports of a military takeover of the transitional government. This would contravene the democratic aspirations of the Sudanese people. Sudan has been plagued with unrest since 2019. Image Sudans prime minister, Abdalla Hamdok, at the United Nations General Assembly in 2019. Credit... Brittainy Newman/The New York Times After President Omar Hassan al-Bashir, who ruled Sudan for nearly 30 years, was ousted in a coup in 2019, the country began taking tenuous steps toward democracy, but has been plagued with unrest and an attempted military takeover. His government was replaced by an 11-member sovereign council consisting of six civilians and five military leaders, who were given the task of preparing the country for elections after a three-year transition period. The council appointed Abdalla Hamdok, an economist who has held several United Nations positions, as prime minister, and his government immediately embarked on an ambitious program designed to placate pro-democracy demonstrators and rejoin the international community. Mr. Hamdoks government eased decades of strict Islamist policies, scrapping an apostasy law and abolishing the use of public flogging. It also undertook a political and economic overhaul. It revived talks with rebel groups, and began investigations into the bloody suppression of the Darfur region under Mr. al-Bashir, promising to prosecute and possibly hand over to the International Criminal Court those wanted for war crimes there. But stubborn obstacles to progress remained, including the coronavirus pandemic, stagnant economic growth and continued violence in Darfur. Mr. Hamdok survived an assassination attempt, and concerns of a coup swirled when the country entered lockdown last year to limit the spread of the coronavirus. Last month Sudanese authorities said they had thwarted an attempted coup by loyalists of Mr. al-Bashir. Soldiers had tried to seize control of a state media building in the city of Omdurman, across the Nile from the capital, Khartoum, but they were stopped and arrested. Mr. Hamdok blamed the failed coup on Bashir loyalists, both military and civilian, and described it as a near miss for the countrys fragile democratic transition. The army chief of staff had been expected to hand over leadership of the sovereign council next month to Mr. Hamdok a largely ceremonial post, but also one that signifies full civilian control of Sudan for the first time in decades. Advertisement Continue reading the main story Sudan has a history of cutting internet access to silence opposition voices. Image The staff at a Sudanese travel agency in Khartoum trying to work despite an internet outage in Sudan in June 2019, which followed a violent crackdown on protesters. Credit... Yasuyoshi Chiba/Agence France-Presse Getty Images The internet outage in Sudan on Monday amid an apparent coup came as no surprise to the Sudanese, who have endured many such blackouts in the past, including one that lasted more than two months under the countrys former dictator, Omar Hassan al-Bashir. Access was curtailed shortly after midnight throughout Sudan, according to NetBlocks, which monitors worldwide internet access. The organization initially said on its Twitter account that the internet was operating at about 34 percent of normal levels, but that dropped to about 24 percent later in the day. Confirmed: Internet disrupted in #Sudan amid reports of military coup and detention of Prime Minister; real-time network data show national connectivity at 34% of ordinary levels; incident ongoing Live Report: https://t.co/uVVZKchH5S pic.twitter.com/SoyZK2uYQ9 NetBlocks (@netblocks) October 25, 2021 Mr. al-Bashir worked to crush dissent during his three decades in power, waging war against separatists in the south, arresting many who publicly opposed his rule and enriching himself and his allies with the nations oil wealth. As internet access became more prevalent in the East African nation, he often turned to cutting it off to silence the opposition. The longest such blackout lasted 68 days in early 2019, essentially turning off social media including Twitter, Facebook and WhatsApp. It ended on Feb. 26, 2019, two months before Mr. al-Bashir was ousted, according to NetBlocks. Who is Abdalla Hamdok, the Sudanese prime minister detained in a military coup? Image Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok of Sudan, center, during an emergency cabinet session this month. Credit... Agence France-Presse Getty Images Until a military coup in Sudan, Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok had the daunting task of trying to liberalize his country and lead it to democracy after three decades of dictatorship, while revitalizing its battered economy and normalizing relations with the world. On Monday evening, his whereabouts remained unknown. Mr. Hamdok, 65, an economist by profession, had spent much of his career working in international institutions. But in August 2019, he joined a three-year transitional government that was formed after a revolution that overthrew the dictator Omar Hassan al-Bashir and left more than 100 Sudanese dead. At the outset, the opposition coalition, Force of Freedom and Change, and the armys Transitional Military Council agreed to govern jointly, laying a groundwork for transition to a fully civilian government and democratic elections in 2022. But in recent weeks, there were numerous signs that the army was unwilling to relinquish power, and expose itself to investigation of abuses during the Bashir regime. Last year, Mr. Hamdok survived an assassination attempt in Khartoum, Sudans capital. We paid a hefty price for this revolution for a better tomorrow and for sustainable peace, he wrote on Twitter after the attack. Our revolution should always be guarded by its peacefulness. His government repealed Bashir-era laws that placed restrictions on women like what they could study and wear, outlawed female genital mutilation and appointed women to lead five government ministries. In the days before the coup, Mr. Hamdok was due to travel to Saudi Arabia to attend the Middle East Green Initiative Summit, which is aimed at reducing carbon emissions and began on Monday. But over the weekend, after meeting with military members of the Sovereignty Council that had been running the country, he decided against leaving the country, according to an official from his office who was in hiding and spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals. He realized after that meeting that they were up to no good, that this moment was inevitable, the official said in a phone interview. Mr. Hamdok and his wife were removed from their home around 3:30 a.m., the official said. Only God and the people who took him know where he is, he said. Before entering government, Mr. Hamdok had worked for many years for the United Nations, most recently as deputy executive secretary of its Economic Commission for Africa from 2011 to 2018. He earned an undergraduate degree from the University of Khartoum and a doctorate in economic studies from the University of Manchester, in England. During the 1980s, he worked as a senior official for Sudans ministry of finance economic planning. But after Mr. al-Bashir, then an army general, took power in military coup in 1989, Mr. Hamdok mostly worked abroad. Before joining the U.N., he worked for Deloitte & Touche Management Consultants in Zimbabwe. He also worked as an economist at the African Development Bank in Ivory Coast, and as an adviser at the International Labor Organization. Mr. Hamdok was also regional director of Africa and the Middle East for the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, an intergovernmental organization that supports democratic institutions. Abdi Latif Dahir contributed reporting. Advertisement Continue reading the main story Sudan has spent years working to undo three decades of isolation. Image Sudan Protesters, in 2019. Credit... Bryan Denton for The New York Times After decades isolated from the world under Omar Hassan al-Bashir, the leader who was toppled in 2019, Sudan made overtures to Israel, the United States and the International Criminal Court in The Hague, where Mr. al-Bashir is wanted. The countrys transitional leadership, part civilian and party military, hoped that by normalizing relations with former antagonists it could lure badly needed investment. Mr. Bashirs government had squandered revenue from oil production, and in 2011, South Sudan won its independence after a brutal civil war, forming its own nation, taking with it claims to more than 90 percent of the regions oil reserves. That was a blow to Sudans economy, already beleaguered by international sanctions. After the new government formed in 2019, it began taking steps to improve foreign ties. The United States, which lifted many sanctions on Sudan in 2017, took the country off the list of nations that support terrorism last year. President Trump had announced the decision, saying the removal was made in exchange for a $335 million compensation payment to the victims of Al Qaedas attacks on American Embassies in Kenya and Tanzania in 1998, when Sudan was sheltering the group. That deal was made possible after Sudan agreed to recognize Israel, part of a Trump administration effort to pressure Arab nations to normalize relations with the country. Sudans move, however, appeared short of actually establishing full diplomatic relations with Israel. Sudans cabinet also voted in August to ratify the Rome Statute, the treaty that created the International Criminal Court, and said it had agreed to extradite Mr. al-Bashir. But his extradition remains a contentious issue in Sudan, and could now be in serious doubt. Some of the countrys military leaders were implicated along with Mr. al-Bashir in the atrocities in Darfur, a western region. If he were to be extradited, he might give evidence that could expose Sudans military leaders to prosecution. Advertisement Continue reading the main story WASHINGTON The United States froze $700 million in direct assistance to Sudans government in response to Mondays coup, and American officials demanded that the Sudanese military immediately release civilian leaders and restore the transitional government. Ned Price, the State Department spokesman, acknowledged frustrations among Sudanese officials and citizens over the sluggish pace of the transition to full civilian rule and free elections, two years after its longtime president, Omar Hassan al-Bashir, was ousted. But he said the United States would hold to account those who may be responsible for derailing Sudans path to democracy. Mr. Price also warned the military to refrain from any violence against protesters, including the use of live ammunition, amid reports that soldiers had fired on protests, killing at least three and wounding more than 80. Potentially, of course, our entire relationship with this entity in Sudan will be evaluated in light of what has transpired unless Sudan is returned to the transitional path, Mr. Price told journalists in Washington. HONG KONG A Hong Kong court on Thursday sentenced an activist to five years and nine months in prison for shouting pro-independence slogans at a series of protests, displaying the power of a national security law to punish the sort of peaceful protests once commonplace in the city. The activist, Ma Chun-man, was convicted last month of inciting subversion. He had argued that he had not been calling for Hong Kongs independence from China, but instead had wanted to show that free speech still existed under the law, which Beijing imposed on Hong Kong in June 2020. Mr. Ma, 31, faced up to seven years in prison. Human rights advocates called his sentence unduly harsh, surpassing the typical length of prison terms handed down to those convicted of rioting during the 2019 protests that engulfed the city. In the warped political landscape of post-national security law Hong Kong, peacefully expressing a political stance and trying to get support from others is interpreted as inciting subversion and punishable by years in jail, Kyle Ward, Amnesty Internationals deputy secretary general, said in a statement. BERLIN A criminal court in Munich sentenced a German convert to Islam to 10 years in prison on Monday, finding the woman guilty of supporting the Islamic State in Iraq and a crime against humanity for leaving a 5-year-old Yazidi girl to die of thirst in the scorching heat. The sentencing of the 30-year-old woman, identified only as Jennifer W., in keeping with German privacy law, brought to a close one of the highest-profile cases involving crimes committed by an Islamic State member against the Yazidi people. The child and her mother were among thousands of Yazidi women and girls abducted and sold to ISIS as slaves. They were being held captive by Jennifer W. and her husband and forced to work under dire conditions over several months in 2015, the girls mother told the court. The husband would beat them, the mother said, while Jennifer W. did nothing to stop him. Prosecutors said the girl died at the couples home in Falluja, Iraq. She was being punished for wetting the bed, her mother said. ROME Matteo Salvini, the nationalist leader who as interior minister exercised enormous influence in Italy, lost his position in the cabinet and at the center of the spotlight, particularly after a new establishment prime minister effectively sidelined the countrys populists. But this weekend, Mr. Salvinis efforts to regain attention received a star-powered lift when a court accepted Richard Gere, the American actor and humanitarian activist, as a witness in a court case in which Mr. Salvini will be tried for turning away migrants. He is accused of abduction and violating international human rights conventions. You tell me how serious is a trial where Richard Gere will come from Hollywood to testify on my nastiness, Mr. Salvini said to reporters on Saturday after a hearing in the Sicilian city of Palermo. The trial, whose next hearing is Dec. 17, centers on an August 2019 episode in which Mr. Salvini, then the interior minister, refused for days to allow into Italy about 150 migrants rescued at sea by a vessel operated by the Spanish charity Open Arms. At the time, Mr. Gere visited the boat where activists said a humanitarian crisis was taking place in an effort to draw international attention to the situation. CAIRO Egypts authoritarian president announced Monday that he had lifted a four-year-old state of emergency, undoing powers that had given the government sweeping authority to quash protests, detain dissidents and control everyday life in the most populous Arab country. The proclamation by President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, coming amid global criticism of Egypts human rights abuses, theoretically ends a decree that had been renewed every three months since 2017. But critics called it a superficial change that would not fundamentally alter the repressive system that has prevailed in Egypt for most of the past 40 years. In a statement posted to his social media accounts on Monday evening, Mr. el-Sisi said he was not extending the state of emergency, which technically expired on Saturday, because the country had finally achieved enough security and stability to do without it. Egypt has become, thanks to its great people and loyal men, an oasis for security and stability in region, he said in the statement. So, I have decided for the first time in years not to extend the state of emergency nationwide. The mine closed in the 1980s, and the port never became a major thoroughfare. Instead, Eilat is Israels premier resort thanks in large part to Mr. Taggars tenure in charge of the citys tourism department. Its also home to hundreds of Eritrean refugees, who walked into Israel from Egypt, and whove been waiting years for officials to assess their asylum applications. Like the kibbutz where we started our journey, Eilat has turned into something that Israels founders never envisaged. But Mr. Taggar was perfectly happy about that. In fact, he seemed happier than most of the people wed met anywhere else in the country. The sun and the sea helped, as did the nearby coral reef. But there was perhaps something deeper at work, too. From Tekoa to Tel Aviv, from Araqib to Kiryat Gat, concepts of dignity and belonging had become enmeshed in peoples connection to the land often to very specific tracts of it. Anything that threatened that connection tore at their sense of self. But far away in Eilat, Mr. Taggar had a different attitude to the land and who owns it. Twice a year, he witnesses millions of birds migrating over Eilat, heading to and from Europe and Africa, oblivious to national borders. When he stands on the shore of the Red Sea, he sees a narrow stretch of water shared with Jordan, Egypt and Saudi Arabia. And as a former city official, he has practical experience coordinating with those countries authorities. Yet there are reasons to be worried as well. When you look across the years, more serious and more severe flu seasons often follow light ones, Dr. Maragakis said. Thats likely because of how the flu evolves and how susceptible people are to the strains circulating during the next season. Since weve had two light years in a row, we could be in for a bad year if the flu starts spreading, she said. (Cases are already starting to crop up in the United States, but for the most part, levels remain minimal to low consistent with what we saw around this time last year.) In a study published on a preprint server in August that has not yet been peer-reviewed, researchers from the University of Pittsburgh used mathematical modeling to predict how severe the upcoming flu season might be based on this increased susceptibility. They reported that if flu and flu vaccination levels are typical of prior years, 102,000 more Americans than average could be hospitalized with influenza a 20 percent increase. Another consideration is that Covid-19 precautions, like masking and social distancing, which also help to prevent the spread of the flu, arent being used now as much as they were. Theres a lot more commingling, kids are back in school, mask mandates have been lifted, said Dr. Soniya Gandhi, the associate chief medical officer at Cedars-Sinai. So once the flu starts spreading, it may sweep easily through the population. Also, ironically, the fact that the flu was so mild in the Southern Hemisphere could work against us. Scientists analyze Southern Hemisphere flu activity to determine which strains of the virus to include in flu vaccines in the United States, but when the flu is mild there, we dont have as much opportunity to see what strains are circulating, Dr. Maragakis said. If a different strain suddenly appears than the ones that we included in the vaccine, we could have a vaccine mismatch, and that leads to a more severe flu season. How well do our flu vaccines work? Because the flu virus changes so rapidly, and most flu vaccines are grown slowly and somewhat imprecisely in chicken eggs, the strains we get vaccinated against are sometimes not what our bodies end up encountering, Dr. Palese said. And because of that, flu vaccines are not as effective as some other vaccines that protect against viral illnesses. During the 2019-2020 flu season, for instance, those who received the flu vaccine were only 39 percent less likely than people who didnt receive the vaccine to develop influenza. Two doses of the Moderna and Pfizer Covid-19 vaccines, on the other hand, reduce symptomatic illness from Covid-19 by more than 90 percent, and two doses of the measles vaccine provide 97 percent protection. Canada seeks PR partner to encourage its First Nations, Inuit and Metis communities to get COVID-19 vaccinations to protect their health and that of others. APCO Worldwide has signed on to provide strategic communications services for the Technology Innovation Institute of Abu Dhabi. The Oct. 20 agreement with the Institute calls for the independent DC-based firm to promote its technological and scientific innovations and to highlight Abu Dhabi and the wider United Arab Emirates as a key player in advanced technology. The Institute is part of Abu Dhabis advanced technology research council, which is pitched as a disruptor in science. It claims breakthroughs in quantum computing, autonomous robotics, cryptography, advanced materials, digital security, directed energy and secure systems. APCO will receive a fee of $55K plus expenses to represent the Institute through the end of the year. Its three-person TII team includes Melissa Rincon, Alexander Gibson and Thalia Baeza Milan. APCO, on Sept. 30, bid adieu to the Economic Development Board of Bahrain, which it promoted as a great place for business investment or expansion. Pierre Omidyar Luminate is providing press and government relations support for Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen as she tours Europe to spread her message of the need to curb Facebook. Pierre Omidyar, billionaire founder of eBay and champion of reforming high-tech, launched Luminate in 2018 to empower people and institutions to build just and fair societies. In an Oct. 19 blog, Luminate said Haugens courage in coming forward to challenge the self-interested decisions of a trillion-dollar corporation is extraordinary. It said the revelations revealed in her document dump showed that Facebook is not willing to reform and underscores the urgent need for regulatory oversight of Big Tech that will protect citizens rights and the fabric of democracy. Haugen, former Facebook product manager, told a UK parliamentary panel on Oct. 25 that the social platform is aware of its harmful activities but it is unwilling to act because it would jeopardize profits. She stressed the need to tighten the regulation of Facebook. Haugen will meet with French, German and European Union officials in the coming weeks. Luminate also contributed $150K to Whistleblower Air, which is providing Haugen advice and legal representation. On the US front, Bryson Gillette has handled PR for Haugen, who appeared on 60 Minutes and testified before Congress. Bill Burton, founder & president of the fim, was Barack Obamas first national press secretary during his first run for the presidency. Burton served in the Obama administration as deputy White House press secretary. Omidyar is a financial backer of Burtons Center for Human Technology non-profit. 25/10/2021 - Developed countries likely to reach USD 100 billion goal in 2023 Climate finance provided and mobilised by developed countries for climate action in developing countries looks likely to reach USD 100 billion in 2023, according to new OECD analysis. The annual goal for developed countries to provide and mobilise USD 100 billion of climate finance per year for climate action in developing countries was due to have been met in 2020 and to be sustained to 2025. The last OECD assessment of progress, released in September, showed that climate finance provided and mobilised by developed countries totalled USD 79.6 billion in 2019, up only 2% from 2018. The USD 100 billion mark is unlikely to have been met in 2020, although the necessary verified data needed to finalise this determination officially will not be available before 2022. At the July Ministerial meeting preparing for COP26, Canada and Germany agreed, at the request of the incoming UK COP 26 Presidency, to develop a collective Delivery Plan towards meeting the goal as soon as possible. The OECD was asked to provide technical support to this Delivery Plan. Since that meeting and the release of the OECD 2019 numbers in September, further commitments were made to increase bilateral public climate finance by around USD 10 billion a year on average over the period 2022-2025 relative to the period 2018-19 for those same donors. This is on top of commitments made in 2020 and earlier in 2021 by other countries and increased projections of future climate finance from the multilateral development banks. Other announcements will be forthcoming over the coming days, with some already provided to the OECD for inclusion into its analysis. The new OECD analysis released today Forward-looking scenarios of climate finance provided and mobilised by developed countries in 2021-2025 sets out two scenarios for future climate finance. These are based on detailed OECD analysis of forward-looking public climate finance commitments received from developed countries and projections of climate finance from Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs), communicated in the context of the donors Delivery Plan. It is critical that we reach the USD 100 billion goal of climate finance provided and mobilised by developed for developing countries as quickly as possible. Based on the information we have received, our analysis shows that developed countries intend to significantly increase climate finance provided and mobilised in coming years, which is of course welcome. Our OECD analysis of donor information indicates that 2023 is the year when the goal is likely to be met. This level of finance must then be sustained throughout 2024 and 2025. OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann said. He added that, While a number of factors, such as the capacity to get relevant projects underway within the intended time frames, will influence exactly when the USD 100 billion goal is achieved, it is vital for developing countries to have a good understanding of developed countries intentions in advance of COP26 in Glasgow starting next week. Following an analysis in 2016 of estimated climate finance in 2020, thisis the second forward-looking output by the OECD in relation to the USD 100 billion goal. Such analyses complement regular OECD assessments of progress towards the goal, using the same methodology and definitions but carried out retrospectively when the necessary verified data becomes available. The information on future levels of public climate finance provided to the OECD as part of this exercise varies greatly in level of precision, detail and implied assumptions. The pace at which climate finance can be scaled up in practice will depend on many factors including macroeconomic conditions, globally and in developing countries, as well as capacity building and the development of climate project pipelines. Attempts to quantify future levels of aggregate climate finance are, therefore, inherently uncertain. The two scenarios used by the OECD provide two distinct developments for future levels of climate finance in order to illustrate the range of uncertainty. They should not be interpreted as forecasts and may not cover the full range of potential outcomes. The first scenario assumes that public finance is scaled up in line with the information provided, subject to OECD checks to standardise the information and avoid double counting. It also assumes that private finance mobilised by this public finance increases in line with the lowest value of the private to public ratio observed in the 2016-19 period. Given shifts in the expected composition of public finance portfolios, this implies increased rates of private finance mobilisation for relevant projects over the period and results in rising volumes of private finance over the period. The second scenario factors in issues that may result in lower-than-targeted levels of climate finance. These include the potential impact of near-term macroeconomic risks in developing countries, capacity constraints exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, and intended shifts in the composition of providers portfolios in relation to increasing the share of adaptation finance, of grant financing, and of financing for Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDS). The nature of this exercise did not allow for a quantitative aggregate estimate of these portfolio changes over time. However, many providers have made clear their intention to scale up finance for adaptation in both relative and absolute terms within their climate finance portfolios. This shift in portfolio composition is built into the calculations, but the precise numbers used represent the OECDs best estimate informed by historic trends rather than any quantified information from donors. In this context, Mr Cormann emphasised that, It is of utmost importance that climate finance is aligned with the priorities of partner countries for example, as highlighted in their Nationally Determined Contributions or reports to the UNFCCC. This will allow climate finance to respond to stated needs, particularly to support poor and vulnerable countries building resilience against the growing impacts of climate change. I welcome the increased emphasis on this in the developed countries Delivery Plan. Note to Editors At the 15th Conference of Parties (COP15) of the UNFCCC in Copenhagen in 2009, developed countries committed to a collective goal of mobilising USD 100 billion per year by 2020 for climate action in developing countries. The goal was formalised at COP16 in Cancun, and at COP21 in Paris, it was reiterated and extended to 2025. At the request of developed countries, the OECD produces regular analysis of progress towards this goal based on a robust accounting framework, consistent with the COP24 outcome agreed by all Parties to the Paris Agreement as regards funding sources and financial instruments. The OECD figures capture four distinct components of climate finance provided and mobilised by developed countries: bilateral public climate finance, multilateral public climate finance attributed to developed countries, climate-related officially supported export credits, and private finance mobilised by bilateral and multilateral public climate finance, attributed to developed countries. In the lead up to COP26, developed countries have been preparing a Delivery Plan towards meeting the USD 100 billion goal. In this context, they sought support from the OECD to analyse future levels of climate finance from individual counties and MDBs. In addition to public and mobilised private finance, the two scenarios also include flat projections of future export credits based on 2019 levels. For further information journalists are invited to contact Catherine Bremer in the OECD Media Office (+33 1 45 24 80 97). Working with over 100 countries, the OECD is a global policy forum that promotes policies to preserve individual liberty and improve the economic and social well-being of people around the world. Related Documents 25/10/2021 Mexico and Rwanda have joined the Punta del Este Declaration and Yaounde Declaration respectively, adding their voices to these important regional initiatives for tax transparency and exchange of information for tax purposes. Initially signed by four ministers from Latin American countries in November 2018, the Punta del Este Declaration is a call for action to strengthen the regions efforts against tax evasion and other financial crimes, such as corruption and money laundering. With Mexicos adhesion, the Declaration now counts 14 signatories. The work and progress of this initiative are reflected in the Tax Transparency in Latin America annual report. A key output of the Declaration, the publication informs decision makers and citizens on where the region stands, and shows concrete progress made by Latin American countries on tax transparency. The Yaounde Declaration, originally signed by four countries in November 2017, encouraged the African Union to begin a high-level discussion on tax co-operation and illicit financial flows (IFFs) and their link to domestic resource mobilisation. Four years later, with Rwandas support, 31 African ministers of finance and the African Union Commission now back the Declaration. The goal is to ensure that African countries take ownership of the tax transparency agenda and promote it to serve the continents interests in fighting tax evasion and IFFs, thus enhancing domestic resource mobilisation. The Africa Initiative annual progress report, Tax Transparency in Africa, published since 2019, highlights developments and points to remaining challenges. The Global Forum is the leading multilateral body mandated to ensure that jurisdictions around the world adhere to and effectively implement both the standard of transparency and exchange of information on request and the standard of automatic exchange of financial account information. These objectives are achieved through a robust monitoring and peer review process. The Global Forum also runs an extensive capacity-building programme to support its members in implementing the standards and help tax authorities make the best use of cross-border information sharing channels. For more information, please contact gftaxcooperation@oecd.org. Related Documents 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. Laxman Pai, Opalesque Asia: Secondaries private equity specialist Banner Ridge Partners has almost doubled its AUM by collecting $1bn for its latest secondaries fund. Banner Ridge Secondary Fund IV (BRP IV) is the latest fund to be raised as part of the firm's flagship secondary program. The Fund was oversubscribed, receiving capital commitments from a wide range of institutional investors, including pension funds and several prominent family offices. This is the third fundraise since the firm became an independent business in June 2019. Co-founded in 2019 by Anthony Cusano and C.J. Driessen, who formerly oversaw the distressed equity and special situations business for Siguler Guff & Co., Banner Ridge targets secondary deals involving distressed, special situations, and credit funds. BRP IV was the third fundraise since the firm became an independent business in June 2019. It hit a $300m hard cap close for its first fund dedicated to primary fund investments in March. The firm's debut independent fundraise, which it termed Fund III, was closed last year on $550m, including $100m from the New Mexico Educational Retirement Board. Since the strategy's inception in 2010 at its prior firm, the Partners at Banner Ridge have committed over $2.0 billion to over 100 discrete managers focused on distressed, special situations, and credit strategies globally. Through primary, secondary, and co-investments and by partnering with specialist private equity ...................... To view our full article Click here The platform, which leverages SS&C GlobeOp for fund administration, has added the Eze Investment Suite to its stack to support trading, portfolio and risk management. As a result, Gordian Capital will now take advantage of the integrated solution in Singapore and Japan, consisting of 25 hedge, private equity, real estate and fund-of-funds. "We were looking for an order and execution management system that was robust, versatile, and capable of supporting a vast array of different strategies and investment styles for our growing client base," said Mark Voumard, CEO of Gordian Capital. "SS&C's solution provides stability, maturity and functionality we require to support our platform." Gordian Capital's fund management platform provides institutional-grade infrastructure for new fund managers, ensuring they can meet regulatory and operational demands quickly and efficiently. In addition, its open architecture supports multiple pricing models and the full spectrum of liquid and illiquid strategies. "Gordian Capital is an influential player in Singapore's asset management industry. We are pleased to support their growing business," said Frank Maltais, Sales Director, ASEAN, SS&C Eze. "SS&C provides the cutting-edge technology and services our clients need to help meet increasingly sophisticated investor demands." Article source - Opalesque is not responsible for the content of external internet sites Bharat Nirman Limited Land Investment plan is the Long-term based; it is considered the best investment plan on the earth. Since the worlds most popular and costliest woods are Agroforestry varieties such as Sandalwood, Redsandal Wood, Malabar Neem, Mahogany, Agarwood, etc... Our Agroforestry is the sustainable option for great returns on Land Investment. We choose these plantation ventures along with other Fruit varieties like Hybrid Custard Apple, costly Vegetable varieties Paul Dean Hicks, 84, passed away on November 6, 2021, in Las Vegas, NV. Dean was born on August 10, 1937, in Rutledge, MO, first son of Clarence Hicks and Madeline (Ewing) Hicks. Dean graduated from Memphis High School, Memphis, MO in 1956. He married Carol Joan Blackwell (deceased February Ottumwa, IA (52501) Today A mix of clouds and sun in the morning followed by cloudy skies during the afternoon. High 54F. SW winds shifting to NW at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Cloudy skies. Low 34F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. 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. SOUTHFIELD, Mich. (AP) _ Sun Communities Inc. (SUI) on Monday reported a key measure of profitability in its third quarter. The Southfield, Michigan-based real estate investment trust said it had funds from operations of $244.5 million, or $2.11 per share, in the period. ARCADIA TWP. The Arcadia Township Fire Department recently converted its brush truck from its summer outfit to the winter one as temperatures started to dip. Wes Hull, fire chief, said the department uses a unit that slides into the vehicle that has a 160-gallon water tank, pump and other features in the summer for fast response to brush fires. MANISTEE A Grand Rapids man was arraigned on Monday in Manistee Countys 19th Circuit Court on 10 charges relating to an incident involving a shotgun in Manistee in August. Kenneth Ray Williams, 41, of Grand Rapids, appeared in person for arraignment by Judge David Thompson. Williams also had a habitual offender notice which enhances the possible punishment of the charges. He was arraigned on the following: Count one alleges assault with a dangerous weapon which is punishable by up to 15 years in prison; Count two is a felony firearm charge that is a mandatory two-year sentence; Count three is possession of a firearm by a felon which is up to life in prison; Count four is a felony firearm charge which carries a maximum of two years in prison; Count five is a charge of possession of a firearm by a felon which is punishable by up to life in prison; Count six is a charge of felony firearm which is punishable by a maximum of two years in prison; Count seven is a charge of carrying a concealed weapon and it is punishable by up to life in prison Count eight is carrying concealed weapons which is punishable by up to life in prison. Count nine is possession of methamphetamine which is punishable by up to life in prison; and Count 10 is a charge of brandishing a firearm in public which is a 90 day misdemeanor. Williams entered a plea of not guilty to each charge and opted to represent himself. Thompson noted that the Michigan Supreme Court has observed dangers of self representation that may place Williams at a disadvantage. However, Thompson said it was Williams choice to waive the right to representation. On Aug. 9, the Manistee City Police department reported in a news release that it was dispatched to a call on the 300 block of Fifth Avenue for a report that a man was threatening another person with a shotgun. The man reportedly fled the scene in a vehicle. Responding officers were able to locate the vehicle and suspect a couple blocks from the scene. A subsequent investigation resulted in the seizure of a shotgun, a stolen handgun and controlled substances, reads part of the previous news release. In August, Williams had been lodged at the Manistee County Jail in August and bond was set at $200,000, 10% cash or surety. At arraignment on Monday, Thompson said Williams bond would be continued. Rural communities could receive funding to shift responses to mental health emergencies from law enforcement to trained mental health professionals if two Senate bills pass. The legislation would establish community grants to assist local governments with increasing crisis response programs and diverting people with mental health conditions from jails. One bill would allow communities to create and expand more crisis intervention services, including hotlines, counseling, and mental health related emergency response calls. It is sponsored by Sen. Stephanie Chang, D-Detroit. All communities are eligible for funding, but rural communities would receive priority. Chang said she has been talking with social workers and law enforcement offices across the state. She emphasized the importance of allowing trained mental health professionals to respond to emergency calls. So many people who call for help arent necessarily getting the help they need, Chang said. Its so important that were really using our taxpayer dollars wisely and making sure that people are directed to the appropriate services. The program could mean that fewer of these calls would end in arrests, she said Last summer we started to work with others to think about how we can address the fact that we have so many people who have a mental health issue and are forced into interactions with the police, Chang said. Unfortunately, some people have gotten injured or killed. One result of increased funding could be sending unarmed mental health professionals to respond to mental health related emergency calls, according to a press release from Sen. Rick Outman, R-Six Lakes. I think the state could provide more tools to help deal with mental health emergencies instead of just tossing the issue on the backs of our already-overworked officers, Outman said. Outman sponsored another bill in the package that would create grants for local diversion programs. That bill defines those as programs where an arrested individual with a behavioral health disorder is routed into treatment rather than into the criminal justice system. Providing such an alternative pipeline would allow law enforcement to focus on the legal matters they are trained and equipped for, Outman said. Keeping people with mental health challenges in jail is expensive and over time has proven to be quite counterproductive, Outman said. These bills encourage and help fund alternative treatment options that direct people toward more appropriate care instead of just sending them to jail without addressing the underlying issue. Approximately 20% of the states prisoner population is enrolled in a mental health program, according to the Department of Corrections. Services range from temporary counseling to inpatient placements. This bill would directly impact Michigan jails rather than prisons, according to Chris Gautz, a public information officer for the department, which supports the legislation. But the prison system could benefit. We hope the effects down the road would be fewer people entering the prison system, which would only be a good thing, Gautz said. We do want to see people with mental health issues diverted from the prison system. The agency has spent just over $5 million on mental health in prisons during this fiscal year, according to department data. Its projected expenditures for the year are slightly over $50 million. The state Department of Health and Human Services receives an annual grant of approximately $13 million to fund the public mental health system. That department hasnt taken a position, said Bob Wheaton, a public information officer for the agency. Despite state funding, nearly 95% of individual mental health cases are handled through Medicaid, according to Robert Sheehan, the chief executive officer of the Community Mental Health Association of Michigan. Theres not much in the budget for people without Medicaid, he said. Sheehan said there are currently around 325,000 Michigan residents who get service through the public mental health system. We represent all the public mental health centers, and everything across the board is used a lot, from crisis services to support in the home, Sheehan said. Priority for the funds from the legislation is in rural areas counties without urbanized areas of at least 50,000 people. A state task force on jail and pretrial incarceration found that the percentage of people with mental illnesses in jails was particularly high in rural areas, Chang said. Sheehan said the emphasis on rural areas is due to the response time of mobile crisis units, which are teams that provide immediate response to mental health crises across the state. Theres a workforce shortage in behavior health for psychiatrists, social workers, psychologists and direct care workers, Sheehan said. The bills are needed in rural areas because theyre looking to fund mobile crisis units. In rural areas, if you send a team out they can be gone for the whole day in one visit, he said. Sheehan said more funding could improve the response times and address shortages. The public system in Michigan is one of the best in the country actually, Sheehan said, and these two bills close the financing gap. The bills passed in the Senate and await action in the House. Senate Bill 687, Create school choice tax credit and K-12 scholarships program: Passed 20 to 16 in the Senate To create a K-12 student opportunity scholarship program that would allow individuals and companies to get a tax credit for contributing to a nonprofit scholarship organization that would provide grants to lower income families to pay tuition at a non-pubic school, or pay for other education expenses, services and supplies. Beneficiaries would get individual accounts from which families could draw money for permitted expenses. Senate Bill 688 and House Bill 5405 would authorize up to $500 million in annual tax credits for this, which would increase with demand according to a specified formula. 33 Sen. Rick Outman R - Six Lakes Y 35 Sen. Curt VanderWall R - Ludington Y House Bill 5404, Create school choice tax credit and K-12 scholarships: Passed 55 to 48 in the House The House version of the school choice tax credit bill described above. 97 Rep. Jason Wentworth R - Clare Y 100 Rep. Scott VanSingel R - Grant Y 102 Rep. Michele Hoitenga R - Manton Y Senate Bill 637, Add social/therapeutic welfare provisions to 9-1-1 call responses: Passed 36 to 0 in the Senate To authorize state grants to local governments, with the amounts determined using criteria devised by a particular social-welfare organization. This would pay for sending one or more community crisis responder clinicians or community crisis responder peers on 911 calls, who among other things would do screening and assessment for referral of individuals to mental health, substance use disorder, social, health, or other services and supports as needed. Reportedly there are 51 organizations that would be the ultimate recipients of the money. 33 Sen. Rick Outman R - Six Lakes Y 35 Sen. Curt VanderWall R - Ludington Y House Bill 4637, Authorize process to change townships name: Passed 36 to 0 in the Senate To establish a process to allow a township to change the townships name. Two thirds of the township board would have to agree to put the question on the ballot in a regular November or August election, and voters would have to approve it. 33 Sen. Rick Outman R - Six Lakes Y 35 Sen. Curt VanderWall R - Ludington Y House Bill 5290, Revise posting of seasonal road weight limits: Passed 104 to 0 in the House To require the state and local road agencies to post the names of the highways and streets that are not subject to seasonal load limit restrictions, rather than posting those that are. This could be satisfied by posting an electronic map showing these roads. 97 Rep. Jason Wentworth R - Clare Y 100 Rep. Scott VanSingel R - Grant Y 102 Rep. Michele Hoitenga R - Manton Y House Bill 4535, Ban wheelers from snowmobile trails in winter: Passed 101 to 2 in the House To ban wheeled vehicles from snowmobile trails from December 1 to April 1. 97 Rep. Jason Wentworth R - Clare Y 100 Rep. Scott VanSingel R - Grant Y 102 Rep. Michele Hoitenga R - Manton Y House Bill 5080, Exempt delivery and installation costs from sales tax: Passed 69 to 34 in the House To exempt from sales tax the delivery and installation costs necessary to complete a purchase, which are taxable under current law. 97 Rep. Jason Wentworth R - Clare Y 100 Rep. Scott VanSingel R - Grant Y 102 Rep. Michele Hoitenga R - Manton Y House Bill 4801, Impose licensure mandate on paid electric vehicle charging services: Passed 85 to 18 in the House To impose a new licensure and $75 per charger fee regime on paid electric vehicle charging services. 97 Rep. Jason Wentworth R - Clare Y 100 Rep. Scott VanSingel R - Grant Y 102 Rep. Michele Hoitenga R - Manton N SOURCE: MichiganVotes.org, a free, nonpartisan website created by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, providing concise, nonpartisan, plain-English descriptions of every bill and vote in the Michigan House and Senate. Permission to reprint this legislative summary in whole or in part is hereby granted, provided that www.MichiganVotes.org is properly cited. Y = Yes, N = No, X = Not Voting HONG KONG (AP) The human rights group Amnesty International said it will close its two offices in Hong Kong this year, becoming the latest non-governmental organization to cease operations amid a crackdown on political dissent in the city. The group said its local office in Hong Kong will close this month and its regional office will close by the end of the year, with operations moved to other offices in the Asia-Pacific region, the organization said in a statement Monday. This decision, made with a heavy heart, has been driven by Hong Kongs national security law, which has made it effectively impossible for human rights organizations in Hong Kong to work freely and without fear of serious reprisals from the government, Anjhula Mya Singh Bais, chair of Amnesty Internationals board, said in a statement. Mainland China imposed a sweeping National Security Law in Hong Kong in 2020 following months of massive anti-government protests. The law outlaws secession, subversion of state power, terrorism and foreign collusion to intervene in the citys affairs. More than 120 people, many of them supporters of the city's democracy movement, have been arrested under the law. The majority of the city's prominent pro-democracy activists have been arrested for taking part in unauthorized assemblies, and dozens of political organizations and trade unions have ceased operation out of concern for their members' safety under the security law. Bais said the recent targeting of local human rights and trade union groups signaled that authorities are intensifying their campaign to rid the city of dissenting voices. It is increasingly difficult for us to keep operating in such an unstable environment, she said. In a June report, Georgetown Universitys Center for Asian Law said the National Security Law mirrored legislation in mainland China that tightly restricts contacts between local and international non-governmental organizations and threatens activists with imprisonment for allegedly colluding with foreign forces. Its disturbing and contrary to international law to see Hong Kongs national security law similarly strangle civil society and free speech in the territory, said Sophie Richardson, China director at non-governmental organization Human Rights Watch. The degree of surveillance and the National Security Law's vague prohibitions makes contact between Hong Kong people and those outside the territory potentially subject to prosecution, such that information-sharing is impeded, she said. Critics in Hong Kong say the National Security Law erodes freedoms, such as those of expression and assembly, that were promised to the city for 50 years when the former British colony was handed over to China in 1997. Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam said that under the city's Basic Law, the freedoms of association, assembly and speech are guaranteed. No organization should be worried about legitimate operations in Hong Kong, said Lam during a regular news conference Tuesday. But it has to be done in accordance with the law. First Lady Jill Biden spent Sunday in Michigan. After landing in Freeland, Jill Biden, joined by U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy, visited Ziibiwing Center in Mount Pleasant to discuss youth mental health with the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe. Tribe members greeted Biden with a ceremonial dance, drums and singing, according to reporting by 9 and 10 News. Director of Tribal Education Melissa Isaac focused the discussion on Project Aware, an initiative designed to help students deal with mental health issues, specifically grief and loss. We need to know what the problem is to get better, and we reached out to behavioral health and came up with a list of traumas and realized that 83% of our students have one of those traumas, and those are known traumas, Isaac told 9 and 10 News. The tribe received a $9 million grant through Project AWARE in 2019 and serves Saginaw Chippewa Academy, Mount Pleasant Public Schools and Shepherd Public Schools through its program. The American Rescue Plan Act included $30 million for Project AWARE and President Joe Bidens 2022 proposed budget includes a further $60 million increase, potentially bringing the programs total funding to $191.5 million, according to reporting by MLive. Project AWARE is also helping to maintain and preserve the tribes language and culture, citing the damage done by a local government boarding school that tried to separate Native American children from their culture, according to Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe Chief Tim Davis. Members of the Tribal Council gifted Biden a traditional blanket, basket and skirt, according to reporting by 9 and 10 News. Biden finished her visit to Michigan in at Jewish School Yeshiva Beth Yehuda's annual dinner in Detroit. Biden was a guest speaker at the dinner at the Detroit Marriott Renaissance Center, where the "outstanding leadership" honoree was Mary Barra, CEO and chair of General Motors Co, according to reporting by The Detroit News. The event was closed to the press. Biden was in Michigan last month when she closed out the "Return to School Road Trip." She spoke at Oakland Community College with U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona. The two advocated for two years of free community college, which is part of President Joe Biden's Build Back Better Agenda. MEXICO CITY (AP) Hurricane Rick strengthened a bit Sunday night while heading for Mexicos southern Pacific coast, where it was expected to make landfall Monday. The U.S. National Hurricane Center said Rick had winds as high as 90 miles per hour (150 kph) and was expected to hit somewhere in the area from the seaport of Lazaro Cardenas to the resort of Zihuatanejo. Forecasters said the storm's winds and rain could also affect the larger resort of Acapulco to the east. The Midland Christian Women's Connection will host its annual fundraising auction luncheon from noon to 2 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 10, at the Midland Country Club, 1120 W. St. Andrews Road. Come ready to bid on and purchase wonderful themed baskets, gift certificates, and other delights as the group raises money for Stonecroft Ministries which is aimed at helping women. Midland County had 89 new COVID-19 cases and one death reported from Oct. 23-25. COVID-19 numbers reported from Oct. 23-25 Midland County: 89 cases and one death were added; pandemic total is 9,397 cases, 861 probable cases, 123 deaths and seven probable deaths. Bay County: 116 cases were added; pandemic total stands at 13,696 cases, 1,068 probable cases, 372 deaths and 15 probable deaths. Gladwin County: 15 cases and two deaths were added; pandemic total stands at 2,708 cases, 543 probable cases, 67 deaths and four probable deaths. Isabella County: 80 cases and one death were added; pandemic total stands at 7,538 cases, 1,398 probable cases, 111 deaths and six probable deaths. Saginaw County: 185 cases were added; pandemic total stands at 25,146 cases, 1,959 probable cases, 642 deaths and 22 probable deaths. The state added 7,856 cases and 56 deaths from Saturday through Monday. Overall, Michigan is at 1,112,490 cases and 21,918 deaths. Recovered According to the Midland County Health Department website, which was updated Oct. 18, 8,695 Midland County individuals have recovered from COVID. The state reported that as of Oct. 22, a total of 982,288 persons have recovered. Testing Midland Countys seven-day rolling positivity rate on Oct. 21 was listed at 13.3% and Gladwin Countys was listed at 16.5%. Our 12-county region was listed at 17.6% and Michigan was at 11.4%. MidMichigan Health statistics As of Oct. 14, MidMichigan Medical Center in Midland was listed as having an 92% bed occupancy, with 45 COVID patients and eight in the ICU. MidMichigan Medical Center in Gladwin was listed as having a 56% bed occupancy with five 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 Friday, Midland Public Schools reported 154 staff/students were in close contact to an individual who was confirmed COVID-19 positive, and 52 staff/students currently tested positive for the virus. Schools with one or more staff/students confirmed positive for COVID-19 as of Friday include Dow High (14), Midland High (9), Jefferson Middle (8), Northeast Middle (7), Plymouth Elementary (3) and Siebert Elementary (11). Bullock Creek School District reported on Monday that one staff member and eight students are current positive cases. There are also 11 students (but no staff members) currently in quarantine. Schools with one or more confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Monday include Bullock Creek Elementary (1), Pine River Elementary (2), Bullock Creek Middle School (1) and Bullock Creek High School (4). Midland County vaccinations The Michigan COVID-19 Vaccine Dashboard lists Midlands completed vaccine rate is 66.9%. 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. Update: As of 10 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 26, the traffic light has been restored. Midland County Central Dispatch could not confirm the official restoration time. The Michigan Department of Transportation has electricians repairing a cabinet which operates the traffic signal at M-20 and Meridian Road, after it was damaged during a traffic crash Monday morning, according Midland County Central Dispatch. SEOUL, South Korea (AP) North Korea on Saturday accused the Biden administration of raising military tensions with China through its reckless backing of Taiwan, and said that the growing U.S. military presence in the region constitutes a potential threat to the North. In comments carried by state media, North Korea Vice Foreign Minister Pak Myong Ho criticized the United States for sending warships through the Taiwan Strait and providing Taiwan, a self-ruled island that China claims as part of its territory, with upgraded weapons systems and military training. The United States indiscreet meddling in issues regarding Taiwan, which the North sees as entirely a Chinese internal affair, threatens to touch off a delicate situation on the Korean Peninsula. Paks statement came a day after President Joe Biden told a CNN townhall event that the United States was committed to coming to Taiwans defense if it comes under attack from China. While that seemed to blur Washingtons long-held stance of maintaining strategic ambiguity on whether it would intervene if China were to attack Taiwan, White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said Biden had no intent to convey a change in policy. China and Taiwan split amid civil war in 1949, and although it maintains formal diplomatic relations only with Beijing, the U.S. remains committed by law to ensure Taiwan can defend itself from outside threats. North Korea has increasingly criticized the broader U.S. security role in the Indo-Pacific amid an intensifying competition with China, Pyongyangs major ally and economic lifeline. Last month, the North threatened unspecified countermeasures following the Biden administrations decision to provide nuclear-powered submarines to Australia. It is a well-known fact that the U.S. troops and its military bases in (South Korea) are in use to put pressure on China and that the huge forces of the U.S. and its satellite states, which are being concentrated near Taiwan, can be committed to a military operation targeting the DPRK at any time, Pak said, using an abbreviation of the Norths formal name, the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea. He said the increasing military presence of U.S.-led hostile forces in the region was based on a lame assertion that North Korea and China would cause trouble in Taiwan and the Korean Peninsula. This reality proves that the U.S. is in its bid to stifle our country and China, both socialist countries, in order to hold on to its supremacy, Pak said. Nuclear negotiations between Washington and Pyongyang have stalled for more than two years over the issue of relaxing crippling U.S.-led sanctions against North Korea in return for steps by the North to wind down its nuclear weapons program. Pyongyang sees the possession of nuclear weapons as the ultimate guarantor of the survival of the Kim dynasty that has run the country with an iron fist since the 1940s. Ending a monthslong lull in September, North Korea has been ramping up its missile tests while making conditional peace offers to Seoul, reviving a pattern of pressuring South Korea to try to get what it wants from the United States. Sung Kim, Bidens special envoy for North Korea, arrived in South Korea on Saturday for talks with allies on reviving negotiations with the North. Kim told reporters he expected productive discussions with South Korean officials during their meeting on Sunday, before leaving the airport without taking further questions. The Biden administration's pullout from Afghanistan underscored a broader shift in U.S. focus away from counterterrorism and so-called rogue states like North Korea and Iran. That is putting the focus on confronting a near-peer adversary in China, and part of that apparent strategy appear to be offering the North a resumption of talks without preconditions. But the North has so far rejected the idea of open-ended talks, saying that Washington must abandon its hostile policy, a term North Korea mainly refers to sanctions and U.S.-South Korea joint military exercises. AP CHESTER, S.C. (AP) A U.S. Army soldier has been brought back to South Carolina from Germany to face charges he killed his grandfather and great-grandmother 16 months ago. Gene Alexzander Alex Scott, 24, was indicted last week on two counts of murder in Chester County, Sheriff Max Dorsey said in a statement. Tom Webb was installed as 2022 president of the Midland Board of Realtors on Wednesday, Oct. 20 and began his presidential term immediately following the ceremonies. The Midland Board of Realtors is the "Voice of Real Estate in Midland County" as one of more than 1,200 associations/boards of realtors and 54 state and territory associations of realtors that comprise the National Association of Realtors (NAR). US Army Corps of Engineers Data The Great Lakes water level is expected to continue to decline for the coming months, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. A seasonal decline in water levels is expected for all of the Great Lakes heading into the winter. This decline is a normal fluctuation for this time of year. This fluctuation is discussed by Detroit District Watershed Hydrology Section Chief Keith Kompoltowicz and Watershed Hydrology Section Physical Scientist and lead water level forecaster Dee Apps in the most recent installment of "On the Level." LANSING, Mich. (AP) Gov. Gretchen Whitmer raised $3.1 million over three months for her reelection campaign and had $12.6 million on hand a year before the 2022 election, while former Detroit police chief James Craig outraised a field of Republicans vying to challenge her. The numbers were reported Monday, the quarterly deadline. The Democratic governor continued to use an exemption to collect more than the individual $7,150 limit because of longshot efforts to recall her from office. The GOP is challenging the strategy in court. The excess funds, including more than $400,000 from the three-month period, seem destined to be returned or transferred to another account like the state Democratic Party's because no recall bid is likely to become active. Eleven Republicans have formed candidate committees to run against or explore a challenge to Whitmer, whose campaign manager Preston Elliott emphasized her work to boost K-12 funding without a tax hike, to fix the roads and to create auto jobs. Craig, who entered the race in the summer, raised $1.4 million since mid-July. He had nearly $1 million after spending. His campaign called it a strong haul considering he is new to politics. Donors giving the maximum amount included ex-Govs. Rick Snyder and John Engler. Whitmer and the Democrats will be well financed by the permanent Washington political class and coastal elites, but our message of personal liberty and leading from the front is resonating with Michiganders, Craig said in a statement. Chiropractor Garrett Soldano, who helped lead a ballot drive to repeal a law the governor used to issue COVID-19 restrictions, collected an additional $496,000 $1.1 million total this year and had $473,000 on hand. Conservative former online news host Tudor Dixon raised $215,000 totaling $347,000 and, in an unusual move, also said a committee independently supporting her had provided $200,000 in seed funding. I am thrilled with the progress we have made since the summer, said Dixon, whose campaign had a balance of $165,000. The lone donor to the Dixon-allied Michigan Strong political action committee was Kim Van Kampen, who owns equestrian farms in Fruitport and Florida. While Michigan law lets candidates solicit unlimited contributions for super PACs backing their candidacies, it is rare perhaps unprecedented for one to publicize such activity in a campaign news release. Oakland County pastor Ralph Rebandt II raised $47,000 and had $7,000 on hand. Ryan Kelley, an Ottawa County real estate broker who organized armed protests against Whitmer's coronavirus orders, collected $45,000 and had a balance of $28,000. Businesswoman Donna Brandenburg launched her campaign last month by giving it $40,000 of her own money. Other GOP candidates raised nominal amounts. ___ Follow David Eggert at https://twitter.com/DavidEggert00 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. Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - The embassies of five Western countries on Monday welcomed the publication by the High National Electoral Commission (HNEC) of the required sponsorship forms for presidential and parliamentary candidates Photo: (Photo : Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Disney) Blake Lively has spoken out against a fan who has created an Instagram page to post paparazzi photos of her three young girls -- James, 6, Inez, 5, and Betty, 2. The 34-year-old mom, who is known for firmly protecting her kids' privacy, said that she was disturbed and disappointed by the activity. In one of the comments sections of the fan account, the actress could not help but express her disapproval. She wrote that she had personally discussed her issues with the fan before, and they reciprocated with a promise that they would not use the paparazzi photos. However, Lively was surprised to find new pictures of her daughters again. "This is not casual appreciation," the celebrity mother wrote. "This is YOU also exploiting very young children." Following Lively's call-out and request for deletion, the fan page removed the photos. On the other hand, the actress expressed her appreciation for the rest of the fans who unfollowed the account. Read Also: Older Adoptive Parents Raise Jamie Foxx to be a Gentleman Men Stalking Her Kids All Day Lively has always been clear that she doesn't want the faces of her kids exposed in public, especially if the paparazzi have taken these photos. In another post on social media, the actress said that men stalk her children all day to sell the photos. She relayed an instance when a stranger exchanged words with the paparazzi, and the altercation left her daughters upset. Lively said that, as parents, she and Reynolds have also tried to talk to the photographers calmly, but they "would run away" and then surprise them on the next block with a quick snap. Lively questioned the "morality" of the actions of the paparazzi, especially when it's a threat to the safety of her children. She believes that fans and tabloids who subscribe to paparazzi photos fuel the need for these men to "hide and hunt children." No Kids Photo Policy Lively and Reynolds are not the only celebrity parents with a "No Kids Photo" policy. Kristen Bell and her husband Dax Shepard are also against paparazzi shots and posting photos of their kids on their social media accounts. Ashton Kutcher said it would be up to his kids with Mila Kunis to choose a public life online when they are older, but as they are still minors, he won't be posting photos of his kids on his Instagram. Eve Mendes also said she wouldn't post photos of her daughters Esmeralda, 5, and Amada, 4, until they are old enough to express their consent openly. The celebrity mom said they have to respect the boundaries for their kids, who did not choose to have parents in the public eye. New mom Gigi Hadid also doesn't welcome "paparazzi frenzies" and has been protecting her daughter from the stalkers. In July, the model wrote a lengthy plea on Twitter asking fans to blur her daughter's face from paparazzi shots if they cannot refrain from posting Khai's images. Related Article: Gigi Hadid Reveals Reason for Asking Paparazzi to Blur Daughter's Face Photo: (Photo : Denis Husted/Pixabay) A Florida mom has baffled family, friends, and even hospital workers because she gave birth on the same day, August 25, to three girls at exactly three years apart for each delivery. In 2015, Kristin Lammert spent August 25 inside the delivery room to give birth to her first baby, Sophia. When Sophia turned three years old, she celebrated her birthday at the hospital because her mom was in the delivery room again, giving birth to Giuliana. When Giuliana was three and Sophia was six years old on August 25, 2021, the girls celebrated their birthdays with their new sister, Mia. The Florida mom told CNN that the births of her daughters were "kind of like freaky fate." Read Also: Mom Gives Birth to a Healthy 14-Pound Baby Boy After 19 Miscarriages Extremely Rare Births Statisticians might not be able to calculate the exact odds of these extremely rare births, according to Dr. Christine Greves of the Orlando Health Winnie Palmer Hospital. However, there is a Guinness record holder for a family with five siblings with the same birthday in the U.S. listed as a "one in a 17 billion chance" in 1977. The expert also noted that only five percent of babies are actually born on their due dates. Lammert told Today that Sophia was born two weeks past her due date while Giuliana arrived sooner as she was supposed to be due on August 29. However, the doctors decided to induce her second baby's birth a few days earlier because of the Florida mom's elevated blood pressure. Meanwhile, doctors closely monitored Lammert's third pregnancy because she was a COVID-19 survivor and could likely suffer complications. While Mia was due in early September, the doctors anticipated that Lammert could give birth earlier as she had preeclampsia. Upon checking on the calendar, Lammert and her husband, Nick, realized that their third baby could arrive on August 25 - and she did! Special Joint Birthdays Lammert said that her eldest daughter thinks it "very special" to have the same birthday as her sisters. Sophia loves that she could have joint birthday parties with Giuliana and Mia for the rest of their lives. However, this year, Sophia and Giuliana could not celebrate their birthday at the hospital with their new sister due to the COVID-19 restrictions. Instead, the family had a virtual birthday party. The Florida mom said that the only thing they planned for the pregnancy was to have their children spaced out three years apart. They also made sure to have their first baby's birth in August because it was the summer between many holidays in the U.S. Lammert also said that her doctors didn't plan to induce the births of Giuliana and Mia on the exact date as Sophia's because it "sounded cool." The mom views the odd coincidence as a divine intervention that she still cannot believe its uniqueness every time she looks at the girls' birth certificates. Today, the Florida mom said they are very conscious of the numbers 3, 8, and 25 popping up in their daily activities. "They're not really significant things that are happening, but it just pops up everywhere," she told CNN. Related Article: Pregnant Women at High Risk of Heatwaves, but Doctors Do Not Give Enough Advice on How to Deal With It Today Apple released both macOS Monterey and Apple Fitness+ so that users can now work out or meditate together from different location with the power of SharePlay. Apple also added a new skier training workout with two-time Olympic Gold Medalist. Apple's macOS Monterey delivers groundbreaking new features that help users connect in new ways, accomplish more, and work seamlessly across their Apple devices. FaceTime includes new audio and video features that make calls feel more natural and lifelike, and new Continuity tools like AirPlay to Mac enable Apple devices to work even better together. Live Text and Visual Lookup bring new intelligence features to surface useful information. Safari includes powerful tab organization with Tab Groups, and the ease of automation comes to the Mac with Shortcuts. Coming later this fall to macOS is SharePlay that will enable Mac users to have shared experiences together through FaceTime, and Universal Control will make it easy for users to work effortlessly across their Mac and iPad. macOS Monterey is available today as a free software update on Macs with Apple silicon and Intel-based Macs. Read Apple's full press release for more details. Apple Fitness+ Apple Fitness+, the first fitness service built entirely around Apple Watch and designed to be welcoming to all, is introducing a new way to work out or meditate together with people in other locations with SharePlay, starting today. SharePlay makes it possible for iPhone, iPad, and Mac users to have shared experiences with friends and family while on a FaceTime call. Beginning November 3, 2021, Fitness+ will also be available in 15 new countries, bringing the total number of countries the service is available in to 21. In both new and existing markets, Fitness+ will be available in English, with subtitles in Brazilian Portuguese, English, French, German, Italian, Russian, and Spanish. Additionally, beginning November 1, 2021, as part of their plan benefits, approximately 3 million fully insured UnitedHealthcare members in nearly every state in the US can enroll with Apple Fitness+ for a year-long subscription, at no additional cost. Jay Blahnik, Apples vice president of Fitness Technologies: "We created Fitness+ so everyone would have a place they feel inspired and motivated, no matter where they are on their fitness journey. We are so excited to be available to millions more people as we bring Fitness+ to 15 new countries next week, and cant wait for them to meet our welcoming trainer team. We also think our users are going to love working out or meditating together with SharePlay. Its a really fun way to connect with friends and family, even trade some words of encouragement or friendly smack talk, while also making progress toward closing their rings." As Fitness+ expands to new countries, the service is also building on its offerings, providing more options for maintaining and improving overall well-being. Fitness+ recently introduced a new program Get Ready for Snow Season featuring and designed with two-time Olympic gold medalist and five-time world champion skier Ted Ligety, along with Fitness+ trainer Anja Garcia. To prepare users to get back to their favorite winter sports, the program will help build strength, balance, and endurance so everyone can have more fun on the slopes, all the way to the last run. For more details, review Apple's full press release. If you want an affordable PC for a gift (or yourself) this year youd better act quickly, and today Amazon is making it easier. The online retailer is putting on a one-day sale on Lenovo laptops, monitors, and a few all-in-one PCs. Dont delay, though, as the deals disappear before midnight Pacific time on Monday evening. The reason were suggesting you act now is that its generally understood that supplies of PCs and other consumer tech devices will be low this holiday season thanks to chip shortages. Intel recently confirmed this, saying that computer makers are going to focus on higher-end machines in the face of these shortages. So if youre looking for something thats not high-end, heres what we like from todays sale. First up is the Lenovo IdeaPad 3 for $300, down from $400. This laptop features a 14-inch 1080p display, 4GB of RAM, and 128GB of onboard storage. The laptop comes with Windows 10 in S Mode, but you can do a free one-way upgrade to regular Windows 10 in order to install desktop apps from outside the Microsoft Store. If you dont mind more modest Chromebook-like hardware and a lower 1355768 resolution, youll find an IdeaPad 1 model on sale for $200 as well. If you need a new monitor, the Lenovo L28u-30 4K display is just $290, down from around $340. It features AMD FreeSync, a 4 millisecond response time, and a 60Hz refresh rate. Considering that most graphics cards that can do 4K at all struggle to keep 60 frames per second on most triple-A titles, the refresh rate isnt a concern for now. Nevertheless, this is an entry-level 4K display but well worth it for those who want to take the plunge. Finally, we like the Lenovo IdeaCenter AIO 3i for $540, down from about $645. It features a 24-inch 1080p display, 8GB of RAM, a 1TB hard drive, and a 256GB NVMe boot drive. The processor is an Intel Core i3-10100T. This would work very nicely as a family room PC for those who need something everyone can access for basic uses like document creation, email, and web surfing. There are a number of other deals today including a few more monitors and laptops, but those are our favorite deals from todays sale. Dont miss out. [Todays deal: One-day sale on Lenovo PCs and monitors at Amazon.] The Minister of Education, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, has challenged accountants to make their services readily available to small-scale businesses in the country. According to him, the time had come for accountants to break the status quo and solicit for the services of small businesses, including farmers, noting that the accounting profession permeated all aspect of society. At the 37th graduation and admission ceremony of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, Ghana (ICAG), in Accra on Saturday, Dr Adutwum said if the services of accountants were not felt or consumed by the ordinary Ghanaian, then they were not doing enough. We should expand our scope and allow accountants to solicit for the services of small businesses such as farmers and market women. I do not know how you have approached your lives so far as you progress on the educational ladder, but I wish to urge and admonish you as new charted accountants to avoid petty compromises and get-rich-quick schemes, he emphasised. Dr Adutwum also encouraged the graduands not to give up too early since they would encounter obstacles as they pursued their accounting profession. Graduation The second 2021 graduation ceremony was the 37th since the inception of the programme by the ICAG. In all, 439 qualified accountants were inducted into the institute while 563 new members were duly admitted to join the institute after satisfying specific qualification criteria, including 19 Accounting Technician Scheme West Africa (ATSWA) graduands. The purpose of the graduation was to formally admit new members into the fold of the institutes existing membership. Some of the new members have qualified by successfully passing all three levels of the Chartered Accountants (CA) professional examinations while others have met the requirements through assessment of training they had received at equivalent professional accountancy bodies. The Overall Best Candidates for levels one, two and three went to Frank Owusu, Elliot Akplaga, and Celestine Esi Adzayi in that respect. Celestine Esi Adzayi was also declared the Best Female Candidate, as well as the Best First Attempt candidate. Educational policies Dr Adutwum also used the opportunity to tout the governments educational policies, namely the Free Senior High School policy, Double Track System and Teachers Licensure Examination. While acknowledging that there were infrastructural challenges, he was quick to add that the government had introduced innovative ways to quickly deal with the situation to be able to catch up with the rest of the world. That, he said, informed the governments decision to introduce the Double Track System and added that the system was a leapfrog strategy, which he said countries such as Kenya and Uganda have started learning from us. Streamlining activities The President of ICAG, Professor Williams Abayaawien Atuilik, congratulated the newly-admitted members and graduands, and challenged them to be ambassadors of the institute as they stepped out. He added his voice to the call on accountants to be proactive and look for new ways to help small-scale businesses through their accounting works. 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 Mama Mariam Foundation, a charitable organization, spearheaded by popular Ghanaian actress and philanthropist, Habiba Sinare on Saturday, October 16, 2021, lead the breast cancer awareness health walk. According to Miss Sinare, more needs to be done to address the breast cancer issues in the country. The walk targeted mainly people living in the Zongo communities who are not well abreast with the serious implications of breast cancer. The Health Walk which started from Kawokudi Park through to Kanda had some popular Ghanaian celebrities partaking in the awareness walk. Speaking to the media, Habiba Sinare stated that, Mama Mariam foundation is on a campaign to educate, create breast cancer awareness and is supporting with three days free breast cancer screening exercise which is slated to begin from Friday, October 22 at Mamobi Zurak Mosque, Saturday, October 23 at Newtown Angola, and on Sunday, October 24 at Nima-Madina Station from 6:00 am to 5:30 pm. She emphasized that everyone needs to be aware of their status and get screened, early detection saves a life, join our free screening to prevent the challenges associated with cancer. 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 COVID-19 has become the deadliest pandemic in the U.S. history, claiming more lives than HIV/AIDS, according to news website The National. The U.S. government's initial approach to both HIV/AIDS and COVID-19 was "denial and indifference," The National wrote in a report published on Friday. When AIDS rampaged through communities in parts of the United States in early 1980s, the federal government looked the other way and even slashed spending on public health agencies, the report said. As to the COVID-19 pandemic, when it was reported in the United States, the White House played down the risks, dismissing it as akin to "a regular flu," the report said. Both crises, the report added, have disproportionately affected minority groups and poorer communities. The COVID-19 pandemic has so far killed about 730,000 people in the United States, while it is believed that at least 700,000 people in the country have died as a result of HIV/AIDS. Source: Xinhua/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 An Adentan Circuit Court has cautioned an evangelist accused of fondling a lady and inserting his finger into her vagina, to desist from such conduct. Peter Mensah is said to have anointed the lady with Borges oil with the intent of delivering her from spiritual marriage. When the judge asked Peter if he would be happy if such an act was done to any of his three daughters, the accused replied in the negative. Mrs Sedinam Awo Balokah, the Judge, cautioned Mensah saying, Go and sin no more. The judge said if the accused continued with such acts, he would not go free. According to the Judge, the punishment for such an act, when found guilty, was a custodial sentence. The Courts caution came after Prosecuting Superintendent Patience Mario informed the court that the complainant was not in court and that Police had received a letter of withdrawal in respect of the matter. The accused told the Court that the matter had been dealt with by some elders and victim aged 25 years had been compensated. Mensah, who is also a carpenter, was charged with indecent assault. The GNA gathered that the complainant resides in Accra and the accused is also a resident within the Accra metropolis. On August 11, this year at about 8:30am, the accused, under the guise of praying for the complainant lured her into his room and administrated a spray on her during which she felt weak and helpless. Accused allegedly undressed the complainant and smeared Borges oil all over her body. Accused inserted his fingers into the complainants vagina on the grounds that he was exorcising an evil spirit from her. After the act, the complainant reported the matter to the Police and the accused was arrested. A caution statement was taken from him. 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 Justice Olivia Obeng Owusu, a High Court Judge inaugurates and swears-in the governing board of the Ghana Free Zones Authority at a brief ceremony at the Ministry of Trade and Industry. The nine member board is chaired by the Hon. Alan John Kwadwo Kyerematen, Minister for Trade and Industry. Members of the board include Amb Mike Oquaye Jnr, CEO of the GFZA, Kingsley Joojo Fosu, CEO Regency Resources Limited, Dr. Susana Alo, Educationist and Development Practitioner, and Osei Kuffuor Kankam, Managing Director KANOF Limited. The membership also includes Hon. Cynthia Mamle Morrison, MP for Agona West Constituency, Rosemary Beryl Archer, Head-SME Department Ghana Exim Bank, Alex Frempong Tenkorang, CEO Kwanim GDK Farms Limited, and Hon. Andrew Asiamah Amoako, MP for Fomena Constituency and Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament. Speaking at the inaugural ceremony, the Minister for Trade and Industry, Hon. Alan Kojo Kyeremanteng stated that the board is coming in at a very challenging time due to the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic affected businesses negatively, and most businesses are adopting new business models and innovative strategies to survive. He continued to stress that the coming into force of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement opens the whole of Africa to us and presents Ghana with additional market access opportunities. He charged the new board to be export-minded in working to achieve the industrialization agenda of the country. On his part, Amb. Michael Oquaye thanked the President for the appointment and stated his commitment to work fully with the Board Chair and all members in realizing the set objectives of the Authority He touched on the ongoing Dubai Expo and the upcoming 6th AEZO international conference happening in Accra on the 25th of November as two significant activities on the medium-term investment calendar of the Authority which requires focus and attention 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 Head of Psychology at the University of Ghana, Professor Joseph Osafo says he fully supports the enactment of the anti-gay bill spearheaded by Ningo-Prampram Member of Parliament, Sam George. The Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill is a bill proposed to criminalize homosexual activities in Ghana. However, there is strong opposition from an elite group who argue that the bill is an infringement on fundamental human rights. Prof. Osafo's Take On LGBTQ+ Bill Professor Joseph Osafo dreads the worst might happen in Ghana if the bill isn't passed. He noted that there are some strong powers recruiting young people including children into homosexual practice. Therefore, to him, Ghana's future will be dicey if the bill isn't enacted as it will give these powers the leeway to promote and impose LGBTQ+ on Ghanaians. " . . fundamentally, I am for it (bill) that this habit, from where I sit as a professional, will wreck our nation'', he said during a panel discussion on Peace FM's ''Kokrokoo''. As a psychologist, Professor Joseph Osafo defeated the science behind homosexuality stressing ''the first error in this debate is for anybody to assume that homosexuality is determined at birth. It's not true''.He expounded that there is nothing like the ''gay gene'' on earth, however, there are genes that have been discovered to show that they could influence people, hence the need for homosexuals to be given the neccessary help.Prof. Osafo asserted that ''nowhere in the world has this habit, through research, been proven that it's a private affair. It's not true. It's a public health threat!''.To him, ''every human being has the potential to change. Everybody can change for the worse or for the better'', so believing homosexuals and prospective ones should rather be taken through therapy.''With guided therapy, you can alter your own personality," he stressed."When human feelings are uncensored, unregulated, uncontrolled; human dignity is at threat'', he emphasized.Prof. Osafo was optimistic the bill will help the LGBTQ+ group as it provides opportunity for any member who needs help to seek the right professional guidance. 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 Senior Psychologist, Professor Joseph Osafo, has cautioned Ghanaians against physically attacking homosexuals or any person with effeminate features. Ghana is currently debating on whether or not to enact a bill to criminalize homosexual practices. The bill, when passed, will mean any person caught in same-sex marriage or same-sex intercourse could face a jail term. The bill called Promotion of Proper Human Sexual Rights and Ghanaian Family Values Bill has been opposed by a group of scholars, Professors and lawyers who argue it is a violation of fundamental human rights. However, Ningo-Prampram MP, Sam George who is sponsoring this private members bill with seven other Parliamentarians, who support it, are not backing down on getting the bill passed into law. There are however fears that the bill will give people the authority to mistreat members of the LGBTQ+ community. Professor Joseph Osafo is advising the citizenry not to assault any person they think or believe is homosexual as it is equally unlawful. He suggested homosexuals should be respected and given the opportunity to undergo guided therapy to alter their personality stressing ''every human being has the potential to change''. Speaking to host Kwami Sefa Kayi on Peace FM's ''Kokrokoo'', he emphatically stated ''even if a person identifies to be part of the group, you have no business to pick a machete to attack the person''. 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 use of fake and ineffective malaria drugs is a major setback to the fight against malaria'', a pharmacist has said. Such drugs, according to the chief pharmacist at the Police Hospital, ASP Ellen Sam, could derail the countrys quest in the fight against malaria. Speaking on the sidelines of a donation by Bliss GVS Pharma to the 37 Military and Police hospitals, ASP Sam said Ghanaians must desist from buying such drugs. Drugs are very important in every healthcare system. When people come to the hospital and they are diagnosed and we dont have effective medication to manage them, they are not going to get well, she said. "So, this drug will go a very long way to help us in managing our clients, especially the anti-malaria so it has come at a good time, we need them Sam added; I can say that malaria is a very serious condition, especially when uncomplicated malaria is not managed promptly, it progresses to complicated malaria which can even lead to death, especially in pregnant women and children under five years. ASP Sam said that malaria constitutes more than 20% of OPD cases. The institutional manager of Bliss GVS Pharma Ghana, Joshua Affram, said the gesture forms part of the firms contribution towards the fight against malaria The firm also donated medicines worth GHC150000 to the 37 Military Hospital and the Police Hospital in Accra. 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 Ga Mantse, Boni Nii Tackie Teiko Tsuru II is pushing for a change in the name of the Greater Accra region. He wants the region to be called Ga Dangme region to reflect and represent the name of its indigenes. He made the request when President Akufo-Addo paid a visit to the Ga Traditional Council at the Ga Mantse Palace in Accra today, Friday, October 22, 2021. This was on the second day of his tour of the region as part of his nationwide tour. Speaking at the meeting, the Ga Mantse could not help thanking President Akufo-Addo for the various developmental projects he is understaking not only in Accra but the entire country. He also asked the President to help get more trained Ga teachers to be posted to schools in the Greater Accra region to enhance teaching of the Ga language in schools in the region. Nii Takie Teiko Tsuru II took the opportunity to thank the President for the significant number of Gas he has appointed to occupy various positions in his government even though he wish they could be more. As leader of the Gas, he promised to do all he can to help resolve all chieftaincy disputes in the Ga State and therefore called for the Presidents continous support in that respect. The Ga Mantse also appealed to the President to do more to help solve perenial flooding in Accra since it has become one of their major headaches as a people. On his part, President Akufo-Addo commended the chiefs and people of Ga for finally settling on one Ga Mantse in the person of Nii Tackie Teiko Tsuru II. He was hopeful the new Ga Mantse will be able to hold the fort and rally all Gas together in peace. He was confident this will bode well for the Ga state and thus asked for all to support him to help develop the Ga state. He was particularly happy all this happened under his presidency. President Akufo-Addo to help him to develop the Ga state but was particularly his commitment to ensure lasting peace and security in the Ga state. On the issue of the change of name of the region the President said he will consult extensively before he makes up his mind. 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 The Ghana AIDS Commission has called on the Ghanaian youth to assume ambassadorial roles to help the country eradicate HIV and AIDS by 2030. This call to action was made at a workshop organized by the Global Fund in Accra, to help the youth gain a deeper understanding of the HIV epidemic among young people in the country and to also help them and other stakeholders comprehend the funding available for the national AIDS response and the ability to analyse the different funder's priorities and the implication for an evidence-informed response for young people. As the brainchild of the former Secretary-General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan, the Global Fund was founded in 2001 with special focus on preventing and eradicating three diseases namely; AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. The workshop comes at a time Ghana is contending with a high number of reported new HIV infections and an alarming prevalence rate among the population, especially among the youth. The year ending 2020, had alarming statistics put out by the Ghana AIDS Commission as an estimated 346,120 were persons living with HIV. This comprised 229,755 (66%) females and 116,364 (34%) males. The HIV population for Adult (15+ years) and children (0-14 years) was also 317,410 and 28,710 respectively. The national HIV prevalence also stood at 1.68%. Madam Rita Afriyie, an official at the Ghana AIDS Commission took the youth through some strategies and interventions to fight HIV and also, the National HIV and STI Policy which aims at, among other things, addressing health and development challenges posed by HIV and AIDS, sustain, scale up treatment, care and support for people living with HIV. To reduce the prevalence rate and deaths resulting from AIDS, Madam Afriyie also advised the youth to have protected and safe sex and act as ambassadors, educating others on AIDS and accessibility to treatment. Source: 3news 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 Ghana Police Service has sent strong warning to prophets who publicly spell doom on people especially celebrities in the country. According to the police, such acts are against the laws of Ghana and prophets who engage in such activities will be made to face the full rigors of the law. This follows the arrest of Prophet Steven Akwasi Appiah, popularly known as Jesus Ahuofe last week for predicting doom about multiple award winning Ghanaian Dancehall Artist, Charles Nii Armah Mensah, commonly called Shatta Wale. The law is against false publication thereby if you make your prophesy publicly without any evidence then youve breached the law and the law will deal with you. There is the need for everyone to learn something from what has transpired and know that it is against the law so when you go and breach the law then note that youll face the consequences alone. Woe betides any pastor or prophet who embarks on the same target as what the other prophet did. If youve seen that it is wrong when you openly prophesy about someone to cause fear and panic then its your problem. You can go ahead and prophesy if you want to but the law is there to deal with you, Alexander Kweku Obeng, Director of Public Affairs at the Ghana Police Service said in an interview on Accra based radio station Monday October 25, 2021. He therefore advised pastors and celebrities to be law abiding citizens since the law is no respecter of any person. Meanwhile, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) has extended invitation to Religious bodies and faith based organisations today October 25, 2021 at the Police Headquarters. 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 Huawei Technologies Ghana has launched the first all-Girls Edition of its global flagship Corporate Social Responsibility Programme, Seeds for the Future in collaboration with the Ghana Ministry of Communications and Digitalisation at a virtual event in Accra, Ghana. The programme aimed at developing local skilled ICT talents, enhancing knowledge transfer, promoting greater understanding of the telecommunications sector and bridging the communication gap between countries will benefit 60 ladies across various universities in Ghana during the 2021 edition which is under the theme: Inspiring Global Talent to Shape the Future Speaking at the virtual launch ceremony, Ghanas Deputy Minister of Communications and Digitalisation, Hon. Ama Pomaa Boateng, said, This is a very good time for Ladies in ICT and Huawei dedicating their Seeds for the Future Program to the Ministrys Girls in ICT initiative is a step in the right direction. The Ministry shall not relent on our efforts to continue to empower women in the STEM ecosystem as we continue to prove through our activities. The Ministry is very keen on Digitalization and we believe one of the surest ways to accelerate the process to propel Ghana into a digital economy is through ICT skill training and capacity building. It is therefore important that we nurture young ICT Talents to give our great nation a more formidable future while remaining competitive on the global market. She added She also advised the participating ladies to remain focused during the program while representing Ghana as Ambassadors. My advice to you is to go all out and grasp every bit of this opportunity by fully immersing yourselves in the experience and training as well as taking part in all the activities You are not only doing this for yourselves but representing Ghana. As ambassadors I implore you to let the Black Star of Ghana shine ever brighter through your commitment, dedication and above all Hardwork during this program. The Deputy Minister finally commended Huawei for the ICT giants contribution to the sector in Ghana. I would commend Huawei for all their contributions towards the development of ICT in Ghana. As the strategic ICT Partner of the Government, we are happy to see you go beyond commercial activities to nurture ICT Talents in Ghana I therefore urge you to undertake more of such worthy causes to accompany Ghana in our Digital Transformation Drive. She said. On his part, the Managing Director for Huawei Ghana, Mr. Tommy Zhou remarked the importance of bridging the gender gap in Technology. He said, The barriers to women accessing and having careers in the tech industry must be broken down. This needs to start at the grass roots level, through education and training, giving girls and young women the opportunities and skills to enter the tech world At Huawei, we believe that technology innovation can be led by women, and technology in its end can empower women. Huawei's female employees have been playing a unique role and making important contributions to the company. Many of them have distinguished themselves and become outstanding leaders. He added. The Chinese Ambassador to Ghana, H.E. LU Kun, in a short speech commended Huawei for their Social Contributions aimed at bridging the digital divide and also commended the Government of Ghanas efforts in creating an enabling and business-friendly environment for Chinese Companies like Huawei to thrive. This years Seeds for the Future Program comprise of an intensive 8-days virtual training, scheduled for October 25,2021 to November 4, 2021 which will introduce students to latest course like 5G, Artificial Intelligence, Cloud, Big Data, IOT, Smart City, Cyber security whiles building their leadership capacity in courses like Strategic leadership and Sustainability and Business Leadership. As part of this years programme, beneficiaries will be grouped to embark on a Tech4Good project after being equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge in the study of new technologies, to develop solution for societal and environmental problems. Beneficiaries will also get the opportunity to experience the rich Chinese culture which includes a live interactive visit to the Great Wall and other historic sites. An ICT mentorship session will also be organized where female industry experts in the STEM field will be invited to share their experience with beneficiaries. After the programme, awards will be given to the Best Tech4Good Project group, Top 10 excellent Students, Best Group members and outstanding students among others. So far 110 students have benefitted from Huaweis Seeds for the Future programme in Ghana. This years programme dedicated to ladies only, will benefit 60 ladies bringing the total number of beneficiaries to 170. This year, 3500 global talents are expected to take part in the programme from around 120 countries and regions. 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 Ga Mantse, King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, has applauded the impact of the policies, programmes and developmental projects undertaken by the Government of the President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, in the Greater Accra Region. Delivering a statement on Friday, 22nd October 2021, when President Akufo-Addo paid a courtesy call on him, as part of his working visit to the Greater Accra Region, the Ga Mantse stated that "Your Excellency, we are seeing development in Accra. But we encourage you to do more." According to, the Ga State recognizes and appreciates the developmental projects being undertaken in the Ga State, for example the James Town Fishing Harbour and the Salaga Market. Pursuant to this, the Chiefs of the Ga State shall collaborate with President at all times to ensure that Accra becomes the cleanest city in Africa. In that regard, all the Chiefs in the Ga State pledge to be ambassadors in promoting the clean Accra Agenda. Cognizant of the fact that, development thrives only in a peaceful environment, he added that, the Ga Traditional Council pledges to maintain peace within the Ga State and to also resolve all chieftaincy disputes within the shortest possible time to facilitate the development of the Ga State and Ghana as a whole. The Ga Mantse also commended President Akufo-Addo, for the various social interventions introduced, especially in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the nomination of the first female Mayor of Accra. He also extended the appreciation of the Chiefs of the Ga State, for the appointments of Nii Dakutso Otsii I, Member of the Council of State, the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Hon. Henry Quartey; and Mr. Edwin Obodai Provencal, CEO of BOST, who, he described as competent indigenes of the Ga State. The Ga Mantse was confident that the newly confirmed Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs) will work together with the Regional Minister, Local Government Minister and we the traditional leaders to make Accra work again. Nii Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, appealed to the President to assist ongoing efforts to change the name of the region to Ga Dangme Region, in order to advance the unification and consolidation of Ga Dangme and to increase the teaching of the Ga language in schools in the region. 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 Former Head of Monitoring Unit of the Forestry Commission, Charles Owusu, has called on Ghanaians to cut President Nana Akufo-Addo some slack over some comments regarding a promise he made to the people of Cape Coast. The President is said to have promised that he will construct a new harbour in Cape Coast when elected President but upon his election, the residents have seen no progress yet. Clarifying his promise to the residents, the President in an interview on Eagle FM in Cape Coast stressed: the commitment was never to a harbour; it was to a landing site. In terms of the harbour, we have to be clear in our minds; we never committed ourselvesI never stated that I intended to build a harbour in Cape Coast. I said I was going to build a landing page and that it would begin next year, he added, but these comments have shocked the residents. Speaking in an exclusive interview on Peace FMs 'kokrokoo' on Thursday, October 21, 2021, the President apologized to the Cape Coast residents. He indicated that the actual plan was to build a landing site. ''Let me confess, I made a mistake on the Cape Coast. Even with the mistake, we have to have a rethink. We cannot have a harbour at Takoradi and Elimina and have another one at Cape Coast. But I have to apologize to the people of Cape Coast. Presidents are humans and they can make mistakes," he told host Kwami Sefa Kayi. Making his submissions on the programme on Friday, October 22, Charles Owusu noted that whether the President apologized or not is inconsequential to what he promised to do for the people of Cape Coast. Therefore, he would like that the focus should be on constructing the landing site in the Central Region as promised by the President. ''Whether he apologized or not is not so important to me but rather constructing it. He has apologized. Let's accept it and move forward.'' 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 Electoral Commission (EC) has called on the Ghana Police Service to investigate former President John Dramani Mahama's allegations that the Commission thumb printed 1 million votes during the 2020 Presidential elections in favour of the President of the Republic, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. Former President John Mahama is said to have made these allegations during his recent 'Thank You' tour. The EC, during its ''Let the Citizen Know'' series aimed at providing an update on the 2020 elections, also addressed Mr. Mahama's allegations. ''The Former President has said the EC thumb printed 1million ballots in favour of the president. This is untrue. This is a grave matter that undermines the credibility of our electoral process and should not be ignored. We call on him to provide evidence to support his claim. This is not a matter to be ignored and we call on the Ghana Police Service to investigate this," the Commission insisted. They challenged Mr. Mahama to provide evidence to substantiate his claims. ''The Transparency of our process makes it totally impossible for this to happen. At the polling stations, prior to the start of the elections, the empty ballot boxes are opened and displayed in the presence of everyone, and thereafter they are sealed. There are serial numbers on the ballot papers for each region and constituency. This is made known to the Agents before the elections. Our ballot papers also have security features, so any trace of new material will be clearly visible. Again, at the end of the poll, the ballots cast are cross-checked against the voters who were verified and issued the ballot papers. This ensures that over-voting is detected immediately. Nationwide, we had no issue with over-voting at all our 38,622 polling stations except in Savelugu in the parliamentary election where there was one and I repeat one over-voting. The transparency of our processes from the beginning to the end makes this impossible. Ballot Stuffing cannot be done-it is impossible. We call on the Former President in the interest of our democracy to provide evidence of the stuffing of the ballot boxes by the EC'', the Commission argued. John Mahama's claims Former President John Dramani Mahama says if, given the opportunity to assess the performance of Electoral Commission chairperson (EC) Jean Mensa from the 2020 general elections, he would score her an F. The 2020 Presidential candidate of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) still holds the view that the EC boss and her outfit performed poorly. According to John Dramani Mahama, contrary to Jean Mensas claim that the 2020 election was one of the best witnessed in the country, it is actually the worst. 2020 was Ghanas worst election. If I was marking her, I would have given her an F. She is marking her own paper after the examination so she can give herself any mark she likes, the ex-president said in an interview as quoted on 3news.com. John Dramani Mahama added, Tell me which election in Ghana was ballot papers printed yet one million ballot papers were found elsewhere . . . We didnt witness this under Dr. Kwadwo Afari-Gyan. She [Jean Mensa] knew there was ballot stuffing. Mr. Mahamas latest swipe at Jean Mensa follows an address by the EC boss at the ECOWAS meeting in Winneba on Thursday, October 14, 2021. Read full statement below: Your browser does not support iframes. 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 Controversial Ghanaian radio presenter and Reggae musician, Blakk Rasta has thrown shades at his colleague Shatta Wale over his fake gun attack that held the nation at ransom on Monday, October 18, 2021. Shatta Wale is currently facing the law for staging a stunt purported to make Ghanaians believe the prophecy made by a preacher, Jesus Ahuofe that he will be shot by some people had trully happened and Blakk Rasta has described Shatta Wale as junkie adding that no amount of death hoaxes can resurrect him. On top of it all, Blakk Rasta spoke trash about Shattas upcoming album called GOG and labeled it borla. Blakk Rastas consistent calling of Shatta Wale a junkie brought concerns to people on social media. They were questioning if Shatta Wale was on drugs or not. They were of the view that his face looked like he was indeed sick. The caption spoke on how Shatta Wale was looking different. Others said he looked like someones who is on drugs and someone who is sick. They asked that his health conditions be checked and taken seriously. 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 Organiser of the Ghana DJ Awards, Merqury Quaye, has charged Ghanaian artistes to become well versed in the business side of music to better influence their songs popularity. According to him, it was unfortunate that artistes hastily pointed accusing fingers at DJs when their songs failed to become hits or went viral. In a conversation with Graphic Showbiz, Merqury Quaye said such critics should rather be blamed for their poor knowledge of the business aspect of music. It is really interesting that our artistes are always blaming DJs when their songs fail to make hits. They fail to realise that producing good songs is never a guarantee that they will go viral or be hits. Truthfully, the problem with some of our artistes is that they dont even understand the business modules of music production because if they did, they would know that DJs are music influencers and key partners. While the musician and producer handle the music production, the promotion is in the hands of the DJ, who is an authority when it comes to music. Interestingly, our musicians dont even understand this business module of music and dont give DJs the utmost recognition they deserve. If I were a musician, I would put the DJ within the top three but many musicians havent had an understanding of this and think that getting your songs viral is autopilot and want to employ crude ways to engage DJs. Most of the musicians do things anyhow; they will just send email and Whatsapp messages. Do you think you are in for serious business when you send a Whatsapp or email to a DJ about your song and dont even follow up on it? I mean it just ends there and you think the DJ owes you by automatically playing your songs. There should be a strategy for the promotion but unfortunately, that doesnt happen and DJs are blamed for such lack of business insight, he said. Earlier this month, rapper M.anifest asked DJs to make a conscious effort to promote Ghanaian music. He mentioned that Ghanaian music consumers were getting influenced by foreign songs they came across on the Internet and DJs had a role to play in making local songs appealing to the audience. But speaking to the subject, Merqury Quaye, who is also a presenter with Hitz FM, rather accused Ghanaian artistes of leading the pack to sway listeners away from Ghanaian music. There again, the DJ is blamed but what is the crime of the DJ when they only go with what is on demand. As a country, we have Highlife and Hiplife that our artistes should project. But no, they will go and search for foreign sounds and come and feed us with it. When it catches on and the DJs pick on that since they depend on feedback from the public, they will quickly be blamed for giving attention to foreign sounds. Today, theres a new sound called Amapiano that our artistes are jumping on and it is really catching on fast with Ghanaian music consumers. DJs didnt bring it; the artistes started it and its gaining solid grounds. In a few years, people would want original Amapiano and DJs will have no choice but to play the ones from its origin, South Africa, and I know when that happens, another blame game will begin, he stated. Merqury Quaye told Graphic Showbiz the formation of the DJ Union of Ghana (DJUGA) was aimed at tackling pertinent issues in the Ghanaian music industry. Thankfully, Ghanaian DJs have a union, DJUGA, to settle such matters of concern to the industry. Again, the union is expected to streamline many things including the persistent ones that set the agenda for meaningful conversations, he stated. Source: Graphic Showbiz 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 Street Foodz Ghana is a new docu-reality platform that seeks to appreciate and showcase the authentic Ghanaian street food and its vendors to boost tourism. Maxima Media, the owners of FoodBay TV and the creators and curators of StreetFoodz Naija, arguably Africas largest food docu-reality series, have expanded their tentacles on the continent with the arrival of StreetFoodz Ghana. The show was officially launched on Thursday, October 21, 2021, during a press conference and was highlighted by the announcement of Gino brand as the headline sponsor. The debut episode of the show, which will be aired via Adom TV 5:30pm (Saturday), Max TV 6:30pm (Saturday), Joy Prime 6:00pm (Saturday) and GhOne - 6.30pm (Sunday) on 30th October 2021, will carry compelling and exciting content and celebrate (among others) a diverse range of street food vendors who are often overlooked by mainstream media. Out of 100 and more entries made, 13 Ghanas best food vendors who qualified to partake in the main hottest food contest ever will compete for the Grand prize worth GHc 50,000, GHc 20,000 and GHc 10, 000 including bragging rights, the crown and the grand title of King of Street foods in Ghana putting a lively culinary culture, unique palates, and frequently strange civilizations to the test. The show will also explore the street foods and its vendors from across the capital. Archival footage is combined with face-to-face interviews and follows street food chefs and their history, which is intertwined with the big picture of how influential street food is on their native country. Speaking at the official press launch held at the Alisa Hotel, Ghana, Georgina Abbam- Baidoo Amfo, Project manager, Street Foodz Ghana said; We used this opportunity to take a tour around the country to select 13 street food vendors who would be trained for 13 weeks. The winner will be coming out as the Street Food King in Ghana and will also get his/her aerial space renovated, an SMS tool kit (branding), and a promotional video for advertising. Akua Obiri-Yeboah, Marketing director, GB foods Ghana, declared her entitys unflinching support towards this move since contestants and, to a large extent, Street Food Chefs rely on their brand to serve millions of consumers. We felt this was a very good platform because the people we are targeting rely on our products and brands to feed millions of consumers. And based on the idea and discussion we had, we felt it was a good way to reach out to the food service outlets out there. We wanted to be part of it to let them know we place high value on them for patronizing our brand. We are looking forward to having engaging and exciting experience with the team at street food and vendors. Olufemi Ogundoro, Managing Director of Maxima Media Group, also said the move is in line with the vision of FoodBay TV to put African food on the world food map. Food Bay TV is a dedicated platform which focuses primarily of food and lifestyle and showcases the best of African foods to the rest of the world. Ghana has the best culture appreciation in Africa. Ghanaians are proud of their heritage and equally proud of their food. That is why we have this platform to able to showcase the best Ghanaian street food, elevating the standards and majorly boosting tourism. Launched in 2019, Street Foodz show is aimed at promoting local cuisine, as well as supporting entrepreneurs in the food sector and rebranding street foods. Just like the maiden edition and the subsequent one, the 30-minute televised and digitally transmitted docu-reality series will showcase the best of Africas street food delicacies. Source: Gladys Boakye/Peace News 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 Senior campaigner from SumOfUs Flora Rebello Arduini adjusts an installation outside parliament in Westminster in London, Monday, Oct. 25, 2021. A 4-metre-high installation depicting Mark Zuckerberg surfing on a wave of cash was constructed outside parliament, as Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen is due to testify to MPs on how the company puts profits ahead of public safety. The action comes after SumOfUs research revealed Instagram is still awash with posts promoting eating disorders, unproven diet supplements and skin-whitening products. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth) A lawyer holds the scales of justice as she takes part in a demonstration of lawyers in front of the Paris courthouse, Thursday, Jan. 14, 2010 in Paris. A Federal Court judge says it was reasonable for Ottawa to require applicants to its summer-jobs program to declare themselves in support of abortion rights in order to get funding. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP/Christophe Ena 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 $0.10 per week for 10 weeks. Otherwise, we look forward to seeing you next month. 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. MONCKS CORNER South Carolina's public power utility is scrambling to keep costs down and get the fuel it needs to feed its generating units amid rising costs and supply chain issues. Santee Cooper said Oct. 25 that it expects its fuel expenses to be $130 million over budget for 2021. Coming into the year, the utility expected to meet 58 percent of demand for energy with its coal-fired units that were priced competitively to natural gas-fired generation and power it buys on the open market. The utility's plan ran into a snag first when demand for power generation jumped higher than it had projected at the beginning of the year. The spike should have increased revenue by about $110 million if Santee Cooper could have bumped up the amount of electricity produced by its coal-fired units to 64 percent, said Marty Watson, director of supply and trading. While fuel costs also would have increased by about $60 million the jump in revenue should have left Santee Cooper on the right side of the balance sheet, Watson said. But rising natural gas prices boosted demand for coal across the Southeast. Rail supplier issues complicated coal deliveries, and Santee Cooper's largest and lowest cost supplier of the solid file ran into a problem that forced a production shutdown. Instead of coal generation increasing to 64 percent, the Moncks Corner-based utility was forced to decrease it to 39 percent while increasing use of its natural gas plants. "This was a perfect storm situation," CEO Mark Bonsall said at Santee Cooper's board meeting Monday. The transportation issues and mine shutdowns created a troubling situation, but processes worked to mitigate the impact on the utility, he said. Santee Cooper realized about $35 million in cost savings by going to the commodities markets to purchase enough natural gas to meet all of its projected needs for 2021. The move paid off for the public utility as the price of natural gas jumped from $2.50 to $2.75 per million British thermal units to around $5.30. That still leaves Santee Cooper exposed to higher prices for the fuel it needs for gas-fired generators to meet the demand not forecast in the 2021 budget. Fuel will remain a challenge as natural gas prices are forecast to climb further before dropping sharply in April, Watson said. The resumption of production at the two shutdown coal mines this week and in January 2022 should limit the impact on the utility from the higher gas prices. The utility also said it is working with rail providers to get coal deliveries from wherever they are available. Santee Cooper has already taken other actions that have helped, said Ken Lott, chief financial and administrative officer. For instance, it cut $18 million from operations and maintenance expenses and another $60 million in capital costs to offset the financial hit. "This is not intended to give an overly rosy future look at the financials of Santee Cooper," Lott said. "Fuel is going to continue to be a challenge. But today, we have been able to manage them pretty well." COLUMBIA A plan to pause new zoning requests in Richland County for six months could have a chilling effect on the local economy and should be reconsidered, some local business leaders say. Richland County is nearing the end of a years-long process to overhaul documents governing building standards and land uses in unincorporated areas of the county. With the rewritten development code, county officials have proposed a moratorium on any zoning requests under the countys current guidelines from October until May 2022 when the new development rules and zoning maps are expected to take effect. The provision could delay or deter any new residential and commercial building projects for months and negatively affect economic development, said Allen Hutto chief executive officer of the Building Industry Association of Central South Carolina. Unlike a building moratorium passed by Lexington County this year that prevents permitting new construction of subdivisions and apartments, Richland County's proposal doesn't prevent building what's already allowed by current zoning. Despite the difference, the practical effect will be to stall new development, said Hutto, who added he was not aware of any similar measures from other local governments. "Probably a majority of new development projects coming in, they're going to have to get rezoned," Hutto said. "So now you have the two biggest counties in the Midlands, you have both of them closed to development. What kind of signal is that sending to a company looking to come to the Midlands area? That's going to have a big impact on economic development." A public hearing on the development code has been scheduled Nov. 9 after county policymakers agreed more public input was needed before potential final approval Nov. 16. The process has included numerous public workshops and community meetings within the countys districts, but some council members asked for one more chance for people to address the body as a whole. The moratorium has been among the issues to raise objections after it appeared on County Council documents for approval in October. Under the proposal, requested zoning changes before May must use the new zoning designations. Zoning maps dictate a propertys uses, building types and density, from rural, agricultural-type districts to residential guidelines governing towering apartment buildings and commercial districts allowing busy shopping corridors. Brian Crooks, the countys planning services manager, said the moratorium is necessary to avoid confusion before the new zoning maps go into effect and doesnt keep property owners from building. People can still come and build, people can still develop, they just cant request a different zoning from what they have, Crooks told County Council on Oct. 19. Councilwoman Chakisse Newton said she wasn't opposed to the premise of the moratorium, saying there are issues with current zoning guidelines that the new rules will fix. Council member Jesica Mackey, whose District 9 covers northeast Richland, said she felt there had been ample opportunity for the public to voice concerns. County Councilman Bill Malinowski pushed back on Crooks assurance the moratorium wasnt punitive, saying the provision keeps developers or property owners from acting on potential deals for the next five months. Carl Blackstone, head of the Columbia Chamber of Commerce, agreed with the possibility of a potential moratorium affecting potential development. A company looking to relocate to Richland County within the next six months might be turned off by the extra time needed for necessary government approvals and updated rules, he said. But Blackstone said after talking to several council members and with the upcoming public hearing, that he's confident in a compromise that doesn't require the full term of the proposed moratorium. The new development code was needed and is welcome, he noted. "I'm thankful they're willing to sit down and listen," he said. GREENVILLE Transcom, a global customer and technical support provider, could soon announce a planned North American headquarters in Greenville. The company is still considering a "couple" of cities, according its head of North American operations, but declined to specify where or exactly how many. An official announcement is expected before the end of the year. The search, which began in the spring, initially included about 125 potential locations. Transcom representatives visited Greenville in May and were in the area again in mid-October. The Transcom careers webpage lists an open position for a trainer with a requirement that applicants be "located close to our site in Greenville, South Carolina." That job was also posted on LinkedIn around Oct. 22 with the position location listed as "Greenville, South Carolina." Web searches show two other open positions in Greenville on the Transcom website active and accepting applicants but not directly linked from elsewhere, including client services manager/vice president of client services and recruiting manager. Additionally, a Transcom post on job website Indeed.com about two months ago sought a human resources director "onsite at our Greenville, South Carolina location that is currently under construction and planned to open at the end of the current year." It indicates the position was filled. A landing page on the Transcom applications website shows the posting as inactive. Transcom Worldwide AB, based in Stockholm, Sweden, has roughly 30,000 employees in about two dozen countries. The company offers a wide range of remote business process services, including customer interaction, technical support, sales and credit management services, according to its website. It currently has about 150 clients and claims 1.5 million customer interactions each day in up to 33 languages. The push for a new location was prompted by significant recent growth according to Donald Berryman, Transcom executive vice president and chief commercial officer for North America. "We're really here because we have tremendous opportunities," Berryman said. "North America is the largest consumer market in the world, and we're servicing more of our clients here for our services both in North America, nearshore and offshore locations, as well as Europe." The finalists shared two primary attributes an existing pool of prospective employees, and a convenient and attractive area for clients to visit. About 300 employees will be hired to open the new location, increasing to 500 within 12 to 18 months. Berryman said the long-term vision could expand to 1,000 employees at multiple sites within a single business park. "We need a community that has a good workforce and can staff 1,000 on a long-term basis," he said. "We don't want to move from community to community. We really want to find someplace and stay there for a long time." Transcom will use a hybrid model for the new center, with employees both in-office and working from home. While some of the catalysts for that plan are related to the pandemic, the model fits with the company's remote client and customer service roles. "I like to say we were work-at-home before work-at-home was cool," said Kyla Starks, Transcom vice president of account management. "We have over 3,000 people working from home across the United States and in Canada. Opening up a brick-and-mortar in a hybrid fashion allows us to have the best of both worlds." Berryman expects the employees hired for the new location will see an 80/20 or 70/30 time split between home and office. Starks said the COVID-19 pandemic changed not just the industry but the preferences of the entire workforce. "Our foundation, that we're hoping to start possibly here in Greenville, will give people that face that they're looking for but still continue the flexibility that COVID has shown them they can have within their family," she said. Both Berryman and Starks pointed to the local business community as a reason the Upstate was on the expansion shortlist. "The business leaders that have taken the time to meet with us and tell us what's wonderful about operating a business here has really just been tremendously helpful for us," Starks said. Berryman mentioned the local technical and higher education institutions as a positive, as well as the Greenville Chamber of Commerce and an overall sense of collaboration. One factor working in Greenville's favor but out of its control: the weather. Berryman said the new location needed a mild climate that was not frequently susceptible to weather events that could cause communications outages. "In our business, that's a really bad thing," Berryman said. GREENVILLE Lockheed Martin will add more than 300 jobs at its Greenville site by the end of 2022 to assist with F-16 fighter jet production. The company is working with state and local governments and local higher education institutions, such as Greenville Technical College, to fill the positions, according to a statement released Oct. 25. Available roles at the Terminal Road facility in Greenville include airframe and powerplant mechanics, avionics technicians, painters, quality inspectors, sheet metal mechanics, tool makers, engineers, planners and supervisors. Some positions ask for aircraft-specific experience. "Many of these positions are on the leading edge of our digital engineering efforts on our F-16 production line," said Danya Trent, vice president of the fighter program. Hiring incentives for some of the new positions include $2,000 signing bonuses and up to $5,000 for relocation. The company will fill the jobs through virtual and in-person events, with some effort devoted to recruiting transitioning military service members and veterans. In 2017, the aerospace giant moved its F-16 production line from Fort Worth, Texas, to Greenville. The Upstate campus was awarded a $62 billion contract in 2020 to continue building the aircraft well into the future primarily for foreign military sales. As part of that contract, it received specific orders for 66 jets for Taiwan and 24 for the Royal Moroccan Air Force. Later that year, Greenville also picked up a $900 million depot maintenance and modernization contract for existing U.S. Air Force F-16s. The Bethesda, Md.-based company employs 114,000 people worldwide, with 700 of those employees based in Greenville. South Carolina had 562 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Oct. 25. Two deaths from the coronavirus were also reported to the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control, bringing the total number of COVID-related deaths here to 11,731 since the start of the pandemic. Statewide numbers New cases reported: 562 confirmed, 122 probable. Total cases in S.C.: 716,519 confirmed, 177,107 probable. Percent positive: 4.6 percent. New deaths reported: Two confirmed, one probable. Total deaths in S.C.: 11,731 confirmed, 1,828 probable. Percent of ICU beds filled (with COVID-19 and other patients): 73.7 percent. S.C. residents vaccinated DHECs vaccine dashboard indicates that 62.2 percent of South Carolina residents have received at least one shot of a COVID-19 vaccine. According to the dashboard, 54.5 percent of the states residents have completed vaccination. Hardest-hit areas Greenville (119), Richland (57) and Charleston (50) counties saw the highest total number of new cases. What about the tri-county? Charleston County had 50 new cases, Berkeley County had 18 and Dorchester had 16. Deaths DHEC releases county-level data regarding COVID-19 deaths and the ages of those who have died from the virus on Tuesdays. According to the latest data, at least 272 people in South Carolina died from the virus from Oct. 10 to Oct. 16, and their ages ranged from young adults (18-34) to elderly (65 and older). Greenville County recorded 52 COVID deaths that week the highest numbers in the state. Health officials have reported the vast majority of patients who are dying from the coronavirus at this stage of the pandemic are unvaccinated. Hospitalizations Of the 764 COVID-19 patients hospitalized as of Oct. 25, 235 were in the ICU and 165 were using ventilators. What do experts say? Moderna said on Oct. 25 that a low dose of its COVID-19 vaccine is safe and appears to work in 6- to 11-year-olds. Pfizer's kid-size vaccine doses are undergoing evaluation by the Food and Drug Administration for youngsters in nearly the same age group, 5 to 11, and could be available by early November. The company's vaccine already is authorized for anyone 12 or older. Moderna hasn't yet gotten the go-ahead to offer its vaccine to teens, but is studying lower doses in younger children while it waits. Herd immunity from COVID-19 will happen when enough people are protected from the virus either by contracting it or by getting vaccinated. According to DHEC, 70 percent to 80 percent of the states population would need to be immune to COVID-19 to reach herd immunity. To find a COVID-19 vaccine in South Carolina, go to vaxlocator.dhec.sc.gov or call 866-365-8110. MONCKS CORNER In the middle of one of the Lowcountry's fastest growing towns, seven people are vying for three open seats on its town council. In the upcoming Nov. 2 Moncks Corner Town Council race, three incumbents and four new candidates are all running for the open seats. Charlotte Cruppenink, Dewayne Kitts and James Bryan Ware III are the three incumbents. Cruppenink was elected to council in 2013. Kitts joined the council after a special election in 2019. Ware was elected in 2017. Jaquetta Middleton, Glenn H. Pipkin Jr., Chad Sweatman and Honest Thompson are the four new candidates pushing for an open seat. Moncks Corner has nonpartisan elections with no districts, which means incumbents don't go head-to-head against specific new candidates. This means which ever three attain the most votes will be elected into the positions. But those elected will also be coming into a term that community leaders said will be one of the defining moments of the town's future. Moncks Corner is one of the fastest-growing communities in the Lowcountry. In 2020, the town was ranked as the fourth-fastest growing town in South Carolina because of upcoming residential developments. The same year, over 5,000 housing units in subdivisions around the southern portion of the town were approved. So the decisions made by incoming council members could impact what Moncks Corner will look like in the next couple of years with its growth. Doug Polen is the town's community development director. He said the growth is expected because of the town's proximity to the growing Charleston area. Locals are aware that living in Moncks Corner is less expensive than Charleston. So the town's focus in the future has to be around making sure that any new spaces actually look good and are a benefit to the community, Polen said. Developers will have to establish communities that council members would actually want to live in, he said. That means they can't automatically allow the lowest common denominator with construction because the area is cheaper, he said. Our tag line is 'the Lowcountrys hometown,' and we take that very seriously," he said. Moncks Corner is also approaching an area of no return. According to Polen, if the growth in the area isn't properly managed, it could lead to damage that can never be fixed. For example, this could mean having additional major traffic concerns. "We know that we only have one chance to do this right," Polen said. He is also aware that many residents are concerned about the growth the town has been experiencing. Katrina Carpenter is the executive director and founder of Jean Angels. It's a nonprofit in town that's dedicated to mentoring and supporting the youth in the community. The organization also does some work in supporting the local homeless population. "If you're growing your community should grow," Carpenter said. That means adding resources and amenities for residents so that they don't feel the need to travel outside the town, she said. That could range from restaurants to recreational activities for children. She also said that if officials are committed to bringing in more houses and developments to the town, then they have to make sure that the schools and resources in the area can support them. But one of the emerging concerns with the growth is the homeless population, she said. It's something that should be on upcoming councilmembers' radar, she said. Though Carpenter said the homeless community in Moncks Corner isn't as large as the city of Charleston's, it is growing. "We need to start having something in place," she said. That could include council members prioritizing resources like shelters or soup kitchens. Many of the individuals Carpenter has spoken with through her work with Jean Angels have come from the city of Charleston. Some were pushed out with the ongoing construction in that area. To get ahead of a coming problem, it has to be a concern, she said. "There is really nowhere for them to go," Carpenter said. The three candidates that will be elected on Nov. 2 will join fellow councilmembers Latorie Lloyd and James Law Jr. Both are up for reelection in 2023. Following years of debate and concerns inspired by decades of stigma, about 200 farmers are currently licensed to grow hemp in the state of South Carolina. One of their ongoing concerns: They can't sell their crops in state. Right now Im pacing around my farm because Im waiting for my buyer from North Carolina," said Ellie Davis, the owner of Dogleg Farms on Johns Island and a licensed hemp farmer, earlier in October. In 2018, the federal Farm Bill passed, ending hemp being labeled a Schedule 1 drug nationwide. This opened the door to South Carolina allowing 113 farmers to grow the plant in 2019. Before that, around 20 farmers were legally allowed to hold a hemp-growing license in 2017. The S.C. Department of Agriculture defines hemp as a variation of the Cannabis sativa plant that is low on tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC. That's the compound in cannabis that creates the sensation of feeling high. Cannabidiol, or CBD, is the second prevalent ingredient in cannabis. Hemp-derived CBD products are currently legal in South Carolina. South Carolina hemp farmers aren't allowed to sell any of their hemp flower to stores in state. Unless a farmer can process the hemp flower to another product themselves, it has to be sold out-of-state. If a store owner wanted to purchase their own hemp flower, they either have to grow it themselves or buy it from another state. In 2021, more than 200 farmers are licensed to grow hemp. Some of them have maintained success with the crop. Others have faced everything from confusion about state regulations and stigma against a crop associated with illegal drugs to armed criminals robbing their farms. The issues add up to an uncertain future for hemp farming in South Carolina, they say. A global pandemic has only added to it. Davis was a part of that original cohort of hemp farmers a couple of years ago. She said since that moment, things have only gotten more challenging. Brett Ford, another licensed hemp farmer and owner of Ford Farms in the Charleston area, said he agrees. "It's like a new frontier. Every month things are changing," he said. A growing industry in a pandemic Around a year after the state started expanding licenses to a larger group of hemp farmers, the global pandemic hit. Every industry has been impacted by COVID-19, and the rising hemp industry was not immune. Davis said it was challenging enough to find supportive resources to help farmers in general. Trying to get that support for a new and controversial industry proved to be extra challenging. "It complicated things," she said. "Hemp farming, it's fairly intimate." In her experience, her workers have had to work close together in the field. That had to change with COVID. Fewer workers were on hand during harvest period in 2020, she said. There were also times where she worked her fields alone. "Navigating that was tough," she said. Some of Ford's biggest hurdles came with supplies and transportation. His main partner's father died of COVID around a month ago. He also faced issues with suppliers not being able to make orders because of things like delivery workers being exposed to COVID. "That definitely affected business," he said. Cody Callarman owns a hemp farm on Edisto Island. He said he remembers buying supplies in May and getting them as late as July. "That month is the last opportunity to get stuff in the ground," he said. Items like pots, fertilizer and plastic mulch were impossible to get, he said. Though many industries felt the impact of the pandemic, experts said hemp was especially affected because the industry is still in its infancy. The Brightfield Group is a Chicago-based data and market research firm. It reported that hundreds of small CBD brands have closed throughout the course of the pandemic. This is the result of so many brands being created when the industry first took off. "You cant have this many players and have a healthy market," said Bethany Gomez, managing director of Brightfield Group, in a release. "There was going to be an extinction event and it turned out to be COVID." It's the same thing many South Carolina farmers have noticed. When hemp farming started to take off, Callarman said countless stores had shelves filled with CBD products. Since it was a group of products the community was still learning about, he said he remembers having to explain to people why certain things "didn't work." Combining the pandemic with the inability to sale in-state, many hemp farmers didn't make it, Davis said. A lot of the other hemp farmers she started out with are also no longer in business. Unless the farm was a fifth-generation farm with enough stability, it was a struggle, she said. "The learning curve was steep for all of us," she said. The S.C. Department of Agriculture is the entity responsible over organizing hemp licenses and explaining regulations to local farmers. Eva Moore, a spokeswoman with the department, said the restrictions on selling hemp flower is a decision from law enforcement. She also said a boom in the CBD market gave farmers an incentive to grow the crop. They hope more entrepreneurs look into other markets for hemp like fiber instead of CBD. "The first several years of hemp farming in South Carolina have presented challenges for farmers," she said. "Some of them unique to hemp, and some to be expected with any new crop." The pandemic period has served as an opportunity to reflect on South Carolina's hemp industry. While there was excitement in the industry's early days in the state, it's been replaced by nervousness for some. "I think we're way behind other states," Ford said. Hemp in South Carolina The majority of states in the U.S. have legalized the use of medical marijuana. In South Carolina, getting medical marijuana approved has been decades in the making. In March, the Senate Medical Affairs Committee approved a bill to legalize medical use of cannabis in the Palmetto State. In the coming year, some are hoping it get approved in South Carolina. If the bill passed, patients could use it to treat conditions like cancer and multiple sclerosis. Back at the March committee meeting that approved the bill, state Sen. Tom Davis, who has been pushing the bill for years, said it's an opportunity to empower physicians to explore a therapeutic benefit. We constantly hear follow the science. The science here is overwhelming," said Davis, R-Beaufort. Democratic gubernatorial candidate Joe Cunningham has also said previously that he wants to decriminalize marijuana and make it legal for medicinal and recreational use in South Carolina. When talking to local hemp farmers like Callarman, he said ideally at this stage there should at least be more specified regulations and education on hemp use to avoid confusion with local law enforcement. He said he's heard stories of different farms being raided. John Pendarvis, a hemp farmer in Dorchester County, filed a lawsuit against the county Sheriff's Office, the State Law Enforcement Division and the S.C. Commissioner of Agriculture. This was after a discrepancy with two of his hemp fields led to the destruction of the hemp crop and his arrest. In 2019, he became the first farmer in the state arrested for growing hemp. Still remaining hopeful Davis describes hemp as one of the most extraordinary plants to grow. She even became excited talking about what the plant looks like when she's cutting it. "When you see this medicine dripping ... it's extraordinary," she said. The medicinal aspect is also what Callarman said drew him to hemp farming. He's also a Marine veteran. After seeing how the the plant helped his mother with her chronic pain from a partially paralyzed leg and how it helped his fellow veterans, he said he was hooked. Thats what basically got me into it, seeing how cannabis changed my loved ones," he said. Thinking about the plant's potential motivates some of the farmers in the state to keep pushing through, despite the challenges. Davis' farm has been robbed twice when she has been in the process of moving her hemp out of state. In one case, the group of robbers were armed with AR-15 rifles. Looking down the street and seeing a store she isn't allowed to sell hemp to is also frustrating, she said. I no longer have faith that the state of South Carolina is as excited as I am," she said. Callarman said he agrees. The stores do better than the farmers," Callarman said. Ford and his team are also planning to potentially open their own store. He said the farmers tend to get beat down the most. All three are looking at different avenues to survive the new industry. Callarman said he's researching working with hemp fibers. He said he thinks he could technically get two harvests out of the fiber. Davis is growing indigo, a plant often used to make dye. Her farm is also looking into Duckweed. Part of the issue with the hemp landscape, they said, comes from the stigma around hemp flower. "We're stuck in the war on drugs," Davis said. They said they don't feel the industry is truly supported here. They hope in the future, medical cannabis is legalized in the state. If that happens, Davis said she hopes the industry is able make a turnaround. But after a hard couple of years with a practice she was initially so excited about, it's difficult to remain hopeful, she said. She's currently working on a memoir about her experience. And on a day where she was just recovering from a robbery, it was reading over some of the words she had typed that gave her comfort. They centered on how the jabs from Mother Nature and farming aren't personal. That, she said, is part of what is keeping her going in an uncertain industry and farming in general. To put it plainly, for her, she said "farming is a drug." The booming CBD market offered strong incentives for farmers to grow hemp, but quickly became saturated, making it more difficult for some to sell their hemp at seasons end. Four. Billion. Dollars. That's how much it's expected to cost to widen and improve the 13 miles of Interstate 526 from North Charleston through Daniel Island and into Mount Pleasant. It would be South Carolina's most expensive road project, and it's only one part of a larger plan. The Lowcountry Corridor East project, as it's called, sounds deceptively simple: doubling the width of the highway from four to eight lanes. If You Go The I-526 Lowcountry Corridor East public information meetings will be held: Tuesday, Oct. 26, 5-7 p.m., at the R. L. Jones Center, 391 Egypt Road, Mount Pleasant. Wednesday, Oct. 27, 5-7 p.m., at the Felix C. Davis Community Center, 4800 Park Circle, North Charleston. To get there by bus, use CARTA Routes 13 and 104. The information is also online, at 526lowcountrycorridor.com/eastvpim2021/ To get a public information meeting packet by mail, call 842-258-1135 or email info@526LowcountryCorridor.com What that involves, however, is likely replacing both the Don Holt and James B. Edwards (Wando) bridges, substantially redesigning the Long Point Road interchange in Mount Pleasant and buying out the owners of dozens of homes and businesses located near the highway. The estimated price tag nearly four times the cost of building a proposed sea wall around Charleston works out to about $308 million per mile. The interstate runs through three of South Carolina's four largest cities, is the main truck route for the state's largest port and is a known trouble spot for motorists. Youve only got two lanes in each direction with shoulders that range from 4 to 10 feet," said Joy Riley, manager of the project at the S.C. Department of Transportation. "That doesnt allow trucks to interact with other traffic well." "This is really a safety issue, when you get down to it," Riley said. Even minor accidents can bring traffic to a halt, and since much of the road is elevated, drivers stuck behind a wreck often can't get off or turn around to seek another route. The massive price tag is a stark example of the infrastructure costs borne by taxpayers that can follow rapid population growth and development. When I-526 connected Mount Pleasant to Daniel Island and North Charleston in 1992, that kicked off the development of Daniel Island and the Cainhoy peninsula. Mount Pleasant's population has tripled since then, adding about 60,000 residents. The road today is one of South Carolina's most congested stretches of highway. The Lowcountry Corridor East project runs from near Virginia Avenue in North Charleston to U.S. Highway 17 in Mount Pleasant. The other part of the Lowcountry Corridor plan, the West portion that would cost an estimated $2.98 billion, would widen the interstate through North Charleston and West Ashley and redesign the interchange with Interstate 26. Lowcountry Corridor West is being treated as a separate project due to its size and is farther along in planning and funding, with construction starting as early as 2027. Improving the often-snarled I-526/I-26 interchange is a key part of the plan. The East portion would be the second part of the project. Riley said it wouldn't make sense to widen the highway from Mount Pleasant to North Charleston without first addressing the I-26 interchange. However, parts of the East project, such as reworking the Long Point Road interchange in Mount Pleasant, could potentially be tackled before the main road-and-bridge part gets underway, she said. Even without the truck traffic there, Riley said the volume of commuter traffic is enough to support a triple-lane left turn from the interstate to Long Point Road. On Oct. 26 and 27 people will have a chance to see the most detailed plans yet for the East project at in-person meetings in Mount Pleasant and North Charleston. Its going to happen," North Charleston Mayor Keith Summey said. "What we have to do is make sure its acceptable to the people it will affect on a daily basis." I think the main issue is that theyre going to have to make sure it has connectability to both North Rhett (Avenue), which needs improvement as it is, and Virginia Avenue," he added. "Particularly for truck traffic and things of that nature." SCDOT is hoping for feedback on the different alternatives and the big-picture parts of the plan. For example: The Wando bridge could be replaced by two parallel bridges that would be lower, about 65 feet above the water instead of the current 138, pending Coast Guard review. A bike and pedestrian path between Mount Pleasant and Daniel Island would be included. The Don Holt Bridge could be replaced by two parallel bridges that could be 186 feet above the water, a height increase of 31 feet, to allow the largest containerships to pass under the bridge. At least four options are being presented for the interchange of I-526 and Long Point Road in Mount Pleasant, where trucks carrying shipping containers to and from South Carolina's busiest port access the highway. "What comes out of the study were doing now is were looking at all the alternatives we developed," Riley said. What were trying to figure out is what improvements would fix the problem." What is not being presented is the precise location of dozens of homes and businesses that would have to be relocated. In the five alternatives the DOT has laid out, between 64 and 80 homes and businesses would be lost to the road project. Most of the impacts are on both sides of the Wando bridge," said Riley. We dont want people to focus too much on that right now. Both sides of the Wando bridge means property on Daniel Island, which is part of the city of Charleston, and in Mount Pleasant, where Riley said there is pretty dense development on both sides of the interstate." We are always promoting land development control, but thats something DOT has no control over," she said. Riley said specific homes and businesses in the path of the five scenarios under consideration haven't been publicly identified because the state is not ready to buy properties and identifying them could cause hardship for the owners. Such specifics would come with more detailed planning, but property owners might be able to look at the plans to get a fair idea if they should worry. "While the devil is always in the details, which we haven't fully seen yet, the city believes that traffic relief along these major corridors is critical to our region's economy and our citizens' quality of life," said city of Charleston spokesman Jack O'Toole. "With that in mind, we look forward to learning more about any potential impacts on city residents and businesses, and will have further comments as those details become clearer." While some scenarios would leave the Don Holt Bridge intact, most call for it to be replaced with two parallel bridge that would be much taller. That's a priority for the State Ports Authority, because taller bridges would allow the largest containerships to reach the North Charleston Terminal. Building new bridges on each side of the existing ones limits the impact of the project, Riley said, because building one large bridge would concentrate the impacts on homes and businesses along one side of the highway. The expected payoff, which would be years in the future assuming the funding falls into place as expected, could be a big boost for the State Ports Authority but may sound disappointing to motorists. That's because after years and billions of dollars in expense, travel times in 2050 would be about what they are today, according to DOT. It's widely accepted that so much more traffic is expected due to residential development and the trucks flowing to and from the Wando port terminal. As with most road projects, one option on the table is doing nothing. With no changes, average daily traffic is expected to increase by 72 percent by 2050, and the rush-hour traffic would be a bumper-to-bumper crawl every weekday, DOT forecasts. That would mean a nearly hourlong trip from U.S. Highway 17 in Mount Pleasant to Virginia Avenue in North Charleston, according to those forecasts. The two in-person I-526 Lowcountry Corridor East public information drop-in meetings this month are: Tuesday, Oct. 26, 5-7 p.m., at the R. L. Jones Center, 391 Egypt Road, Mount Pleasant; and Wednesday, Oct. 27, 5-7 p.m., at the Felix C. Davis Community Center, 4800 Park Circle, North Charleston. Syndicated and guest columns represent the personal views of the writers, not necessarily those of the editorial staff. The editorial department operates entirely independently of the news department and is not involved in newsroom operations. It seems obvious that a magistrate who once had to be suspended from office for a year for presiding over more than 100 cases brought by deputies who worked for her sheriff husband also shouldnt preside over cases brought six years later by deputies who were set to testify in her husbands federal corruption trial. But simply saying Chester County Magistrate Angel Underwood should have recognized her obvious conflict of interest doesnt prove she violated judicial ethics rules. Unlike politicians, who are required by law to recuse themselves in certain instances, judges are largely left to decide for themselves whether they need to bow out of a case. So its possible that the S.C. Supreme Courts Office of Disciplinary Counsel made the right call when it told the new Chester County sheriff, Max Dorsey, that he had not presented any evidence that Judge Underwood had engaged in judicial misconduct. We cant know for sure because the judicial discipline system is so cloaked in secrecy that we wouldnt even know the complaint existed much less that it was dismissed but for the fact, as The Post and Courier's Avery Wilks reports, that someone voluntarily shared correspondence between Sheriff Dorsey and the Office of Disciplinary Counsel with the media. (Court rules prohibit court officials from releasing the information, but the Office of Disciplinary Counsel just makes it look like the parties can't.) That required and implied secrecy is a problem the Supreme Court needs to fix. Despite reforms 25 years ago, the judicial discipline system remains impenetrably opaque, and thus lacking in accountability more so even than the ethics system for elected officials. But what we know for sure is that the court has never taken any official action on a clear transgression on Judge Underwoods part: Just months after her suspension ended, The Post and Courier reported in 2019, Ms. Underwood secretly aided the sheriffs office in drafting a complaint against her colleagues on the bench. Thats a pretty clear conflict of interest, and it feels a little like practicing law without a license, which is illegal. We also know this for sure: Judge Underwood shouldnt have been reappointed after the high court found it necessary to suspend her in 2015 and then to issue a public reprimand before she returned to the bench. Hers is the second case to come to light this month involving questions about the conduct of a judge who was back on the bench after being removed temporarily by the Supreme Court. As recently as 2019, she was one of a dozen sitting magistrates who had been disciplined by the court. Suspending judges is not something the Supreme Court does frequently or lightly, and its not something we should take lightly either. Indeed, the courts actions against judges should be seen as a stop-gap measure to protect the integrity of our judicial system. The Legislature should go further, and pass a law prohibiting the reappointment (or, in the case of probate judges, reelection) of judges whose actions have merited suspension. Being a judge is a job, but its also a high position of honor and power for which we should demand high standards. In South Carolina, the governor officially appoints magistrates, but the reality is that the senator who represents the magistrate district picks the magistrates, and the governor rubber-stamps those picks. So even absent such a law, Sen. Mike Fanning should have recommended that Judge Underwood be replaced when her previous term ended. He did recommend the replacement of six other magistrates who were not suspended or reprimanded, but despite her ethical lapses, he declared that Judge Underwood was one of the most outstanding magistrates in the state of South Carolina. He also supported her husband, the now-convicted former sheriff. Despite Mr. Fannings exceedingly bad judgment, Gov. Henry McMaster should have refused to reappoint Judge Underwood to another four-year term in 2019. And yes, we know thats asking a lot, because senators can make life difficult for a governor who rejects their magistrates, and besides, magistrates remain in office until a replacement is confirmed, making it something of a futile gesture. Indeed, that holdover provision is one of the most insidious things about the magistrate appointment system, because it effectively gives senators the power to fire a magistrate on the spot. And dont think for a second that magistrates in holdover purgatory dont know that they have to keep their Senate patrons happy if they want to keep their job. Which is the biggest kind of ethical conflict judges could find themselves in. Thats another law the Legislature should change: to declare magistrate positions vacant when the term ends without reappointment. But even absent that change in the law, the Senate could have and should have refused to confirm Judge Underwoods reappointment. Senators say they didnt realize she had been suspended and reprimanded. But it takes about 10 seconds to type her name into the search box of the Supreme Courts website and find the reprimand. That no one bothered to conduct such a brief search suggests that the Senate should assign someone to that task rather than simply trusting that their fellow senators will let them know if theyre voting on someone who has no business being on the bench. Obviously, the trust-me system doesnt always work. I will vote for keeping most of them in elected office I will vote to replace most of them I will vote to replace some of them I will vote for just a few, if any I will not vote Vote View Results Josephine Funes Wentzel, a former detective with the Guam Police Department, has spent the past few months working to broaden her search for the man who took her daughter's life. Wentzel on Oct. 1 self-published her book, "The Chase: In Pursuit of My Daughter's Killer." "I started looking at putting all this together, write a book, make the guy famous somehow, and if I can't find him, then at least everybody would know who he is," said Wentzel. "It feels good to put it out on paper and let him know I am never going to let this go. No matter where he goes, I am going to try and keep pushing the book." Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. Wentzel spent the past few years crossing international borders to catch the man authorities believe beat and strangled her daughter, Krystal Mitchell, 30, to death in 2016. Mitchell was found dead while vacationing with her boyfriend, Raymond "Matt" McLeod in San Diego. "It's a book about my journey through red tape, frustration, pain, confusion and pursuing justice myself, because there is no justice out there right now. The police and marshals can only do so much," she said. "He is going to have to be looking over his back and over his shoulder constantly now that there is a book that is still alive out there." Multiple reported sightings have taken Wentzel to countries such as Guatemala and Honduras. She plans to use the money raised to fuel her ongoing search for McLeod. "I am going to continue to do my campaign throughout Central America and we are going to go even further. I've already reached out to Canada. The police are working with me there because someone gave him a Canadian passport after somebody gave him a fake one, so he could possibly be out there," she said. "With my book, I am hoping to help other people and give them encouragement to never give up hope, teach them how I did it, and just teach people how to fight back and work alongside the police because that is all you can do." The Antonin Scalia Law Schools Gray Center at George Mason University has honored Judge Laurence Silberman of the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals with its first annual Justice Clarence Thomas First Principles Award. The Wall Street Journal notes the award to Judge Silberman in its editorial A Judge for First Principles. The symmetry here is perfect. To adapt the phrase Lincoln used in his eulogy of Henry Clay, Justice Thomas and Judge Silberman represent our beau ideal of a judge. We last wrote about Judge Silberman in Judge Silbermans dissent. The Journal editors hit a few highlights in Judge Silbermans stellar career, some of which have involved extrajudicial service. The Journal concisely notes another memorable Silberman dissent: In 1988 (In re Sealed Case), he held that the independent counsel statute violated the Constitutions Appointments Clause. The Supreme Court failed to agree in one of its worst decisions, Morrison v. Olson. But Judge Silbermans view was echoed in Justice Scalias famous dissent in Morrison that has been vindicated by history. Judge Silberman is a man of honor, judgment, and discretion as well as of the first principles recognized in the Justice Clarence Thomas Award. I appreciate this note in the Journal editorial regarding one of the assignments Judge Silberman undertook before his appointment to the bench: As deputy Attorney General in the 1970s, Judge Silberman was asked by Congress to testify on the late FBI director J. Edgar Hoovers secret and confidential files and so was obliged to read them. In a 2005 op-ed in these pages, he called examining those files the single worst experience of my long governmental service. He vowed to take the secrets he read about politicians to his grave, and so they have never leaked to this day. I can only second the salute to Judge Silberman. Josh Blackman briefly recaps the award ceremony in the post A Night To Remember With Justice Thomas including the video below. Congratulations to the Scalia Law School at GMU and the Gray Center at the law school, to Justice Thomas, to Judge Silberman, and to everyone else involved. The Wall Street Journal has obtained internal Facebook documents that shed light on how politics has affected the social media giants behavior in recent years. Some argue that the documents confirm suspicions that Facebook deliberately suppresses conservative views, but to me the story seems more complicated than that: Many Republicans, from Mr. Trump down, say Facebook discriminates against conservatives. The documents reviewed by the Journal didnt render a verdict on whether bias influences its decisions overall. They do show that employees and their bosses have hotly debated whether and how to restrain right-wing publishers, with more-senior employees often providing a check on agitation from the rank and file. The documents viewed by the Journal, which dont capture all of the employee messaging, didnt mention equivalent debates over left-wing publications. I think that is a key point. The New York Times and Washington Post are just as partisan as Breitbart, a major focus of the WSJ story, and they are no more accurate. Yet Facebook pays them for, and features prominently, their content. Apparently no one at Facebook has ever questioned whether false and hateful reporting by the Post and the Times, such as the Russia collusion hoax to name just one example, should cause their content to be suppressed or downgraded. Facebook employees focused special attention on Breitbart, the documents show, criticizing Facebook for showcasing the sites content in News Tab and for helping it to sell ads. They also alleged Facebook gave special treatment to Breitbart and other conservative publishers, helping them skirt penalties for circulating misinformation or hate speech. Right-wing sites are consistently among the best-performing publishers on the platform in terms of engagement, according to data from research firm NewsWhip. That is one reason Facebook also is criticized by people on the left, who say Facebooks algorithms reward far-right content. Twitter recently released a report claiming that its algorithm favors conservative content, an assertion that seems hard to believe. But perhaps it is true that conservative posts get more engagement on average than liberal ones. In May 2016, the tech blog Gizmodo reported that Facebooks Trending Topics list routinely suppressed conservative news. Facebook denied the allegations, but the ensuing controversy prompted claims of bias from Republicans that havent let up. Some internal documents show employee antipathy toward conservative media. In 2018, an engineer who had claimed on a message board that Facebook was intolerant of conservatives, left the company. When he took his critique to Tucker Carlsons Fox News show, some Facebook employees criticized him for going on a network so infamous and biased it cant even call itself a news channel, records from the message boards show. Various employees called Mr. Carlson a white nationalist and partisan hack who looks as though hes a Golden Retriever who has been consistently cheated out of a cache of treats. Tech companies generally have the problem that lower-level employees tend to have extreme left-wing political views. The Journals seriesthe linked article is one of severalsuggests that more senior Facebook executives try to maintain some degree of objectivity in the face of rampant leftism from their employees. Then again, Mark Zuckerberg spent more than $400 million to help Joe Biden win the 2020 election, so one wonders how much faith we can put in that restraining influence. Facebooks influence on the news is extraordinary, and surprising to those of use who dont use it, or use it rarely. The Journal article cites a Pew poll that says more than a third of Americans regularly get their news from Facebook. And that might be an undercount: I have read elsewhere that readership of news stories from outlets like the New York Times and the Washington Post declines by 80% when stories are not featured on Facebook. Rumor has it that Facebook employees have been told to brace for more explosive stories in the next few days, based on revelations from a couple of whistle blowers. But my impression is that those individuals are on the left, so their revelations may not give us a full picture of what has been happening in Zuckerville. At RealClearPolitics they like to pair columns with contrasting points of view, but they have President Obama injecting his poison into our bloodstream without an antidote this morning. Obama was out campaigning for the Democratic candidates in the Virginia and New Jersey gubernatorial races this weekend. RCP has posted a video clip and transcript of Obamas appearance in New Jersey under the heading We Dont Have Time To Waste On These Phony Right Wing Culture Wars. Coincidentally, Jewish World Review editor Binyamin Jolkovsky writes this morning to advise that Thomas Sowell has come off the bench to weigh in on the Virginia race. He sees it differently from Obama. Sowells column is High stakes in Virginia. Take this as Sowells response to Obamas argument, such as it is: This is one battle in a much bigger war, and the stakes are far higher than the governorship of Virginia or the Democrats and Republicans. The stakes are the future of this nation. When school propaganda teaches black kids to hate white people, that is a danger to all Americans of every race. Anyone at all familiar with the history of group-identity politics in other countries knows that it has often ended up producing sickening atrocities that have torn whole societies apart. If you have a strong stomach, read about the 1915 atrocities against the Armenians in Turkey, ethnic cleansing in the Balkans, or the reciprocal atrocities between the Sinhalese and Tamils during their civil war in Sri Lanka. Do not kid yourself that this cannot happen in America. The relations between the Sinhalese and Tamils in Sri Lanka were once held up to the world as a model of intergroup harmony. They got along better than blacks and whites have ever gotten along in the U.S. But then a talented demagogue polarized the country with group-identity politics, to get himself elected prime minister. Once he was elected, he was ready to moderate his position. But you cannot just turn group hatred on and off, like a light bulb. He was assassinated and the hatred continued on. There is a point of no return in America as well. And we may be nearing it, or perhaps past it. Low-income minority students, especially, cannot afford the luxury of having their time wasted on ideological propaganda in the schools, when they are not getting a decent education in mathematics or the English language. When they graduate, and go on to higher education that could prepare them for professional careers, hating white people is not likely to do them nearly as much good as knowing math and English. Here is a bit more: Parents who protest the arrogant abuse of a captive audience of children are performing an important public service. They deserve something better than having the Biden administrations Attorney General threatening them. But this whole issue is far older and far bigger than the Biden administration. It will be a cancerous threat to this country, long after the current administration is over. Poisonous indoctrination will not stop unless it gets stopped. But most parents and voters have lives to lead, and cannot keep monitoring everything the schools do. Most low-income parents lack the one thing that would get them taken seriously by the education establishment an ability to take their children to other schools Sowell has more and I urge interested readers to read the whole thing here. As John discussed here, the National School Boards Association retracted and apologized for urging federal authorities to target unruly school board meetings. That letter spurred (or was the coordinated pretext for) the Justice Departments decision to call in the FBI. The apology was reported by the Washington Times, among other outlets. However, Ive seen no mention of it in the Washington Post. The Post, though, has published a piece by a member of the Brevard County, Florida school board describing how angry parents came after me. She complains that her progressive stances caused her to be called names and subjected to months of threats, harassment, and intimidation. The school member, Jennifer Jenkins, does not assert that she has been the target of violence. In fact, much of what she describes as harassment and intimidation is legitimate, albeit zealous, protest activity. For example: Protesters became regulars outside school board meetings. Trump flags waved in the parking lot. Young children, accompanied by their parents, shouted into megaphones, Dont touch me, pedophiles! LGBTQ students tried to speak while adults chanted Shame! Meetings were packed, and those who couldnt get in banged on the windows and doors. Some of it is mere name-calling, e.g., Nazi, pedophile, and wicked witch. The average conservative blogger with a medium-size audience is similarly abused on a regular basis. Some of the conduct Jenkins claims to have experienced is plainly inappropriate. Im thinking in particular of crowds assembling in front of her home and allegedly saying things like were going to make you beg for mercy and if you thought January 6 was bad, wait until you see what we have for you. This sort of behavior happens all over America and typically is directed at conservatives. It happened to Tucker Carlson, for example. It also happened to the chief of police in Seattle, hardly a conservative, because she wasnt sufficient compliant with the demands of Black Lives Matter. Rep. Maxine Waters advocated harassing officials of the Trump administration at restaurants, department stores, and gasoline stations. Joe Biden considers this sort of thing part of the process for office holders. However, non-office holders ordinary citizens were harassed by the BLM protesters as they tried to enjoy outdoor dining in D.C. restaurants. These efforts at intimidation and/or exercises in venting are disgusting. But they dont warrant federal intervention. Thats true even if they spill over into illegality, such as the minor property damage Jenkins says she experienced. Thats a matter for the local police force (assuming it hasnt been defunded), not the FBI. To be fair, Jenkins doesnt call for federal intervention. She doesnt take a position one way or the other on Merrick Garlands absurd memo. I dont blame Jenkins for wanting to complain to as large an audience as possible about the abuse she has received. I do question the Posts decision to provide her a forum for her grievances. It amounts to selective outrage by the Post, which generally fails even to report on instances of harassment of conservatives, including at college campuses all over America. Przepraszamy! Ogoszenie na stanowisku: ETL Datastage Developer in Trading Data Warehouse wygaso z dniem 2021-11-10 Ta propozycja bya zozona przez Nordea Bank Abp SA Oddzia w Polsce Mozliwe przyczyny wygasniecia ogoszenia to: propozycja zamieszczona przez pracodawce zostaa wycofana z serwisu praca.egospodarka.pl ogoszeniodawca zakonczy proces rekrutacji uzyskujac odpowiednia ilosc osob zleceniodawca zmodyfikowa tresc ogoszenia i jest ono dostepne pod innym adresem WWW dostawca tresci usuna ogoszenie z bazy danych bedny adres url ogoszenia Jezeli poszukujesz pracy w branzy Informatyka / Telekomunikacja, zajrzyj tutaj: Praca Informatyka / Telekomunikacja Jezeli poszukujesz pracy na stanowisku ETL Datastage Developer in Trading Data Warehouse, zajrzyj tutaj: Praca ETL Datastage Developer in Trading Data Warehouse Jezeli poszukujesz pracy w miescie: Gdansk, zajrzyj tutaj: Praca Gdansk Pamietaj, ze mozesz takze rozpoczac poszukiwanie pracy od strony gownej, kliknij tutaj. Inne ogoszenia, ktore mogy byc w kregu Twoich zainteresowan: Przepraszamy! Ogoszenie na stanowisku: (Senior) Oracle / Python Developer in Trading Data Warehouse wygaso z dniem 2021-11-10 Ta propozycja bya zozona przez Nordea Bank Abp SA Oddzia w Polsce Mozliwe przyczyny wygasniecia ogoszenia to: propozycja zamieszczona przez pracodawce zostaa wycofana z serwisu praca.egospodarka.pl firma zakonczya proces rekrutacji uzyskujac odpowiednia ilosc zgoszen zleceniodawca zmodyfikowa tresc zlecenia i jest ono dostepne pod innym adresem url dostawca tresci usuna ogoszenie z bazy danych zy adres url ogoszenia Jezeli poszukujesz pracy w branzy Informatyka / Telekomunikacja, zajrzyj tutaj: Praca Informatyka / Telekomunikacja Jezeli poszukujesz pracy na stanowisku (Senior) Oracle / Python Developer in Trading Data Warehouse, zajrzyj tutaj: Praca (Senior) Oracle / Python Developer in Trading Data Warehouse Jezeli poszukujesz pracy w miescie: Gdansk, zajrzyj tutaj: Praca Gdansk Pamietaj, ze mozesz takze rozpoczac poszukiwanie pracy od strony gownej, kliknij tutaj. Inne propozycje, ktore mogy byc w kregu Twoich zainteresowan: Nigeria and Chad have agreed to set up a joint business council for the development of stronger commercial ties and the improvement of bilateral trade and investment flows between the two countries. The spokesperson of the Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC), Daniel Awurum, disclosed this in a statement on Monday. Trade and investment relationship between Nigeria and Chad predates the political independence of both countries. The establishment of the joint business council is expected to foster bilateral relations between key public and private sector institutions in both countries and drive the actualisation of tangible investments which will drive economic growth and development. According to the statement, the joint council is the outcome of a meeting between the management of NIPC and a business delegation from the Republic of Chad led by Nigerias Ambassador to Chad, Sadique Abubakar and his counterpart, Ambassador of Chad to Nigeria, Abakar Saleh Chahaimi, in Abuja on Friday. The acting Executive Secretary/CEO, NIPC, Emeka Offor said, NIPC will facilitate the setting up of the Joint Business Council in accordance with our mandate to encourage, promote and coordinate investments in the country. Both countries recognise the potential value of the informal trade activities across their borders, said Ambassador Chahaimi. There is, therefore, the need to formalise business activities between both countries, he stated while making the case for setting up the Joint Business Council. ALSO READ: Troops eliminate 43 terrorists in Lake Chad region He further suggested that NIPC should translate its Book of States to the French language. This is to enable Chadian businessmen to understand and appreciate Nigerias investment environment. On his part, Mr Abubakar said he has been particularly interested in increasing the trade and investment between both countries, since he assumed office in January 2021. I think we can also look forward to how we can promote trade through cargo flights between both countries, he said. The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has announced a new financial instrument which it says will support companies to boost local productivity, create wealth and stave off importation responsible for Nigerias foreign exchange crisis. The 100 for 100 PPP initiative, explained as Policy on Production and Productivity, will empower 100 companies in 100 days, and hundreds more in the coming months, the governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele, announced Monday. He said this at the official launch of the Central Bank Digital Currency at the State House in Abuja on Monday. Mr Emefiele said the move is to reverse the countrys over-reliance on imports. The bank has launched several initiatives in recent years to support Nigerias private sector, as it battles an importation-fuelled foreign exchange crisis that has sent the Naira crashing over 30 per cent in the last one year. Last week, it launched new loans for university and polytechnic graduates who are willing to set up businesses. Beneficiaries targeting information and computer technology, agriculture and food processing, and creative arts can receive between N5 million and N25 million. Mr Emefiele said the new PPP initiative will be anchored in the Development Finance Department of the bank under his direct supervision. Under this policy, he said the CBN will advertise, screen, scrutinise and financially support 100 targeted private sector companies in 100 days, beginning from 01 November 2021, and rolling over every 100 days with a new set of 100 companies, whose names will be published in National Dailies for Nigerians to verify and confirm. Working through banks, the financial instrument will be available to their customers in critical areas to boost the production and productivity and to immediately transform and jumpstart the productive base of the economy, he said. After these 100 projects by companies in the first hundred days from November 1, we will take the next 100 companies/projects for another 100 days beginning February 1, 2022, and then another 100 companies for another 100 days beginning from May 1, 2022. He noted that the purpose of the instrument is to take further steps to reverse our over-reliance on imports. We believe that if we target and support the right companies and projects, we will see a significant, measurable and verifiable increase in local production and productivity, reduction in certain imports, increase in non-oil exports, and improvements in the FX-generating capacity of the economy. This, in my view, is the best and most sustainable way to address the Nairas value whether in hard currency or digital eNaira through production, production and more production, he added. The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has said it would no longer condone any illegal or irregular admission conducted by any tertiary institution, warning candidates to desist from accepting admissions offered by the institutions without going through the JAMBs Central Admission Processing System (CAPS). The examination body gave the warning in an advisory issued to the heads of the various tertiary institutions, which was also published in its weekly bulletin. This was a follow-up to an earlier threat of sanctions issued by the minister of education, Adamu Adamu, over what was described as the recalcitrance of some heads of institutions who allegedly continued to flout the ministerial directive on the subject. JAMBs latest advisory JAMBs advisory as captured in the bulletin reads in part; The advisory further made it clear that the new hardline position taken by the Board was informed by the quantum of applications received for candidates for condonement of illegal admissions popularly known by candidates as Regularisation adding that such ignoble acts would no longer be tolerated by the Board. The advisory further reiterated that all applications for admissions to First Degree, National Diploma, National Innovation Diploma and the Nigeria Certificate in Education into Full-Time, Distance Learning, Part-Time, Outreach, Sandwich, etc., must be processed ONLY through the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB). JAMB said institutions that may still be involved in advertising or selling application forms for admissions into the programmes listed above were advised to desist forthwith. The advisory, therefore, urges the concerned institutions to encourage their candidates to apply to their programmes through the examination body, noting that duplication of application forms is also not allowed. On the other hand, candidates are to ensure that any admission issued to them by any institution is routed through the Board even before considering accepting such offers, JAMB said. Ministers earlier decision While taking part in the 2021 admission policy meeting on August 31, in Abuja, Nigerias capital, the education minister accused some institutions of flouting the governments directive. Mr Adamu, who was represented by the permanent secretary in the ministry, Sonny Echono, said appropriate sanctions would be meted against defaulting institutions and their leaderships. Mr Echono, who chaired the meeting on behalf of the minister, noted that the actions of the institutions usually alter the countrys statistics of admitted candidates and those not admitted annually. He said; It is in furtherance of the goal of safeguarding the integrity of the admission process that all institutions were told that admission made outside the Central Admissions Processing System (CAPS) is unacceptable to the system. It is saddening that despite the clear directives at previous policy meetings some institutions still illegally admitted candidates outside CAPS. I consider such an act as a direct affront on the system and appropriate sanctions shall be applied to those found to have been involved in such a disruptive act. Similarly, any institution that issued admission letters to candidates outside CAPS will be punished for such gross indiscipline and fraud. Statistics of illegal admissions According to the minister, a total of 255,928 illegal admissions were conducted by various institutions in 2015 for the 2014 academic sessions while the figure stood at 190,407 in 2016 for the 2015 academic calendar. However, following what he described as a series of engagements with relevant stakeholders, the minister said there was a sharp decline in the figure in 2017, saying the country recorded only 43,852 illegal admission figures for the 2016 academic session. However, JAMB said it never believed some institutions would still continue to go through the backdoor to offer admissions to candidates, saying the essence of harmonisation was to ensure correct statistics for better planning and that it guarantees that every qualified candidate secures admission at the right time. Consequences Meanwhile, JAMB has said part of the consequences awaiting the candidates who fall victim of illegal admissions is that they would not be able to participate in the mandatory National Youth Service Scheme. The programme, which is coordinated by the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), is mandatory for qualified holders of first degree certificates and Higher National Diploma (HND) certificates who are not yet above 30 years of age. The NYSC certificate is part of requirements for job opportunities in Nigeria and political appointees are also expected to either produce the certificate of participation or an exception, which is granted based on the condition of age. The advisory added that; The Board would not succumb to pressure from any quarter to clear any candidate for the NYSC or other essential needs if he/she had accepted any admission from any institution which did not follow laid-down regulations as emphasised above. The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and the three Regulatory Agencies: (National Universities Commission (NUC), National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) and National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) will ensure that all tertiary institutions comply with this policy directive. Other professional regulatory agencies are also expected to play critical roles in sanitising the process. JAMB also seeks streamlining of academic standards and that durations of all non-full time studies must be maintained as approved by the regulatory agencies, noting that such programmes should not run for less than 150 per cent of the equivalence of full time studies. Institutions which desire to place advertisement to source for candidates can do so but they have to advise potential candidates, beginning from those who sat the current UTME (or DE candidates), to change to or pick these institutions as First (1st) Choice rather than the tortuous route of requesting candidates to purchase another application form. This, the advisory noted, would prevent the issue of double registration. Sudanese acting Prime Minister, Abdallah Hamdok, was on Monday reportedly placed under house arrest by a group of an unidentified military force, local television station Al Hadath TV is reporting. The move against Mr Hamdok followed the military forces arrest of top civilian officials including cabinet ministers, the prime ministers media adviser and a member of the countrys ruling sovereign council. The reported military takeover also came with the disruption of communication lines and a crackdown on the internet as well as blocked bridges in the capital Khartoum, the countrys information ministry said, describing the actions as a coup. Those detained are Ibrahim al-Sheikh, minister of industry; Hamza Baloul, minister of information; Mohammed al-Fiky Suliman, member of the sovereign council; and Faisal Mohammed Saleh, media adviser to the prime minister, All-Africa reported. Ayman Khalid, governor of the state containing Khartoum, was also arrested, according to the official Facebook page of his office. Thousands of demonstrators have flooded the streets of Khartoum and its twin city of Omdurman to protest the apparent military takeover, according to Bloomberg. Sudan has been on the edge as it grapples with a deep political crisis that trailed the toppling of the long-standing president, Omar al-Bashir, in 2019. Since then, the military and civilian groups have been sharing power in the African country in what Reuters described as an uneasy alliance. Only about ten days ago, thousands of pro-military demonstrators gathered in front of the presidential palace in Khartoum, chanting down with the government of hunger. Last month, a coup attributed to forces loyal to Mr al-Bashir was foiled in the country with military leaders demanding reforms. By every inch of it, the development would be a major setback for Sudan as the transition government of Mr Hamdok was propped up in August 2019 after Mr al-Bashirs ouster; to oversee an election by 2022. Nigerias central bank digital currency (CBDC), the eNaira, has gone live after an official launching by President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday. The launch took place at the State House in Abuja. An earlier plan to unveil the digital currency on October 1 was shelved. Nigeria is one of only a few countries in the world to develop an official digital currency. The eNaira was developed by fintech company Bitt, which is also behind the creation of CBDC in some East Caribbean countries. At the launch Monday, the Central Bank of Nigeria governor, Godwin Emefiele, said 500 million eNaira ($1.21 million) has already been minted. The CBDCs digital currency app and its merchant wallet are now live and available for download. The two apps, eNaira speed wallet and eNaira merchant wallet, are now available on Google playstore and Apple store. A notice on the enaira website gives details into how the currency and the wallet will work. Get Ready With Your Accurate BVN Data For Your Hitch-Free Enrolment, it says. To sign-up on the eNaira speed wallet, you would be required to input the following details exactly as captured during your BVN enrollment. First Name, Last Name, Date of Birth, State of Origin, and Email. Your Banks are waiting to assist you in validating and updating your BVN details to ensure seamless enrolment to the eNaira Platform, it says. The central bank has also published the regulatory guidelines of the currency on its website. The guideline seeks to provide simplicity in the operation of eNaira, encourage general acceptability and use, promote low cost of transactions, drive financial inclusion while minimizing inherent risks of disintermediation of any negative impact on the financial system, it says. Controversial Islamic scholar, Ahmad Gumi, has warned President Muhammadu Buhari and the federal government not to declare bandits killing and abducting people in the North as terrorists. The Sunni scholar said declaring them as terrorists would come with a big price. Mr Gumi, an ex -soldier and medical doctor, has been campaigning for amnesty for the outlaws terrorising states in the north-west and some part of north-central Nigeria. He had been to forests in Kaduna, Niger, Katsina, Sokoto and Zamfara States to meet with governors and some notorious bandits with a view to striking a peace deal with the outlaws. Recently, some Nigerians, including Governor Aminu Masari of Katsina and the forum of House of Assembly Speakers, urged the fedral govrrnment to declare the bandits as terrorists. The Senate had also made a similar call in September. Citing reason such a declaration was necessary, Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai said it would enable the military to go all out against them without the fear or running foul of intrrnational laws. But reacting to the calls, Mr Gumi posted on his Facebook page that it would be deadly. Read the full statement here: Declaring Bandits as Terrorists: will come with a prize! Nobody doubts that sentimentalism today overrides sensibility in our polity. For the sake of posterity, some people will have to speak out. The acts the Bandits are committing now in NW have gradually over time become tantamount to terrorism because wherever innocent people are fatal victims its pure terrorism. Yet, innocence these days is relative. We agreed if their children and women are also killed, they are guilty by association or collateral damage, so also the bandits may think the same way. Its right for vigilantes to lynch Fulanis herdsmen or anyone that looks like them by profiling but wrong for the herdsmen to ransack villages in retribution. They are pushed to believe it is an existential war and in war, ethics are thrown to the winds. Yet again, the only helpful part that is against Bandits is that no other than them are attracted to join them in the NW because of its ethnic tinge and coloration. However, the moment they are termed Terrorist Islamic for that matter, the direct foreign Jihadist movements will set in in force. And many teaming unemployed youths may find it palatable and attractive. Shouting Allahu Akbar plus AK47 against a secular immoral society where impunity reigns are the magnet for extremists and downtrodden the majority of our youth. Already these deadly terrorist groups are fighting for the soul of these bandits. This will give criminality a spiritual cover and remove the stigma of discrediting them with such crimes since now they are fighting a Jihad as they will claim. In such a situation, does the larger society -as it is- has the moral high ground to fight back? This is the most probable consequence, the price of which is not worth it. Nothing stops the kinetic actions from going on without the controversy of semantics. NE is already and is still devastated by this madness for over 12 years. If we allow, terror, to set in into these raw naive unexposed bandits, NW will be in ruins sooner than later. Already IPOB are destroying SE, and Igboho has set the ball of confusion rolling in SW. For those who want to destroy the NW, its a good recipe. Turn bandits into religious zealots. Tell me, what then remains of Nigeria? I have started to get these raw bandits out of their misadventure but unfortunately, I have few helpers and a mountain of antagonists. The psychology in fighting natives is to induce a motive for their struggle if they dont have one already, a motive that is manageable, and it is so managed. Unfortunately, reactions to threat in our nation is always slow and incoherent. I hope another Igbo clergy goes into the IPOB militants likewise and talk sense into them, and another Pastor of Oduduwa land talks against the Igboho secessionist tribal movement by way of sensitizing people to the values of a cohesive nationalism that will guaranty freedom, equality, and justice for all. Religious forces can permeate hardened hearts where secular forces cannot. Regrettably, people just sit down in the comfort of their rooms or parlors and make useless passing comments that only add fuel to the inferno of ethnic jingoism and bigotry. In the 21st century, Nigeria is hijacked by semi-illiterates and half-baked tribal heroes that have nothing to offer besides promoting tribal xenophobia. Nigeria has over 250 ethnic groupings, its not possible to divide such a nation into tribal enclaves. Nigeria is multi-religious, even with one same religion or sect there is no harmony and understanding that can build a prosperous unified nation where tranquility and development will flourish. We are tired of these bogus destructive fruitless slogans! Nigerians are in a daydream so long they act by Nerval impulses not by the dictates of their cerebral cortex. May Allah protect us all. Amin Babagana Monguno, the national security adviser (NSA) to President Muhammadu Buhari, has advised those with the intention to disrupt Anambra governorship election to have a rethink. Mr Monguno, a retired major-general, gave the advice at the Inter-Agency Consultative Committee on Election Security (ICCES) meeting organised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Monday in Abuja. There is a general apprehension that the November 6 election may be affected by the sit-at-home order issued by the pro-Biafra group, IPOB. The agitation for an independent republic, Biafra, which is being championed by IPOB, has led to killings and destruction in Nigerias South-east region. The IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, is facing trial for alleged treason. The group and its supporters are using the sit-at-home order to put pressure on the Nigerian government to release Mr Kanu from detention. Mr Monguno, who is the co-chairman of ICCES, said that while security agencies have been charged to act professionally, they would not sit idle and allow anyone to disrupt the election. I want to reassure the general public that the security agencies are going to do everything within their power to ensure that the people of Anambra State undergo this exercise without any incident. In the same vein, I want to offer a word of brotherly advice to our brothers and sisters in Anambra State who may want to use means, methods that are unorthodox and that are unusual to destabilise an already delicate situation, to please, think again. We are all eager to achieve results in this election that will be acceptable to everybody. I dont think it will be helpful for anyone to go out and ignite something that might cause pain for the good people of Anambra State, under whatever disguise. Please think again. The law enforcement agencies, in as much as they have agreed to operate in accordance with the requirements of their profession, will not sit by idle. We will not allow people to start looting, destroying public property, and resorting to not just intimidation, terrorising people, possibly arson and even homicide. This will not be accepted. The law enforcement agencies have been asked to watch out for such elements, Mr Monguno said. The NSA also advised the security personnel not to engage in any act that would tarnish the image of the security agencies or harm the electoral process. Well go ahead with election INEC INEC Chairman, Mahmood Yakubu, in his remarks, said the commission was committed to the November 6 election. Mr Yakubu said INEC preparations for the election had been going on unhindered. Our deployment of non-sensitive materials and training of personnel for the election have virtually been concluded. The commission has successfully accomplished 12 out of the 14 activities listed in the timetable and schedule of activities for the election released in January this year. The two outstanding activities are the last day of campaign, at midnight on Thursday November 4 and election day which remains Saturday November 6. INEC is determined to proceed with the Anambra State Governorship election as scheduled. The safety and protection of voters, our personnel, accredited observers, the media and materials are cardinal considerations in any election. We have been assured by the security agencies of a secure environment for the election, Mr Yakubu said. (NAN) A chairman of a local council in Akwa Ibom State, Nigerias South-south region, has admitted collecting and appropriating council funds without letting the cash pass through the councils bank account. The chairman, Aniekpon Ekpo, heads Mkpat Enin local council. He was elected in December 2020 under the Peoples Democratic Party which is the ruling party in the state. He is under investigation by the Akwa Ibom House of Assembly for alleged theft, financial misappropriation and abuse of office, following a petition against him by 10 out of 15 councillors. The councillors accused Mr Ekpo of misappropriating the councils internally generated revenue (IGR). The position of the law is that all funds of the local government shall be paid into the account of local government but this is not the case in Mkpat Enin Local Government Area as the internally generated revenue cannot be found in the local governments account, the councillors stated in their petition to the Speaker, Akwa Ibom House of Assembly. Mr Ekpo has never given an account of the councils IGR since he assumed office, the councillors said. The council generates an average of N2 million monthly, according to the councillors. Mr Ekpo, while responding to the allegation, said his administration hired a consultant to collect revenue for the council, but that consultant remits the money directly to the councils cashier, instead of depositing it into the councils bank account. Mr Ekpo said this on Friday during the second investigative hearing by the Akwa Ibom Assembly Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs. He (consultant) paid N3 million to the council, Mr Ekpo disclosed at the hearing. When you say council account, it is not only a bank account. There are funds paid at the council and receipts are given. It is not only when money passes through the bank that it is in the council account. When we came in early, we said that rather than just keep money, we had to use the money to kickstart the projects that we had. So, it was not paid into the bank account. It was paid, cash to the cashier and there is a receipt for it, the chairman said. Mr Ekpos claim, however, contravenes section 66 subsection 1 of the Local Government Administration Law of Akwa Ibom State. Subject to the provision of this section, all funds of the local government shall be paid into the account of the local government and shall be applied to the administration, development and welfare of the inheritance thereof, the law says. Reacting to Mr Ekpos defence, Dennis Akpan, a member of the House Committee, said it is mandatory for all the councils funds to be paid into the councils bank account before expenditure. We are talking about the Local Government Administration Law here, and that is where the councillors are basing their allegations. Abuse of office does not mean that you have taken money, but have you followed the laid down procedure especially when such provision has to do with the law which brought you into office? Even if you want to use the money, pay in first then you take it out and do whatever you want. But the law requires that you pay it first into the account of the local government. It is mandatory, Mr Akpan said. Mr Akpan is the deputy leader of the Assembly. The investigative hearing was adjourned to October 27. The African Centre for Media and Information Literacy (AFRICMIL) has called for a thorough investigation into the alleged procurement of substandard equipment totalling N11 billion by the management of the Nigeria Police Trust Fund (NPTF). The group wants officials who are culpable to be brought to book. This call was made to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and particularly to the chairman, Bolaji Owasanoye. In a letter dated 6 October, AFRICMIL asked Mr Owasanoye to use his good offices to get to the root of the scandalous breach of the Act establishing the NPTF, as well as the wilful disregard of the recommendation of the KPMG report which clearly established the grounds for prudent management of the Trust Fund. Among the substandard equipment allegedly procured by the NPTF are bullet proof vests which were expected to possess resistant shields on two sides but was only effective on one, ThisDay newspaper reports which it said was incapable of protecting police personnel in a possible shootout with criminals. Helmets and Toyota Buffalo vehicles were also procured but fell far short of the required standard. The procurement breaches Section 11 of the NPTF Act which states that the Board of Trustees is responsible for Setting out the policies and programmes for the training and training of personnel of the Nigerian Police Force and its auxiliary staff in Nigeria and abroad in accordance with objective of the Act. Approving the disbursement of money from the Trust Fund to finance projects or activities of the Nigerian Police Force and Police Institutions beneficiaries of the Proceeds of Trust Fund. Former Inspector General of Police and Chairman NPTF Board, Suleiman Abba, had since appeared before the ICPC investigation team. He had told Vanguard newspaper that the management of the Police Trust Fund solely went about the procurement of the sub-standared equipment without his knowledge while doing everything possible to frustrate both him and his staff from resuming work at the office provided for them by the Nigerian Police Force. Request In a statement, Chido Onumah, the Coordinator of AFRICMIL, the group said it is following developments in the case and expressed support for ICPC in this monumental task. In line with the Commissions customary adherence to professionalism, AFRICMIL sought a thorough, painstaking and dispassionate engagement with all the issues surrounding the controversial management of the Trust Fund. AFRICMIL asked the ICPC to get to the root of the scandalous breach of the Act establishing the NPTF, as well as the complete disregard of the recommendations in the KPMG report which set the ground rules for prudent management of the Trust Fund. There is no doubt that ICPC will find out that the firm disregard for due process by the Executive Secretary is at the heart of the procurement of poor-quality security equipment and machineries for the Nigeria Police Force which has outraged many people across the country, including the Inspector of General of Police, it said. It said its findings revealed that among the equipment said to have been purchased for police personnel, the bullet proof vests, helmets and some of the Toyota Buffalo vehicles fell far short of the required standard and urged ICPC to scrutinise the equipment and other items procured to see whether they meet the needs of the police. The ICPC, it said, should be interested in investigating what the sum of N722.6 million out of the N1.6 billion released as takeoff grant of the secretariat of the Trust Fund was used for. This amount was said to have been spent within five months even as accommodation and other necessary equipment had been provided free by the Nigeria Police Force. A situation where the Executive Secretary conducts business without the consent of the Chairman of the Board of Trustees or, in collaboration with the Bureau of Public Procurement, literally usurps the powers of the Board in flagrant violation of Sections 11(b) and 12(1)a of NPTF Act 2019, is a gross misconduct that should not be condoned by the ICPC and citizens who mean well for the police and our country, part of the statement read. AFRICMIL also noted that the police trust fund fraud is one of huge interest to the people because of the institution and the personalities involved. The organisation said it had confidence in ICPC to deal with the issue professionally in the interest of justice. The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) has called on media professionals to be conflict-sensitive in reporting cases of insecurity across the country. This, it said, is because insecurity takes a huge toll on societal life and posts negative development indices in several areas. The NGE made this call at the end of its conference in Abuja. The two-day conference with the theme: Media In Times of Crises: Resolving Conflict, Achieving Consensus, was held between 21 and 22 October. In a statement jointly signed by the NGE President, Mustapha Isah, and the General Secretary, Iyobosa Uwugiaren, the conference expressed worries that some editors and media professionals seem to have taken sides in the raging crises. The conference made the observation barely a week after President Muhammadu Buhari urged the media to address the tone, content, and standards of reporting into security and safety measures. This comes on the heels of raging insecurity across the country with killings and kidnappings thriving in almost every state. Mr Buhari had asked that the term rising insecurity be replaced with the reality of declining insecurity despite proof of increasing cases of attacks reported daily. The NGE sought a healthy and harmonious collaboration between the media and the security agencies in the fight against insecurity across the country. It said peace and development, which are germane to further advancement of Nigeria, cannot thrive in times of crises and that governments at all levels have a huge responsibility to defend, protect and provide for its citizens. The prevalent insecurity challenges, which have seen terrorists, bandits, armed herdsmen and other criminal elements holding the nation to ransom and threatening its survival and development, have the potential of tearing the country to shreds, it said. It also added that journalists and security agents who are first line responders to every flash points appear locked in mutual suspicion. Resolutions The conference therefore resolved that, Governments at all levels have a responsibility to defend, protect and provide for its citizens. That agitations for self-determination, which are raging in the South-east, South-west and the South-south regions do not augur well for the unity of the country; An end to the raging insecurity so that citizens can conduct their normal lives in an atmosphere of peace and concord and the need for healthy and harmonious collaboration between the media and the security agencies in the fight against insecurity. There is a need for security agents to appreciate the role of journalists and media professionals and refrain from anything that will abridge it. This, the editors noted, is majorly because journalists are oftentimes impaired and harassed by security agents from carrying out their professional responsibilities. Editors and other media professionals were urged to ensure that they are conflict-sensitive and not publish stories capable of inflaming ethnic, regional and religious passion. The conference also stressed the need to tackle the monster of misinformation and sanitise the media against unprofessional and unethical behaviour. The government was also asked to support the survival of the media as part of the task of building the nations democracy, avoid acts that will put the media in chains, confront issues that have given rise to the demands of the different self-determination groups and deal with the different sections of the country on the basis of fairness, equity and justice. There is a need for the government to ensure that its policies and actions are sensitive to the multi ethnic and religious makeup of the country. The government needs to commit more resources to education, healthcare and tackle the rising costs of food and other social services, part of the statement read. The conference attended, by 350 editors, security chiefs, and other participants, was chaired by a journalist, Ray Ekpu, with Group Managing Director, Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mele Kyari, as Special Guest of Honour, and President, Newspapers Proprietors of Nigeria (NPAN), Kabiru Yusuf, as Guest of Honour. The conference also featured other guests, including, Yahaya Bello, Governor of Kogi State; Nasir El Rufai, Governor of Kaduna State, represented by the Special Adviser on Inter Governmental Affairs, Hannatu Dalhat; and Governor Adegboyega Oyetola of Osun represented by his Deputy Chief of Staff, Abdullah Binuyo. Other guests included Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba, who was represented by Frank Mba, the spokesperson of the Force; Director General of the State Security Service, Yusuf Bichi represented by its Spokesperson, Peter Afunanya; and Director General, Nigerian Intelligence Agency, (NIA), Ahmed Abubakar represented by a director, Emma Anzaku. The Managing Director/CEO, Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System For Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL), Aliyu Abdulhameed, Executive Vice Chairman, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Umar Danbatta; Publisher of Premium Times, Dapo Olorunyomi and Editor-in-Chief of the Leadership Newspapers, Azubike Ishiekwene, were also parts of the conversation. Another highlight of the conference was the unveiling of the book chronicling 60 years of the Nigerian Guild of Editors titled, Uneven Steps: The Story Of The Nigerian Guild of Editors authored by Lanre Idowu. The book was reviewed by Akpandem James. The conference was rounded off with a 60th Anniversary Dinner, which featured the induction of eight new Fellows and 13 new members. The Director-General, Voice of Nigeria (VON), Osita Okechukwu, has advised the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) to join the Ohanaeze Ndigbo to explore a political option for Nnamdi Kanus release. Mr Okechukwu said exploring a political solution to the problem would also garner support for the South-east regions aspiration to produce Nigerias president in 2023. The director-general gave the advice on Sunday in Enugu while speaking with journalists. It is my considered opinion that a political solution will lead to the release of Nnamdi Kanu and persuade other Nigerians to oblige us Nigeria President of Igbo extraction in 2023. IPOB, therefore, should join Prof. George Obiozor-led Ohanaeze Ndigbo to kill two birds with one stone, he said. Mr Okechukwu argued that on the other hand, shutting down the South-east for seven days, 30 days or 10 years would most likely lead to more loss of lives of the Igbo people. He said such an action would also lead to stagnation of the regions economy, hunger, poverty and underdevelopment. To be frank, it is doubtful whether shutting down will lead to freedom for Nnamdi Kanu or any other freedom. My brothers and sisters, working with Ohanaeze for a political solution is not cowardice, but pragmatic and the home-bitter truth solution, given the dangers ahead. We share your agitation for freedom and prosperity. The VON DG noted that the Igbo people had passed the sordid road of aggrieved and unprepared civil war in the past. Regrettably, whilst this shutting down is happening, the Yorubas and our other competitors in the Nigerian project are yearning to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari, who has only 19 months to complete his tenure. The pragmatic route is a political solution in collaboration with the Ohaneze; lets sheath our swords, the director-general added. Mr Okechukwu said poverty, hunger, and unemployment was common in different parts of the country. The truism is that Nigeria is designated the World Poverty Capital as a whole, not Ndigbo alone. If we shut down or sit at home, will we regain freedom or lose more lives; wont we stagnate our economy and starve those who stay indoors to death? Lets use our tongues to count our teeth, he said. (NAN) Members of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives in Katsina State have protested against incessant police assault on some of their members. They carried out the protest on Sunday to express displeasure over alleged assault on a staff nurse at General Ahmadi Rimi Orthopaedic Hospital Katsina by police personnel who took victims of an accident to the hospital. Addressing journalists on behalf of the nurses, Kamaludeen Kabir said a nurse was manhandled by officers who came to the hospital and acted as if they were above the law. We are health workers and not criminals. This is unacceptable and we will fight it. We will no longer tolerate such abuses from any security official because we are also doing our job. One of our members (Umar Lawal) was assaulted on Wednesday around 5 p.m. by a team of policemen while attending to an emergency case. We have followed the situation, he added. He said the hospital management and other stakeholders had been duly informed of the development. Mr Kabir said the association had noted frequent assaults on its members and other health workers in the state. How they attacked me Victim. Speaking to PREMIUM TIMES after the protest, Mr Lawal said he was met at the Nurses Station in the evening of the fateful day. I had finished medication with my internal patients and was waiting at the Nurses Station when an ambulance from the National Open University brought in accident victims with five policemen. I checked one of the patients and discovered that he has external injuries but had more internal injuries especially on his thigh and other fracture on his neck. I was prescribing the drugs for them to go and buy so that we could resuscitate him. Then suddenly, they brought another of the victims who was already dead when they came to the hospital. We were asking them but they said he was already dead. I asked them to go and buy card and drugs for the victims, then one of them said I should remove money from his pocket which I did and asked him to go and buy the drugs. But he said I should go and buy the drugs for them. That was when he collected his money. One of the policemen started shouting at me to obey his boss command but I told them my work is to save the victims, which I was already doing. Then the boss who asked me to buy the drugs slapped me and I slapped him back because I felt I was doing my job. They all descended on me and started beating me, saying I must follow them to the police station. When it became obvious that they would overpower me, I pushed one of them who was trying to grab me by the waist and ran into the emergency ward. The police spokesperson in the state, Gambo Isa, did not respond to calls and SMS sent to him on the issue. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has urged the Court of Appeal, Abuja to nullify the Federal High Court ruling that stopped the retrial of Orji Kalu, a former governor of Abia State, over a N7 billion fraud case. This is contained in a notice of appeal filed by EFCC against the September 29, 2021 judgment of Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja prohibiting the commission from retrying Mr Kalu. The commission similarly filed a separate notice of appeal in respect of Mr Kalus firm, Slok Nigeria Limited, which Mr Ekwo also shielded from retrial. Previously convicted of the charges, Mr Kalu, a serving senator representing Abia North, was already serving a 12-year jail term for the offences when the Supreme Court, on May 8, 2020, nullified the proceedings leading to his and his co-defendants conviction. The Supreme Courts judgment delivered on an appeal by Mr Kalus co-defendant, Ude Udeogu, also ordered a retrial. The apex court anchored its decision on the grounds that the trial, the previous trial was unconstitutional because the trial judge, Mohammed Idris, lacked the jurisdiction to conduct the proceedings and deliver judgement after he had been elevated to the Court of Appeal. Mr Kalu, the incumbent Chief Whip of the Nigerian Senate, got out of prison on the apex courts judgment by citing it in an application he filed before A.M Liman of the Federal High Court in Lagos, who promptly quashed his conviction and ordered his release. But as soon as EFCC made a move to enforce the apex courts order for a retrial, Mr Kalu and his firm quickly filed separate applications before Mr Ekwo, to whom the criminal case was reassigned, to stop their retrial. Ruling on the separate applications filed by Mr Kalu and his firm, Mr Ekwo held on September 29, that the applicants cannot be prosecuted afresh in the absence of any specific order directed at them. Mr Ekwo insisted in the judgments that it was Mr Udeogu who appealed to the Supreme Court that was ordered to be prosecuted, and not Mr Kalu or his firm. EFCC appeals Displeased with the decisions, the EFCC, through the prosecuting counsel, Rotimi Jacobs, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, urged the Court of Appeal in Abuja to set aside the judgement of the lower court and dismiss the cases filed by Mr Kalu and Slok Nigeria Ltd. The notice of appeal against the judgment delivered in Mr Kalus favour has nine grounds of appeal while the one against the ruling involving Slok Nigeria Ltd has seven grounds. Grounds of appeal In the two separate notices of appeal dated October 11, 2021, Mr Jacobs faulted Mr Ekwos reasoning which suggested that Mr Kalus retrial would amount to double jeopardy. The lower court excluded the most relevant evidence before it so as to shield the first respondent from criminal prosecution, the EFCC said in its particulars of error faulting Mr Ekwos ruling. The anti-graft agency argued that the judge erred in law when he, in one breath, agreed that the earlier trial, conviction and sentencing of Mr Kalu was nullified, but in another breath, held that a retrial would subject the former governor to double jeopardy. Questioning the legal reasoning of the judge, the EFCC argued: That the plea of autrefois acquit and autrefois convict (previously acquitted and previously convicted) and the principle of jeopardy availed the first respondent (Kalu) and that the re-trial of the respondent would amount to the violation of the provisions of Section 36 (9) and (10) of Constitution Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended) and Section 238 of the Administrator of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, was wrong. Having found that the conviction the first respondent (Kalu) was delivered by a court without competent jurisdiction, it is absurd for the lower court to depart from the express provisions of section 36 (9) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and Section 238 of the ACJA, 2015 and then apply the principles of double jeopardy and autrefois convict. The lower court failed to consider the decisions of the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal cited before it to the effect that the doctrine of double jeopardy or autrefois convict is only applicable to a decision delivered by a court of competent jurisdiction. Similarly, EFCC, through its lawyer, picked holes in Mr Ekwos order prohibiting the federal government and its agencies from retrying Mr Kalu and his company on the same case. Mr Jacobs noted: The evidence before the lower court was that the Supreme Court, in appeal No: SC.622C/2019 between Ude Jones Udeogu v. FRN had nullified the proceedings conducted by Hon. Justice M.B Idris that led to the convictions and sentence of all the respondents in this appeal. However, it was only Ude Jones Udeogu that was the appellant. Since it was a joint trial of all the respondents, the first respondent, by his motion filed on May 15, 2020 prayed the Federal High Court presided over by Justice A. M. Liman that the proceedings that led to his conviction be nullified on the ground that Hon. Justice M.B Idris, JCA lacks jurisdiction to deliver the judgment in line with the decision of the Supreme Court. He further challenged the trial court for holding that Mr Kalu could not be tried again by the Federal High Court on the grounds that the Supreme Court did not order his re-trial. Taking benefit without liability He noted that although it was based on the appeal filed by Mr Udeogu that the Supreme Court voided the proceedings leading to their conviction and sentence, Mr Kalu tendered the Supreme Court judgment before another judge of the Federal High Court (Mr Liman) who applied the judgment to him and ordered is release from prison on that basis of the judgment. The pronouncement of the Supreme Court as to the competence of the trial conducted by Hon. Justice MB ldris and the re-trial order in appeal No: SC.622C/2019 was limited to the said second respondent herein (Udeogu). The first respondent took advantage of the decision of the Supreme Court in appeal No: SC.622C/2019 and filed a motion before Hon. Justice A. M. Liman that since he was tried jointly with the other respondents and in view of the decision of the Supreme Court, that his conviction and sentence should also be declared a nullity. The lower court permitted the first respondent to rely on the decision of the Supreme Court in appeal No: SC.622C/2019 to take benefit of the order of nullity made by the Supreme Court on the judgment of Hon. Justice M. B. Idris and to avoid the burden of a retrial order made by the Supreme Court. The law will not permit the first respondent to approbate and reprobate at the same time, Mr Jacobs wrote in the notice of appeal. The EFCC further faulted the trial court for holding, among others, that the appellant (EFCC) was merely appealing to the sentiments for the retrial of the first respondent and that the entire proceedings in exhibit RJ3 and RJ4 have no bearing with the proceedings of the court in this case. Shocking Mr Jacobs pointed out to Exhibit RJ3 as the motion on notice which Mr Kalu filed to quash the proceedings conducted by Federal High Court in Lagos, and Exhibit RJ4, the order made by the judge, Mr Liman, on June 30, 2020, which set aside the proceedings conducted by the former trial judge in line with courts judgement and ordered his release from prison. It was pursuant to exhibits RJ3 and RJ4 that the first respondent was released from the prison on the grounds that the judgment delivered by Hon. Justice M. B. Idrs JCA was a nullity. It is shocking that the order of competent jurisdiction made by Hon. Justice A.M. Liman was declared by the lower court as irrelevant to the proceedings. There is no appeal against the decision and order of Hon. Justice A. M. Liman pending before E. I. Ekwo. E.I Ekwo . sat on appeal against the order of Hon. Justice A.M Liman, setting aside the judgment delivered on the 5th December, 2019 after the elevation of on Justice M. B. Idris ground of jurisdiction, the EFCC argued. The commission canvassed similar grounds of appeal in the appeal against Mr Ekwos ruling concerning Slok. Some lawyers from South-eastern Nigeria have asked the Federal High Court in Abuja to join them as defendants in a lawsuit lodged by a group of northern elders praying for an exit of the Igbo speaking region from Nigeria. Seeking to be joined as defendants in the suit implies that the lawyers are against the campaign for the secession of the South-eastern Nigeria being championed by the Nnamdi Kanu-led Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). Violence and killings attributed to IPOB and its armed wing, the Eastern Security Network (ESN), have escalated in the region in the last one year in a brutal campaign for an independent Republic of Biafra constituted by the five South-eastern states and some parts of the South-south region. The quest for the independent state triggered the bloody Civil War of 1967 to 1970. In the suit instituted by some northern elders seeking courts approval for the South-east to secede, they called on the court to grant their prayers to avoid a repeat of ugly events of the Civil War. The defendants sued on record by the plaintiffs are: the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF), the Senate President, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the National Assembly. Why we want to be joined But the legal practitioners from the South-east led by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Chuks Muoma, Ukpai Ukairo, Ebere Uzoatu and Obi Emuka filed their application for joinder to enable them to state the true position of the people of the region whom they argue have yet to be represented in the suit. The lawyers, who described themselves as the representatives of the people of the South-eastern region, claimed that the case of the northern elders seeking the exit of South-east from Nigeria had the capability to shape the life of the generation of Igbo people. In their application for joinder filed by Victor Onweremadu and seen by this reporter on Monday, the lawyers of Igbo extraction claimed that they have interest to protect in the suit, hence, their quest to be made a set of defendants in the case. In their 12-paragraph affidavit in support of their application, the lawyers noted that the Northern elders in their suit did not think it necessary to join the people of the South-east region or their representatives to enable the court hear from them. The affidavit deposed to by one Ekenna Jonathan read in part: That this suit is so crucial and a sensitive matter which concerns the Indigenous Igbo speaking tribe in Nigeria and has the capability to shape the life of the future generation of the people of the south east of Nigeria and other Indigenous Igbo speaking tribe in Nigeria. That the Igbo Lawyers Association represented by the applicants are an Indigenous association of lawyers from the South-east of Nigeria and other Indigenous Igbo speaking tribe in Nigeria. That the Igbo Lawyers Association and its objective is to represent the interest of the Igbo people which said people are Indigenous in the South-east of Nigeria. Thus, the association is interested and is a necessary party to be joined. That it will serve the interest of justice if the honourable court grants the application and join the applicants as defendants in the suit and that the plaintiffs will not be prejudiced if the application is granted. Meanwhile, the judge, Inyang Ekwo, has fixed November 1 for hearing of the suit. Suit The Northern elders had in June this year filed the case asking the court to compel the Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives to hasten the exit of the South-eastern region out of Nigeria before concluding the on-going amendment to Nigerias constitution. The secession request is one of the three prayers sought in the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/538/2021 instituted by the group of elders and politicians from the North led by Nastura Shariff, Balarabe RufaI, Abdul-Aziz Sulaiman and Aminu Adam. In their suit, they averred in a supporting affidavit that their action was informed by the need to stem the tide of violence and destruction being allegedly perpetrated by the agitation for secession championed by the Nnamdi Kanu-led IPOB. The plaintiffs claimed that they do not want a repeat of the 1967 to 1970 civil war in Nigeria that led to wanton destruction of lives and property. Prayers They prayed for, among others, a declaration that combined effect of the provisions of Section 4 of the Nigerian constitution and Articles 1, 2, and 20(1) of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act 2004, the National Assembly, sued as the fourth defendant is empowered to set in motion a framework for a referendum to allow the South-eastern region of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to decide on their bid for self-determination. They also urged the court to order the 2nd, 3rd and 4th defendants ( the Senate President, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the National Assembly) to provide a framework that will pave way for the self-determination of the South-eastern states so as to leave the geographical entity called Nigeria before any further step is taken to further amend the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria can be further amended at any time after the question of self-determination must have been resolved by Nigerians, the plaintiffs added. The Clerk to the National Assembly (CNA), Ojo Amos, has expressed sadness over the disappearance of Tordue Salem, a Vanguard Correspondent covering the House of Representatives. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mr Salem was last seen on October 19 leaving the premises of the National Assembly. Efforts to locate his whereabouts since then by his colleagues, relatives and security operatives have proved abortive. Worried by the development, Mr Ojo in his opening remarks at a two-day Capacity Building Workshop organised for journalists covering the National Assembly in Abuja said, on Monday, that he was deeply saddened by the incident. It is tragic to note that one of our own, Tordue Salem, a Vanguard correspondent and a member of the House of Representatives Press Corps is still missing. As the chief bureaucrat of the National Assembly, I am deeply pained that this unfortunate reality is confronting all of us today. I hereby use this medium to urge security personnel handling the disappearance of Mr Tordue Salem to be proactive and assiduous, so that we can get to the root of this singularly tormenting matter, he said. Also speaking on the sad incident, Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Ndudi Elumelu, who represented the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, called for prayers for the missing journalist before delivering the speakers speech. The Nigeria Union of Journalist (NUJ), Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, held a peaceful march which culminated in the submission of a petition to the Inspector-General of Police Educate the public Mr Ojo also urged journalists covering the National Assembly to protect the image of the parliamentary institution by educating the public on issues always misunderstood. He urged National Assembly reporters to change the uncomplimentary narrative against the federal lawmakers by always putting the facts across to Nigerians as against mischievous comments often made to disparage the parliament. It is unfortunate that those set of disingenuous elites, who were supposed to be abreast of constitutional provisions, had attempted to mislead the public. Do we say those who vehemently wanted to undermine the powers of the National Assembly Service Commission ( NASC) were ignorant of the workings of the legislature, as it relates to the doctrine of separation of powers, such as it is obtainable in the US? I think such mischief makers must be handled adequately by media stakeholders in the National Assembly anytime they raise their ugly heads. Really, no one section of the country can tell the whole story of our nascent democracy and legislature like the media who are notably partners in progress, bearing in mind that whenever there is a coup, the major casualties are both the media and the legislature , he said. The highpoint of the first day of the workshop was the presentation of papers by resource persons. The papers presented included on titled, The Role of the Media in Citizens Mobilisation and Engagement in the Legislative Process by Peter Onyeneye, a member of Nigerian Institute of Public Relations. The rest are: Understanding the Relationship Between the Media and the Parliament by Abiodun Adeniyi, a professor, and Code of Ethics, Rules and Regulations of Legislative Reporting by Olusegun Adeniyi, Chairman ThisDay Editorial Board. (NAN) The Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, has said the current administration abandoned the Public Private Partnership (PPP) on major infrastructure projects, including the Second Niger Bridge, and the Lagos-Ibadan expressway because investors could not secure needed funding from banks. Mr Fashola, a former Lagos State governor, called for the audit of the existing concession agreements between the federal government and investors. The minister spoke on Monday at the public hearing by the House of Representatives Committee on Privatisation in Abuja.. This disclosure by Mr Fashola is coming in the wake of the planned concessioning of major highways in the country. PREMIUM TIMES had reported that the government plans to concession the National Arts Theatre, Tafawa Balewa Square, and all the River Basin Development Authorities at N836 million while the National Stadium in Lagos, the Moshood Abiola Stadium, Abuja, and two others were pegged for concessioning at N100 million, to fund 2021 budget deficit. In the 2022 Appropriation Bill, the federal government is planning to get N90.3 billion from privatisation proceeds. We cannot do and discuss PPPs in isolation of our economy, whether at the national, state, regional or global, he said. Let us take two highways that we offered for PPP. The second Niger bridge was conceived as a PPP. The Lagos-Ibadan expressway was conceived as a PPP. But if we had asked a very basic question at the time N200 billion plus projects which bank in Nigeria has ever lent N200 billion to any individual? We asked that question and we knew that it was not the way to go. They might have lent it but inevitably, it was more likely that they would have come back for a sovereign guarantee. If you are guaranteeing something, you might as well do it yourself. So, in the end, what happened? The Lagos-Ibadan expressway in 2006 and the second Niger bridge in 2010, nothing significantly happened on those projects until 2016. So, we lost like 10 years before this administration now started funding directly, the minister said. He also raised questions on the concession done so far by the government, noting that there is a need to probe if the efforts have achieved the desired outcomes. The first thing I want to ask is that, of all the assets that we have disposed of and the reasons for disposing them or for commercialising them or for privatising them, have we achieved the objective that we set out to achieve? I think we should ask that question, he said. And I think apart from making this law, that undertaking would be a profound service to Nigeria, so that all of us will have a very clear understanding of the capacity, ability and what is realistic to expect of the private sector. Indeed, in our last (ministerial) retreat, this subject came up and I admitted to it that, where is the private sector? I came from there; the vice-president (Yemi Osinbajo) came from there; the president came from there; many of us came from there. We are all here (in public service) now. So, who are we handing it back to? But I think that it would be helpful to have an audit of all the assets that have been concessioned or privatised in the name of improved efficiency and then to ask, have we achieved that objective? I think if we do that and interrogate very honestly, some of the things that would begin to become obvious to us is that we need to be more circumspect about certain types of assets. There are certain types of assets that the private sector is just unable to deal with. For example, when you look at roads, not many people who claim to want to do it have the capacity or the experience to do it. Let us start with the Lekki-Epe expressway which was concessioned. The concession agreement members of this committee might want to know was signed in 2005. I was chief of staff (to Governor Bola Tinubu) then. They did not reach financial close until 2010 that was five years. So, between 2007 when I became governor and 2010, the road had to start. So, for an asset we had concessioned, the Lagos State Government had to first go and borrow money to start the work meant to be concessioned. In terms of political arrangement, you never have five years; you have (a tenure of) four years. And within the first three years, if you are not showing results, you are going to meet the electorate. So, these are some of the real challenges when we have these expectations. Reflecting on the depth of and widening rot that the Nigerian state is fast morphing into, it is difficult to blame the multiplicity of crises on any one cause. Yet a misfortune this consequential begs to be thoroughly understood. In this effort, one can do no worse than start with our elite. Who are they? What ought they to do? And what have they not done? An elite, by definition, is the socially superior part of society. It could likewise (which looks more like the case here) be that collection of people within society who, on account of their position or education, exercise much power or influence in it. Regardless of how the elite is characterised, every society has what passes for one. And depending on societys level of development the elite breaks up easily into political, social, academic, and military components. Yet, one could argue that the elite is not a social class in the Marxian sense. It is, after all, all about income and status. It has no role, necessarily, in the organisation of the workplace. Nor is any part of its definition about its ownership of property. Which ought not to be such a bad thing, since in this case, in well organised societies, social mobility should then keep the ranks of the elite regularly supplied. Except that the elite is far more aware of itself than traditional Marxian classes are ever thought capable of. And much of history is replete with examples of the elite organising to defend their privileges. It could be argued that mankinds progress is recounted in the internecine battles waged by its elite as these privileges are divvied up. Not even the Great October Revolution was a class act. Simply put, a section of Russias elite co-opted the working and oppressed classes in its bid for power. A possibility that the Iron Chancellor foresaw when in 1881 he opened debate in parliament on welfare reforms that would eventually, in Europe at least, take the sting out of the lefts pitch. If therefore no human society has progressed without the conscious effort of its elite, are we to suppose that the elite are a moral construct? Earlier this week, I had argued on my social media handles that When you describe a cadre in any society as its elite, my sense is that it plays key roles in the advancement of the place. In this sense, Nigeria lacks an elite. It may, however, have a moneyed class with all the virtues that access to illicit wealth confers. Not a few of my correspondents disagreed, however. Consensus is that everywhere, the elite is capable only of acting along very narrow lines described by its self-interest. Over the years, in parts of the world, it has gotten pretty sophisticated at doing this learning to keep large parts of society appeased, even as it continues to take up more than its fair share of the commonweal. Although, it would seem that globalisation has had two effects that bear on this capacity. First, is the large numbers that were left behind. And the ease with which populist solutions have tried to fill the resulting gap. In those parts where the elite have not evolved as well, they take from society far more and faster than the larger part is able to replenish itself. Entropy may ensue in those places quicker than elsewhere. Distasteful though it might seem, this decay, it is argued, is mans natural state. For even the two party structure that was a familiar feature of Western democracies was but the elites attempt to manage this entropy. To create, in other words, a schematic that successfully excluded the larger parts of society while supporting the illusion of the masses vote in regular elections being the condition for change. How to explain Chinas post-1995 growth spurt with this schematic especially in the degree to which it differed from Russia? Or how to explain the collapse of the two-party structure across Europe? Entropy? In light of the breakdown of relations between Chinas political and business elite, the possibility of entropy as a measure of increased disorder in non-representative political spaces will bear further investigation. The implosion of elite structures is thus a legitimate path of enquiry. As are questions around the possibility that the increases in political party representations in Europe just mean that these places simply are more inclusive? Whatever the answers to these questions, that what passes for the elite in Nigeria is an abomination before God, there is no question. Uddin Ifeanyi, journalist manque and retired civil servant, can be reached @IfeanyiUddin. The Central Bank of Nigeria received knocks from young Nigerians who were active players in the digital economy ecosystem following the crackdown on accounts linked to crypto currency transactions which were ostensibly used to fund the #endSARS protests. Young Nigerians saw the CBN and its governor, Godwin Emefiele, as dinosaurs with no business running a countrys apex banking institution in the 21st century when crypto currencies and other digital iterations are gaining more traction compared to fiat money. But what many didnt realize was that the CBN under Godwin Emefiele was not as clueless as many thought because the bank had actually begun researching into digital currencies since 2017. The world was made aware of this in July 2021 when the CBN announced that the apex bank was quietly carrying out and was close to implementing the Project Giant initiative which was the CBNs code name for the project. A month later via a statement signed by CBNs Osita Nwanisobi (Director, Corporate Communication of the Central Bank of Nigeria) and dated August 30, 2021 the bank announced that it had selected a Technical Partner. Bitt Inc. a company with headquarters in Barbados which is described as the Caribbeans leading authority on digital currencies, was chosen after what we are told was a competitive bid and named as the technical partner that would help the CBN launch and implement its digital currency which would be called eNaira. According to the statement, the CBNs selection of Bitt Inc, from among highly competitive bidders, was hinged on the companys technological competence, efficiency, platform security, interoperability, and implementation experience. The apex bank also noted that Bitt Inc. was key to the development and successful launch of the central bank digital currency (CBDC) pilot of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) in April 2021. According to a report by Reuters, Bitt Inc. facilitated the Eastern Caribbean Currency Unions DCash, the first digital cash issued by a currency union central bank. The announcement of the eNaira initiative elicited diverse responses from Nigerians who have become adept players in and vociferous advocates of the digital economy especially as the CBN explained the benefits and advantages of a digital currency which the bank said includes increased cross-border trade, accelerated financial inclusion, cheaper and faster remittance inflows, easier targeted social interventions, as well as improvements in monetary policy effectiveness, payment systems efficiency, and tax collection. But concerns were expressed over the choice of the little known Caribbean company whose only experience in the space is driving the launch of a pilot for the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union in April 21, 2021. The first salvo was fired by the Nigerian Computer Society (NCS) which according to a September 27, 2021 Thisday report faulted the decision of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to choose Bitt Inc by citing abuse of Executive Order 003 and 005, as well as capital flight that could further plunge Nigeria into deep financial crisis. It therefore called on the CBN to allow Nigerian Fintech companies like Precise Financial Systems; System Specs, the Nigerian the firm behind Remita; Migo Credit-as-a-Service digital platform; Unicorn limited; Flutterwave; OPay; Fintrack limited; Inksledger financial system to bid. While the NCS may be accused of protectionist tendencies, it is not unusual and it is a move Godwin Emefiele has defended in the past where he noted that Many times, the bank has been accused of promoting protectionist policies. My answer has always been that leaders are first and foremost accountable to their own citizens. A report in The Punch said the CBNs unusual speed in announcing implementation was evoking doubts amongst Nigerians who were interviewed. Their fears were hinged on eNairas viability, sustainability and potential risks. An anti-corruption group, Human and Environmental Development Agenda, (HEDA Resource Centre) commenting on the speed and opacity surrounding the process of bidding and selecting Bitt Inc., gave the CBN a seven day ultimatum as reported by Eagleonline on September 6, 2021, to respond to its Request for Information on the Engagement of Bitt Inc. by the Central Bank of Nigeria, (CBN) in pursuant of the Freedom of Information Act, 2021. Protectionism and opacity aside, a cursory consideration of Bitt Inc.s antecedents and bonafides does not elicit much confidence in their abilities. In choosing Bitt Inc, the CBN harped on their technological competence, efficiency, platform security, interoperability, and implementation experience. Bitt Inc. promises to secure eNaira with Blockchain technology. This is commendable but not ground breaking. Blockchain technology is now widely applied to most digital payment platforms. What has raised the most hackles among players in the FinTech space is Bitt Inc.s implementation experience. The company has only ever launched one digital currency and as a pilot a mere six months ago. And the launch of the ECCUs DCash should not be seen as significant when you consider the fact that the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) is the monetary authority that represents eight island members Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Commonwealth of Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, St Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and St Vincent and the Grenadines. These islands taken together have a population of less than 1 million people. After the eNaira website went live on September 27, 2021, it registered 1 million visits in less than 24 hours. To put that in context, the visitors to the eNaira website were more than the population of the ECCU member islands not to talk of account holders in the Bitt Inc/ECCB pilot scheme. This raises some urgent questions; the Nigerian banking system, according to estimates from Statista, has 79.3m account holders. If 10% of that number decides to own the eNaira wallet, that would be more than 7 times the estimated number of ECCB account holders and that is assuming every single citizen of the ECCU zone holds an account, which we know is not possible. Does Bitt Inc. have the implementation experience to handle that volume? The postponements that have attended the planned take-off of eNaira are also fueling those concerns. Why did the CBN rush to announce a launch date of October 1, when everyone knows that Nigeria celebrates its independence on that date and how come for over 3 weeks, we didnt have a firm launch date? As one considers these issues one is constrained to borrow a street slang in order to make sense of it all have we entered one chance with Bitt Inc.? Peter Achalla, a PhD candidate, writes from Lagos. The Police Command in Niger said gunmen killed an unspecified number of people who were observing early morning prayers at a Mosque at Mazakuka village in Mashegu Local Government Area of the state. The Commissioner of Police in the state, Monday Kuryas, who disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Minna on Monday, said the hoodlums also abducted seven other worshipers at the mosque. Mr Kuryas said the incident occurred on October 25 at about 0530 hours when the gunmen attacked the village. He said the gunmen later destroyed property worth millions of naira belonging to Abubakar Maigandus in the village. He said security personnel, however, shot dead one of the bandits. The commissioner said the incident was understood to be a reprisal attack resulting from a long standing communal feud. He said that already additional armed security personnel had since been deployed to the area to ensure the arrest of the gunmen and all other miscreants undermining the peaceful coexistence among residents. He urged the residents, especially those in the rural areas of the state, to come forward with reliable information that could aid the personnel deployed across the state to ensure the arrest and prosecution of all those involved in criminal acts. We are battle-ready to confront any form of criminal elements as long as good residents will volunteer credible information on movement of dubious characters in their midst, Mr Kuryas said. The country is battling worsening insecurity and rising crimes, with the swathes of the north badly affected by banditry, kidnappings and insurgency. (NAN) The National Industrial Court of Nigeria in Benin, the Edo State capital, has ordered the state government to pay cumulated pension and gratuity of N41 million to a retired judge of state High Court, James Oyakhirome. Adunola Adewemimo, the trial judge, ordered the Edo State government and the states pension board to pay Mr Oyakhirome the sum of N30,301,584.60 as gratuity. The judge ordered the payment of additional N11,728,907.06 to be paid to the retired judge as outstanding balance of monthly pension from August 2019 till the date. The payments must be made to Mr Oyakhirome within 30 days, the court ordered. According to a summary of the judgement which was obtained from the NICN website, the court held that the defence that the responsibility of paying Mr Oyakhiromes pension ought to be shared between his previous employer University of Benin and the state government was misconceived and unsustainable. Background The claimant, Mr Oyakhirome, had submitted that he served as a judge of the High Court of Edo State for 12 years without blemish and retired in December 2018 upon attainment of the mandatory retirement age of 65 years. The retired jurist asked for a determination, among others, whether he was not entitled to receive payment of his retirement benefits as a retired judge of the High Court of Edo State wholly and exclusively from the defendants in strict compliance with provisions of the Constitution and the Pension Rights of Judges Act. He wondered why his pension from January 2019 to June 2019 remained unpaid till date. Defence In defence, the Edo State government and the states pension board averred that the payment of Mr Oyakhiromes benefits is a responsibility it must share with the University of Benin to which the retired judge had earlier rendered service before his judicial career. The defendants argued that the claimant spent a total of 34 years in the public service, made up of 22 years as a lecturer in the University of Benin and 12 years as a judge in the Edo State Judiciary. This, according to the defendant, is the basis why the payment of his retirement benefits must be a joint responsibility between the state and the federal government. Claimants response However, K.O. Obamogie, lawyer to the retired judge, reiterated that the appropriate authority to pay his clients pension was the state government. It said the state government cannot evade the constitutional responsibility, urging the court to grant his clients prayers. But W.O. Akpata submitted that the argument by his colleague that the era of sharing of pension between the federal and state governments ended on March 31, 1976 was misconceived. Subsequently, he urged the court to dismiss the case. Judgment Delivering the judgment after evaluating the submissions of both parties, the judge, Mr Adewemimo, held that once a judicial officer attains 15 years in service, he will be entitled to full pension and retirement benefits as a judicial officer, while lesser years of service would be pro-rated in relation to 15 years. The judge described the argument of the state government on the sharing of pension as an aberration and not contemplated or envisaged by the drafters of the Nigerian constitution. The court held that the state governments reliance on the Pensions Act 1990 that the pension and gratuity of the retired jurist be apportioned between the federal government and the Edo State government has been replaced by the Pension Reform Act of 2014, and the repealed law is obsolete and of no legal consequence. The police in Ebonyi State, Nigerias South-east, have confirmed an attack on one of its facilities. The attack, suspected to have been carried out by the pro-Biafra group, IPOB, occurred on Sunday at a divisional police headquarters in Unwana, Afikpo North Local Government Area of the state, according to a statement from the police spokesperson in the state, Loveth Odah. Ms Odah, a deputy superintendent of police, said the police operatives in the facility repelled the attack, killed one of the gunmen, and recovered two AK-47 rifles and other incriminating items. Regrettably, one police inspector attached to the division was seriously wounded, the spokesperson said. The police operational vehicles are intact, she added. Ms Udah said the gunmen were about 35 in number, and that they were shooting sporadically at the police operatives who were on duty. Investigation revealed that the deceased suspect had been on the police wanted list for various attacks on police stations. One of the recovered AK-47 rifles has been identified to be the rifle stolen from Ohaukwu Police Division early this month, she said. The Commissioner of Police in Ebonyi State, Aliyu Garba, later visited the police facility for an on-the-spot assessment. He ordered a manhunt on some of the gunmen said to have fled with gunshot wounds. The Commissioner of Police appeals to the law-abiding citizens of the state to promptly volunteer useful information to unravel the true identity of the fleeing gang members, Ms Udah said. The agitation for an independent republic, Biafra, which is being championed by IPOB, has led to several killings and destruction in the South-east region. (NAN) Students of Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu Alike Ikwo (AE-FUNAI), have decried the state of the school clinic. Some of the undergraduate students who spoke to PREMIUM TIMES alleged poor and late service, the inadequacy of drugs and the lackadaisical attitude of officials at the clinic. They alleged that the situation led to the death of some of their colleagues, although without proof. However, the university management responded to the allegations, saying it is doing its best to give quality service to students at the clinic. Students complain In early September, a student of the school, identified as Jennifer Amaechi, died after a brief illness. Jennifers roommate, Chinemerem Ugochukwu, a Mass Communication department student, said her friend could have been saved had the clinic responded quickly. If the clinic had responded fast, Jennifer would still be here, Chinemerem said, fighting to beat tears. On the day Jennifer fainted in my room, I tried all the hotlines for the ambulance but none was connecting, she added. She said she managed to get her roommate to the clinic on a motorcycle only for her to discover that there was no doctor present to attend to her. Jennifer was later rushed to the university teaching hospital in Abakaliki, some 26 kilometres journey, where she was confirmed dead. Reacting to this, the universitys Public Relations Officer, Iyke Elom , refuted her claims saying, No student has died as a result of the services at the clinic. He said Jennifer had congenital heart disease and her parents later admitted that she had gotten a blood transfusion before returning to school. Ordinarily, anyone that has such health issue is not meant to stay far from the parents, he said. By saying there was no doctor on the ground to attend to her, Jennifers roommate lied, the spokesperson said. In a related development, Victor Urum, a student of Chemical Engineering shared what he termed an ugly experience at the clinic after suffering an asthmatic attack. I suffered an asthmatic attack sometime and was rushed to the clinic by my roommate. Surprising to us, we were told that the injections and drugs for asthmatic patients were not available, he said. Blessing Dike, a 400 level student of Mass Communication department, said she would rather go to a nearby pharmacy than visit the school clinic if she falls sick. When asked why, she said, I dont think they can take good care of me there. No drugs! Another student, Okeh Eunice, said that on a day in July, her roommate was delayed for three hours before being attended to at the clinic. Some other students alleged that the university ambulance does not operate outside the university environment. Others said that the ambulance does not operate after 8 p.m. Chukwu Solomon, one of the ambulance drivers, said they were given instruction by the management not to operate outside the university environment but countered the allegation that they do not operate beyond 8 p.m. The clinic has one operational ambulance and it runs 24 hours service, he said. Rosemary Mmaghiri, a nurse at the clinic spoke to PREMIUM TIMES on the challenges the clinic is facing while blaming students for not proactively seeking medical intervention. Youd see a student that is asthmatic, after suffering from an attack and you ask her about her health status and why she is not using her inhaler, she would try to hide that shes asthmatic. Such attitudes do not help the students, she said. Our MD sometimes spends his personal money to run the clinic. The management has not done any drug purchase for a long time. Weve made a request for drug purchase, but it has overstayed, she said. The nurse also admitted that the clinic has no oxygen and that this has a thing to do with funding. Medical Director, SUG speak In his response to allegations levelled against the clinic by students, the Medical Director of the clinic, Henry Aloh, said the clinic has been doing its best and can boast of treating every case brought to it. He insisted that no student has died in the clinic as alleged by the students. If any student has something to say, or was attended to poorly, he or she should write and indicate the nurses on duty on such date, put it in our suggestion box, Mr Alo said promising to query erring nurses if found guilty. The medical doctor advised the students to take their health seriously, adding that the ailment that brings students to the clinic are mostly malaria cases. If a hundred students sleep under mosquito treated net, ninety will not visit the clinic. A mosquito treated net cost only N1500. It is nothing compared to the high cost of treating sicknesses, missing of classes and all the psychological issues related to it, he explained. On non-availability of drugs, he said, Out of stock can happen anywhere, every aspect of the country is experiencing the impact of the nations state of the economy. The medical director defended the school management on funding, blaming the Single Treasury Account of the federal government which mandates students to pay every fee via a platform, Remita. He said the school does not have direct access to the account and cannot make use of the money for internal expenditure. The Director of Health of the Student Union Government (SUG), Okedi Williams, said the clinic is not perfect at the moment but expressed hope that things will get better. My team alongside the school management are working effortlessly to see to the fruition of tackling some of the challenges we face at present, he said. University authority reacts Speaking on behalf of the university management, the Public Relations Officer, Iyke Elom, said the university is doing its best to serve students better. The school management values the lives of the students and is doing their best to cover the lapses at the clinic, he said. Responding to the questions of poor funding of the clinic, the PRO said the university is relatively young and that as a young university, it has problems facing it which it hopes to surmount in the nearest future. AE-FUNAI is one of the federal universities established by the Goodluck Jonathan administration in 2011. Some students of Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike Ikwo, (AE-FUNAI) have expressed displeasure over the state of the universitys library. Some of the students hinged their stance on the limited space and unavailability of books in the library. Some of them who spoke with PREMIUM TIMES recently said there are not enough desks in the library as the few available ones are easily taken up by other students. This, they said, results in overcrowding where students have to jostle for space, and sometimes even have to sit on the floor to read their books. Nnenna Odefa, a 300 level student of the Political Science department, complained about the limited space in the library which leaves the library keepers with no better option than to ask students to leave their bags outside before entering the library. She expressed the fear that unscrupulous individuals might use the opportunity to steal from students since library personnel cannot watch from their positions. Because there is not enough room in the library, students are asked to keep their bags outside. Library keepers fear that students might steal books from the shelves if they are allowed to go in with their bags. But all these fears would have been unnecessary if the library was large enough, or better still if the school authority had provided us with lockers to lock our bags before entering, she said. These reporters findings show that in a school of about 10,000 students, only about 136 desks are available in the library. Ms Odefar also said the library was filled with what she termed outdated textbooks and largely European literature. She said, We need more African works. We are Africans, and charity begins at home. It is not as if there are not enough African authors writing. We have only chosen to ignore them simply because we dont believe in them. All that has got to change. A 300 level Mass Communication student, Abang Glory, said there are not enough Mass Communication texts in the school library. She said she often visited the library during exams only to find that there was little or no provision for her programme of study. This, Ms Abang said, gave her a feeling of exclusion. It gives me the feeling that something is wrong somewhere, that some people are being alienated from the university community, she said. Another student, Nwojo Evylin of the Accountancy department, complained that students are being dismissed too early from the library unlike before. She stated that formerly, people could study in the library from nine oclock in the morning till eight in the night but currently, students are being sent home as soon it is 3:30 p.m or 4:00 p.m. This, she said, negatively affects the academic performance of students. Management reacts In reaction, the school management has pleaded with the students to be patient as the construction of a bigger, more conducive and accommodating library is in progress and will be completed before December this year. We are assuring you that before December, the building of the new library will be completed. And we ensure that we will serve you better, Christiana Akidi, the universitys Librarian said. The schools Public Relations officer, Iyke Elom, on his part refuted the allegation by some students that there are not enough books in the library. Our library is adequately stocked with both e-books and hard copies. So, it is a lie that the library is not well-stocked, he said. At the start of every session, students are mandated by the school management to pay N300 as a levy for library services. Some students who spoke with this newspaper questioned how the money is being used. Mr Elom, in reaction, said library services are funded by the university, and not by the yearly N300 paid by the students. Library services are funded by the university. Books are bought by the university. So the amount paid by students are used to augment the funds from the university, he said. A magistrate court in Yaba, Lagos, has adjourned the hearing of the case involving a dismissed police sergeant, Samuel Philips, who allegedly shot Monsurat Ojuade, a teenager, at the Surulere area of Lagos. The court registrar told PREMIUM TIMES on Monday that the hearing has been adjourned till December 14, because the magistrate, Adeola Adedayo, was on a six-week leave. The registrar declined to say his name because he does not want it in published. The deceaseds family lawyer, Israel Mbaebie, said he would explore the option of having the case reassigned to another magistrate. Background The court had given a 30-day remand order for the officer in September following the application for remand by the police counsel when the defendant was presented at the court. Mr Philips was arrested by the police for allegedly shooting Ms Ojuade at her residence at Mogaji street, Surulere, on September 11. The incident happened while the police went on a raid at the area around 10:30 p.m. Tosin Ojuade, the deceaseds sister, had alleged that one of the officers tried to force the gate open from the outside and fired shots into the compound, and the bullet hit the deceased on her two thighs. But the police claimed that the deceased was hit by a stray bullet, adding that the erring police officer, a sergeant, has been dismissed and detained. The deceaseds family, through their lawyer, however, insisted that the teenager was shot at close range. The Lagos State House of Assembly has moved to protect companies and individuals private information as the states Data Protection Bill passed through the second reading. Presenting the bill at plenary on Monday, Lanre Afinni, Lagos Island II, explained that the objective was to monitor data processor to avoid manipulation. Mr Afinni said an individual must give consent before his or her information is released to the public, adding that the bill would help protect peoples privacy rights. Commenting, Rotimi Abiru, Somolu Constituency II, argued that the bill would generate revenue for the state. He, however, said the ere is a need to take precautions, knowing that businesses were just recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown. Abiodun Tobin, Epe II, said the bill is apt because of technological advancement, adding that the bill will prevent fraud and transfer of information without the consent of the owner. Ibrahim Layode, Badagry constituency I, said instead of creating another commission, the Lagos State Registration Agency (LASRA) could take up the responsibility. Mr Layode said he saw it as a waste of time and resources if they created another commission for the purpose. On his part, ChairmanHousehe house Committee on Information and Strategy, David Setonji, Badagry I, said he is apprehensive about the section of the bill that is about human rights. Mr Setonji, however, urged the committee to look at the section critically. The Speaker of the House, Mudashiru Obasa, subsequently committed the bill to the House Committee on Science and Technology, headed by Mr Afinni, and urged the co little to report back to the House in two weeks. (NAN) Plattsburgh, NY (12901) Today Sunshine in the morning followed by cloudy skies during the afternoon. High 43F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Cloudy. A shower of rain or wet snow possible. Low 34F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. BOGOTA, Colombia, Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- BIOPAS, a leading and unique Latin American biopharmaceutical company focused on in-licensing and commercialization of specialty pharmaceuticals - to the exclusion of any generic and/or branded generic drugs - that address unmet medical needs in the region, announced today the full launch of its Brazilian operations with the exclusive distribution of RIVOTRIL beginning in November, thus expanding its on-going strategic collaboration with CHEPLAPHARM ARZNEIMITTEL GmbH into the Brazilian territory. This transformational-move markedly strengthens BIOPAS' platform as the exclusive one-stop shop specialty care pharmaceutical company covering the entire region. BIOPAS turnkey solution is aimed to ensure successful reach and growth of global pharma companies as their Partner of Choice to provide access to innovative treatments to patients in Latin America. BIOPAS' unmatched market access tools together with revenue generating opportunities provide its partners with significantly reduced complexity, management disruption, and time costs associated with country-specific transactions. About Biopas BIOPAS (www.biopasgroup.com) is a leading and differentiated Latin American pharmaceutical company, focused on in-licensing, marketing, and selling of cutting-edge specialty pharmaceutical branded prescription products. BIOPAS' business model is specially designed to provide market access to multiple therapeutic options to specialists to cover unmet medical needs of the Latin American population. BIOPAS holds senior leadership positions in CNS, Immunology, Dermatology, Oncology and Orphan Drugs. BIOPAS' whole product portfolio is licensed from its partners to the exclusion of any generics and/or branded generics . Through its regional platform, BIOPAS offers best in class services in sales, marketing, medical, and support functions led by highly talented and driven teams to enable the successful launch and development of innovative products. All BIOPAS' functions operate in compliance with international standards and regulations. BIOPAS has a strong operating history with a proven track record of success to build long-term and fruitful relationships with its partners, including UCB, FERRING, IPSEN, VERTEX, and more recently CHIESI, CHEPLAPHARM and DAEWONG. Related Links http://www.biopasgroup.com SOURCE Biopas To help restart the trade fair sector, the German government is providing cover of up to EUR 600 million for corona disruptions to major events BERLIN, Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Slowly but surely, live trade fairs are returning to Germany after coronavirus pandemic restrictions forced nearly the entire sector online. To bolster the recovery by helping organizers manage risks, Germany's national and regional governments have instituted an insurance program that would compensate for cancellations. As of today, trade fairs can apply for up to EUR 600 million in cover. German Minister for Economic Affairs and Energy Peter Altmaier says, "Particularly right now, the cancellation insurance is an important instrument in strengthening the trade fair sector." Germany has traditionally been one of the world's leading destinations for trade fairs, attracting some 10 million visitors to major annual events that include the IAA, the Hanover Trade Fair and the Medica. 75 percent of fairs scheduled to take place from March 2020 to the end of last year had to be cancelled, at a cost of EUR 42 billion. At present, live fairs are permitted in all 16 of Germany's regional states, with more than 110 events planned for the end of the year in accordance with strict hygiene procedures. "We are delighted that the sector has reopened for business after an incredibly challenging year," says Germany Trade & Invest (GTAI) Head of Investor Consulting, Achim Hartig. "Expos and trade fairs play a significant role in the national economy generating around EUR 14.5 billion in exhibitor and visitor revenue annually. All told, the overall effect on economic production is equivalent to EUR 28 billion. The resumption of activities in accordance with strict hygiene concepts is to be welcomed." To further stimulate the sector, the German government has also allocated up to EUR 20 million in subsidies to help small and medium-sized businesses attend trade fairs. More information: https://www.gtai.de/gtai-en/invest/business-location-germany/germany-s-trade-fair-and-exhibition-sector-reopens-for-business-725378. Germany Trade & Invest (GTAI) is the economic promotion agency of the Federal Republic of Germany. GTAI supports German companies setting up in foreign markets, promotes Germany as a business location and assists foreign companies setting up shop in Germany. Contact: Jefferson Chase Senior Manager, Communications Germany Trade & Invest Friedrichstrae 60 10117 Berlin +49 30200099170 jefferson.chase@gtai.com Related Links https://www.gtai.com SOURCE Germany Trade & Invest "The license is a significant milestone especially when considering that the German regulator has set out stricter rules for new registrations following the Wirecard scandal", Christian Wiens, CEO and founder of Getsafe, states. The company that started in 2017 as an MGA has high ambitions of becoming Europe's leading digital insurer, and has already started its expansion by launching in the UK. It is serving 250,000 customers. With a license of its own, Getsafe can now both accelerate its European expansion and build products and innovations quicker than before. The company has closed a reinsurance agreement with Swiss Re, that co-lead its $93m Series B round. "We can now passport our license within the European Union and take full advantage of our technological platform", Wiens says. New European markets like France are under consideration for expansion next year. Getsafe currently offers home and car insurance and has plans to expand into more verticals like life and health in the coming years. Via the app, customers can buy, manage, and adapt their policies as well as file a claim on the go all in just a few seconds. "We don't only want to do insurance differently, but we want to make it unconditionally better," Christian Wiens explains. Customers already benefit from a transparent and digital process. Going forward, Getsafe plans to develop new approaches in product development and claims handling. Christian Wiens states: "We will reduce the time it takes to regulate claims and offer even more services via the app. At the end of the day, Getsafe customers are also benefiting from better prices." Only a couple of weeks ago, the company announced the extension of its series B funding round, which takes Getsafe to $115 million raised to date. With the new capital and a quarter of a million customers, the company ranks among the largest insurtechs in Europe. It is backed by several notable Venture Capital Funds like Earlybird and CommerzVentures as well as Swiss Re. Following the fundraise and the license, Getsafe is eyeing a public debut in the future. "We have a quarter of a million young customers who will grow with us for an IPO," Wiens says. "We're growing our customer base faster than our competitors and can soon offer more complex products. The insurance license gives us the necessary freedom to take unconventional paths and to realise innovations quicker than before. In the long term, we want to offer our customers holistic insurance coverage from a single source. Now we're really getting started." ABOUT GETSAFE Getsafe is a digital insurance company creating a better insurance experience for everyone that is easy, flexible, and enjoyable. With its strong technological backbone, the company offers liability, contents and car insurance in Germany and contents insurance in the UK. Getsafe replaces complexity and manual paperwork with smart bots and automation, allowing customers to file claims or change their coverage in real time with just a few clicks. Since launching in Germany in 2018, Getsafe has expanded to the UK and is now looking into further European markets. The company is headquartered in Heidelberg, Germany, with a satellite office in London. It is one of Europe's top 10 funded insurtechs, serving 250,000 customers. Learn more about Getsafe on our website or on our social media via LinkedIn and Twitter . PRESS CONTACT Dr. Lydia Prexl phone.: +49 151 555 69 709 e-mail: l.prexl@hellogetsafe.com Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1667872/Getsafe.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1667873/Getsafe_CEO.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1654013/GETSAFE_Logo.jpg SOURCE Getsafe LONDON, Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Princesse Tam Tam and Comptoir des Cotonniers, two brands of the Fast Retailing holding company, have completed the full rollout of Teamwork Commerce's Unified Commerce Solution. This implementation was done in over 220 locations across France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Belgium and Switzerland. "Teamwork is not only a tool for managing stock and payments, it's a global project to modernise all of our stores offering seamless service to customers with an easy-to-use tool," said Serge Lengagne, IT Director Europe for Fast Retailing. The brands are utilising Teamwork's rich functionality through a powerful technical foundation to deliver frictionless commerce to their customers globally. Through Teamwork, all in-store operations are unified through a single store mobile application including POS, stock counts, and inventory control features such as transferring, receiving and adjustments. Teamwork maintains thorough European fiscal and security standards, satisfying all requirements for localisation. Teamwork also debuts their new RFID technology with the two brands. Store associates can effortlessly build receipts by simply placing the products on the counter (with an embedded RFID pad), instantly calculating the total and finalising with a contactless payment, resulting in a streamlined and frictionless transaction. Additionally, each morning a complete store stock count can be performed in minutes, dramatically increasing inventory accuracy and efficiency. "Innovative changes we've taken thanks to Teamwork include moving from computer-based tills to modern iPads that physically separate us less from our customers, RFID which saves us time at checkout, and instant updating of sales and changes in stock," Lengagne added. At the core of its mission, Teamwork's Secure Customer Data Platform provides centralised management of all customer data across all channels including many options for segmentation and analysis. This includes full purchase history whether on the web or in-store, as well as a wide array of customer attributes, providing a holistic, omnichannel view of the customer that is profoundly accurate, convenient, and actionable. The highest standards in global customer data regulations are maintained and even superseded through the Teamwork platform. "I'm confident this technological progress will encourage an improved customer-centric sales experience in line with today's best in class." Lengagne concluded. "Through our partnership with Teamwork Commerce, we've caught up with the leading pack of retailers and are now confidently targeting full omnichannel." Teamwork Commerce is a leading Omnichannel Retail Solution. To learn more, visit us at www.teamworkcommerce.com . Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1358119/Teamwork_Commerce_Logo.jpg Related Links https://www.teamworkcommerce.com SOURCE Teamwork Commerce MEXICO CITY, Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Carlos Hank Gonzalez, chairman of the Board of Directors of Grupo Financiero Banorte, will be the sole Mexican representative participating Tuesday in an International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) virtual summit to rally business support for strong climate action. As head of one of the country's largest financial groups, he plans to provide key insights based on successful sustainability practices at Banorte that are helping lead economic recovery and growth amid the climate crisis. Banorte is the second largest bank in the Mexican financial system. It has consolidated its position as one of the most profitable banks in Mexico, recognized for its solid fundamentals by reporting good asset quality and strong level of capitalization. "As the ICC rightly has declared, climate action is everyone's business," Carlos Hank Gonzalez said. "Banorte has been a pioneer in Mexico in implementing a social and environmental risk management system that evaluates risks and possible impacts on the environment and communities before financing projects. It's the kind of bold initiative businesses should be encouraged to adopt to help mitigate climate risks and generate a positive impact for people and nature." The goal of the ICC's "Global Leaders for Climate Action" forum is to set high-level private sector priorities for climate action, capable of injecting renewed energy into the negotiations at COP26, the major United Nations meeting on global warming that begins later this month in Glasgow. Carlos Hank Gonzalez is the only Mexican representative on the ICC panel of 19 international chief executives, business leaders and policymakers. Considered the global voice of business, ICC is the institutional representative of 45 million companies worldwide, seeking to raise business ambition to keep the average global temperature from increasing 1.5 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. The ICC, in inviting the Banorte chairman and other leaders, called private sector support vital, saying climate action will require economic transformations and a significant shift in financial markets to meet the imperatives of long-term sustainability and environmental preservation. ICC Secretary General John W.H. Denton AO will moderate the remote roundtable. Scheduled speakers include the COP President Designate Alok Sharma and the UN Climate Change Executive Secretary Patricia Espinosa. In recent years, Carlos Hank Gonzalez has prioritized sustainability across Banorte's business development and innovations. An ESG champion, he has focused on strategies and operations to generate value for all stakeholders while ensuring efforts are environmentally forward. In April, Banorte became a founding signatory of the Net Zero Banking Alliance, convened by the United Nations' Environment Program Finance Initiative. Earlier this year, Banorte endorsed the Taskforce on Nature-related Financial Disclosures, an initiative to help financial services and other industries more closely assess nature-related risks and opportunities. In 2019, Carlos Hank Gonzalez was the only Mexican banker as a founding signatory of the Principles for Responsible Banking presented at the UN headquarters. About Grupo Financiero Banorte Grupo Financiero Banorte is the largest Mexican financial institution. It offers financial services to individuals and companies through its businesses: banking, brokerage, fund operator, insurer, pension, leasing and factoring, warehouse, portfolio manager and the remittance company Uniteller. It also integrates the largest retirement savings fund in the country by asset management. Grupo Financiero Banorte is a public company listed on the main indicator of the Mexican Stock Exchange, and has 31,000 employees, more than 1,100 branches and 9,500 ATMs. Website: carloshankgonzalez.com Twitter: @CarlosHankG Facebook:CarlosHankGonzalezBanorte LinkedIn: carloshankgonzalez Facebook: Grupo Financiero Banorte Twitter: @GFBanorte_mx LinkedIn: Grupo Financiero Banorte Media contact Francisco Rodriguez Daniel Executive Director of Corporate Communication [email protected] SOURCE Fundacion Banorte, Fundacion Gruma and the U.S. Department of State Beta program now open for BlueSnap's 47th acquiring country BOSTON and HERZLIYA, Israel and LONDON and DUBLIN and Ottawa, ON, Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- BlueSnap , a global payment technology company committed to helping B2B and B2C businesses accept and optimize digital payments around the world, has received licensing and bank approval for local acquiring in Israel. Israel becomes BlueSnap's 47th local acquiring country. Now businesses operating in Israel can process digital payments locally, saving them up to 2% in cross-border fees. Businesses may also benefit from increased sales as local acquiring helps improve payment authorization rates. Today's announcement also makes it easier for businesses already using BlueSnap to make their products and services available in Israel. Israel's thriving tech community makes it an ideal market for businesses to innovate and expand globally. BlueSnap itself originated in Israel in 2002 and has a growing team in Herzliya with over 80 employees and a newly renovated office. "We're excited to be expanding our local acquiring capabilities in the Israeli market, especially with BlueSnap's deep roots in Israel.", said Ralph Dangelmaier, CEO of BlueSnap. "More businesses than ever are expanding globally and the rate of customers purchasing goods and services online and from overseas sellers is accelerating. But international payments are extremely complex, and businesses face many challenges as they try to accept payments globally. BlueSnap is focused on helping businesses optimize their global payments; increasing sales and reducing costs so that they can focus on growing their business and serving customers." BlueSnap's All-in-One Payment Platform is specifically designed to help businesses accept payments domestically and internationally. Businesses only need to do one integration and will receive one account and one contract to accept payments in 200 geographies with 100+ currencies and 100+ payment types. As the business grows into new territories, there are no additional integrations, no additional accounts to set up and no struggling with multiple reports to reconcile. BlueSnap's network of global banks and local acquiring, paired with best-in-class tax solution, fraud protection, chargeback management and accounts receivable automation deliver businesses a better way to accept payments on a global scale. As part of BlueSnap's local acquiring launch in Israel, they are now welcoming businesses to participate in their beta program. Businesses participating in BlueSnap's beta program will have early access and the opportunity to provide feedback. To find out more about BlueSnap's Israel beta program, visit https://go.bluesnap.com/beta-program . About BlueSnap BlueSnap helps businesses accept payments globally. Our All-In-One Payment Platform is designed to increase sales and reduce costs for all businesses accepting payments. BlueSnap supports payments across all geographies through multiple sales channels such as online and mobile sales, marketplaces, subscriptions, invoice payments and manual orders through a virtual terminal. And for businesses looking for embedded payments, we offer white-labeled payments for platforms with automated underwriting and onboarding that supports marketplaces and split payments. With one integration and contract, businesses can sell in over 200 geographies with access to local acquiring in 47 countries, 110+ currencies and 100+ global payment types, including popular eWallets, automated accounts receivable, world-class fraud protection and chargeback management, built-in solutions for regulation and tax compliance, and unified global reporting to help businesses grow. BlueSnap is backed by world-class private equity investors including Great Hill Partners and Parthenon Capital Partners. Learn more at BlueSnap.com SOURCE BlueSnap ORLANDO, Fla., Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Charles A. Stevens, JD, MBA, Chief Operating Officer of COPILOT Provider Support Services, a market leading provider of technologically advanced healthcare access solutions, moderated a panel focused on patient connectivity in the oncology reimbursement support services market. In addition to Stevens, the panel consisted of three industry leading experts in oncology patient support services, reimbursement and payer policy. Panelists included John Hennessy, Principal at Valuate, an Entree Health company, Susan Raiola the President of Realendpoints and Kelly Franchetti, RN, CCRN, CEN, the SVP of Global Patient Insights & Strategy at Yprime. The panel discussed topics of interest to the oncology provider, patient consumer and patient care-partner communities, such as the impact that COVID has had on patient access, telehealth, future digital enhancements within reimbursement HUBs and copay accumulators & maximizers. Of the panel, Stevens said, "The AVBCC has quickly become the premier oncology meeting in the Nation, attracting all key stakeholder groups in the oncology community. It is an incredible honor to be invited to be part of the AVBCC Faculty." The AVBCC is hosted by Burt Zweigenhaft, the organization's founder of AVBCC and was attended by a live and virtual audience of over 1,200 industry leaders, life-science companies, oncology healthcare professionals, payers and patients. The panel took place on November 14, 2021. Panel moderator and CoPilot's Chief Operating Officer Chuck Stevens, added, "The world of access to oncology medications is rapidly changing based on the amount of treatment options and advancements in immunotherapy. Payer scrutiny and the imposition of added authorization hurdles can make access to treatment more difficult for patients." Stevens, who has been responsible for developing pricing and reimbursement strategies for oncology products and served on a manufacturer consortium that led to the expansion of CMS accepted oncology compendia, went on saying, "Co-pay accumulators, maximizers and drug exclusion lists are some of the new obstacles that are being used by payers and PBMs. Oncology reimbursement HUBs are a critical support service to help stakeholders navigate the everchanging access landscape." About CoPilot: CoPilot Provider Support Services is a customized supplier of provider and patient focused reimbursement programs (HUBs). CoPilot utilizes a proprietary, industry leading technology platform that ensures that bio-pharmaceutical clients receive accurate real world data, intelligence and program information. Learn more at www.cmcopilot.com or contact Jennifer Garcia at [email protected]. SOURCE CoPilot Provider Support Services Related Links http://www.cmcopilot.com Part personal story and part playbook, DOUBLING DOWN: THE SECRET SAUCE FOR DUAL-CAREER FAMILIES is an eye-opening memoir endorsed by relationship experts and business leaders that details how dual-career families can thrive amidst post-pandemic hybrid workplaces by embracing gender equality and prioritizing both careers as well as family. "Buy this book if you're going to succeed as a dual-career family," hails The New York Times best-selling author, John Gottman, Ph.D. Keeping Romance Alive "Buy this book if you're going to succeed as a dual-career family," hails John Gottman, Ph.D., co-founder of The Gottman Institute and author of The New York Times best-seller, " The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work ." "Gordon and Bluestein reveal how they managed to keep love and romance alive, be great parents, and still nurture two separate careers. It's a great story, with very helpful lessons for everyone." Gordon and Bluestein, who also co-author a new blog on Psychology Today called "Work. Live. Love.", present one of the first books to give equal time to the male point of view on balancing work and family. In just one example, Bram Bluestein opens up about the male ego and why and when he introduces himself as "Mr. Gordon." Making a Game Plan at Home and Work In DOUBLING DOWN, Gordon and Bluestein argue that who you marry determines your professional success and offer single people and couples - be they married or committed life partners, gay or straight personal stories, practical advice, and research on how to choose and become "the right partners," that help each other excel in demanding careers and sustain a loving relationship with each other and their children. Human resource leaders describe it as a "wake-up call to organizations" and a "dual-career couple resource" to reshape corporate culture and the workplace of the future. Bullet-pointed "lessons" about a wide spectrum of relationship issues, debunk many of society's lingering, outmoded biases. Paying it forward. As part of their commitment to equipping people to pursue gender equality, Gordon and Bluestein are donating a portion of the sales of Doubling Down to Girls 4 Science , a Chicago-based nonprofit dedicated to opening the eyes of local girls to STEM education and other opportunities in higher learning and business. About the Authors Ilene Gordon was named to Fortune's "Most Powerful Women in Business" U.S. list five times and to its international list twice. Following a career as a CEO, she advises organizations and individuals as presiding director of International Paper, a director of Lockheed Martin, and IFF (International Flavors and Fragrances), and as a frequent speaker at industry conferences. After holding senior leadership positions at consulting firms including Boston Consulting Group, Kearney, and Booz Allen Hamilton, Bram Bluestein co-founded a venture capital firm. To learn more about them and their mission to help working families live happy, successful lives, visit DoublingDownTheBook.com . To pre-order the book click here . SOURCE The Blue Sun Press KUNMING, China, Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- This is a report from China SCIO: Atop the plateaus of southwestern China's Yunnan province and next to provincial capital Kunming lies Dianchi Lake, known as the "sparking pearl embedded in the plateau." A local nursery rhythm describes its beauty: "Dianchi Lake stretches far into the sky with clear water sparkling in boundless width. Row your boat, dance with fish, and happily return home after sunset." The lyrics could have perfectly captured Li Yunli's life in her youth. She remembered joining her family every day to go fishing and return with the boat filled with bounties of the lake. The 58-year-old also remembered when this tranquil life ended in the 1980s for her and others who depended on the lake for their livelihoods. Rapid urbanization and industrialization began to lay waste to the lake's environment and ecosystem. After a mere decade, Dianchi became one of the most polluted lakes in China, with the water quality rated "inferior to Grade V," the worst level in the national grading system. "The water was murky and smelly," Li recalled. "The lake's surface was blanketed by a layer of blue and green algae. And you can't even move your paddles in some areas where the algae was very thick." To help reverse the environmental damage and restore her mother lake, Li joined a new family the all-female salvage team in Kunming's Xishan district. She and other women on their salvage rafts began contributing to a 30-year effort around the lake to return it to its former splendor. All-female salvage team In 1986 when fishing in Dianchi Lake became more and more untenable, the men in generational fishing families in the area dropped their gear and went elsewhere to earn a living. But for Li and other women born near the waters and lived there all their lives, Dianchi Lake was their hope. A team was formed that year by volunteers to clear the algae and pick up the garbage. Li joined in the early years of the team's formation. "I grew up here near Dianchi Lake, the clean-up job is for our mother lake, for myself and also for the good of our next generation," she said. For the past 30 years, multiple generations of the all-women salvage team worked away on the lake. When a mother left, she passed the baton to a daughter. They replaced fishing boats with more maneuverable rafts, and used their hands and simple nets instead of the larger fishing nets. "The job is tiring and dirty, but I feel gratified as what I do can contribute to the pollution treatment of our mother lake." Li, the current leader of team, said with pride. As early as 5 a.m., Li would get up and prepare food for the day. She would spend 10 hours on the raft when the pollution was heaviest in 1990s, and had her lunch on the lake surrounded by smelly and murky water. "Each raft can salvage 250 kg to 300 kg of rubbish at that time, including the dead water plants, water hyacinth, moss and white garbage," Li said. "The work is so heavy that we need to squeeze out time as much as possible." Despite the hardships, members of the salvage team kept up their work and more women began to join. From about 10 people at the very beginning, the number grew to more than 100 at the highest, with the youngest being 38 years old and eldest 62 years old. Clean-up campaign Since 1995, the local government began ramping up efforts to restore Dianchi Lake. According to state media reports, authorities have so far spent about 50 billion yuan (US$7.77 billion) on clean-up work and environmental treatment. To prevent waste water from entering the Dianchi Lake basin, Kunming city built nearly 100 kilometers of pollution interception pipes along the bank of the lake and 28 waste water treatment plants in the towns and villages of the city. All waste water had to be carefully processed before being reused or discharged into the lake. In recent years, a shift in restoration approaches took place from point-pollution control to integrated rehabilitation of the lake's ecosystem. A 200-meter-wide green wetland belt was created around the lake. Huang Yuhong, deputy director of Kunming Dianchi Plateau Lake Research Institute, said the wetland can effectively purify the water before it flows into the lake. As massive manpower and government resources poured in, the workload of the all-women salvage team became less stressful. Nowadays, the number on Li's team stays around 30. Huang said that, in addition to the strong government involvement, the active participation of citizens like Li's team is also highly important. "[The women] have a strong attachment to Dianchi Lake," She said. "They believe the protection of their mother lake is in their long-term interests." Restoration of lake ecosystem In a pond at the Baofeng wetland near Dianchi, schools of golden-line barbels swirl and dart among fresh water mussels and water plants with delicate white flowers floating on the surface. The barbels are native to Dianchi and had previously disappeared during the height of the lake's pollution. The return of the endangered fish species is one of the definitive signs for the major environmental improvement over the years, and other animals are coming back as well. According to ecological experts in Kunming, a number of species known to be sensitive to environmental degradation are returning. Furthermore, the number of plant species around the lake has increased from 230 to 303 in the last eight years. Another key marker is the lake's improving water quality. In 2019, the water in Dianchi Lake received the rating of Grade IV, indicating that it is suitable for industrial use but still not drinkable. So for the daughters of Dianchi, their mission continues. "As long as we are needed for cleaning up Dianchi, we will carry on with our work," Li said. "We are really looking forward to seeing a cleaner and clearer Dianchi, and we hope that one day we can drink directly from the lake like what we did in our childhood." Daughters of Dianchi: All-female team's thirty-year efforts on polluted lake in Yunnan http://english.scio.gov.cn/in-depth/2021-10/25/content_77830878.htm SOURCE China SCIO SAN DIEGO, Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- It might appear that the business sector most impacted by the Great Resignation phenomenon of 2021 is healthcare, with a high percentage of nurses, physicians and other providers reporting to be burned out, dissatisfied and considering a career change. But is COVID the cause? A new survey conducted in June and July 2021 by Jackson Physician Search in partnership with Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) suggests that physician satisfaction with their current employer reported at an average of 5.5 on a scale of 0 to 10 is less about the impacts of the pandemic and more about disconnects that can be solved, at least in part, by better communication. This and other insights around recruitment, retention and succession planning are available in a new whitepaper, Getting Ahead of Physician Turnover in Medical Practices, released today at the MGMA Medical Practice Excellence Leaders Conference. "Successful business decisions begin by recognizing threats and opportunities, and the pandemic exposed many for healthcare organizations, so we've seen a rapid and sustained increase in the number of physicians actively looking for new jobs," said Tony Stajduhar, president of Jackson Physician Search. "But what we're learning is that post-COVID business recovery actually requires making the experience of being a doctor better for physicians. Recognizing the all-consuming nature of practicing medicine and considering physicians as partners versus employees are where it starts." Sixty eight percent of administrators and 61% of physicians confirm that physicians are experiencing burnout. Of those, 62% of physicians reported burnout as being caused by their current employer (versus being caused by the experience of being a physician), while only 14% of administrators recognized their role in physician burnout. Physicians are clear: they want to be heard Interestingly, only 25% of physicians attributed physician burnout to COVID-related stress, while 37% of administrators attributed it to COVID. That sense of disconnect between physicians and administrators is reflected elsewhere in the data, particularly around the perceived effectiveness of communication. "Administrators point to many different conditions that would address physician burnout, like having better clinical support, boosting compensation and lowering administrative burdens," said Dr. Halee Fischer-Wright, CEO of MGMA. "However, far and away, two-way communication with management and administrators is cited by physicians as the most important factor in keeping them satisfied in their current position." Succession planning is a critical need Considering the chronic physician shortage, practices can't afford not to plan for succession. However, according to the survey, 67% of administrators reported not having a succession plan, with only 16% answering in the affirmative. For those who do have a plan in place, existing succession plans focused on recruitment to replace retiring physicians and transitioning others to part-time roles. "The takeaway for administrators is to step back from the day-to-day long enough to look at longer time horizons; consider the impacts of growth, retirement and other transitions; and put a plan in place that acknowledges the realities of their practices and practice requirements," explained Stajduhar. "The whitepaper Getting Ahead of Physician Turnover in Medical Practices lays out a strategy for administrators to consider in building both a long- and short-term succession plan for physicians to minimize the impacts on patient care." Improving physician recruiting efforts presents a great opportunity Once a succession plan has been developed, administrators will be better equipped to recruit physicians, another area in need of alignment based on the study's results. Administrators rated their organizations' physician recruitment strategies at 7.0, much higher than physicians rated efforts at 4.8, on a scale of 0 to 10. "Right now, there is an opportunity for growth in how physicians are recruited," said Dr. Fischer-Wright. "Typically, physician recruiting takes place over a lengthy time, requires a strong fit of both skill and culture, and is a significant financial investment. Creating a high performance recruiting program is a critical next step for administrators." About the Survey Getting Ahead of Physician Turnover in Medical Practices is the result of a survey that was fielded in June and July 2021 by Jackson Physician Search in partnership with MGMA. Physicians and healthcare administrators were invited to complete an approximate six-minute survey. Four hundred and thirty administrators and 181 physicians completed the survey. About Jackson Physician Search Jackson Physician Search is an established industry leader in physician recruitment and pioneered the recruitment methodologies standard in the industry today. The firm specializes in the permanent recruitment of physicians, physician leaders and advanced practice providers for hospitals, health systems, academic medical centers and medical groups across the United States. Headquartered in Alpharetta, Ga., the company is recognized for its track record of results built on client trust and transparency of processes and fees. Jackson Physician Search is part of the Jackson Healthcare family of companies. For more information, visit www.jacksonphysiciansearch.com. About the Medical Group Management Association Founded in 1926, the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) is the nation's largest association focused on the business of medical practice management. MGMA consists of 15,000 group medical practices ranging from small private medical practices to large national health systems representing more than 350,000 physicians. MGMA helps nearly 60,000 medical practice leaders and the healthcare community solve the business challenges of running practices so that they can focus on providing outstanding patient care. Specifically, MGMA helps its members innovate and improve profitability and financial sustainability, and it provides the gold standard on industry benchmarks such as physician compensation. The association also advocates extensively on its members' behalf on national regulatory and policy issues. To learn more, go to www.MGMA.com. Contacts: Debbie Fitzgerald for Jackson Physician Search 770-823-6477 [email protected] Brad Krebs for MGMA 314-973-8090 [email protected] SOURCE Jackson Physician Search Related Links jacksonphysiciansearch.com YPSILANTI, Mich., Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Two professors from Eastern Michigan University's College of Health and Human Services spoke to Michigan lawmakers in Lansing, advocating for new state laws to protect vulnerable adults with disabilities against online exploitation, abuse, aggression, and bullying. On Tuesday, Oct. 19, Assistant Professor Annemarie Kelly and Associate Professor Christina Marsack-Topolewski, testified before the Michigan House Judiciary Committee. The testimony was broadcast live over public television and online. Speaking in support of House Bills 4159 and 4160 , Kelly and Marsack-Topolewski implored legislators to modernize state laws to deter online abusers and hold perpetrators legally accountable for abuses against vulnerable adults. Kelly and Marsack-Topolewski analyzed the scientific, statistical, and legal bases for this new legislation. They demonstrated that vulnerable adults face the highest risk of exploitation by online predators. The professors also discussed why Michigan needs to close the gap in current laws to reflect the risks associated with internet use. "Many vulnerable adults maintain social connections using the internet,"Marsack-Topolewski."The answer to predation concerns cannot be to keep vulnerable adults from using the internet." "Existing Michigan laws already reflect that vulnerable adults deserve protections for in-person abuses," Kelly said. "These bills recognize that the exchange of sexually explicit visual material without consent from all parties is internet-based predation, aggression, and bullying." Kelly added. If the bills are passed, it will become a criminal act in Michigan to threaten, intimidate, command, force, coerce, or exploit a vulnerable adult into providing sexually explicit material. Under Michigan law, vulnerable adults include any individual age 18 or over who, because of age, developmental disability, mental illness, or physical disability, requires supervision or personal care or lacks the personal and social skills required to live independently. Professors Kelly and Marsack-Topolewski have collaborated on disability law and policy research for many years. They also work together on the Eastern Michigan University Aging Studies Program Committee. About Eastern Michigan University Founded in 1849, Eastern is the second oldest public university in Michigan. It currently serves more than 16,000 students pursuing undergraduate, graduate, specialist, doctoral and certificate degrees in the arts, sciences and professions. In all, more than 300 majors, minors and concentrations are delivered through the University's Colleges of Arts and Sciences; Business; Education; Engineering and Technology; Health and Human Services; and, its graduate school. EMU is regularly recognized by national publications for its excellence, diversity, and commitment to applied education. For more information about Eastern Michigan University, visit the University's website. SOURCE Eastern Michigan University Related Links http://www.emich.edu Several prominent government officials, business leaders, philanthropists, behavioural scientists, and storytellers highlighted the positive and multidimensional contribution of women to society. They also offered solutions to tackle gender-based discrimination and the active role that men can play in championing gender equality. The forum called for immediate policy action to enable more equal family-friendly work environments and better work-life balance for working parents. In addition, the event showcased how some governments are putting women at the heart of their recovery agendas to build back better and create resilient and inclusive societies for all. Speakers included: H.E. Andrea Matteo Fontana, EU Ambassador to the UAE; H.E. Mona Ghanim Al-Marri, Vice President of the UAE Gender Balance Council; HRH Princess Lamia Bint Majed Al Saud, philanthropist and advocate for gender equality at Alwaleed Philanthropies; Krister Nilsson, State Secretary to Minister for Foreign Trade and Nordic Affairs of Sweden, Mateja Ribic, State Secretary to Minister of Labour, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities of the Republic of Slovenia; Mr. Stefan Schleuning, Head of Unit at the EU Service for Foreign Policy Instruments (FPI); Dr Mouza Al Shehhi, Director of UN Women Liaison Office for the GCC and Veronica Squinzi, CEO of Mapei. In her keynote remarks, Her Excellency Mona Ghanim Al-Marri, Vice President of the UAE Gender Balance Council, said: "We would like to thank the European Union Delegation and their partners for organising this event, bringing together world leaders and experts to engage in thought-provoking dialogues that will further enhance the influence of women. One of our key objectives at the UAE Gender Balance Council is to turn the discussions taking place throughout these events into effective, collaborative partnerships, concrete plans and workable strategies that realise the full potential of women and enhance their vital role in socio-economic development around the world." Her Excellency further said: "Today, government leaders are more aware than ever that women's economic empowerment and achieving gender balance are key to advancing sustained economies, progressing national development, and building prosperous societies. Based on our experience in the UAE, and specifically the UAE Gender Balance Council, we have worked on enhancing women's economic rights through referring to global reports and understanding the best practices for women in economy. We remain hopeful that with collective efforts and actions, we will continue to make important progress towards the empowerment of women across the globe." Addressing the first panel, entitled Women's empowerment across all stages of their professional careers, H.E. Stella Ronner-Grubacic, EU Ambassador for Gender and Diversity, stated: "To achieve lasting change and advance women' leadership in socio-economic and political decision-making, we need an inclusive and comprehensive approach, involving men and boys. We also need our own increased awareness that we want things to change and we need to start now". Speaking at the second panel, entitled 'Family-friendly policies and more equitable burden-sharing of childcare ', Mateja Ribic, State Secretary to Minister of Labour, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities of the Republic of Slovenia stated: "Slovenia has one of the best family policies in the world. Projects such as 'Action dad' support both parents to be equally involved in upbringing and care of a child. Also, thanks to a well regulated kindergarten system, which enables women's rapid transition to the labour market, Slovenia has had the highest share of full-time employed women with small children in the EU for decades, while also enjoying a low pay gap level." As part of his interventions on panel 3 entitled, 'Policy action and best practice exchange', Krister Nilsson, State Secretary to Minister for Foreign Trade and Nordic Affairs of Sweden, said: "Women's empowerment is key to sustainable development, and there is also overwhelming evidence that gender equality boosts economic growth. Sweden has a feminist government that pursues a feminist foreign policy with a clear focus on women's and girls' rights, representation, and resources. A gender perspective is at the heart of all our work, including trade policy. Gender equality is not only good for society, but it's also good for business. " Hind Alowais, Vice President of International Participants Department at Expo 2020 Dubai said: "The Women's Pavilion by Expo 2020 Dubai in collaboration with Cartier is pleased to create a space to host conversations that matter with partners that matter. The session on 'Women and Career Progression' highlighted the necessary strategies and policies, such as childcare facilities, flexible work schedules and quotas to promote more women in leadership positions. However, if the goal is true and irreversible gender equality, we need to move the wheels of culture, rewire our mindsets and address visible and invisible social norms and biases that hold women back." The event was held in partnership with the Embassies of Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, the Commissariat General of Italy for Expo 2020 Dubai and UN Women and hosted at the Women's Pavilion by Expo 2020 Dubai in collaboration with Cartier. Participants were also invited to a networking lunch hosted by H.E. Liselott Andersson, Ambassador of the Kingdom of Sweden to the UAE and H.E. Andrea Matteo Fontana, EU Ambassador to the UAE at the Swedish Pavilion, while also inaugurating the 'Emirati Dads' photo exhibition by the renowned Swedish photographer, Johan Bavman. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1668454/European_Delegation_to_the_UAE.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1661792/Expo_2020_Logo.jpg SOURCE The European Delegation to the UAE SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Freenome, a privately held biotech company, presented new research at the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) annual meeting that underscores their commitment to improving colorectal cancer (CRC) screening. In two separate presentations, Freenome examines the benefits and burdens of detecting and removing adenomas, and the barriers to CRC screening among different age groups. Freenome is developing a CRC screening test using a routine blood draw to detect cancer in its earliest stages. PREEMPT CRC, Freenome's multi-center clinical study on colorectal cancer, is in the final stages of enrollment. The study leverages a novel hybrid model that includes both virtual and traditional recruitment to reach underserved communities and ensure a diverse and representative population. With an estimated enrollment of more than 25,000, PREEMPT CRC represents the largest registrational study to date for a CRC screening test for asymptomatic, average risk adults in the United States. Detection and removal of adenomas have different benefits and burdens depending on their size While the benefits of the early detection of CRC are widely accepted, the risks and benefits of detecting and removing small and medium adenomas is still debated. For this new study ,[1] Freenome utilized its CRC-MAPS model to examine burden-to-benefit ratios across different adenoma size groups for a hypothetical blood-based CRC screening test. The findings showed that improvements to test performance metrics, such as specificity and sensitivity for CRC or adenomas, had different impacts on the number of colonoscopies expected ("burden") and clinical outcomes ("benefits"). Further, the burden-to-benefit ratios differed by adenoma size and were far less favorable for small adenomas than for medium and large adenomas. "This study underscores that detection and removal of all adenomas - let alone non-adenomatous polyps - may not offer an acceptable tradeoff since gains in clinical benefits come with a disproportionately greater increase in colonoscopy burden," said Girish Putcha, M.D., Ph.D., and chief medical officer at Freenome. Multiple barriers to CRC screening exist, especially for younger age groups In May, the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) expanded their recommendation for CRC screening to include all adults ages 45 to 75.[2] Despite evidence of increasing CRC incidence rates in young adults, CRC screening rates continue to be lower for younger adults. To better understand CRC screening barriers among younger age groups, Freenome performed an analysis on a subset of data from a recent systematic literature review. The analysis [3] showed that younger ages reported lower adherence (43%) to CRC screening compared to older ages (57%). The most common barriers co-occurring with younger age adults included patient-level factors, such as education and socioeconomic status, and provider-level factors, like the absence of a regular care provider. The findings underscored that optimizing screening adherence, especially among younger populations for whom screening is now recommended, will likely require targeted interventions and strategies to address barriers. "We've prioritized understanding and meeting the needs of patients, providers, regulators and payers from the outset," said Mike Nolan, chief executive officer of Freenome. "We are driven to help all communities with our blood-based CRC screening test." About Freenome Freenome is a biotechnology company with the most comprehensive multiomics platform for early cancer detection using a routine blood draw. The company combines its deep expertise in molecular biology with advanced computational biology and machine learning to detect disease-associated patterns among billions of circulating cell-free biomarkers. Freenome is headquartered in South San Francisco, California. Contact: Sarah Anderson [email protected] [1]Girish Putcha, Lauren N. Carroll, Signe Fransen, Ben Wilson, Freenome Holdings, Inc.; Tarun Chandra, Andrew Piscitello, EmpiriQA, LLC [2] United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), May 18, 2021 [3] Lauren N. Carroll, Mikayla L. Chang, Signe Fransen, Girish Putcha, Freenome Holdings, LLC.; Samir Gupta, Division of Gastroenterology, Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System; Caitlin C. Murphy, School of Public Health, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX SOURCE Freenome Holdings, Inc. Related Links http://www.freenome.com WASHINGTON, Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Guidehouse, a leading global provider of consulting and managed services to public sector and commercial clients, has expanded their Defense leadership team with the hiring of four senior industry professionals: Ted Adair, Julia Gibbons, Chris Choby, and Phillip Hall. Additionally, Guidehouse's Ryan T. McKeon has been elevated to the position of Defense Segment Growth Leader to drive overall US Department of Defense (DoD) strategy. These appointments reflect Guidehouse's growth and investment as a next-generation consultancy and reinforce the company's commitment to supporting the DoD mission. Guidehouse, the third-largest consultancy to the federal government and with a multi-billion-dollar global practice, leverages deep commercial and public sector expertise to help clients solve unique challenges. Guidehouse combines an in-depth understanding of the DoD mission with a relentless focus on quality to develop sustainable strategies that drive mission success. On the heels of the recently announced closing of the Dovel acquisition, which added almost 2,000 professionals and significant technology capability, Guidehouse continues expansion efforts and investments in priority areas, including the Defense sector. These key hires will focus on assisting DoD clients with challenges across technology; financial management; energy, sustainability, and climate; cybersecurity; analytics; enterprise resource planning; supply chain; and other areas. With extensive experience in customer engagement, business development, and the DoD, these new Guidehouse leaders bring significant expertise and resources to support Defense clients and represent a marked investment by Guidehouse in support of the Defense mission. Guidehouse proudly welcomes the following Defense Growth & Strategy Leaders to the firm: Ted Adair joins as the Army Client Relationship Executive. Previously, he was a Business Development Director with a large global consulting and technology firm. Adair brings nearly 20 years of national security, defense, law enforcement, and homeland security business development expertise to Guidehouse, with an emphasis on technology, analytics, human capital solutions, DevSecOps, cloud, and digital modernization. As a former US Army officer, Adair served in a variety of positions as an artilleryman, operations officer, and embedded military advisor, including two separate combat deployments to the Middle East. Julia Gibbons joins as the Air Force/Space Force Client Relationship Executive. Gibbons is a retired Air Force officer with diverse commercial, civil, and defense consulting and government experience. She joins Guidehouse from a Fortune 500 technology integrator as a proven leader and mentor who brings expertise in risk management, solution architecting, systems engineering planning, and business development expertise. Chris Choby joins as the US Navy/Marine Corps Client Relationship Executive. He brings two decades of expertise in developing and managing business relationships and growth in the US defense market, primarily consulting services for the Navy and Marine Corps. Prior to joining Guidehouse, Choby led the Navy/Marine Corps account for a large technology company, led Aerospace and Defense accounts, and was responsible for developing and maintaining strong, respected customer relationships. Phillip Hall joins as the Office of the Secretary of Defense and Defense Agencies Client Relationship Executive. He brings more than 15 years of experience developing and executing complex IT solutions to DoD, civilian, and intel customers. An Air Force veteran with extensive knowledge and experience, he comes to Guidehouse from a Fortune 50 large enterprise technology company and brings a strong background in developing and executing new market strategies for enterprise IT, cloud computing, cybersecurity, and intel solutions. "With the addition of these top-tier professionals, we are better equipped to serve and support the complex needs of our clients at the Department of Defense. We are excited to welcome this group of exceptional professionals to Guidehouse and look forward to supporting the growing demand through our expanding defense capabilities, solutions, and implementation strategies," said Ed Meehan, partner and Guidehouse Defense Segment Leader. "Guidehouse is completely committed to investing in our Defense clients to support their most complex challenges," added McKeon. "The strong record of Guidehouse growth combined with our trusted reputation delivering success on complex projects across the DoD has enabled our firm with the opportunity to hire some of the best talent in the industry. I'm thrilled with these exceptional leaders and excited for the additional capabilities this brings to support our Department of Defense clients." To learn more about Guidehouse's Defense consulting services, please visit: https://guidehouse.com/capabilities/industries/defense. About Guidehouse Guidehouse is a leading global provider of consulting services to the public sector and commercial markets, with broad capabilities in management, technology, and risk consulting. By combining our public and private sector expertise, we help clients address their most complex challenges and navigate significant regulatory pressures focusing on transformational change, business resiliency, and technology-driven innovation. Across a range of advisory, consulting, outsourcing, and digital services, we create scalable, innovative solutions that help our clients outwit complexity and position them for future growth and success. The company has more than 12,000 professionals in over 50 locations globally. Guidehouse is a Veritas Capital portfolio company, led by seasoned professionals with proven and diverse expertise in traditional and emerging technologies, markets, and agenda-setting issues driving national and global economies. For more information, please visit www.guidehouse.com. CONTACT: Guidehouse Cecile Fradkin [email protected] SOURCE Guidehouse Related Links http://www.guidehouse.com SAN ANTONIO, Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- On Sunday, Hagee Ministries held its 41st annual Night to Honor Israel at Cornerstone Church in San Antonio. More than 6,000 people were on hand to hear from several speakers, including founder of Hagee Ministries and Christians United for Israel (CUFI) founder and Chairman Pastor John Hagee, Cornerstone Church Lead Pastor Matt Hagee, Consul General of Israel to the Southwest Livia Link-Raviv, and former US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo. The evening opened with a moving tribute to Hagee's dear friend the late Rabbi Aryeh (of blessed memory) who led San Antonio's Congregation Rodfei Sholom for nearly half a century and was instrumental in Hagee's lifelong commitment to standing with Israel. Several of the speakers focused their remarks on combatting antisemitism, an issue made even more poignant by the presence of white supremacist protestors engaging aggressively outside the venue with church staff and security. "It is our duty to speak out in defense of the Jewish people. We continue to confront antisemitism in all of its forms, wherever it can be found in the schoolhouse, in the church house, in your house or at the White House, we are fighting the good fight until victory comes," Hagee said. "The world must know that our Jewish friends are not alone Rejecting antisemitism is central to our understanding of who we are as Christians It's because I am a champion of religious faith that I'm here today to tell you that the United States must stand with the Jewish people and Israel in the fight against this oldest bigotry, antisemitism," Pompeo said. In her remarks, Link-Raviv spoke directly about the importance of Christian support for Israel and the Jewish people noting, "What is the secret behind Israel's widespread support, tonight the answer is very simplethe secret is you." During the evening's event, Hagee Ministries donated $2.9 million to Israeli and Jewish charities, with Pastor Matt Hagee noting, "It's one thing to say you love Israel; it's another thing to demonstrate it." Gift recipients included Afikim Family Enrichment Association, American Friends of the International Young Israel Movement, American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, Bikur V'Ezras Cholim, Emunah, Galilee Medical Center, Just One Life, Koby Mandell Foundation, Nefesh B'Nefesh, Ohr Torah Stone, Oscar Ehrenberg Endowment, Save a Child's Heart, Shurat Hadin, the Houston Holocaust Museum, the Menachem Begin Heritage Center, and the Women's International Zionist Organization. Since holding its first Night to Honor Israel, Hagee Ministries has donated more than $100 million to Israeli and Jewish charities. Hagee Ministries is an international Christian Evangelical Ministry led by Pastors John and Matt Hagee. John Hagee is the founder and senior pastor of Cornerstone Church, a non-denominational evangelical church with more than 22,000 active members and is the founder and Chairman of Christians United for Israel, the nation's largest pro-Israel organization. Matt Hagee serves as the Lead Pastor of Cornerstone Church and is the sixth generation in the Hagee family to carry the mantle of preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ to America and the nations of the world. SOURCE Hagee Ministries Related Links http://www.jhm.org BATESVILLE, Ind., Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Hillenbrand, Inc. (NYSE: HI) (the "Company") announced today that it has completed the planned divestiture of its TerraSource Global business ("TerraSource") pursuant to a Contribution Agreement ("Agreement") between the Company and certain affiliated companies of industrial holding company Right Lane Industries ("RLI"). Under the terms of the Agreement, Hillenbrand contributed TerraSource and its subsidiaries to a newly formed entity, TerraSource Holdings, LLC ("Holdings"), with RLI obtaining majority ownership and full operational control of TerraSource. In exchange for contributing the TerraSource business, the Company received consideration in the form of a five-year note with initial principal amount of $25.6 million, subject to certain adjustments, and also retained an indirect 49% ownership interest in Holdings. Hillenbrand's retained ownership interest entitles the Company to typical shareholder rights including its pro rata share of future distributions and dividends, as well as proceeds of any future sale transaction. In addition, Hillenbrand is entitled to a $1.5 million preferred dividend upon certain conditions in a future sale. "We are pleased to announce this transaction, which, in combination with two other divestitures earlier this year, represents a key strategic milestone achieved," said Joe Raver, President and CEO of Hillenbrand. "Last year we announced our intention to streamline our portfolio and we have executed our plan, enabling greater focus on growing our platforms and delivering shareholder value." Following a strategic portfolio review, the Company announced in August 2020 its intention to divest sub-scale operations, including TerraSource and the Company's flow control businesses, Red Valve and ABEL. This transaction completes the planned exit of those businesses. Delphi Advisors served as Hillenbrand's financial advisor on the divestiture. About Hillenbrand Hillenbrand (www.hillenbrand.com) is a global diversified industrial company with businesses that serve a wide variety of industries around the world. We pursue profitable growth and robust cash generation to drive increased value for our shareholders. Hillenbrand's portfolio includes industrial businesses such as Coperion, Milacron Injection Molding & Extrusion, and Mold-Masters, in addition to Batesville, a recognized leader in the death care industry in North America. Hillenbrand is publicly traded on the NYSE under "HI." Forward-Looking Statements Throughout this release, we make a number of "forward-looking statements" that are within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and that are intended to be covered by the safe harbor provided under these sections. As the words imply, these are statements about future sales, earnings, cash flow, results of operations, uses of cash, financings, share repurchases, ability to meet deleveraging goals, and other measures of financial performance or potential future plans or events, strategies, objectives, beliefs, prospects, assumptions, expectations, and projected costs or savings or transactions of the Company that might or might not happen in the future, as contrasted with historical information. Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions that we believe are reasonable, but by their very nature are subject to a wide range of risks. If our assumptions prove inaccurate or unknown risks and uncertainties materialize, actual results could vary materially from Hillenbrand's (the "Company") expectations and projections. Words that could indicate that we are making forward-looking statements include the following: intend believe plan expect may goal would project become pursue estimate will forecast continue could anticipate target encourage promise improve progress potential Should impact This is not an exhaustive list, but is intended to give you an idea of how we try to identify forward-looking statements. The absence of any of these words, however, does not mean that the statement is not forward-looking. Here is the key point: Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, and our actual results could differ materially from those set forth in any forward-looking statements. Any number of factors, many of which are beyond our control, could cause our performance to differ significantly from what is described in the forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to: the impact of contagious diseases such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the escalation thereof due to variant strains of the virus and the societal, governmental, and individual responses thereto, including supply chain disruption, loss of contracts and/or customers, erosion of some customers' credit quality, downgrades of the Company's credit quality, closure or temporary interruption of the Company's or suppliers' manufacturing facilities, travel, shipping and logistical disruptions, loss of human capital or personnel, and general economic calamities; risks that the integration of Milacron disrupts current operations or poses potential difficulties in employee retention or otherwise affects financial or operating results; the ability to recognize the benefits of the acquisition of Milacron or any other acquisition or disposition, including potential synergies and cost savings or the failure of the Company or any acquired company to achieve its plans and objectives generally; impairment charges to goodwill and other identifiable intangible assets; the risk of business disruptions associated with information technology, cyber-attacks, or catastrophic losses affecting infrastructure; competition in the industries in which we operate, including on price or from nontraditional sources in the death care industry; impacts of decreases in demand or changes in technological advances, laws, or regulation on the revenues that we derive from the plastics industry; our reliance upon employees, agents, and business partners to comply with laws in many countries and jurisdictions; the impact of the significant amount of indebtedness of the Company and its ability to meet its de-leveraging goals; the ability of the Company to comply with financial or other covenants in its debt agreements; global market and economic conditions, including those related to the financial markets; our level of international sales and operations; cyclical demand for industrial capital goods; continued fluctuations in mortality rates and increased cremations; the dependence of our business units on relationships with several large customers and providers; the impact to the Company's effective tax rate of changes in the mix of earnings or tax laws and certain other tax-related matters; involvement in claims, lawsuits and governmental proceedings related to operations; uncertainty in the United States political environment or global trade policy; adverse foreign currency fluctuations; increased costs or unavailability of raw materials or certain outsourced services; labor disruptions; increasing competition for highly skilled and talented workers; and the effect of certain provisions of the Company's governing documents and Indiana law that could decrease the trading price of the Company's common stock. Shareholders, potential investors, and other readers are urged to consider these risks and uncertainties in evaluating forward-looking statements and are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements. For a more in-depth discussion of these and other factors that could cause actual results to differ from those contained in forward-looking statements, see the discussions under the heading "Risk Factors" in Part I, Item 1A of Hillenbrand's Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2020, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") on November 12, 2020, and in Part II, Item 1A of Hillenbrand's Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2021, filed with the SEC on August 4, 2021. The forward-looking information in this release speaks only as of the date hereof, and we assume no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information. SOURCE Hillenbrand, Inc. Related Links http://www.hillenbrand.com "We are delighted to reach this exciting milestone, which is a significant step toward fulfilling our commitment to implement this transformative, cutting-edge technology on the vast majority of our finishing farms in multiple states," said Kraig Westerbeek, vice president of Smithfield Renewables for Smithfield Foods. "Our Monarch Bioenergy manure-to-energy projects are making a significant environmental impact and remove 25 times more emissions from the atmosphere than are emitted during the clean energy's end use. Because of this, they are key projects in our Smithfield Renewables portfolio of innovative renewable energy and carbon reduction efforts across our operations." Construction of the approximately $150 million project officially began in 2014, three years after RAE and Smithfield first had the idea to embark on the joint venture. The proprietary processes that emerged from the project create carbon-negative RNG at a rate of approximately 800,000 dekatherms annually. In addition to generating renewable energy, the partnership has planted hundreds of acres of prairie grass, providing ecological services and wildlife habitat for monarch butterflies across the state. The companies are also exploring harvesting prairie plants to create biomass for RNG production. "With perseverance and dedication to our vision we navigated the pathways for swine manure with the California Air Resources Board (CARB) and the EPA to receive the lowest CI (carbon intensity) scores in the swine industry," said RAE Chairman and CEO Rudi Roeslein. "We are leading the way to improve the industry's environmental footprint and diversify its income stream. This is a blueprint on how to turn challenges into opportunities." Collectively and independently, the companies have embarked on additional manure-to-energy projects across the country in Arizona, California, Colorado, Iowa, North Carolina, Texas, Utah and Virginia. To learn more about the process of converting manure into clean energy visit this link. The Monarch Bioenergy joint venture supports the companies' respective sustainability goals, including RAE's goal to restore 30 million acres of land to native prairie plants strategically located around waterways, streams, rivers and highly erodible lands and Smithfield's industry-leading goals to become carbon negative in U.S. company-owned operations and reduce GHG emissions 30 percent across its entire U.S. value chain by 2030. More information on RAE's sustainability commitments is available here and information on Smithfield's signature Smithfield Renewables program here. About Smithfield Foods, Inc. Headquartered in Smithfield, Va. since 1936, Smithfield Foods, Inc. is an American food company with agricultural roots and a global reach. Our 63,000 team members are dedicated to producing "Good food. Responsibly." and have made us one of the world's leading vertically integrated protein companies. We have pioneered sustainability standards for more than two decades, including our industry-leading commitments to become carbon negative in U.S. company-owned operations and reduce GHG emissions 30 percent across our entire U.S. value chain by 2030. We believe in the power of protein to end food insecurity and have donated hundreds of millions of food servings to our communities. Smithfield boasts a portfolio of high-quality iconic brands, such as Smithfield, Eckrich and Nathan's Famous, among many others. For more information, visit www.smithfieldfoods.com, and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Instagram. About Roeslein Alternative Energy, LLC Roeslein Alternative Energy (RAE) is the owner, operator and developer of renewable energy production facilities that convert agricultural and industrial wastes, along with renewable biomass feedstocks to renewable natural gas and sustainable co-products. RAE engages in these business operations with a focus on incorporating native prairie restoration. RAE is a limited liability company with its principal offices located in St. Louis, Missouri. RAE was launched in 2012 by Rudi Roeslein, co-founder and CEO of St. Louis-based Roeslein and Associates, Inc. (a global leader in engineering, modular fabrication, and construction of industrial plant facilities). SOURCE Smithfield Foods, Inc. Related Links www.smithfieldfoods.com NEW YORK, Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Stanzii, a radical artist whose work has graced spaces in New York City for more than a decade, today announced the release of three kaleidoscopic, cyber-chic animated films, which signal the upcoming arrival of her self-titled brand, slated for next year. Multimedia artist Stanzii releases a triptych of animated films while teasing her forthcoming pop-fashion brand. Stanzii In addition to serving as a digital teaser, the triptych -- which includes the retrofuturist films "Spiritual Maximiliiism," "Theme for Dead Cities" and "Self Saboatge" -- reflects love, loss, and an urgent, post-pandemic need for Stanzii: to make art after a time when it felt impossible. It's an emotional first taste of Stanzii while she embarks on a full-scale pop-fashion brand that will incorporate her expertise in shoe design, sculpture fabrication, street art and more. "I've been making art my entire life, and my creative journey in New York has involved everything from outdoor murals to high-end creative direction and major window displays in the fashion world," says Stanzii, who was born Renee Snelson and has also gone by XORS in past projects, many of which have involved the collaboration of her longtime partner, Flood. "The Stanzii brand will be both commercial and counter-cultural -- a culmination of my artistry that will bleed into the worlds of public art, wearable fashion, prints and digital media." Stanzii's new animated films can be viewed at the following links: "Spiritual Maximiliiism" "Theme for Dead Cities" "Self Sabotage" Featuring original music produced, mixed and mastered by David Sisko under his Aelien Eko moniker, the films call to mind David Bowie, Warhol, and punk-rock feminism, and are composed of recurring elements that signify Stanzii's distinct vision and voice. Sharp studded high heels, diamond teardrops and whimsical blinking eyes appear throughout the digital landscapes, and will be hallmarks of the Stanzii brand. "As an artist working in the underground and luxury fashion worlds of this city, I've always been drawn to the push and pull of materialism versus spirituality, ego versus artistry and the constant search for ourselves in this urban jungle," Stanzii says. "Today, I believe that all those things can coexist, and my brand will bring those dichotomies to life." In past work, Stanzii has served as a designer and art director for major shoe brands like Timberland, Vera Wang Lavender, and Alice + Olivia, where she worked as Senior Design Director of Shoes. Her breathtaking commercial sculpture has been viewed by millions in the windows of top department stores like Macy's and Bloomingdale's, while her signature "Killer Heel" design has migrated from street art to fine art galleries in New York and London. She's been featured in art shows curated by Patricia Field, and collaborated with the late, legendary shoe designer Beth Levine, using Levine's vintage shoes to craft wearable art for an exhibition in New York's East Village. As she embarks on her next chapter, Stanzii will gradually unfurl a genre-mashing brand that distills her work into a cohesive yet comprehensive collection of products and high art, expanding across all media platforms and reflecting today's ever-evolving cultural consumers. "My art is about contradiction, which is also one of the defining factors of modern consumers," Stanzii says. "We want streetwear and fine art prints; we want glamour and grit; we want what's next and what's nostalgic. With my own personal and female slant, the Stanzii brand will span those contradictions in a whole new way." ABOUT STANZII Stanzii (born Renee Snelson) is a New York-based multimedia artist and designer whose creative experience spans across the verticals of fashion design, street art, fine art, commercial sculpture, window displays, animation and more. Previously known as XORS, Stanzii has served as a creative director and designer with major shoe brands like Timberland and Alice + Olivia, and seen her vivid street art grace the alleys of New York and London. While working as a sculptor and fabricator for the window displays of some of the world's foremost department stores, Stanzii has developed a tack-sharp point of view, which merges high fashion and guerilla art into one seamless vision. Her artist and brand name were inspired by the nickname of Constanze Mozart, wife of the musical genius, who was a major figure in Amadeus, Stanzii's favorite film in her youth. SOURCE Stanzii HONG KONG and SHANGHAI, Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China, Ltd. (hereafter "Ping An" or the "Group", HKEX: 02318; SSE: 601318) announced its subsidiary Ping An Bank (SZ:000001) has launched services under the Cross-boundary Wealth Management Connect pilot scheme on 19 October. The Bank's service expansion opens a new chapter in the integration of Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao, accelerating the financial markets' connectivity and development. The Cross-boundary WMC enables residents in Hong Kong, Macao and nine cities in Guangdong Province to make cross-boundary investments in wealth management products distributed by banks in the area. Ping An Bank, one of the first banks to participate in the pilot scheme, received approval from the People's Bank of China and the Hong Kong Monetary Authority on 18 October. The Cross-boundary WMC includes the Southbound Scheme and the Northbound Scheme. In the Northbound Scheme, Ping An Bank offers fixed-income top wealth management products tailor-made by its wealth management subsidiary Ping An Wealth Management. Ping An Bank also partners with first-tier fund companies in mainland China, such as E Fund and ZO Asset Management, to select mutual funds with low subscription fees and quality service exclusively for Hong Kong and Macao clients. Amid COVID-19 travel restrictions, the Bank enables Hong Kong and Macao clients who already have accounts with Ping An Bank in the Greater Bay Area to sign an e-agreement, link to the transfer account at OCBC Wing Hang Bank of Hong Kong, and activate the Northbound Scheme function in the Ping An Pocket Bank app. They can then purchase or redeem domestic wealth management products in mainland China online. There is no need to visit to a bank branch. However, new customers must open a bank account by visiting a Greater Bay Area branch in person. For the Southbound Scheme, Mainland investors can open a cross-border investment account through Ping An Bank without travelling to Hong Kong or Macao. They can then invest in eligible wealth management products distributed by OCBC Wing Hang Bank of Hong Kong via the Ping An Pocket Bank app. Ping An Bank is headquartered in Shenzhen. It has more than 200 offices in the Greater Bay Area, including Guangzhou, Zhuhai, Dongguan, Huizhou and Zhongshan. The Bank's service team includes more than 100 investment advisors and 900 private bankers. Capitalizing on Ping An Group's technological prowess, the Bank provides online and smart cross-border financial products and service experiences to Mainland, Hong Kong and Macao investors . About Ping An Group Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China, Ltd. ("Ping An") is a world-leading technology-powered retail financial services group. With over 223 million retail customers and 627 million internet users, Ping An is one of the largest financial services companies in the world. Ping An focuses on two over-arching domains of activity, "pan financial assets" and "pan health care", covering the provision of financial and health care services through our integrated financial services platform and our ecosystems in financial services, health care, auto services and smart city services. Our "finance + technology" and "finance + ecosystem" transformation strategies aim to provide customers and internet users with innovative and simple products and services using technology. As China's first joint stock insurance company, Ping An is committed to upholding the highest standards of corporate reporting and corporate governance. The Group is listed on the stock exchanges in Hong Kong and Shanghai. Ping An ranked 6th in the Forbes Global 2000 list in 2021 and ranked 16th in the Fortune Global 500 list in 2020. Ping An also ranked 49th in the 2021 WPP Kantar Millward Brown BrandZTM Top 100 Most Valuable Global Brands list. For more information, please visit www.group.pingan.com and follow us on LinkedIn - PING AN. About Ping An Bank Ping An Bank Co., Ltd. (hereafter "Ping An Bank", SZ:000001) is a nationwide joint-stock commercial bank headquartered in Shenzhen. It was formerly known as Shenzhen Development Bank Co., Ltd. and renamed as Ping An Bank in July in the same year after the merger of former Ping An Bank Co., Ltd. in June 2012. As at the end of June 2021, Ping An Bank provides diversified financial services to enterprises, retailers and government departments through 101 branches and 1,110 outlets across China. SOURCE Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China, Ltd. Related Links www.group.pingan.com The partnership between the Company and Hudson's Bay began with PlantX's launch as a Marketplace seller on www.thebay.com in April 2021. On the heels of that success, PlantX will now open two new "shop-in-shop" modern signature stores called XMarket, inside Hudson's Bay. The stores will showcase a variety of plant-based grocery items, cosmetics, and indoor plants. Additionally, the XMarket Rideau location will include an XMarket-branded cafe providing consumers with carefully selected plant-based food and beverages. The shop-in-shop licensed model and the XMarket signature cafe in Hudson's Bay create several significant opportunities. Notably, they will increase the Company's financial efficiency through establishing more favourable financial terms for brick-and-mortar XMarket stores or cafes. Moreover, the strategy will elevate customer experience by broadening physical access to a diverse selection of PlantX products and services, while also enabling same day deliveries of PlantX products across Toronto and Ottawa. This will significantly advance the Company's existing sales and marketing strategies. Moreover, by having stores in high-traffic Hudson's Bay locations, PlantX will be able to boost its brand recognition and reach thousands of customers across Canada in the Hudson's Bay community, which will contribute to both the Company's e-commerce and in-store profitability. "Opening two new XMarket stores in partnership with the iconic Hudson's Bay will undoubtedly transform the potential of our future retail efforts," said PlantX Founder, Sean Dollinger. "The stores will be crucial discovery touchpoints for customers frequenting these highly trafficked areas, which will boost the PlantX brand recognition. This move enables us to make significant and exciting investments that will enhance customer engagement, and provides us with yet another opportunity to promote plant-based living across Canada." 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, clothing 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 like-minded 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. The Company website is http://investor.PlantX.com/ . 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 opening of XMarket stores in Hudson's Bay locations, the availability of PlantX products, expectations regarding increasing the brand awareness of the Company, the ability to provide same day deliveries in Toronto, Ontario and Ottawa, Ontario 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/ OAKLAND, Calif., Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Poets&Quants, the definitive online publication for business education news, has unveiled its 3rd annual ranking of the Top MBA Programs for Entrepreneurship. The data reveal that, for the third year in a row, the Olin Business School at Washington University in St. Louis is the #1 business school for entrepreneurship. Poets&Quants' ranking captures a wide range of criteria about U.S. and global business schools, including a school's accelerator space, venture funds available, and core classes dedicated to entrepreneurship. "Successful entrepreneurs benefit tremendously from the MBA experience," says Nathan Allen, lead editor of the entrepreneurship ranking. "While an MBA is not a prerequisite of startup success, business schools are constantly evolving and graduating thousands of entrepreneurs who have access to millions of dollars in funding and are creating some of the most successful startups of the past ten years." A unique element of Poets&Quants' ranking is complete transparency on the ranking methodology and weighting system, allowing students to evaluate schools for the best fit. The full methodology can be viewed here and the full data set here. The Top 10 MBA programs for entrepreneurship in 2022 are: 1. Washington University in St. Louis (Olin) 2. Babson College 3. Rice University (Jones) 4. ESADE 5. IE Business School 6. Harvard Business School 7. University of Michigan (Ross) 8. Stanford University Graduate School of Business 9. City University of London (Bayes) 10. Rutgers Business School A Poets&Quants live virtual event on MBAs in entrepreneurship kicks off with the rankings release on November 17th, 2021. Visit Poets&Quants for more information. Visit here to learn more about the 2022 Entrepreneurship MBA Ranking, the methodology, and to locate a specific school. About Poets&Quants: Poets&Quants is the leading resource for complete coverage of graduate business education. We feature multiple tools and authoritative content, including consolidated B-school rankings, news and in-depth features, videos, podcasts, two searchable directories, and events, empowering our community with information needed to make decisions along their journey from pre- to post-MBA. This press release was issued through 24-7PressRelease.com. For further information, visit http://www.24-7pressrelease.com. SOURCE Poets&Quants Related Links http://www.poetsandquants.com NEW YORK, Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Q BioMed Inc. (OTCQB: QBIO), a biotech acceleration and commercial stage company focused on licensing and acquiring undervalued biomedical assets in the healthcare sector is pleased to provide an update to its shareholders. On October 5th the company closed an additional $2 million funding to support its planned uplisting and operations. The capital raise is a bridge to the planned uplisting transaction which is expected to provide sufficient capital for the next 12 months at a minimum. The Company is focused on our current approved radiopharmaceutical product and is assessing additional assets within the same vertical to grow the future revenue opportunities. We have also learned that as of Oct 19th with immediate effect, our direct competitor in the cancer pain palliation space is no longer producing QUADRAMET (Samarium Sm 153 Lexidronam Injection).We have already seen an uptick in product enquiry as result. In addition, together with Mannin Research we have de-risked the Mannin platform with successful proof of concept data and fully funded clinical trials expected to start in early 2022. Continued success in this platform opens the opportunity for over $200 million in potential license revenues in several indications including infectious diseases (COVID19), kidney disease, cardiovascular disease, and glaucoma. Strontium-89 - FDA Approved Drug Launched In January 2021, we announced that treatment with Strontium-89 (Strontium Chloride Sr-89 Injection, USP) in the hospital out-patient setting is fully reimbursed by Medicare. In March, we were approved as a federal supplier which will allow us to sell into federal hospital systems, notably the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs and the U.S. Department of Defense. We have deployed a VA sales force and we are preparing to launch an institutional contract sales force to increase our presence and uptake in non-government hospitals by the end of the year. We have been working with large regional and national oncology organizations to bring Strontium-89 to all of their radionuclide qualified clinics. Agreements and contracting are ongoing. We have continued to deploy a multi-channel marketing campaign, driving awareness among our target audiences, both on the physician and the patient side. Virtual and live sales calls have been ongoing since June 2020 within the confines of COVID-19 access. We have seen an uptick in Strontium89 sales starting in the 4th Quarter and expect revenue in that quarter to likely double the prior quarter. In addition, the Company has received its first order from the VA health care system under its federal supply contract. Repeat orders from clinics also indicate adoption and confidence in the product and as mentioned, with the discontinuation of QUADRAMET (Samarium Sm 153 Lexidronam Injection) we believe we will see increased demand from that patient population. In mid-2020, we began the regulatory registration process for full commercial access in the European Union, with pan-EU approval expected in the first quarter of 2022. These efforts have seen some delay due to Brexit related regulatory requirements. In parallel, we are midway through the registration process in many other countries. Due to some legacy data from previous owners not being available in current reporting standards to complete the filings, we have begun the process of creating our own source documents to complete the filings in non-US jurisdictions. We also expect this to be completed in the first quarter of 2022. We are assessing several potential clinical trial programs that may expand the use in the current palliation market and additional indications beyond palliation into a therapeutic use that may increase utilization in years to come. Launching Strontium-89 distinguishes us from publicly traded biotech companies that have yet to launch a regulatory approved commercial product and generate revenues. Mannin Technology Collaboration COVID-19, Glaucoma and Others More Government Funding In March 2021, our technology partner Mannin Research Inc. (Mannin) was granted an additional CAD$1.7 million from the Canadian governments COVID response budget, adding to the approximate $7.7 million granted in Europe, which together will fund 65-75 percent of every dollar incurred to advance the Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome therapy for COVID patients as well as a portfolio of therapeutic assets for vascular diseases currently in development at Mannin, including: glaucoma, cardiovascular diseases, acute kidney disease, and other infectious diseases. The MAN-19 therapeutic is a recombinant fusion protein that treats the patient, instead of targeting the virus. It is not a cure for COVID-19, but it strengthens a patient's blood vessels and protects them against ARDS, breathing problems, sepsis and other infections that may cause the body's organs to begin shutting down. It is designed to keep COVID-19 patients out of the ICU and off a ventilator. Initial manufacturing and preclinical testing has shown promise, and pending upcoming toxicology testing, the drug is poised for clinical trials to start in 2022. If the drug proves both safe and effective, our goal is to have it available for use by patients by early 2023. We, along with Mannin, are very encouraged by our progress and the results of the preclinical work to date. Our next steps are to complete the final toxicology studies, data aggregation and achieve approval of a Phase 1 clinical trial. With proof-of-concept complete and clinical trials planned in 2022, we believe there is a significant return on investment in the near term and major milestones to be achieved. The market for this kind of treatment in the current pandemic climate is substantial and global. COVID-19 is not going away any time soon. As a result, there is a need to develop more effective treatments. We believe that this technology will play a role in the broader treatment landscape and not only for COVID-19, but also for other infectious diseases that cause ARDS. We believe that licensing and milestone revenue opportunities for this and related indications in kidney and ophthalmological diseases are possible in the next few months. Conservative estimates based on milestones could reach $200M over the next 24 months. A successful infectious disease application in COVID-19 would position MAN-19 as a potential government stockpile drug for possible future pandemics. Furthermore, a successful proof-of-concept clinical trial with MAN-19 in COVID-19 patients would provide the clinical dataset to support the development of therapeutics for other vascular diseases such as sepsis, acute kidney injury and glaucoma. All of these are large markets with significant potential. GDF 15 Diagnostic for Glaucoma - In Clinical Trial and Product Development and FDA approval anticipated early 2022 In early 2019, we licensed a diagnostic biomarker known as GDF-15 for determining the severity of glaucoma from Washington University in St. Louis. GDF-15 is a perfect companion diagnostic for the MAN-01 and MAN-11 drugs, as well as a novel tool for practicing ophthalmologists and drug developers, because it is designed to assess the efficacy of the treatment or disease progression in their practice. This product represents a unique opportunity, and we believe that current clinical trials are yielding promising results. In partnership with Mannin Research Inc. and McMaster University, we are nearing the completion of development of an in-vitro-diagnostic (IVD) with both point-of-care (detection in a doctor's office) as well as an external laboratory-based detection (i.e. for use in existing CLIA laboratories using existing diagnostic equipment). With appropriate funding, we anticipate completion of the IVD device and submission to the FDA (510K) for in vitro diagnostic approval in 2022. Uttroside-B - Liver Cancer Chemotherapeutic We are developing an innovative treatment for liver cancer, a disease indication that currently has a high unmet need. Currently, there are only two approved first-line therapies. We licensed and have advanced Uttroside-B, a new molecule that showed ten times the potency of the current standard of care in early pre-clinical investigation. Uttroside-B was discovered in the leaf of the Black Nightshade plant in India. As it is not feasible to use the plant as the source for a drug, we successfully synthesized the molecule thereby creating an exact replica of the naturally occurring chemical compound. We are now preparing to advance this into a pre-clinical program and have recently been awarded Orphan Drug designation. Manufacturing and scale-up of the drug for use in preclinical testing and IND application has begun. Pre-clinical testing is underway and early results are encouraging. Corporate Strategic Goals Our mission is to solve problems by accelerating the development of important therapies and availability of those therapies to patients. We believe we are creating value for our shareholders as we approach some milestones and catalysts. In particular we are very encouraged by the de-risking of the Mannin platform with significant non-dilutive funding to support the clinical program and potential for licensing opportunities in multiple therapeutic areas over the next 12 months. This along with the growth in the Strontium revenue and addition of potential products in the same vertical could provide meaningful revenue opportunities over the next 6 24 months. The funding we have raised to date has allowed us to settle some outstanding payables, prepare for an uplisting on a senior exchange and to continue developing our current assets. The uplisting will coincide with a proposed capital raise that, in the minimum, will satisfy our next 12 month capital needs. Our priority is to continue to support and expand a contract sales force for Strontium-89 in commercial and federal settings and possibly increase the product offering in this nuclear medicine vertical. We will also focus on advancing our rare disease portfolio in liver cancer, and leveraging the now almost $20,000,000 in committed non-dilutive government funding for the Mannin platform of vascular therapeutics for Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome for COVID-19 patients as well as Glaucoma, Kidney diseases and others. We believe our current valuation is not reflective of the opportunity within our pipeline. The pandemic environment has certainly made our job much harder, but that does not allow us to avoid blame for some missteps along the way. We have learned much about our business and the 'new normal' in which we have to operate and what we think will make our current opportunities more valuable to the market. We continue to believe that we have created a valuable and exciting company and expect to see that translate over the next 12 months as we approach several significant milestones. We are resilient and better prepared for our future than ever before. About Q BioMed Inc. Q BioMed Inc is a biotech acceleration and commercial stage company. Q BioMed is focused on licensing and acquiring undervalued biomedical assets in the healthcare sector. Q BioMed is dedicated to providing these target assets the strategic resources, developmental support, and expansion capital needed to ensure they meet their developmental potential, enabling them to provide products to patients in need. Please visit http://www.QBioMed.com and sign up for regular updates. Forward-Looking Statements: This press release may contain "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. Such statements include, but are not limited to, any statements relating to our growth strategy and product development programs and any other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could negatively affect our business, operating results, financial condition and stock price. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those currently anticipated are: risks related to our growth strategy; risks relating to the results of research and development activities; our ability to obtain, perform under and maintain financing and strategic agreements and relationships; uncertainties relating to preclinical and clinical testing; our dependence on third-party suppliers; our ability to attract, integrate, and retain key personnel; the early stage of products under development; our need for substantial additional funds; government regulation; patent and intellectual property matters; competition; as well as other risks described in our SEC filings. We expressly disclaim any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in our expectations or any changes in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based, except as required by law. Q BioMed Media Contact: Denis Corin CEO Investor Relations: Keith Pinder +1(404) 995-6671 [email protected] SOURCE Q BioMed Inc. LONDON, Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Schneider Electric, the leader in digital transformation of energy management and automation, has announced the appointment of Karlton Gray as its new IT Channel Director for the UK & Ireland. Karlton is a seven-year veteran of Schneider Electric's Secure Power Division and since joining he has held numerous roles within the company, managing large-scale enterprise, corporate and e-commerce channel partners including CDW, Softcat, Comms Express, Ebuyer, CCS Media, Misco, Amazon and Bechtle. In his new role Karlton will take charge of Schneider Electric's IT channel sales divisions across the region and will be tasked with driving continued success of Schneider Electric's Secure Power Division, which provides critical power protection, uninterruptible power supplies (UPS), racks, enclosures, power distribution units (PDU) and cooling solutions for data centres, server rooms and edge computing environments. Further, its award-winning and vendor-agnostic EcoStruxure IT Software & Digital Services portfolio has been built with partners in mind, empowering IT solution providers and value added-resellers (VARs) to deliver advanced 24/7 remote monitoring, and remote/on-site support, for successful deployment, management, and maintenance of physical infrastructure at the edge. Proven track record for sales growth Karlton joined Schneider Electric as a Channel Account Manager in 2015, driving sales for APC, its flagship brand of physical infrastructure and software solutions via UK direct market resellers (DMR), VARs and traditional hardware resellers. In 2017 he was promoted to Senior Channel Account Manager, where he was responsible for establishing and managing relationships with partners to deliver growth across the UK and Northern Europe. Named APC UK Channel Account Manager of the year in 2019, he was promoted to Senior Enterprise Account Manager in early 2020 and became responsible for managing the company's largest enterprise customers, leading a team of channel professionals to grow its infrastructure solutions business via e-commerce, reseller and corporate partner accounts. "I'm delighted to be named as the new Channel Director for Schneider Electric in the UK and Ireland," said Karlton Gray. "As we return to a more digital, electric world, it's clear that partner relationships have never been more important. Throughout the pandemic, the IT, data centre and communications industries have been pivotal in helping businesses adapt to remote working, and I believe many organisations will look to retain some level of hybrid operations going forward. What's crucial now is that we help our partners meet growing end-user demands, safely return to personal engagements and plan for the future." "Whether through IT modernisation programmes, the deployment of edge computing solutions or creating new digital service propositions that address end-user skills shortages, technology has provided us with a vehicle to address key business challenges in a sustainable, energy efficient and environmentally beneficial way," he continued. "As the world's most sustainable organisation, I'm excited to be part of a company that's driving transformative change through our partners." New program to support partner growth Launched in April this year, Schneider Electric's Edge Software & Digital Services Program is a complete suite of benefits, support tools and certifications that enables IT solution providers to create a dedicated Managed Power Services practice. Formulated in response to the significant growth in edge computing, this new program enables IT solution providers to establish recurring revenue streams by offering remote monitoring and management of the physical infrastructure across their customers' networks, utilising Schneider Electric's EcoStruxure IT Software & Digital Services. Core components of the Edge Software & Digital Services Program include: Lifecycle rebates an ongoing financial benefit for IT solution providers to reinvest in their business an ongoing financial benefit for IT solution providers to reinvest in their business Step-by-step operational e-guide "The Essential Guide to Growing Your Business with Managed Power Services" Certification paths educational courses designed to increase technical and business acumen related to digital remote monitoring software and service options educational courses designed to increase technical and business acumen related to digital remote monitoring software and service options EcoStruxure IT Software and Digital Services - access to Schneider Electric's flexible portfolio, offering advanced, 24/7 remote monitoring, and remote/on-site support To learn more about the mySchneider IT Solutions Partner Program and Managed Power Services, visit the website. About Schneider Electric Schneider's purpose is to empower all to make the most of our energy and resources, bridging progress and sustainability for all. We call this Life Is On. Our mission is to be your digital partner for Sustainability and Efficiency. We drive digital transformation by integrating world-leading process and energy technologies, end-point to cloud connecting products, controls, software and services, across the entire lifecycle, enabling integrated company management, for homes, buildings, data centers, infrastructure, and industries. We are the most local of global companies. We are advocates of open standards and partnership ecosystems that are passionate about our shared Meaningful Purpose, Inclusive, and Empowered values. https://www.se.com/uk/en/ Discover Life Is On Related resources on SE.com: Hashtags: #LifeIsOn #CertaintyInAConnectedWorld #ChannelPartner Follow us on: Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn | YouTube | Instagram | Blog SOURCE Schneider Electric UK SEOUL, South Korea, Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- OliPass Corporation, a South Korea based biotech specialized in the development of RNA therapeutics, announced to initiate a Phase 2a trial for SCN9A antisense pain killer OLP-1002 in Australia. In the Phase 2a trial of a two stage adaptive design in OA patients with pain, OLP-1002 shall be evaluated for analgesic efficacy, safety and therapeutic duration to confirm the target drug profiles as a first-line therapy for chronic pain. Long therapeutic duration is desired for good patient compliance, since OLP-1002 is currently developed for administration by subcutaneous injection. People with a loss-of-function mutation in the SCN9A gene (SCN9A channelopathy) were found insensitive to pain but with other sensory functions undisturbed. Given that the SCN9A gene encodes the Nav1.7 sodium ion channel subtype, selective inhibitors of Nav1.7 have been implicated to show strong analgesic efficacy and good safety. However, small molecule inhibitors of Nav1.7 to date have repeatedly failed to clinically manifest strong efficacy and good safety. OLP-1002 is an SCN9A antisense pain killer devised to show strong efficacy and good safety by reproducing much of the clinical phenotype of people with SCN9A channelopathy. "The global market of pain killers is estimated as large as ca 100 billion USD per year. However, the market potential is considered highly underestimated since the market is currently prevailed by cheap generic pain killers with limited efficacy and safety. The industry's quest for pain killers showing strong efficacy and good safety has not been very successful during the recent several decades. An unfortunate large scale quest would be COX-2 inhibitors. Lack of safe and effective pain killers triggered wide-spread abuse of opioid analgesics for chronic pain, which has caused tens of thousands of mortalities annually in the US alone. In this regard, unmet medical needs for pain killers with strong efficacy and good safety can never be overemphasized.", said Dr. Shin Chung, CEO of OliPass Corporation. "OLP-1002 manifested excellent safety in a UK Phase 1 study evaluated in a total of 116 healthy volunteers. In the meantime, an exploratory Phase 1b study in Australia suggested clues to strong efficacy and long therapeutic duration in OA patients. Contrary to people's perception, the efficacy of opioid pain killers would be modest if compared to the phenotype of people with SCN9A channelopathy. Based on nonclinical and clinical findings to date, we would expect strong efficacy, excellent safety and long therapeutic duration for OLP-1002 as a first-line therapy. Pain killers with strong efficacy and excellent safety, if provided at affordable cost, shall level up the plateau of the global pain market currently stagnant at ca 100 billion USD per year.", added Dr. Chung. OliPass is planning additional Phase 2a trial in the US for chemotherapy-induced neuropathic pain (CINP). CINP may be taken as a good and realistic model system for neuropathic pain considering the mode of action of OLP-1002. (About OliPass Corporation) OliPass Corporation is a public biotech company listed in KOSDAQ in South Korea (ticker: KQ244460). The company is developing RNA therapeutics based on its proprietary oligonucleotide platform called OPNA (OliPass Peptide Nucleic Acid). OPNA was derived from PNA by rational chemical modifications in order to improve the cell permeability and RNA affinity. For therapeutic intervention, OPNA potently binds to target pre-mRNA, induces exon skipping, and yields mRNA splice variant. Unlike other types of RNA therapeutics, OPNA does not require formulational aid for in vivo therapeutic activity. SOURCE OliPass Corporation "We proudly offer academic and diversity-related scholarships for those who qualify," said SIT President, Steve Wasula. Tweet this The inaugural class met diversity and scholarship goals set by the school, including: Scholarships: Every student earned at least 1 scholarship, on average of $3,100 Military and Veterans: 20% of the class are children of veterans Women: 60% of the class are women Minorities: 70% of the class are minorities Continuing Education 80% of students have attended college Students have an average of 11.1 years of work experience Select Institute of Technology is a post-secondary virtual vocational school offering training courses in Information Technology and specifically the Salesforce platform. Approved by the Florida Commission for Independent Education, Select Institute's goal is to open doors and provide training to those wanting to enter and thrive in the ever-growing Salesforce ecosystem. Utilized by nearly 200,000 companies, Salesforce generates 4.2 million jobs with nearly 60,000 active jobs listed on leading job boards. "People want better career opportunities; and, for some students, following the path of traditional higher education often doesn't result in a great career related to what you studied," said Wasula. "Select Institute aims to provide an educational environment that prepares our students for a high-paying, in-demand career in only 12 weeks. We will provide all the necessary resources to develop high-value technology skills and assist our students in starting their career after graduation." About Select Institute Select Institute of Technology, a subsidiary of Stony Point, is a technology-based school that teaches the skills students need to join the expanding Salesforce ecosystem. We leverage the best technologies, practices, and industry partners to achieve our overall mission of helping our graduates start, build or advance their careers. Select Institute of Technology offers two diploma programs in Salesforce Administrator and Salesforce Developer. To learn more, please visit https://www.selecttech.org/ About Stony Point Stony Point, Inc., a Salesforce Consulting. Stony Point helps global organizations improve their return on investment in Salesforce by providing comprehensive Salesforce end-user training & adoption, Salesforce technical training, change management, recruiting, permanent placement and staffing services. To learn more about Stony Point, please visit https://www.stonyp.com/ . SOURCE Select Institute of Technology An experienced and accomplished corporate lawyer, Duckworth has a stellar track record advising clients in connection with M&A transactions and she represents issuers and underwriters in public offerings and private placements of equity and debt securities. Duckworth has extensive experience advising companies and their boards of directors in a wide range of corporate governance matters. She also advises corporations and MLPs with respect to complex transactional matters, including compliance with federal securities laws, corporate governance, and day-to-day corporate counseling. "Mollie is a well-known and highly regarded lawyer in the market and we are thrilled she has joined us as we start up the office here in Austin," said Sam Zabaneh, Latham & Watkins' Office Managing Partner in Austin. "Mollie's experience at the cutting-edge of the practice will further strengthen our transactional capability in Austin and nationally. She is an outstanding lawyer who is known for her excellent judgment and practical advice to clients, and her expertise will broaden the services and capabilities we can provide to our clients." Ian Schuman, Global Chair of Latham's Capital Markets Practice, said: "Mollie has a formidable reputation and her skill and experience counseling companies from startups to large corporates will be a tremendous resource for our clients. Mollie is a true leader in her field, and she brings a fantastic range of capital markets experience advising clients across a spectrum of corporate needs. She is a perfect addition to our strong and growing team." "We have a diverse and robust transactional platform and Mollie's practice, which spans myriad sectors, meshes well with our capabilities. Mollie's arrival is another significant step towards building one of the preeminent corporate practices in Austin, a dynamic and fast-growing business and innovation hub in the US," added Luke Bergstrom, Global Co-Chair of Latham & Watkins' Mergers & Acquisitions Practice. "We see significant opportunities to further grow and expand our practice and Mollie, together with Sam, Jen, and Scott, will be central to our growth and success in this vibrant market." "I am thrilled to be joining Latham's new Austin office. The breadth and depth of Latham's practices offers unparalleled expertise, market knowledge, and resources for companies in Austin and beyond. I look forward to combining my deep relationships across the Texas market with Latham's world class platform to serve our clients across the technology, energy and infrastructure industries," said Duckworth. The opening of Latham's new Austin office was announced on September 1, along with the addition of three new partners, Samer (Sam) Zabaneh, Jenifer Smith, and Scott Craig, in the Emerging Companies Practice. The group advises a broad array of public and private companies as well as sponsors in high-growth industries on a wide range of mergers and acquisitions, IPOs and other securities offerings, growth equity and debt transactions, and leveraged buyouts. Each partner has extensive experience and deep ties to Austin, and collectively the group brings a proven track record advising founders, companies across all stages of development, venture capital firms, and private equity sponsors. In addition, current partners with strong ties to Texas generally are expected to either permanently relocate to Austin or spend significant time there. Duckworth received her JD from The University of Texas School of Law, and her BS, summa cum laude, from The University of Texas at Austin. She joins Latham from Baker Botts in Austin. About Latham & Watkins Latham & Watkins delivers innovative solutions to complex legal and business challenges around the world. From a global platform, our lawyers advise clients on market-shaping transactions, high-stakes litigation and trials, and sophisticated regulatory matters. Latham is one of the world's largest providers of pro bono services, steadfastly supports initiatives designed to advance diversity within the firm and the legal profession, and is committed to exploring and promoting environmental sustainability. Notes to Editors 1 Latham & Watkins operates worldwide as a limited liability partnership organized under the laws of the State of Delaware (USA) with affiliated limited liability partnerships conducting the practice in France, Hong Kong, Italy, Singapore, and the United Kingdom and as an affiliated partnership conducting the practice in Japan. Latham & Watkins operates in South Korea as a Foreign Legal Consultant Office. Latham & Watkins works in cooperation with the Law Office of Salman M. Al-Sudairi in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Contacts Sam Zabaneh, Office Managing Partner, Austin +1.737.910.7300 Ian Schuman, Global Chair, Capital Markets Practice +1.212.906.1894 Luke Bergstrom, Global Co-Chair, Mergers & Acquisitions Practice +1.650.463.3083 SOURCE Latham & Watkins Related Links www.lw.com FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- CarePredict, the leading digital health company purpose-built to meet the demands of senior living and recipient of the recent Argentum Best of Best Award, announced today the signing of multi-year agreements with three leading not-for-profit senior living communities John Knox Village of Central Florida, Westminister Communities of Florida and Lutheran Senior Services. The communities will adopt CarePredict's cohesive solution that provides operators with a single pane of glass view to manage all aspects of care delivery from resident health and safety, workforce productivity and operational efficiency. CarePredict is showcasing its all-in-one integrated platform at Booth 2609, Leading Age 2021 Annual Meeting CarePredict was the first to market with a smart wearable, Tempo, that observes a resident's daily activity and behavior patterns for changes that precede health declines. This ability to detect the early signs of a health concern allows the facility staff to intervene before there is an actual issue, allowing for preventive care and improving the overall wellbeing of residents. Peer-reviewed and published studies show that CarePredict can reduce hospitalizations by 39 percent, falls by 69 percent, increase the length of stay by 67 percent, and improve staff response time to resident requests by 37 percent. "With CarePredict, we will be able to detect changes in the behavior patterns of our residents and predict if a health concern could be on the horizon," ShaNa Benner, LSS Lutheran Village executive director, said. "This state-of-the-art technology complements our home-like atmosphere, creating the right balance. Our priority is always our residents, and we feel CarePredict's innovative system will help us provide the very best care possible." CarePredict provides insights to operators on workforce productivity, including the time to respond, automated documentation of care services provided, and automatically tracks the time caregivers spend with residents in direct care and non-care activities. For Memory care residents, CarePredict's customizable geofence alerts helps contribute to their safety without compromising their independence. All of this is made possible by CarePredict's advanced machine learning algorithms and real-time location system with room-level accuracy for both residents and staff. The multi-functional, sensor-laden Tempo is also packed with features that improve the resident experience, such as integration for keyless door access, a concierge services button to notify staff of assistance needed, and two-way voice that allows residents to speak to staff, thus helping residents receive timely assistance. "While the nonprofit side of the industry has held up to the pressures of the pandemic better than its for-profit counterpart, it is not immune to the challenges of staff shortage and the heightened need for resident safety and health," said Satish Movva, CEO and Founder, CarePredict. "Advanced technology like ours that augments caregivers is a critical piece that allows facilities to maintain the superior quality of care." CarePredict will showcase its all-in-one integrated platform at Booth 2609, Leading Age 2021 Annual Meeting in Atlanta next week. Leading Age represents more than 5,000 nonprofit aging service providers. For more information or to schedule a demo at the event, email [email protected] About CarePredict: CarePredict's mission is to help caregivers of seniors take timely action. Based on the science that changes in daily activities and behavior patterns precede health declines, CarePredict's award-winning smart wearable, Tempo, autonomously understands these patterns and alerts professional and family caregivers on changes that warrant attention. Since 2013 we've created solutions that offer peace of mind and improve the quality of life for seniors at home and in senior living facilities. Visit www.carepredict.com. CarePredict is based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Media Contacts: Subhashree Sukhu Marketing Director [email protected] 1-800-608-7188 ext 526 SOURCE CarePredict Related Links http://www.carepredict.com STOCKHOLM, Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Redwood Pharma announces today a strategic move to accelerate development of RP501, the company's IntelliGel-based topical first-line therapy for dry eye disease. While RP101 remains a clinically tested and unique candidate drug for post-menopausal women, the company will strengthen its focus on RP501 which has the potential of generating revenues in the near term for the company. RP501 - a differentiated therapy addressing a large market RP501 has significant therapeutic and commercial as a next-generation first-line therapy to treat the majority of DED sufferer, including males and females of all ages. The global market is valued at US$2.3 billion in 2019 and expected to grow to US$2.9 billion by 2030 (Source: Transparency Market Research 2020). Today, these patients turn first to artificial tears (saline eye drops) to provide temporary relief. Regular eye drops are quickly cleared from the front of the eye and need frequent reapplication, creating a need for products that stay longer on the eye and reduce the number of drops to provide daily relief. RP501 (IntelliGel) was used as the vehicle (placebo control) in the RP101 Phase II clinical trial completed last year, and our data from the RP101 trial showed that twice daily administration of RP501 improved both symptoms and objective measures of DED, even in patients with severe disease. In this trial, RP501 demonstrated increased tear fluid production as measured by the Schirmer test. Likewise, it improved various symptoms including foreign body sensation and dryness. RP501, as an easy-to-apply alternative to artificial tears providing long-lasting relief with fewer instillations per day, may thus offer a convenient and differentiated solution to over 340 million people worldwide suffering from DED. Next steps The Redwood Pharma team has been working along with clinical and regulatory consultants to understand the regulatory pathways and identify and initiate activities to fill information gaps for regulatory approvals in Europe and the United States. The company has already successfully completed a laboratory test demonstrating compatibility of RP501 (IntelliGel) with commercial contact lenses with positive results. Based upon these results, Redwood has now decided to accelerate the pace of development towards a commercial medical device. Key next steps in the development of RP501 include: Determine optimal regulatory strategy in Europe and the United States and the United States Perform necessary supplementary in vitro testing for medical device regulatory approvals testing for medical device regulatory approvals Initiate and complete a clinical trial for supplementary testing in DED sufferers including those wearing contact lenses Barring unforeseen issues by Notified Bodies, the company's funds are estimated to cover in vitro and clinical testing, as well as obtaining a CE-mark in EU. More work is now being done to understand the US regulatory approach and budget for US market clearance. Redwood's Board of Directors and management team are focused on the development of RP501 as a program with near-term revenue potential. RP501 represents an extension of the RP101 program, building on the results of the company's RP101 Phase II trial, the knowledge then acquired and the investment already made by our shareholders. RP101 - a drug candidate ready for final phase of clinical development In March 2020, Redwood Pharma released topline results of the Phase II clinical trial of RP101, the company's treatment for moderate-to-severe DED in post-menopausal women. Since then, the company has been intensively analyzing the trial results and the efficacy of RP101, and planning for future clinical development. While RP101 did not meet its primary Schirmer's test endpoint, it did demonstrate safety and efficacy on several crucial objective and subjective measures versus both baseline and vehicle. These data give support to RP101 as a treatment for moderate-to-severe DED in post-menopausal women, and have guided the design of pivotal trials necessary for product marketing approvals. Since topline readout, Redwood Pharma has discussed various development and licensing arrangements regarding RP101 with a number of large pharma and more specialized pharmaceutical companies. Feedback from clinical perspectives and commercial proposals has been varied in nature. That said, Redwood has not yet found a mutually satisfactory collaborative or financial solution with a partner to move the program forward at this time. Redwood believes that RP101 can become a significant commercial therapy to help the large segment with a large medical need of post-menopausal women suffering from chronic DED. However, management believes that the short-term focus of company resources should be on accelerating development of RP501, which has a much lower capital requirement, so as to more quickly bring a program to market. In this manner, Redwood Pharma can best build value for the company and its shareholders. CEO Martin Vidaeus states: "RP101 is a Phase III-ready program having shown significant clinical potential in a Phase II trial. Management and key opinion leaders agree that the clinical data are significant and can serve as a foundation for the next clinical phase. Until we have a clear partnering solution for RP101, our focus will, however, be on accelerated development of RP501. We are very positive about the product's unique potential among first-line treatments for dry eye." This disclosure contains information that Redwood Pharma is obliged to make public pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation (EU nr 596/2014). The information was submitted for publication, through the agency of the contact person, on October 25, 2021 at 8:50 a.m. CET. CONTACT: For more information: Martin Vidaeus, CEO Redwood Pharma AB (publ.) Tel: +46 (0) 70 232 29 29 E-mail: [email protected] This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com SOURCE Redwood Pharma MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay, Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- ACI Airport Sudamerica, S.A. (the " Company ") announced the results of its previously announced offer (the " Exchange Offers ") to repurchase and exchange any and all of its outstanding 6.875% Senior Secured Guaranteed Series 2015 Notes Due 2032 issued on May 7, 2015 (CUSIP: 00102JAA3/ E0351QAA0; ISIN: US00102JAA34/ USE0351QAA07) (the " Series 2015 Notes ") and its outstanding 6.875% Cash/7.875% PIK Senior Secured Guaranteed Series 2020 Notes due 2032 issued on May 26, 2020 (CUSIP: 00102JAB1/ E0351QAB8; ISIN: US00102JAB17/ USE0351QAB89) (the " Series 2020 Notes " and, together with the Series 2015 Notes, the " Existing Notes ") for newly issued 6.875% Senior Secured Guaranteed Notes due 2034 (the " New Notes " and, together with the Existing Notes, the " Notes "). Capitalized terms not defined herein shall have the meaning assigned to them in the Exchange Offer Memorandum (as defined below). As of 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on October 22, 2021, (i) US$4,800,000 aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Series 2015 Notes, representing approximately 41.41% of the total outstanding principal amount of the Series 2015 Notes, and (ii) US$161,672,186 aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Series 2020 Notes, representing approximately 82.68% of the total outstanding principal amount of the Series 2020 Notes, had been validly tendered for exchange and not validly withdrawn, as confirmed by the Information Agent for the Exchange Offer. Since tenders for more than 50% of the aggregate principal amount of Existing Notes have been received and withdrawal rights have expired, the Company, Cerealsur and the Trustee under the Existing Notes expect to execute and deliver a supplemental indenture which will give effect to the Concession Agreement Amendments (the " Supplemental Indenture "). Such Supplemental Indenture will be immediately effective upon execution and operative regardless of the consummation of the Exchange Offers, the issuance of the New Notes, the execution of the Second A&R Indenture, or the termination or withdrawal of the Solicitations, in which case no consideration will be paid. In addition, since the Company has received the consent of Holders that, in the aggregate, hold a principal amount of Existing Notes sufficient to satisfy the Minimum Exchange Amount Condition (as defined below), the Issuer, Cerealsur and the Trustee may, any time before the Expiration Deadline (as defined below), execute and deliver the Second A&R Indenture which will give effect to all Proposed Amendments, and that will be effective upon execution but will only become operative upon consummation of the Exchange Offers on the Settlement Date (as defined below) and the consummation of the New Money Offering on the New Money Settlement Date. The obligation of the Company to accept tendered Existing Notes and delivered consents pursuant to the Exchange Offers and the Solicitations, respectively, is subject to certain conditions, which include among others, (i) that at least 75% of the Outstanding Principal Amount of the Existing Notes is validly tendered for exchange and not withdrawn (the " Minimum Exchange Amount Condition "), (ii) the consummation of the New Money Offering on the Settlement Date, and (iii) the execution of the Amended Concession Agreement. Following the execution of the Supplemental Indenture, the Company expects to execute the Amended Concession Agreement with the Uruguayan Ministry of Defense on or before the Settlement Date (as defined below). The Company reserves the right, subject to applicable law, to waive any and all conditions to the Exchange Offer, other than the execution of the Amended Concession Agreement which cannot be waived. In order to give Eligible Holders additional time to participate in the Exchange Offer, the Company also announced today the extension of the Early Participation Deadline to 11:59 P.M. (New York City time) on November 5, 2021. Accordingly, Eligible Holders (as defined below) who validly tender and who have not validly withdrawn Existing Notes at or prior to that time and whose Existing Notes are accepted for exchange will receive the exchange consideration, which is equal to US$1,000 principal amount of New Notes (the " Exchange Consideration ") for each US$1,000 Outstanding Principal Amount (as defined below) of such Existing Notes validly tendered, and the early participation premium in cash of US$1 for each US$1,000 Outstanding Principal Amount of such Existing Notes validly tendered (the " Early Participation Premium "). For purposes of determining the Exchange Consideration and the Early Participation Premium for any Existing Notes accepted for exchange, the " Outstanding Principal Amount " of such Existing Notes will be the original principal amount as of the original issuance date of such Existing Notes (the " Original Principal Amount ") multiplied by the Applicable Amortization Factor as of the Settlement Date. The " Applicable Amortization Factor " for each series of Existing Notes is calculated to reflect the Company's repayment of principal amounts under the Existing Notes, in accordance with to the applicable amortization schedule for such series of Existing Notes. The Applicable Amortization Factor is determined in accordance with market convention to convert from the applicable Original Principal Amount to the applicable Outstanding Principal Amount. The Withdrawal Deadline has not been extended and expired at 5:00 P.M. (New York City time) on October 22, 2021. Accordingly, holders may no longer withdraw Existing Notes tendered in the Exchange Offer, except in certain limited circumstances as set forth in the Exchange Offer Memorandum dated October 8, 2021 (the " Exchange Offer Memorandum "). All other terms and conditions of the Exchange Offer and Consent Solicitation, as previously announced and described in the Exchange Offer Memorandum, remain unchanged. The Exchange Offer and Consent Solicitation will expire at 11:59 p.m. (New York City time) on November 5, 2021 (the " Expiration Deadline "), unless extended by the Company in its sole discretion. The Company currently expects the settlement date to be November 10, 2021 (the " Settlement Date "). The Exchange Offers are being made, and the New Notes are being offered and issued, only (a) in the United States to holders of Existing Notes who are "qualified institutional buyers" (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act")) in reliance upon the exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, and (b) outside the United States to holders of Existing Notes who are persons other than "U.S. persons" (as defined in Rule 902 under the Securities Act) in reliance upon Regulation S under the Securities Act and who are non-U.S. qualified offerees. Holders who have returned a duly completed eligibility letter certifying that they are within one of the categories described in the immediately preceding sentence are authorized to receive and review the Exchange Offer Memorandum and to participate in the Exchange Offers and the Solicitation (such Holders, "Eligible Holders"). Holders who desire to obtain and complete an eligibility letter should either visit the website for this purpose at www.dfking.com/aciairport, or call D.F. King & Co., Inc., the Information Agent and Exchange Agent for the Exchange Offers at (800) 290-6427 (toll-free) or email [email protected]. This press release does not constitute an offer to buy or the solicitation of an offer to sell the Existing Notes in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy the New Notes or the New Money Notes, nor shall there be any sale of the New Notes or the New Money Notes, in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. The New Notes will not be registered under the Securities Act or the securities laws of any state and may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. This press release does not constitute a prospectus for the purposes of Regulation (EU) 2017/1129 of the European Parliament and of the Council of June 14, 2017 on the prospectus to be published when securities are offered to the public or admitted to trading on a regulated market, and repealing Directive 2003/71/EC (the " Prospectus Regulation "). In member states of the European Economic Area (the " EEA "), this press release and any offer of securities, if made subsequently, is only addressed to, and directed at, persons who are "qualified investors" within the meaning of Article 2(e) of the Prospectus Regulation (" Qualified Investors "). Any person in the EEA who acquires securities in any offer of securities (an "investor") or to whom any offer of securities is made will be deemed to have represented and agreed that it is a Qualified Investor. This press release and its contents must not be acted on or relied upon in any member state of the EEA by persons who are not Qualified Investors. The communication of this press release in any member state of the EEA to persons who are not Qualified Investors is unauthorized and may contravene applicable law. None of the Company, the dealer manager, the trustee, any agent or any affiliate of any of them makes any recommendation as to whether Eligible Holders should tender or refrain from tendering all or any portion of the principal amount of such Eligible Holder's Existing Notes for New Notes in the Exchange Offers or consent to any of the Proposed Amendments to the Existing Indenture in the Consent Solicitations. Eligible Holders will need to make their own decision as to whether to tender Existing Notes in the Exchange Offers and participate in the Consent Solicitations and, if so, the principal amount of Existing Notes to tender. This press release is being issued pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 135e under the Securities Act. For further information please contact: Patricio Inaki Esnaola Head of Investor Relations +54 11 4852 6716 [email protected] ABOUT ACI AIRPORT SUDAMERICA, S.A. The Company is the sole stockholder of Cerealsur S.A. ("Cerealsur"). Cerealsur is a holding company and through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Puerta del Sur S.A. ("PdS"), operates the Aeropuerto Internacional de Carrasco ("Carrasco International Airport"). PdS is also indirectly owned by Corporacion America Airports S.A., the largest private sector airport concession operator in the world based on the number of airports under management. Since 2003, PdS has had the responsibility of administrating, operating, managing and maintaining the Carrasco International Airport. PdS has executed a comprehensive management agreement with the Uruguayan government by virtue of which PdS received the concession to operate the Carrasco International Airport. The Carrasco International Airport, located near Montevideo, is Uruguay's largest airport in terms of passenger traffic and serves as the country's primary gateway for international travel. The Company is committed to provide passengers the best travel experience, with the highest standard of quality and strategic actions that contribute to sustainable development and social responsibility. One of the most important milestones in the history of PdS, was the inauguration of the New Passenger Terminal in December 2009. The work has become a symbol of pride for all Uruguayans, positioning itself as the country's main gateway. Since its opening it has been decorated with various international prizes, which highlight its architectural merits, esthetics, operative functionality and services. SOURCE ACI Airport Sudamerica, S.A. Michael Feifer - Director - Catch the Bullet Victor Migalchan - Director/martial arts Kevin E. West - SAG member / actor Joey Dillon - union prop man and armorer https://www.joeydillon.com Sean Berube - actor / former police and military During the livestream, the panel will discuss what happens on a movie set or a television set with weapons and stunts, related to preparation and safety. Will Roberts, a Guinness World Record holder for Cowboy six guns teamed up with NewsBlaze for a news story after the on-set accident involving Alec Baldwin, in which director of photography Halyna Hutchins died and director Joel Souza was injured. The NewsBlaze story covered common misconceptions that were being talked about in social media this week. In the story, Will Roberts fielded answers to the most way-out misconceptions, and spoke about on-set gun-safety. Read more at: https://newsblaze.com/usnews/national/will-roberts-explains-on-set-gun-handling-alec-baldwin-accident_181893/ This terrible movie set accident is a very sad situation for all involved and the many people who know or are close to Hutchins, Souza and Baldwin. Readers can leave comments or questions at the end of the story. Those questions may be covered by the livestream panel, time permitting. This live stream broadcast is presented by https://FilmFestivalLive.com and https://NewsBlaze.com About Will Roberts the Actor Will Roberts has been an SAG actor for 37 years. As a professional cowboy, Will is a Guinness World Record Gun Spinner, a whip artist and trick roping expert, with a variety of other talents, including clowning and dancing. Will was an on-air FOX Kids host for 7 years in Northern California and performed on the Las Vegas strip with the renowned Cirque du Soleil in "Viva Elvis." More recently Will appeared on the Ellen show as the dancing Dad. Will was the set armorer and played the head bounty hunter in Netflix's "The Killer," shot in Brazil. His recent TV and films include "Lucifer," "Amazon," "The West and the Ruthless," Disney's "ABCD2" shot in India, and "Ibot," a feature film in distribution in China. Will Roberts is a skilled voice talent, providing the high-quality voice-over for online and radio commercials. Connect with Will on twitter https://Twitter.com/WRobertsActor or Instagram https://Instagram.com/WillRobertsOfficial For more information about Will, call JOHN CONROY Management, AUSTIN, TEXAS, PHONE: 713.542.8277 [email protected] Will Roberts can also be found at his websites. https://HonestHuckster.com Magician https://TrickRopers.com Cowboy https://ActorWillRoberts.com Actor About NewsBlaze NewsBlaze was founded in 2004 as an independent online newspaper and information portal, forming relationships with other publishers and wire services. NewsBlaze covers broad topics of interest to readers worldwide, which helps build a loyal, global following of readers, especially in Australia, North America and Europe. In addition, as the lead Syndicate Partner of the World City Press Network, NewsBlaze provides news, editing and content services, including news features, with the publishers that make up the World City Press Network. Visit https://NewsBlaze.com to learn more. Media contact: Alan Gray, [email protected], +61 8 8531 0254 SOURCE NewsBlaze Related Links https://newsblaze.com MODESTO, Calif., Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- U-Haul plans to use its sustainable adaptive reuse program to transform the two-story building at 2012 McHenry Ave. into a modern self-storage facility in Modesto. The U-Haul conversion will render approximately 500 indoor climate-controlled self-storage rooms. Preliminary plans also call for the creation of a warehouse to accommodate U-Box portable storage containers. U-Haul acquired the 45,087-square-foot building on Oct. 5. "Our self-storage offerings have reached capacity at our other Modesto stores, and demand for our product continues to grow," explained Chris Trudell, U-Haul Company of Central Valley president. "We've been looking for a way to expand here, and providing a new purpose for this existing building is the perfect opportunity." U-Haul Moving & Storage at McHenry Ave. will be operated remotely by U-Haul Moving & Storage of Modesto, just two miles away at 1625 McHenry Ave. Contact U-Haul Moving & Storage of Modesto at (209) 524-7472. Hours of operation are 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Thursday and Saturday; 7 a.m.-8 p.m. Friday; and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. Reserve equipment at uhaul.com or contact Reservations at 1-800-GO-UHAUL. Acquisition of the building was driven by U-Haul Corporate Sustainability initiatives: U-Haul supports infill developments to help local communities lower their carbon footprint. The adaptive reuse of existing buildings reduces the amount of energy and resources required for new-building materials and helps cities reduce their unwanted inventory of unused buildings. "U-Haul has a history of investing in the communities we serve," Trudell said. "Whether we're promoting environmental responsibility by repurposing vacated buildings, creating new jobs or just serving our lifelong customers with residential mobility, we're in the business of supporting our neighbors." As an essential service provider, U-Haul continues to serve communities during the COVID-19 recovery while offering contactless business programs and enhanced cleaning protocols, including added steps for sanitizing equipment between customer transactions. U-Haul products are used daily by First Responders; delivery companies bringing needed supplies to people's homes; small businesses trying to remain afloat; college students; and many other dependent groups, in addition to the do-it-yourself household mover. About U-HAUL Since 1945, U-Haul has been the No. 1 choice of do-it-yourself movers, with a network of more than 23,000 locations across all 50 states and 10 Canadian provinces. U-Haul Truck Share 24/7 offers secure access to U-Haul trucks every hour of every day through the customer dispatch option on their smartphones and our proprietary Live Verify technology. Our customers' patronage has enabled the U-Haul fleet to grow to approximately 176,000 trucks, 126,000 trailers and 46,000 towing devices. U-Haul offers nearly 825,000 rentable storage units and 71.6 million square feet of self-storage space at owned and managed facilities throughout North America. U-Haul is the largest retailer of propane in the U.S., and continues to be the largest installer of permanent trailer hitches in the automotive aftermarket industry. U-Haul has been recognized repeatedly as a leading "Best for Vets" employer and was recently named one of the 15 Healthiest Workplaces in America. Contact: Andrea Batchelor Jeff Lockridge E-mail: [email protected] Phone: 602-263-6981 Website: uhaul.com SOURCE U-Haul Related Links www.uhaul.com WASHINGTON, Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Non-partisan advocacy group All in Together (AIT) will host its 7th Anniversary Women Leading Change Gala in Washington, D.C. this evening at the Conrad Hotel. The event will celebrate AIT's legacy of educating and equipping women to reach their full potential as leaders shaping our nation, and will raise funds for the organization's Community Leadership and grassroots programming. Morning Joe Co-host Mika Brzezinski will emcee the gala, which honors Senator Tammy Duckworth, Congresswoman Nancy Mace and UN Goodwill Ambassador and jazz icon Dee Dee Bridgewater. Senator Tammy Duckworth will be honored for her extraordinary public service and commitment to women's leadership, with an introduction by Peabody award-winning journalist, Amna Nawaz . will be honored for her extraordinary public service and commitment to women's leadership, with an introduction by Peabody award-winning journalist, . Congresswoman Nancy Mace will be honored as a rising star in Congress. will be honored as a rising star in Congress. Triple Grammy and Tony Award-winning, UN Goodwill Ambassador and jazz icon Dee Dee Bridgewater will be honored for her outstanding humanitarian work. Lauren Leader, CEO and co-founder of All In Together, said, "We are thrilled to be honoring a very special group of exceptional women leading change at the highest levels." About All In Together All In Together (AIT) encourages, equips, educates, and empowers voting-age women to participate fully in America's civic and political life. SOURCE All In Together ALBUQUERQUE, N.M., Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NEE) today announced American Indian Graduate Center has launched the NextEra Energy Scholarship Program, a culturally relevant and Indigenous-centered scholarship specifically built for Native students pursuing careers in the field of energy and across Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) as a whole. The NextEra Energy Scholarship Program will provide 15 scholarships, each valued at $5,000 a year, for undergraduate and graduate students pursuing a degree in the fields of energy, environment and cultural sustainability and preservation. The NextEra Energy Foundation has committed to fund the scholarship program for the next three years. "American Indian Graduate Center is excited to partner with NextEra Energy to create a new program to increase the number of scholars we impact each year," said Angelique Albert (Confederated Salish & Kootenai Tribes), American Indian Graduate Center Executive Director. "We are proud to offer programming that meets the needs of our students and directly impacts their academic journeys." "In 2020, over 40% of our scholars were pursuing a degree in a STEM field. With a rise in applicants pursuing careers in this sector, it's critical to bolster our programs to empower them. NextEra Energy's support will allow us to continue our growth and impact even more Native students." The NextEra Energy Scholarship Program will focus on education funding for Tribally identified priorities. "Scholarships that have the ability to support Tribal Ecological Knowledge (TEK), languages, traditional food systems and more are critically needed at this time when our Tribal communities have identified climate change initiatives, protection of natural resources, food sovereignty and language immersion programs as essential," Albert said. "The NextEra Energy Scholarship program allows us to fund students academically in areas that not only support our Tribes' well-being, but also allow our TEK to inform the energy industry as a whole. It's an opportunity to have a transformative impact in the field." "We're excited to launch this program as part of NextEra Energy's commitment to supporting the communities we serve and those that host our projects," said John Ketchum, president and CEO of NextEra Energy Resources. "We want to support the next generation of Native leaders, as well as honor the work of tribes that collaborate with us in our effort to decarbonize the electric energy industry while ensuring that we identify, avoid and protect sensitive tribal resources during development and construction of renewable projects across the country." The scholarship is the latest addition to American Indian Graduate Center's portfolio of more than 30 scholarships and support services that are designed specifically to address the needs of Native students in post-secondary education. To learn more about American Indian Graduate Center's scholarships and academic support programs, please visit www.AIGCS.org . About American Indian Graduate Center American Indian Graduate Center is a national private 501(c)(3) non-profit providing scholarships to American Indian and Alaska Native undergraduate, graduate and professional students throughout the United States. American Indian Graduate Center and American Indian Graduate Center Scholars have awarded more than $350 million in scholarships since inception and are proud to empower Native students from over 500 Tribes in all 50 states with educational funding and academic support services. For more information, please visit www.AIGCS.org . NextEra Energy, Inc. NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NEE) is a leading clean energy company headquartered in Juno Beach, Florida. NextEra Energy owns Florida Power & Light Company, which is the largest vertically integrated rate-regulated electric utility in the United States as measured by retail electricity produced and sold, and serves more than 5.6 million customer accounts, supporting more than 11 million residents across Florida with clean, reliable and affordable electricity. NextEra Energy also owns a competitive clean energy business, NextEra Energy Resources, LLC, which, together with its affiliated entities, is the world's largest generator of renewable energy from the wind and sun and a world leader in battery storage. Through its subsidiaries, NextEra Energy generates clean, emissions-free electricity from seven commercial nuclear power units in Florida, New Hampshire and Wisconsin. A Fortune 200 company, NextEra Energy has been recognized often by third parties for its efforts in sustainability, corporate responsibility, ethics and compliance, and diversity. NextEra Energy is ranked No. 1 in the electric and gas utilities industry on Fortune's 2021 list of "World's Most Admired Companies," recognized on Fortune's 2021 list of companies that "Change the World" and received the S&P Global Platts 2020 Energy Transition Award for leadership in environmental, social and governance. For more information about NextEra Energy companies, visit these websites: www.NextEraEnergy.com , www.FPL.com , www.GulfPower.com , www.NextEraEnergyResources.com . SOURCE NextEra Energy, Inc. Related Links http://www.nexteraenergy.com WASHINGTON, Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Institute of Architects (AIA) is sending a delegation of architects to attend the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow, Scotland from Oct. 31-Nov.12. This will be the first time AIA has formally participated as a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) and an official COP observer. This is a privilege granted by the UN to certain organizations to give them an ability to participate in the organization's activities. AIA's focus at COP26 will be establishing new partnerships with policymakers and industry partners to ensure that we are aggressively (and jointly) moving the needle toward zero emissions. Through its engagement with COP, AIA members will share recommended resources that will assist both policymakers and practitioners with better understanding of the built environment and its impact on our climate and its inhabitants. "The design community is committed to addressing climate change, but we know that we can't do it alone," said AIA 2021 President Peter Exley, FAIA. "AIA is participating in this global convening because it is going to take the concerted efforts of both industry and government to make meaningful action on climate change." Exley will be attending COP26 along with architects Julie Hiromoto, FAIA, COTE 2020 Advisory Group Chair; Mike Davis, FAIA, AIA Government Advocacy Committee Chair; and Dr. Mark Breeze, AIA, AIA UK Sustainability Chair. On Oct. 6, 2021, AIA joined leaders from the world's largest and most influential architectural, engineering, and construction firms and professional organizations in issuing the 1.5C COP26 Communique a challenge to sovereign world governments to step up their commitments to reduce carbon emissions from the built environment to meet the Paris Agreement's 1.5C carbon budget. "It is imperative that world leaders meeting in Glasgow fully commit to adopting aggressive building policies, incentives, and codes that meet the 1.5C carbon budget," said Exley. "As our nation's leaders set ambitious targets, architects are making them a reality." Visit AIA's website to learn more about its advocacy efforts. ABOUT AIA Founded in 1857, AIA consistently works to create more valuable, healthy, secure, and sustainable buildings, neighborhoods, and communities. Through more than 200 international, state and local chapters, AIA advocates for public policies that promote economic vitality and public wellbeing. AIA provides members with tools and resources to assist them in their careers and business as well as engaging civic and government leaders and the public to find solutions to pressing issues facing our communities, institutions, nation, and world. Members adhere to a code of ethics and conduct to ensure the highest professional standards. CONTACT Matt Tinder (202) 626 7462 [email protected] SOURCE American Institute of Architects Related Links www.aia.org CHICAGO, Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- In recognition of Veterans Day, nearly 600 Aspen Dental locations will open their doors on Saturday, November 6th to provide free care to military veterans across the country. Now in its 7th year, the Day of Service provides much-needed dental care at no cost for veterans to honor their service and break down barriers to care. "The annual Day of Service is an incredibly rewarding day for dentists and teams throughout the Aspen Dental network," said Dr. Lauren McDonough, vice president of practice owner development at Aspen Dental Management, Inc. "It's our small way of giving back to our nation's veterans, who have given so much to all of us." Since 2014, dentists and their teams from Aspen Dental-branded offices across the country have donated more than $22 million in dentistry services to more than 27,500 veterans and people in need though the company's Healthy Mouth Movement. Millions of Americans struggle to access dental care every year, and veterans are no exception in fact, U.S. veterans are ineligible for dental benefits through the Veterans Administration unless they're 100% disabled, have a service-related mouth injury, or were a prisoner of war. What's more, during the COVID-19 pandemic, dentists have reported increases in teeth-grinding, cavities and gum disease, largely attributed to pandemic-related stress and changes in health habits. How Veterans Can Schedule an Appointment Plenty of appointments are still available. Veterans can call 1-844-277-3646 (1-844-ASPENHMM) to find a participating Aspen Dental office in their community and schedule an appointment. Advance appointments are required. During the Day of Service, Aspen Dental dentists and teams focus on treating the most urgent dental needs to help get veterans out of pain, from fillings and extractions to hygiene and basic denture repairs. For more information about Day of Service and the Healthy Mouth Movement, visit www.HealthyMouthMovement.com. About Aspen Dental Offices The Aspen Dental network includes more than 930 offices, in 43 states, owned and operated by independent practice owners and dentists, who share a commitment to creating access to care for those who need it most. These independent practice owners expect to record six million patient visits in 2021, driven by a commitment to breaking down barriers to quality, affordable oral health care. Each dental care team offers patients a safe, welcoming, judgment-free environment to address their dental challenges, including comprehensive exams, cleanings, extractions, fillings, periodontal treatment, whitening, oral surgery, crown and bridge work, and denture services. For more information, visit www.aspendental.com. About Aspen Dental Management, Inc. Aspen Dental Management, Inc. (ADMI) is one of the largest and most trusted retail healthcare business support organizations in the U.S., supporting 15,000 healthcare professionals and team members at more than 1,000 health and wellness offices across 46 states in three distinct categories: Dental care, urgent care, and medical aesthetics. Working in partnership with independent practice owners and clinicians, the team is united by a single purpose: to prove that healthcare can be better and smarter for everyone. ADMI provides a comprehensive suite of centralized business support services that power the impact of four consumer-facing businesses: Aspen Dental, ClearChoice Dental Implant Centers, WellNow Urgent Care and Chapter Aesthetic Studio. Each brand has access to a deep community of experts, tools and resources to grow their practices, and an unwavering commitment to delivering high-quality consumer healthcare experiences at scale. SOURCE Aspen Dental Related Links http://www.aspendental.com IBS Software's iCargo system provides a single unified cargo management platform for Avianca Cargo and all its affiliated airlines, including AeroUnion an all-cargo carrier based in Mexico. The implementation includes iCargo Web Portal suite, which provides a range of self-help tools to increase Avianca Cargo's cargo selling capabilities. It provides Avianca's customers with a dedicated, continuously available digital channel for booking and tracking as a smarter option to traditional channels like email and call centers. Avianca Cargo has grown through acquisitions and mergers, which resulted in a range of different systems, tools, and business processes. By implementing an end-to-end cargo management platform, Avianca Cargo has unified dissimilar business systems into a single platform used by all group carriers allowing them to offer consolidated routes and bookings. "We are very excited about our collaboration with IBS Software," said Gabriel Oliva, CEO of Avianca Cargo. "Implementing iCargo, the airfreight industry-leading system is one of the most significant IT developments for Avianca Cargo. With iCargo, we will deliver more digital advancements to be more connected to our customers and partners, raising the quality of our service, improving our efficiency and enhancing our decision-making process to a more agile and data-driven one. We will continue and accelerate our journey to digital transformation." "Avianca Cargo is one of the largest and most respected carriers in the world, and we at IBS Software are proud to welcome them on board. The successful go-live of iCargo as the core platform that will essentially spearhead their digital transformation journey is a testament to the capability of the system as well as our team's seamless implementation record. Our total commitment to understanding our customers' needs, deep industry expertise and single-minded focus on delivering business results remain the pillars of our delivery capability and we look forward to working with Avianca to enable the cargo business' growth," said Ashok Rajan, Senior Vice President Global Head of Cargo, IBS Software. "We're seeing strong momentum for our iCargo platform as carriers and ground handlers all over the world running legacy systems have started to rethink their priorities to use IT and digitalization as strong levers to boost their cargo business." About IBS Software IBS Software is a leading SaaS solutions provider to the travel industry globally, managing mission-critical operations for customers in the aviation, tour & cruise and hospitality industries. IBS Software's solutions for the aviation industry cover fleet & crew operations, aircraft maintenance, passenger services, loyalty programs, staff travel and air-cargo management. IBS Software also runs a real time B2B and B2C distribution platform providing hotel room inventory, rates and availability to a global network of hospitality companies and channels. For the tour and cruise industry, IBS provides a comprehensive, customer-centric, digital platform that covers onshore, online and on-board solutions. IBS Software is a Blackstone portfolio company and operates from 15 offices across the world. Further information can be found at https://www.ibsplc.com. For media enquiries, please email the Corporate Communications team: [email protected]. About Avianca Cargo The Avianca group is Colombia's biggest airline and has an operational history of more than 100 years, which makes it one of the oldest airlines in the world. With destinations all over the Americas and worldwide, Avianca Cargo offers effective and innovative solutions for shipping cargo to suit customers' needs by transporting goods and merchandise on freighter aircraft (Airbus 330F, Airbus 300F and Boeing 767F of subsidiary companies of Avianca Holdings S.A.) and using available capacity in the bellies of passenger aircraft. Avianca Cargo carries different types of cargo, meeting strict international industry standards for the transport of live animals, hazardous goods, human remains, pharmaceuticals, CoolCare, e-commerce, including perishables, which sets us apart as an airline with a track record and experience in their handling Avianca Cargo is trademark owned by Aerovias del Continente Americano S.A. Avianca, company incorporated under the laws of the Republic of Colombia and licensed to be used by Tampa Cargo S.A.S. For media enquiries, contact Nicole van Hissenhoven, [email protected]. More information on Avianca Cargo is found at www.aviancacargo.com SOURCE IBS Software NEW YORK, Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Ascend Wellness Holdings, Inc. ("AWH" or the "Company") (CSE: AAWH.U) (OTCQX: AAWH), a leading multi-state, vertically integrated cannabis operator, today announced that it will hold a conference call on Thursday November 11, 2021, at 5:00PM ET following the release of its third quarter 2021 financial results after market close. The earnings conference call may be accessed by dialing 1 (888) 390-0605 with conference ID: 67116805. A live audio webcast will also be available on the Investor Relations section of AWH website at https://awholdings.com/investors and will be archived for replay. CONFERENCE CALL DETAILS DATE: Thursday, November 11, 2021 TIME: 5:00 PM Eastern Time WEBCAST: Click to Access DIAL-IN NUMBER: 1 (888) 390-0605 CONFERENCE ID: 67116805 REPLAY: 1 (888) 390-0541 Replay Code: 116805 # Available until 12:00AM Eastern Time on Thursday, November 18th, 2021 About Ascend Wellness Holdings, Inc. AWH is a vertically integrated operator with assets in Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, Massachusetts, and New Jersey. AWH owns and operates state-of-the-art cultivation facilities, growing award winning strains and producing a curated selection of products. AWH produces and distributes Ozone branded products. For more information, visit www.awholdings.com. The CSE has not reviewed, approved or disapproved the content of this news release. SOURCE Ascend Wellness Holdings, LLC Related Links https://awholdings.com/ PLANO, Texas, Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Baicells Technologies, a leading manufacturer in fixed wireless LTE and 5G hardware solutions, was chosen by Kaleido Intelligence to be the top private network vendor, beating out competitors Athonet, Redline Communications, Telefonica, Vodafone, Ericsson, floLive, Geoverse, Quortus, Samsung, Telit, and Verizon. Kaleido Intelligence is a specialist consulting and research firm focused on telecom technologies, having a proven track record and over 100 technology firms contributing to their research. Kaleido recently released a market research report citing that enterprise private LTE and 5G networks would be a $7.3 billion market by 2026, with 76% of this tied to private LTE networks. The market is set to grow at a CAGR of 55% between 2019 and 2026, largely due to private interests driven by global regulatory activity that is set to release dedicated spectrum along with a growing need to deploy monitoring, automation, and other broadband services in enterprise environments. Enterprises in the Manufacturing, Energy, and Utilities sector will account for the majority of deployments for private networks due to the market's heavy reliance on automation, sensing, and robotics which require the reliability and performance that can only be met by LTE and 5G technologies. Kaleido chose Baicells as the top player in the telecommunications private network's market, citing the organization's high level of growth over the past 6 years which Kaleido attributes to Baicells leading hardware and software offerings. Kaleido called Baicells key strength the ability to greatly simplify a private network's entire solution, which makes it easy for engineers to operate and maintain networks thereby removing the barriers between communications technologies and IT. Baicells has built a wide portfolio of fixed wireless LTE and 5G hardware solutions, which have seen wide adoption with the implementation of CBRS spectrum in the United States. The COVID-19 pandemic further spurred the need for high-speed Internet across communities and organizations so they could keep their residents and students connected while quarantining. Most notably, the City of Las Vegas and multiple school districts across Utah, have adopted Baicells equipment to build out their own private LTE networks. Both organizations have built their networks to provide high-speed internet to low-income students but are expanding their networks for additional purposes such as telehealth, public safety, and IoT connectivity. "We are very honored to be chosen by Kaleido as their top-performing vendor for private networks," said Minchul Ho, GM of Baicells North America. "Since Baicells relatively recent establishment, we've strived to provide our customers with the easiest, most affordable, and reliable private LTE hardware solutions in the wireless market. CBRS and the upcoming opportunities with 5G have provided us with the ability to dedicate further resources to research and development so we can continue innovating and challenging the traditional wireless ecosystem. Wireless is the future and we don't want to limit anyone from being able to set up their own private LTE network. We want everyone to be able to take full advantage of what is currently possible with this technology. This accolade from Kaleido is a reflection of the hard work we've put towards democratizing private networks and we happily accept this award." Kaleido put out a press release highlighting the organization's findings after researching over 60 organizations and providing awards in the categories of IoT Connectivity Management, Private Networks, eSIM Connectivity, and eSim Subscription Management. The research was conducted over a 6-month period with primary research including product demos, questionnaires, and detailed briefings. About Baicells Baicells is an international company, providing disruptively priced and technically innovative 4G LTE and 5G NR Access Solutions that connect more than 50 countries across the globe. Our ever-expanding goal to "Connect the Unconnected" has led to the establishment of offices across five of the seven continents and the development of over 300 patents since our inception in 2014. Baicells currently boasts over 700 private LTE networks across the world, with a large percentage of those trusted networks operating within North America. To meet growing demand for increased connectivity, Baicells production is booming with manufacturing plants operating in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Vietnam alongside an extensive relationship with global manufacturers. Media Contact: Max Hahn Baicells North America +1 608 373 1610 [email protected] SOURCE Baicells Technologies Related Links http://baicells.com/ ATLANTA, Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- BizBash announced today that it will use an enhanced version of the hosted buyer approach as its signature strategy for 2022 events, which include the BizBash Leadership Summit, scheduled for May 22-24 in Puerto Rico, and BizBash National, taking place Aug. 8-10 in Detroit. High-level event organizers and marketers will travel with all expenses paid to BizBash's 2022 events to meet with the industry's leading experiential and technology vendors. A powerful AI-based matching solution will determine the optimal on-site, one-on-one networking opportunities for hosted buyers to help each event producer reach new heights. By participating in this program, which is limited to 300 event professionals for the year, planners will have an all-access pass to myriad tools, trends and partners that can elevate their experiencesall efficiently accessible in one place. BizBash's enhanced hosted buyer program is a haven for brands looking for the right experiential agency to partner with, event planners in search of a leading event technology company to power their next experience or even event marketers looking to grow their network. As in the past, BizBash will collocate its 2022 events with Connect in Puerto Rico and Detroit. This collaboration provides a true one-stop shop for event professionals to get the professional development they desire, explore engaging trade shows and hear from some of the world's most noteworthy personalities. These events will roll out the red carpet for event professionals with memorable, productive experiences. With more than 2,000 attendees expected in Puerto Rico and more than 3,000 in Detroit, BizBash's events will provide an experiential showcase and economic boost to both regionsand the industry as a whole. BizBash President Matt Johnson predicts that adding this hosted buyer approach will take the organization's events to the next level. "It is our duty to be at the forefront of the new event industry," said Johnson. "We need to create better marketplaces that match planners and partners for a more effective and meaningful gathering, either using live or digital formats. For planners, it's about the right strategy and flawless execution. We aim to make that process easier with this hosted buyer approach." Joe Schwinger, founder and CEO of MeetingPlay, a visionary event technology company that powered and participated in BizBash's pilot event in 2021, said, "We loved the combination of one-on-one matched appointments and an exhibit floor, and saw a significant increase in leads as compared to trade show-only events. Not only did our team meet and introduce ourselves to more event decision-makers, but this approach added an analytical layer that provided our on-site team with intimate conversations based upon the organizer's specific event needs." Austin Johnston, president of the Experiential Guild of America, a collaborative group of leading experiential marketing and design agencies, shared, "BizBash Live is always my No. 1 chance to meet a national audience of planners and vendors. The attitude is great, the energy high and the ideas and insights are endless! We are at a pivotal point in the event industry, and a new generation of leaders is emerging. Brands, agencies and marketers alike need to have their finger on the pulse of the new era of events, and this new BizBash Live format is the fastest way to know what is next and where we are going." Click here to apply to participate in BizBash's Hosted Buyer Experience in 2022. Space is limited to 100 hosted event professionals for the BizBash Leadership Summit in Puerto Rico and 200 hosted event professionals for BizBash National in Detroit. ABOUT BIZBASH BizBash is North America's No. 1 source of ideas, news and resources for event and meeting professionals. The most influential names in live experiences look to BizBash for venue and supplier discovery, the latest event strategies and industry best practices, the newest event technology and tools for their next event, plus more. Thousands of event professionals attend BizBash's in-person events, listen to BizBash's monthly podcast, GatherGeeks, and subscribe to BizBash's weekly newsletter, BizBash Buzz, and BizBash's bi-annual magazine published in the spring and fall each year. Online: www.bizbash.com Social media: www.linkedin.com/company/bizbash I www.instagram.com/bizbash SOURCE BizBash Related Links http://www.bizbash.com SACRAMENTO, Calif., Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- California Lawyers Association (CLA) and its Litigation Section are pleased to announce its 2022 "A Week in Legal London," with unique opportunities for members to interact with and learn from UK colleagues. The program, now in its 34th year, offers participants the chance to explore the tradition and ceremony of the UK courts, leveraging CLA's exclusive access; CLA members will be the special guests of the Lord Chief Justice, The Right Honourable The Lord Burnett of Maldon and the President of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom, The Right Honourable The Lord Reed of Allermuir. New for 2022 is a limited-availability add-on program, extending the trip via 5-days in Edinburgh, Scotland. The London program will run from March 20, 2022 to March 26, 2022, and the Edinburgh program will extend from March 27, 2022 through March 31, 2022. A Week in Legal London participants attend sessions of the Supreme Court, the Royal Courts of Justice, the Old Bailey, and other historically significant legal institutions. This year's program will introduce participants to two new courts - the Oxford and Luton Crown Courts. In a historic setting, participants will engage in courtroom observations and discussions with members of the bar and judiciary. In addition, educational and networking opportunities are available through luncheons in the historic Inns of Court, which are typically only accessible to members of the British legal community. Social interactions with solicitors, barristers, and judges are coupled with educational opportunities directly tied to each location. The week's London program concludes with a gala dinner in the Peers Dining Room of the House of Lords. A Week in Legal London is limited to 60 participants, ensuring an intimate and rewarding experience. The Edinburgh program, which has a further limited capacity of 12 members, affords participants an even more intimate experience. The legal community in Scotland is smaller and more closely-knit than London's, and those attending will be given the chance to interact with colleagues and counterparts, and partake in an exclusive luncheon at the Edinburgh Faculty of Advocates. The Closing Reception will be held with members of the local legal profession at The Royal Society of Edinburgh. The CLA group will be staying at the iconic Balmoral Hotel. "This program is one of the Litigation Section's 'crown jewels,' and offers CLA members an unparalleled opportunity to share valuable time with their UK colleagues," said CLA Interim Co-Executive Director Tricia Horan. "CLA is continually enhancing existing programs and setting itself apart by creating programs such as A Week in Legal London. Along with priceless content and resources, sharing and comparing experiences with solicitors, barristers, and judges provides invaluable benefits to our members," added CLA Interim Co-Executive Director Ellen Miller. Read more about the 2022 program and register for A Week in Legal London. ABOUT CALIFORNIA LAWYERS ASSOCIATION Established in 2018, California Lawyers Association is the bar association for all California attorneys. CLA's mission is to promote excellence, diversity, and inclusion in the legal profession and fairness in the administration of justice and the rule of law. ABOUT THE LITIGATION SECTION The CLA Litigation Section is dedicated to promoting excellence in all areas affecting dispute resolution, including the protection of the rights of all litigants, pre-trial discovery, the expeditious trial of lawsuits, alternative dispute resolution, effective judicial administration, uniform rules of court, and the protection and preservation of the independence of a judiciary of high quality. SOURCE California Lawyers Association TORONTO, Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Canaccord Genuity Group Inc. (TSX: CF) is scheduled to release its second quarter results and supplementary financial information on Monday, November 8, 2021 after TSX market close. Interested investors, the media and other stakeholders may review the earnings release and supplementary financial information at www.cgf.com/investor-relations/investor-resources/financial-reports/ QUARTERLY CONFERENCE CALL AND WEBCAST: Interested parties are invited to listen to Canaccord Genuity's second quarter results conference call via live webcast or a toll-free number. The conference call is scheduled for Tuesday, November 9, 2021 at 8:00 a.m. Eastern time, 5:00 a.m. Pacific time, 1:00 p.m. UK time, 9:00 p.m. China Standard Time, and midnight Australia EST. During the call, senior executives will comment on the results and respond to questions from analysts and institutional investors. The conference call may be accessed live and will also be archived on a listen-only basis at: www.cgf.com/investor-relations/news-and-events/conference-calls-and-webcasts/ Analysts and institutional investors can call in via telephone at: 416-764-8609 (within Toronto ) ) 888-390-0605 (toll free in North America outside Toronto ) outside ) 0-800-652-2435 (toll free from the United Kingdom ) ) 0-800-916-834 (toll free from France ) ) 10-800-714-1938 (toll free from Northern China ) ) 10-800-140-1973 (toll free from Southern China ) ) 1-800-076-068 (toll free from Australia ) ) 80-003-570-3632 (toll free from United Arab Emirates ) Please ask to participate in the Canaccord Genuity Group Inc. Q2/22 results call. If a passcode is requested, please use 48332799. A replay of the conference call will be made available from approximately two hours after the live call on November 9, 2021 until January 9, 2022 at 416-764-8677 or 1-888-390-0541 by entering passcode 332799 followed by the (#) key. ABOUT CANACCORD GENUITY GROUP INC.: Through its principal subsidiaries, Canaccord Genuity Group Inc. (the "Company") is a leading independent, full-service financial services firm, with operations in two principal segments of the securities industry: wealth management and capital markets. Since its establishment in 1950, the Company has been driven by an unwavering commitment to building lasting client relationships. We achieve this by generating value for our individual, institutional and corporate clients through comprehensive investment solutions, brokerage services and investment banking services. The Company has Wealth Management offices located in Canada, the UK, Guernsey, Jersey, the Isle of Man and Australia. The Company's international capital markets division operates in North America, UK & Europe, Asia, Australia and the Middle East. Canaccord Genuity Group Inc. is publicly traded under the symbol CF on the TSX. www.cgf.com/investor-relations SOURCE Canaccord Genuity Group Inc. Related Links http://www.cgf.com GEELONG, Australia, Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- A ground-breaking concept, enabling consumers and producers to connect through product packaging is rolling out to the alcoholic beverages industries, with breweries, cideries, seltzers & more set to benefit. The suitably named, SWIGR, is an augmented reality platform, for alcohol brands to deliver a unique customer experience. At its core, the concept enables brands to 'virtually link' content to their packaging Swigr allows breweries & alcoholic brands to showcase authentic content directly from the label With Swigr, brewery fans can be featured directly on the label Smartphone users scan the packaging to activate a unique experience, which is brought to life with stunning augmented reality. See demonstration video on the SWIGR website What's it all about? According to Dave Chaffey, founding partner, SWIGR enables beverage brands to deliver unique consumer experiences virtually, activating from cans and bottles, anywhere in the world. "It's a stunning display, it really is. A lot of times, people just stare, trying to take it all in." consumers activate labels with their phones augmented reality experiences hover virtually over the packaging the experience promises authenticity, discovery, and real insights from every label combining content and social media for a fly-on-the-wall experience "It's a great concept, and it's drawing a lot of attention to the brands involved." Why Alcohol Brands? Aside from exciting customers, Chaffey said that building connections with customers had been a key driver of the brand uptake. "Right from the start, we've focused on answering the question what's in it for the consumer?", said Chaffey "discovering the story behind the drink the people, places, processes - is a real winner." "There are themes of authenticity, storytelling, connection, and a sense of realness, which matches the traits of the new digital savvy consumer. They worked well with Winerytale, (a similar concept, modified for the Wine Industry)." Great Gains for Early Adopters "We think there's going to be some real wins for early adopters virality in the short term, and a noticeable bump in sales in the medium term. It's a new technology, so don't read too much into that, but there's historical support for the thinking." SWIGR launched this month with fifty brands, from across the globe. The company is rolling out a second-round launch with another 50 brands in December. Information about the concept, and the second rollout is available on the SWIGR website https://swigr.com/ About Immertia Immertia delivers industry-specific solutions, enabling content teams to manage and market augmented reality (XR) experiences for their own labels from the confines of their own computer. About SWIGR SWIGR is the new way drink brands connect, using an exciting and entertaining augmented reality platform offering a social experience built around inspiring and interactive experiences from standard packaging. Media Liaison Dave Chaffey, Founding Partner Media Enquiries Via the Media Center Media Center: https://immertia.io/media/ Media enquiries are welcome and can be made via the media centre, where there is also a range of useful information: Publishable images Explainer videos Marketing collateral Media enquiries SOURCE Immertia SINGAPORE, Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Metaverse Blockchain Fusion NFT company, Coinllectibles, a wholly owned subsidiary of Cosmos Group Holdings, Inc. (OTC: COSG) is pleased to announce that it will be accepting Colligo Tokens for the purchase of Fusion NFTs (FNFTs) offered by Coinllectibles. Coinllectibles is not the issuer of the Colligo Tokens, but will serve as the utility provider of the Colligo Tokens. Benny Phang, Partnerships Director of Coinllectibles said, "We are excited about working with Colligo Tokens. We believe that we share a common vision of community building and support in the international art and collectibles market, and we believe this is reflected in the tokenomics. Coinllectibles is about supporting the development of the international art and collectibles community, our stakeholders and our brand." Benny commented, "In support of our partnership with Colligo, we are pleased to launch the Colligo Exclusive Fusion NFT Collection. Within this specially curated series, we have allocated a limited number of Fusion NFTs that will only accept Colligo Tokens as payment at a promotional exchange rate of 1 Colligo Token to US$0.10. At launch, 1 Colligo Token is priced at US$0.001, however the price of Colligo Tokens will be dependent on its market rate subsequently. We are offering this initial rate to demonstrate the type of value we hope to present to our partners and their community." In addition to acquiring FNFTs offered by Coinllectibles, Colligo Token holders will also be able to participate in a variety of community engagement activities: a. Colligo Token holders will be able to participate in periodic mystery drop boxes. b. Colligo Token holders will be given access to exclusive groups and events. c. Token holders will be able to use their tokens to vote for: 1) New artists that Coinllectibles will mint Fusion NFTs for. 2) Choice of collectible items that will be minted as Fusion NFTs. 3) Choice of chain to mint the FNFTs. 4) Other community driven developments. For media queries, please contact: Ms Rachel Lim Director, Marketing & PR [email protected] Forward Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements, which are often indicated by terms such as "anticipate," "believe," "could," "estimate," "expect," "goal," "intend," "look forward to," "may," "plan," "potential," "predict," "project," "should," "will," "would" and similar expressions. These forward-looking statements may include, but are not limited to, statements regarding future business activities including the expansion into the decentralized financing space. These forward-looking statements are not promises or guarantees and involve substantial risks and uncertainties. Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described or projected herein include uncertainties associated with operating a business in Singapore and Hong Kong, risk of interference by the PRC government, ability to compete, that financial resources do not last for as long as anticipated, and that COSG is a holding company that may not realize the expected benefits of NFT's offered by Coinllectibles. A further list and description of these risks, uncertainties and other risks can be found in COSG's regulatory filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including in its current report on Form 8-K-filed on September 17, 2021. Existing and prospective investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. COSG undertakes no obligation to update or revise the information contained in this press release, whether as a result of new information, future events or circumstances or otherwise. About Cosmos Group Holdings Inc Cosmos is a business group that operates in two business segments: Arts and Collectibles Financing Through CoinllectiblesTM, the group provides authentication, valuation and certification (AVC) service, sale and purchase, hire purchase, financing, custody, security and exhibition (CSE) services to art buyers through traditional channels, as well as through leveraging blockchain technology through the creation of non-fungible tokens (NFTs). With subsidiaries licensed under Hong Kong's Money Lenders Ordinance, the group currently primarily provides unsecured personal loan to private individuals, with a small portfolio of mortgage loans. The group is integrating the two business segments by offering secured financing services to prospective art and collectibles purchasers to provide a one-stop arts and collectibles purchasing and financing experience. About the Company Coinllectibles Coinllectibles is an ACT (Arts and Collectibles Technology) company, which is redefining how the world thinks about art and collectible ownership in the digital age. Their minted curated Fusion NFTs, capture all the rights and independent valuation and ownership of physical arts and collectibles securely underpinned by smart contracts stored on the blockchain. Coinllectibles Fusion NFTs bridge the physical and virtual dimensions of the arts and collectibles market, providing a pleasurable, transparent, and frictionless experience to customers from all walks of life. Website: www.coinllectibles.art Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Coinllectibles Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coinllectibles/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/coinllectibles LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/coinllectibles Telegram: https://t.me/Coinllectibles About Coinllectibles Fusion NFT Coinllectibles prides the Fusion NFT as the industry "Gold Standard". Being a Gold Standard, a Fusion NFT contains the following on the Inter Planetary File System (IPFS) (1) a sale and purchase agreement reflecting the purchase, by the person minting the Fusion NFT, of the underlying asset at a fair value with all rights and restrictions clearly detailed, (2) bailment terms governing the rights to possession whilst the underlying asset remains with Coinllectibles, (3) a transfer deed reflecting the transfer of the ownership of the underlying asset (together with all rights and restrictions) by the transferor to the holder of the Fusion NFT, (4) ownership title deed written into the description of the Fusion NFT and (5) the unequivocal identification file of the underlying asset, whose ownership is reflected in the title deed represented by the Fusion NFT. SOURCE Cosmos Group Holdings Inc. CAMPBELL, Calif., Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Cold Craft, Inc., provider of heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration as well as sheet metal ductwork for the San Francisco Bay Area, today announced the promotion of Karen Hair to Manager of Internal Operations. She will have the primary responsibility for internal operations of warehouse and fulfillment. "Karen has been a key part of our success, and we were thrilled to promote her to this important position," said Susan Nichol, CEO of Cold Craft, Inc. Ms. Hair, joined the company in 2013 as a returning employee with well-rounded experience in various aspects of the business. Ms. Hair was also previously with Simmons Stairways, Inc. as the Office Manager. Cold Craft is also an active member of Women in Construction Ms. Hair has a large compliment of skills in software usage including but not limited to Autodesk Auto Cad and Design Review, Quickbooks (and other accounting software), Microsoft Suite including Publisher, Server, Adobe Suite, etc. "Karen's experience and software knowledge makes we a very valuable part of our organization, we are lucky to have her on board," said Susan Nichol, CEO Cold Craft, Inc. In addition to her other skills Karen is a product expert. She knows the compliment of furnaces, air conditioners, wine cellar refrigeration units, geothermal heat pumps and wine station equipment as well as all the materials for the installation of the equipment. "Knowing the equipment offerings at a drop of a hat makes her essential to our operations." Kent Penning President and Founder of Cold Craft, Inc. Media contact: Susan Nichol 408.412.8708 [email protected] SOURCE Cold Craft, Inc. RICHMOND, Va., Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Comcast today announced a $25,000 grant to support CodeVA and its free computer science programs for city students and teachers, along with a donation of 500 free laptops, which will be distributed to Richmond Public Schools students and resident seniors across the city. The grant and donation are part of marking the company's 10th anniversary of its Internet Essentials program, which is the nation's largest and most comprehensive broadband adoption effort for low-income households. Since 2011, it has connected a cumulative total of 360,000 individuals in Virginia. "This is an incredible day for the City of Richmond, and I want to thank Comcast for its long-standing commitment to digital equity," said Cynthia Newbille, President of the Richmond City Council. "This grant will help us connect even more residents to the internet so they're able to obtain the digital skills that are critical to succeed in today's digital world." Beyond the financial grant and laptop donation, Comcast is focused on increasing broadband adoption in Richmond through Lift Zones, which provide free WiFi access within select recreation centers, community centers, senior centers, and public housing computer labs. In addition, the company offers hundreds of hours of free digital skills training to residents allowing more students, seniors, veterans, and others to learn how to get online for distance learning, job hunting, telehealth services, and more. "This generous laptop donation from Comcast will be a real difference maker in the lives of many of our students and their families," said Cheryl Burke, Chairwoman of Richmond Public Schools Board of Education. "Internet connectivity, devices and digital literacy are must-haves to remain competitive in today's world, and we're looking forward to our continued partnership with Comcast." Comcast is also supporting the Emergency Broadband Benefit (EBB), a temporary benefit program from the federal government designed to help qualified low-income households with a credit of up to $50 per month toward their Internet service until the program's funding runs out. For Comcast Internet Essentials customers, household participation in the EBB would eliminate any costs for the Internet Essentials service. "Our goal is to get every resident of Richmond connected to the Internet," said Antoine Banks, Director of Government Affairs for Comcast's Beltway Region. "There is no quick fix to closing the digital divide, but we have been at this for 10 years with Internet Essentials and will continue to work with the City of Richmond, Richmond Public Schools and our local non-profit partners to drive internet adoption, improve digital literacy and ultimately create a connected city." Project UP & Comcast's $1 Billion Commitment to Advancing Digital Equity Comcast has been connecting more people to the Internet and the technology they need to participate and excel in an increasingly digital world for over a decade. Looking toward the next ten years, Comcast is building on that foundation and expanding its impact through Project UP, a comprehensive initiative to advance digital equity and help build a future of unlimited possibilities. Backed by a $1 billion commitment to reach 50 million people, Project UP encompasses the programs and community partnerships across Comcast, NBCUniversal, and Sky that connect people to the Internet, advance economic mobility, and open doors for the next generation of innovators, entrepreneurs, storytellers and creators. For more information on Project UP and the latest news on efforts to address digital inequities, including the recent expansion of the Comcast RISE Investment Fund to provide millions in grants to small business owners of color and investment in research to increase diversity in the technology and digital fields , visit https://corporate.comcast.com/impact/project-up . About Internet Essentials Internet Essentials is Comcast's signature digital equity initiative and the nation's largest and most comprehensive broadband adoption program. In 10 years, it has helped connect 10 million low-income Americans to broadband Internet at home, most for the very first time. It has a comprehensive design that addresses each of the three major barriers to broadband adoption. This includes multiple options to access free digital literacy training in print, online, and in person; the option to purchase a heavily subsidized, low-cost Internet-ready computer; and low-cost, high-speed Internet service for $9.95 a month, plus tax. The program is structured as a partnership between Comcast and tens of thousands of school districts, libraries, elected officials and nonprofit community partners. For more information about Internet Essentials and Comcast's commitment to education and digital equity, please visit https://corporate.comcast.com/education. To apply, visit www.internetessentials.com or call 1-855-846-8376 for English or 1-855-765-6995 for Spanish. About Comcast Corporation Comcast Corporation (Nasdaq: CMCSA) is a global media and technology company that connects people to moments that matter. We are principally focused on broadband, aggregation, and streaming with 57 million customer relationships across the United States and Europe. We deliver broadband, wireless, and video through our Xfinity, Comcast Business, and Sky brands; create, distribute, and stream leading entertainment, sports, and news through Universal Filmed Entertainment Group, Universal Studio Group, Sky Studios, the NBC and Telemundo broadcast networks, multiple cable networks, Peacock, NBCUniversal News Group, NBC Sports, Sky News, and Sky Sports; and provide memorable experiences at Universal Parks and Resorts in the United States and Asia. Visit www.comcastcorporation.com for more information. SOURCE Comcast NBCUniversal DALLAS, Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Comerica Bank has earned the Best in Enterprise Resilience Certification Gold Tier honor, the highest assessment rating by Everbridge for the bank's Critical Event Management (CEM) program. This designation recognizes significant strengths in deploying technologies and practices to manage enterprise readiness, responsiveness and resilience. Comerica achieved the first-of-its kind certification after undergoing a rigorous evaluation of its systems and business continuity. "Our customer experience impacts every decision we make and every program and platform we implement," said Megan Crespi, Comerica Bank Executive Vice President, Chief Enterprise Technology and Operations Services Officer. "A significant part of that experience includes trust that we will provide our high level of service even during disruptive events or circumstances. Delivering on that customer experience, especially through our enterprise-wide technology and operations truly begins with our colleagues and the teamwork it takes to achieve continuity and deliver on our unwavering commitment to our customers. I am proud of the success our teams have achieved and look forward to continually improving on our processes, knowledge and resources. We are honored to receive Everbridge's Best in Enterprise Resilience Certification as it offers a valuable benchmark in critical event management." The assessment evaluated four competency areas: Data and Analytics, Digital Transformation, Smart Process Automation, and Communication and Collaboration. During the evaluation, Everbridge identified and highlighted Comerica's strengths, including: Data & Analytics : Comerica actively monitors numerous intelligence sources and maintains a contact database of all employees and contractors across the organization. The contact database is synchronized with the human resource management system to ensure daily updates. : Comerica actively monitors numerous intelligence sources and maintains a contact database of all employees and contractors across the organization. The contact database is synchronized with the human resource management system to ensure daily updates. Digital Transformation : Comerica continuously pursues technologies, workflows, and solutions to improve operations. Leadership is actively involved in managing critical events, and plans are updated, managed, and distributed online. : Comerica continuously pursues technologies, workflows, and solutions to improve operations. Leadership is actively involved in managing critical events, and plans are updated, managed, and distributed online. Smart Process Automation : Comerica's Security Console is a 24/7 alarm monitoring center that provides centralized access to physical access control systems and visitor management systems. Comerica's CEM platform and risk intelligence feeds are configured to automatically identify risks to assets when certain thresholds are met and notify the Security Console. : Comerica's Security Console is a 24/7 alarm monitoring center that provides centralized access to physical access control systems and visitor management systems. Comerica's CEM platform and risk intelligence feeds are configured to automatically identify risks to assets when certain thresholds are met and notify the Security Console. Communication & Collaboration: The Security Console will immediately send alerts if there is an imminent threat and use multiple delivery methods to assure employees receive critical information. "The ability to achieve true organizational resilience is no easy feat," said Dr. John Maeda, Chief Experience Officer at Everbridge, which pioneered the CEM Standards Framework and runs the Best in Enterprise Resilience certification program. "To become Best in Enterprise Resilience certified, organizations must meet the highest standards of readiness to withstand a critical event without a significant impact on staff and operations. Congratulations to Comerica Bank for standing at the forefront of digital transformation." About Comerica Comerica Bank is a subsidiary of Comerica Incorporated (NYSE: CMA), a financial services company headquartered in Dallas, Texas, and strategically aligned by three business segments: The Commercial Bank, The Retail Bank, and Wealth Management. Comerica focuses on relationships, and helping people and businesses be successful. In addition to Texas, Comerica Bank locations can be found in Arizona, California, Florida and Michigan, with select businesses operating in several other states, as well as in Canada and Mexico. Comerica reported total assets of $94.5 billion as of Sept. 30, 2021. About Everbridge Everbridge, Inc. (NASDAQ: EVBG) is a global software company that provides enterprise SaaS applications that Keep People Safe and Businesses Running. Over 5,600 customers rely on the Company's Critical Event Management Platform to quickly and reliably assess threat data, locate people at risk and responders able to assist, automate communications, and track progress on executing response plans. Everbridge serves 8 of the 10 largest U.S. cities, 9 of the 10 largest U.S.-based investment banks, 47 of the 50 busiest North American airports, 9 of the 10 largest global consulting firms, 8 of the 10 largest global automakers, 9 of the 10 largest U.S.-based health care providers, and 7 of the 10 largest technology companies in the world. With the ability to reach over 700 million people across the globe, Everbridge also supports population-wide alerting in 11 countries. For more information visit www.everbridge.com. SOURCE Comerica Bank During her 18 months at the CBCF, Veasey collaborated with her Board and representatives of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) to amplify and ultimately expand the Foundation's mission advancing the Black community on a global scale. Veasey led change-management initiatives, historic fundraising campaigns, and built a synergized culture amongst the industry's top leaders that drove landmark wins in racial reckoning. Throughout her career, Veasey has counseled executives at Fortune 500 companies and elected officials, grown her Fort Worth-based public affairs agency, and then joined the historic nonprofit as their CEO and President. It was during her tenure at CBCF that Veasey became more aware of the need for Corporate America to make a real impact for the betterment of our society, marginalized communities, and people of color. OCG+ is the solution to this roadblock and is dedicated to helping brands navigate HOW to launch a long-term social impact strategy that truly connects and addresses systemic problems marginalized communities face daily. OCG+ will help companies: Create Social Impact Strategies Build Strategic Partnerships Foster Media and Issue Management Elevate Public Awareness Campaigns "During my time at CBCF, I saw first-hand the importance of political leaders, corporate pioneers and community changemakers working together to strengthen marginalized communities," Veasey said. "This collection of experiences inspired me to renew my passion in DEI. OCG+ will focus on the needs of the times. I see a future where corporations and organizations can collaborate to create sustainable public-private partnerships that have a real impact in our communities, and I believe the work we do at OCG+ can guide them to that place." About Tonya Veasey With more than 25 years' experience, Veasey has been an award-winning problem-solver who brings together stakeholders in public and private sectors to drive impactful change through communications, strategic relationships, and judicious leadership. Before her work at the CBCF, Veasey's career achievements included recognition from the City of Fort Worth, Dallas, and Texas for her leadership, public service, and general business savvy. From serving as a public affairs director for a Fortune 500 company to influencing local, state, and federal public policy and securing public funding for health care programs, Veasey has the vision to map out the path to success and bring together the right partners to actuate results. OCG+ offices are in Washington, DC and Fort Worth, Texas: http://ocgpr.com/ . Media Contact: Shenikwa Carr 972-849-5607 SOURCE OCG+ Related Links http://ocgpr.com/ NORTH BILLERICA, Mass., Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Council of the Great City Schools (CGCS) recently announced the inaugural recipient of its Dr. Michael Casserly Legacy Award for Educational Courage and Justice Scholarship sponsored by Curriculum Associates. The $10,000 college scholarship was awarded to recent high school graduate Londyn Edwards of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, who is using the scholarship to attend Drexel University as she looks to ultimately pursue a career in urban education. The scholarship is part of the Dr. Michael Casserly Legacy Award for Educational Courage and Justice, named after the Council's former executive director. The annual award is presented to a person who has made outstanding contributions in the field of Grades K12 urban education by taking a courageous and passionate stance on the issue of educational justice and equity. This awardee will then select the $10,000 college scholarship recipient, who this year was chosen by Casserly himself. According to the CGCS, Casserly selected Edwards for actively serving the Philadelphia community. She is a 2021 graduate of Science Leadership High School in Philadelphia and a leader of UrbEd Inc., a nonprofit organization created and run by Philadelphia students who advocate for fully funded, safe, and healthy public schools. After college graduation, Edwards plans to work in urban education and advocate for more inclusion of the arts in classrooms. "It is my profound pleasure to give Londyn Edwards, who is the first in her family to attend college, a scholarship named in my honor," said Casserly. "This scholarship will help Edwards advance her education and follow her dreams to work with the next generation of urban school children. I am honored I can help such a deserving person in this worthwhile pursuit, and I thank Curriculum Associates for their generosity and support." The CGCS is the only national organization exclusively representing the needs of urban public schools. Composed of 75 large-city school districts, its mission is to promote the cause of urban schools and to advocate on behalf of inner-city students through legislation, research, and media relations. The organization also provides a network for school districts sharing common problems to exchange information and collectively address new challenges as they emerge in order to deliver the best possible education for urban youth. "We are proud to sponsor the Dr. Michael Casserly Legacy Award for Educational Courage and Justice Scholarship and, alongside the Council, recognize a rising college student and aspiring educator who already is making positive contributions in the community," said Woody Paik, executive vice president of Curriculum Associates. "Dr. Casserly has set a shining example throughout his decades-long career of the impact one can have in shaping education and advocating for educational justice and equity." To learn more about the CGCS, visit CGCS.org. To learn more about Curriculum Associates, visit CurriculumAssociates.com. About the Council of the Great City Schools It is the special mission of America's urban public schools to educate the nation's most diverse student body to the highest academic standards and prepare them to contribute to our democracy and global community. The Council brings together 75 of the nation's largest urban public school systems in a coalition dedicated to the improvement of public education for our nation's urban public school children. See CGCS.org. About Curriculum Associates Founded in 1969, Curriculum Associates, LLC designs research-based print and online instructional materials, screens and assessments, and data management tools. The company's products and outstanding customer service provide teachers and administrators with the resources necessary for teaching diverse student populations and fostering learning for all students. Contact: Kati Elliott Charlotte Fixler KEH Communications Curriculum Associates (410) 975-9638 (978) 901-6066 [email protected] [email protected] SOURCE Curriculum Associates, LLC Related Links www.curriculumassociates.com IRVINE, Calif., Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Cove Fund, a seed-stage venture capital firm that invests in the rapidly growing Southern California startup economy, announced the launch of its third fund, Cove Fund III. The fund has completed its initial closing and will make its first investments in the coming months. It is expected to exceed $30M in capital, more than twice the size of Cove Fund II. Cove Fund Announces Third Venture Fund a $30M seed fund that will invest in dynamic Southern California ecosystem Tweet this Cove Fund invests in early-stage technology and life science companies that demonstrate the potential to address large markets with highly differentiated products and services. Cove Fund is led by a team of three experienced investors and technology executives. Fund Managers Mike Benvenuti and Paul Voois have been with Cove Fund since its inception, and J.C. Ruffalo recently joined as Venture Partner. The Fund uses a unique member engagement model in which the fund's members (investors), most of whom are businesspeople and entrepreneurs themselves, play an active role in deal flow sourcing, due diligence, mentoring and governance of portfolio companies. This model provides the fund with a strong and diverse mix of expertise and network connections, enabling the fund to invest and engage with its portfolio companies across a broad range of industry sectors. Cove Fund launched in 2015 with its $6M Fund I, followed in 2018 by its $14M Fund II. Cove Fund has invested in more than 40 Southern California startups including notables such as Carlsmed, maker of custom spinal implants that improve surgical outcomes, who recently raised a $10M Series A round led by US Venture Partners; Giga IO, creator of next-generation data center rack-scale architecture for artificial intelligence and high-performance computing solutions, who recently raised a $15M Series B round; and GoSite, developer of cloud-based software designed to help small businesses engage with customers online, who recently raised a $40M Series B round. Cove Fund invests in early-stage technology and life science companies that demonstrate the potential to address large markets with highly differentiated products and services. The fund typically leads financing rounds in the $1-5M range and has a strong syndication network consisting of angel investors, family offices and venture capital funds that co-invest in its deals, leading to a strong "multiplier effect" on the Fund's capital. For example, Cove Fund II has syndicated over $150M of investments into its portfolio companies to date. "On behalf of Cove Fund and our partners, we are thrilled to launch Cove Fund III," said Mike Benvenuti, fund co-manager. "The support that we've received from the local community has exceeded all our expectations, and we are excited to start investing in the next generation of great technology companies throughout Southern California." Learn more about the people, portfolio, and perspectives at Cove Fund and connect on LinkedIn. To seek funding, go to the Contact page or reach out to one of the leadership team on LinkedIn. For more information, email Jeanne Hebert, Executive Director, at [email protected]. About Cove Fund Cove Fund is a seed-stage venture capital fund that provides startup funding for promising new Southern California ventures. The fund is headquartered in "The Cove" at UC Irvine Beall Applied Innovation, a centrally located and vibrant gathering place for entrepreneurs, innovators and investors in the Southern California startup ecosystem. The fund invests in early-stage technology and life science companies that demonstrate the potential to address large markets with highly differentiated products and services, and that can achieve significant value-creating inflection points with their seed funding. Contact: J.C. Ruffalo, [email protected] SOURCE Cove Fund Related Links www.covefund.com COLUMBUS, Ga., Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Daniel Asher, MD, is being recognized by Continental Who's Who as a Trusted Hospitalist for his professional excellence in medicine and his exemplary contributions at Piedmont Columbus Regional. Daniel Asher, MD A well-recognized leader in healthcare, Piedmont Columbus Regional, has garnered a reputation of excellence since its establishment in 1836. Piedmont proudly serves the Columbus, GA area, continuously striving to deliver expert and compassionate care and build long-term patient relationships and strong connections within the communities. With a network of health and medical services through its two hospital campuses, Piedmont offers various services in brain tumor, cancer, heart, maternity services, pediatric emergency, neurosciences, primary care, quickcare, and transplant, to name a few. Dedicated to serving the medical community, Dr. Daniel Asher is a distinguished night-time hospitalist at Piedmont Columbus Regional. He specializes in all facets of his work and treats hospitalized patients with a variety of illnesses. In his current capacity, Dr. Asher enjoys working with residents and consulting with other physicians to provide the highest quality care to his patients. In his current capacity, Dr. Asher has served on the frontlines treating countless COVID-19 patients throughout the pandemic that has unfolded in Georgia and nationwide. In light of his academic achievements, Dr. Asher obtained his Bachelor of Science degree in Biology/Biological Sciences from Saint Leo University. His medical career began after he earned his medical degree from the University of Medicine and Health Sciences in St. Kitts in 2017. Shortly after that, he completed a Family Medicine residency at Piedmont Medical Center, where he served as Chief Resident from 2019-2020 and continued his career. Dr. Asher dedicates this recognition to his mother, Dr. Laura Remark, a family practitioner who inspired him to become a doctor. To learn more, please visit https://www.piedmont.org/. Contact: Katherine Green, 516-825-5634, [email protected] SOURCE Continental Who's Who Related Links http://www.continentalwhoswho.com WASHINGTON, Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) President Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley announced the organization's bipartisan delegation to COP26, the United Nation's Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, Scotland next month. Members include New Orleans (LA) Mayor LaToya Cantrell; Des Moines (IA) Mayor Frank Cownie; Burnsville (MN) Mayor Elizabeth Kautz (USCM Past President); St. Petersburg (FL) Mayor Rick Kriseman; Miami (FL) Mayor Francis Suarez (USCM Vice President); and Tom Cochran, USCM CEO and Executive Director. "I am pleased that with this delegation the U.S. Conference of Mayors is continuing its commitment to the United Nation's global climate summits. Addressing climate change has long been a top priority for America's mayors, and this bipartisan group will restate our commitment to driving solutions at the local level. Mayors understand firsthand the devastating impact the climate crisis is having on communities across the United States and through our work we have been able to reduce our climate footprint and make our cities stronger, more equitable and more resilient. However, we cannot do it alone and we look forward to partnering with our international colleagues on this critically important work," said USCM President Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley. The delegation will be led by Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, USCM Vice President, who released the following statement about the conference: "We want the world to know that mayors' commitment to this fight is stronger than ever. American cities are feeling the effects of climate change, and that's why mayors have been drivers of climate solutions. I'm thrilled that this delegation of climate leaders will be able to share and learn with others at this critical moment for our planet. We must work at all levels of government if we are going to solve this problem, and the solutions that cities across America are putting in place must be part of a global approach. The United States will continue to lead on climate change thanks to America's mayors, and we are pleased to be a part of this historic conference." About the United States Conference of Mayors -- The U.S. Conference of Mayors is the official nonpartisan organization of cities with populations of 30,000 or more. There are more than 1,400 such cities in the country today, and each city is represented in the Conference by its chief elected official, the mayor. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter. SOURCE U.S. Conference of Mayors Related Links www.usmayors.org DALLAS, Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Back yards, patios, decks, and exterior landscapes throughout the greater Dallas/Fort Worth area have been undergoing stunning transformations thanks to a well-established outdoor design company, Compass Outdoor Design. "Our goal is simple," says owner Bryan Jones, "we want to create a living area you'll enjoy for many years. Whether it's grilling and spending time with your neighbors, celebrating holidays and special occasions with your family, or giving the kids a place to enjoy as they grow older, so many memories come from those times in the backyard." For several years, Compass has been turning simple, uninspired outdoor spaces into deluxe, luxury spaces for homeowners in the area. Everything from creating outdoor kitchens, cozy fireplaces and fire features, and spacious patio covers nothing is off limits. "Being able to bring nature to you can do wonders for your psyche and peace of mind," continues Jones, "and having an outdoor living design where you can cook on your outdoor grill, swim in a pool, and relax in a hot tub while listening to your favorite playlist can be a lifesaver for the whole family." It's this enthusiasm for delivering quality outdoor space design for his customers that has earned Compass Outdoor Design a spot on the prestigious Top Rated Local list for outdoor design firms in Dallas. Jones chalks up the company's success to their design process. Starting with an initial creative visit on site, what begins as simple sketches and conceptualizations is transformed through subsequent steps to create a unique product that perfectly fits customer needs. You can begin your own completely customizable outdoor design journey by visiting Compass Outdoor Design's website here . About Compass Outdoor Design: Compass Outdoor Design was founded to provide luxury options to homeowners in Dallas. Unsatisfied with the limited options available from other companies in the area, owner Bryan Jones knew there was an opportunity to fill a need for high-end outdoor living services. While there is just about nothing that Compass can't do, their most common projects for homeowners in Dallas and Fort Worth include designing and installing outdoor kitchens, spacious outdoor living spaces, pools and pool houses, outdoor fire features, and more. Compass has become a trusted name among homeowners throughout DFW, and they show no signs of slowing down any time soon. Contact: Bryan Jones (469) 213-3696 [email protected] SOURCE Compass Outdoor Design BOCA RATON, Fla., Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- DevOps Institute ( https://www.devopsinstitute.com/ ), a global professional association for advancing and certifying the humans of DevOps, today announced an exclusive distributor agreement and strategic partnership with Top Out Human Capital to serve as the exclusive distributor in Japan for DevOps Institute certified education partners. Top Out Human Capital will initially offer three courses of certified training beginning in November 2021 with the goal to have more than 500 certified engineers by December 2022. Top Out Human Capital's CTO/Director Mr. Katsushi Iiyama, and Talent Development Consultant Ms. Miyuki Ueno, will be the first DevOps Institute Ambassadors represented in Japan. Learn more about this educational partnership at: https://www.topout.co.jp/devops "We are excited about this exclusive partnership with Top Out Human Capital," said Jayne Groll, CEO of DevOps Institute. "Now more than ever, it is essential to create space in which the DevOps community can actively contribute to the advancement of DevOps humans. Through this partnership, we aim to upskill engineers and empower them to help shape the future of IT with the best learning and education resources available. Organizations adopting DevOps need these adoptable skills and competencies in which we aim to supply." The curriculum and content provided by Top Out Human Capital in partnership with DevOps Institute is based on research and knowledge from community leaders and subject matter experts with real-world expertise. "We are very excited about the exclusive strategic partnership with the prestigious Top Out Human Capital based on tremendous interest and demand for DevOps Institute Accredited certifications in Japan," said Dheeraj Nayal, Region Head for Japan & Asia Pacific at DevOps Institute. "We are pleased to offer for the first time in Japan, a globally recognized portfolio of role-based certifications for DevOps, DevSecOps, Site Reliability Engineering, and related areas that will help professionals and enterprises to advance their skills, knowledge and learning." The following courses are available from DevOps Institute for certification training: DevOps Foundation DevOps Leader DevSecOps Foundation Continuous Testing Foundation Continuous Delivery Ecosystem Foundation Certified Agile Service Manager Site Reliability Engineering Foundation Site Reliability Engineering Practitioner Value Stream Management Foundation Of the nine courses listed above, the following three courses will be offered first. Top Out Human Capital plans to expand the lineup in the future. DevOps Foundation is a foundation-level course to support your digital transformation. Learn about DevOps to support organizational efforts to improve agility, quality, and customer service while reducing costs, and use case studies, real-world success stories and metrics to demonstrate business success. A basic understanding of key DevOps terms will help everyone be able to speak the same language and highlight the benefits of DevOps to support organizational success. is a foundation-level course to support your digital transformation. Learn about DevOps to support organizational efforts to improve agility, quality, and customer service while reducing costs, and use case studies, real-world success stories and metrics to demonstrate business success. A basic understanding of key DevOps terms will help everyone be able to speak the same language and highlight the benefits of DevOps to support organizational success. Length: two days Price: Contact Top Out Human Capital Apply: https://www.topout.co.jp/training/DO-DOFD Site Reliability Engineering Foundation introduces the principles and practices that enable an organization to reliably and economically extend its critical services. Implementing aspects of site reliability requires reorganization, new approaches to engineering and automation, and the adoption of a variety of new work paradigms. Focusing on the evolution of SRE and its future direction, this course uses real-world scenarios and case stories to equip participants with the practices, methods and tools to engage people across the organization around reliability and stability. Upon completion of this course, participants will have tangible outcomes that can be used back at the company to understand, set and track Service Level Objectives (SLOs). introduces the principles and practices that enable an organization to reliably and economically extend its critical services. Implementing aspects of site reliability requires reorganization, new approaches to engineering and automation, and the adoption of a variety of new work paradigms. Focusing on the evolution of SRE and its future direction, this course uses real-world scenarios and case stories to equip participants with the practices, methods and tools to engage people across the organization around reliability and stability. Upon completion of this course, participants will have tangible outcomes that can be used back at the company to understand, set and track Service Level Objectives (SLOs). Length: two days Price: Contact Top Out Human Capital Apply: https://www.topout.co.jp/training/DO-SRE DevSecOps Foundation will enable you to learn the purpose, benefits, concepts and vocabulary of DevSecOps, including DevOps security strategies and business benefits. Topics covered in this course include how DevSecOps delivers business value, expands business opportunities and increases enterprise value. The core principles of DevSecOps taught will support organizational change, increase productivity, reduce risk, and optimize the use of resources. will enable you to learn the purpose, benefits, concepts and vocabulary of DevSecOps, including DevOps security strategies and business benefits. Topics covered in this course include how DevSecOps delivers business value, expands business opportunities and increases enterprise value. The core principles of DevSecOps taught will support organizational change, increase productivity, reduce risk, and optimize the use of resources. Length: two days Price: Contact Top Out Human Capital Apply: https://www.topout.co.jp/training/DO-DSOF The training courses will be offered virtually. In the future, Top Out Human Capital will potentially offer training in a classroom setting or through a hybrid approach in which half the training takes place online and the other half in a classroom. The cost of each exam is included in the course fee. The certification exam can be taken on the last day of the training course period, with the option to bring in the textbook studied. "Top Out Human Capital is thrilled to upskill engineers as a partner with DevOps Institute. We hope to provide engineers with the knowledge and skills necessary to advance digital transformations and DevOps adoption across Japan," said Daisuke Funato, CEO of Top Out Human Capital. Learn more about all DevOps Institute education partner programs: https://www.devopsinstitute.com/about-us/partner-program/ . Contact to learn more about education partner programs: Dheeraj Nayal DevOps Institute [email protected] Become a DevOps Institute Member DevOps Institute now offers a tiered professional membership model. Membership levels include Basic, Premium, Government/Nonprofit, Educator, In-Transition, and Enterprise Membership options, with a Student member tier to follow. DevOps Institute Professional Membership offers exclusive access to leading DevOps resources, discounted certification exams, DevOps capability assessments, premium content, discounted DevOps simulation experiences, members-only networking opportunities, career center access and more. To join and learn more, visit https://devopsinstitute.com/membership . About the DevOps Institute DevOps Institute is a professional member association and certification authority. Our mission is to advance the human elements of DevOps. We create a safe and interactive ecosystem where members can network, gain knowledge, grow their careers, lead, initiate and celebrate professional achievements. We inspire thought leadership and knowledge by connecting and enabling the global member community to drive human transformation in the digital age. Web | https://devopsinstitute.com/ Twitter | @DEVOPSINST LinkedIn | /devops-institute YouTube | DevOps Institute Instagram | @humansofdevops Media Contact: Jeremy Douglas Catapult PR-IR +1 303-581-7760 [email protected] SOURCE DevOps Institute Related Links https://devopsinstitute.com/ AUSTIN, Texas, Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Digital Realty (NYSE: DLR), the largest global provider of cloud- and carrier-neutral data center, colocation and interconnection solutions and Pembani Remgro Infrastructure Fund announced today the formation of a joint venture to acquire Medallion Data Centres, Nigeria's leading colocation and interconnection provider. Medallion operates two data centers, one in Lagos, the most populous urban metropolitan area in Africa with approximately 15 million people, and one in Abuja, the capital of Nigeria. Medallion's Lagos data center is the leading connectivity hub in Western Africa with over 70 carriers and internet service providers, over 80% of the public peering traffic on the Nigerian Internet Exchange, and a peering point for all subsea cables currently operating in Nigeria with plans to serve as a peering point for the nine new subsea cables scheduled to be in operation in Lagos by 2023. With a population of over 200 million, Nigeria is Africa's most populous country and the seventh most populous in the world. Its GDP is the largest in Africa and was the 26th largest globally in 2019. With a large and young population, a growing and diversifying economy as well as a maturing regulatory environment, Nigeria has experienced strong economic growth in recent years. As part of the transaction, the joint venture is also acquiring a land parcel adjacent to the Lagos data center to provide near-term expansion capacity. Medallion's management team, led by CEO and co-founder Ike Nnamani, will continue to lead the business. Separately, Digital Realty and Pembani Remgro Infrastructure Fund have successfully partnered with Kenyan data center operator iColo since 2019, and iColo announced today that it will enter Mozambique through the development of its first data center in the country, located in the capital and port city of Maputo. The iColo campus in Mombasa was recently expanded to deliver an additional 1.6 megawatts of power and 12,900 square feet of capacity for new and existing customers, along with the new subsea cable landing equipment. In addition, iColo has expanded its Nairobi campus with the acquisition of an additional 215,000 square feet of land that will support 14 megawatts of future data center capacity. Africa is evolving into a major interconnection hub for data-driven businesses that require a scalable, future-proof platform to facilitate global hybrid and multi-cloud infrastructure. The deployment of PlatformDIGITAL, Digital Realty's market-leading global data center platform, across Africa will enable multinational and local businesses to rapidly scale their digital transformations by deploying critical infrastructure with a leading global data center provider at the heart of a growing connected data community in the region. Quotes A. William Stein, Chief Executive Officer, Digital Realty "Over the next decade, there will be huge opportunity for global businesses to tap into Africa's expanding internet economy with predictions that it could reach 5.2% of the continent's GDP by 2025, contributing nearly $180 billion to its economy (up from $115 billion in 2020). By 2050, the internet economy has the potential to contribute $712 billion1. Through major investment in the continent's internet infrastructure, Digital Realty aims to be a core enabler of these economic and quality of life gains. "There is a huge opportunity to both meet growing customer demand for connectivity in Africa and improve the internet infrastructure that serves over one billion people2 who don't yet have proper access to the benefits of internet. The expansion of our platform announced today is a leap forward but it's just the start of our $500 million commitment to investment in the continent over the next decade. We see a huge opportunity to underpin Africa's expanding internet economy and play a central role in its growth." Rahiel Nasir, Research Analyst at 451 Research, part of S&P Global Market Intelligence "With its youthful population, Africa has seen the rise of a tech-savvy generation that is fueling ever-greater demand for digital services. This is being boosted by the expansion of fiber networks, terrestrial and subsea connections that continue to connect major metro areas34. Data centers play a vital role in the communications infrastructure landscape. Without them, further digital development across the continent risks hitting a roadblock, especially for enterprises seeking colocation and cloud services as part of their digital transformations5. According to our latest forecasts, overall multi-tenant data center capacity in the Middle East and Africa will see a compound annual growth rate of 10% from 2020 to 2023. We estimate that net operational floorspace will increase from 5.4 million to 7.2 million square feet during the forecast period, with net UPS power rising from around 733 megawatts to almost 900 megawatts6." Rakesh Kukreja, Managing Director at iSAT Africa "We need to make internet access affordable, reliable and power efficient for people in rural areas of Africa where low potential revenue and difficulty reaching customers have previously made it impossible. Digital Realty and Pembani Remgro Infrastructure Fund's expansion across Africa will bring IP aggregation points closer to much of Africa's underserved population, and alongside innovations like LTE and Optimized Satellite for 3G, 4G and Wi-Fi networks, are now helping tackle this challenge. iSAT Africa's focused aim is to bring these technologies together towards bridging the digital gap in rural and ultra-rural African communities, in addition to bringing the benefits of good connectivity to people and businesses everywhere." Additional Resources Interxion enters into agreement for controlling interest in iColo and establishes strategic partnership with Pembani Remgro Infrastructure Fund iColo contributes to Kenya's renewable energy grid with new hybrid solar system at its renewable energy grid with new hybrid solar system at its Explore global deployment opportunities on PlatformDIGITAL in Digital Realty's industry manifesto for open interconnection and next-generation colocation solutions for open interconnection and next-generation colocation solutions Read about our open interconnection manifesto for enabling connected data communities About Digital Realty Digital Realty supports the world's leading enterprises and service providers by delivering the full spectrum of data centre, colocation and interconnection solutions. PlatformDIGITAL, the company's global data centre platform, provides customers a trusted foundation and proven Pervasive Datacenter Architecture (PDx) solution methodology for scaling digital business and efficiently managing data gravity challenges. Digital Realty's global data centre footprint gives customers access to the connected communities that matter to them with 291 facilities in 47 metros across 24 countries on six continents. For more information, please visit digitalrealty.com or follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter. About the Pembani Remgro Infrastructure Fund The Pembani Remgro Infrastructure Fund is a joint initiative established by Remgro, Phuthuma Nhleko and the investment team, based in Johannesburg. The strategy of the fund is to invest equity and quasi-equity in the full spectrum of infrastructure opportunities on the African continent, with a focus on sub-Saharan Africa. This includes investments in greenfield transactions; brownfield and secondary transactions; as well as logistics and engineering services companies operating within the infrastructure sector. For more information visit pembani-remgro.com. About the Medallion Data Centres Medallion Data Centres (MDC) is a carrier-neutral data center operator domiciled in Nigeria and the leading connectivity hub in West Africa. It has highly connected data centers in Lagos and Abuja and serves a wide spectrum of customers with over 70 carriers and internet service providers. MDC aims to expand its current operations not only across in Nigeria, but throughout West Africa and become the leading data center operator in the region. For more information, please visit medallioncom.com. About iColo iColo designs, builds, and operates state of the art carrier neutral data centres to serve a broad spectrum of clients telecom carriers, ISPs and peering points, IT and cloud providers, content providers, enterprise, and financial services customers. These data centres are highly connected hubs and provide co-location services including power, security, network access, redundancy, space, and precision cooling to its customers. iColo is part of Digital Realty (DLR) with 291 data centres in 24 countries across six continents. To learn more about iColo, visit icolo.io or follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter. About 451 Research, part of S&P Global Market Intelligence 451 Research is a leading information technology research and advisory company focusing on technology innovation and market disruption. More than 100 analysts and consultants provide essential insight to more than 1,000 client organizations globally through a combination of syndicated research and data, advisory and go-to-market services, and live events. Founded in 2000, 451 Research is a part of S&P Global Market Intelligence. About Seacom SEACOM launched Africa's first broadband submarine cable system along the continent's Eastern and Southern coasts in 2009. Today SEACOM is the preferred partner for African businesses, network carriers, and service providers. Through its ownership of Africa's most extensive ICT data infrastructure including multiple subsea cables and a resilient, continent-wide IP-MPLS network SEACOM provides a full suite of flexible, scalable, and high-quality communications and cloud solutions that enable the growth of the continent's economy. SEACOM is privately owned and operated, allowing the company the agility to rapidly tailor-make and deploy new services, commercial models, and infrastructure in response to customer requirements, without the red tape or hidden costs often prevalent in this industry. About iSAT Africa iSAT Africa is an integrated communications services provider specializing in broadcasting and rural connectivity, fixed and mobile satellite solutions, MPLS in Africa and Middle East. iSAT Africa's various solutions including Terrestrial and Satellite Solutions, are backed by powerful Satellites, African Teleports and Headend infrastructure. iSAT Africa has its POP, integrated with fiber and satellite services, in more than 30 countries in Africa connecting to the rest of world. Its innovative solutions and resilient network are used by different verticals including Governments, TELCOS, media, multinationals, network companies and ISPs. For Additional Information Media Contacts Helen Bleasdale Digital Realty +44 7500 044027 [email protected] Investor Relations John Stewart / Jim Huseby Digital Realty +1 (415) 738-6500 [email protected] Safe Harbor Statement This press release contains forward-looking statements which are based on current expectations, forecasts and assumptions that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially, including statements related to the African market, development plans in Africa, including Nigeria, Kenya and Mozambique, PlatformDIGITAL, the company's strategy, expected growth in digital transformation, and customer demand. For a list and description of such risks and uncertainties, see the reports and other filings by the company with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. 1 International Finance Corporation, World Bank Group: e-Conomy Africa 2020: Africa's $180 Billion Internet Economy Future 2 World Bank: Achieving Broadband Access for All in Africa Comes With a $100 Billion Price Tag 3 451 Research, part of S&P Global Market Intelligence, 'African datacenter growth, Part 1: You ain't seen nothing yet', May 2020 4 451 Research, part of S&P Global Market Intelligence, 'African datacenter growth, Part 2: Cash and connectivity, the lifeblood', May 2020 5 451 Research, part of S&P Global Market Intelligence, 'African datacenter growth, Part 2: Cash and connectivity, the lifeblood', May 2020 6 451 Research, part of S&P Global Market Intelligence Datacenter KnowledgeBase, Q4 2020, March 2021 SOURCE Digital Realty Related Links https://www.digitalrealty.com ATLANTA, Oct 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- David Satcher, MD, PhD, 16th U.S. surgeon general, former director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and founder of the Satcher Health Leadership Institute, today received the 2021 Fries Prize for Improving Health. Satcher was honored for his outstanding achievements and lifetime commitment to eliminating health disparities and championing health equity for all. The Fries Prize for Improving Health award was presented this morning at the American Public Health Association's (APHA) annual meeting, which is taking place in Denver, CO. The award recognizes an individual who has made major accomplishments in health improvement with emphasis on recent contributions to health in the United States. It is intended for an individual who has done the most to improve health for the greatest number of people. The Fries Prize for Improving Health award is $60,000. "Dr. Satcher's teaching, and achievements have been inspiring to thousands of Americans who have learned from him and whose lives have been impacted by his work," stated Regina Benjamin, MD, 18th U.S. surgeon general, one of his former students who helped champion Satcher's nomination for the Fries Prize. "His career has raised awareness and affected system change to help eliminate health disparities and achieve health equity in the United States and globally." Throughout Satcher's career he has held firm to eliminating health disparities throughout the United States, and this focus is evident in his public health leadership roles. He served as the 16th U.S. surgeon general from 1998 to 2002 while also serving as the 10th assistant secretary for health in the Department of Health and Human Services, making him only the second person in history to have held both positions simultaneously. During his time as U.S. Surgeon General, health disparities in tobacco use and access to mental health services by race and ethnicity came to the forefront. The Office of the Surgeon General released 14 reports focused on issues such as tobacco and health, mental health, suicide prevention, oral health, sexual health, youth violence prevention, overweight and obesity, and the health of persons with intellectual disabilities. Satcher led the department's effort to eliminate racial and ethnic disparities in health, an initiative that was incorporated as one of the two major goals of Healthy People 2010. In May 2000, Satcher briefed members of Congress on health disparities and endorsed the Minority Health and Health Disparities Research and Education Act of 2000, which led to the establishment of the Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) program CDC. His tenure of public service includes serving as director of CDC from 1993 to 1998 and Administrator of the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. During his time at CDC, he spearheaded initiatives that have increased childhood immunization rates, upgraded the nation's capability to respond to emerging infectious diseases and laid the groundwork for a new Early Warning System to detect and prevent food-borne illnesses. In 2006, Satcher founded the Satcher Health Leadership Institute (SHLI) at the Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta and is currently a senior advisor there. SHLI's mission is to create systemic change at the intersection of policy and equity by focusing on three priority areas: the political determinants of health, health system transformation and mental and behavioral health. "Dr. Satcher's commitment to eliminating health disparities has been an inspiration to us all. His leadership and research have created a strong foundation for our journey moving forward to make health equity a reality. We are delighted to award him the Fries Prize for Improving Health," said Judith Monroe, MD, president and CEO of the CDC Foundation. Satcher has held top leadership positions at the Charles R. Drew University for Medicine and Science, Meharry Medical College, and the Morehouse School of Medicine. He has been a Macy Foundation Fellow, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Clinical Scholar and a senior visiting fellow of the Kaiser Family Foundation. In 2005, Satcher was appointed to serve on the World Health Organization (WHO) Commission on Social Determinants of Health. He has received over 50 honorary degrees and numerous distinguished honors including top awards from the National Medical Association, the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Family Physicians, the Ronald Davis Special Recognition Award from the American College of Preventive Medicine, and the Symbol of H.O.P.E. Award for health promotion and disease prevention. Satcher received the Benjamin E. Mays Trailblazer Award and the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Humanitarian Award for contributions to the health of humankind from the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases. Satcher is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Morehouse College and received his MD and PhD in cell biology from Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland. The James F. and Sarah T. Fries Foundation is a nonprofit corporation incorporated in 1991. The mission of the foundation is to identify and honor individuals, organizations or institutions, which have made great contributions to the health of the public. The foundation seeks to reward accomplishment rather than promise, practicality rather than theory. The CDC Foundation is honored to partner with the James F. and Sarah T. Fries Foundation, which established and funds the award. As of 2016, the CDC Foundation manages and administers the Fries Foundation's public health award programs, which include the Fries Prize for Improving Health and the Elizabeth Fries Health Education Award. About the CDC Foundation The CDC Foundation helps the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) save and improve lives by unleashing the power of collaboration between CDC, philanthropies, corporations, organizations and individuals to protect the health, safety and security of America and the world. The CDC Foundation is the go-to nonprofit authorized by Congress to mobilize philanthropic partners and private-sector resources to support CDC's critical health protection mission. Since 1995, the CDC Foundation has raised over $1.6 billion and launched more than 1,200 programs impacting a variety of health threats from chronic disease conditions including cardiovascular disease and cancer, to infectious diseases like rotavirus and HIV, to emergency responses, including COVID-19 and Ebola. The CDC Foundation managed hundreds of CDC-led programs in the United States and in more than 140 countries last year. Learn more at www.cdcfoundation.org and follow the Foundation on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and TikTok. SOURCE CDC Foundation Related Links www.cdcfoundation.org NEW YORK, Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- As per the research findings stated in Zion Market Research Report, E-Commerce Logistics industry gathered revenue about US$ 72.6 billion during 2020 and is slated to earn revenue of approximately US$ 118.8 billion by 2028. The E-Commerce Logistics market is projected to register highest gains of approximately 6.6% during 2021-2028. In addition to this, digital sales of consumer packaged items such as shampoos, snacks, beverages, and shampoos have soared due to outbreak of COVID pandemic. Moreover, the pandemic has shifted consumer trend from offline shopping activities to online shopping activities and this is projected to accelerate growth trajectory of e-commerce market. Reportedly, nearly 13% of households in the U.S. had purchased groceries online before outbreak of COVID pandemic. Moreover, it was found that approximately 31% of persons purchased groceries online in March 2020. For the record, online retail sales in 2020 were reported to be 93% more in comparison to online retail sales in 2019. All these aforementioned aspects are anticipated to steer growth of e-commerce logistics market over forecast period. In addition to this, consumer sentiment analysis survey carried out by researchers has revealed that 43% of customers in the U.S. plan to purchase at least few of their grocery items online post pandemic. With online shopping of consumer packaged goods gaining traction across globe, market for e-commerce logistics is projected to expand leaps & bounds in near future. Get free Sample PDF of this Research Report for more Insights with Table of Content, Research Methodology and Graphs - https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/sample/e-commerce-logistics-market Furthermore, e-commerce has been registering impressive growth even during pre-pandemic times with global e-commerce sales outperforming brick & mortar sales by factor of more than 10 and retail online sales slated to increase from 13% in 2017 to about US$ 6.7 trillion or 23% of overall retail sales by 2023. Apparently, large-scale penetration of e-commerce activities in countries such as the UK, South Korea, and China will help in generation of new growth avenues for e-commerce logistics market over forecasting timeframe. Additionally, uptick in e-commerce retail activities post COVID crises is likely to open new vistas of growth for e-commerce logistics industry in foreseeable timespan. Surging Cross Border E-Commerce Activities to Drive Market Trends Growth of e-commerce logistics market over forecast timespan can be credited to rise in internet penetration coupled with increase in cross border e-commerce business activities taking place across globe with huge spread of COVID-19 pandemic. In addition to this, increase in utility of imported goods is likely to translate into massive growth of e-commerce sector, thereby steering expansion of e-commerce logistics industry over estimated timeline. Apparently, surge in online demand for healthcare items, groceries, consumer electronics products, and toys will chart a profitable roadmap for e-commerce logistics market over years to come. Additionally, e-commerce industry is on cusp of next-gen revolution and this will further pave way for growth of e-commerce logistics market over years to come. Request for Customization on this Report as per your requirements - https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/custom/2629 North America to Make Notable Contributions towards Overall Market Size By 2028 Expansion of e-commerce logistics industry sphere in North America during assessment period is due to large-scale presence of giant e-commerce firms such as Amazon, Flipkart, and Shopify in countries such as the U.S. and Canada. Reportedly, massive online purchase of personal care products, food & beverage items, pet products, and medicine supplies in countries such as Canada and the U.S. will expand scope of e-commerce logistics market in North America. Rising spread of COVID pandemic in the U.S. has forced customers to go for online purchase of groceries as well as other durable consumer goods. This has resulted in massive demand for ecommerce activities in the country, thereby culminating into humongous expansion of ecommerce business in the U.S., thereby steering regional market trends. Key players impacting growth of e-commerce logistics market and profiled in our report include CEVA Logistics, Aramex, UPS, DHL, Deutsche Bahn, FedEx, and Nippon Express. This review is based on a report by Zion Market Research, titled, "E-commerce Logistics Market - by Service (Transportation, Warehousing and others), by Operational Area (International and Domestic), and by End-User (business-to-business and business-to-consumer): Industry Perspective, Comprehensive Analysis and Forecast, 2021 2028." Inquire before Purchase of this Research Report - https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/inquiry/e-commerce-logistics-market This report segments the E-Commerce Logistics market as follows: By Service Transportation Warehousing Others By Operational Area International Domestic By End- User Business- to Business Business- to - Consumer By Region North America The U.S. Canada Europe France The UK Spain Germany Italy Rest of Europe Asia Pacific China Japan India South Korea Southeast Asia o Rest of Asia Pacific Latin America Brazil Mexico Rest of Latin America Middle East & Africa & GCC South Africa Rest of Middle East & Africa Browse Other Related Research Reports from Zion Market Research Retail E-Commerce Packaging Market - https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/report/retail-e-commerce-packaging-market Cross-Border B2C E-Commerce Market - https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/report/cross-border-b2c-e-commerce-market E-commerce Fulfillment Market - https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/report/e-commerce-fulfillment-market E-Commerce Automotive Aftermarket - https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/report/e-commerce-automotive-aftermarket About Us: Zion Market Research is an obligated company. We create futuristic, cutting edge, informative reports ranging from industry reports, company reports to country reports. We provide our clients not only with market statistics unveiled by avowed private publishers and public organizations but also with vogue and newest industry reports along with pre-eminent and niche company profiles. Our database of market research reports comprises a wide variety of reports from cardinal industries. Our database is been updated constantly in order to fulfill our clients with prompt and direct online access to our database. Keeping in mind the client's needs, we have included expert insights on global industries, products, and market trends in this database. Last but not the least, we make it our duty to ensure the success of clients connected to usafter allif you do well, a little of the light shines on us. Contact Us: Zion Market Research 244 Fifth Avenue, Suite N202 New York, 10001, United States Tel: +49-322 210 92714 USA/Canada Toll-Free No +1-855-465-4651 US OFFICE NO +1-386-310-3803 Email: [email protected] Website: https://www.zionmarketresearch.com Blog https://zmrblog.com/ Follow us on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/zion-market-research All Press Releases - https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/all-news SOURCE Zion Market Research RESTON, Va. and PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Ellucian , the leading higher education technology solutions provider, announced details of its onsite presence at EDUCAUSE 2021, the annual conference that brings together IT leaders and professionals in higher education. Ellucian's plans include breakout sessions, product demos and in-booth sessions reinforcing the company's commitment to supporting the unique needs of today's higher education institutions and learners. More than 50 Ellucian experts will be onsite meeting with customers, partners and other conference attendees. Activities will highlight Ellucian's ecosystem of innovations that connect all aspects of an institution's technology on Wednesday, October 27 and Thursday, October 28 at booth #401. Demo stations will feature conversations around core application solutions, student lifecycle, extensibility and Ellucian Experience, the company's new SaaS-based user experience platform that addresses student expectations and simplifies campus life. "At Ellucian, we spend every day focused on how we can help drive success for the 26 million students and more than 2,700 institutional customers who benefit from our technology. Our solutions and services deliver modern technology platforms to support institutions so they can deliver the future now," said Laura Ipsen, President and CEO, Ellucian. "Working with our partners and customers across the EDUCAUSE community, Ellucian is delivering the experience tomorrow's students expect today." Ellucian's 2021 EDUCAUSE Sessions include: Title: The Role of Institutions and Technology in Creative Inclusive Communities for Students in Online Learning Presenters: Tara Kissel, Senior Learning Experience Designer, Ellucian Heidi Schuler, Learning Experience Designer, Ellucian Date/Time: Wednesday, October 27, 2:15 p.m. 3:00 p.m. ET Location: 203AB, 200 Level Title: 'Crisitunity': Learning from a Difficult Time to Make a Better Future Panelists: Dr. Timothy M. Chester, Vice President for Information Technology, University of Georgia Rupa Saran, Dy. Chief Information Technology Officer, Coast Community College District John Rathje, Vice President for Information Technology and Chief Information Officer, Kent State University Moderator: Mariam Tariq, Senior Vice President, Product Management, Ellucian Date/Time: Thursday, October 28, 9:15 a.m. 10:00 a.m. ET Location: 108AB, 100 Level In-Booth Theatre Sessions Theater sessions will be held in Ellucian's Booth (#401). Each 20-minute session will start at time indicated, with 15 minutes for presentation, and five minutes for Q&A. To register for the sessions below, visit https://lp.ellucian.com/educause-2021-booth-theater-registration.html. Session: Connecting Your Campus Ecosystem with Ellucian Ethos Wed, Oct. 27 at 12:30 p.m. ET at Thurs, Oct. 28 at 3:10 p.m. ET Presenters: Mariam Tariq, SVP of Product Management, Ellucian; Michael Kennedy, Principal Solutions Consultant, Ellucian Session: The "Experience" Your Constituents Need Wed, Oct. 27 at 1:10 p.m. ET at Thurs, Oct. 28 at 12:30 p.m. ET Presenters: Connie Minnick, Principal Solutions Consultant, Ellucian; Michael Kennedy, Principal Solutions Consultant, Ellucian Session: Your Path to the Cloud Wed, Oct. 27 at 1:35 p.m. ET at Thurs, Oct. 28 at 1:10 p.m. ET Presenter: Bob Zwarycz, Solutions Architecture Director, Ellucian Session: Improve Enrollment Outcomes with CRM Recruit Wed, Oct. 27 at 12:30 p.m. ET at Thurs, Oct. 28 at 3:10 p.m. ET Presenter: Tim Dawson, Principal Solutions Consultant, Ellucian Session: Streamline Your Workflows for Your Campus Wed, Oct. 27 at 3:10 p.m. ET at Thurs, Oct. 28 at 10:10 a.m. ET Presenter: Connie Minnick, Principal Solutions Consultant, Ellucian Session: Discover the Student Lifecycle Learn More About CRM Advise and Degree Works Wed, Oct. 27 at 10:10 a.m. ET at Thurs, Oct. 28 at 3:35 p.m. ET Presenter: Tim Dawson, Principal Solutions Consultant, Ellucian Ellucian is leading the digital transformation of higher education with more than 1,100 institutions worldwide in the cloud. For more information, visit: https://www.ellucian.com. About Ellucian Ellucian is charting the digital future of higher education with a portfolio of cloud-ready technology solutions and services. From student recruitment to workforce analytics; from fundraising opportunities to alumni engagement; Ellucian's comprehensive suite of data-rich tools gives colleges and universities the information they need to lead with confidence. Working with a community of more than 2,700 customers in over 50 countries, Ellucian keeps innovating as higher education keeps evolving. Drawing on its comprehensive higher education business acumen and suite of services, Ellucian guides its customers through manageable, sustainable digital transformationso that every type of institution and student can thrive in today's fast-changing landscape. To find out what's next in higher education solutions and services, visit Ellucian at www.ellucian.com. Media Contact Lindsay Stanley [email protected] SOURCE Ellucian WASHINGTON, Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation (Farmer Mac;NYSE: AGM and AGM.A), the nation's secondary market provider that increases the availability and affordability of credit for the benefit of rural America, today announced that it will release its financial results for the fiscal quarter ended September 30, 2021, on Monday, November 8, 2021, after the closing of equity markets. A conference call to discuss the results will be held that day at 4:30 p.m. eastern time. The conference call can be accessed by telephone or webcast as follows: Dial-In (Domestic): (888) 346-2616 Dial-In (International): (412) 902-4254 Webcast: https://www.farmermac.com/investors/events-presentations/ When dialing in to the call, please ask for the "Farmer Mac Earnings Conference Call." This call can be heard live and will also be available for replay on Farmer Mac's website following the conclusion of the conference call. About Farmer Mac Farmer Mac is a vital part of the agricultural credit markets and was created to increase access to and reduce the cost of credit for the benefit of American agricultural and rural communities. As the nation's secondary market for agricultural credit, we provide financial solutions to a broad spectrum of the agricultural community, including agricultural lenders, agribusinesses, and other institutions that can benefit from access to flexible, low-cost financing and risk management tools. Farmer Mac's customers benefit from its low cost of funds, low overhead costs, and high operational efficiency. More information about Farmer Mac is available on Farmer Mac's website at www.farmermac.com. SOURCE Farmer Mac Related Links www.farmermac.com CHEVY CHASE, Md., Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- FCP and The Community Builders (TCB) announced the formation of a joint venture for the adaptive reuse redevelopment of the historic Johnston Mill property in the NoDa neighborhood of Charlotte, NC. The $50 million project will include the new development of 419 and 423 E. 36th Street and the adaptive reuse redevelopment of 3315 N. Davidson Street (the former Johnston Mill). The project will transform the venerable 100+ year old 3315 building and the adjacent parcels into 235 apartment units under a new name, NoDa Wandry. 84 apartment units will be located in 3315 N. Davidson while the remaining 151 apartment units will be constructed in the new 423 E. 36th Street building. Noda Wandry will also include 2,800 square feet of retail, a leasing center, and co-working amenity space in the 419 E. 36th Street building. FCP provided $18 million in mezzanine financing for Noda Wandry, arranged for the senior financing with Bank of America and brought in a state and federal historic tax credit investor, also Bank of America. FCP and The Community Builders (TCB) announced the formation of a joint venture for the adaptive reuse redevelopment of the historic Johnston Mill property in the NoDa neighborhood of Charlotte, NC. The $50 million project will include the new development of 419 and 423 E. 36th Street and the adaptive reuse redevelopment of 3315 N. Davidson Street (the former Johnston Mill). "FCP is excited to work with TCB, who has been a longstanding member of the NoDa community, delivering needed quality housing and recovering important historic properties as part of their work," said FCP's Ross Magette. "Working with Juan and his team at TCB, FCP lined up the financing and completed a highly complex capital stack to fulfill the needs of our partner." "TCB is equally excited about the opportunity to complete the work started at this transit-oriented site in NoDa. Combined with 47 affordable units contained in the previously restored Mecklenburg Mill, we have been successful in moving toward a truly mixed income community," said TCB Regional Vice President for Development, Juan Powell. "We appreciate the opportunity to work with a partner such as the FCP team one that brings tremendous development skills, financial resources, and the grit to tackle tough projects. We look forward to expanding our services to the Charlotte community by providing more first-class affordable and mixed income housing in the future." Construction on NoDa Wandry began in March 2021 and is expected to be complete in spring 2023. The community will include 80 studios, 97 one-bedroom apartments, 51 two-bedroom apartments and 7 three-bedroom apartments. TCB initially acquired the Johnston Mill buildings in 2011 from the City of Charlotte. The adaptive reuse redevelopment of 3315 N. Davidson Street will feature large historic windows with exposed brick. A number of units will have exposed historic wood ceilings with wood beams and all units will feature new floors. Exposed brick and beam architecture will provide architectural interest and authenticity in the clubroom, gym and art production center. A current boiler room will be repurposed into an outdoor lounge with a rooftop patio overlooking a pool area. 419 E. 36th Street will be a fully ground up new apartment building with 151 units. A transit lounge will be included in the building, providing a connection directly onto the ramp leading to the 36th Street Station on the LYNX blue light rail line. 423 E. 36th Street will be developed as a two-story ground-up building that will house the leasing center for the property, 2,800 square feet of retail, a co-working area, and a rooftop patio overlooking 36th Street and providing a visual connection to the N. Davidson/36th Street intersection, with a lively view of the neighborhood's multiple restaurants, bars, shops, and music venues. The project team includes BB+M Architecture (architect), LandDesign (civil engineer), Samet Corporation (general contractor) and Trinity Partners (construction management services). About FCP FCP is a privately held real estate investment company that has invested in or financed more than $8.6 billion in assets since its founding in 1999. FCP invests directly and with operating partners in commercial and residential assets. The firm makes equity and mezzanine investments in income-producing and development properties. Based in Chevy Chase, MD, FCP invests both its commingled, discretionary funds and separate accounts targeted at major real estate markets in the United States. For further information on FCP, please visit www.fcpdc.com. About TCB The Community Builders' mission is to build and sustain strong communities where all people can thrive. Our mission-driven businesses work with partners to develop, finance and operate residential communities, neighborhood amenities and opportunity programs for families, seniors and adults with disabilities. Since 1964, we have advanced housing equity through award-winning affordable and mixed-income communities and our pioneering Community Life model for resident success. Media Contact: Karen Widmayer KW Communications, LLC [email protected] 301-661-1448 SOURCE FCP Related Links http://www.fcpdc.com The untested Beauty Zone lies wholly within Freeman's patented mining claims and is defined by a 350 metre by 250 metre coincidental gold in rock and soil anomaly. Sections of this zone were hydraulically mined between 1890 and the early 1900s. The Beauty Zone was first identified from prospecting during the 2020 field work program, described as Target 1 in the press release dated May 6, 2021 . The Beauty Zone's location in relation to the Lemhi Gold Deposit and other exploration targets is shown in Figure 1 . "With the discovery of the Beauty Zone we have added a high quality target to our resource potential," commented Paul Matysek, Executive Chairman. "We are very excited about the prospects of adding near surface, high grade oxide ounces near Lemhi. The similarities between their geological settings and the very prospective geochemical results are striking. It's a beauty! Drill pads are being constructed for drill testing." In total, 105 rock grab and 347 soil samples have been collected in and around the Beauty Zone. A total of 52 rock samples returned values greater than 1 gram per tonne ("g/t") gold ("Au"), 39 with values greater than 5 g/t Au and 28 samples with greater than 10 g/t Au (up to 450 g/t Au). Rock samples are heavily oxidized and silicified at surface. (See Table 1: Figure 2) One contrast to mineralization at the Lemhi Gold Deposit is the presence of associated silver in many of the anomalous rock samples. Of the 105 rock grab sample results received to date, 48 samples at the Beauty zone contain greater than 10 g/t silver ("Ag") (up to 219 g/t Ag). Furthermore, the anomalous rock grabs coincide with a gold in soil anomaly (identified by Freeman during the 2020/2021 exploration campaigns) which is approximately 350 by 250 metres. The Beauty Zone Target is hosted in Proterozoic silttites and quartzites similar to the Lemhi Gold Deposit. The target area is structurally complex. Within the center of Beauty Zone is an interpreted Northeast-Southwest ("NE-SW") striking fault. The host metasediments dip in opposite directions on either side of this fault (NW in the east block, SE in the west block). Although there is a limited amount of outcrop exposed, it appears that gold-silver mineralization is hosted in Northwest-Southeast oriented quartz veins which following jointing patterns running sub-perpendicular bedding and the NE trending fault. A fold observed in the outcropping quartz veins has rock grab samples containing 46 g/t Au and 56 g/t Ag. These high-grade quartz veins exposed at surface represent a compelling target with respect to gold-silver mineralization on the property (See Figure 2). Recently, Freeman re-established road cuts over the Beauty Zone Target and exposed additional outcrops containing quartz veins, altered and oxidized silttites, silicified silttites and/or quartzites, fault gouges and folded stratigraphy. The outcrops are all currently being mapped and rock channel sampled. Drill pads are being constructed for initial drill testing. All drill rock samples are sent to ALS Minerals Division, Vancouver, BC, an independent and fully accredited laboratory in Canada for analysis for gold by Fire Assay and multi-element Induction Coupled Plasma Spectroscopy. Freeman has a regimented Quality Assurance, Quality Control program where at least 10% duplicates, blanks and standards are inserted into each sample shipment. Additionally, soil samples were sent to SGS Canada Inc. and analyzed using Ionic Leach ("IL") method. Rock grab samples are by their nature selective and are not necessarily indicative of the general geology or the grade within the Property. About the Company Freeman Gold Corp. is a mineral exploration company focused on the development of its 100% owned Lemhi Gold property (the "Lemhi Project"). The Lemhi Project comprises 30 square kilometres of highly prospective land. The project hosts a near surface, shallow, high grade oxide gold resource. The pit constrained National Instrument 43-101 compliant mineral resource estimate is comprised of 749,800 oz gold ("Au") at 1.02 grams per tonne ("g/t") in 22.94 million tonnes (Indicated) and 250,300 oz Au at 1.01 g/t Au in 7.83 million tonnes (Inferred). The Company is focused on growing and advancing the Lemhi Project towards a production decision. The technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Dean Besserer, P.Geol., VP Exploration of the Company and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. On Behalf of the Company William Randall President & CEO Forward Looking Statements: This press release contains "forwardlooking information or statements" within the meaning of Canadian securities laws, which may include, but are not limited to statements relating to its future business plans. 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 from those in the forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking information reflects the Company's views with respect to future events and is subject to risks, uncertainties, and assumptions. The Company does not undertake to update forwardlooking statements or forwardlooking information, except as required by law. Neither Canadian Securities Exchange nor its regulation services provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. SOURCE Freeman Gold Corp. Related Links https://freemangoldcorp.com/ Founded in San Diego, California in 1989, Fusion Academy's approach to learning is grounded in its one-to-one model of one teacher to one student, with different teachers for different classes. Fusion opened its first Texas academies in Dallas and Plano in 2014, and has since opened schools in Houston, Southlake, Sugarland, The Woodlands, and Austin. Fusion Academy San Antonio will be the eighth campus in Texas and the first campus to offer a new flexible learning model that combines three learning modalities including one-to-one learning, asynchronous digital, and small learning project-based groups. As a result, students are better prepared academically, socially, and emotionally for their future. Fusion Academy student surveys show dramatic increases in academic engagement, positive relationships, and emotional support: 95% of students report being academically engaged at Fusion, up from 47% at their previous school 93% of students report having positive relationships at Fusion, up from 37% before enrolling. 87% of students reported that they received the emotional support they needed within their first three months at Fusion, up from 27% before enrolling. "One-to-one learning is both exceptional and magical," said Fusion San Antonio Director of Outreach Haley Segovia. "We stand in awe as students' self-confidence, self-awareness, and self-advocacy flourish. Our new model marries students' strengths and goals with independent, collaborative, and personal learning modalities." Fusion Academy utilizes an array of assessment tools to create a custom learning roadmap for students. Upon enrollment Fusion students take two assessments Measures of Academy Progress (MAP) and Mindprint, which help students understand their level of mastery, as well as how they process information, how their memory works, and how they reason. "This information is incredibly powerful for students and teachers. When the team understands why and how a student learns, they are both empowered to teach and learn in a way that aptly positions students in the driver's seat of their learning journey," said Charles. Fusion teachers personalize instruction for student strengths, interests, and learning preferences. Schedules are also customized so students take classes at a time of day that works best for them. Athletes, actors, and students with extracurricular passions can schedule school around their life instead of the other way around. Other students who attend Fusion include gifted or accelerated students, students with mild learning differences such as dyslexia, or anyone looking for a more personalized learning environment. Each Fusion campus features Homework Cafe spaces where students complete homework before leaving for the day. The social cafe is also the student social hub; where student meetings occur, clubs meet, and more. Fusion campuses feature a state-of-the-art recording studio, a mixed-media art studio, and a science lab with college-level tools. Fusion Academies are intended to remain small, serve as a haven from large traditional schools, and rarely exceed 100 students. Students can attend Fusion full-time for middle and high school, part-time for tutoring, classes for credit, or college counseling. Fusion students have been accepted to more than 200 unique colleges and universities, many being their first-choice school Fusion Academy San Antonio will be located at 227 North Loop 1604 East. The campus is expected to open for in-person learning in January of 2022. Interested families can tour the school by calling (855) 465-9956 or learn more here. About Fusion Academy: Fusion Academy San Antonio is one of 63 academies serving grades 6 through 12 that provide quality individualized education. Fusion Academy is part of Fusion Education Group an organization committed to providing accredited personalized education and also includes Futures Academy, that offers one-to-one and small group instruction at 15 California campuses, Barnstable which offers traditional college-prep in a small school setting in New Jersey, and Fusion Global Academy which offers one-to-one personalized education for middle and high school students through a completely virtual campus that currently serves students in the United States and 15 additional countries. Learn more about Fusion Academy in San Antonio here. About MAP: The MAP assessment is an independent assessment developed by NWEA and used worldwide. MAP covers three areas: Language Usage, Mathematics, and Reading, and creates a personalized testing experience by adjusting questions based on a student's ongoing performance. Fusion teachers utilize the results to gain a more accurate sense of the content a student has mastered. About Mindprint Mindprint is a cognitive assessment that reveals why a student is performing at a certain level. This tool helps teachers understand a student's cognitive process while working to identify where challenges might occur due to processing speed, memory, executive functions, or complex reasoning. SOURCE Fusion Education Group Related Links www.fusionacademy.com NEW YORK, Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Zion Market Research has published a new report titled "Mattress Market by Product (Memory foam, Gel, Innerspring, Water bed, Air bed, Latex Mattress, and Adjustable bases), by Size (King size, Double size, Queen, Twin XL, Twin), by End-User (Hotel industry, Household, Hospitals, and Others) - Global Industry Perspective, Comprehensive Analysis and Forecast, 2021 2028''. According to the report, global mattress market was valued at around USD $29.63 billion in 2021 and is expected to reach approximately $42.84 billion in 2028, growing at a CAGR of slightly above 4.6% between 2021 and 2028. Market Growth Drivers Massive focus on good sleep for enhancing health of an individual has accounted majorly towards the overall market size in the recent years. In addition to this, humungous popularity of natural & organic mattresses across the globe will propel the business space in the years to come. Additionally, thriving eCommerce and online retail sectors will proliferate the expansion of mattress industry over the estimated timeframe. Moreover, massive internet and smartphone penetration across the globe will boost the business growth trends. Furthermore, rise in the residential housing activities as a result of manifold increase in the global population will prompt the market progression over the forecast timeline. Additionally, large-scale utilization of various home furnishing products is set to create huge industry demand over the forthcoming timeline. The growing preference for premium home decor items will bolster the market revenue in the years ahead. Get free Sample PDF of this Research Report for more Insights with Table of Content, Research Methodology and Graphs - https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/sample/mattress-market North American Market to Accrue Maximum Gains By 2028 The expansion of the industry in sub-continent over the forecast timespan is due to large-scale preference for mattresses of varied shapes & sizes in the countries like Canada and the U.S. Apart from this, rise in the construction of hotels, restaurants, and residential buildings in the region will account substantially towards industry size in the sub-continent over the years to come. A prominent increase in the purchasing capacity of the residents with increment in their per capita income will tilt the regional market growth graph towards the positive axis. Increase in the tourist activities resulting in improved lodging & boarding amenities in hotels & restaurants and demand for premium & luxury goods in the countries like Canada and the U.S. will embellish the industry growth in North America. The global mattress market is classified according to its products as memory foam, gel, innerspring, water bed, air bed, latex mattress, and adjustable bases. Innerspring is projected to dominate the global mattress market over the forecast period. The significant share of the segment is attributed to rising incidence of back disorders, related to uncomfortable sleeping surfaces. Increasing number of affording customers in emerging nations are demanding premium innerspring technology mattress. Based on the size, global mattress market is categorized as king size, double size, queen, twin XL, and twin. Queen size mattress is anticipated to have maximum revenue share that is most suitable for apartments and are popular in metropolitan cities. Double size mattress is projected to witness maximum gains over the forecast timeframe. Various end-use industries deploying mattress are hospitals, household, hotel, and others. The household is estimated to contribute majorly in demand of mattress owing to the rising number of household and nuclear family trends. Request for Customization on this Report as per your requirements - https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/custom/1934 The global mattress market is divided into prominent regions such as North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, the Middle East and Africa, and Latin America. North America is projected to register maximum gains till 2024 due to customer inclination towards best quality mattress along with brand consciousness. Growing incidence of sleeping disorders is also enticing spending on comfortable mattresses in the region. Key participants profiled in the study are Southerland Bedding Co., Select Comfort, Paramount Bed Holdings Co. Ltd., Serta Inc., KING KOIL Inc., Kingsdown Inc., Spring Air Company, Sealy Corporation, Simmons Bedding Company LLC, and Tempur-Pedic International Inc. The report segments the global mattress market as follows: Mattress Market: Product Segment Analysis Memory foam Gel Innerspring Water bed Air bed Latex mattress Adjustable bases Mattress Market: Size Segment Analysis King size Double size Queen Twin XL Twin Mattress Market: End-User Segment Analysis Hotel industry Household Hospitals Others Inquire before Purchase of this Research Report - https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/inquiry/mattress-market By Region North America The U.S. Canada Europe France The UK Spain Germany Italy Rest of Europe Asia Pacific China Japan India South Korea Southeast Asia Rest of Asia Pacific Latin America Brazil Mexico Rest of Latin America Middle East & Africa GCC South Africa Rest of Middle East & Africa Browse Other Related Research Reports from Zion Market Research Luxury Hotels Market - https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/report/luxury-hotels-market https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/report/luxury-hotels-market Outdoor Furniture Market - https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/report/outdoor-furniture-market https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/report/outdoor-furniture-market Bedroom Furniture Market - https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/report/bedroom-furniture-market https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/report/bedroom-furniture-market Global Hotels Market - https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/report/hotels-market About Us: Zion Market Research is an obligated company. We create futuristic, cutting edge, informative reports ranging from industry reports, company reports to country reports. We provide our clients not only with market statistics unveiled by avowed private publishers and public organizations but also with vogue and newest industry reports along with pre-eminent and niche company profiles. Our database of market research reports comprises a wide variety of reports from cardinal industries. Our database is been updated constantly in order to fulfill our clients with prompt and direct online access to our database. Keeping in mind the client's needs, we have included expert insights on global industries, products, and market trends in this database. Last but not the least, we make it our duty to ensure the success of clients connected to usafter allif you do well, a little of the light shines on us. Contact Us: Zion Market Research 244 Fifth Avenue, Suite N202 New York, 10001, United States Tel: +49-322 210 92714 USA/Canada Toll-Free No +1-855-465-4651 US OFFICE NO +1-386-310-3803 Email: [email protected] Website: https://www.zionmarketresearch.com Blog: https://zmrblog.com/ Follow us on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/zion-market-research All Press Releases - https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/all-news SOURCE Zion Market Research ST. LOUIS, Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Graybar, a leading distributor of electrical, communications and data networking products and provider of related supply chain management and logistics services, today reported its highest quarterly net sales in company history. Graybar's net sales for the third quarter totaled $2.31 billion, a 23.2 percent increase compared to the same period in 2020. Net income attributable to Graybar for the quarter was $74.3 million, up 115.4 percent from the same period last year. For the first nine months of the year, the company reported net sales of $6.45 billion, a 19.1 percent increase compared to the same period last year. Net income attributable to Graybar for the first nine months of the year increased 116.8 percent to $201.6 million. "Our strong performance so far this year is a testament to our employees and their dedication to our customers," said Kathleen M. Mazzarella, chairman , president and chief executive officer of Graybar. "While we are seeing improvements in the economy, the markets we serve continue to face a wide range of challenges. As we navigate through the uncertainty of today's business environment, we remain focused on delivering an exceptional customer experience and sustaining a healthy financial position for the future." Graybar, a Fortune 500 corporation and one of the largest employee-owned companies in North America, is a leader in the distribution of high quality electrical, communications and data networking products, and specializes in related supply chain management and logistics services. Through its network of 292 North American distribution facilities, it stocks and sells products from thousands of manufacturers, helping its customers power, network and secure their facilities with speed, intelligence and efficiency. For more information, visit www.graybar.com or call 1-800-GRAYBAR. Media Contact: Tim Sommer (314) 578-7672 [email protected] SOURCE Graybar Related Links http://www.Graybar.com Effective immediately, both Flynn Cochran and Jeffrey Martin will be promoted to the company's first Divisional Vice President roles (East and West respectively). In addition, Jonas Murphy and Chris McLaughlin will be promoted to new Division Sales Leaders. Further, regional operations will expand from six regions to eight regions, with Jeff White, Pat Combs, and Josh Joyce taking on new Regional Manager roles to support this expansion. "Groundworks continues to invest in our business to support our explosive growth. We invest in employee development and training, fleet and equipment assets, software and larger facilities. However, our investment in leadership must be relentless," said Matt Malone, Groundworks Founder and CEO. "Our collective growth has been both exciting and humbling to witness. The hard work and dedication of our amazing team is the reason for our success. This realignment is one more step in the development of our business that will further our mission to evolving this industry and building a national company." Flynn Cochran is a decorated Navy Seal veteran and has served as Groundworks Senior Vice President of Operations since 2020. Before joining the company, Cochran was the Chief Strategy Officer for Groundworks' leadership development partner, Echelon Front and prior to that he was a management consultant with McKinsey & Co. Jeffrey Martin has more than 13 years' experience in the industry, most recently serving as a regional manager of Groundworks' western division. He began his career with Foundation Recovery Systems in Missouri, where he served in various roles learning the business and moving up the ranks. In their new roles, Martin and Cochran will be instrumental to the continued success and development of the business and their respective teams. "These are motivating changes for our team and our company because they represent growth opportunities for our brands and career advancement opportunities for all our employees across the U.S.," said Mike Irby, Groundworks President and COO. "This expansion directly reflects the hard work and dedication of the men and women on the Groundworks team." About Groundworks Groundworks is the nation's leading and fastest-growing foundation solutions company. Headquartered in Virginia Beach, VA, the company currently provides foundation and water management solutions including, foundation repair, basement waterproofing, crawl space repair and encapsulation and concrete lifting services. Since 1975, Groundworks companies have helped nearly 1.5 million homeowners protect and repair their most valuable asset, their home. Groundworks operates over 40 offices and has been named numerous times to the Inc. 5000 Fastest-Growing Companies, BBB integrity award, and Best Places to Work. For more information about Groundworks, please visit: https://www.Groundworks.com. SOURCE Groundworks Related Links https://www.Groundworks.com Source factories taking orders online with huge price advantage The Expo will be segmented into eight exhibition areas: makeup, natural healthcare, perfumes & fragrances, personal care, raw materials, professional beauty, hairdressing and manicure, and packaging materials. Buyers can easily connect with factories for price quotes or products inquiries. More than 3,330 items have been ready for display during the expo, covering R&D, production, sales, service, and OEM/ODM. China-made products meeting expectations of young consumers With a comprehensive lineup of high-quality functional skincare products, China-made cosmetics for daily use, skincare creams, perfumes and fragrances, healthcare and beauty products, China-made brands are more professional and increasingly welcomed by young consumers. The expo will serve as a one-stop online platform to meet the diversified procurement needs of buyers from both China and abroad. Focusing on potential beauty categories as an entry point into the makeup market with huge growth potential At the exhibition, the organizer will connect the featured exhibitors with multinational purchasing and marketing centers in overseas markets as well as senior experts in the beauty industry, to further examine potential product categories and beauty markets as well as provide supply chain and channel resource support for global buyers. Meeting factory directors via virtual factory tours A series of virtual factory tours will also be held for buyers that cannot visit in person. Buyers can also connect with the factory directors or business personnel at any time for price quotes and samples inquiries. Some thirty promotional and informative events will be held concurrently with the exhibition. Online supply and demand matching sessions now accepting registrations To further improve products selection efficiency for global buyers and the customer targeting efficiency for exhibitors, many online business matching events will be held at the expo. Special supply sessions will be opened to effectively match suppliers and buyers both in China and abroad. Buyers interested in meeting suppliers are encouraged to contact the event organizers. Xiaobing Guo, +86-18688012473, [email protected] SOURCE Guangdong Premium Products International Trade Online Expo - Beauty Expo TAIPEI, Oct. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- HCmed Innovations (HCmed), a Taiwanese company that focuses on the development of vibrating mesh nebulizers, today announced the successful completion of the first developmental milestone for the collaboration agreement with CSL Behring. Earlier this year, global biotherapeutics leader CSL Behring partnered with HCmed to develop a combination product consisting of a plasma-derived immunoglobulin formulation (CSL787) administered via a customized version of the AdheResp nebulizer, HCmed's breath-actuated mesh nebulizer. As HCmed has now completed the development of the customized device to fulfill aerosol performance requirements, HCmed will be receiving the first milestone payment of the partnership. This is a significant achievement for HCmed's newly developed breath actuated platform AdheResp, which proves that HCmed's mesh platform is fully capable to deliver biologics through a respiratory pathway with superior quality and affordable cost. Inhaled forms of immunoglobulins will potentially diversify the delivery options, and as nebulized therapy can be self-administered by patients, demands on healthcare resources can also be alleviated. Moreover, with breath-actuated nebulizers brought to the collaboration, the way future patients receive inhalation treatments is expected to gradually change. With this function the nebulizers generate aerosol only in response to a patient's inhalation, reducing medication loss during exhalation. This characteristic makes breath-actuated nebulizers a more desirable device to aerosolize high value therapeutic drugs. "This represents another step forward in the development of novel mesh nebulizers for easier administration of plasma-derived immunoglobulins," stated HCmed CEO Jason Cheng. "Together with CSL Behring, we are committed to providing affordable and effective treatment options to patients suffering from respiratory diseases, and this milestone brings us closer to achieving our goal." About HCmed Founded in 2014, HCmed Innovations Co., Ltd. (HCmed) focuses on the development of drug-device combination products based on its vibrating mesh nebulizer technology. The company is venture-backed with funding from Vivo Capital and other major investors from the US, Taiwan, and Japan. Its medical devices have successfully received several regulatory approvals, such as US FDA, European CE, Taiwan TFDA, Brazilian Anvisa, Indonesian Badan POM and China NMPA. HCmed's mesh nebulizers have been launched in Brazil and China. The vision is to bring significant value to global pharma partners through a cost efficient and risk minimized pathway, designing combination products that can provide great contributions in the respiratory field. For additional information about HCmed, please visit www.hcmed-inno.com. SOURCE HCmed Innovations Co., Ltd. Related Links https://www.hcmed-inno.com/ PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Health Union has been accepted to present research at three prestigious conferences throughout fall 2021, focusing on the experiences and perspectives of people living with cystic fibrosis, hidradenitis suppurativa and spondyloarthritis. The research, leveraging data from the company's syndicated, condition-specific In America surveys, highlights Health Union's deep understanding of the entire patient journey, including significant condition impact on quality of life. Cystic Fibrosis Research - North American Cystic Fibrosis Conference Health Union will present quantitative research on how patients perceive the impact of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) medication Trikafta on their futures and different aspects of quality of life. The research will be presented in poster form at the North American Cystic Fibrosis Conference, which will take place virtually Nov. 2-5. The findings, based on responses from Health Union's Cystic Fibrosis In America 2020 survey of 384 people living with the condition, revealed that respondents who were currently using Trikafta were less likely to feel concerned about their futures and more likely to feel optimistic about the long-terms success of their treatment plans. The authors of the research, titled "Hope for the future: Optimism among patients using Trikafta for treatment of cystic fibrosis," are Health Union's Dana Ingemann, Sidney Saleh-Kurtz and Kaitlyn McNamara. Ankylosing Spondylitis and Axial Spondyloarthritis - International Society for Quality of Life Research Health Union is presenting research at the International Society for Quality of Life Research's 28th Annual Conference. The research, which is presented in poster form, aims to determine how conditions for people with spondyloarthritis - radiographic and non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis, as well as general spondyloarthritis - impact their quality of life and employment. The research, based on findings from Health Union's Ankylosing Spondylitis/Axial Spondyloarthritis In America 2020 survey, found that nearly seven in 10 respondents considered their work or careers to be negatively affected by their conditions, 30% received social security or disability income and nearly a quarter voluntarily stopped working. Meanwhile, only 6% considered their conditions to be under control with their current treatment plans. The poster presentation, titled "Quality-of-life impact and perceived treatment efficacy among patients with spondyloarthritis," will be available throughout the conference, which runs virtually Oct. 12-28, and will remain accessible until Nov. 30. Health Union's Matt Ferry and Evan Krieg authored this research. Hidradenitis Suppurativa - Symposium on Hidradenitis Suppurativa Advances Leveraging Hidradenitis Suppurativa In America 2020 survey findings, Health Union developed research to measure the impact of hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) on sex and intimacy, as well as the impact of sex and intimacy concerns on treatment management and quality of life viewpoints. The research revealed that 53% of survey respondents - all living with HS - said they had a strong fear of sex or intimacy. And those respondents were more likely than other respondents to say it's difficult to find treatment options that work for their HS. They were also more likely to experience lower self-esteem due to their HS, feel like a burden when sharing about their HS with family and friends and to say people mistake their HS symptoms for poor hygiene. A poster presentation of this research, titled "Fear of sex/intimacy, lower quality of life and treatment challenges among HS patients," was presented at the 6th Annual Symposium on Hidradenitis Suppurativa Advances, which took place online Sept. 24-26. The research was authored by Health Union's Rachel DiStefano, Amylyn Verrone, Cady Vishniac and Evan Krieg. About Health Union Health Union , with the recent acquisition of WEGO Health, maintains the largest team of experts, patient advocates and healthcare leaders dedicated to social health. The company encourages social interactions that evolve into valuable online health conversations, helping people with chronic conditions find the information, connection, and validation they seek. Health Union does this by creating condition-specific online communities publishing original, daily content and continuously cultivating social conversation to support, educate and connect millions of people with challenging, chronic health concerns. Health Union's growing portfolio of condition-specific communities includes 36 online health communities , including LungCancer.net, ParkinsonsDisease.net, MultipleSclerosis.net and Migraine.com. SOURCE Health Union The virtual assistant segment is expected to reach USD 4.7 billion by 2027, at a 32.6% growth rate. High growth rate is expected over the forecast period owing to advantages of virtual assistants such as patient satisfaction, increased healthcare quality, and patient outcome with fewer employees, among others. Furthermore, launch of novel AI powered virtual assistant solutions will further escalate the demand for healthcare artificial intelligence solutions. For instance, in September 2017, Nuance Communications introduced AI powered virtual assistant solution for healthcare providers. The company's Dragon Medical Virtual Assistant offers conversational dialogues as well as automation of high value clinical workflows through pre-built competences. Request for a sample of this research report @ https://www.gminsights.com/request-sample/detail/1557 Healthcare artificial intelligence market in Asia Pacific region is expected to grow at a significant pace of 36.1% during the forecast timeframe. Presence of large patient pool stimulates the demand for better healthcare services. Additionally, the developing healthcare infrastructure will support Asia Pacific healthcare artificial intelligence market growth. Furthermore, continuous R&D activities in Japan focused on developing new artificial intelligence-based solutions will optimistically impact healthcare artificial intelligence market growth. A few notable companies operating in the healthcare artificial intelligence industry include IBM Corporation, Modernizing Medicine, NVIDIA Corporation, Sophia Genetics among others. Industry players are focusing on various strategies such as acquisitions, business expansion and novel product launches to consolidate their market presence. For instance, in May 2020, Zebra Medical Vision announced its fifth FDA 510(k) clearance for its Vertebral Compression Fractures (VCF) product. The company's latest AI solution automatically identifies findings suggestive of compression fractures, enabling clinicians to place patients that are at risk of osteoporosis in treatment pathways to prevent potentially life-changing fracture. Some major findings of the healthcare artificial intelligence market report include: Artificial intelligence has revolutionized the field of healthcare by designing treatment plans, assisting in repetitive tasks, medication management, and drug discovery will drive the healthcare artificial intelligence market growth. Launch of novel AI powered virtual assistant solutions will escalate the demand for healthcare artificial intelligence solutions. Presence of large patient pool stimulating demand for better healthcare services and developing healthcare infrastructure will support Asia Pacific healthcare artificial intelligence market growth. healthcare artificial intelligence market growth. Industry players are focusing on various strategies such as acquisition, business expansion and novel product launches to consolidate their market presence. Prominent players operating in the market are IBM Corporation, Modernizing Medicine, NVIDIA Corporation, Sophia Genetics. Browse key industry insights spread across 120 pages with 79 market data tables and 14 figures & charts from the report, "Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare Market Size By Application (Medical Imaging & Diagnosis, Drug Discovery, Therapy Planning, Hospital Workflow, Wearables, Virtual Assistants), COVID-19 Impact Analysis, Regional Outlook, Application Potential, Price Trends, Competitive Market Share & Forecast, 2021 - 2027" in detail along with the table of contents: https://www.gminsights.com/industry-analysis/healthcare-artificial-intelligence-market About Global Market Insights Global Market Insights Inc., headquartered in Delaware, U.S., is a global market research and consulting service provider, offering syndicated and custom research reports along with growth consulting services. Our business intelligence and industry research reports offer clients with penetrative insights and actionable market data specially designed and presented to aid strategic decision making. These exhaustive reports are designed via a proprietary research methodology and are available for key industries such as chemicals, advanced materials, technology, renewable energy, and biotechnology. Contact Us: Arun Hegde Corporate Sales, USA Global Market Insights Inc. Phone: 1-302-846-7766 Toll Free: 1-888-689-0688 Email: [email protected] SOURCE Global Market Insights Inc. The best time to communicate with your deceased loved ones is when the Veil is at its thinnest Tweet this 1. How does a psychic communicate with deceased loved ones during a reading? Everything is made of energy and vibrates at a specific frequency. When a Psychic Medium connects with your deceased loved one, they raise their vibration while Spirit lowers theirs just enough to align frequencies. 2. What should I expect during a Deceased Loved Ones Reading? A Deceased Loved Ones Psychic, or Psychic Medium, will take a moment of silence to connect with the other side and then relay whatever information they get from the spirit: names or initials, personality traits, physical descriptors, etc. 3. My family member just passed recently. How long should I wait before I call? While there really is no set time limit, the bereaved must be in a stable emotional state when seeking a reading. If you are not yet able to remain composed during the reading, it can impact the connection. Experience the Thinning Veil Whether you explore the spaces in time where your own personal veil is lifted, you visit a specific haunted location, or you choose to have a reading done with a Deceased Loved Ones Psychic, this is the optimum time to connect with Spirit and speak to those who have crossed over. Everything in the observable universe is made of energy and About California Psychics California Psychics is the most trusted source of psychic readings. We have delivered over 11 million discreet and confidential psychic readings since 1995. Learn more about how psychic readings work and explore the California Psychics blog. With over 500 psychics online to choose from with real customer reviews, you're sure to find the best psychics for you. Call one of our trusted and accurate psychics today! Confidential and secure, real psychics, accurate predictions, 100% guaranteed. SOURCE California Psychics NEW YORK, Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Department of Community Education & Outreach at Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) has received the Betty J. Cleckley Minority Issues Research Award at the American Public Health Association (APHA) annual meeting. The award recognizes individuals in aging and public health research who have made a significant impact on the lives of older people who are members of minority groups, according to the APHA. The organization notes that minimizing health disparities and improving access to health and long-term care services are important issues for minority populations in the United States. HSS is the award recipient for its manuscript titled, "Utilizing Alternative Strategies to Keep Underserved and Vulnerable Communities Socially Connected." Bonnie McGrath, first author and program assistant, Regional Markets Education & Outreach at HSS, accepted the award virtually at the APHA Aging and Public Health Section Awards Ceremony on October 25. "When the pandemic started, it was essential for us to continue to provide services to our underserved and vulnerable populations, including older adults," explained McGrath. "Working closely with our community partners, the HSS team assessed the community's needs and identified strategies to implement programs that individuals could access from home. It is truly an honor to have our work recognized by the APHA." HSS successfully transitioned many in-person programs to telephone conference calls or video conferences with Zoom. New programs, on-demand videos and offerings in a safe outdoor space with social distancing were added as time went on. Focus groups, phone interviews and surveys were used to assess program effectiveness, McGrath explained. Data collection indicated that the offerings enabled participants to feel calmer and more relaxed; they valued the opportunity to connect with others; and they gained skills to cope with stress and anxiety. "Our ability to adapt and be innovative has allowed us to implement new program formats to reach the diverse communities we serve, offering support, an opportunity for physical activity and social connections," said Sandra Goldsmith, assistant vice president, HSS Education Institute. "The communities we serve were open to these changes, and it is gratifying to have the opportunity to play a continued role in supporting their health." About HSS HSS is the world's leading academic medical center focused on musculoskeletal health. At its core is Hospital for Special Surgery, nationally ranked No. 1 in orthopedics (for the 12th consecutive year), No. 4 in rheumatology by U.S. News & World Report (2021-2022), and the best pediatric orthopedic hospital in NY, NJ and CT by U.S. News & World Report "Best Children's Hospitals" list (2021-2022). HSS is ranked world #1 in orthopedics by Newsweek (2021-2022). Founded in 1863, the Hospital has the lowest complication and readmission rates in the nation for orthopedics, and among the lowest infection rates. HSS was the first in New York State to receive Magnet Recognition for Excellence in Nursing Service from the American Nurses Credentialing Center five consecutive times. The global standard total knee replacement was developed at HSS in 1969. An affiliate of Weill Cornell Medical College, HSS has a main campus in New York City and facilities in New Jersey, Connecticut and in the Long Island and Westchester County regions of New York State, as well as in Florida. In addition to patient care, HSS leads the field in research, innovation and education. The HSS Research Institute comprises 20 laboratories and 300 staff members focused on leading the advancement of musculoskeletal health through prevention of degeneration, tissue repair and tissue regeneration. The HSS Global Innovation Institute was formed in 2016 to realize the potential of new drugs, therapeutics and devices. The HSS Education Institute is a trusted leader in advancing musculoskeletal knowledge and research for physicians, nurses, allied health professionals, academic trainees, and consumers in more than 130 countries. The institution is collaborating with medical centers and other organizations to advance the quality and value of musculoskeletal care and to make world-class HSS care more widely accessible nationally and internationally. www.hss.edu. SOURCE Hospital for Special Surgery Related Links www.hss.edu Jill is relentless in her belief that the agency must continuously transform to stay at the forefront of the rapidly changing communications world. In the past three years alone, she has launched new business solutions to ensure her clients are on the front foot of modernity precision marketing practice, Scalpel, boutique design studio, Le Parc, and in-house production studio, Bolt Content. The addition of these three business units contributed to Juniper Park\TBWA's record revenue in 2020. As a female CEO in a male-dominated industry, Jill has used her experiences of exclusion and discrimination as fuel to make a difference towards diversity and inclusion in her leadership role. Today, Juniper Park\TBWA is the most diverse large-size agency in Canada. It is made up of 54% women and 25% BIPOC, with a strong representation of people who identify as LGBTQIA2S+, from C-suite to entry level. Jill has a borderless approach to talent acquisition, which is evident in its talent make-up: 47% of its team is from countries outside of Canada, with 37% speaking more than one language. "Modern leadership requires a combination of strong business acumen, game-changing innovation and social impact," said Jill Nykoliation, CEO of Juniper Park\TBWA. "I am thrilled to be recognized by WXN as one of Canada's most powerful CEOs alongside so many brilliant leaders. Many people mentors, clients, staff members have contributed to the success I've had in my career to date. I proudly share this award with them." Criteria for Canada's Most Powerful CEO Award includes leaders who demonstrate innovation, have a significantly positive impact on their organization, industry, and society, create outstanding customer and shareholder value, maintain favourable financial performance, act as influential brand ambassadors, and showcase strong strategic vision and leadership. Under Jill's leadership, Juniper Park\TBWA has grown from six employees in 2007 to 147 in 2021, won hundreds of awards including most recently Effie Agency of the Year 2021 and has consistently been ranked within the top 10 agencies in Canada. "Jill's business acumen is second to none," said Troy Ruhanen, CEO, TBWA\Worldwide. "She brings a laser-focused strategic perspective to everything she touches and has helped to shape some of the world's most powerful brands. Jill embodies a growth mindset and her rare mix of strength and vulnerability is what I hope to see from all of our leaders. We are proud to see her recognized by WXN." "When I look at this year's winners, I see a group of radically authentic women who remind us all of what it means to stand up with courage, for ourselves and those around them," said Sherri Stevens, Owner and CEO of WXN. "By recognizing and celebrating the strength, fearlessness, resilience and heart these women demonstrate, we can inspire more of the same in generations to come." Past award winners include some of Canada's most iconic women: The Honourable Dr. Jean Augustine, the first African-Canadian woman elected to the House of Commons; Melissa Grelo, co-host of CTV's The Social; Dr. Shawna Pandya, scientist-astronaut candidate; Michele Romanow, tech entrepreneur and venture capitalist; and Susan Aglukark, award-winning musician. For a full list of 2021 winners, click here . WXN's Top 100 Awards Program includes a virtual two-day Leadership Summit and Gala on November 24 and 25. Visit this link for event details and tickets. About Juniper Park\TBWA Juniper Park\TBWA ( juniperparktbwa.com ) is The Disruption Company: the cultural engine for 21st century business. A global, award-winning agency located in Toronto, Juniper Park\TBWA uses Disruption methodologies to develop business-changing ideas for brands. The 130+ team of world-class creators and thinkers serves clients across North America, including CIBC, Nissan, PepsiCo, GoDaddy, among others. It is part of TBWA Worldwide ( tbwa.com ), named Agency of the Year and Grand Prix winner at the 2021 Effie Awards, and one of the World's Most Innovative Companies by Fast Company in 2019, 2020, and 2021, and included on Ad Age's Agency A-List in both 2019 and 2020. Follow us on Instagram , LinkedIn , and Twitter , or like us on Facebook for the latest updates from the Park. About WXN Women's Executive Network (WXN), a member-based organization, is North America's #1 and only organization that meaningfully propels and celebrates the advancement of women at all levels, in all sectors, and of all ages. WXN delivers this advancement through training, events, mentoring, and award and recognition programs for members and partners. WXN operates in Canada and the U.S. SOURCE Juniper Park\TBWA Related Links http://juniperparktbwa.com KANSAS CITY, Mo., Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Board of Directors of Kansas City Life Insurance Company declared a quarterly dividend of $0.27 per share on October 25, 2021. The dividend will be payable on November 10, 2021, to stockholders of record on November 4, 2021. Kansas City Life Insurance Company (OTCQX: KCLI) was established in 1895 and is based in Kansas City, Missouri. The Company's primary business is providing financial protection through the sale of life insurance and annuities. The Company operates in 49 states and the District of Columbia. For more information, please visit www.kclife.com. SOURCE Kansas City Life Insurance Company HOUSTON, Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- KBR (NYSE: KBR) announced today the appointment of Sonia Galindo as Executive Vice President and General Counsel. Ms. Galindo joins KBR from FLIR Systems, Inc. (now, Teledyne F LLC, a subsidiary of Teledyne Technologies), a global technology company with applications in government & defense, industrial, and commercial markets, where she served as Senior Vice President, General Counsel, Secretary, and Chief Ethics and Compliance Officer. Prior to FLIR, Ms. Galindo served as General Counsel and Corporate Secretary at Rosetta Stone Inc., an education technology software company. She has also held roles of increasing responsibility in the public and private sector including at the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Keurig Green Mountain, Inc., and McCormick & Company, Inc. "I am pleased to welcome Sonia to KBR's Executive Leadership Team," said Stuart Bradie, KBR President and Chief Executive Officer. "Her extensive knowledge of the global legal landscape, coupled with her strong leadership skills, will help guide KBR in accordance with our high ethical standard. We are excited to add such a talented leader to the team and her deep understanding of the law will be indispensable as we continue to grow and execute on our long-term objectives." Ms. Galindo earned a Juris Doctorate from the University of Illinois Chicago School of Law, formerly John Marshall Law School, and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Hood College for Women. 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 https://www.kbr.com CHICAGO, Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- As cities struggle to emerge from a tumultuous year, the 2021 Global Cities Report by Kearney offers key insights on how COVID-19 and the resulting pandemic containment measures have impacted the level of global engagement of 156 cities around the world. Comprised of the Global Cities Index (GCI) and the Global Cities Outlook (GCO), the report reveals that the leading global cities have been resilient and adaptable despite initially being hit hardest by COVID-19 because of their high connectivity and density. Just as they led the global pandemic response, these cities are now poised to lead the global recoveryunsteady and uncertain as it may be. Global Cities Index results Although many of the world's most globally connected cities in the West and in Asia fell in their overall rankings as a result of the impact of the pandemic, New York, London, Paris, and Tokyo held onto the top four spots on the Index, demonstrating resilience across the many metrics in which they lead. Los Angeles broke into the top five this year for the first time, after strong performance in human capital. Beijing fell one position to sixth place, as pandemic containment measures impacted the city's cultural experience scores and muted economic performance limited its business activity. Hong Kong slid to seventh place following another year of political instability, while Chicago and Singapore held strong at eighth and ninth place, and Shanghai rose two places to break into the top 10 for the first time. Fastest risers Overall, 21 cities rose six or more positions in the GCI ranking compared with last year, six of which are in the Middle East. Doha saw the most dramatic jump, rising 15 places following the restoration of diplomatic relations with its neighbors and supported by considerable gains across human capital, information exchange, and cultural experience scores. Addis Ababa moved up eight places, propelled by Ethiopia's development investments that have supported rapid economic growth. Istanbul climbed seven spots to 30th, with the city's efforts to become a global travel hub proving their worth. Melbourne also rose six places, in contrast to Sydney, which fell four spots, demonstrating the impact of city-level policies and decision-making during a time of heightened national control and regulation. Global Cities Outlook results In terms of outlook, the 2021 GCO has highlighted the strong knock-on effects that healthcare quality has on the future viability of a global city, with European cities faring better than those in North America. Despite an overall drop in scores because of the pandemic, the cities holding the top 10 spots were largely unchanged. London has maintained the top spot in the GCO for the third consecutive year, while Paris, Munich, and Abu Dhabi each climbed three spots, landing at second, third, and fourth with Dublin rounding out the top five. "This year's results make it clear that the most globally connected cities were also the most vulnerable to COVID impacts," said Kearney Partner Antoine Nasr, head of the firm's government practice in the Middle East. "The decline in global movement and connectivity was observed across all facets of the Index, from economic activity to social interactionsand cities with a relatively heavier weight toward the physically global dimensions of the Index, such as international visitors, global trade volumes, and public events, were those that suffered most. Less-connected global cities, predominately in developing and emerging regions, showed fewer impacts of the pandemic and in many cases rose in the rankings. However, we believe these improvements do not yet reflect the full reality, given the delayed impact of the pandemic in many cities." Five strategic imperatives for city leaders The report foresees growing divergence between cities as an uneven recovery from the pandemic picks up and posits that the global recovery will be led by global cities. Outlining the strategic imperatives for city leaders in that recovery, the report highlights five ways cities around the world can address the challenges they share: Win in the competition for global talent. With human capital as the driving force behind economic activity, cities that adapt to the new priorities of prospective residents, with a renewed emphasis on urban livability and economic opportunity, will be those that emerge on top. With human capital as the driving force behind economic activity, cities that adapt to the new priorities of prospective residents, with a renewed emphasis on urban livability and economic opportunity, will be those that emerge on top. Embrace the rapidly growing digital economy. Although digital trends threaten to contribute to an emptying of cities and a relocation of business headquarters, cities that harness the benefits of the global digital economy to create a differentiated competitive advantage will accelerate economic growth. Although digital trends threaten to contribute to an emptying of cities and a relocation of business headquarters, cities that harness the benefits of the global digital economy to create a differentiated competitive advantage will accelerate economic growth. Ensure economic resilience by balancing global and local resources. With the fragility of the global trade system exposed during the early months of the pandemic, cities that recalibrate and balance relationships at global, regional, and local levels will be the most resilient to future disruptions. With the fragility of the global trade system exposed during the early months of the pandemic, cities that recalibrate and balance relationships at global, regional, and local levels will be the most resilient to future disruptions. Adapt in the face of climate change. As climate change accelerates and in the absence of unified global leadership on the topic, cities must lead the waydriving sustainability around the world. As climate change accelerates and in the absence of unified global leadership on the topic, cities must lead the waydriving sustainability around the world. Invest in individual and community well-being. In recovering from the collective scars of the pandemic, cities that focus their investments on advancing the well-being of their populations will be those that create an environment in which innovation can thrive. "The task at hand for global cities is daunting, and city leaders are under unprecedented pressure to deliver for their residents," said Kearney Partner Rudolph Lohmeyer. "Despite the obstacles ahead, we see incredible opportunity for global cities. Not only can they lead in recovering from the pandemic, but they can also serve as testing grounds for policy and innovation that can address some of the world's greatest challengesfrom economic inequality to climate change to the global crisis with respect to individual well-being," he said. "We look forward to watching these cities as they continue to create new approaches and solutions to our shared challenges and move forward in the uncertain context in which we all find ourselves." The 2021 Global Cities Report can be accessed here. Note to editor The GCI assesses how globally engaged cities are across five dimensions: business activity, human capital, information exchange, cultural experience, and political engagement. The GCO, on the other hand, examines how cities are creating the conditions for future status as major global players. This analysis covers four dimensionspersonal well-being, economics, innovation, and governancewhich are the key determinants of a city's ability to attract talented human capital, generate economic growth, increase competitiveness, and ensure stability and security. About Kearney As a global consulting partnership in more than 40 countries, our people make us who we are. We're individuals who take as much joy from those we work with as the work itself. Driven to be the difference between a big idea and making it happen, we help our clients break through. For more information, visit www.kearney.com. US media contacts Ryan Dicovitsky and Ellie Johnson Dukas Linden Public Relations [email protected] 908-907-7703 or 405-248-2211 Media contacts Nishkka Manglani and Shehla Momim Houbara Communications [email protected] +971 55 119 1179 SOURCE Kearney Related Links https://www.kearney.com/ "Group costumes can be really hard to choose when you have so many people that need to agree, but luckily everyone loves and can agree on KIT KAT," said Benita Chang-Godoy, Senior Brand Manager of KIT KAT. "It's time to bring the perfect four-person Halloween costume that is a show-stopper to wear together but also really fun to break apart." Standing seven feet tall and boasting four chocolate wafers covered with a magnetic wrapper, this four-person human sized KIT KAT replica is a truly sweet trick-or-treating getup. Named the "Most Creative Four-Person Costume of 2021" by the Halloween & Costume Association, this costume is all fun and games until someone in your crew breaks apart in the satisfying fashion KIT KAT fans find irresistible. "Halloween costumes seem to get more and more creative each year, and 2021 has been no exception," said Aneisha McMillan, public relations director of the Halloween & Costume Association. "Group costumes are trending, and KIT KAT is turning heads with their new costume, which is large enough to fit four people how fun!" Want to try on these exclusive, wearable wafers for yourself? KIT KAT is giving you a shot to wear the epic, larger-than-life KIT KAT costume with your crew, simply by tagging three people that you could rock the look with on KIT KAT's Instagram or Facebook channels. One lucky squad will be selected to win a customized KIT KAT costume just in time for Halloween and, with it, probably win every costume contest too. Full contest rules* can be found here. Grab your friends and join in on KIT KAT's Halloween fun! This costume will leave you and your trick-or-treating crew asking one questionto break, or not to break? *NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. Open to legal residents of the 50 United States (D.C.), 18 (except 19 in AL/NE and 21 in MS) years of age and older. Void where prohibited. Sweepstakes begins 10/25/21 at 9:00:00 AM ET and ends 10/27/21 at 11:59:59 PM ET. For Official Rules and full details, including how to enter, prize descriptions and odds disclosure, visit https://campaign.rtm.com/KitKatSweepstakes/. Sponsor: The Hershey Company, 19 E. Chocolate Avenue, Hershey, PA 17033 About The Hershey Company The Hershey Company is headquartered in Hershey, Pa., and is an industry-leading snacks company known for bringing goodness to the world through its iconic brands, remarkable people and enduring commitment to help children succeed. Hershey has approximately 16,000 employees around the world who work every day to deliver delicious, quality products. The company has more than 80 brands around the world that drive $8 billion in annual revenues, including such iconic brand names as Hershey's, Reese's, Kit Kat, Jolly Rancher, Ice Breakers, SkinnyPop, and Pirate's Booty. For more than 125 years, Hershey has been committed to operating fairly, ethically and sustainably. Hershey founder, Milton Hershey, created the Milton Hershey School in 1909 and since then the company has focused on helping children succeed. To learn more visit www.thehersheycompany.com or https://www.thehersheycompany.com/en_us/media/news-releases.html Follow: Twitter LinkedIn Facebook YouTube Instagram SOURCE The Hershey Company Related Links https://www.thehersheycompany.com Based in Chicago, Bhatnagar will oversee the underwriting and risk management teams for a national accounts portfolio across such industries as construction and healthcare, as well as excess casualty and Liberty's growing sharing economy expertise. Bhatnagar will report to GRS President, Major Accounts, Mike Fallon. "Neal has demonstrated a strong track record of success through his senior leadership roles in the risk management and casualty space for the past decade," said Fallon. "His strategic approach, deal-making passion and broad relationships will foster continued growth and a broker- and customer-centricity for our Major Accounts Casualty division." Bhatnagar previously served as Head of Field Operations at Chubb Global Casualty, overseeing Chubb's US Risk Management and Multinational Casualty business. He also has held roles at Zurich, The Hartford and State Farm. He earned his undergraduate degree from The University of Michigan and received his Associate in Risk Management (ARM) designation from The Institutes. About Liberty Mutual Insurance At Liberty Mutual, we believe progress happens when people feel secure. By providing protection for the unexpected and delivering it with care, we help people embrace today and confidently pursue tomorrow. In business since 1912, and headquartered in Boston, today we are the sixth largest global property and casualty insurer based on 2020 gross written premium. We also rank 71 on the Fortune 100 list of largest corporations in the U.S. based on 2020 revenue. As of December 31, 2020, we had $43.8 billion in annual consolidated revenue. We employ over 45,000 people in 29 countries and economies around the world. We offer a wide range of insurance products and services, including personal automobile, homeowners, specialty lines, reinsurance, commercial multiple-peril, workers compensation, commercial automobile, general liability, surety, and commercial property. For more information, visit www.libertymutualinsurance.com. SOURCE Liberty Mutual Insurance Related Links www.libertymutual.com DUBAI, UAE, Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- As per FMI, the global lithium mining market is projected to reach US$ 1.65 billion in 2021. Growing application across glass & ceramics, polymer, and pharmaceutical industries is favoring lithium sales. Driven by this, the market is estimated to reach US$ 3.3 billion by 2031, expanding at a CAGR of 7.2% over the forecast period 2021-2031. Request a report sample to gain comprehensive insights at https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-14064 More than half of the total lithium produced around the world is used for manufacturing batteries owing to its strong electrochemical potential and lightweight. Increasing demand for li-ion batteries across consumer electronics such as smartphones and laptops, and medical devices such as mobile diagnostics devices and others is accelerating the market growth. As per FMI, the sales of lithium are expected to showcase year-over-year growth of 8.5% in 2021 across the battery industry. Sales for electric vehicles are increasing as automotive manufacturers look for solutions to offer greater fuel efficiency and comply with stringent emission control regulations implemented by governments. According to the International Energy Agency, around 7 million electric vehicles (EV) were sold in 2019. This rise in sales is propelling the demand for the EV components including batteries, which is consequently, creating high opportunities for the growth of the market. Based on type, lithium hydroxide is anticipated to remain a dominant segment in the global market. The growth of the segment is attributed to the increasing applications in air conditioning, glass and ceramics, refrigeration, and battery manufacturing. "Leading companies are focusing on acquiring more land for increasing their production capacity and adopting advanced technologies for optimizing the recovery of lithium. Through this, they intend to meet surging demand from the battery industry," says a FMI analyst. Key Takeaways from Lithium Mining Market Study The U.S. is anticipated to lead the market in North America , registering a year-on-year growth of 3.2% through 2021. , registering a year-on-year growth of 3.2% through 2021. Australia , being the leading producer and exporter of lithium in the world, is expected to account for a substantial revenue share in South Asia Pacific market. , being the leading producer and exporter of lithium in the world, is expected to account for a substantial revenue share in market. China is projected to emerge as a highly remunerative market in East Asia , favored by the increasing lithium-ion battery applications across the electric vehicle sector. is projected to emerge as a highly remunerative market in , favored by the increasing lithium-ion battery applications across the electric vehicle sector. South Korea and Japan are forecast to collectively account for 11% of the total sales, owing to the surging demand from consumer electronics and medical devices in the country. and are forecast to collectively account for 11% of the total sales, owing to the surging demand from consumer electronics and medical devices in the country. In terms of source, lithium brine is estimated to hold the largest revenue share in the segment, accounting for 65% of the overall sales through 2021. Discover more about the lithium mining market analysis with figures and data tables, along with the table of contents. https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/lithium-mining-market Key Drivers Rising sales of smart wearables and portable consumer electronics in countries such as China , Japan , the U.S., and Germany is fuelling the demand for lithium. , , the U.S., and is fuelling the demand for lithium. Increasing mining activities and governmental investment across the mining industry are expected to facilitate the growth of the market. Key Restraints Implementation of stringent regulation to curb water pollution caused by the washing of lithium brines and hard rock is hampering the market growth. Side effects associated with lithium carbonate such as hand tremors, diarrhea, lack of coordination, muscular weakness, and increased urination is hampering the sales of lithium across the pharmaceutical sector. Competitive Landscape As per FMI, key companies operating in the global market are Jiangxi Ganfeng Lithium Co. Ltd., Albemarle, Tianqi Lithium, Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile, and Pilbara Mineral. These players are estimated to account for 50 to 55% of the total lithium sales through 2031. Leading manufacturers are focusing on adopting strategies such as collaborations, agreement, mergers and acquisitions to expand their production facilities to address the growing demand. For instance, In September 2021 , Albemarle Lithium UK, a global specialty chemicals company, announced entering into an agreement with a lithium convertor based in China , Guangxi Tianyuan New Energy Materials Co., Ltd for acquiring all outstanding equity. . Under the agreement, Albemarle will complete the acquisition in 2022. , Albemarle Lithium UK, a global specialty chemicals company, announced entering into an agreement with a lithium convertor based in , Guangxi Tianyuan New Energy Materials Co., Ltd for acquiring all outstanding equity. . Under the agreement, Albemarle will complete the acquisition in 2022. In April 2021 , Tianqi, a Chinese mining and manufacturing company, announced acquisition of an Australian mining company, IGO Ltd, to expand its production capacity of lithium hydroxide. For any Queries Linked with the Report, Ask an [email protected] https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/ask-question/rep-gb-14064 Some of the key players operating in the market profiled by FMI are: Albemarle Ganfeng Lithium Livent Nemaska Lithium Orocobre limited Sichuan Tianqi Lithium Industries SQM Lithium Americas Corp Tianqi Lithium Ganfeng Lithium Co., Ltd. General Lithium Corp LITHIUM EXPLORATION GROUP LSC Lithium Corporation Neo Lithium Corporation U.S. Lithium Corp Yacimientos de Litio Bolivianos More Valuable Insights on Lithium Mining Market FMI, in its new report, offers an unbiased analysis of the global lithium mining market, analyzing forecast statistics through 2021 and beyond. The survey reveals growth projections on in lithium mining market with detailed segmentation: By Source: Brine Hard Rock Others By Type: Lithium Carbonate Lithium Hydroxide By Application: Battery Ceramics and Glass Lubricants & Grease Polymer Flux Powder Refrigeration Others By Region: North America Latin America Europe East Asia South Asia Pacific Middle East and Africa We Offer tailor-made Solutions to fit Your Requirements, Request [email protected] https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/customization-available/rep-gb-14064 Key Questions Covered in the Report The report offers insight into lithium mining market demand outlook for the forecast period 2021-2031 The market study also highlights projected sales growth for lithium mining market between 2021 and 2031 Lithium mining 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 Lithium mining market 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 Explore FMI's Extensive Coverage on the Chemicals & Materials Domain Renewable Naphtha Market: Over US$ 1.15 BN Incremental Opportunity to be Created in Renewable Naphtha Market Driven by High Demand for Bioplastics Sulphuric Acid Market: Global sulphuric acid market is expected to reach a value of US$ 18 Bn by the end of the forecast period Potassium Carbonate Market: Potassium Carbonate Market Expands at 4.4% CAGR as Sales Scope Improves in Food and Beverage Processing Industry. 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/lithium-mining-market Press Release Source: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/press-release/lithium-mining-market SOURCE Future Market Insights NEW YORK, Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Michael Loeb , founder and CEO of Loeb.nyc , the venture collective based in New York City, has opened the application process for his company's internship program scheduled for the summer of 2022. The long-running internship program is part of Loeb's ongoing commitment to developing future generations of entrepreneurs by placing college students from around the country into roles in the startup ecosystem. Sponsored by Loeb.nyc, the paid internships are designed for students who express a particular interest in working on early-stage businesses and nascent ideas. Michael Loeb gathers with students from Loeb.nyc's 2021 Summer Internship Program Michael Loeb with interns representing the University of Connecticut Since its start in the summer of 2017, Loeb.nyc's Summer Internship Program has placed more than 100 students from over 40 U.S. colleges in summer-long positions. In addition to practical startup experience and direct interaction with entrepreneurs, the interns are presented with a speaker series featuring successful individuals from various fields of business, the arts, and philanthropy. "It's always inspiring to gather a group of bright young students who have varied interests but a similar desire to innovate and learn," said Michael Loeb. "It is our responsibility to see that each participant in the internship program is able to help their startup or new idea evolve in a meaningful way. These students are not making copies, they are opening conversations, participating in the creative process and pitching innovation." Put on hold in 2020 due to challenges posed by the pandemic, Loeb's program returned in the summer of 2021 with participating students representing more than a dozen schools including Amherst College, Notre Dame, the University of Connecticut, the University of Chicago and Indiana University. Students were placed in positions at a variety of companies within the Loeb.nyc portfolio including 3x3 Insights, Firstleaf, Lockstep Ventures, Mercato, Nunbelievable, Orthosnap, Rocket Fuel Labs, SiO Beauty, Steady, Thnks and Loeb.nyc itself. In a typical year, roughly 1,000 students apply for two dozen spots offered in Loeb.nyc's Summer Internship Program. The experience kicks off with a three-day onboarding session called "Internatopia" that takes place at Michael Loeb's house in Southampton, NY. Startup founders and CEOs present their companies to the students, sharing past experiences and outlining current strategies. In 2021, much of the work was done virtually, but interns were able to gain in-person experience following protocols. The students were also able to gather at the end of the summer for a modified Internatopia using the forum as their own high-profile pitch day. Program administrators do not look for any specific major or concentration when selecting interns, and growth-minded undergraduates from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply . For more information on Loeb.nyc click here . Press Contact: Shea Communications, Richard Shea (917) 584-3542 SOURCE Loeb.nyc NEW YORK, Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Zion Market Research has published a new report titled "Medical Device Contract Manufacturing Market by Device Type (In-vitro Diagnostic Medical Devices, Diagnostic Imaging & Medical Equipment, Drug Delivery Devices, Patient Monitoring Devices, Minimally Access Surgical Instruments, Therapeutic Patient Assistive Devices and Others), Type of Manufacturing (Raw Materials, Electronics and Finished Goods), & Services (Prototype Development, Finished Device Manufacturing, Assembly & Packaging, Testing & Regulatory Support Services, Molding & Casting and Others) and Applications(Cardiovascular, Orthopedic, Neurovascular, Pulmonary, Oncology, Laparoscopy, Urology & Gynecology, Radiology and Others): Global Industry Perspective, Comprehensive Analysis and Forecast, 2019 2025". According to the report, global demand for Medical Device Contract Manufacturing market was valued at approximately USD 51.35 Billion in 2018, and is expected to generate revenue of around USD 103.44 Billion by end of 2025, growing at a CAGR of around 10.56% between 2019 and 2025. Contract production of medical devices requires the support of third-party firms in making medical devices. Medical device contract manufacturing allows companies to produce products based on the latest innovations without deviating from their core activities. The contract manufacturing of medical devices allows companies to concentrate on their core activities such as drug or service marketing which in effect stimulates market growth. The contract manufacturing industry for medical devices is seeing a huge increase due to the advantages, which involves a reduction in overall costs and a decrease in the time it takes for the product to enter the market. Moreover, businesses do not need to set up production units in different countries to extend their product line. Through having their products manufactured by contract manufacturers of medical devices located in different countries, businesses will meet the demands. In this way they can use their investment in capital for their production. Get Sample PDF of this Research Report for more Insights with Table of Content, Research Methodology and Graphs - https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/sample/medical-device-contract-manufacturing-market The contract manufacturing market for medical devices is motivated by the increasing pressure on the original equipment manufacturers of medical devices to reduce production costs and delay in the launch of the latest products. Increasing demand for non-invasive surgical procedures also propels the contract research industry for endoscopic devices and the production of surgical instruments. The lack of space for internal production drives the market for mid-to small-sized enterprises. Aging population offers the contract manufacturing opportunities for many products, such as orthopedic implants and instruments. The number of aging populations worldwide is growing. The market for Medical Device Contract Manufacturing is segmented based on device type, type of manufacturing, services, applications and region. Based on device type the market is divided into in-vitro diagnostic medical devices, diagnostic imaging & medical equipment, drug delivery devices, patient monitoring devices, minimally access surgical instruments, therapeutic patient assistive devices and others. Growth in the market segment of IVD devices is in tandem with the rising number of hospitals and clinical laboratories in developing countries, increasing the amount of IVD tests performed worldwide, technological advances such as electronic integration with high-throughput capabilities, and life science testing automation and advances. Type of manufacturing segment is segmented into Raw Materials, Electronics and Finished Goods. The services segment is divided into Prototype Development, Finished Device Manufacturing, Assembly & Packaging, Testing & Regulatory Support Services, Molding & Casting and Others. Based on application the market is segmented into Cardiovascular, Orthopedic, Neurovascular, Pulmonary, Oncology, Laparoscopy, Urology & Gynecology, Radiology and Others. Request for Customization on this Report as per your requirements - https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/custom/3781 Regional segmentation includes the current and forecast demand for Asia Pacific, North America, Latin America, Europe, and Middle East & Africa with its further bifurcation into major countries. North America has the largest market share worldwide for contract manufacturing of medical devices, with the U.S. being the country with the highest revenue generator. Growing demands for innovative and reliable medical devices are driving market growth in the U.S. along with growing healthcare spending, growing medical needs of the aging population and ongoing growth in the number of surgery cases. Some of the players included in Medical Device Contract Manufacturing market are Flextronics International, LTD., Jabil Inc., Benchmark Electronics, Inc., Integer Holdings Corporation (Greatbatch), West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc., Tecomet, Inc., Nortech Systems, TE Connectivity (Creganna Medical), Forefront Medical Technologies, and Nordson Corporation. Amongst others. The report segments the Medical Device Contract Manufacturing market as follows: Global Medical Device Contract Manufacturing Market: Device Type Segment Analysis In-vitro Diagnostic Medical Devices Diagnostic Imaging & Medical Equipment Drug Delivery Devices Patient Monitoring Devices Minimally Access Surgical Instruments Therapeutic Patient Assistive Devices Others Global Medical Device Contract Manufacturing Market: Type of Manufacturing Segment Analysis Raw Materials Electronics Finished Goods Global Medical Device Contract Manufacturing Market: Services Segment Analysis Prototype Development Finished Device Manufacturing Assembly & Packaging Testing & Regulatory Support Services Molding & Casting Others Global Medical Device Contract Manufacturing Market: Application Segment Analysis Cardiovascular Orthopedic Neurovascular Pulmonary Oncology Laparoscopy Urology & Gynecology Radiology Others Inquire before Purchase of this Research Report - https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/inquiry/medical-device-contract-manufacturing-market By Region North America The U.S. Canada Europe France The UK Spain Germany Italy Rest of Europe Asia Pacific China Japan India South Korea Southeast Asia Rest of Asia Pacific Latin America Brazil Mexico Rest of Latin America Middle East & Africa GCC South Africa Rest of Middle East & Africa Browse Other Related Research Reports from Zion Market Research Electronics Contract Manufacturing Services Market - https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/report/electronics-contract-manufacturing-services-market https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/report/electronics-contract-manufacturing-services-market Personal Care Contract Manufacturing Market - https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/report/personal-care-contract-manufacturing-market Vaccine Contract Manufacturing Market - https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/report/vaccine-contract-manufacturing-market Medical Device Outsourced Manufacturing Market - https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/report/medical-device-outsourced-manufacturing-market About Us: Zion Market Research is an obligated company. We create futuristic, cutting edge, informative reports ranging from industry reports, company reports to country reports. We provide our clients not only with market statistics unveiled by avowed private publishers and public organizations but also with vogue and newest industry reports along with pre-eminent and niche company profiles. Our database of market research reports comprises a wide variety of reports from cardinal industries. Our database is been updated constantly in order to fulfill our clients with prompt and direct online access to our database. Keeping in mind the client's needs, we have included expert insights on global industries, products, and market trends in this database. Last but not the least, we make it our duty to ensure the success of clients connected to usafter allif you do well, a little of the light shines on us. Contact Us: Zion Market Research 244 Fifth Avenue, Suite N202 New York, 10001, United States Tel: +49-322 210 92714 USA/Canada Toll-Free No +1-855-465-4651 US OFFICE NO +1-386-310-3803 Email: [email protected] Website: https://www.zionmarketresearch.com Blog https://healthcarenewsreports.com/ Follow us on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/zion-market-research All Press Releases - https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/all-news SOURCE Zion Market Research This marks a crucial step in ZeroAvia's progress and entry into a wider market. A recognized leader in zero emission aircraft propulsion, focused on hydrogen-electric power, the company has completed more than 35 test flights of a Piper M-class six-seat aircraft using its hydrogen fuel cell powertrain. Currently, it is working to convert a larger 19-seat Dornier 228 aircraft with its zero-emission powertrain with a first test flight expected in the coming months. ZeroAvia plans certification and market entry for its 19-seat powertrain by 2024, with an eye towards larger aircraft (50-80 seats) by 2026, and regional jets around 2028. "Developing aviation solutions for the future requires a re-assessment of their environmental impact and developing new technologies to ensure that aviation lives up to the commitments required to meet carbon reduction targets. At MHIRJ we are working with propulsion innovators to ensure that we are at the forefront of such developments and can design solutions to move the world forward," said Hiro Yamamoto, President and CEO of MHIRJ. "Regional aircraft are key to keeping smaller communities and regions connected and are also more able to exploit the new technologies on the horizon than larger aircraft and, therefore this is a logical place for this development to begin and we are proud to be a part of this innovative solution." Val Miftakhov, CEO, ZeroAvia added: "We believe that in the future almost every aircraft in the world will be powered by hydrogen-electric engines, simply because it is the most viable and scalable method for eliminating carbon and also to cut the other harmful emissions from the aviation sector. This collaboration with MHIRJ is a significant milestone for us and the aviation industry as a whole. We are honored to work with MHIRJ to introduce hydrogen-electric propulsion technology into the regional jet segment and demonstrate the myriad of cost and emissions benefits airlines can derive from hydrogen fueled flight." About ZeroAvia ZeroAvia is a leader in zero-emission aviation, focused on hydrogen-electric aviation solutions to address a variety of markets, initially targeting 500-mile range in 9-19 seat aircraft used for commercial passenger transport, cargo, agriculture, and more. Based in the UK and USA, ZeroAvia has already secured experimental certificates for two prototype aircraft from the CAA and FAA, passed significant flight test milestones, and is on track for commercial operations in 2024. The company's expanding UK operations are supported by grants from UK's Aerospace Technology Institute and Innovate UK, and ZeroAvia is part of the UK Prime Minister's Jet Zero Council. For more, please visit ZeroAvia.com, follow @ZeroAvia on Twitter , Instagram , and LinkedIn . About MHI RJ Aviation Group MHI RJ Aviation Group (MHIRJ) provides comprehensive critical operational, engineering and customer support solutions including maintenance, refurbishment, technical publications, marketing and sales activities for the global regional aircraft industry. Headquartered in Montreal, Canada, and bolstered by an Aerospace Engineering Centre, MHIRJ's network of service centers, support offices and parts depots are positioned in important aviation hubs in the U.S., Canada and Germany. MHI RJ Aviation Group is a wholly owned subsidiary of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. For more information about MHI RJ Aviation Group, please visit: www.mhirj.com About MHI Group Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group is one of the world's leading industrial groups, spanning energy, logistics & infrastructure, industrial machinery, aerospace and defense. MHI Group combines cutting-edge technology with deep experience to deliver innovative, integrated solutions that help to realize a carbon neutral world, improve the quality of life and ensure a safer world. For more information, please visit www.mhi.com or follow our insights and stories on www.spectra.mhi.com *CRJ, CRJ Series and MHIRJ are trademarks of MHI RJ Aviation ULC or its affiliates. SOURCE ZeroAvia Related Links http://www.ZeroAvia.com WARREN, N.J. and BANGALORE, India, Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Mindtree, a global technology services and digital transformation company, today announced an expanded relationship with ServiceNow, the leading digital workflow company that makes work, work better for people. As a partner for ServiceNow Connected Operations, a proactive system of action for IoT, Mindtree will build industry solutions to help enterprises turn data from their Internet of Things (IoT) infrastructure into actionable business workflows. Mindtree will combine the deep domain, design thinking, IoT, AI, Machine Learning, and analytics expertise of Mindtree NxT, the company's IoT service line, with the capabilities of ServiceNow Connected Operations to enable enterprises in industry sectors such as manufacturing and consumer goods to put their IoT data to work for improved decision-making and smarter operations. By connecting IoT data with digital workflows, ServiceNow Connected Operations enables organizations to realize the full value of their IoT investments, help increase customer satisfaction, and access new business models. Together with Mindtree driving actionable and industry-specific insights, these solutions will allow customers to break down data silos, proactively resolve issues, and evolve collaboration between customers, operations, customer service, and field service. Manufacturing and consumer goods companies are increasingly looking to make better use of the data generated through multiple platforms and legacy operational technology (OT) systems. This means working around operational and data silos between OT and IT, a lack of common processes and tools in floor systems, and an inability to bring all data into a single system of record. Through Mindtree's solutions, these companies will be able to gain greater visibility across the enterprise, mitigate risk, reduce cost, harness a single source of truth for collaborative decision-making, and leverage advanced analytics, data insights, simulation and modelling for better evaluation of their value chains. "The true transformative potential of data can be realised only by using it effectively," said Alex Nicholas, Vice President and Head of ServiceNow Business at Mindtree. "Siloed data and disconnected systems can undermine the best of IoT programs. The capabilities of Mindtree NxT alongside ServiceNow and their dedicated Connected Operations team position us well to help enterprises better manage critical infrastructure, deliver superior customer experiences, and drive customer loyalty." ServiceNow industry partner solutions extend ServiceNow's capabilities to deliver industry-specific applications and services that are tailored to customers' unique digital transformation needs. "Across industries, businesses realize the need for digital workflows to deliver greater operational efficiencies and better customer outcomes," said Jonathan Sparks, Vice President of IoT and Operations Products at ServiceNow. "Together with Mindtree, we're helping move customers in manufacturing and consumer goods beyond dashboards to automate issue resolution with IoT. Combining Mindtree's powerful IoT, AI and Machine Learning capabilities with ServiceNow's leading workflow platform will improve decision-making and drive smart operations while helping customers realize new business outcomes based on business-relevant insights." About Mindtree Mindtree (NSE: MINDTREE) is a global technology consulting and services company, helping enterprises marry scale with agility to achieve competitive advantage. "Born digital," in 1999 and now a Larsen & Toubro Group Company, Mindtree applies its deep domain knowledge to more than 260 enterprise client engagements to break down silos, make sense of digital complexity and bring new initiatives to market faster. We enable IT to move at the speed of business, leveraging emerging technologies and the efficiencies of Continuous Delivery to spur business innovation. Operating in 24 countries across the world, we're consistently regarded as one of the best places to work, embodied every day by our winning culture made up of over 29,700 entrepreneurial, collaborative and dedicated "Mindtree Minds". To learn more about us, visit www.mindtree.com or follow us @Mindtree_Ltd. ServiceNow, the ServiceNow logo, Now, Now Platform, and other ServiceNow marks are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of ServiceNow, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. Other company names, product names, and logos may be trademarks of the respective companies with which they are associated. For more information, contact: [email protected] SOURCE Mindtree HONG KONG, Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- MioTech announced today that it has secured investments from J.P. Morgan Asset Management and HSBC Asset Management's Financial Technology Venture Capital Fund. This is an extension to its latest series B+ funding round led by Guotai Junan International and GIC. The company's earlier investors include ZhenFund, Horizons Ventures, TOM Group, Moody's, and HSBC. The new investments mark the fourth funding round MioTech has completed in the past twelve months, further solidifying MioTech as the leading AI-based sustainability data and technology provider in Asia and across the globe. The new capital will go toward accelerating talent acquisition, expansion into new international markets, as well as developing existing and new product lines. With increasing regulatory pressure and evolving investor, corporate and consumer demand, MioTech expects to capture fast-growing market needs for green tech and sustainability solutions with its proprietary technologies. "MioTech is a global company," said Jason Tu, Co-founder and CEO of MioTech. "J.P. Morgan Asset Management and HSBC Asset Management are world-renowned investors. Together with our existing investors, they will help us grow our business lines and footprints across the globe. We look forward to connecting China, Asia, and the whole world with our sustainable technologies." "We are thrilled to become a strategic investor in MioTech and partner with the company to advance our sustainable investing efforts in China, with greater access to a wide and evolving range of alternative ESG data sets," said Jennifer Wu, Global Head of Sustainable Investing, J.P. Morgan Asset Management. "MioTech's ability to utilize AI to gather and assess unstructured ESG data sets will provide valuable inputs to our fundamental research. This will enhance our consideration of material ESG risks and opportunities in our active investment processes and help us to support our global and China clients in making sustainable investment decisions. With valuable expertise into the ESG data and factors that are unique to China, MioTech's capabilities will also help to advance the development of our proprietary quantitative ESG scoring system," she added. Remi Bourrette, Head of Venture and Growth Investments, HSBC Asset Management said: "The financial industry is at a turning point where it has started to embrace sustainability and now must fully embed it in its operations, product design and risk management. We believe MioTech's technology and solutions give it a distinct advantage in the space and that the company will become a major player in this transition. We are delighted to provide investors of our newly launched VC fund with exposure to such a promising company in a key growth area." ABOUT MIOTECH MioTech uses artificial intelligence to solve the sustainability, climate change, carbon emissions reduction, and social responsibility challenges faced by financial institutions, corporations, and individuals. Its comprehensive coverage of ESG data helps financial institutions make the right decisions in green finance and responsible investments. Its software helps corporations manage ESG reporting, improve energy efficiency, track and reduce carbon emissions. Its app builds green-conscious communities and promotes low-carbon lifestyles among individuals. MioTech has offices in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing, and Singapore. Its world-renowned investors include ZhenFund, Horizons Ventures, TOM Group, Moody's, HSBC, Guotai Junan International, GIC, J.P. Morgan Asset Management, and HSBC Asset Management's Financial Technology Venture Capital Fund. For more information, please visit https://www.miotech.com ABOUT J.P. MORGAN ASSET MANAGEMENT J.P. Morgan Asset Management, with assets under management of USD $2.7 trillion (as of 30 September 2021), is a global leader in investment management. J.P. Morgan Asset Management's clients include institutions, retail investors and high net worth individuals in every major market throughout the world. J.P. Morgan Asset Management offers global investment management in equities, fixed income, real estate, hedge funds, private equity and liquidity. JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM) is a leading financial services firm based in the United States of America ("U.S."), with operations worldwide. JPMorgan Chase had USD $3.8 trillion in assets and USD $290.0 billion in stockholders' equity as of September 30, 2021. The Firm is a leader in investment banking, financial services for consumers and small businesses, commercial banking, financial transaction processing and asset management. Under the J.P. Morgan and Chase brands, the Firm serves millions of customers in the U.S., and many of the world's most prominent corporate, institutional and government clients globally. Information about JPMorgan Chase & Co. is available at www.jpmorganchase.com . ABOUT HSBC ASSET MANAGEMENT'S FINANCIAL TECHNOLOGY VENTURE CAPITAL FUND HSBC Asset Management launched a new venture capital investment strategy, the HSBC Financial Technology Venture Capital Fund, in July 2021 which is aimed at investing in companies that will participate in the transformation of financial services. The Fund provides clients with exposure to B2B companies which offer either software or financial services to enterprises or institutions. It will typically participate in series A and B funding rounds of companies with business activity in Europe and Asia. The Fund is run by Remi Bourrette, Head of Venture & Growth Investments and Kara Byun, Director, Venture & Growth Investment. HSBC ASSET MANAGEMENT HSBC Asset Management, the investment management business of the HSBC Group, invests on behalf of HSBC's worldwide customer base of retail and private clients, intermediaries, corporates and institutions through both segregated accounts and pooled funds. HSBC Asset Management connects HSBC's clients with investment opportunities around the world through an international network of offices in 25 countries and territories, delivering global capabilities with local market insight. As at 30 September 2021, HSBC Asset Management managed assets totaling US$619bn on behalf of its clients. For more information, see www.assetmanagement.hsbc.com/uk HSBC Asset Management is the brand name for the asset management business of HSBC Group, which includes the investment activities provided through our local regulated entity, HSBC Global Asset Management (UK) Limited. SOURCE MioTech Related Links https://www.miotech.com BOSTON, Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Nurses and advocates will testify during a State House hearing on Tuesday, October 26 in favor of Medicare-for-All legislation that will break down existing barriers to high-quality, inclusive healthcare, while also improving patient outcomes and creating better opportunities for workers. Nurses and healthcare professionals represented by the Massachusetts Nurses Associated have long supported Medicare-for-All because it will eliminate artificial obstacles to healthcare, reduce costs, and save lives. MNA members see the impact of not having Medicare-for-All at the bedside every day. "Patients come in more acutely ill than they would have if they had insurance or more comprehensive insurance coverage," said Katie Murphy, a practicing ICU nurse and president of the MNA. "A diabetic whose health could have been managed through regular doctor's visits and medication ends up in the Emergency Department experiencing complications from vision loss to kidney failure. An individual with high blood pressure who cannot afford his medication winds up with a complicated and expensive cardiac surgery. "The problem is not limited to those who lack insurance altogether," Murphy said. "High co-pays, deductibles and inadequate prescription coverage can have the same effect as no insurance at all. Those who are underinsured will also forego necessary care and end up sicker than they otherwise would have been. And for those individuals who do eventually seek care in our hospitals, those without adequate insurance can be left bankrupted by the costs associated with one adverse health incident." Massachusetts Medicare-for-All Legislative Hearing What: An Act Establishing Medicare for All in Massachusetts (S.766/ H.1267) will have a virtual public hearing before the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing, on the committee's webpage. When: Tuesday, October 26 at 11 a.m. Where: Virtual Hearing. To watch, go to: https://malegislature.gov/Events/Hearings/Detail/4036 The Medicare-for-All legislation will guarantee equitable health care access for every resident of the Commonwealth through a single payer health care financing system. All residents will be guaranteed access, without regard to financial or employment status, ethnicity, race, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, previous health problems, or geographic location. The Act will provide access to health care services that is continuous, without the current need for repeated re-enrollments or changes when employers choose new plans and residents change jobs. Coverage shall be comprehensive and affordable, with no co-insurance, co-payments, or deductibles. Workers face terrible choices because of the current health insurance system, typically losing health coverage when changing jobs and facing unilateral cost hikes if working in non-union positions. Unionized employees must confront proposed health insurance increases while they try to negotiate safe and fair working conditions. This was exemplified by the St. Vincent Hospital nurses, who grappled with how to maintain health insurance while going on strike for safer patient care after corporate owner Tenet Healthcare cut off coverage. Increasingly, bargaining healthcare costs shifts the focus of MNA nurses and healthcare professionals away from critical issues such as patient safety, a quality work environment or fair wage increases. "Our existing healthcare system leaves tens of millions of Americans behind," Murphy said. "The current system inflicts bankruptcy on vulnerable families and contributes to negative patient outcomes while enriching a select few. Nurses support Medicare-for-All because it means economic, social, and healthcare justice." MassNurses.org Facebook.com/MassNurses Twitter.com/MassNurses Instagram.com/MassNurses Founded in 1903, the Massachusetts Nurses Association is the largest union of registered nurses in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Its 23,000 members advance the nursing profession by fostering high standards of nursing practice, promoting the economic and general welfare of nurses in the workplace, projecting a positive and realistic view of nursing, and by lobbying the Legislature and regulatory agencies on health care issues affecting nurses and the public. SOURCE Massachusetts Nurses Association Related Links http://www.massnurses.org NEW YORK and NEWARK, N.J., Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- MoCaFi (Mobility Capital Finance, Inc.), the Black-owned and led financial technology, mobile-first banking platform committed to bringing financially underserved communities in the United States into the digital economy, has been named to FORTUNE's 2021 IMPACT 20. The Impact 20 is a new FORTUNE list that recognizes venture-backed and private equity-backed startups that focus on tackling key social and environmental issues as part of their business models. The Angeleno Connect Bank Account Debit Mastercard is pictured. The Angeleno Connect Bank Account launched on September 8, 2021, with Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and the City of LA. Companies are required to have at least some revenue from business operations to be considered for the list. Beyond that, candidates are evaluated on four criteria: 1. Potential Impact. How substantial is the potential impact of the company's actions in remediating a problem or unmet need? 2. Business Viability. How likely it is that the company's business model will ultimately be successful on a continuing operating basis, and to what extent will remediate a problem or unmet need contribute to that success? 3. Innovation and Leadership. To what degree is the company a leader in its category? How pioneering is its approach? Does the scale of its solution match the scale of the problem it is addressing? 4. Track Record. What is the company's time frame for making a substantial impact? More credit will be given to startups that have established a track record of addressing the social or environmental concerns on which they are focused. Companies were allowed to self-nominate, and Fortune's editors and writers also nominated candidates. A team of Fortune editors and writers reviewed all submissions, with input from experts in the field, and determined the final list. MoCaFi, which was named to the Forbes Fintech 50: Most Innovative Fintechs of 2021, kicked off the Angeleno Connect program on September 8th in Los Angeles with Mayor Eric Garcetti. The Angeleno Connect Bank Account is a digital financial platform with two distinct products that address the needs of the nearly 500,000 Angelenos who are unbanked or underbanked. MoCaFi has also partnered with the YWCA of Metropolitan Chicago on the RESPECT Bank Account; the cities of Columbia, SC, Paterson, NJ, and Newark, NJ on Guaranteed Basic Income programs; and Rocket Mortgage on a program to help more Americans qualify for homeownership. MoCaFi's innovative banking platform provides access to credit-building tools and financial literacy programs. MoCaFi has assisted individuals, families, and businesses in need through partnerships with organizations and cities providing direct services throughout the pandemic. For more information, go to mocafi.com. Media contact: Marjorie Fields Harris [email protected] (917) 719-0348 SOURCE MoCaFi BUFFALO, N.Y., Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- M&T Bank Corporation (NYSE: MTB) ("M&T") announced today its plan to provide $43 billion in loans, investments, and other financial support to create greater economic opportunity for low-to-moderate income (LMI) families and neighborhoods, as well as people and communities of color. The bank's five-year Community Growth Plan has been developed in collaboration with the National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC) in conjunction with M&T's proposed acquisition of People's United Financial Inc. (People's United Bank) and will become operational shortly after closing of the transaction. M&T's plan includes $23 billion in loans for home purchases, home equity and small businesses and another $20 billion for community development initiatives and affordable housing. These significant investments will cover communities the bank currently serves as well as those it would expand into through M&T's proposed acquisition of People's United Bank. "At its core, M&T is a bank with a deep commitment to serve our communities and make a difference in people's lives," said Rene Jones, M&T Bank Chairman and CEO. "We are also committed to taking action to help address inequities that have existed for years. This plan is another step in our journey to orient ourselves around what our communities need most." The plan expands M&T's ongoing commitment to supporting people, businesses and communities where it operates. Dating back to 1982, M&T has earned the Federal Reserve Bank of New York's highest possible rating on its Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) exams that assess how the bank meets the needs of its communities. Since March, members of M&T's leadership team have met with the NCRC and its member organizations in the bank's current and growth markets to identify pressing needs and consider how M&T can help increase the flow of capital to historically underserved communities. M&T will continue to work with the NCRC and its members, other community groups and public officials to address these existing and emerging needs in the future. "We appreciate M&T Bank's initiative and dialog with NCRC members to develop a community growth plan that makes significant contributions to increased investments, lending and access to affordable homes in low-to-moderate income and communities of color in its existing footprint and anticipated new markets," said NCRC CEO Jesse Van Tol. "M&T's plan provides a unique opportunity to help improve the lives of people living and working in historically disadvantaged communities." M&T's plan addresses key areas of need identified during its meetings with community leaders, including: Community development lending and investing: Building on its leadership in community-focused lending and investing, M&T intends to invest $11.95 billion in community development activities, including the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit, New Market Tax Credit and Small Business Investment Company programs as well as provide greater access to capital for underserved communities through impact equity investments. Building on its leadership in community-focused lending and investing, M&T intends to invest in community development activities, including the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit, New Market Tax Credit and Small Business Investment Company programs as well as provide greater access to capital for underserved communities through impact equity investments. Homeownership and affordable housing: Recognizing the importance of home ownership to individuals and communities, M&T plans to provide $8.8 billion in home purchase lending for LMI households and communities, minority households and majority-minority communities and will expand its mortgage product offerings. M&T also plans to invest $7 billion in the development of multi-family, affordable and workforce housing across its expanded footprint. Recognizing the importance of home ownership to individuals and communities, M&T plans to provide in home purchase lending for LMI households and communities, minority households and majority-minority communities and will expand its mortgage product offerings. M&T also plans to invest in the development of multi-family, affordable and workforce housing across its expanded footprint. Small-business lending and counseling: M&T will increase its lending to small businesses, providing $10.5 billion targeting programs and products that benefit businesses in LMI and minority communities. M&T will also develop and implement programs that increase access to education, resources and capital for minority- and women-owned small businesses and start-up entrepreneurs. M&T will increase its lending to small businesses, providing targeting programs and products that benefit businesses in LMI and minority communities. M&T will also develop and implement programs that increase access to education, resources and capital for minority- and women-owned small businesses and start-up entrepreneurs. Financial support and services: To help ensure all customers and communities have access to the financial support and services they need, M&T has launched a new financial education initiative, will expand the availability of both its Bank On certified checking account and secured credit card and will invest in its growing multicultural banking program to develop products and services accessible to underserved individuals and those with limited English proficiency. To help ensure all customers and communities have access to the financial support and services they need, M&T has launched a new financial education initiative, will expand the availability of both its Bank On certified checking account and secured credit card and will invest in its growing multicultural banking program to develop products and services accessible to underserved individuals and those with limited English proficiency. Multicultural banking: M&T anticipates designating as many as 115 branches throughout its expanded footprint as multicultural banking centers, in which bilingual branch staff can support the banking needs of the bank's non-English-speaking customers and offer guidance in their preferred language. The bank recently launched a Spanish-language version of its website, added Chinese and Korean to the languages available on its ATMs, developed financial education materials in Spanish and plans to offer customers the ability to schedule online appointments in six different languages. M&T anticipates designating as many as 115 branches throughout its expanded footprint as multicultural banking centers, in which bilingual branch staff can support the banking needs of the bank's non-English-speaking customers and offer guidance in their preferred language. The bank recently launched a Spanish-language version of its website, added Chinese and Korean to the languages available on its ATMs, developed financial education materials in Spanish and plans to offer customers the ability to schedule online appointments in six different languages. Access to services: The bank will also identify ways to enhance customers' access to its services in rural and urban areas where there is a limited presence of financial institutions. Approaches may vary by community, but could include mobile distribution, financial education seminars, partnerships with local community organizations or placing ATMs in those communities. Other initiatives include providing a framework for increasing business opportunities for diverse suppliers, community development focused philanthropy, investments supporting renewable energy and other programs totaling approximately $5 billion. Said M&T's Jones: "Development of our community growth plan has benefited from our collaboration with Jesse and his team at NCRC. Jesse's leadership has helped to galvanize a plan that we believe will benefit communities we serve throughout our footprint as well as in communities we hope to serve." About M&T Bank M&T Bank Corporation is a financial holding company headquartered in Buffalo, New York. M&T's principal banking subsidiary, M&T Bank, operates banking offices in New York, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Connecticut, Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia. Trust-related services are provided by M&T's Wilmington Trust-affiliated companies and by M&T Bank. About NCRC The National Community Reinvestment Coalition and its grassroots member organizations create opportunities for people to build wealth. We work with community leaders, policymakers and financial institutions to champion fairness in banking, housing and business. NCRC was formed in 1990 by national, regional and local organizations to increase the flow of private capital into traditionally underserved communities. NCRC has grown into an association of more than 600 community-based organizations in 42 states that promote access to basic banking services, affordable housing, entrepreneurship, job creation and vibrant communities for America's working families. More: www.ncrc.org Media Contacts: National Media and Trade Publications: Maya Dillon (646) 735-1958 [email protected] New Jersey, Connecticut and New York City: David Samberg (201) 368-4515 [email protected] New York (excluding NYC): Julia Berchou (716) 842-5385 [email protected] Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Washington, DC: Scott Graham (410) 244-4097 [email protected] 2021 M&T Bank. Member FDIC. NMLS ID # 381076 Equal Housing Lender SOURCE M&T Bank Related Links http://www.mtb.com NEW YORK, Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA), in collaboration with Magic Wheelchair, launched this year's Instagram competition for a special Halloween costume giveaway for 2022 beginning today, October 25 through October 28. The competition launched today with this @MDAorg Instagram post. To enter in someone living with a neuromuscular disease to win a Magic Wheelchair costume to be specially designed for the winner, and revealed in 2022, the following steps may be taken: (L to R) Christine Getman, Magic Wheelchair; Jenny McGahan, Muscular Dystrophy Association; MDA family member, Mason in his new Dinosaur front loader wheelchair costume; Scottie Foertmeyer, Magic Wheelchair; MDA family of Mason, at the IAFF Missoula City Fire Fighters Local 271 Station 5 costume reveal for 2020 competition winner, in Missoula, Montana. Here is how you enter: Go to Instagram and follow @MDAorg and @MagicWheelchair. Comment a on all of MDA's Instagram posts from 10/25 10/28 for a chance to win a Magic Wheelchair costume for 2022. We will announce the winner on Friday, October 29th! Competition rules: https://www.mda.org/magic-wheelchair The organizations will be engaging the community by also sharing a download to coloring book pages on Instagram @MDAorg inspired by real-life @MagicWheelchair costumes and encouraging followers to share their costume ideas which may be featured throughout the campaign when they tag @MDAorg and @MagicWheelchair. MDA and Magic Wheelchair are both committed to transforming the lives of people living with neuromuscular diseases and disabilities and have collaborated for years. Most recently, they created a Halloween costume reveal in 2020 for MDA National Ambassador Ethan LyBrand. In 2020, they launched a collaborative Instagram competition. The winner's costume was revealed by longtime MDA partners, the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), at Missoula City Fire Fighters Local 271 at Station 5 for Mason in Missoula, Montana on his third birthday on October 3, 2021. "It has been such a treat to learn more about Mason and to work with his Magic Wheelchair build team, led by Shawn Thorsson. His team created a costume that is truly just for him, incorporating his fun personality and the things he loves most, yellow construction vehicles and dinosaurs! Mason's loader truck was also constructed with a robotic front bucket he can move with an adaptive controller," said Christine Getman, Executive Director, Magic Wheelchair. "Our mission is all about inclusion and self-expression, so the Halloween season is the perfect time to get creative and unapologetically be yourself with your clothes, or costumes, and even your wheelchair," said Scottie Foertmeyer, Director of Community Outreach, Magic Wheelchair. "Even though Halloween will be a little different this year, it can still be a powerful day for kids to let their personalities shine. Whether it's spooky and scary, something whimsical or their favorite fandom, it's all about giving kids a voice while creating fun! Our collaboration with the MDA community allows us to engage families across the country to find joy through creativity and inclusion," he continued. "When I entered this competition last year on Instagram, I never thought I'd win for Mason! It was such an incredible surprise and an amazing experience to collaborate with MDA and Magic Wheelchair for the unforgettable reveal with our local fire fighters! Mason's diagnosis and life with neuromuscular disease has been a challenge for our family, but the community of support and MDA's mission to fund research, care and advocacy, has provided us with so much hope for more treatments and inclusion in the future, so he can live life to the fullest," said Nicole Goeddel, MDA family member. "Our IAFF partnership has always been based in fundraising for research and care for families living with neuromuscular diseases, and wholeheartedly based in the spirit of the relationships with local fire fighters across the country in their communities," said Jenny McGahan, Regional Director, Fire Fighter Partnerships for MDA. "This reveal with Mason's family embodied that spirit and we are so grateful to our longtime partners, the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) and Missoula City Fire Fighters Local 271 at Station 5 for hosting an incredible reveal for Mason and his family." MDA is grateful for the support of this collaboration with Magic Wheelchair, from leading longtime partners IAFF, CITGO Petroleum Corporation, National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) and Albertsons, and for additional support from Lowe's and Key & Kingdoms. About Magic Wheelchair Magic Wheelchair is a nonprofit organization that builds epic costumes for kids and young adults in wheelchairs at no cost to families. Our mission is to bring communities together to promote inclusion and self-expression for people with disabilities by transforming their wheelchairs into magic. To date, Magic Wheelchair has served nearly 300 families by supporting builders, makers, and students nationwide to create unforgettable moments and epic inclusion. Learn more or get involved, at magicwheelchair.org. About the Muscular Dystrophy Association For 70 years, the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) has been committed to transforming the lives of people living with muscular dystrophy, ALS, and related neuromuscular diseases. We do this through innovations in science and innovations in care . As the largest source of funding for neuromuscular disease research outside of the federal government, MDA has committed more than $1 billion since our inception to accelerate the discovery of therapies and cures. Research we have supported is directly linked to life-changing therapies across multiple neuromuscular diseases. MDA's MOVR is the first and only data hub that aggregates clinical, genetic, and patient-reported data for multiple neuromuscular diseases to improve health outcomes and accelerate drug development. MDA supports the largest network of multidisciplinary clinics providing best-in-class care at more than 150 of the nation's top medical institutions. Our Resource Center serves the community with one-on-one specialized support, and we offer educational conferences, events, and materials for families and healthcare providers. MDA Advocacy supports equal access for our community, and each year thousands of children and young adults learn vital life skills and gain independence at summer camp and through recreational programs, at no cost to families. During the COVID-19 pandemic, MDA continues to produce virtual events and programming to support our community when in-person events and activities are not possible. MDA's COVID-19 guidelines and virtual events are posted at mda.org/COVID19 . For more information, visit mda.org . SOURCE Muscular Dystrophy Association Related Links https://www.mda.org WASHINGTON, Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA will hold a virtual media briefing at 3 p.m. EDT Thursday, Oct. 28, to discuss the latest results from the agency's Juno spacecraft. The science team will reveal new findings that provide the first 3D look at how the planet's roiling atmosphere operates underneath the top layers of clouds, and how these revelations offer insight into the atmospheres of giant planets elsewhere in the universe. The event will take place from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, which manages the Juno mission. It will be livestreamed on NASA Television, the NASA app, the agency's website, NASA YouTube and Twitter. Briefing participants include: Lucas Paganini , Juno program scientist, NASA Headquarters, Washington , Juno program scientist, NASA Headquarters, Scott Bolton , Juno principal investigator, Southwest Research Institute, San Antonio , Juno principal investigator, Southwest Research Institute, Marzia Parisi , Juno scientist, JPL , Juno scientist, JPL Keren Duer , Juno scientist, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel , Juno scientist, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Leigh Fletcher , Juno participating scientist, University of Leicester, England , Juno participating scientist, University of Alessandro Mura , Juno co-investigator, Institute for Space Astrophysics and Planetology, Rome To participate in the briefing by telephone, reporters must provide their name and affiliation no later than one hour before the start of the briefing to Rexana Vizza at: [email protected] . Members of the media and the public may also ask questions on social media during the briefing using #JunoMission. Juno has been orbiting and monitoring Jupiter since 2016. The spacecraft is now in an extended mission designed to expand on discoveries it already has made about Jupiter's interior structure, internal magnetic field, atmosphere, and magnetosphere. It will also involve close passes of Jupiter's north polar cyclones, future flybys of the moons Europa and Io, and the first exploration of the faint rings encircling the planet. JPL, a division of Caltech in Pasadena, California, manages the Juno mission. Juno is part of NASA's New Frontiers Program, which is managed at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, for the agency's Science Mission Directorate in Washington. Lockheed Martin Space in Denver built and operates the spacecraft. To learn more about Juno, visit: https://www.nasa.gov/juno SOURCE NASA Related Links http://www.nasa.gov MARYSVILLE, Ohio, Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- LifeBio announced LifeBio Memory, a revolutionary reminiscence therapy (RT) life story app that blends the latest artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning technology with voice and visual prompts to improve quality care and health outcomes for older adults. The app debuted at the LeadingAge national conference in Atlanta today (Booth 3324). LifeBio Memory is a life story app to improve person-centered care and dementia care LifeBio Memory focuses on the psychological and social health needs of the person to complement their medical needs for a holistic care approach. The app provides an easy and efficient solution for health care and long-term care staff to enhance person-centered care for better health outcomes and quality of life (QoL) of older adults. Improving quality and health outcomes through social determinants of health (SDoH) are part of six core tenets set forth by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Solutions such as LifeBio Memory are part of this growing trend in contextualized health care. "We're excited to officially announce LifeBio Memory which revolutionizes person-centered care by addressing the health challenges of depression and loneliness as well as truly engaging those with Alzheimer's disease or mild cognitive impairment," said Beth Sanders, CEO and founder of LifeBio. "Knowing who people are and providing a useful platform for connecting professional or family caregivers to older adults addresses these key issues that cost Medicare more than $214 billion annually." The app works on both iOS and Android devices using AI and natural language processing. In addition to the archival storage of voice and other individualized data and background, families can have life story books created as a legacy gift. Health care and long-term care organizations with annual subscriptions are provided with personalized "Snapshots" (individual backgrounds) and LifeBio Memory's Action Plan to facilitate person-centered care and engagement activities. For a view of LifeBio Memory in action visit LifeBio Memory . LifeBio Memory was developed in part through a $2.49 million Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant from the National Institute on Aging (NIA) working in collaboration with research partner, Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging (BRIA). The grant included focus groups of memory care staff, family members and people living with dementia with feedback provided to inform the continued development of the app. As the project now moves into a 242-person clinical trial, BRIA will examine the positive impact in emotional health for older adults and increased staff knowledge of the person's background to improve person-centered care. Teepa Snow, one of the leading international educators in dementia care and culture, said, "LifeBio Memory gives people that sense of personhood versus patienthood; patienthood is all too risky in care situations and even in families." LifeBio Memory is available to health care and long-term care organizations as well direct to consumers on a subscription basis. Learn more at LifeBio Memory . Disclaimer This document references projects supported by the National Institute R44AG069566 (LifeBio Memory). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health. About LifeBio LifeBio Inc. ( lifebio.com ), is a leading age-tech company that captures life stories for better health, using evidence-based reminiscence therapy (RT), narrative care and research-based life story methods. Headquartered in Marysville, Ohio, LifeBio has created thousands of life stories of people 65+. LifeBio primarily works with health plans, home care, hospitals, senior living communities, nonprofits and government agencies across the United States and Canada to improve quality of life (QoL) for older adults, to improve dementia care and to address challenges related to social determinants of health such as loneliness (SDoH), a major health risk. LifeBio offers life story solutions in a subscription model to health care and senior living clients. LifeBio is also the creator of MyHello, a tech-powered, automated phone visit platform to connect participants live for weekly conversations using proven methods. Learn more at: lifebio.com . Media contact: Laura Plaster LifeBio 937-303-4574 [email protected] SOURCE LifeBio VANCOUVER, BC, Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - New Found Gold Corp. ("New Found" or the "Company") (TSXV: NFG) (NYSE American: NFGC) is pleased to announce an expansion of the exploration program at its 100% owned Queensway Project ("Queensway"), located on the Trans-Canada Highway 15km west of Gander, Newfoundland. To date the Company has completed approximately 51% (~102,000m) of its current 200,000m diamond drill program at Queensway. Approximately 24,000 meters of drill core is pending assay results. Highlights Nine core rigs are currently operating, with a tenth scheduled to commence in the first week of November. New Found is targeting an increase in the drill count to 14 rigs with the addition of two core rigs by the end of 2021, followed by two additional rigs in Q1 2022. The ramp up from 9 to 14 drills represents a 55% increase in the drill count with a corresponding increase in the rate of core production from approximately 3,000m per week to approximately 4,700m per week. per week to approximately per week. New Found plans to increase the current program at the Queensway project to a total of 400,000m , including the approximately 102,000m completed to date. Permit applications for this expansion have now been submitted. This expanded drill program is fully funded out of the Company's current working capital balance of approximately $103 million , which is anticipated to increase to approximately $150 million on closing of the recently announced financing by Eric Sprott . 1 , including the approximately completed to date. Permit applications for this expansion have now been submitted. This expanded drill program is fully funded out of the Company's current working capital balance of approximately , which is anticipated to increase to approximately on closing of the recently announced financing by . New Found anticipates commencement of construction of a new 25,000 sq ft core processing facility in the next several weeks (the "Giga-Shack") following approval of its permit applications. This facility is budgeted at approximately $3 million and is scheduled to be completed by the end of Q1 2022. This state-of-the-art facility will be capable of handling the logging and processing of core from the expanded exploration program and in fact if required provides sufficient capacity for additional increases in the drilling rate. The Giga-Shack will include 27 offices covering 10,000 sq ft, in addition to 15,000 sq ft of core processing space, a roughly 3x increase to New Found's existing Gander facilities. and is scheduled to be completed by the end of Q1 2022. This state-of-the-art facility will be capable of handling the logging and processing of core from the expanded exploration program and in fact if required provides sufficient capacity for additional increases in the drilling rate. The Giga-Shack will include 27 offices covering 10,000 sq ft, in addition to 15,000 sq ft of core processing space, a roughly 3x increase to New Found's existing facilities. New Found also continues to actively recruit additional professional and support staff to add to its growing team in Gander , which now totals 178 people. Greg Matheson COO of New Found, stated: "To date our Queensway program has delivered three high-grade gold discoveries (Keats, Lotto, and Golden Joint) over 2.6km of strike along the Appleton Fault Zone. At the same time, we continue to generate and advance multiple other high-grade gold targets at the Appleton and JBP Faults along +20km of strike on Queensway North. With several new, high-priority targets and a plan for initial drilling at Queensway South in the coming months, the addition of these new rigs will allow the Company to continue to step-out at Keats, Lotto, and Golden Joint, while also honing in on other potential discoveries. Recognizing our success rate to date, we are excited to now more aggressively pursue further potential high-grade gold discoveries at Queensway." ___________________________ 1 Note that this additional financing is subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV") and approval by the shareholders of the Company if required by the TSXV. 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 25, 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 15km west of Gander, Newfoundland, and just 18km 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 $103 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. 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/ BATON ROUGE, La., Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The nationally-acclaimed network of BASIS Charter Schools opened its new, second campus in Baton Rouge in August, at the start of the current 2021-22 school year. However, due to the COVID upsurge from the Delta variant at that time, the ceremony to recognize and memorialize the new school community and beautiful school building in East Baton Rouge Parish had to be postponed. "The time has come to reschedule the ceremony. Now, it's time to celebrate!" said Rosalind Thompson, the Head of School of BASIS Baton Rouge Primary Mid City Campus. "We waited. We're abiding by public health protocols and mandates, all of them. But it's now time to bask in the glow of this incredible new campus, and commend the students and educators who've already made it an amazing school!" The ribbon-cutting ceremony is on Tuesday, October 26, 2021, at 10:00 a.m. CDT, on campus, at 7921 Florida Boulevard "and students are invited, too," Ms. Thompson adds. "These kids have been amazing, their enthusiasm is ample and apparent, and this event is well-deserved for them, and for everyone in our school community!" Please click here for a link to the invitation. The event is indoors, and BASIS Baton Rouge Primary Mid City Campus school leaders ask that attendees comply with the ongoing statewide mask mandate. Head of School Thompson, a veteran educator who has previously led openings and thus 'cut ribbons' -- at two BASIS campuses in Texas, one in Arizona, and one in Brooklyn, New York, says the academic year is off to an incredible start. "Our teachers are already doing for 330 K-4 students what BASIS teachers always do: teach kids to love learning using one of the best curriculums in the nation. Next year, we'll have 5th graders, too!" Ms. Thompson will speak at the event, along with Dr. Sito Narcisse, the Superintendent of East Baton Rouge Parish School System, as well as the Executive Director of BASIS Charter Schools, DeAnna Rowe. The network is also excited to invite one of its supportive and active parents and BASIS Baton Rouge board members to speak as well, representing our entire family community Mrs. Liz Smith. "We are so proud of our growing community of students, families, and supporters in Baton Rouge," Ms. Thompson said. "Our other campus here, BASIS Baton Rouge Materra, got us off to an amazing start in this community when it opened in 2018. Materra now serves more than 700 K-7 students." Like all BASIS Charter Schools, BASIS Baton Rouge Primary Mid City Campus is an open-enrollment, tuition free public school. Admission is not selective meaning, any student who lives in the EBR Parish School System can apply and be admitted as long as seats are available. If there are more applicants than available seats, then there is a blind lottery, followed by a waiting list for interested applicants. Interested families can apply here. Open Enrollment for the 2022-23 school year is from Wednesday, November 10, 2021 through Friday, December 10, 2021. About BASIS Charter Schools The network of BASIS Charter Schools is among the best in the United States, whether assessed by national rankings, OECD/PISA scores, AP Exam scores, college admissions, merit aid earned, or any other measure. Our passionate and knowledgeable Subject Expert Teachers serve students in kindergarten through grade 12 using the STEM-inspired, liberal arts-focused BASIS Charter School Curriculum. Our acclaimed programfounded in 1998 and cultivating excellence every school year sinceeducates students at the highest international levels, preparing them to be leaders in the 21st century global workforce. In the 2022-23 academic year, BASIS Charter Schools will have 34 operating public schools serving more than 20,000 students in Arizona, Louisiana, Texas, and Washington, D.C. For more information, please visit enrollBASIS.com or BASISed.com. SOURCE BASIS Charter Schools Related Links https://www.basised.com/ RIGA, Latvia, Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Team CasinoCanada recently returned from iGB Live! 2021 . It was one of the largest congregations of iGaming professionals, affiliates, suppliers, and media this year. iGB Live! was held between September 28 and October 1 at Amsterdam RAI. The event hosted over 120 exhibitors and 4000 attendees from all over the world. From the top software developers flexing their latest products to suppliers flaunting cutting-edge solutions and game-changing ideas, iGB Live! was a huge hit! And Team CasinoCanada made the most of the event by forging new relationships and connections by the end of Day 4. The Highlights of iGB Live! 2021 iGB Live! connects iGaming operators with independent affiliates, media, and SaaS providers. And this year, team online casino Canada met with some of the industry's biggest casino affiliates and payment providers. The team had lengthy conversations about future projects and market projections with the representatives of prominent brands like: 888.com 22Bet Genesis Affiliates Full Cream Affiliates Alpha Affiliates V.Partners and VulkanVegas Casino 247Partners 21 Partners Betsson Group Affiliates 7StarsPartners CoinsPay EcoPayz Cryptopay Bringing the latest iGaming solutions to Canadian punters has always been the prime agenda for CasinoCanada. And the team discussed ideas for multi-brand affiliate programs to bring viewers a tailored experience in the future. Commenting on the company's participation, Alex Lysak, a representative of CasinoCanada, said, "We're honoured and pleased at the opportunity to be a part of iGB Live! and we finally got a chance to meet and interact with our peers and veterans from the iGaming industry. Even though virtual communication is the way to go during a pandemic, there is no substitute for face-to-face communication. We're thrilled to meet old acquaintances and discuss plans for our collective future". About CasinoCanada CasinoCanada is a leading source of iGaming information for Canadian punters. The website ranks, compares, and reviews the top online casinos and has been helping players make informed decisions since 1999. The website promotes responsible gambling and works with reputed operators. Conclusion Team CasinoCanada is humbled by the experience and look forward to returning for the next iGB Live! conference. The event is the largest opportunity for nurturing new connections and rekindling old bonds, and the guys at CasinoCanada made the most of the opportunity. SOURCE CasinoCanada In addition to the scholarship donation, Palmer's will launch the Executive Speaker Series Presented by Palmer's at Benedict College. This first-of-its-kind series at the college will kick off in spring 2022. Members from the Advisory Board will speak on a range of topics to inspire students about their future. There is also an internship program forthcoming, that will be geared towards providing Benedict scholars with real-world business management training. Robert Neis, President of E.T. Browne Drug Co. said, "Our brand has an unwavering dedication to advancing students by providing them with the tools they need for a successful future. The donation, along with our programming for the 2022 school year and beyond, will provide students with the resources to take advantage of the strong foundational learning offered at the Tyrone Adam Burroughs School of Business and Entrepreneurship." "We are extremely grateful to Palmer's and the Burroughs Foundation for their commitment to the Tyrone Adams Burroughs School of Business. Our students will receive invaluable exposure to some of the top business leaders in the country and will have their tuition burdens lifted as a result of this new partnership. It is our hope that others will follow Palmer's and the Burroughs Foundation's lead in creating similar transformational opportunities at HBCUs, said Dr. Roslyn Clark Artis, President and CEO of Benedict College." "Thank you to Palmer's for their support and commitment to Benedict College. I'm grateful to collaborate with industry partners who are intentional about supporting our younger generation in meaningful ways. This level of commitment should be considered a national example of how businesses can support HBCUs across our nation in helping level the playing field so students of color can access the life-changing opportunities and advance in their careers," said Dr. Tyrone Burroughs, President/CEO of the Burroughs Family of Companies. The Palmer's brand has always been committed to advancing the next generation of Black and LatinX communities through a series of initiatives that mentor and inspire students with tools and resources. Palmer's launched the partnership during Benedict's homecoming celebration and hosted a pop-up salon, featuring Palmer's haircare products, samples and educational activities. Additional sampling of Palmer's Skincare and haircare products were available during Benedict College's Homecoming Family Reunion Block Party. About E.T. Browne Drug Co., Inc. E.T. Browne Drug Co. is a family owned business and one of America's most loved skincare companies. For 180 years, Palmer's has been a trusted brand, providing treatment-oriented products that are passed down from generation to generation. The name Palmer's is synonymous with high-quality, efficacious natural skin and hair care product lines including Cocoa Butter Formula, Coconut Oil Formula, Shea Formula and Skin Success. To learn more about E.T. Browne Drug Co, visit www.palmers.com, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram. About Benedict College Founded in 1870 by a woman, Bathsheba A. Benedict, Benedict College is a private co-educational liberal arts institution, offering 25 competitive baccalaureate degree programs. The Midlands HBCU welcomes students from all 46 counties in South Carolina, 30 states across America, and 26 countries around the world. Benedict offers several high-demand fields of study in STEM, Cyber Security, Mass Communication, Sport Management, Business Administration, Engineering, Computer Science, Biology, and Education. The College also has a diverse faculty and importantly, 80 percent of courses are taught by full-time faculty. About The Burroughs Foundation Founded in 2010 by Tyrone and Nelda Burroughs, The Burroughs Foundation works alongside community leaders to develop and support local organizations. For the past 8 years, we have contributed to many philanthropic programs that empower diverse communities. With a focus on leadership empowerment, these efforts address the educational, health, and social needs of ethnically diverse neighborhoods. SOURCE E.T. Browne Drug Co. PORTLAND, Ore., Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Increase in demand for solar cells due to their flexibility and light weight and prevalence of alternative energy sources drive the growth of the global perovskite solar cell market. Allied Market Research recently published a report, titled, "Perovskite Solar Cell Market by Structure (Planar and Mesoporous), Product (Rigid and Flexible), Method (Solution Method, Vapor-Deposition Method and Vapor-Assisted Solution Method) and End Use (Aerospace, Industrial Automation, Consumer Electronics, Energy): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20212030". As per the report, the global perovskite solar cell industry was accounted for $0.4 billion in 2020, and is anticipated to garner $6.6 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 32.4% from 2021 to 2030. Drivers, restraints, and opportunities Increase in demand for solar cells due to their flexibility and light weight, surge in number of applications in various industries, rise in environmental concerns about carbon emissions, and prevalence of alternative energy sources drive the growth of the global perovskite solar cell market. However, presence of toxic materials hinders the market growth. On the contrary, rise in research and development activities is expected to open new opportunities for the market players in the future. Download Sample PDF (317 Pages PDF with Insights): https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/14114 Covid-19 scenario: The perovskite solar cells are used in supplements, cosmetics, industrial and personal care. However, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the demand for such applications reduced significantly. The prolonged lockdown disrupted the supply chain and transport across several countries. Moreover, the scarcity of resources hampered manufacturing activities. The planar perovskite solar cells segment dominated the market By structure, the planar perovskite solar cells segment held the largest share in 2020, accounting for more than two-thirds of the global perovskite solar cell market, as it provides low-temperature processing, high efficiency, and negligible hysteresis behavior. However, the mesoporous perovskite solar cells segment is estimated to register the highest CAGR of 32.8% during the forecast period, as it offers high absorption coefficients, optimal bandgaps, and long-range exciton diffusion lengths. Get detailed COVID-19 impact analysis on the Perovskite Solar Cell Market: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-for-customization/14114?reqfor=covid The consumer electronics segment to portray the highest CAGR through 2030 By end user, the consumer electronics segment is projected to manifest the highest CAGR of 33.6% during the forecast period, due to rise in demand for wearable technology. However, the energy segment dominated the market in terms of revenue, contributing to nearly two-fifths of the global perovskite solar cell market, owing to rise in demand for renewable energy sources through sustainable means. North America to hold the largest share By region, the global perovskite solar cell market across Europe, followed by North America, held the largest share in 2020, accounting for nearly half of the market, due to rise in incorporation of renewable energy sources in the region. However, the market across Asia-Pacific would register the highest CAGR of 33.3% from 2021 to 2027, owing to rise in demand for reliable electric supply through sustainable sources. Interested in Procure Data? Visit Here: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/perovskite-solar-cell-market/purchase-options Major market players Oxford Photovoltaics Solaronix SA FrontMaterials Co. Ltd. Fraunhofer ISE Xiamen Weihua Solar Co. Ltd. Saule Technologies Dyesol Polyera Corporation FlexLink Systems Inc. New Energy Technologies Inc. Access AVENUE- A Subscription-Based Library (Premium on-demand, subscription-based pricing model) at: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/library-access Avenue Library Subscription | Request for 14 days free trial of before buying: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/avenue/trial/starter Similar Reports We Have: Solar Energy Market is projected to reach $223.3 billion by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 20.5% from 2019 to 2026. Solar Farm Market is projected to reach $261.0 billion by 2027, registering a CAGR of 19.8% from 2020 to 2027. Solar Encapsulation Market is expected to reach $4,231 million by 2022, growing at a CAGR of 23.1% from 2016 to 2022. Solar Battery Market is projected to reach $360.4 million by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 15.5% from 2020 to 2027. Concentrated Solar Power Market is projected to reach $ 8,046.7 million by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 10.3% from 2019 to 2026. Solar Photovoltaic Glass Market is projected to reach $37.6 billion by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 30.3% from 2019 to 2026. Renewable Energy Market is projected to reach $1,977.6 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 8.4% from 2021 to 2030. Pre-Book Now with 10% Discount: Solar Cell Films Market - Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2021-2028 Thin Film Solar Cell Market: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2021-2030 Solar Cell Market: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2021-2030 Polymer Solar Cells Market: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2021-2030 Solar Thermal Market: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20202027 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: 1-800-792-5285 UK: +44-845-528-1300 Hong Kong: +852-301-84916 India (Pune): +91-20-66346060 Fax: +1-855-550-5975 [email protected] Web: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com Follow us on: LinkedIn | Twitter SOURCE Allied Market Research Related Links https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com HONG KONG and SHANGHAI, Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- China Ping An Insurance Overseas (Holdings) Limited, the main offshore investment and asset management platform of Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China, Ltd. (2318.HK, 601318.SH), together with its subsidiaries ("Ping An Overseas Holdings"), announces the successful closing of Ping An Global Equity Selection Fund II (the "Selection Fund II"), and Ping An GP Opportunities Fund (the "GP Opportunities Fund") (collectively the "Funds"). The two funds combined received a total capital commitment of USD 750 million from a group of global investors, anchored by the Vintage Funds within Goldman Sachs Asset Management ("Goldman Sachs"), montana capital partners ("mcp") and Ardian. In 2020, montana capital partners also anchored the predecessor funds. Ping An Overseas Holdings is a Limited Partner in the Funds alongside other investors. Following the closing of Ping An Global Equity Selection Fund and Ping An Global Equity Fund in 2020, the Funds are a continuation of Ping An Overseas Holdings' dedicated investment program focusing on overseas private equity investing. The Selection Fund II operates a private equity program that was invested by Ping An into a well-diversified portfolio of top-tier buyout managers in North America and Europe and was transferred as part of a secondary transaction. The GP Opportunities Fund is set up to capture the co-investment and secondary investment opportunities sourced from Ping An Overseas Holdings' extensive network of global GP relationships. Hoi Tung, Chairman and CEO of Ping An Overseas Holdings, commented: "We are grateful to have the backing of our existing limited partners, montana capital partners and Ardian, and welcome the support and trust of Goldman Sachs. The successful closing of the Selection Fund II and the GP Opportunities Fund further advances our mission to provide diversified investment opportunities with compelling risk-adjusted returns to our third-party investing partners." "We are very thrilled to further extend our partnership with a group of well-respected investors. It's great to see our distinctive investment approach and strategies have resonated with the investment community. We look forward to leveraging the support of our prestigious partners as we capture more compelling investment opportunities in the overseas markets as well as in the Greater China region," said Kaipin Kui, Deputy General Manager and Head of Private Equity at Ping An Overseas Holdings. "We are excited to partner with Ping An on this innovative secondary transaction and look forward to working with the Ping An team on the continued development of their private equity platform," said Harold Hope, global head of secondary investing at Goldman Sachs. Dr. Marco Wulff, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of montana capital partners, said: "We are excited to have the opportunity to further strengthen our long-standing relationship with Ping An by co-leading and structuring another customized secondary investment opportunity. This transaction illustrates mcp's persistent efforts to provide its investors with access to some of the highest quality assets in private equity through directly negotiated transactions off the beaten tracks." Jan Philipp Schmitz, Member of the Executive Board and Head of Ardian Asia, said: "We see this as an opportunity for Ardian to partner with a highly experienced team with a great track-record that we got to know well. This complex carve-out transaction is the perfect example of what we are able to offer to financial institutions in terms of portfolio and team structuring. Ping An has been a pioneer in China's asset management industry and we look forward to supporting the team." About China Ping An Insurance Overseas (Holdings) Limited China Ping An Insurance Overseas (Holdings) Limited is a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of Ping An Insurance (Group) Company of China, Ltd. (HKEX: 2318; SSE: 601318). We have strong offshore investment research and portfolio management capabilities and are committed to providing clients with a wide range of overseas investment products, asset management and consulting services. We offer capital markets investment services including open-/closed-end funds, ETFs and mandates in equity, fixed income, funds of hedge funds, and AI and quantitative investments, and alternative investment services including funds, co-investments and direct investments in global (mainly US and Europe) private equity, private debt, infrastructure and real estate. About Goldman Sachs Asset Management Vintage Funds Bringing together traditional and alternative investments, Goldman Sachs Asset Management provides clients around the world with a dedicated partnership and focus on long-term performance. As the primary investing area within Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS), we deliver investment and advisory services for the world's leading institutions, financial advisors and individuals, drawing from our deeply connected global network and tailored expert insights, across every region and marketoverseeing more than $2 trillion in assets under supervision worldwide as of September 30, 2021. Driven by a passion for our clients' performance, we seek to build long-term relationships based on conviction, sustainable outcomes, and shared success over time. Goldman Sachs Asset Management invests in the full spectrum of alternatives, including private equity, growth equity, private credit, real estate and infrastructure. Established in 1998, the Vintage Funds within Goldman Sachs Asset Management have been innovators in the secondary market and have invested over $50 billion of capital since inception. The Vintage Funds provide liquidity, capital and partnering solutions to private market investors and managers worldwide across private equity strategies. Follow us on LinkedIn. About montana capital partners (mcp) AG montana capital partners AG (mcp) is a European-based private equity firm focused on attractive niches of the global secondary market, as well as on high-quality asset management solutions. mcp acts as advisor to five secondary funds with total assets under management of more than 2.7 billion ($3.2 billion). All mcp funds were oversubscribed and closed at their respective hard caps. The firm focuses mid-sized transactions and has closed more than 100 transactions in this field. The complexity of these deals led to innovative and value-generating solutions for sellers. mcp's transactions are usually sourced and negotiated directly with the seller or fund managers, enabling the structuring of highly customized solutions tailored to the sellers' or GPs' needs. mcp was acquired by PGIM, the $1.5 trillion global investment management business of Prudential Financial, Inc. (NYSE: PRU), in August 2021. For more information, visit www.pgim.com and www.mcp.eu. About Ardian Ardian is a world-leading private investment house with assets of US$114bn managed or advised in Europe, the Americas and Asia. The company is majority-owned by its employees. It keeps entrepreneurship at its heart and focuses on delivering excellent investment performance to its global investor base. Through its commitment to shared outcomes for all stakeholders, Ardian's activities fuel individual, corporate and economic growth around the world. Holding close its core values of excellence, loyalty and entrepreneurship, Ardian maintains a truly global network, with more than 810 employees working from fifteen offices across Europe (Frankfurt, Jersey, London, Luxembourg, Madrid, Milan, Paris and Zurich), the Americas (New York, San Francisco and Santiago) and Asia (Beijing, Singapore, Tokyo and Seoul). It manages funds on behalf of more than 1,200 clients through five pillars of investment expertise: Fund of Funds, Direct Funds, Infrastructure, Real Estate, and Private Debt. SOURCE China Ping An Insurance Overseas (Holdings) Limited The 2021 summit marks a return to face-to-face dialogue following the virtual summit that took place last year under Saudi Arabia's presidency. It comes at a critical time for humanity, with the interwoven threats of future pandemics, climate change and economic damage presenting multifaceted challenges. The G20 remains a vital forum for tackling these issues, and the leaders and their guests must reach consensus on shared commitments to build a strong, balanced, inclusive and lasting recovery from the pandemic. The leaders will tackle a full agenda under the pillars of people, planet and prosperity. On people, they will determine how to reduce inequalities and build back better; on planet they will advance discussions on a net-zero future, and seek common ground to protect our climate and environment as COP26 gets under way in Glasgow; and on prosperity they'll focus on innovation in all areas for a bright future. These issues are reflected in the latest summit briefing book, G20 Italy: The Rome Summit, which features prominent voices from government and civil society. Exclusive commentary includes Alberto Angel Fernandez, president of Argentina, who sets the tone by calling for wealth to be seen from a new perspective that takes planetary impact into consideration. The title includes thought-leadership on policy priorities and sector-specific issues from a prestigious line-up of authors. Sima Bahous, executive director of UN Women, calls for the protection of Afghanistan's women, without which the country is exposing itself to accelerating poverty, violence and instability. David Beasley, executive director of the World Food Programme, plants the seeds of ideas to reach zero hunger. Elsewhere, Mathias Cormann, secretary-general of the OECD, shares how an inclusive approach to economic evolution can level the playing field and create an international environment that works for everyone. The publication also features voices from the World Health Organization, the UN Environment Programme, the International Labour Organization and the UN World Tourism Organization, among others. G20 Italy: The Rome Summit is an official publication of The Global Governance Project, a joint initiative between GT Media Group Ltd, a London-based publishing company, and the G20 Research Group based at the University of Toronto. View G20 Italy: The Rome Summit online at www.bit.ly/g20it . Twitter: @GloGovProj Contact: Khaled Algaay Email: [email protected] Global Governance Project GT Media Group SOURCE The Global Governance Project (GT Media Group Ltd) NEW YORK, Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- BizVibe has added key challenges and trends for leather product manufacturing industry profiles on their platform. All 1,500+ leather product 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 leather product manufacturing industry group. One challenge which is being highlighted is the rise in demand for leather alternatives. As veganism and sentiments against animal cruelty are on the rise, consumers are increasingly opting for alternatives to leather. This has led to an increasing demand for products made of leather alternatives ranging from vegan leather to recycled plastics, and companies are launching a growing number of such products to compete with genuine leather. This change in consumer preference is creating a long-term structural challenge for manufacturers of leather products and pushing them towards focusing on products that do not use traditional leather. 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 Leather Product Manufacturing 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 Leather Product Categories BizVibe's platform provides access to 30M+ 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 leather product manufacturing industry group features 1,500+ 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/ LAS VEGAS, Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Prime Trust, the one-stop shop for financial infrastructure for fintech and digital asset innovators, today announced the upcoming exponential growth in its liquidity pool to ensure scalability and reliability for customers, as well as a new white-label debit card program accessible to all integrators who use Prime Trust's custody solutions. Launching in November, Prime Trust's liquidity pool will grow 5x in supply, which means the company's customers have access to more trading pairs, a deeper liquidity pool, and enhanced stability. In addition, Prime Trust's liquidity product will allow both instant and scheduled settlement, providing customers with more flexibility around capital management. "Our mission is to make financial services accessible, affordable, and reliable for our customers and their customers," said Sara Xi, Chief Product Officer at Prime Trust. "With this new offering, we're enhancing the flexibility and stability of digital asset trading and settlement infrastructure. As a FinTech infrastructure provider, we take pride in empowering innovators to make digital assets more accessible to everyone." In addition to the expansion of the liquidity pool, Prime Trust has also added a white-label debit card program accessible to all institutional customers who use their custody solutions. The new debit card API lets businesses of all sizes offer branded debit cards to their customers that are compatible with most digital wallets including Apple Pay and Google Pay, streamlining access to their custodial balances. The expanded functionality of the Prime Trust platform will enhance the strength and competitiveness of the company's core platform. By reducing time to market by 90% and upfront investment by millions of dollars, Prime Trust offers best-in-class financial infrastructure to more than 700 clients internationally. "We believe Bitcoin is the future of money. So, ease of access is essential for our products," said Cory Klippsten, CEO of Swan Bitcoin . "Our partnership with Prime Trust allows us to focus on our customers and count on Prime Trust for best execution. We very much look forward to their upcoming liquidity improvement." Prime Trust will be on hand at the upcoming Money20/20 conference to talk about these developments, new offerings and the future of finance. Held October 24-27 in Las Vegas, this is the largest global fintech event covering payments and financial services innovations. To learn more about Prime Trust and the company's work to drive the new digital economy, please visit https://www.primetrust.com/ . About Prime Trust Prime Trust is the one-stop-shop for financial infrastructure for fintech and digital asset innovators. We offer a core infrastructure platform that allows companies to launch quickly and scale securely. Prime Trust powers mission-critical infrastructure for many of the world's leading crypto exchanges, NFT creators, digital wallets, ATS', RIAs, broker-dealers, banks, and neobanks. Prime Trust's team has extensive regulatory and financial services backgrounds from the OCC, SEC, Federal Reserve, Department of Justice, US Treasury/Secret Service, Wyoming Banking Division, JPMorgan Chase, Green Dot, American Express, PNC, Bank of America, and Visa. For more information, visit www.primetrust.com . MEDIA CONTACT: Interdependence PR for Prime Trust [email protected] (949) 777-2485 SOURCE Prime Trust DENVER, Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- A new book by Colorado author Bill Sonn tells the true story of four U.S. soldiers the Army merely suspected of disloyalty and turned them into actual disloyal soldiers conspiring to conduct a guerilla war from the Rocky Mountains. In the group was the only American soldier convicted of the military equivalent of treason in the U.S. during World War II. All the GIs in the outrageous plan got long sentences. One was sentenced to hang. And all ended up successful businessmen. A critical part of the story unfolds at the famed Camp Hale in the mountains near Redcliff, Colorado. "In its rush to assemble a force of seven million, the Army discovered it had inducted some seemingly iffy patriots," Sonn explained. "They might have had FBI files, German-sounding names, disruptive college records, visited pre-war Europe, or, quite often, done nothing at all. The Army stripped them of their guns, put them in prison-like uniforms, abused them, and stashed them in remote camps. One was Camp Hale, where members of the Army's storied 10th Mountain Division, training nearby, occasionally dropped by to beat the supposed traitors up." Something Like Treason: Disloyal American Soldiers and the Plot to Bring World War II Home follows one soldier's flight from the camp with two German POWs. They aimed to cross the Atlantic to wartime Germany to persuade the Nazi government to supply the money and the materials they needed to ignite their guerilla war back in the U.S. Published by Sunbury Press, the book traces these men through the tumult of the 1930s, into the war, their military misadventures. and the bureaucratic knife fights among the country's intelligence services. Their postwar lives, moreover, closely reflect the nation's grand prosperity and the emergence of some rust in America's industrial sector. "So much fascinates me about this story, including how the environment and actions mirror the polarization, isolationism and domestic terrorism of today," Sonn added. Something Like Treason is available through Amazon, Goodreads, at many bookstores, and from Sunbury Press. Qualified reviewers can receive a copy of the book or arrange an interview by contacting [email protected]. About Lasso Digital Lasso Digital is a Denver-based digital marketing agency that supports the efforts of nonprofits and government agencies to make the greatest positive impact possible. Contact: Erich Kirshner, Lasso Digital 303.921.6733 or [email protected] SOURCE Lasso Digital, LLC Related Links https://www.sunburypress.com/products/something-like-treason?variant=39384493424733 Neurophth congratulates its very own Dr. Qiutang Li as well as all the other award winners who have been recognized by The Healthcare Technology Report in their Top 25 Women Leaders in Biotechnology 2021. According to The Healthcare Technology Report , these accomplished women were selected based on hundreds of nominations and comprehensive analysis of professional milestones achieved, longevity in the biotech field and demonstrated domain expertise. They represent a diverse range of positions, specialties, and backgrounds. For more information on The Healthcare Technology Report, please visit the official website at https://thehealthcaretechnologyreport.com/the-top-25-women-leaders-in-biotechnology-of-2021/ . "I am humbled and honored to be included among this list of outstanding women leaders who are boldly changing the future of life science industry, " said Dr. Qiutang Li. "I share this distinction with all my Neurophth female colleagues who come to work each day to share their expertise and insights as we follow the company's vision of 'building a brighter future for patients with innovative gene therapies' and looking forward to lead the team into the successful development of the first China-manufactured AAV ocular gene therapy product globally." "Congratulations to these exceptional women whose passion for creating medicines of value have led them to consistently achieve and thrive in our ever-evolving life sciences industry," said Dr. Alvin Luk, CEO of Neurophth. "Qiutang, a Chinese female scientist named Top 25 women leaders in Biotechnology of 2021, is an outstanding scientific leader who is leading all R&D efforts in both China and USA to take Neurophth's first product, NR082 for the treatment of ND4-mutated Leber hereditary optic neuropathy, from IND-enabling studies to clinical trial. She also works tirelessly to expand our portfolio pipeline from ocular to extra-ocular diseases". Dr. Qiutang Li has over 30 years of experience in basic and applied biomedical research with extensive knowledge in gene therapy for hepatic deficiencies, ocular diseases, and viral vector reconstruction. She joins Neurophth from the University of Louisville School of Medicine, where she was a tenured professor in the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences for over 14 years. Throughout her career, Dr. Li has published more than 45 publications in peer-reviewed journals including IOVS, PNAS, Nature Review Immunology, and Science. Dr. Li earned both of her bachelor and master's degrees in Genetics from Peking University, China, and her doctoral degree in Molecular Cell Biology from Washington University, St. Louis. About Neurophth Neurophth is China's first gene therapy company for ophthalmic diseases. With subsidiaries in China (Wuhan, Shanghai and Suzhou) and US (San Diego, California), Neurophth, a fully integrated company, is striving to discover and develop genomic medicines for patients suffering from genetic diseases globally. Our validated AAV platform, which has been published in Nature - Scientific Reports, Ophthalmology, and EBioMedicine, has successfully delivered proof-of-concept investigator-initiated trials data of 198 subjects with investigational gene therapies in the retina. Our most advanced investigational candidate, NR082 (NFS-01 project, rAAV2-ND4), in development for the treatment of ND4-mediated LHON, has been granted orphan drug designation (ODD) by the U.S. FDA and its IND evaluating NR082 in a Phase 1/2/3 clinical trial has also been approved by the China NMPA in March 2021 with the first patient being dosed in June 2021. The pipeline also includes ND1-mediated LHON, autosomal dominant optic atrophy, optic neuroprotection (e.g., glaucoma), vascular retinopathy (e.g., diabetic retinopathy), and five other preclinical candidates. Neurophth has initiated the scaling up in-house manufacturing process in single-use technologies to support future commercial demand at the Suzhou facilities. To learn more about us and our growing pipeline, visit www.neurophth.com. SOURCE Neurophth Therapeutics, Inc. HOUSTON, Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Quanta Services, Inc. (NYSE: PWR) announced today that it will release third quarter 2021 financial results on Thursday, November 4, 2021, before the market opens. In conjunction with the press release, Quanta has scheduled a conference call and webcast for 9:00 a.m. Eastern time on Thursday, November 4, 2021. Quanta will utilize a slide presentation to accompany its prepared remarks, which will be viewable through the webcast and available on the Investor Relations section of the Quanta website prior to the conference call (http://investors.quantaservices.com). What: Quanta Services Third Quarter 2021 Earnings Conference Call When: Thursday, November 4, 2021 9:00 a.m. Eastern time How: Live via phone By dialing (201) 689-8345 or (877) 407-8291 and asking for the Quanta Services Third Quarter 2021 Earnings Conference Call at least 10 minutes prior to the start time. Live via webcast By logging on to the website through the Investor Relations section of Quanta's website (http://investors.quantaservices.com) For those who cannot participate live, an archive of the webcast will be available shortly after the call on the Investor Relations section of Quanta's website (http://investors.quantaservices.com) and dial-in information for a replay of the call will be available in the upcoming earnings release. For more information, please contact Kip Rupp at Quanta Services at (713) 341-7260. About Quanta Services Quanta is a leading specialized contracting services company, delivering comprehensive infrastructure solutions for the utility, renewable energy, communications, pipeline and energy industries. Quanta's comprehensive services include designing, installing, repairing and maintaining energy and communications infrastructure. With operations throughout the United States, Canada, Australia and select other international markets, Quanta has the manpower, resources and expertise to safely complete projects that are local, regional, national or international in scope. For more information, visit www.quantaservices.com. Contact: Kip Rupp, CFA Quanta Services, Inc. (713) 341-7260 SOURCE Quanta Services, Inc. TEL AVIV, Israel and BETHESDA, Md., Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Cannabics Pharmaceuticals Inc. (OTC: CNBX), a global leader in the development of cancer related cannabinoid-based medicine, announced today that Dr. Yonina Tova (MD), internationally recognized Radiation Oncologist has joined the company's Board of Advisors. Dr. Tova obtained her Medical Degree from the College of Medicine, University of Illinoi, Chicago, in 1986. Dr. Tova specializes in treating cancer with radiation, using radiation therapy to treat a wide variety of cancers. Dr. Tova is certified by the American Board of Radiology (ABR), and currently serves as Director of the Radiotherapy Institute at Ziv Hospital in Israel. Company Director and Head of Advisory Board, Dr. Gil Feiler, commented: "It is with great pleasure that I welcome Dr. Yonina Tova to our Advisory Board. The Company is focused on the advancement of our flagship drug candidate RCC-33 for the treatment of colorectal cancer. And as the company continues to prepare its approach towards Phase I/II (a) studies, we are constantly expanding our team of clinical experts to help us maximize our potential positive impact on current standard of care and on patient outcome. I am certain that Dr. Tova, who is highly renowned and experienced in the field of Oncological Radiation, will have a significant contribution to this process". Read more: Recent expansion of Company's IP Portfolio with filing of 2 new Provisional Patents; Recent expansion of Cannabics Pharmaceuticals' Board of Advisors to include: Prof. Caroline Robert (MD, Ph.D.), a Melanoma expert, and, Dr. Sigal Tavor (MD), a Hematology expert, along with Prof. Amos Toren (MD), Prof. Zamir Halpern (MD), Prof. Noam Shomron (Ph.D.), Dr. Erez Scapa (MD), Dr. Dana Ben-Ami Shor (MD), Dr. Sigalit Arieli-Portnoy (Ph.D.) and Dr. Tal Mofkadi (Ph.D.); Recent expansion of Cannabics Pharmaceuticals' Board of Directors to include: Dr. Inbar Maymon-Pomeranchik (Ph.D.), and Dr. Gil Feiler (Ph.D.) as Independent Directors. About Cannabics Pharmaceuticals: Cannabics Pharmaceuticals Inc. (OTCQB: CNBX) is a U.S. public company and a global leader in the development of cancer related cannabinoid-based medicine. The Company's R&D is based in Israel, where it is licensed by the Ministry of Health to conduct scientific and clinical research on cannabinoid formulations and cancer. For more information, please visit www.cannabics.com. For the latest updates on Cannabics Pharmaceuticals follow the Company on Twitter @Cannabics, Facebook @CannabicsPharmaceuticals, LinkedIn, and on Instagram @Cannabics_Pharmaceuticals. Disclaimer: Certain statements contained in this release may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and other U.S. Federal securities laws. Such statements include but are not limited to statements identified by words such as "believes," "expects," "anticipates," "estimates," "intends," "plans," "targets," "projects" and similar expressions. The statements in this release are based upon the current beliefs and expectations of our Company's management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ from those outlined in the forward-looking statements. Numerous factors could cause or contribute to such differences, including, but not limited to, results of clinical trials and other studies, the challenges inherent in new product development initiatives, the effect of any competitive products, our ability to license and protect our intellectual property, our ability to raise additional capital in the future that is necessary to maintain our business, changes in government policy and regulation, potential litigation by or against us, any governmental review of our products or practices, as well as other risks discussed from time to time in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission including, without limitation, our latest 10-Q Report filed July 14th, 2021. We undertake no duty to update any forward-looking statement or any information contained in this press release or other public disclosures at any time. Finally, the investing public is reminded that the only announcements or information about Cannabics Pharmaceuticals Inc., which are condoned by the Company, must emanate from the Company itself and bear our name as its source. For more information about Cannabics: Cannabics Pharmaceuticals Inc. +1 (877) 424-2429 [email protected] https://www.cannabics.com SOURCE Cannabics Pharmaceuticals Inc. ATLANTA, Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Resilia Pharmaceuticals, Inc. announced the signing today of a license agreement with Pelle Ventures, LLC granting Resilia the rights to make, market and sell Solace Eczema Cream, a medical device, as an OTC product in the United States. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Previously only available by prescription, Solace Cream is formulated to help control eczema flares and keep future eczema flares dormant longer by utilizing essential skin building blocks like cholesterol, fatty acids, and ceramides to help reduce the likelihood of environmental triggers causing eczema symptoms; as well as employing palmitamide MEA (PEA), a natural endogenous fatty acid to help relieve itchy, dry skin often associated with eczema. "We are delighted to add Solace Cream to the Resilia portfolio of dermatology products, said Harsha Murthy, Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors at Resilia Pharmaceuticals. "Much is unknown about the causes of eczema, but we do know that eczema has a profound impact on the quality of life in those patients who suffer from its symptoms. Resilia is proud to be able to offer patients an effective and safe product like Solace Cream, a product previously available only by prescription. Solace Cream fits squarely within Resilia's mission to bring patients high-quality products at reasonable prices." Solace Cream Solace Cream repairs and restores the skin barrier and keeps eczema in remission up to 48% longer 1 reduces average weekly steroid applications by 62% 2 improves sleep quality2 Solace Cream has been predominately sold on the Amazon platform. Resilia Pharmaceuticals will begin work immediately to make Solace Cream available on Amazon and plans to expand Amazon promotion. Andrew Shales, Chief Executive Officer at Resilia, noted "Covid-19 has really impacted the availability of certain manufacturing components for the pharma industry. As a result, Solace Cream was recently unavailable, but Resilia is working hard to get the product back on the market in the coming months." About Eczema Eczema symptoms are different for everyone, though in most cases, eczema causes itching and can make skin appear dry, red, rough, or swollen. This itching can be mild or severe, resulting in inflamed and even damaged skin. While the specific cause of eczema remains unknown, healthcare professionals believe the disease often occurs from a combination of factors. Professionals believe that environmental irritants, like detergents, allergens, and bacteria, as well as shifts in temperature, types of foods, stress, or hormones, can cause an eczema flare-up. About Resilia Pharmaceuticals Resilia Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a portfolio company of Peak Pharma Commercial Partners, a New York City-based investment fund dedicated to the acquisition and growth of branded, generic and over-the counter pharmaceutical products (www.peakpharmapartners.com). Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, Resilia Pharmaceuticals' product line consists of Recedo topical gel, the #1 prescribed Rx scar treatment over the past 5 years3; Ecoza (econazole nitrate) topical foam, 1%; the Neosalus line, including cream, foam, and lotion formulations; and Neocera, a version of Neosalus formulated with ceramides. All of Resilia's products are marketed in the US. To learn more about Resilia Pharmaceuticals and its products, please go to www.resiliapharma.com About Pelle Ventures Pelle Ventures LLC, located in Holland, Michigan, is dedicated to providing consumers with easy access to high-quality skincare products with proven clinical efficacy that are specifically designed to solve unique needs. Kircik L. A Nonsteroidal Lamellar Matrix Cream Containing Palmyitoyethanolamide for the Treatment of Atopic Dermatitis. J Drugs Dermatol. 2010; 4: 334. Eberlein B, Eicke C, Reinhardt HW, Ring J. Adjuvant Treatment of Atopic Eczema: Assessment of an Emollient Containing N-palmitoylethanolamine (ATOPA study). J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2008; 22(1): 73-82. Symphony Health. Defined Scar Treatment Market TRxs, Jan 2017- Aug 2021 Contact: Josh Weinstein jwEinstein Strategic Messaging, Inc. [email protected] (610)577-5388 SOURCE Resilia Pharmaceuticals, Inc. NEW YORK, Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), a college of the State University of New York (SUNY), announced that Robert (Bob) Fisch, founder and former chairman and CEO of rue21, award-winning author of Fisch Tales: The Making of a Millennial Baby Boomer, and FIT Foundation director, launched the Bob Fisch Graduate Student Award Program. The program, which includes a $300,000 gift and an intergenerational mentoring strategy, features an award for entrepreneurial excellence, thesis project grants, and graduate scholarships for students in FIT's Fashion Design MFA and Global Fashion Management MPS programs. Fisch widely recognized as a pioneering merchant for his bold and successful innovations in value-priced, fast fashion retailing will mentor students for an extraordinary one-on-one experience. "Thanks to Bob's commitment to nurturing creativity in the next generation of industry leaders, FIT is the proud recipient of this $300,000 gift," said FIT president, Dr. Joyce F. Brown. "It will establish an unprecedented series of opportunities that will benefit students in our graduate Global Fashion Management and Fashion Design programs." "I am delighted to present this gift to FIT to help nurture the careers of future leaders in the retail space," Fisch said. "As the leading college of its kind in America, FIT serves as a major talent pipeline, which I hope to help enrich through the establishment of this new program. I'm a firm believer in the benefits of intergenerational bonding and mutual mentoring as there is much I can learn from the students' questions and curiosity, just as they can learn from my answers and experience. I teach them business they teach me life." The program includes: A $25,000 award for entrepreneurial excellence, given to one standout recipient for the best business plan and design presented during the graduate capstone ceremony. award for entrepreneurial excellence, given to one standout recipient for the best business plan and design presented during the graduate capstone ceremony. Ten graduate scholarships for academic excellence, awarded to students in the Global Fashion Management and Fashion Design programs. Thirty-three thesis-project completion grants for students in the Global Fashion Management MPS and Fashion Design MFA programs. In addition to establishing this awards program, Fisch is also an active member of the FIT Foundation, guest lecturer, and mentor/advisor at FIT. Under Fisch's leadership, rue21 was also the subject of FIT's Fashion Merchandising Capstone Project in 2016. To find out more, please visit FIT. About FIT: A part of the State University of New York, FIT has been a leader in career education in art, design, business, and technology throughout its history. Providing almost 9,000 students with an uncommon blend of hands-on, practical experience, theory, and a firm grounding in the liberal arts, the college offers a wide range of affordable programs that foster innovation and collaboration. Its distinctive curriculum is geared to today's rapidly growing creative economy, including fields such as computer animation, toy design, production management, film and media, and cosmetics and fragrance marketing. Internationally renowned, FIT draws on its New York City location to provide a vibrant, creative community in which to learn. The college offers nearly 50 majors and grants AAS, BFA, BS, MA, MFA, and MPS degrees, preparing students for professional success and leadership in the new creative economy. Among notable alumni in fashion are Calvin Klein, Michael Kors, Norma Kamali, Reem Acra, Brian Atwood, Dennis Basso, Francisco Costa, Nanette Lepore, Bibhu Mohapatra, Ralph Rucci, John Bartlett, Peter Do, and Michelle Smith. Other prominent graduates include Leslie Blodgett, creator of bareMinerals; international restaurant designer Tony Chi; and Nina Garcia, editor in chief, Elle. About The FIT Foundation: As the primary fundraising arm for FIT, the FIT Foundation supports and celebrates fearless innovation, inclusivity, and unabashed creativity. Since 1944, the FIT Foundation has advanced the mission of the college and its strategic goals by preparing students to fuel the future of fashion, business, design, technology, and the arts. Serving as a bridge between donors and FIT's schools, departments, and programs, the foundation strives to inspire and empower the vibrant community of FIT friends, students, alumni, faculty, and industry leaders. Through scholarship development, industry engagement, and programs and events with social impact, the foundation is dedicated to the following core mandates: igniting thought leadership, fostering ingenuity and exploration, and helping FIT lead the next generation of unconventional minds into the new creative economy. About Bob Fisch: Robert Fisch is recognized as a pioneering merchant for his bold and successful innovations in value-priced, fast fashion retailing, notably at rue21. Bob is the founder and former chairman and CEO of rue21, and took the company from bankruptcy to a fast-track winning streak that included a hot-stock IPO, building a national network of 1,200 stores, and a billion-dollar plus value. Bob's proven management practices and motivational skills have resulted in a unique mutual-mentoring relationship with Millennials in the workplace. He formed a Millennial Advisory board to serve as a consulting body for his 2019 book release, Fisch Tales: The Making of a Millennial Baby Boomer, which led him to becoming a featured Forbes published author. Additionally, Bob owns the registration and intellectual property for Millennial Baby Boomer (MBB) and is continuing to build on this brand. Bob is currently president of RNF Group, a consulting company focused on the assessment and evaluation of retail and other business enterprises, as well as providing mentoring services to existing management of these companies. Bob has been a guest lecturer and mentor/advisor at FIT, which chose rue21 as the subject of the school's Fashion Business Management Capstone for extensive study by the senior class in 2016, and earlier this year he was a guest speaker/presenter for Global Fashion Management, presenting his mutual and reverse mentoring strategy based on the Millennial Baby Boomer brand. Media contact: Alexandra Mann, Media Relations Manager, [email protected], 212-217-4700 SOURCE Fashion Institute of Technology Related Links http://www.fitnyc.edu To support this effort, Welcome.US will raise awareness, foster collaboration, and coordinate among resettlement groups and civic organizations, including the more than 100 organizations that comprise its broad coalition of partners. Hello Neighbor , a nonprofit committed to supporting refugees and immigrants, will lead a collaborative learning community as part of the Hello Neighbor Network to share best practices among grantees. Tens of thousands of Afghans have been forced to flee their homeland, many because of threats to their lives and livelihoods due to their association with the United States. Americans want to welcome our new Afghan neighbors to the United States by volunteering their time, donating clothes and furniture, and much more, and most government-funded local resettlement agencies are under immense pressure to coordinate volunteer assistance and non-cash donations. To connect volunteers with the resettlement efforts, the Mobilizing America for Refugees Fund will invest in community organizations that are committed to creating opportunities for Americans across the country to directly engage in welcoming and helping Afghan newcomers integrate into their new communities in partnership with local resettlement agencies. We expect these organizations to provide volunteer-led services such as English instruction, driving lessons and job navigation; to coordinate the donation of clothing and household goods; and to organize activities and events to welcome Afghans into their new communities. Funders of the Mobilizing America for Refugees Fund will provide general operating grants to community-based organizations that: Operate in a community that is likely to receive Afghan refugees. Are committed to engaging a broad cross section of their community to support refugees, including volunteers from families, schools, universities, veterans' organizations, and religious organizations. Are partnering with one or more refugee resettlement organizations in their community. Commit to dedicating 3-5 hours per month to learn from and participate in a learning collaborative of like-minded organizations through the grant term led by Hello Neighbor. Interested organizations can learn more by reading the Frequently Asked Questions and can apply to receive support here. Applications are due Wednesday, November 15, 2021. Support from the Schultz Family Foundation is part of the Foundation's $1.1 million overall commitment to support Afghans resettling in the U.S. Quotes: "Courageous Afghans fleeing their homeland, many of whom honorably served alongside our veterans, deserve to be welcomed with respect and dignity. Helping our Afghan allies successfully integrate into our communities across the country reaffirms our shared humanity and common bonds." Sheri and Howard Schultz , co-founders, Schultz Family Foundation , co-founders, Schultz Family Foundation "America has always been a welcoming country a place where people come to make a better life for their families and in doing so, help make all of our lives better. The Stand Together Foundation is grateful for the opportunity to support local organizations that welcome our new Afghan neighbors and help communities across the country do their part to continue this great American tradition, alongside the Schultz Family Foundation, The Starbucks Foundation, Welcome.US, and Hello Neighbor." Brian Hooks , Chairman, Stand Together Foundation. , Chairman, Stand Together Foundation. "At Starbucks, we have a long history of partnering with others to provide opportunities and drive real impact. We are proud to join the Schultz Family Foundation, Stand Together and Welcome.US in their ongoing efforts to welcome Afghan families in the U.S. We continue to pursue our goal of hiring 10,000 refugees across the globe. But we also know that support goes beyond employment which is why The Starbucks Foundation has committed $350,000 in grants to nonprofit organizations supporting Afghan Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) and refugee resettlement." Virginia Tenpenny , chief social impact officer, Starbucks. in grants to nonprofit organizations supporting Afghan Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) and refugee resettlement." , chief social impact officer, Starbucks. "At a time when thousands of Americans and civic organizations are mobilizing to support our new Afghan neighbors, we are proud to join the Schultz Family Foundation, Stand Together Foundation, The Starbucks Foundation, and Hello Neighbor to support local organizations connecting volunteers with new Afghan neighbors in their communities. It's the everyday acts of welcome by volunteers that will show our new neighbors how proud we are that they are rebuilding their lives here and that will ensure that our new neighbors have what they need to rebuild their lives and contribute to their new communities." Nazanin Ash , CEO, Welcome.US. , CEO, Welcome.US. "Hello Neighbor is honored and humbled to lead the learning components of this grant opportunity and funding circle. We know the greatest impacts can happen right at home. As communities all across the United States look to support their newest neighbors, we will be there right alongside them. Together, we can and will make a great impact in the lives of our new Afghan neighbors." Sloane Davidson , Founder and CEO, Hello Neighbor look to support their newest neighbors, we will be there right alongside them. Together, we can and will make a great impact in the lives of our new Afghan neighbors." , Founder and CEO, Hello Neighbor "The Mobilizing America for Refugees Fund is a welcome initiative to support local community organizations in helping resettle Afghan families. This fund will strengthen the network of community organizations across the country and most importantly add innovative and community-based support for resettling Afghans. Coming together through new opportunities like the fund is how we'll build sustainable networks of welcome for our new Afghan neighbors." William Canny , Executive Director, Migration and Refugee Services, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops About the Schultz Family Foundation The Schultz Family Foundation, established in 1996 by Sheri and Howard Schultz, former ceo and chairman emeritus of Starbucks, creates pathways of opportunity for populations facing barriers to success, focusing on youth transitioning to adulthood and marginalized populations, including Black, Indigenous, People of Color communities. By investing in scalable solutions and partnerships in communities across the country, the Foundation aims to help tackle the barriers and roadblocks that prevent individuals from reaching their full potential and, in doing so, strengthen our communities and our nation. Learn more at www.schultzfamilyfoundation.org. About Stand Together Stand Together Foundation is committed to breaking the cycle of poverty in America by driving change from within communities. We are building a community of social entrepreneurs who believe in people, work from the bottom up, and unite with anyone to do right. Since 2016, we have committed $100 million and counting to fuel the innovation of nonprofits throughout the country to build stronger, safer communities where all people can learn, contribute, and realize their full potential. Our goal is to help nonprofit leaders maximize their impact to transform more lives out of poverty. Learn more at www.StandTogetherFoundation.org . About The Starbucks Foundation The Starbucks Foundation strengthens humanity by transforming lives across the world, with a focus on enabling community resiliency and prosperity and uplifting communities affected by disaster. Established in 1997, The Starbucks Foundation is a Section 501(c)(3) charitable organization under U.S. law. Learn more at sbux.co/foundation. About Welcome.US Welcome.US is a new national effort that launched in September 2021 to welcome Afghan families as they get settled and build new lives in the United States. Welcome.US provides a single point of entry to channel the outpouring of support from Americans who want to get involved by donating supplies, money, or time to frontline organizations; offering temporary housing; or sponsoring refugees. President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama, President George. W. Bush and Laura Bush, and President William J. Clinton and Secretary Hillary Clinton serve as honorary co-chairs. In addition to uplifting American support of our arriving Afghan families, Welcome.US created the Welcome Fund to support the development and expansion of enduring communities of welcome across the country rising to meet the needs of our new neighbors. Welcome.US is led by CEO Nazanin Ash, former Vice President of Global Policy and Advocacy at the International Rescue Committee, and co-chaired by Cecilia Munoz, senior adviser to New America and former director of the White House Domestic Policy Council under President Obama, and John Bridgeland, CEO of the COVID Collaborative and former director of the White House Domestic Policy Council under President Bush. Welcome.US is a sponsored project of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, a 501(c)3 organization. To learn more about Welcome.US, please visit welcome.us . For press inquiries, please contact [email protected] . SOURCE Schultz Family Foundation Related Links http://www.schultzfamilyfoundation.org NEW YORK, Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- CISOs Connect today announced the winners of the 2021 CISO Choice Awards, a first of its kind vendor recognition by a Board of Judges leading CISOs across industries who selected the winning solutions and providers based on their real-world experience. 2021 CISO Choice Awards 2021 CISO Choice Award Board of Judges "The 2021 CISO Choice Awards are bar none the best awards for vendors as the winners are selected by those of us in the trenches daily," said Christine Vanderpool, Florida Crystals CISO. "This year was particularly rewarding as we saw some very interesting approaches to safeguarding our organizations against new and emerging risks which is encouraging as security executives. I hope our guidance based on our reviews of the submissions will serve as a guide to our CISO peers when they are selecting the technologies for their programs." Honoring security vendors of all types, sizes and maturity levels, the CISO Choice Awards recognizes differentiated solutions valuable to the CISO and enterprise from security solution providers worldwide. The CISO Choice Awards are part the exclusive CISOs Connect membership knowledge-sharing community, an exclusive Security Current community, which provides CISOs and cybersecurity leaders across industries invaluable information on vendors in today's constantly evolving security environment. The 2021 CISO Choice Awards Board of Judges spanned verticals. The board of luminaries included: Cherokee Nation Businesses CISO Nikk Gilbert Delta Dental Plans CISO Fred Kwong Dollar Tree Stores CISO Kevin McKenzie Florida Crystals CISO Christine Vanderpool Invitae CISO Dave Ruedger Markel Corporation CISO & Privacy Officer Patricia Titus Nexteer Automotive CISO & Privacy Officer Arun DeSouza OneMain Financial VP/SMD Technology Tunde Oni-Daniel PLDT Group & Smart Communications Group CISO Angel Redoble Ricoh USA, Inc. CSO David Levine RWJBarnabas Health CISO Hussein Syed William Blair CISO Ralston Simmons Also, on the Board of Judges is author and analyst Richard Stiennon who wrote the Security Yearbook 2021, which includes a directory of some 2500 security companies. The winners of the 2021 CISO Choice Awards are: VISIONARY VENDOR: ARMORBLOX PREMIER SECURITY COMPANY: PROOFPOINT STARTUP SECURITY COMPANY: AXIS SECURITY PARTNER IN SUCCESS: AUDITBOARD NETWORK SECURITY: EXABEAM ENDPOINT SECURITY: DEEP INSTINCT DATA SECURITY: KEYAVI DATA CORPORATION IDENTITY AND ACCESS MANAGEMENT (IAM): SEMPERIS GOVERNANCE RISK & COMPLIANCE: LYNX TECHNOLOGY PARTNERS FRAUD PREVENTION: BOLSTER THREAT INTELLIGENCE: ZEROFOX EMAIL SECURITY: PROOFPOINT SECURITY ANALYTICS: SECUREWORKS IOT SECURITY: FORESCOUT TECHNOLOGIES APPLICATION SECURITY: SALT SECURITY CLOUD SECURITY SOLUTIONS: PROOFPOINT MANAGED SECURITY SERVICE PROVIDER: DEEPWATCH RISK MANAGEMENT: BLACK KITE VULNERABILITY MANAGEMENT: VULCAN CYBER SECURITY OPERATIONS: DEVO SECURITY EDUCATION/TRAINING: ATTACKIQ "It was an extremely competitive playing field and it was great to see that solution providers are in sync with our needs and are working to provide us the forward-looking solutions that will continue to meet our changing security needs," said Nikk Gilbert, Cherokee Nation Businesses CISO. Aimee Rhodes, CEO of CISOs Connect said: "I am honored to be part of the CISO Choice Awards and work with such a distinguished Board of Judges from virtually every industry. It was exciting to hear the judges who live and breathe security share their experiences and discuss with one another the wealth of technologies that are on the market or coming to the market. Their real-world insights are what makes the CISO Choice Awards so valuable and beneficial." Analyst and author Richard Stiennon added: "It was a privilege to work with leading CISOs on these awards. As the author of the Security Yearbook 2021, I focus on the growing solution provider market. Taking part in these awards validates my research and yields critical insights into where the market is headed and the dynamic nature of security from all perspectives." About Security Current and CISOs Connect Security Current improves the way security, privacy and risk executives collaborate to protect their organizations and their information. Its CISO-driven proprietary content and events provide insight, actionable advice and analysis giving executives the latest information to make knowledgeable decisions. Its invitation-only CISOs Connect community https://cisosconnect.com allows for CISOs to communicate with each other and share knowledge and expertise with their peers with its proprietary research, group discussion, online and in person exclusive events. Contact: Maggie Capone 201-655-9492 [email protected] SOURCE Security Current COLUMBUS, Ohio, Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- "Once-in-a-lifetime" financial crises have been accelerating. It took roughly 40 years from the Crash of 1929 to the Bear Market of 1968, but now "outlier" events happen nearly every decade. New findings from Nationwide's seventh annual Advisor Authority study, powered by the Nationwide Retirement Institute and conducted online by The Harris Poll, of nearly 2,500 advisors, financial professionals and individual investors, reveal that the Global Financial Crisis of 2008 had the most profound impact on investorsbut they continue to struggle with the financial fallout of the COVID-19 Pandemicdriving their desire for guided advice and need for comprehensive financial planning. "Our seventh annual Advisor Authority study makes it clear that working with an advisor or financial professional on a holistic plan is fundamental for investors to have the confidence they need to confront the impact of compounding financial crises," said Craig Hawley, Head of Nationwide Annuity Distribution. "Last year was a powerful reminder that the unexpected can shock the system, re-define our lives and our finances, and have an outsized impact on everything from portfolios and retirement plans to investors' psyches and their advisors' practices." 85% Blindsided by Outside Events Investors with investable assets of $100,000 or more were most likely to say the 2008 Crash and subsequent Global Financial Crisis (37%) had the most profound impact on their approach to finances and investments. This clearly surpassed the 2020 COVID-19 Crash and Recession (28%), and substantially exceeded the impact of every other major financial crisis over the past century, including the 2001 Dot-Com Crash (9%), the 1990 Recession (6%), Black Monday in 1987 (4%) the 1981 Recession (6%), the OPEC Embargo in 1973 (3%), the Bear Market of 1968 (2%) and the Crash of 1929 and Great Depression (5%). Yet it is also clear that financial pressures from the pandemic are not over yet. While investors with an optimistic financial outlook increased 13 points from last year (49% in 2021 vs 36% in 2020), this is still down from prior years (55% in 2019, 62% in 2018, 51% in 2017). In fact, 65% of investors are still concerned about a U.S. Bear Market over the next 12 months, 61% anticipate market volatility will increase and 69% are concerned about a U.S. economic recession. It is also sobering to learn that just like last year, during the height of the pandemic, 85% of investors continue to say they can do all the right things to manage their finances and still be blindsided by outside events. "Investors' demand for advice and the need for holistic planning will continue to rise as multiple factors keep chipping away at their confidence, their outlook becomes increasingly uncertain, and goals difficult to achieve," Said Mark Hackett, Chief of Investment Research, Nationwide Investment Management Group. "Economic and earnings headwinds have emerged, compounded by ongoing supply chain issues and uncertainty in Washington, and volatility ramps up, as the Fed signaled a shift in policy, including the start of the taper, rising rates and the steepest yield curve in months." More than two-thirds of investors (68%) expect to live through more financial crises. While 11% expect to live through one more crisis, 22% expect to live through two more crises and 35% expect to live through three or more additional crises in their lifetime. Nearly one-third (32%) say they don't know or are unsure how many more crises to expect. But there is good news. A full 91% of investors who have an advisor or financial professional say that working with their advisor or financial professional helps them feel more confident that they can make the right investment decisionseven during an extreme financial crisis. And 89% of investors say that having a plan for their investments helps them feel in controleven if they can't plan for everything. Financial Professionals Regain their Footing Faster On the other hand, advisors and financial professionals with an optimistic financial outlook not only increased 25 points over last year (63% in 2021 vs 38% in 2020), their level of optimism this year is equal to or greater than four of the past five years (50% in 2019, 64% in 2018, 54% in 2017, 63% in 2016). But while advisors and financial professionals are much more positive about the year ahead, they remain clear-eyed about the challenges, with 77% still concerned about a U.S. Bear Market over the next 12 months, 79% anticipating market volatility will increase and 76% concerned about a U.S. economic recession. Rising optimism in the face of outsized challenges reveals that advisors and financial professionals have built more confidence than investors after confronting the impact of compounding financial crises. In fact, after living through prior crises, 70% of financial professionals feel more confident about their ability to help protect their clients' finances and investments should another crisis arise, compared to only 44% of investors. Likewise, 69% of financial professionals feel more confident about their ability to help clients prepare for and live in retirement, compared to only 41% of investors. Meanwhile, 66% of financial professionals feel more confident about investing their clients' assets in the stock market, compared to just 38% of investors. Investors See OpportunityBut Proceed with Caution Many investors changed their behavior in response to the crisis that had the most profound impact on themsome for the better and some for the worse. Investors' top three changes to their personal finances were proactive and practical. These included establishing and following a budget (22%), starting to work with an advisor or financial professional (21%) and starting a "rainy day" fund and/or "emergency fund" (21%). Meanwhile, 39% said they made no changes when it came to their personal finances and they "stayed the course" with their long-term financial plan. Likewise, investors' top three changes to their investing approach showed a sense of caution, as well as a sense of opportunity. These included managing investments more conservatively (20%) and adopting a new strategy to protect assets against market risk (17%) while at the same time using the market decline as a buying opportunity (17%).However, 37% said they made no changes when it came to their investing approach and they "stayed the course" with their long-term financial plan. But some investors made less beneficial financial and investing decisions in response to the crisis that had the most profound impact on them. These included liquidating assets from qualified retirement savings plans to cover financial obligations (12%), liquidating assets from non-qualified investment accounts to cover financial obligations (12%), moving the majority of their investments from stocks to cash (9%) and panicking and selling investments at a loss (7%). Creating Control in Times of Crises To create a sense of control and security for clients during recent market crises, advisors and financial professionals were most likely to educate clients on market cycles (44%), listen to their needs and concerns (43%), focus on holistic financial planning (38%) and identify buying opportunities (36%). But despite the fact that 91% of investors who work with an advisor or financial professional say that this helps them feel more confident they can make the right investment decisions, only 63% of investors are currently working with one. So there is room to grow and the opportunity is huge. And while 89% of investors say that having a plan for their investments helps them feel in control, it's clear that there is a preparation gap and many could benefit from more comprehensive holistic planning. Closing the Preparation Gap to Help Protect Assets When it comes to protecting assets, it's obvious that many investors could be better prepared. While 93% of advisors and financial professionals have a strategy in place to protect their clients' assets against market risk, only 66% of investors have a strategyan almost 30-point preparation gap. While advisors and financial professionals (55%) and investors (49%) say they are most likely to rely on diversification to manage market risk, our findings also reveal that investors have a shortfalland financial professionals have an opportunity for educating clients. First, advisors and financial professionals are much more likely than investors to deploy a broad range of risk management solutions, including Hedging Strategies (39% vs 20%), Liquid Alternatives (38% vs 23%), Smart Beta ETFs (31% vs 11%) and Non-Correlated Assets (31% vs 10%). In addition, advisors and financial professionals are also much more likely than investors to use a range of annuities for protecting assets against market riskincluding Fixed Annuities (48% vs 29%), Fixed Indexed Annuities (46% vs 23%), In-Plan Principal Protection Guarantees (38% vs 22%) and Registered Index Linked Annuities (35% vs 11%). Likewise, 88% of financial professionals compared to just 55% of investors are likely to use an annuity to protect against market risk as part of a holistic financial plan in the next 12 months. Protecting Retirement Against Future Crises It's encouraging that 87% of advisors and financial professionals and 82% of investors have a strategy to generate guaranteed income in retirement. Yet 92% of financial professionals compared to just 74% of investors have a strategy in place to help protect against outliving savings. This nearly 20-point preparation gap reflects the fact that investors are more reliant on Social Security and less adept at leveraging other solutions at a time when pensions plans are disappearing, the safety net is under threat, and people are living longer. In fact, while advisors and financial professionals (51%) and investors (62%) are both very likely to use Social Security to help protect against outliving savings, advisors and financial professionals are more likely than investors to use a wider range of solutions including Dividend Yielding Stocks (49% vs 37%), Fixed Income Ladders / Bond Ladders (46% vs 16%), Yield Generating ETFs / Income Generating ETFs / Multi-Asset ETFs (46% vs 19%), and Defined Benefit Plan / Pension (42% vs 37%). In addition, advisors and financial professionals are roughly two to three times more likely than investors to use a range of annuities which can guarantee income for life that will never run out, including Variable Annuities with living benefit riders (48% vs 26%), In-Plan Income Guarantees (42% vs 29%), Single Premium Immediate Annuities (38% vs 10%), Longevity Insurance / Deferred Income Annuities (36% vs 14%) Qualifying Longevity Annuity Contracts (36% vs 12%) and Contingent Deferred Annuities (30% vs 13%). Likewise, 89% of advisors and financial professionals compared to only 58% of investors will use an annuity to protect against outliving savings as part of a holistic financial plans in the next 12 months. For additional insights on Confronting the Impact of Compounding Financial Crises, financial professionals can also download the latest infographic from the seventh annual Advisor Authority study at: https://news.nationwide.com/rising-above-compounding-financial-crisis-infographic/ Nationwide's seventh annual Advisor Authority study powered by the Nationwide Retirement Institute explores critical issues confronting advisors, financial professionals and individual investorsand the innovative techniques that they need to succeed in today's complex market. This is the second in a series of ongoing releases from the seventh annual study. About Advisor Authority: Methodology The seventh annual Advisory Authority Survey was conducted online within the United States by The Harris Poll on behalf of Nationwide from July 22 August 17, 2021 among 1,632 advisors and financial professionals and 839 investors, ages 18+. Among the 1,632 advisors and financial professionals, there were 790 RIAs, 790 broker-dealer, 501 wirehouse and 160 other financial professionals. Among the 839 investors, there were 210 Mass Affluent, 210 Emerging High Net Worth, 210 High Net Worth and 209 Ultra High Net Worth. Investors are weighted where necessary by age by gender, race/ethnicity, region, education, income, marital status, household size, investable assets and propensity to be online to bring them in line with their actual proportions in the population. Respondents for this survey were selected from among those who have agreed to participate in Harris Poll surveys. Because the sample is based on those who were invited to participate in Harris Poll online research, no estimates of theoretical sampling error can be calculated. About The Harris Poll The Harris Poll is one of the longest running surveys in the U.S. tracking public opinion, motivations and social sentiment since 1963 that is now part of Harris Insights & Analytics, a global consulting and market research firm that delivers social intelligence for transformational times. We work with clients in three primary areas: building twenty-first-century corporate reputation, crafting brand strategy and performance tracking, and earning organic media through public relations research. Our mission is to provide insights and advisory to help leaders make the best decisions possible. To learn more, please visit www.theharrispoll.com. About Nationwide Nationwide, a Fortune 100 company based in Columbus, Ohio, is one of the largest and strongest diversified insurance and financial services organizations in the United States. Nationwide is rated A+ by both A.M. Best and Standard & Poor's. An industry leader in driving customer-focused innovation, Nationwide provides a full range of insurance and financial services products including auto, business, homeowners, farm and life insurance; public and private sector retirement plans, annuities and mutual funds; excess & surplus, specialty and surety; pet, motorcycle and boat insurance. For more information, visit www.nationwide.com. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter. Nationwide, Nationwide is on your side, the Nationwide N and Eagle and Nationwide Retirement Institute are service marks of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company. 2021 Contact: Meghan Busch The Bliss Group 212-840-1661 [email protected] Mike Switzer Nationwide 614-249-4092 [email protected] AAM-0923AO SOURCE Nationwide Related Links http://www.nationwide.com RA'ANANA, Israel, Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- SMART Medical Systems Ltd., a developer and manufacturer of innovative endoscopy products, today reported positive data from a multicenter clinical study (NCT 04708951) comparing the adenoma detection rate (ADR) of its FDA-cleared G-EYE balloon technology against ENDOCUFF VISION (ECV) technology in patients undergoing screening or surveillance colonoscopy. Results from this randomized trial, the first head-to-head comparison of these two colonoscopy mechanical enhancement devices, showed that the ADR, particularly for advanced and large adenomas, was higher for the G-EYE balloon than for the ECV attachment. Seth Gross, MD, Professor, Department of Medicine at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, Clinical Chief, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology at NYU Langone Health, and co-author on the abstract, presented the data in an oral session at ACG 2021, which is taking place October 22-27 in Las Vegas (ACG 2021, Presidential Plenary Session 1, Abstract #S233). The G-EYE Colonoscope The study included 935 patients, randomized to G-EYE- or ECV-assisted colonoscopy. Patient characteristics were similar in both groups, and withdrawal times were above the recommended 6-minute guideline threshold. Key findings from the study included: Significant increase in ADR with G-EYE over ECV (18% increase in overall ADR and 69% increase in ADR of advanced adenomas). over ECV (18% increase in overall ADR and 69% increase in ADR of advanced adenomas). Detection of 83% more large adenomas and 87% more advanced adenomas with G-EYE compared with ECV. Colonoscopy is the gold standard for colorectal cancer (CRC) prevention, but folds within the colon can harbor adenomas (pre-cancerous polyps) that may not be visualized during the exam. Both G-EYE and ECV assist colonoscopy through mechanical manipulation increasing colon surface area exposure, and have been demonstrated in prior clinical studies to increase ADR over standard colonoscopy. "The data presented at ACG 2021 demonstrate that exposing more colonic topography using the G-EYE increased adenoma detection compared with the colonic fold manipulation provided by the ECV colonoscope attachment," said Dr. Gross. "Increasing the detection of adenomas, particularly advanced and large adenomas is critical for the role of colonoscopy as a CRC prevention tool." "Increasing the detection of adenomas, and mostly of advanced and large adenomas, is essential for realizing the potential of colonoscopy as an optimized strategy for preventing the development of colon cancer and improving patient outcomes," said Prof. Dr. med Ralf Kiesslich, Head of Gastroenterology at Helios Dr. Horst Schmidt Kliniken, Wiesbaden Germany, and the Principal Investigator of this this study. The G-EYE balloon, which is inflated to sub-anchoring pressure during endoscope withdrawal, unfolds the colonic topography, stabilizes the colonoscope in the center of the colon lumen to help maintain the field of view during the examination, allows for a more controlled withdrawal (reducing slippage), and assists in visualization of the mucosal surface. Additionally, stabilization of the endoscope during intervention by inflating the balloon to anchoring pressure can assist during therapy. Previously published clinical studies and meta-analyses have shown G-EYE to increase adenoma detection in comparison with standard colonoscopy and other techniques: G-EYE increased ADR by 28%, detected 47% more adenomas per patient (APP), 62% more advanced and large adenomas, and 142% more flat adenomas compared with standard colonoscopy (Gastrointestinal Endoscopy 2019; 89(3): 545-553). increased ADR by 28%, detected 47% more adenomas per patient (APP), 62% more advanced and large adenomas, and 142% more flat adenomas compared with standard colonoscopy (Gastrointestinal Endoscopy 2019; 89(3): 545-553). G-EYE detected 81% additional adenomas, which were missed by the standard colonoscope (Endoscopy 2015; 47(03): 238-244). detected 81% additional adenomas, which were missed by the standard colonoscope (Endoscopy 2015; 47(03): 238-244). In two separate meta-analyses, the G-EYE reached the highest score in adenoma detection among various examined ADR enhancement technologies (Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology 2019;17:24392454; Current Treat Options Gastro 2019; 17: 394407). "The effect of the G-EYE balloon is notable, and I expect it to become a standard tool, over time, for every colonoscopy," said Gadi Terliuc, Chief Executive Officer of SMART Medical. "These new data add to the growing body of clinical evidence demonstrating that G-EYE provides endoscopists with increased diagnostic yield, and we are gratified that the ACG has recognized the importance of these findings by selecting this abstract for the Outstanding Research Award in the colon cancer prevention category." About SMART Medical Systems SMART Medical Systems is a pioneer in the development and manufacture of innovative medical devices in the field of gastro-intestinal (GI) endoscopy. SMART's unique approach is to use available brand name endoscopes and address key challenges in contemporary endoscopy. SMART's CE Marked and FDA-cleared NaviAid product family is commercially distributed in key global markets. With its partnership with Fujifilm and PENTAX Medical, SMART's G-EYE colonoscopy solution is currently adopted by two of the three industry leaders in GI endoscopy imaging. SMART is headquartered in Israel, and operates in the United States through its wholly-owned subsidiary, SMART GI Inc. For more information, please visit: www.smartmedsys.com/us/. Media Contact: Erich Sandoval, Lazar FINN [email protected] +1 (917) 497-2867 SOURCE SMART Medical Systems Related Links http://www.smartmedsys.com VANCOUVER, Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Solaris Resources Inc. (TSX: SLS) (OTCQB: SLSSF) ("Solaris" or the "Company") is pleased to report assay results from a series of additional holes from ongoing resource growth and discovery drilling programs at its Warintza Project ("Warintza" or "the Project") in southeastern Ecuador. Highlights are listed below, with corresponding images in Figures 1-3 and detailed results in Tables 1-2. A dynamic 3D model is available on the Company's website and will be updated to incorporate the most recent results. Note to Figure 3: Figure looks northeast and depicts high-conductivity geophysical anomaly (defined at 100 ohm-m) generated from 3D inversion of electromagnetic data, encompassing from left to right Warintza West, Central, East and the Yawi target (Warintza South lies off image to south). Highlights Eastern extension drilling has increased the strike length of Warintza Central to 1,350m where it now overlaps the western limits of Warintza East SLS-33 was drilled from Warintza Central into a partially open volume to the north, returning 722m of 0.69% CuEq , including 426m of 0.85% CuEq from 46m depth , infilling and extending mineralization to the north in this area , infilling and extending mineralization to the north in this area SLS-34 was collared at the northeastern limit of Warintza Central and drilled east into an entirely open volume, returning 660m of 0.47% CuEq , including 242m of 0.67% CuEq from 52m depth, significantly extending mineralization to the east where it now partially overlaps Warintza East SLSE-02, the second hole at Warintza East, was collared approximately 1,300m east of Warintza Central and drilled northwest toward SLS-34, returning 320m of 0.48% CuEq from surface within a broader interval of 1,160m assaying 0.25% CuEq , partially overlapping SLS-34 east of Warintza Central and drilled northwest toward SLS-34, returning , partially overlapping SLS-34 SLSE-01 (previously reported September 27, 2021 ) was collared from the same platform as SLSE-02 but drilled to the southwest, returning 396m of 0.42% CuEq from surface within a broader interval of 1,213m assaying 0.28% CuEq ) was collared from the same platform as SLSE-02 but drilled to the southwest, returning of 0.42% CuEq from surface within a broader interval of assaying 0.28% CuEq Warintza East is the third major copper porphyry discovery within the Warintza cluster; each of the first two holes have returned long intervals of mineralization with the highest grades starting at or near surface reflecting the vertical zonation in the system Mr. Jorge Fierro, Vice President, Exploration, commented: "We are very proud to continue the great work of the late David Lowell with our first two holes confirming Warintza East as the third major copper porphyry discovery within the 7km x 5km Warintza porphyry cluster. Our drilling fleet has now been fully reoriented to pursue an aggressive growth strategy via step-out and extensional drilling as we prepare to test our next targets for further discoveries." Table 1 Assay Results Hole ID Date Reported From (m) To (m) Interval (m) Cu (%) Mo (%) Au (g/t) CuEq (%) SLS-34 Oct 25, 2021 52 712 660 0.36 0.02 0.06 0.47 Including 52 294 242 0.51 0.03 0.08 0.67 SLS-33 40 762 722 0.55 0.03 0.05 0.69 Including 46 472 426 0.71 0.03 0.06 0.85 SLSE-02 0 1160 1160 0.20 0.01 0.04 0.25 Including 0 320 320 0.39 0.02 0.04 0.48 SLS-32 Oct 12, 2021 0 618 618 0.38 0.02 0.05 0.48 SLS-31 8 1008 1000 0.68 0.02 0.07 0.81 SLS-30 2 374 372 0.57 0.06 0.06 0.82 SLSE-01 Sep 27, 2021 0 1213 1213 0.21 0.01 0.03 0.28 SLS-29 Sep 7, 2021 6 1190 1184 0.58 0.02 0.05 0.68 SLS-28 6 638 632 0.51 0.04 0.06 0.68 SLS-27 22 484 462 0.70 0.04 0.08 0.91 SLS-26 July 7, 2021 2 1002 1000 0.51 0.02 0.04 0.60 SLS-25 62 444 382 0.62 0.03 0.08 0.77 SLS-24 10 962 952 0.53 0.02 0.04 0.62 SLS-19 6 420 414 0.21 0.01 0.06 0.31 SLS-23 May 26, 2021 10 558 548 0.31 0.02 0.06 0.42 SLS-22 86 324 238 0.52 0.03 0.06 0.68 SLS-21 2 1031 1029 0.63 0.02 0.04 0.73 SLS-20 April 19, 2021 18 706 688 0.35 0.04 0.05 0.51 SLS-18 78 875 797 0.62 0.05 0.06 0.83 SLS-17 12 506 494 0.39 0.02 0.06 0.50 SLS-16 Mar 22, 2021 20 978 958 0.63 0.03 0.06 0.77 SLS-15 2 1231 1229 0.48 0.01 0.04 0.56 SLS-14 0 922 922 0.79 0.03 0.08 0.94 SLS-13 Feb 22, 2021 6 468 462 0.80 0.04 0.09 1.00 SLS-12 22 758 736 0.59 0.03 0.07 0.74 SLS-11 6 694 688 0.39 0.04 0.05 0.57 SLS-10 2 602 600 0.83 0.02 0.12 1.00 SLS-09 122 220 98 0.60 0.02 0.04 0.71 SLS-08 Jan 14, 2021 134 588 454 0.51 0.03 0.03 0.62 SLS-07 0 1067 1067 0.49 0.02 0.04 0.60 SLS-06 Nov 23, 2020 8 892 884 0.50 0.03 0.04 0.62 SLS-05 18 936 918 0.43 0.01 0.04 0.50 SLS-04 0 1004 1004 0.59 0.03 0.05 0.71 SLS-03 Sep 28, 2020 4 1014 1010 0.59 0.02 0.10 0.71 SLS-02 0 660 660 0.79 0.03 0.10 0.97 SLS-01 Aug 10, 2020 1 568 567 0.80 0.04 0.10 1.00 Notes to table: True widths cannot be determined at this time. Table 2 - Collar Location Hole ID Easting Northing Elevation (m) Depth (m) Azimuth (degrees) Dip (degrees) SLS-34 800383 9648303 1412 1057 78 -60 SLS-33 799873 9648008 1632 764 0 -80 SLSE-02 801485 9648192 1170 1191 275 -50 Notes to table: The coordinates are in WGS84 17S Datum. (1) No adjustments were made for recovery as the project is an early-stage exploration project and metallurgical data to allow for estimation of recoveries is not yet available. Solaris defines copper equivalent calculation for reporting purposes only. Copper-equivalence calculated as: CuEq (%) = Cu (%) + 3.33 Mo (%) + 0.73 Au (g/t), utilizing metal prices of Cu - US$3.00/lb, Mo - US$10.00/lb and Au - US$1,500/oz. Technical Information and Quality Control & Quality Assurance Sample assay results have been independently monitored through a quality control/quality assurance ("QA/QC") program that includes the insertion of blind certified reference materials (standards), blanks and field duplicate samples. Logging and sampling are completed at a secured Company facility located in Quito, Ecuador. Drill core is cut in half on site and samples are securely transported to ALS Labs in Quito. Sample pulps are sent to ALS Labs in Lima, Peru and Vancouver, Canada for analysis. Total copper and molybdenum contents are determined by four-acid digestion with AAS finish. Gold is determined by fire assay of a 30-gram charge. In addition, selected pulp check samples are sent to Bureau Veritas lab in Lima, Peru. Both ALS Labs and Bureau Veritas lab are independent of Solaris. Solaris is not aware of any drilling, sampling, recovery or other factors that could materially affect the accuracy or reliability of the data referred to herein. ZTEM data quality was validated by a qualified external professional using data validation procedures under high industry standards. Analytical data for the surface samples collected are from recent interpretations derived from ZTEM data and from previous operators as detailed in the technical report entitled, "Resource Estimate of the Warintza Central Cu-Mo Porphyry Deposit" prepared by Equity Exploration Consultants Inc. with an effective date of December 13, 2019, and available on the Company's SEDAR profile and website. The drillhole data has been verified by Jorge Fierro, M.Sc., DIC, PG, using data validation and quality assurance procedures under high industry standards. Qualified Person The scientific and technical content of this press release has been reviewed and approved by Jorge Fierro, M.Sc., DIC, PG, Vice President Exploration of Solaris who is a "Qualified Person" as defined in National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Jorge Fierro is a Registered Professional Geologist through the SME (registered member #4279075). On behalf of the Board of Solaris Resources Inc. "Daniel Earle" President & CEO, Director About Solaris Resources Inc. Solaris is advancing a portfolio of copper and gold assets in the Americas, which includes: a high-grade resource with expansion and additional discovery potential at the Warintza copper and gold project in Ecuador; discovery potential on the grass-roots Tamarugo project in Chile and Capricho and Paco Orco projects in Peru; exposure to US$130M spending / 5-yrs through a farm-out agreement with Freeport-McMoRan on the Ricardo Project in Chile; and significant leverage to increasing copper prices through its 60%-interest in the La Verde joint-venture project with Teck Resources in Mexico. Cautionary Notes and Forward-looking Statements This document contains certain forward-looking information and forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities legislation (collectively "forward-looking statements"). The use of the words "will" and "expected" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements include statements that the drilling fleet is being fully reoriented to pursue an aggressive growth strategy via step-out and extensional drilling to prepare to test next targets for further discoveries. Although Solaris believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements and/or information are reasonable, readers are cautioned that actual results may vary from the forward-looking statements. These statements are based on a variety of assumptions including assumptions made about the Company's ability to advance exploration efforts at the Warintza Project; the results of such exploration efforts; and the Company's ability to achieve its growth objectives. These statements also 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, including the risks, uncertainties and other factors identified in the Solaris Management's Discussion and Analysis for the year ended December 31, 2020 available at www.sedar.com. Furthermore, the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as at the date of this news release and Solaris does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or revise any of these forward-looking statements except as may be required by applicable securities laws. SOURCE Solaris Resources Inc. Related Links https://www.solarisresources.com VANCOUVER, BC, Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - South Star Battery Metals Corp. ("South Star" or the "Company") (TSXV: STS) (OTCQB: STSBF) is pleased to announce that it has completed a non-brokered private placement of units (the "Private Placement" or the "Offering") for a total proceeds of C$2,427,700. The majority of participation in the Placement was with key institutional investors. Net proceeds from the Private Placement will be used for advanced materials sample preparation, commercial agreements, project finance and general working capital requirements for the Company. The Private Placement consists of 22,069,999 units priced at C$0.11 per unit (the "Units"). Each Unit consists of one (1) common share and one (1) common share purchase warrant (the "Warrants"). Each Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one additional common share of the Company at an exercise price of C$0.15 per common share for a period of three years from the date of issue. The securities are subject to a four-month hold period from the date of closing and approval by the TSXV, expiring February 26, 2022. In connection with the private placement, the Company paid an aggregate amount of 294,000 in brokers' warrants in connection with the Placement (equal to 6% of the gross proceeds of the offering sold to subscribers introduced to the Company by the brokers) and $33,660 in cash finders' fees were paid to certain finders (equal to 6% of the gross proceeds of the offering sold to subscribers introduced to the Company by the finders). Acceleration Clause If during a period of ten consecutive trading days between the date that is four (4) months following the closing of the Private Placement and the expiry of the Warrants the daily volume weighted average trading price of the common shares of the Company on the TSXV (or such other stock exchange where the majority of the trading volume occurs) exceeds C$0.50 on each of those ten consecutive days, the Company may, within 30 days of such an occurrence, give written notice to the holders of the Warrants that the Warrants will expire at 4:00 p.m. (Vancouver time) on the 30th day following the giving of notice unless exercised by the holders prior to such date. Upon receipt of such notice, the holders of the Warrants will have 30 days to exercise their Warrants. Any Warrants which remain unexercised at 4:00 p.m. (Vancouver time) on the 30th day following the giving of such notice will expire at that time. About South Star Battery Metals Corp. South Star Battery Metals Corp. is a Canadian battery-metals project developer focused on the selective acquisition and development of near-term production projects in the Americas. South Star's Santa Cruz Graphite Project, located in Southern Bahia, Brazil is the first of a series of industrial and battery-metals projects that will be put into production. Brazil is the second-largest graphite-producing region in the world with more than 80 years of continuous mining. Santa Cruz has at-surface mineralization in friable materials, and successful, large-scale, pilot-plant testing (>30t) has been completed. The results of the testing show that approximately 65% of Cg concentrate is +80 mesh with good recoveries and 95-99% Cg. With excellent infrastructure and logistics, South Star is carrying its development plan towards Phase 1 production projected in Q4 2022, pending financing. South Star trades on the TSXV under the symbol STS, and on the OTCQB under the symbol STSBF. South Star is committed to a corporate culture, project execution plan and safe operations that embrace the highest standards of ESG principles based on transparency, stakeholder engagement, ongoing education, and stewardship. To learn more, please visit the Company website at http://www.southstarbatterymetals.com . This news release has been reviewed and approved by Richard Pearce, P.E., a "Qualified Person" under National Instrument 43-101 and President and CEO of South Star Battery Metals Corp. On behalf of the Board, Mr. Richard Pearce Chief Executive Officer Twitter: https://twitter.com/southstarbm Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/southstarbatterymetals LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/southstarbatterymetals/ YouTube: South Star Battery Metals - YouTube CAUTIONARY STATEMENT Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release. Forward-Looking Information The information contained herein contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking statements relate to information that is based on assumptions of management, forecasts of future results, and estimates of amounts not yet determinable. Any statements that express predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance are not statements of historical fact and may be "forward-looking statements". Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation: risks related to failure to obtain adequate financing on a timely basis and on acceptable terms; risks related to the outcome of legal proceedings; political and regulatory risks associated with mining and exploration; risks related to the maintenance of stock exchange listings; risks related to environmental regulation and liability; the potential for delays in exploration or development activities or the completion of feasibility studies; the uncertainty of profitability; risks and uncertainties relating to the interpretation of drill results, the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits; risks related to the inherent uncertainty of production and cost estimates and the potential for unexpected costs and expenses; results of prefeasibility and feasibility studies, and the possibility that future exploration, development or mining results will not be consistent with the Company's expectations; risks related to commodity price fluctuations; and other risks and uncertainties related to the Company's prospects, properties and business detailed elsewhere in the Company's disclosure record. Should one or more of these risks and uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described in forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances. Actual events or results could differ materially from the Company's expectations or projections. SOURCE South Star Battery Metals Corp. Related Links https://www.southstarbatterymetals.com/ DALLAS, Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) is making business travel more rewarding by launching Rapid Rewards Business, giving businesses the ability to earn Rapid Rewards points as their travelers return to the sky. By joining Rapid Rewards Business, companies earn Rapid Rewards points that can be applied toward travel on the company's behalf, while travelers who are Rapid Rewards Members also earn Rapid Rewards points in their personal accounts. To celebrate the launch of Rapid Rewards Business, Southwest Airlines is offering a special promotion awarding 25,000 Rapid Rewards Business points to qualified businesses that apply before Dec. 31, 2021, and have a traveler book and fly two round trips within 90 days of enrollment*. Business travelers who link their Rapid Rewards accounts with their company's travel program can earn their company: Three Rapid Rewards Business points per $1 when booking and flying Business Select fares when booking and flying Business Select fares Two Rapid Rewards Business points per $1 when booking and flying Anytime fares when booking and flying Anytime fares One Rapid Rewards Business point per $1 when booking and flying Wanna Get Away fares Travel must be booked through a corporate travel booking tool such as SWABIZ, Southwest Partner Services (API/Direct Connect), or a Global Distribution System (GDS), and the traveler's Rapid Rewards account must be linked to their company's corporate identification number (CID). "We're thrilled to bring our award-winning Rapid Rewards program to businesses who fly frequently, rewarding both road warriors and their companies who rely on Southwest to connect them to the people and places that are important to their business," said Silke Koehneke, Senior Director of Sales for Southwest Business. "Just like our Rapid Rewards program, Rapid Rewards Business points don't expire and there are no blackout dates when earning or redeeming Rapid Rewards Business points. Now, businesses who fly Southwest can earn and redeem points for future flights, ultimately making their company travel more valuable." To learn more and apply for a Rapid Rewards Business account to start earning Rapid Rewards Business points, visit Southwest.com/RapidRewardsBusiness. *Rapid Rewards Business Offer Terms and Conditions Offer is nontransferable. Southwest reserves the right to cancel this promotion at any time. To be eligible to participate in this Rapid Rewards Business Enrollment 25,000 point offer, Company must (a) have an active SWABIZ account, (b) not currently have or have had in the prior twelve months a Rapid Rewards Business account, (c) apply for Rapid Rewards Business on or before Dec. 31, 2021, and agree to the Rapid Rewards Business program terms ( business.southwest.com/Terms-and-Conditions ) at the time of application, and (d) be approved by Southwest for membership in Rapid Rewards Business. Company must have a minimum of two linked Rapid Rewards Members who will travel on behalf of the Rapid Rewards Business Member to be considered for Membership. Third party intermediaries engaged in selling and arranging air, hotel, transportation, and other travel reservations on behalf of a business, or multiple business entities may not be enrolled as Members in the Rapid Rewards Business program. When applying, Company must designate an administrator to manage their account and it is company's responsibility to transition administrator responsibility as needed. Member agrees that Southwest will communicate with such administrator regarding the Rapid Rewards Business account, including, without limitation, about transactions, redemptions, and promotional opportunities. To earn 25,000 Rapid Rewards points for the company's Rapid Rewards Business account, a linked Rapid Rewards Member must (1) purchase two qualifying Anytime, Business Select, or Wanna Get Away round trip revenue flights (or four one-way revenue flights) through swabiz.com, Global Distribution Systems, or direct connect (Southwest Partner Services) and fly such flights within 90-days after enrollment in Rapid Rewards Business (such 90-day period, the "Flight Promotional Time Period"), and (2) include at the time of purchase of a qualifying flight their company's Southwest corporate identification number and the linked Rapid Rewards Member's Rapid Rewards account number. A linked Rapid Rewards Member is defined as an individual Rapid Rewards Member whose Rapid Rewards account number is linked to their company's Southwest corporate identification number, prior to booking flights and during completion of the flights. If traveler is not a Rapid Rewards Member, please have the traveler enroll in Rapid Rewards and link the traveler's Rapid Rewards account to their company's Southwest corporate identification number. Flights booked prior to the first day of the Flight Promotional Time Period or not completed by the last day of the Flight Promotional Time Period will not be eligible to count towards this promotion. Please allow up to 2 weeks after completion of qualifying revenue flights for the 25,000 Rapid Rewards Business enrollment points to post to their Rapid Rewards Business account. A qualifying one-way flight is a one-way Business Select, Anytime, or Wanna Get Away revenue flight on Southwest Airlines from an origin city to a destination city, including any intermediate stops and/or connections on Southwest Airlines. A qualifying round trip flight is a round trip Business Select, Anytime, or Wanna Get Away revenue flight on Southwest Airlines from an origin city to a destination city and back to the originating airport or carrier-recognized co-terminal. Valid on new reservations booked and flown during the Flight Promotional Time Period. Changes made to an itinerary after purchase may eliminate qualification for the Rapid Rewards Business Enrollment 25,000 points offer. Valid on Southwest Airlines published scheduled service. Charter flights, group travel, Companion Pass, Southwest Vacations packages, flights booked on Southwest.com, and reward travel do not qualify for this promotion. All Rapid Rewards Business program terms apply and can be found at business.southwest.com/Terms-and-Conditions . Southwest reserves the right to amend, suspend, or change the Rapid Rewards Business program terms at any time without notice. Rapid Rewards Members do not acquire property rights in accrued points. The number of points needed for a particular Southwest flight is set by Southwest and will vary depending on destination, time, day of travel, demand, fare type, point redemption rate, and other factors, and are subject to change at any time until the booking is confirmed. Points can only be redeemed on swabiz.com via the company's corporate identification number for any available seat on any flight booked through Southwest and for any other products or services approved by Southwest. Number of points required to redeem for reward flights may vary based on destination, time, day of travel, demand, fare class, point redemption rate, and other factors. Points earned through the Rapid Rewards Business program do not count towards A-List status, A-List Preferred status, or Companion Pass. All transactions and accounts in the Rapid Rewards Business program are subject to review and adjustment by Southwest at any time and without notice to the Member to ensure compliance with applicable rules. Any suspected fraud, misrepresentation, misuse, abuse, or violation of applicable rules, including, but not limited to, contracts of carriage, tariffs, the program rules, our Rapid Rewards Partners' rules and regulations, and qualification requirements and benefits, may result in (a) cancellation of the account and any associated reservations, (b) forfeiture of (1) some or all of the accrued points in the account, (2) awards, and (3) rewards or promotional incentives, and/or (c) a delay or suspension of the processing of points and reporting and the redemption of points, awards, status benefits, rewards, and promotional incentives. To link a Rapid Rewards account to the company's corporate identification number, complete the following steps: Log into SWABIZ account. Upon logging in to the "Traveler" experience within swabiz.com, navigate to the "Add my Rapid Rewards account" link within the top navigation. Log in using Rapid Rewards account, verify information and select "Yes, this is correct". ABOUT SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO. In its 51st year of service, Dallas-based Southwest Airlines Co. continues to differentiate itself from other air carriers with exemplary Customer Service delivered by nearly 54,000 Employees to a Customer base that topped 130 million Passengers in 2019. Southwest has a robust network of point-to-point service with a strong presence across top leisure and business markets. In peak travel seasons during 2019, Southwest operated more than 4,000 weekday departures among a network of 101 destinations in the United States and 10 additional countries. In 2020, the carrier added service to Hilo, Hawaii; Cozumel, Mexico; Miami; Palm Springs, Calif.; Steamboat Springs; and Montrose (Telluride), Colo. Thus far in 2021, Southwest has initiated service to Chicago (O'Hare) and Sarasota/Bradenton both on Feb. 14; Savannah/Hilton Head and Colorado Springs both on March 11; Houston (Bush) and Santa Barbara, Calif. both on April 12; Fresno, Calif. on April 25; Destin/Fort Walton Beach on May 6; Myrtle Beach, S.C. on May 23; Bozeman, Mont. on May 27; Jackson, Miss. on June 6; and Eugene, Ore. on Aug. 29. Southwest will begin service to Bellingham, Wash. on Nov. 7; and Syracuse on Nov. 14. The carrier issued its Southwest Promise in May 2020 to highlight new and round-the-clock efforts to support its Customers and Employees well-being and comfort. Among the changes are enhanced cleaning efforts at airports and onboard aircraft, along with a federal mandate requiring every person to wear a mask at all times throughout each flight. Additional details about the Southwest Promise are available at Southwest.com/Promise. Southwest coined Transfarency to describe its purposed philosophy of treating Customers honestly and fairly, and low fares actually staying low. Southwest is the only major U.S. airline to offer bags fly free to everyone (first and second checked pieces of luggage, size and weight limits apply, some carriers offer free checked bags on select routes or in qualified circumstances). Southwest does not charge change fees, though fare differences might apply. Southwest is one of the most honored airlines in the world, known for a triple bottom line approach that contributes to the carrier's performance and productivity, the importance of its People and the communities they serve, and an overall commitment to efficiency and the planet. Learn more about how the carrier gives back to communities across the world by visiting Southwest.com/citizenship. Book Southwest Airlines' low fares online at Southwest.com or by phone at 800-I-FLY-SWA. SOURCE Southwest Airlines Co. Related Links http://www.southwest.com "Celebrating diversity and curating an unparalleled entertaining environment has always been a priority for our brand," says CEO, Pieter Vanermen. "I am thrilled to finally open the doors and look forward to connecting the community around the ping pong table. Working with local artists isn't the only element that is unique to this venuefood and beverage items have been tailored with the local audience in mind. SPIN's kitchen will offer a wide variety of sharable items including beer brined wings, rustic pizzas, chicken tinga tacos. Some of SPIN's favorite items include: Food "The 617" Burger : house double smash patty, sour pickles, iceberg lettuce, red onion, American cheese, and gizmo sauce : house double smash patty, sour pickles, iceberg lettuce, red onion, American cheese, and gizmo sauce Boston Cream Pie : butter cake, chocolate icing, vanilla cream : butter cake, chocolate icing, vanilla cream Fluffernutter Wontons: blueberry faux-sin sauce, powdered sugar Cocktails Killin the Dunks : Candelas 100% organic coffee from Spain , Jameson, Vermont maple syrup, nutmeg whipped cream, biscotti crumble : Candelas 100% organic coffee from , Jameson, maple syrup, nutmeg whipped cream, biscotti crumble The T : Knob Creek rye, Aperol, lemon, cinnamon, apple cider : Knob Creek rye, Aperol, lemon, cinnamon, apple cider 342 Chests: Sailor Jerry & Mt Gay Black Barrel rum, Peach Schnapps, Cointreau, English breakfast tea SPIN is so much more than a venue with ping pong, food, and beverage. Celebrating the diversity of communities around the venue, SPIN will be launching an array of programming meant for folks to unwind and connect while enjoying the SPIN experience. Friday Nights at SPIN: Paying homage to the original Naked Ping Pong parties, SPIN has reimagined Friday nights, with local DJs, ping pong professionals, communal games and an environment meant to connect and enjoy an unrivaled ping pong experience. Come alone or with a group, every Friday. Friday Nights at SPIN launches on October 29 th , at 9 PM come join the party! Paying homage to the original Naked Ping Pong parties, SPIN has reimagined Friday nights, with local DJs, ping pong professionals, communal games and an environment meant to connect and enjoy an unrivaled ping pong experience. Come alone or with a group, every Friday. Friday Nights at SPIN launches on , at 9 PM come join the party! EVENTS at SPIN: From social parties and corporate events to the best holiday parties around, there is no more entertaining social experience than ping pong. Besides the sheer joy of competition, SPIN offers ping pong professionals, referees, DJs, company tournaments, interactive team games, custom paddles and merchandisenot to mention, our mouth-watering food and beverage packages. This is how events are meant to be thrownthe experience will knock your socks off, guaranteed. Launching in January 2022, SPIN will host the first Social League season dedicated to less experienced players who are looking for a fun after-work activity. Additionally, the venue is set up to host corporate off-sites, special occasions, celebrations, ping pong lessons and charity events. SPIN's commitment has always centered around kids in need and the environment. SPIN is partnering with Artists For Humanity, a Boston-based, nationally recognized teen art and design non-profit enterprise organization, on creative services for the new location. AFH (www.afhboston.org) is the largest employer of teens in the city, training and employing over 350 creative youth each year. Additionally, SPIN will expand the relationship with AYTTO, the non-profit after school program that gives children in need the opportunity to play ping pong in a safe environment. SPIN and STIGA have donated over 250 ping pong tables to after school initiatives nationwide to encourage play for children who need It the most. THE SAFETY OF OUR STAFF AND GUESTS ARE FIRST AND FOREMOST Over the course of the previous year, SPIN has worked tirelessly to open the venue in the safest way possible. Here is what to expect of your ping pong experience: SPIN has installed AIRPHX ("air fix") to put our guest's health and safety first. AIRPHX is an electronic device that uses cold plasma chambers that effectively eliminate bacteria, virus, mold, and other pathogens continuously on both surfaces and in the air. Vaccinations are mandatory for all SPIN employees, and we will adhere to local rules and regulations regarding all incoming guests. The venue can open a wall of doors to allow for better air flow. The locations are deep cleaned daily and after each individual group experience. QR code ordering is in place for all food and beverage offerings. SPIN monitors the CDC and WHO guidance and will adhere to state and local laws around safety protocol. Hours of Operation: Tuesday-Thursday: 4PM-10PM Friday: 4PM-12 AM Saturday: 4PM-12AM Grand Opening Rates: $39/hour per table ballers included (never chase a ball again) For further information, please visit wearespin.com ABOUT SPIN SPIN is the original social network of ping pong venues that encourage human connections. At the core is our mission to connect through a game that transcends age, gender, and any boundaries. SPIN welcomes diversity and embraces the unconventional. Each venue features ping pong courts, a full-service bar, restaurant, private rooms, and unexpected event spaces that attract guests of all kinds. With locations in New York, Chicago, Toronto, San Francisco, Philadelphia, Seattle, Washington DC and Boston, SPIN has built an unparalleled social experience that encourages connection and celebrates play. #UnitedByPingPong PRESS CONTACT: Greg Godfrey | VP Brand and Culture 347-225-1244 [email protected] SOURCE SPIN Global CAMBRIDGE, Mass., Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- At Akebia Therapeutics, we are driven by a collective purpose to better the lives of people impacted by kidney disease. As part of our charge to support kidney disease patients, we work to develop and market innovative therapies and ensure that all patients, especially patients disproportionately impacted by chronic kidney disease (CKD), have access to and are reimbursed for these critical therapies. Akebia has one marketed product, Auryxia (ferric citrate), which was approved by the FDA for the control of serum phosphorus levels in adult patients with CKD on dialysis, and for the treatment of iron deficiency anemia (IDA) in adult patients with CKD not on dialysis. In 2018, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) made the decision to deny coverage for Auryxia for one of those indications, the treatment of iron deficiency anemia (IDA), under Medicare's outpatient prescription drug program (Medicare Part D). We filed a lawsuit in October 2019 against CMS and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) challenging their decision, hoping to restore coverage for those patients. We also asked the federal district court to issue an injunction to immediately restore coverage for Auryxia when used for IDA while the lawsuit was pending. We filed the lawsuit and the preliminary injunction as we believed that people living with CKD were being deprived of an FDA-approved drug, in an approved indication, because of CMS's withdrawal of full Medicare coverage for the treatment of IDA with Auryxia. Unfortunately, the federal district court denied our motion for a preliminary injunction and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit affirmed the district court's decision. However, the district court recently rejected a motion by CMS to dismiss our lawsuit, concluding that a drug manufacturer such as Akebia has standing and satisfies other jurisdictional requirements necessary to bring a court action directly challenging a CMS coverage decision. This is important as it opens the door for other biopharmaceutical companies to challenge unlawful CMS coverage decisions in the future, rather than requiring patients to do so through a resource-intensive and convoluted appeals process. Given the importance of reestablishing CMS coverage for Auryxia for the treatment of IDA, many have stood alongside and supported Akebia in its efforts during the past two years. Several organizations filed amicus briefs with the district court expressing their support of our position, including the Medicare Advocacy Project of Greater Boston Legal Services, the Center for Medicare Advocacy, Massachusetts Biotechnology Council, and the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO). Other organizations issued declarations in support of Akebia, including the American Kidney Fund, Dialysis Patient Citizens, and the National Kidney Foundation. In addition, members of Congress and several dozen nephrologists submitted letters in support of Auryxia coverage to CMS. We are grateful to have had such prestigious and engaged individuals and organizations in our corner advocating for kidney disease patients. We have spent considerable resources and time pursuing this lawsuit during the past two years. We are disappointed by the previous rulings denying our preliminary injunction and discouraged by CMS' continued unwillingness to extend Auryxia coverage for IDA to all kidney disease patients. After carefully considering next steps in this litigation, we have made the difficult decision to dismiss the case against CMS and HHS. Rather, we believe it to be in the best interest of our patients and Akebia to explore alternative approaches to secure coverage. We have had ongoing engagement with U.S. legislators and are pursuing a legislative agenda that could secure Medicare coverage for Auryxia via a recently introduced bill. All eligible patients deserve access to, and Medicare coverage for, critical, innovative therapies such as Auryxia for chronic kidney disease. We are proud of our efforts to work on behalf of patients toward these goals, which we believe are necessary to advance health equity. Our fight continues, and we remain committed to finding another path forward for those battling IDA and chronic kidney disease. IMPORTANT U.S. SAFETY INFORMATION FOR AURYXIA (ferric citrate) CONTRAINDICATION AURYXIA (ferric citrate) is contraindicated in patients with iron overload syndromes, e.g., hemochromatosis. WARNINGS AND PRECAUTIONS Iron Overload: Increases in serum ferritin and transferrin saturation (TSAT) were observed in clinical trials with AURYXIA in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) on dialysis treated for hyperphosphatemia, which may lead to excessive elevations in iron stores. Assess iron parameters prior to initiating AURYXIA and monitor while on therapy. Patients receiving concomitant intravenous (IV) iron may require a reduction in dose or discontinuation of IV iron therapy. Increases in serum ferritin and transferrin saturation (TSAT) were observed in clinical trials with AURYXIA in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) on dialysis treated for hyperphosphatemia, which may lead to excessive elevations in iron stores. Assess iron parameters prior to initiating AURYXIA and monitor while on therapy. Patients receiving concomitant intravenous (IV) iron may require a reduction in dose or discontinuation of IV iron therapy. Risk of Overdosage in Children Due to Accidental Ingestion: Accidental ingestion and resulting overdose of iron-containing products is a leading cause of fatal poisoning in children under 6 years of age. Advise patients of the risks to children and to keep AURYXIA out of the reach of children. ADVERSE REACTIONS Most common adverse reactions with AURYXIA were: Hyperphosphatemia in CKD on Dialysis: Diarrhea (21%), discolored feces (19%), nausea (11%), constipation (8%), vomiting (7%) and cough (6%). Diarrhea (21%), discolored feces (19%), nausea (11%), constipation (8%), vomiting (7%) and cough (6%). Iron Deficiency Anemia in CKD Not on Dialysis: Discolored feces (22%), diarrhea (21%), constipation (18%), nausea (10%), abdominal pain (5%) and hyperkalemia (5%). SPECIFIC POPULATIONS Pregnancy and Lactation: There are no available data on AURYXIA use in pregnant women to inform a drug-associated risk of major birth defects and miscarriage. However, an overdose of iron in pregnant women may carry a risk for spontaneous abortion, gestational diabetes and fetal malformation. Data from rat studies have shown the transfer of iron into milk, hence, there is a possibility of infant exposure when AURYXIA is administered to a nursing woman. To report suspected adverse reactions, contact Akebia Therapeutics at 1-844-445-3799. Please see full Prescribing Information Akebia Therapeutics Contact Mercedes Carrasco [email protected] SOURCE Akebia Therapeutics Related Links http://www.akebia.com HOUSTON, Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- With great sadness, we must inform you of the sudden passing of Oil and Gas Investor Editor-in-Chief, Steve Toon. Steve suffered a severe heart attack at home on Friday afternoon. A principled journalist committed to top-quality information, Steve had written for Hart Energy for nearly 15 years. He assumed the lead editorial role on Oil and Gas Investor magazine in 2016 after building an impressive industry following as OGI's resident A&D expert. Steve was 57 years old. He leaves his wife, Cheryl, and three children -- his son, Blake, a freshman at Baylor and his twin teen daughters. Leah and Lexie, who he was just teaching to drive. "Steve was extremely dedicated and devoted to the magazine, always seeking ways to improve it," said Leslie Haines, executive editor-at-large for Hart Energy and Steve's predecessor at Investor. "He held it, and himself, to a very high standard." Haines had spoken with him the night before his death and was stunned by the news. She described him as a man of faith who taught Sunday school at his church. His colleagues knew him as a devoted family man. "Steve's second passion was photography and he took great pride ensuring the magazine carried on its superb visual legacy, too" said Rich Eichler, the company's CEO. "He leaves big shoes to fill. It's a very sad day for the Hart Energy family." Steve joined Hart Energy in 2007 with more than 20 years' experience as a reporter, magazine writer and editor. After earning his BA in Journalism from Baylor University in 1986, he wrote about fitness, the medical industry, health care, occupational safety and real estate before turning his journalist's eye toward oil and gas industry. A memorial service will take place Tuesday (tomorrow) at Bear Creek Baptist Church, 5901 N Fry Rd in Katy, Texas. Visitation at 9:30 a.m. and service at 10:30 a.m. Contact: Greg Salerno [email protected] SOURCE Hart Energy Publishing SEZs are geographically limited areas where the government offers regulatory and fiscal incentives to companies located within, aiming to stimulate economic growth. SEZs vary by scale, and include office parks, energy zones, ports, tourism zones, charter cities, and others. As the only global firm increasing the quality and amount of accessible data on SEZs, the Adrianople Group's Open Zone Map provides an exhaustive, interactive visual catalogue of each SEZ on a standard world map. "According to the World Bank, over 60% of all manufactured goods in the world are made in or transited through SEZs. With our global economy becoming dependent on SEZs, readily available SEZ educational resources are a must to make knowledgeable decisions," said Thibault Serlet, Co-Founder and Chief Researcher of The Adrianople Group. "As SEZs increase their mark on the world stage, through this map The Adrianople Group will ensure that everyone from investors to government officials have the insights necessary when investing in or developing any SEZ." The map has its own search functions, including an advanced search that allows users to search by region, zone type, zone specialization, management type, distance, and activity status. There is also a "how-to" section within the map's navigation with an explanation on how to use the map and demonstration of various queries and applications for the map's advanced search features. "SEZs have the potential to perform economic miracles, building up international cities such as Dubai and Shenzhen, and developing highly successful manufacturing centers in Rwanda, Cambodia, and the Philippines," said Katarina Serlet, Director of Strategy and Tenant Attraction for The Adrianople Group. "The most important economic data visualization since the subsea cable map, our Open Zone Map is a knowledge base for millions around the world who seek to effectively invest in the future of SEZs and our global economy." The Adrianople Group will be hosting a virtual launch event today, Monday October 25, where the company will give a live demo of the map. You can access the full map at https://www.openzonemap.com/. About The Adrianople Group The Adrianople Group is a research and advisory firm focused on educating the world about Special Economic Zones (SEZs). Leading organizations including McKinsey & Company, PwC, and World Wildlife Foundation rely on the company's data to make impactful decisions. The Adrianople Group's data around SEZs provides geopolitical market research and business intelligence solutions to investors, government officials, academics, and others interested in SEZs. Adrianople team members and associates consist of a staggeringly diverse array of doers and thinkers, located everywhere from San Francisco to Singapore, London to Lagos. Learn more about the Adrianople Group at www.adrianoplegroup.com . SOURCE Adrianople Group The live webinar will be held on Thursday, Nov. 18 at 1:00 p.m. ET. All financial professionals are invited to register now to take part in a very important industry conversation. This timely event will give participants the opportunity to hear candid perspectives on trends related to diversity and inclusion, including actionable takeaways for better serving an increasingly diverse culture. It will also offer a look at the groundbreaking work being done by The College to encourage and enable greater financial empowerment and equality for more Americans. Representing event sponsor Ameritas, Ryan Beasley will interview President Nichols on a range of topics relevant to financial professionals and their practices, allowing time to conclude the webinar with participant questions. "The financial services industry is in a unique position to connect individuals with the tools they need to empower themselves and their communities, including financial education and more," says Nichols. "We aim to help underrepresented Americans take advantage of the financial and economic opportunities our great country offers. By doing so, we can improve their financial well-being and build greater prosperity for generations to come, in turn growing stronger families, fueling new business and creating more vibrant communities. The potential for positive and lasting impact is tremendous." "The American College of Financial Services and its Center for Economic Empowerment and Equality are creating more diversity and inclusion in financial services and our society," says Beasley. "George and his team are leveraging their skills and delivering best-in-class education that drives results. Financial professionals across our industry can join in by supporting greater financial education within their communities, recruiting and training more advisors who reflect that diversity, and helping build financial well-being strategies. We look forward to a deep conversation about fulfilling life, supporting communities and financial empowerment." About George Nichols III George Nichols III currently serves as the 10th president and CEO of The American College of Financial Services. He joined The College after 17 years at New York Life, where he held principal roles in sales, strategic initiatives, and public policy. A member of the company's Executive Management Committee, he most recently served as executive vice president in the Office of Governmental Affairs, managing legislative, regulatory and public policy issues. Prior to joining New York Life, Nichols was Kentucky's first African American insurance commissioner, leading regulation of the state's $10 billion insurance industry. He was also the first African American president of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners and the first African American elected to New York Life's Executive Management Committee. He has twice been named as one of the "Most Influential Blacks in Corporate America" by business and lifestyle magazine Savoy. Nichols received his Associate's degree from Alice Lloyd College, a Bachelor's degree from Western Kentucky University and a Master's Degree from the University of Louisville. About Ryan C. Beasley Ryan Beasley is executive vice president at Ameritas and leads the company's Individual Division. Additional roles within the Ameritas Mutual Holding Company include serving as chair of the boards of directors for Ameritas Advisory Services, LLC; Ameritas Investment Company, LLC and Variable Contract Agency, LLC. He also serves on the board of Ameritas Life Insurance Corp. of New York. He began his career with Ameritas in 2015, as senior vice president leading the Shared Distribution team. Beasley's career in the insurance and financial services industry spans more than 20 years. He began as a financial professional, progressing to general agent then regional officer before entering executive leadership. He is a member of both NAIFA and the Financial Planning Association. Among his professional designations and licenses, he is a Certified Financial Planner, Chartered Life Underwriter, Chartered Financial Consultant and LIMRA Leadership Institute Fellow. Born in San Antonio and raised in Savannah, Georgia, Beasley earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in management from Georgia Southern University in Statesboro and a Master of Science in financial services from the American College of Financial Services in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. About The American College of Financial Services The American College of Financial Services was founded in 1927 and is the nation's largest nonprofit educational institution devoted to financial services. Holding the highest level of academic accreditation, The College has educated one in five financial advisors across the United States and offers two master's degrees in management and financial services, along with prestigious financial planning designations such as the Retirement Income Certified Professional (RICP), Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU), Wealth Management Certified Professional (WMCP), Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy(CAP), Chartered Special Needs Consultant (ChSNC), Chartered Financial Consultant (ChFC), and education leading to the Certified Financial Planner (CFP) certification. The College's faculty represents some of the foremost thought leaders in the financial services profession. Visit TheAmericanCollege.edu and connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. About Ameritas Ameritas is a marketing name for Ameritas Mutual Holding Company and its affiliated subsidiary companies, including Ameritas Life Insurance Corp. and Ameritas Life Insurance Corp. of New York. Founded in 1887, Ameritas offers a wide range of insurance and financial products and services to individuals, families and businesses. These products and services include life insurance; annuities; individual disability income insurance; group dental, vision and hearing care insurance; retirement plans; investments; asset management; and public finance. Securities offered through affiliate Ameritas Investment Company LLC., member FINRA/SIPC and investment advisory services offered through the business name of Ameritas Advisory Services. Ameritas is not affiliated with any third-party entity mentioned herein. For more information, visit www.ameritas.com. Contact: Kent Folsom, (402) 440-8335, [email protected] SOURCE Ameritas Related Links www.ameritas.com SANTA MONICA, Calif., Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Beachbody Company, Inc. (NYSE: BODY) ("Beachbody" or the "Company"), a leading subscription health and wellness company, will release its third quarter fiscal 2021 results on Monday, November 15, 2021, after the U.S. stock market closes. The Company will then host a conference call to discuss results at 5:00 p.m. (Eastern Time) that day. The U.S. toll-free dial-in for the conference call is (833) 989-3106 and the international dial-in number is (873) 415-0233. The conference ID is 2666107. A live webcast of the conference call will also be available on the Company's investor relations website at https://investors.thebeachbodycompany.com/. For those unable to participate in the conference call, a replay will be available after the conclusion of the call on November 15, 2021 through November 22, 2021. The U.S. toll-free replay dial-in number is (800) 585-8367 and the international replay dial-in number is (416) 621-4642. The replay passcode is 2666107. About The Beachbody Company, Inc. Headquartered in Southern California, The Beachbody Company (NYSE: BODY) is a worldwide leading digital fitness and nutrition subscription company, with over two decades of creating innovative content and powerful brands. The Beachbody Company is the parent company to the Beachbody On Demand streaming platform (BOD), the live digital streaming platform Openfit, and MYXfitness, the Company's connected fitness brand. For more information, please visit TheBeachbodyCompany.com. Contact: Media Madeleine O'Hagan [email protected] Investor Relations Edward Plank [email protected] SOURCE The Beachbody Company, Inc. "The work of our Foundation cannot be achieved without the dedication and expertise from the field of Parkinson's researchers leading us to new discoveries and opportunities," said MJFF CEO and Co-Founder Deborah W. Brooks. "Dr. Halliday's instrumental research in studying the complexities of Parkinson's biology is bringing us closer to the advancements and treatments we need for people and families living with Parkinson's." Brooks announced the prize at the Foundation's Research Roundtable event in New York City on October 23, 2021. Halliday's wide-ranging research interests include understanding the broader pathological changes in PD, its progression and the factors that account for variability of the disease. Her work has led to significant findings implicating cellular pathways and processes e.g., immune response in Parkinson's disease. These insights are illuminating new routes and approaches with which to intervene in the disease process and halt, slow or prevent its progression. "The Robert A. Pritzker Prize award is truly an honor of my career," said Halliday. "My hope is that my research will help scientists better understand this disease and lead to new ways to stop its course. I'm also very proud to be recognized for mentorship in training the next generation; we need many smart minds working together toward cures and better treatments." The Robert A. Pritzker Prize for Leadership in Parkinson's Research, awarded annually by MJFF since 2011, was established by Karen Pritzker, daughter of Robert A. Pritzker, and her late husband, investor Michael Vlock. Their gift provides a $100,000 research grant to the Pritzker Prize winner each year, and Pritzker and Vlock have been generous donors to MJFF. About the Robert A. Pritzker Prize for Leadership in Parkinson's Research The Robert A. Pritzker Prize for Leadership in Parkinson's Research is named in honor of the late Robert A. Pritzker, a renowned industrialist, entrepreneur and philanthropist. Pritzker was founder of The Marmon Group and president of Colson Associates, Inc., holding companies for a variety of manufacturing and medical businesses. Additionally, he was an early promoter of the field of medical engineering at his alma mater, the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) in Chicago, where he also played a key role in expanding the biomedical research community through his support of The Pritzker Institute for Biomedical Science and Engineering at IIT. The MJFF Scientific Advisory Board serves as the jury panel. Selection criteria include the nominee's complete body of work in the PD field with an emphasis on its impact on accelerating drug development; field-wide impact of the nominee's work; dedication to patient-relevant science; and influence on and encouragement of the next generation of PD investigators. The award itself is designed by renowned artist and Parkinson's patient Tom Shannon. About The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research As the world's largest nonprofit funder of Parkinson's research, The Michael J. Fox Foundation is dedicated to accelerating a cure for Parkinson's disease and improved therapies for those living with the condition today. The Foundation pursues its goals through an aggressively funded, highly targeted research program coupled with active global engagement of scientists, Parkinson's patients, business leaders, clinical trial participants, donors and volunteers. In addition to funding $1.5 billion in research to date, the Foundation has fundamentally altered the trajectory of progress toward a cure. Operating at the hub of worldwide Parkinson's research, the Foundation forges groundbreaking collaborations with industry leaders, academic scientists and government research funders; increases the flow of participants into Parkinson's disease clinical trials with its online tool, Fox Trial Finder; promotes Parkinson's awareness through high-profile advocacy, events and outreach; and coordinates the grassroots involvement of thousands of Team Fox members around the world. For more information, visit us at www.michaeljfox.org, on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn. SOURCE The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research Related Links www.michaeljfox.org It's easy to enter. Kids create an original drawing by hand using digital tools, crayons, color pencils, ink pens, markers or paint (acrylic or watercolor). With the assistance of an adult, they complete an entry form, which is submitted with the drawing (the original, if sent by mail; an image, if using the online form). Details with official rules, artwork guidelines and entry forms are at www.ToyotaDreamCarUSA.com . "Great ideas begin with a dream. We invite youth across the country to share their vision, creativity and excitement for the future of mobility," said Sean Suggs, group vice president, Toyota Social Innovation. Judged on uniqueness, artistry and execution of concept, artworks are reviewed by age group: Category 1 (4-7 years) Category 2 (8-11 years) Category 3 (12-15 years) The top three winners in each age group receive awards (gold, silver and bronze) with cash prizes. In addition, the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, California, will give out its Petersen Prestige Award to one of the nine contest winners, which includes a display of the winning artwork at the museum. "We were so impressed with the creativity and array of social issues demonstrated by youth in last year's contest and can hardly wait to see what new dream cars come to life this year," said Terry L. Karges, executive director of the Petersen Automotive Museum. Last year's Petersen Prestige Award recipient is Jery Chen whose "Fly Higher with Toyota" artwork will be displayed this year, along with seven 3D replicas created by California State University, Dominquez Hills Center for Innovation in STEM Education students, in The Petersen's Rob and Melani Walton Discovery Center, October 30, 2021 through March 27, 2022. Prints of artworks by 11 past youth winners will also be displayed with the 3D replicas. The first Toyota Dream Car Art Contest was held in Japan during 2004, and it has expanded to include nearly 90 countries today who host their own national contests. The United States launched its first national contest in 2012. All countries submit their top nine winners to Japan as entries to the world contest. To learn more about the world contest, visit www.Toyota-DreamCarArt.com. To learn more about the USA contest, visit www.ToyotaDreamCarUSA.com. About Toyota Toyota (NYSE:TM) has been a part of the cultural fabric in the U.S. for more than 60 years, and is committed to advancing sustainable, next-generation mobility through our Toyota and Lexus brands, plus our nearly 1,500 dealerships. Toyota has created a tremendous value chain and directly employs more than 36,000 in the U.S. The company has contributed world-class design, engineering, and assembly of more than 30 million cars and trucks at our 9 manufacturing plants, 10 including our joint venture in Alabama that begins production in 2021. To help inspire the next generation for a career in STEM-based fields, including mobility, Toyota launched its virtual education hub at www.TourToyota.com with an immersive experience and chance to visit many of our U.S. manufacturing facilities. The hub also includes a series of free STEM-based lessons and curriculum through Toyota USA Foundation partners, virtual field trips and more. For more information about Toyota, visit www.toyotanewsroom.com. About Petersen Automotive Museum The Petersen Automotive Museum has one of the largest public automotive collections in the world. A global brand recognized as a center for automotive thought, the museum attracts and engages auto enthusiasts worldwide. This year, its expanding selection of digital content has resulted in a 60% increase in international visitation and 40% increase in visitation by women. Popular among all include the now-virtual editions of Petersen Car Week, private collection tours of The Vault (features over 250 iconic and rare vehicles), educational field trips, and global "Cars & Coffee" events. To learn more, visit www.petersen.org. The Petersen Automotive Museum Foundation is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) charity. Contact: Melissa Richardson Banks [email protected] (213) 537-4483 SOURCE Toyota Motor North America Related Links www.toyota.com SUGAR LAND, Texas, Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Trecora Resources (NYSE: TREC), a leading provider of specialty hydrocarbons and waxes, today announced the planned release of its third quarter 2021 financial results after market close on Wednesday, November 3, 2021. President and Chief Executive Officer, Patrick D. Quarles, and Chief Financial Officer, Sami Ahmad, will host a conference call on Thursday, November 4, 2021 at 9:00 a.m. Central Time/10:00 a.m. Eastern Time to discuss the results. Date: Thursday, November 4, 2021 Time: 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time Toll-free dial-in number: +1-866-417-5724 International dial-in number: +1-409-217-8234 Conference ID: 6267010 Webcast: https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/kobci2z4 The conference call will be simulcast live and available for replay via the investor relations section of the Company's website at http://www.trecora.com/ The presentation slides will be available before the call begins under the investor relations section of the Company's website at https://ir.trecora.com/presentations A replay of the conference call will be available approximately two hours following the conclusion of the call through November 5, 2021. Toll-free replay number: +1 855-859-2056 International replay number: +1 404-537-3406 Replay PIN number: 6267010 About Trecora Resources (TREC) TREC owns and operates a specialty petrochemicals facility specializing in high purity hydrocarbons and other petrochemical manufacturing and a specialty wax facility, both located in Texas, and provides custom processing services at both facilities. Investor Relations Contact: The Equity Group Inc. Jeremy Hellman, CFA (212) 836-9626 [email protected] SOURCE Trecora Resources Related Links http://www.trecora.com/ CHICAGO, Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- In-depth analysis and data-driven insights on the impact of COVID-19 included in this United Kingdom crane market report. The United Kingdom crane market is expected to grow at a CAGR by volume at over 4.61% during the period 20212027. Key Highlights Offered in the Report: The UK crane market size by revenue is expected to reach USD 1.3 billion by 2027. In 2020, the UK economy shrank by 9.9% due to disruption in supply chain due to COVID-19. The import and export were negatively impacted due to Brexit and global lockdown which reflected on country's imports that declined by 18.5% in 2020. FDI inflow in the UK declined by 57% in 2020. The decline was due to trade uncertainty immersed by Brexit which negatively impacted FDI inflow in the country. However, FDI inflow is expected to rise as the UK government is simplifying the taxing system to eliminate the barriers for foreign national investors. The US and India are the largest investors in the UK. The UK government has planned to invest in various projects such as national health plans, renewable energy, and transport development projects. The economic package of USD 117 billion is allocated for the redevelopment and skill development programs in 2021-2022. The government's investment in various infrastructure and renewable energy projects such as the Kings Lynn B, Durie hill Stirling , Phase 1 gateways energy center, and Northern Estate Program are expected to drive the demand for cranes in the UK market. The UK is the 5th largest importer of mobile crane in the world. The demand for mobile cranes increased in 2021 due to rise in the housing and hospital construction activities under residential and national health programs. The country mainly imports cranes from Italy , Germany , and China . While under housing development program, the government targets to increase residential construction, the UK is facing labor shortage. According to national statistics data, there was a shortage of 33,000 labors in construction sector during the period April to June 2021 , which is expected to rise in the future. Therefore, the demand for automation technologies such as remote control and Smart Crane technology is on the rise. Key Offerings: Market Size & Forecast by Volume | 20212027 Market Size & Forecast by Revenue | 20212027 Market Dynamics Leading trends, growth drivers, restraints, and investment opportunities Market Segmentation A detailed analysis by crane type, application, and gross power output Competitive Landscape 9 key vendors, 5 other vendors, and 3 distributors Get your sample today! https://www.arizton.com/market-reports/united-kingdom-crane-market-opportunities-assessment-forecast UK Crane Market Segmentation The demand for mobile cranes is largely driven to address high end works for urban and infrastructure development. In addition, there is a lot of construction activities such as infrastructure development, residential and hospital building projects are planned by the UK government in 2021. Civil engineering activities in the country are growing due to active government investments. Local government investments, private investments, and ongoing infrastructure projects such as intra-city transport project, gigabit broadband roll out project. Construction activities are expected to grow due to government investments and adoption of new innovative technologies. The <20 tons crane market in the UK is expected to reach 1,756 units by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 3.98% during the forecast period. This category of cranes is largely used inside tunnels for subways, underground roads, and underground electric line. Therefore, redevelopment and maintenance projects will drive up the demand for these cranes. UK Crane Market by Crane Type Mobile Crane Crawler Cranes Rough Terrain Cranes All-Terrain Cranes Truck Mounted Cranes Others Fixed Cranes Overhead Cranes Tower Cranes UK Crane Market by Application Construction Mining Transport/Port Manufacturing Others UK Crane Market by Gross Power Less than 20 Tons 20-100 Tons 101-200 Tons Greater than 201 Tons UK Crane Market Dynamics The UK is facing a housing crisis, and the primary reason for the housing crisis is the low infrastructure investment in the housing sector. Housing is unaffordable in many places for local people. The reasons for this include a shortage of land available for development, a lack of finance available for major infrastructure, low productivity growth in the construction sector, and insufficient market diversity. There is difference in demand and supply of houses in the UK and the demand surpasses the supply. Cities with the biggest housing shortages are primarily concentrated in the Greater Southeast of England, such as London and Brighton. The shortage of houses increases their prices, which makes them unaffordable for most of the population in the UK. Hence, people prefer to stay in rented and family houses, instead of having an independent house. Therefore, for increasing the supply of new houses, the government plans to build 300,000 new homes every year to match demand and make housing costs affordable from 2020. According to national housing, the government should invest USD 15.8 billion every year for the next decade to overcome these issues. Key Drivers and Trends fueling Market Growth: Rise in investments to support housing development Healthcare infrastructure through the introduction of National Health Plan Rise in demand for luffing tower cranes Rise in demand for technology for communication and automation such as IOT, crane planner2.0, and Blokalert Why Should You Buy This Report? This report is among the few in the market that offers outlook and opportunity analysis forecast in terms of: Volume (Unit sales) Crane Type Application Gross Power Value (USD) Crane Type Application Gross Power Gain competitive intelligence about the economic scenario, advantages in United Kingdom major projects and investments, dynamics, and market share major projects and investments, dynamics, and market share Examples of latest technologies Get presentation-ready format and easy-to-interpret data Enable decision-makers to make informed and profitable choices Gain expert quantitative and qualitative analysis on value/volume growth projections of the United Kingdom crane market share crane market share Complete supply chain analysis Get COVID-19 impact analysis of the market Major Vendors Tadano manufactures construction cranes Manitex International Manitowoc SANY Kobelco Liebherr Konecranes Terex corporation Xuzhou Construction Machinery Group Co., Ltd. (XCMG) Other Prominent Vendors Mammoet Sarens Ormig S.p.A. Link-Belt Cranes Kato Works Distributors: Weldex Crowland Cranes Ltd NRC Plant Explore our industrial machinery 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 KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa., Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Universal Health Realty Income Trust (NYSE: UHT) announced today that for the three-month period ended September 30, 2021, net income was $5.3 million, or $.39 per diluted share, as compared to $5.2 million, or $.38 per diluted share, during the third quarter of 2020. As calculated on the attached Schedule of Non-GAAP Supplemental Information ("Supplemental Schedule"), our funds from operations ("FFO"), were $12.6 million, or $.92 per diluted share, during the third quarter of 2021, as compared to $11.9 million, or $.86 per diluted share, during the third quarter of 2020. The increase in our net income of $151,000, or $.01 per diluted share, during the third quarter of 2021, as compared to the third quarter of 2020, was due to: (i) an increase of $289,000, or $.02 per diluted share, resulting from an aggregate net increase in the income generated at various properties, including the income recorded in connection with the newly constructed Clive Behavioral Health facility, a 100-bed behavioral health care facility located in Clive, Iowa, that was completed in late December, 2020; (ii) an increase of $148,000, or $.01 per diluted share, in bonus rental earned on the three hospital facilities leased to subsidiaries of Universal Health Services, Inc. ("UHS"), partially offset by; (iii) a decrease of $286,000, or $.02 per diluted share, due to an increase in interest expense due primarily to an increase in our average borrowings outstanding under our credit agreement. During the third quarter of 2021, as compared to the third quarter of 2020, our FFO increased $735,000, or $.06 per diluted share. The increase was due to the $151,000, or $.01 per diluted share, of increased net income, as discussed above, as well as an increase in depreciation and amortization expense, largely due to the depreciation expense recorded in connection with the Clive Behavioral Health facility. Consolidated Results of Operations - Nine-Month Periods Ended September 30, 2021 and 2020: For the nine-month period ended September 30, 2021, net income was $17.6 million, or $1.27 per diluted share, as compared to $14.4 million, or $1.05 per diluted share during the first nine months of 2020. As calculated on the Supplemental Schedule, our FFO were $38.0 million, or $2.76 per diluted share, during the first nine months of 2021, as compared to $34.5 million, or $2.50 per diluted share, during the first nine months of 2020. As reflected on the Supplemental Schedule, after adjusting the reported results for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2021 for the $1.3 million gain realized during the second quarter of 2021 on the sale of a medical office building located in Springdale, AR, our adjusted net income was $16.2 million, or $1.18 per diluted share, during the first nine months of 2021. The increase in our adjusted net income of $1.8 million, or $.13 per diluted share, during the first nine months of 2021, as compared to the comparable period of 2020, was due to: (i) an increase of approximately $1.4 million, or $.10 per diluted share, resulting from a net aggregate increase net income, resulting primarily from the income generated at various properties, including the income recorded in connection with the newly constructed Clive Behavioral Health facility; (ii) an increase of $694,000, or $.05 per diluted share, in bonus rental earned on the three hospital facilities leased to subsidiaries of UHS, partially offset by; (iii) a decrease of $277,000, or $.02 per diluted share, due to an increase in interest expense. During the first nine months of 2021, as compared to the comparable period of 2020, our FFO increased $3.5 million, or $.26 per diluted share. The increase was due primarily to the $1.8 million, or $.13 per diluted share, of increased adjusted net income, as discussed above, as well as an increase in depreciation and amortization expense, largely due to the depreciation expense recorded in connection with the Clive Behavioral Health facility. Dividend Information: The third quarter dividend of $.70 per share, or $9.6 million in the aggregate, was declared on September 8, 2021 and paid on September 30, 2021. Capital Resources Information: On July 2, 2021, we entered into an amended and restated credit agreement which increased the borrowing capacity to $375 million (from $350 million previously) and extended the maturity date to July, 2025 (from March, 2022 previously). We have the option to extend the maturity date for up to two additional six-month periods. At September 30, 2021 we had $276.8 million of borrowings outstanding pursuant to the terms of our credit agreement and $94.6 million of available borrowing capacity as of that date, net of outstanding borrowings and letters of credit. Planned Divestiture: Auburn Medical Office Building II In July, 2021, as part of a series of anticipated tax deferred like-kind exchange transactions pursuant to Section 1031 of the Internal Revenue Code, we entered into an agreement to sell this 41,311 square foot, multi-tenant MOB located in Auburn Washington. The closing date on the sale of the property is scheduled to occur no later than November 1, 2021. The assets and liabilities related to this property are included in "Assets held for sale" or "Liabilities of property held for sale" on our Consolidated Balance Sheet as of September 30, 2021. Disclosures Related to Certain Facilities: Southwest Healthcare System, Inland Valley Campus: As previously disclosed, a wholly-owned subsidiary of UHS notified us of their intent to terminate the existing lease on Southwest Healthcare System, Inland Valley Campus, upon the scheduled expiration of the current lease term on December 31, 2021. As permitted pursuant to the terms of the lease, UHS had the right to purchase the leased property at its appraised fair market value at the end of the existing lease term. However, UHS has agreed to exchange substitution properties, with an aggregate fair market value substantially equal to that of Southwest Healthcare System, Inland Valley Campus, in return for the real estate assets of the Inland Valley Campus. The substitution properties consist of one acute care hospital (including a behavioral health pavilion) and a newly constructed behavioral health hospital. The Independent Trustees of our Board, as well as the UHS Board of Directors, have approved the property substitution subject to satisfactory completion of definitive agreements, which are in progress. The effective date of the property substitution is expected to coincide with the scheduled lease maturity date of December 31, 2021. Pursuant to the terms of the lease on the Inland Valley Campus, we earned $3.4 million of lease revenue during the nine-month period ended September 30, 2021 ($2.0 million in base rental and $1.4 million in bonus rental) and $4.4 million of lease revenue during the year ended December 31, 2020 ($2.6 million in base rental and $1.8 million in bonus rental). Kindred Hospital Chicago Central: Also as previously disclosed, the existing lease on Kindred Hospital Chicago Central, a 95-bed specialty hospital located in Chicago, Illinois, is scheduled to expire on December 31, 2021. The tenant of the facility notified us that they do not intend to renew the lease upon its scheduled expiration. We are marketing this property to potential new tenants. However, should this property be vacant for an extended period of time, or should we experience a decrease in the lease rate on a future lease as compared to the current lease, or incur substantial renovation costs to make the property suitable for another operator/tenant, our future results of operations could be unfavorably impacted. Pursuant to the terms of the lease, we earned approximately $1.2 million of lease revenue during the nine-month period ended September 30, 2021 and approximately $1.6 million of lease revenue during the twelve-month period ended December 31, 2020. General Information, Forward-Looking Statements and Risk Factors and Non-GAAP Financial Measures: Universal Health Realty Income Trust, a real estate investment trust, invests in healthcare and human-service related facilities including acute care hospitals, behavioral health care hospitals, specialty hospitals, medical/office buildings, free-standing emergency departments and childcare centers. We have investments or commitments in seventy-two properties located in twenty states. This press release contains forward-looking statements based on current management expectations. Numerous factors, including those disclosed herein, those related to the anticipated impact of COVID-19 on our financial results, as well as the operations and financial results of each of our tenants, those related to healthcare industry trends and those detailed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (as set forth in Item 1A-Risk Factors and in Item 7-Forward-Looking Statements in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 and in Item 2-Forward-Looking Statements and Certain Risk Factors in our Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2021), may cause the results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements. Readers should not place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements which reflect management's view only as of the date hereof. We undertake no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements, or to make any other forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Many of the factors that could affect our future results are beyond our control or ability to predict, including the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Future operations and financial results of our tenants, and in turn ours, could be materially impacted by developments related to COVID-19. Such developments include, but are not limited to, the length of time and severity of the spread of the pandemic; the volume of cancelled or rescheduled elective procedures and the volume of COVID-19 patients treated by the operators of our hospitals and other healthcare facilities; measures our tenants are taking to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic; the impact of government and administrative regulation and stimulus on the health care industry; declining patient volumes and unfavorable changes in payer mix caused by deteriorating macroeconomic conditions (including increases in uninsured and underinsured patients as the result of business closings and layoffs); potential disruptions to clinical staffing and shortages and disruptions related to supplies required for our tenants' employees and patients; and potential increases to expenses incurred by our tenants related to staffing, supply chain or other expenditures. There may be significant declines in future bonus rental revenue earned on our hospital properties leased to wholly-owned subsidiaries of UHS to the extent that each hospital experiences a significant decline in patient volumes. We believe that the underlying businesses operated by certain of our other tenants have been, at various times, either temporarily closed entirely or operating at substantially reduced hours. These factors may result in the inability or unwillingness on the part of some of our tenants to make timely payment of their rent to us at current levels or to seek to amend or terminate their leases which, in turn, would have an adverse effect on our occupancy levels and our revenue and cash flow and the value of our properties, and potentially, our ability to maintain our dividend at current levels. Due to COVID-19 restrictions and its impact on the economy, we may experience a decrease in prospective tenants which could unfavorably impact the volume of new leases, as well as the renewal rate of existing leases. The COVID-19 pandemic may delay our construction projects which could result in increased costs and delay the timing of opening and rental payments from those projects, although no such delays have yet occurred. The COVID-19 pandemic could also impact our indebtedness and the ability to refinance such indebtedness on acceptable terms, as well as risks associated with disruptions in the financial markets and the business of financial institutions as the result of the COVID-19 pandemic which could impact us from a financing perspective; and changes in general economic conditions nationally and regionally in the markets our properties are located resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. We are not able to quantify the impact that these factors will have on our future operations, but developments related to the COVID-19 pandemic could have a material adverse impact on our future financial results. We believe that, if and when applicable, adjusted net income and adjusted net income per diluted share (as reflected on the Supplemental Schedule), which are non-GAAP financial measures ("GAAP" is Generally Accepted Accounting Principles in the United States of America), are helpful to our investors as measures of our operating performance. In addition, we believe that, when applicable, comparing and discussing our financial results based on these measures, as calculated, is helpful to our investors since it neutralizes the effect in each year of material items that are non-recurring or non-operational in nature including items such as, but not limited to, gains on transactions. Funds from operations ("FFO") is a widely recognized measure of performance for Real Estate Investment Trusts ("REITs"). We believe that FFO and FFO per diluted share, which are non-GAAP financial measures, are helpful to our investors as measures of our operating performance. We compute FFO, as reflected on the attached Supplemental Schedules, in accordance with standards established by the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts ("NAREIT"), which may not be comparable to FFO reported by other REITs that do not compute FFO in accordance with the NAREIT definition, or that interpret the NAREIT definition differently than we interpret the definition. FFO adjusts for the effects of gains, such as gains on transactions during the periods presented. FFO does not represent cash generated from operating activities in accordance with GAAP and should not be considered to be an alternative to net income determined in accordance with GAAP. In addition, FFO should not be used as: (i) an indication of our financial performance determined in accordance with GAAP; (ii) an alternative to cash flow from operating activities determined in accordance with GAAP; (iii) a measure of our liquidity, or; (iv) an indicator of funds available for our cash needs, including our ability to make cash distributions to shareholders. A reconciliation of our reported net income to FFO is reflected on the Supplemental Schedules included below. To obtain a complete understanding of our financial performance these measures should be examined in connection with net income, determined in accordance with GAAP, as presented in the condensed consolidated financial statements and notes thereto in this report or in our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission including our Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020. Since the items included or excluded from these measures are significant components in understanding and assessing financial performance under GAAP, these measures should not be considered to be alternatives to net income as a measure of our operating performance or profitability. Since these measures, as presented, are not determined in accordance with GAAP and are thus susceptible to varying calculations, they may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies. Investors are encouraged to use GAAP measures when evaluating our financial performance. Universal Health Realty Income Trust Consolidated Statements of Income For the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 (amounts in thousands, except share information) (unaudited) Three Months Ended Nine Months Ended September 30, September 30, 2021 2020 2021 2020 Revenues: Lease revenue - UHS facilities (a.) $ 7,574 $ 6,381 $ 21,971 $ 18,243 Lease revenue - Non-related parties 13,115 12,841 39,324 38,526 Other revenue - UHS facilities 236 232 669 667 Other revenue - Non-related parties 280 238 816 744 21,205 19,692 62,780 58,180 Expenses: Depreciation and amortization 6,813 6,399 20,551 19,160 Advisory fees to UHS 1,121 1,039 3,272 3,082 Other operating expenses 5,980 5,614 17,485 16,573 13,914 13,052 41,308 38,815 Income before equity in income of unconsolidated limited liability companies ("LLCs"), gain on sale and interest expense 7,291 6,640 21,472 19,365 Equity in income of unconsolidated LLCs 303 517 1,341 1,371 Gain on sale of real estate assets - - 1,304 - Interest expense, net (2,250) (1,964) (6,566) (6,289) Net income $ 5,344 $ 5,193 $ 17,551 $ 14,447 Basic earnings per share $ 0.39 $ 0.38 $ 1.28 $ 1.05 Diluted earnings per share $ 0.39 $ 0.38 $ 1.27 $ 1.05 Weighted average number of shares outstanding - Basic 13,762 13,748 13,755 13,741 Weighted average number of shares outstanding - Diluted 13,783 13,770 13,777 13,763 (a.) Includes bonus rental on UHS acute-care hospital facilities of $1,828 and $1,680 for the three-month periods ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively, and $5,171 and $4,477 for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2021 and 2020, respectively. Universal Health Realty Income Trust Schedule of Non-GAAP Supplemental Information ("Supplemental Schedule") For the Three Months Ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 (amounts in thousands, except share information) (unaudited) Calculation of Adjusted Net Income Three Months Ended Three Months Ended September 30, 2021 September 30, 2020 Amount Per Diluted Share Amount Per Diluted Share Net income $ 5,344 $ 0.39 $ 5,193 $ 0.38 Adjustments - - - - Subtotal adjustments to net income - - - - Adjusted net income $ 5,344 $ 0.39 $ 5,193 $ 0.38 Calculation of Funds From Operations ("FFO") Three Months Ended Three Months Ended September 30, 2021 September 30, 2020 Amount Per Diluted Share Amount Per Diluted Share Net income $ 5,344 $ 0.39 $ 5,193 $ 0.38 Plus: Depreciation and amortization expense: Consolidated investments 6,813 0.50 6,399 0.46 Unconsolidated affiliates 460 0.03 290 0.02 FFO $ 12,617 $ 0.92 $ 11,882 $ 0.86 Dividend paid per share $ 0.700 $ 0.690 Universal Health Realty Income Trust Schedule of Non-GAAP Supplemental Information ("Supplemental Schedule") For the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 (amounts in thousands, except share information) (unaudited) Calculation of Adjusted Net Income Nine Months Ended Nine Months Ended September 30, 2021 September 30, 2020 Amount Per Diluted Share Amount Per Diluted Share Net income $ 17,551 $ 1.27 $ 14,447 $ 1.05 Adjustments: Less: Gain on sale of real estate assets (1,304) (0.09) - - Subtotal adjustments to net income (1,304) (0.09) - - Adjusted net income $ 16,247 $ 1.18 $ 14,447 $ 1.05 Calculation of Funds From Operations ("FFO") Nine Months Ended Nine Months Ended September 30, 2021 September 30, 2020 Amount Per Diluted Share Amount Per Diluted Share Net income $ 17,551 $ 1.27 $ 14,447 $ 1.05 Plus: Depreciation and amortization expense: Consolidated investments 20,551 1.49 19,160 1.39 Unconsolidated affiliates 1,196 0.09 869 0.06 Less: Gain on sale of real estate assets (1,304) (0.09) - - FFO $ 37,994 $ 2.76 $ 34,476 $ 2.50 Dividend paid per share $ 2.095 $ 2.065 Universal Health Realty Income Trust Consolidated Balance Sheets (amounts in thousands, except share information) (unaudited) September 30, December 31, 2021 2020 Assets: Real Estate Investments: Buildings and improvements and construction in progress $ 610,338 $ 605,292 Accumulated depreciation (230,827) (216,648) 379,511 388,644 Land 56,947 55,157 Net Real Estate Investments 436,458 443,801 Investments in limited liability companies ("LLCs") 23,123 4,278 Other Assets: Cash and cash equivalents 9,347 5,742 Lease and other receivables from UHS 4,246 3,199 Lease receivable - other 6,841 7,504 Intangible assets (net of accumulated amortization of $17.7 million and $19.5 million, respectively) 10,392 11,742 Right-of-use land assets, net 8,891 8,914 Deferred charges and other assets, net 11,012 8,829 Assets held for sale 7,371 - Total Assets $ 517,681 $ 494,009 Liabilities: Line of credit borrowings $ 276,800 $ 236,200 Mortgage notes payable, non-recourse to us, net 57,397 58,895 Accrued interest 352 351 Accrued expenses and other liabilities 11,261 19,802 Ground lease liabilities, net 8,891 8,914 Tenant reserves, deposits and deferred and prepaid rents 11,092 10,842 Liabilities of property held for sale 77 - Total Liabilities 365,870 335,004 Equity: Preferred shares of beneficial interest, $.01 par value; 5,000,000 shares authorized; none issued and outstanding - - Common shares, $.01 par value; 95,000,000 shares authorized; issued and outstanding: 2021 - 13,784,401; 2020 - 13,771,287 138 138 Capital in excess of par value 268,232 267,368 Cumulative net income 698,278 680,727 Cumulative dividends (814,281) (785,413) Accumulated other comprehensive loss (556) (3,815) Total Equity 151,811 159,005 Total Liabilities and Equity $ 517,681 $ 494,009 SOURCE Universal Health Realty Income Trust KING OF PRUSSIA, Pa., Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Universal Health Services, Inc. (NYSE: UHS) announced today that its reported net income attributable to UHS was $218.4 million, or $2.60 per diluted share, during the third quarter of 2021, as compared to $241.3 million, or $2.82 per diluted share, during the third quarter of 2020. Net revenues increased 8.4% to $3.156 billion during the third quarter of 2021 as compared to $2.913 billion during the third quarter of 2020. As reflected on the Schedule of Non-GAAP Supplemental Information ("Supplemental Schedule"), our adjusted net income attributable to UHS during the third quarter of 2021 was $224.1 million, or $2.67 per diluted share, as compared to $246.5 million, or $2.88 per diluted share, during the third quarter of 2020. Included in our reported and adjusted net income attributable to UHS during the third quarter of last year were the following: (i) a favorable impact of approximately $21.4 million, or $0.25 per diluted share, resulting from $28 million of net revenues recorded in connection with the California Medicaid supplemental payment program related to our acute care hospitals (approximately $11 million of these supplemental revenues were attributable to the first nine months of 2020 and $17 million were attributable to prior years), and; (ii) an unfavorable impact of approximately $4.7 million, or $0.06 per diluted share, resulting from a reversal of approximately $5 million of previously recognized grant income revenues recorded in connection with various governmental stimulus programs, most notably the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act ("CARES Act"). As reflected on the Supplemental Schedule, included in our reported results during the third quarter of 2021, was a net aggregate unfavorable after-tax impact of $5.8 million, or $.07 per diluted share, consisting primarily of the following: (i) an after-tax charge of $12.9 million, or $.15 per diluted share, ($16.8 million pre-tax which is included in "Other (income) expense, net") recorded in connection with costs related to extinguishment of debt, as discussed below in Liquidity and Financing Transactions, partially offset by; (ii) an after-tax unrealized gain of $6.8 million, or $.08 per diluted share, ($8.9 million pre-tax which is included in "Other (income) expense, net"), resulting from an increase in the market value of shares of certain equity securities. As reflected on the Supplemental Schedule, included in our reported results during the third quarter of 2020, was a net aggregate unfavorable after-tax impact of $5.2 million, or $.06 per diluted share, consisting of the following: (i) an after-tax unrealized loss of $2.1 million, or $.02 per diluted share, ($2.7 million pre-tax which is included in "Other (income) expense, net"), resulting from a decrease in the market value of shares of certain equity securities, and; (ii) an unfavorable after-tax impact of $3.1 million, or $.04 per diluted share, resulting from ASU 2016-09, "Compensation Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting" ("ASU 2016-09"). As calculated on the attached Supplemental Schedule, our earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation & amortization ("EBITDA net of NCI", NCI is net income attributable to noncontrolling interests), was $441.5 million during the third quarter of 2021, as compared to $471.0 million during the third quarter of 2020. Our adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation & amortization ("Adjusted EBITDA net of NCI"), which excludes the impact of other (income) expense, net, was $448.2 million during the third quarter of 2021 as compared to $472.8 million during the third quarter of 2020. Consolidated Results of Operations, As Reported and As Adjusted Nine-month periods ended September 30, 2021 and 2020: Reported net income attributable to UHS was $752.5 million, or $8.83 per diluted share, during the nine-month period ended September 30, 2021, as compared to $635.2 million, or $7.40 per diluted share, during the first nine months of 2020. Net revenues increased 10.6% to $9.367 billion during the first nine months of 2021 as compared to $8.472 billion during the comparable period of 2020. As reflected on the Supplemental Schedule, our adjusted net income attributable to UHS during the nine-month period ended September 30, 2021 was $756.6 million, or $8.88 per diluted share, as compared to $646.9 million, or $7.53 per diluted share, during the first nine months of 2020. Included in our reported and adjusted net income attributable to UHS during the nine-month period ended September 30, 2021, the substantial majority of which was previously disclosed and recorded during the second quarter of 2021, was a net favorable after-tax impact of approximately $31.2 million, or $.37 per diluted share, consisting of: a favorable after-tax impact of $47.7 million , or $.56 per diluted share, resulting from approximately $62 million of revenues recorded during the second and third quarters of 2021 ( $55 million and $7 million , respectively), in connection with the Kentucky Medicaid Managed Care Hospital Rate Increase Program, covering the period of July 1, 2020 to June 30, 2021 , as discussed below in Kentucky Hospital Rate Increase Program ; , or per diluted share, resulting from approximately of revenues recorded during the second and third quarters of 2021 ( and , respectively), in connection with the Kentucky Medicaid Managed Care Hospital Rate Increase Program, covering the period of to , as discussed below in ; an unfavorable after-tax impact of approximately $31.0 million , or $.36 per diluted share, resulting from a $41 million increase to our reserves for self-insured professional and general liability claims recorded during the second and third quarters of 2021 ( $36 million and $5 million , respectively), resulting from unfavorable trends experienced in connection with the number of asserted claims and reported incidents and estimates of losses for those claims; , or per diluted share, resulting from a increase to our reserves for self-insured professional and general liability claims recorded during the second and third quarters of 2021 ( and , respectively), resulting from unfavorable trends experienced in connection with the number of asserted claims and reported incidents and estimates of losses for those claims; an aggregate favorable after-tax impact of $22.1 million , or $.26 per diluted share, resulting from aggregate commercial insurance proceeds received of approximately $29 million , approximately $19 million and $10 million of which were recorded during the second and third quarters of 2021, respectively, in connection with: (i) the unfavorable economic impact resulting from the previously disclosed information technology incident that occurred during 2020 ( $20 million aggregate proceeds received thus far representing partial recovery of the loss sustained), and; (ii) the COVID-19 pandemic (approximately $9 million of insurance proceeds received during the second quarter of 2021 representing recovery of the policy maximum), and; , or per diluted share, resulting from aggregate commercial insurance proceeds received of approximately , approximately and of which were recorded during the second and third quarters of 2021, respectively, in connection with: (i) the unfavorable economic impact resulting from the previously disclosed information technology incident that occurred during 2020 ( aggregate proceeds received thus far representing partial recovery of the loss sustained), and; (ii) the COVID-19 pandemic (approximately of insurance proceeds received during the second quarter of 2021 representing recovery of the policy maximum), and; an estimated unfavorable impact of approximately $7.6 million (approximately $10 million pre-tax), or $.09 per diluted share, resulting from damage sustained from Hurricane Ida during the third quarter of 2021 at three of our behavioral health care facilities located in Louisiana and Pennsylvania (see below in Behavioral Health Care Services for additional disclosure). Our reported and adjusted net income attributable to UHS during the nine-month period ended September 30, 2020 included the following: (i) a favorable impact of $157.2 million, or $1.84 per diluted share, resulting from the recording of approximately $213 million of grant income revenues recorded in connection with various governmental stimulus programs, most notably the CARES Act, and; (ii) a favorable impact of $21.4 million, or $0.25 per diluted share, resulting from the above-mentioned $28 million of net revenues recorded during the third quarter of 2020 in connection with the California Medicaid supplemental payment program. As reflected on the Supplemental Schedule, included in our reported results during the nine-month period ended September 30, 2021, was a net aggregate unfavorable after-tax impact of $4.1 million, or $.05 per diluted share, consisting of the following: (i) an after-tax charge of $12.9 million, or $.15 per diluted share, ($16.8 million pre-tax which is included in "Other (income) expense, net") recorded in connection with costs related to extinguishment of debt, as discussed below in Liquidity and Financing Transactions; (ii) an after-tax unrealized gain of $6.3 million, or $.07 per diluted share, ($8.2 million pre-tax which is included in "Other (income) expense, net") resulting from an increase in the market value of shares of certain equity securities, and; (iii) a favorable after-tax impact of $2.5 million, or $.03 per diluted share, resulting from ASU 2016-09. As reflected on the Supplemental Schedule, included in our reported results during the nine-month period ended September 30, 2020, was a net aggregate unfavorable after-tax impact of $11.6 million, or $.13 per diluted share, consisting of the following: (i) an after-tax unrealized loss of $7.2 million, or $.08 per diluted share, ($9.4 million pre-tax which is included in "Other (income) expense, net"), resulting from a decrease in the market value of shares of certain equity securities, and; (ii) an unfavorable after-tax impact of $4.4 million, or $.05 per diluted share, resulting from ASU 2016-09. As calculated on the attached Supplemental Schedule, our EBITDA net of NCI, was $1.450 billion during the nine-month period ended September 30, 2021, as compared to $1.303 billion during the first nine months of 2020. Our Adjusted EBITDA net of NCI, which excludes the impact of other (income) expense, net, was $1.448 billion during the nine-month period ended September 30, 2021, as compared to $1.311 billion during the first nine months of 2020. Acute Care Services Three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2021 and 2020: During the third quarter of 2021, at our acute care hospitals owned during both periods ("same facility basis"), adjusted admissions (adjusted for outpatient activity) increased 12.4% and adjusted patient days increased 10.9%, as compared to the third quarter of 2020. Patient volumes at our acute care hospitals during the third quarter of 2021 included a continuation of relatively robust non-COVID patient volumes as well as an increase in COVID-related patients as compared to volumes experienced during the second quarter of 2021. At these facilities, excluding the governmental stimulus revenues of approximately $4 million recorded during the third quarter of 2020, net revenue per adjusted admission increased 1.3% while net revenue per adjusted patient day increased 2.7% during the third quarter of 2021, as compared to the third quarter of 2020. During the third quarter of 2021, as compared to the third quarter of 2020, net revenues generated from our acute care services on a same facility basis increased 13.1% including the governmental stimulus revenues recorded during the third quarter of 2020, and increased 13.4% excluding the governmental stimulus revenues recorded during the third quarter of 2020. During the nine-month period ended September 30, 2021, at our acute care hospitals on a same facility basis, adjusted admissions increased 7.3% and adjusted patient days increased 9.9%, as compared to the first nine months of 2020. At these facilities, excluding the governmental stimulus revenues of approximately $161 million recorded during the first nine months of 2020, net revenue per adjusted admission increased 10.4% while net revenue per adjusted patient day increased 7.8% during the first nine months of 2021, as compared to the comparable period of 2020. During the first nine months of 2021, as compared to the comparable period of 2020, net revenues generated from our acute care services on a same facility basis increased 14.4% including the governmental stimulus revenues recorded during the first nine months of 2020, and increased 18.6% excluding the governmental stimulus revenues recorded during the first nine months of 2020. Behavioral Health Care Services Three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2021 and 2020: During the third quarter of 2021, at our behavioral health care facilities on a same facility basis, adjusted admissions decreased 2.7% and adjusted patient days decreased 2.1%, as compared to the third quarter of 2020. During the third quarter of 2021, patient volumes at our behavioral health care hospitals were pressured by increased COVID-19 infections experienced in many of our markets, as well as clinical staffing shortages caused by the general unfavorable availability of workers in the U.S., as well as pandemic-related staffing challenges experienced at many of our facilities. In addition, three of our behavioral health care facilities located in Louisiana and Pennsylvania were damaged and temporarily closed (either entirely or partially) as a result of Hurricane Ida in late August/early September of 2021. One of these facilities was fully re-opened by the end of September while the other two are expected to be fully re-opened by late October/mid-November. As mentioned above, we estimate that our pre-tax financial results for the three and nine month periods ended September 30, 2021 were unfavorably impacted by approximately $10 million as a result of the damage sustained from Hurricane Ida. At these facilities, excluding the governmental stimulus revenue reversal of approximately $9 million recorded during the third quarter of 2020, net revenue per adjusted admission increased 4.2% while net revenue per adjusted patient day increased 3.6% during the third quarter of 2021, as compared to the third quarter of 2020. During the third quarter of 2021, as compared to the third quarter of 2020, net revenues generated from our behavioral health care services on a same facility basis increased 2.0% including the governmental stimulus revenue reversal recorded during the third quarter of 2020, and increased 1.3% excluding the governmental stimulus revenue reversal recorded during the third quarter of 2020. During the nine-month period ended September 30, 2021, at our behavioral health care facilities on a same facility basis, adjusted admissions increased 1.6% and adjusted patient days increased 0.3%, as compared to the first nine months of 2020. At these facilities, excluding the governmental stimulus revenues of approximately $52 million recorded during the first nine months of 2020, net revenue per adjusted admission increased 4.7% while net revenue per adjusted patient day increased 6.0% during the first nine months of 2021, as compared to the comparable period of 2020. During the first nine months of 2021, as compared to the comparable period of 2020, net revenues generated from our behavioral health care services on a same facility basis increased 5.4% including the governmental stimulus revenues recorded during the first nine months of 2020, and increased 6.9% excluding the governmental stimulus revenues recorded during the first nine months of 2020. COVID-19 The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, which began during the second half of March, 2020, has had a material effect on our operations and financial results since that time. The COVID-19 vaccination process commenced during the first quarter of 2021. Since that time, through the second quarter of 2021, we had generally experienced a decline in COVID-19 patients as well as a corresponding recovery in non-COVID-19 patient activity. However, during the third quarter of 2021, our facilities generally experienced an increase in COVID-19 patients resulting primarily from the Delta variant. Since the future volumes and severity of COVID-19 patients remain highly uncertain and subject to change, including potential increases in future COVID-19 patient volumes caused by new variants of the virus, as well as related pressures on staffing and wage rates, we are not able to fully quantify the impact that these factors will have on our future financial results. However, developments related to the COVID-19 pandemic could materially affect our financial performance during the remainder of 2021 and into 2022. Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities and Liquidity and Financing Transactions: Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities: For the nine months ended September 30, 2021, our net cash provided by operating activities was $562 million as compared to $2.218 billion during the first nine months of 2020. The $1.656 billion net decrease in our cash provided by operating activities during the first nine months of 2021, as compared to the first nine months of 2020, was due to: (i) an unfavorable change of $1.576 billion resulting primarily from the $695 million of Medicare accelerated payments repaid during the first quarter of 2021, as compared to a favorable change of $878 million experienced during the first nine months of 2020 resulting from receipt of the Medicare accelerated payments and other deferred governmental stimulus grants; (ii) a favorable change of $153 million resulting from an increase in net income plus depreciation and amortization expense, stock-based compensation expense, gain/loss on sales of assets and businesses, costs related to extinguishment of debt and provision for asset impairment; (iii) an unfavorable change of $111 million due to the first nine months of 2020 including the favorable impact of the payment deferral of the employer's share of Social Security taxes, as provided for by the CARES Act; (iv) an unfavorable change of $75 million in accounts receivable; (v) an unfavorable change of $51 million in accrued and deferred income taxes, and; (vi) $4 million of other combined net favorable changes. Liquidity and Financing Transactions: During the third quarter of 2021, we completed the following previously announced financing transactions: On August 24, 2021 , we completed the following via private offerings to qualified institutional buyers under Rule 144A and to non-U.S. persons outside the United States in reliance on Regulation S under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended: , we completed the following via private offerings to qualified institutional buyers under Rule 144A and to non-U.S. persons outside in reliance on Regulation S under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended: Issued $700 million of aggregate principal amount of 1.65% senior secured notes due on September 1, 2026 , and; of aggregate principal amount of 1.65% senior secured notes due on , and; Issued $500 million of aggregate principal amount of 2.65% senior secured notes due on January 15, 2032 . of aggregate principal amount of 2.65% senior secured notes due on . On August 24, 2021 , we entered into a seventh amendment to our credit agreement dated as of November 15, 2010 , which provided for the amendment and restatement of the previously existing credit facility. The seventh amendment, among other things, provided for the following: , we entered into a seventh amendment to our credit agreement dated as of , which provided for the amendment and restatement of the previously existing credit facility. The seventh amendment, among other things, provided for the following: a $1.2 billion aggregate amount revolving credit facility, which is scheduled to mature on August 24, 2026 , representing an increase of $200 million over the $1.0 billion previous commitment. As of September 30, 2021 , this facility had no borrowings outstanding and $1.196 billion of available borrowing capacity, net of outstanding letters of credit; aggregate amount revolving credit facility, which is scheduled to mature on , representing an increase of over the previous commitment. As of , this facility had no borrowings outstanding and of available borrowing capacity, net of outstanding letters of credit; a $1.7 billion tranche A term loan facility, which is scheduled to mature on August 24, 2026 , resulting in a reduction of $150 million from the $1.85 billion of borrowings outstanding under the previous tranche A term loan facility, and; tranche A term loan facility, which is scheduled to mature on , resulting in a reduction of from the of borrowings outstanding under the previous tranche A term loan facility, and; repayment of approximately $488 million of borrowings outstanding under the previous tranche B term loan facility. of borrowings outstanding under the previous tranche B term loan facility. On September 13, 2021 , we redeemed $400 million of aggregate principal amount of 5.00% senior secured notes, that were scheduled to mature on June 1, 2026 , at 102.50% of the aggregate principal, or $410 million . In connection with the various financing transactions mentioned above, our results of operations for the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2021, include a $16.8 million pre-tax charge incurred for costs related to the extinguishment of debt. This pre-tax charge consisted of the following: (i) $6.8 million incurred to write-off unamortized deferred charges on the extinguished debt, and; (ii) a $10 million make-whole premium paid on the early redemption of the $400 million, 5.00% senior secured notes. As of September 30, 2021, we had approximately $190 million of cash and cash equivalents. Stock Repurchase Program: As of September 30, 2021, we had an aggregate stock repurchase authorization of $3.7 billion which was approved by our Board of Directors in various increments since 2014, including a previously announced $1.0 billion increase authorized on July 26, 2021. Pursuant to the terms of this program, which had an aggregate available repurchase authorization of $790.5 million as of September 30, 2021, shares of our Class B Common Stock may be repurchased, from time to time as conditions allow, on the open market or in negotiated private transactions. In conjunction with our stock repurchase programs, during the three-month period ended September 30, 2021, we have repurchased approximately 2.78 million shares at an aggregate cost of $419.1 million (approximately $151 per share). Since inception of the program in 2014 through September 30, 2021, we have repurchased approximately 23.0 million shares at an aggregate cost of approximately $2.91 billion (approximately $126 per share). Kentucky Hospital Rate Increase Program: As previously disclosed, in early 2021, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services ("CMS") approved the Kentucky Medicaid Managed Care Hospital Rate Increase Program ("HRIP") for state fiscal year ("SFY") 2021, which covered the period of July 1, 2020 through June 30, 2021. This program change increased our reimbursement for SFY 2021 by an aggregate of approximately $62 million, of which $55 million and $7 million were recorded by us during the second and third quarters of 2021, respectively. Programs such as HRIP require an annual state submission and approval by CMS. In May, 2021, Kentucky submitted a request to CMS in order to continue the HRIP program for SFY 2022 with a similar payment methodology and payment level as the SFY 2021 program. Although we believe the CMS approval process is in progress, we are unable to predict if CMS will ultimately approve the HRIP for SFY 2022, and if approved, if the rates will be generally comparable to the SFY 2021 HRIP rates. Conference call information: We will hold a conference call for investors and analysts at 9:00 a.m. eastern time on October 26, 2021. The dial-in number is 1-877-648-7971. A live broadcast of the conference call will be available on our website at www.uhs.com. Also, a replay of the call will be available following the conclusion of the live call and will be available for one full year. General Information, Forward-Looking Statements and Risk Factors and Non-GAAP Financial Measures: One of the nation's largest and most respected providers of hospital and healthcare services, Universal Health Services, Inc. has built an impressive record of achievement and performance. Growing steadily since our inception into an esteemed Fortune 500 corporation, our annual revenues were approximately $11.6 billion during 2020. In 2021, UHS was again recognized as one of the World's Most Admired Companies by Fortune; ranked #270 on the Fortune 500; and ranked #307 on Forbes' list of America's Largest Public Companies. Our operating philosophy is as effective today as it was upon the Company's founding in 1979, enabling us to provide compassionate care to our patients and their loved ones. Our strategy includes building or acquiring high quality hospitals in rapidly growing markets, investing in the people and equipment needed to allow each facility to thrive, and becoming the leading healthcare provider in each community we serve. Headquartered in King of Prussia, PA, UHS has approximately 89,000 employees and through its subsidiaries operates 27 acute care hospitals, 333 behavioral health facilities, 40 outpatient facilities and ambulatory care access points, an insurance offering, a physician network and various related services located in 38 U.S. states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico and the United Kingdom. It acts as the advisor to Universal Health Realty Income Trust, a real estate investment trust (NYSE:UHT). For additional information visit www.uhs.com . This press release contains forward-looking statements based on current management expectations. Numerous factors, including those disclosed herein, those related to the anticipated impact of COVID-19 on our operations and financial results, those related to healthcare industry trends and those detailed in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (as set forth in Item 1A-Risk Factors and in Item 7-Forward-Looking Statements and Risk Factors in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 and in Item 2-Forward Looking Statements and Risk Factors in our Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2021), may cause the results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements. These statements are subject to risks and uncertainties and therefore actual results may differ materially. Readers should not place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements which reflect management's view only as of the date hereof. We undertake no obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements, or to make any other forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Many of the factors that could affect our future results are beyond our control or ability to predict, including the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our future operations and financial results will likely be materially impacted by developments related to COVID-19 including, but not limited to, the potential impact on future COVID-19 patient volumes resulting from new variants of the virus, the length of time and severity of the spread of the pandemic; the volume of cancelled or rescheduled elective procedures and the volume of COVID-19 patients treated at our hospitals and other healthcare facilities; measures we are taking to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic; the impact of government and administrative regulation and stimulus on the hospital industry and potential retrospective adjustment in future periods of CARES Act and other grant income revenues recorded as revenues in prior periods; declining patient volumes and unfavorable changes in payer mix caused by deteriorating macroeconomic conditions (including increases in uninsured and underinsured patients as the result of business closings and layoffs); potential disruptions to our clinical staffing and shortages and disruptions related to supplies required for our employees and patients; and potential increases to expenses related to staffing, supply chain or other expenditures; the impact of our substantial indebtedness and the ability to refinance such indebtedness on acceptable terms, as well as risks associated with disruptions in the financial markets and the business of financial institutions as the result of the COVID-19 pandemic which could impact us from a financing perspective; and changes in general economic conditions nationally and regionally in our markets resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. We are not able to fully quantify the impact that these factors will have on our future financial results, but developments related to the COVID-19 pandemic could materially affect our financial performance during the remainder of 2021 and into 2022. We believe that adjusted net income attributable to UHS, adjusted net income attributable to UHS per diluted share, EBITDA net of NCI and Adjusted EBITDA net of NCI, which are non-GAAP financial measures ("GAAP" is Generally Accepted Accounting Principles in the United States of America), are helpful to our investors as measures of our operating performance. In addition, we believe that, when applicable, comparing and discussing our financial results based on these measures, as calculated, is helpful to our investors since it neutralizes the effect of material items impacting our net income attributable to UHS, such as, the impact of ASU 2016-09, unrealized gains/losses resulting from changes in the market value of shares of certain equity securities, and other potential material items that are nonrecurring or non-operational in nature including, but not limited to, impairments of long-lived and intangible assets, reserves for various matters including settlements, legal judgments and lawsuits, costs related to extinguishment of debt, gains/losses on sales of assets and businesses, and other amounts that may be reflected in the current or prior year financial statements that relate to prior periods. To obtain a complete understanding of our financial performance these measures should be examined in connection with net income attributable to UHS, as determined in accordance with GAAP, and as presented in the condensed consolidated financial statements and notes thereto in this report or in our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission including our Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020, and our Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2021. Since the items included or excluded from these measures are significant components in understanding and assessing financial performance under GAAP, these measures should not be considered to be alternatives to net income as a measure of our operating performance or profitability. Since these measures, as presented, are not determined in accordance with GAAP and are thus susceptible to varying calculations, they may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies. Investors are encouraged to use GAAP measures when evaluating our financial performance. Universal Health Services, Inc. Consolidated Statements of Income (in thousands, except per share amounts) (unaudited) Three months Nine months ended September 30, ended September 30, 2021 2020 2021 2020 Net revenues $3,155,999 $2,912,541 $9,366,866 $8,471,962 Operating charges: Salaries, wages and benefits 1,556,448 1,406,348 4,542,156 4,147,027 Other operating expenses 754,072 666,665 2,233,590 1,982,202 Supplies expense 367,834 335,409 1,052,977 936,808 Depreciation and amortization 134,462 125,961 399,850 376,563 Lease and rental expense 28,375 28,488 88,848 84,967 2,841,191 2,562,871 8,317,421 7,527,567 Income from operations 314,808 349,670 1,049,445 944,395 Interest expense, net 21,199 24,575 64,455 86,399 Other (income) expense, net 6,719 1,831 (1,575) 8,291 Income before income taxes 286,890 323,264 986,565 849,705 Provision for income taxes 67,515 79,172 232,844 204,649 Net income 219,375 244,092 753,721 645,056 Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests ("NCI") 1,024 2,813 1,255 9,811 Net income attributable to UHS $218,351 $241,279 $752,466 $635,245 Basic earnings per share attributable to UHS (a) $2.65 $2.84 $8.96 $7.44 Diluted earnings per share attributable to UHS (a) $2.60 $2.82 $8.83 $7.40 Universal Health Services, Inc. Footnotes to Consolidated Statements of Income (in thousands, except per share amounts) (unaudited) Three months Nine months (a) Earnings per share calculation: ended September 30, ended September 30, 2021 2020 2021 2020 Basic and diluted: Net income attributable to UHS $218,351 $241,279 $752,466 $635,245 Less: Net income attributable to unvested restricted share grants (396) (790) (1,609) (1,987) Net income attributable to UHS - basic and diluted $217,955 $240,489 $750,857 $633,258 Weighted average number of common shares - basic 82,262 84,672 83,756 85,172 Basic earnings per share attributable to UHS: $2.65 $2.84 $8.96 $7.44 Weighted average number of common shares 82,262 84,672 83,756 85,172 Add: Other share equivalents 1,411 575 1,275 415 Weighted average number of common shares and equiv. - diluted 83,673 85,247 85,031 85,587 Diluted earnings per share attributable to UHS: $2.60 $2.82 $8.83 $7.40 Universal Health Services, Inc. Schedule of Non-GAAP Supplemental Information ("Supplemental Schedule") For the Three Months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 (in thousands, except per share amounts) (unaudited) Calculation of Earnings/Adjusted Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization ("EBITDA/Adjusted EBITDA net of NCI") Three months ended % Net Three months ended % Net September 30, 2021 revenues September 30, 2020 revenues Net income attributable to UHS $218,351 $241,279 Depreciation and amortization 134,462 125,961 Interest expense, net 21,199 24,575 Provision for income taxes 67,515 79,172 EBITDA net of NCI $441,527 14.0% $470,987 16.2% Other (income) expense, net 6,719 1,831 Adjusted EBITDA net of NCI $448,246 14.2% $472,818 16.2% Net revenues $3,155,999 $2,912,541 Calculation of Adjusted Net Income Attributable to UHS Three months ended Three months ended September 30, 2021 September 30, 2020 Per Per Amount Diluted Share Amount Diluted Share Net income attributable to UHS $218,351 $2.60 $241,279 $2.82 Plus/minus after-tax adjustments: Unrealized (gain) loss on equity securities (6,785) (0.08) 2,066 0.02 Debt extinguishment costs 12,884 0.15 - - Impact of ASU 2016-09 (323) - 3,137 0.04 Subtotal adjustments 5,776 0.07 5,203 0.06 Adjusted net income attributable to UHS $224,127 $2.67 $246,482 $2.88 Universal Health Services, Inc. Schedule of Non-GAAP Supplemental Information ("Supplemental Schedule") For the Nine Months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 (in thousands, except per share amounts) (unaudited) Calculation of Earnings/Adjusted Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization ("EBITDA/Adjusted EBITDA net of NCI") Nine months ended % Net Nine months ended % Net September 30, 2021 revenues September 30, 2020 revenues Net income attributable to UHS $752,466 $635,245 Depreciation and amortization 399,850 376,563 Interest expense, net 64,455 86,399 Provision for income taxes 232,844 204,649 EBITDA net of NCI $1,449,615 15.5% $1,302,856 15.4% Other (income) expense, net (1,575) 8,291 Adjusted EBITDA net of NCI $1,448,040 15.5% $1,311,147 15.5% Net revenues $9,366,866 $8,471,962 Calculation of Adjusted Net Income Attributable to UHS Nine months ended Nine months ended September 30, 2021 September 30, 2020 Per Per Amount Diluted Share Amount Diluted Share Net income attributable to UHS $752,466 $8.83 $635,245 $7.40 Plus/minus after-tax adjustments: Unrealized (gain) loss on equity securities (6,255) (0.07) 7,193 0.08 Debt extinguishment costs 12,884 0.15 - - Impact of ASU 2016-09 (2,522) (0.03) 4,412 0.05 Subtotal adjustments 4,107 0.05 11,605 0.13 Adjusted net income attributable to UHS $756,573 $8.88 $646,850 $7.53 Universal Health Services, Inc. Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (in thousands) (unaudited) Three months Nine months ended September 30, ended September 30, 2021 2020 2021 2020 Net income $219,375 $244,092 $753,721 $645,056 Other comprehensive income (loss): Foreign currency translation adjustment (9,121) 14,245 (23,184) (18,280) Other comprehensive income (loss) before tax (9,121) 14,245 (23,184) (18,280) Income tax expense (benefit) related to items of other comprehensive income (loss) 109 302 (1,958) (908) Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax (9,230) 13,943 (21,226) (17,372) Comprehensive income 210,145 258,035 732,495 627,684 Less: Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests 1,024 2,813 1,255 9,811 Comprehensive income attributable to UHS $209,121 $255,222 $731,240 $617,873 Universal Health Services, Inc. Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (in thousands) (unaudited) September 30, December 31, 2021 2020 Assets Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 189,743 $ 1,224,490 Accounts receivable, net 1,764,214 1,728,928 Supplies 202,824 190,417 Other current assets 186,518 138,034 Total current assets 2,343,299 3,281,869 Property and equipment 10,515,812 9,885,888 Less: accumulated depreciation (4,828,108) (4,512,764) 5,687,704 5,373,124 Other assets: Goodwill 3,888,999 3,882,715 Deferred income taxes 48,591 22,689 Right of use assets-operating leases 309,387 336,513 Deferred charges 6,721 4,985 Other 562,152 574,984 Total Assets $ 12,846,853 $ 13,476,879 Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity Current liabilities: Current maturities of long-term debt $ 44,961 $ 331,998 Accounts payable and other liabilities 1,845,465 1,668,671 Medicare accelerated payments and deferred CARES Act and other grants 1,375 376,151 Operating lease liabilities 60,853 59,796 Federal and state taxes 16,163 44,423 Total current liabilities 1,968,817 2,481,039 Other noncurrent liabilities 545,282 458,549 Operating lease liabilities noncurrent 250,754 278,303 Medicare accelerated payments noncurrent 0 322,617 Long-term debt 3,709,316 3,524,253 Deferred income taxes 0 5,582 Redeemable noncontrolling interest 4,886 4,569 UHS common stockholders' equity 6,274,021 6,317,146 Noncontrolling interest 93,777 84,821 Total equity 6,367,798 6,401,967 Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity $ 12,846,853 $ 13,476,879 Universal Health Services, Inc. Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (in thousands) (unaudited) Nine months ended September 30, 2021 2020 Cash Flows from Operating Activities: Net income $753,721 $645,056 Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: Depreciation & amortization 399,850 376,563 (Gain) loss on sale of assets and businesses (4,803) 2,124 Costs related to extinguishment of debt 16,831 1,365 Stock-based compensation expense 55,548 49,928 Provision for asset impairment 7,195 0 Changes in assets & liabilities, net of effects from acquisitions and dispositions: Accounts receivable (29,079) 45,435 Accrued interest 3,714 (10,526) Accrued and deferred income taxes (52,727) (2,095) Other working capital accounts 52,616 85,944 Medicare accelerated payments and deferred CARES Act and other grants (697,393) 878,480 Other assets and deferred charges (34,038) 1,271 Other 9,607 115,431 Accrued insurance expense, net of commercial premiums paid 140,702 113,571 Payments made in settlement of self-insurance claims (60,069) (84,390) Net cash provided by operating activities 561,675 2,218,157 Cash Flows from Investing Activities: Property and equipment additions (666,025) (546,656) Proceeds received from sales of assets and businesses 21,143 7,851 Acquisition of businesses and property (39,391) (52,009) Inflows from foreign exchange contracts that hedge our net U.K. investment 4,261 22,453 Decrease in capital reserves of commercial insurance subsidiary 100 0 Costs incurred for purchase of information technology applications, net of refunds 20,202 (5,345) Investment in, and advances to, joint ventures and other 0 (997) Net cash used in investing activities (659,710) (574,703) Cash Flows from Financing Activities: Repayments of long-term debt (3,026,888) (1,173,590) Additional borrowings 2,912,374 803,197 Financing costs (17,967) (8,256) Repurchase of common shares (770,665) (200,098) Dividends paid (50,284) (17,344) Issuance of common stock 10,108 9,288 Profit distributions to noncontrolling interests (5,744) (15,175) Purchase of ownership interests by minority members 13,046 (548) Net cash used in financing activities (936,020) (602,526) Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash (682) (706) (Decrease) increase in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash (1,034,737) 1,040,222 Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, beginning of period 1,279,154 105,667 Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash, end of period $244,417 $1,145,889 Supplemental Disclosures of Cash Flow Information: Interest paid $58,719 $93,579 Income taxes paid, net of refunds $286,376 $208,460 Noncash purchases of property and equipment $73,428 $76,402 Universal Health Services, Inc. Supplemental Statistical Information (unaudited) % Change % Change 3 Months ended 9 Months ended Same Facility: 9/30/2021 9/30/2021 Acute Care Hospitals Revenues (a) 13.1% 14.4% Revenues-excludes governmental stimulus program revenues 13.4% 18.6% Adjusted Admissions 12.4% 7.3% Adjusted Patient Days 10.9% 9.9% Revenue Per Adjusted Admission-excludes governmental stimulus program revenues 1.3% 10.4% Revenue Per Adjusted Patient Day-excludes governmental stimulus program revenues 2.7% 7.8% Behavioral Health Hospitals Revenues (b) 2.0% 5.4% Revenues-excludes governmental stimulus program revenues 1.3% 6.9% Adjusted Admissions -2.7% 1.6% Adjusted Patient Days -2.1% 0.3% Revenue Per Adjusted Admission-excludes governmental stimulus program revenues 4.2% 4.7% Revenue Per Adjusted Patient Day-excludes governmental stimulus program revenues 3.6% 6.0% (a) Includes governmental stimulus program revenues of $4 million and $161 million recorded in the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2020, respectively. (b) Includes the reversal of governmental stimulus program revenues of $9 million and governmental stimulus revenues of $52 million recorded in the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2020, respectively. UHS Consolidated Third Quarter Ended Nine Months Ended 9/30/2021 9/30/2020 9/30/2021 9/30/2020 Revenues $3,155,999 $2,912,541 $9,366,866 $8,471,962 EBITDA net of NCI $441,527 $470,987 $1,449,615 $1,302,856 EBITDA Margin net of NCI 14.0% 16.2% 15.5% 15.4% Adjusted EBITDA net of NCI $448,246 $472,818 $1,448,040 $1,311,147 Adjusted EBITDA Margin net of NCI 14.2% 16.2% 15.5% 15.5% Cash Flow From Operations $442,227 $766,788 $561,675 $2,218,157 Days Sales Outstanding 51 50 51 51 Capital Expenditures $183,814 $192,046 $666,025 $546,656 Debt $3,754,277 $3,609,177 UHS' Shareholders Equity $6,274,021 $5,962,788 Debt / Total Capitalization 37.4% 37.7% Debt / EBITDA net of NCI (1) 1.87 2.02 Debt / Adjusted EBITDA net of NCI (1) 1.88 2.03 Debt / Cash From Operations (1) 5.34 1.41 Net Debt / EBITDA net of NCI (1) (2) 1.81 1.40 Net Debt / Adjusted EBITDA net of NCI (1) (2) 1.82 1.41 Net Debt / Cash From Operations (1) (2) 5.16 0.98 (1) Latest 4 quarters. (2) Debt, net of approximately $122 million of short-term cash investments as of September 30, 2021 and $1.101 billion as of September 30, 2020. Universal Health Services, Inc. Acute Care Hospital Services For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 (in thousands) Same Facility Basis - Acute Care Hospital Services Three months ended Three months ended Nine months ended Nine months ended September 30, 2021 September 30, 2020 September 30, 2021 September 30, 2020 Amount % of Net Revenues Amount % of Net Revenues Amount % of Net Revenues Amount % of Net Revenues Net revenues (a) $1,792,862 100.0% $1,585,142 100.0% $5,178,594 100.0% $4,528,364 100.0% Operating charges: Salaries, wages and benefits 755,216 42.1% 660,610 41.7% 2,153,046 41.6% 1,909,216 42.2% Other operating expenses 410,960 22.9% 366,754 23.1% 1,216,277 23.5% 1,086,669 24.0% Supplies expense 316,238 17.6% 283,829 17.9% 901,827 17.4% 781,778 17.3% Depreciation and amortization 82,478 4.6% 78,388 4.9% 246,621 4.8% 234,756 5.2% Lease and rental expense 17,505 1.0% 17,641 1.1% 55,663 1.1% 50,224 1.1% Subtotal-operating expenses 1,582,397 88.3% 1,407,222 88.8% 4,573,434 88.3% 4,062,643 89.7% Income from operations 210,465 11.7% 177,920 11.2% 605,160 11.7% 465,721 10.3% Interest expense, net 255 0.0% 205 0.0% 749 0.0% 1,339 0.0% Other (income) expense, net 436 0.0% - - 436 0.0% - - Income before income taxes $209,774 11.7% $177,715 11.2% $603,975 11.7% $464,382 10.3% All Acute Care Hospital Services Three months ended Three months ended Nine months ended Nine months ended September 30, 2021 September 30, 2020 September 30, 2021 September 30, 2020 Amount % of Net Revenues Amount % of Net Revenues Amount % of Net Revenues Amount % of Net Revenues Net revenues (a) $1,822,027 100.0% $1,610,003 100.0% $5,271,000 100.0% $4,598,558 100.0% Operating charges: Salaries, wages and benefits 757,962 41.6% 660,694 41.0% 2,157,060 40.9% 1,909,415 41.5% Other operating expenses 436,475 24.0% 391,642 24.3% 1,305,544 24.8% 1,156,909 25.2% Supplies expense 316,950 17.4% 283,827 17.6% 902,654 17.1% 781,776 17.0% Depreciation and amortization 83,794 4.6% 78,388 4.9% 248,462 4.7% 234,756 5.1% Lease and rental expense 17,518 1.0% 17,641 1.1% 55,676 1.1% 50,224 1.1% Subtotal-operating expenses 1,612,699 88.5% 1,432,192 89.0% 4,669,396 88.6% 4,133,080 89.9% Income from operations 209,328 11.5% 177,811 11.0% 601,604 11.4% 465,478 10.1% Interest expense, net 255 0.0% 205 0.0% 749 0.0% 1,339 0.0% Other (income) expense, net 436 0.0% - - 436 0.0% - - Income before income taxes $208,637 11.5% $177,606 11.0% $600,419 11.4% $464,139 10.1% (a) Includes governmental stimulus program revenues of $4 million and $161 million recorded in the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2020, respectively. We believe that providing our results on a "Same Facility" basis (which is a non-GAAP measure), which includes the operating results for facilities and businesses operated in both the current year and prior year periods, is helpful to our investors as a measure of our operating performance. Our Same Facility results also neutralize (if applicable), the effect of material items that are nonrecurring or non-operational in nature including items such as, but not limited to, reserves for various matters, settlements, legal judgments and lawsuits, cost related to extinguishment of debt, gains/losses on sales of assets and businesses, impairments of long-lived and intangible assets and other amounts that may be reflected in the current or prior year financial statements that relate to prior periods. Our Same Facility basis results exclude from net revenues and other operating expenses, provider tax assessments incurred in each period. However, these provider tax assessments are included in net revenues and other operating expenses as reflected in the table under All Acute Care Hospital Services. The provider tax assessments had no impact on the income before income taxes as reflected on the above tables since the amounts offset between net revenues and other operating expenses. To obtain a complete understanding of our financial performance, the Same Facility results should be examined in connection with our net income as determined in accordance with GAAP and as presented herein and the condensed consolidated financial statements and notes thereto as contained in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 and Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2021. The All Acute Care Hospital Servicestable summarizes the results of operations for all our acute care operations during the periods presented. These amounts include: (i) our acute care results on a same facility basis, as indicated above; (ii) the impact of provider tax assessments which increased net revenues and other operating expenses but had no impact on income before income taxes, and; (iii) certain other amounts including the results of facilities acquired or opened during the last twelve months. Universal Health Services, Inc. Behavioral Health Care Services For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 (in thousands) Same Facility - Behavioral Health Care Services Three months ended Three months ended Nine months ended Nine months ended September 30, 2021 September 30, 2020 September 30, 2021 September 30, 2020 Amount % of Net Revenues Amount % of Net Revenues Amount % of Net Revenues Amount % of Net Revenues Net revenues (a) $1,302,468 100.0% $1,276,568 100.0% $4,004,066 100.0% $3,797,579 100.0% Operating charges: Salaries, wages and benefits 721,949 55.4% 683,567 53.5% 2,133,755 53.3% 2,022,066 53.2% Other operating expenses 267,878 20.6% 229,862 18.0% 776,087 19.4% 693,724 18.3% Supplies expense 51,337 3.9% 51,806 4.1% 151,435 3.8% 153,761 4.0% Depreciation and amortization 45,798 3.5% 43,919 3.4% 136,926 3.4% 129,877 3.4% Lease and rental expense 10,311 0.8% 9,928 0.8% 31,339 0.8% 31,384 0.8% Subtotal-operating expenses 1,097,273 84.2% 1,019,082 79.8% 3,229,542 80.7% 3,030,812 79.8% Income from operations 205,195 15.8% 257,486 20.2% 774,524 19.3% 766,767 20.2% Interest expense, net 336 0.0% 354 0.0% 1,014 0.0% 1,079 0.0% Other (income) expense, net 27 0.0% 526 0.0% 435 0.0% 2,337 0.1% Income before income taxes $204,832 15.7% $256,606 20.1% $773,075 19.3% $763,351 20.1% All Behavioral Health Care Services Three months ended Three months ended Nine months ended Nine months ended September 30, 2021 September 30, 2020 September 30, 2021 September 30, 2020 Amount % of Net Revenues Amount % of Net Revenues Amount % of Net Revenues Amount % of Net Revenues Net revenues (a) $1,328,293 100.0% $1,299,591 100.0% $4,075,127 100.0% $3,864,823 100.0% Operating charges: Salaries, wages and benefits 727,137 54.7% 684,575 52.7% 2,144,735 52.6% 2,027,223 52.5% Other operating expenses 292,794 22.0% 253,779 19.5% 847,780 20.8% 765,006 19.8% Supplies expense 51,712 3.9% 51,858 4.0% 152,273 3.7% 153,861 4.0% Depreciation and amortization 47,205 3.6% 45,154 3.5% 140,870 3.5% 134,081 3.5% Lease and rental expense 10,421 0.8% 10,734 0.8% 31,789 0.8% 34,151 0.9% Subtotal-operating expenses 1,129,269 85.0% 1,046,100 80.5% 3,317,447 81.4% 3,114,322 80.6% Income from operations 199,024 15.0% 253,491 19.5% 757,680 18.6% 750,501 19.4% Interest expense, net 1,218 0.1% 433 0.0% 3,564 0.1% 1,184 0.0% Other (income) expense, net 27 0.0% 526 0.0% 435 0.0% 2,337 0.1% Income before income taxes $197,779 14.9% $252,532 19.4% $753,681 18.5% $746,980 19.3% (a) Includes the reversal of governmental stimulus program revenues of $9 million and governmental stimulus revenues of $52 million recorded in the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2020, respectively. We believe that providing our results on a "Same Facility" basis (which is a non-GAAP measure), which includes the operating results for facilities and businesses operated in both the current year and prior year periods, is helpful to our investors as a measure of our operating performance. Our Same Facility results also neutralize (if applicable), the effect of material items that are nonrecurring or non-operational in nature including items such as, but not limited to, reserves for various matters, settlements, legal judgments, lawsuits and reserves established in connection with the government's investigation of our behavioral health care facilities, cost related to extinguishment of debt, gains/losses on sales of assets and businesses, impairments of long-lived and intangible assets and other amounts that may be reflected in the current or prior year financial statements that relate to prior periods. Our Same Facility basis results exclude from net revenues and other operating expenses, provider tax assessments incurred in each period. However, these provider tax assessments are included in net revenues and other operating expenses as reflected in the table under All Behavioral Health Care Services. The provider tax assessments had no impact on the income before income taxes as reflected on the above tables since the amounts offset between net revenues and other operating expenses. To obtain a complete understanding of our financial performance, the Same Facility results should be examined in connection with our net income as determined in accordance with GAAP and as presented herein and in the condensed consolidated financial statements and notes thereto as contained in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 and Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2021. The All Behavioral Health Care Servicestable summarizes the results of operations for all our behavioral health care facilities during the periods presented. These amounts include: (i) our behavioral health results on a same facility basis, as indicated above; (ii) the impact of provider tax assessments which increased net revenues and other operating expenses but had no impact on income before income taxes, and; (iii) certain other amounts including the results of facilities acquired or opened during the last twelve months as well as the results of certain facilities that were closed or restructured during the past year. Universal Health Services, Inc. Selected Hospital Statistics For the Three Months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 AS REPORTED: ACUTE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH 9/30/21 9/30/20 % change 9/30/21 9/30/20 % change Hospitals owned and leased 27 26 3.8% 333 330 0.9% Average licensed beds 6,579 6,451 2.0% 24,189 23,566 2.6% Average available beds 6,407 6,279 2.0% 24,084 23,464 2.6% Patient days 416,422 383,958 8.5% 1,537,206 1,563,259 -1.7% Average daily census 4,526.3 4,173.5 8.5% 16,708.8 16,991.9 -1.7% Occupancy-licensed beds 68.8% 64.7% 6.3% 69.1% 72.1% -4.2% Occupancy-available beds 70.6% 66.5% 6.2% 69.4% 72.4% -4.2% Admissions 78,799 71,682 9.9% 113,448 115,569 -1.8% Length of stay 5.3 5.4 -2.1% 13.4 13.5 -0.7% Inpatient revenue $9,497,975 $8,137,264 16.7% $2,470,401 $2,487,568 -0.7% Outpatient revenue 5,343,246 4,128,549 29.4% 242,976 243,600 -0.3% Total patient revenue 14,841,221 12,265,813 21.0% 2,713,377 2,731,168 -0.7% Other revenue 173,063 127,396 35.8% 56,337 53,105 6.1% Gross hospital revenue 15,014,284 12,393,209 21.1% 2,769,714 2,784,273 -0.5% Total deductions 13,192,257 10,783,206 22.3% 1,441,421 1,484,682 -2.9% Net hospital revenue $1,822,027 $1,610,003 13.2% $1,328,293 $1,299,591 2.2% SAME FACILITY: ACUTE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH 9/30/21 9/30/20 % change 9/30/21 9/30/20 % change Hospitals owned and leased 26 26 0.0% 330 330 0.0% Average licensed beds 6,557 6,451 1.6% 23,759 23,440 1.4% Average available beds 6,385 6,279 1.7% 23,654 23,338 1.4% Patient days 416,026 383,958 8.4% 1,522,738 1,556,152 -2.1% Average daily census 4,522.0 4,173.5 8.4% 16,551.5 16,914.7 -2.1% Occupancy-licensed beds 69.0% 64.7% 6.6% 69.7% 72.2% -3.5% Occupancy-available beds 70.8% 66.5% 6.6% 70.0% 72.5% -3.5% Admissions 78,764 71,682 9.9% 111,692 114,902 -2.8% Length of stay 5.3 5.4 -1.4% 13.6 13.5 0.7% Universal Health Services, Inc. Selected Hospital Statistics For the Nine Months ended September 30, 2021 and 2020 AS REPORTED: ACUTE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH 9/30/21 9/30/20 % change 9/30/21 9/30/20 % change Hospitals owned and leased 27 26 3.8% 333 330 0.9% Average licensed beds 6,534 6,451 1.3% 24,121 23,591 2.2% Average available beds 6,362 6,279 1.3% 24,018 23,488 2.3% Patient days 1,171,141 1,071,830 9.3% 4,636,270 4,620,471 0.3% Average daily census 4,289.9 3,911.8 9.7% 16,982.7 16,863.0 0.7% Occupancy-licensed beds 65.7% 60.6% 8.3% 70.4% 71.5% -1.5% Occupancy-available beds 67.4% 62.3% 8.2% 70.7% 71.8% -1.5% Admissions 227,944 213,658 6.7% 345,874 339,356 1.9% Length of stay 5.1 5.0 2.8% 13.4 13.6 -1.4% Inpatient revenue $27,279,494 $22,695,513 20.2% $7,471,742 $7,298,466 2.4% Outpatient revenue 15,281,854 12,204,970 25.2% 756,068 719,513 5.1% Total patient revenue 42,561,348 34,900,483 22.0% 8,227,810 8,017,979 2.6% Other revenue 484,227 513,423 -5.7% 189,474 223,212 -15.1% Gross hospital revenue 43,045,575 35,413,906 21.5% 8,417,284 8,241,191 2.1% Total deductions 37,774,575 30,815,348 22.6% 4,342,157 4,376,368 -0.8% Net hospital revenue $5,271,000 $4,598,558 14.6% $4,075,127 $3,864,823 5.4% SAME FACILITY: ACUTE BEHAVIORAL HEALTH 9/30/21 9/30/20 % change 9/30/21 9/30/20 % change Hospitals owned and leased 26 26 0.0% 330 330 0.0% Average licensed beds 6,528 6,451 1.2% 23,726 23,416 1.3% Average available beds 6,356 6,279 1.2% 23,623 23,313 1.3% Patient days 1,170,733 1,071,830 9.2% 4,601,879 4,597,028 0.1% Average daily census 4,288.4 3,911.8 9.6% 16,856.7 16,777.5 0.5% Occupancy-licensed beds 65.7% 60.6% 8.3% 71.0% 71.6% -0.8% Occupancy-available beds 67.5% 62.3% 8.3% 71.4% 72.0% -0.8% Admissions 227,909 213,658 6.7% 341,812 337,210 1.4% Length of stay 5.1 5.0 2.4% 13.5 13.6 -1.2% SOURCE Universal Health Services, Inc. CLEVELAND, Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Mineral fiber tiles are the most widely used ceiling product in the world, and the US and Russia are by far the most intensive users of these products, finds a new Freedonia Group analysis. In both countries, there remains a strong preference for mineral fiber ceiling tiles over drywall, which is the dominant ceiling covering throughout the world. However, the quality of tiles installed varies significantly between the two countries: More than half of the installed stock of mineral fiber ceiling tiles in Russia are low-end tiles, mainly imported from China . are low-end tiles, mainly imported from . In the US, a significant stock of high-end, high noise reduction coefficient (NRC) mineral fiber tiles exists and continues to expand in tandem with rising office and institutional renovation. As building owners improve office space to attract new tenants, older ceiling tiles will be replaced by more aesthetically pleasing products. South Korea Approaches Size of Russian Mineral Fiber Tile Market in Volume Terms The US and Russia are projected to remain the market leaders in volume terms for mineral fiber tiles going forward, although South Korea is projected to reach demand levels in volume terms similar to those in Russia in 2025. However, South Korea will far surpass the Russian market in value terms due to the use of much higher quality tiles. Global Ceiling Tile Market to Rise 4.4% Annually Through 2025 Global demand for ceiling tiles is forecast to reach $5.3 billion in 2025. While the market will continue to be restrained by the popularity of drywall and building plaster in residential applications in most regions as well as in many nonresidential applications in developing countries factors supporting market growth will include: global design trends favoring enhanced acoustics and aesthetics in nonresidential buildings, resulting in a shift away from drywall and building plaster to ceiling tiles rapid advances in new nonresidential building construction in China , India , and Indonesia , as these countries are starting to shift away from drywall ceiling coverings to ceiling tiles , , and , as these countries are starting to shift away from drywall ceiling coverings to ceiling tiles rising nonresidential renovation activity in the US and Western Europe , particularly in office and institutional buildings , particularly in office and institutional buildings rising use of decorative wood and metal ceiling tiles in residential renovation projects on ceilings as well as on walls and other surfaces in North America and Western Europe and rising nonresidential construction activity in South Korea , as the country is increasingly using ceiling tiles in both new and renovation applications Want to Learn More? Global Ceiling Tiles analyzes global ceiling tile (i.e., ceiling panel) demand by product and market. Historical data are provided in US dollars and square meters for 2010, 2015, and 2020, and forecasts are presented for 2025 and 2030. Products: mineral fiber, including mineral wool and fiberglass metal wood, vinyl-faced gypsum, and other materials, including vinyl and polystyrene Markets: residential buildings nonresidential buildings About the Freedonia Group - The Freedonia Group, a division of MarketResearch.com, is the premier international industrial research company, providing our clients with product analyses, market forecasts, industry trends, and market share information. From one-person consulting firms to global conglomerates, our analysts provide companies with unbiased, reliable industry market research and analysis to help them make important business decisions. With over 100 studies published annually, we support over 90% of the industrial Fortune 500 companies. Find off-the-shelf studies at https://www.freedoniagroup.com/ or contact us for custom research: +1 440.842.2400. Press Contact: Corinne Gangloff +1 440.842.2400 [email protected] SOURCE The Freedonia Group Related Links https://www.freedoniagroup.com PALO ALTO, Calif., and CINCINNATI, Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Varian , a Siemens Healthineers company, and the Cincinnati Children's/UC Health Proton Therapy Center today announced the completion of enrollment in FAST-01 (FeAsibility Study of FLASH Radiotherapy for the Treatment of Symptomatic Bone Metastases), the first human clinical trial of FLASH therapy. The FAST-01 trial, which is evaluating clinical workflow feasibility of the FLASH therapy and treatment-related side effects, met its enrollment target of 10 participants with bone metastases in the extremities. The clinical trial, informed by years of preclinical work, was designed by experts at Varian and multiple centers in the FlashForwardTM Consortium, including Cincinnati's Children's/UC Health Proton Therapy Center and the New York Proton Center. The FAST-01 trial is being led by John C. Breneman, M.D., principal investigator, and Medical Director of the Cincinnati Children's/UC Health Proton Therapy Center, UC Health radiation oncologist, and professor emeritus at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. "The completion of enrollment brings the clinical community one step closer to making an informed evaluation of FLASH therapy," said Dr. Breneman. "The team is looking forward to reviewing and sharing the findings, while also looking ahead toward the next clinical phase of research," he added. The trial is supported by Emily Daugherty, M.D., assistant professor of radiation oncology at UC and a UC Health radiation oncologist, and Anthony Mascia, PhD, DABR, adjunct assistant professor of radiation oncology at UC and Director of Medical Physics at the Cincinnati Children's/UC Health Proton Therapy Center. "Clinical trial investigators have worked diligently to complete enrollment of FAST-01 over the last year. Achieving this significant milestone is a vital step forward to demonstrating the feasibility of using FLASH therapy in a clinical setting and not just in a laboratory," said Agam Sharda, Vice President of Flash Solutions at Varian. "We are grateful to the trial subjects who, by virtue of their participation, have contributed to the advancement of FLASH technology, for the potential future benefit of others who may one day need to undergo treatment for cancer." "Initial findings indicate that the Varian ProBeam system, modified to deliver FLASH therapy, is performing as planned during the study. To date, none of the trial participants have suffered any serious adverse events related to FLASH," said Ricky Sharma, M.D. Ph.D., Vice President of Clinical Affairs at Varian. "There is still much work and research to be done, and we are eager to explore all the clinical trial data." About FLASH Therapy FLASH therapy, an experimental treatment modality delivering radiation therapy at ultra-high dose rates in typically less than one second, may be over 100 times faster compared to conventional radiation therapy. The concept of ultra-high dose rate radiation delivery has been studied for many years. Dedicated research and development by the team at Varian and the clinical collaborators in the FlashForward Consortium has led towards the advancement of FLASH therapy to the clinical study stage. The FlashForward Consortium, a 25-member group of institutions from around the world, includes over 150 experts in radiation oncology, translational sciences and medical physics. 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. About the Cincinnati Children's/UC Health Proton Therapy Center The Cincinnati Children's/UC Health Proton Therapy Center, which opened in 2016, is one of only 35 in the United States. The Cincinnati center incorporates a $24 million, one-of-a-kind research facility, which includes a fully operational proton treatment room dedicated for just research along with integrated laboratories. The unique capabilities of the research center were instrumental in Cincinnati developing the world's first clinical trial of FLASH proton therapy. In addition, children and adults from around the world seek treatment for more than 30 types of cancer in two clinical therapy rooms at the center. Press Contact Lynne Tran Corporate Communications [email protected] Investor Relations Contact Siemens Healthineers Investor Relations SOURCE Varian Related Links http://www.varian.com $216.8 million in total support is largest ever MADISON, Wis., Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF) today announced a total of $216.8 million in support for the University of Wisconsin-Madison research enterprise during the 2021-22 academic year. The figure is WARF's largest annual investment in UW-Madison-based research and education in the foundation's history. In addition to its traditional base grant, which this year amounts to $63.6 million, WARF announced several other areas of supplement grants, most notably $55 million to support new research buildings and $40 million for pandemic support. The topline number of $216.8 million also includes $11.4 million in grants to the Morgridge Institute for Research as well as $35 million in the form of operational and functional support provided by WARF to the university. "For the past 19 months the UW-Madison community has risen to the challenge of a global pandemic without ever giving ground in its mission to teach and discover," says WARF's CEO Erik Iverson. "We also know our greatest challenges and opportunities lie ahead. WARF is pleased to be part of the solution through our annual grant, additional facility and pandemic support and our everyday work advancing Badger inventions to market." "WARF was founded over nine decades ago by Professor Steenbock to protect and commercialize inventions from UW-Madison," says Dr. James Berbee, Chair of the WARF Board of Trustees. "With WARF's largest grant in history this year, we see the importance of his legacy to the university itself." The traditional $63.6 million base grant includes $13 million for faculty recruitment and retention, $2.5 million for faculty fellowships and $11.5 million for graduate student support. "Recruiting and retaining top faculty to teach the next generation of Wisconsin leaders and innovators is a top priority. We are fortunate to have a strong and generous partner in WARF to help us in that goal," Chancellor Rebecca Blank says. "The support we receive from WARF allows UW-Madison to advance our research enterprise, provide support to promising graduate students, and maintain a margin of excellence that keeps our institution in the top tier of American universities." $10.9 million is dedicated to the time-honored Fall Research Competition, which draws hundreds of research proposals from as many as 120 different academic departments each year. In addition, $10.5 million has been allocated to strategic initiatives such as Research Forward, which provides funding to advance transformative research on campus. Another $5.5 million provides grant matches for instrumentation, facilities, doctoral training and research programs. And $1.5 million covers leadership, personnel, policy and implementation support. "WARF's gift is essential to the continuing research success on campus and has been especially instrumental in research support during the COVID-19 pandemic," says Steve Ackerman, UW-Madison Vice Chancellor for Research and Graduate Education. "With WARF's increased investment this year, we are even better able to support our world class faculty with fellowships and seed funding of new research, as well as more competitively recruit new faculty including those who are rising stars in in emerging fields. The focus on new funding for research buildings support enhances our research productivity, and these facilities also are training grounds for the scientists and engineers of tomorrow." $8.2 million is committed to the university's cluster hire program (Endowment for Excellence) and a number of other targeted research programs and initiatives; among them are Discovery to Product (D2P) and the Law/Business Entrepreneurship Clinics on campus. WARF's support for the Morgridge Institute for Research continues, with an investment of $11.4 million. The private, nonprofit institute works to improve human health through interdisciplinary biomedical research in collaboration with UW-Madison. "WARF's support of the Morgridge Institute helps us stay true to our mission of serving as a catalyst for bold new initiatives in the UW-Madison biomedical community," says Morgridge Institute CEO Brad Schwartz. "It allows us to partner with the university in promising but unproven frontiers in science and take advisable risks that may lead to big advances in scientific knowledge." WARF's annual grant continues a tradition of investing in UW-Madison that dates back almost a century. Since 1925, the foundation has provided mission-driven operational and functional support for UW-Madison in the form of technology commercialization and asset management. These wide-ranging services are a unique model in higher education as most universities must bear the cost of such expenses on their own. Throughout the years, WARF's ongoing support and annual grants have been supplemented by additional investments in buildings, major equipment and campus infrastructure including development of the new Computer, Data and Information Science facility announced earlier this fall. About WARF The Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF) helps steward the cycle of research, discovery, commercialization and investment for the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Founded in 1925 as an independent, nonprofit foundation, WARF manages more than 2,000 patents and an investment portfolio as it funds university research, obtains patents for campus discoveries and licenses inventions to industry. WARF is home to WARF Accelerator advancing promising university technologies, WARF Therapeutics combining world-renowned research and an industry-focused approach to improve value propositions of drug candidates and WARF Ventures which actively invests in startups with UW-Madison technology over two decades. For more information, visit warf.org and view WARF's Cycle of Innovation . CONTACT: Jeanan Yasiri Moe Director of Strategic Communications and Public Affairs [email protected] (608) 960-9892 SOURCE Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation NEW YORK, Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Wellspring Capital Management ("Wellspring"), a leading private equity firm headquartered in New York, announced today that it has partnered with management to complete the acquisition of Caring Brands International, Inc. ("CBI" or the "Company"). Terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Tracing its heritage back to 1966, CBI is the leading franchisor of home healthcare services under three global brands: Interim HealthCare (in the United States), Bluebird Care (in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland) and Just Better Care (in Australia). Together, the CBI brands represent 550 locations operated by more than 250 franchise owners and operators that produce over $1.3 billion of system wide sales annually. The Company's franchisees and operators are uniquely positioned in their respective markets to offer the full continuum of healthcare at home including skilled nursing, home health, assistance with daily living activities and end-of-life hospice care along with healthcare staffing. Caring Brands is headquartered in Sunrise, FL. "We are honored that Wellspring chose to invest in our organization. As we have witnessed over the past year and throughout 2021, the demand for delivering high-quality home-based healthcare services has never been more essential," said Jennifer Sheets, president and CEO of Caring Brands International and Interim HealthCare Inc. "As the leader in the home care industry, we at CBI are excited to be a part of the Wellspring family. We believe we are uniquely positioned for continued outsized growth and through this partnership, we will be able to help even more patients and clients obtain the quality care they need in the preferred and most efficient and effective site of care: their home." CBI is the twelfth investment from Wellspring Capital Partners Fund V, L.P., a $1.45 billion vehicle raised in January 2018. Regarding the acquisition, Naishadh Lalwani, a Partner at Wellspring, offered: "We have been strong advocates of high-quality home-based care providers that enable seniors, individuals with medically complex care needs, and others with disabilities to live independently in their homes. CBI and their franchisees and operators have developed a stellar reputation of empowering individuals to live life on their own terms and we are excited to partner with Jennifer and team to continue to grow that mission." Alexander Carles, Co-President of Wellspring Capital, added: "We are thrilled to add CBI to the Wellspring portfolio. CBI is a perfect fit with our history of investing in care in and around the home and we are excited to support the next phase of growth for the Company and its market-facing brands." Financing for this transaction was provided by Adams Street Partners, Blackrock, Madison Capital and AEA Investors. McDermott Will & Emery LLP served as legal counsel and Houlihan Lokey served as financial advisor to Wellspring. Lincoln International served as financial advisor, and Kirkland & Ellis LLP served as legal counsel to CBI with respect to the transaction. About Wellspring Capital Management Wellspring Capital Management is a leading private equity firm headquartered in New York. Since its founding in 1995, Wellspring has raised over $4.5 billion of initial capital commitments through six private equity funds. In total, Wellspring's current portfolio companies employ nearly 60,000 people around the world and generated aggregate revenues in excess of approximately $4.5 billion in the last 12 months. Over the past 25 years, Wellspring has invested in over 45 platform investments across various segments of the U.S. and global economies. Wellspring's objective is to bring partnership, experience and value creation to each investment. By teaming up with strong management, Wellspring seeks to unlock underlying value and pursue new growth opportunities through strategic initiatives, operating improvements and add-on acquisitions. The firm functions as a strategic partner, providing management teams with top-line support, M&A experience, financial expertise and access to resources. For additional information, please visit www.wellspringcapital.com. 1: As of 12/31/2020 About Caring Brands International Caring Brands International (CBI) is the largest franchisor of home healthcare services globally with more than 550 locations around the world. CBI offers franchises under three brands: Interim HealthCare (United States and Saudi Arabia), Bluebird Care (United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland) and Just Better Care (Australia). CBI's branches and franchisees offer individuals and strategic partners a full continuum of care including skilled nursing, assistance with daily living activities and end-of-life hospice care. About Interim HealthCare Inc. Founded in 1966 and First in Home Care, Interim HealthCare Inc. is unique in combining the commitment of local ownership with the support of a national organization that develops innovative programs and quality standards. The only major franchise brand in its category to offer the full continuum of care, the company strives to improve the delivery of home healthcare and staffing services through 330 plus locations servicing the U.S. and Saudi Arabia. Ranked #1 for the third year in a row by Entrepreneur magazine, franchisees employ nurses, therapists, aides, companions and other healthcare professionals who provide 25 million hours of home care service to 200,000 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 Bluebird Care Bluebird Care is the UK's largest national independent provider of care and support at home services, demonstrating the highest standards of quality, professionalism and expertise with every home visit. Bluebird Care started as a small family business in 2004 and through franchising the business model in 2006, the organisation is today one of the largest providers of homecare, live-in care and support services across the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland. With over 200 offices, the Bluebird Care franchise owner network provide over 20,000 visits to customers every day, revolutionising the way high quality and bespoke care is delivered not only to older people, but also to those with specialist care needs, children and their families. With a mantra of, "Home is where the heart is, let's keep it there", you can find out more information on the care and support at home options that are offered by Bluebird Care by visiting: https://www.bluebirdcare.co.uk/ and https://www.bluebirdcare.ie. About Just Better Care Established in 2005, Just Better Care is one of Australia's largest accredited franchised providers of in-home home care services in Australia, delivering in-home social and lifestyle support services that enable people to live independently. Just Better Care currently has over 40 independently owned and operated franchise territories covering NSW, Queensland, Victoria, the ACT, Western Australia and the successful franchisor is currently expanding its footprint of local offices into Tasmania. The Just Better Care mission is to provide high quality personalised services "just for you" to those requiring assistance to live independently and thrive personally. To find out more about Just Better Care visit justbettercare.com. SOURCE Interim HealthCare Inc. Related Links http://www.interimhealthcare.com "After last year's Virtual Winter Market, SWAIA is thrilled to be returning to an in-person market at the historic La Fonda Hotel," said Kim Peone, SWAIA's Executive Director. Roughly 200 of SWAIA's juried Indigenous artists from the 2021 Santa Fe Indian Market will be featured. This year's Winter Indian Market will also include a silent auction to raise funds to support SWAIA's Indigenous art community. Online bidding will begin on Saturday from 10 am to 2 pm and on Sunday from 10 am to 1 pm. Finally, please consider donating a new, unwrapped present to SWAIA's holiday gift drive. All gifts will be donated to the Santa Fe Indigenous Center for children, infants to 16 years of age. For additional information and to donate, visit Santa Fe Indigenous Center's non-profit information table at Winter Market on both Saturday and Sunday. DOWNLOAD Hi-Resolution Images About SWAIA: The Southwestern Association for Indian Arts (SWAIA) is a non-profit organization supporting Native American arts and culture. It creates economic and cultural opportunities for Native American artists by producing and promoting the Santa Fe Indian Market, the biggest and most prestigious Indian art event in the world since 1922; cultivating excellence and innovation across traditional and non-traditional art forms; and developing programs and events that support, promote, and honor Native artists year-round. swaia.org SOURCE Southwestern Association for Indian Arts Related Links http://swaia.org/ WASHINGTON, Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- In November, the World Health Organization (WHO) will be holding their Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, but have announced they are postponing any discussions related to safer nicotine alternative products. In response, NicoKick today released the following statement in solidarity with the 100 nicotine and tobacco scientists who recently issued a letter urging the WHO to support harm reduction products and highlighting the importance of flavored tobacco and nicotine products. "It is disappointing that the World Health Organization is rejecting a public health strategy that could avoid millions of smoking-related deaths," said Markus Lindblad, Head of External Affairs at NicoKick's parent company, the Haypp Group. "Providing safer alternatives to traditional tobacco products will save lives and improve public health. The WHO should recognize the role that reduced-risk products play in helping smokers quit cigarettes, as well as the growing body of evidence that shows the important role that flavors play in attracting and retaining smokers into the category of less harmful products." "Our consumer data shows that fruity flavors are most popular among former smokers. It's a paradox that authorities that work towards a smoke free world would oppose real alternatives and force former smokers to use tobacco flavors, which undermines the use of alternative products," Lindblad concluded. Background: On the 18th of October, 100 specialists in nicotine science, policy and practice called on the WHO to modernize its approach to tobacco policy by adopting the harm reduction perspective. In the letter, the scientists strongly criticize the WHOs hostile stance against harm reduction and outlined how a focus on harm reduction products could provide great opportunities for improving public health. About NicoKick: NicoKick is the world's leading e-commerce company in the smokeless industry, with customers in 34 countries. As users move away from traditional tobacco products toward healthier smokeless options, NicoKick's sales have continued to surge over the past two years throughout the United States. The site is quickly becoming a one-stop shop for consumers interested in learning more about and purchasing smokeless tobacco products. To learn more about NicoKick, visit the website at: https://nicokick.com/learn-more. ### SOURCE NicoKick Related Links https://nicokick.com Dhaka, Oct 25 : The prime accused behind the arson attack on Hindu houses at Boro Karimpur village in Bangladesh's Pirganj, and his associate have confessed to their role in the violence. In his statement, Saikat Mandal, 24, who has been arrested, confessed in the court on Sunday that he was involved in the attack and made post on social media to incite violence. Rangpur Senior Judicial Magistrate Delwar Hossain recorded the statement on Sunday. Mandal -- an expelled local Bangladesh Chhatra League leader, and his associate and Imam of a mosque Md. Robiul Islam, 36, were named as key accused in the case. As many as 70 families were affected by the attack. The police said the attack in Pirganj of Rangpur took place due to a rumour that a Hindu man had posted religiously offensive content on Facebook. Most of the victims were still traumatized and in constant fear of another attack. According to the local Union Parishad chairman, as many as 65 Hindu homes were torched during the attack. "The attackers belonged to the local units of the Jamaat-e-Islami and its student wing Islami Chhatra Shibir," Union Parishad Chairman Md. Sadequl Islam told IANS on Sunday. Ashraful Alam, director of the National Human Rights Commission's investigation team, recently visited the location from Dhaka. He had told reporters that he is concerned about the victims. "Almost all of the families, who lost everything in the violence, are living in extreme fear. The security gap that has been created is not going away. They said they were worried that they would not be able to do business in the future in this area," Alam said. "The militants not only burnt our houses but also looted all the goods, including furniture, cows, goats and cash," a woman told IANS. Biroda Rani Roy, Upazila Nirbahi officer (UNO) of the area, urged the people to remain calm and assured them that there would be no problems as the local administration would support them. She said: "A total 32 houses of 25 families in Majhipara were set on fire in the attack. A further 59 houses were vandalized after looting. About 70 affected families have been listed." The local UNO also said they distributed dried food and clothing to affected families immediately with the help of the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief. The victims got some cash aid to rebuild their houses from the Speaker of parliament of Bangladesh Shirin Sharmin Chowdhury, Bidyananda foundation, Awami League, Shechchhasebak League, Jubo League, Chhatra League and social organisations. Stockholm, Oct 25 : An estimated 300,000 people in Sweden suffer from an impaired sense of smell due to Covid-19, the country's national TT News Agency reported. According to the report on Sunday, queues were still long outside clinics that offer treatment for the condition in the country. With around 10 million inhabitants, Sweden has only two such clinics, of which the newest opened in September at Karolinska University Hospital in Huddinge near the capital city of Stockholm, Xinhua news agency quoted the report as saying. According to the latest statistic released by the Swedish Public Health Agency, 1,165,996 coronavirus cases had been confirmed since the pandemic started early last year. The total number of deaths stood at 14,956. The country has seen a slight increase in the number of new cases since the restrictions, such as limited number of participants in public spaces and restaurants, were lifted on September 30 together with the advice to wear face masks and if possible work from home, but there are currently no plans to tighten restrictions. However, rules about testing are still in force, although will be relaxed on November 1, and those who have not been vaccinated are advised to take the same preventive measures as before. Meanwhile, 84.7 per cent of the population aged 16 and older have received at least one dose of a Covid vaccine, while 80.1 per cent were fully inoculated. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) Lucknow, Oct 25 : The Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) has arrested a suspended accounts officer in the education department who was accused of issuing fake appointment letters to teachers. The accused, Jagdish Prasad Srivastava, was absconding and carried a bounty of Rs 25,000. Inspector (STF) Satya Prakash Singh, who led the operation, said Jagdish was arrested from traffic trisection in Gorakhpur on Sunday. The STF said three FIRs were lodged against Jagdish in Deoria since 2018. Till now, 30 fake teachers have been arrested. The STF took up the case on July 19, after senior block education officer, Birbal Ram, lodged an FIR regarding missing record books of 1987-1989 and 2010-11. He claimed that pages were missing from the record books of 2015-16. Ram had claimed in the FIR that he had lodged a complaint about the appointment of teachers through fraudulent means in two aided government schools in the district. Inspector (STF) Satya Prakash Singh said Jagdish was employed in the BSA office in Deoria since 2010. "Jagdish is accused of tampering with the record books. He used to tear the pages of records and then feed wrong entries on those missing pages," said Singh. Soon after Jagdish's name surfaced in an internal probe, he was suspended. The record books contained details of all teachers deployed in a district. Sources in the STF said Jagdish made Rs 4 crore by issuing fake appointment letters. Lucknow, Oct 25 : Former Samajwadi Minister Azmat Ali, his cousin Ubaid, and Ghaila village gram Pradhan, Iqbal, have been booked in a case related to a land in Uttar Pradesh's Wazirganj. The complainant, Amit Mehrotra, alleged that the minister and aides duped him of Rs 22 lakh in the name of a land which they never got registered in his name. Mehrotra, in his FIR, said that the deal was struck by Ubaid who showed him a piece of land in the Ghaila village for Rs 32 lakh. Ubaid told Mehrotra that he, Iqbal and Azmat had joint ownership of the land. After the deal was finalised, Mehrotra gave Rs 22 lakh in the presence of his counsel Mirza Majhar Abbas and Shahab in 2010. But Iqbal and Azmat did not sign on the agreement paper saying they will do so when Mehrotra will pay the remaining sum for the land at the time of registration. A year later, Mehrotra went to meet Ubaid to register the land in his name. He took the remaining sum of Rs 10 lakh with him to finalise the deal. It was alleged that the Ubaid and others resorted to dilly dallying tactics and gave him a cheque of Rs 22 lakh saying they did not want to sell the land. "In the meantime, Iqbal was appointed as a Minister for State in the Samajwadi Party government and I was threatened when I insisted on the registry," he said. Mehrotra said he inquired about the land and was told by the villagers that the above-named persons had grabbed lands in different localities in the city. "The cheque they gave me was dishonoured by the bank," he said. Mehrotra says he is now apprehensive of his life and people named in the complaint should be held responsible if any untoward incident happened to him. Additional DCP, West Zone, Chiranjeev Nath Sinha, said that an FIR under the charges of criminal breach of trust, dishonesty, and criminal intimidation was lodged against the three persons and a probe was underway. Moscow, Oct 25 : The Russian Foreign Ministry said that the goals and principles enshrined in the Charter of the UN are "enduring, universal and irreplaceable". The ministry made the statement on Sunday with the hashtag #UNCharterIsOurRules on Telegram to mark the 76th anniversary of the entry into force of the UN Charter, reports Xinhua news agency. In a video posted by the Ministry, Russian and foreign diplomats voiced support for the UN Charter and the central coordinating role of the world body in international relations. "The founding fathers of the UN laid down in its Charter the fundamental goals and principles of interstate interaction. Only by observing them can humanity move on the path of building a more just, prosperous and secure world, prevent new global wars," Russia's Ambassador to the world body, Vasily Nebenzya, said in a statement. "Today, there are increasing attempts to revise the international legal norms laid down in the Charter, to promote a certain world order based on rules," Nebenzya added. "Our common task is to stand up for the UN Charter. We reaffirm our full commitment to the central and coordinating role of the UN in international affairs and declare: our rules are the UN Charter." The UN Charter, which is the founding document of the UN, was signed on June 26, 1945 and came into force on October 24 that year. Lucknow, Oct 25 : To further accelerate vaccination, the Yogi Adityanath government has announced adoption of the 'Cluster Model 2.0' from November 1 to improve the second dose coverage. Additional chief secretary (ACS), health, Amit Mohan Prasad said, "In addition to the current strategy, efforts are required to achieve the desired target. Giving priority to full vaccination, the work of applying the second dose using the cluster model 2.0 should be done in those villages/localities where the first dose was successfully administered through the cluster model." Through the cluster model, villages will be divided into categories based on their vaccination status and those villages which have completed both doses will be called 'Covid Safe Villages.' Based on vaccination assessment by lekhpals, all villages will be divided into three categories -- those with 95 per cent or more first dose vaccination, 80-95 per cent first dose vaccination, and less than 80 per cent first dose vaccination. On the basis of this list, vaccination will be prioritised. Meanwhile, after recording the lowest Covid single-day tally of three cases, the numbers rose again to double digit (13 cases) on Sunday. The active cases, which had dropped below the 100-mark, also rose to 103 in the last 24 hours. The state now has 20 per cent of its eligible adult population fully vaccinated while 65 per cent have received at least one dose of the vaccine. Of the 13 cases, Lucknow, Gautam Buddha Nagar and Sitapur recorded two cases each on Sunday, while 41 districts had no active cases. At present, 12.54 crore people have been vaccinated in the state, including 2.95 crore who have received both doses. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Seoul, Oct 25 : More than 80,000 cases of dating violence were reported in the past five years in South Korea, with more than 200 of them resulting in murder, police data revealed on Monday. According to the data of the National Police Agency, 81,056 cases of dating abuse were reported to police between 2016 and last year, reports Yonhap News Agency. The annual total rose steadily from 9,364 in 2016 to 18,945 last year, the data showed. Of the total, 61,133 cases involved serious types of violence, such as sexual violence, bodily harm, confinement and threatening. In particular, 227 cases of dating-related murder were reported during the five-year period, according to the data. Sexual violence represented 644 of the total cases, it also said. "Statistics indicate if such crimes get repeated or are extreme, they can possibly lead to violent crimes, such as murder," said Rep. Yang Ki-dae of the ruling Democratic Party. He called for tougher punishments on dating violence perpetrators, as well as measures to prevent such crimes. Hyderabad, Oct 25 : With the Food Corporation of India (FCI) deciding not to procure paddy in 'Yasangi' (summer) season, authorities in Telangana are urging farmers to go for alternative crops. Telangana Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar has urged the seed companies to procure and stock adequate quantities of seeds for alternative crops like pulses and oil seeds. Kumar on Sunday held a meeting with seed companies as per the instructions of Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao. Representatives of 36 seed producing companies attended the meeting. The Chief Secretary urged the seed companies to make available adequate stocks of the seeds to farmers. Officials have said that crops like groundnut, green gram, black gram, Bengal gram, caster, bajra, sesamum and oil seeds have good potential in the state during Yasangi. All the District Collectors will hold a meeting on Monday with Agriculture and the Horticulture Department officials and scientists to discuss alternative crops in view of the decision by FCI not to procure paddy during the next summer season. Awareness will be created among farmers on alternative crops in the Yasangi season through 2,603 'Rythu Vedikas' in agriculture clusters. Intensive campaign will be conducted from October 27 to 29 at cluster level on alternative crops with farmers and Agriculture Extension Officers. State Agriculture Minister S. Niranjan Reddy had claimed last week that due to the Telangana government's persistent efforts, farmers across the state were taking up alternate crops on a large scale. He said sufficient seed stocks have been made available at the field level. The state government has consistently been encouraging farmers to take up cultivation of alternate crops based on market demand and not focus only on paddy cultivation. The Minister told a review meeting that majority of the farmers were opting for pulses and oil seeds. Peanut and chana dal seeds are being available in adequate quantities in tune with the demand. He claimed that compared to the past, farmers were much more interested in cultivating millets, castor oil, sesame and mustard. Telangana, which is the largest producer of paddy, is facing a significant challenge in initiating a change in cultivating pattern following the FCI decision. The state produces 1.5 crore tonnes of coarse rice every year (in two seasons). An estimated 21 lakh farmers in the state grow paddy. Officials point out that the state is already facing problems in paddy procurement during the current 'Vanakalam' (rainy season). The Centre's decision not to procure more than 25 lakh tonnes of boiled rice has come under criticism from the state. Civil Supplies Minister, Gangula Kamalakar has alleged that the Centre is discriminating against Telangana in procurement of boiled rice. He claimed that the Centre procured 1.13 crore tonnes of boiled rice from Punjab. During Vanakalam, paddy is being cultivated on 55 lakh acre in the state and authorities expect a yield of 1.40 crore tonnes. However, FCI is willing to purchase only 60 lakh metric tonnes. Seoul, Oct 25 : South Korea's antitrust regulator has decided to order Nissan Motor, Porsche AG and their two Korean units to take corrective steps for falsified information over gas emissions of their diesel cars. Nissan Motor, Nissan Korea, Porsche and Porsche Korea are alleged to have stated false information about gas emissions of their diesel vehicles imported for sale in South Korea, according to the Korea Fair Trade Commission (KFTC). The KFTC also decided to impose a fine of 173 million won ($146,700) only on Nissan Korea, reports Yonhap news agency. Illegal software installed in their cars caused gas emission reduction devices to not fully operate during normal driving conditions. The practice meant that the cars did not meet permissible emission levels, but the automakers falsified such facts in signs attached to their cars, according to the commission. In September, the regulator fined Audi-Volkswagen Korea and Stellantis Korea a combined 1.06 billion won for similar allegations over gas emissions. Srinagar, Oct 25 : Union Home Minister Amit Shah paid obeisance at the Mata Kheer Bhawani temple shrine in J&K's Ganderbal district on Monday at the end of his three-day visit to the union territory. Extraordinary security arrangements were made in and around the Mata Kheer Bhawani temple in Tullamulla town of Ganderbal district for Shah's visit. Heavy deployment of police and paramilitary forces was made in Ganderbal town where the home minister landed in a helicopter and was then driven to the nearly 5 kilometre long distance to the temple shrine accompanied by Lt Governor Manoj Sinha. Mata Kheer Bhawani temple shrine is the holiest religious place of worship for the Kashmiri Pandit community. After their exodus from the Valley in early 1990s, migrant Pandits from different parts of the country have been arriving at Tullamulla to attend the annual festival at the deity's temple shrine. Seoul, Oct 25 : South Korea will take steps toward a gradual return to normal life from the Covid-19 pandemic next month, as the nation's vaccination rate surpassed the key milestone of 70 per cent, President Moon Jae-in announced on Monday. Despite the measures, however, some anti-virus restrictions, including a mask-wearing rule, will remain in place after November to continue to slow the spread of the virus, Moon said in a budget speech at the National Assembly. Some 35.9 million of the nation's 51.3 million population had been fully vaccinated, marking a precondition set by the government to return to normalcy, reports Yonhap News Agency. "Based on stable containment and high vaccination rates, we are commencing a gradual return to normal life," Moon said. "It will begin being implemented in earnest in November." Describing the return to normalcy as a "threshold of hope", Moon pledged to provide support for small merchants and vulnerable people hit by the pandemic. South Korea has proposed a record high budget of 604.4 trillion won ($519 billion) for next year as it plans to maintain expansionary fiscal spending to cement the economic recovery and narrow social gaps caused by the pandemic. The proposed budget marked an 8.3 per cent on-year rise from this year's 558 trillion-won budget. Moon said the 2022 budget proposal is aimed at helping the nation move beyond the era of crises and leap forward to become a leading nation. One of the top priorities in next year's budget proposal is to resuscitate people's livelihoods by surmounting the crisis at an early date and achieving a fast and strong economic recovery, Moon said. On Pyongyang, Moon vowed to push for "dialogue and diplomacy" to achieve peace and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula. Patna, Oct 25 : A constable deployed on panchayat election duty in Bihar's Buxar district was arrested after being found in an inebriated state on Monday. The voting for the fifth phase of panchayat election is currently underway in several districts on Monday. The police constable Chandan Singh was deployed at polling booth number five in Vikrampur village. He was allegedly involved in misbehaving with some voters standing in a queue which led to a chaos-like situation at the polling booth. The polling officials deployed at the booth found that Chandan was heavily drunk. They informed the local police, who took him away from the booth and arrested him under various sections including violation of Liquor Prohibition Act. "We have conducted a medical checkup of the alleged constable and doctors have confirmed that he was drunk. We have arrested him and legal action is initiated against him," said Sanjeev Kumar, Station House Officer of the Sikraul police station. The Bihar government banned the consumption, trade and transportation of liquor in the state in April 2016. Despite that several cases of violation of the Liquor Prohibition Act get reported almost everyday in the state. Tel Aviv, Oct 25 : Israel will allocate 10 billion shekels ($3 billion) for dealing with future possible coronavirus outbreaks, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said. "We are currently exiting from the Delta wave and more outbreaks are expected also in Israel," Bennett said at the opening of his weekly cabinet meeting on Sunday. The new budget would be earmarked for an economic and medical safety net for future waves and the plan has been agreed by Bennett and Finance Minister Avigdor Liberman as a one-time expansion of the budgetary framework for 2022, reports Xinhua news agency. "Israel's model is based on keeping the country open and vaccinations, in addition to careful measures, and micro-managing the situation on a daily basis while taking all considerations, not just the epidemiological, into account," said the Prime Minister. So far, some 42 per cent of the country's 9.3 million people have received the third Covid-19 vaccine dose, according to official figures issued by the Health Ministry. As of Monday morning, Israel's overall Covid infection tally stood at 1,323,079, while the death toll increased to 8,049. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) October 25 : Bollywood actors and their spouses celebrate Karwa Chauth with much fanfare. They also share glimpses of their celebrations with their fans. Actor Govindas wife, Sunita Ahuja, also celebrated Karwa Chauth with her husband. The veteran actor made the occasion extra special for his wife by gifting her a new car. The actor later shared pictures with his wife posing with the new car. Govinda gifted Sunita Ahuja a BMW on the occasion of Karwa Chauth. Taking to his Instagram handle, Govinda shared a couple of pictures with Sunita as they celebrate Karwa Chauth on the terrace of their house. In the first picture, Govinda posed with Sunita Ahuja after the celebrations. Govinda twinned with his wife and opted for a red kurta-pyjama, which he paired with a blue Nehru jacket. Sunita wore a red silk saree with a broad zari border. She styled her traditional look with gold jewellery. In the second picture, Govinda and Sunita can be seen standing in front of their new BMW car. Sharing the pictures, Govinda wrote, "To my best friend, the love of my life, the mother of my two beautiful children. Happy Karva chauth. I love you (red heart emoji). My love for you is beyond is immeasurable. Par aaj ke liye is chote gift se measure kar lena (for today, measure my love with this small gift) (winking face with tongue emoji)." Image Source: Instagram/govinda_herono1 Govinda makes Karwa Chauth extra special for wife Sunita Ahuja by gifting her a new car Sunita also shared several pictures as she performed the Karwa Chauth rituals. Sharing a picture, Sunita wrote, "You deserve all the happiness in this world and more. Love you my Sona! @officialsunitaahuja #Happykarwachauth #truelove @bmwinfinitycars." She captioned another post as, "Happy karvachauth to all my friends god bless you all." Govinda and Sunita tied the knot in 1987. The couple have two childrendaughter Tina Ahuja and son Yashvardhan Ahuja. The couple celebrated their 25th anniversary in London with their close friends. Chennai, Oct 25 : It is now the turn of the ICAI President Nihar N. Jambusaria to start a language controversy pitting one of the regional languages against the others. Meanwhile. members have pointed out to Jambusaria that he is heading The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) and not the Institute of Chartered Accountants of North India. In his monthly message to the members, Jambusaria said: "Realising the power of our mother tongue Hindi, ICAI (The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India) is trying to incorporate more use of Hindi into its work culture." "Members are also encouraged to adopt Hindi language in their work and interactions with other stakeholders," he told the about three lakh members of ICAI in his President's message for October. "At a time when the whole world is looking at India as a global leader, successor and torch bearer, our language must also be a global beacon. With the government's focus on making India, 'Aatmanirbhar Bharat', it also focuses on us being 'Aatmanirbhar' with our mother tongue and its nationalistic approach," Jambusaria said. Several chartered accountants have expressed their concern about Jambusaria's language missile. Coming out strongly against such ideas the President of Society of Auditors told IANS: "The ICAI President has needlessly stirred a hornet's nest by 'promoting' Hindi language in his monthly message to chartered accountants and I really don't know whom is he trying to please." Continuing further Prabhakar said: "His knowledge both about Aatmanirbhar (which has no preference to any single language) and about the Constitution of the India which has not given the Rajbhasha/National language status to any language is appallingly poor." Prabhakar said Jambusaria's attempt is to ridicule the unity in diversity concept about which several national leaders have spoken. "I wonder if he realises that the institution he leads is ICAI and not ICANI, with N standing for North," Prabhakar added and hoped Jambusaria withdraws his comments. With three lakh members-one of the largest accounting professional bodies in the world -- ICAI should be at the forefront in designing the accounting standards, which is what Aatmanirbhar of the profession actually means, Prabhakar agreed. "Funnily enough ICAI is the cheerleader for IFRS (International Financial Reporting Standards) which are 'imported' accounting standards," Prabhakar said. In his message Jambusaria starts talking 'global' but bats for a 'local' language. Playing to the gallery? A Cheap stunt, Prabhakar remarked. It may be recalled in 2019 Union Home Minister Amit Shah said: "It is very essential that the entire country has one language which becomes its identity in the world." His comments triggered strong protests from the DMK party following which Shah clarified he did not want imposition of Hindi on anyone. DMK MP and spokesperson T.K.S. Elangovan then told IANS: "Unity in diversity is the identity of India which we support. If there needs to be an Indian language for India's global identity, then Tamil is most suited." Continuing, he said: "Tamil is one of the oldest languages in the world. It is the official language in Sri Lanka, Singapore and India. It has the classical language status and is rich in literature. Tamil culture has spread to several South Asian countries. There are Tamils who have migrated to far off lands several centuries ago." He said it may be true that a large number of people speak Hindi in India "But it is equally true that there are more number of people who don't speak Hindi." Elangovan argued that Hindi cannot be India's global identity. "For instance, it is the non-Hindi speaking Indian states that are advanced in several metrics like economy, technology and social factors while the Hindi-speaking states lag far behind on these aspects." Elangovan had said Hindi is one of the regional languages, "It is RSS ideology to impose Hindi across the nation." Recently DMK MP Kanimozhi and others roasted food delivery company Zomato after one of its customer care agents told a complainant that Hindi is the "national language" and everybody should know a bit of it. "The customer care of some companies operate only in select languages. It should be made mandatory for companies to serve their customers in their local language. A customer doesn't necessarily need to know Hindi or English. Hindi_Theriyathu_Poda," Kanimozhi tweeted without naming the listed company Zomato. Several others too roasted Zomato and said they have uninstalled the app while some also took potshots at DMK pointing out that many of its leaders run schools that teach Hindi. Kabul, Oct 25 : Fifty members of the Islamic State (IS) terror group surrendered to Taliban authorities in Afghanistan's Nangarhar province, an official confirmed. "Following efforts by local elders and authorities of Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, a total of 50 members of the IS group give up fighting and surrendered in Nangarhar," Mohammad Nasim, head of provincial intelligence office, told reporters. He said the surrendered militants were active in Kuz Kunar and Haska Mina districts of Nangarhar, a known IS militants' stronghold, reports Xinhua news agency. The official did not say whether the militants have brought weapons with them. The incident occurred amid military pressure mounted by Taliban security forces on militants in the country's eastern mountainous region. The IS militants have not responded to the report so far. The development comes after the terror group's Khorasan branch (IS-K) claimed responsibility for bombings at two Shia mosques in Kunduz and Kandahar province earlier this month. The attack in the Kandahar city mosque on October 15 killed 63 people, while the bombings in the Kunduz claimed the lives of at least 50 people. The two attacks also left several hundreds injured. On October 16, the IS announced that they will attack Shia Muslims everywhere, in their homes and centre. The IS-K is emerging to be the biggest threat of the Taliban government after they took over Afghanistan. Khartoum, Oct 25 : The Sudanese police forces resorted to firing tear gas to disperse protesters who closed a bridge linking the capital Khartoum and Bahry Town. Ayman Khalid, Khartoum State governor, said in a statement that a group belonging to the dissolved National Congress Party closed El Mek Nimir Bridge and the Nile Avenue to disrupt traffic in central Khartoum, reports Xinhua news agency. "We directed the police, in the presence of the Public Prosecution, to open the roads and take the decisive and necessary legal measures to deal with this violation by the supporters of the dissolved party, and ensure the flow of traffic in the capital," he added. Since October 16, a group defecting from the Forces of Freedom and Change Alliance (FFC) has staged an open sit-in in front of the presidential palace, demanding the dissolution of the government. The FFC, which represents the civilian component in the ruling coalition, rejects the dissolution of the government and accuses the defectors of attempting to jeopardise the democratic transition and support the military to turn against the revolution. Since the announcement of foiling a coup attempt on September 21, the differences between the military and civilian partners in Sudan's transitional government have continued to escalate. Sudan is ruled by a 39-month transitional period under a transitional government of military and civilian elements, established after the ouster of former President Omar al-Bashir in April 2019. The transitional period is set to be followed by elections to form a new government. Sudan's Sovereign Council is currently chaired by Abdel Fattah Al-Burhan, and the constitutional document stipulates that the presidency of the council will be transferred to civilians by November. Chennai, Oct 25 : After a spate of revenge killings and beheadings in South Tamil Nadu, the Tirunelveli Superintendent of Police V. Manivvannan has directed the private buses to refrain from playing songs that glorify the caste traditions in their vehicles. Tirunelveli has been the epicentre of caste-based honour killings and revenge killings. The ban comes into immediate effect as the 'Thevar Jayanthi' celebrations are taking place in South Tamil Nadu this week. However, sources in the district police told IANS that the ban will continue. Caste-related violence and brutal killings have been continuing unabated in South Tamil Nadu, especially in districts like Tirunelveli, Theni, Dindigul, and Madurai. Recently, four beheadings were reported in Tirunelveli and Dindigul districts as revenge for caste killings that took place a few years ago. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin had announced that the state government would not be a mere spectator to such violence and that police would use tough measures to curb it. Director General of Police Sylendra Babu camped at Madurai and Tirunelveli and directed police personnel to conduct a recee of the shops and industries that make and sell knives, axes, and other such objects. The police has directed the shops and industries to sell these objects only to domestic users and to maintain a register on the customers and their telephone numbers. Several raids were conducted during which deadly weapons, including firearms, were confiscated and some arrests made. Subramanian, a software engineer in Chennai from Tirunelveli while speaking to IANS said, "During our school days, we used to listen to songs played in private buses glorifying the deeds of one caste and demonising others. This would inculcate a sort of pride for one's caste. Since people from all castes and communities travel in a bus, such a practice this is totally uncalled for and hence be banned. The police have taken a good decision in this regard." This was rampant around the year 2005-2015 when caste-based killings were common in Tirunelveli and surrounding areas. The district police, according to sources, is planning to introduce several programmes in the district with all castes participating. It is also planning to conduct programmes in schools to eradicate the culture of violence based on castes in the district. Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 25 : A day before the Kerala Police Crime Branch is to submit its report to the High Court on the progress of the probe into the fake antique dealer case, the statements of its former chief Loknath Behra and serving police officials -- Additional Director General of police Manoj Abraham and IG of Police G. Lekshmana -- were taken. Eyebrows were raised soon after the arrest of 54-year-old Monson Mavunkal by the Crime Branch police from his home cum museum last month after victims approached Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan with their complaints that they were swindled of Rs 10 crore by this master 'fraud', who managed to even take the top Kerala Police officials for a ride. Behra retired from service in June this year. The pictures of Behra and Abraham visiting the 'museum' of Mavunkal became viral in social media and these pictures were taken a few years back. Following widespread flak that the Kerala Police received from even the High Court, which expressed doubts if the ongoing probe by the police would be of any use and the opposition attacking the Pinarayi Vijayan government, the probe team decided to leave nothing to chance. Top Crime branch officials took the statement from Behra, Abraham and Lekshmana and will be filed in the court when it comes up for hearing on Tuesday. Mavunkal is alleged to have sponsored a high profile Kerala Police run Cyber conference a few years ago, when Behra was at the helm of the State Police. Mavunkal, took all his high profile guests into his fold by showcasing antiques in his collection which he claimed included the "staff of Moses" and "two of the 30 silver coins that were taken by Judas to cheat Jesus Christ". Police said that he had showcased these "rare" items -- a throne said to be used by Tipu Sultan, as well as a huge collection of old Qurans, Bibles (Old Testament and New Testament), and old handwritten copies of Bhagavad Gita. Mavunkal used to bring several VIPs to his palatial residence, a part of which was converted into museum to house his 'precious' antiques. Mavunkal is presently in judicial custody. MUMBAI : NCP Minister Nawab Malik on Monday claimed that NCB Zonal Director Sameer Wankhede was born Muslim bit allegedly used a fake caste certificate to get a government job, and his first wife was a Muslim Dr. Shabana Qureshi. Image Source: IANS News Mumbai, Oct 25 : In another salvo, NCP Minister Nawab Malik on Monday questioned whether the Narcotics Control Bureau Zonal Director Sameer Wankhede submitted a fake caste certificate to get a government job. The Nationalist Congress Party's National Spokesperson Malik tweeted a purported birth certificate and marriage photo of the embattled Wankhede with telling captions: "Yahanse shuru hua farziwada (the fraud started here) and Pehchan Kaun (guess who)". The birth certificate shows the NCB chief's name as 'Sameer Dawood Wankhede', and the picture is from his (Wankhede's) first wedding with one Dr. Shabana Qureshi, and he later divorced her to get married with Marathi actress Kranti Redkar. The NCP minister claimed that as per the birth certificate, Wankhede is a born Muslim but allegedly appeared for the civic services (UPSC) exams through a reserved category and became an Indian Revenue Service (IRS) officer. "He has forged the documents to get reservations in the (civil services) examinations and job," Malik contended. Vowing to reveal more dope with evidence, the NCP Minister reiterated that the entire cruise party raid is a fake and everything is being done to malign the Maharashtra government and terrorise Bollywood. Wankhede has not yet reacted to the fresh revelations by Malik, but it is reliably learnt that he has been summoned to New Delhi by the NCB Director-General to provide an explanation into the stunning allegations levelled by a cruiser ship raid's 'panch-witness' Prabhakar Sail on Sunday. New Delhi, Oct 25 : The Supreme Court on Monday junked a plea against mass vaccination through Covishield and Covaxin, saying that vaccination is the key to protect people from Covid-19. Refusing to interfere in the matter, a bench comprising Justices D.Y. Chandrachud and B.V. Nagarathna told the petitioner's counsel, "We do not want this matter to be argued at all. Let us not cast doubt on the vaccination". The Counsel appearing for petitioner Mathew Thomas urged the bench to hear his arguments in the matter in detail. However, the bench responded that it was not keen on entertaining the plea. The top court told the petitioner's counsel that it finds no error with the high court decision in the matter, and it will not entertain the petition. The top court was hearing a plea challenging the Karnataka High Court order, which dismissed a PIL seeking directives to stop mass vaccination of Covishield and Covaxin. The court had also imposed a cost of Rs 50,000 on the petitioners for wasting precious time of the court. In May this year, the high court, dismissing the plea, had said it was not filed in public interest and it was a fit case to impose exemplary costs as it is consumed 45 minutes, which could have been devoted to deal with important issues arising out of Covid-19. In the high court, the petitioner's counsel had argued that it is not clear under what authority of law the Centre permitted vaccination without completing clinical trials. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Mumbai, Oct 25 : The makers of the upcoming Arshad Warsi-starrer 'Banda Singh' have dropped the first poster of the film, which also stars Meher Vij. Arshad says he fell in love with the script. 'Banda Singh' is a survival story of a man and his family, set in north India and based on true events. It is helmed by 'Phullu' fame Abhishek Saxena. Arshad said: "I fell in love with the script, I am sure you all will fall in love with the film." It is produced by Manish Mishra of Seamless Productions LLP and co-produced by Abhishek Saxena under his banner Ambi Abhi Productions. The film is penned by Shaheen Iqbal and screenplay is written by Shaheen Iqbal and Abhishek Saxena. It will be going on floors in mid-November. Meher added: "This script is very close to my heart. I am blessed and lucky that I have been considered to play this brilliant role and working with the super talented Arshad Warsi is the cherry on cake." Director and co-producer Abhishek Saxena shared that he has been looking for a script like this to direct since a long time "as my earlier films 'Phullu' and 'Saroj Ka Rishta' were on social issues but 'Banda Singh' is about survival. I am quite thrilled to go on floors and roll the film with Arshad, Meher and the rest of the cast." Producer Manish Mishra tells added that when he heard the story, it took him "hardly (a) few seconds" to go ahead and back it. Writer Shaheen Iqbal added: "After 'Phullu', me and Abhishek have teamed up again for 'Banda Singh' which is based on true events. I feel that this untold story needs to be talked about." -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Patna, Oct 25 : Four persons died in mysterious circumstances in Bihar's Siwan district on Monday morning, police said. The police suspect that they may have consumed spurious liquor. The incident happened in the Balori and Balor villages under Guthni block. District Magistrate Amit Kumar, Superintendent of Police Abhinav Kumar and other officials rushed to the two villages and investigated the matter. "We have recovered the dead bodies from these two villages and sent them to the Sadar hospital for post-mortem. The actual deaths of the deceased would be ascertained only after the post-mortem report comes," Amit Kumar said. "We have initiated the investigation as soon as we learnt about the incident. The police officials are taking statements from villagers and family members of the deceased," said Abhinav Kumar. Sources said the deceased had consumed liquor on Sunday evening and went to sleep. They probably died in their sleep, sources added. Hyderabad, Oct 25 : Venkatesh Daggubati's upcoming thriller 'Drishyam 2' and Rana Daggubati's upcoming movie 'Virata Parvam' are struggling with ambiguity by the makers. While both movies had decent hype it seems to be fading out, as there are no proper updates on their releases. Malayalam super hit movie 'Drishyam's sequel 'Drishyam 2' had an OTT release, which was widely enjoyed by all. The Telugu remake of 'Drishyam 2' stars Venkatesh Daggubati, reprising Mohan Lal's role from the Malayalam original. The Telugu remake also was expected to be streamed on OTT platforms, rather than going for a theatrical release. But, the makers have not made any announcement regarding the release. It seems like the producers are not sure to release the movie on OTT, as of now. Producer Suresh Babu has sealed a deal with Disney+ Hotstar regarding the OTT release of 'Drishyam 2', but the OTT giant hasn't announced any release date. 'Virata Parvam' stars Rana Daggubati as a rebel hero, while Sai Pallavi plays his love interest in this upcoming movie. Helmed by Venu Udugula, there is no certainty regarding the release of this biggie as well. Earlier, when the makes released the promotional videos, the movie had grabbed everyone's attention. But, without any serious updates, it seems like the makers are unable to keep up the hype. Analysts believe the movies would get good viewership if released on OTT platforms, as the other Telugu movies have occupied good release dates. Sanaa, Oct 25 : Warplanes of the Saudi-led coalition have continued bombing various sites controlled by the Houthi militia in Yemen's oil-rich province of Marib, a military official said. "The Houthi-held sites in Marib were heavily struck by the Saudi-led coalition warplanes that succeeded in slowing down the rebels' progress toward the strategic city," the official told Xinhua news agency. "The rebels partially ceased their advance on the ground because of the heavy aerial bombardment that killed hundreds of them during the past days," he added. The coalition expanded its air raids against the Houthis in an attempt to support the pro-government Yemeni forces stationed in Marib, according to the official. Earlier on Sunday, the Saudi-led coalition had announced that at least 264 Houthi rebels were killed and 36 of their military vehicles destroyed in the fighting in Marib city in the past three days, the official Saudi Press Agency reported. Yemeni military sources confirmed that most of the airstrikes were conducted in Marib's southern district of Al Jubah and other surrounding areas that are witnessing non-stop armed confrontations between the two warring sides. However, the Houthi rebels' military spokesperson Yahya Saree dismissed the Saudi-led airstrikes on the Houthi-affiliated Masirah television network. "If the enemy thought their warplanes could stop our troops' progress or break our fighters' resolve, they were mistaken," he said. Saree claimed that the rebels killed 550 pro-government soldiers, wounded 1,200 others, and captured 90 during a military operation in Marib. The Iran-backed Houthi militia launched in February a major offensive toward Marib in an attempt to seize control of the province, the last northern stronghold of the Saudi-backed Yemeni government. Yemen has been mired in civil war since September 2014 when the Houthi militia forced the internationally recognized government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi out of the capital Sanaa. Washington, Oct 25 : US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said that Democrats are close to reaching a deal on President Joe Biden's social spending plan. "In terms of where we are, I have said already we have 90 percent of the bill agreed to and written. We just have some of the last decisions to be made," Xinhua news agency quoted Pelosi as saying on CNN on Sunday night. When asked if Democrats will have a deal by the time Biden leaves for Europe at the end of the week, Pelosi said that "I think we're pretty much there now". "It's just the language of it," she said. Biden has been pushing Democrats to reach an agreement on his social spending plan ahead of a self-imposed deadline of October 31. "It's all about compromise. You know, 'compromise' has become a dirty word, but bipartisanship and compromise still has to be possible," Biden had said during a CNN town hall on October 21. "If we can't eventually unite this country, we're in deep trouble," he said. Democrats have agreed to cut the price tag of the social spending plan from the original $3.5 trillion to about $2 trillion in order to win support from key moderate Democratic senators, Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona. "It is less than what was projected to begin with, but it is still bigger than anything we've done in terms of addressing the needs of American working families," Pelosi said, adding the point is to reach a goal. Pelosi's remarks came as Biden is meeting with Manchin and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer on Sunday in a bid to finalise the social spending plan, according to Bloomberg News. The White House and Manchin still differ on the terms of the top-line spending level for the bill, which creates and expands programs aimed at helping women, minorities, children and the elderly, Bloomberg reported. Democrats have said they hope that an agreement in principle on the social spending bill will allow the House to vote this week on a separate physical infrastructure bill, as the current authorisation for highway funding expires on October 31. Mumbai, Oct 25 : Actor Sandeep Kumaar, who is currently seen as an antagonist 'Vivan Joshi' in television show 'Tera Mera Saath Rahe', has wrapped up shooting for the show after his character was exposed. It was a cameo but Sandeep took the offer as he found it interesting and he talks about the shooting experience and how he is keen on doing movies in the near future. Sandeep shares about his cameo and says: "I knew it was a cameo and I had a proper discussion with the casting director and creative director regarding the character sketch. Initially I was not ready to do it but my casting friend Krishna Jha convinced me that you are going to play an antagonist and it's a powerful character and you would love to do it. So after a few discussions I found it interesting and agreed to do it." Sandeep has earlier featured in shows like 'Bahu Begum' and 'Manmohini'. While opening up about the shooting experience, the actor adds: "First of all the actors of the show are really good in every way so loved spending time with them. But the special thing I would like to mention about the show is working with director Ashish Shrivastava, the reason is when it comes to acting I believe in realistic acting and living in the moment and the same goes with director Ashish sir. He always used to tell the actors that I don't want acting to look real, we have to be effortless while performing and I believe this too." Sandeep started working as a background dancer in many Bollywood films and is a trained dancer now. Later he did theatre and also acted in movies like 'Racket' and 'Jabariya Jodi'. On sharing about his next project he shares: "Currently I have been shortlisted for one web series project and I am giving auditions for a few other projects as well. But my future plan is to go for movies. I am a cinema lover and really want to do different kinds of roles. I am willing to play an intense romantic character that is still not fulfilled, so hopefully I will get to do it in the future." New Delhi, Oct 25 : The Khorasan branch of the Islamic State terror group known as IS-K, has hoisted its black flags in remote areas of Deh Rawood district in Afghanistan's Oruzgan province and are convincing new recruits to join with a payment of 30,000 Afghanis ($350), Raha Press reported citing sources. The sources added that the IS-K has tried to confirm its stand in the district's Dehzak village and has asked the residents to cooperate with the group, the report said. Since the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan, the IS-K has carried out at least four high-profile attacks mostly targeting Shia Hazaras, warning it would continue targeting more the minority group. Earlier this month, the IS said in a statement published by its Al-Naba weekly magazine that the group would continue targeting Shia Muslims especially the Afghan Hazara community from Baghdad in Iraq to Khorasan regions. The IS has calledthe Afghan Hazara community as an alliance to the Islamic Republic of Iran, claiming that community members also helped the US-led western alliance to fight against the terror group. The terror group also claimed the rivalry between Shia and Sunni communities is rising in the Middle East and that the Sunni community has accepted the potential threats of Shia existence. The development comes after the terror group's Khorasan branch (IS-K) claimed responsibility for bombings at two Shia mosques in Kunduz and Kandahar province earlier this month. The attack in the Kandahar city mosque on October 15 killed 63 people, while the bombings in the Kunduz claimed the lives of at least 50 people. The two attacks also left several hundreds injured. Before the elected Afghan government's collapse and re-rise of Taliban, the IS was almost defeated to the ground by Afghan and some Middle Eastern countries' security forces including Iran, Iraq and Syria. Sultanpur, Oct 25 : Shankar Ram and Manisha Singh, a married couple from Jarai Kalan village, were delighted at the birth of their baby boy on September 5 this year. Since there weren't any adequate medical facilities in their village or those nearby, the couple had stayed in their grandmother's place in Maya Bazar, Faizabad, until the delivery. The baby was born at a private hospital there, and after being discharged, the family returned to the village. However, their happiness was short-lived when the baby suddenly developed a fever within a few hours of their return. The new parents ran from one hospital to another seeking treatment, but their frantic efforts ended in tragedy as their barely two-day-old infant died in the district hospital in Faizabad, about 50 kilometres away from their village. "The roads are so bad that it takes almost two and a half hours to reach there from the village," said Ram. A harrowing ordeal "We first called the doctor at the hospital where our baby was born. He suggested that we consult a child specialist. Where could we find one when we don't even have a proper healthcare facility in the village?" questioned Ram. Recalling the ordeal, he said: "I hired a Bolero car and visited the Haliyapur Primary Health Centre (PHC) first. They don't have any (good) facilities. We then went to the private hospital where my baby was born. But it was late in the night, so they turned us away due to the unavailability of doctors. We then rushed to Faizabad district hospital. There, after an hour and a half, my child was declared dead. The reason for his death is not yet clear, but we have lost our first and only child." The Haliyapur PHC is about 3.5 km from the village. Ram believes that his child could have been saved had there been a functional health facility in the village. "A healthcare sub-centre is available in the village, but it has been in severe disrepair for years. Doctors do not work here because of the dilapidated building. I could have saved my child if the healthcare centre had been equipped with the necessary facilities. It was just a high temperature which could have been treated by immediate medical attention," said Ram, grieving the loss of his child. A sub-health centre or sub-centre provides an interface with the community at the grass-root level, providing all the primary healthcare services for a maximum of 5,000 people. Staffed with at least one auxiliary nurse midwife (ANM) or health worker, the sub-centres are meant to have maternal and child healthcare services and trained nurses for delivery and childcare. More tales of misery Ram and his wife are not the only couple to have lost their newborn child due to the unavailability of medical facilities in the village. Raja Singh, who looks after all the responsibilities of the village pradhan, said that the sub-centre has been non-functional for more than 15 years now. "The village has lost about 150 newborn children, including babies who died in-utero due to the healthcare centre being defunct," Singh informed 101Reporters. Phul Kali (55), from the neighbouring village Pure Basu (which falls under the Jarai Kalan gram panchayat), lost her daughter's unborn child two years ago because of the absence of a medical centre in the village. Before they could reach any hospital, she went into labour, and the baby's head slipped out, resulting in a stillbirth. "The nearest hospital we have is Haliyapur PHC. But to get there, we need a vehicle because there is no public transport facility in the village. We survive on irregular wages doing manual labour. How can we afford any vehicle? Ambulances have no fixed time to arrive. If they are far away, they take a lot of time. We somehow managed a vehicle for my daughter, but when we were on the way to the PHC, we lost the baby," Phul told 101Reporters. She claimed they had to spend lakhs on treatment after the baby died in her daughter's womb. Phul decried the state of affairs, saying, "If the healthcare centre in the village were working, I would be playing with my grandchild now. This medical centre needs to be opened as soon as possible, or else we poor people will continue losing children." Another couple from the village, Anand and Pooja Tiwari, also lost their newborn baby girl on June 3 this year. "We were happy to see that our baby was healthy. We were able to pay the bill of Rs 12,000; We opted for a private hospital because we wanted our baby healthy and alive," said Tiwari, who works as a driver and earns around Rs 6,000 a month. However, their baby developed respiratory problems. "In just half an hour, we lost our child. We did not have time to see doctors as the hospitals are far away," said Tiwari. "We would have got immediate medical attention if the village had any healthcare facility. The absence of healthcare centres has been causing us huge problems for years," he added, saying that he tried to seek the local ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activist) worker's help for his child, but to no avail. "We have been requesting pradhans for years, but they say that there is no budget to repair the sub-centre. Nobody sees or understands our plight," said Jogi Ram, a resident. Picture of official apathy The sub-centre in the village is so derelict that its doors and windows are broken and the walls could fall at any time. "Because of the building condition, the doctors posted here don't visit the hospital at all," said Raja Singh. He further said that five villages come under the Jarai Kalan gram panchayat and are under five kilometres from the health centre. "About 10,000 to 12,000 villagers would benefit from the sub-centre. It should be repaired and functional as soon as possible," added Raja Singh. Rekha Maurya, the ANM posted at the sub-centre, confirmed that it cannot function without proper renovation. "The building is so run-down that we can't risk our lives sitting there. Despite the pathetic condition of the building, the government has not provided any facility here," said Rekha. She added, "I have been requesting officials for months, but they have only given us promises that it will be restored and open for villagers soon." With just one sub-centre to cater to five villages' medical needs and emergencies, it has become imperative for concerned authorities to prioritise the complete renovation and installation of a fully functional health centre. However, the government continues to pass the buck at the cost of more infant fatalities. The Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of Sultanpur said that he has already sent estimates for restoration work of the sub-centre on May 25, 2021, to the government. "We have 12-15 sub-centres across the district that are in bad condition amongst 115 centres. I have sent the estimates to the state government for repair works for all dilapidated centres, but I am yet to hear any response on it," the CMO told 101Reporters. (The author is a Mumbai-based freelance journalist and a member of 101Reporters.com, a pan-India network of grassroots reporters) New Delhi, Oct 25 : The Union Health Ministry on Monday sent a high level multi-disciplinary team to Uttar Pradesh where a Zika virus case was reported in Kanapur. A 57-year-old man from Kanpur had tested positive for the virus on October 22. The multi-disciplinary team comprising an entomologist, public health specialists and a gynaecologist has been sent to take stock of the ground situation and follow containment measures. The health experts from National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme, National Centre for Disease Control and Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in New Delhi has been deployed by Union Health Ministry to assist state authorities for the control and containment measures of the Zika virus. The team will assess whether the Ministry's action plan for Zika virus management is being implemented. It will also recommend necessary public health interventions for management of the virus in Uttar Pradesh. Vientiane, Oct 25 : The Lao Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism has launched the Tourism Recovery Roadmap for 2021-2025, aiming to support the recovery of the Covid-hit sector by promoting domestic travel, local media reported on Monday. The initiative is supported by the UN Development Program (UNDP), Xinhua news agency quoted the Vientiane Times as saying ina report. Speaking at the launch in the capital Vientiane, Deputy Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism Ounthuang Khaophanh said the scheme will introduce measures to address critical issues in the tourism sector and will be very important for the recovery of tourism in Laos. The roadmap covered three main policy options, namely to support and promote domestic tourism; establish travel bubbles with countries with low risks; and the greening of tourism for environmental friendliness and for better long-term recovery. It contains three recovery themes, including protecting jobs and intervention to revive the tourism sector; building confidence and strengthening the sector; and improving, expanding and diversifying tourism products, services and markets. Also speaking at the launch ceremony, UNDP Resident Representative Ricarda Rieger said "green and sustainable tourism has great potential for Laos in post-Covid-19 recovery". With its rich natural resources and biodiversity, Laos can offer an opportunity to promote nature-based tourism for sustainable and inclusive growth which will lead to green jobs and livelihood opportunities, a green recovery, and green growth, Rieger said. "With the current situation on battling the high level of daily Covid-19 cases, health safety for all public and private sectors and travellers is imperative, should there be a consideration to reopen or travel bubble in the near future," she added. In 2020, there was a major decrease in tourist traffic of 75 per cent, resulting in the loss of 80 per cent of overall tourism revenue because of Covid-19 travel restrictions, which had an adverse impact on the economy and consequently people's livelihoods on a large scale. Canberra, Oct 25 : Voter support for the Australian government has fallen to a three-year low months from the general election, according to a new poll. The latest Newspoll published on Sunday night revealed that primary support for the governing Coalition has fallen to 35 per cent, the lowest figure since November 2018, compared to 38 per cent for the Opposition Labor Party, reports Xinhua news agency. Labor now leads the Coalition 54-46 on a two-party preferred basis, the equal worst result for the government during this term. If replicated at the next election, which must be held by May 2022, the poll result would see Labor returned to the government for the first time since 2013 in a landslide. The poll was conducted during a fortnight dominated by the Coalition's climate policy in the lead-up to the upcoming COP26 summit in Glasgow. Forty-seven per cent of respondents said they believe the government should prioritize reducing emissions compared to 40 per cent who said lowering the price of energy bills should be the priority. It marks a major turnaround from 2018 when 24 per cent of Newspoll respondents said reducing emissions was more important than electricity prices. Thirty-five per cent said Labour would be better at leading Australia on climate policy compared to 28 per cent for the Coalition. However, Prime Minister Scott Morrison remains voters' preferred leader, with 48 per cent choosing the incumbent compared to 34 per cent for Labor leader Anthony Albanese. Both leaders had negative satisfaction ratings for the third consecutive poll. New Delhi, Oct 25 : Lockdowns, spiraling cases and a vaccine divide is framing the start of Europes second Covid-19 pandemic winter, bringing chaos to eastern European countries and uncertainty to those in the West, CNN reported on Monday. Despite the widescale availability of vaccines this winter compared to the last, Europe is the only part of the world reporting an increase in new Covid-19 cases globally, the World Health Organization (WHO) said last week. This is the third consecutive week the region has recorded a rise in cases, it added. The suffering has been acute in Eastern Europe and Russia, battling mounting deaths and cases fuelled by vaccine hesitancy that has seen coverage rates dip as low as 24 per cent, as per the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). On october 21, Latvia became the first country in the European Union to impose a lockdown as the country struggles with a spike in cases amid low vaccination uptake. Only 56 per cent of all adults have had both doses of the jab compared to the EU average of 74.6 per cent. Western Europe is also driving the rise in Covid-19 cases despite some countries enjoying near universal vaccine coverage, the report said. Germany's Covid incidence rate rose to 100 new infections per 100,000 inhabitants on Saturday for the first time since May. Belgium, alongside Ireland, is seeing one of the highest case rates in Western Europe, according to the ECDC, of 325.76 and 432.84 per 100,00 people respectively. Belgium's Health Minister Frank Vandenbrouck told broadcaster VRT that the country was in a fourth wave. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) Seoul, Oct 25 : K-pop supergroup BTS delivered a message of hope to its global fans on Sunday during an online concert livestreamed from an empty stadium in Seoul to prevent the spread of Covid-19. 'BTS Permission To Dance On Stage' was the group's first global online concert in about a year since the BTS MAP OF THE SOUL ON:E in October last year, reports Yonhap news agency. The seven-member band opened the show with 'On', the title track of its fourth full-length album, 'Map of the Soul: 7', presenting the group's powerful dance moves. The song's lyrics that go, "The power of the things that make me, 'me' / Even if I fall, I come right up, scream," sounded like words of comfort for those who have suffered from the pandemic. The group then heated up the atmosphere by performing their hit numbers, such as 'Fire', 'Dope', 'DNA', 'Blood, Sweat and Tears' and 'Fake Love'. After the opening stage, Jimin said, "We've been looking forward to today a lot, and we're grateful and honoured to be able to prepare (this concert) and meet you like this again. I will perform harder for you who are not here today." Jungkook said, "Although we cannot see you today, it's an honour that we can show us to you. We'll do our best in today's concert." RM added: "I think we are the most like ourselves when we sing and dance on stage. It feels hard, because it's been a while." The group did not miss its global hit songs, such as 'Dynamite', which earned it the first No. 1 on the Billboard main singles chart for a K-pop act, and its other Hot 100 chart toppers, including 'Life Goes On' and 'Butter'. There was no individual performance from the beginning through the end, with the group singing and dancing all together. V, who experienced pain in his calf muscles during a rehearsal the previous day, took part in the show seated on a chair and without choreography. "There was a mistake while practicing and rehearsing for the concert," he said. "I'm really okay, so you don't have to worry so much ... If I can, I want to run to the stage." Following the online event, BTS will have its first in-person concerts in Los Angeles in two years next month. 'BTS Permission To Dance On Stage - LA' will be held at SoFi Stadium on November 27 and 28, and December 1 and 2, with all tickets already sold out. Jaipur, Oct 25 : Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Monday expressed his concern on Covid-19 variant Delta Plus AY.4.2, which after killing thousands of people in many countries, has now been detected in India. He asked the Central government to issue standard operating procedure (SOP) for its prevention. In a tweet in Hindi on Monday, he said, "Many cases of Delta Plus AY.4.2, a new variant of the coronavirus that has killed thousands of people in many countries including Russia, Britain, have also come to India. It spreads even faster than the delta variant. The Central government should prepare and issue SOPs for its prevention on the basis of the experience of other countries in time." He further said, "Initially, there were only a few cases of the delta variant but it did not take time to spread across the country. Not to have a similar experience like the Delta variant, complete preparation is necessary." Seoul, Oct 25 : North Korea's Foreign Ministry on Monday denounced Canada and France for dispatching patrol planes near the Korean Peninsula to monitor Pyongyang's activities, violating a UN Security Council resolution, calling it a "military provocation" endangering the security situation in the region. A North Korean Ministry researcher made the comments in a statement posted on its website, referring to the surveillance operations as an "imprudent" act that will "destroy security balance in the region and result in aggravating the political situation", reports Yonhap News Agency. Accusing Washington of "inciting" the countries' military activities in the region, the Ministry claimed such moves are part of US efforts to keep China and Russia in check. Last week, the Canadian Defence Ministry announced the deployment of a CP-140 aircraft to Kadena Air Base in Okinawa, Japan, "to support ongoing multinational efforts to counter North Korea's attempts to evade sanctions imposed by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC)". Earlier this month, the Japanese Foreign Ministry said France will engage in monitoring illicit maritime activities, including "ship-to-ship transfers with North Korean-flagged vessels" prohibited by the UNSC resolutions. "The US and the Western countries should be aware that their military provocations will not only hurt the regional situation but also their own national security," the statement said. Bengaluru, Oct 25 : As many as 44,615 primary schools run by the Karnataka government and 19,645 unaided and aided private schools reopened across the state on Monday for Classes 1 to 5 after 19 months as per government orders. The parents sent their children to school amid Covid fears. Karnataka Education Minister B.C. Nagesh has appealed to all parents to send their children to school without any fear. He had visited high school campuses which are already fully functional and had mid-day meals with the school children to instil confidence in the parents. As many as 40 lakh children have taken admission in primary classes. Along with the Covid-19 fear, as symptoms of dengue, fever, malaria, seasonal cough and cold are found among children, strict measures have been taken to ensure that any child detected with these symptoms is not allowed entry into the school. The teachers have been advised to acclimatize children to the school environment and not start right away with studies; instead they should go with basic education by the education department. However, it is the parents' decision to send their children to school. Offline classes are still operational. Many of the private schools have chosen to reopen after Diwali. A.V. Kempegowda, Secretary of ANVG Education Trust in Devanahalli, said their school will be reopening on November 8. Basappa Golappa Poojari of Sri Nandi Education Society at Basavana Bagewadi in Vijayapura district said they have installed two thermal scanners and two teachers have been deputed for monitoring. The schools will be sanitized on every Sunday. "We have also arranged hot water for children. Now it is for the parents to send their children to school," he added. Since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, 19,93,532 children in the age group of 0 to nine years have tested positive for the infection in the state with a fatality rate of 0.1 per cent. Among the age group of 10 to 19 years, 2,32,900 have tested positive for Covid-19 and 94 children have died due to the infection. Physical classes for high school students between classes 6 to 12 and college students have already begun in the state during September. Hyderabad, Oct 25 : Movie Artistes Association president Manchu Vishnu has lashed out at some YouTube channels for peddling rumours on Telugu actors, especially female actors. During a meeting over the recent happenings in the film industry, a few members of MAA had raised this topic of actors being a soft target for YouTube channels. Vishnu, who is trying to resolve this issue, has addressed it and suggested that necessary actions must be taken to avoid further troubles. "Speculating on personal matters, creating rumours, and defaming the actors is not cool. There is no objection if the facts are told or any kind of healthy content-making is done. But, it has come to our notice that there are several channels who are considering the actors as their soft targets to achieve their page views," Vishnu said. Vishnu also gave an ultimatum that serious action would be taken, if the content generators go beyond certain limits. "Such content providers have to face legal issues in the future. This is an action that I would take as part of our agenda on behalf of MAA," he added. Actress Samantha Ruth Prabhu had filed legal cases against a couple of YouTube channels for promoting content which she claimed defamed her. She was subject to trolling by many content creators, post her divorce from actor Naga Chaitanya. Srinagar, Oct 25 : Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Monday that for peace he will talk to the people of Jammu and Kashmir and not to Pakistan. Addressing a youth rally at Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) on the banks of the Dal Lake in Srinagar, Amit Shah lashed out at former Chief Minister Dr. Farooq Abdullah. "Dr. Farooq Sahib has suggested that we should talk to Pakistan. Let me clarify, if we will talk, we will talk to people of Jammu and Kashmir and its youth only, no one else. "Today, I am speaking my heart. I was posed a series of questions. Today, I am speaking without a bullet proof shield," Shah told the gathering wearing a traditional Kashmiri tweed over-garment called 'Pheran'. He said no one will be allowed to disrupt the development and peace journey of the Valley. "Why Dr. Farooq and Mehbooba failed to do what BJP did in just two years. "I am often asked by some people why curfew was imposed in Kashmir and why the Internet was snapped. Let me answer today. "This was done to protect and save the lives of our youth. We didn't want vested interests and anti-peace elements to exploit the situation and push our youth on roads to face bullets. "This step was taken to save the lives of Kashmiri youth." He said so far 40,000 people, including security forces personnel, militants and civilians in J&K have been killed in violence. "It is time to come out of this bloodshed and march towards a new journey of peace, development and prosperity. I promise, J&K will get what it deserves by 2024," he said. Lashing out at the NC and PDP, Shah said that the leaders of these two parties never condemned those who killed civilians. "Time has gone when militants would exploit the situation. No one will be allowed to kill civilians and we assure you that peace will remain intact in J&K," he said. Shah said there was a rumour mongering in J&K post-Article 370 abrogation that land and jobs of people would be snatched. "Give me one example of any village where land of any villager has been snatched. "Under the leadership of J&K Lt. Governor Manoj Sinha, 20,000 jobs have been provided and 6,000 more are in offing." He, however, said that unlike previous regimes, especially two families who ruled for 70 years, jobs will now be given to only those who deserve these. "Time is over when people of J&K would have to pay money for jobs. Nepotism and corruption is over," he said. Shah said the NC and PDP should answer why youth were deprived of becoming Sarpanches and Panches in their regimes. "There was a chief minister who would leave people suffering and spend six months in London every year. "Now we have young sarpanches, panches and other representatives, who can become MPs, MLAs and also the chief minister. "J&K will have a chief minister who will stay with the people in districts." He said that under the leadership of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, medical colleges, AIIMS, IITs and other institutions were given to J&K. "We have 30,000 Panchayat representatives in J&K. There is hardly any house where there isn't a cooking gas connection. "Tap water is available to everyone. Electricity is available to every poor family and health cover of Rs 5 lakh is available for one and all across Kashmir. Why Dr. Farooq and Mehbooba couldn't do it in 70 years." He said militancy is on the decline in J&K and efforts to replace guns with pens have borne fruit. "These parties would demand to talk to Pakistan and Hurriyat. This way, they choked Kashmir's economy only to enjoy power. "Today, we have succeeded in replacing guns with pens even in the militancy hotbed of Pulwama district besides other districts of Kashmir," he asserted. -- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed Chennai, Oct 25 : In the wake of strong public sentiment, the Tamil Nadu government is having a tough time relocating the statues of political leaders put up illegally from the streets to a "leaders park," in compliance with the Madras High Court's order. Several political parties and social organisations, especially the Dalit outfits, have vociferously opposed the move. Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), a political party working for the cause of the Dalit communities, has come out strongly against the decision. Speaking to IANS in Erode district, VCK functionary Muruganthan said, "We strongly object to the move of relocating the statues. For instance, a statue of Baba Ambedkar gives us a sense of security and if removed from the entry gate of a colony, people would feel highly insecure." He added," Statues of prominent people are not just symbols, they represent the struggle they faced for the downtrodden and if they are relocated, the people will turn restless." The state government has, however, not announced any specific date for relocation. Several organisations are planning to move the High Court challenging the order. In several rural districts of Tamil Nadu the move can lead to violence, said a source. A police officer told IANS, "The state intelligence agencies are conducting surveys to get inputs from a cross-section of people on the pitfalls if the statues are relocated. At several junctions, the statues are creating problems for the traffic and hence, relocation is important. But how it affects the social fabric of the Tamil society is being assessed and only then will a final decision be taken as far as I know." Pilibhit, Oct 25 : Farmers in Pilibhit district of Uttar Pradesh in the Terai region have found that crop diversification is an ideal way to end man-animal conflict and also enhance their income. Pulkit Khare, Pilibhit District Magistrate, who is leading the campaign from the front, said, "Tigers can easily hide in sugarcane fields because it resembles their natural habitat. However, the tigers attack and kill farmers in the fields. We launched an intensive campaign to persuade sugarcane farmers to shift to equally remunerative alternative crops that are agro-climatically suited to the Terai environment." "After several rounds of talks with progressive farmers and experts, crops like turmeric, mustard, peas, soyabean, Mentha and lemon were identified as equally remunerative alternatives to conventional sugarcane plantation," he added. "The crops are short in height and do not provide a safe haven for the big cats. Besides, the crops bring in more money for farmers," Khare said. The campaign has already started yielding results. "As per the annual GPS survey for 2020-21 conducted by the sugarcane department, the cane coverage was 1,04,213 hectares. But that got reduced to 1,02,114 hectares when the same GPS survey was carried out for 2021-22," the District Magistrate added. "Thus, a reduction or rather diversification of around 2,099 hectares (3.5 per cent) of cane area took place in these villages as a result of this intensive campaign to motivate and train farmers for alternative 'safer' crops which would reduce man-animal conflict incidents in the times to come," he said. Rajvir Singh, a local farmer, said, "I have stopped growing sugarcane in the field near the forest area from where tigers often crept into the cane field. Instead, I have started growing vegetables in two of the seven acres of land that I possess." Another farmer Lehi Ram said, "I have begun growing Mentha and potatoes in place of sugarcane on four acres of land. I get better returns and there is no fear of encountering tigers that used to hide in dense cane fields." Pilibhit, located in the Terai landscape of Uttar Pradesh, is home to Pilibhit Tiger Reserve which has rich flora and fauna. As part of the upper Gangetic plain, its characteristic Sal forests, tall grasslands and swamps, host species like Indian leopard, swamp deer, hispid hare, floricans and an estimated 65 Royal Bengal Tigers. "In the last five years, 15 humans were injured and 21 lives were lost in such conflicts. Fencing the entire perimeter of the reserve is a mammoth project which moves only a few notches each year as per the availability of budget with the department," Khare said. This forced the administration to intervene, analyse and make other efforts to reduce such occurrences considering the increasing number of man-tiger conflicts in the district. Panaji, Oct 25 : A special screening of the latest James Bond film 'No Time to Die' was held in Goa for 80 Royal Navy officers from the British naval frigate HMS Richmond which is anchored here in the coastal state, an official statement said. Inox, one of the country's leading multiplex chains hosted the screening. "Inox hosted a special screening for 80 naval officers. The screening was organized so that the company got a chance to witness their colleague, Honorary Commander Daniel Craig's final outing as the British super spy James Bond," a statement issued by Inox Leisure said in a statement. "Daniel Craig was ranked as Honorary Commander in the Royal Navy - the same rank he shares with James Bond in the fictional world of the James Bond series of movies since 2006," the statement also said. Craig's last film as the legendary spy also features Royal Navy's Type 45 destroyer HMS Dragon. "Daniel Craig is well known for being Commander Bond for more than a decade, a naval officer who keeps Britain safe through missions across the globe. Inox is proud and honoured to host the members of the oldest service in the British armed forces - the Royal Navy," Atul Bhandarkar, regional director, West, Inox Leisure, said. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Panaji, Oct 25 : Promoters of the Sunburn electronic dance music festival have not been given permission for hosting the event in Goa, State Tourism Minister Manohar Ajgaonkar said on Monday. The Minister said the file was still pending with Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, adding that festivals like Sunburn would help attract the "richest tourists" to the coastal state. "I have not given permission for Sunburn yet. The file is with the Chief Minister," Ajgaonkar told the media at the Goa Secretariat. On Sunday, the organisers of the high-profile music event 'Percept Live', had said the 15th edition of the festival would be held in Goa and that only persons with double vaccination would be allowed at the event. The Minister said he had instructed the Director of Tourism to enquire how the event is being promoted without any permission from the state government. "I don't know on which basis the (organisers) are promoting (the festival)... I have told the Director to speak to them," he added. Chief Minister Pramod Sawant said the festival would be held in Goa "if the Covid situation is under control." "...we need tourists. If we want the richest tourists, then we should have such events," Ajgaonkar said. On October 19, the Tourism Minister had said the state government was not keen on low-budget tourists visiting the state, adding that Goa was looking to attract the "richest tourists". Hyderabad, Oct 25 : The United States International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) and Hyderabad-based Biological E Limited on Monday signed a $50 million financing agreement to expand Covid-19 vaccine manufacturing capabilities in India. DFC Chief Operating Officer David Marchick and Biological E. Limited Managing Director Mahima Datla signed the agreement which will support capacity for production of more than one billion doses of Covid-19 vaccines by the end of 2022 for India and for developing countries around the world. The funding was announced at the Quad Leaders Summit in March 2021 and it works in support of the commitment set out by the US President Joe Biden and his counterparts in Quad, which comprises Australia, India, Japan and the US. The agreement will help bolster near-term Covid-19 response efforts and will also benefit long-term global health in India and throughout the Indo-Pacific region, the officials said. DFC's investment in Biological E. Limited is part of the agency's Global Health and Prosperity Initiative, which is focused on supporting the global response to the Covid-19 pandemic and strengthening health resilience in developing countries. DFC, through the initiative, is working to catalyze $5 billion in projects that bolster health systems, support infrastructure development, and expand access to clean water, sanitation, and nutrition. DFC and Biological E. have also collaborated with the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness (CEPI), which provided early research and technical support for the company's Covid vaccine efforts. David Marchick said the financing arrangement was a part of President Biden's overall strategy to end the pandemic in 2022. "Scaling Biological E's new facility, which is already producing vaccines, will help close the vaccine gap and save lives in developing countries," he said. The FDC COO said the financing arrangement was one step in the direction to enhance global vaccine production capacity from 5 billion doses to 15-16 billion doses in the next one year. The DFC is financing three companies -- two in Africa and one (Biological E in India). They will together produce over 2 billion doses between now and next year, he said. He pointed out that the US was donating 1.1 billion doses to the developing world and it has already delivered 200 million doses to over 100 countries. Mahima Datla assured DFC of successful implementation of the agreement and rolling out of a billion doses very soon. "We are currently in the process of building enhanced manufacturing capacity to augment Covid vaccine availability in the entire Asia-Pacific region and indeed the world," she said. She pointed out that Biological E was working on development of two Covid vaccines in partnership with Baylor College of MedicineAand Jhonson & Jhonson. Ministry of External Affairs Joint Secretary Vani Rao said this was a testimony to India's vaccine industry which made a name for itself globally by developing high quality vaccines which are also cost effective. She recalled that the first Quad leaders' summit decided to set up a working group for collaborative effort in ramping up production of vaccines and their procurement and distribution in the Indo-Pacific region. She said Japan will help the countries procure the vaccines while Australia will provide logistics ensuring last mile delivery. Telangana's Principal Secretary for information technology and industries Jayesh Ranjan said that Hyderabad stands very tall in life sciences vertical. He pointed out that biotech companies here are producing 6 million vaccine doses every year, contributing to one third of the world's vaccine production. The official said Hyderabad is also an important location for the pharma industry. Forty per cent of the country's pharma production and 50 per cent of exports happen from Hyderabad. The size of Telangana's life sciences industry is close to $50 billion and the State government has set an ambitious target of doubling the size to $100 billion by 2030 and in the process adding 400,000 new jobs. US Charge d'Affaires Patricia Lacina, US Consul General Joel Reifman, Japanese Consul General Taga Masayuki, and Australian Consul General Sarah Kirlew attended the event. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) New Delhi, Oct 25 : On the occasion of the UN Day 2021, the O.P. Jindal Global University has released the first-of-its-kind 'Implementing the Sustainable Development Goals: Role of Universities and Civil Society in Protecting the Environment Report', mapping its compliance towards the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the world body. Setting a global benchmark, JGU has become one of the first universities to fully commit to and implement the SDGs on its campus, despite the challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic. The report was launched in the presence of Dharmendra Pradhan, Union Minister of Education, Ashwini Kumar Choubey, Union Minister of State for Environment, Pankaj Mittal, Secretary General Association of Indian Universities, Atul Bagai Head of Country Office UN Environment Programme and Sudhir Mishra, Founder & Managing Partner, Trust Legal, Advocates & Consultants. The UN SDGs include affordable and sustainable energy, combating climate change, eradicating hunger, education, health, and gender equality. To demonstrate its commitment towards the implementation of the SDGs, JGU engaged in an independent assessment of its campus and initiatives to get a transparent and fair view of the university's progress in compliance with the UN SDGs. A cohort of 12 assessors from the environment and legal fields including The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), Trust Legal, Advocates & Consultants and Mazars Business Advisors Pvt. Ltd., Trust Legal, Advocates & Consultants carried out a rigorous evaluation of the university's processes ranging from the university's energy consumption to water management systems and community engagement initiatives. Pradhan congratulated JGU on the launch of the report and said: "The launch of the report comes at an opportune moment when the world leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend COP26 meeting at Glasgow next month. Diverse voices in the form of reports, scientific inquiry, and debates will only enrich our collective knowledge in protecting the health of the planet. The National Education Policy 2020 is fully aligned to the UN's Sustainable Goals and aims to nurture youth with global outlook and sensibility with capabilities that can help them face the global challenges of the 21st century. It is built on the foundational pillars of access, equity, quality, affordability and accountability. childhood care to quality education for the students in the remotest corner of the country. "Universities have responsibility to contribute not only to the local communities but also to the global community. This is primarily because they have the capacity to help students develop a holistic understanding of how a wide range of local, national and global challenges can be addressed. They help students in developing the spirit of scientific inquiry, curiosity and entrepreneurship needed to produce concrete and innovative solutions to tackle these challenges. The role of university in the road to the sustainable development is crucial. It becomes imperative that the universities devote time and resources to create an SDG ready generation that remains focused on the mission to achieve sustainable development." Choubey said: "I congratulate the Vice Chancellor of JGU that under his leadership, JGU is not only committed to excellence in education but has also demonstrated a vision to implement the UN-SDG goals at the university. Educational institutions can play a pivotal role in informing young people and create awareness about the steps needed to protect and preserve the environment. India has a long tradition of protecting nature and environment. As our Vedas say, if you protect nature, nature will protect you. It is our duty to respect the environment for human survival. It is an achievement for JGU for conducting such a study on UN-SDG goals and its aim to handle the challenges of carbon emissions to pollution, flora and fauna and depleting natural resources." Professor (Dr.) C. Raj Kumar, Founding Vice-Chancellor of JGU, said: "The Sustainability Development Report 2021 demonstrates our commitment to creating a green and socially-conscious campus and to have a transparent and fair view of our progress in our compliance with the UN SDGs. This comprehensive assessment was conducted on our processes ranging from our energy consumption to water management systems to community engagement initiatives. While the Covid-19 pandemic presented challenges as well as opportunities for reaching the SDGs, JGU has moved towards a healthier and safer environment by implementing the SDGs within its campus. By taking efforts to implement the UN-SDGs, JGU has shown the way to other educational institutions, how futuristic, social and environmental commitments are met. Even in the past, JGU has demonstrated its commitment to protecting our environment by gaining top rankings in the Swachh Campus Rankings of Higher Educational Institutions conducted by the Ministry of Education. The SDG Report 2021 on JGU is a culmination of outstanding efforts by TERI, Trust Legal and Mazars for creating a new dimension for promoting sustainable development. This has the potential to transform the future and help address the challenges of climate change by brining universities to the centre of knowledge creation, research, experiential learning, innovation and broader engagement with the youth." Setting the context for why universities must play a role in implementing SDGs, Bagai said: "Today, we are all facing 'the triple planetary crisis'. It is the crisis of climate, the crisis of nature, and the crisis of pollution and waste. The crisis is very clearly a consequence of the economic path that we have pursued along with resource-intensive processes, consequent lifestyle changes due to economic growth and urbanisation. This has led to 60% of our ecosystem being damaged in the last few decades and a real prospect of increase of three degrees Celsius in global temperatures by the end of the century especially if we continue with our emissions. It is a rare feat for a university not only in south Asia or in Asia Pacific to have come up with such a report. It's an extremely laudable effort which will be a game-changer. We should make it available to every university in the country." JGU has created a sustainable model with solar power generation by contributing excess power to the grid. The university has aimed in instituting zero-net emission policies and investing in on-campus renewable energy production by developing long term resource efficiency and management plans. Close to 55 per cent of university's campus is under a green cover. A green area around the university helps to arrest the effects of particulate matter and gaseous pollutants in the area besides playing a major role in environmental conservation efforts. The university has also set up the Jindal School of Environment and Sustainability to ensure that it creates innovation and young leadership to combat climate change and its impact. It also provides interdisciplinary education across other schools to ensure that there is adequate awareness on this important subject across the entire university. Pankaj Mittal, Secretary General Association of Indian Universities said: "We do realise that India is placed at 120th rank in implementation of SDG 2021 and this calls for an urgent action from all sectors of the society. Due to their unique position in society, the higher education institutions have immense scope and potential to contribute towards realising all 17 SDGs and thereby accomplishing them. I feel that rather realising the SDGs without the cooperation of the higher education sector is quite an impossible task. In India, there is a lot of tacit contribution of HEIs in implementing SDGs, but there is no documented data on the same." Sudhir Mishra, Founder & Managing Partner, Trust Legal, Advocates & Consultants who was the lead knowledge partner for the commissioning of the SDR called the release of this voluntary report a watershed moment in the history of climate change movement in India. For him this single bold step by India's no one private university on sustainability will lead to complete change of the narrative as many campuses will become the symbol of hope to showcase how they conserve water, how they dispose waste, how they nurture trees, how they reduce carbon foot prints, and how they engage with local communities. "The Sustainable Development Report 2021 on O.P. Jindal Global University is unique initiative promoted by India's Number One Ranked Private University as a part of its social responsibility. We were delighted to work on this initiative as the university ensured complete intellectual autonomy, operational freedom and editorial independence in preparing the report. The collective contribution of the teams from TERI, Trust Legal and Mazars provided a comprehensive assessment of JGU's commitment to the implementation of the SDG goals and other compliance related matters. The report is a comprehensive 100-page document that identifies every key aspect of SDGs and its relationship to the governance and functioning of JGU. The importance of this report and the initiative was demonstrated by the fact that the Education Minister and Environment Minister of India were present at the launch of the SDR 2021 of JGU." Dabiru Sridhar Patnaik, Registrar, JGU, gave the concluding address and said: "We have taken a step in the right direction towards promoting the significance of UN-SGDs by progressively undertaking activities to meet the goals in consonance with the National Education Policy. I am also happy to report that most recently we have opened a student chapter of the International Green Building Campus under the aegis of the Confederation of Indian Industry. A very futuristic and a definite step has been taken to create a green campus." San Francisco, Oct 25 : Electric Vehicle (EV) maker Tesla has temporarily pulled back the latest version of the company's Full Self-Driving (FSD) beta software less than a day after its release. In a tweet on Sunday, Tesla CEO Elon Musk said the rollback was due to "some issues" with version 10.3. "Seeing some issues with 10.3, so rolling back to 10.2 temporarily," Musk tweeted. "Please note, this is to be expected with beta software. It is impossible to test all hardware configs in all conditions with internal QA (quality assurance), hence public beta," he said. Tesla FSD Beta aims to enable Tesla vehicles to virtually drive themselves both on highways and city streets by simply entering a location in the navigation system, but it is still considered a level 2 driver assist since it requires driver supervision at all times. The driver remains responsible for the vehicle, and needs to keep their hands on the steering wheel and be ready to take control. Musk has been promising a wider release of the beta software for those customers who purchased the FSD package (which currently costs $10,000) for a while now. Full Self-Driving capabilities include navigating on Autopilot, Auto Lane Change, Summon (moves your car in and out of a tight space using the mobile app or key). There have also been several Tesla Autopilot-related crashes, currently under investigation by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Hyderabad, Oct 25 : Hyderabad-based vaccine maker, Biological E expects the rollout of its Covid-19 vaccine 'Corbevax' by the end of November and is looking to supply nearly 10 crore doses on the day of its launch. The company's Managing Director, Mahima Datla on Monday said Corbevax is currently in Phase-3 trials. "We are likely to complete all these trials by the end of November which is when we expect the license. The license for children should follow one month later but children studies are underway as well," she added. She said the Phase-3 trials for Corbevax vaccine for adults are a comparative study in comparison with an already licensed vaccine. She clarified that the study was not for Corbevax as a booster. "The study is for primary immunization. It's head-to-head study. We have a controlled group with a comparative and our group with our vaccine," she added. Mahima was talking to the media after signing a $50 million financing agreement with the United States International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) Chief Operating Officer, David Marchick. DFC is providing the finance to the company to support capacity for production of more than one billion doses of Covid-19 vaccines by the end of 2022 for India and developing countries around the world. She said the company has already begun manufacturing Corbevax and submitting doses to Central Drugs Laboratory (CDL), Kasauli, for release. "It's our vision that on the day of the launch we supply close to 10 crore doses," she added. Corbevax is manufactured by Biological E jointly with Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, and Dynavax, California. The Union Health Ministry had announced in June that Biological E will supply 30 crore doses of Corbevax to the Central government by December. Replying to a query, Mahima said Biological E currently has a capacity to manufacture nearly a billion doses of Corbevax and about 600 million doses of Johnson & Johnson's vaccine. "We can look to scale this but we have to see dynamics next year. We will be happy to scale this to more than two billion doses, if necessary," she added. She said Covid vaccines manufactured with the $50 million funding by U.S DFC will be both to meet the needs of India and also for exports. The idea is to act as support for the countries that need the vaccines more both in the Indo-Pacific region and in the rest of the world, she added. Mahima revealed Biological E was in the process of developing mRNA vaccine which will serve as a strategic technology platform not just for Covid vaccine but also other infectious diseases and immunotherapy. "It's at an early stage. I can't disclose too many details about it," she said. Founded in 1953, Biological E claims to be the first private sector biological products company in India. It develops, manufactures and supplies vaccines and therapeutics. The company supplies its vaccines to more than 100 countries and its therapeutic products are sold in India and the US. It currently has eight World Health Organization-prequalified vaccines in its portfolio. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text New Delhi, Oct 25 : Microsoft has warned that the Russia-based cyber criminals, behind the massive SolarWinds software attack last year, are on the prowl again, this time targeting organisations integral to the global IT supply chain. The Russian nation-state actor 'Nobelium' has targeted at least 140 resellers and technology service providers in global IT supply chains, it said. "Since May, we have notified more than 140 resellers and technology service providers that have been targeted by Nobelium. We continue to investigate, but to date we believe as many as 14 of these resellers and service providers have been compromised," said Tom Burt, CVP, Customer Security and Trust, at Microsoft. 'Nobelium' was behind the cyberattacks targeting SolarWinds customers in 2020, and which the US government and others have identified as being part of Russia's foreign intelligence service known as the SVR. "This time, it is attacking a different part of the supply chain: resellers and other technology service providers that customise, deploy and manage cloud services and other technologies on behalf of their customers," Burt said in a statement late on Sunday. 'Nobelium' ultimately hopes to piggyback on any direct access that resellers may have to their customers' IT systems and more easily impersonate an organisation's trusted technology partner to gain access to their downstream customers. The attacks have been a part of a larger wave of Nobelium activities this summer, according to the tech giant. "In fact, between July 1 and October 19 this year, we informed 609 customers that they had been attacked 22,868 times by Nobelium, with a success rate in the low single digits," said Burt. By comparison, prior to July 1, 2021, Microsoft had notified customers about attacks from all nation-state actors 20,500 times over the past three years. "This recent activity is another indicator that Russia is trying to gain long-term, systematic access to a variety of points in the technology supply chain and establish a mechanism for surveilling - now or in the future - targets of interest to the Russian government," Microsoft noted. Nation-state actors, cybercriminals and other malicious actors continue to target weaknesses in software supply chains and many vendors don't have the tools or expertise to stop them. Microsoft has said it would invest $20 billion in the next five years on cyber security. Bengaluru, Oct 25 : In a shocking incident, a group of drug addicts allegedly tortured children in an open ground. The incident came to light on Monday after the parents approached a local politician in the B. Narayanapura area in Bengaluru. The miscreants shot videos of torturing children which later went viral. The incident has come to light after the parents noticed burn and assault marks on the legs and other body parts of the children. Srikanth, a former corporator from Devasandra ward, said that he has informed the Mahadevapura police and they have lodged a complaint in this regard. According to Srikanth, the miscreants made a group of minor boys sit on the ground and they were given 'beedis' to smoke. When the boys refused, they threatened to kill them and also injured them with a knife. They asked the boys to get cigarettes for them and when the children refused they were beaten. They burnt the hands of the children. The ganja gang members tied the children to a tree and assaulted them for refusing to smoke beedis, said Srikanth. The parents claimed that their children were in shock and have developed symptoms of fever. They now feared to come out of their houses. Srikanth said the parents feared to file a police complaint against the miscreants. "They are scared that once the miscreants come out on bail, they will harm the children," he said. "We have filed as many as 20 complaints with the Mahadevapura police on the ganja gang menace. The ganja gangs have hacked two persons to death under the influence of the substance for no reason," Srikanth stated. In spite of all this, the police are not patrolling the area, he added. The police have now taken up the case for investigation and launched a hunt for the accused persons. Bhopal, Oct 25 : Former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath on Monday accused the Shivraj Singh Chouhan government of "mishandling" the Covid situation, especially during the second wave. In a video message, ahead of the coming bypolls, he criticised the Chouhan government's "callous" attitude towards its people when the state was reeling under Covid-19. "Many lives were lost due to shortage of oxygen, beds and necessary medicines in the state during Covid. The Shivraj government had promised to provide compensation to all the affected families, but not a single family being has been compensated so far," Kamal Nath, who is also the state Congress chief, said. He said that this is the first election in the state since the pandemic and the people should not forget the harrowing time. "At a time when people were banking on the state for help, Chouhan and his ministers failed them. Now is the time to settle scores with the government," he said. He also alleged that under the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) rule, the law and order situation in the state has deteriorated. The state, he said, had seen tremendous developments in the last 15 years, but now, the crime against women and children is on a rise. Children are being kidnapped everyday, women are being subjected to sexual assulat and law and order situation is on the brink of collapse, he claimed. Meanwhile, just days before the October 30 bypolls to the Prithvipur, Raigon, and Jobat Assembly seats and the Khandwa Lok Sabha constituency, the Congress faced yet another blow with another party MLA joining the BJP on Sunday. Sachin Birla, from Khargone district, switched over to the saffron party. Birla resigned just two days prior to the Congress leader and fellow Gujjar Sachin Pilot's rally in Khandwa. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text New Delhi, Oct 25 : The misbehaviour of Chinese companies to local employees is fueling anti-China sentiments in Zimbabwe. It became evident after two blasts shook Zimbabwe's Mazowe district late last week. The two gas explosions left eight people dead including six Chinese nationals. The police is investigating the cause of explosion. The incident happened at the mine about 50 km (30 miles) north of the capital, Harare, police said. While villagers mourned the death of a local but had no sympathy for the Chinese nationals. It was reported that villagers from around SAS Mine in Mazowe expressed joy following the death of six Chinese nationals who were managers at the site. The villagers described the late Chinese managers as 'stubborn' and very dis-respectful who ill-treated locals. The incident has brought focus on the prevailing conditions in the area with regard to ill-treatment meted out to the employees by the Chinese managers. After the first explosion, the area councillor had requested Chinese managers to halt all the operations but later did not pay heed. Instead, these managers had smuggled workers from outside through a broken fence. Also, these managers warned workers with dire consequences if anyone raised voice over personal safety. The local news website reported that the local councillor Taera Tapererwa, from Mazowe South Ward 2 confirmed that the Chinese managers were quite rude to the employees. A worker at the mine reportedly told that Chinese managers had ignored warnings. Nor did they show any remorse over the death of the first victim. The second explosion took lives of six Chinese and that was when it was accepted that the situation was dangerous at the mine. The Chinese Embassy in Zimbabwe maintained that it is in close communication with responsible Zimbabwean authorities and has asked the Zimbabwean side to help with emergency care and investigate the cause of the incident. The embassy has urged Chinese companies in Zimbabwe to enhance safety production awareness and immediate conduct thorough inspections of workplace practices including management of raw materials to avoid similar incidents. Experts on Zimababwe affairs are not hopeful about any change in the situation on ground. Zimbabwe, like other African country, is under deep influence of China, politically, militarily, or economically. China has been calling the shots in Zimbabwe so much so that despite numerous cases of rampant abuse by Chinese employers of the local labour force, no steps have been taken by the government. Available reports suggest that there is a fear among the locals that China would take away their assets if Zimbabwe fails to return loan amount. China has done heavy investment by providing huge loans to Zimbabwe. Local newspapers have reported from time to time that Chinese companies have been ill treating local labour and not paying respectable wages. An incident was reported where local employees were shot dead by a Chinese employer at a mine when the labourers demanded their legitimate outstanding wages. There have been several incidents where Chinese company owners have not paid any heed to Zimbabwean law, the citizens' legal rights and instead discriminated against them from the onsite Chinese miners by paying them low wages of merely 35 US dollars per month. Also there have been cases where Chinese employers have assaulted local employees by forcing them to work in dangerous, inhuman, harsh, and life-threatening conditions which amount to slavery. In pandemic time too, Chinese companies have reportedly ignored Covid-19 guidelines and forced employees to stay together. In one incident, 16 employees were reportedly forced to stay in just one room. On several occasions, the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Union (ZCTU) has raised objections against the assault of local workers by Chinese employers. The ZCTU has been successful in building pressure on the Chinese companies to mend ways. So much so that the Chinese diplomats have tried to bring out an amicable solution with the Union leaders. ZCTU has been taking up issues with Chinese companies following complaints of exploitation of local employees. In June, Chinese ceramic tiles manufacturing company Sunny Yi Feng had entered into a war of words with the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) over claims of labour rights abuse, including unsafe working and living conditions. In absence of any legal action, ZCTU had launched a social media campaign to raise awareness about the working and living conditions of the workers in the factories. The Chinese company called ZCTU's actions as "corporate bullying" motivated by "hidden agenda". Several other allegations have been levelled against Chinese companies operating in Zimbabwe. According to 2016 report by the Brookings Institution, there are at least 10,000 Chinese nationals in Zimbabwe, many of whom work in mining, telecommunications, and construction sectors. Chinese-owned companies, however, have become notorious for ill-treatment of workers. There were reports of workers' strike in a mining company against low wages in 2019. These workers also demanded safety kit as they were getting exposed to hazardous fumes. Earlier, two mining workers were shot in Gweru, which the Chinese embassy in Zimbabwe described as an "isolated incident." -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text New Delhi, Oct 25 : The Centre on Monday told the Delhi High Court that "marriage" is a term associated with heterosexual couples and "spouse" means husband and wife, as it contended that there is "some misconception" regarding the order in Navtej Singh Johar case which decriminalised homosexual sex but does not talk about marriage. A division bench of Chief Justice D.N. Patel and Justice Jyoti Singh was hearing a batch of pleas seeking legal recognition of same sex marriage under the Foreign Marriage Act and the Special Marriage Act. The court said it will hear the final arguments on November 30. Appearing for the Centre, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said that Navtej Singh Johar's case does not talk about marriage, adding that marriage is permissible between a biological man and a biological woman. Replying to a plea of a queer couple -- an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI), and foreigner -- seeking recognition of same sex marriages under the Foreign Marriage Act and Special Marriage Act, he said that it is a question of law and the issue here is whether marriage is permissible between homosexual couples. The petition, filed by advocate Karuna Nundy with lawyers Ruchira Goel, Utsav Mukherjee, Ragini Nagpal, and Abhay Chitravanshi, sought a declaration that a spouse of foreign origin of an Indian citizen or OCI cardholder is entitled to apply for registration as an OCI under Section 7A(1)(d) of the Citizenship Act, 1955, regardless of the gender, sex or sexual orientation of the applicant spouse. Nandy also sought legal recognition of all same sex, queer, or non-heterosexual marriages under secular legislations for marriage such as the Foreign Marriage Act, 1969 and the Special Marriage Act 1954. According to the petitioners, they are a married same-sex couple resident in Paris. They met in New York in 2001 and have been in a loving relationship for nearly 20 years. They got married in New York on August 6, 2012, and are recognised as a legally married couple in the US, France, and Canada - the three countries where they have primarily lived and worked in the last twenty years and now they are preparing for their new role as parents, and they are expecting their first child in July 2021. One among the couple is of Indian origin and now he sought to attain OCI status at the earliest in order to avail of this facility so that he can spend time in India - where his family lives - with his spouse and the baby they are expecting and indeed, to reach his husband and baby immediately in case of illness or other difficulties as needed during the pandemic. The Centre had earlier told Delhi High Court that the acceptance of the institution of marriage between two individuals of the same gender is neither recognised nor accepted in any uncodified personal laws or any codified statutory laws. Hyderabad, Oct 25 : Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao was on Monday unanimously re-elected as the President of Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS). Rao was elected unopposed to the post for a ninth consecutive term. TRS General Secretary M. Sreenivas Reddy, who was the election officer, announced Rao's re-election at the party plenary attended by 6,000 delegates from across the state. KCR, as Rao is popularly known, was declared elected unopposed as no other nomination was received for the post. His election was a mere formality after no other TRS leader filed nomination till Friday, the last day for filing papers. In all, 18 nominations were filed by several TRS leaders, proposing the name of Chandrasekhar Rao as President. Ministers, party MPs, MLAs and other leaders had filed nominations on behalf of KCR. The scrutiny of nomination papers was taken up on Saturday. The plenary later passed a resolution congratulating KCR on his re-election. He thanked the leaders for electing him unanimously for another term. KCR presided over the plenary. He highlighted the achievements of the party during last 20 years and the schemes taken up by the TRS government during the last seven years. He had resigned from the Telugu Desam Party in 2001 to float TRS to revive the movement for statehood to Telangana. The separate State was carved out of Andhra Pradesh in 2014. New Delhi, Oct 25 : In wake of the targeted killings, a new integrated security system will be in place in Kashmir Valley soon in coordination with the Indian Army and the central security agencies, the sources said here on Monday. The sources also said that Jammu and Kashmir Police will be in the lead role in preventing attacks in coordination with other security stakeholders and they have been asked to strengthen the human intelligence gathering on the ground. The J&K Police made a presentation during a high level security meeting chaired by Union Home Minister on October 23. Round the clock electronic surveillance in vulnerable areas, better intelligence networks and strong patrolling on roads and highways around the cities to prevent entry and exit of the terrorists with more barricading and placing of the security bunkers will be the key features of the new security systems, a government source said. Under the electronic surveillance, drone grids are being set up in those areas where the non-Kashmiri and the migrant labours have been living and in some places more CCTV cameras are getting installed. Under the drone grid system, a round the clock control room has been set up to closely monitor the movement of suspicious elements and on identifications of any such movement in the areas, the security personnel on the ground will be alerted soon on a real-time basis. This will be manned by the J&K police and other security forces personnel. The sleuths from intelligence agencies and National Intelligence Agency have been working to pinpoint the real conspirators who activated the hybrid terrorist network to execute the recent killings in Kashmir. The security agencies have also been keeping eye on over 80 families whose youngsters have left home and are absconding since long as they believe that these youths might be used by the terrorist organisations to execute these killings. An official in the government set up said that during the review meeting on October 23, the Union Home Minister asked the officials why the duel threats of radicalisation and home-grown terrorism were on the rise despite massive presence of the forces and extensive outreach effort made by the government? The meeting held on October 23 in Srinagar was attended by Intelligence Bureau chief Arvind Kumar, CRPF DG Kuldiep Singh, BSF DG Pamkaj Singh, DG of National Security Guard MA Ganapathy, J&K Police DG Dilbagh Singh, Army commanders and other officials. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text New Delhi, Oct 25 : The Income Tax Department carried out a search and seizure operation in the case of a person engaged in the real estate business, primarily operating as a land aggregator in Nashik. During the search and seizure operation, many incriminating documents including land agreements, notarized documents and other papers evidencing large scale cash transactions for acquisition of properties have been found and seized, the department said in a statement. Such transactions are also corroborated by digital evidence extracted from computers and mobile phones. Further, substantial amount of unaccounted cash was found stored in several private vaults. The I-T Department said that so far Rs 23.45 crore in unaccounted cash has been seized. One locker is under prohibitory orders. The main persons, who had invested their unaccounted income towards purchase of large patches of land, were also searched. Most of these persons are engaged in the wholesale trading of onions and other cash crops in the Pimpalgaon Baswant region of Maharashtra. Incriminating evidence, including records of large cash transactions made by these traders for making investments in properties, have also been found and seized. Several bank lockers found during the search have been put under prohibitory orders. So far unaccounted income of more than Rs 100 crore has been detected as a result of the search operation. The evidence gathered is being examined and further investigations are in progress. Bhopal, Oct 25 : A day after a group of Bajrang Dal members created a ruckus on the set of web-series 'Ashram-3' in Bhopal and smeared ink on its director Prakash Jha, a political war broke out between the BJP and the Congress over the issue on Monday. Veteran Congress leader Digvijaya Singh, who has often been vocal against right wing politics, called the Bajrang Dal a "group of goons". Attacking Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Narottam Mishra, Singh said, "how long will people of the state tolerate such goons?" "Bajrang Dal, an outfit of the RSS has become a group of goons. It can be seen here in Bhopal," Digvijaya Singh said while reacting to the controversy of 'Ashram-3' shooting in Bhopal. Singh said that Bhopal has become one of the prominent location for film shooting. "Prakash Jha is a popular director. Bhopal police should have provided security to him," Singh added. Responding to Digvijaya Singh's remarks, BJP MLA (Hujur-Bhopal) Rameshwar Sharma said, "Will those who are making web-series on Ashram dare to make a film ever on Madrasa?" Earlier on Monday, Narottam Mishra objected to the 'Ashram-3' shooting alleging that director Prakash Jha is portraying a bad image of Hindu culture and it will not be tolerated. He also said that the state government will introduce some changes with regard to giving permission to film shootings in Madhya Pradesh. He said film directors now would have to submit a copy of the script to the administration to seek permission for shooting. Churaibari: Rohingya Muslims who were apprehended by Assam police in Churaibari near Tripura border on Jan 21, 2019. The group consisting of male, female and children was apprehended while they were moving towards Guwahati by bus from Agartala. (Phot Image Source: IANS News New Delhi, Oct 25 : The BJP-led Karnataka government has told the Supreme Court that there are 72 Rohingyas in Bengaluru city, but it has no immediate plan to deport them. The state government's response came on a 2017 PIL filed by BJP leader and advocate Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay, who sought the apex court's direction to deport illegal Rohingyas. The state government, in a written response, said: "The Bengaluru city police have not housed Rohingyas in any camp or detention centres within its jurisdiction. However, 72 Rohingyas identified in Bengaluru city are working in various fields and Bengaluru city police have not taken any coercive action against them as of now." There is no immediate plan of deporting them either, it added. The state government also provided the names of Rohingya refugees who were staying in the north-east division of the city. It further added that all these Rohingyas, except those below 12 years of age, have been given individual numbers by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). The Karnataka government emphasised that the plea is not maintainable either in law or on the facts of the case, and added it is also devoid of merits. "The Special Leave to Appeal is not maintainable either in law or on the facts of the case. The Petition is devoid of merits. Hence, the Petition is liable to be dismissed in limine," said the government, which filed a statement of the objection through advocate V.N. Raghupathy. Upadhyaya had argued that the influx of infiltrators posed a serious threat to the unity, integrity, and security of the country. He had asked the court to issue a direction to Centre and state governments to identify, detain and deport all the illegal immigrants and infiltrators including Bangladeshis and Rohingyas within one year. The petitioner also urged the top court to issue direction to amend the respective laws to make illegal immigration and infiltration, a cognizable non-bailable and non-compoundable offence. New York, Oct 25 : Facebook top guns interfered to allow US politicians and celebrities post whatever they wanted, overriding the network's professed high moral ground designed to curb misinformation and harmful content, leaked internal documents unveiled by The Financial Times said. Employees have claimed that Facebook allowed right-wing figures to break the platform's own rules, after being stung by accusations of bias from conservatives. "In September 2020, just ahead of the US presidential election, the author of an internal memo wrote that 'director-level employees' had 'written internally that they would prefer to formally exclude political considerations from the decision-making process'," FT said in a breaking news story Monday. In another internal note dated December 2020 and reported by FT, an employee claimed that the company's public policy team blocked decisions to take down posts "when they see that they could harm powerful political actors". "In multiple cases, the final judgment about whether a prominent post violates a certain written policy are made by senior executives, sometimes Mark Zuckerberg," the author added. In a further example from 2019, Zuckerberg was alleged to be personally involved in a decision to allow a video that made the claim that abortion is "never medically necessary". The post, which had been taken down by a moderator, was reinstated. The documents, part of a wider cache dubbed the "Facebook Papers", were disclosed to US regulators and provided to Congress in redacted form by the legal counsel of whistleblower Frances Hougen. A consortium of media organisations have procured these redacted papers from the US Congress. In a curtain raiser to more media attention, Haugen tweeted that she was looking forward to meeting a joint committee of British parliament Monday drafting online safety rules. While Facebook declined to respond to FT's queries, Joe Osborne, a Facebook spokesperson, said: "At the heart of these stories is a premise which is false. Yes, we're a business and we make profit, but the idea that we do so at the expense of people's safety or wellbeing misunderstands where our own commercial interests lie. The truth is we've invested $13bn and have over 40,000 people to do one job: keep people safe on Facebook." A former Facebook executive told the FT that Zuckerberg had long told staff to aim for what he called "unimpeachable neutrality". But three other former employees said they observed "how Facebook applied its own rules in an inconsistent and haphazard way, with special treatment for celebrities". One former integrity team employee said: "For the people running Facebook, it seems like they care much more about not appearing biased than actually not being biased. Often their efforts at the former make the latter worse." In a memo published in July 2020, first reported by BuzzFeed, Facebook said it had decided not to reduce the distribution of "political publishers" ahead of the election but noted that such a move could risk "accusations of shadow-banning and/or FB bias against certain political entities" during the November vote. Former US President Donald Trump, who sued Facebook, Twitter and Google in July claiming that they unlawfully silence conservative voices, has accused Facebook of bias. Facebook did intervene to censor Trump - when he claimed that Covid-19 was less lethal than flu. But the December 2020 memo alleged that moves to take down "repeat offenders" were often reversed, "influenced by input from Public Policy", FT reported. The employee wrote that decisions were made to exempt "publishers on the grounds that they were "sensitive" or likely to retaliate". In an exit note, another employee involved in efforts to curb hate speech on the platform accused Facebook of giving special treatment to media outlets Breitbart, which has since 2018 been included on the company's high-quality news tab. "We make special exceptions to our written policies for them and we even explicitly endorse them by including them as trusted partners in our core products," the staffer said. In June 2020, one employee floated the idea of an "internal oversight board" composed of Facebook employees based in offices globally to help the company make decisions. The then head of Facebook app Fidji Simo replied saying Facebook had been working on creating a small internal oversight board team. "It's so obviously a conflict of interest," one former employee from the integrity team told the FT. "They should be as far away from each other as possible, not reporting to the same bosses." Facebook is in the midst of multiple negative stories. The Wall Street Journal reported that it has an internal system called "cross-check" which was sometimes used to shield the fat cats even when they broke the platform's rules, via whitelisting. The social media giant has said it is working to clean up the system. Separately on Friday, a whistleblower filed a complaint to the US Securities and Exchange Commission, first reported on by the Washington Post and reviewed by the FT, alleging that Facebook's public policy team would "over-index towards pleasing Trump and the Trump administration". (Nikhila Natarajan tweets @byniknat) Chennai, Oct 25 : The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) announced on Monday that the northeast monsoon season has arrived in Tamil Nadu with rains hitting the state. The northeast monsoon which provides most of the annual rainfall of Tamil Nadu has touched the shores of the state, IMD Deputy Director General, Chennai, S. Balachandran told reporters. "The southwest monsoon has withdrawn from the entire country while the northeast monsoon has arrived in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, Kerala, south Karnataka, and coastal Andhra Pradesh." According to the IMD, northeast monsoon will bring in thunderstorms and light to moderate rains in parts of Chennai and around in the next 48 hours. Weather is cloudy around Chennai and its suburbs with rains at certain places. The IMD predicted thunderstorms with light and heavy rains over Tirunelveli, Tuticorin, Ramanathapuram, Virudhunagar, Thenkasi, Madurai, and Kanniyakumari districts. The agency has also forecast the formation of a low-pressure area in central parts of south Bay of Bengal during the next fourty eight hours due to a cyclonic circulation over the southeast Bay of Bengal. The northeast monsoon is slated to bring in 438 mm of rainfall which is around 48 per cent of Tamil Nadu's annual rainfall. New Delhi, Oct 25 : The Australian government and telecom giant Telstra are buying a Pacific telecoms company in a joint venture, BBC reported. The move is being viewed as a political block to China's influence in the region. Telstra called the $1.6 bn deal a "unique and very attractive commercial opportunity to boost our presence in the region". Digicel Pacific employs 1,700 people across Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Samoa, Vanuatu and Tahiti. The company's future has been the focus of speculation for months, the report said. Last year Digicel denied a report that it was in talks to sell its Pacific arm to state-owned China Mobile. According to Telstra, the Australian government approached it "to provide technical advice in relation to Digicel Pacific" which is "critical to telecommunications in the region", the report added. The government then agreed to finance the bulk of the bid, Telstra said. Analysts say the company would otherwise be attractive to China as it seeks to assert greater authority in the region. "Digicel is the primary player in the Pacific and Australia sees it as a strategic asset that they can't allow to fall into the hands of China," said Jonathan Pryke of the Lowy Institute, a Sydney-based think tank, according to the report. "They are keen to get Australian business back into the Pacific and they've come to the realisation that they are going to have to underwrite." Amid escalating tensions with China, Australia has ramped up its presence in the Pacific, the report said. This includes allocating $1.5 bn to investment in infrastructure projects in the region as well as joining the Quad group, with the US, India and Japan, and the Aukus security pact, with the US and UK. It also largely funded a 4,700km (2,900-mile) Coral Sea cable in 2018 to prevent Chinese telecoms company Huawei Technologies from laying it. Chinese control of telecommunications networks has long been a concern for Washington and its allies. This has led many countries to ban Huawei and other Chinese companies from supplying phone lines and 5G networks, including the US, UK and Australia. New Delhi, Oct 25 : The Supreme Court on Monday asked the Kerala government to refrain from debating the issue regarding suitable height of the water level in the Mullaperiyar dam before it, and rather engage with Tamil Nadu government and the committee. A bench of Justices A.M. Khanwilkar and C.T. Ravikumar observed that the issue involves the life and property of the people. Emphasising that the decision must be taken by the expert supervisory committee appointed by the top court, it asked the committee to take a call expeditiously. "We cannot decide the water level, only an expert committee can take a call," said the bench. It directed all parties to consult each other and take a call, in coordination with state governments, in connection with the water level. "It is a serious situation on ground. This is not a political arena," the top court said, asking the parties to come back after taking a decision as it scheduled the matter for further hearing on Wednesday. Senior advocate Jaideep Gupta and advocate G. Prakash, appearing for Kerala government, submitted the water level should not be allowed to exceed 139 feet, as it will be dangerous to people living downstream. Counsel urged the top court to direct the Tamil Nadu government to keep water level at 137 feet till Tuesday. Additional Advocate General V. Krishnamurthy, representing the Tamil Nadu government, pointed out that the 2014 judgment of the apex court allows water up to 142 feet. However, the bench insisted that the issue is serious and all parties should consult each other and take a call in the matter. The top court was hearing a plea by the Kerala government to ensure that water level is not allowed to exceed 139 feet. However, in 2018, the Supreme Court passed an order to maintain water level at 139 feet during the Kerala floods as a temporary arrangement. Citing the recent torrential rains which led to increase in water level in the dam's reservoir, the Kerala government asked for a similar relief. Panaji, Oct 25 : Accusing the BJP-led coalition government of converting Goa into India's newest crime hotspot, the Trinamool Congress in the state on Monday released a chargesheet against Chief Minister Pramod Sawant's governance claiming that in his reign, the health and education sectors in the state had collapsed. The 'people's chargesheet' which was released in the presence of Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra, national vice president Luizinho Faleiro and TMC leader Babul Supriyo in Panaji, faults the BJP government in the state for the collapse of the health and education sectors, while blaming Sawant for not doing much to revive the mining sector while also articulating identity-related issues. "Crime in Goa sharply rose by 60 percent (218 per lakh population) in the last four years alone. Five women are raped in Goa every month, three of whom are minors. Goa's rate of rape (7.8 per lakh population) has become double the national average. The Siddhi Naik case is the most recent reminder of the government's incompetence to promptly investigate crimes and bring to justice the culprits," the chargesheet said. Earlier on Monday, Moitra, Supriyo and Faleiro visited the parents of the deceased Siddhi Naik and promised to press for a fresh investigation into her mysterious death. "Goa recorded the highest COVID-19 death rate and second highest infection rate in India. Government's vested interest in oxygen procurement caused 75 deaths in just four days in GMC, during the second wave. 239 out of 1486 schools in Goa have only one teacher. 152 government primary schools have been closed in the last eight years," the chargesheet said. The chargesheet also slammed Sawant for making false promises vis a vis resumption of the mining industry, which has been shut down following a Supreme Court order citing irregularities in lease renewal processes. "Goa's government failed to recover the illegal mining loot amounting to "Rs 35,000 crore as calculated by (Justice MB) Shah Commission report. Lack of government's foresight has directly cost the livelihoods of nearly 2.5 lakh Goans dependent on mining," the chargesheet said. The TMC also claimed that the state government had cancelled permission to host a formal event in Panaji at the last minute, with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee even saying that the fight against the BJP would continue on the streets of Goa or in the state's tea shops, while taking a jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "In Goa too they have cancelled our party's lunch programme. The permission was cancelled. Our four MPs conducted the programme on the footpath. We are streetfighters. Whether you give permission or not, we know how to fight. From indoors as well as on the streets," Banerjee said in a statement from West Bengal. "We will fight from the tea stores in Goa. You rode to power on the basis of a cup of tea. We will drink tea as well as create awareness among people," she said. Banerjee is scheduled to visit the poll-bound state on October 28. New Delhi, Oct 25 : Industry leader IndiGo is expected to maintain its dominant position in Indian skies, despite the massive build-up of Tata Sons' aviation assets. The low-cost carrier's massive fleet size, as well as expansive routes, are expected to protect its huge domestic market share. With a 58 per cent domestic market share, the airline ferries around 6 out of every 10 domestic passengers. It has a fleet size of 275 aircraft and operates over 1,200 daily flights In the pre-pandemic era, the airline connected over 70 domestic and 24 international destinations. Compare this with a likely strength of over 200 aircraft that Air India-Tata combine might posses. Besides, IndiGo can quickly add more aircraft as it can expedite induction by around 5 planes per month. However, its fleet has only narrow body aircraft that restrict operational reach. On the other hand, a combine of Air India-Tata will have Air India's 117 wide-body and narrow body aircraft and Air India Express's 24. The wide-body aircraft, trained crews, invaluable airport slots, and time-tested operational standards, gives the edge to the combine in terms of ferrying international passenger traffic. It will also operate these aircraft on over 4,000 domestic and 1,800 international routes. "Clearly, IndiGo has built a dominant position in the domestic airline market over the last few years and in the pre-pandemic period, it was the only airline in India which demonstrated the ability to generate a healthy level of profits," Acuite Ratings and Research Ltd Chief Analytical Officer Suman Chowdhury said. "While the Tata Group will have the advantage of a better diversity in its aircraft fleet, it will be important for them to streamline the consolidated operations and derive the necessary synergies to be cost competitive. "As the operational restrictions ease in the post-pandemic period, passenger traffic is set to scale up rapidly but with record high fuel costs, the ability to keep costs under control will be the key differentiator for the airlines industry," he added. Brickwork Ratings' Senior Director, Ratings and Head, Infrastructure Ratings Vipula Sharma said: "Post pandemic, the airline recovery has been erratic. Indigo, with its relatively stronger finances will retain its market share in the medium term while the other players rebuild their operations." "The clear structure of this market will emerge only after the economic activity along with regular business travel reach pre-pandemic levels and the Tatas firm up their strategy with the three airlines." In a recent conversation with IANS, IndiGo Wholetime Director and CEO Ronojoy Dutta acknowledged that the competitive landscape is going to get much more intense. "There are three potential new entrants. Most formidable force of course will be the Air India, Vistara and AirAsia (India) Alliance. They'll emerge as a strong player. No question about that." On its part, IndiGo has three distinct lines of defence to ward-off competition, said Dutta. "Our first line of defence is that we have the lowest cost structure in the world. Besides, our engines are getting more fuel-efficient. Then, there is our service standard and the third is our traction with the customers in terms of our network." "Build a great network, build great connectivity and make sure you have high (on-time) frequencies between major destinations." Furthermore, Dutta said that apart from connecting smaller towns, the airline is entering in code-share agreements to shore up its international network. "Internationally, codeshares are important. We have a codeshare with Qatar Airways. We have a codeshare with Turkish and we are looking to add more." Recently, the airline entered into a codeshare agreement with American Airlines. London, Oct 25 : The international Covid vaccine scheme Covax has failed to evenly distribute vaccines against the infectious disease to poor countries, while rich countries have brought the jabs in surplus, many of which have also gone to waste. "Rich countries have received 16 times more Covid-19 vaccines per person than poorer nations that rely on the Covax programme backed by the World Health Organization," according to an analysis by the Financial Times. Data compiled by Unicef, a key implementation partner in the global vaccine scheme, show that 9.3 vaccines have been delivered to low-income countries for every 100 people, the report said. Of this, 7.1 have been delivered through Covax. On the other hand, 115 of 155 high-income countries have received Covid vaccines through known bilateral and multilateral agreements. According to Our World in Data, less than 3 per cent of people in low-income countries have received at least one dose, compared with three quarters in wealthier countries. Launched in 2020, Covax was aimed at giving people in poor countries equitable access to vaccines. But "the scheme has, so far, only delivered about 400 million doses out of an already-cut yearly projection of 1.4 billion," the report said. It now "faces the challenge of delivering about 1 billion doses in 68 days -- almost 14 million doses a day -- to meet its 2021 goals," the report added. Further, Covax was originally supposed to ease procurement of vaccines for poorer nations, by means of collective bargaining by counties. But first it faced delays in shipments, then instead of making a combined deal with manufacturers, richer nations struck their own vaccine contracts. This weakened the facility's overall negotiating power because Covax was left to negotiate on behalf of fewer nations, the report said. "Covax is definitely being left behind, (the) industry is prioritising other bilateral contracts," a high-ranking official with direct knowledge of the issue was quoted as saying to FT. To boost the availability of vaccines, the WHO earlier this month issued a renewed call for dose-swapping and called for a global moratorium on booster shots until the end of the year. It has stated that the Covid-19 pandemic will drag on until 2022, much longer than it needs to, because several poor countries have not received vaccines against the deadly infectious disease. New Delhi, Oct 25 : Amid sharp rise in dengue cases in the national capital, BJP Delhi president Adesh Kumar Gupta on Monday said that all three Municipal Corporations of Delhi (MCD) have been asked to intensify fogging across the city till November 10. Responding to questions raised by the ruling AAP on the BJP-controlled MCDs' handling of dengue cases, Gupta said: "Year by year, Delhi has registered fewer cases of dengue. In 2015, 11,866 cases of dengue were recorded, in 2016 -- 2,249, in 2017 -- 3,272, in 2018 -- 1,310, in 2019 -- 833, in 2020 -- 489 and 1,006 till October 22, 2021." This, he said, has only been possible because of continuous efforts of the Public Health Department, that comes under the MCD, via fogging and using gambusia fish (mosquito fish) to kill off the larve, he said during a press conference. The Aam Aadmi Party had recently attacked the Bharatiya Janata Party over mismanagement and irregularities in the civic body, leading to a rise in dengue cases. "Heavy rain in the month of September and October are yet another reason behind rise in dengue cases," the BJP leader added. Taking a dig at Delhi government's "10 Hafte, 10 Baje, 10 Minute campaign," he said that the Chief Minister wants to win over this disease by emptying flower pots at his home. "During our Jhuggi Samman Yatra, we have seen slum cluster people living in dirt and overflowing streets, the main reason for breeding of mosquitoes," he said, adding that Delhi government's Public Works Department (PWD), Delhi Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB) and Delhi Jal Board (DJB)should focus on the slum clusters and help people out. "If instead of picking on the BJP, AAP focuses on its work, dengue can be controlled much effectively," Gupta added. Jaipur, Oct 25 : Hundreds of petrol pumps in Bikaner division of Rajasthan have been shut indefinitely to protest against the rise in prices of petrol and diesel due to higher taxes in the desert state which has left the people struggling to get their vehicles tanks filled. These petrol pumps are situated in various districts including Sriganganagar, Hanumangarh and Bikaner division in Rajasthan. The petrol pumps association alleged that fuel prices in the neighbouring states of Haryana and Punjab are lower because of which fuel pumps in Rajasthan's Bikaner division are facing heavy losses. They alleged that thousands of commuters including taxi and truck drivers go to Punjab districts like Abohar and others daily with empty fuel tanks and return with filled tanks as petrol is cheaper by Rs 11 per litre in Punjab. Dinesh Saraswat, a petrol pump dealer, speaking to IANS said that the daily sale in Punjab petrol pumps situated at the borders is one lakh litres while it is just 2000 litres in Sriganganagar. "The reason is extra taxes in Rajasthan which makes petrol and diesel expensive. Earlier, only diesel was cheaper there but now the state government has slashed taxes on petrol too which has lowered its price." With no other option, we have staged this strike for an indefinite period, he added. Sriganganagar in Rajasthan, touching Pakistan on one side, has Punjab as its neighbour on the other. The strike began Sunday midnight to demand a cut in taxes so that fuel prices come down at par with neighbouring states. The strike is effective on all vehicles except ambulances and fire brigade services which are being given fuel. Petrol pump dealers have also demanded a check on illegal sale of bio-diesel fuel. Srigangaganagar petrol pump dealers said that the petrol pump owners had informed the government, but no solution has been forthcoming. Petrol here costs Rs 119.69 per litre while diesel is Rs 110.55 which makes it the highest in the country. Petrol pump dealers in a few regions of Jodhpur division have also gone on strike. In Barmer, petrol pump owners staged a strike from Monday morning till 2 p.m. They ended the strike looking at the festive season, however, they will again go on strike after Diwali, said sources. Saraswat meanwhile said that petrol should be brought under GST. In Rajasthan, taxes compared to Punjab are higher and should be brought down. Aizawl, Oct 25 : With a fresh influx of refugees from coup-hit Myanmar in over a week, the total of number of people taking shelter in Mizoram has mounted to 13,000, officials said on Monday. According to district administration and police officials, men, women and children from Myanmar, specially from Chin state, are crossing over to Mizoram's southern and eastern border districts. Officials and elected representatives, who are closely monitoring developments in Myanmar, said that continued clashes between the Army and the civilian groups there forced the people to cross over and seek refuge in the Indian state. An MP from Mizoram said that there are a large number of people waiting across the border to take shelter in Mizoram, while more are likely to come after their harvest season. Data maintained by the CID shows that the Myanmar nationals mostly take shelter in six Mizoram districts -- Champhai, Lawngtlai, Siaha, Serchhip, Hnahthial and Saitual -- with Champhai housing the highest number of around 6,000. As many as 1,630 people are in Aizawl. Security and district officials, legislators and others told IANS over the phone that the distressed refugees from Myanmar have crossed the Tiau river in small country boats to take shelter in the border villages. "The river Tiau (which flows along the Champhai district in eastern Mizoram and divides India and Myanmar) was crossed by the refugees in small boats with the help of local Mizos," a Mizoram NGO leader said. "The hapless people with no option to survive the Army onslaught took shelter in our side and the Mizo villagers on humanitarian ground provided them food and shelter," he added. Mizoram shares 510 km international border with Myanmar and 318 km with Bangladesh. Besides Mizoram's most influential NGO Young Mizo Association, various churches including Presbyterian, Baptist and Roman Catholic are, on humanitarian grounds, providing food, essentials, clothing and shelter to the refugees since March. On a number of occasions, Chief Minister Zoramthanga has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to provide humanitarian assistance to Myanmar nationals as his state is witnessing a continuing influx of refugees from the neighbouring country. Mizoram Planning Board Vice Chairman H. Rammawi, who is closely dealing with the Myanmar refugee affairs, said that the Chief Minister, besides writing letters, has also talked to Prime Minister and Home Minister Amit Shah over phone on a number of occasions, requested them to extend humanitarian assistance to the Myanmar refugees. "The Central government is yet to respond positively and has remained silent on the issue," he said, adding that he has been in constant touch with the External Affairs Ministry and the Home Ministry, and the people of Mizoram are deeply disappointed over the Centre's silence and "apathetic" attitude towards the distressed people from Myanmar. He said that the state is now reeling under a severe financial crisis, limited infrastructure of health and other services and non-availability of required manpower, as the Covid pandemic has also badly affected the state's overall situation. Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to the Chief Minister Rosangzuala is regularly in touch with Central ministers and officials to provide financial assistance and other support to the refugees. An MHA advisory, recently sent out to the four northeastern states, Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh, which share 1,640-km unfenced border with Myanmar, said that the states and Union Territories have no power to grant "refugee" status to any foreigner, and India is not a signatory to the UN Refugee Convention of 1951 and its 1967 Protocol. A one-year state of emergency has been declared in Myanmar, where power has been transferred to Senior General Min Aung Hlaing after President U Win Myint and State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi were detained by the military on February 1. New Delhi, Oct 25 : The latest Covid-19 resurgence in China which has spread to 11 Chinese provinces in just one week, was triggered by a new imported source identified as Delta variant, according to officials from China's top health authority, Global Times reported. Some Chinese epidemiologists see the current sporadic outbreaks hit on the largest scale since the epidemic flare-up in Nanjing in late July that was the worst since the 2020 outbreak in Wuhan, Hubei Province. Of the 133 infections reported over the past week, 106 cases were found to be related to tourist activities involving a total of 13 tour groups or self-driving tours, said Wu Liangyou, deputy director of the National Health Commission (NHC) disease control bureau, the report said. At present, the epidemic is in the rapid development stage, as cases of infections that are not related to tour groups have been increasing. As screening work continues, the number of infections is anticipated to increase, with the areas affected also expanding, Wu said. Ejin Banner in North China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region has come under the spotlight amid the latest epidemic resurgence, as almost all the domestically transmitted cases were part of tour groups traveling to the county-level division in the region that borders Mongolia, the latest transmission chains showed, the report said. Since October 17, the new round of domestic infections has occurred in multiple places and spread to 11 provinces within one week. Most of the infections are related to cross-regional tourism-related activities and the risks of the epidemic further expanding have been increasing, according to the NHC, the report said. Based on the epidemiological investigations and the existing virus sequencing results, China's top health authority has identified the current virus genome sequence as sharing low homology with those of the previous outbreaks in China, suggesting that the ongoing resurgence was caused by a new imported source, the report said. The virus was also identified as being of the Delta variant and appeared to be highly contagious, causing continuous transmission in highly exposed groups. It has been confirmed that the virus that resulted in the ongoing outbreaks came from overseas, but how it entered China remains unknown, Wang Guangfa, a respiratory expert at Peking University First Hospital, told the Global Times. However, it's worth noting that Ejina Banner is at the intersection point of different transmission chains where the China-Mongolia port is located, he said. Li Mingde, an academic adviser at the Tourism Research Center under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times that this round of epidemic resurgence demonstrates that tourism is a key channel for virus transmission, as it always comes with clusters and huge flows of people across the country, the report said. New York, Oct 25 : Amazon on Monday announced the launch of two new programmes which will integrate its voice-based assistant Alexa into hospitals and senior living communities. The new programmes, run through Alexa Smart Properties, will help healthcare workers to interact with patients without using protective equipment, The Verge reported. "Early on in the pandemic, hospitals and senior living communities reached out to us and asked us to help them set up Alexa and voice in their communities," Liron Torres, global leader for Alexa Smart Properties, was quoted as saying in an interview. The programme will allow senior living facilities to use Amazon Echo devices to send announcements or other messages to residents' rooms. The Alexa programme lets them send messages instantly into patient rooms as well as to place calls to family members or friends without having to rely on a staff member. "Staff can be more available for other tasks," Torres said. Two networks of senior living communities, Atria (which is nationwide) and Eskaton (based in California), are adding Alexa to some facilities, Amazon said. However, Amazon has declined to say how much the programme costs those facilities. In hospitals, the Alexa Smart Properties programme lets nurses communicate with patients through the calling and intercom-esque drop-in features without having to enter patient rooms. Patients could ask questions, or nurses could check on how someone is feeling through the feature, the report said. "This enables hospitals to increase productivity and be able to save on medical supplies," Torres said. Hospitals can also send information and announcements to patients through Alexa. Patients can toggle on "do not disturb" to prevent drop-ins, she said. Prayagraj : , Oct 25 (IANS) Mahant Ravindra Puri will be the new president of the Akhil Bhartiya Akhara Parishad (ABAP), the apex Hindu religious body of the 13 monastic orders of the country. He will be replacing Mahant Narendra Giri, who had allegedly committed suicide in the premises of the Baghambari Math in the city, on September 20. He is the present secretary of Shri Panchayati Akhara Niranjani. Puri was elected as the new president of the ABAP in a meeting of the seers, called by the general secretary of ABAP Hari Giri, the chief patron of the Juna Akhara, on Monday. Out of the 13 akharas of the country, representatives of seven akharas had come for the meeting following which it is now evident that ABAP stands divided into two groups. Puri had the support of seven akharas, representatives of which attended the meeting. As per the practice, two members from each of the 13 akharas are members of ABAP. There are in all 28 members in the ABAP, the president and the general secretary being the additional two. Earlier, owing to a rebellion within the parishad, seers of seven akharas had held a meeting at Haridwar on October 21 and elected Mahant Ravindra Puri of Mahanirvani Akhara as the president of ABAP. Representatives of the seven akharas, including Mahanirvani, Atal, Nirmohi Ani, Nirvani Ani, Digambar Ani, Bada Akhara Udasin and Nirmal Akhara attended the meeting. A new executive committee was formed in the meeting held at the premises of Shri Mahanirvani Akhara in Kankhal, Haridwar. Besides Ravindra Puri, the president of Nirmohi Ani Akhara, Shri Mahant Rajendra Das was elected general secretary. Along with them, Damodar Das Maharaj was appointed vice-president, Jaswinder Singh Shastri as treasurer, Ram Kishore Das Maharaj as minister, Gaurishankar Das Maharaj as spokesperson and Dharamdas Maharaj and Maheshwar Das as patrons in the new executive. However, ABAP's general secretary Hari Giri of Juna Akhara termed the election as a malicious attempt to divide the ABAP and did not recognise it. "As I had already called for a meeting of ABAP for October 25, if these akharas had any intention to prove their majority, they should have attended the said meeting and elected their leader. After all, ABAP elects its office bearers in a democratic way that shies away from contesting the elections as every member of ABAP has the right to stand for president or any other post," said Hari Giri. Monday's meeting was held with a single point agenda of electing the new president. A meeting of the Akhara Parishad will be called again after three months to select the rest of the executive members. New Delhi, Oct 25 : The newly appointed Congress In charge of Punjab, Harish Chaudhary has his task cut out -- to deal with the internal rift in the state unit which has again erupted after Congress Anandpur Sahib MP Manish Tewari trained guns at state president Navjot Singh Sidhu and former state In charge Harish Rawat. Harish Chaudhary did not respond to calls on the issue but sources say that the Congress leadership is reaching out to all prominent leaders of the state. The first success came after party persuaded Sidhu to join the all party meet called by the Chief Minister on the BSF row, much to the relief of the party. Sidhu participated in the all party meeting called by Punjab Chief Minister to denounce Center notifications on BSF. After the meet he said, "People of Punjab demand parties to collectively stand against unconstitutional actions of Centre that demean state's executive/legislature using all resources at disposal, be it persuasive powers of Vidhan Sabha and parliament, go to courts leading a Satyagraha to reclaim our Rights." After party's approach of reconciliation, the Congress state president, who has been critical to newly appointed Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi, has toned down a bit. Sidhu said he will only raise real issues, "Punjab must come back to its real issues that concern every punjabi and our future generations. How will we counter the financial emergency that stares upon us? I will stick to the real issues and not let them take a backseat," he said. Manish Tewari, on Sunday had said, "I have never seen such chaos & anarchy as what is playing out in Punjab Congress today. Repeated open defiance of AICC by a PCC President, colleagues squabbling publicly with each other like children. Guttural language against each other that even fish wives would not use. For the past 5 months it is Punjab Congress versus Congress in Punjab. Do we think that people of Punjab are not disgusted by this daily soap opera? Irony is that those who complained loudest of transgressions and aberrations were unfortunately and continue to be worst offenders themselves." The Congress on Friday appointed Harish Chaudhary as Punjab in-charge, which has not gone down well with the camp which is anti Sidhu in the state, as Chaudhary was instrumental in the removal of Amarinder Singh and is said to be close to Rahul Gandhi. Now Chaudhary has a tough task to manage the disgruntled groups in the party and also coordinate with Sidhu and Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi. Both do not share good rapport and Sidhu has been attacking the Chief Minister as he has been upset with the choice of cabinet and the appointments in the state's various bodies. Chennai, Oct 25 : The Madras High Court on Monday reserved judgment on the plea by Tamil superstar C. Joseph Vijay that an adverse observation made by a single judge's bench of the court against him be expunged from records. Appearing for Vijay, former Tamil Nadu Advocate General, Vijay Narayan argued that the remarks made by the judge in July while dismissing the plea of the actor to exempt payment for his imported Rolls Royce Ghost were unjustified. Counsel argued that the judge had made "wholly unjustified remarks" against the actor and had even portrayed him, as well as the entire film industry, as "anti-national". A division bench of Justice Pushpa Sathyanarayana and Justice Mohammed Shaffiq deferred their judgment after hearing the detailed arguments by Narayan. He also argued that the importers of luxury cars had to pay customs duty to the Centre and after some state governments also commenced demanding entry taxes, many of these importers approached various high courts of the country. Vijay was one such litigant before the Madras High Court, and when the single judge's bench directed him to pay 20 per cent of the tax, he had complied with the interim order and paid the amount. Counsel noted that after the Supreme Court, in 2017, ruled that state governments were entitled to entry tax, the petitions filed by other importers were dismissed with a directive to pay the full tax, but the single judge's bench came down heavily on the actor. With the actor primarily criticised by the judge for not disclosing his professional identity, Narayan argued that there was no need to disclose the identity when a person was importing a car and that whether the importer is a doctor, actor, or a lawyer does not matter. He also said that the single judge had portrayed the entire film industry in a bad light as if it was full of tax-evaders. He said that the actor had paid the balance 80 per cent of the tax amount, which amounts to Rs 32.30 lakh, by demand draft in August 2021. The bench was informed that the single judge's bench had made similar comments while disposing of a 2015 writ petition filed by superstar Dhanush against the demand of entry tax for a similar Rolls Royce Ghost imported by him in 2015. Narayan said: "I don't think that it is for the courts to decide whether a rich person should buy a car or a bungalow. There are people who buy aircraft. Therefore this kind of philosophy is not for the court to make." As Justice Satyanarayana asked counsel whether efforts were taken to request the single judge to expunge remarks, the counsel replied in the negative. He also cited Supreme Court remarks against such unwarranted comments by the courts against litigants. New Delhi, Oct 25 : The Supreme Court on Monday sought response from the West Bengal government and a woman complainant on a plea by senior BJP leader Kailash Vijayvargiya and others in a case of gang rape. Senior advocate Mahesh Jethmalani, representing the petitioners, submitted before a bench headed by Justice M.R. Shah that the complainant alleged that she was raped in 2018, but the complaint was filed in 2020. The top court was informed that a closure report was filed, but the high court allowed a revision petition. Senior advocate P.S. Patwalia, also appearing for the petitioners, urged the top court to grant protection to petitioners in the matter. On aspect of protection from arrest in the matter, the top court asked the petitioners to move the high court with their request for interim protection. Petitioners' counsel cited the Constitution bench decision in the Lalita Kumari case and added that in the present case there was a preliminary enquiry, where it was found that there nothing substantial in the compliant. They submitted that their clients were subjected to illegal investigation. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing the West Bengal government, contended before the bench he would not argue on the merits in the matter. However, the top court reiterated that the petitioners should move the high court and scheduled the matter for further hearing after Diwali break. The complainant had alleged the petitioners, including Jisnu Basu and Pradeep Joshi, committed rape on her at an apartment on November 29, 2018. She had also levelled the allegation of physical assault. The petitioners had moved the top court aggrieved with the order passed by the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Alipore, who directed registration of an FIR against them. New Delhi, Oct 25 : The Supreme Court on Monday was told that the State Bank of India (SBI) and the UCO Bank have agreed to invest Rs 450 crore in Amrapali projects, but other banks, who were part of a consortium, are delaying the process. Senior advocate and court-appointed receiver R. Venkataramani submitted before a bench headed by Justice U.U. Lalit that six banks have agreed in principle, but things have not moved in the desired direction for nearly two months. He added that in order to accelerate the process, a little nudge from the top court was needed. On September 3, the receiver had told the Supreme Court that he had held meetings with the officials of a consortium of six banks - the SBI, UCO Bank, Bank of India, Bank of Baroda, Punjab National Bank, and Punjab & Sindh Bank. The receiver informed the top court that except the SBI and UCO Bank, none of the remaining four banks had come out with any concrete proposal on funding the Amrapali projects. He emphasised that the proposal has not been finalised. The top court then asked the banks to decide within two weeks and file the proposal before it. During the hearing, the top court noted that if banks were to further deliberate on the issue, then an officer of MD level should convene a meeting with the receiver to develop a concrete proposal. The receiver informed the bench, also comprising Justice Ajay Rastogi, that 300 flats would be handed over to flat purchasers by the year-end in Greater Noida, and flat purchasers will get possession letters on the eve of Diwali. He further added these are over and above 2,300 flats, which would be handed over to flat purchasers in Noida as committed by NBCC. Kumar Mihir, advocate representing some home buyers, said it is a welcome step that the SBI and UCO Bank have agreed in principle to invest Rs 450 crore in the construction of Amrapali projects, and hopefully, other banks will also follow their steps. The Supreme Court also issued notice to the Uttar Pradesh government seeking clarification on stamp duty being charged from Amrapali flat purchasers at the time of registry. The receiver, last month, had informed the top court that the consortium had agreed to fund the stalled Amrapali projects and bank officials had said that documentation in connection with the process will begin during the month, and disbursal of loans should be expected. Uttara Kannada : , Oct 25 (IANS) The search by the forest department, police and fire personnel continued on Monday for the 15-year boy who went missing after a crocodile dragged him into Kali River in Dandeli town in Uttara Kannada district of Karnataka. The search operations will resume on Tuesday morning. Mohin Mehaboob Gulbargawale went missing from the river banks of Kali while catching fish on Sunday afternoon. The police have found his footwear near the banks of the river. Witnesses have told police that the boy was dragged into the water by a crocodile. The authorities have stopped the release of water from Supa dam to carry out search operations. Meanwhile, the locals have complained about rising crocodile attacks. Two month ago a huge crocodile had entered a residential locality of Dandeli town. The video of croc passing through the residential lanes had gone viral. The case has raised concerns as Dandeli is a tourist destination for water rafting and jungle trekking. Omkar Umesh, owner of Tribal Eco Shop in Dandeli explained that Dandeli as a tourist destination is witnessing an exponential growth. The tourists from Karnataka, Goa and Maharashtra arrive in large numbers. In the last two years, a large number of visitors came from Hyderabad and Chennai also. Dandeli municipality has to build fencing along the stretch of Kali river bank. This is the first time that such a development has been reported. Though crocodiles are present in large numbers in River Kali, they have harmed none till date. Large numbers of tourists visit Dandeli to sight Crocodiles. Because of the proactive measures by the authorities, the breeding of crocodiles has also gone up, he explained. Hyderabad, Oct 25 : Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao on Monday slammed the Election Commission for its restrictions on his public meeting in poll-bound Huzurabad Assembly constituency, saying it was crossing limits. Addressing the plenary of the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), he criticised the poll panel for objecting to his public meetings. He advised the EC to maintain its dignity as a constitutional institution rather than succumbing to pressure from others. This comes close on his remark at Yadadri on October 20 that EC crossed the limits by stopping implementation of Dalit Bandhu in Huzurabad Assembly constituency where the bye-elections are scheduled on October 30. KCR, as Rao is popularly known, said it was not right on part of the EC to impose restrictions on his public meeting. He was apparently referring to the poll panel's move to extend the model code of conduct to Hanamkonda district though Huzurabad constituency is located in Karimnagar district. The TRS was planning to hold a massive public meeting in Hanamkonda district in view of the restrictions in Huzurabad. "As a senior politician, a responsible President of a political party and also a Chief Minister of Telangana, I want to know what could ECI achieve with its decision?" he asked. The Chief Minister said the restrictions would have no meaning as more people will listen to his speech through live telecast, than those who could attend the public meeting. KCR also slammed the opposition parties for their attempts to stop him from holding public meetings. Stating that public meetings are a democratic right in an election process, he wondered what sort of politics the opposition parties were playing. He alleged that some leaders even filed cases in the courts to restrain him from holding public meetings in Nagarjuna Sagar constituency. He urged Dalit families in Huzurabad not to get disheartened by the EC decision to stop Dalit Bandhu scheme. Exuding confidence that the TRS will win the by-election, he assured them the implementation of the scheme will resume after November 4 when the model code of conduct ends. "No one including the Election Commission can stop implementation of Dalit Bandhu after November 4," he said. KCR announced that all Dalit families in Huzurabad will be covered by the scheme before the end of this year. Since the scheme is being implemented in Huzurabad on pilot basis, teams from remaining constituencies will visit Huzurabad to study the scheme to replicate it successfully in their respective constituencies. Claiming that Dalit Bandhu is a revolutionary scheme, he said it would show way to the entire country to end the discrimination against Dalit and ensure their economic and social upliftment Dismissing the criticism of the scheme by the opposition parties, KCR said the investment in the scheme was minimal compared to the overall outcome and its benefits. He claimed that it is the capital asset building exercise to improve the socio-economic conditions of the Dalits. He quoted economists as saying that Rs 1.7 lakh crore required for the scheme would soon turn into Rs 10 lakh crore wealth for the state. Under Dalit Bandhu, every Dalit family will be provided a Rs 10 lakh grant to start any economic activity of its choice. KCR reiterated that Dalit Bandhu will be extended to all sections of the society including backward classes, tribals, minorities and economically weaker sections among upper castes. Guwahati, Oct 25 : Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday said that the Union Health Ministry has allowed vaccination of those who cross 17 years of age against Covid-19 and urged the people to curb further spread of the infectious disease by taking all measures including inoculation. Claiming that the pandemic situation in Assam despite the festive season is now gradually improving, the Chief Minister urged the people to take both doses of Covid-19 vaccine for their personal safety and welfare of the society. Addressing an election rally for the bypoll (October 30) to the Mariani assembly seat, Sarma, who held the Health Department in the previous Assam government, said that the centre has recently asked that all those who have crossed the 17 years of age can now take the vaccine. The existing Covid vaccines - Covishield and Covaxin - are being administered in India for those who are above 18 years of age. The Chief Minister said that the second wave started from April and if people remain alert, further spread of the disease would be checked. "Elections are a normal important exercise in our country, but people's lives are foremost important. People have to be cautious about Covid," he said and firmly announced that there would be no lockdown again in Assam. The Chief Minister reiterated that his government's war against drugs, corruption and other illegal activities would be intensified. Of Assam's over 3.50 crore population, till Monday 2,72,94,413 people took the jab with 73,62,507 administered two doses. Bhubaneswar, Oct 25 : The Odisha government is in discussion over a special incentive package for mega investment in textile and apparel including technical textile sector, said State Industries Minister Dibya Shankar Mishra. Addressing a seminar on making Odisha the textiles hub of the eastern India here on Monday, Mishra said, "Our government has prioritized this sector and is seeking mega-investments from major textiles and apparel players. We have more than 1.5 lakh acres of land, ready to be used by the industries coming down to Odisha. Not only in recent times, but Odisha also has a long history in textile and global trading." He has appealed to all industry leaders across India to come and visit Odisha and assured necessary support from the State government. Secretary, Ministry of Textiles, Upendra Prasad Singh elaborated the new schemes of the Central government and pointed out the areas where India based industries can focus on to have a growth in this sector. Principal secretary, Industries department of Odisha, Hemant Sharma has highlighted the recent growth of the state primarily driven by the push towards industrial growth. He has also elaborated the strong driving factors of Odisha making it the manufacturing hub of the East such as the strategic location of Odisha in the ASEAN region, the industrial infrastructure, highly skilled manpower and especially the proactive governance. Leading national and global players like Shahi Exports, Aditya Birla Fashion, Page Industries and Wild Lotus participated in the seminar and shared their experience in the State. Domain leaders including Bhilosa Industries, Vardhman textiles, Dixcy textiles, Indorama industries and Shubhalakshmi polyesters were also present at the Seminar. Mysuru, Oct 25 : Technology park will be set up in Mysuru in the building which belongs to Karnataka State Open University (KSOU) and required land for expansion of Mysuru airport will be provided immediately, C.N. Ashwath Narayan, the Minister for IT/BT and S&T stated on Monday. Addressing the day-long event, The Big Tech Show, he said that a 'Mysuru Experience Center' which also gives a feel of the tech ecosystem of the city will be established at the exhibition center. Minister Narayan also met Vidyashankar S., Vice-Chancellor, Karnataka State Open University, and discussed setting up of an IT park in the building of 1 lakh sq ft which belongs to the University. In the present day, cyber security is becoming essential for every person. The city of Mysuru should leverage the existing tech ecosystem and become a cyber security hub, the Minister felt. He added, at least 15 companies should start their Global Capability Centers (GCCs) in the city. Sharing experiences of his recent visit to Dubai World Expo, he said, investors are ready to invest in Karnataka in terms of lakhs of crores. In the same way, the state should grow 'Beyond Bengaluru' to absorb the investment in the right way, Narayana opined. "Though Startups are seeing major investments, 90 per cent of it is coming from outside and only 10 per cent is domestic investors. But domestic investors should come forward to invest and make use of the opportunity to garner economic benefits," he said. "The government is taking all measures to nurture the tech echo system evenly all across by introducing Engineering R and D policy, Fab policy, providing land subsidy, power subsidy, mandatory 30 weeks of internship for engineering students among other measures," he explained. Rajeev Chandrashekhar, Union Minister for Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, Electronics and IT, addressing virtually from Delhi said, Karnataka should become a state of 300 billon dollar economy by 2025 in line with Prime Narendra Modi's target of the country becoming a trillion-dollar digital economy by then. Dr E.V. Ramana Reddy, Additional Chief Secretary Deptartment of Electronics, IT/BT and Science and Technology said, in the post-pandemic situation when work from home and work from anywhere has become the norm, the city has tremendous potential to emerge as a Cyber Security Hub and to have GCCs. New Delhi, Oct 25 : Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) Mumbai Zonal Director Sameer Wankhede, who led the cruise drug bust relating to superstar Shah Rukh Khan's son Aryan Khan but now faces bribe allegations, reached Delhi on Monday evening but denied that he had been summoned by any agency. Surrounded by media persons, as he arrived at the Indira Gandhi International Airport, said that he is absolutely stand by his investigation. "I came for some works in the city," he said, while denying any summons by anyone. As many as 20 people, including Aryan Khan, were arrested after the NCB team busted an alleged drugs party on the Cordelia Cruise ship. Sparking off a major controversy, a witness in the case on Sunday accused the NCB of allegedly demanding bribes from Shah Rukh Khan to release his son. The witness, Prabhakar Sail, openly stated on various TV channels that he feared a threat to his life from none other than Wankhede. Meanwhile, the NCB vigilance unit head, DDG NR, Gyaneshwar Singh said that the agency will initiate an inquiry into the allegations of "extortion" made by the independent witness in the drug case. Singh said that he will record the statements and analyse the evidence submitted by the witness, Sail, and later make a comprehensive report and submit it to the NCB. On being asked whether Wankhede will remain in the position as it can impact the inquiry, he said: "We will make a decision on the evidence found during the inquiry." "We are a professional agency and whenever we notice a thing to be enquired, we will do the inquiry," he said. The vigilance chief added that they would continue to fight the drug menace despite the personal attacks and accusations against the anti-drug trafficking body. It was believed that Wankhede has been summoned to the national capital by the NCB Director General to provide an explanation into the stunning allegations leveled by the cruiser ship raid's "panch witness" Sail on Sunday, but the agency has termed it as a routine meeting with the top brass. New Delhi, Oct 25 : The Supreme Court on Monday quashed the criminal proceedings against a man convicted under the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. A bench headed by Chief Justice N.V. Ramana and comprising Justices Surya Kant and Hima Kohli said: "We are of the opinion that it would not be incorrect to categorise the occurrence as one being overarchingly private in nature, having only subtle undertones of criminality, even though the provisions of a special statute have been attracted in the present case." The bench noted that casteist slurs were uttered solely on account of frustration and anger over the pending property dispute. "The offence in question, for which the appellant has been convicted, does not appear to exhibit his mental depravity. The aim of the SC/ST Act is to protect members of the downtrodden classes from atrocious acts of the upper strata of the society," it held. The bench noted that although the appellant may not belong to the same caste as the complainant, however he belongs to a relatively backward section of the society and is certainly not in any better economic or social position when compared to the victim. "Therefore, keeping in mind the socio economic status of the appellant, we are of the opinion that the overriding objective of the SC/ST Act would not be overwhelmed if the present proceedings are quashed." The bench noted that the complainant has, of her own free will, entered a compromise and wishes to drop the present criminal proceedings against the accused. "Therefore, in order to avoid the revival of healed wounds, and to advance peace and harmony, it will be prudent to effectuate the present settlement," it said. In 1994, Ramawatar and his neighbour Prembai, residents of Panna district of Madhya Pradesh, got into a property dispute. The man not only threw a brick on the woman, belonging to the SC category, but also used casteist slurs and made filthy remarks. Ramawatar was convicted, sentenced to six months of rigorous imprisonment, and fined Rs 1,000. In August 2010, the Madhya Pradesh High Court dismissed the accused's appeal against his conviction and sentence, following which he moved the top court. Concluding the judgment, the bench said: "We find it appropriate to invoke our powers under Article 142 of the Constitution and quash the criminal proceedings to do complete justice between the parties. As a sequel thereto, judgment and orders passed by the Trial Court and the High Court are set aside. Bail bonds, if any, are discharged. The appeal is allowed in above terms." Dhaka, Oct 25 : An Indian armed forces contingent and bands of both army and navy will participate in "Bangladesh Victory Day Celebrations" in Dhaka on December 16, it was announced on Monday. The decision was taken as visiting Bangladesh Chief of Naval Staff Admiral M. Shaheen met his Indian counterpart, Admiral Karambir Singh, in New Delhi. The participation is seen as a reciprocal move as 122-member strong contingent of the Bangladesh armed forces had participated in the Republic Day parade of India this year on January 26. The contingent comprised the personnel of the Bangladesh Army, Navy, and Air Force. A majority of contingent hailed from the most distinguished units of the Bangladesh Army which have the distinct honour of fighting and winning the 1971 liberation war with Pakistan. A statement issued by the Indian Defence Ministry said: "India and Bangladesh share bonds of history, language, culture and multitudes of other commonalities. The excellent bilateral ties reflect an all-encompassing partnership based on sovereignty, equality, trust and understanding that goes beyond strategic ties." Iqbal is on an official visit to India from October 23 to 29. He has already met Chief of Defence Staff, General Bipin Rawat and other high-ranking officials. During the interactions of the two navy chiefs, issues relating to joint cooperative efforts like coordinated patrol along international maritime boundary line, bilateral exercise BONGOSAGAR, conduct of naval training and reciprocal visits of delegations was discussed. The aim was to promote interoperability and joint operation skills by conducting a wide range of maritime exercise and operations. The second edition of Exercise BONGOSAGAR took place in northern Bay of Bengal on October 3, 2020. The first edition took place in 2019. This year's edition will be of greater significance as it is the Mujib Borsho and 50th year of the Liberation War. On completion of engagements in Delhi, Admiral Iqbal will be visiting Mumbai where he will meet Western Naval Command chief, Vice Admiral R. Hari Kumar, and visit the flagship of the command. On completion of his Mumbai visit, the Admiral would proceed to Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, to witness training activities and interact with the Commandant. Mysuru, Oct 25 : The alleged man-eater tiger captured in Tamil Nadu and later sent to Mysuru Chamundi Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre is in critical state after surgery, sources said on Monday. Sources said that the seven-year tiger captured in Tamil Nadu was injured on its abdomen by a tusker while attacking a calf, and has suffered injury to its liver too. Though surgery has been conducted, sources in the rehabilitation centre said that the chances of the tiger's survival are low. The adult tiger was tranquilised and captured by Tamil Nadu foresters at Mudumalai Tiger Reserve after it reportedly turned into a man-eater. A medical team has been monitoring the tiger as it was found to have injuries on the body. Identified as MDT-23 (Mudumalai Division Tiger-23), the captured tiger was shifted to Mysuru for treatment. It was originally planned to shift it to the Vandalur zoo. According to the foresters, the tiger had allegedly mauled three persons and around 10 cattle in the Mudumalai forest area in Nilgiris district in Tamil Nadu in the past two months. It was captured on October 15 after foresters conducted combing operations for nearly a month. Dhaka, Oct 26 : A court in Bangladesh's Chittagong court on Monday sent, to one day police custody, 16 accused in a case filed over vandalising a Durga Puja mandap and attacking police personnel. Of the arrestees, Habibullah Mizan has given a confessional statement before the court. Police have so far arrested 100 people over the incident. Metropolitan Magistrate Hossain Mohammad Reza passed the remand order after hearing the police plea that sought a seven-day remand to question the accused, Chattogram Metropolitan Police's Additional Deputy Commissioner, Prosecution, Md Kamrul Hasan told IANS. After the Friday noon prayers on October 15, hundreds of aggressive people emerged from the Anderkilla Jame Mosque, charged into the J.M. Sen Hall puja mandap and tried to break in. The angry mob hurled stones and tore down posters and banners at the spot. To contain the situation, police fired blank shots and baton charged the mob and at one point, the mob attacked the police as well. Kotwali police station Sub Inspector Akash Mahmud Farid filed a case over the incident the following day, naming 83 people as accused. Another 500 unnamed people were also named as suspects in the case. New Delhi, Oct 26 : Under the Tourism Development plan of Government of Chhattisgarh, a three-day National Tribal Dance Festival will be held in Raipur from October 28-30 at the Science College Ground. It will witness participation of Tribal Dance Groups from various states and union territories of India along with international participation from several countries portraying and celebrating their respective tribal folk culture. The festival will feature multiple artists belonging to diverse tribal communities from across many Indian states and those from countries including Kingdom of Eswatini, Uzbekistan, Nigeria, Sri Lanka, Uganda, Syria, Mali and Palestine who will come together on one platform for the extravaganza. Areas like Bastar, Dantewada, Koriya, Korba, Bilaspur, Gariabandh, Mainpur, Dhura, Dhamtari, Surguja, Jashpur in Chhattisgarh have significant tribal populations with their own distinctive history, culture and traditions and in tune with natural way of life. Speaking about the festival, Chief Minister, Bhupesh Baghel said, "Chhattisgarh is home to many indigenous tribes of India contributing to the vibrant culture of the state of which we are very proud. The National Tribal Dance Festival will promote and celebrate the uniqueness of tribal culture and showcase the richness and diversity of tribal life of Chhattisgarh and other states to the world." In 2019, the first edition of the National Tribal Dance Festival saw participation of tribal communities from across 25 states of India and six guest countries, and witnessed an attendance of over 1 lakh people. The dance performances will be held in two categories of Wedding Ceremonies and Other Prominent Rituals. The participants will don traditional attires and their artistic presentations on stage will be accompanied by tribal instruments. The highlights of the festival include 'The Tribal Dance Area', Tribal Conclave - Food (chefs Manish Mehrotra, Chef Prateek Sadhu, Anoothi Vishal), Fashion & Textile (Namrata Zakaria, David Abraham and Pareina Thapar) Art (Bhavna Kakar, Anubhav Nath, Priyanshi Saxena, Kiran Mohan) Beauty & Wellness (Vasudha Rai, Suparna Trikha and Sangeeta Jain). There will also be a 'Live Showcase Area', a tribal inspired exhibit, Shilpagram and Food Area. The Costa Indoor air quality has always been an incredibly important issue for our customers and is being discussed more than ever as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. As homebuilders, we have the responsibility and obligation to build healthy homes and that is a commitment we will always honor at Akel Home Alex Akel, President of Akel Homes, a private, boutique, semi-custom homebuilder based in South Florida, participated in a conversation titled Deep Breathing: Healthy Air at the 2021 Builder PropTech virtual event on September 28 and 29 hosted by Zonda. The discussion centered around opportunities to create healthier living environments for residents to monitor air quality, mitigate outdoor air problems and identify indoor threats. In his presentation, Alex focused on the importance of minimizing indoor emissions or products that cause off-gassing, minimizing outdoor emissions, minimizing the build up of moisture inside homes and designing and constructing homes that are effectively circulate air throughout the home. Akel Homes is committed to using products and materials that are low- or zero VOC which stands for volatile organic compounds. Indoor air quality has always been an incredibly important issue for our customers and is being discussed more than ever as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. As homebuilders, we have the responsibility and obligation to build healthy homes and that is a commitment we will always honor at Akel Homes Alex Akel. 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. About Zonda Zonda (formerly Meyers Research/ Hanley Wood/ Metrostudy) provides data-driven housing market solutions to the homebuilding and multifamily industries. From builders to building product manufacturers, mortgage clients, and multifamily executives, we work hand-in-hand with our customers to streamline access to housing data to empower smarter decisions. As a leading brand in residential construction, our mission is to advance the home building industry, because we believe better homes mean better lives and stronger communities. Together, we are building the future of housing. For more information, visit https://zondahome.com. We are excited to accelerate our efforts to transition Symbol Waveform Hopping to meet the U.S. Space Force needs. Symbol Waveform Hopping provides an advanced capability to fully protect a signal without the latency and power overhead of standard encryption" - Jerrold Prothero, CEO Astrapi Corporation has been awarded a Phase II SBIR contract from the United States Air Force. This contract was issued with support from the United States Space Force (USSF) Headquarters. The new contract is based on Astrapis advanced signal protection capability, Symbol Waveform Hopping (SWH). Astrapi recently completed the competitive Catalyst Cyber Space program, sponsored by the Air Force Research Lab/Space Vehicles directorate, with admission based upon Space Force and Air Force interest in SWH. This project reflects an extension of the validation Astrapi secured through the Catalyst program. Astrapi has partnered with Space Micro, Inc to demonstrate application of SWH to Space Micros production Software Defined Radios (SDRs) as an enhancement option for future procurement. Space Micros SDRs are space qualified and are key elements in both commercial and DoD programs such as SDAs Tranche 0 Transport Layer. Prior to the program and previously released publicly, Astrapi announced the issuance of U.S. Patent No. 10,931,403, Communications Devices, Systems, Software and Methods Employing Symbol Waveform Hopping on February 23, 2021. This is Astrapis fifteenth issued U.S. patent. Symbol Waveform Hopping (SWH) is a new physical layer signal protection communication technology. It is analogous to frequency hopping (FH), but uniquely SWH is in the time domain and protects the transmission by resolution against the noise floor. Symbol Waveform Hopping exploits the huge symbol waveform design space that is characteristic of Astrapis patented Spiral Modulation technology. Astrapi developed the use of Polynomial Symbol Waveform (PSW) alphabets, in which each short message (symbol) corresponds to a particular bandlimited polynomial. By creating many PSW alphabets, SWH enables switching between PSW alphabets in a pseudo-random process known only to the sender and intended receiver. This technology represents a major derivative advancement of Astrapis Spiral Modulation capability. Astrapi continues to make foundational improvements at the core physical layer of the communications stack. SWH has broad application across multiple sectors. Dr. Jerrold Prothero, Founder and CEO of Astrapi Corporation, stated We are quite excited to begin work on transitioning Symbol Waveform Hopping into a Space Micro Software Defined Radio enabling a transformative capability for signal protection that meets the U.S. Space Force needs. Symbol Waveform Hopping provides an advanced capability to fully protect a signal without the latency and power overhead of standard encryption. Symbol Waveform Hopping is equivalent to forcing potential signal interceptors to recognize an image that is smaller than their pixel size. No amount of computation can improve resolution. We are delighted to be teaming with Space Micro to transition this unique capability into a deployed space-qualified Software Defined Radio platform. David Strobel, Co-Founder and Executive Chair of Space Micro said, Space Micro is excited to be working with Astrapi to further secure SATCOM transmission. Symbol Waveform Hopping promises to complement our production Ka-Band Software Defined Radio transceiver, as well as our other space radios at UHF-, S- and X-Bands. ABOUT Astrapi Corporation Astrapi is the pioneer of Spiral Modulation, Symbol Waveform Hopping and other capabilities which open unexplored areas for innovation at the core of telecommunications. Currently Astrapi has fifteen US patents issued, with more pending and with corresponding international patent coverage. Based on a generalization of Eulers formula, the foundational mathematics for telecommunications, Astrapi provides fundamentally new ways to optimize the use of the spectrum, new ways to secure signal transmission, and new ways to measure non-stationary spectrum. By applying this new mathematics to signal modulation, Astrapi is able to improve the trade-off between the four fundamental parameters in telecommunications: bandwidth, signal power, data throughput, and error rate. The resulting efficiency translates into higher spectral performance with more bits available at a lower cost. Derivative technologies support unique capabilities for signal protection and accurate in-the-field measurement of real-world nonstationary spectra. Further information at http://www.astrapi-corp.com ABOUT SPACE MICRO Space Micro Inc., based in San Diego, CA, is an engineering-driven supplier of affordable, high-performance, radiation-hardened communications, electro-optics, and digital systems for use in commercial, civil, and military space applications around the world. Space Micro solutions include Telemetry, Tracking and Command (TT&C) transmitters, mission data transmitters, space cameras, star trackers, image processors, Command & Data Handling (C&DH) systems and laser communications systems. For more information, visit spacemicro.com or contact Michael Dowd, Vice President of Business Development at (858) 332-0700, extension 122 or via email at mdowd@spacemicro.co ABOUT UNITED STATES AIR FORCE RESEARCH LAB Our scientists, researchers and professionals re-imagine whats possible, creating tomorrows technology, TODAY. This pursuit of innovation delivers solutions for our warfighter's urgent needs, creating innovative new capabilities for the Air Force and Space Force. When others say its impossible, we find a way! AFRL leads the discovery, development and delivery of warfighting technologies for our air, space and cyberspace forces. Were pushing the boundaries and creating a new tomorrow through unparalleled research. ABOUT AFWERX AFVentures, the commercial investment arm of the Air Force, creates simple pathways for commercial innovators and private capital investment to help the Department of the Air Force solve problems. Our Mission: To leverage commercial technology to deliver better capability to the warfighter, faster. Our Vision: Develop the 21st Century Industry Base for Defense. The flag-ship investment program at AFVentures is the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program Open Topic. With the Open Topic, AFVentures leverages a portion of the SBIR/STTR budget to enable the Air Force to develop and adopt commercially viable innovations while providing a competitive edge to the U.S. entrepreneur and technology ecosystem. Aaron Hunt, Founder of Avalon Group Real Estate This exciting collaboration empowers us to remain competitive in the fast-moving St. Petersburg real estate market Avalon Group Real Estate today announced its partnership with Side, the only real estate technology company that exclusively partners with high-performing agents, teams, and independent brokerages to transform them into market-leading boutique brands and businesses. The affiliation will ensure that Avalon Group Real Estate, known for providing uncompromised five-star service, is powered by the industrys most advanced platform. Avalon Group Real Estate was co-founded in 2014 by Aaron Hunt, who grew it into the top-rated real estate team in St. Petersburg and Tampa Bay, Florida. Hunt, a licensed broker and Pricing Strategy Advisor, relates well to the out-of-state buyers, retirees, and vacation homeowners who make up the bulk of the companys clientele. Originally from the West Coast, Hunt makes no secret of his love for St. Petersburg and its neighboring cities and towns its what fuels his passion for helping buyers find their dream homes. Avalon Group Real Estates innovative strategy focuses on delivering one-on-one client care that yields outstanding results and exceeds expectations. The firms unwavering reliability and commitment to its clients has led to its well-respected reputation as industry leaders who work hard so their clients can live well. Partnering with Side will ensure Avalon Group Real Estate remains on the cutting edge of the evolving real estate market while continuing to deliver premium services to its clients. Side works behind the scenes, supporting Avalon Group Real Estate with a one-of-a-kind brokerage platform that includes proprietary technology, transaction management, branding and marketing services, public relations, legal support, lead generation, vendor management, infrastructure solutions, and more. Additionally, Avalon Group Real Estate will join an exclusive group of Side partners, tapping into an expansive network from coast to coast. This exciting collaboration empowers us to remain competitive in the fast-moving St. Petersburg real estate market, said Hunt. Our alliance with Side gives Avalon Group Real Estate access to state-of-the-art marketing, technology, administrative, and legal services, while also positioning us to remain the No. 1 regional real estate company, known for delivering the best real estate experience in Tampa Bay. Side is led by experienced industry professionals and world-class engineers who develop technology designed to improve agent productivity and enhance the client experience. Based on its belief that homeownership is a fundamental human right, Side is on a mission to improve the public good by providing top-performing real estate agents, teams, and indie brokerages with the best system, support, service, experience, and results. About Avalon Group Avalon Group Real Estate has always provided sophisticated yet approachable service that helps clients from all backgrounds realize their real estate dreams. Since opening their doors in 2014, their attentive manner has helped countless clients, from out-of-state buyers, eager sellers, and retired couples to vacationers and investors. Headquartered in Davie, Florida, Avalon Group Real Estate is known for its steadfast dedication to its clients every need. For more information, visit http://www.avalongrouphomes.com. About Side Side transforms high-performing agents, teams, and independent brokerages into successful businesses and boutique brands that are 100% agent-owned. Side exclusively partners with the best agents, empowering them with proprietary technology and a premier support team so they can be more productive, grow their business, and focus on serving their clients. Side is headquartered in San Francisco. For more information, visit http://www.sideinc.com. Containers are unloaded from a ship at the Ports of Los Angeles. /CFP CGTN America releases Supply Chain Crunch at Los Angeles Port CGTN America takes viewers inside the largest port in the United States. Its a place where dozens of packed ships have been waiting weeks to unload. The Executive Director of the Port of Los Angeles, Gene Seroka, says: "The quickest route from Asia to the United States and interior points is through Los Angeles. And that's what everyone is trying to maximize at this point in time. But it's like taking 10 lanes of freeway traffic and squeezing them into five. The U.S. government is trying to get all shipping lanes open by making the port a 24/7 operation. U.S. President Joe Biden announced, "The port of Los Angeles will open over 60 extra hours a week. In total, that will almost double the number of hours that the port is open for business, from earlier this year. That means an increase in the hours for workers to be moving cargo off ships and to trucks and railroads cars, to get to their destination." The story points out the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted workers in key transportation sectors and that millions of Americans quit their jobs across the country. The Head of Strategy at Cargomatic, Weston LaBar, says, The marine terminal operators and organized labor will have to work together to figure out what a 24/7 port looks like. Theres contractual (and shift) issues Do we have enough labor resources? These are all things that are going to have to be figured out. The congestion at the Port of Los Angeles has been an on-going issue since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, when its capacity was significantly reduced. The story looks at the impact on the supply chain crisis between big and small retailers. This is certainly going to impact the Mom and Pop shops. They don't have the ability to get goods in. A lot of these smaller publishers and stores are holding inventory in China, trying to wait out the freight to see if it gets cheaper. And I don't think this is going away for at least two years," says Carly McGinnis of Exploding Kittens, Inc. However, there is a silver lining to the story. More people may be forced to buy locally and support small businesses, which could reduce the carbon footprint. The Port of Los Angeles is the largest container port in the United States and it receives the most goods from China. (REPORTED BY EDIZ TIYANSAN) Click here for more about all Supply Chain Crunch at Los Angeles Port and to view the report: https://newsus.cgtn.com/news/2021-10-22/Biden-announces-extended-hours-as-Los-Angeles-port-fills-up-14yoz0wHZ2E/index.html This material is distributed by MediaLinks TV, LLC on behalf of CCTV. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice, Washington, D.C. CGTN releases CMG PRESIDENT TOUTS PAKISTANI JOUNALIST AS CHINA CELEBRATES 50 YEARS AT THE U.N. China Media Group President and Editor-in-Chief Shen Haixiong helped mark the 50th anniversary of China rejoining the UN by honoring a celebrated journalist from Pakistan. Iftikhar Ali was at the UN on the day in 1971 working as a Pakistani journalist. He says he still remembers the moment the UN voted. And what he did next. Back then there was no internet or text and even phoning was spotty. So he rushed to the telegraph room of the U-N Headquarters, and dispatched a flash-message in the simplest words: CHINA IN TAIWAN OUT A-P-P. That stands for Associated Press of Pakistan. The veteran journalist no longer uses a telegraph but he does still cover the UN. He says China was a great addition from the start. China gave voice to the voiceless. It brought forward the real problem faced by the entire world. The second is China's involvement in the UN Peacekeeping. Among the permanent five, China put the largest number of troops in the mission. They've set an example of honesty and fairness, giving peace in hotspots around the world, said Ali. China Media Group President and Editor in Chief Shen Haixiong used similar words in his letter to Ali. Shen said news media must be even more responsible and mission-driven, since we are living in a world filled with both challenges and hopes. He also expressed admiration for Alis journalism ideals of objectivity and professionalism. This is what a true journalist writes to another journalist, and I fully agree with him -- There should only be responsible journalists, said Shen. CGTN has been covering the anniversary from the UN to Beijing and beyond online and on TV. Alis words about 50 years ago are still true today. It was celebratory! Because it was something everybody in the entire world, even the developed countries, would want to see -- the United Nations should look like United Nations, with universal membership, said Ali. Click here for more about CMG PRESIDENT TOUTS PAKISTANI JOUNALIST AS CHINA CELEBRATES 50 YEARS AT THE U.N. https://youtu.be/YyoNn9txlLc This material is distributed by MediaLinks TV, LLC on behalf of CCTV. Additional information is available at the Department of Justice, Washington, D.C. "With NITRO Studio, government agencies can quickly modernize operations by deploying digital workflows, eliminating paper processes, and replacing legacy systems such as InfoPath Forms, SharePoint Workflows, Access, & Lotus Notes." Crow Canyon Software announces that it has been awarded a General Services Administration (GSA) IT Schedule 70 contract for its NITRO Studio, a no-code workflow automation platform for the Microsoft 365, Teams, and SharePoint platforms. The contract also includes Crow Canyons business applications and chatbot solutions for these platforms. U.S. federal, state, local agencies, and federal contractors can now easily procure Crow Canyon solutions to manage, automate, and optimize business processes -- quickly, easily, affordably, and securely. "We are excited to offer government agencies and their affiliates ways to improve and modernize their operations, said Scott Restivo, CEO of Crow Canyon Software. Our solutions allow these agencies to get the most out of Microsofts Office 365, Teams, and SharePoint. With a powerful Forms Designer, Visual Workflows, reporting, portals, print manager, bots, full Teams integration, and more, NITRO Studio provides organizations the tools they need to move off legacy program like InfoPath, Lotus Notes, Access forms, and others to modern, user-friendly, mobile-ready solutions. Crow Canyons programs run in Office 365 commercial, GCC (government cloud), and GCC High environments, as well as SharePoint 2013, 2016, and 2019. These solutions are secure and fully supported by US personnel. The GSAs IT Schedule 70 is the federal government's largest procurement tool and the most used IT services acquisition program. The GSA schedules provide government agencies with the tools and expertise to shorten procurement cycles and obtain the best value for innovative technology products and services. State, local, and federal government agencies are already confidently automating business processes and replacing legacy systems with Crow Canyon government solutions. Learn more by contacting Crow Canyon for more information and a free demo. This prospective study is significant in that it validates the overall performance of DeepDx Prostate on real-world patient data Deep Bio, a leading company in AI cancer diagnostics, announced it obtained an approval from the University of Utah IRB for a real-world implementation study. The company will conduct a prospective study to validate the performance of its AI-based prostate cancer diagnosis software, DeepDx Prostate, at ARUP Laboratories, a leading reference laboratory in the US. The study is intended to assess the impact of DeepDx Prostate in a real-world environment. This study will follow three pathologists on service who will diagnose incoming slides of prostate core needle biopsy specimens using the microscope. Then, after a minimum washout period of three weeks, the same pathologist will review the same slides once again, this time with the assistance of DeepDx Prostate. The study will evaluate the impact of aided review with DeepDx Prostate on the diagnostic accuracy and efficiency of pathologists in regard to cancer detection and Gleason grading, among other diagnostic measures. A reference standard diagnosis will be formed for each slide based on the consensus of three other pathologists, and this will serve as the ground truth for diagnostic performance comparisons. Most of the studies that evaluate the performance of AI-based medical solutions are retrospective studies which are based on existing diagnosis data. This prospective study is significant in that it validates the overall performance of DeepDx Prostate on real-world patient data, stated Sun Woo Kim, the CEO of Deep Bio. We expect our AI solution to provide pathologists with faster and more consistent diagnostic support when applied to clinical workflows, he added. Beatrice Knudsen, MD, Ph.D., the principal investigator of the study said, We have high expectations for the impact of DeepDx Prostate in a clinical practice environment. We also anticipate the study will provide data to show how AI solutions can be used by pathologists to increase efficiency of clinical workflows and accuracy of diagnosis. In addition to this study, Deep Bio and ARUP have plans to collaborate on other clinical research related to cancer diagnosis, prognosis, and prediction. About Deep Bio Deep Bio Inc. is an AI biotech company with in-house expertise in deep learning, pathology, life sciences, and pharmacotherapeutics. As the countrys first to obtain Koreas MFDS approval of an AI-based cancer pathology solution, Deep Bio envisions a suite of AI-based IVD SaMDs (In Vitro Diagnostics Software as a Medical Device) for diagnosis and prognosis of multiple cancers. Deep Bio is actively engaged in the research space and maintains ongoing collaborations with top US medical centers. To learn more, visit http://www.deepbio.co.kr. DeepDx Prostate is a clinically-validated AI for prostate core needle biopsy tissue image analysis. Whole-slide images (WSIs) of H&E-stained biopsy tissue specimens are analyzed for prostate cancer, Gleason scores and grade group. Extensively tested at a US CLIA lab (> 500k cores as of June 2021), DeepDx Prostate can alleviate the shortage of pathologists and the resultant increase in workload, while reducing diagnostic subjectivity and variability. To learn more, visit http://www.deepbio.co.kr. About ARUP Laboratories Founded in 1984, ARUP Laboratories is a leading national reference laboratory and a nonprofit enterprise of the University of Utah and its Department of Pathology. ARUP offers more than 3,000 tests and test combinations, ranging from routine screening tests to esoteric molecular and genetic assays. ARUP serves clients across the United States, including many of the nations top university teaching hospitals and childrens hospitals, as well as multihospital groups, major commercial laboratories, group purchasing organizations, military and other government facilities, and major clinics. In addition, ARUP is a worldwide leader in innovative laboratory research and development, led by the efforts of the ARUP Institute for Clinical and Experimental Pathology. ARUP is ISO 15189 CAP accredited. Divine Interventions: Personal Testimonies of the Miraculous: an inspiring narrative of a life lived in exuberant faith. This insightful book is the creation of published author Denise Samuels, Minister of Religion, a Justice of the Peace, a Certified Mediator, and a member of the Lay Magistrates Association, St. Andrew Chapter, Jamaica. Samuels is an internationally certified trainer and a human resource specialist with over twenty years of experience in the field. Samuels shares, The concept of divine interventions is not a myth but a reality. Miracles are one sure way that God intervenes in our lives. This book takes you on a personal journey of real-life experiences of brokenness, financial struggle, and pain and how God made a way through a series of astounding and life-transforming miracles. These stories are coupled with sermons birthed from the experiences, as He rewrote the script of my life. It is meant to prove that your life has been predestined for greatness by God; that God will never leave you, and even during your greatest trial and your darkest days, He is still with you, working behind the scenes to accomplish His will and purpose in your life. You will be encouraged and challenged to keep pressing forward, to remain determined and focused, for in due season, you shall reap, if you faint not (Gal. 6:9). Published by Christian Faith Publishing, Denise Samuels new book is a motivating exploration of ways in which one can experience God within their life. Samuels shares in hopes of encouraging and inspiring others to look for the miracles that happen every day. Consumers can purchaseDivine Interventions: Personal Testimonies of the Miraculous at traditional brick & mortar bookstores, or online at Amazon.com, Apple iTunes store, or Barnes and Noble. For additional information or inquiries about Divine Interventions: Personal Testimonies of the Miraculous, contact the Christian Faith Publishing media department at 866-554-0919. As the Drug Quality and Security Act (DQSA) is phased into manufacturing operations, contract manufacturers will be required to implement unit-level traceability into their manufacturing processes within the next few years. The pharmaceutical industry is moving towards custom devices to provide more value-added features for patients and end-users. Contract manufacturers with a full spectrum of services are better positioned to allow their pharmaceutical partners to simplify vendors and, subsequently, their supply chain, resulting in the need for fewer quality and regulatory validations, as well minimizing cargo hold-ups by requiring less overall transportation. To maintain the integrity of drug products and minimize the introduction of counterfeit drugs in the marketplace, cold chain storage and serialization/aggregation are increasingly required. As the Drug Quality and Security Act (DQSA) is phased into manufacturing operations, contract manufacturers will be required to implement unit-level traceability into their manufacturing processes within the next few years. At Phillips-Medisize, a Molex company, our quality management systems are the backbone of our business, governing all we do regarding drug handling and even plastics molding, from temperature-controlled storage to automated process assembly to serialization. We will discuss how we married the requirements of DQSA and the needs of the pharmaceutical industry into our legacy of quality manufacturing to create the infrastructure to provide multiple facets of drug-device/combination product manufacturing, including cold chain storage and serialization. Join experts from Phillips-Medisize, a Molex Company, Becky Anderson, Principal Pharma Engineer and Brian Ehret, Solutions Architect, in a live webinar on Monday, November 8, 2021 at 10am EST (3pm GMT/UK). For more information, or to register for this event, visit Drug Handling Capabilities and Serialization Support. ABOUT XTALKS Xtalks, powered by Honeycomb Worldwide Inc., is a leading provider of educational webinars to the global life science, food and medical device community. Every year, thousands of industry practitioners (from life science, food and medical device companies, private & academic research institutions, healthcare centers, etc.) turn to Xtalks for access to quality content. Xtalks helps Life Science professionals stay current with industry developments, trends and regulations. Xtalks webinars also provide perspectives on key issues from top industry thought leaders and service providers. To learn more about Xtalks visit http://xtalks.com For information about hosting a webinar visit http://xtalks.com/why-host-a-webinar/ FACE FOUNDRIE FACE FOUNDRIE has successfully embraced the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, adding corporate locations and a franchising program in under three years. Founded by Michele Henry, the company currently boasts three corporate stores with over 50 franchise commitments nationwide, including Nashville, Phoenix, Austin, Houston, Chicago and Denver. Henry says she was ready to make accessible and approachable skincare an industry-standard when she opened the first FACE FOUNDRIE all-inclusive facial bar in 2019 and developed the hero product, Collagen Spritz. The company most recently sold four additional franchises in Austin, adding to their national expansion in 2021. They have sights set high going into 2022, with 10 stores set to open in the first quarter. Im thrilled to continue offering premium skincare services that accommodate the growing needs of todays consumers, said Henry. I understand the challenges of finding me time, so making it convenient for clients to pay the proper attention to their face, lashes, brows and overall skincare is essential. We love empowering others to look and feel their best with our cutting-edge offerings and our growing locations do just that, making it easier to find our facial bars throughout the U.S. The best-selling Collagen Spritz was developed alongside a German skin chemist, formulating a 97% match to human DNA. The spray made from bovine collagen works as a daily skin revitalizing booster and recharges skins beauty, leaving it smooth and radiant. Henry continues to be in the spotlight for her impressive business career, gaining recognition for FACE FOUNDRIE franchises across the country. She represents the beauty industry with prominent and well-regarded women in business globally as a Womens President Organization member. About FACE FOUNDRIE: Michele Henry founded FACE FOUNDRIE in 2019 as a place for anyone looking to improve their skin. The company was based on the idea of accommodating same-day appointments and providing results in a reasonable amount of time. FACE FOUNDRIE specializes in all things face offering services including full facials, mini-facials, lash extensions and waxing in an affordable, accessible and approachable concept. The company launched franchising nationally and in under three months has over 50 locations. The brands exclusive product line is available at http://www.facefoundrie.com. Ryan Pasquale, Director of Acquisitions & Asset Management, Freshwater Investments Driven by high investor demand, Freshwater Investments has big plans, including expanding our portfolio and entering new markets, and we are glad to have Ryan on board to help us bring them to fruition. Freshwater Investments, a Bay Area-based real estate investment firm, is pleased to welcome Ryan Pasquale as Director of Acquisitions & Asset Management to its growing team. He will play a key role in the identification, evaluation, and recommendation of opportunities for multifamily acquisitions in all markets of interest for the firm. Driven by significant investor demand, Freshwater Investments has big plans, including expanding our portfolio and entering new markets, and we are glad to have Ryan on board to help us bring them to fruition. We believe in a win-win approach of effectively building up our business while offering growth opportunities for the team members, said Alex Rozenfeld, Freshwater Investments Managing Partner. Mr. Pasquale joins Freshwater Investments with more than a decade of experience in the commercial real estate industry. Most recently, Mr. Pasquale was responsible for acquisition and asset management responsibilities at Bristol Group, a nationwide real estate investment and development firm focused on multifamily, industrial, and self-storage opportunities throughout the U.S. Prior to Bristol Group, Mr. Pasquale worked for Stanford University as part of a senior team focused on its non-academic real estate portfolio, which encompasses more than 14 million square feet of residential, office, R&D, and retail space. Mr. Pasquale began his career at Hammond Hanlon Camp (H2C), where he participated in all aspects of the firms real estate investment banking activities, including single-asset and portfolio acquisitions, sale/leasebacks, mergers and acquisitions, and institutional capital raises. Mr. Pasquale earned his MBA from Fordham University in New York City, where he concentrated in corporate finance and real estate. He is an active member of the Urban Land Institute. Freshwater Investments, headquartered in Redwood City, California, is a private equity real estate investment firm creating opportunities for private and institutional investors to diversify portfolios and gain attractive returns through co-ownership of multifamily housing properties. For more information, please visit https://www.freshwaterinvestments.com/. Grey Slide Imaging announced today an exclusive worldwide technology license agreement with the University of Massachusetts Boston. Grey Slide will use the technology to enhance its digital scanning within their end-to-end digital pathology solution which includes: a whole slide imaging scanner, image analysis software with embedded artificial intelligence (AI) and workflow management software. "It is an honour to partner with with Grey Slide Imaging on the commercialization of our work using Fourier Phase Contrast Microscopy. said Dr. Chandra S. Yelleswarapu, Associate Professor, Department of Physics, University of Massachusetts Boston. It will be exciting to work with Grey Slide on applying this technology to the digital pathology field said D.V.G.L.N. Rao, Distinguished Professor Emeritus, Department of Physics, University of Massachusetts Boston." This novel and patented imaging technique provides improved contrast and spatial resolution for studying cellular behaviors and pathways to gain a deeper understanding of functions, disease mechanisms and responses to treatments. This technology will also be instrumental for imaging subcellular organelles or compartments. Grey Slides unique digital pathology ecosystem enables pathologists to detect and diagnosis diseases faster and with better accuracy than ever before. ABOUT GREY SLIDE: Grey Slide is a new medical device start up based in silicon valley north, Ottawa Ontario. Grey Slide provides affordable and universal access to digital pathology. Grey Slide is bringing to market a game changing end-to-end pathology solution to include: whole slide imaging scanner, image analysis software including artificial intelligence and workflow software. Our mission is to improve global access to early diagnosis, prognosis, and predictive treatment of disease so we can ALL live healthier lives. To learn more, visit greyslide.ca ABOUT UMASS BOSTON: The University of Massachusetts Boston is deeply rooted in the citys history, yet poised to address the challenges of the future. Recognized for innovative research, metropolitan Bostons public university offers its diverse student population both an intimate learning environment and the rich experience of a great American city. UMass Bostons colleges and graduate schools serve 16,000 students while engaging local and global constituents through academic programs, research centers, and public service. To learn more, visit http://www.umb.edu HomeLights rapid expansion underscores Arizonas premier environment for technology and innovation success. We welcome this latest expansion, and the more than 300 jobs it represents, and look forward to supporting HomeLights success long into the future. - Arizona Governor Doug Ducey HomeLight, the real estate technology platform transforming the home buying and selling process for top real estate agents and their clients, announced today that it is expanding its flagship financial products, HomeLight Trade-In and HomeLight Cash Offer, to top real estate agents, homebuyers, and sellers across Arizona. The expansion comes on the heels of 700% growth for the products since their launch in January 2020 and is fueled by a $363 million Series D funding round raised in September 2021. Both products have been used extensively during the years historically competitive market. Based on transactions closed since December 2019, HomeLight Trade-In homes have sold for 5% above valuation, closed 5x faster, and helped clients save 3.5% on the purchase price of their new home compared to the traditional method of listing on the market. Offers powered by HomeLight Cash Offer, meanwhile, have saved buyers up to 4.4% compared to offers with a loan. HomeLight is headquartered in the SkySong Center in Scottsdale, AZ, a high-growth community for technology-based businesses in the ASU Scottsdale Innovation Center. Previously, the company was headquartered in San Francisco, CA, where the company was originally founded in 2012. The Scottsdale-area headquarters is HomeLights largest office and serves as an operational hub for the companys customer service, sales, and title and escrow divisions. HomeLight plans to hire up to 300 employees in the region over the next 6-12 months. We couldnt be prouder to see HomeLight move their headquarters from San Francisco to Scottsdale, which has become the companys largest office, said Governor Doug Ducey. HomeLights rapid expansion underscores Arizonas premier environment for technology and innovation success. We welcome this latest expansion, and the more than 300 jobs it represents, and look forward to supporting HomeLights success long into the future. Congratulations to HomeLight on their continued success, said Scottsdale Mayor David D. Ortega. Scottsdale has positioned itself as the perfect location for HomeLights growth and innovation in the real estate market, and I am always delighted when smart companies capitalize on the excellent foundation our booming tech sector provides in Scottsdale. Facing a real estate market thats more competitive than ever, top agents, homebuyers, and sellers are looking for innovative tools and services like HomeLight Trade-In and Cash Offer to help them transact with speed, certainty, and simplicity, said Drew Uher, Founder and CEO of HomeLight. We couldnt be more excited to deepen our roots in Arizona, tap into the skilled workforce in the greater Scottsdale area, and partner with the best agents in Arizona to help them provide an exceptional experience for their clients at every step of the transaction process. HomeLight Cash Offer gives top agents and their clients the ability to make an all-cash offer on their next home, even if they need a mortgage. HomeLight Home Loans verifies the clients income and assets to determine purchasing power, and once the client and their agent find a home, HomeLight makes an all-cash offer on the clients behalf and holds the home until the client secures financing. As soon as the clients loan closes, HomeLight sells the home to the client at the purchase price, plus a small program fee. HomeLight Trade-In solves another important issue that agents and homeowners face: the ability to buy and sell at the same time, while still capturing the full market value of their home. HomeLight purchases the individuals home typically for 90% of the homes expected value which frees up their equity when they need it before going through a full listing process. HomeLight then lists and sells the home on the market with the agent. If the home sells for more than HomeLights purchase price, the company pays the client the difference, less a small program fee. As more people continue to flock to the Copper State, I'm excited to offer HomeLight Cash Offer and HomeLight Trade-In to help my clients compete and win in today's market by giving them opportunities to make contingency-free offers," said Martin Sears, Phoenix-area real estate agent in the HomeLight network and owner of West USA Realty Estrella Branch. Thanks to HomeLights technology, I believe we can help put more Arizonans on the path towards the American dream of homeownership. Agents interested in gaining access to these products should visit the following: To apply for access to HomeLight Cash Offer: homelight.com/cash-offer/agents To apply for access to HomeLight Trade-In: homelight.com/trade-in/agents About HomeLight HomeLight is building the future of real estate today. Our vision is a world where every real estate transaction is simple, certain, and satisfying for all. The best real estate agents rely on HomeLights platform to deliver better outcomes to homebuyers and sellers during every step of the real estate journey, whether that's enabling an all-cash offer, unlocking liquidity of their existing home to buy a new one, or creating certainty through a modern closing process. Each year, HomeLight facilitates billions of dollars of residential real estate business on its platform for thousands of agents. Founded in 2012, HomeLight is a privately held company with offices in Scottsdale, San Francisco, New York, Tampa, and Seattle, with backing from prominent investors including Zeev Ventures, Menlo Ventures, Group 11, Crosslink Capital, Bullpen Capital, Montage Ventures, STCAP, Citi Ventures, Google Ventures, and others. For additional information and images: homelight.com/press Buyers looking for a small family SUV with impressive fuel economy in St. Augustine can now find the updated 2022 Hyundai KONA at their local Hyundai of St. Augustine dealership. New car buyers in the market for a compact SUV in St. Augustine and its surrounding cities of Jacksonville and Palm Coast can now look forward to purchasing the updated 2022 Hyundai KONA at Hyundai of St. Augustine. The citys exclusive Hyundai dealership has welcomed the 2022 Hyundai KONA crossover and invites interested parties to visit its showroom to see its latest addition in person and take it for a test drive. The 2022 Hyundai KONA at Hyundai of St. Augustine is a compact crossover SUV that offers the styling, technology, and versatility of an SUV with up to 35 highway mpg. The 2022 KONA lineup comprises the SE, SEL, N Line, and Limited trims. Under the hood of the SE and SEL trims is a 2.0-liter, inline four-cylinder, DOHC, 16-valve engine that makes 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque. The engine is paired to an intelligent variable automatic transmission (IVT) and returns EPA mileage estimates of up to 30 mpg in the city, 35 mpg on the highway, and 32 mpg combined. Those interested in more power can opt for the performance-oriented KONA N Line or the top-of-the-line Limited trim. These trims are powered by a turbocharged, 1.6-liter, inline four-cylinder, DOHC engine that produces 195 horsepower and 195 pound-feet of torque. The KONA N Line and Limited boast a seven-speed EcoShift Dual Clutch transmission and can achieve EPA estimated MPG ratings of 29 MPG city, 35 MPG on the highway, and 32 MPG combined. The 2022 KONA can be availed in both front-wheel drive or all-wheel drive configurations. The 2022 KONA offers 94.1 cubic feet of maximum passenger volume and a maximum of 45.8 cubic feet of cargo volume. The available features include a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system with navigation, Harman Kardon Premium Audio with Clari-Fi Music Restoration Technology, wireless Android Auto, and Apple CarPlay support, and ambient LED interior lighting, among other features. Interested parties can visit the Hyundai of St. Augustine website at http://www.hyundaiofstaugustine.com for more details. Customers can also connect with Hyundai of St. Augustine via call or text at 904-567-7175 or stop by Hyundai of St. Augustines state-of-the-art showroom located at 2898, US 1 South to get a firsthand experience of the 2022 Hyundai KONA. Ideal Option, a national leader in outpatient medication-assisted treatment for addiction will host an open house and community forum at their clinic in Frederick on November 11th. Community-based organizations, city officials, and concerned citizens will come together from across Frederick County to recognize Veterans Day and discuss fentanyl, the new driver behind the opioid crisis. According to a study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, veterans with opioid use disorder (OUD) who do not receive treatment with buprenorphine are four times more likely to die by suicide or overdose than those who do take the medication. The most dangerous opioid is fentanyl, a plentiful, inexpensive synthetic drug that has shown to be 50 times more potent than heroin. Many illicit substances such as heroin, pain pills, and even marijuana are now commonly laced with fentanyl, often without the knowledge of the user. Since the beginning of 2020, Frederick County has lost more than 65 people to fatal opioid overdoses. Most of those deaths involved fentanyl, according to CRISP, the designated Health Information Exchange (HIE) for Maryland. Ideal Options 2020 Annual Patient Outcomes Report based on lab data collected at enrollment from more than 1,200 MD State Medicaid patients showed a 158% increase in fentanyl use as 2020 progressed. On Thursday, November 11, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., all members of the community are invited to gather at the Ideal Option clinic located at 201 Thomas Johnson Dr., Suite #104, for this special event. The event will kick off with an open house from 6:00 p.m. 6:30 p.m. where attendees can enjoy refreshments and learn more about community resources for addiction, as well as meet Ideal Options newest provider, Charlene Busman, MS, RN, ANP-BC. At 6:30 p.m., Mayor Michael OConnor will give an opening address, talk about the opioid crisis in Frederick and introduce the following speakers: Charles Jenkins, Sheriff, Frederick County Sean Nicholson, Director of Community and Business Relations, The Orenda Center of Wellness Shannon Garrett, LMSW, LCADC, Licensed Therapist/Director of Marketing, Congruent Counseling Services Mark Donovan, LCPC, LCADC, CEO/Chief Clinical Officer/Licensed Therapist, Congruent Counseling Services Carin Miller, CPRS, CRC, President, Maryland Heroin Awareness Advocates Charlene Busman, MS, RN, ANP-BC, Addiction Medicine Provider, Ideal Option Chloe Nichols, CRNP, Addiction Medicine Provider, Ideal Option The community forum will be followed by a Q&A and networking with refreshments served. For questions about this event, email Senior Marketing Manager Olivia Easly at oliviaeasly@idealoption.net. About Ideal Option Headquartered in Kennewick, Washington, Ideal Option was founded in 2012 and has since helped nearly 50,000 patients through a network of over 70 office-based medication-assisted treatment (MAT) clinics across 10 states. With a mission to serve under-served communities, Ideal Option accepts all forms of insurance including Medicaid and Medicare. Financial assistance and payment plans are also available. Ideal Option's team of medical providers carry certifications in Addiction and Emergency Medicine, Internal, OB/GYN, and Family Medicine, among other specialties. The company also employs social workers, caseworkers, counselors, and mental health practitioners. This holistic approach helps drive positive outcomes, including family stability, stable housing, improved overall health, and reduced rates of recidivism. In all the communities it serves, Ideal Option collaborates with existing stakeholders and providers to improve the continuum of care. This approach includes partnerships with emergency rooms and county jail systems, where individuals with substance use disorder often appear, as well as collaborating with numerous support agencies and municipal programs addressing social needs such as housing, mental health, and nutrition support. By, For, and About Marines: A book of notable quotes of the United States Marine Corps By Lt Col Sidney Atwater, US Marine Corps (Ret) My goal is to see this book in every Marine Corps Exchange so young Lance Corporals can learn a bit more about their beloved Corps. As the nation approaches the 245th birthday of the United States Marine Corps on Nov. 10 as well as Veterans Day on Nov. 11, Lt Col Sidney Atwater, US Marine Corps (Ret), who had a very decorated and accomplished career with the U.S. Marine Corps, has released his debut book, By, For, and About Marines: A book of notable quotes of the U.S. Marine Corps. After retiring from active duty in 1998, LtCol. Atwater dedicated time to pursue his labor of love, collecting quotes about Marines. As he researched the context, history, and creators behind the quotes, he decided to put his collection into book form for future, past and current Marines to enjoy. His new book presents an inspiring and diverse collection of quotes written by, written for, and written about Marines. Now as a military Veteran, LtCol. Atwater hopes all Marines, especially Lance Corporals and recent Marine graduates, find encouragement from his book through the motivational words of their past Marine brothers and sisters. LtCol. Atwaters labor of love began in 1979 while he was on a one-year unaccompanied tour in Okinawa, Japan and continued through the 1980s and into 1990 including his 1991 deployment in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait for Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. He continued to collect quotes during his professional development and readings after he retired from active duty in 1998. His collection was at first intended to be nothing more than a Uooo Rahh motivational mechanism that he would share freely with his fellow Marines and others interested in the Corps. However, he decided to provide further context for the quotes and put them in book form to provide a comprehensive collection for future, past and current Marines to enjoy. My goal is to see this book in every Marine Corps Exchange so young Lance Corporals can learn a bit more about their beloved Corps, said LtCol. Atwater. LtCol. Atwater notes that this is not a history book, but a book based on history about people who happened to be Marines. Broken out into bite-sized stories, the book makes for a great gift for recent Marine graduates as well as a wonderful read for any veteran this Veterans Day. By, For, and About Marines: A book of notable quotes of the United States Marine Corps By Lt Col Sidney Atwater, US Marine Corps (Ret) ISBN: 978-1-6641-8288-2 (hc); 978-1-6641-8287-5 (sc); 978-1-6641-8286-8 (e) Available through Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Xlibris About the author Lieutenant Colonel Sidney E. Atwater, USMC, (Ret.) spent over 24 years on active duty entering the Corps in 1974. After Basic School, he attended the Basic Officers Artillery Course. Subsequently, he attended the USMC Amphibious Warfare School and the USMC Command and Staff College. LtCol. Atwater served in the Gulf War as Executive Officer for 2nd Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division attached to the 2nd Marine Division. After retiring from the Corps, LtCol Atwater taught as an Adjunct Faculty member for the USMC University while working at both USCENTCOM and USSOCOM located at MacDill AFB, Tampa. He and his wife Kathy currently reside in Valrico, Florida. Review Copies & Interview Requests: LAVIDGE Publicity gconnor@lavidge.com | 480-998-2600 Interested buyers in the San Antonio area can purchase rarely used, highly maintained Land Rover Courtesy Vehicles owned by the dealership and leased to service customers at Land Rover Boerne. Buying a new luxurious Land Rover SUV is a great experience. However, buyers in the San Antonio area who are in the market for a used Land Rover vehicle can now purchase the Land Rover Courtesy Vehicles at their preferred Land Rover Boerne dealership in Boerne, TX. The Land Rover Courtesy Vehicles at Land Rover Boerne are unregistered, brand-new Land Rover and Range Rover models that the dealership owns. The dealership uses the courtesy vehicles either as demo cars or as temporary rental cars to select service customers who need a courtesy vehicle until their personal Land Rover vehicle is available to drive home. The courtesy vehicles are less driven and are maintained by the in-house service department. The Land Rover Courtesy vehicles at Land Rover Boerne are not pre-owned since they are not registered under anybody's name. The vehicle will be registered in the buyer's name, and the buyer will be the first owner. Therefore, buying a Land Rover Courtesy Vehicle at the Land Rover Boerne dealership is just like buying a new Land Rover, albeit at an affordable price. The dealership currently houses three courtesy vehicles, including a 2021 Land Rover Range Rover Evoque R-Dynamic S with 642 miles, a 2021 Land Rover Discovery S with 19 miles, and a 2021 Land Rover Discovery Sport S with just 4 miles on the odometer. Those interested in learning more about the Land Rover Courtesy Vehicles at the Land Rover Boerne dealership can visit their website https://www.landroverboerne.com. Interested parties can also call or text the dealership at 830-428-2241 or visit the showroom in person. Land Rover Boerne [SG12] is located at 32120 IH-10 West. Loffler is proud to partner with TROY and their industry-leading secure MICR printing solutions. In our partnership we can provide a world class customer experience, said John Turner, Vice President of Customer Success and Managed Print Services at Loffler. Secure check printing with logo, business information, payee, amount, banking and account numbers, and even signatures, on demand is now available from Loffler Companies, with TROY MICR printers. Loffler Companies, one of the top Managed Print Services providers in the US, is excited to partner with TROY Group solutions to offer MICR check printing solutions. As the only manufacturer of the worlds most fraud resistant MICR toner, TROY also enhances secure HP printers for use in secure check printing workflows. Loffler is proud to partner with TROY and their industry-leading, secure MICR printing solutions. In our partnership we can provide a world class customer experience, said John Turner, Vice President of Customer Success and Managed Print Services at Loffler. Many industry suppliers provide only partial solutions for fighting fraud, addressing merely a small portion of threats. By offering TROY solutions, we enable customers to focus on security at the printer and at printed document levels. As businesses shift processes in response to Covid, document fraud is rising at an alarming rate, especially with checks, which are a particularly valuable target. This partnership offers HPs award-winning security combined with optimized functionality from TROY. Founded by Jim Loffler in 1986, Loffler Companies is nationally recognized as a leader in business technology and managed services. Loffler is among the top office solutions dealers in the US for service and support, with almost 500 employees working hard every day to exceed the expectations of their clients, partners and the community. Loffler Companies provides the most comprehensive business technology solutions in the country, with experts who bring it all together to build secure, optimized IT environments. Lofflers offerings include IT managed and security services, business security systems, disaster recovery/business continuity, multifunctional copiers and printers, print management services, software and workflow technology consulting, professional IT services/consulting, unified communications, and on-site management of print and mail centers. As one of the top-selling Canon and Konica Minolta dealers in the U.S., Loffler Companies also works with leading partners such as Nutanix, Arctic Wolf, Microsoft, Mitel and 8x8 as well as Xerox, HP, Lexmark and FP Mailing Solutions. These wide-ranging products and services exist for one purpose: to help organizations succeed. Lofflers specialized trainers, flexible billing and financing options at all price levels and award-winning service and support are all benefits clients appreciate. For more information about Loffler Companies, call 952-925-6800 or email information@loffler.com or visit us online at http://www.loffler.com. Monster Energys Jessica-Rose Clark Defeats Joselyne Edwards at UFC Fight Night 196 I feel good. I feel really good. This was the perfect fight to show everything Ive been working on. - Jessica-Rose Clark Jessy Jess is back! Monster Energy congratulates Jessica-Rose Clark on her unanimous decision victory over Joselyne Edwards at UFC Fight Night 196 in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Saturday night. In the main card fight in the womens bantamweight division, the 33-year-old from Cairns, Australia, dominated her opponent on the ground to earn a victory by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28). UFC Fight Night: Costa vs Vettori took place on Saturday night with limited fan attendance at the UFC Apex facility in Las Vegas. Broadcast live on ESPN+, the event featured 14 fights including the much-anticipated return to the Octagon of Monster Energys Clark. Saturday night marked the first fight for Clark aka Jessy Jess (11-6) since her TKO victory over Sarah Alpar at UFC Fight Night 178 in September 2020. During the fight, the Australian MMA icon suffered a torn ACL in her knee that required surgery. Clark spent the past year recovering and focusing on her training. She faced a challenge in Joselyne La Pantera Edwards (10-4), a 26-year-old striking expert from Panama who has earned eight finishes, including six within the first round. Right from the start, Clark landed a flurry of punches, followed by a swift takedown to take command in full guard. This set the tone for the rest of the fight, with Jessy Jess landing significant strikes and quickly taking the bout down to the mat and controlling her opponent at every opportunity. After maintaining the upper hand during the first round with ground control, Clark relied on her superior wrestling throughout Round 2. After locking Edwards into a full mount, the Australian landed a punishing elbow before the end of the round. In the third round, Edwards attempted to fire back with elbows from the ground but found herself outwrestled by Clarks iron-clad ground game. The result was no surprise: At the end of Round 3, referee Keith Peterson pronounced Clark the winner of the 135-pound division fight by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28). I feel good. I feel really good, said Clark in her post-fight interview at UFC Fight Night 196. She also said that Saturday was the perfect fight to show everything Ive been working on. Going into detail about her return to the Octagon, Clark told the press: It wasnt as exciting as I wanted it to be, but I showed that Im more than just a kickboxer and Im happy about that. Ive been working a lot on my wrestling and my grappling, and today was a huge accomplishment. Saturday nights victory puts Clark on a two-fight winning streak and back in play after last years knee injury. The rest of the bantamweight division is officially on notice: Stay tuned for whats next for Jessy Jess! Jessica-Rose Clark counts amongst Monster Energys elite UFC athletes along with Brandon Moreno, Sean Suga OMalley, Marlon Vera, Giga Ninja Chikadze, Jon Bones Jones, Donald Cowboy Cerrone, Jorge Gamebred Masvidal, Chris The All American Weidman, Daniel Cormier, Tyron The Chosen One Woodley, Dominick Dominator Cruz, Rose Namajunas, Tony Ferguson, Joanna Jedrzejczyk, Maycee The Future Barber, Paulo The Eraser Costa, Stipe Stone Cold Miocic, Michael Chandler, and Valentina Shevchenko. For more on Monster Energys MMA athletes visit http://www.monsterenergy.com. Follow Monster Energy on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and TikTok. ### About Monster Energy Based in Corona, California, Monster Energy is the leading marketer of energy drinks and alternative beverages. Refusing to acknowledge the traditional, Monster Energy supports the scene and sport. Whether motocross, off-road, NASCAR, MMA, BMX, surf, snowboard, ski, skateboard, or the rock and roll lifestyle, Monster Energy is a brand that believes in authenticity and the core of what its sports, athletes and musicians represent. More than a drink, its the way of life lived by athletes, sports, bands, believers and fans. See more about Monster Energy including all of its drinks at http://www.monsterenergy.com. Opiants mission to develop new medicines for addictions and drug overdose represent a critical and essential advancement in the public health realm. Its potential new treatment for opioid overdose is something we are incredibly passionate about. Moon Rabbit, an independent advertising and marketing agency focused on the consumer and healthcare sectors, today announced it has been named agency of record for OPNT003, nasal nalmefene, by Opiant Pharmaceuticals. Nasal nalmefene is an investigational product currently being evaluated in clinical trials for the treatment of opioid overdose. Moon Rabbit will be responsible for supporting commercial preparations and, if approved by the FDA, launch of OPNT003 in the U.S. We look forward to being an integral part of the Opiant team, noted Moon Rabbit managing partner John Tenaglia. Opiants mission to develop new medicines for addictions and drug overdose represent a critical and essential advancement in the public health realm. Its potential new treatment for opioid overdose is something we are incredibly passionate about. Were excited to translate that passion into campaigns for Opiant that reach as many people as possible and make a lasting impact. Matt Ruth, Chief Commercial Officer, Opiant, said: When looking for an agency to support our commercialization efforts for OPNT003 in the U.S., the Moon Rabbit team showed us a brave strategy, powerful creative thinking, and an understanding of the human decisions that underlie the opioid overdose crisis and how we as a company can play a role. We're excited to have their team join us in this fight." About Moon Rabbit Focused on the healthcare and consumer sectors, Moon Rabbit is an award-winning advertising agency created to build brands that make their customers feel something. As self-described proudly misfit, Moon Rabbit challenges tired conventions and always pushes to create brave and powerful work that speaks to people. The agency has offices in New York, California and Singapore. For more information, visit http://www.wearemoonrabbit.com. About Opiant Pharmaceuticals Opiant Pharmaceuticals, Inc., the company that developed NARCAN Nasal Spray, is building a leading franchise of new medicines to combat addictions and drug overdose. For more information visit: http://www.opiant.com. A collection of progressive housing laws was signed into law in California last month that are designed to increase housing density and update zoning rules so developers can build more housing. There is an urgent need for the government to expedite permits, to help developers acquire material and workers as there is a shortage of both. But, mostly to ensure that the new housing goes to the people who are hurting right now and cant afford a place to live. California has become the epicenter of Americas homeless crisis. Venice Beach, which attracts 10 million visitors a year became a massive homeless camp this summer.(1) More than 1,600 homeless people set up tents and shelters amid a community of 40,000 residents.(2) Venice Beach is hardly the only community to see the effects of the crisis. A new federal report shows there are more than 160,000 homeless people in California.(3) That number is not surprising given that the median sales price for a single-family home in California is $811,170, up 21.7% since July of last year.(4) A collection of progressive housing laws was signed into law in California last month that are designed to increase housing density and update zoning rules so developers can build more housing. But building expert Nick Saifan, Chairman of Vendaval Corp., warns that the usual way of doing business could derail a golden opportunity to help residents desperate for a place to live. The laws allow for greater density in residential areas and create a faster path for building single-family communities. The laws could help ease the states housing crisis. Everyone on both sides of the political fence should support the new laws, Saifan says. Even with the new laws, there is an urgent need for the government to expedite permits, to help developers acquire material and workers as there is a shortage of both. But, mostly to ensure that the new housing goes to the people who are hurting right now and cant afford a place to live. The unprecedented need for new residential options and laws to bring change pushed Gov. Gavin Newsom to sign several measures on Sept. 16. The plan is to expand housing production, streamline housing permitting, and increase density to create more inclusive and vibrant neighborhoods. (5) Below is a summary of the primary legislation:(6) Senate Bill 8 extends the provisions of the Housing Crisis Act of 2019 through 2030. The intent is to jumpstart more housing production by accelerating the approval process for housing projects, curtailing local governments ability to downzone, limit fee increases on housing applications and implement accountability provisions. Senate Bill 9, or the California Housing Opportunity and More Efficiency (HOME) Act, allows a property owner to split a single-family lot into 2 lots and place up to 2 units on each newly created lot. Senate Bill 10 establishes a procedure for local governments to access a streamlined zoning process for new multi-unit housing near transit or in urban infill areas. The legislation gives local governments another tool to voluntarily increase density and provide affordable rental opportunities to more areas of California. Assembly Bill 1174 amends the existing approval process for housing development in jurisdictions that have not yet made enough progress towards their allocation of their regional housing needs. Supporters of the laws, say the measures will keep California affordable, and open additional, and affordable, housing options. However, the laws are opposed by more than 200 communities, which resist changes in their neighborhoods for several reasons, including rent control, traffic density and stress on the infrastructure, to name a few. How to Solve the Crisis Saifan has been working to address Californias housing problems for 14 years. He is encouraged by Newsoms agenda but contends a builder-friendly system will ease the challenging housing situation in California. In fact, the governors new law places a project Saifan has been trying to develop for several years into the category of Housing Element, which means that he is able to upzone the project without the need for a vote from the local government. The Moreno Valley project will offer affordable housing to hundreds of Californians, as well as offering retail and social services space. Through grants, a portion of the rents and retail sales, the Moreno Valley will be self-sustaining and not cost taxpayers a single centand put up to $2 million a year in the citys coffers. However, one way of solving the problem, according to Saifan, is by privatizing the housing crisis. By privatizing housing, you can take steps to get projects off the ground more quickly, Saifan says. Let the builders build. The role of the government needs to be to expedite permits, environmental impact studies, and all the necessary steps it takes to get a project going. One way of achieving this, Saifan notes, is by creating a cooperative push that involves governments, citizens, and responsible builders to address the housing issue. The government alone cannot solve this situation, says Saifan. I believe in a joint entity so that all the governments could work together to help make this happen, Saifan says. If you privatized, it would really work and truly help those in need of housing. Allow developers to build more. But it will take all of us: the government, the builders and the community. About Vendaval Corporation Nick Saifan served in the U.S. military for 24 years, including time stationed in Riverside County, CA. He experienced firsthand the difficulties of transitioning from military life to civilian life and, as a co-founder of a community-based nonprofit, he watched the difficulty in getting donations increasing year by year. Today, hes putting his business savvy where his heart is. He sees a community that, like many, has struggled to evolve with a changing employment picture in the region. Today Vendaval Corporation visualizes a sustainable business structure creating the opportunity for helping those in need with successful community-based programs. The differentiator in the communities he visualizes is self-sufficient affordable housing in a mixed-use development that offers on-site programs for veterans, youth, education, childcare, on-the-job training, and job placement. These programs begin even before ground is broken. Rounding out the community are retail outlets such as bakeries/coffee shops, dry cleaning shops, a paid-membership fitness center, and financial institution. For more information visit http://www.vendavalcorp.com/ 1. Associated Press; Venice Beach Becomes Flashpoint In LAs Homeless; Last updated July 29; KTLA 5: ktla.com/news/local-news/venice-beach-becomes-a-flashpoint-in-l-a-s-homeless-crisis/ 2. Associated Press; Venice Beach Becomes Flashpoint In LAs Homeless; Last updated July 29; KTLA 5: ktla.com/news/local-news/venice-beach-becomes-a-flashpoint-in-l-a-s-homeless-crisis 3. Nichols, Chris; Californias Homeless Population Rose 7% To 161,000 Ahead Of The Pandemic, New Report Finds; 19 March 2021; CapRadio; capradio.org/articles/2021/03/19/californias-homeless-population-rose-7-to-161000-ahead-of-the-pandemic-new-report-finds/ 4. Kiszla, Cameron; Newsom Signs Housing Bills That Could Reduce Single-Family Zoning In California; Last updated Sept 17; KTLA 5: ktla.com/news/california/newsom-signs-housing-bills-that-could-reduce-single-family-zoning-in-california 5. Office of Gov. Newsom; Governor Newsom Signs Historic Legislation to Boost Californias Housing Supply And Fight The Housing Crisis; Last Updated Sept 16; gov.ca.gov/2021/09/16/governor-newsom-signs-historic-legislation-to-boost-californias-housing-supply-and-fight-the-housing-crisis. 6. The National Law Review; California Enacts New Legislation To Combat Growing Housing Crisis, But Not Without Controversy; Last Updated Sept. 20; natlawreview.com/article/california-enacts-new-legislation-to-combat-growing-housing-crisis-not-without. Over and Above Africa 1st Annual Online Auction The generosity from donors has been astounding, said Over and Above Africa Founder, Kerry David. Hotelier, Kevin Wendle has donated 4 days and three nights for 2 people at his stunning Hotel Esencia, in Mexico, the winner of the 2021 Wellness Award, by Forbes this year. The luxe African safari Over and Above Africa went live on Sunday, October 24th with a silent auction to help endangered wildlife. The silent auction culminates on the evening of the 28th, with a LIVE online auction for their big ticket items. The generosity from donors has been astounding, said Over and Above Africa Founder, Kerry David. Hotelier Kevin Wendle has donated 4 days and three nights for 2 people at his stunning Hotel Esencia, in Mexico, the winner of the 2021 Wellness Award, by Forbes this year. The luxe African safari resort destinations, Singita, named as one of the top 25 hotels in the world, has donated 4 days, 3 nights for 2 people at their Lebombo location in the Kruger National Park, South Africa. Thomson Safaris have donated a 7 day safari for 2, and a 12 day safari for 2! One retails at $41,000! To experience the majesty of Tanzania, while giving back to endangered wildlife what could be more fitting? It doesnt end there, weve been gifted a 7 night stay in a private, eight-bedroom, villa in Umbria, Italy, the One&Only luxe, resort chain has given us 3 days, 2 night for 2 at their Cape Town location, where sushi restaurant Nobu calls home. African designer Patrick Mavros has donated his beautiful wildlife jewelry, we have private zoom consultations with experts such as writer, director Barry Blaustein, actor Sharon Leal, screenwriters Paul Chitlik and Sharon Soboil, photographer Elliot Cohen, private chef to the stars Aine McAteer, and artist Anne Harris. High Heel Jungle, Fitueyes, Tan-Luxe, Casa del Cody, Collectible artwork from upcoming artists and photographers to collectible works from Jane Michaeledes, Patsy Weingart, Smrithi Krishnan, Jane Lee-McCracken, Jane Wright Wolf, Nancy Cervenka, Peter Hetz of Laikipia Forum, a stunning painted art installation, of a 6 surf board from artist, Steve Adam of the Steve Adam Gallery in Laguna Beach. Wondrium have gifted us 5 annual subscriptions to their excellent, educational platform, home to @breakingtheirsilence theres something here for everyone!" Over and Above Africa is on a mission to help shut down the $20 Billion a year, illegal poaching industry before all endangered animals disappear forever. This planet is in the midst of its 6th Greatest Extinction. The first thats thought to be entirely man made. In the past 50 years weve lost nearly 70% of our wildlife to extinction. Unimaginable, but true. Over and Above Africa, through tagging and tracking endangered wildlife, triaging survivors of poaching crimes, food and medical supply programs, early learning centers, educational programs, seeking out women lead initiatives, funding sustainable projects that include tree planting and avocado harvesting and more, believes they are most effective when harnessing all these arenas at once and lending their considerable financial and mentoring support where it counts the most, at ground zero. People can register here and start bidding on our silent auction items, then join us LIVE on October 28th at 5pm Pacific/8pm Eastern via a private Zoom link (shared with those who have registered on our auction site). We have a wide variety of items on offer all proceeds are in service of endangered wildlife and the communities they impact. Our aim is to make the saving of endangered animals in Africa a real and personal experience. We film every project we fund so that our donors & members can see how their donations positively impact critical initiatives on the ground, said Founder & CEO, Kerry David, Our auction is just one way for those who care to help protect our wildlife. https://www.Overandaboveafrica.com ABOUT Over and Above Africa Over and Above Africa funds projects and initiatives that protect and support endangered wildlife in Africa and the communities they impact. Over and Above Africa members pay a minimum membership fee of five dollars a month and, along with donations, those funds are given to highly targeted and diligently vetted anti-poaching, educational and sustainable initiatives across Africa. Those projects are filmed, made into mini-documentaries and shared with the Over and Above Africa community. Media Contact: Koni Brooks Email: Koni@OverAndAboveAfrica.com Tel. (310) 951-3456 Company Contacts: Kerry David, Founder & CEO - Kerry@OverAndAboveAfrica.com Koni Brooks, Executive Director Koni@OverAndAboveAfrica.com http://www.OverAndAboveAfrica.com @OverAboveAfrica Penterra Plaza, a mixed-use residential, office, and retail community managed by Advance HOA Management, Inc., has installed four new SemaConnect Series 6 charging stations as a tenant amenity in its shared parking. The plaza joins multiple other buildings in the Denver Tech Center to offer SemaConnect charging services to residents and employees. Thanks to a grant from Charge Ahead Colorado, a program that reimburses 80% of the cost to install EV charging stations, Penterra Plaza was able to add this new amenity that will support EV drivers in Denver. Prior to installing the new SemaConnect Series 6 charging stations, which provide dynamic charging and increased support to EV drivers, Penterra Plaza offered several non-networked charging stations that lacked those positive benefits. The four new SemaConnect charging stations at Penterra Plaza are mounted on dual pedestals and are prominently placed on the ground floor of Penterra Plazas shared parking garage. With interactive LED lights, the ENERGY STAR-certified charging stations show station status at-a-glance to support shared charging. The SemaConnect Network gives property management the power to control access, set pricing, and view reports. The installation of SemaConnects EV chargers was truly prompted by driver demand, said Paul Anderson, Penterra Plaza Master Association Manager. We anticipate a very positive reaction from our tenants. SemaConnect is thrilled to partner with Advance HOA Management to meet the needs of the Penterra Plaza community, said Tony Sargent, vice president of sales at SemaConnect. We look forward to an ongoing relationship and are excited to help with future expansions. We chose SemaConnect based on recommendations from other buildings in the area, Anderson continued. We knew that we would get great service from a company with such a reputation. SemaConnects team provides support for customers throughout their entire EV charging journey from station selection, installation, and training to driver support and maintenance. To learn more, visit https://semaconnect.com. About Advance HOA Management, Inc.: Advance HOA Management, Inc., offers specialized HOA property management services to homeowners associations in the Denver Front Range and beyond. Their hands-on management style, combined with one of the most highly experienced teams in the business, provides communities with a proactive and professional management team capable of, and committed to, enhancing every aspect of the community and property values. Advance HOA Management strives to be a long-term, committed, and respected partner with the communities it has the privilege to serve. For more information, http://www.advancehoa.com. About SemaConnect: SemaConnect is a leading provider and pioneer of electric vehicle charging infrastructure solutions to the North American commercial, residential, and fleet market. A complete EV support partner, SemaConnect is making transportation electrification possible in this decade through innovative, elegantly designed charging stations, a robust and open network platform, and an unparalleled charging experience for drivers and station owners. Since our founding in 2008, SemaConnect has installed thousands of smart charging stations at top companies like CBRE, JLL, Hines, Greystar, Nike, Electrify America, and Standard Parking. SemaConnect remains the preferred charging solutions partner to municipal, parking, multifamily, hotel, office, retail and commercial fleet customers across the United States and Canada. For more information, visit http://www.semaconnect.com. Using Japanese Paper for Digital Printing of Photographs By Carl-Evert Jonsson Visual art can tell a story in various ways. In Carl-Evert Jonssons new book, Using Japanese Paper for Digital Printing of Photographs, he shares a collection of photos he has printed using this practical and elegant method over the years. Throughout the book, Jonsson describes the different techniques and mediums he uses, from Japanese paper known as Washi to the classic egg oil methods for abstract paintings and collages. His photographs throughout the pages illustrate these techniques and how they have evolved his experience as an artist. This new form of photography only requires a computer, printer, Washi and photos. Jonsson shares various images from the acropolis in Athens to working in laboratories to give his audience examples of how this technique differs from traditional printing. Ultimately, Using Japanese Paper for Digital Printing of Photographs will teach photographers and readers how to experiment with this printing style and masterfully incorporate it into their work. By the end of the book, readers will understand how to use Japanese papers for photography and learn the history behind this new art form. Using Japanese Paper for Digital Printing of Photographs By Carl-Evert Jonsson ISBN: 978-1-6655-8881-2 (softcover); 978-1-6655-8882-9 (eBook) Available at AuthorHouse, Amazon and Barnes & Noble About the author Carl-Evert Jonsson was born in Umea, Sweden, and was always interested in art. As a teenager, he liked to draw, work with aquarelle and take photographs and always incorporated his passion into his day-to-day life. Many years later, Jonsson earned his M.D. and Ph.D. from the University of Uppsala, specialized in reconstructive surgery, and dedicated his career to taking care of others. He later went on to train at Karolinska hospital in Stockholm. Later in his career, he specialized in cleft nose deformities and studied in Paris and Mexico City. Jonsson has also published several publications in medical journals on his techniques and findings. At the age of 70, he finished his career as a surgeon. Before retiring, he attended air courses to learn new techniques while working full-time. For the last 25 years, painting has been his main interest. Jonsson recently published his debut book, Using Japanese Paper for Digital Printing of Photographs, a new technique he learned and hopes to teach others. He currently resides in Stockholm, Sweden. General Inquiries, Review Copies & Interview Requests: LAVIDGE Phoenix Grace Connor 480-998-2600 x 534 gconnor(at)lavidge(dot)com Sandpiper Hospitality a Virginia-based hotel management company with vast expertise in the extended-stay segment has promoted Trisha Grisko to serve as Vice President of Sales & Marketing at the rapidly growing company. With more than 20 years of hospitality experience, Grisko joined the Sandpiper Hospitality team in 2018 as a Divisional Sales Manager. Driving strong results for Sandpiper Hospitalitys expanding portfolio of properties, she was promoted to the position of Corporate Director of Sales & Marketing a year ago. Grisko previously spent five years at Hilton Hotels & Resorts, working in both Select and Full-Service properties, and 10 years with Extended Stay America. In 2010, she was honored with a Best of the Best award from Hospitality Sales and Marketing Association International. Im most excited about the evolution and growth that Sandpiper Hospitality is poised for, said Grisko. I feel very fortunate to be working among such a talented team, we are all very optimistic about the future of the extended-stay segment. Sandpiper Hospitality is approved by Marriott International, IHG Hotels & Resorts, Choice Hotels International, Suburban Extended Stay Hotels and Extended Stay America to manage their select-service and extended stay brands. Sandpiper Hospitality has a portfolio of 54 hotels open or under contract in 13 different states. Earlier this fall, Sandpiper Hospitality announced that it has been selected to manage four new properties currently under development in Texas that will join the Wyndham Hotels & Resorts family. Trisha has proven herself to be a passionate & tenacious sales leader, said Sandpiper Hospitality President & CEO Jim Darter. We appreciate her in-depth, pragmatic approach to sales & marketing as Sandpiper Hospitality continues to execute its vision for aggressive growth. Sandpiper Hospitality continues to demonstrate its unique ability to combine a flexible approach to 3rd-party management with extra-ordinary financial results for its investors and clients. For more information, please visit http://www.sandpiperhospitality.com. About Sandpiper Hospitality Sandpiper Hospitality is a high-performance hotel management firm recognized as experts in the extended stay hotel space. With 54 hotels open or under management for a diverse group of clients across the country, Sandpiper Hospitality is on the leading edge of the hottest segment in hospitality. According to the April 2020 edition of Hospitality Business, Sandpiper Hospitality was the fastest growing Top 100 hotel management company from 2018 to 2019 and that expansion has continued into 2021. The firm has earned its position as the leading operator in the extended stay hotel segment of hospitality by virtue of superior returns on investment for its investors and clients. Sandpiper Hospitality - where expertise grounds us and flexibility elevates us. http://www.sandpiperhospitality.com. We know that by attracting more people from all backgrounds to consider a career in refrigeration, we can offer rewarding careers, improve our competitiveness and strengthen the talent that we attract to the sector The UKs leading refrigeration and heating company was Highly Commended in the category of Diversity Impact at the RAC Cooling Awards ceremony last week. Star Refrigerations Group Sales and Marketing Director was also presented with the prestigious Fred Jamieson Award at this years event which took place at the Grosvenor House Ballroom in London. The Diversity Impact award was judged on the success of initiatives to improve diversity in the industry, particularly related to underrepresented groups in the sector, including women and minority groups. Star was nominated for the award alongside the also Highly Commended Women in RACHP Group and the winners of the category, STEMazing/World Refrigeration Day. Nadia Rae, Group Human Resources Director of Star Refrigeration, said, We are pleased to have been Highly Commended for Diversity Impact at the RAC Cooling Awards and would like to congratulate the Women in RACHP Group and particularly, STEMazing / World Refrigeration Day whose commitment to diversity excellence has been recognised at the awards. Star has a long term commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion throughout the business. We strive to create an inclusive environment for all employees, recognising and celebrating the benefits that a diverse workforce brings. We know that by attracting more people from all backgrounds to consider a career in refrigeration, we can offer rewarding careers, improve our competitiveness and strengthen the talent that we attract to the sector. Star has pioneered and is a member of - many national and international initiatives to encourage girls and women into STEM careers. Female employees are part of Women in RACHP, a group established by the Institute of Refrigeration to promote women in the industry, and the STEMazing project, where staff have acted as STEM ambassadors to inspire young people to pursue studies and careers in STEM subjects. Star also provided additional funding support for STEMazing Africa and several other programmes with a global reach such as Glasgow Universitys Femeng project. Additionally, the company has a strong presence in the local community. As well as offering educational sessions in universities and schools and student work opportunities, Star welcomes children and university students to visit its factories and learn about how sustainable refrigeration and heating can help countries achieve net zero targets. Last year, Newton Mearns school children visited Stars Thornliebank manufacturing facilities to learn about renewable energy and heat. Within the organisation, Star promotes diverse work opportunities and maintains a positive company culture celebrating diversity and inclusion. The company is working to broaden its recruitment networks, aiming to advertise job and training opportunities to underrepresented groups, as well as offering fast-track engineer training programmes to those leaving the military. Star Refrigeration has been awarded Platinum and Gold accreditation against the Investors in People (IIP) and the Investors in Young People Standard respectively a level achieved by only 3% of IIP accredited companies. This recognition highlights the companys commitment to nurturing talent, particularly when beginning their careers in the refrigeration and heating industry. It is also a testament to Stars dedication to upholding its core values, which include attracting the best talent, protecting the workforce and their families and retaining staff. Nadia Rae, said, There is still work to be done and we are keen to work with others across the industry to achieve greater diversity in the sector. It makes us really proud to have our efforts recognised and Star will continue to work to reduce barriers and promote inclusion throughout the business. To find out more about the annual RAC Cooling Awards visit http://www.coolingawards.racplus.com To find out more about Stars people friendly policies and practices visit https://www.star-ref.co.uk/home-page/careers/ Taranis and Albo Climate announce a partnership to alleviate the bottleneck in verifying carbon sequestration in farmland. By using satellite-based remote sensing to significantly reduce the cost of verification of Soil Organic Carbon (SOC), Taranis and Albo will allow agriculture retailers to scale carbon programs and help farmers move their carbon credits more easily into the carbon credit markets. "We are excited to be partnering with Albo Climate. The high costs of measuring and verifying soil carbon credits have prevented more farmers from participating in carbon programs. Automatic and remote sensing of soil carbon would eliminate the farmer's need to take cumbersome soil sampling, allowing farmers to enter the carbon credit market and increase their ROI seamlessly," said Taranis President and Co-Founder, Ofir Schlam. "Remote sensing can be game-changing in regenerative farming and the emerging agriculture-based carbon credits market. We are thrilled to be partnering with Taranis, a key leader in delivering digital farming solutions. Combined with our unique satellite and AI-powered approach to soil carbon credits measurement and verification, we see the potential for true impact at scale across the globe," says Jacques Amselem, CEO of Albo Climate. While the initial AI-powered models will focus on corn and soy crops across the US corn-belt, the strategic partnership will foster the development of robust and scalable remote-sensing soil carbon models to be used in an array of croplands across several continents. In addition, the collaboration will produce maps to evaluate soil carbon density carefully and generate verified carbon offsets. "Taranis can bring our satellite, drones, and AI expertise and vast network of agriculture retailers to the table to develop a faster and more affordable process for carbon verification," said Bar Veinstein, CEO of Taranis. "The key to unlock the carbon credit markets and have a significant impact on climate change is to bring cutting edge technologies to sustainable agriculture." By employing, among others, no-till cultivation, utilizing cover crops and crop rotation, implementing planned grazing, and reducing the use of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, regenerative methods keep carbon in the ground and allow it to build over time thus serving as a powerful "carbon sink." This carbon feeds and improves the health of plants in the soil where it is stored and kept from being released into the atmosphere. By delivering a scalable, scientific approach to the Measurement, Reporting, and Verification (MRV) of soil carbon, Albo and Taranis will support a vast network of retailers and growers, prioritizing ease of use and global reach. In addition, helping agriculture retailers connect carbon offset buyers with carbon credit suppliers who are growers, will facilitate the entry of more farmers into the carbon credit market with less friction. "We are putting farmers first on our new platform. To have a true impact on climate change, we need scalable execution and to have as many people on board in the effort as possible," says Ariella Charny, CMO of Albo Climate. About Albo Climate: Albo Climate, established in 2019, is an Israel-based startup applying AI to satellite imagery to map, measure, and monitor carbon sequestration and scale-up carbon removal. Combining geospatial monitoring and deep learning expertise, Albo is developing remote sensing solutions for carbon credit verification for various ecosystems, including forestry, agriculture, and blue carbon. About Taranis: Taranis is the world's leading AI-powered crop intelligence platform for agribusiness. It leverages AI and machine learning, high-resolution aerial, satellite, and drone imagery, and deep agronomic know-how to allow crop advisors to make better, more informed crop management decisions. Since starting in 2015, Taranis has worked with the world's top agricultural retailers and crop protection companies, monitoring millions of acres for customers in the United States, Canada, Brazil, Russia, Ukraine, and Australia. Taranis employs over 80 people worldwide and is headquartered in Westfield, Indiana. -30- CONTACT PERSONS: Albo Climate: Dr. Jacques Amselem, jacques.amselem@albosys.com Dr. Marco Calderon, marco.calderon@albosys.com Ariella Charny, ariella.charny@albosys.com Taranis: Ofir Schlam, ofir.schlam@taranis.ag Bar Veinstein, bar.veinstein@taranis.ag Leah Beyer, leah.beyer@taranis.ag, 317-512-4025 It is a great honor to be recognized by Wellspring a transformative organization that gives human trafficking survivors the hope and the skills they need to build a better future, Blum said. Theodore I. Blum, managing shareholder of global law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLPs Atlanta office, was presented with Wellspring Livings 2021 HOPE Award on Oct. 24 in recognition of his work to fight human trafficking in the city of Atlanta. Blum leads several initiatives in the Atlanta community to stop the human trafficking crisis, serving as chair of the Rotary Club of Atlantas Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force from 2018 to 2021. He has also been instrumental in formalizing Greenberg Traurigs partnership with Wellspring Living, an Atlanta-based nonprofit organization that provides residential and community-based programs for survivors of sexual abuse, trafficking, and exploitation. It is a great honor to be recognized by Wellspring a transformative organization that gives human trafficking survivors the hope and the skills they need to build a better future, Blum said. When I first learned of the human trafficking crisis in Atlanta, I was overwhelmed by the severity and motivated to do something to create change. As a firm, we realized we could make the most impact by focusing on individual survivors, which is why the care Wellspring provides has been so inspiring to see. As an expansion of Blums commitment to fighting human trafficking, Greenberg Traurigs Atlanta office began partnering with Wellspring Livings Womens Academy in 2019 to host seminars on a variety of career-readiness topics. The 10-week program for women ages 18+ is followed by a 12-week apprenticeship at various companies in Atlanta, including Greenberg Traurig, which has welcomed a handful of apprentices who learn additional professional skills in a business environment. Our job as lawyers is to protect and advocate for those who often cant advocate for themselves. The career training seminars we host each week at our office have not only allowed us to make an impact on the community we serve but brought our entire office together, Blum elaborated. I applaud Teds efforts over the past four years to strengthen our community and create a lasting impact in the fight against human trafficking, Greenberg Traurig Co-President Ernest LaMont Greer said. Teds comprehensive and collaborative work with Wellspring and the Atlanta Rotary has connected business leaders representing hundreds of thousands of employees, all working hand-in-hand to fight trafficking in our great city of Atlanta. Under Blums leadership, the Rotary Club of Atlantas Anti-Human Trafficking Task Force brought together over 50 Atlanta-based companies to accelerate anti-human trafficking programs already in place and create a forum to share ideas and work together to drive change. Using an approach that asks companies to take on the fight both within their own organizations as well as joining forces as a united front, the task force created a large-scale effort designed to make a significant impact on human trafficking in the city of Atlanta. About Wellspring Living: Since 2001, Wellspring Living has provided domestic sex trafficking victims and those at risk (ages 12+) with comprehensive, trauma-informed, victim-centered recovery services through residential programs, community-based programs, and graduate services. Each program utilizes a multi-disciplinary service model to provide transformative care through five service pillars: therapy, education, life skills, career readiness, and case management. Wellspring Living also trains and consults organizations nationally and internationally to multiply impact through the Wellspring Living Institute. For more information, visit http://www.wellspringliving.org. About Greenberg Traurig: Greenberg Traurig, LLP (GT) has approximately 2300 attorneys in 40 locations in the United States, Latin America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. GT has been recognized for its philanthropic giving, diversity, and innovation, and is consistently among the largest firms in the U.S. on the Law360 400 and among the Top 25 on the Am Law Global 100. The firm is net carbon neutral with respect to its office energy usage and Mansfield Rule 4.0 Certified Plus. Web: http://www.gtlaw.com We appreciate the opportunity to work with CPA and help them source attractive debt solutions to allow the communities time to stabilize during this challenging lending market brought on by the pandemic, stated Eric Johnson, Director, Ziegler Senior Housing Care Finance & Practice. Ziegler, a specialty investment bank, is pleased to announce its role as exclusive financial advisor in two bridge debt placements totaling $37,750,000 (collectively, the Financings or the Transactions) on behalf of Columbia Pacific Advisors (CPA or the Borrower) to refinance the existing debt on The Landing at Lake Worth and The Linden at Stonehaven Square, two senior housing communities located in Lake Worth, Florida and Tulsa, Oklahoma, respectively. Each community offers assisted living and memory care services and consists of 134 total units. CPA developed and opened the Lake Worth Community in late 2018 and similarly opened the Tulsa community in late 2017. These investments, among several others within CPAs portfolio, have been a critical part of the companys strategy to expand their footprint into southern US markets. The financings collectively maximized proceeds to the Borrower refinancing the original construction loans along with providing additional proceeds for reserves and closing costs, which will provide the Borrower with additional flexibility in the future. We appreciate the opportunity to work with CPA and help them source attractive debt solutions to allow the communities time to stabilize during this challenging lending market brought on by the pandemic, stated Eric Johnson, Director, Ziegler Senior Housing Care Finance & Practice. Zieglers Senior Housing & Care Finance Practice brings its experience and expertise to senior housing and post-acute care clients. By offering a comprehensive suite of products for debt, equity and M&A services, our professionals provide creative solutions that meet your organizations capital goals. For more information about Ziegler, please visit us at http://www.ziegler.com. About Ziegler: Ziegler is a privately held, national boutique investment bank, capital markets and proprietary investments firm. It has a unique focus on healthcare, senior living and education sectors, as well as general municipal and structured finance. Headquartered in Chicago with regional and branch offices throughout the U.S., Ziegler provides its clients with capital raising, strategic advisory services, fixed income sales, underwriting and trading as well as Ziegler Credit, Surveillance and Analytics. To learn more, visit http://www.ziegler.com. Certain comments in this news release represent forward-looking statements made pursuant to the provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. This clients experience may not be representative of the experience of other clients, nor is it indicative of future performance or success. The forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, in particular, the overall financial health of the securities industry, the strength of the healthcare sector of the U.S. economy and the municipal securities marketplace, the ability of the Company to underwrite and distribute securities, the market value of mutual fund portfolios and separate account portfolios advised by the Company, the volume of sales by its retail brokers, the outcome of pending litigation, and the ability to attract and retain qualified employees. Renee Watsons books for young readers include Harlems Little Blackbird: The Story of Florence Mills and Ways to Make Sunshine. Her YA novel Piecing Me Together received a Newbery Honor and Coretta Scott King Award. Watsons new picture book, Born on the Water, co-written with 1619 Project founder Nikole Hannah-Jones, chronicles the consequences of slavery and the history of Black resistance in the United States. Brendan Kiely is the author of All American Boys (with Jason Reynolds), Tradition, The Last True Love Story, and more. Hes the recipient of the Coretta Scott King Author Honor Award and the Walter Dean Myers Award, among other accolades. In his new book, The Other Talk: Reckoning with Our White Privilege, Kiely aims to open up a conversation about racism, privilege, and allyship. We asked Watson and Kiely to discuss their latest books, their approaches to writing about race for young readers, and their hopes for how educators and parents can use their work to spark difficult but important dialogues. Renee Watson: Brendan, congratulations on The Other Talk. I remember when you first told me you were thinking about writing it. Back then, you had your reservations and you werent quite sure if you would/should do it. As authors, we often have several ideas we are pondering or tinkering with that we put on the back burner either because of timing or lack of inspiration. Id love to know what pushed you to start writing The Other Talk. Why this book? Why now? Brendan Kiely: Thanks, Renee. Its true. Id been fiddling with this idea for a few years but just couldnt find my way in. Many people of the global majority are familiar with the Talk they have with their families, the talk about navigating or, quite frankly, surviving racism in America. But it seemed to me that the Other Talk was one in which white people had to also speak directly about our own racial identity, and therefore racisms impact on our lives, which would mean talking honestly about the unfair advantages white people so often have in a society so deeply affected by racismand I felt confused and unsure about how to get that right, or if, as a white person, I could even have the perspective it would take to speak about it well. I was still stumbling my way in and out of the book when Jason Reynolds and I did a fundraiser for Black Visions Collective after George Floyd was murdered in the summer of 2020. He and I had been talking for years about how white peoples hesitations and inability to talk about their own racial identity might be one of the enormous obstacles to tackling the problems of systemic racism. We were talking about it again that night when he said, in so many words, Would you go write that book finally? I dumped everything Id written so far and just let a draft of the book rip loose from my heart. Instead of trying to be right, I just laid bare my own flaws and how they are connected to the broader historical and systemic problems of racism. It was a disaster of a draft, but at least it was honest, so it gave people who were kind enough to read early drafts something to respond to and help me shape into the frank and clear discussion about white privilege I hoped could be a tool for white families to use to talk to each other about their white racial identity and their proximity to the problems of systemic racism. Sometimes I wonder if while we are inspired to write about the influences of history on our lives today, the magnitude of that importance can feel daunting, and make the voices of doubt, confusion, or hesitation too loud in our minds. Did you have any of those same kinds of reservations getting started on Born on the Water? And, how did you get involved with the 1619 Project? Watson: I was invited to co-write The 1619 Project: Born on the Water by Namrata Tripathi, our editor, and Nikole Hannah-Jones. We had an initial meeting about the project and after we all agreed it was a good fit, Nikole and I started working on the manuscript. I definitely had reservations when I was first approached. I wanted to make sure I could add something meaningful to Nikoles brilliant work, and it was daunting to think about how to tell such a big story in a picture book. I think my personal conviction about why this story is important for young readers outweighed any fear or intimidation I had. The fear was about getting it right and making sure we showed the humanity and resilience of the enslaved people. I kept thinking about teachers who are looking for tools to use in the classroom to talk about slavery in the United States with young learners and I really wanted to create something for them as well. That was one of the reasons why Nikole and I decided to write Born on the Water in verse. Each poem is its own moment and breaks down this big, heavy story in manageable vignettes. It was our hope to take care of the readerincluding caregivers and teachersgently leading them through a story that ultimately honors the resilience of Black Americans. After each poem the reader can pause and reflect before continuing, and hopefully each verse will answer questions while also provoking more questions. In reading The Other Talk, I could feel you striking that balance of truth-telling and gentleness. You lead the reader through history, statistics, and your own personal anecdotes. I think its perfect for teen readers because its conversational, educational, and challenging all at the same time. What is your hope for young readers and educators reading this book? Kiely: Thats just it, isnt it? While the truth can be difficult, messy, uncomfortable, possibly scary or hard to hear, we cant dodge it, or pretend it doesnt exist, nor hide it from our young people. We have to try to find ways to share it so that telling the truth, hearing the truth, learning about the truth can be empowering. Thats why I appreciate so deeply your poetry and your strategy of vignettes for Born on the Waterits all about the delivery. Thats what I hoped to achieve in The Other Talk, as well. I wanted to try to empower young people and their families and the educators who come to the book with a language and framework to discuss the history of white privilege and how it impacts life today, and I felt like the most inviting and honest way to begin that conversation was to use stories from my own life and say, Look, heres what I didnt know I didnt know, and now that I know a little more, Id like to share all this with you so you dont make the same mistakes Ive made, and so you have a tool to help you be a more effective and authentic partner in the pursuit of racial justice in your community. As a teacher, as a father, and as a writer, I think being honest with young people, letting them see me as someone who makes mistakes, who isnt an expert, who doesnt have it all figured out, is a part of the honesty they deserve. By cultivating a space in which I allow myself to be vulnerable with them, I think it creates a space for them to seize opportunities for empowerment. I think my role as an educator and a writer for young people is to be the best partner I can for them in helping them shape the world they wish to see. Thats my hope for The Other Talkthat it inspires readers and educators, especially those of us who are white, to want to become more self-aware of privilege, to listen more and learn more, especially to those who have been telling these truths for so long, and to feel motivated to more actively participate in the work many people are already doing to help build a more racially just community. I appreciate your question and the word, hope, because I often think about hope. I think its important to have hope, to look for it, even in the face of truths that are so daunting. I think its important to cultivate a language of hope, because when we learn the language of a conversation, we can join it. In order to truly believe in a more racially just future, I think we must participate in the pursuit of it. Did hope play a role in your work in Born on the Water? Or, more generally, does hope play a role in your work as a writer and an educator? Watson: Yes, yes! I am the product of hope. The hope of my ancestors who had no logical reason for believing this world could be, would be a better place and yet they prayed and fought for a day to come that many of them didnt even get to see. I am their answered prayer. I think a lot of people are dismissive of the word hope. But to truly have hope is a hard, grueling action. It takes perseverance, patience, resilience and a resolve that even with setbacks, there is always a way that can be made, always a next chapter. When it comes to writing hopeful stories, I am careful not to confuse that with writing happy endings. I think theres a big difference. In all of my stories, I want the reader to know that the main character has the tools they need to keep going, to be able to face any future obstacles that come their way, not that there will be no more obstacles. At the beginning of Born on the Water, the main character is longing to know where she comes from. After she learns the history of Black Americans there is a sense of pride and she realizes that her people worked hard and fought for her freedom, that they left her a legacy to continue. This is why the last sentence has no punctuation. Nikole and I deliberately decided not to end the sentence with a period. There is no real ending in the sense of and they all lived happily ever after. Instead, the reader understands that the story hasnt ended for this character, it is just beginning. She has picked up the mantle and wants to be involved in making her world a better place. This is why I believe teaching the truth about our history is important. History is a record of hopeproof that time and time again people overcame hardships, fought to change laws, protested injustice, made art in perilous times. I believe our young people need to know that. We need examples of how to hope, of how to stand up for justice. And speaking of examples, another thing I love about The Other Talk is that you give practical examples to white readers on how to have uncomfortable conversations about race and privilege and what solidarity with the global majority can look like. I thought we could end our conversation with you sharing a few thoughts about the how. How can white teachers, parents, and caregivers begin this work with their student or child? What does taking action look like in small, practical ways? Kiely: History is a record of hope... as a reason for telling the story of history truthfully resonates so profoundly. I think it is as true for telling our collective history as it is for telling our personal histories. Part of the how in your question, that I try to address in The Other Talk, is for white people like me to tell our own personal stories more truthfully by including how our racial identity plays a role in our stories. Because how can anyone trust me if Im not even being honest with them in the first place? Choosing to be more honest is an action. But really, before we can join a conversation or partner with anyone in a meaningful way, I think we have to practice being better listeners. Listening is an action, something we can do actively and something we can model for our students and children. And for white people like me, that means choosing to listen without getting defensive, choosing to listen to and believe the stories and truths about racism that people of the global majority have been sharing for so long. This is true in our study of history, too. American history is a pluralistic history. So every child in America should learn about our historythat includes truths told from Indigenous perspectives, the many different Asian-American and Latinx perspectives, and the truths told in the 1619 Project. Choosing to listen to the truths of our history and our present is an action. So then, when its time to join a conversation more actively, and white folks like me are telling our stories more honestly, we wont begin with all the excuses about why we didnt know (I didnt know about my privilege in these interactions with law enforcement; I didnt know how privilege has trickled down intergenerationally because of my grandfathers access to benefits in the GI Bill, etc.) but rather speak about those privileges clearly and acknowledge how they are a part of the social systems that have been so deeply racially unjust. Listening more and being honest about our privilege isnt about feeling bad. They are actions we as white people can take (and talk about with our young folks) so that we can partner with people of the global majority more genuinely, and with more humility and a greater sense of urgency, in the hope for and in the pursuit of (to riff off your words above) a more racially just future. Watson: I so appreciate your emphasis on listening being an action. I think young people especially need to know that taking action doesnt always have to be attending a march or making a speech. We often tell young people they can change the worldand I believe thatbut first I believe its important to encourage them to change their world. I challenge young people to look right around them in their own families, neighborhoods, schools and think about how to be kind, patient, generous, how to show empathyhow to listen and take in someone elses story. Nothing about that is easy or small. So thank you, Brendan, for being vulnerable and sharing your story with young readers. You have challenged them to do something that is not easy or small and I really do believe your book will impact so many. Its been so wonderful talking with you. Im so thankful for our friendship and am excited to see what you do next. Kiely: Renee, Im so deeply thankful for our friendship (and this conversation together!) as well. No matter how solitary the work of writing books might feel, I never feel alone, because I feel like Im working in tandem with a friend like you, someone who shares such a similar passion and reason for writing for young people. And youre also a constant inspiration. Whether its Piecing Me Together, Love Is a Revolution, Born on the Water, or any of the books in between, your work always glows with the warmth of your heart. You breathe tremendous grace and dignity into your characters and storiesand by extension the world. What greater gift can we strive to give our young people than a language for loving one another? The Other Talk: Reckoning with Our White Privilege by Brendan Kiely. Atheneum/Dlouhy, $18.99 Sept. ISBN 978-1-5344-9404-6 The 1619 Project: Born on the Water by Nikole Hannah-Jones and Renee Watson, illus. by Nikkolas Smith. Kokila, $18.99 Nov. 16 ISBN 978-0-593-30735-9 Continuing our series on Read Alouds That Rock, we spotlight educators who deliver captivating storytimes for the chapter book and middle grade crowd in grades three to five. Close your eyes for a second and imagine your favorite memory of elementary school or middle school. You may see a teacher, librarian, or parent reading a book aloud to you. This book probably transported you to another place or time that you did not want to leaveever. And you wouldnt be alone. For many, a classroom read aloud turned them into readers, writers, and in some cases beloved teachers or librarians. We all know that booksespecially those that are read aloudcan do magical things. But, how do teachers and librarians create this magic? PW asked five educators to share how with the turn of the page they engage their students, cause them to sit on the edge of their seats, and turn them into lifelong readers. Colby Sharp, a fifth grade teacher at Parma Elementary School in Parma, Mich., an author, and founder of the popular online community Nerdy Book Club, was swept away by a read aloud as a student only a few classroom doors down from where he currently teaches. Today, hes the one doing the reading, and he cant think of anything more important that he could do for his students. Theres nothing in school that has been done in the last 50 years that has brought kids more to reading than read alouds. Think about how many kids have fallen in love with reading by listening to Charlottes Web, Hatchet, or Wonder. I know that I wouldnt be here without read alouds, Sharp said. They are powerful things that allow kids to fall in love with stories. Nothing in the world comes close to sitting in a classroom listening to a read aloud with the same people seven hours a day, five days a week, and for 9-10 months a year. It creates a safe place to talk to one another, and to read books. Its magic. Sharp said the magic begins with choosing just the right book for your students. To start, it has to be a book that I lovethat Im really excited aboutor Im not going to be able to get my kids excited about it. He chooses the classs first read aloud by himself. Thats because I dont know my students yet, or their worlds, Sharp said. But then, after that, the next book is what my students might like or have a good feeling aboutincluding different books or genres they havent read, or a particular author they want to try. This year, he picked Pax by Sara Pennybacker to kick off the school year. I chose this bookone without a neat or tidy endingbecause I knew theyd have no idea that there was a book like this, and to show how powerful reading can be! Each day, Sharp begins reading perched on a stool, and then walks around the room. He may emphasize some of the words and even give a voice to the main character at times. His voice might also grow tense leading up to a dramatic moment. Still he insists he has no secret sauce. I read the book as if I were reading it myself. I try to sound as natural as possible so my students can do the same when they read. he said. There are a lot of journal articles and books written about it, but its not rocket science; its reading and talking about the books and thinking about them. I think sometimes we teachers can get in the way of that and we feel like we have to talk about a million things. No one wants to answer questions after every page or talk about symbolismno one is doing that in their independent reading. Sharp feels that read alouds can level the playing field, Because readers of all levels can read these books since were reading them together, he said. They also help Sharp teach life lessons, and book elements including character, plot, and setting. But, to Sharp, they offer ample opportunities to foster book love connections. With each book, you give your students another opportunity to fall in love. He believe this match making process involves holding on and letting go. You have to let the book do the work, he said. I follow the tone and the authors voice. Its like a dance, and I let the author lead. We are dancing together. Mollie Welsh Kruger is an instructor at the Bank Street College of Education in New York City, where she is the co-chair of the Childrens Book Committee. She leads her pre-service teachers in reading instruction and teaches them about the power and possibilities of the read aloud. It is an important part of the curriculum and holds a special place in Krugers heart. While reading aloud to children, there is so much you are bringing forward for readers. Hopefully, the first thing is joy. But the joy doesnt just happen. Kruger believes that book choice and knowing your readers are critical first steps. The selection depends on knowing whos in the roomwho are your readersas well as, what is your intent or purpose for reading to them, and how are you choosing this book with them in mind? Kruger said. You need to know what will make your students gasp when the character does something, and who those characters are, and which of your students are going to be pulled in more deeply with this experience. Kruger believes that how you choose is as important as what you choose. Have conversations with people who love booksfind out what some of the best books are and build your list, she said. Make yourself aware of awards coming out (including the Newbery Awards and the Bank Street College of Educations Childrens Book Committee Awards) and ask yourself, do these books bring something to the class that your children need?" When the answer is yes, Kruger urges her pre-service teachers to read books across genres: fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. We need students to know that there are many genres to readand ones that will move them. Kruger insists this is true for children of all ages. She says that there is no need to limit read alouds of chapter books or middle grade novels to older students. For kindergarteners and younger students, longer read alouds are just as beneficial because you are modeling the reading experience. That's how you encourage the love of story and bring the characters alive for your students, she said. Just pick stories that have enough description so it is easy for your kids to get pictures in their heads; and choose ones that will build curiosity about things they know and dont know. Read alouds allow all children to see whats possible. Melody Powell is a third grade teacher at Stone Academy School of Communications Arts in Greenville, S.C., where she teaches her students that anything is possible through the arts, and uses storytelling skills to elevate their read alouds. I enjoy doing oral storytelling for kids and adults, passing stories down, performing them, and teaching how to present stories, Powell said. So when I read aloud a lot of that comes out. I always use my voice and Im very animated. Powells storytelling talents are not lost on her students. In fact, one of them recently commented about them, saying, I bet you sleep well at night because you are so animated, and always walking around! Its the only way that Powell knows how to do read alouds. For me, its not a quiet, lights out, sitting on a rocking chair with the kids at my feet time. Its more engaging than that. I use lots of voices and hand gestures to engage them in the reading, to help them get to know the characters, and for the story to come alive, she said. Through my modeling, my students learn that a book or story can take you on a journey that can be happy, sad, exciting To make things even more exciting along the way and meet the needs of the many musically talented students in her classroom this year, Powell has found ways to integrate songs into her read aloud time. Halfway through the book Crenshaw by Katherine Applegate, once we knew the characters, I got the idea of playing songs and asking, Who do you think might sing this song? she explained. And then I asked them to find lines in the book that offer evidence for this. Next, Powell asked her students to think about what the characters walking-in songs might be, (i.e. songs that the character might choose when they enter the story), and where other song selections might match the mood or feelings in the story, like songs on a movie soundtrack. I cant tell you just how amazing the depth of engagement my children have shown by integrating the arts, especially music, into our read alouds. Powell said. It has taken my students to a whole other level! She said this is especially true for her struggling readers. The music seems to offer a bridge to these students. Where a story can give you emotions, these emotions can be mimicked in music, and the two can be paired together, she said, because in order to fall in love with reading, you have to discover that reading can take you on an emotional journey. Kids who dont read well on their own yet dont know or feel that. But, with a teacher and a read aloud, they can come along and experience this journey. They begin to yearn for it, and work towards it. Throughout their year-long journey together, Powell and her students keep the book characters they meet along the way in their hearts and minds. As a result, these characters are popping up in all kinds of places. I start every year with Third Grade Angels by Jerry Spinelli, and we meet George a.k.a Suds. Now, Suds pops up in read aloud discussionsand Crenshaw does, too! Powell said. To encourage this, I may ask my students what they think one character would do in this situation or another. The kids are making connections all over the place: in the stories we are reading together, those theyre reading on their own, and in their writing, too. Thanks to our read alouds, characters have become friends! Karen Klein is a library teacher at P.S.146 in Brooklyn, N.Y., where her job is full of characters of the literary kind. In her role, she supports who she calls her genius librarian helping to create and to teach a curriculum for fourth grade students that connects books, technology, and digital literacy. Part of her responsibility is introducing middle grade novels through weekly read alouds. Over her years reading to multiple sections of fourth graders each week, Klein has acquired a bagful of read aloud tricks to keep her students engaged, begging for her to keep reading when times up, and looking forward to the next time they meet. While I cant take credit for the books themselvesit would be like a waiter taking credit for their restaurants mealsI can make each book come to life for my students, Klein said. And she takes this job seriously. This starts with Kleins careful reading and choosing of books from The Global Read Aloud for her fourth graders. These books are always incredibly written, deal with issues that are so relevant to my students, and include characters and cultures that they find interesting. Kleins preparation continues as she works on her delivery (and stamina) for her back-to-back read aloud days. I try to change my tone so as not to sound monotone, and do some voices. Im no Kate Winslet reading Matilda, but I find that the more I work at it, the better I sound; enthusiasm helps. Post reading, Klein mindfully takes the read aloud off the page by asking engaging questions that she tailors to the students interests and responses, allowing the conversations to go wherever the kids take them. Klein also creates graphic organizers on Google Slides, which she projects on the classroom wall to keep track of each fourth grade sections predictions, summaries, questions, and conversations. She also develops extension activities such as turn and talk to your neighbor conversation starters, exit tickets with questions to answer before leaving class, and a menu of mid-book and end-of-book projects. These activities often integrate art, technology, and writing, Klein said, and give students the opportunity to share their understanding of the read alouds, and how books are affecting them. As a fourth grade teacher at the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools in Illinois, and a middle grade author, Lisa Sukenic works tirelessly to integrate literature across her curriculum and to impact her students learning and lives. Her daily read aloud is part of this integration and the place where pacing (like with her own writing) is paramount. Its also one of her best practices. Pacing while reading aloud includes the way I read the story with intonation, attitude, and taking into account how the author has written the story, the line breaksthe cliffhangers, Sukenic said. Its also in the questions I ask. Sukenic said that the delivery engages her readers, and the questions help her students think more critically. The questions on character motivation and situation can draw my students out, she said. They can help in the areas of comprehension, writing, developing empathy, thinking more deeply and at a higher level, and diving into the story. Sukenic often mixes up her read aloud selections to include humorous and relatable books and choices from a Global Reading Challenge she helped develop in her prior school and brought to the Laboratory Schools. These read alouds help our students think about who they are in the world, give them opportunities to see themselves and others in the literatureboth windows and mirrorsand understand cultures and lifestyles that are different from their own. She sees first-hand that the read alouds are also making a difference in her students writing. Each of her students keeps a notebook where they write about their own experiences and respond to the literature. This spring, Sukenics students will have a chance to respond to her debut middle grade novel, Miles from Motown, (Regal House/Fitzroy) as part of a study of novels in verse and poetry. Her response? She is overjoyed. Its a little unreal that my students will be reading my book! she said. The best parts will be having my students read my novel in verse alongside others, including Inside Out and Back Again by Thanhha Lai and Becoming Muhammad Ali by Kwame Alexander and James Patterson, hearing how my students interpret it, relate to the challenges of the main character, and learn about the 1960s, Gwendolyn Brooks, and Muhammad Ali, which all play key parts in my story. Want to share whats working in your read alouds? Email us your tips here, and well include some in an upcoming roundup. The founder of the lavender graduation Ronni Sanlo talks to students about the LGBTQ community. The mural was defaced 5 times since it was painted St. LOUIS Michael Weber and his girlfriend were embarking on the sailing trip of a lifetime, when like many a sailor before them the mighty Mississippi River left them high and dry just north of downtown St. Louis. Weber, 63, a retired Marine and former businessman from southwest Michigan, was taking his 44-foot sailboat, the White Widow, down the river for what was supposed to be a yearlong trip to the Florida Keys and Bahamas. I was just chasing the dream in my retirement, Weber said. Id been preparing for this trip for two years. But Webers dream was at least temporarily dashed when on the afternoon of Oct. 5 his Hunter 44 DS sailboat became firmly stuck on a 10-foot Chain of Rocks river dam. And nearly three weeks later, its still there. To the wonder of many locals, Webers boat has remained marooned in the middle of the Big Muddy just south of the Chain of Rocks Bridge while his insurance companies haggle over what it will take to remove the vessel from the treacherous stretch. Its a beautiful boat, Weber said this week. I just hope I get it back soon. Trip from Hell The back of the sailboat lists its home port as Hell, Michigan. Thats a real town, but I actually live a little bit out from Hell, Weber said. But that sounded better on the boat, and living in Michigan in the winter is a kind of hell. I was ready for some southern exposure. Weber said hes been boating and sailing most of his life but has stayed on the open waters of Lake Michigan and the ocean. Im not a river boat guy, Weber said. But we figured out going down the Mississippi was a convenient way to get to the ocean and the Florida Keys quicker. Weber and his girlfriend left Sept. 28 from Chicago. The trip began as relaxingly as they had imagined, short of a run-in with five jumping carp that flopped into the boats dinghy near Peoria, Weber said. But the couple really ran into trouble when Weber missed an exit sign for a canal that allows boaters to navigate around the rivers rough terrain and concrete dams at the Chain of Rocks. I thought it was a sign for a turn into a marina or something like that, Weber said. Weber continued on and said he spotted no warning signs or buoys before the dam and rocky area. By the time I got up to the rocks, the current was very strong, and its a sailboat, so I only have a 56-horsepower diesel engine, he said. So I crammed on the reverse, but it cant do much. The boat was swept up and pushed sideways by the current. One thing I know is you dont want to go down a river sideways, Weber said. So I knew we were in trouble. I coasted and ended up stuck there with no way of getting off. Weber was hesitant to leave his boat but called for a rescue from the St. Louis Fire Department Water Rescue and U.S. Coast Guard. A helicopter from TV news station KTVI (Channel 2) captured their escape from the White Widow. I looked up and was like, Really? The news helicopter? Weber said. I knew then people are going to wonder what idiot put that boat there. Its humbling and embarrassing, but, you know, I made a mistake and Im owning up to it. No movement Weber said its going to take a barge, a crane and a tugboat to free his beloved sailboat. A crew of towboats attempted to remove the boat right after Weber got stuck, but it became clear a crane was needed to lift the boat off the dam. A barge with a crane arrived on Oct. 18 from Florida to finish the job, but Webers insurance carrier, Progressive, pulled the plug on the operation. They got the maritime lawyers involved, and there were concerns about their liability, Weber said. Weber said he watched from land when the companies called off the attempt to get the boat, while onlookers took drone footage of the vessel and wondered about who could have gotten the boat stuck like that. I didnt tell them it was my boat, Weber said laughing. I wanted to stay incognito. Now though, Weber is worried that the longer the boat remains stuck, the more damage the $130,000 vessel might take. I know at least we have a lovely pot of au gratin potatoes thats now splattered on the floor, so Im sure its not smelling great, he said. Besides that, I dont see any major damage from the exterior. Weber, who is back home in Michigan, said most of his possessions, including nearly all his clothes and his guitars, remain in the boat. I could really use a guitar right now with all this going on, he said. Im not a millionaire. This was where I am planning to live for the next year, and basically everything I have is in there. Weber is hoping a third attempt to free the White Widow will happen in the next week, and he is optimistic it might still run. Once its unstuck, repaired and cleansed of potatoes au gratin, Weber plans to continue his voyage to the Bahamas. I really put the last couple years of my life into this, he said. Im not giving up on the dream yet. Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz announced an illegal gun bust last Thursday that uncovered dozens of firearms including AR-15 and AK-47 style assault weapons, pistols, magazines and more than 15,000 rounds of ammunition. New York City, NY (11385) Today Sunshine in the morning followed by cloudy skies during the afternoon. High 48F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Overcast. Low 42F. Winds SW at 5 to 10 mph. Inside the 2021 College Free Speech Rankings According to a new survey, the Sunshine State is home to one of the nations best schools for free speech. Florida State University ranked fifth among the 159 participating colleges and universities in the 2021 College Free Speech Rankings, a project sponsored by RealClearEducation, the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE), and the research firm College Pulse. The rankings were based on a survey of more than 37,000 undergraduates and FIREs analysis of each schools written policies on speech. Survey results indicate a sizable majority of students at Florida State feel free to express themselves. Nearly 70% of FSU students surveyed were comfortable expressing their point of view on a controversial subject in a public area on campus. Only 16% said they often feel they cannot express themselves on campus for fear of reprisal from peers, faculty, or administrators. Florida State released a statement celebrating the schools performance in the rankings. This ranking is a testament to Florida State Universitys enduring commitment to foster a respectful and civil environment where students can freely discuss and exchange different beliefs and opinions, said Amy Hecht, vice president for Student Affairs at FSU. Were pleased that our efforts to protect every individuals right to free speech and expression have been recognized by FIRE. Florida States strong performance in the rankings was bolstered by its 2020 decision to eliminate a speech-restricting provision in its student handbook. FIRE gave Florida State a Green Light designation, meaning the schools code of conduct contains no provisions that FIRE considers inhibitive of students speech rights. Universities that earn the [Green Light] rating have proven themselves to be national leaders when it comes to free speech on campus, Mary Zoeller, FIRE policy reform senior program officer, said at the time. Florida States active efforts to earn this designation mean it takes its commitments to free expression seriously. Unlike most institutions in Florida and around the country, Florida States policies do not restrict constitutionally protected speech. The administrations commitment to free expression was recognized by participating students in the Free Speech Survey. Eighty-two percent of FSU students surveyed felt the administration was likely to defend the speakers right to express his point of view in a speech-related controversy. While the survey results contain many reasons for optimism, self-censorship is still a problem on campus. A significant minority of FSU students surveyed told pollsters that they self-censor. One FSU undergraduate, for example, said that he and other students with dissenting views risk being shunned for voicing their opinions in public. I feel that any attempt to discuss, bring up or analyze a viewpoint that clashes with the mainstream politically correct point of view espoused by many students on social media and encouraged by professors on campus would be reprimanded or looked down upon. It would result in the person expressing said viewpoints being ostracized, the student said. Fifty-six percent of Florida State students surveyed self-identified as liberal, while only 19% identified as conservative. Even so, one FSU alumnus who wished to remain anonymous told RealClearEducation that its still possible to speak across the ideological divide on campus. There was some political conflict at FSU, the alumnus said. But there was also strong rapport among students across the political spectrum that helped to make most of our disagreements civil. "Politicians should wear sponsor jackets like Nascar drivers, then we know who owns them." Maybe its because that quote combines their feigned outrage over money in politics with their genuine ignorance about a sport loved by millionseither way, leftists love it. However, sending campaign contributions directly to your favorite politician appears to be on the way out in leftist circles. Call it the MySpace of political financing. Instead, the new-fangled scheme is more sinister and more widespread than many of us can imagine. Across the country, leftist billionaires like Mark Zuckerberg and Michael Bloomberg are putting their money where the real action isbureaucrats. You may laugh, but the results are shocking. I first noticed it in my home state of New Mexico in 2019 when Mayor Bloomberg bought himself his very own attorneys within the state Attorney General Office. The pitch happens in three phases. First, some elected official or other government administrator applies for a grant from a non-profit. Then, a non-profit offers something every bureaucrat wants: funding to enlarge their government fiefdom. By pure happenstance, said obscure non-profit conveniently aligns with the political leanings of the office. Then, voila! Applied grants are awarded and now this government official has more manpower or new equipment to carry out their mission. Theres no need to disclose the funding on campaign finance forms because this isnt money for elections. This is money for those already elected. In the case of New Mexico (and several other states) Attorney General, Mayor Bloomberg funded two full-time lawyers charged with pursuing his environmental agenda. In the sweetheart arrangement, Mayor Mike pays for the salaries of the lawyers and the Attorney General gives them the power of the office. On the outside, it simply looks like the AGs office has two new attorneys focused on climate issues. In reality, these lawyers must report to Bloombergs chosen non-profit on a regular basis to ensure they are getting results for Bloombergs extreme green policies. The co-conspirators are not terribly forthcoming about this arrangement. We only learned about the contracts through New Mexicos Freedom of Information Act. When the details became public, you would think the lawyers would be fired and the AG would apologize for approving privately-funded officials in his office. Think again. A spokesman for the AGs office said the arrangement that pays for inside access is acceptable because it isnt unusual a statement that makes as much sense as President Biden claiming his $3.5 trillion dollar spending boondoggle does not cost a dime. Sadly, as we went through 2020, they were proven right. It turned out it wasnt unusual at all. In her new book, Rigged: How the Media, Big Tech and The Democrats Seized Our Elections, Mollie Hemingway does an excellent job revealing how scehmes like Bloombergs climate lawyers were copied when it came to our elections. Organizations marketed as non-partisan received hundreds of millions from Mark Zuckerberg and then offered grants to local elections officials who were supposedly underfunded. These grants, called Zuck Bucks were used to purchase equipment and pay personnel during the 2020 election. Hemingway points out that, not surprisingly, states that ended up voting for Biden received 88.4 percent of the funding from Zuckerbergs group[1]. Not only does this peddled influence undermine offices that are supposed to serve all the people, it also highlights the absolute hypocrisy of the left when they howl about the influence of money in politics. Where is the outrage from Bernie Sanders or Elizabeth Warren about these arrangements? What about an angry editorial from the New York Times bemoaning the influence of the rich? Even if they did stand up, I doubt Zuckerberg would let you see it on Facebook. They would be de-platformed faster than our former president. It all adds up to one very sad conclusion: the offices in our government are indeed for sale to those who can afford it. Sponsor jackets not included. Larry Behrens is the Communications Director for Power The Future, a nonprofit organization that advocates for American energy jobs. He previously served as Communications Director for former New Mexico Governor Susana Martinez. You can find him on Twitter @larrybehrens or @PTFNewMexico. Learn more at PowerTheFuture.Com. Coal and gas prices have reached all-time highs. Electricity prices have skyrocketed in several western markets. I am not surprised. For years, I have argued that there is a structural-energy raw material shortage driven by underinvestment in 80% of our primary energy (oil, coal, and gas) and overinvestment in so-called variable renewable energy (VRE) mostly wind and solar, which, in 2019 and 2020, received about 13 times more investment than oil, coal, and gas combined. To this structural misalignment can be added other global factors, including but not limited to: huge financial stimulus and resulting drastic demand increase post-Covid that global supply chains could not meet; and geopolitical games, notably Russia using its gas leverage and Chinas boycott of Australian coal. As David Baker and his co-writers argue for Bloomberg Green, this is the first of many energy crises of a clean-power transition expected to take decades. In the throes of fundamental change, the worlds energy system has become strikingly fragile and easier to shock, they write. Wind and solar have soared, but both renewable sources are notoriously fickle. That banks, governments, and institutions shy away from investments in many mining activities, especially if the investments have anything to do with fossil fuels, however, is a long-term trend and an increasing problem for the world at large. That trend will cause disruptions to global industrial operations to an extent hard to foresee. While energy expenditure is only around 2% to 5% of global GDP, energy is at the core of all our economic activity. Without energy, there are no Teslas, no iPhones, no food products, no clean water, no vaccines, no schools, no bridges, no Netflix, no shoes, no F1 races. You get the point. Its a point that needs making in the context of the demonization of coal. The coal industry provides over one-fourth of global primary energy and over 35% of global electricity. Those who compare coal to the tobacco industry dont understand energy markets and how our world depends on them. Comparing a discretionary pleasure product such as tobacco to energy is ludicrous. Coals non-private benefits can be seen in Britain, which boasts about powering past coal yet pays for coal-fired capacity to help keep the lights on. So why do I say coal, gas, and energy prices cannot remain this high? Coal prices in Europe touched 300 USD a ton (from less than 50 USD in 2020). Asian LNG prices topped 40 USD/mmBtu (from less than 2 USD in May 2020). As a result, power plants in Europe make almost 100 EUR/MWh more when burning coal instead of gas, despite record-high CO2 emission allowance prices of over 60 EUR/t this at a time when electricity exchange prices topped 400 EUR/MWh in Europe. Remember when they were around less than 40 EUR in 2020? Very simply, industrial energy raw material consumers cannot be expected to continue their production at such high input prices. Cement mills will stop producing cement, power plants will stop producing power, brick companies will stop producing bricks, paper mills will stop producing paper, steel companies will stop producing steel. The first signs can be seen in India, China, Germany, the UAE, Pakistan, and many other countries. Governments would have to step in to increase often-controlled power prices, or to force industries to produce at a loss, or to allow produce prices (such as for cement) to skyrocket. Either way, fewer products will be produced (including fewer Teslas, because Teslas supply industry suffers from a lack of coal in China), and demand will dwindle as scarce products become more expensive. Equity prices will tumble as companies stop making products. Loans cannot be repaid when companies dont produce enough. Business plans will be thrown into the trash can. On top of that, we face the prospect of a looming credit crisis. Which importer or trader has sufficient bank lines to trade hundreds of millions of tons of raw materials at triple/quadruple prices (see article World's Largest Commodity Traders Face Massive Margin Calls As Global NatGas Arb Explodes at ZeroHedge here)? Credit is tight, product flow will cease (or at least reduce), and performance risks increase. More and more companies will run into a liquidity crisis. In the end, the consumer will suffer. At the same time, supply is adjusting. High prices are motivating even young and inexperienced entrepreneurs in South Africa, Indonesia and other exporting countries to start digging out more coal and hand-carrying it to a vessel. This supply adjustment may come just at the time when demand starts to fall, making it even worse. That is why I believe these high prices cannot be sustained. Prices will have to adjust fast. If they dont adjust, the market will be sure to force prices to adjust more violently later. The later prices adjust, the greater and more painful the adjustment will be. This is not contrary to my earlier statement that we are entering a time of energy and resource scarcity with all its consequences (including increased risk of blackouts). My view remains that a new raw material super-cycle has started, with generally high raw material (including fossil fuel) prices. I foresee a significant price drop or at least greater volatility before New Years, despite the looming energy shortage during the upcoming winter. This price drop, however, will still keep prices far above 2019/20 levels and consequently above marginal costs of production so, for producers, no worries. Dr. Lars Schernikau is an energy economist, entrepreneur, and book author. Prior to joining the commodity business almost 20 years ago he worked for the Boston Consulting Group in the U.S. and Europe. Angelina Jolie brought two special guests to the Rome Film Festival premiere of her movie Eternals. ADVERTISEMENT The 46-year-old actress and her daughters Zahara, 16, and Shiloh, 15, attended the event Sunday in Rome, Italy. Jolie held her daughters' hands as they walked the red carpet at the premiere. Jolie wore a strapless silver dress, with Zahara in a white and gold gown and Shiloh in a black mini dress. Zahara and Shiloh are Jolie's daughters with her ex-husband, actor Brad Pitt. The pair also have four other children: sons Maddox, 20, and Pax, 17, and twin son and daughter Knox and Vivienne, 13. Jolie attended the Los Angeles premiere with Maddox, Zahara, Shiloh, Knox and Vivienne last week. The actress plays Thena in Eternals, a new film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe that centers on the Eternals, a race of long-lived humans with superpowers. Jolie previously told People that her children were excited about her role in the film. "What's really moving to me is that they want to see me strong, and so it's less to see me in a film, but they're just happy I will be strong and having fun," she said. 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! Eternals co-stars Gemma Chan , Richard Madden, Kumail Nanjiani Kit Harington and Salma Hayek , and opens in theaters Nov. 5. Bon Iver is going on tour in 2022. ADVERTISEMENT The indie folk band, composed of Justin Vernon, Sean Carey, Jenn Wasner, Mike Lewis, Matt McCaughan and Andy Fitzpatrick, announced a new U.S. tour Monday on Instagram. "Gather up & sing together. We're excited to announce our US tours in spring and summer of 2022!" the group wrote. "We are humbled and grateful to be performing for you all; it's time to gather up again." Bon Iver will be joined by special guests Dijon and Bonny Light Horseman. The tour begins March 30 in Mesa, Ariz., and ends June 25 in Ashville, N.C. The band will kick off the European leg of the tour Oct. 16, 2022, in Dublin, Ireland. Bon Iver returned to the stage over the weekend in Los Angeles to celebrate the 10th anniversary of its album Bon Iver, Bon Iver. The group will release a 10th anniversary edition of the album Jan. 14. Bon Iver released its fourth album, I,I, in 2019, and the singles "PDLIF" and "AUATC" in 2020. Former Bachelor host Chris Harrison is engaged to be married. ADVERTISEMENT The 50-year-old television personality recently proposed to his girlfriend, Lauren Zima, in Napa Valley, Calif. Harrison shared photos from his proposal Monday on Instagram. One of the pictures shows Harrison down on one knee as he slips the engagement ring onto Zima's finger. "I love you @laurenzima The next chapter starts now!" he captioned the post. Zima confirmed the news in a post on her own account. "We tell each other this all the time, and we said it again in an unforgettably beautiful moment this weekend: I didn't know love could be like this," the bride-to-be wrote. "You are the most incredible partner," she told Harrison. "Thank you for loving me, championing me and asking me to marry you. Here's to the next amazing chapter, and all the rest." Bachelor Nation alums Ben Higgins, Arie Luyendyk Jr., Colton Underwood and Ashley Iaconetti were among those to congratulate the couple in the comments. 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! "Oh heck yes!!!!!! This is incredible, so pumped!" Higgins wrote. "Yes so happy for you two," Luyendyk added. "Congratulations! So happy for you both," Underwood said. Harrison and Zima have been together since August 2018, according to Us Weekly. Harrison permanently exited the Bachelor franchise in June after 20 years as host. Harrison initially stepped away in February after "speaking in a way that perpetuates racism" in an interview with former Bachelorette star Rachel Lindsay. Google is celebrating author and surrealist photographer Claude Cahun with a new Doodle, on what would have been their 127th birthday. ADVERTISEMENT Google's homepage features black and white artwork of Cahun. The image changes to show Cahun donning different outfits and looks. Cahun, best known for their self-portrait photography that challenged gender and sexuality norms, was born on this day in 1894 in Nantes, France. Cahun met their lifelong partner and collaborator Marcel Moore at the age of 14. Cahun then shaved their head, adopted their gender-neutral name and identified as non-binary after moving Paris in 1919. The author and photographer explored gender-fluidity in their 1927 series I am in training, don't kiss me, which showed Cahun as a feminized weightlifter. Cahun also fought against fascist occupation with the French government awarding them with the Medal of French Gratitude in 1951. The Paris City Council named a street after Cahun and Moore where the pair used to live in 2018. "Cahun's work as influenced gender bending celebrities, the modern LGBTQ+ community. and conversations on identity and expression to this day," Google said. Netflix is giving a glimpse of the new Shonda Rhimes series Inventing Anna. ADVERTISEMENT The streaming service shared photos for the series Monday featuring Julia Garner as Anna Sorokin, a woman who pretended to be the fake German heiress Anna Delvey. Two of the photos depict Anna (Garner) living a luxurious lifestyle, while the other two show her in prison. "This story is completely true... except for all of the parts that aren't," the caption reads. Inventing Anna is created and executive produced by Rhimes (Grey's Anatomy, Scandal). The series is based on the New York Magazine article "How Anna Delvey Tricked New York's Party People" by Jessica Pressler. As Delvey, Sorokin, a Russian national, swindled thousands of dollars out of Manhattan's elite society. Sorokin was found guilty in April 2019 of second-degree larceny, theft and attempted grand larceny. She was released from prison in February after serving less than two years of a sentence that called for four to 12 years in prison. Inventing Anna co-stars Anna Chlumsky, Katie Lowes and Laverne Cox. Garner is best known for playing Ruth Langmore on the Netflix series Ozark. Pine Grove neighborhood in East Bay Township is where homes were impacted by PFAS contamination from the nearby combined aviation area thats home to both U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Traverse City and Cherry Capital Airport, seen on the horizon in this aerial photograph. Rep. Tina Polsky, D-Boca Raton, debates during a session Tuesday March 10, 2020, in Tallahassee, Fla. Florida's top health official was asked to leave a meeting after refusing to wear a mask at the office of the state senator who told him she had a serious medical condition, officials have confirmed. Florida Senate leader Wilton Simpson, a Republican, sent a memo to senators Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021 regarding the incident at the office of Democratic state Sen. Tina Polsky, asking visitors at the building to be respectful with social interactions. Polsky, who represents parts of Broward and Palm Beach counties, had not yet made public her breast cancer diagnosis. Drugs and college are not unfamiliar with one another, but what's happening at UGA is feeling less like harmless fun and more like an escape from uncertain futures after college. Greenville, NC (27833) Today Except for a few afternoon clouds, mainly sunny. High 59F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies. Low 38F. Winds light and variable. A new affordable housing project is planned for a vacant piece of land next to the Putney Food Co-op, on Route 5 in Putney. 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. 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. TRAVERSE CITY, Mich, (AP) Once endangered, the Kirtland's warbler is maintaining healthy numbers in Michigan, Wisconsin and Ontario and expanding its range, officials said Monday. The songbird's population was estimated at 4,490 following a June survey the first full count since 2015, when the total was put at 4,730. The slight drop-off isn't a concern because the tally's accuracy is variable, said Keith Kintigh, who coordinates warbler management for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. The population is expected to remain above 4,000 for the foreseeable future, Kintigh said. The power of partnership continues to yield excellent results for the Kirtlands warbler after coming off the endangered species list, said Charlie Wooley, regional director for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. With blue-gray back feathers and a yellow underside, the warbler nests primarily in jack pine forests of Michigan's Lower Peninsula. Habitat loss and cowbird invasions sent its numbers as low as 334 in 1987. State and federal agencies worked with nonprofits to develop a system of harvesting and replanting jack pine stands. The warbler gradually rebounded and in 2019 was dropped from the endangered list, although continuous habitat restoration is needed to prevent another decline. The census is based on numbers of singing males survey teams detect, each presumed to have a mate. This year, warblers were found in the Manistee National Forest for the first time since 1977. Record numbers also were recorded in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, Wisconsin and Ontario. MADISON, Wis. (AP) Wisconsin Republicans plan to launch another investigation of 2020 election administration, GOP leaders announced Monday. Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu, Senate President Chris Kapenga and Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dan Feyen said in a news release that GOP leaders will authorize the Senate elections committee to conduct the probe in the wake of findings legislative auditors released Friday. Auditors didn't find any widespread fraud in the state but did identify inconsistent administration of election law based on surveys of ballots sampled from across Wisconsin. Auditors made 30 recommendations for the Wisconsin Elections Commission to consider and 18 possible legal changes for the Legislature. The GOP leaders' news release said they would assess the full impact of WECs deficiencies." The audit findings . . . paint a grim picture of the Wisconsin Election Commission (WEC) and their careless administration of election law in Wisconsin, the Republicans said. The audit shows numerous failures within WEC which undermined the free, fair, and transparent elections Wisconsinites deserve. The news release did not say when the Senate committee would begin the probe, how extensive it might be or whether the committee will be empowered to subpoena records. Elections Commission spokesman John Smalley said he hadn't seen the release and had no immediate comment. Assembly Speaker Robin Vos earlier this year hired former state Supreme Court Justice Michael Gableman to investigate the election after former President Donald Trump criticized Wisconsin Republicans of covering up election fraud in the state. Gableman earlier this month issued subpoenas seeking records from election officials in the state's five largest cities as well as the state elections commission. A recount and court rulings have shown Democrat Joe Biden won Wisconsin, but Trump and his followers have refused to accept defeat. The subpoenas also called for city officials and commission Administrator Meagan Wolfe to submit to private interviews this past Friday, but backed off that demand after Democratic Attorney General Josh Kaul filed a lawsuit seeking an injunction invalidating the subpoenas as too broad. Dane County Circuit Judge Rhonda Lanford on Modnay set a hearing on the injunction request for Dec. 23. HARTFORD Arrests have been made in the August shooting death of 25-year-old Hartford resident Zayon Collier. On Aug. 4, Hartford Police were dispatched to Blue Hills Avenue around 12:45 p.m. for a report of gunfire inside the building, police said in a press release on Friday. Officers were directed to a common stairwell where they observed evidence of gunfire, the release read. Officers checked on the well-being of building residents and located Collier, who was found dead from gunshot wounds inside one of the apartments, police said. Hartford Police Major Crimes and Crime Scene Divisions responded and assumed the investigation, resulting in arrest warrants being issued for Mark Outlaw, 22, and George Rodriguez, 27, both of Hartford. Outlaw was located on Oct. 13 and taken into custody by Hartford Police Violent Crimes Unit and the United States Marshals Fugitive Task Force, police said. He was charged with murder and conspiracy to commit murder. Outlaw was booked and remains in custody on a $1.5 million bond. Rodriguez was found in Texas on Friday and was taken into custody by United States marshals on murder, conspiracy to commit murder and criminal possession of a firearm charges, police said. Rodriguez is being held as a fugitive from justice and is awaiting extradition to Connecticut, police said. christine.derosa@hearstmediact.com 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. Obituaries for the Miami County Republic are free for the first 70 words. More information may be presented for an additional fee. For fee information, please consult your funeral director or call (913) 294-2311. Funeral homes may fax information to (913) 294-5318 or email to obits@miconews.com. Please include your contact information. Photos may be emailed in jpeg format. Deadline to run in the printed paper is 10 a.m. on Tuesday. The Miami County Republic publishes on Wednesday. Private-party obituaries are taken 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, except on holidays. Go to form Uttar Pradesh Police informed on Sunday that the Sambhal district government seized property worth Rs 1.25 crore belonging to imprisoned gangsters Shamshad and Shareef Pehelwan. According to the police, the two reportedly obtained the 165-hectare land through illicit means. Chakresh Mishra, SP Sambhal, told ANI "On the instruction of Sambhal district administration, the 165-hectare land has been seized. The illegal construction on the land is being razed using bulldozer. They are lodged in jail under the UP Gangsters Act." Yogi Govt Crackdown On Mafia The government of Uttar Pradesh has been hard with mafias, gangsters, and criminal groups in order to put their power in society under control. The Yogi Adityanath-led state government has seized assets worth Rs. 1.18 crore in August, belonging to mafia MLA Mukhtar Ansari's wife Afsha Ansari and his brother Sarjeel Raza as part of a sweeping crackdown on Mafia organisations in Uttar Pradesh. The Uttar Pradesh Police have seized the properties of the gangster turned MLA's wife and brother in Ghazipur, Delhi NCR, under section 14(1) of the Gangster Act, which provides for the attachment of unlawful properties in order to effectively suppress gangsters, mafias, criminals, and their allies. According to official data published in June, the Uttar Pradesh Police filed 5,558 FIRs under the Gangsters Act between January 2020 and April 2021. According to PTI, the linked ill-gotten properties are worth roughly 1,128 crores and belong to mafias and their gang members. Yogi Adityanath's crackdown on mafias & gangsters According to data released by the state government in March 2021, the Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh Government seized and demolished properties worth Rs 980 crores under the Uttar Pradesh Gangsters and Anti-Social Activities Act, sending a strong message to the state's criminals, gangsters, and mafias. As per state government data, properties worth Rs 834 crore were bulldozed and seized in 2020, with another Rs 117 crore confiscated as of March 2021. Furthermore, the UP government claims that land from the 1,174 seized properties will be used to construct affordable housing and township projects for the needy. The Yogi Adityanath-led government's tough stance and zero-tolerance policy against anti-social elements in the state had previously been a talking point, with the Samajwadi Party questioning the government's decision to demolish the properties of gangster-turned-politician Mukhtar Ansari and known criminals Anil Dujana, Sunder Bhati, and Badan Singh Baddo. (With inputs from ANI) Image: PTI/Unsplash Following the recent incidents of communal violence, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday said that the incidents were being made to tarnish the countrys image. She said that it is the propaganda of certain groups. The PMs comment came as the country recovers from a series of violent attacks held against Hindus in the country during Durga Puja festivities. PM Sheikh Hasina said that certain groups want to divide the country and thus are conducting unlawful attacks. "Certain quarters with vested interests are disseminating propaganda aimed at creating a communal divide," Bangladesh PM said as cited by PTI. After being invited by the Sultan of Brunei Hassanal Bolkiah, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the 18th Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-India Summit. The event will be held virtually on October 28 and this is notably the ninth ASEAN-India Summit to be attended by PM Modi. The 18th ASEAN-India Summit will be attended by Heads of State and the Government of ASEAN countries. External Affairs Minister, Dr S. Jaishankar had previously attended the ASEAN-India Foreign Ministers' Meeting and East Asia Summit Foreign Ministers' Meeting back on August 2021 virtually. Additionally, on October 27, PM Modi will virtually attend the 16th East Asia Summit (EAS) - the premier leaders-led forum in the Indo-Pacific region. East Asia Summit includes nations like India, China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Australia, New Zealand, United States and Russia. India holds its place as a founding member of the East Asia Summit, and is committed to strengthening the ties among the East Asian nations and making it more effective in dealing with contemporary challenges. It is also an important platform for facilitating practical cooperation in the Indo-Pacific by building upon the convergence between ASEAN Outlook on Indo-Pacific (AOIP) and Indo-Pacific Ocean's Initiative (IPOI). 18th ASEAN-India Summit bids to engage at the highest level This year's ASEAN-India Summit will review progress made in various areas, including COVID-19 and Health, Trade and Commerce, Connectivity, Education and Culture. Topics revolving around important regional and international developments including post-pandemic economic recovery will be touched upon during the proceedings of the summit. The one of a kind summit that is held annually provides an opportunity for Indian and ASEAN nations to engage at the highest level. ASEAN-India Strategic Partnership ASEAN or Association of Southeast Asian Nations, comprises of 10 significant nations in the Southeast Asia regions, promoting intergovernmental cooperation, economic growth, political affairs, security, military concerns and socio-cultural integration between its members and other countries in Asia. The 10 nations of the association are Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. ASEAN-India Strategic Partnership stands on a robust foundation of shared geographical, historical and civilisational ties. The year 2022 is said to mark 30 years of ASEAN-India relations. Image Credits - AP Addressing a public gathering in Srinagar on Monday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah sought to address the misgivings of the youth of the Kashmir Valley. In his first visit to Jammu and Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370, he criticised the erstwhile National Conference, Congress and PDP governments for perpetuating corruption. Revealing that he wants to forge a friendship with the youth of the Kashmir Valley, he assured that the people of the Union Territory have the same rights as citizens from other parts of India. Explaining the rationale for imposing curbs in J&K after the abrogation of Article 370, Amit Shah remarked, "They ask me why did I impose a curfew after August 5? Why did you shut down the internet? They mislead the youth of Kashmir. I want to tell all of you- the people of Kashmir have the same right on India as me. If we didn't impose a curfew or shut down the internet, who have died after instigating the emotions of the youth? The youth of Kashmir would have died." He added, "Farooq Sahab has suggested that the Indian government should talk to Pakistan. He is an experienced person who has served as the CM. But I want to tell Farooq Sahab and all of you that I will talk with my brothers and sisters of the Valley". On this occasion, he promised speedy implementation of Central government schemes and assured that the expectations of the people will be fulfilled before 2024. During an earlier interaction, the ex-BJP president reiterated that the statehood of J&K will be restored after completing the delimitation process and conducting elections. Watch Amit Shah's full speech here: Inauguration and foundation stone laying of various development projects in Srinagar. https://t.co/tGWKVJmoBa Amit Shah (@AmitShah) October 25, 2021 Article 370 abrogation A Presidential notification combined with requisite legislation passed by both the House of Parliament in August 2019 led to Article 370 becoming virtually redundant. This implied that the special status of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) was scrapped. Furthermore, the region was bifurcated into the Union Territories of J&K and Ladakh. Thereafter, restrictions on the movement of people and communication were imposed in the state, which was gradually lifted over the months. After leaders such as former Chief Ministers Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti were released post months of detention, 6 political parties joined hands to form the People's Alliance for Gupkar Declaration in August 2020. The principle aim of this alliance is to strive for the restoration of Articles 370 and 35A and statehood. Subsequently, PAGD emerged as the single-largest party in the first-ever District Development Council polls in J&K by bagging 110 seats. Amid Union Home Minister Amit Shah's visit to Jammu and Kashmir, National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah on Monday batted for India-Pakistan talks once again, claiming that it is 'difficult for terrorism to end' unless it happens. While addressing a public meeting, Abdullah said, Unless talks are being held with Pakistan, unless problems are not being resolved, we can never live in peace in J&K. I confidently say, even today, unless you (India) don't talk to Pakistan and shake hands of friendship with each other, we can never live in peace, never, take it from me in writing. Farooq Abdullah calls Amit Shah's J&K visit 'imperative' Reacting to Union Home Minister Amit Shah's visit of Jammu and Kashmir, former Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah said that it was 'imperative' amid the recent incidents of civilian killings in the Union Territory. The National Conference (NC) president said that amidst targeted civilian killing, the visit from the Union Minister was demanded. However, Abdullah slammed the Centre, claiming that 900 youngsters, who were accused of stone-pelting in the past, were arrested ahead of Home Minister Amit Shah's visit. Amit Shah lashes out at Farooq Abdullah for seeking talks with Pakistan Union Home Minister Amit Shah, on Monday, hit out at National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah for seeking talks with the Imran Khan administration, saying that government would rather speak to the youth of J&K for making India a developed country. "I read in newspapers that Farooq Abdullah has suggested that the government should talk to Pakistan. He has a right to his opinion but we would rather talk to the Kashmiri youth," Shah said. The Home Minister said that Article 370 was repealed with the intention of putting Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh on a path of development. "You will see the fruits of our efforts by 2024," he said. Article 370 that granted special status to the erstwhile state Jammu & Kashmir, was abrogated in 2019 and the state was bifurcated into two union territories - Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh. Amit Shah, slamming those who demanded talks with Pakistan, questioned them saying, "What has Islamabad done in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir? Compare the development between this side and PoK. Do they have electricity, roads, healthcare and toilets? There is nothing (on the other side)." The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is preparing for the launch of the Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission, which will evaluate methods of averting a potentially hazardous asteroid from colliding with Earth. The DART mission is scheduled to launch on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California at 10:20 pm PST on November 23, 2021 (1:20 am EST on November 24). The launch will be broadcast live on NASA TV, the NASA app, and the agency's website. DART mission will be the first test of the kinetic impactor technique, which entails delivering one or more huge, high-speed spacecraft into an asteroid's path in space to alter its trajectory. The binary near-Earth asteroid Didymos and its moonlet are its targets. DART is a planetary defense-driven test of technologies aimed at preventing an asteroid from colliding with Earth. DART will be the first time a kinetic impactor will be used to alter an asteroid's velocity in space. We're crashing a spacecraft into an asteroid on purpose! Our #DARTmission is a #PlanetaryDefense test to change the motion of an asteroid in space, so we could use this technique if an Earth-threatening asteroid were found. Watch Behind the Spacecraft: https://t.co/c3NqOhHcIr pic.twitter.com/Uw5hVk54uP NASA (@NASA) October 24, 2021 The DART demonstration will focus on the binary near-Earth asteroid (65803) Didymos. While the core body of Didymos is around 780 metres in diameter, its secondary body (or "moonlet") is roughly 160 metres in diameter, which is more typical of asteroids that potentially pose the greatest threat to Earth. Before DART arrives, the Didymos binary is being closely monitored using Earth-based telescopes in order to precisely measure its features. DART spacecraft will purposefully smash into moonlet With the use of an onboard camera called Didymos Reconnaissance and Asteroid Camera for OpNav (DRACO) and advanced autonomous navigation algorithms, the DART spacecraft will achieve the kinetic impact deflection by purposefully smashing into the moonlet at a speed of roughly 6.6 km/s. The impact will modify the speed of the moonlet in its orbit around the parent body by a fraction of a per cent, but it will also change the moonlet's orbital period by several minutes, which may be viewed and recorded using telescopes on Earth. DART will use Roll Out Solar Arrays (ROSA) to supply solar power for its electric propulsion system once it is launched. As part of its in-space propulsion, the DART spacecraft will test NASA's Evolutionary Xenon Thruster Commercial (NEXT-C) solar electric propulsion system. The NEXT-C system was developed at NASA's Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio, and is based on the Dawn spacecraft propulsion system. DART might benefit from tremendous mission timeline flexibility by using electric propulsion while proving the next generation of ion engine technology, which could be applied to future NASA missions. (Image: NASA) Wildlife in Tanzania and Kenya is under threat due to climate change, according to a local conservationist group that observes the migration of wild animals. The Mara Predator Conservation Project noticed that just a small fraction of animals came to the Mara, in the south of Kenya. Because of climate change, rainfalls have been less than usual, causing the ground to be drier and less likely to grow fresh grass. The water levels of the river are also unusually low, according to researcher Saitoti Silantoi. The sights of thousands of wildebeests migrating are severely toned down this year. "It is usually an endless mass of black you know, but over the last few years it has been very irregular," Silantoi said. And just like a domino effect, it's an entire food chain that is at risk. "The annual wildebeest migration serves a very vital role in the Masai Mara because, you know, they bring that bulk food that predators need. So if you cut out this main source of food, then basically, the predators would not make it you know especially the lions and the hyenas," Silantoi said. The urgency is water for all animals. Villager Jackson Rakwa is worried about his cattle. "If there's no rain, soon we are going to lose a big, big number of cows, which is a problem to us and there's nothing we can do about it. So we are just praying so hard for the rain to come," Rakwa said. And because food is lacking and the food chain is destabilized, animals might be more inclined to venture out of their usual areas, potentially creating animal-human interactions and conflicts. (Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com) At least 30 people have been killed and 70 others injured in clashes between military forces of the Federal Republic of Somalia and militants from the Ahlu Sunna Wal Jamaa organisation, who had previously cooperated with the government in battling Al-Shabaab terrorists, news agency ANI reported, citing the Somali Guardian. On the second day of fighting in Galmudug state's Guriel city, the Somalian army managed to apprehend numerous terrorists, according to the report. The Ahlu Sunna Wal Jamaa group took the cities of Guriel and Dusmareb in Somalia's central region in early October, according to Somalia's Radio Dalsan. Further, a Somalia-based website, Garowe Online reported that Ahlu Sunnah Wal Jamaa took control over the city following a gunfight with Somali military forces who claimed that their main aim was to battle against Al-Shabaab terrorists in that region. Guriel governor confirms recapture of town by Galmudug troops Furthermore, citing reports from local media outlets, Garowe Online reported that the Governor of Guriel, Anas Abdi Maalim has conformed about the recapture of most of the town by Galmudug regional troops along with the Somali National Army. Ahlu Sunna Wal Jamaa group is a Somalia-based paramilitary force, which was founded in 1991 as an anti-Al-Shabaab organisation. Ahlu Sunna Waljama'a (ASWJ) is a conservative Muslim organisation based in the country's central region. In return for the authority to govern five ministries, Ahlu Sunnah Wal Jamaa committed to assisting the Somali government in battling Al-Shabaab in 2010. However, the pact has broken and the two parties have chosen to take guns against one another. 100K people flee town in Galmudug state Meanwhile, over 100,000 people have fled a town in Galmudug state in central Somalia, according to a UN agency. Due to increased agitation between local authorities and a paramilitary organisation, several citizens, including children, were displaced from their homes. As per the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA), the conflict between the authorities has spread to 28 rural villages. According to an earlier statement made by UNOCHA, the displaced persons include about 1,005 unaccompanied children as well as 2,009 disabled individuals and people facing health issues. Somalia had earlier abandoned Guriel because of fears of a possible battle between the Galmudug administration and Ahlu Sunna Wal Jamaa. In its statement, the UNOCHA had further revealed that a large number of internally displaced people (IDPs) are being accommodated by relatives in overcrowded makeshift shelters made of torn garments. According to UNOCHA, three additional IDP camps have been established to shelter 7,300 families. Further, the UN noted that food, freshwater, hygiene, and other essential utilities are severely limited in that region. The United Nations has also said that most IDPs are having only one meal a day and severely relying only on water trucking because of the drought. (Image: AP/Representative) A day after a deadly explosion killed one person in Ugandas capital, President Yoweri Museveni confirmed the Islamic terrorist group behind the attack. The statement from Museveni came after one person was killed and seven others injured in an explosion at a restaurant in a suburb of Ugandas capital, Kampala on Saturday. According to the Ugandan President, at least three people entered the eatery in a suburb of Kampala and left a plastic bag. He said that the bag contained explosive items that later exploded. In a series of tweets, President Museveni shared details of the incident and assured to "get the perpetrators." According to police, the deadly explosion killed one person and left dozen injured. They said that the restaurant is a normally busy place and is frequented by commuters. Read the tweets of Uganda President: As I said earlier, I condemn the action of the parasite pigs that planted a bomb at Digida Pork Point where they sell pork, sodas & alcohol. Although these people were breaking curfew hours & using the place as a bar, still the criminality of the perpetrators must be condemned. Yoweri K Museveni (@KagutaMuseveni) October 24, 2021 With those operating outside Uganda, we shall work with the brother African countries, to go for them. Let their supporters, then, not start shouting that we are hunting innocent people. Yoweri K Museveni (@KagutaMuseveni) October 24, 2021 Earlier in a statement released by the police, it said a bomb squad had been deployed following a serious blast around 9 pm local time. Police said the attack was carried out by members of the Somali Islamic extremist group al-Shabab. According to security forces, the attackers exploded the bomb in retaliation against Uganda's deployment of peacekeeping troops to the Horn of Africa nation. Police, who have sealed off the scene, said a bomb squad is investigating the explosion, which for many revived painful memories of a deadly bombing in 2010 that killed over 70 people in Kampala. The UK had updated travel advisory due to a possible bomb attack However, in the recent past, the country hasnt seen any terrorist blasts and seemed peaceful in the last decade. It is worth mentioning the UK government updated its travel advisory in October this year in which it hinted at a possible terror attack by the extremist group. "Extremist groups are very likely to try to carry out attacks. It could be indiscriminate, including in places visited by foreigners," read the recent UK government updated travel advisory. Notably, Museveni, who has held power since 1986, is a US ally on regional security. He was re-elected in January in polls the opposition said were neither free nor fair. (With inputs from AP) Image: AP A U.N. Security Council mission that is visiting Mali this weekend to assess the security situation is urging the country's authorities to set elections for February to meet agreements reached with a West African regional bloc after a coup last year. The mission led by Kenyas ambassador to the U.N., Martin Kimani, met with civil society organizations, groups that have signed a peace agreement, Malis prime minister and transitional president Col. Assimi Goita during their weekend visit. I was struck by the thirst for reform (both political and institutional) that is desired by most of the Malian population, Kimani Sunday said at a news conference. We are now waiting for the end of the transition period which should lead to the organization of elections. However, Malian authorities have said after the meetings with the U.N. Security Council mission, they want to organize days of consultations in December amongst Malian groups to determine a path toward elections. The Malian authorities have spoken to us about these meetings as a prerequisite for the elections. These meetings will take place in December, said Abdou Abarry, Nigerias ambassador to the U.N. who was a part of the delegation. We are not opposed to it, but only insist it does not delay the end of the transition and give Malians the opportunity to choose their leaders. Abarry said that Goita assured the delegation that the transitional authorities are not here to stay in power and any commitments the transitional authorities will make will be in the interest of Malians. Goita seized power in August 2020 by overthrowing Malis democratically elected president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, who had only served two years of his five-year term after being reelected in 2018. Goita eventually agreed to a transitional government led by a civilian president, but ousted those leaders in May after they announced a Cabinet reshuffle that sidelined two junta supporters without consulting him. Goita was then sworn in as president of the transitional government in June. He has pledged to keep the country on track to return to civilian rule with an election in February 2022. The U.N. diplomats also raised the issue of security in Mali. The peacekeeping mission in Mali remains the deadliest of all the U.N. missions since 2013. The Malian authorities have insisted that they are putting much emphasis on security challenges, and MINUSMA (the U.N. mission in Mali) is ready to help them, especially in Central Mali where there is the highest threat of terrorism, said Nicolas de Riviere, Frances ambassador to the U.N. Mali has been fighting growing insecurity since 2012, when al-Qaida-linked groups took over parts of the north. Despite a French-led military operation that forced many rebels from their northern strongholds in 2013, insurgents quickly regrouped and have been advancing year after year toward the south of the country, where the Malian capital is located. They also launch frequent attacks on the Malian army and its allies. (Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com) Despite Denmarks high vaccination rate, it has witnessed a record surge in COVID-19 cases in the past two weeks, news agency Sputnik reported on Monday. According to the report, the country has inoculated more than 75% of its population, despite that, the country has reported at least 1,349 cases in the past 24 hours. Citing reports by the Danish State Serum Institute, the news agency said that the latest COVID-19 spread was the highest infection rate since May, 2021. According to the figures, at least 167 people were hospitalised in the last 24 hours, which was also the highest hospitalisation rate since May this year. "As such, these figures are not a disaster, but if they continue to rise in the coming days, then it points in the direction that we must do something", Sputnik quoted Roskilde University epidemiologist Viggo Andreasen as sating during a conversation with TV2. The researcher noted that the country saw a similar trend during the autumn holidays last year when the people started socialising. Moreover, the tourism sector also accounts for a large number of infections spread during the holidays. However, the scientists were not surprised with the results as there were no COVID-19 vaccines available for inoculation. Meanwhile, this time, irrespective of the high vaccination rate, the country has witnessed a sudden surge in coronavirus cases. According to the reports of Sputnik, Denmark has vaccinated over 75% of its 5.8 million inhabitants. Moreover, the country is planning to inoculate booster shots for the vulnerable population. "Although the vaccines are good, there is something here that indicates that they are not quite as good as we would like", Andreasen told Sputnik. Vaccine does not guarantee 100% protection against COVID Meanwhile, professor of virology at Copenhagen University, Allan Randrup Thomsen told the news agency that the Scandinavian country has been witnessing a sudden surge among vaccinated people even after a large number of population has taken both doses of the vaccine. Moreover, he noted that the vaccine does not guarantee 100% against the deadly infection. "When you look at it in absolute numbers, there are a lot of vaccinated people who are infected because they make up the largest part of the population. We have always known that vaccines do not protect 100%. When assessing the protection of a vaccine, there are several parameters to look at," Sputnik quoted Thomsen as saying to Danish Radio. Danes ended COVID-19 restriction last month "It can be protection against death, illness, or infection. The vaccines have a good effect against death and hospitalisations, but you can still be infected to a certain extent." It is worth mentioning that Denmark eased the COVID related restrictions last month after 548 days. It was the first Scandinavian country to lift all domestic restrictions. However, the face mask or shields are still mandatory at airports and people are advised to wear one when at the doctors, test centres or hospitals. Image: AP/Unsplash On Sunday, October 24, several members of the Afghan community in Italy, led by president Kaihan Mashriqwal, staged a protest against Pakistan's government and army for wreaking havoc in Afghanistan. The protest, which took place at Milan Central Railway Station, drew a total of 35 members of the community. Apart from president Mashriqwal, two other members - Jamali and Masood Shiraz - addressed the crowd and blamed Pakistan's army, as well as the Taliban and other Mujahideen for creating a chaotic situation in the war-ravaged country. Protesters shouted anti-Pakistan slogans and held placards denouncing Pakistan as former "Qabaliyis today's Taliban" and "Sanction Pakistan," among other things, reported ANI. Various issues concerning women's and children's human rights, education, health, and Talibanization of young people were discussed during the gathering. Members of the community also pledged to continue protesting against the Taliban until their country is governed by a democratically elected government. They also compared the hardship of Afghans to that of Bangladeshis during the Pakistan Army's 1971 invasion of the country. Earlier in August, an anti-Taliban demonstration had taken place at Republica Square in the heart of Rome. Around 100 individuals had attended the event, including Afghan expats from the Pashtun, Uzbek, and Tajik communities. Several Italians and members of the media also attended the rally to demonstrate their support for Afghan citizens. 'The old government's collapse was not in people's interest' Meanwhile, On Sunday, October 24, the Taliban admitted for the first time that the old government's (Islamic Republic of Afghanistan) collapse was not in the people's best interests and that it was not well planned. Deputy Minister of Information and Culture, Zabiullah Mujahid made the remarks in a special interview with Tolo News. "It has harmed Afghanistan, in my opinion, because if the war had ended and we had reached a serious agreement, the situation would have been better and different than it is now. As a result, the country's institutions would not have collapsed, and people would not have fled " he was quoted as saying by the outlet. Mujahid added that the situation would have been far better now if peace efforts between the two Afghan factions had continued and resulted at the end of the country's war. He went on to say that changes to the current interim cabinet are feasible because the door for future talks has remained open, reported Tolo News. It should be mentioned here that the US has refused to release Afghanistan's frozen assets but stated that it is committed to providing humanitarian help to Afghan nationals and that the Taliban must assist in the distribution process. Due to its extensive violations of human rights and inability to build an inclusive administration, the international community has refused to recognise the Taliban-led government. (With ANI Inputs) Image: ANI The Polish Border Guard said their two soldiers were injured while attempting to stop migrants trying to enter the country, news agency Sputnik reported on Monday. According to the report, a scuffle broke out between migrants and Polish soldiers when they were trying to stop illegal migration on October 25. Citing the statement released by the Polish Border Guard, the news agency said this was the second such attempt at the border in the last week. According to the statement, about 60 and 70 people attacked the security forces with stones in which two of the soldiers got seriously injured. A video showing men trying to break the razor-wire border fence with a branch and helmeted Polish troops watching from nearby was posted on the Border Guards website. "Over the weekend, two attempts of a border assault were recorded. Aggressive groups of about 60 and 70 people threw stones and branches at the border guard officers and soldiers of the Polish Army. Two soldiers were hospitalised. Both attempts of violent crossing into Poland were thwarted", Sputnik quoted the Polish Border Guard as saying in a statement. It is worth mentioning that many people have been trying to cross the border of Poland, Latvia and Lithuania from Belarus. However, Belarus, which has one of the lowest poverty rates in Europe, denied such migration from their country. Poland deploys 6,000 soldiers on the border Notably, to prevent illegal migration, Warsaw has announced an emergency on the border and deployed nearly 6,000 extra soldiers, according to Sputnik. Recently, at least eight people have died along the border between Belarus and the European Union, where multiple groups of asylum-seekers, refugees and migrants have been stranded for weeks in increasingly dire conditions. On October 22, Friday, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) appealed for urgent action to save lives and prevent further suffering at the border with Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland. According to the assessment of UNHRC, the situation would further deteriorate amid approaching winter. UNHCR advocates for the group to be granted asylum In a statement released by UNHRC Regional Director for Europe, Pascale Moreau, he said, When fundamental human rights are not protected, lives are at stake. "It is unacceptable that people have died, and the lives of others are precariously hanging in the balance. They are held hostage by a political stalemate which needs to be solved now," he said. Notably, the UN agency mandated to aid and protect refugees has been advocating for the group to be granted asylum since a lot of migrants have expressed their wish to settle either in Belarus or in Poland. Image: AP Pope Francis on Sunday urged the international community to end the practice of returning migrants rescued at sea to Libya and other unsafe countries where he said they suffer inhumane violence" He called for world leaders to find concrete solutions to manage migratory flows in the Mediterranean Sea. I express my closeness to the thousands of migrants, refugees and others in need of protection in Libya,'' Francis said. I never forget you, I hear your cries and I pray for you," he added. Francis made the comments after reciting his usual Angelus Sunday prayer in front of a congregation which had gathered in St. Peter's Square. How much suffering are the migrants sent back (to unsafe countries) going through? the Pope said, before comparing some detention facilities to Nazi concentration camps. Both Italy and Malta have come under criticism from human rights advocates for leaving migrants aboard crowded rescue boats before assigning them a safe port. U.N. refugee agency officials and human rights organizations have long denounced the conditions of detention centres for migrants in Libya, citing practices of beatings, rape and forms of torture and insufficient food. IMAGE: AP (Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com) Head of the Catholic Church Pope Francis on Sunday called for measures to prevent migrants rescued at sea from returning to Libya and other "inhumane" camps. Speaking from his St. Peter's Square studio window, the Pope also urged the international community to find concrete solutions to manage "migratory flows" in the Mediterranean, the Associated Press reported. The appeals from the Pope came after first world countries, especially Italy and Malta, recently intercepted and rescued migrant boats only to send them back to detention camps in Libya. "So many of these men, women and children are subject to inhumane violence...I ask the international community to keep the promises to search for common, concrete and lasting solutions to manage the migratory flows in Libya and all the Mediterranean," he said adding that migrants must be stopped from being sent back to "unsafe countries" as those sent back suffer undignified conditions of life. "I express my closeness to the thousands of migrants, refugees and others in need of protection in Libya. I never forget you, I have your cries and I pray for you," the Pope added. "How they suffer, those who are sent back...(to)...true concentration camps," Pope Francis said on Sunday. As per AP, as the sovereign of the Vatican City State spoke on Sunday, hundreds of migrants were in the Central Mediterranean sea region waiting to be rescued after coming near Sicily or the Italian mainland from Libya or Turkey. The Pope appealed to the EU countries to ensure "predictable disembarking and guarantee alternatives to detention" so that they can access the asylum procedures. The detention camps in Libya have often been criticised due to the atrocious living conditions battered by practices of beating, rape and other forms of torture. More than 500 migrants reached Italy as Pope spoke As Pope spoke at the Sunday Angelus, over 500 migrants reached Italy. At least 128 of them were identified by Alarm Phone, a rescue team that operates at the sea. On the other hand, Doctors without Borders also rescued 71 migrants after the latter's rickety boats were buffeted by wind and waves. Another 68 were retrieved off the coast of Malta by an NGO in Distress. Meanwhile, Alarm Phone confirmed the involvement of Maltese officials in rescue and pushback as Frontex, known as EU border control agency, flew surveillance flights overhead, CNN reported. Alarm Phone and MSF save 71 refugees from sinking rubber boat The Geo Barents rescues over 360 people having reached the Libyan SAR zone on Friday Story here: https://t.co/qcVoZ7ePua pic.twitter.com/9uz5TSieMV Civil Fleet (@FleetCivil) October 24, 2021 On the same day, the Red Cross also rescued about 700 migrants, including a few from Afghanistan. The asylum seekers reached the Calabrian coast after they departed on fishing boats from Turkey. As per RAI television, as quoted by the Associated Press, at least 3,400 migrants reached the town at the "toe" of the Italian peninsula, Rochelle Ionica, this year. Another 296 people were rescued by MSF, who are waiting to be assigned a safe port to disembark in Sicily or Malta, the rescue organisation said in a tweet. (With inputs from AP) (Image: AP) A Turkish photographer has won a prestigious photography prize for capturing a sentimental shot of a Syrian father without limbs holding his specially-abled son outside their home in Reyhanli, in the Turkish province of Hatay, at the border with Syria. The heart-wrenching photograph that won Mehmet Aslan's Photo of the Year award at the Siena International Photo Awards is titled "The Hardship of Life and depicts the atrocities that the Syrians are subjected to in the war-torn country. The iconic image portrays father and son, Munzir and Mustafa playing in the Syrian neighbourhood. Aged just five, the child was born without lower or upper limbs due to tetra-amelia, a congenital disorder that was caused after his mother took Zeynep medications, used to treat the poisoning from nerve gas released during the war in the country. Sharing the photo on the official website, SIPA wrote, "This little boys father Munzir lost his right leg when a bomb was dropped as he walked through a bazaar in Idlib, Syria. His son Mustafa was born without lower or upper limbs due to tetra-amelia, a congenital disorder caused by the medications his mother Zeynep had to take after being sickened by nerve gas released during the war in Syria." Adding to it, it mentioned, "Mustafa will need special electronic prostheses in the future which, unfortunately, are not yet available in Turkey." Sentimental image shows specially-abled dad and son bonding & playing The father, who can be seen smiling in the photo, is seen balancing his son in the air while he also supports his balance using a crutch. The latter lost his right leg during a bomb blast in a bazaar in Idlib, Syria. He can be seen tossing his son in the air and playing as his son responds with a big grin in the heartfelt moment. The image was shortlisted from among thousands of images submitted by photographers from over 163 countries. The winning photograph was displayed in Siena, Italy on October 23 as part of the Siena Awards festival of visual arts. The Turkish Photographer of the Year title is awarded 1,500 (about $1,745) worth of photography equipment, a Pangea Prize crystal statuette, and other promotional prizes for his emotional photograph. Beautifully powerful A one-legged father holding his smiling son, born without limbs. Syria . pic.twitter.com/yvbRMYNewE _ (@Humanity_Vo) October 23, 2021 The happiness of the father and his son, even as the man stands on one leg, it is very precarious, Kataoka Hideko, Director of Photography told Newsweek Japan. He was one of the judges on the panel. Furthermore, Hideko said, My heart, briefly saved by this moment of joyful love, is overshadowed by the long and hard lives they face ahead, a great cost left by the war. Moreover, an Indian photographer Lopamudra Talukdar also managed to win the first prize in the Street Photography category with his innocent photograph titled Childhood". The award-winning imagery depicts children in Havana spending time on a swing and playing in the open air in the courtyards. Another photographer from Russia, Sergey Savvi, won the award in the wildlife category with his This is My Jungle! picture that depicted an elephant attacking a jeep with travellers at Yala National Park, in Sri Lanka. Tehreek-e-Labbaik (TLP), a hardline Islamist party, agreed to suspend its march into Islamabad after Pakistan decided to drop pending charges against the party's leader, Saad Rizvi, on Sunday, October 24. Party supporters left the eastern city of Lahore on Saturday, October 23, clashing for the second day in succession with police who fired tear gas into the gathering. The TLP group set out for Islamabad a day earlier with the intention of pressuring the government to release Saad Rizvi. Punjab's provincial law minister, Raja Basharat, said that under the terms of the agreement, Punjab will drop all charges against Rizvi and free all those arrested during the protest march by Tuesday, October 26, AP reported. Sajid Saifi, a spokesman for Rizvi's party, verified the minister's claim and stated that thousands of party supporters will remain in Mureedke awaiting the release of jailed party officials and members, AP reported. The deal also states that the federal government will honour a previous agreement with the TLP to handle diplomatic ties with France over the publication of the Prophet Muhammad's cartoons, according to Basharat. Rizvi was imprisoned last year during anti-French protests following the publishing of caricatures of Prophet Muhammad. Rizvi had been arrested in advance on suspicion of inciting people to gather illegally. TLP demands suspension of French ambassador to Pakistan Pakistan Interior Minister Shaikh Rashid Ahmed informed AP that the TLP's demand for expulsion of the French ambassador to Pakistan over the cartoons would be taken up by a Parliamentary Committee in the coming days. The TLP executive council held talks with Basharat, Ahmed, and Religious Affairs Minister Noorul Haq Qadri. In Lahore, violent fights erupted between security forces and Islamists, killing at least two police officers and injuring about a dozen others, according to police. Saifi, the spokesperson of TLP, alleged that police fire killed four party supporters and injured many more, whereas Ahmed claimed that the administration is unaware of any TLP supporters who have died. The demonstrators allegedly set fire to numerous police vehicles. Rizvi's party rose to prominence in Pakistan's 2018 elections by campaigning solely on the issue of protecting the country's blasphemy legislation, which punishes anybody who insults Islam with death. It has a history of organising violent demonstrations to force the government to fulfil its demands. (With inputs from AP, Image: @OyeMehbub/Twitter) A conflict between the members of Taliban and groups of armed men in the western Afghan province of Heart, killed more than a dozen civilians, Sputnik reported quoting a local hospital's statement in the area. Seven young children, three women, as well as seven adult men were among the 17 persons whose remains were carried to a hospital in the Herat province. They were all killed by bullet wounds, according to Sputnik. The Afghan authorities stated that the Taliban conducted a special operation in Herat on October 24, Sunday, targeting local criminals who are involved in abductions. Three of the offenders from the group of armed men in Herat were shot and killed during the operation. Another attack in eastern Afghanistan claimed lives of civilians Meanwhile, on Saturday, the Taliban and health authorities stated that a roadside bomb explosion that targeted a Taliban vehicle in eastern Afghanistan killed nearly two civilians which including a child. As per the police commander of Behsud district, two bombs exploded as a Taliban vehicle passed through, killing one youngster. Police further added that no Taliban fighters were hurt. According to a local hospital official, the incident resulted in the admission of two deceased and four injured civilians to the hospital. Presently, no one claimed accountability for the blast in Nangarhar's eastern region, yet there is a suspicion in the Islamic State group. As the Islamic State group has recently conducted many attacks against the Taliban. IS has lately displayed signs of expanding its presence in Afghanistan, with strikes in the northern, southern, and capital of Kabul. Further IS claimed responsibility for a fatal suicide attack at a Shiite Mosque in southern Afghanistan last week, in which 47 people were killed and several more were injured. Suicide bombers targeted a Shiite Mosque which was crowded with worshipers attending Friday prayers on October 15, in Kandhar province, killing at least 47 people and injuring another 70, according to Turkish national broadcaster TRT. Additionally, the Islamic State's Amaq news agency released a statement claiming that two IS militants killed the mosque's guards, stormed in, and blew themselves up between two groups of attendees, one of which numbered roughly 300 people. The incident comes after several other recent attacks in Afghanistan on religious buildings. As per AP, the group's capacity to conduct repeated strikes has raised questions about the group's attempt to keep security and stability in the nation. (Image: AP) Afghanistan is ready to buy oil from Iran, the chairman of Afghanistan's Chamber of Commerce and Investment (ACCI), Tawakal Ahmadyar, said. This comes amid a time when trade with the war-torn nation is currently complicated for many companies due to it being run by the Taliban, which is an organisation deemed a terrorist group in a number of countries. However, the ACCI chief, during a video conference with Iranian commercial attache Ebrahim Hosseini, discussed general trade issues between the two nations and said that Afghan is ready to buy oil from Iran if Tehran paves way for it. According to Sputnik, as Kabul is struggling to resolve its ongoing issues with petroleum shortages, it hopes that Tehran will be able to lend a hand. But, for this to happen, Iran will have to help its neighbour in resolving a number of issues. Ahmadyar, therefore, asked Hosseini to help his nation and said that it is imperative for both the countries to strengthen economic relations and promote trade. The ACCI chief also went on to say that Afghan petroleum importers are in dire need of being provided with the required facilities by the Iranian government. The Iranian commercial attache, on the other hand, vowed to help Kabul to create the conditions necessary for launching the oil trade by eliminating the existing challenges and building facilities required. Afghanistan crisis Meanwhile, it is imperative to note that it is still unclear how Kabul plans to pay for the purchase as a major portion of the governments reserve was frozen in the United States following the takeover in August. Since then, no foreign state, including Iran, has officially recognised the interim Taliban government. Additionally, as several countries have designated the Taliban as a terrorist organisation, they are hesitant to provide any taxes and duties to the country as it might fall into the category of terrorist funding and result in criminal charges. Kabul, on the other hand, has called on the worlds nations and specifically the US, to unlock Afghanistans reserves and recognise the new interim government after the Taliban violently seized the capital. The international community is still considering how to proceed with regard to Afghanistan and its Taliban government. So far, a plan is being considered to launch humanitarian relief efforts to help Afghans. (Image: AP) After the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) destroyed the power supply in Kabul, a statement issued by the Afghan national power company on Sunday said that the power has been restored in a dozen Afghan regions, including Kabul. Da Afghanistan Breshna Sherkat (DABS), which suffered financial damages, stated that during lunchtime on Sunday, DABS personnel in the Qala-e-Muradbig district of Kabul province completed the reconstruction of a destroyed power tower. Kabul and the downstream provinces now have access to electricity. The power supply has been restored to its previous state. The destruction of the power pylon on the northern outskirts of Kabul took place on Thursday due to a bomb explosion. ISIL has claimed responsibility for blowing up a power pylon in Kabul, cutting off the major power line and leaving the Afghan capital in darkness. Afghanistan has been experiencing power shortages for some time Furthermore, according to Xinhua, Afghanistan has been experiencing power shortages for some time and has relied on electricity imports from a number of neighbouring countries, including Tajikistan, Iran, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. The supply conduit for imported electricity to Kabul was severed as a result of the blast. In the meantime, three individuals were arrested on suspicion of being engaged in the dynamiting of a power pylon that darkened Afghanistan's capital Kabul on Saturday, according to Interior Ministry spokesperson Qari Sayed Khosti. The suspects' ties to ISIL, however, were not mentioned. Khosti said that three people have been caught in connection with the targeting and demolition of a power pylon and that an investigation is still underway. The investigation's conclusions will also be made public soon, according to the official. Similar attacks carried out by the Islamic State in Afghanistan This is one of several similar attacks carried out by the Islamic State in Afghanistan since the Taliban took over the nation from the US after two decades. The Islamic State also claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing that killed 60 people in a Shiite mosque in Kandahar. Later, the terrorist group issued a threat against Shia Muslims, claiming that they would be targeted everywhere. (Inputs from ANI) Image: Unsplash Ayman al-Zawahiri, who succeeded the 9/11 mastermind Osama Bin-Laden, may still be alive and hiding in Afghanistan or its neighbouring territories, claimed former US Special Envoy to Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad on Sunday. Al-Zawahiri was picked as the leader of Al-Qaeda after Ladens death and has been accused of orchestrating multiple terror attacks in Europe, Africa, and Asia. While the Egypt-born terrorist has been reported dead multiple times, there is no substantive evidence of his death. Speaking to CBS, Khalilzad said that there were several reports indicating al-Zawahiri being alive and operating from Afghanistan or its vicinity. However, he reckoned that there were possibilities of ruling the Taliban administration not knowing about it. "I dont know whether the Taliban know it. The Taliban that I dealt with, they told me they did not know where he was," he said. 'US mission was a success' Talking about the US counter-terrorism mission in Afghanistan, the Ambassador said that it was a success given the plunge of terrorist threats from the country. Substantiating his point further, Khalilzad said that Al-Qaeda, which was the main reason for military deployment, has been left "devastated. Regardless, he said that despite American presence, the central Asian country failed to adopt the democratic model of governance. Talibs are the reality of Afghanistan. We did not defeat them, he told CBS. It is to be noted that Khalilzad had decided to step down in May after US President Joe Biden announced a complete withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan. His stepping down also comes amid the State Department Inspector General's announcement of opening a series of investigations into the US' "hasty" withdrawal from Afghanistan. Is al-Zawahiri dead? While reports of the Al-Qaeda leader being dead have surfaced multiple times, there is skepticism on his status. Last month, an hour-long video featuring al-Zawahiri surfaced online after being shared by his terror group on the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks. Notably, the US continues to offer a US$25 million reward for information or intelligence leading to al-Zawahiri. (Image: AP) Fifty years ago on October 25, the United Nations had expelled Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), by a vote of the General Assembly. Taiwan had been replaced by China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), as it had seized power in Beijing at the end of the civil war of the country in 1949, reported Al Jazeera. The ROC government had reached the island of Taiwan with refugees as the communists took control. However, China continued to hold the seat at the UN and was a permanent member of the UN Security Council with veto power. Taiwan remains out of the UN The ROC had stated that they would return by the 1970s, however, the UN members were of the view that the government no longer represented the people across the Taiwan street, reported Al Jazeera. Under Resolution 2758, the UN General Assembly "recognises that the representative of the Government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal representative of China in the United Nations", according to the Embassy of China in the UAE. The Resolution on Admitting Peking, also known as Resolution 2758 was finally passed in the General Assembly after years of effort. Since then, Resolution 2758 has become one of the most defining documents in Taiwans modern history. In the 1950s, non-aligned countries and more neutral third parties recognised the People's Republic of China. In 1964, France recognised the PRC and many of its former colonies in Africa followed the French authorities, reported Al Jazeera. By October 1971, the ROC had been expelled from the United Nations. Taiwan seeks to return to the UN, even as an observer. However, during the weekend, the Chinese authorities reiterated Resolution 2758 that recognised "one China". Meanwhile, during the weekend, US and Taiwan officials discussed supporting Taiwan in its "meaningful" participation in the UN. US & Taiwan discuss UN participation On October 22, 2021, the US State Department had revealed that the American Institute in Taiwan and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office (TECRO) convened high-level representatives of the US Department of State and the Taiwan Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The officials met virtually on expanding Taiwans participation at the United Nations, as per the US State Department press release. The discussion between US and Taiwan officials was focussed on "supporting Taiwans ability to participate meaningfully at the UN." The officials discussed the contribution of Taiwan to address international issues, including "global challenges, global public health, the environment and climate change, development assistance, technical standards, and economic cooperation." During the discussion, the American participants reiterated the commitment of the US to "Taiwans meaningful participation at the World Health Organization." Furthermore, the US participants highlighted the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. Image: AP In a bid to ease communal tensions that erupted during the Durga Puja in the Cumilla district, Bangladesh has planned to fast-track the cases by taking them up at the speedy trial tribunals. The trials will be accelerated as soon as the police submit the preliminary reports, Bangladesh Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister, Anisul Huq said on Sunday at the Bangabandhu International Conference Center in Dhaka. It is to be noted, Bangladesh police have filed at least 72 cases relating to the incidents of vandalism since October 13. On October 21, Bangladesh Police identified Iqbal Hossain (30) based on CCTV footage as the person who sneaked the Holy Quran on the feet of a Ganesha idol in a Cumilla district Durga Puja pandal. Widespread violence and vandalism engulfed several other districts as images of the same surfaced online. Police are yet to nab the culprit. Meanwhile, communal violence in Bangladesh has escalated since the attack on October 13. As per reports, over 400 alleged rioters have been arrested so far, including the person who snapped and uploaded the "controversial" image on the internet. Attack on Durga Puja temple over rumours spread on social media On October 14, Bangladesh marked a dark hour during the vibrant Durga puja after goons attacked Durga Puja pandals in Cumilla district, Chittagong Division of Bangladesh. A Hindu temple where goddess Durga was being worshipped became the cynosure of commotion after doctored pictures of the Holy Quran at the feet of Lord Ganesh were circulated on the internet. At least three people were killed in the vandalism that was fuelled by "provocative" messages. Paramilitary forces were deployed by the Bangladesh government noting the intensity of the clashes that erupted in the district. So far, Bangladesh police have detained 43 suspects allegedly involved in communal violence. "Certain groups want to divide the country": Sheikh Hasina On Sunday, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina accused the attackers in the Bangladesh temple Violence case of tarnishing the country's image. "Certain quarters with vested interests and disseminating propaganda aimed at creating a communal divide," she said as reported by PTI. Without naming any particular group, she also added that the events will not let Bangladesh"go backward." She also has assured the citizens that the perpetrators will be "hunted down and punished." With inputs from PTI Image: @JatiGov.BD/AP In a major development in connection with the recent incidents of violence against Hindus in Bangladesh during Durga Puja festivities, the police have arrested 13 more suspects, including a local cleric, according to reports on Monday. The police reportedly arrested Mamun Mondal - an activist of Islami Chhatra Shibir (the student affiliate of Jamaat-e-Islami), and Omar Faruk - a local cleric, on Sunday. Meanwhile, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday said that such communal incidents were being made to tarnish the countrys image. She termed it as the propaganda of certain groups. PM Hasina said that certain groups want to divide the country and are thus conducting unlawful attacks. "Certain quarters with vested interests are disseminating propaganda aimed at creating a communal divide," Bangladesh PM said, as quoted by PTI. She further said that the incidents could not make Bangladesh go backwards. However, PM Hasina did not name any particular group of individuals for the chaos. Earlier, the Bangladesh PM had assured appropriate action against those responsible for the communal violence during Durga Puja. She had said that the ones who held the attacks will be hunted down and given "appropriate punishments." She had also directed Bangladesh's Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan to take "immediate" action against those involved in the "pre-planned" assaults. Bangladesh has also planned to fast-track the cases by taking them up at the speedy trial tribunals. The trials will be accelerated as soon as the police submit the preliminary reports, Bangladesh Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Anisul Huq said on Sunday at the Bangabandhu International Conference Center in Dhaka. It is to be noted that Bangladesh police have filed at least 72 cases related to the incidents of vandalism since October 13. Hindu temples attacked in Bangladesh on Dussehra At least 8 people were killed while several others were injured in multiple cases of communal violence during the Durga Puja festivities in Bangladesh. Reports stated that violence broke out on Wednesday when devotees were celebrating Durga Puja, a widely celebrated religious festival of the Hindu community in Bangladesh. In Cumilla, at least 50 people were left injured as a group of hardliners clashed with the police in the Nanua Dighirpar area after rumours of a communal incident surfaced. Earlier, the Vishva Hindu Parishad demanded that a fact-finding team of Indian parliamentarians be sent to Bangladesh for a probe into the recent incidents of violence against Hindu minorities. (With PTI Inputs) Since the Taliban's takeover of Kabul in August, as many as 50,000 small and medium traders have lost their jobs owing to the closure of the Chaman border crossing at the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. Jamaluddin Achakzai, the former head of the Chaman Chamber of Commerce, said that the crossing's closure costs local traders Rs 100 million each day, reported Express Tribune. Chaman is one of two major border crossings between Pakistan and Afghanistan, the other being Torkham, which is located in the north. As many as 1,450 Pakistani lorries, some loaded with dry fruits while others empty, are stranded at the other side of the border, reported the news outlet. Expressing his concern, Achakzai also said that many of the crew members of these lorries don't even have enough money to buy food and other necessities. Meanwhile, another former president of the Chaman Chamber, Haji Jalat Khan, has urged the federal government to declare the border open immediately, according to the news outlet. Torkham and Chaman borders have been closed on and off since the Taliban gained control on August 15. Islamabad, which has shut down the border multiple times in recent months, has accused the Taliban of the recent closure of the Chaman crossing, however, the Taliban is yet to issue an official statement on the matter, reported Samaa TV. Afghan traders accuse Pakistan of obstructing Chaman-Boldak transit route Meanwhile, several Afghan traders have accused Pakistan's government of obstructing the Chaman-Boldak transit route. According to local media reports, attacks on Pakistani security stations near the Afghan border have intensified since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan. Despite Pakistani authorities' claims that the Pak-Afghan border was completely safe, instability on the Afghan side appeared to be infiltrating Pakistan. The traders demanded that the relevant authorities find an urgent solution to the challenges alongside the so-called Durand Line's crossing points, reported news agency ANI citing The Afghanistan Times. It should be mentioned here that last month, Afghanistan's business sector had urged the United States to release its frozen assets. In a news conference in Kabul, the Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment (ACCI) and the Afghanistan Chamber of Mines and Industry (ACMI) warned of economic collapse unless the country's frozen deposits are freed, according to TOLO News. Private sector representatives condemned the freeze of Afghanistan's reserve by the US as a violation of humanitarian law, and they urged the United Nations to defend the rights of Afghans in addition to the work it is doing to attract humanitarian aid to the country. (With inputs from ANI) (Image: ANI/AP) Israel has given a green light to the construction of more than 1,300 homes in its West Bank settlements in a move that comes as discussions on the proposed two-state solution continue to be in limbo. On Sunday, the Construction and House Ministry published tenders for the proposed homes in the area of Judea and Samaria. As per Israeli law, the publication tenders is mandatory even after receiving final validation by the Defence Ministry. Tenders for 1,355 homes in Judea and Samaria have been published, the Construction and House Ministry statement said, using the West Banks biblical name. The homes are slated to be built in seven settlements, including 729 in Ariel, 346 in Beit El, 102 in Elkana and 96 in Adam. West Bank, which also includes the occupied conflict hit city of East Jerusalem, houses over one lakh Israeli settlers. Meanwhile, roughly two to three million Palestinians live in the disputed territory under limited self-governance and Israeli rule, according to BBC. On Sunday, Construction and Housing Minister Zeev Elkin said that expansion of houses in West Bank is a necessary and very important part of the Zionist enterprise. Disregard for int'l stance: PA Soon after the tender was announced, Palestinian Authority (PA) condemned the action calling it blatant disregard for international stance. The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated in a statement that Israel is taking this step to keep constructing settlements in the Palestinian territories. ANI citing Xinhua reported that Palestine said the "ongoing construction in East Jerusalem is a blatant disregard for the international and the US positions which reject settlements." A first under Biden Administration Notably, it is the first move since US President Joe Biden took office. While he has opposed Zionist expansion, Biden has refrained from prioritising the Israeli-Palestinian conflict on the foreign policy-a stance that contrasts with his predecessor Donald Trump. Under Trumps proposed plan, Israel would have been allowed to annex 30 per cent of the West Bank to incorporate settlements and the Jordan Valley. However, Biden has blatantly denounced the Zionist agenda of annexation, albeit he nodded to protect Israels security and sovereignty. Golan Heights, which Israel annexed after the six-day war and Trump recognised as a part of Israel, remain particularly important. Trump, a close ally to former zionist PM Benjamin Netanyahu, has also shown support to Israels claim over Jerusalem. Soon after assuming office in 2016, Trump had announced the relocation of the US Embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem and subsumed the consulate in the mission. However, Biden promised to reopen the consulate and establish communication with Palestinians. (Image: AP) An envoy from Israels Foreign Ministry and its Shin Bet security services will be sent to the US with univocal information on its recent labelling of several Palestinian rights groups as terrorist organizations. The announcement comes a day after US States Department denied receiving any prior information on the zionist move and asked Israel for more evidence. Late last week, the Naftali Bennet administration outlawed six Palestine-based civil society groups linking them to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PLFP)- which has been categorized as a terror organization both by Israel and the US. Meanwhile, on Sunday, a top Israeli official defended the decision stating that officials had substantive evidence of the NGOs involvement in terror activities. He said the material included unequivocal evidence that includes video footage, photos, payment receipts that tie the said groups to the backing of terror activity. While a report in Times of Israel clearly stated that all the evidence related to the matter was ironclad, some were reportedly shared with the Biden administration in advance. Interestingly, even Prime Minister Naftali Bennet was not notified beforehand about Benny Gantz signing the order. Israel prepared for possible outcomes Israel knew about the consequences of the declaration and had already prepared for any reported petitions urged a reversal of the move, as per a report by Haaretz. Additionally, the administration does not plan to open any criminal investigation into the functioning of the organisations, as of now. Notably, the decsion was made uin accordance with a 2016 anti-terror law. On Friday, Israel outlawed six Palestinian human rights groups, linking them to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestinian (PFLP)-whose armed wing has been accused of attacking Israelis. In a decree signed by the countrys defence minister Benny Ganz, the zionist administration said that the now-banned organisations acted as a front for PFLP which has been designated as a terrorist organisation by the west. However, the rights groups have asserted that it was another zionist ploy to silence their voice against Israeli suppression. Meanwhile, other observers and experts opined that it would give Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) and Palestinians Liberation Army (PLA) a chance to increase their raids and arrest Arabs. Image: AP Russian servicemen held anti-terrorist exercises at a military base in Tajikistan's capital on Sunday to prepare for possible security threats coming from Afghanistan. The 201st military base in Dushanbe is one of the largest military outposts in the former Soviet Union. More than 1,500 soldiers serving at the base took part in weeklong war games that brought together about 5,000 troops and over 700 armored vehicles from Russia, Tajikistan, and several other ex-Soviet nations. The nations are are members of the Collective Security Treaty Organization, a Moscow-dominated security pact. This year, the base has been equipped with state-of-art arms including new infantry fighting vehicles, portable rocket launchers, anti-tank missile systems. Chief of Staff of the base Colonel Yevgeny Arkhimenko said new T-72 B3 tanks will also arrive at the base by the end of the year. Russian officials said they trusted the Taliban's pledge that they wouldn't threaten neighboring countries, but noted that the Islamic State group, al-Qaida and other militants in northern Afghanistan could try to destabilize the neighboring ex-Soviet Central Asian nations. They also said drug trafficking from Afghanistan will continue to present a challenge. Moscow has vowed to provide military assistance to its ex-Soviet allies in Central Asia to help counter possible threats and held a series of joint drills in Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, which neighbor Afghanistan. The Soviet Union fought a 10-year war in Afghanistan that ended with its troops withdrawing in 1989. In recent years, Russia has made a strong diplomatic comeback as an influential power broker in Afghanistan, hosting several rounds of talks with various Afghan factions. Russia had worked for years to establish contacts with the Taliban, even though it designated the group a terror organization in 2003 and never took it off the list. Unlike many other countries, it hasn't evacuated its embassy in Kabul after they took over the Afghan capital in August. (Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com) Taliban has refused to participate in an upcoming regional meeting on Afghanistan, albeit it said that the discussion will be good for the country. Last week, Iran announced that it will host a high-level ministerial meeting on October 27 which will focus formation of an inclusive government in the central Asian country. The meeting-a second since the Taliban takeover-will see foreign ministers of six countries in attendance. On Monday, the Talibans spokesperson and deputy culture and information minister said that the Emirate administration will not participate in the meet. Apart from Afghans regional neighbours-China, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan, the meet will also include Russia. Notably, the announcement comes as Afghanistans Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi held bilateral talks with the Iranian ambassador during which multiple issues were brought to the table. One particular issue was the increased exodus of displaced Afghan residents to Iran. Both the countries not only share cultural ties but a border as long as 945km (587 miles). 'Afghanistan damaged by Taliban' This comes as day after the Taliban acknowledged for the first time that the old government's (Islamic Republic of Afghanistan) collapse was not in the people's best interests and did not occur in a planned manner. In a special interview with Tolo News, Deputy Minister of Information and Culture Zabiullah Mujahid made the remarks. "In my opinion, Afghanistan was damaged by it because if war was stopped and we reached a meaningful negotiation, the situation would have been better and different from now. And the result would have avoided the collapse of institutions and the fleeing of people from the country," he stated, Tolo News reported. According to the news agency, Mujahid stated that if peace negotiations between the two Afghan sides had persisted and culminated in the conclusion of the country's war, the situation would be better than it is now. Changes in the existing cabinet are possible, he continued, because the path for further dialogue has remained open. However, other countries' reservations about certain members of the administration are unacceptable. "We are reiterating, again and again, the terms of inclusivity means something like this ... If the aim is to include the people, we have already included various ethnicities in the current government, and they are part of the cabinet," he stated. (With inputs from ANI) (Image: AP) With countries learning lessons from multiple COVID-19 waves, the idea of a Vaccine Passport or COVD-19 Passport is emerging globally. A vaccine passport is a document that shows whether a person is vaccinated against the virus. It is a travel pass that will hold all the vaccinations and medical records for a hassle-free international travel experience. The pass can be stored in digital formats, like a mobile app, or physical, such as a small paper card. By enlarge, a vaccine passport is basically a fancy term used for a mobile app to help passengers easily and securely manage their health documents needed for travel in line with the governments policy for either Coronavirus testing or vaccine information. The travel pass will help the destination country to verify any travellers pre-travel test or vaccination certificate. Several governments across the globe are seeing these passports as a one-step solution for a hassle-free inflow of travellers in their nations. The concept is very similar to a medical passport, which is issued by WHO and acts as proof that an individual has been vaccinated against diseases such as cholera or yellow fever. This system has been in practice for years. At its core, the vaccine passport system is aimed at facilitating both national as well as international travel and easy relocation, which would eventually boost the economy. COVID-19 passport challenges It is worth mentioning that the first mass appeal to implement the COVID-19 passport was made by UN World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO). Zurab Pololikashvili, Secretary-General of UNWTO, called for the global adoption of vaccination passports for safe resumption of international travel. However, the idea of a Vaccine Passport is facing a roadblock in multiple countries. While the governments are eager to implement it, citizens and support groups have been staging protests against the pass. In nations like Canada, Switzerland, and Italy, massive protests are being staged against the government over the implementation of the COVID-19 passport. The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) has also branded vaccine passports discriminatory. It said that testing travellers before travel to prove they are COVID-19 free is a better solution. Countries that have rolled out Vaccine Passport Meanwhile, despite demonstrations, several countries, independent bodies and airline companies have pitched for vaccine passports. Some nations have also implemented the same. Here is a brief list of countries and independent bodies using vaccine passports: France Last month, France announced that it has made the vaccine passport mandatory to enter restaurants, bars, gyms, museums and other places. The system now requires everyone to prove that they have been either vaccinated or recently tested negative for COVID-19 or have recovered from the illness in the last six months. However, the vaccine pass has been criticised in the nation as invasive and restricting freedom of movement. IATA World Health Organization (WHO) commissioned the International Air Transport Association (IATA) to develop a tamper-proof vaccine passport called the IATA Travel Pass. Italy Back in August, Italy also introduced a health pass. The government required individuals to present the Green Pass in a bid to attend large events, dine indoors, access gyms and more. Italy made it compulsory for the medical workers, teachers, and university students, to at least present proof for one dose of vaccination or a negative RT-PCR report taken in the past 24 hours. Denmark Denmark was the first nation to introduce a COVID-19 pass six months ago. However, it abolished the requirement in most public places on September 1. The pass is no longer needed in cafes, bars, restaurants, etc. But it is still needed at major indoor public events and in nightclubs. Travellers entering Denmark also must present either a vaccine passport or a negative RT-PCR test. Brazil Rio de Janerio announced in August that it will require proof of vaccination against COVID-19 to enter public spaces, including movie theatres, stadiums and iconic tourists spots. Israel Israels health ministry unveiled a Green Passport that enables people who are already vaccinated to travel and be part of large gatherings. (Image: Pixabay/Unsplash) Saudi Arabia-led coalition warplanes had kept attacking several Houthi rebel-controlled locations in the oil-rich region of Marib, Yemen on Sunday, a military spokesperson informed Xinhua news agency. On condition of anonymity, a local military source said, The Houthi-held sites in Marib were heavily struck by the Saudi-led coalition warplanes that succeeded in slowing down the rebels' progress toward the strategic city," ANI reported. The local military source went on to say that the Houthi militants have partly halted their ground movement due to the heavy aerial bombing which is killing hundreds of them in recent days. As per the source, the Saudi-led coalition had increased the air attacks against the Houthi rebels in an effort to assist the pro-government Yemeni soldiers who are deployed in Marib. The official Saudi Press Agency revealed that the Saudi-led coalition informed in a short statement about a battle that was fought in the last three days. In which they mentioned that approximately 264 Houthi rebels have been killed, while 36 of their military vehicles were devastated in Yemen's Marib city war. According to Yemeni military officials, the majority of the bombings took place in Marib's southern district of Al Jubah, as well as other neighbouring regions where the two warring parties are engaged in nonstop violent clashes. Houthi rebels commented on the attack However, on the contrary, on the Houthi-linked Masirah television network, the Houthi rebels' military spokesperson Yahya Saree rejected the Saudi-led attacks. Quoting the spokesperson, ANI reported, "If the enemy thought their warplanes could stop our troops' progress or break our fighters' resolve, they were mistaken." During military action in Marib, Saree reported that the Houthi rebels killed 550 pro-government troops, injured 1,200 more, and apprehended 90 others. Another attack in the Marib region on Houthis Meanwhile, on October 21, Thursday, according to Xinhua while citing a source at the frontline, 38 Houthi militants were killed in a clash with the Yemeni army in the central province of Marib. In the terrible civil conflict that started almost seven years ago, 130,000 people have died, both military as well as civilians. Although, there were no military losses during the armed conflict which took place on Thursday, while 10 troops were injured. During the seven-hour combat, the Yemeni army was capable of eliminating 38 insurgents. The Houthi militia, which is supported by Iran, started a massive onslaught against Marib in February in an attempt to grab command over the province, which is the Saudi-backed Yemeni government's final northern foothold. Yemen was plunged into instability since late 2014 when Iran-backed Houthi militants took control of several northern districts and ousted President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi's internationally recognised administration out of the capital Sanaa. The Saudi-led Arab alliance joined in the Yemen crisis later in 2015 to support Hadi's administration. (Image: AP) Bolivian coca leaf producers on Thursday gathered in the capital La Paz to share their precious and sometimes considered sacred merchandise with passers-by. The gathering was organized by the producers who wanted to mark the foundation of La Paz, settled on October 20, 1548. In La Paz, which sits in an Andean valley, many Indigenous ethnicities hold the coca leaf as a dear crop that fuels their economy and is also chewed as sustenance for energy. In the Andean mountains it is traditionally chewed to reduce the symptoms of lack of oxygen produced by altitude sickness. Milton Quisbet, one of the coca leaf producers at the gathering, said the crops allowed producers to sustain and feed their families. "This is why we have always respected this sacred leaf, which has been used by generations, something our elders left to us," Quisbet said. There are an estimated 100,000 coca farms in Bolivia where growing it is legal in parts of the country, and the buying and selling of coca leaves is a legal business in designated markets managed by the coca unions. (Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com) Despite registering a record number of COVID-19 cases in the United Kingdom, the Prime Minister Boris Johnson-led government has refused to invoke lockdown in the country. The negligence from Johnson comes when the country has reported the highest weekly spike in COVID infections since July with at least 44,985 new cases reported on Saturday, The Sydney Morning Herald reported. According to figures released by the health ministry, the cases now rose to 18% from last week. As per the tally, as many as 135 COVID-related deaths were reported in the nation within 28 days -- a surge of 12% as compared to the previous month. With this, the cumulative COVID fatalities in the UK now stand at 1,39,461. Meanwhile, the Conservative Party denied taking any steps to curb the spread of the virus. While addressing a press conference on Friday, Johnson ruled out any possibility of invoking strict restrictions in the country. It is to mention that the British government scientific advisers had urged the government to ensure coronavirus restrictions rapidly, as the rate of new infections continues to grow. No need to impose 'Plan B' According to the last meeting of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE), they repeatedly advised the government to invoke the restriction at the earliest, as per the Associated Press. The advisory group also suggested the government work on "Plan B" before the arrival of winter. However, Johnson's Conservative government said it may reimpose some restrictions as part of a fall and winter "Plan B" but not yet. Johnson, after visiting a vaccination centre in London on Friday, had said the current infection level was not outside the parameters of what was predicted. At the moment that we see absolutely nothing to indicate that thats on the cards at all, he had said. Johnson had lifted restrictions amid COVID surge The UK government had earlier planned to lift the lockdown on 11 June, however, it was deferred to 19 July, apprehending an abrupt increase in the COVID-19 cases due to the entry of the Delta variant. The government lifted domestic coronavirus restrictions, including mandatory face covering and social distancing. Nightclubs and other crowded venues were allowed to open at full capacity, and people were no longer advised to work from home, reported AP. Health experts raised eyebrows over the decision as the UK was going through a tough phase due to the delta variant when the announcement was made. However, the government paid no heed to the calls of various top health experts. (Image: AP/Unsplash) The United States imported tens of millions of used medical gloves from Bangkok during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, an investigation by CNN revealed. Migrant labourers in the outskirts of the Thai capital had been trying to clean and stuff used nitrile medical-grade gloves when the healthcare department auto raided the warehouse in December. As per the report, those 'blood-stained,' sub-standard gloves were being prepared to be shipped to the States in bulk. The disposable medical gloves have been in high demand and low in supply since the pandemic hit countries worldwide. Apart from the US, the second-hand gloves counterfeit were also shipped to different countries, the names of which were not mentioned. The inbound shipments to the US came after an American company pointed out to the Customs and Border Protection and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that it had received visibly soiled gloves from a Thai company, the CNN report stated. Despite the alert, the US registered import of tens of millions more gloves from Thailand until July. "There is an enormous amount of bad product coming in, an endless stream of filter second hand and substandard gloves coming into the US of which Federal authorities, as it seems, are now only beginning to understand the enormous scale," an industry expert Douglas Stein told CNN. The month-long probe also revealed that such shipments into the US were a result of FDA-approved suspension of import regulations at the peak of the pandemic. Soiled gloves and several other illicit trades of substandard medical products have posed potential threats to health workers. The nitrile gloves are the "most dangerous commodity on Earth right now," CNN quoted Stein as saying. Despite the reports of fraudulent imports, the US is yet to reopen border regulatory protocols. FDA assures about "steps" undertaken to ascertain standards of medical imports In August, the FDA directed seizure or imports of personal protective pieces of equipment from Thai companies. The order came at least eight months after the agency followed up on the complaints by the US entrepreneurs like Louis Ziskin of American company AirQueen. As reported by CNN, Ziskin spend $2.7 million on poor quality, used gloves that arrived from Paddy the Room in Thailand. He shortly alerted the FDA and CBP, however, without any immediate effects. Meanwhile, FDA has confirmed CNN that it had taken a "number of steps to find and stop" illicit imports of unapproved products. However, it refused to comment on the reports of the soiled gloves since criminal investigations are underway by US and Thai authorities. Image: Pixabay (representative) By Qiao Long Dai Zhichao's apartment is vandalized and the locks jammed with glue, preventing his family from getting back in. Chengdu police summon, question Early Rain Protestant preacher, who is forced from his home Authorities in the southwestern Chinese province of Sichuan have once more targeted members of the now-shuttered Early Rain Covenant Church in the provincial capital, Chengdu, RFA has learned. Church member Dai Zhichao was hauled in for questioning by local police on Sunday and held for around 10 hours, a church member said. His home was also raided by unidentified individuals who claimed they were collecting a "debt," then superglued his locks and cut off his electricity for several hours. "At around 7.00 a.m. on Sunday, the Christian day of rest, someone kicked down the front door of our brother Dai Zhichao of the Early Rain Covenant Church," a church member surnamed Li told RFA. "Someone kicked in the iron external door, spray-painted it, and blocked the lock [with glue]." "At around 10.00 a.m., the electricity was cut off, leaving him cowering at home," he said. "He was too terrified to open the door until very late," Li said. Dai later tried to take his family out, but was stopped by seven or eight state security police officers at the gates of his apartment complex, who accused him of being "anti-party and anti-government," after he took part in an online church service, according to the U.S.-based Christian rights group ChinaAid. They were then taken to the Hongpailou police station in Chengdu's Wuhou district, where they were held for 10 hours before being released. On returning home, they were unable to open their apartment door because of the glue, and were forced to stay at a friend's home, the report said. "Dai Zhichao is a preacher in the Early Rain Covenant Church," Li said. "He was [previously] detained by police for several months on suspicion of 'picking quarrels and stirring up trouble'." A church member surnamed Chen said the authorities have continually harassed church members since the initial raid that shut the original premises. "The persecution of pastors, colleagues and other church members has never stopped," Chen said. "It has escalated recently." "The state security police has forced some of our preachers and colleagues to move house, and local neighborhood security volunteers used all kinds of insulting language to force them to move out," he said. A church member who asked to remain anonymous said another church member, Jia Xuewei, is currently homeless. "If he tries to rent somewhere locally, his water and electricity get cut off by the landlord," the church member said. Another church member said Early Rain member Xiao Naobiao was recently held at the Hongpailou police station for six hours on suspicion of "organizing cult activities." Last month, officials and community enforcers in Chengdu issued eviction orders to a group operating under the aegis of the church, and detained one of them in a continuing crackdown on the unofficial Protestant group. The evictions attempts came after police detained several minors and jailed two church members following a raid on a gathering in Chengdu on Aug. 22. Meeting host Dai Zhichao and church member He Shan were sentenced at that time to 14 days' administrative detention, a sentence that can be handed down by a police-run committee without the need for a trial. On Dec. 30, 2019, the Chengdu Intermediate People's Court jailed Early Rain pastor Wang Yi for nine years, after finding him guilty of "incitement to subvert state power" and of "running an illegal business" in a secret trial. Wang, who founded the church, was detained by police in Sichuan's provincial capital Chengdu on Dec. 14, 2018, alongside dozens of church members in a raid that prompted an international outcry. Some Early Rain Covenant Church members who were detained in raids on Dec. 9 and 10, 2018, and later released said the police had beaten them, and one detainee described being tied to a chair and deprived of water and food for 24 hours, rights groups reported at the time. The ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP) under general secretary Xi Jinping regards Christianity as a dangerous foreign import, with party documents warning against the "infiltration of Western hostile forces" in the form of religion. The party, which embraces atheism, exercises tight controls over any form of religious practice among its citizens. State security police and religious affairs bureau officials frequently raid unofficial "house churches" that aren't members of the CCP-backed Three-Self Patriotic Association, although member churches have also been targeted at times. China is home to an estimated 68 million Protestants, of whom 23 million worship in state-affiliated churches under the aegis of the Three-Self Patriotic Association, and some nine million Catholics, the majority of whom are in state-sponsored organizations. Translated and edited by Luisetta Mudie. Very slowly and skillfully, but clearly, they are erasing the traces of Kim Il Sung, said a Pyongyang resident. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un gives field guidance for the construction of homes along the Potong River in downtown Pyongyang, North Korea in this file photo. A new luxury apartment complex built over the former residence of North Koreas founder Kim Il Sung is seen by citizens as an example of third-generation leader Kim Jong Un trying to erase parts of his grandfathers legacy, sources in the country told RFA. The cult of personality surrounding the Kim family has dominated North Korean culture for more than 50 years. The country is littered with monuments to Kim Jong Uns grandfather, who ruled from 1948-94, and father Kim Jong Il, who ruled from the elder Kims death in 1994 until he died in 2011. Portraits of the Communist worlds only hereditary leadership, both of whom enjoyed god-like status, adorn the walls of every building and home, and grand murals depicting their revolutionary exploits can be found in almost every major town and city in the country of 25 million people. Places they visited for a few hours many years ago still maintain shrines commemorating the occasion, but sources told RFAs Korean Service that the housing development going up on the national founders former residence was just one of many examples of Kim Jong Un de-emphasizing his grandfathers significance. Terraced houses are being built on the banks of the Potong River, and they are being touted as an example of modern development in the Kim Jong Un era, a Pyongyang resident told RFA Oct. 20. The new riverside apartments are under construction over the site of a former residence used by Kim Il Sung in the 1950s to 1970s, referred to as Mansion No. 5 by North Koreans. Many people find it difficult to understand why they are converting Kim Il Sungs long time residence into a high-end residential district, said the source, who requested anonymity for security reasons. South Korea-based Yonhap News reported that the site had been left vacant after it was destroyed in 2009 -- until they started to build the new luxury apartments. As far as I know, Mansion No. 5 was where Kim Il Sung lived the longest. He was there from the 1950s until he moved to Kumsusan Palace of the Sun in 1977, the source said, referring to the late national founders last residence, which was posthumously converted into a grand mausoleum to house his sacred remains. Mansion No. 5 is also historically significant, according to the source, because it was a rare example of a luxurious villa built in a scenic spot constructed before 1980, when North Korea was rebuilding after the destruction of the 1950-53 Korean War. Many people do not understand the idea of building luxury apartments over an important Kim Il Sung historical site, especially when the country builds monuments and museums on places where Kim Jong Il or Kim Jong Un merely briefly visited, the source said. I really wonder if it is more important to build apartments rather than other structures at this historic location, said the source. The current North Korean leader is not oblivious to the criticism over the project, and he addressed the controversy, according to the source. Kim Jong Un was concerned enough about public reaction, so he said, It is a pity that I cant show this place to the public by turning it into a revolutionary museum, after the media emphasized that it was a sacred historical site, said the source. But they are turning it into a luxurious residential site overlooking the Potong River, where some high-ranking officials loyal to Kim Jong Un will live. In this file photo, a woman and her daughter their respects at statues of North Korea founder Kim Il Sung (L) and late leader Kim Jong Il in Pyongyang, North Korea. Credit: Reuters The source also said Pyongyangs new general hospital has received similar criticism, because the massive structure obstructs sight lines between the revolutionary site Mansudae Hill, and the Workers Party Foundation Monument. The hammer, sickle and brush that make up the monument were intended to be visible from the hill across the Taedong River, where two 20-meter (21.8-yard) statues of Kim Il Sung and Kim Jong Un gaze upon the capital. As the hospital was built in the middle of the view, Pyongyangs scenery became meaningless, said the source. The terraced apartments built on the site of Mansion No. 5 are referred to as Kim Jong Uns exhaustive efforts for the people, but it is clear that its just an attempt to erase all traces of Kim Il Sung, said the source, who further explained that many in North Korea long for the days of his rule. Another source, also a resident of the capital, told RFA that military academies named after Kim Il Sungs extended family have curiously been renamed for important political figures not related to the Kim dynasty by blood. Kim Hyong Jik Military Medical University was renamed Yim Chun Chu Military Medical University, said the second source. Kim Hyong Jik was Kim Il Sungs father, while Yim Chun Chu was a guerilla who fought against Japans 1910-45 colonial occupation of the Korean peninsula and later North Koreas vice president. Academies named for Kim Il Sungs uncle Kim Hyong Gwon and brother Kim Chol Ju underwent similar changes, according to the second source, but those named after the national founder, and his first wife Kim Jong Suk, remain unchanged. This has not yet expanded to civilian society but if it does, the names of Kim Hyong Jik University of Education, Kim Chol Ju University of Education, and Kim Bo Hyon College [named after Kim Il Sungs grandfather] are likely to change soon, said the source. A few years ago, many people were puzzled when even the portraits of the three generals on the signboard at the main gate of the Mansudae Art Studio disappeared, the source said, referring to picture murals of Kim Jong Il as a child with his guerilla parents. A guide adjusts flowers under a mural showing former North Korean leader Kim Il Sung (seated); his son and successor Kim Jong Il as a child, and his first wife Kim Jong Suk, at the former ammunition factory visited by foreign reporters on a government organized tour in central Pyongyang, North Korea May 5, 2016. Credit: Reuters These types of changes point to a concerted effort by Kim Jong Un to de-emphasize the importance of his grandfather, according to the second source. It would be absolutely impossible to remove the name of the leaders family from these military academies or to remove their portraits without the permission of the supreme leader, the second source said. Very slowly and skillfully, but clearly, they are erasing the traces of Kim Il Sung. Normally, you would think that the grandson would not want to forget his father or grandfather, and strongly cultivate their legacies. It is really surprising and strange. Reported by Chang Gyu Ahn for RFAs Korean Service. Translated by Claire Lee. Written in English by Eugene Whong. A prominent Myanmar political activist is in critical condition after enduring torture at the hands of junta forces during his arrest over the weekend, his family told RFA. Kyaw Min Yu, better known by his alias Ko Jimmy, had been a staunch opponent of the Feb. 1 coup that deposed Myanmars democratically elected government and re-established military rule, only a decade after the feared army had partly receded to the barracks after five decades in control. His wife, Nilar Thein, told RFAs Myanmar Service that he had suffered a head injury during the arrest in Yangons North Dagon township Saturday. Weve learned that hes now at the military hospital and is in critical condition. Since the men who took him away were junta soldiers, we are expecting the worst-case scenario, she said. We have seen in the past that many people who were arrested either died or were left with serious lifelong trauma because they were severely tortured. We have prepared ourselves for everything, mentally as well, said Nilar Thein, vowing to hold the junta responsible for what transpires. The junta on Feb. 13 charged Ko Jimmy with using his popularity to spread defamatory remarks on his social media accounts Ko Jimmy was a leader of the so-called 88-generation, a group of students who led the August 1988 uprising against the previous military regime that had run Myanmar, then known as Burma, since 1962, running the economy into the ground and creating a pariah state. Their protests led to reforms that eventually ushered in a brief period of democratic rule that ended with this years coup. Junta spokesman Zaw Min Tun told RFA he was not able to comment on Ko Jimmys beatings or medical treatment. Prior to his recent arrest, Ko Jimmy was imprisoned from 1988 to 2005 for his political activities and again from 2007 to 2012, spending 21 years in prison. Ko Ko Gyi, another 88-generation leader who shared a cell with Ko Jimmy after the 1988 uprising, told RFA that Jimmy and his family were special figures in the pro-democracy movement in the nation of 54 million people. "I was very worried since I heard about his arrest. I also worry about his daughter. Throughout her life, she didnt have a chance to live together with both parents, he said. I am worried that she might have a deep trauma as she has had to grow up with her aunts and grandmothers, said Ko Ko Gyi. Zeyar Lwin, a student leader, told RFA he believed Ko Jimmy would recover. "Hes been familiar with prisons and made lots of sacrifices since 1988. He was imprisoned and away from his family and children for many years, said Zeyar Lwin But this time, he has to face not only prison but also torture. He will never betray any part of his cause because he has a strong will to oppose the dictatorship." The Thailand-based Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) released a statement Monday condemning the arrest and torture of Ko Jimmy. We have witnessed this illegitimate military junta arrest political activists and anyone against them in brutal crackdowns. Many have been shot dead or brutally tortured to death. It is clear, the military is unlawfully committing crime against civilians as they wish, the AAPP said. The NGO said that the junta would be responsible for whatever happens to Ko Jimmy and called on the international community to give protection to those who have been wrongfully detained. According to AAPP statistics, the junta has arrested, charged, or sentenced 7032 people, and has killed 1199 people since the Feb. 1 coup. Reported by RFAs Myanmar Service. Translated by Khin Maung Nyane. Written in English by Eugene Whong. Authorities have arrested 19 people allegedly involved in the separate attacks, including two who confessed. Relatives and fellow refugees prepare to bury the wrapped bodies of slain Rohingya at the Balukhali camp in Ukhia, Bangladesh, Oct. 23, 2021. Police suspect that the people who killed a Rohingya leader and six refugees in separate attacks at camps in southeastern Bangladesh belong to the same group, authorities said Monday but declined to name it, although victims relatives blamed Rohingya rebels. So far, police have arrested 19 suspects nine in connection with the Sept. 29 killing of Muhib Ullah, who was an internationally known activist, and 10 connected to the killing last week of six refugees at an Islamic boarding school in Coxs Bazar district, officials said. We suspect that the same group of people conducted the separate killing missions, Rafiqul Islam, the additional superintendent of police in Coxs Bazar, told BenarNews. We already collected the names, addresses, and other details of most attackers. Sharing the details about the group is not possible at this stage as we are investigating two cases in this regard separately, he said. Investigators suspect that both killing missions might be conducted by the same group of people, Naimul Haque, commanding officer of the Armed Police Battalion Unit-14, told a news conference Saturday. An eyewitness to Fridays pre-dawn attack had said that about 100 masked men, who were armed with machetes, sticks, and guns, carried out the killings at the madrassa in the Balukhali camp. Some of those who were slain had volunteered to help police patrol the camp at night and were sleeping at the Islamic school when the armed intruders burst in and killed them. It was the deadliest incident of violence at the sprawling Rohingya camps near the Myanmar border in Coxs Bazar in recent memory. A few weeks earlier, at the Kutupalong camp, a group of gunmen burst into the office of the Arakan Rohingya Society for Peace and Human Rights (ARSPH), which Ullah headed, and shot him dead. Since Ullahs killing, police have arrested nearly 86 refugees, including many suspected of involvement with illegal weapons and drugs, Haque said. We have tightened security in the refugee camps since the murder of Muhib Ullah. Police are patrolling there regularly. But, amid the strict security, a group carried out a killing mission at the madrassa, Md Hasanuzzaman, superintendent of police for Coxs Bazar district, told BenarNews, an RFA-affiliated online news service, describing the incident on Oct. 22 as an isolated one. Rafiqul Islam, meanwhile, said that the density of the camps played a factor in the suspects ability to pull off the attack. The killers were successful in carrying out their killing mission because of the congested area inside the refugee camps, he said. We are working to bring the killers to trial. No criminal will be able to flee after doing any crime in the refugee camps. More than 40,000 refugees are crammed into each square kilometer at the camps in the southeast more than 40 times the average density of Bangladeshs population, according to the U.N. refugee agency UNHCR. About 1 million Rohingya live in the camps in and around Coxs Bazar. These include 740,000 Rohingya who fled to Bangladesh after the Burmese military launched a brutal offensive in retaliation for deadly raids by the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) on government outposts in Rakhine state in August 2017. Ullahs brother as well as relatives of the six people killed last week have blamed ARSA for the fatal attacks, but police have denied allegations that the group has a foothold in Bangladesh. ARSA, on its official Twitter account, denied responsibility and blamed what it called ARSA 2.0, a criminal gang that is responsible for many crimes in refugee camps & beyond. On Saturday, police alleged that 19 people participated in the killing of Ullah, who had represented his community in international meetings, including at the United Nations and the White House. Officers also arrested four suspects that day, including one who confessed to the killing, officials said. The confession is the second by a suspect in the crime. Two-minute attack Haque released details about the attack based on the ongoing investigation. A five-member killer group took just two minutes to assassinate popular Rohingya leader Muhib Ullah at his ARSPH office on Sept. 29, he said. The suspects allegedly held a planning meeting two days before Ullah was shot four times, Haque said, adding that they allegedly targeted him because he became an important figure through his efforts to return the Rohingya to their homes across the border in Myanmar. Meanwhile, the father of one of the six people killed at the madrassa filed a case Saturday night with the Ukhia Police Station against 25 named and 250 unnamed people. Ten people have been arrested and linked to the case filed by Nurul Islam, whose son, Azizul Haque, was killed, Ahmed Sanjur Morshed, the chief of the Ukhia police, told BenarNews. Reported by BenarNews, an RFA-affiliated online news service. Myanmar may refuse to send an official invited by ASEAN in place of the junta leader. Myanmar's national flag (center) appears with flags of other ASEAN member countries in Bangkok in a file photo. ASEAN begins a summit this week amid uncertainty over Myanmars participation after the regional bloc barred the Burmese junta chief from attending and Naypyidaw threatened to skip the meeting. Myanmars military government said Monday that it had not decided whether to send a senior diplomat invited by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations to the meeting as the countrys non-political representative, in place of Min Aung Hlaing, the senior general who led a coup that toppled an elected government on Feb. 1. ASEAN invited the Permanent Secretary of the junta-appointed Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a spokesman for the military government confirmed. But many Burmese criticized ASEAN via social media for inviting the diplomat, saying he was most definitely not a non-political representative. Such summits are supposed to be attended by heads of state or government only, Zaw Min Tun, the juntas spokesman, told Radio Free Asia (RFA), a BenarNews sister entity. As we have said, this is an infringement of ASEAN rules and regulations and [its] non-interference policy. We believe that this degrades our countrys position and sovereignty. So we are not sure if we will attend the summit. The ASEAN summit, which opens Tuesday and runs through Thursday, will be held virtually due to concerns about COVID-19. At a special meeting earlier this month, ASEAN foreign ministers barred Min Aung Hlaing from the summit after the blocs special envoy to Myanmar said no progress had been made on ASEANs five-point roadmap to putting the country back on a path to peace and democracy. Min Aung Hlaing led the coup that toppled the National League for Democracy (NLD) government, which had won elections decisively in November 2020. The regional bloc said it would instead invite a non-political representative from Myanmar to the summit. However, many Burmese on social media said that the Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was not a non-political representative because he held that position at the ministry appointed by the junta. Its totally disappointing ASEAN has invited permanent secretary of SACs MOFA as non-political representative for Myanmar, said Robert Minn, whose bio says he is a member of the youth wing of the NLD. He was referring to the State Administration Council, the official name for the junta. For its part, the junta said that ASEAN was violating its charter. The invitation to a non-political representative is not in line with [the] ASEAN Charter, ASEAN procedures and precedent, the SAC-appointed foreign ministry said in a statement posted on Facebook. Myanmar would be pursuing the due processes under the ASEAN Charter and the Protocol to the ASEAN Charter on Dispute Settlement Mechanisms in resolving the differences on Myanmars representation at the ASEAN Meetings. Last Friday, the Burmese foreign ministry also said that the matter of participation at the summits was deliberately linked with the domestic affairs of Myanmar. The statement was alluding to ASEANs principle of non-interference in member-states domestic affairs, a founding principle of the 54-year-old bloc in addition to one about its 10 member-states taking all decisions by consensus. While ASEAN has not revealed what issues would be discussed at the summit, the situation in post-coup Myanmar will most certainly be on the agenda. Close to 1,200 people most of them pro-democracy protesters have been killed by Burmese security forces since the coup. On Friday, Tom Andrews, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Myanmar, told the U.N. General Assembly that he feared even more mass atrocity crimes because the Burmese junta had been moving tens of thousands of troops and weaponry to the north and northwest. Hassanal Bolkiah, the sultan of Brunei, attends the opening session of the 31st ASEAN Summit in Manila, Nov. 13, 2017. This week, Brunei will host the ASEAN summit. [Reuters] ASEAN Plus One Summits Brunei, the 2021 holder of the blocs rotating chair, will host the summit. Participants at the meeting will discuss the future direction of the bloc and its community-building efforts, its COVID-19 response and views on regional and international issues of common concern, the Malaysian foreign ministry said in a statement Monday. Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob and Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah will attend the summit, it added. The leaders of the ASEAN states will also take part in ASEAN Plus One summits with the leaders of the U.S., Australia, India, China, Japan, and South Korea, the statement said. ASEAN has inked free-trade agreements with these countries as part of efforts to strengthen the regions role in the global supply chain. Indonesia President Joko Jokowi Widodo will be attending the ASEAN and related summits, according to Retno Marsudi, Jakartas top diplomat. Jokowi is expected to attend 13 meetings and deliver a speech at the ASEAN business and investment summit (ABIS), she said. From the Philippines, President Rodrigo Duterte will also be attending the meetings, his spokesman Harry Roque told a news briefing Monday. As usual, these ASEAN summits are regular, Roque said when pressed about what issues the country would raise during the meeting. AUKUS Still, it will not be business as usual, according to Chester Cabalza, a political and defense analyst at International Development and Security Cooperation, a Manila think-tank. It seems that the regional bloc is starting to redefine its relevance and role in the changing global security [scenario], Cabalza told BenarNews, adding that the change was welcome. Indeed, this ASEAN summit will be the blocs first high-level meeting since the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia announced a new pact, called AUKUS, under which Washington and London will provide Canberra with the technology for building nuclear-powered submarines. AUKUS has divided ASEAN. Some members have welcomed it, others not. The Philippines and Singapore said AUKUS would help restore a regional imbalance and lead to stability in Southeast Asia. Malaysia and Indonesia, however, warned that AUKUS may spur a regional arms race. The new pact had rendered ASEAN irrelevant and the bloc was to blame for that, some analysts told BenarNews last month. The fact that it cannot resolve the South China Sea issue, cant even get China to agree to the Code of Conduct after 20 years It shows that ASEAN cant be taken seriously based on its historical track record, James Chin, an academic at Tasmania University, told BenarNews at the time. Reported by BenarNews, an RFA-affiliated online news service. Observers say the move would hand more power to the military, which already controls 25 percent of parliament. Myanmars junta-appointed Union Election Commission (UEC) has announced plans to change the countrys election rules from a winner-takes-all model to one of proportional representation (PR), drawing criticism from observers who say the military is manipulating the political system to retain power. The UEC sent a letter to all political parties last week informing them that a meeting will be held in Myanmars largest city Yangon during the first week of November to discuss the electoral system ahead of the countrys next general ballot. In August, junta leader Snr. Gen. Min Aung Hlaing said that there will be no new elections in Myanmar until 2023 at the earliest, and a date has yet to be announced. Under a system of proportional representation, winners are declared according to all votes cast, rather than a plurality or simple majority. According to Myanmars 2008 constitution, the military is already assured 25 percent of the seats in each legislature, and a PR system would likely give it even greater control over the countrys laws. The announcement follows a meeting about the use of the PR system between the UEC and 51 political parties in the capital Naypyidaw on Feb. 28only weeks after the military seized power from the countrys democratically elected National League for Democracy (NLD) government in a coup. Most of the parties that attended the meeting were pro-military. Repeated attempts by RFAs Myanmar Service to contact the UEC for comment on plans for the new system went unanswered. Speaking to RFA, Kyaw Htwe, a Pyithu Hluttaw member representing the NLD in Naypyidaws Zabu Thiri township, said the PR system does not reflects the aspirations of the people. According to their plan, the number of elected representatives in the elections will be reduced, and the military will have the upper hand by holding on to 25 percent of the vote without the consent of the people, he said. They are scheming to form a government of their choice, hoping to include some representatives who will say yes to whatever they say. The main purpose is not to let the NLD get a chance to form a government in accordance with the people's will. Kyaw Htwe said that any process carried out by the military in violation of the 2008 constitution, which was drafted by the military itself, is illegal. Get out of politics Nearly nine months after the militarys Feb. 1 coup, security forces have killed 1,199 civilians and arrested at least 7,032, 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. Junta Deputy Information Minister Zaw Min Tun noted that it was civilian politicians, not the military, who initially introduced the PR system in Myanmar. Currently, the UEC is working on a PR system. I think it will be adopted as there are supporters, he told RFA. We are researching how to do it. It is not yet possible to say how it will be done. It will be carried out within the bounds of the 2008 Constitutionthe PR system cannot be applied to everything. I think things will become clearer after we hold discussions. Asked about allegations that the military is trying to manipulate the system to gain more political influence, Zaw Min Tun refused to comment. Sai Leik, vice-chairman of the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy, told RFA that although the military had extended an invitation to next weeks meeting, his party would not attend. Regardless of whether it is the PR system or the winner-takes-all system, the military needs to get out of politics, he said. We chose our candidates to contest the elections but the [military] automatically got 25 percent of the vote without running in the elections. That is an obstacle to democracy. If they want to go on like this, with an automatic 25 percent of seats, there wont be much benefit for the people no matter what system is used. Reported by RFAs Myanmar Service. Translated by Khin Maung Nyane. Written in English by Joshua Lipes. Chinese tourists must show only negative COVID tests, while Tibetan travelers are often barred from entry. Tourists from China are pouring into Tibets capital Lhasa in large numbers despite a surge in COVID-19 cases in Chinese provinces that has seen authorities ban tourism in areas outside Tibet, sources in the region say. A spike last week in COVID cases in 11 Chinese provinces has led Chinas Ministry of Culture and Tourism to announce tightened restrictions on travel into worst-hit areas, with tourism entirely suspended in some locations, government sources said. Tibets regional capital Lhasa is still left open to tourism, however, sources in the city told RFA in recent interviews. There is a huge number of Chinese tourists at the moment in Lhasa, one source said, speaking on condition of anonymity. The Barkhor [old town] area is especially full of Chinese tourists, who are taking pictures everywhere. Its frightening to see such large crowds here when the pandemic hasnt ended yet, he said. Occasional large-scale protests against Chinas rule have left Tibets capital city often barred for entry to Tibetans coming from outside, with pilgrims and other travelers required to show permits in order to visit, another source said. And yet, despite the climb in COVID cases, Lhasa has been flooded with Chinese tourists, he said. In the Tibet Autonomous Region, government employees, students, and retired state workers are banned from making religious visits to the Potala Palace, the former residence of exiled spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, the source said. But one can see that Chinese tourists are free to visit these religious places. These acts by the [ruling] Chinese Communist Party violate Chinas official commitment to religious freedom, he said. Lhasas famous Jokhang Temple, located in the citys center, is also open to Chinese tourists, said another Tibetan source, adding that Chinese tourists are now flocking to Tibets historic capital city. But they are only being asked to show negative COVID test results, he said. Taking extra precautions Chinese tourists visiting northwestern Chinas Qinghai province, part of Tibets historic Amdo region, have recently tested positive for COVID, the source said. So Tibetans have been taking extra precautions and are avoiding the places where those tourists usually go, he said. Kumbum monastery in Qinghais Tsoshar (in Chinese, Haidong) Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture has been temporarily closed to visitors because of an increase in COVID cases in the region, the source said. Local Tibetans are being very cautious right now, but the Chinese government doesnt appear to be taking the pandemic very seriously. For instance, schools in this area are still open in spite of these surges in COVID cases. A formerly independent nation, Tibet was invaded and incorporated into China by force nearly 70 years ago, and the Dalai Lama and thousands of his followers fled into exile in India and other countries around the world following a failed 1959 national uprising against Chinese rule. Chinese authorities maintain a tight grip on the region, restricting Tibetans political activities and peaceful expression of cultural and religious identity, and subjecting Tibetans to persecution, torture, imprisonment, and extrajudicial killings. Reported by Sangyal Kunchok and Taring Tenzin Norbu for RFAs Tibetan Service. Translated by Tenzin Dickyi. Written in English by Richard Finney. Ilham Tohti is serving a life sentence for separatism for his work to end discrimination against Uyghurs. Ilham Tohti, an outspoken scholar from China's Turkic Uighur ethnic minority, speaks during an interview at his home in Beijing, in Feb. 4, 2013 file photo. Supporters of jailed Uyghur academic Ilham Tohti marked his 52nd birthday Monday with calls for his release from a life sentence for separatism he received for his advocacy work in northwestern Chinas Xinjiang region. An economist at the Central University for Nationalities in Beijing, Tohti has won numerous international human rights awards for his non-violent campaign for equal rights for the 12 million Uyghurs. He was jailed seven years ago last month, and his family says it no longer know his whereabouts. His imprisonment is a clear indication of the true genocidal intent of the Chinese regime as they have first attacked Uyghur intellectuals and societal leaders, said the Campaign for Uyghurs (CFU), a U.S.-based advocacy group. "As is the case for millions of Uyghurs who are detained, tortured, and killed without cause, we must make clear that there can be no cooperation while the Chinese authorities continue to engage in criminal behavior and to carry out active genocide," said CFU Executive Director Rushan Abbas. "While they continue to perpetuate the sham that China has the rule of law, it is clear that this is not the case, she said in a statement. The repression of the Uyghurs has gotten progressively worse since Tohtis conviction on separatism following a two-day trial at the Urumqi Intermediate Court on Sept. 23, 2014. China has held up to 1.8 million Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities in a network of detention camps since 2017. Beijing says the camps are vocational training centers set up to fight extremism among Uyghurs and has denied documented allegations that it has mistreated Muslims living in Xinjiang, but camp survivors and former guards have described widespread abuses in interviews with RFA and others. Incommunicado for five years Other abuses against members of the 12-million-strong Uyghur population include torture, sexual assaults, forced abortions and the sterilization of detained Uyghur women, and efforts to reduce population growth in the region thorough birth control and population transfer policies. As international awareness of the situation in Xinjiang has grown, the United States and the legislatures in several European countries have deemed the treatment of Uyghurs and others as constituting genocide and crimes against humanity. Many have called for a boycott next Februarys Beijing Olympics. As Beijing is slated to host the 2022 Winter Olympics in spite of the international outcry, it is preposterous that China would be treated as an equal in the international community while continuing to jail Professor Tohti and deny him basic rights, the CFU said. The Germany-based Ilham Tohti Initiative commemorated their namesakes birthday with a panel discussion and social media events designed to salute the Uyghur scholars' engagement for the right of his people, the group said. The international community has no official information about his whereabouts and health conditions, and his wife has not been able to see him at least for the last five consecutive years, the group said in a statement. The combination of reduced visits, denial of communication, gag orders, and family reprisals, have been carefully engineered to punish the Uyghur scholar with degrading treatment and psychological torture, while at the same time keeping the attention on his plight from the outside world to a minimum, it said. Tohti ran the Uyghur Online website, formerly at uyghurbiz.net, set up in 2006, which drew attention to the discrimination facing Uyghurs under Beijings rule over Xinjiang, as authorities tried to assimilate the ethnic group by restricting religious practices and use of the Uyghur language. The Chinese government shut down the website several times prior to Tohtis formal arrest in January 2014, citing the politically sensitive nature of its content. Tohtis daughter, Jewher Ilham, told RFA last month, on the seventh anniversary of his life sentence, that her family doesnt know whether authorities have kept her father in the same prison during the past seven years or moved him. Would he have chosen the same path of human rights advocacy if he knew what he was going to face? Yes, I know he would do the same over again and again! He would never stop peacefully fighting for our people, the Uyghurs! she said in a tweet for her fathers birthday. Tohti has received more than 10 international human rights awards since his sentencing, including the Martin Ennals Award for Human Rights Defenders in 2016 and the Sakharov Award for Freedom of Thought in 2019. He also was nominated for the Norwegian Nobel Committees Peace Prize in 2020. Translated by Alim Seytoff. Written in English by Paul Eckert. Former US envoy Ted Osius discusses his efforts to turn former war foes into friends. The disputed South China Sea features prominently in the relationship between Vietnam and the United States, and bullying by China of its neighbor helped deepen relations, the former U.S. ambassador to Hanoi has revealed. In fact, even in my very first meeting with President Truong Tan Sang when I presented my credentials, we talked about the importance of the South China Sea, said Ted Osius, who is now president and CEO of the U.S.-ASEAN Business Council, a trade promotion group. Pretty much every meeting with Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and later Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, we also talked about the South China Sea; so did President Tran Dai Quang and the Communist Party General Secretary (Nguyen Phu Trong), he told RFA in an interview. In his new book, Nothing is Impossible: Americas Reconciliation with Vietnam (Rutgers University Press, 2021), Osius serves up a vivid first-hand account of the development of Vietnam-U.S. relations in the last quarter century. In his opinion, the critical turning point that made the Hanoi leadership realize that they needed new strategic partners was in May 2014, when China moved a large oil rig to the waters near the Paracel Islands which Vietnam and China both claim in the South China Sea. The incident led to an unprecedented wave of anti-China protests in Vietnam and was seen by many as one of the most serious developments in long-running territorial disputes between the two countries. It alerted Vietnams leaders to the fact that China was going to continue a pattern of bullying, Osius said. Those in Vietnam who were hesitant to embrace the United States became more open to the possibility of having a close relationship with the United States, he added. Since then, military cooperation between Hanoi and Washington has expanded greatly and U.S. Navy has held regular joint activities, including port calls, with Vietnamese partners. Osius, who was ambassador in Hanoi from 2014-2017, told RFA that his new book is not a policy book but much more, as I believe reconciliation is about people. So it's a set of stories about people and mainly the people who took great risks and were very brave to turn United States and Vietnam from enemies into friends. And I tell stories about what it was like in the early years when I first went to Vietnam, just after normalization and how welcome I felt in the country then, he said. US President Donald Trump (R) meets with Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc at the White House in Washington, DC, May 31, 2017. Credit: AFP Nothing is Impossible The formal normalization of diplomatic relations between the two countries was only announced in 1995 under President Bill Clinton, 20 years after the end of the Vietnam War. A year before that, in Feb. 1994, the U.S. lifted its decades-old trade embargo on Vietnam. I think the transition in our relationship is quite phenomenal. I call the book Nothing is Impossible because Pete Peterson, who was the first U.S. ambassador to Vietnam and a former prisoner of war, on the 20th anniversary of diplomatic relations stood up and said: You know, in U.S.-Vietnam relations, nothing is impossible! Osius explained. When Vice President Kamala Harris visited Hanoi in August, there were talks about upgrading the bilateral relationship to a so-called strategic partnership, which Vietnam has with a number of countries deemed very important in terms of security and economic development. The strategic partnership was not announced during the visit, yet we already have a strategic partnership, argued Osius. It just doesn't have that name, and I think that's OK I actually think there's been a lot of trust that has developed over the years. But leaders of Vietnam are careful as they have to strike a balance - they've got a very powerful neighbor to the north who they have to keep good relations with, he explained. In an apparent reference to then President Donald Trumps decision to withdraw from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement in 2017, Osius said: I think we made a mistake and actually damaged trust somewhat because many Vietnamese leaders had taken great risks for Vietnam to join that trade agreement, and then we kind of pulled the rug out from under them. The veteran diplomat, who served as ambassador under both Obama and Trump, resigned from the foreign service in 2017 after falling out with the Trump administration over a plan to deport thousands of refugees who fled Vietnam after the war. In his new book, Osius didnt hide his criticism of Trump, who he described as untruthful and erratic. President Trump showed no interest, he wasn't even interested in five minutes of briefing before his meeting with Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc in May 2017, according to the former ambassador. I think it was disrespectful to the Prime Minister of Vietnam. In President Trump's worldview, it's all transaction and it's the worldview of a person who has been involved in real estate deals his whole life and who does not invest in relationships. Ted Osius, with his spouse Clayton Bond and their children, in an undated photo. Credit: Ted Osius Patchy record on rights Osius described how Trump made a ridiculous joke about the Vietnamese PM Phucs name and said nothing could have prepared him for the meeting which was very, very strange. Diplomacy is about building trust and showing respect, investing in relationships and doing things together - it's not just about money and power. In my view, one president did not understand that. Trumps policies, Osius said, made it difficult to "press the Vietnamese about human rights," which were the hardest issues that I dealt with as ambassador. Vietnam has constantly been criticized for severe restrictions on freedom of expression, religious freedom and civil society. Vice President Kamala Harris said during her recent visit she raised human rights concerns, including the release of imprisoned dissidents in meetings with Vietnamese leaders. Hanoi always denies that there are political prisoners in the country, saying people are only detained for violating laws. I started by being super clear about what we were looking for. I carry in my shirt pocket all the time a little card. It was Americas asks on human rights, and there were names on that card, said Osius. Every six months we would refresh that card with a top list of names, top list of requests. We were urging the release of certain people who had spoken out to express their own views, and I was frustrated at times because I would call for the release of somebody and then more people would be put in jail. There were activists who were beaten up, there were people who blogged and then were put in jail for expressing their views, he recalled. I raised those issues all the time, and sometimes I was successful and some people were released, and sometimes I was not successful. So the record was mixed. Osius admitted he was never a big fan of exile when a prisoner of conscience gets released and goes in exile to the United States. I don't think that's the solution at all, because those people who are brave enough to speak out on behalf of their nation should stay in Vietnam and continue to work for society to improve, he said. Osius said , however, that looking at the long-term changes in Vietnam, the trajectory is good, and people have much more freedoms these days than before. I think the society will only improve if leaders are able to hear criticism from members of society, to have a free exchange of views and it won't destabilize the country. That's my very strong belief that Vietnam can withstand internal criticism and can come out stronger. During his visit to Ashgabat, Kazakh President Qasym-Zhomart Toqaev said he discussed the issue of border delimitation, ways to bolster economic ties, and regional security with his Turkmen counterpart. The talks were held on October 25, the second and last day of Toqaevs official visit to the Turkmen capital, Ashgabat. Speaking after his meeting with President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov, Toqaev told reporters that the sides signed a number of important documents related to the delimitation of the land border between the two Central Asian nations and their fishing zones in the Caspian Sea, among other things. The more than 450-kilometer border between Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan became an international frontier in 1991 following the collapse of the Soviet Union. The two former Soviet republics ratified a treaty on the delimitation and demarcation process in 2001. There are potentials for boosting trade and economic ties between the two former Soviet republics, Toqaev also said. The Kazakh president said he and Berdymukhammedov thoroughly discussed the situation in Afghanistan and agreed that the ongoing close cooperation to strengthen stability and security in this long-suffering country must continue." With reporting by Kazinform and KazTAG The top U.S. envoy on Iran says talks to revive the moribund the 2015 nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers are at a critical phase, warning that Iran may be engaging in delaying tactics to advance its nuclear program. Rob Malley made the comments on October 25 as the top European diplomat coordinating international talks to revive the agreement is set to meet with his Iranian counterpart in Brussels this week for discussions on restarting the negotiations over the accord. Speaking after a weeklong trip to European and Gulf Arab nations, Malley told reporters that the window of opportunity to negotiate a return to the Iran nuclear deal will not be open forever." "At some point, the JCPOA will have been so eroded because Iran would have made advances that cannot be reversed," Malley said, referring to the deal formally called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. Former President Donald Trump pulled the United States out of the international accord in 2018 and reimposed harsh sanctions, despite Irans compliance with the deal. In response, Tehran has gradually breached limits imposed by the pact, including on uranium enrichment, refining it to higher purity, and installing advanced centrifuges. President Joe Biden came to office offering to revive the deal, but six rounds of indirect talks with Iran in Vienna that began in April failed to reach agreement. The talks were paused in June after Iran's presidential election that brought hard-liner Ebrahim Raisi to power. The main sticking points center around Tehrans demand for a broad lifting of U.S. sanctions and technical details about how Tehran will return to compliance. In recent months, there have been repeated delays as EU mediators and Iran discuss the terms of a return to negotiations, but no concrete date has been agreed. While time is running thin for Iran and the United States to resume compliance, Malley stressed that the Washington is interested in diplomacy even as it has other options to prevent Tehran from acquiring a nuclear weapon. Meanwhile, Irans top nuclear negotiator Ali Bagheri Kani tweeted that he will be in Brussels on October 27 "to continue our talks on result-oriented negotiations." Iran is determined to engage in negotiations that would remove unlawful and cruel sanctions in a full and effective manner, secure normalization of trade and economic relations with Iran, and provide credible guarantees for no further reneging (by the United States), he also wrote. EU spokesman Peter Stano said the meeting would involve EU envoy Enrique Mora, who visited Tehran earlier this month to push Iran to restart full negotiations. With reporting by AFP and Reuters Russian authorities say four people were injured after a gas explosion destroyed six apartments in a five-floor residential building in the city of Naberezhnye Chelny. The Ministry of Emergency Situations branch in the Republic of Tatarstan, about 1,000 kilometers east of Moscow, said that 32 people were evacuated. Video footage showed that the roof and part of two upper floors had collapsed. The rubble damaged neighboring buildings and vehicles parked nearby. The Investigative Committee has opened a case into the incident. Naberezhnye Chelny is Tatarstans second-largest city. Gas explosions occur with some frequency in Russia due to aging pipelines and infrastructure, as well as lax safety standards. In September, seven people were killed when an explosion destroyed three floors in a nine-story residential building in Noginsk, just outside of the capital. Ukraine on October 29 sold its first commercial shipment of gas to neighboring Moldova, which says it has been driven to the brink by Moscow's decision to abruptly raise its price. Moldova declared a state of emergency last week after its gas contract with Russias state-controlled Gazprom, the largest supplier of natural gas to Europe, expired at the end of last month, and the two sides failed to agree on details of a new long-term deal. Russia has been threatening to cut off the gas supply to the impoverished ex-Soviet republic at the end of the year if the existing gas contract is not extended by then. Ukraine's state energy firm Naftogaz said on October 29 that it had won a tender to supply 500,000 cubic meters of gas to Moldovan state company Energocom. It would also participate in future tenders. "Naftogaz is ready to supply the required volumes of gas to Moldova," the Ukrainian company said in a statement, giving no information on the price of the agreed deal. Gazprom has extended the contract with Moldova to the end of October, while raising the price to $790 per cubic meters from $550 last month. The price rise prompted criticism from the European Union, which said that Russia was "weaponizing" gas supplies. Brussels offered Moldova, one of Europe's poorest countries, 60 million euros ($70 million) in emergency aid on October 27. Moldova's Energocom said this week it had also bought one million cubic meters (mcm) of gas from Polish company PGNiG. The government has said it plans to buy around 5 mcm of gas by the end of the month. Some observers say Moscow has boosted prices as reprisals against Moldova for electing pro-Western President Maia Sandu last year and rejecting Russia-backed incumbent Igor Dodon. Russia rejects the accusations, saying the hike is purely commercial, reflecting global markets. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell told a news conference on October 27 in Brussels that "in the case of Moldova, it's a sharp (price) increase which was related with political problems, which requires our support.". "In global terms the price increases around the world are not a consequence of weaponization of the gas supply, but in the case of Moldova, yes it is," Borrell said alongside Moldova's Prime Minister Natalia Gavrilita. Gavrilita highlighted the importance of EU support for Moldova. "We believe that the next few weeks are crucial and we think that Moldova's friends should help us to get alternative supplies," Gavrilita said. The Kremlin said on October 29 that Gazprom is open to discussions and seeking solutions in the gas talks with Moldova, although a second day of negotiations in St Petersburg ended the previous day without an agreement. https://moldova.europalibera.org/a/gazprom-negocieri-progrese-gavrilita/31534866.html In Berlin, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on October 29 that Germany is observing the gas dispute between Moldova and Russia with "concern." Russia has repeatedly been criticized for setting prices according to a country's political allegiance. Belarus, a close Moscow ally, recently negotiated a significantly lower price for 2022. MOSCOW -- Noted Russian journalist Sergei Reznik, who specializes in anti-corruption investigations, has been added to the Interior Ministrys wanted list. Reznik's name was added to the wanted list over the weekend, local media reported. He is thought to be living outside of Russia. No details for his placement on the list were provided, though some media reports cited law enforcement sources as saying that Reznik is wanted for the alleged "justification of Nazism." The accusation stems from unspecified social-media posts that appeared on accounts suspected of being connected to him, they added. In 2013, Reznik, who is from the Rostov region, was sentenced to 18 months in prison on charges of bribery and publicly insulting an official representative of the authorities. Later, he was sentenced to another 18 months in prison after a court found him guilty of false denunciation. Reznik maintained his innocence and continued to work as an investigative journalist after serving the prison terms. He says that a total of seven criminal cases have been opened against him with all of the alleged victims being prosecutors, judges, or police officials. He also claims that over the past year, 15 statements from people in the Krasnodar region were submitted to the police and the prosecutor's office against him and three of his colleagues. With reporting by TASS and Interfax Microsoft says the Russia-backed hacking group behind last years massive SolarWinds cyberattacks on U.S. government agencies and other institutions continues to target the global technology supply chain. In a blog post dated October 24, the tech giant said that Russian nation-state actor Nobelium has been attacking cloud service resellers and other technology service providers in hopes to piggyback on their access to their downstream customers. Resellers are intermediaries between software and hardware makers and product users. This recent activity is another indicator that Russia is trying to gain long-term, systematic access to a variety of points in the technology supply chain and establish a mechanism for surveilling now or in the future targets of interest to the Russian government, Microsoft said. Since the attacks were first noticed in May, 140 resellers and technology service providers were targeted, with as many as 14 believed to have been compromised, Microsoft said. These attacks continued with a larger wave over the summer, impacting 609 customers with a success rate in the low single digits. Fortunately, we have discovered this campaign during its early stages, and we are sharing these developments to help cloud service resellers, technology providers, and their customers take timely steps to help ensure Nobelium is not more successful, Microsoft said. The New York Times quoted a senior administration official as saying the latest attacks were unsophisticated, run-of-the mill operations that could have been prevented if the cloud service providers had implemented baseline cybersecurity practices. Earlier this month Microsoft said in a report that Nobelium was responsible a majority of all nation-state cyberattacks over the past year. Most of the attacks targeted governments, nongovernmental organizations, and think tanks in the United States, Ukraine, and Britain. The White House previously blamed the SolarWinds attack on Russias SVR foreign intelligence agency, which managed to use Nobelium to go undetected for most of 2020 as the hackers compromised several federal agencies. The Russian government has denied any involvement. TBILISI -- A lawyer for former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili says his client's state of health has worsened dramatically and intensive care physicians had to interfere overnight to perform resuscitation assistance as the politician enters his 25th day of a hunger strike. Dito Sadzaglishvili said on October 25 that Saakashvili may need resuscitation assistance again given his current condition. "[The situation] confirms what the Concilium of physicians said earlier in their recommendation, concluding that [Georgia's] third president is entering the phase of his hunger strike where a sharp decline in health can take place any time. Therefore, possible immediate medical interference will be on the agenda," Sadzaglishvili said. Five days earlier, Sadzaglishvili said his client had consented to medical intervention while vowing to continue his protest. On October 19, a group of doctors recommended prison administrators transfer Saakashvili to a hospital for observation after visiting him behind bars. Saakashvili was arrested on October 1 hours after he announced he had returned to Georgia following an eight-year absence. He immediately went on a hunger strike, while his arrest triggered a protest by tens of thousands of his supporters in Tbilisi. The 53-year-old has said his incarceration for what Georgian law enforcement agencies called illegally crossing the border was politically motivated. Saakashvilis detention in a prison in Rustavi has deepened a protracted political crisis in Georgia. Dozens of European lawmakers and other current and former politicians have called for his release. Saakashvili served as the South Caucasus country's president from 2004 and 2013. He was sentenced in 2018 in absentia to a total of nine years in prison after being convicted of abuse of power in two separate cases. The ex-president has rejected all charges as politically motivated. KAZAN, Russia -- Lawmakers in Tatarstan have voted against a bill initiated in Russia's lower chamber of parliament -- the State Duma -- that would abort the title of president currently held by the head of the Russian autonomous republic. The bill put forward late last month by a group of State Duma lawmakers proposed among other things to replace the title of president or regional administrations with the more generic title of "head." The measure would only affect Tatar President Rustam Minnikhanov since a 2010 law has already banned the use of the title of president by the heads of Russia's autonomous republics -- with only Tatarstan preserving the right to call its leader "president." Albert Khabibullin, a member of the Tatarstan State Council, said on October 25 that 82 out of the regional legislature members voted to reject the Duma bill on grounds that it would violate the constitution of the Russian Federation. Angry protests against water shortages and deteriorating economic conditions in Iran have spread to the streets of Tehran, as demonstrators in the capital openly display discontent with the country's Islamic leadership by chanting "Death to the dictator." RFE/RL's Radio Farda cited videos and text posted on social media that indicate a protest rally was staged during the morning of July 26 on Jomhuri Islami Avenue in central Tehran. Tehran's Deputy Governor Hamidreza Goodarzi confirmed that the protest had taken place on July 26. He said the reason for the demonstration was the "lack of electricity." But RFE/RL reports that the Tehran demonstrators also expressed support for protesters in Khuzestan and other Iranian cities who have staged defiant rallies since July 15 over water shortages. In one video from Tehran, protesters expressed discontent with the conservative Islamic clerics who control political life in Iran -- chanting: "Cannons, tanks, fireworks, mullahs must go." In other videos, young demonstrators chanted "Shame on Khamenei, your country" and "Let go!" -- referring to Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Still, others chanted: "Neither Gaza nor Lebanon, I sacrifice my life for Iran." That slogan has been chanted for decades by those who oppose the Iranian government's policies of providing financial aid and weapons to Palestinian militant groups and Hizballah fighters in Lebanon. Iran is facing its worst drought in at least 50 years -- a natural event that has been exacerbated by poor water management policies, which have hurt agriculture and left reservoirs in the country with little water. The loss of electricity from hydroelectric dams has also contributed to weeks of power blackouts in parts of Iran. The spread of protests to Tehran also comes as Iran struggles through another wave of the coronavirus pandemic and the economy continues to suffer under strict U.S. sanctions. Thousands of workers in Iran's oil industry have also launched strikes for better wages and working conditions. Since protests against water shortages began on July 15 in Khuzestan and spread to other towns and cities, at least five demonstrators have been shot dead across Iran. Human Rights Watch (HRW) says the deaths were the result of apparent "excessive force" by Iranian authorities. HRW has urged Iranian authorities to "transparently" investigate the reported deaths and hold those responsible to account. The U.S.-based nongovernmental rights group says Iranian officials also should "urgently address long-standing grievances on access to water in the country." "Iranian authorities have a very troubling record of responding with bullets to protesters frustrated with mounting economic difficulties and deteriorating living conditions," said Tara Sepehri Far, an Iran researcher at HRW. With reporting by Reuters and IRIB Internet users in the tightly controlled Central Asian nation of Turkmenistan say they are being forced to swear on the Koran that they will not use virtual private networks (VPNs). Several Internet users across the extremely isolated former Soviet republic told RFE/RL that they were instructed by the authorities to swear on the holy book of Muslims that they will never use VPNs after they applied for an Internet connection in their homes. VPNs are illegal in Turkmenistan but are widely used to circumvent government restrictions on the Internet. "I waited for a year and a half after I filled all necessary documents and signed application forms asking to install WiFi in my home. Now they say I must swear on the Koran that I will not use a VPN, but nothing is accessible without VPNs. I do not know what to do," an Internet user who introduced herself as Ainur told RFE/RL on August 9. A local RFE/RL correspondent reported that an officer of the Ministry of National Security was demanding that every Internet user swear on the Koran that they would not use VPNs. For years, the authorities in Turkmenistan have blocked numerous websites -- including Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, as well as sites offering VPN services -- and have arrested people who installed such services on their mobile phones. Turkmenistan is one of the world's worst countries in terms of Internet censorship, along with Belarus, China, Iran, North Korea, and Syria, according to a report published last week by Comparitech, a website that provides information on cybersecurity and privacy online. The European Union has disbursed 600 million euros ($696 million) in macro-financial assistance to Ukraine as part of a program to limit the economic fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic. This is the second and final tranche under Ukraine's current MFA program following the first 600-million-euro disbursement in December 2020, the European Commission said on October 25. The outstanding amount of loans to Ukraine under multiple macro-financial assistance programs now totals 4.4 billion euros. Today's disbursement of 600 million euros brings to 4.4 billion euros the total amount that the EU has loaned to Ukraine in macro-financial assistance. These payments are not only tangible proof of our solidarity with the Ukrainian people, but also a reflection of Ukraine having continued to meet the crucial reform commitments agreed with the International Monetary Fund and the Commission, EU Commissioner for the Economy Paolo Gentiloni said. The EC said it gave a positive assessment of Ukraines implementation of eight reforms, including on public finance management, governance and rule of law, and improving the business climate. The latest disbursement is part of 3 billion euros in emergency macro-financial assistance for ten enlargement and neighborhood partners to help them with the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Other countries receiving support from the program include Armenia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Georgia, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, and North Macedonia. The program is a concrete demonstration of the EU's solidarity with its partners to help respond to the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Commission said. The preliminary results of Uzbekistans presidential election have been announced and, to no ones surprise, incumbent President Shavkat Mirziyoev has won another five-year term in office. Though he won easily, the official turnout and Mirziyoev's share of the vote were both lower than when he won a snap vote five years ago, with 80.4 percent of the electorate voting (87.7 percent in 2016) and Mirziyoev garnering 80.1 percent of the ballots (90.29 percent in 2016). During the months leading up to the presidential election, aspects of Mirziyoevs rule looked more like the paranoid authoritarian policies of his predecessor -- first Uzbek President Islam Karimov -- than those of a so-called "reformer." And Mirziyoevs credentials as a reformer -- as he styled himself when he first took office -- will be under greater scrutiny as he begins his second term in office. Mirziyoev said during his first term that he was not against the opposition taking part in elections, yet three different opposition parties tried to register but all were denied registration and subjected to pressure the moment they made public their intentions to run candidates in the presidential election. And no effort was made by Mirziyoev's government prior to the recent presidential election or the 2019 parliamentary elections to annul a 2008 law that prohibits independent candidates from running in elections. A preliminary report by observers from the OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights noted that such electoral reforms as were introduced ahead of the October 24 presidential election in Uzbekistan have not yet resulted in a genuinely pluralistic environment and that remaining restrictions on fundamental freedoms and the right to stand [for election] continue to run counter to OSCE commitments. Even among the five parties that competed in this recent presidential election, only Mirziyoev and possibly National Revival Party candidate Alisher Qodirov were widely known in Uzbekistan, the latter for his provocative statements about expelling homosexuals from Uzbekistan and taxing remittances from migrant workers. Though Maksuda Vorisova of the Peoples Democratic Party of Uzbekistan -- the Communist Party during the Soviet era -- surprisingly finished second in the election with 6.6 percent of the vote. She was the only woman in this election. Many of the hundreds of thousands of migrant laborers abroad who were eligible to vote admitted they had never heard of the other three candidates Vorisova, Bahrom Abduhalimov of the Adolat (Justice) party, and Nazrullo Oblomuradov of the Ecological Party. So Mirziyoevs victory was very similar to Karimovs reelections, despite Mirziyoev campaigning on the slogan of him creating a new Uzbekistan. What Lies Ahead? Mirziyoevs popularity is based on the image he has cultivated as a friend of the people, someone who understands their problems and vows to act to improve their lives. That has been enough to inspire hope in many Uzbeks since Karimov all too often seemed unconcerned with the plight of his countrys people and was angered when they complained. But Mirziyoevs reformer image is already starting to fade. He made so many promises during his first term in office -- many of which are still unfulfilled -- and made many more on the campaign trail for his second term. One of his greatest challenges in the coming five years will be to strike a balance between "mosque and state." Mirziyoev has criticized Karimov's excesses of the past that saw thousands of adherent Muslims imprisoned, in many cases simply because their piety aroused the suspicion of authorities. Mirziyoev ordered many of those imprisoned on religious grounds under Karimov to be released, and he has reached out to those who might have gone astray and joined extremist groups that are outside of Uzbekistan -- saying that if they repented they could return home without facing punishment. Mirziyoev has been careful not to mention Karimovs name in all of this, since Mirziyoev was Karimovs prime minister from 2003 to 2016 and bears a certain degree of responsibility repressing Muslims. Mirziyoev also dropped the ban on women wearing the hijab in public as sign of the Uzbek governments new religious tolerance and he successfully courted support from some influential Muslims inside Uzbekistan. But this could come at a cost. One such individual is Abror Abduazimov, who works at the Center for Islamic Civilization in Tashkent and writes a conservative blog under the name Abror Mukhtor Ali. He has, for example, posted about the artwork of great painting masters such as Leonardo da Vinci or Rembrandt and said they are alien to Uzbeks. Ali and others have also made statements on the need for Islam to play a greater role in governing Uzbekistan and it seems in exchange for their support such calls have been ignored by the government. The ideas of someone like Ali would seem to be at odds with Mirziyoevs vision of a modern Uzbekistan -- and his alliance with conservative Islamic elements in the country are already being tested. With the Talibans seizure of Afghanistan there is suddenly a competing model of governance on Uzbekistans doorstep and there have been reports that Uzbek security forces have been rounding up suspected Islamists in recent weeks. The more Mirziyoev perceives such groups as a threat to his government, the closer he will come to a showdown with the conservative Islamic groups he has enlisted for support but who seem increasingly emboldened to say how they think the country should be run and how people should behave. Economic Gains? Mirziyoev said not long after he became president that the economy would be one of his priorities -- and he has seen some success on that front. He has opened the door to foreign investment and his moves to release high-profile political prisoners, devalue the official exchange rate of the national currency, and support greater regional connectivity have attracted new interest, particularly from Western companies and governments. But he has also run Uzbekistans foreign debt from almost nothing to a whopping $36 billion in just five years. Much of this money appears to have gone to construction, but for the construction of new buildings in the cities rather than to infrastructure projects where it is really needed for the benefit of the people. There are growing concerns about unannounced tenders for these projects and suspicions that people close to Mirziyoev are pocketing a lot of this money as contracts are dished out. Energy Problems Though Tashkent and other cities have increasingly more impressive buildings, gas pipelines and power transmission lines are decaying, as was evident last winter when there were severe heating and electricity problems throughout the country. Uzbekistan will need billions of more dollars to overhaul its domestic energy distribution network and construct the new power plants Mirziyoev has promised to build to ensure that all Uzbeks receive a steady supply of heat and electricity. And for the second straight year Mirziyoev has ordered a halt to natural-gas exports to redirect the gas for domestic use. That did not totally solve the energy problems last year and it is unlikely to solve the serious power issues this coming winter or possibly the year after that. Mirziyoevs popularity in his second term is likely to erode greatly if he cannot find a solution to these problems. The suspension of gas exports also means several billion dollars less in state coffers and the need for more international loans. One more factor that will be significant in the next five years is how much wealth and power Mirziyoevs inner circle can concentrate into their own hands. Tashkent Mayor Jahonghir Artykhojaev, Mirziyoevs sons-in-law Oybek Tursunov and Otabek Shahnov, and others are all profiting from their relationship with the president and will be loath to see him ever leave office. That could lead to Mirziyoev deciding not to leave office when his second -- and constitutionally last term in office -- expires. That is the big question as Uzbekistan moves through the next five years. Will Mirziyoev step down and pass the presidency to a chosen successor or choose to remain in office by changing the constitution -- or even by simply ignoring it? The one lesson everyone inside and outside Uzbekistan learned long ago -- and which was seen once again during the October 24 presidential election -- is that elections are clearly not a means for changing the country's leadership. RFE/RL's Uzbek Service, known locally as Ozodlik, contributed to this report. WASHINGTON -- A senior U.S. State Department official has warned Europe against bowing to Russian pressure and waiving the lengthy process needed to approve Nord Stream 2, a controversial Baltic Sea natural-gas pipeline to Germany. Amos Hochstein, a senior adviser for global energy security at the State Department, said that if Russia has more gas to ship to Europe to ease the continents supply crunch, it should do so through existing export pipeline infrastructure, including the ones that transit Ukraine. I don't think that we should, as a society of laws, the United States and Europe...be pushed into waiving restrictions, waiving the regulatory process and the legal process in order to satisfy a crisis that, to some degree, can be alleviated through other means and mechanisms, Hochstein told reporters on October 25. Europe is suffering from record high natural-gas prices amid a supply crunch caused by a series of factors, including low power generation in parts of Europe and China from renewable energy. Europe and China vie for liquefied natural gas exported by ship. Russia, the largest supplier of natural gas to Europe, is ready to ship additional volumes to Germany through the $11 billion Nord Stream 2, President Vladimir Putin said last week at an energy conference. German and European regulators must first approve the new pipeline, which was completed last month, before it can begin exporting Russian gas. Hochstein said the European approval process would not be finished before the start of March, when the continents temperatures traditionally begin to rise and its gas demand drops. That has pushed some in Europe to recommend fast tracking the Nord Stream 2 approval process to meet greater demand during the winter. However, Russia has the ability to ship more natural gas to Europe now via Ukraine, its traditional export route. Russia, though, is seeking to circumvent natural gas shipments around Ukraine as Kyiv looks to break from Moscows orbit and join the European Union. Russia exported almost 90 billion cubic meters (bcm) of gas through Ukraine in 2019 compared with an expected 40 bcm this year. Ukraine earns billions of dollars a year from Russian natural gas transit. The United States has called Nord Stream 2 a political project aimed at punishing Ukraine and had sought to block its completion. The Biden administration in May jettisoned the idea of further sanctioning the pipeline, saying Russia would complete it regardless of the economic penalties imposed. To help soften the blow to Ukraine from the launch of Nord Stream 2, the United States and Germany agreed to invest in the countrys alternative energy industry. Moscow is going into its most restrictive lockdown in over a year this week as coronavirus cases and deaths rise across Russia. And imprisoned Kremlin opponent Aleksei Navalny has won the Sakharov Prose for Freedom of Thought. Moscow-based journalist Matthew Luxmoore joins host Steve Gutterman to discuss. Sally Sutherland, winner of the Narrow River Preservation Association's (NRPA) 2021 W.E.R. La Farge Friend of the River Award, pictured with her award with Narrow River behind her. Also honored by NRPA were Barry Devine of North Kingstown and Rosemary and David Smith of Narragansett. Support local journalism Now, more than ever, the world needs trustworthy reportingbut good journalism isnt free. Please support us by making a contribution. Contribute Roanoke Rapids, NC (27870) Today Some sun in the morning with increasing clouds during the afternoon. High 54F. Winds light and variable.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies during the evening will give way to cloudy skies overnight. Low 34F. Winds light and variable. Saigon Investment spoke with Mr. Nguyen Sy Khanh, Chairman of the People's Committee of Nha Trang City, and asked his opinion on the various ways the city was planning to attract tourists back, and the measures taken for pandemic prevention. JOURNALIST: - Sir, how is Nha Trang City preparing to welcome back tourists? Mr. NGUYEN SY KHANH: - First of all, I must say that the strategy for attracting tourists to Nha Trang city is an overall strategy that will cover all of Khanh Hoa province. Nha Trang City in particular, has experienced measures for disease control during the last peak and severe outbreak. The City has developed strong procedures for periodic disease screening within the community. We also have detailed plans to handle crisis situations in case the disease re-emerges suddenly, so we will be able to avoid a passive and extreme situation. From the previous months experience, Nha Trang City in particular and Khanh Hoa province in general, have learnt lessons for future dire situations in preventing and fighting against the pandemic. The next point I want to emphasize is that Nha Trang City will resolutely handle problems that are pressing and inconvenient for tourists. Nha Trang City now has many hotlines, in wards as well as communes in the city, and as long as visitors follow these procedures, we are committed to responding to them quickly and promptly. Issues related to security and order have also been enhanced and afford guarantee against harassing and unfortunate incidents from occurring. Another very important fact is that Nha Trang City respects and appreciates the contribution of visitors, in order to continue to strengthen and maintain its own brand as a beautiful and safe destination. - Sir, the tourism industry has been deeply affected after so many months of lockdown, and tourist cities like Nha Trang have also been hit hard. In your opinion, what will be the challenges ahead in the recovery process? - In order to revive the tourism industry once again, it is necessary to lay a sustainable foundation. However, in my opinion, in addition to the support from the government and businesses, the support of the local people is also extremely important. Every citizen of Nha Trang City and Khanh Hoa province must act as a tourism ambassador. This is why Nha Trang City has now covered most of its population with the first dose of vaccine, with the rate of coverage being almost 100% for those over 18 years of age, and about 40% population has also received its second dose as well. This ensures the safety for locals and tourists alike. On the other hand, we also actively propagate to the people to understand the safe measures to adopt against the pandemic. When people, businesses, and authorities agree to be on the same page, there will be strong coordination in the same way that Khanh Hoa province was able to control and fight the pandemic. After many years experience in managing Nha Trang City in different positions, I also share the pain of the damage encountered in the past two years by businesses in the tourism industry. I think the challenge will generally lie in the fact that everyone will have to accept the current situation and find a way to adapt to ways to keep everyone safe from the pandemic. This may require a shift in pattern from earlier routines of way of life. For instance, when traveling, visitors may have to spend more time to follow disease prevention criteria, that may sometimes cause delays and discomfort. However, if businesses can find ways to compensate visitors later, these inconveniences will quickly be dispelled. I also advised ward and commune officials that even though the pandemic has been brought under control, they still have to maintain the same service quality as during the pandemic. This is to say, they must remain dedicated and do their best to work with businesses for the sake of economic recovery. Of course, these things need a specific action plan, and frequent monitoring, not simply discussing a few times. The welfare of the local people is also very important, and right from the beginning of the pandemic, Khanh Hoa province has implemented programs to support everyone, regardless of locality or nationality, if they are living in the province. - Sir, recently, there have been some bad reports in newspapers regarding some grassroots officials in Nha Trang City. What did you do to handle these incidents and salvage the good image of Nha Trang City? - During the pandemic, the workload was too heavy for all working within the system, even more than double the usual. People put in their best, but they were also under high stress and faced extreme exhaustion, hence such unfortunate incidents and anger outbursts were but natural. The view of the whole Khanh Hoa province is to strictly handle the behavior of officials and clear conflicts immediately. In reality, the conflicts that occurred were varied and need to be resolved, as all officials, especially grassroots officials, need to be calm and wise, and I have already given a lot of advice on this matter. During the pandemic, the hotline on Nha Trang City, and even on my own phone, received a lot of positive comments from people, not only from locals in Nha Trang but also intellectuals and entrepreneurs outside of Nha Trang, and some living and working in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi as well. There were acquaintances who called me to report problematic situations, and I told them to just report in the area and the matter would definitely be solved, as reality has proven. Many benefactors from afar have supported the pandemic prevention and control activities in Nha Trang, both morally and materialistically. Incidents cannot be completely avoided, but the key here, in my opinion, is the spirit of seeking, daring to listen, and officials willing to listen to people's opinions, even to harsh criticism. This way problems can be exposed and corrected immediately. - Thank you very much. Thai Ca Salem - Joanne E. (Roulier) Bomarsi, 81, of Salem, passed away Tuesday morning, November 16, 2021 in Peabody. Born in Salem, MA, Joanne was the daughter of the late Lionel E. and Alice (Frasier) Roulier. A graduate of the former St. Chretienne Academy in Salem, Joanne worked for many years a Be it career, love, finance, family, or any other issues, the answers are at your fingertips Pledging to report unauthorized entries into the United States and shame any state leaders who welcome them about 20 border security supporters assembled Saturday morning near Jamul. The group, including members of the Minuteman patrol movement, coordinated volunteers to watch designated border regions for 24 hours. Their vigil, starting at 9 a.m. Saturday, was meant to help federal officers, Minuteman leader Tim Donnelly said. By reporting unauthorized border crossings, the observers hope to help outnumbered border officers, Donnelly said. He is a Republican candidate for the 8th congressional district, which covers much of the desert area north of Imperial County. Advertisement The border-watching exercise was in part a reaction to the caravan of Central Americans who traveled through Mexico to enter the U.S. at the border between San Diego and Tijuana, said Donnelly, a former assemblyman. 1 / 18 A group of border security supporters put on their gear in preparation for heading to the U.S. - Mexican border to observe and report any signs of illegal immigration to the U.S. Border Patrol. (Hayne Palmour IV / San Diego Union-Tribune) 2 / 18 A border security supporter loads a shotgun into a vehicle before he and fellow supporters head to the U.S. - Mexican border to observe and report any signs of illegal immigration to the U.S. Border Patrol. (Hayne Palmour IV / San Diego Union-Tribune) 3 / 18 A helmet and other gear is placed on a table as a group of border security supporters prepare to go to the U.S. - Mexican border to observe and report any signs of illegal immigration to the U.S. Border Patrol. (Hayne Palmour IV / San Diego Union-Tribune) 4 / 18 A group of border security supporters gather for a briefing before they head to the U.S. - Mexican border to observe and report any signs of illegal immigration to the U.S. Border Patrol. (Hayne Palmour IV / San Diego Union-Tribune) 5 / 18 A border security supporter put on his gear in preparation for heading to the U.S. - Mexican border. (Hayne Palmour IV / San Diego Union-Tribune) 6 / 18 One member, center, speaks during a briefing before he and a group of border security supporters head to the U.S. - Mexican border to observe and report any signs of illegal immigration to the U.S. Border Patrol. (Hayne Palmour IV / San Diego Union-Tribune) 7 / 18 One member speaks during a briefing before he and a group of border security supporters head to the U.S. - Mexican border to observe and report any signs of illegal immigration to the U.S. Border Patrol. (Hayne Palmour IV / San Diego Union-Tribune) 8 / 18 A group of border security supporters gather for a briefing before they head to the U.S. - Mexican border to observe and report any signs of illegal immigration to the U.S. Border Patrol. (Hayne Palmour IV / San Diego Union-Tribune) 9 / 18 Tim Donnelly, who is a congressional candidate for the 8th Congressional District, speaks to a group of border security supporters as they gather for a briefing before heading to the U.S. - Mexican border to observe and report any signs of illegal immigration to the U.S. Border Patrol. (Hayne Palmour IV / San Diego Union-Tribune) 10 / 18 A group of border security supporters gather for a briefing before they head to the U.S. - Mexican border to observe and report any signs of illegal immigration to the U.S. Border Patrol. (Hayne Palmour IV / San Diego Union-Tribune) 11 / 18 Food and medical first aid items sit at the medics table as a group of border security supporters prepare to go to the U.S. - Mexican border to observe and report any signs of illegal immigration to the U.S. Border Patrol. (Hayne Palmour IV / San Diego Union-Tribune) 12 / 18 First aid items at the medics table as a group of border security supporters prepare to go to the U.S. - Mexican border to observe and report any signs of illegal immigration to the U.S. Border Patrol. (Hayne Palmour IV / San Diego Union-Tribune) 13 / 18 A group of border security supporters gather for a briefing before they head to the U.S. - Mexican border to observe and report any signs of illegal immigration to the U.S. Border Patrol. (Hayne Palmour IV / San Diego Union-Tribune) 14 / 18 Tim Donnelly, right, who is a congressional candidate for the 8th Congressional District, talks to a border security supporter before he and a group of other border security supporters head to the U.S. - Mexican border to observe and report any signs of illegal immigration to the U.S. Border Patrol. (Hayne Palmour IV / San Diego Union-Tribune) 15 / 18 Tim Donnelly, center, who is a congressional candidate for the 8th Congressional District, poses for pictures with a group of border security supporters before they head to the U.S. - Mexican border to observe and report any signs of illegal immigration to the U.S. Border Patrol. (Hayne Palmour IV / San Diego Union-Tribune) 16 / 18 A group of border security supporters carry their gear to their vehicles before heading to the U.S. - Mexican border. (Hayne Palmour IV / San Diego Union-Tribune) 17 / 18 A border security supporter stands next to his vehicle before he and fellow supporters head to the U.S. - Mexican border to observe and report any signs of illegal immigration to the U.S. Border Patrol. (Hayne Palmour IV / San Diego Union-Tribune) 18 / 18 The lead driver signals to fellow border security supporters as they line up their vehicles on Otay Lakes Road before heading to the U.S. - Mexican border to observe and report any signs of illegal immigration to the U.S. Border Patrol. (Hayne Palmour IV / San Diego Union-Tribune) It was also meant as a warning to Gov. Jerry Brown, who signed the California Values Act, which limits law enforcement in the state from certain kinds of cooperation with federal immigration officials. The law has been criticized as an effort to make California a sanctuary for unauthorized immigrants. My hope is that we will reignite the (Minuteman) movement and that people will again be aiding (border agents) for longer periods of time, longer musters, Donnelly said. The camouflage-dressed volunteers, wearing boots, bringing backpacks and other wilderness gear, were instructed on safety such as avoiding rattlesnakes before heading out from Pio Pico campground. Volunteers were told to avoid confrontations with border crossers if possible, and to help those in distress. There is no animus toward those who are crossing desperate, you know, to escape oppression, Donnelly said. But at the same time, among those people come through wolves, people who mean harm people like Luis Bracamontes, who was just recently sentenced to death here in California for executing two sheriffs deputies up in Sacramento. While expressing sympathy for plight of border crossers, Donnelly and others blasted Brown, who they said has violated his oath of office. This is not about waving American flags, Donnelly said. This is about actually securing the border and sending a message to the political authorities, to Jerry Brown. I dare Jerry Brown to come down and arrest me, because you might get arrested down here for being a tyrant, for being a traitor, for aiding and abetting illegal aliens and harboring them in violation of federal law, which is the supreme law of the land when it comes to immigration. Lisa Collins of Orange County said she had been a member of the Minuteman group since 2005, when illegal immigration surged. There were so many illegals that were coming across the border, and Im one that believes you cant complain about a subject unless youre willing to do something about it, Collins said. Supporter Ben Bergquam said he was there to show solidarity with the group, although not taking part in the border watch. He is co-founder and spokeman for the Fight Sanctuary State Movement. I represent the angel parents whove lost their loved ones to criminal illegal aliens that are protected by the lawless politicians like Jerry Brown, Berqguam said. The group is preparing to launch a statewide initiative to repeal Californias sanctuary state legislation, Bergquam said. Related reading All members of Central American caravan now in U.S. Posada without borders gets more meaning with refugee crisis Parents of woman shot at pier support strict immigration law 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. Dr. Ryan P. Smith, an associate professor of urology at the University of Virginia and specializing in male infertility, wrote in The Conversation that sperm quality has been declining for over 16 years, probably because of exposure to chemicals in the environment that causes imbalance to the hormone and adversely affects reproduction. Infertility in the US According to an article in the National Institutes of Health (NIH), nearly 1 out of 8 couples in the US struggle with infertility. Infertility is defined clinically as the failure to achieve pregnancy after one year of having unprotected intercourse. Studies show that 15% of couples are unable to conceive during their first year of unprotected sex, while 10% after two years. Dr. Smith wrote that doctors could not determine the cause of male infertility around 30% to 50% of the time, although it is usually related to congenital, acquired, or idiopathic factors. More so, many health conditions could affect male fertility that could be treated through lifestyle changes. The Decline in Male Fertility in the US Men usually undergo semen analysis to assess sperm count or the total number of sperm a man produces and to check the sperm concentration to the number of sperm per milliliter of semen. These are standard measures but do not necessarily predict fertility in men. The most reliable factor is measuring the total motile sperm count that evaluates the fraction of sperm that can swim and move. Researchers starting in the 1900s noticed a concerning trend of male fertility wherein they observed that it has been declining for decades. Dr. Smith cited a 1992 study, titled "Evidence for Decreasing Quality of Semen During Past 50 Years" published in the British Medical Journal, wherein researchers found a global 50% decline in sperm counts in men. Subsequent studies also confirmed the initial finding in which a 50% to 60% decline in sperm concentration was reported between 1973 and 2011 in men from around the world was reported. Dr. Smith said that these studies show that a proportion of men with an average total motile sperm count had declined by 10% in the past 16 years. That means men today produce lesser sperm than in the past and they are less healthy. ALSO READ: Sperm Memory Helps in Embryotic Transfer of Non-DNA Coded Traits What Caused the Decline in Sperm Quality? Scientists point to toxic environmental exposure that can alter the hormonal balance and throw off reproduction. Dr. Smith and other researchers looked at the chemicals in the environment to identify the specific chemicals that cause the male fertility decline. Multiple studies have shown that endocrine disrupters, such as phthalates, pesticides, herbicides, heavy metals, toxic gases, and other synthetic materials can disrupt the fragile hormonal balance of reproduction and adversely affects testosterone and semen health. Herbicides and pesticides that are usually found in the food supply are known to negatively affect fertility, according to a paper in Toxicology Letters. Moreover, studies have shown that air pollution that contains particulate matter can also contribute to abnormal sperm quality. Radiation exposure from laptops and gadgets is also associated with declining sperm count, impaired sperm motility, and odd sperm shape. These compounds can take a significant toll on physical and emotional health, and treating these harms is costly. RELATED ARTICLE: Congenital Heart Disease and Autism in Children Possibly Caused by Sperm Mutation in Older Men Check out more news and information on Medicine & Health in Science Times. For the next two weeks, Seattle Restaurant Week highlights the local dining scene with special $20 lunches, and dinner deals for $35 or $50. Once an annual promotion that highlighted only high-end restaurants, the current version shows off a wide variety of spots, cuisines, and price levels, from organic Afghan food in Tukwila to Eastside fine-dining. In expanding the format to include family-style meals and various budgets, as well as weekends, the promotion has evolved to embrace far more of Seattles food world, including small catering operators that do takeout, like Fremonts Soul, and inherently shared meals, as at Ethiopian restaurants like Kaffa and Delish. The Seattle Restaurant Week website also helps direct people to places fit to their own values, including Eat Local First, a designation showing off locally owned places that purchase ingredients from nearby, and Envirostars, for those businesses committed to increasing their positive environmental impact, wherever they are in that process. With so many options for a great meal and only 28 meals on which to use them (a lunch and a dinner each of the 14 days), we have a guide here to help you find the best meals, deals and hidden gems on the list. Great for a group dinner: Skalka Since opening almost two years ago, Skalka paired down their broad Eastern European cafe menu to a singular focus: khachapuri, the Instagram-famous doughy Georgian bread boats with savory fillings. The Restaurant Week menu follows suit, but lowers the price. For either two or five khachapuri, pay just $10 per boat (oddly, the $35 option still only buys you three). For $50 you can try one of each of the five filling options adjaruli with cheese, butter, and soft egg yolk; chicken; beans with bacon and chilies; stroganoff; and veggie. Courtesy of The Market via Yelp Best deal downtown: Market Seattle Restaurant Week offers the perfect opportunity to check out the brand-new outlet of Edmonds cult favorite lobster roll purveyor. The $50 dinner option gets you the famous sandwich, along with a dessert and your choice of appetizer from a menu that includes oysters, shrimp okonomiyaki, clam chowder, and halloumi cheese. Try a local favorite: Cafe Munir North Ballard residents already know this Lebanese spot as an easy place to take kids, a sweet date spot, and the place with the affordably fantastic whiskey list. The Restaurant Week menu makes an easy excuse to foray to this corner of the city and offers a road map to the restaurants seasonal gems. Choose three of their mezze, including the local pears in tahini and the roasted kabocha with caramelized onions, pine nuts, and crispy onions. For the main, pick the shish tawook to try their simple but excellent chicken skewers or the mudardara for a vegetarian rice and lentil dish. Buy dinner in pie form: Grayseas Pies Order ahead of time for the Tuesday pick up from this pop-up pie purveyor. Owner Gracie Santos bakes her Filipino heritage into a 5 mini dinner pot pie filled with chicken adobo and a 5 mini cassava langka pie for dessert, filled with yuca and jackfruit. Pick up happens at South Parks Tuesday night El Mercadito South Park Farmers Market. Clarisse L via Yelp Dine out, get a deal, and stay safe: Yoroshiku This Wallingford Japanese spot has one of the best COVID set ups, with divided outdoor mini-rooms for each group that shield from the weather and your neighboring diners. Plus, at dinner the $35 option offers three courses with the choice of sustainable bluefin tuna, wild mushrooms, or Wagyu beef as an appetizer, and any of nine ramens as a main including gluten-free and vegan bowls. The $50 upgrades to an additional ramen with both the Wagyu steak, bluefin tuna, and shaved black truffles. Get a little of everything: Karachi Cowboys The $35 dinner menu at this Texas-meets-the-subcontinent spot on Capitol Hill starts with their spiced popcorn and finishes with dessert, but instead of a main dish, diners pick a signature curry for their thali a dinner platter that also comes with housemade pickles, chutneys, lemon rice, papadum, and a stew. Gloria Jianmin M. via Yelp Travel the world in one meal: Nue The exception to the rule that any restaurant that seems like they are doing too many things probably is, Nue offers tastes of signature dishes from all over the world on a single menu. Their Restaurant Week menu highlights that, with the $35 menu starting in Ireland with colcannon, Beirut with hummus, or Syria with a kale and carrot salad. The second course travels to Trinidad for curried channa and aloo, Croatia for cevapi sausages, or Peru for pollo a la brasa. Dessert gives the option of Danish dream cake or Persian pistachio baghlava. Spice Bridge via Yelp Find something for everyone: Spice Bridge Tukwilas Spice Bridge Food Hall actually consists of a number of vendors, each running their own business, spearheaded by the Food Innovation Network. With five vendors participating in Restaurant Week, popping down with friends or family and picking up food from two or three different spots makes an excellent chance to try a few different meals. Since vendors rotate days at the four stalls, you cant quite try all five at once, but most days have two, three, or four working at the same time. Sample goat dibi with jollof rice and plantains or fish yassa with samosas from Afella Jollof Catering, or try chicken palm nut soup with fufu and drinks from Taste of Congo. Jazzes offers a dumpling meal for two, featuring their grass-fed beef mantu in tomato sauce and garlic yogurt, and comes with salad and drinks, while Moniques Hot Kitchen serves up a Kenyan mashed potato and greens dish called mukimo, in a meal that includes steamed cabbage and a choice of spicy beef or veggie samosa. Theary Cambodian rounds out the group with a big meal for two people that includes Khmer salad with tamarind dressing and chili oil paste, me ga tunk a noodle dish with chicken and egg and a combination plate that features coconut chicken, a stuffed chicken wing, and two meatballs, as well as a side of rice, Khmer vegetable pickles and fresh herbs. Currently Reading Alert: Sudanese officials say military forces have detained at least five senior government officials BOSTON (AP) Boston City Councilors Annissa Essaibi George and Michelle Wu clashed on everything from rent control to public transportation as they faced off Monday in a feisty, final televised debate of Bostons historic mayoral contest. Essaibi George repeatedly faulted Wu on a range of topics, from Wus support of rent stabilization to her call for a fare-free public transportation system. Wu, who has maintained a lead in a series of recent polls, defended those pledges while largely agreeing with Essaibi George on a handful of other issues, including the need for better, more affordable child care. The contest will make history with the winner whether Wu or Essaibi George becoming the first woman and first person of color to be elected mayor in the citys long history. Until now, Boston has only elected white men to the top political office. One flash point during the hourlong debate came during a discussion on the best way to respond to a tent city near the corner of Massachusetts Avenue and Melnea Cass Boulevard thats become the regions most visible symbol of the opioid epidemic, with many residents of the encampment struggling with addiction. On Monday, city officials began clearing the sprawling homeless camp. Essaibi George has called on the city to rebuild a bridge to a city-owned island to re-open a substance use recovery center there. The bridge to Long Island was demolished in 2015 after it was deemed unsafe. The neighboring city of Quincy has fought efforts to rebuild the bridge. Im not going to walk away from a battle with Quincy, Essaibi George said. It makes me wildly crazy that we have not helped people in crisis. Wu said rebuilding the bridge could take years and costs hundreds of millions money she said would be better spent helping those struggling with addiction and homelessness immediately. She has suggested creating a ferry service to the island and rehabbing city-owned properties to serve to offer housing and treatment. She said the city has to approach the problem through a public health lens. We cannot wait to take immediate action, she said. Both candidates said they would stick with a plan requiring all city workers be vaccinated and would continue a mask mandate in schools. They both also said they support pre-kindergarten education. The two clashed on how best to address Boston's soaring housing costs. Wu again said the city needs to introduce rent stabilization. Massachusetts voters backed a 1994 ballot question banning rent control statewide. Wu acknowledged she would need the help of state lawmakers to create a rent stabilization plan. Across the city in every neighborhood it is clear that housing in on peoples minds, she said. The status quo isnt working. Essaibi George said rent control is a failed policy and the city should focus on other programs like helping first-time homeowners come up with a down payment and bolstering public housing and affordable housing programs. It has been tried and it has failed, she said of rent control. We talk about the status quo? Rent control is the status quo. The two also disagreed on the best way to address the citys transportation and traffic woes. Essaibi George again criticized one of Wus centerpiece proposals a fare free public transit system. Wu said the proposal would help the citys economy, address climate change and help those who take the bus or subway to school or work. Essaibi George said the cost of the proposal is staggering and would fall on the backs of Boston residents. The hour-long debate came as Bostonians have already begun casting their ballots at early voting locations across the city. Early voting runs through Friday. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 2. The 36-year-old Wu, whose parents immigrated to the U.S. from Taiwan, grew up in Chicago and moved to Boston to attend Harvard University and Harvard Law School. Essaibi George, 47, a lifelong Boston resident, describes herself as a first-generation Arab-Polish American. The citys previous elected mayor Democrat Marty Walsh stepped down earlier this year to become U.S. Secretary of Labor under President Joe Biden. Walsh was replaced on an acting basis by Kim Janey, who was sworn in March 24 as Bostons first female and first Black mayor. Janey ran for mayor but failed to be one of the two top vote-getters during last months preliminary election. The winning candidate will be sworn in Nov. 16, just two weeks after the election. PORTLAND, Maine (AP) A type of whale that is one of the rarest marine mammals in the world lost nearly 10% of its population last year, a group of scientists and ocean life advocates said on Monday. The North Atlantic right whale numbered only 366 in 2019, and its population fell to 336 in 2020, the North Atlantic Right Whale Consortium said. The estimate is the lowest number in nearly two decades. Right whales were once abundant in the waters off New England, but were decimated during the commercial whaling era due to their high concentrations of oil. They have been listed as endangered by the U.S. government for more than half a century. The whales have suffered high mortality and poor reproduction in some recent years. There were more than 480 of the animals as recently as 2011. They're vulnerable to fatal entanglement in fishing gear and collisions with large ships, and even when they survive, they often emerge less fit and less able to feed and mate, said Scott Kraus, chair of the consortium. "No one engaged in right whale work believes that the species cannot recover from this. They absolutely can, if we stop killing them and allow them to allocate energy to finding food, mates and habitats that arent marred with deadly obstacles, Kraus said. The whales feed and mate off New England and Canada. They then travel hundreds of miles in the fall to calving grounds off Georgia and Florida before returning north in the spring. The whale consortium was founded in the mid-1980s by a group of science institutions including the New England Aquarium and today includes dozens of members from academia, industry, government and elsewhere. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the arm of the federal government that monitors and regulates ocean issues, cautioned that the group's estimate is preliminary and has not yet been peer reviewed. However, the agency shares the consortium's concern about the loss of right whales, said Allison Ferreira, a spokesperson for the agency. North Atlantic right whales are one of the most imperiled species on the planet, and the latest estimate shows that the substantial downward trajectory of right whale abundance documented over the last decade continues, Ferreira said. The whales, which can weight 135,000 pounds (61,235 kilos) have been a focus of conservationists for generations. Recently, efforts to save the whales have resulted in new restrictions on U.S. lobster fishing, and pushback from the fishing industry about those new rules. The rules are designed to reduce the number of rope lines that link buoys to lobster and crab traps, and went into effect this year. However, the rules also resulted in a flurry of lawsuits, and a federal judge ruled this month that fishermen can continue to fish until further notice in an area off the coast of Maine that had been slated for restriction from their gear. LONDON, Ky. (AP) A federal jury last week found a former Kentucky teacher guilty of producing child pornography and cyberstalking the student he victimized, the Lexington Herald-Leader reported. According to an account of events from the U.S. Attorney's Office in London, in 2018 Charles Evans Hall persuaded the child to set up a secret Snapchat account to send him sexually explicit pictures and videos. The 48-year-old Hall, who taught at Letcher Middle School in Letcher County, also physically molested the minor. When former President Bill Clinton was treated for sepsis earlier this month, it put a spotlight on a common illness not often discussed. But it's one that can endanger the heart. It is technically not a specific condition, but a syndrome that has defied easy categorization in the past. The official definition according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is "the body's extreme response to an infection." Unofficially, it's "a common process by which infections kill you," said Dr. Henry Wang, professor and vice chair for research in the department of emergency medicine at the Ohio State University in Columbus. Most cases can be blamed on bacteria. But viruses, including the flu and the virus that causes COVID-19, also can spark it, as can fungal infections. All infections, Wang said, "can make the body overreact and can make the body very irritable and inflamed. And those toxins end up in your bloodstream and start to poison all the organs of the body." That means sepsis is entwined with the cardiovascular system and can endanger the heart, sometimes years after a person has been ill. "For example, a common thing that happens when you get an infection is that the blood vessels dilate," Wang said. "That's an overreaction to the invasion of the infection in the bloodstream. And because of that, your blood pressure drops." The body then struggles to deliver adequate blood and oxygen to vital organs. Sepsis also damages the lining of the blood vessels, Wang said, making the person susceptible to blood clots and causing other problems that are "big players in heart disease," such as inflammation. Wang's research published in the journal Clinical Infectious Diseases suggests people hospitalized for sepsis were twice as likely to have or die from a future coronary heart disease event such as a heart attack as people without a history of sepsis. That risk remained elevated for at least four years. Other research in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine shows 10% to 40% of people with sepsis end up developing a type of irregular heartbeat called atrial fibrillation. According to the CDC, at least 1.7 million U.S. adults develop sepsis yearly, and nearly 270,000 die as a result. Clinton who has had multiple heart procedures, including bypass surgery spent several days at a California hospital for sepsis that developed after a urinary tract infection, according to news reports. His is not the only famous case. Sepsis was the cause of death for Muppet creator Jim Henson, Pope John Paul II and actress Tanya Roberts. Actress Whoopi Goldberg said it nearly killed her in 2019. Sepsis may be especially dangerous for people with heart failure, where the heart does not pump properly. A study in the Journal of the American Heart Association found sepsis may account for almost a quarter of deaths in people with heart failure who have reduced heart pumping function. It carries long-term effects, Wang said. "We're realizing that there's a whole sepsis survivor syndrome that's been completely underrecognized in our field." Impaired brain function can be one serious after-effect, said Wang, whose sepsis work has drawn on data from a large study called REGARDS that was originally designed to study the occurrence of stroke. He led a study published in Critical Care Medicine that found the rate of cognitive decline accelerates about sevenfold after experiencing sepsis. Doctors continue to struggle in spotting the signs of sepsis, which can include a high heart rate or low blood pressure; confusion or disorientation; extreme pain; fever; and shortness of breath. But recent experiments using artificial intelligence have helped to spot the problem earlier. Better understanding who's at risk also could help, Wang said. People 65 and older, people with weakened immune systems, and people with chronic conditions such as diabetes and cancer are at higher risk for sepsis, the CDC says. Wang said people with kidney problems and vascular disease also have a higher risk, as do people with conditions that make them prone to blood clots. His work has linked obesity to sepsis risk, too. For something so common, it doesn't get a lot of attention, Wang said. "We could probably save thousands of lives a year and really improve the lives and quality of life for all the survivors if we dedicate a lot more attention to this condition." If you have questions or comments about this story, please email editor@heart.org. Copyright is owned or held by the American Heart Association, Inc., and all rights are reserved. Permission is granted, at no cost and without need for further request, for individuals, media outlets, and non-commercial education and awareness efforts to link to, quote, excerpt or reprint from these stories in any medium as long as no text is altered and proper attribution is made to American Heart Association News. Other uses, including educational products or services sold for profit, must comply with the American Heart Associations Copyright Permission Guidelines. See full terms of use. These stories may not be used to promote or endorse a commercial product or service. HEALTH CARE DISCLAIMER: This site and its services do not constitute the practice of medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always talk to your health care provider for diagnosis and treatment, including your specific medical needs. If you have or suspect that you have a medical problem or condition, please contact a qualified health care professional immediately. If you are in the United States and experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 or call for emergency medical help immediately. 400tmax/Getty Images/iStockphoto SEATTLE (AP) A strong Pacific storm system that triggered mud flows in wildfire-scarred areas of California also slammed the Washington state and Oregon Sunday, threatening coastal flooding and causing power outages affecting tens of thousands of people in the Pacific Northwest. Two people were killed when a tree fell on a vehicle in the Seattle area. Eastside Fire & Rescue responded to the scene of the fatalaties near Preston, Washington, which is about 25 miles east of Seattle. MERRIMACK, N.H. (AP) Hundreds of people gathered for a candlelight vigil held Sunday for a young boy from New Hampshire who went missing a month ago and was recently found dead. The vigil was held in remembrance of 5-year-old Elijah Lewis, whose remains were located by authorities Saturday in a wooded location in Massachusetts, according to the Nashua Telegraph. Authorities confirmed the body found Saturday was Lewis. Open vs Closed Automation Systems This is quite probably the most important decision to make when planning for your laboratory system. An open system is an automation line on which both the software and hardware can incorporate all types of analyzers, and different makes of pre- and post-analytical instrumentation. For an open system you purchase the track separately and then custom build your system based on your laboratory requirements. The major advantage of this is that it gives the laboratory the freedom to pick and choose the instrumentation for the automation line as well as giving a large amount of flexibility in track layout and design. Some vendors form partnerships with external track suppliers and are able to offer the track as part of an arranged agreement with the laboratory. The disadvantage of an open system is that it requires significant work and validation on the behalf of the laboratory to determine which instruments and track system to include. A closed system is usually a pre-defined package of instrumentation and automation lines from a specific vendor. This may include other manufacturers equipment but this will be specified and chosen by the vendor. The hardware and software in a closed system is designed to be specific to the vendors analyzers which can make incorporation of an outside instrument extremely difficult, if not impossible. Closed systems do not offer the flexibility of open systems and are more difficult and costly to modify, however the major advantages of installing them are that they are organized by the vendor, they are complete systems, and they are ready to use upon installation. Figure 1: Sysmex HST-N Total Hematology Automation System Continuous Flow & Batch Processing Sample flow through a laboratory takes one of two forms in a fully automated laboratory. In batch processing, samples are prepared for processing by pre-analytical integrated instruments, then in high-throughput laboratories, large numbers of specimens will be racked-up and transported to instrument starting points. Batch processing offers the advantage of allowing laboratories to be efficient with QC and reagents. A disadvantage of batch processing is that it is necessary to take numerous aliquots at the pre-analytical stage leading to potential problems with sample retrieval and quality management. Figure 2: Cobas 8100 Intelligent Automated Workflow Series, Roche Diagnostics Continuous flow systems allow single patient specimens to be placed on a continuously moving conveyor belt which stops at all analyzers necessary for the appropriate tests to be performed. These systems are becoming increasingly popular for the enhanced workflow efficiency that they offer; from a LEAN perspective, continuous flow provides consistent flow of process eliminating wasteful steps and the potential for error. Figure 3: Aptio Automation, Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Watch video: Workflow IVD Solutions Premiered at AACC 2015 - Franz Walt, President, Laboratory Diagnostics at Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics, discusses the latest developments in clinical workflow solutions at the AACC 2015 Clinical Lab Expo. Pre-Analytical & Post Analytical Pre-analytical refers to the preparation of specimens prior to processing and can vary considerably depending on the type of laboratory and the sample types being handled. The method of processing will depend on whether a continuous flow or batch processing approach is being used. Integrated instruments which de-cap, centrifuge, sort and aliquot samples are available. There are instruments available which are capable of interfacing with both continuous flow and batch processing automation. Figure 4: Power Processor Sample Handling System, Beckman Coulter Download case study: Lean Lab Chooses Beckman Coulters Power Express: Driving Peak Performance - This case study explains why the Community Regional Medical Center in the US chose the Power Express automation solution to aid their laboratory, optimizing and reducing time spent on pre-analytical processes. Alternatively, modular components can be utilized to perform de-capping, centrifugation and aliquoting processes as part of the continuous automation line. Figure 5: VersaCell System, Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics The last approach is to perform pre-analytical tasks manually however this really should be avoided. Manual de-capping and aliquoting in particular can cause carpal tunnel injury and are repetitive tasks for staff. Post-analytical instrumentation requires removal of samples to a holding area or stockyard from which it may be retrieved if additional testing is required. Exit robots vary in their capabilities; some sort samples for distribution to other laboratories, some have a refrigeration unit, and others have aliquot modules. The type of instrument that you require will depend very much on your further testing requirements. Figure 6: Sysmex XN-9000 Sorting & Archiving, Sysmex Europe. This article is being shared by a partner in The Granite State News Collaborative. For more information visit collaborativenh.org. 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. Beth Van Schaack, a Stanford law professor and longtime human rights advocate, has been nominated by President Biden to become the State Departments top official on international criminal justice and war crimes, potentially enabling her to reverse Trump administration policies she has strongly criticized. Van Schaack, who teaches courses in international law and formerly directed Stanfords Human Rights and Conflict Resolution Clinic, was nominated last week as the departments ambassador at large for the Office of Global Criminal Justice, where she served as deputy director under President Barack Obama. She is also a former executive director of the Center for Justice and Accountability, a San Francisco nonprofit that represents torture victims, and previously worked in the office of an international war crimes prosecutor. The State Department position, formerly titled ambassador at large for war crimes, was established in the 1990s in response to mass killings in Rwanda and the former Yugoslavia. Former President Donald Trump left the position vacant for several years, filling it in early 2020, the last year of his presidency. Shortly afterward, he imposed sanctions on the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Fatou Bensouda, and a top aide for investigating possible war crimes by the United States in Afghanistan and by Israel in the West Bank and Gaza. The sanctions barred Americans from conducting any transactions with the two officials. Van Schaack denounced the action in January, 2 months before Biden withdrew the sanctions. The United States is not a member of the International Criminal Court, but on many issues its absolutely aligned with the work of the ICC, even while it may disagree with the courts approach to Afghanistan and Israel, van Schaack said in an interview with JusticeInfo.net on Jan. 19, Trumps last day in office. The U.S. government can manage those issues without alienating the entire institution, and U.S. allies that are supportive of the court, in the way the Trump administration did with that executive order, she said. In international relations policy, she said, the Trump administration has undermined multilateral institutions, alienated allies and embraced autocrats. ... There is a lot that needs to be repaired. After the release in 2014 of a redacted Senate report on U.S. torture of prisoners at Guantanamo and other overseas locations, Van Schaack told The Chronicle that the government should release the full report and do something for the detainees. Cant we find a way to pay reparations to those individuals who were seriously mistreated in our custody, she asked. Could we not issue a formal apology? Asked Monday about her nomination and plans for the office if shes confirmed, Van Schaack (who pronounces her name van skack) said she would decline to comment while awaiting Senate confirmation. She said in a Twitter post that she was honored to be chosen to help shape the United States' policy toward atrocities prevention and response. 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. Van Schaacks combination of scholarly expertise and past policy experience is unmatched, said a Stanford colleague, Allen Weiner, director of the schools program in international and comparative law. Weiner said he hopes Van Schaack and the Biden administration return to the Obama-era policy of pragmatic engagement with the International Criminal Court and support investigations into serious violations of international humanitarian law. I personally would favor a more general policy of support for the ICC, Weiner said. Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @BobEgelko The California Democratic Party deferred deciding Sunday on a proposal from racial justice and environmental activists to reject future campaign contributions from law enforcement organizations and fossil fuel companies. Instead, the partys executive committee voted to create a new committee to examine all of its campaign contributors and report back for another vote in February. The new panel will consider those bans as well as suggest ways to back fill the potential loss of millions of dollars in contributions from banned industries and individuals. The party will not accept contributions from law enforcement or fossil fuel companies until next years vote. The original proposal was pitched as a way for the state Democratic Party the nations largest to align its rhetoric on racial justice and the environment with its financing sources. This party cannot claim that it believes that Black lives matter and put that sign in its window, and then allow police association money to flow in through the back door, Alicia Garza, a co-founder of Black Lives Matter, told the committee Sunday in support of the law enforcement contribution ban. Last year, The Chronicle reported that the state party had accepted $1.8 million since 2017 from four police unions and other organizations representing law enforcement employees. Officials said Sunday that the party had not accepted contributions from either law enforcement or fossil fuel sources since 2020. Cutting off the flow of political contributions from police unions to politicians is a key element in the movement to reform policing, Alex Vitale, author of The End of Policing, told The Chronicles Its All Political podcast. The way to do that is to go after the campaign contributions and endorsements that they hand out and to make those politically toxic for elected officials, Vitale said. The proposals would have affected only the state party not individual Democratic office-holders and candidates. A group affiliated with the California Correctional Peace Officers Association contributed $1.75 million in support of Gov. Gavin Newsom during the recent failed attempt to recall him. The original proposal, driven by the progressive wing of the party and members of the Sunrise Movement environmental justice organization who were protesting outside the state partys headquarters during Sundays meeting would have banned contributions of more than $100 from investor-owned utilities, fossil fuel executives, lobbyists and political action committees. The law enforcement ban would have forbidden the party from accepting contributions of more than $100 from organizations that exclusively represent law enforcement personnel, private prison entities and law enforcement leadership, executives, lobbyists and political action committees. But while even many Democrats expressed support for the spirit of the bans Sunday, several said they needed to be included as part of a comprehensive, strategic examination of the partys funding sources beyond fossil fuel and law enforcement sources. 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. Its important for us to have a process that looks at the totality of how we raise money, the state partys vice chair, David Campos of San Francisco, said Sunday. We need to look at the issue of real estate money, developer money. We need to look at questions around some of the corporate donations that come, including from corporations that are not necessarily the best in terms of how they treat workers. Campos also spoke in favor of not taking fossil fuel and law enforcement money now. He added that the next step following this vote is that we take responsibility to make sure that we also raise money from the right sources for the party. Its not enough to say, Dont take this kind of money. We have to make sure that we raise the funds we need to be successful. Some speakers expressed frustration that the party was delaying taking action on an issue so important to many of its members. Tweeted Aura Vasquez of Los Angeles, who spoke in favor of the fossil fuel ban at the meeting: Its so painful to watch fellow CA Democrats tiptoeing around not taking fossil fuel contributions and making statements against it. We have and must do better!!! Joe Garofoli is The San Francisco Chronicles senior political writer. Email: jgarofoli@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @joegarofoli Hundreds of Bay Area residents, many of them kids and their families, were expected to watch free screenings of Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings this weekend as part of a community-led effort to promote visibility and representation of Asian Americans. The screenings, hosted in partnership with local nonprofit organizations Stand with Asian Americans and Leaders Forum, were scheduled to show Shang-Chi Marvel Cinematic Universes first film to feature an Asian superhero lead character with a predominantly Asian cast at two AMC theaters in Daly City and Emeryville. San Francisco resident Daniel Whan, 41, told The Chronicle he conceived the idea to host free screenings targeted toward youths and families to try to bring the community together and provide an opportunity to give a touch-point to the Asian American and Pacific Islander community. Whan, a longtime comic book fan and martial arts aficionado, said he grew up without seeing Asian American role models or superheroes whom young Asian American kids could aspire to be like one day. I think it does mean a lot to our community to have something like Shang-Chi at this moment in time, especially against the backdrop of COVID and a lot of the ugly things that have come out of that recently, Whan said, referring to the surge of anti-Asian hate crimes and violence in the Bay Area and the United States since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. Visibility and representation are all important things for our community because you see the consequences of when someone becomes the other, he said. Justin Zhu, a San Francisco resident who works with of Stand with Asian Americans, one of the screenings organizers, told The Chronicle that there are few mythological examples of Asian American heroes and sheroes. He said that seeing Chinese Canadian actor Simu Liu as superhero Shang-Chi, and performing in an epic fight scene aboard a Muni-like bus barreling through San Francisco, holds special significance for the Asian American community. That could be you, Zhu said. We have new heroes and sheroes emerge. Paul Kuroda/Special to The Chronicle Organizers reached out to local grassroots, youth and cultural organizations across the Bay Area and invited members to attend the screenings, including Cameron House and Wu Yee Childrens Services in San Francisco, Guardian Gym in Oakland and others, Whan said. The great thing about Shang-Chi specifically is you have people that are very strong and fighting for what you believe in, and standing up to evil, Whan said. Kids are incredibly perceptive and I think to have these types of strong role models to kind of imagine themselves into, is incredibly impactful against the backdrop of the AAPI violence. Zhu who co-founded Stand with Asian Americans in the aftermath of the fatal mass shooting of eight people, six of whom were Asian women, at three Atlanta spas in March said its easy with everything you see happening locally and nationally, that the world is just getting more divisive. The word crisis I think in Western context typically is a negative word. But if you take the word in Chinese, the word crisis is two characters: The first character means danger, and the second character means opportunity, Zhu said. 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. Thats what we want people to see Lets get through the danger, but there are opportunities being created through all of these crises. Zhu said the screenings are a good example of how nonprofits, community activists and businesses can come together toward a common goal. The screenings are also a setting to dispel stereotypes and shatter misconceptions related to Asian people, said Lorna Ho Randlett, the CEO and co-founder of Leaders Forum, a nonpartisan network of business leaders. She said the point is to show on the screen that there are positive role models of Asian people, and to challenge the false stereotypes that Asian people are not leaders, meek and weak, she said. We want to be able to say we are very much a part of the world ... and a positive narrative about who our people are, Randlett said. This type of thing is expressly important for young Asians and for their fellow classmates to start thinking about a different narrative about who Asians are, and that we are also Americans. Whan said Shang-Chi felt like a love letter to what we call ABCs, American born Chinese. There is a line in it where (actor Ronny Chieng) says, No worries, I speak ABC, Whan recalled. It felt like a warm hug from Marvel. I cant speak to what it might feel for a non-Chinese Asian person, or even a non-Asian person period, but it meant a lot to me personally, and I wanted to share it with as many people who would like to enjoy it as possible. Lauren Hernandez is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: lauren.hernandez@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ByLHernandez In an emotional restraining order hearing Monday, the police chief of Richmond and her husband, an Oakland sergeant, agreed to stay away for two years from a female relative an 18-year-old woman the couple believe is being sex trafficked by an older man who faces charges in the matter. With a couple dozen friends and family members in attendance, many dabbing their eyes with tissues, visiting Contra Costa County Superior Court Judge Ksenia Tsenin brokered a compromise between Bisa and Lee French and their teenage relative, who was seeking a restraining order, claiming the Frenches assaulted her. The couple must stay away from the young woman and contact neither her nor her partner, Oho McNair, 34, who has been charged by Alameda County prosecutors with pimping and pandering. McNair made $100,000 bail in the case and was released, records show. As part of his release, he was ordered to stay away from the teen, said Michael Rains, an attorney for the Frenches. The hearing followed a tumultuous year for the French family. Bisa and Lee French allege their relative was manipulated into becoming a prostitute on the streets of Oakland by McNair, who also goes by the name Joe Goldman. The Frenches temporarily got the young woman into an intervention program, but she quickly left the facility, records show. In September, the couple confronted McNairs mother at her home in Vallejo, which prompted a criminal-threats investigation by Vallejo police and led to both police officers being placed on paid leave. Rains said the couple plan to be interviewed by Vallejo investigators when a detective returns from vacation. Its a horrible day for them, Rains said outside court Monday. Its the first time theyve seen (her) since she got to the safe house. The Chronicle is not naming the young woman because she is an alleged victim of a sex crime, though she denies she is a victim. Dylan Bouscher / Associated Press 2020 In the hearing, Rains told the judge he approached the teen before court and said the Frenches were willing to agree to stay away, which would prevent both sides from painful testimony, as well as possible Fifth Amendment issues. In addition, the criminal restraining order preventing McNair from contacting the teen gave the Frenches some comfort, and although they still had dire concerns for the teen, they reluctantly agreed to stay away, Rains told the judge. The husband and wife gently rubbed each other on the back during the hearing. A few feet away, the teen, who came by herself, sat alone. 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 young woman initially objected to Rains offer. She told the judge it didnt negate the fact that on Sept. 21, the Frenches threatened to kill her partner McNair, physically assault her and said theyd risk their jobs to end her relationship with McNair. Rains said the couple had no communication with the teen since Oct. 2, when she called from an out-of-state safe house, a day after applying for the restraining order. Typically, such restraining orders last three years. Rains asked for one year, but the teen said no, before both sides agreed to the judges suggested compromise of two years. The judge agreed to an amendment that allowed the law enforcement couple to continue carrying their service weapons. He also allowed for the couple to attend McNairs criminal proceedings, even if the woman attended as well. Good luck to all three of you, the judge said, after she signed the order. As court adjourned, several members of the audience who had showed up with the Frenches shouted to the teen: We love you! Outside, in the Richmond courthouse hallway, the Frenches hugged loved ones and wiped tears away. Rains said they declined to speak to the media. The teen did not exit the courtroom into the hallway and was unavailable for comment. Its a reality for everyone. ... Like all of us, police face human problems, Rains said. As loving (people), theyre horrified that someone could do this to their (relative). Matthias Gafni is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: matthias.gafni@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @mgafni Opponents of the San Francisco school boards decision to end merit-based admissions at Lowell High School sought an injunction on Saturday in their efforts to reverse the changes. Lowell Alumni Association, Friends of Lowell Foundation and Asian American Legal Foundation alleged in their filing in San Francisco Superior Court that the board violated the states Brown Act, which requires government meetings to be accessible to the public, and other laws. The groups argue that the boards vote in February to change the schools admissions to a lottery system is subsequently null and void. Our suit aims to force the Board of Education to fully engage in a thoughtful and transparent public discussion regarding the best admissions policy for one of the nations most outstanding public high schools, Kate Lazarus, president of the Lowell Alumni Association, said in a statement. The Board of Education promised exactly that type of open and inclusive process, but instead rushed through an admissions policy change with little opportunity for public notice or comment, much less any real input and analysis. San Francisco Unified School District couldnt be reached for comment on Sunday. The same groups sued the district in April to reverse the change, one of numerous lawsuits targeting the school district, which plunged into controversy after controversy during the pandemic and in the wake of racial justice protests. The school board voted to change 44 school names that it alleged were racist but later reversed the decision after threats of legal action. Separately, the city of San Francisco took the unprecedented move of suing the district to push it to reopen. Board member Alison Collins sued the district after she was stripped of the vice presidency in reaction to her tweets that were critical of Asian Americans, in a case that she dropped last month. The school district is liable for $185,000 in legal fees for two of the cases, and it faces a roughly $112 million deficit next year. The opponents allege the board also violated its own policies and the right to due process. The board voted in October 2020 to make a one-time change to the admissions policy due to the pandemic, and several board members said they wanted community feedback before making long-term changes, the opponents said. 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 board refused requests for a 40-day delay on the action by San Francisco NAACP President the Rev. Amos Brown, opponents said. Lowell High School is one of the countrys top schools, and more than 40% of ninth-grade applicants to the school district select Lowell as a choice, the statement said translating to 1,500 to 1,800 students ranking Lowell as their first choice, more than the schools entering class size of 650. Roland Li is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: roland.li@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @rolandlisf The Bay Area may have a serious shortage of affordable housing, but it also has well over 100,000 housing units sitting vacant at any given time. As part of the 2020 decennial census, U.S. census workers went door-to-door to check whether anybody is currently living at every home in the country. Based on that data collected from that effort, the census calculates the vacancy rate of different regions by dividing the number of vacant units in a region by the total number of homes. The vacancy rate for the Bay Areas nine counties was 5.5 units per 100 in 2020, down from 6.4 in 2010. That compares to a national vacancy rate of 9.7 units per 100 in 2020, which declined from 11.4 in 2010. The map below shows vacancy rates by census tract, neighborhood-size regions of about 1,200 to 8,000 people created by the U.S. government. Vacancy rates have fallen in six out of the Bay Areas nine counties since 2010. However, vacancies increased slightly in San Francisco, San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. Though generally lower than in 2010, most counties still have higher vacancy rates than in 2000. Thats largely because the 2008 mortgage crisis and its aftermath caused a surge in vacancy rates that are evident in the 2010 numbers. Additionally, the 2020 census was taken during the initial phase of the coronavirus pandemic, which means that vacancy rates could be higher in urban hubs like downtown San Francisco, which many individuals left for relatives or vacation homes, and neighborhoods with lots of then-remote college students, like south Berkeley or the area around San Francisco State University. Vacancy rates can be a useful data point in understanding the health of a regions housing market, according to Sarah Karlinsky, senior adviser on housing policy at SPUR, a Bay Area-focused think tank. A higher vacancy rate means that housing is likely to be more affordable because theres more slack in the market, Karlinsky told The Chronicle. And a tighter vacancy rate means housing is more scarce and therefore more expensive. This suggests the Bay Areas relatively low vacancy rates are a bug, not a feature of the regions housing market. But in general, higher vacancy rates only help housing affordability when the vacant units in question are on the market, according to Darrell Owens, data and policy analyst at California YIMBY and housing commissioner for the city of Berkeley. The census divides housing units into five primary types: for-rent or for-sale, rented or sold but not yet occupied, seasonal vacancies (i.e. vacation homes or dorms), migrant worker housing, and other vacancies, which refer to dilapidated housing, housing under construction or renovation, or housing that is vacant for any other reason. Increasing the vacancies of the first type of home, units available for sale or lease, may help make housing more affordable and available in the Bay Area, Owens said. But high vacancy rates in other categories particularly seasonal and other are less useful in that regard, as they take up land area without offering shelter to additional people. The latest census doesnt include detailed data on the types of housing vacancies in each region, but the U.S. census American Community Survey provides estimates that should be close to accurate, according to Owens. According to data collected from 2015 to 2019 for the survey, available housing (i.e. on the market for sale or rent) made up just under a third of vacancies across the Bay, while seasonal and other vacancies made up nearly 60% of the combined vacancies. However, these figures varied widely at the county level: For instance, in Napa and Sonoma counties seasonal vacancies made up around half the total vacancies and for-sale or for-rent properties made up under one-fifth. 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. Part of the reason so many seasonal and other vacancies exist, Owens said, is that California law does not disincentivize those kinds of vacancies. For instance, Proposition 13, a law that mandates small and measured increases on property tax rates over time, can keep taxes on vacant properties so low that their owners are not motivated to find renters or buyers for those properties. Prop. 13 also tends to keep tax rates lower for the types of pricey vacation homes that make up many seasonal vacancies in Napa and Sonoma counties. Whether by repealing Prop. 13 or by instituting taxes on long-term vacant properties, Owens said, lowering the number of vacancies that are not useful for controlling housing prices will require a change to current policies. Wealthy people who own a house in the Berkeley hills and an apartment or condo in SoMa (that theyre using) as a vacation home, that is something you wanna tax, he said. Susie Neilson is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: susie.neilson@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @susieneilson Three California teenagers who developed psychiatric symptoms seemingly overnight are helping researchers at University of California San Francisco better understand how COVID-19 can affect the brain, even in young people. A study of the three, published Monday in the journal JAMA Neurology, is the first to examine how rogue antibodies can attack the brains of pediatric patients who previously tested positive for COVID. Though too small a study to offer broad conclusions, the profiles of the three teens shed light on COVID as a potential cause of psychiatric symptoms in young people, and suggest directions for treatment and further study. Clinicians who care for these patients should be thinking about this, said Dr. Samuel Pleasure, a UCSF neurologist and co-author of the study led by researchers at the UCSF Weill Institute for Neurosciences and the UCSF Department of Pediatrics. Its a call to alertness about this. If you dont think of it, you wont check for it, and you cant treat it. The teens were among 18 children who had been hospitalized at UCSFs Benioff Childrens Hospital during a five-month period in 2020. All had had COVID, but may have been hospitalized for other reasons. Three had psychiatric symptoms. Spinal taps revealed anti-neural antibodies in the spinal fluid of two of the teens. But instead of attacking a viral invader as antibodies are supposed to do, they were mistakenly targeting the brain. It appeared that COVID had triggered the teens immune system to go haywire. One of the teens was a 16-year-old girl with a history of mild anxiety, depression and marijuana use. Before being transferred to UCSF, she was hospitalized with symptoms that were far worse: social withdrawal, insomnia and paranoia, including the feeling that people were following her and bugging her house, said Claire Johns, a UCSF pediatrician and co-author of the study who later treated her. At the same time, she also tested positive for COVID-19. Discharged on psychiatric medications, the girls paranoia nevertheless grew worse. She believed people from the hospital were following her, and she spoke of suicide. Because the girl wasnt improving, doctors sent her to UCSF. There, a brain MRI hinted at the possibility of inflammation, Johns said. Pleasures lab also tested her spinal fluid, which revealed the anti-neural antibodies that appeared to be attacking her brain, an autoimmune response. Intravenous immunoglobulin is a low-risk treatment commonly infused in patients with autoimmunity, and doctors tried it. Its thought to work by swamping out abnormal antibodies. She was also given a systemic steroid, a strong anti-inflammatory. I was there the first day we treated her, Johns said. And the next day, she was like a different patient. Before treatment, she had been trying to leave the hospital and saying profanities to staff and having paranoid delusions. Afterward, she seemed a lot more coherent and more compliant and friendly. Five days after treatment, the patient had more organized thoughts, decreased paranoia and improved insight, the researchers wrote. More than a month later, her delusions were gone although she still experienced mood swings and was given medication for those. The second teen with anti-neural antibodies was a boy, 15, who had transformed overnight from a stellar student to a youth who had trouble remembering simple facts. He felt suicidal and flipped easily from elation to tears to aggression. He also reported brain fog, or slowed thinking, a frequent post-COVID complaint. He tested positive for COVID-19 antibodies, which indicated he had had the disease. He had had a fever and mild respiratory symptoms shortly before his cognitive symptoms appeared. The boy did not respond to drugs meant to calm his psychiatric symptoms and landed back in the hospital, where he was given a treatment of systemic steroids. The patients working memory and (slowed thinking) improved, the study found, and he was discharged with additional psychiatric medications. But six days later, with his symptoms back in full force, he returned. This time, doctors gave him intravenous immunoglobulin and he was again discharged with medications. Six months later, the researchers report, the boy has improved but remains forgetful and requires academic accommodations at school. Johns noted a treatment difference in the two cases. The girl whose symptoms greatly improved received intravenous immunoglobulin 15 days after the onset of her symptoms, while the boy received the treatment about 80 days after his symptoms appeared. Pleasure said no firm conclusions can be drawn about the timing of treatment based on so few cases. The researchers note that they cant be certain if the teens improved because of the immunotherapy, psychiatric medications or simply the passage of time. Dr. Serena Spudich, an expert in neurology at Yale University School of Medicine who was not involved in the study, called it a compelling report that underscores the need for more research. 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. With the avalanche of mental health issues in children and young adults in the pandemic era, it is crucially important for patients and their families that we improve our understanding of the mysteries of how COVID-19 causes brain disorders, she said. Psychiatric symptoms in the studys third teen, who showed no anti-neural antibodies, were later attributed to recreational drug use. Earlier this year, Pleasure co-authored a paper profiling the case of a 30-year-old Connecticut man with COVID who also suddenly developed psychosis and aggression. On the 35th day after his symptoms started, doctors at Yale New Haven Hospital infused him with intravenous immunoglobulin. His delusions vanished, and he returned to work. As for the 15-year-old in the current study who saw less benefit from the treatment, he was a very smart kid, and on standardized tests he was off the charts. He was a happy kid. He had friends and played sports, said his mother, who requested anonymity to protect her sons identity. The Chronicle agreed, in keeping with its policy on anonymous sources. She said her sons symptoms arose so early in the pandemic that the medical and psychiatric appointments she had scheduled had to be canceled. She said she believes her sons COVID is the cause of his cognitive symptoms and is grateful that doctors recognized the connection. There could be a lot of other kids out there with psychiatric symptoms, but nobody would have thought it was due to COVID, she said. Now, her son is trying intravenous immunoglobulin again, she said. Ive got my fingers crossed every day. Nanette Asimov is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: nasimov@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @NanetteAsimov To help pay for his big economic and social agenda, President Joe Biden is looking to go where the big money is: billionaires. Biden never endorsed an outright wealth tax when he campaigned for the White House last year. But his more conventional proposed rate increases on the income of large corporations and the wealthiest Americans have hit a roadblock. That leaves a special tax on the assets, not the income, of billionaires being proposed by a Senate Democrat as a possible way to help pay for child care, universal prekindergarten, child tax credits, family leave and environmental initiatives. Biden has pledged that his programs will not add a penny to the deficit, which means selling to Congress and voters a tax on the wealthiest .0005% of Americans. Some details on the proposed billionaires tax: HOW WOULD IT WORK? Essentially, billionaires earn the bulk of their money off their wealth. This might be from the stock market. It could include, once sold, beachfront mansions or the ownership of rare art and antiquities. A triceratops skeleton. This new tax would apply solely to people with at least $1 billion in assets or $100 million in income for three straight years. These standards mean that just 700 taxpayers would face the additional tax on increases to their wealth, according to a description obtained by The Associated Press of the proposal of by the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore. On tradeable items such as stocks, billionaires would still pay a tax even if they held on to the asset. They would be taxed on any increases in value and take deductions on losses. Under current law, those assets get taxed only when they are sold. Billionaires would also face an additional tax on nontradeable assets such as real estate and business interests once those assets are sold. During the first year of the proposed tax, the billionaires would also owe taxes on any built-in gains that predate the tax. HOW MUCH MONEY WOULD IT RAISE? House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., estimated on CNN Sunday that the tax would raise $200 billion to $250 billion. This is a meaningful sum, but it's well shy of the nearly $2 trillion in proposed additional spending over 10 years being negotiated right now. This means that additional levies such as the global minimum tax and increased enforcement dollars for the IRS would still be needed to help close the gap. And the forecasts for revenue from the wealth tax are highly debatable. Its just impossible to implement, said Allison Schrager, a senior fellow at the conservative Manhattan Institute. Theres a lot of evidence that these things dont work, and Ive never heard an explanation of how this could be workable. WHY WOULD BIDEN GO THIS ROUTE? The president would rather raise corporate tax rates and rates on wealthy individuals. That was his initial proposal, but he's got to appease Sens. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz. Those are the two make-or-break Democratic votes in the evenly split Senate. Sinema objected to higher rates, which brought the wealth tax into play as an alternative. The idea gained steam after the publication of French economist Thomas Piketty's book Capital in the Twenty-First Century. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., made a 2% wealth tax a trademark policy in the 2020 presidential primaries, and fellow candidate Bernie Sanders, the senator from Vermont, proposed his own wealth tax. Biden never jumped on that bandwagon. But he did make higher taxes on the wealthy a key promise, saying no one earning less than $400,000 would pay more. IS A WEALTH TAX CONSTITUTIONAL? If a wealth tax were to become law, it probably would be challenged in court. The likely case comes from Article 1, Section 2 of the Constitution. It states that direct Taxes shall be apportioned among the several States which may be included within this Union, according to their respective Numbers. What does that mean? It means that revenues from "direct taxes must reflect the population of the states, which is a problem because billionaires tend to cluster in places such as California and New York. If that's the case, how does the federal government charge income and payroll taxes? That's because of the 16th Amendment. It allows Congress to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived, without apportionment among the several States. So what really matters is whether the Supreme Court would interpret a wealth tax as a direct tax on property that is unconstitutional or whether it's essentially a tax on income that is permissible. ARE BILLIONAIRES REALLY THAT RICH? Seems that way. There is a legitimate debate about the optimal forms of taxation. Is it better for the economy for the wealthy to keep their assets invested in new businesses? Or is it better for some of their money to go to the government to help pay for programs such as child care, universal pre-K and shifts to renewable energy? What is clear is that the wealthy do have money to tax, should the government wish to do it. America's billionaires have seen their collected wealth surge 70% since the start of the pandemic to more than $5 trillion, according to an analysis by the pro-wealth-tax Americans for Tax Fairness and the Institute for Policy Studies Program on Inequality. That gain from March 18, 2020, to this past month is equal in size to Biden's spending plans over 10 years. 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. Right now, billionaires are not paying a dime in taxes on their fabulous income gains from their stock holdings during the pandemic, said Frank Clemente, executive director of Americans for Tax Fairness. The billionaires income tax would tax the increase in the value of those assets each year just like workers wages are taxed." There were 614 U.S. billionaires at the start of the pandemic; the total has now grown to 745. Part of what makes the coronavirus unique is that many poorer Americans also became wealthier, but they did so at a much slower pace than billionaires. Federal Reserve data indicate that the net worth of the bottom 90% of Americans a group that includes the middle class rose by roughly 22%. For many Americans, the wealth increase reflected a rising stock market, higher home values and unprecedented government aid in the form of direct checks and forgivable payroll loans to small businesses. CAN BILLIONAIRES ESCAPE TAXATION? They've found ways before. They can hire armadas of lawyers, accountants and others to minimize their tax burdens. The news outlet ProPublica revealed various tax shelters with IRS data earlier this year, and the recent Pandora Papers showed there is a global industry to shelter the assets of the politically powerful and extremely wealthy. The ProPublica investigation showed that Warren Buffett paid an average rate of 19%. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos paid 23%, while Tesla's Elon Musk was at roughly 30%. The top tax rate on income earned from labor is 37%, but the tax on capital gains is a lower 20% and that favors those with extreme wealth. The lower capital gains rate can also encourage more investment in new companies that help the economy grow. A White House analysis in September indicated the country's 400 wealthiest families paid an average federal income tax rate of 8.2% between 2010 and 2018. The administration's fundamental message is that a rate this low is unfair because middle class families often pay a greater share of their income in taxes. The bottom-line question for Democratic lawmakers is how to close or at least narrow the escape hatches for those with extreme wealth. It could require calculations such as the deferral recapture amount and other technicalities that are likely to baffle most of America. But the writing of the tax law and its enforcement will determine just how successful a wealth tax would be and perhaps the fate of Biden's big agenda as well. ___ Associated Press writer Will Weissert contributed to this report. DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) As the Gaza war raged and tensions surged across the Middle East last May, Instagram briefly banned the hashtag #AlAqsa, a reference to the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalems Old City, a flash point in the conflict. Facebook, which owns Instagram, later apologized, explaining its algorithms had mistaken the third-holiest site in Islam for the militant group Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, an armed offshoot of the secular Fatah party. For many Arabic-speaking users, it was just the latest potent example of how the social media giant muzzles political speech in the region. Arabic is among the most common languages on Facebooks platforms, and the company issues frequent public apologies after similar botched content removals. Now, internal company documents from the former Facebook product manager-turned-whistleblower Frances Haugen show the problems are far more systemic than just a few innocent mistakes, and that Facebook has understood the depth of these failings for years while doing little about it. Such errors are not limited to Arabic. An examination of the files reveals that in some of the worlds most volatile regions, terrorist content and hate speech proliferate because the company remains short on moderators who speak local languages and understand cultural contexts. And its platforms have failed to develop artificial-intelligence solutions that can catch harmful content in different languages. In countries like Afghanistan and Myanmar, these loopholes have allowed inflammatory language to flourish on the platform, while in Syria and the Palestinian territories, Facebook suppresses ordinary speech, imposing blanket bans on common words. The root problem is that the platform was never built with the intention it would one day mediate the political speech of everyone in the world, said Eliza Campbell, director of the Middle East Institutes Cyber Program. But for the amount of political importance and resources that Facebook has, moderation is a bafflingly under-resourced project. This story, along with others published Monday, is based on Haugens disclosures to the Securities and Exchange Commission, which were also provided to Congress in redacted form by her legal team. The redacted versions received by Congress were reviewed by a consortium of news organizations, including The Associated Press. This follows similar reporting by The Wall Street Journal, sourced from the same documents. In a statement to the AP, a Facebook spokesperson said that over the last two years the company has invested in recruiting more staff with local dialect and topic expertise to bolster its review capacity around the world. But when it comes to Arabic content moderation, the company said, We still have more work to do. ... We conduct research to better understand this complexity and identify how we can improve." In Myanmar, where Facebook-based misinformation has been linked repeatedly to ethnic and religious violence, the company acknowledged in its internal reports that it had failed to stop the spread of hate speech targeting the minority Rohingya Muslim population. The Rohingyas persecution, which the U.S. has described as ethnic cleansing, led Facebook to publicly pledge in 2018 that it would recruit 100 native Myanmar language speakers to police its platforms. But the company never disclosed how many content moderators it ultimately hired or revealed which of the nation's many dialects they covered. Despite Facebooks public promises and many internal reports on the problems, the rights group Global Witness said the companys recommendation algorithm continued to amplify army propaganda and other content that breaches the companys Myanmar policies following a military coup in February. In India, the documents show Facebook employees debating last March whether it could clamp down on the fear mongering, anti-Muslim narratives that Prime Minister Narendra Modis far-right Hindu nationalist group, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, broadcasts on its platform. In one document, the company notes that users linked to Modis party had created multiple accounts to supercharge the spread of Islamophobic content. Much of this content was never flagged or actioned, the research found, because Facebook lacked moderators and automated filters with knowledge of Hindi and Bengali. Arabic poses particular challenges to Facebooks automated systems and human moderators, each of which struggles to understand spoken dialects unique to each country and region, their vocabularies salted with different historical influences and cultural contexts. The Moroccan colloquial Arabic, for instance, includes French and Berber words, and is spoken with short vowels. Egyptian Arabic, on the other hand, includes some Turkish from the Ottoman conquest. Other dialects are closer to the official version found in the Quran. In some cases, these dialects are not mutually comprehensible, and there is no standard way of transcribing colloquial Arabic. Facebook first developed a massive following in the Middle East during the 2011 Arab Spring uprisings, and users credited the platform with providing a rare opportunity for free expression and a critical source of news in a region where autocratic governments exert tight controls over both. But in recent years, that reputation has changed. Scores of Palestinian journalists and activists have had their accounts deleted. Archives of the Syrian civil war have disappeared. And a vast vocabulary of everyday words have become off-limits to speakers of Arabic, Facebooks third-most common language with millions of users worldwide. For Hassan Slaieh, a prominent journalist in the blockaded Gaza Strip, the first message felt like a punch to the gut. Your account has been permanently disabled for violating Facebooks Community Standards, the companys notification read. That was at the peak of the bloody 2014 Gaza war, following years of his news posts on violence between Israel and Hamas being flagged as content violations. Within moments, he lost everything hed collected over six years: personal memories, stories of peoples lives in Gaza, photos of Israeli airstrikes pounding the enclave, not to mention 200,000 followers. The most recent Facebook takedown of his page last year came as less of a shock. It was the 17th time that he had to start from scratch. He had tried to be clever. Like many Palestinians, he'd learned to avoid the typical Arabic words for martyr and prisoner, along with references to Israels military occupation. If he mentioned militant groups, hed add symbols or spaces between each letter. Other users in the region have taken an increasingly savvy approach to tricking Facebooks algorithms, employing a centuries-old Arabic script that lacks the dots and marks that help readers differentiate between otherwise identical letters. The writing style, common before Arabic learning exploded with the spread of Islam, has circumvented hate speech censors on Facebooks Instagram app, according to the internal documents. But Slaiehs tactics didnt make the cut. He believes Facebook banned him simply for doing his job. As a reporter in Gaza, he posts photos of Palestinian protesters wounded at the Israeli border, mothers weeping over their sons coffins, statements from the Gaza Strips militant Hamas rulers. Criticism, satire and even simple mentions of groups on the companys Dangerous Individuals and Organizations list a docket modeled on the U.S. government equivalent are grounds for a takedown. We were incorrectly enforcing counterterrorism content in Arabic," one document reads, noting the current system limits users from participating in political speech, impeding their right to freedom of expression. The Facebook blacklist includes Gazas ruling Hamas party, as well as Hezbollah, the militant group that holds seats in Lebanons Parliament, along with many other groups representing wide swaths of people and territory across the Middle East, the internal documents show, resulting in what Facebook employees describe in the documents as widespread perceptions of censorship. If you posted about militant activity without clearly condemning whats happening, we treated you like you supported it, said Mai el-Mahdy, a former Facebook employee who worked on Arabic content moderation until 2017. In response to questions from the AP, Facebook said it consults independent experts to develop its moderation policies and goes to great lengths to ensure they are agnostic to religion, region, political outlook or ideology. We know our systems are not perfect," it added. The companys language gaps and biases have led to the widespread perception that its reviewers skew in favor of governments and against minority groups. Former Facebook employees also say that various governments exert pressure on the company, threatening regulation and fines. Israel, a lucrative source of advertising revenue for Facebook, is the only country in the Mideast where Facebook operates a national office. Its public policy director previously advised former right-wing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Israeli security agencies and watchdogs monitor Facebook and bombard it with thousands of orders to take down Palestinian accounts and posts as they try to crack down on incitement. They flood our system, completely overpowering it, said Ashraf Zeitoon, Facebooks former head of policy for the Middle East and North Africa region, who left in 2017. That forces the system to make mistakes in Israels favor. Nowhere else in the region had such a deep understanding of how Facebook works. Facebook said in a statement that it fields takedown requests from governments no differently from those from rights organizations or community members, although it may restrict access to content based on local laws. Any suggestion that we remove content solely under pressure from the Israeli government is completely inaccurate, it said. Syrian journalists and activists reporting on the countrys opposition also have complained of censorship, with electronic armies supporting embattled President Bashar Assad aggressively flagging dissident content for removal. Raed, a former reporter at the Aleppo Media Center, a group of antigovernment activists and citizen journalists in Syria, said Facebook erased most of his documentation of Syrian government shelling on neighborhoods and hospitals, citing graphic content. Facebook always tells us we break the rules, but no one tells us what the rules are, he added, giving only his first name for fear of reprisals. In Afghanistan, many users literally cannot understand Facebooks rules. According to an internal report in January, Facebook did not translate the sites hate speech and misinformation pages into Dari and Pashto, the two most common languages in Afghanistan, where English is not widely understood. When Afghan users try to flag posts as hate speech, the drop-down menus appear only in English. So does the Community Standards page. The site also doesnt have a bank of hate speech terms, slurs and code words in Afghanistan used to moderate Dari and Pashto content, as is typical elsewhere. Without this local word bank, Facebook cant build the automated filters that catch the worst violations in the country. When it came to looking into the abuse of domestic workers in the Middle East, internal Facebook documents acknowledged that engineers primarily focused on posts and messages written in English. The flagged-words list did not include Tagalog, the major language of the Philippines, where many of the regions housemaids and other domestic workers come from. In much of the Arab world, the opposite is true the company over-relies on artificial-intelligence filters that make mistakes, leading to a lot of false positives and a media backlash, one document reads. Largely unskilled human moderators, in over their heads, tend to passively field takedown requests instead of screening proactively. 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. Sophie Zhang, a former Facebook employee-turned-whistleblower who worked at the company for nearly three years before being fired last year, said contractors in Facebooks Ireland office complained to her they had to depend on Google Translate because the company did not assign them content based on what languages they knew. Facebook outsources most content moderation to giant companies that enlist workers far afield, from Casablanca, Morocco, to Essen, Germany. The firms don't sponsor work visas for the Arabic teams, limiting the pool to local hires in precarious conditions mostly Moroccans who seem to have overstated their linguistic capabilities. They often get lost in the translation of Arabics 30-odd dialects, flagging inoffensive Arabic posts as terrorist content 77% of the time, one document said. These reps should not be fielding content from non-Maghreb region, however right now it is commonplace, another document reads, referring to the region of North Africa that includes Morocco. The file goes on to say that the Casablanca office falsely claimed in a survey it could handle every dialect of Arabic. But in one case, reviewers incorrectly flagged a set of Egyptian dialect content 90% of the time, a report said. Iraq ranks highest in the region for its reported volume of hate speech on Facebook. But among reviewers, knowledge of Iraqi dialect is close to non-existent, one document said. Journalists are trying to expose human rights abuses, but we just get banned, said one Baghdad-based press freedom activist, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals. We understand Facebook tries to limit the influence of militias, but its not working. Linguists described Facebooks system as flawed for a region with a vast diversity of colloquial dialects that Arabic speakers transcribe in different ways. The stereotype that Arabic is one entity is a major problem, said Enam al-Wer, professor of Arabic linguistics at the University of Essex, citing the languages huge variations not only between countries but class, gender, religion and ethnicity. Despite these problems, moderators are on the front lines of what makes Facebook a powerful arbiter of political expression in a tumultuous region. Although the documents from Haugen predate this years Gaza war, episodes from that 11-day conflict show how little has been done to address the problems flagged in Facebooks own internal reports. Activists in Gaza and the West Bank lost their ability to livestream. Whole archives of the conflict vanished from newsfeeds, a primary portal of information for many users. Influencers accustomed to tens of thousands of likes on their posts saw their outreach plummet when they posted about Palestinians. This has restrained me and prevented me from feeling free to publish what I want for fear of losing my account, said Soliman Hijjy, a Gaza-based journalist whose aerials of the Mediterranean Sea garnered tens of thousands more views than his images of Israeli bombs a common phenomenon when photos are flagged for violating community standards. During the war, Palestinian advocates submitted hundreds of complaints to Facebook, often leading the company to concede error and reinstate posts and accounts. In the internal documents, Facebook reported it had erred in nearly half of all Arabic language takedown requests submitted for appeal. The repetition of false positives creates a huge drain of resources, it said. In announcing the reversal of one such Palestinian post removal last month, Facebooks semi-independent oversight board urged an impartial investigation into the companys Arabic and Hebrew content moderation. It called for improvement in its broad terrorism blacklist to increase understanding of the exceptions for neutral discussion, condemnation and news reporting, according to the board's policy advisory statement. Facebooks internal documents also stressed the need to enhance algorithms, enlist more Arab moderators from less-represented countries and restrict them to where they have appropriate dialect expertise. With the size of the Arabic user base and potential severity of offline harm it is surely of the highest importance to put more resources to the task to improving Arabic systems, said the report. But the company also lamented that there is not one clear mitigation strategy. Meanwhile, many across the Middle East worry the stakes of Facebooks failings are exceptionally high, with potential to widen long-standing inequality, chill civic activism and stoke violence in the region. We told Facebook: Do you want people to convey their experiences on social platforms, or do you want to shut them down? said Husam Zomlot, the Palestinian envoy to the United Kingdom, who recently discussed Arabic content suppression with Facebook officials in London. If you take away peoples voices, the alternatives will be uglier. ___ Akram reported from Gaza City, Gaza Strip. Associated Press writers Sam McNeil in Beijing, Sheikh Saaliq in New Delhi and Barbara Ortutay in Oakland, California, contributed to this report. ___ See full coverage of the The Facebook Papers here: https://apnews.com/hub/the-facebook-papers Kurt Rogers/The Chronicle Daytime gunfire, with bullets hitting vehicles and a store window, has rattled the Haight-Ashbury neighborhood. A window at Ritual Coffee Roasters was damaged in the Friday shooting, according to Supervisor Dean Preston. This is extremely unsettling and has rattled the entire community, Preston wrote on Twitter. The shooting occurred around 3:30 p.m. on Central Avenue between Waller and Haight streets, he said. There were no suspects identified as of Saturday morning, he said. Yalonda M. James/The Chronicle San Francisco, which is regularly at the top of national lists for cost of living and tourist appeal, has a third distinction. It is among the top five destination cities in the United States for rats. In its annual list of the top 50 Rattiest Cities in America, Chicago took the top spot for the seventh year running, followed by Los Angeles, New York and Washington, D.C. Tens of thousands of people will flock to San Franciscos Golden Gate Park on Halloween weekend for the huge Outside Lands Music and Arts Festival. The gathering, which was canceled last year because of the pandemic, will probably bring back gridlocked traffic to the citys west side and give Bay Area public transit one of its biggest tests as it emerges from the pandemic. Even in pre-pandemic times, major events like Outside Lands and the throngs they attract strained the citys streets to their limits. The proliferation of ride-hail vehicles and street closures paralyzed traffic in the parks adjacent neighborhoods as overfilled Muni buses and Muni Metro trains attempted to shoulder the load. The regions Halloween festivities could be another boon for the regions public-transit recovery the same way it was during Fleet Week, if riders lean toward taking buses and trains instead of driving on roads that have already returned to 2019 congestion levels on weekends. But while festivities like costume parties and trick-or-treating mark another sign of the Bay Areas pandemic recovery, theyre also happening at a time when the regions public transit has yet to see a full recovery of its pre-pandemic weekend and night service. Transit agencies will operate extra service this weekend in anticipation of greater demand, and both Outside Lands and transit officials advise against driving to the festival, which has limited nearby parking. Several streets in the Outer Richmond from 26th to 37th avenues between Cabrillo and Fulton streets will be limited to local traffic during the festivals nightcaps. The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency said Friday it will expand Muni service on its N-Judah rail line and 5R-Fulton Rapid bus line over the Halloween weekend. The 5X-Fulton Express line will return to transport riders from 9:30 to 11:30 p.m. from Golden Gate Park to BARTs Civic Center Station also the connection point to the prepaid shuttles taking festivalgoers to Outside Lands from Bill Graham Auditorium. Bus lines near Golden Gate Park, such as the 7-Haight/Noriega, 29-Sunset and 44-OShaughnessy, will likely be crowded, the transportation agency warns. Connor Radnovich/The Chronicle BART restored service to midnight on weekdays and Saturdays in early August, though the rail system begins closing at 9 p.m. on Sundays for maintenance around the same time rapper Tyler, the Creator will be in the middle of his headlining act at Outside Lands. However, BART will run hourly trains Sunday night after 9 p.m. serving all but two of BARTs airport stops. The last East Bay-bound BART train will leave Civic Center Station at 12:29 a.m. and connect riders from the Antioch yellow line to other trains headed toward Richmond, Berryessa and Dublin/Pleasanton. Regular midnight BART service on Sundays is expected to return in February. Still, night dwellers who plan to stick around after the festivals closing acts for late-night shows and concerts could have limited options. Jaime Schultz, a San Ramon photographer who will be working at Outside Lands, is excited to see the Bay Areas once-bustling music and festival scene come back to life. She plans to BART from Walnut Creek to Civic Center Station and shuttle to the festival grounds, where shell have to stay until 11 p.m. Getting there and making it back home during a really populated weekend with not a lot of extended (transit) service is the biggest stress, at least for me and people that probably dont live in an area where theyre using BART or Muni often, Schultz said. Just how much extra service Muni and BART will be able to provide will depend on staffing. SFMTA Director Jeffrey Tumlin cautioned this month that hundreds of Muni operators remained unvaccinated and risked being fired if they dont get vaccinated before the citys Nov. 1 deadline potentially resulting in service disruptions starting Halloween weekend. The number of unvaccinated operators has since been reduced to 70, and the citys deadline doesnt kick in until the Monday after Halloween. But the agency has already struggled to sustain weekend service theres been a higher rate of missed runs on Muni lines on weekends as of late and has offered operators overtime to fill gaps. 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. We are a little worried about potential service disruptions on Halloween weekend, but we believe that problem should be manageable, Tumlin told The Chronicle. BART spokesperson Alicia Trost said the agency hopes to operate additional event trains beyond the hourly night trains scheduled, though it will depend on how many operators volunteer for those overtime shifts. Halloween has historically resulted in high ridership for BART. The regional rail systems all-time highest ridership came on Oct. 31, 2012, when 568,061 people rode BART to celebrate the Giants World Series victory parade. BART ridership remains a fraction of pre-pandemic levels. While 2019s weekday commute crowds likely wont return to the service until more of the regions employers return to offices in person, weekends have increasingly taken the spotlight as more people opt to take transit for leisure travel. Weekends with a lot of events are crucial to our recovery because its a chance for someone to come try BART again after not riding for a year and a half, Trost said. We have to find any opportunity we can to get them (riders) to just come back and see the experience and decide if its something that they want to then use on a more frequent basis. Ricardo Cano is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: ricardo.cano@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ByRicardoCano Heavy rains drenching the Bay Area on Sunday sharply escalated the risk of debris flows powerful, fast-moving and potentially deadly landslides that are a particular threat in wildfire burn scars. Thats because the rocks, clay and ash on hillsides where wildfire has stripped vegetation cant absorb much water. When high-intensity rain like that from Sundays atmospheric river saturates loose soil, it can create a mass that can pick up trees, boulders, cars and even houses as it roars downhill at speeds up to 35 mph sometimes without warning, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. High winds also can uproot burned trees, which move with the debris flows, said Brayden Murdock, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service Bay Area office. And after last fire seasons huge lightning-sparked wildfires, the Bay Area now has some major new burn scars vulnerable to large storms. The conditions for debris flows were quickly developing in one of them, with evacuations ordered Sunday in some areas where the CZU Lightning Complex fire burned last year in San Mateo and Santa Cruz counties. Such a doomsday scenario had been feared last year, but no storms as powerful as Sundays materialized then. Debris flows were already wreaking havoc farther east in the state on Sunday, including in the burn scars from the Caldor Fire near Lake Tahoe and the Dixie Fire to the north. The National Weather Services Sacramento office warned on Twitter that slides there were already causing road closures, and it could be too late to evacuate for those living near burn scars. The agency advised those people to move to the highest floor of their homes and to look out for warning signs including rushing mud and water, and loud noises including cracking and roaring. People who live near those areas should be on alert for any movement, and contact emergency management if they see anything, Murdock said. Officials note that the rate of rainfall is more important than total rainfall when it comes to debris flow risk. Ready.gov defines the intense rain that can trigger debris flow as about half an inch in an hour. Murdock said the Bay Areas burn scars each have their own rain rate thresholds measured in per hour rate of rain, calculated based on the steepness of slopes and debris in the area. In the North Bay, which includes the Walbridge, Glass, Hennessey and LNU Lightning Complex wildfire footprints, the threshold is 1 inch of rain within an hour. So far the rain has been focused mostly on the North Bay, and we have not seen these thresholds be met, he said. Weve seen areas flooding, but not debris flow. He said its possible that an approaching sporadic heavier part of the rain band could raise the risk of debris flow. As the band pushes to the south, the risk moves to the CZU Lightning Complex area in the Santa Cruz mountains, where the threshold is seven-tenths of an inch within an hour. Again were still not looking at rain rates to hit that threshold, but its something to keep an eye on as we continue to the afternoon and evening, he said. 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 evacuation orders issued Sunday in the CZU Lightning Complex burn area cited risk of debris flows, downed trees and power outages. Residents can check https://community.zonehaven.com/ to see if their area is under the evacuation order. Ted Adcock Center in Half Moon Bay and San Lorenzo Valley High School in Felton were open to shelter evacuees, officials said. The SCU Lighting Complex footprint in the East Bay and Diablo mountain range has a higher rain rate threshold of 1.3 inches per hour, and Murdock said it is not as much of a concern. Heavy rains were expected to move down to the Monterey County area, where the Willow, Carmel, Rover and Dolan fire burn scars are located, and the rain rate threshold is lower at six-tenths of an inch per hour. Murdock said the storm system is forecast to weaken when it reaches that area, so theres a good chance it wont meet the threshold. Kellie Hwang is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: kellie.hwang@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @KellieHwang Pounding rain and howling winds gave way to the buzzing of chain saws and drone of sump pumps Monday as the Bay Area cleaned up after a record-breaking storm downed hundreds of trees, flooded homes and streets and cut electricity to thousands of homes. The atmospheric river a meteorological term for the kind of deluge seen Sunday knocked out power to almost 700,000 Pacific Gas and Electric Co. customers, and by Monday evening 50,000 remained in the dark as crews worked to restore electricity. Businesses and schools reckoned with unprecedented damage, and major roadways turned to rivers, stranding drivers and wreaking further havoc on the heels of one of the worst storms since 1950, according to local meteorologist Jan Null. Compounding the power outages, scars from past wildfires became riverbeds, with few trees and roots left to prevent the runoff from turning areas already ravaged by Mother Nature into prime real estate for floods and mudslides. This is the classic example of climate change, said Keary Sorenson, 66, whose one-room cabin in the Russian River town of Monte Rio caved in on Sunday when a portion of hillside slid onto it. When is the last time a hurricanes worth of rain fell in October? Ive never seen it. Like the Sorensons cabin, much of the infrastructure throughout the Bay Area wasnt designed to withstand breakneck winds and some of the regions wettest days ever recorded in a single weekend. Parts of the Bay Area broke records for rainfall and wind speeds, including a 92-mile-per-hour gust reported in Livermore. In San Francisco, which had its wettest-ever October day downtown with 4.02 inches of rain, the storm felled 700 trees and large branches, a Public Works spokesperson said, and there were more than 200 reports of flooding in the city, primarily at clogged catch basins at intersections. Street lights flickered down the Panhandle, a 40-foot-tall tree fell and blocked the Great Highway and floodwaters seized the Marina, shutting down the main boulevard. In some neighborhoods, flooding forced drivers to suddenly swerve or trudge through the water, sometimes soaking unsuspecting pedestrians or those waiting for a bus. Our sewer system really isnt built for this type of intense raining and precipitation, said Francis Zamora, chief of staff for the Department of Emergency Management. So theres just going to be a backup, and when the rain stops, the system will catch up. Interstate 880 was flooded in Fremont Sunday night into Monday morning, forcing the California Highway Patrol to shutter the East Bay artery in both directions between Thornton and Mowry avenues. Eight vehicles became stranded in the water around 4 a.m. Monday, officials said. At least one tractor-trailer was overturned by the wind on the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge, resulting in traffic jams and a now-viral TikTok showing the truck tipping over. In Sonoma County, thousands of students had their classes canceled Monday after flooding and power outages prompted officials to close down at least six school districts, according to the countys Office of Education. San Francisco optometrist Julie Ng spent all night Saturday and into Sunday trying to save her Richmond District office and equipment from the deluge after water broke through ceiling tiles and drenched the interior of her storefront. It was like it was raining indoors, Ng said of the state of the shop when more than a dozen ceiling tiles gave way. She compared it to a creeks worth of water flowing through the office, overflowing trash bins and buckets she and her husband set up to try to stanch it. Ng said her eye exam equipment was drenched, and she wasnt sure if some pieces were in working order. Those included a visual field analyzer and a retinal camera, each of which costs tens of thousands of dollars. She said she carried business insurance, but the last time she made a claim her rates doubled and she was concerned that the same thing could happen again. Ng said she doesn't know when shell be able to reopen. She said water damage during a 2017 storm shut her down for more than a month, adding, This today is probably 10 times worse. The roof of the Chinese Historical Society of America Museum needs patching, thanks to leaks that made it another San Francisco casualty of the weekends fierce storm. 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. We took a beating last night, Executive Director Justin Hoover said of the Chinatown building that was designed by famed architect Julia Morgan in the 1930s. More frustrating was that the society just patched the roof last year. Hoover said the storms toll on the building, previously a YWCA, included leaking above the main display area. The space was empty in preparation for a February exhibit on San Francisco native and martial arts film legend Bruce Lee. Meteorologists said the rainfall totals across the region were staggering. We literally have gone from fire/drought conditions to flooding in one storm cycle, the National Weather Service said. Mount Tamalpais in Marin County saw the most rain over the last two days. This month alone, the mountain has registered 26.92 inches of rain, the weather service said. Even areas that are usually dry, such as Livermore, saw about 3.57 inches of rain on Sunday. Another weather system headed toward the region could bring light showers to the North Bay on Tuesday, while the rest of the region could expect drier conditions. Staff writers Sam Whiting and Trisha Thadani contributed to this report. Jessica Flores, Julie Johnson, Chase DiFeliciantonio and Andres Picon are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: jessica.flores@sfchronicle.com, julie.johnson@sfchronicle.com, chase.difeliciantonio@sfchronicle.com, andy.picon@hearst.com Twitter: @jesssmflores, @juliejohnson, @ChaseDiFelice, @andpicon In San Franciscos Latino community, Berta Hernandez is whats known as a dona, an elder. Here, people know her, trust her. And shes translated that trust into helping an estimated 2,000 people and counting in the community get vaccinated against COVID-19. On a recent weekday, we joined Hernandez as she took to the pavement in the Excelsior District. She trailed behind a musical car, which played Latino hits from two speakers in its trunk and displayed signs in Spanish, English and Chinese about the local vaccination center at 20 Norton Street, handing flyers to passersby on the street. She placed flyers in the local grocery store, on car windshields and directly into the hands of pedestrians, many of whom consulted them thoughtfully. When anyone had questions, shed stop her crusade to talk with them. For a brief moment, Hernandez came to rest on the intersection of Norton and Mission streets which she calls the Magic Corner. The corner is set up with a table and signs, directing people to the vaccination site and offering information about COVID and vaccines. Its here thousands of people have passed through to get their shots. Many of them were sent there personally by Hernandez. Hernandezs official title is Health Programs Coordinator at the San Francisco Department of Public Health. But that title hardly encompasses all the work she has done to protect her community from COVID and to help them deal with the challenges of the virus that have radiated outward. I have two jobs now, she joked by phone Monday. My two jobs are very related to each other one is to support neighborhood vaccination clinics with outreach efforts to engage residents, especially those with vaccine hesitancy. The other job is to teach and coordinate students from San Francisco State and other local universities to deploy them into the different sites to support those efforts. I am busy, she said, laughing. Patricia Chang/Special to SFGATE Hernandez has been at this work for more than three decades. She got her start in San Francisco working as a Spanish hotline coordinator during the AIDS epidemic, which devastated the citys LGBTQ community. When she was on the front lines of the AIDS crisis, Hernandez understood the struggles of the Latino community, which she said accounted for 8% of San Franciscos population and more than 12% of its HIV/AIDS cases. With COVID, at one time, the Latino community now 15% of the population made up more than 50% of San Franciscos cases, she said. In her twenties, Hernandez came to San Francisco from Mexico City. She was undocumented at the time, and she cleaned houses and worked in taquerias to make ends meet. Though she had worked on a B.A. in Spanish language and literature, her thesis a requirement to graduate from Mexican universities was lost in a fire that tore through her Mission District apartment above the restaurant La Traviata. The restaurant caught fire in the middle of the night, and just like that we were homeless, she remembered. I had my books, my notes, my thesis drafts All lost. The only thing I had left were my pajamas and glasses. But the community pulled her through, bringing her blankets, shoes, burritos. The Red Cross put her up in a hotel in Daly City. That was OK with me, I was young, she said. But it was the thesis I missed most. I had to go to SF State again for my degree, but it was very difficult because of my English. All my credits were in Hispanic literature, so I didnt have any of the requirements. Patricia Chang/Special to SFGATE She said shed flunk math and physical sciences subjects she hadnt been required to take in Mexico City over and over. It took me many years, but I finished, she said. Hernandez still remembers how her community came together to take care of her. And she brings that spirit of giving to the work she continues to do today. At times, Hernandez said she wanted to return home. In Mexico, she worked as a literature teacher and an actress. She thought she could be an artist in San Francisco, as well. It was horrible. I wanted to go back, she said. But I didnt because I didnt have money to eat, nor for a plane ticket I thought, Im going to be an artist. You dont think you wont have any rights. You dont think you wont find a job. You dont think itll happen to you. Hernandez got involved with AIDS outreach in 1997 after seeing an advertisement in the newspaper from the San Francisco AIDS Foundation for a Spanish hotline coordinator. It said, you need to have knowledge of HIV, you need to know the community. I said, Ill study. And she did. The hotline hired her, and from there, her work to combat HIV/AIDS began. Hernandez said her knowledge of the Latino community helped her break through to people, especially moms who were not only struggling with their childrens HIV diagnoses, but their childrens sexuality as well. Patricia Chang/Special to SFGATE Homophobia is everywhere, Hernandez said. But one aspect thats important for Latino communities is the question of the family. Gay people in San Francisco have their own communities. They have the Castro, they are well-educated, they are artists. They have their own families. For Latinos, the main thing that sustained them in this time was their regular, normal, even homophobic, families. That pain was very big, to not be accepted by your mom, your sister, your grandma. You needed that line. We all need that line. And for Latinos, its very strong ... It was not enough, the gay community that they were creating for themselves. Those were sub-sects of culture, but the main one was of your family. Hernandez sees many parallels between the AIDS crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic. Its not perfect, but that experience is a strength for SFDPH, she said. San Francisco was the epicenter of the AIDS epidemic, it was terrible for the city. But the response was amazing and it generated many new ways of addressing these issues, of health education practices. And San Francisco became a leader in that area. Its a collective experience for all of us. She sees her work as coming full circle now and translates the lessons she learned during AIDS to COVID. I have the experience now, not only in my work but in my life, to be able to be this person, this elder and to support new generations of staff. Patricia Chang/Special to SFGATE COVID-19 has proven to be a beast of inordinate proportions for the Latino community. During our interview, Hernandez held up a single piece of string. This is where the Latino community was before the pandemic, hanging on by a thread, she said. Then, she cut the string with a pair of scissors. This is what happened to the community during COVID, she said. She called COVID the anti-Latino virus multiple times during our talk because many Latinos prior to the pandemic presented pre-existing health conditions that make them extremely vulnerable to the pandemic. All the determinants of health were playing against us, she said. Its a very disenfranchised community with limited access to health care. Some are undocumented. The housing crisis only further inflamed the pandemic. She said many of her community members live in multigenerational, multifamily housing, often with multiple families crowded into a single room. She says she herself cant afford to buy a house in San Francisco. The crowded living conditions are extreme for families and individual workers. There might be a room for 10 workers, where they go to sleep, then they hit the streets to find a job, she said. Plus, Latinos are accustomed to living in community. It was hard for people to go to the quarantine hotels and leave their families far away, she said. They didnt want to. Beyond the crowded living conditions, theres also the fear of deportation among undocumented people, a fear which has translated into vaccine hesitancy as people worry if they use public health resources, there will be major personal repercussions. There was no safety net when COVID hit, she said. I was able to shelter-in-place for my work, but many workers didnt have that opportunity. At the same time, they didnt have a place to quarantine safely because they lived with so many people. She said, It was like everywhere you walked, there was the risk of getting somebody else infected. Those who got sick and couldnt work often lost their jobs. If they were undocumented, they didnt quality for unemployment. And paying rent continued to be a challenge. She fears what will happen when the eviction moratorium ends in California. Many community members are months behind on rent. You could see how it was building up and up to these complicated levels, she said. The master tenant often had it the hardest. They had to pay rent on time to not get in trouble with the landlord, but often subtenants couldnt come up with the payment. So theyd be harassing the others, she said. And the landlords, themselves from the community, had no money to pay the mortgage. But Hernandez applauds the work SFDPH and community organizations did at the time, to provide support and help to those struggling. She says no one went hungry at the height of the pandemic, even when they were stuck in their homes. We used to say at Instituto [de Familiar de la Raza] that the only thing we're giving people is respiro, a breath. We are just giving them space to come down and help them think how they are going to organize their lives. We cannot do anything else really. When the vaccine finally became available in San Francisco, Hernandez said her job completely shifted. She now had to tackle the problem of getting as many of her community members vaccinated as possible. At first, it was easy, she said. She remembers the first day of the vaccine clinic at Capp and 24th streets when a line wound around the block. People wanted the shots in their arms as fast as possible. Then, things started to slow down. The people who had questions or strong opinions against vaccinations were left, she said. The job took a turn. She said in her community, it was often a question of access. Many people did not know how to make appointments online or by phone, or feared their undocumented status would lead to deportation. Hernandez talked them through the process, and personally signed up thousands for appointments. She assured the undocumented folks that it would be OK. Then there were many questions we had to answer, one by one, and the myths started to circulate, she said. Its going to cause fertility problems, the government wants to control us, things like that. Its very understandable that theres mistrust of the state because of whats happened in the past, she said. For Hernandez, reaching these people was a matter of trust, of trusting in la dona. There have been people on the street and people in my neighborhood (the Excelsior) that say, OK, Berta, I am going to get vaccinated because you are telling me to. Its a lot of trust. Its this trust that contradicts the social media misinformation, she said. I would say that what they saw in a post or on YouTube, none of this is based in science, she said. Of course, they have the right to do what they want to do, but I always recommend they look into trusted scientific data and findings, which she often provides herself. The Excelsior, where Hernandez has lived since the late 1980s, now has one of the highest vaccination rates in the city at 89% of eligible residents who have received at least their first dose. The citywide vaccination average is 83%. But the tragic memory of COVID remains, and Hernandez predicts its far-reaching impacts will linger for years to come. We didnt lose too many people here, but you can feel it, she said. There are children who've lost two family members. They were in their little room with all their sisters and brothers and trying to figure out how to [register] for school. Its very, very hard. One hundred and twenty-nine Latinos have died of COVID in San Francisco, 20% of all deaths. As Hernandez mentioned earlier, Latinos make up just 15% of the population. We need very fundamental structural changes, and thats not part of our job, Hernandez said. But, she continued, We know that we will keep going...We need to keep living and have hope and be able to have happiness and laugh. We will figure it out, she said. When I came here, my community saved me. And for Hernandez, that lights a fire. Human beings should not suffer as we have, she said. But at the same time, we have a lot of strength in what weve achieved just in the fact that we are here. So we can take COVID. PARIS (AP) In a move with potential ramifications for other European museums, France is displaying 26 looted colonial-era artifacts for one last time before returning them to Benin a decision authorities in the West African country described as historic. The wooden anthropomorphic statues, royal thrones and sacred altars were pilfered by the French army 129 years ago. The French will have a final glimpse of the objects, from the collection known as the Abomey Treasures, in the Musee du quai BranlyJacques Chirac from Tuesday through Sunday. Calixte Biah, curator of the Museum of History of Ouidah, Benin, where the artefacts will first be exhibited, said the occasion was historic. Its been more than one century that they have been removed from their historical context. And when you look at the quality of each of these artifacts altogether, you realize that ... there were great artists, he told The Associated Press. Benin is founding a new museum in Abomey, partly funded by the French government, that will ultimately house the works. President Emmanuel Macron suggested that France now needed to right the wrongs of the past, making a landmark speech in 2017 in which he said he can no longer accept "that a large part of many African countries cultural heritage lies in France. It laid down a roadmap for the return of the royal treasures taken during the era of empire and colony. So far, however, France has only turned over one item a sword handed to the Army Museum in Senegal. And the 26 works going to Benin represent a tiny handful of the more than 90,000 artifacts from sub-Saharan Africa alone held in French museums. We see 26 artefacts. There are others, no? So I wouldnt say that we are ending a process. Id say we are at the beginning of a process, Biah said. I think it would be decent that other countries which hold African artefacts take the same path as France, he added. Earlier this year, Germany started a similar move. The decision was taken that German museums should work on a restitution plan to return to Nigeria artifacts known as the Benin Bronzes next year. These were looted from the royal palace of the Kingdom of Benin, in what is now southern Nigeria, by a British colonial expedition in 1897. Yet critics of such moves including Londons British Museum, in a decades-long tug-of-war with the Greek government over a restitution of the Elgin, or Parthenon, Marbles argue that it will open the floodgates to emptying Western museums of their collections. Many are made up of objects acquired during colonial times. The British Museum said Monday it is working on a collaboration with Nigeria, linked to the construction of a new museum in the West African country, which will allow to reunite Benin artworks from international collections. French Culture Minister Roselyne Bachelot tried to assuage jitters among European museums, emphasizing that this initiative will not create a legal precedent. A French law was passed last year to allow the restitution of the statues to Benin, and of the sword to Senegal. But she said that the French governments law was intentionally specific in applying solely to the 27 artifacts. (It) does not establish any general right to restitution and in no way calls into question the right of French museums to hold on to their heritage. The story of the Abomey Treasures is as dramatic as their sculpted forms. In November 1892, Colonel Alfred Dodds led a pilfering French expeditionary force into the Kingdom of Danhome located in the south of present-day Benin. The colonizing troops broke into the Abomey Palace, home of King Behanzin, seizing as they did many royal objects including the 26 artifacts that Dodds donated to the Musee dEthnographie du Trocadero in Paris in the 1890s. Since the 2000s, the objects have been housed at the Musee du quai BranlyJacques Chirac. Gaelle Beaujean, head of the Africa collections at the museum, stressed that these artefacts have also been seen by artists (in France, and) inspired (architect) Le Corbusier ... In fact, since 1893, they are very much engraved on the French memory as well. They are part, I believe, of a common history, she added. Macron is to visit the exhibit on Wednesday. The restitution process aims at allowing the African youth to have access to their own heritage in Africa, and not in Europe only, the French presidency said in a statement. Benins Culture Minister Jean-Michel Abimbola called the return of the works a historic milestone, and the beginning of further cooperation between the two countries, during a news conference last week. The French Development Agency will give some 35 million euros toward the Museum of the Saga of the Amazons and the Danhome Kings to be built in Abomey under a pledge signed this year. The official transfer of the 26 pieces is expected to be signed in Paris on Nov. 9, and the art is expected to be in Benin a few days later, Abimbola said. While locals say the decision is overdue, whats important is that the art will be returned. It was a vacuum created among Benins historical treasures, which is gradually being reconstituted, said Fortune Sossa, President of the African Cultural Journalists Network. ___ Virgile Ahissou in Cotonou, Benin contributed to this report. CRENSHAW, Miss. (AP) Authorities were searching for suspects Monday after shootings killed two people and wounded three at an apartment complex in a small town in north Mississippi. Investigators said they found 60 to 100 rounds fired from multiple firearms throughout the apartment complex Sunday night in Crenshaw, news outlets reported. NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. (AP) Illegal drugs are suspected after three people were found dead at a home in Newport Beach early Monday, authorities said. A fourth person was hospitalized following a call for medical aid from the residence on Balboa Island, Heather Rangel, a police spokesperson, said in an email. Currently Reading Alert: Sudan's information ministry says Prime Minister Abdulla Hamdok under house arrest in military coup CHICAGO (AP) When the discovery of more than two dozen bodies stashed under John Wayne Gacy's house near Chicago was making headlines all over the world in the late 1970s, Francis Wayne Alexander's family in New York didn't think much of it. The way they saw it, Alexander had cut off communication with them because he wanted to be left alone. Then came news this month that for more than 40 years, the man they knew as Wayne was known as Victim #5 in the city where he had gone to start a new life. They were told that DNA tests on the remains of one of the half-dozen unidentified victims of the notorious serial killer were Alexander's. They just loved him, but they thought that he wanted nothing more to do with them, so thats why there was never a missing persons report, Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart said at a news conference Monday announcing the latest victim identification. Though Dart said Alexander's mother and other relatives didn't want to speak publicly about his identification as a Gacy victim, Alexander's sister, Carolyn Sanders, made clear that the family never stopped thinking of what might have become of him. It is hard, even 45 years later, to know the fate of our beloved Wayne, Sanders wrote in a statement released by Dart's office. He was killed at the hands of a vile and evil man. Our hearts are heavy, and our sympathies go out to the other victims families. ... We can now lay to rest what happened and move forward by honoring Wayne. Alexander's remains were among 26 sets that police found in the crawl space under Gacy's home just outside the city. Three other victims were found buried on Gacy's property and another four people whom Gacy admitted killing were found in waterways south of Chicago. Eight victims, including Alexander, were buried before police could determine who they were. But Dart's office exhumed the eight sets of remains in 2011 and called on anyone who had a male relative disappear in the Chicago area in the 1970s, when Gacy was trolling for victims, to submit DNA. Within weeks, the sheriff's office announced that it had identified one set of remains as those of William Bundy, a 19-year-old construction worker. In 2017, it identified a second set as those of 16-year-old Jimmy Haakenson, who disappeared after he phoned his mother in Minnesota and told her that he was in Chicago. Dart and Lt. Jason Moran shared what they knew about Alexander. Born in North Carolina, he and his family moved to New York, where he eventually got married before moving to Chicago in 1975, where he soon divorced. The last known records of Alexander's life were traffic tickets he received, the last of which came in January 1976. Unlike many victims who were lured to Gacy's home with the promise that he'd get them construction work, Alexander worked in bars and clubs and there was no record of him working in construction or having made contact with Gacy. But Alexander did live in an area that Gacy frequented and that was where some Gacy's other victims had lived, including Bundy. Unlike with Bundy and Haakenson, who were identified because family members heeded Dart's 2011 call for the public to submit DNA, Alexander was identified through a partnership between the sheriff's office and the DNA Doe Project. The nonprofit compared Victim #5's DNA profile to profiles on a genealogy website to find potential relatives. That led it to Alexander's family, and Alexander's mother and half-brother provided their DNA for comparison. Between the genetic testing, financial records, post-mortem reports and other information, investigators were able to confirm that the remains were Alexander's. They were able to get a general sense of when he was killed because they knew when the victim who was buried on top of him went missing. Dart and Moran said the department might be able to use the method used to identify Alexander to identify scores of other people in the county who died and were buried anonymously. This is one of the newest investigative tools for investigations of missing and unidentified persons, Moran said. Dart declined to give Alexander's hometown, saying the family hasn't said if it wants to have his remains returned to it or to keep them where they've been buried for all these years. In its news release, the sheriff's office thanked the police department in Erwin, about 35 miles (56 kilometers) south of Raleigh, for its help. The submission of DNA from people who suspected Gacy might have killed their loved ones has helped police solve at least 11 cold cases of homicides that had nothing to do with Gacy, who was executed in 1994. It has also helped families find loved ones who while missing, were alive, including a man in Oregon who had no idea his family was looking for him. ___ This story was first published on Oct. 25. It was updated on Oct. 26 to correct that Alexander's family was living in New York by the time Gacy was arrested in 1978, not in North Carolina. NEW YORK (AP) An appeals court should overturn the U.S. conspiracy conviction of notorious Mexican drug lord Joaquin El Chapo Guzman because of claims that his anonymous jury flouted warnings to avoid media accounts of the case, a lawyer for Guzman urged a three-judge panel on Monday, catching the attention of at least one judge. In oral arguments before the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New York, attorney Marc Fernich cited a news report that during deliberations jurors were exposed to salacious claims that were barred from the trial, including that Guzman sexually abused girls he referred to as vitamins that gave him energy. Fernich argued the court should order a new trial or at least call for a hearing on the alleged jury misconduct. He asked the judges to resist any punitive impulse toward someone who was cast as a public enemy like gangster Al Capone. The guy is going to be in a box for the rest of his life, Fernich said. Im not asking you to play violins for him. This is his last shot. The legal claims resonated with Circuit Judge Gerard E. Lynch, who said it was a not bad argument. This is serious stuff, the judge later added. Assistant U.S. Attorney Hiral Mehta argued the lower court was right to reject the defense request for a hearing on the jury issue because there was no valid evidence of misconduct. He said the Vice News report based on a post-conviction interview with a juror who wasnt named amounted to hearsay and double hearsay. Guzman was sentenced in 2019 to life behind bars for a massive drug conspiracy that spread murder and mayhem for more than two decades. Before the federal case, he had attained near-mythical status by escaping from prison twice in Mexico, the second time through a tunnel dug into the shower of his cell. He was recaptured and sent in 2017 to the United States and put in solitary confinement. At trial, Guzmans lawyers argued he was the fall guy for other kingpins who were better at paying off top Mexican politicians and law enforcement officials to protect them. The judges, while sounding open to the arguments about potential juror prejudice, showed less patience with another claim that Guzmans defense was unfairly hindered by the strict terms of confinement that were imposed in response to his reputation as an escape artist. Lynch challenged Fernichs characterization that Guzman was thrown into a modern dungeon, pointing out that his lawyers had constant access to him leading up to the trial. Hes not isolated from the world, Lynch said. Hes seeing people on a regular basis. The panel will rule at a later date. ___ Associated Press Writer Larry Neumeister contributed to this report. KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) Southeast Asian leaders are holding their annual meeting this week without Myanmars top general, who seized power in February and shattered hopes for one of Asias most dramatic democratic transitions, and was excluded for refusing to take steps to end the deadly violence. Myanmar defiantly protested the exclusion of Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, who currently heads its government and ruling military council, from the summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Brunei, which currently leads the 10-nation bloc, will host the three-day meetings starting Tuesday by video due to coronavirus concerns. The talks will be joined by U.S. President Joe Biden and the leaders of China and Russia, and are expected to spotlight Myanmars worsening crisis and the pandemic as well as security and economic issues. ASEANs unprecedented sanctioning of Myanmar strayed from its bedrock principles of non-interference in each others domestic affairs and deciding by consensus, under which just one member could effectively shoot down a group decision. Myanmar cited the violation of those principles enshrined in the groups charter in rejecting the decision to bar its military leader from the summit. The regional group has few other options as the generals intransigence risked further tainting its image as a diplomatic refuge for some of the most intractable tyrants in Asia. A senior ASEAN diplomat, who joined an Oct. 15 emergency meeting where the foreign ministers decided to rebuff Myanmar, said those two principles bind but will not paralyze the bloc. The diplomat called ASEAN's more forceful response a paradigm shift" but added its conservative principles would likely stay. In serious cases like this, when the integrity and credibility of ASEAN is at stake, ASEAN member states or even the leaders and the ministers have that latitude to act, said the diplomat, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because of a lack of authority to discuss the issues publicly. Instead of Myanmars top general, the countrys highest-ranking veteran diplomat, Chan Aye, was invited to the summit as the countrys non-political representative, the diplomat said. It remains unclear if Chan Aye will attend. Myanmar's Foreign Ministry said late Monday that it has informed Brunei that it can only accept participation by the general or a ministerial-level representative. It said it would challenge ASEANs decision. Myanmars military-appointed foreign minister joined the online emergency meeting two weeks ago. Some ministers bluntly expressed their opposition to the Feb. 1 military takeover that ousted civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi and her party, which overwhelmingly won last November's elections. Singapore Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan declared his government still recognizes Suu Kyi and ousted President Win Myint, both of whom have been detained, as Myanmars legitimate leaders, according to the diplomat. Malaysian Foreign Minister Saifuddin Abdullah, a staunch critic of the militarys seizure of power, told his ASEAN counterparts that the principle of non-interference cannot be used as a shield to avoid issues being addressed given that the Myanmar crisis has alarmed the region. In a separate online forum last week, he suggested officials and others do some soul-searching for ASEAN on the possibility of moving away from the principle of non-interference toward `constructive engagement or `non-indifference. ASEAN has been under intense international pressure to take steps to help end the violence that has left an estimated 1,100 civilians dead since the army took power and locked up Suu Kyi and others, igniting widespread peaceful protests and armed resistance. U.N. special envoy Christine Schraner Burgener warned last week that Myanmar will go in the direction of a failed state if violent conflicts between the military, civilians and ethnic minorities spiral out of control and the democratic setback is not resolved peacefully. Suu Kyis party won a landslide victory in 2015 after more than five decades of military rule. But the military remained powerful and contested her National League for Democracy partys win in last November elections as fraudulent. ASEAN has not recognized the military leadership although Myanmar remains a member. The group must take a bolder step to speak up against the non-democratic overthrow of a democratically elected government and crimes against humanity against the Myanmar people, said Alexander Arifianto, an Indonesian expert on regional politics at Singapores S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies. ASEAN needs to reform its decision-making process. ASEAN leaders agreed on a five-point contingency plan in an emergency meeting in April in Indonesia that was attended by Min Aung Hlaing. They called for an immediate end to the violence and the start of a dialogue to be mediated by a special ASEAN envoy, who should be allowed to meet all parties. But the military has repeatedly refused to allow the envoy to meet Suu Kyi and other political detainees in an impasse that is testing the regional bloc. ASEAN admitted Myanmar in 1997 despite intense opposition from the U.S. and European countries, which then cited its military juntas record of suppressing democracy and human rights. The other members of the bloc are Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. ___ Gomez reported from Manila, Philippines. Associated Press writers Grant Peck in Bangkok and Niniek Karmini in Jakarta, Indonesia, contributed to this report. CANBERRA, Australia (AP) Australia plans to crack down on online advertisers targeting children by making social media platforms seek parental consent for users younger than 16 years old to join or face fines of 10 million Australian dollars ($7.5 million) under a draft law released Monday. The landmark legislation would protect Australians online and ensure that Australias privacy laws are appropriate in the digital age, a government statement said. Social media platforms would be required to take all reasonable steps to verify their users ages under a binding code for social media services, data brokers and other large online platforms operating in Australia, The platforms would also have to give primary consideration to the best interests of children when handling their personal information, the draft legislation states. The code would also require platforms to obtain parental consent for users under the age of 16. The proposed legal changes come after former Facebook product manager Frances Haugen this month asserted that whenever there was a conflict between the public good and what benefited the company, the social media giant would choose its own interests. Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister for Mental Health and Suicide Prevention David Coleman said the new code would lead the world in protecting children from social media companies. In Australia, even before the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a consistent increase in signs of distress and mental ill health among young people. While the reasons for this are varied and complex, we know that social media is part of the problem, Coleman said in a statement. Facebook regional director of public policy Mia Garlick said her platform had been calling for Australias privacy laws to evolve with new technology. We have supported the development of international codes around young peoples data, like the U.K. Age Appropriate Design Code, Garlick said in a statement, referring to British legislation introduced this year that requires platforms to verify users ages if content risks the moral, physical or mental well-being of children. Were reviewing the draft bill and discussion paper released today, and look forward to working with the Australian government on this further, she added. Australia has been a prominent voice in calling for international regulation of the internet. It passed laws this year that oblige Google and Facebook to pay for journalism. Australia also defied the tech companies by creating a law that could imprison social media executives if their platforms stream violent images. CANBERRA, Australia (AP) Australia will commit to a target of net zero carbon emissions by 2050 but will not increase its goal for 2030 at an upcoming U.N. climate summit in Scotland, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Tuesday. Morrisons conservative Liberal Party-led government was narrowly re-elected in 2019 with a climate policy that opposed the 2050 net zero target adopted by the opposition center-left Labor Party. Morrison wrote in an opinion piece published Tuesday in Australian News Corp newspapers that his government will indeed commit to the 2050 net zero goal, but will not up its election pledge to reduce emissions between 26% and 28% below 2005 levels by 2030. I said we would meet and beat this target and we will, Morrison wrote. Getting to the net zero commitment took political wrangling on the part of Morrison's ruling party, including winning the support of a rural-based junior coalition member the Nationals party with a number of concessions. One of them was that Resources Minister Keith Pitt, who maintains Australia will continue exporting coal for decades, was made the fifth Nationals Cabinet minister. Morrison on Monday announced Pitts promotion. Morrison will announce further details of the agreement with the Nationals after they are explained to government lawmakers at a meeting later Tuesday at Parliament House. The conditions also include a government review every five years of the economic impacts of the net zero target outside major cities. The first assessment would be delivered in 2023, The Australian newspaper reported. Finance Minister Simon Birmingham described the reviews as a health check on how various parts of Australia were being effected by the transition to net zero. What it will do is focus the minds of the government of the day very clearly on where additional investments may be necessary to help ensure the transition, Birmingham told Australian Broadcasting Corp. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who will host the upcoming summit in Glasgow, Scotland, known as COP26, congratulated Australia on its net zero ambition. That was very difficult for Australia because Australias very heavily dependent on coal, on lots of carbon-producing industries, and theyve done a heroic thing, Johnson said, referring to the 2050 commitment. However Australia is likely to be criticized in Glasgow for its relatively weak 2030 target. The United States has committed to reductions of between 50% and 52% below 2005 levels. Britain has pledged to cut emissions by 68% below 1990 levels. Australia is one of the worlds largest exporters of coal and liquified natural gas. The nation is also one of the worlds worst greenhouse gas emitters per capita because of its heavy reliance on coal-fired power. COP26 will assess progress since nations agreed in the 2015 Paris accord to limit warming to less than 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit). The meeting in Glasgow is widely seen as the last chance to hold global warming to 1.5 C (2.7 F) above pre-industrial levels. NEW YORK (AP) New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio separately received COVID-19 booster shots Monday as part of their efforts to promote widespread vaccinations. The two Democrats, who received their shots at different events, were eligible because they had each received the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine earlier this year. Boston is joining other communities across the U.S. with large numbers of university students in planning to challenge the results of the once-a-decade head count, saying the 2020 census undercounted the city's students as well as jail inmates and foreign-born residents. Mayor Kim Janey said in a letter to the U.S. Census Bureau this month that city officials believe about 5,000 college students were missed in the city that is home to Boston University, Northeastern University, Suffolk University and the University of Massachusetts Boston. The city made its estimate based on records Boston schools are required to give to the city with addresses for students living off campus. The 2020 census began just as the pandemic took hold and students were told to leave campuses. The results put the city of Boston's population at 675,647 people. The county's corrections department estimates that 500 jail inmates were missed, and city officials believe neighborhoods with large numbers of foreign-born residents were undercounted as well, the Boston mayor said. Issues such as language barriers and government mistrust, particularly with a possibility of a citizenship question, may have resulted in an undercount of these traditionally difficult populations to count," Janey said. The administration of former President Donald Trump generated months of headlines by trying to add a citizenship question to the 2020 census form before it was blocked by the Supreme Court. Civil rights advocates believe this may have discouraged non-citizens and their relatives from participating in the count of every U.S. resident. Other college towns across the U.S. , including Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and Greenville, North Carolina, plan similar challenges, claiming students were missed. When the coronavirus pandemic struck the U.S. around spring break of 2020, it set off an exodus in college towns as classrooms went virtual almost overnight. The sudden departure of tens of thousands of students from these communities made it difficult to count them in the census, which began at almost the same time. According to Census Bureau guidelines, students should have been counted at their college addresses, even if the coronavirus temporarily sent them elsewhere on the April 1 date that provides a benchmark for the census. Cities, states and tribal nations can start contesting their numbers in January through the bureaus Count Question Resolution program, but it looks only at number-crunching errors, such as an overlooked housing unit or incorrect boundaries. The program only revises the figures used for population estimates over the next decade that help determine federal funding. The Census Bureau wont revise the numbers used for determining how many congressional seats each state gets, nor the redistricting data used for drawing congressional and legislative districts. In her letter, the Boston mayor praised the Census Bureau for doing its best to adjust to the hurdles caused by the pandemic. Our desire to have a more accurate population count for Boston does not diminish our appreciation for the valuable resources that the Census Bureau provides," Janey said. ___ Follow Mike Schneider on Twitter at https://twitter.com/MikeSchneiderAP WASHINGTON (AP) Federal health officials on Monday extended for nearly three more months its rules that cruise ships must follow to sail during the pandemic. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the extension makes only minor modifications to rules already in effect. The agency said that after Jan. 15, it plans to move to a voluntary program for cruise companies to detect and control the spread of COVID-19 on their ships. The current regulations, called a conditional sailing order, were scheduled to expire on Nov. 1. The CDC imposed the first no-sail order on cruise lines in March 2020, after most companies sailing in U.S. waters had agreed to suspend voyages. The CDC issue technical guidelines for the industry five months later, and began approving trial sailings this spring. Cruises have since sailed from Florida and other parts of the country. Most lines require adult passengers to show proof of vaccination against COVID-19. The CDC noted on Twitter that since it first issued restrictions on sailing, cruise lines have developed and implemented health and safety protocols to manage COVID-19 and have resumed cruising. A cruise industry trade group pledged to continue working with CDC on health measures on board ships. It cited the CDC announcement as evidence that lines have made a successful if only partial return since the pandemic shut down the industry worldwide. Laziza Lambert, a spokeswoman for the Cruise Lines International Association, said in a statement that, Cruising has successfully resumed in the United States with measures that have limited the risk of COVID-19 for passengers and crew members. She said the CDC announcement shows that the health agency and the Biden administration recognize the cruise industrys successful resumption of operations. Industry officials have complained that the government took a much tougher stance against cruising shutting it down entirely last year than it took toward airlines and other parts of the travel industry. BEIJING (AP) Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi will meet with Taliban representatives during a trip this week to the Persian Gulf nation of Qatar, an official said Monday. The talks during Wangs visit, scheduled for Monday and Tuesday, are the latest high-level contact between the sides and will provide an opportunity to have an in-depth exchange of views on Afghanistans situation and issues of joint concern, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said at a daily briefing. Beijing long opposed operations by U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan with which it shares a narrow border while benefiting from the relative stability that the presence provided. It has kept its embassy open in Kabul but has not recognized the Taliban as the government of Afghanistan. It has urged the group not to provide a safe haven for Islamic militants seeking independence for the northwestern Chinese region of Xinjiang. Since August this year, the situation in Afghanistan has undergone fundamental changes and the Afghan people have a historic opportunity to independently decide the countrys destiny. Meanwhile, however, they still face many difficulties and challenges and are in urgent need of external support," Wang said. As a traditional friendly neighbor and partner of Afghanistan, China always called for dialogue and contact to guide the development of the Afghan situation in a positive direction and help the Afghan people to get over difficulties," he said. Wang met with a delegation led by a top Taliban leader, Abdul Ghani Baradar, in July in the Chinese city of Tianjin, shortly before the group seized power from Afghanistan's elected government. At that meeting, Wang referred to the Taliban as a pivotal military and political force in Afghanistan that is expected to play an important role in the process of peace, reconciliation and reconstruction. China has urged the group to keep border crossings open, while offering $31 million in humanitarian assistance along with 3 million doses of Chinese-made COVID-19 vaccines. China has previously signed deals for oil, gas and copper mining in Afghanistan, although those have long been dormant. Chinese officials have called for an inclusive government in Afghanistan but said virtually nothing about the Talibans restrictions on womens access to work and education and other human rights issues. THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) The Dutch government is seeking advice from a panel of experts on whether it needs to reintroduce COVID-19 restrictions amid sharply rising infection rates, the health minister said Monday. The Netherlands has one of the fastest-rising infection rates in Europe. The 7-day rolling average of daily new cases increased over the past two weeks from 13.43 new cases per 100,000 people to 29.27 new cases per 100,000 people on Oct. 24. COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) People in Estonia no longer can use negative test results to obtain the coronavirus certificates needed to attend sporting events, movie showings, indoor public meetings and other events. As of Monday, only proof of vaccination or having recovered from COVID-19 are accepted as the basis for obtaining a certificate. Authorities said the rule, along with another requiring masks in indoor public places, will remain in place until Jan. 10. It wasnt immediately clear why the government disqualified negative test results from the certificate process, although concerns about the reliability of some tests could be a factor. Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas said that among the people who have died of COVID-19 in the Baltic nation, there are five times more unvaccinated people than people who have been vaccinated. Kallas did not give the timeframe for the statistic. Estonia on Monday reported 1,787 new daily cases, a number equivalent to its March pandemic peak. On Sunday, the countrys 14-day coronavirus infection rate stood at 1,311.3 per 100,000 inhabitants, one of the highest in Europe, Estonian broadcaster ERR said. The two other Baltic countries also are seeing worsening coronavirus situations. Last week, Latvia entered a nearly monthlong lockdown that includes a nightly curfew and the closing of all shops except for those selling essential goods. The country has one of the European Union's lowest vaccination rates. Latvia recorded 887 new cases and 21 deaths in 24 hours, the Baltic News Service said Monday, quoting official statistics. Lithuania, the southernmost Baltic country, recorded 1,810 new daily cases and 25 deaths, according to the news service. The 14-day infection rate rose to 1,314.4 per 100,000 people. ___ Follow APs pandemic coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic To help pay for his big economic and social agenda, President Joe Biden is looking to go where the big money is: billionaires. Biden never endorsed an outright wealth tax when he campaigned for the White House last year. But his more conventional proposed rate increases on the income of large corporations and the wealthiest Americans have hit a roadblock. That leaves a special tax on the assets, not the income, of billionaires being proposed by a Senate Democrat as a possible way to help pay for child care, universal prekindergarten, child tax credits, family leave and environmental initiatives. Biden has pledged that his programs will not add a penny to the deficit, which means selling to Congress and voters a tax on the wealthiest .0005% of Americans. Some details on the proposed billionaires tax: HOW WOULD IT WORK? Essentially, billionaires earn the bulk of their money off their wealth. This might be from the stock market. It could include, once sold, beachfront mansions or the ownership of rare art and antiquities. A triceratops skeleton. This new tax would apply solely to people with at least $1 billion in assets or $100 million in income for three straight years. These standards mean that just 700 taxpayers would face the additional tax on increases to their wealth, according to a description obtained by The Associated Press of the proposal of by the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore. On tradeable items such as stocks, billionaires would still pay a tax even if they held on to the asset. They would be taxed on any increases in value and take deductions on losses. Under current law, those assets get taxed only when they are sold. Billionaires would also face an additional tax on nontradeable assets such as real estate and business interests once those assets are sold. During the first year of the proposed tax, the billionaires would also owe taxes on any built-in gains that predate the tax. HOW MUCH MONEY WOULD IT RAISE? House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., estimated on CNN Sunday that the tax would raise $200 billion to $250 billion. This is a meaningful sum, but it's well shy of the nearly $2 trillion in proposed additional spending over 10 years being negotiated right now. This means that additional levies such as the global minimum tax and increased enforcement dollars for the IRS would still be needed to help close the gap. And the forecasts for revenue from the wealth tax are highly debatable. Its just impossible to implement, said Allison Schrager, a senior fellow at the conservative Manhattan Institute. Theres a lot of evidence that these things dont work, and Ive never heard an explanation of how this could be workable. WHY WOULD BIDEN GO THIS ROUTE? The president would rather raise corporate tax rates and rates on wealthy individuals. That was his initial proposal, but he's got to appease Sens. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz. Those are the two make-or-break Democratic votes in the evenly split Senate. Sinema objected to higher rates, which brought the wealth tax into play as an alternative. The idea gained steam after the publication of French economist Thomas Piketty's book Capital in the Twenty-First Century. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., made a 2% wealth tax a trademark policy in the 2020 presidential primaries, and fellow candidate Bernie Sanders, the senator from Vermont, proposed his own wealth tax. Biden never jumped on that bandwagon. But he did make higher taxes on the wealthy a key promise, saying no one earning less than $400,000 would pay more. IS A WEALTH TAX CONSTITUTIONAL? If a wealth tax were to become law, it probably would be challenged in court. The likely case comes from Article 1, Section 2 of the Constitution. It states that direct Taxes shall be apportioned among the several States which may be included within this Union, according to their respective Numbers. What does that mean? It means that revenues from "direct taxes must reflect the population of the states, which is a problem because billionaires tend to cluster in places such as California and New York. If that's the case, how does the federal government charge income and payroll taxes? That's because of the 16th Amendment. It allows Congress to lay and collect taxes on incomes, from whatever source derived, without apportionment among the several States. So what really matters is whether the Supreme Court would interpret a wealth tax as a direct tax on property that is unconstitutional or whether it's essentially a tax on income that is permissible. ARE BILLIONAIRES REALLY THAT RICH? Seems that way. There is a legitimate debate about the optimal forms of taxation. Is it better for the economy for the wealthy to keep their assets invested in new businesses? Or is it better for some of their money to go to the government to help pay for programs such as child care, universal pre-K and shifts to renewable energy? What is clear is that the wealthy do have money to tax, should the government wish to do it. America's billionaires have seen their collected wealth surge 70% since the start of the pandemic to more than $5 trillion, according to an analysis by the pro-wealth-tax Americans for Tax Fairness and the Institute for Policy Studies Program on Inequality. That gain from March 18, 2020, to this past month is equal in size to Biden's spending plans over 10 years. Right now, billionaires are not paying a dime in taxes on their fabulous income gains from their stock holdings during the pandemic, said Frank Clemente, executive director of Americans for Tax Fairness. The billionaires income tax would tax the increase in the value of those assets each year just like workers wages are taxed." There were 614 U.S. billionaires at the start of the pandemic; the total has now grown to 745. Part of what makes the coronavirus unique is that many poorer Americans also became wealthier, but they did so at a much slower pace than billionaires. Federal Reserve data indicate that the net worth of the bottom 90% of Americans a group that includes the middle class rose by roughly 22%. For many Americans, the wealth increase reflected a rising stock market, higher home values and unprecedented government aid in the form of direct checks and forgivable payroll loans to small businesses. CAN BILLIONAIRES ESCAPE TAXATION? They've found ways before. They can hire armadas of lawyers, accountants and others to minimize their tax burdens. The news outlet ProPublica revealed various tax shelters with IRS data earlier this year, and the recent Pandora Papers showed there is a global industry to shelter the assets of the politically powerful and extremely wealthy. The ProPublica investigation showed that Warren Buffett paid an average rate of 19%. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos paid 23%, while Tesla's Elon Musk was at roughly 30%. The top tax rate on income earned from labor is 37%, but the tax on capital gains is a lower 20% and that favors those with extreme wealth. The lower capital gains rate can also encourage more investment in new companies that help the economy grow. A White House analysis in September indicated the country's 400 wealthiest families paid an average federal income tax rate of 8.2% between 2010 and 2018. The administration's fundamental message is that a rate this low is unfair because middle class families often pay a greater share of their income in taxes. The bottom-line question for Democratic lawmakers is how to close or at least narrow the escape hatches for those with extreme wealth. It could require calculations such as the deferral recapture amount and other technicalities that are likely to baffle most of America. But the writing of the tax law and its enforcement will determine just how successful a wealth tax would be and perhaps the fate of Biden's big agenda as well. ___ Associated Press writer Will Weissert contributed to this report. DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) In Gaza and Syria, journalists and activists feel Facebook censors their speech, flagging inoffensive Arabic posts as terrorist content. In India and Myanmar, political groups use Facebook to incite violence. All of it frequently slips through the companys efforts to police its social media platforms because of a shortage of moderators who speak local languages and understand cultural contexts. Internal company documents from the former Facebook product manager-turned-whistleblower Frances Haugen show the problems plaguing the companys content moderation are systemic, and that Facebook has understood the depth of these failings for years while doing little about it. Its platforms have failed to develop artificial-intelligence solutions that can catch harmful content in different languages. As a result, terrorist content and hate speech proliferate in some of the worlds most volatile regions. Elsewhere, the companys language gaps lead to overzealous policing of everyday expression. This story, along with others published Monday, is based on former Facebook product manager-turned-whistleblower Frances Haugen's disclosures to the Securities and Exchange Commission, which were also provided to Congress in redacted form by her legal team. The redacted versions received by Congress were obtained by a consortium of news organizations, including The Associated Press. In a statement to the AP, a Facebook spokesperson said that over the last two years the company has invested in recruiting more staff with local dialect and topic expertise to bolster its review capacity globally. When it comes to Arabic content moderation, in particular, the company said, We still have more work to do." But the documents show the problems are not limited to Arabic. In Myanmar, where Facebook-based misinformation has been linked repeatedly to ethnic violence, the companys internal reports show it failed to stop the spread of hate speech targeting the minority Rohingya Muslim population. In India, the documents show moderators never flagged anti-Muslim hate speech broadcast by Prime Minister Narendra Modis far-right Hindu nationalist group because Facebook lacked moderators and automated filters with knowledge of Hindi and Bengali. Arabic, Facebooks third-most common language, does pose particular challenges to the companys automated systems and human moderators, each of which struggles to understand spoken dialects unique to each country and region, their vocabularies salted with different historical influences and cultural contexts. The platform won a vast following across the region amid the 2011 Arab Spring, but its reputation as a forum for free expression in a region full of autocratic governments has since changed. Scores of Palestinian journalists have had their accounts deleted. Archives of the Syrian civil war have disappeared. During the 11-day Gaza war last May, Facebooks Instagram app briefly banned the hashtag #AlAqsa, a reference to the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalems Old City, a flashpoint of the conflict. The company later apologized, saying it confused Islams third-holiest site for a terrorist group. Criticism, satire and even simple mentions of groups on the companys Dangerous Individuals and Organizations list a docket modeled on the U.S. government equivalent are grounds for a takedown. We were incorrectly enforcing counterterrorism content in Arabic, one document reads, noting the system limits users from participating in political speech, impeding their right to freedom of expression. The Facebook blacklist includes Gazas ruling Hamas party, as well as Hezbollah, the militant group that holds seats in Lebanons Parliament, along with many other groups representing wide swaths of people and territory across the Middle East. The companys language gaps and biases have led to the widespread perception that its reviewers skew in favor of governments and against minority groups. Israeli security agencies and watchdogs also monitor Facebook and bombard it with thousands of orders to take down Palestinian accounts and posts as they try to crack down on incitement. They flood our system, completely overpowering it, said Ashraf Zeitoon, Facebooks former head of policy for the Middle East and North Africa region, who left in 2017. Syrian journalists and activists reporting on the countrys opposition also have complained of censorship, with electronic armies supporting embattled President Bashar Assad aggressively flagging dissident posts for removal. Meanwhile in Afghanistan, Facebook does not translate the sites hate speech and misinformation pages into Dari and Pashto, the countrys two main languages. The site also doesnt have a bank of hate speech terms and slurs in Afghanistan, so it cant build automated filters that catch the worst violations. In the Philippines, homeland of many domestic workers in the Middle East, Facebook documents show that engineers struggled to detect reports of abuse by employers because the company couldn't flag words in Tagalog, the major Philippine language. In the Middle East, the company over-relies on artificial-intelligence filters that make mistakes, leading to a lot of false positives and a media backlash, one document reads. Largely unskilled moderators, in over their heads and at times relying on Google Translate, tend to passively field takedown requests instead of screening proactively. Most are Moroccans and get lost in the translation of Arabics 30-odd dialects. The moderators flag inoffensive Arabic posts as terrorist content 77% of the time, one report said. Although the documents from Haugen predate this years Gaza war, episodes from that bloody conflict show how little has been done to address the problems flagged in Facebooks own internal reports. Activists in Gaza and the West Bank lost their ability to livestream. Whole archives of the conflict vanished from newsfeeds, a primary portal of information. Influencers accustomed to tens of thousands of likes on their posts saw their outreach plummet when they posted about Palestinians. This has restrained me and prevented me from feeling free to publish what I want, said Soliman Hijjy, a Gaza-based journalist. Palestinian advocates submitted hundreds of complaints to Facebook during the war, often leading the company to concede error. In the internal documents, Facebook reported it had erred in nearly half of all Arabic language takedown requests submitted for appeal. Facebooks internal documents also stressed the need to enlist more Arab moderators from less-represented countries and restrict them to where they have appropriate dialect expertise. It is surely of the highest importance to put more resources to the task to improving Arabic systems, said the report. Meanwhile, many across the Middle East worry the stakes of Facebooks failings are exceptionally high, with potential to widen long-standing inequality, chill civic activism and stoke violence in the region. We told Facebook: Do you want people to convey their experiences on social platforms, or do you want to shut them down? said Husam Zomlot, the Palestinian envoy to the United Kingdom. If you take away peoples voices, the alternatives will be uglier. ___ Akram reported from Gaza City, Gaza Strip. Associated Press writers Sam McNeil in Beijing and Sheikh Saaliq in New Delhi contributed to this report. Jorg Greuel/Getty Images SEATTLE (AP) Maritime workers are waiting for calmer weather before they can retrieve some 35 containers that have been drifting near the Strait of Juan de Fuca for the past several days, the Canadian Coast Guard said Monday. The containers are drifting parallel to shore off the southwest coast of Vancouver Island near Tofino, British Columbia, based on aerial tracking, The Seattle Times reported. BOISE, Idaho (AP) Idaho Gov. Brad Little, the attorney general and top leaders in the House and on Monday approved paying $152,000 in legal fees to the winning side after Idaho lost a court challenge to a new law making it harder for voters to get initiatives on the ballot. The four Republicans who comprise the Constitutional Defense Council voted 4-0 to pay the court-ordered legal fees to attorneys for Reclaim Idaho and the Committee to Protect and Preserve the Idaho Constitution. CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) First lady Jill Biden on Monday toured a cancer center in the state that played a pivotal role in her husband's victory in the 2020 Democratic nominating process, telling South Carolinians that cancer touches every American family. In the closing days of October a month dedicated to breast cancer awareness the first lady said she was making the trip as part of a continued commitment to pushing for research efforts toward a cure. One of the women Biden spoke with was LaToya Wilson, a mother of two and a Stage 4 breast cancer patient who said she was 37 when she was first diagnosed. We need more minorities as part of these trials, Wilson, who is Black, told Biden, crediting her survival to participation in clinical trials. Too many women, particularly Black women, are living with breast cancer, Biden replied. Biden, 70, has been vocal about the role that cancer has played in her life, most directly in the death of her son Beau from brain cancer at age 46. That loss also factored into her trip to South Carolina just over a week ago, when she attended events at Brookland Baptist Church in West Columbia, where she said a relationship with the pastors wife helped her reclaim her faith following Beaus death. The first lady met with breast cancer survivors, researchers and mammography specialists at the Hollings Cancer Center, named for the late U.S. Sen. Fritz Hollings. The longtime South Carolina Democrat was President Joe Biden's Capitol Hill deskmate during their decades together in the Senate, and Jill Biden said both the senator and his late wife, Peatsy, were very special to us. Later, Jill Biden stopped at Joint Base Charleston, a facility that houses pilots and crews that participated in last summer's airlift of more than 120,000 Americans, Afghans and other allies from Kabul at the end of the U.S.'s 20-year war in Afghanistan. During brief remarks, Biden said crews from the base "distinguished themselves in the execution of one of the largest humanitarian airlifts ever conducted." President Biden has defended the decision to end Americas longest war and withdraw all troops ahead of the Aug. 31 deadline, despite spasms of violence, including a suicide bombing that killed 13 American service members and 169 Afghans. The first lady's multiple recent South Carolina visits have showcased the administration's appreciation for the state. The first balloting in the South, with the first heavily Black electorate for Democratic candidates, South Carolina was the scene of Joe Biden's political resurrection, following lackluster performances in earlier contests in 2020. Days ahead of the primary, Biden won the endorsement of longtime ally U.S. House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn, the highest-ranking Black member of Congress and the dean of South Carolinas Democrats. Winning South Carolina by nearly 30 percentage points, Biden's victory was enough to bounce out a handful of competitors who endorsed him in swift succession. The triumph also helped propel him to wins across Super Tuesday states, momentum that carried Biden to the party's nomination. ___ Meg Kinnard can be reached at http://twitter.com/MegKinnardAP. COLUMBUS, Ga. (AP) A judge Monday disqualified a lawyer from representing an indicted Georgia district attorney in an upcoming trial. Superior Court Judge Katherine Lumsden removed Christopher Breault from representing Columbus-area District Attorney Mark Jones, local news outlets report, because Breault could be a witness in the trial scheduled to start Nov. 8. The state attorney general's office obtained an indictment Sept. 7, accusing Jones of trying to influence a police officers testimony, offering bribes to prosecutors in his office and trying to influence and prevent the testimony of a crime victim. Gov. Brian Kemp then suspended Jones from office after a panel ruled the indictment impaired Jones' ability to perform his duty. Jones would be removed if convicted. Jones took office in January overseeing a circuit including Muscogee, Harris, Chattahoochee, Marion, Talbot and Taylor counties in west Georgia. Judge Lumsden wrote that only Breault could testify about an April Facebook message prosecutors say Andrew Loyd received from Breault. Loyd was a witness in a murder case that ended in mistrial. The judge said Breault wrote to Loyd that if he aided the prosecution, Jones would dismiss charges against Loyd. Lumsden said Breault threatened that Jones would prosecute Loyd and send him to prison if he did not cooperate. The use of the defendants private lawyer/friend (not law enforcement or the DAs investigator) to find and persuade a witness is unheard of and fraught with ethical problems, the judge wrote. Lumsden also ruled in favor of prosecutors on several other issued. She says prosecutors can use police body camera footage from outside a bar where Jones is accused of trying to influence an officer's testimony. Lumsden ruled Jones can't tell jurors he was suspended from office or would be removed if convicted. Jones also can't claim he was singled out for prosecution, the judge ruled, or tell jurors about a September trial where he was accused of damaging government property in a May 2020 campaign video. The video included stunt driving moves, including cars driving in doughnuts with smoking tires in the parking lot of the Columbus Civic Center. After a mistrial, the prosecutor dismissed the charges. Jones is charged in another unrelated case with DUI, reckless driving and causing injury following a November 2019 crash in which police said Jones was driving drunk. That case remains pending. SANDERSVILLE, Ga. (AP) A judge ordered a split jury to keep seeking a unanimous verdict on Monday in the trial of three former Georgia sheriffs deputies accused of murdering an unarmed man by shocking him with stun guns by the side of a road. Jurors sent Senior Judge H. Gibbs Flanders Jr. a note on Monday afternoon stating We have went over all the evidence and cannot come to a unanimous decision. Flanders called the jurors into the courtroom and read them a special charge urging them to come to a unanimous decision, seeking to avoid a hung jury and a mistrial. Your duty is to decide the issues that have been submitted to you, if you can conscientiously do so, Flanders said. Prosecutors argued at trial that Henry Lee Copeland, Michael Howell and Rhett Scott had no reason to detain 58-year-old Eurie Martin in 2017. The defendants, all white, said the Black man was walking illegally down a road without sidewalks in the tiny town of Deepstep. Martin had a history of schizophrenia and was walking for 30 miles to see relatives on a hot summer day when someone he asked for water called 911. The defense also argued that some of the charges are defective because stun guns aren't lethal weapons. Evidence showed the deputies fired the electrical guns 15 times in a 5-minute period as they struggled to get Martin into handcuffs. After hours of deliberations Friday, jurors sent a note asking what would happen if they couldn't agree on a verdict. Flanders replied then that it was too early to discuss that. NEW YORK (AP) A rare judicial inquiry began Monday into the death of Eric Garner, whose dying cry of I cant breathe as he was restrained by New York City police officers became a slogan of the Black Lives Matter movement. Garner's mother, Gwen Carr, and other activists sought the inquiry hoping it would create a measure of public accountability for his 2014 death. Prosecutors at both the state and federal levels declined to charge any of the officers who were present when Garner lost consciousness as officers on Staten Island were arresting him, allegedly for selling loose, untaxed cigarettes. Officer Daniel Pantaleo, who authorities said used a banned chokehold to restrain Garner, was fired five years later. New York City agreed to pay members of Garner's family nearly $6 million in 2015 to resolve any civil litigation. The judicial proceeding is taking place under a provision of the city charter that allows citizens to petition the court for a public inquiry into any alleged violation or neglect of duty in relation to the property, government or affairs of the city. One of the lawyers representing the petitioners is Alvin Bragg, the widely favored Democratic candidate for Manhattan district attorney in an election now underway in the city. Voting ends Nov. 2. Bragg said at a virtual news conference Monday that the last time a proceeding took place under the charter provision was about 100 years ago. The proceeding before state Supreme Court Justice Erika Edwards, which is happening virtually because of the coronavirus pandemic, started with testimony from a police Lt. Christopher Bannon, a commander on Staten Island at the time of Garner's death. At Pantaleo's departmental disciplinary hearing, it was revealed that when Bannon had been notified by a sergeant that Garner had died during an arrest, he texted back. "Not a big deal ... We were effecting a lawful arrest. Bannon testified at the judicial inquiry that the text was intended to give comfort to the officers who were at the scene, and who might be distraught. It was to kind of bring their mindset back to center, Bannon said. Citing his previous experience as a supervisor of officers involved in a death in custody, Bannon said, Ive seen officers, you know, taking it too much and maybe potentially injuring themselves. So my intention by this statement was to kind of prevent that from happening. Carr, who joined Bragg and other advocates at the virtual news conference, called Bannon's text a slap in the face. There was no sympathy, no empathy. It was just business as usual, Carr said. Thats the way he took it. Erics life just didnt mean anything to him. He was just another person that one of his officers killed. Carr said Bannon should be off the force. Several officers are expected to testify at the judicial inquiry, which is expected to last into November. TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) A first-year Kansas lawmaker has been banned from a state agency's offices over alleged disruptive, intimidating and berating behavior," eight months after receiving a written warning from a legislative committee about his conduct before taking office. It wasn't clear Monday that Democratic state Rep. Aaron Coleman of Kansas City would face a House investigation into the incident that prompted the Kansas Department of Labor to ban him from its buildings. The committee that sent Coleman a written warning in February disbanded after issuing its letter to the 21-year-old lawmaker, and the House's rules require a member or members to file a complaint to start another inquiry. Coleman alerted reporters over the weekend that he'd been banned and disputed the allegations contained in an Oct. 12 letter to him from Amber Shultz, the agency's top administrator. The letter concerned a Sept. 30 incident in which Coleman went to the department's main Topeka office, closed to the public because of the coronavirus pandemic. Coleman said in a YouTube video that he was trying to help constituents deal with the state's unemployment system, which earlier in the pandemic was overwhelmed by both legitimate and fraudulent claims. He called Shultz's response troubling and unacceptable. I wont ever stop defending the vulnerable in my district, Coleman said in an email to The Associated Press. Kansans are the Boss. Its that simple. The House committee's investigation of Coleman followed accusations of abusive behavior toward girls and young women before his election last year. He acknowledged some of the behavior on social media and said he'd been troubled as a teenager. Both Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly's office and the Department of Labor declined to comment Monday about Shultz's letter. The department wouldn't say whether it has banned other people from its offices. State Sen. David Haley, a fellow Kansas City Democrat, said Monday in an interview that how elected officials choose to vigorously defend their constituents is a matter for their constituents, not other elected officials. Coleman named Haley as his mentor in a Sunday tweet. Haley said among conservative gun-rights Republicans, hes seen some real wingnuts and zealots. It concerns me theyre walking around here, packing heat, and talking crazy conspiracy theories, Haley said. But their districts sent them. Shultz's letter was a formal notice to Coleman of the ban and that he could face criminal trespassing charges if he attempted to enter any of the department's buildings. The letter accused Coleman of trying to gain entry improperly to the department's main office through a secured employee entry and speaking in a loud and demanding tone to a security officer. The letter described Coleman as agitated. As a result of your recent attempts to gain unauthorized access to the Department of Labor facilities and your disruptive, intimidating and berating behavior toward Department of Labor employees, you are hereby notified and ordered that you no longer to enter or remain in any KDOL facility or on any KDOL premises, the letter said. ___ Andy Tsubasa Field is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. ____ On Twitter, follow John Hanna at https://twitter.com/apjdhanna and Andy Tsubasa Field at https://twitter.com/AndyTsubasaF GOLDEN POND, Ky. (AP) Land Between the Lakes National Recreation Area in Kentucky and Tennessee has a new area supervisor. She is Leisa Cook, who has been deputy forest supervisor at the Malheur National Forest in Oregon, according to a news release from the park. She officially began at Land Between the Lakes on Sept. 26. KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) A Kansas City landlord has been charged in the stabbing death of one of his tenants, apparently after an argument over heating at the victim's residence. Clay County prosecutors Monday charged Gordon McBeth, 44, with second-degree murder and armed criminal action after he allegedly stabbed Darryl Gilland to death on Friday at a home in northern Kansas City. David Eggert/AP LANSING, Mich. (AP) Prosecutors will not charge a Detroit-area lawmaker after an investigation into allegations from a fellow lawmaker who said he sent her threatening text messages following their breakup. The head of Ingham Countys sexual assault/domestic violence unit reviewed an investigative report into Harrison Township Republican Rep. Steve Marino submitted by Michigan State Police to Prosecutor Carol Siemons office in late September. The official denied prosecution, said Scott Hughes, a spokesman for Siemons office. BEIRUT (AP) A Lebanese judge has charged 68 people in this month's deadly clashes in Beirut that left seven people dead and dozens wounded, the state news agency reported Monday. The clashes in south Beirut on Oct. 14 was the worst fighting in the capital in years and broke out during a Hezbollah-organized protest against the judge leading the investigation into last years massive Beirut port blast. AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) Maine health authorities are investigating several cases of food poisoning in connection with tainted crabmeat from a Deer Isle company. The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention said five cases of salmonellosis are associated with crabmeat consumed from Hardie's Crabmeat. The agency said two of the consumers needed to be hospitalized. AMSTERDAM (AP) The pharmaceutical company Merck says it has asked the European Medicines Agency to authorize its COVID-19 antiviral treatment, the first pill that has been shown to treat the disease. In a statement on Monday, Merck said the EU drug regulator had started an expedited licensing process for molnupiravir. If given the green light, it would be the first treatment for COVID-19 that does not need to be administered through needles or intravenous infusions. MUSCATINE, Iowa (AP) City leaders in Muscatine are considering whether to lift an 18-year ban on pit bulls within the city limits. The City Council is scheduled to hold a special public hearing on Thursday to gather opinions on the ban thats been in place Aug. 1, 2003, and whether it should be abolished, the Muscatine Journal reported. GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) Installation of 35 bus shelters 19 of them in underserved neighborhoods is expected to be completed by next October in Grand Rapids. The Grand Rapids City Commission approved the transfer of $250,000 to pay for the shelters and installation. LAGOS, Nigeria (AP) Nigeria has launched a digital currency which the Central Bank of Nigeria says is a "major step forward in the evolution of money in Africas most populous country. President Muhammadu Buhari said at the launch Monday that the digital currency and the blockchain technology it uses can foster economic growth and increase the GDP of Nigeria's economy, one of Africas biggest, by $29 billion over the next 10 years. The use of the Nigerian Central Bank Digital Currency "can help move many more people and businesses from the informal into the formal sector, thereby increasing the tax base of the country, Buhari said, eight months after the West African nation began a crackdown on cryptocurrencies. The eNaira whose motto is "Same naira, more possibilities is an equivalent of Nigeria's paper naira currency and is regulated as an official tender by Nigeria's Central Bank. Experts see the launch as a big step toward a cashless Nigerian society and speedy growth of the digital economy which has been a priority of Nigeria's apex bank since 2012. The eNaira is a major advancement for Nigeria, said Andrew Nevin, chief economist at PricewaterhouseCoopers Nigeria. It is a much simpler payment mechanism and is going to help in a lot of dimensions including in reducing the amount of cash being used and the cost of transactions. The central bank said the launch of the digital currency is one milestone on a long journey ... eNaira enables households and businesses to make fast, efficient, and reliable payments, while benefiting from a resilient, innovative, inclusive, and competitive payment system, the bank said in a policy document seen by The Associated Press. The central bank also hopes the digital currency will encourage financial inclusion in the country of more than 200 million people. Only 45% of Nigerias 106 million adults have bank accounts as of 2020, according to the Lagos-based Enhancing Financial Innovation & Access, a financial sector development organization. Authorities are optimistic the eNaira will also drive digital transactions which have seen rapid growth in Nigeria over the years. As of 2020, the countrys recorded 2.7 billion transactions valued at 162.9 trillion naira ($396 billion), according to the central bank. The initiative will also make it much easier to transfer value especially for small-value transactions, Nevin told AP. Fintechs, banks and other financial players building on top of the eNaira will create more and more useful products and services and the positive economic impact is going to build up, he said. GREECE, N.Y. (AP) A western New York police chief has resigned after he crashed into a guardrail and then kept driving for several miles, authorities said. Greece Police Chief Andrew Forsythe, whose crash last week is under investigation, resigned after initially being placed on administrative leave, Town Supervisor Bill Reilich told WHAM radio Monday. WASHINGTON (AP) U.S. officials say they believe Iran was behind the drone attack last week at the military outpost in southern Syria where American troops are based. Officials said Monday the U.S. believes that Iran resourced and encouraged the attack, but that the drones were not launched from Iran. They were Iranian drones, and Iran appears to have facilitated their use, officials said, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss details that have not been made public. Officials said they believe the attacks involved as many as five drones laden with explosive charges, and that they hit both the U.S. side of al-Tanf garrison and the side where Syrian opposition forces stay. There were no reported injuries or deaths as a result of the attack. U.S. and coalition troops are based at al-Tanf to train Syrian forces on patrols to counter Islamic State militants. The base is also located on a road serving as a vital link for Iranian-backed forces from Tehran all the way to southern Lebanon and Israel. Pentagon spokesman John Kirby declined to provide details when asked about the report during a news conference Monday. He called it a complex, coordinated and deliberate attack and said the U.S. has seen similar ones before from Shia militia groups that are backed by Iran. But he would not go into specifics and said he had no update on the munitions used in the attack. Kirby also declined to say if troops were warned ahead of time or whether the U.S. intends to make a military response. The protection and security of our troops overseas remains a paramount concern for the secretary, Kirby said, referring to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, and that if there is to be a response, it will be at a time and a place and a manner of our choosing, and we certainly won't get ahead of those kinds of decisions. Pro-Iran media outlets have been saying that the attack on Tanf was carried out by Syrias allies an apparent reference to Iran-backed groups in retaliation for an attack days earlier near the historic Syrian town of Palmyra. Israel has been blamed for the attack, but U.S. officials say America was not involved with it. You can consider that the strike on Tanf was an implementation of previous promises by Syrian allies to retaliate for Palmyra, according to an official with the so-called Axis of Resistance, an anti-Western political-military alliance that includes Iran, Syria, Hezbollah and other groups fighting alongside Syrian President Bashar Assad's forces. The al-Tanf attack came in a period of rising tensions with Iran. The Biden administration this week said international diplomatic efforts to get Iran back into negotiations to return to a 2015 nuclear deal were at a critical place and that patience Is wearing thin. The last major Iranian attack on U.S. forces was in January 2020, when Tehran launched a barrage of ballistic missiles on al-Asad air base in Iraq. U.S. and coalition troops were warned of the incoming missiles and were able to take cover, but more than 100 U.S. service members received traumatic brain injuries as a result of the blasts. The Iran attack was in response to the U.S. drone strike earlier that month near the Baghdad airport that killed Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani and Iraqi militia leader Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis. Two months after the al-Asad assault, U.S. fighter jets struck five sites in retaliation, targeting Iranian-backed Shiite militia members believed responsible for the January rocket attack. _____ Associated Press writer Bassem Mroue in Beirut contributed to this report. HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) The five-person commission redrawing Pennsylvania General Assembly district lines gave its approval on Monday to adjusted and validated census-based data they will use to craft preliminary maps over the coming months. Even though we have 90 days to develop a preliminary plan under the provisions of the state constitution, were all hopeful that we can get it done much sooner than that. That will be our goal, said former University of Pittsburgh chancellor Mark Nordenberg, who chairs the Legislative Reapportionment Commission. It voted 4-1 to certify census data that shifts just under 27,000 state prison inmates back to their home districts for the maps that will be used for state legislative elections during the coming decade. The no vote was cast by House Majority Leader Kerry Benninghoff, R-Centre. Although Benninghoff did not say why at the meeting, an aide later said it was because he believes the prisoner reallocation is on shaky legal ground and that dealing with what he considers extraneous issues is causing delays that could affect next spring's primary. The panel, which consists of Nordenberg and the Democratic and Republican floor leaders of the House and Senate, also voted 4-1 to certify data without the prisoners' reallocation to the General Assembly for its use in drawing congressional district maps, giving state lawmakers a choice of which to use. Senate Minority Leader Jay Costa, D-Allegheny, voted no, saying he does not consider it to be appropriate to provide two sets of maps. I too, sir, have a concern as to whether or not that would bring additional legal challenges as well, Costa said. Nordenberg said there are states that use different types of data for congressional and state legislative maps. I feel as if we could not indirectly impose our choice on the Legislature as it sets out to draw the congressional maps, Nordenberg said. And so we are leaving them with a choice by providing them with both data sets. The commission will determine the state House and Senate maps, although its decisions can be appealed to court. The General Assembly will produce new maps for the state's 17 congressional districts in the form of legislation that requires the governor's signature. That also can be appealed. In August, the reapportionment commission voted to count inmates in their home districts, except those serving life sentence and those who had been living in other states when they were jailed. Nordenberg, who was appointed by the state Supreme Court as chairman, voted with the two Democrats. That vote was modified a month ago to further limit the group of prisoners counted in their home addresses by excluding anyone whose sentence will expire in the coming decade. In that vote, Nordenberg joined the two Republican leaders. The commission is using 2020 Census data to redraw the states 203 House and 50 Senate districts for use starting with next years elections. Officials have previously said counties need new maps by Jan. 24 to provide the requisite information to candidates and others circulating nominating petitions during a period that kicks off Feb. 15. In all, roughly 37,000 state inmates are scattered among 23 facilities in 19 counties. The policy does not affect federal and county prisoners. Candidates have until March 8 to submit signed nominating petitions to appear on the May 17 primary ballot. There are also deadlines for advertising new districts in local newspapers and for sending out overseas, absentee and mail-in ballots. Facebook the company is losing control of Facebook the product not to mention the last shreds of its carefully crafted, decade-old image as a benevolent company just wanting to connect the world. Thousands of pages of internal documents provided to Congress by a former employee depict an internally conflicted company where data on the harms it causes is abundant, but solutions, much less the will to act on them, are halting at best. The crisis exposed by the documents shows how Facebook, despite its regularly avowed good intentions, appears to have slow-walked or sidelined efforts to address real harms the social network has magnified and sometimes created. They reveal numerous instances where researchers and rank-and-file workers uncovered deep-seated problems that the company then overlooked or ignored. Final responsibility for this state of affairs rests with CEO Mark Zuckerberg, who holds what one former employee described as dictatorial power over a corporation that collects data on and provides free services to roughly 3 billion people around the world. Ultimately, it rests with Mark and whatever his prerogative is and it has always been to grow, to increase his power and his reach," said Jennifer Grygiel, a Syracuse University communications professor who's followed Facebook closely for years. Zuckerberg has an ironclad hold on Facebook Inc. He holds the majority of the company's voting shares, controls its board of directors and has increasingly surrounded himself with executives who don't appear to question his vision. But he has so far been unable to address stagnating user growth and shrinking engagement for Facebook the product in key areas such as the United States and Europe. Worse, the company is losing the attention of its most important demographic teenagers and young people with no clear path to gaining it back, its own documents reveal. Young adults engage with Facebook far less than their older cohorts, seeing it as an outdated network" with irrelevant content" that provides limited value for them, according to a November 2020 internal document. It is boring, misleading and negative," they say. In other words, the young see Facebook as a place for old people. Facebook's user base has been aging faster, on average, than the general population, the company's researchers found. Unless Facebook can find a way to turn this around, its population will continue to get older and young people will find even fewer reasons to sign on, threatening the monthly user figures that are essential to selling ads. Facebook says its products are still widely used by teens, although it acknowledges there's tough competition" from TikTok, Snapchat and the like. So it can continue to expand its reach and power, Facebook has pushed for high user growth outside the U.S. and Western Europe. But as it expanded into less familiar parts of the world, the company systematically failed to address or even anticipate the unintended consequences of signing up millions of new users without also providing staff and systems to identify and limit the spread of hate speech, misinformation and calls to violence. In Afghanistan and Myanmar, for instance, extremist language has flourished due to a systemic lack of language support for content moderation, whether that's human or artificial intelligence-driven. In Myanmar, it has been linked to atrocities committed against the country's minority Rohingya Muslim population. But Facebook appears unable to acknowledge, much less prevent, the real-world collateral damage accompanying its untrammeled growth. Those harms include shadowy algorithms that radicalize users, pervasive misinformation and extremism, facilitation of human trafficking, teen suicide and more. Internal efforts to mitigate such problems have often been pushed aside or abandoned when solutions conflict with growth and, by extension, profit. Backed into a corner with hard evidence from leaked documents, the company has doubled down defending its choices rather than try to fix its problems. We do not and we have not prioritized engagement over safety," Monika Bickert, Facebooks head of global policy management, told The Associated Press this month following congressional testimony from whistleblower and former Facebook employee Frances Haugen. In the days since Haugen's testimony and appearance on 60 Minutes" during which Zuckerberg posted a video of himself sailing with his wife Priscilla Chan Facebook has tried to discredit Haugen by repeatedly pointing out that she didn't directly work on many of the problems she revealed. A curated selection out of millions of documents at Facebook can in no way be used to draw fair conclusions about us," Facebook tweeted from its public relations newsroom account earlier this month, following the company's discovery that a group of news organizations was working on stories about the internal documents. At the heart of these stories is a premise which is false. Yes, were a business and we make profit, but the idea that we do so at the expense of peoples safety or wellbeing misunderstands where our own commercial interests lie," Facebook said in a prepared statement Friday. The truth is weve invested $13 billion and have over 40,000 people to do one job: keep people safe on Facebook. Statements like these are the latest sign that Facebook has gotten into what Sophie Zhang, a former Facebook data scientist, described as a siege mentality at the company. Zhang last year accused the social network of ignoring fake accounts used to undermine foreign elections. With more whistleblowers notably Haugen coming forward, it's only gotten worse. Facebook has been going through a bit of an authoritarian narrative spiral, where it becomes less responsive to employee criticism, to internal dissent and in some cases cracks down upon it," said Zhang, who was fired from Facebook in the fall of 2020. And this leads to more internal dissent." I have seen many colleagues that are extremely frustrated and angry, while at the same time, feeling powerless and (disheartened) about the current situation," one employee, whose name was redacted, wrote on an internal message board after Facebook decided last year to leave up incendiary posts by former President Donald Trump that suggested Minneapolis protesters could be shot. My view is, if you want to fix Facebook, do it within. This story is based in part on disclosures made to the Securities and Exchange Commission and provided to Congress in redacted form by Haugens legal counsel. The redacted versions received by Congress were obtained by a consortium of news organizations, including The Associated Press. They detail painstakingly collected data on problems as wide-ranging as the trafficking of domestic workers in the Middle East, an over-correction in crackdowns on Arabic content that critics say muzzles free speech while hate speech and abuse flourish, and rampant anti-vaccine misinformation that researchers found could have been easily tamped down with subtle changes in how users view posts on their feed. The company insists it does not conduct research and then systematically and willfully ignore it if the findings are inconvenient for the company." This claim, Facebook said in a statement, can only be made by cherry-picking selective quotes from individual pieces of leaked material in a way that presents complex and nuanced issues as if there is only ever one right answer." Haugen, who testified before the Senate this month that Facebooks products harm children, stoke division and weaken our democracy, said the company should declare moral bankruptcy" if it is to move forward from all this. At this stage, that seems unlikely. There is a deep-seated conflict between profit and people within Facebook and the company does not appear to be ready to give up on its narrative that its good for the world even as it regularly makes decisions intended to maximize growth. Facebook did regular surveys of its employees what percentage of employees believe that Facebook is making the world a better place, Zhang recalled. It was around 70 percent when I joined. It was around 50 percent when I left, said Zhang, who was at the company for more than two years before she was fired in the fall of 2020. Facebook has not said where the number stands today. ___ See full coverage of the The Facebook Papers here: https://apnews.com/hub/the-facebook-papers MIAMI (AP) A high school student was ambushed and stabbed to death with a knife and sword by another teen who was angry the victim had previously had sex with the suspect's ex-girlfriend, authorities in South Florida said. A 17-year-old boy planned the murder with his current girlfriend, who is also 17, and received help from another female friend, who is 16, Miramar police said. All three were charged with first-degree murder, tampering with evidence and criminal conspiracy. JENNINGS, Mo. (AP) Police in suburban St. Louis are investigating the shooting death of a man in Jennings. The shooting happened around 4:20 p.m. Sunday in Jennings, when officers were called to a residential neighborhood just west of Jennings Junior High School, according to a news released from St. Louis County police. SEAFORD, Del. (AP) A person was fatally shot at a Seaford-area house that was then set on fire early Sunday, according to Delaware State Police. Police said the Seaford Fire Department responded to a house fire call shortly after 2 a.m. at a residence on Hastings Farm Road, near the Middleford Speedway, The News-Journal reported. GRANTS PASS, Ore. (AP) A Grants Pass woman is accused of running an illicit massage business. The Josephine County District Attorneys Office charged Wei Zhang, 58, with a one felony count of promoting prostitution, The Mail Tribune reported. Documents filed Monday in Josephine County Circuit Court accuse her of operating and maintaining a prostitution enterprise at Silk Road Massage in Grants Pass for more than two and a half years. Police claim that Zhang caused several females to engage in prostitution, and that she took a cut of the money paid for sexual acts. Zhang was arrested Thursday during a raid involving multiple police task forces, according to a news release from the Jackson County Sheriffs Office. She was released Friday after posting $25,000 bail, jail and court records show. It wasn't immediately known if she has a lawyer to comment on the case. Another person was cited for prostitution and released on Thursday, police said. In addition, an alleged customer at the business at the time was found to have a U.S. Marshals Service warrant for arrest and was being held in the Josephine County Jail, police said. FLORENCE, S.C. (AP) Helping people realize their dream of home ownership has been Missy Stephens mission for 27 years. Stephens recently retired from her job at Finance of America Mortgage The Pee Dee Mortgage Group on West Evans Street to join her husband traveling the countryside on the seat of a motorcycle. Every once in a while, someone extraordinary comes into your life who makes a difference and leaves a lasting impression on everyone around them, someone who would give you the shirt off their back, the change in their pocket, and the most warm and caring smile, said Greg OConnor, Finance of America Mortgage branch manager. Missy Stephens is one of those special people, and after 27 years dedicated to making the lives of those around her better and serving the Florence community, she will retire to travel and spend more quality time with Marty, her husband, their children, and many other family and friends. OConnor said Stephens has helped families in probably every subdivision in this town acquire their homes. People come to us to finance their homes, Stephens said. All we do is mortgages. Over the course of her career, with kindness and compassion, Missy has guided thousands of people in realizing their dream of homeownership, OConnor said. Stephens said it is rewarding to help people realize their dream of homeownership, but it is especially rewarding to help first-time homeowners. Watching the first-time buyer when they get the key to their first home is an amazing feeling, Stephens said. For the past four years, I have had the good fortune and been blessed to have her work at my local branch of Finance of America Mortgage, OConnor said. To say she is a dedicated and loyal employee and friend is an understatement. She is that and so much more. I am honored to have had the privilege of working with Missy these past four years and incredibly fortunate to have her as a dear friend. Stephens said she will miss all the people she works with and her customers but she is looking forward to retirement. My husband and I have only been married a year, she said. He retired and wants to travel. She said many of the people she helps come back to refinance or to purchase another home. A lot become friends, like family, she said. Stephens said she will miss interacting with all the people she comes in contact with but especially her work family. I see these people every day and text them at night, she said. We text each other photos of our cats on the weekends. This is not a 9 to 5 job, OConnor said. We work a tremendous amount of hours, trying to get people closer to home ownership. It can be a very stressful job, Stephens said. She is our office mom, said Cara Watson, a co-worker. When I started she taught me things and watched out for me. All of Stephens co-workers said they will miss her. I will miss her positivity, said Megan Hite. And her compassion, drive and work ethic. She has worked with some people for years to help them achieve home ownership. Stephens said not everyone is able to finance a home on first try. Hite said she is the mom of the office. She cares about people and wants the best for you, Hite said. I miss her walking in and asking did you feed the children (referring to the fish in the tank by the front door), Watson said. She takes care of everyone. She encourages us. OConnor said he will miss her customers praise. She has the patience of a saint, he said. She turns no one away. OConnor said he will miss the qualities she brings to the industry, her dedication to helping others, not only with home ownership but other things as well. He said she gives others inspiration. Tim Shorter said, Missy is very helpful. He said she worked with his dad, too. She is always so thoughtful, Shorter said. Ill miss everything about her, said co-worker Ray Taylor. Missy is special. She is one of the kindest people that Ive ever met. The first day I came in the building she made me feel welcome. She is a special lady. OConnor said he wants the community to join him as he wishes Missy and her family the best this world has to offer and in thanking her for the years of heartfelt service she has given to our community. Stephens said her first job was in the snack bar at Ocean Lakes Camp Ground. She went to college at James Madison University in Virginia and studied hotel, restaurant and hospitality management with a minor in nutrition. Stephens started her career in the mortgage industry at First Union Bank in Charlotte and Myrtle Beach. She then went on to Wachovia Bank in Florence. She said once you get in it, if you like it, youll stay. Most people just fall into a career in this field, she said. Stephens said she is looking forward to spending more time with family, her husband, children and mother. And she and her husband plan to travel. They took a motorcycle ride to Florida earlier this month. Ive been riding for only about three years, she said. Marty has been riding his whole life. Between them they have three children Jamie, Parker and Lacey. Stephens said she wants to do more volunteer work within the community. Her co-workers said she is all about helping others. Stephens said she is a recovering alcoholic and looks forward to becoming more active in the recovery community. We have treatment centers here, she said. This is a huge recovery community. She said there is not a family here that hasnt been touched by an addiction. I plan to do a lot more. Volunteering is important, Stephens said. Florence is such a great community. It became home. Ive been here 25 years. MADRID (AP) A volcano erupting for the past five weeks on the Spanish island of La Palma is more active than ever, officials said Monday, after new lava flows following a partial collapse of the crater threatened to engulf previously unaffected areas. A powerful new river of molten rock gushed out of the Cumbre Vieja volcano early Monday. The Canary Islands Volcanology Institute described it as a giant lava fountain. Were in a new phase, which is much more intense, Pedro Hernandez, a researcher at the institute, told public broadcaster RTVE. The eruption drove a volcanic ash cloud high over the island off northwest Africa. Residents watched to see what direction the new lava flow would take, and authorities prepared to move more people from their homes. Prompt evacuations have so far avoided casualties from the eruption, though the lava has totally or partially destroyed more than 2,000 buildings, mostly homes, and covered more than 900 hectares (2,200 acres) of mostly farmland. Around 7,500 of the island's 85,500 people have been forced to flee in the past five weeks. The rivers of lava rolling down the hillside are up to almost 3 kilometers (almost 2 miles) wide, authorities said. New fissures and side vents cracked open along the volcanos slopes over the weekend, allowing more molten rock to escape. One main river of lava has already reached the Atlantic Ocean. Another ground to a halt when it entered a built-up coastal neighborhood. Scientists last week counted more than 800 earthquakes of varying magnitude on La Palma, most of them not felt by residents. The strongest had a magnitude of 4.9. Though most of the island so far is unaffected by the eruption, parts of the western side where the lava fields are expanding face an uncertain future. WEST SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (AP) The president of a Massachusetts trucking company is pleading guilty to federal charges related to a 2019 crash that killed seven motorcycle riders in New Hampshire. Dartanyan Gasanov, 35, of West Springfield, is scheduled to plead guilty to falsifying safety records in U.S. District Court in Springfield on Tuesday, The Springfield Republican reports. Gasanov was president of Westfield Transport and his brother, Dunyadar Gasanov, was the now disbanded West Springfield company's vice president. The brothers were charged with altering and falsifying company records, including driver logs and other safety records leading up to the deadly crash. Both initially pleaded not guilty. On June 21, 2019, a company pickup truck towing a flatbed trailer collided with the group of 10 motorcycles on U.S. 2 in Randolph, New Hampshire. The driver, Volodymyr Zhukovskyy, faces charges of negligent homicide, manslaughter, driving under the influence and reckless conduct. The Springfield resident has pleaded not guilty. The Springfield Republican reports Dartanyan Gasanov faces up to 16 months in prison and a $55,000 fine. The 2019 crash also led to the resignation of the head of the Massachusetts motor vehicle division and other reforms at the state agency. A state probe found that the Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles failed to terminate Zhukovskyy's commercial driving license after the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles provided information about his drunken driving arrest in that state. BANGKOK (AP) Rare demonstrations in support of Myanmar's military-installed government were held Monday in several of the country's towns and cities, as militants opposed to the armys February seizure of power continued their resistance. The relatively small rallies in at least nine locations, with crowds topping out at about 200 people, were evidently linked to the summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, which begins Tuesday. No violence was reported in the demonstrations, some of which included Buddhist monks. ASEAN has excluded Myanmar's leader, Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, from the summit because of his governments refusal to allow the groups special envoy to meet with the countrys ousted former leader, Aung San Suu Kyi. She has been detained since the army seized power in February. Some demonstrators seen on social media held photos of Min Aung Hlaing, who is hated by many people opposed to military rule. They also carried banners condemning groups opposed to the army and chanted The military and the people are standing together." It was not clear who organized the events, which were strongly nationalistic. In Meikhtila, in central Mandalay Region, a resistance group urged residents not to go out unnecessarily and not to communicate with the authorities. After the pro-military march in downtown Meiktila, a bomb exploded near a police station and at least three policemen were injured, local media reported, citing residents. The report could not be independently confirmed. Myanmar says it cannot allow a visit to Suu Kyi because she is detained and facing criminal charges. It also says ASEAN failed to follow it own procedures in saying Min Aung Hlaing could not attend its summit. ASEAN has invited a non-political representative instead of him to attend, but Myanmar refused that offer late Monday. ASEAN since April has sought to play a mediating role in Myanmars political crisis, as the militarys efforts to quash opposition have triggered increasingly violent and destabilizing resistance. Almost 1,200 civilians are estimated to have been killed by security forces. The government says a smaller number of people were killed because of necessary actions to restore order. From February to late October, according to a recent statement by the Foreign Ministry, there have been 986 terror attacks, 2,344 bomb attacks and 312 arson attacks. Due to their terrorist attacks, 1,155 civilians died and 765 people were injured. Moreover, a total of 182 persons including 75 military personnel, 93 police personnel and 14 civil servants died while 602 were injured. A total of 251 schools and education buildings were torched and bombed by the terrorists. They destroyed roads and railways for 536 times and 76 bridges were also damaged," the ministry said. The government's claims, like those of its opponents, cannot be independently checked, but offer a partial sense of the scope of violence in Myanmar. TASHKENT, Uzbekistan (AP) Uzbekistan's incumbent leader has won a second five-year term in the tightly controlled Central Asian nation, preliminary results showed Monday. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev received 80.1% of Sunday's vote, the country's Central Election Commission announced. Mirziyoyev, who took office in 2016 following the death of longtime President Islam Karimov, has relaxed many of the policies of his dictatorial predecessor but maintained rigid controls over the political scene. In Sunday's election, he faced four relatively low-visibility candidates who didnt even show up for televised debates, instead sending proxies who failed to engage in substantial discussions. Independent candidates werent allowed, and if it had not been for the billboards presenting the candidates and text messages sent by the government reminding voters about the forthcoming election, the campaign would have been hard to spot. Jahongir Otajonov, a popular singer and representative of the unregistered Erk party, whose leaders are in exile, quit the race under intense pressure. Khidirnazar Allakulov, the leader of the Hakikat va Tarakkiyot party, also wasnt allowed to run. Despite the absence of significant competition, voter turnout was strong at 80.8%. International observers welcomed recent reforms in Uzbekistan but said the improvements "have not yet resulted in a genuinely pluralistic environment for a competitive election. Representatives from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europes Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, and the European Parliament participated in a joint observation mission. While multiple candidates contested the election, there was no meaningful engagement with each other or with voters, and candidates refrained from challenging or criticizing the incumbent, they said in a statement. Despite some opening of the media environment, in particular online, the space for citizens to freely and fully express their opinion remains controlled. The observers also noted significant procedural irregularities on election day, adding that important safeguards were often disregarded during voting, counting and tabulation. Under Mirziyoyev, freedom of speech has expanded compared with the suppression of the Karimov era, and some independent news media and bloggers have appeared. He also relaxed the tight controls on Islam in the predominantly Muslim country that Karimov imposed to counter dissident views. Mirziyoyev lifted controls on hard currency, helping encourage foreign investment, and he moved to patch up foreign relations that had soured under Karimov. Mirziyoyev improved relations with world players such as Russia, China and the West, while also resolving conflicts with neighbors including establishing peaceful interaction with Afghanistan, said Andrey Kazantsev of the Moscow State Institute of Foreign Relations. Uzbekistan and Afghanistan share a 144-kilometer (89-mile) border, and Uzbekistan has consistently worried that conflict in its neighbor could spill over. The ex-Soviet republics foreign minister became the first foreign official to visit Afghanistan after the Taliban took control of the country in August. Mirziyoyev has moved to boost economic and trade ties with Russia, which is building Uzbekistans first nuclear power plant and has invested in other big economic projects in the country. Russia also attracts a flow of migrant workers from Uzbekistan. Russian President Vladimir Putin was the first to congratulate Mirziyoyev on his re-election, calling him Monday even before Uzbek election officials announced preliminary results. While maintaining close ties with Russia, Uzbekistan has signed a number of key agreements with China, which became Uzbekistans largest trading partner as part of its Belt and Road Initiative. As the only visible candidate during the campaign, Mirziyoyev toured the country to promise supporting local communities and bridging the gap between rich and poor. Experts say that inequality will be the biggest challenge during his second term. Political scientist Akhmed Rahmonov noted that while under Karimov food and energy were subsidized by the state, today, with the free market reforms, the subsidies have been removed, but no mechanism has been created to support redistribution of wealth. People are dissatisfied because inequality and prices are rising and there is no mechanism to protect the most vulnerable people, Rahmonov said. Education, healthcare and other state services are now being privatized, and prices of public services are on the rise. At the same time, salaries grow much slower. The incumbent president will also have to face Uzbek societys growing expectations for more political freedoms. Uzbek elections look like a ritual or ceremony with fanfare and gaudy tinsel, where everyone knows their role and plays it, said Sardor, a 31-year-old Tashkent resident who asked for his last name to be withheld for fear of persecution. He said that he didnt vote as there was no spirit of a real race, adding that the programs of the candidates were written based on Soviet-style standards. ___ Uliana Pavlova and Vladimir Isachenkov contributed to this report from Moscow. ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) After three fruitless journeys into the darkness, Sonia Martinez and her daughter, Isabel, finally hit paydirt. There, in mist nets the Martinezes had helped install an hour earlier, were two tiny northern saw-whet owls. Lured to the Carpenter St. Croix Valley Nature Center in southern Washington County by a recording of a male saw-whet owls call, the birds peered out at them. Each was about the size of a robin. Fourth times the charm, said Sonia Martinez, a volunteer bander with Project Owlnet, a nationwide grassroots banding project to determine the timing, intensity and pace of migration of saw-whet owls. As Martinez worked to transfer the first owl into a drawstring cotton bag, Jennifer Vieth, the executive director of the nature center, started untangling the second. This little stinker was not going to get caught, Vieth said, as she worked to free its tiny talons and wings from the nearly invisible net. You have to reverse the process of how it got in. Its just like untangling a necklace. You want to do it really carefully because its a living creature. Like Martinezs owl, Vieths owl wasnt banded. No jewelry, Vieth said. Project Owlnet was founded in 1994 by ecologist David Brinker of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources. Since then, the project has grown from five cooperating saw-whet owl banding stations in Maryland to a network of more than 125 in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Project Owlnet volunteers and researchers annually catch thousands of migrating owls and take various measurements assessing each owls weight, size, age and gender, the St. Paul Pioneer Press reported. Inside the nature centers administrative building, Martinez and Vieth weighed each owl, still in its respective bag, on a small digital scale set up on a large wooden conference table. Keeping the owls contained in the dark bags helps them remain nice and calm, Vieth said. After its weight 83 grams, or just under 3 ounces was recorded, Vieth gently removed her owl and banded its leg with a small circular piece of metal engraved with a number and the U.S. Bird Banding Labs website address. Then, cradling it in her lap, she felt its keel which Vieth likened to your Thanksgiving turkey white-meat area to determine whether it was thin, obese or somewhere in between. This is a 3, she said, measuring it with her index and middle fingers and blowing on its chest. They can range anywhere from 0 to 4. Three is healthy. Measuring the tiny owls wing chord involved taking a small metal ruler and holding it alongside its folded wing from the bend of the wing to the tip of its longest feather. You dont measure the span because you dont want to stress them out, Vieth said. This is an easy measurement to take: The wing is in its natural position, and its a good indicator. After turning off the overhead lights in the room, Isabel, 13, used a small flashlight to illuminate the owls eyes and matched the color of its bright-yellow iris to a Benjamin Moore paint sample. In addition to collecting data for Project Owlnet, the women are working on a collaborative Purdue University eye-color study. I think theyre Abstracta, Isabel said, referring to Benjamin Moore Classic Color No. 322. I really like that one. Its interesting because their eyes are so different some of them are really bright yellow, and some are really dark. Vieth used an ultraviolet light to examine the underside of the owls feathers to determine its age. New feathers fluoresce, she said. As the feathers age, they get duller. A hatch-year bird has all new feathers and is all pink. Older birds replace some of the worn feathers, so they have a mix of pink feathers and duller feathers. Isabel, an eighth-grader at Cottage Grove Middle School, was given the honor of naming the bird. She christened her Belladonna, a nod to Belladonna Baggins, the mother of Bilbo Baggins in The Hobbit, the book she is currently reading. After all the data were collected and recorded in a three-ring binder, the owl was placed in a small white cardboard box marked Special Owl Box No. 2 Do Not Recycle and left to sit on the buildings back stoop for 15 minutes. We want to make sure their eyes are adjusted to the dark before we release them, Vieth said. Its just to be super-careful. You know how when people are taking pictures, you get that flash blindness? You dont want them flying off and not seeing the big barred owl in the tree and getting eaten because they cant see right. When it was time, Martinez slowly nudged the lid open. The owl peeked over the side and flew off. Just dont go back into the net again, Martinez told it as it settled on the branch of a nearby spruce tree. After a slow start, last week's event turned out to be a banner night for saw-whet owls. The women collected 10 owls, the most so far this year at the Carpenter Nature Center, located near the confluence of the St. Croix and Mississippi rivers. The most was 16 owls in one night. Some nights, they havent gotten any. Oh, yes, weve been shut out, Vieth said. One year we got three owls all season, but no data is still data in the world of research. It just depends on population levels and how excited they are about that really attractive tooting call, which sounds like a truck backing up, she said. Sometimes as youre taking one out of the net, another will fly into the net right next to you. Thats super-cool that they dont care that youre standing there. The Martinezes volunteer at Carpenter two or three nights a week during owl-migration season. It kind of depends on everybodys schedules, said Sonia Martinez, an accountant. Well stay out as long as were getting birds. The first night we were here, we stayed until about midnight. The 10 owls they collected last week ranged in weight from 70.8 to 101.3 grams, with an average weight of 90.3 grams. It turns out male saw-whet owls are smaller than females, so if its under 85, you most likely have a male, Vieth said. If its over 100 grams, you dont even have to guess either that, or it just ate a really, really big mouse. The women recorded one male, one unknown and eight females. Among the names bestowed by Isabel: Bubba, Cleo, Emily, Myrtle, Belle, Holly, Wood and Shire. This is the seventh year volunteers at Carpenter have participated in Project Owlnet. Two weeks ago, a saw-whet owl banded at Carpenter last fall flew into a net of a fellow Project Owlnet researcher at Belle Isle Marsh Reservation in East Boston, Massachusetts, a journey of more than 1,400 miles. The owls cross-country flight is yet more evidence of how interconnected we all are, Vieth wrote in a Facebook post after she learned the news. She was not very big, only a 2 on her keel score, and she weighed just 92.5 grams. Releasing her into the darkness that evening, I am certain I wondered if she would survive her journey. I always wonder and hope. Vieth, director of Carpenter Nature Center since 2013, has been researching birds for 30 years. A native of Canada, she started as a summer assistant on a snow-goose project in La Perouse Bay, Manitoba, while studying at Queens University in Kingston, Ontario. She came to Carpenter Nature Center in 2005 after stints at The Raptor Center at the University of Minnesota and at the World Bird Sanctuary. Birds banded at Carpenter have turned up in Alaska, Venezuela and British Columbia, she said. Birds connect us, she said. We share our birds. The owl-banding season at Carpenter generally runs from Oct. 1 through Nov. 15. Owls may still be moving south after that, but, for our researchers, you want to be able to get the owl out of the net really quickly and easily, and if your fingers are frozen, it doesnt work, she said. From capture to banding to letting go, our goal is less than 15 minutes. Most of the owls banded so far this year have been older owls, which is unusual, Vieth said. With the warm weather, the youngsters arent migrating as early as the oldsters, she said. Thats kind of cool. The old birds are, like, Id like to head back, and the young birds are like, Hey, its nice here. Ill hang around a little longer. We havent seen that before. Vieth said she loves getting middle-of-the-night texts from researchers reporting that a bird banded at Carpenter has turned up safe somewhere else. Likewise, she likes to be the one to share the news with fellow birders. Weve caught quite a few that have already been banded, she said. Its like fishing in the night, and then youre getting these golden tickets. Its really cool when they already have jewelry on. By tracking saw-whet owls, who tend to be pretty route-loyal, researchers are filling in some of the mystery dots between where they breed and where they might roost in the winter, Vieth said. The owls need safe habitats along their routes in order to survive and reproduce, according to Vieth. Just think of how far they travel, she said. Its tricky enough with natural predators and diseases when you are covering thousands of miles each spring and fall. When theres habitat loss, and humans introduce new challenges like reflective windows, cars, mouse poison, it gets even tougher to make it as a tiny migratory owl. This is an amazing story of scientific collaboration and hope, she said. I just love how these volunteers and researchers are working to unravel the mystery of the owls life cycle, so we can make a difference in their world. LEAVENWORTH, Kan. (AP) A 44-year-old Kansas City woman has admitted that she had a role in the attempted murder of an inmate at the Lansing Correctional Facility. Renee Johnson-Fritz, of Kansas City, Missouri, pleaded Friday to solicitation of capital murder. She was scheduled to go to trial this week. Flooding has closed Interstate Highway 880 is closed in both directions in Fremont early Monday between the off-ramps at Mowry and Thornton avenues, and authorities urge motorists to avoid the area for the next several hours. Fremont Police announced at 3:26 a.m. that the California Highway Patrol had closed all lanes of traffic in both directions and that there is no estimated time to reopen the highway. This is a developing story and more information will be shared when it become available. The National Weather Service said at 11 p.m. Sunday its flood advisory for the Bay Area was canceled, though many areas were still reporting flooding, including Union City, where police tweeted at 10:45 p.m. flooding was "severe" in the Alvarado-Niles Road area. Rocks and debris in the roadway closed Niles Canyon Road in both directions earlier Sunday, and State Highway 1 in Pacifica is closed in both directions at Manor Drive due to flooding. Pacifica police say drivers should use alternate routes. There is no estimated time for re-opening. While the flood advisory was cancelled late Sunday night for the Bay Area, the National Weather Service issued a reminder that its high surf warning is still in effect through 11 a.m. Tuesday. The storm still battering the area will continue to generate large swells, along with breaking waves reaching 20-30 feet at west/northwest facing beaches. The warning urges people to stay off coastal jetties and never turn their backs to the ocean in such conditions, which include the increased risk of sneaker waves, large breaking waves, rip currents and increased coastal run up. By 11 p.m. Sunday, most of the more than 147,000 PG&E customers in the Bay Area without power late Sunday afternoon got their lights back on. The PG&E outage map showed still showed scattered outages, none of which affected more than 50 customers. Earlier in the day, the Peninsula was hit hardest by the outages, with 46,529 customers down at 4:30 p.m., followed by Marin County, with 41,938 down. There were also significant outages in the South Bay (28,948), East Bay (21,685), and San Francisco (8,644). The PG&E outage map can be found at https://pgealerts.alerts.pge.com/outages/map/. For PG&E safety tips during power outages, go to https://bit.ly/30R1x4t. Sunday's rainfall total of 4.02 inches recorded in downtown San Francisco places it fourth on the city's list of wettest days ever and sets a record for wettest October day. The city's highest rainfall total for a single day is 5.54 inches recorded on Nov. 5, 1994. Sunday's total breaks the previous high for October, which was 2.48 inches recorded on Oct. 13, 2009. Before Sunday, seven of the 10 highest totals were recorded in the 1800s, according to a list of totals recorded since 1849 and shared by the National Weather Service. The National Weather Service issued a flash flood warning early Monday for the southern coastal areas of Monterey County. The warning was issued shortly after 1 a.m. and is in effect until 5 a.m. Monday for a remote area south of Big Sur and north of San Simeon that includes the coast and stretches several miles inland. The service estimates that 82 people live in the region and urges them to move immediately to higher ground and to avoid walking or driving through flooded areas. The Mill Valley Community Center has been opened as a warming center for anyone who needs to leave their home because of rising flood water. No evacuations have been announced At 10 p.m., police re-opened Miller Avenue at three spots closed for flooding. Officials asked residents driving during the storm to use E. Blithedale, due to flooding and fallen debris. The also asked residents who live along the Arroyo Corte Madera Creek to monitor their properties closely for flooding and to please check on neighbors who might need an extra hand or have difficulties during this time. Sausalito declared a state of emergency Sunday afternoon, due to widespread storm damage. At 3:30 p.m., more than 800 PG&E customers were without power. City officials also reported downed trees and power lines and said residents of the tent encampment at Marinship Park were displaced, prompting the city to ask Marin County to set up a shelter in Southern Marin. The Sausalito Library, at 420 Litho Street, remained open until at least 9 p.m. to shelter those without power. Contra Costa County closed the following roads in unincorporated Pacheco and Bay Point on Sunday night: Pacheco Boulevard at South Buchanan Circle; Center Avenue Bridge at Grayson Creek; 2nd Street Bridge at Grayson Creek; Marsh Drive; Arthur Road at Pacheco Boulevard, Mary Ann Lane and Clearland Circle; Willow Pass Road near Clearland Drive. To find sandbags sites in Contra Costa County, go to http://www.cccounty.us/sandbags. Santa Cruz County opened an emergency shelter for debris flow evacuees at San Lorenzo Valley High, 7105 Highway 9, in Felton, according to the county Twitter account. Officials ask that people check in at the cafeteria. Food and water and cots will be provided. Self-contained RVs are welcome. Pleasant Hill police said flooding closed the following roads Sunday night: Patterson Blvd from Oak Park to Monte Vista Court, Duffy Court at Skander Lane, Astrid Drive at Contra Costa Boulevard. Officials also said to be cautious of other areas known to be prone to flooding, including Cleaveland Road, Buskirk Avenue at Hookston Court, Camelback residential areas, Poets Corner neighborhood and the Sherman Acres area. The city's sandbag stations have been completely depleted. Authorities in San Rafael announced early Monday they reopened downtown roads that had been under water and impassable since early Sunday afternoon. Police had issued a warning Sunday afternoon to avoid the downtown area due to extreme flooding that put many roadways under two feet of water. San Rafael police announced at 1:29 a.m. Monday that all roadways had been reopened. The National Weather Service forecast for the greater San Francisco Bay Area calls for the rain to continue Monday during the day, with possible clearing come evening. Daytime highs will range from the 50s along the coast to the upper 50s and lower 60s around the Bay and the lower to middle 60s in the interior valleys. Breezy conditions will prevail, with gusts from 20 to nearly 30 miles per hour. Overnight lows will be in the lower 50s. 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. With its red-orange Spanish-tile roof and its exquisite brickwork, the former library in Kendallville, INone of 2,509 libraries across the country built by Andrew Carnegie in the early 20th centuryis an architectural beauty. This century-old marvel, opened in 1913, now seeks a new owner with $250,000 in hand, plus the funds to repurpose the structure. While the facade is simply gorgeous, a brilliant mind is required to breathe new life into this former repository of books. Anybody who purchases this is purchasing it for the exterior, says Carl Quandt of The Quandt Team, who is listing the building for $250,000. A lot of work needs to be done. But the 4,464-square-foot building hasnt exactly been abandoned. The sellerwho owns a framing shop around the cornersnapped it up 10 years ago with plans to transform it into an art gallery. Shes got an eye for cool things, says Quandt of the seller, who hosted a few shows in the library. Before that, an architectural firm and another business housed their offices here. Additions like a drop ceiling and baseboard heaters were a departure from the original design. The building last served as a library around 1960, when the city decided that it needed a bigger facility, says Quandt. The town used proceeds from the sale to buy a building for its new location. The Carnegie Library is zoned for both residential and commercial use, but the interest so far has tilted toward its use as a residential dwelling. I havent had a single interest in commercial, says Quandt. Exterior of former library in Kendallville, IN realtor.com Entry realtor.com Interior realtor.com Office realtor.com One of the bathrooms realtor.com Gallery realtor.com Entry realtor.com Exterior realtor.com Both the roof and foundation are in perfect condition, thanks to the sellers repair of the fieldstone and brick. She also replaced a few roof tiles that a tornado had ripped off, and installed two furnaces and two air-conditioning units. Nothing needs to be done to the exterior, the agent says. Nevertheless, the buyer will need to invest in restoration if this is to become a private residence. There's no place to cook, and none of the four half-bathrooms feature a shower or tub. It has never been a single-family home, and its not converted at the moment, says Quandt. The electrical systems will also require updates. A finished basement, which has high ceilings and large windows that let in the natural light, could easily be turned into living space, and the building even comes with a separate entrance. It's already divided into four rooms. Quandt will typically stage a home (Normally, I show up with a trailer packed with items, he says), but for this listing, he let the library's historic bones lie bare for all to see. A lot of the woodwork in there is preserved. I felt like it sold itself, he says. Kendallville, 30 miles north of Fort Wayne, IN, is a popular hub for retirees enamored with small-town life. Baby boomers from other areas are looking to retire and attracted to the low cost of living, Quandt says. Downtown Kendallville offers old buildings and cool shops, along with antiques stores and a vintage movie theater. And check it out: Prospective buyers have reached out from as far away as California, Chicago, and Washington, DC. The post Could You Convert It? Former Indiana Library Seeks Buyer for Next Chapter appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com. Not everyone can own a home designed by the legendary architect Frank Lloyd Wright. But thanks to his many proteges, there are plenty of Wright-inspired designs dotting the nation's landscape. And given Wright's popularity, it's no shock to see homes created by his acolytes attracting attention. Take the case of this week's most popular home on Realtor.com. Designed by a student of Wright named Alfred Abernethy in 1951, the Tennessee residence hews close to the Usonian aesthetic and served as Abernethy's private residence for years. The elegant piece of perfectly preserved architecture drew a huge crowd of Wright fans fond of refined finishes and sumptuous surroundings. Besides the Wright-inspired design, we noted a trend of buyers on the lookout for bargainsseven of the properties on this week's top 10 are priced under $200,000. And variety was truly the spice of life: You clicked on old churches, a castle, and a couple of bed-and-breakfasts this week. Put down the scones and have a look at all 10 of this week's most popular homes. Price: $139,900 Why it's here: Curb appeal aplenty! This two-bedroom charmer has a bargain price and comes with oversized windows, a patio, and newly updated kitchen. Built in 1920, the brick home with the cute red door sits on just under a half-acre and also comes with a big backyard. Fairport, NY Realtor.com Price: $235,000 Why it's here: Even more curb appeal! This adorable red three-bedroom bungalow from 1920 offers hardwood floors with mahogany inlay, a living room with fireplace, a rec room, and a bonus loft space upstairs. Out back, a fenced yard includes a stamped concrete patio. Buffalo, NY Realtor.com Price: $198,900 Why it's here: When it was built back in 1892, this five-bedroom, 10,238-square-foot home was a country church. Over a century later, it's poised to be reinvented as an event space, bed-and-breakfast, or even retail space. The first floor has a huge kitchen, oak hardwood floors, and an open sanctuary with vaulted wood ceiling. For additional space, there's also an unfinished attic and an empty basement. On 2.5 acres, the property has plenty of outdoor space for events or entertaining. Fredonia, PA Realtor.com Price: $101,900 Why it's here: This quintessential Victorian needs a little bit of love to bring it back to life. Filled with period details, the large, seven-bedroom home features well-maintained woodwork. With its strong bones and peppy exterior paint job, the home's tall ceilings and finished attic are sure to make buyers swoon. Oil City, PA Realtor.com Price: $2,300,000 Why it's here: Gorgeously preserved since it was built in 1923, this grand old dame offers 10 bedrooms and 14,695 square feet of living space. Wedding venue, bed-and-breakfast, or you name it: The potential to turn this mansion into something wonderful is nearly limitless. On the 17-acre property, a buyer will also acquire another home, two garages, an old stable, and a huge garage with an upstairs apartment. Monroe, MI Realtor.com Price: $150,000 Why it's here: Sad listing photos drove clicks to this hoarder home. Interested buyers will want to factor in the cost of cleaning and hazmat suits into the low purchase price. Listing photos show layers of garbage piled waist-high in some spots, dirty sheets on the beds, and a water-damaged ceiling. This is not for the faint of heart, and a developer must come prepared with an enormous dumpster. Dennison, OH Realtor.com Price: $199,900 Why it's here: Locally known as "The Glass House," the exterior of this five-bedroom home features an array of windows in different shapes. Beyond the distinctive facade, the home has hardwood and tile floors, five gas fireplaces, skylights, and an indoor pool. Built in 1975, in what the listing notes is a quiet neighborhood, this property could become a dream project for a buyer in search of something quirky. Clearfield, PA Clearfield, PA Price: $189,000 Why it's here: It's a castle for under $200,000! Built in 1891, it took its inspiration from a similar structure in County Cork, Ireland. Known as Bonnyconnellan Castle, this custom-crafted fortress features five bedrooms and more than 5,000 square feet. The half-acre lot also includes a carriage house in need of a renovation. Sidney, OH Realtor.com Price: $150,000 Why it's here: Storybook alert! This fairy-tale stone residence was built in 1928, and offers oodles of vintage charm. For those in search of a whimsical residence like no other, the listing photos are a must-see. As it happens, this two-bedroom home charmed a buyer in no time. After just over a week on the market, it's already pending sale. St. Louis, MO Realtor.com Price: $765,000 Why it's here: Taking his cues from the master, Alfred Abernethy designed a terrific Tennessee home that has stood the test of time. A student of Frank Lloyd Wright, Abernethy designed this one-of-a-kind home as his personal residence. Built in 1951, and magnificently preserved over the decades, this four-bedroom midcentury modern has many of the touches associated with a Wright home. Hallmarks that Abernethy included in his design include beautiful built-ins, clean lines throughout, and large windows that flood the home with natural views. Johnson City, TN Realtor.com The post One of Frank Lloyd Wright's Students Designed This Week's Most Popular Home appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com. If you successfully closed on a home through a short sale, major congratulations are in order. Short sales generally mean a homebuyer has scooped up a property for less than market value. But short sales are different from traditional home sales. In a short sale, the buyer is usually acting quickly and may close on a home before the sellers have a chance to properly vacate the property of their possessions. As a result, the previous owners may want to come back to their former house after closing and remove some of the items they left behind. Yet if you're the new homeowner, this scenario may have you scratching your head and asking if the sellers have a right to reclaim property they left behind after a short sale closing. Let us explain your rights as a buyerand theirs as sellers. What is a short sale? A short sale is when homeownerswho are generally in financial distressowe more on the mortgage than the current market value of the property. Also, the homeowners essentially want their mortgage lender to accept less than the total amount of the mortgage they still owe. Let's break that down by numbers: If the homeowner wants to sell the house for $200,000, but the remaining mortgage loan balance is $250,000, the homeowner is essentially $50,000 short on paying the lender back. "For a short sale to work, the lender has to agree to this arrangement and even approve the offer price," says Jason Gelios, a real estate professional and author with Choice Realty. When does a property become yours in a short sale? "As of the closing date and recording, the property is legally the buyer's, as is everything within or on it," says Beverley Hourlier, a real estate professional with Hilltop Chateau Realty in San Diego. The seller is responsible for removing all personal items before closing. And if the seller came back to the former house to retrieve items left behind? "The previous owner would be trespassing," says Hourlier. If you're just making an offer or have a signed contract, the seller still owns the property. The seller can go to the home and remove personal property. But the seller can't take fixtures, appliances, or any items staying with the home as stated in the purchase agreement. What's included in a short sale? The fine print of a short sale applies only to the financing, allowing the seller to unload the home for less than what is owed, says Gelios. "Otherwise, buyers and sellers should know that the short sale of a home is treated the same as a regular home purchase. So any items not affixed to the home are excluded from the purchase." Gelios advises his buyers and sellers to think of what is and isn't included in a sale by imagining turning your home upside down. Whatever wouldn't fall out is usually expected to be included in the purchase. For example, light fixtures, blinds, and built-in appliances attached to a home become real estate since they are usually included in the property's appraised value. Furniture, on the other hand, is considered personal property and isn't included. But if a home seller leaves behind any items big or small, they become the property of the new homeowner after closing, says Gelios. So if there's a wheelbarrow in the backyard or a painting in the dining room, it's officially the new buyer's property. Can the previous owner reclaim possessions after a short sale? "Absolutely not," says Denise Shur, a real estate professional with 1:1 Realty in San Jose, CA. "Your home is private property belonging solely to you after the close of escrow." "The only exception to this would be if a buyer and seller had previously agreed in writing to the seller returning to the property after closing," adds Alex Cortez, a real estate professional with Wailea Village Properties in Kihei, HI. What if the previous owner won't take no for an answer? "Consult with legal counsel and check your state's trespass laws," advises Phil Lunnon, a real estate professional with Lunnon Realty in Lakewood, CO. "But to be fair, if the seller simply wants to retrieve items that were excluded from the sale or were not itemized in the contract, use your best judgment as to what is the right thing to do." Remember that sellers in a short sale are generally in financial straights. But don't ever hesitate to take action if you prefer to keep the items or the situation begins to feel unsafe. "Change the locks immediately, and call the police to file a report if the previous owner has come back trying to get their personal belongings," advises David Welch, a real estate professional with Re/Max 200 Realty in Winter Park, FL. The post Short Sale Stalemate: Does the Previous Owner Have Rights to Property Left Behind? appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com. 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. 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. Telstra called the $1.6 bn deal a "unique and very attractive commercial opportunity to boost our presence in the region". The move is being viewed as a political block to China's influence in the region. New Delhi, Oct 25 (IANS) The Australian government and telecom giant Telstra are buying a Pacific telecoms company in a joint venture, BBC reported. Digicel Pacific employs 1,700 people across Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Samoa, Vanuatu and Tahiti. The company's future has been the focus of speculation for months, the report said. Last year Digicel denied a report that it was in talks to sell its Pacific arm to state-owned China Mobile. According to Telstra, the Australian government approached it "to provide technical advice in relation to Digicel Pacific" which is "critical to telecommunications in the region", the report added. The government then agreed to finance the bulk of the bid, Telstra said. Analysts say the company would otherwise be attractive to China as it seeks to assert greater authority in the region. "Digicel is the primary player in the Pacific and Australia sees it as a strategic asset that they can't allow to fall into the hands of China," said Jonathan Pryke of the Lowy Institute, a Sydney-based think tank, according to the report. "They are keen to get Australian business back into the Pacific and they've come to the realisation that they are going to have to underwrite." Amid escalating tensions with China, Australia has ramped up its presence in the Pacific, the report said. This includes allocating $1.5 bn to investment in infrastructure projects in the region as well as joining the Quad group, with the US, India and Japan, and the Aukus security pact, with the US and UK. It also largely funded a 4,700km (2,900-mile) Coral Sea cable in 2018 to prevent Chinese telecoms company Huawei Technologies from laying it. Chinese control of telecommunications networks has long been a concern for Washington and its allies. This has led many countries to ban Huawei and other Chinese companies from supplying phone lines and 5G networks, including the US, UK and Australia. --IANS san/skp/ Kanpur (Uttar Pradesh) [India], October 25 (ANI): After Uttar Pradesh reported its first case of Zika Virus from Kanpur, the central government sent a multi-disciplinary team on Monday. While speaking to ANI, Dr Nepal Singh, Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Kanpur on Sunday informed, "Yesterday, one person infected with Zika virus, was found in Kanpur. He is an Indian Air Force personnel. We have formed teams as soon as we received the information. With the help of 10 teams, we started taking precautionary action in his residential area and the workplace." He added, "House to house survey, line listing, fogging, cleaning was undertaken with the help of municipality. 22 samples of his close contacts, who were symptomatic, were sent to King George's Medical University (KGMU), Lucknow for testing." Caused by a virus transmitted primarily by Aedes mosquitoes, which bite during the day, symptoms of this disease are mild fever, rash, conjunctivitis, muscle and joint pain, malaise or a headache. (ANI) Gandhinagar, Oct 25 (IANS) Gujarat Education Minister Jitu Vaghani on Monday said that the state government is going to bring drastic changes and improvement in the policies related to education and startups and told the students that India was indeed on its way to becoming the 'Vishwaguru' (world leader). He was speaking at the inauguration of the Defence Design & Technology Incubator of India (DDTII) at the Karnavati University in Gandhinagar. "You will be amazed at the drastic changes the Gujarat government will be bringing in the education sector in a couple of months. Not only are we going to raise the amount of the incentives to the students but also we are bringing in big changes in the policies. The government wants to hold hands of each student, right from standard 6 onwards, those who want to do something," said Vaghani. "One thing is certain that we are on the way to become the 'Vishwaguru' under the able leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi," he said. "The startup policy was started in 2017 and we will form a new policy in 2022. As part of the policy, we will increase the allocation given to universities for supporting student startups. Through the policy, we will support all forms of student innovations under 'Mind to Market' initiative," added Vaghani. The incubator is promoted under Defence Design & Technology Incubator of India Foundation which is a not-for-profit company registered under Section 8 of the Companies Act, 2013. "Defence is a very closed sector. Selling your product to the Armed Forces is a different thing. We will give the students the customer connect. We have good connect with the service headquarters of the armed forces with PSUs like HAL, BHEL. We will bring the startups closer to these customers. We will be the nodal agency to do that," said Dr Nishit Pandya, the director, DDTII. "We already have 4 mentors on board, we plan to have hundred mentors by the next year. We are planning to have Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with defence companies. We are already in talks with Adani Defence, L&T Defence, Tata advance systems," added Pandya. "We are also intending to connect with the national level funding agencies like IDEX, TDF from DRDO. These agencies have special funding for defence. The Karnavati university has also allocated fund of Rs 50 lakh for startups," added Pandya. --IANS amc/skp/ The tenders include 729 homes in Ariel, a large settlement in the central West Bank, according to the statement issued by Housing Minister Ze'ev Elkin's office. Tel Aviv, Oct 25 (IANS) Israel has issued tenders for the marketing of 1,355 housing units for Jews in the settlements in West Bank, officials said. Strengthening and expanding the Jewish settlement in the West Bank is "a necessary and very important thing in the vision of the Zionist enterprise", Xinhua news agency quoted the statement as saying. Also on Sunday, Peace Now, an Israeli settlement watch group, said Israel's Higher Planning Council of the Civil Administration is expected to convene on Wednesday to approve new housing settlements. The council is expected to discuss 30 housing plans that include 2,862 housing units in the settlements. It also expects to approve 1,303 housing units for Palestinians in Area C, a zone in the West Bank that is under full Israeli control. The settlements are located in the West Bank, a territory Israel seized in the 1967 Middle East war and has controlled ever since despite international criticism. The Palestinians wish to build their future state on these lands. --IANS ksk/ Siliguri (West Bengal) [India], October 25 (ANI): West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday said that like Punjab, they are also protesting against the Centre's decision to increase search and arrest jurisdiction of BSF in border states. She said law and order is a state subject and West Bengal's borders with Bangladesh were completely peaceful. The Chief Minister also said her government will go by the "state laws". "Just like Punjab, we're also protesting against BSF's jurisdiction that has been recently increased. Our border areas are completely peaceful. Law and order is a police subject. It'll create disturbance. State govt will go with state laws," she said. Mamata Banerjee made the remarks after holding meetings with the Jalpaiguri and Alirajpur district administration officers in Siliguri. Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi held an all-party meeting on Monday to discuss the Centre's move to increase jurisdiction of BSF. The Centre had earlier this month empowered the Border Security Force (BSF) to conduct searches, arrest suspects and make seizures up to an area of 50 km inside Indian territory from the International Border (IB) along India-Pakistan and India-Bangladesh borders. The BSF, which was only empowered to take action up to fifteen kilometers in the states of Punjab, West Bengal, and Assam, has now been authorised to extend its jurisdiction up to 50 km without any hurdle or permission either from central or state governments. However, its jurisdiction has been cut short by 20 km in the five northeastern states-- Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, Nagaland, and Meghalaya-- where it had jurisdiction up to 80 km. Similarly in Gujarat, the BSF's jurisdiction has been curtailed from 80 to 50 km. In Rajasthan, the BSF's area of jurisdiction will remain the same at 50 km. (ANI) New Delhi, Oct 25 (IANS) In what appears to be another total surrender before the protesters marching towards Islamabad, the Pakistan federal government has released more than 350 activists of the banned Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP), besides announcing that the cases against others would be withdrawn by Wednesday, Dawn news reported. The government also assured the TLP leaders of reviewing the Fourth Schedule list containing their names and working on a plan to release their jailed chief Saad Rizvi, the report quoted Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed as saying while speaking at a news conference on Sunday. The Minister, who addressed the presser after leading a government team in negotiations with representatives of the TLP, including its detained chief, in Islamabad, later tweeted: "We have released 350 TLP workers up to now and we are still waiting to open both sides of road of Muridke as per the decision with the TLP." Another round of talks with the TLP will be held at the Ministry of Interior in Islamabad on Monday according to Rashid who said the protesters had agreed not to march towards the capital and stay at Muridke, some 33 km from Lahore, till Wednesday. However, a TLP Shura member claimed the interior minister had sought time till the return of Prime Minister Imran Khan who is currently on an official visit to Saudi Arabia. "Perhaps the people will say that the state has surrendered. But it is not the job of the state to use the stick (force)," the Minister said, explaining the duty of the state was to find a path of reconciliation. "This is my viewpoint as the Interior Minister," he added. --IANS san/ksk/ "The Houthi-held sites in Marib were heavily struck by the Saudi-led coalition warplanes that succeeded in slowing down the rebels' progress toward the strategic city," the official told Xinhua news agency. Sanaa, Oct 25 (IANS) Warplanes of the Saudi-led coalition have continued bombing various sites controlled by the Houthi militia in Yemen's oil-rich province of Marib, a military official said. "The rebels partially ceased their advance on the ground because of the heavy aerial bombardment that killed hundreds of them during the past days," he added. The coalition expanded its air raids against the Houthis in an attempt to support the pro-government Yemeni forces stationed in Marib, according to the official. Earlier on Sunday, the Saudi-led coalition had announced that at least 264 Houthi rebels were killed and 36 of their military vehicles destroyed in the fighting in Marib city in the past three days, the official Saudi Press Agency reported. Yemeni military sources confirmed that most of the airstrikes were conducted in Marib's southern district of Al Jubah and other surrounding areas that are witnessing non-stop armed confrontations between the two warring sides. However, the Houthi rebels' military spokesperson Yahya Saree dismissed the Saudi-led airstrikes on the Houthi-affiliated Masirah television network. "If the enemy thought their warplanes could stop our troops' progress or break our fighters' resolve, they were mistaken," he said. Saree claimed that the rebels killed 550 pro-government soldiers, wounded 1,200 others, and captured 90 during a military operation in Marib. The Iran-backed Houthi militia launched in February a major offensive toward Marib in an attempt to seize control of the province, the last northern stronghold of the Saudi-backed Yemeni government. Yemen has been mired in civil war since September 2014 when the Houthi militia forced the internationally recognized government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi out of the capital Sanaa. --IANS ksk/ 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! When these facts came to light, it was inevitable that Crown Melbourne would be found unsuitable to hold its casino licence. But the former Federal Court judge did not call for Crowns licence to be cancelled, after considering the extensive reform process underway at Crown as well as the considerable harm cancellation would inflict on the Victorian economy and innocent third parties. Crown contributed around 1 per cent of Victorias state tax revenue before COVID-19. It employs about 11,500 people in Melbourne. The royal commission report recommended that James Packer, who owns 37 per cent of Crown, should have to sell down his stake to under 5 per cent by 2024. Credit:Getty Images Victorias Gaming Minister Melissa Horne said on Tuesday the government supported all 33 of the reports recommendations in principle, subject to consideration and consultation. She said that Stephen OBryan, the first commissioner of the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC), would be Crowns special manager. Mr OBryan will have access to all areas of the casino and be able to veto board decisions. If he is not satisfied Crown is fit to hold its licence after two years, it will be cancelled. Premier Daniel Andrews said in question time on Tuesday that Crown was more than on notice. Their licence will be terminated, and it will terminate in two years time, unless and until they can demonstrate that they are fit and proper to hold such a licence, he said. Victoria would also ban the junket tour operators Crown worked with, who were shown to have extensive links to organised crime. The maximum penalty for Crown, if it breached gambling laws, would also be increased from $1 million to $100 million, Ms Horne said. The Alliance for Gambling Reform said the Finkelstein report recommended positive first steps to tackling gambling harm at Crown, but it missed crucial problems, such as the casinos 1000 unrestricted poker machines which operate without any maximum bet limit and its loyalty schemes. The government should act on these issues after ripping up the controversial licence clause that entitles Crown to up to $200 million compensation for any changes the government imposes on its operation, said the alliances lead Victorian campaigner, Rose OLeary. We welcome the commitment today from the gambling minister to do so with legislation, Ms OLeary said. Most vitally, we need to ensure that all consultation on proposed changes to the law include those with lived experience of gambling harm at the table. Crowns chief executive Steve McCann, who joined the company in July amid a clean-out of its board and senior management, said Tuesdays findings provided a way forward. We are embracing the challenges ahead of us as we work to restore our reputation, and we are determined to get this right. We will be a better Crown, he said in a statement. United Workers Union casinos director Dario Mujkic said the unions members would breathe a sigh of relief to now have some job certainty for the next two years. It is clear that Crowns conduct as outlined in the report was unacceptable and the union welcomes the recommendations outlined by the commissioner, which seek to balance suitability and integrity with the impact an immediate licence cancellation would have had on staff and others, Mr Mujkic said. Culprit lives to see another day The Victorian Oppositions gambling spokeswoman Steph Ryan welcomed the commissions findings, but said its terms of reference were too narrow and should have included Crowns relationship with the government and the failings of the states gambling regulator. You have to ask how [the government] could be so incredibly blind to the conduct that the commission has uncovered in this report. Weve been hearing this for years, Ms Ryan said. The Andrews government called the royal commission after an independent inquiry in NSW found in February that Crown was unfit to hold the licence for its new Sydney casino in light of evidence it had been infiltrated by organised crime. Victorian Greens leader Samantha Ratnam said the outcome showed Crown was too big to fail. She called on the government to halve its number of poker machines, and implement stronger harm-minimisation measures and fairer taxes. This is the biggest scandal in Victorias corporate history, and yet its culprit is living to see another day, Ms Ratnam said. Pokies limits, cash ban Crown will need to make significant changes to the way it operates its gaming floors to minimise the harm it causes problem gamblers. Commissioner Finkelstein recommended that anyone playing a poker machine at the casino should be made to set a daily, weekly or monthly time-and-loss limit before they start gambling. Poker machine players would also be forced to take a 15-minute break from gambling every three hours and would be banned from playing for more than 12 hours in any 24-hour period, with a maximum play time of 36 hours in any week. All patrons would have to use a Crown identity card that tracked their gambling at the casino. Cash transactions would be limited to $1000, to make it harder for criminals to launder the proceeds of crime at the casino. Commissioner Finkelstein wrote that the way Crown dealt with people with gambling addiction was perhaps the most damning discovery by the commission. Crown Melbourne had for years held itself out as having a worlds best approach to problem gambling. Nothing can be further from the truth, he wrote. The royal commission revealed Crown Melbournes cavalier approach to gambling addiction, allowing patrons to gamble for 18 hours straight and employing a tiny responsible gambling team to monitor its 2628 poker machines and 540 table games. The inquiry also heard how Crown illegally accepted credit card payments in exchange for chips through its hotel desk, in a fraud designed to enable Chinese patrons to get around Chinas tight capital controls. And it was also revealed that Crown underpaid tax on its poker machine winnings to the Victorian government by making illegal deductions, potentially short-changing the state by up to $272 million. Loading The NSW government suspended Crowns licence for its new Sydney casino in late 2020 after an independent inquiry there found the group enabled money laundering at its Melbourne and Perth casinos and had gone into business with figures linked to organised crime. The NSW inquiry and subsequent royal commissions in Victoria and WA, which is still underway, were triggered by a series of reports by The Age, Sydney Morning Herald and 60 Minutes in 2019. Macquarie Airports (MAp) said the holding company containing its interest in Brussels Airport has refinanced its debt and established capital expenditure facilities to fund expansion of the airport. MAp said The Brussels Airport Company had established a total of euro 1.636 billion ($A2.6 billion) in bank debt facilities sourced entirely in the bank debt market. About euro 180 million ($A286.17 million) of the total facility will be used to pay a distribution to equity holders. A similar amount is scheduled for September for another distribution payment, provided Brussels Airport meets earnings hurdles. MAp chief executive officer Kerrie Mather said the successful refinancing reflected a substantial uplift in the financial performance of Brussels Airport since MAp acquired its stake in 2004. She said the facility would allow the airport to repay its existing bank debt and finance its future growth. The former head of the body set up to drive Australias economic recovery from COVID-19 has been charged by West Australian police after allegedly breaching strict border rules for flying into the state in a private helicopter from Queensland without approval. Neville Power was appointed by Prime Minister Scott Morrison as chair of the National COVID-19 Commission Advisory Board in March 2020, but last week was charged with three counts of failing to comply with WAs border directions after a police investigation. Neville Power has been charged by WA Police over alleged border breaches. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Mr Power is an avid aviation enthusiast and current chair of Perth Airport and the Royal Flying Doctors Service. Police allege he and a 36-year-old Henley Brook man left Queensland in a private helicopter on October 8 and flew to Exmouth on the states north west coast without completing a G2G pass a requirement for anyone entering WA. The Queen and Prince Philip on the royal train at Central Station, Sydney. Credit:State Records NSW The Queens visit to Australia ended a few seconds after 5.20 p.m. today, when the Royal yacht Gothic steamed slowly out of Fremantle Harbor to the accompaniment of cheers from 40,000 people and the sound of the sirens of every ship in port. It was a brilliant and stirring finale to one of the greatest events in Australias history. Four minutes earlier the Queen had left Australian soil, and walked up Gothics gangway looking as happy, refreshed and composed as on the bright morning of February 3 when this stately ship had brought her to Sydney. Behind Her Majesty were 57 days packed with more than 250 formal engagements in a tour of Australia that had been a brilliant success. As Gothic was slowly making its way out of the Swan River into the Indian Ocean the Queen left the top deck to make her farewell broadcast to Australia and its people. With the sounds of departure still ringing in our ears I want to say to you, my Australian people, how sad we are to be leaving the shores of your wonderful land, she said. There have been 502 deaths in NSW since the Delta outbreak began in June and 558 in total. Asked on Monday morning about Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews recent announcement regarding eased restrictions for the fully vaccinated on Friday and again on November 24, NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet said his government was always revisiting its plan. Students return to school at Fairvale High School, in Fairfield West, on Monday. Credit:Nick Moir He said the COVID and Economic Recovery Committee, previously called the crisis cabinet, revisits the restrictions each week and would continue to have a balanced and measured approach. Changes are scheduled for November 1 and December 1. What we need to do is have that strong health response, which weve made some substantial investments in, but then ultimately open up as safely as possible, so we get [people] back into work and provide for their families, he said. He said it was a long journey and, as the state opens, case numbers and patients in hospital would increase, but he was confident we are ready. Speaking later on Monday, Mr Perrottet said the state government was always open to revising the road map. We have regular meetings, we consider the economic, the mental health, the health advice, and we make adjustments off the back of it, he said. Weve made a number to date, well continue to make adjustments. Weve set out a plan, we want to provide certainty and consistency along the way but where we can make changes, we will. I think our track record speaks for that. All students return to NSW classrooms More than 500,000 students in years 2 to 11 returned to face-to-face teaching on Monday, one week after kindergarten, year 1 and year 12 students went back to their classrooms. NSW Education Minister Sarah Mitchell on Monday announced school sport would resume on site from November 1. Schools can utilise external sport facilities in line with community sport guidelines, and schools can engage in inter-school sport outside of school hours, the state government said in a statement. Ms Mitchell said the return of school sport would be COVID-safe and not involve external visitors. She also announced a widening of the NSW Education Standards Authoritys special consideration program for HSC written exams. We know that this years class of 2021, the year 12 students, have been impacted, she said. Many of them did not have the HSC year that they had anticipated. She said any students who had been impacted for at least six weeks due to COVID-19 restrictions during the learning from home period would be eligible. She said principals would put these applications forward, including for individuals, and whole group cohorts would be accepted for consideration, such as those in the former local government areas of concern in Sydneys west and south-west. Marks will be moderated in a way that fairly considers the learning environment for students this year, Ms Mitchell said. Mr Perrottet acknowledged there would be challenges as students returned to school. We know this will be bumpy, but it was very important we got kids back into the classroom as quickly as possible, he said. Sixteen schools are closed after members of their school communities tested positive for COVID-19. In a statement on Sunday night, NSW Education said the following schools would be closed until further notice for cleaning and contact tracing to commence, after being linked to positive cases: Hume Public School, Lavington; Bowen Public School, Orange; Rivers Secondary College, Richmond River High Campus, Lismore; Mount Druitt Public School, Mount Druitt; Eglinton Public School, Eglinton; Bonnyrigg Heights Public School, Bonnyrigg Heights; Albion Park High School, Albion Park; Bringelly Public School, Bringelly; Thornton Public School, Thornton; Russell Vale Public School, Russell Vale; Kendall Public School, Kendall; Bradbury Public School, Bradbury; Irrawang Public School, Raymond Terrace; Northbourne Public School, Marsden Park; Mayfield West Public School, Newcastle; and South West Rocks Public School, South West Rocks. All staff and students are asked to self-isolate and follow the NSW Health advice and protocols, an Education Department spokesperson said. Auburn North Public School, Green Hill Public, Curl Curl North Public and Hinchinbrook Public all reopened on Monday after being deep-cleaned. President of the NSW Teachers Federation, Angelo Gavrielatos, said while many families would no doubt be thrilled, principals at some schools had been scrambling to tackle staffing shortages after the staged return schedule was brought forward by the state government. The latest statistics suggest we have 2000 to 3000 teachers who may not have met the double-vaccination status as yet, he told Nines Today show on Monday morning. There will be pockets where its impact is already more severe. New reports yesterday suggest 160 schools are more affected than others. October 25 was supposed to be a very significant day for NSW. Predictions made seven weeks ago suggested it would be the day coronavirus restrictions were eased after NSW hit 70 per cent vaccination of its 16 and over population. The proposed end of its stay-at-home orders was supposed to coincide with the return of the first children to school. A COVID-19 vaccination hub at a public housing estate in Waterloo, Sydney. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer But while the day did have some ceremony children in years 2 to 11 went back to classrooms after the return of other students last week for most it was just another Monday in the states post-lockdown world. In the end, the state hit 70 per cent and 80 per cent vaccination in time to ease restrictions on October 11 and 18, respectively. By October 25, the double-dose figure was 85 per cent, federal government data released on Monday afternoon revealed. Cammeraygal High Schools students say theyll miss the 9am sleep-ins they got to enjoy over the past four months of remote learning, as well as regular exercise breaks during recess and lunch. Still, they chose to brave the early start and arrive at their Crows Nest campus more than half an hour before the bell on Monday, stoked to see their friends and have real-life classroom discussions after being freed from Zoom fatigue. Half a million students have returned to school as full-time face-to-face learning resumed across the state for the first time since June, although 16 schools were closed due to positive COVID-19 cases. Schools back: students arrived early at Cammeryagal High School to see their friends. Credit:James Alcock Education Minister Sarah Mitchell said the government was continuing its work with NSW Health around isolation requirements for children so that were not having an unfair impact on families, particularly parents who are vaccinated. Teachers, students and parents relieved that school gates have reopened deserve credit for making the best of homeschooling. Not only were parents supervising their childrens progress with online classes, they were feeding them, encouraging them and often consoling them, all while juggling their own jobs and extra housework. A new research report from the Centre for Independent Studies should provide some comfort to parents worried about whether they did enough to buffer their children from the impact of more than 12 weeks of lockdown. The study found the average tech-savvy student had not fallen behind pre-pandemic achievement levels thanks to solid teaching and access to computers. While this is good news, its not the full story on the remote learning experiment. The CIS report looks at data including a national survey of students aged 16 to 17 and the results of NAPLAN tests administered in May, before the latest lockdown started. Its findings are not conclusive for individual students across all age groups. As the study acknowledges, international research has provided evidence of learning loss due to COVID-19 shutdowns in other countries. On the same day the CIS research paper was released, UNICEF reported the results of its national survey of 1000 students from Year 3 to 11. It found almost half felt they had learnt less at home than they would have at school and that they were planning to get a tutor or extra lessons over the summer holidays to catch up. The first-dose pace has picked up in Queensland since the Palaszczuk governments roadmap and regional vax-a-thon launched last week, but remains at almost the lowest rate since September. With just days left for so-far unvaccinated residents to start their weeks-long process to be fully protected before the easing of travel restrictions from hotspot states, authorities remain concerned about regional areas but confident the 80 per cent target will be reached statewide. Staff at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre mass vaccination hub at Boondall, in the citys north. Credit:Matt Dennien The latest federal vaccine rollout data shows a total of 60.7 per cent of Queensland residents 16 and older were fully vaccinated as of Sunday, with 75.2 per cent having received a first dose. Western Australia remains the only jurisdiction behind Queensland on double-dose coverage. Severe thunderstorms are set to strike south-east Queensland once again as an unstable weather system and humidity lingers. The forecast follows records being broken in Queensland for the hottest October day in more than 15 years, including at Sunshine Coast Airport, where temperatures reached 36.3 degrees on Sunday. Thunderstorms will continue to hit south-east Queensland this week. Credit:Lydia Lynch The Bureau of Meteorologys Helen Kirkup said south-east Queensland could expect severe thunderstorms on Monday afternoon. Were already seeing storms inland around Roma but it will take a little while for things to build up in the south-east, the meteorologist said Monday morning. The Queensland man who killed his wife by stabbing her more than 20 times in front of their son has been sentenced to 16 years jail. Arona Peniamina was last month found guilty of manslaughter after he stabbed his wife Sandra Peniamina more than 20 times and bashed her skull with a concrete bollard at their family home in 2016. Sandra Peniamina, a mother of four, was stabbed repeatedly and bashed with a bollard by her husband. The attack unfolded in front of their son, who watched his mother try to escape the home. On Monday, he was sentenced to 16 years jail for the brutal killing. And while the US and other rich nations of the G7 have promised to supply 1.8 billion doses to poor countries, theyve so far delivered only 261 million, or one in seven of the vaccines promised, according to Americas Forbes magazine. With dozens of nations desperate for vaccines, China has stepped in to fill the void. Beijing has supplied over 1 billion doses in a soft power program to win friends and influence people. Countries wary of China are now accepting its help. For instance, Vietnam, locked in a territorial dispute with Beijing, had resisted its help in preference to Western vaccines until capitulating under the weight of surging infections. Even if Australia wanted to feel smug about our high levels of protection, itd be a short-lived indulgence. Because for as long as the virus is free to run rampant among big populations, it will continue to mutate. The Delta variant is just that one variant. As Edinburgh Universitys professor of global public health, Devi Sridhar, says: The more the virus circulates, the more likely it is that mutations and variants will emerge, which could make our current vaccines ineffective. Two-thirds of experts estimate that we have a year at most before that happens, according to a survey of 77 epidemiologists from 28 countries carried out by The Peoples Vaccine Alliance in March. Illustration: Dionne Gain Credit:The Age Another 18 per cent of them estimated itd take two years. About 8 per cent said that existing vaccines would never lose effectiveness. Is the world on track to win this race? In other words, how long will it take to achieve vaccination coverage high enough to get herd immunity everywhere? Around 23 low-income countries have such low rates of vaccination that, on current rates, they would not vaccinate 70 per cent of their populations until after 2030, according to the Burnet Institutes Brendan Crabb and Mike Toole. In other words, on the balance of expert opinion, all the effort and upset of the past two years is only the opening phase of a much longer era of recurring pandemics for which we are unprepared and unprotected. This gives rise to the catchphrase being retailed by the UN, the World Health Organisation and even the International Monetary Fund: No one is safe until everyone is safe. It wasnt supposed to be like this. The intentions were good, says Australias Tim Costello, spokesman for the End COVID for All campaign. In April last year all the governments said, this time were going to do it right, vaccination is a global public good, well vaccinate all the poor countries. The COVAX facility was set up to combine the buying power of all nations and act as a global hub for buying and distributing vaccines. And COVAX has been doing the job. Its responsible for the vast bulk of vaccines delivered to poor countries. But its way behind on its plans. Even after cutting its delivery target for this year to 1.4 billion doses, its still managed so far to supply only around 400 million. Officials of the African Union estimate that COVAX will be able to supply only a quarter of the continents needs by the end of this year. What went wrong? Rampant nationalism. Rich countries cut deals directly with vaccine manufacturers, cutting COVAX out of the picture. It was every man for himself. Some poorer nations started to do the same. This cut away COVAXs collective buying power. This fragmented, nationalistic approach left huge holes in global coverage, says Costello. It turned into a charity-style, heres a few leftover doses, lets ship em off thing. Its appalling. Some of the big manufacturers have sold vaccines only to rich nations where they can make the fattest profit margins. Moderna and Johnson and Johnson have yet to deliver a single dose to COVAX. Compounding this, COVAX made the mistake of relying very heavily on one country India to make its vaccines. This worked until India started to drown in COVID cases and its government temporarily banned exports. Loading Where to now? Australian Jane Halton is co-chair of one of COVAXs founding institutions, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness. She says two immediate steps are, first, increase the number of doses manufactured and, second, use boosters sparingly and based on evidence and need in order that we can deliver to countries with low coverage and vulnerable populations that need extra protection. The G20 summit later this week, which will include Scott Morrison at the table in Rome, is an opportunity to do more. Costellos campaign is calling for the rich countries of the world to put up a combined $US50 billion ($67 billion) to put COVAX back on track. The UNs Guterres is calling for a more modest $US8 billion. Either way, more is needed. No one is safe until everyone is safe. Peter Hartcher is international editor. The Energy Department will review if Liberal members of Parliament breached rules by publishing government advertisements from a $13 million publicly funded campaign about climate action on their private social media accounts. Energy Department officials told a Senate estimates hearing on Monday they would determine whether Liberal MPs had breached any rules and would report on how many had done so. Senator Sarah Hendersons social media post will be probed by the Energy Department to see if it breached any rules around government advertising campaigns. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Government information campaigns must not promote political parties and politicians cannot use publicly funded advertising to influence public support for a political party, a candidate for election, a minister or a member of Parliament, according to the guidelines. The campaign called Australias Making Positive Energy promotes the governments investments and policies to reduce carbon pollution and promote renewable energy, carbon capture and storage, agricultural initiatives, and gas and hydrogen power. New Zealand has opened the door to joining the AUKUS defence pact with Australia, Britain and the United States while maintaining its ban on nuclear-powered submarines. The countrys top diplomat in Canberra said her nation could join the agreement to collaborate on the development of emerging cyber technologies including artificial intelligence quantum computing. New Zealand high commissioner Dame Annette King says New Zealand is waiting for more details on the AUKUS agreement. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen New Zealands high commissioner to Australia, Dame Annette King, said AUKUS in no way changed the security and intelligence ties her country had with Australia, the US and Britain. While New Zealand would never be involved in the development of nuclear-powered submarines, Dame Annette said it welcomed the US and Britains increased engagement in the Indo-Pacific region. There was no unexpected bombshell detonated by John Barilaro at Mondays hearing into the conduct of Gladys Berejiklian. Not that he went soft on the woman who served as premier for nearly the entirety of the time he himself was deputy premier. But the matter- of- fact, at times subdued, way in which he delivered his evidence ran counter to his often fiery reputation. Former deputy premier John Barilaro leaves the ICAC after giving evidence on Monday. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer Like those who testified before him last week particularly onetime ministerial colleague Stuart Ayres and former premier Mike Baird Barilaro made no bones about the fact Berejiklian should have told colleagues of her relationship with her then boyfriend, Liberal MP Daryl Maguire. Most particularly, he said, she should have not taken part in discussions by the high-powered expenditure review committee (ERC) which as treasurer she chaired in relation to funding two projects Maguire particularly championed in his electorate of Wagga Wagga. He fronted the commission as part of its investigation into whether Ms Berejiklian breached the public trust or encouraged corrupt conduct during her secret relationship with Mr Maguire. In its second week, the inquiry is investigating two government grants sought for Mr Maguires Wagga Wagga electorate, including $5.5 million to upgrade a clay target shooting club. Ms Berejiklian is expected to give evidence this week and has previously vehemently denied any allegations of wrongdoing. She resigned as premier and the member for Willoughby after she was named the subject of the inquiry on October 1. The commission has heard Ms Berejiklian was the treasurer and chair of the governments expenditure review committee when a proposal to grant the Australian Clay Target Association a multi-million dollar grant was raised with urgency. Bureaucrats last week gave evidence to the ICAC regarding concerns they had about the haste behind the proposal and its business case, which they considered unsatisfactory and flimsy. Loading Mr Barilaro on Monday said it was possible the controversial gun club grant never would have made it to the senior committee if the relationship had been disclosed. I dont believe it would have actually ended up on the ERC agenda in the first instance, unless there was some probity arrangements made around the issue of the relationship, he said. Hypothetically, if it was public, and we had known, I would have assumed that the treasurer at the time would have left the room. By going straight to ERC and not through a competitive process like others, Mr Barilaro said the project secured priority because it earned the imprimatur of the government of the day. He said he was still of the view he gave in a previously secret hearing last month, when he said he would not have supported the item on the agenda if he was aware of the relationship. I [also] believe my colleagues would not have supported the agenda item and therefore, it would not have been supported, he said in the September 10 examination. Mr Barilaro described the grant proposal as unusual because of the expeditious way it was handled and because it did not identify a funding source when pitched. Asked by counsel assisting the commission Scott Robertson if Ms Berejiklians office had tried to push the project along, Mr Barilaro said he was not aware but that it was very possible. Mr Barilaro said Mr Maguire was one of the more aggressive MPs when it came to lobbying ministers for funding, describing him as a pain in the arse. He was a very strong local member and someone that really didnt let it go. A dog with a bone, Mr Barilaro said. Loading The commission is also examining the decision-making behind a multimillion-dollar request for funding for the Riverina Conservatorium of Music in 2018, for which Mr Maguire also advocated. By this time Ms Berejiklian was premier. About $10 million was approved to relocate the conservatorium from a campus of Charles Sturt University to a government-owned site, while a separate tranche of $20 million for a recital hall was promised later. No money for the recital hall has yet been granted as the proposal remains under consideration. The ICAC also heard evidence on Monday from Peter Minucos, a former adviser to Mr Barilaro, who consulted with an independent firm to source the second business case for the gun club grant, which would pass muster. Peter Minucos, former staffer to then-deputy premier John Barilaro, arrives at the ICAC on Monday. Credit:Dominic Lorrimer Mr Minucos, who is not accused of wrongdoing, could not recall Ms Berejiklian having a special interest in the project, but said it appeared to have political backing because of the conditional approval of the ERC, which was the ultimate support. He said he recalled the initial business case was deficient because its benefit to cost analysis related only to Wagga Wagga, rather than the overall state, as required by NSW Treasury guidelines. The inquiry continues. Khartoum: Soldiers arrested most of the members of Sudans cabinet and a large number of pro-government party leaders on Monday in an apparent military coup, three political sources said. The Information Ministry said joint military forces had arrested civilian members of the Sovereign Council and members of the government and had taken them to an undisclosed location. The ministry said Prime Minister Abdulla Hamdok had been placed under house arrest in what it called a military coup. It said the internet had been cut off and military forces closed bridges. The countrys state news channel played patriotic traditional music and scenes of the Nile river. The Umma Party, the largest political party, described the arrests as an attempted coup, and called on people to take to the streets in resistance, the AP reported. Earlier, the Sudanese Professionals Association, a group leading demands for a transition to democracy, issued a similar call. The White House on Monday (Tuesday AEDT) suspended $US700 million ($934 million) in financial assistance to Sudan. The State Department said the full amount of the aid package had been put on pause pending a review of the developments in Khartoum that saw the military oust a civilian-led transitional authority and detain many of its members. Spokesman Ned Price called for the immediate release of those arrested, including PM Hamdok, and the restoration of the civilian authority. We recognise the legitimate grievances about the pace of the transition, but (the) dismissal of government officials and dissolution of government institutions, both violate Sudans constitutional declaration and abandon the democratic aspirations of the Sudanese people. In the afternoon, the head of the military, General Abdel-Fattah Burhan, announced on national TV that he was dissolving the government and the Sovereign Council, a joint military and civilian body created soon after al-Bashirs ouster to run the country. General Abdel-Fattah Burhan announced on TV that he was dissolving the countrys ruling Sovereign Council. Credit:Sudan TV via AP Burhan said quarrels among political factions prompted the military to intervene. Tensions have been rising for weeks over the course and the pace of the transition to democracy in Sudan, a nation in Africa linked by language and culture to the Arab world. The general declared a state of emergency and said the military will appoint a technocratic government to lead the country to elections, set for July 2023. But he made clear the military will remain in charge. The armed forces will continue completing the democratic transition until the handover of the countrys leadership to a civilian, elected government, he said. He added that the countrys constitution would be rewritten and a legislative body would be formed with the participation of young men and women who made this revolution. The Information Ministry, still loyal to the dissolved government, called his speech an announcement of a seizure of power by military coup. White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre said the United States was deeply alarmed at reports of a military takeover and called for the immediate release of the Prime Minister and other officials. The actions today are in stark opposition to the will of the Sudanese people and their aspirations for peace, liberty and justice, Jean-Pierre said. In this frame taken from video, a man protests after the military coup in Sudan. Credit:AP The UN political mission to Sudan described the detentions of government officials as unacceptable, and the African Union called for them to be freed. EU foreign affairs chief Joseph Borrell tweeted that he was following the events with the utmost concern. Since al-Bashir, who remains in prison, was forced from power, Sudan has worked to slowly rid itself the international pariah status it held under the autocrat. The country was removed from the United States state supporter of terror list in 2020, opening the door for badly needed foreign loans and investment. But Sudans economy has struggled with the shock of a number economic reforms called for by international lending institutions. In recent weeks, there have been concerns that the military might be planning a take-over, and in fact there was a failed coup attempt in September. Tensions only rose from there, as the country fractured along old lines, with more conservative Islamists who want a military government pitted against those who toppled al-Bashir in protests. In recent days, both camps have taken to the street in demonstrations. In this frame taken from video people gather during a protest in Khartoum. Credit:AP Amid the standoff, the generals have called repeatedly for dissolving Hamdoks transitional government and Burhan, who leads the ruling Sovereign Council, said frequently that the military would only hand over power to an elected government, an indication that the generals might not stick to the plan to hand leadership of the body to a civilian sometime in November. The council is the ultimate decision maker, though the Hamdoks government is tasked with running Sudans day-to-day affairs. As part of efforts to resolve the crisis, Jeffrey Feltman, the US special envoy to the Horn of Africa, met with Sudanese officials over the weekend, and a senior Sudanese military official said he tried unsuccessfully during his visit to get the generals to stick to the agreed plan. The arrests began a few hours later, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to brief media. Loading In recent weeks, the military has been emboldened in its dispute with civilian leaders by the support of tribal protesters, who blocked the countrys main Red Sea port for weeks. The most two senior military officials, Burhan and his deputy General Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, also have close ties with Egypt and the wealthy Gulf nations of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. The first reports of a possible military takeover emerged before dawn, and the Information Ministry later confirmed them hours later, saying Hamdok and several senior government figures had been arrested and their whereabouts were unknown. Internet access was widely disrupted and the countrys state news channel played patriotic traditional music. Hamdoks office denounced the detentions on Facebook as a complete coup. It said his wife was also arrested. Sudan has suffered other coups since it gained its independence from Britain and Egypt in 1956. Al-Bashir came to power in 1989 in one such takeover, which removed the countrys last elected government. Among those detained on Monday were senior government figures and political leaders, including the information and industry ministers, a media adviser to Hamdok and the governor of the state that includes the capital, according to the senior military official and another official. Both spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to share the information with the media. After news of the arrests spread, the countrys main pro-democracy group and two political parties issued appeals to the Sudanese to take to the streets. The Communist Party called on workers to protest what it described as a full military coup orchestrated by Burhan. AP London: Australias new formal pledge to cut emissions to net zero by 2050 is heroic and should be applauded, Boris Johnson has said, while also warning next weeks Glasgow climate talks are at risk of failure. In remarks that will buoy Prime Minister Scott Morrison following a messy fortnight of horsetrading with junior Coalition partner the Nationals over the new policy, the British Prime Minister singled out political events in Canberra as a sign world leaders were beginning to take climate change seriously. Prime Minister Scott Morrison and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson at Downing Street earlier this year. Credit:AP I do think that world leaders are really starting to listen and see how urgent this is and what an emergency this is, Johnson told an audience of schoolchildren at Downing Street. [The Coalitions new net zero by 2050 policy] was actually very difficult for Australia to do ... because Australia is very heavily dependent on coal and on lots of carbon-producing industries. PHILIPSBURG:--- Members of Parliament Christophe Emmanuel and Claudius Buncamper in a joint press release on Sunday stressed that the proposed Consensus Kingdom Law (Rijkswet) on Data Protection, if passed as currently intended, is tantamount to abuse and it must be stopped dead in its tracks. Both MPs said that the Government of St. Maarten needs to deal with the matter in a transparent manner and consult the public so our people know what you are intending to do by literally subjecting them to more privacy issues. The MPs were reacting to a presentation to Parliament made by Minister of Justice Anna Richardson last week, which was basically the same information provided to MPs and others at a session held at the Simpson Bay Resort earlier this month by the three-person committee that is slated to head a so-called Independent Supervisory Authority. The countries in the Kingdom have jointly decided to harmonize Data Protection in the Caribbean part of the Kingdom by a Consensus Kingdom Law as outlined in the approved country packages. Preparations are being made to start with the actual drafting of the Consensus Kingdom Law. MP Buncamper and Emmanuel made it clear that they are not against the protection of personal data, breaches, and misuse. However, two concerning issues became clear from the Ministers presentation; The Caribbean countries of the Kingdom will have to submit tax, medical and other personal information for protection to the Netherlands to be supervised by the aforementioned independent supervisory authority with far-reaching powers. Yet another Dutch imposed entity for St. Maarten to deal with, MP Emmanuel said. Secondly, the Netherlands isnt part of the law of data protection as they have their own setup. If the Netherlands wants a consensus law, then they too should be part of the law and replace what they have and make their data available to country St. Maarten just like we have to make to them. Anything other than that is not acceptable and will not carry my support for a consensus kingdom law, MP Buncamper said. The MPs stressed that they cannot support providing the personal data of St. Maarten citizens to third parties for possible judicial reasons which arent regulated by law. The Dutch government will have our data and can disseminate it to anyone internationally and we dont have the same rights like them. Non-equality once again showing its ugly face, MP Buncamper said. MP Emmanuel said the presentation by the Justice Minister is the latest example of why the country packages needed to be discussed in-depth by the Parliament of St. Maarten, but were instead rushed through by the government by providing vague and empty answers to the concerns of the MPs. The Ministers presentation was the first time that I was seriously worried and scared for St. Maarten. This government is just giving everything away. The country signed off on country packages without even understanding the implications of every point in those packages. We have laws that can be used to obtain information needed for any kind of investigation. Yet we are expected to support giving away personal information to Holland and an entity with independent powers? Never, MP Emmanuel said. The MPs also questioned why not simply appoint a local body to overlook these matters for St. Maarten. That notion has apparently been dismissed since the counter-argument being used is that considering the fact that a Kingdom Law is currently being established with a regional supervisory authority, it will be pointless to establish a local supervisory authority. Imagine that. So the discussion seems to be a forgone conclusion. Once again, this government is using the Parliament as a rubber-stamp for the Dutch and its intention through the country packages, MP Emmanuel said. MP Buncamper added that the country signing off the country packages without understanding the implications is exactly what happened with 10-10-10 and today we have to deal with those mistakes. I will not be part of these shenanigans for money. And those that demand these types of conditions should be prosecuted for blackmail, he said. The entity that Emmanuel referred to, the so-called supervisory authority, will carry out its duties in complete independence. It will act completely independently in the performance of its duties and the exercise of its powers and will remain free from all or no direct external influence and will not ask nor take instructions from anybody. It will have its own and self-selected staff, who are under the exclusive management of the member or members of the supervisory authority. Important to note is that during the presentation a Simpson Bay Resort, the members of the intended supervisory authority could not provide an explanation on how their independent and far-reaching authorities conflict with the Kingdom Charter and Hollands role in the Charter in specific cases. Both MPs said there are fundamental questions that must be asked. Including but not limited to; why would medical and tax information for example need to be given to the Dutch for protecting? Why would St. Maarten want to have a regional council established to oversee its people, businesses and institutions for data breaches and give them unchallenged powers to punish us, why isnt government truly involving our own people in setting up these frameworks and making the law instead of having three non-St. Maarten people dealing with this project? Why is there such a rush to have the law completed and implemented within 18 months? If St. Maarten doesnt agree what happens then? Why do we need to ask the Netherlands to make any adjustments to a law of which they arent part of? Who will pay for all of this as we cannot even handle our basic costs presently? PHILIPSBURG: The two suspects that have been arrested on Friday morning as the RST and TBO continue their probe in what they believed to be fraud, forgery, and money laundering that took place post-Hurricane Irma will remain in pretrial detention for the next eight days. Chief Operations Officer Michel Hyman and ATR employee Rene Guishard were arrested after their homes, two businesses, and the home of the IT specialist of PJIAE were searched. Late Friday after the Prosecutors Office said in a press release that the searches were conducted under the supervision of the investigating magistrate. The release states that the Mitte investigation focused on fraud related to clean-up and repair works carried out at Princess Juliana International Airport after Hurricane Irma. The Mitte investigation is executed RST under the leadership of the Anti-Corruption Taskforce TBO of the Attorney-Generals Office of Curacao, Sint Maarten, Bonaire, Sint Eustatius, and Saba. TBO focuses on a specialized approach to combat corruption and subversion of financial and economic crime. Additionally, the team investigates fraud, forgery, and money laundering PHILIPSBURG:--- A new political party was launched on the Constitutional Day October 10th, 2021. Regular Parliament elections are slated for 2024. The past, recent, and future shifts in our political arena demand a more active agenda of the Electoral reform ad-hoc committee comprising ten (10) of the fifteen (15) members of Parliament. Being elected to Parliament is a full-time paid occupation. The list of issues concerning electoral reform and electoral process preparations require the urgent action of this committee. These include however are not limited to the following areas of concern; 1. Review/ amendment of the current election ordinance as it relates to e.g the declaration of independent members as proposed by Julio R Romney. 2. Restoration of equal access to the voters registry for eligible political parties 3. Improved privacy for voters list support. 4. Reimburse fee to parties who do not win a seat in elections. 5. Voting rights for students in the Netherlands. Arrindell stated: the issue of none elected members who declare themselves Independent with all consequences thereof, must be back on the Committees agenda. Mr. Julio R Romney presented to Parliament on several occasions his draft election Ordinance Amendment Legislation that seeks to among others settle this long-standing concern of the voting population. Arrindell continues and said: The second point of concern regards regaining access to the voters' registry to All eligible political parties. Our Electoral ordinance (Kiesverordening AB no10.2010) stipulates that the Minister of General Affairs is charged with the proper maintenance of the voters' registry, including persons eligible to vote. This registry is accessible electronically and includes information such as voters addresses and voting districts. The latter is important to have for the sake of effectively canvassing the voting districts. Prior to the enactment of the new electoral ordinance, all Political parties received upon request and for a small fee, the voters' list. In hard-copy later on a CD. In reality, the Minister of General Affairs responsible for the Census office is or may be a candidate on a political slate, privy to voters composition and location when all other political parties do not have access to the same information. The Principle of Equality (gelijkheids -beginsel) in good governance is compromised. Review of the concerned regulation is warranted taking the privacy laws into consideration. Thirdly, how can we improve the signing of a party list process at the Census office? For example, greater privacy is needed of persons affixing their support for a (new) party to be able to participate in the next elections. Persons eligible to sign up for were not comfortable with the fact that one could see who signed which (party) list. Fourth issue concerns the reimbursement of two-thousand guilders (2000) Nafl. fee to political parties that won one (1) or more seats after an election. Contrary for parties who did not win one or more seats must return this total fee to the government coffers within a specified time. This requirement should be reconsidered. Political parties NOT acquiring a seat or more should be reimbursed. This reimbursement must go towards for example retirement of election-party debts and registered at the Electoral Council for transparency sake. Conversely, parties that WON should return the abovementioned fee to government coffers. This is fair after all elected members move on to collect a full salary once appointed. P.P.A leader states last but not least, Sint Maartens students residing in the Netherlands must have the right to vote in Sint Maartens Parliament elections. In 2019 we made yet another plea to take necessary steps. Quote: In the meantime, we have constantly overlooked to secure the voting rights of the future citizens of Sint Maarten. Our students living in Holland must write out of the census in Sint Maarten and re-register at the municipality where they reside in Holland. Hundreds of students residing temporarily in the Netherlands must be able to have a say in their future. Our census information systems ( with that of the Netherlands) are connected. This process can be reversed among others to allow our students in Holland to vote in the Sint Maarten elections... The Minister of General Affairs ( responsible for the census and for the minister plenipotentiary in the Hague, Netherlands) must make arrangements now to facilitate and formalize the voting rights of our students in the Netherlands. Unquote The Sint Maarten House in The Hague can serve as the official voting location for our students in elections 2024. Between now and then is enough time to organize and correct this democratic deficit. Parliaments Electoral Reform Committee must get off the slow-mode. The time is now time to debate and make the necessary changes to improve the integrity and transparency where lacking, in our electoral and constitutional processes. Somerset, KY (42501) Today Considerable clouds early. Some decrease in clouds later in the day. High 58F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies during the evening will give way to cloudy skies overnight. Low 39F. Winds light and variable. HID Global hails the renewed promise of mobile access Its been almost exactly a decade since HID Global launched the world's first university pilot of smartphones carrying secure mobile IDs. A lot has changed in the following 10 years. Todays technology has matured, advanced, and proliferated across a variety of high-value use cases. To catch up on the latest developments in mobile access, we contacted Luc Merredew, Product Marketing Director, Physical Access Control, at HID Global. Q: What has changed since the first pilot implementation of smartphones used for secure mobile identification? Merredew: One of the biggest milestones several years ago was when mobile access solutions achieved certification to the ISO 27001:2013 Information Security Management System (ISMS) standard. With increasing awareness of cloud-based security threats and resulting high expectations from a solution, todays system owners, operators, and users insist on companies being able to demonstrate that they have had their services vetted by independent laboratories and/or agencies. When adopting mobile access solutions that maximise convenience and efficiency, and deliver dramatically improved user experiences, it is neither necessary nor acceptable to compromise security in either the physical or digital domains. Q: Do universities continue to be the biggest users? Mobile IDs on devices eliminate person-to-person credentials when accessing secured areas Merredew: The use cases have grown dramatically, spread evenly across all types of organisations in locations ranging from high-rise buildings to multi-campus global enterprises. But yes, universities continue to be big adopters, and they were among those most eager to leverage the technology so they could bring people back to campus in person during the pandemic. In this environment, mobile IDs on smartphones and other devices eliminate person-to-person credential (e.g., badge or ID card) issuance or revocation, as well as the need to physically touch cards, readers, or keypads when accessing secured areas. Q: How were mobile IDs employed by your customers as they brought people back to physical locations after the pandemic shutdown? Merredew: One example is Vanderbilt University, where the challenges of COVID-19 brought renewed attention to the importance of a modern system for identity management and access control that was compatible with Near Field Communication (NFC) and Bluetooth technologies. Members of the campus community could more conveniently access buildings and services with their mobile devices, and the university could efficiently provision and de-provision credentials remotely without person-to-person contact. More recently, Vanderbilt leveraged HID Mobile Access to deploy campus IDs on iPhone and Apple Watch through Apple Wallet. Q: Is there another example outside the university vertical? Merredew: Another example is the iconic tower Arcos Bosques Torre 1 in Mexico City, where the owners and tenants enjoy the simplicity of using their trusted mobile devices to seamlessly access their spaces. As with the Vanderbilt deployment, the drive for operational efficiency and convenience in the tower was combined with a desire to minimise the need for users to come in physical contact with the system. Having a solution like HID Mobile Access that delivers touchless entry and increased safety and security is important. Q: What have been the biggest mobile access advancements? The mobile credential provides contactless, seamless access to a wide range of devices and services Merredew: One of the most important advancements was simplifying upgrade paths to mobile access. In the Vanderbilt example, our HID Reader Manager was used to upgrade the firmware on the universitys physical access control readers and extend support for NFC-based credentials in Apple Wallet. The university uses the HID Origo Mobile Identities API integrated with CS Gold, a higher education transaction system from CBORD, for credential lifecycle management. Another significant enhancement has been the expanded range of uses cases for the mobile credential, going beyond simply opening doors to include providing contactless, seamless access to a wide range of devices and services such as time-and-attendance terminals, cashless vending machines, printers, computers, workstations, and many other applications. Q: Wearables are also having an impact. Merredew: Contactless mobile experiences are also delivered through wearable wristbands. One example is the Nymi band which, once authenticated, continuously authenticates the identity of the user until its removed from the wrist. This delivers zero-trust security principles and access control using convenient fingerprint and heartbeat biometrics to users seeking touchless authentication. Q: What is the impact of the cloud? Merredew: The move to a cloud-based system to issue and manage mobile identity credentials has unified, automated, and simplified identity issuance at a single facility or across any number of distributed office or remote work locations. Q: What should end users look for in a mobile access solution? Look for solutions that use a secure element in the reader as well as cloud certificates, to ensure security and data privacy Merredew: Solutions should support the largest possible number of popular mobile devices in HIDs case, this includes more than 250. Look for solutions that use a secure element in the reader, and a secure key management process, as well as cloud certificates, to ensure both security and data privacy. Make sure the solution supports Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), Near Field Communication (NFC), and both iOS and Android operating systems. Solutions that provide Application Programming Interface (API) and Software Development Kit (SDK) support offer direct access to the solutions access control hardware, speeding deployment while enabling integration partners to continue innovating products that deliver even better user experiences. Q: Wonder what this market will look like in 10 more years. Whats next for mobile access? Merredew: Future innovations are on the horizon with technologies such as Ultra-Wideband (UWB) wireless connectivity, which HID expects will become ubiquitous on mobile devices. It provides unprecedented accuracy and security when measuring the distance or determining the relative position of a target. It is not HIDs expectation that UWB will replace Near Field Communication (NFC) or Bluetooth, but rather supplement Bluetooth and other technologies to provide the assurance, reliability, and granularity of device position that enables truly seamless experiences. Lee Hamilton is a senior advisor for the Indiana University Center on Representative Government; a Distinguished Scholar at the IU Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies; and a Professor of Practice at the IU ONeill School of Public and Environmental Affairs. He was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives for 34 years. Season 5 has come to an end and in Riverdale's fashion - it is a disappointing season finale and a pointless second part of season five. The show does not seem to have found its narrative dimension despite all the changes and the time jump. Let's summarize what happened in Next to Normal and Riverdale: RIP (?). Next to Normal, Alice is still traumatized by the loss of Polly. She can't stop herself by imagining the Coopers as a happy family. Betty tries to help her, but her mother blames her for not being there for her and for the fight between the two sisters. Family drama level up - I really don't understand why Betty has always to lose a family member, it's like a tradition in each season. In, Alice is still traumatized by the loss of Polly. She can't stop herself by imagining the Coopers as a happy family., but her mother blames her for not being there for her and for the fight between the two sisters. Family drama level up - I really don't understand why Betty has always to lose a family member, it's like a tradition in each season. While Toni and Fangs talk about their feelings, Archie and Veronica break up again because they are on different paths. Another breakup for Varchie, when will they reconcile? Season six finale? Jug and Tabitha decide to start a relationship and the episode ends with the gang burying Polly's ashes. The only great moment of the episode. In Riverdale: RIP (?), Betty gets the title of Special Agent and, consequently, the FBI reopens the field office in Riverdale. Veronica and Hiram have the final showdown: after seasons of useless and annoying fights, Veronica decides to exile him once for all. Will he return at some point? I am pretty sure. The most interesting part of the episode is connected with a crazy storyline for Cheryl. She learns that her ancestor was burned at the stake by Archie, Jug, and Betty's ancestors and she wants them to apologize at the town forum. We know something wicked this way will come. InBetty gets the title of Special Agent and, consequently, the FBI reopens the field office in Riverdale. Veronica and Hiram have the final showdown: after seasons of useless and annoying fights,Will he return at some point? I am pretty sure. The most interesting part of the episode is connected with a crazy storyline for Cheryl. She learns that her ancestor was burned at the stake by Archie, Jug, and Betty's ancestors and she wants them to apologize at the town forum. We know something wicked this way will come. Veronica can't stay single and rekindles her romance with Reggie. Same for Archie, he jumps into Betty's arms and they are about to have sex, but they find a bomb under his bed. Hiram leaves town and Archie's house is on fire. I really did not enjoy this season. This season finale is slightly promising - just because things change, Hiram is leaving and the witchcraft storyline is hinted. I am not positive about what's coming next, but let's see. And you? What do you think of Next to Normal and Riverdale: RIP (?)? The longtime Bethel Halloween tradition, Trick-or-Treat Street, event is returning to the town from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday. No early birds are requested. Trick-or-treaters of all ages will be welcome along Greenwood Avenue from the Caraluzzis Bethel Market at 98 Greenwood Ave. to Dolan Plaza at 213 Greenwood Ave., and in front of the municipal building at 1 School Street. Tables will be set up by participating shopkeepers and local vendors. The Bethel Chamber of Commerce is the sponsor of the event. A costume contest will take place on the lawn of the municipal building at 3 p.m. Participants will be split by age groups birth to pre-K, kindergarten through the third grade, fourth grade to the eighth grade, and the ninth grade to adult years, according to the events organizer, Kimberley Ramsey of the Toy Room business at 180 Greenwood in Bethel. The participants will parade along the walkways on the lawn, which is directly adjacent to Greenwood Avenue. Any person, who wants to participate in the events, should be there by 3 p.m., so that they do not miss out on their age group. The events are being kept simple amid the coronavirus pandemic with the trick or treating as the main feature. Judges will include Bethel First Selectman Matt Knickerbocker, Bethel Superintendent of Schools Christine Carter and a representative of the Bethel Educational Foundation, nonprofit organization. Erik Tonner will be the DJ for the event. Danbury Jam band Phoenix Tree to perform The jam band Phoenix Tree will perform live music at the new Sugar Hollow Taproom in Danbury at 8 p.m. Nov. 6. Sugar Hollow is located at 66 Sugar Hollow Road Suite 8, in Danbury. Danbury 29th annual Halloween on the Green set The 29th annual Halloween on the Green in Danbury event is set for from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday. The Danbury Green is located at the CityCenter amphitheater in Danbury, at 268 Main St. The free event is in partnership with the CityCenter, and the Kiwanis Club of Greater Danbury. Children, and their families are invited to the green. The event will feature a childrens costume parade, goodie bags, local vendors, music, a photo booth, and children friendly activities. Prizes will be awarded for the categories of: Most Original, Scariest, and Cutest costumes. The goodie bags will be given to the first 500 children, who are in costume. Parking will be available at the Patriot Parking Garage. The garage is located next to the green. Contact the CityCenter at (203) 792-1711, or visit the amphiteaters website for the event at https://citycenterdanbury.com/event/halloween-on-the-green/. Danbury Brewery, taproom celebrates Oktoberfest, anniversary The Charter Oak Brewing Company recently celebrated Oktoberfest and it 10-year anniversary. Hundreds of bratwurst sausages came off of the brewery and taprooms grill to celebrate the occasion. About 1,000 people from Connecticut and New York visited the brewery, taproom, and its new 10,000-square-feet Birgarten venue on Saturday, Oct. 16., to obtain locally brewed beer and a bratwurst sausage. Visit the companys website at charteroakbrewing.com for the latest events that are happening at the business. Charter Oak is located at 39B Shelter Rock Road in Danbury. New Milford Food drive to benefit families for Thanksgiving The Womans Club of Greater New Milford and the United Way of Western Connecticut are hosting an Operation Thanksgiving, food drive event from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 6. Donations will be collected on the New Milford Green in downtown New Milford. Two organizations provide a complete Thanksgiving meal for 250 families in New Milford each year of the event. The members of the Womans Club ask participants to bring non-perishable items to help stuff the bandstand located on the Green. Items that are needed are: Pie fillings, canned sweet potatoes, yams, cranberry sauce, creamed soups, canned vegetables, stuffing, chicken broth, and turkey gravy. Frozen turkeys will also be accepted. Masks will be required at the donation drop-off location on the Green, amid the coronavirus pandemic. Monetary donations will also be accepted, and will be used towards the purchase of a turkey for each family that participates in the event. Visit the website for the event at wcgnm.com/thanksgiving-baskets/ for a complete list of items that are needed for the food drive, or to donate virtually to the cause. Regional Womens Center gets new name The Womens Center of Greater Danbury is unveiling a new brand and name to better reflect the centers mission. The brand will be launched at 10 a.m. Tuesday in conjunction with Domestic Violence Awareness Month, which is in October. Staff from the Womens Center will also expansion plans at the event. The Womens Center is resource services, domestic violence, and sexual assault agency that serves 13 local Connecticut communities. The Womens Center has its headquarters at 2 West St. in Danbury. Pat Zachman is the CEO, Chief Executive Officer. The Womens Center has provided 24/7 support to people in need since 1975. The organization has also provided services and support to more than 32,000 people through its educational programs, as well as 4,000 people through its free and confidential services. Regional Womans Club to donate items The members of the Womans Club of Danbury/New Fairfield, recently put its motto of, Sharing, Caring, Giving, into action in the area. On Thursday, Oct. 14, various club committees gathered donations that will be distributed throughout the Danbury area. Various of the members of the Womans Clubs committees collected items. The Environmental Committee collected redeemable water bottles and cans. The proceeds will be used for environmental projects in the community. The Womans Clubs Civic Engagement and Outreach Committee recently collected gift cards that will handed out on Veterans Day to thank veterans for their service. The Womans Clubs Community Improvement Committee collected new gloves and socks, which will be distributed in the future to the homeless. The Womans Clubs Health and Wellness Committee collected non-perishable food items for the Daily Bread Food Pantry. The committee also collected cleaning supplies and toiletries for the Morning Glory Marketplace food pantry program. The Marketplace is located with the Catholic Charities at its Danbury location at 64 West St. The Marketplace is a program that is run by the Catholic Charities non-profit organization. The Womans Club of Danbury/New Fairfield has a membership of over 200 ladies. The Womans Club will continue to support the community throughout the year through the Clubs many philanthropic activities. Ridgefield Resident recognized as University of Rhode Island luminary Mary Ellen Doherty, of Ridgefield, was recently honored at the 75th anniversary celebration of the College of Nursing at the University of Rhode Island on Sept. 30. In recognition of the milestone, the college selected 75 Luminaries whose clinical, academic, research, and scholarly work identified them as bright shining stars in the profession. Doherty has been a nursing faculty member at the Western Connecticut State University in Danbury, since 2008, teaching doctoral, masters and undergraduate nursing students. Her research has culminated in two critically-acclaimed books. The first book is titled: Nurses in War: Voices from Iraq and Afghanistan. The second books is titled: Nurses After War: The Reintegration Experience of Nurses Returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as numerous professional nursing journal publications. Before moving to Connecticut, Doherty taught at the University of Massachusetts-Lowell in Lowell, Mass., and Northeastern University in Boston. She was the first certified nurse-midwife at Emerson Hospital in Concord, Mass., and was the founder, and the president of the Concord Nurse-Midwifery Associates, which is also located in Concord. She received her baccalaureate degree in nursing from Mount Saint Mary College in Newburgh, N.Y., her masters as a maternal-child clinical nurse-specialist and family nurse practitioner from Rutgers University, her nurse-midwifery certification from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, and her Ph.D, from the University of Rhode Island. Doherty will be on sabbatical leave from Western Connecticut State University in the spring of 2022 to write a third book on her latest research, which is about about post-traumatic growth in women after experiencing loss, a close brush with death and domestic abuse. She was inducted as a fellow in the American College of Nurse-Midwives in Silver Spring Maryland in 2020. The honor is given to the most distinguished nurse-midwives. She serves on Division of Research and is a reviewer for the Journal of Midwifery and Womens Health and the Journal of Perinatal Nursing. She is also a member of three chapters of Sigma Theta Tau, the international honor society for nursing, and has presented her research in the U.S., London, Dublin, Calgary, Vienna and Kolding, Denmark. Doherty considers herself blessed with a supportive husband, and children, as well as colleagues, and students, who she says have made her career meaningful, and rewarding. STAMFORD The road to a new commuter garage in Stamford has been far from smooth, but on Monday morning, Connecticut officials celebrated finally moving forward on the perennially postponed project. Five years after a deal to reimagine the Stamford Transportation Center and its dilapidated state garage fell apart, Gov. Ned Lamont, Transportation Commissioner Joseph Giulietti and a bevy of elected officials gathered to showcase one of the Northeasts busiest train stations into the 21st century by building a new commuter garage. Parking should not be a hassle, Lamont said from a podium just across the street from the garage-in-progress while flanked by Stamford Mayor David Martin, U.S. Rep. Jim Himes, D-Conn., and Stamfords delegation to the state legislature. Parking should be something that's easy, affordable, with a lot of capacity. That's what we're doing right here. Engineering crews have already broken ground on the 928-spot garage, a project that will cost the state $81.7 million, according to Giulietti. The entire edifice, which will feature a bridge that directly connects with one of the train platforms through an enclosed pedestrian way, is scheduled for completion in summer 2023. The multi-million dollar car depot will encompass only a fraction of what the state originally planned to replace in 2013. The Department of Transportation that year struck a deal with a private developer to create a $500 million office, housing, retail and hotel complex beside the train station and move commuter parking a quarter-mile away. That proposal drew ire from commuters, who wanted the state to rebuild the existing garage instead. The new building on Washington Boulevard will replace the existing state garage on Station Place, a 36-year-old structure plagued by problems since the beginning. The state plans to demolish the more structurally deficient half of the garage once the new parking facility is completed. This is prime real estate, Giulietti said of the parcel. We're looking to go and attract investors so that we can offset some of our costs for going into an operation by maybe putting in something there that will generate funds for the system. Even during the pandemic, the Stamford Transportation Center has remained one of the most frequented locations in the Metro-North railroad system. Data from the system shows that more than 8.4 million people rode Metro-North trains from the Stamford Transportation Center in 2016, making it the second-busiest station behind Grand Central Terminal in New York City. After seeing a 95 percent reduction in ridership during the height of the COVID-19 crisis, the passenger count has since bounced back and hovers at around 50 percent of pre-pandemic levels, Metro-North President Catherine Rinaldi said at the ceremony. Almost two years after the virus first took hold, 175 trains a day stop at Stamford station. Weekend train service is completely back to normal, and on the weekdays 82 percent of the usual trains visit the stop, she said. Though creating a better place for cars is the most obvious component of the garage redesign, the future of multi-modal transportation in Stamford was also front and center during the celebration. Though future plans for the transportation center itself are still incomplete, the state plans to repave and redesign all the roads surrounding the garage and the train station, according to Giulietti. The paving would create dedicated feeder paths for the buses, taxi cabs and rideshares that frequent the station. On top of that, he said, the new garage will bring pedestrian improvements to the streets to facilitate both walking and biking. The project will also connect nearby pedestrians to the planned Mill River Greenway, the project that will connect Stamford from the South End to Mill River Park. veronica.delvalle@hearstmediact.com DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) Two years ago, Apple threatened to pull Facebook and Instagram from its app store over concerns about the platform being used as a tool to trade and sell maids in the Mideast. After publicly promising to crack down, Facebook acknowledged in internal documents obtained by The Associated Press that it was under-enforcing on confirmed abusive activity that saw Filipina maids complaining on the social media site of being abused. Apple relented and Facebook and Instagram remained in the app store. But Facebook's crackdown seems to have had a limited effect. Even today, a quick search for khadima, or maids in Arabic, will bring up accounts featuring posed photographs of Africans and South Asians with ages and prices listed next to their images. Thats even as the Philippines government has a team of workers that do nothing but scour Facebook posts each day to try and protect desperate job seekers from criminal gangs and unscrupulous recruiters using the site. While the Mideast remains a crucial source of work for women in Asia and Africa hoping to provide for their families back home, Facebook acknowledged some countries across the region have especially egregious human rights issues when it comes to laborers' protection. In our investigation, domestic workers frequently complained to their recruitment agencies of being locked in their homes, starved, forced to extend their contracts indefinitely, unpaid, and repeatedly sold to other employers without their consent, one Facebook document read. In response, agencies commonly told them to be more agreeable. The report added: We also found recruitment agencies dismissing more serious crimes, such as physical or sexual assault, rather than helping domestic workers. In a statement to the AP, Facebook said it took the problem seriously, despite the continued spread of ads exploiting foreign workers in the Mideast. We prohibit human exploitation in no uncertain terms, Facebook said. Weve been combating human trafficking on our platform for many years and our goal remains to prevent anyone who seeks to exploit others from having a home on our platform. This story, along with others published Monday, is based on disclosures made to the Securities and Exchange Commission and provided to Congress in redacted form by former Facebook employee-turned-whistleblower Frances Haugens legal counsel. The redacted versions were obtained by a consortium of news organizations, including the AP. The Wall Street Journal previously wrote about Apple's threat to remove Facebook and Instagram. Taken as a whole, the trove of documents show that Facebook's daunting size and user base around the world a key factor in its rapid ascent and near trillion-dollar valuation also proves to be its greatest weakness in trying to police illicit activity, such as the sale of drugs, and suspected human rights and labor abuses on its site. Activists say Facebook, based in Menlo Park, California, has both an obligation and likely the means to fully crack down on the abuses their services facilitate as it earns tens of billions of dollars each year in revenue. While Facebook is a private company, when you have billions of users, you are effectively like a state and therefore you have social responsibilities de facto, whether you like it or not, said Mustafa Qadri, the executive director of Equidem Research, which studies migrant labor. These workers are being recruited and going to places to work like the Gulf, the Middle East, where there is practically no proper regulation of how they're recruited and how theyre treated when they end up in the places where they work. So when you put those two things together, really, its a recipe for disaster. Mary Ann Abunda, who works with a nongovernmental Filipino workers welfare group called Sandigan in Kuwait, similarly warned of the danger the site can pose. Facebook really has two faces, Abunda said. Yes, as it advertises, its connecting people, but it has also become a haven of sinister people and syndicates who wait for your weak moment to pounce on you. Facebook, like human rights activists and others worried about labor across the Mideast, pointed to the so-called kafala system prevalent across much of the regions countries. Under this system, which allowed nations to import cheap foreign labor from Africa and South Asia as oil money swelled their economies beginning in the 1950s, workers find their residency bound directly to their employer, their sponsor or kafeel. While workers can find employment in these arrangements that allow them to send money back home, unscrupulous sponsors can exploit their laborers who often have no other legal recourse. Stories of workers having their passports seized, working nonstop without breaks, and not being properly paid long have shadowed major construction projects, whether Dubais Expo 2020 or Qatars upcoming FIFA 2022 World Cup. While Gulf Arab states like the UAE and Qatar insist theyve improved working conditions, others like Saudi Arabia still require employers to approve their workers leaving the country. Meanwhile, maids and domestic workers can find themselves even more at risk by living alone with families in private homes. In the documents seen by the AP, Facebook acknowledges being aware of both the exploitive conditions of foreign workers and the use of Instagram to buy and trade maids online even before a 2019 report by the BBCs Arabic service on the practice in the Mideast. That BBC report sparked the threat by Cupertino, California-based Apple to remove the apps, citing examples of pictures of maids and their biographic details showing up online, according to the documents. Facebook engineers found nearly three-fourths of all problematic posts, including showing maids in videos and screenshots of their conversations, occurred on Instagram. Links to maid-selling sites predominantly affected Facebook. Over 60% of the material came from Saudi Arabia, with about a quarter coming from Egypt, according to the 2019 Facebook analysis. In a statement to the AP, Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development said the kingdom stands firmly against all types of illegal practices in the labor market and that all labor contracts must be approved by authorities. While keeping in contact with the Philippines and other nations on labor issues, the ministry said Facebook had never been in touch with it about the problem. Obviously illegal ads posted on social media platforms make it harder to track and investigate, the ministry said. Saudi Arabia plans a major public awareness campaign soon as well on illegal recruitment practices, the ministry added. Egypt did not respond to requests for comment. While Facebook disabled over 1,000 accounts on its websites, its analysis papers acknowledged that as early as 2018 the company knew it had a problem with what it referred to as domestic servitude. It defined the problem as a form of trafficking of people for the purpose of working inside private homes through the use of force, fraud, coercion or deception. The issue appeared a wide-enough problem that Facebook even used an acronym to describe it HEx, or human exploitation. Users at the time reported only 2% of problematic content, likely due to the desire to travel abroad for work. Facebook acknowledged it only scratched the surface of the problem and that domestic servitude content remained on the platform. After a week, Facebook shared what it had done and Apple apparently dropped the threat. Apple did not respond to requests for comment, but Facebook acknowledged how seriously it took the threat at the time. Removing our applications from Apple platforms would have had potentially severe consequences to the business, including depriving millions of users of access, the analysis said. The problem, however, continues across both Facebook and Instagram. Facebook appears to acknowledge that in more recent documents seen by the AP. It described engineers accessing problematic messages in maid-recruiting agencies inboxes, including one in which a Filipina specifically is mentioned as being sold by her Kuwaiti employers. Sometimes my head and ears hurt from being hit, another batch of messages from a Filipina in Kuwait read. When I escape from here, how will I get my passport? And how can we get out of here? The door is always locked. Another Filipina housemaid in Kuwait, who described being sold to another family through an Instagram post in December 2012, told the AP that she knew of other cases of Filipinas being traded online like merchandise. "I was like an animal that was being traded by one owner to another, said the woman, who spoke from Kuwait on condition of anonymity out of fear of reprisals. If Facebook and Instagram wont take stronger steps against this anomaly, there will be more victims like me. I was lucky because I did not end up dead or a sexual slave. Authorities in Kuwait, where the Philippines temporarily banned domestic workers from going after an abused Filipina was found dead in a refrigerator in 2018 over a year after disappearing, did not respond to requests for comment. In the Philippines, the billions of dollars annually sent home from overseas workers represent nearly 10% of the countrys gross domestic product. Those wanting to go abroad trust Facebook more than the private recruiting agencies monitored by the government in part over past scandals, said Bernard Olalia, who heads the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration, which has the team monitoring Facebook postings. Job seekers mistakenly believe the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration endorses some of the Facebook and Instagram accounts, in part as they misused the offices logos, he said. With the coronavirus pandemic locking down the Philippines for months, those wanting to work abroad are even more desperate than before for any opportunity. Some see application fees stolen by criminal gangs, he said. Others have been trafficked or sexually exploited. Words are not enough to describe their predicament but the situation is devastating for them, Olalia said. They expected to recover again, they invested just to ensure theyll have a destination only to end up as victims of illegal recruitment. Thats devastating on their part. Facebook suggested a pilot program to begin in 2021 that targeted Filipinas with pop-up messages and banner ads warning them about the dangers working overseas can pose. It remains unclear whether it ever began, though Facebook said in its statement to the AP that it delivers targeted prevention and support ad campaigns in countries such as the Philippines where data suggests people may be at high risk of exploitation. Facebook did not answer specific questions posed by the AP about its practices. Olalia said his office for the last two years had a direct line to Facebook to be able to flag suspicious accounts. But even that isnt enough as more and more pop up to replace them. It will affect their income so they dont want to address this, he said. That leaves some of the most-desperate job seekers in the world vulnerable to promises and possible trafficking on Facebook. Weve seen since the pandemic that these low-wage workers who literally raise our children, they build our buildings, they cook our food, they deliver our meals. Theyre not just low-wage workers, theyre essential workers, said Qadri, the migrant rights expert. So we really have a duty to address these problems because our entire civilization is dependent on these people. ___ Gomez reported from Manila, Philippines. ___ See full coverage of The Facebook Papers here: https://apnews.com/hub/the-facebook-papers Tumbling COVID-19 case counts have some schools around the U.S. considering relaxing their mask rules, but deaths nationally have been ticking up over the past few weeks, some rural hospitals are showing signs of strain, and cold weather is setting in. The number of new cases nationally has been plummeting since the delta surge peaked in mid-September. The U.S. is averaging about 73,000 new cases per day, dramatically lower than the 173,000 recorded on Sept. 13. And the number of Americans in the hospital with COVID-19 has plummeted by about half to around 47,000 since early September. In Florida, Miami-Dade County's mask mandate could be loosened by the end of October if the encouraging numbers continue, and nearby Broward County will discuss relaxing its requirement on Tuesday. The superintendent in metro Atlanta said he will consider waiving mask requirements at individual schools. A high school outside Boston became the first in Massachusetts to make masks optional after it hit a state vaccination threshold. With about 95% of eligible people at Hopkinton High inoculated, school leaders voted to allow vaccinated students and staff to go maskless for a three-week trial period starting Nov. 1. Still, there are some troubling indicators, including the onset of cold weather, which sends people indoors, where the virus can more easily spread. With required mask use reduced in much of the U.S., the University of Washington's influential COVID-19 forecasting model is predicting increasing infections and hospitalizations in November. Also, COVID-19 deaths per day have begun to creep back up again after a decline that started in late September. Deaths are running at about 1,700 per day, up from close to 1,500 two weeks ago. The virus is still striking unvaccinated communities, many of them rural areas in states including North Dakota, Wyoming, Alaska and Minnesota. More than 67% of the nation's eligible population is fully vaccinated, and the Biden administration is getting closer to enacting a workplace vaccine mandate for every business in the country with more than 100 employees. In Alaska, which has ranked at or near the top in per-capita case rates over the last month, hospitals remain strained, but health care workers are not speaking out the way they had, said Jared Kosin, president and CEO of the Alaska State Hospital and Nursing Home Association. A recent debate over masks in Alaskas largest city, Anchorage, grew heated, and hospital and public health officials last month reported hostilities toward health care workers related to COVID-19. Its not yet clear, he said, if the state has peaked in terms of cases in this latest surge. Its not letting up and I think thats the hardest part with this. Its not like you can see hope on the horizon, you know were going to see a rapid decline and get through it. it just seems to come and go and when it comes it hits really hard. In sparsely populated Wyoming, which has one of the nations lowest vaccination rates, hospitals are coping with more patients than at any other point in the pandemic. The vast majority of hospitalized patients in Wyoming havent gotten the vaccine, the states vaccination rate is only about 43%. Only West Virginia ranks lower. Its like a war zone, public health officer Dr. Mark Dowell told a county health board about the situation at Wyoming Medical Center, the Casper Star Tribune reported. The ICU is overrun. In smaller hospitals in North Dakota, many people are getting long-delayed treatments for other ailments, but combined with COVID patients, facilities are pushed to the limit, said Dan Olson, executive director of a network that includes many of those facilities. You can talk in the morning and they have beds and by afternoon they might be at capacity, Olson said. In rural Minnesota, a man waited two days for an intensive care bed and later died. Bob Cameron, 87, had gone to to his hometown hospital in Hallock with severe gastrointestinal bleeding and COVID-19. Officials searched for space in a larger center. The bleeding exhausted the hospitals blood supply, and state troopers drove 130 miles (209 kilometers) with new units, but his condition worsened after surgery and he died Oct. 13, t he Minneapolis Star Tribune reported. We cant say for certain, of course, that if he got to an ICU bed sooner that he would have survived, but we just feel in our hearts that he would have, said Camerons granddaughter, Janna Curry. During a three-week stretch this month, rural hospitals in Minnesota were caring for more COVID-19 patients than those in the states major urban center, Minneapolis-St. Paul. __ Associated Press writers Carla Johnson in Washington state, Dave Kolpack in Fargo, North Dakota, and Becky Bohrer in Juneau, Alaska, contributed to this report. DARIEN Visitors enjoyed a unique opportunity to learn a little about what life was like in Darien 200 years ago when they attended the towns Heritage Day on Saturday. The Museum of Darien, First Congregational Church of Darien and the Mather Homestead all took part in the event, which was part of the towns COVID-delayed bicentennial celebration of its 1820 founding. I couldnt ask for a more perfect day, said Al Miller, who chairs the towns Bicentennial Committee. Or a more perfect bunch of volunteers. The Heritage Day celebration included a range of Colonial demonstrations as well as two detailed reenactments two respective 1781 British raids on the Middlesex Meeting House and the Mather Farm. Its exceeding all of my expectations, he said of the activities. And I think everybody is really enjoying it. Hundreds of spectators showed up at the church to see the many local residents who portrayed historic figures in the event, which centered on the Rev. Moses Mather, whose great, great, great, great granddaughter, Jane Nickerson, a Darien native, was on hand to witness. Its a very special celebration, she said, watching Board of Finance Chair Jon Zagrodsky playing her ancestor. Im thrilled to be here. The Rev. Denise Terry of the First Congregational Church of Darien said the town and church take their foundation for living out of history. Were just delighted to have everybody here celebrating this historical moment, she said. State Rep. Terrie Wood (R-141), likewise, noted the importance of the past for the residents of Darien. Our history is where we learn so many of our values as a community, she said. Darien High School senior Lily Donzeiser, 17, a student leader for the Darien Museums school group, took part in the event and noted the important connections with the past. Its still so relevant today, she said. We wouldnt be here without all the things that have happened. U.S. Rep. Jim Himes (D-4) also paid a visit to the event, taking pride in his connection to the past. As a representative in the successor of the Continental Congress. I just this this is a delightful reminder of where this area came from, he said. Editors note: This story has been updated to correct the captions for the pictures of Tom Sephen and Kevin Garrity. OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) A federal judge in Oklahoma ruled Monday the state can move forward with scheduled lethal injections for five death row inmates, including Julius Jones, whose case has drawn international attention and who is scheduled to die on Nov. 28. Judge Stephen Friot denied a motion for a preliminary injunction sought by the five inmates, paving the way for the state to proceed with seven lethal injections scheduled over the next six months. The state is scheduled to conduct its first execution in more than six years on Thursday when John Marion Grant, 60, is set to receive a lethal injection for the 1998 killing of a prison cafeteria worker. Grant, Jones and three other death row inmates were removed from a federal lawsuit challenging the state's three-drug lethal injection protocol because none of the five offered an alternative method of execution. A trial on that challenge is scheduled before Friot in February. The case is complete in this court as to these five plaintiffs," Friot said. Twenty-six of the 32 Oklahoma death row inmates who were on the original challenge provided the court with an alternative method of execution, including the use of different drug combinations or firing squad. According to a table included in the judges order, 19 of the 32 inmates proposed firing squad as an alternative method of execution. Firing squad is currently one of several execution methods authorized under Oklahoma law. Attorneys for the five inmates vowed to immediately appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit. We will be asking the 10th Circuit to review Judge Friots decision and to issue a stay for Mr. Grants execution, as well as for the executions scheduled in the coming months," said assistant public defender Dale Baich, one of Jones' attorneys. The district court acknowledged there are serious questions about the drug protocol used by Oklahoma and that it could cause unconstitutional pain and suffering. With the trial on that question scheduled for February 2022, executions should not go forward." A spokeswoman for Attorney General John O'Connor declined to comment on Friot's ruling. Jones still could be granted clemency by Gov. Kevin Stitt if a majority of the state's five-member Pardon and Parole Board recommends it. The panel, which already recommended Jones' sentence be commuted to life in prison, is scheduled to consider his clemency request on Tuesday. Jones' case drew national attention after being featured in 2018 on the ABC television documentary series The Last Defense. Since then, his case has been highlighted by reality television star Kim Kardashian West and numerous professional athletes with ties to Oklahoma who have appealed for clemency. Oklahoma announced last year it planned to resume executions using a three-drug lethal injection protocol and that a source for the drugs has been secured. The three drugs are: midazolam, vecuronium bromide and potassium chloride. Oklahoma once had one of the nations busiest death chambers, but a moratorium on capital punishment has been in place since 2015 following three consecutive flawed executions. The lead plaintiff in the case, Richard Glossip, was just hours away from being executed in September 2015 when prison officials realized they received the wrong lethal drug. It was later learned the same wrong drug had been used to execute an inmate in January 2015. The drug mix-ups followed a botched execution in April 2014 in which inmate Clayton Lockett struggled on a gurney before dying 43 minutes into his lethal injection and after the states prisons chief ordered executioners to stop. WASHINGTON (AP) The Senates willingness to confirm a president's nominees took a downward turn during Donald Trumps first year in office. And it has only gotten worse for President Joe Biden. About 36% of Biden's nominees have been confirmed so far in the evenly divided Senate, a deterioration from the paltry 38% success rate that Trump saw at the same stage of his presidency. Their predecessors, Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, both saw about two-thirds of their nominees confirmed through Oct. 21, according to tracking by the Partnership for Public Service. The trend is alarming to good government advocates, who say Washington's ability to meet mounting challenges is being undermined by gaps in leadership. But the slow-walking shows no signs of letting up as senators place holds on a wide swath of nominees to gain leverage and attract public attention. Among the most notable examples: Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, has placed holds on several State and Treasury nominees over a pipeline that will carry natural gas from Russia to Germany. He wants the Biden administration to implement sanctions to stop it. Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., had placed holds on all Department of Homeland Security nominees until Vice President Kamala Harris visited the U.S.-Mexico border. Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., said he will not consent to the nomination of any Defense or State Department nominees until the secretaries of those departments resign for the troubled withdrawal from Afghanistan. The holds dont prevent nominees from being confirmed, but they force extra steps in a Senate that already moves at a leisurely pace. The backup burns through time on the Senate calendar and forces Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to make tough choices about what will see a vote. While gridlock isn't new, the struggle to staff administrations is getting worse. During the first nine months of the Bush and Obama administrations, the Senate required fewer than 10% of their nominees to advance through time-hogging cloture votes aimed at limiting debate. But Democrats increased that to 40% under Trump. Republicans have responded in kind, ramping it up to more than 50% under Biden, according to White House data. White House press secretary Jen Psaki said there have been unprecedented delays, obstruction, holds on qualified individuals from Republicans in the Senate." And that, she said, is thwarting the confirmation of ambassadors and economic and national security officials. The blame is clear," Psaki said. "It is frustrating." Holds tell only part of the story, though. The number of positions requiring Senate confirmation keeps growing from fewer than 800 when Dwight Eisenhower was president to more than 1,200 now. That means more competition for the Senate's time and attention. Our system is broken, said Max Stier, the CEO of the Partnership for Public Service. We have a Senate that was designed for a different era, the equivalent of the country road and the world around it has become a major urban center and it cant manage the traffic that is now trying to go down it. Stiers organization provides information and training aimed at making government employees more effective. He said delays in filling key government posts make it harder to respond to problems such as the pandemic, the economic fallout that came from it, climate change and foreign threats such as those from China, Russia and North Korea. We face an extraordinary set of challenges and our government is our one tool as a society to deal with these big problems, Stier said. His organization recommends that Congress reduce the number of positions requiring Senate confirmation and give nominees a quicker vote. There are legitimate reasons why the Senate would reject a nominee," Stier said. But the key point here is they ought to be giving them the up-and-down vote fast not what is happening now." Senators seem unlikely to relent. Holding up a nominee is a rare chance to gain the administrations attention and perhaps change its course of action. At other times, it gives them an opportunity to make a statement that resonates with their party's voters. Cruz has been a longtime opponent of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, which he says will increase Europes reliance on Russia for its energy. The Biden administration imposed sanctions on Russian companies and ships for their work on the project, but opted not to punish the German company overseeing it. Cruz's office said the senator is committed to using whatever leverage he has to force mandatory sanctions." He believes that those sanctions can still prevent Nord Stream 2 from coming online and that the Biden administration can be convinced to implement them, Cruzs office said. Hawley, meanwhile, has demanded that Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin resign because of the botched Afghanistan withdrawal." Until there is accountability, the least we can do is actually vote for nominees to leadership positions at the State Department and Department of Defense," Hawley said in a statement. Without the holds, the nominees could be confirmed through a voice vote, a process taking only minutes that can be used so long as no senators object. That's how more than 90% of nominees were confirmed at similar stages of the Bush and Obama presidencies. There is one bright spot for Biden. He is eclipsing other presidents when it comes to confirming judicial nominees. The Senate has confirmed 16 district and circuit court judges as of Oct, 13, matching the combined total for Bush, Obama and Trump by that date. Kathryn Dunn Tenpas of the Brookings Institution noted that Obama was criticized for not moving quickly enough on judges. It's clear to me the Biden people have learned from that mistake," she said. I mean, would you rather have life-tenured people get through or would you have people who are going to probably stay on average for 18 to 24 months in these jobs?" Tenpas said. During the Trump presidency, it was Republicans who voiced frustration with Democratic tactics to slow the confirmation process. Republican leader Mitch McConnell, then the majority leader, led a change in the chamber's rules that shrank how long the chamber could debate a nominee. In recent weeks, McConnell has repeatedly criticized Democrats for dedicating so much of the Senate's time to what he described as mid-level nominations." Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin, D-Ill., scoffed at the criticism. The reason we have to go through every step, dot every I, cross every T and listen to interminable speeches unrelated to the nominee is his caucus's decision to slow this process down," Durbin said. Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, said the confirmation process has been a problem for both parties serving in the majority when everything is so polarized around here." I'm hoping this is just an ugly phase," he said. ___ Associated Press writer Alexandra Jaffe contributed to this report. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) A Tennessee state senator and a Nashville social club owner were indicted on charges that they violated campaign finance laws by illegally concealing the transfer of $91,000 during the Republican lawmakers 2016 failed congressional campaign, federal investigators announced Monday. A federal grand jury in Nashville handed down the five-count indictment against state Sen. Brian Kelsey and Joshua Smith on Friday, the acting U.S. attorneys for the state's middle and western districts and an assistant attorney general from the federal Justice Department said in a news release. Kelsey responded defiantly, calling the charges a political witch hunt." "I'm totally innocent and I look forward to being cleared at trial, he said. Kelsey and Smith unlawfully and secretly funneled funds from Kelsey's state Senate campaign committee to his federal congressional campaign committee, according to the indictment released Monday. Prosecutors also allege that Kelsey and others caused a national nonprofit political organization to make illegal and excessive campaign contributions to Kelsey by coordinating with the organization on advertisements, and caused the organization to file false reports to the Federal Election Commission. Authorities did not name the national organization. The indictment mentions, but does not charge, two alleged co-conspirators, one of whom is described as an attorney and former Tennessee House member expelled in 2016. Republican Rep. Jeremy Durham, a Republican from Franklin, was the only lawmaker expelled that year. Kelsey, Smith and the unidentified co-conspirators moved tens of thousands of dollars to the political organization in 2016, according to the indictment. It was a purpose of the conspiracy to unlawfully and secretly funnel soft money from state committee 1 to (the political organization) to support Kelsey's federal campaign, the indictment stated. The indictment goes on to allege that the political organization filed several reports claiming that it made independent expenditures on Kelsey's behalf when in truth and in fact, the expenditure was coordinated with Kelsey and his agents and was not independent. Kelsey took aim at Democrats as he responded to the charges. President Joe Biden's administration "is trying to take me out because Im conservative and Im the No. 1 target of the Tennessee Democratic Party," Kelsey said during a brief statement made online to reporters, who were not permitted to ask questions. I won my seat only 51 to 49 last time and the Democrats think this will make the difference. Theyre wrong. Kelsey, a Republican from Germantown, was elected to the General Assembly in 2009 and serves as chairman of the Senate Education Committee. He's up for reelection in 2022. Smith is the owner of The Standard, a restaurant and private club near the state Capitol that is often frequented by lawmakers. His attorney, Hal Hardin, said Monday that he and his client look forward to presenting our proof to an impartial jury and judge. The claims in the indictment resemble a complaint against Kelseys campaign filed with the Federal Election Commission and the Department of Justice in 2017 by the Campaign Legal Center, a nonprofit focused on issues that include campaign finance laws, voting protections, ethics and redistricting. That complaint claimed that independent expenditures made by the American Conservative Union in the 2016 race were coordinated with Kelsey's congressional campaign. A spokesperson for the prominent nonprofit conservative organization said Monday that it has been fully cooperating with this investigation since 2018. We take compliance seriously, and are very proud of the work we continue to do to advocate for conservatism, wrote Regina Bratton. Neither ACU nor any member of the board is a subject or target of this investigation. Brendan Fischer, director of the Campaign Legal Center's Federal Reform Program, on Monday commended federal authorities for the charges. Were certainly pleased that the DOJ has taken our complaint seriously. This is a serious, serious violation, he said. Kelsey concocted a scheme to disguise the illegal transfer of prohibited state money into his federal race. Republican Lt. Gov. Randy McNally, the leader of the state Senate, said he is reserving judgment for now. I am obviously saddened by this news," McNally said in a statement. "It is important to remember that under our laws, Senator Kelsey is innocent until proven guilty. He will have the opportunity to answer this indictment in the coming days. The first court appearance for Kelsey and Smith is scheduled for Nov. 5. If convicted, they face up to five years in prison on each count. The indictment is the second time in a little more than a year that a Tennessee lawmaker has been indicted. Last month, Democratic state Sen. Katrina Robinson of Memphis was convicted of four of five counts of wire fraud stemming from charges that she misused federal grant money awarded to a health care school she operated. A judge had acquitted her on 15 of 20 charges. Robinson, who was initially indicted in July 2020, is seeking an acquittal or a new trial and has not resigned her legislative post as Republican Lt. Gov. Randy McNally asked her to do after her conviction. Meanwhile, several Republican state House lawmakers, including former GOP House Speaker Glen Casada, state Rep. Robin Smith and Rep. Todd Warner, had their homes and legislative offices searched by federal agents earlier this year. Warner told state regulators earlier this year that federal agents took all the files and documents related to his campaign. Federal authorities have release scant details about what they were looking for. GENEVA (AP) Greenhouse gas concentrations hit a new record high last year and increased at a faster rate than the annual average for the last decade despite a temporary reduction during pandemic lockdowns, the World Meteorological Organization said in a report published Monday. The news came as the United Nations climate office warned that the world remains off target for meeting its goal of cutting emissions as part of international efforts to curb global warming. Both announcements came days before the start of a U.N. climate change conference in Glasgow, Scotland. Many environmental activists, policymakers and scientists say the Oct. 31-Nov. 12 event, known as COP26 for short, marks an important and even crucial opportunity for concrete commitments to the targets set out in the 2015 Paris climate accord. The Greenhouse Gas Bulletin contains a stark, scientific message for climate change negotiators at COP26, World Meteorological Organization Secretary-General Petteri Taalas said of his agencys annual report on heat-trapping gases in the atmosphere. At the current rate of increase in greenhouse gas concentrations, we will see a temperature increase by the end of this century far in excess of the Paris agreement targets of 1.5 to 2 degrees Celsius (2.7-3.6 Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels. According to the report, concentrations of carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide were all above levels in the pre-industrial era before 1750, when human activities started disrupting Earths natural equilibrium. The report draws on information collected by a network that monitors the amount of greenhouse gases that remain in the atmosphere after some quantities are absorbed by oceans and the biosphere. In its report, the Geneva-based agency also pointed to signs of a worrying new development: Parts of the Amazon rainforest have gone from being a carbon sink that sucks carbon dioxide from the air to a source of CO2 due to deforestation and reduced humidity in the region, it said. One of the striking messages from our report is that the Amazonian region, which used to be a sink of carbon, has become a source of carbon dioxide," Taalas said. And thats because of deforestation. Its because of changes of the global local climate, especially. We have less humidity and less rainfall. Oksana Tarasova, chief of WMO's atmospheric and environment research division, said the results showing the Amazon going from sink to source were a first, but he noted they were from a specific southeastern portion of the Amazon, not the entire rainforest. The U.N. climate office said separately Monday that its assessment of the formal commitments made by countries that signed up to the Paris accord suggests the world could reduce its emissions by 83-88% by 2050 compared with 2019. More worryingly, emissions in 2030 are projected to be 16% higher than in 2010, based on formal pledges so far. Such an increase, unless changed quickly, may lead to a temperature rise of about 2.7C (4.9F) by the end of the century, the U.N. said. Experts argued that emissions must halve by 2030 compared with 2010 levels and essentially hit zero by mid-century, if the Paris goal of capping global warming at 2C, ideally no more than 1.5C, is to be achieved. Overshooting the temperature goals will lead to a destabilized world and endless suffering, especially among those who have contributed the least to the GHG emissions in the atmosphere, said Patricia Espinosa, who heads the U.N. climate office. We are nowhere near where science says we should be, she added. However, recent announcements by China and India, the world's number one and number three emitters, weren't yet included in the analysis because they have yet to formally submit their targets to the U.N. And Alok Sharma, who will preside over the U.N. talks in Glasgow, said progress had been made since the Paris deal was struck in 2015, when projections of existing emissions cuts pointed to warming of up to 4C. The global average concentration of carbon dioxide, the main greenhouse gas, hit a new high of 413.2 parts per million last year, according to the WMO report. The 2020 increase was higher than the annual average over the last decade despite a 5.6% drop in carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels due to COVID-19 restrictions, WMO said. Taalas said a level above 400 parts per million which was breached in 2015 -- has major negative repercussions for our daily lives and well-being, for the state of our planet and for the future of our children and grandchildren. Human-incurred carbon dioxide emissions, which result mostly from burning fossil fuels like oil and gas or from cement production, amount to about two-thirds of the warming effect on the climate. WMO said overall, an economic retreat last year because of the pandemic did not have any discernible impact on the atmospheric levels of greenhouse gases and their growth rates, although there was a temporary decline in new emissions. ___ Jordans reported from Berlin. ___ Follow AP's climate change coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/climate RICHMOND, Va. (AP) The violence at the white nationalist Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville shocked the nation, with people beaten to the ground, lighted torches thrown at counterdemonstrators and a self-proclaimed Hitler admirer ramming his car into a crowd, killing a woman and injuring dozens more. The driver of that car is serving life in prison for murder and hate crimes. Now, more than four years later, a civil trial will determine whether the neo-Nazis and white supremacists who organized the demonstrations should be held accountable as well. Jury selection began Monday for the trial in U.S. District Court in Charlottesville, which is expected to last a month. The lawsuit was funded by Integrity First for America, a non-profit organization formed in response to the violence in Charlottesville with the goal of disarming the instigators of violence through litigation. It accuses some of the country's most well-known white nationalists of orchestrating a meticulously planned conspiracy to commit violence against Blacks, Jewish people and others based on race, ethnicity, religion and sexual orientation. A firestorm erupted after then-President Donald Trump failed to strongly denounce the white nationalists, saying there were very fine people on both sides. Hundreds of white nationalists descended on Charlottesville on Aug. 11 and Aug. 12, 2017, ostensibly to protest city plans to remove a statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee. The nearly two dozen defendants include: Jason Kessler, the rally's main organizer, who terms himself a white civil rights leader; Richard Spencer, who coined the term alt-right to describe a loosely connected band of white nationalists, neo-Nazis and others; and Christopher Cantwell, a white supremacist who became known as the crying Nazi for posting a tearful video when a warrant was issued for his arrest on assault charges for using pepper spray against counterdemonstrators. The plaintiffs include four people who were hurt when James Alex Fields Jr. rammed his car into a crowd of counterprotesters. The case is built on a vast collection of chat room exchanges, social media postings and other communications in which the defendants use racial epithets and discuss plans for the demonstrations, including what weapons to bring. Lawyers for the plaintiffs are relying on a 150-year-old law passed after the Civil War to shield freed slaves from violence and protect their civil rights. Commonly known as the Ku Klux Klan Act, the law contains a rarely used provision that allows private citizens to sue other citizens for civil rights violations. To win a judgment, the plaintiffs must prove the defendants conspired to commit racially motivated violence and planned it in advance and that the plaintiffs were injured as a result. It's the only case that really takes on the leadership and organization of the white supremacist movement, said Karen Dunn, one of the lead attorneys in the lawsuit. The plaintiffs' attorneys say they've amassed 5.3 terabytes of digital communications by the defendants, including many on the online platform Discord initially leaked by Unicorn Riot, a left-leaning media collective. The lawsuit alleges there were countless exhortations to violence on Discord, including one by a defendant who allegedly wrote: I'm ready to crack skulls, and another who wrote: It's going to get wild. Bring your boots. A third allegedly wrote: There is rapidly approaching a time when in every white western city, corpses will be stacked in the streets as high as men can stack them. But the white nationalists named as defendants claim talk of weapons and combat was meant only in the event they had to defend themselves from counterprotesters. They argue their communications are protected by the First Amendment. You can say any nasty thing you want about any person or group you want and that is protected by the First Amendment. That is not me saying that, that's the Supreme Court," said W. Edward ReBrook IV, an attorney for Jeff Schoep, the former longtime leader of the neo-Nazi group the Nationalist Socialist Movement and one of the defendants. Spencer, whom the Southern Poverty Law Center calls a suit-and-tie version of the white supremacists of old, joined fellow white nationalists at the University of Virginia on Aug. 11. Participants carried tiki torches and marched to a statue of Thomas Jefferson, chanting Jews will not replace us." The plaintiffs allege the defendants and their co-conspirators surrounded counterprotesters, kicked and punched people and climbed atop the statue, yelling Hail Spencer! Hail Victory! Spencer told the crowd: We own these streets! Spencer, who is representing himself at trial, told The Associated Press he did not help plan the event and took no part in any conspiracy to commit racially motivated violence. He said he is looking forward to telling his story to the jury, noting emotions still run high over the events in Charlottesville. I feel also that people dont have a sense of closure about Charlottesville so in some way they want to achieve a certain kind of purging a bad feeling, they want to engage in what is effectively scapegoating, Spencer said. Elizabeth Sines, the lead plaintiff, said she's still haunted by the violence she saw that weekend, including Fields plowing his car into the crowd. It has changed who I am forever, Sines said in a statement released by her attorneys. The organizers of the Unite the Right rally robbed me of my ability to feel safe, feel secure, feel at ease even in my own home. The lawsuit seeks unspecified monetary damages and a judgment that the defendants violated the plaintiffs constitutional rights. Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. As many as 127,948 vaccine doses from Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca and Johnson&Johnson were administered in the last 24 hours, of which 93,049 represent the first dose, 9,861 - the second dose and 25,038 - the third dose, Romania's National COVID-19 Vaccination Coordination Committee (CNCAV) informed on Monday. According to CNCAV, since the start of the anti-COVID vaccination campaign, on December 27, 2020, there have been 11,978,451 vaccine doses administered to 6,510,217 people, of which 5,974,134 received the full scheme and 731,586 were immunized with the third dose. In the last 24 hours there have been 62 adverse reactions recorded, 11 local types and 51 general types. In total, since the start of the vaccination campaign, there have been 18,133 adverse reactions recorded for anti-COVID vaccines, 1,960 local types and 16,173 general types. The Fountain of General Georgescu P. Ion, located in Chisinau City's Valea Morilor Park, was reopened and consecrated today, when Romanian Army Day is being celebrated, with Romanian ambassador to Moldova Daniel Ionita attending, Radio Chisinau reports. Known initially as General Pion's Spring (after General Pavel Ion Georgescu's name abbreviation 'Pion'), the monument was installed in 1937 in honor of the victories of the Romanian Army in the battles of Marasti and Marasesti. Moldovan historian Anatol Petrenco says that the three plaques with inscriptions at the back of the monument pay tribute to some tragic historical events witnessed by this region, specifically the occupation of Bessarabia, northern Bucovina and Herta by the USSR in summer 1940, and the capturing, torturing and killing between June 1940 and July 1941 of several historical figures whose bodies were found buried at the exit of the park. "Today we are witnessing the recovery of our historical memory, the recovery of an important monument that was destroyed by the Soviet leadership that occupied these territories," said Anatol Petrenco. Moldovan Culture Minister Sergiu Prodan said that the restoration of this monument is a step forward in the process of regaining national memory. "History is a science, but we are now talking about memory. I reiterate the thought that here in Chisinau, aside from the History Institute, we imperatively need an institute of memory. History is about general things, while memory is about concrete people and places, about concrete events we don't have the right to forget. This monument is another step in the restoration of our national memory," Sergiu Prodan underlined. Romania's ambassador in Chisinau Daniel Ionita said that the actions of the Romanian troops have contributed to building modern Romania and today's army. "I want to use this opportunity to congratulate the troops of the Romanian Force, those in active service, veterans, retirees and the Romanian Army's heroes without whose contribution Romania wouldn't be today a respected EU and NATO member state, a state that is always at the side of the Republic of Moldova along its European path," said the diplomat. The Fountain of General Georgescu P. Ion was restored based on an an archive photo which has been preserved since 1942, Radio Chisinau reports on its website. The chairman of Save Romania Union - Party of Liberty, Unity and Solidarity alliance (USR PLUS) Dacian Ciolos, declared on Monday after the discussion with PM designate Nicolae Ciuca, that his feeling was "a meeting just for show", given that the decision of USR remains unchanged, that of not supporting a minority Government, but restoring the coalition, and mentioned that the solution would be forming a PNL (National Liberal Party) majority with either PSD (Social Democratic Party), or with USR. "Mister Ciuca presented the mandate to me of looking for a majority or support in Parliament for a minority Government and a crisis governing program. (...) From what Mister Ciuca told me, there is not much of a difference between what we proposed last week in the governing program and what his Government intends to propose. (...) We, USR, believed, when neither PNL nor PSD made any proposals for PM and did not vote our proposal in Parliament, that they found a better solution, that there is an understanding already between the two parties, just so we can see that PNL comes with the same proposal which it rejected last week," Ciolos said during a press conference. He added that he explained to the PM designate that given the circumstances, USR cannot support a crisis Government, Agerpres informs. The USR leader told the PM designate that USR has four conditions to negotiate a possible restoration of the coalition. "Mister Ciuca asked me under what conditions we would discuss and negotiate a possible restoration of the coalition and I explained what the measures are. I told him that such talks need to start form a reforms calendar, to take responsibility for them, with clear measures. A second element would be a budget for 2022, a general building framework of the budget and priorities, so we won't have to sit around after restoring the coalition, to discuss in Government about how to share the money between Ministries. (...) A third element, a protocol of ensuring the coalition's functioning, which would be very clear about how the decisions are being made in the coalition, in order to avoid discussions that we had in the past, which also led to the coalition's dismemberment, and also a fourth element - a Government structure which should be the one agreed upon since the start of the former coalition's term," Ciolos specified. The Romanian Army Day is not only a holiday of the military, but also of all Romanians who love their country, said the interim Minister of Defence, Prime Minister-designate Nicolae Ciuca. "The Romanian Army Day is every year the moment when we proudly honor and respect the deeds of arms of our forefathers, their sacrifice for Romania's independence and sovereignty. Every time the country was in danger, the Romanian military fought valiantly for the preservation of the national being and for the protection of every piece of Romanian land. The day of October 25, 1944, once became a symbol of the liberation from foreign occupation of the city of Carei, Transylvania and the whole of Romania. We bow our heads respectfully in memory of those who sacrificed themselves to carry out this mission of honor to achieve the ideal of freedom of Romanians," said Nicolae Ciuca, on Monday, at the ceremony organized on the occasion of the Romanian Army Day at the "The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier" Monument in Carol I Park. He also sent a message of gratitude to the war veterans, wishing them good health, Agerpres informs. He also made a brief assessment of the activity carried out in the last year at the level of the Ministry of National Defence. He also mentioned the completion of the restoration, rehabilitation and conservation project of the monument dedicated to the Romanian heroes from the First World War, the "Commemorative Cross" on Caraiman Peak. The Minister also pointed out the international achievements of the Romanian military. "Internationally, we have continued to act to strengthen the collective defence bodies of which we are a part, at our country's eastern border in all three dimensions - land, air and sea. It is an important part of NATO's eastern flank and border. We will continue, militarily, to act responsibly, predictably and in coordination with our allies and partners to strengthen Romania's role as a pole of stability in the Black Sea region," Ciuca said. He also brought to mind that the participation of the Romanian Army in the mission in Afghanistan ended this year. The interim Minister of Defence also thanked all the troops who have fulfilled or are fulfilling missions today in the other theaters of operations, or on the national territory. He also referred to the contribution of the Romanian military to combating the COVID 19 pandemic. The interim Minister of Defence stressed that the Romanian Army Day is not only a holiday of the military, but also of "all Romanians who love their country". "It is an opportunity to show you our appreciation and to thank you for the devotion and professionalism with which you carry out your missions. Today I convey my thoughts of appreciation to all those who have served their country with faith, active or reserve military and especially to the war veterans and those from the theaters of operations. I also send congratulations and best wishes to the entire staff of the Romanian Army. Many Happy Returns to the Romanian Army and Romania!," Ciuca also said. Prime Minister-designate Nicolae Ciuca said on Monday after a meeting with Save Romania Union (USR) leader Dacian Ciolos that the party gave a "sharp" answer that it does not support a minority government, but the restoration of the coalition, noting that this situation would be discussed in National Liberal Party (PNL) and a decision would be made. "We went to argue the project for which we requested this meeting and there is a very clear answer: USR does not support a minority government and there is a solution, namely that of rebuilding the coalition," Ciuca said. He said he would present the USR response to the PNL leadership and a decision would be made, Agerpres informs. "Not having a mandate, I could not answer this topic. I will go to the party and discuss with the party leadership and we will see what decision is made. (...) At this moment, we have concluded the talks with USR and depending on what decision we make, we will continue the negotiation process," added Nicolae Ciuca. A total of 301 deaths were recorded among the patients infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus in the past 24 hours, two of which occurred before the reference interval, the Strategic Communication Group (GCS) reported on Monday. According to the GCS, 151 men and 150 women died. Of the 301 deaths, three were recorded in the 30-39 years age category, 18 in the 40-49 years age category, 20 in the 50-59 years age category, 90 in the 60-69 years age category, 94 in the 70-79 years age category and 76 in the over 80 years age category. According to the GCS, 283 of the deceased patients had comorbidities, four deceased patients had no comorbidities, and no comorbidities have been reported for 14 deceased patients to date. The two deaths that occurred prior to the reference interval occurred in Bacau and Ialomita counties, in October 2021. In the reference interval, 299 deaths were reported. Out of a total of 301 patients who died, 272 were unvaccinated and 29 were vaccinated. The 29 vaccinated deceased patients ranged in age from 50 to 59 years and over 80 years. 28 of the vaccinated deceased patients had comorbidities, and no comorbidities were reported for one patient. Since the beginning of the pandemic, a total of 44,980 people diagnosed with COVID-19 have died in Romania. Romania's COVID-19 daily case count rises by 9,187; tests performed in last 24 hours: over 31,000 As many as 9,187 new cases of people infected with SARS-CoV-2 were recorded in the last 24 hours in Romania following over 31,000 tests nationwide, the Strategic Communication Group (GCS), the official novel coronavirus communication task force, reported on Monday. As of Monday, 1,571,115 cases of people infected with the novel coronavirus were confirmed in Romania. Of these, 1,331,225 were declared cured. To date, 10,171,955 RT-PCR tests and 4,195,670 rapid antigen tests have been processed nationwide. In the last 24 hours, 11,604 RT-PCR tests were performed (8,173 based on the case definition and medical protocol and 3,431 on request) and 19,694 rapid antigen tests. Aside from the newly confirmed cases, following the retesting of patients who were already positive, 724 people were reconfirmed positive. Zero ICU beds available for COVID patients; 1,855 beds occupied nationwide The Strategic Communication Group (GCS) on Monday announced that there are no longer any beds available in intensive care for patients infected with COVID-19, as there are only ICU beds available for patients with certain medical conditions and who are also confirmed to be infected with SARS-CoV-2, Agerpres informs. On Monday, according to data in the alerte.ms application, there were 1,707 ICU beds for COVID-19 patients. In Bucharest, 373 ICU beds are approved for COVID-19 patients. At the national level, there is an operational reserve of 159 ICU beds for patients infected with SARS-CoV-2, GCS said. They are activated dynamically where the number of ICU patients exceeds the capacity of the main wards. 1,855 ICU beds are occupied throughout the country. At this time, there are no available ICU beds other than those reserved specifically for people with certain medical conditions who are also confirmed with SARS-CoV-2, GCS reported. Most new COVID cases - in Bucharest (1,923), Ilfov, Arges Most new cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection compared to the last report were registered in Bucharest - 1,923 and in Ilfov - 548, Arges - 493, Prahova - 465, Constanta - 442, the Strategic Communication Group (GCS) informed on Monday. The fewest new cases of COVID-19 were in the counties of Teleorman - 39, Salaj - 58, Harghita - 62. The capital city has an incidence of 16.24 cases per thousand inhabitants, decreasing compared to the previous day, when there was an incidence of 16.38. However, Ilfov County is in the first place in terms of the incidence of infections cumulated at 14 days, with 16.95 cases per thousand inhabitants. High incidence there is also in Prahova - 11.35, Alba - 10.23, Timis - 10.14, Ialomita - 10.05. All counties are in the red zone (over three cases per thousand inhabitants). 3,669 COVID-19 fines levied in last 24 hours Law enforcement in Romania levied 3,669 COVID-19 fines totalling 747,000 lei in the last 24 hours for violations of Law 55/2020 on measures to prevent and combat the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Strategic Communication Group (GCS), the novel coronavirus information task force, reported on Monday. Also a criminal file was drawn up for thwarting disease control. Violations of the COVID-19 protection norms can be reported to the 0800.800.165 toll-free line set up by the Ministry of Interior, with the calls being taken over by a dispatcher in an integrated system and distributed to the local structures for verification. Bucharest saw a COVID-19 incidence rate of 16.24 for 14 days, according to a press release of the Public Health Directorate. Yesterday, the incidence rate was 16.38, and one month ago, on September 25, it stood at 4.1. The COVID-19 incidence rate exceeded the 6 per thousand threshold on September 29. Head of the Department for Emergency Situations (DSU) Raed Arafat announced on Monday that Romania has received another 350 oxygen concentrators from the RescEU medical stockpile of the Netherlands. "Several countries host the RescEU medical reserve. Romania was the first to do this with ventilators and masks. We needed oxygen concentrators, as per the call we released, and the country that had this stockpile was the Netherlands; the first time 200 concentrators were sent to Romania from the Netherlands, under the European Civil Protection Mechanism. (...) Now it has been decided for Romania to tap into the reserve for another 350 concentrators. Thus, from the RescEU stockpile in the Netherlands, which is fully financed by the European Commission, we have so far obtained 550 concentrators," Raed Arafat said at the National Intervention Coordination and Management Center in Ciolpani on the occasion of the arrival of the supplies provided by the Netherlands. The health senior official added that the first oxygen concentrators will be dispatched to Bucharest hospitals. "We are also waiting for other equipment to arrive from other states," the DSU head said. President Klaus Iohannis said on Monday, October 25, Romanian Army Day, that the army remains a solid landmark and enjoys the confidence of Romanians, helping to maintain the stability needed for the development of the Romanian society. "Discipline, a spirit of sacrifice, loyalty, integrity and courage that define you are virtues deeply rooted in the nature of the Romanian people that have guided us in achieving national ideals. They are defining features of the Romanian Army, one of the institutions that command much respect. It is no coincidence that in the decisive moments of our hard-fought history the Romanians have constantly maintained their confidence in the army as a true anchor of credibility and stability. Today, as in other difficult times, we must prove that we are supportive and able to overcome the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. I want to welcome the significant contribution of the Romanian Army to the management of the health crisis. The military healthcare workers, as well as the necessary means made available to the civilian authorities, have saved many lives. The army, worthy of its past and its heroes, remains a solid landmark and enjoys the confidence of Romanians, contributing to maintaining the stability necessary for the development of our society," Iohannis told a Romanian Army Day ceremony. He thanked all those who have accomplished their noble mission of being in the service of the country with a sense of duty, Agerpres informs. He underlined that Romania's journey towards a modern and secure state, as it currently is, is closely linked to the Romanian Army. "The professionalism and dedication shown by the military in war zones have contributed to our Euro-Atlantic and European journey, as well as to strengthening our strong strategic partnership with the United States. We are today an active and valued ally inside NATO and an important member of the European Union, which meets its commitments and contributes to international peace and security. The exemplary participation of the Romanian military in operations and missions outside the national borders increases the relevance of our country within the international community. Because of its army, Romania has continuously strengthened its role as a security provider on the eastern flank of NATO. Through a combined national, political, military and diplomatic effort, we have strengthened NATO's deterrence and defence posture in the Black Sea region and we continue this broad process in close liaison with our allies and partners. I want to also welcome the contribution of the Ministry of Defence and the Romanian Army to the process of military adaptation of NATO and I encourage keeping up this sustained pace, both conceptually and operationally," said Iohannis. He added that 2021 marked the end of the mission in Afghanistan, the longest, most complex and important military operation carried out by the Romanian Army outside the national borders after WWII. "Romania's commitment in Afghanistan together with the United States of America, our most important strategic partner, and its allies has decisively confirmed the Euro-Atlantic orientation of our country. We have proved, once again, that Romania has not only the resources to ensure national security, but also that it is a provider of security and a reliable ally in the most difficult war zones. Where we could not come up with state-of-the-art military equipment, our soldiers and officers compensated with dedication, strategic intelligence and courage. Our army has thus constantly contributed in recent years to consolidating Romania 's international credibility," Iohannis said. He also pointed out that "we are never allowed to forget our history and forerunners." "When we say army, we mean heroes; we honour them today, our fallen heroes, those who at the expense of supreme sacrifice defended the independence, sovereignty and unity of our homeland. I am honoured to participate in such events that keep alive the memory of their sacrifice, of their courage and dignity with which they did their duty so that the younger generations may enjoy freedom in a strong and sovereign state. We are never allowed to forget our history and forerunners. We are also paying tribute to the war veterans - true models of devotion, courage and responsibility, not only for the military, but for all of us, the whole society," the head of state said. Also attending the ceremony were interim Prime Minister Florin Citu and interim Defence Minister Nicolae Ciuca, the new prime minister-designate. The Army Day Ceremony was organized at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Monument in Carol I Park. Through his life spent in faith, dedication and sacrifice, King Mihai shows us that no one is too young to prove his love of country and never too old to serve it, President Klaus Iohannis said in a Monday's message on the occasion of the unveiling ceremony of the sovereign's statue. The president's message was presented in Sinaia by the State Councilor for Relations with Public Authorities and Civil Society, Catalina Galer. "King Mihai I had an extremely important contribution to Romania's return to democratic values and its proximity to the West. The sovereign dedicated himself to this cause and made efforts for Romania's accession to NATO, but also to the European Union. The legacy of King Mihai I, through the devotion and respect for the nation and the institutions of the state, through the courage, integrity and modesty he has shown throughout his life, must remain in the midst of our nation as the nucleus of solidarity and unity, be defended and passed on to generations. Through his life spent in faith, dedication and sacrifice, King Mihai shows us that no one is too young to prove his love of country and never too old to serve it," reads a message from President Klaus Iohannis, Agerpres informs. The head of state emphasized the patriotism of King Mihai I, but also his loyalty to the country and his deep attachment to democratic values and principles. "The king was on the throne of the country in one of the most cruel periods of history, being forced to make difficult decisions for the good of the Romanian people. Through his actions, Mihai I demonstrated, each time, his faith and belonging to the ideal of democracy and freedom. Thus, using all his prerogatives, he vehemently opposed the establishment of the communist regime. Consistent with his principles and, especially, devoted to Romania, although far from the country, with the thought to the Romanians, Mihai I continued to fight, with all his skill, for a democratic and free state, which would be part of the great family of European democracies," the president said. Klaus Iohannis called for the memory of the sovereign to be honored "by defending democracy and the rule of law, by cultivating tolerance, solidarity and respect for human dignity." "Starting today, in his hometown, in the shadow of Peles raised by the founder of independent Romania, under the protective arms of the Heroes' Cross, the emblematic figure of King Mihai I will shape our recent past, striving for a European destiny!," the head of state added in his message. The life-size statue of King Mihai I was unveiled on Monday in Sinaia, on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the sovereign's birth. A life-size statue of King Mihai I wearing the uniform of a marshal of the Romanian Army was unveiled on Monday in the Sinaia resort, Prahova County, by the Crown Custodian, Her Majesty Margareta, and the City Mayor, Vlad Oprea, on the occasion of the centenary of the former sovereign's birth. The monument made of bronze is located on the George Enescu Esplanade, on Carol I Boulevard. According to a press release of the Sinaia City Hall, an international sculpture competition was organized for the creation of this statue, in which 33 artists participated. Of the nine finalists, the selection committee chose artist Bogdan Ioan as the winner, Agerpres informs. The City of Sinaia has borne the costs for making the bronze statue and the pedestal made of Vratsa natural stone, with a total value of over 440,000 lei, the same source stated. "Sinaia gave Romania the last King. Born here, at the Foisor Palace, His Majesty remained the last symbol of independence and unity for the Romanians. We all followed him in silence and listened to his messages meant to give us faith in a better country. Even today, his words, along with his deeds, are our guides in the labyrinth of political immaturity and lack of commitment. (...) I hope that this day and this place will open the minds of as many people as possible to goodness and faith, as the one who was our King showed us by personal example," said Mayor Vlad Oprea in his speech. The President of the Senate, Anca Dragu, showed that King Mihai witnessed some crucial times for Romania. "The unveiling ceremony of the statue of King Mihai I (...) reminds us that this is the man for whom Romania meant everything and to whom Romania owes so much. This statue will remind us every day that King Mihai I witnessed some crucial times for our country, he was a participant in historical decisions related to the unity of Romania and its path in Europe, always being a prominent figure who called for respect for our past, national values, ideals and clear objectives of our country, regardless of the difficult times we were going through. (...) King Mihai was both a participant and a witness of a most overwhelming historical experience, but he always called for solidarity, respect for values, a goal from which he did not compromise even in the historical moments when he had to make the most difficult political decisions. (...) Respect for the citizen, for ethics and for the good functioning of the state institutions, without personalizing them, complete the profile of a leader who always sought to protect the independence, sovereignty and unity of the Romanian people," said Anca Dragu in her speech. In his turn, the Minister of Culture, Bogdan Gheorghiu, underscored the importance of this event. "King Mihai I of Romania returned to Sinaia, a city with a rich symbolism, a city of great political decisions (...). For Sinaia, royalty was from the beginning the most important factor of development. The unveiling of the statue of the King Mihai here is part of the series of highlights for the history of Romania. (...) I want this place to become an important landmark for the young generation, just as His Majesty has been during his life for tens of generations. We still needs models to guise us morally and from an identity point of view," said the Minister of Culture. The number of companies deregistered nationwide increased by 29.6pct in the first nine months of 2021, compared to the same period last year, up to 47,091 deregistrations, according to statistics released by the National Trade Register Office (ONRC). Between January and September 2020, 36,337 deregistrations were recorded. Most delistings in the first nine months of the year were registered in Bucharest - 7,610 (plus 31.8pct compared to January-September 2020) and in Timis - 2,184 (plus 31.55pct), Constanta - 2,055 ( plus 28.68pct) and Cluj - 2,018 (plus 18.99pct) counties, Agerpres informs. At the opposite pole, the least delistings were recorded in the Ialomita - 369 (up 51.23pct compared to the first nine months of last year), Covasna - 406 (plus 57.36pct) and Teleorman - 411 (plus 14.17pct). The most significant increases in the number of deregistrations were recorded in the counties of Alba (plus 70.66pct), Covasna (plus 57.36pct) and Vrancea (plus 57.14pct). During the reference period there were no decreases in terms of the number of deregistered companies. By fields of activity, the highest number of deregistrations was recorded in the wholesale and retail trade sector, repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles - 12,975 (plus 32.45pct compared to January-September 2020), constructions - 4,347 (plus 28.15pct), professional, scientific and technical activities - 3,972 (plus 28.67pct). In September 2021, 4,849 delistings of companies were recorded, most of them in Bucharest (786) and in the Constanta (229), Ilfov (210) and Iasi (203) counties. The Prime Minister-designate, Nicolae Ciuca, is meeting on Monday, at 12:00, the chair of USR (Save Romania Union), Dacian Ciolos, to discuss the governing programme. "Dacian Ciolos, the chair of USR, will meet on Monday, at 12:00, at the USR parliamentary group, with Prime Minister-designate Nicolae Ciuca. The meeting was requested on Friday by the PM-designate," USR informed, agerpres reports. The President of the Senate, Anca Dragu, said on Sunday evening that the meeting between Dacian Ciolos and the Prime Minister will not be one for negotiations."On Monday there will be a discussion between USR chair Dacian Ciolos and Prime Minister-designate Nicolae Ciuca. The Prime Minister-designate wants to discuss his intentions with this government. Mr Ciuca made it clear that he wants to present his intentions for a minority government - the team, the programme. It is not a negotiation," Dragu said.The leadership of PNL (National Liberal Party), the UDMR (Democratic Union of Hungarians of Romania) and the Prime Minister-designate had, both on Saturday and Sunday, a series of meetings at the Victoria Governmental Palace to complete the governing programme.According to a PNL press release, the teams of experts from the PNL and the UDMR also participated in the discussions, in the presence of the chairs of the two parties, Florin Citu and Kelemen Hunor.The Liberals also had consultations with the representatives of the national minorities on Saturday.At the same time, the Prime Minister-designate had a telephone conversation with the PSD (Social Democratic Party) chair, Marcel Ciolacu, on Saturday afternoon, the two agreeing that the political negotiations should take place after the completion of the governing programme. Chairman of the National Liberal Party (PNL) Florin Citu declared on Monday that there is no reason for the Social Democratic Party (PSD) to ask to come to power, and Save Romania Union (USR) left the Government. "We know that PSD has always said that it does not want to govern. So, there would be no reason for PSD to come up with this requirement, and those from USR left government a month ago. The solution, today, is this minority Government led by Mr. Nicolae Ciuca, so that we can overcome this winter's difficult period. Of course we can meet in the spring to see if there is another solution, but today, for Romanians, this is the best solution," said Citu, at the PNL headquarters, emphasizing that according to the incoming messages, PSD does not want to govern. He pointed out that there is a "real alternative" if the Ciuca Government does not clear Parliament, namely early elections, Agerpres informs. "Then I am telling you that USR and PSD are responsible for taking Romania through a difficult period with an interim Government, and if they want this - early elections - they should tell Romanians that this is what they want, but otherwise, they must come today and say they are voting for this Government made up of PNL and UDMR [the Hungarian Democratic Union of Romania], with a prime minister who is not the PNL leader, as they wanted and let us solve the crisis," said Citu. The PNL leader claimed that the ten measures proposed by PSD show frivolity and reiterated that the PNL's mandate is a minority government with UDMR and the national minorities, other than the Hungarian one. Regarding a possible return of USR to power, Citu replied that this party always had this option and that it could choose it before voting on the motion against PNL. "Nobody proposed this in the PNL leadership. (...) There is no point in talking about scenarios," the Liberal leader also said. The chairman of the National Liberal Party (PNL), Florin Citu, reiterated on Monday that he expects the Social Democratic Party (PSD) and the Save Romania Union (USR) show responsibility and vote for the minority government, showing that if the two formations do not support this Executive, the only option is early elections. "PNL has showed responsibility, flexibility, the desire to solve this political crisis. It came and changed the mandate, from a chairman of the PNL for PM it came with another candidate. It's what those in the PSD and USR were saying. PSD said very clearly it doesn't want to govern, so we have no discussion to have with them. USR left government and together with those in PSD and AUR [Alliance for the Union of Romanians] took down a Government without having a solution. The responsible solution today is to vote for this minority Government, that would show on the part of the USR and the PSD responsibility and that they are interested in Romanians and not only for votes, electoral schemes or their electoral plans and we move forward and we deal with solving the crisis in Romania. If not, as I've said each time, all the options are on the table, including early elections," said Citu at the headquarters of the PNL. He claimed that USR doesn't need to go in opposition, but should show responsibility. "If the USR remains stuck in a single option, we have no way to discuss. All people should show responsibility. Today, USR is showing lack of responsibility. PNL made an important step. The chairman of the party made an important step, moved out of the way, PNL came with a different mandate. Where is the responsibility of those in the USR? Let's see what concession those in the USR make. Today, for Romanians, they should vote this Government, get over winter and then we can talk. (...) If the interest of those in the PSD and the USR is to destroy the PNL, I will never allow it," said Citu. In case the two formations do not support this Executive, he added, the only option is early elections. "It's the only option. It seems the PSD and USR want early elections and then all we saw in this period from the PSD and the USR were just empty words. (...) If the USR only wants positions... because ultimately that's how we see it. The USR only wants positions, they're not interested in the good of Romanians. I showed that position doesn't matter to me. PNL showed this," the PNL chair also said. President Klaus Iohannis is meeting, on Monday evening, with Prime Minister designate Nicolae Ciuca and with the leader of the Liberals, Florin Citu, according to some political sources. On Monday, Nicolae Ciuca met with Save Romania Union (USR) Chairman Dacian Ciolos to discuss the government program. Ciuca said after this meeting that USR gave a "straight" answer that it does not support a minority government, but the restoration of the coalition, mentioning that he will discuss this situation in the PNL and a decision will be made. For his part, Ciolos later said that he felt "the meeting was just for show", given that the USR's decision not to support a minority government and to rebuild the coalition remained unchanged, and mentioned that the solution would be for PNL to form a majority either with the Social Democratic Party (PSD) or USR. After this meeting, PNL Chairman Florin Citu reiterated that he expects PSD and USR to show responsibility and vote for the minority government, showing that if the two parties do not support this Executive, the only option is early elections. He also showed that PNL made a concession and changed the candidate for prime minister, proposing Nicolae Ciuca. "USR has the chance to show Romanians that it is making its mandate flexible, voting for a minority government today, we will quickly resolve this crisis and then see what happens, how we rebuild the coalition. We have a few months to discuss. There are many things to discuss. To rebuild like this, overnight, just as USR wants ... It's impossible," Citu added. Arad border police have caught 26 immigrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and India, aged between 21 and 34, hiding in a cornfield near the Hungarian border, all being asylum seekers in Romania, the Arad Border Police reported on Monday. The immigrants were caught in the area of Nadlac as part of preventing and combating illegal migration. The local authorities are said to continue such actions to prevent illegal migration moving forwar, Agerpres informs. The court has denied a request from the District 1 branch of the Social Democratic Party (PSD) to annul the decision of the Central Electoral Bureau (BEC) by which the results for the election of mayors for Bucharest's districts and other localities were centralized, announced, on Monday, District 1 Mayor Clotilde Armand. "PSD has received today a new slap from Justice. The court has rejected as unsubstantiated a request, made by PSD Sector 1, to annul the decision of the Central Electoral Bureau by which the results of the elections for Bucharest district mayors and other localities were centralized. Thus, the local elections of September 27, 2020 were fair, matter noted again by judges. They pointlessly called to court even the Permanent Electoral Authority," said Clotilde Armand on Facebook. According to her, the multiple trials by which the PSD is trying "to prove the impossible" are "dismantled" by judges. "I understood from the start that they're afraid of what I'll find in the Mayoralty finances, the DNA [the National Anticorruption Directorate] is already working on this, and because I cut the money from the contracts damaging to citizens that ended up in their party firms. When you hear those in the PSD yelling that the election was stolen, show them this decision of the Court. Until now, over 10 judges proved me right. With dates and paperwork," added Armand. Agriculture is therefore increasingly seen as a potential ally as companies and governments attempt to meet lower greenhouse gas emission targets and fight global warming. Some farmers view the programs run by the giant agricultural corporations with suspicion as a method to harvest their data that will be used to sell them more products, according to interviews with more than a dozen farmers, analysts and farm groups. Other critics question whether it is even possible for farmers to guarantee they are keeping carbon underground because simply turning the soil can undo efforts to store it. Sequestering carbon, however, can provide a new revenue stream for farmers looking to diversify in a volatile industry. The farming techniques required by such programs offer the additional promise of realizing higher yields from healthier soils that are less reliant on chemicals. Hoping to be rewarded for reducing tillage and planting a cover crop on his central Illinois farm, Matt Tracy enrolled 548 acres in Cargills RegenConnect program, choosing it over a similar one offered by Bayer due to its short, single-season contract term. He remains happy with his decision even after Bayer, whose program requires a 10-year commitment, began offering sign-up bonuses of up to $1,000. ST. LOUIS A man from St. Louis County who used Zoom to stream child pornography to other pedophiles was sentenced in federal court here Monday to five years and eight months in prison. Nicholas Stoppelmann, 31, will also have to pay $15,700 to five victims identified in the pornography and will be under supervision for for life after his release from prison. The investigation into Stoppelmann began on July 9, 2018, when an agent of Homeland Security Investigations logged into a "known and identified child exploitation 'room'" on Zoom and saw someone sharing child pornography. The agent identified that person as Stephen Finkelmeyer of Chicago, and then seized Finkelmeyers laptop with his consent, Stoppelmann's plea agreement says. On that laptop were recordings showing child porn videos that an unknown man had streamed, including one showing the rape of an infant, the plea says. Federal agents used facial recognition software to connect screenshots of the unknown males face to Stoppelmann. In one video, Stoppelmann and Finkelmeyer inject what they say is meth and discuss child porn. Stoppelmann says his biggest fantasy is to suffocate a baby and says, "I can never go back to adults." ST. LOUIS Harris-Stowe University in St. Louis is using federal pandemic relief funds to eliminate student debt owed to the university from the previous academic school year, school officials said. Harris-Stowe, one of Missouris two historically Black universities, announced in September it is using the funds to cancel about $330,000 in debt, an average of about $1,076 per student. The states other historically Black university, Lincoln University in Jefferson City, announced in July that it was using federal pandemic relief funds to cancel about $1.5 million in student debt for nearly 930 students. Dr. LaTonia Collins Smith, Harris-Stowes interim president, last week told KCUR, the public radio station serving Kansas City, the burden of student debt caused by the pandemic led to low enrollment at the school this fall. Many of our students were saying they couldnt work because of COVID-19, they lost their jobs, Smith said. As a result they could not make payments towards their balances for the previous semester or the semesters which were impacted by COVID-19. From St. Mary, the storm crossed the Mississippi River to Chester, Illinois. Chester fire Chief Marty Bert said the main damage in town was confined to power lines and downed trees, estimating roughly a third of the town was without power as of 1 a.m. Bert said wind ripped off part of the roof at Three Springs Lodge nursing home, but all the residents were safe. Firefighters also checked on a 90-year-old resident whose home was hit by the tornado. They were able to safely move him, Bert said. Storms also hit hard Sunday night around the periphery of Fredericktown, in Madison County, Missouri. A storage building off Highway 67 was leveled. Other buildings lost roofs and had their windows cracked. And Joe Newland and his family needed somewhere else to sleep. He took cover with his fiancee and kids kids in a cellar beneath their house off Highway OO. It was raining real hard and then it was quiet, he said. And then things started falling. He emerged from the cellar to find windows missing, holes in the ceiling and everything soaked. Its just total devastation here, he said. We had been planning this building for two-and-a-half years and then this happens. Vance said the storm was so powerful it dropped a dumpster and a trailer hed never seen before on the warehouse property. Right outside of Fredericktown off Highway OO, history teacher Josh Minx gathered his neighbors and family members, including three children younger than 6, at his home during the tornado. Im one of the only people around here with a basement, he said Monday. I got into the basement from picking up my stepdaughter, maybe just a minute or two before the tornado came through. It was close. Minx said he could hear the banging and crashing of debris outside when the tornado passed. When it was all done, his neighbors had significant damage, someones trampoline was left in his yard and a tiny home Minx had been assembling since May for his daughter on his property was obliterated. Shes nine months pregnant and set to be induced in two days, Minx said. So this was bad timing. Minx said his family was still looking for a place to stay Monday night, but might have to drive several miles out of town because nearby hotels were filling up after the storm. MIAMI (AP) Florida's top health official was asked to leave a meeting after refusing to wear a mask at the office of a state senator who told him she had a serious medical condition, officials have confirmed. Florida Senate leader Wilton Simpson, a Republican, sent a memo to senators Saturday regarding the incident at the office of Democratic state Sen. Tina Polsky, asking visitors at the building to be respectful with social interactions. Polsky, who represents parts of Broward and Palm Beach counties, had not yet made public her breast cancer diagnosis. Polsky told The Associated Press about the tense exchange with state Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo that was first reported by the news site Florida Politics. She said Ladapo and two aides were offered masks and asked to wear them when they arrived for the Wednesday meeting. She did not tell him she had breast cancer, but said she had a serious condition. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says cancer patients are at a higher risk to get severely ill from COVID-19 and may not build the same immunity to vaccines. Ladapo had asked to meet her in Tallahassee as he seeks confirmation in the Senate after being named to the post by Gov. Ron DeSantis last month. RICHMOND, Ind. (AP) A truck driver whose semitrailer crashed into a car along an eastern Indiana highway construction zone last year, killing four young siblings, has filed notice that he intends to plead guilty in the case. Corey Robert Withrow, 32, of Camden, Ohio, was scheduled for trial Nov. 1 in a Wayne County court, but a Feb. 24 mercy plea hearing is now scheduled instead, court records show. If Withrow pleads guilty as a mercy plea, his sentence will be argued before a judge, who will make the sentencing decision, the Palladium-Item reported Monday. Withrow is charged with four counts of causing death, one count of causing catastrophic injury when operating a vehicle while intoxicated, and four counts of reckless homicide. The fiery July 2020 crash along Interstate 70 killed Anesa Noel Acosta, 15; Quintin Michael McGowan, 13; Brekkin Riley Bruce, 8; and Trentin Beau Bruce, 6. Their father, Aaron Bruce of Kansas City, Missouri, who was driving the car, suffered severe injuries. AMSTERDAM (AP) The European Medicines Agency said Monday that a booster dose of Moderna's coronavirus vaccine can be considered" in people aged 18 and above. In a statement, the EU drug regulator said its analysis had shown that a third dose given of Moderna's vaccine which is usually given in a two-dose schedule at least six months after the second dose, led to an increase in antibody levels in adults whose levels were waning. The booster dose consists of half the dose normally given to adults. The EMA said that currently available data suggest the incidence of side effects is similar to what is observed following the second dose of Moderna's vaccine, which is known to cause temporary heart and chest inflammation in a small number of people. At national level, public health bodies may issue official recommendations on the use of booster doses, taking into account the local epidemiological situation, the agency said in a statement. Earlier this month, the EMA said booster doses of the COVID-19 vaccine made by Pfizer-BioNTech could also be considered. It also recommended a third dose of vaccines for people with compromised immune systems. Having gone after China (check) and mainstream medicine (check), Schmitt now turns his guns on the southern border. Which, to be clear, is nowhere near Missouris state borders. Whether Trumps wall is the solution to Americas complex immigration issues is highly debatable, but its not a debate that logically should involve the Missouri Attorney Generals office. Yet there was Schmitt, all over Twitter, standing on the banks of the Rio Grande to announce the suit being jointly filed by his office and the Texas Attorney Generals office. The state-paid press secretary for Schmitts office, Chris Nuelle, initially told the Post-Dispatch the trip was fully state-funded. He later specified that the state paid for my trip, the campaign paid for Erics trip. 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. The U.S. NRO (National Reconnaissance Office), which supervises the design, construction and operation of photo and other satellite imagery space satellites needed by the U.S., has decided to embrace their commercial competitors. NRO wants to take advantage of the growing competition and technical advances in the commercial imagery satellite industry. This became particularly important since 2017, when the NRO took over from the NGA (National Geospatial Intelligence Agency) the job of finding and purchasing commercial satellite imagery that the NRO satellites were unable to obtain because of a shortage of satellites or because some commercial satellites were able to obtain forms of imagery that NRO satellites were not yet capable of. The new commercial satellite imagery procurement program is open to all major operators of commercial satellites who want to supply the Department of Defense with their products on a timely basis. Until now NRO depended on two of the largest commercial satellite operators for this, but those two firms recently merged, eliminating the competition that kept prices low and quality high. That merger was not a problem, because there were also many new commercial satellite operators eagerly seeking to get a share of the market with new, innovative, and less expensive imagery. To take advantage of this, the NRO had to go about procurement more effectively in order to get the most for their imagery budget. The new NRO system is largely automated to allow many vendors to list what they can do and at what cost. Commercial imagery providers will provide special services to large customers and the NRO has become one of the largest. The only problem with NRO procurement was that there was a lot of bureaucracy involved that slowed down the process. Military users often found out about new satellite imagery developments from the trade publications and websites that report on new types of imagery or services available. NRO was criticized for delays in obtaining these new capabilities. The NRO has long been criticized for this and chronic failure to get military users what they could obtain as private users and do it in a timely manner. The military must obtain expensive and specialized commercial imagery services via the government agency with the money and authority to procure these new, and often expensive, commercial imagery products. The military is wanting for the situation to improve now that all imagery purchasing authority is concentrated in the NRO. Changes like the automated selection process should speed things up but so far its hard to tell. Once the vendor for a new imagery product the military wants is selected, the bureaucrats still must sign off on purchase orders and ensure prompt delivery to the military users. What got all these reforms going was the NGA admitting in 2016 something everyone already suspected, that it obtained most of its satellite photos from commercial satellites. This was no secret inside the military. Thats because since the late 1990s, when commercial photo satellites began to show up, military users were quick to buy and use this unclassified data. The commercial photo satellites gradually caught up with their military counterparts in most capabilities. The military photo satellites first appeared in the 1960s and their images were meant for intelligence agencies, not combat commanders in the field. The military photo satellites were long the leader in the tech that delivered higher resolution photos and other forms of imagery. The military got most of the imagery but more and more went to other government agencies, like the NGA and government departments that supplied unclassified imagery to businesses. There was an unmet demand from commercial firms and military units who could use this imagery if they received it in time. Commercial firms created a demand for unclassified satellite photos and these eventually appeared, but you had to pay for them. The U.S. military then had no cash or authority to buy commercial satellite imagery. What changed all this was the 2005 appearance of Google Earth (earth.google.com). This easy-to-use web-based app revolutionized military intelligence. The military didn't like to admit it at first. Google Earth was putting so much satellite photography at the disposal of so many people, in such an easy-to-use fashion that anyone could take advantage of new opportunities. In addition to the target audience of travelers, one could explore the world from anywhere. This revolutionized operations for the military professionals as well as terrorists, other criminals and academics. Military users quickly appreciated what a splendid new tool they had with freely available unclassified commercial satellite imagery. To the U.S. Department of Defense, Google Earth's major problem was not it's low cost and ease-of-use, but the way it showcased the shortcomings of the NGA/NRO, which was responsible for taking the satellite photos, spiffing them up as needed, and getting them to the troops. Trouble was, the government stuff still wasn't getting to the troops that needed it, when they needed it. This was made obvious when Google Earth showed up, and demonstrated how you can get satellite images to anyone, when they need them and do it with minimal hassle. The NRO, NGA and other government agencies liked to keep all their satellite (and aerial) imagery in classified archives, just in case they contained some secrets a potential enemy could use. Google Earth did great damage to this attitude. Changing minds in the military intelligence community isnt easy. Restricted access to satellite photos is an old problem. Since the 1980s, when lots more satellite images became available, often on very short notice, generals, and other officers with access to "satellite imagery" have been complaining about the difficulty they had in getting their hands on this stuff or permission to pass it on to the officers and troops in combat zones who need it most. Hundreds of billions of dollars have been spent on photo satellites since the 1960s, and the troops always seem to get leftovers, if anything and usually too late to be of any use. At the same time the NRO regularly conned Congress out of more money so they could build more satellites, and neat systems that would get the satellite imagery "to the troops." The goods never arrived, or never arrived in time. Generals gave angry testimony before Congress about this non-performance after the 1991 Kuwait War. The satellite people seemed contrite and said they would make it right. If given the money to do it. They got the money and the troops got nothing. Then the troops got access to Google Earth in 2005 and saw firsthand what they have been missing. To make matters worse the software Google Earth uses to get the job done was first developed for the NGA. But the way the NGA operates you had to worry about security considerations and all manner of bureaucratic details before you could deploy a useful tool so they really couldnt use the Google interface on a wide scale. Mention that the troops are fighting a war and the NGA will point out that you still must deal with security and keeping the paperwork straight. Soon after 2005 the troops were beating NGA over the head with Google Earth and Congress took notice. However, NGA bureaucrats were close at hand and the angry troops are far away. Progress was still slow. But at least the troops had Google Earth. Unfortunately, so did the enemy. Nevertheless, over the next decade the army was able to go directly to commercial satellite photo providers who, every year, were putting up more capable photo satellites. Many of the photos from these new satellites were higher resolution and not available on Google Earth. But the army could afford to buy them, as could other commercial customers and give the troops instant access because all these commercial satellite photos were unclassified. After a while the NGA stopped pouting and got on board with the use of lots of unclassified satellite photos. This also spurred the NGA to make the high quality (high resolution and with other enhancements) spy satellite photos more easily available to the troops, or at least the army intel and planning specialists who worked out the details of how battles would be fought. This led to other intel agencies making their data (especially from electronic data collection satellites) available quickly, often in real time, to the troops who needed it. While Google Earth opened the floodgates and gave the troops instant access, what happened first was the availability of high-resolution satellite photos that could be of use to combat troops. This began in the 1960s with the first appearance of the KH (Key Hole) series of photo satellites. The first film camera satellite, KH 1, went up in 1959 but the first successful one was in 1960. Thus, until the 1970s the film-using satellites supplied coverage of hostile nations. The KH 1 through 9 series satellites sent film back in canisters (for high resolution pictures), to be developed. The Keyhole 9, the first of which went up in 1971, was not only the last of the film satellites but the largest and most capable. Its basic design was used by the subsequent digital camera birds. The KH 9 could cover large areas at high (for the time) resolution of .6 meters (24 inches). This was more than adequate to spot and count tanks, aircraft, and even small warships. The 19th, and last, KH 9 went up in 1984. The KH-9 was a 13-ton satellite with multiple cameras and 4 or 5 reentry vehicles for returning the film for developing and analysis. The KH-9s were nicknamed Big Bird. The age of film began to fade when the first digital satellite, the KH 11, was launched in 1976. These birds were large, nearly 15 tons, and the digital cameras could obtain better resolution and broadcast the photos back to earth. The resolution was such that objects 70mm (a few inches) in size could be identified from 200 kilometers up. Digital cameras were more flexible than film and eventually surpassed film in all categories. The KH-11 telescopic cameras operated like a high-resolution TV camera. Images were captured continuously and transmitted to earth stations. Computers were used to finish the process and produce photos identical to those taken by a conventional film camera. You could even have motion pictures, as well as indications of heat and the nature of the various items. KH-11 could often tell what kind of metal an object on the ground was made of. All this did not come cheap. These birds cost over (in current dollars) 0ver $3 billion to build and launch and lasted three or four years, depending on fuel usage. Moreover, you needed two of them up at the same time in order to guarantee coverage and save the birds from having to change orbit too frequently. The most recent KH-11, the 18th, was launched in 2021. There have been at least four models of the KH-11, since the first of five "Block 1s" was launched in 1976. Since the 1960s over a hundred KH series satellites have been launched. The next generation, the KH-12, was supposed to have been launched in 1987. That was delayed because of problems with the space shuttle after one exploded during launch. A belated KH-11 was launched in October, 1987. The KH-12 was delayed, even though it had several advantages over the KH-11. Along with improvements in ground data processing equipment, the KH-12 could send back data in real time. You could watch events on a large, high-resolution screen as they were happening. This would also allow military headquarters and other users to get their satellite information directly, without going through a CIA or NRO processing center. Data from the more esoteric sensors would still have to be studied by the specialists elsewhere. The KH-12 was expected to make users even more enthusiastic about satellite reconnaissance. It did, in the form of a much-upgraded KH-11 which were called KH-12s but are still officially known as KH-11. The flood of photographic and electronic data was growing far larger than the force of analysts needed to make something of it. In addition to the KH series birds, there were radar and SIGINT (Signal Intelligence) satellites constantly broadcasting data. Then there are the Defense Support Program satellites, which use heat sensors to locate the hot plumes of missile launches. There still isn't a real (new design) KH-12, and that's partly because commercial photo satellites have become cheaper and more convenient for military use. Many KH-12 features were simply added to subsequent KH-11 models. This was cheaper than building the new KH-12 design and involved less paperwork. Thus, those in charge of American space operations are asking that less money be spent on developing new satellites and more spent on building up a reserve of GPS and communications satellites that can quickly be launched to replace wartime losses. The Department of Defense has already been buying more commercial satellites, rather than much more expensive, usually late, and sometimes cancelled, custom designed military birds. Contributing to this change were bumbling bureaucrats who mismanaged development projects and journalists who headlined the failures. It has long been suggested that the government just rely on commercial photo satellites for their low resolution (able to detect vehicles and buildings) photo satellite needs. But the military and intelligence agencies often need more photo satellite time than the commercial companies can provide. The government also wants to ensure secrets are kept by having complete control over a pair of commercial grade satellites. The troops and military planners continue to be enthusiastic users of Google Earth, which annoys the people running the military satellite program. But for many military satellite needs, Google Earth does the job. The two military, commercial grade, photo satellites eliminated the potential for information leaks (about what the military is buying images of) and provide much more capacity to do low resolution jobs. The people who run the military satellite system are increasingly concerned with wartime needs, and that is what brought out the request for spare GPS and communications satellites. These are relatively cheap, compared to the spy satellites, and most needed if a future war spreads to the orbital zone and puts some American birds out of action. There is also growing concern about the debris in orbit and the increasing risk of satellites being damaged, or destroyed, by these small fragments of older satellites and the rockets that put them there. The smaller, cheaper and lighter, but very capable commercial satellites became the model for a military program to have some ballistic missiles (including those in submarines) equipped with one or more of these smaller satellites for use in wartime when most of the military and commercial satellites have been disabled. This is something the NRO could get behind because they knew that the commercial satellites had taken the lead in satellite design innovation. There were few special military applications left that commercial satellites had not usurped. U.S. Air Force has been around for 73 years and for about half that time it has been trying to get rid of its most popular, affordable, and effective aircraft. Over the last few years, the air force has apparently decided to stop trying to get rid of its popular, at least with pilots and infantry, A-10 attack aircraft. Nicknamed "Warthog" or just "hog", the A-10 never got much respect from air force leaders. The A-10 did gain enough popular and political clout to keep this aircraft flying. The latest plan reduces the A-10 force by 44 aircraft, to 237. These will equip seven squadrons. Three are active duty and four operated by part-time National Guard and reserve personnel. The reserve units would be available within 30 days for deployment to a combat zone. The reserve pilots are largely retired fighter pilots and tend to have more experience in the A-10 than the younger active-duty pilots. The reservists fly regularly and their aircraft are kept in shape for regular operations. Retiring 44 of the older A-10s makes it easier for the air force to afford continuing upgrades for A-10s so they have the same new tech other warplanes use. This policy has seen the A-10s undergoing regular upgrades over the last two decades. These included new wings, a project that was finally completed in 2019. The air force now plans to keep the A-10s in service until 2040. One catch is that the air force will not allow A-10s to operate in airspace threatened by modern enemy air defense systems. Once these threats have been eliminated the A-10s can enter. Meanwhile the A-10s will get plenty of work dealing with Islamic terrorists and irregulars of all sorts. This 2020 A-10 agreement came after six years of uncertainty and enormous pressure from the ground forces and Congress to keep the A-10 around for as long as possible. This effort was in response to a 2014 air force plan to retire all 340 remaining A-10s along with 70 elderly F-15Cs. The reasons were budget shortages and the enormous costs of developing and building the new F-35 stealth fighter. The air force planned to retire these 410 combat aircraft and about a hundred support planes by 2020, when over a hundred new F-35s would enter service leaving the air force with about 300 fewer combat aircraft. Since the United States then has about 2,700 combat aircraft in the air force and navy the loss of 410 aircraft would mean 11 percent fewer combat aircraft. There was not much protest over retiring the elderly F-15Cs and support aircraft. The A-10 was a different matter. There was resistance and in 2016 the air force agreed the A-10 would not be retired and came up with another plan, which was announced in 2020. The new plans will also retire 29 older air refueling aircraft, 24 older C-130Hs, 24 Global Hawk UAVs and 17 B-1B bombers. One thing that kept the A-10 in service was that close air support tech had rapidly evolved since the 1990s. Now A-10s use smart bombs or missiles most of the time. The upgrades included targeting pods that enable A-10 pilots to spot targets while at higher (over 3,000 meters) altitudes. That puts them out of range of small arms and many anti-aircraft weapons. Although the A-10 was built for ground support, armed with a 30mm rotary cannon for shooting up Russian tanks during a potential World War 3 in Europe, that never happened. The last A-10 left Europe in 2013. The threat of Russia invading Western Europe disappeared in 1991, along with the Soviet Union and 80 percent of Russian troops. At the same time the A-10 finally got work in the 1991 battle to drive Iraqi troops out of Kuwait. A decade later the A-10 was back in demand again. In Iraq and Afghanistan troops appreciated the ability to call in an A-10 for a strafing run. A few hundred 30mm rounds not only did a lot of damage but also tended to demoralize the enemy and make it easier to capture them alive or drive them away. Smart bombs and missiles tended to leave fewer prisoners and were not as scary as the roar and loud buzz of a low-flying A-10 using its 30mm autocannon. The A-10 proved to be a formidable combat aircraft in post-Cold War conflicts, first in the 1991 liberation of Kuwait and later in Afghanistan and Iraq. These conflicts involved the elimination of the modern Russian fighter aircraft and ground based air defense systems. Since 2004 the most requested ground support aircraft in Afghanistan has been the A-10. There was similar A-10 affection in Iraq. Troops from all nations quickly came to appreciate the unique abilities of this 1970s era aircraft that the U.S. Air Force has wanted to eliminate. The air force sought to do this gradually, when there was less work for A-10s. In 2011 the air force announced that it was retiring 102 A-10s, leaving 243 in service. Opposition from the army and Congress halted that. That was not the first, nor the last retirement effort. Until 2020, the air force kept at it and it was feared that the air force would revive its efforts to eliminate the A-10. That does not appear to be the case this time. At the same time the air force tried to retire A-10s it accelerated the upgrading of the remaining A-10s to the A-10C standard. Also called the PE (for precision engagement) model, the refurbished A-10s were supposed to remain in service until 2028, meaning most A-10Cs would have served over 40 years and as many as 16,000 flight hours. The upgrade effort was underway soon after A-10s began seeing much heavier use after 2003. The upgrades included new electronics as well as engine refurbishment. The A-10C provides the pilot with the same targeting and fire control gadgets the latest fighters and bombers have. The new A-10C cockpit has all the spiffy color displays and easy to use controls. Because it is a single-seat aircraft that flies close to the ground, something that requires a lot more concentration, all the automation in the cockpit allows the pilot to do a lot more with less stress, exertion, and risk. The basic A-10 is a 1960s design, so the new additions are quite spectacular in comparison. New communications gear has also been added, allowing A-10 pilots to share pictures and videos with troops on the ground. The A-10 pilot also has access to the Blue Force Tracker system, so that the nearest friendly ground forces show up on the HUD (Head-Up Display) when coming in low to use the 30mm cannon. The A-10C could now use smart bombs, making it a do-it-all aircraft for ground support. A-10s were worked hard in Afghanistan. For example, an A-10 squadron has a dozen aircraft and 18 pilots. Pilots often average about a hundred hours a month in the air while in a combat zone. That's about twenty sorties, as each sortie averages about five hours. The aircraft range all over southern Afghanistan, waiting for troops below to call for some air support. The A-10 could always fly low and slow and were designed, and armored, to survive a lot of ground fire. The troops trust the A-10 more than the F-16 or any other aircraft used for ground support. The A-10 is a 23-ton, twin-engine, single-seat aircraft whose primary weapon is a multi-barrel 30mm cannon originally designed to fire armor piercing shells at Russian tanks. These days the 1,174 30mm rounds are mostly high explosive versions. The 30mm cannon fires 363-gram (12.7 ounce) rounds at the rate of about 65 a second. The cannon usually fires in one or two-second bursts. In addition, the A-10 can carry seven tons of bombs and missiles. These days the A-10 goes out with smart bombs (GPS and laser-guided) and 306 kg (670 pound) Maverick missiles. It can also carry a targeting pod, enabling the pilot to use high magnification day/night cameras to scour the area for enemy activity. Cruising speed is 560 kilometers an hour and the A-10 can slow down to about 230 kilometers an hour. In Afghanistan two drop tanks were often carried to give the aircraft more fuel and maximize airtime over the battlefield. If there is another major war in some place like Korea or with Iran, the A-10s would once more be one of the most popular warplanes with the ground troops, if they are still around. Otherwise, the troops on the ground will have to make do with smart bombs and a growing number of GPS guided mortar shells, artillery shells and rockets. At one point the air force argued that the F-35 could replace the A-10 as a ground attack aircraft. One of the problems with using F-35s is that this aircraft costs more than twice as much an hour to operate. Moreover, only the A-10 can regularly go low and strafe enemy forces. F-16s and F-35s are too fast and unarmored to get away with that. The A-10 was designed to take a lot of hits and keep flying. A-10s have regularly demonstrated this reliability. Finally, the air force admitted it would take fifteen years and a lot of money to develop an A-10 replacement. The current plan is to eventually turn that dangerous duty to a new generation of UAVs. This is something Predator and Reaper UAVs have already been handling, except for the low altitude strafing duty. This is often used to intimidate a stubborn foe and that still works. The A-10 makes a lot of noise when coming in low, with part of the racket coming from its 30mm autocannon. Again, this has been proven time and again. It is not a theoretical capability but very real and still in demand. No aircraft will ever duplicate that. When the A-10 finally retires in 2040 it will have been in service 73 years, fifty of them after being declared obsolete at the end of the Cold War. Company Deployed 15 Safe Entry Stations at Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas to Screen Hospitality Suite Attendees and Catering Staff TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / October 25, 2021 / Predictmedix Inc. (CSE:PMED)(OTCQB: PMEDF) ("Predictmedix" or the "Company"), an emerging provider of rapid health screening solutions powered by a proprietary artificial intelligence (AI), today announced the revenue-generating deployment of 15 Safe Entry Stations at the Formula 1 Aramco United States Grand Prix, which was held October 22-24, 2021 at the Circuit of The Americas ("COTA") in Austin, Texas, as part of the Company's reseller partnership with the Canadian-based JUICEWORKS EXHIBITS and CONNECTUS Global. Predictmedix's proprietary AI-enabled screening solution was used for hospitality suite entrances and catering staff at the world's most prestigious motor racing competition and most popular annual sporting series. The race weekend was expected to draw over 100,000 attendees per day to experience racing action, musical, amusement rides and local cuisine. Upon arrival, guests holding passes to enclosed hospitality areas and suites were asked to walk through the Predictmedix Safe Entry Station to rapidly identify multiple symptoms of infectious diseases associated with COVID-19, displaying the result in the form of a red or green light. Guests receiving a red light were to be asked to take a self-administered rapid antigen test. Mike Anderson of CONNECTUS Global, a Predictmedix Safe Entry Station Reseller, commented, "We are excited to have worked with the COTA teams on their extended health and safety plans. The safety of patrons is the top priority of the organization and the steps they are taking to ensure a safe return to live events truly reenforces them as leaders in the industry." "Live sporting and other large-scale events are quickly returning in popularity, and our onsite solution has become a product of choice for leading global facilities to ensure the safety of employees and guests in attendance," said Dr. Rahul Kushwah, Chief Operating Officer of Predictmedix. "With each deployment of our stations, we gain further validation that only strengthens the conversion of our robust sales pipeline through our international network of resellers. We are truly privileged to launch our technology at this world-famous race, and provide a meaningful difference to the safety of its guests." About Predictmedix Inc. Predictmedix (CSE:PMED)(OTCQB: PMEDF) is an emerging provider of rapid health screening and remote patient care solutions globally. The Company's Safe Entry Stations - powered by a proprietary artificial intelligence (AI) - use multispectral cameras to analyze physiological data patterns and predict a variety of health issues including infectious diseases such as COVID-19, impairment by drugs or alcohol, or various mental illnesses. Predictmedix's proprietary remote patient care platform empowers medical professionals with a suite of AI-powered tools to improve patient health outcomes. To learn more, please visit our website at www.Predictmedix.com or follow us on Twitter , Instagram or LinkedIn . Investor Relations Contact Lucas A. Zimmerman MZ Group - MZ North America 949-259-4987 PMEDF@mzgroup.us www.mzgroup.us 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. The Company is not making any express or implied claims that its product has the ability to diagnose, eliminate, cure or contain the COVID-19 (or SARS-2 Coronavirus) at this time. SOURCE: Predictmedix Inc. View source version on accesswire.com: ATLANTA, Oct. 22, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Clark Atlanta University will be one of four HBCUs to lead a Regional Center for Entrepreneurship, thanks to a $16.8 million PNC grant. The national center will be located on the campus of Howard University, and will use a regional structure to include programming at three regional HBCUsClark Atlanta University, Morgan State University, and Texas Southern University. CAU will lead the South region, including HBCUs in Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Kentucky, and Tennessee. Each regional center will lead HBCU partners in their respective areas to coordinate education programs, research strategies, business outreach, and other community outreach efforts at partner HBCUs across the country. A significant focus for the Center and its regional HBCU partners is to engage the black business community in growing their enterprises, thereby positively impacting the community and increasing employment and wealth for the black community. "Clark Atlanta University's entrepreneurial legacy extends back to the intellectual genealogy of W. E. B. Du Bois, who served as a professor of economics and sociology at Atlanta University for over 23 years in the early 20th century," said CAU President, Dr. George T. French, Jr. "Clark Atlanta University, as well as many HBCUs, are engaged with passion and unfettered creativity to initiatives to enhance black entrepreneurship within the university and their communities. We have always been at the forefront of entrepreneurship education, including established partnerships with entrepreneurs globally." The CAU School of Business Administration (CAUSBA), celebrating 75 years of excellence this year, will oversee the Regional Center and will complement ongoing and evolving activities in the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurial Development (CIED). CIED was established to develop a campus-wide entrepreneurship and innovation ecosystem and Lab/Maker Space. It offers Innovation and Design Thinking Courses and Workshops; Ideation, Lean Start-Up, and Small Business Mentoring; 3D Printing & Prototyping; Tech Transfer and Commercialization Support; Hackathons; and Business Pitch Competitions. "CIED is the optimal focal point for innovative initiatives involving campus and community stakeholders," says School of Business Administration Dean Silvanus Udoka. "The Regional Center for Entrepreneurship will broaden the platform for our scholars to accelerate discovery, spark innovation, and creativity to spawn the launching of our students' entrepreneurial endeavors and professional careers." CAU's School of Business also has an Entrepreneur-In-Residence program that brings experienced entrepreneurs to the School of Business Administration to advise and assist students and faculty as they launch startups or explore the commercialization of research. EIRs provide mentorship and guidance to the CAU community on business strategy and design, and social impact. They also connect investors with inventors, creators, and researchers. "We are grateful to PNC for providing us with the means to enhance our entrepreneurial initiatives, while promoting collaborations as amongst HBCUs such as Howard University and other prominent regional collaborators" said President French. About Clark Atlanta University Established in 1988 by the historic consolidation of Atlanta University (1865) and Clark College (1869). Clark Atlanta University continues a more than 150-year legacy rooted in African-American tradition and focused on the future. Through global innovation, transformative educational experiences, and high-value engagement. CAU cultivates lifted lives that transform the world. Notable alumni include: James Weldon Johnson; American civil rights activist, poet, and songwriter (Lift Every Voice and Sing "The Black National Anthem"; Ralph David Abernathy Sr., American civil rights activist; Congressman Hank Johnson, Georgia District 4; Kenya Barris, American award-winning television and movie producer; Kenny Leon, Tony Award-winning Broadway Director; Jacque Reid, Emmy Award-winning Television Personality and Journalist; Brandon Thompson, Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion for NASCAR; Valeisha Butterfield Jones, Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer at the Recording Academy. To learn more about Clark Atlanta University, visit www.cau.edu. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/clark-atlanta-university-to-lead-regional-center-for-entrepreneurship-as-part-of-pnc-16-8-million-grant-301406421.html SOURCE Clark Atlanta University Marines respond to a simulated suspicious package during the annual Active Shield base-defense exercise at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Oct. 21, 2021. (Jessika Braden/U.S. Marine Corps) MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan A two-week base-defense exercise is underway at this seaside Marine Corps base near Hiroshima and will finish up on Friday. Active Shield is an annual exercise by U.S. and Japanese forces that share the installation. It rehearses various elements of the air stations defense plan to ensure it can support its mission. The air station is home to the Navys Carrier Air Wing 5, fighters and other aircraft attached to the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan; Marine Aircraft Group 12, which includes fighters and aerial refuelers; and Fleet Air Wing 31 of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force. Active Shield, like similar exercises underway at other U.S. installations in Japan, including Yokota Air Base in Tokyo, means a level of inconvenience for base residents: Gate delays, blocked roads, limited parking and a scheduled power outage impacting the entire base, according to a statement on MCAS Iwakunis Facebook page. Every man, woman, and child associated with MCAS Iwakuni is a participant in Active Shield, base commander Col. Lance Lewis told Stars and Stripes in an email Thursday. Prior to the full-scale conduct of the exercise, the air station carried out an emergency evacuation drill to practice our response to a natural disaster or other emergency. A Marine creates a range card in response to a simulated suspicious package during the annual Active Shield base-defense exercise at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, Oct. 21, 2021. (Jessika Braden/U.S. Marine Corps) During the exercise we rehearse and refine our installations base defense plan to protect our personnel and critical assets so that we maintain ourselves as a platform for force projection in the Indo-Pacific, Lewis said. The exercise is a stress test that allows the command to evaluate and improve its capabilities as a base for combat power and of support for contingency operations, Lewis said. Each year, my goal has been to improve upon the lessons learned from previous years and to ensure we make MCAS Iwakuni a more capable, and defendable, advanced naval base, he said. Navy spouse Morgan Dover likened the event to a giant game of cops and robbers. They get to have some fun and make sure they are up to standards, she told Stars and Stripes on Friday. But I dont mind; its a mild inconvenience for about a week and a half, and Im not bothered by it. Jonathan Snyder Marines aboard the USS New Orleans prepare to launch a backpackable electronic attack module, or BEAM, in the Coral Sea, July 25, 2021. The system can detect the radio frequency of a specific threat, a hostile drone, for example, locate it and take it out. (Daisha Ramirez/U.S. Marine Corps) Marines aboard the USS New Orleans have launched a portable, electronic-warfare system on drones for the first time at sea, according to the Marine Corps. A backpackable electronic attack module, or BEAM, uses its technology to detect the radio frequency of a specific threat, a hostile drone, for example, locate it and take it out, according to the Marine officer in charge of the 10 Marines and sailors taking part. It is set apart from other systems because of its ease of use, said Marine Capt. Jesse Schmitt, assistant intelligence officer for the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit. A 31st MEU spokesman, Capt. Brett Lazaroff, provided Schmitts responses to Stars and Stripes questions on Oct. 8. A basically trained rifleman can be taught to use the system in the course of an afternoon, making it easily deployable alongside Marines in any climate and place, Schmitt said. His team of 31st MEU radio experts, Puma drone pilots and sailors spent two days connecting nodes to drones and then launching them off the New Orleans flight deck. The trial took place in July off Australias northeastern coast in the Coral Sea, according to the Marine Corps. The BEAM system works through nodes, which are devices that can create, receive, store and communicate information with one another. Three or more nodes form a network. Several nodes are networked together to create a web of sensors that can both detect and take action against hostile electromagnetic emitters, Schmitt said. Marines aboard the USS New Orleans prepare to launch a backpackable electronic attack module, or BEAM, in the Coral Sea, July 25, 2021. The system can detect the radio frequency of a specific threat, a hostile drone, for example, locate it and take it out. (Daisha Ramirez/U.S. Marine Corps) The Marines BEAM uses three nodes that can be configured for specific battlespaces. Nodes attached to a Puma provide the Marines knowledge of their surroundings at sea and on land, according to Schmitt. The idea is you have three squadrons or platoons wandering around doing their assigned mission, and they are each carrying BEAMs with them, creating a network of sensors to aid situational awareness, he said. If any of those nodes detects something, it will alert all of the connected BEAMs, and any of those BEAMs could choose to begin jamming the enemy if desired. BEAM technology is not equipped with artificial intelligence, but its computer processing capabilities make it pretty smart, according to an April article in Signal magazine. The BEAM radios communicate with one another to find the best formation to grab the most information about the enemy, Philip Root, a program manager at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency who helped developed BEAM starting in 2016, told Signal. Root said Marines and Special Forces consider the BEAM system another team member rather than another tool. They would give the BEAM system the mission, and it would modify its behavior depending on the threat it saw and where they were in the mission, where it saw high-value targets, Root told the magazine. Working aboard the New Orleans, Schmitts team used BEAM on drones in coordination with a 36-foot, rigid, inflatable boat, which was something that had never been tested before, he said. The New Orleans is an amphibious transport dock ship homeported at Sasebo Naval Base. It supports aircraft and amphibious vehicles and transports Marines for deployments and training events. We wanted to ensure that the BEAM could feasibly be employed from a variety of platforms used in a littoral environment, Schmitt said. DARPA began to explore BEAM along with other technologies, including artificial intelligence, Root told Signal in April. The retired Army lieutenant colonel said his experience tells him the military may not want artificial intelligence systems that are superior to humans. That doesnt mean we shouldnt try to develop good AI, Root said in the article. It just means that instead of trying to replace the wisdom and experience of the small unit commander, we should try to create AI that helps support the wisdom and experience of the most junior Marine on the team, and sometimes that junior Marine is a robot. Italys Naval Air Station Sigonella was hit by a severe storm over the weekend. Winds and rain caused power outages, and families living at the installation were ordered to boil their water. (Naval Air Station Sigonella) Naval Air Station Sigonella in Sicily was ordering people living in family housing Monday to boil their water in the aftermath of a Mediterranean hurricane that caused widespread flooding and power outages. The base also said some residents may have to move into temporary housing depending on the extent of the damage. Marinai housing complex residents were told to boil water used for cooking, brushing teeth and washing dishes, among other things, said a post on the bases Facebook page. The post also warned people with open wounds or sores not to bathe or wash their hands in water that had not been boiled. By early Monday afternoon, the base said water was being restored to family housing but it was still not drinkable. Efforts to restore power to homes were underway but would be delayed for those that were flooded, a later post said. The galley and the USO were feeding family housing residents at a youth community center, and some restaurants, the bases food court and the commissary were open. But a Navy Exchange mini mart was closed because of damage, the base said. The advisory came as severe wind and rain pummeled the area around Catania, near where the base is located, causing severe flooding on the weekend. A 67-year-old man was swept away by floodwaters Sunday and later found dead, the Italian news agency Ansa reported. Base schools and others in the region were closed Monday, and classes also were canceled Tuesday. The base hospital and clinic were closed Monday except for essential services. The bad weather is expected to continue through the week, news reports said. An MQ-4C Triton taxis on a runway at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, April 4, 2020. (Michael Murphy/U.S. Air Force) Two Navy unmanned surveillance aircraft are back on Guam after wrapping up their debut deployment to Japan. The MQ-4C Tritons recently returned to Andersen Air Force Base, according to a news release Wednesday from Indo-Pacific Command. The drones arrived May 15 at Misawa Air Base in northeastern Japan and departed for Guam on Oct. 12, according to an email from U.S. Naval Forces Japan spokeswoman Cmdr. Katie Cerezo on Thursday. Naval Forces Japan and Misawa Air Base directed all questions about the Tritons deployment to Naval Air Systems Command, which did not respond to an email from Stars and Stripes. Assigned to Unmanned Patrol Squadron 19 at Naval Air Station Jacksonville, Fla., the Tritons were accompanied by approximately 80 personnel, including four pilots. The pilots launch the Tritons before handing control over to Jacksonville. During its first three months in Misawa, one Triton flew approximately 20 missions, a drone pilot told Stars and Stripes in August. Similar to the Air Forces RQ-4 Global Hawks, the Triton is designed for maritime surveillance rather than terrestrial scouting. It provides high-resolution, all-weather imagery across large geographic areas, which offers an important capability in support of the Japan-U.S. alliance, Cerezo said in August. The aircraft also complement the capabilities of the P-8A Poseidon surveillance planes, according to the Navy. The Tritons will continue to operate from Andersen to provide maritime surveillance and persistent intelligence to the 7th Fleet, according to the Navy. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un waves in this image released in August 2021 by the Korean Central News Agency. (KCNA) CAMP HUMPHREYS, South Korea South Korean and Japanese military officials disagree about the number of missiles launched by North Korea last week, despite the two countries sharing intelligence on the test. North Korea on Oct. 19 fired a new type of submarine-launched ballistic missile from its eastern coast, according to the state-run Korean Central News Agency. The communist regimes latest launch its fifth weapons test in recent weeks sparked concern among missile experts and defense officials for its wartime implications. Submarine-launched missiles are typically viewed as a retaliatory, second-strike weapon. South Korean lawmakers also voiced concern, particularly after the countrys Ministry of National Defense assessed that Pyongyang fired one short-range ballistic missile, while the Japanese government said it detected two. The intelligence divide was highlighted during a parliamentary briefing with Defense Minister Suh Wook on Thursday. Japan said the North launched two SLBMs, opposition party lawmaker Sung Il-Jong said during the briefing. We, our military, said the North fired a SLBM. Whats right? Suh replied: We think we are right because our detection assets saw it at a close range, and we saw it by using a number of sources. The defense minister added that the military shared information about the Norths missiles mostly after a launch at the request of Japan. The two countries are part of the General Security of Military Information Agreement, an intelligence-sharing pact that allows both countries to review military information. Seoul has previously threatened to end the agreement, citing inequities in trade policies and historical wartime grievances. Suh confirmed the pact is still in effect, but while the two countries sometimes find an agreement of views, it is up to the recipient of the intelligence to come up with a determination. The intelligence-sharing pact is critical for South Korea and more than just an agreement, according to Kim Tae Woo, former president of the Korea Institute for National Unification. Japans intelligence, particularly their anti-submarine intelligence system, is superb, Kim told Stars and Stripes by phone Monday. Japans [waters] are a hot place for submarine competition between several countries if North Korea fully deploys a new submarine armed with an SLBM, we very badly need precise intelligence. Thats why Japanese help is critical for South Koreas security. Kim said that while the two militaries have disagreed with each other several times over their intelligence on North Korean missiles, their detection capabilities are complementary. South Korea is in a better position to detect a missile right after launching from North Korea, Kim said. But if the missile makes some distance in flight, then the Japanese intelligence is in a better position to detect that. Stars and Stripes reporter Yoo Kyong Chang contributed to this report. Buy Photo Re-enactors dressed as American and French World War I soldiers join the U.S. European Command Honor Guard during a ceremonial vigil on the 100th anniversary of the selection for the U.S. Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Oct. 23, 2021 in Chalons-en-Champagne, France. (Erik Slavin/Stars and Stripes) CHALONS-EN-CHAMPAGNE, France One hundred years ago, an Army sergeant looked over four caskets draped in American flags inside the city hall here and chose the U.S. soldier who would embody the sacrifice of everything, even his name, to a cause greater than himself. French and American soldiers stood guard that night, never leaving the Unknown Soldiers side. On Saturday and Sunday, hundreds gathered for a vigil, a military parade and other ceremonies dedicated to that soldier and the many others he represents. Buy Photo The U.S. European Command Honor Guard and the French Honor Guard march as members of the 21st Theater Sustainment Command salute in Chalons-en-Champagne, France, Oct. 24, 2021. The soldiers were participating in ceremonies to remember the selection of the U.S. Unknown Soldier in this city 100 years ago. (Erik Slavin/Stars and Stripes) The attendees included current and former guards of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Gold Star mothers, veterans, military spouses and onlookers who, simply by remembering, shared in keeping the legacy of the Unknown Soldiers selection alive. Its a part of our history, said Benoist Apparu, mayor of this city of about 45,000 people. We need to celebrate this for the younger generation, so that they do not forget what happened here. France and Great Britain each dedicated tombs to their unknown World War I dead on Nov. 11, 1920. The U.S. Congress approved a memorial to be placed in Arlington National Cemetery the following year. Buy Photo French World War I re-enactors stand outside the Cathedral Saint Etienne in Chalons-de-Champagne, France, Oct. 24, 2021. The city held events honoring the selection 100 years ago of the U.S. Unknown Soldier. (Erik Slavin/Stars and Stripes) On Oct. 23, 1921, caskets carrying the remains of unidentified U.S. soldiers from four different war cemeteries in France arrived in the city, which was then known as Chalons-sur-Marne. The selection was set to be made at 11 a.m. the next morning by an American officer, until Maj. Gen. Harry Rogers went off-script, according to an account from the Society of the Honor Guard, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Rogers decided that a soldier who possibly served in the same trenches should make the choice. French soldiers unload a casket containing a candidate for the U.S. Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at city hall in Chalons-sur-Marne, France, in October 1921. On Sunday, hundreds gathered at the same site in what is now Chalons-en-Champagne for the 100th anniversary of the selection. (Society of the Honor Guard, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier) Sgt. Edward F. Younger of the Army of Occupation on the Rhine had shown up for duty as a pallbearer that day. It fell to him to choose. Younger was nonchalant about it in interviews shortly afterward. But in a 1936 syndicated newspaper column, he described feeling overwhelmed. Perhaps one of them had fought with me, had befriended me, had possibly shielded me from a bullet that might have put me in his place, he wrote. Who would even know? Buy Photo Society of the Honor Guard, Tomb of the Unknown Soldier members Lonny LeGrand, Dave Hathaway, George March and James Livingston fold the American flag on Oct. 24, 2021, following the end of ceremonies remembering the selection of the U.S. Unknown Soldier 100 years ago in Chalons-en-Champagne, France. (Erik Slavin/Stars and Stripes) Unknown soldiers would later be chosen to rest at Arlington National Cemetery to symbolize those who died in World War II, Korea and Vietnam. The tomb at Arlington also represents every mother whose son has not come back and is unknown, said Pam Stemple, second vice president of American Gold Star Mothers. Scientific advances have meant that more unknown service members from past wars have been subsequently identified. Buy Photo A horse-drawn carriage moves a casket draped in an American flag through the city of Chalons-en-Champagne, France, on Oct. 24, 2021. The ceremony recreated the journey of the U.S. Unknown Soldier from the city exactly 100 years ago. (Erik Slavin/Stars and Stripes) Modern logistics have also contributed to preventing those killed in recent wars from being unknown. Stemples son, Army Ranger Sgt. 1st Class Tomas Avey, died in Afghanistan in 2015. She reflected on what mothers who never got their children back endured. We want to honor that, and thats why its so important for us to go and see this, Stemple said. Buy Photo Wreaths and flowers left by French and American guests are placed at a monument to World War I service members who died for France at the Cathedral Saint Etienne in Chalons-de-Champagne, France, Oct. 24, 2021. The ceremony followed events honoring the selection 100 years ago of the U.S. Unknown Soldier in the city. (Erik Slavin/Stars and Stripes) For Stemple and about 40 others, the stop in Chalons-en-Champagne is part of a pilgrimage that has included cemeteries and monuments throughout France. There have been hard moments, and tears flowed for some during taps on Sunday. But the pilgrimage participants say this has also been a celebration. And for some, its added new color and depth to a mission of perpetuating the memory of the Unknown Soldier. Gavin McIlvenna, the societys president, was first relief commander as a tomb guard at Arlington in 1997 and 1998. Buy Photo World World War I re-enactors stand at attention as a horse-drawn carriage moves a casket draped in an American flag in Chalons-en-Champagne, France, on Oct. 24, 2021. The ceremony recreated the journey of the U.S. Unknown Soldier from the city exactly 100 years ago. (Erik Slavin/Stars and Stripes) He spent some nights on duty thinking about where the Unknown Soldier might have come from, and what it would have been like for him to travel on trains and a ship over the ocean to France. For McIlvenna, the opportunity to follow the path of the man he guarded is nearly beyond description. Thats the room Sgt. Younger made his selection, McIlvenna said while standing on the steps of city hall, as scores of people paid their respects at the vigil. I dont know how many times I can say this is overwhelming. But it is. Buy Photo Jo Ann Maitland, national president of American Gold Star Mothers, pays her respects at a monument to World War I service members who died for France at the Cathedral Saint Etienne in Chalons-de-Champagne, France, Oct. 24, 2021. Maitland and a pilgrimage of about 40 others from America attended ceremonies honoring the selection 100 years ago of the U.S. Unknown Soldier. (Erik Slavin/Stars and Stripes) Army Pfc. Tavarez Burroughs, a culinary specialist, oversees Afghan children Oct. 20, 2021, in the living-support area at Fort Lee, Va., as part of Operation Allies Welcome. The Defense Department is providing transportation, temporary housing, medical screening, and general support for more than 53,000 Afghan evacuees at suitable facilities at eight military bases throughout the United States. (Matthew Lumagui/U.S. Army) WASHINGTON Nearly 6,700 Afghan evacuees have resettled throughout the United States and about 53,150 remain at stateside military bases awaiting visa processing nearly two months after American troops left Afghanistan, chief Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said Monday. The military has been housing Afghan evacuees at eight installations in the U.S. since late July when evacuations began in the final weeks of the U.S. involvement in Afghanistan, which ended Aug. 30. The bases have a collective capacity of 64,000, Kirby said. About 4,100 of the 6,689 Afghans have resettled since Sept. 30, when the Pentagon last gave an update on the mission dubbed Operation Allies Welcome. Approximately 3,000 Afghans remain on U.S. military bases in the Middle East and another 463 are at U.S. bases in Europe, Kirby told reporters at the Pentagon. Those evacuees are undergoing security screenings before they are taken to the U.S. to wait out their visa process. Those numbers show some improvement from the Sept. 30 update when about 14,000 evacuees remained at overseas staging bases awaiting flights to the U.S. The flights were halted in early September due to a measles outbreak. After the outbreak, the military vaccinated all evacuees against measles. Medical workers also have been administering coronavirus and influenza vaccinations to the Afghans. The federal government is expected to reimburse the Defense Department for expenses incurred while housing the evacuees at military installations. The Pentagon is still awaiting that reimbursement, but Kirby said the financial costs have not affected military readiness. But clearly there are assets resources, time that are being devoted to this that are in some cases not being diverted to other things, he said. The Defense Department provides food, housing, medical assistance and recreational opportunities for Afghans at the installations. The bases in the U.S. hosting Afghans are Fort Bliss in Texas, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in New Jersey, Fort McCoy in Wisconsin, Camp Atterbury in Indiana, Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico, and Fort Lee, Fort Pickett and Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia. Thanksgiving travelers walk through Terminal 3 on Nov. 25, 2020, at O'Hare International Airport. Travelers who book trips during holiday times this year may notice higher airline prices and tighter flight schedules. (Erin Hooley, The Chicago Tribune/TNS) DALLAS (Tribune News Service) Dallas travel agent Alex Ramsey is getting questions daily from customers uncertain about booking holiday trips. Are Americans allowed to travel to Europe? Will hotels and restaurants have enough employees? And the newest query brought on by recent turbulence: Will my flight be delayed or canceled? Im telling people that the first thing they need to pack is their patience, said Ramsey, president of All Aboard Travel. If you are a type-A personality that needs everything to go perfectly, you will run into trouble. Even after a summer of packed airplanes, flight cancellations and face mask battles, airlines are preparing their biggest flight schedules in nearly two years while also scrambling to replenish staffing levels and amid employee pushback over government-required vaccine mandates. And gone are the perks of flying during a pandemic. Prices will be higher and planes will be more packed than they were a year ago. Its a backdrop thats giving travelers pause, especially with the chaos of Columbus Day weekend fresh in their memories. Thats when Dallas-based Southwest Airlines canceled thousands of flights, citing weather and staffing issues while stranding travelers at airports around the country. It cost the airline $75 million in lost revenue. The holiday travel season is typically more stressful, with planes loaded with leisure travelers eager to arrive at destinations on time and winter storms looming as a constant threat. You do have to wonder if these airlines are prepared for the holidays when there could be significant problems with weather and pressure is high over a short period of time, said Henry Harteveldt, a travel analyst with Atmosphere Research Group. Are airlines prepared? The airline and travel industry is anticipating a 2021 holiday season that will be much bigger than last years, but still down slightly from the 2019 holidays. Southwests flight schedule is about 12% smaller than it was in 2019. Fort Worth-based American Airlines is planning to put more than 6,400 flights in the air during its busiest day this season, Nov. 28, the Sunday following Thanksgiving, according to Diio by Cirium. Thats only about 5% fewer flights than it had in 2019, before the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet airline executives spent the last two weeks trying to convince travelers and investors that flight delays and cancellations plaguing the summer and fall months wont be a repeat occurrence during the holidays. Southwest Airlines said Thursday that it will further reduce its upcoming travel schedule fallout from being forced to cancel more than 2,000 flights earlier this month because of weather and air traffic control backups during a single afternoon in Florida. Southwest said it had relied on staffing models that it used before the pandemic. We had 15,000 people that were out on leave so an assumption I made was that we were going to call them and say OK, its time to come back, and they are going to show up and everything was going to be just like it was, Southwest CEO Gary Kelly said. And its just not. Aggressive flight schedules to capitalize on consumer demand can push airlines to a breaking point when all doesnt go to plan. Southwest Airlines Columbus Day weekend schedule was its busiest since the pandemic began and the Florida-centered problems resulted in pilots and flight crews being out of sync with subsequent flights. That meltdown was followed by rumors that pilots had walked off the job to protest a White House mandate to require COVID-19 vaccinations for federal contractors such as Southwest Airlines. Both the airline and the Southwest Airlines Pilots Association denied any attempt by pilots to disrupt flights. However, the union has sued the airline in federal court to stop the mandate. The CEOs at Southwest and American spent last week trying to assure employees that they wouldnt be fired if they werent vaccinated, at least as long as they sought an exemption for religious or medical purposes. We are not going to let this disrupt any of our customers travel, especially during the busy holiday season, Kelly said. American Airlines President Robert Isom said demand is strong from passengers. Were getting ready for the holiday season and we expect a lot of passengers and tremendous pent-up demand, especially as vaccinations take hold (and) infection rates decline, Isom said. Were going to be ready. Were doing our best to make sure that we have the right people in the right places at the right time. Airfares and labor shortages Travelers could be looking at a far different experience than last year. Some Christmastime airfares are approaching what they were in 2019, said Adit Damodaran, an economist with travel website Hopper. This year, the average roundtrip ticket for flying within the U.S. is selling for about $300 for Thanksgiving and $390 for Christmas, according to Hopper. Thats compared to 2020, when tickets were $245 at Thanksgiving and $250 at Christmas. Roundtrip tickets in 2019 were about $335 at Thanksgiving and $390 at Christmas. That means this years fares are about 55% higher than last year, when prices hit the lowest point in decades due to weak customer demand. Things have really taken off in the last few weeks with the decrease in cases from the delta variant, Damodaran said. The best time to buy is usually before Halloween, before November starts. After vaccination rates took off in spring, more people grew comfortable with traveling over the summer months, said Erin Francis-Cummings, president of consumer research firm Destinations Analysts. Now theyre ready to get back on planes again, she said. Connecting with family and friends is still the driver for the holidays, she said. Its heart-warming to see that people still need one another and those connections are so powerful that they overcome some of the other worries. Holiday travel will be focused on domestic destinations, mostly people visiting friends and family. Once travelers arrive at their destinations, theyre likely to encounter other pandemic-related problems. Hotels and restaurants are understaffed, said Ramsey, the Dallas travel agent. You just cant expect the kind of service you had before. Ramsey estimates that 50% or more of travelers are delaying trips, particularly major vacations. Before the delta variant spike, people were planning trips for Christmas, but then they started canceling in September, she said. Its going to take time, maybe years, because this is the new normal. This isnt going away. 2021 The Dallas Morning News. Visit at www.dallasnews.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Eleven Marines, one sailor and one soldier were among the dead in a suicide bombing at Afghanistans Kabul airport Thursday, which also claimed the lives of more than 100 Afghans. Top row, from left: Sgt. Nicole L. Gee, Cpl. Daegan W. Page, Lance Cpl. David L. Espinoza, Lance Cpl. Dylan R. Merola and Lance Cpl. Kareem M. Nikoui. Center row, from left: Seaman Maxton W. Soviak, Cpl. Humberto A. Sanchez, Cpl. Hunter Lopez, Sgt. Johanny Rosario Pichardo and Staff Sgt. Ryan C. Knauss. Bottom row, from left: Lance Cpl. Rylee J. McCollum, Lance Cpl. Jared M. Schmitz and Staff Sgt. Darin T. Hoover. (Facebook, U.S. Marine Corps, Twitter, Instagram) WASHINGTON (Tribune News Service) The U.S. House on Monday evening is expected to pass legislation that would posthumously award the Congressional Gold Medal to the 13 American service members killed in the August suicide bomb attack in Kabul, Afghanistan. The measure, introduced by Republican freshman Rep. Lisa McClain of Michigan, has 323 co-sponsors in the House. McClain said in an interview that seeing the bill on its way to passage is "bittersweet," but she's grateful the House is taking it up so swiftly. "We wanted to do something to honor the fallen men and women who paid the ultimate sacrifice something to keep their memory alive," McClain said. "With all the ugliness sometimes that goes on in politics, I just thought this would be a positive thing to do." McClain said she hopes the measure quickly passes the Senate on a unanimous basis and that President Joe Biden will sign it. Her bill notes that Aug. 26 was the highest single-day death toll of the war in Afghanistan for the United States in more than a decade. In total, the attack by the Islamic State affiliate ISIS-K at the gates of Hamid Karzai International Airport killed as many as 200 people and wounded hundreds of others, including 14 American troops. More than 5,000 U.S. troops were deployed to help with the evacuation of more than 100,000 people after the Taliban swiftly took control of Afghanistan in August amid the U.S. military's withdraw. McClain said she's met with some of the fallen service members' parents and families. "It makes them feel good, for lack of better words. It's a nice way to honor them," she said. "Quite honestly, it's hard. It's still fresh in their hearts. To know their memory and legacy will live on, they're extremely grateful to know that their loved ones didn't pass in vain, and that they're appreciated. "In a time when there's so much partisanship, it really makes you feel good to know that not everything is partisan," she added. The day before the attack, the U.S. State Department had warned of a "credible" threat at the Kabul airport, urging people to leave the area. Those gathered at the gates were hoping to make one of the last evacuation flights out of the country. "The American service members went above and beyond the call of duty to protect citizens of the United States and our allies to ensure they are brought to safety in an extremely dangerous situation as the Taliban regained control over Afghanistan," the bill says. "The American service members exemplified extreme bravery and valor against armed enemy combatants. The American service members dedicated their lives and their heroism deserves great honor." The measure also names each of the 13 dead, which included 11 Marines, one soldier and one sailor: Navy Corpsman Maxton Soviak, 22, of Berlin Heights, Ohio Lance Cpl. Kareem Nikoui, 20, of Norco, California Lance Cpl. David Espinoza, 20, of Rio Bravo, Texas Lance Cpl. Rylee McCollum, 20, Jackson, Wyoming Lance Cpl. Jared Schmitz, 20, of Wentzville, Missouri Cpl. Hunter Lopez, 22, of Indio, California Staff Sgt. Darin Taylor Hoover, 31, of Salt Lake City, Utah Cpl. Daegan William-Tyeler Page, 23, of Omaha, Nebraska Sgt. Nicole Gee, 23, of Roseville, California Cpl. Humberto Sanchez, 22, Logansport, Indiana Lance Cpl. Dylan Merola, 20, of Rancho Cucamonga, California Sgt. Johanny Rosario Pichardo, 25, Lawrence, Massachusetts Staff Sgt. Ryan Knauss, 23, of Corryton, Tennessee They were the first U.S. service members killed in Afghanistan since February 2020. Biden announced his decision in April to pull all U.S. troops out of Afghanistan and end the "forever war" that was launched after the Sept. 11 terror attacks by al-Qaida in 2001. Biden said he wanted to see no more U.S. troops sacrifice themselves for a war that he no longer believed to be in the best interest of the United States or its allies. If McClain's measure is enacted, the gold medal would be given to the Smithsonian Institution for display, with the intent that it would be displayed outside Washington at times in locations associated with the 13 service members killed Aug. 26, according to the text. U.S. Sens. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and Steve Daines, R-Mont., introduced a Senate companion to the bill in September. ___ (c)2021 The Detroit News Visit The Detroit News at www.detnews.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Members of Company C of the North Dakota National Guards 2-285th Aviation Regiment who recently returned home from a nine-month deployment to the National Capital Region were welcomed home during a ceremony at the Guards Army Aviation Support Facility in Bismarck. (North Dakota National Guard/Facebook) DEVILS LAKE, N.D. (Tribune News Service) Members of Company C of the North Dakota National Guards 2-285th Aviation Regiment who recently returned home from a nine-month deployment to the National Capital Region were welcomed home Sunday during a ceremony at the Guards Army Aviation Support Facility in Bismarck. The Bismarck-based unit, which operates Black Hawk helicopters, successfully flew 1,300 hours and completed more than 50 mission requests during the deployment, which coincided with several significant events including the presidential inauguration. North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum and Senator John Hoeven attended the event to welcome home the platoon. Hoeven said the state offered its gratitude and continued support and celebrate a mission well done and their safe return home. Burgum said the state was deeply grateful to the 70 soldiers of the 2- 285th Aviation Regiment for their outstanding work and professionalism in protecting the National Capital Region over the past nine months. From fighting floods and wildfires to securing our borders and the seat of U.S. government, this unit has proved time and time again that they are among the nations best soldiers, embodying the National Guard motto Always Ready, Always There. We also thank the families, employers and communities who supported these soldiers during this critically important mission, said Burgum. 2021 Devils Lake Journal, N.D. Visit devilslakejournal.com . (Tribune News Service) A U.S. Army soldier has been extradited to South Carolina from Germany after he was indicted in connection with the 2020 Chester County shooting deaths of two family members, according to officials and court documents. Gene Alexzander Alex Scott, 24, of Columbia, S.C., was indicted by a Chester County grand jury on two counts of murder for the June 2020 deaths of Gene Rogers and Billie Rogers, according to a statement from Chester County Sheriff Max Dorsey and indictments obtained by The Herald. The indictments allege Scott used a gun to kill Billie Rogers, 78, and Gene Rogers, 61, at the couples home on Doe Street in rural Chester County near Richburg. Gene Rogers was Scotts grandfather, and Billie was Scotts great-grandmother, said Grant Suskin, spokesman for the sheriffs office in Chester County. Fathers Day 2020 killings The fatal shootings were discovered on Fathers Day 2020, officials said. Chester County deputies, State Law Enforcement Division agents, other South Carolina police, the FBI, and military Criminal Investigation Services from both the Army and Navy had been investigating since the couple was found shot to death, Dorsey said. A grand jury in Chester County indicted Scott Thursday on two counts of murder and one count of possession of a weapon during a violent crime, records show. Scott was taken into custody in Germany where he was stationed, Dorsey said in a written statement. Suspect jailed Over the weekend, Scott was extradited back to South Carolina. Scott remains in the Chester County jail pending an initial court appearance. Chester County is a mainly rural county of about 32,000 people located between Rock Hill and Columbia. A conviction for murder in South Carolina carries a sentence of 30 years to life for a conviction. 2021 The Charlotte Observer Visit charlotteobserver.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Portrait of James E. Bassett III (Keeneland Archives) A decorated World War II veteran who rubbed elbows with world leaders and royalty on the way to becoming one of the most respected figures in the global thoroughbred horse industry celebrates his 100th birthday Tuesday. But for James E. Ted Bassett III, the most meaningful phase of the past century was not the one in which he ascended to the pinnacle of achievement in business. It was his service as a U.S. Marine. It completely changed me, my outlook, attitude and will to succeed, Bassett told Stars and Stripes. I shall forever be grateful to the Corps for providing me the opportunity to serve. Bassett was born in Lexington, Ky., on Oct. 26, 1921. He graduated from Yale in the early 1940s, and shortly thereafter he deployed to the Pacific as an infantry officer in the 4th Marine Regiment, 6th Marine Division, where he led a rifle platoon during the Battle of Okinawa. He was wounded twice but recovered in time to participate in allied forces initial landing on Japan. He later received the Purple Heart and the Presidential Unit Citation. Bassett has often attributed the success of his later civilian endeavors to his early military training and combat responsibilities. One of his first civilian posts was director of the Kentucky State Police from 1964 to 1967, at the height of the Civil Rights era. His efforts at restructuring the force and building trust in the community caught the attention of John Y. Brown, a future Kentucky governor who then owned the fast-food chain Kentucky Fried Chicken. I admired what I had heard about him and interviewed him to see if he would be interested to become the president of Kentucky Fried Chicken, Brown said in an interview. Brown still jokes that Bassett made the wrong decision when he turned down his lucrative offer for a job at a racetrack that paid considerably less. The job Bassett chose was at Keeneland, an internationally renowned racecourse in Lexington and the thoroughbred industrys leading auction house. Bassett would go on to serve as president, chairman of the board and trustee at Keeneland over the years, and much of the venues success has been linked to his leadership, particularly his ability to forge relationships. He has got the best human touch of anybody Ive ever been around, said Jim Host, whose friendship with Bassett goes back to the late 1960s. He has no ego. Hes the kind of person who can sit comfortably with Queen Elizabeth, or he can be just as comfortable sitting with the cooks, waitresses and waiters in the track kitchen. James E. Bassett III is photographed with Queen Elizabeth II during her visit to Keeneland race track in Lexington, Ky., Oct. 11, 1984. (Keeneland Archives) James E. Bassett III photographed while serving in the Marines in the 1940s. (Keeneland Archives) James E. Bassett III photographed in Okinawa, Japan, in 1944, while serving as a Marine. (Keeneland Archives) Bassett did, in fact, sit with Queen Elizabeth II when she made her first visit to an American track at Keeneland in 1984. She was one of many high-profile visitors Bassett helped attract to the venue. Some years later, the royal family of Dubai made the first ever $10 million bid for a horse there. Bassett was also a key architect of the Breeders Cup, an annual series of horse races that began in 1984. In addition, he served as president of the Thoroughbred Racing Association and the Thoroughbred Club of America, cementing his legacy in the horse racing industry. People still visit Bassett regularly for advice and wisdom; one relative likened these sessions to an audience with the pope. Many of the lessons he shares were learned during his time as a Marine, former Lexington Mayor Jim Gray said. Ted Bassett is still a shining example of that mission, of the character that it took to carry us through that period and really until today, Gray said. Those closest to Bassett say his philanthropic legacy in central Kentucky is just as strong as his reputation in the racing world. Bassett has used Keenelands success to support local charities. Hes also built links between the racecourse and the local Black community. There have been numerous things that hes done in a quiet manner but very efficient manner to help bridge the gap between African Americans and the traditionally white horse racing community, Host said. Bassett has no children, and his wife, Lucy, died in 2016 after more than six decades of marriage. Holly Wiedemann, Bassetts goddaughter, said he nixed plans for a grandiose party because he considered it inappropriate to celebrate his longevity when so many others are dying of COVID-19. I think that speaks volumes to his character, Wiedemann said. Those who know him will tell you that there is another day of the year more important to him than his birthday: Nov. 10, the Marines birthday, which he regularly hosts parties for. On that day in 2007, Bassett was presented with the Navys Superior Public Service Award, the second-highest civilian honor given by the branch. It recognizes significant contributions by a civilian to the Navy, Marine Corps or entire Department of the Navy. Mr. Bassetts selfless patriotism and dedication reflect great credit upon himself and are in keeping with the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and the United States Naval Service, his award citation said. Throughout his distinguished career as a Marine and as a private citizen, Mr. Bassett continues to epitomize once a Marine, always a Marine. Port Richey, FL (34668) Today Cloudy skies early, followed by partial clearing. Slight chance of a rain shower. High 76F. Winds NE at 10 to 20 mph.. Tonight Some clouds. Low 64F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Deputy Prime Minister Grant Robertson says we can expect an announcement about vaccination certificates this week. Robertson told Morning Report two of Auckland's DHBs have reached 90 per cent vaccination rates, the third is at 88 per cent. He says the R rate, which is sitting at about 1.2, won't be significantly added to by secondary schools going back, in a limited way, in Auckland. Meanwhile, National Party's deputy leader Dr Shane Reti is calling on the government to expand the criteria for families to cross a lockdown border to be with dying relatives. He told First Up he wants the government to use a functional definition of family, to include people like aunts and uncles and to recognise whangai. Palmerston North woman Moyra Speir has at last been granted permission to go and look after her nephew Andrew, who's terribly ill in Auckland. Andrew, 36, is dying from bowel cancer that has spread through his body. He's thought to have just days to live. His aunt Moyra, who lives on her own and is fully vaccinated, was desperate to drive to Auckland to help Andrew and his elderly parents who are caring for him in his final days. Reti has been advocating for Moyra and Andrew and says has received about 100 messages from families in a similar situation. "But even one is worth fighting for." Bremain in Spain holds AGM in Malaga The anti-Brexit group outlined its strategy for the coming year and reflected on the challenges that the pandemic has brought to campaigning Anti-Brexit campaign group Bremain in Spain held its annual general meeting (AGM) at the Innovation Campus on Calle Puerto in Malaga last Sunday (24 October). On the decision to hold the meeting in Malaga, Bremains treasurer, Helen Johnston, who travelled from the Valencia region said, It was largely due to transport. Everyone could get to Malaga and lots of our members live around here. She added, Also Malaga is very nice. Nobody is going to say no to a long weekend in Malaga. Around 20 members attended the meeting in person, while others joined via Zoom. Bremain Chair Sue Wilson, who was awarded an MBE for her campaigning work earlier this year, welcomed participants before other members of the council presented areas of the groups work, including membership, fundraising and the annual report. In her welcome speech, Sue highlighted the challenges that Covid has brought to the group over the last 18 months. Although she said that there have been considerable limitations placed on [Bremains] campaign actions this year, including protests and face to face meetings with politicians, she assured members that the Bremain council had not been idle in continuing to campaign for the rights of Britons living in Spain post-Brexit. One of the actions that Bremain members took at the outbreak of COVID was to turn their attention to making sure that vulnerable or isolated Brits in Spain were supported through a buddying system and sharing up to date information from the Spanish government and British Embassy as the situation evolved. While it was felt that going forward, Bremain in Spains focus needed to return to defending EU-based Britons' rights, members acknowledged that Covid had impacted on all aspects of life and that the support provided by the group during a constantly evolving and unsettling period had been vital. Strategy Bremain in Spain currently has 6,062 members and 26,000 Twitter followers. It is a member of other European groups like the European Movement, Grassroots for Europe and Make Votes Matter and holds regular meetings with the groups. It has also been heavily involved with the Votes for Life campaign led by Second World War veteran Harry Schindler, who lives in Italy and celebrated his 100th birthday earlier this year. The campaign, which lobbied the UK parliament to drop the 15-year-rule and therefore give Britons living abroad the right to vote in UK general elections for the rest of their lives, paid off and was included in the last Queens Speech as a priority for the present government. The bill is currently going through the UK parliament. Going forward, while Bremains ultimate goal remains rejoining the EU, the group recognises that this is a very long-term ambition and that more immediate priorities will include continuing to campaign for the rights of British citizens living in Spain, working with other groups across Europe and working more closely with EU and Spanish institutions. All council members were voted back in and Sue Wilson remains Chair, with Lisa Burton continuing as Vice Chair. The AGM was followed by a Q&A session and photo opportunity on the terrace of the Innovation Campus before the group went to La Plaza restaurant for lunch. One person released after jihadist counter-terrorism raid arrests in Malaga Heavily armed Guardia Civil officers from the Rapid Action Group detained several people in a large-scale operation in the city last Friday One of the two young men arrested in the Malaga neighbourhood of Lagunillas in an international operation against jihadist terrorism last Friday has been released without even going to court. The other arrested person will appear before the head of the Central Court of Instruction number 2 of the National Court, Ismael Moreno. Judicial sources have confirmed to SUR that one of the two detainees was released this weekend after giving evidence to Guardia Civil investigators. The sources could not specify if the young man is still being investigated in the case - in which case he can be summoned by the judge later - or has already been cleared after the checks carried out by the police. Secrecy The two young people were arrested on Friday, 22 October in a raid by the Guardia Civils elite Rapid Action Group which literally took over a central Malaga neighbourhood. Two people were arrested in a Lagunillas square and police secured and searched the abandoned building where they staying. The investigation is surrounded in mystery as secrecy in the proceedings has been decreed, although the sources did specify to SUR that it is related to jihadist terrorism and that it extends to an international stage. Fuengirola mayor calls for greater speed in train station works The difficulties the work is causing to those with mobility restrictions has infuriated many locals who use the service The mayor of Fuengirola, Ana Mula, has voiced her concern about the delay in the progression of the remodelling works of the towns train station. Mula, who visited the station last week, along with representatives of that state-owned company Red Nacional de Ferrocarriles Espanoles (Renfe), said she was disappointed that the work, which began in June, had not shown any signs of progress. The initial execution period for the project was nine months, although the company responsible for the works and Renfe have now announced that the renovations will not be complete until July 2022. The project, which has a budget of 2,636,590 euros, includes the renovation of the stations facilities and improved access for those with mobility restrictions. The work is affecting the entire station and will involve the installation of a new elevator and escalators, along with designated routes for those with visual impairment. The difficulties the work has caused to passengers with mobility problems has infuriated many locals, some of whom claim that access is "almost impossible". Fuengirola resident Carolyne Bacon told SUR in English that the station has been in an appalling state for some months now. "Some of the station has been closed off for works, although there doesnt appear to be any work in progress. The internal downward escalator has been out of action for months, so it is very difficult for those of us with mobility problems. The entrance lift to the station is also blocked off, so I cannot see how a person in a wheelchair would be able to access the station at all," she said. Mula said that she was aware of the problems the renovations were causing and that she hoped the new completion date would be met, because it is tremendously necessary for Fuengirola. "We are talking about a transport line widely used by local residents, tourists and visitors, which connects us with the airport, the capital and other towns on the Costa del Sol. However, I note with concern that, after five months of work, we are not yet seeing the fruits of this action. I have raised the subject with representatives of Renfe, who have assured me that the works will be finished in July 2022, she said. The mayor is also calling for the frequency of the service (currently every 20 minutes) to be increased to every ten minutes. She has also demanded that the government find an immediate solution to the current strikes that are resulting in cancellations to some of the Cercanias services. "The unpredictability of the government must not harm the thousands of travellers and tourists that use towns like ours. Pedro Sanchez has to do something now and stop postponing the solution," she insisted. Uncertainty over Blue Badges hits expats and holidaymakers There has been a lot of confusion concerning the validity of the British disabled parking permits in Spain following the UK's exit from the EU One of the concerns for disabled expats living on the Costa del Sol is the time it takes to receive a parking permit - or Blue Badge - issued by the Spanish authorities. These worries have been added to by lack of certainty over whether British-issued Blue Badges are still valid in Spain after Brexit for both residents or holidaymakers. In order to qualify for a Spanish-issued Blue Badge, a resident needs to go through the disability registration process. This has become a hurdle for many British expats, a problem pointed out by Linda Ewen, the welfare officer of Age Concern Fuengirola, Mijas and Benalmadena. "In order to obtain a Spanish disability badge, people need to first make an appointment with their own doctor, who will then refer them to social services. "We are currently helping a lady who has been waiting for two years to receive her Spanish Blue Badge, but the process is long and there doesn't seem to be any sensible explanation for the delay. This is totally unacceptable, but that is how it is," Linda explained to SUR in English. Although the charity cannot directly help with the actual process of registering as disabled, it can help people with information about where and how to register. It can also provide a translator to deal with the process, which is another "problem for many elderly Brits living on the coast". "It has always been the same here in Spain. Even in the UK, it takes quite some time to receive a badge, but nowhere near as long as here. I know there is a backlog due to the pandemic, but I think the problem goes back further than this. We are constantly hearing about people struggling because of the wait. This is a big problem and something that needs addressing as soon as possible," she said. Spain is one of several EU countries that no longer recognises the UK vehicle Blue Badge following Brexit. The British government's gov.uk website states that UK disability parking badges are not currently recognised in Spain but negotiations are ongoing with several EU countries about possible acceptance. It adds that those wishing to park on disabled spots in Spanish towns must be in possession of a Spanish disability badge. The website goes on to say that the international guidelines are "subject to change", advising travellers to Spain and expats living in Spain to check with the Spanish embassy or even their town council for any local rules. However, although some other EU countries do not accept the British permit, such as Portugal, Italy, France, Greece and Luxembourg, there are many that will: these include Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, Germany and The Netherlands. Spain's Ministry of Health confirms 35 cases of the new Delta Plus coronavirus variant in five regions Many experts say the AY.4.2 variant is behind the strong rebound in incidence among the population in the UK In its latest report on 'variants of interest', published this Monday (25 October), Spains Ministry of Health, has acknowledged that up to 35 cases of this the new Delta variant - AY.4.2 - have already been detected in five different autonomous regions of the country. The variant is a subtype of the Delta strain that appeared for the first time in the UK last July, which is up to 15 per cent more contagious than the strain originating in India and which many experts say is behind the strong rebound in incidence among the British population. The data shows that in week 41 (from 11 to 17 October) 35 cases of the AY.4.2 variant were registered, with 26 in Catalonia, Castilla-La Mancha (three), Castilla y Leon (two), Madrid (two) and the Valencian region (two). Upward trend "The percentage that it (Delta Plus) represents with respect to the total number of sequenced cases in Spain is for the moment low but there is an upward trend in recent weeks", acknowledges the report, which reveals that in week 39 (from 27 September to 3 October) the percentage was 1.5 per cent and that in week 40 (from 4 to 10 October) it climbed to 2.5 per cent. The data, however, is already out of date, as Health officials acknowledged this Monday, since the reporting in the databases is delayed for more than a week. The Ministry of Health report states that according to the analysis carried out in England, the Delta Plus rate of growth compared to other variants could correspond to an increase of 10-15% in the transmissibility of the virus. Mass tourism In fact, the CCAES experts in Spain are convinced that the Covid-19 outbreaks that have led Benidorm entering the 'extreme risk' zone last Friday (by exceeding 250 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in the last 14 days) are caused by the emergence of the AY .4.2 variant, hand-in-hand with mass tourism. Since Delta Plus cases began to be detected in the UK in July, the epidemiological situation has worsened significantly. At the end of June the British Isles reported just over 20,000 new infections a day and a cumulative incidence rate of less than 300. But now the United Kingdom has more than 50,000 new infections a day and an incidence rate that is close to 900. Relaxation of measures Spains top coronavirus expert, Fernando Simon, insisted on Monday that we must "follow very carefully" the evolution of this new mutation, although he called for calm. In Spain we know that there are some cases but for now it is not a worry. We will see what happens in the coming weeks", said the director of CCAES. Simon explained that the existence of this mutation "has been known for a long time" and said that its emergence in places like the United Kingdom has been associated with a relaxation of measures, together with "great global mobility." Simon clarified that "the key point" is not so much whether the variant "is a little more or less transmissible" than others, but whether with the measures that are being applied, alongside the vaccination campaign, "is enough to control it or not." These are Spain's three Covid vaccines that could see the light of day in 2022 The most advanced project, from the Catalan company Hipra, expects to produce 400 million doses next year and could even reach 1.2 billion in 2023; another Spanish vaccine would be administered through the nose In January 2020, when Chinese scientists released the genetic sequence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, hundreds of laboratories around the world began the race for an effective vaccine. The German-American conglomerate Pfizer / BioNTech and the Boston-based company Moderna were the first to receive the go-ahead for their formulas, a green light that AstraZeneca and Janssen vaccines also received in Europe. But already having four vaccines has not stopped the rest of the coronavirus vaccine development projects around the world as Covid jab campaigns could continue in the coming months or even years. In Spain, three home-developed vaccines will see the light of day, probably, in 2022. Threat from new variants Less than half of the world's population has received the full regimen so far, and the threat of new variants that escape the vaccines remains present; meanwhile the duration of protection provided by the jabs is still in the air. Currently, the most advanced project in Spain is from the private Catalan company, Hidra. On 27 August the company began phase I / II human trials of its formula with six jabs at the Clinic de Barcelona and Josep Trueta de Gerona hospitals. This was the first clinical trial authorised by the Spanish Medicines Agency (Aemps). Among the advantages of this vaccine is its storage temperature, between 2 and 8 degrees, which facilitates its logistics. The company expects to produce 400 million doses during 2022 and could even reach 1.2 billion in 2023. Intranasal vaccine Two other projects are also in pipeline. The first of these is the one being developed by the team led by Luis Enjuanes, director of the coronavirus group at the National Centre for Biotechnology-CSIC. It is based on the already known messenger RNA technology, although with modifications: so that it does not degrade and can penetrate cells, so that an "amplification" occurs, which implies that a booster dose is not necessary, according to the CSIC. In addition, this vaccine will be intranasal (administered through the nose), "very powerful", it will protect against infection and transmission of the virus (a quality that current RNA vaccines do not have) and, in principle, will stop any variant. The other Spanish vaccine project has also been developed at the CSIC. It is led by the virologist Mariano Esteban, head of the Poxvirus and Vaccine Group, and uses a highly attenuated virus with a membranous covering around a protein structure. Inside it carries a DNA molecule larger than that of the adenovirus and in this molecule, which penetrates more easily into cells, the fragment that will produce the coronavirus protein S is also introduced. Vaccinia virus (used in the smallpox vaccine) is used as a vehicle. Esteban's vaccine, however, has run into a setback. This summer, Aemps asked for more data from the preclinical trials before giving its permission to start testing in phases I / II. "But everything is ready to begin experiments in humans," explained the researcher. As with the Enjuanes vaccine, the forecasts for it to be administered in humans point to 2022. Atlantic, IA (50022) Today A mix of clouds and sun early, then becoming cloudy later in the day. High 53F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Cloudy early with partial clearing expected late. Low near 30F. Winds light and variable. 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. The Taos News delivered to your Taos County address every week for a full year! We offer our lowest mail rates to zip codes in the county. Click Here to See if you Qualify. Plan includes unlimited website access and e-edition print replica online. Your auto pay plan will be conveniently renewed at the end of the subscription period. You may cancel at anytime. saikarthik BHPian Join Date: Apr 2019 Location: Bangalore Posts: 460 Thanked: 3,120 Times re: Western Ghats - Weekends' love Season 1, Weekend 3: VIKRAMGAD-PALGARH A crisp plan on a wet day, I was sitting and detoxing my body with green tea and was searching for next route/destination. I had 2 days this time, so was planning a little relaxed ride and not just green, but also add some brown/red & blue into the menu. Was thinking of regular wildlife sanctuaries plus beaches. Found a perfect route, Nashik - Vikramgad (forts - I will explain later) - Palghar (initially Vasai) - Tungareshwar. Trip distance - 450 kms. Budget - 2k People - My wife and 3 friends Bikes - 3 We started on Saturday around noon, and headed to our first destination Kashyapi dam through Girnar village. The roads are often secluded but crowded at certain areas. we had to ask directions for the dam because of so many "Phatas" (crossroads, diversions). The dam was half filled but like the Bhandardhara dam, the reservoir is almost naturally formed between the hills. Had a small walk around lazy whilst the locals were busy with their daily chores of washing clothes, bathing, washing cattle. But I must say, they were doing this in same water, most of us have forgotten such things that we were doing in childhood and now being too protective and being over hygienic. But given that the pollution/epidemics it's ok to be over hygienic though. Then we started riding towards Vikramgad in hopes of seeing fort through Jawhar. The roads were narrow and mostly deprived of traffic. But they were not the same, the roads and views changed every few kilometers. Farmers ready to re-plant the rice into the flooded farms. Rain was intermittent and was changing with the distance, was heavy for few meters and just drizzling ahead in some places. Waterfalls were working their magic all through the route, attracting some vendors to sell warm stuff nearby. Helmet was not for sale, only the corn was. Desperately trying to keep my head gear dry. Munched the corn sitting on top of a rock looking at the falls and drizzle on face. Ahh! Then we had to break for lunch immediately as it was already 2: 30 pm. So, we enquired about good places to eat on the route, crossed Jawhar town and there was a good dhaba outside the town. It's a good place, decent food. Rain was lashing heavy meanwhile. What we missed is that there were 2 forts nearby and one of which was just behind the dhabha. We continued to Vikramgad and we were told on almost reaching the place that there is only a dam here and we missed the forts on route. The whole route till we came near to the highway was brilliant. Not many pics were taken because of heavy rain. We reached Palghar by the late evening and was a small but very buzzing town. We initially thought of going to beach for sunset (with all these clouds!!), but we had to search for accommodation first. We needed 2 rooms but, the decent hotels had only one room. Luckily during our negotiations some fellow vacated. Then there was the drama that couple are not allowed. I was like Dude! what about married couple? He was with like "I won't believe" face. So, I show him soft copy of the marriage certificate, and he still asks for both of our IDs. Darn the super superstitious people. We then stayed at the hotel, but my friends went on to the beach which was 6 kms from the town on a short night ride/view. Morning, we checked out and started to the beach "Khelwa and had some Vada Pav and chai on the coast. The beach is with grey sand and coconut trees lining the shore, not an awesome view with clouds but admirable. There were some Tonga rides, lazy dogs (literally) and few youngsters playing football. But the roads leading to this place was awesome. Imagine being in Kerala/Goan roads. We heard about Bhawangad fort nearby and we wanted to make up for missing the forts in Jawhar. But it was quite a mystery to find this fort. Not many knew of its exact location nor this was visible easily. Everyone said follow the boards, there weren't many. We had to cross a creek, ride deep into the highly vegetated place to find this fort. We finally found the fort after taking "n" number of wrong turns. There wasn't much left of the fort, it was invaded by the banyan trees, but the structure was also being supported by its roots. It was more like a look out post. We didn't take long there, tried to reach Tungareshwar as quick as possible. We had to come back to the highway and follow the route to Bhiwandi. The highway was even more beautiful, with fresh grass, moss. we stopped there for lunch in a hotel made by bamboo. Decent food, but amazing bamboo art and bird collection. We had a walk around the area and left for Tungareshwar, it was bloody crowded in there, it took us 40 minutes to cross 1.5 km on bike. And we would have seen around couple of thousand people in that time. Narrow path waterlogged and slush, cars and bikes parked in the path and few stream crossings were horrible. Not because of streams, but cos of people. Stupid riding and driving, no words to describe. I thought it will be peaceful and secluded place but am sure even animals would have been migrated from that path and into deep forest area in the sanctuary. We decided not to waste the time and left that place losing another 1 hour in return. We then started our return leg. It was slow because of the beauty of misty Kasara ghat and Igatpuri. A crisp plan on a wet day, I was sitting and detoxing my body with green tea and was searching for next route/destination. I had 2 days this time, so was planning a little relaxed ride and not just green, but also add some brown/red & blue into the menu. Was thinking of regular wildlife sanctuaries plus beaches. Found a perfect route,Nashik - Vikramgad (forts - I will explain later) - Palghar (initially Vasai) - Tungareshwar.Trip distance - 450 kms.Budget - 2kPeople - My wife and 3 friendsBikes - 3We started on Saturday around noon, and headed to our first destination Kashyapi dam through Girnar village. The roads are often secluded but crowded at certain areas. we had to ask directions for the dam because of so many "Phatas" (crossroads, diversions).The dam was half filled but like the Bhandardhara dam, the reservoir is almost naturally formed between the hills. Had a small walk around lazy whilst the locals were busy with their daily chores of washing clothes, bathing, washing cattle. But I must say, they were doing this in same water, most of us have forgotten such things that we were doing in childhood and now being too protective and being over hygienic. But given that the pollution/epidemics it's ok to be over hygienic though.Then we started riding towards Vikramgad in hopes of seeing fort through Jawhar. The roads were narrow and mostly deprived of traffic. But they were not the same, the roads and views changed every few kilometers.Farmers ready to re-plant the rice into the flooded farms. Rain was intermittent and was changing with the distance, was heavy for few meters and just drizzling ahead in some places. Waterfalls were working their magic all through the route, attracting some vendors to sell warm stuff nearby.Helmet was not for sale, only the corn was.Desperately trying to keep my head gear dry. Munched the corn sitting on top of a rock looking at the falls and drizzle on face. Ahh!Then we had to break for lunch immediately as it was already 2: 30 pm. So, we enquired about good places to eat on the route, crossed Jawhar town and there was a good dhaba outside the town. It's a good place, decent food. Rain was lashing heavy meanwhile. What we missed is that there were 2 forts nearby and one of which was just behind the dhabha. We continued to Vikramgad and we were told on almost reaching the place that there is only a dam here and we missed the forts on route. The whole route till we came near to the highway was brilliant. Not many pics were taken because of heavy rain.We reached Palghar by the late evening and was a small but very buzzing town. We initially thought of going to beach for sunset (with all these clouds!!), but we had to search for accommodation first. We needed 2 rooms but, the decent hotels had only one room. Luckily during our negotiations some fellow vacated. Then there was the drama that couple are not allowed. I was like Dude! what about married couple? He was with like "I won't believe" face. So, I show him soft copy of the marriage certificate, and he still asks for both of our IDs. Darn the super superstitious people.We then stayed at the hotel, but my friends went on to the beach which was 6 kms from the town on a short night ride/view. Morning, we checked out and started to the beach "Khelwa and had some Vada Pav and chai on the coast. The beach is with grey sand and coconut trees lining the shore, not an awesome view with clouds but admirable. There were some Tonga rides, lazy dogs (literally) and few youngsters playing football.But the roads leading to this place was awesome. Imagine being in Kerala/Goan roads.We heard about Bhawangad fort nearby and we wanted to make up for missing the forts in Jawhar. But it was quite a mystery to find this fort. Not many knew of its exact location nor this was visible easily. Everyone said follow the boards, there weren't many. We had to cross a creek, ride deep into the highly vegetated place to find this fort.We finally found the fort after taking "n" number of wrong turns. There wasn't much left of the fort, it was invaded by the banyan trees, but the structure was also being supported by its roots. It was more like a look out post.We didn't take long there, tried to reach Tungareshwar as quick as possible. We had to come back to the highway and follow the route to Bhiwandi. The highway was even more beautiful, with fresh grass, moss. we stopped there for lunch in a hotel made by bamboo. Decent food, but amazing bamboo art and bird collection.We had a walk around the area and left for Tungareshwar, it was bloody crowded in there, it took us 40 minutes to cross 1.5 km on bike. And we would have seen around couple of thousand people in that time. Narrow path waterlogged and slush, cars and bikes parked in the path and few stream crossings were horrible. Not because of streams, but cos of people. Stupid riding and driving, no words to describe. I thought it will be peaceful and secluded place but am sure even animals would have been migrated from that path and into deep forest area in the sanctuary.We decided not to waste the time and left that place losing another 1 hour in return. We then started our return leg. It was slow because of the beauty of misty Kasara ghat and Igatpuri. Last edited by saikarthik : 24th October 2021 at 14:37 . Features: Skype to Skype IMs, video and voice calls are free* over 3G or WiFi. Make low-cost calls and SMS to mobiles or landlines from your Android smartphone or tablet. Send pictures, videos and files to any of your contacts. Enjoy high-quality sound when you call anyone else on Skype. Talk face to face or show what youre seeing with front and rear-facing cameras. Talk to your Windows Live Messenger friends on Skype. Sign into Skype with your Microsoft account and have your Messenger, Hotmail and Outlook contacts in one place. *Operator data charges may apply. 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Easier and more ways to share Why it matters: For the past ten years, Microsoft has undergone a radical transformation from a company obsessed with pushing its closed-source software to one that embraces open-source software and tries to add to it. However, that obsession hasn't been completely removed from the corporate culture, which has led to a lot of drama around the .NET community as of late. Microsoft has been trying to earn the trust of the open-source community for years, partly because CEO Satya Nadella recognized its growing importance in the grand scheme of things. Back in 2015, Nadella said his company was undergoing cultural and strategic changes in order to help developers and consumers go from needing Windows to choosing Windows to loving Windows. Part of that strategy meant embracing open-source technologies and letting Windows as an operating system fade into the background, among other things. For a company with a long history of trying to destroy open source, this meant a radical transformation of its organizational structure and re-adjusting its goals. One notable example is when Microsoft scrapped its Trident engine and re-built its Edge web browser around the open-source Chromium project, which was started by Google a rival company that has been eating the web. In 2019, It even joined the Linux Foundation as a high-paying, platinum member and has been striving to be an active contributor to the Linux Kernel. However, every once in a while, the Redmond company finds itself at odds with the needs and wants of the open-source community. Last week, it made a controversial decision to quietly remove a key part of a feature called Hot Reload from the dotnet watch tool in the upcoming release of .NET 6. Mind you, this is a flagship feature that developers depended on to be more productive, so it shouldnt come as a surprise that it sent shockwaves through both the open-source community as well as internally at Microsoft. It also didnt help that Microsoft locked and limited a pull request for the removal of that functionality, which also blocked everyone from commenting on the change. For those who are unfamiliar with Hot Reload, it essentially allows developers to get immediate feedback when they make changes in their projects. The original idea was to bring it to as many .NET developers as possible, but then Microsoft decided to limit that functionality to developers on Windows using Visual Studio 2022, with the remote possibility that it would get added to Visual Studio for Mac sometime in the future. This may make sense from a business perspective but also undermines the ten years of efforts from Microsoft engineers to build trust and contribute to the open-source community. Since then, Microsoft has reversed its decision and issued a statement admitting it had made a mistake. Scott Hunter, who is the director of program management for .NET, explained that we made a mistake in executing on our decision and took longer than expected to respond back to the community. As such, Microsoft approved the pull request from the community to re-enable the Hot Reload functionality in the upcoming release of the .NET 6 SDK, which lands on November 8. Hunter says the decision wasnt a business one. Instead, he explained that in an effort to prioritize development resources, Microsoft wanted to enable the functionality in Visual Studio first while it figured out how to bring it to everyone else unbound by the November 8 deadline. Hunter further added that as with many companies, we are learning to balance the needs of OSS community and being a corporate sponsor for .NET. Sometimes we dont get it right. When we dont, the best we can do is learn from our mistakes and be better moving forward. That said, this was the culmination of several weeks of drama around Microsofts involvement in the .NET Foundation and its questionable influence on its inner workings. One resigning board member raised the question of whether Microsoft is able to resist the temptation to enforce its will on .NET open source and whether or not it can help foster and promote a healthy community. The same questions led to the resignation of .NET Foundation executive director Claire Novotny and sent Microsoft scrambling to repair its relationships with the .NET community. In brief: We're used to hearing about Apple being sued for millions or even billions of dollars, but the figure being demanded in this case is a lot smaller. A San Francisco man has filed a lawsuit against Cupertino for $1,383.13, the total cost of an iPhone 12 that Apple refused to fix despite it still being under warranty. Insider reports that Theodore A. Kim's lawsuit, filed in small claims court, is the result of Apple employees refusing to repair his iPhone 12, which he claims is under warranty until October 2022. According to Kim, he bought the iPhone 12 from an authorized Apple seller in Vietnam in October 2020. Upon returning to the US during the pandemic, the phone struggled to read US SIM cards. He phoned Apple and was told to bring the handset into one of its local retail outlets. Kim said that not only did Apple refuse to fix the handset, the company also returned it to him with a broken SIM tray. "And so I brought it into the store and they sent it to the repair depot then they came back and said, 'Yeah, we're not going to fix this because it's been tampered with.' And I said: 'Tampered with in what way?'" A few weeks after his iPhone 12 was returned to him, Kim filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau (BBB). Apple responded by saying that if the device had been damaged while in its possession, the company would have repaired it. Apple says it now considers the matter closed. Kim, desperate to get his phone working, offered to pay for the repairs out of his own pocket, but Apple refused that option, too. Kim even tried sending an email to Tim Cook in late June, asking for the Apple CEO's help in resolving the matter. Not entirely surprisingly, Kim is still waiting for a reply, so he turned to the small claims court to try and get the phone's $1,383.13 cost returned. "I found a blog post of someone in Seattle successfully suing Apple in small claims court," Kim said. That 2012 case involved a blogger taking Apple to the SCC after his 2008 MacBook Pro's graphics card stopped working. "So I said, 'Well, OK, why don't I try the same avenue,'" he said. "I kind of jokingly said, 'Well, this is like a David and Goliath kind of situation.' We'll see what happens." Apple, as we all know, has long been an adversary of the right to repair movement, unlike rival Microsoft. We recently heard that replacing the iPhone 13's display will stop Face ID from workingunless, that is, Apple carries out the repairs. (Photo : Unsplash/ Christian Wiediger) Aerospace China China's top national aerospace suffered a tragedy on Oct. 24, and it resulted in two fatalities and nine injuries. The school's laboratory exploded before 4pm at the Jiangjun Road campus of the Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, which is known as the cradle of China's cutting-edge aerospace technology. China's Aerospace Laboratory Exploded The city's fire service said on its official Weibo page that two people died and nine people were injured because of what happened. The reason for the explosion is under investigation, and rescue work has ended, according to South China Morning Post. Videos posted online showed clouds of smoke coming from the campus, and photographs of a man whose skin was covered in severe burns and ashes were also shown online. The university later confirmed that the explosion happened at the College of Material Science and Technology and stated that it had also caused a fire. Also Read: China's First Mars Mission Starts in July With its Version of Solar-Powered Mars Rover The college has five key laboratories, which specialize in energy conversion, nuclear energy equipment materials, materials preparation, and protection from harsh environments, and electrochemical storage. Also, it is not known which laboratory was involved, and no further information about the dead and injured has been made available. The university is China's top defense research institution and is home to three state-level laboratories, two of which specialize in helicopter technology. The institution was identified by Stanford University's think tank, the Hoover Institution, as one of the "Seven Sons of National Defense." The said institutions, which support China's defense research and industrial base and promote or execute military-civil fusion policies, channels the civilian research into military applications, according to Asia News Today. Explosion at Beijing University In 2018, three students were killed in an explosion caused by sewage treatment experiments in a laboratory at Beijing Jiaotong University, according to Sup China. Beijing's fire department said that the accident was massive as it caused windows to shatter, and it left the building looking like a blackened shell. The accident happened in the early morning of December 18, 2018, and around 30 fire trucks were immediately sent to the scene, and it took almost an hour to get the fire under control. The local authorities have launched a full investigation into the cause of the accident. The Beijing fire department said that the explosion at the experimental site happened during a scientific research experiment on wastewater treatment in the Environmental Engineering Laboratory. The university is located in the western part of Beijing. A video posted by People's Daily, a state-run newspaper, showed blown-out windows and blackened buildings around a courtyard, with trees and ground all covered in firefighting foam to stop the fire from spreading further. The images went viral on social media, and it showed plumes of dark smoke billowing from low-rise buildings as firefighters fought to contain the fire. The students of the university could be seen wearing face masks and complaining about the acrid smell. Industrial accidents are very common in China, where safety regulations are usually poorly enforced. In November 2018, a gas leak caused the explosion of a truck carrying combustible chemicals near the entrance of a chemical factory in the northern Chinese of Zhangjiakou. It killed 23 people and injured 22. China has been stepping up its game in the space race these past few years, which explains the constant experiments. In 2020, China became the third country to bring home Lunar samples, and China's Mars rover had hit a milestone in 2020 after it recorded a 100 million travel mark. Related Article: SpaceX Falls Short to China-Backed Aerospace Company by 7 Orbital Launches with 2 Months Left in 2020 This article is owned by Tech Times Written by Sophie Webster 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. COVID vaccine certificates are more or less required at a lot of public establishments these days, all over the world. But some people might actually be carrying fakes. Furthermore, legitimate COVID vaccine certificates have been found to be easily faked online (within seconds, even). In a report by 9News Australia, getting a falsified proof of vaccination online is incredibly easy, with a few sites being able to produce one in less than a minute. You can see how easy it is to find one. There are already relevant Google search terms on the web indicating PDF versionsCOVID vaccine certificates, if you type the relevant keywords: As you can see, there's a likelihood of black market sites that also sell fake COVID-19 test results, alongside the counterfeit proofs of vaccination. In Australia, the government is well aware of these scams. As of late, they say that they're trying to improve related security measures in the wake of these fake documents spreading online. To achieve their goals, Services Australia (the official government body handing out COVID vaccine certificates in the country) is partnering with the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC). COVID Vaccine Certificates Are A GLOBAL Problem It's not just Australia that has to deal with these scams as reported by ZDNet. Black markets are also offering fake copies of EU vaccine passports, as well as CDC certifications. The information comes from cybersecurity firm Intel 471, who found out that these fake certifications are being bought mostly by unvaccinated travelers wanting to enter countries which require a proof of vaccination. Furthermore, it's been found that anti-vaccine propaganda comes alongside the sale of these fake COVID vaccine certificates. The documents even feature QR codes, which are designed to verify a person's vaccination status. Read also: Digital Vaccination Cards on Your Smartphone: Here's How to Do It Faking COVID-19 Vaccination Status Is ILLEGAL For those who want to try these counterfeit documents out, don't even bother, because you can be criminally charged. This was what a woman from New Jersey learned the hard way. Calling herself "AntiVaxMomma" on Instagram, the woman allegedly sold a few hundred fake COVID-19 vaccine cards to people in the New York area, reports NPR.org. Each card cost $200 a pop. And for $50 more, another scammer working in tandem would then enter the buyer's name into a vaccination database. When the two women (Jasmine Clifford and Nadayza Varkley) were arrested, they had already sold 250 cards in the past few months and secretly entered 10 names in the NY state vaccination database. A Booming Business The increasing prevalence of strict COVID-19 vaccination mandates are what's fueling the increase in the sales of fake vaccination cards, according to VOANews. Business is booming for these counterfeiters as well. This is evident when a total of 2,034 fake Pfizer vaccination stickers, as well as 1,683 fake COVID vaccine cards, were intercepted by the US Customs office in Cincinnati, Ohio. The shipments, which came from China, are scheduled to be delivered to private addresses in New York, Texas, Maryland, Illinois, and Missouri. Related: The Booming Black Market in Vaccine Certificates Amplifies the Need for Secured Health Passes This article is owned by Tech Times Written by RJ Pierce 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Tesla's Full Self Driving or FSD Beta is rolling back to the 10.2 version, CEO Elon Musk announced. It comes amid the 10.3 crash warning issues that its users reported. The controversial advanced driver assistance software of Tesla, which is called the Full Self Driving Beta, is pushing back its latest version due to a critical issue that users complained about. Tesla Full Self Driving Beta Back to 10.2 As per the latest report of The Verge, Tesla released the 10.3 version of FSD last Saturday night, which includes tons of changes and additions in the update of the software. Most of the tweaks in the FSD 10.3 updates concern the safety of its users. For instance, the latest software is touted to detect turn indicators and brake lights from other vehicles better. What's more, the latest version of the FSD Beta also includes a new addition, the FSD Profiles, which could be used in different situations, such as exiting the passing lances or rolling stops. Other additions in the Release Notes of the FSD v10.3 further improved the advanced maneuvering of the vehicle when the software is turned on. However, after a few hours since the release of the Tesla FSD update, Elon Musk announced on Twitter that the software will revert to "10.2 temporarily." The billionaire and Tesla founder further said that it is due to "some issues with the 10.3" version of the FSD Beta. On top of that, the Tesla exec went on to note that issues like this are "expected with beta software." Read Also: Tesla Gigafactory Berlin Delayed Due to Repeat Online Consultations as Announced by Regional Environmental Ministry Tesla Full Self Driving Beta 10.3 Crash Warning Issues Although Musk did not disclose the issues that the FSD Beta 10.3 is facing, its users have consistently reported about them on social media. According to the Washington Post, the issues with the latest update of the FSD Beta were already visible even before it actually rolled out. Just before the release of the 10.3 update, Musk explained that it was delayed due to an issue that the quality inspectors of the EV firm discovered. The Tesla boss disclosed that the issue with the 10.3 has something to do with "regression in some left turns at traffic lights." Nevertheless, the update rolled out to its users. With its release, some of its users raised concerns about the false phantom forward collision warnings or FCW. The Verge mentioned in the same report that in 2019, the Mazda3 figured in a widespread recall due to its crash warning issue as well, making it dangerous for vehicles following behind it. It is to note that the latest rollout of the FSD Beta also included drivers with a safety score of 99 and 100. Related Article: Tesla FSD Beta: Drivers Get Only 1 Warning for Improper Use Before Company Removes Feature, Elon Musk Confirms This article is owned by Tech Times Written by Teejay Boris 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. BepiColombo has completed its first attempt on a flyby on the first planet of the Solar System, Mercury, and has seen a close look at its environment. The mission was in collaboration with the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), which has a new perspective on the fastest planet to revolve around the Sun. BepiColombo Mercury Flyby with ESA and JAXA BepiColombo's mission is to survey Mercury and learn of the planet's structure and all that it can gather about it as it makes a flyby maneuver before its eventual return. It has recently shared information on its findings on the first planet, and it says a lot despite being the first mission that would constitute six events. The Mercury Planet Orbiter (MPO) has seen that the device has a lot to show for the scientists, and according to NASA Spaceflight, Hydrogen and Calcium are among the leading elements present in its environment. Neutron and Gamma rays are also present on the planet's exosphere and say a lot about the closest rock on the Sun. Read Also: China's Aerospace University Laboratory Explodes Resuting in Two Fatalities First glimpse at our #MercuryFlyby data! #Bepicolombo has sampled the magnetic and particle environment over the little explored southern hemisphere during the close flyby earlier this month https://t.co/iZdnpnTptU#ExploreFartherhttps://t.co/Z0LvXgG1R0 BepiColombo (@BepiColombo) October 15, 2021 What is with Mercury? Bepi Shows Closer Look on Planet The gravitational pull that was evaluated by BepiColombo on Mercury has been reported by the ESA, and at 199-kilometer flyby, it was felt by the spacecraft's accelerometers. Mercury has a lot to show for its visitors, especially as this mission is one of the closest research that is done for the First Planet. Bepi Colombo's Journey to Mercury Earlier this year, particularly in August, BepiColombo has first launched its spacecraft that is headed for Mercury, and it took them less than three months to get to the planet as the route it take took a long time. Originally, the travel time to the first planet would only take 40 days, but it has taken longer for it to arrive in the region. Nevertheless, BepiColombo is already there, and it is something that has given the company a massive purpose, and it is to assist and provide the space agencies of Earth in learning more about Mercury. The company has made its first flyby, and it would be a total of six missions to survey Mercury and its surface. The ESA spacecraft has made a lot of missions already, and instead of focusing on planets that are farther from the Sun, it went for the closest one. Related Article: Mercury Pictures Taken by Spacecraft That Got Too Close This article is owned by Tech Times Written by Isaiah Richard 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Japan Airlines (JAL) is planning to launch a flying car business in its home country, according to a report. The airline company has partnered with an Irish aircraft leasing company for the right to purchase or lease electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft (eVTOL). JAL has also announced that it placed an order for up to 100 flying cars and drones from an air taxi startup. JAL is planning to launch its flying car business during Expo 2025 in Osaka. A rival airline company, All Nippon Airways (ANA), previously announced its plan to launch a similar business in the same year. The Japanese government is working on regulations that will include flying cars in intercity transportation in the country by the 2030s. Japan Airlines to Launch a Flying Car Business Japan Airlines, Japan's flag carrier, is planning to launch a flying car business, according to a report by Nikkei Asia. The airline company is planning to launch it in its home country. According to the report, JAL has partnered with an Irish aircraft leasing company called Avalon Holdings for its upcoming flying car business. "Under the terms of the deal, JAL will have the right to purchase or lease up to 50 eVTOL, or electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft," per Nikkei Asia. The deal also includes the option to purchase another 50 eVTOL. "JAL plans to offer a passenger transportation service using flying cars, starting in fiscal 2025, taking advantage of its expertise in air transport," the report adds. Last year, JAL bought a stake in a German air taxi startup called Volocopter. The airline company has announced that it has already placed an order for up to 100 flying cars and drones. JAL is planning to launch its upcoming flying car business during Expo 2025, which will be held in Osaka. Related Article: Lilium Joins Forces With Honeywell for its First eVTOL Aircraft Flying Cars in the Future According to the Nikkei Asia report, the government of Japan is actually working on regulations that can pave the way for the inclusion of flying cars for intercity transportation. This can happen by the 2030s. Another airline company, ANA Holdings, has also announced that it is planning to launch a flying car business in 2025 as well. ANA Holdings operates JAL's rival, All Nippon Airways (ANA). Air Taxis: What are They? Air taxis have been defined by How Stuff Works as "smaller planes that can take passengers between local airports upon request, bypassing the traffic and delays of major airports." Many companies and even space agencies have already started developing their own Air Taxis in the last few years. An example of this is the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Last month, NASA began testing its eVTROL with an aviation company called Joby. It was also reported in 2018 that New Zealand had started testing self-flying taxis. Also Read: NASA Air Taxi Test Flight: eVTOL to Soon be Regular Vehicles Included in National Airspace This article is owned by Tech Times Written by Isabella James 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Telstra has announced its acquisition of Digicel Pacific, which is regarded as the biggest mobile operator in the South Pacific. The acquisition has been made possible thanks to a partnership with the Australian government. Reports have claimed that the acquisition was made to counter China's rising influence in the South Pacific. Digicel Pacific is the number one mobile operator in Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Vanuatu, and many more countries in the South Pacific region. It is also currently the second-biggest mobile operator in Fiji. Telstra Acquires Digicel Pacific Telecommunications company Telstra has just announced its acquisition of the South Pacific region's bigger mobile operator, Digicel Pacific. The acquisition was made in partnership with the Australian government. "Today we have announced the exciting news that we have partnered with the Australian Government to acquire Digicel Pacific, the biggest mobile operator in the South Pacific region," the press release published by Telstra states. The website of Australia's Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator Marise Payne, has also published a statement saying that "The Australian Government welcomes today's announcement by Telstra of its decision to enter into an agreement to acquire and run Digicel Pacific." Telstra is expected to begin working with the governments under Digicel Pacific's jurisdiction regarding approvals and regulations now that the announcement of the acquisition has been made. According to a report by ABC Australia, the acquisition is seen largely as an effort to combat the rising influence of China in the South Pacific region. Related Article: [BREAKING] Senate: U.S. Officials Let Chinese Telecom Abuse America's Privacy For Almost 20 Years Telstra's Partnership with the Government Per the Telstra press release, the company will contribute $270 million in equity to the purchase, which is worth $1.6 billion. The telecommunications company will own 100% of the ordinary equity. The Australian government, on the other hand, will contribute $1.33 billion via Export Finance Australia. Senator Payne's statement notes that the government's contribution "will include debt and equity like securities designed to secure the Government a long-term return on its financing." The Minister for Foreign Affairs' statement states that the acquisition of Digicel Pacific reflects the government's commitment to supporting the growth and development of safe infrastructure in the South Pacific region. Telstra, according to the statement, is committed to providing the South Pacific region with quality service as well as "forging trusted relationships with Pacific governments." What is Digicel Pacific? The Telstra press release describes Digicel Pacific as the South Pacific region's biggest mobile operator. Telstra's press release specifies that Digicel Pacific is the biggest mobile operator in Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tonga, Vanuatu, and Nauru. It is the second-biggest mobile operator in Fiji. Digicel Pacific has a total of 2.5 million subscribers from retail customers as well as 1,700 employees. Telstra has said that it will continue Digicel Pacific's community development efforts in Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Nauru, and Vanuatu. Also Read: Telstra Aims to Make Public Pay Phones 'Payless' Under New Initiative | Free Phone Calls This article is owned by Tech Times Written by Isabella James 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A new model of innovation to realise the UKs science superpower potential Dr. Keith Dear, Fujitsu describes the UK's path towards quantum commercialisation as part of techUK's Quantum Commercialisation Week. #QuantumFuture Dr Keith Dear, Director of Artificial Intelligence Innovation at Fujitsu recently spoke at The Quantum Summit 2021 to discuss how Quantum fits into the UK's plans to become a science superpower. Fresh from delivering his Keynote, Dr Keith Dear shared his thoughts on why quantum-inspired technologies are critical to Britains commercial and economic success? In his interview, Keith describes Annealing as the path to Quantum readiness, helping us to realise the benefits that Quantum Computing can bring today, rather than waiting for change to happen in the future. Quantum Computing will be completely transformational to UK market in how we can make decisions and Annealing is here now to prepare us for a disruption that we can anticipate. Throughout his interview Keith goes on to explore why and how the UKs scientific superpower will impact commerce? Being a scientific superpower involves two things as described in the Prime Ministers vision for 2030: the first is enabling the UK to continue to be the 3rd in the world for research but it also means enhancing our effectiveness in innovation. Watch the full video of Dr Keith Dears interview here. Quantum Commercialisation Week Click here to read more insights published during techUK's Quantum Commercialisation Week Click Here Laura Foster Laura is techUKs Programme Manager for Technology and Innovation. She supports the application and expansion of emerging technologies across business, including Geospatial Data, Quantum Computing, AR/VR/XR and Edge technologies. Before joining techUK, Laura worked internationally in London, Singapore and across the United States as a conference researcher and producer covering enterprise adoption of emerging technologies. This included being part of the strategic team at London Tech Week. Laura has a degree in History (BA Hons) from Durham University, focussing on regional social history. Outside of work she loves reading, travelling and supporting rugby team St. Helens, where she is from. Email: [email protected] LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/lauraalicefoster Read lessmore Sue Daley Sue leads techUK's Technology and Innovation work. This includes work programmes on cloud, data protection, data analytics, AI, digital ethics, Digital Identity and Internet of Things as well as emerging and transformative technologies and innovation policy. She has been recognised as one of the most influential people in UK tech by Computer Weekly's UKtech50 Longlist and in 2021 was inducted into the Computer Weekly Most Influential Women in UK Tech Hall of Fame. A key influencer in driving forward the data agenda in the UK Sue is co-chair of the UK government's National Data Strategy Forum. As well as being recognised in the UK's Big Data 100 and the Global Top 100 Data Visionaries for 2020 Sue has also been shortlisted for the Milton Keynes Women Leaders Awards and was a judge for the Loebner Prize in AI. In addition to being a regular industry speaker on issues including AI ethics, data protection and cyber security, Sue was recently a judge for the UK Tech 50 and is a regular judge of the annual UK Cloud Awards. Prior to joining techUK in January 2015 Sue was responsible for Symantec's Government Relations in the UK and Ireland. She has spoken at events including the UK-China Internet Forum in Beijing, UN IGF and European RSA on issues ranging from data usage and privacy, cloud computing and online child safety. Before joining Symantec, Sue was senior policy advisor at the Confederation of British Industry (CBI). Sue has an BA degree on History and American Studies from Leeds University and a Masters Degree on International Relations and Diplomacy from the University of Birmingham. Sue is a keen sportswoman and in 2016 achieved a lifelong ambition to swim the English Channel. Email: [email protected] Phone: 020 7331 2055 Twitter: @ChannelSwimSue Read lessmore Building the foundations: A vision for the UKs Quantum Economy Richard Murray, Co-Founder of Orca Computing, outlines his vision for Quantum Commercialisation in the UK. Part of techUK's Quantum Commercialisation Week. #QuantumUK Changing the world is a common phrase used by technology startups. However, with quantum technologies we really are at the dawn of a range of technologies which will change life as we know it. For example, until I heard about quantum gravity sensors, I had never realised how absurd it is not to be able to image or even detect objects beneath the ground (and all the chaos that creates for large construction projects). Similarly, its easy to underestimate the huge potential that quantum computing will bring. The exponential scaling of their performance (2N, or doubling with every new qubit) is so profoundly different to our current systems, it presents a new dawn for the information age. Can you imagine phone calls still being connected by an actual human operator? Well, pretty soon well find the attempts at Artificial Intelligence we see from classical computers as just as backwards. So how does the UK fare in all this, and what is our position in this new global quantum industry? Firstly, we absolutely should not forget that, in 2013, it was in fact a few insightful individuals in the UK who were first to announce Quantum is here, and the time to act is now. And just as insightful we acted on that to set up the UK quantum technologies programme. However, before I go any further, Ill try hard not to fall into the rosy, somewhat unrealistic nationalistic picture of the UK leading the world (what does that even mean?!). Because its clear that, some 8 years on, word has gotten out - every country with half a physicist has now announced their intention to lead the world in the second quantum revolution. In this new crowded market of quantum-ambitious countries, its more useful than ever before to intelligently understand how the pieces fit together. What will be successful here are plans for a future, globally connected quantum economy, rather than monopoly or hegemony. Focussing on just the UK, its clear that we have a very strong hand. Not only do we now have two of the worlds largest quantum companies (Cambridge Quantum Computing and Arqit), we also have a thriving community of highly innovative startups who will bring important new solutions to quantum. Because, as we all know, quantum technologies are far from simple or straightforward, and will require much of the worlds best science and engineering to bring to reality. Within the UK I see a thriving ecosystem of companies poised to step in with answers to those challenges. For example, scaling up quantum computers to thousands and then millions of qubits to the point where useful quantum algorithms can be performed is the challenge of our lifetime. Within the UK, we have a number of companies pursuing new and innovative answers to the challenge of scaling: whether it be my own company ORCA, pushing the boundaries of photonic quantum computing, or OQC, Quantum Motion Universal quantum or Oxford Ionics advancing superconducting, silicon or ion-based quantum computers, the UK can be the breeding ground for new inventions. Finally, lets also note that quantum technologies have a far bigger impact beyond just technology. When a technology has such profound implications on our society and culture it is also the UKs role to lead the world in making quantum technologies a force for good. Much like the impact of AI and Machine Learning, we as a community must ensure that our technologies work for society as a whole rather than a few individuals within it. That is the fantastic future that I foresee we just need to make it happen! Quantum Commercialisation Week Click here to read more insights published during techUK's Quantum Commercialisation Week Click Here Laura Foster Laura is techUKs Programme Manager for Technology and Innovation. She supports the application and expansion of emerging technologies across business, including Geospatial Data, Quantum Computing, AR/VR/XR and Edge technologies. Before joining techUK, Laura worked internationally in London, Singapore and across the United States as a conference researcher and producer covering enterprise adoption of emerging technologies. This included being part of the strategic team at London Tech Week. Laura has a degree in History (BA Hons) from Durham University, focussing on regional social history. Outside of work she loves reading, travelling and supporting rugby team St. Helens, where she is from. Email: [email protected] LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/lauraalicefoster Read lessmore Sue Daley Sue leads techUK's Technology and Innovation work. This includes work programmes on cloud, data protection, data analytics, AI, digital ethics, Digital Identity and Internet of Things as well as emerging and transformative technologies and innovation policy. She has been recognised as one of the most influential people in UK tech by Computer Weekly's UKtech50 Longlist and in 2021 was inducted into the Computer Weekly Most Influential Women in UK Tech Hall of Fame. A key influencer in driving forward the data agenda in the UK Sue is co-chair of the UK government's National Data Strategy Forum. As well as being recognised in the UK's Big Data 100 and the Global Top 100 Data Visionaries for 2020 Sue has also been shortlisted for the Milton Keynes Women Leaders Awards and was a judge for the Loebner Prize in AI. In addition to being a regular industry speaker on issues including AI ethics, data protection and cyber security, Sue was recently a judge for the UK Tech 50 and is a regular judge of the annual UK Cloud Awards. Prior to joining techUK in January 2015 Sue was responsible for Symantec's Government Relations in the UK and Ireland. She has spoken at events including the UK-China Internet Forum in Beijing, UN IGF and European RSA on issues ranging from data usage and privacy, cloud computing and online child safety. Before joining Symantec, Sue was senior policy advisor at the Confederation of British Industry (CBI). Sue has an BA degree on History and American Studies from Leeds University and a Masters Degree on International Relations and Diplomacy from the University of Birmingham. Sue is a keen sportswoman and in 2016 achieved a lifelong ambition to swim the English Channel. Email: [email protected] Phone: 020 7331 2055 Twitter: @ChannelSwimSue Read lessmore These clouds above West Golden Hills were the advance of a big storm. Local comic creator Saida Woolf has teamed up with the Tehachapi Museum for her first Tehachapi book signing of her newly released graphic novel, "Soulstream." Former Oregon State University President F. King Alexander wont face any consequences for using university attorneys to respond to a probe into LSUs handling of campus rape allegations during his tenure there. The Oregon Government Ethics Commission voted 3-2 Friday morning to dismiss a complaint against Alexander. The vote ultimately didnt matter, however, because state law requires five votes in favor of any commission action. The complaint will be automatically dismissed next Thursday, 181 days after the commission agreed to begin an investigation. In a preliminary report, commission staff had recommended that the group find that Alexander broke two state ethics laws by receiving help from OSUs general counsel and vice president of marketing in responding to questions about his knowledge of LSUs handling of sexual assault and domestic violence complaints. Federal law requires public university administrators to investigate sex crimes on campus. +21 'LSU must answer': Students protest LSU response to accused sexual predator from France Chanting this campus is mine, protect me Title IX, about 100 LSU students marched through campus Monday afternoon to protest LSUs failure t Alexander was LSUs president from 2013 to 2019, before moving to OSU in July 2020. In November 2020, a USA Today investigation revealed multiple university administrators were aware of rape and abuse allegations against star athletes and didnt refer them to police or the university office in charge of investigating sex-based discrimination on campus, as required by federal law and university policies. Alexander was not implicated. In early 2021, Texas-based law firm Husch Blackwell contacted Alexander and OSU general counsel Rebecca Gose as part of an external review of LSUs policies. Commission staff found that Gose, Alexander and OSU vice president Steven Clark discussed Alexanders written responses to questions from the law firm between February and early March, when the Husch Blackwell report on LSUs policies was released. Alexanders private attorney, Portland-based employment lawyer Courtney Angeli, and OSU said Goses advice was solely to protect the university and that she wasnt providing Alexander with free personal legal advice. As university president, anything he said or did would reflect on OSU, Gose told commission staff. The staff report determined that Alexander had violated a state law prohibiting public officials from using their position for financial gain, because receiving legal advice from Gose saved him the cost of hiring a private attorney to respond to questions. +2 LSU French Studies chair removed after allegations that she ignored sexual misconduct reports A week after six women filed a lawsuit accusing LSU of failing to properly investigate complaints of sexual misconduct against a former gradua Records provided by Alexanders attorney show that he first retained a Louisiana-based attorney on March 1, the same day he submitted his answers, and then hired Angeli almost two weeks later under scrutiny from the OSU Board of Trustees. He ultimately resigned effective April 1, negotiating a $670,000 severance package after nine months as OSUs president. Joshua Nasbe, an assistant attorney general who signed off on the commission staffs recommendation, told commissioners he could see arguments for both dismissing and proceeding with the case. A vote to accept the preliminary findings would have resulted in an additional hearing and an attempt to reach a settlement. 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 I think were in a range where a reasonable commission could sort of go either way on this one, Nasbe said. Commissioner Shawn Lindsay, an attorney and former Republican state representative, moved to dismiss the complaint against Alexander, saying that if he were in Alexanders shoes he would have done the same thing. I understand his position, trying to do nothing intentionally wrong here and in my opinion, trying to comply, Lindsay said. Commissioner Amber Hollister, a Portland attorney, and board chair Daniel Mason, a Portland property manager, agreed with Lindsays assessment. +4 LSU president responds to reports alleging former French grad student was sexual predator LSU President William Tate IV responded Friday to reports that the university among several other institutions failed to protect students But Commissioner Karly Edwards, who works as Portland City Commissioner Jo Ann Hardestys chief of staff, said it was clear to her that Alexander violated the spirit of state ethics laws. The commission often handles missteps by sending educational letters instead of assessing fines, but that wouldnt cut it in this case, she said. A letter of education or something like that wouldnt have done the job, she said. I think the staff has done its due diligence. That to me feels like the best way moving forward to exercise the goals of this commission. In the 3-2 vote, retired lobbyist and Commissioner Dave Fiskum joined Edwards in voting to act on the complaint. A Senate panel was supposed to review two nominees in September, but the Senate suspended that meeting while dealing with redistricting. The commission on Friday also dismissed a complaint against members of the Oregon State Board of Nursing who went into a closed executive session to discuss disciplining a nurse without first citing the law that allowed them to leave a public meeting. The board changed its policies after learning about the complaint. The Oregon Capital Chronicle is an affiliate of the nonprofit States Newsroom, which includes the Louisiana Illuminator. Polls open at 7 a.m. Saturday for the Louisiana open primary and close at 8 p.m. Voters in line at 8 p.m. will be allowed to cast a ballot. Voters in all parishes will consider four constitutional amendments, and some parishes in the Baton Rouge area have a handful of races. Visit geauxvote.com for additional information on candidates. A list of voting locations is available at https://voterportal.sos.la.gov. A lot of early voters, but turnout for Saturday's election expected to be light The number of mail-in ballots for Saturdays election triple the amount of the last similar contest in 2017 fueled nearly 50,000 more vote Voters are asked to bring an ID with them to vote. Voters without an ID will be allowed to vote after filling out an affidavit. This Saturday's election had been set for Oct. 9 but was pushed back because of Hurricane Ida. Party abbreviations: D-Democrat, R-Republican, I-Independent; L-Libertarian; NP-No Party. Races and issues on the ballot in the Baton Rouge area: There are 4 constitutional amendments on Louisiana ballots Saturday. Here's what they mean. After years of doing taxes the same way, Louisiana voters beginning Saturday are being asked to decide if the state should head in a different All parishes CA NO. 1 (Act 131, 2021) -- Authorizes streamlined electronic filing, remittance, and collection of sales and use tax CA NO. 2 (Act 134, 2021) -- Lowers maximum allowed rate of income tax and allows providing a deduction for federal income taxes CA NO. 3 (Act 132, 2021) -- Allows certain levee districts to levy an annual tax for certain purposes CA NO. 4 (Act 157, 2021) -- Increases amount of allowed reduction to certain dedicated funds when a budget deficit is projected Ascension Parish Justice of the Peace, 3rd Justice Court Lynelle Johnson (R) Kim Landry (R) J. Russell-Roddy (NP) Assumption Parish Bayou L'Ourse Gravity Drainage District No. 1 $65.00 Parcel Fee - 15 Yrs. The scoop on state politics in your inbox Get the Louisiana politics insider details once a week from us. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up East Baton Rouge Parish Judge, Family Court, Election Section 1, Division B Erika Green (D) Natalie Tellis Robertson (D) City Judge, Election Section 2A, City of Baton Rouge Whitney Higginbotham Greene (NP) Terrel "TK" Kent (D) Carson Marcantel (R) Central School Board, District 4 "Phil" Graham (R) Kimberly "Kim" Powers (R) Concord Estates Crime Prevention District $69.50 Parcel Fee - 4 Years Capital Area Transit System (City of Baton Rouge) 10.6 Mills Renewal - 10 Years Capital Area Transit System (City of Baker) 10.6 Mills Renewal - 10 Years West Feliciana Parishwide School Board One-half-cent sales and use tax renewal 10 years __ Voters in these Baton Rouge-area parishes will only consider the constitutional amendments: East Feliciana, Iberville, Livingston, Pointe Coupee, St. Helena, St. James, Tangipahoa and West Baton Rouge. For many lockdown-wearied parents, the doo doo doo of viral kids YouTube hit Baby Shark may induce a panic attack - or at least the risk of a smashed iPad. However, for startup founder Monica Meldrum, the monotonous melody is music to her ears. The Melbourne entrepreneurs kids snack food company, Whole Kids, has just inked a deal with Pinkfong, the South Korean entertainment unicorn which created Baby Shark, YouTubes most-viewed video. Whole Kids co-founder Monica Meldrum. Credit:Eamon Gallagher. Its a huge deal, Ms Meldrum said. [Pinkfong] is focused on rolling out a new TV show and movie throughout Asia, and well be launching our products to coincide with that. It will also coincide with a broader expansion by the company into Asia, which will be fuelled by a $1.2 million crowdfunding raise the company is planning to kick off in a weeks time through local platform Birchal. At Oxford he met Sphere co-founder Tomas Halgas, a student of computer science, and the pair began brainstorming what problems humans could solve. There was all this human potential on the internet, says DAloisio. How do you get people to exchange ideas and knowledge in a way they do not do currently? Nick DAloisio was just 15 when he secured venture capital funding from the Hong Kong billionaire Li Ka-shing for Summly. Credit:Bloomberg The idea was pegged as a more advanced version of Quora, where users could have their questions answered by experts who would receive micropayments in exchange. It secured 500,000 downloads but didnt quite work out as hoped. The unit economics were quite tenuous, admits DAloisio. Still, it gained backing from some of the biggest names - and founders - in tech, including Airbnbs Brian Chesky and Tinders Sean Rad. But in 2019, DAloisio and Halgas moved on and Sphere switched to building a new kind of social network. He argues that most modern group chat apps, such as WhatsApp, originally offered just a one-to-one conversation. There was scope to do something new. No one had really thought about it from scratch, DAloisio explains. What is a group chat that works so more than a few people can speak? Other group messengers have kind of emerged by accident. I got obsessed with the problem of consciousness and how we have experiences. Almost taking a computational view of the mind, it doesnt cut it, it doesnt get you to consciousness. I think the role of the human is so important. Nick DAloisio Spheres app, which only ever launched in a closed test before being bought by Twitters Jack Dorsey, split users into group chats, each featuring a Twitter-like feed. That feed could prioritise certain key posts, such as polls or calendar invites, while clearing out dead chats. And, similar to Slack, users could comment or send emojis on different posts. One of the problems DAloisio and his team hoped to solve was how to make chats less divisive - perhaps stemming from his philosophy degree, and a problem Spheres new parent company Twitter has struggled with. We arrived at the issue of trying to make online discourse healthy, he says. We tried a lot of different things, ephemeral [disappearing] chats, how you define reading a message, emotional responses, lots of features. The vision was to replicate the physical world in online conversation. Nick DAloisio aged 16 in 2013., the year Summly was bought by Yahoo. Credit:AP He declines to detail how this will play out at Twitter, citing confidentiality. But he has come along at the right time: digital interaction is clearly the issue of the moment, with ongoing debates over how online abuse and anonymous trolling plague social media. DAloisios original app, Summly, also came along at the right time and received positive reviews - it created bite-size news digests collected from various outlets, and was downloaded around 1 million times amid a flurry of early offerings for Apples iPhones. After securing venture capital funding from the Hong Kong billionaire Li Ka-shing, Summly was snapped up by Yahoo in 2013. It marked a bid by the almost two decade old internet giant which was struggling under chief executive Marissa Mayer, to appeal to younger users and take on Googles dominance. Summly suffered under new ownership. Relaunched as Yahoo! News Digest it had some initial success - winning an Apple Design Award and netting 9.5 million downloads - but, like many Yahoo products, was shut down in 2017. Yahoo was acquired by Verizon that year, leading to closures and thousands of redundancies. Luckily for DAloisio, he left two years prior, to take up his place at Oxford. If it was a disappointing way for the app to end, DAloisio doesnt let on. For me there was still a legacy with Summly, he says, there are many news products that followed that model. I was very happy with the work I did both at Yahoo and Summly. Certainly, there seems to be a market for news in brief - newsletters such as Axios and Googles News Showcase have since launched. Now, history has repeated itself - Sphere has said it will shut down. Whether some of it survives is now up to Dorseys team. Whether it would have been a breakout hit is unknown. Some in Britains tech sector suggest the deal represents an acquihire - taking on talent rather than necessarily the product itself. Loading That said, two buyouts to two of the worlds biggest technology companies is not to be sniffed at. DAloisio says the UK has improved dramatically at fostering tech entrepreneurship compared to when he was a teenage developer. I now have friends who I have known for a long time who are in entrepreneurship. Ten years ago none of my friends dreamt of doing tech. And the bug hasnt left him yet. While Twitter is now home, DAloisio wont rule out another start-up in the very long term. Moulin Rouge! The Musical will hold its long-awaited Australian opening night on November 12. Melbourne will be the second city in the world to stage the musical that wowed Broadway and swept the Tony Awards, pipping Londons West End curtain-raiser by just hours. The city can also claim the title of the globes biggest production of the musical adapted from the Baz Luhrmann film, with designers confirming that the Regent Theatre stage is larger than those in the other two capital cities to host the show. Alinta Chidzey (Satine), Des Flanagan (Christian) in Moulin Rouge! The Musical! Credit:Michelle Grace Hunder To be able to finally say that we are opening the show actually makes me quite emotional, said Alinta Chidzey, who stars as Satine. The energy we all feel on stage as we rehearse this spectacular is like nothing Ive experienced before. The show is a true feast for the senses and exactly what Melbourne needs right now to lift our lockdown spirits. Almost 200 Queensland police officers have been granted exemptions for the COVID-19 vaccine, with more than 130 staff suspended for not complying with the mandate to be vaccinated. All officers and staff were required by Commissioner Katarina Carroll to have their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine by October 4, and their second dose by January 24. Four police officers and four staff members, who were suspended, have since complied with the Commissioners direction and have had their suspension revoked. Credit:Robert Shakespeare According to the most recent figures, 82 police officers and 54 staff members have been suspended. Several officers have legally challenged the vaccine mandate, with one matter now before the Supreme Court. A third Melbourne Demons fan who sneaked into Western Australia to attend the AFL grand final, Caleb Cox, has been jailed for at least two months after pleading guilty to four charges of breaching the states strict emergency laws. Earlier this month, Demons fans Hayden Burbank and Mark Babbage were sentenced to three months immediate jail, with a further seven months suspended, after using falsified documents to enter WA illegally, via Darwin, to attend the grand final. Caleb Cox has indicated he will plead guilty to sneaking into WA to attend the AFL grand final. Credit:Facebook On Monday, Cox, 32, was sentenced to one month immediate jail and six months suspended, after already being held in custody for four weeks, on three charges of failing to comply with an emergency direction between September 23 and 27, since hed been in the high-risk state of Victoria in the previous 14 days. He was also charged with gaining entry to WA through fraudulent means relating to his G2G border application, which got approved on the basis of a forged drivers licence, utility and telephone bill using a South Australian address. That matter will be sentenced on October 28. The coronavirus pandemic and Melbournes six lockdowns hit hard, but many people in the community also stepped up to help others and improve the city. When hospitality businesses started closing their doors in March last year, Rebecca Scott, founder of social enterprise Streat, started speed-dialling farms and cafes about growing and cooking food for those who needed it most. Rebecca Scott (left) of Moving Feast and lord mayor Sally Capp outside the Melbourne Town Hall. Credit:Joe Armao It made no sense that social enterprises would close ... you need those organisations more in a crisis, Ms Scott said. We mobilised at warp speed all of these chefs and cooks and gardeners to work on this integrated system. She co-ordinated a group of 80 organisations to form Moving Feast, The state government is taking a hard line, which is in keeping with its approach through the pandemic. On Sunday Premier Daniel Andrews revealed that when Victoria reopens, life for the unvaccinated will remain extremely limited. They will be able to visit friends and shop for essentials but pretty much everything else they might want to do will require a vaccination certificate and will therefore be off-limits. The question, now, is how to persuade the shrinking but still significant number of holdouts to get with the program. Credit:Eddie Jim The question now is how to persuade the shrinking but still significant number of holdouts to get with the program. Now that the common goal reopening is within reach, what else might motivate them? Until now, the vaccine campaign has relied largely on persuading Victorians to participate so we can reach particular percentage targets, end lockdown and move on to release the various freedoms. That has largely succeeded. With the vast majority now on board, the vaccine rate has accelerated, more restrictions are to be lifted on Friday and we will be fully open albeit with some ongoing health measures by the end of next month. As Victoria takes its baby steps towards fully reopening thanks to an encouragingly high rate of vaccination, an intriguing question has emerged: what to do about the as-yet unjabbed? If youre not vaccinated, youre not getting in, Mr Andrews declared. Whether its a bookshop, a shoe shop, a pub, cafe, a restaurant, the MCG, the list goes on and on. You will not be able to participate like a fully vaccinated person because youre not a fully vaccinated person. The Age has strongly urged all eligible Victorians to get vaccinated, and accepts there will be a small number that cannot for medical reasons. Moreover, we support mandatory vaccination for some classes of workers, particularly those in public-facing roles or those who care for the vulnerable. In those instances, the risk to others outweighs personal liberty to refuse vaccination. And it is dismaying that false information about the safety of vaccines has been able to spread online when it is the unvaccinated who are most at risk of serious illness or death from COVID-19. It is the unvaccinated, too, who pose the greatest risks to the most vulnerable among us. Even so, the government needs to better explain a policy that seeks to exclude the unvaccinated from public life almost entirely, which has been imposed with little or no discussion, and which runs risks of its own. As we reported on Monday, some experts have questioned whether the policy is unnecessarily punitive, particularly as it includes some children: the vaccination requirements will apply to those aged 16 and over, and be expanded to include children aged 12 and over once the 90 per cent milestone is reached around November 24. The head of the University of Melbournes School of Population and Global Health, Nancy Baxter, said these rules would be among the strictest in the world. So, are they entirely justified by health advice? Will the unvaccinated really pose such a risk to public health they cant go into a shoe shop? The answer may be yes, but if so, the state government needs to release its advice and the modelling behind it. The head of the Australian Security and Intelligence Organisation says it is increasingly concerned about single-issue violent extremism, citing anti-lockdown protests in Melbourne as an example. ASIO director-general Mike Burgess said many violent extremists were focusing on individual issues rather than broad ideologies such as right-wing extremism or white supremacy, which gave authorities less warning time. Australian Security Intelligence Organisation director-general Mike Burgess named anti-lockdown protests as an example of single-issue extremism. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen A number of police officers were injured last month when violent protests against vaccine mandates and COVID-19 lockdowns erupted across Melbourne last month. There has been considerable and understandable attention given to nationalist and racist violent extremism but were also seeing a growth in single-issue motivated groups and individuals that have the potential and motivation to embrace violence, Mr Burgess told a Senate estimates hearing on Monday. When the government struck a deal in March to extend the state of emergency for nine months, it promised Dr Ratnam, Reason Party MP Fiona Patten and Animal Justice Party MP Andy Meddick that it would draft pandemic-specific legislation. Once the new laws, titled the Public Health and Wellbeing (Pandemic Management) Bill 2021, pass Parliament either this week or next month as expected, they will be active from December and apply to all future pandemics. A bureaucrat working on the bill accidentally circulated its summary to opposition and crossbench MPs on Monday evening, the night before Health Minister Martin Foley was hoping to unveil the details. The summary contains an admission that because of the short timeframe and the complexity involved in developing this bill, consultation has not been as extensive as it would normally be. Thirty external stakeholders were consulted in June and July. The new independent committee, made up public health and human rights experts, will not have veto power but will be able to review any government decisions. All decisions will also be accompanied by a summary of how they chime with the states charter of human rights and responsibilities. Police will only be able to access QR-code check-in data, widely collected as the state reopens, if there is an imminent threat to someones life and they acquire a Supreme Court order. This was a key demand by Dr Ratnam after it emerged in June that Victoria Police had made three preliminary, unsuccessful requests for check-in data. Ms Patten said she was hopeful the new legislation would ensure a greater degree of transparency. I am encouraged that we will see a level of transparency that we havent seen in any jurisdiction and certainly it is something that is important to me if I am to support any legislation, she said. A review mechanism [is also important]. The only organisation that has really considered the actions of these orders has really been the Ombudsman, so Im hoping we can, in some ways, ensure that that kind of oversight or review is conducted by experts not by freedom-fighting protesters. A previous demand by the Greens that police should record the racial appearance of people they stop or fine did not appear to be included in the final bill. Shadow attorney-general Tim Smith said the clause that allowed the premier to declare a pandemic for three months at a time was extraordinary overreach. He said the Coalition would introduce an amendment that would prevent the powers being extended for more than a month without being approved by Parliament. This outrageous power grab by Daniel Andrews should send shivers down the spine of all freedom-loving Victorians, Mr Smith said. A government spokesperson said the bill was designed to keep Victorians safe. After examining the powers in other jurisdictions, like NSW and New Zealand, and working through issues with an independent panel, well introduce a bill to Parliament tomorrow to manage pandemics into the future, they said. The state recorded 1461 new COVID-19 cases on Monday, with another seven deaths. A woman in her 20s with COVID-19 was among those included in Mondays death figures, though Health Minister Martin Foley said she died in unrelated circumstances. The dramatic death of that person wasnt caused by COVID-19. A total of 802 people were in hospital with COVID-19, of whom 152 were in intensive care, 92 of them on a ventilator. Authorities confirmed 74.7 per cent of people over 16 were fully vaccinated and 91.4 per cent have had at least one dose as the state races towards 80 per cent double-dosed. That target is due to be reached on Friday when, from 6pm, non-essential shops will be allowed to reopen indoors for the first time since August. Retail workers will need to have had their first dose by then but have not been given a date by when they will need to be fully vaccinated. Of course we want everyone to be vaccinated; thats how you participate in the wider community, Mr Foley said on Monday. But when it comes to those arrangements, we wont be excluding that workforce until such time as weve given them [a] reasonable opportunity. New York: Cambodia is pressing the Metropolitan Museum of Art in Manhattan to document how it acquired dozens of Khmer Empire antiquities that Cambodian officials, citing new evidence, believe were looted during the countrys decades of war and tumult. Although Cambodia has pushed the Met and other museums in recent years for the return of individual statues and sculptures it says were pillaged between 1970 and 2000, this effort is far broader. Cambodian officials said they have developed a spreadsheet of 45 highly significant items at the Met that the evidence suggests were stolen before being donated or sold to the museum. A stone statue, known as a Standing Female Deity, one of 45 ancient artefacts Cambodian officials say were looted. Credit:Met/The New York Times Officials with the US Attorneys Office, which has previously assisted Cambodia in recovering illicit antiquities, met with museum staff members last week to request they review the provenance of a number of the items, Cambodian officials said. Federal officials declined to comment on any discussion with the museums staff, and the Met would not address the specifics of what Cambodian officials are describing as a rigorous new effort to reclaim their cultural heritage. I've told my The Phantom of the Opera story since 2003. When people find out I've seen the show more than 30 times, they're curious about how and when the obsession began. Strangely enough, my love of the longest-running musical in Broadway history began with my not wanting to go in the first place. My mother, hoping that her daughters would love musical theater as much as she did, bought tickets to the tour of Phantom for our birthday. The day of the show came, we bundled up and (begrudgingly) headed to the theater on the day that would became my Phanniversary. She was right. I loved it. I didn't see the show in New York until 2009, but my obsession grew as I consumed any iteration of Phantom that I could, eventually seeing the show around the country and world. In probably the most serendipitous instance, I was able to catch the world tour when it stopped in Daegu, South Korea (I was working as an English teacher in Seoul). The Phantom at the time was played by Brad Little it had been 11 years since I'd seen him play the role that fateful matinee that started it all. Eventually, my twin sister, also a huge phan, convinced me to take a job in New York in large part because the office was down the street from the Majestic Theatre, where Phantom has played since it opened in 1988. My proximity to the show allowed me to see it whenever I wanted. More than once, we stopped by the show because of an understudy announcement, allowing me to double my show count in less than three years. I had seen it 36 times in January 2020, expecting to hit at least 40 before the year was out. The author (left) and her sister Francesca at the reopening of Phantom of the Opera on October 22. (image provided by Christina DiCillo) The pandemic hit fever pitch just before my 17th Phanniversary. I passed the day in isolation, as the city became overwhelmed by the pandemic. I thought that my sister and I would make up for it with a bigger celebration on the 18th , but COVID raged on and my Phantom-less days stretched into the following year. When the reopening date was finally announced, I knew I had to be there. It wasn't until I could step foot back in the Majestic and see the chandelier rise that I felt like a piece of my heart had finally healed. Broadway has been coming back to life since August, and I've been in the audience for a handful of shows since the lights have been back on. I attended the invited dress for Phantom (No. 37) and was overjoyed, but watching the chandelier rise for its official reopening on Friday night made me feel like Broadway was whole again now that ''Phantom'' was haunting the stage once more. Here is your Box 5 view of the chandelier rising over Broadway once again. #PhantomBroadway #PhantomIsBack pic.twitter.com/zuliOHWEP0 The Phantom Of The Opera (@PhantomOpera) October 23, 2021 Nothing could compare to the energy in the theater that night. The moment the chandelier sparked and the overture began, the audience applauded and cheered wildly as it finally rose triumphantly after 586 days. The cast matched the enthusiasm of the audience, their happiness reflected by adoring masses ecstatic to see them back. Eagle-eyed phans will notice some slight adjustments to lyrics and blocking in the show's current version, but at its heart, the show that has captured the hearts of millions worldwide is still lush and rich, and its 28-piece orchestra still intact. At least half a dozen times during the night, I cried tears of joy after more than 18 months of separation from my favorite show. I left the theater with that unique buoyancy that one gets after being part of something larger than oneself (and not just because Andrew Lloyd Webber did a surprise DJ set on 44th Street right after the show). The piece of my heart that the pandemic had stolen was returned to me that night. After nearly two decades as a phan, my numbers stand thus: 38 live performances, 19 Christines, 16 Phantoms, 16 Raouls, one full heart. This is Phantom. This is Broadway, alive once again. The Wednesday, Oct. 20 Student Senate session resulted in a recognition of awareness for Hindu students at Texas A&M in response to Gov. Greg Abbotts celebration of Hindu Heritage Month throughout October. Van Buren, AR (72956) Today Mostly cloudy skies early will become partly cloudy later in the day. High 66F. Winds ESE at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Cloudy with occasional showers late at night. Low 52F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%. FILE - In this July 20, 2021, file photo, truck sare parked at the Ben & Jerry's ice-cream factory in the Be'er Tuvia Industrial area in Israel. Up for debate: Live legislation tracker Check out the latest developments on bills pending before state lawmakers in four key topics. In this 2011 file photo, cyber security analysts that are part of the defense team watch their computers during a mock exercise at the Department of Homeland Security's secretive cyber defense training facility at Idaho National Laboratory, which is intended to protect the nations power, water and chemical plants, electrical grid and other facilities. 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. 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) Coronavirus Grant money, mask mandate discussion takes place at DASD meeting File Shown is the Administrative Center of the DuBois Area School District located on Liberty Boulevard in DuBois. DuBOIS Deidre Brown, at last Thursdays DuBois Area School Board work session, addressed some comments that took place at the boards meeting on Sept. 23 with regard to American Rescue Plan ESSER funding and the Pennsylvania mask mandate. We know that this funding must be allocated toward specific needs within the district and that the funds should be directed towards supplies and projects that help the schools remain open, said Brown. Brown questioned why it is that the district has not provided transparency about the funds first in the stipulation involved in receiving them and second in the expenditure of those funds. Many districts provide information on their websites that give a clear outline of their intended uses for that funding, said Brown. Some districts even go a step further, such as Mifflinburg Area School District, who provided a survey on their website to allow for input on how those funds could best be directed. This is the kind of thing that we the parents are looking for. Transparency. We cannot call it transparency when we have to submit a Right to Know form every time we want to see the actions the school board is taking. Having to submit forms places hurdles in the way of information that is rightfully ours to know. We should have a direct line to that information. Brown also questioned why is it that the neighboring school districts of Brockway, Brookville, and Clearfield can make their meeting minutes, budgets, and other important district information available on their website for the public to access, meanwhile in DuBois residents are required to maneuver through legal avenues to see any of these documents. Do you realize that this makes it appear as if you have something to hide? said Brown. This makes us as parents worry that we cannot trust whats happening in our kids schools and it absolutely should not be that way. Concerning the mask mandate, Brown said last Wednesday the Commonwealth Court panel heard arguments about masking in schools and whether the Secretary of Health has the authority to issue mask mandates. Though no final decision has been made yet, theyre expected to reach one soon and its looking highly likely that the ruling will reverse the order put in place by the Secretary of Health, said Brown. With things hanging in the balance in the legal world, are you still willing to hold fast to the fact that allowing parents the choice of whether or not to mask their children puts the school in a place of liability? What will happen if the current mask mandate is ruled invalid? Will you return to your original masking policy? What will your solicitor have to say? And what will you have to say to the students and families who have undergone undo stress and had their rights and freedoms infringed upon over the last several weeks? Brown noted some school districts who have allowed parental exemptions or maintained voluntary masking policies, even after the latest mask mandate. She said in the limited amount of time she has had to research, she found that the following local school districts have provisions of some sort that allow for parental choice in regards to masks: Bedford, Chestnut Ridge, Clarion Limestone, Claysburg-Kimmel, Hollidaysburg, Juniata Valley, Keystone Central, Marion Center, and Meyersdale. Im sure there are others allowing parental exemptions but these were as many as I could confirm in my limited time, said Brown. All of these districts are also represented by Beard Legal Group, the same legal group that provides legal advice to DuBois Area School District. To my knowledge, none of the nine school districts that I named have been struck with any lawsuits, loss of funding, had their licenses revoked, or have received fines. Tamaqua Area School District has been in the limelight as they took a stand against the mask mandate many lawyers want to point to the Tamaqua situation as an example of how serious these threats are from the Department of Health. But the fact is, the only punishment that was served to Tamaqua School District was a sternly written letter. No fines, no loss of licenses or certifications, no loss of funding, no loss of liability insurance nothing. This further proves that our state government is acting as a bully. The parents are standing up to the bully and were utterly disappointed that our school district isnt willing to stand up to the bully too. Brown said local parents are frustrated, confused, angry and stressed. What has further exacerbated those feelings is that it appears as though we dont have anyone in our local government meaning our school board standing in our corner, Brown said. Were disappointed in your inability to take a stand and fight for your families. But were not stopping. Well continue to push ahead and strive to be catalysts for change at this crucial time in countrys history. We hope that one day you may join our fight as well. We can only provide advice. People pick and choose, said board Solicitor Carl Beard of Beard Legal Group. Its like Ive said in several communications to my clients, if theres 10 people speeding at 85 miles an hour, three might get caught, (seven) might get by. And thats just some of those circumstances where they exist. And thats why its very important for Commonwealth Court to address this. And you know, once and for all, and to answer the question is what happens? I think Commonwealth Court will make that decision. They (court) may just say were throwing them out. Or they may say, I want you to go back to the drawing board and put a sunset date or clarifier, said Beard. Do we give religious exemptions? We dont know when that happens. Weve given these things out. We put out final, you know, educational law focuses, this is with full cooperation with Penn State and the client alerts. I go to a couple hundred schools. People get to read it, they do what they want, but as soon as it comes out, within 24 hours, well have something out. It goes to every district. It goes to every board member in the district, and it goes on our website. So within 24, 36 hours Commonwealth Court, and then our website will put something out. Superintendent Wendy Benton also addressed a couple of Browns comments. Im curious, what makes you think that all of these districts are not following the mask mandate? said Benton. Brown said she looked up their policies on their websites and found that they either had a parental exemption form that could be signed that required only parents signature, or some of them had already revised their safety acts with dates marked after when the new mandate was put in place that said theyre allowing masks to be optional. What concerns me, if you looked at our website, the health and safety plan that was adopted in July would state that masks are optional because the masking order supersedes whatever was written in our health and safety plan, said Benton. I would hope that an individual that was looking at our website wouldnt think the district isnt following the masking order because DASD is following the order. Brown said she did see on the DuBois website and on many other school district websites that here is what we started the year with and then there is a note beneath that says should the Department of Health alter these, they will follow what the DOH states. When I see that, then I assume, Okay, that school is now following, said Brown. I was trying to write down the names of the districts that you had mentioned, said Benton. And I spoke personally to one of these superintendents, and they said that they are in fact following the mask order. I mean, maybe they are, maybe theyre not, but like the one ... Cause I was informed that, Hey theyre not. So I called and Im like, How are you doing this? I just wanted to bring that to your attention. With regard to ESSER funds, Benton said agenda items are clearly delimitated whenever we are using ESSER funds to purchase whatever it may be. Benton said they have used it for before- and after-school programs, summer programs, additional support for students, technology, and significant heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems in the schools. With a district operating budget of $67 million this year, Benton said $10 million in ESSER funds doesnt stretch very far when it comes to HVAC upgrades and complete replacements in that regard in some schools. Benton said the ESSER money is not just put on her desk. The district has to write grants, they have to get pre-approval for what they are using the money for, and they are audited. It has been so regulated, said Benton. We (district) have to be able to front all of that to do these projects. And then they (government) reimburse us $50,000 a month. We really have to allocate our own financial resources so that we can get these projects going, and then we just wait for the reimbursement to trickle in. Q&A: Pfizer says its COVID-19 vaccines are 91% effective in kids 5-11. Heres what else you need to know 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 Click the image to the left and log in to get your exclusive reader perks. Dick Polman, a veteran national political columnist based in Philadelphia and a Writer in Residence at the University of Pennsylvania, writes at DickPolman.net. Email him at dickpolman7@gmail.com. Peter Roff is a senior fellow at Frontiers of Freedom and a former U.S. News and World Report contributing editor who appears regularly as a commentator on the One America News network. Email him at RoffColumns@gmail.com. Follow him on Twitter @Peter Roff. 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 White House press secretary Jen Psaki talks to reporters in the Brady Press Briefing Room on Oct. 22, 2021. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Air-Cargo Industry Seeking Vaccine Mandate Delay Until After Holidays The trade association representing air-cargo companies such as UPS and FedEx is asking the Biden administration to postpone its vaccine requirement for federal contract workers. A delay is necessary to avoid adding to supply-chain issues ahead of the holiday season, according to the association. The request came in a letter, obtained by Politico and addressed to Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Acting Director Shalanda Young, that was sent by Cargo Airline Association President Stephen Alterman. We have significant concerns with the employer mandates announced on Sept. 9, 2021, and the ability of industry members to implement the required employee vaccinations by Dec. 8, 2021, the letter reads. The letter also stated that it would be virtually impossible to fully vaccinate the hundreds of thousands of temporary workers expected to be hired during the upcoming peak shipping season and asked the White House to postpone its Dec. 8 deadline for vaccines to the first half of 2022. That is not actually what weve seen at companies that have implemented these vaccine requirements that are not even part of federal law yet, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said, when asked by Fox News on Oct. 22 whether vaccine mandates were more important than fixing the supply chain as fast as possible. Psaki said chief executives at Southwest and American Airlines had made clear that there wouldnt be a labor shortage as a result of vaccine requirements. The airlines are among companies that put mandates in place ahead of when President Joe Bidens executive order requiring many private-sector workers to get vaccinated takes effect. As we work to implement these federal employee requirements, the first step is not firings. Its actually education and counseling, Psaki said. So we dont anticipate these disruptions. Psaki also pointed to the COVID-19 pandemic and the fears surrounding it as an enormous labor destructor justifying companies that implement vaccine mandates. On Oct. 12, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) finalized the initial draft of the Emergency Temporary Standard (ETS) set to implement Bidens order and sent it to the OMB for review. The finished rule is expected in the coming weeks. In addition to labor challenges, the U.S. supply chain is being affected by bottlenecks at shipping ports and shortages of truck drivers. The ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach announced moves to a 24/7 service to address shipping backlogs. A list of businesses including Walmart, UPS, and FedEx have also made pledges to increase work during off-hoursas has the Union Pacific Railroad. Biden plans to sign an executive order to temporarily lift weight limits so that trucks can carry more cargo, Psaki told reporters on Oct. 20. At a CNN presidential town hall on Oct. 22, moderator Anderson Cooper asked Biden if he would consider using the National Guard to help drive trucks. Yes, absolutely, positively, I would do that, Biden said. Psaki said it was within the presidents power to activate the National Guard on a federal level or ask governors to enact the Guard at the state level, but that is not something under active consideration. A woman enters the Amnesty International Hong Kong office, after its announcement to close citing China-imposed national security law, in Hong Kong, on Oct. 25, 2021. (Reuters/Tyrone Siu) Amnesty to Shut Hong Kong Offices Given National Security Law Risks International rights group Amnesty International said on Oct. 25 it would close its Hong Kong offices because a China-imposed security law had now made it effectively impossible for rights groups to work freely without the risk of reprisals. Anjhula Mya Singh Bais, the chair of Amnestys international board, said in a statement that the two offices would close by year-end, noting an intensification of a clampdown that has forced at least 35 groups to disband under the law this year. This decision, made with a heavy heart, has been driven by Hong Kongs national security law, which has made it effectively impossible for human rights organizations in Hong Kong to work freely and without fear of serious reprisals, said Singh Bais. The environment of repression and perpetual uncertainty created by the national security law makes it impossible to know what activities might lead to criminal sanctions, she added. A Hong Kong Security Bureau spokesman said in response to a Reuters request for comment that every person or organization must abide by the laws of Hong Kong, and that the security legislation upholds human rights. In the past, Hong Kong had served as one of Asias leading NGO hubs, with groups drawn to its robust rule of law and wide-ranging autonomy guaranteed for Hong Kong when control over the former British colony was returned to Beijing in 1997. Among the groups to have disbanded this year are several leading trade unions, NGOs, and professional groups, while a number of other NGOs including the New School for Democracy have relocated to the democratic island of Taiwan. Hong Kong and Chinese authorities say the national security law enshrines individual rights, justifying the laws as necessary to restore stability after mass protests in 2019 when millions took to the streets over many months. Protesters have long called on Chinas Communist leaders to abide by its constitutional promise to grant the city broad freedoms and eventual full democracy under a so-called one country, two systems arrangement. Since the implementation of the security law, however, authorities have crushed the citys once-vibrant civil society, and curbed free speech and protests. Many leading pro-democracy activists and politicians have been jailed or forced into exile. Under the broadly defined security legislation, subversion, secession, collusion with foreign forces and terrorism can be punished with up to life in jail. Its sweeping and vaguely worded definition of national security has been used arbitrarily as a pretext to restrict human rights, Amnesty added in its statement. By James Pomfret Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson in the Senate Chamber of the state Capitol in Little Rock, Ark., on April 8, 2020. (Tommy Metthe/Arkansas Democrat-Gazette via AP) Arkansas Governor: COVID-19 Vaccine Mandates Are Increasing Resistance to Vaccines Vaccine mandates are increasing peoples resistance to getting COVID-19 vaccines, Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson said on Oct. 24. The resistance is hard in some areas. And part of it is simply because of the controversy because of the mandates. It deepens the resistance. And so, thats something we have to overcome, Hutchinson, a Republican, said on CNNs State of the Union. But I dont see that controversy going away any time soon. With OSHA issuing mandates for businesses to require vaccination of employees, thats going to intensify the controversy. President Joe Bidens administration is preparing a rule that would require private employers with more than 100 workers to require proof of COVID-19 vaccination or weekly COVID-19 testing. The rule is being promulgated by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). Hutchinson, who has received a COVID-19 vaccine, has said that mandates are effective in increasing uptake of the COVID-19 vaccines. Hes also defended businesses that impose vaccination requirements on workers. But hes resisted imposing a statewide mandate. Such a requirement would probably increase vaccination rates, he said. But it also would increase the resistance of some, Hutchinson said. Some would lose their job. It would hurt their families. And it would, in the broader population, also create that controversy and resistance. So its a balance there. Private businesses should have the ability to impose mandates but not be forced to, according to the governor, who opposes banning so-called vaccine passports or requiring proof of vaccination to work or enter certain businesses or venues. Its an important debate on liberty. And my view has always been, which I believe is consistent with the principles of our party, that lets stay out of interfering with those private business decisions, he said on NBCs Meet the Press earlier this month. Arkansas lawmakers have differed from the governor in some respects when it comes to vaccines. Republicans passed a measure that allows workers to opt-out of mandates by proving they had COVID-19 and recovered, or natural immunity. Hutchinson allowed it to go into effect on Oct. 13 because lawmakers could have overridden his veto. Hutchinson told CNN that his focus has been on educating state residents about the vaccines. People will make the right decision over time when they get the right information, he said. What works in Arkansas is not the mandate side of it, but its the education side and businesses having the prerogative to make their own decision without the government telling them what to do. Approximately 48 percent of Arkansas residents are fully vaccinated or have gotten both Moderna or Pfizer shots or the single-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Like many U.S. states, Arkansas has seen COVID-19 metrics drop in recent weeks. Active cases were fewer than 5,500 on Oct. 23, and fewer than 400 COVID-19 patients were in hospitals in the state. Federal health officials have argued that mandates are effective and have defended their legality, even in the face of requirements being linked to widespread business disruptions and thousands of workers being fired. Vaccination requirements work. Theyve increased vaccination rates by 20-plus percentage points to over 90 percent in most organizations, Jeffrey Zients, the White House COVID-19 team response coordinator, told reporters last week. Zients alleged that vaccination requirements wouldnt impact holiday travel. A bouquet of flowers is left to honor cinematographer Halyna Hutchins outside the Bonanza Creek Ranch in Santa Fe, N.M., on Oct. 24, 2021. (Jae C. Hong/AP Photo) Assistant Director Who Gave Alec Baldwin Prop Gun Subject to Prior Complaint ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.A crew member says she has raised safety concerns in the past about the assistant director who authorities say unwittingly handed actor Alec Baldwin the prop gun that killed a cinematographer on a film set. Maggie Goll, a prop maker and licensed pyrotechnician, said in a statement that she filed an internal complaint with the executive producers of Hulus Into the Dark series in 2019 over concerns about assistant director Dave Halls behavior on set. Goll said in a phone interview Sunday that Halls disregarded safety protocols for weapons and pyrotechnics and tried to continue filming after the supervising pyrotechnician lost consciousness on set. Halls has not returned phone calls and email messages seeking comment. This weeks fatal shooting and some of her previous experiences point to larger safety issues that need to be addressed, Goll said, adding that crew member safety and wellbeing are top issues in ongoing contract negotiations between a union that represents film and TV workers and a major producers group. This situation is not about Dave Halls. Its in no way one persons fault, she said. Its a bigger conversation about safety on set and what we are trying to achieve with that culture. Baldwin fired a prop gun on the New Mexico set of the film Rust Thursday, killing 42-year-old Halyna Hutchins and wounding director Joel Souza, who was standing behind her. The gun Baldwin used was one of three that a firearms specialist, or armorer, had set on a cart outside the building where a scene was being rehearsed, according to court records. Halls grabbed a gun off a cart and handed it to Baldwin, indicating that the weapon was safe by yelling cold gun, court papers say. But it was loaded with live rounds, according to the records. Baldwin, 63, who is known for his roles in 30 Rock and The Hunt for Red October and his impression of former President Donald Trump on Saturday Night Live, has described the killing as a tragic accident. Goll said it should not have happened because there are so many steps that you have to go through that the possibility of it even getting there should be impossible. Actor Ray Liotta agreed that the checks on firearms are usually extensive. They alwaysthat I know ofthey check it so you can see, Liotta said in an interview Sunday at the Newport Beach Film Festival. They give it to the person youre pointing the gun at, they do it to the producer, they show whoever is there that it doesnt work. Rust Movie Productions has not answered repeated emails seeking comment. Baldwin, who is a producer on Rust, met with Hutchins husband and 9-year-old son Saturday at a hotel in Santa Fe where the actor had been staying during filming. Baldwin and Hutchins husband can be seen embracing in a photo published by the New York Post. Another shows a defeated-looking Baldwin walking on the hotel grounds pushing a luggage cart. Goll said in her email that Halls behavior on set has concerned her in the past. She said that, during work on Into the Dark, Halls didnt hold safety meetings and consistently failed to announce the presence of a firearm on set to the crew, as is protocol. The assistant prop master admonished Halls several times for dismissing the actors before they had returned weapons to the props table, she said. She became most concerned, however, when the supervising pyrotechnician, who is diabetic, was found unconscious in a chair, she said. Halls wanted to resume filming after the man was removed from the set even though Goll, the remaining pyrotechnician on site, didnt have the qualifications to supervise the complicated series of pyrotechnic effects that were planned. One of the things that stuck out to me most about that day is the fact that he called out on radio over channel one, Hey, Maggie says we can keep going! and I basically held the button down so he couldnt transmit to anyone else on that channel while I yelled out, No, Dave, thats not what I said. Were not doing that, she recalled in a phone interview. She filed an internal complaint with the executive producers of Blumhouse Productions about that day, she said. To my knowledge nothing was done after my complaints, she said in an email. I am gutted at not pushing harder for greater accountability and safety, she wrote. Many of us have messaged each other wondering the same thing: is there something we could have done then that would have prevented the tragedy? By Gillian Flaccus and Susan Montoya Bryan Australian Swimmer Ariarne Titmus talks to students at St Patricks College in Launceston, Australia, on Sept. 15, 2021. (Steve Bell/Getty Images for TLA) ATAR Concessions Not the Answer to Help Students: Study As students in Australias two biggest cities, Sydney and Melbourne, return to school, a new study is arguing that ATAR concessions and large sums of funding for school tutoring are unnecessary. In his latest research, Glenn Fahey from the Centre of Independent Studies found an estimated 6 to 14 percent of students likely progressed slower at home, but catch up tutoring was not the answer. Fahey said it was a missed opportunity for policymakers and educators to lift the quality of teaching for all students rather than run temporary programmes. Across 2021 and 2022, $1.2 billion has been committed to small group tutoring programmes in New South Wales and Victoria, Fahey said. Whats less costly, but more impactful, is for every classroom to benefit from evidence-based teaching. Its access to quality instruction, not just a tutor, that will lift student outcomes. Fahey said policymakers need to be clear in distinguishing between achievement gaps caused by COVID-19 and gaps from before the pandemic. The research findings come after federal Education Minister Alan Tudge has repeatedly stated that Australias education standard has fallen in both absolute terms and relative to other countries over the past two decades. Tudge stressed that evidence-based teaching practices, such as explicit instruction and phonics, are essential in a students learning process to reverse the decline. Let me be very direct about this. If you are not adequately preparing student teachers to become effective classroom teachers using evidence-based practices, you should not be in the business of teacher education, Tudge previously said. Australian Education Minister Alan Tudge speaks at a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia, on Aug. 23, 2021. (Rohan Thomson/Getty Images) The research also found that despite fears of a spike in student stress levels, there was no relationship between students stress and their achievement. Excessive and unnecessary accommodations dont help students doing their HSC and VCE, Fahey said. If anything, this can backfire by leading students to feel they dont need to put their best foot forward. Overall, the research painted a cautiously optimistic outlook for the impact of COVID-19 on Australias education, given the better-than-expected NAPLAN results. Fahey said the steady NAPLAN results suggest that, on average, students are on track with pre-pandemic achievement levels. National and state-level NAPLAN results suggest no significant difference in Australian students overall achievement level, he said. [However,] further data is required to confirm the indicative outcomes of the 2021 NAPLAN results. Fahey also found little evidence that disadvantaged students were disproportionately affected by home-based learning. This can likely be credited to the response of policymakers and educators in rapidly responding to students needs, he said. The research revealed that if Australian students had progressed at a pace as slow as their peers overseas, the average Australian student would be 6.6 weeks behind in reading and numeracy and as much as 19.4 weeks behind in Victoria. To date, all available evidence suggests Australias educators and policymakers have been somewhat successful in avoiding adverse educational impacts overall from school closures, compared to similar countries, Fahey said. People gather at the airport three times per week to welcome and farewell passengers from Fiji in Funafuti, Tuvalu, on Aug. 15, 2018. (Fiona Goodall/Getty Images) Australia Blocks China With $1.6 Billion Takeover of Pacific Telecom Firm The Australian federal government and major telecommunications firm Telstra have pulled the trigger on a $1.6 billion (AU$2.1 billion) takeover of a dominant South Pacific mobile telecom business amid ongoing concerns that Beijing could step in and deepen its foothold in the region. The government and Telstra announced on Oct. 25 its decision to acquire Digicel Pacific, which provides mobile and network services across Papua New Guinea, Nauru, Samoa, Vanuatu, Tonga, and Fijisome of Australias closest neighbors. Currently, Beijing has strong relations with many Pacific island nations. The deal will see the Australian government do most of the initial heavy lifting, financing $1.33 billion (AU$1.7 billion) of the asking price via its export credit agency, Export Finance Australia. Telstra will contribute $270 million (AU$361 million) and will own 100 percent of Digicel Pacific upon completion of the deal. In a joint statement, Foreign Minister Marise Payne, Trade Minister Dan Tehan, and International Development and Pacific Minister Zed Seselja said they expect a long-term return on the purchase. Haitians line up on May 5, 2006, at the DIGICEL office in Port-au-Prince to get new cellular phones and services. (Thony Belizaire/AFP via Getty Images) Digicel Pacific has been a successful and growing telecommunications provider in the Pacific for the past 15 years, the statement reads. Telstras acquisition sends an important signal about the companys potential and about wider business confidence in the future of the Pacific region. The acquisition also reflects the governments commitment, as part of its Pacific Step-up, to support the development of secure and reliable infrastructure in the region, which is critical to the Pacific regions economic growth and development. Andy Penn, CEO of Telstra, said the deal was a unique and very attractive commercial opportunity. With 1,700 employees and around 2.5 million subscribers from retail customers through to large enterprises, Digicel Pacific is the number one telco in Papua New Guinea, Nauru, Samoa, Tonga and Vanuatu, and number two in Fiji, he said in a statement, noting that the business generated $233 million in revenue in the financial year ended on March 31. Australias Prime Minister Scott Morrison (L) invites his Fijian counterpart, Frank Bainimarama, to sign a visitors book at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia, on Sept. 16, 2019.(Mick Tsikas/AFP via Getty Images) Australias move comes amid concerns that a Chinese state-backed enterprise such as China Mobile could swoop in and acquire the business, which was founded in 2006 by Irish entrepreneur Denis OBrien. Countries such as Papua New Guinea sit just 150 kilometers north of the Australian mainland, sparking unease from defense experts that it could give Beijing a hub to carry out surveillance activity targeting data networks. The move into the regions mobile network market is a new one for Telstra, according to Rob Nicholls, associate professor of regulation and governance at the University of New South Wales. He noted that the deal was unusual because the government was paying a substantial portion of the purchase price. The Australian government is providing a subsidy for the balance. The effect is that taxpayers are subsidizing Telstras acquisition with no liability on Telstra to repay the difference, he told The Epoch Times on Oct. 25. Its unlikely that this will be a white elephant. In effect, the cost of borrowing for Telstra will be the risk-free rate, and the Commonwealth will get a return that is comparable to a bond issue. Nicholls noted that Telstra was approached because it was one of the largest Australian-owned telecoms in the country, with its largest competitors, Optus and Vodafone, being foreign-owned. A Telstra logo is seen as a pedestrian walks outside the Telstra Melbourne headquarters in Melbourne, Australia, on June 14, 2017 (Michael Dodge/Getty Images) Michael Shoebridge, defense director at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, said the deal to buy Digicel Pacific is important for bolstering Australias influence in the region. The acquisition reinforces all the goals of the governments Pacific Step-up and the New Zealand governments Pacific Reset, as well as looking like a good commercial move, he told The Epoch Times, noting that Digicel also controls key communications channels in the region. The South Pacific has been at the center of an ongoing tug of war between democratic allies and the regime in Beijing. The Chinese Communist Party has used several initiatives to win support from Pacific Island leaders, including infrastructure building via the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), vaccine diplomacy, and trade opportunities. The response from Pacific nations has varied, with some countries embracing ties with Beijing and others outright rejecting it. In July, Samoan Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa stood by a pledge to scrap a BRI port development near the nations capital worth $100 million, saying that the project was too big for the islands needs. The Australian government has also launched its Pacific Step-up initiative to counteract Beijings growing hegemony, including vaccine donations, increased engagement via sporting diplomacy, cultural influence, and infrastructure support, including a recent AU$68 million loan to assist with upgrades to Fijis international airport. (L-R) Australian Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce, Australian Agriculture Minister David Littleproud and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison arrive during Question Time in the House of Representatives at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia on Oct. 25, 2021. (AAP Image/Lukas Coch) Australia Set To Adopt Net Zero Emissions Target Prime Minister Scott Morrison is primed to commit to net zero emissions by 2050 ahead of the United Nations (U.N.) climate change summit after the coalition partner, the National Party agreed to the proposal over the weekend. As the U.N.s 26th Climate Change Conferenceor COP26draws near, discussions stirred last week for Australia to adopt its own net zero targets, compounded by pressure from states and territories who have all committed to net zero by 2050 or earlier. But the possibility for a federal net zero plan drew out tensions within the coalition as some National Party members raised concerns the decision could undermine Australias economy, regional jobs, and energy security. However, despite this Nationals leader Barnaby Joyce has said in an interview with ABC radio that he supported the goal of net zero emissions by 2050. One hundred percent Im on board with the goal of 2050 net zero emissions, what more do you want? Joyce told ABC radio on Monday. Australias Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce speaks to the media during a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia, on June 21, 2021. (AAP Image/Lukas Coch) The Nationals gave in-principle support to the new policy, which is expected to be ratified before Morrison jets off to attend COP26 in Glasgow, Scotland starting on Oct. 31. Joyce said the Nationals would only agree to the deal if certain conditions were met. A list of demands were handed to Morrison last week, the details of which remain publicly unavailable. Obviously that depends upon what we see in the cabinet submission reflecting the conversations and agreements between myself and the prime minister, Joyce told reporters on Sunday. Joyce explained that negotiations had nonetheless led to a better outcome for regional Australia than initial proposals. The news of the coalitions support for reaching net zero targets by 2050 comes after the Morrison government reassured voters last federal election that the reckless target would come at a tremendous cost to Australians. However, not all Nationals members agree with the new plan, including Senator Matt Canavan who said that attempting to reach net zero would severely undermine regional development. Nationals Senator Matthew Canavan at a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia on Jun. 22, 2021. (AAP Image/Mick Tsikas) Canavan explained that net zero required offsetting emissions produced from hard-to-abate industries, including livestock farming and construction. This means people who build mines, grow food or construct an airstrip will have to pay other people to plant trees or do something else to offset their emissions, Canavan wrote in an article. And that is why it hurts regional Australia more than anywhere else. To grow our country towns, we need people to build dams, mines and airports. Compared to the cities, who already have these things, we will be at a permanent disadvantage. However, inaction in adopting a net zero target has drawn criticism from environmental groups, including Australian climate change communication organisation the Climate Council, who cited the sixth assessment report by the U.N.s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The science is clear that the world urgently needs to reduce emissions this decade, but none of Australias commitments are a meaningful contribution to this goal, said Will Steffen, Climate Council spokesperson and Emeritus Professor at Australian National University. We are now one of the only advanced economies that havent yet taken these essential steps to reducing emissions. However, peer-reviewed research published in the international scientific journal Research in Astronomy and Astrophysics (RAA) found that the IPCC report did not adequately consider the role of solar energy in explaining increased temperatures. A nurse administers the AstraZeneca vaccine to a woman at the Sydney West COVID Vaccine Centre in Australia, on May 7, 2021 (Brook Mitchell/Getty Images) Australian Nurses Lawsuit Against Vaccine Mandate Rejected A nurses challenge against vaccine mandates for the states health profession has been rejected, according to a decision by the Civil and Administrative Tribunal (CAT) released on Oct. 25. Danielle Davis is employed at Ballina Hospital, in northern New South Wales (NSW)Australias most populous statewhere she was fighting a government-mandated public health order and letter from the hospital director compelling her to receive the first dose of the vaccine by Sept. 30 and the second dose by Nov. 30. Davis application was to have both the order and letter stayed, calling for the Tribunal to review several issues, including a potential breach of the rules of natural justice, that there was an improper exercise of power, and that the authorities could not issue such mandates. The CAT said the issue of legality had already been considered by the Oct. 15 decision by the NSW Supreme Court, which found the state government had the authority to issue vaccine mandates. The case was launched by Al-Munir Kassam, a Sydney-based construction worker; Natasha Henry, a Byron Bay-based aged care worker; and eight other plaintiffs. Meanwhile, the Tribunal concluded that it ultimately did not have jurisdiction to review public health orders and instructions from the state minister of health and the actions of the Northern NSW Local Health District (NNSWLHD). The is the latest decision to conclude in favour of the vaccine mandates after a series of legal actions challenging vaccine mandates and public health restrictions on unvaccinated individuals were actioned this year. It also comes before an impending Supreme Court action launched by a paramedic and regional deputy mayor John Larter. Despite the earlier decision finding against vaccine mandate challengers, Larters representative, Shane Prince S.C., said they would present a more conservative case on different legal reasoning. We say the Kassam decision is quite different the way that the case was run was more ambitious than the way we propose to run our case, he told AAP on Oct. 21. Prince said the Kassam case challenged the premise of the utility of vaccinations, while Larters case would focus on the proportionality of public health orders. The health directive is only directed to a relatively small cohort of the community; that small cohort will be effectively coerced into vaccination, he said. Lets say, for example, 90 percent of people who arent mandated to get vaccines, get vaccines, youre really talking about directing a health order to maybe 10 percent of a cohort of about 140,000 people. He argued that based on these percentages, a public health order was disproportionate to the goal it was seeking to achieve. AAP contributed to this article. Labor Senator for NSW Kristina Keneally delivers her first speech in the Australian Senate on March 27, 2018 in Canberra, Australia. The former NSW Premier was sworn in as a senator in February 2018, filling the vacancy left after Sam Dastyari resigned from parliament. (Michael Masters/Getty Images) Australian Shadow Home Affairs Minister Meets With United Front-Linked Organisation Australias Shadow Home Affairs Minister has met with an organisation linked to the United Front Work Department (UFWD), the Chinese Communist Partys (CCP) main foreign influence body. In mid-September, Kristina Keneally, the Australian Labor Partys home affairs spokesperson, was nominated to run in the multicultural federal electorate of Fowler in Sydneys southwest. On Oct. 19, she met with Hung Ly and local Councillor Kien Ly at the Australia Chinese Teochew Association. Hung Ly is also the head of the Australian Council for the Promotion of the Peaceful Reunification of China (ACPPRC), whose previous president was the controversial billionaire Huang Xiangmo. The ACPPRC is an affiliate of the China Council for the Promotion of Peaceful National Reunification, according to the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, which noted that the UFWD controlled the body. It was great to meet with the Australian Chinese Teochew Association in Cabramatta last week, Senator Keneally wrote on Twitter. It was great to meet with the Australian Chinese Teochew Association in Cabramatta last week Thank you to President Hung Ly & Clr TK Ly for having me! & I was touched by the framed photo they had from 2010! The Chinese community in Fowler deserves a Govt that is #onyourside pic.twitter.com/Erl3boDP7c Kristina Keneally (@KKeneally) October 19, 2021 Thank you to President Hung Ly and Clr. TK Ly for having me! And I was touched by the framed photo they had from 2010! When questioned on her visit, the senator said, Last week, I met with the president of the Teochew Association in Fowler. I was invited to do so by a local councillor. I can guess from the insinuation youre making that youre concerned about some aspect of foreign interference. So am I. What we should not do, is look upon those Australian citizens who have migrated to this countrywhether its from China, Cambodia, or anywhere elseand assume that they are all somehow agents of foreign interference. They are Australian patriots, she told reporters in Parliament. According to the Sydney Morning Herald, senior security sources claim the senator has received briefings from intelligence agencies on the risks of meeting with UFWD groups, particularly given her role on the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security. The Home Affairs portfolio is also in charge of issues such as domestic security and immigration. The Epoch Times reached out to the office of Senator Keneally but did not receive a response in time for publication. The ACPRRC gained notoriety in Australia after a 2017 joint investigation by Fairfax Media, and the Australian Broadcasting Corporation revealed the extent of the influence then-President Huang Xiangmo had on the countrys political scene. Former Australian Opposition Leader Bill Shorten held a photograph of Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop with Chinese businessman Huang Xiangmo during House of Representatives Question Time at Parliament House in Canberra on June 14, 2017. (Lukas Coch/AAP Image) The investigation revealed Huang donated more than AU$1 million (US$724,000) to both the ALP and Liberal Party and another AU$1.8 million (US$1.3 million) to the University of Technology Sydney to establish an Australia-China research think tank. Huang also maintained a close relationship with former New South Wales (NSW) ALP Senator Sam Dastyari, including paying his legal and travel expenses to the tune of $5,000. Dastyari was subsequently forced to resign after it was revealed he warned Huang that intelligence services were tapping his phone calls, among a litany of other issues. Chin Jin, global chair of the Federation for a Democratic China, said Keneally was within her right to use whatever means to generate publicity but warned that some political figures were still sympathetic to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). Changing a partys views is not possible when relying on just eloquent and objective arguments. Instead, it can only be changed by elections and at the ballot box, he told The Epoch Times in an email. Students wear masks as they attend their first day in school after summer vacation at the St. Lawrence Catholic School north of Miami, on Aug. 18, 2021. (Chandan Khanna/AFP via Getty Images) Biden Admin Threatens to Stop Florida From Defunding School Districts That Require Masks The U.S. Department of Education on Monday said it would take enforcement actions if Florida doesnt remove financial sanctions on school districts that are acting in violation of state rules about mask mandates. The warning comes weeks after the Florida State Board of Education unanimously voted to approve additional punishment for school districts that remain non-compliant with Floridas mask policies, which give parents the final say on whether their children wear a mask at school. The state has already withheld school board members salaries in some districts that dont allow students to opt-out of mask mandates through parental requests. The new punishment, recommended by Florida Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran, specifically targets districts that take money from a federal grant designed to help school officials recover from penalties related to mask and other COVID-19 restrictions they put in place. I request that it consider the sanction of withholding state funds in an amount equal to 1/12 of all school board members salaries, as well as withholding state funds in an amount equal to any federal grant funds awarded to the [school district] for its noncompliance with [state mask rules], Corcoran said in a memo sent to school districts. Now, the federal government warned that if Florida moves forward with the financial sanctions, the state would be in violation of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965. A State shall not take into consideration payments under this Act in determining the amount of State aid, with respect to free public education of children, Ian Rosenblum, the deputy assistant secretary for policy and programs at the Education Department, wrote in a letter to Corcoran. Floridas cutbacks are affecting school districts in at least eight counties, including Alachua and Broward counties. Alachua County Public Schools became the first in the nation to receive funds from the federal grant known as Project SAFE (Supporting Americas Families and Educators) when it was awarded $147,719 to cover the penalties. If FLDOE moves forward with its planned reduction of state aid to Alachua and Broward, the department is prepared to initiate enforcement action to stop these impermissible state actions, Rosenblum said. He didnt specify what action the federal government is considering to take. In a statement to The Epoch Times, the Florida Department of Education dismissed the letter as harrassing and legally hollow. Yes, we received another harassing and legally hollow letter from U.S. DOE, and again we will continue forward, lawfully, said Jared Ochs, Director of Communications and External Affairs at Florida Department of Education. Meanwhile, Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo also recently questioned whether data actually suggests that mask mandates help stop the spread of COVID-19 in schools. In terms of the data that supports mask use in kids and mandates for masking kids, it is very weak and thats a fact, Ladapo, who became the state surgeon general in September, said at an Oct. 20 event with Gov. Ron DeSantis. There is a substantial gap between the quality of data out there supporting masking kids yielding any benefit for kids, whatsoever, factual, and what were hearing from some of our public health leadership in other states and nationally. In Florida, we are going to stay close to the data and were going to let you know how we feel about the data, he continued. The data do not support any clinical benefit for children in schools with mask mandates. The highest quality data find no evidence of benefit. A United Airlines plane takes off above American Airlines planes on the tarmac at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) in Los Angeles, Calif., on Oct. 1, 2020. (Mario Tama/Getty Images) Biden Administration Announces Vaccine Rules for Travelers Into US The Biden administration is rolling out new vaccine requirements for international travelers coming into the United States. Starting Nov. 8, three new orders from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will be put into place, according to a senior administration official. The first requires non-U.S. citizens traveling into the country, who are not immigrants, to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and provide proof of vaccination status prior to boarding their flight. Officials say both digital and paper proof of vaccination will be accepted by international airlines. This order includes narrow medical exceptions, exemptions for children under 18, and people from countries with less than a 10 percent total vaccination rate due to lack of availability of vaccines. Even in the low-vaccine-availability countries, people will also need to have a compelling reason to come here, said the official. So, its just not theyre coming here for any reason; they need to have a specific, compelling reason. So, tourist visas will not qualify for that. There are about 50 countries with a current vaccination rate of less than 10 percent, according to the White House. If a traveler to the United States is not vaccinated, they are required to show a negative COVID-19 test that is less than a day old to board their plane regardless of citizenship. Another new rule requires fully vaccinated travelers to the United States to show a negative COVID-19 test within three days of departure. The final order requires travelers to provide contact information to airlines before boarding flights to the United States. The administration announced Oct. 12 it will reopen its land borders to nonessential travel in early November for the fully vaccinated. White House officials have said multiple times in recent weeks that nothing is off the table in terms of requiring the COVID-19 vaccine for domestic flights. On Oct. 12, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) finalized the initial draft of the Emergency Temporary Standard set to implement Bidens vaccine-mandate order and sent it to the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB). OMBs Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs is conducting a review of the emergency standard, which OSHA is allowed to issue if it determines workers are in grave danger. The review process could take as long as 90 days. Several Republican governors and attorneys general have vowed to fight the mandate in court. In an act of opposition, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issued his own executive order banning Texas businesses from requiring vaccines for employees, or customers. President Joe Biden (R) greets Texas Governor Greg Abbott and his wife Cecilia Abbott (2nd L) at Ellington Field Joint Reserve Base in Houston, Texas, on Feb. 26, 2021. Also welcoming the president is Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (L). (MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images) Biden FEMA Rejects Texas Governors Appeal for Emergency Aid Over Border Surge The White House rejected Texas Gov. Greg Abbotts request that the federal government reimburse the state for millions of dollars on the border crisis, according to a letter sent to his office. After a thorough review of all the information contained in your initial request and appeal, we reaffirm our original findings that supplemental federal assistance under the Stafford Act is not warranted for this event. Therefore, I must inform you that your appeal for an emergency declaration is denied, Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Deanne Criswell told Abbotts office in a letter dated Sunday. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, in response to the letter, criticized the Biden administration. Biden, the Republican official argued, created the crisis on our southern border and now they refuse to pay for the endless and ongoing damage, adding that Texans should not have to foot this bill. Abbott had asked FEMA to reconsider a denial to approve a request for an emergency declaration, which would then free up federal funds. The Republican governor first asked the Biden administration for assistance in a letter (pdf) on Sept. 20 and sent a subsequent letter on Oct. 7, again asking for aid. Immigration is solely within the purview of the federal Department of Homeland Security, which oversees Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Later in October, Sens. John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Ted Cruz (R-Texas) issued a joint letter to President Joe Biden asking him for more federal assistance. State and local communities in Texas bear direct and indirect costs of the increasing volume of illegal immigration along the southwest border, they wrote, and federal assistance is necessary to further protect the lives, property, public health, and safety of the communities along the border. Bidens recent denial of Abbotts request comes as the CBP released data on Oct. 22 showing that Border Patrol agents apprehended a record-breaking total of 1,666,167 illegal immigrants along the southwestern border in the fiscal year 2021. The number of illegal crossings has dramatically increased since Biden took office and after he dismantled many of President Donald Trumps border security initiatives, including stopping border wall construction and stopping the Remain in Mexico program in January. Amid the surge, Biden has received significant criticism from Republicans and some Democrats whose districts lie along the U.S.Mexico border. A day before the CBP report was released, Biden was asked by Anderson Cooper during a CNN interview about whether he is planning to visit the border. Vice President Kamala Harris visited El Paso, Texas, in June. I guess I should go down. But thebut the whole point of it is: I havent had a whole hell of a lot of time to get down, Biden said on Oct. 21. Bible-Based Fellowship Church partnered with the Pasco County Health Department, and Army National Guard to assist residents who are 65 and older to administer the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine in Tampa, Fla., on Feb. 13, 2021. (Octavio Jones/Getty Images) Black Refuseniks Reject Vaccine Mandates Commentary Whenever President Joe Biden scolds vaccine holdouts, calling them stupid and even murderous, he curiously leaves out the one demographic group that data from his own health agencies show is the least likely to be inoculated, yet most vulnerable to COVID-19: African Americans. He hypocritically singles out Republicans for rebuke, but not his most loyal Democratic constituency, all the while claiming his pandemic policies are based purely on science and not politics. Of course, Biden is giving unvaxxed blacks a pass because he and Democrats cant afford to lose their reliable vote. Polls show blacks are already turning on them, due in large part to Bidens vax mandates. Many dont want to be jabbed and they dont like Bidens edicts. The undeclared war brewing between Biden and black refuseniks could affect next years congressional elections and even the 2024 presidential race. Since Biden announced plans on Sept. 9 to compel large employers to vaccinate workers, Bidens net approval rating among black voters has dropped a stunning 12 points, driven by a 17-point plunge in support from unvaccinated blacks, according to a new Morning Consult poll. If the trend holds, it could augur a shocking reversal of fortune for Biden. During the Democratic primaries, black voters erected a firewall for Biden in South Carolina, saving his otherwise scorched candidacy. Then they pushed him over the top against President Donald Trump last November. The only folks that helped me more than black men are black women, Biden recently boasted on CNN. But low black turnout next November could make Biden a lame duck by sinking Democrats hopes of holding onto Congress. Bidens thread-the-needle strategy is backfiring on both political and medical grounds. He thought he could just demonize anti-vax Republicans, particularly in red states such as Florida and Texas where his 2024 GOP challengers are likely to emerge, while glossing over vaccine resistance from black Democrats. But the more he pushes the drug on workers, the more he pushes away his Democratic base. The worst thing Biden can do to get blacks to roll up their sleeves is to push third shots and regular booster vaccinations. Surveys show a key reason why blacks dont want to get vaccinated is they are afraid of needles. They wonder why they should get vaxxed if they have to keep getting shots. They also know the extra boosters prove the vaccines arent working as advertised. At the same time, the less Biden singles out black refuseniks, the less likely his vaccination campaign will be successful and the less likely the nations most vulnerable population will be protected. Black Americans are dying from COVID at disproportionate rates, while resisting vaccination at disproportionate rates. But the president cant point this out without offending a key voting bloc for his party. So he stays silent as more blacks die. If he really wanted to save them, hed shame them like hes shaming everybody else whos hostile to the shots. Most offensive is Bidens scapegoating of Republicans to hide the real problem. He and his media surrogates have intoned that the Delta wave has swept mainly through the GOP-dominated south where vax resistance is highest. Message: Blame those rednecks in Trump Country for the COVID resurgencetheyre the reason Bidens failed to deliver on his campaign promise to eradicate the scourge and prematurely declared independence from the coronavirus on July 4. Biden knows better. His administration has data showing the states with the lowest vax rates also have the largest black populations, including Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, and Georgia. And Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data show the COVID hotspots within southern states such as Florida are predominantly black counties. Blacks in Florida, for example, trail whites in vaccination rates by 23 points. In Bidens own backyard, the nations capital, only 44 percent of blacks are vaccinated, according to the CDC. Blacks in D.C. account for 56 percent of all COVID cases and a whopping 71 percent of deaths, yet they are 46 percent of the population. A recent Kaiser Family Foundation study found that the black gap in vax rates is so large that its leaving them at increased risk, which may lead to widening disparities going forward and limit the nations recovery. The unreported truth is that unvaxxed blacks are having an outsized impact on the medical system, accounting for a disproportionately high share of Delta victims filling hospital beds. But shhh! Biden cant say that, lest he alienate his base. If theres a group Biden needs to call out, its blacks. Of course, he wont call out blacks among the supposedly selfish unvaccinated who, as he recently scolded, overrun emergency rooms and intensive care units, leaving no room for someone with a heart attack or a cancer operation. If the unvaxxed are such a threat, why isnt Biden mau-mauing black Americans? Politics. Even the liberal Brookings Institution points out in a new study that black workers are almost five times more likely than white workers to be hesitant about getting vaccinated. The Democratic think tank argues addressing vaccine hesitancy, especially for black men, should be a high priority for the Biden administration. Yet the president remains silent. Thats hardly courageous leadership. Does Biden really care about African Americans or public health in general? Its an honest question. He seems to care more about scoring political points by attacking Republicans. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Police close off a street outside a shopping mall after a shooting in Boise, Idaho on Oct. 25, 2021. (Rebecca Boone/AP Photo) 2 Dead, 4 Injured After Shooting at Mall in Boise, Idaho Two people are dead and four others are injured, including a policeman, following a shooting at a mall in Boise, Idaho, on Monday, said officials. A suspect is in custody as the Boise Police Department confirmed it is responding to a report of shots fired at the Boise Towne Square shopping mall, the largest mall in the state. People are asked to avoid the area. More information will be available here as it is confirmed, said the department on Twitter. Later, Boise Police confirmed five people and the officer were hurt during the incident. The extent of their injuries was not detailed by the department. Police are making notifications to family of those involved and continuing to clear the mall, said the department. Boise Police Chief Ryan Lee told a press conference on Monday afternoon that two people died in the incident. One person was reportedly killed when police were notified about shots fired at the mall. Lee added that officers upon arriving at the scene found someone matching the suspect and a shootout with the person ensued, which injured one of the officers. The suspects identity has yet to be announced. Photos taken at the scene show people being transported into ambulances as other people are seen crying and speaking on their cellular phones. Witnesses told Fox28 in Spokane, Washington, that about a dozen shots were fired in the incident. Another witness was quoted as saying that the man fired at an escalator. Earlier this month, four people were shot at the Park City Center mall in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, officials said. Brian Laundrie Autopsy Inconclusive, Remains Sent to Anthropologist: Lawyer An autopsy for Brian Laundrie, the person of interest in the murder of Gabby Petito, was inconclusive after his remains were discovered in a Florida wildlife preserve last week, according to a lawyer. No manner or cause of death was determined as of now, said Laundrie family lawyer Steven Bertolino in a statement to news outlets on Monday. The remains were sent to an anthropologist for further evaluation, Bertolino told NBC, adding that there is no timeline on when the evaluation would be completed. Bertolini told People magazine on Sunday that Laundries remains will be cremated and there will be no funeral service, adding the family has no further comment at this time and we ask that you respect the Laundries privacy at this time. The FBI confirmed that remains found at the site belonged to Laundrie, who traveled with Petito, his ex-girlfriend, over the summer across the United States. Petitios body was discovered in a remote area in Wyoming, and a coroner confirmed her manner of death was a homicide. Near Laundries remains were his belongings, including a bag, and a notebook, the FBI also said. The FBI statement did not list a cause of death. It wasnt clear how long the remains may have been submerged in water before it was located. Forensic anthropologists are called upon when the environment has ravaged or removed the soft tissue, Dr. Heather Walsh-Haney told WPBF-TV. Soft tissue markers that the forensic pathologist would use. Officials said Laundrie returned to his parents North Port home alone on Sept. 1. Petitos family filed a missing person report on Sept. 11, while Laundrie went missing several days later. Several weeks ago, the FBI charged Laundrie with bank fraud after allegedly using a debit card in an unauthorized manner to withdraw money. The investigation into Petitos slaying, meanwhile, has not yet been completed. Only Laundrie has ever been identified by law enforcement officials as a person of interest in the case. They first gained an online following while on their trip in a converted Ford Transit van in videos filled with happy scenes that may have concealed deeper problems. After Petito disappeared, the case became a true-crime obsession on social media. The couple was stopped on Aug. 12 by police in Moab, Utah, after they had a physical altercation, but no domestic violence charges were filed. The police department there is conducting an internal review to determine if policy was followed. The Associated Press contributed to this report. A musician plays a violin behind a photograph of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins during a vigil in her honor in Albuquerque, N.M., on Oct. 23, 2021. (Andres Leighton/AP Photo) Burbank Vigil Planned for Cinematographer Killed on New Mexico Movie Set LOS ANGELESA candlelight vigil is planned in Burbank today for cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, who was killed when actor Alec Baldwin fired a prop gun on a New Mexico movie set in a shooting that has sparked renewed calls for stepped-up safety on film sets. The vigil is scheduled for 6-7:30 p.m. Sunday at the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees Local 80 headquarters at 2520 W. Olive Ave. Lets all take a moment and gather together to honor Halyna and her accomplishments and grieve together as one. Please bring your own candle, and join together for a candlelight vigil for Halyna, International Cinematographers Guild Local 600 announced on Facebook. Another vigil for Hutchins was held Saturday night at the Albuquerque Civic Plaza in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Baldwin has expressed shock and sadness over the death. Hutchins, 42, died at University of New Mexico Hospital in Albuquerque following the on-set mishap Thursday. The films director, Joel Souza, 48, was also injured, but was treated and released from the hospital. There are no words to convey my shock and sadness regarding the tragic accident that took the life of Halyna Hutchins, a wife, mother and deeply admired colleague of ours, Baldwin wrote on his Twitter page Friday morning. Im fully cooperating with the police investigation to address how this tragedy occurred and I am in touch with her husband, offering my support to him and his family. Baldwin, 63, was rehearsing a scene outside a church on the set of the western Rust south of Santa Fe, New Mexico, Thursday when he discharged the prop weapon. Sheriffs officials were continuing to investigate what happened. Baldwin is a producer of the film. The death of Hutchins has again renewed concerns about on-set safety. The Los Angeles Times reported Friday that a half-dozen camera crew workers had walked off the Rust set hours before the fatal shooting, protesting working conditions, including long hours, safety conditions and issues getting their paychecks. The paper reported that Hutchins had been advocating for safer conditions for her team. One person who was on the set told the newspaper that there had been two recent misfires involving the prop gun, and one the previous week. Late Friday, The Associated Press obtained an affidavit in support of a search warrant in Santa Fe, New Mexico, in which investigators stated that first assistant director Dave Halls picked up one of three guns from a mobile cart that had been prepared by the productions armorer, Hannah Gutierrez Reed. Halls allegedly declared cold gun, meaning the weapon was not loaded, as he was handing it to Baldwin. The shooting occurred moments later. In a striking coincidence, Halls was also the first assistant director on the second unit of 1993s The Crow, when that films star Brandon Lee was fatally shot with what was supposed to be a blank round but turned out to be a deadly bullet, according to the Los Angeles Times. The Times also reported that on the 911 call recording, obtained by the Albuquerque Journal, script supervisor Mamie Mitchell presumably refers to Halls when she says, Hes supposed to check the guns. Hes responsible for what happens on the set. TMZ reported that the sets gun handler, Hannah Reed, expressed concern over her relative lack of experience in a podcast last month after working on The Old Way, a Nicolas Cage film. You know, I was really nervous about it at first, and I almost didnt take the job because I wasnt sure if I was ready, but, doing it, like, it went really smoothly, Reed said in a Voices of the West podcast. Meanwhile, a petition on Change.org is calling for an end to the use of real guns on all movie sets. We need to make sure that this avoidable tragedy never happens again. There is no excuse for something like this to happen in the 21st century, the petition states. Real guns are no longer needed on film production sets. This isnt the early 90s, when Brandon Lee was killed in the same manner. Change needs to happen before additional talented lives are lost. In response to Hutchins death, the showrunner of the ABC police drama The Rookie announced that live weapons would no longer be used on the set, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Showrunner Alexi Hawley announced the change in a memo to the shows staff, saying all gunfire on set will be with airsoft guns with CG muzzle flashes added in post. There will be no more live weapons on the show. The safety of our cast and crew is too important. Any risk is too much risk. The Rust production company issued a statement Thursday saying, The entire cast and crew has been absolutely devastated by todays tragedy, and we send our deepest condolences to Halynas family and loved ones. We have halted production on the film for an undetermined period of time and are fully cooperating with the Santa Fe Police Departments investigation. We will be providing counseling services to everyone connected to the film as we work to process this awful event. Souza released a statement to NBC Saturday, saying he was gutted by the loss of my friend and colleague Hutchins. She was kind, vibrant, incredibly talented, fought for every inch and always pushed me to be better, he said. President Joe Biden removes his face mask as he arrives to speak in the South Court Auditorium on the White House campus on Oct. 14, 2021. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images) Business Groups Urge White House to Delay Biden COVID Vaccine Mandate More business groups have asked the Biden administration to delay its announced COVID-19 mandate until after the holiday season, coming just days after a shipping organization issued a warning that the proposed rule would trigger widespread supply chain chaos during Christmas. Evan Armstrong, a lobbyist at the Retail Industry Leaders Association, told CNBC that his organization is concerned that President Joe Bidens rule would trigger a surge in resignations and would cause even more staffing shortages. It has been a hectic holiday season already, as you know, with supply chain struggles, Armstrong said after meeting with officials at the White House. This is a difficult policy to implement. It would be even more difficult during the holiday season. Were already having supply chain issues; were already having workforce shortage issues, Ed Egee, a top lobbyist at the National Retail Federation, told the network after a meeting with federal officials. This mandate cannot be implemented in 2021 without having serious repercussions on the American economy. Earlier this month, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) received the proposed vaccine rule from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), coming more than a month after Biden announced mandates for private-sector workers at companies with 100 or more employees, federal contractors, federal employees, and health care staff at facilities that receive Medicare or Medicaid funding. For private businesses, Biden said that workers who dont get vaccinated would need to submit to weekly testing. If folks are allowed to refuse vaccination, and the employer takes testing obligations from a cost standpoint, then theres no real motivation for those employees to get the vaccine, Armstrong remarked on Oct. 25, estimating that there are millions of unvaccinated retail workers across the United States. Weekly testing would also prove costly, he said. The Business Roundtable told the outlet that it urged the White House to delay the rule and requested officials to allow the time necessary for employers to comply, and that includes taking into account employee retention issues, supply chain challenges, and the upcoming holiday season. A cargo ship moves toward the Bayonne Bridge as it heads into port in Bayonne, N.J., on Oct. 13, 2021. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images) The Michigan Chamber of Commerce and six local chambers last week also raised concerns about the pending mandate for businesses, including the potential cost, logistical challenges, and issues with staffing. They also argued that the 100-employee threshold is arbitrary. Sometimes theres been a tendency in the past that state officials look at a federal standard as a jumping-off point to do more, to do differently, to enact substantially more stringent standards. That would be our concern, Rich Studley, president and chief executive of the Michigan Chamber of Commerce, told The Associated Press. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce also has publicly voiced similar concerns over the potential mandate. We really stressed the concern about employers losing employees, and what that would mean in the context of current supply-chain challenges and the upcoming holiday season, Marc Freedman, vice president for employment policy with the group, told the AP in a separate report. In a more ominous warning, the Cargo Airline Associationwhich represents the likes of FedEx, UPS, and other shipping firmslast week wrote a letter to the Biden administration about concerns it has regarding the presidents Dec. 8 mandate for federal contractors. Unlike Bidens mandate for private businesses, federal contractors cant opt out of the mandate unless an employee seeks a religious or medical exemption. The looming December 8 mandate for having fully vaccinat[ed] workforces creates a significant supply chain problem, the group said in the letter, obtained by The Epoch Times. This problem is further exacerbated by the fact that we are already experiencing a worker shortage, both in the air and on the ground, and any loss of employees who refuse to be vaccinated will adversely impact needed operations. During his Sept. 9 announcement, Biden said the proposed mandates would cause more workers to get the vaccine, although he simultaneously characterized unvaccinated Americans as a strain on U.S. economic recovery. Later, White House officials publicly expressed confidence that the mandates wouldnt cause any significant economic upheaval and would instead spur economic growth by getting more people vaccinated. Representatives of OMB and OSHA didnt respond to several requests for comment by The Epoch Times about the business groups requests. Lobsters are seen in a crate after being brought in by a lobsterman in Stonington, Maine, on July 5, 2017. (Shannon Stapleton/Reuters) China-Linked Twitter Accounts Claim COVID-19 Came From Maine Lobsters Recently, some China-linked Twitter accounts have been spreading misinformation about the source of COVID-19, the disease caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, in attempts to falsely attribute the origin of the virus to lobsters from Maine. Marcel Schliebs, an Oxford University researcher first noticed the misinformation campaign when the Chinese consul general in Kolkata, India, Zha Liyou, posted the claims on Twitter, according to USA Today. Schliebs, who is with the Oxford Internet Institute, studies disinformation, propaganda, and divisive political news content in the online information ecosystem of the UK. He found that this tweet was linked to hundreds of Twitter accounts, some real and some fake, spreading information and misinformation from a pro-CCP bias. The Chinese Consul General Zha said on Twitter on Sept. 19 that the main suspect of the source of the COVID has been identified as cold chain cargo. Major suspect of covid via cold chain identified: A MU298 of Nov. 11, 2019 carrying food from Maine, US to Huanan Seafood Market, Wuhan, Hubei via Shanghai. During the next few weeks, many workers around moving this batch of seafood got infected, the post read. The post was later removed. A screenshot of the post by USA Today shows that the information was a translation of another Twitter post in Chinese from an account named Dai Shihan. Looking at mainland Chinese social media posts on platforms such as sohu.com and Weibo, the earliest false claims about the origins of COVID-19 pointed to Maine lobster from the United States. After the World Health Organization (WHO) sent a team to China and jointly released an inconclusive investigation report in March this year, in the face of increasing international pressure, WHO Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus said that WHO experts had encountered difficulties trying to obtain raw data from the Chinese authorities. Many countries, including the United States, have advocated for an independent investigation into the source of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the CCP has been obstructing such an investigations in various ways. Jamie Lane packs live lobsters for overseas shipment at the Maine Lobster Outlet in York, Maine, on Dec. 10, 2015. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty) Kathleen Hall Jamieson, director of the Annenberg Public Policy Center at the University of Pennsylvania, said that these false narratives spread by pro-CCP social media accounts are nothing new. Early in the pandemic, Chinese sources spread the theory that SARS CoV-2 originated at Fort Detrick and was spread to China by U.S. military, Jamieson told USA Today. Schliebs echoed Jamisons observation in his Oxford University research. Almost since the beginning of the outbreak, the question of the origin of COVID has been of core importance to the Chinese propaganda apparatus, Schliebs points out. This coordinated operation was clearly trying to promote narratives in line with Beijings general propaganda strategy and geopolitical objectives. After Schliebs sent the information to Twitter, the social media platform suspended the account associated with the misinformation. Indian Army personnel keep vigilance at Bumla pass at the India-China border in Arunachal Pradesh on Oct. 21, 2012. According to Indian media reports, the Chinese have built 1010 houses, 2.5 miles inside the Indian territory in an area inside Arunachal Pradesh. (BIJU BORO/AFP via Getty Images) China Passes New Land Border Law Amid Military Tensions With India Chinas rubber-stamp legislature adopted a land border law on Oct. 23 amid a protracted standoff over disputed territory with India. The measure takes effect on Jan. 1, 2022, and comes after a step-up in Chinese activity along its disputed border with India and Bhutan, known as the Line of Actual Control (LAC), at its Himalayan frontier. At the LAC, Chinese soldiers have been in a standoff with Indian troops since April 2020, with violent, deadly clashes breaking out in May, ending with a true in June. Ongoing talks held between the corps commanders on the two sides now in their 13th round failed to reach a resolution again on Oct. 10. This is the first time that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in Beijing has outlined a dedicated law specifying how it governs and guards its 22,000-kilometer (14,000-mile) land border shared with 14 countries, including former superpower Russia, North Korea, Mongolia. The law says that China will formally combine defence of its land borders with efforts to increase social and economic development in border areas, including the disputed LAC. Chinese soldiers during field exercises in the snow near the Kunjerab Pass bordering Pakistan in Taxkorgan in northwest Chinas Xinjiang Uyhgur region on Jan. 6, 2021. (Chinatopix via AP) It says, the state shall take measures to support economic and social development as well as opening-up in border areas, improve public services and infrastructure in such areas, encourage and support peoples life and work there, and promote coordination between border defence and social, economic development in border areas. Protests in India have already erupted over Chinas construction of a village on land in Indias state of Arunachal Pradesh, which China has defended by saying that it has never recognized Indias claims in that region. Demonstrator shout slogans as they protest against Chinas claim of six districts of Arunachal Pradesh state in New Delhi on April 25, 2017. (Chandan Khanna/AFP via Getty Images) The law also says the CCP will take effective measures to resolutely protect territorial sovereignty and land border security, the law says, adding it will protect and combat any act that undermines Chinas territorial claims and land boundaries. The Chinese military and military policethe Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) and the Peoples Armed Police Forceare responsible for guarding the border against any invasion, encroachment, infiltration, provocation, it continues. The law stipulates that China can close its border if a war or other armed conflict nearby threatens border security. The Epoch Times contributed to this report. A child looking on as a woman receives the China National Biotec Group (CNBG) Covid-19 coronavirus vaccine in Nantong, in China's eastern Jiangsu Province, on July 5, 2021. (STR/AFP via Getty Images) China Starts Vaccinating Children as Young as 3 Amid New Surge of COVID-19 Cases Children as young as 3 years old will start receiving vaccine doses in China as the country battles what Beijing has described as rapidly developing local COVID-19 clusters. City and provincial authorities in at least seven provinces have issued notices in recent days requiring children between 3 and 11 years of age to be inoculated, widening Chinas vaccination campaign as the regime looks to lock down cities and quarantine en masse those suspected of carrying the virus. All who should get vaccinated will get vaccinated, some government announcements read. The new rules place China among a handful of countries with the lowest age limits for vaccination, alongside the United Arab Emirates, which rolled out Chinas Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine for children aged 3 to 17, and Cuba, which started giving shots to children as young as 2 in September. The United States is now planning a large-scale rollout of COVID-19 vaccines for children aged 5 and older. With only about 100 days remaining before Beijing is set to host the 2022 Winter Olympics, the regime has promised a safe and splendid games while aggressively pushing ahead with its zero tolerance COVID-19 policy. Its heavily restrictive containment measures have caused analysts to warn that they could negatively affect Chinas already weakening economy. The virus has continued to spread in China even though more than 76 percent of the population in China has been fully vaccinated. Over the past week, clusters of infections have emerged in about a dozen provinces, and the outbreak is still at risk of expanding, Mi Feng, a spokesperson for National Health Commission, said during an Oct. 24 press conference. Shijiazhuang, a provincial capital near Beijing, quarantined nearly 2,000 people in recent days after one case of COVID-19 was reported, with the city mobilizing thousands of medical staff to search for potential infections. Tens of thousands of locals in some parts of the countrys northern Inner Mongolia region are now confined to their homes, with officials threatening criminal prosecution for violators. China approved in June the emergency use of two inactivated vaccines by Sinovac and Beijing Institute of Biological Products, Sinopharms research institute in Beijing, on those aged 3 to 17. In August, it approved a third vaccine from Sinopharms Wuhan affiliate on the same age group. A resident receives the Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, on Oct. 14, 2021. (STR/AFP via Getty Images) However, these vaccines are still in clinical trials, and there has been no definitive answer about their protection levels against the Delta variant currently driving the countrys sporadic outbreaks. Chinese authorities have also faced accusations of silencing reports of the deaths of individuals occurring shortly after they took Chinese-made vaccines. Jiang Yanhong, a mother in central Chinas Henan Province, took her 12-year-old daughter to be vaccinated on Aug. 10. Two days later, the girl began experiencing a high fever with more than a dozen complications. She died on Aug. 28. Believing that she lost her child because of the vaccine, Jiang petitioned local and national officials, but the local National Health Commission in Nanle County, where she lives, sent people to beat her, she told The Epoch Times. Nanle Countys police detained her on Oct. 16 for picking quarrels and provoking trouble, an umbrella charge typically used against dissidents, according to a detention notice provided to The Epoch Times. A child undergoes a nucleic acid test for the COVID-19 in Xiamen, Fujian Province China, on Sept. 14, 2021. (STR/AFP via Getty Images) Yang Xiaoming, the CEO of Sinopharm subsidiary China National Biotec Group, told state media in July that the overall data suggest a high safety rate for the vaccines, but didnt disclose the data. Sinovac started an efficacy trial with 14,000 child participants across multiple countries in September. Its approval in China was based on smaller phase one and phase two trials. Sinopharms Beijing vaccine was also approved based on smaller phase one and phase two trials. Wang Lu, who lives in the southern city of Fuzhou in Fujian Province, said she isnt in a rush to get her 3-year-old son vaccinated. Im just not very clear on the vaccines safety profile, so I dont really want to get him vaccinated. At the very least, I dont want to be the first, she said. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Chinas Vaunted Belt and Road Initiative Is Not Going as Planned Client countries are compounding debt problems News Analysis Chinas leadership in Beijing must feel as though the world of finance has ganged up on them. Especially since they spent so many years sitting atop a rapidly growing economy with strong national finances, recent setbacks must have shocked them. First came the news that property developer Evergrande could not manage its debt obligations. And with it clear that this matter would not resolve itself and strong signs that Evergrande is not alone, Chinas financial system has suddenly come under threat. Now it appears that things are not going as smoothly as expected in Chinas Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Especially because the client states working with China may fail to meet their debt obligations, the project has added considerably to Beijings financial headaches. The BRI was supposed to enhance Chinas global influence and stature. Through it, Beijing approached poorer countries with offers to help them realize needed infrastructure projectsroads, bridges, ports, and the like. Beijing offered loans to pay for the work and tied the monies to the use of Chinese firms, mostly state owned, for construction and management once the project was completed. Sometimes the Peoples Liberation Army took a role. If for some reason the client state could not meet its financial obligations, the Chinese firms involved in the project would take ownership. Beijings foreign minister described the initiative as the largest international cooperation platform in the world today. It certainly benefits China, giving Beijing influence elsewhere in the world and Chinese firms profitable deals while getting the client state to pay for it. Deals grew rapidly after the BRI began in 2013. Today, there are some 13,427 projects, according to research done by a group called AidData at the College of William and Mary. Almost half of these are in Africa, but they also extend through East Asia, Central Asia, and the Middle East. These efforts are supported by the equivalent of $813 billion in loans. Some 400 of these projects, valued at $8.3 billion, involve the Chinese military. For a while it looked as though the initiative would serve its purpose well. It still may, but problems have arisen. Increasingly, nations invited in by Beijing are balking at the debt involved. Malaysia is a standout, only because Beijing denied that nation trade deals presumably as punishment for refusing a Belt and Road offer. Meanwhile, some 35 percent of the projects record cost overruns or delays, both of which enlarge the amount of debt involved. Most telling and perhaps most ominous is the growth of that debt. It has expanded so that today some 42 of the countries involved with the BRI now owe China more than 10 percent of their gross domestic product (GDP). In other words, many of the debtors cannot pay. China already had to suspend payments for 19 African countries. Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Malawis President Arthur Peter Mutharika (2nd row, right) along with other African leaders attend a group photo session during the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in Beijing on Sept. 3, 2018. (How Hwee Young/AFP/Getty Images) So far, Beijing has avoided any write downs of this BRI debt, as it has done with the nations domestic debt overhang. That reluctance might serve a political purpose, but the unpaid and unpayable debt still burdens Chinas financial system whether it is acknowledged or not. And it will continue to burden it. To be sure, the BRI debts are owed to China not by the Chinese, as is the case with Evergrande and firms like it. But the burden exists because a failure to pay, regardless of who does it, undermines everyones trust in financial arrangements. The old financial saw neatly captures the essence of the problem: If you owe the bank $10,000 and cannot pay, you have a problem; if you owe the bank $10 million and cannot pay, it has a problem. It is little wonder then that Beijing has pulled back some in promoting the Belt and Road. Some have blamed Beijings loss of enthusiasm on the pandemic, but Beijings rethink began even before most of the world knew of COVID-19. Chinese leader Xi Jinping signaled the change in 2019 when he told the heads of state of the largest BRI partners that China would increasingly emphasize financial stability and transparency. Perhaps Xi was troubled by the amount of borrowing that recipients kept off their national accounts, a figure approaching the equivalent of $385 billion, according to the researchers at William and Mary, almost half the total. And it is clear that Xi has followed up. Outlays in Africa fell 30 percent in 2019. Though more recent data are not yet available, indicators suggest that the cutbacks have continued. Some in China promise that the funds will flow freely again soon, but that seems highly unlikely with so much unpaid debt overhanging so many of these relationships. Diplomatic needs will ultimately direct Beijing, even if the debt builds and much of it fails. But it is also clear that the unresolved debt overhang, especially combined with domestic debt problems, has given Chinas leadership in Beijing an important lesson in finance. It is one that, Xis insouciant pose to the contrary notwithstanding, will continue to affect policy and do so more intensely still when the full extent of the debt failuresdomestic and within the BRIbecome clear. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Soldiers are seen near a poster of Chinese leader Xi Jinping next to the entrance to the Forbidden City in Beijing on May 18, 2020. (Nicolas Asfouri/AFP via Getty Images) Chinas Xi Calls for World Peace Amid Escalating Concerns Over Beijings Aggressions Chinese leader Xi Jinping repeated calls for world peace and global cooperation on Oct. 25, in remarks that experts said were a veiled criticism directed at Washington and did little to dispel growing concerns over Beijings increasing assertiveness on the world stage. In a speech marking the 50th anniversary of the communist regimes representing China at the United Nations, Xi said Beijing would always be a builder of world peace and a defender of the international order, according to a statement released by Beijings foreign ministry. His remarks came amid intensifying criticism in the West over a range of Chinese Communist Party (CCP) aggressions, from its trade abuses to rights violations. The regimes efforts to influence and subvert the U.N. system have also come under growing scrutiny. Without naming any country, Xi said that China opposes all forms of hegemony and power politics, as well as all forms of unilateralism and protectionism, in what analysts say was a veiled swipe at the United States dominant position in the international order. The CCP leader also said that reform and development of the global governance system are needed, calling on the world to practice what he called true multilateralism. International rules can only be made by the 193 U.N. member states together, and not decided by individual countries or blocs of countries, Xi told attendees, including representatives of global organizations and U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. Days before Xis speech, U.S. officials met with their Taiwanese counterparts to discuss how to support the islands ability to participate meaningfully at the U.N. Since Taiwan lost its seat at the U.N. to the communist regime in 1971, Beijing, which views the self-ruled island as part of its territory, has worked vigorously to exclude Taiwans participation in international bodies. When the regime was voted into the U.N., many countries expected that Beijings participation in the international system would prompt it to abide by the rules-based order, said Doong Sy-chi, deputy executive-general of Taiwan Thinktank. But things didnt work out that way, he said. Beijing is leveraging its economic clout to achieve its own political agenda in the international system, Doong told The Epoch Times, adding that after a half-century, many countries are starting to see the threats China poses to democracy, freedom, and human rights. On Oct. 21, more than 40 nations voiced concerns at the U.N. over Beijings human rights abuses against Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities in Chinas far-western Xinjiang region. There are generalized and systematic violations of human rights, torture, forced sterilization, sexual violence, and forced separation of children, the 43 nations said in a statement. While the CCP may publicly call for nice-sounding ideas such as cooperation and world peace, its actions have shown that its, in fact, bent on global hegemony, said Lee Yeau-tarn, a professor at the Graduate Institute of Development Studies at Taiwans National Chengchi University. What Xi said today, such as world community, multinationalism, peace, is baseless, Lee told The Epoch Times. The entire world is aware of the CCPs aggressions. Lee also pointed to Beijings aggressive campaign to prevent countries from forming ties with Taiwan and bar the islands inclusion in international organizations. Since 2017, Beijing has barred Taiwan from participating as an observer in the World Health Organizations decision-making body, the World Health Assembly. Luo Ya contributed to this report. A newborn baby in a private obstetrics hospital on February 21, 2020 in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. Due to the shortage of medical resources in Wuhan, many women choose to give birth in private hospitals. (Getty Images) Chinese Couple Finds Way To Adopt a Black Market Baby Buying and selling babies is illegal in China. However, some have found ways to evade detection. According to a September report from The Paper, a Chinese state-owned digital newspaper, a couple in China successfully registered a baby that they bought, through illegal channels, by claiming that the baby had been abandoned. Zhang Xing and Liu Yan (both pseudonyms) are a couple from Hubei Province. They were married in 2017 and were unable to conceive after trying for several years. The couple considered adopting children and went to orphanages for a consultation, but they were disappointed. Zhang said that there was no available child in any of the orphanages, and even if there was, the waiting list is too long. The couple suggested that infertility treatments are too costly, ranging from an average of $16,000 to potentially $100,000 and theres no guarantee they will work. Whereas buying a healthy child would cost half that amount. In August 2020, Zhangs friend called, saying he knew of a baby girl for sale. Zhang immediately said Yes without even thinking. His friend explained the babys complicated family background. Both of the parents were divorced, the couple currently lives together but are not married, and both have children from their previous marriages, which they cannot afford to raise. The seller requested $10,000 in the name of a nutrition allowance. Zhang and his wife agreed and took possession of the baby girl one week after her birth. The total transaction cost was about $13,000, including other fees. To prevent the birth parents from changing their minds afterward, they hired a lawyer to draft a long and thorough agreement. Both parties signed and affixed their handprintsdespite knowing that buying and selling babies is illegal. The baby looks like a doll, the couple said after completing the transaction. However, just then it occurred to them that they couldnt legally register the baby. Zhang then asked a distant relative who has an acquaintance in the local police department for help with the matter. Together, they came up with a story that they found the baby abandoned and decided to adopt it. The officer played along with the story and submitted a false police report. In China, the primary method of registering a child is to either provide a birth certificate issued by the hospital where the child was born or a paternity test from a medical lab recognized by the judicial system. However, there is a loophole where a couple can potentially adopt a baby by claiming that the baby was abandoned and usually requires a police report of the incident. Zhang said the idea originated from a director surnamed Peng in the local Civil Affairs Bureau. Zhang later reported the story to officer Liu, his family acquaintance, that he found the baby in the early hours one day. When Zhang made his statement at the station, officer Liu turned off the recorder, wrote the report himself, and left after stamping it. Zhangs Abandoned Infants Discovery Report stated that he found the infant in a ditch at the back of his house at 2 a.m. on Aug. 15 last year. All we did was sign [the report]; in fact, it was all written by the officer, Zhang said. The following procedures, normally conducted on reports of abandoned children, such as a DNA comparison with reported missing persons, went through unimpeded. On June 16 the police station issued a report confirming that Zhangs abandoned infant discovery claim was found to be true. The report listed Zhangs neighbor Xu as a witness to the incident. However, when the reporter talked with Xu, he admitted that he had not personally seen a baby abandoned at Zhangs house at the time of the reported incident. And that he was only told about it the following day when Zhangs wife brought a baby to his home and asked to borrow baby clothes. Where exactly was the baby abandoned? Xu couldnt answer the question. Zhang and his wife went back and forth between the county and townships over the next few days, submitting the remaining paperwork and finally obtaining the adoption permit. On the evening of Sept. 14, Zhang was informed that the household registration was complete. On Sept. 15, a reporter from The Paper found director Peng at the local Civil Affairs Bureau, whom Zhang claimed came up with the whole idea, and interviewed him about the case. Its difficult to adopt an abandoned child, but if you can get it right [with the police department], its doable, Peng answered with hesitation. The civil affairs department only processes what the police department says to be true. Chinas Adoption Law requires that adopters meet the following conditions: no children; capable of raising and educating the adoptee; not suffering from any diseases or illnesses that are medically considered inappropriate for adopting children; and are at least 30 years of age. Both Zhang and his wife met the above conditions. No legal action was taken against the couple. Ms. Tang, a Chinese woman, discovered miniature hidden cameras in two hotel rooms during a stay at Linwu International Hotel in Chenzhou City, Hunan Province on Oct. 7. (Shawn Lin/The Epoch Times) Chinese Woman Found Hidden Cameras In Five-Star Hotel A Chinese woman discovered miniature hidden cameras in two hotel rooms during a business trip in Hunan Province. According to The Paper, a Chinese state-owned digital newspaper, on the night of Oct. 7, Ms. Tang checked in at Linwu International Hotel in Hunans Chenzhou City. She had recently heard on the news that women are secretly photographed in hotel rooms; so out of curiosity, she started looking for a camera when she entered room 1711. Much to her surprise, she found a miniature camera in an electrical socket on the wall that was aimed towards the bed. Right then, I tried to poke [the socket] with a toothpick, but it wouldnt go in, Ms. Tang said. Immediately, I asked the front desk to bring up a screwdriver. After removing [the socket], we found a camera with the light on, indicating it was operating . According to the article, the camera was about the size of a soap bar, had an active blue LED light, and had an SD card. The media later reported that there was already 29 GB of recorded content on the memory card. Ms. Tang took photos of the device and immediately reported the incident to the police. After taking her statement, the police left with the evidence. Afterward, the hotel arranged for Ms. Tang to move to another room. To her surprise, she found a camera in the electrical socket in room 1311 too. Ms. Tang said she was beyond shocked. The police rushed over, and this time, collected the check-in information of previous hotel guests, Ms. Tang said. Ms. Tang ended up staying for the night because it was late, and many of her colleagues were also staying at the hotel. On Oct. 13, Tong, the hotel manager, told the local media that hotel staff had checked all other rooms after the incident, and found no other cameras. The police have yet to conclude their investigation, and the hotel will fully cooperate and accept the results. The guest said she might launch a civil lawsuit, but our hotel is also the victim. We dont know where the cameras came from, Tong told the media. Public information shows that Linwu International Hotel was designed and constructed in accordance with Chinas five-star hotel standards. The main building has 21 floors and 167 guest rooms. Many media outlets and viewers questioned the hotels statement, finding the managers claim of victimhood irresponsible. How can the hotel call itself the victim? Red Star News, a Chinese state-owned media, questioned the hotels claim. Isnt it too much of a coincidence for a guest to find the only two hidden cameras in the hotel? And shouldnt the hotel be responsible for the privacy of its guests? Many commented on Weibo, a Chinese social media platform. The local police are still working on the case, and it is still unclear who installed the hidden cameras that were found. Chinas Massive Spy Camera Industry Hidden cameras are rampant in hotels across China. Hotels in Guangzhou, Xiamen, Zhengzhou, Luoyang, Xian, Shijiazhuang, and other cities have reported finding mini cameras in wall sockets. According to Jiemian News, a Chinese state-owned media, in 2016, hidden cameras were found in 35 hotels in 24 cities. Miniature cameras are easily concealed. According to an analysis by China News Service, they are commonly hidden in buttons, clothes hangers, air conditioners, floor lamps, shampoo dispensers, showers, set-top boxes, routers, water cups, electrical sockets, ceiling lamps, plants, etc. However, the most common places appear to be electrical wall sockets due to the power supply that allows the camera to operate long-term. The selling of hidden camera footage has become a black industry in China. In March of 2019, the Shandong Jining police uncovered an industry that installed hidden cameras in hotel guest rooms and sold the video recordings online. The police seized more than 300 miniature cameras and extracted more than 100,000 videos from those devices. The principal culprit sold the video recordings like a subscription service. Each camera had around 100 subscribers, who were charged between $16 and $47 per month for a viewing account. There would be an upcharge, ranging from $31 to $63 per month if subscribed through an agent. The Paper analyzed 66 cases of hotel hidden cameras in March of this year. It found that satisfying personal needs, extortion, and sales are the three primary purposes of the cameras. CCP Uses Hidden Cameras and Eavesdropping Devices to Spy and Blackmail An insider told The Epoch Times that the Chinese government also uses hidden cameras for spying and blackmail purposes. They are used not only in hotels but often during foreign dignitary visits and large business fairs. Information from laptops and personal documents is stolen when the person is away from the hotel room. Another insider told The Epoch Times that many hotel security managers are Chinese Communist Party (CCP) spies. They belong to either the Chinese public security or national security agencies. Nonetheless, the CCP doesnt only spy on foreigners, it often targets its own. Sohu News, a Chinese internet news network, reported in 2012 that a man named Qi Hong dismantled more than 40 eavesdropping devices for a Chinese official within a week. Later, many officials came to him for his service. In 2011, he removed more than 300 eavesdropping devices from hundreds of Chinese government officials cars, offices, and bedrooms. Qi said that CCP officials often hug each other when they meet to check whether the other party is wearing a spyware device. Important conversations are usually spoken in bath centers where they can have true peace of mind, Qi added. President Joe Biden signs the American Rescue Plan inside the Oval Office at the White House in Washington on March 11, 2021. (Tom Brenner/Reuters) Congresss New Unconstitutional Tax Mandate and Its Runaway Spending Power Commentary While the public focuses on the Biden administrations vaccination mandate, many are overlooking yet another new federal mandate: Congresss effort to ban state tax cuts. Congress passed the so-called American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) in March. The statute prohibits any state accepting ARPA funds from cutting state taxes if ARPA money reimburses the state directly or indirectly for funds reduce[d] from the tax cut. States must provide detailed records to federal regulators to justify their tax decisions. As a matter of policy, Congresss tax mandate makes no sense. If our goal is to recover from economic damage inflicted by COVID-19, then cutting taxes and unleashing private sector growth is the best way to do it. But the mandate is more than bad policy; its also unconstitutional. Last July, Ohio federal Judge Douglas R. Cole so ruled (pdf). Coles decision was based on modern Supreme Court 10th Amendment cases. Those cases say that if Congress wants to impose conditions on a state receiving federal dollars, Congress must lay out those conditions clearly. This enables state officials to understand the programs costs before they agree to participate. Cole found that ARPAs tax mandate wasnt sufficiently clear and therefore wasnt enforceable. This is a good result. But truth to tell, if the Constitution was still fully respected, this sort of litigation would rarely be necessary. It became necessary because of a couple of shameful Supreme Court decisions. The 2 Cases That Rewrote the Constitution The years from 1936 to about 1952 were perhaps the Supreme Courts worst period. You can criticize the present justices, as I sometimes do. But compared to the court from 1936 to 1952, todays bench is a paragon of judicial competence and virtue. The two cases that marked the beginning of this sad era were United States v. Butler (1936) (pdf) and Helvering v. Davis (1937) (pdf). The Butler case adjudicated the constitutionality of a federal agricultural subsidy program. There was no serious doubt the program was unconstitutional. Nothing in the Constitution gives Congress power to regulate agriculture directly. For 140 years, agriculture had been accepted as within state, rather than federal, jurisdiction. The court ultimately reached the right decision by ruling the federal program invalid. But along the way, it did some mischief: It inserted in its opinion completely unnecessaryand deeply erroneouscogitations about the Constitutions taxation clause (Article I, Section 8, Clause 1). The taxation clause, as its name implies, grants power to Congress to tax. After granting power to tax, the clause restricts that authority by requiring that taxes must be levied only for purposes of debt payment or to provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States. But the court theorized that instead of restricting congressional power, this language granted the power to Congress to spendand to spend anything it wanted on almost anything it pleased! This assertion directly contradicts the Constitutions text and what leading Founders had said about it. For example: In reading the text, the court ignored 18th-century word definitions. In 18th-century political discourse, common and general usually meant national rather than regional or special. Provide meant lay up provisions for, not spend (pdf). Thus, the phrase provide for the common Defence and general Welfare meant only that taxes were limited to storing up funds for national, rather than local or special-interest, purposes. Immediately after the taxation clause, the Constitutions text contains a long list of additional congressional powers. Other portions of the document add even more. Of course, all that verbiage would be largely pointless if the taxation clause gave Congress the authority to spend on anything it wants. The courts conclusion necessarily assumes that the Constitutions framers, although highly accomplished legal draftsmen, gratuitously inserted enormous blocks of useless script. The text also includes curbs on some of those additional powers. But if the taxation clause had given Congress power to spend whatever it wants on the common Defence and general Welfare, then those curbs would be nugatory. Again, draftsmen as accomplished as the framers do not waste language that way. Other constitutional provisions empower Congress to pay debts, fund certain programs, and defend the nation. Theres no need to read the taxation clause as authorizing expenditures. In view of all this, its not surprising that during the constitutional debates of 17871790, the Constitutions advocates uniformly affirmed that most spending programs would be administered by the states and would be outside congressional control (pdf). The only Founding-era source the court marshaled to support its conclusion was a single claim in a single paper written by Alexander Hamilton. But this paper was written after the Constitution was ratified and was sharply at odds with statements that Hamiltonand many other advocates of the Constitutionissued before ratification (pdf). Hamiltons claim apparently was part of a personal campaign to, in his words, triumph altogether over the state governments and reduce them into an entire subordination (pdf). It was not a good-faith interpretation of the Constitution. Fortunately, the courts ruminations in Butler werent binding authority. They were what lawyers call dictathat is, extraneous material not necessary to the decision of the case. The Conversion of Dicta Into Law Yet, the following year, the bench pretended those dicta were binding authority. Writing for the court in Helvering v. Davis, progressive Justice Benjamin Cardozo asserted: Congress may spend money in aid of the general welfare. United States v. Butler ; Steward Machine Co. v. Davis, supra. There have been great statesmen in our history who have stood for other views. We will not resurrect the contest. It is now settled by decision. United States v. Butler, supra. To put it bluntly, this statement was a lie. The Butler case hadnt settled any such thing. The courts ruminations on the spending power in the Butler opinion were extraneous to the case ruling, and the ruling effectively contradicted those ruminations. Cardozo also cited Charles C. Steward Machine Co. v. Davis (pdf), presumably because the courts opinion in Steward Machine mentioned the Butler dicta. But the issue in Steward Machine involved taxing, not spending. Moreover, Steward Machine was issued the very same day as Helvering and written by the very same justice. Cardozos only settled authority was himself. The truth is that in Butler and Helvering the justices effectively amended our Supreme Law without bothering to consult the people or the states, as the Constitution requires (Article V). What happened next exemplifies how a single constitutional change can trigger massive long-term consequences. Before these cases were decided, the federal government rarely incurred a peacetime budget deficit. After they were decided, the federal government ran deficits almost every year. These cases should have been reversed promptly by constitutional amendment, just as bad Supreme Court decisions had been overturned by the 11th and 14th Amendments. But because of the successive crises of the Depression and World War II, that didnt happen. So when you assign fault for our unsustainable national debt, dont limit the blame to spendthrift politicians. Blame also the Supreme Court justices who enabled them. Robert G. Natelson, a former constitutional law professor and legal historian, is senior fellow in constitutional jurisprudence at Colorados Independence Institute and author of The Original Constitution: What It Actually Said and Meant (3rd ed., 2015). Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, speaks at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on May 11, 2021. (Greg Nash/Pool via Reuters) COVID-19 Vaccines May Be Available to 5- to 11-Year-Olds by Early November: Fauci COVID-19 vaccines may be available for children between the ages of 5 and 11 as early as November, top infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci said on Oct. 24. If all goes well, and we get the regulatory approval, and the recommendation from the CDC [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention], its entirely possible, if not very likely, that vaccines will be available for children from 5 to 11 within the first week or two of November, Fauci told ABC. Pfizer in early October formally asked the Food and Drug Administration to expand the authorization for its COVID-19 vaccine to young children. On Oct. 11, the vaccine maker published a study suggesting that smaller doses of its shot are nearly 91 percent effective against symptomatic illness in children ages 511. A total of 2,268 children from ages 5 to 11 were included in the trial and received a dose of 10 micrograms, or one-third of the adult dose. Twice as many were given the child-level dose of the vaccine compared to others who received a placebo. Among those who received the placebo, 16 tested positive for COVID-19. Three cases were recorded among those who were administered the trial vaccine. The FDA said in a report on Oct. 22 that PfizerBioNTechs COVID-19 vaccine meets the agencys criteria for the immune response it generated in children aged 5 to 11; the agency also said that the vaccine would likely provide more benefits than risks in most scenarios. On Oct. 26, members of the FDAs Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee will hold a meeting to vote on whether they will recommend authorizing the shots. Advisers to the CDC are also scheduled to meet on Nov. 2 and Nov. 3 to give recommendations for the vaccine, which will help to inform a final decision by its director. If authorized, roughly 28 million more children in the United States would be eligible to receive the vaccine, making it the first U.S. COVID-19 vaccine for younger kids. Elsewhere during the Oct. 24 interview, Fauci weighed in on reports that the COVID-19 virus outbreak may have initially occurred in a laboratory. He said that the implication that the research led to COVID-19 is unconscionable and molecularly impossible. It comes as U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) announced on Oct. 19 that he is leading a group of Republicans in introducing a measure that will temporarily halt federal research grants from going to universities and other organizations that are conducting risky research on potential pandemic pathogens. In a statement announcing the new legislation, Marshall said the bill, known as the Viral Gain of Function Research Moratorium Act, was proposed in response to findings from congressional inquiries and media investigations into such research. Marshall said such probes had revealed national security issues, including federal agencies authorizing dangerous research with certain countries that may have contributed to the COVID-19 pandemic. Reuters contributed to this report. COVID-19 vaccines have been available since December 2020 under emergency use authorization. Many people have already rolled up their sleeves to take a shot or two, but the pressure is mounting for more to comply. At a recent White House press conference, President Joe Biden said as many as 98 percent of citizens would need to be vaccinated for the country to get back to normal. He indicated that those who are still holding out are not merely stalling our recovery, but harming public health. The vast majority of Americans are doing the right thing. Over 77 percent of adults have gotten at least one shot. About 23 percent havent gotten any shots, and thatthat distinct minority is causing an awful lot of us an awful lot of damage for the rest of the country, Biden said. This is a pandemic of the unvaccinated. Thats why Im moving forward with vaccination requirements wherever I can. Considering all the promotion and promised incentives that come with the new shot, it seems odd that anyone would choose to decline. Products from Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson and Johnson are all available for free, and endorsed by numerous experts and health agencies as safe and effective protection from COVID-19. But not all experts agree. Several doctors and scientists say there is a dark side to the vaccines that isnt getting the attention it deserves. On Aug. 20, internist, cardiologist, and epidemiologist Dr. Peter McCullough discussed his concerns with a presentation at the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Berrien Springs, Michigan. We have a situation where the vaccines dont work well enough in everyone, and it looks like theyre not safe enough either, he said. In a world where health experts are desperately trying to overcome vaccine hesitancy, McCulloughs statement is dangerous. It smacks of the kind of crazy conspiracy theories public health agencies and social media companies routinely warn us about. Were advised to avoid such misinformed hearsay and instead follow the science and advice of genuine medical professionals. The problem is that McCullough is one of the most credible medical experts youre likely to find, particularly in regard to treating COVID-19. Hes a journal editor, has published more than 650 peer-reviewed papers indexed in PUBMED, and is president of Cardio-Renal Society of America studying the interface between heart and kidney disease. No Initial Treatment While the vast majority of medical personnel have followed recommendations from health agencies such as the World Health Organization, the National Institutes of Health, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a growing number of doctors and physicians organizations are taking issue with the official response. A major point of contention among this group of skilled, rebel doctors is the strategy to avoid treating sick patients. Until the vaccine, health officials didnt have much to offer people who were sickened by COVID. The disease was so new, and no treatment had been properly tested, so nothing was recommended if anyone contracted the disease. Sick patients were instructed to stay home and quarantine, but were admitted to the hospital if symptoms became severe. The only care that severely ill and hospitalized patients regularly received was a ventilator and oxygen. This shocked McCullough. At the beginning of the pandemic, he imagined COVID would become a kind of medical Super Bowl, with courageous doctors all trying their best to tackle an incredible challenge. He never expected hospitals would simply sit on the sidelines and wait for a vaccine. He said it was the first time in his career he ever saw doctors not even try to treat their patients in the prehospital phase. Peter A. McCullough, MD, MPH, FACC, FAHA, FASN, FNKF, FNLA, FCRSA Chief Medical Advisor, Truth for Health Foundation President, Cardiorenal Society of America Editor-in-Chief, Reviews in Cardiovascular Medicine Senior Associate Editor, American Journal of Cardiology (Courtesy of Dr. McCullough) It became clear within a month or two that the bio-medical complex was not going to treat COVID, he said. Something got into the minds of doctors and nurses and everyone to not treat COVID-19, and I couldnt stand it. Despite the no-treatment strategy offered by health agencies, McCullough said he couldnt see patients die on his watch without at least attempting to save their lives. So he began working with colleagues in Italy to determine what drugs and treatment strategies might work. The team looked at all the features of the disease: how the virus replicates like crazy and sparks inflammation that eventually leads to micro-blood clots in the lungs impeding oxygen intake. Then, they turned to remedies that were known to address such symptoms, and that had proved clinically successful with doctors attempting to treat COVID-19. In August 2020, McCulloughs landmark paper, Pathophysiological Basis and Rationale for Early Outpatient Treatment of SARS-CoV-2 Infection, was published online in the American Journal of Medicine. It went viral. Its still the most downloaded and heavily relied upon paper for COVID-19 for outpatient treatment, he said. His follow-up paper, titled Multifaceted Highly Targeted Sequential Multidrug Treatment of Early Ambulatory High-Risk SARS-CoV-2 Infection (COVID-19), was published in Reviews in Cardiovascular Medicine in December 2020. It became the basis for the COVID-19 Home Treatment Guide available from the American Association of Physicians and Surgeons. These documents spread around the world among health workers seeking answers in treating COVID patients but were censored on social media because they promoted unproven and therefore potentially dangerous protocols. In some countries, doctors were threatened with losing their license or being arrested for using these treatments. In France, for example, Dr. Didier Raoult was put under severe restrictions for promoting the use of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ)a drug that was previously available over the counter in France until officials made it prescription only last year. In South Africa, another doctor was put in prison for prescribing ivermectin. For McCullough, it was just one more puzzling feature of the COVID-19 response. Since when does a doctor get put in prison [for trying] to help a patient with a simple, generic drug? he asked. Concerning Numbers To ensure patient safety, health agencies have insisted that potential treatments for COVID-19 undergo large, randomized trials for at least two to five years. The vaccines, however, were given a fast track toward public distribution. In just a few months after being manufactured, the shot was plunged into millions of arms around the world. The official story is that these new vaccines have been a resounding success. But in many instances, the numbers dont add up. Consider the CDCs own database of adverse reactions. According to the most recent numbers from the Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System (VAERS), more than 16,000 fatalities and almost 24,000 cases of permanent disability have been linked to COVID-19 vaccines. Yet not one of these cases seems to spark any official concern. The CDC said on its website that the two health agencies sponsoring the COVID-19 vaccine program (CDC and U.S. Food and Drug Administration) had doctors review the deaths reported to VAERS and determined that none of them were related to the vaccine. In the latest statement, the CDC stated on Oct. 6 that a review of available clinical information, including death certificates, autopsy, and medical records, has not established a causal link to COVID-19 vaccines. But McCullough doubts that regulators did an honest review. It takes a half an hour to do a report, and after you get through all the pages, it says, Warning, falsification is punishable by federal fines or imprisonment, he said. You better believe every single one of these reports is done by somebody who really really thinks its serious. An independent review of VAERS numbers backs up his suspicions. In an early pre-print, a study published in a journal from London found that 86 percent of the deaths reported to VAERS had no other explanation than the vaccine. About half the deaths occurred within 48 hours of getting the shot, and 80 percent occur within a week. Theres been no medical product thats been so tightly related to death than the COVID-19 vaccines, and its biologically plausible, McCullough said. The spike protein itself is lethal. It damages organs. It causes blood clots. It causes stroke. Theres no clear consensus on how many have actually been harmed by the vaccine, but how many deaths are acceptable to make a treatment worth its risk? Consider the swine flu vaccine of 1976 as a comparison. During that pandemic, about 20 percent of the country had received the new vaccine created to guard against the swine flu, but President Gerald Ford terminated the program when 25 deaths were linked to the treatment. Eventually, a total of 53 fatalities were related to the vaccine, and 550 people developed a disorder known as GuillainBarre syndrome, which causes muscle weakness and sometimes paralysis. The government offered liability coverage to cover the pharmaceutical manufacturers, and there were hundreds of compensation claims and the program was shut down. This became a standard of acceptability that we would ever accept from a medical product, McCullough said. If a product is linked to five unexplained deaths, the standard is to give it a black box warningWarning: May cause death. Fifty deaths? Its yanked off the market. Thats our tolerance for a product: 50 deaths within 30 days, irrespective of causality. But according to VAERS reports, by Jan. 22, there were already 182 deaths associated with COVID-19 vaccines. We already crossed the day of concern on January 22. And if there was a data safety and monitoring boardand I should know since I do this workthey would be having emergency meetings, saying: Wait a minute. People are dying after the vaccine. Weve got to figure out why. We have to do an investigation. Is it old people, young people, diabetics, those who previously recovered? he said. But we didnt hear any concern. And McCullough isnt the only doctor who questions the safety of the new vaccines. For example, the Evidence-Based Consulting Group in England, which is the lead consulting group to the WHO, analyzed the reports from the Yellow Card system (the UKs equivalent to VAERS) and concluded the vaccines are not safe. It is now apparent that these products in the bloodstream are toxic to humans. An immediate halt to the vaccination programme is required whilst a full and independent safety analysis is undertaken to investigate the full extent of the harms, which the UK Yellow Card data suggest include thromboembolism, multisystem inflammatory disease, immune suppression, autoimmunity and anaphylaxis, as well as Antibody Dependent Enhancement (ADE), the report states. Contributing to Infection But doesnt the vaccine at least slow the spread of a deadly disease? The unvaccinated are blamed for prolonging the pandemic, but McCullough points to research suggesting that its really the vaccinated who are responsible for COVIDs continued spread. It makes sense, since the vaccinated now can carry huge amounts of virus and thats probably whats fueling our Delta epidemic contributing to infection, he said. Our CDC tells us thats the case. The CDC on July 26 said through spontaneous reports (COVID-19 Vaccine Breakthrough Case Investigation and Reporting), it shows 6,587 hospitalized or fatal vaccine breakthrough cases reported to CDC, 19 percent died. The vaccines dont stop COVID 19, at least not completely. They are not a shield against mortality, and our CDC is telling us. Treatment Tips While vaccines get all the attention, McCullough offers several other tips he recommends for treating COVID-19. First, self-quarantine at home, contact trace, and ventilate your house. Open the windows, he said. The virus hates fresh air. In Singapore, they did studies that [showed] if youre outside, its impossible to transmit the virus. Another important tip is to treat early. Avoid going into the hospital. Early treatment is what decides a severe case or not. Demand it. Ask your doctor, Are you ready to treat me? If not, go to a telemedicine service, he said. We estimate that 85 percent of Americans who died of COVID died needlessly because they were denied early treatment. We couldnt save them all, but we could have made a huge impact. For early treatment, you can start simple with nutraceuticals: particularly vitamins C and D, zinc, and quercetin. McCullough says they dont save severely ill patients, but studies show deficiencies in these nutrients put you at greater risk. We cant prove the vitamins are helpful, but the data show theyre supportive. And why not? Theyre cheap, he said. Other recommendations include hydroxychloroquine (which, supported by 250 studies, is the most widely used drug in the world to treat COVID-19) or ivermectin (a drug supported by more than 60 studies.) The only studies that dont show a great benefit from hydroxychloroquine are late-stage patients on a mechanical ventilator, he said. But all the early treatment studies of hydroxychloroquine show it works. If you do end up in the hospital, McCullough recommends a monoclonal antibody infusion, such as Regeneron. Its what President Donald Trump took to treat his COVID. Its widely available, but its not getting to many patients who could use it. McCullough said many doses of the drug are going unused on the shelf because of this mentality of not treating COVID. Demand monoclonal antibodies, he said. While theres still a significant amount of fear surrounding COVID-19, he says all the data suggest its a very treatable disease. Unfortunately, the predominant view is one in which every person, even those with natural immunity or a risk for adverse reactions, should be forced to get the vaccine. Half the nation is about ready to lose their jobs in the next few months, including me. Really? Since when? A vaccine is going to make us lose our jobs? The fact that the vaccine doesnt work well enough or long enoughand obviously is not safe in everyoneadds to the indignity. Were in a mass psychosis. COVID 19 is a global disaster, and, unfortunately, the vaccine is making it worse. Democrat Rep. Anthony Brown Leaving House, Launching Bid for Maryland Attorney General Rep. Anthony Brown (D-Md.) is the 14th Democrat in the House of Representatives who wont be running for re-election after announcing on Monday a bid to succeed Marylands attorney general. Weve made progress over the years, but too many barriers exist for too many Marylanders, from health care and housing to the environment and education, to workplaces, policing and the criminal justice system, Brown, 59, said in his campaign announcement video. Im running for attorney general to dismantle those barriers. Marylands current attorney general, Democrat Brian Frosh, is retiring in 2022. Brown represents Marylands 4th Congressional District, which is mainly made up of portions of Prince Georges County. He has represented the district since 2017. He easily won re-election in 2020 with nearly 80 percent of the vote. Brown has had a long career in politics. He was a member of Marylands General Assembly before serving at Marylands lieutenant governor. He launched a gubernatorial bid that failed before winning his first House race. Glenn Ivey, a Democrat and former Prince Georges County prosecutor, is planning to run for the seat Brown is leaving. Brown is the 14th Democrat congressmember to announce theyre not running for another term. Eight Democrats, including Reps. Michael Doyle (D-Pa.) and David Price (D-N.C.), are retiring. The others are seeking other offices, including Senate seats. Republicans say the wave signals how the 2022 midterms will break. Anthony Brown made the smart decision to seek a different office because House Democrats are going to lose their majority, Mike Berg, spokesman for the National Republican Congressional Committee, said in a statement. Democrats currently hold 220 seats. Republicans have 212. House seats are up for election every two years. Republicans flipped a net of approximately 15 seats in the 2020 elections in the lower chamber. But they failed to gain the majority and lost the Senate. Democrats enjoy a one-vote majority in the 50-50 Senate because Vice President Kamala Harris can cast tiebreaking votes in her role as president of the upper chamber. EpochTV Review: Just Because Youre Paranoid, It Doesnt Mean Theyre Not After You Commentary Ive had the pleasure now of reviewing several episodes of Counterpunch, and while I sometimes feel like Im falling through the looking glass into a world where theres a communist behind every bush, I am intensely grateful to have a host like Trevor Loudon breaking down the very real dangers of rising communist and socialist movements around the globe. That the Southern Poverty Law Center and Media Matters consider Loudon to be a right-wing conspiracy theorist really only serves to let you know that hes probably onto something big. He may come across occasionally as a man who has a room in his home with a wall of faces and names connected by push pins and string, but that doesnt mean hes off the mark. If anything, it indicates the opposite. Its a good thing Loudon has such a naturally soothing speaking voice, because the topics he discusses in The Communist Connections Behind Whats Happening at the U.S. Border are deeply, deeply troubling. Unless youve been living under a rock or only vote for Democrats, you know whats happening at Americas southern border. Theres no way to avoid the total chaos of migrants illegally flooding into the country for the last nine months, unless you want to avoid it and plan to live as if Twitter is real life. Even foreign countries know whats going on down in (mostly) Texas and Arizona, with the few friends we have left probably wondering if were okay (were not), while our growing list of enemies salivate at the idea of just how easy it is these days to cross into the United States undetected. Our growing list of enemies is the focus of Loudons concern, since it seems one is sitting right on our southern border. Mexicos new president, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador or AMLO, may have had a pleasant relationship with Donald Trump, but Loudon explains that hes a fan of Simon Bolivar; would love to see a Bolivarian-style revolution to unite all the South American countries under one open-border umbrella; has communist roots, and an ultimate goal of dissolving the border between the United States and Mexico. One would be hard-pressed to illustrate how our southern border is not effectively, at this moment, dissolved, even though the Trump administration clearly showed that the constant tide of illegal immigration could be effectively fought and even stopped. That AMLO was willing to enforce Trumps Remain in Mexico policy during the previous administration proves that he is capable of keeping migrants from crossing into the United States. He isnt now because he simply doesnt want to. As Loudon further explains, AMLO has communist roots going back to the 1970s and is now the head of his own political party, MORENA. MORENA is not openly communist, but it is left wing, and with his Partys support he is rumored to be planning to drive his country straight off a cliff. If he achieves this goal, the United States will have Venezuela 2.0 sitting on its southern border. Nothing about this will be accidental, as AMLO also has ties to the Sao Paulo Forum (SPF), which was founded in part by Fidel Castro and has been working to flip South American countries into socialist forms of government since the 1990s. The SPF ultimately wanted to rebuild the old communist block of Eastern European countries in South America, and members of the SPF currently head the governments in Argentina, Bolivia, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Nicaragua, Cuba, Saint Lucia, Panama, Peru, and now Mexico. In many of these countries, the parties that belong to the Forum openly state they are communist or socialist, and our neighbor to the south happily rubs elbows with them. It isnt hard to see why this is a very big problem when the southern border looks like a giant slice of Swiss cheese. Its bleaker than that, though, as Loudon explains that the Democratic Socialists of America, which has six members in Congress, far more members at the state level, has a firm grip among unions, and has even wormed its way into churches, is signing on to the SPF. Despite their many claims that Democratic Socialism isnt really socialism, it absolutely is giving AMLO an ally within our borders and our government for what he wants to do. Loudon reiterates that what he wants to do is turn Mexico into a fully socialist country before reminding the viewers of the tragedy of Venezuela. It took less than 20 years for socialism to cripple what was once the wealthiest country in South America, to the point where a roll of toilet paper is now unaffordable to ordinary Venezuelans. The current U.S. supply chain crisis is giving Americans a look at what Venezuela is like, though at leastat the momentwe can be reasonably sure at some point well have chicken on the shelves again. The Communist Connections Behind Whats Happening at the U.S. Border | Counterpunch [Full episode] Watch the full episode here. Venezuela is now under the control of the Cubans, the Chinese, and the Russians, with Islamic terrorists like Hezbollah mixed in for good measure. Meanwhile Venezuelans live in abject poverty. Loudon uses this history lesson to first, inform his listeners that 20 percent of Venezuelas 30 million citizens now live as refugees somewhere else; and second, to point out that Mexico has 130 million citizens sitting right next door. If Mexico becomes the next Venezuela, where would 20 percent of their population be most likely to go? To the south, into countries that have already been destroyed by socialism, or to the north into the United States? It isnt hard to deduce the answer to this question. Many on the left would call these kinds of concerns, the idea that we might literally be flooded with Mexicans in a few years, thinly-veiled xenophobia. Only the problem isnt with anyones skin color. The problem is with their politics, and if weve learned anything just from American politics, its that when leftists leave an area theyve destroyed, they take their politics with them. People fleeing San Francisco dont seem capable of understanding that their city has gone to rot because of the very policies they voted for, so they move to Austin, vote for the same policies, and ruin that city, too. The entire state of North Carolina is trending more towards purple every year thanks to residents from blue states like New York who decide they cant live with any more tax increases, only to head south and vote for more taxes. Loudon explains that this happens with second and third generations of families that fled communist countries as well, that they either forget or never learned what its like to live under communist rule and vote for the policies that ruined the countries their parents or grandparents fled. This is why the idea of potentially taking in 20 percent of Mexicos population is terrifying to anyone who values freedom. Loudon doesnt see the Biden administration as particularly caring about any of this, as the administration is either ignoring or oblivious to the fact that AMLO is working with the Nicaraguans and Chinese. No one can really argue that Biden actually does care when he put Kamala Harris in charge of the border and shes only been down there once. Biden himself has apparently never been to the border in his entire career, and he certainly wont go now. Loudon describes what is happening at the border as an invasion, which is again difficult to argue with when the Biden administration has done nothing to rein in the migration and is instead quietly shuttling illegal immigrants throughout the country. Loudon asserts that Bidens team has no interest in protecting our border, and is instead working to collapse the country internally the way they have collapsed our reputation on the world stage through the Afghanistan debacle. Loudon finishes the episode with a dive into Liberation Road, which is a reworking of La Raza from the 1970s that sought to have several southern states and portions of western states returned to Mexico. Liberation Road is now working to push AMLOs agenda in Mexico to help speed along the collapse, having learned that its easier to use a countrys laws against them to overthrow it than it is to stage a violent revolution. They want massive amounts of immigrants to flood the United States who will ultimately never be removed, and there is yet again no way to argue that this isnt happening. Loudon hammers home the dangers of this, that it is an existential crisis, that our administration and federal government know about it but are either too feckless to do anything or are in favor of letting communists and terrorists waltz right through our front door. As Loudon states in his opening, we are running out of time to combat this, so watch and share this episode as soon as you can. Counterpunch premiers every Wed and Saturdayexclusive on EpochTV. Follow EpochTV on social media: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EpochTVus Twitter: https://twitter.com/EpochTVus Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/EpochTV Gettr: https://gettr.com/user/epochtv Gab: https://gab.com/EpochTV Telegram: https://t.me/EpochTV Parler: https://parler.com/#/user/EpochTV Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. European Union flags flutter outside the EU Commission headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, on May 5, 2021. (Yves Herman/Reuters) EU Postpones Free Trade Talks With Australia for 2nd Time The European Union (EU) have delayed trade talks with Australia again amid ongoing displeasure from the French government at the surprise announcement of the AUKUS deal, which saw Australia cancel an AU$90 billion (US$64 billion) submarine project. Australian Trade Minister Dan Tehan revealed that the 12th round of talks with the EU had been postponed for a second time this month. The talks were initially scheduled for October but were first pushed out until November and now will be delayed a further three months until February 2022. The European Union have advised the Australian government that Round 12 of the FTA negotiations will now take place in February, Tehan said in a statement to Reuters. November is also a busy month in the diplomatic calendar, with the COP26 conference due in Scotland, which has seen the Australian government weather increasing pressure from foreign governments and legacy media to take more action on climate change. The fallout from the AUKUS deal has dominated headlines in recent weeks, with France even withdrawing its ambassadors from Australia and the United States after the governments decision to sever the troubled Future Submarines Project with the French defence contractor, Naval Group, was announced. The original 2016 plan was for Naval to convert 12 of its Barracuda-class nuclear submarines into diesel-electric powered Attack-class submarines fitted with U.S. weapons systems. However, the ambitious project has been riddled with ongoing delays and cost blowouts from original estimates of AU$10 billion to AU$89.7 billion. Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison estimated AU$2.4 billion (US$1.7 billion) had already been sunk into the project before construction had begun. The AUKUS deal would see Australia look to explore the acquisition of eight nuclear-powered submarines from the United States or the United Kingdom. French ministers reacted angrily to the announcement, accusing Australia and the United States of stabbing it in the back and recalling its ambassadors from Canberra and Washington D.C. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also questioned whether the incident could affect a potential trade deal with Australia. Australia was hoping a trade deal with the EU would give its exporters access to a market of 450 million people and cuts to tariffs protecting the trade bloc. Dr. Anthony Fauci is seen in New York City in a file photograph. (Jeenah Moon/Getty Images) Fauci Pushes Back After New Documents on US-Funded Virus Research in China Fuel Criticism Top American health officials who critics say misled Congress with claims regarding U.S.-funded virus research in China are pushing back after documents were released appearing to show that the United States did pay for gain-of-function research, contrary to the officials testimony. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) sent the documents last week to lawmakers. They show that the NIH funded research that increased the function of coronaviruses and MERS, experts said. Dr. Francis Collins, the head of the NIH, and Dr. Anthony Fauci, who heads one of the institutes, told Congress earlier this year that the agency did not fund gain-of-function research. Critics said the new documents were further proof Collins and Fauci misled Congress. In the letter they acknowledge that yes, the viruses did gain in function, they became more dangerous. So theyve created a virus that doesnt exist in nature to become more dangerous, that is gain-of-function, Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), a doctor, said on an Axios on HBO episode released Sunday. You take an unknown virus, you combine it with another virus and you get a super virus. You have no idea whether it gains functions or loses function, thats what the experiment is, but I dont know how anybody could argue that thats not gain-of-function research, he added later. Fauci, though, is insisting that his testimony to Congress was not undercut by the agencys disclosures. Neither I nor Dr. Francis Collins, the director of the NIH, lied or misled about what weve done, he said on ABCs This Week. A key issue in the arguments revolves around how the parties define gain-of-function, a type of research that generally means increasing a biological agents transmissibility or pathogenicity. Fauci acknowledged using a narrower term established under a framework (pdf) issued in late 2017 after the agency lifted a funding pause on most gain-of-function research. That term is called gain-of-function research of concern and entails a small subset of gain-of-function research projects that entail risks that are potentially significant enough to warrant additional oversight, according to the NIH. Under those conditions which we have explained very, very clearly, [the research in question] does not constitute research of gain-of-function of concern, Fauci said. There are people who interpret it that way, but when you look at the framework under which the guidance is, that is not the case. Fauci used the broader term before a Senate panel on May 11. The NIH and NIAID categorically has not funded gain-of-function research to be conducted in the Wuhan Institute of Virology, he said at the time. Gain-of-function research describes a type of research that modifies a biological agent so that it confers new or enhanced activity to that agent, the NIH said on its website, before removing the description last week. The Wuhan labs that comprise the institute are located near where the first cases of COVID-19 were detected in late 2019. The newly disclosed documents from the EcoHealth Alliance, which funneled NIH grant money to the institute, outline research conducted between June 1, 2018 and May 31, 2019. Collins, who is stepping down before the end of the year, has also pushed back against critics, telling The Washington Post that the research did not meet the definition of gain-of-function. Some experts disagree. The genetic manipulation of both MERS and the SARS conducted in Wuhan clearly constituted gain-of-function experiments, Jonathan Latham, executive director of the Bioscience Research Project, told The Epoch Times in an email. Others have said the experiments were risky and should not have been conducted. EcoHealth Alliance has not responded to requests for comment. An RCMP crest is seen on a member's uniform in a file photo. (Shannon VanRaes/File Photo via Reuters) Federal Employee and Police Advocacy Groups Protest Vaccine Mandates A federal employees advocacy group is protesting the Canadian governments COVID-19 vaccine mandates for federal workers. Feds for Freedom, an advocacy group formed by thousands of federally regulated employees, says it has sent a petition with over 1,200 signatures to the Public Service Alliance of Canadas (PSAC) union leadership, demanding they come to the table to discuss the violation of both workplace and human rights caused by the federally-imposed vaccine mandate. We are steadfast in our certainty that the employer has no legal or moral right to threaten or enforce these mandates. We are also steadfast in our certainty that we deserve a public advocate, Feds for Freedom said in an Oct. 23 news release. The release said the group was giving PSAC a final opportunity to begin a dialogue and if they did not receive a response, would then consider ourselves to be free of any obligation to follow the union process in dealing with the employer. We hope that PSAC gives serious consideration to scheduling a meeting with us, and that PSACs leadership will consider the ramifications that a mass opt-out campaign might have, the release said. The advocacy group said PSAC, which is Canadas largest civil service union, has so far ignored their letter and members request to uphold their rights, which is leading down a path towards the dereliction of their duties of fair representation. Beginning Oct. 25, Feds for Freedom members will launch a peaceful sit-in at the PSAC Union Headquarters in Ottawa, demanding the PSAC schedule a meeting with the groups members. In response to The Epoch Times request for comment, PSAC referred to a statement made by its national president Chris Aylward in regards to the Oct. 25 sit-in. As a union, we absolutely respect everyones right to protest. We also encourage all our members, including the protesters outside PSACs national office, to get vaccinated unless they have a valid medical or other human rights exemption, Aylward said. PSAC President Chris Aylward speaks during a news conference in Ottawa, on Oct. 31. 2018. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press) In a separate statement, Feds for Freedom said that while they are not against vaccines, they oppose vaccine mandates on principle. We believe that as every individuals body and situation is different, allowing for government interjection into medical decisions between an individual and their health care provider sets a dangerous precedent, said the statement. We believe the right to medical privacyand to be free from discrimination on that basisis essential. Not only to us as a labour force, but to society as a whole. Meanwhile, an advocacy group for law enforcement officers called Mounties for Freedom sent an open letter to RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki on Oct. 21, announcing their stance against the forced coercive medical intervention of Canadians. Police officers are expected to preserve the peace, uphold the law, and defend the public interest. We strongly believe that forced and coerced medical treatments undermine all three and, thus, contradict our duties and responsibilities to Canadians, read the letter. Representing actively serving police officers across the country, the group said the COVID-19 vaccine mandates have resulted in discrimination against the unvaccinated population and is causing segregation within families and communities, as well as between law enforcement and the Canadian populace they protect. As representatives of our communities within the RCMP and representatives of the RCMP in our communities, we have never witnessed such division in our country, the group said in a statement. This sense of Us versus Them will be further fuelled by having a police force consisting only of vaccinated people, while serving communities consisting of unvaccinated people, which goes against the community policing model the RCMP has strived to achieve. Police talk with people as they gather in a park in Montreal on April 4, 2021. (The Canadian Press/Graham Hughes) The statement went on to say the high degree of stress and mental illness that police officers experience due to the nature of their duties has been compounded considerably by the vaccine mandates. The federal government announced on Oct. 6 that federal public servants in the Core Public Administration, including members of the RCMP, are required to confirm their vaccination status by Oct. 29, 2021. Those unwilling to disclose their vaccination status or to be fully vaccinated will be placed on administrative leave without pay as early as Nov. 15, 2021. Mounties for Freedom said many federal employees have been threatened to be sent home without pay for refusing the vaccine and called on the RCMP commissioner to come to their defence. We also ask that you challenge the federal governments decision to send Mounties home without pay for decisions theyve made on beliefs protected by Canadian laws. Neither the RCMP, nor the communities they serve, can endure the loss of experienced police officers, the statement read. The group also called for an investigation into, and full disclosure of, how decisions around government-mandated pandemic health measures are made and provide evidence that they are reasonable, provable, and guided by law. If presented with all available evidence in a court, we firmly believe the government implemented mandates would not hold up under scrutiny, read the letter. Florida Gov. Ron Desantis speaks during a campaign rally by Donald Trump at Pensacola International Airport in Pensacola, Fla., on Oct. 23, 2020. (Tom Brenner/Reuters) Florida Actively Recruiting Police Officers From Other States, Plans to Give $5,000 Bonuses: DeSantis Florida officials are openly recruiting law enforcement officers from other states, including those that have imposed COVID-19 vaccine requirements, Gov. Ron DeSantis said on Oct. 24. In Florida, not only are we going to want to protect the law enforcement and all the jobs, were actually actively working to recruit out-of-state law enforcement because we do have needs in our police and our sheriffs departments, DeSantis, a Republican, told Fox News. DeSantis announced a policy proposal in August to recruit law enforcement officers from other states, which includes a plan for a $5,000 bonus for officers who had never before worked in a law enforcement capacity in Florida. The governor is working with state lawmakers to approve legislation and appropriate funding for the proposal and several others aimed at law enforcement, Christina Pushaw, his press secretary, told The Epoch Times via email. The matter isnt expected to be part of an upcoming planned special legislative session, but likely will be tackled during the next regular session, which begins in January 2022. In the next legislative session, Im going to hopefully sign legislation that gives a $5,000 bonus to any out-of-state law enforcement that relocates in Florida, so NYPD, Minneapolis, Seattle, if youre not being treated well, well treat you better here. You can fill important needs for us and well compensate you as a result, DeSantis told Fox News. Vaccine mandates imposed in multiple cities and states, including Washington state, have led to hundreds of officers resigning or being fired. Some agencies in Florida have already found success in seeking recruits in other states. The Lakeland Police Department traveled to New York earlier this year and was able to find 13 recruits from the NYPD to fill vacancies. Matt Spoto, one of those officers, told a press conference in September that the pitch from a Lakeland detective was an eye-opener. He said that you could park your police vehicles in front of your house. And to me, I thought that was mind-blowing. I used to have to lie about what I used to do. I used to have to tell people I was like a bartender because I was, it was almost like I was ashamed to be a law enforcement officer, he said. Im happy to say that I found a home in Florida. Spoto received a $1,000 signing bonus. DeSantis authorized the bonuses for first responders in March. The governor also has signed a law that makes it more difficult for municipalities to cut funding for law enforcement. The American flag flies outside the US Department of Justice in Washington, DC on March 22, 2019. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP/Getty Images) Former Air War College Professor Pleads Guilty to Concealing Contacts With Chinese Official A former professor at the Air War College has pleaded guilty to making false statements regarding his relationship with a Chinese regime official, the Justice Department (DOJ) announced on Oct. 25. Zhang Xiaoming, a former civilian professor at the Air War College at Maxwell Air Force Base in Montgomery, Alabama, pleaded guilty to making false statements to a federal agent, according to a statement by the DOJ. Zhang, a naturalized citizen of Chinese descent who began teaching in the Air War Colleges department of leadership and strategy in 2003, frequently traveled to mainland China to conduct research for work and to visit relatives, according to the statement. It was during one of these visits in 2012 that Zhang became acquainted with and developed a relationship with a known foreign official of the Shanghai municipal government. According to the DOJ, Zhang went on to meet the official in person on at least six occasions and exchanged approximately 40 emails with them over the course of slightly more than four years, spanning from December 2012 to January 2017. At an undisclosed period during this time, prosecutors said that Zhang became aware that the Chinese official was attempting to use him to gain access to sensitive information in his possession and to make connections through him with other individuals who might have valuable information. As an employee of the Air War College, Zhang held a secret security clearance and attended security training sessions that kept him abreast of various reporting requirements concerning suspicious foreign contacts and relationships with foreign government officials, according to the statement. Zhang didnt report the relationship, even after learning that the official was attempting to gather sensitive information from him, the DOJ stated. According to the State Departments recounting of his plea agreement, Zhang made misleading or false statements to authorities on multiple occasions for the purpose of concealing his relationship with the official. Notably, in August 2017, Zhang denied knowing the official in question when he was asked about the relationship by investigators as part of the process of renewing his eligibility to maintain a secret security clearance. In 2020, Zhang repeated his denial to FBI agents before relenting and admitting the extent of his relationship with the official, the department said. He also acknowledged that he concealed the relationship because he knew it was improper. Zhang pleaded guilty to making false statements to a federal agent and will face a maximum of five years in prison, as well as being required to give up any government employment, contracts, or security clearances. Representatives of Air University, which houses Air War College, didnt immediately respond to a request by The Epoch Times for comment. The logo of Russia's state communications regulator, Roskomnadzor, is reflected in a laptop screen showing Google start page, in this picture illustration taken on May 27, 2021. (Maxim Shemetov/Illustration/File Photo/Reuters) Google Pays Fines to Russia Over Failing to Remove Content Deemed Illegal American tech giant Google has paid Russia more than 32 million rubles ($455,079) in fines for not deleting content deemed illegal by Moscow, a Russian lawmaker said on Monday. Today, the figure of fines issued by Google for not removing illegal content was announced in the amount of 32.5 million rubles, said Vasilii Piskarev, head of the Russian Committee on Security and Corruption Control, Russian news agency Interfax quoted him as saying. Marco Pancini told us that they paid these fines, Piskarev noted, speaking at an Oct. 25 news conference after the final results of online meetings between Russian officials and the management of Google and YouTube. Pancini leads YouTubes public policy work in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. Pancini said in a blog post that Google had paid all enforced fines on time. These stood at 32.5 million rubles for this year, communications regulator Roskomnadzor said last week. Roskomnadzor said last week that if Google fails to pay the penalties levied so far this year, it would seek a fine of 5 to 20 percent of Googles Russian turnover, which could reach as much as $240 million. The fines come as Moscow accused the U.S. tech giant of repeatedly failing to delete banned content on its search engine and YouTube. Roskomnadzor announced on Monday it has the technical capability to slow down the speed of YouTube, Interfax reported, but that administrative measures are currently sufficient. In 2020, Googles compliance with requests to delete content was 96.2 percent, Pancini said, and in the first half of this year, it removed over 489,000 videos, but Russia said too much banned content still remained available. Piskarev said last week that this included child pornography. Russia has ordered other foreign tech firms to delete posts promoting drug abuse and dangerous pastimes, information about homemade weapons and explosives, as well as ones by groups it designates as extremist or terrorist. The Russian lawmaker also noted that, throughout Mondays dialogue, Pancini has declared that Google will comply with Moscows laws and are ready to interact with our state bodies and with deputies as well, Interfax reported. Pancini told Piskarev during the meeting that technical difficulties blocked Googles ability to delete all of the content deemed illegal. Reuters contributed to this report. Halloween-Loving Canadian Moves Overseas, Now His Rescued Dogs Wear His Best-Made Costumes When an English teacher moved from Canada to Taiwan, he couldnt bear to leave his favorite holiday, nor his love for costume making, behind. Infused with the Halloween spirit, his two rescued dogs now delight the East Asian locals with hilarious handmade costumes. Steve McKay, 42, who originally hails from British Columbia, told The Epoch Times that kids at English schools in Taiwan always dress up and have some activities and he thus always needed a costume. He then came up with something that was homemade and also relatable. Additionally, after attending a huge Halloween party in Taipei where his friend dressed up as a Taiwanese beer can, Steve was inspired to try and create a funny Taiwanese-themed costume every year. My first costume was Taiwan bubble tea, it was a huge success, Steve, who stays in Zhubei, told The Epoch Times. In the next few years, I started going to a Halloween party that had costume contests and I started winning some money. I often teamed up with my friend to win the team prize. However, the talented teacher jokingly admitted that he hasnt yet been able to convince his wife to wear a costume. Steve did, instead, decide to get his rescued dogs involved in the fun. Buster and Beans, two sickly strays that were taken in by Steve and his wife, are now happy, healthy, and enjoying Steves favorite holiday. Buster is completely fine wearing anything, Steve said. In some photos, he looks serious, but thats only because he is looking at a dog treat. I dont even think he notices the costumes! Meanwhile, Beans, he says, wont wear everything, but she seems completely unbothered by hats, wigs, and clothing. Steve recalls being crafty since his childhood when his parents encouraged him to dress up on Halloween, go trick or treating, and put up decorations, play music, and carve out pumpkins at the porch in their house. He and his sister even won pumpkin-carving contests together. Halloween was always something I got really excited about when I was a kid, he said. At first, Steves wife teased him for being ridiculous and crazy. However, Busters first outfit won her over. She shared a funny photo on social media and Buster and Beans pages soon began to gain a following. Now she doesnt think its so silly! Steve said. Some of Steves favorite costumes include a pair of homemade cacti and a bee and sunflower for his dogs, while his most popular ones were foods such as the Taiwan Noodle costume and the Xiao Long Bao; although the bubble tea costume remains his favorite for being simple and funny. The worst costume? Steve pondered, admitting to The Epoch Times, I spent weeks making my dog mechanical arms so he could look like a weightlifter, and it didnt work out well. But it was fun trying! Steve admits that his 2021 Halloween costume-making venture has become stressful since everyone is expecting something, yet he has still been inspired to make dog costumes for popular Taiwanese holidays, including Dragon Boat Festival, Moon Festival, and Taiwans National Day on Oct. 10. As to how people react to his costumes, Steve said: Most people love the costumes, or get a good laugh. A few people are angry that I dress my dogs up; I admit dressing your dogs in costumes may be pretty ridiculous. The attention has been doing some good, though, and the dogs dont seem to mind. Buster and Beans both initially had a rough start in life. When Steve and his wife found Buster wandering the streets as a puppy in 2016, he was following people, begging for food. With patchy fur and skin problems, he won the couple over with his wiggly, funny personality and incredible smarts. Steve says the now-5-year-old dog has learned myriad tricks, including catching a frisbee and jumping through his arms. Meanwhile, the couple found Beans hiding inside a roll of material near the beach as a tiny puppy, riddled with skin problems. She screamed and cried when they pulled her out of her hiding spot, Steve regaled, but today shes a big grumpy, security dog, and loves to run with her tongue hanging out. Rescuing these dogs, Steve believes, is the best thing they have ever done, as many people used to think negatively towards black dogs and street dogs in Taiwan, Steve explained. The popularity of the dogs funny costumes, and their growing social media presence on both Facebook and Instagram, have allowed Steve and his wife to rescue and rehome many more dogs. They have even started their very own dog-treat business. Additionally, Steve doesnt plan on hanging up the scissors, felt, and glue gun any time soon! 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 Its 206 BCE and the Qin Dynasty has fallen. Xiang Yu rules as hegemon king over 18 vassal kings. Fearing he might challenge his power, Xiang Yu has exiled Liu Bang, the king of Han, to the remote land of Hanzhong. Missing their homes, many of Liu Bangs soldiers and generals desert. Han Xin, a low ranking officer, helps one of these soldiers and is sentenced to death. Yet this is no ordinary young man and Han Xin is given another chance to prove his worth to the king. About Han Xin: Join us on a quest to discover the legendary heroes who shaped Chinas 5000-year-old history. Their unbelievable feats have been passed down to us through stories and idioms. Today we bring them to you through our brand new docudrama series. We begin our journey with Han Xin, the outstanding general who helped Liu Bang establish the Han dynasty, a period that shaped China for more than two millennia. We first meet him as a poor young man who can barely feed himself, humbled by the charity of a washerwoman. We follow his rise as the Han kingdoms general-in-chief and watch him take on Xiang Yu, Chinas most powerful ruler. Along the way, we learn from his invincible battle strategies, and in the end reflect upon his untimely death. After 11 episodes, we leave you with a valuable piece of Chinas history, and also strategic and life lessons from the man known in history as the God of War. Epoch Cinema: http://epochcinema.com Epoch Original: http://epochoriginal.com Feature Films: https://www.theepochtimes.com/c-new-release-rentals Follow EpochTV on social media: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EpochTVus Twitter: https://twitter.com/EpochTVus Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/EpochTV Gettr: https://gettr.com/user/epochtv Gab: https://gab.com/EpochTV Telegram: https://t.me/EpochTV Parler: https://parler.com/#/user/EpochTV You May Also Like: Feature Film Suing the Devil New release: 20 Minutes David & Goliath | Feature Film Epoch Cinema New Release: Interview with the Antichrist Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam speaks during a news conference following the annual policy address in Hong Kong, China, on Oct. 6, 2021. (Lam Yik/Reuters) Hong Kongs Zero-COVID Policy Threatens Financial Hub Status: Finance Industry Group Asias largest financial lobby group is mounting pressure on Hong Kongs government to rethink its zero-COVID policy and ease travel restrictions for international travelers, warning that the citys status as a financial hub is at risk. The Asia Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (ASIFMA) wrote an open letter (pdf) to Hong Kongs Financial Secretary Paul Chan, saying that a survey of members, including Goldman Sachs and BlackRock, showed 48 percent were considering relocating staff or functions out of the city due to operational challenges. Some of these challenges include uncertainty regarding when and how travel and quarantine restrictions will be lifted, Mark Austen, chief executive of ASIFMA wrote. With ongoing travel restrictions, a zero-COVID policy in place, and limited detail on an exit strategy from these policies, an unintended consequence is that Hong Kongs status as an IFC [international financial center] is increasingly at risk along with its long-term economic recovery and competitiveness as a premier place to do business, wrote Austen. Hong Kong has some of the most stringent travel restrictions in the world, and the Chinese-ruled city currently has no public plan for opening up to international travelers. Earlier this month, Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam told Bloomberg News that even one COVID-19 death would be a major concern for the city. The letter made a series of recommendations including publishing a roadmap for exiting Hong Kongs zero-case based COVID-19 strategy beyond solely the immediate goal of opening borders with China, as well as prioritizing vaccinations against COVID-19, the disease caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus. The Hong Kong government should phase out travel restrictions, and eventually accept that it will be necessary to live with COVID-19, Austen wrote. The rest of the world is moving on, and Hong Kong isnt articulating a plan that gives individuals the certainty they need, said Austen. Some firms are moving operations, its not a huge amount right now. The longer this goes on, the more difficult it is for firms to keep those positions in Hong Kong. The Government must do its utmost to foster informed dialogue and full consideration of the long-term risks to livelihoods if its borders remain effectively closed, in contrast to competing international financial and business centres, Austen added. Reuters contributed to this report. In Nigeria, Fulani Pastor Preaches Christianity in Muslim No-Go Zones I know I will be killed. In fact, I am presently hunted, but I dont care, said Rev. Buba Aliyu, a former Muslim from the Fulani tribe. The Fulani tribe is one of the largest tribes in Africa and one of the most predictably Muslim. Yet Aliyu, who converted to Christianity in 1995, serves as a pastor with the Church of the Brethren in Nigeria. Despite constant threats to his life for his stand with Christianity, the 51-year-old Aliyu is the outspoken leader of Fulbe Outreach International, which he founded in Jos. His ministry is credited with the conversion of thousands of Fulani Muslims in Nigeria and other parts of West Africa and the distribution of thousands of printed Arabic and prerecorded Fulani language electronic Bibles to Fulani Muslims. The success of his mission has made him a marked man to Islamic fundamentalists, with his name circulated among Muslims for assassination. In a recent video on the internet, Islamic clerics exhorted Muslim and Fulani leaders to track down Aliyu for what they called manipulation of their members. But Aliyu, who is also the leader of the Fulani arm of the Christian Association of Nigeria, evangelizes in rural areas where persecution of Christians is virulent. He claims more than 1 million members across the country and says his flock is destined to grow. In fact, he said it hasnt even started. He cited the teachings of the Bible to explain his not fearing death. Aliyu preaches to Fulani Christian converts in northern Nigeria, in an undated photo. (Courtesy of Baba Aliyu) From his office in northern Nigeria, Aliyu told The Epoch Times that he dreams of finding and converting Fulani terrorists fighting a religious war into messengers of Christs gospel. If instead of killing them, we preach to them and win them for Christ, the kingdom of God will advance, and God will be happy with us, because He says he is pained by the death of a sinner, Aliyu said. He recently started a campaign to change the stereotype of the Fulani tribe created by their radical, militant members. The violence perpetrated by some of our fellows has given us a bad name and made all of us easy targets wherever we go, regardless of our religions, he said. This vulnerability has made many of our people who would want to embrace Christianity to be afraid because the Muslims would be hunting them for converting, and the Christians might mistake them for the hostile Fulani. Born the son of a leading herder in Borno state, Aliyu had a personal religious experience before meeting any cleric. Within weeks of finding his new faith, Aliyu began an aggressive evangelism among the Fulani, despite being hunted at home for apostasy. His family disowned him, and his brother attempted to kill him with his hunting rifle. He said he was saved by his mother. It was my mother who saved me when he got the chance to shoot me, Aliyu said. My blood brother begged to be given the honor of shooting me himself because he is a hunter. My mother pushed the muzzle of the gun away before he pulled the trigger and wailed, begging him to spare me. He said I had brought shame to the family and didnt deserve to live. She pleaded, even tearing her clothes, and he left in anger, but several other times, he hunted me. When threats on his life snowballed, Aliyu fled his native Borno to Kano and later to Jos, where he founded Fulbe Outreach International. Fulani terrorists have been blamed for the murder of more than 60,000 Christians in Nigeria and have more than 100,000 armed men in the countrys north according to Abubakar Ahmed Gumi, an Islamic cleric who negotiates with the government on their behalf. Fulani Christians in Nigeria are stuck between a rock and a hard place, said Kyle Abts, executive director of the International Committee on Nigeria and a longtime missionary in Jos, told The Epoch Times. They are denied status as true Christians by the general Nigerian Christian community and suspected to be disingenuous and potentially spies. Their own kinsmen refuse to accept them when they turn to following Christianity because Fulanis are supposed to be Muslim without exception. Population displacement caused by bloody nighttime attacks has resulted in the terrorists taking over 380 Christian communities in Central Nigeria since 2001, according to Christian Solidarity International. In Plateau state alone, more than 76 Christian communities have been captured and turned into Muslim no-go zones by the Fulani. A Fulani Christian convert in Plateau state was reportedly killed last year in his village of Rankum, a former Christian town annexed by the Fulani, according to locals who spoke on background for fear of retaliation. Alkassim Adams, then a student of Church of Christ in Nations Bible School, was abducted in broad daylight and killed on Oct. 5, 2020, with two of his Fulani Christian friends who had accompanied him home for the funeral of his deceased father. Sources within the town reported that the three were ordered to renounce their Christian faith, but they refused and were executed. Although the town of Rankum had been taken over on Sept. 11, 2001, after a brutal attack, some of the residents, including Fulani families, continued to worship secretly as Christians. The closeted Christians learned of attacks planned for surrounding villages and secretly warned Christians in the area, according to confidential sources in Rankum, currently known under its Muslim name of Mahanga. A residence burned on the night of July 31, 2021, in Jebbu-Miango, Nigeria, in an undated photo. (Masara Kim/The Epoch Times) The Epoch Times in August reported on the murder of a Fulani pastor in the Bassa County of Plateau state named Adamu Musa, who was shot in an ambush near his workplace in Miango on July 31, 2021, by Fulani Muslims. Musa, whose house was razed in a previous attempt on his life in April, was ferrying a Christian woman to Miango from a nearby village on his motorcycle when he was attacked at sunset. He survived with bullet wounds, but his passenger was killed. Musa told The Epoch Times that he has received threats from Muslim terrorists vowing to kill him for abandoning Islam. They were after my life because I am no more a Muslim, Musa said. A Chicago police officer talks with a detective at 3443 W. Monroe Street where three people were shot half an hour earlier on Aug. 20, 2021. (Cara Ding/The Epoch Times) Indiana Officials Welcome Chicago Police Officers Opposed to City Worker Vaccine Mandate Indiana officials are welcoming Chicago police officers who refuse to comply with that citys COVID-19 vaccine mandate, with Sen. Mike Braun (R-Ind.) telling the law enforcement workers they deserve the utmost respect. Those who dedicated their lives to serving and protecting our nations citizens deserve the utmost respect, Braun posted on Twitter on Oct. 22. Come work in Indiana! Those who dedicated their lives to serving and protecting our nations citizens deserve the utmost respect. Come work in Indiana!https://t.co/psaEaBr3Id Senator Mike Braun (@SenatorBraun) October 22, 2021 My office has already heard from many Chicago police interested in serving Hoosiers, Braun said in another post. Meanwhile, Munster, Indiana, Police Chief Steve Scheckel, echoed Brauns sentiment during an interview with Fox News, saying that theres a brighter future right over the border for officers who are under scrutiny for their views on vaccine mandates, and noting that his department has already hired one individual from Chicago. Indiana State Police Sgt. Glen Fifield sent out a tweet last week inviting Chicago police to come on over. Hey Chicago Police Officers, were hiring! No vaccine mandate. Apply today, Fifield, a press information officer, wrote. Lower taxes, great schools, welcoming communities. The warm Hoosier welcome comes as Chicagos police union and the city continue to clash over COVID-19 vaccine requirements. Officers were required to upload their vaccination status by Oct. 15; those who didnt comply were placed on unpaid leave. Chicago Fraternal Order of Police President John Catanzara has encouraged officers not to comply with the mandates. Catanzara rallied officers and other city workers outside City Hall on Oct. 25 to oppose Mayor Lori Lightfoots vaccine mandate for city workers. This vaccine policy is about ensuring a safe workplace, but fundamentally, its about saving lives, Lightfoot, a Democrat, said in a statement ahead of the vaccine mandate deadline. By getting vaccinated, we can preserve the safety of City employees and the health of our communities while moving Chicago closer to a safe return to normalcy. On Oct. 18, the mayors office issued a statement regarding the citys vaccine mandate deadline. The release noted that 79 percent of city employees had confirmed vaccination status. Among those who reported, 84 percent were fully vaccinated. A testing option remains available through the end of the year. After that time, all workers must be fully vaccinated unless the individual has received a medical or religious exemption. While the statement noted that more than 4,000 requests for exemptions had been received, no number was given regarding the number of approved exemptions. Those who have so far refused to comply have been placed in a non-disciplinary, no-pay status until they are in compliance with the policy. Ugandan police members secure the scene of an explosion in Komamboga, Kampala, Uganda, on Oct. 24, 2021. (Abubaker Lubows/Reuters) ISIS Claims Responsibility for Deadly Bomb Attack in Uganda The ISIS terrorist group has claimed responsibility for a deadly bomb attack at an eatery in the capital of Uganda on Oct. 23 that killed at least one person. In a statement posted on an affiliated Telegram channel on Oct. 24, ISIS stated that some of its members had detonated an explosive device in a bar where members and spies of the Crusader Ugandan government were gathering in Kampala, the Ugandan capital. The blast killed a 20-year-old waitress and wounded three others, two of whom are in critical condition, according to police. Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni said three ISIS terrorists disguised as customers entered the eatery and left a package that exploded, noting that the incident seems to be a terrorist act and promising to hunt down those responsible. We regret the death of the young lady and the [three] that were injured, Museveni wrote on Twitter. Earlier on, I had been told of five injured, but now, I am told, they are three. Police confirmed that the explosive device that was used in the terrorist attack was packed with nails and exploded at about 9 p.m. at the restaurant, Digida Pork Point, located on the outskirts of Kampala. I condemn the action of the parasite pigs that planted a bomb at Digida Pork Point where they sell pork, sodas & alcohol, Museveni wrote on Twitter. Although these people were breaking curfew hours & using the place as a bar, still the criminality of the perpetrators must be condemned. Uganda remains under a nationwide COVID-19-related nighttime curfew from 7 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. local time. In 2010, the Somali ISIS terrorist group al Shabaab killed dozens of people in Kampala in a bomb attack, stating that it was punishing Uganda for deploying troops in Somalia. On Oct. 15, ISIS also claimed responsibility for a deadly suicide bomb attack at a Shiite mosque in southern Afghanistan that killed 47 people and injured dozens more. The deadly attack was the second incident targeting worshippers in the country in just one week. Reuters contributed to this report. From NTD News The logo of a McDonald's Corp restaurant is seen in Los Angeles, California, U.S. October 24, 2017. (Reuters/Lucy Nicholson) McDonalds Employees Planning One-Day Walkout Across US McDonalds employees from several large U.S. cities said they would walk out of work on Tuesday over claims of alleged sexual harassment while some are urging workers to unionize. According to the Fight for $15 group, employees at 10 cities have committed to going on strike for one day to protest against alleged harassment incidents involving employees. They will also demand that McDonalds stop wasting time and listen to workers when it comes to fixing rampant sexual harassment in their store, the left-wing group wrote on Facebook last week, while on Monday, it accused bosses of engaging in activities to steal wages from workers. McDonalds workers have previously gone on strike to demand a $15 minimum wage. Opponents of $15 per hour wages say the provisionif mandated by Congress or state Legislatures at the national or state levelwould reduce job opportunities for young, inexperienced, or poorly educated people. In a statement to news outlets ahead of the strike, the companys corporate office said that every single person working at a McDonalds restaurant deserves to feel safe and respected when they come to work, and sexual harassment and assault have no place in any McDonalds restaurant. We know more work is needed to further our workplace ambitions, which is why all 40,000 McDonalds restaurants will be assessed and accountable to Global Brand Standards, the statement continued. The Epoch Times has contacted McDonalds for comment on the strike. In February, McDonalds corporate office wrote that the company will investigate any allegations foisted by workers at its corporate-owned establishments. If ever we find that weve fallen short of our values, we must acknowledge our mistakes and make them right, CEO Chris Kempczinski said at the time. The company in April announced mandatory training starting next year for its hundreds of thousands of employees. The strike appears to have stemmed from an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission lawsuit that was filed by several employees against McDonalds, alleging that a franchisee did not properly respond to complaints of harassment at 22 locations in California, Nevada, and Arizona. A separate lawsuit was filed by a teenager in Pittsburgh against the fast-food giant earlier this year, alleging that the manager of the location was a previously convicted sex offender. They advertise everywhere this is your first best job and attract thesemostly young women, Alan Perer, the unnamed teenagers attorney, said in a statement to news outlets. To place them in harms way and not protect them by not hiring properly and not overseeing whats going on is just shocking. McDonalds shares as of midday trading were down by about 0.67 percent. CEDAR RAPIDS, IowaTwo pastors and a mental health researcher walked into Paramount Theatre on Sunday andno, this is not the setup to a jokeall three found a spiritual and aesthetic experience in Shen Yun Performing Arts, the cultural phenomenon bringing classical Chinese culture out of the history books and onto the most prestigious stages on Earth. Nathan Combs and his daughter, Mia, at the Cedar Rapids, Iowa, performance of Shen Yun on Oct. 24, 2021. (Mary Mann/The Epoch Times) Nathan Combs, a pastor at Faith Community Church, and his daughter Mia were among the audience members. I thought it was beautiful, [it] told great stories through dance and through acting, Mr. Combs said. It was funny, it was stirring, heartwarming. Mia loved the costumes, the colors, and the musicparticularly the two-stringed erhu, a uniquely Chinese instrument. Mr. Combs pointed out the theme of faith presented in the program. I was commenting to [Mia] about that, that it kept pointing people back to faith and to the values of compassion, faith, and goodwill towards your fellow man and the worship of God, he said. When people hear of a Chinese performing arts company, many assume it comes from China. But that is not the case with Shen Yun. Based in New York state, Shen Yun is composed of performers largely of Chinese descent whose faith is persecuted in their homeland. Thus, unlike the performances created or sanctioned by the atheistic Chinese Communist Party, Shen Yuns cultural background is based on the teachings of Buddhism and Daoism. In Buddhism, in particular, there is the message that the Creator will save people in the end times. Several Shen Yun pieces depict scenes where Gods help people with faith and compassion at the end when society is breaking down, that there is salvation, Mr. Combs described. So I thought that was a compelling story. Pastor Paul Hanson and his daughter, Emma, at Shen Yun Performing Arts at the Paramount Theatre in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Oct. 24, 2021. (NTD Television) Another pastor father-and-daughter duo in attendance was Paul and Emma Hanson. I was just totally blown away just so enthralled by the whole production, Mr. Hanson said. It was not only excellent, but I just loved the values that it got a chance to communicate. He highlighted the fact that Shen Yun points out communism as the culprit responsible for modern societys deepest woes. A lot of times theres folks that dont really understand the perils of communism, he said. Its really been so clear that evolution and atheism is really the wrong way for any country, for any culture. He noted the contrast between Chinas legitimate culture, as he put it, adding that China has 5,000 years of history. You know, most countries dont have that. And China is just filled with such a rich culture, he said. And I think the production did such a beautiful job getting a chance to share the cultural values and the care and the love of the people of China. Leela Sathyaputri at Shen Yun Performing Arts at the Paramount Theatre in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Oct. 24, 2021. (NTD Television) University of Iowa mental health researcher Leela Sathyaputri was initially drawn to Shen Yun due to her interest in martial arts, which shares a common root with classical Chinese dance. One of the things I loved the most was when the announcer talks about the balance of yin and yang, that masculinity, femininity of hardness and softness. And I loved how you could actually see that played out in the performances and each of the movements down to being able to see the tumbling [techniques] that both men and women had. Beyond the physicality and technical skill of the dancers, Sathyaputri responded to the storiesmany trueportrayed on stage. I could feel myself tearing upyou can really feel the heart of pain and sorrow, but also kind of hope that was expressed. Leela Sathyaputri I could feel myself tearing upyou can really feel the heart of pain and sorrow, but also kind of hope that was expressed, she said. There might be dark times, but if you have faith, if you look toward divinity, if you look toward things that we have forgotten I think its important. Especially in modern days, there are a lot of really great things that modern advancements have brought us, but we cant forget our roots, and we cant forget the things that are beyond machines and beyond academics. Weve got something that connects all of us on a more soul level, she said. Reporting by Mary Mann, NTD Television and Epoch Times Staff. The Epoch Times considers Shen Yun Performing Arts the significant cultural event of our time. We have proudly covered audience reactions since Shen Yuns inception in 2006. Hairdresser Caroline Shamoon of Joey Scandizzo Salon works on a clients hair in Melbourne on Oct. 22, 2021. Melbourne has emerged from the world's longest lockdown with businesses including bars, hair salons, gyms and many others open, and as vaccination rates continue to rise, even more freedoms are less than two weeks away. (AAP Image/James Ross) Mindboggling: $350M Spent by Melburnians in First 3 Days of Lockdowns End Sales data from one of Australias big four banks showed Melburnians spent more than $350 million in the first three days of lockdowns end as the state emerges from the worlds longest lockdown. According to data compiled by the National Australia Bank (NAB), eftpos terminal use in Melbourne increased 20 percent on Friday, Saturday and Sunday compared to the previous weekend, reported The Age. Beauty salons and barbers experienced a 2340 percent increase in eftpos use, which Andrew Irvine, NABs chief executive, described as mindboggling. Cafes, restaurants, bars, and clubs saw spending by patrons almost double in the same period. Service stations also saw a 35 percent increase in spending compared to 8 percent on the previous weekend. Further, the bank recorded $76 million in sales in Melbourneand $114 million for the whole statebetween Oct. 22 and Oct. 24. In NSW, spending jumped 13-15 percent as the state emerged from lockdown, reported The Australian. People want to get back to enjoying life, meeting friends and family and theyre going to spend, and theyre going to spendin our viewright up to and past Christmas, and we think were set up for a ripper of a summer, Irvine said. We expect to see real strength. You can look at Sydney and NSW, and the numbers there are really strong over the last couple of weeks. Theres real staying power to this. The chief executives from the remaining three banks have also expressed optimism as Victorians are forecasted to spend $1 billion over the coming weeks. Furthermore, a forecast buffer of $230 billion in extra savings across the nation11.5 percent of GDPis expected by the end of the year. ANZ Chief Executive Shayne Elliott said the cash buffer did not have a lot of debt in the business sectoras businesses mostly avoided borrowing to survive. And with the fiscal policy still in expansionary settings, there are strong reasons to look forward to a brighter future, Commonwealth Bank boss Matt Comyn told The Weekend Australian. National Australia Bank CEO Ross McEwan said that the reopening of NSW and Victoria was the booster shot the nation needed, and he is increasingly confident that the worst of the COVID-19 economic impact was behind us. Australians have shown incredible resilience in a difficult year, and they are ready to embrace a return to freedoms. Jab take-up is reaching critical national thresholds, which means we no longer need to rely on disruptive, widespread lockdowns to manage the virus, McEwan said. However, some things have fundamentally changed forever, Elliott said, with workplaces having moved towards digital and online workspaces. There will be great opportunities for some and ongoing challenges for others, he said. The CBD, for example, is unlikely to return to full occupancy. Our building at 833 Collins Street (in Docklands) used to have 7000 people in itits now got less than 200, but I dont imagine it will ever go back to 7000; probably only to 70-80 percent occupancy. Elliot added that the bringing forward of tax cuts, boosting of investment incentives, and fast-tracking of infrastructure spend has created good momentum, and Australias economic recovery needs to be business-led. Theres also more that can be done to remove barriers facing small businesses, such as removal of red tape and assistance to implement new technologies. By the middle of next year, the Australian economy will be back to pre-pandemic levelsagricultural and manufacturing businesses will continue to experience very strong conditions, and new jobs will be created, pushing unemployment down towards 4 percent by end 2022. This follows reports that Victorias economy lost over $700 million (US$508 million) per week since the start of the lockdown. Victoria is set to reach its full vaccinated target of 80 percent ahead of schedule, with restrictions easing further from 6 p.m. on Oct. 29. Further restrictionsincluding the scrapping of venue caps and density quotientsare set to ease once 90 percent of Victorians over age 12 years old are fully vaccinated, which is forecasted on or around Nov. 24. Missing United Airlines Executive Found Dead in Illinois Forest Preserve The body of a United Airlines executive who went missing more than a year ago was found in an Illinois forest preserve over the past weekend, officials said. DuPage County Coroner Richard Jorgensen said in a statement that a body was found in the Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve, located near Chicago, last week. The coroners office confirmed the identity of the body as Jacob Cefolia, 50, of Elmhurst. A cause and manner of death have not been determined and remains under investigation, the office said, adding that it has no more details about the incident. Cefolia, who was United Airlines director of worldwide sales, was last seen at a gas station in Elmhurst, Illinois, on Aug. 7, 2020. His car was found at the forest preserve the next day, according to local reports last year. Investigators most recently searched the forest preserve in April 2021. Local affiliate station Fox32, citing information obtained via a Freedom of Information Act request, reported that officials searched the forested area about 10 times since Cefolia went missing. DuPage Forest Preserve Police Chief David Pederson told the Chicago Sun-Times that no foul play was suspected in his death. He noted that Cefolias drivers license, backpack, and other personal items were found near his body last week. On behalf of the Forest Preserve District, I would like to send our sincere condolences to his family and friends, Pederson said. We hope this at least [brings] closure to his family and friends. A spokesperson for United Airlines, which is based in Chicago, issued a statement after his death was confirmed. Our thoughts are with his family and friends during this difficult time, the spokesperson said. And we remain grateful for the support and prayers that so many of our employeesincluding Jakes co-workershave shared with one another and on his behalf over the past year. Montana Man Challenges Electronic Harassment Law in Supreme Court A Montana man convicted of multiple counts of violating an electronic harassment law is asking the Supreme Court to invalidate the state law, arguing that its so sweeping that it violates free speech rights. Montanas electronic harassment law is similar to laws in other states, meaning if the Supreme Court were to strike it down, those other states laws could be in jeopardy. The case, Lamoureux v. Montana, court file 21-427, is an appeal from the Montana Supreme Court. William Frederick Lamoureux was found guilty by the 11th Judicial District Court, Flathead County, of three felony counts under the states Privacy in Communications statute. The statute criminalizes electronic communications made with the purpose to harass, annoy, or offend, using obscene, lewd, or profane language. The issue before the nations highest court, should it decide to hear the case, is whether a statute that criminalizes speech intended to annoy or offend is unconstitutionally overbroad under the First Amendment, according to the petition for certiorari, or review, filed with the Supreme Court. Virtually every state has a similar form of electronic harassment law, with varying degrees of breadth, the petition states. In recent decades, courts have disagreed over whether laws forbidding speech intended to annoy or offend violate the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. Eight state supreme courts and one federal court of appeals have held that such laws are facially overbroad in violation of the First Amendment, according to the petition. Three federal courts of appeals and six state high courts, including the Montana Supreme Court in this case, have determined that they do not run afoul of the First Amendment, either because they regulate conduct rather than speech, or because they do not sweep in enough constitutionally protected speech to warrant facial invalidation. The U.S. Supreme Court should resolve this enduring and worsening split among the various courts, Lamoureux argues in the petition. The question is one of great and increasing importance, particularly given the prevalence of similar statutes, the proliferation of electronic communications that fall within the reach of those statutes, and the possibility of such electronic communications being covered by multiple jurisdictions. The charges came out of three threatening telephone calls Lamoureux made to two victims. Because he had at least one prior conviction under the law, the three new convictions became felonies. An apparently drunk Lamoureux called his ex-wifes jewelry store demanding the phone numbers of his ex-father-in-law and of one of the divorced couples children. The employee who answered the phone refused to give out the numbers, at which point Lamoureux used profanity and said he would get her fired, the Montana Supreme Court found in its ruling, which was written by Justice Laurie McKinnon. Lamoureux called the store again and demanded the numbers. The employee again refused, at which point he said he would come to the store and slap her. The employee closed the store early and contacted the police. On another day, a seemingly intoxicated Lamoureux called his former father-in-law and said he would kill his daughter and stuff her in a culvert for the skunks to eat her. On yet another day, the former father-in-law received a call from Lamoureux, in which he again said he would kill her, put her in a garbage bin, and set it on fire. He also threatened to burn the building housing the jewelry store to the ground. The father-in-law called his daughter and the police. Its unclear when the Supreme Court will take action. Montana Assistant Attorney General Jonathan M. Krauss, who is counsel of record for the state in the U.S. Supreme Court case, didnt immediately respond to a request for comment from The Epoch Times. Nicholas Burns testifies before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee confirmation hearing on his nomination to be Ambassador to China, on Capitol Hill in Washington, on Oct. 20, 2021. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images) New US Ambassador Aligned With Shifting Worldview on China News Analysis The U.S. government has the right to expand our arms provisions to Taiwan, said Nicholas Burns, President Joe Bidens nominee for U.S. Ambassador to China. During his Senate confirmation hearing on Oct. 20, Burns hit nearly all of Chinas soft spotsthe uncomfortable subjects that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) wants the world to stop asking about, including issues related to Xinjiang, Taiwan, Hong Kong, COVID-19 origin, defense, and trade. Burns went so far as to refer to the murder and repression of Uyghurs in Xinjiang as genocide. He talked about the abuses in Tibet, as well as the CCPs strong-arm tactics against Taiwan, declaring that it all had to stop. Over the past five years, the Europe Union and other countries have hardened their stance on the Chinese regime. The European Parliament and other allies have moved to condemn the CCPs atrocities in Xinjiang, military threats against Taiwan, and the loss of freedoms in Hong Kong. Other global allies are also demanding investigations into the origin of COVID-19, which they once dubbed a dark-web conspiracy theory. European Commissions executive Vice President Margrethe Vestager delivers a speech during a debate on EU-Taiwan political relations and cooperation at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, on Oct. 19, 2021. (Ronald Wittek/Pool via Reuters) Now it seems that Burnss message about the Chinese regime as a dangerous competitor may be more readily received by the world. This is good news for U.S. diplomacy, as the United States will no longer be seen as going at it alone in making unilateral decisions on China containment. To this end, Burns called for the United States to strengthen cooperation with its allies, including Europe and Japan, in order to have real economic leverage against China. Building coalitions in the Indo-Pacific region was another goal, which Burns identified as crucial to countering the Chinese regime. He praised the AUKUS pact and the Quad, which revitalized U.S. relations with Australia and India, and further strengthened U.S. relations with Japan and the United Kingdom. On defense, Burns advocated for maintaining a U.S. military presence in Japan, South Korea, and Guam as part of the China strategy, a position which is supported by U.S. allies South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Australia, India, and other countries with territorial claims in the South China Sea and the Indo-Pacific region. He also warned of the threat of Chinas buildup of nuclear weapons, which violates a pledge the CCP had made to minimize their nuclear stockpile. Recently, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) announced that it would be expanding its focus to counter a rising China threat. Tough on trade, Burns said that the United States should make China abide by the terms of the phase one trade deal. When the U.S.-China trade war first began, global powers accused the United States of mercantilism. They criticized former President Donald Trump for expanding the powers of the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), an inter-departmental federal agency that investigates foreign acquisitions of sensitive U.S. industries. As a result of CFIUS investigations and recommendations, the Trump administration blocked several major purchases by Chinese firms. Just a few years later, the EU parliament called for tighter controls on Chinese foreign direct investment. UK Labour Partys foreign policy chief Lisa Nandy has called for increased restrictions on Chinese investment, saying that Britain must be aware of the risk the CCP poses. Additionally, the Dutch government has banned Chinese companies from building nuclear reactors in the Netherlands. However, moves toward greater prohibitions on Chinese investment come while Chinese companies are involved in a nuclear project in the UK. Similarly, the United States has allowed a Chinese company, with ties to the CCP, to purchase a large stake in a rare earth minerals mine and to transport the minerals back to China for processing. Some U.S., EU, and UK lawmakers have expressed concern about these potential threats to national security. This represents one more area where a tough U.S. stance on China could gain international support, and where the United States and its allies could cooperate. Beijings reaction to the confirmation hearing was to be expected. Wang Wenbin, spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, responded to Burns statements with a veiled threat: We advise Burns to be keenly aware of the overall trend of world learn the real situations and avoid underestimating the strong resolve, determination and capability of the Chinese people to defend their rights. In Burnss estimation, the Chinese regimes most recent aggressive actions have alienated the country. It seems that more countries are moving toward the U.S. position, allowing for expanded spheres of cooperation and diplomacy between democracies. We should have confidence in our strength in countering China, he said. We will succeed if we build this American strength around our diplomacy. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Dr. Francis Collins, the head of the National Institutes of Health, is seen in Bethesda, Md., on Jan. 26, 2021. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images) NIH Removes Language on Gain-of-Function From Website Amid Criticism Over Funding Chinese Research The National Institutes of Health (NIH) altered a key portion of its website last week around the time it disclosed to Congress that experiments it funded in China met the definition of gain-of-function. The federal agency had a detailed explanation of gain-of-function research on its site, noting that the term refers to any research that modifies a biological agent so that it confers new or enhanced activity to that agent. But the explanation was wiped between Oct. 19 and Oct. 21possibly ahead of the NIHs most recent disclosures on Oct. 20 about research it funded in China that increased the potency of a virus by modifying it. The updated page now says, in its only reference to that type of research, that research involving enhanced potential pandemic pathogens (ePPPs) is a type of so-called gain-of-function (GOF) research. It claims that the vast majority of GOF research does not involve ePPP and falls outside the scope of oversight required for research involving ePPPs. Oversight involving research on ePPPs is governed by a framework (pdf) issued by the U.S. government in late 2017, on the same day the NIH lifted its yearslong funding pause on most gain-of-function research. Theres no definition of gain-of-function inside the framework. The only mention of it refers people to a list of examples of activities that would and would not be considered to involve ePPPs. That list was last available in May 2017, according to an Epoch Times review. An NIH spokeswoman confirmed that the webpage, a backgrounder on the framework, was altered last week, around the same time the disclosures were made. The information concerning gain-of-function was being misused/used incorrectly (and still is) and creating confusion (and still is), the spokeswoman told The Epoch Times in an email. The backgrounder was updated to provide clarity on the scope of the framework, she said. The NIH Office of Communications and Public Liaison made the decision to alter the page, according to the spokeswoman. She noted that a separate page still gives details on gain-of-function research, but it doesnt contain nearly as much information about what exactly the type of research is as the other page did. The Epoch Times has submitted a Freedom of Information Act request for all communications and other internal NIH documents concerning the alteration. The agencys outgoing director, Dr. Francis Collins, and one of its top officials, Dr. Anthony Fauci, are under heightened scrutiny for their funding of research in China during and after a pause in funding of most gain-of-function research. The new disclosures, some experts say, showed the funding did go toward GOF research, which runs counter to what Collins and Fauci told members of Congress in Washington during public hearings earlier this year. While Collins and Fauci are standing by their statements, Fauci shifted his defense on Oct. 24, saying the experiments didnt meet the definition of gain-of-function research of concernafter earlier claiming they were not gain-of-function at all. Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.), a strong critic of the NIH, said on Twitter that the webpage change is concerning. Persistent propaganda is a problem for propagandists. How long until [the government] outlaws internet archiving or reposts of internet archives? he wrote. Twitter user Jeremy Redfern first identified the NIHs update. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) also took notice of the update, writing, What does the NIH have to hide? The NIH and other health agencies have altered other pages during the COVID-19 pandemic. For instance, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recently changed the definition of a vaccine from a product that stimulates a persons immune system to produce immunity to a specific disease, protecting the person from that disease to a preparation that is used to stimulate the bodys immune system against disease. A spokesperson for the agency previously told The Epoch Times that the earlier definition could be interpreted to mean that vaccines are 100 percent effective, which has never been the case for any vaccine, so the current definition is more transparent. Meiling Lee contributed to this report. A patient is taken from an ambulance to the emergency room of a hospital in the Navajo Nation town of Tuba City during the 57-hour curfew, imposed to try to stop the spread of the COVID-19 virus through the Navajo Nation, in Arizona on May 24, 2020. (Mark Ralston/AFP via Getty Images) No Significant Change in COVID-19 Hospitalization Outcomes During Delta Surge: CDC Study The highly transmissible Delta variant of COVID-19 doesnt appear to cause more severe disease among fully vaccinated or unvaccinated hospitalized patients compared to earlier forms of the virus, according to preliminary data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The CDC study, released on Oct. 22, analyzed about 7,600 patients hospitalized with COVID-19, the disease caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, in the months of July and August, when the Delta variant became the predominant strain of the virus in the United States. Researchers found that compared to earlier months, there was no significant change in hospitalized COVID-19 patients outcomes. Specifically, while adult hospitalizations surged during the Delta wave compared to the six months prior, the proportion of patients with COVID-19 who were admitted to an ICU received invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV) or died during their hospitalization didnt significantly change during this period, the data suggest. However, the research shows that adults aged 18 to 49, many of whom were unvaccinated, accounted for a larger proportion of hospitalized patients compared with the pre-Delta period35.8 percent of hospitalizations during the Delta surge compared to 24.7 percent from the previous six months. Roughly 71 percent of COVID-19associated hospitalizations during the Delta wave were in unvaccinated adults, the researchers said, noting that the lower vaccination coverage in the 18 to 49 demographic likely contributed to the increase in hospitalized patients during the Delta period. The Delta variant of the CCP virus grew in prevalence in the country to more than 85 percent on July 10 from 1.8 percent on May 1. Its now the dominant strain around the globe, and it has been reported in at least 187 out of 194 World Health Organization member countries, the organization stated earlier this month. Although this variant is more transmissible, this study did not find significantly higher proportions of hospitalizations with ICU admission, receipt of IMV, or in-hospital death in nonpregnant hospitalized adults, the study reads. They acknowledged a number of limitations regarding the study, including that during spikes in COVID-19 cases during the Delta wave, the clinical thresholds for hospitalization and ICU admission might have shifted and could therefore have potentially obscured trends in increased severity. The researchers also noted that some patients could also have been hospitalized but not tested for the virus, and the data could potentially change when including cases from the summer months who dont yet have a discharge disposition. A separate preprint study published on medRxiv on Oct. 6 suggests that children also dont get any sicker from the Delta variant than they did from earlier strains. Researchers compared two groups of school-age children with COVID-19: 694 infected with the Alpha variant between late December 2020 and early May 2021 and 706 infected with the Delta variant between late May and early July. In both groups, very few children needed to be hospitalized and long periods of illness were uncommon. In both groups, half of the children were sick for no more than five days. Our data suggest that clinical characteristics of COVID-19 due to the Delta variant in children are broadly similar to COVID-19 due to other variants, the researchers said, echoing remarks from CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky in September that although more children are becoming infected with the virus, studies show that there hasnt been an increased severity in children. More children have COVID-19 because there is more disease in the community, Walensky said of the Delta-driven wave in a statement. Reuters contributed to this report. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio speaks during a faith vigil for victims of an earthquake in Haiti at the steps of St. Jerome's Roman Catholic Church in the Little Caribbean neighborhood of Brooklyn in New York City on Aug. 16, 2021. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images) NYPDs Largest Police Union Sues Mayor Over COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate The largest New York City Police Department union on Monday filed a lawsuit to block a citywide COVID-19 vaccine mandate thats slated to go into effect by the end of this month. The Police Benevolent Association union sued over Mayor Bill de Blasios COVID-19 vaccine mandate, which goes into effect for all police officers and other city workers on Friday, Oct. 29. The City has provided no explanation, much less a rational one, for the need to violate the autonomy and privacy of NYPD police officers in such a severe manner, on the threat of termination, the lawsuit said, adding that the current policy to either mandate vaccines or testing for COVID-19 is sufficient enough. The current policy requires unvaccinated police officers to be tested weekly for COVID-19, the disease caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus. There is no evidence of any widespread COVID-19 infection or transmission by or among NYPD police officers since the vax or test policy has been in place, the suit continued to say. To the contrary, all evidence establishes that the policy has proven effective, and it has struck the appropriate balance between encouraging vaccination and respecting the medical autonomy of the NYPD officers. The associations lawyers further argued that the citys mandate will also adversely impact officers who have sincere religious or health concerns about COVID-19 vaccines, noting that many of these officers put their lives on the line throughout the pandemic. In a Twitter post, the Police Benevolent Association said it also filed a request for a temporary restraining order to stop the city and the NYPD from implementing the vaccine requirement while litigation is pending. City workers, including NYPD officers, who do not get vaccinated before the Oct. 29 deadline will be placed on unpaid leave and face termination from their jobs. A spokesperson for de Blasios office told the New York Post that the mayors mandate is lawful and claimed it keeps residents safe. The Epoch Times has contacted de Blasios office for comment. Every effort to stop the citys vaccine mandates has failed in court, and we believe this suit by the PBA will meet the same fate, the spokesperson said. The citys vaccine mandates are lawful and keep New Yorkers safe. Well review the case. De Blasio on Monday echoed a previous claim that officials have contingencies for the NYPD and other agencies who lose staff over vaccine mandates. Weve seen the mandates move a lot more people to get vaccinated, he argued. A lawsuit that was filed by Department of Education staff seeking a temporary injunction against a citywide mandate was rejected by a Manhattan federal judge earlier this month. Ohio Senate Passes Bill That Would Ban Gun Seizures During Emergencies The Ohio Senate has passed legislation that would bar the government from seizing guns during emergencies, moving the bill to the state House of Representatives. Senate Bill 185 was approved 23-7 by the Republican-controlled state Senate late last week. The legislation (pdf) would insert provisions into state law that supporters say would guarantee peoples Second Amendment rights. For instance, it would bar government officials from prohibiting or curtailing the otherwise lawful possession, carrying, display, sale, transportation, transfer, defensive use, or other lawful use of firearms, other deadly weapons, and ammunition at any time, even during wars, riots, or other emergencies. The Second Amendment does not have a pandemic or natural disaster clause and this bill makes Ohioans safer by ensuring that they have the means to protect themselves and their families during any declared emergencies that may come up, state Sen. Tim Schaffer, a Republican who sponsored the legislation, told colleagues before the vote. However, this bill does not add any additional gun rights. It simply clarifies that people cannot have their rights taken away during times of declared emergencies, he added. Schaffer referenced how Americans in various states, including Louisiana residents in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, have had their firearms seized. He wants to protect Ohio residents against that. Detractors included Ohio Sen. Cecil Thomas, a Democrat who said the bill was basically denying the local government their ability to protect their community as they see appropriate. Thomas saw the legislation as part of what he described as a constant chipping away of local governments rights to self-govern. But Republicans have strong control of the state Senate, and prevailed in a party-line vote. The legislation now goes to the Ohio House, which Republicans control 64-35. Republicans also hold the governors mansion. Pennsylvania Sen. Doug Mastriano attends a hearing of the Pennsylvania State Senate Majority Policy Committee in Gettysburg, Pa., on Nov. 25, 2020. (Julio Cortez/AP Photo) Pennsylvania Considers Bill That Would Allow Residents to Sue Big Tech Over Censorship Two Pennsylvania state senators are seeking to pass a bill that would allow residents to sue social media companies that censor their content based on political or religious views. Sens. Doug Mastriano (R-Gettysburg) and Scott Hutchinson (R-Oil City) sponsored state Senate Bill 604 (pdf), called the Social Media Accountability Act, that would allow individuals the ability to sue Big Tech social media companies like Facebook, Youtube, and Twitter for banning or censoring their account. The current version of the bill indicates an individual can receive up to $75,000 in damages. The bill also requires social media providers to clearly indicate the reason for any ban or disabled account within 30 days along with a course of action for reinstatement. This type of legislation represents the most effective way to fight back against biased big tech employees censoring and banning free speech that they dont like, Mastriano said in a statement. Our senators are fighting for your first amendment rights. Read more: https://t.co/GzbPYOUnPT pic.twitter.com/i67VTNp7Ms PA Senate Republicans (@PASenateGOP) October 20, 2021 Our rights to free speech are clearly enshrined in the first amendment. That right should not end in the public sphere of social media. Social media companies are censoring users whose religious and political views offend the delicate sensibilities of big tech oligarchs. Our bill will hold these censors accountable by allowing everyday citizens of Pennsylvania to sue for damages up to $75,000, he added. According to Hutchinson, the goal is the fair treatment of individuals, regardless of a persons political and religious beliefs. In recent years we have seen numerous cases of unfair, inconsistent, and often one-sided censorship of social media users, Hutchinson said in the statement. The goal of our legislation is to ensure that all social media users are treated fairly, regardless of their political and religious beliefs. The bill has been referred to the Consumer Protection & Professional Licensure Committee where it now awaits a vote. The legislation is not the first attempt by a state to push back against social media censorship. In May, Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-Fla.) signed a bill to allow companies to sue social media companies over censorship issues. The Florida bill, Senate Bill 7072, focused on organizations at risk of losing business over social media censorship. This session, we took action to ensure that We the Peoplereal Floridians across the Sunshine Stateare guaranteed protection against the Silicon Valley elites, DeSantis said in a statement. Many in our state have experienced censorship and other tyrannical behavior firsthand in Cuba and Venezuela. If Big Tech censors enforce rules inconsistently, to discriminate in favor of the dominant Silicon Valley ideology, they will now be held accountable, he added. US Postal Service Fights Surveillance Ops Complaints Recent court filings show that the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) will disclose documents about its controversial social media surveillance program, but the government has also indicated that it may fight to keep other records secret. USPS faces several lawsuits from nonprofit groups over its Internet Covert Operations Program (iCOP)the existence of which was revealed in April when Yahoo News reported on an internal USPS memo about the monitoring of right-wing anti-lockdown protestors. Judicial Watch, the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), and the James Madison Project have filed separate complaints against USPS for failing to fulfill a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request for records on the program, while the Electronic Privacy Information Center (EPIC) is suing because the government hasnt conducted a privacy impact assessment for iCOPa review of what information is collected, why its being collected, how the information is being used, and how the data are stored. Recent filings in the Judicial Watch and EFF cases have revealed that USPS holds more than 12,000 records related to iCOP. USPS is reviewing which documents it will choose to disclose and which ones it will attempt to withhold from the public. The government proposed consolidating the cases, but a U.S. district judge shot down those talks in September because the nonprofit groups are requesting different documentsraising different legal issues for whether records will be made public. Judicial Watch seeks all social media posts that iCOP has forwarded to other government agencies, while EFF is suing for information about any criminal prosecutions that were based on iCOP information. The James Madison Foundation is looking for records from the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Justice, and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence about the rationale for creating iCOP. While USPS may disclose at least some iCOP records in these FOIA cases, it has fought the EPIC lawsuit. USPS filed a motion to dismiss the claim last week, arguing that its not required to conduct a privacy impact assessment for iCOPand that USPS wouldnt be required to make such records public even if it had them. Even if this Court were to require USPS to conduct a privacy impact assessment USPS would remain free to withhold all or part of that assessment from publication in order to protect against public disclosure of sensitive information pertaining to law enforcement efforts, the Oct. 19 motion to dismiss reads. Parties in the FOIA lawsuits are to file a status report on the production of the requested records by Nov. 22. No dates have been scheduled for the EPIC case. Along with the litigation, USPS has also received criticism from some lawmakers over its lack of transparency with iCOP. Chief Postal Inspector Gary Barksdale reportedly briefed lawmakers in a closed-door session in April, but Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) later said Barksdale was unprepared to answer our questions to the point of incompetence. Barksdale couldnt tell us when the program started, how much taxpayers were paying to run it, or even what legal authority the post office had to spy on the publics social media activities, Mace said. He denied iCOP was a program, but said it had an executive overseeing it. He said the post office coordinated with other agencies, but couldnt list a single one. Following its initial April report, Yahoo News revealed more details about iCOP in May. According to Yahoo, USPS used internet surveillance tools to monitor social media to track potential violence at protests following the death of George Floyd. After the Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol by Trump supporters, the analysts turned their attention to right-wing accounts, Yahoo News reported in May. The postal service has defended iCOP as a legal open-source intelligence operation designed to protect its employees. This review of publicly available open-source information, including news reports and social media, is one piece of a comprehensive security and threat analysis, and the information obtained is the same information anyone can access as a private citizen, a U.S. Postal Inspection Service spokesperson reportedly said. News report and social media listening activity helps protect the 644,000 men and women who work for the postal service by ensuring they are able to avoid potentially volatile situations while working to process and deliver the nations mail every day. But the nonprofit groups say USPSs surveillance ops have a chilling effect on free speech. This lawsuit aims to protect the right to protest, EFF legal fellow Houston Davidson said. The government has never explained the legal justifications for this surveillance. Were asking a court to order the USPIS [U.S. Postal Inspection Service] to disclose details about this speech-monitoring program, which threatens constitutional guarantees of free expression and privacy. Private School in Claremont Gets $100 Million Donation CLAREMONT, Calif.An anonymous donor has given at least $100 million to The Webb Schools in the largest donation ever made to an independent high school west of the Mississippi, officials have announced. The donor, a Webb alumnus, is making the gift to honor his parents for their wisdom and sacrifices in sending him to Webb, and as a recognition for Webbs indelible impact on his life, school officials said Saturday. The Webb Schools is the collective name for two private schools for grades 9-12, founded by Thompson Webb in 1922. The schools include Webb School of California, Vivian Webb School, and the Raymond M. Alf Museum of Paleontology, the only accredited museum of paleontology on a high school campus. This transformative gift at least $100 million will enable Webb to dramatically expand access to our unique, unbounded program to the very best and deserving students regardless of financial circumstance, Head of Schools Taylor Stockdale said. It is the single greatest act of philanthropy in Webbs history. The school said the money will dramatically expand its innovative education programs, strengthen its team of expert educators and significantly boost student aid. When great teachers share experiences and exchange ideas, the invaluable art of teaching becomes electric. This energy attracts the best and most imaginative students eager to be challenged, both by their teachers and by each other, the donor said. In turn, these students go on to become inspired graduates coveted by the worlds best colleges and universities. And, more importantly, students get exposed to enough of what the world has to offer that they are able to find the placebe it a niche or an arenawhere they can make their mark. Webb then truly becomes a place where the opportunities are boundless. The gift is the centerpiece of Webbs centennial campaign, called The Next 100, an effort aimed at generating at least $200 million by 2025. The campaign, which entered its public phase Saturday, has raised more than $170 million, including the estate gift of at least $100 million. I am astounded by the donors generosity and excited by this gifts promise to transform the lives of Webb students and teachers, said Jim Dahler, who has been teaching at Webb for 34 years. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) speaks while introducing health care legislation titled the "Medicare for All Act of 2019" with Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR), during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. on April 9, 2019. (Mark Wilson/Getty Images) Senate Dems Demand Swift Conclusion to Budget Negotiations As negotiations over the minutiae of Democrats budget reconciliation bill threaten to spill over into November, many in the party are pleading for both factions to reach an agreement soon. Originally, Democratic leaders hoped to quickly push the $3.5 trillion budget through the House by the end of September. Lawmakers worked feverishly to meet that deadline, but it became clear that more time would be needed to craft a bill acceptable to moderates in the narrowly held upper chamber. Leaders hesitantly pushed the deadline forward to the end of October. After setting this deadline, Schumer told his colleagues that Doing big things in Congress is hard. Doing really big things all at once is really hard. Leadership knew from the very beginning that passing the two bills would be difficult and, at times, messy, Schumer said. But, he said, [Democrats] can get this done, together, if we put aside our differences and find the common ground within our party. This will require sacrifice, he said, adding that not every member will get what he or she wanted. Despite these divisions, Schumer said, we will pass legislation that will dramatically improve the lives of the American people. I believe we are going to do just that in the month of October. We will and must pass both bills soon, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said in a letter to colleagues announcing the extension. But as this new deadline rapidly approaches, seemingly little progress has been made, and the rank and file in the upper chamber are growing frustrated. Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) expressed the general mood among the party, saying, I desperately want a compromise here. But the time is now to get this done. He insisted that proponents of the budget bill are willing to be flexible with moderates like Sens. Joe Manchin (D-W. Va.) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.), who have been the most outspoken critics of their partys budget. During an interview with MSNBC, Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) warned that the long delay is hurting the image of President Joe Biden and the party. Its undermining the vision of all the accomplishments we will have as being highly significant, Merkley said. I dont know if soap opera or a nightmare soap opera is the right wording, but were in big trouble right now with this extended, getting-nowhere negotiation. The situation, Merkley ruled, has to come to an end. Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), the progressive chairman of the Senate Budget Committee and author of the budget framework, told reporters that a vast majority of his Senate colleagues feel the same way. There is a growing understanding that the working families of this country want real change, that there have been quote unquote negotiations, month after month after month, and that it is now time to fish or cut bait, Sanders said. White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters during a Friday press conference that the party is getter closer to reaching an agreement. Pelosi claimed the same, telling reporters that More than 90 percent of everything is agreed to. But Manchin, who controls a crucial swing vote, is not so confident. Speaking to reporters, Manchin agreed that the negotiations are making good progress, but insisted that much more time will be needed for an agreement to be reached. Theres a lot of details, Manchin explained. Until you see the text and the fine print, its pretty hard to make final decisions until you actually see. He continued, You can have the intent. You have to make sure the text matches the intent. This is not gonna happen any time soon guys, the West Virginia Democrat warned. The party remains conflicted the specifics of climate policies, prescription drug pricing, top line spending, and revenue schemes. Despite the demands of exhausted supporters of the budget bill, its success ultimately lies on the shoulders and timetables of moderates, who have made clear that they are ready to vote against a budget that they do not approve of. People wait alongside the road to see a military plane take off from Waterkloof military airbase that is carrying the casket of former South African President Nelson Mandela in Pretoria, South Africa, on Dec. 14, 2013. (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) South Africa Elections: Cycle of Failing Socialist Government Likely to Continue Commentary Municipal and local government elections across the Rainbow nation will be running soon, on November 1, and they will serve as a litmus test for the four main political parties on how they may perform at the next national election. The 2021 elections have generated much debate on the shocking state of South African municipal governance and have put a spotlight on the corruption destroying the delivery of essential services. This has, in turn, led to a debate on how 27 years of rule under the African National Congress (ANC)-led coalition (along with the South African Communist Party and the Congress of South African Trade Unions) has delivered the liberation promised with the accession of Nelson Mandela. South African Communist Party (SACP) leader Joe Slovo (L) and anti-apartheid leader and African National Congress (ANC) member Nelson Mandela (C) salute supporters in Soweto, South Africa, on May 6 1990. (Walter Dhladhla/AFP via Getty Images) Two questions are worth asking. First, how did the municipalities become so broken despite the ANC inheriting well run government systems and utilities? Second, what negative impacts have South Africans suffered due to the widespread collapse of governance in recent decades? While all levels of South African government have been undermined by maladministration, corruption, and affirmative action policies, the worst damage has occurred at the municipal level, which has seen failures in the performance of water and sewerage systems, electricity blackouts, and potholed roads. Part of this collapse can be traced back to the ANCs affirmative action policies, including quota systems for black Africans. Due to a lack of skilled and experienced blacks, many poor quality appointments were made. The skills crisis has been so severe in the municipal and health sectors that the national government arranged for Cuban engineers to be sent to help restore services. However, the problems with affirmative action were exacerbated by the ANCs cadre deployment policy, which saw the ruling party run a system where ANC coalition members were deployed to all levels of government and the economy. Cadre deployment was learned by ANC members while they were in exile in Stalinist Eastern Europe. By mixing American-style affirmative action with Stalinist cadre deployment, the ANC created an enormous party-linked patronage system that today encourages black South Africans to join the ANC first before they find a job. To make matters worse, affirmative action and cadre deployment pushed competent people out of employment and subsequently out of the countrywith South Africa losing those skills forever. Ultimately, this set in motion a downward spiral of productivity in both the government and private sector. Cadre deployment also nurtured a culture of corruption. This is because party hacks developed a Marxist-style belief that the success of white South Africans was not due to hard work or skill, but rather due to the exploitation of another classin this case, blacks, who believed whites were guilty of stealing the land. This aerial view shows residents gathering on a roof of a building, with artwork on the side of the building by South African artist Faith XLVII in Johannesburg, South Africa, on April 22, 2020. (Macro Longari/AFP via Getty Images) Thus did the beneficiaries of affirmative action and cadre deployment convince themselves that it was now their turn to eat. Once they bought into the ANC narrative that whites were beneficiaries of theft, they were, in turn, justified to do the same. As a result, it created a curious sense of entitlement that has translated into an ever-spreading cancer of corruption, fraud, and misappropriation of funds. Once ANC comrades decided they were entitled to grab wealth through all means possible, there was no stopping them. Indeed, those at the top-end of the cadre deployment tree are now colloquially known as the Gucci comrades. So how has the widespread collapse of municipal governance impacted the lives of South Africans? Most of us take for granted the work of local government, not recognising how much we rely on them to deliver clean water and a working sewerage system. Only when sewage or waste disposal systems fail do we understand how dangerous it can be for a population. In some districts, sewage is now routinely poured into the rivers and dams, creating huge health risks. One example is the Vaal Dam, the main water supply for 19 million South Africans living in the Johannesburg-Pretoria megalopolis, which has now become polluted due to the continual inflow of untreated sewage from upstream municipalities. A few people walk in Dr. Pixley Ka Seme street filled with dirt and filth caused after five days of looting in Durban, South Africa, on July 14, 2021. (Rajesh Jantilal/AFP via Getty Images) If living with substandard water and sewerage systems is not bad enough, South Africans must also deal with a failing electricity systemsparked by two issues. One is that government coffers are practically empty due to continuous looting from corrupt employees, resulting in slow payments to state-owned electricity provider Eskom (which is also rife with corruption), and has seen the state-owned enterprise cut-off power to some regions. Another phenomenon is izinyoka-nyoka, where individuals illegally siphon off electricity, which has resulted in millions of dollars of power being consumed but not paid for. But due to ineffective governance and poor policing, electricity theft is now unlikely to be stamped out. Some South Africanswho have little faith in the electoral systemhave taken matters into their own hands. Civil-rights group, Afriforum, has set up local action groups to fix the roads and pavement, organise rubbish removal, and restore water and sewerage services. The group is also turning to legal action against underperforming governments, which will undoubtedly be an enormous undertaking. So at the end of the day, will upcoming municipal and local elections bring renewal and a new crop of politicians to fix these problems? Past experience suggests no. Instead, the ANC will spend much of the election campaign apologising for its past performance and promise the world it will do better next time. Declining voter turnout (due to disillusionment) and the fact South Africans tend to vote along racial lines will very likely deliver a continuation of the current system, even if it teems with untold levels of corruption. And predictably, when it becomes obvious nothing has improved after the elections, a new round of unrestcalled service delivery protestswill break out against the ANCs failure to deliver on its promises. But this political theatre will change nothing. The cycle will simply continue with the corrupt enriching themselves; voters continuing their wait in vain for promised improvements; and the once shining beacons of African progress descending towards a future resembling other sprawling, dysfunctional cities on the continent. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. A Sri Lankan farmer works in a paddy field on the outskirts of Colombo on January 9, 2016 AFP PHOTO / LAKRUWAN WANNIARACHCHI / AFP / LAKRUWAN WANNIARACHCHI (Photo credit should read LAKRUWAN WANNIARACHCHI/AFP via Getty Images) Sri Lanka Rejects Contaminated Chinese Fertilizer, Orders From India NEW DELHISri Lankan rice paddy fields this season became the setting for a geopolitical soft war between India and China as the island nation found that samples of fertilizer imported from China were highly contaminated and hastily requested that India import a replacement. Rice is Sri Lankas staple food and is the second-largest crop in the country after tea. The country has also recently banned chemical fertilizers, aiming to become the worlds first 100 percent organic food producer. This turn to organic farming has been a topic of debate in the countrys media and politics. It has also brought Sri Lanka into an unexpected fiasco with China, which is investing in the countrys multibillion-dollar port projects and offering it other grants, loans, and freebies. The trouble in the Sri LankaChina kinship began when the Department of Agriculture in Colombo found organic fertilizer samples supplied by Qingdao Seawin Biotech Group Co., Ltd., in August to be highly contaminated with several harmful bacterial species, according to various Sri Lankan media sources. Despite failing a second quality test, Qingdao Seawin loaded 12,150 metric tons of organic fertilizer on Hippo Spirit, a vessel that sailed to Singapore from Chinas Qingdaoits unclear how it could have been shipped without a proper permit from Sri Lanka and whether it was returned to the Singapore port. Since paddy cultivation is season-bound, the time was running out for anxious Sri Lankans. They sought Indias help and received their first consignment of safe organic fertilizers last week. Sri Lanka rejected the import of the contaminated shipment from Qingdao Seawin Biotech Co. Ltd. on Sept. 29. Despite the ban, the Chinese are trying to pressure the Sri Lankan government for a third sample test from the same company, a person investigating the matter in Colombo told The Epoch Times. A graphic showing the potential of what a finished Hambantota Port will look like was seen at a viewing deck on Nov. 15, 2018, in Hambantota, Sri Lanka. The port is leased to China for 99 years. (Paula Bronstein/Getty Images) Fertilizer and Politics Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa came to power after promising subsidies on foreign fertilizer. In his election manifesto (pdf), he spoke about organic farming under a revolution in the use of fertilizer and gave a detailed 10-year plan. Rajapaksa introduced The Vistas of Prosperity and Splendor Agenda in December 2019, which consists of 10 key policies within the countrys National Policy Framework (pdf). Within its fifth policy affirmation of People-Centric Economy, the administration has listed promoting and popularizing organic agriculture during next ten years as a key strategy. In line with these policies, his administration restricted and banned the import of fertilizers and agrochemicals on May 6, and this month, he created a 14-member task force to implement his green agriculture agenda. Sri Lanka President Gotabhaya Rajapakse claims that by limiting and banning the import of fertilizers and agrochemicals, this will help rein in rising health care costs brought about by overuse of chemicals in agricultural production, the Foreign Agriculture Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) stated in a report (pdf) on May 28. The issue of agrochemicals contributing to the nations health woes has been a topic of fierce debate27 percent of Sri Lankas economically active population engages in agriculture production and related industries. The reasons for elevated CKD [chronic kidney disease] cases in rural farming communities remains inconclusive. Some believe that excessive and improper use (or misuse) and elevated exposure to fertilizers and agrochemicals might be a contributing factor to chronic kidney disease, the USDA stated. Sri Lanka was to import 99,000 metric tons of organic fertilizers from China at the cost of $63 million before scientists on Sept. 17 found the Chinese consignment to be contaminated. When we tested the fertilizer samples sent by the Chinese supplier, we found in them bacteria that is harmful to the soil, Sri Lankan Agriculture Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage said in a statement. Media reports said that two kinds of pathogens were detected, and the fertilizer would have led to an ecological disaster if imported. Some reports mention the presence of a bacteria called Erwinia. Questions were raised about whether the first samples had been tampered with, and the countrys director-general of agriculture tested a second sample, which also was found to be contaminated. The Chinese are currently making a third attempt to have their organic fertilizer accepted, and the Chinese Embassy in Colombo is currently mediating with the Sri Lankan government, according to Ceylon Today, which also published a statement from the Chinese offering clarifications. Chinas embassy said in the statement that theres no scientific basis to the presence of Erwinia in the fertilizer samples because, according to the International Plant Protection Convention, it takes six days to detect Erwinia, while the National Plant Quarantine Service in Sri Lanka claimed to have done it in three days, the Sri Lanka Mirror reported. The National Plant Quarantine Service disagreed with the Chinese Embassys claims and said that the samples have been tested several times. A farmer prepares a paddy field for sowing in Biyagama on the outskirts of Colombo, Sri Lanka, on Oct. 21, 2020. (Ishara S. Kodikara/AFP via Getty Images) Import From India In desperation, as the time for fertilizing paddies was running out, Sri Lankan officials decided to import 3.1 million liters of nano nitrogen liquid fertilizer, or nano urea, from India on Oct. 19 at a cost of $44.6 million (9 billion Sri Lankan rupees). The Indian fertilizer was tested and found to be uncontaminated. Sri Lanka sought Indias import of nano fertilizers at almost the same time as the country is seeking $500 million from India to pay for its crude oil purchases amid a foreign exchange crisis, according to Outlook India. Across Indian media, India is said to be a more reliable partner for Sri Lanka than China. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka also imported 30,000 metric tons of organic fertilizer from Lithuania on Oct. 13 that was immediately dispatched to its rice-growing regions. Sudan's Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok attends a joint news conference with French President Emmanuel Macron and Sudan's Sovereign Council Chief General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan (not seen) during the International Conference in support of Sudan at the Temporary Grand Palais in Paris, France on May 17, 2021. (Sarah Meyssonnier/Pool/Reuters) Sudan PM, Officials Detained by Islamist-Backed Military Sparking Fears of a Coup 'Significant disruption' to Internet reported across the country CAIROSudans information ministry says the countrys interim Prime Minister Abdulla Hamdok is under house arrest and being forced by the countrys Islamist-backed army to issue a message in support of a potential coup. The news comes as the United States expressed alarm over recent developments in the country, in a transition to democracy for more than two years after former autocrat Omar al-Bashir was removed from power. Early Monday, U.S. Special Envoy to the Horn of Africa Jeffrey Feltman said Washington was deeply alarmed by reports of the military takeover. The pro-Islamist military is said to have detained a number of senior Sudanese government figures, the countrys information ministry said, as the countrys main pro-democracy group called on people to take to the streets to counter the apparent coup. The ministry said the internet had been cut off and military forces closed bridges. NetBlocks, a group which tracks disruptions across the internet, said it had seen a significant disruption to both fixed-line and mobile internet connections across Sudan with multiple providers early Monday. Metrics corroborate user reports network disruptions appearing consistent with an internet shutdown, the advocacy group said. The disruption is likely to limit the free flow of information online and news coverage of incidents on the ground. Update: Internet connectivity in #Sudan is now severely disrupted with further cuts observed from 4:30 a.m. UTC, manifesting in a telecommunications blackout for many, amid reports of an military coup and the detention of senior government officials. https://t.co/uVVZKchH5S pic.twitter.com/NuTk3j3xEr NetBlocks (@netblocks) October 25, 2021 The countrys state news channel played patriotic traditional music and scenes of the Nile river. Sudan has suffered political unrest since long-time autocrat Omar al-Bashir was toppled by mass protests. Mondays arrests come after weeks of rising tensions between Sudans pro-democracy civilian and Islamist military leaders. A failed coup attempt in September fractured the country along old lines, pitting Islamists who want a military government against those who toppled al-Bashir more than two years ago in mass protests. In recent days, both camps have taken to the street in demonstrations. The Umma Party, the countrys largest political party, described the arrests as an attempted coup, and called on people to take to the streets in resistance. Earlier, the Sudanese Professionals Association, a group leading demands for a transition to democracy, issued a similar call. The Sudanese Communist Party called on workers to go on strike and mass civil disobedience after what it described as a full military coup orchestrated by the Sovereign Councils head Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan. The information ministry said in a brief statement on its Facebook page that the whereabouts of the officials were not known. It did not provide details about who was detained. Earlier Monday, two officials confirmed that at least five government figures were detained. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media. The officials said the detained government members include Industry Minister Ibrahim al-Sheikh, Information Minister Hamza Baloul, and Mohammed al-Fiky Suliman, member of the countrys ruling transitional body, known as The Sovereign Council, and Faisal Mohammed Saleh, a media adviser to Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok. Under Hamdok and the transitional council, Sudan has slowly emerged from years of international pariah status under al-Bashir. The country was removed from the United States state supporter of terror list in 2020, opening the door for badly needed international loans and investment. The countrys economy has struggled with the shock of a number economic reforms called for by international lending institutions. Read More Israel and Sudan Reach US-Brokered Deal to Normalize Ties Ayman Khalid, governor of the state containing the capital, Khartoum, was also arrested, according to the official Facebook page of his office. There have been previous military coups in Sudan since it gained its independence from Britain and Egypt in 1956. Al-Bashir came to power in a 1989 military coup that removed the countrys last elected government. The arrests followed meetings the U.S. Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa Jeffrey Feltman with Sudanese military and civilian leaders Saturday and Sunday in efforts to resolve the dispute. Sudans state news website highlighted the meetings with military officials. The Epoch Times contributed to this report. Sudan Coup: Islamist Military Dissolves Transitional Government, Arrests Prime Minister The head of Sudans ruling council, Gen. Abdel Fattah Abdelrahman al-Burhan, announced a countrywide state of emergency on Oct. 25 and said he was dissolving the transitional sovereign council and the government. The announcement came hours after Sudans military arrested acting Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, members of the Transitional Sovereignty Councils civilian component, and several ministers. In a televised appearance, al-Burhan announced that he was dissolving the countrys ruling Sovereign Council, as well as the government led by Hamdok, CBS reports. He added that a new government of technocrats would rule until elections were held in 2023. The army general said this was being done as a way of rectifying the course of the revolution. The countrys information ministry said on Facebook that Hamdok had been placed under house arrest by military forces who were pressuring him to release a pro-coup statement. After refusing to endorse the coup, Hamdok and his wife were moved to an unknown location by the military, the ministry said. Security forces also arrested a number of members of the Sovereignty Council, ministers, and political leaders, the ministry confirmed. What happened represents a tearing up of the constitutional document and a complete coup against the gains of the revolution that our people paid for with blood in search of freedom, peace, and justice, the ministry said. Sudanese military leaders take full responsibility for the life and safety of Prime Minister Dr. Abdullah Hamdok and his family, these leaders also bear the criminal, legal and political consequences of their unilateral decisions. Sudans Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok attends a joint news conference with French President Emmanuel Macron and Sudans Sovereign Council Chief General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan (not seen) during the International Conference in support of Sudan at the Temporary Grand Palais in Paris on May 17, 2021. (Sarah Meyssonnier/Pool/Reuters) The arrests followed weeks of rising tensions between Sudans civilian and military leaders. Sudan has been run by a transitional government of military and civilian elements since 2019 after former longtime dictator Omar al-Bashir, who ruled the country for nearly 30 years with an iron fist, was removed from power following months of protests against his regime, triggered by rising prices and a failing economy. The transitional period is set to be followed by elections to form a new government. Following Hamdoks arrest, tens of thousands rallied in protest to reject the military coup. Violence quickly ensued, with military forces allegedly shooting live bullets at protestors, leaving a number of people injured, according to the ministry. Meanwhile, doctors across the countrys hospitals declared a political strike over the military coup, barring emergencies, and withdrew from all military hospitals. The ministry said the internet had been cut off and military forces had closed bridges. NetBlocks, a group that tracks disruptions across the internet, said it had seen a significant disruption early Oct. 25 to both fixed-line and mobile internet connections across Sudan with multiple providers. Early on Oct. 25, U.S. Special Envoy to the Horn of Africa Jeffrey Feltman said Washington was deeply alarmed by reports of the military takeover, The Associated Press reported. Feltman met with the Sudanese ruling council and the prime minister over the weekend in an effort to resolve the growing dispute between the countrys civilian and military leaders, and urged them to work together to implement the constitutional declaration and Juba Peace Agreement, the U.S. Embassy in Khartoum wrote on Oct. 23 on Twitter. A woman from the Murle ethnic group receives cans of oil during a food distribution by United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) in Gumuruk, South Sudan, on June 10, 2021, after her village was attacked by an armed youth group. (Simon Wohlfahrt/AFP via Getty Images) Sudanese pro-democracy supporters celebrate a final power-sharing agreement with the ruling military council on Aug 17, 2019, in the capital, Khartoum. The deal paved the way for a transition to civilian-led government following the overthrow of President Omar al-Bashir in April, 2019. (AP Photo) EU foreign affairs chief Joseph Borrell wrote on Twitter that hes following the ongoing events with the utmost concern. The EU calls on all stakeholders and regional partners to put back on track the transition process, Borrell wrote. Meanwhile, German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas issued a statement calling the news dismaying and that the coup attempt must be clearly condemned. I call on everyone who is responsible for security and the state order in Sudan to continue the peaceful political transition process in Sudan towards democracy and to respect the will of the people. This attempted coup must be stopped immediately, Maas said. The politically responsible must resolve their differences in a peaceful dialogue, he said. They owe this to the people of Sudan who fought for an end to the dictatorship and for democratic change. A failed coup attempt in September fractured the country along old lines, pitting Islamists who want a military government against those who toppled al-Bashir more than two years ago in mass protests. In recent days, both camps have taken to the streets to protest. Burhan warned in televised comments last month that the military would hand over power only to a government elected by the Sudanese people. Under Hamdok and the transitional council, Sudan has made great strides. The country was removed from the United States list of state sponsors of terrorism, a move that opened the door for international loans and investment to revive its battered economy. Sudans economy had suffered from decades of U.S. sanctions and mismanagement under al-Bashir. The transitional government also officially criminalized female genital mutilation, a landmark move for the country and a sign of its commitment toward improving the rights of women and girls. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Suspect Fleeing Police Crashes SUV Into Van Nuys Building, Kills Woman VAN NUYS, Calif.A motorist was in custody Oct. 25 after allegedly fleeing police and crashing an SUV through a building being used as a Halloween popup store in Van Nuys, killing a woman and injuring at least five other people, authorities said. The crash happened around 8:05 p.m. Sunday at 7600 Woodley Ave., at Saticoy Street, said Los Angeles Fire Department spokeswoman Margaret Stewart. A woman believed to have been in her 20s died at the scene. Her name was withheld pending family notification. Paramedics evaluated at least five others for injuries, none believed life-threatening. NBC4 reported that the 18-year-old SUV driver was taking part in a nearby street takeover, doing donuts in the middle of an intersection, and crashed into the building at a high speed, while being followed by the LAPD helicopter overhead. Street takeovers often involve dozens or sometimes hundreds of attendees blocking off city intersections where drivers perform stunts. Serious injuries and some deaths have occurred at street takeovers in recent years. Police told NBC4 that the suspect could face a possible murder charge. His name was not immediately released. Police at the scene said the SUV was traveling at such a high rate of speed it left 200 feet of skid marks on the street and continued 75 feet to the back of the building before it stopped, ABC7 said. The genders and ages of the other victims were not immediately available. LAFDs Urban Search and Rescue team was evaluating the stability of the building, Stewart said. Sweden Extends Pause of Moderna Vaccine for Under-30s Due to Heart-Related Side Effects Sweden has extended its pause of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine for people aged 30 and younger due to heart-related side-effects, the public health agency announced on Oct. 21. The European Medicines Agency approved the use of Modernas Spikevax for children aged over 12 in July, marking the first time the shot had been authorized for use in people under 18. But on Oct. 6, the Public Health Agency of Sweden said it was pausing the use of Spikevax among people born in 1991 or later after data showed an increased risk of inflammation of the heart muscle (myocarditis) or the sac surrounding the heart (pericarditis). The initial pause had a deadline of Dec. 1. But the agency announced Thursday that it was extending that pause beyond the original deadline for people aged 30 and younger and anyone who has received a first dose of Spikevax is recommended to receive Pfizers Comirnaty as a second dose instead. The European Medicines Agency approved the use of Comirnaty in May. Now everyone under 30 waiting for their second dose can receive it, said Anders Tegnell, state epidemiologist at the Public Health Agency of Sweden. The health agency also said it plans to put an end to widespread testing and will remove the recommendation for testing for those who are fully vaccinated, regardless of whether or not they are displaying symptoms. The new testing guidelines come into effect on Nov. 1. We must test those who are most at risk of being infected with COVID-19. The vaccine protects well, above all against severe disease but also against infection and the spread of infection, Health Agency official Britta Bjorkholm told a news conference. The health agency noted that individuals who are patients or working in health care should still get tested, as well as those who have been in close contact with someone who is confirmed to have contracted the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus. Out of 139,651 tests performed last week, 3 percent came back positive. Currently, around 85 percent of all Swedes aged 16 and older have received one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, while 80 percent have had two shots or more. Meanwhile, a World Health Organization (WHO) advisory group is studying decisions in both Sweden and Denmark to halt vaccinating young people with the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine amid health concerns. Denmark announced earlier this month that it would stop offering the Moderna vaccine to anyone under 18 as a precautionary principle due to data indicating heart-related side effects. In the preliminary data there is a suspicion of an increased risk of heart inflammation, when vaccinated with Moderna, the Danish Health Authority said. The result of those studies are expected soon, WHOs Assistant Director-General Mariangela Simao said on Thursday. Reuters contributed to this report. Tennessee Legislature Must Pass Big COVID Test in Special Session Commentary The red state/blue state dichotomy is not simple. Nowhere is that more apparent than Tennessee wheredespite having one of the most conservative electorates in the countrythe leadership has been passive at best in responding to the wishes of their supporters during these days of great crisis. That includes Governor Bill Lee who has been nowhere near as forthrightin fact has been retrograde on a number of issuesas the governors of other red states, yet for reasons unknown got an early endorsement from Donald Trump. The state legislature, in which Republicans have a super majority, hasnt been much better. Part of the explanation is that many of these leaders see themselves more as big business ambassadorsOracle and Amazon were recently wooed to Nashville (with generous incentives) and now Ford to a suburb of Memphis (with even more generous incentives)than as elected officials chosen by the people to deal with the issues that most affect their lives. These days the most pressing issues are obviously COVID with the vaccine and mask mandates followed by a wretched public education system infected by something called social emotional learning, which is a euphemism for leftwing indoctrination from Pre-K onward. Immigration is also of great concern with illegal immigrants mysteriously appearing in the state via airplane in the middle of the night as they have elsewhere. Along with this is an extraordinary rise in human trafficking making it more lucrative even than the drug trade. And then theres the little matter of election integrity. Special Session Some of this is about to change. Or, more exactly, has an opportunity to change, if the Tennessee legislature can man and/or woman up. Starting Oct. 27, a special session of the Tennessee legislature has been called to deal with COVID matters. As the determinedly liberal Tennessean puts it Lawmakers could address a wide range of issues, including limiting the governors emergency power and regulating private businesses authority to implement mask or vaccine mandates, according to the language of the call. Well, well, well, les jeux sont faits, the chips are down, as they say in Monte Carlo. What we have looming before us in the Volunteer State is a battle that extends beyond the states borders to the entire country and, in a way, the world. Even if the whole world [may not be] watching, after the results of what is determined in this special session are promulgated across the internet, it will be written in indelible digital stone what Tennessees legislators did for the citizens of their state, most of all for their children and young people, in Oct.-Nov. 2021. So allow me as a relatively new Tennessean (three years and five months) to state the obvious starting point: Attempts to deal with COVID-19called with increasing accuracy on this site the CCP virusby the U.S. government and its Center for Disease Control, since we first began hearing about it in early 2020, have been close to an utter failure. Despite myriad promises of solutions, we are essentially in the same place with the same cures on offer. Progress that was promised on multiple occasions has never happened. Further, statistics from states and countries show little or no difference between those vaccinated and not, those that locked down and didnt, those that masked and didnt, and so forth. (Alex Berenson, on his Substack, has demonstrated this very well.) Faucis Promises Were still being handed the same rhetoric. What was Einsteins famous definition of insanity? If you keep doing the same thing again and again, hoping for well, you know the rest, Tennessee legislators. The principal promulgator of those promises was a man presented to us initially almost as the second-coming of Louis PasteurDr. Anthony Fauciwho has proven to be no Pasteur. Some of his pronouncementsthe endless changes of mind about masks, vaccines and virtually everything elsethat occurred every week or two may have been mistakes, but some were outright lies. One recent example of the latter is when, under questioning at a congressional hearing by Sen. Rand Paul, a doctor himself, Fauci assured us he had no involvement with the funding of gain-of-function research at the Wuhan Virology Lab from the years before the pandemic began. That obvious prevarication, thoroughly contradicted by email evidence and later by the NIH itself, may have more dangerous implications than we even know now. What, in the end, is the difference between gain-of-function and bioweapons research and what role did Fauci have in it? (The NIAID directors erratic behavior and numerous evasive answers may stem from his need to hide his enmeshment with the communist Chinese.) The second deception occurred not long ago and has clear implications for decisions before the Tennessee legislature during the special session. When asked by a reporter about whether natural immunity (what occurs naturally from having had a disease) might work instead of vaccination, possibly be even better, Fauci acted as if he were surprised, as if NI were something he had only vaguely heard of, and waved off the question as something he would have to think about (in his spare time). For a second time, Rand Paul accused Fauci of lying because natural immunity foiled his vaccination plans. Id bet my proverbial house Paul was right. Natural Immunity and Mandates Who hasnt heard of natural immunity? Its taught in high school biology. Certainly Anthony S. Fauci, M. D., director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases since 1984, would have. Wouldnt you agree, legislators? You undoubtedly heard of it too, back in high school and many times since. Natural immunity works. Indeed, according to an Israeli study, natural immunity in the case of COVID-19, is multiple times more effective than the vaccines. From the study: SARS-CoV-2-naive vaccines had a 13.06-fold (95% CI, 8.08 to 21.11) increased risk for breakthrough infection with the Delta variant compared to those previously infected. Thirteen-fold! Legislators, pop quiz: Which is more effective, natural immunity or the vaccines? Even in the unlikely event the Israeli scientists are off by thirty or forty percent, the differences are still extreme. We all know the answer, so lets skip to pop quiz II: Why risk mandating vaccines to those who have already had COVID-19? Why especially when we dont know the extent of the side effects of these mRNA vaccines? This is particularly true for young people who are having or intending to have children. Many of the them are young workers in Tennessee companies facing a terrible dilemmatake mandated shots that no one fully understands or wants, or resign from their jobs. Dissident Doctors But dont believe me. Believe Dr. Robert Maloneone of the key, if not the key, inventor of messenger RNA, the basis of the new vaccinesor Dr. Peter McCullough. Malone has said his invention is still in the trial stage and doesnt recommend it for anyone under 65, let alone children or youth. And even for those over 65, hes nervous. If youre a member of the Tennessee legislature about to vote on these mandates and have not seen video talks by these men, but have seen Fauci or the latest CDC bureaucrat, you are being hugely irresponsible in your decision-making. But theyre only the tip of a medical iceberg that extends to the thousands, probably hundreds of thousands, of doctors across the globe who are vaccine skeptics, including the Frontline Doctors. The medical profession is being corrupted by the state. Many of our longtime personal physicians live in fear they will be excommunicated from their profession if they dare speak out. Its beginning to seem like the Soviet Union during the era of Stalin and Trofim Lysenko. Thoselike the current presidentwho most frequently tell us they are following the science are the ones least likely to be doing so. There is no such thing as settled science. In fact, settled science is the enemy of science. Its an oxymoron. Anyone who uses the term is lying. An Agenda Instead of pontificating at this weeks session as politicians, and, alas, pundits, are wont to do, heres a short list of possible genuine accomplishments. Decree no vaccine mandates in Tennessee by any governmental authoritystate, county, or federal. Private companies that wish to mandate the vaccine must exempt from vaccination all those with religious and medical reasons, but also ALL THOSE WHO HAVE PREVIOUSLY HAD COVID-19. They are automatically exempt. No mask mandates until Gov. Gavin Newsom, Vice President Kamala Harris, President Biden, and Speaker Pelosi start wearing them at their private gatherings. End the nauseating hypocrisy. Outlaw vaccine passports in the state. Ivermectin and Hydroxychloroquine should be made legal as treatments for COVID as was just done in Nebraska. No restrictions for political or other reasons by the federal government on state use of or access to monoclonal antibodies. Children always in school and maskless, except on Halloween, no exceptions. Assert health care belongs to the individual, not to the government. Our bodies, ourselves. Freedom, not totalitarianism. Capitalism, not communism. That last might be slightly beyond the scope, but at heart, its what its all about. If the special session does most, or even the majority of this, accompanied by the wholehearted support of Tennessees governor, it will be an example to the nation. The citizens of the state will rejoice and no longer suffer from DeSantis envy. If they renege and this session is merely for show, we will know most of the reason why. It has been widely reported now that Pfizer has 700 (!) lobbyists in Washington. I dont have the figures, but if theres one thing thats sure, the donations to politicians by Big Pharma are somewhere up there with Big Tech. This time, legislators, try to ignore that incredible potential largesse. Everyone always mouths the platitude its for the children. This time, it is. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. The logo of car manufacturer Tesla is seen at a dealership in London, Britain on May 14, 2021. (Matthew Childs/Reuters) Tesla Drives Toward $1 Trillion Club on Record Hertz Order Tesla Inc. on Monday neared $1 trillion in market capitalization as the company founded by Elon Musk received its biggest-ever order100,000 electric rental cars for Hertz. Tesla shares were up 7.5 percent at $978, hitting a new record high Monday, following the order. Shares were also buoyed by news of the companys Model 3 becoming the first electric vehicle to top monthly sales of new cars in Europe. The news from Hertz comes as Tesla is coping with a backlog of unfulfilled orders for its vehicles and continuing supply chain disruptions, but it does solidify the mainstream appeal of electric cars. Interim Hertz Chief Executive Mark Fields told Reuters the order will primarily be Model 3 vehicles. Hertz customers can rent a Tesla starting in November and the company will have 3,000 chargers in 65 markets by the end of 2022, he added. By the end of 2023, Fields said his firm will have 4,000 chargers in 100 markets. We absolutely believe that this is going to be competitive advantage for us, Fields said of the Tesla order, due to be delivered by the end of 2022. We want to be a leader in mobility Getting customers experience with electrified vehicles is an absolute priority for us. Hertz, which requires customers to refuel gasoline-powered rental cars on return or pay a fee, said for now customers will not have to return Teslas fully recharged. Hertz has around 430,000 to 450,000 vehicles worldwide, Fields said. He said Hertz would work with other automakers producing electric vehicles. Tesla would have to top $995.75 to become a company worth a trillion dollars, according to Reuters calculations based on its latest filing. The worlds most valuable carmaker will join an elite club that includes Apple Inc., Amazon.com Inc., Microsoft Corp., and Alphabet Inc. The worlds most valuable automaker delivered a record 241,300 electric cars globally in the third quarter, even as it warned that supply chain headwinds would pressure margins. Teslas cheapest Model 3 sedan starts at about $44,000, making this order worth about $4.4 billion, if the entire order were for its mass-market sedan. Fields declined to say how much Hertz was paying for the order. Tesla was not immediately available for comment. The desk of car rental company Hertz is seen at Nice International airport in Nice, France on May 27, 2020. (Eric Gaillard/Reuters) With the current order, Hertz said EVs will make up more than 20 percent of its global fleet. Fields cited the rising number of EVs for sale and consumer interest in electrified vehicles. We want to be out there early and fast and take a leadership position, Fields said. It (the order) puts an exclamation point under guidance for 50 percent+ growth in deliveries, Roth Capital analyst Craig Irwin said. Another solid piece of evidence EVs are going mainstream. The car rental firm also said it was installing thousands of chargers throughout its network. Customers who rent a Tesla Model 3 will have access to 3,000 Tesla supercharging stations throughout the United States and Europe. Electric vehicles are now mainstream, and weve only just begun to see rising global demand and interest, said Hertz interim Chief Executive Officer Mark Fields. Analysts at Morgan Stanley bumped their price target on Tesla by 33 percent as the brokerage expects the electric carmaker to keep posting higher volumes, reaching more than 8 million deliveries in 2030. A Cox Automotive study said Americans are hesitant to buy EVs due to anxieties about the ranges of the vehicles and high price tags, as well as weak charging infrastructure. Hertz had filed for bankruptcy protection last year as travel demand sank during the height of the pandemic and talks with creditors failed to provide relief. It was rescued by a group of investors including Knighthead Capital Management, Certares Opportunities, and Apollo Capital Management. By Subrat Patnaik, Sanjana Shivdas, and David Shepardson A sign bearing the company logo stands outside a Tesla store in Cherry Creek Mall in Denver on Feb. 9, 2019. (David Zalubowski/AP Photo) Tesla Temporarily Pulls Its New Full Self-Driving Beta Software Due to Issues Electric car maker Tesla has withdrawn the latest version of its full self-driving (FSD) beta software just one day after it was released, Chief Executive Elon Musk announced on Oct. 24. Tesla released its 10.3 FSD update to drivers on Oct. 23 and Oct. 24, along with a list of release notes. The list mentions changes such as added FSD profiles that allow drivers to control behavior such as rolling stops or exiting passing lanes, along with improved static obstacle control, improved creeping speed, and reduced false slowdowns. Tesla tracks data from its cars through the internet. Teslas Autopilot system uses cameras, radar, and computers to detect objects and to automatically brake before potential collisions. FSD is an enhanced version of Autopilot, allowing the vehicle to change lanes, parallel or perpendicular park itself, and identify traffic lights and stop signs and automatically slow down when approaching them, among other things, according to Tesla. But Musk, in the afternoon on Oct. 24, said the company was seeing some issues and would roll the software back to version 10.2 for now. Seeing some issues with 10.3, so rolling back to 10.2 temporarily, Musk said in a Twitter post. Please note, this is to be expected with beta software. It is impossible to test all hardware configs in all conditions with internal QA [quality assurance], hence public beta, he said. The CEO didnt state specifically what the issues were, but on Oct. 23, one day after announcing the new driving assistance system for some Tesla model owners, he wrote on Twitter that Teslas internal quality assurance had found problems with some left turns at traffic lights. Regression in some left turns at traffic lights found by internal QA in 10.3. Fix in work, probably releasing tomorrow, he said. Tesla officials didnt immediately respond to a request by The Epoch Times for comment. Several people on social media stated that the latest 10.3 software repeatedly provided forward collision warnings even when there was no immediate danger, according to The Verge. Others noted issues such as a disappearing Autosteer option, traffic-aware cruise control (TACC) problems, and occasional Autopilot panic. A number of Tesla users claimed the update completely removed the FSD beta capabilities from their vehicles. This isnt the first time Tesla has encountered issues with its self-driving updates. Back in August, Musk conceded that the companys 9.2 version was actually not great but noted that the electric car maker was rallying to improve as fast as possible. In that same month, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) opened a formal probe into Teslas Autopilot and FSD systems following nearly a dozen crashes with parked emergency vehicles that left one person dead and injured 17 others. According to an NHTSA document issued on Aug. 13 (pdf), the agencys Office of Defects Investigation was probing 765,000 Tesla vehiclesModels Y, X, S, and 3, from model years 2014 to 2021. The agency said in the document that it had identified 11 crashes in which various Tesla models approached locations where emergency crews were responding to incidents and struck one or more vehicles at the scene. Most of the crashes took place after dark and involved scenes where first responders had deployed flashing lights, flares, an illuminated arrow board, or cones warning of hazards. The probe will include examining the contributing circumstances. All the involved Tesla vehicles were confirmed to have been engaged in either Autopilot or traffic-aware cruise control as they approached the crashes. On Aug. 31, that investigation was expanded to cover a 12th incident (pdf). Tom Ozimek contributed to this report. The Reason for Right Flight Commentary Theres a great migration underway from blue America to red America, from Democratic-controlled states such as New York and California to Republican-controlled states such as Texas and Florida. I should know. I lived from 2000 to 2017 in Southern California, before leaving the state for Texas, where I live now. Im part of a larger movement that we could call right flight, the flight from left-leaning states to right-leaning ones. Sure, I moved partly because I married a Texan, or perhaps I should say a Venezuelan who has spent her entire adult life in Texas. But she could have come my way to San Diego; instead, I chose to go her way to the Houston area. Many factors were involved, but lets just say I dont mind my state income tax rate going from around 10 percent to zero. My film company is still based in California, at least for now, and we have two members of our small team who still live there. Interestingly, one is in the process of moving his family to Florida, and I just heard the other guy has been checking out real estate in the Southwest. He says hes just looking, but just looking is often the gateway to relocating. I predict hell be calling a moving company soon. Now, one explanation of whats going on is that Americans are self-segregating as part of a great divide that has opened up between Republicans and Democrats, conservatives and liberals. Im tempted to say that were moving toward the sort of ideological chasm that defined the period leading up to the Civil War. But then I realize that, in many respects, America today is more divided than it was in 1860. In 1860, only one issue divided America: the issue of slavery. This is a point made by Abraham Lincoln on the eve of the Civil War, writing to his former Whig colleague Alexander Stephens, who became the vice president of the Confederacy. Essentially, Lincoln said that the secessionists believed slavery to be right, and wanted to see it expand, while the unionists believed slavery to be wrong, and wanted to see it contract. But this, Lincoln emphasized, was the only major difference between the two camps. Today, by contrast, theres so much that divides conservative Republicans from left-wing Democrats that its hard to think of a single issue that they agree on. In addition, the two sides dont even like each other very much. Each seeks to demonize the other, to get away from the other. Moreover, Democrats seem unwilling to live and let live; they seem intent on forcing their values on the rest of the country, through ideological indoctrination in schools, through imposed federal mandates, and through censorship enforced across digital platforms. This process of ideological separationlets call it a secession within Americahas been occurring for a couple of decades now. Initially, people sorted themselves within states, and so there were red pockets such as Orange County and the Central Valley in blue California, just as there are blue pockets such as Austin and the Rio Grande Valley in red Texas. But now people are actually leaving blue America to relocate to red America. Since this is a one-way trendwe dont see Texans rushing to California, or Floridians heading up to New Yorkit cant be interpreted simply as a process of ideological self-segregation. Something more must be going on, and that something seems to be that the red states are more appealing places to live than the blue states. Its sometimes said that immigration is a form of flattery. This applies, of course, to people coming to America. There must be something more attractive about America than their home countries. But the same principle applies to people who move from one place to another within America. There must be something more attractive to them about their new destinations than the places theyre leaving. Consider Texas and California, which, at first glance, are quite similar in a number of respects. Both are large states in terms of physical size and population. Both have substantial Hispanic populations. Historically, both were independent republics, even if for a brief time. Both were relatively unaffected by the Civil War, even though Texas, unlike California, was part of the Confederacy. Today, both have large industries such as agriculture, energy, biotech, and high tech. What differentiates the two states is just two things. California is a much more beautiful state and has, on the whole, much better weather. This should give California a natural advantage over Texas. Call it the sunshine plus. Texas, however, has conservative policies in both the economic and cultural realms. This seems to overcome the California advantage, since the movement is from California to Texas and not so much the other way. Earlier, I mentioned state income taxes: Texas has none. Texas also has cheaper land values, so you can get more for your money when you buy a house. Everything from groceries to gas is markedly cheaper in Texas, which means the family paycheck goes further. Texas is also a better-run state, which you can test by going to a DMV in California versus one in Texas. In California, you have to take the day off work because you could be there for hours; in Texas, youre usually out with whatever you needed to get done within 30 minutes. In La Jolla, California, I had a view of the ocean that I cant replicate in Texas. But in Texas, I have a nice little mansion with a pool and waterfall in the backyard that reminds me of Hawaii. I dont really miss the Pacific Ocean. And its not just the economic benefits. Texans still have the spirit of the Alamo, the spirit of freedom, which gives daily life itself a more charged, vibrant quality. California, by contrast, cultivates in its inhabitants today the spirit of dependency, the spirit of the leech and the parasite. California once had its own dream, the California dream, which was basically the California version of the American dream. But increasingly, people living in blue America see their American dream passing away, and so they flee to red America, where they can live better and once again dream big dreams for themselves and their children. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Is the California dream fading? According to my guest today, it is. We are re-airing this interview with Chapman University Professor Joel Kotkin, where he discusses some of the main reasons people are moving out of California. California Insider is an Epoch Times show available on YouTube, Rumble, Youmaker, and The Epoch Times website. It also airs on cable on NTD America. Find out where you can watch us on TV. Follow Epoch TV on social media! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EpochTVus Twitter: https://twitter.com/EpochTVus Pro-Tibetan demonstrators pray for human rights in Tibet during a protest outside the Chinese consulate in Sydney, Australia, on March 18, 2008. (Anoek De Groot/AFP via Getty Images) Tibet: 70 Years of Occupation Almost Forgotten Commentary On Sept. 30, 2021, the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), the government-in-exile of Tibet, released a document entitled Tibet: 70 Years of Occupation and Oppression. This document details Tibets fascinating but sad story from ancient times to today, but concentrates on the Chinese Communist Partys (CCP) occupation and brutal oppression. The Peoples Liberation Army of China invaded Tibet from 1949 to 1951, even though it was an independent state and exhibited all the elements of statehood. It had a territory, a population, and a government. A glance at the history of Tibet reveals that historically, it was never a part of China. Of course, during its history, Tibetan rulers developed close relationships with successive Chinese (and other Asian) rulers. But, unfortunately, the CCP has misinterpreted these relationships as laying a solid foundation for the ultimate founding of a unified nation. This is the kind of logic that would justify the invasion and occupation of any country. A document, released by the CTAs Department of Information and International Relations, also refers to the Adhesion Agreement concluded in 1906 between the Manchu government of China and the United Kingdom. These governments signed the agreement without the participation or knowledge of Tibetan authorities, and it recognised the existence of the British sphere of influence in Tibet and introduced a concept of Manchu suzerainty over Tibet. This photograph taken during a government organised media tour in Lhasa, Chinas central Tibet Autonomous Region, on May 31, 2021, shows monks having a walk after the class at the Tibet Autonomous Region Buddhist College. (Hector Retamal/AFP via Getty Images) Further, the infamous 17-Point Agreement, signed in 1951 between representatives of the Tibetan government and the communist state, ostensibly presented as a mutual agreement, was nothing more than a unilateral ultimatum drawn up by China. Meanwhile, the CTA document is important for several reasons. First, it conveniently documents the egregious violations of human rights by the CCP in Tibet. Second, it reveals the spectacular contempt of the CCP for the application of accepted rules of international law regarding the sovereignty of member states and the protection of fundamental rights. Third, it points to the intentions of the CCP with regards to Taiwan, which it seeks to conquer. With regards to human rights, the CTA publication documents the CCPs Orwellian surveillance strategies in Tibet; the marginalisation of the Tibetan language; disruption of religious traditions, including the Buddhist belief in reincarnation and rebirth; adulterated food supplies and the existence of a precarious health system; the practice of torture; and wholesale environmental devastation and degradation. In addition, there are reports of self-immolation, especially since the failed uprising of 2008, precipitated by monks who called for freedom for Tibet and demanded the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. The recently reported self-immolation protest by 26-year-old Tibetan named Shurmo happened on Sept. 17, 2015. The CTA estimates that there have been 155 known cases of self-immolation. Currently, there is no freedom of movement in Tibet. In this context, the document states that movement is systematically violated with the imposition of explicit restrictions, including local directives prohibiting overseas travel, passport confiscations, and issuing of threats and intimidations to Tibetans in Tibet against travelling. Freedom House ranks Tibet as the least free region in the world. This certainly reflects the appalling treatment of Tibetans inside Tibet. It is a region that is effectively off-limits to journalists and outsiders, and hence, is an impenetrable fortress. A paramilitary soldier on patrol marches past a crowd gathered in front of a replica of Tibets most revered landmark Potala Palace on Sept. 26, 2006. (Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images) The Chinese Constitution, with its impressive list of fundamental rights, is meaningless because the CCP trumps everything. This is abundantly clear when reading Article 4 of its constitution, which vacuously states that China protects the interests of the minority nationalities and upholds and develops a relationship of equality, unity, and mutual assistance among all of Chinas nationalities and that oppression of any nationality is prohibited. It also stipulates that, All nationalities have the freedom to use and develop their own spoken and written languages and to preserve or reform their own folkways and customs. Chinas occupation of Tibet also violates Article 2 (4) of the Charter of the United Nations, which expressly requires member states to refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any state. Similarly, Article 1 (1) of the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights confirms that, All peoples have the right of self-determination. By virtue of that right, they freely determine their political status and freely pursue their economic, social and cultural development. An interesting aspect of the document seeks to explain the CCPs interests in the occupation of Tibet. The authors suggest that the reasons are strategic and geopolitical rather than cultural. China always regarded Tibet as the backdoor into China. Therefore, its conquest would not only offer protection to China but also enable it to secure access to the whole of Asia. Also, Tibet is minerals-rich, which may be a reason for Chinas interest in the region. The document concludes that the occupation was purely strategic in nature and is driven by Chinas expansionist ambition. It is a reminder of what could happen to a people when the international community allows or even condones the rapacious behaviour of an aggressive country. Tibetan Buddhist monks attend class during a government organised a visit to the Buddhist College of the Tibet Autonomous Region in Qushui County, outside Lhasa, Tibet Autonomous Region, on May 31, 2021. (Kevin Frayer/Getty Images) After 70 years, few people in the West recall the history of Tibet and, by their ignorance, contribute to the collective amnesia suffered in general. As collective memory fades after such a long time, reminding people of this sordid saga of aggression becomes necessary. It also serves as a harbinger of what China might have in mind for Taiwan. The international community can thus learn from Tibets occupation and oppression to prepare itself properly for the defence of a democratic Taiwan. The reading of this document will inform and energise people with an interest in international affairs, international law, and the decent and civil interaction between the nations of the world. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Liberal Party Leader Justin Trudeau waves to the media on arrival prior to the English language leaders' debate, in Gatineau, Que., on Sept. 7, 2021. Canadians will vote in a federal election on Sept. 20. (The Canadian Press/Frank Gunn) Trudeau Headed to Europe as G20 Leaders Meet in Person for First Time Since Pandemic OTTAWA Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is flying to Europe later this week touting Canadas climate plan and postpandemic recovery progress at leaders summits in Italy and Scotland. Trudeaus six-day trip starts with an official visit to the Netherlands for meetings with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte. From there he will go to Rome for the G20 leaders summit, which is the first in-person encounter for leaders of the worlds biggest economies since before the pandemic. COVID-19 recovery and vaccine equity will be high on the agenda, as the worlds wealthiest nations including Canada will be pushed to do more to help vaccinate the rest of the world. Climate change will also be a focus at the G20 which comes just before the United Nations climate talks kick off in Scotland. Trudeau will fly to Glasgow for the first two days of those negotiations before returning to Canada. By Mia Rabson UK Health Secretary Sajid Javid speaks during a press conference inside the Downing Street Briefing Room in London on Oct. 20, 2021. (Toby Melville/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) UK Health Chief Leaning Towards Vaccine Mandate for Medics UK Health Secretary Sajid Javid said on Oct. 25 that he was leaning towards introducing mandatory COVID-19 vaccination for staff of the National Health Service (NHS). The UK government is considering imposing a vaccine mandate on the 100,000 NHS staff who havent yet received their first CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus vaccine dose, Javid said. Weve yet to make a final decision, but Im leaning towards doing it, he told Sky News. If they havent got vaccinated by now, then there is an issue about patient safety, and thats something the government will take very seriously. Javid said he wanted to replicate in the NHS what has already been done in the care sector, where a government-imposed vaccine mandate has forced many more people to get vaccinated. The government announced in August that COVID-19 vaccinations will be compulsory for all staff working in care homes in England effective Nov. 11. Javid declined to say when an NHS staff vaccine mandate would come into force, saying that it will take some time to get it through Parliament and people will then be given time to come forward to get the vaccine. I dont want to put a timeframe on it, but it wouldnt be months and months, he said. Talking on Times Radio, Javid said the government has been very clear and open about this. The reason for this is if youre working in the NHS, that fantastic work youre doing every day, you yourself are more susceptible to this virus because youre just much more likely to come into contact with it, he said. But also, the people that youre looking after are more vulnerable, and thats why theyre in the hospital. Theyve got health needs, and this is about protecting them and protecting yourself. Speaking to the BBCs Today program, Javid also said he would be wearing a mask in the House of Commons on Budget Day later this week. If Im in the chamber on Budget Day, given that it will be packed, and I will be [wearing a mask], he said. Asked if he would urge colleagues to do the same, Javid said that would be a personal decision. The health secretary told a Downing Street press conference last week that Conservative MPs should set an example by ending their stance of not wearing masks. But Jacob Rees-Mogg, leader of the House of Commons, later told MPs that there is no advice to wear face masks in workplaces. The advice on crowded spaces is with crowded spaces with people that you dont know. We on this side know each other, he said. PA contributed to this report. The scene where two teenage boys died at Regency Court in Brentwood, Essex, England, on Oct. 24, 2021. (Aaron Chown/PA) UK Police Arrest 8 Following Deaths of 2 Teenage Boys Eight men were arrested on suspicion of murder in England, following an incident that left two teenage boys dead and one other victim injured. Essex Police were called at about 1:30 a.m. on Sunday to Regency Court, Brentwood, where they found three people injured. Medics failed to save two teenage boys, but police say the third victims injuries were neither life-threatening nor life-changing. Six men, aged between 19 and 21, and two older men, aged 40 and 49, remain in custody and are being questioned on suspicion of murder. Police will confirm the victims age, identity, and cause of death after conducting post-mortem examinations. Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Chief Inspector Stuart Truss said officers are now exploring numerous lines of enquiry which include assessing hours of CCTV which show the area in question. A forensic officer at the scene where two teenage boys died at Regency Court in Brentwood, Essex, England, on Oct. 24, 2021. (Aaron Chown/PA) A neighbour told the PA news agency on Sunday that he had heard shouts and someone yelling out in pain from the scene. I came home last night, I came in five minutes before I heard the shouts and screams, Mark MacIntosh said. I said should I go down? as I usually do if I think theres something serious but I couldnt hear. MacIntosh said he paced around his flat wondering what to do, only realising afterwards that he had heard someone who may have lost his life shortly thereafter. He also said that the area had been dealing with constant anti-social behaviour in the lead-up to the incident, stemming from a multi-storey car park that overlooks the scene. Theres constant anti-social behaviour, drinking, drugs, shouting, fighting, MacIntosh said. Ive heard people saying Im going to kill him up there. Ive come down and broken up a knife fight down at the bottom here before. MacIntosh said he had warned police that something bad would happen if they did not arrange constant patrols of the area. I phoned the police three weeks ago and told them you need to make constant patrols around here, because something bad is going to happen soon. Essex Police said on Monday that a visible policing presence will continue in Brentwood over the coming days to reassure the community. Mourners were allowed through the police cordon to leave flowers outside on Sunday. Gareth Barrett, a Labour councillor for Brentwood South, said the incident was unexpected because its usually a safe area. He offered his thoughts to the victims families, adding, This senseless violence is just horrific. Alex Burghart, Conservative MP for Brentwood and Ongar, also extended his deepest condolences to the families. West Virginia Governor Says He Would Welcome Maryland Counties Seeking to Join the State West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice, a Republican, and state lawmakers announced Friday their support of three Maryland counties that want to become part of West Virginia. The announcement was made during a Friday press conference led by Justice alongside state Senate President Craig Blair, House Speaker Roger Hanshaw, and Delegate Gary Howell. Weve got it going on right now in West Virginia. We are knocking it out of the park. Why wouldnt you want to come? Justice said during the press conference. We want everyone to know that we are standing here with open arms. We welcome these counties and would be tickled to death to have them and the great folks of that incredible state, he added. Justice emphasized conservative values supported by West Virginia leaders that have attracted the attention of Republican lawmakers and voters in the three western Maryland counties of Garrett, Allegany, and Washington. The three counties include a population of more than 251,000 people according to information from the press conference. Our state supports personal freedoms, we value the Second Amendment, and we love the rights of the unborn. We love and embrace our energy industry, Justice said. Moving to West Virginia means job opportunities like crazy and a chance to live in paradise. No matter where youre from, wed love to have you in West Virginia, he added. The governor noted during the press conference he plans to call a special session of state legislators to discuss a resolution to make the states offer official. People are moving to West Virginia, businesses are moving to West Virginia, now weve got counties from other states wanting to move to West Virginia, Blair said. Because of the hard work that weve done over the last few years to make West Virginia a better place, weve been growing and regrowing in our state, he added. We certainly would be more than accommodating and happy to open our borders and open our arms and our state to our friends elsewhere around the borders of our state who may wish to see themselves aligned with West Virginia instead of where they find themselves today, Hanshaw said during the press conference. The plan for the three Maryland counties to join neighboring West Virginia is not the first time another states residents have sought to join the state. In 2020, some counties in neighboring Virginia proposed joining their western neighbor. The movement, termed Vexit, drew much opposition from Virginia voters. The proposal soon dropped in popularity as the nation shifted focus to the coronavirus pandemic in 2020. Chinese journalists work on their computers during the G20 meeting in Chengdu, in western China's Sichuan Province on July 23, 2016. Observers say that the digitalization of journalism and the emergence of social media have done little to increase press freedom in China, as Chinese regime rapidly moved to impose censorship on new platforms. (Fred Dufour/AFP/Getty Images) With Censorship and Nationalism, Beijing Puts International Investors in Tight Spot Beijing is censoring unbiased business news while promoting anti-West bloggers News Analysis International investors will find investing in China harder given the censorship of respected business news, and the state-fueled rise of communist nationalism. Beijing is imposing new pressure on Caixin Media, one of Chinas most respected business news sources. On Oct. 21, Chinas internet watchdog deleted Caixin from its list of 1,358 approved sources. The last update was in 2016. Caixin articles, many of which are award-winning investigative journalism, will no longer be allowed republication by other online news sources. Caixin has been one of the few relatively transparent news outlets to cover corporate corruption, government malfeasance, and environmental degradation from within China. It was one of the earliest media sources to cover the COVID-19 outbreak in Wuhan. Hu Shuli, co-founder of Chinas state-owned Caixin Media, speaks at the foreign correspondents club in Hong Kong on July 11, 2011. Caixin Media was established in January 2010. (Mike Clarke/AFP/Getty Images) The new rule against republishing Caixin is no surprise given draft regulations released by Chinas state planner earlier this month against private news media in China, which would include Caixin. The media company is one of the most important private media companies in China, and the one most relied upon by international investors. So Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) pressure against Caixin is state pressure on business news, which investors need to help vector their trillions of dollars in Chinese investment and trade. State pressure against Caixin is, therefore, effectively state pressure against international investors. Meanwhile, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is toxifying the business environment for international trade and investment in China by pumping up anti-Western nationalism and promoting patriotic ziganwu () bloggers whose short, truth-challenged videos appeal to the worst emotionalism and bigotry of millions of Chinese nationals who follow or share the content, in some cases as a means to virtue signal their support for the CCP. Foreign vloggers, who attempt to make CCP talking points palatable to Western audiences, are also promoted. Ziganwu is a CCP-sanctioned internet slang for voluntary 50 Cent Party members. The latter are allegedly paid per post to write similar patriotic content online. But the most popular ziganwu are likely paid much more handsomely. Bloggers who have over a million followers in China can make a few hundred thousand dollars a year. According to Patrick Wong, a contributor at Global Voices, the China Communist Youth League has attempted to recruit 18 million of these pro-Beijing commentators. One example is Chinese blogger Guyanmuchan, who has 6.4 million followers on Chinese social media. Journalist Tessa Wong recently quoted her and other ziganwu in the BBC as saying the following: the European Union is on Americas dog leash; Americans are in a civil war with each other as evidenced by rising COVID-19 rates in Texas; and Americans are currently killing one another with biological warfare. The ziganwu bloggers tend to criticize not only the United States, but feminism, multiculturalism, human rights, democracy, and separatismall of which are seen as forms of corrupting Western influence. Perceived disloyalty to the Party is harshly criticized; for example, in the case of Fang Fang, the Chinese writer who chronicled the early days of the Wuhan outbreak on social media. Wong quoted experts who say such posts, dozens of which can be pumped out each day, are often brief and emotional, which is one reason why they go viral. She quoted Manya Koetse, a Chinese media analyst, as saying that ziganwu are often young, grew up with an education that was filled with patriotism and pride of China, and fed these historical memories of national humiliation. So you have an explosive mix of anti-foreign, pro-Chinese sentiments with a stress on Chinese culture and identity. Ziganwu are sometimes amplified by state-run media, and given honors by provincial governments, even as Beijing censors critical media such as The New York Times, The Epoch Times, and now Caixin. The new regulation against republishing Caixin will compound the state-induced pressures already facing the company. Expect more self-censorship by not only Caixin, but other business news sources that hope to avoid additional forms of state censorship. Whatever critical news reporting continues to come from the outlet should be seen as heroic journalism and recognized as such when Pulitzer Prizes are awarded. The combination of censoring respected business news, and promoting wild-eyed ziganwu nationalism, is creating a toxic environment in China that is increasingly inappropriate and dangerous for international investing and trade. All else equal, expect Chinas economy to suffer from the CCPs increasingly shrill approach to business news and social media. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Emily Morgan / Hearst Connecticut Media / NORWALK Incoming high school students can preview their options for the future at the districts high school choice fair next week. Norwalk Public Schools will host its school choice fair on Nov. 3 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Carver Foundation of Norwalk, at 7 Academy St. Reservations to attend are not needed. COLLINSVILLE Lewis & Clark Habitat for Humanity held its inaugural The Christian Wolf Build for the Cure groundbreaking ceremony on Saturday morning in Collinsville. The ceremony marked the beginning of the construction process for a new home for Collinsville residents Joseph and Kristen Lama, as well as honored the life of Christian Wolf, who died from cancer in June 2021. Lewis and Clark Habitat for Humanity will raise money for the new home and for Siteman Cancer Centers research. The partnership between home building and cancer research is a new venture for the Lewis & Clark Habitat for Humanity. When I worked for Habitat in Georgia, we did something similar and, after a few years, it really took off, said Habitat for Humanity Affiliate CEO Ralph Jackson. After the house is paid for, thousands of dollars are continuously donated to partnership organizations. In attendance Saturday were Habitat for Humanity members, Collinsville officials and community members associated with the build. In addition to Jacksons speech, attendees also heard from Collinsville Chapter Chair Phil Holaway, Joseph Lama and a blessing and prayer by Pastor Corey Johnston of Heights Community Church in Collinsville. The Lamas, along with their three young children, currently live in a one-bedroom, one-bath apartment with a leaking ceiling. Whenever it rains they have to place buckets and pans throughout the apartment to catch the raindrops. This home for my family and being able to support cancer research in the process is such a blessing, said Joseph Lama. Having a home will provide stability, space and a place for their children to grow up. The start of a build is the most exciting part of this process. It means the start of a new chapter in someones life, said Habitat for Humanity member Susan Fletcher. Fletcher noted that what makes Habitat for Humanity special is the way the community comes together to provide a home for a family. I originally thought it was mostly hammer and nails, but there are so many ways people help. From paperwork to bringing food for builders, there are many people who give their time and resources, she said. Jakob Fiudo of Troy is one such person. The 16-year-old Boy Scout found an Eagle Scout project in providing landscaping for the new home in Collinsville. My parents rent a storage unit to the Lamas and told me about them. It makes me proud to help out, said Fiudo. The hope is to have annual Build for the Cure home builds to give money to Siteman Cancer Center, a leading cancer research center at Washington University in St. Louis. Many families will tell us that a Habitat for Humanity home doesnt just change their lives, but changes their childrens lives, too. Without a stable place to live, children go from school to school, losing friends and community each time. A home gives them the community we all need, said Fletcher. The new home will be located at 501 Forest Drive in Collinsville on land donated by Charles Reimler. Lewis & Clark Habitat for Humanity serves families across the Metro East from Alton to OFallon. For more information or to volunteer, visit https://lchabitat.org/ or call 618-343-0301. EDWARDSVILLE Kids of all ages in the Edwardsville area are looking forward to visiting their favorite hotel, but it has nothing to do with heading out of town for vacation. Hotel Eville, the family-friendly haunted house at 113 W. Lake Drive in Edwardsville, is back for its 12th season. Its public debut was Sunday. It was the first of four nights for the open house event. Hotel Eville is an annual attraction at the home of Jim and Susan Seubert, who turn their entire house into a Disney-style haunted mansion. There are effects in here that are worthy of Disney, Susan Seubert said. Were lucky here in St. Louis to have the annual haunted house convention, so we go to that every year and get ideas. Its kind of become a big hobby for us, plus I enjoy making a lot of things. There are a lot of things that are kind of weird, but you have to see it to understand it. We have things that move and things with voices, so its not just a bunch of static props. Theres a lot of stuff we buy at Home Depot, but theres a lot more than that. For the Seuberts, the annual display is a labor of love that has become a neighborhood tradition. I used to do the haunted house for the fall carnival at my kids school when they were little and Im originally from Carbondale, which had some pretty big Halloweens in the past, Susan said. This is a very artistic event and its not like a lot of the haunted houses. I love Halloween but Im not into horror or blood and guts. Im trying to bring some of that fun Halloween back and away from people killing each other. Part of the fun for the Seuberts is creating a new theme for Hotel Eville each year, and this years theme is The Ghosts of Halloween Past. More Information For details on the Intelligencer's plans for Halloween see Page B1. See More Collapse Theres a time machine you have to go through that takes you back to the 1800s and a town that has been taken over by pumpkin people and skeletons, said Susan, who creates many of the voices used in the display. Last years theme was Wizards and Warlocks, with numerous Harry Potter references. The entire backyard under the tent was Hogwarts and Diagon Alley, and the front yard was the Wizard of Oz, Susan said. Weve also done Haunt Like an Egyptian and The Dark Side of Disney, among others. Typically, we come up with a nice prop that I can build around. This year, there was a lot of cool pumpkin stuff at Home Depot, so we were able to start with that, and then I made some of my own. I found parts of a western town last year at a yard sale, so this year we have a general store and a bank and a lot of other things. There is no admission fee for Hotel Eville, but donations are encouraged. In addition to its public debut on Sunday, the haunted house will be open from 6-9 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 29, Saturday, Oct. 30 and Sunday, Oct. 31. We work with Metro East Community Rotary Club and were taking donations for Pound Pets, which is a no-kill shelter based out of Granite City, Susan said. They do a lot of nice work saving animals. They also come in here and help us get prepared for Halloween. I cant do everything myself and it takes about two months to get it all set up. We couldnt do it without the Rotary Club and Pound Pets. Marge Ogle, president of Metro East Community Rotary Club, is a big fan of the Seuberts work at Hotel Eville. She has seen firsthand evidence of the effect that the elaborate display can have on children. The first year that I helped was Haunt Like an Egyptian and we had a family of parents with their daughter, who happened to be dressed as Cleopatra, Ogle said. I told her parents to make sure they had their cameras ready because shes going to own this realm. I saw the family leave, but they came back with some friends. The girl was hosting the event and taking her friends around, and it was the magic of seeing how kids see this haunted area. For parents who have not yet taken their kids to Hotel Eville, Ogle urges them not to miss out this year. This is a chance to see the magic of what somebodys imagination can create, Ogle said. I grew up not being able to go to Disneyland because my parents couldnt afford it, so for us to have something this magical in our area, thats special. One of our Rotarians, James Williams, brings his kids, Carter and Reese, to be our kid hosts. If there is a family that comes in and their kids are timid (about entering a haunted house), those two kids talk them through it. In the backyard patio, we encourage parents to let the kids relax and take a few minutes to get more comfortable. This years display is dedicated to the Seuberts longtime friend, Steve Koci, who died in September after being diagnosed with cancer in March. Steve wrote a book on animatronics and he taught a conference every year at the haunted house convention in St. Louis, Susan said. He developed a board that controls servo motors and animatronics and one of his boards was used in the recent Muppets movie, Haunted Mansion. The Disney-owned company also bought several boards that theyre going to start bringing to schools to teach kids animatronics, which was Steves dream. He wanted to teach people how to bring things to life and how to bring joy to people. The display at Hotel Eville will include a portrait of Koci. He always wore a hat with moving eyeballs, so thats what the portrait is, Susan said. In addition to the four nights that Hotel Eville is open to the public, the Seuberts look for other ways to reach out to the community. Were doing a special day where people can make reservations and that includes someone who might have autism and cant handle being in a crowd, Susan said. Well be able to accommodate them so they can come on a day when were not open to the public. In addition to Pound Pets, Hotel Eville has helped to raise funds for other organizations over the years, including Edwardsville Neighbors. One year we helped an organization that bought Christmas gifts for veterans, Susan said. We get the donations and try to make it so its a win-win for everybody. For more information, visit Hotel Eville on Facebook, call 618-534-0668 or email sseubert@priderestoration.com. Youd be surprised that for many kids in the area, this is their Halloween, Susan said. They dont do much trick or treating, but they come here. Some of them come all four nights. Its something they really look forward to. Bringing a smile to their faces is so worthwhile. New York City voters are already beginning to choose their next mayor, other citywide office holders and new City Council representatives. Although election day is November 2, you have the option of taking part in the citys early voting program. On the Lower East Side (below East Houston Street), theres one early voting site. Its Junior High School 56 at 220 Henry St. You can cast your ballot there any day through Sunday, October 31. But keep in mind, hours are not the same each day. So be sure to confirm your poll site and other innformation here. On Saturday, New York Citys Democratic candidate for mayor, Eric Adams, held a get out the vote rally in Chinatown. Margaret Chin, the term limited District 1 Council member, was there, as well as Chris Marte, the Democratic nominee for the District 1 seat. You can see some of the rally here. Marte won the Democratic primary earlier this year. He faces two challengers in the general election. They are Republican Jacqueline Toboroff and Maud Maron, who ran unsuccessfully in the Democratic primary but decided to run again as an independent. Adams voiced strong support for Marte during Saturdays rally. Photo: Breakfast on the Williamsburg Bridge. Photo by Shonelle Cooper-Caplan. Police announced an arrest in the brutal murder of Sala Miah, a Bangladeshi delivery worker who was brutally stabbed in Sara D. Roosevelt Park. Cops took 23-year-old Joseph Sandoval of Queens into custody. Meanwhile, NYPD officials participated in a vigil for Miah, attempting to assure immigrant New Yorkers that their safety is a priority. [NY1] A police officer working a traffic detail at Delancey and Suffolk streets Saturday night was treated and released from the hospital after being struck by a motorcyclist. The incident apparently happened when the motorcyclist hit a barrier. The driver was taken into custody on possible DWI charges. [Channel 2] City officials continue their PR offensive regarding their plan to rebuild East River Park in the name of resiliency. [AMNY] The controversial Soho rezoning plan is approved by the City Planning Commission. [Gothamist] Residents from several NYC neighborhoods, including the Lower East Side, go to court in an effort to stop the city from making the Open Streets program permanent. [Gothamist] A housing lottery has opened for a new project on East 2nd Street, with apartments starting at $857/month. [6sqft] Attaboy, the Eldridge Street cocktail bar, has gone merch crazy, and it is not alone. [The New York Times] A new exhibition at the LES-based International Center of Photography showcases the work of five Black photographers who offer perspectives on their communities and their own personal narratives. [The New York Times] Remembering Dee Pop, a founding member of the Bush Tetras and a fixture of New Yorks post-punk scene, who died at the age of 65. The groups song, Too Many Creeps, a punk anthem about the frustration of having to dodge being hassled by men on city streets, was released in 1980 and became a dance-floor hit. The rock critic Robert Christgau wrote that it summed up the Lower East Side circa 1980.' [The New York Times] Cousin Greg (aka actor Nicholas Braun) causes a stir at Rays, the Chrystie Street celebrity hot spot. [New York Post] Instant unlimited access to all of our content on thenewsguard.com. The News Guard 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) 2,000 Sandbox arrivals test COVID positive branded as fake news PHUKET: Phuket officials are warning people to ignore a notice circulating on social media claiming that 2,000 tourists from six different countries who arrived in Thailand under the Phuket Sandbox scheme have tested positive for COVID-19. COVID-19Coronavirustourismtechnologycrime By The Phuket News Monday 25 October 2021, 10:44AM Image: PR Phuket The warning posted by officials is branded openly as, Fake news, dont share! The Anti-Fake News Center has checked the facts with the Phuket Provincial Public Relations Office and found that such information is false information, said the notice, posted online over the weekend. The Phuket Public Relations Office has checked the information and clarified that it is not true. From 1 July - 21 October 2021, 53,120 tourists arrived through the Phuket Sandbox, with 171 infected, representing only 0.3% of all tourists. Not all of them are infected with COVID-19 as stated in the post, the warning noted. Therefore, people are asked not to trust such information and [we] ask for cooperation not to send or share such information on various social media channels. People can receive more information from the Phuket Public Relations Office posted through the website https://pr.prd.go.th/phuket or [they can] call 076-216118, the post added. People were advised to report any reports or social media posts suspected of being fake news via: LINE: @antifakenewscenter (http://nav.cx/uyKYnsG) Website: https://www.antifakenewscenter.com/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/AFNCThailand Hotline: Government Information Service Center for the People Tel: 1111 ext. 87 Finnair brings Swedish tourists to Phuket PHUKET: Tourists arriving in Phuket on a direct flight from Stockholm were given a warm welcome on landing at Phuket International Airport today (Oct 25). tourismeconomicsCOVID-19 By The Phuket News Monday 25 October 2021, 06:15PM The direct flight from Stockholm touched down in Phuket this morning (Oct 25). Photo: AoT Phuket The direct flight from Stockholm touched down in Phuket this morning (Oct 25). Photo: AoT Phuket The direct flight from Stockholm touched down in Phuket this morning (Oct 25). Photo: AoT Phuket The direct flight from Stockholm touched down in Phuket this morning (Oct 25). Photo: AoT Phuket The direct flight from Stockholm touched down in Phuket this morning (Oct 25). Photo: AoT Phuket The direct flight from Stockholm touched down in Phuket this morning (Oct 25). Photo: AoT Phuket The direct flight from Stockholm touched down in Phuket this morning (Oct 25). Photo: AoT Phuket On hand to lead the welcoming committee was Phuket Vice Governor Piyapong Choowong. Joining him were Monchai Tanode, General Manager of Phuket Airport; Thitiporn Maneenet, Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) Director for Europe, Africa and the Middle East; and Nanthasiri Ronnasiri, Director of the TAT Phuket Office. Passengers boarded the Finnair flight, AY153 on the ARN - HKT route, at Arlanda Airport in Stockholm, and touched down in Phuket at 9:12am, reported the Airports of Thailand (AoT) Phuket office. In total 135 foreign tourists were brought to Phuket under the Phuket Sandbox scheme, and were cleared through Gate 11, The flight today marked the resumption of the Stockholm Phuket service after a hiatus of nearly two years, noted Vice Governor Piyapong. This is another important step in opening the tourism market to Phuket, after moving forward with the pilot project to open the area to receive foreign tourists as the first area [in the country] under the Phuket Sandbox project since July, V/Gov Piyapong said. The project has been very successful in ensuring that it meets the standards set by the public health sector, along with the economic recovery of Phuket. It has built confidence as the first step of opening the country and as a model to open other pilot areas, he added Tourists are welcome and glad to visit Phuket and Thailand again after not leaving their home countries for two years. As for the welcoming group, it was a joy to see the bright smiles of the visitors, he said. The return of the Finnair direct flights to Phuket follows Nitinai Sirisatthakarn, President of Airports of Thailand Public Company Limited (AoT), reporting that many airlines are returning slots bookings required to use airport facilities, including takeoffs and landings for the winter flight schedule, This reflects that the airline business is still highly uncertain, he said, reported Thai PBS. Mr Nitinai said the governments ban on domestic flights from the end of July through September had resulted in Thailands aviation industrys lowest performance on record. During the period, the six airports operated by AoT averaged about 40-50 travellers per day. Flights resuming this month had seen passenger traffic at the six AoT-operated airports increase to an average of 30,000 passengers per day, he said. Foreign airlines had returned about 70-80% of the flight slots available at Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports, he said. At Don Mueang International Airport alone, overseas airlines had canceled 100% of all flight slots, while domestic airlines canceled 33%, he said. Mr Nitinai added that the return of winter flight slots, from Oct 31, 2021 - March 26, 2022, reflected that airlines still view the situation as highly uncertain during these five months. Pinyot Pibulsongkram, Commercial Director Thai Vietjet Airlines, said that although the aviation situation had improved, the overall picture is still considered that the airline industry is still in crisis, the report added. For fiscal year 2021, the industry is expected to record a loss of more than B10 billion, recovering only slightly after losing B11bn in the first nine months of the year, Mr Pinyot said. The industry probably will not recover much [this year]. In fiscal year 2023, the aviation industry will still be in a state of repair, he added. Hunt continues for gold shop robber, stolen items valued at B8mn PHUKET: Police are continuing their hunt for the robber who beat a 71-year-old gold shop owner in Phuket Town with a piece of wood late Saturday night. Police have now confirmed that the gold stolen in the robbery was valued at about B8 million. crimeviolencepoliceMyanmar By Eakkapop Thongtub Monday 25 October 2021, 09:23AM UPDATE: Region 8 Police Commander Region 8 Police Commander Pol Lt Gen Amphol Buarabporn held a press conference on Thursday, Oct 28, where he confirmed, corrected and clarified many details previously reported about the robbery and arrest. See story here. Investigators arrived at the scene yesterday afternoon (Oct 24) to inspect the area, behind the Thong Thaweechai gold shop on Ranong Rd. The robber fled the gold shop through a side door and is believed to have escaped past an abandoned building with overgrown vegetation behind the gold shop, where owners Wangdee Inthawong, 71, and Puangpen Sakkasemkrit, 65, lived upstairs. Officers found a red mask in the long grass, which they have taken for further investigation. Officers are also checking CCTV in the area. From CCTV footage inside the gold shop, officers noted that the robber was wearing black Aerosoft branded shoes, costing about B300. The robber is also seen carrying the piece of wood and brandishing a large knife. Gold shop owner Mr Wangdee suffered head injuries in the attack. When police arrived at the scene late Saturday night, blood was smeared across the floor in the main room in the home, where Mr Wangee fought his attacker. The robber, believed to be a Myanmar man due to his accent when speaking Thai, broke into the building through the ceiling. He woke the elderly shop owners in their bedroom, and threatened Mr Wangdee to open the safe on the ground floor of the shop. Mr Wangdee refused and a fight ensued, during which the robber repeatedly struck Mr Wangdee with a piece of wood. Moderna jabs to arrive Nov 1 BANGKOK: Hospitals are planning to start administering the 560,000 Moderna COVID-19 vaccine doses which arrive next week to those who have pre-ordered by Nov 8, pending the required clearance process. CoronavirusCOVID-19healthVaccine By Bangkok Post Monday 25 October 2021, 09:14AM Photo: AFP The president of the Private Hospital Association (PHA), Dr Chalerm Harnpanich, said after the jabs arrive on Nov 1, they will be examined by the Department of Medical Sciences, in a process that will take no longer than five days. Once cleared, Zuellig Pharma, as the jabs authorised distributor, will hand over the doses to private hospitals and other institutions which have placed orders for them, Dr Chalerm said. The PHA president said the vaccines should reach the hospitals by Nov 8 at the latest. He urged those who have placed an order to contact their hospital for further information, reports the Bangkok Post. In total, the PHA has ordered more than 8.6 million Moderna vaccine doses, about 1.9mn of which will be delivered in December. One million doses will be delivered to the Thai Red Cross Society and 100,000 doses will be delivered to the Ramathibodi and Siriraj hospitals each, he said. The rest will be sent to other hospitals. He said all 8.6mn doses will be delivered by March next year. By December, there will be more than 2 million doses [of the Moderna vaccine] available, which should end the controversy surrounding the vaccine, he said, referring to the uproar surrounding the vaccine. The government had urged people to preorder them but when deliveries were hit by delays failed to provide any updates. The Government Pharmaceutical Organisation said Zuellig encountered difficulties in obtaining the vaccine from its production site in Europe, which caused the shipment delay. However, the company has now found a way to import the jabs from another plant in the United States, it said. Dr Chalerm said that some people who had received two shots of Sinovac and an AstraZeneca shot as a booster this month may receive a fourth shot of Moderna in the next three months. Those who received two shots of Sinovac may receive a third shot of Moderna straight away, while those who received two shots of AstraZeneca have to wait six months before getting a Moderna booster, he said. He said one dose of the Moderna vaccine contains 100 microgrammes and the imported jabs are of the 1273 type, which can prevent the Delta variant of COVID-19. Dr Chalerm added the Moderna vaccines have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for children aged between 12-17. Previously, ZP Therapeutics, a division of Zuellig Pharma and the official partner of Moderna in Thailand, confirmed the first shipment of 560,000 doses of the Moderna vaccine will arrive in Thailand by Nov 5. This was the first time a specific date regarding the long-awaited delivery had been given. Previously, it only said the jabs will arrive in the next quarter. SHA booking, PCR test refunds confirmed PHUKET: Refunds for SHA+ bookings and extra PCR tests no longer needed to comply with entry regulations for international arrivals to enter Thailand under the Sandbox scheme are already being upheld. tourismCOVID-19 By The Phuket News Monday 25 October 2021, 12:17PM The entry requirements to come into effect from next Monday (Nov 1), as published by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs last week (Click to enlarge.). Image: MFA The Thailand PSAS website now has a red Refund button added to the bottom of its home page. Image: Thailand PSAS Confirmation came by John Dalley, co-founder of Soi Dog Foundation, who recently returned to Phuket. Regarding the refund for PCR tests no longer needed, Mr Dalley told The Phuket News, Refund easy. Just asked when having the PCR test on arrival at the airport and they gave me a leaflet with a website address on it. The website Mr Dalley was referred to was the Thailand PSAS website (click here). The website, titled the Sandbox Swab Appointment System, is the official portal set up months ago for people entering Thailand under the Phuket Sandbox scheme to book their required PCR tests. Mr Dalley pointed out that the website now has a red button added to the bottom right corner of its home page simply marked Refund. You get a message saying to allow up to seven days, but I got a message confirming that the refund had been made within minutes, Mr Dalley said. "They can only refund the credit card used to pay the fee or bank if done by bank transfer," he added. It was refunded to my hotel immediately and they gave me the money. Also when having the second test this morning [yesterday], there was a sign advertising refunds for the third test and a code to scan, Mr Dalley noted. Regarding his experience clearing entry procedures at the airport, Mr Dalley noted, Airport arrival was very efficient [I was] outside in 20 minutes after leaving the plane, he said. Mr Dalley had been issued a Certificate of Entry (COE) and was to arrive under the original Sandbox requirements of 14 nights stay at a SHA+ hotel with three mandatory PCR tests required, including one on arrival. Like many people I booked that but actually arrived after the government reduced it to 7 nights and 2 tests. I therefore got a refund as described. I was also offered a refund by my guesthouse, but waived that as it was so cheap. (2 weeks accommodation was less than 3 PCR tests)! he explained. Since the announcement last week that from Nov 1 (next Monday) Thailand will reopen to tourists from 46 countries with only one night quarantine and one mandatory PCR test on arrival required, people who had already booked to come to Thailand under the previous requirements have expressed much confusion about which rules will apply after they arrive. Much depends on when they will arrive. ENTRY RULES FROM NOV 1 The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has posted a comprehensive explanation of the requirements to come into effect next Monday under the Test & Go scheme, branded as Thailand No-Quarantine Reopening, which applies to people arriving from the 46 countries (45 countries plus the territory Hong Kong), as follows: Test & GO: Quarantine-Free Entry Requirements From 1 November, 2021. 1. Travel by air from the approved countries. Currently, Thailand has approved quarantine-free entry for arrivals from Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Bhutan, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Canada, Chile, China, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Malaysia, Malta, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UAE, UK, USA, and Hong Kong. Must have been in the approved countries for 21 days or more. For returning Thais and foreign residents, it is not necessary to be in an approved country for 21 days or more, as long as they are travelling from Thailand to the approved country/s and return within the last 21 days. 2. A Certificate of Entry (COE) or a proof of registration for entry Thailand via specified platform. Currently, the COE can be applied online https://coethailand.mfa.go.th/ 3. A Medical Certificate with an RT-PCR lab result indicating that COVID-19 is not detected issued no more than 72 hours before travelling. A Medical Certificate of Recovery is also required from those having a lab result with COVID-19 detected to show that they have recovered from COVID-19 no later than 3 months. 4. An insurance policy, with coverage clearly identified as no less than US$50,000, which should cover the cost of the treatment and other medical expenses associated with being infected with COVID-19, including in-patient hospitalisation for the whole duration in Thailand. *Except for Thai citizens who are entitled to the national health insurance system.* 5. A payment confirmation for no less than a 1-night stay upon arrival at the approved quarantine facilities (Alternative Quarantine AQ, Organisation Quarantine OQ, or Alternative Hospital Quarantine AHQ), or SHA Plus-certified hotel. The prepayment should cover both the 1-night accommodation, the required RT-PCR COVID-19 test, and an Antigen Test Kit (ATK). 6. A Certificate of Vaccination (fully vaccinated). For those fully vaccinated, proof includes a Certificate of Vaccination with a vaccine approved by Thailands Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) (see here ) or the World Health Organisation (WHO) (see here ) no less than 14 days before their travel date. and a Certificate of Vaccination with at least one dose of the approved vaccine at least 14 days before their travel date. Travellers under 12 years of age, travelling with their parents or guardians, are exempt from this vaccination requirement, but must have a Medical Certificate with an RT-PCR lab result indicating that COVID-19 is not detected issued no more than 72 hours before travelling. 7. Undergo the entry screening (health screening and Immigration procedures) upon arrival at Thailands International Airport, and submit all the required documentation to the officials. 8. Then proceed directly by the approved airport transfer to the pre-arranged COVID-19 test centre, or the reserved accommodation and undergo the required RT-PCR COVID-19 test on Day 0-1. Travellers must download and install the specified alert application (MorChana), and must wait within the accommodation only for the test result, which should be available within the day. 9. If testing negative for COVID-19, travellers can go anywhere in Thailand. Each traveller will receive an ATK that they have prepaid when booking the accommodation. Any traveller experiencing COVID-19 symptoms must immediately get a test done, using the provided ATK. If experiencing no symptoms, travellers must use the provided ATK for COVID-19 self-testing on Day 6-7, and show the result to staff at the hotel or accommodation, as well as record the result (bot detected and non-detected) in the MorChana App. Hotel/AQ staff must recommend that travellers self-monitor themselves for at least 7 days. If any traveller experiences COVID-19 symptoms, Hotel/AQ staff must immediately notify the officer in charge of communicable disease control in their respective area. 10. For travelling from Thailand to other countries, travellers are advised to follow the guidelines and measures announced by the respective country of their destination. From Sandbox to Business & Leisure Ultimate Experiences (Blue) Zone Thailand continues to welcome fully vaccinated visitors from countries not on the list under relaxed requirements. Travellers are welcome to choose from the 17 Blue Zone destinations, up from currently 4 Sandbox destinations, for their first 7-night mandatory stay within the destination before being able to move on to other parts of Thailand. Bangkok Krabi Chon Buri (Banglamung, Pattaya, Si Racha, Ko Si Chang, and Sattahip Na Jomtien and Bang Sarey) Chiang Mai (Mueang, Doi Tao, Mae Rim, and Mae Taeng,) Trat (Ko Chang) Buri Ram (Mueang) Prachuap Khiri Khan (Hua Hin and Nong Kae) Phang Nga Phetchaburi (Cha-Am) Phuket Ranong (Ko Phayam) Rayong (Ko Samet) Loei (Chiang Khan) Samut Prakan (Suvarnabhumi Airport) Surat Thani (Ko Samui, Ko Pha-ngan, and Ko Tao) Nong Khai (Mueang, Sangkhom, Si Chiang Mai, and Tha Bo) Udon Thani (Mueang, Ban Dung, Kumphawapi, Na Yung, Nong Han, and Prachaksinlapakhom) The two required COVID-19 tests have been revised to using the RT-PCR method for the first test upon arrival in Thailand, and the ATK method at the designated test centres for the second test, which takes place around Day 6-7. The required health insurance coverage associated with being infected with COVID-19 will be reduced to US$50,000 (down from US$100,000). Entry Thailand Under Alternative Quarantine (AQ) System TCC expects 1-1.5% GDP growth this year BANGKOK: The Thai Chamber of Commerce is anticipating the governments B55 billion aid measures to help reduce living costs will generate cash flow and increase economic values, leading to a 1-1.5% GDP growth this year. economics By National News Bureau of Thailand Monday 25 October 2021, 11:00AM Photo: NNT Sanan Angubolkul, Chairman of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (TCC) and Board of Trade of Thailand, said the Thai economy will be seeing more activities from increased spending from the general public in the final two months of this year, during which people are expected to travel and purchase gifts for the holiday season, reports state news agency NNT. He said the governments approval of an additional budget will help increase the purchasing power among the more vulnerable population, resulting in the increase of economic activities, and a B95bn cash flow. The Cabinet has approved a total of B54.6bn to fund four economic and living cost-cutting schemes, including an additional allowance for holders of the state welfare card, payouts for people with special needs, more allowance for the 50:50 co-pay campaign, and a voucher campaign for eligible spending. The TCC also expects that more construction works and spending for housing restoration will be coming after the flood disaster. The governments aid campaigns can help cut down the costs faced by flood victims. The TCC chairman said outcomes from the government aid measures are expected to help generate cash flow and drive this years GDP by 1-1.5%. 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. NEW YORK (AP) With computer-generated imagery, it seems the skys the limit in the magic Hollywood can produce: elaborate dystopian universes. Trips to outer space, for those neither astronauts nor billionaires. Immersive journeys to the future, or back to bygone eras. But as a shocked and saddened industry was reminded this week, many productions still use guns real guns when filming. And despite rules and regulations, people can get killed, as happened last week when Alec Baldwin fatally shot cinematographer Halyna Hutchins after he was handed a weapon and told it was safe. The tragedy has led some in Hollywood, along with incredulous observers, to ask: Why are real guns ever used on set, when computers can create gunshots in post-production? Isnt even the smallest risk unacceptable? For Alexi Hawley, it is. Any risk is too much risk, the executive producer of ABCs police drama The Rookie announced in a staff memo Friday, saying the events in New Mexico had shaken us all. There will be no more live weapons on the show, he wrote in a note, first reported by The Hollywood Reporter and confirmed by The Associated Press. Instead, he said, the policy would be to use replica guns, which use pellets and not bullets, with muzzle flashes added in post-production. The director of the popular Kate Winslet drama Mare of Easttown, Craig Zobel, called for the entire industry to follow suit and said gunshots on that show were added after filming, even though on previous productions he has used live rounds. Theres no reason to have guns loaded with blanks or anything on set anymore, Zobel wrote on Twitter. Should just be fully outlawed. Theres computers now. The gunshots on Mare of Easttown are all digital. You can probably tell, but who cares? Its an unnecessary risk. Bill Dill a cinematographer who taught Hutchins, a rising star in her field, at the American Film Institute expressed disgust in an interview over the archaic practice of using real guns with blanks in them, when we have readily available and inexpensive computer graphics. Dill, whose credits include The Five Heartbeats and Dancing in September, said there was added danger from real guns because people are working long hours on films and are exhausted. Theres no excuse for using live weapons, he said. A petition was launched over the weekend on change.org for real guns to be banned from production sets. There is no excuse for something like this to happen in the 21st century, it said of the tragedy. This isnt the early 90s, when Brandon Lee was killed in the same manner. Change needs to happen before additional talented lives are lost. Lee, the actor son of martial arts legend Bruce Lee, was killed in 1993 by a makeshift bullet left in a prop gun after a previous scene. The petition appealed to Baldwin directly to use his power and influence" in the industry and promote Halynas Law, which would ban the use of real firearms on set. As it stands, the U.S. federal workplace safety agency is silent on the issue and most of the preferred states for productions take a largely hands-off approach. Hutchins, 42, died and director Joel Souza was wounded Thursday on the set of the Western Rust when Baldwin fired a prop gun that a crew member unwittingly told him was cold or not loaded with live rounds, according to court documents made public Friday. Souza was later released from the hospital. The tragedy came after some workers had walked off the job to protest safety conditions and other production issues on the film, of which Baldwin is the star and a producer. In an interview, British cinematographer Steven Hall noted that he worked on a production this year in Madrid that involved lots of firearms." We were encouraged not to use blanks, but to rely on visual effects in post (production) to create whatever effect we wanted from a particular firearm, with the actor miming the recoil from the gun, and it works very well, he said. He noted, though, that special effects add costs to a productions budget. So its easier and perhaps more economic to actually discharge your weapon on set using a blank, said Hall, a veteran cinematographer who has worked on films like Fury and Thor: The Dark World. But, he said, "the problem with blanks is, of course something is emitted from the gun. Besides financial concerns, why else would real guns be seen as preferable? There are advantages to using blanks on set that some people want to get, said Sam Dormer, a British armorer, or firearms specialist. For instance, you get a (better) reaction from the actor. Still, Dormer said, the movie industry is likely moving away from real guns, albeit slowly. The term prop gun can apply to anything from a rubber toy to a real firearm that can fire a projectile. If its used for firing, even blanks, its considered a real gun. A blank is a cartridge that contains gunpowder but no bullet. Still, it can hurt or even kill someone who is close by, according to the Actors Equity Association. Thats why many are calling to ban blanks as well, and use disabled or replica guns. Really there is no good reason in this day to have blanks on set, director Liz Garbus wrote on Twitter. CGI can make the gun seem real, and if you dont have the budget for the CGI, then dont shoot the scene. Broadway actor and playwright Harvey Fierstein wrote that the tragedy certainly made him wonder why Hollywood wasnt leaning more on special effects. Why, with all of the Hollywood magic available, are they still firing off gun powder? They know that they are going to goose-up the gunshots in post production, he wrote on Facebook. Why chance an accident in the first place? But he also said the death raised even broader questions. With all of that Hollywood talent and imagination are we still writing stories about shooting one another? he asked. Do we really have nothing better to spend millions of dollars on than the glamorization of gun battles? ___ Associated Press writers Lindsey Bahr, Lynn Elber in Los Angeles, Hillel Italie in New York, and Lizzie Knight in London contributed to this report. To the Editor, Our town is in exemplary financial shape because of our leadership on the Board of Finance, and Im voting for current members Andrew Okrongly and Mike Rettger to preserve Ridgefields economic security. Board of Finance members need broad professional backgrounds. Both Andrew and Mike function at the high level needed to preserve our Triple A bond rating and make responsible decisions about the towns economic health. Mike holds an advanced degree in economics and public policy; he has worked in senior-level financial services and public policy roles for nearly 40 years. His experience is key because the board decides how to allocate Ridgefields money responsibly. Andrew currently manages assets for nonprofit organizations and previously worked at BlackRock in New York and London. His experience is key because the board decides how to grow the towns assets and balance its needs with those available assets. Theres another quality that sets Mike and Andrew apart: They are devoted to Ridgefield. Mike has lived in town for 29 years and has served the community in a multitude of volunteer positions, including assistant town treasurer, member of the Pension Commission and member of the Risk Management Committee. He knows Ridgefields finances inside and out. Andrew grew up in Ridgefield, moved back to raise his family, immediately volunteered to serve as treasurer for the Ridgefield Arts Council and later also joined the Pension Commission. Both candidates are truly invested in preserving Ridgefield. Their sophisticated decisions and judicious planning on the Board of Finance have given our community the security we need, and their leadership and caring have already proven results. Join me in voting Line A for incumbents Mike Rettger and Andrew Okrongly on Nov. 2. Mark Seavy, Ridgefield Today Mostly cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy in the afternoon. A few flurries or snow showers possible. High 46F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Tonight A few clouds from time to time. Low 24F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Tomorrow Intervals of clouds and sunshine. High 49F. Winds light and variable. Montreal, CA (H4T1V6) Today Sunshine early followed by cloudy skies this afternoon. High 5C. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Cloudy with light rain developing after midnight. Low 2C. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%. WESTERVILLE, Ohio (AP) The lone Republican moderate at a U.S. Senate candidate forum in Ohio on Sunday said at one point he felt like a Browns fan in Pittsburgh Stadium. The crowd of about 950 at the evangelical Genoa Baptist Church in the northern suburbs of Columbus never quite booed Matt Dolan, a state senator whose family owns the Cleveland Indians, but they didn't embrace him either. It was the first time all the major candidates to fill the seat being vacated by Republican Sen. Rob Portman were on the stage together. They were Dolan, former Ohio Treasurer Josh Mandel, former Republican Party chair Jane Timken, author JD Vance and Cleveland businesspeople Mike Gibbons and Bernie Moreno. Dolan said he would have supported certifying the 2020 presidential election, calling it the only option under the U.S. Constitution; favors an anti-LGBT discrimination bill, because it's good for business; and backs the $1 trillion infrastructure bill pending in Congress. I dont know how you can say youre fighting for Ohio if you wouldnt vote for this bill, he said, arguing it would return gas tax money to the state, repair a key bridge and bring needed broadband in Appalachia. The other five candidates balked though a bipartisan deal on the legislation was largely the handiwork of Portman calling the bill crazy, a disaster and a complete boondoggle. All said they would accept Portman's endorsement, though. Mandel reiterated his position, to applause, that the 2020 election was stolen from incumbent Donald Trump, which is untrue. Trumps former attorney general, William Barr, found no evidence of widespread election fraud. Trumps allegations of massive voting fraud also have been dismissed by a succession of judges and refuted by state election officials and an arm of his own administrations Homeland Security Department. Mandel, in answer to a question on the biggest threat facing schoolkids, ventured into schools' role teaching values, saying, My personal feeling is, theres no such thing as separation of church and state. He said he would bring the steel spine of a U.S. Marine veteran to Washington, if elected drawing one of the evening's few direct attacks from Moreno. I loved your steel spine, which is why I supported you in 2012, Moreno said. But where was it last summer? When I was getting death threats, I was speaking out against the lockdown. Thats the difference. When you werent running for office, what were you doing? Vance, author of the book Hillbilly Elegy, named households without fathers as the biggest hurdle facing American children and said grandparents, like his own, who have had to raise the children of families harmed by the opioid crisis should be given the same help afforded foster parents to keep their families together. We need to defend the people who are actually standing up and taking care of all these kids who have been orphaned by this problem, he said. A long-time gap exists in Ohio between state payments to nonlicensed relatives who take custody of children and to licensed foster care parents, who typically receive much higher amounts. Timken, the only woman in the field, spoke often from the perspective of a mother, including during a discussion of accommodating transgender students in school restrooms and sports. Im a mom, not a birthing person, she said. She also touted her ties to Trump, who has not endorsed in the race. I am the only true America First, grassroots candidate in this race that can win this primary, unite the party and take on the radical lefts agenda, she said. Gibbons said he would bring a businessman's acumen to Washington, while pledging he would not run for reelection if elected. To the question of his small campaign warchest, Gibbons said he would be able to get the money he needed. Ill raise as much money as I need, he said. If I cant raise it, Ill put it in. I believe you put your money where your mouth is. He said he also has donated to 73 individual school board candidates this year, as conservative candidates seek to take over boards across the nation. At the end of the forum, sponsored by the Center for Christian Virtues American Leadership Forum, moderator Hugh Hewitt, a conservative radio host and author, tried to extract a promise from the candidates that they would refuse to participate in any debate against Democratic U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan, should he win his party's primary, in which media outlets or reporters he dubbed liberal were sponsors or panelists. Had my friends in the legacy media been here, you would have been asked about Jan. 6., and then Jan. 6 again... which was terrible, Hewitt said, to laughter from the crowd. But then you would have been asked about Donald Trump's role in the events of Jan. 6. No questions on either subject were asked Sunday. Most candidates avoided direct answers to the debate question with Mandel saying he had no desire to have a bunch of liberals moderating any debate against Ryan, and Vance saying he would demand fair moderators but wants to take on Ryan for insulting his book. Both Gibbons and Moreno said they did not fear taking Ryan on in whatever setting. I've been dreaming of debating Tim Ryan pretty much my whole adult life," Gibbons said. In terms of a debate with liberal journalists, let's go, Moreno said. You know what, because we're going to be down in D.C. You think it's going to be like being in Columbus, where we have a supermajority? We're going to have to go against Bernie Sanders and AOC and those crazy left loonies. A Republican Senate seventh candidate, tech executive Mark Pukita, is fighting the events sponsors over being excluded. ___ The story has been corrected to fix a typo in the Hewitt quote. In August, 3.5% of Illinois workers quit their jobs, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released Friday that shows the quit rates in the labor market. Nationwide, a historic amount of people left jobs in August, as a near-record number of job openings shows that workers are beginning to gain leverage, according to the Washington Post. This is the first detailed look into state-by-state geography of what many experts are calling the "Great Resignation." Another government glimpse shows that 4.3 million people nationally quit their jobs in August, about 2.9% of the workforce, a pandemic-era record. According to the Post, the trend is driven by workers who are less willing to endure inconvenient hours and poor compensation and are quitting to find better opportunities. There were 10.4 million job openings in the county at the end of August, down from July's record high of 11.1 million. "It is a sign of health that there are many companies that are looking for work thats a great sign," Ben Ayers, senior economist at Nationwide, told the Post. "The downside is there are many workers that wont come back in. And long term you cant sustain a labor market thats as tight as it is right now." In Madison County, unemployment was slightly higher in August than previous months but below figures from 2020, according to a recent report. The county's August unemployment rate was at 5.6% compared to 5.3% in July and 8.1% in August 2020. Statewide unemployment was at 6.8% in August, compared to 7% in July. Illinois has added 164,900 jobs over the past year, totaling 5,817,300 in August, according to state data. "As reopening and recovery efforts continue to impact metro areas across the state, the Illinois Department of Employment Security is committed to continuing to assisting both claimants and jobseekers who are still looking to reenter the workforce," Deputy Gov. Andy Manar said in a statement. Illinois' August unemployment rate was 1.6% higher than the national unemployment rate of 5.2%, according to ABC Chicago. According to IDES, 435,000 people were unemployed in the state. According to CBS News, burnout was the reason cited the most for the record number of workers quitting. Thousands have instead started their own companies, as in one survey, nearly one-third of workers who quit started their own business. In another survey, 95% of workers said they were thinking about quitting. "Done with a cubicle. I'm done commuting. I'm done sitting in an office," professor Tom Smith, who studies the pandemic's labor market trends at Emory University's business school in Atlanta, told CBS. "Maybe the looking at the craziness in the eye and coming out on the other end made people reevaluate how much risk is actually involved." A large amount of older generations also retired during the pandemic, as Tony Furhmann, Madison County employment and training director, estimated three million baby-boomers retired during the pandemic, a much larger number than normal, Scott Cousins of the Telegraph reported, and a part of a large wave of retirements that saw nearly 30 million Baby Boomers leave the job market and retire in the third quarter of 2020 alone, according to Forbes. According to a survey by Coventry, 75% of the respondents said they are planning to retire early. This view of number of quitters comes as the number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits fell last week to a new low point since the pandemic started taking hold, according to the Associated Press. Unemployment claims dropped 6,000 to 290,000 nationally last week, the third straight drop according to the Labor Department, the fewest since the pandemic intensified before March 14, 2020. EAST ALTON After starting her online baking business last year, 17-year-old Aria Burnside had no expectations of opening her own brick-and-mortar bakery any time soon, but next spring Arias Cookies and Confections will open at Eastgate Plaza thanks to the shopping centers owner Todd Kennedy. This next step in Burnsides business was made possible after she won first place Oct. 2 in the Alton Main Street IdeaBounce, held at Jacoby Arts Center. In addition to $500, the teenage entrepreneur will be getting six months of free rental space at Eastgate Plaza in East Alton, thanks to plaza owner Todd Kennedy, who also has offered to build out a bakery space for Burnside. I was really in shock, Burnside said when she found out she won first place and the cash prize. Burnside presented a two-minute elevator pitch before a panel of judges, one of which was Todd Kennedy, an owner of Eastgate Plaza. The grand prize was $500, which we were very grateful for, said Burnsides mother, Charmian Aaron. But when we went up on stage to receive the prize, Todd Kennedy came forward. He said, Your story is great, and I hear stories every day. What we want to do is build you a spot at Eastgate Plaza and give you six months rent for free. So that wasnt a part of IdeaBounce, thats just something that happened. Eastgates Director of Marketing Rebecca Wuest said Kennedys decision to offer Burnside six months free rental was a spur-of-the-moment decision. Kennedy was involved in the Alton Main Street IdeaBounce to get the word out about the AOS Alternative Office Space rental agency, 219 Eastgate Plaza, which he owns. Kennedy, who is a long-time member of the community and local business owner, said he was blown away by Burnsides story, Wuest recounted. Burnside talked about her troubled beginnings and how she found a purpose in her business, and Kennedy wanted to help her move toward her vision. That is an outstanding young lady, Wuest said about Kennedys thoughts. Its not every day you meet a young lady with such determination and drive. This is Arias story, and were just a small part in it. Were so blessed to be a part of it. Kennedy believes in investing in people, helping them reach their full potential and in paying it forward Wuest said. Therefore, he is going to invest in converting space in Eastgate Plaza into a bakery for Burnside to get established. Burnside said the $500 cash prize will be used to help purchase equipment for her new bakery. Although her business started a little more than a year ago online at www.cookiesbyaria.com, Burnside has been baking for a long time. When I was younger my mom would be in the kitchen, and I would want to be with my mom, Burnside said. So she taught me how to bake. I wanted to do it because she was doing it. Her mom confirmed her daughter has baked since she was a kid. She would try to make things, Aaron said. Shes definitely gotten better. Burnside, who is a senior as a home-school student, also is very involved in her church, Anchored in Truth Ministries in Edwardsville. She sings with the youth and young adult praise team Called to Greatness. Burnside said she decided to start her own business after encouragement from her church. They were like, Your stuff is really good, you should actually sell it, Burnside said. So she, with her mothers help, began taking the steps to open her own business. They worked with the Small Business Development Center at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. Aaron said they received a flow chart from the center about what needed to be done, so they went step by step creating a limited liability company, or LLC, registering with the county, obtaining food handling training, and so on. It was a lot, Aaron said. It happened really quickly, but it was a lot of work. And all the while, Burnside did not yet have a name for the business. We knew that she wanted her name in it, it had to be Arias, Aaron said. And she did cookies and cupcakes. And she wanted the word confections in it. Thus, Arias Cookies and Confections launched online in May. The company started with a logo designed by Aaron but, a few months later, they had a friend in Iowa design a professional logo to replace the logo Aaron made. Currently, Burnside rents a commercial kitchen at her church and makes everything herself between schoolwork and her church group. She said it is not difficult to balance school and work as she uses the kitchen only Tuesdays, Thursdays and a few hours on Fridays and Saturdays. She has every other day for school and church practices. By the time the bakery at Eastgate opens, she will be done with school, so she hopes to increase the hours when she has more time. Arias Cookies and Confections has shipped as far as Oregon and California. While most of her sales are online, Burnside has been invited to sell at pop-up shops throughout the area, including Seams for the Soul Boutique, the Route 66 Festival, D.A.R.E Car Show at Edwardsville High School and the Plan Shop Live Kitchen in Maryville. Burnside said she believes having her own brick-and-mortar bakery will be great for her business because she currently sells her creations ony by the dozen. Not everybody wants 12 cupcakes all at one time, Burnside noted. Customers will be able to come in and buy one cupcake, or two. I think that will get more business. Burnside comes up with her recipes through online inspiration or requests from customers. She finds trending ideas and flavors, and experiments in her recipes to come up with her unique confections Some of them are challenging, but some are just kind of basic, Burnside said. She said the most difficult recipe was the banana pudding cheesecake cupcake offered on her menu. Burnsides favorite part about baking is decorating her creative confections, but her favorite part of her business is her customers. She said she likes to interact with them and hear positive feedback. Her new bakery will give her plenty of opportunities for that. To see what Arias Cookies and Confections has to offer before the bakery opens in spring, visit the Facebook page or company website at www.cookiesbyaria.com. EDWARDSVILLE Burglary charges were filed Friday in several cases by the Madison County States Attorneys Office. Nicholas R. Garrison, 23, of Tulsa, Oklahoma, was charged Oct. 22 with burglary and theft over $10,000, both Class 2 felonies; and criminal damage to property over $10,000, a Class 3 felony. The case was presented by the Troy Police Department. According to court documents, on Oct. 11 Garrison allegedly entered a building in the 300 block of Edwardsville Road, Troy, to commit theft; took gaming items and memorabilia valued $10,000 to $100,000; and damaged merchandise cases valued at between$10,000 and $100,000. Bail was set at $100,000. Other felony charges filed Oct. 22 by the Madison County States Attorneys Office include: Ricky L. Cox II, 41, of Granite City, was charged with burglary, a Class 2 felony. The case was presented by the Granite City Police Department. OPn Oct. 5 Cox allegedly entered Justus Heating and Cooling, 2130 Lincoln Ave., Granite City, to commit theft. Bail was set at $30,000. Antoine J. Shipp, 56, of Granite City, was charged with burglary, a Class 3 felony. The case was presented by the Granite City Police Department. On Oct. 6 Shipp allegedly entered a 2005 Kia Sportage in the 2000 block of Madison Avenue to commit theft. Bail was set at $15,000. Dustin D. McCollum, 33, of Wood River, was charged with domestic battery (second subsequent offense), a Class 4 felony. The case was presented by the Wood River Police Department. On Oct. 21 McCollum allegedly punched a household or family member in the face. It was noted he has a prior conviction for domestic battery out of Madison County in 2018. Bail was set at $15,000. Richard E. Loker, 40, of East Alton, was charged with domestic battery (third subsequent offense), a Class 4 felony. The case was presented by the South Roxana Police Department. On Oct. 10 Loker allegedly repeatedly struck a household or family member about the head and body. It was noted he has prior domestic battery convictions out of Madison County in 2009 and 2019. Bail was set at $50,000. Jeffrey T. Friso, 39, of Villa Ridge, Missouri, was charged with obstructing justice, a Class 4 felony. The case was presented by the Glen Carbon Police Department. On July 5 Friso allegedly gave false information to a Glen Carbon police officer. Bail was set at $15,000. Billy L. Jones, 60, of Pocahontas, was charged with driving while license revoked, a Class 4 felony. The case was presented by the Troy Police Department. On Sept. 27 Jones allegedly was driving at Mile Marker 17 on Interstate 55 with a revoked license. It was noted the license was revoked for DUI, and he has prior convictions for driving while revoked from 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2008. Bail was set at $15,000. WOOD RIVER Eight COVID-19 related deaths were reported last week by the Madison County Health Department. The news came as, on Monday, Gov. J.B. Pritzker outlined coordinated statewide efforts to prepare for the anticipated approval of the Pfizer vaccine for children ages 5-11 and an initial supply for half a million vaccinations. Entering the final week of the month, the MCHD has recorded 17 COVID-19 related deaths for October. That compares to 23 in September. Deaths last month included a man in his 40s, a woman in her 50s, three women in their 70s, a woman in her 80s, a man in his 80s and a woman in her 90s. To date, 598 COVID-19 related deaths have been recorded in Madison County. Three deaths were reported last week in Macoupin County: a man in his 60s, a man in his 70s, and a man in his 80s. To date, 140 COVID-19 related deaths have been reported in the county. One death was also reported last week in Greene County; details were not immediately available. To date, the county has recorded 53 COVID-19 related deaths. On Friday, the Illinois Department of Public Health reported 15,131 new confirmed and probable cases of COVID-19 in Illinois, including 183 additional deaths, between Oct. 15 and Oct. 22. To date, the state has reported 1,680,908 cases and 25,590 deaths. Updated figures from the MCHD list a total of 39,600 cases to date, as well as 497,047 tests. Of Illinois total population, more than 69% has received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose and 54% is fully vaccinated. In Madison County, 135.309 residents were fully vaccinated, or 51.16%, as of Sunday night. Other county fully vaccinated rates include Monroe County with 53.94%, St. Clair at 49.33%, 49.73% in Clinton, 48.08% in Jersey, 47.94% in Macoupin, 45.15% in Montgomery, 41.37% in Bond, 37.67% in Calhoun and 34.96% in Greene. The MCHD is offering COVID-19 vaccinations at its office, 101 E. Edwardsville Road in Wood River, on Wednesdays and Fridays. The clinic is by appointment only. For details visit www.madisonchd.org or call 618-692-8954, Ext. 2. MCHD will also offer COVID-19 vaccinations 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, Nov. 5, at the Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Fitness Center. The IDPH also stated that among people who received a Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, the following groups are eligible for a booster shot at six months or more after their initial series: 65 years and older Age 18+ who live in long-term care settings Age 18+ who have underlying medical conditions Age 18+ who work or live in high-risk settings. For the nearly 15 million people who received the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, booster shots are also recommended for those 18 and older who were vaccinated two or more months ago. Pritzker on Monday said the state will partner with pediatricians, local health departments, schools and other organizations ahead of the expected emergency-use authorization from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Federal Drug Administration (FDA). Once the Pfizer vaccine is authorized for use in children ages 5-11, more than 2,200 locations and providers statewide, are already enrolled to provide the vaccine, he said. The initial allocation will amount to about 500,000 doses available to children in Illinois. As soon as the FDA and the CDC have signed off, these kid-sized doses and kid-sized needles will be shipped out to pharmacies, pediatricians and other providers across Illinois and IDPH has reached out to every pediatrician in the state to enroll them in the vaccine distribution program, Pritzker said. As a parent, you should call your pediatrician now to make sure theyve enrolled and have ordered doses. And I will do everything in my power to continue to follow the science and keep our kids safe. In preparation for administering shots to the 1.1 million children across the state who will become eligible for the vaccine, IDPH is enrolling pediatric offices to provide the shots at more than 2,200 locations. Now that authorization has been granted, it is critically important that we get as many children vaccinated as quickly as possible, in order to provide them with the ultimate degree of protection, said Dr. Ngozi Ezike, Director of the Illinois Department of Public Health. The state also is coordinating with federally qualified health centers, local health departments and family practitioners. IDPH will oversee outreach to 756 elementary school districts across the state to offer parent-approved vaccination clinics on school grounds. EDWARDSVILLE An Edwardsville man accused of killing his 6-month-old daughter by shaking her has been indicted by a Madison County grand jury. Thomas R. Dellamano, 38, of Edwardsville, was indicted on two counts of first-degree murder, both Class M felonies. According to court documents, on Sept. 28 Dellamano allegedly shook Clara Dellamano, who had turned 6 months old the day before. Emergency personnel were dispatched to the residence and the child was taken to a St. Louis area hospital where she died Oct. 4. The separate charges each detail a different theory of the incident. One states Dellamano shook the child with the intent to kill or do great bodily harm to the child. The other states he shook her knowing such act created a strong probability of death or great bodily harm to the infant. Charges were originally filed Oct. 6 when his bond was set at $1 million. He faces 20-60 years in prison if convicted. Two other people were indicted Oct. 21 on attempted murder charges in unrelated cases. Steven Foster, 25, of Alton, faces multiple charges stemming from the alleged shooting of three people on Sept. 8 in the 700 block of Oakwood Estates. He was indicted on three counts of attempted first-degree murder, three counts of aggravated battery with a firearm, and being an armed habitual criminal, all Class X felonies; aggravated discharge of a firearm, a Class 1 felony; and unlawful possession of weapons by a felon, a Class 3 felony. He was also indicted for unlawful possession of weapons by a felon, an enhanced Class 2 non-probational felony. That charge stems from his alleged possession of a firearm at the time of his arrest on Oct. 5. The original incident began at about 11:20 p.m. Sept. 8 when Alton Police responded to the 700 block of Oakwood Estates in reference to a shooting. They found three adult gunshot victims who were taken to area hospitals then transferred to a St. Louis area hospital. Foster was arrested by Alton police and U.S. Marshals a few days later in the 2200 block of Bostwick Street, Alton. Bail in the shooting was set at $1 million, with an additional $75,000 for the weapons charge. Also charged with unlawful possession of weapons by a felon in that incident was Montreal D. Holmes, 45, of Alton. In an unrelated case, George Garcia, 18, of Granite City, was indicted for setting a fire with the intention of killing three occupants of a mobile home. Garcia was indicted on three counts of attempted first degree murder, and aggravated arson, all Class X felonies. According to court documents and information from the Madison County Sheriffs Department, on Oct. 4 he allegedly barricaded two adults and one juvenile into a mobile home in Lakeshore Estates Mobile Home Park and set it on fire. The three escaped with minor injuries. Capt. Dave Vucich of the Madison County Sheriffs Department said Garcia had apparently been living there for several weeks. There were clear attempts to not allow them out of the residence, and attempts to barricade them into the residence, Vucich said. The sheriffs department responded to a 911 call at about 9:33 p.m. Oct. 4. By the time deputies arrived the three victims had escaped the fire. According to initial statements from witnesses and the victims the fire was intentionally set and the victims had been barricaded in the residence. Garcia was apprehended soon after the incident, with bail set at $750,000. DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) A former senior Saudi security official who helped oversee joint counter-terrorism efforts with the United States claimed in an interview with 60 Minutes that the kingdom's crown prince once spoke of killing a sitting Saudi monarch before his own father was crowned king. Saad al-Jabri did not provide evidence to the CBS News program, which aired Sunday. The ex-intelligence official, who resides in exile in Canada, claimed that in 2014, Prince Mohammed bin Salman boasted that he could kill King Abdullah. At the time, Prince Mohammed held no senior role in government but was serving as gatekeeper to the royal court of his father, at the time still heir to the throne. King Salman ascended to the throne in January 2015 after his half-brother, King Abdullah, died of stated natural causes. Al-Jabri used the interview to warn Prince Mohammed that he has recorded a video that reveals even more royal secrets and some of the United States. A short, silent clip was shown to 60 Minutes correspondent Scott Pelley. The video, al-Jabri said, could be released if he's killed. Al-Jabri's allegations are the latest attempt to pressure the 36-year-old crown prince. Two of al-Jabri's adult children are in detention in Saudi Arabia, allegedly as pawns to force their father to return to the country. If he returns, al-Jabri faces possible imprisonment or house arrest like his former boss, the once-powerful interior minister, Prince Mohammed bin Nayef, who was ousted from the line of succession by the current crown prince in 2017. Al-Jabri, 62, claims the crown prince will not rest until he sees me dead because he fears my information. He described Prince Mohammed as a psychopath, killer. The crown prince drew global outcry after it emerged that aides who worked for him had killed Saudi critic Jamal Khashoggi inside the Saudi Consulate in Turkey in October 2018. After recordings from inside the consulate were leaked by Turkish authorities, the Saudis claimed it had been an effort meant to forcibly bring Khashoggi back to the country, and that it went awry. The crown prince denied any knowledge of the operation, despite a U.S. intelligence assessment to the contrary. Al-Jabri claimed that in a 2014 meeting with Prince Mohammed bin Nayef, who was head of intelligence as interior minister at the time, the much younger Prince Mohammed bin Salman said he could kill King Abdullah to make way for his father's rise to the throne. He told him, I want to assassinate King Abdullah. I get a poison ring from Russia. Its enough for me just to shake hand(s) with him and he will be done, Al-Jabri said, claiming that Saudi intelligence took the threat seriously. The issue was handled within the royal family, al-Jabri said. A video recording of that meeting still exists, he said. The Saudi government told CBS News that al-Jabri is a discredited former government official with a long history of fabricating and creating distractions to hide the financial crimes he committed. The government has issued extradition requests and Interpol notices for al-Jabri, alleging he is wanted for corruption. Al-Jabri claims his wealth comes from the generosity of the kings hes served. While it is not the first time al-Jabri has tried to exert pressure on the crown prince, it is his first on-record interview since his son Omar al-Jabri, 23, and daughter Sarah al-Jabri, 21, were detained in March 2020 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. A son-in-law was allegedly kidnapped from a third country, forcibly returned to Saudi Arabia, tortured and detained. Human Rights Watch says the arrest of family members is an apparent effort to coerce al-Jabri to return to Saudi Arabia. A Saudi court sentenced his son and daughter to nine and six-and-a-half years in prison, respectively, for money laundering and unlawfully attempting to flee Saudi Arabia, according to the rights group. An appeals court reportedly upheld the prison sentence in May, without informing the family. Al-Jabri has filed a federal lawsuit in the United States against the Saudi crown prince, alleging the royal tried to trap and kill him in the U.S. and Canada. Meanwhile, Saudi entities are suing him in the U.S. and Canada, claiming he stole some half-a-billion dollars from the counterterrorism budget. A Canadian judge has frozen his assets due to purported evidence of fraud as the case proceeds, according to the CBS News report. SPRINGFIELD When Jeffrey Laible entered the Air Force Chaplains Candidate program in 1985, he answered a calling his calling and the call to serve a greater good. Laible answered that calling for 36 years, retiring early in October. The book of Ecclesiastes says theres a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens, said Laible during his retirement ceremony. Its my time now to open a new chapter in my life and make way for the next generation. During his time in uniform, he climbed to the rank of colonel, starting after seminary and commissioning into the Air Force Reserves in 1990 as a Roman Catholic chaplain. Early in his career, he served as a chaplain at Scott Air Force Base, Illinois, and Little Rock Air Force Base, Arkansas. Before transferring to the Illinois National Guards 183rd Wing in 1999, Chaplain Laible served as a chaplain recruiter and the Assistant Director for the Air Force Chaplain Candidate Program. Maj. Gen. Peter Nezamis, Assistant Adjutant General Air, Illinois National Guard, said he was proud to have served with such a selfless leader. Jeff is the very definition of the minuteman, said Nezamis. Jeff entered the Chaplain Candidate Program in 85 and since his commission has travelled from California to Arkansas, to Germany and everywhere else serving the Air Force and his country, and he always came back to guide his own flock as an ordained priest here in Illinois. After transferring to Illinois, Chaplain Laible served in various positions, including Wing Chaplain for the 183rd Wing. Chaplain Laible also served on the Joint Task Force while at the 183rd. Most recently, he served as the Air National Guard Assistant to the Command Chaplain, North American Aerospace Defense Command, and U.S. Northern Command, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado. Its not often you can say that someone touched servicemembers in every branch, said Nezamis. Chaplain Laible did just that, though. After his first deployment in 2004, he deployed five more times to Germany between 2005 and 2011 to serve as chaplain to the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center. Nezamis said during that time, he visited Landstuhl and was touched by Laibles dedication to everyone there. Jeff chose to go back multiple times to minister those at the hospital, said Nezamis. He counseled the wounded Soldiers, Airmen, Marines, Sailors, and even Coast Guard Sailors and civilians. Through his ministry and chaplaincy hes touched hundreds, if not thousands of lives. Laible said hes enjoyed serving, but its time to go. Its been great and a wonderful experience, he said. I love serving, but its time. If I were 10 years younger, Id keep going. Laible said serving the Airmen and Soldiers of the Illinois National Guard and the reserves throughout his career has been his favorite experience. Though he may be hanging up his uniform, Chaplain Laible will continue to serve those in uniform. In June, he was selected to be the Vicar General to the Archdiocese for the Military Services, USA. I was sitting at home and the phone rang, Laible recalled. The caller I.D. said Washington D.C. and I thought, I should answer that. It ended up being Archbishop Timothy Broglio and he asked if I would be his Vicar. I couldnt turn him down. He reached out to his diocese in Peoria and they released him to serve as the Vicar General. As such he serves as a sort of chief of staff to the Archbishop. He oversees the day-to-day operation of the archdiocese in its service to 1.8 million Catholic servicemembers, veterans and their families worldwide. Laible said hes excited to serve as the Vicar General. Its like being called by a four-star general and being asked to work for him, said Laible. Its incredibly exciting. Ill be serving about 1.8 million Catholics in the armed forces, the veterans administration, the embassy, and all of their family members, its a great opportunity. EDWARDSVILLE A Granite City man facing multiple child pornography charges has been indicted by a Madison County grand jury. Multiple child pornography charges were filed Wednesday against John H. Obenhaus III, 38, of Granite City, after an investigation by the Illinois Attorney Generals Office. Obenhaus was indicted Oct. 21 on five counts of child pornography, all Class X felonies. The case was presented as part of a larger investigation into child pornography by the Illinois Attorney Generals Office. According to court documents, between April 5 and April 10, Obenhaus allegedly used Kik Messager to send images of children under 13 engaged in multiple sex or bondage acts. With assistance from the Granite City Police Department, the state executed a search warrant at Obenhaus home and arrested him after discovering evidence of child pornography. Bail was set at $250,000. Three other indictments were issued Oct. 21. Gary W. Phelps, 40, of Granite City, was indicted for unlawful possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine, a Class X felony; failure to report an accident involving personal injury or death, a Class 2 felony; driving while license revoked, a Class 4 felony. In a separate indictment he was charged with unlawful possession of methamphetamine, also a Class X felony. According to court documents, on Sept. 22 Phelps allegedly was found to have 15-100 grams of methamphetamine with the intent to deliver. He allegedly was driving on a revoked license and left the scene when he was involved in an accident at Illinois 203 and Ferguson Street in Granite City that injured another person. Phleps license was revoked following a 2005 conviction for DUI; he has prior convictions for driving while revoked in 2004, 2008, 2010 and 2013. The charges were originally filed Oct. 4, and bail was set at $200,000. According to the second indictment, on Sept. 30 Phelps was found to have 15-100 grams of methamphetamine. Suzanne V. Evans, 46, of Granite City, was indicted for unlawful possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine, a Class X felony. In a second indictment she was charged with unlawful possession of methamphetamine, a Class 2 felony; unlawful possession of methamphetamine, a Class 3 felony; and unlawful possession of a controlled substance, a Class 4 felony. According to court documents, on May 11 Evans allegedly was found to have less than five grams of methamphetamine, had delivered less than five grams of methamphetamine to another person and had less than 15 grams of fentanyl. On Oct. 6 she allegedly was found to have 15-100 grams of methamphetamine. Derek J. Chapple, 28, of St. Louis, was indicted for unlawful possession of weapons by a felon, a Class 2 felony, and reckless discharge of a firearm, a Class 4 felony. According to court documents, on Aug. 7 Chapple allegedly was found to have a Smith & Wesson SD9. He allegedly discharged a firearm in a densely populated area near B Street in Bethalto. He has a 2018 Cook County conviction for unlawful possession of weapons by a felon. MEXICO CITY (AP) A compact Hurricane Rick roared ashore along Mexico's southern Pacific coast early Monday with 105 mph (165 kph) winds and heavy rain amid warnings of potential flash floods in the coastal mountains. The U.S. National Hurricane Center said Rick made landfall as a Category 2 storm about 15 miles (25 kilometers) east of the port of Lazaro Cardenas around 5 a.m. Later Monday, Rick weakened to a tropical depression and was 140 miles (225 kilometers) north of Lazaro Cardenas, moving north at 14 mph (22 kph). JERUSALEM (AP) Israel's plans to advance the construction of thousands of new settlement homes in the occupied West Bank have angered the Palestinians and drew criticism Monday from a left-wing member of the country's fragile coalition government. Israel on Sunday announced construction tenders for 1,355 housing units in the West Bank, the first move of its kind since President Joe Biden assumed office pledging to take a harder line on the settlements. It also appeared to run contrary to the government's own vows to reduce tensions with the Palestinians, who view the settlements as the main obstacle to peace. Israel is expected to authorize some 3,000 additional settler homes in the West Bank later this week, a move that has already drawn calls for restraint from the U.S. The announcement of tenders is one of the final steps before construction can commence. It green-lights bidding on contracts for hundreds of housing units in Ariel, Beit El and other Jewish settlements deep inside the West Bank. Israel captured the territory in the 1967 war, and the Palestinians want it to form the main part of their future state. Israeli Housing and Construction Minister Zeev Elkin, of the right-wing New Hope party, on Sunday welcomed the marketing of the tenders. But Health Minister Nitzan Horowitz, leader of the dovish Meretz party, said Monday in an interview with public radio broadcaster Kan that his faction will explicitly not agree to actions that will harm the chances of reaching a solution with the Palestinians. I understand that this government, in the existing situation, won't sign a peace treaty with the Palestinians right now, but still, we must avoid actions that worsen the situation, Horowitz said. He remained confident, however, that the coalition would remain united and pass a national budget before a Nov. 14 deadline despite its differences. Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid, addressing a meeting of his centrist Yesh Atid party, said that when the government was formed earlier this year it committed to not building new settlements but allowing natural growth" in existing ones. "In the next four years, we will act and we will argue and pass budgets and lower the cost of living and continue to lead the world in fighting coronavirus, he said. And we will also fight from time to time over settlements and the Palestinians and security and the economy. In addition to the settlement projects, the government also plans to authorize 1,600 housing units for Palestinians in the West Bank. But the Palestinians and rights groups say that's only a tiny fraction of the need. More than 2.5 million Palestinians live in the territory along with nearly 500,000 Jewish settlers. The Palestinians say decades of settlement expansion have made it nearly impossible to establish a viable state alongside Israel, which is still seen internationally as the only realistic way to resolve the decades-old conflict. Most of the international community views the settlements as illegal. The European Union called on Israel to halt settlement construction and not to proceed with the announced tenders. Settlements are illegal under international law and constitute a major obstacle to the achievement of the two-state solution and a just, lasting and comprehensive peace between the parties, it said in a statement Monday. Israel considers the West Bank to be the biblical and historical heartland of the Jewish people. Its current prime minister, Naftali Bennett, is a strong supporter of the settlements and is opposed to the creation of a Palestinian state. Israel and the Palestinians have not held substantive peace negotiations in more than a decade. Mohammad Shtayyeh, the prime minister of the Palestinian Authority, which has limited autonomy in parts of the occupied West Bank, on Sunday condemned Israels settlement plans and called on the U.S. and the international community to push back on them. The Israeli anti-settlement monitoring group Peace Now issued a statement saying the new government's "commitment to the political status quo was revealed to be lip service on the way to a continuation of Netanyahus annexation policy, referring to the previous Israeli administration under Benjamin Netanyahu, now opposition leader. The announcement of new housing units and last week's outlawing of Palestinian rights groups for alleged terrorism links have rattled Israel's governing coalition. It is made up of eight parties ranging from ultranationalists who promote settlement construction to more dovish groups that want renewed peace talks with the Palestinians. Mossi Raz, a lawmaker from Meretz, condemned the settlement announcement, tweeting that these steps endanger the future of the state of Israel and the future political horizon, and undermine the basis on which this change government was founded." On Sunday, a suspected tornado damaged buildings and knocked out power in communities along the state line between Missouri and Illinois, as the suspected tornado moved through St. Mary, Mo. about 55 miles southeast of St. Louis before crossing the Mississippi River into Chester, Ill., the National Weather Service reported. There were no immediate reports of severe injuries, according to the Associated Press. St. Mary is currently without power and power outages were reported in some other Missouri communities and parts of Illinois. Neither Macoupin nor Madison counties are strangers to tornadoes. Jacksonville was last visited by a tornado in 2004, which did $4 million in property damage and injured one person. Madison County last saw a tornado in 2012, with a tornado damaging more than 100 homes in 2011. Illinois is one of several midwest states that sees tornadoes somewhat often. Here are some quick facts to know about tornadoes. Tornadoes can occur at any point in the year but are usually found following the jet stream, strong air currents that travel from the equator to the poles during spring. Tornadoes are most commonly found in April and May in southern states and are found more often in the summer in northern states like Illinois. Most tornadoes form in the late afternoon, and like thunderstorms, tornadoes are formed when warm, humid air collides with cold, dry air. The warm air pushes through the colder air, creating an effect called an updraft. That updraft could begin to rotate if winds vary drastically in speed or direction, per National Geographic. The rotating updraft, called a mesocycle, draws in more warm air from thunderstorms and the rotation speed begins to increase. Cool air from the jet stream provides more energy. A funnel cloud forms from the warm, damp air and this eventually descends from the clouds and when it touches land that's a tornado. Most tornadoes don't move even six miles. The average tornado is 660 feet wide and moves about 30 miles per hour. Massive tornadoes can move 300 miles per hour. The United States measures tornadoes on the Enhanced Fujita scale, which takes many variables into consideration and assigns wind speeds to a tornado, which is the foundation for the rating. The tornado that touched northern Illinois on Sunday is yet to be rated. When a tornado touches ground near you, the CDC recommends going to the lowest floor in your home or going to a room without windows. Get under something sturdy like a table (to avoid things falling on you) and cover your body with something like a blanket to avoid broken glass. Tornadoes are most commonly found in the United States in a strip of states from Texas to South Dakota. However, tornadoes are not rare in Missouri and Illinois and can reach as far east as Massachusetts and as far west as Montana. Jack C. Taylor, 86, formerly of Corbin, Kentucky, passed away peacefully on Sunday, November 7, 2021. Jack will always be known as a hardworking and caring family man. He was an exceptional athlete, receiving 1954, high school All-State Honors in both football and basketball by the Courier-J SAM MONTALTO, Stonington, Boys Soccer, Senior; Montalto scored three goals including the 100th of his career in the Bears 4-0 victory over Plainville in the Class M state tournament. Montalto, who missed the first three games of the season, has 32 goals and nine assists this season. GIRLS & BOYS Soccer Team, Chariho; It wouldnt be fair to single out a player from either team, both of which captured Division II titles over the weekend of Nov. 12. The girls tied their game with Prout with 1:02 left in regulation and prevailed in penalty kicks. The boys scored the winning goal in the final two minutes of the second overtime to beat North Smithfield. ZACK TUCK, Westerly, Football; Tuck rushed for 150 yards on 29 carries in a loss to unbeaten St. Raphael in the Division II semifinals. Tuck has rushed for 1,533 yards and scored 19 touchdowns this season for the 7-3 Bulldogs. Vote View Results Port Allen, LA (70767) Today Sunny. High near 75F. Winds light and variable.. Tonight Mostly clear skies early, then becoming foggy and damp later at night. Low 56F. Winds light and variable. A top investor of Just Eat Takeaway has launched another attack, urging the food delivery company to sell its recently acquired Grubhub to improve the group's share price. Cat Rock Capital, which only in July had accused chief executive Jitse Groen of presiding over a public relations 'disaster', now wants the company to sell or spin off the US firm to boost the stock. But Just Eat Takeaway has rejected calls to offload Grubhub, whose purchase it only completed in June this year for around 5billion. Under pressure: Just Eat Takeaway is being urged to sell Grubhub to boost its valuation 'While Grubhub has some specific challenges today it is a large and growing business with good underlying profitability,' Just Eat Takeaway said today. It comes as Cat Rock, which is one of the group's top investors with a 6.5 per cent stake, accused management to fail to fix 'the deep and damaging undervaluation' of its shares. Shares in Just Eat Takeaway have fallen by around 37 per cent over the past year, partly because of concerns over its loss of market share in some parts of the US. The group has also been hit by New York City, its largest US market, capping the commission it and its rivals can charge restaurants to use their platforms at 15 per cent of orders. Just Eat Takeaway shares in London were flat at 57.40 in afternoon trading today. In an open letter, Cat Rock founder Alex Captain, said that since the announcement of the takeover of Grubhub just over a year ago, Just Eat Takeaway shares had underperformed the MSCI World Index 'by a remarkable 69 per cent.' Selling GrubHub could help improve that, according to Cat Rock, and failure to do so would mean that 'management cannot move quickly and decisively enough to compete in a fast-paced sector such as online food delivery'. Captain argued that Grubhub was at a logistical disadvantage to competitors like DoorDash and Uberwould, but that it could compete if it was sold to Amazon. 'A partial or complete Grubhub sale to Amazon Whole Foods at any valuation would significantly improve the consumer proposition for both companies and dramatically increase competition in the US online food delivery market by providing Grubhub with the resources to credibly compete against the massive, converged US businesses of DoorDash and UberEat,' he said. 'A deeply depressed stock price poses a real risk to [Takeaway's] business, limiting its financial and strategic flexibility, inviting competitors to invest in its markets, and leaving the company vulnerable to takeover bids well below its long-term intrinsic value,' Captain added. Takeaway.com merged with UK-based food delivery service Just Eat in February 2020. Its latest trading update shows business in Britain surged by 51 per cent in the three months to the end of September compared with a year earlier, following a hefty investment programme to draw in new customers. But in the US, orders in the third quarter increased by just 3 per cent compared with the same period last year. Instant unlimited access to all of our content on tillamookheadlightherald.com. The Headlight Herald 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) We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Submit Here 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. Members of the Kirkwood-Webster Groves branch of the American Association of University Women. | photo courtesy of the Kirkwood-Webster Groves AAUW Sudans top general declared a state of emergency on Monday as soldiers rounded up civilian leaders, and three people were killed when troops put down furious protests decrying a coup. The military move one of several such takeovers in Africa this year sparked swift international condemnation. The UN demanded the immediate release of the prime minister, while the US suspended aid and urged restoration of a civilian government. General Abdel Fattah al-Burhans announcement in a televised address came after the armed forces detained government leaders that have been heading the transition to full civilian rule following the April 2019 ouster of autocrat Omar al-Bashir in one of the worlds least developed countries. To rectify the revolutions course, we have decided to declare a state of emergency nationwide dissolve the transitional sovereign council, and dissolve the cabinet, said Burhan, who announced the formation of a new government. Clashes erupted in the capital Khartoum after his speech, with the information ministry saying that soldiers had fired live bullets on protesters rejecting the military coup outside the army headquarters. Three protesters were killed and about 80 people wounded when soldiers opened fire, according to the independent Central Committee of Sudan Doctors. Burning barricades Civilian rule is the peoples choice, demonstrators chanted. Protesters waved flags and used rocks and tyres to create burning barricades, calling: No to military rule. The violence, largely centred outside the army headquarters in Khartoum, came after soldiers detained Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, ministers in his government and civilian members of Sudans ruling council, the information ministry said. Internet services were cut across the country and roads into Khartoum shut, before soldiers stormed the headquarters of Sudans state broadcaster in the capitals twin city of Omdurman, the information ministry said. The power grab by the army was condemned by the international community, including United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres who criticised the unlawful detention of the premier and other leaders. The Secretary-General strongly condemns the ongoing military coup detat in Khartoum and all actions that could jeopardize Sudans political transition and stability, Guterres spokesman Stephane Dujarric said. The European Union, African Union and Arab League also expressed concern, while the United States, which has been a main supporter of Sudans transition, said it had suspended $700 million in aid. The civilian-led transitional government should be immediately restored, State Department spokesman Ned Price told reporters. He added that Washington had not been able to make contact with the detained prime minister. Existential moment Under a 2019 power-sharing deal after the ouster of Bashir, Sudan is ruled by a Sovereign Council of civilian and military representatives tasked with overseeing a transition to a full civilian government. But in recent weeks the cracks in the leadership had grown wide. Hamdok had previously described splits in the transitional government as the worst and most dangerous crisis facing the transition. Jonas Horner, from the International Crisis Group think-tank, called it an existential moment for both sides. This kind of intervention really puts autocracy back on the menu, he warned. Bashir, who ruled Sudan with an iron fist for three decades is in jail in Khartoum. He is wanted by the International Criminal Court to face charges of genocide during civil war in Darfur. But UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet warned Sudan risked returning to oppression. It would be disastrous if Sudan goes backwards after finally bringing an end to decades of repressive dictatorship, Bachelet said. Protest calls In recent days, rival protests have been held. Sit-ins outside the presidential palace demanded a return to military rule, and in response, tens of thousands marched to back the full transfer of power to civilians. The two sides represent opposing factions of the Forces for Freedom and Change (FFC), the civilian umbrella group which spearheaded demonstrations that led to the armys overthrow of Bashir. Tensions between the two sides have long simmered, but divisions ratcheted up after what the government said was a failed coup on September 21 this year. The developments come two days after the mainstream FFC leader Yasser Arman warned of a creeping coup, at a news conference in Khartoum that was attacked by an unidentified mob. On Monday, the mainstream FFC appealed for nationwide civil disobedience. The Sudanese Professionals Association, an umbrella group of trade unions which were leaders of the 2019 anti-Bashir protests, denounced what it called a military coup and urged demonstrators to fiercely resist it. Protesters were seen marching through the streets of Khartoum carrying the Sudanese flag. We will not accept military rule, and we are ready to give our lives for the democratic transition in Sudan, said one demonstrator, Haitham Mohamed. We will not leave the streets until the civilian government is back, Sawsan Bashir, another protester, told AFP. SOURCE: AFP ALBANY - Nauman Hussain will finally testify under oath in January during civil proceedings about what he knew regarding the 2018 Schoharie limo crash that led to the deaths of 20 people and his guilty plea last month to criminally negligent homicide. Hussain, 31, operated the family's limousine business, Prestige Limousine, which was essentially run out of the now shuttered motel in Wilton the Hussains own. He was initially indicted in April 2019 on 20 counts each of both manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide, but pleaded guilty last month in Scoharie County Court in a deal that will spare him any jail time but requires him to be on probation for five years. Prosecutors believed they didn't have a strong enough case to convict Hussain at trial, which is why they agreed to the plea deal; the deal also includes a requirement that Hussain perform 1,000 hours of community service within two years. If he breaks any laws or the terms of his plea deal, Hussain could be subject to a prison sentence, although by all accounts, Hussain has not had any issues since his arrest following the Oct. 6, 2018 crash in which he was the only person to face criminal liability. The plea deal also specifically frees up Hussain to testify in the civil litigation cases that have been filed against Hussain, his family, the state and Mavis Discount Tire, the Saratoga Springs auto repair shop that serviced the 2001 Ford Excursion involved in the crash. A state Department of Transportation investigator had twice ordered the Excursion off the road after it failed roadside inspections, and Hussain had failed to get the proper state or federal certifications for the 34-foot, nearly seven-ton super-stretch limo that was known to have bad back brakes. Had the criminal trial been ongoing or if he had won acquittal, Hussain may have avoided testifying any time soon in the civil cases, in which the families of the 20 victims are seeking financial restitution. The terms of the plea deal specifically says he will testify. Along with members of the Hussain family, Mavis is a target for the families. During the discovery phase of the criminal cases, the Schoharie district attorney and the State Police uncovered evidence that Mavis may have falsified invoices for some of the brake work that Hussain had done at Mavis after DOT ordered that he make repairs. That evidence weakened the criminal case against Hussain. Hussain's initial deposition will likely be one of several that he goes through. This first one, scheduled for Jan. 7 for just two hours, will only focus on the role that his wealthy Pakistani uncle, Malik Riaz Hussain, played in the limo business and its financing. Attorneys for the families of the victims have been trying to connect Malik Riaz Hussain, a real estate tycoon with ties to the Pakistani military and intelligent services, to the limo business. He has subsidized the family motel business, but to date, no connection has been made to the limo business, which was originally started about a decade ago by Nauman Hussain's dad, Shahed Hussain. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. Shahed Hussain is a long-time FBI anti-terrorism informant who has successfully brought in many arrests for the FBI since 9/11 in the war on terrorism. His critics, though, have pointed out that Shahed Hussain basically entrapped non-violent people who were never terrorists in the first place. Shahed Hussain owned the Excursion and the business, but went back to his native Pakistan in the months leading up to the crash, leaving his son shouldering the responsibility. Attorneys for the families have not been able to locate Shahed Hussain or compel him to testify. It is unclear how much of his value as an FBI informant has helped him to evade questioning. As part of the discovery in the civil cases against his family and others, which are currently being coordinated in state Supreme Court in Albany, Nauman Hussain must also hand over to the plaintiffs any records he has, including emails that would show any involvement Malik Riaz Hussain has in financing or operating Prestige Limousine. Those documents are due Nov. 7. The Jan. 7 deposition will also be limited to Nauman Hussain's knowledge of any involvement by his uncle in the limo business as part of a pending decision by the court whether or not Malik Riaz Hussain should even be a defendant in the civil cases. The latest in New York politics This article was featured in the Capitol Confidential newsletter. Sign up here to get it each morning. Multiple investigations into preferential COVID-19 testing that former Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo's administration had provided for the well-connected including state lawmakers and their families have stalled, and individuals with intimate knowledge of the practice said they were never interviewed in connection with any of the inquiries. (TU) The State Police this week shook up the leadership of a special unit that's assigned to protect the governor's office but had been pulled into the controversies that engulfed former Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, who was found to have directed the appointment of a young female trooper to the unit who later became a victim of his alleged sexual harassment. (TU) Traveling between Hudson Valley and Florida got a little easier starting Monday. Frontier Airlines plans to commemorate the start of its direct service from Stewart International Airport to Orlando with a ribbon-cutting ceremony with local officials at the Newburgh-based airport. The airlines non-stop service to Orlando will operate four times weekly. Frontiers new flight service to Florida will benefit not only Orange County, but the entire region, said Orange County Executive Steven Neuhaus. Orlando is one of three Florida cities that Frontier will fly to directly from Stewart, as the airline announced over the summer; the other destinations are Miami and Tampa. Those flights will begin on Nov. 2 and will operate three times a week. Frontier, which considers itself a low-fare carrier, is offering introductory fares on select days starting at $29 and until Dec. 15. We are not only incredibly supportive, but very excited for this new installation of Frontier, said Amanda Dana, President of Hudson Valley Tourism. It goes to support the theory that Hudson Valley is turning into a destination. With more routes coming into the Hudson Valley, it only proves we are going to be that destination. Allegiant Air also flies to the southern U.S. from Stewart, offering non-stop flights to Orlando, Punta Gorda and St. Pete-Clearwater/Tampa. Allegiant also offers seasonal flights from Stewart to Savannah and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina in the winter months. JetBlue Airways, which suspended operations out of Stewart indefinitely last year during the pandemic, once also offered non-stop flights to Orlando and Ft. Lauderdale from Newburgh. In the absence of JetBlue service to the Sunshine State from Stewart, the Frontier flights have shored up Florida travel options again. Landing Frontier in Stewart is no small peanuts, said U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer in a press release in July. Frontiers new service from the Stewart Airport to Florida will usher in a great new destination option for Hudson Valley residents and boost the regions economic recovery from the pandemic. Downtime is the best time Make the most of your Hudson Valley weekend, every week with our newsletter. Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Chairman Kevin OToole said the addition of Frontier Airlines is a significant accomplishment for Stewart International airport as Port Authority continues its mission to re-energize the airport. Frontier is the first new airline to join the airport since Port Authority launched a new incentive program in the spring. That program also featured a new marketing campaign to attract airline interest from across the industry to fly in and out of Stewart. Port Authority has held a series of meetings with domestic and international air carriers to discuss potential routes using the mid-Hudson airport. The Port Authority also announced plans to work in a coordinated fashion with local attractions like Storm King Art Center, Resorts World Catskills, Woodbury Common Premium Outlets and Legoland New York to create tourism packages for air travelers. [The addition of Frontier Airlines] will also create new opportunities for tourism, business, and economic development, said Neuhaus. As Orange County continues to grow as a tourism destination, I know that Frontier will enjoy success here. After nearly two years, the U.S. is planning to reopen its northern border to vaccinated travelers from Canada. Starting in early November, the southern migration will be allowed again and Adirondack communities and businesses impacted by the COVID closure look forward to the projected bump in Canadian visits. The reopening of the border is just in time for Lake Placid, a community that revels in the winter months as a center of outdoor activities, says Mary Jane Lawrence, chief operating officer for the Regional Office of Sustainable Tourism. Lawrence said that ROOST is promoting the region, via social media marketing, to travelers from Quebec and Ontario as a winter wonderland. Lawrence told the Adirondack Explorer that the Adirondacks in general is a great destination for them: Its within driving distance and vaccination rates are good. As of Sunday the state COVID-19 vaccine tracker showed that 74.5 percent of Essex County residents 18 and over had gotten one dose of the vaccine. Were really positioned really well for the Canadian market, Lawrence said. Many of the communities and businesses that ROOST represents are excited by the potential of the border reopening, Lawrence said, especially those that rely heavily on tourism. But Garry Douglas, president and CEO of the North Country Chamber of Commerce, said he is not so sure that a tourism boost is imminent. While vaccinated Canadians will be allowed to cross the border without a testing requirement, Douglas points out that Canada still requires a negative COVID test upon re-entry, even for those who are vaccinated. We welcome this as a significant step we have been calling for. But until Canada simplifies its crossing requirements, including eliminating the test mandate on top of vaccination proof, the impact will be very muted, Douglas said. Nonetheless, Douglas sees some immediate benefits: Families on both sides of the border will be allowed to visit each other, and business travel and meetings between the two countries can resume. Economic development activity on the American side of the border could also increase, driven by pent-up demand throughout the pandemic. Douglas is hoping to see the two countries return to policies where, historically, rules on both sides align. It is unfortunate that both countries abandoned the principle of coordination at our shared border, creating this see-saw announcement of unilateral actions, Douglas said. As far as nature tourism, hiker traffic trends have been changing rapidly throughout the pandemic. First, in the summer of 2020, Adirondack Mountain Club saw record numbers, followed by a slower, rainier summer this year. Thats all happened without Canadian hikers, who typically make up a portion of that traffic. We are definitely glad to have vaccinated Canadian visitors visiting again, said Ben Brosseau, ADKs director of communications. Like Douglas, ADK is unsure whether the COVID testing requirements will limit day or weekend trips to the trailheads. Theres a lot of things that are up in the air, but we are certainly keeping an eye on a potential for a bump in visitation, Brosseau said. If there is a significant bump, its more likely to come in the summer, rather than the slower winter hiking season. ADK is planning for normal winter staffing levels at its High Peaks Information Center at the Adirondack Loj. Were used to working with high volumes, so whether its low or high I think well be comfortable with the situation, Brosseau said. Elected officials cheer border reopening Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. New York Senators Kirsten Gillibrand and Charles Schumer have been calling for the reopening of the border for months now, and both politicians praised the decision to finally do so. Finally, the New York-Canadian border will be open again to vaccinated travelers from both nations, Gillibrand said in a statement. 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 percent of Canadians over the age of 12 are vaccinated. Gillibrand said that closure and loss of Canadian business cost the U.S. economy $1.5 billion each month. Schumer added that the opening of the border is a prescription he credited himself with help filling. The pain is about to end, he stated. 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. U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik, whose district covers much of the Adirondacks, was also glad to see the border reopening, noting that she met with several members of Canadian Parliament and sent letters to each of Canadas provincial and territorial Premiers requesting their partnership and assistance in making it happen. This is a long overdue step, she said. It is an important first step to rebuild the confidence in our cross-border relationship and friendship with our Canadian partners. New York State Assemblyman Billy Jones, whose district includes Clinton and Franklin counties and a portion of St. Lawrence County, called the border reopening a light at the end of the tunnel. The border closure was more than just an inconvenience for border communities like ours the closure completely disrupted our way of life and I look forward to welcoming our northern neighbors back to the North Country when the restrictions are lifted in November, Jones said. A version of this story first appeared in the Adirondack Explorer, a nonprofit news outlet covering people and policy within the Adirondack Park. For more on the story, including reader comments, see adirondackexplorer.org. NEW YORK (AP) The National Labor Relations Board said there was sufficient interest to form a union at an Amazon distribution center in New York, after union organizers on Monday delivered hundreds of signatures to the agency a key step in authorizing a vote that could establish the first union at the nation's largest online retailer. This is the second unionizing attempt in the past year at Amazon. Workers in Alabama resoundingly defeated an effort earlier this year, but organizers there are asking federal officials for a do-over. Organizers delivered more than 2,000 signed union-support cards to the NLRB's Brooklyn office after launching the effort in April. The specific number of signatures was not immediately available. This is a small victory," said Christian Smalls, a former employee of the retail giant who now leads the fledgling Amazon Labor Union, adding, We know the fight has just started. As part of its petition to hold a union vote, organizers must have submitted signatures from at least 30% from the roughly 5,500 employees who the union says work at four adjoining Amazon facilities that it seeks to represent under collective bargaining. Mondays development puts the company on notice that the NLRB has determined that union organizers have met the minimum threshold for Amazon to formally acknowledge and to respond to the union-organizing petition. That means the company must post notices on its premises that the union is seeking to become the bargaining representative for thousands of Amazon workers on Staten Island. The company could have several avenues to challenge the effort, including contesting the number of employees that union organizers used to calculate the minimum signatures they needed. Were skeptical that a sufficient number of legitimate employee signatures has been secured to warrant an election," Amazon's spokesperson, Kelly Nantel, said in a statement. If there is an election, we want the voice of our employees to be heard and look forward to it. Our focus remains on listening directly to our employees and continuously improving on their behalf, Nantel said. While a vote is not yet certain, organizers hailed the formal filing of their petition as an important step to forming a union. This was the easy part," Smalls said of the signature gathering. Convincing at least 50% of the workers to vote yes is the hard part. Smalls says he was fired last year after organizing a walkout to protest working conditions, although Amazon said he repeatedly violated company policies. NLRB staff members started counting the cards soon after they were delivered, and union organizers were confident that they had met the minimum necessary. They had planned a rally outside the Staten Island distribution center Monday evening. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. Following the count, the NLRB ordered Amazon to provide a roster of employees who would be covered by the proposed union and set November 15 as the start of hearings on the union-organizing petition. If an election is held, the NLRB said it will conduct voting by secret ballot. Smalls proposed that the election be held on March 30, the day he was fired. If organizers in New York succeed, it could launch other union drives across the companys vast empire, which includes more than 100 fulfillment centers and nearly 1 million employees across the United States. Amazon employees have complained about long work hours, insufficient breaks and safety, with Smalls and others likening working conditions to modern-day sweatshops. The employee turnover rate has also been a cause of concern. The union efforts on Staten Island come as Amazon is on a hiring binge. It announced in September it wants to hire 125,000 delivery and warehouse workers and is paying new recruits an average of $18 an hour in a tight job market. Thats in addition to the 150,000 seasonal workers it plans to bring on for the holidays. The Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union had led the effort to form a union at the Alabama facility that was defeated in April. A hearing officer for the NLRB found in August that Amazon potentially interfered with the Alabama election. And the RWDSU is now waiting for a decision from an NLRB regional director to see whether the hearing officers guidance will be sanctioned. But even with a second election, labor experts say a union victory there is a long shot. The New York City organizing drive is taking place without the support of a national union. TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) An Israeli court Monday ordered a 6-year-old boy who survived a cable car crash in Italy to be returned to his relatives there, who have been locked in a bitter custody battle with family members in Israel. The court ordered Eitan Biran returned to the place of his normal residence, which is Italy." It ordered his grandfather, who had brought him to Israel against the wishes of his family members in Italy, to pay around $20,000 in expenses and attorney fees. Birans parents and younger sibling were among 14 killed in May when a cable car slammed into a mountainside in northern Italy. He has been the focus of a custody battle between his maternal grandparents in Israel and his paternal relatives in Italy. Birans paternal relatives say he was taken without their knowledge and they had filed a legal complaint in Italy seeking his return. His grandfather, Shmulik Peleg, has defended his decision to spirit the boy away, saying it was in the child's best interest. He drove Biran to Switzerland without the other relatives' knowledge before flying him back to Israel. Eitan and his parents were living in Italy at the time of the accident. After his release from a Turin hospital following weeks of treatment, Italian juvenile court officials ruled the child would live with a paternal aunt, Aya Biran, near Pavia, in northern Italy. In Monday's ruling, Judge Iris Ilotovich-Segal of the Tel Aviv family court said Biran's residence was in Italy, where his family moved when he was only a month old. She concluded that his relocation to Israel was unlawful and violated the guardianship rights of his aunt. The judge also called on the family to reconcile, saying there is supreme importance in focusing on the medical and emotional condition of the minor and giving him the support, treatment and embrace he needs following the tragedy that befell him and his family. The Peleg family said the decision doesnt address questions concerning the well-being and future of the child. In a statement, they said they would continue to fight in all ways possible for Eitans benefit, welfare and rights to grow up in Israel as his parents hoped. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. Biran's paternal relatives welcomed the ruling in a statement, saying there are no victors and no vanquished, no winners and no losers. "There is only Eitan. All that we ask now is that Eitan returns home quickly, to friends and to school, to his family and especially to the therapeutic and educational frameworks that he needs. ___ Associated Press writer Ilan Ben Zion in Jerusalem contributed. MIAMI (AP) A South Florida man has been convicted of posting bomb-making instructions on the internet for people who he believed were Islamic terrorists. Samuel Baptiste, 29, pleaded guilty Friday in Miami federal court to attempting to provide material support to terrorists, according to court records. He faces up to 15 years in prison at a sentencing hearing scheduled for Jan. 5. ASHEBORO, N.C. (AP) A North Carolina prison inmate who authorities say escaped from a work detail by driving off in a dump truck has been recaptured, a sheriff's office said. The Randolph County Sheriffs Office said it received two calls on Saturday regarding a suspicious person walking along a local road. When deputies reached the scene, they confirmed the man was Richard Alexander Mundy, 53. He was taken into custody and turned over the N.C. Department of Corrections. ALBANY A judge reinstated Jah-Lah Vanderhorsts 25-year sentence on Monday for killing 17-year-old Tyler Rhodes in 2011 but not before Vanderhorsts lawyer made a last-ditch effort to adjourn the proceeding. State Supreme Court Justice Peter Lynch, who in 2019 cut Vanderhorsts first-degree manslaughter sentence in half, ultimately reinstated the 25-year term as directed by the Appellate Division of state Supreme Courts Third Department last month. In the end, I think it was the right decision and the only one he could make, Albany County Assistant District Attorney Vincent Stark told reporters. Obviously, were happy that this is finally coming to a close, Stark said. This is an important case here in Albany, especially with the murder rate up as it is right now. We thought it was really important to bring this case up because we dont want people to think that this sort of activity is OK on our streets. On April 30, 2011, Vanderhorst 16 at the time plunged a knife into the heart of Rhodes, 17, in Hoffman Park. The killing was captured on a person cellphone camera. An Albany County jury acquitted Vanderhorst of second-degree murder, but convicted him guilty of first-degree manslaughter. Vanderhorst's co-defendant, Dhoruba Shuaib, 29, who restricted Rhodes' movements and tripped him, is serving a 21-year sentence for first-degree manslaughter. The Third Department had sent the matter back to Lynch on Monday for a procedural reinstatement of the 25-year sentence initially another judge, acting Supreme Court Justice Daniel Lamont, imposed in August 2012. Vanderhorst had tried to convince the courts he should have been sentenced as a youthful offender. Stacey Rhodes-Sofer, the mother of Tyler Rhodes, told the Times Union she was thankful for the hard work and dedication of District Attorney David Soares office on the case. "We continue to be grateful for all the support and prayers over the past 10 years, she said. We know nothing will ever bring Tyler back, but justice of 25 years is the correct sentence. This has been an emotional experience that I wish no one ever has to endure. The closure of this chapter, brings us that much closer to closure. As Rhodes-Sofer watched, Vanderhorst sat beside his attorney, Danielle Neroni. The attorney asked Lynch if the reinstatement could be adjourned to allow her to ask the Court of Appeals to consider considering hearing an appeal of the Third Departments ruling. Neroni said she expected to hear from the Court of Appeals, the states top court, within 30 days and that, if the court agreed to hear the case, it would take four to six months. Lynch asked Neroni what the harm would be in allowing the reinstatement of the 25-year sentence. Neroni noted that Vanderhorst had been in a minimum-security facility since his sentence was cut in half and is now, following the reinstatement of the 25-year term, back in a maximum-security facility. She said she did not want her client to be further prejudiced. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. Lynch, in turn, asked Stark what the harm would be in allowing the adjournment until the first week of December. Stark argued it would be harmful to both the Rhodes and Vanderhorst families to continue to drag out the proceeding. The defendant is standing here in front of the court, Stark said. There is no real reason that the court can't reimpose sentence today. Lynch responded with a tone of sarcasm, telling Stark: Well, Im glad you pointed that out. The judge noted that the Third Department, in its decision, had reinstated the sentence. That concludes todays proceedings. The adjournment request is denied, he said. TROY A 21-year-old gunshot victim was found wounded at a downtown parking garage on Sunday, police said. Police answered calls about shots fired at 9:45 p.m. on Third Street, finding the victim in a nearby parking garage. Police said the victim was shot on the street between Congress and State streets. He was shot once in the leg and brought to Albany Medical Center Hospital. Police said the injury is not life-threatening. So far, no arrests have been made. CAIRO (AP) Sudans military seized power Monday, dissolving the transitional government hours after troops arrested the prime minister, and thousands flooded the streets to protest the coup that threatened the countrys shaky progress toward democracy. Security forces opened fire on some of them, and three protesters were killed, according to the Sudan Doctors Committee, which also said 80 people were wounded. The takeover, which drew condemnation from the United Nations, the United States and the European Union, comes more than two years after protesters forced the ouster of longtime autocrat Omar al-Bashir and just weeks before the military was supposed to hand the leadership of the council that runs the country over to civilians. The U.N. Security Council scheduled an emergency closed meeting on the Sudan coup late Tuesday afternoon. The United States, United Kingdom, France, Ireland, Norway and Estonia requested the emergency consultations.. After the early morning arrests of Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok and other senior officials, thousands demonstrated in the streets of the capital, Khartoum, and its twin city of Omdurman. They blocked streets and set fire to tires as security forces used tear gas to disperse them. As plumes of smoke rose, protesters could be heard chanting, The people are stronger, stronger! and Retreat is not an option! Social media video showed crowds crossing bridges over the Nile to the center of the capital. The U.S. Embassy warned that troops were blocking parts of the city and urged the military to immediately cease violence. Pro-democracy activist Dura Gambo said paramilitary forces chased protesters through some Khartoum neighborhoods. Records from a Khartoum hospital obtained by The Associated Press showed some people admitted with gunshot wounds. The head of the military, Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan, announced on national TV that he was dissolving the government and the Sovereign Council, a joint military and civilian body created soon after al-Bashirs ouster to run the country. Burhan said quarrels among political factions prompted the military intervention. Tensions have been rising for weeks over the course and the pace of the transition to democracy in Sudan, a nation in Africa linked by language and culture to the Arab world. The general declared a state of emergency and said the military will appoint a technocratic government to lead the country to elections, set for July 2023. But he made clear the military will remain in charge. The Armed Forces will continue completing the democratic transition until the handover of the countrys leadership to a civilian, elected government, he said. He added that the constitution would be rewritten and a legislative body would be formed with the participation of young men and women who made this revolution. The Information Ministry, still loyal to the dissolved government, called his speech an announcement of a seizure of power by military coup. As darkness fell in Khartoum, barricades were still burning and occasional gunshots could be heard, said Volker Perthes, the U.N. special envoy for Sudan, at a briefing in New York. President Joe Biden was briefed on Sudan in the morning, said White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre. She added that the U.S. was deeply alarmed at reports of a military takeover" and called for the immediate release of the prime minister and other officials. The actions today are in stark opposition to the will of the Sudanese people and their aspirations for peace, liberty and justice, Jean-Pierre said. The Biden administration is suspending $700 million in emergency economic aid to Sudan that had been allocated to help the transition, said State Department spokesman Ned Price. He called it a pause, and urged the civilian-led government be immediately restored. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres strongly condemns the ongoing military coup detat in Khartoum and all actions that could jeopardize Sudans political transition and stability, said his spokesman, spokesman Stephane Dujarric. Guterres also called for the release of the government officials, the spokesman said, as did the African Union. EU foreign affairs chief Joseph Borrell tweeted that he was following the events with the utmost concern. Michelle Bachelet, the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, warned that Sudan could slip backward, urging the military to free the officials, withdraw from the streets and settle differences with the transitional government through dialogue. Since al-Bashir, who remains in prison, was forced from power, Sudan has tried to rid itself of the international pariah status it held under the autocrat. The country was removed from the U.S. list of state supporters of terrorism in 2020, opening the way for badly needed foreign loans and investment. But Sudan has struggled with the shock of a number economic reforms called for by international lending institutions. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. In recent weeks, there have been concerns the military might be planning a takeover, and in fact there was a failed coup attempt in September. Tensions only rose from there, as the country fractured along old lines, with more conservative Islamists who want a military government pitted against those who toppled al-Bashir in protests. In recent days, both camps have staged demonstrations. Amid the standoff, the generals have called repeatedly for dissolving Hamdok's transitional government and Burhan, who leads the ruling Sovereign Council, said frequently the military would only relinquish power to an elected government, an indication the generals might not stick to the plan to hand leadership of the body to a civilian sometime in November. The council is the ultimate decision-maker, though the Hamdok government is tasked with running Sudans day-to-day affairs. As part of efforts to resolve the crisis, Jeffrey Feltman, the U.S. special envoy to the Horn of Africa, met with Sudanese officials over the weekend, and a senior Sudanese military official said he tried unsuccessfully to get the generals to stick to the agreed plan. The arrests began a few hours later, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to brief media. The official said the prime minister and the others were being detained in a military camp outside Khartoum. Perthes said he and Feltman, in parallel meetings with political and military leaders in recent weeks, had tried to urge a return to dialogue and against a coup, which he said would squander the achievements of the first two years of the transition. State Department spokesman Price said Feltman warned Burhan and others that any unconstitutional changes in the government would have consequences. The military has been emboldened in its dispute with civilian leaders by the support of tribal protesters, who blocked the countrys main Red Sea port for weeks. The two most senior military officials, Burhan and his deputy Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, also have close ties with Egypt and the wealthy Gulf nations of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. The first reports of a possible military takeover emerged before dawn, and the Information Ministry later confirmed them, saying Hamdok and several senior government figures had been arrested. Internet access was widely disrupted and the state news channel played traditional patriotic music. Hamdoks office denounced the detentions on Facebook as a complete coup. It said his wife was also arrested. Sudan has suffered other coups since gaining its independence from Britain and Egypt in 1956. Al-Bashir came to power in 1989 in one such takeover, which removed the countrys last elected government. Among those detained were senior government figures and political leaders, including the information and industry ministers, a media adviser to Hamdok and the governor of the state that includes the capital, according to the senior military official and another official. Both spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief the media. After news of the arrests spread, the main pro-democracy group and two political parties appealed to the people to take to the streets. The Communist Party urged workers to protest what it described as a full military coup orchestrated by Burhan. - Associated Press writers Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations, Matthew Lee in Washington and Darlene Superville in Kearny, N.J., contributed to this report. UNITED NATIONS (AP) North Korea has never been more isolated from the international community as a result of its drastic steps to prevent COVID-19, and the ruptured global ties are having a dramatic impact on the human rights of the people inside the country, the U.N.s independent investigator on the reclusive northeast Asian nation said Friday. Tomas Ojea Quintana told the General Assemblys human rights committee and an earlier news conference that North Koreans are facing food shortages and collapses in their livelihoods, and the most vulnerable children and elderly people are at risk of starvation. He said he is also really, really concerned about the extent of hunger in political prison camps. The Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea -- the Norths official name -- closed its borders to prevent the pandemic, which Ojea Quintana said would have a devastating impact on the peoples right to health because the DPRKs health infrastructure suffers from underinvestment and a critical shortage of supplies caused by underlying human rights issues. The draconian steps the government of the DPRK has taken to prevent COVID-19 from entering reportedly include a policy of shooting individuals who attempt to enter or leave the country, he said. In his final report to the General Assembly after six years as the U.N. special investigator on human rights in the DPRK, Ojea Quintana added that increased restrictions on freedom of movement and the shutting of national borders has choked market activity that has become essential for peoples access to basic necessities, including food. He said North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has recognized the grim food situation and is investing in efforts to prevent starvation in the country. Nonetheless, as a result of the border closures, he said, the lifesaving humanitarian work of the United Nations and other international actors has also ground to a halt, with no United Nations international staff currently in the country and diplomats continuing to leave. The people of the DPRK should not have to choose between the fear of hunger and the fear of COVID-19, Ojea Quintana said. He said the pandemic has demonstrated that the only way to tackle a virus that doesnt respect international borders is through international cooperation. However, the dark irony is that the absence of international personnel can buttress those within the country seeking permanent isolation, he said. The DPRK rejected an offer of vaccine from the World Health Organizations COVAX program, an ambitious project to buy and deliver coronavirus vaccines for the worlds poorest people, Ojea Quintana said, and there is a discussion about whether the international community should offer North Korea a full-scale vaccination of the population. Its clear the DPRK fears an outbreak of COVID-19 in the country, he said, and unless all the population is vaccinated it could be the case that borders may continue to be closed. Ojea Quintana said there are also some ideas of opening special zones to do trade with China in the border area while protecting the population from COVID-19. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. He said trade with China has given North Koreans the opportunity to survive and make a living. In his report to the General Assembly, the U.N. investigator said he recommended that in light of the pandemic, the Security Council committee monitoring sanctions against the DPRK over its nuclear program should re-evaluate the sanctions regime under these circumstances, and when necessary to ease those sanctions. While humanitarian aid to the DPRK is exempt from sanctions, Ojea Quintana said sanctions have had unintended consequences on ordinary people. As one example, he said, U.N. sanctions against the export of textiles and seafood -- industries where women are the predominant workers -- have resulted in women who are family bread-winners losing their jobs. Ojea Quintana said he recognized the paradox of deteriorating social and economic rights in the DPRK while the government continues to test missiles, probably diverting resources that should be allocated in those areas. U.S. State Department spokesman Ned Price said in response to Ojea Quintanas report that the simple truth is that the DPRK regime itself is responsible for the humanitarian situation in the country. He said sanctions remain in place, but the United States is involved in efforts to provide humanitarian aid to the neediest North Koreans. ALBANY Fourteen-year-old Hoosick Falls resident Mikayla Baker made her stance clear. "I think one of the highest priorities of New York state should be to have a healthy environment," Baker said. "Its ridiculous that we should even have to ask for the right of clean water and clean air. Baker's statement to Environmental Advocates NY nearly five years ago, buoyed by the pollution of the Hoosick Falls water supplies with toxic manufacturing chemicals, marked the beginning of a long campaign to lobby lawmakers to support a constitutional amendment that would enshrine clean water and clean air as inalienable rights to New Yorkers. Despite a host of environmental regulations in the state, those rights are not a guaranteed for individuals. Now New Yorkers including Baker, who's of voting age have an opportunity in the November election to approve a constitutional amendment that would "establish the right of each person to clean air and water and a healthful environment." The ballot proposition, the second question on the ballot, is known as the "Green Amendment" or "Environmental Bill of Rights," which is a right few states have adopted. The constitutional amendment is supported by environmentalists, Democrats, major union groups like the AFL-CIO and some Republicans. It is opposed by the state's Republican Party, although it is not a focus of the party's statewide campaign opposing several other constitutional amendments on the ballot related to voting rights. It is opposed by the state's agricultural industry and many in the business sector, which fear added restrictions and lawsuits; if passed, it could set the stage for a legal challenge of how the court's plan to balance the people's right to farm with their right to clean air and water. The measure could also lead to lawsuits based on zoning and planning decisions made at local levels, which could end up giving the courts an opportunity to define the reach of an amendment that is universally understood to be both broad in scope and short in language. The amendment would be the most substantial environmental change to the state's Constitution since the "Conservation Bill of Rights," which was adopted in 1970. During a review of the state's Constitution, with respect to the environment, the New York State Bar Association in 2016 drew the comparison about the potential watershed moment. In 1894, in response to forest deconstruction, the state called a constitutional convention to draft the "forever wild" clause that enshrined the Adirondack and the Catskill forest preserves. In response to a pollution crisis in 1969, the conservation amendment came into play. The Bar Association argued the issue of climate change could bring an environmental bill of rights, something environmental advocates, scholars and certain lawmakers had been seeking for decades. The group Environmental Advocates NY directed a concerted effort in pushing for the measure in the wake of widespread attention on the the situation emerging in Hoosick Falls six years ago, where high levels of manmade perfluorinated chemicals were discovered in the community's drinking water supplies, including private wells. "It would be a wonderful thing if a positive came out of the Hoosick Falls situation, because the state of New York really failed those residents," Judith Enck, a former U.S. Environmental Protection Agency regional administrator, told the Times Union. Enck led federal action to in Hoosick Falls and said if the "Green Amendment" was in place at the time, it wouldn't have changed her action, but "hopefully it would have prompted the state to take it more seriously." The Hoosick Falls drinking water crisis, coupled with air pollution from nearby industrial plants in Albany's South End, particularly around the Ezra Prentice apartments, pushed Environmental Advocates NY to rally for a clean air, clean water amendment. It emerged from the Capital Regional crises, Environmental Advocates NY Executive Director Peter Iwanowicz said. It was also a concerted response to the then-incoming administration of former President Donald J. Trump, which campaigned on deregulation, especially concerning the environment. "The national politics of Trump, inaugurated in January of 2017, certainly didn't hurt either," Iwanowicz said. "People saying, 'We need to rise up and project our value set as New Yorkers on the environment.'" Iwanowicz and Environmental Advocates NY formed "Vote YES for Clean Air and Water," a campaign committee for the ballot proposal in February. There are no organized campaign efforts opposing the amendment. Four years ago, an attempt to get the amendment on the ballot failed in a Republican-controlled state Senate. When Democrats took control of the Legislature following the 2018 election, the momentum for the amendments picked up. The Legislature is required to pass constitutional amendments in two separate sessions. In 2019, it passed with 45 votes in the Senate, including five Republicans which was more than needed. It passed in the Assembly with 110 votes, including 11 Republicans and one independent. Then in January, it passed again in the Senate with 48 votes, including six Republicans; in February it passed the Assembly with 124 votes, including 17 Republicans more than 80 percent of lawmakers in that chamber in support. Most of the attention the Republican establishment has given the amendment has been passing blows. State GOP Chairman Nick Langworthy recently launched a "Just Say No" statewide tour against ballot proposals, but the focus is on the election-related amendments, including redistricting. "Everybody believes in clean air and clean water," Langworthy said. "This is something that I believe is a dressed-up, aspirational amendment to the Constitution that is going to be nothing but a backdoor boondoggle for trial lawyers." Langworthy said the issue should be addressed through state law and not the Constitution. He views the current regulations as a "barrier to business" and the amendment "will be probably an additional barrier to business." Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. The New York Farm Bureau is urging its members to vote against the amendment. "While clean air and water should be priorities for every New Yorker, this amendment would create too much uncertainty around environmental policy," New York Farm Bureau spokesman Steve Ammerman said in a statement. "This has potential implications for farmers who may have new neighbors who challenge traditional farm practices, liking using natural manure as fertilizer, and could put right-to-farm laws in jeopardy that protect family farms from nuisance lawsuits." Iwanowicz believes the intention of the law is to be forward-looking and not to regulate existing practices. He also noted that the right-to-farm law is on the books. He contends a business already operating may not have to change its practices, but if it came up for a certain permit renewal, the amendment could raise questions about existing practices. "If you're not poisoning water or air, this amendment really shouldn't bother you at all," Iwanowicz said. The Northeast Dairy Producers Association is also pushing back on the amendment because it believes it "could upend decades of teamwork, land preservation, and animal care that nearly 4,000 family dairy farms have strived for here in New York," according to its board chair, John Dickinson. "The amendments ambiguity and lack of clarity is dangerous, not only to the entire agriculture industry and other family-owned businesses, but to our states own Department of Environmental Conservation," Dickinson said in a statement. "A state constitutional amendment changes none of the current policies and programs that assure clean air and water, and provides no more incentive to advance new policies and programs." People on both sides are looking to other states and how they have handled similar constitutional amendments. The first state credited with passing a "Green Amendment" is Pennsylvania, in 1971. Montana also added a clear constitutional right. Other states, including Hawaii, Illinois and Massachusetts, have certain constitutional rights to a healthy environment, but not necessarily to the same degree as Montana and Pennsylvania, which is viewed as the gold standard. More states are actively considering amendments to the one proposed in New York. Pennsylvania's constitutional law was relatively quiet until the last decade, noted Pennsylvania State University law professor Jamison E. Colburn, a leading scholar of environmental and natural resources law and a Saratoga County native. In 2013, Delaware Riverkeeper Network and a local town fought the state in court over a question of fracking and to what extent it was in conflict with the state's Constitution. Court rulings strengthened the amendment, but Colburn said the lawsuits were more focused on the language in its Constitution that said the state is a "trustee of these resources" and less about the individual's right to a healthy environment. Colburn cautioned that New York's amendment may open up a flood of litigation because an individual's rights, like with abortion, privacy or speech, he said, is a narrow space for a court to weigh in. He also said that while Pennsylvania's law may be the bellwether for green amendments, it hasn't stopped it being a place for businesses to want to come for fracking and oil purposes, while neighboring New York, with its regulations, has been able to insulate itself from those industries. "I'd beware of people who are peddling this idea that there's a straight line, strict correlation between onerous environmental regulation and investment in people moving to the state," Colburn said. Where the amendment could truly play out is on the local level, Colburn said. There's one scenario where the amendment could make businesses more cautious in what is proposed in a certain community, but it could also simply change the nature of conversations in forums such as a local zoning and planning boards. "If you just move the burden of proof a little bit, the changes can be seismic," Colburn said. Those changes, Iwanowicz believes, can strengthen the role local government can have in being the first line of defense for climate change and protection of the state's environment. It's something Enck, the former EPA regional administrator fighting for clean water, hopes can be an extra tool to protect the public. "Ironically, I'm heading out to a meeting in my hometown," Enck said in a conversation last week. "The town board is meeting because, guess what, we have PFOA in our groundwater. The middle school is violating state drinking water standards, so they've turned off the water supply. Once again, the DEC and the health department response has been really inadequate. It's as if Hoosick Falls never happened." ALBANY The Copper Crow, the next restaurant venture from Jason Pierce, who also owns Savoy Taproom in the city, begins service on Thursday, Nov. 4, initially only for takeout and delivery. The building, at 904 Broadway in the warehouse district, has been under development as The Copper Crow since midsummer of 2020. The restaurant first was announced in April 2019 for another location in the warehouse district, which fell through for complicated but not very interesting reasons. Appomattox, VA (24522) Today A mix of clouds and sun. High near 50F. Winds light and variable.. Tonight Partly cloudy this evening with more clouds for overnight. Low 28F. Winds light and variable. 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. Finlands leader says that the Turkish presidents decision to order that 10 foreign ambassadors be declared persona non grata after calling for the release of a jailed philanthropist and human rights activist was a regrettable situation. A truck driver whose semitrailer crashed into a car along an eastern Indiana highway construction zone last year, killing four young siblings, has filed notice that he intends to plead guilty in the case Officials say a Frontier Airlines flight from Norfolk, Virginia, to Orlando made an emergency landing at Raleigh-Durham International Airport due to fumes or an odor in the cabin October 25, 2021 Due to the pandemic, more employees than ever are now working remotely, mostly from home. And while the advantages of remote work are well documented, one burning issue is remote work burnout. According to statistics, 69% of employees working from home report burnout symptoms. What are the most common causes of remote work burnout? Is there anything that employers and employees themselves can do to beat it? 1. Difficulty Unplugging from Work According to a 2021 Gartner survey, remote workers are 1.27 times more likely to have trouble disconnecting from work compared to their on-site counterparts. From 2020 to 2021, the number of workers reporting that their biggest struggle is to unplug increased by 8%. When an employees home becomes his workplace, the boundary between his professional and personal life becomes blurred. The more that a worker can disconnect from work when off the clock, the more that he can recover and improve his well-being. This means that remote workers are barely getting any rest. According to Prof. Len Shackleton of the University of Birmingham, the solution is for companies to set clear policies on when remote workers can log off from work. This will significantly affect the flexibility of working from home which is often reported as one of the best perks of remote working. 2. Virtual Overload Another reason contributing to remote workers burning out is virtual overload. In fact, from just 10 million users in December 2019, Zoom saw a surge of a whopping 300 million signups in just 5 months. According to Professor Jeremy Bailenson of the Stanford Virtual Human Interaction Lab, Zoom fatigue is a real thing and there are several reasons why. Dramatic increase in eye contact and unnatural closeness of other peoples faces Emotionally taxing to see your reflection for prolonged periods Hampers movement Significantly higher cognitive load compared to in-person meetings Since video conferencing for a huge chunk of the day is so stressful, its no wonder that 8 out of 10 remote workers want at least one meeting-free day per week based on a survey by Owllabs. 3. Distractions at Home Working from home can be challenging because there are more distractions but minimal supervision. A survey of more than 2,000 remote workers by Statista found that the top distractions are: Social Media - 61.6% Smartphones - 53.7% Binge-Watching - 42.1% Kids - 33.8% Gaming - 30.4% News Media - 24.3% Pets - 18.1% Online Shopping - 16% Partner - 12.3% Even work itself becomes a distraction with remote workers receiving 50% more email than when they worked in the office. They also have to deal with a 96% increase in online meetings and chat. 4. Less Time to Decompress Distractions, virtual overload, and always being in work mode mean that remote employees are working longer. To be more specific, 70% of professionals are now working on weekends and 45% say that theyre working more than they used to. 8 out of 10 remote workers even feel that they need to work overtime to keep the job. This compromises work-life balance for remote workers. More time spent working means that they spend less time on self-care, leisure, and social relations. Those who work more than 55 hours in a week have a 1.3 times higher risk of stroke than those who work 40 hours. Long working hours also dramatically increase the risk of depression for healthy individuals by 1.66 times and anxiety by 1.74 times. 5. Loneliness In a Hubble HQs survey, 76% of remote workers said that the lack of social interaction is the biggest drawback of working from home. Two thirds (67%), especially women (71%), have also said that their social relations have suffered. Younger workers (74%) are more likely to experience loneliness. According to Dr. Terri Patterson, younger workers havent gone through the same adversities that their older colleagues have experienced yet so theyre less well-versed when it comes to coping. Whats more, they often turn to their peers for help instead of getting professional help. Humans are social creatures. The fact that the average number of people workers get to interact with dipped by 51% since the pandemic started is already a huge red flag. At the office, employees interact with an average of 17 people. When working from home, its already a good day if one talks to 8 people - and only virtually. 6. Lack of Motivation According to a study by Martec Group, job motivation for remote workers went down from 56% to 36% ever since they started working from home. Aside from the aforementioned difficulties of working from home, remote workers become most demotivated when theyre not given a choice on where to work, according to Harvard Business Review. When employees are lacking inspiration to work, they become less productive and are more likely to suffer from poor physical and mental health. How Can Employers Help Prevent Burn Out? Happy workers means more productive employees. This means that it is a wise move for employers to establish policies and programs that help prevent burnout for their remote workers. Here are some tips on how to achieve this. Encourage vacations. Giving incentives to those who take time off and penalize those who dont. Strictly prevent access to work emails after hours. Give your employees access to mental support, nutrition counseling, group therapy, and fitness classes. Also, make sure that they know how to use and avail of these wellness tools. Limit the frequency and length of virtual meetings. Its also a good idea to reduce requirements for video conferences. Encourage teamwork and shared accountability. Alter company system and structure to make remote working less stressful. What Can Employees Do to Prevent Burn Out? Remote workers also have the power to prevent burnout. Just follow the tips below. [October 25, 2021] The Acronis #CyberFit Summit World Tour kicks off in Miami, Florida MIAMI, Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Acronis, a global leader in cyber protection, kicked off the Acronis #CyberFit Summit World Tour in Miami, Florida at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach. Attendees will engage in a hybrid experience this year, joining Acronis both at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach and virtually. Acronis is excited to announce major news, sales results, and partnership announcements at this year's #CyberFit World Tour in Miami, beginning today through October 27. Major news will be released on Monday and Tuesday, and sales partners will have the opportunity to engage in workshops and training sessions on the final day, Wednesday, October 27. "The Acronis #CyberFit Summit World Tour 2021 is where our partners come together to learn and connect, and I am so excited to be here in Miami to kick it off," said Patrick Pulvermueller, Chief Executive Officer at Acronis. "Having some of the top forward-thinking companies and visionaries in one place to collaborate, we can continue to shape and enhance the cyber protection market for all." Agenda Highlights At the event, attendees will hear from world renowned speakers and experts for various keynotes and sessions. Alexis Ohanian, co-founder of Reddit and venture firm Initialized Capital, will take the stage today at 11:30am, and Chris Voss, former FBI hostage negotiator, and the CEO & Founder of The Black Swan Group Ltd., will be keynoting virtually on Tuesday, October 26 at 9:30am. There will also be a Women in Tech breakfast networking opportunity on Tuesday at 8:15am EST, hosted by Brooke Baldwin, a celebrated American journalist, former host of CNN Newsroom, and author of Huddle: How Women Unlock Their Collective Power. She will be hosting a book signing right before the breakfast for in-person attendees. Summit sponsors The event's sponsors are an integral part of the success of the Acronis #CyberFit Summit World Tour 2021. This year's sponsors include Ingram Micro, GoDaddy, JAMF, and many more. "We're excited to be at the Acronis #CyberFit Summit with some of our fantastic Americas partners Joe's Datacenter, Prov.net, Cloud South, Tline, Stock Distribuidora and Easy On Net," said David Klauser, Director f the Americas for Virtuozzo. "Cloud and security are high-growth markets for MSPs and CSPs, and our cloud partners enable the fastest time to market with maximum profitability for Cloud Infrastructure and Platform Services." Exciting Partner News The Acronis #CyberFit Summit is the ultimate event for Acronis partners looking to modernize their cyber protection technologies, processes, and strategies. For example, Scale Computing and Acronis just jointly announced the availability of Business Resilience System (BRS) for MSPs, purpose built for Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud. "Scale Computing has a strong reputation for delivering organizations resiliency for their operations. The Business Resilience System for MSPs, Purpose Built for Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud, takes this to another level by giving MSPs everything they need to protect their clients from downtime, lost revenue, and fallout from cyberattacks. We integrated our HC3 technology with Acronis' industry leading data protection and cybersecurity cloud solutions so MSPs can stay ahead of modern cyberthreats with award winning anti-ransomware," explained Jeff Ready, CEO and co-founder, Scale Computing. "As an organization we are committed to the success of our channel partners, and the BRS for MSPs hybrid cloud solution will help service providers increase revenue through better service levels and new services. Scale Computing is a 'Partner First' organization, and this offering helps deliver on that promise." Many of the partners in attendance are also looking forward to taking away valuable insights from the sessions. "The hosting sessions are going to deliver real value to the community and we are looking forward to being a part of the Acronis #CyberFit Summit in Miami this year," said Melanie Purkis, Director of Managed Hosting at Liquid Web. As we continue to integrate with some of the world's top performing companies, Acronis is excited to highlight our various integrations throughout the week. "ConnectWise and Acronis have a long history of integration success providing MSPs with unmatched workflow efficiencies. With valuable integrations in over four different ConnectWise software tools, the partnership recently expanded to offer ConnectWise NOC services to Acronis backup users. The latest integration is another example of how this partnership continues to meet its goal of bringing value to MSPs worldwide," said Travis Vigneau, Director, Ecosystem Strategy at ConnectWise. New Product Launches It's never been simpler, safer, or cost-effective to have a universal and scalable IT infrastructure solution for cyber protection. This month, Acronis releases a new version of Acronis Cyber Infrastructure that introduces new capabilities and performance enhancements, combined with optimized product manageability. The key improvements cover simplified disk troubleshooting process, proactive cluster interconnectivity checks to find and eliminate any network-related issues on time, advanced monitoring for backup storage with additional metrics, possibility to set object storage usage quota to control consumption, new Notifications center and more. Looking at the Current Status of MSPs Acronis is excited to welcome our close MSP partners to Miami. To connect further with our partners, we are thrilled to announce the latest results from our dedicated-MSP survey with VansonBourne and ChannelPro to show our audience what the current state of the industry actually is. If interested in learning more about this data, please join our session, "The Future of the MSP and Security Survey: An Analyst, Media and MSP Deep-Dive into the Latest Findings," today (October 25) from 3:45pm-4:45pm EST. Those who are joining us in person will experience this session in the Sparkle Ballroom East. What's Next for Acronis? Tomorrow, October 26th, Acronis will share some exciting end of year results across our sales and marketing teams which have attributed to the most successful year in Acronis history. Please continue to visit our Press Room for all of the latest news announcements we will be sharing this week. After Miami, the tour will continue in Schaffhausen, Switzerland from November 18-19; Dubai, United Arab Emirates from December 8-9; and Singapore from February 17-18, 2022. For more information or to register for the Acronis #CyberFit Summit World Tour in any of those three cities, visit: https://acronis.events/summit2021/. About Acronis Acronis unifies data protection and cybersecurity to deliver integrated, automated cyber protection that solves the safety, accessibility, privacy, authenticity, and security (SAPAS) challenges of the modern digital world. With flexible deployment models that fit the demands of service providers and IT professionals, Acronis provides superior cyber protection for data, applications, and systems with innovative next-generation antivirus, backup, disaster recovery, and endpoint protection management solutions powered by AI. With advanced anti-malware powered by cutting-edge machine intelligence and blockchain based data authentication technologies, Acronis protects any environment from cloud to hybrid to on premises at a low and predictable cost. Founded in Singapore in 2003 and incorporated in Switzerland in 2008, Acronis now has more than 1,700 employees in 34 locations in 19 countries. Our Acronis Cyber Protect solution is available in 25 languages in over 150 countries and is used by over 20,000 service providers to protect over 750,000 businesses. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-acronis-cyberfit-summit-world-tour-kicks-off-in-miami-florida-301407406.html SOURCE Acronis, Inc. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 25, 2021] AIG Announces Senior Leadership Changes American International Group (NYSE: AIG) today announced senior leadership changes that further position the organization to deliver strong financial and operational performance over the long term and enhance its leadership team as part of the separation of the Life & Retirement business. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211025005692/en/ Shane Fitzsimons (Photo: Business Wire) "The leadership roles we are announcing today strengthen our senior management team and support the momentum we have with respect to our highest strategic priorities: positioning AIG's core businesses for long-term, sustainable profitability, preparing our Life & Retirement business to be a standalone market-leading franchise, and the continued execution of AIG 200," said Peter Zaffino, President and Chief Executive Officer, AIG. "We are deploying exceptional talent in critical roles to ensure AIG becomes a top performing company focused on value creation for all our stakeholders, increasing financial flexibility and achieving excellence in everything we do." AIG announced today that effective January 1, 2022, Mark Lyons, currently Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, AIG, will step into a newly created role of Executive Vice President, Global Chief Actuary and Head of Portfolio Management, AIG. In this role, Mr. Lyons will oversee AIG's global actuarial and ceded reinsurance functions, as well as lead ongoing improvements and repositioning in AIG's commercial and personal insurance portfolio. When Mr. Lyons transitions to his new role, Shane Fitzsimons will become Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, AIG. Mr. Lyons and Mr. Fitzsimons will both continue reporting to Mr. Zaffino and remain members of AIG's Executive Leadership Team. Mr. Zaffino added: "Mark is one of the most accomplished and respected actuaries and business executives in our industry. Serving in this new role will further strengthen our focus on high-quality underwriting excellence and portfolio positioning, which underpins AIG's overall growth strategy. Shane is a seasoned finance and operations executive with a strong track record of success. His leadership and core capabilities accelerated the execution of AIG 200 during the global pandemic and established a strong foundation as we continue to instill a culture of operational excellence across AIG." AIG also announced today that Elias Habayeb, currently Chief Financial Officer, General Insurance and Deputy Chief Financial Officer, AIG, has been named Chief Financial Officer for AIG's Life & Retirement business, effective immediately. Mr. Habayeb is replacing current Life & Retirement Chief Financial Officer, Tom Diemer, who is leaving the company to pursue other opportunities. "Elias has an extensive and accomplished financial and insurance background, as well as deep knowledge of all of AIG's businesses, including our Life & Retirement and Investments businesses," Mr. Zaffino said. "He will be an exceptional public company CFO and provide the Life & Retirement executive leadership team with significant expertise, insight and financial acumen as they move toward an initial public offering." As part of the ongoing work to separate the Life & Retirement business, including portions of AIG's Investments unit, Elaine Rocha, currently Global Chief Operating Officer, Reinsurance, has been promoted to Global Chief Investment Officer, AIG, effective immediately. She reports to Mr. Lyons and will transition to reporting to Mr. Fitzsimons in January 2022. M. Rocha will lead the Investments unit that will remain with AIG. Mr. Zaffino said: "Elaine has a multi-faceted background with considerable depth and breadth in the Property & Casualty insurance and investment management sectors. She also has significant operational expertise and a proven ability to lead complex programs and will continue to be an invaluable asset to AIG as we execute on our longer-term strategic priorities. Elaine's broad experience and commitment to quality make her the ideal candidate to lead the Investments group that will remain with AIG as we separate the Life & Retirement business." AIG also announced that Ted Devine has joined AIG as Global Head of AIG 200, reporting to Mr. Zaffino. Mr. Devine has been advising AIG on its AIG 200 effort since 2019, focusing on technology delivery and user experience. In this new role, he will be responsible for overseeing and driving continued momentum across AIG 200 as the company modernizes its infrastructure. Mr. Zaffino said: "Ted brings significant industry experience, deep insurance-operations knowledge, and a strong track record of leading successful transformational change resulting in improved performance for the long term. The AIG 200 effort is establishing a strong foundation that will improve our day-to-day operations; Ted's oversight of this work will ensure that we maintain momentum and achieve lasting transformation as we continue to instill a culture of operational excellence at AIG." Mark Lyons Biography Mr. Lyons joined AIG in July 2018 as Chief Actuary, General Insurance, with more than 40 years of experience in the insurance industry. He assumed the role of Chief Financial Officer, AIG in December 2018. Prior to joining AIG, he was Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of Arch Capital Group, Ltd. He was previously Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Arch Worldwide Insurance Group after serving in various capacities within Arch Insurance U.S. operations. Prior to Arch, Mark held positions of increasing responsibility at Zurich U.S., Berkshire Hathaway and previously at AIG. Shane Fitzsimons Biography Mr. Fitzsimons joined AIG in July 2019 as Global Head of Shared Services. He has held roles with increasing responsibility, most recently serving as Executive Vice President & Chief Administrative Officer, which included Head of Financial Planning & Analysis. Mr. Fitzsimons also oversaw the implementation of AIG 200 across AIG. Previously, he spent 23 years at GE, 13 of which as an Officer, in operational and financial leadership roles across the United States, Asia, and Europe, including Global Head of Shared Services, Chief Financial Officer for all international operations, Head of Financial Planning and Analysis across GE and Chief Financial Officer of GE Aviation Services. He has been a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants (FCA) in Ireland since 1993. Elias Habayeb Biography Mr. Habayeb has been with AIG for more than 16 years, serving in a number of senior financial roles, most recently as Chief Financial Officer for General Insurance where he oversaw all finance activities supporting the General Insurance business. He also served as AIG's Deputy Chief Financial Officer and will continue to serve as AIG's Chief Accounting Officer through February 2022. His previous roles included Chief Financial Officer of International Lease Finance Corporation (ILFC), a wholly owned subsidiary of AIG, where he led efforts for its ultimate sale in 2014. Prior to AIG, Mr. Habayeb was a partner at Deloitte (News - Alert) and has more than 25 years of financial services experience in banking and insurance. Elaine Rocha Biography Over her more than 11-year tenure with AIG, Ms. Rocha has made significant contributions across multiple AIG businesses and functions, including Reinsurance; Investments; Legal and AIG 200. From 2015 to 2020, Ms. Rocha served as Global Chief Operating Officer for AIG's Investments unit. Before joining AIG, Ms. Rocha served as an attorney in private practice for over a decade. Ted Devine Biography Prior to joining AIG, Mr. Devine served as Founder and CEO of Insureon (a leading InsureTech broker), President of Aon Global Retail Brokerage, CEO of Aon Reinsurance, President of Aon Americas, a senior partner at McKinsey and Company focusing on the Insurance sector, and Senior Manager of Deloitte's M&A Practice where he focused on capital structure transactions. American International Group, Inc. (AIG) is a leading global insurance organization. AIG member companies provide a wide range of property casualty insurance, life insurance, retirement solutions, and other financial services to customers in approximately 80 countries and jurisdictions. These diverse offerings include products and services that help businesses and individuals protect their assets, manage risks and provide for retirement security. AIG common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Additional information about AIG can be found at www.aig.com | YouTube (News - Alert): www.youtube.com/aig | Twitter (News - Alert): @AIGinsurance www.twitter.com/AIGinsurance | LinkedIn (News - Alert): www.linkedin.com/company/aig. These references with additional information about AIG have been provided as a convenience, and the information contained on such websites is not incorporated by reference into this press release. AIG is the marketing name for the worldwide property-casualty, life and retirement, and general insurance operations of American International Group, Inc. For additional information, please visit our website at www.aig.com. All products and services are written or provided by subsidiaries or affiliates of American International Group, Inc. Products or services may not be available in all countries and jurisdictions, and coverage is subject to underwriting requirements and actual policy language. Non-insurance products and services may be provided by independent third parties. Certain property-casualty coverages may be provided by a surplus lines insurer. Surplus lines insurers do not generally participate in state guaranty funds, and insureds are therefore not protected by such funds. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211025005692/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 25, 2021] Citi Provides Update on Global Consumer Bank Strategic Actions Citi today announced that it will wind down its consumer banking business in Korea as part of the strategic actions the bank is taking to refocus its Global Consumer Bank presence in Asia and EMEA on four wealth centers-Singapore, Hong Kong, the UAE and London-and pursue exits from its consumer franchises in 13 markets across the two regions. Even with the wind-down, the exits from these consumer franchises are accretive to capital and are still expected to release approximately $7 billion of allocated tangible common equity over time, $2 billion of which is related to the Korea wind-down. Across its remaining consumer markets in the regions, Citi is pursuing options including consumer franchise sales, with a focus on optimal results for its people, clients and shareholders. Conversations with potential buyers continue with strong interest from a broad range of bidders. "We continue to make progress on our strategy refresh, allowing us to increase the capital we return to our shareholders over time," said Mark Mason, Citi's Chief Financial Officer. "In Asia and EMEA, we will focus our resources on higher-returning institutional businesses and double down in wealth, where we have distinct competitive advantages and meaningful potential for growth." An amendment to the recently filed Form 8-K Current Report will be filed in connection with the wind-down plan as soon as Citi is able to reasonably estimate the wind-down and related charges consisting of voluntary termination benefits and related costs. The decision to wind down consumer operations in Korea received all necessary Board approvals. Citi Korea Inc will work closely with regulators during the process to ensure minimal inconvenience for clients. Citi Korea Inc will provide its services without interrution for existing contracts until expiration or termination of those contracts, while new sales for all consumer banking products will be stopped. Citi will continue to contribute to the development of the Korean financial market as it invests in and grows its market-leading Institutional franchise in the country. Citi Korea's institutional business provides a comprehensive range of investment and banking services to corporates, banks, governments and institutional investors in Korea including capital markets and corporate advisory. Certain statements in this release are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC (News - Alert)). These statements are based on management's current expectations and are subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances. These statements are not guarantees of future results or occurrences. Actual results and capital and other financial condition may differ materially from those included in these statements due to a variety of factors. These factors include, among others, the successful wind down and closure of the Korea consumer banking business, including within the expected timeframe, macroeconomic and local market conditions, consumer preferences, and the precautionary statements included in this release. These factors also consist of those contained in Citi's filings with the SEC, including without limitation the "Risk Factors" section of Citi's 2020 Form 10-K. Any forward-looking statements made by or on behalf of Citi speak only as to the date they are made, and Citi does not undertake to update forward-looking statements to reflect the impact of circumstances or events that arise after the date the forward-looking statements were made. Citigroup, the leading global bank, has approximately 200 million customer accounts and does business in more than 160 countries and jurisdictions. Citigroup provides consumers, corporations, governments and institutions with a broad range of financial products and services, including consumer banking and credit, corporate and investment banking, securities brokerage, transaction services, and wealth management. Additional information may be found at www.citigroup.com | Twitter: @Citi | YouTube (News - Alert): www.youtube.com/citi | Blog: http://blog.citigroup.com | Facebook (News - Alert): www.facebook.com/citi | LinkedIn (News - Alert): www.linkedin.com/company/citi View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211025005447/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 25, 2021] Discover Global Network Study Finds Nearly Half of Global Consumers Are More Comfortable Making Digital Payments as a Result of COVID-19 A new research paper by 451 Research (News - Alert), a part of S&P Global Market Intelligence, and commissioned by Discover Global Network found digital payment services and financial technology partnerships are reshaping the way in which consumers around the world send, spend and store their money. The findings come as the payments industry converges on Las Vegas for Money 20/20 to discuss the latest trends, innovations and ideas. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211025005154/en/ The next frontier: Unlocking new value through digital payment experiences (Graphic: Discover) The COVID-19 pandemic shed light on the influence of these digital payment services - as they grew market share and consumers accelerated their usage and adoption of these products. State of the Union: Global Digital Payments and Fintech Ecosystem analyzes these shifts and other trends prevalent within the industry. "With nearly 3 in 5 people using at least one type of digital payment service in their day-to-day spending, the State of the Union report shows the importance of digital cmmerce for consumers around the globe," said Kiran Pookote, director of business strategy at Discover. "These statistics reflect the impact of COVID-19 on digital behavior and the ways it will continue to shape the economy post-pandemic." In order to address these trends, partnerships between fintechs and payment companies will likely be critical, highlighting the need to work together on developing technologies for the evolving payments ecosystem. Eighty six percent of fintech vendors said they are reliant on payment companies to help them implement payment technologies. "Fintechs looking to quickly innovate and address customer demand on a global scale can benefit from pursuing partnerships with a company like Discover Global Network - that provides them with customized payment solutions, expertise and has a history of successful partnerships," said Pookote, who will be at Money 20/20 in Las Vegas and able to further discuss the findings. Key Findings: Impact of COVID-19 On Digital Payments Globally, 1 in 3 consumers said they began using digital payments for the first time within the last year, while more than half (52%) said they transitioned all or most of their in-store spending to online. Further, 49% say they are now more comfortable with making digital payments as a result of COVID-19. Consumer Shift to Digital Wallets According to the report, in 2020, digital wallets are reported to represent 27% of in-store spending, 41% of e-commerce spending and 46% of mobile commerce spending. By 2025, digital wallets are projected to account for more than $10 trillion in global transaction volume between in-store and e-commerce. Partnerships for Fintech Vendors are Key Nearly 9 out of 10 fintech vendors said contactless payments and linking loyalty programs and rewards to a customer's payment card were relevant to their business needs. Seventy eight percent of fintechs indicated they currently partner or work with a payment network, and an additional 18% said while they don't currently, such a partnership is possible. Global Payment Adoption Digital wallets ranked as the most widely used digital payment service overall, with respondents in Singapore (74%), India (70%) and China (61%) exhibiting the highest increase in usage. In these markets, many digital wallets have evolved into "super apps," encompassing a wide range of services, from payments to purchasing movie tickets to insurance. For a deeper dive into these findings, join Discover and 451 Research, a part of S&P Global Market Intelligence, for a webinar on December 15, 2021 from 10-11am CST. Jordan McKee from 451 Research along with representatives from Discover will discuss the key business priorities facing fintechs and provide perspective on the digital payments space. For more information and to register, visit the event page. In addition to discussing these findings while at Money 20/20, experts from Discover will be speaking to several other topics: Payments Innovation: Revolutionary? Or Evolutionary? - While payments have evolved rapidly over the years - are these evolutions really as revolutionary as we think? Asif Ahmed, Senior Leader, Global Product Strategy, Discover Financial Services, discusses the breadth of what drives innovation. More info here. - While payments have evolved rapidly over the years - are these evolutions really as revolutionary as we think? Asif Ahmed, Senior Leader, Global Product Strategy, Discover Financial Services, discusses the breadth of what drives innovation. More info here. The Fintech View (Panel) - Andrew Stucchio, Vice President, Global Pricing & Analytics, Discover along with other experts weigh in on current industry "hot topics" and share "hot takes" on everything from successful data management programs to the new tech that's enabling innovative data analysis. More info here. About Discover Discover Financial Services (NYSE: DFS) is a digital banking and payment services company with one of the most recognized brands in U.S. financial services. Since its inception in 1986, the company has become one of the largest card issuers in the United States. The company issues the Discover card, America's cash rewards pioneer, and offers private student loans, personal loans, home loans, checking and savings accounts and certificates of deposit through its banking business. It operates the Discover Global Network comprised of Discover Network, with millions of merchant and cash access locations; PULSE, one of the nation's leading ATM/debit networks; and Diners Club International, a global payments network with acceptance around the world. For more information, visit www.discover.com/company. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211025005154/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 25, 2021] The Eclipse IoT Working Group Celebrates its 10th Anniversary BRUSSELS, Belgium, Oct. 25, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Eclipse Foundation, one of the worlds largest open source software foundations, today celebrated the 10th Anniversary of the Eclipse IoT Working Group. Eclipse IoT is the largest open source IoT community in the world with 47 working group members, 47 projects, 360 contributors, and more than 32 million lines of code. It would be challenging to measure the industry impact of the Eclipse IoT Working Group over the past 10 years, said Mike Milinkovich, executive director of the Eclipse Foundation. From day one, this working group had a vision focused on developing actionable code as opposed to blueprints or standards, which has enabled it to stand apart from other organizations. This focus, along with the broad and diverse mix of Eclipse IoT ecosystem participants, has led to an extremely vibrant community that has helped drive commercial innovation and adoption at scale. In addition to original founding members, IBM and Eurotech, the current Eclipse IoT ecosystem now includes globally recognized players such as Bosch.IO, Red Hat, Huawei, Intel, SAP, and Siemens. The community is further enriched with Industrial IoT (IIoT) specialists like Aloxy, Cedalo, itemis, and Kynetics; along with edge IoT innovators that include ADLINK Technology and Edgeworx. Eclipse IoT is home to open source innovation that has delivered some of the industrys most popular IoT protocols. CoAP (Eclipse Californium), DDS (Eclipse Cyclone DDS), LwM2M (Eclipse Leshan), MQTT (Eclipse Paho, Eclipse Mosquitto and Eclipse Amlen) and OPC UA (Eclipse Milo) are all built around Eclipse IoT projects. Other popular Eclipse IoT production-ready platforms cover use cases such as digital twins (Eclipse Ditto), energy management (Eclipse VOLTTRON), contactless payments (Eclipse Keyple), Smart cities (Eclipse Kura) in addition to Eclipse Kapua a modular IoT cloud platform that manages data, devices, and much more. To learn more about how to get involved with Eclipse IoT , Edge Native , Sparkplug or other working groups at the Eclipse Foundation, visit the Foundations membership page. Working group members benefit from a broad range of services, including exclusive access to detailed industry research findings, marketing assistance, and expert open source governance. For further IoT & edge related information, please reach us at: [email protected] [email protected] Quotes from Eclipse IoT WG pioneers Andy Stanford-Clark, IBM UK CTO & Co-Inventor of MQTT Our original vision for the IoT Working Group was to create and curate a software stack which would enable developers to write applications for platforms, rather than custom code for specific devices. Over the 10 years, I think weve made that vision a reality. Im immensely proud of what weve achieved together. Andy Piper, Developer Advocate & Founding Project Lead, Eclipse Paho It is inspiring to see the range and scope of projects that make up the Eclipse IoT Working Group, 10 years on - we knew that the keys to success would be open source, interoperability, and open standards. Im hugely proud of the success of MQTT and Mosquitto, and the wider ecosystem in this space. Marco Career, CTO, Eurotech Eclipse IoT WG has shattered the silos of monolithic M2M applications and proprietary connectivity by promoting open standards and open architectures while creating a vibrant community of interoperable projects. Eurotech is proud of having been part of this journey and we wish Eclipse IoT WG 10 more successful years. Deb Bryant, Senior Director, Open Source Program Office, Red Hat The 10th anniversary of the Eclipse Foundation IoT Working Group is a significant milestone not only for its members and partners, but for the technology and open source communities. Many solutions to challenges within global IoT ecosystems are the result of the Eclipse Foundation IoT Working Groups dedication over the last decade to creating a vendor-neutral community of open source projects. Red Hat is proud to be a member of the Eclipse Foundation and looks forward to continuing our support for the IoT Working Group and helping to foster open source IoT achievements. Benjamin Cabe, Principal Program Manager, Microsoft It is both exciting and humbling to see how our initial vision of enabling an Internet of Things based on open source and open standards has effectively turned into a reality, ten years down the road. The Eclipse IoT Working Group and its community of passionate individuals have been a catalyst for IoT innovation, and I am looking forward to ten more years of success! About the Eclipse Foundation The Eclipse Foundation provides our global community of individuals and organizations with a mature, scalable, and business-friendly environment for open source software collaboration and innovation. The Foundation is home to the Eclipse IDE, Jakarta EE, and over 400 open source projects, including runtimes, tools, and frameworks for cloud and edge applications, IoT, AI, automotive, systems engineering, distributed ledger technologies, open processor designs, and many others. The Eclipse Foundation is an international non-profit association supported by over 330 members, including industry leaders who value open source as a key enabler for their business strategies. To learn more, follow us on Twitter @EclipseFdn , LinkedIn or visit eclipse.org . Third-party trademarks mentioned are the property of their respective owners. Media contacts Schwartz Public Relations for the Eclipse Foundation, AISBL Julia Rauch / Sophie Dechansreiter / Tobias Wei Sendlinger Strae 42A 80331 Munich [email protected] +49 (89) 211 871 43 / -35 / -70 Nichols Communications for the Eclipse Foundation, AISBL Jay Nichols [email protected] +1 408-772-1551 [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 25, 2021] Eutelsat's EUTELSAT 9B Satellite Selected by Zeonbud to Extend Its Broadcast Coverage Throughout Ukraine Regulatory news: Eutelsat (News - Alert) Communications' (Euronext Paris: ETL) (Paris:ETL) popular 9 East position has been selected by Zeonbud to assure the distribution of its high-quality broadcast content in Ukraine. Zeonbud Limited is the nation-wide licensed Digital Terrestrial Television operator transmitting Ukraine's 33 major channels covering a wide range of quality broadcast content. Launched in 2010, it reaches approximately 40% of the population and covers 95% of the territory. Through this long-term contract it will leverage the unparalleled coverage of the EUTELSAT 9B satellite over Ukraine to feed its DTT network, and potentially extend its offer to a DTH service beyond the reach of its existing tower infrastructure. The 9 East orbital location is home to a powerful satellite optimized for broadcast services and representing an ideal platform for channels seeking maximum reach into satellite homes and to terrestrial head-ends in the high-growth digital TV markets within its footprint, notably Ukraine. Commenting on te agreement, Philippe Oliva Eutelsat's Chief Commercial Officer said: "We are excited to welcome Zeonbud with its high-quality content offer as part of our line-up on EUTELSAT 9B, further consolidating our position in the dynamic Ukrainian Broadcast market." Irina Alyabyeva, Zeonbud's Chief Executive Officer, added: "We are delighted to partner with Eutelsat and leverage the 9 East position to ensure the best quality of service delivery of our of national channels to our viewers, and access the optionality of extending our reach through alternative distribution models." About Eutelsat Communications Founded in 1977, Eutelsat Communications is one of the world's leading satellite operators. With a global fleet of satellites and associated ground infrastructure, Eutelsat enables clients across Video, Data, Government, Fixed and Mobile Broadband markets to communicate effectively to their customers, irrespective of their location. Over 7,000 television channels operated by leading media groups are broadcast by Eutelsat to one billion viewers equipped for DTH reception or connected to terrestrial networks. Headquartered in Paris, with offices and teleports around the globe, Eutelsat assembles 1,200 men and women from 50 countries who are dedicated to delivering the highest quality of service. For more about Eutelsat go to www.eutelsat.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211025005318/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 25, 2021] Hardware Assisted Verification Market to hit $1.5 Bn by 2027, Says Global Market Insights Inc. SELBYVILLE, Del., Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Major hardware assisted verification (HAV) market include Agnisys, Aldec, Blue Pearl Software, EMA Design Automation, Cadence Design Systems, Hardent, Innovative Logic, Real Intent, Ansys, and Siemens AG. The hardware assisted verification market is expected to surpass USD 1.5 billion by 2027, as reported in a research study by Global Market Insights Inc. The growing popularity of automation in the industrial sector has increased the integration of sensor modules, digital control systems, energy management, and other electrical devices. The rising automation level has expanded the complexity of System-on-Chip (SoC) devices and systems. A surge in the demand for smart & power-efficient electronic devices and a rise in the adoption of IoT are aiding the HAV market growth. The COVID-19 pandemic has mildly impacted the HAV industry. During the pandemic, various sectors, such as healthcare, automotive, consumer electronics, telecom, and others, started adopting new & advanced technologies to increase their security. Significant growth is expected in the semiconductor sector over the coming years. Growth is due to the increasing adoption of the Internet of Things (IoT) where devices are embedded with sensors & software to connect over the Internet. This development is anticipated to support the growth of HAV. Request for a sample of this research report @ https://www.gminsights.com/request-sample/detail/5140 The global telecom industry is witnessing dynamic growth. Increasing government investment in the rollout of 5G technology in North America and Europe will contribute to the rising adoption of HAV in the telecom industry. The U.S. government and telecom operators are expected to invest over USD 250 billion in building 5G technology from 2020 to 2025. Rapid industrialization in European countries, such as the UK, Germany, and France, will provide ample opportunities for the hardware assisted market. For instance, in March 2020, the European Union invested USD 160 billion to double its chip production by 2030, which will be 20% in the global market. Such initiatives will drive the market for hardware emulation and FPGA prototyping. Some major findings in the Hardware Assisted Verification (HAV) market report include: New design architectures & capabilities and simplified usage have eased and facilitated the deployment of hardware assisted verification platforms across all the segments of the semiconductor industry. These platforms enhance the design quality and shorten the verification cycle. The rapidly developing automotive industry and the emergence of autonomous & connected vehicles are anticipated to create opportunities for the HAV market The hardware emulation segment is anticipated to display a high growth potential in the market owing to the multiple chipset design support and high operating speeds offered by these platforms. With innovations in technology and the development of smarter electronic devices, high-speed verification platforms are experiencing rapid adoption in the market. Increasing demand for the integration of advanced electronic devices into vehicles is driving the growth of HAV in the automotive industry. Vehicle manufacturers are adopting hardware emulation platforms for faster and highly accurate verification processes. Browse key industry insights spread across 180 pages with 109 market data tables and 29 figures & charts from the report, "Hardware-Assisted Verification Market Size, By Platform (Hardware Emulation, FPGA Prototyping), By Application (Automotive, Consumer Electronics, Industrial, Aerospace & Defense, Medical, Telecom), COVID-19 Impact Analysis, Regional Outlook, Growth Potential, Price Trends, Competitive Market Share & Forecast, 2021 2027" in detail along with the table of contents: https://www.gminsights.com/industry-analysis/hardware-assisted-verification-market The market players active in the HAV market include Agnisys Inc., Aldec Inc., Blue Pearl Software Inc., EMA Design Automation Inc., Cadence Design Systems, Inc., Hardent, Innovative Logic, Real Intent, Inc., Ansys, Inc., and Siemens AG. These market players are emphasizing on product innovations and mergers & acquisitions to expand their global footprints. About Global Market Insights Global Market Insights Inc., headquartered in Delaware, U.S., is a global market research and consulting service provider, offering syndicated and custom research reports along with growth consulting services. Our business intelligence and industry research reports offer clients with penetrative insights and actionable market data specially designed and presented to aid strategic decision making. These exhaustive reports are designed via a proprietary research methodology and are available for key industries such as chemicals, advanced materials, technology, renewable energy, and biotechnology. Contact Us: Arun Hegde Corporate Sales, USA Global Market Insights Inc. Phone: 1-302-846-7766 Toll Free: 1-888-689-0688 Email: [email protected] Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/661916/GMI.jpg Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1668813/HAV__Market.jpg [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 25, 2021] The Hartford Names Michael Garrison Head Of Navigators Wholesale The Hartford has named Michael Garrison as head of Wholesale for Navigators, a brand of The Hartford. Garrison will lead the strategic direction, growth, and underwriting for the business, as well as manage relationships with the company's wholesale distribution partners. He will report to The Hartford's head of Global Specialty Adrien Robinson beginning November 1. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211025005023/en/ The Hartford has named Michael Garrison as head of Wholesale for Navigators, a brand of The Hartford. (Photo: Business Wire) "Michael's deep knowledge and extensive expertise in a broad range of specialty lines, both domestic and internationally, will be a tremendous asset as we continue to invest in and grow our wholesale franchise," said Robinson. "We are in the midst of an historic global market transformation, and Michael's leadership will only strengthen our commitment and ability to continually provide valuable solutions to unique and complex risks in primary and excess casualty, financial lines, property, inland marine, transportation and environmental." With more than 28 years of experience in the insurance industry, Garrison brings a broad range of business insights in global risk having worked in New York, Singapore, Hong Kong, London, Bermuda, and Paris. Prior to joining The Hartford, he was president, head of Global Construction and International First-Party Lines at Allied World, after being president, Asia Pacific based in Singapore for the company. In that role, he was responsible for the strategic leadership of the company's global markets insurance operations in Asia-Pacific. He also oversaw the implementation of the region's strategic plan and was responsible for the oversight of the company's direct insurace offices in Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, and Australia. Previously, Garrison served as senior vice president and chief underwriting officer at Starr Companies where he created and developed first-party underwriting platforms for International Onshore Energy, Global Construction, Global Exploration & Production, and International General Property. In addition, he managed strategic planning and development and coordinated local compliance, operations, and systems for Starr's new country start-ups. He also managed all lines of underwriting authority and aggregates for Starr's Bermuda company, its subsidiaries, and branches. About The Hartford The Hartford is a leader in property and casualty insurance, group benefits and mutual funds. With more than 200 years of expertise, The Hartford is widely recognized for its service excellence, sustainability practices, trust and integrity. More information on the company and its financial performance is available at https://www.thehartford.com. Follow us on Twitter (News - Alert) at @TheHartford_PR. The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc., (NYSE: HIG) operates through its subsidiaries under the brand name, The Hartford, and is headquartered in Hartford, Connecticut. For additional details, please read The Hartford's legal notice. HIG-C Some of the statements in this release may be considered forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. We caution investors that these forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, and actual results may differ materially. Investors should consider the important risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ. These important risks and uncertainties include those discussed in our 2020 Annual Report on Form 10-K, subsequent Quarterly Reports on Forms 10-Q, and the other filings we make with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We assume no obligation to update this release, which speaks as of the date issued. From time to time, The Hartford may use its website and/or social media outlets, such as Twitter and Facebook (News - Alert), to disseminate material company information. Financial and other important information regarding The Hartford is routinely accessible through and posted on our website at https://ir.thehartford.com, Twitter account at www.twitter.com/TheHartford_PR and Facebook at https://facebook.com/thehartford. In addition, you may automatically receive email alerts and other information about The Hartford when you enroll your email address by visiting the "Email Alerts" section at https://ir.thehartford.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211025005023/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 25, 2021] Hunters Named CISO Choice Award Finalist for Security Analytics NEWTON, Mass. and TEL AVIV, Israel, Oct. 25, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hunters announced today that it was named a finalist in the 2021 CISO Choice Awards. Hunters industry-leading Open Extended Detection and Response (XDR) platform caught the attention of the judges as a top solution in the Security Analytics category. Security Currents CISO Choice Awards is a first-of-its-kind vendor recognition by a Board of Judges leading CISOs across industries who selected the winning solutions and providers based on their real-world experience. The award program recognizes the leaders in key technology and business categories. Hunters XDR was chosen for this award because it seamlessly scales across large enterprise environments to ingest, index, correlate and retain all security log and event data. Its purpose-built, turn-key security data and analytics platform provides cloud-scale access to telemetry sources across the entire attack surface coupled with automated event correlation, investigation and prioritization. This eliminates hundreds or thousands of daily alerts, giving security analysts more time to focus on high-value work. Pre-built detection analytics provide comprehensive coverage, and customers can also add their own detection logic into the platform to easily query the data without writing a single line of code. To be recognized by an impressive panel of CISO judges for our solution is a great honor, said Uri May, co-founder and CEO of Hunters. These CISOs understand the challenges security teams face and the criticality of being able to quickly investigate and prioritize real incidents. For additional information on Hunters XDR and how it is used for Security Analytics by Fortune 1000 organizations, please visit Hunters website or watch a demo video . About Security Current Security Current improves the way security, privacy and risk executives collaborate to protect their organizations and their information. Its CISO-driven proprietary content and events provide insight, actionable advice and analysis giving executives the latest information to make knowledgeable decisions. Its invitation-only CISOs Connect community https://cisosconnect.com/ allows for CISOs to communicate with each other and share knowledge and expertise with their peers with its proprietary research, group discussion, online and in person exclusive events. About Hunters Hunters XDR is a purpose-built, turn-key data and security platform powering effective detection and rapid response to security incidents. Ideal for security operations teams working to contain technology sprawl, adapt to cloud-scale and extend the value of the existing data streams, Hunters open XDR is adopted as a modern SIEM replacement by the worlds largest enterprises. Hunters is backed by leading VCs and strategic investors including Bessemer Venture Partners , U.S. Venture Partners (USVP) , Microsoft M12 , YL Ventures , Blumberg Capital , Snowflake , and Okta . Hunters was listed as the #1 Top LinkedIn Start Up in Israel in 2021 and has been recognized as SC Media 2021 Trust Award Finalist for Best Threat Detection Technology, Gold winner in the Cybersecurity Excellence Awards, Gold winner in The Globee Awards Cyber Security Global Excellence Awards, Winner of CISO Choice Awards: Security Analytics and Security Operations and is a SINET16 finalist. Media Contact: Montner Tech PR Deb Montner [email protected] [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 25, 2021] Janus Henderson Announces Decarbonisation Panel at World Climate Summit - Investment COP - at COP 26 in Glasgow Janus Henderson Group plc (NYSE: JHG, ASX: JHG) announces it will host a panel event at the Investment COP (ICOP) summit in Glasgow. The panel, entitled "Is decarbonisation an opportunity for emerging markets?", will take place at 13:30 BST on Monday 8th November 2021 at the Glasgow Hilton Hotel. The event will bring together experts from across the globe to discuss the opportunities and challenges that decarbonisation presents in the financial services sector across emerging markets. Taking views from global companies and governments, they will discuss how capital market flows can be encouraged into emerging markets to enable them to deliver their transition. They will also cover what world leaders from developing markets have committed to in order to incentivise whole economy transitions, on a global scale. The panel forms part of the World Climate Summit's Investment COP, a leading forum for business and investment-driven solutions to climate change and a key side event to the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) taking place in Glasgow from 1st - 12th November 2021. The event will be moderated by Paul La Coursiere, Global Head f ESG Investments at Janus Henderson and the panel will comprise: Francisco Javier Lopez, Chile's Energy Under Secretary Dr Nina Seega, Research Director at the Cambridge Institute of Sustainable Leadership (CISL) Krista Tukiainen, Head of Research, Climate Bonds Initiative Mark Cutifani, Chief Executive Officer, Anglo American Plc Dick Weil, CEO of Janus Henderson Investors said: "The conversation around decarbonising portfolios, and the global economy at large, has never been more important. Janus Henderson remains focused on, and committed to, sustainable investing. We are looking forward to hosting this panel of experts at ICOP and aim to move the debate forward, to establish what asset managers can and should be doing, to encourage and enable emerging markets to make a sustainable transition'. Dr Nina Seega, Research Director at CISL said: "This panel presents a valuable opportunity for us to pool our knowledge across the financial, policy and business worlds and examine the ways in which decarbonisation can, and needs to, be deployed and integrated in emerging markets. I'm looking forward to hearing from my fellow panellists about the innovative approaches they have adopted within their own fields to accelerate their journeys to Net Zero." Notes to editors Janus Henderson Group (JHG) is a leading global active asset manager dedicated to helping investors achieve long-term financial goals through a broad range of investment solutions, including equities, fixed income, quantitative equities, multi-asset and alternative asset class strategies. At 30 June 2021, Janus Henderson had approximately US$428 billion in assets under management, more than 2,000 employees, and offices in 25 cities worldwide. Headquartered in London, the company is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX). View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211025005243/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 25, 2021] Janus Henderson Announces Two Senior North America Distribution Appointments Janus Henderson Investors announced today the appointments of Thomas (T.F.) Meagher as Head of North America Institutional Distribution and Debbie Drachman, Head of North America Consultant Relations. T.F. is based in Chicago and reports to Nick Adams, Global Head of Institutional. Debbie is based in Darien, Connecticut and will have a dual reporting structure to T.F. and Richard Graham (News - Alert), Global Head of Consultant Relations. T.F. joins us from Aegon Asset Management where he was Head of US Institutional Distribution and Client Service, leading the US institutional distribution team in marketing their global fixed income, responsible investment, equity and multi-asset capabilities to consultants and plan sponsors. Prior to this he held positions at Huizenga Capital Management and UBS. Debbie was most recently Head of North America Consultant Relations at abrdn. Prior to her role at abrdn, she held positions at Citadel Asset Management, Voya Investment Management, Cowen Asset Management, SEI and Mercer. "The North American Institutional market is major focus for Janus Henderson, and I am excited to have T.F. and Debbie join to lead our efforts in this important market. Strong leadership and continued innovaion, alongside our well-established capabilities, will enable us to deliver on our promises to our clients and build on the momentum and success that is seen across our institutional business globally." said Nick Adams, Global Head of Institutional. T.F. shared, "I am delighted to join Janus Henderson Investors as we focus on expanding our global institutional presence. I am looking forward to working with our institutional clients to bring the breadth and depth of Janus Henderson's investment expertise to bear in helping them achieve their investment objectives." "Consultants play an absolute critical role in building a strong and growing Institutional business and I look forward to working with T.F., Richard and the team to help grow Janus Henderson's overall relationship with consulting firms across North America, and delivering competitive offerings for our clients," Debbie added. These strategic appointments build on the strength of Janus Henderson's institutional team and reinforce Janus Henderson's continued investment in hiring top talent across the organization. This announcement comes following several key hires across the Global Distribution team so far this year, including the Global Head of Consultant Relations, Global Head of Client Experience, Head of Japan, Director of Institutional Solutions in Australia, and Deputy Head of Investment Trusts. Notes to editors Janus Henderson Group (JHG) is a leading global active asset manager dedicated to helping investors achieve long-term financial goals through a broad range of investment solutions, including equities, fixed income, quantitative equities, multi-asset and alternative asset class strategies. At 30 June 2021, Janus Henderson had approximately US$428 billion in assets under management, more than 2,000 employees, and offices in 25 cities worldwide. Headquartered in London, the company is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX). View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211025005233/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 25, 2021] LearnPlatform Continues Growth, Invests in its User Experience and Company Culture with Two New Leadership Appointments RALEIGH, N.C., Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- LearnPlatform, the leading edtech effectiveness system today welcomes Ebony Haywood to Vice President of People and Culture and Kristie Lindell to Vice President of Product, representing the company's continued investment in culture and innovation. Both leadership positions are integral to the company's mission to continuously improve teaching and technology ecosystems and expand equitable access for all students. Ebony Haywood is LearnPlatform's first Vice President of People and Culture and will lead the company's significant hiring and expansion. Haywood, a former educator, brings over a decade of experience championing change, and improving employee hiring, development and retention within the technology industry. Haywood, who is based in Raleigh and will work from company headquarters, promotes positive corporate culture and emerging learning technologies to build a diverse and inclusive workforce. "I'm excited to return to education during this period of metamorphosis of the K-12 industry to create a diverse and equitable workplace culture," said Haywood. "LearnPlatform's commitment in building an inclusive workforce at every level is an accomplishment in its continued commitment to a positive workplace environment." LearnPlatform has doubled the number of employees over the last 12 months and prioritizes diversity of all kinds in its leadership team and across its growing teams to benefit company culture, innovation and environment. The company's commiments have translated to higher diversity than industry averages and peer companies. Company-wide, 62% of its employees identify as female, with a 50-50 gender split on the company's leadership team. People of color make up 25% of the company, close to double industry average. As LearnPlatform's Vice President of Product, Kristie Lindell brings over 20 years of product and marketing experience translating educators' needs into successful digital products. She leads the company's team of product and design professionals using research and technology to find innovative ways to help educators and organizations navigate their edtech needs. Before joining LearnPlatform, Lindell held senior product positions at Illuminate Education and Edmentum. Lindell will work remotely from Minneapolis, Minnesota. "LearnPlatform's reputation for innovative, equitable and dynamic user experiences ensuring both evidence and efficiency lead to edtech effectiveness is an exciting foundation to build upon," said Lindell. "It's more urgent than ever that districts and states carefully select and use digital products that are safe, secure and drive achievement and outcomes for all students. We are focused on providing the best platform and services to ensure K-12 administrators efficiently use and share evidence to drive edtech decisions." Last fiscal quarter, LearnPlatform launched Evidence Services to support edtech providers and their education partners in building the evidence base needed to comply with ESSER to receive federal funding for districts and states to buy and use their products. In the same month, it ranked as one of the 50 fastest growing education companies and in the top half of the 2021 Inc. 5000 list of the nation's fastest-growing private companies. "As LearnPlatform helps more and more states, districts and edtech providers raise the edtech industry standard for effectiveness, we are glad to invest deeply in our product and people development to ensure that we are continuously improving," said Karl Rectanus, CEO and Founder of LearnPlatform. "Ebony and Kristie bring expertise, track records of success, and a whole lot of empathy to leading and growing with and for our education partners and our employees." About LearnPlatform LearnPlatform is a mission-driven research organization, and creator of the comprehensive edtech effectiveness system of the same name used by educators, leaders and their partners to save time, save money and improve outcomes. The research-driven technology, central office automation and data-rich insights and evidence services equip school districts, states, and providers to organize, streamline and analyze their edtech interventions to ensure learning ecosystems are safe, equitable, cost-efficient, and effective for all students. For more information, visit learnplatform.com. Media Contact: Alyssa Miller [email protected] 973-615-1292 View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/learnplatform-continues-growth-invests-in-its-user-experience-and-company-culture-with-two-new-leadership-appointments-301407171.html SOURCE LearnPlatform [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 25, 2021] Metanoia and NXP Collaborate to Deliver a Complete 5G NR Sub-6GHz Platform HSINCHU, Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Metanoia Communications ("Metanoia") today announced its collaboration with NXP Semiconductors for the development of a new 5G NR Sub-6GHz demonstration/development platform (Reference Platform) that combines innovative technologies from both companies. The new Reference Platform leverages NXP's high performance Layerscape family of multicore processors and 5G NR programable baseband processors and Metanoia's recently announced 5G NR Sub-6Ghz RF IC (MT3812). The Reference Platform will facilitate and reduce considerably customers' design cycle building a 5G Sub-6GHz solution addressing all 5G market segments from a single FWA CPE to low or high density 5G Remote Radio Units (RRUs), and to highly integrated Small-Cells. Targeting the high volume, highly popular mid-band (3.3 GHz 4.2 GHz (n77), the complete 5G NR Reference Platform enables the development of Software Defined Radio (SDR) solutions with support for i) L1 PHY implementations, ii) a wide range of DPD/CFR performance, iii) networking offload for timing, parsing and Quality of Service (QoS), iv) offload for eCPRI C/U- and S-Plane including virtualized and containerized L2 applications. Evaluating lower and higher frequency bands, supported by the Metanoia MT3812, will also be possible by by-passing appropriate RF front end components, like a Power Amplifier and Low Noise Amplifier on the Reference Platform. "The collaboration between NXP and Metanoia demonstrates the advanced capabilitis of the Layerscape Access programmable solution platform and underscores our commitment to furthering our ecosystem-based strategy for faster, time-to-market solution enablement," commented Tareq Bustami, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Network Edge at NXP Semiconductors. "NXP offers a comprehensive 5G NR solutions portfolio that, with the help of our partners, is accelerating the development and deployment of 5G infrastructure networks around the world." "Partnering with NXP to offer a highly optimized development platform to our customers that includes our MT3812 RF IC and demonstrating that our chips, put together, can meet the 3GPP and the ORAN performance requirements is critical to our customers," commented Didier Boivin, Executive Vice President at Metanoia. "A desire to create a high level of trust in our technologies is what drove NXP and Metanoia to work together on this combined Reference Platform." Metanoia's MT3812 is a cost-effective Sub 6Ghz TDD 2x2 RF transceiver with a tiny 9x9 mm QFN68 footprint, which supports 200 MHz Bandwidth in Transmit and Receive modes, and 400 MHz in DPD mode. It is a highly integrated multi-band programmable and self-calibrated product supporting three of the most popular bands: 2.5 GHz 3.0 GHz (n90), 3.3 GHz 4.2 GHz (n77), and 4.2 GHz 5.0 GHz (n79). MT3812 is designed to interface with any I/Q baseband chip and includes distinguishing features such as high dynamic range on its low noise receive chains and high linearity and low noise floor on its transmit chains. From antenna-to-processor, NXP offers a robust portfolio of technologies for accelerating 5G deployments that deliver best-of-class performance and security for infrastructure, industrial, and automotive applications. This includes the company's Airfast family of RF power solutions, Layerscape Access LA1200 family of software defined baseband processors for mmWave and sub-6GHz integrated small cell, DU, RU, and CPE, and its Layerscape family of multicore processors for wireless data links, fixed wireless access, and small cell devices. To learn more, visit nxp.com/5G. About Metanoia Communications, Inc. Metanoia Communications, a subsidiary of Elan Microelectronics, was established in Hsinchu Science Park, Taiwan. Since its inception, Metanoia has contributed to the development of several generations of semiconductor and software solutions for wireline Broadband. For more information about Metanoia, please visit www.metanoia-comm.com. Contacts Metanoia Communications Inc. Ting Liao Email: [email protected] SOURCE Metanoia Communications Inc. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 25, 2021] The New Halo Collar, the Go-Anywhere Wireless Fence, Launches in Collaboration with KORE at Mobile World Congress Los Angeles ATLANTA and LOS ANGELES, Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Halo Collar with Cesar Millan, developers of the world's most advanced pet safety and training technology, has announced they will be premiering the new Halo Collar at Mobile World Congress in Los Angeles on Oct. 26, in collaboration with KORE (NYSE: KORE), a global leader in Internet of Things (IoT) solutions and worldwide IoT Connectivity-as-a-Service (CaaS). Founded by inventor Ken Ehrman and dog expert Cesar Millan, the Halo Collar provides the ultimate boundary training for dogs, big and small, for the ultimate peace of mind. "Working with KORE has been great from day 1," said Ken Ehrman , Halo Founding & Managing Partner. "When I heard about Halo, my dream was to help create this amazing toolthe Halo Collarthat can communicate with a dog using their instincts. I also knew that it was essential to provide a program that would teach people how to train their own dogs to recognize boundaries, because practicing safety starts with the human who teaches it," said Cesar Millan. The Halo Collar replaces the need for an electric fence, with all of the technology being held directly in the collar. Owners can now secure their dogs in even remote locations like a lake or the beach. Halo Collar also provides smart training and an activity tracker to ensure a 360-degree level of care for dogs. "Working with KORE has been great from day 1. They allow Halo to provide real-time dog safety and location data over cellular network technology to our customers at less than span >$5/collar per month," said Ken Ehrman, Halo Founding & Managing Partner. "KORE helps us ensure Halo Collar stays continuously 'connected' and roams seamlessly on the CAT-M1 LTE network - so the customer has instant two-way connections with their dog over cellular. With KORE, we can even cost effectively and seamlessly provide wireless upgrades over cellular. They have also helped us internationalize our product and it now works in Canada, and soon globally." Halo Collar is the only technology in the industry that automatically downloads daily satellite updates to improve GPS accuracy and lets you create up to 20 wireless fences with just a few taps of your finger, so you can take your dog with you anywhere. Halo Collar selected KORE for resilient connectivity that works out of the box with seamless communications and minimal gaps in coverage. KORE provides Halo Collar's cellular connectivity in the U.S and Canada, as well as test units in the EU, with plans for global expansion. In addition to the increased network connectivity, the new Halo Collar features a more rugged design, increased durability and a longer battery life. "As we move further into what I call the 'Decade of IoT,' transformational products like the Halo Collar will provide tremendous benefits to people and pets all over the world," commented Romil Bahl, KORE President and CEO. "We are proud to support such a tremendous IoT-for-good use case. As a dog-owner myself, I know that some 10 million dogs run away from American homes alone each year... keeping our pets secure is a great cause, and we are delighted to be a part of this innovative solution." Halo Collar is committed to helping dogs live their best lives. The Halo Go Anywhere Wireless Fence gives dogs the freedom to live a life off-leash, while giving pet parents the peace of mind of knowing that their dogs are safely in the boundaries set for themin their yards and anywhere they go together. About Halo The Halo Collar is the newest smart system & dog safety must-have. Co-founded by Cesar Millan, this smart system utilizes proprietary technology & dog psychology to provide a wireless smart fence, smart training, GPS tracker and activity tracker combined into one easy-to-use smart collar. The Halo Collar utilizes proprietary GPS and GNSS location tracking - keeping them safe and easy to locate should they ever wander too far. About KORE KORE is a pioneer, leader, and trusted advisor delivering mission critical IoT solutions and services. We empower organizations of all sizes to improve operational and business results by simplifying the complexity of IoT. Our deep IoT knowledge and experience, global reach, purpose-built solutions, and deployment agility accelerate and materially impact our customers' business outcomes. For more information, visit www.korewireless.com. For further information and to purchase, please visit: www.halocollar.com To schedule an appointment at Mobile World Congress and learn more about the Halo collar and how KORE ensures reliable IoT connectivity, please reach out to [email protected] and [email protected] BOOTH LOCATION: South Hall, Booth 1531 Media Contacts: For Halo Collar: CIVIC | Patricia Rappaport [email protected] For KORE Landon Garner [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-new-halo-collar-the-go-anywhere-wireless-fence-launches-in-collaboration-with-kore-at-mobile-world-congress-los-angeles-301407398.html SOURCE KORE Wireless [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 25, 2021] Rock Content raises $30M Series B funding to consolidate content marketing leadership MIAMI, Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Rock Content, a global leader in content marketing solutions, today announced a $30 million Series B funding round. After two acquisitions in the past two years, the company aims to consolidate its position as a global leader in the content space. The funding round was led by existing investors, Unbox Capital with the participation of Provence Capital, and joined by new players: BTG High Growth Opportunities Fund, and Crescera Capital. "Rock Content has the ability to operate in a wide range of markets, and within different cultures. This ability, in combination with its unique product innovation capability, places them in a privileged position to lead content marketing strategies for brands around the world," said Unbox Capital's Founder Patricia Moraes. With the new investments, the company will continue investing in marketing, sales, and product innovation and evolving its content marketing solutions to empower brands to scale through content. "We believe that content delivers superior results for brands and a better experience to consumers. Content is a more human-marketing channel impacting positively the experience of every individual with the brands," said Rock Content's CEO Diego Gomes. Gomes said that the current content market is a fragmented space which is why the company aims to build a "category-defining" organization. "This is why the Series B is an important milestone: we can achieve our goal to define the future of the content industry and become the best partner for marketers that are looking for ways to grow." As a pioneer in content marketing, the company determined that its initial challenge was to educate brands about the value of content. Now, as many brands have a diverse content strategy, the challenge is for customers to become content-centric enterprises. "These brands are facing challenges integrating content at the core of their marketing strategies, an overload of vendors, and an ever-growing Martech stack. We makeit easy on them. At Rock Content, we pride ourselves in offering a true solution approach to help navigate these challenges and become their best marketing channel," explained Gomes. Since the 2019 acquisition of ScribbleLive, Rock Content has positioned itself to actively evaluate potential acquisition targets in order to increase the breadth of its product suite. GLOBAL AND LOCAL Founded in 2013, today Rock Content has more than 2,000 customers worldwide, with a strong footprint in the Americas. The company believes that, although content marketing is a global discipline, content has to be crafted locally. For this reason, it has specialized in supporting global brands with a strong focus on the US, Mexico, and Brazil. The company's global product line covers the whole lifecycle of content for digital marketers and is revered as a one-stop shop for CMOs. Its solutions include: Visually , a freelance marketplace for content creation; Stage , a Content Management System (CMS) platform for creation and publishing of content hubs; and Ion , an interactive content platform. Rock Content's products are augmented by a world-class professional services team, and an ecosystem of more than 400 partner agencies and 80Kcreative professionals in a global talent network. Among customers, there are enterprise-level brands such LinkedIn, Dell, Spotify, Oracle, DHL, and Salesforce. SOCIAL IMPACT COMMITMENT The new funding round will also help Rock Content to improve its social impact initiatives, according to Gomes. The company joined Pledge 1% and reserved 1% of shares to support and finance impact-related projects, coordinated by its social impact arm, Rock.org. As part of Pledge 1%, Rock Content committed to donating 1% of the time, offering the employees the opportunity to volunteer; 1% of product, with the donation of coursework and education platforms to vulnerable groups; and 1% of the company shares to finance projects. Since 2019, the company has supported 56,640 students and provided 7,251 volunteering hours for pro-bono projects to help socially and economically underrepresented groups such as women, the Black community, people with disabilities, and the LGBTQIA+ community. About Rock Content Rock Content is a global leader in content marketing that designs inventive solutions that allow brands to offer premium content experiences to their online audience. Its workforce of 500 employees and 80,000 content freelancers fuel the strategies of 2,500 customers around the world, including enterprise-level brands such as Oracle, FedEx, DHL, and Pitney Bowes. The company combines resourceful SaaS platforms and a global network of creative professionals to help its clients generate more revenues and brand awareness. To learn more about Rock Content solutions for marketers, please go to https://rockcontent.com Media Contact: Rodrigo Martins, Rock Content [email protected] View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/rock-content-raises-30m-series-b-funding-to-consolidate-content-marketing-leadership-301406935.html SOURCE Rock Content [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 25, 2021] State Street To Appoint Brad Hu to Chief Risk Officer State Street Corporation (NYSE: STT) today announced that it has named Brad Hu its chief risk officer, effective January 1, 2022. Hu succeeds Andrew Kuritzkes, who is retiring from State Street. Hu will join the company in November as a member of its Executive Committee for a transition period with Kuritzkes. Hu was previously the chief risk officer at Citigroup for eight years, where he was credited with significantly reducing the firm's risk profile while guiding it through significant geopolitical and economic disruptions. Prior to this role, he served as chief risk officer for Citi Asia Pacific, where he was responsible for managing the firm's risks across all of Citi's businesses in the region's 17 markets, including consumer banking, corporate and investment banking, securities and trading, and private banking. Prior to joining Citi in 2008, Hu worked at Morgan Stanley for more than 20 years, where he held a number of senior leadership roles across the Global Equity, Global Capital Markets and Investment Banking divisions. He also has more than 15 years of experience in Asia, having worked and lived in Hong Kong, Tokyo and Taipei, where he was chief executive officer of Morgan Stanley Taiwan. Hu's breadth of industry experience, including front-line origination and product roles, allows him to assess and manage risk across a broad range of perspectives. "With more than three decades of financial services experience, Brad brings a global risk expertise and approach to help us continue to execute against our stategic priorities," said Ron O'Hanley, chairman and chief executive officer of State Street. "Brad's deep experience across asset classes, risk categories, complex financial instruments and diverse markets will drive significant impact across all of our constituencies." "I am tremendously excited to be joining State Street," said Hu. "The risk management challenges facing global financial leaders like State Street have never been greater, nor have the supervisory expectations been higher. I look forward to working with State Street's outstanding team of risk management professionals to help business leaders around the world stay on top of and ahead of a diverse, complex and rapidly evolving global risk landscape." Hu serves as Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the Global Association of Risk Professionals (GARP), is a member of the Financial Advisory Roundtable of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and serves on the Dean's Advisory Council for the MIT (News - Alert) School of Science as well as the Board of Advisors for the Tuck School of Business Administration at Dartmouth College. "I would also like to thank Andy Kuritzkes for his decade of service at State Street," added O'Hanley. "He has engrained a culture of risk excellence into our day-to-day activities and we wish him the best in the next chapter of his career." About State Street Corporation State Street Corporation (NYSE: STT) is one of the world's leading providers of financial services to institutional investors including investment servicing, investment management and investment research and trading. With $43.3 trillion in assets under custody and/or administration and $3.9 trillion* in assets under management as of September 30, 2021, State Street operates globally in more than 100 geographic markets and employs approximately 39,000 worldwide. For more information, visit State Street's website at www.statestreet.com. *Assets under management as of September 30, 2021 includes approximately $60 billion of assets with respect to SPDR products for which State Street Global Advisors Funds Distributors, LLC (SSGA FD) acts solely as the marketing agent. SSGA FD and State Street Global Advisors are affiliated. 2021 State Street Corporation - All Rights Reserved 3884284.1.1.AM.RTL View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211025005770/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 25, 2021] Suretys Forms an Alliance with Markel and Raises $2 Million in Seed Investment from Victorum Capital Suretys, a digital insurance provider that replaces the need for a cosigner for auto sales and leases, is utilizing its $2 million in seed funding from Victorum Capital and other investors for market expansion, new product development, and team strengthening. The seed round was completed in January 2021 and has resulted in Suretys expanding operations as part of its national rollout plan. Suretys is collaborating with Markel Insurtech Underwriters, a division of Markel, to underwrite the SuretysTM PlusOne insurance product in the state of Texas. "Suretys identified a problem in the auto loan and leasing process that they believed could be solved with an insurance product. They came to us with a sophisticated, yet practical, technology solution that is quite scalable," said Scott Whitehead, managing director, Markel Insurtech Underwriters. "We're excited to work with the company's very capable team." Suretys was founded in 2018 with the mission to help first-time auto buyers purchase or lease a car without the need of a cosigner. "Suretys is a real advantage for lending institutions seeking to attract new and younger members," said Josh Minsky, founder and CEO of Suretys. "In addition to better serving a younger demographic, Suretys positions lending institutions to gain additional non-interest income through sales of other products with auto purchase transactions." "Suretys is changing the car buying experience," said James Roller, managing partner of Victorum Capial. "We are excited for our partnership with Suretys as they scale their platform and expand their team to help first-time car buyers." For more information about Suretys, please visit https://lenders.suretys.com. ABOUT SURETYS Suretys PlusOne is an innovative insurance product that replaces the need for cosigners for car buyers with limited or no credit history. Suretys developed a proprietary credit risk assessment model that leverages bank data, artificial intelligence, and machine learning to qualify borrowers. PlusOne policies eliminate auto loan risk for lenders much as private mortgage insurance (PMI) eliminates home loan risk. PlusOne is a trademark of Suretys Inc. ABOUT VICTORUM CAPITAL Located in Oklahoma City, Victorum Capital is a national investor network focused on discovering, funding, and supporting the most exciting technology opportunities in the country. For more information, please visit www.victorumcapital.com. ABOUT MARKEL CORPORATION Markel is a diverse financial holding company serving a variety of niche markets. The Markel Insurtech Underwriters (MIU) team focuses on providing risk capacity and underwriting expertise to start-ups and digital distribution partners passionately building innovative insurance solutions. MIU seeks ideas that leverage emerging technologies and modern customer acquisition strategies to create the service and experience that meets consumer expectations. Coverage is provided by one or more of the insurance companies within Markel. Markel is a registered trademark of the Markel Corporation. Visit Markel Corporation on the web at www.markel.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211025005618/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 25, 2021] Telia Carrier Expands To Switch's Data Center Campus In Las Vegas, Adding New Connectivity Options For The Southwest LAS VEGAS, Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- INCOMPAS Show -- Telia Carrier announced today that it has added a new Point of Presence (PoP) at Switch's Core Campus in Las Vegas, Nevada bringing improved diversity and high-speed connectivity to content and cloud providers across the Southwest region of the United States. This is the first PoP for Telia Carrier in Las Vegas, providing customers in the region with more options to directly connect to its number one Internet backbone (AS1299), reducing the need to backhaul traffic, and improving latency. The newest PoP supports Telia Carrier's strategic growth initiative to expand their reach across the US and within the Southwest. The selection of Las Vegas not only supports the entire southwest, but the extremely fast-growing local market with area populations growing exponentially over the past few years, and suburban growth accelerated even more by relocations from the COVID-19 pandemic. According to a recent Wall Street Journal article detailing the shift from large cities and metro areas to more suburban areas, "A handful of large urban areas, feeding off migration from still larger areas, continued to see the net gains they have been experiencing in recent years. Among them: Riverside County, Calif. (outside Los Angeles); Clark County, Nev. (Las Vegas); Maricopa County, Ariz. (Phoenix); and Wake County, N.C. (Raleigh)." "Expanding with Switch data centers in Las Vegas supports Telia Carrier's commitment to serve the growing local population and regional market by supporting broadband operators and ISPs to deliver high quality connectivity to their end users," said Art Kazmierczak, Director of Business and Netork Development, Telia Carrier. "By providing the Las Vegas market new diverse connectivity options at scale we support ecosystem growth in the market and deliver cloud and application providers global connectivity as a trusted partner." Switch's Core Campus in Las Vegas boasts over 500MW of power on a Tier 5 Platinum exascale platform making Switch one of the highest-rated and most cost-effective colocation environments in the industry. In addition, the Las Vegas location supports Telia Carrier's commitment to sustainability by running on 100 percent green power and renewable energy from solar and hydro resources. This effort has been recognized by Greenpeace and its latest Clicking Clean Report where Switch score all A grades. Paired with lower taxes, and reduced natural disaster concerns, Las Vegas and other areas supporting the US Southwest outside of California are becoming more attractive for data center growth and expansions. "Having Telia Carrier become a part of our ecosystem at the Core Campus provides our customers with additional solutions to respond to soaring demand for high quality global reach network services out of Las Vegas," said Switch SVP of Connectivity Scott Gutierrez. Businesses in the Southwest can now take advantage of Telia Carrier's number one ranked global backbone, AS1299, as well as the local availability of high-speed IP Transit, Cloud Connect, DDoS Mitigation, Ethernet and IPX services for operators, content providers and enterprises alike. About Telia Carrier Telia Carrier solves global connectivity challenges for multinational enterprises whose businesses rely on digital infrastructure. On top of the world's #1 ranked IP backbone and a unique ecosystem of cloud and network service providers, we provide an award-winning customer experience to customers in 120 countries worldwide. Our global Internet services connect more than 700 cloud, security and content providers with low latency. For further resilience, our private Cloud Connect service connects directly to Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud, IBM Cloud and Oracle cloud across North America, Europe, and Asia. Discover more at Teliacarrier.com , and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter. Contacts Telia Carrier Martin Sjogren, Senior Manager PR and Analyst Relations +46 (0)707 770 522 [email protected] Media Contact, Americas Margaret Carpo, Engage PR for Telia Carrier +1 510 295 4972 [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/telia-carrier-expands-to-switchs-data-center-campus-in-las-vegas-adding-new-connectivity-options-for-the-southwest-301406125.html SOURCE Telia Carrier [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 25, 2021] TowerBrook Completes Acquisition of ECP-PF Holdings Group, Inc. TowerBrook Capital Partners L.P. ("TowerBrook"), an international investment management firm, announced today the completion of the acquisition of ECP-PF Holdings Group, Inc. ("ECP-PF" or "the Company") from Exaltare Capital Management, a Boston-based private equity firm. ECP-PF, headquartered in Orange (News - Alert), CT, is one of the largest developers and operators of fitness clubs under the Planet Fitness brand (NYSE: PLNT), serving approximately 600,000 members in six U.S. states and three Canadian provinces. Planet Fitness is one of the largest and fastest-growing franchisors and operators of fitness clubs in North America. As of June 30, 2021, Planet Fitness had more than 14.8 million members and 2,170 clubs in the United States, Puerto Rico, Canada, Panama, Mexico, and Australia. The company's mission is to enhance people's lives by providing a high-quality fitness experience in a welcoming, non-intimidating environment, called the Judgement Free Zone. Jonathan Bilzin, Co-President and Managing Director of TowerBrook, stated, "We are excited to partner with a leading franchisee of Planet Fitness. ECP-PF has a strong track record of growth, and the platform's mission to provide inclusive, affordable fitness aligns well with TowerBrook's purpose driven value creation focus and Responsible Ownership. The business is well-positioned to continue to expand that mandate to meet the growing demand for new high value, low price fitness clubs across North America." David Humphrey, Chief Executive Officer of ECP-PF, added, "This transaction and partnership with TowerBrook will allow ECP-PF to accelerate our development and acquisition of new club locations, further expand our geographic footprint, and continue to refine our operations. TowerBrook is an ideal partner to help drive CP-PF through its next phase of growth." As part of the transaction, Omar Simmons, Founder and former Executive Chairman of ECP-PF and Managing Director of Exaltare Capital Management, will retain a stake in the business and stay on the Board of Directors. Mr. Simmons stated, "I am extremely proud of the business we have built over the last nine years and am excited to stay involved, as both an investor and Board member. I believe adding TowerBrook as a partner is a pivotal next step in our evolution as ECP-PF continues to grow its platform and fulfill and extend its mission: to serve people of all fitness levels in an affordable, inclusive, and welcoming environment." "We are looking forward to working with David and Omar to continue growing the platform." stated Michael Recht, Managing Director at TowerBrook. "ECP-PF has established an effective model for growth through organic club development and M&A that will facilitate continued expansion with the additional resources and operational expertise that TowerBrook will provide." Brightwood Capital Advisors provided the financing for the transaction. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Exaltare Capital Management was advised by Sperry Mitchell and DLA Piper. TowerBrook was advised by Goodwin Procter LLP, Lathrop GPM and Fifth Third Securities. About ECP-PF Holdings Group, Inc. ECP-PF Holdings Group is based in Orange, CT. It is one of the largest Planet Fitness franchisees, currently operating 108 locations across Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Arizona, Connecticut, Georgia, New Mexico, New York and Tennessee. The business was formed by Exaltare Capital Management, a Boston, MA based private equity firm that invests in lower mid-market, differentiated businesses in the franchise and consumer sector. About TowerBrook TowerBrook Capital Partners is a purpose-driven investment management firm headquartered in New York and London. The firm has raised in excess of $17.4 billion to date and invests in private equity and structured opportunities through its family of funds. As a disciplined investor with a commitment to fundamental value, the firm seeks to deliver superior, risk-adjusted returns to investors on a consistent and responsible basis. TowerBrook's value creation strategy aims to transform the capabilities and prospects of the businesses in which it invests. TowerBrook is the first mainstream private equity firm to be certified as a B Corporation. B Corporation certification is administered by the non-profit B Lab organization and is awarded to companies that demonstrate leadership in their commitment to environmental, social and governance (ESG) standards and responsible business practices. For more information, please visit www.towerbrook.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211025005410/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 25, 2021] TulsaLabs to Launch Bitcoin Mining Operations, Expand Blockchain Nodes Tulsa, OK, Oct. 25, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via NewMediaWire -- AppSwarm, Corp. (OTC: SWRM ), a software development company and aggregator of mobile applications, announces plans to launch cryptocurrency mining operations through TulsaLabs. AppSwarm, through its blockchain advisor Data Syndicate, will work on developing out an initial cryptocurrency mining operation for Bitcoin, Litecoin, and Dogecoin. Phase One: Rig Miners The Company will look to immediately purchase and deploy ASIC miner rigs that are made for the purpose of mining Bitcoin, Litecoin, and Dogecoin. Dogecoin and Litecoin use a hashing algorithm called Scrypt, which is less complex than SHA-256. This makes mining Litecoin and Dogecoin much faster and less energy-intensive than Bitcoin. Phase Two: Co-Location Mining Pools The Company will then look to expand its mining operations by purchasing and hosting additional rigs at co-location facilities within the region and participate in mining pool operations. DogeLabs will explore launching its own Dogecoin mining pool, which would be a network of individual miners who mine the cryptocurrency as a single entity, or node, by merging their computing power. The rewards would then be distributed among pool participants proportionally by the amount of computer power committed by each miner. Phase Three: Mining Facilities The Company will also explore developing its own co-location mining facility that utilizes renewable energy sources, with power backup, and AC cooling in the Tulsa, Oklahoma region. In its final stage, the Company will explore partnerships with natural gas and solar operators in the Oklahoma region interested in collaborating on providing energy to power a larger scale mining facility in the region. ESG Review The Company will establish an Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance (ESG) review of mining operations to adhere to its commitment to technology for the betterment of mankind, and the environment. We will explore mining options such as projects that require lower kilowatt-hour demand and the use of renewable energy to offset the carbon footprint of operations. Blockchain Nodes The Company is pleased to announce it has deployed its Dogecoin Full Node, which helps the network by accepting transactions and blocks from other full nodes, validating those transactions and blocks, and then relaying them to further full nodes. Along with the Dogecoin node, we are also exploring launching nodes for other main networks such as Polygon, IOTA, and Fantom. A more detailed roadmap and timeline of our crypto mining operations will be released shortly. About APPSWARM AppSwarm is a technology company specializing in accelerated development and publishing of mobile apps and other software platforms for gaming and business applications and seeks to acquire symmetric business opportunities. AppSwarm partners with and assists other development firms in technology development, business management, and funding needs. For more information, visit us at www.app-swarm.com or follow us on www.facebook.com/AppSwarm Twitter https://twitter.com/AppSwarm or Instagram https://www.instagram.com/appswarm/ LEGAL DISCLAIMER AppSwarm and its affiliate labs are strictly research firms focused on the development of blockchain applications, and in no way is involved with the buying, selling, or issuance of any cryptocurrencies, or investment advice. Forward-Looking Statements: "Safe Harbor" statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: This press release may contain forward-looking statements that are subject to risk and uncertainties including, but not limited to, the impact of competitive products, product demand, market acceptance risks, fluctuations in operating results, political risk, and other risks detailed from time to time in the Company's filings with OTCMarkets.com and as required to the Securities and Exchange Commission. These risks could cause SWRM's actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements made by, or on behalf of, the Company. Investor and Media Contacts: AppSwarm, Corp. 888-886-8583 [email protected] [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 25, 2021] Vulcan Cyber Named a 2021 CISOs Choice Award Winner for Vulnerability Management TEL AVIV, Israel , Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Vulcan Cyber , developers of the industry's only cyber risk management platform for infrastructure, application, and cloud security, announced today that it was recognized as a winner in this year's CISOs Choice Awards in the Vulnerability Management category. The company's cyber risk management platform is the first SaaS platform built to help CISOs gain control of the risk mitigation efforts post-scan. Vulcan Cyber is the first to help integrated IT security teams work together to remediate cyber risk rather than simply identifying vulnerabilities. All CISOs struggle to identify cyber risk and, more importantly, determine whether or not a risk is material to their organization. Recent research reveals that 52% of enterprise security executives said their organization places only a moderate level of importance on risk-based vulnerability management, compared to 33% who consider it very important. Vulcan Cyber takes cyber risk management one step further, focusing on facilitating proactive cyber hygiene pre-breach. "There is a clear and widening gap between vulnerability management programs and the ability of IT security teams to actually mitigate risk facing their organizations, particularly as application and cloud vulnerabilities expand quickly," said Yaniv Bar-Dayan, CEO and co-founder, Vulcan Cyber. "With each passing day, it becomes more critical for enterprise stakeholders to make meaningful changes to their cyber hygiene efforts to address these compounding risks. Our team is incredibly proud of this recognition, as it serves as a testament to our collective goal - reducing business risk and driving proper cyber hygiene." Chosen by a CISO Board of Judges that includes leading security executives across industries, the CISO Choice Awards is a buyer's guide for cybersecurity decisionmakers selecting the technologies used to safeguard their own organizations. The judges honor security vendors of all types, sizes, and maturity levels, recognizing differentiated solutions valuable to the CISO and thei enterprise from security solution providers worldwide. "It was an extremely competitive playing field with a record number of submissions," said Aimee Rhodes, CEO of CISOs Connect. "It was exciting to hear the judges, who live and breathe security, share their experiences and discuss with one another the wealth of technologies that are on the market or coming to the market. Nothing can replace the real-world insights that the CISO judges bring to the table when deciding on the top vendors." Vulcan Cyber reduces business risk rather than contributing to a never-ending, usually misguided game of vulnerability whack-a-mole. By unifying the teams, tools, and processes needed to make vulnerability management work, Vulcan delivers real cloud, application, and IT security outcomes. This win further solidifies Vulcan Cyber as the cyber risk management market leader focused on reducing enterprise risk for organizations of all sizes. GET FIX DONE NOW For more information about Vulcan Cyber, please visit https://vulcan.io/ to request a demo or try Remedy Cloud today . In addition, Vulcan Free is now available as the industry's only free vulnerability prioritization tool. Apply for Vulcan Free access today. THE REMEDIATION SUMMIT Attend The Remediation Summit on Thursday, December 9, 2021, at 11:00 AM ET to see an overview and demo of the Vulcan Cyber platform. Registration is free and the event is virtual. ABOUT VULCAN CYBER Vulcan Cyber has developed the industry's first cyber risk management platform, built to help businesses reduce cyber risk through measurable and efficient infrastructure, cloud and application security programs. The Vulcan platform orchestrates and tracks the cyber risk management and remediation lifecycle from scan to fix by prioritizing vulnerabilities, curating and delivering the best remedies, and automating processes and fixes through the last mile of remediation at scale. Vulcan Cyber is proud to offer Remedy Cloud and Vulcan Free as freemium SaaS solutions for IT security teams at businesses of all sizes. The unique capability of the Vulcan Cyber platform has garnered Vulcan Cyber recognition as a 2019 Gartner Cool Vendor and as a 2020 RSA Conference Innovation Sandbox finalist. https://vulcan.io MEDIA CONTACT Dex Polizzi Lumina Communications for Vulcan Cyber [email protected] View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/vulcan-cyber-named-a-2021-cisos-choice-award-winner-for-vulnerability-management-301407532.html SOURCE Vulcan Cyber [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 25, 2021] ZeroFox Deepens ANZ Market Expansion in New Partnerships With Netpoleon and emt Distribution, a rhipe Company ZeroFox, a global external cybersecurity provider, today announced that it is expanding its presence in the Australia and New Zealand (ANZ) market with the signature of two of the Pacific's largest distributors: Netpoleon Solutions, a Macnica company, and emt Distribution, a rhipe company. Through these local distributor partnerships, ZeroFox will increase its capabilities for in-region consultation with enterprises and public sector institutions in need of external threat intelligence and digital risk protection. The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) reported over 400 data breaches in the first half of 2021 alone, of which 65% were sourced from malicious or criminal attacks. This follows a 13% increase in Australia-based cybercrime in the past year, making regional cyber protection capabilities more critical than ever. Similarly, ZeroFox has documented a 142% increase in average monthly external threat alert volume year to date for current customers in the APAC region, driven largely by spoofed URLs/domains used for phishing attacks, targeting vulnerabilities on the Zoom platform, and Twitter (News - Alert)-based impersonations. ZeroFox's Australia and New Zealand Cyber Threat Landscape Report (October 2021) identifies phishing campaigns including business email compromise (BEC) and social engineering campaigns, as the greatest threats to ANZ-based organizations, both from an employee and a customer perspective. Banking trojans, botnets, and Denial of Service attacks-continue to create risk for businesses operating in the region, particularly from financially motivated threat actors. Similarly, ANZ is seeing an increase threat from ransomware, a trend that is anticipated to continue into 2022. As regional demand surges among high-compliance industries like finance, government, and healthcare, ZeroFox helps these businesses identify and disrupt threat actors across their digital attack surface via its AI-powered threat intelligence platform. The company delivers external cybersecurity solutions to organizations that help them protect their data, people, and brands outside of the traditional security perimeter. The Australian cybersecurity industry is expected to grow to $7.6 billion by 2024 and this partnership is a strategic next step for ZeroFox in a hyper-growth region where the company projects a steady 35% year-over-year growth of its business in the ANZ region through 2024. "ZeroFox provides advanced capabilities - such as the ability to identify and take down infrastructure used to target employees and customers - that high-value target organizations increasingly need to defend themselves," said Shane Mahney, Senior Sales Manager for emt Distribution, a rhipe company. "With ZeroFox, our channel partners, MSPs and MSSPs can offer multiple high-demand, high-impact security solutions on a single platform to address their clients' most urgent requirements." "emt Distribution is delighted to add ZeroFox's threat intelligence and protection platform to our cybersecurity portfolio," said Richard Rundle, Group Executive for emt Distribution, a rhipe Company. "With ZeroFox, emt can offer a comprehensive range of advanced cybersecurity capabilities that enable our partners to add value to even the most capable and mature organizations." "External Threat intelligence, that includes Dark Web monitoring and Digital Risk Protection, has seen immense growth in demand due to the rise in high profile ransomware attacks," says Paul Lim, Netpoleon Regional Director, ANZ. "As large organizations realise the immense costs of a security breach, contextual threat intelligence becomes a vital component to recognise imminent external threats and allows for decisive and timely preemptive steps to prevent any breach from taking place. With Netpoleon's other synergistic security solutions, ZeroFox adds a valuable new dimension to our offerings that will benefit ANZ Channel Partners and End Customers needing protection solutions outside their traditional internal security perimeter." "Our team at ZeroFox is proud to partner with Netpoleon and rhipe to provide customers with stronger threat intelligence, protection capabilities and on-site consultation across the ANZ region. We look forward to working together to tackle rising cybercrime in Australia and New Zealand," said Gabe Goldhirsh, Vice President, MEA/APAC. "With this partnership, we deepen both the regional and global presence of our Global Partner Program and remain committed to a partner-first strategy that provides in-depth digital risk and dark web insights to businesses across the world." Read ZeroFox's Australia and New Zealand Cyber Threat Landscape Report (October 2021) at: https://www.zerofox.com/resources/anz-cyber-threat-landscape-report-oct-21/ About ZeroFox - ZeroFox provides enterprises External Threat Intelligence and Protection to disrupt threats to brands, people, assets and data across the public attack surface in one, comprehensive platform. With complete global coverage across the surface, deep and dark web and an Intel (News - Alert)-backed artificial intelligence-based analysis engine, the ZeroFox Platform identifies and remediates targeted phishing attacks, credential compromise, data exfiltration, brand hijacking, executive and location threats and more. The patented ZeroFox Platform technology processes and protects millions of posts, messages and accounts daily across the social and digital landscape, spanning LinkedIn (News - Alert), Facebook, Slack, Instagram, Pastebin, YouTube, mobile app stores, domains, cloud-based email and more. Visit www.zerofox.com for more information. About emt Distribution - emt Distribution, now part of rhipe (ASX:RHP), is an Adelaide-based value added distributor and vendor representative with a presence in Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Philippines, UAE and South Africa. emt offers cyber security solutions that address the top four mitigation strategies to prevent cyber security incidents, the broader strategies in the Australian Government's Information Security Manual (ISM) and solutions to address Cyber Threat Management. emt Distribution assists channel partners, MSPs and MSSPs to deliver cyber security solutions their customers need. emt offers pre and post-sales support, channel development, engaged sales processes and marketing assistance for both vendors and channel partners About Netpoleon - Netpoleon Group is a Value-Added Distributor (VAD) of Network Security products, headquartered in Singapore with various full-fledged offices across APAC region in Australia, India, Indonesia, Cambodia, Malaysia, Myanmar, New Zealand, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam. Through our strong partnership with Channel Partners, Netpoleon has gained a strong foothold in several highly demanding industries namely the Financial Services Sector where Data Protection is a key competitive edge for the businesses, the Telecommunication sector which is a critical information infrastructure and also the Public Sector where highly secure and protected environment is required to protect governmental classified information. Partnering with major leading technology vendors, Netpoleon continues to value-add the Vendor's offering through pre-and post-sales services, as well as professional advisory services on Cybersecurity to our channel partners across the region. Netpoleon continues to look forward, to aim to be one of the Most Trusted Partner (MTP) to our Vendors, Resellers and Customers. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211025005740/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 24, 2021] New Global Coalition Will Accelerate Tourism Industry's Transition to Net Zero HRH Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman announces multi-country, multi-stakeholder coalition - Sustainable Tourism Global Center will support millions of stakeholders, including SMEs, travelers, governments, academia, NGOs and the private sector on the transition to net zero RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Saudi Arabian Government has launched the Sustainable Tourism Global Center (STGC), a multi-country, multi-stakeholder coalition that will accelerate the tourism sector's transition to net zero emissions, as well as drive action to protect nature and support communities. Launched today by HRH Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, the Sustainable Tourism Global Center will support travelers, governments, and the private sector, to ensure that tourism enables growth and creates jobs, while playing its part to achieve the climate goals laid out in the Paris Agreement, including contibuting to keeping the world to under 1.5-degrees Celsius warming. With the global travel and tourism sector responsible for 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions, Saudi Arabia has prioritized urgent action to support this important sector in its transition to net zero. The Global Center will be the platform to bring all the knowledge and expertise; it aims to be the "north star" for the tourism sector as it recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic and transitions toward a sustainable future. Globally, tourism supports more than 330 million livelihoods and pre-pandemic, it was responsible for creating one in four new jobs globally. Details of this coalition and the services it will provide will be formally announced during COP26. HE Ahmed Al Khateeb, Minister of Tourism of Saudi Arabia said: "The tourism sector contributes to 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions and this is expected to grow if we don't act now. Tourism is also a highly fragmented sector. 80% of businesses in tourism are small and medium sized enterprises who rely on guidance and support from sector leadership. The sector must be part of the solution. "Saudi Arabia, following the vision and leadership of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, is answering this vital call by working with partners - that prioritize tourism, SMEs and climate - to create a multi-country, multi-stakeholder coalition, that will lead, accelerate, and track the tourism industry's transition to net zero emissions. "By working together and delivering a strong joint platform, the tourism sector will have the support it needs. The STGC will facilitate growth while making tourism better for the climate, nature, and communities." HE Gloria Guevara, Chief Special Advisor to the Minister of Tourism said: "For years and years, multiple players across the tourism sector have been working on different initiatives to accelerate the race to zero but we have been working in silos. The impact of the global pandemic on the tourism sector highlighted the vital importance of multi-country, multi-stakeholder collaboration. And now, Saudi Arabia is stepping up to bring stakeholders together to make tourism part of the solution to climate change." Infographic - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1668358/Sustainable_Tourism_Infographic.jpg SOURCE Ministry of Tourism of Saudi Arabia [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 24, 2021] Bank INA and Mambu, powering the future of banking in Indonesia JAKARTA, Indonesia and SINGAPORE, Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Mambu, the market leading SaaS cloud banking platform, is working together with Indonesia's PT Bank INA Perdana Tbk (Bank INA) to underpin its digital transformation journey as it brings new digital banking services to the Indonesian market. Mambu's agile, cloud-native platform enables banks and financial institutions to scale rapidly and launch new digital banking services within weeks. As the only true SaaS banking platform born in the cloud, Mambu's composable approach allows banks to launch innovative banking services that meet the specific wants and needs of their customers. Bank INA, part of one of Indonesia's largest conglomerates, the Salim Group, will use Mambu's cloud-native banking platform as the technology foundation for its new digital banking services. Daniel Budirahayu, President Director at Bank INA, said, "As we transition into a digital bank, we have been very focused on ensuring we have the right systems and infrastructure in place to guarantee optimal experience and security for our customers. With Mambu's SaaS cloud banking platform we have selected the best-performing and mot reliable cloud-native banking platform on the market, and we feel very confident that we have made the right decision." Myles Bertrand, Managing Director APAC at Mambu, said, "We are honoured to be working with Bank INA on their digital transformation journey, and appreciate the due diligence the Bank INA team has done in selecting the best cloud banking platform for their purposes. Mambu's composable architecture approach will enable Bank INA to build a digital bank that meets the needs of their customers, both now and into the future." Husni Fuad, General Manager Indonesia at Mambu, added, "The pandemic has accelerated the adoption of digital banking technology right around the world, and Indonesia is no exception. Bank INA, powered by Mambu, will soon be able to offer digital services to both retail consumers and MSMEs, offering greater convenience and speed, and also improving access to financial services for many consumers who are currently unbanked or underserved." Yulius Purnama Junaedi, Digital Banking Director at Bank INA, concluded, "Bank INA will work with Mambu to utilise its market leading technology to be the frontrunner in Indonesia's digital banking industry. We believe that with Mambu, Bank INA will be able to complement the vast financial and payment digitalisation within Salim Group's ecosystem. Our purpose is to create a digital bank where we can empower the lives of many micro and small medium enterprises in Indonesia." Mambu beat out tough competition from other digital banking platform providers, prevailing due to its agility, speed, and cost efficiency. About Mambu Mambu is the world's only true SaaS cloud banking platform. Launched in 2011, Mambu fast-tracks the design and build of nearly any type of financial offering for banks of all sizes, lenders, fintechs, retailers, telcos and more. Our unique composable approach means that independent components, systems and connectors can be assembled in any configuration to meet business needs and end user demands. Mambu has 700 employees that support 200 customers in over 65 countries - including N26, OakNorth, Tandem, ABN AMRO, Bank Islam and Orange Bank. www.mambu.com About Bank INA Bank INA is a fully licensed commercial Bank in Indonesia where it is registered and supervised by Otoritas Jasa Keuangan and Bank Indonesia. Our aim is to contribute to augment the Indonesian Economy through digital banking products and services that are always present to the individual customers, MSMEs and corporations. Bank INA is a part of Salim Group, one of the largest conglomerates in Indonesia. Salim Group operates globally in multiple regions across several industries covering upstream and downstream businesses. Through our diverse operations, we provide solutions for consumers for all ages in every market segment. We strive to build an ecosystem that nurtures sustainable growth and innovation for everyone. SOURCE Mambu [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 25, 2021] Syniverse Earns Industry Honors in Roaming for Mobile Operators Syniverse, the world's most connected company, today announced it has been identified by Kaleido Intelligence as the top overall leader in mobile roaming out of the more than 35 vendors they evaluated. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211024005012/en/ John McRae, President, Carrier, Syniverse (News - Alert) (Photo: Business Wire) Kaleido Intelligence's Vendor Hub presents the most detailed competitive intelligence available on mobile roaming. The report, which is released twice per year, highlights the strengths of vendors across the following seven services: IPX (IP eXchange) Data and Financial Clearing Analytics and Value-Added Services Roaming Hub Steering of Roaming Fraud Management and Security Sponsored Roaming In addition to being ranked the overall roaming leader, Syniverse was also the only vendor to achieve six "champion" rankings, their highest category, for IPX, Data and Financial Clearing, Analytics and Value-Added Services, Roaming Hub, Steering of Roaming, and Fraud Management and Security, in addition to one "high-flyer" ranking for Sponsored Roaming. In August, Syniverse announced that it would go public through a business combination with M3-Brigade Acquisition II Corp. (NYSE: MBAC). Upon closing of the transaction, Syniverse will be listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker "SYNV." Nitin Bhas, Chief of Strategy and Insights at Kaleido Intelligence, commented that "Kaleido assessed all vendors on a level playing field and all Champion vendors are best positioned to enable continued roaming innovation, future readiness and new business opportunities." Syniverse's honors were determined based on feedback provided by mobile operators to Kaleido Intelligence and a detailed analysis conducted by Kaleido analysts. The criteria used by the analysts centered on company positioning, roaming product leadership, strength and quality of the service offering, innovation, and future business prospects. Earlier this year, Kaleido Intelligence identified Syniverse as a "Best Placed Vendor to enable 5G Roaming for Operators." Syniverse provides a 5G-ready end-to-end roaming portfolio which leverages the IPX global platform that simplifies and monetizes roaming transactions for mobile operators and their mobile users. Kaleido Intelligence is a specialist consulting and market research firm delivering telecom research at the highest level. The Kaleido Vedor Hub report provides an in-depth assessment of leading roaming partners, their product strengths, roadmap strategies and competitive analysis scoring. CLICK TO TWEET: .@Syniverse, the world's most #connected company, selected by @kaleidointel as a #champion & overall #leader in #roaming solutions for #mobileoperators. #syniverse https://bit.ly/2WzS6SZ Supporting Quote John McRae, President, Carrier, Syniverse "Syniverse is honored by this recognition, and thankful for the confidence mobile operators around the world have in us and our roaming solutions that helps meet their service needs. Syniverse has been a strategic partner to mobile operators for more than three decades, and we are ready to assist them on their 5G journey. We accept the responsibility that comes with this honor and will continue to deliver unquestionable value to our customers." Digital Assets [Photo] John McRae [Image] Syniverse logo Supporting Resources Read about Kaleido Intelligence. Read about Syniverse. Read about John McRae. Read and subscribe to the Syniverse Blog. Read and subscribe to Syniverse news releases. For more information about Syniverse's news and activities, follow the company on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook. About Syniverse Syniverse is a leading global provider of unified, mission-critical platforms enabling seamless interoperability across the mobile ecosystem. Syniverse makes global mobility work by enabling consumers and enterprises to connect, engage, and transact seamlessly and securely. Syniverse offers a premier communications platform that serves both enterprises and carriers globally and at scale. Syniverse's proprietary software, protocols, orchestration capabilities and network assets have allowed Syniverse to address the changing needs of the mobile ecosystem for over 30 years. Syniverse continues to innovate by harnessing the potential of emerging technologies such as 5G, IoT, RCS and CPaaS for its customers. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211024005012/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 25, 2021] From grassroots to lawmaker: A glimpse of China's 'whole-process democracy' BEIJING, Oct. 24, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The notion of Chinese democracy is not the same as that in the West. The political system in China is more about consensus building within a greater voice rather than the protracted bargaining to arrive at decisions common in the West. The country's application of democratic principles follows an approach Chinese President Xi Jinping has termed "whole-process people's democracy." The concept was put forward about two years ago, during Xi's visit to a civic center in Shanghai. Based on people's congress system, the "whole-process people's democracy" enables the Chinese people to broadly and continuously participate in the day-to-day political activities at all levels, including democratic elections, political consultation, decision-making and oversight. The story of Chinese lawmaker Liu Li gives a glimpse into how China's whole-process democracy operates. A foot masseuse's way up to China's top legislature Liu, a deputy to the 13th National People's Congress (NPC) China's top legislature, has fought her way to the influential position from the grassroots. She was born in a poor rural family in Yingshang, a small county in east China's Anhui Province. She quit school at the age of 14 and worked to support the education of her four siblings. After leaving home penniless, she went to Wuhan in central China's Hubei Province to work as a waitress and nanny before finding a job as an apprentice in a foot massage center in Xiamen, east China's Fujian Province. Her humble background didn't stop her charitable giving. Liu dropped out of school, but she didn't want others to be like her. From 2006 to 201, she sponsored over 100 students. Liu's goodwill made her a national celebrity. She was called "the most beautiful foot masseuse in China" and later became a representative for migrant workers and the rural population in China's top legislative body. In 2012, Liu was elected as a deputy to the local legislature in Xiamen and became an NPC deputy in 2013. A year later, she moved back to Anhui, where she runs a foot massage parlor and a community center for seniors. She was elected as a deputy for the 13th NPC. 'Democracy is not for decoration' Unlike legislators in the West who make a career of politics, China's NPC deputies, like Liu, work part-time, and many of them are ordinary citizens from all walks of life, including farmers, factory workers, craftsmen, and even street cleaners. At the annual full session, NPC deputies review and vote on important legal documents and personnel changes, including electing China's president and vice president every five years and submitting motions and proposals. Liu's proposals have focused on disadvantaged groups, such as the elderly, children and migrant workers. In 2018, Liu proposed establishing local "one-stop" help centers to investigate child sexual abuse cases to the NPC. Her proposal was addressed by the NPC and measures were adopted. Prosecution authorities in Anhui's Dingyuan County took the lead and set up a juvenile legal education center to handle such cases and minimize the negative impact on children during investigations. Now, there are 15 such centers in the province. Liu's suggestions originated from close contact with local communities. When the NPC is not in session, she visits fellow migrant workers' homes and collects their opinions online. She also listens to comments on society from her clients who come from all walks of life. Liu's story is only one example of how grassroots deputies respond to people's needs and how people's congresses contribute to China's "whole-process democracy." As Xi observed, "Democracy is not an ornament to be used for decoration; it is to be used to solve the problems that the people want to solve." There are five levels of people's congresses. The deputies are elected by their respective constituencies, either directly or indirectly. NPC deputies are elected by the people's congresses of provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities. At the lower levels of township and county, deputies to people's congresses are elected directly by voters, accounting for a majority of deputies at all levels. They elect deputies to people's congresses of cities, who in turn elect deputies at the provincial level. In 2019, there were a total of 2.67 million deputies of people's congresses of all levels, including 590,000 at the county-level, and 1.94 million at the township level. Deputies at the two levels accounted for 95 percent of the total number. "If the people are awakened only for voting but enter a dormant period soon after, if they are given a song and dance during campaigning but have no say after the election, or if they are favored during canvassing but are left out in the cold after the election, such a democracy is not a true democracy," Xi has said. https://news.cgtn.com/news/2021-10-24/A-glimpse-of-China-s-whole-process-democracy--14BX3wxFJCg/index.html SOURCE CGTN [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 25, 2021] Vertical & Heathrow to collaborate on future of urban air mobility LONDON, Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Vertical Aerospace ("Vertical"), the global aerospace and technology company that is pioneering zero-emissions aviation, today announces a collaboration with Heathrow Airport to explore how Vertical's VA-X4 electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) vehicle could operate from Heathrow by the mid-2020s. The agreement between Heathrow and Vertical is a significant milestone for Britain's zero-emissions aviation industry. Both parties will work closely to explore how this new technology can fit into existing operations at the airport, build understanding of the regulatory changes that would be required, maximise potential job opportunities and minimise any potential impacts on communities surrounding the airport. With speeds of up to 200 mph, Vertical's piloted eVTOL will be able to transport four passengers in near silence from Heathrow to the City of London in 12 minutes, with zero operating emissions and at a cost similar to a taxi. This new agreement comes as interest in the future of urban air mobility is growing, with major airlines already operating at Heathrow keen to see the technology develop. Virgin Atlantic has already announced a partnership for the UK launch of an eVTOL network with Vertical and conditional pre-order options for up to 150 VA-X4s. By working together, Vertical and Heathrow expect to help Britain maintain its leading position in sustainable aviation technologies and support moves to a low carbon economy to help meet the Government's net zero ambitions to make the UK net zero by 2050. Vertical's top-tier global customers include American Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, Avolon, Bristow Group, Iberojet and Marubeni Corporation. Through these relationships, Vertical believes that it has the largest conditional pre-order book in the eVTOL industry, of up to 1,350 aircraft worth $5.4bn. Vertical's eVTOL aims to be an industry leader in safety, being on track to be certified to the highest global standards and matching the safety performance of airline passenger jets. Stephen Fitzpatrick, CEO and Founder of Vertical, said "Vertical continues to partner with world leading organisations such as Rolls-Royce, Honeywell, American Airlines, Virgin Atlantic, Bristow Group and Microsoft. This partnership is a big step forward as we try to get the UK to Net Zero by 2050. This announcement marks the start of an exciting relationship that will help make eVTOLs flying from Heathrow by the mid-2020s a reality." Chris Annetts, Chief Strategy Officer of Heathrow, said "We are delighted to be partnering with Vertical, a global champion in emissions-free aviation. This emerging technology has the potential to reduce congestion and pollution on local roads, while providing passengers with a best-in-class experience on the cutting edge of modern technology. We look forward to exploring the possibilities of zero-emissions flight together." Shai Weiss, CEO of Virgin Atlantic, said "Today's new partnership between Vertical Aerospace and Heathrow Airport is an exciting next step on the pathway to creating the infrastructure needed to support eVTOL operations at our Heathrow hub. We look forward to working closely with both Vertical and London Heathrow to transform the first and last 10-mile journey of passengers travelling through Heathrow". About Vertical Aerospace Vertical Aerospace is pioneering electric aviation. The company was founded in 2016 by Stephen Fitzpatrick, an established entrepreneur best known as the founder of the Ovo Group, a leading energy group and Europe's largest independent energy retailer. Over the past five years, Vertical has focused on building the most experienced and senior team in the eVTOL industry, who have over 1,700 combined years of engineering experience, and have certified and supported over 30 different civil and military aircraft and propulsion systems. Vertical's unrivalled top-tier partner ecosystem is expected to de-risk operational execution and its pathway to certification, allow for a lean cost structure and enable production at scale. Vertical has received conditional pre-orders for a total of up to 1,350 aircraft from American Airlines, Avolon, Bristow and Iberojet, which includes conditional pre-order options from Virgin Atlantic and Marubeni, and in doing so, is creating multiple potential near term and actionable routes to market. In June 2021, Vertical announced a SPAC merger with Broadstone Acquisition Corp (NYSE: BSN). Find out more here. About VA-X4 eVTOL Aircraft The four passenger, one pilot VA-X4 is projected to have speeds up to 200mph, a range over 100 miles, near silent when in flight, zero operating emissions and low cost per passenger mile. The VA-X4 is expected to open up advanced air mobility to a whole new range of passengers and transform how we travel. Find out more: www.vertical-aerospace.com About Heathrow Airport Heathrow is the UK's only hub airport and one of the world's top international aviation hubs. The airport is Britain's largest cargo port, helping to drive British trade growth and assisting the country in the fight against COVID-19. Heathrow's aim is to provide passengers with the best airport service in the world and is delighted to have been voted one of the world's top ten airports in the 2021 Skytrax Awards. Heathrow has been awarded the "Best Airport in Western Europe" for the sixth year, and became the only UK airport to win the COVID-19 Airport Excellence Award in recognition of the airport's efforts to keep our passengers and colleagues safe during the pandemic. Heathrow has passed the CAA's COVID-19 Security Assurance Scheme and has secured the Airport Health Accreditation from Airports Council International. About Virgin Atlantic??????? Virgin Atlantic was founded by entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson 37 years ago with innovation and customer service at its core. In 2021, Virgin Atlantic was voted Britain's only Global Five Star Airline by APEX for the fifth year running in the Official Airline Ratings as well as receiving Diamond status, the highest possible standard by APEX and?Simpliflying?for delivering the highest standards of cleanliness and demonstrating an unwavering commitment to keeping our customers and teams safe. Headquartered in London, Virgin Atlantic and its holiday business, Virgin Atlantic Holidays, employs?over 5,700?people worldwide, serving 27 destinations across four continents. Sustainability remains central to the airline and in September 2019, Virgin Atlantic took delivery of its first Airbus A350-1000 aircraft - helping to transform the fleet into one of the quietest and most fuel efficient in the sky. By 2022, the airline will operate a streamlined fleet of 37 twin engine aircraft following the retirement of its 747s and A332s, and its simplified fleet will be 10% more efficient than before the Covid-19 crisis.???????? Alongside shareholder and Joint Venture partner Delta Air Lines, Virgin Atlantic operates a leading transatlantic network between the UK and US with onward connections to over 200 US and international cities. On 3 February 2020, Air France-KLM, Delta Air Lines and Virgin Atlantic received approval from the US DOT to launch an expanded trans-Atlantic joint venture, offering a comprehensive route network, convenient flight schedules, competitive fares and reciprocal frequent flyer benefits, including the ability to earn and redeem miles across all carriers.?????????? For more information visit www.virginatlantic.com or www.virginholidays.co.uk, Twitter and Instagram @virginatlantic @virginholidays About Broadstone Acquisition Corp. Broadstone Acquisition Corp. (NYSE: BSN) was set up by serial entrepreneurs, operators and investors, Hugh Osmond, Edward Hawkes and Marc Jonas. It was established to combine with a UK/European business with a strong management team, significant growth prospects, and the opportunity to become a market leader in its sector. Broadstone's executive team has an extensive track record in value creation. The combination of a strong internal team, a network of external resources and the experience of the management team enables us to support rapid, substantial, and lasting growth. For more information Vertical Aerospace UK/Europe - Nepean Gavin Davis - [email protected] Samuel Emden - [email protected] / +447816 459 904 Vertical Aerospace USA - FTI Hamm Hooper & Kayt Pitts [email protected] / +1 773 786 7286 Heathrow [email protected] / +44 (0)20 8745 7224 Virgin Atlantic [email protected] / T: 01293 747373 Broadstone - Edelman Iain Dey - [email protected] / +44 7976 295906 View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/vertical--heathrow-to-collaborate-on-future-of-urban-air-mobility-301407183.html SOURCE Vertical Aerospace [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 25, 2021] Global Factoring Market Outlook 2021-2025: Growing Need for Alternative Source of Financing for MSMEs - ResearchAndMarkets.com The "Global Factoring Market 2021-2025" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The factoring market is poised to grow by $1457.01 billion during 2021-2025, decelerating at a CAGR of 7.48% during the forecast period. This report on the factoring market provides a holistic analysis, market size and forecast, trends, growth drivers, and challenges, as well as vendor analysis covering around 25 vendors. The market is driven by the growing need for alternative source of financing for MSMEs and enhanced liquidity for efficient working capital management. This study identifies improved inventory management as one of the prime reasons driving the factoring market growth during the next few years. The publisher 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. This report on factoring market covers the following areas: Factoring maret sizing Factoring market forecast Factoring market industry analysis Key Topics Covered: Executive Summary Market Landscape Market ecosystem Value chain analysis Market Sizing Market definition Market segment analysis Market size 2020 Market outlook: Forecast for 2020 - 2025 Five Forces Analysis Market Segmentation by Type Market segments Comparison by Type Domestic - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 International - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 Market opportunity by Type Customer landscape Geographic Landscape Vendor Landscape Vendor Analysis Vendors covered Market positioning of vendors ABS (News - Alert) Global Factoring AG American Receivable CapitalPlus Construction Services CreditGate24 (Switzerland) AG Deutsche Sparkassen Leasing AG and Co. KG eCapital Corp. Factor Funding Co. New Century Financial Inc. Riviera Finance of Texas Inc. Universal Funding Corp. For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/xelpn About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211025005378/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 25, 2021] Audax Private Debt Provides Financing to Support LLR Partners' Acquisition of Genesee Scientific Audax Private Debt announced that, as Joint Lead Arranger and Bookrunner, it provided a unitranche credit facility to support the acquisition of Genesee Scientific ("Genesee" or the "Company") by LLR Partners, a Philadelphia-based private equity firm focused on investing in middle-market technology, healthcare, and services businesses. Headquartered in San Diego, CA (News - Alert), Genesee is a manufacturer and distributor of products to global life science markets. Providing over 20,000 SKUs, Genesee serves customers out of two facilities located in San Diego, CA and Triangle Park, NC. The Company provides consumable products to independent laboratories and university customers globally. "Genesee is uniquely positioned as a trusted consumable life science products provider to customers throughout the United States," said Ryan Benedict, Managing Director at Audax Private Debt. "We're excited to work with LLR Partners and the Genesee team to help support the continued growth of the Company." About Genesee Scientific Founded in 1995 and headquartered in San Diego, CA, Genesee Scientific is a manufacturer and distributor of products to global life science markets. Genesee provides academic and biotech organizations with mission-critical scientific consumabls and equipment, including filter tips, tissue cultures, reagents, and other life science products. For more information, please visit https://geneseesci.com/. About Audax Private Debt Based in New York, Audax Private Debt is a leading debt capital partner for North American middle market companies. Since its inception in 2000, Audax Private Debt has invested over $25 billion across more than 900 companies in support of over 260 private equity sponsors, and has raised over $17 billion in capital. The platform offers its clients a range of financing solutions, including first lien, stretch senior, unitranche, second lien and subordinated debt, as well as equity co-investments. With more than 40 investment professionals and 80 total employees, Audax Private Debt provides financing certainty, add-on investment capability, and the experience and collaborative approach to partner with private equity firms and their portfolio companies. For more information, please visit www.audaxprivatedebt.com or follow us on LinkedIn. Audax Private Debt is an integral part of Audax Group, a leading alternative investment manager with offices in Boston, New York, and San Francisco. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211025005175/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 25, 2021] Canadian Investors Representing $5.5 Trillion Send an Unprecedented Call for Increased Climate Accountability in the Corporate Sector Citing their fiduciary responsibility, 36 institutional investors managing $5.5 trillion in assets have signed a new Canadian Investor Statement on Climate Change. The Statement, signed by asset management divisions of five of Canada's largest banks along with major institutional investors such as the Ontario Pension Board, calls on companies to act on material climate risks including through their industry association and lobbying activities. Coordinated by the Responsible Investment Association (RIA), the Statement also makes clear the actions major Canadian investors will take to advance the global pursuit of net zero ahead of the most important climate gathering in history - COP26. This includes disclosing their financed emissions and setting an expectation that their investees will establish emissions targets and report on their progress. "By centering reconciliation and a just transition, this statement adds a Canadian perspective that is missing from the global conversation," says Dustyn Lanz, RIA CEO. "The signatories recognize that Canada's path to net zero depends on a transition that leaves no one behind and supports the transformation of every sector, while aligning itself with Indigenous rights for self-determination." RIA worked closely with the Reconciliation and Responsible Investment Initiative (RRII) in the development of the Statement to ensure Indigenous perspectives are incorporated into the Statement. "Despite Indigenous Peoples often being the first and most affected by the climate crisis, Indigenous perspectives and voices are often left out of investors' decision-making on climate action," says Mark Sevestre, Founding Member of NATOA. "This raises the stakes of the transition to a low carbon economy for Indigenous Peoples. For the transition to be just in Canada, Indigenous Peoples' rights and perspectives need to be centred and prioritized." Like their counterparts across the world, Canadian investors are also sending an unequivocal message to companies and governments that disclosure is key to maintaining and growing private investment in the low-carbon transition of our industries. "For the investment community, clear, comprehensive, comparable data isn't a nice to have, it's a must," says Lanz. "Ultimately, this is an invitation from Canadian investors to Canadian businesses to navigate this transition together," explains Lanz. "The investment community is stepping up its game, so that the business community steps up theirs." The Statement remains open to additional investor signatories and Lanz expects this list will continue to grow as we approach a "tipping point" for sustainable finance momentum in Canada. To learn more and read the full statement visit: https://www.riacanada.ca/investor-statement-climate-change/ The RIA would like to thank Jamie Bonham, Rosa van den Beemt, Delaney Grieg, Maia Becker, Susan Golyak and Reconciliation and Responsible Investment Initiative (RRII) for their individual contributions to the Statement. Quotes from Signatories and Supporting Organizations "Institutional investors manage their clients' assets, yet they are also in a position to play a key part in the quest for net zero emissions by 2050. As COP26 approaches, the financial industry should spare no effort in underscoring the urgency of the situation and in helping to prevent irreversible damage to the environment. The Canadian Investor Statement on Climate Change allows us to put this crucial matter in the spotlight." Roger Beauchemin, Chair of the Board, RIA and President and CEO of Addenda Capital "Collaboration across the institutional investment community is essential to driving change, as we seek a just transition to a net-zero economy. As an asset manager and investor, and steward of our clients' assets, RBC Global Asset Management uses stewardship to communicate our views and expectations with issuers on climate actions, outcomes and disclosures. We look forward to our continued partnership with the RIA and other like-minded investors on this important initiative." - Maia Becker, Director, Corporate Governance and Responsible Investment, RBC GAM "The Canadian Investor Statement on Climate Change sends an important message to the Canadian business community that climate change poses a systemic risk to the Canadian economy, and as investors, we are hopeful that the businesses we invest in put forward credible plans to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050." - Priti Shokeen, Head of ESG Research and Engagement, TDAM "As Canadian investors, we recognize the importance of transitioning Canada to a low-carbon economy in a way that is just and informed by Indigenous perspectives. BMO GAM has a long history of active involvement in global climate initiatives, and we are pleased to show our support through this statement alongside many of our Canadian peers. We look forward to continuing to advance climate action in our investments, engagements, and industry." - Nalini Feuilloley, Head of Responsible Investment, BMO GAM "At Desjardins, the climate crisis is a top priority because we're committed to ensuring the well-being of our communities, now and in the future. That's why we're joining forces with members of Canada's financial industry to speed up the transition to a low-carbon economy. Our day-to-day operations are already carbon neutral. Our goal now is to achieve net zero emissions by 2040 in our procurement and lending activities and our own investments in 3 key carbon-intensive sectors: energy, transportation and real estate." - Guy Cormier, President and CEO, Desjardins Group "BCI is committed to seeing our clients capitalize on opportunities for value creation while mitigating the physical and transition risks associated with climate change. The Canadian Investor Statement on Climate Change represents another important step in making clear our expectations of the companies in which we invest while reinforcing our commitment to supporting the transition to a lower-carbon economy." - Gordon J. Fyfe, CEO and CIO, British Columbia Investment Management Corporation (BCI) "There is no simple or easy path to net zero, but we have to combine forces and harness our energies for the journey. This statement represents that collective ambition. NEI (News - Alert) Investments is proud to be a signatory to the Canadian Investor Statement on Climate Change, and we look forward to working with our peers to drive progress toward a net-zero future." - Jamie Bonham, Director, Corporate Engagement, NEI List of Signatories Addenda Capital MD Financial Management Amundi National Bank Investments Batirente McConnell Foundation BMO Global Asset Management Inc. NEI Investments British Columbia Investment Management Corporation Ninety One British Columbia Municipal Pension Board of Trustees Ontario Pension Board British Columbia Public Service Pension Board of Trustees Pacifica Partners Inc. Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec Pension Plan of The United Church of Canada Canada Post Corporation Pension Plan Rally Assets Inc. CIBC Asset Management RBC Global Asset Management Desjardins Group Simon Fraser University ELFEC TD Asset Management Inc. (TDAM) Gestion FERIQUE The United Church of Canada Honeytree Investment Management The United Church of Canada Foundation IG Wealth Management Trottier Family Foundation Investment Management Corporation of Ontario (IMCO) University of Toronto Asset Management (UTAM) Jarislowsky Fraser Global Investment Management University Pension Plan Mackenzie Investments Vancity Investment Management Ltd. (VCIM) List of Supporting Organizations quo, Shareholder Engagement Services MICA Cabinets de services financiers Edgewater Financial Products RE Royalties Ltd. Fin-ML/IVADO Stephen Whipp Financial Good Investing The Silicz Wealth Management Team Impact Wealth TMX Group Institute for Sustainable Finance, Smith School of Business, Queen's University Toronto Finance International (TFI) Ivey Foundation Johnny Fansher Financial Libro Credit Union About the Responsible Investment Association The Responsible Investment Association (RIA) is Canada's industry association for responsible investment. The RIA's membership includes asset managers, asset owners, advisors, and service providers who support its mandate of promoting responsible investment in Canada's retail and institutional markets. Learn more at www.riacanada.ca. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211025005151/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 25, 2021] Jefferies Financial Group Inc. Announces the Early Results of Its Tender Offer for Certain Outstanding Senior Notes Jefferies Financial Group Inc. (NYSE:JEF) ("JFG") today announced the early results of the previously announced cash tender offer (the "Tender Offer") to purchase any and all $750 million outstanding aggregate principal amount of its 5.5% Senior Notes due 2023 (the "Notes"). Approximately $301.6 million in aggregate principal amount of Notes were validly tendered and not validly withdrawn on or prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on October 22, 2021, the early tender date for the Tender Offer (the "Early Tender Date"). The terms of the Tender Offer are described in the Offer to Purchase, dated October 8, 2021 (the "Offer to Purchase"). The following table sets forth certain information regarding the Notes and the Tender Offer, including the aggregate principal amount of Notes that were validly tendered and not validly withdrawn on or prior to the Early Tender Date, as were reported by D.F. King, the tender agent: Title of Security Principal Amount Outstanding CUSIP Number Principal Amount Tendered 5.5% Senior Notes due 2023 $750,000,000 527288BE3 $301,624,000 JFG's obligation to accept for purchase and to pay for the Notes validly tendered and not validly withdrawn pursuant to the Tender Offer is subject to the satisfaction or waiver, in JFG's discretion, of certain conditions, which are more fully described in the Offer to Purchase. The consideration paid in the Tender Offer for Notes validly tendered and not validly withdrawn and accepted for purchase will be determined in the manner described in the Offer to Purchase (the "Total Cash Payment"). Holders of Notes validly tendered and not validly withdrawn at or prior to the Early Tender Date and accepted for purchase are eligible to receive the applicable Total Cash Payment, which includes an early tender premium of $2.00 per $1,000 principal amount of the Notes accepted for purchase (the "Early Tender Premium"). The Total Cash Payment will be determined at 3:00 p.m., New York City time, on October 25, 2021 (the "Price Determination Date"). JFG will issue a press release after the Total Cash Payment is determined to announce the Total Cash Payment payable in connection with the Tender Offer. Payments for Notes purchased will include accrued and unpaid interest from and including the last interest payment date for the Notes up to, but not including, the applicable payment date for Notes accepted for purchase. The payment date for the Notes accepted for purchase in connection with the Early Tender Date is expected to be October 26, 2021, the first business day following the Price Determination Date. In accordance with the terms of the Tender Offer, the withdrawal deadline was 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on October 22, 2021. As a result, tendered Notes may no longer be withdrawn, except in certain limited circumstances where additional withdrawal rights are required by law (as determined by JFG). The Tender Offer will expire at 11:59 p.m., New York City time, on November 5, 2021 (the "Expiration Date"), unless extended or earlier terminated by JFG. Holders of Notes who validly tender their Notes following the Early Tender Date and on or prior to the Expiration Date will only receive the "Tender Offer Cash Payment," which is an amount equal to the Total Cash Payment minus the Early Tender Premium. Jefferies LLC is acting as the dealer manager for the Tender Offer. The tender agent and information agent is D.F. King. Copies of the Offer to Purchase and related offering materials are available by contacting D.F. King by telephone at (800) 290-6426 or via email at [email protected] This press release does not constitute an offer to buy or a solicitation of an offer to sell any Notes. The Tender Offer is being made solely pursuant to the Offer to Purchase. The Tender Offer is not being made to holders of Notes in any jurisdiction in which the making or acceptance thereof would not be in compliance with applicable securities or blue sky laws. About Jefferies Jefferies Financial Group Inc. is a diversified financial services company engaged in investment banking and capital markets, asset management and direct investing. Jefferies Group LLC, our wholly owned subsidiary, is the largest independent, global, full-service investment banking firm headquartered in the U.S. Focused on serving clients for nearly 60 years, Jefferies is a leader in providing insight, expertise and execution to investors, companies, and governments. Our firm provides a full range of investment banking, advisory, sales and trading, research, and wealth management services across all products in the Americas, Europe, and Asia. Jefferies' Leucadia Asset Management division is a growing alternative asset management platform. Cautionary Note on Forward-Looking Statements about JFG This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements include statements about our future and statements that are not historical facts. These forward-looking statements are usually preceded by the words "should," "expect," "intend," "may," "will," or similar expressions. Forward-looking statements may contain expectations regarding revenues, earnings, operations, and other results, and may include statements of future performance, plans, and objectives. Forward-looking statements also include statements pertaining to our strategies for future development of our businesses and products. Forward-looking statements represent only our belief regarding future events, many of which by their nature are inherently uncertain. It is possible that the actual results may differ, possibly materially, from the anticipated results indicated in these forward-looking statements. Information regarding important factors, including Risk Factors that could cause actual results to differ, perhaps materially, from those in our forward-looking statements is contained in reports we file with the SEC (News - Alert). You should read and interpret any forward-looking statement together with reports we file with the SEC. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211025005290/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 25, 2021] Global WholeHealth Partners Corp. (OTC: GWHP) Signs a Binding MOU With Pan Probe Biotech and AvantGen to Develop the Newest COVID-19 Antigen Test on the Market: 8K Filed on 09/21/2021 Global WholeHealth Partners Corp (GWHP) is Confident in the New Partnerships to Produce the Best COVID Antigen Test on the Market. COVID Antigen Testing is Not Going Away and Has Become the New Test and Vaccine for Years to Come. SAN CLEMENTE, CA, Oct. 25, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via NewMediaWire Global WholeHealth Partners Corp. (OTC: GWHP) offers one of the largest lines of COVID-19 tests. Global WholeHealth Partners Corp. (OTC: GWHP) states that the Antibody IgG/IgM tests that they offer are capable of detecting all the currently identified SARS-CoV-2 viruses. The strains identified in the United Kingdom (B.1.1.7) , South Africa (B.1.351), and Brazil (P.1) strain contains multiple mutations, most reflected in the S gene, which encodes the spike protein, Global understands the need to be ahead of the virus to conquer the virus. Now, with the vaccine, Global is offering one of the largest lines of products to fight this virus. Global understands that this is a war on COVID-19 and we are expanding our line of products to be able to fight. With a facility in the Philippines, Global will be able to fight the COVID War better by taking the fight to some of the regions of the world which have not been serviced. Global WholeHealth Partners recognizes that there is a crucial need for faster testing and faster results when it comes to fighting the COVID. Global WholeHealth Partners knows that the quicker the test results can be reviewed by a Front-Line Healthcare Worker, the quicker we can stop the spread of this disease. With results in minutes versus hours or days with other diagnostic kits, the more lives that can be saved with the only FDA authorized COVID-19 POC serology Point of Care Test. With the new fingerstick test, healthcare providers can prick a patients finger and get results in minutes without having to wait for venous blood. Global WholeHealth Partners will be able to distribute these tests to more urgent cares, hospitals, and to help curb the spread of COVID-19 SARS2. As a third surge of the coronavirus threatens much of the United States, public health experts across the country say there still arent enough tests available to keep the virus under control. ith the continual mutation of the virus, Global is keeping up with demand and keeping up with the continual changes of the virus in the R & D of the tests. Global Wholehealth Partners Corp. provides cutting edge technology using In-vitro Diagnostic (IVD) Real-Time PCR Machines for detection of SARS-CoV-2 IgM/IgG antibodies in human serum, plasma, or whole blood. It has led the fight against vector borne terminal diseases such as Ebola, ZIKA, Dengue, Malaria, Influenza and Tuberculosis, Corona Viruses, and among other vector borne diseases FDA Certificate of Exportability (2260-11-2019). The company was founded on March 7, 2013, and is headquartered in San Clemente, CA. GWHP develops, manufactures, and markets in vitro diagnostic (IVD) tests for OTC, or consumer-use as well as professional rapid diagnostic point-of-care (POC) test kits for hospitals, physicians offices, and medical clinics in the US and abroad. Notably, Global offers 56 products FDA approved and many are Approved for OTC use, and 25 POC products approved by the FDA. The Company is not making any express or implied claims that its product has the ability to eliminate, cure or contain the Covid-19 (or SARS-2 Coronavirus) at this time. Media Contact: Name: Charles Strongo CEO, Global WholeHealth Partners Corp. Email: [email protected] Phone for Sales: 877-568-4947 www.gwhpcorp.com Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains "forward-looking statements. Such statements may be preceded by the words "intends," "may," "will," "plans," "expects," "anticipates," "projects," "predicts," "estimates," "aims," "believes," "hopes," "potential" or similar words. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, are based on certain assumptions and are subject to various known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company's control, and cannot be predicted or quantified and consequently, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, without limitation, risks and uncertainties associated with (i) market acceptance of our existing and new products, (ii) negative clinical trial results or lengthy product delays in key markets, (iii) an inability to secure regulatory approvals for the sale of our products, (iv) intense competition in the medical device industry from much larger, multinational companies, (v) product liability claims, (vi) product malfunctions, (vii) our limited manufacturing capabilities and reliance on subcontractors for assistance, (viii) insufficient or inadequate reimbursement by governmental and other third party payers for our products, (ix) our efforts to successfully obtain and maintain intellectual property protection covering our products, which may not be successful, (x) legislative or regulatory reform of the healthcare system in both the U.S. and foreign jurisdictions, (xi) our reliance on single suppliers for certain product components, (xii) the fact that we will need to raise additional capital to meet our business requirements in the future and that such capital raising may be costly, dilutive or difficult to obtain and (xiii) the fact that we conduct business in multiple foreign jurisdictions, exposing us to foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations, logistical and communications challenges, burdens and costs of compliance with foreign laws and political and economic instability in each jurisdiction. More detailed information about the Company and the risk factors that may affect the realization of forward-looking statements is set forth in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Investors and security holders are urged to read these documents free of charge on the SEC's website at http://www.sec.gov. The Company assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise its forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 25, 2021] Motorola Solutions to Deploy Nationwide Digital Radio Network for Romania's Emergency Services Motorola Solutions (NYSE: MSI (News - Alert)) today announced that the company will modernize and expand the coverage of the existing nationwide TETRA network in Romania to provide the country's public safety organizations with highly resilient and secure mission-critical communications. As part of the seven year framework agreement awarded by the Romanian government's Special Telecommunication Service, Motorola (News - Alert) Solutions will install 800 TETRA (Terrestrial Trunked Radio) base stations across the country. The new digital radio technology will support all police, fire, ambulance and national security services with trusted, reliable communications that will enhance collaboration across front line teams as they serve and protect the country's 21 million citizens every day. The new network will also provide an interconnection between TETRA and broadband through the next-generation, 3GPP standard-compliant mission-critical push-to-talk WAVE (News - Alert) solution. This extends the TETRA network to enhance collaboration between teams. "Communications technology is a critical ally for first responders. Every day they face situations where every second counts and they must be able to collaborate instantly and easily," said Mark Schmidl, senior vice president, Motorola Solutions. "Our TETRA communication solutions are proven and trusted by public safety agencies worldwide and this network will support Romania's emergency services in their mission to deliver the highest levels of public safety." Motorola Solutons will also provide 24/7 technical support, maintenance, repair and services. As a trusted partner of public safety organizations in Romania for over 25 years, Motorola Solutions has also recently rolled-out body-worn camera and communications deployments with the Romanian Police, Romanian Border Police and Romanian Ministry of Internal Affairs. About Motorola Solutions Motorola Solutions is a global leader in public safety and enterprise security. Our solutions in land mobile radio mission-critical communications, video security & access control and command center software, bolstered by managed & support services, create the most integrated technology ecosystem to make communities safer and help businesses stay productive and secure. At Motorola Solutions, we're ushering in a new era in public safety and security. Learn more at www.motorolasolutions.com. Follow @MotoSolutions on Twitter Follow @MotorolaSolutions on Instagram Follow @MotorolaSolutions on LinkedIn Like @MotorolaSolutions on Facebook View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211025005015/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 25, 2021] Shark Tank's Daniel Lubetzky and Barbara Corcoran Partner with Online Arts Education Platform Sparketh NEW YORK, Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- As announced on ABC's Shark Tank, KIND Snacks Founder Daniel Lubetzky has teamed up with real estate mogul Barbara Corcoran to offer support and mentorship to the creators of Sparketh , an at-home solution for kids and teens to learn art, which enhances kids' self-esteem, mental health and problem-solving abilities. Through the partnership, the two investors seek to help the Atlanta-based founders and best friends turn Sparketh into a profitable business. As art has become less of a priority in traditional school systems and the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in an increase in at-home learning, many parents are not equipped to nurture their kid's creativity from home. Sparketh offers an affordable, turn-key solution. Founders Tim Samuel and Dwayne Walker started Sparketh together during their college years and together they make the perfect team with Tim's interest in business and Dwayne's passion for creativity and the arts. When Dwayne transitioned from being home-schooled to attending public school, he realized arts education was given little attention. "I've always been creativity inclined," says Sparketh Founder Dwayne Walker. "When I began attending public school in the 8th grade, it became clear to me that arts education was deprioritized. I personally had benefitted from the arts immensely and knew first-hand how it can impact personal and emotional growth. With Sparketh, we hope to make arts education more accessible to all, whether the platform gets used as a home-schooling system, supplement to in-school programming or as an extra-curricular for youth." "Fostering creativity in our youth is incredibly important and Sparketh provides a solution to help parents and educators incorporate these lessons into kids' schedules," says KIND Snacks Founder Daniel Lubetzky. "I was immediately drawn not just to Sparketh's mission but to Tim and Dwayne as entrepreneurs. In the tank they showed immense passion, grit and perseverance, and I look forward to mentoring them to help drive growth for their business." Says Barbara Corcoran, "I love working with self-taught entrepreneurs like Tim and Dwayne who have hustled every step of the way to create their brand without formal education in business. Time and again as they've built Sparketh, they've demonstrated the trait I look for most in partners, which is the ability to get back up." For Sparketh founders Tim and Dwayne, landing support from two sharks to help them get more kids and teens using Sparketh is a dream-come-true. "Daniel and Barbara are ideal partners for us because of their passion, experience building brands and commitment to helping us on this journey," says Sparketh Founder Tim Samuel. "Since we've begun working with them, they've been hands-on and shown us the same level of enthusiasm that you see from them on Shark Tank. We couldn't have imagined a btter outcome going into the Tank." Sparketh offers over 1,000 courses all created in-house by the Sparketh team and membership costs $25/month or $250/annually on sparketh.com . About Sparketh Childhood best friends Tim Samuel and Dwayne Walker came up with the idea for Sparketh after using art and creativity to personally grow. They had a vision for creating a site that taught kids every creative subject and thus, Sparketh was born. Sparketh is an at-home solution for kids and teens to learn art. Sparketh provides more than 1,000 art class videos from Elements of Arts and Design to Painting with Acrylics to Manga Characters. Courses can be sorted by skill level as well as by subject and course type. Sparketh membership costs $25/month or $250/annually. Learn more at https://sparketh.com/ . About Daniel Lubetzky & Equilibra KIND Snacks founder Daniel Lubetzky is a social entrepreneur working to build bridges across lines of difference. With the introduction of KIND 's fruit and nut bars in 2004, Daniel created an entirely new snacking category. He has since grown KIND into a multi-billion-dollar global health and wellness brand known for its promise to lead with nutritionally dense ingredients and for its mission to make the world a little kinder. The son of a Holocaust survivor, Daniel's civic initiatives OneVoice and Empatico seek to increase our appreciation for our shared humanity. Daniel is the author of The New York Times bestseller Do the KIND Thing, Founder and Executive Chairman of SOMOS a new brand of delicious food from the heart of Mexico and a recurring shark on Shark Tank. Learn more at daniellubetzky.com and follow Daniel at @daniellubetzky . Equilibra Ventures, founded by Daniel Lubetzky in 2018, incubates, operates and invests in entrepreneur-run businesses to help them grow successful businesses that generate enduring value. Equilibra values innovation with integrity and deploys its best-in-class team to help entrepreneurs build brands with the power to change people's lives for the better. Learn more at www.equilibra.us . About Barbara Corcoran Barbara Corcoran's credits include straight D's in high school and college and 20 jobs by the time she turned 23. It was her next job that would make her one of the most successful entrepreneurs in the country: She borrowed $1,000 and quit her job as a waitress to start a tiny real estate company in New York City. The Corcoran Group, the largest and best-known brand in the brokerage business, building the largest and best-known brand in the business. Corcoran is the author of the best seller "Shark Tales: How I Turned $1,000 into a Billion Dollar Business!" and host of top business podcast "Business Unusual with Barbara Corcoran." Barbara gives callers her unique business advice from the 888-Barbara hotline. Corcoran is a motivational and inspirational speaker. She is a frequent small business and real estate contributor on every major network. Corcoran has been an investor/Shark for the past thirteen seasons on ABC's four-time Emmy award winning show, Shark Tank, investing in over 80 businesses to date. Follow Barbara on Instagram and Twitter @BarbaraCorcoran and subscribe to Business Unusual wherever you get your podcasts. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/shark-tanks-daniel-lubetzky-and-barbara-corcoran-partner-with-online-arts-education-platform-sparketh-301407185.html SOURCE Equilibra [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 25, 2021] Southwest Airlines Partners With TWEF to Take Students on Unforgettable College Tour From Coast to Coast This summer, Southwest Airlines flew several Houston area high school rising seniors and their chaperones to visit prestigious colleges on both coasts. Adreianna Barnes and Madison Robinson toured Harvard, Georgetown, MIT (News - Alert), and Howard University while Vashon Aldridge and Kishun Bassue hit California and spent time on the campus of The University of California, Los Angeles better known as UCLA. "Here at Southwest Airlines, our love of People and Community is our most powerful fuel, which is why we have a rich history of helping Customers and Communities through nonprofit support. We are committed to giving back in the communities where our Customers and Employees live and work." Source (News - Alert): Southwest Airlines' website Adreianna Barnes is a current senior at Klein Forest High School. Barnes said the tour was life-changing and showed her a wide range of what campus life could look like. "Harvard is small, but prestigious Ivy League, and Howard is one of the most illustrious HBCUs in the country. Both schools have amazing things to offer as do Georgetown and MIT. The college tours are something I'll never forget." Madison Robinson, who attends Summer Creek High School says the East coast colleges blew her away. "My favorite college was Georgetown. It had the most beautiful campus, and I can totally see myself attending that school." During the week-long trip, the ladies were also able to do a little sightseeing, taking a tour of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture among other tourist attractions. And while that team enjyed what the east coast had to offer, Kishun Bassue, a recent high school graduate, and Vashon Aldridge of Blanson Career and Technical Education High School soaked up the sunshine and toured UCLA, one of the leading research institutes in the country. Aldridge says touring the school and campus was a true eye-opener. He and Bassue agreed that the experience gave them "hope and purpose." TWEF, a 501 (c)(3) non-profit, is founded by businesswoman, and philanthropist, Deavra Daughtry. Daughtry says exposure is everything. "Exposing these young people to top universities across the country allows them to dream and see themselves walking the halls, studying, and competing on a level they may not have thought possible. These schools are for everyone and that includes them if they so choose. I am excited to see these young people blossom into world changers. We are extremely grateful to sponsors and partners like Southwest Airlines, who get our vision." TWEF's Student Enrichment Program helps children with academic tutoring, mentoring, and enrichment workshops for academically challenged students and those with special needs. Since its inception, TWEF has given away more than $250,000 in scholarships to young scholars in the Houston Harris County area. Many of the scholars have gone on to receive 4-year degrees from top HBCUs and prestigious universities across the country. SOCIAL: Instagram: @_twef_ Twitter (News - Alert): @_twef_ Facebook (News - Alert): twef Website: www.twef.org View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211025005024/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 25, 2021] Taoglas Demonstrates Warehouse Staging Area Capacity Solution at Mobile World Congress LA Using Latest Machine Vision Technologies MOBILE WORLD CONGRESS -- Taoglas (News - Alert), a leading enabler of digital transformation through IoT, today announces its new Taoglas EDGE Vision technology - that will revolutionise processes for numerous vertical IoT applications. Taoglas' EDGE Vision platform is the foundation that can help OEMs and enterprises realize seamless and digitized management of workflows, ensuring process safety, quality, and reduced business costs with the help of machine vision AI technologies. To illustrate the capabilities of Taoglas' highly experienced machine vision AI engineering team, Taoglas is demonstrating an interactive version of this technology at the Mobile World Congress (News - Alert) event in LA with a warehouse staging area capacity solution. The solution provides real-time monitoring, reporting and alerts which allows warehouse management to monitor the number of packages or pallets in loading docks and goods inward and outward areas to prevent over loading or physical bottlenecks. The warehouse staging area capacity solution can be created to alert via Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or cellular when available capacity exceeds criteria. This can be set at required levels allowing immediate response to circumvent a potential problem escalating. Taoglas' EDGE Vision maximises operational efficiency by giving businesses real-time, transformational decision-making capabilities, across a variety of different industries from automotive, waste management, e-mobility, industrial to transportation and logistics. Cameras are the ultimate IoT sensor, but computer vision and AI projects can be particularly complex. Taoglas is a global leader in IoT and has a team of world-class, award-winning IoT Engineers who apply their deep understanding of high-performance antenna and RF design, advanced positioning, imaging, audio, and artificial intelligence technologies to design connected, easy-to-use, low-power, secure and market-ready solutions. "Taoglas is excited to now offer its customers our cutting-EDGE Vision technology, bringing affordable complex machine vision solutions into mass market applications such as transportation, industrial, e-mobility, waste management and beyond," said Fergal Brennan, Head of Engineering, Taoglas. "The Taogls Machine Vision AI approach utilizes a combination of images and on-board sensor information such as precise-positioning, shock, vibration, temperature, air-pressure, CO2 levels, ambient light, speed and altitude. Our world-class team utilises its experience and expertise to develop a machine vision solution for you that gets to market on time, the first time." "Machine vision is about to take the market by storm and is projected to reach a value of $2.4 billion by 2025. Taoglas already implement and optimize machine vision AI solutions for the world's largest organisations, including top tier OEM's and we're seeing an increasing demand for this technology in quality inspection and the automation of human intensive processes," said Ronan Quinlan, Co-CEO and Co-Founder of Taoglas. "Taoglas' EDGE Vision AI capabilities include firmware, hardware, software and analytics, which combine neural inference, spatial AI, and feature tracking and our team of IoT Engineering experts are here to make your vision a reality, by reducing the risks and time associated with properly integrating three-dimensional vision directly into your device." From the initial strategy definition through to the design, build, deployment and management of your solution, Taoglas o?ers the complete solution stack for your machine vision AI project. You can choose to work on any element, including vision chip technology (Nvidia Jetson, Intel (News - Alert) Movidius, Ambarella etc), base vision models (OpenCV, OpenVINO etc) and your full system requirements; firmware updates, edge processing, cloud hosting and power management design. Taoglas Machine Vision Services include: 2D and 3D vision design Integrating Cellular, GNSS and Machine Vision Optics and Illumination Design CV hardware and firmware Low power embedded designs Machine and deep learning algorithm development Depth Sensing and Sensor integration Platform integration and support To see Taoglas' new products and services please visit us at Mobile World Congress, Los Angeles CA (News - Alert) at booth #1818. Taoglas will demonstrate its EDGE Vision platform at Mobile World Congress, Los Angeles with a newly developed warehouse staging area capacity solution providing real-time actionable intelligence to optimize workflows, assets and monitor everything from cargo height and cubic volume utilization to unused space. Alternatively, you can visit https://www.taoglas.com/edge-vision/ to learn more. Notes to Editor About Taoglas Taoglas is a leading enabler of digital transformation using IoT from initial strategy definition to design, build, deployment and managed services. Our solutions combine high-performance antenna and RF design with advanced positioning, imaging, audio, and artificial intelligence technologies for organizations solving critical problems using IoT. A nimble and efficient approach which mobilizes quickly makes Taoglas a trusted advisor helping customers regardless of where they are on their IoT journey. With world-class design, consultancy, and engineering expertise, along with support and test centers globally, Taoglas delivers complex IoT solutions to market quickly and cost effectively. Taoglas has proven expertise globally across the transportation, connected healthcare, smart cities and smart building industries. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211025005417/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 25, 2021] BlackBerry Named to Newsweek's List of the Most Loved Workplaces for 2021 BlackBerry Ranked as 50 Among 100 U.S. Companies Recognized for Employee Sentiment and Satisfaction NEW YORK, Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- BlackBerry Limited (NYSE: BB; TSX: BB) was featured today in Newsweek 's Most Loved Workplaces list for 2021, ranking at 50 among the top 100 companies recognized for employee happiness and satisfaction at work. Produced in collaboration with the Best Practice Institute (BPI), a leadership development and benchmark research company, the Newsweek list results were determined after surveying more than 800,000 employees from businesses with workforces varying in size from 50 to more than 10,000. "BlackBerry is proud to be recognized by Newsweek and Best Practice Institute and Most Loved institute," said John Chen, BlackBerry Executive Chairman and CEO. "BlackBerry's success is based on the success of our people. Throughout the pandemic we made a commitment not to furlong employees or reduce our workforce. We offer a comprehensive benefits package to ensure our employees and their families are protected against health crises they may face. This is particularly essential during these uncertain times." "In the wake of the pandemic, business hit hurdles in terms of retaining and attracting employees but the companies that made this list are delivering the respect, care, and appreciation that it takes to create a positive workplace that nurtures talent," said Nancy Cooper, Global Editor in Chief, Newsweek "The best way to determine the strength of a company's culture is by measuring the degree of love employees feel for their workplace," said Louis Carter, CEO an Founder of Best Practice Institute and Most Loved Workplace. The full Newsweek list of 2021's Most Loved Workplaces will be featured in the magazine's October 29 print edition and is currently available online at https://www.newsweek.com/2021/10/29/what-it-takes-become-one-americas-most-loved-workplaces-1640868.html. Methodology To identify the top 100 companies for the Newsweek ranking, companies were evaluated and scored as follows: 35 percent of the initial score was based on employee survey responses; 25 percent was derived from analysis of external public ratings from sites such as Comparably, Careerbliss, Glassdoor, Indeed and Google; and 40 percent came from direct interviews with and written responses from company officials. Newsweek then conducted additional research into every company on the list, as well as the top runners up, to determine the final list of 100 companies and their ranking. (The list includes both U.S. firms and companies with a strong U.S. presence that are based overseas.) About BlackBerry BlackBerry (NYSE: BB; TSX: BB) provides intelligent security software and services to enterprises and governments around the world. The company secures more than 500M endpoints including 195M vehicles. Based in Waterloo, Ontario, the company leverages AI and machine learning to deliver innovative solutions in the areas of cybersecurity, safety, and data privacy solutions, and is a leader in the areas of endpoint security, endpoint management, encryption, and embedded systems. BlackBerry's vision is clear - to secure a connected future you can trust. BlackBerry. Intelligent Security. Everywhere. For more information, visit BlackBerry.com and follow @BlackBerry. About Newsweek Newsweek is the modern global digital news organization built around the iconic, over 85-year-old American magazine. Newsweek reaches 100 million people each month with its thought-provoking news, opinion, images, graphics, and video delivered across a dozen print and digital platforms. Headquartered in New York City, Newsweek also publishes international editions in EMEA and Asia. About Best Practice Institute Best Practice Institute is an award-winning leadership and organization development center, benchmark research company, think tank, and solutions provider. BPI is the certifying body for Most Loved Workplace and conducted the original research to create the model and criteria for becoming a Most Loved Workplace. BPI's research proves that Most Loved Workplaces produce 3-4 times better customer service, employee performance, and retention than companies not loved by their employees. For more information on how to apply to become a 2022 Most Loved Workplace, go to: http://www.mostlovedworkplace.com Media Contact: BlackBerry Media Relations +1 (519) 597-7273 [email protected] Additional Approved Quotes from BPI CEO Louis Carter: "Love of workplace or Most Loved Workplace (MLW) is the intersection of intense feelings toward aspects of a company, perception of how your company feels about you, and attitudes toward respect and treatment of employees. Our study proves that intense amorous feelings for the workplace are a greater predictor of organizational outcomes such as organizational commitment and perceived willingness to produce more for the company." View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/blackberry-named-to-newsweeks-list-of-the-most-loved-workplaces-for-2021-301407272.html SOURCE BlackBerry Limited [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 25, 2021] MSPs saving nearly $230K and five hours per cybersecurity incident response by integrating tools: study says MIAMI, Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Acronis , a global leader in cyber protection, today announced new research conducted by VansonBourne showing that consolidating and integrating cybersecurity, backup, and disaster recovery services produces $229,159 in savings on average and reduces the time required to recover from a breach or data loss incident by an average of five hours. In conjunction with media sponsor ChannelPro Network, the new survey of 400 managed service providers across the globe, titled "MSPs Speak: Cybersecurity and the future role of the MSP," dives deep into the biggest challenges and opportunities that MSPs currently face when providing cybersecurity, backup, and disaster recovery (DR) services. Available as a free download, the report focuses on critical issues like cybersecurity attacks, "vendor sprawl," remote work environments, and the use of SaaS tools by clients. MSPs feel vulnerable Data from the study underscores why MSPs urgently need the efficiency gains vendor consolidation makes possible, beginning with today's dangerous threat landscape. Given the recent flurry of supply-chain attacks seen in the MSP industry, it is not that surprising to learn 96% of MSPs are concerned about suffering a cybersecurity breach in the next 12 months. This sense of vulnerability is amplified by a lack of trust in two directions: 49% of MSPs responded that their clients do not completely trust the security of the services their organization provides, while 53% of MSPs do not completely trust the vendors they use to provide cybersecurity services. To combat this sense of vulnerability, many MSPs have added additional tools to their technology stack. MSPs use an average number of 4 vendors to provide cybersecurity, backup and/or DR services, with 30% report using more than 5 vendors. The role of SaaS management MSPs report that their clients use an average of 14 SaaS tools, a finding very consistent with recent Acronis end-user research. However, MSPs also report only managing an average of 58% of their clients' SaaS tools, with onl 3% indicating they manage 100%. This discrepancy results in greater vulnerabilities for clients, because SaaS data is not being properly protected, and the MSPs have limited visibility into these environments. However, there is a huge potential for growth for service providers if they are able to prove to their clients that there are benefits to them managing the licenses, on-boarding, security and performance of these SaaS applications. MSPs report that the biggest obstacles to managing more of their clients' SaaS tools are not having the right relationships with line of business decision makers (44%), not having the right tools (41%), and a lack of trust (39%). More tools, more problems Unfortunately, deploying technology tools at a problem does not make it go away. In fact, the resulting "tool sprawl" can and does create a new set of problems. According to the results, the two most commonly faced challenges are the integration of security offerings with existing business and IT systems (40%) and security workflow and process creation and updates (37%). In addition to integration, training, documentation, and workflow challenges created by more tools, there is a glaring cost concern. Over the past two years, the average cost of providing cybersecurity, backup, and/or DR services has increased by 19%. However, 71% of MSPs report struggling to demonstrate the value of these cost increases to their clients, which creates a serious dilemma and pressure on profit margins. The trend and benefits of consolidation and integration Given the reported "tool sprawl" among MSPs and corresponding integration, workflow and cost issues, it is not surprising that 92% of MSPs report having consolidated vendors and 70% plan to consolidate further due to the substantial savings they've realized from lower licensing costs, training costs, and employee documentation costs and the hours of time they save when recovering from incidents. Further time and money savings can surely be realized, as 41% of MSPs indicate they want to see the automation of backup and recovery tasks more tightly integrated into their cybersecurity services to more adequately address the ongoing and pervasive threat of ransomware. "Securing SMBs from rampant cybercrime profitably has never been harder, and channel pros are eager to deliver security services faster and more efficiently as a result," said Rich Freeman, ChannelPro Network's executive editor. "This study makes clear not only that a surprisingly huge number of MSPs are consolidating vendors in pursuit of those goals, but that they're saving significant amounts of time and money along the way too." SUMMARY The results from this research are clear MSPs are facing numerous challenges in providing cybersecurity services, and simply throwing more tools at the problem is making matters worse, not better. As such, there is a trend towards consolidating vendors, as well as more tightly integrating existing vendors with workflows, and those MSPs which are successful in these efforts will have a material advantage over their competition. "MSPs trust Acronis and Cyber Protection solutions to consolidate their vendors and ensure cyber attacks are prevented. Acronis is at the forefront of cybersecurity, data protection, and endpoint protection management. We're proud that we can help eliminate the management headaches of multiple vendors, while improving security," noted Patrick Pulvermueller, Acronis CEO. To download the entire report, "MSPs Speak: Cybersecurity and the future role of the MSP," visit our website. About the Survey In partnership with Vanson Bourne and ChannelPro Network, this Acronis report reveals the results from 400 senior decision makers from IT service providers which provide cybersecurity, IT security consulting and/or backup or DR services between August-September 2021. The survey pulled feedback from 200 participants in the US, 100 participants in the UK, 50 participants across Australia and Singapore (collectively), and 50 participants across the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia (collectively). About Acronis Acronis unifies data protection and cybersecurity to deliver integrated, automated cyber protection that solves the safety, accessibility, privacy, authenticity, and security (SAPAS) challenges of the modern digital world. With flexible deployment models that fit the demands of service providers and IT professionals, Acronis provides superior cyber protection for data, applications, and systems with innovative next-generation antivirus, backup, disaster recovery, and endpoint protection management solutions powered by AI. With advanced anti-malware powered by cutting-edge machine intelligence and blockchain based data authentication technologies, Acronis protects any environment from cloud to hybrid to on premises at a low and predictable cost. Founded in Singapore in 2003 and incorporated in Switzerland in 2008, Acronis now has more than 1,700 employees in 34 locations in 19 countries. Our Acronis Cyber Protect solution is available in 25 languages in over 150 countries and is used by over 20,000 service providers to protect over 750,000 businesses. About ChannelPro Network The ChannelPro Network is a media company providing targeted business and technology information for IT decision makers and channel partners. Via its websites, live events and the monthly magazine, The ChannelPro Network delivers expert opinion, analysis, news, product reviews, and advice for IT decision makers and channel partners. Perspectives from partners, vendors, distributors, and analysts are spotlighted daily. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/msps-saving-nearly-230k-and-five-hours-per-cybersecurity-incident-response-by-integrating-tools-study-says-301407415.html SOURCE Acronis, Inc. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Kent State University Standardizes on Aruba ESP Network to Power Current and Future Academic, Research and Residential Experiences Aruba, a Hewlett Packard Enterprise company (NYSE: HPE), today announced that Kent State University, based in Kent, Ohio, is standardizing on an end-to-end Aruba ESP network. The leading public research institution is deploying Aruba technology throughout its eight-campus system to provide exceptional connectivity experiences for its approximately 35,000 students and 5,000 faculty and staff members. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211025005121/en/ A leading public research institution, Kent State University is deploying Aruba technology throughout its eight-campus system to support approximately 35,000 students and 5,000 faculty and staff members. (Photo: Kent State University) To power today's academic, research and residential innovations, while meeting the swiftly-changing expectations of its campus communities during the years ahead, Kent State is deploying Aruba's wired, wireless, management and security solutions. "We needed a reliable, secure high-performance network that could evolve rapidly," explained John Rathje, vice president of IT and CIO at Kent State. "With Aruba, we can continuously modernize our network, which helps ensure we can deliver the best possible user experiences across a full spectrum of present and future activities," he added. "This includes the new HoloAnatomy-enabled augmented reality laboratory at our College of Podiatric Medicine, ScreenBeam content sharing platform in general instructional spaces, our growing esports program, and whatever comes next." For its future-ready infrastructure, Kent State is adopting a wireless network comprised of Aruba's Wi-Fi 6 indoor and outdoor access points (APs) and mobility controllers. "Aruba's combination of proven technologies was a key factor in our decision," said Jim Raber, Executive Director of Support, Infrastructure, and Research Technology at Kent State. "It's critical to provide home-like experiences in our residences, regardless of the devices students bring, and Aruba's AirGroup will help enable that," he continued. "Other vendors were just coming to market with a solution, but Aruba has been refining AirGroup for a decade." On the wired side, the institution is implementing Aruba's CX Series switches from edge to core, achieving efficiencies, gaining significant automation capabilities and controlling costs. "Previously, our wired network was vendor-neutral, which frequently meant contacting multiple sources to troubleshoot a single problem," said Michael Geist, manager of Network and Telecommunications at Kent State. "By standardizing on Aruba, we have a single pane of glass and a single partner with an incredibly responsive support team," he added. "Plus, licensing is streamlined and all-inclusive, rather than requiring separate licenses to get the various features we need." Kent State will also rely on Aruba's advanced network administration tools. This includes ClearPass, for unified wired and wireless network access control (NAC) and policy management; NetEdit for coordinating switch configuration, monitoring and troubleshooting; and User Experience Insight (UXI) for Wi-Fi incident detection using AIOps to pinpoint issues that require immediate attention. "Using Aruba's tools, we're realizing significant operational savings while also providing students with educational opportunities," said Raber. "Just one example is switch deployment. With NetEdit, a student can securely configure and deploy a switch in a half hour. Previously, it required an experienced full-time engineer three hours." Moving ahead, Kent State looks forward to adopting and leveraging other Aruba solutions. These include Location Services for a variety of data-driven initiatives, and Aruba Central for advanced AP and switch management. Using Central's advanced AIOps, Kent State can automate the identification and resolution of user, IoT and network issues before they impact people and devices. This equates to significant reductions in trouble tickets and IT overhead, as well as associated improvements in campus experiences. "We've recently deployed Central for a remote learning location and expect to expand it across our footprint," said Geist. "Our team is very excited about exploring Central's AIOps capabilities for making deployments and day-to-day network administration faster and more efficient." According to Rathje, the value of Kent State's new network is foundational the university's strategy and essential to delivering digital experiences for its users. "Beyond just having a network, we wanted to align our IT missions across the institution to support and enhance user experiences," he said. "After undergoing an extensive evaluation, we determined Aruba's vision, engagement and the inter-operability of all its solutions throughout the network layers made it the right partner for us." Rathje, Raber and Geist will be speaking at Educause, on October 27th from 2:15 - 3 p.m. ET on the topic of "Creating a Flexible and Scalable Network Foundation to Drive Experiences and Innovation" in which they will share their best practices and lessons learned on the recent technology transformation they oversaw at Kent State. Additional Resources About Aruba, a Hewlett Packard Enterprise company Aruba, a Hewlett Packard Enterprise company, is the global leader in secure, intelligent edge-to-cloud networking solutions that use AI to automate the network, while harnessing data to drive powerful business outcomes. With Aruba ESP (Edge Services Platform) and as-a-service options, Aruba takes a cloud-native approach to helping customers meet their connectivity, security, and financial requirements across campus, branch, data center, and remote worker environments, covering all aspects of wired, wireless LAN, and wide area networking (WAN). To learn more, visit Aruba at www.arubanetworks.com. For real-time news updates, follow Aruba on Twitter and Facebook, and for the latest technical discussions on mobility and Aruba products, visit the Airheads Community at community.arubanetworks.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211025005121/en/ [October 25, 2021] Higher Ed CRM Leader Element451 Integrates With Covideo Further Enhancing Personalization for College Enrollment and Admissions Teams RALEIGH, N.C., , Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Video has emerged as a top engagement tool for marketers. According to recent findings , 88 percent of marketers reported a positive ROI from direct video communication. For college admission teams looking to enhance relationships with prospective students, Element451 , an advanced student engagement CRM for higher ed institutions, today announced its integration with Covideo , a video messaging platform that makes it easy for college admission teams to create and send personalized videos through the Element451 platform directly to students' via text message or Element451's chat feature. "With students preferring more digitally-driven ways to receive information, we decided to try reaching them in a non-traditional way by adding personalized videos to our communication flows," explains Laura Nugent, Director of Recruitment at Louisiana State University Shreveport, who uses Element451 and Covideo. "We can already se the level of engagement is trending in a positive direction." "We're thrilled to now have Covideo integrated into Element451 for our new and existing users," says Ardis Kadiu, CEO and founder of Element451. "Applying to college is a complicated process. With personalized video responses, students receive more immediate answers and get to know a school in a more human to human way." With the addition of Covideo, counselors and other staff can record and send messages right from Element where they are already engaging with students. They can also share pre-recorded videos to frequently asked questions. "This partnership adds yet another tool for admission teams to engage with students this time through personalized videos that are simple to record and have been shown to improve engagement," said Jason Price, Covideo CEO. For more information, please visit Element451 or Covideo About Element451 Element451 is an advanced student engagement CRM, providing higher ed institutions with a competitive admissions advantage from recruitment to enrollment using AI, student behavior data, and modern marketing automation. The Element451 CRM leverages millions of behavior-based data insights to reach prospective students where they are, both in their journey and in their preferred channel to ensure the right message reaches the right student at the right time. LinkedIn Facebook Twitter About Covideo Covideo helps higher education professionals connect with current and prospective students, alumni, donors and other key groups through video messaging. Through the platform, teams can record, send, and track videos across a variety of channels. With an emphasis on personalization and personal connection, Covideo is helping colleges and universities reimagine their communication. Visit covideo.com for more information. Media Contact: Nicole Loring Zer0 to 5ive (617) 834-2190 [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/higher-ed-crm-leader-element451-integrates-with-covideo-further-enhancing-personalization-for-college-enrollment-and-admissions-teams-301406964.html SOURCE Element451 [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 25, 2021] Energy Collaboration: Singapore's First Offshore Solar Import Project to Provide Green Energy to Consumers SINGAPORE, Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- PacificLight Power Pte Ltd ("PLP"), a Singapore-based power generation and electricity retail company, working with a consortium comprising Medco Power Indonesia, an Indonesian leading independent power producer, and Gallant Venture Ltd, a Salim Group company, has been granted in-principle approval by the Energy Market Authority ("EMA") for a 100MW pilot solar import project from Indonesia to Singapore. The Project is in line with the Singapore Green Plan 2030 to increase renewable generation. A Joint Development Agreement was signed between the consortium during the Singapore International Energy Week on 25 October 2021 and witnessed by the Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources of the Republic of Indonesia and Second Minister for Trade and Industry of Singapore. PLP, Medco Power Indonesia and Gallant Venture are in advanced stages of developing a solar PV project that will supply renewable electricity exclusively to Singapore through the installation of solar panels at Bulan Island, 2.5 km south-west of Batam Island, Indonesia. The project is expected to have an installed generation capacity of 670MWp in the initial phase, which will provide 100MW equivalent of non-intermittent electricity. The renewable electricity generated will be supplied via a dedicated plant-to-grid 230 kV HVAC subsea connection to Singapore. The electricity generation will be sufficient to power over 144,000 four-room HDB flats per annum and offset over 357,000 tonnes of carbon emissions annually. The project will play a pivotal role in meeting the Singapore government's objectives to increase power generation from renewable sources and reduce the nation's reliance on fossil fuels. Scheduled for commissioning in 2024, the project will allow Singapore offtakers to enjoy cometitively-priced renewable electricity and significantly increase the solar capacity available to Singapore from the current level of 430MWp. "PLP is committed to providing our customers with long term efficient energy solutions that are cost competitive and sustainable," said Mr. Yu Tat Ming, Chief Executive Officer, PacificLight. "A number of large energy users have expressed keen interest to reduce their carbon footprint and Project Bulan will go a long way towards meeting their increasing desire for renewable energy. With the ability to add additional capacity as demand for renewable energy increases, we hope to play an important role in Singapore's energy transition." Mr. Eka Satria, CEO of Medco Power, said, "As one of Indonesia's leading independent power producers that is committed to clean and renewable energy development, we have proven experience in successfully developing green and renewable power projects, including the Sarulla geothermal project and Sumbawa solar facility. We are delighted to be working with PacificLight and the Salim Group in the development of the Bulan Project. In addition to the benefits that the project brings to Singapore in achieving its renewable energy targets, this project also provides many benefits to Indonesia through the investment commitment, job and industry creation and technology transfer, especially in the Province of Kepulauan Riau." PacificLight Power Pte Ltd is a Singapore-based power generation and electricity retail company. The company's Jurong Island Power Generation Facility is one of the most efficient combined cycle power plants operating in Singapore, enabling it to compete effectively in Singapore's liberalised local electricity market. The 800MW plant comprises two blocks of Combined Cycle Gas Turbine ("CCGT") generating units. PacificLight is owned 70% by FPM Power Holdings Ltd, a company held 60:40 under First Pacific Company Ltd and MPG Asia Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary under MERALCO PowerGen Corporation. The remaining 30% interest in PLP is directly held by MPG Asia Limited. https://pacificlight.com.sg/ First Pacific Company Ltd. is a Hong Kong-based investment management and holding company with operations located in Asia-Pacific. Its principal businesses relate to consumer food products, telecommunications, infrastructure and natural resources. https://www.firstpacific.com MERALCO PowerGen Corporation is the power generation arm of Manila Electric Company, the largest private sector electric distribution utility company in Philippines covering 36 cities and 75 municipalities. https://www.meralcopowergen.com.ph. Medco Power Indonesia was established in 2004 and is an Independent Power Producer under Medco Energy that operates in the IPP and O&M sector. Medco Power owns and operates power plants with a total gross capacity of more than 3.3 GW in 15 locations in Indonesia including Sarulla, the world's largest geothermal operation under a single contract. In addition to the current operation, Medco Power is currently developing a Geothermal Plant with an estimated capacity of 2 x 55 MW in Blawan Ijen, East Java, a Combined Cycle Power Plant in Riau with a capacity of 275 MW and PV solar projects in Sumbawa 26.8 MWp and in Bali 50 MWp. https://medcopower.co.id/ Medco Power is wholly owned by Medco Energi Internasional Tbk, a leading Southeast Asian energy and natural resources company listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange. MedcoEnergi has three key business segments, Oil & Gas, Power and Mining. MedcoEnergi explores for, and produces, Oil & Gas primarily in Indonesia and is expanding its presence in Southeast Asia. www.medcoenergi.com Gallant Venture Ltd is a public-listed company in Singapore focusing on commercial development and growth opportunities in the Riau Archipelago of Indonesia. Since their establishment in the 1990s, Gallant Venture has been an important innovator in key business segments, namely utilities, industrial parks, resort operations, property development and automotive. As an integrated master planner and developer for the industrial parks and resorts in Batam and Bintan, Gallant Venture also develop, own and manage Batamindo Industrial Park in Batam and Bintan Industrial Estate in Bintan. Both industrial parks are home to many MNCs with regional headquarters based in Singapore. Gallant Venture's major shareholder is Indonesia's Salim Group. http://www.gallantventure.com/ SOURCE PacificLight Power Pte Ltd [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 25, 2021] TaxBit Launches its Corporate Accounting Suite and Counts BlockFi Among First Enterprise Clients SALT LAKE CITY, Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- TaxBit, the leading tax and accounting software provider for the digital economy, launches its ERP, subledger solutionthe TaxBit Corporate Accounting Suite. The Corporate Accounting Suite expands TaxBit's tax reporting services by automating accounting and financial reporting in a compliant manner for digital asset companies. TaxBit announces the industry's first accounting suite for the digital economy. Rob Loban, VP of Accounting at BlockFi, shared, "Our team is leveraging TaxBit's software to streamline the reporting and accounting of millions of transactions. In the past year alone, BlockFi has experienced incredible growth helping clients gain access to the crypto ecosystem. With that monumental growth, came a desire to ensure we have access to the top-of-the-line GAAP and Tax reporting software. We're very pleased to be counted among TaxBit Core Accounting Suite's initial clients, and are excited about the prospects for other enterprises with the software's official public launch." "Alongside TaxBit, we are able to provide an actual solution that removes these final barriers of tax and accounting for digital assets. Our US institutional customers, such as BlockFi, can now seamlessly add it directly to their existing workflow and enjoy peace of mind while running their digital asset businesses and operations," said Michael Shaulov, CEO of Fireblocks. Fireblocks announced their integration with TaxBit jus last week. Austin Woodward, CEO of TaxBit, said, "The tokenized economy is growing at record pace. It's not just exchanges and financial institutions that are in need of accounting software to meet the needs of this digital era, but SMBs, corporates, hedge funds, and businesses everywhere incorporating digital assets. As we set out to build this solution, it became clear that legacy accounting software isn't equipped to handle the nuances, volume, and ever-increasing use cases that digital assets present. TaxBit Corporate Accounting Suite was built by accountants in close partnership with the industry to further enable mainstream adoption of digital assets and the tokenized economy." TaxBit Corporate Accounting Suite is comprised of four parts. First, the software automates the ingestion, data normalization, and record keeping of all transactions. Second, it leverages TaxBit's US Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and IRS grade calculation engines to calculate cost basis, gains and losses, balance sheet positions, revenue recognition, impairment accounting, and corresponding journal entries. With real-time insights at their fingertips, clients can incorporate strategic data to their decision-making processes. Third, all data and calculations are accessible through automated reports; income, expenses, gains and losses, journal entries, holdings, asset roll-forward reports, and more. Lastly, all accounting and reporting via TaxBit's software adheres to GAAP and can be integrated with full ERP systems and platforms that enterprises utilize. Aaron Jacob, Head of Enterprise Resource Planning at TaxBit, added, "The stakes are high for enterprises to keep accurate ledgers, given the repercussions of an audit or IRS investigation revealing inaccuracies or shortcomings in the upkeep of company books. Now that regulators are keeping a sharper eye on the digital asset space, we're glad to offer a solution to enterprises that provides peace of mind in knowing all transactions are accounted for." TaxBit Corporate Accounting Suite is now available for exchanges, crypto-native companies, family offices, hedge funds, corporate America, and SMBs to meet their digital asset accounting needs. For media inquiries, please contact Michelle O'Connor, 801-332-9105, [email protected] About TaxBit Designed by CPAs and tax attorneys, TaxBit is the leading tax and accounting solution for the digital economy. TaxBit's platform serves the industry's top exchanges, institutional investors, governments, and individuals. TaxBit has raised over $230 million from the world's-top investors in order to enable widespread digital asset adoption by automating the regulatory hurdles of tax and accounting compliance at scale.TaxBit has HQ in Salt Lake City and Seattle. To learn more visit: www.TaxBit.com, Twitter, LinkedIn. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/taxbit-launches-its-corporate-accounting-suite-and-counts-blockfi-among-first-enterprise-clients-301407562.html SOURCE TaxBit [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 25, 2021] Architects to attend UN Climate Change Conference WASHINGTON, Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Institute of Architects (AIA) is sending a delegation of architects to attend the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow, Scotland from Oct. 31-Nov.12. This will be the first time AIA has formally participated as a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) and an official COP observer. This is a privilege granted by the UN to certain organizations to give them an ability to participate in the organization's activities. AIA's focus at COP26 will be establishing new partnerships with policymakers and industry partners to ensure that we are aggressively (and jointly) moving the needle toward zero emissions. Through its engagement with COP, AIA members will share recommended resources that will assist both policymakers and practitioners with better understanding of the built environment and its impact on our climate and its inhabitants. "The design community is committed to addressing climate change, but we know that we can't do it alone," said AIA 2021 President Peter Exley, FAIA. "AIA is paricipating in this global convening because it is going to take the concerted efforts of both industry and government to make meaningful action on climate change." Exley will be attending COP26 along with architects Julie Hiromoto, FAIA, COTE 2020 Advisory Group Chair; Mike Davis, FAIA, AIA Government Advocacy Committee Chair; and Dr. Mark Breeze, AIA, AIA UK Sustainability Chair. On Oct. 6, 2021, AIA joined leaders from the world's largest and most influential architectural, engineering, and construction firms and professional organizations in issuing the 1.5C COP26 Communique a challenge to sovereign world governments to step up their commitments to reduce carbon emissions from the built environment to meet the Paris Agreement's 1.5C carbon budget. "It is imperative that world leaders meeting in Glasgow fully commit to adopting aggressive building policies, incentives, and codes that meet the 1.5C carbon budget," said Exley. "As our nation's leaders set ambitious targets, architects are making them a reality." Visit AIA's website to learn more about its advocacy efforts. ABOUT AIA Founded in 1857, AIA consistently works to create more valuable, healthy, secure, and sustainable buildings, neighborhoods, and communities. Through more than 200 international, state and local chapters, AIA advocates for public policies that promote economic vitality and public wellbeing. AIA provides members with tools and resources to assist them in their careers and business as well as engaging civic and government leaders and the public to find solutions to pressing issues facing our communities, institutions, nation, and world. Members adhere to a code of ethics and conduct to ensure the highest professional standards. CONTACT Matt Tinder (202) 626 7462 [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/architects-to-attend-un-climate-change-conference-301407572.html SOURCE American Institute of Architects [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 25, 2021] World Lauds UAE for Becoming First Gulf Country to Commit to Net Zero Emission DUBAI, UAE, Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The world has taken note of UAE becoming the first country in the Gulf to commit to significantly reduce carbon footprint and will invest Dh600 billion in clean and renewable energy to achieve this goal by 2050. UAE attracted praise from all parts of the world, including world leaders who hailed the decision as a big step in the fight against climate change and will help build momentum globally with the Cop26 climate talks around the corner. The announcement was made on October 7 and the project was officially launched at the UAE Pavilion at the Dubai Expo 2020 by Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces along with other important government functionaries. The climate change plan of the UAE was appreciated by the world and its role as a major global citizen. Special Envoy to the President of the USA John Kerry appreciated the initiative in a tweet and said, "Net Zero 2050 Strategic Initiative is an example for other energy-producing nations. We must take strong action in this critical decade." British Prime Minister Boris Johnson hoped that othr countries would also follow suit and do the same for combating climate change. He said, "Fantastic news that the UAE has become the first Gulf country to commit to Net Zero emissions by 2050. This is a significant step in tackling climate change and I hope more countries commit to Net Zero ahead of @COP26." Antonio Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations, welcomed the announcement by the UAE and hoped that this initiative would also encourage other Gulf states. He said, "I welcome the announcement by the United Arab Emirates of its intention to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. I look forward to the UAE submitting a new #ClimateAction plan in line with this ambitious vision & encourage other Gulf states to follow this example ahead of #COP26." Alok Sharma, president of the Cop26 summit, termed the announced historic and said, "I am delighted the UAE has announced it will reach net zero carbon by 2050. As the first net zero-carbon commitment in the Gulf, this is an historic announcement". "I look to others in the region to also announce ambitious climate action commitments ahead of Cop26." The initiative has put UAE in the forefront in the fight against climate change and with its commitment for net-zero emissions, the country will set a benchmark for others to follow. The UAE net zero by 2050 strategic initiative is in line with the Paris Agreement in 2015, which was signed by 195 countries while the Cop26 conference scheduled for next month is the second global-scale summit. The initiative is part of a longstanding commitment by the UAE to environment-friendly governance and the country has been financing green energy projects for the past 15 years with an investment of $15 billion in the sector. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/world-lauds-uae-for-becoming-first-gulf-country-to-commit-to-net-zero-emission-301407456.html SOURCE UAE Government [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 25, 2021] Prime Minister to travel to the Netherlands, Italy, and the United Kingdom OTTAWA, ON, Oct. 25, 2021 /CNW/ - The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today announced he will travel to Europe for a bilateral visit to the Netherlands before participating in the Group of Twenty (G20) Leaders' Summit in Italy and the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) in the United Kingdom. The Prime Minister will travel to The Hague, the Netherlands on October 29, 2021 where he will meet with Prime Minister Mark Rutte and other Dutch representatives to discuss both countries' shared priorities and further the strong ties between Canada and the Netherlands. The Prime Minister will then travel to Rome, Italy from October 30 to 31, 2021 to attend the G20 Leaders' Summit. The Prime Minister will highlight Canada's contributions to the global COVID-19 pandemic response and economic recovery, including support for low- and middle-income countries. He will also highlight Canada's ambitious actions to cut pollution while creating new middle class jobs and accelerating the transition to clean energy. Following the G20 Leaders' Summit, Prime Minister Trudeau will travel to Glasgow, United Kingdom from November 1 to 2, 2021 to participate in COP26. At COP26, the Prime Minister will work with other leaders to accelerate global climate action to reduce pollution and meet targets outlined in the Paris Agreement, while creating economic growth for everyone. At the Conference, he will also highlight Canada's leadership in the fight against climate change. This includes setting a strengthened 2030 emissions reduction target, putting a price on pollution, passing legislation to require net-zero emissions by 2050, and doubling Canada's financial contribution to support climate action in developing countries. The G20 Leaders' Summit and COP26 are critical opportunities for Canada to work together with its global partners to find real solutions to the world's greatest challenges. Together, we will finish the fight against COVID-19, tackle the global climate crisis, and build a better future for everyone. Quotes "Canada and the Netherlands have a strong and dynamic relationship created by our bonds in WWII, close people-to-people ties, and a shared commitment to democracy, climate action, human rights, and equality. With the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, we have had the opportunity to collaborate further and create good, middle class jobs on both sides of the Atlantic. Together we will build a better futur for our people and our countries." Justin Trudeau , Prime Minister of Canada "Canada is committed to support the global economic recovery, strengthen trade and create jobs, advance women's economic empowerment, and lead the global fight against climate change. Canadians understand that the economic prosperity of our country is rooted in ensuring a cleaner future for our children and grandchildren. I look forward to working with leaders at the G20 Leaders' Summit and COP26 so that, together, we can build a cleaner and more prosperous future for all." The Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada Quick Facts About one million people of Dutch origin live in Canada . Canada celebrated its inaugural Dutch Heritage Day on May 5, 2019 . . celebrated its inaugural Dutch Heritage Day on . Thanks to the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic Trade Agreement, bilateral merchandise trade between Canada and the Netherlands in 2020 was more than 18 per cent above its pre-CETA level in 2016. Trade in services increased by nearly 50 per cent. and in 2020 was more than 18 per cent above its pre-CETA level in 2016. Trade in services increased by nearly 50 per cent. The G20 is the primary forum for international economic cooperation among its members. Members consist of the world's major economies, representing 80 per cent of global economic output, two thirds of the world's population, and 75 per cent of international trade. This is the seventh time Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will attend the G20 Leaders' Summit. will attend the G20 Leaders' Summit. " COP26 is the highest profile UN climate change conference since 2015 when the Paris Agreement was adopted. Hosted by the United Kingdom , COP26 will bring parties together to accelerate action towards the goals of the Paris Agreement and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. is the highest profile UN climate change conference since 2015 when the Paris Agreement was adopted. Hosted by the , will bring parties together to accelerate action towards the goals of the Paris Agreement and the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Since 2015, Canada has invested approximately $100 billion toward climate action and clean growth, including as part of Canada's strengthened climate plan. Most recently, the Government of Canada committed an additional $17.6 billion towards a green recovery that will build a clean economy, fight against climate change, and create good, middle class jobs. has invested approximately toward climate action and clean growth, including as part of strengthened climate plan. Most recently, the Government of committed an additional towards a green recovery that will build a clean economy, fight against climate change, and create good, middle class jobs. At the G7 Leaders' Summit in June, the Prime Minister announced the doubling of Canada's international climate finance, from $2.65 billion in 2015 to $5.3 billion over five years, including increased support for adaptation, as well as nature and nature-based solutions. Associated Links Canada-Netherlands Relations Canada and the G20 and the G20 G20 Italia 2021 Canada-Italy Relations UK COP26 2021 2021 UN climate change conference Canada's international climate finance international climate finance Prime Minister Trudeau announces increased climate ambition This document is also available at https://pm.gc.ca SOURCE Prime Minister's Office [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 25, 2021] Anthem Blue Cross Vivity Health Plan Giving Small Business Access to More Affordable Care in Los Angeles and Orange Counties Small businesses in Orange (News - Alert) and Los Angeles counties will now have greater access to high-quality, more affordable health care thanks to Anthem Blue Cross. Anthem's Vivity Heath Plan today announced it will be expanding its health care offerings to small businesses in both counties beginning in 2022. Vivity is Anthem's regionally focused health plan with top-ranking non-profit health systems including Cedars-Sinai, Huntington Hospital, MemorialCare Health System, Providence, PIH Health, Torrance Memorial Medical Center, and UCLA Health. Expanding Vivity as a high value offering to small businesses, those with 100 full-time employees or fewer, is part of Anthem's continuing efforts to simplify health care by giving employers and their employees access to care that is coordinated, affordable and helps improve their overall health and wellbeing. "We're pleased to offer small businesses and employees in Los Angeles and Orange counties access to Vivity which is a highly-differentiated product and provider network that features some of the nation's top-ranked health systems," said Mark Reynolds, Chief Operating Officer of Anthem Blue Cross. "Vivity has been part of Anthem's Large Group portfolio since 2015 and timing is right to offer the same high-quality care, personalized experience, exceptional service, and affordable pricing to our small group customers." Previously only available for large group employers, those with 100 or more employees, Vivity's small group plans offer employees low or no costs copays, 24/7 virtual doctor visits, low-cost prescription coverage, behavioral health support, and access to Vivity's network of world-class high-quality physicians, specialist and hospitals. Through the partnership with Anthem and these nationally recognized health systems, Vivity has been able to consistently deliver lower costs and higher quality to large employers. "Small businesses should have access to the same affordable, quality health care that their larger counterparts have and that's what we're doing with this expansion, added Reynolds. "Vivity provides access to health systems that deliver world-class care, a member-first experience and collaboration that drives value and better health outcomes - all at no or low-cost." Offered as an HMO product for employer groups in Southern California, Vivity provides high-quality care at an affordable cost to its customers and members. Small businesses will now have access to Southern California's nationally recognized non-profit health systems that are philosophically aligned on innovative ways to deliver the best care possible at a competitive price point. "Vivity has a novel approach to improving the care model and patient experience, where all the Vivity health systems cooperate to improve and spread best practices," said Dr. Samuel A. Skootsky, Chief Medical Officer, UCLA Health. In large group, average Vivity Health Plan premiums historically have ranged from 20 to 25 percent below Anthem's leading traditional HMO network, offering access to best-in-class health systems at a competitive price. Small Group employers will realize the same competitive pricing with average premiums up to 22 percent lower than Anthem's Full Gold HMO network. "This is exactly what small businesses have been asking for. These small group plans are designed to help small businesses meet their business goals while providing high-quality, cost-effective care and coverage to their employees," said Reynolds. Vivity provides a virtually integrated health care system experience where each joint-venture partner shares best practices around clinical expertise, care coordination, and member experience to deliver high-quality, cost-effective care and coverage. Vivity leverages its nationally recognized, integrated network of doctors and hospitals with Anthem's health plan expertise, care management capabilities, and analytical insights. For more information visit www.vivityhealth.com. About Vivity Vivity is an Anthem Blue Cross health benefit plan that brings together multiple hospital systems to partner on clinical quality goals and care coordination to provide members with a virtually integrated delivery system. The model establishes a provider reimbursement structure that contains a joint risk-sharing arrangement for institutional services between Anthem Blue Cross and the participating hospital systems that are affiliated or contractually aligned with one or more of the medical groups in the provider network. For more information visit www.vivityhealth.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211025005557/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Socure Announces Sigma Identity Fraud??-The Industry's Most Accurate Identity Fraud Solution Socure, the leading provider of digital identity verification and fraud solutions, today announced the industry's most accurate identity fraud solution, Socure Sigma Identity Fraud. Sigma Identity Fraud delivers the most precise identity fraud classification model in the industry by utilizing over 17,000 features that analyze every dimension of a consumer's identity-name, email, phone, address, IP, device, velocity, network intelligence, and real-time consortium feedback data-all in a single product. Socure Sigma Identity Fraud enables enterprises and government agencies to dramatically increase auto-approval rates and reduce fraud losses, false positives, friction, and costs associated with manual reviews. Sigma Identity Fraud increases auto-approval rates by up to 60% and captures fraud in the riskiest 3% by 90%, making it the only product on the market to solve for both fraud protection and revenue generation. The solution reduces manual reviews by >80% through substantially more accurate decisioning. Sigma Identity Fraud also reduces false positives by >13x compared to legacy solution providers, enabling customers to verify the largest number of good consumers, increase the automation of the onboarding process, and also reduce fraud losses. Sigma Identity Fraud has become a gold standard for enterprises that are increasingly reliant on digital channels to grow their business. And with that growth comes the challenge of combating identity fraud which is costly and can negatively impact the bottom line. In fact, according to Javelin Strategy & Research, identity fraud losses in the U.S. in 2020 reached a total of $56 billion. This figure represents a combined total of $13 billion for traditional identity fraud, and $43 billion for identity fraud scams. This inordinate growth can be attributed to the expansion of digital channels combined with fraudsters compromising a treasure trove of personally identifiable information (PII) that enables them to impersonate a consumer's identity. "We have created the perfect balance between fraud detection, eliminating customer friction, and reducing false positives all in one solution with our latest Sigma Identity release," said Johnny Ayers, founder and CEO of Socure. "Enterprises of all sizes rely on Socure not just for fraud protection, but for growing their business. The accuracy of our Sigma fraud classification model has made legacy solutions centered around single identity elements, manual reviews, or knowledge-based authentication a thing of the past." "Deploying Socure's technology has significantly increased our ability to accurately locate identity fraud while also enabling us to auto-accept more good applicants. Our manual account reviews have also decreased dramatically. The innovations delivered by Socure help us to stay ahead of fraud trends while continuing to provide an optimal experience for our customers," said Mark Kassardjian, director of customer operations at Betterment. Sigma Identity Fraud Solution Highlights: Device Intelligence Socure Sigma Identity Fraud is the first application fraud solution that "binds" device data to the individual using the device to deliver better identity decisions in a holistic model. Data Velocity Socure's approach to data science enables flexible, advanced ML model development on the largest identity graph and set of performance feedback data in the industry. Utilizing the SocureID graph of 750+ customers and 600M+ rows of performance data, Sigma Identity Fraud distinguishes names, emails, phone numbers, addresses, SSNs, IPs, devices, and other elements used for multiple fraudulent account openings and subsequent account use. Data Linkages Socure's Sigma Identity Fraud is the first application fraud solution that analyzes identity behavior across industries and the consumer lifecycle to improve results. It analyzes real-time dynamic linkages across seven billion rows of transaction data to inform the model. Its clustering linkages enable improved identification of fraud and fraud rings. Consortium Data Trained with feedback data from the industry's leading consortium of 750+ clients, Sigma Identity Fraud delivers better fraud models and improves any fraud program. Socure's identity resolution engine analyzes over eight billion records and more than 530 million known good and bad identities to achieve the most accurate view of identity possible. As the consortium gets larger, Socure gets smarter using feedback data from the expanding network of trusting firms to continually improve results to counter evolving fraud patterns. The attack may be new to a customer, but it is highly likely that Socure has already identified and learned from the fraud attack elsewhere in the network. For more information visit socure.com/identity-fraud, and follow Socure on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook. About Socure Socure is the leading platform for digital identity verification and trust. Its predictive analytics platform applies artificial intelligence and machine learning techniques with trusted online/offline data intelligence from email, phone, address, IP, device, velocity, and the broader internet to verify identities in real time. The company has more than 750 customers across the financial services, gaming, healthcare, telecom, and e-commerce industries, including four of the top five banks, seven of the top 10 card issuers, three of the top MSBs, the top payroll provider, the top credit bureau, top crypto exchanges, top Buy Now, Pay Later providers, the largest online gaming operators, and over 100 of the largest fintechs. Marquee customers include Chime, Varo Money, Public, Stash, and DraftKings. Investors include Accel, Commerce Ventures, Scale Venture Partners, Flint Capital, Capital One (News - Alert) Ventures, Citi Ventures, Wells Fargo Strategic Capital, Synchrony, Sorenson, Two Sigma Ventures, and others. Socure has received numerous industry awards and accolades, including being named to the 2021 Forbes Cloud 100 List, Forbes' Fintech 50 List 2021, and Forbes' America's Best Startup Employers 2021, being named to CB Insights: The Fintech 250 for the third year in a row, being awarded Best New Technology Introduced Over the Last 12 Months-Data and Data Services at the 2020 American Financial Technology Awards (AFTAs), being ranked number 70 in Deloitte's Technology Fast 500, being listed as a Gartner Cool Vendor, being recognized by Forbes as one of the Top 25 Machine Learning Startups to Watch, and being awarded Finovate's Award for Best Use of AI/ML, to name a few. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211025005580/en/ [October 25, 2021] NCQA Rates Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Highest Employer-sponsored and Medicaid Health Plans in Indiana Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield's commercial PPO/EPO and Medicaid plans earned the highest ratings among all insurance plans in Indiana from the National Committee for Quality Assurance's Private and Medicaid Health Plan Ratings 2021. This rating recognizes Anthem as a leader in supporting its members with access to high quality healthcare services. "Anthem's mission today in Indiana is the same as it was when we were formed 75 years ago: to improve the lives of our members and the health of the communities we serve," said Beth Keyser, president of Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield's commercial business in Indiana. "NCQA's rating speaks to our breadth of products and services, which provides members with access to the most comprehensive network of providers in Indiana. We're honored to serve Indiana citizens and their healthcare needs." "We are proud to be recognized as the highest quality Medicaid plan in Indiana," said Kimberly Roop, M.D., president of Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield's Medicaid business. "During the pandemic, we intensified our efforts to connect with members to ensure their whole health needs were being met." The NCQA rated Anthem's Medicaid health plan 4.5 out of 5 stars for Patient Experience. Anthem was also rated highly for members accessing prenatal and postpartum care, managing their glucose and blood pressure and adherence to medication for depression. Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield's Medicaid plan earned a 4 out of 5 rating and the commercial PPO/EPO plan earned a 3.5 out of 5. NCQA, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving health care quality, publicly released its 2021 Health Plan Ratings. The report rates more than 1,000 commercial, Medicare, and Medicaid health insurance plans on a 5-point scale for customer satisfaction, prevention, and treatment. The insights gained from the NCQA ratings are vital in enhancing interventions, delivering impactful programs, and shaping future strategies. About NCQA NCQA is a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to improving health care quality. NCQA accredits and certifies a wide range of health care organizations. It also recognizes clinicians and practices in key areas of performance. NCQA's Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS) is the most widely used performance measurement tool in health care. NCQA's website (ncqa.org) contains information to help consumers, employers and others make more-informed health care choices. NCQA can be found online at ncqa.org, on Twitter @ncqa, on Facebook (News - Alert) at facebook.com/NCQA.org/ and on LinkedIn (News - Alert) at linkedin.com/company/ncqa. About Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield is the trade name of Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc., an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. ANTHEM is a registered trademark of Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc. The Blue Cross and Blue Shield names and symbols are registered marks of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. Additional information about Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Indiana is available at www.anthem.com. Also, follow us on Twitter (News - Alert) @AnthemBCBS_News and @AnthemBCBS or find us on Facebook. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211025005584/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 25, 2021] TripleBlind Accelerates Data Sharing Capabilities of Alternative Data Platform Eagle Alpha through New Partnership KANSAS CITY, Mo., Oct. 25, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TripleBlind , the private data sharing company that offers proprietary cryptographically-enforced data privacy solution, today announced a new partnership with Eagle Alpha , the pioneer connecting the universe of alternative data. Through this partnership, organizations, principally investment firms, can more quickly and comprehensively analyze companies to generate more effective valuations during mergers and acquisitions, and identify strategies to create new value post-financial events. TripleBlinds solution enables data vendors to share sensitive data with data buyers while allowing only specific operations on that data. Sharing of sensitive and regulated data has historically been challenging due to regulatory and geographic concerns and a lack of robust technology solutions. Along with offering more accuracy and efficiency than all other competing forms of data collaboration, TripleBlind will help Eagle Alpha ensure its clients adequately enforce the digital rights of data owners and all data privacy regulations in place in more than 100 countries and four U.S. states today, including HIPAA, GDPR, and CCPA. Through our opportunity to work with Eagle Alpha on various projects and panels in recent months, both companies believe we have complementary services that will be beneficial to our combined client base, said Sam Abadir, director of partnerships at TripleBlind. Eagle Alpha is the leading connector in the world of alternative data, and we look forward to increasing collaboration capabilities for Eagle Alphas clients. The need for data privacy has never been higher, following the App Annie settlement with the SEC, in which the company was fined $10 million and became the SECs first enforcement action of securities fraud against an alternative data provider. At Eagle Alphas The ONE Conference in October 2021, Adam Storch, associate director, leader of event and emerging risk examination team at the SEC, and Steven Buchholz, assistant regional director, enforcement at the SEC, emphasized the importance of due diligence at both the vendo level and the dataset level and discussed the steps being taken to prevent further deception and misrepresentation in alternative data following the App Annie ruling. Earlier this year, our company announced three key drivers of industry excellence, one being stronger partnerships, said Niall Hurley, CEO of Eagle Alpha. The App Annie settlement highlighted the increased need to prioritize data integrity and privacy when selecting data sharing partners and solutions. Eagle Alphas partnership with TripleBlind comes as a result of both companies dedicated work to fulfill that need. About TripleBlind ??TripleBlind offers proprietary cryptographically-enforced privacy for data and algorithms, allowing institutions to collaborate around the most private and sensitive data without it ever being decrypted or leaving their firewall. TripleBlind keeps data private and in place while allowing authorized operations on any type of data, any algorithm, computable by third parties in real-time. TripleBlind does not host or access the data. TripleBlind Two Min Overview Video The TripleBlind Private Data Sharing Solution unlocks the estimated 43ZB of data stored by enterprises today that are inaccessible and not commercialized due to privacy concerns, operational complexity and regulations. The companys patented breakthroughs in advanced mathematics enable organizations to secure larger and more diverse data sets for innovating enhanced algorithms for medical diagnoses and improved anti-fraud initiatives in financial services. It is the only technology that enables enterprises to rapidly commercialize data while maintaining compute performance; enabling analysis of all data types, such as PII, PHI, genomic data, images, and confidential financial records; and enforcing complying all international and regional data privacy standards, including HIPAA, GDPR, PDPR, and CCPA. TripleBlind technology significantly differs from existing solutions and is not based on homomorphic encryption, secure enclaves, tokenization/masking/hashing and differential privacy, synthetic data, federated learning and blockchain. Refer to competing solutions section on our website. For an overview, a live demo, or a one-hour hands-on workshop, [email protected] About Eagle Alpha First adopted by alpha-seeking hedge funds over 10 years ago, alternative data is now being sought for use in the wider asset management space, as well as the private equity and corporate verticals. Eagle Alpha was one of the first companies to recognize the value from these new data sources and has been investing in educating and connecting alternative data vendors and buyers since 2012, in the process building trusted relationships with both sides of this market. As of September 2021, Eagle Alpha has profiled in excess of 1,600 datasets and provides annual solutions to data buyers and data vendors globally. A unique breadth of datasets, knowledge of the industry and client relationships have cemented Eagle Alpha as the global leading data aggregation platform, advisor and strategic partner in the data space and the one true source of alternative data. Media Contacts Victoria Guimarin UPRAISE Marketing + Public Relations for TripleBlind [email protected] 415.397.7600 Kamyar Naficy KNECTCOMMS for TripleBlind [email protected] +44(0)7453 323 367 Ronit Koren Chief Marketing Officer, Eagle Alpha Ro[email protected] Niall Hurley CEO of Eagle Alpha [email protected] [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 25, 2021] Prezi Unveils New User Experience For The Leading Hybrid Office Tool Prezi Video SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Prezi , the leading presentation and collaboration software for video meetings, today announced a new user experience for its flagship product Prezi Video to address the top priorities for virtual meetings in the hybrid workspace. Prezi Video's technology delivers a more immersive video meeting experience by allowing enterprise users to bring content into their video feeds during live meetings on platforms, including Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Webex and more. Prezi interviewed more than 1,000 hybrid office workers to inform the new user experience. The top five priorities among hybrid workers for making virtual meetings better are: More immersive video meeting experiences/building personal connection Tools that are deeply integrated within existing workflows to reduce disruption On-screen branding and presence for staff and sales video meetings Expanded ability for the audience to engage the speaker through visual and copy-driven responses Ability to make any content or deck video-ready Having been adopted by the majority of Fortune 1000 companies, Prezi Video's new UX continues to streamline the ability to present any type of content in the live vido feed. The new user experience lets you: Toggle more seamlessly between View Modes to make it easy to highlight a key feature, emphasize a winning data point, or highlight a product demo video Convert your existing Google Slides, PowerPoint deck and Prezi Presentation faster than ever Use the new side-panel-only mode to preview your slides right next to the video conferencing app so all your information is in one screen, which makes presenting much more seamless Switch between Dark/Light modes based on OS settings to provide better readability "We've built this new UX based on the feedback of thousands of remote workers across the enterprise over the past year. The consistent feedback we've heard is that the priority in the hybrid office is making it easier for everyone to contribute in video meetings - to increase two-way engagement," said Jim Szafranski, Chief Executive Officer, Prezi. "It's clear that bringing graphics and moving content onto the video screen with you leads to better attention and more continuous audience participation through onscreen responses." Prezi Video is fully integrated with all of the major video conferencing platforms, letting you easily bring video, slides, GIFs, images or on-screen text responses into the primary screen of all video conferencing platforms, including Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Google Meet, Webex and GoToMeeting. The new UX is available on Prezi Video for Web, Mac and Windows. About Prezi Prezi is the leading virtual presentation and collaboration solution for the digital workplace. Its signature offering, Prezi Video, is helping the majority of the Fortune 1000 to build more productive video meetings by letting participants bring their content with them onto any screen. Founded in 2009, Prezi has offices in San Francisco, Budapest, and Riga, with investors, including Accel, Spectrum Equity and TED conferences. For more information, please visit www.prezi.com . View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/prezi-unveils-new-user-experience-for-the-leading-hybrid-office-tool-prezi-video-301406983.html SOURCE Prezi [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 25, 2021] New Transact International Payments Offering Provides Universities With Streamlined Solution to Easily Accept Global Currencies Transact, the leader in innovative payment solutions for a connected campus, today announced the launch of its new Transact International Payments offering that provides universities with a streamlined approach to accept international currencies. Through a partnership with TransferMate, a globally regulated payments infrastructure-as-a-service, Transact will support the end-to-end processing of international payments for students and universities. More than 1.07 million international students attended universities in the United States last year and contributed nearly $45 billion to the U.S. economy. The new Transact International Payments solution will process payments from 162 countries and support more than 134 currencies. In designing this new service, Transact leveraged TransferMate's globally regulated payments network to remove international wire fees and ensure institutions receive 100% of payments, faster and with the highest levels of security. For a world-class service experience, students and their sponsors also receive 24/7 multilingual support available via phone, text, Skype (News - Alert), and WeChat. "Our active global mindset extends to our clients' international students who need and deserve options that are familiar and secure as they make their tuition and non-tuition payments," said Laura McLaughlin, executive vice president, Transact. "To that end, this new international payments solution will provide schools with a fully integrated domestic and international solution to process cross-border funds securely and transparently." Embedded in the student payment portal, Transact International Payments will provide transparent payment tracking, rate details, and real-time account balance updates. Given the zero international wire fees, the amount billed will be the amount received. Finally, Transact International Payments spports bank transfer, credit cards, and alternate payment options, so students may select the international payments method of their choice. Transact International Payments provides multiple benefits for the institution, as well. Advanced security features safeguard student and authorized third-party funds with end-to-end payment tracking, professional indemnity insurance, website and data security and transaction screening. Further, reconciliation and refunds are simplified and managed centrally within Transact Payments back office, and overpayments are restricted as Transact International Payments enables users to transfer only what they need. "Our unrivalled licensing and banking networks are setting new standards of security, transparency and speed for student cross-border payments," said Sinead Fitzmaurice, CEO of TransferMate Global Payments - a subsidiary of the Clune Tech Group. "We are delighted to be partnering with Transact to complete the advanced capabilities of their new payments platform, helping them to eliminate the friction inherent in the processing of international student payments." For more information, call 866-259-6296. Follow Transact on Twitter and LinkedIn and join the conversation. About Transact Transact is the leader in innovative payment solutions for a connected campus. Its highly configurable, mobile-centric campus technology ecosystem simplifies the student experience across the full spectrum of student life. Transact's offerings include integrated solutions for tuition and other student expense payments, multi-purpose campus IDs, and campus commerce. With a long-standing reputation of serving the higher education community, Transact proudly assists millions of students each year with its innovative products and solutions. For more information, visit www.transactcampus.com. About TransferMate Global Payments TransferMate - a subsidiary of Clune Technology Group founded by Terry Clune - is the world's leading provider of B2B payments infrastructure as a service, enabling companies to send and receive cross-border payments faster, easier and at lower cost. TransferMate, under the leadership of Clune and CEO Sinead Fitzmaurice, has built one of the largest portfolios of payments licenses worldwide, including in 51 US states and territories, to support trading in 162 countries. Leading banks, fintechs and software providers partner with TransferMate to offer an enhanced user experience for their business customers. The company has created bespoke integrations for banks like ING and AIB, who are also investors in the company, and Wells Fargo (News - Alert) and software providers such as Coupa, SAP Concur, Tradeshift, Workday, etc. The TransferMate API solution allows partners to digitalise the payments flow within their software, enabling all businesses to achieving significant time and financial savings. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211025005609/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 25, 2021] NASA to Host Briefing to Reveal New Findings from Jupiter's Atmosphere WASHINGTON, Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- NASA will hold a virtual media briefing at 3 p.m. EDT Thursday, Oct. 28, to discuss the latest results from the agency's Juno spacecraft. The science team will reveal new findings that provide the first 3D look at how the planet's roiling atmosphere operates underneath the top layers of clouds, and how these revelations offer insight into the atmospheres of giant planets elsewhere in the universe. The event will take place from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California, which manages the Juno mission. It will be livestreamed on NASA Television, the NASA app, the agency's website, NASA YouTube and Twitter. Briefing participants include: Lucas Paganini , Juno program scientist, NASA Headquarters, Washington , Juno program scientist, NASA Headquarters, Scott Bolton , Juno principal investigator, Southwest Research Institute, San Antonio , Juno principal investigator, Southwest Research Institute, Marzia Parisi , Juno scientist, JPL , Juno scientist, JPL Keren Duer , Juno scientist, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel , Juno scientist, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Leigh Fletcher , Juno participating scientist, University of Leicester, England , Juno participating scientist, University of Alessandro Mura , Juno co-investigator, Institute for Space Astrophysics and Planetology, Rome To participate in the briefing by telephone, reporters must provide their name and affiliation no later than one hour before the start of the briefing to Rexana Vizza at: [email protected] . Members of the media and the public may also ask questions on social media during the briefing using #JunoMission. Juno has been orbiting and monitoring Jupiter since 2016. The spacecraft is now in an extended mission designed to expand on discoveries it already has made about Jupiter's interior structure, internal magnetic field, atmosphere, and magnetosphere. It will also involve close passes of Jupiter's north polar cyclones, future flybys of the moons Europa and Io, and the first exploration of the faint rings encircling the planet. JPL, a division of Caltech in Pasadena, California, manages the Juno mission. Juno is part of NASA's New Frontiers Program, which is managed at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, for the agency's Science Mission Directorate in Washington. Lockheed Martin Space in Denver built and operates the spacecraft. To learn more about Juno, visit: https://www.nasa.gov/juno View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nasa-to-host-briefing-to-reveal-new-findings-from-jupiters-atmosphere-301407764.html SOURCE NASA [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 25, 2021] CGTN: 50 years on, China's UN story continues with hopes for peace, multilateralism, cooperation BEIJING, Oct. 25, 2021 /CNW/ -- Fifty years ago, on October 25, the lawful seat of the People's Republic of China (PRC) was restored in the United Nations (UN), marking a milestone event in the history of the international organization. Starting a new course of China's UN story this year, the country has vowed that it will stay true to its original aspiration after the vicissitudes of the past half-century, calling for joint efforts to build a community with a shared future for mankind. China has always been a builder of world peace, contributor to global development and defender of the international order, said President Xi Jinping in his speech at a commemorative meeting marking the historical event on Monday. Remarkable five decades Reviewing China's glorious journey with the UN, President termed the restoration of PRC's seat in the UN a victory for the people of China as well as the world. It came as the result of joint efforts of all peace-loving countries that stood up for justice in the world and marked the return of the Chinese people, or some one-fourth of the world's population, back to the UN stage, which had far-reaching significance for China and the world, he said. The past 50 years have witnessed China's peaceful development and its commitment to the welfare of all mankind, he added. This year, China accomplished a complete victory in its fight against absolute poverty, realized the goal of building a moderately prosperous society in all resects and embarked on a new journey toward building a modern socialist country. Since the restoration of its lawful seat in the UN in 1971, China has been playing a more active role in international affairs. For instance, as the world's largest developing country and one of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, China has sent over 50,000 peacekeepers to UN peacekeeping operations and is now the second largest financial contributor to both the UN and UN peacekeeping operations. New journey towards a better world Urging all to follow the prevailing trend of history, President Xi stressed the importance of opposing all forms of hegemony, power politics, unilateralism and protectionism. "We should vigorously advocate peace, development, equity, justice, democracy and freedom, which are the common values of humanity, and work together to provide the right guiding philosophy for building a better world," he said. He then emphasized building of a community with a shared future for mankind the country's flagship vision to collectively address current global challenges. People across the world are living in a "community of a shared future," Xi told the world for the first time in his speech in Moscow, Russia on March 23, 2013. On Monday, he elaborated that building a community with a shared future for mankind does not mean replacing one system or civilization with another. "Instead, it is about countries with different social systems, ideologies, histories, cultures and levels of development coming together for shared interests, shared rights and shared responsibilities in global affairs, and creating the greatest synergy for building a better world," he said. Highlighting the need for having mutual benefits and win-win results, he said development is meaningful only when it is for the people's well-being and can sustain only when it is motivated by the people. In a statement delivered via video link at the General Debate of the 76th session of the UN General Assembly in September, Xi proposed a Global Development Initiative to steer development around the world towards more balanced, coordinated and inclusive growth in the face of the severe shocks of COVID-19. Finishing his speech, he stressed the role of the UN and called on all countries to respect the UN, take good care of the UN family, and refrain from exploiting it. "Let us join hands, stand on the right side of history and the side of human progress, and work tirelessly for the lasting and peaceful development of the world and for building a community with a shared future for mankind," he said. https://news.cgtn.com/news/2021-10-25/Xi-attends-event-marking-restoration-of-PRC-s-lawful-seat-in-UN-14DOanrXxcs/index.html View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cgtn-50-years-on-chinas-un-story-continues-with-hopes-for-peace-multilateralism-cooperation-301407822.html SOURCE CGTN [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 25, 2021] Talkwalker acquires discover.ai to boost its professional services SYDNEY, Oct. 26, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Talkwalker, a leading consumer intelligence company, announced today that it has acquired discover.ai, an agile consumer and cultural insight platform. This continues Talkwalker's consolidation within the industry, to enable more brands to benefit from actionable consumer intelligence and drive business impact. This is a key milestone on a journey to build even richer and deeper insight into Talkwalker's service offering. discover.ai's unique combination of machine learning and human insight means Talkwalker can now build into their services a deeper reading into the human stories and emotive human drivers that lie beneath and behind the intelligence they provide through data. "We're not just providing brands and agencies with powerful consumer intelligence from a multitude of data sources," said Tod Nielsen, Talkwalker's CEO. "We have learned from our clients, and the wider industry, there is a need for professional services to help make this intelligence more actionable. With the addition of discover.ai to our already fast developing Talkwalker Activate professional services, we can provide a high-level consultancy layer on top of our powerful platform, that explores and discovers, at scale and at human scale, with rigour but also with resonance. Inspiring brands with rich human stories and cultural insights, and getting them closer to their customers." discover.ai has already helped some of the world's largest brands with 800+ insights projects across 30 countries, and global clients across a broad sector of industries, includingbranded business, agencies, and consultancies. By combining Talkwalker's consumer intelligence and discover.ai's insights, brands will see exponential value uncovered. This is just part of the new offering from the Talkwalker Activate professional services team, which will now provide a range of go live, operational, and strategic consultancy services to enable businesses to identify, analyse, and action relevant consumer insights across their organizations. "There is already a very natural alliance between our two businesses," said Jonathan Williams, Founder of discover.ai. "Indeed, we find that we've been working for many of the same clients, even on the very same projects. Bringing our two businesses together will help our clients to further benefit from this powerful combination, with Talkwalker providing consumer intelligence and discover.ai bringing deeper human insight and cultural context, together inspiring brands to better unlock future growth opportunities. There is just so much exciting white space where our complementary cultures and collective capability across people and platform can create some really exciting new developments." Talkwalker has grown rapidly since its founding in 2009, and now has 9 global offices with its newest office opened in Sydney, Australia last month. The consumer intelligence company is welcoming another 100 hires by the end of 2021, including over 20 new openings in active recruitment by Managing Director (Australia and New Zealand) Dimitri Lanssens for its Sydney office. Under new CEO, Tod Nielsen, Talkwalker is poised to continue its rapid growth, as they consolidate themselves as a leading consumer intelligence platform. Most recently, they acquired Nielsen Social Content Ratings (now, Social Content Ratings ) and Reviewbox, to provide additional insights and intelligence for all their clients. Talkwalker was also recognised as a Leader in The Forrester New Wave: AI-Enabled Consumer Intelligence Platforms, Q3 2021 report, and is trusted by global brands to provide actionable consumer intelligence. Additional resources: Read the full report here: The Forrester New Wave: AI-Enabled Consumer Intelligence Platforms, Q3 2021 . . Check out the Talkwalker Careers page for open positions. for open positions. Contact us to learn more about Talkwalker's consumer intelligence platform. About Talkwalker Talkwalker is the #1 Consumer Intelligence Acceleration platform for brands to drive business impact. Recognized by Forrester as a Leader in Consumer Intelligence and Social Listening, the platform combines a multitude of internal and external data sources with AI powered by Blue Silk technology, for the most expansive view of consumers. Talkwalker Activate professional services team can augment, accelerate, or fully service brands' insights needs to increase their ROI from the Talkwalker platform. With offices around the globe, Talkwalker helps over 2,500 brands to maximize profits with actionable consumer intelligence. To discover more about Talkwalker, please visit www.talkwalker.com . SOURCE Talkwalker [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 25, 2021] Loomis Sayles Announces The Fuss Family Mental Health Initiative Loomis, Sayles & Company is proud to announce The Fuss Family Mental Health Initiative, a philanthropic and community service initiative aimed at tackling the mental health crisis facing young people in our most under-resourced communities. The new program honors Dan Fuss, vice chairman of Loomis Sayles' board of directors and a globally renowned fixed income investor who has been with the firm for 45 years. Dan and his family have worked tirelessly to support the mental health needs of young people in the wake of their son Tommy's death by suicide 15 years ago this November. Loomis Sayles is highlighting the Fuss family's efforts with a fall campaign that includes corporate giving, double-matching of employee donations, volunteering and raising awareness about suicide prevention and mental health stigmas. Loomis Sayles' Fuss Family Mental Health Initiative will provide $500,000 in total funding over the next three years to the following programs in Dorchester, Roxbury and Mattapan, with the goal of supporting the mental health of young people in impactful ways through systems of support, therapeutic and clinical programming, staff and outreach: Summer Search: Access to two licensed clinicians for 900 Summer Search students and alumni Access to two licensed clinicians for 900 Summer Search students and alumni Peer Health Exchange: In-school access to mental health supports In-school access to mental health supports Boston Medical Center: Boston Emergency Services Team Boston Emergency Services Team Doc Wayne: Fusing therapy and sport, working through Boston Public Schools Fusing therapy and sport, working through Boston Public Schools Franciscan Children's Hospital: Funding a full-time clinician for the Jeremiah E. Burke High School in Dorchester, one of Boston Public Schools' most under-resourced high schools Funding a full-time clinician for the Jeremiah E. Burke High School in Dorchester, one of Boston Public Schools' most under-resourced high schools The Collaborative: Funding a professional development program for menal health workers dedicated to Boston's students Recent and Upcoming Partnerships On 30 September 2021, the firm's chairman and chief executive officer Kevin Charleston joined Boston Public Schools superintendent Brenda Cassellius and The English High School's head of school Caitlin Murphy to unveil two new Social Emotional Learning rooms where students can access supportive services and programming provided by the school's behavioral health staff. Prior to the start of the school year, a group of employee volunteers from Loomis Sayles worked with staff at The English High School to transform the classrooms into bright, inviting counseling spaces. Loomis Sayles is also proud to be a sponsor of the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention's 2021 Out of the Darkness Community Walk on 30 October at Boston Common (Parkman Bandstand). The event helps raise money for life-saving research, education, advocacy and support for those impacted by suicide. Learn more about the walk, register or donate here: https://supporting.afsp.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.event&eventID=7552. ABOUT LOOMIS SAYLES Since 1926, Loomis, Sayles & Company has helped fulfill the investment needs of institutional and mutual fund clients worldwide. The firm's performance-driven investors integrate deep proprietary research and risk analysis to make informed, judicious decisions. Teams of portfolio managers, strategists, research analysts and traders collaborate to assess market sectors and identify investment opportunities wherever they may lie, within traditional asset classes or among a range of alternative investments. Loomis Sayles has the resources, foresight and the flexibility to look far and wide for value in broad and narrow markets in its commitment to deliver attractive sustainable returns for clients. This rich tradition has earned Loomis Sayles the trust and respect of clients worldwide, for whom it manages $353.7 billion* in assets (as of 30 September 2021). *Includes the assets of both Loomis, Sayles & Co., LP, and Loomis Sayles Trust Company, LLC. ($38.7 billion for the Loomis Sayles Trust Company). Loomis Sayles Trust Company is a wholly owned subsidiary of Loomis, Sayles & Company, L.P. MALR028050 View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211025005752/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 25, 2021] Hall & Partners Announces Tim Wragg as CEO NEW YORK, Oct. 25, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Hall & Partners, a market leading brand insights, analytics and consulting agency, today announced the appointment of Dr. Timothy Wragg as Chief Executive Officer. Wragg succeeds Vanella Jackson, who has become Chairperson. Wragg brings over 25 years of global experience in the sector, having previously served as CEO and Global Chief Client Officer for Millward Brown in Europe and most recently he was CEO of Kantar's Insights, Analytics and Brand Strategy practices based in the U.S. "Throughout my career, I have admired Hall & Partners as a competitor for the caliber of their staff, the quality of their work and the clients that they serve," said Wragg. "I'm excited to apply my experience here and work with this great team to help cliets navigate the complexities of today's consumer environment using Hall & Partners market leading technology." Hall & Partners is part of Omnicom's Brand Consulting Group. Wragg will report to its CEO, Mark O'Brien. "I'm excited to have Tim take the helm at Hall & Partners," said O'Brien. "His background is the perfect fit to advance Hall & Partners as it continues to innovate and offer clients customer behavior insights that provide a competitive advantage to help shape their product and service offerings. We are proud to have someone of Dr. Wragg's caliber joining Hall & Partners and the broader Omnicom Brand Consulting Group family." About Hall & Partners Hall & Partners is a global insight agency that specializes in quantitative and qualitative market research, data analytics and strategic consultancy. We provide brand performance tracking, customer segmentations, customer and brand experience, predictive modelling, insight engagement platforms, as well as communications and advertising strategy. This is in addition to our award-winning insight platform, The Hub. We are part of Omnicom's Brand Consulting Group. For mor information visit www.hallandpartners.com About Omnicom's Brand Consulting Group Omnicom's Brand Consulting Group is a division comprised of 6 reknowned research and brand strategy / consulting agencies who provide an array of services designed to strengthen the connection of brands to customers. Their component agencies include: Interbrand, Siegel+Gale, Wolff Olins, Hall & Partners, C Space and Sterling Brands. Omnicom's Brand Consulting Group is part of Omnicom's Communications Consulting Network and the DAS Group of Companies. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/hall--partners-announces-tim-wragg-as-ceo-301407852.html SOURCE Hall & Partners [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 25, 2021] Calix Releases Third Quarter 2021 Financial Results Calix (News - Alert), Inc. (NYSE: CALX) today announced unaudited financial results for its third quarter 2021 have been posted as a letter to stockholders to the investor relations section of its website. Please visit the Calix investor relations website at https://investor-relations.calix.com to view the third quarter 2021 financial results in our letter to stockholders, along with accompanying supplemental financial information. A conference call to discuss these results with Chairman and CEO, Carl Russo, CFO, Cory Sindelar, President and COO, Michael Weening and Investor Relations Director, Tom Dinges, will be held tomorrow, October 26, 2021, at 5:30 a.m. Pacific Time (8:30 a.m. Eastern Time). Interested parties can listen to a live webcast of the conference call by visiting the Calix Investor Relations website.The conference call is also available via teleconference by dialing (877) 407-4019 or international (201) 689-8337 with conference ID# 13723037 or participants can also click this link for instant telephone access to the event. The link will become active approximately 15 minutes prior to the start of the conference call. The conference call and webcast will include forward-looking information. A replay of the conference call will also be available on the Calix investor relations website following the completion of the call. The call will be archived on the Events page of the Calix investor relations website. About Calix Calix, Inc. (NYSE: CALX) - Calix cloud and software platforms enable service providers of all types and sizes to innovate and transform. Our customers utilize the real-time data and insights from Calix platforms to simplify their businesses and deliver experiences that excite their subscribers. The resulting growth in subscriber acquisition, loyalty and revenue creates more value for their businesses and communities. This is the Calix mission; to enable broadband service providers of all sizes to simplify, excite and grow. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211025005588/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 25, 2021] Elliot K. Mills Elected to Bank of Hawaii Corporation Board of Directors Bank of Hawaii Corp. (NYSE: BOH) announced that its board of directors has elected Elliot K. Mills to serve on its board of directors, effective Oct. 22, 2021, until the annual election of directors at the bank's next annual shareholders meeting. With the addition of Mills, Bank of Hawaii Corporation's board of directors increases from 13 to 14. Mills serves on Bank of Hawaii's Human Resources and Compensation Committee, Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and Digital Advisory Committee. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211025005824/en/ Elliott K. Mills (Photo: Business Wire) "On behalf of Bank of Hawaii, I am delighted to welcome Elliot to our board of directors," said Peter Ho, chairman, presient and chief executive officer of Bank of Hawaii Corp. "He is uniquely qualified, has an abundance of expertise and insight of our local travel industry, and shares the same values, goals and passion for moving Hawaii forward." Mills is currently vice president of hotel operations for Disneyland Resort and Aulani, A Disney (News - Alert) Report and Spa, leading a team of over 5,000 employees across four locations. He is responsible for overseeing all operations for the Disneyland Hotel, Disney's Paradise Pier Hotel and Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa in Anaheim, Calif., in addition to Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa, in Ko Olina, Hawaii, on Oahu. He joined Disney in 2010, and was an integral leader in the grand opening of the Aulani resort. Mills had a special focus on advancing Hawaiian culture and values as the focal point for its unique hospitality and service experience. Since then, the company has received national recognition, including being named 2020's "Best Family Hotel in the USA" by U.S. News & World Report. With over 25 years of experience, Mills has held various executive and resort management positions on the islands of Oahu, Kauai and Maui at top travel companies, including Hyatt, Marriott and Outrigger. Prior to Disney, he held the positions of general manager at both Outrigger Hotels & Resorts on Oahu and at Kauai Marriott Resort. A native of Hilo on Hawaii Island, Mills has strong ties to the community and gives back by serving on a variety of boards, including Hawai'i Pacific Health, Hawaii Medical Service Association (HMSA), Hawai'i Community Foundation, and Kamehameha Schools. He also currently serves as chairman of the board for the Hawai'i Visitors and Convention Bureau. Mills is a graduate of Saint Joseph High School, holds a degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in travel industry management from the University of Hawai'i at Manoa, and has completed the Cornell Hospitality Management General Managers Program. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211025005824/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 25, 2021] Two Banks Partner on $6K Grant to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Nonprofit Home Bank and the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas (FHLB Dallas) have partnered to award $6,000 to Fathers on a Mission (FOAM) at a ceremonial check presentation on Monday. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211025005829/en/ From Left: Kelvin Luster with Home Bank, Levar Robinson with Fathers on a Mission and Elizabeth Jewell with the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas. (Photo: Business Wire) FOAM said it plans to use the funding to expand its programs and capacity to serve the community. FOAM's mission is to support fathers and father-figures in preparation, planning and participation in the community, resulting in stronger foundations for youth, young adults and families. The organization was established in 2017 to advocate for the role of fathers, father figures and youth in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. FOAM Executive Director Levar Robinson said the PGP (News - Alert) plays an integral role in the community. "Without opportunities such as the PGP, it would be very difficult to deliver vital resources and programs to our community," said Mr. Robinson "It means a great deal to us to receive these funds. Without them, we'd have to cut programs down which would not just impact those we serve, but the community as a whole." Kelvin Luster, senior vice president and community development director at Home Bank, said thefunds will allow FOAM to focus on its programs that benefit the community. "The Partnership Grant Program alleviates an administrative burden by providing resources to nonprofits," said Mr. Luster. "FOAM can now maintain its focus on providing its programs to the community." For 2021, FHLB Dallas awarded $400,000 in PGP grants, and its members provided an additional $200,250 for an impact of more than $600,000 in its five-state District of Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico and Texas. "FOAM fills an important need in Baton Rouge, and we are honored to be part of that with Home Bank," said FHLB Dallas First Vice President and Director of Community Investment Greg Hettrick. See the complete list of the 2021 PGP grant recipients. For more information about the 2021 PGP grants and other FHLB Dallas community investment products and programs, please visit fhlb.com/pgp. About Home Bank N.A. Home Bank, N.A., founded in 1908 as Home Building & Loan, is the oldest financial institution founded in Lafayette Parish. Through the years, we've expanded to serve markets in South Louisiana and Mississippi: Acadiana, Baton Rouge, New Orleans, the Northshore of Lake Pontchartrain, St. Martin and Jeff Davis Parishes, as well as Natchez and Vicksburg. With 40 locations across South Louisiana and Western Mississippi, Home Bank is committed to serving the needs of our communities. Personal banking has always been Home Bank's trademark and that tradition continues as we grow, invest and serve our clients and community. We live our values each day, focusing on integrity, innovation and a commitment to serving others. For more information about Home Bank, visit www.home24bank.com. About the Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas The Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas is one of 11 district banks in the FHLBank System created by Congress in 1932. FHLB Dallas, with total assets of $58.6 billion as of June 30, 2021, is a member-owned cooperative that supports housing and community development by providing competitively priced loans and other credit products to approximately 800 members and associated institutions in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico and Texas. For more information, visit our website at fhlb.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211025005829/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 25, 2021] Enfusion Announces Closing of Initial Public Offering and Full Exercise of Underwriters' Option to Purchase Additional Shares Enfusion, Inc. ("Enfusion"), a leading provider of cloud-based investment management software and services, today announced the closing of its initial public offering of 21,562,500 shares of Class A common stock, including the exercise in full of the underwriters' option to purchase up to an additional 2,812,500 shares, at a price of $17.00 per share. The offering comprised the sale of 16,839,107 shares of Class A common stock offered by Enfusion and 4,723,393 shares of Class A common stock sold by certain of Enfusion's stockholders. The shares began trading on the New York Stock Exchange on October 21, 2021 under the ticker symbol "ENFN". Enfusion intends to use the net proceeds received from the offering to purchase equity interests in its operating subsidiary Enfusion Ltd. LLC from certain of Enfusion's pre-IPO equity holders and to purchase newly-issued equity interests in Enfusion Ltd. LLC. In turn, Enfusion Ltd. LLC intends to apply the balance of the net proceeds it receives from Enfusion to repay indebtedness, pay expenses incurred in connection with the IPO and the other organizational transactions contemplated thereby and for general corporate purposes. Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC acted as lead book-running managers for the proposed offering, with BofA Securities, Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, Piper Sandler & Co., Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated and William Blair & Company, L.L.C. acting as additional bookrunners, and Loop Capital Markets LLC acting as co-manager. The offering was made only by means of a prospectus, copies of which may be obtained from: Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, 180 Varick Street, 2nd Floor, Ne York, New York 10014, Attn: Prospectus Department, by email: [email protected]; Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, Attn: Prospectus Department, 200 West Street, New York, NY 10282, by telephone at (866) 471-2526 or by email at [email protected]. A registration statement relating to this offering was declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 20, 2021. This press release shall 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 Enfusion Enfusion's investment management software-as-a-service platform removes traditional information boundaries, uniting front-, middle- and back-office teams on one cloud-native system. Through its software, analytics, and middle/back-office managed services, Enfusion creates enterprise-wide cultures of real-time, data-driven intelligence, boosting agility, and powering growth. Enfusion partners with 600+ investment managers from nine global offices spanning four continents. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended, including regarding the use of proceeds from Enfusion's initial public offering. Forward-looking statements include all statements that are not historical facts. In some cases, you can identify these forward-looking statements by the use of words such as "outlook," "believe(s)," "expect(s)," "potential," "continue(s)," "may," "will," "should," "could," "would," "seek(s)," "predict(s)," "intend(s)," "trends," "plan(s)," "estimate(s)," "anticipates," "projection," "will likely result" and or the negative version of these words or other comparable words of a future or forward-looking nature. Such forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties. Accordingly, there are or will be important factors that could cause actual outcomes or results to differ materially from those indicated in these statements. These factors include but are not limited to those described under "Risk Factors" in Enfusion's registration statement relating to the initial public offering. These factors should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with the other cautionary statements that are included in the registration statement. Enfusion undertakes no obligation to publicly update or review any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, except as required by law. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211025005835/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Right now hottie Sara reminds us that underwater adventures can be quite captivating. However, the pricey construction for this Kansas City attraction will probably continues to financially sink this town . . . "To fund the project, the zoo plans to use $45 million from the zoo district sales tax, which voters approved in 2011. Private donations will cover the remaining cost." Fact check . . . WRONG!!! PRIVATE DONATIONS NEVER COVER KANSAS CITY CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS!!! That's a myth started by the animal shelter and a lie that local media dutifully accept. Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com news link for those who want to jump the paywall . . . For those who don't know . . . Elite Republican consultant Jeff Roe got his start in Missouri politics and was an integral part of the crew the solidified RED STATE SUPER MAJORITY DOMINANCE in this part of the Heartland which had formerly served as a bellwether in national politics. Tonight he was featured prominently in a popular political documentary series. It seems that Mr. Roe is working diligently in one of the most important state level contests in the nation. A denizen of our KICK-ASS BLOG COMMUNITY shares a perspective . . . Just watched Jeff Roe on Circus : Inside the Greatest Political Show on Earth on Showtime. He is working on the Youngkin campaign in Virginia. He has lost a lot of weight. Good for him. I think he looks good. I guess all things arent bigger in Texas. Jeff Roe is doing well and seems happier than ever with a growing family and some very important work and insights on the future of the Republican party moving forward. Developing . . . Broke-ass plebs might not earn such a considerate deal but this so-called conservative walks away from a drunk driving scandal with a wrist slap. Moreover . . . Lost in all the "reporting" is the scathing allegation from a Kansas Trooper that the sauced politico called him "donut boy' during the arrest. Here's the postscript . . . Republican state Sen. Gene Suellentrop pleads guilty to two misdemeanors and avoids a felony conviction for charges of drunk driving, going the wrong way on I-70 and evading police. Suellentrop pleaded no contest to DUI Class B misdemeanor and reckless driving. The court ruled the former leader was guilty on both counts. The court sentenced him to a maximum of six months in jail on count two and a $750 fine. That sentence was suspended, however, Suellentrop must serve 48 hours consecutively in the Shawnee County Jail. He was also sentenced to 90 days and a $25 fine, which was suspended and given six months probation. He was ordered to complete 8 therapy sessions and $136 in court costs, as well as a $22 surcharge, and a $60 probation fee. Suellentrop will be scheduled for jail time Nov. 18. Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com news links . . . Court finds former Kansas Senate leader Gene Suellentrop guilty on 2 counts from DUI case TOPEKA (KSNT) - Former Senate Majority Leader Gene Suellentrop stood masked as he was sentenced in court Monday morning. Suellentrop pleaded no contest to DUI Class B misdemeanor and reckless driving. The court ruled the former leader was guilty on both counts. Ex-Kansas Senate leader pleads no contest to DUI TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) - A Wichita Republican who was one of the Kansas Legislature's most powerful lawmakers has pleaded no contest to driving under the influence and reckless driving and will serve two days in jail. Ex-Kansas Senate leader pleads no contest to DUI Hide Transcript Show Transcript INVESTIGATION. DO TONIGHT CHARGES HAVE BEEN FILED AGAINST KANSAS SENATE MAJORITY LEADER GENE SOLENTROP. HE WAS ARRESTED DRIVING THE WRONG WAY ON I-70 INTO TOPEKA MARCH 16TH. SULLEN TRUMP WENT TO JAIL ON SUSPICION OF DRUNK DRIVING BUT WAS RELEASED WHEN A JUDGE SAID THERE WAS INSUFFICIENT EVIDENCE TODAY THE SHAWNEE COUNTY DA CHARGED SULLEN TRUMP WITH FIVE COUNTS INCLUDING DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE. Developing . . . Violence continues to plague Kansas City as gunmen found their targets amid a foggy October evening. Two separate shooting incidents helped to spike the local killing count to #125. Here are the first reports . . . Homicide 59th and Troost Sunday night just after 9:30pm officers were called to 5901 Troost at the gas station on a shooting call. A male who had been shot walked into the gas station asked for help and collapsed. When officers and EMS arrived they located the victim, an adult male, unresponsive in the parking lot and rendered aid. The victim was transported to the hospital. A short time later the victim was declared deceased at the hospital. Preliminary investigation indicates that the shooting occurred a short distance away to the north on Troost and the victim walked to the gas station. If anyone has any information they are asked to contact the homicide unit directly at 234-5043 or the TIPS hotline anonymously at 474-TIPS. There is a reward of up to $25,000 for information leading to an arrest in this case. ################### The second deadly shooting not too long after . . . Homicide 113th and Askew Tonight just after 11pm officers were called to 113th and Askew on a shooting call. When officers arrived they located a shooting victim in front of a residence there unresponsive (preliminarily appears to be an adult male). Officers summoned in EMS who declared the victim deceased at the scene. Witnesses at the scene indicated that a disturbance occurred between the victim and one or more suspects that led to the victim being shot. Detectives and crime scene personnel are canvassing for witnesses and processing the scene for evidence. If anyone saw anything or has any information they are asked to contact the homicide unit directly at 234-5043 or the TIPS hotline anonymously at 474-TIPS. There is a reward of up to $25,000 for information leading to an arrest in this case. ############### Again, unofficially according to TKC, this brings the KCMO 2021 homicide count to #125 compared to 156 last year and 124 the year before that . . . More context . . . Upon entering office Mayor Q hoped to lower the Kansas City homicide count to under 100. During COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns KCMO followed the nation's violent course and our rate of killing skyrocketed to 179 in 2020 - An all-time record-breaking number. The current KC rate of homicide has thankfully declined since last year but still remains on an upward trajectory when compared to data over the past 5 years. Developing . . . Racially charged insinuations of bias turn a tragic situation into another local rallying cry against systemic racism. Here's a scathing indictment of the legal system following an involuntary manslaughter conviction in a controversial shooting. Here's the quote with the highlight . . . We challenge every juror in this case who decided that Cameron Douglas life was worth six years to look in the mirror, said Dr. Vernon Howard, the president of the SCLC Greater Kansas City Chapter. It is unacceptable for there to be 11 white jurors and one Black juror in an urban core case involving black families. There has been no announcement of any formal court filing or appeal, just the letter writing campaign. Legal experts KCTV5 checked with indicate trial judges have some leeway on sentencing but cannot overturn a verdict. Brief aside . . . It's uncertain if he's suggesting that racial quotas for jury duty would solve the problem - Given that system would also encounter inevitable and well-deserved complaints. Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com news link . . . This is a bad idea and kinda seems like a bit of hazing from Fox News in order to stay in their good graces . . . Here's the background . . . "We thought it'd be really fun to do something together and to maybe pull back the curtain a bit on our lives and our family life and just the day-to-day living that we do," Sen. Hawley said. "It's not a political hot takes show, it's not a commentary, but it's really about our life together." It's a podcast "about our story and our adventure," Erin added. "It's about being intentional in marriage and how to raise kids and have that so-called balanced life with career and children and all those sorts of things." Putting spouses and loved ones into the political fray is ALWAYS A MISTAKE and while the junior Senator seems to be garnering some genuine support . . . This podcast reveals that he might be susceptible to believing his own hype whilst chasing a higher media profile. Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com news link . . . A century-old, cast iron statue of the Virgin Mary that once provided inspiration to Roman Catholic worshipers at Immaculate Conception Church now stands as the artistic and spiritual centerpiece of the newly christened Piazza Maria, just a few blocks away from her former home in Johnstowns Cambria City neighborhood. Veda Yowell, 90, of Clinton, passed away on Wednesday, November 17, 2021, at IU West Hospital in Avon, surrounded by her loving family. Veda was born in Parke County on August 30, 1931, to Harry and Angeline Ladiha Crossley. She married her husband, Fred, on July 22, 1949, and together, they Well arrive to PTY from the US (TPA) on Copa (United interline) en route to VVI with a 20-hour layover. Fully vaccinated, with MINSA affidavits in hand, we have a couple of questions: 1. What is the likelihood that we can check our baggage through to VVI and enter with just our carryons? Our first leg is on United from Dulles, and all segments are on the same itinerary. 2. Will we pay any entry/exit fees in Migracion? 3. Were US citizens except my wife is a G4 visa (Bolivian and laissez passe) in the US should we expect this to be equivalent to US residency requirements so that she can forego the necessity of a visa? Thanks for any guidance on these questions! Edited: 25 October 2021, 04:28 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) Hi, my name is Scott C. Waring and I wrote a few books and am currently a ESL School Owner in Taiwan. I have had my own UFO sighting up close and personal, but that's how it works right? A non believer becomes a believer when they experience their first sighting. You witnessed it, your perceptual field changes, so now you need to share it. I created this site to help the UFO community get a little bit organized. I noticed that there was a lot of chaos when searching for UFO sighting reports, so I hope this site helps. I wanted to support those eyewitnesses who have tried to tell others about what they have seen, yet were laughed at by even closest of friends. More and more each day the governments of the world leak bits and pieces of UFO information to the public. They have a trickle down theory in hopes of slowly getting citizens use to the idea that we are not alone in universe and never have been. The truth is being leaked drop by drop until one day we look around and find ourselves neck high in it. The discovery of alien species in existence is the most monumental scientific event in human history, suppression of that information is a crime against humanity. About me: I live in Taiwan. I OWN MY OWN ENGLISH SCHOOL, AND ONCE HAD 5 SCHOOLS. Am Former USAF at SAC base (flight line). Age: 42 Educ: BA in Elem ed. Masters in Counseling ed. I had two UFO sightings, (30+bus size orbs) in military and in 2012 personally saw the UFO over Taipei 101 building on New Years Day (and recored it). Russian occupation forces on October 24 committed four ceasefire violations, including one with the use of weapons proscribed by the Minsk agreements. Thats according to the Joint Forces Operation HQ, Ukrinform reports. "In the direction of Kamianka, enemy armed forces opened fire using 120 mm mortars. Near Svitlodarsk, mercenaries fired automatic easel-mounted grenade launchers. Toward Travneve, the occupiers fired anti-tank grenade launchers," the statement said. Near Novoselivka Druha, the enemy engaged Ukrainian positions with grenade launchers of various systems and large-caliber machine guns. The past day brought no casualties among the Joint Forces. Ukrainian defenders returned fire to the enemy's armed provocations, forcing the latter to cease attacks. As of 7:00 Kyiv time on October 25, no new ceasefire violations were reported. The situation in the zone of the Joint Forces Operation remains controlled as Ukrainian units hold their ground. im The United States' military assistance to Ukraine proves strong and consistent support for our country in countering Russian aggression. "Ukraine got military assistance from the United States. During this week, our country received two batches of additional international security assistance from the United States Government for the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. In particular, ammunition, anti-tank and high-precision weapons, medical equipment, etc. arrived. In total, three batches of military aid arrived this month, totaling nearly $60 million. We are grateful to our American partners. This, along with the visit of Pentagon Chief Lloyd Austin to Ukraine, proves strong and consistent support of the United States in countering Russian aggression," Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal posted on Facebook on October 24, commenting on the results of the week. As reported, on October 22, the third batch of U.S. military aid worth $60 million arrived in Ukraine for the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, including ammunition, anti-tank and high-precision weapons, medical equipment, etc. ol The European Union has provided Ukraine with the second tranche of 600 million in macro-financial assistance. "Following the 23rd Ukraine-EU Summit, EUR 600 million of macro-financial aid were received today from the European Union, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky posted on Twitter, Ukrinform reports. The President thanked European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Commission Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis "for fruitful cooperation and effective support of reforms." "Together were building a European Ukraine," the Head of State stressed. Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal also thanked the European Commission's leadership for "such timely support." As reported, on April 22, 2020, the European Commission endorsed a decision to allocate a macro-financial assistance package of EUR 3 billion to ten candidate countries and members of the Eastern Partnership, to help these countries overcome the economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. Of these funds, EUR 1.2 billion was allocated to Ukraine. EU and Ukraine signed the memorandum of understanding on the allocation of this sum on September 29, 2020. The document contained a number of conditions, including progress in reforms and successful cooperation between Ukraine and the IMF. On December 9, 2020, Ukraine received the first tranche of this macro-financial assistance from the EU in the amount of EUR 600 million. The European Commission pegged the second tranche of EUR 600 million, in particular, to Ukraines progress in strengthening the rule of law and reforming the judiciary. ol Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine (CDTO) Dmytro Senik signed a memorandum of understanding between the Exporters and Investors Council under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and the Jordanian IT Association Int@j. As the press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine informs, the deputy minister met with the leadership of the Jordanian IT Association Int@j during his visit to Jordan on October 25. Senik presented Ukraine's achievements in the field of digitalization and spoke about the Diia City special legal regime for the IT industry, under which IT companies in Ukraine will receive a special tax model, flexible employment terms, and a separate procedure for interaction with government regulators. The parties exchanged experience in the introduction of information technologies and digitalization of public services and discussed prospects for the development of cooperation in the field of IT. Read also: Thales to open its office in Ukraine In order to establish cooperation between Ukrainian and Jordanian IT companies, the parties signed a memorandum of understanding between the Exporters and Investors Council under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine and the Jordanian IT Association Int@j. As a first step in implementing the memorandum provisions, Senik suggested organizing a business forum in 2022 with the participation of Ukrainian and Jordanian IT companies in order to get acquainted with the opportunities and proposals of the Ukrainian IT market and establish direct business contacts. The deputy minister also handed over the cooperation proposals from the Ukrainian IT companies to the executive director of the Jordanian IT Association Int@j. Photo credit: Ministry of Foreign Affairs ol Russia will not be able to prevent residents of the temporarily occupied territories of eastern Ukraine and Crimea from staying in contact with the Ukrainian authorities. Foreign Ministry Spokesman Oleh Nikolenko has made a relevant statement to Ukrinform in response to his Russian counterpart Maria Zakharovas claim about Ukraine allegedly plotting a "provocation." "Russia will not be able to prevent the residents of the temporarily occupied Donbas and Crimea from staying in contact with the Ukrainian authorities. Just as the Soviet occupation forces were unable to prevent contacts between Germans from East and West Berlin. The Iron Curtain policy wont work, Nikolenko said. He noted that the degrading situation in the temporarily occupied territories requires innovative solutions on the part of Ukraine. "Improving the lives of Ukrainians on both sides of the contact line, providing them with quality public services, and strengthening their ties with the rest of the Ukrainian state remains an unconditional priority for President Volodymyr Zelensky," the Foreign Ministry spokesman said. At the same time, he stressed Russias obligation, as an occupying power, to strictly adhere to its international legal commitments and comply with the agreements reached by the Normandy Four leaders. In particular, Russia must meet the basic needs of the population in the territories it effectively controls, including adequate protection against COVID-19, unblock the crossing checkpoints, cease sabotaging the work of the Trilateral Contact Group, guarantee safe and secure access of the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to the entire occupied territory, and ensure full and unconditional access of international organizations, including the ICRC, to all persons held in connection with the conflict, Nikolenko said. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova earlier claimed the Ukrainian authorities were plotting a "provocation" by planning to open contact points for people living in the temporarily occupied territories of Donbas and Crimea so that residents of these regions could reach out to the Ukrainian authorities. On October 22, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, Oleksiy Danilov, announced plans to set up points for direct communication with the president and the authorities on the line of contact with the temporarily occupied territories of Donbas and Crimea. The Ministry of Digital Transformation has been entrusted with creating such centers. At its next meeting, the NSDC is expected to consider the solutions that are set to be proposed. im Integration into NATO now involves matters beyond ensuring Ukraines security, including offering the Alliance its help. Thats according to Yuriy Kochevenko, a Ukraine-based military expert, chief of the International Center for Countering Russian Propaganda, who spoke with Dom TV, Ukrinform reports. The Ukrainian Army is now one of the strongest in Europe and one of the largest even in terms of manpower. Many NATO countries have relaxed to a certain extent and are saving on armaments. Why bother if there is the United States and a massive NATO umbrella? Among our neighbors, only Polands 150,000-160,000-strong Armed Forces of Poland are objective, while the Ukrainian Army has 250,000 forces in its ranks. Meanwhile, other countries armies are much smaller," said the expert. According to Kochevenko, the Ukrainian Army, with its combat experience, numbers, and hardware is a serious force that cant be ignored at the moment, while joint military exercises with NATO Allies prove this point. "And when we were just starting our cooperation with NATO, we still looked at NATO from the bottom up in terms of experience and understanding of command systems. Everything seemed so cool and different from what we had back then. And now that we meet with our NATO partners, when we conduct joint exercises, we are already a match. In addition, many officers from the United States, Lithuania, and Germany express real interest in our approaches, they look into our experience and our methods," he said. Kochevenko. He added that at the moment, there is no model better than NATOs to ensure security of a democratic state. "So we can go to NATO not only for protection, but also to offer our help, offer our shield ... And, of course, this causes tantrums in Moscow, especially when this comes in a package with the efforts by our Georgian partners. In fact, the Georgian army is 40,000 professional, well-trained qualified military, while the population of Georgia is only 4 million. And this is a very significant force for the Caucasus. And together, we are a force that the aggressor power will have to reckon with," the expert said. As Ukrinform reported earlier, the NATO Summit held in Brussels in June 2021 reaffirmed the prospects of Euro-Atlantic integration for Ukraine and Georgia once these countries are ready for such a step and when political agreement on such membership is reached among all Allies. im This year, Europe has learned what the Russian policy is of gas blackmail. Now Europe also knows what Russias "gas blackmail" is energy ministers advisor Thats according to Lana Zerkal, an adviser to the Minister of Energy of Ukraine, who spoke in an interview with RFE/RL's Ukrainian service. She stressed that the current situation in the gas market is "painful for everyone." "In Europe, prices for the 'energy basket,' which includes coal, oil, and gas, have risen by 95%. So now everyone feels what it is. And this will even affect the UN summit, scheduled for late this month, which will be devoted to climate change. Thats because, even though everyone wants to achieve zero emissions by 2050, say, Britain is now returning to coal generation and mothballed stations are being reopened to ensure heating to residents," said Zerkal. According to the official, Ukraine has long been aware of Russias gas blackmail, and this year Europe also learned about it. "As for Ukraine, we really know better than anyone what gas wars are and whats gas blackmail. This year, Europe also learned this. Because they now depend on Putin who supplies more than 40% of gas to the EU," said the adviser to the energy minister. As Ukrinform reported earlier, the Ukrainian government called the latest abnormally skyrocketing gas prices in Europe Russias lever to speed up Nord Stream 2 certification and remove the pipeline from being covered by the EU Gas Directive. On September 10, Russian gas monopoly Gazprom announced the completion of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline construction. It has been laid from Russia to Germany bypassing Ukraine, along the bottom of the Baltic Sea. The sole shareholder in the project is Russias Gazprom. The pipeline is currently awaiting certification by a German regulator. Ukraine, Poland, the Baltic States, and the United States have been opposing the project. The governments of these countries, as well as an influential group of MEPs, believe Moscow is using the Nord Stream 2 pipe as a hybrid energy weapon against Ukraine and the entire European community. Earlier, Polands Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said the ongoing energy crisis, caused by the gas price hike across Europe, is the result of the EU's excessive dependence on Russias energy monopoly Gazprom. im Ukraine expects UN leadership to take a more active approach towards countering Russia's ongoing military aggression. To protect the norms and principles of international law, on August 23, 2021, Ukraine together with 46 countries and international and regional organizations created the Crimea Platform a new international format aimed at de-occupying Crimea and combating Russias hybrid aggression. We expect the UN leadership to take a more active and constructive approach towards countering the ongoing military aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine. Given the role of the UN in the de-occupation of Crimea, in particular in the context of UN General Assemblys adopted resolutions on Ukraines territorial integrity, the militarization of Crimea, and the protection of human rights in Crimea, Ukraine hopes that the UN will join the Crimea Platform, reads the statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine released on the occasion of the 76th anniversary of the United Nations on October 24. The Foreign Ministry notes that it is extremely important to implement efforts to reform and improve the UN, strengthen and adapt it to present-day requirements. In turn, Ukraine is ready to continue to contribute to the success of this important mission. According to the statement, UN organizations, in particular, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), continue to play an important role in supporting the socio-economic reforms in Ukraine, achieving the goals of sustainable development, ensuring the protection of human rights and the rule of law. "One of the most successful examples of our cooperation is overcoming the humanitarian consequences of Russian aggression. We are ready for further cooperation in this area to meet the needs of the affected civilian population along the line of contact and in the temporarily occupied territories," the Foreign Ministry informs. The Ministry points out that the urgent area of activity of the UN in Ukraine is the support for restoration and peacebuilding processes in Donetsk and Luhansk regions to ensure the peaceful and safe reintegration of the temporarily occupied territories and their inhabitants, restore sustainable peace, and avoid occupation in the future. United Nations Day, on October 24, marks the anniversary of the day in 1945 when the UN Charter entered into force. Ukraine was among the 51 founding member countries of the United Nations. ol There are three groups of influence in Ukraine, representing the interests of the Russian Federation, all fighting for supremacy. Thats according to Oleksiy Danilov, the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, who spoke with RBC-Ukraine. "Lets put it this way. What is happening in the Russian direction today? In the Russian direction, there is now colossal infighting for influence in Ukraine among those operating in our countrys territory. There is an ongoing clash between these groups. (Vladimir Putins major political operative Viktor ed.) Medvedchuk was part of one of these groups; he was, so to speak, favored, given that he is Putin's godfather. Now theres an altercation between these groups on who will be the senior here, who will represent the interests of the Russian Federation. Are there many such groups? Im aware of at least three groups that are in squabbles as to who will represent Putin's interests here. The group that broke up was Medvedchuk's, the fourth one," Danilov said. Asked whether it could be the case that Viktor Medvedchuk wins the lawsuits filed against Ukraine with the European Court of Human Rights, Danilov responded: We will not comment on the European bodies and all these issues. Let's see how this goes, when and what arguments will be presented by either side, and then we will discuss the issue. Will they be dealing with this issue? Well, most likely they will because there is enough money to hire expensive lawyers to support the suits, deal with them, and move them forward." At the same time, Danilov noted that Medvedchuk was put under house arrest not because of sanctions the NSDC had imposed earlier. "Sanctions have nothing to do with this as we only took preventive measures. Still, if certain processes were ongoing in 2014, 2015, and 2016, the public should be aware of them. It is necessary to clearly see the consequences of certain actions. By the way, this applies not only to Medvedchuk," he added. As Ukrinform reported earlier, President Volodymyr Zelensky said swapping MP Viktor Medvedchuk for Ukrainian political prisoners illegally held in Russia is possible if it turns out that Medvedchuk holds Russian citizenship. im Germany and France are working hard to set up a meeting of the four foreign ministers in the Normandy format (Ukraine, Germany, France, and Russia), but there is no clear idea when it will eventually take place. Thats according to German Ambassador to Ukraine, Anka Feldhusen, who spoke at a press conference in Kyiv on Monday, October 25, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. "Our French counterparts and I are already working very hard on the possibility of holding a meeting at the level of foreign ministers in the Normandy format. This has been really difficult. At the moment there is no clear idea when it will take place. Were in contact with both Ukrainian and Russian sides," said Feldhusen. She also recalled that Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel, while in Kyiv, promised to work toward organizing a summit of the Normandy Four leaders "every day until the last day in office." As Ukrinform reported, on October 11, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Frances President Emmanuel Macron called on Russian President Vladimir Putin to make progress on the issue of an N4 summit. The interlocutors agreed to instruct their foreign ministers to meet as soon as possible. Commenting on the statement of Ukrainian Minister for Foreign Affairs Dmytro Kuleba who said Kyiv was ready for such meeting, Russian top diplomat Sergei Lavrov claimed President Vladimir Putin had never promised that the foreign ministers would meet but only "promised to instruct (Lavrov - ed.) to consider what should be done to hold such a meeting." Kuleba, in turn, called out Lavrov's argument a "weak excuse" for refusing to hold the foreign ministerial, adding that the Russians then dont understand why no one believes their words anymore." im When the Russian navy realizes they can face a real rebuff, they will lose the feeling of superiority and no longer rattle sabers. At a U.S. Coast Guard base in Baltimore, Maryland, a training course has been completed for the fifth Ukrainian crew to serve on Island-type combat boats that the Americans have handed over to Ukraine to strengthen the countrys defense capabilities at sea. A solemn ceremony where the relevant certificates were issued to Ukrainian crews took place on Friday last week before three boats of this type the Sumy, the Fastiv, and the Kubrak, will be deployed in Ukraine in November. But this is only one of the stages in the buildup of a new, powerful Ukrainian naval fleet. Next year, more modern boats, Mark VI, are expected to be handed to Ukraine. Although smaller in size, they are no worse armed and able to give a real rebuff to Russian aggression in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. FAMILIAR ISLAND-CLASS BOATS The Ukrainian military is already familiar with Island-class boats as two of them, Sloviansk and Starobilsk, have been performing combat missions in the Black Sea since 2019. These are American patrol ships developed in the 1980s, which had long been reliable assets of the U.S. Coast Guard. Since 2014, American forces have begun to shift to newer weapons systems, handing the fleet of their Island-class patrol boats to partners to strengthen their combat capabilities. At present, these types of vessels still remain partially at service in the United States, while some have been moved to Georgia, Pakistan, Costa Rica, and Ukraine. The handover to another country involves re-equipment and training of crews at U.S. naval bases so that they can independently and safely operate the said boats. "The course lasted six weeks," the commander of the Kubrak patrol boat, Senior Lieutenant Serhiy Tukmachev, said during the graduation ceremony in Baltimore. This involved both theory classes and practical exercises on board the boat, including on response to emergency situations - from fire and flooding to rescuing people overboard. The American instructors helped Ukrainians understand all peculiarities of operating the Island-class boats. Also, throughout these almost one and a half months, repair and restoration works, as well as preparation for her transfer to the Ukrainian Navy, was completed. According to the commander, the Kubrak is fully ready for deployment and will soon be delivered to the Odesa port. The graduation ceremony for Ukrainian sailors at the naval base in Baltimore was attended by the American and Ukrainian military, diplomats, and other guests. According to Ukrainian Ambassador to the United States, Oksana Markarova, the event only confirms readiness of Ukrainian forces to defend their country in the face of Russian aggression, including at sea. "Of course, we know and see how capable our crews are, how patriotic, ready, and able they are to defend our sovereignty and our state in the Black Sea," the ambassador stressed. MOSQUITO FLEET CONCEPT Major General Borys Kremenetsky, Defense Attache of Ukraines Embassy in the United States, told the agency that the three Island-type boats currently stationed in Baltimore will be equipped with modern weapons systems, including anti-ship arms. "Weapons will be installed in Ukraine both missile systems and guns," he said. According to the official report of the Ukrainian Navy, the Island-class boats will form a division based in the Pivdenny port just outside Odesa. The unit will not only be able to control the nearby sea area, but also deploy in the Mediterranean to support NATO ships. In addition, the Ukrainian side expects to receive from American partners boats of another class, which will complement the practical concept of the so-called "mosquito fleet." The model was chosen to achieve the most realistic balance of power, in terms of efficiency-cost, in the Black Sea-Azov basin in the face of Russian aggression. The concept provides for the deployment of high-speed and maneuverable combat boats torpedo carriers, patrol boats, those armed with missiles, as well as other types that can effectively deprive larger enemy ships of domination in coastal areas. According to Borys Kremenetsky, the United States "pays a lot of attention to security issues in the Black Sea and Sea of Azov region," so assistance from American partners in this context will continue. ANOTHER CLASS OF MODERN BOATS The new American vessels of another class, on which Ukraine is waiting, are Mark VI, high-speed combat boats developed in 2015. By military standards, they are considered one of the most technologically advanced ones. The decision to start a lengthy procedure for their handover to Ukraine was approved by the U.S. State Department in June 2020. At that time, it was about offering Ukraine 16 patrol boats worth a total of about $600 million. To be precise, this number meant that the United States would transfer ten Mark VIs at its own expense, another four boats would be paid for through a foreign assistance program of the U.S. State Department, and two more could be purchased if required. It was also planned that each boat would be equipped with modern weapons, including two MSI Seahawk A2 25mm automatic guns, "friend-or-foe" identification system, infrared video cameras, and an LRAD (long-range acoustic device), which can also be used as an "extremely loud" non-lethal weapon. These boats can sail at speeds of up to 45 knots, with a range of up to 750 nautical miles at a cruising speed of 25 knots. The maximum distance by sea from Georgia to Bulgaria is about 730 nautical miles, the minimum from the southern coast of Crimea to Turkey is 160 miles. That is, Mark VI boats are able to easily cover the region and significantly strengthen the Ukrainian Navy, which so far remains in an unfavorable position against the Russian fleet. During a visit to Odesa region in July, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that the Ukrainian and American sides are now cooperating on the issue of the Mark VI handover, which will practically launch in 2022. At the same time, according to the president, Ukraine is implementing large-scale joint projects not only with the United States, but also with the United Kingdom, Turkey, and many other friends and partners. Thus, Ukraine continues to gradually increase its combat potential for the defense of maritime areas in the countrys south. This is an important deterrent, especially given the trend of the Russian aggressor to listen only when they are approached from a position of strength. So, if it is possible to face a real rebuff from the other side, the Russian fleet will no longer rattle sabers as they enjoy doing due to power advantage in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. This was clearly demonstrated when a British destroyer, the Defender, in August this year passed along an internationally recognized corridor off the coast of Crimea, the peninsula which the civilized world continues to see as the territory of Ukraine. The United States, Great Britain, Turkey, and other partners are once again sending a clear signal to Russia that they are ready to support Ukraine, which they see as a country that protects the borders of Western democracy in Eastern Europe from Russian aggression. Yaroslav Dovgopol, Baltimore Photo by author im Thales French company, which specializes in the development of high-tech products for defense and security, aerospace, and transportation, will soon open its office in Ukraine. As the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine informs, the company has offices and research centers in 56 countries. Currently, Thales is working towards opening its office in Ukraine and has already appointed Serhiy Romanets as the office director. The company representatives noted that they were interested in the Ukrainian market, seeing great potential for the development and application of their cyber security products. During the meeting of Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Digital Transformation of Ukraine Mykhailo Fedorov with the company representatives, the parties discussed the tools based on artificial intelligence, digital documents, and cyber security. Thales presented cyber security solutions tailored to the needs of the country in the context of forecasting, detecting, and countering cyber threats in vulnerable and critical areas. Fedorov, in turn, highlighted the digital achievements of Ukraine and spoke about the system of cyber defense and countering cyber threats. The ability to counter cyber attacks is critical to every country in today's digital world. This is an area that needs constant improvement and update of solutions. Therefore, Ukraine is interested in sharing experiences, joint exercises, and practical cooperation with other countries. We are ready to actively participate in the international projects," said the Deputy Prime Minister. ol | By Alex Likowski For those of you who have not seen the Community Engagement Center [CEC], I guess I would just say you have to go. Its an unbelievably wonderful facility, University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) President Bruce E. Jarrell, MD, FACS, urged the virtual audience of his regular online program, Virtual Face to Face with President Bruce Jarrell. Its got great people working in it, you can do a lot with the community there. Its our face in the community. The Oct. 28 grand opening of UMBs Community Engagement Center was just one facet of the discussion of the Universitys community engagement efforts with guests Ashley Valis, MSW 06, executive director of community engagement and strategic initiatives, and Wendy Shaia, PhD, MSW, clinical associate professor and executive director of the Social Work Community Organizing Service (SWCOS). Much of the discussion centered on the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. COVID really exacerbated issues that were already present in this city. We knew that before COVID, many of the people we worked with in SWCOS, there were people who were working full time, they were people who were working two and three jobs and still couldnt figure out how to make ends meet, Shaia said. And then COVID came along, and those people who were already on the edge they didn't need much to push them over, right, you don't have a big savings account, you don't have much of a security net. COVID came along, and we found that the needs were exponentially increased. The view from the CEC, which Valis oversees, was just as daunting in the early days of the pandemic, Valis agreed. Youre giving me flashbacks to the early days of COVID, when schools shut down, and we were still in our old facility across the street and we set up stations of learning packets, pre-K to eighth [grade], because we knew our families couldn't just log on to city schools who were still trying to figure out what virtual learning was, she said. The stress that families are under we try to step in, and we did a fabulous job of meeting needs the needs are so great, that you could be 80 hours a week out there, you know, and so I think, as a team, SWCOS, Promise Heights, the Office of Community Engagement, and many, many others, its just important that we recognize that we did so much because we saw the need, but it has taken a toll, I think, on us as well. Valis and Shaia shared with the audience new initiatives, including programs and services at the new CEC and a reorganization of the University of Maryland School of Social Work-led Promise Heights initiative. Audience members also engaged in discussion about the need for greater child care resources, rising concerns about childrens mental health, and ways that students and employees of UMB can contribute or volunteer to help. Watch the entire program by accessing the link at the top of this page. | By Lou Cortina The University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) had a lot to celebrate Oct. 23 during its 2021 Founders Week Gala, which honored individual and team achievements in academics, public service, entrepreneurism, research, and philanthropy while recognizing the Universitys resilience and response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 26th annual Gala was a hybrid event with the theme Dreams in the Making in support of student scholarships at UMBs six professional schools and interdisciplinary Graduate School. President Bruce E. Jarrell, MD, FACS, and Denise Koch of WJZ-TV co-hosted the one-hour event at the Hippodrome, recognizing Founders Week award winners who were in attendance at the historic theater on Eutaw Street while virtual attendees watched the livestreamed festivities from the comfort of their homes. Student of the Year Emily M. Smith receives her award. Perhaps you joined us tonight because you love virtual galas and not getting dressed up, or youre actually home enjoying the event and dressed in your finest whichever way youre participating, I know its because you understand the importance of UMB, Jarrell said in his opening remarks. While this past year has necessitated shifts in how UMB operates to fulfill its mission, it hasnt changed the why its only strengthened it. Across our seven schools, many people work our mission. I cant begin to thank you for the work you put in every day to solve our grandest challenges; to care for our neediest people; to teach, train, and mentor our incredible students; and to support all of our efforts to improve the human condition with a generosity of heart and spirit. The Gala featured three stirring performances from Maryland native Toneisha Harris, the runner-up on Season 18 of NBCs The Voice, who is currently playing Motormouth Maybelle in the touring production of Hairspray. Harris sang Youve Got a Friend, I Know Where Ive Been, and an original, My Superhero, which was written for her youngest son during his successful battle against leukemia. Before her final song, Harris took time to thank those at UMB who have been fighting the pandemic. You have carried us through such a harrowing time while we were so uncertain about what was going to happen, she said. It was the medical professionals who really put us at ease, gave us peace, and helped us understand what we needed to understand. For that, I will be forever grateful. Whether you are on the front lines or behind the scenes, I appreciate the work you do. Also showing their appreciation were three UMB alumni who touted the power of student scholarships and how such support was crucial to their academic success: Dylan Elliott, JD 21, Francis King Carey School of Law; Nicole Hays, MD 21, School of Medicine (UMSOM); and Lori James-Townes, MSW 91, School of Social Work (UMSSW). James-Townes, president of the UMSSW Alumni Association Board of Directors and executive director of the National Association for Public Defense, recounted how a scholarship changed her life. As a first-generation college graduate, it was definitely a blessing to receive those funds. If not for that scholarship, I would not be where I am today, she said. As a result of my experience, my family and I started a scholarship in memory of my aunt, Terrie Alexander, who also studied at the School of Social Work. On another philanthropic front, Jarrell announced that UMBs Catalyst Campaign, a multiyear effort to raise $750 million, has surpassed the $666 million mark, which is 88 percent of the goal. The Catalyst Campaign continues to attract the interest and support of loyal alumni and benefactors to enhance faculty excellence, student scholarship aid, research, clinical initiatives, entrepreneurship, and community engagement, Jarrell said. We can all be extremely proud this evening that the campaign has achieved this stellar milestone. Award Winners The Founders Week award winners were honored in video tributes, with faculty members recognized for their excellence in the areas of entrepreneurism, research, public service, and teaching. A new award honored two Students of the Year for their academic success, leadership skills, and commitment to promoting equity, diversity, and inclusion. Vincent Njar, PhD, professor, Department of Pharmacology, UMSOM, was honored as the David J. Ramsay Entrepreneur of the Year. Njar is a leading medicinal chemist and oncopharmacologist who has made significant discoveries in the development of novel therapeutics for breast, prostate, and pancreatic cancers. He also is among UMBs inaugural Distinguished University Professors, the highest appointment bestowed on a faculty member at the University. The Researcher of the Year, Ronna P. Hertzano, MD, PhD, professor, Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, UMSOM, is a highly respected otolaryngologist, surgeon, educator, and researcher. With significant grants from the National Institutes of Health and other sources, Hertzanos research is focused on developing new therapeutics to prevent and treat genetic and acquired hearing loss. Joshua M. Abzug, MD, associate professor, Departments of Orthopaedics and Pediatrics, UMSOM, was recognized as Public Servant of the Year. In 2015, Abzug founded Camp Open Arms, which allows children with limb differences to enjoy a carefree summer experience. The program in Monkton has grown into a weeklong camp with activities such as hiking, arts and crafts, and visits from musicians, entertainers, and zoo animals. Ten UMSOM faculty members who comprise the Renaissance Curriculum Team were honored as Educators of the Year. The new curriculum devised by the team incorporates information learned from other institutions with UMSOMs strengths and values. The goal of this major revision is to train the Renaissance Physician: lifelong learners who are clinically excellent and possess humanism, professionalism, scholarship, leadership, critical thinking, and attention to social justice and diversity. The inaugural Students of the Year are Jazmin Jones of the School of Dentistry (UMSOD) and Emily M. Smith of the Graduate School. Jones is the Doctor of Dental Surgery Class of 2022 president and attends school on a full U.S. Army Health Professions Scholarship. Smith, a PhD candidate in the Graduate Program in Life Sciences in Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, has been active in the Graduate Student Association since 2017, first as a program representative, then vice president, and president from May 2020 to June 2021. UMB also granted a special award to three UMSOM faculty members for exemplary service during the pandemic: Kathleen Neuzil, MD, MPH, FIDSA, Myron M. Levine, MD, DTPH, Professor in Vaccinology and director of UMSOMs Center for Vaccine Development and Global Health (CVD); Wilbur Chen, MD, MS, professor of medicine and chief of the Adult Clinical Studies section within CVD; and David Marcozzi, MD, MHS-CL, MHS-CL, FACEP, professor of emergency medicine and chief clinical officer and senior vice president for the University of Maryland Medical Center. I thank Drs. Neuzil, Chen, and Marcozzi for their leadership, research abilities, and emergency responses to the COVID-19 crisis, guiding vaccine development across the country and serving as key advisors to Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, the World Health Organization, and U.S. policymakers, Jarrell said. Your commitment and your role in this pandemic have saved so many lives. Philanthropists and Catalysts The UMB Foundation honored Louis F. Friedman, JD 65, and Phyllis C. Friedman, JD 77, with its Distinguished Service Award, which recognizes the achievements of volunteers who have substantially contributed to enhancing and sustaining the University. The Friedmans have been generous supporters of UMB for more than 20 years through their Louis and Phyllis Friedman Foundation and other foundations they manage. The Friedmans have shown a steadfast dedication to higher education and scientific advancement, Jarrell said. As alumni of our School of Law, theyve provided support for the School of Medicines Center for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, the School of Laws Erin Levitas Initiative for Sexual Assault Prevention Endowment, and the School of Nursing through the Herman and Walter Samuelson Foundation Scholarship Endowment. Theyve created and supported professorships, awards, prizes, and scholarships. We are so grateful for their commitment to UMB. The University also recognized the 2021 Catalysts for Excellence, chosen for being powerful advocates for success, achievement, and philanthropy for their respective UMB schools while serving as visionaries for future progress: Melvin F. Kushner, DDS 66, UMSOD Stuart M. Salsbury, JD 71; Suzanne B. Salsbury, JD 73; Benjamin S. Salsbury, JD 07, and Rebecca C. Salsbury, JD 08, Francis King Carey School of Law Richard L. Taylor, MD 75, UMSOM John Bing, CRNA, School of Nursing Victoria Hale, BSP 83, PhD, School of Pharmacy Alumni Association Board of Directors, UMSSW (Read more about all of the award winners and honorees on UMBs Founders Week website.) A displaced Venezuelan family who lost their income during COVID-19 pictured in their home in Santiago, Chile, in May 2020. UNHCR/Hugo Fuentes The collapse of informal economies and loss of jobs across Latin America during COVID-19 lockdowns last year resulted in many refugees and migrants from Venezuela being unable to pay rent and forced into homelessness, according to a new data visualization published on Monday. As of October 2021, a combination of violence, insecurity and a lack of food, medicine and other services in Venezuela had forced more than 5.9 million people to flee the country, creating one of the largest displacement crises in the world. More than 80 per cent fled to other countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, with Colombia and Peru home to the majority. The new data visualization No home away from home was produced by partners of the Inter-Agency Coordination Platform for Refugees and Migrants from Venezuela (R4V), with the support of UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, based on a 2020 survey of displaced Venezuelans who had either been evicted or served with an eviction notice. Three-quarters of those who lost their homes ended up living on the streets. A staggering 80 per cent of those evicted were women, more than half of whom were their familys sole breadwinner. The COVID-19 pandemic has further aggravated the already delicate living conditions of refugees and migrants from Venezuela. In addition to serious health impacts, the health crisis has caused economic disruptions and exacerbated protection risks, said Eduardo Stein, Joint UNHCR-IOM Special Representative for Venezuelan refugees and migrants, in December. In addition to losing the roof over their heads, many evicted families subsequently faced a greater risk of exposure to the virus and found it harder to access basic services including water and sanitation. Other associated risks included discrimination and xenophobia especially against those who are forced to live in the streets exposure to violence, and children dropping out of school or being recruited by armed groups and organized crime. Besides their precarious livelihoods, a key factor making displaced Venezuelans vulnerable to forced eviction was the absence of formal tenancy agreements among more than three-quarters of respondents, leaving them exposed to exploitation and abuse by landlords. The data show that only a third of evicted families and a fifth of those at risk of losing their homes had received some form of assistance to stave off eviction, such as rental subsidies or legal aid. Based on the findings, the R4V partners called on international donors to allocate resources to improving access to adequate housing for displaced Venezuelans, and for organizations on the ground to focus assistance to families that have been evicted or those at imminent risk. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) and UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, say the deaths of 47 people who were onboard a boat heading to the Canary Islands from North Africas Atlantic coast highlight the urgent need for more support to prevent further tragedies at sea. The boat left on 3 August carrying 54 people, including three children. After two days at sea, engine failure left passengers stranded without food or water for nearly a fortnight. When located by the Mauritanian coast guard on 16 August, only seven people were alive on board. Survivors were taken to Mauritanias northern city of Nouadhibou for medical treatment. Four people in critical condition were transferred to hospital. UNHCR is working to provide assistance and to determine whether any survivors have international protection needs. The latest tragedy comes just 10 days after another 40 people lost their lives along the same route. It adds to the spiraling number of deaths, as more vessels depart for the Canary Islands. As of January this year, more than 350 people have died, while over 8,000 refugees and migrants have reached Spain using this sea route. Meanwhile, since October 2020, more than 1,200 people have been rescued off the Mauritanian coast and received medical assistance as part of a first aid programme set up by IOM. IOM and UNHCR are appealing for more support, to be able to continue their lifesaving interventions, including through screening, medical and psychosocial aid. Our top priority is to provide safe and viable alternatives to the dangerous journeys undertaken by refugees and migrants in the Mediterranean, as per the objectives of the Global Compact on Refugees, said Maria Stavropoulou, UNHCRs Representative in Mauritania. UNHCR is working to increase the identification of those with international protection needs travelling along these routes and provide assistance in the countries that host them. IOMs Chief of Mission in Mauritania, Boubacar Seybou, said the organization was concerned that many rescued at sea end up in administrative detention. In accordance with the recommendations included in the Global Compact for Migration, alternatives must also be available to survivors, who have already suffered heavy medical and psychosocial trauma, Seybou said. We are working closely with authorities to accelerate the implementation of new assistance and protection measures, and to strengthen the fight against traffickers and smuggler networks. IOM and UNHCR are urging the international community to support efforts to identify and assist those with international protection and other specific needs, to create safe and legal pathways, establish alternatives to detention, and strengthen search and rescue capacity off the coast of Mauritania. For more information, please contact: UNHCR: In Nouakchott, Josephine Lebas-Joly, [email protected] , +222 28 88 21 05 , +222 28 88 21 05 In Geneva, Aikaterini Kitidi, [email protected] , +41 795808334 IOM: WSU first-year medical students Colton Crawford, left, Leslie Kenefick and Piper Wright study a plastic model of a pelvis in the Human Anatomy Lab on Oct. 15, 2021, as they prepare for a test. The Higher Education Commission (HEC), has invited research proposals from faculty members of Pakistani Public and Private sector Universities, in collaboration with the French counterparts, for funding under the PakFrance PERIDOT Research Programme ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 25th Oct, 2021 ) :The Higher Education Commission (HEC), has invited research proposals from faculty members of Pakistani Public and Private sector Universities, in collaboration with the French counterparts, for funding under the PakFrance PERIDOT Research Programme. According to Official Sources from Research & Development Division HEC on Monday, PERIDOT is the Franco-Pakistani Hubert Curien Partnership (PHC) Programme providing opportunities to Pakistani and French researchers to interact for joint research activities. The programme is implemented in Pakistan by HEC and in France, jointly by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Development (MAEDI), and the Ministry of Higher Education and Research (MESR), the sources told APP. The objective of this programme is to develop new scientific and technological cooperation between French and Pakistani higher education institutions/research laboratories by supporting the mobility of researchers from both sides, they added. Sharing the details of the key features of project, the sources told that the expected number of grants is up to 5 per year, while maximum project duration is 03 years. The priority Areas of the project is Agricultural Productivity and food Security, Nutrition, Health Sciences, Sustainable Energy, Innovative Governance and Reforms. The eligible Pakistani faculty member must prepare a joint research proposal on prescribed application form in collaboration with French counterpart. The Pakistani faculty member must submit the joint proposal via HEC online portal: eportal.hec.gov.pk that must be endorsed by the Head of ORIC/Directorate of Research. The proposal submission deadline is Friday, December 24,2021. For further details of the programme, the applicants may visit HEC and Campus France websites: HEC: https://www.hec.gov.pk/english/services/facuIty/peridot/Pages/defauIt.aspx or www.campusfrance.org/fr/peridot. However, queries regarding the programme may be directed to infoperidot@hec.gov.pk. /395 By Lina Ibrahim DUBAI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 25th Oct, 2021) 'Digital, Smart, & Sustainable' are the three hallmarks that shape the concept of e-lifestyle presented by the Estonian Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai, according to the Commissioner-General of Estonia at the world's greatest show. "Estonia presents the most advanced digital society in the world during Expo 2020 Dubai, where everything can be done digitally except for getting married or divorced," Daniel Schaer told the Emirates news Agency (WAM). "The path through the pavilion will tell you the tale of how we have arrived where we are today, but also how we have done this in harmony with nature," he said. The Estonian pavilion focuses mainly on innovation. The first-floor experience takes visitors into a digital world, while the second floor showcases business opportunities to connect business people. "We need to recognise that despite the pandemic we are going through a big transition from analogue to digital. The global economy is set to transform, starting from cross-border e-governance solutions that strive for safety in the digital economic ecosystem by promoting state-provided interoperable digital ID models," Schaer said. Digital tools will offer new opportunities for growth in a geographically neutral way, and in the coming years, the world will see a truly global goods and services market with data systems that suit distanced working habits, according to the Commissioner-General. "Countries will need to create digital systems and data clouds in a way that they would be bureaucracy free, transparent, and open to cooperation," he added. Speaking about the Estonian pavilion, Schaer said that it has an important place for Estonian educational innovation, which is attracting growing interest from abroad. A smart classroom depicting a modern learning space is shown in the pavilion. "One of the secrets to having a successful start-up and business environment is to develop the smartest people," he said. The Estonian pavilion also organises, and hosts business events based on the thematic weeks, as part of Expo 2020 Dubais Thematic Business Forums, by contributing to the creation of the digital innovation content at these business connection events. Estonia has over 40 partners from various sectors present in its pavilion, with businesses keen to find cooperation partners in the UAE and GCC region, especially in the fields of IT, smart cities, food, furniture, and defence. "GCC is a very fast developing region and Expo 2020 Dubai is a great opportunity for Estonian companies to showcase their innovative and smart solutions to the world," Schaer said. The UAE has become the go-to business destination for Estonian companies looking to expand their operations beyond Europe. Estonia, on the other hand, is becoming increasingly popular among the entrepreneurs of Dubai, offering the perfect balance between the edgiest technology and the grandest nature, two of the keywords for this years Expo 2020 in Dubai. Historically, Estonia has taken a three-pronged approach to its relations with the UAE. It opened an embassy in Abu Dhabi in 2019; inaugurated an office of Enterprise Estonia, the Estonian business hub in Dubai; and is now actively participating in Expo 2020 Dubai. "[We believe] that Expo 2020 Dubai will be the global meeting place for the next 6 months to build a new friendship, discuss global challenges and increase global trade. Estonias track record in being a small country that achieves greatness through digital innovation will allow us to proudly share our knowledge and expertise with the UAE and with other participating countries," he added. Estonian President Kersti Kaljulaid visited the UAE and the Expo site in September 2019 with the largest business delegation ever to accompany an Estonian President. This was recently followed up by a visit by the Estonian Minister of Entrepreneurship and IT Andres Sutt with a business delegation. A Memorandum of Understanding on establishing the UAE-Estonia Business Council was signed by the UAE Federation of the Chambers of Commerce and Industry and Enterprise Estonia. "This is a big step forward in growing mutually beneficial trade and business opportunities between the UAE and Estonia," Schaer concluded. Khartoum, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 25th Oct, 2021 ) :Unidentified armed men arrested a number of Sudanese leaders early Monday, a government source told AFP, after weeks of tensions between the military and civilian transitional authorities. The internet was cut across the country, AFP journalists said, as demonstrators gathered on the streets to protest the arrests. Braslia, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 25th Oct, 2021 ) :President Jair Bolsonaro's government will pursue a confrontational negotiating strategy at the upcoming UN climate summit, renewing calls for other countries to pay Brazil to preserve the Amazon, the vice president said Monday. Vice President Hamilton Mourao, an army general who is Bolsonaro's point man on the Amazon, said Brazil would use the "weapons of diplomacy" to protect what the administration sees as its national interest at the COP26 conference in Glasgow, which opens Sunday. "The Amazon represents around 50 percent of Brazil's territory. If we have to maintain 80 percent of that intact, not only because of our own legislation but also to cooperate with the rest of the world to prevent drastic climate change... we're talking about preserving 10 Germanys," Mourao told journalists. "There has to be a negotiation on the country being compensated for doing that job for the rest of humanity's benefit." Bolsonaro has faced international criticism since taking office in 2019 for a surge in deforestation and fires in the Amazon, and for his government's alleged lack of ambition at international climate talks, including its insistence Brazil be paid for protecting its 60-percent share of the world's biggest rainforest, a vital resource in the race to curb climate change. Brazil has said its efforts to reduce deforestation since 2006 are worth $30 billion to $40 billion. Mourao, 68, said Brazil, the world's biggest exporter of beef -- much of it produced in the Amazon -- had to defend its right to develop its economy. "There's political opposition (to Brazil), our government being a right-wing government and there being a left-wing majority vision in many countries of the world. That creates a political clash," he said. Mourao said Brazil would announce one key advance in Glasgow: a pledge to shave two to three years off its previous committment to end illegal deforestation by 2030. He also sowed confusion on another key issue: whether Brazil will end its opposition to stopping the "double counting" of carbon credits, in which countries that reduce pollution could both sell an emissions credit to another country and count it for themselves. Mourao, who will not be in Glasgow, said he opposed double counting, before clarifying: "It's not my place to reveal the nuances of our (negotiating) strategy. As you know, negotiations are a push and pull."The Glasgow summit, the biggest climate conference since the 2015 Paris talks produced a landmark accord on curbing global warming, is seen as crucial for setting global emissions-cutting targets. Houston, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 25th Oct, 2021 ) :Three children were found "abandoned" in an apartment in the US city of Houston along with a body believed to be their dead brother, which had been in the unit with them for a year, police said Monday. The oldest child, aged 15, told authorities that his nine-year-old brother "had been dead for a year and his body was in the room next to his," the Harris County sheriff Ed Gonzalez said in a Twitter statement. "Deputies found skeletal remains of a small child," he continued, adding in a press conference that authorities were still trying to confirm the age and how long it had been there. Both the surviving younger children -- aged seven and ten -- "appeared malnourished and showed signs of physical injury," Gonzalez said on Twitter, adding that Texan police believe the parents had not lived in the apartment for several months. Their mother and her boyfriend were interviewed by police and released without charge, police said Monday. At the press conference, Gonzalez called the situation "very horrific" and "very tragic."The children were taken to hospital for examination and treatment. The investigation is still ongoing, Gonzalez said. (@ChaudhryMAli88) New York, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th Oct, 2021 ) :Vaccine-reluctant New York firefighters took to the streets Monday to demonstrate against the city's requirement that they get inoculated against Covid-19 or risk losing their jobs. Several thousand municipal workers, mostly firefighters, marched across the Brooklyn Bridge to City Hall in Manhattan carrying placards that read "Do we ask your vaccine status when you call 911?" and "Essential yesterday, unemployed today." Democratic Mayor Bill de Blasio announced last week that all public employees, including police officers and firefighters, will have to get vaccinated by November 1 or they will be placed on unpaid leave until they can provide proof of a shot. They will not have the option of providing a negative test instead, but medical and religious exemptions will be allowed. Only 60 percent of the roughly 17,000 fire department staff have received a shot, according to FDNY statistics, well below the 84 percent of all New York's adults. "I'm not against the vaccine, said John, a 35-year-old firefighter. "I'm just against the mandates. I think mandates are a violation of freedom," he told AFP. "I would never want anybody to feel like they have to disclose their health information to me. " As an incentive, New York City employees will receive an extra $500 in their paycheck if they get vaccinated by October 29. Adriane Williams, who has worked in the offices of the New York Fire Department for 19 years, said she was having to make "a choice between my life and my career." "I have to choose my life," said the 43-year-old. "But I love my career and I shouldn't have to make that choice," she added. Firefighters, wearing t-shirts bearing their station's number and Names of colleagues who died in the September 11, 2001 attacks, chanted "My body, my choice" and pro-Donald Trump slogans as they waved American flags. One sign said "Vaccinated by the Holy Spirit," while in the middle of the procession a man dressed as Jesus carried a cross. De Blasio's order essentially extended a vaccine mandate for public sector teachers and healthcare workers to cover the city's remaining 160,000 employees, 46,000 of whom had not been inoculated as of last week. Also Monday, the Police Benevolent Association, New York's largest union representing police officers, filed a lawsuit challenging the mandate. Niamey, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 21st Oct, 2021 ) :Six soldiers were killed and three wounded in an ambush on a convoy escorting a senior Niger official near the border with Burkina Faso, the governor the region told AFP. The prefect of the Bankilare district was travelling to main city when his convoy fell into the ambush, said the governor of the Tillaberi region, Tidjani Ibrahim Katiella. The governor himself escaped unhurt, he added. The soldiers killed and wounded were members of the national guard. Bankilare borders Seno province in northeast Burkina Faso, part of the troubled three-borders region of Mali, Niger and Burkina Faso, struggling with a deadly surge in violence. While this is the first attack of its kind against an official convoy, the region has been targeted since the beginning of the year by militants groups affiliated with al-Qaeda and the Islamic State group. Most of the attacks to date have targeted civilians. On Monday, militants killed three officers and wounded seven more in an attack on a police post overnight in the Tillaberi region. London, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 25th Oct, 2021 ) :British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday said he was "very worried" that the 12-day COP26 climate summit he will host in Glasgow from later this week "might go wrong". But the UK leader told a special Downing Street press conference with children that he remained hopeful a deal can be done to reduce carbon emissions and limit future temperature rises. "I'm very worried because it might go wrong and we might not get the agreements that we need and it's touch and go," Johnson said, as he fielded questions from the youngsters aged eight to 12. "It's very, very far from clear that we'll get the progress that we need. "It's very, very difficult, but I think it can be done." The British premier said that the gathering running from Sunday to November 12 in the Scottish city was "perhaps the most important summit that this country has had in our lifetimes". It will be the biggest climate conference since the 2015 Paris summit and is seen as crucial in setting worldwide emission targets to slow global warming, as well as firming up other key commitments. Johnson's downbeat assessment follows similar weekend comments by Alok Sharma, the British minister in charge of the talks, who warned success at COP26 would be "definitely harder" to achieve than in Paris. Flanked by WWF UK chief executive Tanya Steele at Monday's kids' event, Johnson said striking a deal would require world leaders each "making some sacrifice". "Each of them have got to agree to do something that's difficult for them -- whether it's stop using coal-fired power stations, or give some money to help the developing world, or start using electric vehicles," he said. "I do think that world leaders are really starting to listen. "I've talked to a lot of them in the last few weeks, and they're making some good commitments," the UK leader said. Pakistan Navy's Rear Admiral Mian Zakirullah Jan assumed the responsibilities as Commander Karachi (COMKAR) during change of command ceremony held here on Monday KARACHI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 25th Oct, 2021 ) :Pakistan Navy's Rear Admiral Mian Zakirullah Jan assumed the responsibilities as Commander Karachi (COMKAR) during change of command ceremony held here on Monday . Rear Admiral Ovais Ahmed Bilgrami handed over the command to newly appointed Commander Karachi, said a news release. Upon assumption of Command, Rear Admiral Mian Zakirullah Jan is now Commander of all training units of Pakistan Navy at Karachi. Rear Admiral Mian Zakirullah Jan was commissioned in Operations Branch of Pakistan Navy in January 1990. The Admiral has an illustrious career with wide ranging Command and Staff experience. His major Command appointments were Commanding Officer 27 Squadron, N3 (Air) at HQ NAVCENT Bahrain, Head of P3C mission USA, Director Naval Aviation and Project Director Eagle Fort. His distinguished Staff appointments include Assistant Chief of Naval Staff (Operational Plans), Directing Staff at NDU, Director General Defence Purchase at MoDP, Chief Staff Officer to Commander Pakistan Fleet, Deputy Chief of the Naval Staff (Admin) and Naval Secretary. Prior assumption of duties as Commander Karachi, the Admiral was serving as Deputy Chief of Naval Staff (Training & Personnel) at Naval Headquarters Islamabad. Rear Admiral Mian Zakirullah Jan is a graduate of Pakistan Navy War College, Lahore and National Defence University, Islamabad. The Admiral also holds MS Degree in National Security and Resource Strategy NDU, USA. The Admiral has been awarded Hilal-e-Imtiaz (Military) by Government of Pakistan in recognition of his meritorious services. During Change of Command ceremony, the Admiral was presented Guard of Honour and introduced to the Commandants/ Commanding Officers of units under Command. The ceremony was attended by Pakistan Navy officers, CPOs/ Sailors and Navy Civilians. :At least four people were killed on Sunday by an avalanche on the Chimborazo volcano in central Ecuador, said the country's Integrated Security Service ECU 911 QUITO, Oct. 25 (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 25th Oct, 2021 ) :At least four people were killed on Sunday by an avalanche on the Chimborazo volcano in central Ecuador, said the country's Integrated Security Service ECU 911. The avalanche fell on a group of 12 hikers as they were climbing the volcano at an altitude of about 6,100 meters, the agency said in a statement. After the incident reported at 06:30 local time (1130 GMT), the Special Operations Group of the National Police, the local fire department and a police helicopter were sent to rescue the hikers, whose nationalities have not been revealed. The access to the Chimborazo Fauna Production Reserve, which surrounds the volcano, has been suspended. Chimborazo is the highest volcano and mountain in Ecuador, with a height of 6,263 meters above sea level. Its snow-covered peak is a popular summit for local and foreign climbers. An exhibition highlighting the long history of Chinese architecture and the great achievements of Chinese construction in the new era was unveiled Monday morning at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center HONG KONG, Oct. 25 (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 25th Oct, 2021 ) --:An exhibition highlighting the long history of Chinese architecture and the great achievements of Chinese construction in the new era was unveiled Monday morning at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center. Chief Executive of China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Carrie Lam and Lu Xinning, deputy head of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR, delivered speeches at the opening ceremony, which was attended by well-known architectural experts from the mainland and Hong Kong, university presidents, and celebrities from different walks of life. Using historical photos, construction models and multimedia content, the show is expected to bring Hong Kong residents an interactive experience of China's unique architectural beauty as well as advanced construction technologies. Scheduled to conclude on Oct. 30, the exhibition is held to celebrate the 72nd anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China and the 24th anniversary of Hong Kong's return to the motherland, as the latest part of "The Spirit of the Times Shines upon Hong Kong" activity series. (@FahadShabbir) HELSINKI (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 25th October, 2021) Finland has not yet received a confirmation of its ambassador's expulsion from Turkey via diplomatic channels, President Sauli Niinisto said on Monday. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan instructed the foreign ministry to declare personae non gratae ambassadors of 10 countries, including Finland, that called on Ankara to release human rights activist Osman Kavala. "As far as I know, Finland has not yet received any information about the ambassador's expulsion through diplomatic channels," Niinisto said at a joint press conference with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, who is paying a visit to Finland. More than 22 million Afghans will suffer "acute food insecurity" this winter, UN agencies said Monday, warning the country faces one of the world's worst humanitarian crises Kabul, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 25th Oct, 2021 ) :More than 22 million Afghans will suffer "acute food insecurity" this winter, UN agencies said Monday, warning the country faces one of the world's worst humanitarian crises. "This winter, millions of Afghans will be forced to choose between migration and starvation unless we can step up our life-saving assistance," said David Beasley, executive director of the World Food Programme. MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 25th October, 2021) A Panama-flagged container ship has been attacked in the Gulf of Guinea as a warship is heading towards the attack site, according to maritime security portal Dryad Global. Reports indicate that the container ship MSC LUCIA was hijacked by an unknown number of intruders 86 nautical miles southwest of the Agbami oil terminal, the portal said, adding that a warship is heading there. Vessels passing through this zone are advised to exercise special caution, the portal says. MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 25th October, 2021) The coronavirus pandemic will come to an end when all the countries start using the available health tools effectively, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO) Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus says. "The pandemic will end when the world chooses to end it. It is in our hands. We have all the tools we need: effective public health tools and effective medical tools. But the world has not used those tools well. With almost 50,000 deaths a week, the pandemic is far from over," Dr. Tedros said on Sunday, in his address to the World Health Summit in Berlin. The WHO chief called on G20 countries that have already vaccinated 40 percent of their population to actively engage in the COVAX mechanism, as well as the African Vaccine Acquisition Trust (AVAT). On Sunday, UN Secretary General Antonio Gutteres called on the G20 countries to help collect $8 billion to ensure a fair distribution of COVID-19 vaccines around the world. Speaking at the World Health Summit in Berlin, Gutteres said that earlier in October, he joined the WHO chief to launch a global strategy for COVID-19 vaccination, which suggests a credible and cost-effective plan to deliver vaccines to 40 percent of people in all countries by the end of this year and 70 percent by mid-2022. Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday urged the Saudi companies and entrepreneurs to benefit from Pakistan's strategic location as well huge investment potential in diverse areas of economy including housing and construction for mutual benefit RIYADH , (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 25th Oct, 2021 ) :Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday urged the Saudi companies and entrepreneurs to benefit from Pakistan's strategic location as well huge investment potential in diverse areas of economy including housing and construction for mutual benefit. He particularly mentioned the mega development projects of Ravi City and Central business District in Lahore and said it was the right time for Saudi investors to benefit from these projects. Prime Minister was addressing the Saudi-Pak Investment Forum organized in cooperation with Saudi Ministry of Investment. The Investment Forum was attended by senior representatives of the leading Saudi companies and entrepreneurs as well as Pakistani businessmen. Besides Saudi Investment Minister Engr. Khalid Al-Falih, the Forum was also addressed by Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Advisor on Finance Shaukat Tarin and Energy Minister Hammad Azhar. more/ssk Poland's prime minister accused the EU of putting a "gun to our head" by demanding his country reverse judicial reforms while threatening sanctions, in an interview published in the Financial Times Monday Warsaw, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 25th Oct, 2021 ) :Poland's prime minister accused the EU of putting a "gun to our head" by demanding his country reverse judicial reforms while threatening sanctions, in an interview published in the Financial Times Monday. Poland is involved in a bitter confrontation with the European Union over a series of controversial judicial reforms. Brussels believes the reforms hamper democratic freedoms but Poland says they are needed to root out corruption among judges. In an FT interview Monday, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki urged the EU to reverse its decision to ask the European Court of Justice to fine Poland over the reforms. "This would be the wisest thing they can do. Because then we are not talking to each other with a gun to our head." Asked if Poland might veto EU decisions in retaliation, he said: "What is going to happen if the European Commission will start the third world war? If they start the third world war, we are going to defend our rights with any weapons which are at our disposal. " Poland's Constitutional Court earlier this month ruled that parts of EU law were incompatible with the Polish constitution. The ruling raised concerns that Poland could leave the bloc. The dispute soured a summit of European Union leaders in Brussels last week at which Morawiecki said Poland was "ready for dialogue" but would not "act under the pressure of blackmail". Several EU leaders at the summit said Brussels should not release 36 billion Euros ($42 billion) in pandemic recovery money that Poland badly wants while the issue is unresolved. The dispute has focused on a new disciplinary chamber for judges that the European Court of Justice has found to be illegal. Poland has promised to close it down but has not yet done so. (@ChaudhryMAli88) Russia on Monday urged Western countries to engage with the Taliban and for the European Union to re-open its embassy in Afghanistan, warning that the country was at risk of descending further into drug trafficking and terrorism Moscow, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 25th Oct, 2021 ) :Russia on Monday urged Western countries to engage with the Taliban and for the European Union to re-open its embassy in Afghanistan, warning that the country was at risk of descending further into drug trafficking and terrorism. The call came after Moscow last week hosted members of the Islamist regime for international talks, and the Taliban agreed to work with Russia, China and Iran on regional security. Speaking to reporters on Monday, the Russian presidential envoy to Afghanistan, Zamir Kabulov, said the European Union would be right to re-open its mission in the country. "European partners should not have left Afghanistan," he said, adding it was "high time" for European diplomats to return. He called on the West to engage with the Taliban to prevent Afghanistan from sliding into chaos and warned that attempts to cut aid would be "absolutely counter-productive". In an effort to survive, Kabulov warned, people in Afghanistan could resort to drug trafficking, terrorism and arms smuggling, pointing to "huge amount of weapons" left behind by NATO troops. "If the West wants this, then they are on the right track," he said. Kabulov also reiterated Russia's calls to unlock funding for the country. Billions of Dollars in Afghan reserves have been frozen in the West to keep cash away from the Taliban after it captured Afghanistan in mid-August. "This is absolutely outrageous," said Kabulov. "Who are they punishing: the Afghan authorities or people? The money should be returned to the Afghan people."Afghanistan's economy is in a parlous state with international aid cut off, food prices rising and unemployment spiking. Kabulov said Russia was preparing to send more humanitarian aid to Afghanistan "in the coming days" but did not provide further details. MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 25th October, 2021) French oil and gas company TotalEnergies and Saudi Arabia's petroleum and natural gas giant Aramco have teamed up to launch two retail service stations in Riyadh. "Aramco and TotalEnergies have launched the first two service stations of their joint retail network in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia's capital, and Saihat, in the country's Eastern Province," Aramco said in a statement. The network includes Aramco and TotalEnergies branded petrol stations that will provide fuel and retail services to motorists. The announcement was made after the signing of a 50:50 Joint Venture Agreement in 2019 between Aramco and TotalEnergies aimed at upgrading a network of 270 service stations and expand the range of available retail services in Saudi Arabia. "With our longstanding partner TotalEnergies, we are creating a premium network that will enhance the experience of Saudi Arabia's motorists and travelers... With our entry into retail, we aim to deliver the best experience possible for customers, while creating opportunities for Saudis to pursue careers in retail and marketing," President and CEO of Aramco Amin H. Nasser said. TotalEnergies CEO and Chairman Patrick Pouyanne added that the opening of the two stations is another means to restate TotalEnergies' partnership with Aramco and marks a new milestone in the company's 10-year presence in Saudi Arabia. The stations are equipped with solar panels and house small convenience stores, a variety of car services, fuel and premium cafes. (@FahadShabbir) UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has condemned the military coup in Sudan and called for the immediate release of Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 25th October, 2021) UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has condemned the military coup in Sudan and called for the immediate release of Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok. "I condemn the ongoing military coup in Sudan. Prime Minister Hamdok & all other officials must be released immediately. There must be full respect for the constitutional charter to protect the hard-won political transition, " Guterres said on Twitter. Earlier on Monday, the information ministry sad that the military took Hamdok to an undisclosed location after he refused to support the coup. (@FahadShabbir) The United States said Monday it was "deeply alarmed" at reports of a military takeover in Sudan Khartoum, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 25th Oct, 2021 ) :The United States said Monday it was "deeply alarmed" at reports of a military takeover in Sudan. "The US is deeply alarmed at reports of a military take-over of the transitional government," said US special envoy for the Horn of Africa, Jeffrey Feltman. "This would contravene the Constitutional Declaration (which outlines the transition) and the democratic aspirations of the Sudanese people," he said, according to a statement on Twitter. (@ChaudhryMAli88) WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 25th October, 2021) US Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Menendez said on Monday that the military coup in Sudan may have long-lasting consequences on bilateral relations with the United States. Earlier on Monday, Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok and his wife were abducted by the military and taken to an unknown location while four cabinet ministers and several other politicians were arrested. Hundreds of people took to the streets of the Sudanese capital of Khartoum to protest the military coup. "The Sudanese military's takeover of the state apparatus is completely unacceptable and will have long-lasting consequences with respect to US-Sudanese relations," Menendez said in a press release. "However, it's not too late to reverse course and stop this attack on Sudan's transition toward democracy." Menendez urged the Biden administration to use every diplomatic tool possible to send a clear message to the Sudanese military that they must end the coup. He also called on the US partners in the Arab world to push for the release of Sudanese government officials, including the prime minister, and a transfer of leadership to a civilian as required under the terms of the transitional constitution. The coup comes more than two years after demonstrators forced longtime president Omar Bashir out of office and put a civilian government in place that was to oversee transition to a democratic rule. Air Force Research Lab awards $6.3 Million contract to USM and Florida State Mon, 10/25/2021 - 10:22am | By: Van Arnold The Air Force Research Lab (AFRL) has awarded a $6.3 million contract to The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) and Florida State University (FSU) to study multifunctional composites to meet the aerospace application needs of the U.S. Air Force and Department of Defense. The grant period is two years, and the funding will be split equally between the two universities. Researchers from the School of Polymer Science and Engineering (SPSE) at USM will partner with the High-Performance Materials Institute (HPMI) associated with the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering (FAMU-FSU Engineering), the joint engineering educational and research institution for Florida A&M and Florida State universities, to study, design, and test large lightweight sample panels capable of scale-up manufacturing to provide multifunctional performance for aerospace applications. The USM team is being led by SPSE Professor Jeffrey Wiggins, and the FSU team will be led by HPMI Director and Professor Richard Liang. The university teams are working closely with materials experts at the Air Force Research Laboratory's materials and Manufacturing Directorate to ensure the panels meet the militarys needs. This opportunity for our students and faculty to collaborate with world-renowned researchers at AFRL and FSU safeguards our mission for preparing next-generation polymer scientists and engineers who are fully prepared to lead strategic future material development programs in areas of national need, said Wiggins. The project emphasizes training of domestic students to develop a workforce of next-generation aerospace composite scientists and engineers to meet an emerging need of highly skilled professionals. The partnership exchanges researchers between the universities, AFRL and strategic industrial collaborators. We are very excited about this project to work on aerospace composite technology, and it is very interesting to explore multifunctionality-by-design approach through this major collaborative effort among academics, AFRL and industrial partners, said Liang, who was recently appointed as FSU Sprint Eminent Scholar Chair. Dr. Vikas Varshney, AFRL Program Manager, noted: This collaboration between AFRL, FSU, & USM is timely given the continued need of incorporating multi-functionality in composites for next generation war-fighter needs, not only from the perspective of optimal microstructural design of composites at lab scale, but to make certain that the desired multi-functionality remains intact during scale-up manufacturing. The joint university team includes faculty members and lead researchers James Rawlins, Jason Azoulay, Yoan Simon, Sergei Nazarenko, Olivia McNair and Jinhai Yang from USM, and HPMI researchers and FAMU-FSU Engineering professors Jin Gyu Park, Rebekah Sweat, Mei Zhang, Arda Vanli and Qiang Wu. USMs School of Polymer Science and Engineering is nationally and internationally recognized for the achievements of its faculty, its level of research excellence and the quality of our students. The school is home to numerous scientific, educational and outreach programs, institutes, and symposia sponsored by private, industrial, and federal agencies To learn more about SPSE, call 601.266.4868 or visit: https://www.usm.edu/polymer-science-engineering/index.php Statewide Event: Picture a Mississippi Scientist Focuses on Diversity in STEM Mon, 10/25/2021 - 10:18am | By: Van Arnold The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) in collaboration with the Mississippi University for Women, Delta State University, Mississippi State University, and the University of Mississippi is hosting a film screening and panel discussion to enhance awareness of gender bias and continued lack of diversity in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. There will be three parallel watch parties Tuesday October 26th from 3 p.m. until 5 p.m. for USM faculty, staff, and students to view Picture a Scientist. The sites include: Hattiesburg campus, Polymer Science Auditorium Gulf Park campus, Long Beach, West Academic Building 200 Gulf Coast Research Laboratory, Ocean Springs, Caylor Auditorium On Thursday Oct. 28, also from 3 p.m. until 5 p.m., there will be a live virtual event and panel discussion featuring scientists from across the state. A keynote address will be delivered by Dr. Loretta Moore from the National Science Foundation followed by a panel discussion featuring Dr. Sabine Heinhorst, Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry and Dean of the Honors College at The University of Southern Mississippi, Dr. Glake Hill, Associate Professor of Chemistry, Physics & Atmospheric Sciences at Jackson State University, Dr. Colleen Scott, Associate Professor of Chemistry at Mississippi State University, and Dr. Davita Watkins, Associate Professor of Chemistry at the University of Mississippi. Videos from our institutional leaders and professors will also be peppered through the event, all hosted by the fun and engaging Maranda Joiner an author, speaker, and former DJ. Picture a Scientist is a feature-length documentary film chronicling a groundswell of researchers who are writing a new chapter for women scientists. Biologist Nancy Hopkins, chemist Raychelle Burks and geologist Jane Willenbring lead viewers on a journey deep into their own experiences as scientists, overcoming brutal harassment, institutional discrimination and years of subtle slights to revolutionize the culture of science. The film also highlights new perspectives on how to make science itself more diverse, equitable and welcoming to all. This is a statewide wide event to highlight the critical messaging in the film focused on understanding and supporting women in STEM. But also to begin the discussion about ways we can acknowledge, adjust, and make ways and policies to support more diversity in our STEM disciplines, said Dr. Gordon Cannon, Vice President for Research at USM. This two-day event will highlight the stories of those captured in the film and then bring it closer to home with the experiences and careers of under-represented minorities in STEM here in Mississippi. For more information: https://www.msdei.org/ To register for the event: https://msstate.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8Jn9itHAHbx0hqm Columns and letters of The Daily Beacon are the views of the individual and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Beacon or the Beacon's editorial staff. President of the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), Archbishop Augustine Akubeze, has expressed satisfaction with the Catholic Caritas Foundation of Nigeria (CCFN) established ten years ago. Josef Ishu Abuja, Nigeria. Speaking over the weekend, Archbishop Akubeze recounted some of Caritas Nigerias milestones. He made the observations during the Holy Mass, marking the tenth anniversary of the Catholic Caritas Foundation of Nigeria (CCFN) also known as Caritas Nigeria. The Archbishop of Benin-City presided over the Eucharist held at the Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria, Durumi, Abuja. Archbishop Akubeze noted that Caritas Nigeria is primarily concerned about helping the poor in the land. In the past ten years, the organisation has touched many lives through its work and advocacy. An organisation come of age During general elections held in Nigeria in 2019 to elect the President, Vice President, House of Representatives and the Senate, Caritas Nigeria single-handedly monitored elections countrywide. This allowed their observation to reflect their true perfection of reality. The Election Monitoring App that they locally created shows the ingenuity of Caritas Nigeria, Archbishop Akubeze stated. At the forefront of environmental advocacy According to the prelate, Caritas Nigeria has been actively involved in food security advocacy and poverty eradication. In line with the call of Pope Francis, Caritas Nigeria has also responded by acting and calling for the respect of our common home, the earth. We also find within the report of Caritas their intervention in conflict management and peacebuilding. Caritas has also been active in the health care services, as reflected in the report. How do we treat the vulnerable in our society? The CBCN President said societys civility is measured not in the number of nuclear weapons a country has but in how it treats its most vulnerable persons. Caritas Nigeria has become the institutional arm of the Church in reaching out to the vulnerable and the needy, declared Archbishop Akubeze. Support Caritas Nigeria Archbishop Akubeze called on both local and foreign partners to continue supporting Caritas Nigeria. We pray God to continue to bless all those associated with Caritas Nigeria and to grant eternal rest to those who have passed away, he said. He thanked the Archbishop of Kaduna, Matthew ManOso Ndagoso, the Board Chair of Caritas Nigeria, for inspiring a dedicated and committed team. German president Frank-Walter Steinmeier meets with Pope Francis at the Vatican on Monday Holy See Press Office communique This morning, 25 October, in the Vatican Apostolic Palace, the Holy Father Francis received in audience the President of the Federal Republic of Germany, His Excellency Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who subsequently met with His Eminence Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin, accompanied by His Excellency Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States. During the cordial talks, the Parties discussed the recent internal political developments within the country. Attention then turned to matters of mutual interest, especially the question of migration and various situations of international conflict, as well as the importance of multilateral commitment to the search for a solution. Exchange of gifts During the encounter, President Steinmeier presented the Pope with an illustration of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Tree of Life, while Pope Francis, for his part, gave the German president copies of his 2021 Message for Peace and the Document on Human Fraternity; a book on the Statio Orbis of 27 March 2020, published by the LEV; and a mosaic of Noah, with a description in German. While the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is embroiled in high tensions in the east, it continues to attempt to assert control over its frontiers, particularly in the western reaches of the mainland, showcasing its determination in securing its borders. On Oct. 23, Beijing approved a law that enforces its strength across its borders. The law is to take effect on Jan. 1, 2022. Border enforcement After a legislative session of the Standing Committee of the National Peoples Congress, the new Land Border Law (LBL) aims to preserve what the CCP claims as the sacred and inviolable sovereignty and territorial integrity of the communist-ruled lands. According to experts and affairs scholars, the CCPs top legislature voted to enact their first national law on the protection and exploitation of the countrys land border areas. According to the government-run Global Times, the law would work on ensuring national security and legal management of matters involving the mainlands borders. This new law will allow the communist government to resolutely safeguard its territories and border security on the ground, as well as oppose any action they deem to threaten them. It also lays out the governments and its leaderships roles in border security, the defensive capabilities of said borders, and the international cooperation between two sides of a border affair. Beijing claims that it will close its borders should armed conflict threaten border security. Following the principle of equality, mutual trust and friendly consultation, it said it will also consult with other countries through negotiations to resolve their affairs. The Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) would carry out border duties, which includes military drills and seek to prevent aggressive or militaristic acts against border security, the law states. Other than its defenses, the law also specifies the need to improve public services and infrastructure, support economic and social development, and decide on the opening of border areas, India Today reported. Under the law, the state will have to support the development and capacity of border towns, where hundreds have already been constructed on the borders of Tibet. Stalemate with India As of Oct. 25, India and Bhutan are the two countries yet to conclude on border agreements with Beijing, while 12 other countries have settled their disputes with the communist nation. The two governments of Beijing and New Delhi have been interlocked in a stalemate along their borders for 17 months, which included a skirmish in the Galwan Valley in easter Ladakh on June 15, 2020. Twenty Indian soldiers and four Chinese soldiers were killed as both sides fought one another with rods and clubs wrapped with barbed wire and rocks. According to Indias Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla, developments along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh have seriously disturbed the peace in the border areas, risking damaging relations between Beijing and New Delhi. Over 3,488 kilometres of the LAC is faced with tense border disputes, and 400 kilometres of tension engulf the China-Bhutan border. From his seminar on Leveraging Chinas Economy on Oct. 21, Shringla also commented on the importance of India and Chinas cooperation to determine the Asian century. We hope that the Chinese side will work with us to bring a satisfactory resolution to the current issues so as to make progress on our bilateral relations keeping in view each others sensitives, aspirations and interests, the foreign secretary said. Other concerns Other than its tensions with India, Beijing has also cited the laws role in the protection against other threats, especially the deluging effects from the Taliban in Afghanistan and COVID-19 spreading from Southeast Asia. The CCP has expressed its concerns regarding possible Islamist movements into the Xinjiang province, where tens of thousands of Uyghur Muslims are being round up by communist authorities and corralled into labor camps, Deutsche Welle (DW) reported. While Beijing promises closer cooperation with the Taliban government, it may face more problems than it solves, according to Eurasia Group President Ian Bremmer. The CCP could potentially face the return of the Uyghur militant group, the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM), which has claimed the lives of Chinese nationals and prompted the need for heightened security. Already hard-hit by COVID-19, the CCP also fears that illegal immigration from Vietnam and Myanmar could also bring in more cases of COVID-19, as the virus strikes provinces close to the borders. A level five atmospheric river (AR) moved into the southern California region over the weekend bringing record-setting rain, causing flash flooding, mudslides and prompting evacuations. The drought stricken city of Sacramento ended a record 212 day dry streak when 5.44 inches of rain fell over 24 hours, a level of rain typically seen in two and a half months. Downtown San Francisco recorded just over 4-inches of rain on Sunday, marking the wettest October day on record and the fourth wettest day of any month since records began in 1849. On Sunday, the San Francisco International Airport recorded just over four inches of rain, raising the monthly total to 5.5 inches, an amount roughly 10 times the average for the month. Reno, Nevada broke its October record as well with 2.82 inches of rain between Sunday and Monday. An AR is a narrow corridor of concentrated moisture in the atmosphere typically a few hundred miles wide and several thousand miles long. At any given time there are three to five of these narrow plumes present within the atmosphere. The amount of water these rivers carry is gargantuan. A single atmospheric river can carry as much water as the worlds largest river, the Amazon River. Flash flood and debris flow warnings prompt evacuations The deluge of rainfall, which brought upwards of an inch of rain per hour in many areas, caused flash flooding and debris flows in the Dixie, Caldor, River and Creek fire burn scar areas. State Route 70, near Tobin, Calif., was closed after a landslide blocked traffic. The area is within the burn scar of the Dixie Fire, which earlier in the year burned nearly a million acres. Landslide on Hwy 70 near Tobin, Ca has the highway shutdown and will likely be for a long duration. #CAwx #wxtwitter #AtmosphericRiver pic.twitter.com/MlBVa19Dyl WXChasing (Brandon Clement) (@bclemms) October 24, 2021 The Santa Rosa Fire Department tweeted video footage of raging rivers as water inundated streets and threatened homes and places of business. Heres a look at a few SR areas impacted by the storm. Thanks to residents for reporting many critical issues, and THANK YOU to our hard-working city crews & public safety personnel who responded all day! Storm info: https://t.co/LQetAF3l4b pic.twitter.com/rwmHAWSmT7 Santa Rosa Fire Department (@SantaRosaFire) October 25, 2021 The Santa Barbara County Sheriffs Office ordered evacuations on Sunday for residents near the Alisal fire burn scar including areas west of Las Flores Canyon, east Mariposa Reina, south of West Camino Cielo and down to the ocean, the Los Angeles Times reported. In some areas, rain turned to snow creating hazardous conditions that prompted the California Department of Transportation to close multiple major roads and passes across the state. The National Weather Service in Sacramento told residents via twitter that for those in the Dixie fire burn area if they had not already evacuated it may be too late to do so. Debris flows are currently occurring and already causing road closures. If you are near a burn scar, it may be too late to evacuate. Do not attempt to cross a debris flow. Take shelter in the highest floor of your home. Here are some debris flow warning signs to be aware of #CAwx pic.twitter.com/pXgebj7z5F NWS Sacramento (@NWSSacramento) October 24, 2021 Official warnings informed residents that warning signs of a debris flow include rushing water and mud, and unusual sounds including cracking, breaking roaring, or a freight train, and told residents to not attempt to cross a debris flow [and to] take shelter in the highest floor of your home. Historic rain not enough to resolve historic drought Prior to the storm more than 86 percent of California was considered in extreme or exceptional drought according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. While the storm is being welcomed by many it is not expected to alleviate the drought conditions in the area. The storms warm nature means less snow fell and snow is more useful from a water resources standpoint since it can easily be stored in the Sierra Nevada as it melts more gradually. That creates a more reliable reservoir of water, The Washington Post reported. Currently, 100 percent of California is still considered to be in Moderate Drought conditions, 87.2 percent is considered in Extreme Drought conditions and 45.7 percent is considered to be in Exceptional Drought conditions, according to www.drought.gov. The U.S. government expects drought to continue or worsen throughout the winter due to an emerging La Nina phenomenon. Representatives from Washington and Taipei recently met to discuss the possibility of Taiwan expanding its participation in the United Nations bloc along with other international forums. China has been blocking Taiwans participation in the United Nations arguing that the island is only a part of the mainland and thus does not deserve separate recognition. A virtual meeting, which took place on Oct. 20, saw the participation of officials from the Taiwan Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the U.S. Department of State. The discussion focused on supporting Taiwans ability to participate meaningfully at the UN and contribute its valuable expertise to address global challenges, including global public health, the environment and climate change, development assistance, technical standards, and economic cooperation, the U.S. State Department said in a statement on Oct. 23. Taiwan used to be a member of the United Nations under the name Republic of China (ROC). But, in 1971, it was voted out and the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) took over. In a speech on Oct. 25 to commemorate the PRC joining the United Nations, Xi insisted that Beijing will always be a protector of international order and builder of world peace. Xis speech came after China sent a record number of planes to intrude into Taiwans Air Defense Identification Zone (ADIZ) in October. Earlier this month, a Taiwanese politician called out the islands exclusion from the United Nations as unfair. This attracted criticism from Beijing, with a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson insisting that General Assembly Resolution 2758 is proof of Taiwan being ineligible to be a part of the UN on its own. The resolution recognizes the PRC as the only legitimate representative of China to the United Nations. However, some American officials are not in support of such a view. The Peoples Republic of China has misused Resolution 2758 Taiwan being blocked for participation in nearly all of the UN activities creates an immense cost, not just for Taiwan, but I think to UN members as well, Rick Waters, the U.S. State Departments deputy assistant secretary for China, Taiwan, and Mongolia, told Nikkei Asia. Relations between the United States and Taiwan have strengthened in recent years while ties between Washington and Beijing have became increasingly heated. President Joe Biden rattled CCP officials when he recently claimed that Washington would support Taiwan in case Beijing invades the island. The White House later went back on Bidens statement, saying that Americas strategic ambiguity policy towards Taiwan has not changed. We urge the US to earnestly abide by the one-China principle and stipulations in the three China-US joint communiques, be prudent with its words and actions on the Taiwan question, and avoid sending wrong signals to the Taiwan independence separatist forces, lest it should seriously damage China-US relations and peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said in response to Bidens remarks. In an interview with the South China Morning Post (SCMP), Shi Yinhong, professor of international relations with Renmin University, stated that Biden is following the Trump administrations policy of boosting official ties with Taiwan. But with Chinas international influence growing, the possibility of Taiwan returning to the United Nations is an uphill battle. The United States hopes that through long-term activities, Taiwans international space will gradually expand and Chinas international influence on the Taiwan issue will face setbacks The United States and its allies, in terms of military, political, economic, and diplomatic measures to support Taiwan, may have a relatively large impact, Shi said. Lawmakers in Cambodia on Monday approved an amendment to the constitution barring Cambodians with dual citizenship from holding high government office, a move initiated by Prime Minister Hun Sen and directed at prominent opposition politicians. The government says the measure is meant to show officials loyalty to their homeland and avoid foreign interference. Several opposition leaders hold dual citizenship, while none of the top members of Hun Sens party is known to hold dual nationality. The move is the latest volley in a long struggle for power between Hun Sen, who has led the country for 36 years, and his political rivals from the Cambodia National Rescue Party, which had been the sole credible opposition force until it was disbanded by the Supreme Court. Unsupported assertions by Sam Rainsy, the self-exiled founder of the opposition party, that Hun Sen sought to purchase citizenship from the European nation of Cyprus triggered the prime ministers anger. Cypriot nationality has been available through large investments in the island nation. Sam Rainsy has feuded bitterly with Hun Sen for years. He holds French citizenship and has been living near Paris to avoid imprisonment in Cambodia on charges he says are politically motivated. This law would be custom-tailored to target me, as Hun Sen made it clear that as a reprisal against me, he wants to definitely block me from the premiership, Sam Rainsy said on his Facebook page earlier this month. Most top leaders of the opposition party fled Cambodia in late 2017, when Hun Sen launched a sweeping crackdown on critics and the high court disbanded the party and removed its lawmakers from Parliament. It is widely believed the court acted to ensure victory for Hun Sens party in the 2018 general election, which it ended up sweeping. Several Western nations have imposed sanctions on Hun Sens government, mainly after concluding that the election was neither free nor fair. The constitutional amendment, covering the posts of prime minister, the speakers of the upper and lower houses and chair of the Constitutional Council, was passed unanimously by the National Assembly with 111 votes. Hun Sens Cambodian Peoples Party holds all 123 seats in the lower house and 12 of its lawmakers apparently were absent. The change will come into effect after being approved by the Senate and signed by King Norodom Sihamoni, both considered formalities. Sam Rainsys accusation on Facebook that Hun Sen sought citizenship from Cyprus was based on an assertion in a story in the British newspaper The Guardian that the prime minister was discovered to have been among the thousands of non-Europeans who received a Cypriot passport. There is no evidence that is true, and the newspaper later corrected the statement. The TV news network Al Jazeera and other media have reported that leaked documents from Cyprus show that Hun Sen's niece as well as some Cambodian officials and cronies applied for or received Cypriot nationality. Nations focus on Chinas actions. Asking the Taliban to keep promises. Protesting Chinas Olympics. Tough holiday shopping. The business of Asian food. Vending New York dumplings. Jim Stevenson hosts VOA Asia. The URL has been copied to your clipboard The code has been copied to your clipboard. Watch Africa 54 for the latest after Sudanese Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok was put under house arrest in what appears to be a military coup. Africa 54 brings you the newest videos from the streets of Khartoum and instant analysis from top experts. Ugandan human rights activists have welcomed President Yoweri Museveni's condemnation of torture allegedly committed by police and the armed forces. However, rights activists say they are skeptical whether Museveni will back up his words by prosecuting security forces accused of abuse. Describing his security officers as lazy, Museveni said in a televised address Saturday night that he wanted to discuss human rights concerns. Museveni warned security forces against barking at or beating suspects, detaining suspects for long periods in jail and deporting foreigners without trial, saying it disadvantages the country. He asked for videos to be played of suspects arrested in the trial of the attempted assassination of former Chief of Defense Forces General Edward Katumba Wamala. One video showed a suspect sobbing in court, saying he was beaten with various canes, which made him say things he shouldn't be saying. Other videos showed graphic images of people allegedly tortured by security forces, including a man with raw wounds on his back and another man limping out of court, as well as a police officer running after a woman and beating her repeatedly. Museveni blamed the torture on acts by individual officers and the failure of senior commanders to instruct junior officers on what should and shouldn't be done. According to Museveni, the abuses damage the legitimacy, history and achievements of the National Resistance Army that brought him to power and the ruling National Resistance Movement Party. "Beating captives is wrong. Why? You undermine your case in court when the court discovered that you got information through torture. Secondly, on account of beating, somebody may admit what is not true. Torture, assassination, et cetera, are used by lazy people that are not ready to do more work using gaps in the stories of the criminals if they are telling lies," he said. Museveni promised to eliminate such torture and use the law to uproot the culture of reactionary behavior in the armed forces. However, Livingston Sewanyana, executive director of the Foundation for Human Rights Initiative, expressed doubt that Museveni's words will be followed up with real change. He said Museveni often changes the rules to suit his goals, leaving questions as to his sincerity and commitment. "There's still a class of people who are increasingly being untouchable, and the president needs them for his political survival," Sewanyana said. "So, much as he comes out as strong, with warnings, he definitely does not live (up) to his words. And the way politics is played here, it is all about who has the president's ear." Samuel Herbert Nsubuga, CEO of the non-government organization the African Center for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture Victims, told VOA that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they have not had access to any prison facilities. But he said the situation of torture in the country is prevalent, and the president needs to act. "But the issue is those images he showed. I would like those people who did that to the suspects to be prosecuted in the courts of law. There's that gap which we really want the justice institutions to fill," Nsubuga said. Sewanyana insisted that Museveni's pronouncement was triggered by the need to restore the country's image and the realization that torture has a negative impact on the economy. Uganda's reinstatement of a coronavirus lockdown through the end of July is squeezing the ability of many people to earn a living. Street market traders are forced to bicycle, walk long distances or just sleep in the market. With coronavirus infections soaring and hospitals overwhelmed, Uganda has reimposed a lockdown on transportation through the end of July. Buses have been shut down, driving requires a permit, and only essential workers are allowed into Kampala. While the aim is to save lives, making a living is once again a struggle for traders like Saudha Namaga, one of many forced to sleep in the market. She wants Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni to ease the restrictions. "We are selling rotten produce. All the bananas, as you can see, we dont have buyers," said Namaga. "So, we are asking the president, and those who talk to him should tell him, to relax the orders. Those who are able to walk to town should be allowed to come and buy. The situation is even worse for shops not selling food, which Ugandan authorities ordered closed. Ugandan police are being deployed to enforce the commands. Area chairman Bashir Muwonge says without help, many shops wont survive. "If you keep imposing a lockdown, what do you think is going to happen? This means the countrys economy is falling because there is no work being done," said Muwonge. "We have been appealing to the president to help by suspending rent payments. The economy is crashing because people can no longer maintain their businesses, even when you reopen. Ugandans living in the countryside are forced to walk for hours to get to town. Lydia Nambogo walked more than five kilometers to withdraw money from her savings to feed her family, but the bank office was closed. "Ive been selling takeaway food, and Ive been earning little money to take care of my family," said Nambogo. "But weve been locked down, and we dont know whats coming next. The government isnt going to give us food again. They should at least give us some of our little savings. With Ugandas first lockdown in March 2020, the government gave flour and beans to the urban poor, which many hope will be repeated. Ugandan Prime Minister Robinah Nabbanja says they are going to identify the vulnerable. "We are going to use a simple, some simple means of delivering support to you," said Nabbanja. "And the vulnerable people are known. Meanwhile, many Ugandans can only wait for this latest wave of COVID-19 infections to recede while doing their best to keep their heads above water. For the first time in a laboratory, Australian scientists have produced tadpoles more tolerant of climate change. A team from the University of Western Australia has cross-bred frogs from wetter regions with other species from drier areas to make them more resilient. Researchers in Australia want to give nature a helping hand. They have warned that climate change poses an enormous threat to many of the worlds frogs. Genetic traits that allow a type of amphibian called a crawling frog to survive in regions with lower rainfall, researchers say, could be passed on through breeding. Theyve mixed frogs from drier parts of south-western Australia with others from wetter areas. Sperm and eggs from four different crawling frog populations that occur in areas with various levels of rainfall were used in the experiment. The effort produced tadpoles that were better adapted to climate change and had increased tolerance to dry conditions. The world-first laboratory trial has been reported in the journal, Communications Biology. Jodi Rowley is a lead scientist at the Australian Museums citizen science project and an expert in amphibians. She believes that frogs need help to meet the challenges of global warming. It does seem a little bit like we are acting God, in some ways, but at this point it is some of the only ways that we are going to be able to have these amazing frogs in the future. The times of just leaving things alone to be protected in these areas [are] not going to work anymore. You know, climate change is moving faster than the frogs are able to adapt themselves. So, we are going to have to do [things], like potentially move animals from one place to the other. Or in this case, give them a little genetic advantage to allow them to be able to persist in this new world that they are going to be living in, Rowley said. The University of Western Australia team said that more trials would be needed before these crossbreeding techniques could be applied in the wild to reduce the risk of species extinctions. Rainfall in south-western Australia has declined in the past 40 years, and its a trend that is expected to continue. The project to boost the climate resilience of crawling frogs was part of research by the Australian governments conservation initiative, Threatened Species Recovery Hub. It has examined ways to help at-risk species adapt to climate change. U.S. President Joe Biden said Monday he is "very optimistic" on completing a deal this week on his pared-down social safety net spending plan, an assessment echoed by one of the centrist Democratic lawmakers who has been holding back on his support. Biden told reporters in Delaware that his Sunday meeting with West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin, who has sought sharp cuts in Biden's original $3.5 trillion package, "went well." They discussed final details in the package that could be trimmed to about half that amount, with Manchin insisting on a $1.5 trillion figure. "A few more things to work out, but it went well," Biden said. Later, Manchin said that he believes there will be a "conceptual framework" on Biden's package later in the week. Even with the spending cutbacks, it would amount to one of the largest expansions of the U.S. government's social safety net for American families since the 1960s. But it remained unclear where the other Democratic holdout, Senator Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona, stands on the pared-back version. She has opposed Biden's plan to raise taxes on corporations and individuals earning more than $400,000 a year. Subsequently, Biden and key Democratic lawmakers are now proposing to ramp up enforcement against tax cheaters to increase government revenue and craft new tax increases that would target the estimated 700 U.S. billionaires. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen told CNN on Sunday that the legislation would take aim at "exceptionally wealthy individuals" and likely tax their unrealized capital gains that now are only taxed when they sell assets. The support of both Manchin and Sinema, the most politically moderate lawmakers in the Senate Democratic caucus, is essential if any Biden social safety net legislation is to win congressional approval. With the 100-member Senate equally split between Republicans and Democrats, all 50 Democrats would need to support the legislation, added along with the tie-breaking vote of Vice President Kamala Harris. Currently, no Republicans support the legislation. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the leader of the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives, told CNN on Sunday that even at half its original size the package is "still bigger than anything we have ever done in terms of addressing the needs of America's working families," with universal pre-kindergarten schooling and tax credits for all but the wealthiest parents. She said 90% of the measure "is agreed to." As details of the social safety net plan are finalized, the House leader said her plan is for the chamber to vote later this week on a bipartisan trillion-dollar infrastructure measure already approved by the Senate to fix the country's deteriorating roads and bridges and expand broadband internet service throughout the United States. "I'm optimistic we can do that," she said. The infrastructure spending plan drew the support of 19 Republicans in the Senate, along with that of all 50 Democrats, but progressive Democrats in the House blocked its passage there until agreement could be reached on the social safety net legislation that they consider a bigger legislative priority. Health care activists in Cameroon are visiting homes, markets and farms this month, encouraging women to get free screenings for breast cancer. The central African state says the number of women diagnosed with breast cancer has risen sharply over the past year because many women delayed screenings for fear of COVID-19 infections. The push to increase screenings is part of this year's breast cancer awareness month in October. Civilians, mostly women, visit various neighborhoods in Yaounde asking people to go to hospitals for free breast cancer screening. Each group of a dozen people includes medical staff members, representatives of healthy living organizations, cancer patients and their family members. Among those participating is 24-year-old Amin Ruth Tabi of the Noela Lyonga Foundation, a Cameroon-based NGO. The foundation's main objective is giving hope to persons who have lost hope either due to frustration, stress or ill health. Tabi says she wants to stop people from dying from breast cancer. "Every female seven to ten days after menstruation is supposed to conduct a breast self-examination to look for abnormal nodules, redness, fluid coming from the nipples, orange skin appearance on the breast because breast cancer is treated well and quickly when it is noticed at an early stage," she said. Cameron's Health Ministry said several thousand women came out in at least 11 towns including the capital Yaounde, the commercial capital Douala and the English-speaking western towns of Kumba, Buea, Limbe, and Bamenda Kumbo. Claudette Mani, 36, says she was diagnosed with breast cancer in December 2020. She says thanks to prompt medical intervention and assistance from NGOs, her life was saved. "I was so isolated, I was so weak, looked very bad and I felt like it was the end of the world," she said. "At first just from my looks you will know that I have a problem, but now I am healthy, strong, and looking good. They [humanitarian groups] brought in doctors, educated us on how to feed ourselves, how to do exercises, to stay strong, eliminate the fact from our heads that we have this breast cancer and be focused on our dreams." Cameroon's Association of Cancer Patients says breast cancer patients suffer from prejudices. Family members often think breast cancer is some sort of divine punishment for wrongdoing. The association says because of either illiteracy or lack of financial means, families abandon members diagnosed with breast cancer. Cameroon's Health Ministry says screening programs with mammography can lead to earlier diagnosis, and that coupled with effective treatment, will lead to reductions in breast cancer mortality. Cameroon reports that in 2019, 3,000 of the 5,000 patients diagnosed with breast cancer died. In 2020, the number of breast cancers diagnosed rose to over 7,000 with close to 5,000 deaths. Professor Paul Ndom is president of Cameroons National Committee for Cancer Prevention. Ndom says many people neglect going to hospitals for consultation because breast cancer is not painful at its early stages. He says people at high risk of developing breast cancer are women who smoke cigarettes and drink alcohol, women who are not physically active and women who refuse to visit hospitals for fear they will be exposed to COVID-19 infections. Ndom said the government of Cameroon subsidizes treatment for people diagnosed with breast cancer. The October Breast Cancer Awareness month campaign was launched by the American Cancer Society and Imperial Chemical Industries to encourage women to get regular screening for breast cancer. The month-long activities educate women to reduce their breast cancer risks, be screened and seek medical attention if a suspicious lump is detected. After experiments aimed at assimilating ethnic minorities in Tibet, Inner Mongolia and Xinjiang, the Chinese government now is moving to apply its cultural assimilation policy for managing all minority populations by eliminating classroom instruction in native languages. Late last month, Beijing released an updated blueprint for childhood development that removed a guarantee of the rights of minority children to be educated in their native language. The new China National Program for Child Development (2021-2030), released on September 27, omitted previous directives such as "respect and protect the rights of children of ethnic minorities to be educated in their own language." Authorities changed the wording to "promoting the common national language." The result is that children who belong to ethnic minorities likely will be taught to read and write Mandarin Chinese, instead of their native language in the classroom. Eliminating or reducing the use of a language is one of the widely used tactics of forced assimilation. Imperial and Soviet Russia attempted to quash the use of Ukrainian, Polish, Lithuanian and Belarusian. England asserted control over Wales, Scotland and Ireland by banning schooling in those languages. Authorities banned the use of Hawaiian in public schools after American interests forced Queen Liliuokalani to abdicate in 1893. China's latest revision goes against UNESCO policy, which has encouraged mother tongue instruction in primary education since 1953. Numerous academic studies back that position, according to the Global Partnership for Education, which distilled the research in a 2014 blog post, saying in part, "Children are more likely to enroll and succeed in school if they use their mother tongues." VOA Mandarin contacted the Chinese Embassy in Washington for comment on the new policy but did not receive a response. Pan Mei-Lin, a professor at the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences at the National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University in Taiwan, told VOA Mandarin that China's latest policies will gradually phase out the unique cultures of the targeted minority groups. "From the perspective of the Han Chinese, it is to increase national unity, but it's real consequence is a kind of cultural extinction," she told VOA Mandarin in a phone interview. There are dozens of ethnic minority groups in China but more than 90% of the total population belongs to the Han ethnic group. What is regarded as Chinese culture is Han culture. Yang Haiying, a cultural anthropologist and professor at Shizuoka University in Japan, said the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has been quietly expanding the new assimilation policies. The current expansion marks a departure from the recent official policy toward ethnic minorities. In the 1980s, Beijing began promoting their cultural autonomy and worked to reduce socioeconomic inequality between minorities and Han Chinese. That position was a form of redress for the persecution and pressure to assimilate that minorities underwent during the upheaval of the Cultural Revolution from 1966 to 1977. And although the drive to promote cultural autonomy appeared to benefit many minorities, efforts to Sinicize minority groups have been ramped up under President Xi Jinping. The coronavirus has helped Sinicize minority enclaves. Unable to travel outside China due to pandemic restrictions, Han Chinese tourists are visiting minority areas. "The CCP has a strategy of commodifying the culture of ethnic minorities in an attempt to neutralize their unique and distinct identities," said Joyce Ho of the Human Rights Foundation in an October 1 op-ed in The Hill. Yang told VOA Mandarin in a phone interview that as of early September, Chinese authorities already had changed a few regulations for kindergartens and elementary schools in central Hubei Province, home to several ethnic minorities. According to Yang, the local regulations were revised to eliminate the right of minorities to use their own language in schools in favor of Mandarin Chinese, the nation's official language. "The reason being they're Tujia and She ethnic minority groups in Hubei, and the population is very small. The calculation is that there would be less reaction to these assimilation policies, and it can serve as a pilot program for extending these policies to other ethnic minorities later," he told VOA Mandarin. Yang said that in the past, it usually would take a year or two for authorities in Beijing to extend pilot programs to all provinces. "But now you see they are really speeding up these efforts, they don't even bother to say that 'we respect the rights of the minority groups'," Yang added. Tibet, Inner Mongolia and Xinjiang Among the 56 ethnic minorities in China, Tibetans, Mongolians and Uyghurs have been the most outspoken against Beijing's repressive policies. The Diplomat reported in April 2020 that Beijing was using the social monitoring developed to contain the pandemic to increase surveillance in Tibet. Just over a year later, the Wall Street Journal reported in July that Beijing was increasing surveillance and restrictions for the 6.3 million Tibetans in China. The traditional artworks in school were all replaced by portraits of Xi Jinping. German anthropologist Adrian Zenz is the author of "Tibetanness" Under Threat?, a study of the modern Tibetan education system. According to his research, as of 2015, all Tibetan schools had stopped recruiting teachers who teach in the Tibetan language. After collecting job advertisements by the local government for more than 10 years, Zenz concluded that Mandarin Chinese, not Tibetan, is the primary instructional language in Tibet. Official Chinese media has disputed his work and called Zenz "a swindler in academic disguise." The United Nations defines "any deliberate act committed with intent to destroy the language" as linguistic genocide, which in the 1948 International Convention for the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, is one aspect of cultural genocide, and a crime against humanity. Kelsang Gyaltsen Bawa, the Tibetan government-in-exile's representative to Taiwan, told VOA Mandarin he's worried about the future of the Tibetan language. "Before, 70% to 80% of those who live in Tibet can speak the Tibetan language fluently," he said. "Now, among young Tibetans, 9 out of 10 don't know how to write our own language." A similar linguistic erasure is occurring in Xinjiang, home to the Muslim Uyghurs. Ilshat Hassan Kokbore, director of Chinese Affairs at World Uyghur Congress, a Germany-based advocacy organization, told VOA Mandarin that in big cities, few young people are able to speak the Uyghur language. He added that after years of China's assimilation policy in Xinjiang, it has become difficult for locals to preserve their language, culture and identity. "We are working hard to preserve our language and culture overseas, and we need other countries and allies to help us stop the CCP from destroying our cultural heritage," he told VOA Mandarin. In Inner Mongolia, ethnic Mongolian parents and students staged a large boycott in 2020, protesting a new bilingual education policy that requires schools to use national textbooks in Mandarin starting in the first grade of primary schools and in middle schools, replacing the current Mongolian textbooks. Temtsultu Shotsood is the chairman of Southern Mongolia Congress, an NGO headquartered in Tokyo aimed at promoting the rights of Mongolians. He told VOA Mandarin the protests have led to the arrest of over 5,000 people. The CCP "thinks that after the arrest[s], the situation is stable now. But the truth is that Mongolians are angry. They might have no channels to express their dissatisfaction for now, but on the international stage, we are reasoning with them [the CCP], we are telling them this is cultural genocide," he told VOA Mandarin in a phone interview. The Chinese Constitution states that "all ethnic groups in China have the freedom and right to use and develop their own spoken and written languages." Anthropologist Yang of Shizuoka University predicts Beijing's next step will be to change the constitution. "The CCP is now amending local regulations, and the next step is to change the constitution, getting rid of the language that all ethnic groups have the right to use their own languages," he said. "I suspect then very likely, all the autonomous regions will be changed to provinces as well." The Missing Voices coalition, consisting of 16 civil rights groups whose mission is to end disappearances and killings in Kenya, met Sunday with mothers of victims and other survivors of police abuse in Nairobi. The coalition also launched They Were Us, a book on the subject. The coalition said it documented 119 police killings and 23 enforced disappearances between January and September 2021. Police deny the accusations. Forty-eight-year-old Lilian Njeris son and two others were killed in May 2018, allegedly by police in the Kiamaiko area of Nairobi. After the killing of my son, I wanted to commit suicide. My other son asked me who would take care of him if I killed myself. I drank a lot. Since I joined the womens network whose children were killed, it helped me heal and defend others, she said. The mother of two said she reported the matter to the Independent Police Oversight Authority, or the IPOA, a body mandated to check on the work of the police. The IPOA advised Njeri to file the case with the other two victims, in hopes of bolstering the investigation and getting convictions. However, Njeri says she is still looking for one of the mothers. In September, five officers were charged in Nairobi with murder over the death of a man killed in September 2018. The man was arrested for possessing illegal alcohol and IPOA investigators concluded that he died of multiple injuries inflicted with blunt force. The court ordered the officers involved to be held until December 6. Last month, the chairperson of IPOA, Anne Makori, told Kenyan editors the court is handling 98 cases of police abuses against the public. Since 2010 IPOA said there have been eight police convictions. The Missing Voices consortium, a group investigating unlawful killings, said 167 people were killed or disappeared in 2020.It says 157 of those deaths were as a result of police killings. Kenyas police spokesperson Bruno Shioso says these allegations are unfounded. Its wrong to say police have killed youths because we dont have that data, that information. These are wild allegations but when you tell them to come forward and bring proof or something tangible about nobody comes. So, it is very hard for us to react to something without any evidence. But we tell people if they are sure the police are complicit in any criminal undertaking let them come forward, let them make a formal report to us and we pick it from there if they cant come to us, they can go to the oversight authorities, he said. Aileen Wanjiku works with Missing Voices, the organizer of Sundays book launch, shining a light on the stories of police victims. She told VOA most families have yet to see justice for the deaths of their loved ones. There is a challenge and problem even getting investigated, just pushing it in a court is an issue and when we get to court, there is that delayed justice So, the reason many of these cases havent been investigated, pushed or documented its because a lot of witnesses dont want to come forward because the protection of witnesses is lacking significantly. So, you see cases where witnesses are killed for coming forward, said Wanjiku. Josephine Akoth, 50, is one of those featured in the 64-page book. Her son, Sylvester Onyango, disappeared in August 2015. The mother of six recalls that on the day he vanished, massive police operations were taking place in the Dandora area, an eastern suburb in Nairobi, and its surroundings where he worked as a public bus driver. Akoth says she has gone through a lot, and she is requesting the government to help her search for her son and to help her know whether he is alive or dead. She says even if he has died, she would like to know where he was killed. At least she can collect the remains and bury them, she says. Last month, 16 mutilated bodies were retrieved in Garissa County from the River Tana, the longest river in the country. Hundreds of families went to the area in hopes of identify the remains of missing loved ones. Uganda has suspended all flights coming into the country from India after recording new variants of the coronavirus, including the COVID-19 variant from India. The ban began Saturday at midnight. The new directive follows the Ministry of Health researchers detecting one case of the coronavirus disease, an Indian variant, in the East African country. India has so far recorded more than 18.8 million COVID-19 cases, with deaths topping 200,000 in the past week with new infection cases surpassing 400,000. Dr. Jane Ruth Aceng, Ugandas minister for health, outlined the travel restrictions. All passenger flights between Uganda and India are suspended until further notice, she said. No travelers from India shall be allowed into Uganda, regardless of the route of travel. Aceng stressed that all travelers who may have been in India or traveled through India in the last 14 days, regardless of route taken, will not be allowed into Uganda. She said Uganda has so far recorded 399 cases out of the five variants circulating in Uganda. Other variants identified include variants from Nigeria, the United Kingdom and South Africa. Minister Aceng says even though the epidemiological distribution and impact of these variants in Uganda is currently unknown, experts continue to study the progression. Mohan Rao, head of the Indian Association in Uganda, a community-led organization, said that even though the cancelation of flights is going to affect trade and other engagements, the association welcomes the move. Rao said his group has written to the Ministry of Health seeking permission to carry out a sensitization drive among the Indian community. He has been sending text messages to members of the community and also wants to have community meetings. These are allowed in Uganda, as long as people wear masks and social distance, with a limit of 200 people at a time. Back in March, India was one of the countries that donated 100,00 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine to Uganda as it kicked off distributing vaccination among frontline workers, such as health care professionals and other service providers. In an address to the country in March, President Yoweri Museveni noted it was becoming riskier for a country like Uganda to depend on external vaccine support to curb the spread of COVID-19. India now has got very big rise in the cases, the president said. They are in a very big crisis. They are struggling to solve their own problems and here we are waiting also in line to get support from them. This is not correct. Since March 2020, Uganda has recorded 41,866 COVID cases and 342 deaths. Ethiopia conducted two air strikes in Tigray on Sunday as the government intensifies a nearly week-old campaign of aerial bombardment against the rebellious forces who control most of the region. One strike hit the western Tigray area of Mai Tsebri, targeting a training site of the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), government spokesperson Legesse Tulu said. The other hit the northern Tigray town of Adwa, targeting a military manufacturing facility controlled by the TPLF, the government said in a statement. "I can confirm there was a successful air strike in Mai Tsebri targeting training site of illegal recruits of the TPLF and a depot of heavy artillery," Legesse said. It was not immediately possible to verify the claim as communications are down throughout most of war-hit Tigray. TPLF spokesperson Getachew Reda told Reuters he had verified with colleagues that an air strike hit near a local hospital in Mai Tsebri. Getachew said there were no casualties to his knowledge. He said he had no information about the strike on Adwa. "The government makes it sound as though all of the Tigray region is a training center. It doesn't make any sense, we don't have all these training centers." "Today in Adwa, a center that the terrorist group TPLF was using to manufacture military equipment was destroyed by an air strike," the Government Communications Service said in a statement posted on Facebook. Ethiopian federal forces and forces loyal to the TPLF have been fighting for almost a year in a conflict that has killed thousands of people and displaced more than 2 million. Mai Aini and Adi Harush Refugee Camps, which host thousands of Eritrean refugees, are both in the vicinity of Mai Tsebri. Legesse said the refugee camps were not affected by the strike. Representatives from Ethiopias Administration for Refugee and Returnee Affairs and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen told British lawmakers Monday that the social media giant "unquestionably" amplifies online hate. In testimony to a parliamentary committee in London, the former Facebook employee echoed what she told U.S. senators earlier this month. Haugen said the media giant fuels online hate and extremism and does not have any incentive to change its algorithm to promote less divisive content. She argued that as a result, Facebook may end up sparking more violent unrest around the world. Haugen said the algorithm Facebook has designed to promote more engagement among users prioritizes and amplifies divisive and polarizing extreme content as well as concentrates it. Facebook did not respond to Haugen's testimony Monday. Earlier this month, Haugen addressed a Senate committee and said the company is harmful. Facebook rejected her accusations. "The argument that we deliberately push content that makes people angry for profit is deeply illogical," said Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg. Haugens testimony comes as a coalition of new organizations Monday began publishing stories on Facebooks practices based on internal company documents that Haugen secretly copied and made public. Haugen is a former Facebook product manager who has turned whistleblower. Earlier this month when Haugen addressed U.S. lawmakers, she argued that a federal regulator was needed to oversee large internet companies like Facebook. British lawmakers are considering creating such a national regulator as part of a proposed online safety bill. The legislation also proposes fining companies like Facebook up to 10% of their global revenue for any violations of government policies. Representatives from Facebook and other social media companies are set to address British lawmakers on Thursday. Haugen is scheduled to meet with European Union policymakers in Brussels next month. Some information in this report came from the Associated Press and Reuters. The Canadian Coast Guard said Sunday that a fire spewing toxic gas from a container ship had been "stabilized" and that it now planned to deploy firefighters to the vessel to quell the rest of the blaze. The Zim Kingston is anchored off the city of Victoria in British Columbia, in the Strait of Juan de Fuca which marks the maritime border between Canada and the United States, according to the marine tracking site MarineTraffic. It was bound for Vancouver when the fire broke out, with the blaze reported to the Coast Guard at around 11:00 pm local time Saturday, CBC News reported. A total of 16 people were evacuated from the ship, with five remaining onboard. The Canadian Coast Guard announced Sunday that the fire had now "been stabilized", while saying that strong West Coast storms expected for Monday could thwart plans to send firefighters aboard. "Depending on weather tomorrow (Monday), hazardous materials firefighters will board the ship to fight any remaining fires and ensure the fire is out," the Coast Guard said. Accounts vary as to the extent of the fire, with the Coast saying the blaze "broke out in ten containers" while the vessel's Cypriot owner, Danos Shipping, saying it occurred in two. Despite the "toxic gas" that the Coast Guard said was emanating from the ship, there was no current risk to people on the shore, it insisted. The fire was caused by "excessive listing due to extreme weather," Danos has said, adding that no injuries were reported. The firm said it was sending claims adjusters on board "to ensure that conditions are appropriate for the safe return of the vessel's crew." Emergency tow vessels, tugs and the Canadian Coast Guard were set to monitor the ship overnight to ensure that it remains secured. Although the ship did not present an immediate risk to land, such as an oil spill or toxic tide, teams were set to continue to monitor the situation, particularly in light of the strong gales that are expected. To extinguish the fire, a tugboat had sprayed cold water on the hull, the Coast Guard said, explaining that "due to the nature of chemicals onboard the container ship, applying water directly to the fire is not an option." According to Radio-Canada, 40 containers were lost in the Pacific Ocean during the incident, with the Canadian Coast Guard and its American counterpart working together to recover them. The container ship is carrying more than 52 tons of chemicals, the broadcaster said. The followers of French television talk-show provocateur Eric Zemmour like to compare him to America's former President Donald Trump, believing he is the man to shake up France. And they were delighted by an opinion poll published Friday suggesting that the 63-year-old Zemmour, an apologist for the Vichy regime which collaborated with Nazi Germany during the Second World War, could edge out far-right champion Marine Le Pen to secure a second-round face-off with President Emmanuel Macron in next April's election. Zemmour, who has been convicted twice in France for spreading racial hatred, was in characteristic colorful form as the poll came out, describing at a rally in Normandy the English as "our greatest enemies for a thousand years." And even though he says he likes the Trump comparisons, he had critical words for the United States, too, saying the 1944 Allied landings may have freed France from the Nazis but that it was also an enterprise of "occupation and colonization by Americans." Later he told reporters: "I understand that the Americans and the English want to be considered as liberators but it's they who supported Nazi Germany against us [between the wars] because they considered that France had too much influence in Europe." But he added that it was in the past and he praises Britain for leaving the European Union. Zemmour, the son of Jewish Algerian immigrants who fled to France during Algeria's war for independence, has yet to declare his candidacy in next year's presidential race. Nonetheless, he is already shaking up the election and, according to his detractors, adding toxicity. Unconventional views Next year's French election had seemed settled with a likely rerun of 2017, when Macron draws support from across the political spectrum to rout Le Pen. Few had expected the controversial Zemmour to emerge as a candidate. His views on French history have drawn widespread condemnation, including his praise for the Vichy regime, which he says protected French Jews by handing to the Germans only foreign-born ones. That claim is hotly disputed by professional historians and his take on recent history has been denounced by leading members of France's Jewish community, including Noemie Medar, president of the Jewish association Fonds Social Juif Unifie, who says Zemmour "lies about historical realities." Zemmour, onetime host for the French right-wing channel C-News, is now running second and ahead of Le Pen in some opinion polls, apparently doing a better job of attracting both traditional Conservative voters and far-right supporters in a union des droites, or right-wing alliance. Some French commentators wonder whether he can beat Macron in a runoff, saying that with France in such a volatile and angry pandemic mood a surprise Black Swan event, like a terror attack, on the eve of the vote could give him a winning surge. "His profile, his strategy and the state of public opinion are reminiscent of the election of Donald Trump in the United States in 2016," according to journalist Bernard Gorce of La Croix, a daily Catholic newspaper. Even so, few believe that even if he blows Le Pen out of the way in the first round of voting in a crowded field of competitors, he has the potential to deny Macron reelection. Hurt or help Macron? Macron is polling consistently first in opinion polls, coming in with support from around a quarter of likely voters, and in a run-off not one poll has indicated he would face a serious challenge from Zemmour, or Le Pen for that matter. In fact, Zemmour's name on the ballot could persuade more left-wing voters to come out to back Macron. Not that Emmanuel Macron's aides want to highlight that. They have a vested interest in talking up Zemmour as a political threat. While not admitting it publicly, they acknowledge the electoral rise of the maverick talk-show pundit and so-far undeclared candidate is a blessing in disguise for the embattled French President. They estimate Zemmour, an anti-migrant critic who wants foreign first names banned in France and immigration stopped, will boost Macron's reelection fortunes and possibly ensure him a bigger win than otherwise. "Zemmour helps us," an aide told VOA. Last week, Le Pen, leader of the National Rally, made light of Zemmour's challenge, pouring doubt on the accuracy of opinion polling. "We know very well that we cannot actually measure the opinion of the French," she said during an interview with BFMTV. She added she was afraid of no one. But her support is waning, as Zemmour's backing grows. "We are witnessing the collapse of the very heart of the electorate of Le Pen," Jean-Daniel Levy, of the pollster Harris Interactive, told Le Point magazine. Zemmour focuses on immigration and Islam. In September on CNews, he announced: "Young people of immigrant backgroundare all thieves, they are all murderers, they are all rapists." He also targets so-called elites and Brussels, Washington, and London, saying France should shrug off their influence. Citing Charles de Gaulle, the legendary late French President, he says France should withdraw from NATO's integrated military command structure as De Gaulle did in 1966. Nicolas Sarkozy returned France to the command structure more than a decade ago during his presidency. Gay rights and the 'feminization' of the West are among his other themes. "We are caught between exuberant Islamic demography and this deconstructive discourse in the name of the so-called equality of men and women, in the name of freedom of homosexuals," he said last month at a populist gathering in Hungary. He also warned in Budapest about whites being replaced in their countries and urged them to have more kids. The pundit, and author of more than a dozen bestsellers mainly on French decline and how to restore France to greatness, makes much of Le Pen's poor chances of beating Macron, arguing anti-Macron voters should give him a chance. "She cannot win. She made the wrong strategic and tactical choices," he said recently. Whether his support will continue to grow is a subject that divides pollsters and commentators, with some arguing that if he does declare formally, he will at some stage or other have to come up with detailed policies on the economy, pandemic control, taxes and government spending which could all too easily shatter his current electoral coalition. A German woman received a 10-year prison sentence Monday for allowing a young Yazidi girl, who was being kept as a slave in Iraq by the woman and her husband, to die of thirst in the hot sun. German authorities said the 30-year-old convert to Islam, identified only as Jennifer W., was a member of Islamic State in Iraq. The Higher Regional Court convicted the defendant on charges including membership in a terrorist organization abroad, aiding and abetting attempted murder, attempted war crimes and crimes against humanity. According to German news agency dpa, federal prosecutors accused Jennifer W. of letting the 5-year-old Yazidi girl die after the woman's husband, an Islamic State fighter, chained the girl in a courtyard unprotected from the heat. Prosecutors said the defendant's husband was punishing the girl for wetting her mattress. Islamic State views the minority Yazidis as heretics. In 2014, IS fighters killed scores of Yazidi men in Iraq during an onslaught on the Yazidi town of Sinjar. IS also enslaved thousands of women and girls in acts that amounted to genocide, according to the United Nations. Judge Joachim Baier said the child was "defenseless and helplessly exposed to the situation," adding that the defendant "had to reckon from the beginning that the child, who was tied up in the heat of the sun, was in danger of dying." German media reported that the defendant, who is from Lohne in Lower Saxony, was raised as a Protestant but converted to Islam in 2013. She traveled to Iraq through Turkey and Syria in 2014 to join Islamic State, according to The Associated Press. According to prosecutors, Jennifer W. was a member of IS's armed "morality police" in 2015 and patrolled public parks in Fallujah and Mosul for women who did not conform to the group's strict dress and conduct codes, AP reported. The defendant was taken into custody in 2016 while trying to renew her identity papers at the German Embassy in Ankara, after which she was deported to Germany. Prior to her sentencing, the Federal Prosecutor's Office demanded that she serve a life sentence, while the defense asked for a maximum of two years in prison. Some information for this story comes from The Associated Press and Reuters. The husband of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a British Iranian held in Iran since 2016, began a hunger strike Sunday to denounce the British government for "also letting us down" and failing to secure her release. Richard Ratcliffe plans to spend the night in a tent outside the Foreign Office, a week after his wife lost her appeal on a second jail term in Iran. In an online petition with more than 3.5 million signatures, Ratcliffe said he began his hunger strike, his second since 2018, to force Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his government to "take responsibility" for his wife's fate. Tehran "remains the primary abuser in Nazanin's case," but "the U.K. is also letting us down," he said. The reason, he said, is his family "is caught in a dispute between two states" over an old debt of 400 million pounds that London refuses to settle since the Shah of Iran was ousted in 1979. "Two years ago, I went on hunger strike in front of the Iranian Embassy, on the eve of Boris Johnson taking over as Prime Minister," Ratcliffe wrote. "Two years ago, we were allowed to camp in front of the Iranian Embassy for 15 days, much to their considerable anger," he said. "But it got Gabriella home," he said, referring to the couple's now 7-year-old daughter who had originally traveled to Iran with her mother. "We are now giving the U.K. government the same treatment," he said. "In truth, I never expected to have to do a hunger strike twice. It is not a normal act," Ratcliffe said. "It seems extraordinary the need to adopt the same tactics to persuade government here, to cut through the accountability gap. "It is increasingly clear that Nazanin's case could have been solved many months ago, but for other diplomatic agendas," he said. "The PM (Johnson) needs to take responsibility for that. Who does the Government answer to for the choices it makes? Who takes responsibility?" Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, a 43-year-old project manager, who lived in London with her husband and daughter, has been held in Iran since 2016 and served a five-year sentence. In late April, she was sentenced to another year's imprisonment and banned from leaving the country for a further 12 months. Her family fears she will soon return to prison, which she had been allowed to leave with an electronic bracelet in March 2020 amid COVID-19 concerns. Zaghari-Ratcliffe is one of a number of Western passport holders being held by Iran in what rights groups condemn as a policy of hostage-taking aimed at winning concessions from foreign powers. The project manager for the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the news agency and data firm's philanthropic arm, was arrested in April 2016 while visiting family. She was convicted of plotting to overthrow the regime, a charge she strenuously denied. She completed that sentence in March this year, only to be slapped with a fresh one-year jail term for "propaganda against the system." The U.K.'s then-foreign minister, Dominic Raab, condemned the second sentence, saying that Iran's treatment of Zaghari-Ratcliffe amounted to torture and she was being held unlawfully. Chinas is extending its space program to other countries in ways that its superpower rival, the United States, finds hard to match and that stand to isolate the U.S. on earth, experts say. The vehicle propelling Beijings international plans for space diplomacy, the Shenzhou-13, blasted off Friday with a crew of three onboard. The spacecraft is the core module of China's space station and will stay in space for six months. State-run Xinhua News Agency said this journey begins the longest spaceflight ever for China. The crew will check all space station systems and help complete its construction by the end of next year. The space station will become a platform for deeper international cooperation and welcome foreign astronauts, the Beijing-based China Daily news website said. My sense is that this is good PR for China, said Marco Caceres, director of space studies at the Teal Group market analysis firm. Already, you see that there is a space race developing between the U.S. and China. China launched its first satellite in 1970 and put its first astronaut in space in 2003, becoming the worlds third nation, after Russia and the United States, to do so. U.S. officials, among others, worry that China is looking to space for military use and would need to get congressional approval for any Sino-American space cooperation. Sino-foreign space cooperation Experts say Chinas outreach to other countries goes beyond PR. China builds high-end satellites for developing countries and shares satellite data to help with relief work after natural disasters. In the 1990s, China and Brazil jointly developed remote sensing satellites, as Brazil was willing to share its technology then with China, said Yun Sun, co-director of the East Asia program at the Stimson Center in Washington. As of 2008, China has signed space-related cooperation agreements with Argentina, Brazil, Canada, France, Malaysia, Pakistan, Russia, Ukraine and the European Commission, NASA said. Last year, Chinese ally Pakistan became the first full military partner eligible to use Beijings BeiDou navigation satellite. China offered remote sensing data to Japan after its 2011 tsunami and has given images to Australia for wildfire damage surveys, Sun said. Chinese satellites have provided free earth imagery to developing countries, she added. It sounds like the data collected by these satellites are quite a popular or needed data for many countries, Sun said. So, for developing countries who dont have the access to commercial satellites or information to be shared by Western countries, then China provides a useful alternative. Russia and China tentatively agreed in September to open a joint lunar research base, making both sides more influential. China also sells launch services abroad, said Richard Bitzinger, a U.S.-based visiting senior fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore. China is reliable, open to sharing technology and positioned to undercut the competition, he said. Bitzinger said partner nations might see joint space exploitation as a logical next step. I think more than anything, what theyre trying to say is, Were the low-budget provider. Were the no-questions-asked guy. Were happy to treat you more as equals than maybe the United States might, Bitzinger said. For a lot of countries, there just isnt really a political or strategic downside in dealing with the Chinese in these areas. Cooperation has already begun between China and some other countries for selection and training of astronauts, China Daily said October 16. The newspaper said the China Manned Space Agency is working with the U.N. Office for Outer Space Affairs to invite certain U.N. members for scientific experiments at the Tianhe space station module. The Chinese space station is likely to do thousands of experiments in micro-gravity and could accept countries unable to reach the international space station, Caceres said. When China invites other countries to its own space station, then of course China will be the leader. So, it demonstrates Chinas leadership willingness, as well as leadership capability and high-tech capabilities, to show that China can rival even the United States and Russia and the European Union all of the most advanced industrial countries, said Alexander Vuving, professor at the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies, in Hawaii. Chance to exceed the United States U.S. space programs are less active than China in helping poorer countries, Caceres said, and its inactivity could be hurt as China shares outer space with other governments. Developing countries normally want the cheapest launch and satellite services, Bitzinger said. While they might prefer the quality of an American product, they could more likely afford one from China. That means the United Stated could lose an advantage. A 2011 U.S. law bars NASA from using its funds to engage the Chinese government and affiliated organizations without congressional and FBI approval. Washington believes Beijing to be extremely aggressive in space, Caceres said. Washingtons role in the International Space Station has put its 60-year-old space program in contact with agencies from Russia, Europe, Japan and Canada. In 2013, the government removed satellite technology from a list of export-controlled items to help manufacturers compete overseas. But the United States prioritizes space competition less now than during the Cold War, Vuving said. NASA did not answer a request for comment. The U.S. State Department plans to establish a bureau of cyberspace and digital policy in the face of a growing hacking problem, specifically a surge of ransomware attacks on U.S. infrastructure. State Department spokesperson Ned Price said a Senate-confirmed ambassador at large will lead the bureau. Hackers have struck numerous U.S. companies this year. One such attack on pipeline operator Colonial Pipeline led to temporary fuel supply shortages on the U.S. East Coast. Hackers also targeted an Iowa-based agricultural company, sparking fears of disruptions to Midwest grain harvesting. Two weeks ago, the Treasury Department said suspected ransomware payments totaling $590 million were made in the first six months of this year. It put the cryptocurrency industry on alert about its role fighting ransomware attacks. United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for the immediate release of Sudans detained leaders following an apparent military coup. There must be full respect for the constitutional charter to protect the hard-won political transition, Guterres wrote on Twitter, referencing the landmark power-sharing agreement that Sudans military and civilian leaders signed in 2019 after months of deadly protests. His remarks came as military forces Monday arrested Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok and other officials. Lt. General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan also declared a state of emergency and announced the dissolution of a joint civilian-military council, known as the Sovereign Council, that has run the country for the past two years. In a lengthier statement issued through a spokesperson, U.N chief Guterres said, Sudanese stakeholders must immediately return to dialogue, and engage in good faith to restore the constitutional order and Sudans transitional process. White House deputy press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, speaking on Air Force One, said the United States is deeply alarmed at the reports of the military takeover. We reject the actions by the military and call for the immediate release of the prime minister and others who have been placed under house arrest. The actions today are in stark opposition to the will of the Sudanese people and their aspirations for peace, liberty and justice, she said. The United States continues to strongly support the Sudanese people's demand for a democratic transition in Sudan and will continue to evaluate how best to help the Sudanese people achieve this goal," Jean-Pierre added. The Sudanese Professionals Association, a group consisting of trade unions, called on the public Monday to occupy the streets to protect the transitional government. The association was instrumental in organizing protests that led to the 2019 deal. Separately, the Arab League and Egypt echoed remarks calling for political agreements to be upheld, as did the African Union. "The Chairperson calls for the immediate resumption of consultations between civilians and military ... The Chairperson reaffirms that dialogue and consensus is the only relevant path to save the country and its democratic transition," African Union Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat said in a statement. Detained Prime Minister Hamdok, an economist and diplomat who has worked for the U.N., was named the transitional prime minister in August 2019. The interim government took power following the ouster of longtime dictator Omar al-Bashir, who was arrested during widespread street protests. The country is preparing for elections late next year and, under the constitution, Hamdok is forbidden from running. Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called remarks by Iran's foreign minister a "big mistake," Sunday, a week after audio emerged of the minister bemoaning the military's influence on diplomacy. Top diplomat Mohammad Javad Zarif, a long-standing key member of moderate President Hassan Rouhani's Cabinet, made the remarks in a three-hour confidential conversation first published by media outlets outside Iran a week ago. The recording provoked anger from conservatives. But moderates have questioned who stood to gain from the leak, as presidential elections loom and amid pivotal talks seeking to revive a hobbled 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers. "The country's policies are made of different economic, military, social, scientific and cultural plans, including foreign relations and diplomacy," Khamenei said in televised remarks. Saying "that one part denies the other or contradicts is a big mistake that must not be perpetrated by officials of the Islamic republic," the supreme leader added. Khamenei did not explicitly cite the leaked audio or Zarif's name, but the comments, in the last few minutes of an hourlong speech, were clearly targeted at the foreign minister. The supreme leader emphasized that "nowhere in the world is foreign policy devised by the foreign ministry." The diplomatic apparatus is only "the executor" of decisions made at higher levels, he said, noting that decisions are made by the Supreme National Security Council. 'Final word' Zarif said in the recording that "the military field rules" in Iran and that he had "sacrificed diplomacy for the military field rather than the field servicing diplomacy." On Sunday Khamenei said, "some of these remarks are a repeat of hostile remarks of our enemies, repeating America's rhetoric." The U.S. and Iran have been at loggerheads for decades, but tensions ratcheted significantly during the administration of former President Donald Trump. Trump three years ago unilaterally abandoned the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers, imposing biting sanctions that have prompted Tehran to progressively abandon its commitments under the deal. He also presided over a U.S. airstrike last year in Iraq that killed top Iranian general Qasem Soleimani, the commander of the Revolutionary Guards' foreign operations arm. Remarks by Zarif on the widely revered Soleimani in the leaked audio have hit a particular nerve among conservatives. Hours before Khamenei's speech, Zarif had taken to Instagram to seek forgiveness from Soleimani's family. Then, late Sunday, the foreign minister said that Khamenei's remarks "are the final word and the endpoint for expert discussions." "I hope that with the help of God, me and my colleagues will be able to work with one mind and heart alongside other public servants for the perfect implementation of the supreme leader's orders," Zarif added. He said Sunday he was "very sorry" that his "personal views" were published and exploited by Iran's "ill-wishers" and upset the supreme leader. 'Making enemies happy' The foreign minister had previously described his leaked comments as his "understanding and analysis." The leak came as remaining parties to the 2015 nuclear deal -- Iran, China, Russia, France, the UK and Germany -- were in Vienna seeking to bring the U.S. back on board. Under President Joe Biden, the U.S. has signaled a willingness to return to the deal and the Vienna talks have sparked cautious optimism, notably from Russia as a third round adjourned this weekend. President Rouhani, who is approaching the end of his second and final term, on Wednesday said the audio leak was timed to sow discord in Iran, just as the Vienna talks were "at the height of their success." Sudan's military seized power in an apparent coup Monday, with a top general declaring a nationwide state of emergency and announcing the end of a joint civilian-military council that ran the country for the past two years. Lt. General Abdel Fattah Al-Buhran made a televised address after military forces arrested Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok and other officials of the formerly ruling Sovereign Council. The general said he dissolved the council and the government due to "political quarrels that were threatening the security of the country," and announced that a "new government of technocrats will soon be appointed." Journalist Michael Atit, who is in the Sudanese capital, told VOA's South Sudan in Focus that thousands of protesters flooded the streets of Khartoum following reports of Hamdok's arrest. He reported hearing gunfire and seeing tires burned in the streets. The Sudan Doctors Committee said that two people were killed when security forces opened fire on the protesters. Atit said most telecommunications in Khartoum have shut down, including the internet and radio stations. Only a state-owned television station was on the air, broadcasting patriotic music. The events were a sharp turnaround from what many hoped would be a transition toward a civilian-led, democratic government in Sudan, where former president Omar al-Bashir ruled with an iron fist during 30 years of rule that ended with his ouster by the military in April 2019. "Those in support of a military takeover will argue that this is a 'correcting' of the path of the revolution, but I think many who have had their hearts set on a transfer of power to a full civilian rule will see this definitely as a setback," said Isma'il Kushkush, an independent journalist and former East Africa reporter at the New York Times. "I see this as a setback for the transition into a democracy," Kushkush told VOA. Hamdok, an economist and diplomat who has worked for the U.N., was named the country's transitional prime minister in August 2019. The transition won strong support from Western countries, including the United States, which removed Sudan from its state sponsors of terrorism list. But Hamdok has faced stiff resistance from elements of Sudan's military. On September 21, forces still loyal to al-Bashir used tanks to block a key bridge and attempted to seize power. The coup was put down and dozens of soldiers were arrested. US embassy, AU Commission react U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres, the African Union and the Arab League were among those expressing alarm and dismay Monday at the latest events in Sudan, and calling for the country to stay on a path toward civilian rule. The White House said it is "alarmed" by the developments. "We reject the actions by the military and call for the immediate release of the prime minister and others who have been placed under house arrest. The actions today are in stark opposition to the will of the Sudanese people and their aspirations for peace, liberty and justice," said Deputy White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. The U.S. embassy in Khartoum warned Americans in Khartoum to shelter in place. Last week, thousands of protesters took to the streets to voice concern about the prospect of a return to military rule. "This country is ours, and our government is civilian," protesters chanted. The Sudanese Professionals Association, an organization made up of trade unions instrumental in organizing the protests, called on the public Monday to go out and occupy the streets to protect the transitional government. "It is a major blow to the democratic experiment in Sudan," said Cameron Hudson, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council's Africa Center, an expert on Sudan and former White House Africa director. The apparent coup comes a day after U.S. Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa Jeffrey Feltman concluded two days of meetings in Sudan to underscore U.S. support for Sudanese democracy. Hudson said Feldman received assurances from military leaders that they were committed to the work of the transitional government. "The U.S. has invested more diplomatically in Sudan than almost anywhere else in the world in trying to prove that countries can move from autocracy to democracy," Hudson told VOA. "This is a setback to transitions in Chad, Mali, and Guinea where the stakes are high, but which had not received nearly as much U.S. diplomatic attention as Sudan." Kushkush said there had been other attempts at military intervention leading up to the coup Monday. However, despite earlier coup attempts and support for a military takeover, Kushkush said, there were also thousands of Sudanese in several cities and throughout the diaspora voicing support of the democratization process. "From day one of [the ousting of] al-Bashir, the greatest fear that many Sudanese had was that the fate of the Sudanese revolution will be similar to that of the similar uprisings in the region and perhaps that the greatest fear is unfolding as we speak," Kushkush said. Monday's military coup in Sudan crippled the nation's leadership and could have sweeping regional implications, including inflaming already bitter disputes among Sudan's neighbors, analysts say. "I would say key in today's considerations really are questions of the ongoing conflict between Egypt and Ethiopia and Sudan over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam," said Jonas Horner, a senior analyst and Sudan expert at the International Crisis Group. The longstanding dispute over Ethiopia's hydroelectric dam stems from Ethiopia's insistence on building and filling the dam to help alleviate poverty in the country, and Egypt and Sudan's opposition to it, Horner said. Egypt favors military rule in Sudan, while Ethiopia will likely back a civilian transition in hopes that the potential for improved relations will move the needle on the dam, Horner told VOA. "Egypt is very keen to see a military dispensation in Sudan because they believe that they will take care of their interests best when it comes to representing Egyptian concerns over the dam," Horner said. The coup in Sudan could also affect Ethiopia's ongoing crisis in the Tigray region, which is spreading and has seen a recent escalation. The Ethiopian government may have cause to worry if the Sudan military remains in power, Horner said. "The concern is that the military, if it is indeed in the ascendancy and there is no mediation from civilians, that they will more robustly perhaps support the Tigrayans as they fight against the central government in Addis Ababa," he said. The United Nations and the African Union condemned the military takeover. The Norwegian Refugee Council issued a statement Monday appealing to Sudan's rulers to protect civilians and keep commitments to allow humanitarian aid to reach millions of people affected by war. Monday's military takeover was triggered by a fear that the military was losing control over Sudan's Sovereign Council as the deadline for transfer to civilian rule was approaching, analysts said. Khartoum was in political and social chaos after Sudan's military chief, Lieutenant General Abdel-Fattah Burhan, declared a state of emergency and dissolved the joint civilian-military council that has run the country for the past two years. Protesters took to the streets, derisively chanting Burhan's name and singing Sudan's national anthem. Medical sources say dozens of people have been injured in the protests, and at least seven people died in clashes with security forces in Khartoum amid an internet and telecommunications shutdown. With Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok and other officials of the ruling Sovereign Council in detention, the future of the nation's leadership is in turmoil. "I think the thing that the military was most fearful of losing (was) control of the Sovereignty Council the executive authority in the country," said Cameron Hudson, a senior fellow at the U.S.-based Atlantic Council's Africa Center. Internal pressure from hundreds of thousands of protesters who came out from different towns across Sudan in recent weeks demanding civilian rule made Sudan's top military leader feel "under siege," Hudson said. "This is a reaction internally to release the pressure that they were feeling," Hudson told VOA. The coup seems to have the backing of the Sudan Armed Forces and a paramilitary group known as the Rapid Support Forces under General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, some analysts said. But Hudson warned that the army might be divided on this. "What we don't know and what we should be fearful of is there are divisions within the military, especially in the younger ranks, the lower ranks of the military," he said. "We should not be surprised if we see a counter coup of some kind of younger military officers who push back against what happened." The military takeover looks hurried and poorly planned, according to Hudson, and may have dangerous consequences, including street violence, which escalated Monday. "It's a very dangerous situation, because you have the military trying to assert its control, and now you have people taking to the streets in protest," he said. Sudan's neighbors are watching closely, possibly fearing a spillover effect, Horner said. "There are plenty of autocratic governments that are in Sudan's immediate neighborhood and then even across the Red Sea and elsewhere, too, who will concern themselves with what inspiring effect a successful civilian transition might have to their own populations," he said. VOA's Kathleen Dawson contributed to this report. No media source currently available The URL has been copied to your clipboard The code has been copied to your clipboard. The South Korean television show, Squid Game, has become Netflixs biggest series launch ever, topping 111 million viewers globally. Karina Bafradzhian examines the phenomenon of the Squid Game. Camera: David Gogokhia A U.N. Security Council mission that is visiting Mali this weekend to assess the security situation is urging the country's authorities to set elections for February to meet agreements reached with a West African regional bloc after a coup last year. The mission led by Kenya's ambassador to the U.N., Martin Kimani, met with civil society organizations, groups that have signed a peace agreement, Mali's prime minister and transitional president, Col. Assimi Goita, during their weekend visit. "I was struck by the thirst for reform (both political and institutional) that is desired by most of the Malian population," Kimani Sunday said at a news conference. "We are now waiting for the end of the transition period which should lead to the organization of elections." However, Malian authorities have said after the meetings with the U.N. Security Council mission, they want to organize days of consultations in December amongst Malian groups to determine a path toward elections. "The Malian authorities have spoken to us about these meetings as a prerequisite for the elections. These meetings will take place in December," said Abdou Abarry, Nigeria's ambassador to the U.N. who was a part of the delegation. "We are not opposed to it, but only insist it does not delay the end of the transition and give Malians the opportunity to choose their leaders." Abarry said that Goita assured the delegation that "the transitional authorities are not here to stay in power and any commitments the transitional authorities will make will be in the interest of Malians." Goita seized power in August 2020 by overthrowing Mali's democratically elected president Ibrahim Boubacar Keita, who had only served two years of his five-year term after being reelected in 2018. Goita eventually agreed to a transitional government led by a civilian president but ousted those leaders in May after they announced a Cabinet reshuffle that sidelined two junta supporters without consulting him. Goita was then sworn in as president of the transitional government in June. He has pledged to keep the country on track to return to civilian rule with an election in February 2022. The U.N. diplomats also raised the issue of security in Mali. The peacekeeping mission in Mali remains the deadliest of all the U.N. missions since 2013. "The Malian authorities have insisted that they are putting much emphasis on security challenges, and MINUSMA (the U.N. mission in Mali) is ready to help them, especially in Central Mali where there is the highest threat of terrorism," said Nicolas de Riviere, France's ambassador to the U.N. Mali has been fighting growing insecurity since 2012, when al-Qaida-linked groups took over parts of the north. Despite a French-led military operation that forced many rebels from their northern strongholds in 2013, insurgents quickly regrouped and have been advancing year after year toward the south of the country, where the Malian capital is located. They also launch frequent attacks on the Malian army and its allies. The United States and a number of its closest allies have used a periodic review of Chinas trade policy by the World Trade Organization to vent their anger at Beijings unwillingness to conform with rules meant to establish a level playing field for all participants in the global exchange of goods and services. The regularly scheduled Trade Policy Review, which allows Chinas trading partners to make official statements about policies to which they object, came last week as China marks 20 years of membership in the WTO, a group that works to establish rules for trade among its 164 member countries. When China acceded to the WTO 20 years ago, WTO members expected that the terms set forth in Chinas Protocol of Accession would permanently dismantle existing Chinese policies and practices that were incompatible with an international trading system expressly based on open, market-oriented policies, said David Bisbee, who is serving as the charge d'affaires ad interim of the United States Mission to the WTO in Geneva. But those expectations have not been realized, and it appears that China has no inclination to change, he continued in prepared remarks. Instead, China has used the imprimatur of WTO membership to become the WTOs largest trader, while doubling down on its state-led, non-market approach to trade, to the detriment of workers and businesses in the United States and other countries. U.S. not alone in complaints The United States was far from alone in complaining about Chinas failure to live up to its obligations under the WTO. Representatives from various governments around the globe catalogued a long list of ways in which they said China bends or breaks the rules. Among other things, they said that China distorts markets by subsidizing state-owned firms, ignoring intellectual property rights, limiting foreign firms access to its markets, using forced labor in some manufacturing and agricultural sectors, coercing smaller governments to accept unfair trade practices, and more. By undermining agreed trade rules China also undermines the multilateral trading system on which all WTO members rely, said George Mina, Australias ambassador to the WTO. These rules have underpinned members growth and prosperity for decades. They protect the rights of members regardless of their size and power. China has assured members of its commitment to the rules-based order; but from our viewpoint there is a growing gap between China's rhetoric and its actions. Joao Aguiar Machado, the European Unions ambassador to the WTO, recalled that Chinas acceptance into the WTO had raised hopes of systematic reform of its economy. But the degree to which China has reformed and opened today is not commensurate with its weight in the global economy, or comparable to the access which China has to the markets of other WTO Members, Machado said. Moreover, the influence exerted by the state on Chinas economic environment generates competitive distortions worldwide, leading to systemic problems for global trade. China responds China's Commerce Minister Wang Wentao painted a very different picture of Chinese policy when he addressed the meeting. Since the last review, China has stayed committed to deepening reform, expanding, opening up and growing its open economy at a higher level, he said. "China has been reinforcing intellectual property protection by legislative, administrative and judicial means, and fulfilling its obligations on transparency. Chinese state-run media also put a vastly different spin on the meeting than the Western press. The Chinese Communist Party-run Global Times ran a story with the headline, Chinas trade policies and practices praised at WTO. The story contained none of the criticism leveled by Chinas trading partners, saying only that they firmly recognized China's role as a major driver of global growth, and country's contributions in lifting up other developing and under developed countries out of poverty, and expressed their gratitude over China's help in fighting against the COVID-19 pandemic. Experts expect little change While the rhetoric and Chinas Trade Policy Review was harsher than it has been in the past, and emanated from a larger number of countries than many expected, experts said that it was unlikely to prompt any significant change in Beijings policies. That is, in large part, because the WTO requires all major policy changes be made by consensus, making efforts to rein in China difficult or impossible to implement. Petros C. Mavroidis, a Columbia University law professor and a legal adviser to the WTO, said that the body hearing the complaints last week has no authority to act on them. He also pointed out that China has become adept at remaining in technical compliance with many rules, even as it finds ways around them. China may not violate WTO rules, but it may violate WTO spirit, he said. Gary Hufbauer, a senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, agreed that the review was mostly performative. The criticisms are on the record, but it's not a negotiation. It's just what I would call a listening session, he said. He added that a serious commitment to pursuing change in Chinas treatment under WTO rules would have to be driven by the U.S., but added that, in his opinion, the Biden administration is not inclined to engage in deep WTO negotiations at this time. Yinan Wang contributed to this report. The United States will soon reopen its air borders for foreign visitors who are fully vaccinated with an approved vaccine or those who can present a negative COVID-19 test within 24 hours of travel, the White House announced Monday. The new rules take effect Nov. 8, and only limited exceptions will be allowed, senior Biden administration officials said during a background briefing with reporters. Those include vaccine exemptions for travelers from about 50 countries with exceptionally low vaccination rates, which include some of the worlds poorest nations, many of those in Africa. Children under the age of 18 are also exempt from the vaccine requirement at this time, but will still have to present a negative test. Accepted vaccines include the three approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration: Moderna, Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson as well as those approved for emergency use by the World Health Organization: Sinopharm, and the Astra-Zeneca vaccines produced by SKBio and the Serum Institute of India. Exemptions will include certain COVID-19 vaccine clinical trial participants, those with medical contraindications to the vaccines, and those who need to travel for emergency or humanitarian reasons, the White House said. Additionally, those who are granted an exception must agree to be vaccinated in the U.S. if they intend to stay for more than 60 days. The new system also includes enhanced testing requirements, strengthening contact tracing, as well as masking,a senior administration official said. These are strict safety protocols that follow the science and public health to enhance the safety of Americans here at home, and the safety of international air travel. As part of the testing requirement fully vaccinated travelers will have to produce a negative COVID test result within three days of travel to the United States. In 2019, nearly 80 million international visitors came to the U.S., according to data from the U.S. Travel Association. That figure cratered in early 2020, when the pandemic hit and the administration of former President Donald Trump imposed restrictions that barred tens of thousands of travelers from most of the world. Unvaccinated air passengers including unvaccinated U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents will now need to provide a negative test within one day of departure. Children under two years old will not need to test, and accommodations will be allowed for people who have documented their recovery from the virus within the last 90 days. The director-general of the World Health Organization said Sunday that unless countries use existing tools in the fight against the pandemic effectively, there will be no end in sight. The pandemic will end when the world chooses to end it, Tedros said addressing World Health Summit, a global forum held in Germany. We have all the tools we need effective public health tools and effective medical tools. But the world has not used those tools well, Tedros said, addressing participants drawn from 100 countries online. The barriers to fulfilling WHOs goal of vaccinating 40% of every countrys population against the coronavirus are politics and profit, the WHO chief said, not production. The countries that have already reached the 40% target, including all G-20 countries, must give their place in the vaccine delivery queue to COVAX and the African Vaccines Acquisition Trust, Tedros said. COVAX is the international collaboration established for the equitable distribution of the COVID vaccine. The WHO official also urged vaccine producers to prioritize and fulfil their contracts with COVAX and AVAT [the African Vaccine Acquisition Trust] and become far more transparent about what is going where. AVAT is an African Union initiative focusing on providing access to COVID-19 vaccines across Africa. He urged vaccine manufacturers to share know-how, technology and licenses, and waive intellectual property rights. Were not asking for charity, Tedros said, were calling for a common-sense investment in the global recovery. A report in The Washington Post says Americans living abroad are struggling to receive COVID vaccines, while many of their U.S. counterparts are starting to receive booster shots after receiving their first two vaccine doses. Marylouise Serrato, executive director of American Citizens Abroad, told the Post, You have Americans who are filing and paying taxes, and a promise by the administration that all Americans will get vaccinated, and yet that whole community has been left out of the equation. The White House has insisted that it has no special responsibility to vaccinate Americans abroad, the Post reported. At least 9 million Americans are living overseas, the report added. A surge of British COVID cases has Dr. Edward Morris, the president of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, concerned the National Health Service may not be able to provide the care it needs to for women giving birth, according to a report in The Guardian. Morris also said the COVID surge has also resulted in the creation of an enormous backlog of cases of women who have had to postpone gynecological treatments. The Johns Hopkins University Coronavirus Resource Center reported early Monday that it has recorded 243.7 million global COVID infections and nearly 5 million global deaths. Almost 7 billion vaccines have been administered, according to the universitys data. Afghan women leaders are calling on United Nations member countries to pressure the Taliban to keep their promises and allow women to work and girls to study. As VOA's Senior Diplomatic Correspondent Cindy Saine reports, girls are still banned from secondary school under Taliban rule in Afghanistan. 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. Local news is important. It's the information that will directly impact your life because its going on around you, every day. Join our group of dedicated readers today ... Subscribe Insecure Reunited, Okay?! Season 5 Episode 1 Editors Rating 3 stars * * * Previous Next Photo: Raymond Liu/HBO When we last saw the guys and gals of Insecure at the end of its fourth season, they were all at inflection points in their lives. Tiffany (Amanda Seales) and Derek (Wade Allain-Marcus) were dealing with her increasingly severe postpartum depression, Molly (Yvonne Orji) and Andrew (Alexander Hodge) broke up, and Lawrence (Jay Ellis) got a new job in San Francisco, then found out that his ex-girlfriend Condola (Christina Elmore) was pregnant, interrupting his budding reunion with Issa (Issa Rae). Prompted by all these changes, Issa and Molly finally called a truce in their escalating fallout and met up at their favorite Ethiopian restaurant to try to find their way back to each other. Now, as the fifth and final season begins, everyone involved is trying as hard as they can to reevaluate how they ended up where they are which, in a lot of ways, is right back where they started. Picking up two months after the finale, Issa, Molly, Kelli (Natasha Rothwell), Tiffany, and Derek are headed to Stanford for their ten-year college reunion. The temperature between Issa and Molly is still cool, but its clear theyve both agreed to try to mend their relationship. Issa has been invited to speak on an alumni panel for her organization the BLOCC (Black Life Opportunities Culture and Connection), which boosts her ego and self-confidence. Molly reveals that shes back in therapy with Dr. Rhonda a revelation that made me physically clap my hands in joy. And as usual, Kelli finds herself in the middle of shenanigans. Stanford thinks shes dead for some unknown reason and has printed an In Memoriam in the alumni magazine to that effect. (Maybe this is a good time to get off the grid. I do have some other identities Ive been meaning to try out.) Later, Molly pulls Kelli aside to ask her how she dealt with the fallout between her and Tiffany during her pregnancy. Wisely, Kelli advises Molly not to force a closeness with Issa that isnt there yet and to keep showing up as her friend. Its a nice, funny moment that reminds us that the women in this group do have relationships with each other outside of their designated best friend pairings. At a mixer later in the day, the girls run into an old friend Cheyenne (Taja V. Simpson), a member of their college rap group who left early to go dance on tour with Ciara. She greets them warmly and perhaps a bit too enthusiastically. But aside from Tiffany, who deems her too crazy, theyre all happy to see her and relive their college days. Cheyennes energy is a lot, and she admits to sneaking into the event so that she wouldnt have to pay. But what better time to get a little crazy than at a reunion? Ever the wingman, Derek very casually shoves Molly into the waiting arms of an old hookup, Omari (hes divorced now!), who still has a thing for her. They chat briefly about the original terms of their relationship, but two months out from Andrew and freshly back in therapy, theres definitely the sense that Molly should maybe head in the opposite direction. The events alumni memorial video rather hilariously only has superficial quotes commemorating Kellis life. (She had the best Stanky Legg. She always carried a purse.) But its clear by the look in her eyes that this upsets her. Kelli has often been relegated to the role of comic relief on the show because its where Natasha Rothwell shines. But it is good to see a more sensitive side of her, even if it is fleeting. Cheyenne leads her in a quick rendition of the Stanky Legg on the dance floor, and for a while, all is forgotten. (Always on brand, Tiffany daintily participates with a Champagne glass in one hand, a tiny purse in the other, and a little shimmy.) Right before the panel, Issa runs into Throwback Me Mirror Bitch, but younger. The younger Issa is excited to see her future self but is slowly disappointed, as the current Issa tells her with increasing trepidation that their life did not quite turn out the way they had planned. But its at the panel itself (in a gorgeous green plaid suit) where Issa really starts to doubt herself. Aptly titled Finding Your Path, the other speakers are all articulate about the lessons theyve learned along their business journeys. Issa, however, struggles to feel stable in the choices shes made and realizes that shes not sure if the BLOCC was the right one. Its reminiscent of her time at We Got Yall in season one, when it was clear that she didnt have passion for her work. But now, the work shes doubting is her own. Shes the one who has to come up with the answers. Later, Issa and Molly steal drinks from another classs mixer and chat while they walk through campus. Molly tells Issa about Omaris interest and rattles on about her suspicions about the end of her marriage. Sensing Issas reluctance to engage, she quickly pivots to comforting Issa about her middling performance on the panel. As they continue to mosey through Stanfords grounds, Issa remembers how she and Molly met and became friends in the first place: I was like, I want to be friends with this girl. She cusses so eloquently! The memory eases the tension between them enough for Issa to admit that she still feels inadequate in her work life. When they get lunch, Molly has her a moment of vulnerability and asks if theyll be okay. On the way to Reggae Gold later that night, the girls plus Cheyenne sing along to The-Dream in the car. Kelli is still upset that no one at college seems to remember her well, lamenting that everything she does is taken as a joke. Only Tiffany seems to realize theres real hurt there, a nice callback to the renewed closeness of their relationship. The women pull over at a liquor store to buy some drinks to sneak into the event. Issa, Molly, and Cheyenne are held up by a guy with a gun on the way out. As Molly and Issa hand over their valuables, Cheynne dissolves into hysterics so over the top that the gunman slips up and calls her Chey. Issa and Molly realize that Cheyenne is a co-conspirator in the robbery. Found out, Cheyenne steals Mollys shoes, tells Issa she can keep hers, and makes off with the loot. When they get back into the car with Tiffany and Kelli, they tell them Cheyenne robbed them, and the unreality of the situation finally breaks the tension between them. They laugh at their own fear and recount the events for their friends, snorting the whole way. When Issa asks why Cheyenne didnt take her shoes too, Tiffany retorts, Aww, you know why, setting them all off again in another fit of laughter. The entire sequence is funny and ridiculous in the way only Insecure is, highlighting how much of the shows magic comes down to the relationships between these women. At the core of the show, this isnt about men or sex or marriage. Its about friendships and the love within them. At a diner the next day, the girls give Kelli a proper eulogy over pancakes that befits the impact shes had on their lives, and Issa and Molly both agree to move forward. As everyone filters back to their real lives, Kelli rather ominously asks her podcast listeners what they would do if they knew the end was near. Lawrence, whos been conspicuously absent for the entirety of the episode, picks Issa up from the airport to drop her home. When they arrive, we finally get a resolution for the bombshell at the end of last season. Tearfully, Issa tells him that shes had a chance to think, then trails off. Lawrence nods; he knows whats coming, and his face says hes been expecting it. As much as they love each other, theyre done. Condolas pregnancy is too big a hurdle for them to overcome. Despite their best efforts to try again, it doesnt look like its meant to be. At least for now. And with that, were one week closer to the end of Insecure. Weeks Best Woot Woots Stars cant shine without darkness. Thats not not deep. Derek God, we were fake back before we were back back. Chile, the jokes I laughed at that werent even funny! Kelli Did we meet T-Pain yet? Nappy Boy ooh-eeee. Mirror Issa Hey, photos on an app? Invent that shit. Call it Issagram. Issa The present. No time like the Issa I forgot I hated her. Issa Vampire Veek Because, bloody hell, why not? Photo: Ben Hider/FX Have the last few years made you sick of your job? Did you switch careers? Youre not the only one. On What We Do in The Shadows, the best vampire workplace comedy on TV, Guillermo de la Cruz (Harvey Guillen) just made a big career change after a decade of serving as vampire Nandors familiar but not quite the one he was planning. Instead of being promoted to vampire status himself, Guillermo makes more of a lateral move: bodyguard of the Eastern Vampiric Council of Staten Island. Despite his Van Helsing blood, Guillermos bodyguard is giving more Kevin Costner than Hugh Jackman, as a poster for the shows third season winked at. While Nandor (Kayvan Novak) has been Guillermos boss and barrier to vampiredom for years, Guillermo spends most of his time saving Nandor from himself (or other vampires, or rearview mirrors on cars, or sunlight). Guillermo has to do some pretty gruesome things to satisfy his employer, and for some reason, we forgive him, Guillen, who hosts FXs postshow-interview series After the Shadows, tells Vulture. He is the heart because hes literally the only beating human heart in the show. I think people really gravitate towards that. As Shadows nears the end of its third season, we asked Guillen about Guillermos will-they-or-wont-they relationship with Nandor, his Machiavellian evolution this season, and the importance of chosen family, even when that chosen family is a bunch of thousand-year-old vampires living on Staten Island. This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity. Weve just left New York Comic Con, where we both saw a cosplayer dressed as Guillermo who thanked you for your representation of queer brown characters. I feel like Guillermo is by far the fan favorite right now. I feel the love, from season one to now. Guillermo was the underdog, and he didnt speak a lot, actually, in the first season. He was more there, being the familiar, and he spoke with his face. You could tell what he was thinking when he just looked at the camera. Were all Guillermo at one point or another in our lives. Weve been in a job that we hate and we dont get promoted, or were overlooked for promotion. Or maybe we cant share the feelings we have for someone from afar, or have to navigate through certain waters with different dynamics in a household. I think everyone can relate to all the human emotions that Guillermo has. Im just waiting for Nandor and Guillermo to have a sweep me off my feet romance, and its stressing me out every moment that I dont get to have Nandor and Guillermo making out onscreen. You can take this whatever direction you want, whether its to confirm my rampant shipping, or just share what its been like to watch these two characters follow similar trajectories, but in their very different experiences as a vampire and as a human. I think everyones cheering for something to happen, whether thats romantic or [having] some truth be told what is their dynamic? And what is the bond that they have? Im very blessed to have a counterpart like Keyvan, where were both so comfortable in the characters and Keyvans such a giving actor. Were making a comedy, but at the end of the day, their story line is what grounds the humanity, because its a split 50-50 between someone whos immortal and no longer is worried about time, and someone for whom the clock is ticking, and needs to either make a choice to be immortal himself, or to make a choice and live a life that doesnt include this world. Its really a tough situation to be in, and its a fork in the road. Even when Im reading the scripts, it feels very, Oh my God, whats gonna happen? Because its a slow burn with them. And I think people are like, No, do something! Either be together or not be together, or say something! Or is one of you not into it? Or maybe its not even love like that? Maybe its a love between two males, and we normalize two males having affection for each other without making it sexualized? That could be a possibility. Its just, what is it? I think everyones just eager to know, like, Tell us what it is! When I watch the show, I pick up on Guillermo being queer-coded, but Im also queer, so maybe I just am looking for it everywhere all the time. Its important to feel that youre represented and feel that youre cheering for a character that isnt the victim, that their queer story line doesnt define how tragic the outcome of their life is. Because weve seen that for so long in media, in the way that queer people are portrayed, and its very black-and-white. Youre either fabulous and the best friend and over-the-top, or youre like, Oh, he came out and then, tragically, they kill him. Its been so black-and-white for so long. Thats not the world we live in, and thats definitely not the lifestyle and life that are led by our queer brothers and sisters. Ive always said, everyone in the show, the characters are queer, but the vampires, they have nothing to lose. They could chop your heart out or bite you or snap your neck. Theres no fear. The difference with Guillermo is he doesnt talk about sexuality. He has this fear thats been placed on him by society, this fear thats been placed on him maybe by his culture, his upbringing. Theres fear that we all overcome to be our authentic selves, and thats why its so freeing when that opportunity happens. Will it happen for Guillermo? Were yet to find out, and [is it] what we thought it was, or is it a different story? But besides that, its always important to have representation, to see yourself, because it encourages someone who might be in that same scenario to be like, Its okay, its going to be fine. You have support, you have chosen family. Im really touched by your portrayal of Guillermo constantly babysitting these giant dum-dums who could kill each other and themselves at any given moment. Nandor cant even walk out in the street without Guillermo reminding him to look both ways. Even though [Nandor is] asking to be left alone, he still needs [Guillermo]. Thats another reason why Guillermo sticks around, that mentality of, I want to help. He needs me, he needs me. Being wanted is a feeling that some people long for. Some people have to be needed, so theres a purpose for you in this world. As much as Guillermo has his own dreams and aspirations, hes made a monster, in the sense of Nandor being helpless. He could be The Relentless, because he never relents, but may not be the smartest in some scenarios, where he needs a human like Guillermo to get him out of a pickle. And thats why he sticks around. Remember, he walked away from the household at the end of season two, and decided to go back and save them. He couldve left them; he owes them nothing. They think they owe him a life of immortality, because he wants to be a vampire, and they never saw that through, and they promised. So he could have been an asshole about it and said, Thats not my problem. He puts himself in the middle of a room of vampires to save the group of assholes that hes learned to love and made into his chosen family for over a decade. After being so demure in the first season, this is kind of Guillermos Machiavellian season hes reading The Art of War, hes dropping things in peoples ears. Whats it been like to have this scheming Guillermo in the middle of Nadja and Nandor having no idea what theyre doing? I like the idea that we introduce a Machiavellian approach to his technique, because hes tried so many things for ten years: Hes tried to do things by the book, hes tried to play by the rules, and hes not getting anywhere. They say nice guys finish last, and hes starting to realize modesty is a virtue, but in this world, modesty can hurt you. You need to speak up, you need to say what youre owed, you need to be paid a certain wage, you deserve a promotion. The squeaky wheel gets the grease, and for so long, hes been so submissive that they dismiss him, like, Whatever, youre always going to be there. And I see that, sadly, in a lot of other professions. Should I be worried about Guillermo being pushed to the dark side? I dont think hell change that drastically. At his core, hes a good person. I also think that people are pushed to their limits, and hes definitely been pushed to his. Whatever the outcome of that is, I think everyone would agree, Yeah, I would have, too, if I was in his shoes. For so long, people are rooting for him, they get so mad. Cmon, make him a vampire! Or Cmon, Guillermo, get a backbone. Come on! People want him to take action, and I can say he definitely will start doing that, slowly and surely. But what are the repercussions of that? As Guillermos character has grown, Ive noticed that the sweaters are still in the mix, but I love all the little hints and nods toward Van Helsing. His hair has changed a lot. Guillermo looks very put-together in a different way than he used to. You caught it; its the small details. The costume changes a little bit, his hair changes to the side. I think he was making himself look a certain way because for so long, he wanted to be perfect in that world. When the promotion happened, he wanted to look professional. He was dividing his want to be a vampire, and also the corporate world of I work in an office, this is how you would act like an office, youd part your hair like this. And confidence never hurt anybody. For so long, Guillermo didnt feel confident in his own skin. The backstory that I give to him for my own purposes is that he was probably bullied in school, he was picked on, he was plus-size, he was Latinx, he was all these things that were usually strikes against you as told by society, and he literally was trying to change that. And then sometimes you have to realize that the strikes that youre being told are against you are actually your strength, and your strength is whats shining through. I think hes coming into his own knowing, These are my strengths and theyre badass. With the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention expanding eligibility for Covid-19 vaccine booster shots, people in Madison County are hoping more will get vaccinated. For those who got the Pfizer or Moderna shots, the list now includes everyone age 65 and up, plus anyone over the age of 18 who lives in a long-term care setting, has underlying medical conditions or lives or works in high-risk settings. This is all as long as it's been at least six months since they received their second dose. WAAY-31 spoke to people who are ready for their booster shot. For many, the reason for getting a booster was to protect loved ones who are immunocompromised, or they were themselves. They want to keep everyone safe. "If I can get something that'll help me fight it, yeah, I'm going to take it," said one man. "As soon as we heard that there was the potential that we kind of needed boosters, it was like, how fast can we get these boosters?" Suzanne Enoch said. Both people we spoke with Saturday told us they are almost impatiently waiting to get their boosters not only for themselves, but for their family and friends. For those who received the Pfizer, Moderna or Johnson & Johnson COVID shots, there's a booster recommendation. And now the CDC says those who want to can get a booster that's different from their original vaccine. Enoch said it's almost a civic duty at this point. "If we can minimize the fallout from this, even one life saved is worth us all making the effort," she said. As of Saturday morning, there have been a little more than 8,000 deaths this year from Covid-19 in Alabama. Enoch and others don't want to be added to that list. "I want to live. I don't want to die because of COVID," said one man. Health care professionals are urging everyone to roll up their sleeves and get the shot. They say the vaccine has been proven to reduce the risk of suffering severe complications, hospitalization and even death from the disease. To find out more on the booster shots and what the CDC is recommending, click here. Facebook employees repeatedly sounded the alarm on the company's failure to curb the spread of posts inciting violence in "at risk" countries like Ethiopia, where a civil war has raged for the past year, internal documents seen by CNN show. The social media giant ranks Ethiopia in its highest priority tier for countries at risk of conflict, but the documents reveal that Facebook's moderation efforts were no match for the flood of inflammatory content on its platform. The documents are among dozens of disclosures made to the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and provided to Congress in redacted form by Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen's legal counsel. A consortium of 17 US news organizations, including CNN, has reviewed the redacted versions received by Congress. They show employees warning managers about how Facebook was being used by "problematic actors," including states and foreign organizations, to spread hate speech and content inciting violence in Ethiopia and other developing countries, where its user base is large and growing. Facebook estimates it has 1.84 billion daily active users -- 72% of which are outside North America and Europe, according to its annual SEC filing for 2020. The documents also indicate that the company has, in many cases, failed to adequately scale up staff or add local language resources to protect people in these places. Facebook used by militias 'to seed calls for violence' The reports CNN has obtained provide further insights into the scale of the problem in Ethiopia, elements of which were reported by The Wall Street Journal last month. CNN's publication of these warnings from within Facebook comes seven months after a Facebook team initially shared an internal report entitled "Coordinated Social Harm." The report, distributed in March, said that armed groups in Ethiopia were using the platform to incite violence against ethnic minorities in the "context of civil war." At that time, a conflict in the country's northern Tigray region between its former ruling party, the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), and the Ethiopian government had been rumbling on for five months. Intermittent internet blackouts and media restrictions had obscured much of the fighting. Ethiopia is an ethnically and religiously diverse nation of about 110 million people who speak scores of languages. Its two largest ethnic groups, the Oromo and Amhara, make up more than 60% of the population. The Tigrayans, the third largest, are around 7%. One of the groups flagged in the March report was the "Fano," an ethnic Amhara militia group with a reputation for brutality that has been drawn into the war in Tigray, sometimes fighting alongside Ethiopian government forces. Facebook said it had observed a cluster of accounts affiliated with the militia group, including some based in Sudan, using its platform to "seed calls for violence," promote armed conflict, recruit and fundraise. Since the war started last November, the Fano militia have been linked by displaced Tigrayans to human rights abuses, including the killings of civilians, looting and rape, according to the United Nations rights office, Amnesty International and other human rights groups. Though the Facebook team said it had recommended the Fano-affiliated network be taken down, it suggested that other bad actors promoting violence on its platform were simultaneously slipping through the cracks. In a headline in bold, the team warned: "Current mitigation strategies are not enough." The Facebook documents also detail the platform's removal of a cluster of accounts linked to the Oromo diaspora, mostly based in Egypt, which was targeting Ethiopian audiences with highly inflammatory content, including "explicit calls to violence against government officials and other ethnic groups." One inciteful post highlighted in a report shared a photo of what appears to be a Molotov cocktail being lit and the statement: "Burn the whole country down." The whistleblower, Haugen, said one of her core motivations for gathering the internal documents was bringing to light "how badly Facebook is handling places like Ethiopia," where she suggested engagement-based ranking was fanning ethnic violence. "I genuinely fear that a huge number of people are going to die in the next five to ten years, or twenty years, because of choices and underfunding" by Facebook, Haugen said. In comments made to the consortium, Haugen emphasized the vast difference between the integrity and security systems rolled out by Facebook in the United States versus the rest of the world, adding that the company was not adequately policing its platform in most non-English languages. "The raw version [of Facebook] roaming wild in most of the world doesn't have any of the things that make it kind of palatable in the United States, and I genuinely think there's a lot of lives on the line -- that Myanmar and Ethiopia are like the opening chapter," she said. A Facebook spokesperson told CNN that the company has been "actively focused on Ethiopia." "Over the past two years we have actively invested to add more staff with local expertise, operational resources and additional review capacity to expand the number of local languages we support to include Amharic, Oromo, Somali and Tigrinya. We have worked to improve our proactive detection so that we can remove more harmful content at scale. We have also partnered extensively with international and local experts to better understand and mitigate the biggest risks on the platform," the spokesperson said. Current mitigation strategies are not enough None of the revelations from the Facebook documents are news to activists and human rights groups, who have warned for years that the social media giant has made insufficient efforts to protect human rights in Ethiopia, Africa's second most populous country. Some politicians and civil society groups said that if no action was taken, the platform risked repeating the same mistakes it made in Myanmar -- now a case study in the deadly impact that hate speech shared on Facebook can have. In 2018, the UN slammed Facebook's role in the Myanmar crisis, which the global body said, "bore the hallmarks of genocide." By promoting violence and hatred against the minority Rohingya population, the UN said Facebook had "turned into a beast." The social media company later acknowledged that it didn't do enough to prevent its platform being used to fuel bloodshed, and Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg wrote an open letter apologizing to activists and promising to increase its moderation efforts. Much like in Myanmar, Facebook's rise in popularity in Ethiopia came at a moment of rapid political and societal change, which helped to boost the platform's growth. In 2018, Abiy Ahmed was appointed Prime Minister and launched a series of reforms, including freeing thousands of political prisoners and lifting restrictions on the press. But as Ethiopians began to use Facebook to engage in public debate, observers saw that the platform was being abused by a variety of actors, including politicians, to incite discrimination and violence. Former UN special rapporteur for freedom of expression David Kaye told CNN that this problem came up repeatedly in conversations with civil society groups during his trip to Ethiopia in December 2019: "It was on everybody's radar that there could be real spill over from the platform to offline harm." "Given the experience in Myanmar, it was really incumbent on Facebook to do a human rights impact assessment and evaluate what they needed to do so that Facebook in Ethiopia didn't become a place for incitement to violence," Kaye said, adding that he didn't know what that assessment looked like or if it was done. In June 2020, a Facebook employee posted a report to an internal group with about 1,500 members called "At Risk Countries FYI" recapping an ongoing audit into how well its Artificial Intelligence and other signals, like third party fact checkers, worked in the most at-risk countries where the platform operates. "We found significant gaps in our coverage (especially in Myanmar & Ethiopia), showcasing that our current signals may be inadequate," the employee wrote, sharing a spreadsheet with a list of at-risk countries and the languages supported by the platform in each. The spreadsheet showed that Facebook had failed to build automated systems, called classifiers, to detect misinformation or hate speech in Oromo or Amharic -- two of the most widely spoken languages spoken in Ethiopia. Even as the conflict in Tigray escalated, Haugen said she had only found evidence that Facebook had allocated "even slight language support" in two of the country's many native languages. Facebook says it does not believe it should be the "arbiters of truth," so the firm relies on third-party fact-checking organizations to identify, review and rate potential misinformation on its platforms. Facebook has partnered with two such organizations in Ethiopia: AFP Fact Check and PesaCheck, an East Africa-based non-profit initiative run by Code for Africa. PesaCheck has five full-time Ethiopian fact-checkers working in four languages -- Oromo, Amharic, Tigrinya and English -- but says it recently had to relocate one staff member from Ethiopia due to intimidation. AFP Fact Check employs one fact-checker in Ethiopia, Amanuel Neguede, who reviews content in Amharic and English. Each day, Neguede told CNN that he reviews thousands of posts on an internal Facebook tool, which surfaces content flagged as false or misleading through a combination of AI and human moderators. Originally, Neguede said that AFP only had access to English-language content in Ethiopia through the tool, which would surface only limited content each day. The tool began serving AFP Amharic-language content in May, and now the number of claims he says he sees on a daily basis has drastically risen. The tool does not always accurately identify mis- and dis-information, but Neguede says it helps with his work. "I've seen a lot of a lot of hate speech, that definitely does fuel ethnic violence in Ethiopia," Neguede said. "Whenever there's a major offensive, for example that's happening in the north, we can see a lot of images of conflict that's happened in different countries used in a misleading context. I would say that most of the time we'll see posts surface -- especially posts that are widely shared -- after real news events." But researchers like Berhan Taye say Facebook in Ethiopia is in desperate need of more content moderators, pointing to how the platform was used to stoke a wave of deadly violence after the murder of Oromo musician Hachalu Hundessa last year. Taye, then a policy manager at digital rights group Access Now, recalls watching livestreams of lynchings and posts calling for the targeted extermination of certain ethnic groups, following Hundessa's death. She penned an open letter calling on Facebook to take action to protect Ethiopians. She says little has changed since. For that reason, Taye, now an independent Nairobi-based analyst, works with grassroots volunteers to collate misinformation and hate speech they spot on the platform into Excel spreadsheets, which they then send on to Facebook for removal. But she says that much of what they flag -- including posts calling for the extermination of certain ethnic groups -- does not get taken down and, occasionally, the company has responded to activists asking for them to translate posts. Facebook says it has improved its reporting tools for people in Ethiopia to make it faster and easier for them to report content they believe violates its community standards, which are now available in Amharic and recently launched in Oromo. It says it has also established reporting channels for international and local human rights groups and civil society organizations to flag potentially harmful content in Ethiopia. Content moderation is extremely dangerous work in Ethiopia, Taye says, adding that she has personally been accused of siding with a person or group because a post was removed. The task is also mentally exhausting; volunteers spend hours reviewing graphic content, often doing it alongside full-time jobs and raising their kids. Taye said it was unacceptable that poor people have effectively been left to the "dirty work" of one of the world's richest companies. Facebook will not reveal exactly how many local language speakers are evaluating content in Ethiopia that has been flagged as possibly violating its standards, or how much it has invested in resources to better police its platform in the country. A Facebook spokesperson said the company had invested "$13 billion and have 40,000 people working on the safety and security on our platform, including 15,000 people who review content in more than 70 languages working in more than 20 locations all across the world to support our community. Our third party fact-checking program includes over 80 partners who review content in over 60 languages, and 70 of those fact checkers are outside of the US." "Our track record shows that we crack down on abuse outside the US with the same intensity that we apply in the US," the spokesperson added. A war on social media Since war broke out in Tigray, supporters of both the government and TPLF have waged a parallel fight on social media, creating a virtual battleground of toxic ethnic and religious hatred. But it's difficult to determine when atrocities unfolding on the ground are the direct result of hateful content shared online. The head of the US Agency for International Development Samantha Power expressed concern in August about the "inflamed" and "dehumanizing rhetoric" that she said Ethiopia's leaders were invoking amid the conflict in Tigray, whose forces were described by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed as "weeds" and "cancer" in a post shared on Facebook. Power emphasized that "increasingly virulent speech" used by the prime minister and other officials, also shared on social media, "often accompanies ethnically-motivated atrocities." Abiy's language was also condemned by the UN special adviser on the prevention of genocide Alice Wairimu Nderitu, who warned that "hate speech, together with its propagation through social media is part of a worrisome trend that contributes to further fuel ethnic tensions in the country." Activists say that divisive language has been echoed by Abiy's supporters online. CNN has reached out to the Ethiopian prime minister's office for comment. In June, days before Ethiopia's national elections, which Abiy won in a landslide, Facebook said it removed a network of fake accounts targeting domestic users primarily in Amharic. Facebook linked the accounts to individuals associated with Ethiopia's Information Network Security Agency (INSA), the cybersecurity agency that Abiy established and ran before becoming Prime Minister. A Facebook page with an INSA-affiliated administrator was also flagged in internal Facebook documents in March, but was not recommended for removal. As the conflict escalates online and off, the Ethiopian government has accused Facebook of blocking user and removing posts "disseminating the true reality about Ethiopia." And in the latest sign of its efforts to consolidate control over Ethiopia's information landscape, the government announced in August it had begun developing its own social media platform to rival and replace Facebook, WhatsApp and Twitter. The-CNN-Wire & 2021 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved. Claudette Colvin, a civil rights pioneer who in March 1955, at the age of 15, was arrested for refusing to give up her seat to a White person on a Montgomery, Alabama, bus, is seeking to get her conviction expunged. "I guess you can say that now, I'm no longer a juvenile delinquent," Colvin said at a news conference Tuesday, after filing a motion asking the juvenile courts to seal, destroy and expunge her records. "Under Jim Crow the bus driver had the authority to ask you to give up your seat to a White person and that was absolutely wrong," she added. Colvin's legal team had said Monday it planned to file a request Tuesday with a Montgomery County court to clear her record. Colvin, now 82, was charged with two counts of violating of the city's segregation ordinance and one felony count of assaulting a police officer. She was convicted on all counts in juvenile court, but the segregation convictions were overturned on appeal. "There were two colored females sitting opposite two white females, that refused to move to the back with the rest of the colored," the 1955 police arrest report said. "Claudette Colvin, age 15, colored female, refused. We then informed Claudette that she was under arrest." Colvin was placed on "Indefinite probation" for the police officer assault conviction and was never informed that her probation ended when she became of age, her attorney, Phillip Ensler, told CNN. "So she thought she's been on probation this entire time," Ensler said. Colvin's case came nine months before Rosa Parks made history for also refusing to give up her bus seat. However, Parks' case received more attention during the civil rights movement in part because Parks' image was more "acceptable to a White" community, Colvin told CNN earlier this year. Parks was older, married and lighter skinned, she said. Colvin said she "resisted" and was "defiant" when police arrested her on the bus. An officer wrote in the police report that Colvin kicked and scratched him when they put her in the police vehicle. "People said I was crazy," Colvin told CNN. "Because I was 15 years old and defiant and shouting, 'It's my constitutional right!'" In Colvin's motion to get her record expunged, she said she wants to see society progress and not regress. "I want us to move forward and be better," Colvin said in the filing, obtained by CNN. "When I think about why I'm seeking to have my name cleared by the state, it is because I believe if that happened it would show the generation growing up now that progress is possible and things do get better. It will inspire them to make the world better." While juvenile court motions are typically shielded from the public, Colvin's legal team said in a statement that it released the filing "due to the unique public interest and historical significance of her case." Ensler, Colvin's attorney, said the expungement of Colvin's conviction is "long overdue justice." "People think it was just about a seat on a bus but it was about so much more than that," Ensler said. At Tuesday's news conference, Montgomery County District Attorney Daryl Bailey said he was supporting Colvin's motion to "forever set aside and seal the records that taint Ms. Colvin as a violator of the law." "Her actions back in March of 1955 were conscientious, not criminal; inspired, not illegal; they should have led to praise and not prosecution," Bailey said. Colvin eventually became one of the plaintiffs in Browder v. Gayle in 1956. The following year, the US Supreme Court upheld the district court's ruling and ordered Montgomery -- and the rest of Alabama -- to end bus segregation. Colvin's family and legal team say she is seeking the expungement now because she plans to move to Texas with family soon. Gloria Laster, Colvin's younger sister, told CNN that Colvin wants to get her record cleared so she can be an example for her grandchildren and great grandchildren. "This is going to be her legacy to them," Laster said. "I sat down on the bus so that you can stand up and take your rightful place as an American. And that's what she wants for her grandchildren and great grandchildren. This is what she's doing this for." The Montgomery County district attorney will also file a motion in support of Colvin's expungement. "I believe that the charges that were (originally) brought, were brought on bogus laws," District Attorney Daryl B. Bailey told CNN. "It was totally unlawful what the state, and law enforcement, did to this woman at the time." The-CNN-Wire & 2021 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved. Gov. Kay Ivey has added appropriations for pandemic-related health care services to her proclamation calling for the Legislature to convene in special session. The special session, set to begin 4 p.m. Thursday, already had been called to discuss redistricting Alabamas congressional and legislative districts. Iveys addition allows lawmakers to consider legislation to make appropriations from the American Rescue Plan Act Coronavirus State Fiscal Recovery Fund in an amount not to exceed $80 million to support the delivery of health care and related services to the citizens of Alabama related to the Covid-19 pandemic. In a news release, Ivey said: ... As the Legislature is required to do following the census, they will focus on redistricting during this special session set to begin Thursday. Additionally, I have included an appropriation of $80 million in ARPA funding for eligible reimbursements for Alabama hospitals and nursing homes until the Legislature can more holistically address ARPA funding in the upcoming Regular Session in January. These folks are on the frontlines for us, and we must ensure their needs are met so they can continue caring for our families and friends. This is the second legislative special session this year. The first dealt with Alabamas prison system. MONTGOMERY (AP) Alabamas seven-member congressional delegation for decades has consisted of a single African-American member, elected from the only district with a majority Black population. But with Black and mixed-race residents now making up more than 25% of the states population, some legal groups, as well as a lawsuit, argue the law requires two districts that, afford African Americans an opportunity to elect candidates of their choice. Alabama lawmakers return to Montgomery this week to draw new legislative, congressional and school board districts, a process undertaken every 10 years after new U.S. Census numbers are released. Republicans are unlikely to support changes to the congressional map that would reduce GOP dominance in the state. However, the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. and the American Civil Liberties Union said lawmakers must consider if the Voting Rights Act requires a map with two opportunity districts each comprised of a majority of Black voters. The groups said that nearly 28% of the states population is Black or mixed-race. The current congressional delegation is 14% Black. It is critical that the state legislature uses this opportunity to remedy longstanding dilution of Black voting strength in Alabamas congressional map. Nearly 28% of Alabama residents identify as Black people, yet since Reconstruction, Alabama has never had more than one Black member of Congress in its delegation, the groups wrote in a letter to members of the Joint Reapportionment Committee. A separate lawsuit filed by two state senators and four voters argues the current map is racially gerrymandered by forcing most Black voters into District 7 which stretches from Birmingham through the Black Belt to Montgomery, and limits their influence in other districts. The Reapportionment Committee meets Tuesday and will release and debate proposed maps for the first time, said Sen. Jim McClendon, the co-chairman of the reapportionment committee. McClendon said the maps approved by the committee will be introduced as legislation ahead of the special session that starts Thursday. McClendon declined to say much about the push for a second congressional district but said the state must comply with the Voting Rights Act. This will be the first full redistricting process without a pre-clearance requirement for more than a dozen, mostly Southern states to receive federal approval from the Department of Justice before making changes to the voting process. The U.S. Supreme Court in 2013 effectively ended the requirement when it ruled the federal government was using an outdated method to decide which states were subject to it. McClendon said the state maps will likely get court scrutiny, noting the already pending lawsuit. What we do doesnt automatically go before the DOJ...but we are likely to end up before the courts for review, he said. District lines must shift to accommodate large population growth in, and around, areas of Baldwin County, Huntsville, Tuscaloosa and Auburn while other areas of the state saw stagnant or declining population growth. Alabama showed an increase in racial and ethnic diversity in the new Census numbers. The percentage of people who identify as white dropped while the state saw an increase in the Hispanic population and a doubling of the percentage of people who identify as multiracial. Whites continue to be the largest racial group in Alabama, but the percentage of people in Alabama who identify as white shrunk from 68.5% in 2010 to 64.1% in 2020. A historical marker was unveiled Sunday to honor six Black women who started the women's suffrage movement in Huntsville. It's the first historical marker dedicated to Black women in the state. "Black women actively participated in the making of our state and nation," said Donna Castellano of the Historic Huntsville Foundation. "When their history becomes known and is integrated into our historical narrative, then the full tapestry that is Alabama history can become visible." Dozens of people came out for this momentous occasion, including Mayor Tommy Battle and Gov. Kay Ivey. Also among the crowd were the grandchildren of the six women being honored. Descendants of some of Huntsville's first Black women voters sat among the crowd to see the historic marker be revealed at William Hooper Councill Memorial Park. Etched on the marker are the names of Mary Binford, Ellen Brandon, India Hernson, Lou Johnson, Dora Lowery and Celia Love. These were not only pioneers, but also educators, philanthropists, community advocates and above all, family members. "You've heard about ... Mary Wood Binford. But to us, she was just Grandma," said Joan Carter, Binford's granddaughter. Even though it's been more than 100 years since the movement finally made an impact and more than 50 since Alabama formally recognized it the women's granddaughters say the time is now to keep the momentum up. "We want to stand on the shoulders of those six bold, beautiful, Black women and do what we need to do to get to the polls every time we're supposed to," said Yvonne Lowery-Kennedy, granddaughter of Dora Lowery. If all goes to the Historical Huntsville Foundation's plan, this won't be the last historical marker you see dedicated to the Black women who were movers and shakers in the Rocket City. The Foundation is working to get several more up next year. Gov. Kay Ivey signed an executive order Monday to fight the overreaching Covid-19 vaccine mandates from the federal government, according to her office. In short, the order requires Alabamas executive branch to cooperate with the attorney generals office as it challenges the Biden administrations vaccine mandate; prevents it from penalizing businesses or individuals from refusing to comply with the mandate; orders those who must do so under federal law to make it known Alabama is against the penalty; prevents executive branch contractors from requiring someone provide vaccination status before doing business with them; and protects public employees who refuse to share vaccination status when receiving government services or entering a government building. The federal governments outrageous overreach has simply given us no other option but to begin taking action, which is why I am issuing this executive order to fight these egregious Covid-19 vaccine mandates, Ivey said. Alabamians and Americans alike should and must have the choice to roll up their sleeves to get this shot and certainly not (be) forced by government. Agencies and departments within the executive branch include the offices of governor, lieutenant governor, AG, state auditor, secretary of state, state treasurer, county sheriffs, commissioner of agriculture and industries, and the state superintendent of education. Iveys order applies to those offices and any other agency, department, board, commission or entity within the branch. She said she wants to ensure the state of Alabama never forces anyone to take an unwanted Covid-19 vaccine. If someone is found to be in violation of Mondays executive order, they can be reported to the AGs office, which will investigate the report, according to the order. I am adamantly opposed to federal mandates related to the Covid-19 vaccine and adamantly opposed to state mandates related to the Covid-19 vaccine, plain and simple, Ivey said. As long as I am your governor, the state of Alabama will not force anyone to take a Covid-19 vaccine. President Joe Biden has announced several vaccine-related requirements this year that would apply to about 100 million Americans by White House estimates, from Head Start educators to federal contractors to health care settings that receive funding from Medicare or Medicaid. Ivey has regularly spoken out against the mandates and called her move Monday one step in this fight but certainly not the last. She has no doubt the order will be challenged in federal courts but that Alabama will stand firm and win. The courts are where this will be resolved, she said. ... Alabamians are overwhelmingly opposed to these outrageous Biden mandates, and I stand firmly with them. That said, she remains in full support of Alabamians choosing to get the vaccine. The governor began her own vaccination course just before Christmas last year and in May expanded vaccine eligibility to residents 12 and older. The vaccine is our ticket back to normal, and I continue to feel optimistic and hopeful in the positive direction we are moving in as a state, Ivey said at the time. According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Alabama has climbed from lowest vaccination rate in the country to third-lowest for fully vaccinated (44.4%) and ninth-lowest for at least partially vaccinated (54%) as of Monday. Residents can click here to find a vaccination site and learn more about their vaccine options in Alabama. Read the executive order signed Monday below. More than $1 million from the McKinsey & Company opioid settlement will now go toward preventing child abuse in Alabama $1.5 million, in fact. Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall recently distributed the funds to the Alabama Department of Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention. The investment could help reduce harmful experiences driven by parents who are addicted to opioids. Data suggests a large percentage of children enter foster care in Alabama because of parental substance abuse and that child neglect accounts for more than 60% of child removals from the home, according to the AG's office. Children are the invisible victims of the opioid epidemic," ADCANP Director Sallye Longshore said. "Not only does parental substance abuse often lead to the abuse and neglect of children, but abused and neglected children tend to grow up to be substance-dependent adults. Our goal at ADCANP is to break this cycle, and we have developed the evidence-based programs to do just that." This is the third distribution of funds from the settlement. It comes after the state and McKinsey reached an agreement in February. The AGO claimed McKinsey furthered the opioid crisis "by promoting marketing schemes and consulting services to opioid manufacturers, including OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma, for more than a decade." The complaint says McKinsey advised Purdue on how to maximize profits from its opioid product by targeting opioid prescribers, using specific wording to get doctors to prescribe more OxyContin and getting around pharmacy restrictions to deliver high-dose prescriptions. Alabama will receive a total of $9 million as part of the settlement. It is the first multistate opioid settlement that will help address the crisis. Some of the money will go towards drug courts and the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences to help reduce backlogs from opioid-related cases. A trial against Endo Pharmaceuticals and McKesson Corporation is set to begin Nov. 1. The Alabama AGO said it also "has pending claims against opioid manufacturers Purdue Pharma, Mallinckrodt and Insys in each of their respective bankruptcy cases." The United States Department of Agriculture will drop off oral rabies vaccine by plane in parts of North Alabama this week. The goal is to reduce raccoon rabies and prevent public health risks. Drop-off zones are located in DeKalb, Jackson, Marshall and Morgan counties, along with other parts of the state. The Alabama Department of Public Health explains "the vaccine packets consist of a sachet, or plastic pack, containing the rabies vaccine. The outer shell of the packet is coated with fishmeal or dog meal to attract raccoons. Raccoons are vaccinated by opening the packet with their teeth, which exposes their gums to vaccine." The packets are not harmful to humans or animals. However, some animals can experience disgestive issues and people could have skin reactions. People are asked to avoid skin contact with the packets. If you are accidentally exposed, wash your hands. If you face a serious reaction, call the number on the packet to reach the state Public Health Veterinarian's office. I understand the concern from citizens and owners when an ORV packet is found in an unintended place or when there is an unintended exposure, but I am hopeful that people keep the big picture in mind, and that is actually reducing the risk of rabies exposures in Alabama by vaccinating raccoons," state Public Health Veterinarian Dee Jones said. "The vaccine packets have been proven to be very safe by historical data collected from incidental exposures. I believe the ORV program benefits public health, animal welfare and wildlife. This is all part of an annual USDA program. Most packets are dropped off during the month of October. For more information about federal ORV usage in Alabama, please contact the USDA at 1-866-4USDA-WS. For more information about rabies exposures, animal or human exposures to the ORV, please call ADPH at 1-800-338-8374. 2:06 p.m UPDATE: The roadway is now open as normal. From earlier The Huntsville Police Department reports that all lanes of Highway 72 west from Providence Main Street to Slaughter Road are closed due to a wreck. Avoid the area if possible. Use caution if you cannot. A Harvest man has been identified as the lone fatality in a two-vehicle crash Sunday night in Harvest. Alabama Law Enforcement Agency said Christopher P. Donahue, 45, was killed when the 2005 Pontiac Grand AM he was driving was struck by a 2014 GMC 1500 pickup. Donahue was pronounced dead at the scene. The crash occurred around 8:40 p.m. on Alabama 53 near Harvest Road. Troopers with ALEAs Highway Patrol Division continue to investigate the incident. Decatur, IL (62521) Today Intervals of clouds and sunshine. High 54F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Cloudy in the evening, then off and on rain showers after midnight. Low near 40F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%. Fabio Tuiach continues to insist that covid is a scam. An Italian former councillor says he has caught covid after being sprayed with water cannons by police during a recent protest against Italy's Green Pass at Trieste port. Fabio Tuiach, a prominent No Vax activist known for his controversial views, blamed getting soaked by the water cannons for his illness before repeating that "covid is a scam". Tuaich wrote on his Facebook page on Monday: "For me covid exists only in the minds of hypnotised people but in any case I am taking anti-inflammatories and vitamins," adding that he would "leave the experimental vaccine to Godless hypochondriacs." The 41-year-old is a former city councillor with the neo-fascist Forza Nuova group, and before that again with the right-wing Lega party from which he was expelled after stating that "femicide is just an invention of the left." Tuiach, an ex-professional heavyweight boxer, has been active in the recent No Green Pass protests organised by the dockers in Trieste port where he works. He has appeared frequently on Italian television over the last week or so, always without a mask, during the demonstrations in Trieste over the government's obligation for all workers in Italy to have the covid Green Pass certificate. There is footage of Tupiach trying to block the car of a docker from entering the port as well as him holding rosary beads and shouting his anti-vaccine views into a megaphone. No stranger to controversy, Tuiach is a self-proclaimed fascist who said in the past that the coronavirus is "divine punishment" for gays. Bitcoin has spawned an entire movement, but it has so far failed as money. Pure cryptocurrencies are far too volatile to be useful except for speculation, illicit trade and the occasional financing of activists in oppressive regimes. The computing power required for the Bitcoin blockchain makes it slow and expensive for smaller transactions, not to mention environmentally damaging. People are afraid to lose the keys to their crypto (about a fifth of all Bitcoin is estimated to have been lost in this way), so they entrust them to wallet apps and other platforms that often get hacked. Most crypto believers engage through the same types of intermediaries exchanges, PayPal, specialized ATMs, opaque trust companies that the technology was intended to replace. Many of these businesses are less safe and more expensive than traditional banks. Their rapid growth threatens more financial instability. The panel then also checks that Facebook really is following its advice. The board demanded Thursday that Facebook be more transparent. Several of its panelists are also now holding regular meetings with a team of about half a dozen Facebook employees whose full-time job is to explore how the boards recommendations can be imposed at the company. Those employees report to Brent Harris, Facebooks director of governance and global affairs, and they talk to policy and engineering staff across Facebook to check whats possible. That work determines how much impact the Oversight Board can have. The board will report this spring on how much, or how little, Facebook has been following its advice. Walt Disney Co. raised the price of a single admission to its California theme parks on the busiest days by 6.5 percent to $164, part of the company's shift to a system that ties admissions costs to demand. As part of the move, the slowest days will remain at $104, the same as it has been since 2019, Disney said Monday. The company created a tiered format for ticket prices in 2016, with weekend, summer and holiday prices higher than other days. With this latest step, the company now has six tiers. Nobelium doesnt seem to have been bothered much by that collective angst. Microsoft said the group was even more active during the spring and summer and targeted cloud networks and software supply chains. Microsoft said it first spotted the new intrusions in May and notified 140 entities that they were targets. At least 14 of those wound up compromised. The company also said that Nobelium using relatively unsophisticated tools such as phishing and password spraying had launched at least 22,868 attacks between July 1 and Oct. 19 against 609 of its customers. That activity seems to have dwarfed earlier burglary efforts. In the three years before July 1, Microsoft had issued 20,500 warnings about hacks involving all of the nation-state actors it monitored. Therese: Weve seen the most extraordinary rise in wholesale energy prices, havent we? It makes the case for moving to renewables in the strongest terms but the problem is renewables arent yet entirely reliable. The wind doesnt always blow in Britain, as we saw recently, and that contributed to the increase in prices, too. The government will end up absorbing some of the cost to consumers of this rise in wholesale prices and that will also affect government budgets. That may leave less capacity to address some of the transition costs. Well have to see how long the energy crunch that were facing lasts, but the big question is China. It has signaled that theres pressure to ramp-up coal production and imports. If China backslides on its already insufficient commitments, I think we will see a very tangible impact on fighting climate change from this period. I recently tried to help book a quarantine room for friends who are moving to Hong Kong from within the region. They would have liked to be here next month, but nothing suitable was showing up online and they couldnt get accommodation until February. Of the more than 87,000 hotel rooms in the city, the government currently has designated only 11,500 of them for quarantine purposes. Most acceptable ones, sufficient for a family of five, are full. Many hotels dont answer the phone; some are taking bookings months in advance; others arent taking them at all. Several are working through their growing wait lists from previous months, built up before they were officially included on the government-approved list. The actual availability ends up being even less than whats published. The biggest change is the recommendation from the CDC last week that everyone who had the single shot of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine get a second one not because the single dose doesnt work but because some measures suggest it isnt as protective as the other vaccines available in the U.S. The J&J vaccines efficacy against severe disease has most recently been measured at 74%, which goes up to 94% with boosters, according to clinical trials. The second shot brings it in line with Pfizers and Modernas, which are still showing over 90% protection against severe disease even as protection against milder infections now looks lower than it did last spring. Still, would a maximum award of $30 million be incentive enough for someone who is on track to become a senior executive in finance, an individual who would expect to earn millions each year over a decade or more? It is a lot of money but maybe not enough for that kind of person to risk everything when it might be simpler just to change firms and find one with a more ethical culture. But then, people who are senior and already big earners ought to be invested in how their firm reacts to wrongdoing in the right way. The previous publication in the JNMA fulfilled the studys goal of ensuring equity in completion of treatment. Since treatment completion is directly linked to outcomes, this was felt to be an adequate endpoint. But now that additional time has passed, the current project is a follow-up study of the overall survival of patients treated during the historical control years vs. the ACCURE study years. This showed that there were differences in five-year overall survival between Black and White in the historic period. As they found in the earlier study, the survival disparity disappeared during the ACCURE period and survivals improved for all. In an interview this month in Pacoima, his old neighborhood in Los Angeles, Padilla said he is not giving up on citizenship, even as he and other Democrats are planning to return to the parliamentarian with a Plan C. He said one option under this plan is to give millions of undocumented immigrants work permits instead of a path to citizenship, but that is not the only possibility. There are still better options on the table, Padilla said, though he would not elaborate. While studies are ongoing, it remains a mystery why that is the case. Neiffer believes it comes down to DNA and genetics that theres something in the larger cats genes that puts them more at risk. A cat is not a cat is not a cat. A lot of smaller species of cats are the genus Felis. A lot of the big cats are the genus Panthera, he says. However, it still might be advisable to get your house cat vaccinated eventually, he explains, noting that owners should consider making it part of their preventive medicine protocols when a coronavirus vaccine becomes available for pets. (While the USDA continues to assert that theres little need to vaccinate domestic pets, the agency does note that the best way to protect furry friends is for their human counterparts to get their vaccines.) She and her husband, Chris, would visit their Boston-area Home Depot every few days or so, pestering employees about when they expected new inventory. In early September, an employee told Chris to be patient for just a few more days while they set up the display. The next time he was in the store, Chris spied an Inferno in a roped-off, employees-only area, and asked a different employee if he could have it. She shrugged and said yes. He had to order an extra-large Lyft to get it home. Laura Murphy poses for a portrait at her home on Feb. 1 in Fairfax Station, Va. She is a mother of four children who have attended Fairfax County Public Schools. (Jahi Chikwendiu/WASHINGTON POST) The book Laura Murphy wants removed from Fairfax County classrooms is considered a modern American classic. It is a Pulitzer Prize winner and a masterpiece of fiction whose authors 1993 Nobel Prize in literature citation said that she, in novels characterized by visionary force and poetic import, gives life to an essential aspect of American reality. But Toni Morrisons Beloved, Murphy said, depicts scenes of bestiality, gang rape and an infants gruesome murder, content she believes could be too intense for teenage readers. Its not about the author or the awards, said Murphy, a mother of four whose eldest son had nightmares after reading Beloved for his senior-year Advanced Placement English class. Its about the content. The Fairfax County School Board voted Thursday against hearing Murphys challenge, but she vowed to continue her quest. She said she plans to take her complaint to the Virginia Board of Education, where she will lobby for policies that will give parents more control over what their children read in class. The Murphy case raises complex questions about constitutional rights, academic freedom and the preservation of childhood innocence. Its mainly for those reasons that book challenges have been the subject of controversy for decades. A Lake Braddock Secondary School Parent-Teacher-Student Association member, Murphy, 45, has been seeking for six months to have Beloved banned until new policies are adopted for books assigned for class that might have objectionable material. The odds were stacked against Murphys challenge from the beginning, and she knew it. Fairfax County schools in certain cases have limited books for distribution only to older students, but it has never banned a book outright. According to records, the School Board has reviewed just 19 books since 1983. If teachers wish to show excerpts from an R-rated movie in class, such as the 1998 film adaptation of Beloved, starring Oprah Winfrey and Danny Glover, they must notify families two weeks ahead and receive written permission from parents. The school system uses content filters to monitor what students can access on the Internet. But for books, teachers dont need to give notice. Im not some crazy book burner, Murphy said. I have great respect and admiration for our Fairfax County educators. The school system is second to none. But I disagree with the administration at a policy level. An epic tale of slavery and survival, Beloved is told from the point of view of a mother haunted by the death of her child a 2-year-old girl she kills to save from a life spent in bondage. The bestseller, published in 1987, is one of the most challenged works in the United States, ranking 26th on the American Library Associations list of top 100 most frequently banned books of the past decade. Its a painful part of the African American history in parts of this country, said the ALAs director, Barbara Jones. A lot of parents understandably want to protect their children from that. . . . However, we would strongly advise people to read the book as a whole before they make a judgment. The number of book challenges across the country has significantly declined in recent years, from about 750 reported challenges in the mid-1990s to about 325 in 2011, according to the ALA, although many cases are unreported. Book challenges historically have sparked debate in the Washington region. The Loudoun County public school system has never banned a book but has restricted some selections to certain age groups, said Wayde Byard, a schools spokesman. He said that book challenges are infrequent and that appeals rarely reach the county School Board. In Montgomery County, book challenges also are rare, said Dana Tofig, a schools spokesman. Since 2009, the school system has received seven challenges of instructional texts, Tofig said, and none of challenges reached the county Board of Education. Murphys campaign began last spring after her son, Blake, then a Lake Braddock senior, told her Beloved disturbed him. I dont shelter my kids, but I have to be a responsible parent, said Murphy, who lives in Fairfax Station. I want to make sure every kid in the county is protected. Now a freshman at the University of Florida, Blake Murphy, 19, recalled reading the book before bed and having night terrors after he fell asleep. It was disgusting and gross, he said. It was hard for me to handle. I gave up on it. School officials point out that AP English is a college-level class that often involves discussions of adult topics. To me, mature references means slavery or the Holocaust, Laura Murphy said. Im not thinking my kid is going to be reading a book with bestiality. In a letter to parents referencing the challenge, Lake Braddock English department officials wrote that society must address troubles the world faces. Reading and studying books that expose us, imaginatively and safely, to that trouble steels our souls to pull us through our own hard times and leads us to a greater empathy for the plight of our fellow human beings, the letter said. Murphys challenge reached the school board in late December. In a 6-2 vote announced Thursday, the board decided against hearing Murphys case and upheld Superintendent Jack D. Dales decision to retain Beloved, in the AP English curriculum. Currently, students can opt out of books assigned in class that they find uncomfortable to read. But the policy should be stricter for books with mature themes, Murphy argues. She said she contacted the state Board of Education and is pursuing a policy similar to what is in place for the states Family Life Education curriculum, in which topics such as rape and molestation are discussed. In those classes, state policy allows for parents to receive notice of certain class topics. Parents also can remove their children from the program. School policies related to sensitive topics should be the same, regardless of the class subject, Murphy said. Clearly a double standard exists, and it should be consistent across all academic disciplines. Authorities have not commented on the youths gender identity and it did not become an issue Monday in court. During the hearing, the 15-year-old victim in the first case testified she had consensual sexual encounters with the defendant on two occasions in a girls bathroom at Stone Bridge High School in Ashburn. On May 28, she said, the two arranged to meet again and the youth threw her to the floor and forced her to perform sex acts. By early 2012, with no family around and in need of cash, Wersick began eying a branch of M&T Bank in a shopping center in the heart of Potomac the intersection of River and Falls roads, according to court records. He soon walked inside dressed in a white jacket with hood, brimmed cap under the hood, and a white plastic mime-style mask under the cap. He carried a small umbrella and a small gun, demanded money, and left with $3,444, according to a police affidavit filed in court. 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 The chalkboard on an interactive Remembrance Wall at Union Station, where survivors and relatives of traffic crash victims post memories of their loved ones. (Bill OLeary/The Post) The District has recorded as many traffic fatalities by mid-November as occurred in all of 2020. Initial charges against Kavala cast him as an organizer and financier of nationwide protests against Erdogans government in 2013, which are viewed by the Turkish leader as the first real challenge to his rule. The demonstrations were sparked by a government plan to construct an Ottoman-style barracks in Istanbuls Gezi Park. Kavala was also accused of supporting a 2016 coup attempt against Erdogans government. MARY RUTH WAGLER The funeral for Mary Ruth Wagler was held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021, at First Mennonite Church, with Chris Raber, Gaylon Sommers and David Lee Stoll officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery. Taxpayers will provide $1.9 billion to help Telstra buy South Pacific telco operator Digicel from Irish billionaire Denis OBrien, under an agreement that will ensure it is kept out of Chinese hands and boost Australias footprint in the region. Telstra will own 100 per cent of the new entity as part of the $US1.6 billion ($2.1 billion) deal, which is expected to be completed within six months. The sale follows almost a year of discussions between the telco giant and the federal government about the asset, which was subject to interest from Chinese telco operators. The sale follows almost a year of discussions between the telco giant and the federal government about the asset, which was subject to interest from Chinese telco operators. Credit:Getty While Telstra called it a commercially attractive asset, there is concern among some in the government and industry that the threat of the asset falling into Chinese hands was hyped up to drive a sale to an Australian company with the help of the government. Industry and government sources confirmed that a Chinese company was never close to buying Digicels Pacific assets. But senior figures within the Australian government believed Chinese companies such as China Mobile may have been interested and they assessed it was important to help Telstra purchase the asset for strategic reasons. Let me be sure Ive got this right. Scott Morrison is ending his Coalitions deep divisions over climate change by agreeing to pay billions in regional boondoggles in return for the Nationals refusing to lift their veto of any increase in Australias commitment to reduce emissions by 2030. The usual way blackmail works is that the blackmailer returns to you something you really value in return for you paying the blackmailer an arm and a leg. Nationals deputy leader David Littleproud, at right, expects a majority in the party room will decide the position on net zero. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen But the way Morrisons deal with Barnaby Joyce and the Nationals will work is that Morrison or rather, the taxpayer spends billions on projects of doubtful value in return for the Nats agreeing to nothing more than symbolism: to reduce carbon emissions to net zero by 2050, which will be after all the signatories are dead and gone. The first point is that agreeing to net zero emissions in 29 years time is a decoy and a fig leaf if thats all you do. To make it real you have to make a commitment you can be held to: a much bigger progress payment in the next nine years to 2030. Holed up in a palatial home deep in Californias Santa Monica Mountains, Gwyneth Paltrow is holding court. Basking in the glow of her movie star wattage are six normal couples of different ages, races and sexual orientations. Its an appropriately mixed bag, the kind of crowd that would make for an interesting dinner party: a pair of smiley seniors, a hip lesbian couple, attractive young mixed-race parents. From the outside looking in, it could easily be mistaken for a fancy dinner party at Paltrows home, but we soon learn there will be no first course, or second course, only intercourse. Gwyneth Paltrow in Sex, Love & Goop. Credit:Netflix Were having sex, this is a show about sex, were going to talk about sex, Paltrow promises during the opening credits of her new Netflix series, Sex, Love & Goop. Sadia Alvi had two good years in Australia before the pandemic struck. As Victoria entered lockdown and the country shut its border, Mrs Alvi was apart from her husband and family. PhD student Sadia Alvi. Credit:Luis Enrique Ascui She could not fly back to her home country of Pakistan. It would be nine months before Mrs Alvi saw her husband, who was in NSW. She was not allowed to send her daughter to kindergarten during Victorias long second COVID-19 wave and fell behind in her research. Singapore: Chinese authorities have placed a city of 4 million people under lockdown in an attempt to wipe out a coronavirus outbreak that has threatened the countrys COVID-zero strategy. Residents in Lanzhou, north-western China, were told not to leave home except in emergencies after six cases were recorded on Tuesday. A worker stands at the entrance to Wuquan Mountain which is closed to prevent visitors gathering in Lanzhou city in Gasu province, north-west China, on Monday. Credit:Chinatopix/AP In Beijing, authorities are scrambling to lockdown apartment blocks and towns as coronavirus cases pop up across the mainland. The sudden restrictions come 100 days out from the start of the Winter Olympics and two weeks before a key Chinese Communist Party meeting in Beijing. Click here to read more. My Safta my grandmother spreads a crocheted lace cloth on the floor between us, and carefully lays documents across it. Are you sure that you want to know? she asks me one last time. Its a very sad story. She is speaking to herself more than anyone. I gently place my hand over hers. Year 8 student Olivia Campbell, winner of the Whitlam Institutes What Matters? Writing Competition for young Australians. Well, she says, I suppose I should tell you. Once Im dead, someone needs to be there to remember. Safta strokes old fingers against the worn blanket and begins to speak. A yellowed family portrait. Eight women. Four men. Five children. Safta bites her lip and digs her fingers into her collarbone as she tells me their story. Two emigrated to Australia before World War II broke out in earnest. On August 25, 1942, the Einsatzgruppen the mobile killing squad of Nazi Germany rounded up the rest and shuttled them to the Treblinka concentration camp. They were dead on arrival, slowly asphyxiated in the gas vans that transported them. Safta shows me the picture of a boy who built a radio from spare parts in the Lodz ghetto in Poland and was shot by a firing squad where he stood when he warned his friends of what would happen to them. A man in his 30s has died after being shot by police in Gosnells. Acting Police Commissioner Col Blanch said four officers responded to reports of a disturbance between two residences on Fremantle Road at 1am on Monday morning. The scene of the police shooting in Gosnells on Monday morning. Credit:Nine News Perth He said the man produced a knife and a violent struggle occurred inside the house. Officers used capsicum spray, a Taser and eventually a firearm was fired two to three times, which resulted in the mans death. Australia will look to new markets for offshore investors, including partnering with European and Japanese firms on mRNA vaccines and clean hydrogen projects, to compensate for a rapid decline in foreign investment from China. The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age can reveal the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has begun work on a plan to diversify foreign investment, partly based on the strategy Canberra has already adopted to shift its export markets as relations with Beijing have fallen to their worst levels in decades. Mining is Australias largest destination for foreign direct investment. The federal government wants to diversify the nations sources of investment. Foreign direct investment (FDI) into Australia was down 48 per cent in 2020, largely off the back of the pandemic. But Chinese investment was down 61 per cent, and has been falling for the past five years. Trade Minister Dan Tehan said Australia needed to diversify its FDI in the same way that weve been seeking to do so with our trade, goods and services. An Australian man is calling on the federal government to save his five-year-old granddaughter who is in a northern Syrian camp and critically unwell with shrapnel in her head. It is more than 10 years since Islamic States caliphate in Iraq and Syria started to suck in tens of thousands of foreign fighters and their families, including hundreds from Australia. Doctors say the shrapnel in the head of Hodan Abbys five-year-old daughter needs to be removed. Among those were Hodan Abby, who escaped from her home in western Sydney with a friend when she was 18, entering Syria with the hopes of becoming a jihadi bride in 2015. Hodan has been trapped in Kurdish-run camps for years with her daughter, who turned five in August. They are in al-Roj camp in northern Syria, in a section away from other Australians. There are believed to be more than 60 Australians in al-Roj, including about 40 children. Several members of the tribunal that reviews government decisions were paid in years they did not work, documents reveal as the tribunal comes under renewed scrutiny from federal Parliament. Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) records show there were 15 part-time members who did no official business in at least one year between July 2018 and June 2021. AAT registrar Sian Leathem fought the publication of details about the workloads of the tribunals members. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Five members received payment in at least one of those years when they did not work, documents given to a Senate estimates committee reveal. These were former Liberal senator Sue Boyce, Perth criminal lawyer Seamus Rafferty, occupational physician Michael Couch, Sydney lawyer Teresa Nicoletti, and former ACT Liberals leader Bill Stefaniak. However, this includes a period when some part-time members were paid a retainer for their availability. Paris: One rape victim was asked by Paris police what she wore that day, and why she didnt struggle more. Another woman was forced to fondle herself to demonstrate a sexual assault to a sceptical police officer. They are among thousands of French women who have denounced in a new online campaign the shocking response of police officers victim-blaming them or mishandling their complaints as they reported sexual abuse. The hashtag #DoublePeine (#DoubleSentencing) was launched last month by Anna Toumazoff after she learnt that a 19-year-old woman who filed a rape complaint in the southern city of Montpellier was asked by police in graphic terms whether she experienced pleasure during the assault. Thousands of French women have denounced the shocking response of police officers victim-blaming them as they were reporting sexual abuse. Credit:AP The hashtag quickly went viral, with women describing similar experiences in Montpellier and other police stations across France. French womens rights group NousToutes (all of us) counted at least 30,000 accounts of mistreatment in tweets and other messages sent on social media and on a specific website. Videos Sorry, there are no recent results for popular videos. Articles Sorry, there are no recent results for popular articles. Images Sorry, there are no recent results for popular images. This aerial photo shows a film set at the Bonanza Creek Ranch in Santa Fe, N.M., Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021. Actor Alec Baldwin fired a prop gun on the set of a Western being filmed at the ranch on Thursday, Oct. 21, killing the cinematographer, officials said. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) 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. WSU Increases Diversity Student Enrollment Fall 2021 October 25, 2021 OGDEN, Utah Following five years of record-breaking graduation numbers, Weber State Universitys third-week fall enrollment for 2021 increased slightly to 29,774 students compared to the 2020 enrollment of 29,596. In addition, the total number of students in Concurrent Enrollment (CE) courses, which award college credit in high school, has increased 6.4% and the number of students who self-identify as Black, Asian, American Indian or Pacific Islander in CE courses has increased 9.8%. Data from the Utah System of Higher Education shows enrollment at all Utahs public colleges and universities held steady compared to last year, with a slight net increase. The link will go live on Monday. Despite the pressures of an ongoing pandemic, students are still seeking higher education for the long-term benefits it brings, said Provost Ravi Krovi. What we are especially pleased about is that not only are students continuing to enroll but our retention rates are also climbing. Its great to help Wildcats continue through to graduation. In the 2020-21 academic year, Weber State awarded 6,445 degrees and certificates, an 11.5% increase from the previous year. For many Utah students, the path to a college degree begins in high school. With Concurrent Enrollment, students earn college credit for $5 per credit while also fulfilling high school graduation requirements. Weber State offers 794 CE courses in 53 schools across the state to put students on the path to higher education. Each year, high school students can register for a maximum of 30 CE credits, all of which are taught by faculty who are certified by Weber State. The Utah State Board of Education recommends that CE students have a 3.0 GPA or B grade or better in their CE courses. Edgar Frias, a 2021 graduate of Ben Lomond High School, is a first-year student at Weber State. He took several CE courses, including English, history and health sciences. I really enjoyed taking CE classes from teachers I knew, Frias said. The classes were smaller, so the teachers were really hands-on, and it was easier to reach out and ask for help. I had a teacher who would meet with us over Zoom on weekends if we needed it. During his senior year, Frias was also able to get a certificate of proficiency in Spanish from WSU, and he is currently pursuing a bachelors degree in radiology. When he graduates, he wants to work in a Utah hospital. CE classes helped me prepare for college, he said. When the teacher would give us homework, I knew it was giving me an outlook on what college would be like. I really appreciated it. Students can choose to earn college credit for a number of General Education courses. The classes allow students to experience a genuine collegiate-level education and prove to themselves they can excel in college subjects, said Nicole Butler, Concurrent Enrollment program administrator. Diogo Nunez-Sanchez, a senior at Weber High, has taken both Concurrent Enrollment and Advanced Placement (AP) classes since his sophomore year, but he prefers CE, which are offered in semester blocks in comparison to the two semesters it takes to complete an AP course. Your success in a CE class isnt determined by one test at the end of the course, he explained. You get credit for doing good work throughout the semester. Nunez-Sanchez has completed 18 CE credits since his sophomore year and is taking 16 more. He hopes to graduate from Weber High with his associates degree and is planning to join the Weber State University class of 2022. Weber State is proud of its ability to meet students wherever they are in their educational journey and help them succeed, Krovi said. For more information on Weber State Concurrent Enrollment, visit continue.weber.edu/concurrentenrollment/. Visit weber.edu/wsutoday for more news about Weber State University. WILBRAHAM, MA (WGGB/WSHM)--Two local high school basketball stars are the next step in their athletic careers. Kyle and Matt Filipowski, seniors at Wilbraham Monson academy both committed to their Division 1 teams Friday. Bradly J. Boner/AP JACKSON, Wyo. (AP) Dozens of U.S. fellow Marines joined hundreds of Wyoming residents to bid a final farewell at a memorial for Rylee McCollum, one of 13 U.S. servicemen killed in a suicide bombing as they guarded a gate at a chaotic Kabul, Afghanistan airport during the final U.S. evacuation from that country. Many of the Marines were members of the 20-year-old McCollum's unit serving in Afghanistan when he was killed on Aug. 26. McCollum, a Marine lance corporal, grew up, went to school and enlisted for the Corps in the mountain valley area known as Jackson Hole, home to the town of Jackson. He was honored during Saturday's Jackson service attended by more than 400 people. AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) Maine's U.S. senators have joined a push to try to prevent suicide among members of the military. Republican Sen. Susan Collins and independent Sen. Angus King said they're helping introduce the Save Our Servicemembers Act, which is also called the SOS Act. The senators said military suicides increased by 15% last year. The Vanderburgh County Coroner's Office has released an official cause of death for the man who was found dead in a home on Stinson Avenue in Evansville, Indiana. The coroner's office said Monday that an autopsy confirmed 50-year-old Timothy Ivy of Evansville died from strangulation and that the manner of his death was a homicide. Police believe Ivy was strangled to death by 46-year-old Carey Hammond, who was shot and killed by police earlier in October. Authorities believe it happened after Hammond came home to find his girlfriend, 36-year-old Heidi Carter, engaged in sexual activity with Ivy and another woman who was Ivy's girlfriend. Carey Hammond (L) and Heidi Carter (R) Investigators were told that Hammond became enraged, shackling Ivy's girlfriend and raping her before finally strangling Ivy to death with a belt. Link: Affidavit Reveals New Details About Evansville Murder-Rape Case Ivy's body was found in the home after Hammond committed what authorities called "suicide by cop." Carter remains in the Vanderburgh County Jail on charges of Rape, Murder, Abuse of a Corpse, and more. An anti-drug trafficking agency with western Kentucky roots is receiving some federal funding in its fight against drug sales and distribution. The Pennyrile Narcotics Task Force, which operates in multiple western Kentucky counties including Henderson, Webster, McLean, and Muhlenberg counties, is receiving $268,098 in federal funds, according to Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear. The governor said Monday that the Pennyrile Narcotics Task Force was one of 11 Kentucky drug task force agencies that was receiving funds to help fight the opioid epidemic in the state. Todays funding announcement is another step forward in helping law enforcement and the justice system have critical resources in place to best protect and serve Kentuckians by working to remove illegal drugs from our communities, said Gov. Beshear. Through a collaborative approach on both a state and federal level, we will be able to aggressively respond and help prevent drugs from continuing to wreak havoc on our families. Gov. Beshear said Kentucky was receiving the funds through the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG), which is a component of the US Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance. You can see a full list of the agencies receiving funds here. More information on the Pennyrile Narcotics Task Force is available here. 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. 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. Quincy, IL (62301) Today Intervals of clouds and sunshine. High 57F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Cloudy during the evening. A few showers developing late. Low 38F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 30%. Willmar, MN (56201) Today Partly to mostly cloudy. High 41F. Winds NNW at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight A few clouds. Low 26F. WSW winds at less than 5 mph, increasing to 10 to 15 mph. Winchester, VA (22601) Today Partly cloudy skies in the morning will give way to cloudy skies during the afternoon. High 46F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Mostly cloudy. Low near 30F. Winds light and variable. SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) The assistant director who handed Alec Baldwin the gun that killed a cinematographer last week had been fired from a previous job after a gun went off on a set and wounded a member of the film crew, a producer said Monday. Attendees embrace at a candlelight vigil for the late cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, pictured in photographs in the background, Sunday, Oct. 24, 2021, in Burbank, Calif. A prop firearm discharged last Thursday by actor Alec Baldwin, while producing and starring in a Western movie in Santa Fe, N.M., killed Hutchins and wounded director Joel Souza. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello) SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) The assistant director who handed Alec Baldwin the gun that killed a cinematographer last week had been fired from a previous job after a gun went off on a set and wounded a member of the film crew, a producer said Monday. The disclosure emerged as producers of Baldwin's movie officially halted filming, and court records showed that investigators seized more than two dozen items from the set on the day after the shooting. In an email statement to The Associated Press, a producer for the movie Freedoms Path confirmed that Dave Halls was fired from the 2019 production after a crew member suffered a minor injury "when a gun was unexpectedly discharged. The producer, who asked not to be identified by name, wrote that Halls was removed from the set immediately." Production did not resume until Halls was gone. His firing from Freedoms Path was first reported by CNN. Halls has not returned phone calls and email messages seeking comment. Russ Backers, a stagehand and welder in IATSE Local 33, lays down his union pin for the late cinematographer Halyna Hutchins during a candlelight vigil for her, Sunday, Oct. 24, 2021, in Burbank, Calif. A prop firearm discharged last Thursday by actor Alec Baldwin, while producing and starring in a Western movie in Santa Fe, N.M., killed Hutchins and wounded director Joel Souza. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello) The producer is the second person to air doubts about Halls' safety record. On Sunday, another crew member who worked with Halls said she raised concerns about him in 2019. Maggie Goll, a prop maker and licensed pyrotechnician, said in a statement that she filed an internal complaint with the executive producers of Hulus Into the Dark series over Halls behavior. Goll said in a phone interview that Halls disregarded safety protocols for weapons and pyrotechnics and tried to continue filming after the supervising pyrotechnician, who was diabetic, lost consciousness on set. The fatal shooting and previous experiences point to larger safety issues, Goll said, adding that crew safety was a top issue in recent contract negotiations between a union that represents film and TV workers and a major producers group. This situation is not about Dave Halls. ... Its in no way one persons fault, she said. Its a bigger conversation about safety on set and what we are trying to achieve with that culture. In an email sent to Rust crew members over the weekend, the movie's production team confirmed that work on the Western has been suspended at least until the investigation is complete. The team said it is working with law enforcement and conducting its own internal safety review. The production company is also offering grief counseling. Attendees hold candles during a vigil for the late cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, Sunday, Oct. 24, 2021, in Burbank, Calif. A prop firearm discharged last Thursday by actor Alec Baldwin, while producing and starring in a Western movie in Santa Fe, N.M., killed Hutchins and wounded director Joel Souza. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello) The email suggested that work on the film could resume at some point. Although our hearts are broken, and it is hard to see beyond the horizon, this is, at the moment, a pause rather than an end, the email read. The sheriff's investigation continued Monday, and new court documents showed that authorities seized three black revolvers, ammunition boxes, a fanny pack with ammunition, several spent casings, two leather gun belts with holsters, articles of clothing and swabs of what were believed to be blood. No charges have been filed. Prosecutors and law enforcement officers were expected to provide an update on the investigation Wednesday. Moments before the shooting, Baldwin was explaining how he was going to draw the revolver from his holster and where his arm would be positioned, court records show. A woman lays down a candle during a vigil for the late cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, seen in photographs at top right, Sunday, Oct. 24, 2021, in Burbank, Calif. A prop firearm discharged last Thursday by actor Alec Baldwin, while producing and starring in a Western movie in Santa Fe, N.M., killed Hutchins and wounded director Joel Souza. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello) The actor had been told that the gun was safe to use for the rehearsal of a scene in which he was supposed to pull out the weapon while sitting in a church pew and point it at the camera, the records said. Cameraman Reid Russell told a detective that he was unsure whether the weapon was checked before it was handed to Baldwin, and he did not know why the gun was fired. The camera was not rolling when the gun went off and killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, Russell told authorities, according a search warrant affidavit released Sunday. Authorities have said that Halls had handed the weapon to Baldwin and announced cold gun, indicating it was safe. When asked about how Baldwin treated firearms on the set, Russell said the actor was safe, citing a previous instance when Baldwin made sure a child actor was not near him when a gun was being discharged. The affidavit released Sunday also included statements by director Joel Souza, who was standing behind Hutchins and was wounded. It detailed the moments before the shooting and showed that there was turmoil on the set the day of the shooting. Several members of the camera crew walked off the production in a dispute over payment and lodging, Russell said, and he was left with a lot of work to do. Only one camera was available to shoot, and it had to be moved because the light had shifted and there was a shadow. Souza said he was focused on how the scene would appear on camera. He said he recalled hearing the phrase cold gun before the shooting, the affidavit said. He said the scene did not call for the use of live rounds. After a lunch break, Souza said he was not sure if the firearm had been checked again. Souza was looking over Hutchins' shoulder when he heard the gunshot, according to the affidavit. The films chief electrician, Serge Svetnoy, blamed producers for Hutchins death in an emotional Facebook post on Sunday. Svetnoy said he had worked with Hutchins on multiple films and faulted negligence and unprofessionalism among those handling weapons on the set. He said producers hired an inexperienced armorer. Baldwin, who is known for his roles in 30 Rock and The Hunt for Red October and his impression of former President Donald Trump on Saturday Night Live, has described the killing as a tragic accident. ___ Italie reported from New York. Associated Press writers Ryan Pearson in Los Angeles, Gillian Flaccus in Portland, Oregon, and Michelle Eaton in Newport Beach, California, contributed to this report. VANCOUVER - Wind warnings and special weather statements remain posted for Vancouver Island and British Columbia's inner south coast, even as the region appeared to have dodged significant damage from a powerful storm. An Aquabus water taxi travels on False Creek as a person holds an umbrella while walking under fall foliage on the seawall, in Vancouver, on Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck VANCOUVER - Wind warnings and special weather statements remain posted for Vancouver Island and British Columbia's inner south coast, even as the region appeared to have dodged significant damage from a powerful storm. Environment Canada says a rapidly deepening cyclone approached waters off the coast Saturday night and peak wind speeds of at least 100 km/h were reported at three locations off Vancouver Island on Sunday. The weather office says winds were expected to subside by Monday afternoon, although gusts of 50 to 60 km/h were still expected into the evening. Power was still out for thousands of people Monday afternoon on Vancouver Island, the Lower Mainland and the Sunshine Coast. B.C. Ferries cancelled sailings to and from Vancouver Island until late Monday afternoon, with the expectation that the last few sailings for the day would be able to depart. BC Ferries says in a statement that additional sailings will be added if the weather eases. Two people died Sunday in Washington state as the same storm toppled a tree onto a vehicle in the Seattle area. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 25, 2021. The offspring of hippos once owned by Colombian drug kingpin Pablo Escobar can be recognized as people or interested persons with legal rights in the U.S. following a federal court order. FILEIn this file photo from Feb. 4, 2021, a pink statue of a hippo greets tourists at Hacienda Napoles Park in Puerto Triunfo, Colombia. Hacienda Napoles was once a private zoo with illegally imported animals that belonged to drug trafficker Pablo Escobar. A U.S. court order says the offspring of hippos once owned by Escobar can be recognized as people with legal rights in the U.S. The case involves a lawsuit against the Colombian government over whether to kill or sterilize the hippos whose numbers are growing at a fast pace. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara, File) The offspring of hippos once owned by Colombian drug kingpin Pablo Escobar can be recognized as people or "interested persons" with legal rights in the U.S. following a federal court order. The case involves a lawsuit against the Colombian government over whether to kill or sterilize the hippos whose numbers are growing at a fast pace and pose a threat to biodiversity. An animal rights groups is hailing the order as a milestone victory in the long sought efforts to sway the U.S. justice system to grant animals personhood status. But the order won't carry any weight in Colombia where the hippos live, a legal expert said. "The ruling has no impact in Colombia because they only have an impact within their own territories. It will be the Colombian authorities who decide what to do with the hippos and not the American ones," said Camilo Burbano Cifuentes, a criminal law professor at the Universidad Externado de Colombia. The "cocaine hippos" are descendants of animals that Escobar illegally imported to his Colombian ranch in the 1980s when he reigned over the country's drug trade. After his death in a 1993 shootout with authorities, the hippos were abandoned at the estate and left to thrive with no natural predators their numbers have increased in the last eight years from 35 to somewhere between 65 and 80. A group of scientists has warned that the hippos pose a major threat to the areas biodiversity and could lead to deadly encounters with humans. They are advocating for some of the animals to be killed. A government agency has started sterilizing some of the hippos, but there is a debate on what are the safest methods. In the suit, attorneys for the Animal Legal Defense Fund asked the U.S. District Court in Cincinnati to give "interested persons" status to the hippos so that two wildlife experts in sterilization from Ohio could be deposed in the case. Federal magistrate Judge Karen Litkovitz in Cincinnati granted the request on Oct. 15. The animal rights group based near San Francisco said it believes its the first time animals have been declared legal persons in the U.S. Their attorneys argued that because advocates for the hippos can bring lawsuits to protect their interests in Colombia that the hippos should be allowed to be considered "interested persons" under U.S. law. They pointed to a federal statute that allows anyone who is an "interested person" in a foreign lawsuit to ask a federal court to permit them to take depositions in the U.S. in support of their case. Christopher Berry, the lead attorney for the Animal Legal Defense Fund, called it a narrow but profound ruling. "This really is part of a bigger movement of advocating that animals interest be represented in court," he said. "Were not asking to make up a new law. Were just asking that animals have the ability to enforce the rights that have already been given to them." While animals have been granted legal rights in India, Pakistan and Argentina, courts in the U.S. have been unwilling to do so until now. A judge in Connecticut called a petition filed four years ago by an animal rights group to grant personhood to three elephants in a traveling petting zoo "wholly frivolous." In another closely watched case, the New York Court of Appeals, the states highest court, agreed in May to decide whether an elephant at the Bronx Zoo should get human-like rights and be moved to a sanctuary. Earlier rulings dismissed the claims from the animal rights groups. The zoo contends that granting legal "personhood" to the the elephant named Happy would set a dangerous precedent and has called the efforts "ludicrous." Gun rights groups also have criticized the move out of concern it could impact hunting or set a precedent. Backers point to court rulings that have given corporations legal rights and considered them to be legal persons reasoning that animals should be treated the same under the law. "Legal personhood is just the ability to have your interest heard and represented in court," Berry said. "It's about enforcing rights they already have under animal cruelty laws and other protection laws." ___ Seewer reported from Toledo, Ohio. Associated Press writers Astrid Suarez in Bogota, Colombia, and Regina Garcia Cano in Mexico City contributed. HALIFAX - Nova Scotia is reporting one new death related to COVID-19, and 57 new cases of the virus since its last update on Friday. A vehicle enters Nova Scotia's first drive-thru COVID-19 vaccination clinic at the Dartmouth General hospital in Dartmouth, N.S. on Monday, May 10, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan HALIFAX - Nova Scotia is reporting one new death related to COVID-19, and 57 new cases of the virus since its last update on Friday. Officials say a man in his 70s in the province's western zone has died, bringing the total number of deaths to 99 since the onset of the pandemic. Twenty-nine new cases have been identified in the Halifax area, along with 17 in the province's northern zone, 10 in the western zone and one in the eastern zone. The province currently has 152 active infections with 11 people in hospital, including two in intensive care. Meanwhile, testing continues at the Valley Regional Hospital in Kentville, N.S., where five patients in a non-COVID unit have tested positive for the virus and one person is in intensive care. According to provincial data, 83 per cent of the province's population has had at least one shot of a COVID-19 vaccine while 77.8 per cent are fully vaccinated. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 25, 2021. REGINA - Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe says he will not bring in additional COVID-19 measures because that would take away people's personal freedoms. The Saskatchewan Legislative Building at Wascana Centre is seen in Regina, Saturday, May 30, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Mark Taylor REGINA - Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe says he will not bring in additional COVID-19 measures because that would take away people's personal freedoms. Moe made the comment while delivering a state-of-the-province address to Saskatoon's Chamber of Commerce on Monday. He said COVID-19 vaccines are widely available, so his Saskatchewan Party government will not order lockdowns or restrictions that could lead to business closures. "It doesn't make sense to restrict everyone's activities," Moe said. "We don't think it's fair, and we don't think it's right to impose those sweeping closures, those sweeping restrictions on all of the people when the vast majority ... in this province have went out and done the right thing, and received the vaccine." Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe speaks at a state-of-the-province address to Saskatoon's Chamber of Commerce at Prairieland Park, Monday, Oct. 25, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Liam Richards Some medical experts and the Canadian Medical Association have been urging restrictions on gathering sizes as hospitals continue to admit a high number of COVID-19 patients. Data from the Saskatchewan Health Authority for this month shows that Saskatchewan has had the most residents in intensive care units per capita than any other province at any point in the pandemic. The province on Monday reported 170 new infections and 2,822 active cases. There were 293 people hospitalized with the virus, 81 of them in intensive care units. Nine of those intensive care patients are receiving critical care in Ontario. Last week, chief medical health officer, Dr. Saqib Shahab, said COVID-19 vaccines are not enough to stop Saskatchewan's fourth wave. While cases have been trending downward, the province's test positivity rate is at 10 per cent. Shahab said "we're certainly not out of the woods yet" as Saskatchewan may still see an increase in hospitalizations, including ICU admissions. "It's too early to be too confident right now," he said. "We need to sustain the course for the next four to six weeks to really get our cases down, get our hospitalizations down, and give our health-care system the chance to recover." Six critical care nurses are expected to arrive Wednesday from the military, which is also providing the province with an aeromedical plane to transfer COVID-19 patients to Ontario. "They have provided six (nurses). We will add that to the 480 (critical care nurses) we have operating now," Moe said. "I won't say it's going to make a significant difference, but at this juncture every difference matters. We're very appreciative." In addition, 39 nursing students in Saskatchewan are getting trained to work in the province's intensive care units, and the Saskatchewan Health Authority is hiring another 32 critical care nurses. Scott Livingstone, CEO of the health authority, said the additional staff won't be enough to bring back the 275 health-care services that have been cut, including critical heart and neurological surgeries, but will provide some relief to health-care workers. "At this point in time, no there is no plan to restart slowdown services given the capacity issues we have with critical care, and wards with patients that are admitted," Livingstone said. Recent modelling shows unless more measures are introduced, health care might not return to sustainable levels until next March. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 25, 2021. AMSTERDAM (AP) The European Medicines Agency said Monday that a booster dose of Moderna's coronavirus vaccine can be considered" in people aged 18 and above. FILE - In this Sunday, Aug. 15, 2021 file photo, vials of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine are seen at the Assad Iben El Fourat school in Oued Ellil, outside Tunisa. The European Medicines Agency said a booster dose of Modernas coronavirus vaccine can be considered in people aged 18 and above. In a statement on Monday, Oct. 25, the EU drug regulator said its analysis had shown that a third dose given of Modernas vaccine - which is usually given in a two-dose schedule - at least six months after the second dose, led to an increase in antibody levels in adults whose levels were waning. (AP Photo/Hassene Dridi, file) AMSTERDAM (AP) The European Medicines Agency said Monday that a booster dose of Moderna's coronavirus vaccine can be considered" in people aged 18 and above. In a statement, the EU drug regulator said its analysis had shown that a third dose given of Moderna's vaccine which is usually given in a two-dose schedule at least six months after the second dose, led to an increase in antibody levels in adults whose levels were waning. The booster dose consists of half the dose normally given to adults. The EMA said that currently available data suggest the incidence of side effects is similar to what is observed following the second dose of Moderna's vaccine, which is known to cause temporary heart and chest inflammation in a small number of people. At national level, public health bodies may issue official recommendations on the use of booster doses, taking into account the local epidemiological situation, the agency said in a statement. Earlier this month, the EMA said booster doses of the COVID-19 vaccine made by Pfizer-BioNTech could also be considered. It also recommended a third dose of vaccines for people with compromised immune systems. Booster doses of the vaccines made by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna have already been authorized by American officials, but there are still restrictions on who qualifies. Starting six months past their last Pfizer or Moderna vaccination, people are urged to get a booster if theyre 65 or older, nursing home residents, or at least 50 and at increased risk of severe disease because of health problems. Boosters also were allowed, but not urged, for adults of any age at increased risk of infection because of health problems or their jobs or living conditions. That includes health care workers, teachers and people in jails or homeless shelters. And as European officials have recommended, Modernas booster will come at half the dose of the original two shots. The World Health Organization has repeatedly slammed rich countries for embarking on booster doses, saying there is no scientific evidence the shots are justified and pointed out that the authorized vaccines remain strongly protective against hospitalization and deaths months after immunization. It has urged rich countries to donate their COVID-19 vaccines immediately to poorer countries, which have received fewer than 1% of the world's limited supply. ___ Follow all of APs pandemic coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic DETROIT (AP) Hertz announced Monday that it will buy 100,000 electric vehicles from Tesla, one of the largest purchases of battery-powered cars in history and the latest evidence of the nation's increasing commitment to EV technology. In this Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2017 photo a Hertz rental car logo rests on the front of a Hertz location, in Boston. Car rental company Hertz is ordering 100,000 electric vehicles from Tesla. The company says its buying the Tesla Model 3s by the end of 2022, and it also will buy electric vehicle chargers. No price was given for the order, but it has to be worth around $4 billion because each Model 3 has a base price of around $40,000. (AP Photo/Steven Senne, file) DETROIT (AP) Hertz announced Monday that it will buy 100,000 electric vehicles from Tesla, one of the largest purchases of battery-powered cars in history and the latest evidence of the nation's increasing commitment to EV technology. The news of the deal triggered a rally in Tesla's stock, driving the carmaker's market value over the $1 trillion mark for the first time. The purchase by one of the world's leading rental car companies reflects its confidence that electric vehicles are gaining acceptance with environmentally minded consumers as an alternative to vehicles powered by petroleum-burning internal combustion engines. In an interview with The Associated Press, Mark Fields, Hertz' interim CEO, said that Teslas are already arriving at the company's sites and should be available for rental starting in November. Hertz said in its announcement that it will complete its purchases of the Tesla Model 3 small cars by the end of 2022. It also said it will establish its own electric vehicle charging network as it strives to produce the largest rental fleet of electric vehicles in North America. Fields wouldnt say how much Hertz is spending for the order. But he said the company has sufficient capital and a healthy balance sheet after having emerged from bankruptcy protection in June. The deal likely is worth around $4 billion because each Model 3 has a base price of about $40,000. It also ranks at the top of the list of electric vehicle orders by a single company. In 2019, Amazon ordered 100,000 electric delivery vans from Rivian, a startup manufacturer of electric van, pickup trucks and SUVs. Amazon is an investor in Rivian. The Hertz order sent Tesla shares soaring nearly 13% to a record closing price of $1,024.86, and pushed the world's most valuable automaker's total market value to just over $1 trillion. The wealth of CEO Elon Musk, the richest person in the world, grew 11.4% to $255.8 billion, according to Forbes. In his interview with the AP, Fields made clear his belief that electric vehicles are increasingly moving into the mainstream and that Hertz intends to be a leading provider of EVs to rental customers. He pointed to surveys showing that over the past five years, consumer interest in electric vehicles has grown dramatically. More are willing to try and buy, he said. It's pretty stunning. Fields said that Hertz, which is based in Estero, Florida, is in discussions with other automakers, too, about buying additional electric vehicles as it expands its EV fleet as more models enter the marketplace. Hertz also is investing in its own charging network. Fields said it has plans for 3,000 chargers in 65 locations across the United States by the end of 2022 and 4,000 by the end of 2023. Many of the sites will be at Hertz locations such as airports, he said, while others will be in suburban areas. Customers also would be able to use Tesla's own large charging network for a fee, Fields said. The company has a network of about 25,000 chargers worldwide. Fields declined to say how much Hertz will charge to rent the Teslas or whether they would be more expensive for customers than gas-powered vehicles. Daniel Ives, a technology analyst at Wedbush Securities, wrote in a note Monday to investors that Hertzs order represents a major feather in the cap for Tesla and shows that a broad adoption of electric vehicles is under way as part of this oncoming green tidal wave hitting the U.S." China and Europe have been ahead of the U.S. on vehicle electrification. But demand in the United States is accelerating, Ives noted, with Tesla leading the way, followed by startup Lucid Motors, General Motors, Ford and others that are chasing a potential $5 trillion market opportunity over the next decade. In an interview, Ives said he expected other rental car companies to follow Hertz's lead. It's a wake-up call for the rest of the industry as well, he said. Ives suggested that the deal will help Tesla and other manufacturers by giving thousands of consumers the experience of driving electric vehicles who might not otherwise have done so. It's the ultimate test drive, he said. For a company that doesn't normally market, this is the best brand and marketing deal they've ever struck, he said of Tesla. Hertz's order may also help alleviate a nationwide shortage of rental cars, he said. Automakers have slashed production and sales to rental car companies because of a global shortage of computer chips. Still, Ives said he doesn't expect Hertz to receive significant numbers of Teslas until the automaker's new factory near Austin, Texas, starts producing late next year. Hertz likely will charge customers more to rent the Model 3s compared with conventional vehicles with combustion engines, Ives noted. Hertz Global Holdings Inc. filed for bankruptcy protection in May 2020, two months after the coronavirus erupted across the country. It was among the first major corporations to be felled by the pandemic as infections surged and shut down travel on a global scale for both companies and vacationers. In October, Hertz named Fields, a former Ford Motor Co. CEO, as its interim chief executive. Shortly after Hertz's announcement Monday, the National Transportation Safety Board released a letter from its chairwoman chastising Tesla for failing to respond to recommendations that emerged from several fatal crash investigations involving the companys Autopilot partially automated driver-assist system. The agency recommended four years ago that Tesla limit where its Autopilot system can operate and that it better monitor drivers to make sure they're paying attention. EDMONTON - The first day of the Alberta legislature's fall sitting signalled the government's intention to focus on the economy and the Opposition determined to hold the United Conservatives to account for mismanaging COVID-19. Alberta Premier Jason Kenney gives a COVID-19 update in Edmonton, Tuesday, Sept. 21, 2021. The first day of the Alberta legislature's fall sitting signalled the government's intention to focus on the economy and the Opposition determined to hold the United Conservatives to account for mismanaging COVID-19. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson EDMONTON - The first day of the Alberta legislature's fall sitting signalled the government's intention to focus on the economy and the Opposition determined to hold the United Conservatives to account for mismanaging COVID-19. NDP Leader Rachel Notley accused Premier Jason Kenney and his cabinet of negligently downplaying the fourth wave of COVID-19, then disappearing in the summer as cases soared, resulting in hundreds of deaths and pushing hospital capacity to the breaking point. The premier went on vacation. He left Alberta without leadership, Notley said in question period Monday as she pointed across the aisle at Kenney and his cabinet. Where was your health minister? Your deputy premier? Your finance minister? A single solitary adult over there? Where were they? Kenney responded that every jurisdiction has had COVID-19 hard times and the NDPs criticism is not helpful to solving the crisis. They (the NDP) have always craved an Australian-style hard and brutal lockdown, the consequences of which would require turning this province into a virtual police state, said Kenney. The premier has said he didnt react with renewed rules to address the soaring summer case numbers until Sept. 3, because he didnt believe a COVID-19-weary population would follow them. The numbers have been dropping slowly in recent weeks, but there are still 182 people infected with the virus receiving intensive care. The health system has had to double its normal amount of ICU beds, forcing the cancellation of thousands of non-urgent surgeries, and call in the military to handle the surge. Kenney said there will be a review eventually of how his government handled the COVID-19 pandemic. He rejected the NDPs call for an all-party committee with subpoena powers to get to the bottom of what happened over the summer. Now is not the time to pull medical staff away from their duties, he said. The legislature is to sit for five of the next six weeks through to the beginning of December. There's to be a one-week break around Remembrance Day. Government house leader Jason Nixon said there will be 18 to 20 bills focused on creating jobs and diversifying the economy. I will be putting forward a very robust legislative agenda inside the legislature. And we will be going very quickly around the clock morning, noon and night to be able to fulfil that agenda for Albertans, Nixon said. Kenney introduced the first bill Monday to streamline how professional requirements are processed for those from out of province. Occupations are regulated inconsistently across Canada, creating a patchwork of credential recognition that holds back skilled and certified workers, Kenney told a news conference. The bill would affect more than 100 regulated professions, including nurses, accountants, real estate agents, firefighters, paramedics, engineers, insurance adjusters and horse jockeys. Professional bodies would have to make a decision on an application within a month of receiving it and establish timely appeals for those rejected. They would also have to make available online a breakdown of what documents are required to apply and the fees involved. Kenney said the legislation, coupled with low taxes, high oil prices and COVID-19 receding, would help Albertas bottom line rebound. We are moving, I believe, probably into a strong and sustained cycle of economic growth, said Kenney. (But) we are hearing about labour shortages, not just in Alberta, but across the economy in North America, (so) this is going to become an emerging challenge. Infrastructure Minister Prasad Panda introduced legislation to codify how capital projects are given a green light and a 20-year strategy for capital planning. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 25, 2021. WHITEHAVEN, England (AP) In the patchwork of hills, lakes and sea that make up Englands northwest corner, most people see beauty. Dave Cradduck sees broken dreams. Members of the public walks their dogs by the former pithead at Haig Colliery Mining Museum close to the site of a proposed new coal mine near the Cumbrian town of Whitehaven in north-west England, Monday, Oct. 4, 2021. A proposal to dig a new coal mine here is dividing the British government just as it prepares to host a major climate conference. West Cumbria Mining wants to build Britain's first deep coal mine in three decades to extract coking coal, which is used to make steel. The coal would be processed in Whitehaven, 340 miles (550 kilometers) northwest of London. But environmentalists are horrified by the idea. (AP Photo/Jon Super) WHITEHAVEN, England (AP) In the patchwork of hills, lakes and sea that make up Englands northwest corner, most people see beauty. Dave Cradduck sees broken dreams. The coal mine where the 74-year-old once worked has long closed. The chemical factory that employed thousands is gone. The nuclear power plant is being decommissioned. To Cradduck, a plan for a new coal mine that could bring hundreds of jobs is a sign that at least someones interested in the area and an opportunity "for people who have got mining in their blood. But environmentalists view the proposed mine with horror. They say it sends a disastrous message as the United Kingdom welcomes world leaders, advocates, diplomats and scientists to Glasgow, Scotland, for a United Nations Climate Change Conference that starts Oct. 31. Many scientists and activists consider the two-week COP26 conference a last chance to nail down carbon-cutting promises that could keep global warming within manageable limits. A statue entitled 'End of an Era' paying homage to the region's mining industry stands close to the Cumbrian town of Whitehaven near the site of a proposed new coal mine in northwest England, Monday, Oct. 4, 2021. (AP Photo/Jon Super) The U.K. sets itself out as a leader, but its building a coal mine, which is the most polluting thing that you can do, Rebecca Willis, a professor of energy and climate governance at Lancaster University, said. It sends a signal to the rest of the world that the U.K. isnt actually serious. The proposed deep mine symbolizes a dilemma facing the British government: It aims to generate all of the U.K.s electricity from clean energy sources by 2035 and to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. But Conservative Prime Minister Boris Johnson has also pledged to boost prosperity in Englands neglected north with new factories, roads, railways and other infrastructure that environmentalists say is at odds with the governments green agenda. West Cumbria Mining, the company hoping to build Britains first deep coal mine in three decades, wants to extract coking coal a type used to make steel rather than for fuel from under the Irish Sea. It plans to process the coal on the site of a shuttered chemical plant in Whitehaven, 340 miles (550 kilometers) northwest of London. The company describes the project as a new kind of mine, far removed from the dirty, dangerous behemoths whose brick and steel skeletons dot the region's landscape. West Cumbria Mining says it will be the worlds first net-zero coal mine, with all of its carbon emissions reduced or offset by credits to the Gold Standard Foundation, an environmental organization. Plans show curved modern buildings that blend in with the surrounding hills. Alexander Greaves, a lawyer for the mining company, said while opening a new coal mine might look bad at first glance, the Cumbria County project aims to be different be design. Showing these mines can be made by lawto capture greenhouse gas emissions and required to offset any residual impactis true environmental leadership, he said. An aerial view of the the site of a proposed new coal mine near the Cumbrian town of Whitehaven in northwest England, Monday, Oct. 4, 2021. A proposal to dig a new coal mine here is dividing the British government just as it prepares to host a major climate conference. West Cumbria Mining wants to build Britain's first deep coal mine in three decades to extract coking coal, which is used to make steel. The coal would be processed in Whitehaven, 340 miles (550 kilometers) northwest of London. But environmentalists are horrified by the idea. (AP Photo/Jon Super) Environmentalists scoff at that idea. Its blindingly obvious that the quickest way to stop these carbon emissions and to make radical changes which we have to do in the next 10 years is to stop opening any new coal mines, said Maggie Mason, a local opponent of the mine. The same is true for oil wells and gas wells." Nature and industry have long vied for supremacy in this part of England. Whitehaven sits on the edge of the Lake District National Park, an area whose beauty inspired William Wordsworth and Beatrix Potter. The area also once was home to industries that offered hard, dirty jobs in factories and mines. These days, wind turbines spin beside the sea a sign of Britains transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy, which last year produced almost half of the countrys electricity. That share shrank this year, however, partly due to a lack of wind. With the cost of imported natural gas soaring and plans for new nuclear plants moving at a crawl, the U.K. government is still considering new fossil-fuel projects. In the North Atlantic, west of the Shetland islands, Shell and Siccar Point Energy plan to extract 170 million barrels of oil from the Cambo oilfield. Environmental groups are trying to force the British government to stop the drilling. Johnsons administration is reluctant to intervene, saying sources like Cambo are still required to meet Britains energy needs as it shifts to a low-carbon economy. We need to transition our existing oil and gas sector to a decarbonized platform, Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng said last month in the House of Commons, accusing Cambo opponents of wanting a complete eclipse" of the oil and gas industries "with 250,000 jobs vanishing overnight. In West Cumbria, the local authority approved the mine a year ago. The areas Conservative mayor, Mike Starkie, says it will be transformational. The British government, under pressure from opponents and its own environmental commitments, intervened in March and ordered an inquiry by a planning inspector. The inspector says he will make a recommendation around the end of the year. Then the U.K. government will make a final decision well after COP26 has ended. Local supporters of the mine believe they are the silent majority, at risk of being drowned out by environmental activists. Some rallied at the site this month, holding signs that read Part of the answer, not part of the problem and Cumbria coke is the real thing. Its been very simplified in the press that its jobs against the climate, said John Greasley, who helps run a Facebook page in support of the mine. And, of course, the climate is going to win every time. But its deeper than that." ___ Lawless reported from London. ___ Follow APs climate coverage at http://apnews.com/hub/climate BERLIN (AP) A target for rich countries to provide poor nations with $100 billion in aid each year to tackle global warming will be missed, dealing a blow to the upcoming U.N. climate talks in Glasgow. This Oct. 24, 2021 taken photo shows demonstrators from Extinction Rebellion push a self-made cart in the shape of the climate target "1.5" in Berlin, Germany. Officials say a target for rich countries to provide poor nations with $100 billion in aid each year to tackle global warming will be missed, dealing a blow to the upcoming U.N. climate talks in Glasgow. Senior officials from Canada and Germany were tasked with breaking a deadlock in negotiations ahead of next weeks summit. (Annette Riedl/dpa via AP) BERLIN (AP) A target for rich countries to provide poor nations with $100 billion in aid each year to tackle global warming will be missed, dealing a blow to the upcoming U.N. climate talks in Glasgow. Senior officials from Britain, Canada and Germany, who had hoped to break a deadlock in negotiations ahead of next week's summit, announced Monday that current data shows the goal won't be reached until 2023 three years later than agreed. The goal was almost certainly missed in 2020, said Alok Sharma, the U.K. official who will chair the talks in Glasgow. Failure to fulfil the pledge first made in 2009 and reaffirmed at the 2015 Paris climate talks, had been a source of deep frustration for developing countries," he added. I absolutely get this." But Sharma, who will now have to face the frustration of poor nations over the funding shortfall, pointed to a projected rise in financial aid beyond the agreed threshold in the coming years. The plan provides confidence that the $100 billion will be met in 2023, and importantly, it projects that the $100 billion will be exceeded in subsequent years, with up to $117 billion being mobilized in 2025, he said. Over the 2021-2025 period, $500 million would likely be mobilized in public and private finance, he added. The report was compiled by Canadas minister of environment and climate change, Jonathan Wilkinson, and Germanys deputy environment minister, Jochen Flasbarth, who drew on data provided by the Paris-based Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, which tracks international flows of climate finance. Not all of our conversations were really (...) polite, Flasbarth told reporters of the talks that had taken place with rich and poor nations in recent weeks. There is disappointment and we share this disappointment, he said. But the result we have now is not bad enough (to allow) not to be constructive in Glasgow. But Mohamed Adow, a long-time observer of U.N. climate talks who now heads Nairobi-based environmental think tank Power Shift Africa, said the plan won't satisfy poor nations, who have insisted that the original target must be met. The $100 billion of climate finance is not only a lifeline to poor and vulnerable communities on the front line of a climate crisis they did not cause, its also the bare minimum that rich countries need to do to hold up their end of the bargain at COP26," he said Adow warned the plan now submitted to the U.K. to take to the COP26 talks in Glasgow should not be considered mission accomplished. Poor nations will not be conned and the leaders of the developed world need to ... get this money on the table if COP26 is going to be a success, he said. Teresa Anderson, climate policy coordinator at ActionAid International, noted that much of the financial support from rich to poor countries is still made out as loans that those on the frontlines of climate change struggle to repay. It is vital that climate finance comes in the form of grants," she said. Sharma said the upcoming talks would seek to address that issue, as well as the demand from poor countries for half of the funds to be devoted to adapting to climate change. Currently, the overwhelming share is earmarked for measures to reduce emissions. The Washington-based environmental think tank World Resources Institute has calculated that only a handful of rich countries including France, Japan, Norway, Germany and Sweden are providing a fair share of climate aid. Based on the size of its economy and greenhouse gas emissions, the United States has fallen far short in recent years, though President Joe Biden has pledged to double U.S. climate finance contributions to $11.4 billion a year by 2024. ___ Follow AP's coverage of the climate talks at http://apnews.com/hub/climate MONTREAL - Former prime minister Jean Chretien says the abuse of Indigenous children that took place in Canadian residential schools while he was minister of Indian affairs was never brought to his attention at the time. Former prime minister Jean Chretien introduces Liberal leader Justin Trudeau at a campaign rally in Brampton, Ont., on Tuesday, Sept. 14, 2021. Chretien said he was not aware of the atrocities that took place in residential schools across the country when he was in power.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick MONTREAL - Former prime minister Jean Chretien says the abuse of Indigenous children that took place in Canadian residential schools while he was minister of Indian affairs was never brought to his attention at the time. "This problem was never mentioned to me when I was minister," Chretien told the popular Quebec TV talk show "Tout le monde en parle,' Sunday night. "Never." Chretien, who was minister of Indian affairs from 1968 to 1974, said he knew residential schools existed and how difficult the experience was, drawing a comparison with his own time in conventional boarding schools. "I was a boarding student, from age six to 21," he said. "I had my share of baked beans and oatmeal. For sure, life in boarding school was difficult, extremely difficult." Chretien's comments drew immediate criticism. The discovery of hundreds of unmarked graves at residential school sites across Canada over the summer revived conversations around the discriminatory system designed to assimilate Indigenous children. The 2015 Truth and Reconciliation Commission report documented the physical and sexual abuse and malnutrition suffered by children in the schools. At a news conference in Ottawa along with residential schools survivors, New Democrat MP Charlie Angus said he simply doesn't believe Chretien. "It is outrageous for Jean Chretien today to try and whitewash his role at St. Anne's residential school, because he knew," Angus said, referring to a facility in Fort Albany, Ont. "People reached out to him and begged him to do the right thing, and he ignored them." Angus shared on Twitter a handwritten letter that was sent to Chretien by a teacher in 1968, denouncing the conditions at St. Anne's and referring to the school's "sterile, rigid, unloving atmosphere." "Jean Chretien never responded," Angus said. "Imagine if he had read that letter and thought, 'I should do something.' How many children could have been saved, because some of the worst crimes were being committed at that time?" The 87-year-old former politician was invited on the show to talk about his new book, published in English as "My Stories, My Times Vol. 2." He was asked about a passage in which he says he advised the Queen against apologizing to the Maori people of New Zealand for what was done to them by the British colonial administration. "Your Majesty, if you start, I will have to bring you to Canada and, since we have several hundred Indigenous communities, you will be on your knees for at least two years," he recalled telling the Queen in the book. On Sunday, Chretien defended his words by saying excuses are good, but offering a future to Indigenous Peoples is better. "We cannot rewrite history," Chretien said. "Terrible things have happened, not only in Canada. In the United States, it's the army that destroyed the Indigenous Peoples. Here, we had missionaries that were sent, it was less dangerous." National Chief RoseAnne Archibald of the Assembly of First Nations raised doubts Monday about the sincerity of Chretien's comments. "Chretien says the Queens apology would keep her kneeling for two years, but he heard nothing about institutes of assimilation and genocide?" she wrote on Twitter. "Lets remember that he promoted the 1969 White Paper on assimilation and genocide that launched First Nations activism." Innu author Michel Jean, another guest on the talk show, criticized Chretien's comparison of residential schools to his own boarding school experience. "Mr. Chretien, with all respect, doesn't exactly realize what a residential school was," Jean said. "And he's not alone." Jean explained that most people tend to wrongly associate these institutions with schools, where you "teach people how to write." While Chretien said he never heard of nor experienced abuse while he was in boarding school, insinuating he "mustn't have been a pretty boy at that time," Jean recalled completely different stories from his family. "Someone in my family, who went to a residential school in Fort George, told me they were sexually assaulted every day, for eight years by a nun," Jean said. Chretien repeated throughout Sunday's interview that he deeply cared about Indigenous issues while he was in power. He pointed to the adoption by him and his wife Aline of an 18-month-old Indigenous boy as evidence of his devotion to the cause. This report by The Canadian Press was first published on Oct. 25, 2021. With files from Lina Dib in Ottawa OTTAWA - Gov. Gen. Mary May Simon received the symbolic first poppy Monday as the Royal Canadian Legion launched this years annual national fundraising campaign for veterans ahead of Remembrance Day. Gov. Gen. Mary Simon and her husband Whit Fraser walk to present veterans at the launch of the National Poppy Campaign at Rideau Hall in Ottawa, on Monday, Oct. 25, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang OTTAWA - Gov. Gen. Mary May Simon received the symbolic first poppy Monday as the Royal Canadian Legion launched this years annual national fundraising campaign for veterans ahead of Remembrance Day. May Simon accepted the poppy from Legion dominion president Bruce Julian during a ceremony at Rideau Hall in which attendees noted that this year also marks the 100th anniversary of the poppy having been adopted as a symbol of remembrance. Anna Guerin of France is credited with having first proposed the poppy as a symbol of the horrible costs and sacrifices of war in the aftermath of the First World War. Guerin drew inspiration from In Flanders Fields, the moving poem written during the war by lieutenant-colonel John McCrae and which continues to be read at Remembrance Day ceremonies across Canada and other parts of the world each year. The Great War Veterans Association of Canada officially adopted the poppy symbol in 1921, and the iconic flower has been worn in the weeks leading up to the annual ceremony ever since. Donations collected during the fundraising campaign are used to support various Legion programs for veterans, including emergency food and shelter as well as bursaries, disaster relief and remembrance activities. This year marks the second Remembrance Day since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Legion has indicated it expects another year of smaller-than-usual crowds on Nov. 11. Legion grand president Larry Murray nonetheless underscored the importance of Canadians paying respects to the sacrifices of those who fought and died defending the country and its values and principles. "In the second pandemic year, remembrance reminds us that our nation has been through even more challenging times," he said. "Canadians persevered then, and we will now. Whether at war or during peace support operations, Canada's veterans and fallen heroes alike can take comfort in our remembrance." This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 25, 2021. IQALUIT, Nunavut - The Canadian Armed Forces says its members have arrived in Nunavut's capital to assist with the city's ongoing water emergency. Canadian Armed Forces members unload water purification equipment from a plane after arriving in Iqaluit, Nunavut, on Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021. The Canadian Armed Forces says its members have arrived in Nunavut's capital to assist with the city's ongoing water emergency. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tweeted Friday that he had spoken with Nunavut Premier Joe Savikataaq and that the military would be deployed to Iqaluit to co-ordinate and deliver clean drinking water. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO - Canadian Armed Forces IQALUIT, Nunavut - The Canadian Armed Forces says its members have arrived in Nunavut's capital to assist with the city's ongoing water emergency. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tweeted Friday that he had spoken with Nunavut Premier Joe Savikataaq and the military would be deployed to Iqaluit to co-ordinate and deliver clean drinking water. Late Saturday, the military tweeted that there are over 20 Canadian Armed Forces members in Iqaluit setting up deployable equipment for reverse osmosis water purification. Maj. Susan Magill, a public information officer for Joint Task Force North, said one purification unit arrived in Iqaluit in a military jet on Saturday and a second was on its way Sunday. "It's as big as a sea can and it comes loaded and ready to go on a truck. So when the aircraft opens up, the truck rolls out," Magill said of the purification units during an interview Sunday in Iqaluit. "We're still in the process of trying to find a good site to put these two units on." Iqaluit's 8,000 residents haven't been able to consume tap water for nearly two weeks after fuel was found in samples. Residents have been collecting water from the city's Sylvia Grinnell River and picking up free bottled water from distribution sites, and local officials say they're continuing efforts to identify the source of the contamination. Magill said Canada's water purification units have been used in the past in warm climates like Haiti and the Philippines, so running them in Iqaluit in late October will be a new experience for the team. "It's definitely going to be a challenge, but the team is up here for precisely that," Magill said, noting that three members of the group are already based in the city. The plan, she said, is for purified water to be stored in large bladders, and then the city will collect it in trucks for distribution. She said that at 8 degrees Celsius, one of the units can purify 5,000 litres per hour if the water is passed through the system once, or half that much if it's put through the unit twice. Testing will determine how much purification the water will need, and Magill said it could take a few days or a week before the units are ready to produce water for consumption. She said the deployment is scheduled to last until Nov. 17, at which time it will be reassessed. In a news release Sunday, the city said the investigation into the cause of the tainted water has pointed to potential hydrocarbon contamination in the soil or ground water outside the municipal treatment plant, which it said may have leached into a storage tank. "The in-ground tank containing the high concentrations of contaminants in the Water Treatment Plant has been isolated, pumped out for remediation and has undergone cleaning," the release stated. "The affected tank has been successfully bypassed and water continues to be treated and sent out to the Citys distribution system." That system has been flushed out, but the city said it will need to be done again and an order not to consume the water remains in place. Amy Elgersma, the city's chief administrative officer, said last week that an assessment found "no obvious cracks" in the contaminated tank. The territory's chief public health officer, Dr. Michael Patterson, told a news conference Friday that residents may still smell fuel in their water even though the city has bypassed the contaminated tank. Patterson has said the health risks to residents who drank the city's tap water are very low. Sunday's news release from the city noted that an environmental site assessment is underway where contractors will drill for soil and water samples around the treatment plant. It said the next steps are dependent on the test results. "We will take direction from our experts on actions required to remediate the site," the release stated. It also noted the city installed a "real time water monitoring station focusing detecting and trending hydrocarbons" on Sunday. It said the monitoring station "will allow the city to obtain real-time information on hydrocarbon levels." This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 24, 2021. -- By Rob Drinkwater in Edmonton The Canadian Armed Forces says it's prepared to support Saskatchewan with up to six critical care nursing officers, who it says will be deployed to intensive care units. The Canadian Armed Forces says it's prepared to support Saskatchewan with up to six critical care nursing officers, who it says will be deployed to intensive care units. The military also says it will provide medical air transport for in-province and out-of-province critical care patient transfers, as capacity allows, and may also supply a pair of Multipurpose Medical Assistance Teams to backfill the province's nurses. Public Safety Minister Bill Blair tweeted late Friday the federal government had approved a request for pandemic aid in Saskatchewan, including military support. Blair also noted that Ottawa is also in talks with the province to provide additional help from the Canadian Red Cross and other health resources. Saskatchewan reported Sunday that it transferred an additional patient to another province as its hospitals remain strained due to a surge in COVID-19 cases, making for a total of eight patients it has transferred out of province so far. The military says it is expecting to support Saskatchewan until Nov. 17, but is prepared to extend that date if necessary. "We are currently working with provincial authorities to ensure these medical professionals will be employed in the best possible location based on the needs of the people of Saskatchewan," a statement from the military over the weekend said. The statement said military personnel will only be employed at medical facilities after completing mandated training for their integration. Data from the Saskatchewan Health Authority for this month shows Saskatchewan had the most residents in intensive care units per capita than any other province at any point in the pandemic. The SHA said Sunday that 285 COVID-19 patients are hospitalized, including 74 in intensive care. Those numbers do not include the patients who have been transferred out of the province. Active cases on Sunday in Saskatchewan were at 2,963, down considerably from a month ago when the stood at 4,734 on Sept. 24. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 24, 2021. MONTREAL - A new course intended to replace Quebec's polarizing, long-standing ethics and religious culture curriculum will teach students how to be proud members of Quebec society, the province's Education Minister said Sunday. Quebec Education Minister Jean-Francois Roberge speaks during a news conference in Montreal, Sunday, October 24, 2021, where he outlined plans to replace a class on religious culture and ethics. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes MONTREAL - A new course intended to replace Quebec's polarizing, long-standing ethics and religious culture curriculum will teach students how to be proud members of Quebec society, the province's Education Minister said Sunday. Jean-Francois Roberge held a news conference to unveil details of the new course, dubbed Culture and Citizenship in Quebec. He was joined by Isabelle Charest, the minister responsible for women, as well as various key players from Quebec's cultural scene. "You know Quebec is different from the rest of North America," Roberge said. "We are not New York, Vermont, Ontario or New Brunswick. We have a Quebec way of life. We have our artists, Francophone and Anglophone, our cultural legacy. We are not ashamed to share this culture with our kids." The new class is intended to replace a course on ethics and religious culture that's been taught in the province's schools since 2008. Roberge said the new curriculum was built around three main themes. The first will explore diverse cultures with an emphasis on Quebec. The citizenship plank of the program will teach the province's values and responsibilities, while content intended to teach ethics is also meant to develop students' critical thinking skills. Roberge said the class aims to provide "national cohesion" as well as fight against sexism, racism and sexual violence. He also positioned the revamped curriculum as an "obstacle to censorship." The current program has faced years of relentless criticism from Quebec nationalists and committed secularists for allegedly putting too much emphasis on multiculturalism and diversity. Roberge, however, cited different grounds for objection when critiquing the present-day course. He said the ethics and religious culture class is not offering enough space for students to ask critical questions. "We need to be able to discuss and debate everything respectfully," Roberge said. "It cannot be a taboo and censorship class, it needs to be a course on freedom of expression and learning about personal relationships." The provincial government had announced plans to abolish the course last year following criticisms that too much time was being taken up by a section devoted to religions. Roberge said religion will not be completely erased from the new program, but will not be the primary focus anymore. "Of course, when you talk about culture you will have to talk about religious culture, but it's not the only way," he said. "... We have to modernize our program." Caroline Quesnel, president of provincial teachers' union Federation nationale des enseignantes et des enseignants du Quebec, offered a different but equally critical take on the current program. She asserted the present curriculum does not present enough nuance when teaching students about religions around the world, citing lack of discussions around gender equality in certain faiths. She also said the program does not address issues related to Indigenous peoples, calling the approach "quite limited." Roberge said the new course will teach residents how to navigate Quebec society and take pride in their province. It will include sections on the province's judicial system, critical thinking, social media and sex education among others, he added. Charest said not a week goes by in the province without reports of unacceptable behaviours, such as domestic violence which disproportionately affects women and girls. She hopes the new course offering will help tackle those issues. "Students will be invited to reflect on notions of consent, respect, self-affirmation, empathy and equal relationships between men and women," Charest said. The new program will be introduced in some schools as a pilot project in September 2022 before being fully implemented across all of the province's elementary and high schools a year later. Quesnel, however, said the curriculum's ambitious scope risks trying to cover too many topics at once. "Freedom of speech, democratic institutions, sex education, technology, Indigenous Peoples, the environment ," Quesnel said. "None will really be covered properly." She said Sunday's announcement looked like a "show" in which the province attempted to sell the new program, but noted that not a single teacher was present at the news conference. "I feel like the government is kind of using this curriculum to position itself as the guardian of Quebec values and impose its vision," Quesnel said. She also said teachers are worried about how many hours will be allocated for the course, and if they will receive proper training beforehand. "Teachers are used to multitasking, but when we are talking about all these topics, they are quite specific," Quesnel said. "It's not only about writing a good manual and teachers will follow. It really needs more training than that." This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 24, 2021. OTTAWA - A Federal Court judge has found it was reasonable for Ottawa to require applicants to its summer-jobs program to declare themselves in support of abortion rights in order to get funding. OTTAWA - A Federal Court judge has found it was reasonable for Ottawa to require applicants to its summer-jobs program to declare themselves in support of abortion rights in order to get funding. In a decision Friday, Justice Catherine Kane dismissed a legal challenge to the federal government from Toronto Right to Life as well as its former president and a student who'd hoped to work at the organization. A lawyer holds the scales of justice as she takes part in a demonstration of lawyers in front of the Paris courthouse, Thursday, Jan. 14, 2010 in Paris. A Federal Court judge says it was reasonable for Ottawa to require applicants to its summer-jobs program to declare themselves in support of abortion rights in order to get funding. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP/Christophe Ena The court case came after the Liberal government added wording to the Canada Summer Jobs program application that required groups to say neither their core mandates nor the jobs being funded actively worked to undermine constitutional, human and reproductive rights. Faith-based groups felt the wording went against their religious beliefs, so the Liberals reworked the declaration and eligibility rules for 2019 to make applicants say they don't work to infringe any Canadian's legal rights. However, the new ruling says the program's pro-choice attestation fell within the labour minister's authority and had a "minimal" impact on the court applicants' charter rights. "The minister did not act for an improper purpose, rely on irrelevant considerations, or show bad faith or a closed mind in making this decision," Kane wrote. "Given that the decision reflects a proportionate balancing, it is a reasonable decision." The jobs program aims to encourage small businesses and non-profits to bring on students and others looking for early experience by subsidizing wages for summer workers. Informal consultations in late 2018 helped convince the government to change the wording for the following year's version of the program. The head of the Abortion Rights Coalition of Canada said at the time that the retooled language achieved the same aim of ensuring that "anti-choice groups," among others, would still be ineligible for funding. After the government put the reproductive-rights language in the 2018 application, funding rejections increased 12-fold. Only one of 63 groups flagged to the government as problematic by pro-choice groups received funding. Blaise Alleyne, former head and current vice-president of Toronto Right to Life, said the group is "disappointed" with the ruling "We believe it's a violation of our charter rights to put a values test on a government program like that, and deny applicants on the basis of their beliefs, rather than relevant eligibility criteria," Alleyne said in an email. He said the organization is reviewing the decision, which dismissed its request for a judicial review, and considering next steps. Employment and Social Development Canada said the summer-jobs program plays a key role in "ensuring that young people have the supports" needed to build successful careers. "The government of Canada is committed to ensuring that the Canada Summer Jobs program supports quality job opportunities for youth that, among other things, take place in safe, inclusive and healthy work environments," the department said in an email. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 25, 2021. OTTAWA - Indigenous leaders and New Democrats say naming a new cabinet is Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's chance to restore residential school survivors' confidence in his government's commitment to reconciliation. NDP Member of Parliament Charlie Angus looks on as Mushkegowuk Council Deputy Grand Chief Rebecca Friday (left) speaks during a news conference on Parliament Hill, Monday, October 25, 2021 in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld OTTAWA - Indigenous leaders and New Democrats say naming a new cabinet is Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's chance to restore residential school survivors' confidence in his government's commitment to reconciliation. At a news conference Monday, Charlie Angus was joined by a St. Anne's residential school survivor and two deputy grand chiefs the day before Trudeau is set to reveal his new cabinet picks. The portfolios of Indigenous Services Canada and Crown-Indigenous Relations are currently held by Marc Miller and Carolyn Bennett, respectively. The appointments come amid louder calls for justice for residential school survivors and for the federal government to drop its court battles against them, as well orders directing it to compensate First Nations children. Friday is the deadline for when the Liberal government must decide whether to appeal a recent Federal Court decision confirming it should pay $40,000 to First Nations children and their parents or grandparents. A human rights tribunal found Ottawa discriminated against them by underfunding child and family services on reserve. Some 50,000 children could be eligible, meaning the federal government could be on the hook for billions of dollars in compensation. The second ruling Ottawa has gone to court over involves expanding who can qualify for the measure known as Jordan's Principle, which requires governments to cover the cost of services for First Nations children and then resolve any jurisdictional disputes later on. "Canada is engaged in a broad review of the decision and will communicate its decision in due course," Adrienne Vaupshas, Miller's press secretary, wrote in an email to The Canadian Press about the Federal Court's ruling. Angus says Trudeau "has four days left to do the right thing for reconciliation" and sit down with litigants instead of taking them back to court. We call upon the Canadian government, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, to comply with those orders. He has spent enough money fighting against us, fighting against our children," said Anna Betty Achneepineskum, deputy grand chief at Nishnawbe Aski Nation, which represents 49 First Nations in northern Ontario. She said Bennett hasn't lived up to the government's mandate of reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples and its relationship with them must be "strengthened and honoured." Trudeau, too, has faced widespread criticism over his trip to Tofino, B.C., last month on Canada's first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, designed to honour the Indigenous children sent to government-funded, church-run residential schools, where thousands of them died. Also looming over Tuesday's cabinet swearing-in is the finding earlier this year of hundreds of unmarked graves by First Nations in Saskatchewan and B.C., at the former sites of residential schools. There have also been concerns expressed the Catholic Church hasn't properly compensated survivors as part of the historic Indian Residential Schools Settlement Agreement or that Pope Francis hasn't apologized to survivors, as requested by the 2015 Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada's final report, which outlined the abuses perpetuated against children sent to these schools. Mushkegowuk Council Deputy Grand Chief Rebecca Friday said Bennett hasn't responded to the issues brought forward over the claims for compensation by those who attended the St. Anne's school, where sexual and physical abuse was reported against kids from Fort Albany First Nation in northern Ontario. The Catholic orders of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate and the Grey Sisters of the Cross ran the federally funded school from 1902 until 1976. Evelyn Korkmaz, attended the St. Anne's residential school, has long called for the government to releasepolice records it has about the abuses that took place at the facility, saying she and others want to meet with Trudeau. I personally want the prime minister to explain why the government not only withheld names and evidence of the perpetrators, but are refusing to turn over the person of interest reports that would allow survivors to have closure on our files. Angus said Bennett has been asked different times about St. Anne's and deferred the matter to lawyers, showing she "she has failed the test of reconciliation. If the prime minister wants to send a clear message that hes going to listen and hes going to change, he needs to have someone new at the table." Friday said the ministers who lead the "powerful positions" of Indigenous Services Canada and Crown-Indigenous Relations after Tuesday "have to really reconcile with the survivors." We have to really get things rolling. Were not going to come back here." This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 25, 2021. Ive been sorting through my kids books, making room for new books and a giveaway pile for the stories theyve grown out of. I always get a little sentimental when I go through their things, especially well-loved books and favourite toys and outfits, because it reminds me how much theyre growing and changing. Still, I try not to get attached to objects. Opinion Ive been sorting through my kids books, making room for new books and a giveaway pile for the stories theyve grown out of. I always get a little sentimental when I go through their things, especially well-loved books and favourite toys and outfits, because it reminds me how much theyre growing and changing. Still, I try not to get attached to objects. I am giving our pile of used books to my friend Ally Beauchesne for an online book sale shell hold after Halloween. This is the second year shes done the sale with the goal of raising money to make Christmas Hampers for families in need. The books will be organized, numbered and posted on her Facebook and Instagram accounts for anyone to buy. Childrens books will be $1 and adult books $3. Proceeds will go toward buying gifts and perishable items for the hampers Ally will put together for families who shes been matched with by Inspire Community Outreach. Shes not sure how much money shell make or even how many books shell end up having for sale. Last year, she put the call out to her friends on social media and in her local giveaway group, asking if anyone had books theyd like to donate. People, many of whom were strangers, rallied behind her, donating books and spreading the word about the donation drive and sale. Her mom did a big purge from her own bookshelf, dropping off boxes upon boxes to Allys house. "I figured whats the worst that can happen? If it flopped, Ill just donate the books back to the community in some way," Ally said, adding she got the idea from a friend who raised $1,500 for Manitoba Harvest in an online book sale last year. It didnt flop. On the contrary, the book drive and sale far exceeded her expectations. "It just exploded. So many people reached out to donate books... There were books all over my house, and there was no space for anything," Ally laughed, adding her husband, Josh Lisoway, was instrumental in moving, sorting and stacking boxes of books around their home last year. They both spent hours sorting and navigating through piles and boxes of donations, but he did all the heavy lifting because she was pregnant with their second daughter. "I couldnt have done this without him." Last years book sale pulled in nearly $1,400, which was enough to round out each of the seven hampers with perishable food items and an extra $25 Sobeys gift card for each family. Some folks didnt buy books and just donated money, Ally said. All of the childrens books sold. She said people went bananas for them. Many of the adult books sold, too, and the ones that didnt were used to stock the Little Free Libraries in Allys neighbourhood. It was a win for everyone. Allys reasons for doing the online book sale and making the hampers is simple. She wants to make a difference. Shes humble when explaining why she spends so much of her time and energy on this project. She downplays the hours of time and the amount of energy and mental capacity it takes. She gets a lot out of doing it. "Christmas is so special," Ally said. "My mom always made sure everyone had a good Christmas She made sure that the day was meaningful for everyone." Ally is doing the same for others: making magic and giving hampers and the peace of mind that comes along with them to folks who could use a little help. She has again partnered with Inspire Community Outreach this year and hopes to make 10 hampers for families in need. Shes planning to have her online book sale on the weekend of Nov. 6 and 7, posting the books on her Facebook page in a public album, as well as on her Instagram stories. If youre interested in checking out the sale or have some books to donate, you can follow her on Instagram at @allybeauchesne or look her up on Facebook. shelley.cook@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @ShelleyAcook THE Western world is experiencing a crisis of the public. Our increasingly fragmented societies are at risk of losing our sense of a public good, one which began with the ancient Greeks, preceded the idea of government and remains foundational to democratic societies. Opinion THE Western world is experiencing a crisis of the public. Our increasingly fragmented societies are at risk of losing our sense of a public good, one which began with the ancient Greeks, preceded the idea of "government" and remains foundational to democratic societies. Over time, the ideal of "the public" evolved (beyond all adult males) to the point where it now entails and includes all peoples in a collective in which every person is acknowledged, has status and is valued. This ideal is now most regularly expressed as the common or greater good, an idea which seems to have lost its moral and political importance in our world. Governments, religious groups and the media seem to have fallen under a spell of playing to competing private interests. The Greek public served two purposes, a legacy they left us to this day. The first is that the public is a place where people can display their unique contributions to society their goodness, their expertise and individual talents for all to see. The underlying premise is that we need the best of every single person to build and sustain a healthy world. The second is that the public is a place where people and their actions do, or dont, pass public scrutiny and judgment. There is an underlying expectation that when people enter the public realm, they bring their best thoughts, behaviours and intentions, and they do so for noble purposes namely making the world a better place for everyone. When people enter the public with bad intentions or deceit, the expectation is that the public shining a light on them will cause them shame, making them cease, desist and/or change. It is this ideal upon which the idea of democratic government is built government by, with and for the people. It is this ideal of the public which is under increasing siege at the moment, simultaneously placing democracy at risk. Probably the closest we come to describing a democratic public is a community of communities, made up of people with diverse backgrounds, interests and means talking honestly and openly to each other and coming together for common cause an idea which seems remote and impossible in todays fractured world. Too often, it appears as if extreme and divisive political partisanship, religious-freedom rhetoric, unrestrained social and single-issue media have replaced truth, logic, reasonableness and goodwill, without which the common good cannot be found. When governments only govern in the interests of their bases, shutting out any opposition, or govern in secrecy, any sense of the public is at risk. Against most evidence, our government claims public services such as education, health care, senior care and the like are unaffordable, and free markets alone will provide desirable citizen protections. They attempted to pass, or did pass without public input, legislation to limit public participation, workers rights and certain protests in the process, shutting out the voices of the very people doing the work and holding the expertise. And they only reluctantly confront the anti-vaxxers and anti-maskers, as if their claims were legitimate. Right now, more than ever, we need governments that realize, acknowledge and publicly declare that where public and private interest collide and intersect, the public as in the rule of law must prevail. In short, the greater public good sometimes calls for private co-operation, even sacrifice. Others claim religious justifications for breaking the law, resorting to insults, obscenities and even violence in the name of a perverted notion of religious freedom. We need religious leaders to stand up publicly to this vitriol, shamed by its association with hatred and lawlessness. The price of freedom for one is freedom for all. Many media have also turned against the public good, and the very mediums we need to keep us informed and protected the press, radio and TV are being used against us. Before the omnipresence of social media and single-issue media, we counted on various media to make public those matters which needed to pass the public tests of truth, rightness and usefulness, and the media held itself to those same standards. Those media organizations still attempting to do so appear endangered. The antidote is public education educating for the public good. This is more than public schooling for the young; it also means governments, religious groups and the media upholding, proclaiming and protecting the imperative of a healthy public to allow us to live together in safety, mutual gratitude and reciprocity, and harmony. That is real meaningful public freedom. John R. Wiens is dean emeritus at the faculty of education, University of Manitoba. A lifelong educator, he has served as a teacher, counsellor, work education co-ordinator, principal, school superintendent and university professor. Its a trite adage to say, This is the hill I will die on, when confronting a matter held dearly. Editorial Its a trite adage to say, "This is the hill I will die on," when confronting a matter held dearly. Political debates can get heated, and parties are always looking for an edge to gain power or to maintain their hold on it. CP British MP David Amess was murdered on Oct. 15. (Ian West / PA via AP) Rarely, if ever, would politicians stake their actual lives on a decision, however, no matter the rhetoric thats being uttered. But entering politics is becoming a more dangerous vocation these days. And any barrier that prevents the best and brightest from joining the effort to create a better society jeopardizes the very fabric of democracy. The latest attack on politicians, and the political process, took place Oct. 15 in Leigh-on Sea, England, when an attacker stabbed and killed the areas MP, Sir David Amess, during a constituency gathering. Tributes for the 69-year-old Conservative, who had been in the British House of Commons since 1983, came from all sides of the political spectrum. While plans are being made to beef up security for British MPs, Mr. Amesss slaying was a reminder of the risks people assume when they become part of the political process. In June 2016, Jo Cox, a British Labour MP, was shot and stabbed to death by a white supremacist. In 2012, Gabrielle Giffords, a congresswoman from Arizona, was shot at a constituency event and suffered a severe brain injury that forced her to resign from office, though she carries on as a gun-control advocate. Attacks on politicians go back decades, and each time democracy suffers. When Abraham Lincoln and John F. Kennedy were killed by assassins bullets in the United States, and others such as Harry Truman, Gerald Ford and Ronald Reagan survived assassination attempts, security around U.S. presidents tightened. Current holders of the office often chafe at the restrictions they live under and regret not being allowed to get closer to the people who elected them. There are strict security measures for Canadas prime minister and governor general as well, and it would be considered a major setback should they need to be strengthened further. In the past, the media have been allowed close access to the prime minister, and their questions have sometimes created historic moments. A tight scrum of reporters approached Pierre Trudeau during the FLQ crisis in 1970, leading to Mr. Trudeaus famous quip, "Just watch me," a defiant stand against domestic terrorism that defined his career. The access also allowed Canada to witness Prime Minister Justin Trudeau using the inaugural National Day for Truth and Reconciliation to take a family holiday on a Vancouver Island beach instead of spending the day with Indigenous people commemorating the day. But attacks have come close to Canadas top politicians, too. Only a humorous phrase, "the Shawinigan handshake," was the result when an attacker approached former prime minister Jean Chretien, who wrapped his hands around the mans neck to hold him away until his security detail arrived to whisk the man away. There were no uneasy laughs during this summers election campaign when far-right protesters accosted Prime Minister Trudeau and surrounded his campaign bus. Mr. Trudeau brushed off the angry confrontation, but from a democratic and security standpoint, the situation was likely far worse than he let on. Canada needs its best people to have no fear about entering politics. When worthy candidates decide against pursuing elected office because its literally not their hill to die on, our politics and policy-making will suffer by having been left to those who are less suited to the task but more inclined to take the risk. CHICAGO (AP) A North Carolina man who moved to Chicago was one of the victims of John Wayne Gacy, who was convicted of killing 33 young men and boys in the 1970s, authorities said Monday. Cook County Sheriff's Detective Lt. Jason Moran responds to a question after Sheriff Tom Dart announced the identity of "Gacy Victim 5" as North Carolina native Francis Wayne Alexander during a news conference Monday, Oct. 25, 2021, in Maywood, Ill. Alexander's body was among 26 discovered by police in the crawl space of Gacy's home more than 40 years ago, with three more found outside the house and four others found in waterways that Gacy admitted killing. Police were able to identify 25 of the victims but the final eight, Alexander among them, were buried without having ever been identified. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast) CHICAGO (AP) A North Carolina man who moved to Chicago was one of the victims of John Wayne Gacy, who was convicted of killing 33 young men and boys in the 1970s, authorities said Monday. Francis Wayne Alexander would have been 21 or 22 years old when Gacy killed him sometime between early 1976 and early 1977, Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart said at a news conference in announcing the identification of Alexander's remains. Alexander's family didn't even realize he had been dead all these years, the sheriff said. "They just loved him, but they thought that he wanted nothing more to do with them, so thats why there was never a missing persons report," Dart said. In a statement, Alexanders sister, Carolyn Sanders, thanked the sheriffs office for giving the family some level of "closure." "It is hard, even 45 years later, to know the fate of our beloved Wayne," Sanders wrote. "He was killed at the hands of a vile and evil man. Our hearts are heavy, and our sympathies go out to the other victims families. ... We can now lay to rest what happened and move forward by honoring Wayne." Alexanders remains were among 26 sets that police found in the crawl space under Gacy's home just outside the city. Three other victims were found buried on Gacy's property and another four people whom Gacy admitted killing were found in waterways south of Chicago. In 2011, Dart's office exhumed the remains of eight victims, including Alexander, who had been buried without police knowing who they were. Dart called on anyone who had a male relative disappear in the Chicago area in the 1970s to submit DNA. That was the time when Gacy was luring young men and boys to his home to eventually kill them. Within weeks, the sheriff's office announced that it had identified one set of remains as those of William Bundy, a 19-year-old construction worker. In 2017, it identified a second set as those of 16-year-old Jimmy Haakenson, who disappeared after he phoned his mother in Minnesota and told her that he was in Chicago. The details of Alexanders life in Chicago are sketchy. Born in North Carolina, he moved to New York, where he was married, and then on to Chicago in 1975, where he was soon divorced. According to the sheriffs offices news release, the last known record of Alexanders life were traffic tickets he received, the last one in January 1976 a year in which he earned little money. How he crossed paths with one of the most notorious serial killers in American history is a mystery, as authorities say all they know is that "Alexander lived in an area that was frequented by Gacy and where other identified victims had previously lived." Gacy lured some victims to his house by promising to hire them for construction jobs, but Alexander worked in bars and clubs. The identification of Alexander came together when the sheriff's department teamed up with the DNA Doe Project, a nonprofit that uses genetic information to locate relatives of dead people who have not been identified. The organization compared the DNA profile from the unidentified victim's remains to profiles on a genealogy website to find potential relatives. That led it to Alexander's family, and Alexander's mother and half-brother provided their DNA for comparison. Between the genetic testing, financial records, post-mortem reports and other information, investigators were able to confirm that the remains were Alexander's. And determining when he was killed largely stemmed from knowing when the victim who was buried on top of him went missing. Dart and Lt. Jason Moran, who headed the investigation, said the department might be able to use the method used to identify Alexander to identify scores of other people in the county who died and were buried anonymously. "This is one of the newest investigative tools for investigations of missing and unidentified persons," Moran said. Dart said Alexander's family wasn't ready to speak publicly about the identification and his office declined to give Alexander's hometown. But in its news release, the sheriff's office did thank the police department in Erwin, about 35 miles (56 kilometers) south of Raleigh, for its help. The submission of DNA from people who suspected Gacy might have killed their loved ones has helped police solve at least 11 cold cases of homicides that had nothing to do with Gacy, who was executed in 1994. It has also helped families find loved ones who while missing, were alive, including a man in Oregon who had no idea his family was looking for him. CAIRO (AP) Sudans military seized power Monday, dissolving the transitional government hours after troops arrested the prime minister, and thousands flooded the streets to protest the coup that threatened the countrys shaky progress toward democracy. FILE - This May 7, 2021, file photo shows U.S. Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa Jeffrey Feltman in Khartoum, Sudan. Sudanese officials say military forces have detained at least five senior government officials on Monday, Oct. 25, 2021 as the Sudanese Professionals Association has called on people to take to the street to counter an apparent military coup. The arrests have come as Feltman met with Sudanese military and civilian leaders Saturday and Sunday in efforts to resolve a growing dispute. (AP Photo/Marwan Ali, File) CAIRO (AP) Sudans military seized power Monday, dissolving the transitional government hours after troops arrested the prime minister, and thousands flooded the streets to protest the coup that threatened the countrys shaky progress toward democracy. Security forces opened fire on some of them, and three protesters were killed, according to the Sudan Doctors Committee, which also said 80 people were wounded. The takeover, which drew condemnation from the United Nations, the United States and the European Union, comes more than two years after protesters forced the ouster of longtime autocrat Omar al-Bashir and just weeks before the military was supposed to hand the leadership of the council that runs the country over to civilians. After the early morning arrests of Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok and other senior officials, thousands demonstrated in the streets of the capital, Khartoum, and its twin city of Omdurman. They blocked streets and set fire to tires as security forces used tear gas to disperse them. As plumes of smoke rose, protesters could be heard chanting, The people are stronger, stronger! and Retreat is not an option! Social media video showed crowds crossing bridges over the Nile to the center of the capital. The U.S. Embassy warned that troops were blocking parts of the city and urged the military to immediately cease violence. FILE - In this Sept. 21, 2021, file photo, traffic moves on a street in Sudan's capital Khartoum. Military forces detained at least five senior Sudanese government figures on Monday, Oct. 25, 2021 officials said, as the country's main pro-democracy group called on people to take to the streets to counter an apparent military coup. (AP Photo/Marwan Ali, File) Pro-democracy activist Dura Gambo said paramilitary forces chased protesters through some Khartoum neighborhoods. Records from a Khartoum hospital obtained by The Associated Press showed some people admitted with gunshot wounds. The head of the military, Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan, announced on national TV that he was dissolving the government and the Sovereign Council, a joint military and civilian body created soon after al-Bashirs ouster to run the country. In this frame taken from video people gather during a protest in Khartoum, Sudan, Monday, Oct. 25, 2021. Military forces arrested Sudan's acting prime minister and senior government officials Monday, disrupted internet access and blocked bridges in the capital Khartoum, the country's information ministry said, describing the actions as a coup. In response, thousands flooded the streets of Khartoum and its twin city of Omdurman to protest the apparent military takeover. Footage shared online appeared to show protesters blocking streets and setting fire to tires as security forces used tear gas to disperse them. (New Sudan NNS via AP) Burhan said quarrels among political factions prompted the military intervention. Tensions have been rising for weeks over the course and the pace of the transition to democracy in Sudan, a nation in Africa linked by language and culture to the Arab world. The general declared a state of emergency and said the military will appoint a technocratic government to lead the country to elections, set for July 2023. But he made clear the military will remain in charge. The Armed Forces will continue completing the democratic transition until the handover of the countrys leadership to a civilian, elected government, he said. He added that the constitution would be rewritten and a legislative body would be formed with the participation of young men and women who made this revolution. In this frame taken from video a man shouts slogans during a protest in Khartoum, Sudan, Monday, Oct. 25, 2021. Military forces arrested Sudan's acting prime minister and senior government officials Monday, disrupted internet access and blocked bridges in the capital Khartoum, the country's information ministry said, describing the actions as a coup. In response, thousands flooded the streets of Khartoum and its twin city of Omdurman to protest the apparent military takeover. Footage shared online appeared to show protesters blocking streets and setting fire to tires as security forces used tear gas to disperse them. (New Sudan NNS via AP) The Information Ministry, still loyal to the dissolved government, called his speech an announcement of a seizure of power by military coup. As darkness fell in Khartoum, barricades were still burning and occasional gunshots could be heard, said Volker Perthes, the U.N. special envoy for Sudan, at a briefing in New York. President Joe Biden was briefed on Sudan in the morning, said White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre. She added that the U.S. was deeply alarmed at reports of a military takeover" and called for the immediate release of the prime minister and other officials. FILE - In this Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2019 file photo, Sudan's Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok speaks during a news conference in Khartoum, Sudan.Sudan's information ministry says the country's interim prime minister Hamdok and a number of senior government officials have been arrested. The ministry described ctions as a military coup, Monday, Oct 25, 2021. (AP Photo, File) The actions today are in stark opposition to the will of the Sudanese people and their aspirations for peace, liberty and justice, Jean-Pierre said. The Biden administration is suspending $700 million in emergency economic aid to Sudan that had been allocated to help the transition, said State Department spokesman Ned Price. He called it a pause, and urged the civilian-led government be immediately restored. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres strongly condemns the ongoing military coup detat in Khartoum and all actions that could jeopardize Sudans political transition and stability, said his spokesman, spokesman Stephane Dujarric. In this frame taken from video, the head of the military, Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan, announced in a televised address, that he was dissolving the country's ruling Sovereign Council, as well as the government led by Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, in Khartoum, Sudan, Monday, Oct. 25, 2021. Burhan said the military will run the country until elections in 2023. His announcement came hours after his forces arrested the acting prime minister and other senior government officials. (Sudan TV via AP) Guterres also called for the release of the government officials, the spokesman said, as did the African Union. EU foreign affairs chief Joseph Borrell tweeted that he was following the events with the utmost concern. Michelle Bachelet, the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, warned that Sudan could slip backward, urging the military to free the officials, withdraw from the streets and settle differences with the transitional government through dialogue. Since al-Bashir, who remains in prison, was forced from power, Sudan has tried to rid itself of the international pariah status it held under the autocrat. The country was removed from the U.S. list of state supporters of terrorism in 2020, opening the way for badly needed foreign loans and investment. In this frame taken from video a wounded protester is taken away on a motorcycle during a protest in Khartoum, Sudan, Monday, Oct. 25, 2021. Sudans leading general has dissolved the government and says the military will run the country until elections in 2023. His announcement came hours after his forces arrested the acting prime minister and other senior government officials. In a televised address Monday, Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan declared a state of emergency and dissolved the country's ruling Sovereign Council as well as the government. (AP Photo) But Sudan has struggled with the shock of a number economic reforms called for by international lending institutions. In recent weeks, there have been concerns the military might be planning a takeover, and in fact there was a failed coup attempt in September. Tensions only rose from there, as the country fractured along old lines, with more conservative Islamists who want a military government pitted against those who toppled al-Bashir in protests. In recent days, both camps have staged demonstrations. Amid the standoff, the generals have called repeatedly for dissolving Hamdok's transitional government and Burhan, who leads the ruling Sovereign Council, said frequently the military would only relinquish power to an elected government, an indication the generals might not stick to the plan to hand leadership of the body to a civilian sometime in November. The council is the ultimate decision-maker, though the Hamdok government is tasked with running Sudans day-to-day affairs. In this frame taken from video protesters block a street in Khartoum, Sudan, Monday, Oct. 25, 2021. Sudans leading general has dissolved the government and says the military will run the country until elections in 2023. His announcement came hours after his forces arrested the acting prime minister and other senior government officials. In a televised address Monday, Gen. Abdel-Fattah Burhan declared a state of emergency and dissolved the country's ruling Sovereign Council as well as the government. (AP Photo) As part of efforts to resolve the crisis, Jeffrey Feltman, the U.S. special envoy to the Horn of Africa, met with Sudanese officials over the weekend, and a senior Sudanese military official said he tried unsuccessfully to get the generals to stick to the agreed plan. The arrests began a few hours later, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to brief media. The official said the prime minister and the others were being detained in a military camp outside Khartoum. Perthes said he and Feltman, in parallel meetings with political and military leaders in recent weeks, had tried to urge a return to dialogue and against a coup, which he said would squander the achievements of the first two years of the transition. Pro-democracy protesters use fires to block streets to condemn a takeover by military officials in Khartoum, Sudan, Monday Oct. 25, 2021. Sudans military seized power Monday, dissolving the transitional government hours after troops arrested the acting prime minister and other officials. The takeover comes more than two years after protesters forced the ouster of longtime autocrat Omar al-Bashir and just weeks before the military was expected to hand the leadership of the council that runs the African country over to civilians. (AP Photo/Ashraf Idris) State Department spokesman Price said Feltman warned Burhan and others that any unconstitutional changes in the government would have consequences. The military has been emboldened in its dispute with civilian leaders by the support of tribal protesters, who blocked the countrys main Red Sea port for weeks. The two most senior military officials, Burhan and his deputy Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, also have close ties with Egypt and the wealthy Gulf nations of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. The first reports of a possible military takeover emerged before dawn, and the Information Ministry later confirmed them, saying Hamdok and several senior government figures had been arrested. Internet access was widely disrupted and the state news channel played traditional patriotic music. Thousands of pro-democracy protesters take to the streets to condemn a takeover by military officials in Khartoum, Sudan, Monday Oct. 25, 2021. Sudans military seized power Monday, dissolving the transitional government hours after troops arrested the acting prime minister and other officials. The takeover comes more than two years after protesters forced the ouster of longtime autocrat Omar al-Bashir and just weeks before the military was expected to hand the leadership of the council that runs the African country over to civilians. (AP Photo/Ashraf Idris) Hamdoks office denounced the detentions on Facebook as a complete coup. It said his wife was also arrested. Sudan has suffered other coups since gaining its independence from Britain and Egypt in 1956. Al-Bashir came to power in 1989 in one such takeover, which removed the countrys last elected government. Among those detained were senior government figures and political leaders, including the information and industry ministers, a media adviser to Hamdok and the governor of the state that includes the capital, according to the senior military official and another official. Both spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to brief the media. After news of the arrests spread, the main pro-democracy group and two political parties appealed to the people to take to the streets. The Communist Party urged workers to protest what it described as a full military coup orchestrated by Burhan. - Associated Press writer Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations and Matthew Lee in Washington contributed. To celebrate the opening of the 2021 edition of the Winona Poetry Walk, the Winona Fine Arts Commission has announce a reading of the selections for the second year of the public art initiative. This project consists of original poetry stamped into sidewalks and installation of the poems downtown. Each of the 10 selected poets will read their excerpts or short poems, and the public will be invited to take the Poetry Walk with a map provided or digitally available at the City of Winona website. The free reading will be at Peters Biergarten at 54 East Second St. beginning at 5 p.m. with the reading at 5:30. The FAC requested submissions of original short poems (or parts of poems) and received a wonderful variety of responses. Nine poems were selected by the following poets: Jerome Christenson, Michael William Doyle, Dan Eastman, Parker Forsell, Nancy Kay Peterson, Marcia Ratliff, Steve Schild, Sabrina Schlichting, and Lucas Stangl. The Fine Arts Commission continued their inclusion of one professional poet of renown or public title with a work by former Wisconsin Poet Laureate Kimberly Blaeser. The mission of the WINONA Poetry Walk is to celebrate local writers, make the creativity of our residents more visible, and aesthetically and intellectually enrich our city. In addition to their scheduled installation locations, Winona residents have the opportunity to have a contractor borrow a poetry stamp and place a poem in the sidewalk outside their residence. The selections were judged by a panel of local citizens with expertise in the arts and poetry chosen by the Fine Arts Commission. The judges were Dante DeGrazia, John Kerr, Caitlin McCoy, LaShara Morgan, Kathy Peterson, Paul Stern, and Tricia Wehrenberg. Below are the short bios of the poets: Kimberly Blaeser- Wisconsin Poet Laureate 2015-2016, is the author of five poetry collections including Copper Yearning, Apprenticed to Justice, and the bi-lingual Resister en dansant/Ikwe-niimi: Dancing Resistance. An Indigenous activist and environmentalist from White Earth Reservation, she also edited Traces in Blood, Bone, and Stone: Contemporary Ojibwe Poetry. A Professor at University of WisconsinMilwaukee and MFA faculty for the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, in 2020 Blaeser founded the literary organization In-NaPoIndigenous Nations Poets. She lives in rural Wisconsin; and, for portions of each year, in a water-access cabin near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in Minnesota. Jerome Christenson is the former head word doctor and chief pixel wrangler for the Winona Daily News. Hes lived his entire life in that part of Minnesota wedged between Wisconsin and Iowa, where he grew up reading Mike Royko and thinking that was a pretty cushy way to make a living. He was recently turned out to (greener?) pastures after 18 years of feeding the daily beast. Not being the retiring sort and despite being socially secure, he still inflicts his notions of how things ought to be on folks who absent-mindedly pick up the paper or make a misbegotten mouse-click online. He makes the occasional foray into verse when the spirit (or spirits) move him. Michael Doyle grew up in Winona during the 1960s and 70s, moved away to obtain an education and secure employment in the 1980s, and returned permanently in 2020 after his wife Eleanor Johnson and he retired. As a high school student, he was active in the grassroots Save Historic Winona organization that succeeded in rescuing the Winona County Courthouse from demolition. A founding member of what is todays Bluff Country Co-op, from 1972-82 he ran a quarterly series of free performances at Holzinger Lodge showcasing local musicians, poets, filmmakers, and storytellers. Doyle earned a bachelors degree in history and history of culture from the University of WisconsinMadison. After being awarded a Mellon Fellowship in the Humanities, he also earned a masters and doctoral degree in U.S. history from Cornell University. From 1996-2019 he served as director of Ball State Universitys Public History Program and directed the Oral History Workshop. Dan Eastman is a poet and visual artist living in Winona. His work over the past three decades has been influenced by the flow of the Mississippi River and Guest Artist residencies in Trinidad/Tobago, a Fulbright Scholar residency in Barbados, as well as a Fulbright-Hays China residency with the Blue House Artist Colony in western China. Parker Forsell. Since the early 1990s, Parker has been organizing events, music performances, and grassroots community networks of consumers, farmers, and musicians. He has been a publisher and editor, a farm hand, non-profit organizer, booking agent, band manager, and record producer. Parker has been a resident of Winona, MN since 2008. Nancy Kay Petersons poetry has appeared in print or online in numerous publications, most recently in HerWords, Lost Lake Folk Opera, One Sentence Poems, Spank the Carp, Steam Ticket, Tipton Poetry Journal and Three Line Poetry. From 2004-2009, she co-edited and copublished Main Channel Voices: A Dam Fine Literary Magazine (Winona, MN). Finishing Line Press published her two poetry chapbooks, Belated Remembrance (2010) and Selling the Family (2021). For more information, see www.nancykaypeterson.com. Marcia Ratliff is a writer, poet, and creative thinker based in Winona/Keoxa, Minnesota. Find her work at tornpaperpoems.com or on Instagram @tornpaperpoems. Steve Schild lives in Winona with his wife Margaret; they have two grown sons, Jake and Sam. Schilds work has appeared in a number of literary magazines and four anthologies and has won awards from the Midwest Independent Publishers Association, Viterbo University and the League of Minnesota Poets. He has two poetry collections published by Shipwreckt Books, Eros in Autumn and These Humans, and a selfpublished collection Gone Away from Crystal Valley. His journalistic writing has appeared in a number of venues including USA Today, the Star-Tribune of Minneapolis and the St. Paul Pioneer-Press. Schild is a member of the Winona Area Public Schools Board and a former member of the Minnesota News Council. Sabrina Schlichting (Resilient Writer) grew up in Lake City, MN. She graduated with a degree and license in social work from Winona State University in 2019. Her passions are advocacy, resiliency, and art in any capacity. She has been writing poetry since she was 9-years-old and began performing her poetry as spoken word in 2015. In her free time she enjoys spending time with her partner Danny, dog Xena, dad Joe, and little sister Bella. She also enjoys writing, filming, playing video games, and exploring beautiful southeastern Minnesota. Lucas Stangl- Born and raised in Winona, Lucas Stangl has been writing poetry ever since his father encouraged him in third grade. His work has appeared in print and online. This is his first poem in cement. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Suellentrop, however, continues to retain the Senate seat that he first won in 2016. He is a 69-year-old businessman who also served eight years in the House. Suellentrop answered a series of questions from Geier to show that he understood his agreement with prosecutors and wasn't being coerced into it, and then apologized publicly. His jail term is scheduled for Nov. 18-20. There are many lessons to be learned in circumstances such as these, Suellentrop said. I can assure you I've learned my share. Suellentrop also had his driver's license suspended, and when it is reinstated, he'll have to install an ignition interlock device on his car that will prevent it from starting until he passes a breath test for alcohol. You will not see me in this court or any other court of law for any other similar infraction, he told Geier. Deputy District Attorney Charles Kitt said Suellentrop applied for but was denied a diversion agreement. Such agreements are used when people are charged with minor crimes to allow them to avoid convictions if they avoid further legal trouble. The administration condemned the military takeover and dissolution of a transitional civilian-led authority and demanded the release of all officials detained in the overnight coup, which led to the arrest of Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok. Price said the administration was watching developments very closely and will not hesitate to hold those responsible for the coup to account. UNITED NATIONS The U.N. special envoy for Sudan says barricades in the capital of Khartoum are burning and occasional gunshots can be heard so there is a risk that there would be more violence or more clashes. The Sudan Doctors Committee says three protesters were killed after security forces fired on crowds that flooded in the streets in the wake of a coup Monday. It says 80 people were wounded. Volker Perthes spoke in a press briefing from Khartoum to reporters at U.N. headquarters Monday. He said that after the army carried out the coup and closed the entrances, bridges and airport in the city, quite a number of parties and unions asked people to take to the streets to condemn the takeover. He says thousands came out across the country to demand a return to civilian government. Columbia County officials responded to a UTV crash in the town of Leeds Sunday night. The operator of the UTV was a 12-year-old girl who died at a hospital, according to Columbia County Sheriff Roger Brandner. Brandner said in a press release Monday, the initial 911 call at 6:08 p.m. went to the Dane County Sheriffs Office and the information was relayed to Columbia County. Responders were on scene by 6:19 p.m. Initial information was provided that the operator was a 12-year-old female and that she was unresponsive, Brandner said. It was reported that the 12-year-old female was trapped under the UTV and that family members had already extricated her from the UTV. Family members started performing CPR on the 12-year-old. Officers from Dane County, Columbia County and DeForest Police Department were dispatched to the scene along with fire and EMS personnel. Support Local Journalism Your membership makes our reporting possible. {{featured_button_text}} The 12-year-old girl was transported to UW Hospital where she was pronounced dead. Brandner said the name of the juvenile will not be released to the public. The Janesville School District said Monday it has been hit by a suspected ransomware attack it discovered over the weekend. In a post on its Facebook page, the district said its IT team on Sunday noticed irregularities with the districts network and found code in its servers indicating what appeared to be ransomware. The IT team immediately contacted the Wisconsin Division of Enterprise Technology Cyber Response Team, and the FBI and U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The district said no data has been accessed or destroyed, but the ransomware locked servers, preventing students, staff, and families from being able to log in to the various systems/programs used, such as Infinite Campus, Classlink, and internet-based textbooks/resources. School telephones, security cameras, and paging systems have not been affected, and systems such as Google mail, and Google Classroom are accessible if using cellular data or another non-district WiFi WIFI source. The district said it has received no ransom note with demands in return for unlocking the locked systems. 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. State Republicans plan to conduct another investigation into the 2020 election this time from the state Senate focusing on a Legislative Audit Bureau report that made dozens of recommendations on how to improve election administration. The new investigation was announced after a Dane County judge earlier on Monday scheduled a hearing for Dec. 23 on Democratic Attorney General Josh Kauls request to block subpoenas issued as part of former Supreme Court Justice Michael Gablemans investigation into how the 2020 election was conducted. Republicans did not say how much the Senate review could cost or if they will solicit help from outside the Legislature. Gablemans investigation, authorized by Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, has been allocated $676,000 in taxpayer funds. In a joint statement issued Monday, Senate Republican leaders authorized the Committee on Elections, Election Process Reform and Ethics to conduct an investigation into the Audit Bureaus findings, including the city of Madisons refusal to provide the Audit Bureau with access to actual ballots. The city, along with Milwaukee County and the Oconto County town of Little Suamico, declined to provide ballots, citing guidance from the U.S. Department of Justice reminding clerks of their obligation to retain and preserve election records, according to the report. Climate change has already hit southern Africa With mitigation and adaptation strategies and policies driven through COP26, southern Africa can reduce the impacts on local livelihoods. Many people still think of climate change as a phenomenon that we will only face in the distant future. Perhaps thats partly because climate change projections about rising temperatures and extreme weather events are tied to future dates: 2030, 2050, or 2100, for instance. But its important to realise that we already are experiencing climate change, and have done so for some time now. Over the past century, global temperatures have increased by approximately 1C. Sea level rise is already starting to affect certain low-lying coastal communities. The world is experiencing more frequent and intense extreme climate events. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Changes (IPCC) 6th Assessment Report: Physical Science basis, released in September 2021, contains a comprehensive and largely grim assessment of the state of both recorded and projected climate change globally. The IPCC is the United Nations body for assessing science relating to climate change - a group of expert scientists from around the world, who author scientific reports on the state of the earths climate and future climate change projections. Its latest report compiles research from 1400 papers, and will serve as an important reference document for the COP26 meeting in Glasgow, Scotland, from October 31 to November 12. Its there that science is turned into policy. Such policy is critical for the whole world and urgent for southern Africa, which is particularly vulnerable to climatic changes. The region has already been experiencing climate changes that are more rapid, and with impacts that are more severe than the global average. It also struggles with a low adaptive capacity: theres little capital available for investment in measures to protect against future climate hazards, and very pressing immediate human rights needs for a large proportion of the population. Theres no avoiding the reality that southern Africa is in the throes of a climate emergency. By identifying trends in the frequency of weather events happening and its intensity over a period of decades, and exploring changes in related biological systems in light of this, its plain to see that the region has already been rocked by climate change and related effects. An increase in extreme temperature Extreme temperature events can be defined by the maximum temperature, the deviation from the norm, or the length of time of above-threshold temperatures. A number of indices have been developed by the World Meteorological Organisation to identify and quantify these extreme temperature events. Warm events, when they meet specific criteria, are termed heatwaves. These are particularly dangerous for people, animals and plants, and are a direct cause of deaths. In southern Africa, there has been an increase in the severity and frequency of heatwave events over recent decades. Interestingly, for a few locations, there has also been an increase in the frequency of extreme cold events. While this is not a feature of climate warming, it is induced by changes in regional climate patterns, such as the number of cold fronts which move over South Africa. Severe drought Drought is defined as a significant and prolonged departure from mean rainfall totals. The most severe, and best known, drought in southern Africa in recent years was the Day Zero crisis in Cape Town. While increasing pressure for water in the City of Cape Town played a role in this, a longer-term poleward displacement in the winter-rain-bearing westerlies which bring the cold fronts and rain to Cape Town during the winter months was a significant contributor to this drought. Southern Africa more broadly is also sensitive to El Nino induced droughts. El Nino refers to warmer than usual conditions in the Eastern Pacific that persist for a couple of months through to years, driven by a weakening of the Trade Winds, and a resultant reduction in the upwelling of colder water to the sea surface just off South America. This was the cause of the 2015-2016 drought in South Africas Kruger Park, which resulted in the drying up of watering holes, and the widely publicised death of hippos and later culling of other large mammals. High intensity tropical cyclones The southern African subcontinent is relatively well protected from tropical cyclones by the island of Madagascar. However, some tropical cyclones do form in the Mozambique Channel, and occasionally some tropical cyclones move across Madagascar. These storms can and do, as was seen most recently with Tropical Cyclones Idai, Kenneth and Eloise make landfall on Mozambique. Over recent decades, tropical cyclones in the Southwest Indian Ocean have increased in intensity; the first category 5 tropical cyclone for the sub-ocean basin was recorded in 1994. Tropical Cyclone Idai, which bordered in intensity between categories 3 and 4 on landfall, provides stark evidence of the damage wrought by high intensity tropical cyclones in populated areas. There is also evidence that tropical cyclones have expanded their range polewards over recent decades, affecting a larger region of southern Africa. Changes in the timing of phenological events In addition to the weather we experience from the changing climate itself, climate change also has an impact on biological systems. Phenology, which refers to the timing of annually recurrent biological events, is one of the most sensitive bio-indicators of climate change. In South Africa, scientists have recorded advances in the timing of apple and pear flowering in the southwestern Cape, and of Jacaranda flowering in the Gauteng City Region. Warmer sea surface temperatures have also resulted in a delay in the sardine run along the KwaZulu-Natal south coast. These shifts have an impact on agriculture and tourism, but more importantly demonstrate that climate change is having an effect on the natural environment. These shifts in timing cannot continue indefinitely. Plants and animals have thresholds beyond which the stresses of climate change will result in at least local extinction. The picture seems hopeless, but with mitigation and adaptation strategies and policies driven through, among other processes, COP26, southern Africa can reduce the impacts of climate change on local livelihoods. It is important at this stage to invest in adaptation to reduce the impacts of climate change, and to make every effort to reduce our reliance on carbon to slow down climate change. Jennifer Fitchett, Associate Professor of Physical Geography, University of the Witwatersrand. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Statement by African Civil Society Organisations on Binding Treaty CALS attorney Anesu Dera today addresses the chair of the United Nations Human Rights Council on the binding treaty on business and human rights Mr Chairperson, I make the following submissions in relation to the third draft of the Legally Binding Instrument (LBI) on behalf of the Centre for Applied Legal Studies, Lawyers for Human Rights, the African Coalition for Corporate Accountability, the Centre for Human Rights, the South African Institute for Advanced Constitutional, Public, Human Rights and International Law (SAIFAC), and the Uganda Consortium on Corporate Accountability. We commend the release of the third draft of the LBI and we strongly support the continuation of the existing process and refinement of the existing draft. A binding instrument is indispensable to ensuring accountability and remedies to victims of corporate abuses of fundamental rights. Furthermore, we support an instrument that reflects perspectives of all including the Global South and effectively addresses different experiences across the globe, and makes corporate compliance with human rights norms mandatory, not voluntary. The envisioned Treaty will level the playing field and avoid fragmented approaches to corporate responsibility that allow for abuse. Although some improvements have been noted, there still remain key areas of languages and text in need of strengthening to ensure that the Treaty achieves its objectives: namely, to effectively address the common global challenges around the prevention of corporate abuses and violations, to address rising cases of corporate capture, and, importantly, to remove obstacles blocking access to remedies for victims of rights violations. While there are some areas of the draft that require further enhancement and improvement, it is nevertheless important that the existing process continue until the finalization and adoption of the treaty. We reject the need for starting any new process or the need to fundamentally alter the text. We accordingly submit that if a different course is taken, it would have the inevitable effect of eliminating or weakening the progress that has been made so far. In our view, the current text should not be controversial to any state who agreed to the UNGPs it is simply builds upon them in two areas: in relation to prevention, it renders human rights due diligence mandatory and, in relation to access to remedy, it tries to remove legal obstacles victims face. The Treaty would be part of the smart mix of measures the late John Ruggie recognized were necessary to ensure corporate accountability. Throughout the 7th session, African Civil Society and partners will submit a re-iteration of some of its comments on the second draft as well as novel comments both appraising the current draft and suggesting some areas of its improvement. We will make recommendations relating to various clauses of the third draft of the LBI, including but not limited to the preamble, definition, statement of purpose, scope, rights of victims, prevention and access to remedy. I thank you Anesu T. Dera Attorney (Centre for Applied Legal Studies) ILION, N.Y. -- The Marine Corps League Herkimer Detachment #277 honor those in the 1983 Beirut, Lebanon bombings on Saturday. As names were named, a bell was rung to signify the end of day for those 241 U.S. Marines who gave the ultimate sacrifice 38 years ago. On October 23rd, 1983, two truck bombs struck buildings in Beirut, Lebanon killing a total of 307 people. Speeches were given by many distinguished members of the community, a benediction and the playing of Taps to honor those who lost their lives. An engraved stone was also planted outside the detachment to honor those who have fallen. It's a reminder of the tragedy that happened on that day. Like I said, terrorism was born on that day as we know it. It was Marines that died but the uniform don't make the man, the man makes the uniform. We had a naval corpsman there and we had army personnel that were affected by it too, says Stan Lewosko who is apart of Herkimer Detachment #277. The Deputy Mayor of Ilion also gave a proclamation that every year on October 23rd in the town of Ilion, the community will honor those who gave the ultimate sacrifice on that day. Facebook has for years struggled to crack down on content related to what it calls domestic servitude: "a form of trafficking of people for the purpose of working inside private homes through the use of force, fraud, coercion or deception," according to internal Facebook documents reviewed by CNN. The company has known about human traffickers using its platforms in this way since at least 2018, the documents show. It got so bad that in 2019, Apple threatened to pull Facebook and Instagram's access to the App Store, a platform the social media giant relies on to reach hundreds of millions of users each year. Internally, Facebook employees rushed to take down problematic content and make emergency policy changes avoid what they described as a "potentially severe" consequence for the business. But while Facebook managed to assuage Apple's concerns at the time and avoid removal from the app store, issues persist. The stakes are significant: Facebook documents describe women trafficked in this way being subjected to physical and sexual abuse, being deprived of food and pay, and having their travel documents confiscated so they can't escape. Earlier this year, an internal Facebook report noted that "gaps still exist in our detection of on-platform entities engaged in domestic servitude" and detailed how the company's platforms are used to recruit, buy and sell what Facebook's documents call "domestic servants." Last week, using search terms listed in Facebook's internal research on the subject, CNN located active Instagram accounts purporting to offer domestic workers for sale, similar to accounts that Facebook researchers had flagged and removed. Facebook removed the accounts and posts after CNN asked about them, and spokesperson Andy Stone confirmed that they violated its policies. "We prohibit human exploitation in no uncertain terms," Stone said. "We've been combatting human trafficking on our platform for many years and our goal remains to prevent anyone who seeks to exploit others from having a home on our platform." CNN has reviewed internal Facebook documents included in disclosures made to the Securities and Exchange Commission and provided to Congress in redacted form by former Facebook employee-turned-whistleblower Frances Haugen's legal counsel. The redacted versions were obtained by a consortium of 17 US news organizations, including CNN. In addition to information about human trafficking content on Facebook's apps, the documents provide deep insights into the company's approach to misinformation and hate speech moderation, internal research on its newsfeed algorithm, communications related to the Capitol Riot and more. The Apple threat, first reported by The Wall Street Journal last month, represents the potentially dire consequences of Facebook's continued challenges with moderating problematic content on its platforms, especially in non-English-speaking countries. In one SEC complaint related to the issue, representatives for Haugen wrote: "Investors would have been very interested to learn the truth about Facebook almost losing access to the Apple App Store because of its failure to stop human trafficking on its products." The revelation also comes as tensions between Facebook and Apple have risen in recent months over user privacy issues. Stone directed CNN to a letter Facebook sent last summer to several United Nations representatives about its efforts to combat human trafficking on its platform. In the letter, the company notes that domestic servitude content is "rarely reported to us by users." "To counter these challenges ... we have also developed technology that can proactively find and take action on content related to domestic servitude," Facebook said in the letter. "By using it, we have been able to detect and remove over 4,000 pieces of violating organic content in Arabic and English from January 2020 to date." Facebook has tried to discredit some earlier reporting by the Wall Street Journal and Haugen's testimony to a Senate subcommittee earlier this month. In a tweet last week ahead of "The Facebook Papers" publication, Facebook Vice President of Communications John Pinette said: "A curated selection out of millions of documents at Facebook can in no way be used to draw fair conclusions about us." A 'severe' risk to Facebook's business In the fall of 2019, the BBC approached Facebook about an investigation it was soon to publish about an illegal online marketplace for domestic workers which operated in part using Instagram and shared the hashtags it had used to locate the content, according to an internal Facebook report. In response, Facebook removed 703 Instagram profiles promoting domestic servitude, but "due to the underreporting of this behavior and absence of proactive detection," other domestic servitude remained on the platform, the report states. Following the publication of the BBC investigation, Apple contacted Facebook on October 23, 2019, threatening to remove its apps from the App Store for hosting content that facilitated human trafficking. In a November 2019 internal document titled "Apple Escalation on Domestic Servitude -- how we made it through this [Site Event]" a Facebook employee detailed the actions the company took over the course of a week to mitigate the threat, including taking action against more than 130,000 pieces of domestic servitude-related content in Arabic on Facebook and Instagram, expanding the scope of its policy against domestic servitude content and launching proactive detection tools in Arabic and English. "Removing our applications from Apple platforms would have had potentially severe consequences to the business, including depriving millions of users of access to IG & FB," the document states. "To mitigate against this risk, we formed part of a large working group operating around the clock to develop and implement our response strategy." Despite the scramble during that week, Facebook had been well aware of such content before the BBC reached out. "Was this issue known to Facbeook before the BBC enquiry and Apple escalation?" the internal report states, "Yes." In March 2018, Facebook workers assigned to the Middle East and North Africa market flagged reports of Instagram profiles dedicated to selling domestic laborers, internal documents show. At the time, these reports "were not actioned as our policies did not acknowledge the violation," a September 2019 internal report on domestic servitude content states. Stone, the Facebook spokesperson, said the company did have a policy prohibiting human exploitation abuses at the time. "We have had such a policy for a long time. It was strengthened after that point," he added. Internal Facebook documents show that Facebook launched an expanded "Human Exploitation Policy" on May 29, 2019 that included a prohibition on domestic servitude content related to recruitment, facilitation and exploitation. In September 2019, a Facebook employee posted to the company's internal site a summary of an investigation into a trans-national human trafficking network that used Facebook apps to facilitate the sale and sexual exploitation of at least 20 potential victims. The criminal network used more than 100 fake Facebook and Instagram accounts to recruit female victims from various countries, and used Messenger and WhatsApp to coordinate transportation of the women to Dubai, where they were forced to work in facilities disguised as "massage parlors," the summary said. The investigation identified $152,000 spent to buy advertisements on its platforms related to the scheme, including ads targeting men in Dubai. The company removed all pages and accounts related to the trafficking ring, according to the report. Among the recommended "action items" listed for response to the investigation is a request that Facebook clarify policies for how it handles ad revenue associated with human trafficking to "prevent reputational risk for the company (not to profit from ads spent for HT)." About a week later, a subsequent report outlined more broadly the issue of domestic servitude abuse on Facebook's platforms. The document includes samples of advertisements for workers posted to Instagram; one describes a 38-year-old Indian woman for sale for the equivalent of around $350 (the company says it removed the related accounts). Ongoing challenges More recent documents show that despite efforts Facebook took to remove such content immediately and in the weeks and months following the Apple threat, it has still struggled to regulate domestic servitude content. A report distributed internally in January 2020 found that "our platform enables all three stages of the human exploitation lifecycle (recruitment, facilitation, exploitation) via complex real-world networks," and identified some commonly-used naming conventions for domestic servitude accounts to help with detection. Traffickers from labor "recruitment agencies" used "FB profiles, IG Profiles, Pages, Messenger and WhatsApp to exchange victims' documentation ... promote the victims for sale, and arrange buying, selling and other fees," the document said of one trafficking network the company identified. In a February 2021 report, researchers found that often labor recruitment agencies communicated with victims via direct messages but rarely posted post public content violations, making them difficult to detect. The report also said Facebook lacks "robust proactive detection methods ... of Domestic Servitude in English and Tagalog to prevent recruitment," although the Philippines is a top source country for victims, and that it didn't have detection capabilities turned on for Facebook stories. The report laid out plans for a preventative educational campaign for workers, and said researchers identified at least 1.7 million users who could benefit from information about workers' rights. "While our previous efforts are a start to addressing the off-platform harm that results from domestic servitude, opportunities remain to improve prevention, detection, and enforcement," the February report stated. The company has implemented on-platform interventions to remind people seeking employment of their rights, and has information on its Help Center for users who encounter human trafficking content, Stone said. And although Facebook researchers have heavily investigated the issue, domestic servitude content appears to still be active and easily found on Instagram. Using several common account naming trends highlighted in one domestic servitude internal research document, CNN last week identified multiple Instagram accounts purporting to offer domestic workers for sale, including one whose account name translates to "Offering domestic workers" that features photos and descriptions of women, including their age, height, weight, length of available contract and other personal information. Facebook confirmed these posts violated its policies and removed them after CNN asked about them. In early 2021, Facebook launched "search interventions" in English, Spanish and Arabic that create "friction" in search when users "type in certain keywords related to certain topics (that we have vetted with academic experts)," according to Stone. He added that the company launched these search interventions for sex trafficking, sexual solicitation and prostitution in English, and for domestic servitude and labor exploitation in Arabic "Our goal is to help deter people from searching for this type of content," Stone said. "We're continuing to refine this experience to include links to helpful resources and expert organizations." This article is part of a CNN series published on "The Facebook Papers," a trove of over ten thousand pages of leaked internal Facebook documents that give deep insight into the company's internal culture, its approach to misinformation and hate speech moderation, internal research on its newsfeed algorithm, communication related to Jan. 6, and more. You can read the entire series here. The-CNN-Wire & 2021 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved. On September 17, Mayra Arana made the phone call she says saved her life. Arana had been vaccinated against Covid-19, but she developed a breakthrough infection. She feared the virus might kill her, since her immune system is weak after years of treatment for leukemia. Arana's family physician in California told her there wasn't much she could do besides stay home and rest. At home, following her doctor's advice, Arana felt sicker by the hour. Her husband placed a pulse oximeter on her fingertip, and it showed her blood oxygen levels were dipping dangerously low. "I'm Catholic, so I kept praying," Arana said. Getting more and more worried, Arana called her oncologist at the University of California San Francisco. It turned out her family physician was wrong: There is a treatment for early-stage Covid-19. By this point, Arana was so weak she couldn't walk on her own. Her husband, a school bus driver and custodian, got her out of bed and drove her to UCSF Fresno, where she received four shots of the treatment, called monoclonal antibodies. "The next day I could feel a difference. Two days later I could get out of bed and clean the house and feed my children," Arana said. "I really do think the antibodies saved my life." An investigation by CNN shows Arana is not alone in her challenge to find monoclonal antibodies. Many patients who qualify for the drugs say their doctors never mentioned them, even though it has been nearly a year since antibodies were first authorized by the US Food and Drug Administration, they're the only treatment for early Covid, and studies have shown they can dramatically reduce the risk of hospitalization and death. The federal government has made efforts to educate doctors, including a presentation by Dr. Anthony Fauci at a White House briefing in August, but still problems have persisted. "It's unconscionable," said Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, an infectious disease expert and professor at the UCSF School of Medicine. "We have an evidence-based drug, and it's provided free by the government, but there are barriers built into the system to get it." If patients do manage to learn about antibodies, they can then face another challenge. As Covid-19 numbers surged this summer and early fall, some hospitals, and even community groups, rose to the occasion and started helping large numbers of patients gain access to the drugs. But some major, well-resourced medical centers say staffing and space shortages have prevented them from offering more than just a handful of treatments per day. "Some [hospitals] simply are not in a position to reallocate resources for providing monoclonal antibody treatments," said Akin Demehin, the American Hospital Association's director of policy. The end result is that many Covid-19 patients are left hunting on their own for the only drug that can help them. "This has exposed flaws in our health care system that we need to fix," said Dr. Lindsey Baden, an infectious disease specialist and associate professor at Harvard Medical School. "This is something we can do better and should do better." At a White House briefing at the end of August, Fauci, President Joe Biden's senior medical adviser, implored doctors to use monoclonal antibodies more frequently, noting that they can reduce the risk of Covid-19 hospitalization or death by 70 to 85%. "This is a very effective intervention for COVID-19. It is underutilized, and we recommend strongly that we utilize this to its fullest," Fauci said. "We want people out there, including physicians, as well as potential patients, to realize the advantage of this very effective way of treating early infection." When asked by CNN why more doctors and health centers aren't getting antibodies to their Covid-19 patients, Fauci said, "I can't explain that." "They work. We've just got to get people to realize that they work," Fauci said. "I've been trying to get attention paid to how easy it should be to get this done, but I understand that a lot of doctors don't fully appreciate that." The FDA has issued emergency use authorization to monoclonal antibody drugs made by three pharmaceutical companies -- Regeneron, Eli Lilly, and GSK. The government purchased the drugs, which are free to patients and sometimes delivered intravenously and other times by shots. While effective, antibodies are not a substitute for vaccination, which is more powerful because vaccines prevent infection from occurring in the first place. But monoclonal antibodies can be used preventively after exposure to the virus and also to prevent worsening of symptoms once people get sick. In addition, under a special program, Regeneron offers antibodies to people who are immune compromised and did not fully respond to vaccination. A desperate search for antibodies Starr Kidda did everything she could to get monoclonal antibodies for her father, and she failed. Last month, Kidda's 68-year-old father, John Daniell, who lives outside of Atlanta, tested positive for Covid-19, even though he was fully vaccinated. He had a fever for days and couldn't get out of bed. Monoclonals are laboratory-made antibodies that mimic what human antibodies do: work to block the virus that causes Covid-19 from attaching to human cells, making it more difficult for the virus to reproduce and cause harm. Five days after he started feeling ill, Daniell had a video call with the physician's assistant in his family doctor's office. Daniell says she made no mention of antibodies, even though he is over 65. Then his daughter, a psychologist with the US Department of Transportation, spoke on the phone with the doctor, but she said he also made no mention of monoclonal antibodies. Kidda's cousin, a nurse, then told her about the treatment, so Kidda called a government hotline for monoclonal antibodies and was given names and numbers for 10 treatment sites near her father's home. "Eight of them were like, 'why are you calling us?' " she remembers. The ninth treatment center said her father would need a referral from his doctor. Kidda called her father's doctor, but she said he wouldn't give a referral, and wouldn't explain why. The tenth center said it would take the first 50 people who showed up in the morning. Daniell arrived 15 minutes after the center opened and there were already more than 50 people in line. Her father never did get an antibody treatment. It took him weeks to fully recover from the virus. "I just don't understand why it didn't happen," Daniell said. "It was awful," his daughter added. "It was very frustrating and upsetting that we as taxpayers are paying for this and he was eligible -- I don't know how it could be any clearer than that." As cases surged, some hospitals offered few antibody treatments In the third week of September, when Daniell was battling Covid-19 in Georgia, the virus was raging through the state, with more than 4,000 new cases every day, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Not all of those people qualified for antibodies. By federal rules, only patients with mild to moderate Covid-19 symptoms who've had symptoms for no more than 10 days are eligible. In addition, patients have to be at high risk for getting very sick with Covid-19, which includes people who are over age 65, or people who are 12 or older with certain health conditions. Those criteria are quite broad, given that one of the medical conditions is being overweight, which includes nearly 75% of Americans over age 20, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CNN reached out to a number of large, well-resourced medical centers to see what their experience had been. Emory Healthcare, one of the largest and most prestigious hospital systems in Georgia, administered up to 75 monoclonal antibody treatments per week during the Covid-19 surge in mid-August through late September, according to spokeswoman Janet Christenbury. "The demand for treatments during this time outweighed our resources to provide additional treatments," Christenbury told CNN. Beth Israel Lahey Health, in Massachusetts, administered six antibody treatments a day "at most," spokeswoman Chloe Meck told CNN last month. M Health Fairview, one of the largest health care providers in Minnesota, administers 30 doses per week, according to spokeswoman Aimee Jordan. "Like other systems around the country, we are limited by the number of visits that we can do per day due to the national nursing shortage," Jordan wrote to CNN. For the past month, Boston Medical Center has offered the treatment to two patients a day, according to spokeswoman Jenny Eriksen Leary, who noted that the hospital was evaluating whether they can offer more treatments based on space requirements and projected utilization. United Health Centers, which has 24 health centers in California's Central Valley, does not offer monoclonal antibody treatments at all, according to spokesman David Phillips. The American Hospital Association says it isn't easy to administer monoclonal antibodies. "There is much more that goes into the treatment than just the infusion or shots themselves," Demehin, the association official, said, adding that many hospitals are facing severe staffing shortages. "These treatments also require the right kinds of equipment, including infusion pumps, IV bags, seating areas for patients," he wrote to CNN in an email. "You also need qualified staff to check patients in, deliver the infusions or shots, monitor for side effects, etc." Demehin added that when patients with Covid-19 come in for antibodies, "hospitals have to take extra care to ensure they have spaces that minimize the chance of non-COVID patients being exposed. Those spaces also need appropriate ventilation and the staff working with them need the right [personal protection equipment]." A priority for hospital leadership Still, even with these difficulties, some health care systems have managed to deliver antibodies on a large scale. The Mayo Clinic is doing 30 to 40 procedures per day at its main hospital in Rochester, Minnesota, and was doing 50 per day on some days when Covid-19 cases were surging in late September, said Dr. Raymund Razonable, an infectious disease expert who heads up the hospital's antibody program. Mayo faced the same staff shortages and logistical barriers as other hospitals, but decided to make this happen when it saw the suffering of early Covid-19 patients and knew there was no other treatment, Razonable said. "My leadership saw it the way I see it, and made it possible, activating electronic health systems, activating the nursing pool, and pharmacy group to help make it a successful program, and it's worked from that day to this day," he said. "As long as you get the buy-in from leadership, it gets done." Another step: educating physicians that monoclonal antibodies even exist. "Not all physicians knew about this, and so that's been one of the initial hurdles," he said. Razonable said when a Mayo patient tests positive for Covid-19, they are screened to see if they meet the eligibility requirements for monoclonal antibodies, and if they do, the hospital reaches out to them. "Instead of waiting for patients to ask us, we call them, and they're infused within two days," Razonable said. Ochsner Health in Louisiana also stepped up the challenge, administering 1,304 monoclonal antibody infusions the week of September 8. "This was a priority for our CEO, for our COO. It came from them," said Dr. Sandra Kemmerly, an infectious disease specialist and system medical director for hospital quality at Ochsner. "The decision came from the top that this is where we need to put resources so we can treat patients before they get sick and die." It doesn't necessarily take a hospital system to connect patients with the monoclonal antibodies that could prove lifesaving. In New York, months ago, "a shoemaker, a lawyer, and three housewives" saw the need for antibodies in their community, according to Shoshana Bernstein, a spokeswoman for the group. In September, the group, called CPI, arranged for several hundred antibody treatments a week, she said. Bernstein said the group accomplished this by monitoring websites for the US Department of Health and Human Services and for the National Infusion Center Association, to see where the government has delivered monoclonal antibodies. A hotline staff of 12 people, all volunteers, then call the locations -- relentlessly -- to arrange for patients to get treatment. "It's hours and hours of literally nonstop effort," she said. Bernstein said she often finds herself on the phone, explaining to physicians the benefits of antibodies and which patients are eligible for them. "I'm not a medical professional, and here I am telling doctors things they don't know," Bernstein said. "And hands down, we have saved lives. I can't walk down the street anymore without having someone say, 'You saved my life.' " 'This is a solvable problem' One large hospital system in Boston has made major strides towards providing more antibodies to their eligible patients. In August, the Mass General Brigham in Massachusetts was administering just 27 monoclonal antibody treatments a week. Now they're doing over 150 per week at 11 different sites, according to spokesman Mark Murphy. "They make sense in the right circumstances, and we need to make them easily available to our patients who could benefit," said Baden, the Harvard professor and an infectious disease specialist at Brigham and Women's Hospital. Baden said some medical systems might have been slow to implement antibodies at first because they weren't sure how well they worked. But as additional data emerged in real time, he said, the treatment's effectiveness became clearer. "As new data emerges, we make better judgements," he said. He added that it can be hard for institutions to operationalize a new treatment, even though it involves shots or infusions, both of which are given in hospitals countless times every day. "It should be easy, but there's infrastructure, there's fluid bags and pumps that have to be set at the right rate, and the right tubing, and not every tubing is right for every pump, and you have to have a computer system that allows you to put in the right order and the right label on the right bag," he said. "None of this is rocket science, and I'm not raising this to say these are insurmountable," he added. "These are speed bumps. But this is all solvable. This is a solvable problem." The-CNN-Wire & 2021 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved. Halyna Hutchins died doing what she loved on the set of the film "Rust." And that love is being returned as colleagues and friends remember the journalist turned cinematographer who died after the film's star and executive producer Alec Baldwin discharged a prop gun on set in New Mexico last week. Hutchins was 42. The film's director Joel Souza, 48, was also injured during the incident. Hutchins participated in a Blackmagic Collective live stream in April where she talked about her filmmaking. "I like stories that [are] rooted in reality or real characters, but my favorite part is actually creating the world where the story will exist," she said. The journey to Hollywood A native of Ukraine, Hutchins grew up on a Soviet military base in the Arctic Circle, "surrounded by reindeer and nuclear submarines," according to her website. She obtained a graduate degree in International Journalism from Kyiv National University. She worked as an investigative journalist with British documentary productions in Europe, where she did feature documentaries for the BBC and Discovery prior to moving to New York City. "In New York I really took on photography," Hutchins said in an interview for "Why Women Are Excelling in Hollywood" posted on YouTube in June. "Fashion photography, I did a lot and just wanted to make art films, actually. Just something really big scale, beautiful, just art house cinema." Her 'calling' "When I moved to Los Angeles, I tried to figure out like what the next step would be," she said. "Where do you start when you don't know anybody? Where do you begin?" That led her to a UCLA extension course for directing "just to get my feet wet," Hutchins recalled. She quickly figured out she loved cinematography more than directing. "I shot like 15 shorts there," she said. "So, I kept shooting and I thought that's probably my calling." Love of American Film Institute Hutchins worked with a lighting company and then attended what she called "the best institution for my profession," the American Film Institute (AFI) Conservatory, where she graduated in 2015. After her death, actor Jensen Ackles, who worked with Hutchins on "Rust," posted on Instagram that he had donated to an AFI scholarship fund in her name. "Earlier last week I felt compelled to tell Halyna just how awesome I thought she was. I told her how incredible I thought her camera shots were and just how exciting it was to watch her and her team work," he wrote. "Truly. She laughed and said thank you and gave me a hug. I'll forever be thankful we had that moment." How she chose her projects During the Blackmagic Collective live stream, Hutchins shared what attracted her to different films. "The base of the characters is the most exciting part for me," she said. "If I can get on a journey with the characters. Genre doesn't really matter, it's just the environment you create around it to convey the character's journey." "If I want to see this movie, I would like to make it," she said. When asked during the "Why Women Are Excelling in Hollywood" interview what it was about cinematography that attracted her, Hutchins had a heartfelt answer. "It's a passion for sure," she said. "Once you get the bug, you can't get out of it." The-CNN-Wire & 2021 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved. BARNEVELD, NY - On Friday the Barneveld fire department received a call for a water rescue. Everybody was ok, but those tense, uncertain moments might have been avoidable. The call came in around 5:30 for two juveniles stranded on some rocks in the West Canada Creek near the lower Trenton Falls Dam. The two had been fishing when the water suddenly started to rise. Unable to reach the victims, the Barneveld fire department asked for assistance from the Oriskany fire departments swift water rescue team which was able to bring the two teens to safety. Barneveld Fire Chief Kevin Kalk says it's very important to know your surroundings and to pay close attention to any signs of danger. If you're doing any kind of recreational activities like fishing, tubing, or just hanging out by a hydro dam, they will do controlled releases of water. When they do that, there is a siren and a strobe light that activates to notify people in the area. When that happens, you should leave the area quickly. That happened Friday night. There was a controlled release. Due to them not being from the area they didnt understand what that meant and they continued to fish, and then they became trapped by the water. The Barneveld fire chief says that was their first water rescue in 20 years. ROME, N.Y. -- The former chief of the Rome Fire Department was officially honored for his retirement on Sunday. Due to retiring right before the pandemic hit last year, Ron Brement didnt get the proper celebration for his hard work. Brement was awarded a plaque from the Western Fire Department for his thirty five years of dedication with the Rome Fire Department. Brement served as fire chief for eleven of those years. It's just nice to be recognized, I know I've always worked with the volunteers because we're a very big community as far as our footprint. We have a couple volunteer agencies that we work with in our community. It's always been a good two-way street when we've interacted with them. They're there to do the same function as we are as far as protecting our community for the good of the people that we serve, says Brement. I think I've always had a good relationship, I did serve as the president of the Oneida county chiefs association and I think there I built some good friendships and I learned a lot. I learned a lot about what they are doing in their communities. It's just nice to be recognized by one of our fellow volunteer organizations. Brement officially retired on February 28th, 2020 after joining the fire station in 1984. Shooting threats were made to at least three local school districts on social media over the weekend, but the Oneida County Sheriffs Office does believe students are in any danger. The threats were made to Camden, Vernon-Verona-Sherrill and Oneida schools in separate messages that made their way to students, parents and faculty in each district. Authorities say the threats are not credible. The authors of the messages claimed to have been bullied, and threatened shootings at each school at specified dates and times. The sheriffs office says the threatening messages are believed to be related to a similar post about an Oneida Middle School in Schenectady. Authorities have identified a 12-year-old suspect in that case. According to the sheriffs office, the account that posted the threat to Camden schools was not identified as a student in the district. While all of the threats have been deemed unfounded, each affected district plans to have additional law enforcement on school grounds as a precaution. The following was posted by VVS Sunday evening: "Earlier today, October 24, 2021, we learned of a threatening message circulating on social media regarding VVS Middle School. A similar message is circulating regarding several schools in area and throughout the state. We have been working with local law enforcement as a part of their investigation. The Oneida County Sheriffs Department has advised us that the threat is unfounded. However we take all threats of this nature seriously. We will have additional law enforcement on site tomorrow to enhance our district safety protocols. If you or your child has concerns regarding this situation, please contact your childs principal or school social worker. We appreciate your patience and support in providing a safe learning environment for all our children." Oneida schools made a similar post Monday morning: "We learned of a threatening message circulating on social media regarding Otto Shortell Middle School. A similar message is circulating regarding several schools in area and throughout the state. We have been working with local law enforcement as a part of their investigation. The Madison County Sheriff's Department at this point has deemed the threat is non-credible. However we take all threats of this nature seriously. We will have additional law enforcement on site throughout the week to enhance our district safety protocols. If you or your child has concerns regarding this situation, please contact your child's principal or school social worker. We appreciate your patience and support in providing a safe learning environment for all our children." Camden Superintendent Ravo Root issued a statement during the school day Monday, saying all activities have been taking place as scheduled after the sheriff's office said the post did not pose a credible threat. "Heightened security procedures have been in place throughout the day as precautionary measures and peace of mind for our students, staff members and parents. We will continue to follow our district and school safety plans and protocols to maintain the health and safety of students and staff in perpetuity. If a Camden student has any concerns, please direct them to see their school principal or social worker," said Root. During the day Monday, New York Mills School District was also notified of threatening messages circulating on social media. They say authorities have determined the threats to be unfounded. The sheriff's office will continue to investigate over the coming days to ensure the safety of students and staff. UTICA, N.Y. The second suspect in the murder of 20-year-old Quaheim Holland pleaded guilty to two charges in Oneida County Court Monday. Isaiah A. Moore, 21, pleaded guilty to criminal sale of a firearm and concealment of a human corpse. Moore and Jalil Pacheco were both indicted for second-degree murder after Holland was found dead in a car with a gunshot wound to the head in January of 2020. Pacheco took a deal, pleading guilty to first-degree manslaughter in August. On Oct. 15, he was sentenced to 15 years in prison. Moore is scheduled to be sentenced in December to seven years in state prison and three years of post-release supervision. LOGANSPORT, Ind. (WLFI) After seventy years, one Korean War Veteran from Royal Center is finally laid to rest. Stanley DeWitt was only eighteen years old when he was declared missing in action. He was giving medical assistance to his fellow wounded soldiers in 1950. Former President Donald Trump met with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and requested the remains of soldiers to be returned to the United States. Of the 55 boxes returned in 2018, Stanley DeWitt's remains were proven to be in box number 54. "I grew up with his picture on my grandparents' wall and then on the wall of our house so he was always an inspiration between him, my granddad, and my Uncle Mick who all served in the Korean and Vietnam Wars so they were something I always looked up to growing up," said Eddie DeWitt junior, Stanley's grand-nephew and retired marine. Eddie DeWitt said that it has been a long time coming for his family. They're happy to finally have Sergeant Stanley DeWitt laid to rest, with the rest of his family. LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) A lawsuit alleges a child was physically and emotionally abused by other students while attending T.C. Harris School in Lafayette. The school serves children with disabilities and special needs. Court documents say the alleged abuse happened on June 21. The child's lawyer, Nathan Foushee, argues T.C. Harris staff were negligent in supervising students. He says the alleged abuse permanently injured the child, requiring ongoing medical expenses. "The defendants, the operators of the school, negligently failed to supervise the children in their care, negligently failed to supervise and train their employees, and as a result, some other students mentally and physically abused my client, resulting in physical and emotional injuries," he says. Both sides say they can't provide specific details on the matter, citing legal concerns. In a statement to News 18, a spokesperson for T.C. Harris says "the safety and well-being of our students is our top priority. "T.C. Harris has a rigorous screening process for all employees and requires frequent and comprehensive training in line with industry best practices and reporting standards. We are continuously reviewing and improving our processes to ensure that our environments are safe and productive for our students." TIPPECANOE COUNTY, Ind. (WLFI) The Tippecanoe County Historical Association has been awarded an Operating Support Grant. The grant is funded from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. The Tippecanoe County Historical Association is being granted $15,000. It's a small portion of the 800 thousand dollars Indiana Humanities is granting humanities organizations statewide. Last year, Indiana Humanities gave over $500,000 in similar grants to humanities organizations from CARES Act funding. The historical association is receiving double what they did last year. The $15,000 being given to the Tippecanoe County historical association is one of 6 grants given throughout the 4th congressional district. It is the most money being given in the district. Leslie Martin Conwell is the operations manager for the historical association. "Being keepers of Tippecanoe County's history, we take that mission very seriously," she told News 18. "And, the humanities, the grant, really helps us get the word out about what we do, it helps us take care of our archived collections." She says the work the association does benefits the residents of the county. "These are lessons that we can learn from in our history as we go forward," she says. "We can understand more about each other, the different cultural communities in Tippecanoe County. So they are vital to us." McGlennon breaks down Virginia gubernatorial race Down to the wire: William & Mary Government Professor John McGlennon says the Virginia gubernatorial race will "provide a great talking point" ahead of the 2022 midterm and 2024 presidential elections. Stephen Salpukas Photo - of - Hide Caption As one of only two states with gubernatorial elections in 2021, many eyes will be on Virginia on Nov. 2, Election Day. Recent polling data has shown a close race between Democratic candidate Terry McAuliffe and Republican candidate Glenn Youngkin. To break down the race and its possible impact, W&M News spoke to William & Mary Government Professor John McGlennon, an expert on elections. The interview has been edited for length and clarity. What are the polls telling us about the gubernatorial race in Virginia? As of Oct. 19, if you average all the results of the polls, it shows McAuliffe has about a three-percentage point lead, and that's been fairly consistent among likely voters. Likely voters are generally defined as people who have voted in several of the last elections and are ready to go ahead and vote again in this election, whether they're enthusiastic or not. {{youtube:medium|0M0PwyeSMgY, John McGlennon}} In terms of the polling at this point, I think it's a little surprising to some people that McAuliffe doesn't have a larger lead given the general tendency of Virginia to move in the Democratic direction. But I think we have to understand that a lot of that tendency in Virginia was driven by dislike for President Donald Trump in the Commonwealth, which produced a 10-point lead for Joe Biden last time. I think one of the things that we have to understand about polling in Virginia, like polling nationally, is that people are wondering how accurate those surveys actually are. Pollsters themselves have had to sit down after the last couple of elections and ask, What are we missing? Are we sure we're really getting an accurate read on how Virginians or Americans are thinking about various issues? So the polling industry has gone through a lot of change recently to try to make sure that their results are an accurate reflection of what's happening in an electorate that's very polarized, divided by party. How do you see this election turning out in Virginia? Well, I think that the key questions are going to be related to turnout, and there's not that much persuasion going on in this election campaign. There's a relatively small number of voters who really don't know which way they'll wind up on Election Day. It's more a matter of trying to get your own committed supporters to recognize the importance of the election and to show up either before Nov. 2 or on Election Day itself. And I think the real unknown is how many people are going to show up on Election Day because of the drop in early voting participation. Will that be made up substantially by more people feeling comfortable enough to show up at their polling places on Election Day? For Glenn Youngkin, I think the issue is can he actually break through among suburban voters who've shifted so sharply to the Democrats in recent years? He's put a lot of effort into it, but he's been hampered somewhat by the fact that those voters who were not particularly supportive of Donald Trump keep getting reminded of Mr. Trump's role, mostly by the McAuliffe campaign, but also by the former president himself, who has interceded in the election several times. In terms of the Democrats, what they've got to do is convince their voters that having defeated Donald Trump was not enough, that McAuliffe needs them to show up at the polls in order to continue the Democrats agenda here in Virginia, which they've only been able to put in place in the last two years as they won control of both the General Assembly and the governorship for the first time in a couple of decades. What might the Virginia race this year tell us about either national party for midterms in 2022 and the next presidential election in 2024? I think it's going to provide a great talking point. We're one of only two states in the country that are electing governors this year. They are the only statewide elections of consequence going on, so virtually every time we have a Virginia gubernatorial election, there's a lot of focus on it. I think that both sides will look to it for clues in terms of what they've done right or wrong, what kind of opportunities or challenges they might have for the midterm elections, and that's why you're seeing a lot of investment by the national parties in trying to influence this race for governor. But by and large, the midterm elections will not be determined solely by what's happening in Virginia. They're going to be determined by the degree to which the president is able to get his agenda through Congress, by the satisfaction that people feel about where they are economically and whether they think that there needs to be some kind of division of power in Washington between the Democrats and Republicans with President Biden continuing in office until 2024 at least, and the Republicans making the argument that they need to have control of at least one house of Congress in order to keep things balanced. Why do elections in Virginia tend to hold such national interest year after year? Virginia does attract a lot of attention in our gubernatorial elections, and I think there are really two reasons for it in comparison to even New Jersey, which holds elections at the same time. The first is that we are one of only two states having these statewide elections, which are different than big city elections or suburban elections. Those often are dominated by local issues and by the concerns that don't necessarily touch on partisanship or have constituencies that lean strongly one way or the other. So Virginia and New Jersey are both going to attract inordinate attention because they're the biggest games in town. But Virginia in particular attracts attention because of our unique role as a state that does not allow a governor to seek consecutive reelection. And that means that it's always an open seat and no incumbent advantage exists and no real incumbent drag exists on the parties as they approach the gubernatorial election. It provides for a kind of more even playing field. And it is one of the few races out there of significance, so naturally folks who are gearing up for the next set of elections will see this as an opportunity to talk a lot about what they can read in the tea leaves. Virginia is among a number of states that have expanded voting access. How do you see those new laws playing a role in this election? I think that the expansion of opportunities for people to vote early and to cast ballots by mail has had significant effects in Virginia, driving up our participation rates. At one time Virginia lagged behind the rest of the nation in terms of voter participation, in part because we do have these off-year elections for significant offices. Presidential elections always draw huge crowds, but breaking through all the clutter on television and in the news media, and just in your day-to-day life to get to folks to focus on a contest for the governorship and General Assembly is a very difficult task. You make that task a lot easier when you give people options for how they can cast their ballots, and it's proven very popular. People really love the opportunity to go out and vote early and take care of it without having to worry about whether they're going to be available during those 13 hours of on Election Day itself, so we've seen huge jumps in the number of people participating. Just in comparison to 2017, as a result of the reforms that have been made in election laws, we've already doubled the number of people who voted early or by mail, and that number is bound to increase significantly, so I would certainly not be surprised to see four or five times as many people voting early and maybe even more than we would have seen in 2017. And that means that the parties, because they know who's already voted, and they can get that information on a daily basis, they focus their attention on the voters who haven't yet cast their ballots, and all of that additional attention will stimulate more participation. Does this election cycle hold any greater significance than other off-election years? I think it does in the sense that we really were not sure what impact we would see coming out of a period of time in which there was enormous energy and activity in both political parties organized around Donald Trump. Now party polarization had already started long before that. We really began to see this kind of split that is motivating voters primarily by dislike for the other party back as far as the year 2000, maybe even a little bit earlier. But we saw an enormous jump in numbers of people participating, candidates running for office, donations to candidates by individuals. All of those factors were driven by a kind of grassroots desire to influence the outcome of elections in ways that they haven't in decades. And as a result, when we think about this particular election, there are a lot of unanswered questions about whether voters were really just focused on dealing with the question of whether President Trump would continue in office, or whether there would be some other factor that would replace it. And in this case, I think we're going to get a clue to that on Nov. 2, as we see whether McAuliffe is able to hold Virginia strongly in the Democratic column, or whether Glenn Youngkin can make the argument that he's a different Republican who's able to provide an alternative to the Democrats, especially to suburban voters who are the most recent converts to the Democrats. Any final thoughts? Being at a university like William & Mary, one of the things that again becomes a subject of interest is participation among students. They have proven to be a very important voting bloc in part because they had such low levels of participation previously. Even though in the last election for governor here, young people voted at only about a 35% rate across the Commonwealth, that was double where they had been previously, and increasing by that amount just really made their voices much stronger in the electoral process, and with the fact that they still have a long way they could go, the opportunity for young people to influence politics, I think, is very much evident in Virginia and all across the country. Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, on Thursday said that the relocation of residents from the flood plain of the Yellow River is an extraordinary feat. Xi made the remarks when visiting a residential community of relocated residents in the city of Dongying, east China's Shandong Province. The new community was built to improve the life of relocated residents from 11 villages along the Yellow River embankments. Xi said he is very pleased to learn that the relocated residents are living and working in contentment, and making progress in rural vitalization. (Source: Xinhua) Video PlayerClose Chinese peacekeepers march during a medal ceremony in Hanniyah village, southern Lebanon, April 3, 2019. [Xinhua] BEIJING, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) "It falls on each and every responsible statesman to answer the questions of our times and make a historical choice with confidence, courage and a sense of mission." As the leader of a major country that is playing an ever more significant role in today's increasingly interconnected and profoundly changing world, Chinese President Xi Jinping, who made the call at the UN General Assembly in September, has already given his answer. Committed to his flagship vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind, Xi has, among other efforts, been leading China, the world's most populous and largest developing country, to continuously deepen and expand cooperation with the United Nations, the world's most universal, representative and authoritative international organization. Upon the 50th anniversary of the restoration of the lawful seat of the People's Republic of China in the United Nations, Xi is set to reaffirm Beijing's support for the UN cause, redouble China's efforts for international cooperation, and reinvigorate global action for a better world. Photo taken on Sept. 14, 2020 shows the outside view of the United Nations headquarters in New York, the United States. [Xinhua/Wang Ying] Future-Oriented Vision In the eyes of former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Xi is "a man of a future-oriented vision." During his tenure as the UN chief, Ban interacted with Xi on many occasions. One of the most unforgettable, he told Xinhua in a recent interview, was how Xi went to great lengths to promote the ratification of the hard-won Paris Agreement on climate change, a grave threat to humanity that had long been at the top of the UN agenda. A major breakthrough came when Xi invited Ban and then U.S. President Barack Obama to visit China's eastern city of Hangzhou on Sept. 3, 2016, one day ahead of the opening of the G20 Hangzhou summit. At a "very unexpected event," Ban recalled, Xi and Obama both presented him with the instrument of ratification of the Paris accord. "That was historic," said Ban, explaining that such a joint move by China and the United States was "vital" as it galvanized other parties into accelerating the ratifying process. Two months after the Hangzhou event, the deal officially came into effect. "Had (there) not been President Xi Jinping's initiative, we would not have the Paris climate change agreement even now. Then I really sighed with a deep relief," Ban told Xinhua. "The world was saved." From then on, China has further intensified its painstaking transformation towards green development. Now Xi has announced that China aims to peak carbon dioxide emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060, which means the developing country will complete the world's largest reduction in carbon emission intensity in the shortest time in global history. "There is only one Earth in the universe and we mankind have only one homeland," Xi said at the UN Office at Geneva in 2017. "We should not only think about our own generation, but also take responsibility for future ones." Aerial photo taken on Feb. 24, 2021 shows a molten-salt solar thermal power plant in Dunhuang, northwest China's Gansu Province. [Xinhua/Ma Xiping] Results-Oriented Actions "Action speaks louder than words," Xi told UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres in a phone conversation in May. "The Chinese always keep their words and do what they say." When the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development was adopted by UN member states in 2015, Xi called it a "high-standard checklist" as its top goal demands ending all poverty. "No single poor area or individual shall be left behind," Xi once pledged. Under his strong leadership, only five years later, China eliminated absolute poverty, achieving the goal 10 years ahead of schedule. China's anti-poverty success has greatly contributed to global development, one of the three pillars of UN work. Guterres congratulated Xi on the achievement in person, saying "this extraordinary result is a reason of hope and inspiration to the entire community of nations." Indeed, with Xi at the helm, China has become an ever stronger powerhouse for common development, providing more assistance and generating more opportunities for other countries. Students have China-aided rice for lunch at Toyoyome primary school at suburb of Cotonou, Benin, Oct. 17, 2019. [Photo by Seraphin Zounyekpe/Xinhua] Its contribution to global growth has remained the highest for 15 years running. China has provided 63 billion U.S. dollars of development assistance to 166 countries and international organizations. The Belt and Road Initiative, proposed by Xi, has become the world's largest platform for international cooperation. In view of the current circumstances, particularly the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Xi, in his address to the UN General Assembly in September, put forth a Global Development Initiative in a bid to steer global development towards a new stage of balanced, coordinated and inclusive growth. "We need to foster global development partnerships that are more equal and balanced, forge greater synergy among multilateral development cooperation processes, and speed up the implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development," Xi said. Addressing the Second United Nations Global Sustainable Transport Conference earlier this month, Xi reiterated China's dedication to common global development. "We will contribute more to global development while pursuing our own development," he said. Chinese medical team experts and Italian doctors pose for a photo during the COVID-19 pandemic in Padua, Italy, March 18, 2020. [Xinhua] UN-Centered Multilateralism To beat global challenges and build a better future for humanity demands concerted international cooperation, which would not be possible without a genuine commitment to and effective practice of multilateralism. In Xi's eyes, the United Nations, as a banner of multilateralism, is "the core institution for addressing international affairs through cooperation." Under his leadership, China has stepped up support for the world body to play a bigger role in promoting global peace and development. At his debut at the UN General Assembly in September 2015, Xi announced China's decision to establish a China-UN Peace and Development Fund. To date, China has provided 120 million U.S. dollars to the fund and launched 112 cooperation projects. Now China is the second largest funding contributor to UN peacekeeping operations, and has contributed more peacekeepers than any other permanent members of the UN Security Council. It firmly opposes the willful threat or use of force in international affairs, and has taken an active part in seeking political solutions to major regional and global disputes on the basis of justice and equity. In the face of various forms of pseudo-multilateralism emerging from the combined impact of profound global changes and an unprecedented pandemic, Xi has stood up to the challenge and made a strong push for true multilateralism. Photo taken on Sept. 14, 2020 shows the United Nations (UN) flag flying outside the UN headquarters in New York, the United States. [Xinhua/Wang Ying] "In the world, there is only one international system, i.e. the international system with the United Nations at its core. There is only one international order, i.e. the international order underpinned by international law. And there is only one set of rules, i.e. the basic norms governing international relations underpinned by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter," Xi stressed. All countries should act in accordance with the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, and refrain from pursuing unilateralism and hegemony, and should not use multilateralism as a pretext to form small circles or stir up ideological confrontation, he has said. The United Nations, he has suggested, "should hold high the banner of true multilateralism and serve as the central platform for countries to jointly safeguard universal security, share development achievements and chart the course for the future of the world." Citing the 50th anniversary of the restoration of China's lawful seat in the United Nations, Xi told the UN General Assembly in September that China will "continue our active efforts to take China's cooperation with the United Nations to a new level." "China is always a builder of world peace, contributor to global development, defender of the international order and provider of public goods," he said. "China will continue to bring the world new opportunities through its new development." (Source: Xinhua) Video PlayerClose Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, checks the Yellow River's waterways and learns about the ecological protection and high-quality development of the Yellow River basin at a dock as he inspects the estuary of the Yellow River in the city of Dongying, east China's Shandong Province, Oct. 20, 2021. [Xinhua/Li Xueren] BEIJING, Oct. 24 (Xinhua) The Pinglu Yellow River Wetland at the junction of Shanxi and Henan provinces welcomed another batch of guests in the latter part of October 13 swans that have migrated to spend winter. With a pleasant climate and abundant food, the 6,000-hectare wetland is one of China's major winter habitats for white swans, attracting tens of thousands of the birds from Russia's Siberian region. To better protect the bird, Shanxi's Pinglu County has shut down polluting firms around the wetland and invested hundreds of millions of yuan to improve the surrounding ecological environment. A protection team of more than 100 people has been formed and a remote video surveillance system is in operation. The county government has also spent 400,000 yuan (about 62,640 U.S. dollars) annually over the past decade compensating residents for returning their farmland to the wetland. "Besides favorable policies and investment, China's continuous efforts in improving the ecological environment in the Yellow River have contributed most to the migratory white swans," said Zhang Jin, head of the wildlife protection station under Pinglu County's forestry bureau. The Yellow River is the second longest in China, measuring 5,464 km, and runs through nine provincial regions, including Shanxi, Henan and Shandong. For more than 3,000 years, the Yellow River basin had been the political, economic, and cultural center of the country. It witnessed the birth of four era-defining inventions in ancient China printing techniques, papermaking, gunpowder and the compass. It is also the place where the Book of Songs and other ancient Chinese classics were written. Today, more than 400 million people live in the basin, which plays a crucial role in the nation's ecological and food supply systems. Chinese President Xi Jinping, who pays high attention to the protection of the Yellow River, has visited all provincial regions the Yellow River runs through, and has been to river banks on multiple occasions. "The protection of the Yellow River is critical to the great rejuvenation and sustainable development of the Chinese nation," said Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, while chairing a symposium on ecological protection and high-quality development of the Yellow River basin in Zhengzhou, provincial capital of Henan in September 2019. Chairing a symposium on furthering ecological protection and high-quality development of the Yellow River basin in Jinan, capital of Shandong Province on Friday, Xi urged notable progress in ecological protection and high-quality development of the Yellow River basin during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025). Provincial-level regions along the Yellow River should stick to putting the environment first and being committed to green development, said Xi. He visited the river's estuary and the Yellow River Delta National Nature Reserve in Dongying City, Shandong on Wednesday. Swans rest on a lake near the Yellow River in Pinglu, north China's Shanxi Province, Oct. 27, 2020. [Xinhua/Ma Yimin] Thanks to wetlands restoration efforts, the number of bird species in the delta nature reserve has doubled from 187 in 1992 to 371 this year. The city has restored over 20,000 hectares of wetlands since 2017 and is building a 108-km-long ecological corridor along the Yellow River, according to Dongying Mayor Chen Bichang. Measures for high-quality development have also been adopted in provinces and autonomous regions in the Yellow River basin. In April, the State Council approved a plan to build a start-up area to replace old growth drivers with new ones in Jinan. The area also serves as a demonstration zone in promoting ecological protection and high-quality development of the Yellow River basin. Covering an area of 798 square km, the start-up area is expected to include future industries such as brain-like artificial intelligence, future network and 4D manufacturing, and realize an output of more than 60 billion yuan in 2025. In early October, the central authorities issued an outline document on the ecological protection and high-quality development of the Yellow River basin. The document will guide the country's ecological conservation and high-quality development of the Yellow River basin through to 2030 and beyond, and serve as an important basis for formulating and implementing relevant planning schemes, policies and measures, as well as building engineering projects. High-quality development in the Yellow River basin also facilitates common prosperity. Lishi Village in mountainous Xihaigu, an area in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, used to be one of China's most impoverished due to drought and a fragile ecology. As more Chinese consumers prefer traditional food, Lishi Village has set up collectively-operated vinegar workshops, oil workshops and other factories to promote industries with local characteristics in recent years. Its quality products such as vinegar, oil and flour have been well-received. Last year, the collective economic income of Lishi Village had reached about 640,000 yuan, and dividends had been paid to villagers for three consecutive years. "A few years ago, I had to do odd jobs in big cities for several months every year. Now, with skills in manual oil press, I can make more than 30,000 yuan a year without having to work elsewhere," said villager Qi Guoxi. "It's more stable and convenient." (Source: Xinhua) A work conference to promote the implementation of the Spring Bud Project Dreams of the Future Action is held in Beijing by the All-China Women's Federation on October 11. On the International Day of the Girl Child which fell on October 11, Peng Liyuan, wife of Chinese President Xi Jinping and a special envoy of the Spring Bud Project for the advancement of girls' education, launched an initiative calling for concerted efforts in promoting the project's Dreams of the Future Action. The Dreams of the Future Action was initiated by Peng in 2019. The action serves as an upgraded version of the China Children and Teenagers' Fund (CCTF)'s flagship Spring Bud Project, which has helped put millions of girls from poor backgrounds into classrooms to combat gender bias. Since its launch two years ago, the action has directly funded education for 202,000 girls and indirectly benefited 4.03 million, driving girls' all-around development and consolidating the results of poverty alleviation. It plans to help 500,000 girls receive education and serve 25 million girls in other ways in the next five years. On the same day, the All-China Women's Federation (ACWF) held a work conference to promote the implementation of the action in Beijing. Shen Yueyue, Vice-Chairperson of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress and President of the ACWF, attended the conference. Shen emphasized taking concrete actions in respond to the initiative, cultivating talent for the Party and the country, and helping more girls realize their dreams. Shen Yueyue, Vice-Chairperson of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress and President of the All-China Women's Federation, delivers a speech at the conference. Huang Xiaowei, Secretary of the Leading Party Members' Group and Vice-President and First Member of the Secretariat of the ACWF, presided over the meeting and read the initiative. Huang Xiaowei, Secretary of the Leading Party Members' Group and Vice-President and First Member of the Secretariat of the All-China Women's Federation, presides over the meeting. The meeting stressed fostering virtue through education, making good use of revolutionary resources, planting seeds of following the Party's leadership in children's hearts, and encouraging children to be socialist builders and successors with moral grounding, intellectual and physical ability, aesthetic sensibility and work skills. Efforts should be made to stick to the principle of children first, promote the implementation of the amended Law on Protection of Minors and relevant policies such as the 14th Five-Year Plan and the Outline on the Development of Chinese Children (2021-2030), build child-friendly cities and communities, and guarantee children's healthy growth. According to the meeting, the ACWF and women's federations at all levels are expected to motivate people from all walks of life to help girls in need realize their dreams. More efforts should be made to boost girls' all-around development, including more targeted support for their life, studies and psychological health, establish a project system focusing on girls' education, family education guidance services, children's safety and health and quality-oriented improvement, and meet the needs of former severely impoverished areas, 160 key rural-revitalization counties and ethnic areas. The ACWF will support a three-year action of caring for women and children in Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture in Southwest China's Sichuan Province. The CCTF will implement a project in the prefecture to promote the education of local girls. The meeting also called for further enhancing the influence of the Spring Bud Project, fully mobilizing the enthusiasm of social participation and promoting children's all-around development and healthy growth. Participants share their ideas at the conference. Participants share their ideas at the conference. Participants share their ideas at the conference. A dance performance at the conference Several attendees pose for a group photo at the conference. Photos Supplied by Zhang Jiamin, Yang Rui and Zhang Yuwei (Source: China Women's News/Translated and edited by Women of China) Students from Gansu University of Chinese Medicine apply to volunteer in epidemic control. [Photo from web] Over 10,000 medical students in Gansu Province applied to volunteer in epidemic control overnight after a call was sent out by four universities and college with medicine majors to fight COVID-19 cases in the northwestern province of China. Within 5 hours, 500 people signed up on a WeChat group looking for volunteers, and the applicants kept coming, according to a teacher with the Party committee of Lanzhou University. "Please post me for night shift if possible, as I was a soldier and can handle such duties," read a message from a student in the WeChat group. Volunteers from Lanzhou University receive training on Thursday night before joining the fight against the epidemic. [Photo from web] The first volunteer medical team of 350 students from the university joined the fight against the epidemic on Friday morning after an overnight training. Similar scenes were also seen in the Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, Northwest Minzu University and Gansu Health Vocational College. "As a medical student, I've been determined to dedicate my life to medicine and the healthcare development of China since I put on the white uniform. I believe Lanzhou will put the epidemic under control," said Ma Mengjie, a volunteer from Northwest Minzu University. The first batch of volunteers from Gansu Health Vocational College head for work on a bus. [Photo from web] A total of 44,000 young volunteers have been recruited in the province's fight against the epidemic besides the medical students, according to the Gansu provincial committee of the Communist Youth League. Gansu recorded 41 locally transmitted confirmed cases by Saturday since a new wave of COVID-19 infections began hitting various regions in China. Students from Northwest Minzu University pose for a group photo before heading for work. [Photo from web] (Source: chinadaily.com.cn) Articles Sorry, there are no recent results for popular articles. Call for people to make general health and wellbeing improvements to keep the pressure off NHS services A plan to help support the NHS in Wales through the winter period has been branded a copy and paste exercise by the Welsh Conservatives. The plan, which was released by the Welsh Government last week, outlines the priorities to deal with what has been described as one of the hardest winters the health service has ever faced. It comes as staff, who have already worked throughout the pandemic, deal with a rise in coronavirus cases, other respiratory viruses, a growing backlog and increased demand from the public that have deferred treatment for other illnesses over the last 20 months. There has been growing calls from opposition parties for several weeks for the publication of the Welsh Governments plan to support the NHS through the coming months. The new document, titled Health and Social Care Winter Plan 2021 to 2022, includes an extra 42m funding for social care, some of which will be used to help ease the pressure on hospital beds. This comes on top of 248m already announced for the NHS Covid recovery fund. The social care investment will be used to improve hospital patient discharges, expand community services and reduce hospital re-admissions among the frail and vulnerable in an effort to ease pressures on bed capacity. It also highlights the core principles for the coming months, which includes how essential services will continue over winter something which Andrew Goodall, chief executive of the NHS Wales, vowed will continue. To help keep covid cases at a manageable level during the winter the Welsh Government reiterates the importance of vaccination and booster jabs along with continuing to model the waves of the virus, infection and prevention control and the use of test, trace, protect. Flu and other respiratory viruses such as RSV are also expected to put pressure on the health service over the coming months. People are encouraged to take up the flu vaccine when offered, with priority groups for 2021-22 including: children aged two or three years on 31 August 2021 children in primary school from reception class to Year 6 (inclusive) children in secondary school Year 7 to Year 11 (inclusive) people aged 50 years and older (age on 31 March 2022) people aged six months to less than 50 years in clinical risk groups those aged 16 years on 31 August who are morbidly obese, in line with guidance on the COVID vaccination programme pregnant women carers people of all ages with any level of learning disability all adults resident in Welsh prisons healthcare workers (including healthcare students) with direct patient contact staff in nursing homes and care homes with regular client contact staff providing domiciliary care. It also includes calls for members of the public to do what it can to improve general health and wellbeing. The document says this includes: Keeping active, eating healthily, limiting our alcohol intake and quitting smoking are all ways in which we can improve our health as a nation and keep the pressure off NHS services. Plans to maintain essential services are also outlined, with priorities including mental health, health inequalities and vulnerable groups, primary care and community services, long covid, and planned care. The winter pressures plan states: Given the nature and the scale of challenges we expect to experience this winter, we anticipate that NHS organisations will constantly be reprioritising over the period to maximise the use of available resources, whether that be the workforce or hospital beds, to respond to the pressures and to care for those in greatest need. Our focus on patient and system safety will be critical, and with the need to respond quickly to any escalation, taking clinical advice on action and response priorities. Our health and social care services have been under prolonged pressure since the beginning of the Coronavirus pandemic. However, during this time there has been swift and significant transformation in our services which continue to evolve to meet the challenges we face. We expect organisations to continue to adopt digital ways of working at scale to support health care processes. The resilience of our services to be able to deliver safe and high quality patient care this winter is our key priority. However, to achieve this it is vital that our services continue their work towards sustainable service models alongside immediate actions for the winter period. Keeping our population safe by delivering high-quality, timely, safe services is our priority. Our services need to respond to the needs of patients for urgent and emergency care and this can place our planned care services under pressure. Equally, being able to access planned care, from appointments with our primary care teams through direct access to assessment, diagnosis and treatment by our community and hospital-based services is fundamental to maintaining and restoring health and contributes to maintaining the ability of our services to meet the needs of patients who need urgent or emergency treatment. However the plan has been criticised by the Welsh Conservatives, with the opposition party branding the document as a copy and paste exercise. Commenting on the winter pressures plan, Welsh Conservative Russell George MS said: Labours plan to support the NHS this winter is basically the same one from last year that has led us to the position where we are experiencing the worst A&E waits on record, the longest treatment backlog ever, and slow ambulance response times. Their plan looks like a copy and paste exercise, something all the more confusing given the minister has reported late and with an extra delay. After a quarter of a century of poor management, its time for the Welsh Government to admit we are facing a crisis and act on its shortcomings from infection control to staff burnout and bed cuts. Welsh Conservatives have long called on Labour ministers to bring in rapid diagnostic centres to spot cancers earlier and surgical hubs to deliver treatment to patients closer to home in Covid-light environments outside of hospitals, something that is soon to benefit English patients. This is how to help address the backlog that doubled in a just a year before the pandemic under, as well as the one that is now out of control and has pushed the NHS to breaking point. Illinois outlines preparations for anticipated approval of COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5-11; what you need to know For copyright information, check with the distributor of this item, KCUR-FM. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) A Tennessee school district can continue requiring students to wear masks in school after a federal judge on Friday extended a ruling blocking an opt out provision, The Tennessean reported. The ruling comes in a lawsuit brought by the families of two children with disabilities who attend Williamson County schools. They claim Gov. Bill Lee's executive order allowing parents to opt their children out of school mask mandates puts their children at risk and violates their educational rights. Parents sue Williamson County Schools to overturn mask mandate A group of parents in Williamson County have filed a lawsuit in federal court to have the Williamson County School systems mask mandate set aside. In the Friday opinion, U.S. District Judge Waverly Crenshaw found that disabled students are at a significantly higher risk for severe infection and are exposed at a higher rate following following Lees executive order. He called that an irreparable harm" that justifies continuing to block the order. The record before the Court establishes that temporary universal mask mandates adopted by the Williamson County and Franklin school systems have been, and likely would continue to be, effective in curbing the spread of COVID-19, Crenshaw wrote. Executive Order No. 84 violates federal law and must yield." The ruling mirrors those by federal judges in Memphis and Knoxville, where Lees order is also blocked. As a result, school districts in Shelby, Williamson and Knox counties can continue to enforce universal mask policies. The rulings dont apply to other schools systems in the state. Lee has encouraged people to voluntarily send their children to school wearing masks to help reduce the spread of COVID-19 but says parents should decide what is best for their children. He has vowed to continue fighting in court, and the state attorney general has appealed the decisions in Memphis and Knoxville. Lee first issued the executive order in August and has extended it several times. The current order runs through Nov. 5. Meanwhile, the U.S. Education Department has opened civil rights investigations into Tennessee and four other Republican-led states that have banned or limited mask requirements in schools. The Department says the policies could amount to discrimination against students with disabilities or health conditions. Masks are a key virus-prevention tool that are most effective when worn by a large number of people, public health experts say. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended them for schools, saying they dont pose health risks for children older than toddler age. For answers to common questions about COVID, read the APs Viral Questions series at https://apnews.com/hub/viral-questions. More than 200 faculty at Appalachian State University, in Boone, North Carolina have called on university administration to move all courses online until vaccination rates increase and test positivity rates decline on campus and across the surrounding area. Watauga County, where ASU is located, is currently under a state of emergency and 216 cases have been reported among students and staff since the beginning of classes in mid-August. As of today, only 52 percent of the student population, and 89 percent of staff are reported to be vaccinated. According to public data available on the universitys COVID dashboard, case positivity rates have surged to the highest they have ever been during the pandemic since classes began last month. Though university testing is limited and only encompasses cases reported through university services, positivity rates have risen from 10.4 percent to 10.5 percent during the last week of August. Although the pandemic is quickly approaching the same level of severity as last winter, the university administration has removed most, if not all safety measures it previously put in place to prevent community transmission. Although the mask mandate is still in place for classes and indoor settings, there is no social distancing in classrooms, where students are packed closely together. Previously, campus dining facilities were socially distanced and to go options were offered with minimal contact. Other safety measures, such as the covering up of personal water fountains to prevent indirect transmission of the virus, have all been removed. Students wear masks on campus at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, N.C., Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2020. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome) The administration permitted famous country artist Luke Combs to perform on campus, Saturday, September 4, attracting 32,000 people to Boone, a gathering that is almost double the towns 17,000 residents. This super-spreader event, where most attendees did not wear masks while they are in town, threatens an even greater surge of the pandemic across Watauga County. In response to these events, the faculty petition was sent to Chancellor Sheri Everts on August 26 via email, requesting that the university move all classes online until vaccination rates reach 70 percent, and community transmission declines to 5 percent. The petition garnered 214 signatures and called on university administration to: rise to meet this moment through courageous, compassionate, and moral decisions in the interest of the health and safety of our students, faculty and staff, and community. However, Chancellor Everts is continuing to push forward with in-person classes. In the most recent COVID-19 Update, sent to all students and staff over email, Everts reiterated: At this time, there are no plans to move the universitys in-person classes online. The key to managing the severity of the impact is the COVID-19 vaccine, as vaccinated individuals are less likely to contract COVID-19, and for those who do, the vaccine reduces the severity of the illness, lowers the stress on our medical system and allows the university, our community and our state to remain open and fully functional. Though the vaccine is a useful tool, it has been proven by recent events, as well as peer-reviewed scientific studies, that it alone, alongside masks, will not prevent the spread of the highly contagious Delta variant. The variant is too transmissible and vaccine resistant for vaccinations alone to stop the virus. A recent theoretical model by Dr. Malgorzata Gasperowicz at the University of Calgary estimated that with 64 percent of the population fully vaccinated and assuming the vaccines have 60 percent efficacy against the Delta variant, the R (reproduction) number would likely remain at the highly elevated 3.7. Her model found that only through the combination of vaccinations and public health measures including lock-downs would the R number be reduced to 0.86. Recent data from Duke University, just three hours from Boone, also shows that vaccines alone are not enough. Although Duke boasts the highest vaccination rate among major North Carolina universities and is requiring all students and staff to receive their shot by October 1, last week 349 students and 15 employees tested positive for the virus. All but eight were fully vaccinated. Students are also tested on a weekly basis and those who are unvaccinated are required to take a test twice a week. In contrast, current safety measures at Appalachian State as well as vaccination rates do not begin to measure up to those of Duke University. Students, faculty, staff and the broader community must be warned: as long as classes remain in-person, regardless of the vaccination rate, the outbreak will continue to accelerate. The demand for a 70 percent vaccination rate among students, though admirable, must be raised to 100 percent and even then, classes must be moved online for the safety of all students and staff until the virus is brought fully under control. Continuing with in-person classes under present conditions presents a grave danger to the Boone and Appalachian State community. Under present conditions it is not a question of if, but when students and staff fall ill and die. One student, 19 year old Chad Dorrill, has already died due to the administrations reckless actions. The continuation of in-person classes amid the rampant spread of the virus is a callous disregard to his memory. In this struggle, Appalachian State staff are not alone. All across the country and internationally, students, faculty and staff are beginning to fight back against the unsafe reopening of schools, universities and workplaces. Just this week, students and staff at the University of Michigan have begun to circulate a petition and have threatened to go on strike over the continuation of in-person classes. Staff at Syracuse University in New York are also threatening a walkout and faculty at UNC Chapel Hill are circulating a petition to move classes online. To fight back against the pandemic and implement a genuinely scientific public health strategy, faculty and students are beginning to stand up against the reckless reopening of schools and workplaces across the country. The World Socialist Web Site, the Socialist Equality Party and International Youth and Students for Social Equality are actively assisting workers, teachers, and faculty in these efforts by helping form rank-and-file committees, independent of the trade unions and the Democratic Party across all workplaces. Appalachian State students, faculty and staff must begin to organize upon and expand the demands laid out in last weeks petition and join the fight against the dangerous conditions caused by the reopening of schools across the country! Faculty and staff interested in learning more about setting up a rank-and-file committee should contact the WSWS and the education newsletter. For those interested in more information about the International Youth and Students for Social Equality, the youth section of the Socialist Equality Party, click here. The BMJ Open journal published by the BMJ (British Medical Journal) has released findings from the largest study yet of its kind into the cost in human lives of the savage austerity spending cuts initiated in the UK from 2008 onwards. Analysing the combined impact of cuts to healthcare, public health and social care in the four years between 2010 and 2014, researchers from the Centre for Health Economics at the University of York found 57,550 more deaths than would have been expected. Professor Karl Claxton of Yorks Department of Economics and Related Studies told the Guardian: Restrictions on the growth in health and social care expenditure during austerity have been associated with tens of thousands more deaths than would have been observed had pre-austerity expenditure growth been sustained. The team of researchers found that social care spending rose by 2.2 percent per capita between 2001-02 and between 2009-10 but fell by 1.57 percent between 2010-11 and again between 2014-15. This loss alone in social care funding caused an astonishing 23,662 additional deaths, according to the research findings. A homeless person sleeping on Euston Road in London last winter (credit: WSWS Media) The University of York research found that a slowing in life expectancy improvement coincided with the Cameron governments severe reductions to health and social care spending. Professor Claxton said, Our results are consistent with the hypothesis that the slowdown in the rate of improvement in life expectancy in England and Wales since 2010 is attributable to spending constraints in the healthcare and social care sectors. Speaking to the Guardian on the University of Yorks findings, David Finch, assistant director of healthy lives at the Health Foundation think tank, said even before the COVID-19 pandemic there was an extremely concerning pattern of stalling life expectancy, particularly in the poorest areas of the country and subsequently the pandemic had laid bare the tragic consequences of underlying poor health. Separate research by Imperial College London (ICL), published in the LancetPublic Health journal just days before the York findings, reached similar conclusions. Analysing all deaths in England between 2002-2019, the ICL researchers found that life expectancy in many working-class communities was declining years prior to the arrival of the pandemic in the UK in early 2020. The research conducted by the ICL is the first of its kind to analyse longevity trends in microscopic detail capable of identifying where life expectancy declined with greater precision than any previously conducted research. A sample of 8.6 million records were analysed by the ICL research team with each record assigned to the community where the person resided at the time of their death. A total of 6,791 local communities were examined and the researchers assessed life expectancy trends over time for each of these almost 7,000 people. The research tracked life expectancy in communities of around 8,000 people, with other research typically based on much larger areas containing some 140,000 subjects. The research reveals how class inequality in UK life expectancy is growing. In 2019, men living in some areas of Kensington and Chelsea in Londonthe wealthiest district in the countryhad a life expectancy a staggering 27 years longer than that of males living in parts of Blackpool. In the ailing north-west coastal town life expectancy has now fallen beneath 70 years for men and 75 for women. Some men in parts of Kensington and Chelsea were living on average to 95.3 years and in parts of Blackpool to just 68.3 years. The ICLs research found that the communities with the lowest life expectancy, just beneath 70 years for men and 75 years for women, are situated in the north of Englands inner cities and social housing estates. In the richest districts of the British capital and across the affluent home counties, the trajectory of growing longevity continues. Simultaneously, life expectancy has fallen fastest in working-class districts in northern cities like Leeds, Newcastle, Manchester and Liverpool. For example, women living in the inner London borough of Camden can expect to live to approximately 95 years of age, almost 21 years longer than women in the working-class communities with the lowest life expectancy in the west Yorkshire city of Leeds. The ICL research discovered that as life expectancy rose across much of the country during the first decade of the 21st century, then beginning an ongoing steep decline in the poorest working-class districts in 2010. The research findings assert that from 2014 until 2019 life expectancy fell in almost one in five communities for females, and one in nine communities for males. The ICL research points out that declines in life expectancy were once rare in wealthier countries like the UK. The existence of the post-war welfare state in Britain, now massively eroded, led to sustained increases in life expectancy. Professor Majid Ezzati from ICLs School of Public Health told the Independent that this period was at an end: These data show that longevity has been getting worse for years in large parts of England. Declines in life expectancy in wealthy countries, explained Ezzati, have previously occurred only during 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. Further damning research released earlier this month was based on an analysis of official government data by the Kings Fund think tank. The research suggests that disparities in expected lifespan between some of the wealthiest and poorest districts of the country has at least doubled since the early 2000s. There is a growing chasm in health inequalities revealed by the data, says Veena Raleigh, a fellow at the think tank. Raleigh continued Our analysis shows that life expectancy has continued to increase in wealthier areas but has virtually stagnated in deprived areas in the north with the result that the gap in life expectancy between the richest and poorest parts of the country has grown by almost two-and-a-half years over the last two decades. There is a deprivation divide in life expectancy between the more affluent areas in the south of England and poorer areas in the north. As the Kings Fund research findings were released, a report by the Longevity Science Panel (LSP)a group of doctors, statisticians and NHS leadersfound that male and female life expectancy fell by 1.3 years and 0.9 years respectively in 2020 as a direct result of coronavirus. The LSP warned that possible new variants of COVID, the impact of Long COVID and the delayed diagnosis and treatment caused by an enormous NHS care backlog could still negatively impact the publics expected lifespans. Speaking on behalf of the LSP, Professor Debora Price, Professor of Social Gerontology at the University of Manchester, said: The pandemic has plainly exposed the many structural and systemic inequalities in our societies that people live with from day to day and that have become a matter of life and death. Health inequalities have worsened. This plethora of scientific research, synthesizing data from both the natural and the social sciences, reveals that, in the second decade of the 21st century, life expectancy growth has stalled, stagnated and is now falling precipitously among the working class, in the fifth-richest country on the planet. This health crisis, exacerbated by the pandemic, is first and foremost a class issue. The explosive growth of social inequality over recent decades is the key factor in understanding the disproportionate and devastating impact of reduced life expectancy in working-class communities. The widening of the already huge gap in life expectancy between the classes is one increasingly characterised by stunted lives, early deaths and misery for the working class. This week will see the court case of airport worker Cemaleddin Benli against his dismal by ground services company WISAG. Benli is one of 232 ground workers who were terminated by WISAG ten months ago, allegedly due to the pandemic. He is suing WISAG for reinstatement. The World Socialist Web Site had the opportunity to speak with Benli about his case. Cemaleddin Benli at his apartment near the airport Its the first time Ive been in court, Benli says. He reports that he had worked at the airport for 36 years, since 1985. Ive had a lot of responsibility lately, doing everything at WISAG, coordinating baggage, cargo and field services, and pitching in everywhere. And then, just before Christmas 2020, We received our termination notice as a Christmas present. That was the thanks I got. It pains him every time he thinks about it, We helped make the company grow. With about 20 colleagues, he said, he built up operations at the airport from scratch. And then WISAG comes along and just kicks us out. As a severance package, management initially offered him 4,000 euros as a one-time sum. Later, they increased it to 30,000 euros. I rejected that. 30,000 euros for 22 years that I worked in this company. I gave my life for the airport! The WISAG empire, which employs some 50,000 people and is owned by Frankfurt oligarch and billionaire Claus Wisser (a member of the Social Democratic Party, SPD), took over ground services at Rhine-Main Airport four years ago, having already implemented a programme of wage dumping in Berlin using dummy, temporary and subsidiary companies. In Frankfurt, too, the red pencil was applied, and finally the pandemic provided the corporation with the appropriate excuse to ruthlessly replace long-serving skilled workers with cheaper contract workers. At the end of 2017, WISAG took us over from Acciona, one-to-one at first, Benli says. But then they started cutting back in all departments. Because of the pandemic, they told us, we had fewer aircraftbut that wasnt true. Especially the big cargo planes kept running. The 232 workers were laid off without notice. They were going to cut back anyway, but the reason they gave was the pandemic, he said. Meanwhile, almost a year after the layoffs, WISAG is hiring new people at Frankfurt Airport again almost every daybut at minimum wages and under new conditions. They are hiring again, yes, but through the temporary agencies, Benli explains. On the one hand, theyre laying people off, and on the other hand, theyre hiring new people. The worker, who has spent 37 years of his life at the airport, says he is not at all well nowneither mentally nor financially. My family is broken. He explains, I earned very well and made plans because of my wages. I used to have a two-and-a-half-room apartment, but now we live in three-and-a-half rooms. In addition, I bought an apartment for when I retire, so that when the children move out, I can move in there with my wife. As a result, I have debts, of course. I had planned all this exactly because of my salaryand all of a sudden, the notice to quit was there. That caused me a lot of trouble. Above all, the condominium is a bureaucratic headache. This apartment, which I own myselfand which Im still paying for! I dont get a cent of income from this apartment yet, Benli says. When I apply for child support or housing benefits, they demand that I sell the apartment. But its my retirement fund after all. At the end of each month, he says, he has great difficulty meeting his rent. I live in the red, often cant think straight. The airport was considered the safest job imaginable. How could I have known that after 37 years this pandemic would come, and that I would then be unemployed? Normally, after 17 years, you cant be sacked. Cemaleddin Benli and most of his dismissed colleagues did not accept their sacking without a struggle. They took up the fight against it, organizing literally dozens of demonstrations and ralliesat the airport, in front of the company headquarters, in front of the owners private villa, in Wiesbaden in front of the state parliamentall standing together. At the end of February, they even went on a hunger strike for eight days. I went along with the hunger strike, Benli says. We will continue to fight until the last. We wont give up, and the capitalists will see that they gave us notice for nothing. They will not always win. We are fighting for our rights, and we want our jobs back. Almost all his colleagues who were terminated along with Benli in December 2020 have gone to court against WISAG. But it turned out that the cases at the Frankfurt labour court are being heard by a judge who had previously worked as a corporate lawyer at one of the best-known law firms, Clifford Chance. So far, almost all workers have lost their case in the first instance, with the exception of a very few colleagues, one of whom was considered to be a member of the local Council of Foreigners and therefore not subject to dismissal. The workers have had a lot of experience in this struggle, including with politicians from the establishment parties. They all let us down, Benli says. In the beginning, we turned to politicians who promised to help us. But then all of a sudden, they all disappeared. When the elections were over, they forgot about us. On March 16, two days after the Hesse local elections, a debate on the WISAG layoffs took place in the state parliament in Wiesbaden. The dismissed workers demonstrated in front of the state assembly and handed over a petition for their reinstatement with more than a thousand signatures to the state deputies. Members of the state assembly Turgut Yuksel (SPD), Yanki Pursun (Free Democratic Party, FDP) and Janine Wissler (Left Party) promised to stand up for them. However, it became clear that the entire political establishment is on the side of WISAG. The Hesse state executive is a shareholder in Rhine-Main Airport and as such is involved in all decisions, including those regarding the layoffs at WISAG. For example, Hesse state Finance Minister Michael Bodenberg (Christian Democratic Union, CDU) is Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Fraport AG, which operates the airport. His colleague Kai Klose (SPD), minister for Social Affairs and Integration, was asked directly about the fate of the laid-off WISAG workers on March 16 and confirmed on behalf of the state government: We are, of course, exchanging views on this intensively. Commenting on the WISAG layoffs, Tarek Al-Wazir (Greens), who as state Minister of Economics and Transport is personally responsible for safe operations at the airport, said it would be misguided for the state government to interfere in these business policy decisions. The politicians are not behind us, Benli says. And the same was true of the media and the unions, he added. I gave an interview to broadcaster ZDF twice, Benli reported. Almost everything I told them, they cut out. They didnt even mention the name WISAG. Out of over two hours of footage, they ended up showing just two and a half minutes. The WISAG workers had the worst experience with Verdi, the service union that stabbed the workers in the back at the airport as the in-house union of the air companies. The Verdi people dont stand behind the workers, Benli says, when they are laid off or anything else is. They dont care about it. All that matters to them is their earnings, nothing else. To this day, they have not contacted us. Benli recounts how workers had placed a funeral wreath in front of Verdi headquarters as a sign that Verdi was dead to them. You cant use Verdi anywhere. The same was true of the WISAG works council, he said. For example, Benli and his dismissed colleaguesall of them with more than twenty years service and some of them severely disabledhad been dismissed with an illegitimate notice period of only three or four months, he said. WISAG had relied on an agreement the company had with the works council. The works council did the dirty on us, Benli reports. The works council is partly to blame for everything that happened. And Verdi didnt give us any support. That is why the workers have joined forces independently of Verdi to take up the fight against the layoffs. In doing so, they have so far received support only from the WSWS and the Sozialistische Gleichheitspartei (Socialist Equality Party, SGP), which organized international solidarity for the ground workers struggle, revealing what a huge potential for struggle there is in the international working class. Berlin and London bus drivers, American, British and Turkish teachers and several rank-and-file committees for education and safe workplaces from different countries spoke out in support of the struggling WISAG workers. The World Socialist Web Site has reported on the industrial action at Frankfurt Airport in several languages around the world. Benli says, We workers must all stand together internationally. This has to happen worldwide, not just in Germany. I dont believe the unions anymore. They only look at their coffers so they can drive big cars. They dont know how families make ends meet. For them, only their revenues count, nothing else. Regarding the WISAG workers motto: Today its ustomorrow you, Benli says, I said that back then, and its becoming more and more true. From one day to the next, it can affect anyone! What we, the airport workers at Frankfurt Airport, experienced, no worker in the automotive industryat Opel, Mercedes, VWis safe from today. The capitalists will keep laying people off until we all go out on the streets together and fight. Last week, the government of Benton Harbor, Michigan declared a state of emergency in response to the lead contamination of the citys water supply. The declaration in the western Michigan city comes three years into the lead crisis, which local, state, and federal officials criminally neglected until last month. The state of emergency grants Democratic Mayor Marcus Muhammad power to take control of various elements of local government, including the police, though it remains unknown how he will apply these new powers. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (Michigan Office of the Governor via AP) The contamination crisis arose in 2018 after testing revealed lead contamination of the citys water at 22 parts per billion (ppb) and some houses with shocking 800 ppb and above. Consuming any amount of lead is severely dangerous. The deadly neurotoxin can damage the kidneys, general nervous system, and negatively affect body and brain development. On top of the lead poisoning, the water main supplying Benton Harbor broke on Wednesday, cutting off water for most of the city for nearly 24 hours. The latest disaster is a predictable product of chronic neglect and underfunding, which resulted in Benton Harbors water treatment plant roof collapsing in on itself and its primary water supply line falling into serious disrepair before the lead crisis was manifested in 2018. Expressing growing anger among residents over the crisis, a petition is being circulated to recall Mayor Muhammad over his administrations neglectful response over the last three years. As these recent developments unfolded in Benton Harbor this week, Hamtramck, a small city within the borders of Detroit, issued a warning to residents following the discovery of lead contamination of 17 ppb. This warning came with caveats, as, like in the case of Benton Harbor, officials have not directly identified the issue as widespread and are instead stating residents can volunteer for testing or filters if they are worried about lead poisoning. Like Benton Harbor, Hamtramck is deeply impoverished, with 46 percent of residents living below the poverty line, one percent higher than Benton Harbors. Already, some residents are beginning to identify signs of the burgeoning lead crisis effects, despite the muted response of officials. One Hamtramck resident described his realization following the lead warning in a social media post about the likely cause of a persistent rash, peeling skin, and full-body itching, similar to the early symptoms experienced by Flint residents in April 2014. His symptoms arose while working from home during the pandemic, in which he began drinking considerably more tap water than he did previously. The crises unfolding in Benton Harbor and Hamtramck signal a broader reality of widespread lead piping infrastructure, which sit like ticking time bombs across the US. A recent report by the Natural Resources Defense Council gives a picture of this crisis. The report provides a low estimate of between 9.2 and 12.7 million pipes across the country containing lead. On Tuesday, October 19, Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer visited Benton Harbor unannounced to hold a press conference alongside Mayor Muhammad. At the event, she announced her administration was calling for the state legislature to pass an additional $11.4 million to fund the replacement of Benton Harbors lead pipes, which officials aim to complete in the next 18 months. With roughly $19 million in funds currently allocated for the project, the additional $11.4 million would bring total funds to $30 million, the estimated cost of replacing the citys 6000 service lines. There are currently no publicly funded plans for replacing lead pipes within homes. While the exact number with lead piping is unknown, the citys old age raises the likelihood of many homes needing extensive replacements. In announcing her plans, Whitmer stated, I cannot imagine the stress that moms and dads in Benton Harbor are under as they emerge from a pandemic, work hard to put food on the table, pay the bills, and face a threat to the health of their children. Thats why we will not rest until every parent feels confident to give their kid a glass of water knowing that it is safe. Where was this supposed concern for residents between 2018 and October? From the time of the widespread lead contamination in Benton Harbor manifested in 2018 last month, the Snyder and Whitmer administrations ignored the issue entirely. Governor Whitmer took until last month to shorten the criminal 20-year pipe replacement plan set by local officials in 2018 to a five-year plan. Only this month did that plan shrink to the current 18-month plan under mounting public pressure. The state governments response earlier in October is significant only when compared to its years of neglect. The state waited until October 6 to formally advise residents to switch from tap to bottled water, which it began providing, for cooking, drinking, brushing teeth, and mixing baby formula. For years, residents, kept in the dark by government neglect, drank poisoned water, and mothers fed their children with lead-tainted formula. The damage to the lives of children, who face the greatest danger in lead poisoning, is likely significant. Underlying the most recent plans from state officials is a coordinated effort to cover up their criminal neglect while smothering the issue. Whitmers call for an additional $11.4 million in funds from the Republican-controlled legislature will likely stall out as her call for $20 million in funding for Benton Harbor did last month which was whittled won to $10 million in the budget. Whitmer is undeniably aware of this and plans to utilize this to excuse further stalling down the road. Statements from officials supporting the Governors latest actions are gearing up for this outcome. Responding to questions on whether he was disappointed with the Whitmer administrations late response, Mayor Muhammad stated, My Bible says that money solveth all things. This is a $30 million job, and the money was not there three years ago. This statement is a lie, especially since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Near the beginning of the pandemic in March of 2020, the ruling class representatives rushed to pass the $2.7 trillion CARES Act. The majority of this funding went to resuscitating the faltering stock market, with only a pittance of it going to workers. Comparing this effort to dump hundreds of billions of dollars into the coffers of Wall Street, Benton Harbor residents have suffered three years of poisoned water only to struggle to find a few million. Instead of quick action, they received belated gestures and an 18-month solution full of holes. The outcome of this is clear. While workers and residents of communities like Benton Harbor suffer from the impact of the pandemic and compounding crises, the worlds leading banks took in $170 billion over the last four quarters, making it the most profitable period in history. Yet, ruling class officials state there is no money to keep workers safe from the pandemic, maintain safe drinking water, and rebuild the decaying infrastructure. The immense social crime of the ruling class lays completely exposed. The Czech Republic is in the midst of a political crisis following parliamentary elections on October 8 and 9. After the election results shook up the political landscape of the EU member state, President Milos Zeman, without whom no new government can be appointed, apparently fell seriously ill. Preparations are now underway for his removal from office and the transfer of his powers. At the same time, a massive increase in coronavirus numbers overshadows the political power struggles. The right-wing conservative alliance Spolu (Together) emerged from the election as a very narrow winner. With 27.8 percent of the vote, the three-party alliance was marginally ahead of Prime Minister Andrej Babiss ANO party (27.1 percent). The alliance of the Pirate Party and the STAN mayoral party scored 15.6 percent, followed by the radical right-wing Freedom and Direct Democracy Party (SPD) with 9.6 percent. The Social Democrats (CSSD) and the Communist Party (KSCM), both of which emerged from the former Stalinist state party, failed to clear the 4 percent hurdle and are no longer represented in parliament for the first time since the collapse of the Eastern European regimes 30 years ago. Party leaders Jan Hamacek and Vojtech Filip announced their resignations on the eve of the election. Both had previously either formed a coalition or supported Prime Minister Babiss government. As both parties have been worn down by internal trench warfare for years, the bitter defeat could spell their political end. The governing coalition was deeply hated in the population. Mass protests against the government occurred several times. Babis, a businessman and multibillionaire, pursued a program that was directed against the vast majority of working people. This was most evident in its coronavirus policies. Of the countrys 10.7 million inhabitants, more than 1.7 million have been infected and 30,600 have died from COVID-19. Following recent relaxations of protective measures, the numbers are again skyrocketing. There are currently 771 coronavirus patients in hospitals across the country, 60 percent more than a week ago. The reproduction number, which had been below 1 for months, has skyrocketed to 1.8. Within a week, the seven-day incidence rate increased from 90 to more than 150 per 100,000. The number of new daily infections was recently around 3,600, up 2,100 from a week ago. The dramatic increase is due in part to the low vaccination rate of 56 percent, but more importantly to the near-total abandonment of any protective measures. Although the third wave has brutally gripped the country and driven hospitals towards collapse, the ruling parties decided in the summer to lift all measures, even the wearing of face masks in the workplace and in public spaces. The KSCM, in particular, acted as a right-wing rabble-rouser in this regard. At the height of the last wave, it demanded that all measures be lifted and threatened to stop supporting Babis if they were not. Eventually, the Pandora Papers revealed that Babis had acquired a mansion and three hectares of land on the French Cote dAzur in 2009 with the help of an opaque offshore construction company and three shell companies. These are not the first accusations of this kind against the businessman, who had become one of the richest people in the country as a result of privatizations in the early 1990s. Regardless, President Zeman declared that he would again entrust Babis with forming a government despite the election defeat. Zeman was then admitted to the University Hospital in Prague on October 10 and may not be fit to hold office for the foreseeable future. The transfer of the powers of the president, who is directly elected by the people, to another person is possible only with the approval of both houses of parliament. In the Senate, the centre-right parties that could form a new government already have a majority. In the Chamber of Deputies, this will not be the case until after the constituent session on November 8. Until then, it is still functioning with the old majority of ANO, Social Democrats and Communists. However, it is also possible that Zeman will become fit for office again by then and propose a head of government. Because of a lack of support, Babis has announced he will go into opposition. This gives the leader of the right-wing conservative electoral alliance Spolu, Petr Fiala, the best chance of becoming the new head of government. Leader of center-right Spolu (Together) coalition Petr Fiala, centre, addresses his supporters at the party's election headquarters after the country's parliamentary election, Prague, Czech Republic, Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic) Spolu consists of the three parties ODS, TOP 09 and KDU-CSL. All three were involved in previous governments in different constellations. Under its founder Vaclav Klaus, the ODS (Civic Democratic Party) had been the dominant force in the Czech Republic alongside the social democratic CSSD since the 1990s. But its radical free market policies, which led to poverty and unemployment, brought the party ever higher losses. Fiala was education minister in 2013 and has led the party since early 2014. TOP 09 and the arch-conservative Christian Democrats have also moved further and further to the right in recent years and do not have a broad base. Fiala can only achieve a majority together with the electoral alliance of the Pirates and STAN (Mayors and Independents). These two parties also stand far to the right. The Pirate Party was established in the Czech Republic years ago and member Zdenek Hrib is mayor in the capital Prague. Hrib is implementing a program there that is completely tailored to the upper middle class and the super-rich. Since the beginning of his term in office, rents have continued to rise massively, with Prague now one of the European cities with the highest rents, increasingly forcing working-class families to move outside the city or to outlying areas. Cynically, the two-party alliance campaigned with a slogan for affordable housing for a decent life. Pirate Party leader Ivan Bartos personifies the deeply cynical and repugnant character of this reactionary organisation. While the Pirates posed as a liberal, open party during the election campaign and railed against the oligarchs and their right-wing policies, Bartos himself stands for such policies. In the Chamber of Deputies, he worked with Tomio Okamuras ultra-right SPD. We dont make any distinctions when we have to push something through in parliament, is how Bartos justifies the alliance with fascists. It was also necessary to talk to people who are racist or populist or make hate speeches and divide society, Bartos said. But in parliament, you have to be pragmatic. In the end its the votes that count. The STAN mayoral party is also on the right, recruiting its members largely from disaffected former members of other conservative parties. It advocates backward regionalism and is open to any alliances if the prospect of posts and offices beckons. Regardless of who will form the future government, the current situation shows one thing very clearly. The working class in the Czech Republic and all of Eastern Europe is confronted with fundamental questions. Thirty years of capitalist rule have not led to democracy and a better standard of living for the working class, as was promised at the time by all the defenders of restoring capitalism. Instead, parliaments have become the rallying point of right-wing and reactionary elements that have no base in the broader population. Below are the opening remarks by David North to the October 24 webinar, How to End the Pandemic, which was co-sponsored by the World Socialist Web Site and the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees (IWA-RFC). North is the chairperson of the WSWS International Editorial Board and of the Socialist Equality Party in the United States. I would like to welcome viewers from all over the world to this international webinar, whose purpose is clearly stated in the events title: How to End the Pandemic. It is being sponsored by the World Socialist Web Site and the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees. My name is David North. I am the chairperson of the International Editorial Board of the WSWS and of the Socialist Equality Party in the United States. I will be moderating the event. My co-moderator is Dr. Benjamin Mateus, a practicing physician who has worked closely with the WSWS in its coverage of the pandemic. Since its first posting on the subject on January 24, 2020, the World Socialist Web Site has published more than 4,000 articles on the pandemic. Dr. Mateus has personally written 240 of these articles. How to end the pandemic From the earliest days of the pandemic, when weekly deaths on a global scale were still being measured in single digits, and before COVID was a household word, the WSWS was warning that the pandemicunless counteracted by an immediate and coordinated global responsewould exact a devastating toll on human life. We did not possess a crystal ball. In fact, our reporting and analysis was based on a careful study of the results of scientific research conducted by epidemiologists and scientists working in related fields. Among those whose work the WSWS followed closely are several of the members of todays panel. Calling attention to the fact that the WSWSs coverage of the pandemic dates back to January 2020 is not for the purpose of boasting. Rather, it is to refute the lieperhaps the most pernicious of the tidal wave of lies that have flowed from governments and the mediathat the consequences of this pandemic could not have been foreseen, that no one knew it was coming, and thatonce it beganno one knew what had to be done to stop it. The truth is that the danger of a catastrophic pandemic was the subject of urgent warnings over the past two decades. Moreover, once the pandemic began, epidemiologists and other scientists active in the sphere of public health had a very clear understanding of what had to be done to quickly bring it under control. Todays panel includes scientists who were among those who sounded the alarm and identified the measures needed to prevent a massive loss of life. The world has already paid a terrible price for the deliberate refusal of governments to listen to scientists. Where are we now, as we approach the end of the second year of the pandemic? At the end of the first year of the pandemicthat is, as of December 31, 2020the official global death toll stood at just under 1,950,000 people. As of yesterday, with more than two months left before the end of the 2021, the total official death toll stood at 4,958,947. Contrary to the daily claims of the media, the pandemic is not fading away, and COVID-19 is not evolving into something akin to the common cold. On August 24, 2021only two months agothe WSWS sponsored an international webinar on the pandemic. Since then, the total number of cases globally has increased from 213 million to 244 million. The official death toll has increased by more than a half million. Listing only the countries with the largest number of dead, the United Statesthe richest and most technologically advanced capitalist country in worldhas led the world in COVID-19 victims. The official toll is 756,205. In Brazilled by Bolsonaro, a homicidal maniac605,569 people have died. The number of dead in India is 459,301. Mexico has lost 286,259 of its citizens. In Peru, the death toll is 200,000. In Russiawhich is now in the grip of another devastating surgethe toll is 229,528. In the United Kingdom, the countrys prime minister declared, Let the bodies pile high in their thousands. Some 139,461 people are now dead. Boris Johnson is seeing his wish fulfilled. In Iran the number of dead is 125,052. But these figures do not convey the full extent and horror of the pandemics butchers bill. The Economist a publication that no one would accuse of socialist leaningscarries an article titled The pandemics true death toll. It states: Although the official number of deaths caused by COVID-19 is now 4.9m, our single best estimate is that the actual toll is 16.5m people. We find that there is a 95% chance that the true value lies between 10.2m and 19.2m additional deaths. In determining the human cost of a war, the figures include not only the dead but also the injured. The human cost of COVID-19 includes not only the dead, but all those who have been afflicted by the disease, and especially the long haulers, who suffer the continuing effect of infection, known as Long COVID. For those who will endure the illness for years to come, COVID bears a terrible resemblance to polio. During the past month, approximately 1,700 people have died every day in the United States. The daily toll is no longer reported. The well-known saying, One death is a tragedy; a million deaths is a statistic, is being confirmed. Confronted with the reality of this continuing disaster, at what point does it become necessary to start referring to COVID not only as a pandemic, but as a form of social holocaust? We are approaching the beginning of the third year of the pandemic. This webinar is dedicated to the proposition that it must be ended. For this goal to be achieved, it is necessary to understand the following: 1. The target of Sars-CoV-2the virus that causes COVID-19is not individuals, but entire societies. The virus mode of transmission is directed toward achieving mass infection. Sars-CoV-2 has evolved biologically to strike billions, and, in so doing, kill millions. 2. Therefore, the only effective strategy is one based on a globally coordinated campaign aimed at the elimination of the virus on every continent, in every region, and in every country. There is no effective national solution to this pandemic. Humanitypeople of all races, ethnicities, and nationalitiesmust confront and overcome this challenge through a vast collective and truly selfless global effort. 3. The policies pursued by virtually all governments since the outbreak of the pandemic must be repudiated. The subordination of that which should be the unquestioned priority of social policythe protection of human lifeto the interests of corporate profit and private wealth accumulation cannot be allowed to continue. 4. The initiative to bring about a decisive turn to a strategy directed toward global elimination must come from a socially conscious movement of millions of people. 5. This global movement must draw upon scientific research. The persecution of scientistsmany of whom labor under threats to their livelihoods and even their livesmust be ended. The global elimination of the virus requires the closest working alliance between the working classthe great mass of societyand the scientific community. Governments wont listen to the scientists, but the working people will. Today, our panel of experts will present the critical information that the public must have on the topics of Long COVID, airborne transmission vs. droplets, vaccine efficacy and boosters, the impact of COVID on children, the role that schools play in viral transmission, the connections between the pandemic and climate change, and debunking the myth of herd immunity through letting the virus rip through the population. Most importantly, we will outline a scientific strategy, which, if implemented, could lead rapidly to the global elimination of SARS-CoV-2 and the effective end of the pandemic, saving millions of lives worldwide. The material will be challenging. In our preliminary discussions, Benjamin and I have urged the panel members to say what has to be said, present and explain the concepts that are essential to an understanding of the pandemic and what must be done to end it. On Sunday, workers representing over 5,000 Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) drivers and other personnel voted unanimously to strike if they do not receive an acceptable contract by the end of the month. The strike approval comes as the contract between the transit authority and workers represented by Transport Workers Union (TWU) Local 234 is set to expire on October 31. Workers in southeastern Pennsylvania, which encompasses the Philadelphia metropolitan area, are demanding wage increases, better maternity leave policies and hazard pay as well as compensation to families of transit personnel who have died due to complications from COVID-19. According to TWU Local 234, 11 SEPTA employees have passed away from COVID while the transit authority has stood idly by, paying nothing to the impacted families. A SEPTA bus. (Image credit GKTramrunnerRU/Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0) SEPTA workers are in a powerful position both economically and politically. A strike by Philadelphia transit workers would effectively paralyze a central economic artery on the United States East Coast, bringing business and travel to a halt in the weeks before the holiday season. The SEPTA strike vote comes amid a strike wave among the international working class. In striking, the 5,000 transit workers in Philadelphia would join over 10,000 John Deere agricultural machinery rworkers in the Midwest. They also join a growing international movement of the working class that includes striking transit workers in Sydney, Australia. According to Cornell Universitys School of Industrial and Labor Relations, a wave of labor unrest is spreading from one group to another. Strikes are contagious. Regionally, the SEPTA vote takes place less than a week after 350 Piedmont Airlines flight attendants at the Philadelphia International Airport voted to strike over wages after their contract negotiations stalled, having dragged out over three years. They would join several hundred Kelloggs workers in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, part of a strike by 1,400 workers nationwide against the breakfast food corporation. In auto, Dana Corp. workers in nearby Pottstown are among 3,500 Dana auto parts workers around the country who have voted overwhelmingly to strike but have been working on an extended contract. The United Auto Workers and United Steelworkers unions have kept the Dana workers on the job since August. This is despite Dana workers having rejected the first tentative agreement in early September by over 90 percent. The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that SEPTA is only at 47 percent of its pre-pandemic ridership level and continues to lose $1 million a day as it operates. The system received a CARES Act payment of between $1.5 and $2 billion, which it is hoping can sustain it until 2023. [W]e dont know when ridership is going to come back; its hard to make projections for the longer term, SEPTA spokesperson Andrew Busch told the publication. The transit authority is giving workers two insulting offers as an alternative: either accept a two-year contract that would include a small wage increase and a one-time pandemic payment, or take a four-year agreement that promises no pay increase and anchors all future gains to SEPTAs ability to pay. The TWU has protested SEPTAs crying broke, noting that the transit system had previously planned to spend $40 million of its bailout money to build out its rail line in the near future. Last week, SEPTA General Manager Leslie Richards added insult to workers injury in the local press. The transit official praised the systems supposed once in a generation chance for upgrades due to the CARES Act package it received. Richards falsely claimed that there has not been one single case, not here at SEPTA, not here in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, not in this country and not in any country since COVID began, where transit has been shown to be a spreader of COVID-19. SEPTA workers have gone on strike a dozen times since 1975. In 2016, transit workers went on a six-day strike as SEPTA refused to lift a pension cap on its workers making over $50,000 yearly. The strike was aborted after the TWU colluded with the states Democratic governor, Tom Wolf, to bring the job action to a halt so as not to interfere with the 2016 presidential elections. News of the potential strike sent ripples of panic through the regions business community and political establishment. Philadelphia School District Superintendent Michael Hite, Jr. expressed fears that a transit strike would have a devastating impact on the operation of our School District and our ability to sustain in-person learning five days a week. Hite added that this supposed doomsday scenario would jeopardize something we all worked extremely hard to make happen for all students this school year. Hite, who earlier this year relied on the complicity of the Philadelphia Federation of Teachers to force an unsafe reopening of the citys 200,000-student school system, cynically declared: In the midst of increasing gun violence and the many other traumas impacting our communities as the COVID-19 pandemic continues, our schools are a safe haven for thousands of Philadelphias young people. Nearly 60,000 of the districts 200,000 students rely on public transit, along with thousands of its employees. A teacher in the Philadelphia school system contradicted these lies in comments to the World Socialist Web Site. The educator said that his school was in virtual [learning] today because of [an] outbreak in our school. Of course, we have not been told anything specific at all. The teacher relayed that nearly his entire classroom of students was in quarantine. In Philadelphia, the unsafe reopening of schools and the economy has been overseen by the Democratic Party. Last week, TWU Local 234 published a newsletter declaring that from what were seeing at the bargaining table it would be easy to conclude that there is no difference between the two parties. The TWU threatened a very rude response to the politicians in both parties. Despite the empty rhetoric, the TWU has put forward no policy that would upset its Democratic allies. In the 2020 presidential election cycle, the TWU donated over $909,000 to the Democratic Party, or 93 percent of the unions total campaign contributions, according to OpenSecrets.org. Similarly, despite the strike authorization vote, the Inquirer notes: A strike is not inevitable. If an agreement is close as the contract expires, union leaders could decide to keep members on the job without a contract or make an agreement with SEPTA on an extension of the current deal. Negotiations would continue. Further undermining the TWU 234s adversarial posturing were public comments by SEPTA spokespeople on Sunday. SEPTA and representatives from TWU Local 234 have been engaging in a productive dialogue at the bargaining table, said Andrew Busch. The SEPTA representative added, we are hopeful that an agreement can be reached without any service disruptions for riders. Under these circumstances, SEPTA workers must be on guard against treachery by the TWU. In any locality where it operates, the TWU has worked with management to impose the impact of the pandemic on its members. In New York City, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority has relied on the TWU, even incorporating it into various union-management committees designed to maximize productivity. This has been crucial during the pandemic, as employers face labor shortages due to the risks associated with COVID-19. In terms of maternity leave, the TWU Local 100 leaders in New York even collaborated with the MTA to sabotage workers lawsuits alleging that the transit authoritys abusive treatment caused a worker to go into labor on the job, resulting in a stillbirth. SEPTA workers must form rank-and-file committees among themselves, independent of the TWU. These committees will help connect the struggles of SEPTA workers to the struggles of thousands of other workers coming into struggle, forming the spearhead of a counteroffensive against the attempts by big business and their political representatives to push the economic and social disaster created by the mismanagement of the pandemic onto the shoulders of workers. The great Billie Holiday, in God Bless the Child, sings, Rich relations give/Crust of bread and such/You can help yourself/But dont take too much, lyrics which pretty much sum up current Supreme Court doctrine on qualified immunity and its devastating impact on federal civil rights lawsuits against law enforcement and detention facility abuses. In 1871, the Reconstruction Congress enacted, and President Ulysses S. Grant signed into law, Title 42 of the United States Code, Section 1983, known as the Ku Klux Klan Act, to enforce the due-process and equal-protection guarantees embodied in the recently ratified Fourteenth Amendment, which for the first time extended federally guaranteed rights to all people within the jurisdiction of a state. The Supreme Court building in Washington, Sunday, May 3, 2020. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky) On Monday, October 18, the Supreme Court issued unsigned unanimous orders summarily dismissing two Section 1983 police brutality suits that had been deemed worthy of trial in the Court of Appeals. These rulings demonstrate that all of the justices on the current Supreme Court support the judge-made doctrine of qualified immunity that shields local law enforcement officers from facing trials on all but the most egregious excessive force and other misconduct claims. Section 1983 of the Federal Civil Rights Act, in two unambiguous sentences, provides that any person acting pursuant to local governmental authority who deprives another person of a constitutional right can be sued in federal court for money damages. Police officers who use excessive force violate the Fourth Amendments prohibition against unreasonable seizures, thus triggering Section 1983 liability. The Seventh Amendment, a provision of the 1791 Bill of Rights, guarantees the the right of trial by jury shall be preserved for civil lawsuits in federal court. In short, reading Section 1983 and the Seventh Amendment together dictates that any person who alleges a constitutional injury such as excessive force caused by a public officer is entitled by the Bill of Rights to present that case to a jury made up of members from the community. However, in a series of decisions over the last sixty years the Supreme Court has manufactured a doctrine labeled qualified immunity, fashioning a Catch-22 that allows reactionary pro-government judges from the trial court level to the Supreme Court itself to arbitrarily toss cases before they can be presented to a jury. There is nothing in the text of Section 1983 or the Bill of Rights that supports qualified immunity. To the contrary, blocking access to juries violates the Seventh Amendment. Qualified immunity requires civil rights plaintiffs in Section 1983 cases against public officials to establish during the pretrial phase of the litigation, when the facts are disputed and the credibility of witnesses untested, that the exact contours of the constitutional right at stake have been so precisely defined by pre-existing law that the officers being sued would have known under the specific facts presented that their conduct was unconstitutional. In the first of the two cases decided Monday, Rivas-Villegas v. Cortesluna, police officers called to a domestic disturbance ordered the boyfriend outside. He complied with hands raised in surrender. What happened next was captured by a surveillance camera . An officer shot the man twice in the gut with a less-lethal shotgun round, a cloth sock packed with lead pellets euphemistically referred to as a beanbag, accomplishing nothing other than inflicting pain. The man then got down on the concrete as ordered. Two other officers stepped and then kneeled on him, handcuffed him behind his back, lifted him by the handcuffs, hurting his shoulders, and then dragged him several feet. No resistance is visible on the video recording. In the second case, City of Tahlequah v. Bond, a woman called police to remove her ex-husband, who was rummaging through tools in the garage of the home they once shared. Officers backed him into a corner. He said, I have done nothing wrong here, man. Im in my house. Im doing nothing wrong. When he picked up a hammer and raised it over his head with one hand while holding the other hand out, signaling to keep away, the officers stepped back and shot him dead. Reversing lower court rulings that would have allowed a jury to determine whether or not the force in each case was excessive, the Supreme Court repeated its mantra that qualified immunity shields officers from civil liability so long as their conduct does not violate clearly established statutory or constitutional rights of which a reasonable person would have known, and protects all but the plainly incompetent or those who knowingly violate the law. Of course, officers are trained that the Fourth Amendment prohibits excessive force, so one might think that such conduct would violate a clearly established right. Not so. Following a rule first stated by the crude and reactionary Antonin Scalia, the Supreme Court reiterated, We have repeatedly told courts not to define clearly established law at too high a level of generality, that the rules contours must be so well defined that it is clear to a reasonable officer that his conduct was unlawful in the situation he confronted, adding that specificity is especially important in the Fourth Amendment context, where it is sometimes difficult for an officer to determine how the relevant legal doctrine, here excessive force, will apply to the factual situation the officer confronts. Outside of an occasional obvious case, to overcome qualified immunity every Section 1983 plaintiff must identify a case that put the police officer on notice that his specific conduct was unlawful. The term case here means a published decision of the Supreme Court or of the Circuit Court of Appeals for the area in which the lawsuit has been filed. No other area of law imposes such esoteric burdens on injured parties seeking relief. Human experience unfolds in myriad forms. As a result, courts must use broad standards to define unlawful conduct that are applied by juries to the specific facts of individual cases. The Supreme Court knows the consequences of its qualified-immunity jurisprudence: gutting Section 1983 as a tool to expose police and detention facility misconduct. There are a limited number of reported cases in the various courts of appeals and very few in the Supreme Court with specific facts that would provide notice to police officers, who do not closely follow those legal developments regardless. Even where a Section 1983 plaintiff identifies prior cases, they invariably arose under circumstances that can be distinguished by judges when needed to justify a dismissal. Like snowflakes, there are patterns, but no two police shootings or jail beatings are exactly alike. More insidious, by limiting police-misconduct victims to claims that have previously been ruled unconstitutional, qualified immunity blocks novel claims that might expand constitutional protections while at the same time institutionalizing police conduct that may be unconstitutional but does not, at least in the view of whatever judge happens to be ruling, violate the specific rule of some prior court decision. New technologies for inflicting pain and injuries cannot be challenged because no case law exists declaring their unconstitutionality. There is a direct link behind the perpetuation and expansion of qualified immunity in the Supreme Court and the persistence of brazen police misconduct that has been documented time and again on video recordings. Many commentators noted that none of the three so-called liberal Supreme Court justices, Stephen Breyer, Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor, dissented from the two recent rulings. That, along with the inability of Congress, despite the Democrats control of both chambers, to repeal qualified immunity in the wake of last years George Floyd protests, demonstrates there is no longer any constituency within what remains of bourgeois democracy to rein in the special bodies of armed men whose role is to defend the existing form of exploitation, as Engels and Lenin described police and jailors. The new anti-democratic election laws in Australia, aimed at deregistering so-called minor parties, go hand in hand with the efforts of the political and media establishment to stifle and censor public debate on the most important issues facing working people. War between the United States and China, the worlds largest and second largest economies, both nuclear-armed, is an ever-growing danger. And successive governmentsCoalition and Labor with the backing of the Greenshave placed Australia on the frontline of a US-China conflict. Boris Johnson, Scott Morrison and Joe Biden at G7 meeting in June 2021 [Source: Australian Government] Nothing could make this clearer than the military agreement reached between the US, the United Kingdom and Australia in mid-September. The AUKUS pact revives the World War II alliance in the Pacificthis time directed against China, not Japan. A key element of the AUKUS agreement is the provision of nuclear-powered attack submarines to Australiaonly the second time that the US has ever shared this sophisticated technology. These submarines have no defensive purpose. They are designed to operate at long distancethat is, in strategic waters off the Chinese mainland for protracted periods of time. No one should believe the claims of Prime Minister Scott Morrison that Australia will not develop a civilian nuclear industry or build nuclear weapons. Already the announcement has renewed debate on establishing a civilian capacity. And even if it does not build atomic weapons itself, Australia, in the event of conflict, would come under enormous pressure from Washington to arm its submarines with US nuclear missiles. Morrisons timetable for building the submarines two decades down the track is just as fanciful. Already pressure is mounting from pro-US media mouthpieces for Australia to buy American nuclear submarines off the shelf. Washingtons timetable for war with China is years, not decades. In March, US Admiral Phil Davidson warned of conflict with China over Taiwan within six years and called for a huge increase in the budget for the US-Indo Pacific Command that would be involved in such a war. The very fact that Taiwanpotentially the most explosive flashpoint for conflict between the US and Chinahas erupted to the fore this year is the sharpest of warnings. The US accuses Beijing of threatening the status quo over Taiwan. But Washington is rapidly unravelling diplomatic protocols that have kept an uneasy peace in the Taiwan Strait by provocatively boosting ties with Taipei and stationing US troops on Taiwan for the first time since 1979. The Australian media and politicians, Labor and Coalition, dutifully parrot the current line from Washington, churning out a constant stream of noxious anti-China propaganda in various forms. Denunciations of human rights abuses in Xinjiang, Hong Kong and Tibet go hand in hand with accusations of Chinese aggression in the South and East China Seas and toward Taiwan; and unsubstantiated claims of cyber spying and intellectual property theft. A handful of establishment figures have criticised the AUKUS agreement. Former Prime Minister Paul Keating lashed out at the Morrison government and the Labor opposition for shopping Australias sovereignty by locking the country and its military forces into the force structure of the United States. Keating joins others in advocating a more independent Australian foreign policy. However, Australia, a mid-order imperialist power, has always relied on the great power of the dayfirst Britain, then America during World War IIto prosecute its strategic interests. The price has been the lives of many tens of thousands of Australian soldiers squandered in every imperialist conflict, from World Wars I and II to Vietnam, Afghanistan and Iraq, to satisfy the venal ambitions of the Australian ruling class. There is no anti-war faction in the Australian ruling elite. Keating is not opposed to war and supports the US alliance. He was part of the Hawke Labor government that committed Australian troops to the 199091 US-led Gulf War. Rather he speaks for sections of the Australian corporate elite fearful of the impact of tensions with China on their profits. Neither do pseudo-left organisations, such as Socialist Alternative and Socialist Alliance, oppose the US war drive against China. In various ways, they echo Washingtons propaganda about Chinese aggressiveness, play down the danger of war, or line up with figures like Keating in urging an independent foreign policy. The burdens of these accelerating war preparations are being imposed on the working class. The tens of billions of dollars to be wasted on nuclear-powered submarines, on top of other huge and increasing military spending, will be extracted from essential social servicespublic health, education and welfarealready under severe strain after decades of austerity measures and now the COVID-19 pandemic. It is no coincidence that the AUKUS agreement was sealed just a fortnight after the anti-democratic electoral laws were rammed through parliament. Australian involvement in US-led wars over the past three decades has been accompanied by a constant stream of legislation designed to muzzle anti-war opposition. The foreign interference laws passed in 2018, with bipartisan support amid a deluge of anti-China hysteria, were aimed particularly at outlawing internationally-coordinated campaignsincluding against war. The Socialist Equality Party has been alone in warning about the danger of war posed by the increasingly US aggressive stance toward China, which began with President Obamas announcement of the pivot to Asia in the Australian parliament in 2011a policy that has been continued and intensified under Trump and Biden. We have explained the futility of appealing to the powers-that-be in Australia, the US or anywhere else to pull back. The fundamental driving force is the determination of US imperialism to prevent the threat to its global dominance by China through all means, including military. That is now compounded by the profound economic, social and political crisis engulfing American imperialism, which is fuelling a vicious anti-China campaign aimed at turning social tensions outward against a foreign enemy. The danger of war, like the pandemic and climate change, cannot be combatted at a national level. It necessitates a globally coordinated campaign by the international working class against the root cause of warthe outmoded profit system and its division of the world into competing nation states. Without such a mobilisation, the world is hurtling toward a catastrophic war between the worlds two largest economies. The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) regime, while it is not primarily responsible for the drive to war, has no progressive solution. Its appeals to Washington for a compromise are futile. Its military spending accelerates an arms race that can only end in disaster. Mired in nationalism, the CCP is incapable of making any appeal to workers internationally. The SEP and its sister parties of the International Committee of the Fourth International are alone in campaigning for a unified international anti-war movement of the working class. We urge all our readers and supporters to oppose the anti-democratic electoral laws and sign up as electoral members to ensure the SEP will have its name on ballot papers and workers can vote consciously for a socialist alternative. VIGO COUNTY, Ind. (WTHI) - The Indiana Department of Health is bringing the COVID-19 strike team back to Vigo County this week. A clinic is set to happen at the Wabash Valley Fairgrounds this Wednesday through Saturday. You'll have access to COVID-19 testing and all of the vaccines. That includes booster shots for all that are eligible. For people who received a Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, the following groups are eligible for a booster shot at 6 months or more after their initial series: People age 65 years and older Age 18+ who live in long-term care settings Age 18+ who have underlying medical conditions Age 18+ who work or live in high-risk settings Booster doses are also recommended for anyone 18 or older who got the single dose Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine two or more months ago. INDIANAPOLIS (AP) The Indianapolis Motor Speedway will add an infield building that is aimed at increasing use of the track area throughout the year. The new structure near the ovals Turn 3 will be leased by BMW as part of a multiyear agreement to bring a seasonal driving center to the speedways road course, the Indianapolis Business Journal reported. BMWs M Driving Experience Center will include a showroom, classroom areas, a conference room and direct access to the IMS road course for prospective buyers. It will have a classroom in it, so they can do pre-track instruction, and it will also have a small service bay area so they can prep the cars they use and service them properly, speedway President Doug Boles said. Uwe Dreher, vice president of marketing for BMW of North America, said the ability to bring programs to IMS allows the company to formally expand our experiential and instructional classes to a totally new region in the U.S. market. Boles said the building also will be used for race-day hospitality and other small events throughout the year when its not being used by BMW. The building will be much different in its appeal than the tracks existing 110 suites, which are largely along the straightaways and on the outer rim of Turn 2. The one-story building will feature a rooftop deck with a view of Turns 3 and 4 and is close to the Snake Pit area where musical acts on Indy 500 race days. On days where were not hosting races, it could be great space for somebody who wants to host a cocktail reception or have a meeting for their company and then have a dinner in a unique place, Boles said. Construction is expected to begin this year and be completed by summer 2022, Boles said. JACKSON, Miss. (AP) Most employees at Mississippi's eight public universities will be required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 after a vote from the Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning board of trustees Monday. The action came on the same day the health department reported that Mississippi surpassed 10,000 coronavirus-related deaths. The board scheduled a special meeting to discuss a Sept. 9 executive order from President Joe Biden that requires employees who do work connected to federal contracts be vaccinated unless they qualify for a medical, disability or religious exemption. The order states contractors must be vaccinated by Dec. 8. Mississippi universities have approximately 120 federal contracts totaling at least $271 million. According to guidance from the federal government, even employees who do not work under federal contract must be vaccinated if they work in the same building or on the same campus as someone who does. The board voted 9-3 to comply with Biden's mandate. It was not immediately clear how many employees would be affected by the vote. The vote is a reversal from a previous decision in September by the board to prohibit public universities from requiring COVID-19 vaccinations unless students or employees work in a clinical setting, like at the University of Mississippi Medical Center. The Mississippi State Department of Health reported Monday that 10,024 people have died of COVID-19 or its complications in the state, which has a population of around 3 million. The state reported its first coronavirus-related death a man between the ages of 60 and 65 in Hancock County on March 19, 2020. Around 70% of the people who have died from COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic were at least 65 years old, according to department of health data. Around 39% were Black and around 57% were white. Close to 25% of all people who died had hypertension. Nine of those dead from the virus were children and 15 were pregnant women. On Thursday, Alec Baldwin fired what he was told was a safe "prop gun" on the set of the film "Rust." Instead, the gun was apparently loaded with live ammunition, leading to the stunning death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and injury to the movie's director, Joel Souza. Though an intense police investigation continues, it seems highly unlikely that Baldwin will be charged with a crime. So, after such a terrible tragedy, now what? Normally, when a gunman aims a firearm at another person and deliberately pulls the trigger causing death, the charge of murder is easily sustained. However, that's not the case here -- and it has nothing to do with Baldwin's power, wealth or notoriety. Here, both the law and the facts suggest he is innocent of any criminal conduct. On the contrary, he may be fairly viewed as one of the surviving victims of this horrific incident, likely to be haunted for the rest of his life by the role he unintentionally played in causing Hutchins' death. The shooting occurred during a rehearsal on the film's set in New Mexico. (Ironically, the plot of the movie concerns the aftermath of an accidental shooting.) According to an affidavit filed in a Santa Fe court last week, assistant director David Halls yelled "cold gun" before handing the firearm to Baldwin for the scene. The court document states that Halls didn't know there were live rounds in the weapon, which was one of three prop guns that were set up in a cart by an armorer for the movie. In movie parlance, a "cold gun" is not loaded with any ammunition. The gun might later be loaded with blanks, depending upon whether the gun is to be fired in the scene. Blanks are cartridges containing gunpowder and lightly sealed at their tip where the bullet would normally sit. A handgun firing a blank will replicate the recoil and muzzle flash from the barrel of the gun, but no bullet is expelled from the gun's nozzle. The recoil and muzzle flash make the firing of the gun look real to the movie audience, though some directors now use CGI (computer-generated imagery) to replicate the effect while avoiding the danger of firing blanks. Even a gun loaded with blanks can cause injury, which is why armorers recommend a safe distance of around 20 feet or so from the weapon. Everyone on a movie set where guns are in use is supposed to be aware, as a result of training, of the danger potentially posed by the firing of blanks. The criminal law in New Mexico is like that in other US states and criminalizes deaths and injuries caused by recklessness or criminal negligence. These laws generally refer to the crimes of voluntary and involuntary manslaughter. In this case, prosecutors will be looking at the facts to determine who had the responsibility to examine the gun before it was handed to Baldwin to confirm that it was loaded only with blanks. Any person involved who failed to properly examine the firearms slated for use might be a potential target in the criminal investigation. Baldwin did not have the responsibility to stop the rehearsal and examine the gun's cylinder to determine that the supposed "cold gun" was loaded with blanks. By custom and practice in the movie industry, an actor has the right to rely on other individuals on set with the responsibility to ensure that prop firearms are safe for use. Police likely would want to interview the film's "armorer," Hannah Gutierrez, who has yet to provide a public statement, and the assistant director who passed the weapon in question to Baldwin. Something had to be seriously amiss on the set of "Rust" for this tragic shooting to occur. Who put live rounds in a gun that was supposed to be loaded with blanks, if anything at all? Why would any live rounds ever be placed in a gun slated for use by an actor on set? While many of the facts have yet to be revealed by prosecutors, this case could even turn out to be a form of "depraved mind" murder under New Mexico's murder statutes. If live ammunition was deliberately loaded into the firearm handed to Baldwin by an individual who knew the gun would be fired at other actors on set, this would become a murder case and not merely a tragic accident. Before Thursday's shooting, several crew members quit the production over safety concerns that included gun inspections, according to the Los Angeles Times and other news organizations. At this point, we don't know whether that has anything to do with this tragedy until we find out who put live ammunition in the gun. If it turns out to be an intentional act, the genre evoked by the film will sadly change from historical fiction to true crime. Note: An earlier version incorrectly defined a "cold gun," which is a term for a gun that is empty. The-CNN-Wire & 2021 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved. OXFORD, Miss. (WTVA) - Police arrested four people following a shooting in Oxford. According to the Oxford Police Department, gunshots were reported shortly before midnight on Friday, Oct. 22 in the 100 block of Shadow Creek Drive. The investigation led to the arrests of Keontae Brannon, 19, of Taylor, and AiRian Stokes, 20, of Oxford. Both have been charged with aggravated assault. Daezhaun Johnson, 21, of Memphis, Tennessee, was arrested for aggravated assault and possession of narcotics with intent to sell. Kamron Anderson, 18, of Tupelo, was arrested for narcotics possession with intent to sell. Tupelo Clear 34 Hi: 58 Lo: 30 Feels Like: 34 More Weather Columbus Partly Cloudy 32 Hi: 59 Lo: 30 Feels Like: 27 More Weather Oxford Clear 37 Hi: 56 Lo: 30 Feels Like: 32 More Weather Starkville Partly Cloudy 30 Hi: 58 Lo: 30 Feels Like: 30 More Weather All in all, Saturday will be the best day of the weekend with temperatures in the 60s for the highs and plenty of sunshine. A cold front and low pressure on Sunday will bring some good chances for some rain and isolated thunderstorms for our Sunday. PONTOTOC, Miss (WTVA) - Beginning on Monday, Oc. 25, all Southern Furniture Industries' employees and their families can get free healthcare. Southern Furniture owns five furniture companies throughout northeast Mississippi: Fusion Furniture, Southern Motion, Recline Design, Cushions To Go, and Premier Foam. Leaders held a grand opening for the company's new health clinic in Pontotoc Monday morning. Now, all employees who sign up will get free healthcare, primary care, disease management and prescription drugs. The CEO of Southern Motion, Mark Weber, said many employees struggled to pay for healthcare over the years. Weber and leaders decided to build a clinic so everyone can have one less thing to worry about. "Were really just trying to tackle that burden that a lot of our families have and provide a nice facility that not just our associates, but their spouses and children feel comfortable using, he said. Weber said they may open more clinics in the future. Until then, employees can travel to Pontotoc or speak with medical workers virtually. CRENSHAW, Miss. (WTVA) - Two people are dead and three more were injured following an apartment complex shooting in Crenshaw, WMC-TV in Memphis, Tennessee, reported. According to Quitman County Sheriffs Department, 24-year-old Derrick Small and 19-year-old Deshun Anderson died after being shot multiple times Sunday night at the Marie Lyles Meadows Apartment. Three other victims [two men and a 19-year-old woman] are in critical condition at Regional One hospital in Memphis. Investigators believe 60 to 100 rounds were fired from multiple weapons. Investigators say they have not received information on the suspects involved. Special agents with the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation are assisting in the investigation. Anyone with information is asked to call the Quitman County Sheriffs Department at 662-326-3131. Vancouver takes on Minnesota United FC, looks for 4th straight home win Vancouver heads into a matchup with Minnesota United FC after winning three games in a row at home Here is the latest Minnesota news from The Associated Press at 1:40 a.m. CDT Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Dancing With The Stars is garnering praise from fans and advocacy groups for partnering JoJo Siwa with Jenna Johnson, the first same-sex pairing in the competition series 30-season history. But Siwa, who came out as queer in January, isnt the shows only LGBTQ contestant on its current season. Beloved Peloton instructor Cody Rigsby is also wowing audiences with his groovy footwork, and is partnered with dancer Cheryl Burke. Rigsby, a self-described opinionated homosexual, said in an interview last week that he would have been willing to dance with a male partner on the show. As is often the case in Hollywood, however, the fast-paced, behind-the-scenes negotiations gave him little time to consider the big picture. When the conversation opportunity came up for Dancing With The Stars, I was just so excited to be on the show, I guess I didnt even think it was a possibility, he explained to GLAADs Anthony Allen Ramos. So I didnt bring it up. Had I maybe had a moment to breathe and recognize an opportunity, I definitely would have asked! Cody Rigsby (left) and Cheryl Burke on Both Burke and Rigsby have navigated some unexpected challenges early in their DWTS run. The pair tested positive for COVID-19 within days of one another last month, even though theyd both been fully vaccinated. It was Rigsbys second time contracting COVID-19. They competed separately and virtually on the shows Britney Spears-themed episode Oct. 4 before producers and medical professionals gave them the clear to return to the ballroom in person a week later. Elsewhere in his GLAAD interview, Rigsby reflected on his unlikely rise to fame amid the pandemic, as well as his struggles with accepting his sexuality while growing up in Greensboro, North Carolina. At a young age, people started to call me a girl, and that was the first attack in fourth or fifth grade, he said. That was the first thing I recognized as people bullying me and questioning who I am because of their attacks and insecurities. As gay kid, we are always made fun of because it is the easy thing to do for some people. Story continues And, looking ahead, Rigsby is confident that Dancing With The Stars will eventually feature two men dancing together, possibly as early as Season 31. I know that Val [Chmerkovskiy] is really open to having a same-sex partner for next season, he said. I think that would be incredible. Catch Cody Rigsbys full GLAAD interview below. This article originally appeared on HuffPost and has been updated. Related... Dave Chappelle is willing to sit down with Netflix and the streamers transgender employees to discuss the ongoing controversy surrounding his standup special, The Closer, according to a new video he shared on Instagram. But Chappelle remained unapologetic about the content being perceived as transphobic and homophobic in the special. Chappelle said, Its been said in the press that I was invited to speak to the transgender employees of Netflix and I refused. That is not true if they had invited me I would have accepted it, although I am confused about what we would be speaking about. I said what I said, and boy, I heard what you said. My God, how could I not? You said you want a safe working environment at Netflix. It seems like Im the only one who cant go to the office. More from IndieWire Chappelle said that the controversy was more about corporate interests and that he actually has the support of members of the LGBTQ community. I want everyone in this audience to know that even though the media frames it that its me versus that community, thats not what it is. Do not blame the LGBTQ community for any of this. Its about corporate interests, and what I can say, and what I cannot say, Chappelle said. For the record, and I need you to know this, everyone I know from that community has been loving and supportive, so I dont know what this nonsense is about. Chappelle said that the controversy has made him persona non grata on the film festival circuit as he tries to release his upcoming documentary about his 2020 standup tour. This film that I made was invited to every film festival in the United States. Some of those invitations I accepted. When this controversy came out about The Closer, they began disinviting me from these film festivals. And now, today, not a film company, not a movie studio, not a film festival, nobody will touch this film. Thank God for Ted Sarandos and Netflix, hes the only one that didnt cancel me yet, he said. Story continues The October 5 special The Closer, for which Chappelle has been accused of transphobia, has prompted outcry from organizations including GLAAD and led to a staff walkout at Netflixs Hollywood headquarters on October 20. Netflixs handling of the crisis has also met its own controversy, as a series of internal memos from Netflix content chief Ted Sarandos were leaked to the press revealing his defense of releasing the show, which led to Sarandos subsequently doubling down on his comments only to later admit that he screwed up. Gender is a fact, Chappelle says in the special. 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. Now, I am not saying that to say trans women arent women, I am just saying that those pussies that they got you know what I mean? Im not saying its not pussy, but its Beyond Pussy or Impossible Pussy. It tastes like pussy, but thats not quite what it is, is it? Thats not blood. Thats beet juice. In the special, Chappelle says he is also done with talking about the LGBTQ community until we are both sure that we are laughing together, adding, All I ask of your community, with all humility: Will you please stop punching down on my people? Last Wednesdays rally outside of Netflix grounds, which included Netflix LGBTQ employees and other allies, was organized by trans activist Ashlee Marie Preston in service of supporting staffers as they presented their demands to Sarandos. Among them were creating a new fund dedicated to trans and non-binary talent both above and below the line, and separate from Netflixs already-existing Creative Equity Fund. The demands also include revising internal processes for approving potentially harmful content, bolstering marketing and promotion for trans-related content, and diversifying executive leadership. The night before the rally, Sarandos said in an interview with Variety, I should have led with a lot more humanity. Meaning, I had a group of employees who were definitely feeling pain and hurt from a decision we made. And I think that needs to be acknowledged. Best of IndieWire Sign up for Indiewire's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. St. Bonaventure is letting go of one of its surgeons. TVLine can exclusively reveal that The Good Doctors latest cast addition, Osvaldo Benavides, is departing the ABC medical drama just a few months after he was elevated to series regular. More from TVLine The Good Doctor - Mateo, Season 5 Sony Pictures Television declined to comment on this story. TVLine has also reached out to ABC and Benavides camp for a statement. Details surrounding his exit storyline are being kept under wraps. Benavides made his Good Doctor debut as a guest-star in the two-part Season 4 finale last spring, when Shaun and the surgical team flew to Guatemala on a mission to help patients at a rural hospital. Among the local surgeons was Dr. Mateo Rendon Osma, who struck up an immediate bond (and subsequent romance) with St. Bonaventures chief of surgery Dr. Audrey Lim (played by Christina Chang). Upon word that original cast member Antonia Thomas (Dr. Claire Browne) was departing the series at the end of Season 4, Deadline confirmed that Benavides had been promoted to series-regular status. In the Freddie Highmore dramas Season 5 opener, which aired Sept. 27, Mateo arrived in San Jose to pursue a relationship with Lim, who employed him as a surgical attending at St. Bonaventure. But Mateo had been hired on a probationary basis due to past legal trouble, and had since been supervised by fellow attending Dr. Marcus Andrews (played by Hill Harper). Prior to Season 5, executive producer David Shore told TVLine that Mateos legal drama would cast a shadow over his employment. In terms of his training, he is a fairly senior doctor, Shore explained. But because of his past, because of his history, he is going to have to learn to swallow his pride a little bit. Story continues The Good Doctor has survived several waves of cast turnover over the years. Chuku Modu and Beau Garrett departed the show at the end of Season 1, followed by Tamlyn Tomita at the end of Season 2. Recurring guest star Jasika Nicole was promoted to series regular ahead of Season 3, but scrubbed out ahead of Season 4, alongside original cast member Nicholas Gonzalez. The Good Doctor Season 5 Cast To fill the void left by Nicole and Gonzalez, the medical drama added recurring players Noah Galvin and Bria Samone Henderson in Season 4; they were promoted to series-regular status upon Thomas exit, ahead of Season 5. All told, The Good Doctors current cast is comprised of Highmore, Harper, Chang, Galvin, Henderson, Richard Schiff, Fiona Gubelmann, Will Yun Lee and Paige Spara. Highmore, Harper and Schiff are the last remaining series regulars from the pilot. Launch Gallery: The 30 Most Shocking TV Exits Announced This Year (So Far) Best of TVLine It might not look like it as she sashays across the dance floor on Dancing With the Stars, but Olivia Jade Giannulli continues to struggle with fallout from the college admissions scandal. Both of Olivia Jade's parents, actress Lori Loughlin and clothing designer Mossimo Giannulli, served time in prison for paying $500,000 for their daughters, Olivia Jade and Isabella, to be admitted to the University of Southern California under the guise that they were crew athletes, although neither of them played the sport. While it's not clear who knew what and when, the daughters, at the very least, appear to have posed for photos on rowing machines that were used in the application process. On the debut episode of her new podcast, Conversations With Olivia Jade, the 22-year-old influencer spoke with a Beverly Hills, Calif.-based psychologist, Hillary Goldsher, about how someone can forgive themselves after a misstep. Olivia Jade Giannulli hosts the new podcast Conversations With Olivia Jade. (Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for iHeartMedia) Goldsher responded that making mistakes is part of being human, so what's important is how we react to those mistakes. The problem often comes in, she said, when people become frozen in fear after they've messed up, and they don't make amends for what they've done. "I think also that's just so, for my certain situation, like, that's so hard for me to get to that point of like, 'It's OK, Olivia, you didn't know back then and then you obviously have so many people online being like, 'You should have known. You should have done better. This shouldn't have happened in the first place'" said Olivia Jade, who left USC in 2019. "And then you have people telling you, like, 'Well, clearly you haven't learned anything still.'" Olivia Jade finds the latter statement especially frustrating. "A, you don't know me. How do you know that? And B, I would be crazy to not have learned anything from this situation of just constant, like, guilt and stress that I have given to myself. And waking up every day for almost two years straight and seeing something written about you...," Olivia Jade said. "And I'm not saying this to throw myself a little pity party. ... Obviously, we really messed up." Story continues Olivia Jade said it's really challenging for her to "let go of so much guilt." She noted, too, that she struggles with speaking out about the scandal. "I feel like I walk on eggshells when I talk just because I don't want to say the wrong thing and I want to make it clear to people listening that I'm not trying to victimize myself but I also am trying just from ... having this personal experience, like, I really do understand how different of a person I've become because of it, and not entirely in a good way," Olivia Jade said. "Sometimes, like, I really do feel like I have way harder days or like I'm way harder on myself. And I'm so scared, like, looking at my name that something bad is happening, and I'm the face of it. And it's gonna be, like, this big thing that blows up in my face again. You live your life a little bit differently, in my opinion." Olivia Jade said therapy has helped her cope with a difficult time, and she sought advice for people famous or not who might be struggling with a similar situation. Goldsher advised them to avoid negative self-talk and instead speak to themselves the same way they would talk to their own daughters or little sisters. Christopher Walken stars in The Outlaws, from multi-award-winning writer director Stephen Merchant. (BBC Studios) Hes starred in The Deer Hunter, King of New York, Pulp Fiction and even Cleopatra. So what on earth is Christopher Walken doing in a high-vis vest, cleaning up the streets of Bristol? In perhaps one of the most inspired bits of casting in the history of British television, the Oscar-winner lines up in new comedy drama The Outlaws alongside co-star and creator Stephen Merchant. The community service series, which also features Poldarks Demelza, Eleanor Tomlinson, follows on from Merchants writing work on massive shows like The Office, Extras and Hello Ladies and the movie Fighting With My Family, which featured The Rock and Florence Pugh. Read more: Dame Joan Collins criticises William Shatner over historic space flight But even Merchant was stunned to attract a star like Walken, saying: Someone mentioned Christopher Walken and I thought that would be amazing. "What I love about him is that he can do both great charm and be very funny, but also menacing at the same time. We got word to him somehow. Stephen Merchant in The Outlaws. (BBC Studios) Chris doesn't use phones and he doesn't have a computer, so it was a bit hard to contact him. "I ended up having this very glamorous weekend where I went to Los Angeles to go to the SAG Awards for that film JoJo Rabbit. On the way back, someone said, 'Chris can see you on your way home.'" Merchant continued: So I flew from this glamorous award ceremony to New York, and then drove up to Connecticut, and met Chris at his house. "And I was there for hours. Chris was just as committed and invested and passionate as I imagine he ever was. Christopher Walken (L) with The Outlaws cast. (Big Talk/Four Eyes/Gavin Bond) He was asking a tonne of questions about the character and about the scripts and about Bristol. We spent hours just chewing the fat and the next thing I knew he agreed to do it. And that was a huge thrill. Set in Merchant's local community and inspired by his familys work history, its a real passion project. Merchant added: Growing up, my parents used to work for Bristol Community Service. My mother was always careful, she would say, 'I can't tell you about specific cases...', as if it was sensitive information and I couldn't be trusted. Story continues Jess Gunning (Diane) and Stephen Merchant (Greg) in The Outlaws. (Big Talk/Four Eyes/James Pardon) But here and there, not naming names, she would talk about some of the people that came through the doors. "I was always intrigued because it was such a mix of people. You'd have the businessman who'd got caught drink-driving or some student whod got in trouble for some minor thing. Or there was an old guy who was stealing cabbages from allotments just to get community service, because he was lonely and he liked the social aspect of it. "What was interesting to me was that it was a way of bringing completely disparate groups of people together. Read more: Jack Nicholson makes first public appearance in two years Walken himself was excited about the role: I play Frank. He's an American who's lived in England for 40 years or so. He married an English woman and has children and a life in England, but I'd say he's barely assimilated. Christopher Walken plays Frank in The Outlaws. (Big Talk/Four Eyes/Gavin Bond) He's a kind of a ne'er-do-well, I guess, a good man whos good hearted and good natured but he's made a lot of mistakes. Probably has poor judgement. Often in trouble with the law, you know? He added: I'm a fan of Stephen Merchant. It's very good writing: you can tell that, if you've been doing it for as long as I have. "I stand in my kitchen, I read the lines out loud and these were very good words. "And, you know, it was great to come to England. I've been in England many times in my career, not to Bristol, but I've always enjoyed myself here. So it was just a good job. While hes often known for his scary turns in True Romance and A View to a Kill, Walken said he loves to stretch his comedy muscles. Christopher Walken as Bond villain Zorin in A View To A Kill. (MGM) I think my sense of humour has very much to do with where I come from. I was in show business when I was five years old. "And when I was growing up in America, it was the birth of television after the Second World War when television first started, and there were these huge shows like Milton Berle and Sid Caesar. "And so I think my comedy is very much of that time. He added: I have a cable channel that has old movies 24 hours a day. So I watch a lot of old movies. "The good thing is there are still some very funny people out there. Like Stephen Merchant you should watch out for him. The Outlaws launches at 9pm, Monday, 25 October on BBC One. WATCH: Stephen Merchant explains Christopher Walken casting in The Outlaws Length: 105 minutes Director: David Gordon Green Writers: Scott Teems, Danny McBride, David Gordon Green Cast: Jamie Lee Curtis, Judy Greer, Andi Matichak, Will Patton, Anthony Michael Hall, Thomas Mann In theatres from 28 October 2021 (Singapore) 3.5 stars out of 5 The slasher film franchise that started all slasher film franchises is back with Halloween Kills, the sequel to 2018's Halloween. This planned trilogy (Halloween Ends is already scheduled for a 2022 release), made with the backing of the original 1978 film's director John Carpenter, ignores all the previous numerous sequels that attempted to provide a backstory for Michael Myers, returning him to his roots as an inscrutable, faceless evil with no discernible motivation who kills just for the heck of it. Michael stalks Haddonfield again in Halloween Kills. (Photo: United International Pictures) Jamie Lee Curtis reprises her role as Laurie Strode, as do Judy Greer and Andi Matichak from the 2018 film as Laurie's daughter Karen and granddaughter Allyson. This instalment also includes some actors from the first 1978 film, playing the same characters, only older by 42 years Kyle Richards returns as Lindsey Wallace, one of the children Laurie babysat in 1978, and Nancy Stephens as Marion Chambers, the retired former assistant to Dr. Samuel Loomis. Laurie, seriously wounded by Michael in the previous film, spends most of her time in hospital and out of action, the action driven mainly by Karen and Allyson as well as Tommy Doyle (Anthony Michael Hall), another of the kids Laurie babysat in 1978. Tommy, determined to rid Haddonfield of the scourge of Michael, forms a civilian vigilante group to hunt down the marauding menace as the town loses faith in law enforcement. Laurie is out of most of the action in this one. (Photo: United International Pictures) Fans of the genre should be pleased with Michael's understated, terrifying creepiness and his gory kills. He stalks the town dispatching its hapless denizens in the most painful ways, this time using more instruments of violent murder at his disposal besides his customary knife. Unlike other horror films, Halloween relies not on jump scares but on gore porn and the chilling terror induced by the relentless, inevitable, seemingly unstoppable force of nature that is Michael. It was disappointing that Curtis, arguably the main star of the franchise, had so little to do, but hopefully she'll rejoin the action in Halloween Ends. Get more TV and movie news from Yahoo Life on our Entertainment page. Mohamed Nureldin Abdallah via Reuters The tenuous peace that has kept Sudan on edge since a failed military coup attempt in September has been shattered. On Monday, the Sudanese military staged a violent coup, cutting off the nations internet access and taking the countrys civilian leaders into custody at an undisclosed location, a move that U.S. Special Envoy to the Horn of Africa Jeffrey Feltman said left the Biden administration deeply alarmed. By days end, the U.S. embassy in Khartoum had warned all Americans in the country to shelter in place and remain aware of their surroundings and that armed forces were blocking areas in and out of the capital city. On Monday, the national television station played only nationalist songs and ran photos of the Nile River instead of regular programming. Large parts of the population were also blocked from accessing the internet and in many areas phone service was also blocked, potentially to stop people from communicating about protesting the coup. Gen. Abdel Fattah al-Burhan, head of the military, later dissolved parliament and declared a state of emergency. Facebook Scrubs Russian Troll Factory Accounts Targeting Sudan Sudan has been on the brink of war since pro-democracy protesters forced the ouster of its longtime authoritarian leader Omar al-Bashir two years ago. The transition to democracy has been fraught with tension between those who toppled al-Bashirs government and the military, which is backed by conservative Islamists, warlords, militia leaders, and former Bashir loyalists. The arrest of the current Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, his wife, and at least five others from his cabinet drew thousands of people to the streets of Khartoum, where they set fire to tires and blocked traffic. Military supporters and officers from the Rapid Support Forces clashed with those more liberal factions of society, injuring at least a dozen people. Hamdoks office then called for people to protest. We call on the Sudanese people to protest using all peaceful means possible, his office urged. To take back their revolution from the thieves. Story continues The Associated Press named the others detained as Industry Minister Ibrahim al-Sheikh; Information Minister Hamza Baloul; Mohammed al-Fiky Suliman, a member of the countrys transitional body called the Sovereign Council, as well as Hamdoks media adviser Faisal Mohammed Saleh. Ayman Khalid, the governor of the region in which Khartoum is located, was also taken into custody, according to the regions Facebook page. Since gaining independence from Britain and Egypt in 1956, Sudan has undergone a number of military coups, often with deadly results. Former leader al-Bashir came to power in 1989 as the result of a military coup that replaced the last democratically elected government in the country. EU Foreign Affairs Director Josep Borrell called for calm. The EU calls on all stakeholders and regional partners to put back on track the transition process, Borrell tweeted. Sudans main pro-democracy group, known as the Sudanese Professionals Association, which is made up of doctors, engineers, and lawyers, said it would not give up. The revolution is a revolution of the people, the group posted on Facebook. Power and wealth belongs to the people. No to a military coup. 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. President Joe Biden last week again stalled the release of government records about the assassination of former President John F. Kennedy Jr., blaming the COVID-19 pandemic for the latest delay. By law, all government records about Kennedys killing on Nov. 22, 1963, were to be made public by Oct. 25, 2017, but former President Donald Trump and now Biden both have taken steps to delay the release of the remaining files. Only a fraction of documents related to Kennedy's assassination remain undisclosed. In a Friday memo, Biden said those documents now would be released in two waves: one later in 2021, and another by Dec. 15, 2022. The decision to delay the release of the remaining records came just before the Oct. 26, 2021, deadline imposed by Trump in 2018 during the last batch of disclosures about Kennedys assassination. Here is what we know about the remaining records yet to be released. JFK Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992 In 1992, Congress passed the JFK Assassination Records Collection Act of 1992 to create a review process for the release of records related to Kennedys killing shortly after Oliver Stones 1991 movie "JFK" raised questions about the secrecy of the documents. That law, signed by President George H.W. Bush, required that government records related to the assassination be funneled to the National Archives and Records Administration and created a records review board to determine which documents would be withheld. It also set a 25-year deadline to disclose any withheld assassination records. That created the disclosure deadline for Oct. 26, 2017. However, the law also granted power to the president to continue withholding documents if their release created national security concerns that outweighed the public interest. In this Nov. 22, 1963 file photo, President John F. Kennedy waves from his car in a motorcade in Dallas. Most Kennedy assassination records already have been disclosed The vast majority of assassination records already have been disclosed, according to the National Archives. Story continues The entire cache of records assembled at the National Archives was about 5 million pages. About 88% of those records are open in full. That leaves about 12% that have not been released in full. About 11% have been released with redactions of sensitive portions, according to the National Archives. That leaves 1% of assassination-related documents that have never been released. In 2017 and 2018, the National Archives released thousands of pages of records, though many of them contained redactions. Its last release on April 26, 2018, contained more than 19,000 documents. More: JFK files: Highlights from 2,800 previously classified records The National Archives has said it assumes much of what will be released will be tangential to the assassination events. Further delays in release of assassination records In 2017, Trump said he would release the documents but later delayed disclosure on some of the files using the power afforded the president in the 1992 law requiring the documents be made public. Trump cited national security concerns in his April 2018 decision and ordered a re-review of any redactions on documents over the next three years. He set a new deadline of Oct. 26, 2021, to release undisclosed documents. As that deadline approached, Bidens administration stalled the release again, citing the coronavirus pandemic. In an Oct. 22 memo, Biden said the National Archives needed more time, with the Archivist of the United States reporting unfortunately, the pandemic has had a significant impact on agencies. The memo did not explain what effect the pandemic had on preparing the records for release. Some records will be released before the end of the year, but Biden extended the deadline for others to Dec. 15, 2022. Kennedy nephews call for release of assassination records The delays have been rebuked by those who think they should be disclosed. Two of Kennedys nephews, anti-vaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and former Rhode Island Rep. Patrick Kennedy, told Politico that they believed the documents should be released. I think for the good of the country, everything has to be put out there so theres greater understanding of our history, Patrick Kennedy told Politico. That followed a letter to Biden from seven members of Congress urging the president to release the records. Democracy requires that decisions made by the government be open to public scrutiny. Yet excessive secrecy surrounding President Kennedys assassination continues to inspire doubt in the minds of the American public and has a profound impact on the peoples trust in their government. Only by unsealing these records can our country live up to its ideals as an open society and resolve this painful moment in American history, they wrote in their Oct. 7 letter. The letter was signed by Reps. Anna Eshoo, Steve Cohen, James McGovern, Jamie Raskin, Sara Jacobs, Joe Neguse and Raul Grijalva. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: JFK files: Biden delaying release of assassination records On October 23, 1921, U.S. Army Sgt. Edward F. Younger was given a difficult task. The young man was selected to choose an anonymous fellow fighter to be interred in the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, according to military news outlet, Stars and Stripes. He made his choice from four caskets and that unnamed soldier was sent home and laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery. This year marks the 100th anniversary of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. In addition to that first unknown soldier brought home after World War I, other unidentified fighters who died during World War II, Korea, and Vietnam were sent to rest at Arlington National Cemetery to symbolize all those who were lost. The tomb at Arlington serves "as a people's memorial that inspires reflection on service, valor, sacrifice and mourning," according to the Arlington National Cemetery website. In honor of the centennial, the Virginia cemetery is holding a series of commemorative events that will culminate on November 11, when Veteran's Day is observed. For the first time in nearly 100 years, on November 9 and 10, the public will be able to walk on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier Plaza and lay flowers in front of the Tomb. Before that solemn occasionand to mark the 100th anniversary of the selection of that first unknown soldieron Sunday hundreds gathered in the French town of Chalon-en-Champagne, military news outlet, Stars and Stripes reports. Veterans, former guards, military spouses, Gold Star mothers, and more gathered together for a vigil, a military procession, and other solemn ceremonies. Alongside the American military families and veterans were French soldiers, families, and onlookers helping honor the Americans who died on the battlefields of France during World War I. " "It's a part of our history," said Benoist Apparu, mayor of the city of Chalon-en-Champagne, France, reports Stars and Stripes. "We need to celebrate this for the younger generation, so that they do not forget what happened here." For more information and a full schedule of events visit ArlingtonCemetery.mil/Tomb100. Rust Actor Josh Hopkins Pays Tribute to Halyna Hutchins: 'An Absolutely Lovely Person' Josh Hopkins/Instagram Jensen Ackles is honoring late cinematographer Halyna Hutchins after last week's fatal shooting on set of the Western film Rust. The Supernatural alum, 43, paid tribute to Hutchins, 42, in an Instagram post on Sunday, sharing behind-the-scenes photos of her riding horses and posing with the cast, including himself, Alec Baldwin, Josh Hopkins and Travis Fimmel. "This has been a tragedy of epic proportions that we are all still processing," Ackles began. "Earlier last week I felt compelled to tell Halyna just how awesome I thought she was," he continued. "I told her how incredible I thought her camera shots were and just how exciting it was to watch her and her team work. Truly. She laughed and said thank you and gave me a hug. I'll forever be thankful we had that moment. She had a spunk and passion that infected the entire crew from the top down." "She was an inspiration," Ackles added. "My heart and prayers go out to Halyna's husband, son and the rest of her family. There just aren't enough words to express what an immense loss this is. She will be incredibly missed by all of us who knew and admired her." RELATED: Alec Baldwin Had Breakfast with Halyna Hutchins' Husband and Son After Fatal Rust Shooting Incident In the wake of the tragedy, Hopkins, 51, also shared fond memories of Hutchins on Saturday. "As you might imagine, the entire cast and crew are in a state of absolute surreal grief and shock and I want to thank everyone who has reached out with such beautiful support and love," the Cougar Town actor wrote. "Secondly, there is already so much hurtful, blind speculation and misinformation circulating. Let's please wait for the results of the investigation so we can avoid repeating a tragedy like this ever again." "Halyna was so generous with her kindness, she was an absolutely lovely person and a fierce artist. Her greatest joy was filmmaking. Please keep her husband, Matthew and their son in your thoughts," Hopkins added. Story continues He also included a link to the GoFundMe launched Friday by ICG Local 600, a chapter of the International Cinematographers Guild, "to help raise funds for her family at this difficult time." As of Sunday, the campaign has raised more than $188,000. After PEOPLE confirmed that one crew member died and another was critically injured Thursday on the New Mexico set of Rust, the Santa Fe Sheriff's Department said in a statement that Hutchins and writer/director Joel Souza were "shot when a prop firearm was discharged by Alec Baldwin, 63, producer and actor." Authorities responded to a 911 call from the set at Bonanza Creek Ranch at around 1:50 p.m. local time on Thursday. Hutchins was airlifted to University of New Mexico Hospital where she died of her injuries. Souza, 48, was released Friday from Christus St. Vincent Regional Medical Center where he underwent treatment for his injuries. RELATED VIDEO: Alec Baldwin Seen Distraught After Accidental Shooting on Set of Rust Movie, Killing Cinematographer "There are no words to convey my shock and sadness regarding the tragic accident that took the life of Halyna Hutchins, a wife, mother and deeply admired colleague of ours," Baldwin wrote Friday in a statement on Twitter. "I'm fully cooperating with the police investigation to address how this tragedy occurred and I am in touch with her husband, offering my support to him and his family," he continued. "My heart is broken for her husband, their son, and all who knew and loved Halyna." Saad al-Jabri 60 Minutes/Twitter Saad al-Jabri A former Saudi Arabian intelligence official claimed in a new interview that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman talked about killing the kingdom's former monarch, King Abdullah, in 2014. Saad al-Jabri, who fled to Canada in 2017, told 60 Minutes of an alleged meeting between bin Salman and Mohammed bin Nayef, who was then heir to the throne, during which bin Salman boasted that he could kill the sitting king. "He told him, 'I want to assassinate King Abdullah,' " al-Jabri claimed in the interview that aired Sunday. "'I get a poison ring from Russia. It's enough for me just to shake hands with him and he will be done.' " Al-Jabri further claimed that Saudi intelligence officials took the claim seriously, with the royal family recording a meeting in which they discussed the threat two copies of which, he alleged, still exist. "I know where they are," al-Jabri said of the purported recordings of the meeting. Abdullah died in 2015, and bin Salman was appointed crown prince in 2017 a rise to power that was clouded by its own controversy. He is also widely thought to be the orchestrator of a purge of high-ranking Saudi officials from 2017 through 2019, when a number of prominent princes and government ministers were arrested and confined to the Ritz-Carlton hotel in Riyadh. RELATED: A Deadly Trap? After Journalist Reportedly Killed in Consulate, Shocked Friends Vow to Fight for Justice Appearing on 60 Minutes Al-Jabri also spoke about the death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, a Washington Post columnist whom American authorities believe was lured to the Saudi consulate in Istanbul to be tortured, killed and dismembered inside the consulate by a hit squad flown in from Riyadh, the Saudi capital. Speaking to 60 Minutes, al-Jabri called bin Salman "a psychopath with no empathy" and claimed that he was told a Saudi assassination team was also sent to kill him. Story continues "The warning I received, 'Don't be in a proximity of any Saudi mission in Canada. Don't go to the consulate. Don't go to the embassy.' I said why? Said, 'They dismembered the guy, they kill him. You are on the top of the list,' " al-Jabri said. After he fled to Canada, al-Jabri said the team of six would-be assassinations followed him, arriving at the Ottawa Airport in October 2018 carrying equipment purportedly used for DNA analysis. He said the six people were deported, with the Canadian government telling 60 Minutes in a statement: "We are aware of incidents in which foreign actors have attempted to threaten those living in Canada." The Saudi Embassy did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment on al-Jabri's claims. RELATED: Armie Hammer, Ryan Phillippe and More Celebrities Criticized for Trips to Saudi Arabia Asked if he thinks bin Salman fears him, al-Jabri told 60 Minutes, "He fears my information." Al-Jabri said that both his daughter and son are being held in Saudi prisons, where they have been since he fled the Kingdom. He added that his son-in-law was also recently kidnapped in another country and transferred back to Saudi Arabia. The Saudi government did not respond to the show's request for an interview, but provided a statement calling al-Jabri "a discredited former government official with a long history of fabricating and creating distractions to hide the financial crimes he committed, which amount to billions of dollars, to finance a lavish lifestyle for himself and his family." American intelligence officials, meanwhile, note that information provided by al-Jabri when he was second-in-command of Saudi intelligence such as details of a 2010 plot to detonate a bomb over American soil using explosives hidden in printer cartridges has saved American lives. "He saved Saudi lives many of them and he saved American lives," former CIA Acting Director Michael Morell told 60 Minutes of al-Jabri. Morell added that there are other instances in which al-Jabri saved American lives, though the details of those incidents remain top secret: "I can't talk about them because they're still classified ... There are many. Many." Al-Jabri, for his part, told 60 Minutes he expects that bin Salman is out for revenge. "I expect to be killed one day because this guy will not rest off until he see me dead," he said. Appointment follows planned succession of Andrew Kuritzkes BOSTON, October 25, 2021--(BUSINESS WIRE)--State Street Corporation (NYSE: STT) today announced that it has named Brad Hu its chief risk officer, effective January 1, 2022. Hu succeeds Andrew Kuritzkes, who is retiring from State Street. Hu will join the company in November as a member of its Executive Committee for a transition period with Kuritzkes. Hu was previously the chief risk officer at Citigroup for eight years, where he was credited with significantly reducing the firms risk profile while guiding it through significant geopolitical and economic disruptions. Prior to this role, he served as chief risk officer for Citi Asia Pacific, where he was responsible for managing the firm's risks across all of Citis businesses in the regions 17 markets, including consumer banking, corporate and investment banking, securities and trading, and private banking. Prior to joining Citi in 2008, Hu worked at Morgan Stanley for more than 20 years, where he held a number of senior leadership roles across the Global Equity, Global Capital Markets and Investment Banking divisions. He also has more than 15 years of experience in Asia, having worked and lived in Hong Kong, Tokyo and Taipei, where he was chief executive officer of Morgan Stanley Taiwan. Hus breadth of industry experience, including front-line origination and product roles, allows him to assess and manage risk across a broad range of perspectives. "With more than three decades of financial services experience, Brad brings a global risk expertise and approach to help us continue to execute against our strategic priorities," said Ron OHanley, chairman and chief executive officer of State Street. "Brads deep experience across asset classes, risk categories, complex financial instruments and diverse markets will drive significant impact across all of our constituencies." "I am tremendously excited to be joining State Street," said Hu. "The risk management challenges facing global financial leaders like State Street have never been greater, nor have the supervisory expectations been higher. I look forward to working with State Streets outstanding team of risk management professionals to help business leaders around the world stay on top of and ahead of a diverse, complex and rapidly evolving global risk landscape." Story continues Hu serves as Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the Global Association of Risk Professionals (GARP), is a member of the Financial Advisory Roundtable of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and serves on the Deans Advisory Council for the MIT School of Science as well as the Board of Advisors for the Tuck School of Business Administration at Dartmouth College. "I would also like to thank Andy Kuritzkes for his decade of service at State Street," added OHanley. "He has engrained a culture of risk excellence into our day-to-day activities and we wish him the best in the next chapter of his career." About State Street Corporation State Street Corporation (NYSE: STT) is one of the world's leading providers of financial services to institutional investors including investment servicing, investment management and investment research and trading. With $43.3 trillion in assets under custody and/or administration and $3.9 trillion* in assets under management as of September 30, 2021, State Street operates globally in more than 100 geographic markets and employs approximately 39,000 worldwide. For more information, visit State Street's website at www.statestreet.com. *Assets under management as of September 30, 2021 includes approximately $60 billion of assets with respect to SPDR products for which State Street Global Advisors Funds Distributors, LLC (SSGA FD) acts solely as the marketing agent. SSGA FD and State Street Global Advisors are affiliated. 2021 State Street Corporation - All Rights Reserved 3884284.1.1.AM.RTL View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211025005770/en/ Contacts Media: Ed Patterson epatterson@statestreet.com 1 404 213 3106 John Deere Workers Strike Over Contract A truck hauls a piece of John Deere equipment from the factory past workers picketing outside of the John Deere Davenport Works facility on October 15, 2021 in Davenport, Iowa. Credit - Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images James Geiger, a 53-year-old John Deere machinist in Waterloo, Iowa, is fed up with two things. The first is how newer workers are treated by the agricultural machinery manufacturer compared to older ones. After 19 years of service, he says his pay and pension benefits dont stack up against those of his coworkers hired before 1997 and hes often required to work mandatory overtime. As the clock struck midnight on Oct. 14, he and 10,000 other John Deere workers walked out of 14 plants nationwide in protest. The other thing getting under Geigers skin is how his union, United Auto Workers (UAW), is handling this moment. After all, it was UAW that agreed to the contract of the two-tiered system back in the 1990s. We dont trust the international [union], says Geiger. They brought that lousy contract for us to vote on. Geigers frustration with his union is not unique. In recent weeks, as tens of thousands of workers from Colorado to Georgia have gone on strike to demand better pay and work conditions, much of the organizing has been driven by workers themselves. The dynamic has left national and international union leadership scrambling to keep up with their own members decisions to strike, their shifting goals, and how to support the social media-driven communications strategies workers are employing. There is this grassroots push, says David Madland, senior adviser to the American Worker Project at the Center for American Progress, and leaders have to catch up. A year and a half into the COVID-19 pandemic, in which most blue-collar workers risked their health and safety to go to work while their white-collar colleagues largely worked from home, some top union brass and union members are at a disconnect. Union leadership is sometimes so focused on state and federal power structures that theyre missing the tectonic shifts among workers on the ground, labor experts and striking workers say. Story continues There is a danger and a concern that some of the heads of unions tend to be DC-focused. [They are] too interested in, What are the debates on reconciliation? Whos working with the administration? Are we invited to the meetings in DC? Yes, theres an important role to play there, argues Faiz Shakir, the founder of advocacy journalism startup More Perfect Union and former Bernie Sanders 2020 campaign manager. But right now, especially at this moment in history, the worker fights are out there around the country. Read more: U.S. Workers Are Realizing Its the Perfect Time to Go on Strike The real problem, some say, is that unions are not seizing on this moment to capitalize on workers demands. The international and the local union kept telling us, You guys will never see a [full] pension and never see medical benefits when you retire, says Geiger of the UAW. I always ask, Why not? Thats what we want. Take it to the bargaining table and fight for it. After all, the iron is hot. Current labor conditions give U.S. workers extraordinary leverage over their employers: There are 10.4 million open jobs and just 7.7 million people looking for work, according to October figures from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, while a record-breaking number of people have been voluntarily quitting their jobs. Its kind of a perfect storm, and it allows the unions to be more aggressive than they have been for a long time, says Ruth Milkman, chair of the Labor Studies Department at the City University of New York. Unionized workers are seizing on the opening. Roughly 1,400 employees at four factories for Kelloggs are striking against a two-tier wage system, in addition to the 10,000 John Deere workers that have walked out over similar frustrations. Over 24,000 Kaiser Permanente health workers voted to authorize a strike in mid-October. IATSE, a union representing roughly 60,000 behind-the-scenes film and television employees, was also on the precipice of a strike earlier this month, before the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers proposed a tentative agreement with more humane work hours. (It is not yet clear IATSE workers will agree to the contract proposal.) And in mid-September, more than 1,000 Nabisco workers across five states exacted pay increases after a five-week strike. Union leadership, meanwhile, has been handed a golden opportunity. This recent surge of labor activitydubbed Striketoberhas garnered national headlines, excited rank-and-file laborers, and pushed employers onto their heels. While private-sector union membership remains low, just above 6% nationally, unions are in a position now to agitate, amass wins, and recruit much-needed new membership. But to do so, they may have to update their approach. In order to have a resurgence, says Milkman, youd have to organize that 94%. Do not try to package that script Rob Eafen, the President of Local 252G at the Memphis Kelloggs facility, says he and other local union leaders didnt originally want to strike; they wanted to continue negotiating for a better contract. But ultimately, the will of the workers prevailed. The movement to strike was a groundswell, from the people, Eafen says. We heard the call to strike at all the union meetings that we had, and in conversations with employees in the plant We had to listen to what the people wanted. But helping workers facilitate a strike isnt enough, workers say. Union leadership also has to empower them to extend their message from picket-lines to headlines. In the absence of effective communication strategies from his international union, Geiger says hes taken it upon himself to talk to tell the world what he and his coworkers at John Deere are fighting forand why. Were told by the union not to talk to the media, to just refer them to the union hall. Thats wrong, he says. Talk to the people that are doing the work. Thats where you get the real story. Signs by a fire during a union workers strike outside the Kellogg plant in Battle Creek, Michigan, U.S., on Friday, Oct. 22, 2021. Jenifer Veloso/Bloomberg via Getty Images Permitting striking workers to share their own experiences with the masses can be critical to a modern labor strikes success, says Shakir. When unions disseminate information about strikes through press releases or carefully edited statementsthe safe strategies of yesteryearthey risk suppressing the passion of the people working on the front lines. If you compare grassroots, worker-generated videos with one produced by union leadership, the latter is going to be canned, Shakir says. Its going to look like talking points. Its going to look like you set them up to say things, Shakir says. I firmly believe in letting [workers] tell you their story. Do not try to package that script. The Kelloggs strikes are one example. At the Omaha, Nebraska plant, packing troubleshooter Jeff Jens, 49, is leading the local unions social media efforts, capitalizing on Facebook and a blog to keep supporters informed about how the strike is going. Theres been a shift in the labor movement right now in two ways, says Jens. One is that power is being recognized by all the unions themselves, but also in the laborers themselves, realizing what their worth and what the power of their voice is. Read more: Pandemic Fuels Union Interest Among Frontline Workers At the Memphis Kelloggs plant, the strategy is similar. Pretty much everyone at the Kelloggs plant in Memphis, especially workers in their 20s, 30s and 40s, are using social media to express their personal motivations for striking to garner national support, says Eafen. Social media is the devil, he adds, but its been very, very successful. Liz Shuler, the president of AFL-CIO, the nations largest union federation, says national and international unions could do a better job of forging connections between other, tangentially related grassroots movements, like the Sunrise Movements climate organizing and Black Lives Matters racial equity demonstrations. Collective bargaining can be used to negotiate better pay and working conditions, like John Deere and Kelloggs employees are striking for, but it can also be used to negotiate employer policies on issues like carbon usage; sexual harassment; and diversity, equity and inclusion. These are some of the things that folks in our society and our economy care deeply about, but they dont necessarily see unions as the path forward, she told TIME in an October interview. Our challenge is to make that case to more working people outside of unions to see us as the path forward. Mary Kay Henry, the president of Service Employees International Union and a leader of Fight For $15, a group lobbying for a national $15 minimum wage, also points at the need for union leaders to reach out to other movements. The union isnt just about wages, hours and working conditions, she says. Its about everybodys total life, and us exercising the power of our militancy to change work, but also change society. That silver tsunami is about to hit us That unions membership rolls are anemic is hardly news. Union membership has been on the skids for decades, largely as a result of increasing globalization and the rise of right-to-work laws that make forming unions more difficult. In 1983, unions represented roughly one out of five workers; now they represent just one in ten. But its about to get a lot worse: current union members tend to skew older. Membership rates are highest among workers ages 45 to 64, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and lowest among the younger crowd. Roughly 13% of workers in the 45-54 and 55-64 age cohorts were members of unions in 2020, versus just 4.4% of workers ages 16-24. This is the challenge of our time. Something like 10,000 people a day are retiring, Shuler says, and that silver tsunami is about to hit us. That demographic challenge raises the stakes this month, multiple experts say. To prove to workers that membership is worth itthat it pays dividends in the form of better pay, benefits and work conditionsunions have to chalk up real, contractual wins. If union brass fails to provide workers with the support, megaphone, and hardline negotiations now, they risk compromising their ability to recruit more members and unionize more workplaces in the future. After nearly two decades of hard work at John Deere, Geiger says its time to throw cautious labor organizing approaches to the wind. I have no qualms about speaking out against the union, because they cant fire me, he says. They can make my life miserable, but how much more miserable can it get? A strong advocate for rural development, who was known for getting things done during his long tenure in the Nebraska Legislature, has died. Former state Sen. Merton "Cap" Dierks, 89, died Friday from complications following a stroke. He was known as a state senator who preserved relationships as he advocated for issues important to him. "Rural America lost one of its very best champions," said John Hansen, president of the Nebraska Farmers Union, describing Dierks as "one of the most influential and respected state senators" in the Legislature in the last 35-plus years. "He argued things from a moral and ethical and policy perspective, so he raised the level of debate on a lot of discussions." Former U.S. Sen. and Nebraska Gov. Bob Kerrey and current Sen. Deb Fischer offered similar praise. "Cap was a man whose faith and love of Nebraska combined with the virtue of caring about the opinions of everyone made him a model of what public service is at its best," Kerrey posted in a tribute on Facebook. "I trusted and loved this man completely. Young Nebraskans: Remember him. Be like him. You cannot do better." A key figure in the indictment of U.S. Rep. Jeff Fortenberry for allegedly lying to federal investigators has resigned his position with a Washington, D.C.-based Christian group. Toufic Baaklini, who resigned on Sunday, had served as president and a board member for several years for In Defense of Christians, an organization that fights persecution of Christians in the Middle East. Baaklini told federal investigators that in January 2016, he was given $30,000 by Gilbert Chagoury, a Nigerian billionaire now living in Paris, for distribution as political contributions to Fortenberry. Baaklini said he gave the money to a California man who was hosting a fundraiser for Fortenberry at a Los Angeles restaurant. A group of people with five of the donors having the last name Ayoub were recruited to eventually donate the money. It is illegal for foreigners to contribute to American political campaigns, including through third parties, a practice known as "conduit" contributions. New Delhi: The makers of 'Antim: The Final Truth' are all set to release the trailer of their film to the keenly awaiting and high on anticipation audiences. Ever since the announcement of Salman Khan and Aayush Sharma's collaboration in the motion picture, the audience has been eagerly and loyally waiting for some glimpses into the world of Antim and its characters. The makers have been serving their audiences properly, in the form of motion posters and musical numbers. So far, the makers have released a few posters and a song. The motion posters released unveiling the characters of Aayush as Ruhulia and Salman as Rajveer has already created a frenzy among the audience and fans. The response from the audience to the posters of the film has been well beyond phenomenal, making the film track at the top spot on IMDB. Now, the audience will get a deeper look into the 'Antim' world today evening. The trailer is sure to have a mass appeal to it, with all the factors of it being a 'dhamakedar masala' which is assuredly going to be a hit among the anticipating fans and audience. The trailer will be launched at a mega event in Mumbai, where the star cast of the film will be unveiling the trailer in presence of media and fans. It will also be screened simultaneously in Indore, Gurugram and Nagpur on their respective PVR screens. The film will be theatrically worldwide released by Zee Studios on November 26. Starring Salman Khan, Aayush Sharma and Mahima Makwana 'Antim: The Final Truth', is directed by Mahesh Manjrekar, produced by Salma Khan and is presented by Salman Khan Films. New Delhi: Superstar Rajinikanth was conferred with the 51st Dadasaheb Phalke Award - Indias Highest Film Honour, on Monday (October 25) by Vice President of India M. Venkaiah Naidu at the 67th National Film Awards ceremony. The 70 years old received the prestigious award for his outstanding contribution to the world of Indian cinema. Superstar Rajinikanth receives the Dadasaheb Phalke Award at 67th National Film Awards ceremony in Delhi. pic.twitter.com/x8hVKuCgE0 ANI (@ANI) October 25, 2021 #WATCH | Superstar Rajinikanth receives the Dadasaheb Phalke Award at 67th National Film Awards ceremony in Delhi. pic.twitter.com/3l51GaQBix ANI (@ANI) October 25, 2021 Actress Kangana Ranaut received the Best Actress award for her film Manikarnika and Panga at the 67th National Film Awards. Actors Dhanush and Manoj Bajpayee received the Best Actor award for Asuran and Bhonsle respectively. 67th National Film Awards | Kangana Ranaut receives the Best Actress award for "Manikarnika" and "Panga". Dhanush and Manoj Bajpayee receive the Best Actor award for "Asuran" and "Bhonsle" respectively. pic.twitter.com/SYuiIKZKUp ANI (@ANI) October 25, 2021 Malayalam superstar Mohanlals war epic Marakkar: Lion of the Arabian Sea, won the Best Feature Film. The film is, however, yet to release in theatres, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Harish Kalyans Jersey received the Best Film Award in the Telugu language whereas Rab Da Radio 2 was the Best Film in the Punjabi language. For the unversed, the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for 2019 should have been announced last year but was postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic, as were the National Film Awards for 2019. The prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke, awarded for excellence in cinematic achievement, is the highest honour in film and is awarded by the government. The recipient of the 2018 award was Amitabh Bachchan, who has shared screen space with Rajinikanth in the 1991 action-drama `Hum`. (With inputs from ANI) New Delhi: Superstar Rajinikanth received a standing ovation by the audience while he was conferred with Dadasaheb Phalke Award, India`s highest film honour, by Vice President Venkaiah Naidu in the capital today. The veteran star was felicitated with a Swarna Kamal (Golden Lotus) medallion, a shawl, and a cash prize. Born as Shivaji Rao Gaekwad on December 12, 1950, to Ramoji Rao and Jijabai, Rajinikanth worked as a bus conductor before embarking on his film journey about 45 years ago. While accepting the award, Rajinikanth took a stroll down memory lane to thank one of his old friends, who saw acting talent in him and encouraged him to try his luck in films. "I am extremely happy to receive this prestigious award. My heartfelt thanks to the central government for honouring me with the Dadasaheb Phalke award. I would like to dedicate this award to my guru K Balachander. Today, I remember him with great gratitude. I also want to thank my friend who saw this talent in me and suggested me to do acting while I was working as a bus conductor," he recalled. When he says "Ennai vaazha veikkum deivangalana tamizh makkale" __ Thalaivaaa you have done us all so proud!! What a privilege it is to call you our own! Many many congratulations @rajinikanth #DadasahebPhalkeAward pic.twitter.com/JcowpqkVme AGS Cinemas (@agscinemas) October 25, 2021 Rajinikanth also dedicated his win to all the producers, directors, members of the film industry and fans."Thanks to everyone for their support... press, media, directors, distributors, producers and fans... my heartfelt thanks to everyone. Also, a special thanks to Tamil people... without them I am nobody," he expressed his gratitude. Rajinikanth attended the presentation ceremony along with his wife Latha, daughter Aishwarya, and son-in-law Dhanush. Go First, India's budget airline brand earlier known as GoAir has introduced direct international flights between Srinagar and Sharjah. Go First recently operated the inaugural flight between the two cities, becoming the only airliner in the country to connect Jammu & Kashmir with UAE. Apart from passenger flights, direct international cargo operations from Srinagar has also been established expanding the international network for the company. Go First operated an Airbus A320neo G8 1595 that departed Sheikh ul-Alam International Airport in Srinagar on October 23 at 18:00 hours and arrived in Sharjah at 21:00 hours. Go First will henceforth operate four flights every week between Srinagar and Sharjah. The inaugural flight was flagged off by Home Minister, Amit Shah from the Sheikh ul-Alam International Airport in Srinagar in presence of Lt Governor Manoj Sinha and other dignitaries. Go First is offering inaugural one-way early bird tickets at Rs 5,000 only in a move that is touted to boost trade and tourism between Srinagar and the UAE. Recently, Go First operated the first night flight from Jammu following its successful operations of the first night flight from Srinagar. Go First is the only airline appointed for the cargo movement of Horticultural perishable and agricultural produce of J&K Horticulture Products the state-owned company. Speaking on the development, Kaushik Khona, CEO, Go First said: Having been in operation here for over 15 years, we at GO FIRST share a special relationship with the region and are committed to its growth. We are delighted to be the first airline to connect Jammu & Kashmir with UAE and it bears testimony to our commitment to the region. We believe that this connectivity will be pivotal in bilateral exchange of trade and tourism between the two regions. New Delhi: Big IT companies are all set to gradually get back to work from office thus ending ending Work from home after almost one and a half years due to the onslaught of the COVID-19 Pandemic. While there will be flexibility of schedules for employees in TCS, Wipro has not yet comitted the number of employees that will be joining back work from office. Meanwhile, Infosys will also put rest to forever work from home and plans to follow a hybrid work model going ahead. With 70 per cent of TCSers (employees of TCS) fully vaccinated, and over 95 per cent having received at least one dose, we plan to gradually get our workforce back in office by the end of this year, chief HR officer of the company Milind Lakkad said, while announcing the updates regarding the earnings for the quarter ending in September. Previously, TCS had said that it would encourage employees to join offices by the end of calendar year 2021. About 5 per cent of the IT major's associates were working from offices as on October. "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. Wipro Chairman Rishad Premji last month made the announcement on Twitter, saying, After 18 long months, our leaders @Wipro are coming back to the office starting tomorrow (twice a week). All fully vaccinated, all ready to go - safely and socially distanced! We will watch this closely. After 18 long months, our leaders @Wipro are coming back to the office starting tomorrow (twice a week). All fully vaccinated, all ready to go - safely and socially distanced! We will watch this closely. pic.twitter.com/U8YDs2Rsyo Rishad Premji (@RishadPremji) September 12, 2021 IT bellwether company Infosys, too is planning to follow a hybrid work model in the coming days. With over 86 per cent of Infoscions (employees of Infosys) in India having received at least one dose of vaccination, we are now preparing to embrace the hybrid work model. We have equipped employees with the resources they need to be productive, cyber secure, stay connected, and maintain a work-life balance. Our talent strategy also factors in expanded hiring pools that include new communities and work locations, said Pravin Rao, chief operating officer, Infosys. Live TV #mute New Delhi: The Aam Aadmi Party has been toiling hard to understand and resolve the problems of the people of Delhi. In that direction, the Delhi state unit of the party has been tirelessly organising Mohalla Sabhas to reach out to the people. The Aam Aadmi Party organised 2,532 Mohalla meetings across Delhi from September 1 to October 20 under 'Aapka MLA Aapke Dwar' program. Delhi State Convenor and Cabinet Minister Gopal Rai said that in every Mohalla Sabha, people have raised the issue of dirt and litter spreading throughout Delhi and it is evident that the BJP will be cleared off from the MCD before they clear the garbage they have left behind. He informed that the people have continuously talked about how BJP and MCD have proved completely unsuccessful in cleaning the garbage of Delhi and havent even campaigned against dengue. He said that the people of Delhi also want a change in MCD this time, so the party will start a campaign after Diwali to further strengthen the organisational structure Aam Aadmi Party's Delhi State Convenor and Cabinet Minister Gopal Rai said in a press conference at the party headquarters today that the Aam Aadmi Party had started the 'Aapka Vidhayak Aapke Dwar' program from September 1. This program was to be completed by 30th September, but due to rain and after enthusiastic proposals to hold Mohalla Sabhas in many localities, we had extended it till 20th October. Between September 1 and October 20, all the MLAs of the Aam Aadmi Party in Delhi and office bearers of the organisation will continue to organise Mohalla Sabhas. Gopal Rai said, between September 1 and October 20, 2,532 mohalla sabhas were organised. In which 376 Mohalla Sabhas were held in the North-East Lok Sabha. 358 in East Delhi Lok Sabha, 367 in West Lok Sabha, 338 in Chandni Chowk Lok Sabha, 345 in New Delhi Lok Sabha, 389 in South Lok Sabha, 359 in North West Lok Sabha in which our MLAs communicated with the public about their problems. Due to the Corona pandemic, there was no direct communication with the public for a long time. The problems of the people were heard in the Mohalla Sabhas and work is being done regarding their problems at the assembly level and also at the level of Delhi government. AAP's state convenor Gopal Rai said, the biggest thing is that we have not had any such Mohalla Sabha in which people have not raised the issue of litter and garbage spread throughout Delhi. Be it Narela assembly, be it Najafgarh assembly, be it Burari, Chhatarpur, Rohini or Badarpur assembly, people all over Delhi raised the issue of filth. Along with communicating with the public through this program, one thing also came to the fore that the Bharatiya Janata Party has proved to be a complete failure in disposing of its responsibility of sanitation under the MCD. The result of this is being seen inside Delhi today." "In Delhi, every year in the month of October, a cleanliness drive was conducted by the MCD to avoid dengue infection. Especially fogging. Medicines that kill dengue larvae were put in people's coolers and where water is stored. The MCD and the Bharatiya Janata Party have not only failed to clear the garbage but this year have also failed in the way it should have campaigned against dengue, Rai added. Senior AAP leader Gopal Rai said, the Bharatiya Janata Party has given three gifts of garbage to Delhi, which are standing on the borders of Delhi. To clear it, a deadline is presented again and again and in the same direction, the deadlines are moved ahead again and again. Seeing the speed with which the mountain of garbage is being cleaned, it seems that the deadline of BJP's farewell from MCD will come even before the deadline for cleaning the garbage is over." Gopal Rai further added, "We are making our action plan on the basis of the preliminary reports of our Mohalla Sabhas. At the same time, the party is also reviewing the performance of the party organisation from place to place in the Mohalla Sabhas. By compiling the reports of all the Legislative Assemblies and reviewing the organisation, after Diwali, we will launch the organisational campaign on a large scale. The people of Delhi also want that there should be a change in MCD this time. For this, the party will launch a big campaign after Diwali to further strengthen its organisational structure. Live TV New Delhi: The Union Health Ministry on Monday (October 25, 2021) informed that it has rushed a high-level multi-disciplinary team to Uttar Pradesh's Kanpur where a Zika virus case has been reported. The multidisciplinary team comprising of an entomologist, public health specialists and gynaecologist drawn from the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme, National Center for Disease Control and Dr RML Hospital, New Delhi has been deployed to assist the State Health authorities for control and containment measures of the Zika virus disease. A 57-year-old warrant officer in the Indian Air Force (IAF) was diagnosed with the infection on Saturday, the first in Kanpur. "The team shall work closely with the State Health Department, take stock of the situation on the ground and assess whether the Union Health Ministrys Action Plan for Zika Management is being implemented. The team will also recommend necessary public health interventions for the management of Zika in the state of Uttar Pradesh," the Centre said in a press statement. Earlier on Sunday, Kanpur's Chief Medical Officer Nepal Singh said that the IAF officer was suffering from fever for the past several days and was admitted to the Air Force Hospital in the district. Following mysterious symptoms in the case, the blood sample was collected and sent to Pune for proper examination which confirmed that the patient was Zika virus positive, he said, adding the report was received on Saturday. Twenty-two more samples of persons who came in contact with the patient and those who have the same symptoms have also been sent for examination, Singh stated. Health and civic bodies' officials have been put on alert to deal with the situation. Besides, several teams have also been tasked to check the spread of the virus in the district, officials said. Caused by a virus transmitted primarily by Aedes mosquitoes, which bite during the day, symptoms of this disease are mild fever, rash, conjunctivitis, muscle and joint pain, malaise or a headache. (With agency inputs) Live TV New Delhi: Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief N Chandrababu Naidu reached the national capital on Monday (October 25) where he met President Ramnath Kovind regarding the matter of alleged attack on his party offices by the Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party. Speaking to the media TDP Cheif said, "In the history of Andhra Pradesh & India, no political party attacked another party's office. Andhra DGP is colluding with CM & they operated all this. We demanded the President for President Rule in the state & for CBI inquiry to punish culprits." "We met President to tell him how state-sponsored terrorism & mafia gangs are operating in the state. From Andhra Pradesh, drug is transported all over India & now abroad too. It's a national issue; we're fighting to make Andhra drug-free," Naidu told ANI. Naidu`s Delhi visit comes days after he demanded the intervention of the central government in the matter of alleged attack on his party offices. He wanted President`s rule to be imposed in Andhra Pradesh through Article 356 of the Constitution of India. The former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh on Thursday (October 21) said the Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) was responsible for the attack at the TDP Central Office in Mangalagiri. "The ruling government is responsible for the attack on the opposition party office. This is an utter failure of law and order in the state and the police department is acting as a party cadre. TDP is capable of having their own security if the police is a failure in giving security to the opposition," he said. Live TV \ Beijing: Asserting that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of China is "sacred and inviolable", the country's national legislature has adopted a new law on the protection and exploitation of the land border areas, which could have a bearing on Beijing's border dispute with India. Members of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) approved the law at the closing meeting of a legislative session on Saturday, state-run Xinhua news agency reported. The law, which becomes operational from January 1 next year, stipulates that "the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the People's Republic of China are sacred and inviolable", it said. The state shall take measures to safeguard territorial integrity and land boundaries and guard against and combat any act that undermines territorial sovereignty and land boundaries, the report said. The law also stipulates that the state shall take measures to strengthen border defence, support economic and social development as well as opening-up in border areas, improve public services and infrastructure in such areas, encourage and support people's life and work there, and promote coordination between border defence and social, economic development in border areas, it said. The state shall, following the principle of equality, mutual trust and friendly consultation, handle land border-related affairs with neighbouring countries through negotiations to properly resolve disputes and longstanding border issues, it said. The law states that the Chinese military shall carry out border duties including organising drills and resolutely prevent, stop and combat invasion, encroachment, provocation and other acts. A significant aspect of the new law includes state support for the construction of border towns, improving their functioning and strengthening supporting capacity for the construction. China in recent years has been strengthening the border infrastructure including the establishment of air, rail and road networks. It also launched a bullet train in Tibet which extends up to Nyingchi, the border town close to Arunachal Pradesh. Besides that, China also began constructing a number of villages close to the border with proper infrastructure in Tibet which have become an essential and effective part of border defence, state-run Global Times reported on October 19. By the end of 2020, Tibet had built more than 600 well-off, high-standard border villages. The roads connecting border villages are also quite accessible. At least 130 border roads have been newly built or reconstructed with a total length of 3,080 km, it quoted a report by the state-run Xinhua news agency. The new law calls for the establishment of trade areas and border economic cooperation zones at the borders. It also calls for improving the ecological environment along the border besides epidemic control and maintaining flood and fire control. India and Bhutan are the two countries with which China is yet to finalise the border agreements, while Beijing resolved the boundary disputes with 12 other neighbours. Last week, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said the developments along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh have "seriously disturbed" the peace and tranquillity in border areas, and this has obviously had an impact on the broader relationship too. The foreign secretary, in his remarks at a seminar on "Leveraging China's Economy" on Oct 21, also referred to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar's remarks that the ability of India and China to work together will determine the Asian century. "For this to materialise, peace and tranquillity in the border areas is a sine qua non. He (Jaishankar) has also clearly articulated that development of our ties can only be based on mutuality -- mutual respect, mutual sensitivity and mutual interests should guide this process," Shringla said. "We hope that the Chinese side will work with us to bring a satisfactory resolution to the current issues so as to make progress on our bilateral relations keeping in view each other's sensitivities, aspirations and interests," the foreign secretary said. While India-China border disputes cover 3,488-km along the Line of Actual Control, the China-Bhutan dispute covers about 400 km. The new land border law was adopted amid the continued standoff between Indian and Chinese militaries in eastern Ladakh. On October 14, China and Bhutan signed an MOU firming up a three-step roadmap for expediting the boundary negotiations, which Beijing said will make a meaningful contribution to speed up the border talks and establishment of diplomatic ties. Live TV New Delhi: Congress leader Meira Kumar hit out at RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav over a derogatory remark he used for the formers party state chief Bhakta Charan Das. She said that the comment hurt the self-respect of Dalit community. A respected leader has used objectionable language against Bihar Congress in-charge Bhakta Charan Das, hurting self-respect of Dalit community of Bihar and the country and qualifies as an offence under SC/ST Act, Kumar said. Talking to media about Dass alleged claims that RJD would join hands with the BJP, Yadav had said the Congress leader did not know anything. #WATCH | Delhi: RJD leader Lalu Prasad Yadav speaks on the breaking of party's alliance with Congress in Bihar. He says, "What is Congress' alliance? Would we have left everything to Congress for a loss? For losing of deposits?" The RJD leader will go to Patna. pic.twitter.com/3IZpa41zuU ANI (@ANI) October 24, 2021 Yadav also took a potshot at Congress hinting at a possible rift in the alliance. What is Congress' alliance? Should we align with them for losing? For forfeiting deposits (in elections), said Yadav. Lalu Prasad Yadav reached Patna yesterday. He has returned to Bihar after over 3 years, amid the strained relationship between Tej Pratap and his younger brother Tejashwi. He will campaign in Tarapur (Munger) and Kusheshwar Asthan (Darbhanga) on October 27 for the upcoming bypolls in the state. Notably, RJD was the single-largest party with 75 seats in the Bihar assembly elections held last year while its partner Congress only won 19 of the 70 seats it had contested. Live TV New Delhi: Delhi University will release the special cut-off list on Monday (October 25, 2021) for the undergraduate courses. The special cut-off list will be for the students who were not able to apply in the first three lists. Students need to note that the DU special cut-off list, to fill the remaining seats which are still vacant, will be out on the official website i.e., du.ac.in. As per official information, the University has filled almost 60,000 seats under various undergraduate courses in the first three lists. The university has so far received over 1.7 lakh applications. The students who are aspiring to get admissions to Delhi University need to note that this special cut-off list will not be counted under the fourth cut-off list. The fourth cut-off list will be released later on October 30, 2021. ALSO READ | DU Admissions 2021: 86% seats full in Delhi University before fourth cut-off list Delhi University special cut-off 2021: How to apply Step 1. Visit the official website of Delhi University i.e., du.ac.in Step 2. On homepage, click on the Latest news section Step 3. Click on the DU special cut-off list link available there Step 4. Download the PDF file and check the list Live TV New Delhi: The Aryan Khan drug on cruise case has taken a new twist as one of the witnesses in the case has turned against the NCBs Sameer Wankhede. He has leveled serious allegations of extortion against Wankhede. At the same time, NCP leader Nawab Malik has launched a fresh tirade against Wankhede over his religion. Zee News Editor-in-Chief Sudhir Chaudhary on Monday (October 25) discussed the conflict between NCP and NCB with a special twist added by the witness in the Aryan Khan case. Prabhakar Sail, the bodyguard of private detective Kiran Gosavi has claimed that the latter was trying to extort Rs 25 crore for releasing Aryan Khan. Out of this, Rs 8 crore was meant for Wankhede, he claimed. Such shocking statements made by a witness can turn the whole case upside down. Referring to a meeting held after Aryan Khan's arrest, he also said that there was a meeting between Gosavi and Shah Rukh Khan's manager Pooja Dadlani. Sail also alleged that he was made to sign on blank papers by Sameer Wankhede. He alleged that he was made a witness in the case under a conspiracy. After the allegations, Wankhede wrote a letter to the Mumbai police asking them not to take any legal action in a hurry in this regard. However, the police could start an investigation against him. Meanwhile, NCP leader Nawab Malik has alleged that Wankhede is not a Dalit but a Muslim and he has got the job fraudulently under the reserved quota. As proof, NCP also issued his birth certificate, in which Sameer Wankhede's father's name is written as Dawood Kachruji Wankhede and his mother's name is Zahida Bano. Sameer Wankhede clarified these allegations saying that his father was Hindu and mother was Muslim and he belongs to a secular family. He said that in 2006, his first marriage was with Shabana Qureshi, who was a Muslim. But after getting divorced in 2016, he married again and his second wife Kranti Dinanath Redkar is a Hindu. So, what started as a drug case has also turned into a somewhat communal issue. Wankhede has filed an affidavit in the NDPS court today demanding a stay on the affidavit of Prabhakar Sail in which allegations of extortion have been leveled against him. But the court refused this. With each passing day, the case seems to be getting murkier with several allegations and counter-allegations being made by various parties. Live TV New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday (October 25, 2021) will inaugurate and lay the foundation stone of various development projects in Srinagar. Today will be the third day of Shahs three-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir. This is the Union Home Minister's first visit to the Valley since the abrogation of Article 370. Earlier on Sunday, Shah visited forward areas at the Makwal border in Jammu and Kashmir with Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and interacted with jawans and local residents. The Union Home Minister also met with the delegations of Kashmiri Pandits, Gujjar-Bakarwal community, Pahadi community and Jammu and Kashmir Chamber of Commerce in Jammu. Amit Shahs J&K visit has come amid reports of several incidents of killings of civilians by the terrorists in the Union Territory which is sparking fear in the valley. Shah on Sunday met the family of Deepak Chand, a young teacher who died in a terrorist attack in Srinagar. On his first day of the visit, Shah had met families of soldiers and civilians killed this month in a spate of terrorist attacks in Jammu and Kashmir. Stating that Jammu and Kashmir is in the heart of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday said that a new era of development has started in the Union Territory and nobody can stop this development. While addressing an event in Jammu, the Union Minister said, "Nobody can stop the era of development that has started in J-K. It is the land of temples, of Mata Vaishno Devi, of Prem Nath Dogra, the land of sacrifices of Syama Prasad Mukherjee. We would not let the people, who are trying to disrupt peace in J-K succeed." (With ANI inputs) Live TV New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday (October 25, 2021) launched the Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission and said that it will instil India's health sector with 'AatmaVishwas' (self-confidence) and 'AatmaNirbharta' (self-sufficient). While launching one of the largest pan-India schemes for strengthening healthcare infrastructure, from his parliamentary constituency Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh, PM Modi said that this mission will give new energy and new development to India's health facilities. "In India, we have always believed that investment in health is one of the biggest and best investments. With PM Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission, the government is investing in the health and wellness of 1.3 billion Indians," he said. The Prime Minister stated that the PM Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission will strengthen India's ability to fight and contain outbreaks of diseases in the future. A landmark day for Indias healthcare sector. Watch from Kashi. https://t.co/FTZozoy34p Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 25, 2021 "We all have witnessed the poor healthcare facilities of India, but this mission has the potential of bringing a revolutionary change in health facilities across the country," he added. PM Modi informed that under this scheme, health and wellness Centers are being opened in villages and cities, where there will facilities for early detection of diseases: "PM Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission will bridge the gaps by opening more diagnostics and consultation centres that can detect diseases before they become serious. We will build critical care hospital blocks in over 600 districts," he said. He added that the PM Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission is one of India's major steps towards holistic healthcare where health and wellness are a priority. "With the speed at which we are opening new medical colleges, now a child coming from a poor and middle-class background will be able to realise his/her dream of becoming a doctor," the Prime Minister said. He also inaugurated various development projects worth more than Rs 5,200 crore for his constituency. Earlier in the day, PM Modi inaugurated nine medical colleges in Uttar Pradesh virtually from Siddharthnagar. Built at a cost of Rs 2,329 crore, the medical colleges inaugurated on Monday are located in Siddharthnagar, Etah, Hardoi, Pratapgarh, Fatehpur, Deoria, Ghazipur, Mirzapur and Jaunpur districts. While eight medical colleges have been sanctioned under a Centrally sponsored scheme for the establishment of new medical colleges attached with district or referral hospitals, the one in Jaunpur has been made functional by the state government through its own resources. (With agency inputs) Live TV New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will attend the 18th ASEAN-India Summit to be held virtually on October 28, at the invitation of the Sultan of Brunei, the Prime Minister`s Office (PMO) said on Monday. The Summit will be attended by Heads of State/Government of the ASEAN Countries. A PMO release stated that the 18th ASEAN-India Summit will review the status of the ASEAN-India Strategic Partnership and take stock of progress made in key areas including Covid-19 & Health, Trade & Commerce, Connectivity, and Education & Culture. Important regional and international developments including post-pandemic economic recovery will also be discussed. ASEAN-India Summits are held annually and provide an opportunity for India and ASEAN to engage at the highest level. Prime Minister attended the 17th ASEAN-India Summit held virtually in November last year. 18th ASEAN-India Summit will be the ninth ASEAN-India Summit to be attended by him. ASEAN-India Strategic Partnership stands on a strong foundation of shared geographical, historical, and civilizational ties. ASEAN is central to our Act East Policy and our wider vision of the Indo-Pacific. "The year 2022 will mark 30 years of ASEAN-India relations. India and ASEAN have several dialogue mechanisms which meet regularly, including a Summit, Ministerial meetings and Senior Officials` meetings. External Affairs Minister, Dr S. Jaishankar attended the ASEAN-India Foreign Ministers` Meeting and EAS Foreign Ministers` Meeting in August 2021 virtually. Minister of State for Commerce and Industry, Anupriya Patel attended the ASEAN Economic Ministers + India Consultations held virtually in September 2021 where the Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen economic cooperation,` PMO said. Prime Minister will also attend the 16th East Asia Summit to be held on October 27 virtually. The East Asia Summit is the premier Leaders-led forum in the Indo-Pacific. Since its inception in 2005, it has played a significant role in the strategic and geopolitical evolution of East Asia. Apart from the 10 ASEAN Member states, East Asia Summit includes India, China, Japan, Republic of Korea, Australia, New Zealand, United States and Russia. India, being a founding member of the East Asia Summit, is committed to strengthening the East Asia Summit and making it more effective for dealing with contemporary challenges. It is also an important platform for furthering practical cooperation in the Indo-Pacific by building upon the convergence between ASEAN Outlook on Indo-Pacific (AOIP) and Indo-Pacific Ocean`s Initiative (IPOI). At the 16th East Asia Summit, Leaders will discuss matters of regional and international interest and concern including maritime security, terrorism, Covid-19 cooperation. Leaders are also expected to accept declarations on Mental Health, Economic recovery through Tourism, and Green Recovery, which are being co-sponsored by India, PMO said. Live TV New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday (October 25, 2021) will visit Uttar Pradesh and launch Pradhan Mantri Atmanirbhar Swasth Bharat Yojana in Varanasi. He will also inaugurate nine medical colleges in the state. According to a Prime Minister`s Office (PMO) release, PM Modi will inaugurate various development projects worth more than Rs 5200 crore for Varanasi. "Prime Minister Atmanirbhar Swasth Bharat Yojana (PMASBY) will be one of the largest pan-India schemes for strengthening healthcare infrastructure across the country. It will be in addition to the National Health Mission," said PMO. The release further added that the objective of PMASBY is to fill critical gaps in public health infrastructure, especially in critical care facilities and primary care in both urban and rural areas. It will provide support for 17,788 rural Health and Wellness Centres in 10 High Focus States. Further, 11,024 urban Health and Wellness Centres will be established in all the States. Critical care services will be available in all the districts of the country with more than 5 lakh population, through Exclusive Critical Care Hospital Blocks, while the remaining districts will be covered through referral services. People will have access to a full range of diagnostic services in the Public Healthcare system through a network of laboratories across the country. Integrated Public Health Labs will be set up in all the districts. Under PMASBY, a National Institution for One Health, 4 New National Institutes for Virology, a Regional Research Platform for WHO South-East Asia Region, 9 Biosafety Level III laboratories, 5 New Regional National Centre for Disease Control will be set up. PMASBY targets to build an IT enabled disease surveillance system by developing a network of surveillance laboratories at block, district, regional and national levels, in Metropolitan areas. Integrated Health Information Portal will be expanded to all States/UTs to connect all public health labs. PMASBY also aims at the Operationalisation of 17 new Public Health Units and the strengthening of 33 existing Public Health Units at Points of Entry, for effectively detecting, investigating, preventing, and combating Public Health Emergencies and Disease Outbreaks. It will also work towards building up a trained frontline health workforce to respond to any public health emergency. Nine medical colleges to be inaugurated are situated in the districts of Siddharthnagar, Etah, Hardoi, Pratapgarh, Fatehpur, Deoria, Ghazipur, Mirzapur and Jaunpur. 8 Medical Colleges have been sanctioned under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme for "Establishment of new medical colleges attached with district/ referral hospitals" and 1 Medical College at Jaunpur has been made functional by the State Government through its own resources. Under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme, preference is given to underserved, backward and aspirational districts. The Scheme aims to increase the availability of health professionals, correct the existing geographical imbalance in the distribution of medical colleges and effectively utilize the existing infrastructure of district hospitals. Under three phases of the Scheme, 157 new medical colleges have been approved across the nation, out of which 63 medical colleges are already functional. UP Governor Anandiben Patel, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya will also be present during the event. (With ANI inputs) Live TV New Delhi: In an all party-meet held in Punjab on Monday (October 25), the leaders passed a resolution against the Centres order to extend the jurisdiction of the Border Security Force (BSF) in the state. Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi asserted that it was a matter related to the state and that law and order is a state subject. He called the order a raid on our rights in the federal structure. All parties unanimously passed a resolution that this notification be rolled back. If the government doesn't do it, parties decided that a session of Vidhan Sabha be called over this, said Channi. As this is a matter related to Punjab and Punjabis and law and order is a state subject. It is like a raid on our rights in the federal structure. All political parties in Punjab will come together in the fight to make Centre withdraw the notification, he added. Leaders from various political parties arrived at Punjab Bhawan for the meeting. The main opposition party, Aam Aadmi Party, was represented by Bhagwant Mann and Aman Arora whereas Daljit Cheema and Chandumajra were Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) representatives. The Union government had recently amended the BSF Act to authorise the force to undertake search, seizure and arrest within a 50 km stretch, up from the existing 15 km, from the international border in Punjab, West Bengal and Assam. Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu also attacked the Centre over the issue of jurisdiction of the BSF, accusing it of weakening the federal structure by creating a state within a state. He also slammed the government for disregarding the democratic rights of the people of Punjab with extending the jurisdiction of the Border Security Force (BSF), and expressed fear of torture, false cases, arbitrary detention and illegal arrests in the state. Live TV New Delhi: A Delhi court Monday awarded 12-year-jail terms to two Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM) terrorists and 10-year-terms to two other members of the outfit for conspiring to commit terror activities and arranging funds for those acts. Special Judge Parveen Singh awarded 12-year jail terms to Mohd. Shafi Shah and Muzzafar Ahmad Dar and 10-year-jail terms to Talib Lali and Mushtaq Ahmad Lone. All the four accused had pleaded guilty to all the charges levelled against them on September 27, and following that, were convicted on October 4. While Shah and Lali were residents of Bandipora district in Jammu and Kashmir, Dar and Lone hailed from Budgam and Anantnag districts respectively. The case was lodged by the NIA with allegations that HM had been regularly receiving funds originating from neighbouring countries for carrying out terrorist activities in India and that in the garb of an organization Jammu Kashmir Affectees Relief Trust (JKART), the HM was actively involved in furthering the terrorist activities. All the four were convicted for the offences under sections 17 (punishment for raising funds for the terrorist act), 18 (punishment for conspiracy to commit terrorist act), 20 (punishment for being a member of terrorist gang or organisation), 40 (offence of raising fund for a terrorist organisation) and 38 (offence relating to membership of a terrorist organisation) of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). They were also convicted for sections 120 (criminal conspiracy) and 121 (Waging, or attempting to wage war, or abetting waging of war, against the Government of India) of the Indian Penal Code. Also Read: NIA arrests ISIS operative who recruited Muslim youth for training in Syria Live TV Dehradun: The death toll due to rain-related incidents in Uttarakhand has mounted 72 and four people are still missing, said the Uttarakhand government on Sunday (October 24, 2021). As per the report, 26 people were injured in the disaster from October 17 to 19. The rain triggered landslides, house collapses and deluge caused large scale devastation and loss of life and property in the state. Also, 224 houses were damaged in these incidents. Amid torrential rains, the hilly state has witnessed flooded roads, landslides, and overflowing rivers leaving people stranded in various places. Earlier on Friday, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami announced that he would contribute his salary for the month of October 2021 towards the Uttarakhand`s Chief Minister`s Relief Fund (CMRF). His contribution to the CMRF was announced in the wake of the natural calamity that struck the state recently. Live TV Srinagar: On the third day of his visit to Jammu and Kashmir, Union Home Minister Amit Shah took a dig at National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah over his comment suggesting India should hold talks with Pakistan on Kashmir issue. Shah said that the government of India will only talk to the people of J&K and not to Pakistan. Farooq Sahib has suggested that we should talk to Pakistan. Let me clarify, if we will talk, we will talk to people of J&K and its youth only, no one else, Shah said addressing a youth rally at Sher-e-Kashmir International Convention Centre (SKICC) in Srinagar. As a show of confidence over the security situation in the union territory, Shah addressed the event without a bulletproof shield. Today, I am speaking my heart. I am speaking without a bulletproof shield, Shah told the gathering wearing a traditional Kashmiri pheran. Shah said, Dr Farooq and Mehbooba failed to do what BJP did in just two years. He further said that the curfew was imposed and internet services were snapped to ensure the safety of the youth. This was done to protect and save the lives of our youth. We didn`t want vested interests and anti-peace elements to exploit the situation and push our youth on roads to face bullets, said Shah. He said that it was time to come out of this bloodshed and march towards a new journey of peace, development and prosperity. I promise, J&K will get what it deserves by 2024, he added. Live TV New Delhi: Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) is looking to hire for Apprentice posts for its various refineries. Interested candidates can visit the official website of IOCL at iocl.com to apply. The last date to fill the application form is November 12. The IOCL recruitment drive will fill over 1968 trade apprentices and technician apprentices vacancies at its refineries in Guwahati, Barauni, Gujarat, Haldia, Mathura, PRPC, Panipat Digboi, Bongaigaon, and Paradip. IOCL Recruitment 2021: Age limit Candidates should not be less than 18 years of age and the maximum age limit is 24 years as of October 31, 2021. For SC, ST, PwBD, OBC (NCL) candidates, certain age relaxations will be allowed as per rules. IOCL Recruitment 2021: Selection process Candidates will be selected on the basis of the marks obtained by them in the Written Test. Those who qualify the written test would be called for document verification. IOCL Recruitment 2021: How to apply 1. Visit the official website at iocl.com 2. On the homepage, go to Whats New 3. Click on Engagement of Apprentices under Refineries Division 4. Click on Apply Online 5. Fill the required details and submit the form 6. Download and take a printout for future reference Candidates are advised to read the eligibility criteria and other details before applying. IOCL Recruitment 2021: Important dates to remember Tentative date of written test November 21, 2021 Tentative date of result of written test December 4, 2021 Tentative date of document verification December 13 to 20, 2021 Live TV New Delhi: It is the last chance for candidates who are interested in applying for SBI PO vacant posts as the registration process ends today (October 25, 2021). According to the State Bank of India, the candidates selected for Probationary Officer posts can be posted anywhere across India. The vacancies have been announced on SBI's official website (sbi.co.in) and the bank has sought applications from eligible Indian candidates. Check all the important details below. SBI PO Recruitment 2021: Total number of vacancies The SBI has released a notification for as many as 2,056 vacancies, of which, 324 are for Scheduled Caste (SC), 162 for Scheduled Tribe (ST), 560 for Other Backward Classes (OBC), 200 for Economically Weaker Section (EWS) and 810 are for General Category. SBI PO Recruitment 2021: Eligibility -- A Graduation degree in any discipline from a recognised University or any equivalent qualification recognised as such by the Central Government. -- Those who are in the final year/semester of their Graduation may also apply provisionally subject to the condition that, if called for an interview, they will have to produce proof of having passed the graduation examination on or before December 31, 2021. -- Candidates having Integrated Dual Degree (IDD) certificate should note that the date of passing the IDD is on or before December 31, 2021. -- Chartered Accountant or Cost Accountant candidates can also apply. SBI PO Recruitment 2021: Age limit A candidate should not be below 21 years and not above 30 years as on April 1, 2021. Relaxation in the upper age limit is there for SC, ST, OBC, PWD, Ex-Servicemen candidates. Live TV New Delhi: Actress Ananya Panday who was summoned for the third time by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) on Monday (October 25) in Aryan Khans drugs case is reportedly not appearing before the investigative agency today. The actress was previously grilled by the agency for two consecutive days - October 21 and 22 respectively. Ananyas father and actor Chunky Panday accompanied her during the summons. Actor Ananya Panday is not appearing before NCB today in the ongoing drugs case. She has requested NCB for a further date due to personal commitments. NCB has accepted her request; to issue her fresh summons for another date: NCB Sources, claims news agency ANI. Actor Ananya Panday is not appearing before NCB today in the ongoing drugs case. She has requested NCB for a further date due to personal commitments. NCB has accepted her request; to issue her fresh summons for another date: NCB Sources (file photo) pic.twitter.com/dZjUAPpV8A ANI (@ANI) October 25, 2021 According to the NCB, Ananya Panday had supplied weed to Shah Rukh Khans son Aryan in 2019. The agency established this information based on the WhatsApp chats they had recovered from SRKs son's mobile phone. The chats recovered from Aryan Khan's mobile phone reveal that in 2018-19, she helped supply drugs to Aryan thrice by providing him the numbers of drug dealers," NCB sources told ANI. Ananya has, however, denied the supply-related talks in the chat conversation and told the NCB officials that she has never consumed or supplied drugs, the sources added. Aryan Khan was arrested by NCB sleuths along with seven others on October 3 following a raid at Mumbai cruise ship on October 2. Aryan's bail will be heard by the Bombay High Court on Tuesday (October 26). NEW DELHI: The Narcotics Control Bureau has ordered a vigilance inquiry into the claims made by a witness in the cruise drugs case of an extortion bid of Rs 25 crore by some agency officials, including its Mumbai zonal director Sameer Wankhede, and others for letting off accused Aryan Khan, son of actor Shah Rukh Khan. The inquiry will be conducted by Gyaneshwar Singh, the NCB Deputy Director General of northern region based at its headquarters here. Singh is also the Chief Vigilance Officer of the federal anti-narcotics agency. Prabhakar Sail, an independent witness in the cruise drugs case, had on October 24 claimed in an affidavit and in subsequent interactions with reporters in Mumbai that Rs 25 crore was demanded by an NCB official and some other people linked to the case to let off Aryan Khan from this investigation. Sail said he was the bodyguard of another witness in this case, KP Gosavi, who is absconding after the NCB raids that were conducted on October 3 at the cruise terminal on Mumbai's coast leading to the arrest of as many as 20 people, including Aryan. Sail also claimed that he saw Gosavi meeting Shah Rukh Khan's manager and that he was asked to sign '9-10 blank pages' in the presence of Wankhede after the cruise raids. "We have received the affidavit and a report from our DDG (south-west region) based in Mumbai and the NCB director general has taken cognisance of this report. He has marked it to the vigilance section for inquiry. Gauri Khan meets Aryan Khan's lawyer Satish Maneshinde Earlier today, Shah Rukh Khan's wife and Aryan Khan's mother Gauri Khan met senior lawyer Satish Maneshinde, who is defending her son in the Mumbai drug case. Ananya Panday skips NCB interrogation today In a related development, actress Ananya Panday who was summoned by NCB for question in connection with Whatsapp chats related to drugs, which was recovered from Aryan Khan's phone, did not appear at the NCB office. Mumbai: Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Ramdas Athawale has advised Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan to send his son Aryan Khan, who is arrested in a drugs-on-cruise case, to a rehabilitation centre . "It is not good to take drugs at a young age. Aryan Khan has a future ahead. I advise Shah Rukh Khan to send Aryan Khan to a de-addiction rehabilitation centre associated with the Ministry. He should be there for 1-2 months instead of keeping him in jail. There are a lot of such centres across the country. In 1-2 months, he will be cured of drug addiction," the Union Minister said on Sunday. The RPI leader also said that as per his ministry a new law should be formulated under which the accused should not be sent to jail. Athawale further lauded Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) Zonal Director Sameer Wankhede for his investigation into the cruise drugs case and said, "At least 5-6 times, the court has received a bail petition but was rejected. This shows that NCB has full approval and it is wrong to say that his arrest is unlawful," he said. An NCB team busted an alleged drugs party on a cruise ship that was on its way to Goa at mid-sea on October 2. Aryan Khan and some others were arrested by NCB on October 3. A total of 20 people, including two Nigerian nationals, have been arrested so far in the case. Following Maharashtra Minister Nawab Malik`s claim that Wankhede visited Dubai to extort money, Athawale said, "Nawab Malik is attempting character assassination of Sameer Wankhede. I request Nawab Malik to not falsely accuse someone." Nawab Malik has alleged that Wankhede extorted money from the film industry persons in Maldives and Dubai. Wankhede on Sunday wrote a letter to Mumbai Police Commissioner requesting him to "ensure that no precipitate legal action is carried out to frame me with ulterior motives." "During COVID, the entire (film) industry was in the Maldives... The officer and his family were also there. Sameer Wankhede has to explain about his visit to Dubai and Maldives. We are sure that this `ugahi` (extortion) happened in Maldives and Dubai. I will give you photos soon," the Nationalist Congress Party leader told reporters. Meanwhile, Deputy Director-General of NCB Mutha Ashok Jain has denied the allegations on Wankhede and said that there was no application from the agency`s zonal director for going to Dubai. Narcotics Control Bureau in an official statement said, "Sameer Wankhede, IRS joined NCB on loan basis on August 31, 2020 and after this, he has not submitted any application for Ex-lndia leave to Dubai. As per the approval of Competent Authority, the officer has availed Ex-lndia leave along with his family to Maldives." Notably, Nawab Malik`s son-in-law Sameer Khan was earlier arrested on January 13 this year by NCB in connection with a drug case. Sameer Khan was granted bail on September 27, after eight months in prison. New Delhi: Bollywood actress Bipasha Basu, who is known to be super fit, has been speculated to be pregnant after gaining some weight. The actress, who is married to actor Karan Singh Grover, dismisses the pregnancy rumours but says she is not angry because of them as she knows they are coming from a place of love as people are wishing her a baby. I know that Im an ambassador of fitness. But there is a time when I can let go a little bit and live life a little bit. It is not that Im becoming unhealthy. But the speculations are always going to be there till the time people see me with an actual baby, shared the 42 years old actress to Hindustan Times. She further added, They are wishing for a family for me, and it is a sweet thought. If thats supposed to happen, it will happen. The constant scrutiny doesnt bother me. Theyre not saying something evil about me. Its just that Im not pregnant, so thats sad. Bipasha was recently vacationing with hubby Karan Singh Grover in the Maldives. The beautiful photos of the couple from the island nation send the internet into a tizzy. The actress was last seen in web series Dangerous opposite Karan Singh Grover. New Delhi: Bollywood writer and Ayushmann Khurrana's wife Tahira Kashyap revealed that she once forgot her son Viraajveer in a restaurant in an interview with a leading daily. Yes, you read that right. Tahira recalled the 'embarrassing' incident and said that the waiter was the one who came up to her to remind her that she forgot her kid! She told Hindustan Times, "I also forgot my child in a restaurant. I did not forget the bag or the bill but I forgot my child. The waiter came running to me and said Maam aap apna baccha bhool gae (Maam you forgot your kid). I was so embarrassed and people were staring at me." The mom of two also spoke about the incident in her book. As quoted by HT, she wrote, "Once lunch was over I hugged each of my friends, and headed to the elevator. Just then one of the staff members came running towards me, putting his foot in the door before it shut. Madam, he said, you have forgotten your baby! Everyone in the lift gave me a look I will never forget. People forget to pay bills or leave their bag behind. I forgot my baby even though I was still holding on to my bag. What kind of cruel mother does that?" The couple has two kids together - Viraajveer and Varushka. Tahira often takes to Instagram to post adorable pictures with her two munchkins. Currently, she is shooting along with Divya Dutta for her first directorial feature film titled 'Sharmaji Ki Beti'. It also stars Sakshi Tanwar and Saiyami Kher. The film is an ensemble comedy about modern, middle-class women. Tahira is also gearing up for the release of her fifth book 'The 7 Sins Of Being A Mother'. New Delhi: Before visiting your bank branch in the month of November, you must note down the list of important days during which banks will remain closed. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has mentioned some days when the banking operations will remain closed in the month of November 2021, although online banking activities will continue to work. Banks will remain closed for total 17 days in the month of November-- 11 as per the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) holiday calendar list and the remaining days are that of weekends. However, you must note that the banks will not be closed for 17 days in all states or regions. This is the total number of days when banks in different parts of the country will remain closed for state-observed holidays. For example bank branches might be closed for Chhath Puja in Bihar but not closed for Wangala Festival being observed in North-eastern states. Reserve Bank of India places its Holidays under three brackets --Holiday under Negotiable Instruments Act; Holiday under Negotiable Instruments Act and Real Time Gross Settlement Holiday; and Banks Closing of Accounts. However, it must be noted that the bank holidays vary in various states as well not observed by all the banking companies. Banking holidays also depend on the festivals being observed in specific states or notification of specific occasions in those states. Here is an elaborate list of bank holidays falling in the month of November 2021. Check out the list. Holiday Description Day Kannada Rajyostsava/Kut: November 1 Naraka Chaturdashi: November 3 Diwali Amavasaya (Laxmi Pujan)/Deepavali/Kali Puja: November 4 Diwali (Bali Pratipada)/Vikram Samvant New Year Day/Govardhan Pooja: November 5 Bhai Duj/Chitragupt Jayanti/Laxmi Puja/Deepawali/Ningol Chakkouba: November 6 Chhath Puja//Surya Pashti Dala Chhath (Sayan ardhya) : November 10 Chhath Puja: November 11 Wangala Festival: November 12 Guru Nanak Jayanti/Karthika Purnima: November 19 Kanakadasa Jayanthi: November 22 Seng Kutsnem: November 23 Apart from the above bank holidays, the second and fourth Saturdays, Sundays of the month are falling on the following dates: November 7 - Sunday November 13- Second Saturday of the month November 14- Sunday November 21- Sunday November 27- Fourth Saturday of the month November 28- Sunday Holidays of the mentioned days will be observed in various regions according to the state declared holidays, however for the gazetted holidays, banks will be closed all over the country. If you keep a track of these holidays, you would be able to plan bank transaction activities in a better way. For long weekends, you can even plan your holidays well. Live TV #mute New Delhi: In order to continue receiving their monthly payout, pensioners must submit their life certificates, or jeevan pramaan, by November 30 this year. The new law went into force on October 1 for seniors above the age of 80, and the window is open for two months. The rule will take effect on November 1 for persons under the age of 80, with the window remaining open until November 30. To submit a life certificate, one must go to their local post office or bank. This operation can be accomplished in a variety of ways, including doorstep banking and online submission. Life certificate A life certificate is a vital piece of documentation for retirees, as it serves as verification that they are still alive. This must be shown to an authorised pension distributor or agency, such as a bank or the post office, and ensures that payments to the pensioner's workplace do not continue after his or her death. Before awarding pensions, the government and insurance companies advise producing this certificate, which is normally required once a year. In order for the disbursing agency to issue the life certificate, the person receiving the pension must generally be physically present. In the event of a pandemic, the Centre has devised digital life certificates (DLC) to prevent Covid dangers, which are regarded as sufficient proof for pension disbursement. Life certificates Importance A life certificate is important for pensioners since it ensures that their monthly award is paid without interruption, as it may be their only source of income. However, for many elderly individuals, the requirement of being physically present to receive a life certificate is a difficulty, thus the Centre has developed a digital life certificate, or Jeevan Pramaan, in which the entire procedure is completed digitally. If onboarded to Jeevan Pramaan, pension sanctioning bodies like as the railroads, EPFO, state or central pensioners governments, and RBI are eligible for the digital certificate. These certifications can also be obtained from insurance firms. On the Jeevan Pramaan website, you may find a list of authorities. The certificate, however, is not indefinitely valid and must be renewed when the validity time has passed. How can pensioners submit a life certificate Life certificates can be electronically submitted through the Jeevan Pramaan website (https://jeevanpramaan.gov.in/) or the app. In this instance, the pensioner can finish the procedure digitally at home by entering essential information such as name, mobile number, Aadhaar number, and other pension-related information. For biometric authentication, the portal employs the Aadhaar platform, which enables fingerprint and iris scanning. You can also submit the life certificate digitally at a nearby citizen service centre or bank/post office. If the process seems too complicated, retirees can go to a pension disbursing bank and fill out a form in person. Another method for submitting life certificates is through doorstep banking. A postman or a recognised official can also help retirees finish the process. If NRI retirees are unable to physically come to India to receive a life certificate, the certificate can be issued by officials such as bank officers, notaries, magistrates, or an Indian diplomatic agent. If an NRI pensioner is unable to visit the Indian Embassy or Consulate, the life certificate, along with other relevant documents such as a doctor's certificate proving his or her inability to travel, can be mailed to the authorities. Live TV #mute New Delhi: State Bank of India (SBI) is offering a great opportunity to property buyers for buying property at unbelievable prices during the e-auction of properties that the public sector bank is kicking off today (Monday, October 25). SBI e-auction property details The State Bank of India (SBI) has also informed via a tweet that the bank is going to auction different types of property. According to the SBI tweet, the auction will be done on October 25. The bank has informed regarding the same through advertisements in different newspapers as well. The properties offered by SBI e-auction includes all types of properties, securities and mortgaged assets. If you are interested in the SBI e-auction of properties, you could check https://www.bankeauctions.com/Sbi for further details on property, its reserve prices and more. Here are the list of documents that you will require for participating in the SBI Mega e-auction of properties, as mentioned by SBI website: Documents for participating in SBI e-Auction of properties - EMD for the particular property as mentioned in the e-Auction notice. - KYC Documents - to be submitted to the concerned Branch. - Valid Digital Signature -Bidders may approach e-auctioneers or any other authorised agency to obtain digital signature. - Login Id and Password Will be sent to the email id of the bidders by e-auctioneers after the deposit of EMD and submission of KYC documents to the concerned branch. - Bidders to login and bid during the auction hours on the date of e-Auction as per auction rules. How to participate for the SBI e-Auction of properties The bid for e-auction as the name suggests will be completely online. If you also want to bid in this digital auction, then for this you have to register first through your mobile number and email ID. After that you will have to upload papers for KYC. Once the verification is complete, online challan will be filled, only after which you will be able to bid online. Usually, those properties whose loans could not be repaid i.e. properties on default, are placed in the auction by banks. Such properties are auctioned from time to time by banks through Indian Banks Auctions Mortgaged Properties Information (IBAPI) portal. "Indian Banks Auctions Mortgaged Properties Information (IBAPI) portal is an initiative of Indian Banks Association (IBA) under the overarching policy of the Department of Financial Services (DFS), Ministry of Finance to provide a common platform to display details of mortgaged properties to be auctioned online by Banks, starting with Public Sector Banks. Prospective buyers may use this portal to search and view details of properties and participate in the auction process," the Ibapi website reads. Live TV #mute New Delhi: Indias largest public sector lender State Bank of India (SBI) brings host of convenient and safe features for customers from time to time that takes care of their financial needs and also protects them from the fraudsters. One such safe and convenient service is SBIs OTP-based ATM cash withdrawal that puts in place an additional factor of authentication. This additional safety process protects SBI card holders from unauthorized ATM cash withdrawals. "Our OTP based cash withdrawal system for transactions at SBI ATMs is vaccination against fraudsters. Protecting you from frauds will always be our topmost priority," said SBI in a tweet. How does OTP-validated ATM transaction work? The OTP-validated ATM transaction was introduced in 2020 to minimise the number of unauthorised transactions. With the introduction of its OTP-based cash withdrawal facility, State Bank of India had added another layer of security for cash withdrawals through its ATMs service. OTP would be received on the customer''s mobile number registered with the bank. This additional factor of authentication protects State Bank card holders from unauthorized ATM cash withdrawals Who can avail SBI OTP-based ATM cash withdrawal services? This facility will not be applicable for transactions, where a State Bank card holder withdraws cash from another bank's ATM. It is because this functionality has not been developed in National Financial Switch (NFS), as per SBI. NFS is the largest interoperable ATM network in the country and it manages more than 95 per cent of the domestic interbank ATM transactions. How to withdraw money using SBI OTP-based ATM cash withdrawal Service? Once the cardholder enters the amount he/she wishes to withdraw, the ATM screen displays the OTP window. The customer has to enter the OTP received on the registered mobile number to complete the transaction. Live TV #mute New Delhi: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) recently increased the Immediate Payment Service (IMPS) transaction limit from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 5 lakh. This measure has been announced in order to make large-scale fund transfers more accessible. Immediate Payment Service (IMPS) offers instant domestic funds transfer facility 247 through various channels. In view of the importance of the IMPS system and for enhanced consumer convenience, it is proposed to increase the per-transaction limit from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 5 lakh," RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das had said on October 8 this year. The National Payments Corporation of India is in charge of the Immediate Payment Service (IMPS) (NPCI). It is a payment technique that allows for instant domestic financial transfers 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Internet banking, mobile banking apps, bank branches, ATMs, SMS, and IVRS are just few of the ways to use IMPS. However, IMPS isn't the only way to send money across the country in a matter of seconds. Other platforms in India that can be utilised to complete the same task include National Electronic Funds Transfer (NEFT) and Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS). Citizens can use these transaction processes at any time, and they do not require the transfer of money by a bank employee. IMPS Individuals in India can send money across the country in a matter of seconds using the Instant Money Transfer System (IMPS). This service is available every day of the week, including holidays, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Banks require companies interested in using IMPS to have a valid Reserve Bank of India banking or prepaid payment instrument licence. The user must first register for mobile banking in order to use this service. IMPS requires an IFSC code or an Aadhaar number to facilitate transactions. The RBI has changed the maximum transaction limit for IMPS, which was formerly Rs 2 lakh. Users can now deposit up to Rs 5 lakh using this payment method. NEFT The National Electronic Funds Transfer (NEFT) system is owned and operated by the Reserve Bank of India. The National Electronic Funds Transfer (NEFT) system is a nationwide electronic funds transfer system. It covers the entire country and has a huge network of different types of bank branches. NEFT transactions are not subject to any restrictions imposed by the Reserve Bank of India. Before making a payment, the user must confirm that his or her bank is a NEFT member. The money that is sent through this site is sent in batches. They're then split into 48 half-hourly time segments. The user must connect into their bank portals to add the recipient as a beneficiary. Before the monies may be moved to the beneficiary's account, the beneficiary's details must be entered. RTGS The financial transfer is settled in a continuous and real-time manner under this system. This is done on a transaction-by-transaction basis, with no netting involved. Payments made through RTGS are irreversible and final because the money are settled in the Reserve Bank of India's books. The Real Time Gross Settlement has no upper limit, but users must transfer a minimum of Rs 2 lakh through this platform. Live TV #mute New Delhi: A routine voice message that Soundarya Rajinikanth received from her cinema superstar father Rajinikanth, gave her the idea to launch Hoote, a voice-first social networking platform. Launching the Hoote mobile application in 15 native Indian languages, Co-Founders Soundarya Rajninikanth and entrepreneur Sunny Pokala said that Hoote was meant to enable users to share and broadcast their content, thoughts via recorded 60-second voice clips. They see voice-based social media as a means to capture real emotion, nuance and context, as opposed to text-based social media. This made-in-India tech offering, available on both Android and iOS, is aimed at the English-speaking urban users and the rural audience that might not be comfortable in using English-first social media apps. It is also being touted as a means for politicians, celebrities, eminent professionals and industrialists to connect with a larger audience, via voice. The apps name is inspired by the Owls call, which goes by the same name. White owls are said to be a symbol of wisdom, Soundarya added. It was in December 2020, as Rajini was planning his political foray and acting in a film that he sent his daughter a voice message in Tamil, owing to his inability to write/message in the same language. Realizing the power of voice-based communication, Soundarya reached out to Sunny and started building Hoote in early 2021. That(Rajinis political foray) didnt happen owing to circumstances, but this (Hoote) happened, she says proudly. Sharing his first 60-second voice clip on the App, Rajini said that Hoote provided an opportunity for even illiterate persons to easily share their thoughts to the world, via their own voice. As advisors to the founders, Girish Mathrubootham of Freshworks fame and Silicon Valley investor Arvind parthasarathi shared their wishes and commended the idea of harnessing the power of voice. According to the founders, Hoote users would be able to create and be a part of private and public groups, share image and background music, along with their voice clips. Some of the upcoming features include, availability in 10 International languages, pinned Hootes, accessing multiple profiles from a single device, adding background music to voice clips, privacy controls on who gets to hear a Hoote, subtitles for different languages, text and voice comments, the option to listen to audio teasers and trailers. They envision Hoote as an aggregator for voice content across genres and across languages. When asked about the kind of user-data that the app would collect and the revenue model (advertisement-driven or freemium), the founders told Zee Media that it would only collect basic information such as name, profession, contact information, at the time of signing up. There is no charge and it is not monetized using advertisement revenue. We want to popularize the app, they added. On queries regarding how they planned to take on existing social media giants, the founders said that Hoote was not meant to be a director competitor. Hoote would also feature security measures to keep a tab on abusive content and allow users to report it and is complaint with all Indian laws, besides having stringent verification, the founders added. Live TV #mute New Delhi: Tech giant Apple is going to roll out the much awaited iOS 15.1 update to eligible iphones today (Monday, October 25). Apple has stopped code signing for iOS 15.0.1, effectively blocking downgrades to the operating system version released in October. News agency IANS, quoting AppleInsider had previously said that the halt to code signing arrives just under three weeks after iOS 15.0.1 was issued to patch a number of iOS 15 launch bugs, including a problem that prevented users from unlocking iPhone with Apple Watch. Other bugs, like a "storage full" alert and a reported lock screen bypass, were also remedied with the minor point release. A second update, iOS 15.0.2, was pushed out last week with additional fixes for the Find My app, CarPlay and more. Apple debuted its next-generation mobile operating system in late September, introducing iPhone users to a slew of new features, improvements and user interface modifications. Tentpole features include Live Text and Visual Look Up, Focus, upgraded Apple Maps, Health app updates, iCloud+ integration, a Safari redesign and more, the report said. Apple routinely stops signing legacy code after the release of a new iOS build to protect customers from nefarious actors attempting to take advantage of newly discovered vulnerabilities. Preventing users from downloading older code also allows Apple to keep more iOS devices on the latest, feature-rich software, as per the report. With Apple no longer signing iOS 15.0.1 code, the only viable release is iOS 15.0.2, but that will change in the near future. The iPhone maker has issued a release candidate for iOS 15.1, which will deliver promised features like SharePlay and Wallet support for Covid-19 vaccination cards. New Delhi: Elon Musk, the tech tycoon, may have been the main force for Shiba Inu's rally in the past, thanks to his tweets about his pet dog Floki. This time, however, the script was spun on its head when Musk stated that he does not possess any SHIB tokens. On October 24, the Shiba Inu cryptocurrency was on its way to the Moon. It increased by 50% to become the market's 11th largest cryptocurrency. One of the Shiba Inu Twitter accounts, on the other hand, made the mistake of asking Musk how many SHIB tokens he has in his wallet. "None," was the plain and unequivocal response. Since then, Shiba Inu has slid to the 13th largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization. With a price of $0.00038 at 12:30 p.m. Indian Standard Time (IST) on October 25, the meme coin is down 1.83 percent from 24 hours earlier. The cryptocurrency's most recent surge may have come to an end with the latest slump, but it has been on the rise since October 15. The Shiba Inu is dubbed the "Dogecoin Killer." It intends to replace the Ethereum-based Doge token. While Bitcoin was designed to be limited, SHIB tokens were designed to be plentiful, with a total supply of 1 quadrillion hence the low prices. Shiba Inu values have soared in recent days, bringing this meme coin to a new high. The Shiba Inu coin is a fork of the Dogecoin cryptocurrency. It soared to become the world's 11th largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization before falling to 13th due to a statement by Tesla CEO Elon Musk. Musk disclosed that he does not hold any SHIB tokens in a tweet. Live TV #mute Lucknow: Sprucing up the vigilance measures to prevent vector-borne diseases like dengue, cholera, diarrhoea and malaria, the Uttar Pradesh government has sent a team of specialist doctors to Etah, Mainpuri and Kasganj who will be training and guiding the local doctors to tackle the situation better. CM Yogi, while addressing a meeting on Saturday, said, Any kind of carelessness could spiral into a scary situation. Special efforts should be made to improve surveillance. Along with the Health Department, Rural Development and Child Development departments should also stay alert. Apart from making all necessary arrangements in the hospitals for the treatment of ailing people, the Yogi government has ordered to ensure continuous monitoring of the health of every patient. The CM has also asked to reactivate the monitoring committees. The authorities have been asked to continue the extensive cleanliness, sanitization and fogging drives to prevent the spread of mosquito-borne diseases. Month-long campaign to keep a check on seasonal vagaries Earlier, on Oct 19, CM Yogi had launched a month-long State-wide communicable disease control drive to keep a check on seasonal vagaries. The campaign has been rolled out in all 75 districts to educate the public about measures to prevent communicable diseases. Under this campaign, the health workers are paying door-to-door visits to identify patients with viral fever, vector-borne diseases and other symptoms. People are also being made aware to avoid mosquito gatherings near their homes, keep cleanliness, and fight infectious diseases. In this regard, the government has ordered to ensure inter-departmental coordination in order to make the campaign successful. Effective control measures The government has taken effective control measures to bring down the cases of dengue, malaria, and other viral diseases under control and has made foolproof arrangements including state-wide surveillance campaigns, spraying of anti-larva chemicals under extensive mass-scale sanitation, fogging and cleanliness drives, to ensure the safety of the states people. It is noteworthy that ASHA workers, Anganwadi workers, ANMs and village heads have been entrusted with the responsibility to apprise the rural populace about various water-borne and vector-borne diseases. The CM Yogi also said that unnecessary crowding should be avoided in Out Patient Departments and family members of patients should be given health updates on a regular basis. CM helpline should also reach out to patients. All the concerned departments have been directed to take due care of medical facilities and cleanliness in view of the dengue and viral fever-related diseases. State-level training of health workers has been started and health care facilities have been strengthened in every village. Live TV Lucknow: Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supremo Arvind Kejriwal, who is in Uttar Pradesh where Assembly polls are due early next year, will be performing aarti at the Saryu Ghat in Ayodhya on Monday evening. His AAP colleague and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh has informed that Kejriwal will offer prayers at the birthplace of Lord Ram in Ayodhya on Tuesday. Kejriwal earlier arrived at Lucknow airport and was welcomed by the party workers here. Speaking to reporters, Sanjay Singh said, "He will be performing aarti at Saryu Ghat in Ayodhya today evening. Further, he will be visiting the Hanuman Garhi temple tomorrow morning and later offer prayers at the birthplace of Lord Ram." The AAP national convenor also, meanwhile, appeared before the district court in Sultanpur, in connection with a case of Model Code of Conduct violation during a public rally in 2014 National polls. Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal appeared before district court in Sultanpur, in connection with Model Code of Conduct violation during a public rally in 2014 National polls. pic.twitter.com/ZOeJLcg6fl ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) October 25, 2021 AAP has announced that it will contest the Assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh due to be held next year. Kejriwal-led AAP has announced that it would contest all 403 Assembly seats in the 2022 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections. AAP is also trying to spread its presence beyond Delhi and is contesting in states of Goa, Gujarat, Punjab and Uttarakhand. The Aam Aadmi Party has already released a list of 170 candidates in September. The party has also promised that if voted to power, it will provide 300 units of free electricity within 24 hours of taking over the government. Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has already hit out at the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief, saying that he remembers Lord Ram only before elections. "When elections are around the corner people want to offer prayers to Lord Ram. Some would visit Lord Ram temple while some would visit other temples. These people are neither going to be blessed by the voters nor by God," said Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi. Congress leader Rashid Alvi alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has connected religion with politics, as a result of which, leaders of other parties are being 'forced to visit religious places'. Live TV Sultanpur/Ambedkar Nagar: Realising the idiom A promise made is a promise kept, CM Yogi Adityanath has declared that the state government will begin the distribution of tablets, smartphones to the youths of Uttar Pradesh in November end. He announced this while laying the foundation stone of Government Medical College to be built at a cost of Rs 271 crore in Sultanpur. Asserting that the state government is working assiduously to provide employment to every youth of the state without any discrimination, the CM stated, In order to equip the youth of Uttar Pradesh with the latest technology so that no youth in the state lacks in getting the benefit of online studies, the state government will start providing tablets, laptops from the last week of November. The Chief Minister also launched 126 development projects worth Rs 46.33 crore in Sultanpur and 99 development projects worth Rs 334.24 crores in Ambedkarnagar. Mounting a blistering attack on the Congress and Samajwadi Party, the CM said that the earlier government had only one objective that is to play with the faith of people, to hinder the development of the country. There was a time that scams were ordered of the day during m the congress-led government at the Centre. The countrymen were shocked and upset with the attitude of the previous governments, he said. The benefits of development schemes were kept confined to individual families only. Ek pariwar dilli mein, ek pariwar lucknow mein baith kar gareeb ke paise hadapne ka kaam karta tha. People used to die of hunger, lack of basic amenities, and health facilities. When Modi ji came to power, he realised the slogan of sabka saath, sabka vikas ensuring the benefits of various schemes reached all without discrimination. Accusing the previous government of anarchy and mafiaraj, CM Yogi commented that there used to be frequent riots during the festivals, curfew used to be imposed and people could not celebrate festivals. Now, no riots took place in UP in the last four and a half years because the rioters were aware of the dire consequence. "If anybody indulges in such designs, his seven generations will have to pay the compensation for their acts," he warned. Along with this, the CM also gave a stern warning to the mafia and criminal elements saying Zyada dadagiri dikahoge toh bulldozer bhi apna taiyar rehta hai. While targetting the previous govt for being selfish and favouring, supporting the mafias, CM Yogi Adityanath reasoned that this pushed the state towards backwardness they used to grab the rights of the poor, businessmen. Today, no mafia or criminal can threaten anyone, nor can they play with the faith of people, he said. Highlighting the achievements of the government, the CM said that today every poor is getting a house, toilet, electricity connection in UP. The people of Sultanpur will now get a 500-bedded hospital, and they will not have to go to Delhi, Lucknow for getting treatment. Underlining Mission Rozgar, he said that In four and a half years, 4.5 lakh government jobs were given. By connecting artisans/handicraftsmen with banking at the local level, they were made self-reliant. Uttar Pradesh is first in the implementation of 44 Central government schemes, he added. Those who divide society for their selfish political motives will never be accepted and respected. They have been exposed today, and that is the reason they are now engaged in the conspiracy, stated the CM. He further said that Sultanpur is getting the maximum benefit of Purvanchal Expressway, the farmers have got 4 times compensation for their land here. With the industry clusters coming up, the youth of Sultanpur will get employed here itself. An airstrip has been also constructed here for an emergency landing. Hitting out at the oppositions for politics over vaccine and Ram Mandir, the CM stated More than 12.32 crore vaccines have been administered in Uttar Pradesh. One has to be alert from those who mislead people over the vaccine. Yeh aise rang badalte hain ki girgit bhi sharma jaye. Had there been the governments of Congress, SP, or BSP, the Ram Mandir would not have been built? They used to say that Ram is imaginary. Now, these people say that Ram sabke hain (Ram belongs to everyone), he added Addressing the public at Ambedkar Nagar, the CM informed that more than 42,000 houses have been given in the district under PM Awas(R) scheme. Along with that, more than 2.55 lakh toilets under swacch bharat mission, around 1.40 lakh free gas connections were given under the Ujjwala scheme in the district. More than 3.95 lakh farmers are getting benefits in PM Kisan Nidhi. BJP State president Swatantra Dev Singh, Cabinet Minister Suresh Khanna, Maneka Gandhi, State Minister Sandeep Singh were also present at the event. Live TV Washington: The United States was losing the war to the Taliban so it chose negotiations as an alternative, the former US special representative for Afghanistan reconciliation, Zalmay Khalilzad has said. Talking to CBS News, Khalilzad said the US military tried many times to strengthen its position on the battleground, but it failed. "The negotiation was a result of--based on the judgment that we weren`t winning the war and therefore time was not on our side and better to make a deal sooner than later," Tolo News quoted Khalilzad as saying. Khalilzad blamed the then-president Ashraf Ghani for the disintegration of Afghanistan`s security sector, saying his escape triggered the chaos in the Afghan capital. He said that Washington chose the calender-based approach in its decisions on the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan and did not take into account the real situation in the country. Despite remaining challenges and past failures, Khalilzad believes that the US counterterrorism mission in the country succeeded as "the terrorist threat from Afghanistan is not what it used to be" and al-Qaeda has been "devastated." At the same time, the ex-envoy admitted that in the 20 years of American military presence in Afghanistan, the country did not become a democracy. "On the issue of building a democratic Afghanistan, I think that the US did not succeed. The struggle goes on. The Talibs are a reality of Afghanistan. We did not defeat them," he said, noting that the Taliban have a different vision for the country, but there are hopes the more moderate views will prevail since the movement is fractured. On October 18, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced that Khalilzad stepped down as a special Afghanistan envoy. Khalilzad said that he made the decision to resign at a time when Washington is beginning a new phase of policy toward Kabul following the withdrawal from Afghanistan in August. Live TV